[00:00:03]
GOOD MORNING STAFF AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE THERE AND THE COMMUNITY THAT MAY BE LISTENING IN ON OUR WORKSHOP THIS MORNING.
[Call to Order]
IT IS 9:00 A.M.I'M GOING TO OFFICIALLY CALL THE MEETING, THE WORKSHOP MEETING FOR CITY COUNCIL FOR MARCH 25TH TO ORDER.
WE DO HAVE A QUORUM, BUT LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE JANELLE.
WE DO HAVE EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER HERE.
WE WILL MOVE TO ITEM THREE AND BEFORE WE MOVE INTO THAT, I'M GOING TO DECLARE A CONFLICT ON ITEM 3C.
DAVID, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, WHEN WE GET TO THAT ITEM IF YOU COULD GO AHEAD AND RUN THE MEETING AT THAT POINT.
I DECLARE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST FOR THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE RAILROAD ITEM.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROBB HAS DECLARED A CONFLICT.
MOVING TO THE DISCUSSION ITEMS, JANELLE ITEM 3A PLEASE.
[3.A. 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 (20 Minutes) ]
OK, ITEM 3A CLARIFICATION OF CONSENT AND REGULAR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITY COUNCIL TO ASK QUESTIONS ON STAFF, ON CONSENT AND REGULAR AGENDA ITEM.LET'S START AT THE BEGINNING OF OUR COUNCIL.
COUNCILMAN JOHNSON, DISTRICT ONE.
ANY QUESTION, SIR? JUST A FEW QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE, LET ME BEGIN WITH 10C.
I THINK THAT WHAT WE LOOKED OVER ALL THE LAST TIME WE HAD A PRESENTATION ON THE LAST TIME 10C ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THIS [INAUDIBLE] SERVICES.
BUT THAT WAS THE ONE WHO MADE THE PRESENTATION AT OUR LAST COUNCIL WORKSHOP.
AND THEN C F ENTER INTO A DISAGREEMENT WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WE WERE NOT ALREADY IN AGREEMENT WITH THEM FROM PREVIOUS DISASTERS THAT WE'VE HAD? YES, SIR.
BUT WHAT WE RE-UP IT EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS.
AND THIS IS JUST THE RE-UPPING OF THAT AGREEMENT.
CONSIDER ALLOWING THE FLEET TO PURCHASE SOME ADDITIONAL ROLLING STOCK.
HOW MANY VEHICLES THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO PURCHASE.
MR. MAXWELL DO YOU KNOW? DAVID, CAN YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION? YES, SIR.
I BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO BE FOUR A TOTAL OF FOUR TRUCKS, THREE WILL BE FOR PUBLIC WORKS TRAFFIC AREA, AND THEN THE FOURTH TRUCK WILL BE A ANIMAL CONTROL TRUCK FOR THE GALVESTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAD MAYOR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH REVEREND JOHNSON.
MOVING TO DISTRICT 2 COUNCILMAN SCHUSTER.
REVEREND JOHNSON HAD A COUPLE OF MINE AND I'M GOING TO GO MAYOR.
MOVING TO DISTRICT THREE, DAVID COLLINS.
I'M LOOKING AT THE ORDINANCE ON PARKING, I'M [INAUDIBLE] THE PARKING PASSES.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALLOWING A TOTAL OF SIX PER HOUSEHOLD OR PER ADDRESS, RIGHT? WE'RE DOING THIS BY ADDRESS.
THAT'S ONE YOU CAN CHANGE, RIGHT? IT USED TO BE BY RESIDENTS AND NOW IT'S BY ADDRESS AND IT'S UP TO SIX DEPENDING ON AND DAN, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BECAUSE YOU WERE THE LAST ONE TO TOUCH THIS.
SO IF YOU HAVE NO VEHICLES REGISTERED TO AN ADDRESS, YOU'RE GOING TO GET FOUR.
BUT IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE VEHICLES REGISTERED TO THAT ADDRESS, YOU CAN GET UP TO
[00:05:02]
SIX.OK, DEFINE REGISTRY WOULD BE ON THE BASICALLY ON YOUR INSURANCE SHOWING THAT ADDRESS AS THE DOMICILE OF THE VEHICLE.
SO YOU WOULD BRING THAT DOCUMENTATION TO.
WE'RE DOING THIS OUT OF CITY HALL NOW, RIGHT AS OPPOSED TO POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND NOW THE REPLACEMENT COST IS FIFTY DOLLARS IF YOU LOSE ONE.
DAN DID WE LEAVE IT AT 50 OR DID IT CHANGE.
YEAH, I KNOW WE DISCUSSED CHANGING IT, AND THAT'S CERTAINLY DEBATABLE.
I MEAN, WHETHER THAT'S TOO MUCH OR NOT ENOUGH.
WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S NOT ENOUGH BECAUSE I CAN JUST IMAGINE PEOPLE IN EVERYBODY'S DISTRICT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, MOSTLY MINE, WILLIAM'S AND MARIE'S, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GOT A PARKING PASS FOR 50 BUCKS RIGHT THERE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE ORDINANCE DISALLOWS YOU TO, YOU KNOW, MAKES IT AN OFFENSE TO SELL IT OR RENT IT OR LEASE IT THAT KIND OF THING.
BUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO ENFORCE THAT? THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.
I DON'T SEE HOW WE ENFORCE THAT.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, ALLOWING THEM TO COME GET ANOTHER ONE OR TWO MORE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN A FAIR AMOUNT IN SHORT TERM RENTALS.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WALK OFF WITH THEM OR, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE FRANKLY, PEOPLE CLOSE TO THE UNIVERSITY ARE ALREADY RENTING THEM OUT.
SO,I THOUGHT THAT WAS A LITTLE DRACONIAN BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THINGS HAVE.
I MEAN, PEOPLE'S DOGS EAT THEIR HOMEWORK.
YOU KNOW, COACH SCHUSTER KNOWS THAT.
SO BUT THAT'S CERTAINLY OPEN FOR DISCUSSION.
ARE WE LIMITING IT TO A CERTAIN NUMBER OF REPLACEMENTS? NO, WE DIDN'T PUT THAT IN THERE THAT'S CERTAINLY A TOPIC FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION.
BUT I THINK PARDON ME WE HAVE ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS UP THERE WHICH BUTCH CAN ADDRESS DEALING WITH SOMEBODY THAT'S CAUGHT SELLING OR AUTHORIZING UNREGISTERED VEHICLES TO USE THE PASSES.
AND THOSE HAVE FINES OF A MINIMUM OF ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS AS PROPOSED MINIMUM OF ONE HUNDRED TO A MAXIMUM OF FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS.
SO THAT'S WHERE IT BECOMES PUNITIVE IF SOMEBODY IS CAUGHT DOING THAT AND BUTCH CAN AND MY CONCERN ON THIS IS GOING TO BE SHORT TERM RENTALS, PEOPLE USING THIS AS A WAY TO GET MULTIPLE PARKING PASSES, BECAUSE I'M SURE MARIE DOES, I STARTED TO GET THOSE COMPLAINTS NOW THAT PEOPLE WANT MORE PASSES, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S NOT JUST FOR YOUR FRIENDS OR YOUR MAID.
IT'S PEOPLE WANT MORE OF THEM SO THEY CAN THEY CAN HAVE MORE CARS PARKED AROUND THE SHORT TERM RENTAL.
I THINK AS PROPOSED, THE SHORT TERM RENTALS ARE GOING TO GET THE SAME AMOUNT AS ANY OTHER PROPERTY.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY SHORT TERM RENTAL OWNERS REGISTER THEIR VEHICLES AT THOSE ADDRESSES, BUT THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN GET MORE THAN FOUR.
AND THE OTHER THING, TOO, IS WE'RE GOING TO PUT THE ADDRESSES ON THE PASSES OR ON THE CARD.
SO IF WE WERE TO GET A COMPLAINT THAT SAY, GOD, THERE'S THIRTEEN CARS PARKED AROUND THIS SHORT TERM RENTAL.
IF THERE'S THIRTEEN CARS AND THEY ARE HAVING PASSES THAT HAVE THE SAME ADDRESS ON IT, THERE'S GOING TO BE FINES ISSUED AT THAT POINT BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN SOME FRAUD INVOLVED.
