HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Island Strategic Action Committee - 03/01/2016 ISAC Meeting March 1,2016
5:30 PM
Holiday Inn,15202 Windward Drive,
Corpus Christi Texas 78418
Agenda Item:L Call to Order,Roll Call Presenter: Arlene Medrano
Meeting Called by: Libby Edwards Middleton,Chair Type of Meeting: Regular
Facilitator: Libby Edwards Middleton,Chair Note Taker: Arlene Medrano
Attendees:John White,Greg Smith,Carter Tate,Jay Gardner,Jyoti Rakesh Patel,David Perry,Alex Harris,William
Goldston,Libby Edwards Middleton,Brud Jones, Stan Hulse,Rick Sowash,Paulette Kluge,Bryan Gulley,Jay
Ellington,Kathleen Pratt
Absent:Jodi Steen,
Minutes
Agenda Item:IL Approval of Minutes Presenter: Libby Edwards Middleton
Comments: Changes to the February minutes regarding the engineering project status were requested by Carter Tate.
Libby Edwards introduced E.Jay Ellington to the Committee. Mr.Ellington spoke to the executive reorganization
underway at the City and how these changes could impact ISAC. Greg Smith asked Mr.Ellington to elaborate about
the staff changes ISAC will receive as a result of the City reorganization. Jay Ellington responded to Greg Smith by
stating the City would be reducing its staff at committee meetings to two individuals,an ACM and Staff Support unless
a City expert is required to respond or is requested by ISAC to follow up on specific questions. Also,an additional
item will be added to the ISAC agenda to provide the City a time to respond to any questions ISAC members ask of the
City from a previous meeting.
Action:Requested changes were noted by Arlene Medrano and will be reflected in an amendment to the February
ISAC minutes. Motion to approve February,2016 meeting minutes,2'by Carter Tate.All in favor.Passed.
City Staff/ISAC Action Items: Responsible Party Deadline
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Agenda Item:III. Consideration of Request for Excused Presenter: Libby Edwards Middleton
Absences
Comments: Stan Hulse and Rick Sowash were absent at February's meeting
Action:Motion to excuse Stan and Rick's absences was seconded and unanimously approved
City Staff/ISAC Action Items: Responsible Party Deadline
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Agenda Item:IV. Public Comment Presenter/s: 1.Kelly Byrom
2.William Butler
3.Thomas Mallow
4.Brandu Grahl
5.Joe Quanando
6.Terry Leber
7.Bob Currey
8.Mike Vann
Comments:
1. William Goldston-Re:Annika voiced commitment from the city to place area development plan revision in the
FY17 budget process. Mark Van Vleck confirmed that it is his intent to make the area development plan
revisions a part of the FYI budget process.Ask Libby to Call an emergency meeting to discuss the continuation
of updating the area development plan or table it. (fiirther discussion of this topic in section E)
2. Greg Smith-Greg volunteered to do research on plastic bags. Talked to South Padre Island who instituted a
plastic ban model. They feel it has eliminated some plastic bags on the beach. Port A ban went in effect on
January 1 st,currently no assessment of the affect because it's too soon.Greg brought brown bags to meeting to
show that businesses are adhering to ordinance. Raised cost of bags by 240%.In Port A,you have to ask for a
bag otherwise you will not receive a bag.
3. Carter-Mr.Jerry Watkins facilitates the annual Island Blast and fiindraiser for Island Fireworks display for 4th
of July.Wants fiinding for the event and would appreciate ISAC's support.It will be on the agenda next month.
4. Bryan Gulley-spoke with Arlene re:informal recommendation to fill 3 vacancies by forming a subcommittee.
5. Kelly Byrom-has lived on the Island for 12 years. Concerned with beach sand movement. Requests beach
superintendent,Russell Armstrong,with a complete presentation and reasoning for the movement of sand.The
sand is being heightened...no vehicular access to the water at this time. Could not access jetties in a safety
vehicle. The sand will be too hot to be of any use to any beach goer.Wants ISAC to place on agenda for April.
See artist drawing.Kelly disagrees with Russell and no access to beach.
6. William Butler-grew up here.Been coming to this beach forever.Making beach soft at waters edge.Don't have
access to the beach. When the wind shifts,the parking places created,wind blows back to you.People are not
going to walk across the hot sand. Concerned about access to waters edge for wheel chaired individuals.
