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CITY OF PORT ISABEL An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer 305 East Maxan Port Isabel, Texas (956) (956) Facsimile

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CITY OF PORT ISABEL

“An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer”

305 East Maxan Port Isabel, Texas 78578

(956) 943-2682 (956) 943-2029 Facsimile

Memorandum:

Date:

February 11, 2014

To:

Roger Millar, Elizabeth Schilling – Smart Growth America

From:

Margie Jacobs, City of Port Isabel

Subject:

City of Port Isabel, 6-Month Progress Report

The City of Port Isabel is pleased to present their 6-Month Progress Report for the Smart Growth Implementation 101 Workshop which took place on May 21 and 22, 2013. Progress continues to be made in the renovation and redevelopment of the Garcia Street and the South Shore Drive Districts of the city.

• Begin to identify community needs and/or priorities through meetings and other outreach programs.

1) On November 7, 2013, a staff meeting was held to determine actions which could further the Smart Growth agenda. Several ideas were discussed, and suggestions made by the staff.

2) On November 19, 2013, a public forum was held at the Port Isabel City Hall. During this time, the attendees were given an update on the continuing construction of, and future uses for the new Events and Cultural Center.

The group was then asked for their input on what they saw as the needs for the surrounding neighborhood and adjacent areas. Pedestrian crossings for Highway 100 were a major concern. Available parking was another concern, and led to discussion of the possible addition of a hotel that would provide parking for both the hotel and Events Center.

The group was also advised that the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) has created unsecured min-loans of $5,000 to assist those with little or no collateral in

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funding projects for their nearby businesses. These loans are in addition to a larger Revolving Loan Program which provides loans that require substantial collateral. Mixed land use and repurposing of adjacent buildings was discussed as options for the future. The group was also reminded of the Smart Growth America Workshop held in May, and the suggestions that came from this meeting.

• Have community outreach goals established.

From this forum, and also from the internal City discussion, the following goals were established:

1) To hold a public forum quarterly to update and keep citizens informed on the progress being made in this (and other) areas of the city.

2) To involve various groups and citizens in the planning and design of this area, and to involve them in assessing the program's process and outcomes.

3) To improve access to, and use of the South area of the city by working with the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) to create walkways across Highway 100 where pedestrians can cross safely and complete the walk across the highway during one traffic light cycle.

4) To narrow the City’s current focus specifically to the Garcia Street District, and in particular to an area previously designated as the Historic District; and to direct efforts towards making this a Cultural and Historic District. (The new district will begin at the base of the Queen Isabella Causeway, and be comprised of the area bounded on the west by South Shore Drive, on the north by Houston Street and the Laguna Madre, on the south by Hickman Avenue and the Laguna Madre, and on the east by the Laguna Madre between Hickman Avenue and Houston Streets.) With the creation of a Cultural District, many groups and individuals will be involved in developing the area; and also living, working, and playing there as well.

5) To find a developer to build a hotel on the site directly across from the Events Center. This will ensure that the community can use the new facilities to the fullest extent, by providing their family and friends with a nearby place to stay when visiting for events. It will also encourage more businesses to come to the area for meetings, group activities, and conventions; and in turn it will spur economic development and provide job growth.

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6) To make the entire (Cultural and Historic District) area accessible by improving sidewalks, making it bicycle friendly, and improving public transportation in the area. • Have a complete list of community outreach opportunities and community decision

points mapped out for the life of the process. The City has not yet completed this task. • Have a working list of community priorities.

1) Connectivity to the Events Center with pedestrian safety as a foremost priority.

a) City Manager Edward Meza has submitted plans to TXDOT for solar-paneled crosswalk lighting to be added to Highway 100. In addition, he has requested that all traffic light signals run longer cycles so that pedestrians can cross in one cycle.

2) Economic development through the development of a Cultural District. a) On January 7, 2014, the Mayor, and staff members from the City, met with representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, the Laguna Madre Museum Foundation, the Laguna Madre Art Gallery, and El Paseo Arts Foundation to determine if there was interest in applying to the Texas Commission on the Arts for a 10 year Cultural District Designation. The group was agreeable to forming a consortium, with the City as the lead partner.

b) The City of Port Isabel submitted a Letter of Interest to the Texas Commission on the Arts, Cultural District Certification Program on January 27, 2014, and is awaiting notification for permission to write a complete application.