YEAH PROBABLY SO IF YOU FIND MORE THAN THE ALLOWABLE NUMBER WITH THOSE ADDRESSES ON IT, YOU KNOW, I JUST QUESTION HOW WE ARE EVER GOING TO ENFORCE THIS? I MEAN, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE OUT OF THE CARS LOOKING AT THE DATES ON THOSE THINGS BECAUSE.
WE KNOW THAT'S GOING TO BE AN ISSUE, ALL THESE RESIDENTIAL.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE DO JUST, YOU KNOW, KIND OF REFRESH EVERYBODY.
WE DO THIS AS A COURTESY TO THE RESIDENTS.
THE CITY DOESN'T LIKE TO PUT IN RESIDENTIAL PARKING.
WE DO IT AT THE REQUEST OF THE RESIDENTS TO TRY TO PRESERVE SOME SANITY IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT'S YOU UTMB IT'S SEAWALL PARKING.
IT'S YOU NAME IT AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO AS PART OF THIS IS WE'RE GOING TO START GOING THROUGH THIS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW A LOT'S CHANGED.
A LOT OF RESIDENTIAL PARKING IS PUT IN PREEMPTIVELY, MEANING WE MADE SOME CHANGES LIKE WE PUT IN PAID SEAWALL PARKING OR WE, YOU KNOW, UTMB CLOSED A PARKING LOT OR DID SOME THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND WE PUT IN RESIDENTIAL PARKING TO KEEP THE OVERFLOW FROM BECOMING AN ISSUE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AT THE REQUEST OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
YOU KNOW, I THINK WE PUT IN A LOT OF THE SOME OF IT IS VERY PERTINENT ALONG THE SEAWALL, BUT SOME OF IT IS NOT.
IT'S TURNED OUT TO NOT BE AN ISSUE.
THOSE ARE RESIDENTIAL PARKING AREAS.
UTMB HAS KIND OF CHANGED ITS MODEL A LITTLE BIT.
NOT AS MANY PEOPLE ARE WORKING, ESPECIALLY ADMINISTRATIVE PEOPLE ARE WORKING EVERY DAY AT THE HOSPITAL.
[00:10:01]
SO WHERE SOMEBODY FOUR BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE HOSPITAL, THAT MAY HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE.IT MAY NOT BE AS BIG AN ISSUE AS IT ONCE WAS.
WE'RE GOING TO START WATCHING THAT.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALK TO THE MARSHAL ABOUT IS TO START WATCHING THESE TRENDS AND SEE IF WE'RE SEEING THAT SAME NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND STUFF.
WE'RE GOING TO START LOOKING AT IT.
THAT'LL HELP REDUCE THE BURDEN OF THE ENFORCEMENT SOME.
BUT YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT COUNCIL MEMBER COLLINS THESE BECOME I MEAN, IT BECOMES HARD TO JUST TRY TO ENFORCE THESE THINGS, BECAUSE, AFTER ALL, IN A LOT OF CASES, IT'S THESE PEOPLE'S HOMES AND, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO PARK IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE OR YOU WANT YOUR MOM TO COME SEE YOU OR YOUR MOTHER IN LAW OR YOUR KIDS OR WHATEVER ELSE.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT BECOMES HARD TO DO THESE THINGS.
SO IT'S A BALANCING ACT FOR SURE AND WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR BEST.
WELL, AND YOU MENTIONED THE UNIVERSITY THAT IT'S A BIG DEAL AROUND THERE.
YOU KNOW, IT IS SUSPECTED THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE RENTING THESE THINGS OUT ALREADY TO THE STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES WHO DON'T WANT TO PAY TO PARK.
AND PUTTING THE ADDRESS ON IT, I THINK SOLVES SOME OF THAT PROBLEM.
A YEAR FROM NOW, EVERYBODY MAY BE BACK IN FULL STAFF.
YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY QUIPPED THE OTHER DAY THAT ANICO IS GOING TO HAVE A NICE NEW SIX HUNDRED CAR PARKING GARAGE AND NOT SIX HUNDRED PEOPLE IN THE WHOLE BUILDING.
[LAUGHTER] BUT THAT'LL CHANGE RIGHT WE'RE GOING TO GET PAST THIS AND PEOPLE ARE COMING BACK TO WORK SOONER OR LATER.
SO I JUST THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON.
AND WE AS COUNCILORS SHOULD CONSIDER WHETHER THE FIFTY DOLLARS IS ENOUGH TO CHARGE FOR A REPLACEMENT.
I DON'T WANT TO PENALIZE PEOPLE, BUT I ALSO WANT TO CHILL THE NOTION THAT YOU CAN BUY AN EXTRA PARKING PASS FOR 50 BUCKS.
AND THE OTHER THING IS TOO THE OTHER THING THAT COULD BE PUT IN THE ORDINANCE IT'S CERTAINLY UP TO YOU GUYS IF YOU WANT TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF REPLACEMENTS, LIKE IN TERMS THAT I UNDERSTAND, IF YOU HAVE AN AGGIE RING, YOU HAVE A LIMIT.
IF YOU LOSE IT, YOU CAN REPLACE IT, BUT YOU CAN ONLY REPLACE IT A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIMES.
YOU CAN'T JUST KEEP BUYING AGGIE RINGS.
SO IT COULD BE THE SAME THING WITH THESE PARKING PASSES.
YOU MIGHT GET ONE SHOT AT REPLACING ONE OR TWO, BUT YOU CAN'T KEEP REPLACING THEM IF AND WE CAN TRACK THAT.
IT'S NEVER OCCURRED TO ME TO RENT AN AGGIE RING FROM SOMEBODY.
THAT JUST HADN'T OCCURRED TO ME.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WAS AN ISSUE.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE ON THAT ISSUE.
BEFORE DAVID, BEFORE WE LEAVE THAT ISSUE, LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS INPUT.
SO WE DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK TO IT.
SOME PEOPLE MAY LIKE IT THAT WAY WHEN I'M ON MUTE.
[LAUGHTER] ONCE AGAIN, I CAN'T HELP BRING UP THE ISSUE THAT WE PROTECT OUR EAST END NEIGHBORHOODS FROM PARKING FROM WHETHER IT'S THE BEACH OR UTMB.
AND YET WE DO NOTHING FOR OUR WEST END NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO IF WE'RE GOING TO BE GIVING PARKING PERMITS OR WE'RE GOING I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN GIVING PARKING PERMITS FOR A LONG TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT FOR THE WEST END NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE IT SIMPLY ISN'T FAIR.
AND ESPECIALLY AS WE LIMIT MORE PARKING ON THE EAST END WE THEN CREATE MORE OF A PROBLEM IN MY NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND WHY SHOULD MY NEIGHBORHOODS COUNT LESS THAN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS? SO I'M JUST GOING TO MAKE THAT STATEMENT.
WHEN IT COMES TO IN THIS ORDINANCE, BECAUSE WHERE YOU'RE CHANGING A LANGUAGE WHERE IT USED TO SAY YOU CANNOT SELL OR RENT AND TAKING IT LOWER.
DOES THAT AFFECT THE IMPACT OF IT? BECAUSE PEOPLE USUALLY DON'T READ BEYOND THE FIRST PAGE.
DAN WHAT DO YOU THINK? YOU'RE MUTED.
I THINK ANY GOOD OPTION, THAT COUNCIL WANTS TO CONSIDER TO BE A VALID CHANGE TO THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE.
ONE THING I WILL POINT OUT TO EVERYBODY AND THIS IS ON ME, I USE THE WORD PERMIT AND PASS SYNONYMOUSLY THROUGHOUT THE ORDINANCE, AND THAT IS NOT A CORRECT USE OF THE TERMS PERMIT IS TO A REGISTERED VEHICLE AND PASS IS THE TEMPORARY PASS.
SO THERE'S SEVERAL PLACES THAT WILL HAVE TO BE REVISED IN THE ORDINANCE IF COUNCIL APPROVES IT MOVING FORWARD, WHERE WHEN WE APPLY WHEN WE CONSIDER AND DISCUSS TEMPORARY VISITOR? THOSE ARE CALLED PASSES AND THE PERMITS WOULD GO TO THE RESIDENTIAL PERMITS FOR THE PROPERTY OWNER.