7. Thomas Mallow-moved to the Island one year ago.Notices that very few people observe speed limit here.Plans
to put additional speed limit signs on Windward drive or anywhere else on the Island?Requests response back.
8. Brandu Grahl-Re:Beach Maintenance.Invites Russell Armstrong to ISAC to provide explanation.Please add
to the agenda.
9. Joe Quanando-has been here for 4.5 years.One thing that brought him here is access to the beach.Are beaches
public areas?Was an EI study constructed for this project?Re:building road requires certain requirements....Is
construction of dunes restricting free access to the beach? Under ADA title 3...public access to the
disabled....Has the response time for life guards and emergency crews been increased?Ambulances cannot get
over the dunes to get to people?Where will life guard stands be placed?Who is fiinding this?
10. Terry Leber-Wrote article in Island Moon...walks to beach...2 years ago he quite walking the beach because
there was garbage,standing water,and brown slime,and aggressive vehicles(cars driving over the speed limit).
Went to Packery and aggressive dogs were the problem. He then returned to the seawall and noticed the City
cleared the seawall. City kept bringing in more sand...there's enough height on the sand that the debris goes
back into the water.Talking about the 3,000 feet in front of the seawall.
11. Bob Currey-lived here for 20 years.Active in getting sand off the seawall.Believes roadway is good idea,but
sand may be too soft.Used to have cars zipping back and forth.Law states that vehicles have to be 50 feet away
from the water. Don't want cars all the way up to the seawall.Wants to see final plan.Had to stop some work
because of Spring Break.Employees working Sunday-Wednesday.
12. Mike Vann-Just drove the beach and sand is really high.What happens when someone drives over the high pile
of sand and hits folks sitting on the other side thinking he's in a sand dune.As seasons change,the tides will
change.Lake levels at 46%.
Action:Place Island Blast on April Agenda
City Staff/ISAC Action Items: Responsible Party Deadline
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V. Ongoing Business
Agenda Item:A Follow Up on Staff Action Items Presenter: E.Jay Ellington
Comments:Jay Ellington made comments about a number of requested items
1. PR22 Bridge—Development MOU is still under consideration by the developer and the city regarding funding
and requirements.
2. Bond 12 JFK infrastructure Project—Contractors have begun concrete roadway installation. Work will be
suspended during spring break
3. Beach Access 3a&2—Project still in design phase because a portion of the property is privately owned.
4. Regional Parkway study continues-will continue stakeholder meetings. Projected completion is early this
summer.
5. Left turn lane at Commodores—The City has completed a survey on the PR22 SB right turn lane and is
currently reviewing the options for two right turn lanes from commodores onto 361
6. Padre Island Dr & Aquarius signal project—TxDOT approved splitting the project scope to allow two
contractors. Bids are scheduled to come in this week
7. Billish Park—Project design is complete and is being prepared for the bid documents
8. Seawall Property—sent out a letter to Maybeth Christensen concerning the responsibilities from the city's
perspective. This information is to be shared with all related property owners
9. PR22 Signs-The City asked TxDOT to add more speed limit signs on PR22,Signs will be installed if justified.
10. Verdemar & Jackfish Intersection - TXDOT will consider placing directional islands on PR22 has a
countermeasure,TxDOT is currently studying said intersection to make a recommendation.
11. The city is in the process of establishing a public hearing for proposed bridge construction. Jay read from the
draft public hearing document.
12. John White-very little progress over the past 3 years for April/May.Project should have been finished a long
time ago.People have put a lot of time and money into this project.Hope to get this going with some haste.
13. Ricky Daly - PIO for TXDOT CC District. Christopher Amy - working closely with the City to create
environmental document. Received last set of information this afternoon required to advertise for a public
hearing. TXDOT is reviewing the City's public hearing notice. Ricky- Public hearing (30 days notice) and
public comment(45 days). Moved as quickly as information was received. The City has to receive comments
and respond to comments and make any necessary changes. TXDOT has 10 days to conduct admin
completeness review. Then TXDOT has 30 days to conduct a technical review. The City has an indeterminate
amount of time to respond to comments from TXDOT. FONSI or not. This is the standard procedure that has
been known to all parties.
14. Greg-30 day notice period? Can run concurrently with 45 days. 130 days is a best case scenario...These are
different comments...When EA is ready for public review then there will be comments to address after that.
15. Carter-Whether MOU with the developer not signed or agreed to...will it delay the process?Now that TXDOT
piece is in place.Hope to have an MOU in place before moving forward.
