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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Island Strategic Action Committee - 11/06/2012Island Strategic Action Committee Padres Isles Country Club, 14355 Commodores Dr., Corpus Christi, TX 78418 November 6, 2012 5:30 PM — 6:30 PM Meeting Minutes 1. Call to order ➢ Chair called the regular meeting of the Island Strategic Alliance Committee to order at 5:38 PM on November 6, 2012. 2. Roll Call ➢ Chair calls the roll. Committee Members Present John A. White Sr. Gabriele Hilpold Charles Mader William F. Goldston Gregory Smith Jyoti Rakesh Patel Jodi Steen Ralph Tapscott Stan Hulse Jay Gardner — Ex Officio Wes Pierson — Ex Officio Committee Not Present: Paul Schexnailder J.J. Hart John Trice Alex Harris Staff Members Present: Natasha Fudge Michael Morris Derek Herzog Alyssa Michelle Barrera 3. Approval of Minutes for October ➢ October 2, 2012 minutes were approved. Motioned by John White and seconded by Charles Mader. 4. Public Comment Maybeth Christensen: City attorney put out word city will not be enforcing duck hunting. Gabriele Hilpold: Lets save that discussion till we get to it on the agenda. John White: The street lights on either side of SPID, from bottom of bridge on, belong to city. There is one just as you arrive at Frost Bank, on the right side of the road, it's been laying in the ROW over 3 months. Traffic engineering was notified over 2 months ago, light still lying there, and we know nothing about repair. * NEXT AGENDA 5. Impact Fees & Park Maintenance Michael Morris: Development Code and Platting Ordinance has a park development fee on any subdivision that's platted. All funds can be used for capital improvements on parks within a mile and half on subdivision where improved. However, the annexation agreement in 2002 with the Island, exempted Island from any park development fees, so there is no funding available and will there not be. Ralph Tapscott: Is it time to revisit that? Gabriele Hilpold: Is there anything that can be done? Michael Morris: I'll talk to Development Services, and see, they're the ones that control the ordinance, and the money comes to us. Wes Pierson: We can certainly set up a talk and see if it makes sense. Jodi Steen: Could the building permit have a fee attached to it, specific to the Island? John White: We do not have any new subdivisions, they've all be platted for 35 -40 years. Michael Morris: Right, I think that's why the annexation agreement says what it says. Greg Smith: Could the property owner's association change what it did 10 years ago and have it effective for future development? Michael Morris: That's a Development Services question and annexation agreement is that governs that so I'm not sure what it takes to change that. Maybeth Christensen: The annexation agreement was actually in 1982. Gabriele Hilpold: Would it make sense or would anyone be interested in looking into this? Jodi Steen: I would. Charles Mader: yes Ralph Tapscott: Yes. Jay Gardner: Isn't there a parks master plan update going on? Would that be a time to look at addressing that one mile radius? Michael Morris: We'll the plan has been adopted; we're now in the process of extending the requirement to a 5 mile radius. Gabriele Hilpold: Once you have maps done with 5 mile radius, could you send that to Jodi and Ralph? Michael Morris: Yes, it's going to council around the first of January. Jodi Steen: What about the Bond election though, it had something included in that for us? Michael Morris: Yes, Proposition 4 includes improvements to the five regional parks around the City and Billish is one of those. We're going to add irrigation and add grass. John White: Well if this is considered a regional park shouldn't the community pay for the bathroom facility in Billish park now, $1500 a year? Micheal Morris: We'll we'd have to pull one off the beach to do that. Derek Herzog: We couldn't pull one off the beach because they're HOT funded and we can't fund parks with HOT money. John White: Well we have a sticky situation. We've got 10,000 people out here; we've got a regional park about to happen. And for the last 6 % years, the community paid $1500 year for Port -A -Potty here, that really doesn't sound right in the scheme of things. We just keep getting "there's no money," nothing happens; they won't take it off the beach. Something has to happen. I'm only suggesting this but I'm willing to have a public removal of the Port -A -Potty and have the news come out and say that Padre Island is losing their Port -A -Potty because the City doesn't want to be involved. That's the last thing I want to do, but the kids at school collect aluminum cans to contribute $500, the Rotary Club pays $500 a year, and the Kiwanis Club. It's now gotten beyond a good thing, 6 years. Whatever you could do we would appreciate. Gabriele Hilpold: If we think about a longer term solution, maybe we could even do a permanent bathroom. Because in the long run, if you take it down 20 years, then it makes no sense to have a Port -A -Potty there at all, and its ugly and its really nothing that we should have. Maybe this is something we could work on, John. All of our events are growing. Maybe we should, from our side, start collecting money when we have raises for a restroom facility, even a small one. Maybe city can come up with a match. Maintenance should be much