By DIANTÉ MARIGNY
editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com
After more than a year of planning and discussion, Laguna Vista city leaders have officially broken ground on a long-awaited Town Hall expansion project designed to improve public meetings, court functions, and public safety operations — all while staying mindful of taxpayer dollars.
The groundbreaking ceremony, held Tuesday morning, April 21, marks the beginning of a project that City Manager Victor Treviño says will address several longstanding community concerns.
“This is something the council has been trying to work out for over a year,” Treviño said. “We were finally able to put the project out for bid and get it awarded, and now we’re moving forward.”
The new addition to Town Hall will include a dedicated council meeting room, space for municipal court, and accommodations for other city meetings and community events. By relocating those functions, the city will free up existing space inside the current building — allowing officials to expand the police department and nearly double its size.
“The police department is extremely small,” Treviño said. “Anyone in the community who has seen the size and condition of the current facility understands why this is so needed.”
The project was awarded to the lowest bidder at $165,500, with construction expected to be completed within approximately three months. Treviño noted that work has not yet officially begun due to ongoing voter activity at the facility, but construction is expected to get underway in the coming weeks following the May elections.
Despite its practical importance, Treviño acknowledged the expansion may not generate the same excitement as more visible community projects.
“If a city builds a swimming pool, people get excited,” he said. “This isn’t that type of project, but projects are done because they’re going to help the community.”
Still, the need has been clear — especially when it comes to public participation. Residents who regularly attend council meetings have voiced concerns about the current meeting room being too small and inadequate.
“People have complained about the meeting room,” Treviño said. “Now it will be more feasible for residents who want to attend and participate.”
Importantly, the project is being funded entirely through city resources, without the use of grant funding. Trevino emphasized the city’s effort to remain fiscally responsible.
“We’re trying to spend as little as possible because it’s taxpayer money,” he said. “We’ve had a surplus that has enabled us to move forward with this.”
Once completed, the expansion is expected to solve multiple issues at once — improving accessibility for residents, enhancing the functionality of city operations, and providing law enforcement with the space they need to better serve the growing community.
“It’s going to solve some very serious problems,” Treviño said.
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