Candidate questions

As promised, Island Matters has reached out to candidates polling questions from Island Matters members.

Island Matters received no response from Rodney Hunter, and a very limited response from Councilwoman Eva Jean Dalton. The only complete and detailed response was from Councilman Joe Ricco.

Sarah

I did receive the questions and looked them over. Sone of the questions are not easy to answer in this kind of format. Thanks for taking the time to be involved in the community.

Eva-Jean Dalton

Transparency

Context: In the past year, Island Matters has been prohibited from having direct interview access with elected, appointed, and hired city officials. The City required that we submit nearly every information request in writing before waiting ten days before the City sent the request to the Attorney, delaying another 45 days.

Question: What is your policy on media access and accountability to the citizens?

Should elected, appointed, and hired officials be available for media interviews?

Candidate answers

Dalton: I’m not sure where this statement came from about not being able to have access to elected officials. That did not come from me. No one speaks for me, accept myself. All elected officials, in any elected office, school, city, county, state, national, etc. should be available to the constituents they are representing.

Hunter: No response

Ricco: The city does not block anyone from contacting elected officials. Our city staff works diligently to ensure transparency at city hall. We must follow the policies and procedures set forth by the Attorney General of the State of Texas to make sure that each and every request is handled in the same manner. Anyone from the public who wishes to discuss any issues in more detail or has additional questions, may contact me directly. jricco@myspi.org

Courtesy

Context: While preparing these questions, we reviewed the videotapes of many council meetings and other city commission meetings where council members were present. Some council members treated their constituents with a remarkable lack of courtesy in both settings, bordering on belittling and abuse.

Question: What would you do to bring courtesy back to city government?

Candidate answers

Dalton: No response

Hunter: No response

Ricco: The question is argumentative and doesn’t make sense. I disagree with the premise of your question. I do believe courtesy and honesty are essential in City government and in life in general. I also believe courtesy should flow both ways. Unfortunately, I am not able to respond to the question posed as it is ambiguous and confusing.

Open Government

Context: In the past, citizens appointed to a city board, commission, task force, etc., had the choice of having a myspi email or publishing a personal email.

Question: Should citizens be able to have direct contact with those who sought appointed office?

Candidate answers

Dalton: No response

Hunter: No response

Ricco: In my past 17+ years serving the City on Boards, I never had a myspi.org email address until I became a council member. Retention of correspondence of elected officials and city staff is a requirement for transparency. In this respect, the city serves as the liaison between the public and our volunteer committee board members.

Flood Control

Context: The Phase 1 Storm Drainage Master Plan by Kimley Horn was one of the scariest documents ever published on the island. Phase 2 is required before we can begin to contemplate proper actions.

Question: Where are we on Phase 2 of that study? Is proper drainage of Padre Blvd. one of your priorities?

Candidate answers

Dalton: No response

Hunter: No response

Ricco: Drainage has been an issue on the Island since its development. That being said “We have been working on the most efficient options to address the flooding issues within the City. The Texas Water Development Board in conjunction with other state agencies (such as FEMA working on Flood Risk Rating 2.0) is currently working on a flood mapping within our area that would provide Base Level Engineering modeling. "Base Level Engineering (BLE) is an efficient modeling and mapping approach that aims to provide technically credible flood hazard data at various geographic scales such as community, county, watershed, and/or state level. This data is meant to complement the current effective Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) data, but not replace it."

In an effort not to duplicate some efforts, we have contacted the US Army Corps of Engineers to do the City's drainage comprehensive plan. Once all stakeholders are able to meet and discuss the scope of the project in more detail, they will provide the City with a Cost Sharing Agreement. Once we have this agreement, we will submit it to City Council for approval.

Also, we are members of the FloodWise Communities that will also help with this endeavor. FloodWise Communities, a "National Academy of Sciences Gulf Research Program project, is designed specifically to support communities interested in beginning or enhancing existing climate adaptation, hazard mitigation, or stormwater management plans with a fundamental step: the vulnerability assessment." A special thank you to our Public Works Director Alex Sanchez for his continued efforts.

