SO WE WILL NOT BE DISCUSSING ITEM 3H.
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SAYING THAT IT IS NINE OH SIX AM AND I AM OFFICIALLY CALLING THE WORKSHOP OR THE[Call to Order ]
CITY COUNCIL OF GALVESTON TO ORDER.BUT JANELLE, WOULD YOU CALL A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? APPARENTLY, JANELLE-- OH, THERE WE ARE.
JANELLE, I THINK YOU'RE ON MUTE.
I'M GOING TO MOVE TO NOW ITEM THREE A.
[3A. Clarification Of Consent And Regular City Council Agenda Items - This Is An Opportunity For City Council To Ask Questions Of Staff On Consent And Regular Agenda Items. (30 Minutes) ]
PLEASE JANELLE.ITEM 3A, CLARIFICATION OF CONSENT AND REGULAR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITY COUNCIL TO ASK QUESTIONS OF STAFF ON CONSENT AND REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS. AND THIS IS TIME FOR US TO ASK STAFF ABOUT ANY PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM THAT WILL BE ON OUR AGENDA, OF COURSE, THIS AFTERNOON.
I'M GOING TO OPEN THIS UP AND I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND JUST TAKE IT IN THE ORDER THAT IT'S ON MY SCREEN AT THIS TIME.
COUNCILWOMAN ROBB, DID YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT ALL? I DID HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, SO LET'S SEE.
I HAD SOME QUESTIONS ON, I GUESS, FOR [INAUDIBLE].
SAYING HIS NAME RIGHT? I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ON THE PUBLIC WORK ITEMS THAT WERE WORK ORDER CHANGES AND I JUST WONDER HOW MANY WORK ORDER CHANGES WE HAVE, BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S LIKE FOUR ON THE CURRENT AGENDA.
CLARIFICATION, WHICH CHANGE ORDER ARE YOU WE HAD A CHANGE ORDER FOR THE AIRPORT WATER PLANT EXTENSION.
THERE WAS A FEW CHANGE ORDERS.
FOLKS, YOU'LL HAVE TO FORGIVE ME, I TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID, SO I AM NOT 100 PERCENT TODAY.
SO I HAVE A BUNCH OF LITTLE POST ITS IN MY BOOK AND I'M A LITTLE SLOW.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROBB, WE DID PRESENT SEVERAL CHANGE ORDERS.
SO ONE OF THE CHANGE ORDERS THAT WE PUT IN WAS FOR THE PIRATES BEACH PROJECT AND WE WERE CONNECTING OUR SYSTEM INTO OUR WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.
THAT SYSTEM, THAT PROJECT HAS BEEN COMPLETE AND WE ARE RECONCILING WITH THE PROJECT.
AND SO THAT CHANGE ORDER WAS TO PRESENT THE FINAL CHANGE OUT OF IT.
IT'S GOING TO RESULT IN A NEGATIVE CHANGE ORDER, WHICH MEANS THAT THE COST OF THE PROJECT WAS LESS THAN WHAT WE BUDGETED FOR.
SO THAT'S WHAT THE PIRATE BEACH IS.
THE CHANGE IN ORDER FOR THE AIRPORT PROJECT.
WHEN THAT PROJECT BEGAN, THERE WERE SEVERAL COMPONENTS THAT WERE NOT KNOWN UNDERGROUND.
THERE WAS A PIPING THAT WAS NOT ON ANY OF OUR PLANS AND NOT ON ANY OF OUR MAPS THAT WAS PRESENT, BUT NOT INCORPORATED INTO THE PROJECT THAT NEEDED TO BE DEALT WITH.
THERE WAS ALSO SOME AT&T LINES THAT WE WERE TOLD WERE ABANDONED AND WERE NOT.
AND SO WHEN THE CONTRACTOR BEGAN DIGGING THE GROUNDS OF THE AIRPORT WATER PUMP STATIONS THAT THEY CAN BEGIN THEIR WORK, THEY CAME ACROSS THIS INFRASTRUCTURE AND IT NEEDED TO BE DEALT WITH.
[00:05:01]
THAT ADDED SOME EXTRA DAYS TO THE PROJECT BECAUSE THAT WAS AN UNKNOWN.SO WHAT THIS CHANGE ORDER IS DOING, IT'S INCORPORATING THE COSTS THAT HAD TO BE DEALT WITH FOR THAT UNKNOWN INFRASTRUCTURE AND THEN ADDING TWENTY SIX DAYS TO THE CONTRACT FOR THEM HAVING TO DEAL WITH THAT TO INCLUDE SOME WEATHER DELAY.
OK, AND THEN THE OTHER ONE THAT I SUBMITTED WAS FOR THE TWENTY FOUR INCH WATER LINE PROJECT THAT'S BEING RAN FROM THE FIFTY NINE STREETS PUMP STATION DOWN BROADWAY ACROSS 5 5TH AND THEN DOWN [INAUDIBLE] ALL THE WAY UP TO THE AIRPORT WATER PUMP STATION, WHICH IS TO BRING REDUNDANCY WATER SUPPLY FROM ONE SIDE OF THE ISLAND TO THE OTHER.
AS WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT PROJECT, THERE HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, JUST MANY UNKNOWN PIECES OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HAS POPPED UP THAT WAS NOT ON ANY OF OUR PLANS OR ANY OF OUR MAPS.
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALIZED IS THAT THAT TWENTY FOUR INCH WATER LINE NEEDS TO BE OPEN TRENCH FROM VICTORY ALL THE WAY TO 74TH AND [INAUDIBLE].
AND IT'S ACTUALLY SANDWICHED IN BETWEEN A BRAND NEW 10 INCH WATER LINE THAT WAS INSTALLED AS PART OF THIS PROJECT, BUT ALSO A THIRTY SIX INCH DRAINAGE PIPE.
AND SO THERE WAS CONCERNS OF THE FACT THAT WHEN WE OPENED UP THAT TRENCH, WE'RE GOING TO BE BUTT UP RIGHT AGAINST THAT DRAINAGE PIPE.
AND IT'S GOING TO BE VERY HARD TO SECURE IT FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THAT RUN.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT IF WE BREAK THAT DRAINAGE PIPE ALONG THE WAY, THAT CAN LEAD TO SEVERAL LARGER CHANGE ORDERS AND A LOT OF MESS ON THAT ROAD FOR THE RESIDENTS TO DEAL WITH.
SO WE BEGAN LOOKING AT THE PROJECT AND EARLY ON THE PROJECT WAS ORIGINALLY SUPPOSED TO BE A BOARD.
IT WAS GOING TO BE A TRENCH WITH TECHNOLOGY THAT WAS GOING TO BE USED TO, YOU KNOW, RUN THE PIPE ACROSS [INAUDIBLE] LANE.
AND SO WE REVISITED THAT THOUGHT AND WE STARTED LOOKING AT IT AND WE REALIZED THAT IT WOULD BE THE BETTER OPTION.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE SUBMITTING HERE IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BORE THE TWENTY FOUR INCH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD, GOING DOWN FROM VICTORY AND [INAUDIBLE] TO 74TH AND [INAUDIBLE].
WHAT THAT WILL DO IS ALLOW US TO MISS ALL OF THIS INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE CAN GO DEEPER AND MISS IT ALL.
IT'LL BE LESS DISRUPTION ON THE ROAD AND IT'LL ACTUALLY CONDENSE THE PROJECT SOME TIME FRAME.
ALL THE LITTLE CHANGE ORDERS THAT YOU SEE ON THAT LINE ITEM, WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE COST OF THE PROJECT, IT WAS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN FIVE TO SEVEN HUNDRED K, SO WE STARTED TRYING TO SCRUB.
WELL WE DO CHANGE THE TECHNOLOGY.
WHAT WON'T WE NEED TO DO ANYMORE? AND SO WE STARTED REMOVING ALL OF THOSE.
AND AT THE END OF IT ALL, WE FIND OURSELVES WITH ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS CHANGE ORDER SO THAT WE COULD USE A TRANSFER TECHNOLOGY TO RUN THAT TWENTY FOUR INCH WATERLINE.
WELL, THAT'S ACTUALLY REALLY GOOD TO HEAR, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH IT IS IN MY DISTRICT, I GET MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THAT WHOLE PROJECT, SO I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT LAST COMMENT.
THE OTHER THING IS I THINK THERE WERE LIKE TWO OR THREE SOLE SOURCE ITEMS. SO LET'S MAKE THE BADGER ONE A SEPARATE DEAL.
I THINK ONE WAS FOR BATTERY, ONE WAS FOR SOMETHING ELSE.
AND I JUST WONDERED WHY WE WERE SO SOURCING.
SO THE ONE FOR THE BATTERIES, WE HAVE UNINTERRUPTED POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM THAT'S SET UP TO SUPPORT ALL OF THE ELECTRONICS AND ELECTRICAL GEAR THAT WE HAVE IN MANY OF THE PLANTS AND PUMP STATIONS.
AND SO WHEN THE PLANTS ARE ORIGINALLY BUILT, THEY ADD THE UNINTERRUPTED POWER SUPPLY [INAUDIBLE].
THEY ADD THE GPS SYSTEM SO THAT IF WE LOSE POWER, THE BATTERY PICKS UP RIGHT AWAY SO THAT THE ELECTRONICS DON'T FEEL THE GLITCH AND THEY DON'T TURN OFF.
AND THAT ALLOWS TIME FOR THE GENERATOR TO KICK ON AND POWER BACK UP SYSTEMS. THESE BATTERIES, THOUGH, THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED PERIODICALLY ABOUT EVERY SEVEN YEARS.
IT REALLY A LITTLE MORE FREQUENTLY THAN THAT.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE GOING BACK INTO THE EXACT SAME SYSTEM AND REPLACING THE BATTERIES THAT BELONG TO THAT SPECIFIC [INAUDIBLE].
AND IT'S THE SAME SCENARIO WITH THE PUMPS.
WE'RE REPLACING THE PUMPS THAT WERE INSIDE THE LIFT STATIONS WITH THE EXACT SAME
[00:10:01]
PUMPS THAT WERE ORIGINALLY PUT IN THOSE LIFT STATIONS WHICH WERE DESIGNED FOR THOSE SPECIFIC LIFT STATIONS.NOW, I'M GOING TO THE WATER METERS THAT I REMEMBER.
THAT'S WHEN I WAS ON COUNCIL MEMBER PREVIOUSLY.
THE ISSUES WITH BADGER WATER METERS AND WHATNOT.
CAN YOU JUST GIVE AN UPDATE ON THAT AND WHY WE ARE CONTINUING TO SOLE SOURCE TO THEM WHEN WE SEEM TO STILL HAVE ONGOING ISSUES? SURE.
SO THE PO THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PUT OUT IS JUST OUR NORMAL SUPPLY, OUR NORMAL YEARLY SUPPLY OF A METER SETS THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY COME ACROSS EVERY DAY.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A PO JUST TO KEEP US GOING WHILE WE'RE WORKING ON ANOTHER PROJECT THAT'S GOING TO BE BROUGHT TO CITY COUNCIL.
YOU KNOW, UNDER BRANDON COOKS LEADERSHIP, WE BEGIN A JOURNEY TO GO DOWN THE PATH OF SWITCHING OUT THE SYSTEM AND COMPLETELY MODERNIZING THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
AND WE'VE NEARLY COMPLETED OUR BUSINESS CASE.
WE'RE AT THE NINETY FIVE TO NINETY NINE PERCENT MARK AND WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE FINAL, YOU KNOW, THE FINAL SCRUBBING OF OUR BUSINESS CASE.
AND THEN IN THE COMING MONTH OR TWO, WE'LL BE BRINGING FORWARD SOME TYPE OF PRESENTATION TO SHOW OUR STUDY, TO SHOW WHERE WE WANT TO GO AND HOPEFULLY EXCITE YOU WITH SOME OF THE FUTURE TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN POTENTIALLY COME.
AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS ON THE DRAINAGE PLAN, THE ONE THAT WE'RE DOING WITH JACOB, WHO DID THE LAST DRAINAGE PLAN.
AND I'M JUST WONDERING, I KNOW SOMETIMES IT'S CONVENIENT TO WORK WITH THE SAME COMPANY, BUT I JUST HAD QUESTIONS IN THE LAST FIVE YEAR PLAN, WE SEEM TO STILL HAVE A LOT OF DRAINAGE ISSUES.
AND ALSO ON THE ONE PAGE WHERE IT GOES OUT TO TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THERE'S A LOT RELATED TO DISTRICT SIX WHERE WE'RE HAVING HORRENDOUS DRAINAGE ISSUES RIGHT NOW.
SO I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DEFER ON THAT ONE.
THAT'S NOT A PIECE OF THE PROJECT THAT I'M CURRENTLY LEADING.
IF ANYONE ONLINE CAN ASSIST, THAT WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
DANIEL, DO YOU HAVE ANY INSIGHT ON THAT ONE? AM I UNMUTED? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROBB, GOOD MORNING.
I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION.
AS FAR AS THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS MASTER PLAN APPLICATION TO THE WEST END, IT IS GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF FOCUS ON THE WEST END BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS MASTER PLANS WERE FOCUSED PREDOMINANTLY ON THE EAST END.
WE HAVE A LOT OF DRAINAGE INFORMATION, MASTER PLAN INFORMATION AND MODELING INFORMATION ON THE EAST END, BUT NOT ON THE WEST END WHERE WE HAVE NATURAL SLOPES, WHICH MAKE IT VERY FLAT, UNLIKE THE EAST AND WHICH HAS A SLOPE RADIATION BETWEEN SEA WALL AND THE BAY OF ABOUT 15 FEET.
SO THE FOCUS OF THIS MASTER PLAN, PRIMARY FOCUS IS GOING TO BE THE WEST END BECAUSE WEST END IS WHERE WE HAVE THE EXCITING CHALLENGES WHICH ARE UNIQUE TO THIS PART OF THE ISLAND.
NOW, THE SECOND QUESTION YOU HAD COUNCIL MEMBER--.
WHEN YOU'RE SAYING IT'S GOING TO BE ON PRIMARILY THE WEST AND LIKE WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER THE WEST END? WELL, WE HAVE EAST END THEN WE HAVE MIDTOWN, WHICH IS FIFTY NINTH ALL THE WAY TO 73RD.
AND THEN I WOULD CONSIDER MIDTOWN THE BOUNDARY OF THE WEST END.
AND THEN AND JUST MY DEFINITION IN ANY DEFINITION IS EVERYTHING THAT IS WEST OF 64TH STREET, WHICH IS A STATE HIGHWAY, THAT WOULD BE VIEWED AS THE WEST END.
BUT I THINK SO FAR WE'VE SURVIVED THE DEFINITION THAT EVERYTHING WEST OF SIXTY FIRST WOULD BE THE WEST END, AND THAT GIVES PRIMARY FOCUS TO PROJECTS IN THE
[00:15:04]
VICINITY OF 61ST.EVEN THOUGH 59 STREET IS SLIGHTLY EAST OF 61ST.
I WOULD STILL CONSIDER THAT AS THE FRINGE OF THE WEST END BECAUSE WE CANNOT JUST TAKE A LANE AND SAY THIS IS THE WEST END.
WE ARE LOOKING AT DRAINING AREA AND DRAINAGE AREA COMMINGLED WITH EACH OTHER.
SO IT'LL PROBABLY START FROM 59TH STREET ALL THE WAY TO THE END OF THE WEST END.
AND THAT INCLUDES ALL THE SUBDIVISIONS [INAUDIBLE].
RIGHT NOW AND I KNOW WE'RE ALL THE CITY IS WELL AWARE OF WHAT IS GOING ON, ESPECIALLY ON ALL THE BEACHSIDE SUBDIVISIONS, BUT THEN ALSO BETWEEN 3005 AND [INAUDIBLE] AND A LOT OF THOSE PROBLEMS WE ARE AWARE OF BEING CAUSED BY THE RAISING 3005.
BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE SPEND MORE ATTENTION ON 75TH STREET WEST BECAUSE WE ARE THE MAJORITY OF THE TAX BASE, AND YET WE ALWAYS SEEM TO BE LEFT OUT FROM THE PROJECTS.
MAYBE ONCE I'M OUT OF QUARANTINE, YOU AND I CAN SIT DOWN AND YOU COULD EXPAND ON THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE.
BY THE WAY, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBB, I'VE GOT MY SECOND COVID VACCINE AND MY IMMUNITY, SO I WOULDN'T MIND MEETING WITH YOU WITH THE MASK.
THE HEALTH AUTHORITIES HAVE GIVEN ME THE FREE REIGN TO DO THAT.
YEAH, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO MEET WITH YOU UNTIL I'M FREE OF COVID.
AND ODDLY ENOUGH, WE GOT OUR VACCINE ON SATURDAY AND THEN TESTED POSITIVE AFTER THAT.
SO MAYBE WE CAN SIT DOWN WHEN I'M OUT OF QUARANTINE AND GO THROUGH IT BEFORE THIS GETS FINALIZED.
I WOULD DEFINITELY INVITE THAT.
I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER QUIROGA HAD SOME THOUGHTS SO HIM AND ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER ARE WELCOME.
BUT I WOULD LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT WITH YOU AND WALK THROUGH EACH AND EVERY SPECIFICS OF THE WEST END WEST OF 75TH, THAT WOULD REALLY MAKE THIS PROJECT SUCCESSFUL FROM THE KICKOFF MEETING.
OK, AND OTHER THAN THAT THAT'S THE ONLY QUESTIONS.
I'M NOT THERE WAS ONE QUESTION THAT YOU HAD COUNCIL MEMBER ROBB.
I THINK I WENT TO THE MORE EXCITING QUESTION FIRST, BUT THERE WAS A PREFACE TO THAT QUESTION AND THE QUESTION WAS, I UNDERSTAND JACOBS ENGINEERING DID THE PREVIOUS MASTER PLAN AND IT'S GOOD TO HIRE THEM.
BUT WHY WE HIRED THEM? THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION.
I WANTED TO CLARIFY A FEW THINGS.
IN 2003, TANNENBAUM DID THE TRAINING MASTER PLAN AND THEN [INAUDIBLE] DID A SMALL SECTION OF THE WEST END.
AFTER THAT WE RESEARCHED TO SEE WHO WAS REALLY THE TOP FIRM THAT IS VERY GOOD AT DRAINAGE MASTER PLANS.
AND WE FOUND OUT THAT A FIRM CALLED [INAUDIBLE], THE SUB-OWNER OF THAT ACTUALLY WAS THE HYDRAULICS DEPARTMENT FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND THEY BUILT ALL THE MODELS.
WHEN WE GO TO THE PUBLIC, THEY CAN ACTUALLY SHOW HOW MUCH WATER WILL BE ON THE STREET IN COLOR CALLED PONDING [INAUDIBLE] SWIM MODEL AND THERE WILL BE MORE APPEALING TO THE PUBLIC BECAUSE WE CAN TELL THEM, OK, TWO INCHES OF WATER ON THE STREET IS GOING TO COST SO MUCH, THREE INCHES, SO MUCH, NO WATER IN THE GARAGE OR THE LIVING ROOM IS GOING TO COST SO MUCH.
SO THEY HAVE BUILT ALL THE PONDING MAPS.
NOW, THE QUESTION ABOUT JACOBS ENGINEERING IS VERY VALID.
WE HAVE WORKED WITH THEM FOR THE PAST ONE MONTH.
WE'VE GOT THE [INAUDIBLE] AND I TRY TO GUIDE THEM THROUGH HOW YOU DO A DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN.
AND BRANDON COOK CORRECTED ME AND HE WAS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT THAT JACOBS ENGINEERING EXPERTISE IS IN DOING THAT DRAINAGE FEE.
AND THE WAY BRANDON EXPLAINED THAT TO ME IS THAT THERE'S PHOTOGRAPHS OF PROBABLY THOUSANDS OF CITY ENGINEERS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY SITTING WITH A DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN BEHIND THEM ON THE SHELF.
AND THAT'S PUBLISHED EVERYWHERE ON WALL STREET JOURNAL.
AND SO BRANDON SAID, I DON'T WANT YOU TO HAVE A PICTURE OF THE DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN THAT NOBODY DOES ANYTHING ABOUT.
THAT'S THE REASON WE ARE HIRING JACOBS ENGINEERING AND MIKE LOFTON KNOWS THEM.
AND THE PERSON THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE DOING THE DRAINAGE IS THE OLD STUDENT OF MIKE LAWSON.
SO HE KNOWS WHERE TO FIND HIM.
NOW, THE DRAINAGE IS A VERY IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE MASTER PLAN.
[00:20:01]
IF WE DO A MASTER PLAN AND WE DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING AND ALL THAT EFFORT IS SPENT IN VAIN.SO BRANDON AND MICHAEL OFTEN PLAN THIS WELL IN ADVANCE.
SO THE [INAUDIBLE] UPDATE THE DRAINAGE FEE SO THAT WHILE [INAUDIBLE] IS DOING THE MASTER PLAN AND I'LL EXPLAIN THAT LATER, JACOBS ENGINEERING WOULD BE SYNCHRONOUSLY DOING THE DRAINAGE FEE THAT WOULD PAY FOR IMPLEMENTING THE MASTER PLAN IMPROVEMENTS.
NOW, THE REASON ALSO WE WANTED JACOBS ENGINEERING TO BE THE LEAD, EVEN THOUGH THEY DO NOT HAVE EXPERIENCE IN DOING DRAINAGE MASTER PLANS, AS DEMONSTRATED BY SOME OF THE E-MAILS THAT I HAVE BEEN GETTING THAT ILLUSTRATE THEIR FOCUS, THAT EXPERTISE AND SPECIALTY IS IN CALCULATING THE DRAINAGE FEE THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A MASTER PLAN, NOT NECESSARILY THE HYDRAULIC HYDROLOGY.
AND A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT WERE DETAILED THAT WOULD GO INTO A MASTER PLAN.
SO WE WANT THIS PROJECT TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
I TALKED TO BRANDON COOK AND BRANDON COOK ADVISED ME THAT IT'S A DELICATE MATTER BECAUSE WE ARE ASKING THE COUNCIL REQUESTING THE COUNCIL TO HIRE [INAUDIBLE] FOR BOTH THE MASTER PLAN AND THE DRAINAGE FEE, WHERE THEIR EXPERTISE IS ONLY IN DRAINAGE FEE AND NOT IN DOING THE MASTER PLAN, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE ALL THE SCIENCE COMES IN.
AND SO WHAT HE SAID THIS WE CAN PROBABLY ASK JACOBS ENGINEERING TO CONSIDER UTILIZING [INAUDIBLE] AS THEIR EXPERT SUB FOR DOING THE HYDRAULIC, COLLECTING THE FIELD DATA FEASIBILITY STUDY AND DOING THE MASTER PLAN.
OTHER THAN THAT OPTION, I DON'T THINK THIS IS HAPPENING.
AND WE'LL HAVE TO JUST SPLIT THE WAGON AND HAVE IT GO ON PARALLEL TRACKS WITH TWO COMPANIES.
BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY EFFICIENT.
THAT'S THE REASON WE WOULD PREFER JACOBS ENGINEERING, WHICH IS A LARGER ORGANIZATION, ONE THAT BRANDON AND MIKE LOFTON KNOWS, THE FINANCE DIRECTOR.
MANAGING THIS EFFORT TO FOCUS ON THE FEE THAT FOCUSES ON THE DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN.
AND SO THAT'S THE INFORMATION THAT I GOT.
WE HAVEN'T ACTUALLY ACTIVATED IT, BUT I WANTED TO [INAUDIBLE].
I THINK WE'RE KIND OF MEANDERING OFF THE AGENDA AND WE NEED TO GET BACK ON.
DANIEL, IF YOU'LL GO AHEAD AND WRAP THAT UP, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE, SIR.
AND ITEM TWO, IF THERE'S FURTHER DISCUSSION THAT WILL BE ON OUR REGULAR MEETING, WE CAN FOLLOW UP AT THAT POINT.
AND THEN AT THE TIME OF THE MEETING, TOO, IF WE FEEL THAT THERE'S MORE INFORMATION THAT NEEDS TO BE GARNERED BEFORE WE MAKE A DECISION, WE COULD DEFER THAT TO THE NEXT MEETING TO GIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS TIME TO MAYBE DELVE INTO THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE.
CAN WE DEFER TO THE NEXT MEETING OR DO WE HAVE TO DO THAT IN THE REGULAR SESSION? TO DO THAT IN A REGULAR MEETING.
ANYTHING ELSE, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBB.
MOVING TO COUNCIL MEMBER [INAUDIBLE].
I JUST HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
NINE B, IS THIS THE FIRST TIME? THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL THAT I'VE SEEN THIS COME TO COUNCIL.
IS THIS SOMETHING NEW THAT WE HAVE DONE? WE'VE GOT SEVERAL OF THESE PROBLEM PROPERTIES THAT WE HAVE REACHED WIT'S END WITH.
A FORMER COUNCILMAN HAD EXPRESSED HER THOUGHTS THAT THE CITY SHOULD NEVER SUE ANY OF ITS RESIDENTS.
AND I SUGGESTED AT THAT TIME THAT I WOULD NEVER FILE A SUIT EXCEPT FOR TAXES WITHOUT ADVICE FROM COUNCIL AHEAD OF TIME, MAKING SURE BASICALLY CODE ENFORCEMENT CASES WHERE WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE THAT ARE A PROBLEM, WE'LL GET INTO THAT MORE DATA.
BUT IT'S ANTICIPATED THAT THESE THREE CASES NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE GUSTO.
SO WE WANT TO FILE SUIT IN THE COUNTY COURT OR DISTRICT COURT.
AND UNLESS I'M TOLD OTHERWISE, MY PRACTICE WILL BE THAT BEFORE WE FILE A
[00:25:05]
LAWSUIT ON CODE REVIEW OR, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING ELSE THAT WILL BE COMING TO COUNCIL WOULD GIVE YOU A BRIEFING AND GET A GO.OK, I MEAN, ONE OF THESE PROPERTIES IS IN MY DISTRICT.
AND, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'VE HAD WITH IT.
AND SO I'M GLAD THAT WE ARE PURSUING THIS.
AND I WOULD SAY IN THE FUTURE THAT, YOU KNOW, LET'S DO ANYTHING THAT WE NEED TO DO TO SPEED UP THIS PROCESS AND GET THESE PROBLEMS RESOLVED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
A STRAND OF SEARCH WARRANTS IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER.
AND, YOU KNOW, LAST WE, AS THE CITY GOES OUT, TURNS UP A LITTLE BIT OF HEAT, THE PERSON DOES SOMETHING, THEN IT STOPS AND WE START IT OVER AGAIN.
AND WE NEED TO BREAK THAT CYCLE.
AND GET SOME FINALITY TO THESE THINGS.
OK, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, GLAD TO SEE THIS IS MOVING FORWARD.
AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET THESE ISSUES RESOLVED.
WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THEM LATER.
OK, NINE H, THE TXDOT APPROVAL FOR ROAD CLOSURES.
THIS IS SOMETHING NEW THAT'S COMING TO US.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO HAMPER OUR ABILITIES TO CLOSE THESE ROADS WITH SPECIAL EVENTS IN THE FUTURE? AND SO CAN YOU GIVE ME JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THIS? COUNCIL MEMBER, THIS IS DAVID SMITH.
SO EVERY YEAR WE BRING THIS BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
WHENEVER WE DO CLOSE A ROADWAY OR TXDOT ROADWAY, WE ARE TO JOIN WITH TXDOT FOR CLOSING THAT ROAD AND GET THEIR APPROVAL.
SO THIS IS JUST A BASIC DOCUMENT THAT WE BRING IN EVERY JANUARY FOR COUNCIL'S APPROVAL.
IT HAS A LIST OF EVENTS ON THERE.
THERE MAY BE OTHER EVENTS THAT ARE ADDED OR TAKEN OFF AND OBVIOUSLY WITH COVID THAT MAY OCCUR.
BUT THIS IS GENERALLY JUST A HOUSEKEEPING ACTIVITY THAT TXDOT REQUIRES OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
I DON'T REMEMBER SEEING THIS, BUT I'M SURE IT WAS ON OUR AGENDA.
AND THEN THE LAST ITEM NINE C COUNCILWOMAN ROBB BROUGHT THIS UP ABOUT THE CHANGE ORDER FOR THE TWENTY FOUR INCH WATER LINE.