cheaper and much simpler than a Port -A -Potty and it would look so much better. Wes Pierson: You're probably right, it would look better, I'm not sure it would be less expensive. Michael Morris: Yeah, maintaining public restrooms is hard; they become more of an eye -sore. Stan Hulse: On the POA board we've been looking at putting together a Park Committee to look at one park at a time and Billish Park is the first one. We'd have it coincide obviously with Park improvements and the master plan that the City is doing, along with POA funds that could be possibly part of the matching funds that we're talking about. Gabriele Hilpold: I do think what we would need we could do this stuff with Wes and Michael but what we probably need is boots on the ground to raise matching funds. If we can find a group that would be willing to work with us, it would be very beneficial if it was someone who actually uses the park. If you have a list, if you have names for next time, let's get this going. Wes Pierson: I'm open to exploring options. Michael Morris: It's going to be a challenge. I'm not going to be negative; I'm going to be upfront. That bond money is all we have for capital improvements. Wes Pierson: Just a sense, $1,500 a year for 20 years is $30,000. That's a lot of money accept for when you talk about a restroom that's $100,000, that's 60 years' worth of Port -A- Potties, and then you've got to maintain it. It's an uphill climb and we have to be realistic, but that doesn't mean we don't look for a solution. Gabriele Hilpold: Do we have any kind of number for usage of the parks? Michael Morris: For West Guth and Cole Park we have numbers but most other parks we don't. Gabriele Hilpold: Billish Park is an issue for us because everyone who lives on the island knows that it's the only one being used. For us it's a big focus. Michael Morris: That's why we identify that as one of the regional parks. Ralph Tapscott: Wasn't there a survey done recently about park usage? Are there any parks on the island that are ready to be disposed of? Michael Morris: The results of our survey were that 70% of community used Cole Park, 10% West Guth, and everything else less than 1 %. So what we did was pick 7 areas, and decided which should be the feature park in each. Greg Smith: Is there any grant money out there? Michael Morris: Texas Parks& Wildlife got their budget cut and grant program was the first thing to go. It doesn't look good for the next few years. Jay Gardner: Where can we find a copy of the parks master plan? Michael Morris: Its online, if it's not on our site it's on the planning department's site. Wes Pierson: We can get the link to you. ** Gabriele Hilpold: Do you want to keep Billish Park specifically as a project on the agenda? ** Stan Hulse: As POA moves forward, we should have it on the agenda standing. 6. Wastewater Odors Natasha Fudge: Wastewater Department as unable to send a representative, they did if there was a person who had questions or comments have them call. Gabriele Hilpold: Have them call me because we have that issue and I'm always getting comments from same people. 7. Lights on HWY 361 Bridge Derek Herzog: Reported to TxDOT, it's on them to fix it, it doesn't belong to the City and it's been an issue for years. We have addressed it to TxDOT several times. Maybeth Christensen: Maybe I need to follow up with TOOT with my contact. John White: John — Light hanging causes a navigation problem and when you have tide coming in and going out, you can have a mess over there. Maybeth Christensen: They told me they were going to fix it, so we'll see. 8. Engineering Project Status Report ➢ Billings and Clems Natasha Fudge: MUA executed with TxDOT last week, bid are going to open for construction on the project tomorrow. We'll find if we're going with hot concrete or asphalt, and anticipate construction to follow in January if we can get lined up with the GLO and Texas Parks & Wildlife. ➢ Packery Channel Natasha Fudge: We're going to be doing additional dredging. We have a construction re- kickoff meeting tomorrow with contractor. He's going to be mobilizing to the site in the middle of November to dredge about 70K plus or minus cubic areas of sand. This will be within existing Corps permit and within the previous scope of beach expansion. We're going to keep the sand placement area as south as possible because that's where we see the most erosion. No increase in cost of contract, we had monies left over from existing contract. ➢ Park Road 22 Natasha Fudge: We had our first project coordination meeting this afternoon with Corps, TxDOT, our design consultant, and our permitting agent. No more schedule updates on that right now. However by November 15 ", our consultant is going to provide a 50% design on the wastewater lift station package. ➢ Alternate Water Supply Natasha Fudge: Also had meeting with Corps this afternoon, a pre permit application meeting with the Corps this afternoon. 