ht Haboy Eih MINUTES Aransas Pass City Council Regular Meeting Monday, April 21, 2025 at 6:00 pm City Hall - Council Chambers 600 W. Cleveland Blvd., Aransas Pass, Texas 78336 mayinie 1. Call to Order and Certification of a Quorum Mayor Ram Gomez called the Aransas Pass City Council Regular Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. With Council Members present, a quorum was established. Council Members present: Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs, Council Members Jason Knight, Joe Dominguez, J. R. Haskins, and Mayor Gomez. Staff present: City Manager Mary Juarez, City Secretary Kandice Garrett, Finance Director Sandra Garcia, Planning Director Brenda Joyas, Police Chief David Perkins, and Community Outreach Director Kaylynn Paxson. Also present was City Attorney Epimenio Ysassi. 2. Invocation City Manager Mary Juarez delivered the invocation. 3. Pledges Mayor Gomez led the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S.A. flag and the Texas flag. 4. Announcements a. City Manager's Announcements i. Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community Designation ii. Workshop/Discussion Items - May 5, 2025 a. Unified Development Code City Manager Mary Juarez informed the Council of the announcements. 5. Citizen Comments Mayor Gomez called on the following citizens who signed up to address Council: Will Garner spoke about how to submit complaints regarding the Housing Authority. Frank Bennett spoke about city expenditures and making sure there is a return for the expenses. Richard Titus spoke about his conditional use permit at his residence. Regular City Council Meeting Minutes - April 21, 2025 Page 1 of 5 Kelly Vollmering spoke about a complaint regarding Housing Authority Executive Director Christina Beard's treatment of her mother who is a resident. City Manager Mary Juarez made a factual statement stating that the City of Aransas Pass does not have jurisdiction over the Housing Authority; only that the Mayor makes the appointments to the board. Andy Davilla spoke about complaints regarding Housing Authority Executive Director Christina Beard and resident concerns and conditions of the apartment homes. Dennis Peacock spoke about the Charter Review Committee voting to appoint all the council members to serve on the budget committee instead of one council member. 6. Staff Reports and other Discussion Items a. Monthly Departmental Reports submitted and provided in the Agenda Packet. b. 2nd Quarter Investment Report for FY 2024-2025 (January - March) City Manager Mary Juarez stated that both the monthly reports and the investment report were in their agenda packets. 7. Consent Agenda a. Consideration of approving the revised April 2, 2025 Special Meeting Minutes (City Secretary) b. Consideration of approving the April 7, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes (City Secretary) Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs made a motion to approve Items 7.a. and 7.b., seconded by Council Member Knight and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye. 8. Action Items a. Consider designating a council member to serve on the City's Budget Review Committee for the Fiscal Year 2025-2026. (City Manager) b. Consideration of approving a Resolution amending the policies and general rules and procedures of the city council. (City Manager) Mayor Gomez postponed Items 8.a. and 8.b. to a future meeting. C. Consideration of awarding Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) Funds for Year 2025 to organizations who submitted applications through the filing deadline of March 31, 2025. (City Manager) City Manager Mary Juarez stated that there were seven applications submitted and reviewed for eligibility by Finance Director Sandra Garcia as well as guidance from an attorney from the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association and reminded the Council that the considerations are in Chapter 351 of the Tax Code. City Manager Juarez reviewed the criteria with the Council. She also informed the Council that one of the applicants, Hector Rios, could not be present at the meeting and requested his applications (numbers 2 and 3) be moved to the May 5 meeting. City Manager Juarez also stated that Mr. Rios submitted a third application (number 4) which does not qualify for HOT Funds, and he was notified. Regular City Council Meeting Minutes - April 21, 2025 Page 2 of 5 Cherie Spinks with Destination Aransas Pass Mardi Gras spoke on behalf of their application. Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs made a motion to award $5,000 for the Destination Aransas Pass Saltwater Mardi Gras 2026, seconded by Council Member Knight and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye. Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs made a motion to reconsider the funding for the Saltwater Mardi Gras, seconded by Council Member Knight and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye. There was discussion regarding the eligibility of this event to also be considered as a sporting event due to the existence of the gumbo cookoff. Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs made a motion to amend the previous motion to award the Destination Aransas Pass Saltwater Mardi Gras $6,500, seconded by Council Member Knight and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye. Donald Nesloney with DNA Productions spoke on behalf of their application. Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs made a motion to award DNA Fish Fest $6,508, seconded by Council Member Haskins and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye. Donald Nesloney with DNA Productions spoke on behalf of their application. Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs made a motion to award DNA Salsa Fest Cooking Competition $6,000, seconded by Council Member Knight and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye. Doug Gresenz with Redford Ranch Foundation spoke on behalf of their application. Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs made a motion to award Smoke On The Water $6,308, seconded by Council Member Knight and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye. d. Consideration of approving an Ordinance updating the City's Drought Contingency Plan. (City Manager) City Manager Mary Juarez stated that the City of Aransas Pass is requesting to update their plan to coincide with the City of Corpus Christi's amended contingency plan. Utility Manager Mel Snyder presented this item along with Brian Williams with the San Patricio Municipal Water District (SPMWD) and the discussion included: TCEQ requirement to update Drought Contingency Plans every five years (previously updated in 2020) Lack of rainfall in the watershed Wells being developed along the Nueces River Improvements to Mary Rhodes pipeline Reducing the non-essential water uses such as watering of grass, boats, and covering swimming pools under Stage 3 restrictions Water level watch Also present was Doil Keller, Board Director with SPMWD representative for Aransas Pass. Regular City Council Meeting Minutes - April 21, 2025 Page 3 of 5 Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs made a motion to approve Item 8.d., seconded by Council Member Knight and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye. e. Consideration of approving the budget amendment to the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget. (City Manager) Finance Director Sandra Garcia presented this item for the second budget amendment of the FY 24-25 Budget for the following: Donation from the Redford Ranch Foundation to the Fire Department TMLIRP insurance claim payouts for vandalism at the Softball Complex Fundraiser proceeds from Fill the Boot to the Fire Department Budget transfer for the Aquatic Center to purchase tarps for the July 5 Fireworks Show HOT Funds in the amount of $11,000 to the Civic Center for their Spring Concert The purchase of a vehicle for the Police Department through their forfeiture account. Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs made a motion to approve the Ordinance for the budget amendment for the FY 24-25 Budget, seconded by Council Member Knight and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye. f. Consideration of approving to renew the agreement with DRC Emergency Services which expires May 2, 2025 for a one-year extension to May 2, 2026 for debris removal and other emergency services. (City Manager) Associate Police Chief Aaron Jones presented this item. Council Member Knight made a motion to approve Item 8.f., seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye. g. Consideration of approving to renew the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Bay LTD for Crane Services for the installation and removal of the sea gates and rail gates which expires May 31, 2025 for a one-year extension to May 31, 2026. (City Manager) Associate Police Chief Aaron Jones presented this item. Council Member Knight made a motion to approve tem 8.g., seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye. h. Consideration of approving an Ordinance amending the City Code of Ordinances, Chapter 19.5, Section 19.5-18, fee schedule for use of the Aransas Pass Aquatic Center. (City Manager) Community Enrichment Director Kaylynn Paxson presented this item and pointed out that the department is requesting a slight increase in the nonresident fee and general admission season pass as discussed in the Workshop meeting on April 7, 2025. Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs made a motion to approve Item 8.h., seconded by Council Member Knight and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye. Regular City Council Meeting Minutes - April 21, 2025 Page 4 of 5 i. Consideration of approving an Ordinance amending the City Code of Ordinances, Chapter 19.5, Parks and Recreation, Section 19.5-2 Organized Activities. (City Manager) Community Enrichment Director Kaylynn Paxson presented this item and noted that based on the council's recommendation at the April 7, 2025 Workshop meeting the fee to rent the Pavillion has been removed. Council Member Knight made a motion to approve Item 8.i., seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye. 9. Adjournment There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Gomez adjourned the meeting at 7:02 p.m. Cphy / handicbanct JasonKnight Kandice Garrett Mayor City Secretary Approved on: may 19, 2035 S Regular City Council Meeting Minutes = April 21, 2025 Page 5 of 5