Port Lavaca adopts Waterfront Master Plan

The Port Lavaca Wave
By CJ Vetter
July 21, 2023

Port Lavaca is one step closer to downtown redevelopment, as well as, a combined dispatch center.

The creation of an interlocal agreement with Calhoun County for a new combined dispatch center and adoption of the city’s Downtown Waterfront Master plan were both approved the council’s regular monthly meeting held on July 10.

The Downtown Waterfront Master Plan aims to revitalize the city’s downtown and waterfront areas and restore the traditionally recreational character. The working and fluid document, developed by LJA Engineering. is a culmination of more than a year of planning that involved Port Lavaca city council, staff and a visioning committee made up of area residents.

Issued by the city council as a memorandum of understanding, the interlocal agreement acknowledges the benefits provided by the new combined dispatch center, which would reduce expenses and increase response time. The agreement declares the city’s intent to become a participant in the project and integrate the Port Lavaca Police Department’s dispatch into the facility.

“This is something that the county has been developing for a while and has gotten funding through ARPA funding to build the facility,” said Interim City Manager Jody Weaver. “They’re in the process of applying for grants to help with the implementation of the new facility, and although we don’t have an agreement yet, we thought we would adopt a resolution to indicate our intent.”

Once construction of the facility is complete, and if the city of Port Lavaca does agree to combine its own dispatch, response times could be shortened across the county, according to PLPD Chief Colin Rangnow.

“[Hurricane] Harvey is a prime example of how going through different dispatches can be difficult. When we went down, the county was up, and we eventually had to use Victoria’s dispatch,” Rangnow said. “This will also help with grants for radios and other equipment. When we go to get these grants, all these different entities are fighting for things as simple as radios. But if we are together, we can all be on the same channel.”

The city awarded a bid for a new breathing air compressor fill station for the Port Lavaca Fire Department to Morton Morrow Inc. Originally budgeted for $81,681, Morton Morrow Inc. issued a bid for $75,117. The bid was accepted, saving the city $6,563 in the process.

Also approved at the meeting was the final amount of reimbursement to Ho Enterprises LLC. as part of a tax rebate agreement. In return for the development of Claret Crossing, including the complete construction of water, sewer and storm sewer infrastructure, the city agreed to reimburse $3,196,622 over the course of 50 years. Last June, Ho Enterprises broke ground on a duplex and a single-family home in order to determine the housing market’s status.

“Attached to the packet is a list of the expenses that summarizes the total of documented costs for the development. These have all been reviewed and approved by staff as being eligible for reimbursement,” Weaver said.

In another interlocal agreement, the city created an MOU with Texas State University, declaring the city’s interest in the Texas GLO Clean Coast Texas Collaborative Program, but with no commitment. The program, which is a collaborative effort to assist local governments to improve water quality and stormwater management, will feature a variety of services including aid in identifying grant sources, developing green stormwater infrastructure and providing stormwater drainage inlet markers.

Finally, the city approved the use of the Bayfront Peninsula Park for a Zydeco music event, approved a change order of $44,700 for the Southside Phase Two Project and updated the city’s code of ordinances regarding building regulations in order to keep up to date with the International