60 -90 day approval process working towards moving this expediently with goal of being under construction by end of 2014, will verify. Natasha Fudge: Any questions? Ralph Tapscott: Do we know when Aquarius lights will happen. Natasha Fudge: no other info, waiting for AEP. Barricades to replace temporary barricades are in fabrication now and will be installed by next week. 9. Bond 2012 Report Natasha Fudge: We'll know pretty early which of the bond proposition have passed. Engineering department has been working to make sure selection of engineers and architects so that when we have official word as to which bond proposals have passed, we can go ahead by end of week. 10. Beach Management Derek Herzog: Regarding the beaches, everything is going great. We got all sand back to where we need it, rest of beach looks really good. We moved a bit from the Sea Wall, working with Holiday Inn and El Constante. We're letting beach regenerate and get back to normal, so you won't see equipment on the beach in the next few months. Starting February 1 we'll get ready for Spring Break. When access starts to become an issue we'll be out there. 2013 Parking Permits have arrived, they're going to be available by the first of December, and pink this year. Once we finish the audits we'll get a good idea of how many we sold, we'll have them before Christmas. Anticipating a mild winter and we'll still have staff on call. Gabriele Hilpold: In long run Greg, regarding cleaning method itself, nourishing the beach, what's our long term goal, from what have discussed with the erosion plan? Greg Smith: We need to stack at water's edge, how's the permit coming for that? Derek Herzog: We don't start amendment process till July 13. If we start before that we lose current permit, can't do anything till we're in the amending window. What we did up north was exactly what you're saying we took out the maintenance dunes that were there and stacking seaweed, so two years of storage. Jay can give a report with the Beach Maintenance Committee. Gabriele Hilpold: We'll Jay, you're with us right, on widening the beach instead of losing it? Derek Herzog: We're all on the same page, we're just defining it differently. Ralph Tapscott: As far as beach access goes, South Packery off Windward is pathetic. Derek Herzog: That part of the road is actually TxDOT. We take over where asphalt hits beach. The actual road itself is TxDOT, we'll keep sand off it but potholes and the like, I need to check but I'm sure its TxDOT. Ralph Tapscott: Well trenched something that must be like 8 inches deep and there are half a dozen potholes. Derek Herzog: TxDOT came in two years ago to pave some stuff and that appeared, I don't think it's our street departments. TxDOT takes care of all the other parts hitting the beach. Gabriele Hilpold: Who do you usually work with at TxDOT? Derek Herzog: Javier is who I really deal with at TxDOT. Gabriele Hilpold: Can Javier come to our next meeting? We have 3 or 4 issues that need to be addressed. ** 11. Duck Hunting Updates Stan Hulse: Last meeting we decided upon getting signs made. I did this before city attorney decided to send out this letter on non - enforcement. I haven't touched base with City staff on it, but I wish legal was here to clarify whether it would trump law. The State law he is citing trumps it in extraterritorial jurisdiction, which it's not, and area annexed by municipality after 1981. According to the City annexation map, area in question was annexed between 1970 and 1979, state law does not trump it, and City law should be enforced. Wes Pierson: Right now what we've determined is there isn't a lot of clarity in our state law, and there's not a lot of clarity in our city law. They're addressing it; hopefully we'll have something by next month. NEED LEGAL AT NEXT MEETING, Gabriele Hilpold: I don't understand why we need a clarification at all, we're not enforcing it, were just informing them that it's a law. It might be a good deal on a legal, but on a practical level this makes no sense. Wes Pierson: I think the city realizes it's an issue that needs to be fixed and we're trying to fix it. How did this get communicated? Dale: It was response from citizen who went from Nelda Martinez, who went to Carlos to citizen. The whole chain is in an email that went out old from Carlos' email. It doesn't say anything about signs, but says that state law trumps City law so we told police department not to enforce it. Stan Hulse: he Gabriele Hilpold: I do think it's important for legal to tell us what the law means but it shouldn't make the decision on what we can do in every instance. They're interpretation that if you don't do anything you don't run the risk of doing anything wrong, but we're not developing anything or improving anything that way. Charles Mader: Can we still put these up? Gabriele Hilpold: Yes, can we find out if we can keep the signs up ? ** Greg Smith: Put on next agenda for a motion, we would like to see the city clarify this, so at least the Mayor and the City Council are aware of our concerns. Ralph Tapscott: Last month it was mentioned, an issue of sign posts adding to costs, I don't know what issues we'd run into but I run Aquarius on a regular basis, those telephone poles are right at about 100 feet. Aquarius; could we put them on the poles? Jay Gardner: AEP won't allow anything on their poles. Garbiele Hilpold: Well placement is the next thing, but we need to move this forward first. 12. Schlitterbahn Updates Gabriele Hilpold: No update on Schlitterbahn, other than Paul will be here tomorrow. Just on track with postponements. 13. Schedule Next Meeting ➢ December 4 at 5:30 PM at Padre Island Country Club 14. Adjournment ➢ Motion to adjourn the meeting by Charlie Mader, second by Jodi Steen. Meeting adjourned at 6:27 PM.