At its regular meeting Oct. 13, the Magnolia City Council deliberated for less than 30 minutes in executive session before unanimously appointing Ibarra as chief.

The decision comes after naming Ibarra interim police chief exactly 2 weeks prior.

Ibarra was first hired by the City July 28 to fill the 3-months vacant position of city marshal.

Former Police Chief Paul Michna submitted a 30-day resignation to the City on Sept. 3, citing the need to focus on his personal life as reason for his departure.

Despite Mayor Jimmy Thornton’s plea for him to finish out the year, Michna’s resignation was formally accepted in a unanimous vote by the City Sept. 29.

Many of the new chief’s family members were present at the meeting, and after Thornton swore him in, Ibarra read aloud to the Council and audience his goals for his new position.

The goals included a 5-year strategic plan for the department, a needs assessment, grants, of which he said he will become a “grant hound,” and community policing.

Other goals listed were encouraging and supporting a regional criminal justice network to link area agencies, national accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) and International Association of Chief’s of Police (IACP) membership in the mentoring program.

Ibarra added “If I do anything wrong, you’ll be the first to know about it.”

Ibarra's contract will run concurrent with the Mayor's term, which is two years, Ibarra said. The contract terms are the same that were given to former chief Paul Michna.

The new Chief has a lengthy history in law enforcement, with more than 25 years of experience in law enforcement in Corpus Christi.

Duties of the police chief include “planning, organizing, directing and coordinating the Police Department’s personnel and operations in the protection of life and property, maintenance of peace and order, enforcement of laws, prevention of crime, apprehension and arrest of violators and maintenance of police records,” according to the City of Magnolia’s Web site.

In other city council news:

A police appreciation day to be hosted by the city was unanimously approved by the council. Councilman Jody Sanders sponsored the item, which he said he hoped to have on a Saturday in the future at City Hall.

The Council discussed an item regarding expansion of the city’s boundary lines through individual annexation. A motion was passed to come up with a report regarding the process.

A study of the operation and procedures of the municipal court department will move forward after a unanimous vote. Council did not say when the study would occur.

The Council tabled an item on the agenda that considered moving the supervision and oversight of the position of city marshal from the court department to the police department.

There was also no motion made for possible action to waive impact fees for the installation of irrigation meters, after a lengthy discussion of the matter.

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