Announcements

Mayor Patrick McNulty recognized Councilmen Ken Medders for winning an award for elected officials for the State of Texas Alliance of Recycling.
President of the Chamber of Commerce, Alita Bagley, announced the Chamber of Commerce will conduct its member showcase on October 18 at 5:30 PM at the South Padre Island Convention Center. She encourages all to come to support local businesses.
McNulty announced October 2 as National Night Out at Island Baptist Church from 5:30 PM to 8 PM to meet first responders.
Bagley also commented on defending the local businesses from agenda items concerning golf carts. She stated that the Chamber's goal is to advance its members' business and be their voice when left out of discussions. Therefore, Bagley respectfully asked for the item to be tabled until the business owners could come and speak for themselves.

Why it matters: Councilwoman Eva-Jean Dalton advised that local golf cart owners and businesses be a part of the conversation and was overruled. The exclusion of public members on this committee led to community wide frustration.

Presentation

Fire Chief Jim Pigg recognized Ocean Rescue Captain Pedro Casillas and Ocean Rescue Lifeguard Garret Callison for saving an infant's life and presented them with the Phoenix Award.

Regular Agenda

6.1

What happened: A motion to approve the ranking and submission of the final grant proposals for the Coastal Management Program (CMP) Cycle 28.

Motion passed.

Why it matters: Several residents living near the Riviera beach access (#10) have protested profusely against the Shoreline Department's project and expressed their disappointment with the lack of communication from the City. Although Shoreline Director Kristina Boburka did not disclose the resident's frustration on the record to the council, the council invited the public to comment specifically on access #10. Unfortunately, the public did not comment on the item.

Spearheading the protest was resident Kevin Nicholls, who did not comment due his growing frustration with local government. "The grant was already approved before the meeting started."

What now: This is not the first time council has been suspected of governing in darkness. Now the public is losing confidence in city employees. This was demonstrated by citizens no longer responding directly to council or staff.

[Island Matters is following this story]

6.2

What happened: The possible action to post signs prohibiting golf carts on Highway 100 beyond where the speed limit increases above 35 mph as prescribed by state law and city ordinance was tabled by City Council.

Why it matters: After a fatal accident killing four, including two children, Councilmen Kerry Schwartz and Ken Medders Jr. met with staff for recommendations to make golf carts safer on the island.

"It was a tragedy what happened in Galveston. We don't want the same thing happening here," said Schwartz.

The goal for the councilmen was enforcement. Schwartz commented that according to state law, golf carts could not be operated past 35 MPH.

McNulty spoke out for the private golf cart owners who drive their carts past the 35 mph, "What about them? What are you going to tell them?"

"You can't argue with the law. Then we need to appeal to the Texas legislature to change the law," said Schwartz.

Schwartz continued and requested the City start enforcing the ordinance.

What now: Before this item was put on the agenda, Eva-Jean Dalton requested that local business owners be included on a committee although Schwartz did not think it was necessary. Golf cart business owners left out of the conversation sparked a public watch of the meeting, and multiple leaders to stand together to request the item be tabled.

6.4

What happened: A motion made to amend the Code of Ordinances Sec. 18–38 Golf Cart (8) hours of rental/commercial cart operation limited to 6 AM – 10 PM.

The motion did not pass.

For: Ken Medders, Kerry Schwartz

Against: Patrick McNulty, Joe Ricco, Eva-Jean Dalton

Why it matters: Dalton spoke for Golf Cart owners Gabriel Vanounou and Will Greenwood. They wrote letters respectfully asking the council to table the motion until they could be a part of the conversation.

After Police Chief Claudine O'Carroll gave recent SPI numbers of golf cart incidents, Councilman Ricco saw no need to take any precautions. "There's no wrecks at night. No data shows that. I'm going off of numbers."

What now: The goal of the discussion for Medders and Schwartz was to reduce the risk of possible accidents or deaths. "Currently, Rockport and Corpus Christi prohibit driving at night. Their ordinance coincides with the state law prohibiting golf carts from being driven at night," said Schwartz.

Mayor McNulty and Councilmen Ricco visited Galveston. The two concurred that the Galveston Mayor has avoided working on their golf ordinances. "They don't want to touch that conversation with a 10-foot pole right now," said McNulty.

The City in the past has used health and safety against food truck operations. At the moment, the City carries the risk of loss of governmental immunity by recognizing the fatalities of golf carts and doing nothing about it.