AND OF COURSE, I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS PROJECT CLOSELY BECAUSE A BIG MAJORITY OF IT IS IN MY DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY ALONG [INAUDIBLE] LANE.
IS THIS CHANGE-- HOW DOES IT AFFECT THE TIMELINE OF THE PROJECT AND WHEN CAN WE SEE WHEN DO WE THINK WE'LL HAVE SOME FINALITY ON THE SECTION OF--? SPEED IT UP.
THAT WAS MY MAIN PUSH, WAS THAT EVEN IF IT COSTS A LITTLE BIT MORE, IF IT SPEEDS IT UP BECAUSE WE PUT A TEMPORARY SURFACE DOWN ON SIXTY FIRST-- ON SIXTY FIRST-- ON [INAUDIBLE] LANE OVER THOSE INITIAL TIE INS.
AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TEMPORARY, BUT THE PROJECT, BECAUSE OF THE OTHER ISSUES, IS SLOWING DOWN AND WE'RE GOING TO LOSE THAT DETERIORATED SURFACE.
[INAUDIBLE] DID I SUM THAT UP RIGHT? YOU WERE EXACTLY RIGHT.
AND WE ACTUALLY MET WITH THE CONTRACTOR YESTERDAY.
WE ASKED THEM TO GIVE US A TRUE DUMP SCHEDULE NOW THAT WE HAVE A PATH FORWARD.
AND SO WE BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO BE CONDENSED AND THAT WHEN THAT SCHEDULE COMES, I'LL MAKE SURE I SHARE IT WITH EVERYONE.
AND I'M ALSO SHARING SCHEDULES EVERY MONTH ON MY CITY MANAGER'S REPORT NOW WITH COMPLETE UPDATES AND TIMELINES ON ALL THE PROJECTS.
SO Y'ALL CAN LOOK ON THERE ANYTIME AND SEE.
AND I'M ALSO TRYING TO GET IT TO THE NEWSPAPER ON A MONTHLY BASIS SO THEY CAN KEEP UP WITH IT AS WELL.
YOU'RE ON YOUR FROZEN, I THINK.
[LAUGHTER] JOHN, WE'RE NOT PICKING AUDIO OR VIDEO PROBABLY UP FROM YOU.
JOHN, WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL MOVE FORWARD ON THESE QUESTIONS, PUT YOU BACK ON, JOHN.
OK, LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD, AND THEN WHEN JOHN COMES BACK, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND COME BACK TO HIM FOR ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.
LET'S MOVE ON TO DISTRICT 4 COUNCIL MEMBER QUIROGA.
YEAH, I HAVE A QUESTION ON ITEM 8G.
I THINK DAVE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS.
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'RE ASKING FOR WAS THE ONE POINT ONE MILLION AND SUCH AS DEALING WITH FUEL.
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND EXPAND IT.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE GET THE REVENUES, IF WE TAKE IT FROM DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
AND BECAUSE OF THE NATIONAL OUTLOOK, IT LOOKS LIKE GASOLINE AND DIESEL IS GOING
[00:30:02]
TO GO UP HIGHER.SO I THINK WE NEED TO INCREASE THAT BUDGET.
[INAUDIBLE] I AM COUNCIL MEMBER.
SO FUEL THE GARAGE FUND SHOULD BE ABLE TO ABSORB ANY KIND OF INCREASE BECAUSE IT IS AN INTERNAL SERVICE FUND AND HAS THE ABILITY TO CHARGE BACK EVERY MONTH TO THE DEPARTMENTS.
BUT IN ADDITION, THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT PERFORMS A QUARTERLY BUDGET ADJUSTMENT, WHICH IS ALWAYS BROUGHT BEFORE CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
AND SO THEREFORE, IF THAT BUDGETED AMOUNT IS TOO LOW, THEN WE WILL BRING IT BEFORE THE COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL ALONG WITH SOME OTHER ADJUSTMENTS.
I MEAN, FUEL SINCE OCTOBER OF 2012 HAS INCREASED ABOUT FOURTEEN POINT FIVE PERCENT AND IT'S BEEN ON A CLIMB SINCE DECEMBER THE 15TH.
BUT IT'S ALWAYS STAYED WITHIN OUR GRID, SHALL WE SAY, AND THE GARAGE IS USUALLY ABLE TO ABSORB THAT.
SO I WILL SHARE YOUR INFORMATION WITH THE FINANCE DIRECTOR AS WELL.
WE HAVE SOME DEGREE OF CONTINGENCY IN DAVID'S BUDGET FOR FUEL FLUCTUATIONS.
AND IF IT GOES JUST SUPER CRAZY, WE'LL CATCH IT AT THE QUARTERLY.
BUT FOR THE MOST PART, DAVID CAN USUALLY COVER THAT BECAUSE WE BUDGET A RANGE, NOT JUST A HARD NUMBER.
COUNCILMAN QUIROGA, WHAT ITEM WAS THAT AGAIN, SIR? THAT WAS 8 G.
ACTUALLY SIR, IT WILL BE NINE G.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE I GOT THIS RIGHT.
YOU SAY, DAVID, IT'S NINE G? YES, SIR, IT IS.
IT'S UNDER THE CONSENT ITEMS. AND JUST A LITTLE CLARIFICATION AS WELL.
THE ACTION ITEM IS BROUGHT BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, AND THIS IS ACTUALLY AWARDING THE CONTRACT TO OUR FUEL VENDORS IN ORDER TO OBTAIN FUEL [INAUDIBLE] A GOOD COST.
SO BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS WHAT I'M HEARING FROM BRIAN, WE HAVE A SLIDING BUDGET WHERE IF WE GET RID OF THE GAS AND DIESEL GOES UP RIGHT NOW, I'D SAY IT'S A DOLLAR EIGHTY SIX.
IF IT JUMPS UP TO TWO DOLLARS AND SEVENTY FIVE CENTS.
WE HAVE THAT BUDGET WHERE WE CAN WE'LL HAVE THAT MONEY TO MOVE OVER TO YOUR ACCOUNTS.
SO THE CITY GARAGE HAS ITS OWN FUND AND THERE'S EXTRA MONEY WITHIN THAT BUDGET WHICH COULD PROBABLY TAKE CARE OF ANY SLIDE UP.
IF IT BECAME TO THE POINT WHERE IT COULD NOT.
AND THEREFORE WE WOULD COME BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL DURING ONE OF OUR QUARTERLY BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS.
AND BRIAN, WE HAVE THE MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR IT? YEAH, DAVID'S FUNDED RIGHT NOW AND I THINK HE'S GOT ENOUGH IN THERE.
BUT IF NOT, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE IN RESERVES OR IF WE GET SOME UNFORESEEN, HUGE JUMP IN IT.
BUT WE'VE PROJECTED SOME INCREASES IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR.
AND I THINK, DAVID'S GOT IT COVERED.
OK, THAT'S ALL I HAD FOR THAT.
HOW ABOUT 8 O, THAT'S DEALING WITH THE METERS OR THE--.
YOU KNOW, I'M LOOKING AT THE-- I'M LOOKING AT THE WRONG ONE.
AND I JUST WANTED SOME INFORMATION.
I GUESS THAT'S [INAUDIBLE] DEPARTMENT.
I LIKE TO SEE DOWN IN THE FUTURE, IF I CAN, THE SPECS ON HOW IT'S CONNECTED TO THE METERS VERSUS THE RESPONDERS, HOW THAT DATA IS CAPTURED.
SURE, WE CAN SET SOMETHING OUT SO THAT WE CAN SIT DOWN AND SHOW THE COMPLETE CONNECTION.
FOR THE MOST PART, THESE METERS HAVE AN ANTENNA CONNECTED TO THEM AND OUR STAFF DRIVES BY.
AND DURING THE DRIVE BY, THEY PULL THE REEDS EACH METER.
EACH METER HAS ITS OWN UNIQUE IDENTIFIER.
AND SO THE READS ARE POPULATED INTO OUR SYSTEM.
SO THERE'S A CHIP EMBEDDED INTO THE METER ITSELF.
NO, NOT INTO THE METER ITSELF.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ANATOMY OF A METER, THERE'S A FEW COMPONENTS.
YOU HAVE THE BODY, THE BREAST BODY.
THAT'S WHERE THE WATER FLOWS THROUGH AND THEN IT HAS ITS OWN COMPONENTS.
THAT TURNS THE TOP OF THAT METER.
WHAT THE METER ITSELF IS STEEL SITTING ON TOP OF THAT.
THERE'S A REGISTER AND THE REGISTER HAS A SORT OF A MAGNETIC COMPONENT THAT CAPTURES THE SPINNING OF THE INTERNAL GUTS OF THE BREAST BODY.
AND SO AS IT SPINS, THE REGISTER NUMBER TURNS ON TOP.
IT'S MECHANICAL, BUT IT HAS SOME ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS TO IT.
IT'S A LEGACY SYSTEM, BUT THEY HAVE SOME ELECTRONIC COMPONENT TO IT AND IT'S WIRED TO AN ANTENNA.
AND THEN THE ANTENNA TRANSMITS THE DATA OUT MONTHLY WHEN OUR METER READING DEPARTMENT DRIVES BY AND ASKS FOR THE READ.
WHAT IS THE MAINTENANCE ON THE ANTENNA? IS THERE A MAINTENANCE YOU DID PRESCRIBED MAINTENANCE THAT PEOPLE GO OUT THERE AND CHECK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING DISTORTED DATA? SO.
[00:35:05]
IT'S SORT OF A LONG WINDED ANSWER, BUT WHAT OCCURS IS OUR METERING DEPARTMENT WILL PULL READ, THE READ WILL GET POPULATED INTO OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND BILLING SYSTEMS. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND BILLING SYSTEMS HAS SOME LOGIC BUILT INTO IT TO LOOK FOR, YOU KNOW, READS THAT DIDN'T COME THROUGH PROPERLY.METER READS THAT WERE UNUSUALLY HIGHER THAN THEIR NORMAL USAGE OR THE REVERSE OF IT, UNUSUALLY LOWER THAN THEIR NORMAL USAGE AND LOOKS FOR ZERO READS.
AND THEN WHENEVER ANYTHING GETS FLAGGED WE WILL KNOW THAT THE BILLING DEPARTMENT WILL REACH OUT TO THE METERING GROUP AND THE METERING GROUP WILL GO BACK OUT AND EITHER GET A REREAD OR INVESTIGATE THE ACTUAL METER AND DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED.
OK, WELL, WHAT IS THE THE MAINTENANCE ON IT? WE HAVE AN ANTENNA [INAUDIBLE] THE RESPONDER HAS TO BE A BUILT IN BATTERY PACK THAT LASTS FOR A WEEK, A MONTH, TWO MONTHS TO TWO YEARS.
HOW DOES THAT WORK? SO THE BATTERY PACKS THAT WE PURCHASE TYPICALLY HAVE A 10 YEAR LIFESPAN.
AND SO IF THE BATTERY PACK IS AT END OF LIFE OR IF IT'S GONE DEAD, WE REPLACE THE REGISTER ANTENNA, WHICH CONTAINS THE BATTERY.
AND THEN AT THAT POINT, IT'LL BE AN ADDITIONAL 10 YEARS.
RIGHT NOW, WE REPLACE IT AS IT FAILS BECAUSE OUR SYSTEMS ARE ANTIQUATED AND THEY DON'T PROVIDE THE DATA THAT'S NEEDED TO REALLY DOVE INTO WHAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT SPECIFICALLY.
SO THE FUTURE SYSTEMS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE BRINGING FORWARD HAVE ALL OF THOSE BELLS AND WHISTLES AND ALLOW US TO REALLY UTILIZE THE ANALYTICS TO DETERMINE WHEN WE NEED TO ADDRESS ANY FAILING METER COMPONENTS.
WELL, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BRIAN, BUT SOMETIMES YOU CAN HAVE AN INTIMIDATING SITUATION.
AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS WHAT IS THE ERROR RATE FOR THE MANUFACTURER? DO WE HAVE AN ERROR RATE? FIVE PERCENT OR TWO PERCENT OR THREE PERCENT? THE COMPANY'S BEEN BOUGHT.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION ON THESE METERS.
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THEM, BUT WE CAN GIVE YOU OUR HISTORIC DATA ON THAT.
MAYBE WE CAN TRY TO RUN A REPORT FOR YOU ON THAT.
BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE A SYSTEM--.
AT ONE TIME THAT WE WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MANUFACTURING PRODUCT THAT WAS PUTTING OUT GIVING FALSE READINGS.
THAT WAS-- YEAH, THAT WAS ABOUT FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO.
BUT WE'VE REPLACED ALL THOSE METERS.
WE HAD A MASSIVE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM AND WE UPGRADED THEM ALL.
WE HAVEN'T, I MEAN, WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO MECHANICAL PRODUCT.
THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE ISSUES SOMETIMES.
BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS WE HAVE A SYSTEM IN PLACE TO CATCH THOSE.
I MEAN, MOST LIKELY, IF THERE'S ANY CUT YOU LOOSE, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET DISTORTED DATA.
YOU'RE EITHER GOING TO GET NO DATA OR YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE DATA YOU NEED.
IF THE BATTERY PACK IS DEAD OR THE ANTENNA IS DAMAGED, IT JUST DOESN'T TRANSMIT.
YOU GET A ZERO READ AND YOU GO OUT MANUALLY READ IT FROM THE MANUAL COMPONENT THAT'S ON THE METER.
SO LET ME GIVE YOU A SCENARIO.
YOU GET A DAMAGED METER OR BATTERY PACK AND GET A ZERO READING.
NOW AND GO OUT THERE TO MAKE SURE-- WHAT I'M GETTING TO IS THIS.
IF YOU HAVE A DAMAGED PACK OR THE ANTENNA OR YOUR DATA HAS BEEN DISTORTED, THERE'S GOING TO BE A TIME FRAME WHERE THE CUSTOMER IS GOING TO BE BILLED FOR BACK USAGE.
IS THAT CORRECT OR IS IT LOST? IT'S USUALLY JUST, YOU KNOW, DEPENDS ON THE--.
LET ME INTERJECT HERE ON THIS DISCUSSION.
IF WE WANTED TO GET INTO THAT MORE THOROUGHLY, ON THE OPERATION AND HOW THESE OPERATE, LET'S TRY TO KEEP OUR DISCUSSION, IF YOU WOULD MIND, JUST TO THE PERTINENT POINTS OF THESE--.
I WOULD SUGGEST TO COUNCIL MEMBER QUIROGA SIT DOWN AND MEET [INAUDIBLE].
HE CAN SHOW THEM HOW YOU CAN ACTUALLY BRING A METER TO THE MEETING, SHOWING HOW IT WORKS AND YOU GO THROUGH HOW WE READ THEM AND HOW OFTEN WE GO BACK OUT.
BUT IT'S HIGHLY, HIGHLY, HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET A BAD BILL AS A RESULT OF IT.
THEY WOULD PROBABLY MOST LIKELY GET A LOWER BILL, NOT A HIGHER BILL AS A RESULT OF IT UNTIL WE CAN GET IT REPAIRED.
IS THAT GUARANTEED? IT IS AS GUARANTEED AS WE CAN GUARANTEE ON A MECHANICAL-- GUARANTEED AS YOUR CAR IS TO START EVERY DAY.
[00:40:01]
THAT'S ALL I HAVE.ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL MEMBER, QUIROGA? NO, I DON'T.
LET'S MOVE TO COUNCIL MEMBER COLLINS.
JOHN ACTUALLY ADDRESSED MY ONLY QUESTION, WHICH WAS ABOUT NINE H, WHICH I DON'T REMEMBER BEING HERE LAST JANUARY EITHER, BUT I'LL TAKE [INAUDIBLE] WORD THAT IT WAS AND WE APPROVED THAT.
YEAH, I HAD SOME OF THE SAME QUESTIONS JOHN HAD AND DAVID HAD, AND THEN JOHN TOUCHED ON 9D THAT I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT.
MY OTHER-- I ONLY HAVE TWO ISSUES OR TWO ITEMS THAT I JUST WANTED TO DISCUSS.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE FROM A PAPER NOTES TO MY COMPUTER .
WITH ITEM SIX, 6B WITH APPROVE [INAUDIBLE] OF, I GUESS THE GRANT FOR OUR-- I GUESS FOR APPROVING FUNDS TO MAKE OUR REC CENTER A LITTLE BIT SAFER AND OPEN IT UP.
IS THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING AS FAR AS [INAUDIBLE] AND WHATNOT? YEAH, THAT'S IT.
WE'RE TRYING TO PUT AS MUCH AS WE CAN GET IN THERE TO GET THESE THINGS OPEN.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO PUT IN ALL THE PROTOCOLS WE CAN.
SAME THING YOU GUYS ARE DOING OVER SCHOOL DISTRICT AND EVERYTHING.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET IT READY.
OK, AND SO THOSE ITEMS ARE JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST COVID MITIGATION, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS LIKE JUST SOUPING UP, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS ON OUR END.
AND YOU WANT TO I MEAN, IF THERE'S ANY SPECIFIC DETAILS, ALICE CAN GIVE IT FOR YOU AND EITHER SHE OR YOU [INAUDIBLE].
NO THAT'S JUST WHAT I WAS WONDERING.
JUST MAKE SURE WE WERE HEADING.
THE BIGGEST IMPETUS BEHIND THAT IS, IS THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE KIDS ARE GOING TO LAG ON THE VACCINATIONS.
SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR A LONGER TERM PLACE.
WE CAN GET THESE REC CENTERS BACK OPEN, ESPECIALLY HOPEFULLY BY SUMMER AND HAVING FULLY FUNCTIONAL.
NOW I KNOW THIS ALLEYWAY, WHEN WE ABANDON IT, WE KNOW LIKE WHAT THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT IS IN THAT PROPERTY OR HAS EVER BEEN DISCUSSED? YES SIR.
THE APPLICANT HAS STATED THAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO A--.
WE HAVEN'T HAD SPECIFIC PLANS, BUT JUST SORT OF A CONCEPTUAL DISCUSSION.
IT'S BEEN A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT OF RESIDENTIAL CONDOMINIUMS I UNDERSTAND WITH COURSE FOR COMMERCIAL PRINTING [INAUDIBLE].
YOU KNOW, IT'S A UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT.
SO THEY BUILD ONE ALLEYWAY BECOMES LESS IMPORTANT WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE SUBDIVIDED LINES THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE PROVIDE ACCESS OR UTILITY ACCESS OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND OF COURSE, THERE ARE UTILITIES THERE WHICH WOULD, IF YOU APPROVE, BE THE RELOCATED BY THE DEVELOPER PRIOR TO FINALIZING [INAUDIBLE].
AND THEN PUT THE COST ON ALL OF THAT, MOVING SEWER LINES AND ALL THAT STUFF.
NEAR COST OUR PLANE, THEY JUST GO MOVE THEM ON THEIR OWN.
OUR ENGINEERS AND EVERYBODY WILL TELL THEM HOW THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
AND THEN LAST THING I JUST HAVE IT'S AN ACTION ITEM FOR 10A OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS AND TIMES.
I GUESS WE'LL DISCUSS THAT IN OUR ACTUAL MEETING AND TAKE ACTION ON IT.
BUT I WAS-- I KNOW WE'RE ALL TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ABOUT 5:30 EVENING MEETINGS.
BUT AS FAR AS WORKSHOP GOES, YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S APPROPRIATE TO DISCUSS IT HERE OR, YOU KNOW, WITH TIME EFFICIENCY AND WHATNOT.
BUT AS FAR AS WORKSHOPS AND MEETING GOES, I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF HAVING OUR EVENING MEETINGS.
BUT WHEN WE START OUR WORKSHOP SEEMS TO BE THE HICCUP.
I'D LIKE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, OUR WORKSHOPS START, YOU KNOW, KIND OF IN THE SAME SENSE AS OUR MEETING DOES, YOU KNOW, JUST KIND OF FLOW STRAIGHT INTO IT.
I THINK THERE'S AN IDEA TO HAVE A MORNING WORKSHOP AND THEN EVENING MEETINGS.
I DON'T KNOW THE EFFICIENCY ON THAT AND TAKING AN EXTRA LONGER DAY OR, YOU KNOW, IF WE JUST WANT TO START A [INAUDIBLE] WORKSHOP AND THEN MOVE INTO OUR MEETING
[00:45:03]
AT FIVE THIRTY, BECAUSE WITH THE MEETING SPLIT UP BETWEEN WORKSHOP AND OUR COUNCIL TIME, REMEMBER, THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION AND TO GET PEOPLE TO, YOU KNOW, ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE.AND WE KNOW THAT IN LOCAL POLITICS, IT'S JUST A LOW PARTICIPATION RATE.
AND ESPECIALLY IN GALVESTON, WE SEE OUR STRUGGLES REACHING OUT TO OUR POPULACE.
AND I THINK THE MORE CONFUSING OF THE SYSTEM WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, ARE REQUIRING A FULL DAY FROM OUR RESIDENTS TO SPEAK TO THEIR COUNCIL.
I DON'T KNOW THE EFFICIENCY BEHIND SPLITTING THEM UP.
I MEAN, I'M ALL IN FAVOR AND DOING A 1:15 IN THE AFTERNOON WORKSHOP AND THEN MOVING INTO A 5:30 MEETING.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO HEAR YOUR INPUT ON IT, BUT THAT'S JUST WHERE I'M STANDING.
ON THE STAFF'S BEHALF THAT ACTUALLY WORKS VERY WELL FOR STAFF.
AND BECAUSE I CAN, IT CONDENSES THE TIME AND STAFF'S INVOLVED WITH THIS SO THEY CAN GET THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED EARLY IN WORKSHOPS LIKE THEY DID TODAY AND THEY CAN GO BACK TO WORK.
SO THAT WORKS PERFECT FOR STAFF.
I'M JUST PUTTING THAT OUT THERE.
BUT WE'RE OPEN TO ANYTHING COUNCIL WANTS TO DO.
WHY DON'T WE DO THIS COUNCIL IF IT MET EVERYBODY'S APPROVAL, I KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE FROM THE PUBLIC THAT WILL BE KEYING IN ON THIS SUBJECT WHEN WE GET TO IT.
AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THIS TO BE DISCUSSED IN OUR IN A REGULAR MEETING.
SO I'M OPEN TO ENTERTAIN DISCUSSION AT THIS POINT.
BUT IF YOU THINK IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE MORE APPROPRIATE, LET'S HOLD THOSE DISCUSSIONS TO THE AFTERNOON MEETING WHEN WE COME TO THAT ITEM, BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE WILL BE TUNING IN FOR THAT.
IS THAT OUR VIEW? YEAH, THAT'S PERFECT.
AND THAT'S ALL I REALLY HAD FOR TODAY.
AND MOVING TO DISTRICT ONE, COUNCILMAN JOHNSON.
[INAUDIBLE] THEY HAVE BEEN AND ACTIONS BEFORE WITH THESE PARTICULAR PROPERTIES AND HADN'T GOT ANY, I GUESS, REMEDY TO THE SITUATION DEALING WITH THESE PARTICULAR PROPERTIES.
IS THAT CORRECT? WELL, WE HAVE A CYCLE.
CODE ENFORCEMENT GOES OUT, WE SEE A LOT OF ACTIVITY, IT SLOWS DOWN AND THE CONDITIONS CONTINUE.
WE HAD-- WE DID THREE ADMINISTRATIVE SEARCH WARRANTS AND THE CITIZENS HAVE MADE SOME VARYING DEGREES OF CLEANUP.
WHEN WE DISCUSS THIS LATER, I'LL TELL YOU, WE'RE NOT CHOMPING AT THE BIT TO GO AHEAD AND FILE LAWSUITS ON ALL THREE OF THESE PEOPLE.
WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS BE ABLE TO HAVE AUTHORITY TO FILE A SUIT.
IF WE FEEL THAT PROGRESS IS NOT BEING MADE.
WE FEEL PROGRESS IS NOT BEING MADE ON TWO OF THEM.
BUT THE THIRD ONE WHERE WE THINK THAT THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE WILL COME AROUND ON THAT ONE HAND AND WE WON'T NEED TO.
SO DO WE HAVE, OF COURSE, THE PHOTOS OF THESE PARTICULAR PROPERTIES? I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER [INAUDIBLE] SAID THAT HE HAD A MEETING WITH SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES.
SO THAT'LL BE PART OF A POWERPOINT FOR THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND SO I SEE THAT WE ARE TRYING TO HIRE A TEMPORARY ADMINISTRATOR EMPLOYEE FOR THE CITY HALL IN HIS OFFICE.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE DO OR--? IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
BRIAN, DID YOU WANT TO COME ON THAT? WELL, I CAN SPEAK GENERAL.
THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME WE'VE EVER DONE IT FOR THE CITY AUDITOR.
BUT WE HIRE TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES FROM TIME TO TIME, REVEREND, SO WE DON'T BURDEN THE BUDGET WITH A PERMANENT POSITION WHEN WE HAVE SOME SMALL PROJECTS THAT NEED TO GET ACCOMPLISHED.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE CASE HERE.
GLENN'S GOT SOME SPECIFIC PROJECTS WHERE HE WANTS TO BRING IN SOME EXTRA HELP ON THEM.
THERE'S A CURIOUS PART OF THE CHARTER THAT SAYS COUNCIL HAS TO APPROVE THE EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE IN THE AUDITORS OFFICE.
SO BECAUSE OF THAT CONSTRAINT, HE HAS TO COME TO YOU PER THE CHARTER TO GET THIS APPROVAL.
ANY TIME ANY ONE GOES TO WORK AND THE WATER DEPARTMENT, IT HAS TO BE APPROVED BY COUNCIL.
[00:50:02]
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.THIS IS IN RELATION TO THE CMS PROJECT AND WE NEED SOME A LITTLE BIT MORE HELP ON THIS PROJECT [INAUDIBLE].
OK, SO WHERE WOULD THOSE FUNDS BE COMING FROM, THOSE ADDITIONAL FUNDS AND [INAUDIBLE]? I DON'T KNOW.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL WE WILL PROBABLY THAT WILL BE PICKED UP IN YOUR NEXT QUARTERLY BUDGET AMENDMENT AND WILL BE SHOWING THE BUDGET TRANSFER OVER TO GLENN FOR THE ADDITIONAL MONEY, MOST LIKELY.
MIKE, IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR, THAT'S CORRECT.
BUT WE WILL COVER IT OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND, COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON.
BEFORE WE CLOSE THIS PARTICULAR ITEM OUT.
I WANT TO MAKE SOME FIRST OF ALL, COUNCILMAN COLLINS HAS LEFT THE MEETING AT NINE FORTY FIVE.
SO WE HAVE THE WHO'S ATTENDING.
HE WILL BE BACK SHORTLY AND NOTIFY US WHEN IT COMES BACK ONLINE.
I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT EIGHT A ON THAT.
COUNCIL, THIS IS MORE OF A COMMENT.
WHEN WE GET TO THAT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, THERE IS A MEMO THAT OUR CITY ATTORNEY DON [INAUDIBLE] HAS SENT OUT.
AND HOW CONCERNING THAT PARTICULAR ITEM, I THINK IT CAME OUT YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.
SO AS WE GET TO THAT DISCUSSION, YOU MIGHT REFER BACK TO HIS MEMO, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WILL BE PART OF OUR DISCUSSION WHEN WE COME TO THAT ITEM.
ALSO ON ITEM NINE U AS IN UNDERWATER OR WHAT YOU STAND FOR, BUT ANYWAY, ON 9U, BRIAN, WOULD YOU ON THIS STRENGTH OF ENGINEERING, WOULD YOU JUST LET THE PUBLIC SITE DEFINE WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE WITH THE PREQUALIFIED, WHAT THAT ACTUALLY MEANS? YEAH, WHAT WE DO IS WE BECAUSE ENGINEERING EXPERTS AND CODE IS A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE.
AND WHAT WE DO IS WE GO OUT AND WE LOOK FOR QUALIFICATIONS AS IT RELATES TO SPECIFIC PROJECTS AND WE PREQUALIFY THEM.
SO WE HAVE A LIST TO CHOOSE FROM.
WE MAY ON THIS DRAIN, ULTIMATELY ON THE DRAINAGE PROJECT, THAT IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO INVOLVE TWO OR THREE ENGINEERING FIRMS, DEPENDING ON WHAT PHASE WE'RE WORKING ON AND EXACTLY, YOU KNOW, WHETHER WE'RE WORKING ON UNDERGROUND OR WHETHER WE'RE WORKING ON OPEN DITCH.