3) Addition of a hotel to act as the City’s Host Hotel to promote groups and overnight business for the Events and Cultural Center.

a) In late 2013, a meeting was held at City Hall at the request of Texas State Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. At that time, he introduced Mr. James M. Parkey, AIA, from Dallas, Texas as a possible agent to work on behalf of the City, and it was agreed that Mr. Parkey would attempt to find investors and a builder for the needed hotel.

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b) On February 5, 2014, Senator Lucio, Jr. and Mr. Parkey returned to Port Isabel to continue talks with the Mayor and staff, and to provide an updated report concerning the building of a hotel across from the Events and Cultural Center. Mr. Parkey has now spoken to several potential investors; has asked a colleague to create an updated feasibility study; and is attempting to find a potential builder and/or flagship operator for an Events Center hotel.

4) Partner with a nearby college for the creation of a Hotel/Restaurant

Management Program / 2 year degree program to be located in the Cultural District.

a) On August 20, 2013, the City sent a proposal to Dr. Lily Tercero,

President of Texas Southmost College (TSC) for a program of this kind. To date no response has been received.

b) In speaking with Senator Lucio, Jr. on February 5, he informed Marge Jacobs that he also was in talks with TSC about the same type of educational partnership for TSC and Port Isabel. He took her business card and said that he would pass it on. He also said that he would mention to his contact that the City had previously sent a similar proposal.

c) Recently, the City was offered an opportunity to purchase the historic Yacht Club Hotel which is located close to the Cultural District. It is currently not functioning as a working hotel and restaurant.

1) The City Commission and PIEDC have now approved the application for a Federal Economic Development Administration grant for the purchase and restoration of the Yacht Club (built in 1926) to be used as a culinary school and incubator for emerging businesses.

• Identify specific pedestrian connectivity needs and priorities for the new Community Center.

The City created a list of Event Center pedestrian pathways. This will be updated once talks with TXDOT have completed, and once the Events Center is ready to open. • Have a draft ranking of redevelopment priorities available for review.

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a) A packet was compiled and given to Mrs. Michelle Yao of Lotus Café (Brownsville) to encourage her to consider Port Isabel for one of her restaurants.

b) An unused building on Tavarna Street, between Highway 100 and Railroad Street, has become an upscale consignment store.

c) A request by Chick-fil-A to open a temporary location on Garcia Street is being considered at this time. The Chick-fil-A management wishes to determine if the area can provide substantial business for them.

2) Repurpose existing buildings for additional housing.

a) During the February 5 meeting with Senator Lucio, Jr., and Mr. Parkey it was mentioned that the building formerly housing the DryVit Company on Hickman Street could be repurposed and redesigned as lofts which could be sold or rented.

• Identify additional areas for pedestrian connectivity analysis. The City has not yet completed this task.

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ADDENDUM

In addition to the SGA workshop suggested “Building Blocks” for the City, Smart Growth principles are being applied in other areas of the city. Here is a synopsis of these events: Derry Neighborhood (west portion of the city)

1) After receiving a second grant from the Texas General Land Office for the Arturo Galvan Coastal Park and Living Shoreline, a work schedule is now being drawn up, with work on the Living Shoreline to begin within the next six weeks.

2) Construction on the actual park will follow this, and open up additional green space and recreational area for the community. A grant was received from the National Park System’s Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program. Their representative is assisting in finding additional funding to design the nature park and for landscape design; to create a hike and bike trail that will connect this park with one in Laguna Heights; to create kayak trails from the park; and enlist the help of other groups to create educational outreach programs for the schools and community.

a) On January 31, 2014 a Recreational Trails grant was submitted to Texas Parks & Wildlife Department for construction of a 1.4 mile, 8’ wide combination walking and biking trail on the north side of Highway 100 between Port Isabel and the Colonia of Laguna Heights. This will be phase I, and will eventually be connected to the Galvan Park and the park in Laguna Heights.

b) In addition, on January 30, a grant request was made to People for Bikes Organization for additional funds for this same project.

Navigation District

1) Talks were held between the EDC and the Navigation Board to work together to improve the facilities in Port Isabel’s ship channel to enable a cruise line to dock in Port Isabel.

2) A representative of the University of Texas Brownsville approached the City about finding land to build a World-Class Marine Biology Campus and offer a state-of-the-art program to be located in Port Isabel’s Navigation District.

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