Process

Context: Government is designed to move slowly. It is designed to have many eyes and viewpoints review it and offer improvements before a vote. Recently, most items have come to the council without staff recommendations or citizen committee review. Often these complex issues receive a swift vote.

Question: Are decisions being made out of public view and then "rubber-stamped" in official meetings? As a council member, will you insist on proper channels and processes, i.e., staff recommendations, citizen committees, then council review?

Candidate answers

Dalton: No response

Hunter: No response

Ricco: No decisions are being made out of public view. No decisions are being rubber-stamped. Staff recommendations are always considered and highly valued.

Building Safety

Context: The condo collapse in Surfside, FL, has led many SPI residents and property owners to wonder if something like that could happen here. It already did. The (locally) famous Ocean Tower implosion was an example of a failure in engineering leading to significant financial losses (thankfully, no losses of life). As the island expands to the north, many developments will be constructed outside the city limits.

Question: What role should the City play in preventing disasters like Surfside from happening here? What lessons from Surfside should SPI examine for potential implementation?

Candidate answers

Dalton: No response

Hunter: No response

Ricco: The city released this statement on this item in case you missed it, here it is: “South Padre Island, TX, Oct. 5, 2021: In part due to recent events in Florida regarding a building collapse, and as a precautionary measure, due to the harsh environment for existing South Padre Island buildings and structures, City officials and staff of the City of South Padre Island recognize the importance to remind all property owners of their responsibility to maintain their property in a good and safe condition.

Please remember that it is the responsibility of property owners, and their appropriate representatives, to maintain their property in a good and safe condition, including all parking garages and all other accessory structures. See Texas Property Code Sections 82.107 and 81.204 regarding the responsibility to maintain condominiums.

This duty and responsibility to maintain property in a good and safe condition includes making all necessary repairs according to City Building Codes and to regularly inspect all sections of the property, including accessory structures, for corrosion, wear and tear, water leaks, and all other possible defects, dangerous conditions, and areas of concern, including a structural integrity inspection, preferably by a certified engineer.

The City of South Padre Island has enacted strict building codes, needed in a coastal area, and have adopted Model Building Codes that all construction projects must comply with.

However, it is the property owner’s responsibility to maintain, repair, inspect and keep your property in a safe and good condition to protect your inhabitants and the general public from any dangerous conditions.

If any assistance is needed from City staff, or if you have any questions about the City’s Building Codes, please do not hesitate to contact the Building Department at (956) 761-8104. Property owners should be receiving this letter in the mail soon.

Thank you for your consideration and anticipated cooperation.”

As for blighted buildings, I am happy the city passed my resolution to create the Substandards Board which I have chaired for the past two years. During this time, we have worked with property owners to address any and all code violations and what corrective actions have been needed to bring these locations like the old Chaos building to compliance.

Food Trucks

Context: We seem to be going from one food truck lawsuit to another. In the first lawsuit, the Mayor publicly stated that the City was trying to protect residents' health, but the City did not raise that issue in the appeal. The City is spending a lot of money on these lawsuits.

Question: Why? What are the citizens being protected from? Why was this not discussed in an open session in the city council meeting?

Candidate answers

Dalton: No response

Hunter: No response

Ricco: I am not sure where you are getting your information but to be clear the city is only in one Lawsuit, so we are not going from one lawsuit to the other. When the ordinance was first passed the city wanted to take a cautious approach, it was a new concept for SPI. The Ordinance created a cap in the # of Mobile Food Unit’s to observe how the new food truck concept was progressing. Later demand led to an increase in the # of MFU’s/. State Law require a central commissary and there are none on the Island. The City in an attempt to help the MFU’s allowed for a substitute commissary solution by partnering with a local restaurant. Texas Municipal League Risk pool assigned defense at no cost to the City, this has been stated many of times. We expect a verdict in the next six months.