JAKE, AS POINTED OUT BY DANIEL, WILL PROBABLY BE WORKING MORE ON THE ACTUAL HOW WE FINANCES AND THE COST SIDE OF IT.
BUT WE DO PREQUALIFIED THESE YEARS.
IT'S A PROCESS THAT THE STATE USES AS WELL, WHERE THEY GIVE YOU A LIST OF PRESCRIBED PREQUALIFIED ENGINEERS THAT YOU CAN CHOOSE FROM.
IT HELPS EXPEDITE PROJECTS DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE ENGINEERING FIRMS PREQUALIFIED FOR CERTAIN LEVELS OF WORK.
[INAUDIBLE], ARE YOU STILL ON? DID I TOTALLY BANG THAT UP OR DID I SAY IT CORRECTLY? BRIAN, THIS IS BRANDON.
AND REALLY THE BIGGEST PART OF THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO BE IDENTIFYING THE DRAINAGE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE PLANNING TO TAKE IN TO THE VOTERS IN THE NEXT DRAINAGE ELECTION.
THAT'S GOING TO BE THE BIG ONE.
THE PORTION OF THE DRAINAGE THAT'S GOING TO BE ADDRESSED IN THERE IS JUST GOING TO BE PRETTY MUCH FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF THESE PUMP STATIONS AS WE START BRINGING THEM ONLINE.
AS YOU KNOW, LIKE ON THE WEST END, WE'RE VERY LIMITED IN THE FEDERAL GRANT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SECURE OUT THERE JUST DUE TO THE WAY THAT THE FEDS SCORE THE APPLICATIONS FOR THESE GRANTS THROUGH A BENEFIT COST ANALYSIS OR REQUIREMENTS OF LOW TO MODERATE INCOME.
AND SO IN ORDER TO SECURE FUNDING FOR ANY TYPE OF LARGE DRAINAGE PROJECTS IN THAT AREA, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO THE VOTERS AND THAT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT THIS STUDY IS GOING TO ACCOMPLISH.
LET'S SAY PREQUALIFICATION PROCESS AND THERE'S OTHER PREQUALIFIED ENGINEERS ON OUR LIST, RIGHT, RANDY? YES, SIR.
WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE GONE THROUGH OUR ITEMS AND QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL.
[3B. Discussion Of The City Marshal Program And Code Enforcement (Robb/Brown – 30 Minutes) ]
I'M GOING TO MOVE TO ITEM THREE B, IF WE COULD, PLEASE.ITEM THREE B, DISCUSSION OF A CITY MARSHAL PROGRAM AND CODE ENFORCEMENT.
THIS IS A TOPIC WITH COUNCILWOMAN ROBB HAS REQUESTED TO BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA AND A TOPIC THAT I HAVE AN INTEREST IN, TOO.
[00:55:04]
AND SO I'M GOING TO JUST OPEN THAT UP.I THINK WE HAVE OUR CITY MARSHAL, BUTCH STROUD WITH US.
BUTCH, ARE YOU GOING TO LEAD THIS DISCUSSION? OH, YES, I AM.
IS ANY BETTER? YOU GET CLOSER TO YOUR MIC.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO HAVE THIS PRESENTATION.
JANELLE IS GOING TO HAVE THE POWERPOINT THAT I'VE GOT PRESENTED FOR YOU.
WHAT THE POWERPOINT GOING TO SHOW YOU IS [INAUDIBLE] OFFICE IS AND HOW WE ARE IDENTIFIED TO THE PUBLIC.
THAT'S BEEN OUR CONCERN PRIOR TO BEING HERE.
AND ALSO SHOW WHAT THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MARSHALS OFFICE ARE? AND THEN COMPARISON OF TWENTY, NINETEEN, TWENTY, TWENTY DATA ON SOME ISSUES AND HOW IT'S IMPACTED FROM THE CHANGES THAT I'VE IMPLEMENTED.
SO THE FIRST ONE HERE IS FOR JUST SHOWS THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE.
THAT'S OUR BADGE AND IT IDENTIFIES THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
MARSHAL'S OFFICE HAS A MISSION STATEMENT.
AND AS THE CITY OF GALVESTON MARSHAL'S OFFICE SERVES AS A UNIFIED ENFORCEMENT DIVISION DEDICATED TO THE ACTION THAT ALLOWS THE GALVESTONIANS TO THE FAIR AND IMPARTIAL ENFORCEMENT OF CITY ORDINANCES.
AND WE DO EVERY DAY WE STRIVE TO MEET THAT MISSION STATEMENT.
THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE HAS WHAT I CALL A MOTTO.
IT'S ENFORCEMENT WITH INTEGRITY.
AND THAT'S WHAT EVERY ONE OF OUR VEHICLES.
THAT'S ON OUR PATCH AND INTEGRITY [INAUDIBLE] IS THE PRACTICE OF BEING HONEST AND SHOWING A CONSISTENT AND UNCOMPROMISING ADHERENCE TO STRONG MORAL AND ETHICAL PRINCIPLES AND VALUES AND ETHICS INTEGRITY IS REGARDED AS HONESTY AND TRUTHFULNESS OF ACCURACY OF ONE'S ACTIONS.
SO IN A NUTSHELL, IS DOING THE RIGHT THING WHEN NOBODY'S WATCHING.
SO WHEN I TOOK OVER A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, ONE OF THE BIG COMPLAINTS FROM THE COMMUNITY WAS THEY NEVER KNEW WHO WE WERE AND IT CAUSED ISSUES WHENEVER THE DEPUTIES WERE OUT TRYING TO DO THEIR JOB.
WE DROVE VEHICLES TO SAY PLANNING ON IT.
WE HAD JUST A REGULAR PULL OVER HERE AND NOBODY KNEW WHO WE WERE.
AND THE POLICE WERE CALLED ON FROM TIME TO TIME WHEN THEY'RE OUT TO DO THE JOB BECAUSE PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW WHO THEY WERE.
SO ONE OF MY BIG GOALS WAS TO PUT A BRAND IN FOR THE MARSHALS OFFICE AND IDENTIFY THE EMPLOYEES WHEN THEY'RE OUT IN THE FIELD.
SO EVERYBODY KNEW WHO WE WERE.
THE FIRST I DID WAS COME UP WITH A GRAPHIC DESIGN FOR OUR CARS.
I WANT TO BE UNIQUE FROM EVERY OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN THE COUNTY AND SMALL ENOUGH FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHO WE WERE AT FIRST GLANCE.
AND ON EVERY ONE OF THEM AT WORK OR FAMILY, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ENFORCEMENT WITH INTEGRITY.
AND WE STRIVE TO FOCUS EVERYONE ON THAT.
SO WHEN YOU SEE OUR VEHICLES OUT THERE, THEY SAY MARSHAL CITY OF GALVESTON, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL AT DRIVING [INAUDIBLE] OFFICERS.
THEY HAVE THE SAME POWERS THAT EVERY OTHER POLICE OFFICER IN THE STATE OF TEXAS HAVE.
THIS IS OUR MOTOR VEHICLE, AND WE ALL KNOW THAT GALVESTON DOES SUFFER FROM TIME TO TIME FROM WATER GATHERING ON OUR STREETS, FROM HEAVY RAINS OR FROM STORMS OR WHATEVER.
AND WE HAVE THESE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN THROUGH THERE AND CAUSE MORE DAMAGE THAN WHAT THE WATER WOULD CAUSE IF THEY WEREN'T THERE.
AND PART OF OUR JOB IS TO ENFORCE THAT VIOLATION.
WE DON'T HAVE THOSE JACKED UP VEHICLES TO PURSUE THEM THROUGH THE HOT WATER BECAUSE THEY WERE CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROBLEM.
THAT VEHICLE HAS HIGHER CLEARANCE SO THAT WE CAN GET TO THOSE PLACES THAT WHERE THERE ARE PROBLEMS TO ADDRESS THE VEHICLES THAT ARE CAUSING ISSUES NEXT.
AS THIS VEHICLE HERE, YOU CAN SEE IT'S GOT THE SAME MARKINGS SOMEWHAT, THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE IS VERY IDENTIFIABLE.
AT THE VERY BOTTOM, YOU SEE CODE ENFORCEMENT.
THESE EARLY CIVILIAN DEPUTIES AND WORK WITH THE MARSHALS OFFICE THAT THEY
[01:00:03]
TARGET CODE ENFORCEMENT, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPUTIES ALSO TARGET CODE ENFORCEMENT.BUT IF YOU SEE ONE OF THESE VEHICLES, THIS IS THE CODE WORD OF THE VEHICLE.
WE WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW EXACTLY WHO IT IS WHEN THEY SEE IT.
IT ALSO HAS ENFORCEMENT WITH INTEGRITY THAT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT.
THESE ARE OUR PARKING ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES.
THOSE THAT WERE HERE BEFORE, YOU KNOW, THOSE EXPLORED, USED, MUST BE WRAPPED WITH SOME TYPE OF A WRAP THAT THEY USE TO PROMOTE THE TOURIST HERE FROM GALVESTON.
THE PROBLEM WITH THOSE WRAPS IS THEY MAY BE DETERIORATED AND THEY REALLY MADE THE CARS BAD.
SO THERE AGAIN, WE BRANDED THOSE WITH THE MARSHAL'S DECALS AS PARKING ENFORCEMENT ON IT, ON THE SIDES AND THE BACK.
SO PEOPLE KNOW THIS IS A PARKING ENFORCEMENT UNIT AND THERE'S NO DOUBT WHO WE ARE.
THIS IS A PHOTO I WANT TO BRING, IT SEEMS TO BE A HOT TOPIC OF HOW WE PERFORM OUR PARKING ENFORCEMENT.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THE PICTURE THERE ON THE LEFT, THERE'S TWO CAMERAS MOUNTED ON THE TOP OF THAT VEHICLE.
AND THESE ARE STATE OF THE ART CAMERAS.
WE RECENTLY REPLACED THAT THE MIDDLE OF LAST YEAR.
IT'S THE BEST MONEY CAN BUY AND IT PROVES ITSELF ON HOW FAST IT WORKS AND HOW IT FUNCTIONS.
NOW, THE REASON I'M BRINGING THIS UP IS BECAUSE THE CONCERN ABOUT PEOPLE WANT US TO PUT IT ON GOLF CARTS.
THEY WANT TO PUT IT ON THE SAME WAY AS THEY WANT US TO WALK DOWN THE SIDEWALK AND ENFORCE IT.
AND THIS IS TO TRYING TO PORTRAY THAT THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE WITH THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE USE.
AND THAT'S THE REASON WE HAVE TO HAVE VEHICLES.
NOW, IF YOU LOOK ON THE PHOTO ON THE RIGHT, THAT'S THE LAPTOP THAT'S CONNECTED TO THIS.
AND THESE CAMERAS CAN READ LICENSE PLATES AS YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THEN PASS TO THE DATABASE ON THAT LAPTOP AND IDENTIFY THOSE VEHICLES THAT HAVE PAID THE PARK AND VEHICLES THAT HAVE NOT PAID THE PARK WITH AN ALARM SYSTEM.
SO THAT'S WHAT EQUIPMENT WE USE.
IT IS STATE OF THE ART AND IT'S THE BEST MONEY CAN BUY.
SO THE OTHER THING WAS WHENEVER THEY SEE PEOPLE WALKING, THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHO THEY WERE.
SO THE BRANDS THAT I CAME UP WITH, THE UNIFORM DESIGN, ARE ALL WITH [INAUDIBLE] WHICH ARE OUR POLICE OFFICERS.
THEY ENFORCE THE CODE ENFORCEMENT, PARKING ENFORCEMENT.
WE [INAUDIBLE] OUR NAME ON THE CURRENT MARSHALS ON THE BACK SO THEY CAN MARSHALS PATCHES ON THE SIDES AND MARSHAL ACROSS THE BACK TO WHO WE ARE.
THE NAME ON THE FRONT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THIS PERSON.
ON THE OTHER HAND, IF THEY WANT TO MAKE IT A COMPLIMENT, WE WANT THAT GOING TO THE RIGHT PERSON.
THEY HAVE A GRAY SHIRT, A SILVER BADGE, NAME ON THE FRONT, AND THEN CODE ENFORCEMENT ACROSS THE BACK THAT IDENTIFIES THEM.
VERY IDENTIFIABLE LOOKING PANTS.
PARKING ENFORCEMENT DEPUTIES, THEY HAVE BLUE SHIRTS, A CITY SEAL ON THE FRONT NAME ACROSS THE FRONT, PARKING ENFORCEMENT ACROSS THE BACK, AND THEN THEY WEAR SHORTS OR LONG PANTS DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER.
AND THERE AGAIN, WE WANT THEM TO BE IDENTIFIABLE ON SITE.
WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE HAVE TO GUESS WHO WE ARE.
SOME CHANGES THAT WERE MADE IS WE WANTED TO HAVE BETTE ENFORCEMENT FOR THE MARSHALS OFFICE, SO AS CIVILIAN DEPUTIES WERE RETIRING OR LEAVING, WE WERE REPLACING THOSE.
WE REPLACED THOSE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE HAVE SEVEN LAW ENFORCEMENT IN 2020.
WE'VE ACTUALLY INCREASED THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE AND I'LL EXPLAIN THAT SHORTLY AND REDUCES THE DEPUTIES BY ONE AND INCREASE PARKING ENFORCEMENT BY ONE.
THAT GIVES US MORE COVERAGE AND MORE ABILITY TO ISSUE CITATIONS AND GENERATE THE REVENUES THAT COME FROM CITATIONS.
MAYOR MAY I ASK A QUESTION? YES, MA'AM.
BUTCH, HOW MUCH MORE DO YOU HAVE TO GO ON THIS? WE'RE PROBABLY HALFWAY THROUGH.
I CAN SPEED THIS UP IF YOU LIKE.
GOING A LITTLE FASTER IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT.
I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK HOW MANY EMPLOYEES THERE WERE IN 2018.
[01:05:02]
OH, OK.I CAN GET THAT DATA, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY CLOSE TO WHAT WAS IN 2019.
BUT I DIDN'T PULL THAT DATA IN 2019--2018.
IF YOU COULD PULL THAT AND GIVE THAT TO COUNCIL IF YOU WOULD PLEASE.
THE PROS AND CONS OF THE REASON WE'RE GOING TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT IS THE COMMAND PRESENCE TO GET BETTER COMPLIANCE WHENEVER WE'RE THERE.
THE BROAD KNOWLEDGE, STATE, FEDERAL, LOCAL LAWS, THE ABILITY TO ENFORCE THOSE LAWS WHEN NEEDED, COMMUNICATION WITH THE PUBLIC AND THEN THE CITY'S ABILITY TO UTILIZE US FOR SPECIAL EVENTS, DISASTERS FOR CURFEW AND MOST RECENTLY, THE EMERGENCY ORDERS.
FROM THIS COVID, WE WERE THE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM FOR THE GOVERNOR'S ORDERS AND THE MAYOR'S ORDERS AS WELL.
CONS ARE, PROS AND CONS OF THE CONS FOR THE CIVILIAN DEPUTIES IS IT COST MORE .
THEY HAVE MORE ABILITIES TO PERFORM DUTIES AND THEY GET THEIR SALARIES MORE, THE VEHICLES COST MORE.
THERE'S MORE [INAUDIBLE] WITH THEM.
THE TRAINING DICTATED BY THE STATE FOR POLICE OFFICERS.
WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THAT AND THEN THE TRAINING THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE FROM THE POLICE ACADEMY AND FROM THEIR CLASS LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE AND THE ABILITY TO DEESCALATE SITUATIONS USING VERBAL TECHNIQUES AND JUST THE TRAINING THAT THEY HAVE.
[INAUDIBLE] RESPONSIBILITY IS A VERY LONG LIST.
WE RECENTLY TAKE OVER THE CITY HALL BUILDING SECURITY, MUNICIPAL COURT BAILIFF AND MUNICIPAL WARRANTS.
WE TAKEN THOSE TWO POLICE DEPARTMENTS, THE PARKING ENFORCEMENT, ALL THE ZONES WITHIN THE CITY.
CODE ENFORCEMENT, WE USE THE CITY ORDINANCES, INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE AND INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE TO PERFORM OUR JOB, AND THEN THE GROUND TRANSPORTATION IS SOMETHING WE'VE TAKEN OVER FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WRECKER ENFORCEMENT IS ANOTHER ONE.
WE BROUGHT THAT OVER WHENEVER I CAME OVER.
REGULATE THE RECORDS [INAUDIBLE] LIKE COMPANIES.
HOTEL, MOTEL, BREAKFAST ANNUAL INSPECTIONS IS SOMETHING THAT WE PERFORM FOR INSPECTION WHEN THEY GET THEIR PERMITS.
WE ASSIST COASTAL RESOURCE BEACH ENFORCEMENT.
2020 WAS A VERY BUSY YEAR FOR US AND FOR THE COASTAL RESOURCE OFFICER WITH THE STORMS THAT CAUSED THE DAMAGE TO OUR [INAUDIBLE].
WE ASSIST DEVELOPMENT SERVICES WITH FIELD INSPECTIONS FROM THE HISTORICAL INTEGRITY OF THE HOMES TO THE DOWNTOWN AREAS, CONCESSIONS INSPECTIONS AND OTHER THINGS THAT THEY NEED HELP IN, IN ENFORCING.
BUILDING DEPARTMENT OR BUILD INSPECTIONS.
WE HAVE SEVEN DAY A WEEK MARSHAL'S NOW WHERE WE USED TO NOT HAVE MARSHAL'S ON THE WEEKENDS.
CONTRACTORS WERE COMING DOWN AND DOING CONSTRUCTION WORK AND NOT BEING CAUGHT.
NOW THE MARSHAL'S ON THE WEEKENDS AND WE GET COMPLAINTS OR WE FIND THEM WE STOP WORK ORDERS AND ISSUE A CITATION FOR THAT.
IT'S WORKING VERY WELL FOR US.
ASSIST GIS WITH VERIFIED ADDRESSES, MOST RECENTLY WITH RELIGIOUS VENUES.
THESE ARE USED WHENEVER PEOPLE APPLY FOR ALCOHOL PERMITS, THE STATE LAW REQUIRES THEM TO BE SO FAR AWAY.
AND WE WANTED TO KEEP THE LAYERS AND OUR GIS MAPS AS UPDATED AS WE COULD SO WE HELP THEM OUT OF THAT.
WE DO DAYCARE, SCHOOLS AND OTHER VERIFICATIONS AS NEEDED.
INSPECT AND EVALUATE DILAPIDATED STRUCTURES, THIS IF FOR OUR ABATEMENT.
WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
IF A HOUSE CAUGHT ON FIRE, WE GO OUT THERE AND DETERMINE IF IT'S SAFE TO GET REBUILT OR IF IT NEEDS TO BE ABATED.
AND ALSO PEOPLE CALL IN OR IF WE FIND STRUCTURES ARE DILAPIDATED, WE DO THE INVESTIGATION AND SEE IF THEY'RE SAFE OR WE NEED TO BE ABATED.
ALARM PERMITS, GOLF CART PERMITS, RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMITS.
WE RECENTLY TAKEN THAT OVER FROM THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE AND GETTING THIS STUFF UPDATED, PUTTING IT ONLINE.
A LOT OF POSITIVE COMMENTS FROM OUR APPLICANTS, [INAUDIBLE] WE HAVE 57 OVER 5700 ALARM PERMITS WE DEAL WITH EVERY YEAR.
THAT'S A LOT TO WORK WITH AND CHAUFFEUR PERMITS WE BROUGHT OVER FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ALL GROUND TRANSPORTATION DRIVERS MUST POSSESS A CHAUFFEUR PERMIT BY ORDINANCE.
AND THAT'S YOUR TAXI DRIVERS, BUS DRIVERS OR SHUTTLE DRIVERS PAY CAB,
[01:10:02]
[INAUDIBLE] SECURITY SUCH AS THAT AND YOUR TOUR GUIDES THAT THEY'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE A CHAUFFEUR PERMIT SO WE CAN VET THEM FOR THAT PURPOSE.WE WORK WITH ALL OF THE CITY DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE THE QUALITY OF LIFE BETTER FOR ALL CITIZENS AND VISITORS WITHIN THE CITY.
AND THEN WE DO OTHER PROJECTS AS DIRECTED BY THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
A COST ASSOCIATED WITH THESE TRANSFERS THAT WE'VE MADE FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OVER TO THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE IS NEARLY ZERO IF IT ISN'T ZERO ON MOST OCCASIONS.
AND USUALLY IT'S YOU SAVE THE MONEY.
THE DUTY AND RESPONSIBILITY TRANSFERRED FROM MARSHAL'S OFFICE ALLOWS YOU TO REDIRECT PERSONNEL TO OTHER AREAS WHICH NEED ADDITIONAL ATTENTION WITHIN THE CITY.
TWENTY NINETEEN TO TWENTY TWENTY.
YOU CAN SEE WE HAD TWENTY NINE HUNDRED, ALMOST THREE THOUSAND FOR TWENTY NINETEEN AND WE HAVE OVER FOUR THOUSAND FOR TWENTY TWENTY AND THAT'S A 14 PERCENT INCREASE.
AND THEN TOTAL CASES, INVESTIGATED UP 12 PERCENT AND.
SO IT'S NOT MUCH OF AN INCREASE ON THE TOTAL INVESTIGATED, BUT THE SELF INITIATED A LITTLE MORE.
THIS IS A HOT TOPIC, PARKING IN GALVESTON IS A PREMIUM AND CURBSIDE PARKING IS A BIG ISSUE AND THE COMPLAINTS WERE FLOWING IN HAND OVER FIST AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN HANDLING THAT.
AND WHEN THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE TOOK IT OVER, WE CONCENTRATED ON ALL THE VEHICLES NOW YOU SEE A HUGE INCREASE IN RED TAGGED VEHICLES OVER TWENTY NINETEEN.
BUT IF YOU LOOK OVER THE 2020, THE ACTUALLY TOWED VEHICLES IS NOT THAT MANY.
OUR PRIMARY GOAL IS COMPLIANCE.
GET THE VEHICLE REMOVED, GET IT FIXED OR REPAIRED WHERE IT CAN BE DRIVEN SO THAT IT'S NOT JUST STAGNANT AND TAKING UP A VALUABLE PARKING SPACE.
OPEN CASES, WE HAVE MORE OPEN CASES AND IT'S UP SIX PERCENT.
A LOT OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF HOW WE REACHED OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND HOME TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT WE DO AND GIVE THEM OUR NUMBER SO THEY HAVE A PROBLEM.
THEIR PROBLEM IS OUR PROBLEM AND WE HANDLE THAT AS FAST AS WE CAN.
OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE THE QUALITY OF LIFE BETTER.
AND IF THEY DON'T HELP US, THEN WE HAVE A HARDER TIME DOING THAT.
THE CLOSED CASES IS UP 18 PERCENT.
A LOT OF THIS I ATTRIBUTE TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT WE'VE ADDED AND WE'RE CLEARING MORE CASES THAN WHAT WE HAD IN THE PAST.
CITATIONS AND CHARGES FILED, THESE ARE WHETHER THEY CATCH SOMEBODY DOING WATER BLASTING AND HAVE AN OIL BASED PAINT OUT OR WHETHER IT'S NOT HAVING A PERMIT.
YOU KNOW RED TAG IT AND ISSUE A CITATION ON THE SCENE, OR WE FILE CHARGES FOR OTHER CODE VIOLATIONS [INAUDIBLE] GRASS OR LITTER AND DEBRIS OR BROKEN FENCES OR CONSTRUCTION ISSUES.
WE'RE BEING VERY PROACTIVE AND WE'RE PUSHING FORWARD, TRYING TO GAIN COMPLIANCE AND GET THIS STUFF DONE.
WE HAVE A VERY MINUTE INCREASE IN THAT.
AND THAT'S GOING TO BE BECAUSE OF COVID.
DUE TO COVID, THE CITY RESTRICTED SOME OF THE ENFORCEMENT FOR THAT PURPOSES BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH SOME TOUGH TIMES AND THE CITY DON'T WANT TO COMPLICATE THE ISSUE.
SO THE CARS ARE PARKED LONGER PERIODS OF TIME AND ALL THAT.
SO OUR, WE ONLY HAVE A 10 PERCENT INCREASE, BUT THAT'S DUE TO COVID.
HERE'S SOME PHOTOS, I'M GONNA BREEZE THROUGH THEM.
SOME OF THESE YOU'LL SEE AGAIN LATER THIS AFTERNOON WITH THE OTHER PRESENTATION.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
AND THIS IS ONE OF OUR PROBLEM PROPERTIES THAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH FOR YEARS.
AND THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE OF YOU'LL SEE AGAIN LATER.
THIS IS A PROPERTY ON 26H STREET.
THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO GO IN AND WHAT WE FIND WHENEVER WE ENTER THESE PREMISES FOR OUR INSPECTIONS.
THIS PARTICULAR ONE HAD TO GET HEAVY WATER SERVICE.
YOU CAN SEE THEY WERE STILL TRYING TO SURVIVE USING BUCKETS TO FLUSH THE TOILET AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
AND THERE WERE PLUMBING ISSUES IN THE PLUMBING WAS ACTUALLY RUNNING OUT ON THE GROUND.
SO THIS IS STUFF WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.
THIS IS ANOTHER ONE THAT YOU'LL SEE LATER.
THESE ARE PROBLEM PROPERTIES THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS FOR MANY YEARS,
[01:15:04]
THIS [INAUDIBLE] PROPERTY WAS PRIOR TO HURRICANE IKE, AND IT'S NEVER STOPPED SINCE THEN.CONVENTIONAL WAYS OF ADDRESSING THIS ISN'T WORKING.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO CHANGE GEARS.
THIS IS MORE OF THAT PROPERTY.
YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS TO DEAL WITH AND WE TRY TO FIX THAT [INAUDIBLE] OUR GOAL.
WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, ANIMAL SERVICES UNIT, AND WE WERE FINALLY ABLE TO GET THAT OUT OF THERE.
THAT WAS A BIG UNDERTAKING, WORKING JOINTLY WITH THE ANIMAL SERVICES UNIT TO TRY TO GET THAT ACCOMPLISHED.
THIS IS AN ABANDONED APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH, TRYING TO GET ABETMENT TO IT.
AND IT'S GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW WITH THE LEGAL SECTION.
THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS GETS OUT OF EITHER THEY REBUILD IT AND GET IT RUNNING OR THAT WE TEAR IT DOWN AND START ALL OVER WITH SOMETHING ELSE.
HERE'S SOME MORE OF THAT APARTMENT COMPLEX.
THIS IS THE PROBLEMS THAT'S THERE.
THIS IS STILL MORE OF THAT APARTMENT COMPLEX.
THIS IS WHAT IT'S STILL THERE TODAY, WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY, TRYING TO GET THIS OUT OF THE SITE OF EVERYBODY, GET IT FIXED.
NEXT, HERE'S AN ABATEMENT PROJECT THAT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF.
IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO HAPPEN.
LEGAL WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN THIS.
AND THIS IS SOME PHOTOS OF PEOPLE ACTUALLY HAVING TO LIVE IN THIS CONDITION, WATER SITUATION, CONSTRUCTION PROBLEMS. AND WE HAD TO WORK TO GET THESE CONDEMNED AND OUT OF THERE.
THIS IS ALL ON THE SAME PIECE OF PROPERTY.
YOU SEE THE CONDITION OF THESE BUILDINGS.
THE KIDS WERE AROUND THERE AND THIS WAS SOMETHING WE NEEDED TO GET OUT OF THERE AS FAST AS WE COULD.
THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TODAY.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A PRIME LOCATION FOR HOUSES TO BE BUILT AND DEFINITELY BE AN ASSET FOR THAT NEIGHBORHOOD NOW.
A LOT OF HARD WORK TO GET TO THIS POINT THOUGH.
AND THAT'S THE END OF MY PRESENTATION.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO MENTIONED 10:15 A.M.
COUNCILMAN COLLINS HAS REJOINED OUR WORKSHOP.
SO FOR THE RECORD, COUNCILMAN COLLINS IS BACK.
BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS, COUNCIL FOR BUTCH STROUD, BRIAN WOULD YOU MIND KIND OF GOING THROUGH VERY QUICKLY THE HISTORY OF THE MARSHAL PROGRAM, WHEN IT BEGAN AND WHY IT BEGAN HERE AT THE CITY? AND ALSO, I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO MAKE COMMENTS ABOUT THE BUDGET OF THE MARSHAL'S PROGRAM, HOW IT COMPARES THE MARSHAL'S SALARIES.
BUTCH MENTIONED THAT A LITTLE BIT TO GPD AND OR CIVILIAN SALARIES IN THE SAME AREA.
IT WAS ACTUALLY AT THE BEHEST OF SOME OF THE POLICE OFFICERS THAT WE MET WITH.
THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE TIME THAT WAS BEING TIED UP ON THEIR SHIFTS, DEALING WITH A LOT OF THESE CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUES, SPECIFICALLY JUNK VEHICLES, TOWS, DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.
YOU KNOW, OUR GOAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN WITH THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE IS TO ALLOW THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO DO THE BEST JOB THEY CAN DO IN POLICE ACTIVITIES AND TO TRY TO GET AS MUCH OFF THEIR PLATE.
THAT'S ADMINISTRATIVE OR OTHER THINGS.
SO THESE OFFICERS CAN ACTUALLY GO OUT AND SERVE THE PUBLIC IN THE CAPACITY WITH WHICH THEY WERE HIRED TO DO SO.
WE STARTED THAT PROJECT SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
IT IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT TOGETHER, IF THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF NEW TO THIS DEPARTMENT, IT JUST BROUGHT TOGETHER FRAGMENTED PIECES OF THIS FROM ALL AROUND THE CITY, FROM PLANNING, FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, FROM PARKING ENFORCEMENT WAS ALMOST NONEXISTENT.
BUT WE BROUGHT THOSE ALL TOGETHER AND PUT THEM UNDER ONE PLACE.
SINCE WE'VE DONE THAT AND SINCE BUTCH HAS BEEN ADDED, WE'VE ACTUALLY BROUGHT OVER SOME MORE DUTIES FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT USED TO TIE UP TIME.
AND LET ME BE VERY CLEAR, WE HAVE NOT REDUCED ANYTHING IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE'VE NOT TAKEN ANY POSITIONS AWAY FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE'VE NOT REMOVED ANY VEHICLES FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE'VE KIND OF STRUNG TOGETHER BUTCH'S DEPARTMENT ON A KIND OF WE KIND OF KNITTED IT OUT OF WHOLE CLOTH.
I DON'T THINK WE'VE BOUGHT THE MARSHAL'S DEPARTMENT A VEHICLE SINCE WE STARTED.
THEY'RE ALL VEHICLES THAT WE COBBLED TOGETHER FROM EXCESS FLEET OR FROM THE DEPARTMENTS LIKE PLANNING AND OTHER THINGS, BUILDING DEPARTMENT.
SO THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF OLDER VEHICLES.
AS YOU CAN SEE, BUTCH HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF CLEANING THEM UP AND PUT THE SHINE BACK ON THEM.
I KNOW OUR PARKING ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES ARE OLD RETIRED POLICE UNITS.
SO WE'VE YOU KNOW, WE'VE KIND OF COBBLED TOGETHER AND NOW WE'VE ACTUALLY BROUGHT THINGS LIKE TAXI AND RECORD INSPECTION OUT OF THERE.
WE'RE WORKING ON DOING A FEW OTHER THINGS.
WE'RE WORKING WITH CHIEF HALE ON THAT.
[01:20:02]
BASICALLY, I WANT CHIEF HALE FOCUSED ON CRIME AND TRAFFIC AND THE THINGS THAT A POLICE OFFICER NEEDS TO BE DOING.UNFORTUNATELY, ON THE CODE ENFORCEMENT SIDE, THERE'S JUST SOME THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE PERFORMED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THERE WERE THINGS THAT TOOK QUITE A BIT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TIME BEFORE.
A GOOD EXAMPLE IS THAT APARTMENT COMPLEX YOU SAW THE MARSHAL'S AND HISTORICALLY IN THE OLDER TIMES, BUILDING DEPARTMENT WOULD HAVE HAD TO GO IN THAT BUILDING.
THEY WOULD HAVE HAD TO CALL A PD UNIT TO BE THERE TO ASSIST THEM, WE'D HAVE TAKEN A UNIT OFF THE STREET OR TWO UNITS OFF THE STREET, MAYBE DEPENDING ON WHAT WE THOUGHT WE WERE DEALING WITH THERE, AND THEY'D HAVE TO BE THERE WITH OUR BUILDING PEOPLE.
SAME THING WITH THE CITY HALL OFFICER THAT TOOK AN OFFICER OUT OF ROTATION.
TO HAVE A CITY HALL OFFICER THAT WE NO LONGER DO THAT, THAT OFFICER'S BACK IN SERVICE NOW SERVING THE CITIZENS.
THE COST OF A MARSHAL IS SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THE COST OF A POLICE OFFICER.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THERE'S STILL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND WE'RE AND THEY STILL HAVE TO BE TRAINED AND ALL THOSE THINGS.
BUT THEN AGAIN, TOO, WE'RE NOT ASKING THEM TO GO OUT AND DO A LOT OF THE HEAVY LIFTING THAT WE ASK OUR POLICE OFFICERS TO DO.
SO THEY'RE PAID APPROPRIATELY FOR THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING, BUT IT'S SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN WHAT IT COST US TO PAY A POLICE OFFICER TO DO THOSE SAME THINGS.
AND WE'RE GETTING THE ADDED BENEFIT OF KEEPING THOSE OTHER POLICE OFFICERS IN SERVICE AND DOING FUNCTIONS FOR THE CITIZENS.
SO I KNOW IT USED TO TAKE SOMETIMES HALF A DAY OF A POLICE OFFICER WAITING TO GET A JUNK VEHICLE TOWED, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD LOSE THAT OFFICER FOR HALF HIS SHIFT DEALING WITH THAT.
NOW, WE NO LONGER HAVE TO DO THAT.
AND AGAIN, THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT WOULD FROM TIME TO TIME CALL ON OR NOT, SAY, FROM TIME TO TIME, IT WAS MORE FREQUENT THAN NOT.
WE HAVE TO CALL ON PD FOR ASSISTANCE, FOR DIFFERENT CODE ISSUES AND BUILDING ISSUES.
THEY NO LONGER HAVE TO DO THAT.
THEY CAN CALL THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE AND THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE CAN BE THERE WITH THEM TO RESPOND.
THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMPONENT OF THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE IS THE SMALLEST COMPONENT OF IT.
THE CODE ENFORCEMENT SIDE OF IT IS PRIMARILY CIVILIAN USAGE, ALONG WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE OF IT.
IT'S A MODEL THAT, YOU KNOW, I WISH WE COULD TAKE CREDIT FOR DEVELOPING THIS MODEL, BUT IT'S A MODEL THAT'S USED IN LOTS OF OTHER CITIES.
AND THERE'S PROBABLY OTHER THINGS IN THE FUTURE THAT WE'LL BE WORKING WITH CHIEF HALE ON, I HATE TO USE THIS TERM BECAUSE IT MIGHT UPSET BUTCH, BUT THERE'S SOME SOME MINISTERIAL DUTIES THAT THEY'D LIKE TO GET OUT OF THEIR HAIR AND LET THEM FOCUS MORE ON THOSE AREAS WE'RE OPEN TO DOING THAT AS WELL, BUT IT'S AN OVERALL COST SAVING TO THE CITIZENS.
I THINK IT'S A BETTER SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS.
AND IT'S ALSO THE BIGGEST BENEFIT THAT I SEE IS IT LETS OUR POLICE OFFICERS DO POLICE WORK AND NOT DEALING WITH THE CRAZINESS THAT SOMETIMES BUTCH HAS TO DEAL WITH, WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT THINGS.
AND KEEP IN MIND, THERE ARE JUST SOME FUNCTIONS THAT WE PERFORM THAT HAVE TO BE PERFORMED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
YOU KNOW, THE TOWING OF THE VEHICLES, IF WE HAVE TO STOP TAXIS, IF WE HAVE TO STOP WRECKERS, THOSE HAVE TO BE PERFORMED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS, WE CAN'T PULL PEOPLE OVER WITH WITH A GUY WITH A YELLOW LIGHT IN A PICKUP TRUCK.
AND THERE'S JUST SOME FUNCTIONS THAT HAVE TO BE DONE.
BUT THERE'S A MUCH CHEAPER AND MORE EFFECTIVE WAY TO DO THAT.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING, USING MARSHAL'S.
AND IT'S ALLOWING, AGAIN, ALLOWING OUR POLICE OFFICERS TO STAY OUT THERE AND DO THE WORK THAT THE CITIZENS WANT OUR POLICE OFFICERS DOING, WHICH IS FIGHTING CRIME, TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, INVESTIGATING CRIMES, THOSE TYPE THINGS.
SO I THINK OVERALL IT'S BEEN A FAIRLY GOOD SUCCESS.
AND AGAIN, I WANT TO STRESS WE HAVE TAKEN NOTHING AWAY FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN DOING THAT OTHER THAN THE DUTIES WE HAVE LEFT THEM WITH ALL THE STAFF THAT THEY HAD.
WE HAVE ACTUALLY WE'VE ADDED SOME STAFF TO PD AS WELL IN THOSE AREAS SO.
BUTCH DID I? IS THAT PRETTY SUM UP PRETTY WELL WHEN YOU THINK? [INAUDIBLE] SUMMED IT UP VERY WELL.
LET'S OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL NOW FOR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
WHAT ARE THE HOURS OF THE MARSHAL'S DEPARTMENT? THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE WORKS 8 TO 5, PARKING ENFORCEMENT WORKS 9 TO 6.
OK, BUT JUST BECAUSE ONE OF THE ISSUES WE HAVE OUT HERE SEEMS TO BE NOISE ORDINANCE WITH BIG BOX RENTALS WHERE PEOPLE I MEAN, A LOT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE THEIR OWN POLICE AND WE HAVE [INAUDIBLE].
BUT THAT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE SOMETHING BETTER SERVED UNDER THE MARSHAL'S DEPARTMENT THAN CALLING THE NON-EMERGENCY POLICE.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON MARIE, IS ACTUALLY INCREASING THE SHIFTS AND STRETCHING THEM OUT.
AND THE OTHER THING IS, AS WAS POINTED OUT BY BUTCH AND I CAN SAY THIS BECAUSE I'M BORN AND RAISED HERE.
THERE'S THE GALVESTON WAY OF DOING THINGS AND PEOPLE LEARN IF THEY WAITED TILL THE WEEKEND.
THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH SOME STUFF THAT THEY PROBABLY COULDN'T GET AWAY WITH DURING THE WEEK.
SO EXPANDING OUR HOURS OF SERVICE OR SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING AT AND WE'RE TRYING TO DO IT IN THE WAY WITHOUT INCREASING THE STAFF A WHOLE LOT.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE MAYOR AND I HAVE HAD MEETINGS WITH THE POLICE CHIEF OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS ABOUT WHAT DUTIES, WHAT THINGS CAN WE GET OFF YOUR PLATE SO YOU CAN GO BACK TO DOING THESE THINGS THAT THE CITIZENS WANT YOU
[01:25:03]
TO DO.AND I'M NOT TRYING TO SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE THE POLICE FORCE.
WE WANT WHAT WE HAVE WORKING ON THE ISSUES THAT CITIZENS WANT AND MAYBE EVEN PUTTING MORE POLICE OFFICERS IN THAT AREA TO DO THAT.
BUT THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES ON.
I MEAN, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BORES ME IS IN THE NUMBER OF CALLS TO DISPATCH, THAT IS ANIMAL CONTROL.
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF YOUR BIGGEST CALL VOLUMES THAT WE'RE GETTING.
SO MOST OF WHAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S DEALING WITH ARE NOT NECESSARILY WHAT A POLICE OFFICER IS TRAINED TO DO OR NOT NECESSARILY EVEN WHAT A POLICE OFFICER WANTS TO DO.
WE WILL CARRY THAT REPORT, COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND MAYBE IT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE JUST LOOK AT AT WEEKENDS OR ESPECIALLY HOLIDAY WEEKENDS OR, YOU KNOW, TIE IT TO SOMETHING THAT MAKES SENSE, BECAUSE IT DOES CONCERN ME THAT WE ARE TAKING AWAY FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WHEN I HEAR FROM THEM, THE VEHICLES ARE VERY OLD AND SO FORTH.
AND BEING IN A DISTRICT THAT IS SEVERELY UNDERSERVED BY THE POLICE, IT ESPECIALLY DISTRESSES ME.
AND THAT'S WHY I MAY BE DOING THIS MARSHAL THING WILL KEEP THE POLICE FROM HAVING TO DEAL WITH NUISANCE STUFF.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS THE LOWEST MILEAGE AVERAGE IT'S EVER HAD.
WE'VE GOT ONE OF THE NEWEST LEADS GALVESTON'S EVER HAD, AND IT'S GROWING.
WE JUST GREW ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE NEW TAHOE'S AND I'M WAITING ON FOUR OR FIVE F150S, NOW COVID HAS SLOWED DOWN OUR DELIVERIES OF OUR NEW TRUCKS.
BUT AND DAVID SMITH IS AVAILABLE MARIE IF YOU WANT TO SIT DOWN AND VISIT WITH HIM.
WE CAPTURE EVERY MINUTE AND EVERY MILE ON EVERY CAR AND HE'S PREPARED TO SHOW YOU THAT WE'RE IN REALLY GOOD SHAPE WITH PD RIGHT NOW.
YEAH BECAUSE I'M STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THAT BUDGET TRANSFER OUT OF THE POLICE VEHICLE FUND THAT WE HAD, WE APPROVED.
IN LAST MEETING THAT WAS SORT OF POST FACTO.
THE POLICE DOESN'T HAVE A VEHICLE FUND.
THEY SHARE THE CAPITAL BUDGET WITH EVERYBODY ELSE AND THEIR VEHICLE REPLACEMENT IS DETERMINED AND AUTOMATED.
WHAT DAVID SMITH DOES IN THE GARAGE AND THEY TELL US WHAT VEHICLES ARE UP FOR REPLACEMENT.
WE TYPICALLY, THEY ARE THERE ARE THEY AND GARBAGE TRUCKS ARE USUALLY OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITIES.
SO WE, YOU KNOW, WE REPLACE THOSE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.
THE OTHER JUST COMMENT THERE WAS I KNOW ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPLAINTS I HEAR FROM PEOPLE ABOUT THE MARSHAL'S DEPARTMENT IS WHEN THEY BLOCK ONE OF THE LANES OF THE SEAWALL TO GET A VEHICLE.
AND THERE WAS ONE DAY IN PARTICULAR AND I WAS GOING INTO TOWN AND IT WAS A VERY LOW VOLUME DAY FOR PARKING.
THERE WERE MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW, TWENTY FIVE VEHICLES ON PARKED ON THE SEAWALL BETWEEN 55TH STREET AND 75TH STREET.
AND STILL THE MARSHAL BLOCKED THE LANE WHEN THERE'S A MILLION OPEN PARKING SPOTS.
I JUST THINK WE SHOULD BE CONSIDERATE TO OUR CITIZENS AND ESPECIALLY AS TRAFFIC BECOMES MORE CONGESTED AND NOT BLOCK A LANE.
I MEAN, I'M SURE ONCE THE EQUIPMENT PICKS UP A LICENSE PLATE, THEY COULD PULL OVER.
THERE ARE DESIGNATED EMERGENCIES SPOTS.
THAT ARE FAIRLY CLOSE VICINITY ON THE SEAWALL FOR LIFEGUARDS AND FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES, AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE THE MARSHALS BE A LITTLE TO NOT I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU PHRASE IT, BUT TO NOT BLOCK THE ONE LANE OF THE SEAWALL.
BUTCH, I THINK YOU HEARD ME PREACH THAT ONE TO YOU BEFORE, THAT AND MR. COLLIER.
[LAUGHTER] SO BUTCH, I THINK YOU'RE ALREADY ON TOP OF THAT.
I WANT TO ECHO MARIA'S CONCERN ABOUT WEEKEND AND NIGHTTIME CODE ENFORCEMENT, BECAUSE THAT IS EXACTLY THE PROBLEM WE HAVE DOWNTOWN.
YOU KNOW, PD IS SLOWER TO RESPOND TO NOISE COMPLAINTS DOWNTOWN BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, ON A SATURDAY NIGHT, THEY PROBABLY HAVE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS ON THEIR BLOTTER.
YOU KNOW, IF WE HAD MORE CODE ENFORCEMENT, MORE MARSHAL'S OFFICE ENFORCEMENT OUT THERE NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S JUST THAT PEOPLE KNOW YOU GET AWAY WITH MORE.
THAT'S JUST WHEN THERE'S MORE OF THAT SORT OF ACTIVITY.
PEOPLE DON'T GENERALLY, YOU KNOW, HAVE WILD PARTIES AT NOON ON MONDAY.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ON WEEKENDS OR IN THE EVENINGS AND IN THE MARSHAL'S DEFENSE
[01:30:03]
ON THE SEAWALL.JUST THIS PAST WEEK, I SAW ONE OF THE ONE OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS STOP, PULL OVER INTO THE RED ZONE AND GET OUT AND WALK BACK TO A VEHICLE.
SO MAYBE THE MARSHAL'S ALREADY ON THAT PROBLEM.
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ACTUALLY A GOOD POINT.
AND I WANT TO POINT SOMETHING OUT, BECAUSE THAT ACTUALLY REALLY PROVES WHY THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE IS SO VALUABLE TO THIS.
PART OF THE REASON THAT THE NOISE COMPLAINTS ARE A LITTLE SLOWER TO BE RESPONDED TO BY THE OFFICERS IS THAT THEY'RE BUSY THAT TIME OF NIGHT AND THEY'RE DEALING WITH PROBABLY MUCH BIGGER ISSUES THAN WHETHER WE'RE ONE DECIMAL OVER THE NOISE THAT'S STILL IMPORTANT AND IT NEEDS TO ADDRESS.
AND I THINK WE'RE DOING A DISSERVICE TO EVERYBODY BY, ONE, TAKING THE POLICE OFFICER AWAY FROM MUCH MORE NEEDED SERVICES TO GO AND ADDRESS THAT.
BUT SECONDLY, THE PERSON THAT HAS NOISE COMPLAINT NEEDS TO BE HAVE THEIR ISSUE ADDRESSED AS WELL.
SO YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND I'LL BE WORKING WITH BUTCH ON A PLAN TO EXPAND THOSE SERVICES AS WELL, BECAUSE THOSE ARE ALL EXCELLENT SUGGESTIONS AND IT'S THE PATH THAT WE'RE HEADED TO THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GROW IT, BABY STEP YOU KNOW, IT TAKES SOME TIME TO GET THESE THINGS UP AND RUNNING AND NOT CAUSE A SHOCK TO THE BUDGET SYSTEM.
WE HAVE COUNCILMAN QUIROGA AND THEN COUNCILMAN LISTOWSKI.
YOU HAVE CODE ENFORCEMENT WITH THE ABILITY TO ARREST OR DO THEY ARREST OR DETAINED AND THE POLICE OFFICERS COME AND TAKE THEM OFF YOUR HANDS? CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE DOESN'T HAVE A RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, SO WE CAN'T AFFECT AN ARREST.
IF SOMEONE HAS TO BE ARRESTED AND I CAN ONLY THINK IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF IT'S HAPPENED ONE TIME, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL COME AND DO THAT.
WE HAVE A VERY GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.
ARRESTING SOMEONE IS A VERY LAST RESORT.
AND LIKE I SAID, IN A YEAR AND A HALF, WE'VE HAD TO ARREST ONE PERSON AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DID THAT FOR US.
WELL, I GUESS I'M LOOKING FOR THE TERM ARREST AND DETAIN, DO YOU DETAIN AND THEN CALL THE POLICE OFFICE.
WHAT'S THE LEGALITY IF SOMEONE COMES UP AND SAY YOU'RE NOT A POLICE OFFICER, YOU'RE CODE? WELL, IF IT'S [INAUDIBLE] LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL, WE ARE POLICE OFFICERS AND WE HAVE ARREST POWERS.
AND THERE ARE TIMES, WELL, THAT ONE PARTICULAR PERSON FOR OUR SAFETY AND THEIR SAFETY, WE DID HAVE TO AFFECT THE ARREST AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CAME OVER AND THEY'RE THE ONES THAT BOOKED THEM INTO THE CITY OR THE COUNTY JAIL.
SO THEY DO HAVE A PROCESS AND THE MARSHALS DON'T.
NOW, THE SECOND QUESTION I HAD IS, WHY DON'T WE HAVE SOME KIND OF SYSTEM LIKE EASY TAG WHEN YOU GO DOWN THE BELTWAY, USE TO, THEY JUST GO UNDERNEATH THE CAMERA AND THEY DETECT IF YOU HAVE THE EASY TAG STICKER OR YOU DON'T.
AND THAT IS A VERY, VERY GOOD QUESTION, SIR.
AND WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING ON THAT PROGRAM FOR PARKING ENFORCEMENT, WITH THIS COVID.
IT SLOWED THIS DOWN DRASTICALLY.
WE WERE HOPING TO HAVE THIS ALREADY IMPLEMENTED BEFORE THE END OF TWENTY TWENTY.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN WITH ALL OF [INAUDIBLE] WORKING REMOTELY.
WE'RE STILL WORKING ON IT AND THAT'S OUR GOAL.
AS MR. MAXWELL SAID, WE'RE WORKING ON FREEING UP THAT LANE.
AND IF WE CAN GET THIS PROGRAM IMPLEMENTED, IT'S GOING TO DO THAT.
WE WON'T HAVE TO STOP AND ISSUE THE PAPER CITATION.
THE VEHICLE WILL GO DOWN THE ROAD, SCAN THE LICENSE PLATE.
IT'LL PICK UP THE DATA OF THOSE THAT HAVE AND HAVE NOT PAID AND THOSE THAT HAVE NOT PAID.
THEY'LL GET A PAPER TICKET IN THE MAIL, JUST LIKE YOU WOULD IF YOU WERE ON A TOLL ROAD SOMEWHERE.
THAT PROJECT GOT SLOWED WAY DOWN.
BUT WE'RE STILL WORKING ON IT AND HOPEFULLY GET IT IMPLEMENTED SOONER THAN LATER.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN QUIROGA.
JOHN? YES, I JUST WANTED TO COMMEND YOU MARSHAL STROUD, I MEAN, I THINK, YOU KNOW, FROM WHAT I HEAR ON THE STREETS IS THAT PEOPLE ARE REALLY LIKING WHAT YOU'RE DOING OUT THERE, THAT THE DISTRICT IS CLEANING UP.
AND THEY REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
THE BIGGEST COMPLAINT AS PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED IS THE SEAWALL AND BLOCKING THAT LINE OF TRAFFIC.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE WORKING ON THAT AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT IMPLEMENTED.
AND ONE THING I WANT TO POINT OUT TOO, THE BIGGEST THE BIGGEST CALLS WE GET UP HERE AT OUR OFFICE IS, AND IT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE WHEN YOU'RE CONVEYING A MESSAGE TO SOMEBODY THAT THEY NECESSARILY MAY NOT WANT TO HEAR, THEY'LL SAY, WELL, THAT MAY BE TRUE, BUT HE WAS RUDE TO US.
WELL, WE'VE KIND OF CORRECTED THAT BY PUTTING VIDEO ON THESE GUYS TOO SO
[01:35:03]
BUTCH YOU WANT TO TOUCH ON THAT, ABOUT HOW WE REPORT OUR ENCOUNTERS? ABSOLUTELY.EVERYONE OF THE, CURRENTLY EVERYONE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, MARSHALS HAVE BODY CAMERAS.
I'M WORKING ON GETTING THE SO THE CODE ENFORCEMENTS HAVE BODY CAMERAS JUST TO DOCUMENT THE WHATEVER CONTACT WE HAVE WITH CITIZENS.
AND IT'S PROVED TO BE VERY WELL, AS MR. MAXWELL SAID, A LOT OF COMPLAINTS OR HE WAS RUDE.
AND THEN WHEN YOU PULL IT BACK UP THE VIDEO AND REVIEW IT, IT'S NOT RUDENESS.
THEY MAY BE STRAIGHT AND PROFESSIONAL TO THE POINT, BUT THE PEOPLE NORMALLY JUST DON'T LIKE TO HEAR WHAT THEY'RE BEING TOLD THEY HAVE TO DO OR THEY CAN'T DO.
THE VIDEO VERY GRATEFUL FOR [INAUDIBLE].
BUT IT'S SOMETHING I WANT TO STRESS, TOO.
AND IT SOMETIMES IT EVEN FRUSTRATES THE CITIZENS A LITTLE BIT.
BUT WE TRY OUR BEST TO ATTAIN COMPLIANCE.
A FINE OR A COURT DATE IS OUR LAST RESORT.
WE REALLY AND I CREDIT BUTCH'S GUYS WITH THIS.
WE REALLY TRY HARD TO GET THE CITIZEN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ISSUE IS AND TO SEE IF WE CAN HELP THEM GET THE ISSUE CLEANED UP, WHETHER IT'S WHETHER IT'S GOATS LIVING UNDER THE HOUSE OR WHETHER IT'S A PARKING ISSUE OR AN ABANDONED CAR.
YOU KNOW, WE TRY NOT TO TOW CARS UNLESS WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO, WE TRY NOT TO HAVE TO SITE PEOPLE.
WE TRY, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY TRY TO HELP THEM AS BEST WE CAN WITH, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, IN TODAY'S WORLD, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A HAMMER TO ENFORCE THESE THINGS.
BUT BUTCH'S GUYS DO A FANTASTIC JOB OF TRYING TO WORK THROUGH A LOT OF THESE ISSUES WITHOUT HAVING TO INVOLVE HIGHER COURTS, BECAUSE IT'S AS BUSY AS OUR POLICE OFFICERS ARE SO IS THE COURT SYSTEM.
SO THE MOST WE CAN KEEP OUT OF THERE, THE BETTER THAT IS TOO, SO WE REALLY TRY TO WORK THIS OUT AS BEST WE CAN.
WE'RE NOT AFRAID TO TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL, BUT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO TRY TO WORK WITH OUR CITIZENS AS BEST WE CAN AND BUTCH DOES A GREAT JOB OF THAT.
LET'S TRY TO WRAP THIS SUBJECT UP, REVEREND JOHNSON.
ONCE AGAIN, OF COURSE, YOU ALL ARE DOING ONCE AGAIN A WONDERFUL JOB.
WITH [INAUDIBLE] THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS.
HOW DO YOU ALL STRATEGICALLY DO YOUR PATROLLING WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT AND THEN, OF COURSE, WITH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE, IS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL STRATEGICALLY ZONED FOR EACH AREA OF THE CITY AT A PARTICULAR TIME EACH DAY? OR IS THERE A BROAD PERSPECTIVE? YOU KNOW, WE'RE SEEING WE HEARING CODE ENFORCEMENT ARE.
BUT THESE ARE NOT THESE ARE NOT INSPECTORS OR ANYTHING.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR, I GUESS, THINGS THAT ARE NOT UP TO UP TO CITY ORDINANCE ON THESE PARTICULAR PROPERTIES.
EACH ONE OF THE MARSHAL'S DEPUTIES HAS HIS OWN DISTRICT, IF YOU WILL, AND THEY WORK WITHIN THAT DISTRICT.
NOW, THERE ARE TIMES WE'LL MOVE OVER TO ANOTHER DISTRICT IF COMPLAINTS ARE HIGH IN THAT AREA.
AND WE'LL CONCENTRATE IN THERE TO TRY TO GET SOME RESOLUTION AND COMPLIANCE.
CITIZENS CAN SUBMIT THEIR COMPLAINT ONLINE.
OR THEY CAN CALL OUR NUMBER AND WE'LL TAKE YOUR COMPLAINT AND WE INVESTIGATE IT AND ADDRESS THE COMPLAINTS.
COMPLIANCE IS OUR NUMBER ONE GOAL.
IF WE CAN DETERMINE THERE IS AN ISSUE, IDENTIFY WHO THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR CORRECTING THAT ISSUE, CONTACT THEM AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND IF THEY COMPLY AND GET IT CORRECTED.
