HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Island Strategic Action Committee - 03/05/2019
Holiday Inn Express
15209 Windward Drive
Corpus Christi, TX 78418
Island Strategic Action Committee
Regular Meeting Agenda
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, March 5, 2019 5:30 PM ISAC Agenda
I. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL
Chair Jay Gardner called the meeting to order at 5 :30 p .m . City Staff Rozie Canales called roll .
Present Members (9) Jay Gardner, Brud Jones, Rick Sowash, David Perry, Carter Tate,
Cheri Sperling, Charles Knoll, Stephan Noack and Jerry Watkins
Present Ex-Officios (5) Cliff Schlabach, Dotson Lewis, Paulette Kluge, Keith McMullin and
Dan McGinn
Absent Members (4) Libby Edwards, Stan Hulse, Jodi Steen and Aaron Huffman
Absent Ex-Officios (2) Bryan Gulley and Keith Selman
Present City Staff (2) Darren Gurley and Rozie Canales
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY 5, 2019
Motion by Vice-Chair Brud Jones to table the minutes until the next meeting to give the committee time to
review and for correction of Item VII. Identify ISAC Agenda Future Items, No. 1, to read: Update on the “hole”
in place of “pole” at St. Bartholomew and Windward.
Second by: Chair Jay Gardner.
Motion carried by unanimous vote.
III. CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FOR EXCUSED ABSENCES
Absences: Libby Edwards, Stan Hulse, Cheri Sperling, Jerry Watkins and Stephan Noack were absent on
February 5, 2019.
Motion by Committee Member Carter Tate to approve the excused absences.
Second by: Committee Member Rick Sowash.
Motion carried by unanimous vote.
IV. PUBLIC COMMENT
No Public Comment.
V. ONGOING BUSINESS for Discussion/Possible Action
1. Ex-Officio Members’ Updates
Dan McGinn, Planning Commission – Mr. McGinn stated the City is doing much in the area of planning but
nothing currently affecting the Island.
Cliff Schlabach, Watershore & Beach Advisory Committee – Mr. Schlabach stated the WBAC had their
first field trip touring the new Beach Op facility and the beaches. He added they were treated to a slide
presentation by Beach Ops regarding sand management, trash collection, beach signage and maintenance
thereof, ADA mats, turtle protection and beach rescue operations. Mr. Schlabach informed the ISAC of their
next field trip on May 2nd at 4:30 pm and gave an update on their recent meeting. He stated the WBAC
discussed Proposition A and Bond 2018 under new business, and under old business, they discussed the
beach cameras, Packery Channel permits and their progress, and the need to renew the beach maintenance
permit expiring in 2022. Mr. Schlabach informed the ISAC that the GLO had received money from FEMA to re-
nourish North Beach and that would be taking place this year. He shared the items to be discussed at their next
meeting, which included inviting the ICM to address Parks Op employee salaries.
Keith McMullin, Nueces County Water Control & Improvement District #4 – Mr. McMullin informed the
ISAC of two significant Mustang Island tracts that may be of interest to them. The smallest of the two is a 3½
acre commercial zone lot located at the corner of Zahn Road and Hwy 361, listed publicly at 1.8 million. The
second is a 541-acre tract, which includes the marina basin, and is referred to by many people as the
Brookdale Property. He added that it is the last major PUD in Port A and it has received the green light from
the seller to list nationally for 35 million dollars. It is the last big platted approved development opportunity in
Port Aransas City Limits.
Dotson Lewis, Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee – Mr. Lewis stated that the new Parks and Rec
Director was hired with a starting date of April 1st. He discussed disk golf equipment at Billish Park as well as
other parks and plans to research it further. He also stated that the Interim Parks & Rec Director spoke with the
POA board regarding clarification of maintenance. On a different note, he asked if anyone knew of any living
WWII Veterans because there is a special celebration coming up on March 16th at the International Airport,
celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Normandy Landing. Mr. Lewis added that Veterans would be honored
and C47s would be present for anyone wanting to take a ride. He also stated that there were several items the
committee wanted to discuss and advise the City Council such as the sports complex, tennis courts, and splash
pads. He discussed the Community Enrichment Fund, stating that if not spent within seven (7) years, funds
would go back. He ended his update stating the PRAC has many things stacking up that they need clarified.
