By JACQI LEYVA-HILL
Special to the PRESS
The Laguna Vista Town Council met Tuesday evening, November 11th at the South Texas Ecotourism Center, opening with a heartfelt Veterans Day prayer and a moment of remembrance for a councilmember Dr. Romero’s late father, a decorated Green Beret veteran, who recently passed away.
The meeting proceeded with introductions of two new employees—an administrative assistant for Town Hall and a new member of the public works crew. The Public Works Foreman thanked the council for its support and highlighted the team’s focus on safety and maintenance.
During the open forum, a local student urged action on litter hot spots near a convenience store and along town streets, suggesting community cleanups, additional recycling bins in parks, and educational signage. Another resident asked for updates on drainage ditch clearing and enforcement on overgrown and abandoned properties at several locations.
The Police Chief reported departmental upgrades, including new radar units, dashcams, and body cameras, and announced a $135,000 Operation Lone Star grant to enhance patrol efforts and purchase equipment.
Council members then approved several key expenditures, including the purchase of a new police vehicle from a local dealership and the replacement of a library air-conditioning unit by the lowest local bidder. They also advanced improvements at Roloff Park, approving the purchase of benches, picnic tables, soccer goals, and playground safety surfacing. Further decisions regarding playground materials and drinking fountain options will be made at a later date.
Additional actions included approval for two staff members to attend upcoming professional workshops. The City Secretary was authorized to attend the Texas Municipal Clerk Certification Program’s Election Law Seminar, scheduled for January 22–23, 2025, while the Accounting Assistant was approved to attend the Budgets and Balance Sheets Workshop taking place on December 9–10, 2025. Both training opportunities were unanimously approved by the council. One city council member requested that attendees to these approved certifications and workshops should give a report to share what was learned. The other council members agreed to have that report added to the agenda when attendees returned.
Volunteers were reappointed to the Library Board and a new volunteer was appointed to the Parks and Recreation Board, while members of the Ethics Board will be contacted before new appointments are made. There is still a need for more volunteers to be members of various boards.
Grant updates indicated progress on park upgrades and drainage projects awaiting state extensions, while a separate planning grant remains delayed due to administrative backlogs. Discussion regarding renovations to the portable building, intended to host public meetings and provide space for the police department expansion, was postponed pending additional cost and design details. Renderings of the renovated portable building were displayed on the screen, but the council voted to table the matter until more options could be presented.
During the meeting, the council also heard from a representative of BiG Heroes, a nonprofit organization that provides life, vocational, and independent living skills training for individuals with special needs. The representative shared that the group has proudly hosted its annual 5K and Fun Run at Roloff Park for the past six years, an event that began through the efforts of a local resident whose son participates in the BiG Heroes program. The council approved the organization’s request to return to Roloff Park for its sixth annual event, scheduled for April 25, 2026.
The executive session addressed three key personnel matters. Council members discussed the proposed employment terms for the Fire Chief, including details related to the position and contract. They also reviewed a proposed reclassification and salary adjustment for the Public Works Foreman, who is being considered for promotion to Public Works Manager. In addition, the council completed the initial six-month evaluation of the City Manager, assessing overall performance and progress since appointment.
Following these discussions, the council reconvened in open session and voted unanimously to proceed as discussed in executive session, without publicly disclosing specific details of the personnel decisions.