UPDATE on HAPPENINGS AROUND PORT LAVACA

Port Lavaca Pride No. 5 A City of Port Lavaca Newsletter June, 2014

The City of Port Lavaca, through the Department of Administration, publishes newsletters to its residents and

businesses to keep them informed on events and issues.

“Paradise on the Bay”

The Port Lavaca Pride newsletter is mailed to all City residents who have an account with the City’s utility department. This is an official publication o the City o oort aavaca.

Website: www.portlavaca.org * Facebook: City of Port Lavaca

City Officials

Jack Whitlow, Mayor 220-0834

jwhitlow@portlavaca.org Jerry Smith, District 1

552-4876

Raymond oerez, District 2

552-5935

rbperez@portlavaca.org

aee Rivera, District 3

552-4435

lrivera@portlavaca.org

Rosie oadron, District 4

827-4638

rpadron@portlavaca.org

Jim Ward, Mayor oro-Tem

District 5

552-3691

jward@portlavaca.org

Ken Barr, District 6

552-6948 / kbarr@portlavaca.org

City Departments Administration 552-9793 x 221

Building Inspections 552-9793 x 229

City Secretary 552-9793 x 230

Finance 552-9793 x 237

Customer Service 552-9793 x 238

Fire Department 552-3241

Human Resource 552-9793 x 224

Municipal Court 552-9793 x 226

Parks 552-3347

Police Department 552-3788

Public Works 552-3347

Lighthouse Beach—The new splash pad has been completed and

ready for use. Also the play equipment is completed.

Customer Service— After 14 years of loyal service to the City of Port

Lavaca, Juanita Benavides retired on April 30th. We wish her the very

best on her retirement.

Fire Department—The Council approved the purchase of a 2015

Skeeter truck which will be equipped with a rescue side body utiliz-

ing the transfer of $150,000 made by Calhoun County.

Public Works—CR 101 will be repaired by a partnership with the

County. The City will buy the materials and the County will provide

the equipment and manpower. Work will begin on June 16th.

Permits—Council passed an ordinance creating a new section of the

city code of ordinances; Establishing a process for the issuance of

trespass warnings on public property; Providing notice requirements

for trespass warnings; Establishing an appeal process for trespass

warnings; Providing for a special magistrate to hear appeals from is-

sued trespass warnings; Providing for the severability of parts hereof;

providing an effective date.

Economic Development—City Council approved adding a full time

city position to focus on the City’s Economic Development Strategic

Plan and Tourism initiatives. The Strategic Plan would include new

business attraction, existing industry relationship building, tourism

development, and downtown development.

Port Commission—Ms. Kendra Rodriguez Marquez who had served

on the City’s Planning Board since 2009 was approved by City Coun-

cil on April 14th to serve on the Port Commission Board. She was

sworn in at Port Commission meeting on May 15, 2014.

Page 2 Port Lavaca Pride

CITY OF PORT LAVACA’S

TAENTED FIREMEN

As you drive by the Fire Station on Austin Street be

sure to notice the new sign posted on the building.

This sign was designed and made from scratch by

our local firemen.

CITY HALL WILL BE CLOSED

FRIDAY, JULY 4th INDEPENDENCE DAY.

HAVE A

SAFE

HOLIDAY!

CITY HALL WILL BE CLOSED MONDAY,

MAY 26th for MEMORIAL DAY.

Hurricanes are strong storms that can be li e-threatening as well as cause serious property-threatening hazards such as flooding, storm surge, high winds and tornadoes. oreparation is the best protection against the dangers o a hurricane. Know the difference between the threat levels and plan accordingly.

KNOW THE DIFFERENCE

Hurricane Watch Hurricane conditions are a threat within 48 hours. Review your hurricane plans. Get ready to act i a warning is issued, and stay in ormed.

Hurricane Warning Hurricane conditions are expected within 36 hours. Complete your storm preparations and leave the area i directed to do so by authorities.

SEASON STARTS JUNE 1ST AND ENDS NOVEMBER 30TH, 2014

City Staff attended the con erence Thursday, April 24th in

Victoria, Texas in order to be prepared.

CITY HALL CLOSINGS

First-time candidate

Jerry Smith defeated

incumbent Floyd

Felder in the election

to represent District 1

on the Port Lavaca City Council for the next three

years.

