The City Council convened in the second floor chambers this Wednesday, Mar. 6.
Public comment:
Louis Balderas spoke on behalf of Richard Welles, who was sitting in the audience, introducing themselves as owners of Diamond Peak Towing. They addressed concerns about the local towing industry's reputation on South Padre Island, highlighting the necessity of towing while acknowledging its occasional inconvenience. Balderas urged the City Council to reevaluate the current system and presented a constructive solution by requesting the council's consideration for the addition of a sixth permit. Their vision is for a local towing business that actively collaborates with city police to better serve the community.
Proclamation:
The Rotary Club of Port Isabel, Texas, established in 1936 and marking 88 years of service, has received recognition from the City of South Padre Island for its unwavering commitment to humanitarian efforts. Aligned with the global organization Rotary International, the Port Isabel club adheres to the motto "Service Above Self." The City lauds the club's active involvement in local initiatives, such as the "End Polio Now" campaign.
Consent Agenda
The City Council unanimously approved the payment of invoices via General Fund checks numbered 157674 through 157759, along with Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) payments, amassing a grand total of $1,030,148.28.
Regular Agenda
6.1
Chief Financial Officer Rodrigo Jimenez introduced approving occupancy tax policies for payment agreements as well as waiver of penalties and interest. According to the agenda the tax policies for payments agreements as well as waiver of penalties and interest have been developed for council consideration.
In the attached document, the city introduces a formal policy for approving Hotel Occupancy Tax Payment Agreements, defining terms such as 'Debt owed to the City' and 'Debtor.' The policy outlines specific guidelines for agreements, differentiating between debts up to $10,000 and those exceeding this threshold. The City Manager and Chief Financial Officer are granted authority to enter agreements for smaller debts, reporting to the City Council. Larger debts over $10,000 require City Council approval, with specific conditions and considerations for financial hardship, timeframes, and limitations on penalty and interest waivers.
6.2
Discussions centered around the appointment of members to the City Home Rule Charter Adhoc Committee. The committee's primary objective is to conduct a comprehensive review of the 2009 Home Rule Charter, proposing recommendations for potential amendments and presenting findings to the City Council.
The Home Rule Charter, initially approved and passed by South Padre Island voters in 2009, serves as the basis for this critical evaluation. City Secretary Angelique "Nikki" Soto, Mayor Patrick McNulty, City Manager Randy Smith, and City Attorney/Municipal Court Judge Ed Cyganiewicz collaborated to compile a preliminary list of proposed committee members, including Chris Huffman, Robert Pinkerton Jr., Shane Wilson, Director of Operations Wendy Delgado, Soto, and Cyganiewicz.
During the deliberations, Joe Ricco suggested lawyer Kathy Cunningham, a lawyer with practice areas in Business, Government/Administrative, Real Estate, Wills-Trusts-Probate, Non-Profits, and Contracts. Ricco expressed confidence that she would be honored to serve despite not asking Cunningham yet.
Ken Medders Jr. asked for council representation on the committee, and McNulty took the initiative to join after no council members volunteered before Councilman Kerry Schwartz offered his participation.
McNulty then directed Soto to include Medders Jr. and Schwartz as additional committee members. The inaugural committee meeting is slated for April, with the ambitious goal of concluding their review by May 31.