AND FOR CLARIFICATION ON COUNCIL MEMBER ROBB'S THING, THE ISSUE ON THE WEST END IS BEACH ACCESS.
AND THERE'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF OBLIGATION BY THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO PREVENT PARKING ON THE BEACH.
SO WHILE WE MAY NOT NECESSARILY AGREE WITH ALL THAT, THOSE ARE THE
[00:15:03]
RULES THAT THE GLO HAS IN PLACE.SO THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY WE CAN'T MAKE RESIDENTIAL PARKING RIGHT ALONG THOSE BEACH NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO THAT, DAVID.
AND I WOULD LIKE US TO ADDRESS IT.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN WE COULD REOPEN THE BEACH ACCESS PLAN, BUT I KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW, LARGE SIGNS THAT WERE PUT IN, VERY LARGE SIGNS PUT IN TO ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND AT THE FRONT OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT THE SIGN WILL SAY YOU CANNOT PARK IN THE FIRE LANE WHILE MOST OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS DON'T HAVE SIDEWALKS, THEREFORE, THERE ARE NO FIRE LANES SO THEN WE GET PEOPLE PARKING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET.
AND IF THERE WAS A FIRE, IT WOULD BE A HUGE ISSUE BECAUSE A FIRE TRUCK WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ENTER THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO THAT'S A WHOLE SEPARATE THING THAT WE CAN BRING BACK AT THE NEXT DEAL.
THE QUESTION I HAVE ON THIS ORDINANCE IS WHEN IT COMES TO SHORT TERM RENTALS AND PASSES.
I THOUGHT WE HAD A LIMITATION ON HOW MANY VEHICLES COULD BE TIED TO A SHORT TERM RENTAL.
WELL, WE NEED TO CLARIFY, YOU MEAN FOR PASSES OR FOR PARKING? FOR PASSES OR FOR PARKING EITHER ONE.
WE DO HAVE IN THE SHORT AND I THINK WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE OFF TOPIC HERE ON THIS.
WELL NO, BECAUSE YOU'RE SAYING YOU'RE GOING TO REPLACE THEM.
YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE SIX PASSES TO EACH PROPERTY OR AS MANY AS THEY HAVE VEHICLES RENTED TO A HOUSE.
I MEAN, YOU COULD BE CREATING MORE OF AN ISSUE THAN WE ARE SOLVING IT.
WELL, THE ORDINANCE IS ONLY YOU GET A MAXIMUM OF SIX.
YOU CAN'T GET MORE THAN SIX PASSES.
AND IF IT'S A SHORT TERM RENTAL.
AND THERE'S NO CARS REGISTERED TO THAT ADDRESS.
I BELIEVE THAT JIVES WITH THE SHORT TERM RENTAL RULES, BUT THOSE ARE TIED TO THE NUMBER OF BEDROOMS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.
IF YOU HAVE A SHORT TERM RENTAL THAT HAS TWO BEDROOMS, THEY GET FOUR PARKING PERMITS.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE ADDRESSING, I THINK, AND BECAUSE THEN YOU'RE GETTING 8 .
YOU'RE GETTING FOUR PARKING PERMITS.
NO YOU GET FOUR PASSES PER ADDRESS.
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT'S GOT 10 BEDROOMS OR ONE BEDROOM, YOU GET FOUR PASSES PER ADDRESS UNLESS YOU CAN SHOW THAT YOUR CARS ARE REGISTERED TO THAT ADDRESS.
AND THEN YOU CAN GET HOWEVER MANY PERMITS FOR THE CARS THAT ARE REGISTERED TO THAT ADDRESS, PERMITS BEING A PERMANENT STICKER ON THE CAR AND THEN TWO GUEST PASSES, BUT NO MORE THAN SIX TOTAL OF ANY COMBINATION.
YOU GET FOUR PASSES UNLESS YOU HAVE REGISTERED CARS.
AND IF YOU DO, YOU CAN GET THE MAXIMUM OF TWO MORE SPEAKERS].
BUT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE WOULD ANYBODY HAVE MORE THAN SIX PARKING PERMITS OR PASSES PER ADDRESS.
WELL, I MEAN, DAN JUST EXPRESSED THE ISSUES OF SAYING PERMIT AND PASS, WHICH I GUESS IT'S NOT CLEARLY SPELLED OUT IN THIS ORDINANCE.
AND THEN I THINK THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH THE RENTING OR BUYING, AND IT CERTAINLY LEAVES A LOT OF OPEN AREA.
IF YOU HAVE A TWO BEDROOM KNOWN, FULL TIME RENTAL PROPERTY, HOW YOU COULD HAVE AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS AN ISSUE OR NOT, BUT YOU COULD HAVE FOUR CARS REGISTERED TO AN ADDRESS BECAUSE ALL THAT PERSON WOULD HAVE TO DO IS GO PICK UP THEIR INSURANCE BILL THERE.
I MEAN, IT'S I JUST THINK THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN, IT LEAVES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR NOT THAT ANY OF OUR CITIZENS WOULD EVER PURPOSELY DO ANYTHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL FOR THE CITY.
BUT A COMPANY LIKE BEACH BOX MIGHT.
NOT THAT I'M ATTACKING ANYONE ONE COMPANY, BUT THEY DO OWN FORTY SIX PROPERTIES WITH A LOT OF THEM BEING IN THE EAST END RIGHT NOW.
SO I JUST THINK WE NEED TO PUT A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME IN THIS ORDINANCE.
[00:20:01]
WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO READDRESS THIS AND BRING IT BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING OR EVEN BRING IT BACK AT THE SPECIAL MEETING? I MEAN, BECAUSE I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, BUT I DO THINK WE NEED TO CLARIFY SOME THINGS.I THINK WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE OFF.
THIS IS MORE FOR CLARIFICATION AND QUESTIONS.
IF WE WANT TO DISCUSS THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVES OF THIS, WE'LL DO THAT ON OUR REGULAR MEETING THIS AFTERNOON.
I DO KNOW THE STAFF HAS WORKED ON THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE JUST THROWN TOGETHER.
THEY HAVE BEEN REVIEWING, TALKING TO PEOPLE AND SO FORTH.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO BETWEEN NOW AND OUR REGULAR MEETING LOOK THAT OVER AGAIN.
AND IF WE HAVE SUGGESTIONS THAT WE FEEL WE NEED TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE, WE SURELY CAN.
AND AS MARIE MENTIONED, IF THE COUNCIL FEELS THAT IT NEEDS TO COME BACK IN MORE TIME TO THINK THIS OUT, WE SURE CAN ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR DEFERRAL.
SO WE'LL SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS PARTICULAR.
COUNCILMAN QUIROGA? YEAH, I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS.
WHAT ABOUT THE DWELLINGS THAT HAVE A DUPLEX? ARE THEY ENTITLED TO SIX ON EACH SIDE OR IT'S JUST GOING TO BE SIX FOR THE WHOLE DUPLEX? AND THE SECOND QUESTION I HAVE IS, WHAT ABOUT THE OWNERS THAT OWN THESE PROPERTIES THAT TRAVEL FROM ONE LOCATION TO ANOTHER LOCATION.
ARE THEY GOING TO BE GIVEN A SPECIAL PERMIT TO GO DO THEIR MAINTENANCE ON THEIR APARTMENTS? DAN, I THINK UNDER THE ORDINANCE AS PROPOSED A RESIDENCE IS DEFINED AS A ONE TO FOUR FAMILY DWELLING.
SO IT WOULD CONSIDER A DUPLEX THE SAME AS IT WOULD A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY IT WILL GET 4 PASSES.
AND THEN IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL VEHICLES REGISTERED THERE, THEY COULD GET UP TO TWO MORE.
SO IT WOULD BE A TOTAL OF SIX.
REGARDING THE PROPERTY OWNERS THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO USE THEIR IF THEY HAVE A CAR REGISTERED AT ONE OF THEIR SHORT TERM RENTALS OR A RENTAL PROPERTY THAT CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE A PARKING PASS THERE.
OTHERWISE THEY'D HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR VISITOR'S PASSES IF THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE IN AND OUT OF A RESIDENTIAL PARKING AREA.
