Birds Worth $300 Million Annually to Valley

A recent survey conducted by Texas A&M University has found that nature tourism brings in a hefty $300 million a year to the Rio Grande Valley economy.

The survey, commissioned by South Texas Nature Marketing Coop, estimates total annual expenditures by visitors in the Valley who come specifically to bird or for other watchable wildlife activities spend $300,090,866 per year.

“This number excludes people who visit South Padre Island for beach-going,” said Nancy Millar, Vice President and Director of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce’s Convention and Visitors’ Bureau and Chair of South Texas Nature Marketing Coop. “The $300 million figure is primarily birders, but also includes butterfly watchers, plant and dragonfly enthusiasts, and others who enjoy the Valley’s natural assets.”

Among other findings, the survey shows that nature tourists tend to stay an average of 5 days. 64% had visited the Valley previously, with the average number of previous visits being 15.
“The high return rate of birders and other wildlife watchers is really not a surprise to us,” said Martha Noell, Weslaco Chamber of Commerce CEO and a member of South Texas Nature Marketing Coop. “We know that birders especially, once they visit the area, really do understand the undeniable superiority of the Valley’s birding resources.”

23.5% of all Hidalgo County leisure visitors and 23.3% of all Cameron County leisure visitors travel to the Valley specifically to enjoy nature tourism, the study showed. “Of the 10.1 million leisure person-days to the two counties, that means that approximately 2.3 million people each year come for our natural resources,” said Keith Hackland, owner of Alamo Inn B&B and a member of the Coop. “We’ve known that nature tourism had a huge economic impact on the area; we just didn’t realize how big it really is.”

The survey, conducted during May and June of this year, was the first of two survey phases. The second will be performed during the fall months. Survey statisticians expect the economic impact figure to increase once the second phase is completed.

South Texas Nature Marketing Coop is a non-profit organization comprised of Chambers of Commerce and Convention and Visitors’ Bureaus and is designed to increase the awareness that the Rio Grande Valley has excellent birding and nature tourism opportunities. Because it offers the array of nature opportunities across the entire Valley, it also enables the Rio Grande Valley to compete on a broader scale with other nature destinations. Participating Chambers and CVB’s include Alamo, Edinburg, Harlingen, Hidalgo, McAllen, Mission, South Padre Island, Weslaco, Willacy County in the Valley and also Port Aransas and Houston.

View the report prepared for the South Texas Nature Marketing Coop by: the Department of Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences and Department of Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M University, College Station, on the City of McAllen website: www.mcallen.net.

McAllen Municipal Court Offers Failure to Appear Amnesty Program through November 30

McAllen Municipal Court is holding a Failure to Appear Amnesty Program, now through November 30, 2011.

During this time, failure to appear charges will be waived for anyone who comes in voluntarily (i.e. officer is not actively looking for you) to make arrangements to pay their tickets and if the defendant has not entered a plea on the Failure to Appear.

For more information, contact McAllen Municipal Court at (956) 681-2900.

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El Tribunal Municipal de la ciudad de McAllen llevará a cabo un Programa de Amnistía para personas que no se presentaron ante la corte.

Este programa estará en vigencia a partir del 1 de octubre del presente año, hasta el 30 de noviembre de este 2011.

Dicha Amnistía aplicara a cualquier persona que se presente de forma voluntaria para llegar a un acuerdo a pagar su multa (es decir, que no tenga al momento a un oficial activamente buscándolo para arrestarle) esta Amnistía no aplica en aquellas personas que se declararon culpables del cargo de no haberse presentado a corte a tiempo.

City of McAllen and McAllen EB 5 Regional Center Receive Approval to Participate in EB - 5 Program

McAllen, TX (September 30, 2011) - The City of McAllen and the McAllen Economic Development Corporation have received formal approval from the United States Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) for participation in the Employment Based Immigration, 5th preference (EB-5) Program.

The EB-5 Program was created by Congress to stimulate the U.S. economy through job creation and capital investment by foreign investors. The program essentially provides a method of obtaining a permanent resident visa for foreign nationals who invest money in the United States. To obtain the visa, individuals must invest at least $1 million (or $500,000 in ‘targeted employment areas’ with high unemployment rates), creating at least 10 jobs per investment.

Prospective investors must be able to document the lawful source of investment funds and they must undergo an extensive background check which looks into finances, arrest records, personal life, and the individual’s source of funding. The permanent residence status obtained by the investor is conditional for two years and can be made permanent upon satisfying USCIS at the end of the two years that the investment proceeds have not been withdrawn and the requisite jobs have been created.

