South Padre Island city leaders were met with criticism from the community during a Wednesday workshop to discuss the proposed expansion of the city’s convention center.

An updated design of the expansion were unveiled during Wednesday’s workshop.

The meeting happened after Cameron County commissioners voted to deny the expansion request during a June 17 meeting over environmental concerns to the area.

As previously reported, the county received hundreds of public comments from residents and visitors voicing concerns over potential elimination of a natural habitat that is home to native and migratory birds.

If the designs are approved and all elements are added to the convention center expansion project, the total project price tag is projected to cost $98 million.

The updated design shows that the proposed expansion no longer encroach on the 13,000 square feet of vegetation that many birders were concerned about.

But the natural vegetation on Orca Circle is still not out of the woods. 

The alternative design would expand upwards to create a second story at the convention center, no longer affecting the vegetation on the south side of the center.

Blake Henry, the executive director of the city’s convention & Visitors Bureau, said some vegetation around Orca Circle would need to be trimmed.

“We have to cut it a little bit to get emergency service personnel like fire trucks, police and EMTs to get around the circle,” Henry said.

City leaders said the designs are not final.

Community members said they want to be involved, and asked the city to create a committee with local experts to give input on future designs.

“We feel like we are being dismissed and not being heard,” Gloria Galindo said.

After the workshop, Channel 5 News asked SPI Councilman Joe Ricco how the city is moving forward with the project when they are still missing final approval from the county.

RELATED STORY: Cameron County judge claims approval for convention center expansion was never given

“We are going over the designs,” Ricco said.

Channel 5 News attempted to speak with SPI Mayor Patrick McNulty before he went into executive session, but he walked away.

County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr. said county commissioners have not seen any updated designs from the city.

Channel 5 News was told future workshops will be held to discuss the design and financing of the project.

Watch the video above for the full story.