SO IF THEY HAVE FOUR OR FIVE DWELLINGS, DO THEY HAVE TO GET ONE PER PER DWELLING OR IS THERE ONE GOING TO BE FOR UNIVERSAL? THEY VARY BY LOCATION.
WE HAVE THEM COLOR CODED BECAUSE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS SOMEBODY JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, SOMEBODY LIVED FAR AWAY FROM UTMB BUT WAS IN ANOTHER RESIDENTIAL PARKING AREA WHEN WE HAD THEM ALL UNIFORMED.
THEY WOULD TAKE THAT AND THEN USE THAT TO GO PARK IN FRONT OF SOMEBODY ELSE'S HOUSE CLOSER TO UTMB.
SO IF HE HAD MULTIPLE PROPERTIES WITHIN THE ZONE, YES, HIS PASS WOULD BE APPLICABLE.
BUT IF IT'S NOT WITHIN THE SAME ZONE, HE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE MULTIPLE PASSES OR SHE.
I WILL SHARE WITH YOU ALL AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS RULE, BUTCH STROUD AND HIS STAFF WERE INVOLVED IN AND THEY CAME UP WITH EVERY POSSIBLE SCENARIO WHERE PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO GAME THE SYSTEM AND WE TRIED TO ADDRESS THEM.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU, THERE'S GOING TO BE CONTINUED PEOPLE TRYING TO GAME THE SYSTEM.
AND THE ONE WAY I THINK YOU ALL LANDED ON WAS THE REPLACEMENTS.
THE FIFTY DOLLAR FINE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TO INCENTIVIZE SOMEBODY NOT TO TRY TO GAME THE SYSTEM.
I BELIEVE I'VE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL SHORT TERM RENTAL OWNERS THAT THEY CHARGE A TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLAR DEPOSIT ON THE PARKING PASS, SO OUR 50 DOLLARS IS PROBABLY NOT ENOUGH.
BUT THEN AGAIN, TOO, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY LIVE IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS WHO HAVE KIDS THAT LOSE THEIR STUFF AND LOSE THEIR PASSES AND ALL THOSE THINGS.
AND SO IT'S A BALANCING ACT, GUYS, AS TO WHETHER WE YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T WANT TO PENALIZE THE RESIDENT THAT LIVES THERE WHO HAD A MISHAP AND LOST THEIR PAST.
BUT WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THERE'S GOING TO BE GAMING IN THE SYSTEM THAT WE TRY TO PREVENT.
CAN YOU CLEAR IT IS THE PASS GOING TO BE A STICKER OR IS IT GOING TO BE SOMETHING YOU PLACE ON YOUR WINDSHIELD? IF YOUR CAR IS REGISTERED TO THAT ADDRESS, YOU WILL GET A STICKER FOR THE CAR.
THE VISITOR PASSES OR GUEST PASSES WILL BE PAPERS WITH THE ADDRESS ON THERE.
BECAUSE THEY CAN MOVE FROM CAR TO CAR.
DAVID, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION.
WELL JUST ONE MORE THING, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE'R OBVIOUSLY ABOUT TO START TALKING ABOUT SHORT TERM RENTALS AND ENFORCEMENT IN A MORE SERIOUS FASHION HERE IN THE NEXT COMING MONTHS.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A BIG PART OF THAT.
THE PARKING IS ONE OF THE MAJOR COMPLAINTS WE GET.
WHEN I LOOK AT THE EAST END, WHAT BLOCKS ARE RESTRICTED AND WHICH AREN'T IS KIND OF RANDOM.
I'VE NEVER FIGURED OUT ANY PATTERN TO IT.
AND I'M ALSO VERY INTERESTED THAT WE CAN'T RESTRICT PARKING IN NEIGHBORHOODS ON
[00:25:02]
THE WEST END.BUT WE ALSO HAVE A BEACH ACCESS PLAN THAT SAYS WE HAVE TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THOSE BEACH IN EXCHANGE FOR HAVING THE BEACHES CLOSED.
SO WE CAN'T SAY RESIDENTIAL PARKING ONLY IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS ONE STREET AND THEY HAVE THE BEACH CLOSED BECAUSE THAT'S A BEACH ACCESS POINT.
YEAH, I GET THAT TRADE OFF, BUT I MEAN, I'M SYMPATHETIC, TO MARIE'S POINT OF VIEW ON THIS, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE.
BUT IT'S JUST THAT'S PART OF THE FIGHT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WITH THE GLO AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WHEN WE START CLOSING THESE BEACH ACCESS POINTS, ARE THEY GOING TO INSIST THAT WE OPEN UP CAR TRAFFIC ON THE BEACH? YEAH, I GET IT.
BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR US IN THIS PROCESS TO LOOK AT THE ENTIRE ISLAND AND SEE WHAT'S RESTRICTED PARKING, WHAT'S NOT WHETHER WE HAVE A PLAN, WHAT DRIVES IT.
UP TO THIS POINT, IT'S BEEN ON A BLOCK BY BLOCK BASIS ON THE EAST END.
AND IF A BLOCK WANTS RESIDENTIAL PARKING, WE DO THAT AS A COURTESY FOR THAT BLOCK.
I DON'T KNOW OF ANY RESIDENTIAL PARKING AREAS THAT THE CITY INSTITUTED WITHOUT A REQUEST.
THIS IS AN EXTREMELY AS YOU CAN SEE, IS AN EXTREMELY COMPLEX ISSUE.
WE'VE BEEN WRESTLING WITH THIS FOR MANY YEARS AND I'M NOT SURE WE'LL HAVE A PERFECT SOLUTION TO IT.
I THINK ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE COUNCIL, I'M NOT SURE THAT ALL THE AREAS THAT WE HAVE ON THE EAST END THAT ARE DOING RESIDENTIAL NEED TO BE RESIDENTIAL .
SO I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT.
IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THIS MAY NEED TO BE DEFERRED, BUT WE'LL SEE WHAT COUNCIL WANTS TO DO ON THAT.
YEAH, I MEAN, ANOTHER HOT EXAMPLE WOULD BE IN COUNCIL MEMBER QUIROGA'S DISTRICT IS AROUND THE COLLEGE.
UNLESS THERE WAS A QUICK COMMENT ON THIS.
IF NOT, WE'LL MOVE ON COUNCIL.
COUNCILMAN COLLINS YOU STILL HAVE THE FLOOR ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YOUR MUTED DAVID.
THANK YOU AGAIN, I'VE WANDERED AWAY FROM THE AGENDA HERE TO LOOK AT THE ITEM ITSELF, THIS IS THE APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE EXTENSION OF THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT ON THE RIDE PROGRAM WITH HARRIS COUNTY RIDES.
DAVID IS YES, SIR, THIS IS THE ISLAND TRANSIT USED TO OFFER A DOOR TO DOOR SERVICE, SHALL WE SAY, FOR PEOPLE HAVING TO GO TO DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS AND SUCH, THAT'S AN EXPENSIVE SERVICE IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE SERVICES THAT A TRANSIT AUTHORITY CAN OPERATE.
WE HAVE MIGRATED OVER TO HARRIS COUNTY RIDES, WHICH IS A TAXI CAB SERVICE THAT HARRIS COUNTY, ACTUALLY MONITORS AND ADMINISTERS THE COST TO DO THAT IS MUCH CHEAPER THAN US RUNNING OUR VANS OUT TO PICK THESE PEOPLE UP AND DROP THEM OFF.
THIS IS AN INTERLOCAL OR AN AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE BEEN USING FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
AND WHAT THIS IS, IS JUST GENERALLY AN EXTENSION OF THAT AGREEMENT.
OK, IS THIS FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR PRICE TAG FOR ONE YEAR OR 3 YEARS.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS SEVERAL TIMES THAT IS AS PROPERTY TAX CAPS LIMIT OUR ABILITY TO INCREASE AD VALOREM COLLECTION OF AD VALOREM TAXES TRANSPORTATION IS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A HIT AND FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THIS SERVICE SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY TO ME FRANKLY.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE A MAXIMUM AMOUNT AND MAY NOT HIT THAT AMOUNT.
IF I'M CORRECT, I CAN RESEARCH THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE.
