SPI to discuss natural habitats

Special to the PRESS

South Padre Island’s City Council will hold their regular meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 5:30 p.m., at City Hall. The agenda includes a presentation by TxDOT (Texas Department of Transportation) on the replacement of the causeway lights.  The Council will be recommending the appointment of one representative to serve on the Advisory Committee for the Port Isabel Animal Shelter and the appointment of advisory committee members for the temporary animal shelter to be operated on the Island by the Friends of Animal Rescue.  The primary purpose of the temporary shelter will be to reunite lost domestic animals with their owners as quickly as possible or to foster or adopt the animals.  The Friends will maintain and clean the rescue center.  No City funds have been budgeted for this initiative.

The council will also consider approval of the first reading of Ordinance No. 11-21 amending Chapter 9 of the Code of Ordinances to provide for exemptions to the requirements of section 9-6 in order to establish criteria to designate certain areas as natural habitat lots. On May 18, the city council directed staff to work with the Keep South Padre Island Beautiful Committee to develop criteria for the exemption of certain properties with ecological habitat from the requirements in Chapter 9 related to garbage, trash, weeds and other waste materials. The amendments a include guidelines for awarding the habitat designation and requirements for maintaining the designation.  In order to be eligible for the habit designation, a lot must meet one of the following criteria: 1) it must have a natural dune; 2) it must have a wetland area; 3) it must contain primarily native plants and grasses with no more than 25 percent noxious or invasive grasses or weeds.  Lots also must be kept fee of debris, litter, or junk.  The new ordinance would also establish mowing guidelines for non-exempt lots.

To see this story in print, pick up a copy of the Oct. 17 edition of the Port Isabel South Padre Press or check out our E-edition by clicking here.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2011/10/18/spi-to-discuss-natural-habitats/

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