SOUTH PADRE ISLAND — This coastal city is continuing to implement measures that aim to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, while allowing beach access to its residents and visitors.
During an emergency special meeting held Tuesday, the City of South Padre Island council voted to amend and extend the city’s beach operations emergency order to July 31 at 11:59 p.m. The order addresses rules for beach vendors and beachgoers. All non-single pole shade structures will be prohibited. Single-pole shade structures will be separated by a minimum of 15 feet from the outside edge or tip of the structure.
Only two chairs per single pole shade structure will be permitted.
For beachgoers, other setups are prohibited within the 15 feet between the equipment. All secondary beach chairs and umbrellas of beach vendors must be stored at the dune line and setup on demand only.
For the secondary rows, chairs and umbrellas must be rented and occupied at the time of setup. The order states that it’s the city’s hope that by imposing these measures, it will help bring the national emergency to an end and also help revitalize
the economy as soon as possible. A violation of the order is a Class C Misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $500. “The Island is a popular place to visit and the public should be mindful that the COVID-19 virus is still impacting the Rio Grande Valley,” a post from the City of South Padre Island’s Facebook page states. “While on the beach, everyone should follow protocols to prevent further spread of this virus.” Visit https://tinyurl. com/y9uglusq to view the entire order.
