February 19, 2008

Mayor Bob Pinkerton
Aldermen and Alderwomen Rios-Ybarra, Evans, Money, Hayden and Mills
Planning and Zoning Committee
Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee
City Attorney Paul Cunningham
City Manager Dewey Cashwell

Ladies and Gentlemen:

As you may be aware “Property Owners Who Care-South Padre Island” is an organization comprised of non-resident and resident property owners, a Texas non-profit corporation, dedicated to promote transparent and good government practices for the Town of South Padre Island.

At our most recent membership meeting, held on February 9, 2008, a number of concerns were raised by our members. Foremost among them was the upcoming completion of the CPAC study/report. We understand that Chapter 8, “Implementation”, is the final chapter and will be completed in the near future.

Our following suggestions are based on generally accepted practices used by professional City Planners in the implementation of a Comprehensive Plan. A Comprehensive Plan is a “bottom up” process intended to reflect the wishes of the citizens and stakeholders.

Once the finished CPAC study/report/recommendation is presented to the Board of Aldermen for their review, we request that there be full and complete public hearings on this matter. These hearings should take place before the Board of Aldermen takes any action regarding the CPAC study/report/recommendation. A similar request was previously made in the last paragraph (#2) in our letter to you dated October 30, 2007.

Additionally we would respectfully request that the Board of Aldermen adopt a review process which includes the following:

1. Copies of the full CPAC report/study/recommendation to be made available at the City Hall and Post Office as well as the full report/study being posted on the Town’s web site. A full and complete copy of the CPAC report/study should be published in the SPI-Port Isabel Press and the Island Breeze (we would think that special low rates would be available from these publications to reduce costs.)
2. A letter from the Mayor and/or the Board of Alderman to all registered voters and to all of the property owners appearing on either the voter or tax rolls (stakeholders) should be prepared and mailed. This letter should be accompanied by a full copy of Chapter 8 of the CPAC report/study/recommendation, and should direct recipients to the Town web site for the full text of the CPAC study/report/recommendation. This letter should also contain the schedule outlining times and dates for a number of periodic meetings to be held to discuss and debate the CPAC report/study/recommendation.
3. There should be a mechanism developed whereby the written, electronic and verbal comments of all of the stakeholders (residents and property owners) would be collected and categorized by topic or by chapter of the CPAC report/study/recommendation. These comments should be made available electronically prior to all public meetings with sufficient time for the stakeholders attending these meetings to formulate and express their views.
4. We would respectfully request that the Board of Aldermen designate a period of approximately 85 days for the review process and hold at least six public meetings (approximately once every two weeks) and that the comments and the suggestions of the stakeholders be recorded at each meeting and disseminated before the next meeting.
5. We would suggest a final public debate in front of the Board of Aldermen on Friday, May 9 (the date preceding the election date). All interested parties should be able to state their views and be heard at this final debate. The Board of Aldermen will presumably modify in some manner the recommendations of the CPAC report/study, and based upon the input and recommendations from the public, then vote to approve a final report and recommendation of the Comprehensive Plan. Following its vote, we would respectfully request that the Board of Aldermen submit its version of the plan to a public referendum for the final approval.
6. Finally, we strongly recommend that a public plebiscite or referendum by vote be held on Election Day, May 10. All registered voters and all property owners should vote on this final report and recommendation. Even is this vote is not binding, only by a completely public and open debate and vote of all of the stakeholders (resident as well as non-resident property owners) can the will of the public be know and respected by the Board of Aldermen concerning a topic of such importance.

We respectfully request that the Board of Alderman will heed our proposal outlined above. We are sure that the Board of Aldermen will proceed cautiously and use restraint in the consideration of such an important issue. We also express our thanks and appreciation to all of those who worked so diligently to produce the CPAC report/study. Their labor is very visible evidence of their commitment to the civic advancement of the Town of South Padre Island.

Respectfully submitted,

Board of Directors Property Owners Who Care – South Padre Island
Alan Day, Mike Boswell, Ray Hunt, Tom Meurer