IF THEY DON'T, THEN WE REQUIRE TO DO THE PAPERWORK AND NOTIFY THEM THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIX IT.
WE GIVE THEM A NOTIFIED TIME DEPENDING ON WHAT THE VIOLATION IS AND SO THEY CAN CORRECT THAT.
WE'RE LIBERAL WITH OUR EXTENSIONS, WITHIN REASON.
IF THERE'S SOME REASON THEY CAN'T DO IT RIGHT NOW, WE'LL WORK WITH EVERY ONE OF THEM.
OUR PRIMARY GOAL IS GETTING COMPLIANCE, GETTING THE ISSUE CORRECTED.
SO THAT THE QUALITY OF LIFE IS BETTER, WHETHER IT'S MOWING THE GRASS OR FIXING [INAUDIBLE] BOARDS OR GETTING RID OF GOATS, OUR PRIMARY CONCERN IS MAKING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BETTER AND WORKING WITH THEM TO GET THIS DONE.
AND SO I DO KNOW, OF COURSE, THIS WOULD TAKE ADDITIONAL, I'M PRETTY SURE, ADMINISTRATIVE TIME.
BUT THEN WHEN YOU WHEN YOU WERE GOING OUT AND YOU ISSUING CITATIONS TO INDIVIDUALS JUST LIKE THE PROPERTY THAT WE WOULD BE DISCUSSING A BIT LATER, IS THAT SOMETHING GIVEN TO THEM, TANGIBLE TO LET THEM KNOW? OF COURSE, WE KNOW THAT LOOKING AT THE CONDITION AND THAT IS NOT ONCE AGAIN UP TO PAR, BUT IS THERE SOMETHING TANGIBLE THAT WE CAN GIVE TO THEM TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT MEETING THOSE PARTICULAR STANDARDS THAT ONCE AGAIN, THAT'S IN PLACE? YES SIR, WE PLACE A LETTER ON THE PROPERTY AND WE ALSO SEND A LETTER TO THE
[01:40:06]
PROPERTY OWNER.SO IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO GET TWO WAYS OF BEING NOTIFIED AND TELL THEM WHAT THE VIOLATION IS AND THEN WE EXPLAIN WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO CORRECT IT AND YOU HAVE A PHONE NUMBER.
IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS, THEY CAN CALL US, WE CAN EXPLAIN IN DETAIL WHAT THEY NEED TO DO WHAT THE VIOLATIONS ARE.
AND REVEREND JOHNSON, WE DO THAT AND SOMETIMES IT ACTUALLY FRUSTRATES THE COMPLAINING PARTY.
AND ESPECIALLY IN GALVESTON, I HAD DEALT WITH AN ISSUE YESTERDAY.
WE HAVE AN ELDERLY PERSON THAT IS HAVING AN ISSUE IN THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO REMEDY THIS ISSUE.
SO BUTCH IS REALLY GREAT ABOUT HELPING THEM GET HOOKED UP WITH PEOPLE WHO CAN HELP THEM.
IT IS A LAST RESORT THAT WE WANT TO HURT PEOPLE LIKE THAT.
BUT REGARDLESS OF THAT, IF YOU LIVE NEXT DOOR TO THAT, WHETHER THE PERSON IS STRUGGLING OR NOT, YOU STILL WANT THAT CLEANED UP.
YOU'RE STILL HAVING A RAT PROBLEM OR YOU STILL HAVE A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD OR SOMETHING GOING ON OVER THERE.
SO WE HAVE TO BALANCE THAT OUT.
BUT I WILL TELL BUTCH DOES A GREAT JOB.
WHEN HE USE TO BE A MOTORCYCLE OFFICER, HE DIDN'T CUT A LOT OF PEOPLE A LOT OF SLACK, BUT HE'S GOTTEN PRETTY NICE IN HIS OLD AGE [INAUDIBLE].
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THAT'S IT.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND WRAP THIS SUBJECT UP.
WE HAVE A LOT OF IMPORTANT TOPICS WE STILL NEED TO GET TO.
I WANT TO JUST SAY TWO THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS BUTCH, IF YOU WOULD EXTEND A THANK YOU AND A NOTE OF APPRECIATION.
I GET A LOT OF CALLS, A LOT OF COMPLIMENTS ON THE CITY MARSHAL'S OFFICE.
PLEASE EXTEND THE NOTES OF APPRECIATION FROM THE CITIZENS OF GALVESTON.
WE GREATLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU AND YOUR OFFICERS DO.
THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION, BRIAN ALLUDED TO IT, THIS IS ONE OF THE TOPICS THAT I HAVE KIND OF CHAMPIONED, BRIAN AND I AND THE POLICE CHIEF AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, AS YOU MENTIONED, TAKING SOME OF THESE DUTIES FROM THE POLICE OFFICERS AND LETTING THEM PROVIDE THEIR TIME TO WHAT THE THEY'RE REALLY TRAINED TO DO AND TO INCREASE THE NUMBER IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OF POLICE OFFICERS.
THERE'S SOME PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE RESEARCHING AND WE'LL BE BACK TO COUNCIL TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO YOU COMING UP IN THE NEAR FUTURE ON THAT.
[3C. Discussion Of The Short Term Rental Platform Contract (Glywasky/Loftin – 30 Minutes) ]
LET'S MOVE TO ITEM THREE C, IF WE COULD, PLEASE, JANELLE.ITEM THREE C, DISCUSSION OF THE SHORT TERM RENTAL PLATFORM CONTRACT.
THIS IS A TOPIC THAT HAS BEEN ON COUNCIL'S AGENDA, SEEMS LIKE FOR A YEAR AND A HALF NOW.
AND WE'VE GONE THROUGH MUCH DELIBERATION ON THIS.
WHO WILL BE PRESENTING IS MIKE LOFTIN, DON GLYWASKY AND BRYSON FROM THE PARK BOARD.
BUT I WOULD THIS IS FOR INFORMATIONAL SAKE COUNCIL.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING ON OUR AGENDA, OF COURSE, FOR AN ACTION ITEM ON THIS.
THIS IS TO BRING YOU UP TO SPEED ON WHERE WE ARE AND LET THESE GENTLEMEN WHO HAVE RESEARCHED THIS TOPIC VERY THOROUGHLY GIVE YOU THEIR THOUGHTS ON IT.
WE WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE IT AS AN ACTION ITEM.
WE MAY EVEN CONSIDER HAVING ANOTHER WORKSHOP ON THIS.
MIKE, ARE YOU GOING TO LEAD THIS OFF? YES, SIR, I WILL.
WE WE'VE TALKED AND WE KNOW TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THROUGH THIS AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.
THE POWERPOINT THAT YOU'RE SEEING IS ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA ON THE WEB PAGE.
SO YOURS [INAUDIBLE] A LITTLE MORE IN DEPTH IF THEY WISH.
BUT SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT WE HAD A GOOD GROUP FROM BOTH THE CITY AND THE PARK BOARD TO WORK ON THE RESEARCH AND THE PRESENTATION.
SOMEBODY, SOMEBODY NEEDS TO MUTE BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF BACKGROUND NOISE OVER MR. LOFTIN.
OK, HOW IS THAT? SOMEBODY IS TYPING AND SHIFTING PAPERS IN THE BACKGROUND.
YEAH, I'M NOT PICKING THAT UP HERE.
BUT IF EVERYONE COULD MUTE, IF WE COULD, PLEASE, UNTIL THIS PRESENTATION IS OVER.
[INAUDIBLE] LIKE STATIC IS WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE.
OK, LET ME LET ME SPEAK TO JUST AN OVERVIEW AND REVIEW QUICKLY FOR PEOPLE TO REMIND
[01:45:01]
THEM WHAT THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT.IT'S BEEN AROUND SINCE NINETEEN FIFTY NINE AT THE STATE LEVEL.
IN THE 70S, THE LEGISLATURE EXPANDED IT TO CITIES.
CURRENTLY, THE STATE LAW SAYS THAT YOU CAN COLLECT SEVEN PERCENT AS A CITY.
TWO PERCENT CAN BE ADDED ON FOR BUILDING CONVENTION CENTERS.
THERE IS STILL A WHOLE LOT OF STATIC.
I THINK THE REVEREND GOT IT RIGHT IT'S MAYBE YOUR MICROPHONE HITTING YOUR SHIRT OR SOMETHING.
IT'S GOT TO BE LIKE, YES, I THINK IT'S COMING FROM YOU, MIKE.
IN ANY EVENT, WE GET THE BASIC SEVEN PERCENT CITY TAX AND THEN THERE'S TWO ADD-ONS THAT WE GET ALONG WITH FIVE OTHER CITIES.
WE GET TWO PERCENT FROM THE STATE THAT COMES TO US FROM BEACH MAINTENANCE, RESTORATION AND SAFETY.
AND WE ALSO GET TWO PERCENT JUST AS THE CITY OF GALVESTON FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND THE DEBT SERVICE PAID ON THE CONVENTION CENTER AND RELATED HOTEL FACILITIES.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU A MAP OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS MORNING WITH THE SHORT TERM RENTALS.
WE'VE GOT ABOUT TWENTY EIGHT HUNDRED, I SAY WE THE PARK BOARD HAS ABOUT TWENTY EIGHT HUNDRED REGISTERED PROPERTIES THAT THEY CAN TRACK AND YOU CAN SEE THERE'S VERY FEW NEIGHBORHOODS ON THE ISLAND THAT AREN'T AFFECTED BY THIS.
AND WE BELIEVE THERE'S MANY MORE.
HOW MANY MORE? WE'RE NOT SURE, BUT IT APPEARS TO BE SUBSTANTIAL.
WE'LL GET INTO THAT AS WE MOVE THROUGH.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF SOME CONCERNS.
OBVIOUSLY, THE HOTEL INDUSTRY IS A CRITICAL PARTNER FOR THE GALVESTON'S ECONOMY AND SHORT TERM RENTALS ARE INCREASING IN POPULARITY.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, FOLLOWING COLLABORATIONS WITH STR STAKEHOLDERS AND RESIDENTS.
THE CITY IMPLEMENTED AN APPROACH THAT REALLY SEEKS TO BALANCE THIS SHORT TERM RENTAL INVENTORY DEMAND AND NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS.
AND I'M SPEAKING TO THE ABILITY OF NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH SIGNATURE, GAINING A PETITION TO RECEIVE AN R ZERO ZONING DESIGNATION THAT WOULD PROHIBIT STRS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
NOT ALL STRS ARE TREATED EQUALLY AS MIKE ALLUDED TO, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF STRS THAT ARE NOT REGISTERED AND NOT PLAYING HOT.
A VOLUNTARY COLLECTION AGREEMENT GOES A LONG WAY TO ADDRESSING THAT INEQUITY, BUT IT ALSO CREATES OTHERS.
THE REAL RISK THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS IN PAST LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, THERE HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTS TO PREEMPT LOCAL AUTHORITY TO REGULATE SHORT TERM RENTALS.
ENACTMENT OF SUCH LEGISLATION WOULD ELIMINATE GALVESTON'S NEIGHBORHOODS FROM PETITIONING FOR THAT R ZERO ZONING DESIGNATION.
MY CONCERN IS THAT ENTERING A VOLUNTARY COLLECTION AGREEMENT COULD BE USED AS LEVERAGE TO SILENCE GALVESTON'S FUTURE OPPOSITION TO PREEMPTIVE LEGISLATION.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF BENEFIT TO THE VCA, BUT THERE IS SOME RISK INVOLVED.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW ME, I'M BRYSON FRAZIER THE CFO FOR THE PARK BOARD.
I UNDERSTAND THAT BREVITY IS KEY.
SO I'LL TRY TO MOVE THROUGH THIS KIND OF QUICK.
THE HOT TAX RATE IN GALVESTON IS 15 PERCENT.
THAT INCLUDES BOTH THE CITY PORTION, WHICH IS NINE PERCENT AND THE STATE PORTION, WHICH IS SIX PERCENT.
THE STATE DOES RETURN TWO PERCENT OF ITS SIX PERCENT THAT IT COLLECTS IN THE CITY.
THAT REBATE IS USED FOR BEACH MAINTENANCE AND SAFETY.
THE CITY HAS CHARGED THE PARK BOARD WITH REGISTERING PROPERTIES AND THEN COLLECTION OF THE LOCAL PORTION.
WE HAVE ONE STAFFER THAT IS DEDICATED TO THAT POSITION OR THAT FUNCTION.
THE BOARD MAINTAINS AN ONLINE REGISTRATION PROGRAM.
IT'S PRETTY EASY TO GET YOUR PROPERTY REGISTERED.
HOT CAN ALSO BE CALCULATED AND PAID ONLINE.
WE ALSO ACCEPT IN PERSON AND MAIL PAYMENTS AND THEN WE USE THE CITY AUDITOR AND THE THIRD PARTY THAT WE'VE HIRED TO AUDIT HOT TAXPAYERS.
THE HOT TASK FORCE THAT WAS ESTABLISHED WAS WE'RE TRYING TO ANSWER TWO QUESTIONS WITH THIS PARTICULAR PRESENTATION.
THE FIRST QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE OTHER CITIES DOING TO ADDRESS THE INCREASING
[01:50:03]
POPULARITY OF STRS AND THE POSSIBILITY OF ENTERING INTO THESE VOLUNTARY COLLECTION AGREEMENTS? WE ALSO LOOKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THEY'RE ENFORCING COMPLIANCE WITH QUALITY OF LIFE ORDINANCES.AND THEN THE SECOND QUESTION WE WANTED TO ADDRESS IS WHY DOES IT APPEAR THAT THE STATE HOT COLLECTIONS IN THE CITY LOOK LARGER THAN THE LOCAL HOT COLLECTIONS ON A PER PENNY BASIS? HISTORICALLY, THE LOCAL PENNY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LITTLE BIT HIGHER.
BUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS SINCE THE STATE HAS ENTERED INTO THE VCA IS THE SHIFT IN CITY VALUES IS SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN OURS.
AND WITH THAT, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MR. BULGHERINI AND MR. GLYWASKY.
MAJOR GLENN HAS JOINED ME IN MY OFFICE.
WE LOOKING AT A VCA, VOLUNTARY COLLECTION AGREEMENTS ARE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND WHAT WE CALL PLATFORMS, WHERE THE PLATFORM COLLECTS HOT TAX FROM ITS CUSTOMERS AND SENDS IT OVER THE CITY.
IS ONE AIRBNB HAS SUCH AN AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE WHERE AIRBNB SENDS THE STATE.
WE HAVE HEARD FROM LOCAL RESIDENTS THAT THE CITY HAS VOLUNTARY COLLECTION AGREEMENTS WITH SOME PLATFORMS WE DO NOT.
THE TYPICAL CONTRACT FOR A VCA ALLOWS THE LEASE, THE PLATFORM TO TERMINATE THE AGREEMENT ON 30 DAYS AND ALLOWS THE CITY TO TERMINATE THE AGREEMENT ON 30 DAYS.
THE CITY WAIVES ITS ABILITY TO COLLECT TAXES FROM PLATFORM VENDORS THAT EXISTED PRIOR TO US ENTER INTO THE VCA.
WE CALL THIS A NO LOOK BACK PROVISION.
SO IF YOU HAVE NOT PAID YOUR HOT TAX FOR A FEW YEARS AND SUDDENLY YOU ARE NOW BEING GETTING YOURS PAID TO THE CITY BY A VCA, YOU ARE FREE AND CLEAR ON THAT YEARS WHERE YOU WEREN'T PAYING AT ALL.
THE CITY CAN STILL AUDIT SHORT TERM RENTAL OWNERS IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.
UNDER THE VCAS, WE CANNOT AUDIT PEOPLE PAYMENTS FROM THE VC, THE PLATFORMS ARE A LUMP SUM WITH NO INDIVIDUAL IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION.
SO WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHICH OWNER IS PAYING AND WHICH IS NOT.
WE CAN STILL, THE VCAS APPARENTLY WILL STILL REQUIRE THEIR OWNERS TO REGISTER WITH THE PARK BOARD.
AND BUT IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE COULD SEE THAT WE OUR CONCERNS ARE AN INABILITY TO AUDIT BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT GIVE US AGGREGATE DATA FOR US TO REALLY LOOK AT A CERTAIN PIECE OF PROPERTY.
ONE THING I THOUGHT OF IS IF I'M A PROPERTY OWNER FOR NUMBER 27 NEW CALEDONIA STREET AND I'M COLLECTING I'M ADVERTISING MY PROPERTY THROUGH A SHORT A PLATFORM, THE CITY AGREES THEY'RE NOT GOING TO AUDIT ME.
SO I COULD BE COLLECTING ADVERTISING MY PROPERTY THROUGH LIKE THE GREEN SHEET AND GETTING REVENUE OFF A PLATFORM THAT ISN'T TAXED.
THE 30 DAY TERMINATION CLAUSE IS GOOD AND BAD.
WE'D LIKE TO HAVE FLEXIBILITY IN OUR CONTRACTS.
BUT IF ONE DAY WE'RE SUDDENLY GETTING MONEY FROM THE PLATFORM OF X AMOUNT PER MONTH AND WE'RE KIND OF SHUT DOWN QUICKLY, THAT COULD CAUSE US SOME OPERATIONAL ISSUES, THE PARK BOARD AND ONE THING ABOUT TAX ENFORCEMENT IS ALSO SOMETIMES USED FOR NON TAX ISSUES.
YOU MAY RECALL ABOUT A YEAR AGO WE HAD A HOUSE OPERATING ON BROADWAY.
IT WAS ADVERTISING BASICALLY AS A MARDI GRAS CREW OF SWINGERS OPERATION WHERE PURPORTEDLY YOU COULD GO IN AND AND KIND OF HAVE AN ORGY.
THERE WERE SOME UPROAR FROM THE NEIGHBORS.
WE WERE ABLE TO FIND OUT THAT THEY WEREN'T PAYING THEIR HOT TAX AND SHUT IT DOWN QUICKLY.
SOMETIMES NONPAYMENT OF TAXES ALLOWS US TO DO OTHER THINGS WITH PROPERTIES.
[01:55:02]
IF WE ENTER INTO THESE PLATFORM AGREEMENTS, WE WOULD PROBABLY LOSE THOSE TOOLS.GLENN DID YOU [INAUDIBLE]? NO, I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO SAY, BASICALLY, BECAUSE THE NO LOOK BACK PREVISION, I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF THIS.
SO WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
OK, THE SURVEY RESULTS WERE INTERESTING.
THERE'S ANOTHER ATTACHMENT THAT YOU CAN GO LOOK AT.
THAT'S THE MATRIX OF THE INFORMATION GATHERED.
BUT BASICALLY WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO, OF THE EIGHT TEXAS CITIES WE TALKED TO, THERE WAS USUALLY LESS CONCERN ABOUT VCAS, WHERE THE SHORT TERM RENTAL REVENUE WAS CONSIDERED A SMALLER PART OF THEIR OVERALL HOT REVENUE, BUT THE MORE MONEY IS INVOLVED IN THESE THINGS, THE MORE PEOPLE WERE CITING CONCERNS OVER THESE SAME VCA PROVISIONS THAT YOU JUST HEARD DON AND GLENN SPEAK TO.
I THANK YOU MIKE, I DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH TWO CITIES OUTSIDE OF TEXAS, BRECKENRIDGE, COLORADO AND DESTIN, FLORIDA, I WAS ENCOURAGED TO LOOK AT BRECKENRIDGE FOR MEMBERS OF THE STR INDUSTRY, AND I BELIEVE THAT THEY WERE ENCOURAGED TO LOOK AT BRECKENRIDGE BY COUNCILWOMAN ROBB.
SO THANKS FOR SHARING THAT WITH US.
YOUR SHORT TERM RENTAL MARKET IN BRECKENRIDGE, ABOUT 90 PERCENT OF THEIR TAX BASE IS SHORT TERM RENTALS.
THEY DO HAVE A VCA THAT TOOK EFFECT IN TWENTY TWENTY.
THEY BASICALLY ENTERED THE VCA FOR TWO REASONS.
THE COUNTY AND STATE HAD ENTERED INTO A VCA, THEY FELT LIKE THEY HAD TO FOLLOW SUIT.
AND IN MY DISCUSSIONS WITH THE FINANCE DIRECTOR OVER THERE, HE MENTIONED THAT THE OTHER REASON, WHILE THEY HAVE THE EXACT SAME CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE THAT YOU JUST HEARD ABOUT, THEY FELT THAT THE VCA WAS MORE CONVENIENT AND RELIABLE THAN INDIVIDUAL REPORTING FROM THEIR 30 HUNDRED PROPERTIES.
THEY HAVE SEEN SOME INCREASED REVENUE FROM THE VCA.
THEY FELT LIKE THEY HAD ONE OF THEIR BEST SUMMERS ON RECORD.
THEY ALSO THINK THE VCA MIGHT BE HELPING WITH SOME UNDERREPORTING, BUT THAT'S HARD TO QUANTIFY.
ONE THING I DID WANT TO POINT OUT, MR. MAYOR, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, IS ONE THING I NOTICED ABOUT THESE TWO CITIES AND THE OTHER ONES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THAT MET WITH AS WELL IS THEIR FOCUS ON COMPLIANCE WITH QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES.
WHEN THEY WERE ADDRESSING THIS SITUATION, THEY REGISTERED THEIR REGISTRATION FEES AND THEIR LICENSE FEES.
THEY ACTUALLY INCREASED THEM AND MADE THEM ANNUAL.
AND THEY USE THE REVENUE THAT WAS GENERATED FROM THOSE REGISTRATION FEES FOR COMPLIANCE ACTIVITIES LIKE HIRING COMPLIANCE OFFICERS, AUDITORS AND THEN THIRD PARTY ASSISTANCE.
SO IT WAS JUST SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT.
SO THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE DIFFERENCE THAT WE'VE SEEN SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE VCAS, I MEAN, WE HAVE SEEN A HUGE INCREASE ON THE STATE SIDE.
ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT IS WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T NECESSARILY SEE THE EXACT SAME GAME THAT THE STATE SAW.
WE DO HAVE SOME REGISTERED SHORT TERM RENTAL PROPERTIES CURRENTLY USING THOSE PLATFORMS AND THEY DO FILE INDIVIDUAL REPORTS.
ALL THAT WOULD CHANGE IN THE CASE OF VCA IS THE MECHANISM WHICH WE RECEIVE THOSE PAYMENTS WHILE WE WILL SEE A GAIN IT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE THE SAME WAY THAT WE SEE THROUGH THE CITY.
CURRENTLY, WE HAVE OVER 2800 REGISTERED PROPERTIES IN GALVESTON, AS YOU SAW ON THE MAP.
SHORT TERM RENTALS ARE NOTHING NEW, BUT THEIR POPULARITY SPIKED IN TWENTY TWENTY.
WE DID REACH OUT TO THE STATE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE.
HE WAS GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO SHARE THEIR HOT COLLECTION DATA IN THE CITY WITH US.
SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MR. LOFTIN TO SUMMARIZE THE RESULTS OF THAT ANALYSIS.
YOU CAN REALLY SEE IN THIS CHART WHEN THE THE THE VCAS BEGAN TO AFFECT THE STATE'S COLLECTIONS UP UNTIL FY 18, IT WAS COMMONPLACE THAT THE CITY COLLECTED MORE ON A PER PENNY BASIS INSIDE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON THAN THE STATE DID.
WE ALL KNEW THAT WAS BECAUSE OF THE CITY'S EFFORTS TO PURSUE SHORT TERM RENTALS.
SO SINCE THE VCAS HAVE BEEN IN PLACE, YOU SEE THAT THE STATE'S PORTION HAS EXCEEDED THE CITY'S PORTION IN THE LAST STATE FISCAL YEAR.
WE'RE USING THE STATE FISCAL YEAR TO GET AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON.
THEIR FISCAL YEAR ENDS IN AUGUST, OURS ENDS IN SEPTEMBER.
BUT THEY PAY US QUARTERLY BASED ON THEIR FISCAL YEAR.
SO TO LINE UP OUR COLLECTIONS AND COMPARE THEM TO THEIRS, WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT PERIOD.
SO THESE NUMBERS WOULD LOOK DIFFERENT THAN AUDITED NUMBERS FOR THE CITY'S FISCAL YEAR IF YOU LOOKED AT IT.
BUT IN THE 12 MONTHS ENDED, AUGUST 31, 2020 ON A PER PENNY BASIS, WHAT THE STATE
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COLLECTED WAS TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS MORE THAN THE CITY COLLECTED ON A PER PENNY BASIS.WHEN WE WALKED THAT OVER AND COMPARED IT TO WHAT THE STATE GAVE US AS THEIR ACTUAL COLLECTIONS FROM AIRBNB AND HOMEAWAY, THEY COLLECTED FIVE HUNDRED AND FIFTY EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS, WHICH WAS TWO HUNDRED NINETY TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS MORE.
SO IN THEORY, IF ALL THINGS WERE EQUAL, WE WOULD BE COLLECTING EVERY PENNY THAT THEY DID ON THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX AND WE REALIZED THAT TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS GAIN, NOT FIVE HUNDRED AND FIFTY EIGHT THOUSAND IS THEY'RE SEEING FROM THE AGREEMENTS, BUT IT WOULD BE SUBSTANTIAL.
AND THE KEY IS THERE'S REGISTERED HOSTS OUT THERE THAT ARE PAYING THE TWO HUNDRED NINETY TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS TO US NOW.
AND WE DO HAVE THE DETAIL ON THAT.
AND IT IS AUDITED AND WE WOULD LOSE THAT VISIBILITY BY SIGNING A VCA WITH THOSE PIPELINES.
LET'S TALK JUST BRIEFLY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH THE RECENT REVENUE STREAM TRENDS.
SINCE TWENTY EIGHTEEN STRS HAVE GROWN AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL HOT GOING FROM TWENTY NINE PERCENT TO FORTY TWO PERCENT IN TWENTY TWENTY.
DURING THE PEAK SUMMER MONTHS, IN TWENTY TWENTY WE AVERAGED OVER 50 PERCENT.
SO WE'VE JUST SEEN AN EXPLOSION IN THEIR POPULARITY.
PART OF THAT INCREASE IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE PANDEMIC, HOTELS BEING SHUT DOWN AND LIMITED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.
BUT PART OF THAT INCREASE IS ALSO JUST ATTRIBUTABLE TO THEIR RISE IN POPULARITY.
AND TO ILLUSTRATE MY POINT, HOPE COULD YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE? THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO FOR YOU TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS CHART THAT WE SHOW THERE.
ONE, THE CHART SHOWS THE STRS INCREASE THEIR REVENUE IN TWENTY TWENTY WHILE OVERALL HOT COLLECTIONS WERE DOWN AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC.
AND TWO STRS ARE NOT JUST GROWING IN POPULARITY, BUT THEY'VE ACTUALLY INCREASED THEIR MARKET SHARE.
SIMPLY PUT, TRAVELERS ARE SHIFTING THEIR LODGING HABITS TO SHORT TERM RENTALS.
SO, COUNCIL MEMBERS, MR. MAYOR, YOU MIGHT BE ASKING, WHAT ARE WE WHAT ARE WE DOING RIGHT NOW? WHAT ARE THE STEPS THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNDERWAY? SO WE'RE TRYING TO EDUCATE STR, RENTAL OWNERS.
WE INCLUDED A BLURB IN THE DECEMBER WATER BILL PROVIDING SOME INFORMATION AND A CONTACT NUMBER FOR STR OWNERS.
WE'LL ALSO BE SENDING A FULL PAGE INSERT IN THIS MONTH'S WATER BILL.
WE PLAN ON UPDATING OUR WEBSITES TO INCLUDE A HOT FACT SHEET THAT WE PUT TOGETHER AND PERHAPS EVEN SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.
I'VE ALSO REACHED OUT TO THE TWO TITLE COMPANIES ON THE ISLAND AND THEY AGREED TO INCLUDE OUR HOT FACT SHEET IN THEIR CLOSING DOCUMENTS.
OF COURSE, THE GOAL IS TO IDENTIFY UNREGISTERED STRS.
THE PARK BOARD IS HIRING A THIRD PARTY TO HELP US IDENTIFY POTENTIAL NON-COMPLIANT SHORT TERM RENTAL PROPERTIES.
AND SO FAR THEY'VE FOUND ONE HUNDRED AND FIVE POTENTIAL UNREGISTERED STRS.