“We are dedicated to supporting the EB-5 Program and ensuring that it meets the goals of bringing investments to McAllen and creating job opportunities for the City. We want to ensure that the program achieves maximum results for our community,” stated Mayor Richard Cortez.

McAllen EB-5 Regional Center investments will range across a number of industrial sectors, including: advanced and light manufacturing; higher education and research and development; entertainment, tourism, hospitality and hotel construction; medical research, medical services and hospital construction; transportation and infrastructure; mixed-use commercial and residential real estate development; and commercial real estate development.

Keith Patridge, President and CEO of the McAllen Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the McAllen EB-5 Regional Center Director Rodolfo (Roy) Cantu, will be available at 2:00 pm. today (Tuesday, October 4, 2011), for one on one interviews at the MEDC office located at 6401 S. 33rd in McAllen, Texas.

New City of McAllen Ordinances, New Fees Go Into Effect October 1, 2011

New Re-Inspection Fees

Beginning October 1, 2011, the City of McAllen Building Code Compliance department will assess a $40 re-inspection fee for inspections that failed to meet code requirements in a prior inspection. The fee applies to inspections conducted by any city department, as adopted by ORDINANCE NO. 2011-46.

The following is a list of city departments that conduct inspections along with examples of some of the inspections performed:

■Planning Department (Landscaping and Parking.  See complete list and fees on mcallen.net)

■Fire Department (extinguishing systems, fire alarms, fire sprinklers, emergency equipment)

■Engineering Department (side walk, ramps, driveway, drainage on right of way)

■Health Department (general sanitation, equipment requirements, food preparation)

■Public Utility Department (water metering, backflow prevention)

■Pre-treatment Department (sizing of all traps and interceptors)

Steps to follow for a re-inspection:

1. Call voice automated prompt at (956) 681-1328.

2. Leave permit number, address, name and type of re-inspection needed.

3. Pay re-inspection fee. Fees are required in advance

New Backflow Preventer Ordinance

Beginning October 1, residents who have swimming pools and sprinkler systems and businesses such as restaurants, hospitals, clinics car washes and funeral homes will be required to have backflow preventers as mandated by the State of Texas and a new City of McAllen Ordinance.

A backflow preventer is a valve that prevents contaminants from polluting city water.

Once installed, backflow preventers must be inspected every year. The City of McAllen can provide a list of certified inspectors.

For more information about the new backflow preventer ordinance, contact McAllen Public Utility at (956) 681-1660 or visit their website at www.mcallen.net/mpu, then click on the MPU Departments icon, and then Transmission and Distribution tab.

 New Ambulance Ordinance

The City of McAllen has adopted a new ambulance ordinance that takes effect on October 1.

“The ordinance is set up to make sure that other ambulance providers, that are not contracted as emergency service providers (with the City of McAllen) meet the requirements of being equipped with medical equipment and personnel, as required by the Department of State Health Services," said McAllen Fire Chief Rogelio "Roy" Rubio.

The administrative staff of the McAllen Fire Department will be responsible for inspecting the ambulances that are seeking a permit to operate within the city limits of McAllen.

Each ambulance company will pay a $500 registration fee in addition to a $25 per vehicle inspection fee. Ambulance inspections will only take place in the months of October, November and December.

A successful inspection will be good for one year.

Planning & Zoning Commission to Host Series of Workshops on Draft of McAllen Development Code

The Planning and Zoning Commission will have a series of workshops to discuss the draft of the McAllen Development Code. Workshops are open to the public. These workshops are scheduled to be held as shown below.

October 4, 2011, 2:00 PM City Commission Chambers, 1300 Houston Ave

October 13, 2011, 12:00 Noon Exhibit Room McAllen Public Library 601 N. Main St.

October 20, 2011, 12:00 Noon Exhibit Room McAllen Public Library 601 N. Main St.

October 27, 2011, 12:00 Noon Exhibit Room McAllen Public Library 601 N. Main St.

Public Hearings by the Planning and Zoning Commission regarding the draft of the McAllen Development Code are scheduled in the City Commission Chambers, 1300 Houston Ave, as shown below. The public is invited to attend and comment.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011, 4:00 pm

Tuesday, October 25, 2011, 4:00 pm

View McAllen Development Code draft at: http://www.zoningplus.com/regs/mcallen/

The McAllen Development Code ("MDC") is the law with regard to how land is used and developed in the City of McAllen.  The existing regulations are being substantially reorganized, updated, and rewritten to ensure that it is reflective of community plans and values, easy to use, and consistent with City's Home Rule Charter and applicable state and federal laws.