Workforce Housing

Context: Nearly every business on SPI is short of employees. The hospitality industry is historically one of the lowest-paying industries in the country, but it comprises an overwhelming percentage of the SPI workforce. At the same time, we are struggling to attract young families to the island. The federal government has tax credit programs to develop high-quality, affordable workforce housing.

Question: Should the City investigate Workforce Housing to attract more workforce to live on the island? Should the City investigate childcare as another avenue to attract more of the island workforce to live here?

Candidate answers

Dalton: No response

Hunter: No response

Ricco: Texas legislature severely limited the ability for municipalities to raise taxes more than 3% a year. How is the City going to fund these items? If there is demand, then the market will provide the solution. Our role as a City is not to compete with the private sector.

Sports Facilities

Context: In the mayoral campaign, the Mayor frequently mentioned youth sports as a potential driver of tourism during the non-peak season. In parallel, many island residents have asked for a Pickleball Center and a lap swimming pool. Mayor Patel previously mentioned Beach Volleyball as a sport that would leverage the image of the island. The legislature has recently put severe limitations on school districts developing athletic facilities.

Question: Should SPI investigate the potential of Interlocal Agreements with Port Isabel and Laguna Vista to develop youth sport, competitive facilities off the island, where real estate prices make sports facilities more reasonable? Should SPI acquire land for a potential Beach Volleyball, Pickleball, and pool? With the legislature's limitations on school districts developing athletic facilities, should SPI confer with PIISD about codeveloping sport-tourism facilities?

Candidate answers

Dalton: No response

Hunter: No response

Ricco: Allow me to bring you up to speed on current events. We are working on a grant for adding Pickle Ball Courts behind our Historical Museum building. Additionally, we are in the process of reviewing the recently completed Johnson Study for the remodel and expansion of the convention center. The additional size and space will accommodate the growing needs for indoor volleyball, wrestling, cheer, basketball, and martial arts activities. Youth Sports Tourism is our future and a key component to expand and grow tourism. While Youth Sports Tourism is year-round, it will be impactful in bridging the gap between our summer months and winter season. One example is the Spartan race that was approved for 2022. This is expected to host 2,000+ Youths with average of 2.5 adults accompanying each participant.

Wi-fi and Cell

Context: With our small population (approx. 2,500), it is not economically feasible for providers to develop the infrastructure needed on SPI to handle peak tourism days where our population can approach 30,000. This means that we also do not have the infrastructure to capitalize on the "work from anywhere" professionals flocking to other beach communities worldwide. One of our council members recently stated that striving for "best in class" or "world-class" is not who we are. We should be happy with "what we have always been."

Question: Should SPI approach the major providers and investigate Public-Private Partnerships to develop world-class connectivity on our island?

Candidate answers

Dalton: No response

Hunter: No response

Ricco: I have to disagree with your assessment that we have not capitalized on the “Work from Anywhere” professionals and we are losing them. The VRM operators that I have visited with all have had record breaking years as it is reflected in our HOT tax collections.

When asked who is staying with them, they all paint a similar picture for the last 18 months. Families with kids “home schooling from the beach, young and old professionals working from the beach.”

However, if it is not “economically feasible” for private companies, how is it “economically feasible” for the City to provide these services. Fiscal responsibility is a primary function of any city government as the steward of your tax dollars and it is a responsibility that I take very seriously.

Palm trees and Butterflies

Context: A public survey indicated that a "tropical look with more palm trees and butterfly-attracting ground cover" is a priority of island residents.

Question: Does the City have a role in assisting/incentivizing in the development of a "tropical look with more palm trees and butterfly-attracting ground cover?"