16. William-since EA is not in hand...would City enter into an MOU?Wes said he would get MOU finished before
he left. City is trying to move this as expeditiously as we can.
17. Greg-seeing best case scenario that documents will be finished in September.None of this process is new,so
why was ISAC told it would be posted in February.
18. Greg-if no right away exists then could the road be closed. Trying to get a right of way. The City could lose
3A.
19. Alex Harris-had meeting with the Corps regarding access toad 3a to make sure that the public had an easement.
20. Greg-"right hand turn lane" -is the right hand turn lane possible? Sent City crews to look at intersection.
Couldn't get any movement from consultant so City sent own staff.Massed arm is a challenge.
21. Greg-Light at Aquarius-bids tomorrow.Indication is that the City will receive bidders.
22. Oleanders at Verdemar were cut down.Thank you.Intersection is safer.
Action:
City Staff/ISAC Action Items: Responsible Party Deadline
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Agenda Item:B Engineering Projects Status Presenter: E.Jay Ellington
Comments:
Advisory Committee Updates-STRUCK FROM AGENDA
Action:
City Staff/ISAC Action Items: Responsible Party Deadline
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Agenda Item:C Beach&Park Management Presenter:
Comments:
Beach Status—Presentation from Deidre Williams—Coastal Research Scientist.
1. City was recipient of enhanced amounts of sand. City is just now starting to attack this great resource(sand).
2. Have to change approach to beach operations seasonally to assist in stabilizing the beach. Have an extreme
beach width at Packery Inlet(500-600 ft wide beach).No natural slope.It's experimental and work in progress
to move sand around the beach.
3. Big packer channel survey done over the last couple of days to determine what to do with the sand.
4. Shoreline:crews were always moving the sand seaward.Where is the shoreline?Everything is done in relation
to mean high or high water.
5. Measure to elevation of 1.2
6. Water level higher than MHHW.Have to plan for before and after MHHW events.
7. Never ending advance of the Shoreline lentil hurricane Ike in 2007. Within one year back to before. October
2015 data is most recent available.
8. In the past we were pushing sand out because beach is wide enough.
9. Going to begin moving sand north and south of the Packery Channel.
10. Don't want to see high piles of sand.We want to move it gradually down the beach.
11. Comparison of South Packery and South End NPI seawall. Plan is to gradually move sand southward. Can't
maintain a 200 foot wide beach.
12. There is an entire section of beach in the water...we can't just push the sand into the water.Bars are developing
in the winter.If we keep placing more and more sand in the water we are causing bar development and shoaling
offshore.
13. 13 foot at the month of the Packery.
14. Adaptive management study.
15. Already started conversations with the county to help facilitate this.
16. This involves perpetual care over time.
17. Monthly meetings,sometimes more often to compare what we're seeing to what the data shows.
18. First priority is to maintain the stability and natural slope of the beach(not vehicular access).
19. Could have a reset button(storm)set before the City is done.
20. Alex-Hurricane Ike...Is it unusual for the flushing outward?This is the 2nd year we see scour in the winter.It
took away the beach at 1.2 feet.
21. Packery Channel sand-survey finished in the last 3 days.
22. Deidre would like to come back to the next meeting to discuss Packery Channel report.
23. Carter- a very shallow shoreline is much more dangerous than a deep shoreline. Moving the sand down the
beach makes better sense?Not sure what started offshore pushing of the sand.
24. Rick- current beach maintenance is to create berms/slopes. The areas where folks are concerned about the
berms. JP Luby surf park. Sand is planned to go south of the packery channel. Sand will be moved away?
There's not enough time...Hope to maintain beach at 1.2 -3 feet. It will be a gradual slope. It is a work in
progress. The first year that crew has worked through the winter...The sand will not always move in a timely
fashion. Spring Break plans take precedent over this moving of the sand.Need manpower,machinery and time
to move sand.
25. Greg to Jay-what are the budget plans for beach maintenance?The new money will help us deal with the long
hours crews are working to do what we need to do to increase maintenance levels.Is there a plan to move sand
laterally?
26. Deidre-When moving sand laterally occurs place in a containment area.Dynamic event may wash sand away,
this will help prevent this.
27. We've been in a holding pattern and have not seen recession occurring.That attests to the lateral movement of
sand.
28. How many cubic yards of sand need to be moved?At least 30,000 cubic yards(south of the Holiday Inn).There
was no net loss of volume along the seawall. This is the widest and largest volume of sand that we've seen in
years.
