Port Aransas City Council discusses coronavirus restrictionsFree Access


(This story contains updates.)

The pluses and minuses of coronavirus-related restrictions in Port Aransas were debated by the city council today (Thursday, April 16), but no changes were made, at least for now.

Mayor Charles Bujan said a petition is being circulated around Port Aransas, calling for businesses to be re-opened.

Bujan said the petition has been sent to him, but he added that it wasn’t the city that shut down business in Port Aransas.

“The governor, along with the president of the United States, are the ones – the only ones – that can do that, and they did it, and they are the only ones that can re-open it,” Bujan said.

“Frankly,” he added, “I’m tired of getting beat over the head with this stuff.”

The city got word today that Port Aransas has a new confirmed case of the COVID-19 virus, according to City Manager Dave Parsons. That would appear to put the number of confirmed cases in town at seven.

Rick Adams, who oversees code enforcement at city hall, reported that he has seen relatively few cases of people violating the mayor’s orders prohibiting certain activities in town such as making short-term rentals to people not doing essential work in Port Aransas.

Adams said the potential for enforcement action against people coming here to stay in second homes is “trickier.”

While people who are second homeowners won’t have enforcement action taken against them right now, the city will take a harder line against “unrelated parties” at second homes, he said.

Bujan asked that Adams seek an attorney general’s opinion on whether the governor’s orders prevent second homeowners from coming to Port Aransas to occupy their properties. The mayor suggested that traveling to a second home may not be an essential activity.

Council member Wendy Moore said it seems like it would be “overreaching” to prohibit people from traveling to Port Aransas to get to their second homes.

Bujan’s order also prohibits fishing from the shore at the beach, Horace Caldwell Pier and bulkheads. And it bars people from visiting the beach except for exercise.

Council member Beth Owens said people need mental breaks right now and suggested that fishing from shore possibly should be allowed if people stay, say, 20 feet apart at the beach.

She pointed out that, under the mayor’s orders, a young family with babies cannot visit the beach to unwind, presumably because those people would need to stay still with the babies and as a result would be violating the mayor’s order that exercise must be involved in beach visits.

“That just doesn’t make sense, mayor,” Owens said.

Parsons said city hall gets dozens of phone calls every day from people asking if they can relax at the beach. Ninety percent of them say they live in San Antonio, he said.

“If we were to open the beach, we will see large crowds,” Parsons said.

Owens questioned that, pointing out that there would be no place for so many people to stay since short-term rentals wouldn’t be available.

Adams said a lot of people would be willing to make day trips to Port Aransas from San Antonio.

The problem wouldn’t so much be people transmitting the virus at the beach. The problem would be when visitors would “pile into” the Family Center IGA and convenience stores, he said. That would tempt the spread of the virus.

“You’d get this huge population of people moving around and interacting when they’re not supposed to be,” Parsons said. “They’re supposed to be staying at home.”

Owens asked if beach visits (presumably including fishing and without exercise) could be restricted just to Port Aransas residents.

But the Texas General Land Office won’t allow that, Bujan said apparently referring to the Texas Open Beaches Act.

(Watch for more in the April 23 issue of the South Jetty.)

22 responses to “Port Aransas City Council discusses coronavirus restrictions”

  1. Frank Smith says:

    Finger pointing, non logical thought, and irrational heads are prevailing in the Mayors office and Council. Mayor Chuck’s hypocrisy on his draconian authority is sickening. The fact there is a petition to re-open business shows his disconnect. There should be a petition for a recall on him.

    TEXAS SHOULD BE OPEN FOR BUSINESS!
    THE BEACH BELONGS TO ALL!

    Civil Liberties and Constitutional Rights are not an afterthought! But for council members and Mayor Chuck they are never thought of at all apparently.

    By the way as Mayor Chuck. It is your job to get “beat over the head with this stuff.” If your tired of it.. step down!

    • right on. explain to me why they can’t trust people to follow distancing and fish safely and sit apart safely and stay with their own family units. I understand no rentals. but not no beach access. really who even exercises at the beach!? LOL

  2. Melodie Lloyd says:

    It’s a “stay at home” order; not stay at second home or beach home or mountain getaway. What is it that people can’t understand?! This essentially means you DON’T TRAVEL!

    • Port A Guy says:

      1. Second home owners pay outrageous property taxes since they have no homestead exemption allowing Port A ISD to be a “rich” school district and lowering the taxes for full time residents.
      2. It is my constitutional right to visit my second home to check on its condition, etc. – due to the restrictions I could not do much else – fishing, sunbathing on the beach, etc.
      3. I find it amusing that the Mayor is trying to “tighten down the screws” when the curve is flattening or, perhaps, declining – a little late – don’t you think?
      4. The “cow left the barn” several weeks ago when the Mayor allowed Spring Break to go unabated – that undoubtedly brought the virus to town along with the Council member who had the great judgment to go on a Spring Break trip.
      5. Don’t worry, as a second home owner, I am not coming anytime soon since the county I reside in has one case countywide – why would I leave here to go to a place with a third the size but 7 times the cases?
      6. As a second home owner, I wish we were treated with a modicum of respect since we pay more than our fair share of taxes but are treated with the snobby attitude you exhibited. After Harvey, we were not allowed on the island to check our properties so mold, etc. had a week’s head start.

