Announcements

Mayor Patrick McNulty announced this coming week, on September 17, the Adopt a Beach Day event would take place at Beach Access 3 (Gulf Circle).
The South Padre Island Fire Department will hold a Remembering 9/11 Ceremony. More details to come.
Councilman Kerry Schwartz announced he was delighted to hear good news from owners at La Isla, thanking the Council for clearing out the “eyesore” across the street, which in the past was the Schlitterbahn Water Park.

Presentations

Mayor McNulty proclaimed September National Food Safety Month and urged all citizens to promote safe food handling.

Regular Agenda

6.1

What happened: A motion to appoint members to the golf cart steering committee to review current city ordinances and state laws, national highway traffic safety administration rules regulating the rental and operation of golf carts to make recommendations to the Council to improve the safety of operating golf carts or slow moving vehicles on the island.

Motion passed.

Why it matters: In 2019, the Council appointed members for a Golf Cart Steering Committee. This year, it made its way to Council again after several accidents. Recently headlined, the city of Galveston suffered four deaths, leading Councilman Schwartz to create a small advisory committee with Councilman Ken Medders and himself. In addition, he plans to meet with staff such as Police Chief Claudine O’Carroll, City Attorney Ed Cyganiewicz, and City Manager Randy Smith. “I think we can look at laws and regulations. I think we did have previously really didn’t work.”

According to the article, Galveston Mayor Craig Brown agreed although enforcement helps particularly at night, it’s illegal under Texas law to operate a golf cart on a public street after dark. Galveston’s ordinance does not reflect that provision.

What now: Councilwoman Dalton suggested the original Golf Committee be a part. Schwartz did not think it was necessary since the item was geared towards investigating law enforcement in Texas.

6.2

What happened: The Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Rodrigo Gimenez, updated the Council on a new software targeting individuals not paying short-term rental registrations and hotel motel occupancy tax.

Why it matters: The company Avenue’s new software makes the tax website more user-friendly, identifying taxpayers who owe taxes to the city and tracking whether online advertising permits on their websites.

CVAB Vice-Chair Tom Goodman thanks the Council for their work and hopes to get short-term rentals on a stricter compliance level.

What now: Gimenez added the city would soon conduct audits for occupancy tax.