From the desk of the Laguna Vista City Manager

Special to the PRESS

LV Residents and Friends,

This is to provide you a brief update on information that may be of interest to you.

Thanks to all of you for making our Christmas Tree Lighting and our decorating contests a complete success.

On behalf of the Town Council and Staff, we want to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Respectfully submitted,

Rolando

————-

Informational Meeting on Texas Open Carry Law

With the new Texas Open Carry law going into effect on January 1, 2016, Police Chief Tony David of the Laguna Vista Police Department is hosting an informational meeting to answer citizen questions about this new law. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 5, 2015 at 5:30pm at the meeting room at 122 Fernandez. The Open Carry law will allow a license holder to “open carry” a holstered handgun.

The public is invited to this informational meeting.

Code Enforcement Update

This is a friendly reminder on the following:

  1. Brush collection: Brush needs to be placed in front of your yard between the 10thand the 15thof the month. Brush placed before the 10th or after the 15th will be in violation of the ordinance and may result in a citation being issued. It is also in violation of this same ordinance to place brush across the street on a vacant lot or on an adjacent property
  2. Boats and Trailers: Boats and trailers need to be parked on prepared spaces. As per the ordinance, prepared space is a concrete slabs.
  3. Pets: Pets need to be kept on a leash or in a fenced area. They should not be allowed to be loose.
  4. Weeds and high grass: Properties with weeds or high grass in excess of 8 inches in height are in violation of the ordinance.
  5. Ditches/Culverts: It is the responsibility of the property owner to maintain the ditch and/or culvert in front of their property.

The Town is enforcing these ordinances in order to maintain a clean community. Our primary goal is compliance. Thank you for your efforts in maintaining your properties.

Vacant Lot Property Owners

The Town recently mailed out letters to vacant lot property owners advising them they need to either pick up the grass clippings and/or brush piles after they’ve cleaned and mowed their properties or have Republic Services to pick them up for them. We have a problem with these vacant lot property owners benefitting from collection services without paying for these services.

Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

The Town wishes to thank the following groups and their sponsors and respective schools for participating in this year’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony:

  1. Port Isabel High School Ensemble
  2. Port Isabel Mariachi Plata
  3. Port Isabel High School Silver Belles
  4. Port Isabel Junior High Cheerleaders
  5. Port Isabel Junior High Silver Stars
  6. Port Isabel Junior High Spirit Squad
  7. Boys and Girls Club of Laguna Madre
  8. Bay Area Christian Academy
  9. Derry Elementary/Garriga Elementary 23
  10. Derry Cheer Squad
  11. Hilltop – Christ’s Harbor Church

Special thanks to the following volunteers:

  • Pura Mireles, Library Director
  • Alma Deckard, City Secretary, and her family
  • Julio Olguin, Fire Chief (photographer)
  • Zachary Tamayo, Volunteer Firefighter (“Santa”)
  • Andres Mireles and AMI Kids
  • Gabby Bocanegra, Volunteer Firefighter (“Santa’s Helper”)

Thank you for making this annual event a complete success.

 

2011 Certificates of Obligation Update

At the December 8 regular meeting, the City Manager provided the Town Council an update on the 2011 Certificates of Obligation. The Town presently has $47,152.82 in available funds. In the past month, the Town had interest earnings of $.52 and no expenditures.

Roloff Park Tree Decorating Contest Winners

The Town is happy to announce this year’s winners of the Roloff Park tree decorating contest:

  • 1st place: Bay Area Christian Academy (tree 101)
  • 2nd place: Cherie Furbay (tree 707)
  • 3rd place: Friends of the Library (tree 505)

We encourage you to take a stroll on the walking trail at Roloff Park and see first-hand the superb job these three did in decorating their trees.

Congratulations to these three winners and special thanks to all those that participated in this contest.

Home Decorating Contest Winners

The Town is happy to announce this year’s winners of the home decorating contest:

  • 1st place: 809 Hallam Street: Frank and Faith Calderon
  • 2nd place: 440 Saunders Circle: John and Rona Hamlinck
  • 3rd place: 44 Whooping Crane: Bill Law

Congratulations to these three winners and special thanks to all those that participated in this contest.

Town Offices To Be Closed

The Town Offices will be closed on December 24, December 25 in observance of the Christmas holiday and on January 1 in observance of the New Year.

2015 Sales Tax Receipts

The figures below are the December sales tax receipts that are based on local sales activity that occurred in October.

Net Payment This Period Comparable Payment Prior Year % Change 2015 Payments To Date 2014 Payments To Date % Change
11,553 12,821 -9.88% 160,232 159,955 0.17%

 

We’ve experienced a decrease this month when compared to the same time last year.

 

Additionally, I’ve also taken the liberty of pasting a spreadsheet of the sales taxes the Town has received the three past fiscal years:

Month 2015-16 2014-15 2013-14
Oct 13,110 13,544 10,262
Nov 15,499 15,342 14,762
Dec 11,553 12,821 11,662
Jan   11,421 11,248
Feb   14,897 16,957
Mar   12,005 11,744
April   12,004 11,926
May   16,076 15,495
June   12,964 11,083
July   10,952 11,782
Aug   15,602 14,344
Sept   14,143 13,633
40,162 163,693 154,898

 

Rolando Vela

City Manager

Town of Laguna Vista

122 Fernandez Street

Laguna Vista, Texas 78578

 

Phone: (956) 943-1793

Fax: (956) 943-3111

Email: cm@lvtexas.us

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