HAS BEEN ESTIMATED THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN TOTAL ANNUAL HOT.
THAT WAS JUST THE FIRST ROUND.
THEY'LL CONTINUE TO SEARCH FOR UNREGISTERED PROPERTIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
WE ALSO WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE CITY AUDITOR TO AUDIT STRS.
WE DID SEE RESULTS FROM GLENN'S EFFORTS IN TWENTY TWENTY.
SO KUDOS TO GLENN AND PERRY IN HIS OFFICE.
IN FY 20, THEY IDENTIFIED POTENTIALLY 68 UNREGISTERED PROPERTIES.
FORTY SEVEN OF THEM ARE NOW REGISTERED AND PAYING PROPERTY TAXES OR HOT TAXES, EXCUSE ME.
THAT RESULTED IN ABOUT ONE HUNDRED SIXTY TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS IN BACK TAXES PAID.
MOVING FORWARD, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING TO DO AS WE MOVE FORWARD? MIKE CAME UP WITH A REALLY GOOD IDEA TO LOOK AT WATER CONSUMPTION, RIGHT.
YOU CAN SEE DURING THE WEEK THERE'S LOW WATER CONSUMPTION OF SOME OF THESE STRS AND THEN THEY PICK UP IN THE WEEKEND USING THAT AS A TOOL TO HELP US IDENTIFY SOME OF THOSE STRS.
OF COURSE, WE WOULD USE THAT WATER DATA TO THEN CONSIDER A MASS MAILING TO THOSE RESIDENTS AND TRY TO GET THEM INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE [INAUDIBLE] STR.
WE COULD ALSO STRIKE UP A DIALOG WITH THE STR PLATFORMS ABOUT THE CITY REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT.
OF COURSE, WE SHOULD CONSIDER INCREASING OUR REGISTRATION FEE AND MAKING ANNUAL USING THAT REVENUE FOR COMPLIANCE ACTIVITIES.
AND OF COURSE, MIKE AND I WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE REVENUE RESULTS CLOSELY, BOTH FROM THE STATE AND WHAT'S COLLECTED LOCALLY.
SO WITH THAT, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE CAN TURN IT OVER FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
EVERYBODY THAT PRESENTED, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
AND A GREAT PRESENTATION ON THIS.
JUST TO KIND OF BRING US BACK TO THIS TOPIC COUNCIL AS WE OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.
FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A VCA AGREEMENT HERE, AND IT ONLY COVERS TWO
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PLATFORMS. THERE ARE MULTIPLE PLATFORMS OUT THERE THAT SHORT TERM RENTALS USE.SO I DON'T WANT TO, YOU KNOW, LEAVE THE THOUGHT THAT THESE DCAS COVERS ALL THE SHORT TERM RENTALS OUT THERE.
IT'S JUST THE RBO AND AIRBNB AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME.
THE OTHER THING IS WE'RE LOOKING FOR DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL, NOT ONLY QUESTIONS.
YOU HAVE THAT GIVING STAFF DIRECTION ON HOW WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.
AND THEN I'M LOOKING FOR STAFF ONCE WE GO THROUGH MORE INPUT ON THIS, TO COME BACK WITH RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL, ONCE YOU KIND OF GET ALL YOUR THOUGHTS TOGETHER ON THAT AT A FUTURE MEETING.
COUNCILMAN COLLINS, YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP SIR.
YEAH, I THINK THE NOTION OF USING ALL WEEKEND WATER DATA IS IS FLAWED REASONING.
WE HAVE A HIGH NUMBER OF SECOND HOMES ON THE ISLAND WHERE THAT WOULD BE EXACTLY THE CASE.
SO YOU'D BE SENDING LETTERS TO PEOPLE TO COME VISIT THEIR OWN HOUSE ON THE WEEKEND SAYING YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'RE A SHORT TERM RENTAL.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S A PARTICULARLY ASTUTE POLITICAL MOVE.
IT MIGHT INDEED POINT TO SOME SHORT TERM RENTALS, BUT I DON'T THINK YOU CAN USE THAT TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION.
SECOND, IF WE WERE TO ENTER INTO THESE VCAS YOU KNOW WHAT, HOW WOULD THAT AFFECT THE COMPANIES THAT LIVE ON THE ISLAND, THAT WORK ON THE ISLAND THAT ARE NOT ONE OF THESE PLATFORMS, BUT RATHER THEIR OWN LOCAL PLATFORM.
WE HAVE PLENTY OF THAT ON THE WEST END, YOU KNOW, AND THEY GO THROUGH A SEPARATE COMPLIANCE EFFORT.
HOW IS IT THAT THAT WOULD BE RECONCILED? I MEAN, WITH THE YOU KNOW, THE FOLKS ON THE WEST END STILL HAVE TO FILL OUT THE FORM AND MAKE THE REPORTS WHERE AS THE VCA WOULD LET THE BIG GUYS OFF THE HOOK? AND FINALLY, YOU SAID, I THINK IT WAS ON A PER PENNY BASIS, THE STATE IN 2020 COLLECTED TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY SOMETHING THOUSAND DOLLARS MORE THAN THE CITY DID.
DOES THAT IMPLY THAT SEVEN CENTS THERE'S A ONE IN THREE QUARTER, ONE POINT EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS LEFT LYING ON THE TABLE BY THIS? BECAUSE IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN IT STARTS TO SEEM LIKE A GOOD IDEA.
YOU KNOW, IF IT'S A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, MAYBE NOT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE IF WE HAVE REALLY GOOD INDICATION THAT WE'RE LEAVING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN A MILLION AND A QUARTER, THREE QUARTERS AND TWO MILLION DOLLARS ON THE TABLE, THAT'S THAT'S KIND OF A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION.
COUNCILMAN, ON YOUR LAST QUESTION.
THAT'S ABSOLUTELY WHAT WE BELIEVE IT MEANS.
AND REST ASSURED, THE DATA COMING FROM THE STATE IS VERY EXACTING AND COVERS THE LAST COUPLE OF THREE YEARS NOW.
SO WE'VE GOT A GOOD BASIS OF COMPARISON.
YEAH, THOSE DIFFERENCES AND THE CHART THAT WE SHOWED IN THE SLIDE WITH THE FIVE HUNDRED EIGHTY EIGHT THOUSAND PER PENNY, THAT'S THAT'S ON A PER PENNY BASIS.
WELL, [INAUDIBLE] IS TWO PERCENT.
SO WE GOT ALMOST A MILLION TWO THIS LAST YEAR FROM THE STATE THAT.
I'M NOT I'M NOT MAKING MYSELF VERY CLEAR, THAT THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IS IT REAL MONEY .
YEAH THE NOTION THAT WE GIVE AN AUDIT CAPABILITY.
I WANT TO REEMPHASIZE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AUDITING INDIVIDUAL HOUSES AND COMPANIES IN SHORT TERM RENTALS HERE ON THE ISLAND.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT AUDITING THE VCAS.
YOU KNOW, WE MAY NOT HAVE PARTICULARLY GREAT TOOLS FOR AUDITING THE VCA, BUT I SUSPECT THE STATE WOULD DO A BETTER JOB OF THAT THAN WE WOULD ANYWAY.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WHEN WE SAY WE'RE LOSING, WE'RE GIVING UP AUDIT CAPABILITY.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AUDITING PEOPLE HERE ON THE ISLAND WE THINK ARE RUNNING SHORT TERM RENTALS.
BUT WHEN WE WHEN WE APPROACHED THEM SAYING, YEAH, BUT I'M DOING IT ALL THROUGH THROUGH THE VRBO AND THEY'RE PAYING THE TAX, SO I'M OFF THE HOOK.
COUNCILMAN, IF YOU IF YOU LOOK AT THE SURVEY, THAT'S IN THE OTHER ATTACHMENT.
IN FACT, THE CITIES THAT ARE CONSIDERING THIS ISSUE DON'T HAVE A GOOD AUDIT STRATEGY YET FOR THE VCAS.
THERE MAY NOT BE A GOOD ONE AT THIS POINT.
WELL, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE STATE IS AUDITING SOME DEGREE, [INAUDIBLE] CHECK IT OUT.
COUNCILMAN COLLINS ACTUALLY DID SPECIFICALLY ASK THE STATE IF THEY'VE DONE ANY AUDITING OF THE VCA, AND AT THE TIME THAT WE SPOKE WITH THEM, THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD NOT.
AND LIKE MR. GLYWASKY AND GLENN HAD POINTED OUT, THE AGGREGATE REPORTING DOES MAKE IT INHERENTLY DIFFICULT TO AUDIT THE VCA, BUT THE REVENUE REALIZATION IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT'S REAL.
AND TO ANSWER YOUR FIRST QUESTION, IF I MAY, SIR, THE PROPERTIES THAT WOULDN'T BE
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USING ONE OF THESE PLATFORMS THAT ARE ON VCA IN THEORY, WOULD STILL BE REQUIRED TO REPORT.AND PAY THEIR HOT FROM RESERVATIONS THAT OCCURRED OUTSIDE OF THOSE PLATFORMS. WOULD THEY BE WOULD THEY BE REQUIRED TO DO IT ON A PER PROPERTY BASIS OR JUST REPORTED IN THE AGGREGATE? THOSE ARE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE COULD HAVE CURRENTLY WOULD BE ON A PER PROPERTY BASIS.
AND, YOU KNOW, I SAID SEVEN CENTS, BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO REALIZE A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS EXTRA PER PENNY, THAT'D BE ANOTHER HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN TRICKLE DOWN FUND AS WELL.
SO BE ON THE WHOLE NINE CENTS, NOT JUST THE SEVEN.
I HAVE TO SAY, I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER COLLINS 100 PERCENT, THAT AUDITING THE WATER CONSUMPTION IS ISN'T A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF SECOND HOME OWNERS.
AND A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THAT WOULD BE WHEN WE WERE IN THE HOTTEST PART OF THE QUARANTINE AND SHUT DOWN, MOST PEOPLE CHOSE TO GO TO THEIR SECOND HOME AND QUARANTINE.
SO I AGREE WITH HIM 100 PERCENT.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.
WHEN IT COMES TO VCAS AND WHEN IT COMES TO RENTAL PROPERTIES.
I GUESS WHERE AND I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THIS WHOLE AREA, WHICH IS WHY I PRESENTED TO THE GROUP, THEY MIGHT WANT TO LOOK AT A CITY LIKE BRECKENRIDGE THAT DOESN'T WELL.
HOW DO YOU MONITOR LIKE LET'S SAY IT'S A [INAUDIBLE] RENTAL THAT THEY ADVERTISE THROUGH ALL THE DIFFERENT AVENUES AS MOST RENTALS ARE ADVERTISED THROUGH DIFFERENT RENTALS.
DOES IT STILL FALL UNDER THE VCA OR DOES IT FALL UNDER A SEPARATE RENTAL OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? AND MAYBE BRYSON YOU CAN ANSWER THAT.
COUNCILWOMAN ROBERTS, AN OUTSTANDING QUESTION.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE RESERVATION OCCURS ON A SPECIFIC PLATFORM.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE TRANSACTION OCCURRED ON AIRBNB AND THERE WAS A VCA WITH AIRBNB, THEN PAYMENT OF THE HOT WOULD COME THROUGH THAT VCA.
EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE THEIR PROPERTY ON MULTIPLE SITES, THEY ALSO HAD ON VRBO THE TRANSACTIONS YOU ACTUALLY RESERVED THAT ROOM OCCURRED ON VRBO AND WE HAD A VCA, THEN THAT'S HOW THE HOT WOULD BE PAID.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YES [INAUDIBLE] I'M NOT A FAN OF RENTING A HOUSE VERSUS A HOTEL, OR I GUESS I DO BOTH.
BUT LET'S I HAVE HAPPENED TO ME LIKE PROPERTIES THAT WERE ON VRBO OR EXPEDIA AND I GO IN TO RENT AND THEN THE OWNER CONTACTS ME AND SAID, WELL, YOU CAN SAVE THE ADMINISTRATION FEE IF YOU JUST WORK WITH ME DIRECTLY.
LIKE, HOW DO WE CAPTURE THAT? OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS, IF THE TRANSACTION OCCURRED OUTSIDE OF THE PLATFORM, THEN THE INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNER WOULD BE REQUIRED TO FILE A REPORT AND PAY INDIVIDUALLY.
I MEAN, IT IS THIS IS AN INTERESTING ISSUE THAT WE DEAL WITH, AND SINCE WE'RE BEING ASKED TO ADVISE, I HAVE TO SAY THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE SO MANY QUESTIONS THAT COME INTO PLAY.
BUT THAT AUDIT FUNCTION SEEMS TO BE THE BIGGEST CONCERN.
BUT IF THE VCA IS COLLECTING MORE MONEY, THEN MAYBE THAT'S THE WAY TO GO.
AND I THINK JUST TO COMMENT ON THAT MARIE, I THINK THAT'S KIND OF WHAT CITIES RUN INTO.
THE EXCESS, THE INCREASE IN THE REVENUE, THEY KIND OF DEAL OFFSETS ANY CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE WITH AUDITING.
I WOULD SAY THIS ON THE AUDITING WHEN WE DISCUSSED THIS TOPIC IN THE PAST, THE GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS INDIVIDUALS WITH THE VRBO CONTACTED ME AND WE VISITED ON THIS.
THEY DO NOT PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL ADDRESSES AS THEY ARE REMITTING PAYMENTS TO THE CITY, BUT THEY WILL IF THE CITY CONTACTS THEM AND HAS SPECIFIC ADDRESSES, VRBO SAID THEY WILL RESPOND TO THAT AND GIVE DETAILED INFORMATION ON THAT ADDRESS.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS AND MIKE AND DON AND BRYSON AND EVERYONE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS, THAT MAY BE SOMETHING TO LOOK AT IN THE CONTRACT, THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO
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GIVE THEM SPECIFIC ADDRESSES AND THEY WILL SUPPLY DETAILED INFORMATION.WELL, IF I COULD MENTION IN THE PLATFORM AGREEMENTS VCAS, IT SAYS THEY WILL ALLOW US TO DO ONE AUDIT PER A YEAR, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S AN AUDIT OF THE ENTIRE PLATFORM OR WHETHER PROVIDING INFORMATION ON A SINGLE ADDRESS IS GOING TO COUNT TO THAT ONE PER YEAR.
IT'S A LOT TO INVESTIGATE THERE.
HAVEN'T A LOT OF THESE, LIKE ISN'T VRBO OWNED BY EXPEDIA NOW, I MEAN, I HAVEN'T A LOT OF THESE RENTAL GROUPS CONSOLIDATED? YES, MA'AM, WE HAVE.
I THINK AIRBNB ACTUALLY OWNS EXPEDIA.
I MEAN, JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, YOU GO BACK A DECADE AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, A SMALL INTERNET COMPANY AND NOW IT'S A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR CORPORATE CONGLOMERATE, AIRBNB.
IT JUST SEEMS TO ALL BE CLUMPING TOGETHER, BUT EXCELLENT PRESENTATION.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? YES.
ARE THESE SHORT TERM RENTALS OR EVEN LONG TERM? THEY'RE CLASSIFIED AS A BUSINESS, CORRECT? ANSWER THAT QUESTION? NOT NECESSARILY BILL.
I'LL GIVE YOU MY THOUGHTS ON IT.
DEPENDS ON WHO YOU'RE DEALING WITH, BUT THEY'RE BY AND LARGE, THEY'RE CONSIDERED RESIDENTIAL OPERATIONS, NOT COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS.
BECAUSE MY NEXT QUESTION WOULD HAVE BEEN THAT THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, CONSIDERED AS WHY DON'T WE GO BACK TO THIS.
WHY AREN'T THEY CONSIDERED A BUSINESS BECAUSE THEY'RE COLLECTING REVENUES? IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
AND THAT'S A QUESTION THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN DEALING WITH.
SO FAR, IN MY OPINION, AND SALLY MAY BE ON THE CALL HERE TOO, THE STATE LEGISLATURE, HAS KIND OF APPROACH THESE AS A RESIDENTIAL ENTERPRISE AND THEREFORE THEIR RULES AND REGULATIONS AND THEIR DESIRE TO PREEMPT MUNICIPALITIES FROM ENACTING ANY RULES ON THESE KIND OF STEMS FROM THAT WHOLE BASIS THAT THEY ARE RESIDENTIAL.
SALLY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COMMENT ON THAT? WELL, IF I COULD, IF I COULD JOIN IN RIGHT NOW.
AUSTIN ISSUED A SET OF ORDINANCES TO REGULATE SHORT TERM RENTALS WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND THE THIRD COURT OF APPEALS IN AUSTIN STRUCK DOWN MOST OF THEM, SAYING THAT SHORT TERM RENTALS WERE RESIDENTIAL USES AND THEREFORE THE ATTEMPT TO REGULATE RESIDENTIAL USES WAS UNAUTHORIZED.
THAT CASE IS PENDING BEFORE THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT.
BUT I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, UNDER THE CASE LAW THAT RECOGNIZES RESIDENTIAL, UNDER THE DEFINITION OF THE TAX CODE, THEY'RE RECOGNIZED AS HOTELS.
THE ENTIRE SITUATION IS JUST A COMPLETE AND TOTAL MESS.
SALLY, AT THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WAS ABLE TO DEFEND OUR R ZERO DESIGNATION RATHER HEROICALLY, I MIGHT ADD.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'LL PASS THIS ON TO HER, BUT I WILL JUST SAY THAT BETWEEN THE COURT DECISIONS AND THE LEGISLATION, IT'S A, WELL UNSETTLED NEST.
WITH THAT, OH, I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD SALLY.
I JUST WANTED TO BRIEFLY ADD THERE'S A DISTINCTION I THINK THAT IS WORTHY TO POINT OUT.
THE LEGISLATURE HAS FOCUSED ATTENTION ON LOCALITIES THAT PROHIBIT SHORT TERM RENTALS.
AND THAT IS THAT HAS BEEN THE FOCUS OF MY ATTENTION TO MAKE SURE THAT LOCALITIES, THERE'S REGULATING THOSE SHORT TERM RENTALS.
AND THEN THERE'S THE ZONING OF THOSE SHORT TERM RENTALS.
AND WHERE GALVESTON IS MOST IMPACTED IS WITH OUR R ZERO ZONING.
WE MADE WE MADE IN A VERY COMPELLING ARGUMENT WITH THE LEGISLATURE IN THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO PETITION THEIR GOVERNMENT.
WITH THE SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF SIGNATURES TO PROHIBIT SHORT TERM RENTALS IN THEIR
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NEIGHBORHOODS, THAT IS THAT IS A PROCESS THAT WAS ACHIEVED THROUGH TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF COLLABORATION WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS AND FOR THE MOST PART, HAS WORKED VERY WELL.BUT THE ATTEMPTS LAST SESSION REALLY FOCUSED THEIR ATTENTION ON.
PROHIBITING SHORT TERM RENTALS, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE REALLY TRYING TO PREEMPT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, BILL, THAT YOU HAD? YEAH, I JUST HAVE A COMMENT BECAUSE TO ME, I LOOK AT IT AS A BUSINESS AND THEY'RE COMPETING WITH THE HOTEL, MOTEL PEOPLE THAT ARE LEGIT, WHAT I CALL LEGIT, BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE A RESIDENTIAL LOCATION, I CAN PUT ANYWHERE.
AND THE OTHER PROBLEM I HAVE I WANT TO MENTION IS MY SISTER HAS SOME PROPERTY AND THERE'S A SHORT TERM RENTAL ACROSS THE STREET.
AND WE NEED TO SOMEHOW REGULATE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT CAN GO IN THAT SHORT TERM BECAUSE THERE'S FIVE AND SIX, SEVEN CARS SOMETIMES THAT ARE OUT THERE.
SUVS, DIFFERENT TYPE OF VEHICLES FOR RECREATION.
AND IT CAUSES THE PROBLEM BECAUSE EVERYBODY GETS OUT THERE, COMPLAINS, I'VE GOT CONTACT.
AND I SAID, LOOK, IF THEY'RE PARKED ON THE STREET, THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO PARK ON THE STREET AT THIS POINT IN TIME TILL WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
WELL, IF I COULD POINT OUT IN THE AUSTIN ORDINANCES, THERE WERE SOME ATTEMPTS TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN A SHORT TERM RENTAL, AND THAT WAS PART OF THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS STRUCK DOWN BY THE THIRD COURT OF APPEALS.
SO, AGAIN, I MENTIONED THE WHOLE THING IS A LEGISLATIVE JUDICIAL MESS AND WE'RE STILL KIND OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE STATE'S GOING TO ALLOW US TO DO AND THE COURTS ARE GOING TO ALLOW US TO DO.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SOME CLARITY FROM THE SUPREME COURT.
HOWEVER, I'M AN OPTIMIST THAT WAY.
LET'S WE'VE GOT TO START TO WRAP THIS UP, COUNCILWOMAN ROBB.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THE VOLUME OF PEOPLE, AND I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THE CITY WHY THINK NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL AS THE CITY CAN LOOK AT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BRACKENRIDGE DID IS THEY LIMITED BEDROOMS TO TWO ADULTS PER BEDROOM.
SO IF YOU HAVE SO MANY BEDROOMS, YOU CAN'T GO OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PEOPLE.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW EASY OR HARD THAT WOULD BE.
AGAIN, IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE MARSHALS ON WEEKENDS.
TO HAVE TWENTY FOUR HOUR COVERAGE, BUT ANYWAY, JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT COMMENT.
AND JUST A THOUGHT ON SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT BILL AND MARIE IS SAYING.
THE STAKEHOLDERS HERE HAVE CONTACTED ME, THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT REPRESENT MANY OF THE SHORT TERM RENTALS ON THE ISLAND.
THEY ARE VERY AWARE AND VERY TUNED IN TO THIS CONCERN OF LOOKING AT WAYS THAT MAYBE WE CAN MAKE SHORT TERM RENTALS MORE APPROPRIATE FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN RULES OR REGULATIONS.
I THINK YOU'LL BE SEEING COUNCIL, SOME THINGS COMING TO US HERE IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO START ADDRESSING SOME OF THOSE ISSUES, TOO.
SO I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT.
BEFORE WE LEAVE, REVEREND JOHNSON.
IT'S JUST IT'S JUST ONE SMALL POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
SO WHAT ARE WE CONCENTRATING ON? WE TALKED ABOUT REVENUE OR WE TALKING ABOUT REGULATIONS.
I MEAN, WHAT WE KIND OF CONCENTRATE ON TO GET THESE PLATFORMS OF THIS CONTRACT, WE FOCUS ON THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT WE'RE LOSING OR WHAT AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT WE CAN GAIN OR WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GOING INTO REGULATION BECAUSE WE KIND OF ONE WAY AND THEN WE KIND OF ANOTHER WAY.
BUT I JUST WANT TO KNOW, AS FAR AS THESE PLATFORM IS CONCERNED, IS THAT ARE WE CONCERNED ABOUT THE REVENUE THAT WE CAN GAIN ON THE REVENUE THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY LOSING AT THIS POINT? MAYOR IF I CAN TAKE A STAB AT THAT AND? YES SIR.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE NEXT TO THE LAST SLIDE OF OUR PRESENTATION, WE SAID MOVING FORWARD, WE NEED TO REGISTER, REGISTER, REGISTER.
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE COUNCIL WERE TO DECIDE TO GO WITH VCAS WITH ONE OR A NUMBER OF PLATFORMS, WE STILL NEED TO REGISTER THESE PROPERTIES TO UNDERSTAND AND KNOW WHERE THEY ARE RELATIVE TO THIS OTHER DISCUSSION.
AND AT SOME POINT, I THINK COUNCILMAN QUIROGA'S POINT IS REALLY DRAMATIC WHEN YOU MULTIPLY IT BY THE THOUSANDS OF PROPERTIES THAT ARE LEFT THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SHORT TERM RENTALS ACROSS THE ISLAND.
AND IT'S REALLY KIND OF HAPPENED RIGHT NEXT DOOR CITYWIDE, THAT IS THE MAJOR
[02:25:02]
CONCERN.AND WHAT WE CAN DO AT THIS POINT IS REGISTER.
REVEREND JOHNSON, THAT WAS AN OUTSTANDING QUESTION.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NOTICED WITH THE OTHER CITIES THAT WE TALKED TO IS THEY HAVE INCREASED THEIR REGISTRATION FEES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AND THEY MAKE THAT AN ANNUAL PROCESS.
CURRENTLY, YOU REGISTER YOUR PROPERTY ONE TIME, PAY 50 DOLLARS.
ALL THE OTHER CITIES, WHETHER IT'S 100 OR 150 OR 200 DOLLARS, THEY BASED ON SQUARE FOOTAGE, THE NUMBER OF ROOMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT THEY MAKE IT ANNUAL AND IT DOES TWO THINGS.
ONE, TO CREATE A REVENUE STREAM FOR COMPLIANCE EFFORTS, BECAUSE THAT'S ONE ISSUE RIGHT? LIKE YOU MENTIONED.
AND THEN THE OTHER ISSUE IS THE HOT TAX THAT WE'RE MISSING OUT ON.
WE'RE GOING BACK TO THE REGULATION SIDE, THEY USE THAT REVENUE.
THEY'VE HIRED COMPLIANCE OFFICERS.
THEY PUT THEM IN THEIR CODE ENFORCEMENT DIVISIONS.
AND THESE FOLKS ARE DEDICATED SPECIFICALLY TO QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND MAKING SURE THAT SHORT TERM RENTALS ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THOSE.
BRECKENRIDGE IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE QUALITY OF LIFE STUFF.
WHEN I TALK WITH THEM, THEY HAVE MENTIONED THAT THEY'RE MORE THAN WILLING TO TALK WITH US AGAIN AND WORK OUT MODELS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, IF THAT'S SOMETHING COUNCIL WANTED TO INVEST IN.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL LET'S, WE'LL MOVE ON FROM THIS TOPIC BEFORE WE LEAVE IT.
STAFF, I THINK YOU'VE GOT SOME COMMENTS THAT MAY GUIDE YOU ON KIND OF COALESCING YOUR THOUGHTS TOGETHER AS YOU BRING THEM BACK TO US.
I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH SOME THOUGHTS TOO ON THAT AS YOU'RE EVALUATING YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COUNCIL.
FIRST OF ALL, I THINK WE NEED TO DETERMINE THE VCA.
I MEAN, THE PLATFORMS ARE SAYING THAT THEY WOULD REQUIRE YOU THE PROPERTIES TO REGISTER WITH GALVESTON.
I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY WITH THEM THAT DOES THAT MEAN THEY WILL NOT ALLOW THEM TO ADVERTISE ON THEIR PLATFORM IF THEY DON'T GET REGISTRATION? I THINK WE NEED TO CLARIFY THAT WITH THEM ON THAT.
THE OTHER THING IS YOUR COMMENTS BRYSON ABOUT INCREASING REGISTRATION FEE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, INCREASING OUR STAFF TO MONITOR AND TO ENFORCE CONCERNS WITH SHORT TERM RENTALS I THINK IS RIGHT ON.
AND I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT AS YOU COME BACK AND TALK WITH US ABOUT THAT.
AND THE LAST THING IS THERE IS A GROUP THAT'S BEEN MONITORING THIS.
WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE HERE IN GALVESTON THAT WE HAVE THE STAKEHOLDERS, THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT REPRESENT SHORT TERM RENTALS ARE VERY COMMUNITY MINDED AND VERY OPEN TO WORK WITH US ON ALL OF THESE SUBJECTS.
AND THERE IS A GROUP THAT WITH [INAUDIBLE] WITH SAND 'N SEA AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS, IF YOU WOULD MIND, STAFF, AS YOU FINALIZE YOUR THOUGHTS, I'D RECOMMEND TO VISIT WITH THOSE STAKEHOLDERS.
THEY HAVE SOME GOOD IDEAS, SOME GOOD THOUGHTS, AND THEY WANT TO WORK WITH US TO MAKE THIS THE BEST IT CAN BE FOR THE COMMUNITY, IF WE COULD.
PROBABLY ONE OF THE BETTER DISCUSSIONS WE HAVE ON THIS TOPIC IN THE LONG TIME.
MOVING TO ITEM THREE D, PLEASE JANELLE.
