Last week's battle ended well. On to the next, please. This is a great opportunity to witness how a city government functions when enough people who have had enough of poor government are watching.
"Port Isabel City Council and the Laguna Madre Water District Board have demonstrated a quality rarely seen in the various governing bodies of our area. They have shown integrity in representing the will of their constituents. Their decisions to oppose LNG requests for support, despite high dollar pressure, are to be commended. Power to the People."
Mary Helen Flores - Citizens Against Voter Abuse (C.A.V.A.)
Click ->THIS LINK<- for the whole story! If you're from or near South Padre Island Tuesday evening please attend the SPI City Council Meeting. At the last meeting there were supporters from LNG who tried to convince the commission not to vote or to table item but the DEADLINE to submit their concerns to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission if Friday, September 4th.
Look out for this big guy -- Langtry Meyer of Texas LNG. He tried winning the audience by saying he was from Brownsville because he spent a short time here as a child. People just laughed at him. Do not trust.
Here are the players. SPI Mayor Patel was at Port Isabel meeting last week. He did not make any public statements for or against LNG.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2015
05:30 P.M. AT THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING,JOYCE H. ADAMS BOARD ROOM, 2ND FLOOR
4601 PADRE BOULEVARD, SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TEXAS
City of South Padre Island City Council Meeting Agenda Request Form
NAME & TITLE: Alex Avalos, Mayor Pro· tem
DEPARTMENT: City Council No. 6
Discussion and potential action to approve a resolution expressing opposition to the construction of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities in the vicinity of Port Isabel.
ITEM BACKGROUND I A number of LNG companies have proposals to construct a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities in the Port of Brownsville/ Port Isabel area. Because many South Padre Island residents have raised concerns about the impact of these facilities on South Padre Island, the Council will consider a resolution to oppose th'e construction of these facilities.
.....
RESOLUTION NO. 2015-29
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TEXAS,
WHEREAS, Proposals have been made for the construction of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities at the Port of Brownsville and along the Brownsville Ship Channel, by Annova LNG, Rio Grande LNG and Texas LNG; and WHEREAS, Various facilities under consideration are located in close proximity to the City of South Padre Island. in its extra-territorial jurisdiction or in areas potentially within the extra-territorial jurisdiction of the city; and WHEREAS, Many of the proposed facilities are located along State Highway 48, which is the principal route between Port Isabel and Brownsville; and
WHEREAS, South Padre Island and the other communities of the Laguna Madre area are located in one of the most unique, pristine and scenic ecosystems in the world; and
WHEREAS, The proposed project area is located in a delicate and partially undisturbed salt flat between the Laguna Madre and the Bahia Grande, which together form part of the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge; and
WHEREAS, The Laguna Madre has been designated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife department as one of the "most important and unspoiled ecosystems in Texas;" and
WHEREAS, The Bahia Grande is a recovering ecosystem that was the subject of one of the largest estumy restoration projects in the United States, and serves as a critical habitat for nesting birds and aquatic life; and
WHEREAS, The status of the Laguna Madre and the Bahia Grande as hyper-saline lagoons makes them particularly vulnerable to pollution or contamination, due to their naturally low level of sea and fresh water exchange; and
WHEREAS, In addition to the risk of potential contamination by pollutants or sediment, the potential construction of these facilities presents a risk of visual pollution, by replacing natural vistas with industrial facilities; and
WHEREAS, Light and noise generated by the LNG facilities have the potential to impact sensitive ecosystems, and to impair the public's enjoyment of recreational facilities; and
WHEREAS, Traffic and security restrictions along State Highway 4& and the Brownsville Ship Channel related to the operation of LNG facilities have the potential to limit public access to recreational facilities near the proposed facilities~ including the Laguna Atascosa Wildlife Refuge and the Jaime Zapata County Park; and
WHEREAS, Owing to the present design of State Highway 48, which lacks turning lanes or turn-arounds, heavy traffic associated with the LNG facilities has the potential to negatively impact quality oflife and public safety; and
WHEREAS, The close proximity of some proposed LNG facilities to State Highway 48 and the City of South Padre Island creates potential safety issues for citizens ofSouUJ Padre Island in the event that the proposed facilities are impacted by natural or technological hazards; and
WHEREAS, The economy of South Padre Island and the Laguna Madre Area is heavily~dependent on tourism and fishing industries1 which rely upon the natural resources Mthin the area; and
WHEREAS, In addition to the environmental, economic, quality oflife and safety concerns conn""!ed with the proposed construction of LNG facilities, the proposal also raises questions of environmental justice, given that the proposed facilities are to be located in close proximity to a community comprised of etbnic minorities and persons of low to moderate income; and
WHEREAS, The City Council of the City of South Padre Island wishes to oppose the construction of any LNG facility in the vicinity of the City of South Padre Island, Port Isabel and surrounding areas.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of South Padre Island hereby expresses its opposition to the construction of LNG faculties; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council hereby directs !hat a eopy of this resolution be entered into the proc~ings of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission related to these applications.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED on this the 2nd day of September, 2015
CITY OF SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TEXAS
Alex Avalos, Mayor Pro-tem
ATTEST:
Susan M. HilL City Secretary
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