By ARABELLA SERRATA
Staff Writer
The City of South Padre Island held a special meeting on March 19.
Blake Henry, CVB Executive Director, opened the comment period with a Spring Break business update. According to Henry, the city saw a 13% increase in VRM occupancy numbers compared to 2024. Hotel occupancy and general SPI businesses are also seeing an increase in occupancy and business. “Overall, the increase of families during spring break has been positive,” said Henry.
Mark Wiese of Seabreeze Beach Resort spoke about noise and “foul language” issues regarding Beach Waterpark and the Holiday Inn Beach Resort. According to Wiese, he has received many guest complaints about the noise from the waterpark and the issue has been going on for four years.
Carol Watson, a regular SPI visitor, spoke about Holiday Inn and its noise issues. Watson commented that the bass produced by the music was “unbearable,” and caused disruption throughout the night and through the month.
Watson also addressed the standing water at Beach Waterpark, alleging the water from the area pooled along one of the condos she owns. Ben Watson, Carol Watson’s husband and co-owner of their condos, echoed her statement.
The council approved invoices for payment, an update on the comparison of Feb 2024 and Feb 2025 building permit activity, and the March 5, 2025, regular city meeting minutes.
The city’s Independent Auditor’s Report was approved by the council and presented by Rodrigo Gimenez. He shared some financial highlights of the report. According to the document available on the meeting agenda, the assets and deferred outflows for SPI “exceeded its liabilities and deferred inflows” at the end of the most recent fiscal year. The total net position for SPI increased by over six million dollars during the current fiscal year. “As of the close of the current fiscal year, the City of South Padre Island governmental funds reported combined ending fund balances of $75,430,378. Approximately 16% of this amount, $11,955,950 is available for spending at the government’s discretion,” reads the report. The full report is available on the SPI city website.
Sofia Benavides presented the Cameron County Venue Tax Arena Project, which would add the Arena project to the already existing Cameron County Venue Tax. According to Benavides, the University of Texas at the Rio Grande Valley has pledged to utilize the arena for commencement rehearsals for graduating students in the Brownsville location. The council approved the project.
Victor Baldovinos provided an update on the Mobile food units [MFU] permits and regulatory compliance. According to Baldovinos, there is an “urgent increase in demand” for permit enforcement and a simultaneous decrease in the “willingness to obtain MFU permits.” The council decided to decrease the number of permits available from eighteen to twelve.
The amendment for the Padre Boulevard and Entertainment District Code had a public hearing for potential revisions. The proposed revisions would change to only require public hearings to change district boundaries.
The council approved amendments to the City Code of Ordinances chapter 20. The amendments include a “decrease in the number of required parking spaces through the In Lieu provisions” and the elimination of the “In Lieu Parking Fee Option.” The amendment also includes a new certificate of occupancy to be required when a “building is structurally altered, occupied, or changed in use,” according to the online documents.
The first hearing to repeal the current Padre Boulevard and Entertainment District Code and replace it with a new one as recommended by the Ad Hoc Committee, City Attorney, and Planning and Zoning Commission was held.
A budget amendment to use $36,900.00 from the general fund excess reserves to seal streets East Jupiter, East Hibiscus Street, and East Lantana Street was approved.
The possible purchase of real property was disregarded by the council due to the lack of a current purchase agreement.
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