[3D. Receive And Discuss A Recycling Report From City Staff (S. Van Slyke – 30 Minutes) ]
ITEM THREE, D RECEIVING AND DISCUSS A RECYCLING REPORT FROM CITY STAFF.THIS IS A TOPIC THAT WAS ON OUR AGENDA, OF COURSE, COUNCIL TO BRING BACK.
THIS IS MR. VAN SLYKE TO GIVE US IDEAS ABOUT OUR RECYCLING CENTER AND ALSO TO GIVE US SOME GUIDANCE IF WE WANT TO DIRECT THE RECYCLING COMMITTEE AND MAYBE GIVE THEM MY MARCHING ORDERS TO MOVE IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION.
MR. VAN SLYKE, I'M GOING TO TURN THAT OVER YOU SIR.
IF STAFF ON FOR THIS TOPIC, ARE THEY ONLINE? THEY ARE WE MIGHT BE HAVING TROUBLE WITH HIS MIC, GIVE US JUST ONE SECOND.
JANELLE, DO WE NEED TO COME BACK TO THIS SUBJECT TO ALLOW THEM TIME TO GET
[02:30:02]
TOGETHER ON THAT, OR ARE WE CLOSE TO.CAN YOU HEAR ME? YOU'VE GOT A REVERBERATION.
YES SIR, STILL GETTING QUITE A BIT OF REVERBERATION FOR SOME REASON.
MY NAME IS ANDREW SCOTT VAN SLYKE.
I'M THE RECYCLING COORDINATOR FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON RECYCLING CENTER.
FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO CITY COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING US THIS TIME TO SHARE THIS PRESENTATION WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND PROVIDE OUR STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.
SECONDLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK CITY MANAGEMENT MS. DEWITT AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT AS WE MAKE NEW AND EXCITING CHANGES TO THE RECYCLING CENTER FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
AND LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT DUE TO THE LENGTH OF THIS REPORT, I'D LIKE TO ASK CITY COUNCIL IF THEY'D ALLOW QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION TO TAKE PLACE AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION SO WE CAN GET THROUGH IT.
OK, LET US START WITH THE VALUE OF RECYCLING.
RECYCLING IS AN ACTION OR A PROCESS OF CONVERTING WASTE INTO REUSABLE MATERIAL.
RECYCLING ALLOWS COMMUNITIES TO CONSERVE NATURAL RESOURCES AND SAVE ENERGY.
RECYCLING EXTENDS THE VALUE AND LIFECYCLE OF COMMODITIES IN ORDER TO REPURPOSE THEM FOR FURTHER USE.
RECYCLING BOOSTS ECONOMIC GROWTH.
RECYCLING REDUCES GREENHOUSE GASES IN THE ATMOSPHERE, WHICH MEANS CLEANER AIR, WATER AND SKIES.
RECYCLING CONTRIBUTES TO OUR PROSPERITY AND PROTECTS THE ENVIRONMENT IN A RESOURCE CONSTRAINED FUTURE.
RECYCLING EXTENDS LANDFILL LIFE.
THESE ARE THE RECYCLING TRENDS, THESE RECYCLING TRENDS FEATURED IN THIS REPORT ARE REFERENCE DOCUMENTS FROM BOTH TECQ AND THE EPA.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE IS A HUGE GROWTH MARGIN HERE, AND THAT'S THE STATE OF TEXAS, WHICH, ACCORDING TO TECQ, WILL CONTINUE TO GROW OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
OVER HERE ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL.
AND ACCORDING TO THE EPA, RECYCLING TRENDS CONTINUE TO GROW AND PAPER AND CARDBOARD ARE THE LEADING COMMODITIES, MAKING UP 60 PERCENT OF THE MATERIALS RECYCLED.
WHAT DOES THIS WHAT DOES THE RECYCLING CENTER ACCEPT? THE GRC WILL ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING MATERIALS FOR RECYCLING.
CARDBOARD, PAPER, PLASTIC, GLASS, TIRES, SYNTHETICS, METALS AND E-WASTE.
BUT HOW IS IT PROCESSED AND WHERE DOES IT GO? THIS IS THE PROCESS FLOW THAT WE'VE CREATED AND THIS IS ALSO POSTED ONLINE ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.
FIRST, THE COMMODITY IS BROUGHT TO THE CENTER.
IT'S PLACED IN A LABELED STORAGE CONTAINER, SORTED OR PREPROCESS, THEN THERE'S SECONDARY PROCESSING, WHICH IS BAILING, AND THEN IT'S SORTED FOR VENDOR DISTRIBUTION.
THE VENDOR TRANSPORTS THE COMMODITY FOR RECYCLING, REUSE OR REPURPOSING.
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE RECYCLING CENTER, INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL.
INTERNALLY, WE'RE ESTABLISHING NEW OPERATIONAL PROCESSES AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR OPERATIONS.
WE'RE IDENTIFYING WASTE VALUE STREAMS. CAN IT BE RECYCLED, REUSE, REPURPOSE? DOES IT FIT WITHIN OUR ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA AND NOT ACCEPTING ITEMS THAT CANNOT BE RECYCLED, REUSED OR REPURPOSED.
WE'RE WORKING INTERNALLY TO ESTABLISH A ZERO OR NEAR ZERO WASTE INITIATIVE FOR COMMODITIES.
THIS MEANS WE'RE ESTABLISHING RECYCLING, REUSE, REPURPOSING VENDORS FOR OUR COMMODITIES TO KEEP THEM FROM BEING LANDFILLED.
WE ARE STREAMLINING OPERATIONS IN ORDER TO IMPROVE OUR CAPACITY AND MAXIMIZE VENDOR REBATE AND DIVERSION SAVINGS.
WE'RE ALSO CREATING AND PROMOTING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGNS IN ORDER TO INCREASE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN RECYCLING.
WE'VE IMPROVED VISIBILITY AND FLOW OF THE FACILITY, THE TRAFFIC FLOW FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, MATERIAL FLOW FOR COMMODITY DISTRIBUTION, AND THE LOADING AREA FOR TRANSPORT OF COMMODITIES.
WE'VE ALSO IMPROVED THE SELF SORTING AREA AND THE RECYCLING CENTER AS A WHOLE.
THE VISIBILITY, THE CAPACITY, THE SIGNAGE AND THE FLOW OF MATERIALS.
[02:35:01]
WE'VE ADDED ADDITIONAL SEPARATION OF COMMODITIES TO IMPROVE OUR REBATES PER TON FOR OUR PLASTICS AND OUR METALS.THIS MEANS WE'RE SEPARATING PLASTICS, FOR EXAMPLE, OUR WATER BOTTLES, OUR MILK JUGS, OUR MIX PLASTICS, WHICH ARE BEING BAILED AND DISTRIBUTED SEPARATELY AGAIN TO IMPROVE OUR REBATES PER TON.
AND OUR METALS, OUR FERROUS AND NONFERROUS.
WE'RE SEPARATING OUR ALUMINUM, OUR COPPER, OUR BRASSES, OUR INSULATED WIRE, AND ALSO TO IMPROVE THE REBATES PER TON.
WE'VE ALSO ADDED A FINAL DISPOSITION AUDIT.
RECYCLING LEADERSHIP IS COMPLETING THESE INSPECTIONS OF THE VENDOR FACILITIES IN ORDER TO UPHOLD FINAL DISPOSITION AGREEMENTS THAT THEY'VE AGREED WITH WITH THE CITY.
WE'VE ALSO UPDATED OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT, OUR WEBSITE CONTENT WITH THE DO'S AND DON'TS FOR RECYCLING, THE ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA, HOW IT'S PROCESSED AND WHERE DOES IT GO AND THE PROCESS CHART, FLOW CHART THAT WE SAW EARLIER.
THE FINAL DISPOSITION OF COMMODITIES.
FINAL DISPOSITION OF COMMODITIES IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THOSE THAT RECYCLE.
IT IS OUR GOAL TO HAVE VENDORS WHO WILL SUPPLY FINAL DISPOSITION NOTICES THAT CAN BE PLACED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE CITY AND ITS COMMUNITY MEMBERS INFORMATION ON HOW THEIR DONATIONS ARE BEING RECYCLED, REUSED AND REPURPOSED.
OUR PAPER AND CARDBOARD AND PLASTIC VENDOR.
WE HAVE A TEST VENDOR CURRENTLY AND THEIR FINAL DISPOSITION FOR PAPER, CARDBOARD AND PLASTIC ON THEIR PAPER.
THEY MAKE BATHROOM AND KITCHEN PRODUCTS.
CARDBOARD IS RECYCLED INTO HYDRO MULCH AND OR CARDBOARD BOXES.
PLASTICS ARE RECYCLED INTO MORE WATER BOTTLES, MILK JUGS AND PLASTIC BAGS.
NOW THERE IS A COST WITH THIS.
THERE IS A TRANSFER FEE TRANSPORTATION FEE FROM ONE SIXTY FIVE PER HAUL AND THE FEE IS DEDUCTED FROM THE FINAL SALE.
BUT YOU CAN SEE HERE IN THE PRESENTATION, THIS IS A PRICE POINT FOR OUR REBATES PER TON AND WE ARE BAILING THE MATERIALS HERE.
AND YOU'VE GOT BAILED CARDBOARD, MIXED PAPER, CANS, WATER BOTTLES, COLORED PLASTICS, PLASTIC MILK JUGS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
AND HERE ARE OUR SERVICE FEES.
THESE ARE THE BAILS THAT WE'VE MADE ON THE AT THE FACILITY.
AND THIS IS THE SHIPMENTS THAT ARE LEAVING CARDBOARD AND PLASTICS.
AS A CONTINUATION WITH THIS TEST VENDOR.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE MENTIONED IS WE WANTED TO HAVE FINAL DISPOSITION.
WE WANT TO KNOW WHERE THINGS ARE GOING AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.
SO AT OUR TEST VENDOR, THIS IS THE TONNAGE AND TREND DATA FOR SINCE DECEMBER 2020.
AND YOU CAN SEE WE'VE HAD A WE'VE SENT THEM A TOTAL OF 82 TONS OF OCC.
THERE'S BEEN FOUR LOADS WITH AN AVERAGE OF 20 TONS PER LOAD.
THIS IS WHAT I REALLY LIKE ABOUT THIS VENDOR, THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.
SO YOU CAN SEE HERE WE'VE SAVED SEVENTY THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY FOUR FEET OF LANDFILL SPACE AND SO ON AND SO FORTH WITH WATER AND CO2 AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
NOW, I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING WE'RE GOING TO BE EXCUSE ME, CONDUCTING A FINAL DISPOSITION AUDITS.
AND THIS IS ONE OF THE AUDITS THAT I FOLLOWED ONE OF OUR SHIPMENTS AND SAW IT PROCESSED AT THE VENDOR.
THIS IS OUR MILK JUGS AND WATER BOTTLES.
THIS IS THE CARDBOARD GOING THROUGH THE BALER AND IT'S COMING OUT AND THIS IS IT BEING STORED.
JUST SO THERE'S CLEAR TRANSPARENCY OF HOW IT'S BEING PROCESSED, THAT IS BEING PROCESSED AND THAT IT'S BEING RECYCLED.
NEXT, WE HAVE GLASS, THE VENDOR FOR GLASS AND STRATEGIC MATERIALS FROM HOUSTON.
THEIR FINAL DISPOSITION IS FURNISHED READY MATERIALS WILL MANUFACTURE NEW GLASS PRODUCTS OR MANUFACTURED INTO AIR BLAST [INAUDIBLE].
NOW, WHAT I REALLY LIKE ABOUT THIS VENDOR IS IT DOESN'T COST ANYTHING AND THEY PAY US REBATES PER TON.
AND ALSO YOU CAN SEE HERE IN THEIR FINAL DISPOSITION, GLASS IS 100 PERCENT RECYCLABLE AIMLESSLY.
SO E-WASTE IS NOT ALLOWED IN THE LANDFILL.
OUR RECYCLE ELECTRONICS APC BATTERIES, CPUS, LAPTOPS AND CELL PHONES.
THOSE ARE SEPARATED AND STOCKPILED.
UNTIL THERE'S ENOUGH MATERIAL TO STAGE FOR A COMPLETE SHIPMENT FOR RECYCLING.
THE ITEMS MUST BE PALLETIZING AND WRAPPED IN PLASTIC BEFORE THEIR SHIPPED.
AND YOU CAN SEE HERE WHERE WE'VE DONE THE WRAPPING.
NOW WE DO HAVE SOME DIVERSION HERE WHERE WE'VE DIVERTED SOME OTHER MATERIALS AND ITEMS LISTED BELOW ARE BEING DIVERTED INTO OTHER RECYCLING STREAMS IN ORDER TO IMPROVE REBATES AND REDUCE E-WASTE RECYCLING FEES AND OR COST OF DISPOSAL WITH ANY BASE VENDOR.
SO THESE MATERIALS SORRY, THESE MATERIALS HERE, METAL AND PLASTIC MATERIALS SUCH AS HOME APPLIANCES, DESKTOP COMPUTERS, MICROWAVES, VCRS, DVD PLAYERS, EX CETERA, ARE NOW BEING RECYCLED WITH COMMERCIAL METALS.
THEY CAN GO INTO OUR METAL BAND.
PLASTICS, SUCH AS FLAT SCREEN DISPLAYS, PRINTERS AND KEYBOARDS ARE NOW BEING PROCESSED AND DISTRIBUTED TO OUR TEST VENDOR FOR MIXED PLASTIC, FOR RECYCLING.
AND THEN WE RECEIVE PAYMENTS PER REBATES PER TON.
[02:40:03]
TIRES, TIRES ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE LANDFILL, AND WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH A TEST VENDOR THAT RESELLS THESE USED TIRES TO THE PUBLIC OR THEY SELL THE TIRES TO A RUBBER DISTRIBUTOR TO MAKE NEW TIRES.AND THE PAYMENT IS THREE DOLLARS A TIRE.
NOW, WE DO HAVE A SECONDARY VENDOR FOR WHEN THE FIRST VENDOR DOESN'T ACCEPT THE TIRE.
AND THAT'S LIBERTY TIRE RECYCLING OUT OF HOUSTON.
THESE TIRES ARE RECYCLED INTO VARIOUS RUBBER PRODUCTS, AGGREGATES AND MADE INTO NEW TIRES.
NOW, THEY DO HAVE A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL COST, WHICH IS 250 PER TON AND I'VE LIMITED FUTURE SHIPMENTS TO LIBERTY RECYCLING DUE TO THE COSTS.
ALL RIGHT, SYNTHETICS AND OILS.
OUR VENDOR FOR THIS IS ORIGIN OIL.
THEIR FINAL DISPOSITION IS PROCESSED INTO RECYCLED OIL BASED PRODUCTS.
AND I TOOK THIS CLIP FROM THEIR WEBSITE.
THEY HAVE A REALLY GOOD DESCRIPTION OF HOW THINGS ARE PROCESSED.
THEY'RE COLLECTED, PROCESSED AT THEIR FACILITY AND THEN SOLD BACK TO, YOU KNOW, OIL COMPANIES AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
NOW, THEY DO HAVE A COST, BUT IT'S A VERY GOOD COST.
IT'S A 150 FLAT RATE FOR EVACUATION OF OIL PRODUCTS BETWEEN ONE AND 15,000 GALLONS.
SO I COULD HAVE 15,000 GALLONS OF OIL AND THEY'RE ONLY GOING TO CHARGE ME ONE FIFTY FOR IT.
AND THEY HAVE A VERY EXPENSIVE FINAL DISPOSITION HERE.
OUR VENDOR FOR METALS IS COMMERCIAL METALS IN GALVESTON, TEXAS.
RECYCLED INTO VARIOUS, DEPENDING ON THE VARIOUS ITEMS, DEPENDING ON THE METAL TYPE, ALLOY AND COMPOSITION.
THIS IS THE TYPE OF METALS, ESPECIALLY STEEL PRODUCTS THAT THEY MAKE WITH THE MATERIALS THAT WE SEND THEM.
NOW, THE COST, THERE'S NO COST FOR THIS VENDOR, WHICH IS GREAT, AND WE RECEIVE A PAYMENT REBATES PER TON.
THIS IS THE ANNUAL COMPARISON OF COMMODITY TONNAGES.
YOU HAVE 16 TO 17, YOU HAVE 17 TO 18, 18 TO 19 AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
NOW, WE WANTED TO MAKE EVERYONE AWARE BECAUSE THERE IS A KIND OF A DIP HERE, BUT THIS WAS COVID-19 RELATED.
THE RECYCLING CENTER STOPPED PICKING UP RECYCLABLES FROM GALVESTON ISD AND GALVESTON COLLEGE FROM APRIL TO SEPTEMBER.
THE MAIN RECYCLABLES FROM THE SCHOOL ARE PAPER, PLASTIC AND CARDBOARD.
THE RECYCLING CENTER FOR PP&C, WHICH IS PAPER, PLASTIC AND CARDBOARD THE CONTAMINATION RATE FOR LAST YEAR, WAS ONLY 10 PERCENT.
AND THAT'S WAY BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
AND I HAVE A REFERENCE THERE WHERE YOU CAN YOU CAN SEE THE REFERENCE FOR THE NATIONAL CONTAMINATION AVERAGE, WHICH IS TWENTY FIVE PERCENT.
FUNDING THE RECYCLING CENTER, CREATION OF RECYCLING FEE.
IN OCTOBER 1ST, 2015, ORDINANCE 15-066 AMENDED CHAPTER SIX.
BY CREATING A RECYCLING FEE IN THE AMOUNT OF 196 PER MONTH PER UTILITY CUSTOMER, THE FEE EQUALS TO APPROXIMATELY FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND ANNUALLY.
RECYCLING FEE HAS NOT INCREASED SINCE ITS CREATION.
RECYCLING FEE DOES NOT SUPPORT OPERATIONS AND THE FUNDING GAP IS BEING SUPPORTED BY THE SANITATION FUND.
HOW DO OTHER CITIES FUND THEIR RECYCLING CENTERS? IN TEXAS CITY, THEY HAVE 50 CENTS PER MONTH PER UTILITY CUSTOMER PLUS A PORTION OF THE SANITATION FEE.
THE CITY OF PEARLAND HAS A PRIVATELY OWNED FACILITY.
THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, HAD A CENTER, BUT IT CLOSED.
AND THEN HOUSTON HAS A GENERAL FUND.
YOU CAN SEE HERE OUR OPERATION BUDGET SEVEN HUNDRED FORTY ONE THOUSAND AND SOME CHANGE.
WE HAVE ELEVEN EMPLOYEES, BUT TEN ARE CURRENTLY STAFFED.
WE HAVE A TWENTY THREE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AMOUNT THERE FOR OFFICE SUPPLIES, UNIFORMS, JANITORIAL SERVICES, MINOR TOOLS, MINOR EQUIPMENT AND SO ON, SO FORTH.
WE HAVE CONTRACTUAL SERVICES, ONE HUNDRED EIGHTEEN THOUSAND FOR ELECTRICITY, OTHER CONTRACTS, EQUIPMENT REPAIRS AND EQUIPMENT RENTALS.
AND WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A FUEL CHARGE THERE.
THE CAPITAL OUTLAY WAS TWENTY THOUSAND FOR THE BAILER PURCHASE.
NOW, I DID WANT TO NOTE THAT CHANGING VENDORS FOR OUR PP&C WILL REFLECT A SUBSTANTIAL DECREASE IN THE EQUIPMENT RENTAL COST AT THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.
RECYCLING FEE ONE NINETY SIX MONTHLY FEE, FIVE HUNDRED SEVENTEEN THOUSAND.
COMMODITY SALES PROJECTION AS OF TWENTY TWENTY LAST YEAR WAS TWENTY THOUSAND FOR A GLASS, METAL AND PP&C, ETC., WHICH IS A TOTAL OF FIVE HUNDRED THIRTY SEVEN THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED TWENTY FIVE.
MY PERSONAL GOAL IS TO REACH FIFTY THOUSAND IN COMMODITY SALES FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.
[02:45:01]
REVENUES FIVE HUNDRED THIRTY SEVEN THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED TWENTY FIVE.BUT WE ALSO WANTED TO MENTION THERE IS A SANITATION DIVERSION SAVINGS OF SEVENTY THREE THOUSAND.
DIVERSION SAVINGS IS THE COST THAT RECYCLING DEPARTMENT SAVES THE SANITATION DEPARTMENT BY NOT HAVING TO LANDFILL THE MATERIALS THAT ARE BEING DIVERTED TO THE RECYCLING CENTER.
PAPER, CARDBOARD AND PLASTIC EXCUSE ME, PAPER, PLASTIC AND CARDBOARD REVENUE.
OK, LAST FISCAL YEAR, THE REVENUE STREAM FOR THE SALE AT PP&C TOTALED ELEVEN HUNDRED AND ELEVEN HUNDRED, ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY SIX DOLLARS.
ONE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED SIXTY SIX DOLLARS.
THIS IS, THIS AMOUNT IS DERIVED BY REVENUE CHECKS RECEIVED THAT EXCEEDED THE RENTAL COST OF EQUIPMENT AND OTHER SERVICES OF VENDOR, INCLUDING COMPACTER RENTAL, CONTAINER HAULING AND MOVEMENT, AND SUPPLIES.
MONTHLY SERVICES, HOWEVER, WITH THIS PREVIOUS VENDOR HAVE BEEN CEASED IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH A NEW TEST VENDOR THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER THAT WILL INCREASE REVENUE, PROVIDE FINAL DISPOSITIONS AND PROVIDE MONTHLY TONNAGE REPORTS PER COMMODITY.
IN ADDITION, CHANGING RECYCLING VENDORS FOR PP&C WILL REFLECT A SUBSTANTIAL DECREASE IN EQUIPMENT RENTAL COSTS AT THE END OF THE TWENTY TWENTY ONE FISCAL YEAR.
YOU CAN SEE IN DECEMBER OF TWENTY NINETEEN.
OK, YOU LOOK AT THE SAME TIME, YOU FLASH FORWARD TO THIS YEAR, DECEMBER 2020 TO JANUARY 2021, AND THIS IS REVENUE GENERATED FROM OUR NEW TEST VENDOR.
FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER WE MADE NINETEEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY SEVEN DOLLARS AND IN JANUARY WE MADE SIXTEEN HUNDRED AND NINETY NINE DOLLARS.
TOTALING THREE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED FIFTY SIX TWENTY THREE AS OF TWENTY TWENTY FOUR EXCUSE ME, AS OF ONE TWENTY FOUR, TWENTY ONE.
YOU CAN SEE OUR GLASS AND METAL COMPARED TO THE GLASS AND METAL FROM THIS YEAR.
YOU CAN SEE A BOOST IN METALS AND YOU CAN SEE A SLIGHT BOOST IN GLASS.
SO IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK TREND WISE.
NOW I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE NEW RECYCLING CENTER.
OK, I WENT AHEAD AND PUT THIS TOGETHER.
NEW CENTER OPERATIONS AFFORDS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROCESS COMMODITIES IN A MORE EFFICIENT WAY.
TO REDUCE FOOTPRINT, REDUCE REDUNDANCIES AND OPERATIONAL PROCESSES, BETTER STREAMLINE OPERATIONS, REDUCE LEAD TIME AND CYCLE TIMES, IMPROVE STORAGE OF COMMODITIES WHILE INCREASING CAPACITY AND OUTPUT, IMPROVE SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY.
AND I HAVE A GOOGLE EARTH PHOTO WITH KIND OF A LAYOUT OF HOW WE LIKE THE FLOW OF MATERIALS TO GO IN THE FLOW OF CUSTOMERS.
WE ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING KIND OF SORTED OUT WHERE WE CAN OPTIMIZE THE LEAD TIME AND CYCLE TIMES FOR MATERIALS.
WE HAVE OUR STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.
CHARGE THE RECYCLING COMMITTEE WITH HELPING THE CENTER TO BECOME MORE VIABLE AND TO ASSIST WITH CLOSING THE FUNDING GAP.
I'D LIKE TO CHARGE THE RECYCLING COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE COST SAVING MEASURES ALTERNATIVES OUTSIDE OF THE REDUCTIONS THAT STAFF HAS ALREADY PUT IN PLACE.
WE ARE OPERATING AT REDUCED STAFF AND WE'VE REMOVED COSTLY RENTAL EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES BY THE PREVIOUS PP&C VENDOR.
WE'D LIKE TO CHARGE THE RECYCLING COMMITTEE TO CHANGE THE DROP OFF HOURS AT THE CENTER.
THE CENTER IS OPEN TWENTY FOUR HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
AND THIS LEAVES THE CENTER VULNERABLE TO THEFT, PROPERTY DAMAGE AND DUMPING AFTER OPERATIONS HAVE CONCLUDED FOR THE DAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE.
I'D LIKE TO OPEN THIS UP FOR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THIS WAS EXTREMELY INFORMATIVE AND PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET A HANDLE ON OUR RECYCLING CENTER.
AND WELCOME TO THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
YOU'RE FAIRLY NEW HERE, AREN'T YOU? YES, SIR.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I'M GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL NOW.
JANELLE, IF YOU COULD PUT THE ATTENDEE SCREEN BACK ON, IF WE COULD, PLEASE.
AND OPENED UP TO QUESTIONS COUNCIL.
[INAUDIBLE] QUESTIONS I MAY HAVE OVERLOOKED IT, WHAT IS DONE WITH BATTERY ACID? BATTERY ACID? YEAH, YOU GET BATTERIES, CORRECT? YES.
OK, WHAT ABOUT ACID IN BATTERIES? WHAT WE DO WITH THE BATTERIES IS WE SHIP THOSE OVER TO COMMERCIAL METALS.
WE DON'T DEAL WITH ACID SPECIFICALLY, BUT THEY'LL ACCEPT BATTERIES, WHETHER THEY'RE IN PIECES OR WHETHER THEY'RE WHOLE.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY KIND OF PLAN IF YOU HAVE LEAKAGE OF THE BATTERY ACID? WELL, WE HAVE A SPILL KIT AND WE'LL CLEAN THAT UP IF THERE'S ANY TYPE OF ACID
[02:50:02]
LEAK.BUT NORMALLY THAT'S NOT THAT'S NOT THE CASE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE APC BATTERIES.
WE ACCEPT THEY JUST HAVE LEAD IN THEM.
AND ON THE TIRE ISSUES, I KNOW THAT YOU CAN'T DUMP THEM IN THE IN THE LANDFILLS, BUT I BELIEVE IF YOU LOOK AT THE CFRS, YOU CAN CUT THOSE IN QUARTERS AND DISPOSE OF THAT WAY.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE LAWS CHANGED.
BUT WE ARE TRYING OUR ABSOLUTE BEST TO KEEP THAT OUT OF THE LANDFILL.
I KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE COMPANIES THAT WE WORK WITH, THEY GRIND THEM UP AND THEY MAKE THEM INTO AGGREGATES AND THEY SEND THOSE TO LANDFILL.
I JUST HAVE A LIKE A STANCE THAT I DON'T WANT TO SEND THINGS TO LANDFILL.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS WITH TIRES.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR REPURPOSING VENDOR AND THAT'S ONE OF THE ONES THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH ALREADY IN ORDER TO HAVE THE TIRES REPURPOSED, REUSED OR RESOLD OR TURNED INTO SOME OTHER RUBBER PRODUCTS.
I JUST I UNDERSTAND THAT WE CAN CUT THEM IN HALF, BUT IF WE CAN KEEP THEM OUT OF LANDFILL, THAT'S THE GOAL.
VERY GOOD, COUNCILMAN COLLINS.
YEAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
THE NUMBER ONE THING I BELIEVE IS THAT FINAL DISPOSITION AUDIT, FIGURING OUT THAT THESE THINGS ARE BEING RECYCLING.
THAT'S THE THAT'S THE QUESTION I WANTED ANSWERED BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE COMMITTEE.
AND KNOWING THAT, YOU KNOW, I LIKE YOUR SUGGESTIONS FOR THE COMMITTEE.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE FOR THEM TO LOOK AT CURBSIDE RECYCLING.
WHAT ARE SOME OF OUR OPTIONS AND COSTS THERE ARE? YOU KNOW, THAT MAY NOT BE MAY NOT BE VIABLE FOR US.
BUT I THINK ONCE AGAIN, WE NEED TO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THAT.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE CURBSIDE FOR THE ELDERLY AND WE ALSO PICK UP THE SCHOOLS AND THE COLLEGE AND WE ALSO PICK UP THE DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE CITY.