29. Boggy at the foot of some access roads.Water truck will run 7 days per week during spring break time period.
30. Jay—911 system will include Color Codes along sections of the beach to reduce response times to emergencies
Billish Park—Bid Process and Advertisement should take place in April or May
Watershore&Beach Advisory Committee Update-Finalized the fire ordinance. Signs are tip already stating not to
burn palettes and conches.Yearly beach maintenance workshop Invite city of south padre,Cameron county, et al. City
does not have authority to move sand below mean high tide right now,but it may be amended later this year.
Action:
City Staff/ISAC Action Items: Responsible Party Deadline
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Agenda Item:D Plan CC Comprehensive Update Presenter: E.Jay Ellington
Comments:Development Services and planning commission are charged with reviewing that item.Working there way
through that to take back to City Council.
Action:
City Staff/ISAC Action Items: Responsible Party Deadline
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Agenda Item:E Mustang/Padre Island Development Plan Presenter:
Subcommittee
Comments: Subcommittee has met twice.Environmental and land use section. Next week they will meet on
transportation. Continue to do a volunteer effort on the document or cease or decease?
Carter-hates to push down the road 2 years.
The City will move forward with its update...ISAC would have a document to hand them once the City begins.
Brud Jones-member terms may expire...
Subcommittee will continue reviewing area development plan
Action:
City Staff/ISAC Action Items: Responsible Party Deadline
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VI. New Business
Agenda Item: a Corpus Christi Downtown Management Presenter: Terry Sweeny
District Presentation
Comments:
Corpus Christi Downtown Management District Presentation-Terry Sweeny has implemented a successful area
development plan.Municipal Management District. Started in 1993 by petition.Residents voted to levy fee to increase
their services.Property owners voted to renew the fee for another 10 years.Developed a 3 year work plan.Downtown
is property owner oriented and not merchant owner oriented.Dine Downtown event Assess parking downtown.Have
not received any TIRZ funding.
Action:
City Staff/ISAC Action Items: Responsible Party Deadline
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Agenda Item:b Traffic Device at Intersection of Verdemere Presenter: Janice Mentor
&Jackfish Presentation
Comments:
Janice Mentor gave a Presentation regarding the intersection at Verdemer and Jackfish
TXDOT proposed turning islands will not suffice.Intersection needs a traffic light. How many have to die in order to
put a light at this intersection? Compared light at Aquarius to the need for a light at Verdemar Tortuga Harbors-
undeveloped streets should be taken into consideration. Seriously consider this item.Naismith Engineering was hired
for initial development project.Who will pay for a traffic light?If intersection qualifies as a hazardous intersection,it
could qualify for grant funding.
Bryan Gulley-agrees with request for lights at this intersection.There is also no crosswalk for children to walk across
the intersection.
Plan the intersection for future development on the Island.
Rick-May be time to address slowing down the speed limit on PR22.
Kent Stallings-need a traffic light. There have been 6 deaths.Put in plastic bollards.Flashing lights for intersection.
Have 200 signatures on petition for lights.
Greg-this is a non-aligned intersection. Streets are 50 feet off. Take some direction from the board.
Ishmael Soto,TXDOT-misaligned intersection needs room and right of way,utilities will be a big cost to buy or
relocate.Directional islands could work. Should be able to get cars where they're going,but no 90 degree turns.
Signal will still also require work in the median. Signal would not help too many of the crashes because some of the
accidents are as a result of people running red lights.Directional islands do help. Serious crashes are when people try to
drive all the way across PR22.
John White-take all of this under consideration and place on future agenda.Place on April agenda.
Captain Breedlove is happy to work to assist with traffic issues.
Action:Place On April Agenda
City Staff/ISAC Action Items: Responsible Party Deadline
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Agenda Item:c Presentation of Awards to Past ISAC Presenter: Libby
Chairs
Comments:
Presentation of Awards to Past ISAC Chairs
Presentation to Greg Smith.Public participation is so important.Not much progress in the first couple of years,but the
City is responding.Hope progress doesn't end with staff pulling back.Hopes the City reconsiders the cut back of City
staff participation.
Presentation to John White.Has been vice-chair of this committee since its inception.
Action:
City Staff/ISAC Action Items: Responsible Party Deadline
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Adjourned by Brud Jones, 2nd by Rick. 8:15 PM