City Council Report

Presentations

July 5, 2023

Shoreline Director Kristina Boburka updated the council on the current beach renourishment efforts in partnership with the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Texas General Land Office (GLO), Cameron County, and Weeks Marine.

Although the time the dredging started (Jun. 18) was unfortunate, Boburka explained that the USACE is responsible for the maintenance of the shipping channel that goes into the port of Brownsville.

"It's dependent on when they have to go and dredge that channel there, which typically occurs every 18 – 24 months," said Boburka.

The partnership with the Corps of Engineers, the General Land Office, and Cameron County use beneficial material for the beaches to help with storm surge protection and erosion control.

Dredging provides endangered species habitats, for example, the sea turtles that nest on SPI beaches.

The project area in the City is at Access 18 (East Constellation Dr. and East Mars Ln.) and is projected to go up to Access 23.

Consent Agenda

The City approved a budget amendment for $2,156,926 to fund the CVB roof repairs from CVB Excess Reserves.

During the June 7, 2023, City Council meeting, City Council approved to award the re-roofing contract to Noble. The SPI CVB is requesting funds from the CVB Excess Reserves, which currently has $18.7 million in funds.

Regular Agenda

6.2

What happened

A motion was made to approve Resolution No. 2023-13, urging Mexico to comply with the terms of the 1944 Treaty releasing water due to the United States.

Motion passed.

Why it matters

Councilman Kerry Schwartz commented and requested to hear both sides. SPI Mayor Patrick McNulty told the council that the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council asked all the (surrounding) cities to approve this Resolution. "Mexico owes us water, the LRGVDC asked us to do this, and we should just be supportive. We just celebrated the Declaration of Independence," said McNulty.

In 1944 a treaty between the United States and Mexico allotted the United States one-third of the tributary inflow from six-named tributaries that flow into the Rio Grande above the international reservoirs. An exception to the annual delivery of this water is if Mexico is experiencing extraordinary drought or has experienced serious accidents.

The Resolution states that Mexico has sufficient water in storage, and the United States is entitled to receive water from and could release this water as called for by the 1944 Treaty. The City of South Padre Island strongly urges Mexico to comply with the terms of the 1944 Treaty and release the water due to the United States.

What now

Despite the Resolution, Mexico's insufficient water supply has caused several different elements of violence in the country, particularly with farmers unable to harvest. Today several Native American reserves lack fundamental water rights.

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Island Matters | P.O. Box 2778 | South Padre Island, TX 78597