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT CURBSIDE FOR THE ENTIRE CITY? I AM INDEED.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
IT WAS INFORMATIVE AND PRETTY COOL.
IT ANSWERED A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS WE KIND OF BROUGHT UP LAST MONTH.
SO BASICALLY, WE'RE TELLING THE PEOPLE IT'S COSTING TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR TO KEEP RECYCLING ON THE ISLAND, CORRECT? MORE OR LESS AND THOSE FUNDS ARE COVERED BY THE SANITATION FUND.
OK, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE OPPORTUNITY COST.
THAT BILL RIGHT NOW THAT'S COMING OUT [INAUDIBLE].
THAT 200,000 IS COSTING US A GARBAGE TRUCK EVERY YEAR.
THAT'S HURTING OUR SANITATION FUND.
YEAH AND YOU HAVE A GOAL TO MAKE THAT, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY LESS OR, YOU KNOW, IMPACT AS FAR AS YOUR REVENUE THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO GENERATE 50,000 AS A GOAL.
WE PLAN ON AND THE TRENDS SUGGEST AT LEAST THAT THAT'S MY GOAL.
AND TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD AND GETTING MORE REVENUE AS WE PUT THE RIGHT VENDORS INTO PLACE.
THAT WAY WE CAN CONTINUE TO GENERATE THE REVENUE AND KEEP GARNISHING MORE.
AND JUST ONE MORE, MEDAL IS BEING REPURPOSED HERE ON THE ISLAND THAT'S BEING DONE LOCALLY AS FAR AS THEY'RE PURCHASING FROM US? THAT'S CORRECT.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE? SO OBVIOUSLY LIKE PLASTIC PAPER AND EVERYTHING ELSE BE OUTSOURCED OFF THE ISLAND.
SORRY, I HAD A CALL FROM [INAUDIBLE] THAT I HAD TO TAKE, SO I APOLOGIZE.
ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO SAY I SUPPORT RECYCLING 100 PERCENT.
AND I THINK THAT WAS AN AMAZING PRESENTATION.
CAN I JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION.
SO ON RECYCLING OF WATER BOTTLES WITH CAP OR WITHOUT CAP? WELL, IF IT IS A CAP, THAT IT IS GRAY OR CLEAR.
BUT IF IT'S A COLORED CAP, THEN WE WOULD PREFER YOU TAKE IT OFF.
BUT CAN YOU RECYCLE IT? OH, ABSOLUTELY.
YOU JUST PUT IT IN WITH YOUR WITH YOUR MIX COLORED PLASTICS.
JUST SOME COMMENTS I HAVE TOO SCOTT, GREAT PRESENTATION, AS I MENTIONED, I THINK THIS COUNTS.
I CAN'T SPEAK FOR EVERYONE, BUT I THINK ALL OF US ARE [INAUDIBLE] VERY PRO RECYCLING.
COUNCIL WE HAVE JUST WE HAVE APPOINTMENTS TO OUR LIAISONS THIS AFTERNOON.
[02:55:03]
WE HAVE A LIAISON TO THE RECYCLING COMMITTEE.I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE IT AWAY, BUT I THINK COUNCILMAN SCHUSTER, THAT'S ONE OF HIS AREAS THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO BE INVOLVED WITH.
SO IF THAT PLAYS OUT THAT WAY WILLIAM THIS WILL BE BRINGING THESE MESSAGES AND THESE RECOMMENDATION FORWARD TO THE COMMITTEE WILL BE VERY HELPFUL.
IF I MAY, DR. BROWN, THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS I ASKED HOW WE WANT TO HANDLE THAT DIRECTION FOR THAT COMMUNITY.
WE TOLD HIM TO STAND DOWN UNTIL THIS REPORT.
JUST SEEING WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE FOR THAT GUIDANCE.
AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG ON THIS, BRIAN, OR I GUESS MAINLY DON ON THIS TO ME, SINCE THE COUNCIL FORMED THIS RECYCLING COMMITTEE, DO WE NEED TO IF WE ARE GIVING THEM DIRECTION IN THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT MR. VAN SLYKE WAS MENTIONED, WE NEED TO BRING THIS BACK TO COUNCIL TO FORMALLY APPROVE THAT SO THAT THAT'S GIVEN TO THEM IN A FORMAL MANNER? I THINK THAT'S TRUE.
AND WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE PENDING.
I LOVE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS, SCOTT.
THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD TO THAT, AND YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY THOUGHT ABOUT THIS, I THINK THE COMMITTEE WOULD BE IDEAL IN HELPING PLAN THE NEW CENTER IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT, TO GIVE INPUT AND USE THEM AS A VETTING AND SOUNDING BOARD TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE IDEAS FOR THAT NEW CENTER.
LET'S GET THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, MR. VAN SLYKE IF YOU'LL WORK WITH STAFF, HAVE THEM BRING THOSE BACK TO US IN OUR NEXT MEETING.
WE'LL GET THOSE ON THERE SO COUNCIL CAN GET FORMAL APPROVAL TO THEM.
AND NOW WE'RE MOVING TO AND COUNCIL.
[3E. Discussion Of Mardi Gras (B. Maxwell – 20 Minutes) ]
WE HAD ASKED TO MOVE ITEM THREE B TO THE END OF OUR DISCUSSIONS, BUT THAT WAS BECAUSE WE THOUGHT MAYOR PRO TEM COLLINS WOULD BE GONE.BUT HE HAS COME BACK EARLY FROM HIS TRIP.
SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO ITEM THREE B AND I'M GOING TO EXCUSE MYSELF.
I'VE DECLARED A CONFLICT ON THAT.
WE HAVE 20 MINUTES OUTLINE FOR THAT AND THEN I'LL REJOIN YOU AFTER THAT DISCUSSION.
COUNCIL, MAYOR PRO TEM COLLINS, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO YOU SIR.
YEAH THE AS WE UNDERSTAND IT, STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING, OF COURSE, ON THE MARDI GRAS CONTRACT ON SPECIFICS OF THAT.
AND WE WANT TO DISCUSS WHAT COUNCIL WANTS TO DO, WHAT DIRECTION WE WANT TO GIVE TO STAFF.
I WAS QUESTIONING BRIAN AND DAN EARLIER ON THIS THAT WE CAN GIVE THEM DIRECTION TODAY HERE IN WORKSHOP, BUT THEY NEED TO BRING THE FULL CONTRACT BACK TO US FOR APPROVAL AT THE NEXT MEETING.
BUT I THINK WE'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT FORWARD WITH SOME [INAUDIBLE] SO THAT WE CAN DETERMINE HOW MANY YEARS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
BE SURE THAT WE HAVE A VENDOR IN PLACE, BECAUSE AS WE ALL KNOW, THAT TAKES A LONG TIME TO STAND THESE THESE SIZE OPERATIONS UP.
AND THE CURRENT VENDOR, IF INDEED THAT'S WHO WE CHOSE THE NEXT TIME AROUND, HAS LOST A LOT OF HIS MARDI GRAS STAFF BECAUSE OF THE CANCELATION OF MARDI GRAS THIS YEAR.
SO I'LL OPEN THE TABLE UP TO QUESTIONS AND FOR STAFF COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL.
DAVID, THE OTHER DAVID, THE REAL DAVID IS ONLINE, IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MARDI GRAS CONTRACT.
DAVID, YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO THIS OR GET A LITTLE UPDATE.
JUST A LITTLE INFORMATION THE MARDI GRAS.
REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS WENT OUT, AS YOU WELL KNOW, THE SUMMER TO THE FALL.
WE'VE HAD FOLLOW UP MEETINGS WHICH OCCURRED, I THINK, IN SEPTEMBER AND NOVEMBER WITH THE CITY MANAGER STAFF.
NOW, IN ADDITION, SOMETHING KIND OF PUSHED US BACK A LITTLE BIT.
BUT OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL, ALONG WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, GAVE SOME INPUT TO STAFF IN DECEMBER, AND THAT'S IN REFERENCE TO THE MODEL ADJUSTMENTS THAT ARE REQUIRED.
WE HAVE A FOLLOW UP MEETING SET UP FOR FEBRUARY THE 3RD.
AND SINCE WE'RE PUSHED BACK A MONTH, THE COUNCIL WILL PROBABLY SEE THE EVALUATION RECOMMENDATION AND THAT WILL INCLUDE A DRAFT OF THE CONTRACT PROBABLY IN THE FEBRUARY MEETING.
AND THEN WE'LL ASK PROBABLY TO COME BACK IN MARCH FOR APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL.
SO IN FEBRUARY, WE'LL BRING OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR A VENDOR AS WELL AS A CONTRACT DRAFT THAT'LL GIVE AND WE DON'T WANT TO VOTE ON THE SAME MONTH THAT WE PRESENT IT TO YOU BECAUSE YOU ALL NEED TIME TO REVIEW IT, ASK FOR ADJUSTMENTS AND ALSO MEET WITH THE CITIZENS AS WELL.
SO THEN I RECOMMEND COMING BACK IN MARCH FOR EITHER APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL.
CAN YOU GIVE US SOME IDEA OF WHAT DIFFERENCES WE MIGHT BE LOOKING AT THIS CONTRACT AND
[03:00:05]
PREVIOUS CONTRACTS? ONE OF THE MAIN POINTS OF CONTENTION, ASIDE FROM CLOSING THE STREET ALTOGETHER, BUT THE ONE OF THE MAIN POINTS OF CONTENTION WAS BEER BOOTHS BEING SET UP IN FRONT OF VENDOR LOCAL SHOPS THAT SELL BEER AND SO FORTH.HOW ARE YOU DEALING WITH THOSE ISSUES AND WHAT OTHER ISSUES MIGHT WE BE LOOKING AT IN THIS? WELL, LET ME LET ME SAY THIS.
SO AFTER MEETING WITH THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT THEY'RE ADVISING, WE CAN'T DISCUSS TOO MUCH BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T RECOMMENDED THEY HAVE NOT RECOMMENDED AWARDS YET.
SO THERE WERE CONCERNS ABOUT LOCAL VENDORS NOT HAVING THE ABILITY TO SET UP IN FRONT OF THEIR OWN BUSINESS.
THESE ITEMS ARE BEING ADDRESSED IN THE RFP AS WELL AS THE DISCUSSIONS AT THIS TIME.
SO WE ARE LOOKING INTO THAT AREA AS WE SPEAK.
YEAH, I DON'T I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO, YOU KNOW, SPECIFICS ABOUT ANY PARTICULAR VENDOR, BUT REGARDLESS OF WHO CHOSE, THERE ARE CERTAIN THOSE THINGS I THINK WOULD NEED TO BE CODIFIED IN THE CONTRACT.
WE'RE TRYING TO RECOMMEND THE STRAND VENDORS, SHALL WE SAY, IF IT'S DOWNTOWN, WE'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE MORE INVOLVED.
AGAIN, THOUGH, THIS IS ALL PART OF THE DISCUSSIONS.
OK, SO THEN THE PLAN WOULD BE TO BRING US AT LEAST TO DRAFT FORM OF THE CONTRACT IN FEBRUARY WORKSHOP WITH POSSIBLE VENDOR SELECTION AND APPROVAL IN THE MARCH.
ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. SMITH? I THOUGHT THIS TOPIC WAS GOING TO GET A LOT MORE HEAT, A LOT MORE CONVERSATION THAN IT IS, BUT IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE.
IS THERE WITH THE BIDS AND THE PROPOSALS, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT MIGHT LOOK DIFFERENT IN YEARS PAST, AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, OUTSIDE OF THE STRAND DISTRICT OR YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S GOING TO MAINLY INVOLVE THE STRAND DISTRICT OR THE DOWNTOWN ENTERTAINMENT AREA.
YOU WILL NOT SEE MANY CHANGES OUTSIDE THE AREA.
THE CHANGES THAT ARE OCCURRING ARE BASICALLY IN THE WRITTEN LANGUAGE WITHIN THE RFP AND THE CONTRACT, WHICH YOU'LL GET A COPY OF THAT NEXT MONTH, HOPEFULLY.
AND THERE ARE SOME CHANGES THAT WILL OCCUR IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
ANYONE ELSE? WELL, IF NOT, THEN THANKS, DAVID, FOR BRINGING THAT FORWARD.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU NEXT MONTH.
THERE'S NOTHING ELSE WE CAN CLOSE THIS TOPIC AND INVITE MAYOR BROWN BACK INTO THE CONVERSATION.
[3F. Council Operations (Brown – 20 Minutes) a. Discussion of in-person meetings b. Procedure for reserving conference rooms for Council Member/Constituent meetings]
MOVING TO ITEM THREE F JANELLE.OK, ITEM THREE F COUNCIL OPERATIONS, A DISCUSSION OF IN-PERSON MEETINGS AND B PROCEDURE FOR RESERVING CONFERENCE ROOMS FOR COUNCIL MEMBER CONSTITUENT MEETINGS.
WE'VE HAD SOME INQUIRIES ABOUT WHEN WE WOULD RETURN TO IN-PERSON MEETINGS, AND I'LL JUST GIVE YOU MY THOUGHTS ON THAT COUNCIL.
BUT OF COURSE, WHATEVER COUNCIL, I LOVE TO GET YOUR DIRECTION ON THAT.
WE'RE EXPERIENCING IN OUR COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW.
THERE ARE QUITE A FEW PROBLEMS GOING ON.
UTMB IS STAFFING UP FOR INCREASED INFECTIONS.
I THINK OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE STARTING TO SEE MORE AND MORE INFECTIONS STARTING UP IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS HERE.
I'M UNDERSTANDING THEY MAY EVEN CLOSE SOME OF THE SCHOOLS DOWN, HAVE MORE CLOSURES, AT GISD POSSIBLY DUE TO INFECTION.
SO IN MY OPINION, I'D LIKE TO GET BACK PERSONALLY TO IN-PERSON MEETINGS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
I THINK WE'RE A LITTLE PREMATURE ON THAT.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE IT A LITTLE AT A TIME TO SET A HARD DATE ON WHEN WE WOULD COME BACK FOR THAT, I THINK WILL BE HARD TO DO.
PERSONALLY, I THINK WE JUST NEED TO RELOOK AT THIS SUBJECT.
EACH COUNCIL MEETING AND SEE WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
BUT COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL ON THAT.
WHY DON'T WE TAKE IN AN ALTERNATE PLAN, SOMETHING LIKE THE CONVENTION CENTER, WHERE WE CAN HAVE IT SPREAD OUT IF WE CAN USE CONVENTION CENTER OR EVEN IT'S WORKING IN A LOCAL [INAUDIBLE] SCHOOLS TO GO AHEAD AND USE MAYBE ONE OF THEM AUDITORIUMS THAT ARE VACANT WHERE WE CAN HAVE THESE MEETINGS.
I MEAN, WE'RE IN ELECTRONIC WORLD.
I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE THAT DIFFICULT TO SET UP WHAT ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS.
THAT WAS A TOPIC I EXPLORED ON IN PERSON MEETINGS WITH STAFF, SPECIALLY THE CONVENTION CENTER.
BRIAN, DID YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT?
[03:05:02]
I THINK THERE WERE SOME TECHNICAL CONCERNS THERE.THE ISSUE BECOMES THE ABILITY TO TELEVISE MEETINGS, WHICH IS A BIG DEAL FOR THE CITIZENS.
THEY LIKE TO BE ABLE TO WATCH THE MEETINGS.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN YOU CAN HAVE A MEETING ANYWHERE.
IT'S WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT TO TELEVISE IT AND STREAM IT.
COUNCILMAN COLLINS, YOU HAD YOUR HAND.
YEAH, I THINK WE ALL WANT TO GET BACK TO MEETING IN PERSON, GETTING A FACE TO FACE.
THERE'S NOTHING LIKE BEING ACROSS THE TABLE FROM SOMEONE, SEEING THE NUANCE IN CONVERSATION AND FEELING THE TEMPERATURE OF THE ROOM TO KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING.
BUT I THINK WE'RE ACCUSTOMED TO DOING IT THIS WAY.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS.
I MEAN, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBB IS SITTING AT HOME RIGHT NOW.
THEIR FAMILY IS INFECTED AND WE HAVE THESE NEW, MORE INFECTIOUS VARIANTS COMING AROUND.
YES, WE SHOULD REVIEW THIS ON A MONTH TO MONTH BASIS, BUT I'M NOT COMFORTABLE RIGHT THIS SECOND.
WITH GOING BACK TO FACE TO FACE MEETING, EVEN IN A LARGER ENVIRONMENT.
IF I COULD INTERJECT, I NOTICED IN THE CHARTER THERE'S A REQUIREMENT THAT COUNCIL MEETINGS BE CONDUCTED AT CITY HALL.
WILLIAM, WOULD YOU WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT? I KNOW YOU'VE TALKED TO ME ABOUT THIS AND THEN WE HAVE MARIE.
MY THOUGHTS ON THAT PERSON IS, YOU KNOW, THE SAFEST APPROACH.
YOU KNOW, WE GET A HOT TOPIC ITEM, WHICH I WOULD YOU KNOW, I HOPE THAT'S THE CASE.
BUT THE DAYS OF COVID, YOU KNOW, WE GET A COUPLE OF HUNDRED PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T SEE IT HAPPENING.
BUT IF WE HAD ONE HUNDRED PEOPLE SHOW UP TO CITY HALL, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ENCOURAGING, YOU KNOW, GATHERINGS WERE ENCOURAGED AND, YOU KNOW, THAT SITUATION.
SO I KIND OF LIKE TO AS SOON AS THE VACCINE STARTS ROLLING OUT, AS SOON AS WE START TO GET A CONTROL OF CASES, I DON'T SEE THE NEED TO NECESSARILY PUSH IT TO IN PERSON.
WE HAVE OUR ISSUES HERE AND THERE, BUT I KIND OF LIKE IT.
I LIKE THE UTILIZATION OF THIS AND MAKING IT EASY AND FAIR PROCESSES, YOU KNOW, PARTICIPATING IN OUR GOVERNMENT.
THIS IS AWESOME TOOL TO UTILIZE.
I'M EXCITED TO GET BACK IN PERSON THAT YOU KNOW MORE THAN ANYBODY.
BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, DR. BROWN, WE DO SEE SOME CASES INCREASING AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WE'VE SEEN A COUPLE OF SCHOOLS GO REMOTE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.
I THINK CENTRAL'S BACK IN CARSON AFTER TWO WEEKS.
AND [INAUDIBLE] IS GETTING A LITTLE CLOSE TO, YOU KNOW, THAT THRESHOLD WHERE WE HAD TO START TALKING ABOUT POSSIBLY GOING VIRTUAL.
YOU KNOW, SO IT'S STILL THERE IS STILL AN ISSUE.
COVID IS AND I DO WILL SAY, EVEN WHEN WE MOVE BACK TO LIVE, YOU KNOW, AND WE DO GO BACK IN PERSON, I THINK AND I'LL USE MARIA AS AN EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAD, YOU KNOW, IN-PERSON MEETING, I THINK WE SHOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE ZOOM AS WELL.
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IF SHE'S OUT OR IF I'M OUT QUARANTINE AND THAT IMPACTS ME, ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETINGS.
SO I THINK IN YEARS PAST, PEOPLE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN ZOOM.
WHETHER THEY'RE OUT OF THE COUNTRY OR OUT OF THE STATE, YOU KNOW, THE MEETING AND I'M KIND OF LIKE TO SEE THAT AS WELL, YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD.
WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER SCHUSTER JUST I WOULD ECHO WHAT HE SAID.
I'D LIKE TO SEE US LOOK AT A MONTH TO MONTH.
AND I KNOW I WAS ONE WHO TALKED TO YOU ABOUT GOING BACK TO IN-PERSON MEETINGS, NOT EVER THINKING THAT I'D BE SITTING HERE COVID POSITIVE TODAY.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE US ADDRESS THIS ON A MONTH TO MONTH BASIS, BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THE EFFECT OF THE VACCINE.
BUT I KNOW WHEN I WAS PREVIOUSLY ON COUNCIL, WE HAD A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WAS ABROAD AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO HAVE HIM ATTEND THE MEETING.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US KEEP THE ZOOM AS WELL AS WHEN WE GO TO IN-PERSON MEETINGS, GIVING PEOPLE THE ABILITY OR COUNCIL PEOPLE THE ABILITY TO STILL PARTICIPATE IF THERE IS A SITUATION WHERE THEY CAN'T BE THERE IN PERSON.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS COUNCIL? I THINK WE KIND OF HAVE A DIRECTION ON THAT.
WE'LL SET IT UP ON A MONTH TO MONTH BASIS.
WE'LL MONITOR THE SITUATION AND KIND OF SEE WHERE WE ARE AND WE'LL JUST MAKE DECISIONS FROM THERE.
ONE OTHER TOPIC I WANTED TO MENTION.
WE HAVE, AS YOU MAY KNOW, WE HAVE A NEW I THINK A NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR THAT WILL BE COMING ONLINE HERE SHORTLY AT THE CITY.
THEY HAVE THEY ARE ALREADY IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING THEM IN AND PREPARING FOR THEM.
THEY HAVE TAKEN OVER THE OFFICE THAT WE HAD RESERVED FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
[03:10:02]
SO THAT OFFICE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO US, BUT FOR IN-PERSON MEETINGS THAT YOU COULD SET UP WITH A SMALL GROUP THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO USE CITY HALL FOR, WE COULD WORK THAT OUT WITH THE SETTING RESERVATIONS THROUGH JANELLE.JANELLE, WOULD YOU WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THAT? YES, SIR.
THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE HAS A SHARED CALENDAR IN OUTLOOK THAT WE OPERATE FOR CONFERENCE ROOMS HERE AT CITY HALL.
SO IF A COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO RESERVE A CONFERENCE ROOM FOR A MEETING, THEY CAN CONTACT ANYONE IN THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE TO DO THAT.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, JANELLE, ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT COUNCIL? YES.
I JUST WANT TO KNOW, IS THAT GOING TO BE ON THE SECOND FLOOR WHERE ROOM WILL BE AVAILABLE? WE HAVE ROOM 204 ON THE SECOND FLOOR, AND WE ALSO HAVE ROOM 100 ON THE FIRST FLOOR.
AND IF YOU HAVE A NEED FOR THAT COUNCIL, PLEASE CONTACT JANELLE.
SHE'LL HELP COORDINATE THINGS FOR YOU ON THAT.
[3G. City Updates (Quiroga/Brown – 15 Minutes) a. Discussion of commercial city lights b. Discussion of the 49th Street Project ]
LET'S NOW MOVE TO ITEM THREE G AS IN GREEN, PLEASE.CITY UPDATES A DISCUSSION OF COMMERCIAL CITY LIGHTS AND THE DISCUSSION OF THE 49TH STREET PROJECT.
IMMA MAKE THIS QUICK AND SHORT, I JUST WANT TO THANK BRIAN FOR HELPING ME SET UP THE MEETING WITH THE CENTER POINT AND MOST OF HIS DATA I'LL PRESENT AT THE REGULAR MEETING, BUT I APPRECIATE THE MEETING AND GETTING CONTACT WITH, LIKE I SAY, CENTER POINT.
ALL RIGHT, DID DID YOU WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT STILL ABOUT 49TH STREET? NO, I JUST DO THAT AT THE REGULAR MEETING.
SO NO OTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT PARTICULAR TOPIC.
HOW WOULD WE GO ABOUT GETTING THE STREET LIGHTS IN AN AREA WHERE THERE AREN'T ANY? IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHETHER THERE'S POLLS AVAILABLE IN THAT AREA TO ADD THEM.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A MASTER LIGHTING PLAN THAT WE WORKED ON THAT PETE MILBURN HAS UP IN PLANNING.
SO THERE'S AN AREA THAT YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT.
WE CAN LOOK AT THE MAPS AND SEE IF WE'RE MEETING THE MASTER LIGHTING PLAN OR NOT.
WE CAN START WORKING WITH CENTER POINT TO SEE HOW WE CAN ADDRESS THIS.
AND IT IS AN AREA WHERE POLLS ARE AVAILABLE.
SO I'LL [INAUDIBLE] YOU ABOUT THAT.
AND WE HAVE COME WE HAVE DEFERRED ITEM 3H TO OUR FEBRUARY MEETING.
SO WE HAVE NOW COME TO ITEM THREE I PLEASE JANELLE.
[3I. Report Of City Council's Park Board Representative (Collins/Brown - 10 Minutes) ]
THREE I REPORT OF CITY COUNCIL'S PARK BOARD REPRESENTATIVE.I WILL MAKE THIS AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN GET TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
BUT I WILL BE BRINGING AN ITEM TO YOU NEXT MONTH.
IT MAY EVEN WIND UP ON THE AGENDA, BUT IT'S THE EXPENDITURE OF ABOUT EIGHTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO UPGRADE THE PAVILION FACILITY AT [INAUDIBLE] PARK TO MAKE THAT MORE COMPETITIVE BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF COMPETITION OUT THERE, A NEW PLACE GOING IN.
AND OF COURSE, [INAUDIBLE] ACROSS THE STREET.
IT'S A GREAT PARK AND IT'S A IT'S ONE OF THOSE IT ACTUALLY GENERATES GENERAL FUND REVENUE NON HOT TAX ON THE BEACH USER FEE REVENUE, MUCH LIKE THE SEAWALL PARK DOES.
SO WE APPROVE THAT AT PARK BOARD THIS WEEK FOR THEM TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PLANS ON THAT AND I'LL BE BRINGING THAT BACK TO FOR FULL APPROVAL BECAUSE IT IS A CAPITAL PROJECT AFFECTING THE CITY FACILITY.
SO THAT IS THAT'S COUNCIL'S PURVIEW.
JUST A THOUGHT TOO WHEN DAVID IS TALKING ABOUT THE PARK BOARD.
COUNCILMAN COLLINS AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS WE'LL HAVE A JOINT MEETING TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED WITH THE PARK BOARD AND OUR CITY COUNCIL WILL BE A JOINT MEETING COMING UP BEFORE OUR MARCH MEETING.
THERE'S GOING TO BE, I THINK, A VERY INTERESTING MEETING.
[4. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
WE ARE NOW AT THE END OF OUR DISCUSSION ITEMS FOR OUR WORKSHOP.WE ARE NOW RECESSING INTO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I THINK THAT MAY TAKE US ABOUT POSSIBLY COUNCIL ABOUT TWENTY MINUTES OR SO AFTER THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I NEED TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT WHEN WE COME OUT OF THAT COUNCIL SO THAT
[03:15:03]
WE CAN GO AHEAD AND RECESS OUR WORKSHOP.AND THEN THAT'LL GIVE US TIME TO HAVE A BREAK BEFORE WE START OUR ONE FIFTEEN MEETING.
BUT IT IS TWELVE TWENTY ONE NOW AND WE ARE RECESSING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THIS IS A SEPARATE LINK THAT JANELLE HAS SENT TO YOU.
JANELLE, DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT? YES, SIR.
I NEED TO READ THE EXECUTIVE SESSION SECTION AND THE ITEMS BEFORE WE RECESS DR.
YES, AND ALSO YOUR EVERYONE'S GOING TO LEAVE THIS LINK AND GO TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND ONCE YOU COMPLETE BACK, YOU'LL COME BACK TO THE ORIGINAL LINK, THAT YOU USED THIS MORNING TO RECONNECT.
ITEM 4A PURSUIT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.
SECTION FIVE ONE POINT SEVENTY ONE CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY AN EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE CONDUCTED TO DISCUSS AND RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE CONCERNING PENDING LITIGATION AND OR A SETTLEMENT OFFER, OR ON A MATTER IN WHICH THE DUTY OF THE ATTORNEY AND THE GOVERNMENTAL BODY UNDER THE TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF THE STATE BAR IN TEXAS CLEARLY CONFLICTS WITH THIS CHAPTER RELATED TO THE FOLLOWING, 4A ONE BRIEFING ON PROPOSED LITIGATION RELATED TO THE PROPERTIES OF 407 12TH STREET, 2225 VICTORY AND 1418 30TH STREET AND 4A TWO CAUSE NUMBER FOR NINETEEN CV 00458 CITY OF ALVIN AT AL VERSUS COMCAST IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF HOUSTON, TEXAS DIVISION.
COUNCIL LET'S TAKE ABOUT FIVE MINUTES OR SO TO LET YOU EXIT THIS MEETING AND THEN.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.