By: Dianté Marigny
editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com
Independent investigator Wayne Dolcefino has released the third installment of his ongoing YouTube series examining various issues, including the City of South Padre Island’s proposed convention center expansion.
In the video, Dolcefino raises concerns about the project’s cost, bidding process, and transparency, while also drawing comparisons to other convention center controversies he has investigated in Texas. He focuses much of his criticism on the project’s estimated $120 million price tag and the use of venue tax revenues collected since 2016.
Former South Padre Island mayor and hotel developer Barry Patel is featured in the video, questioning whether the island can support a convention center of that scale. Dolcefino also highlights that the Cameron County Commissioners Court recently denied the city’s request to expand the facility, in part due to earlier design plans that would have impacted a migratory bird habitat.
According to Dolcefino, public records obtained by his team show that nearly $3 million has already been spent on design work by Gignac Architects. He said some city council members were not made aware of certain invoices before they were paid.
The video scrutinizes the selection of Fulton Construction as “construction manager at risk” for the project. Dolcefino points to scoring sheet changes, a higher management fee in Fulton’s revised bid, and the fact that a lower-priced competitor, SpawGlass, was not awarded the contract. He also references a past FBI raid on Fulton’s Corpus Christi office, though no charges have been mentioned in connection with that investigation.
Dolcefino said his questions to city officials about the scoring and selection process have gone unanswered. He also reports that the Cameron County District Attorney’s Office has opened an investigation into the possible illegal withholding of public records related to the project.
The City of South Padre Island has declined to comment on Dolcefino’s allegations.
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