Wednesday, May 14th the returns were canvassed

and announced official vote, to consider resolu-

tion certifying returns and declaring candidate

duly elected. The results tabulated had 144 votes

for Smith and 42 for Felder.

Councilman Smith will be sworn in at the June

9th City Council meeting at 6:30 P.M.

CITY’S NEW COUNCILMAN

JERRY SMITH, DISTRICT #1

Page 3 Port Lavaca Pride

New Splash oad celebrated with a Ribbon Cutting

and Grand Opening on Thursday, April 17th.

CITY EMPLOYEES RETIRING AFTER YEARS OF SERVICE

April 30th Juanita

Benavides of the

Customer Service

Department retired

after 14 years of ser-

vice to the City of

Port Lavaca. April

25th she was hon-

ored with a retire-

ment reception in the

City Council Cham-

bers at City Hall. The City Staff presented her

with a beautiful James Avery Nautical bracelet

and a beautiful silver touch clock from Things Re-

membered. The City presented her with a beauti-

ful plaque for her years of service at the City

Council meeting on May 12th. We wish her well

in her new adventures.

June 30th Dorothy Cunning-

ham, Executive Assistant to

the City Manager will retire

after 25 years of service.

Dorothy was the Manager of

the Bauer Community Center

from July 1989 until January

2002. January 2002 she was

transferred to City Hall as Mu-

nicipal Court Clerk and four

months later promoted to

Executive Assistant to City

Manager. Dorothy has been involved in several organiza-

tions such as the Main Street Committee, the City's

Christmas Committee and she is Safety Coordinator for

the City of Port Lavaca. She was Treasurer for Port

Lavaca Crime Stoppers for seven years. Dorothy was

very active with the Chamber of Commerce, while work-

ing at the Bauer Center, she worked on several of the

Chamber sponsored committees.

Note from Dorothy:

As I leave the City it is with great excitement and yet

sadness too. I have enjoyed my tenure with the City and

I appreciate having had the opportunity to work with

such great co-workers. Even though I will miss my co-

workers and friends in Port Lavaca, I am looking for-

ward to starting a new phase of my life. I will keep busy

visiting my children, grandkids and working in my

flower gardens.

The City of Port Lavaca

would like to thank Coun-

cilman Floyd Felder for his

16 years of service as a

City Councilman for

District 1.

We wish for him the very

best .

202 N. Virginia Street

Port Lavaca, Texas 77979

Phone: 361-552-9793

Fax : 361-552-6062

E-mail: dcunningham@portlavaca.org

Ci ty of Por t Lavaca

“Paradise on the Bay” Lighthouse Beach

We’re on the web

www.portlavaca.org

Like us on FACEBOOK.

WELCOME TO NEW CITY POLICE OFFICER

By Mail: City o oort aavaca, 202 North Virginia oort aavaca, TX 77979

In person: At office 8:00 to 5:00 or after hours in drop box located at City Hall on Utility Billing side.

Bank drafting: A ree service - elec-tronic unds trans er rom your bank account

In Your Neighborhood: HEB and Wal- Mart locations

Online: www.portlavaca.org

PAYMENT OPTIONS FOR UTILITY

BILLS AND MUNICIPAL COURT

FREE PASSES TO

LIGHTHOUSE BEACH

June 9th—City Council

Meeting

June 15th—Father’s Day

August 16th—P/L City

Employees Fun Day on the

Bayfront.

August 30th—Flip Flop

Festival

UPCOMING EVENTS

It pays to make good grades! 133 kids

from Jackson Roosevelt School who

made all A’s for the whole school year

were rewarded with a FREE pass to

Lighthouse Beach for the three summer

months. Congratulations and we hope

you have a safe and fun summer.

Officer Jesus Cantholo was

sworn in as a new City o oort

aavaca oolice Officer on Thurs-

day, May 15, 2014 in the City

Council Chambers by Interim

City Secretary aorena oerez-

Diaz. A group o City Hall staff

was present or the occasion.

Officer Cantholo is locating

rom Granite Shoals, Texas

Port Lavaca’s First YAC (Youth Advisory Council) received their gradua-

tion certificates Monday night, May 12th at the City Council meeting.

Kingsley Scott

Tiffany ain

Hannah Shelly

Skylar Baker

Colton Blinka

Marco Valdez

Mauricio Gonzales

Major Reese

A team o leaders recognized or

their dedication to promoting

youth leadership.