AND IT IS SUPPORTED BY SOME GRANTS AS WELL.
IF I CAN RESEARCH IT AND GET YOU MORE INFORMATION, IF YOU'D LIKE.
THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF FDA FUNDING INVOLVED IN THAT.
BUT THAT, AS YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
I WOULD SHUDDER TO SAY YEAR TO YEAR BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT CHANGES MID-YEAR.
IT MAY CHANGE WHEN WE SEE OUR CENSUS NUMBERS.
YOU DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
AND WE'LL LET ME JUST GO ON RECORD SAYING I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR COST OF THIS.
I REALIZE IT'S CHEAPER THAN RUNNING A FLEET OF BUSSES, BUT IT'S STILL PRICEY.
AND THIS IS THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE WAY FOR US TO OFFER THE SERVICE WE HAVE TO OFFER.
TO BECOME AS AN FTA PROVIDER, WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE ALONG WITH THE BUSSES.
AND MAYOR I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
VERY GOOD ON THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC OF THE RIDE SERVICE.
I JUST HAD A QUESTION, HOW MANY PEOPLE USE THIS SERVICE? I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER OFFHAND, BUT I WILL FIND THAT NUMBER OUT TODAY AND EMAIL IT TO ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE CURIOUS TO LOOK AT, BECAUSE I AGREE WITH DAVID THAT I THINK THE PRICE IS HIGH.
[00:30:01]
AND I KNOW HAVING PREVIOUSLY WHEN I WAS ON COUNCIL AND WE I THINK AT THAT TIME WERE ACTUALLY RUNNING OUR OWN SERVICE OR SUBJECT TO THAT LINE, IT WASN'T USED A LOT.SO I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE.
AND THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT THIS IS, IS THAT IT'S ON A USED BASIS, SO IF IT DOESN'T GET USED, WE DON'T PAY.
AND THE PER RIDE AMOUNT COMPARED TO THE WAY WE WERE DOING IT IS LESS.
DAVID, YOU'RE NO MORE QUESTION, SIR.
NO, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING, MAYOR.
I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, I'LL TRY TO MAKE IT QUICK.
9C THE PARKING AT THE THIRTY ONE HUNDRED BLOCK OF MARKET.
WHAT IS THAT NEEDED FOR? ARE WE SEEING A NEED FOR THAT AT THAT AREA? ABSOLUTELY.
SINCE WE'VE MOVED OUR PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY OVER THERE.
WE HAVE A LOT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, BUT A LOT OF THE EMPLOYEES LIKE TO PARK THERE BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE BIT CLOSER.
SO WE HAD AN EMPLOYEE PARKING ISSUE THERE.
WE'VE TOLD OUR EMPLOYEES NOT TO DO IT, BUT I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW MANY OF OUR EMPLOYEES OR OTHER BUSINESSES IN THAT AREA BUT THE LITTLE ESTABLISHMENTS IN THAT STRIP CENTER THERE HAVE ASKED FOR TWO HOUR PARKING.
AGAIN, TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT I SAID EARLIER, WE DON'T PUT PARKING RESTRICTIONS IN ABSENT A REQUEST FROM OWNERS OR OPERATORS ON THE BLOCK.
SO THEY HAVE ASKED FOR THAT RESTRICTION.
AND WE'RE HAPPY TO OBLIGE, IF THAT'S SOMETHING COUNCIL WANTS TO DO.
OK, SO IT'S MAINLY FOR THE LITTLE RETAIL STORES IT'S JUST THAT ONE BLOCK.
I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT SOME ACTION ITEMS, 11 A THE BOND.
AM I CORRECT THAT THAT BOND WILL BE PAID OFF IN 2030? YES, COUNCIL MEMBER, THAT'S CORRECT.
AND SO BY DOING THIS, WE'RE SAVING ABOUT FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS PER YEAR ON THAT, IS THAT RIGHT? CORRECT.
OK, THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTIONS THERE.
11B THE PUBLIC MEETING AND THE COVID GUIDELINES.
11B I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THOSE GUIDELINES, FROM WHAT I READ, I THINK I UNDERSTAND IT CORRECTLY, IS THAT THEY'RE FOR MEETINGS THAT ARE FOR NO GREATER THAN ONE HOUR, IS THAT RIGHT? DAN.
WHAT WE DID IS WE WENT OUT AND FOLLOWED REVIEWED THE CDC GUIDELINES AND THEIR RECOMMENDATION IS FOR MEETINGS OF ONE HOUR OR LESS.
THEY PROPOSE THAT YOU TAKE BREAKS, IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A MEETING LONGER THAN THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE A BREAK AND CLEAN THE ROOM.
SO, YEAH, THAT IS A CDC GUIDELINE AT THIS POINT FOR THE MEETING.
SO I GUESS THAT'S NOT REALLY GOING TO GET US BACK TO HAVING IN-PERSON COUNCIL MEETINGS, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE'VE GOT A MEETING THAT LASTS LESS THAN AN HOUR IN A LONG TIME.
WELL, WE CAN ALWAYS ASPIRE FOR THAT.
BUT IT IS AS WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, WE USE THIS PART OF THE WORKSHOP AS IT'S VERY VITAL THAT WE GET OUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED EARLY ON.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT HAVING AN HOUR LONG MEETING AT FIVE O'CLOCK IS UNREASONABLE.
MAYBE WE ZOOM THE WORKSHOP AND WE HAVE IN-PERSON MEETINGS AT FIVE O'CLOCK FOR A WHILE UNTIL ALL THIS CLEARS UP.
THAT'S ONE OPTION THAT I PRESENTED TO THE MAYOR YESTERDAY BECAUSE HE SHARED THE SAME THING YOU DID.
HE GOES, WOW, AN HOUR HOW DO WE DO THIS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF? AND I SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, MOST OF OUR MAIN MEETINGS, IF WE WE DO OUR WORKSHOPS CORRECTLY THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH AN HOUR LONG MEETING.
I MEAN, I LIKE THE GUIDELINES.
I THINK THEY'RE REASONABLE, SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
LET'S SEE, 11C THE FLAG THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT LATER TODAY IN OUR MEETING.
I GUESS I WAS TOLD THAT ONE OF THE FLAGS OR ONE OF THE FLAGS, THE ARTIST, IT IS NOT A VERY PRECISE DRAWING.
IT'S MORE AND THIS IS A LACK OF A BETTER TERM HERE, BUT MORE LIKE A FINGER PAINTED TYPE OF DRAWING THAT'S GOT A LOT OF TEXTURE TO IT.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF I DON'T THINK WE WOULD HAVE A FLAG LIKE THAT.
AND I THINK THE ARTIST REALLY WANTS HE DOESN'T WANT TO CHANGE HIS WORK TO NOT INCORPORATE THAT PIECE OF IT INTO A FLAG.
SO IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD REALLY CONSIDER OR SHOULD WE HAVE A THIRD FLAG
[00:35:04]
IN THERE IN PLACE OF THAT IF THE ARTIST IS NOT WILLING TO TO MAKE IT MORE PRECISE? I GUESS.I'M THE LIAISON FOR THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION.
THE ARTIST IS OPEN TO, I GUESS WOULD BE THE WORD TO MAKE THAT DESIGN MORE DEFINITE AND [INAUDIBLE] IN THINGS.
OKAY MAYBE I HAD SOME BAD INFORMATION THERE.
SECOND ROB JUST REAL QUICKLY, THE CULTURE ARTS COMMISSION.
YOU HAD ASKED THEM TO POSSIBLY CONSIDER SENDING THIS OUT FOR A PUBLIC VOTE.
THEY FAILED AT THEIR LAST MEETING.
I ATTENDED THAT THEY FELT THAT THEY HAD DONE THAT THEY HAD SIX WEEKS OR MORE OF PUBLIC INPUT AND SO FORTH, AND THEY FELT THAT IT HAS BEEN VETTED BY THE PUBLIC WELL.
AND IT COMES DOWN TO JUST MAKING A DECISION AND A RECOMMENDATION.
THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATION.
AND SENDING THAT BACK TO COUNCIL.
GREAT, I WAS GOING TO ASK THAT AS WELL, SO THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THAT.
