By JACQI LEYVA-HILL
Special to the PRESS
South Padre Island City Council approved multiple infrastructure and budget items during a special meeting held May 12, including funding tied to coastal erosion planning, fuel costs, Convention Center upgrades and a city website migration.
One of the largest discussion items involved a bayside living shoreline feasibility study. Council approved a $160,000 budget amendment as the city’s match for a nearly $408,000 Coastal Erosion Planning and Response Act project led by the Texas General Land Office.
Shoreline Director Christina Boburka said the study will evaluate erosion conditions at 10 bayside street endings and develop possible living shoreline alternatives.
“The General Land Office will pay for the rest,” Boburka said. “They are actually starting data collection this week.”
Boburka said the project will also include public workshops later this year.
During announcements, Mayor Patrick McNulty updated residents on ongoing American Electric Power infrastructure projects, including planned transmission line upgrades along Pondera Boulevard and Gulf Boulevard. He said supply-chain delays involving transformers and switchgear may require the temporary installation of a mobile generator skid during the next 18 to 24 months while a new gas-insulated substation (GIS) bunker is completed on the north end of the island.
McNulty said the hardened infrastructure is intended to improve storm resilience and reduce salt-air related power issues. He also said the island could potentially receive a second GIS substation in the future.
Council also approved a $96,500 budget amendment from General Fund excess reserves to cover rising fuel and lubricant costs across city departments, including police, fire, EMS, public works and environmental health.
Additional approvals included up to $438,400 from Convention and Visitors Bureau excess reserves for Convention Center HVAC improvements. The project includes $45,500 for cooling tower repairs and $392,900 to replace seven chilled water rooftop units installed in 2015.
Staff said the units have exceeded their recommended replacement timeline and are needed to maintain reliable cooling during large events.
Council also approved a $21,046.33 budget amendment for the city website migration project after officials said the city’s current website provider is leaving the business.
Information Technology staff said the migration must be completed by Dec. 31, 2026, and will involve approximately 23,000 web pages.
City Manager Randy Smith also presented the delayed first-quarter 2026 city manager’s report covering 14 departments. Highlights included finance recognition, federal transportation-related drug and alcohol testing compliance, public safety updates, transit improvements, environmental cleanup efforts and tourism marketing initiatives.
Council additionally approved first readings of several ordinance revisions, including updates to animal regulations allowing up to seven chickens under specified conditions. The revised ordinance also prohibits possession of venomous reptiles and wild animals, with the city attorney noting that existing owners of venomous reptiles would no longer be permitted to keep them under the new rules.
Council also approved reducing the Eco-Tourism and Birding Enhancement Ad Hoc Committee from nine members to seven and appointing representatives from environmental, tourism and county planning groups.
The next South Padre Island City Council meeting is scheduled for May 20.
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