Candidate answers

Dalton: No response

Hunter: No response

Ricco: The city cannot incentivize individuals to have landscaping with a tropical look. That being said, the City does allow for Natural Habitat designation on undeveloped lots. The Mayor also, reaffirmed the Monarch pledge several meetings ago.

Grid resilience

Context: Tropical Storm Ida decimated large swaths of the United States from Louisiana to New York. The loss of the power grid has repeatedly proved to be the most critical to returning and rebuilding. SPI has a maze of two types of power lines, transmission lines (the giant ones) and distribution lines (the smaller ones that bring the power to each building). Current sidewalk technology turns sidewalks into conduits for power, cable, phone, etc. The simplest way to make our grid more resilient is to get it underground. That would also enhance one of our most significant assets – sunsets!

Question: Should SPI investigate getting our grid underground? Should the City develop a 20-year plan for underground utilities? Should the City require all new developments to have underground power and cable?

Candidate answers

Dalton: No response

Hunter: No response

Ricco: In the 1980’s the city had a bond election to place all utilities underground. The vote failed. AEP has stated that it would now take over $150,000,000. This figure came from a meeting with AEP over 24 months ago. The estimate for just the transmission lines to be underground was $8,000,000/mile.

Since the mid 90’s the city has required all new developments and construction to have underground utilities. Villa Doce, Villas of South Padre, the Shores, and Las Velas are a few examples.

Raking the Beach

Context: Some believe that the beach should be left to 100% natural forces. Others believe that raking the beach during prime tourism months is essential for creating an excellent tourism experience and future real estate sales. The City has created four, at-grade beach access points which they state will be the main points for both flooding and beach erosion in the event of a major flood event. At the same time, they are treating raking seaweed into the dunes as a major threat.

Question: Should SPI prioritize an excellent tourist experience?

If the City has already created the major flood points and erosion points, why are we making an issue out of minor raking? Can’t we both protect the dunes and create a pristine tourist experience by raking seaweed into the dunes (as Texas A&M recommends)?

Candidate answers

Dalton: No response

Hunter: No response

Ricco: I have not seen a recommendation by Texas A&M that raking a beach should take place on a daily basis. I have seen notices from the GLO clearly stating that continuous raking increases erosion and that it has a negative impact to our topography. The GLO only allows raking on an emergency basis. We must protect our beaches as they are the life’s blood of our tourism industry.

Golf Carts

Context: The Golf carts are a tourist attraction and a great way for locals to get around the island. However, the accidents and wild driving on Padre Blvd. have continued to grow and carts seems more hazardous.

Question: What ideas do you have to improve the golf cart situation on the island.

Candidate answers

Dalton: No response

Hunter: No response

Ricco: I sponsored the resolution removing sound emitting devices from the carts and worked on the committee this summer to help create education on the proper use of horns. I plan to continue working with city staff, business stakeholders from the cart rental industry and local members of our community on solutions that protect the quality standard of living for all residents.

Beach Patrol

Context: Number one reason to visit South Padre Island is the beach, and with the beach comes a protected beach for the safety of all.

Question: What would you do to increase the budget so that we have adequate staff that will watch our beaches from Memorial Day to Labor Day?

Candidate answers

Dalton: No response

Hunter: No response

Ricco: According to Fire Chief Pigg, he is comfortable with the service level being provided. As he is the creator of this program, I would think he is the expert as to what is needed. I am always in support of funding our 1st responders with their needed requests. I am also confident the USLA competition that Chief Pigg brought here last summer will bear fruit as a recruiting tool next season.

SPI Vision

Question: What is your inspiration for running for office and our SPI community? How would you like to positively change and impact our community?

Candidate answers

Dalton: No response

Hunter: No response

Ricco: My inspiration for seeking re-election is my family and all my neighbors on the island. I want the best for my wife, my son, my daughter and my community. I want us all to be proud of South Padre Island. I believe I have demonstrated my work ethic as your council member. No one will work harder to make South Padre Island a better place to “Live, Work and Play.”

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