AND THEN THE LAST QUESTION I HAD, I THINK WAS 11D.
I HAVEN'T READ IT EITHER THAT HOUSE BILL OR THAT SENATE BILL.
CAN SOMEONE GIVE ME JUST THE HIGHLIGHTS ON WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THAT OR WHERE THEY WANT THAT TO GO? LET'S LET SALLY, IS SALLY ON DON? NO, SHE'S NOT.
I'VE READ IT, I CAN SHARE WHAT I KNOW.
THERE HAS TO BE A NON FEDERAL SPONSOR WHEN THE COASTAL BARRIER BEGINS.
THE STATE HAS SEARCHED AROUND FOR A LOCAL SPONSOR, AT ONE POINT, THE GLO WAS ACTING AS THAT.
BUT I THINK THEY EXPRESSED RESERVATIONS ABOUT DOING IT IN THE LONG TERM.
BASICALLY, THIS LEGISLATION CREATES A NEW DISTRICT OF THE COUNTIES THAT WILL BE IN THE DISTRICT.
IT'S HARRIS, GALVESTON I FORGET THE WHOLE LIST.
CREATES A BOARD, ALLOWS THEM TO ISSUE BONDS GEEZ I READ THIS LAST WEEK QUICKLY.
IT ALLOWS EACH COUNTY TO ASCRIBE WHAT PART OF THE COUNTY WILL BE IN THE DISTRICT.
AND IT ALLOWS FOR BASICALLY FOR THIS DISTRICT TO BE THE LOCAL SPONSOR OF THE [INAUDIBLE].
THAT IS THE EXTENT OF MY KNOWLEDGE.
WE SEE THAT WE HAVE COUNCILMAN COLLINS AND COUNCILWOMAN ROBB, JOHN WANTS TO GIVE SOME INPUT ON THAT.
IS THAT ALRIGHT WITH YOU? ABSOLUTELY.
DAVID, LET'S START WITH YOU AND THEN WITH I READ THIS AND TRIED TO READ IT CAREFULLY.
THE LAST THING DON SAID WAS, I THINK IMPORTANT THAT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CAN DECIDE WHICH PART OF THEIR COUNTY IS INCLUDED AND WHICH ISN'T.
SO ESSENTIALLY, WE COULD OPT OUT OF THE WHOLE THING.
HALF OF ORANGE COULD OPT OUT OF IT, ALL OF HARRIS COULD OPT OUT.
THE TROUBLE IS, WE'RE TALKING JUST TO BUILD THE INITIAL DIKE.
WHAT WE'VE SEEN FROM THE PLANS WOULD COST ABOUT 13 BILLION DOLLARS.
THIS LOOKS LIKE TWIA ON DRUGS, IF YOU ASK ME.
IT'S JUST TO LAY THIS ALL ON THE COAST AS OPPOSED TO, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WHAT ARE WE PROTECTING HERE? WE'RE PROTECTING A QUARTER OF THE NATION'S PETROCHEMICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
YOU KNOW WHY IS EVERYBODY IN THE MIDWEST NOT PAYING FOR THIS? WHY IS EVERYBODY IN TEXAS NOT PAYING FOR THIS? THIS SEEMS AN ONEROUS BURDEN TO DROP ALL THIS ON SOME PARTS OF SOME OF THE COUNTIES ON THE COAST.
SO WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO SENATOR TAYLOR AND REPRESENTATIVE PAUL, THIS SEEMS SHORTSIGHTED.
I REALIZE THEY HAVE TO NAME A LOCAL SPONSOR JUST TO GET CONGRESS TO EVEN CONSIDER THIS SERIOUSLY.
BUT THIS SEEMS LIKE LET'S JUST DUMP IT ON THE PEOPLE ON THE COAST BECAUSE IT'S THEIR HOUSES.
THAT'S NOT ALL WE'RE PROTECTING IS PEOPLE'S HOUSES.
WE'RE PROTECTING, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THEY WANT IT OR NOT.
WE'RE PROTECTING THE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY BY DOING THIS.
AND EVERYBODY IN AT LEAST THE MIDDLE PART OF THE COUNTRY BENEFITS FROM THAT, NOT JUST THOSE OF US IN GALVESTON, HARRIS COUNTIES.
WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS BILL IS, IF WE DO NOT CREATE AN ENTITY,
[00:40:09]
THE CHIEFS REPORT, WHEN IT COMES OUT FROM THAT GLO, WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD.SO WE WOULD NOT HAVE ANY COASTAL SURGE PROTECTION.
THE ENTITY IS MADE UP OF A NUMBER OF COUNTIES, AND I WISH WE COULD GET SALLY ON BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME.
BUT I KNOW IT INCLUDES HARRIS CHAMBERS, JEFFERSON, HARRIS COUNTY, GALVESTON COUNTY, BRAZORIA COUNTY, AND I THINK I'M COVERING THEM ALL.
BUT I CAN'T BE 100 PERCENT SURE BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME.
IT ACTUALLY TAKES THE BURDEN OFF JUST THE COAST AREA BY INCLUDING PLACES LIKE HARRIS COUNTY AND BRAZORIA COUNTY, NOT BRAZORIA, BUT HARRIS COUNTY, JEFFERSON COUNTY, THE AREAS THAT AREN'T ON THE COAST.
AND YES, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT BENEFITS THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES, WHICH IS WHY IT IS NECESSARY TO GET THIS FOR THE CORPS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT.
AND I THINK IT'S MORE IN PLACE TO COVER AND AS FAR AS SPONSORING TO COVER THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF THE PROJECT AS IT MOVES FORWARD, BUT WITHOUT IT.
SOME KIND OF ENTITY WITHOUT THAT ENTITY, WE CANNOT IT WILL PUT US AT THE LAST OF THE LINE AND WE'LL NEVER GET ANY KIND OF SURGE PROTECTION.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT ALL THE CITIES IN THE AREAS THAT ARE NAMED ARE DOING.
I KNOW LEAGUE CITY IS DOING IT, AND I THINK THERE'S ALREADY TWO CITIES WHO HAVE DONE RESOLUTIONS.
THIS IS NOT THE FINAL COPY OF THE BILL.
I THINK IT WILL GO THROUGH A NUMBER OF REITERATIONS AS IT MOVES FORWARD.
BUT IF WE DON'T DO IT WE WILL NOT GET ANY TYPE OF SURGE PROTECTION, SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS.
DON EXCUSE ME, JUST MAKE SURE WE GET THIS IN.
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WHEN WE GET THIS AFTERNOON, IT'S ITEM 11 D, THAT WE COULD HAVE SALLY ON THE LINE OR HAVE HER CALL IN AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS COUNCIL MAY HAVE ON THIS? ABSOLUTELY.
AND JUST TO CLARIFY SOMETHING IS I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER COLLINS IS SAYING AND COUNCIL MEMBER ROBB.
BUT KEEP IN MIND, THERE WERE OTHER OPTIONS PRESENTED THAT JUST PROTECTED THE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY AND OMITTED A LARGE PART OF THE TEXAS COAST.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO AVOID AS WELL WITH THIS.
SO I'M NOT SPEAKING IN FAVOR OR AGAINST IT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT, THAT THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A BALANCING ACT THERE AS WELL.
I CAN ALSO SEND OUT A MEMO WITH THE BULLET POINTS OF THE BILLS AS WELL.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I THINK THAT'S ALL FOR ME.
I JUST HAD SOME QUESTIONS ON, LIKE IT SEEMS WE HAVE FOUR ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT HAVE TO DO WITH PROJECT CHANGES.
ONE IS TO OUR BENEFIT, BUT ITEMS 10 M AND 10 N WHERE WE HAVE AN INCREASE IN WHAT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, I'M JUST CURIOUS.
HOW MANY LIKE ON ITEM 10 M HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE HAD CHANGE ORDERS ON THIS? BECAUSE THAT ONE IS THE MOST SUBSTANTIAL.
IT'S LIKE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN THOUSAND.
SO ON ITEM 10 M WHICH IS [INAUDIBLE] PROJECT.
[00:45:09]
SO THIS IS ACTUALLY THE VERY FIRST CHANGE ORDER.IT'S NOT A CHANGE ORDER TO THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT ITSELF WITH THE CONTRACTORS.
