Meetings and Committees

[TownSPI]

Town Meeting Schedule

Please visit: http://www.townspi.com/Meeting-schdl.html

------------------------------------------------------------------
Town Committees

The following information is on the official Town website at http://www.townspi.com/committees.html Updated 3-20-08

Feel free to call City Hall at (956)761-6456 or use their online contact form if you have any questions about these boards or committees. If you would like to apply for on open position on one of these committees please download the Committee Application form, fill it in and deliver it to City Secretary, Town of South Padre Island, 4501 Padre Blvd., South Padre Island, Texas 78597.

Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee
Chairperson: Bret Keast
Telephone: (281) 242-2960
The Comprehensive Plan is designed to serve as a blueprint to guide the planning decisions of the Town of South Padre Island. The committee’s focus will be on the recommendations of issues relating to the physical and economic development of the Town, while establishing an overall vision and the policies to achieve it. It is organized to identify the values of the Town and its individual and collective intentions for managing future development, analyze the underlying issues that form the basis of the Plan, and establish a preparedness to implement the plan and to assist in the implementation of the Plan.
This link provides a complete list of the members of the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee - CPAC Member List. In addition, the Committee invites comments and suggestions sent via e-mail to CPAC@Townspi.com

Beach & Dune Task Force
Chairperson: Paul Munarriz
Telephone: (956) 761-7290
The Beach & Dune Task Force shall review all permits for projects East of Gulf Boulevard and provide recommendations to the Board of Alderman as to their compliance with the Town's Dune Protection and Beach Access Plan. The primary responsibility of the Beach and Dune Task Force is to ensure that all requirements of the Town's Beach and Dune Protection Plan are met. (For a list of permits that this task force reviews, please see the Permits & Forms Section of this Web Site.)

Bay Area Task Force Implementation Committee
Chairperson: Jack Fitch
The Bay Area Task Force Implementation Committee shall prioritize the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Bay Area Task Force, determine and recommend financing, and the sources of funds to implement said recommendation. The committee working with the Town Staff will develop an appropriate method and/or arrangement both with the General Land Office and Army Corp of Engineers that they will not permit any type of improvements at the end of Town streets abutting the bay and that area extended into the bay.

Board of Adjustments & Appeals
Chairperson: Sam Listi
The Board of Adjustments & Appeals hears and decides special exceptions to the Zoning Code, when required to do so. The Board can authorize in specific cases a variance from the terms of the Zoning Code if the variance is not contrary to the public interest and, due to special conditions, a literal enforcement of the Code would result in unnecessary hardship, so that the spirit of the Code is observed and justice is done. The Board also hears and decides appeals that allege an error in an order, requirement, decision, or determination made by an administrative official in the enforcement of the Zoning Code.
The Board of Adjustments and Appeals (Building) shall hear appeals based on a claim that the true intent of the Building Codes or the rules legally adopted thereunder have been incorrectly interpreted, the provisions of the codes do not fully apply, or an equally good or better form of construction is proposed. The Board has no authority to waive requirements of the Codes.
The Board of Adjustments and Appeals (Zoning) act in quasi-judicial manner to hear and review cases/requests for zoning variances (such as encroachments within front, side and/or rear yard setbacks; parking issues, landscaping issues, etc.) Decisions of the Board of Adjustments and Appeals are final and cannot be appealed the the Board of Aldermen, only the the County Court.

Convention and Visitors Authority Board of Directors
Chairperson: Steve Meadows
The Convention and Visitors Authority Board of Directors has the responsibility of overseeing the operation of the South Padre Island Convention and Visitors Bureau. The nine person board, appointed by the Board of Aldermen, is dedicated to constantly improving South Padre Island’s image and marketability. On most issues, this board has the power to act without returning to the Board of Aldermen for approval. The annual marketing plan and budget will be reviewed and approved by the CVA Board prior to its submission to the Board of Aldermen for final approval. Funding for the convention and visitors bureau comes from an occupancy tax on local lodging rooms. No general fund dollars are spent on the CVB program, which includes the operation of the South Padre Island Convention Centre.

Development Plan Review Board
Chairperson: Gardner Treharne
The purpose of the Development Plan Review Board is to develop recommended site plan and exterior design guidelines and ordinances for non-residential uses (all uses other than One (1) or Two (2) family structures) to the Board of Aldermen, as well as to review all such non-residential building site plans and specifications to insure their compliance with Town Ordinances and Town Design Guidelines. Review and approval of said site plans and specifications shall take place prior to receipt of building permit for said structures.

Economic Development Corporation
President: Richard Franke, Sr.
Executive Vice President: Darla Lapeyre
Telephone: (956) 761-4522
The Economic Development Corporation was formed in 1993 as a Section 4A Corporation to require the payment of 1/2% additional sales tax to fund economic improvements for the Town of South Padre Island. EDC emphasis is to improve the economy of the Town and its principal project is the nourishment of the Town's beaches. Additional projects that have the potential to improve the Town's economy may be considered and acted upon.

Planning & Zoning Commission
Chairperson: Bob Fudge
The Planning & Zoning Commission will consider all requests for zoning and land use changes and give its recommendations to the Board of Aldermen.

Special Events Committee
Chairperson: Stan Hulse
The Special Events Committee is a committee of the Convention and Visitors Authority Board of Directors. The committee’s mission is to review current and prospective special events for South Padre Island, giving special emphasis to events that produce lodging night business for South Padre Island and promote tourism. Other items to consider for supporting special events include image compatibility, potential media coverage, measurability, continuity, time of year, opportunities for growth of events and any potential need for additional Town services related to an event. The eleven member committee is appointed by the CVA Board of Directors, with all of their recommendations going to the CVA Board for final action.

Historical Preservation Committee
Chairperson: Steve Hathcock
The Historical Preservation Committee is designed to preserve, protect, and enhance the distinctive elements of South Padre Island’s historic, architectural, archeological, and cultural heritage. The committee will also foster civic pride in the accomplishments of the past and develop and promote cultural/heritage tourism. Their duties are to prepare rules and procedures as necessary to carry out the business of the committee, which shall be ratified by the CVA and Board of Aldermen. They will work under the direction of the Convention and Visitors Authority Board to promote cultural and heritage tourism and make recommendations to the CVA and Board of Aldermen concerning historical preservation initiatives. Seven members are appointed by the CVA and the Town of South Padre Island’s Board of Aldermen. The Committee will consist of the following: four members who are residents of South Padre Island who have an interest in historic preservation, three members with an interest in historic preservation who may be residents of South Padre Island or residents of other communities in the Laguna Madre Area, will serve two year terms and officers will be elected annually.