      You people are unbelievable!!

      • I saw you “crying a river” on TV yesterday (Guy Pierce from Austin).

        If you don’t think our local restrictions apply to everyone, perhaps you should seek life elsewhere.

        I live here. I’ve a belly full of self-serving fools like you behaving badly!!!

      • Chris Mendoza says:

        You sound as dumb as trump. I know your a supporter. Let’s open the country before we have what needs to be in place to open the country safely. Your the pathetic one!

    • John says:

      Melodie,

      If you don’t feel safe, leave. People have been paying for your beach And park maintenance For years before you moved into that home. They have more rights than you do being they are way more invested than you. I saw a story where someone from Austin was fined $1,000 for coming to the island?!! And Bujan backed that. Unbelievable. Yet, he allowed thousands of beach-goers for spring break when this was already a “hot topic”. I understand the need for protecting the community. How many of the 7 positives are permanent residents? I think all! Because they traveled and didn’t suspend their vacations. Selfish. Just like saying non-residents can’t come to their homes! How many tax dollars come from non-residents? Who pays the bills for all the things the mayor and city council passes?? Not the residents!!! I heard a lady cussing over people coming to town from out of the city in IGA the other day. She was wearing a City of Port A sweat shirt. Made me sick knowing I, as a 2ND home owner, was paying her salary!! Follow your own rules PA and quit saying others can’t come for risk if the virus. If we 2nd home owners all left, you would have nothing to do.

  3. Shannon Young says:

    We live on Island. Me and my hubby and 16 week old puppy. I have lymphedema and cant constantly walk. Can we spend some time.. I.e. 1 hour or so without constantly walking if we stay away from people?

  4. Pat says:

    The President has always given the Governors and Mayors the authority to open or close certain areas of their State.

  5. Michelle Polasek says:

    the Governor is reopening state parks. No more BS! Should be fine to be on the beach 20 ft away from next person/family group who live in same dwelling. Let’s get back to fishing and sunbathing. Sunshine lowers depression. Mental health matters!!!

    • Johnny says:

      I really feel sorry for the residents and tax paying primary AND second homeowners of Port A. Your mayor sounds like a good ole boy and is clueless as to what mayoral discretion he has. I just saw his interview with a Corpus mews outlet about sending a second homeowner home. Do a search for Jamaica Beach. That mayor has done his homework. Making up laws as you go is unconstitutional and will open your city up for lawsuits from those homeowners. Sounds like the business community would be on board for opening up the city and beaches with safe measures in place.

  6. Concerned says:

    I don’t necessarily disagree with most of what Beth is saying, but I’m not so sure why she should be listened to on this matter considering her family owns 3 restaurants and a few other businesses on the island, and picked up the Coronavirus as a direct result of her taking a fishing trip over spring break to Costa Rica (a 2nd home for her). It’s a bad look. Also why are most of the quotes from her? Was she yelling about it like she was in the first council meeting right before Canales issued her county orders?
    She seems emotional. Maybe her husband should take her phone away again.

  7. Dave Hobbs says:

    Why are their different restrictions for Port A than the rest of the Texas coast? We are the only place you cannot fish, sunbath, or play golf! I believe the Mayor is over stepping his authority. Corpus has none of these restrictions? The State will start opening up next week. Port A will hopefully comply.

  8. Debbie Blake says:

    Thank you Mayor Bujan. Your doing a great job.

  9. I went for a surf-side bike ride last night.  As I arrived, a police officer was once again asking more folks to not gather until the restrictions are lifted.  

    I pulled over to see how the offenders reacted.  Right on cue, the arrogant father defended his right to let his family play.  After several minutes, he threw a fit and they loaded up.  

    As the officer drove away, I flagged him down.  When I asked how he was doing, all he could say is “I’m sooo sick of telling people they can’t stay & play right now”.  

    He looked totally spent. I’m sure his fellow officers feel the same way.

    If we all lead the way (((like adults))) this will end quicker!  Support our police officers, support our Mayor.

    Stand Tall – Stay Safe!

  10. Calhoun Bobbitt says:

    I wish the subject of occupancy of second homes in PA by their owners would just simmer down. There’s no serious argument that they’re not entitled to do this (so long as they observe the same rules that apply to all), so the acrimony boils down to a few sad people who just have resentments.
    It’s not a question of health. The humor of protestations by officials following their decision to host Spring Break when the COVID situation was well known hasn’t escaped anyone. Port Aransas’s infection rate is about triple that of San Antonio (7 out of 3500 = .002 vs. 1000 out of 1,500,000 = .000667), so nobody from there is fleeing a hotspot for relative safety.
    Let’s keep smiling at each other. From six feet.

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