IT'S THE CHANGE ORDER WITH THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE DESIGN ENGINEER.
SO THE SCOPE THAT WENT FORWARD, IT WENT FORWARD SOME TIME BACK, DIDN'T INCLUDE THE REQUIRED AMOUNT OF CONSTRUCTION PHASED SERVICES NEEDED ON AS FAR AS ENGINEERING SUPPORT WITH BIWEEKLY MEETINGS.
RFI REVIEW, SUBMITTAL REVIEW, CHANGE, ORDER, REVIEW.
AND SO THIS CHANGE ORDER IS CORRECT NOW.
AND THEN ON THE OTHER ONE YOU MENTIONED WAS PART OF THE TWENTY FOUR INCH WATER LINE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, APPROXIMATELY TWO COUNCIL MEETINGS AGO, I BROUGHT FORWARD A CHANGE ORDER TO SWITCH FROM DOING AN OPEN TRENCH REPLACEMENT OF THE TWENTY FOUR INCH WATER LINE TO A TRENCHLESS REPLACEMENT.
AND IN DOING SO, THERE'S SOME ENGINEERING WORK THAT WAS REQUIRED.
AND SO THAT WAY WE DON'T COME INTO OTHER CONFLICTS AND CREATE A MESS.
AND SO THE 10 N TAKES CARE OF THAT ENGINEER DESIGN WORK SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THIS PROJECT A LITTLE MORE SMOOTHER.
ANYTHING ELSE, MARIE? I THINK EVERYONE ELSE COVERED THE ONES I HAD PULLED OUT, SO NEXT WEEK I SUGGEST WE START FROM SIX AND GO TO ONE.
I THINK LAST MEETING WE STARTED AT SIX.
IT'S ON ITEM, BRIAN, 10D, AS IN DAVID, THAT WAS THE ONLY ITEM WE DID NOT HAVE PACKET MATERIAL ON.
AND I'D LIKE FOR YOU, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND TO EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS.
TEN D AS IN DAVID, I WILL REFER TO DON AS IT IS ON AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM TOO.
SO I DON'T WANT TO SAY TOO MUCH OR SAY TOO LITTLE.
AND I ALSO DON'T WANT TO GET COUNCIL MEMBER ROBB'S SHE HAS A CONFLICT [LAUGHTER] JUST HOLD THAT THEN TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL WE ARE MOVING RIGHT AHEAD, WE'RE MOVING TO ITEM 3 B, AS IN
[3.B. Discussion Of Lessons Learned From Winter Storm 2021 (Brown - 30 Minutes) ]
BOY, PLEASE, JANELLE.OK, 3B DISCUSSION OF LESSONS LEARNED FROM WINTER STORM 2021 AND I'LL KICK IT.
DAN'S GOING TO RUN THROUGH OUR LIST AND I BELIEVE IT WAS OUT IN YOUR PACKET.
BUT LET ME START BY SAYING THAT ONE OF THE THINGS WE LEARNED IS, IS THAT WE HAVE REALLY GOOD PLANS FOR HURRICANES AND EVEN A FEW OTHER THINGS.
BUT WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A GOOD BLIZZARD PLAN.
AND WE'RE IT LOOKS LIKE NOW AFTER 2018 AN THIS YEAR THAT WE ARE GOING TO AND DAN'S GOING TO ADDRESS THIS AND A LOT OF THAT, WE'RE GOING TO REALLY SHARPEN OUR PLANS FOR THIS.
I JOKED AT ONE POINT IN TIME THAT EVERYBODY LAUGHED AT ME WHEN I SAID WE NEEDED SNOWPLOWS, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE AS THINGS CHANGE.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT CITIES EVEN ON THE COAST, ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PROBABLY BE PREPARED FOR AT SOME POINT.
WE HAVE VISITED WITH THE STATE DAN'S GOING TO ADDRESS THESE THINGS AS WELL.
AND I BELIEVE THE STATE NOW RECOGNIZES THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START SHIFTING SOME RESOURCES FURTHER SOUTH IN THE WINTER.
YOU KNOW, THEY TOO OPERATE BECAUSE WE'RE A COASTAL STATE.
THEY OPERATE DEALING WITH MAINLY NATURAL DISASTERS OCCURRING AS A RESULT OF HURRICANES, TROPICAL STORMS, MASSIVE FLOOD EVENTS DUE TO RAINS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
YOU KNOW, THEY STAGED ALL THEIR STUFF IN SAN ANTONIO AND DALLAS, ALL OF OUR SUPPORT EQUIPMENT.
AND THAT MAKES PERFECT SENSE IF YOU HAVE A LANDFALLING HURRICANE.
IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY WORK AS WELL WHEN WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, SUBFREEZING TEMPERATURES FOR THREE OR FOUR DAYS.
WE HAVE GOOD PLANS FOR POWER TO DEAL WITH POWER LOSS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER.
WE DON'T NECESSARILY WE DIDN'T HAVE CONTINGENCY PLANS IF WE LOST POWER AND IT WAS BELOW FREEZING FOR MANY, MANY HOURS.
SO, DAN'S GOING TO ADDRESS MOST OF THOSE.
I JUST WANTED TO THROW THOSE FEW THINGS OUT THERE FIRST.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I THINK IN THE PACKAGE WE EACH RECEIVED A SCHEDULE THAT REALLY ADDRESSES OUR
[00:50:03]
LESSONS LEARNED FROM A FREEZE EVENT WHAT WE TRIED TO DO IS DISCUSS THE ISSUE TELL COUNCIL IN THE CENTER COLUMN, THAT TEMPORARY ACTION THAT WAS TAKEN TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.AND THEN WE'VE GOT SOME ACTIONS RECOMMENDED ON THE RIGHT HAND COLUMN, WHICH WILL ADDRESS, HOPEFULLY IN THE LONG TERM SOME OF THE ISSUES.
THERE'S THIRTY FIVE ON THE LIST.
YOU KNOW, WE COULD PROBABLY HAVE A LIST OF ONE HUNDRED, BUT WE TRIED TO BREAK THEM DOWN INTO THE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT.
OF THE THIRTY FIVE I'LL TELL YOU THAT THE TWO MOST SIGNIFICANT ISSUES ARE NUMBER ONE, COMMUNICATIONS.
COMMUNICATIONS IS ABOUT THIRTY ONE PERCENT OF ALL THE ISSUES AND THAT DEALT WITH COMMUNICATIONS TO THE PUBLIC, COMMUNICATIONS INTERNALLY AMONG STAFF, COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE STATE.
THESE WERE ALL COMMUNICATION TYPE ISSUES.
AND KEEP IN MIND, OUR COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS ARE GEARED TOWARDS COMMUNICATING WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE EVACUATED.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE EVACUATED TYPICALLY HAVE EVACUATED TO AREAS WHERE THEY HAVE POWER AND THEY HAVE CELL SERVICE.
WE WERE TRYING TO COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE HERE ON THE ISLAND THAT WERE NOT EVACUATED.
THEY DID NOT HAVE POWER AND IN MANY CASES DID NOT HAVE CELL SERVICE.
SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS WE IDENTIFIED IS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A BETTER COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR NON [INAUDIBLE] EVENTS.
AND THAT'S REALLY AN EXTERNAL COMPONENT OF THE COMMUNICATIONS BUT WE HAD INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS.
HOW DO YOU DEAL WHEN THE RADIOS ARE DOWN OR WE DON'T HAVE POWER AND THE CELL PHONES ARE DOWN.
SO WE EXPERIENCE MANY CHALLENGES AND WE OVER CAME THEM AND WE JUST NEED TO BETTER PLAN FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF EVENTS.
BUT THE COMMUNICATIONS ISSUES GET DOWN TO BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE PUBLIC, WITH OUR INTERNAL STAFF AND LIKE I SAID, WITH THE STATE.
SO THAT WAS THE BIGGEST COMPONENT OF THE LESSONS LEARNED.
LIKE I SAID, ABOUT THIRTY ONE PERCENT CLOSELY FOLLOWED BY PLANNING.
AS BRIAN SHARED WITH YOU, WE HAD SOME PRETTY GOOD PLANS FOR HURRICANES.