Paulette Kluge, Conventions & Visitors Bureau - Ms. Kluge updated the ISAC on legislative items, HB1300
and HB233. She stated HB1300 would allow for oyster farming in Texas and Todd Hunter is carrying the bill.
She continued that HB233 restores the uniform school start date for Texas School districts, adding that State
law has traditionally required School districts to begin classes no earlier than the fourth Monday in August.
HB233 would once again require school districts to follow a uniform September to May School year. The last
legislative update she gave was on maintaining funding for tourism promotion in the State budget. She stated
that every legislative session, the hotel and travel industry advocate to protect the 1/12 dedicated portion of the
state hotel occupancy tax that is used to promote Texas as a travel destination as part of the state
appropriations bill. Ms. Kluge said that funding was cut in the last session and currently, the state budget bill
allocates the full 1/12 dedicated portion of the state hotel tax in the state budget for tourism promotion. Ms.
Kluge added that the CCCVB has advertising campaigns going on in surrounding cities like San Antonio, Austin,
Houston, Dallas and the Valley. Her last update was on the increase of sales tax receipts. She said January’s
sales tax receipts are the second highest of any month ever and up 11% versus last January.
2. Beaches & Parks Update - Gulf Beach & Natural Resources Superintendent Darren Gurley updated the
ISAC on Spring Break preparations. He stated they are close to being ready, adding that his crew assisted with
New Port Pass for about a month. Mr. Gurley stated that it was decided not to have the traffic light controls this
year during Spring Break because of too much confusion the year before. He said they had a premeeting and
discussed it with the Police Dept and they agreed. They will, however, have an emergency lane for emergency
vehicles by the dunes. Mr. Gurley shared good news about the showers. He said they would be temporarily
stationed at 3A in time for Spring Break with hopes to have it in a permanent place by April. He also informed
the ISAC that he would be presenting the showers/water lines at the Beach Management Advisory Committee
(BMAC) on March 20th. Mr. Gurley then updated the ISAC on the ATONS, stating they are 90% complete and
the pole lights have been delivered from undercoating made of black iron and sprayed with bed liner coating
for durability. He ended by stating that all the signs are up except for 2, which are on order.
3. Island Projects Update – Dan McGinn, Planning Commission Director gave the update on the Island
Engineering projects as follows: NPI Beach Access Roads – The Dune Protection permits for both roads were
approved by the BMAC on February 20th; PR 22 Bridge – City is preparing bid documents for re-bid and
tentatively scheduled within the next 60-90 days; PC Rehab – Submittal of a Nationwide Permit application for
reaches 1,2 & 3 and ongoing FEMA coordination; PC Monitoring – Scheduled for City Council March 19th &
26th; PC Dredging – USACE submitted the biological assessment to fish and water life as part of a formal
section 7 consultation. Also, anticipate receipt of executed dredging permit in March or April of this year; PC
Pavilion will be out for bid in the next 90 days; PC showers at Access Road 3A – Activity covered under Beaches
& Parks Update by Darren Gurley.
4. Bond 2018 Update – Dan McGinn, Planning Commission Director reviewed the 8-point bond process
from Finance that had been presented at a previous ISAC meeting and then gave an update on the project’s
timeline, stating the projects under Prop B (including No. 9, JFK Causeway Access Road Improvements, $1.5
million) will be bid in the Fall of 2019.
5. TIRZ #2 Updates – Dan McGinn, Planning Commission Director stated the only TIRZ#2 update was the
approval of the monitoring contract scheduled for City Council March 19th and 26th.
The Chair mentioned the ISAC members that were terming this year and thanked them for their service on the
committee. Stan Hulse served the committee for 7 years. Both Rick Sowash and Kathleen Pratt served for 6
years. Charles Knoll served for 2 years and was not renewing his term in 2019. The Chair also reminded all in
attendance that the deadline to apply was at the end of business day on March 12th.
VI. NEW BUSINESS for Discussion/Possible Action
1. Packery Channel Monitoring Program: 2018 Briefing
A. History & Monitoring Program Overview (previously presented at WBAC) to be presented April 2nd.
VII. IDENTIFY ISAC FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
None.
VIII. SCHEDULE NEXT MEETING
Date: April 2, 2019 @ 5:30 p.m.
Location: Holiday Inn Express
IX. ADJOURNMENT - Meeting Adjourned at 6:21 p.m.
Motion by Committee Member Brud Jones to adjourn.
Second by Committee Member Charles Knoll.
Motion carried by unanimous vote.