WE HAVE A PROCESS WE UPDATE THEM ANNUALLY ON OUR HURRICANE PLAN, BUT WE HONESTLY DIDN'T HAVE A PLAN FOR A FREEZE EVENT WHERE WE HAD NO POWER AND WE HAD NO WATER.
THAT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT WASN'T IN OUR PLAYBOOK.
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE COMPONENTS ON HOW TO ADDRESS WATER ISSUES.
YOU HAVE COMPONENTS OF HOW TO ADDRESS OUR ISSUES.
BUT THE COMBINATION OF THE THREE WAS UNEXPECTED AND WE DIDN'T HAVE SOLID PLANS ON THAT WE COULD PULL OFF THE SHELF TO ADDRESS ANY OF THOSE.
SO WHAT THE RESULT OF THIS IS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO HOW WE PLAN.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT A COMPONENT ISSUE OF LOSS OF POWER, YOU'RE GOING HAVE TO LOOK AT LOSS OF POWER THAT RESULTS IN A LOSS OF WATER OR LOSS OF COMMUNICATIONS.
AND I THINK GLOBALLY, I WILL TELL YOU, THOSE ISSUES ARE NOT JUST SYNONYMOUS TO ISSUES RELATED TO GALVESTON, YOU SAW THIS ACROSS THE STATE, THIS ISSUE IMPACTED MORE THAN JUST THE ISLAND.
IT WAS, YOU KNOW, THE GRAVITY OF IT WAS FAR MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN ANYBODY WHO PLANNED AND AGAIN, OUR POWER AND WATER PLANS ARE GEARED AROUND AN EVACUATED ISLAND.
EVEN OUR WATER CONTINGENCY, WHICH IS OUR STORAGE, IS GEARED AROUND A MUCH SMALLER POPULATION THAT WOULD BE ON THE ISLAND DOING RECOVERY AFTER A HURRICANE.
MOST OF OUR NON POWER NON WATER PLANS DID NOT REVOLVE AROUND HAVING ALL 50000 THOUSAND RESIDENTS HUNKERED DOWN IN THEIR HOMES TRYING TO STAY WARM.
SO THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THIS CAME FROM AS DAN AND I WERE DEBRIEFING ON THIS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S YOU HATE TO SAY THIS BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO DEAL WITH A HURRICANE, BUT IT'S MUCH EASIER TO DEAL WITH THESE THINGS WITH LACK OF POWER, LACK OF WATER AFTER HURRICANE.
WHEN I'M DEALING WITH CRITICAL PERSONNEL ON THE ISLAND AND A FEW HARD HEADS THAT DIDN'T LEAVE VERSUS I'M DEALING WITH THE WHOLE ISLAND THAT WAS HUNKERED DOWN FOR WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A REAL PRETTY MORNING WITH SOME SNOW ON THE GROUND.
AND THEY LOST POWER AND THEIR PIPES FROZE AND THEY HAD NO HEAT AND THEY HAD NO COMMUNICATION.
AND SO IT WAS WE WERE DEALING WITH EVERYBODY HERE VERSUS EVERYBODY BEING EVACUATED, WHICH IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE A FACTOR.
AND JUST ABOUT ALL THESE LESSONS LEARNED IS WE BASICALLY NEED TO HAVE TWO SETS OF PLANS, ONE FOR WHEN THE ISLAND IS EMPTY AND ONE FOR WHEN WE ARE ACTUALLY STRUCK WITH AN EVENT WHERE EVERYBODY IS HERE.
YOU KNOW, I SEE SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE QUESTIONS, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, COUNCIL, LET'S LET DAN FINISH HIS PRESENTATION AND THEN WE'LL START THESE QUESTIONS.
NO, I'M NOT SURE THOSE NEED TO GO.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS TO BE A WASTE OF Y'ALL'S TIME, TO GO THROUGH ITEM BY ITEM.
AND I WAS REALLY GOING TO JUST CLOSE SAYING YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE ISSUES WE'VE IDENTIFIED.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO UPDATE THESE UNTIL WE COMPLETE THE LIST.
AND I'D BE GLAD TO GO THROUGH ANY INDIVIDUAL TOPICS OR ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL MAY HAVE.
[00:55:01]
THANK YOU, DAN.I DON'T SEE EARTHQUAKES LISTED IN HERE.
JUST WERE WORKING ON THE VOLCANO PLAN RIGHT NOW.
NO, THIS IS SEEMS SOME GOOD THINGS IN HERE.
I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY COMMENT ABOUT THIS, BUT BEFORE THE COMPLAINING STARTS, I JUST WANT TO SAY PUBLIC WORKS, ROCKS.
THEY WERE OUT ON THE STREET THROUGH ALL OF THE WEATHER THE ENTIRE TIME.
YOU KNOW, NEIGHBORS DID A GREAT JOB.
BUT, BOY, WE NEEDED PUBLIC WORKS OUT THERE AND THEY REALLY CAME THROUGH FOR US.
AND SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT, BRIAN.
OH, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ECHO WHAT DAVID SAID ABOUT PUBLIC WORKS.
THEY DO ROCK, BUT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO JUST GIVE A MESSAGE TO MY DISTRICT THAT AT THIS TIME, SINCE WE HAD SOME DIFFERENT ISSUES MAYBE THAN THE OTHER DISTRICTS.
SO I JUST WANTED TO COVER GAS AND WORK WE, THE CITY AND I HAVE HAD A MEETING WITH THE GAS COMPANY AND WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW WE MAY BE ABLE TO GET GAS LINES EXTENDED, CELL TOWERS, PLANNING HAS BEEN GREAT STAFF HAS BEEN GREAT ABOUT GETTING ME THE NUMBER OF [INAUDIBLE] PROPERTIES, AS WELL AS THE NUMBER OF PROPERTIES THAT EXIST THAT I'M USING WITH AT&T TO LOOK AT GETTING ANOTHER CELL TOWER.
AND THEN ALSO, I KNOW WE ARE PLANNING WE HAVE A MEETING PLANNED WITH THE ELECTRIC COMPANY AS WELL AS I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE MAYS MIDDLETON AND LARRY TAYLOR SINCE WE HAD THE LONGEST BLACKOUT, IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT, AND HENCE WHY IT AFFECTED OUR WATER LINES AND SO FORTH.
AND I DON'T THINK PEOPLE TRULY UNDERSTAND HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE STILL WITHOUT WATER, ARE STILL NOT ABLE TO LIVE AT THEIR HOUSES IN MY DISTRICT, PART HAS TO DO WITH LACK OF PLUMBERS.
PART HAS TO DO WITH DEALING WITH THE INSURANCE ISSUES LIKE YOU DO WHEN THERE IS A HURRICANE.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO GIVE THAT MESSAGE TO MY DISTRICT THAT WE ARE WORKING ON EACH AND EVERY ISSUE AGGRESSIVELY.
SO AND I STILL HAVE SOME PVBC FIXTURES IF ANYONE NEEDS THEM.
AND WANTED TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS TOO.
I WANT TO ECHO PUBLIC WORKS AND THE ENTIRE STAFF OF ALL DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, ESPECIALLY OUR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, ALSO REALLY ROSE UP TO THE CHALLENGE AND MET THE CHALLENGE WELL, THEY DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
I HAVE WORKED THROUGH BRIAN AND WITH MARISSA BARNETT.
PERSONALLY, I THINK WE NEED TO EXPAND THIS SWIFT REACH PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE WHERE WE CONTACT INDIVIDUALS PERSONALLY.
MARISSA IS GOING TO UNVEIL A DRIVE, FOR LACK OF A BETTER DESCRIPTION, OF SIGNING UP AS MANY RESIDENTS AS WE POSSIBLY CAN TO THIS RIFT REEFS PROGRAM.
MARISSA WILL BE UNVEILING THIS SHORTLY.
THE SECOND THING IS, I DON'T WANT TO STEAL THE THUNDER FROM BRIAN, BUT WE HAVE BRIAN, I THINK WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD AT SOME POINT TO TALK WITH US ABOUT AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM OF WATER SHUTOFFS.
THIS CONCERNS THAT WE HAD WITH THE WINTER STORM COULD HAVE BEEN REALLY MITIGATED A GREAT DEAL IF WE HAD THAT SYSTEM IN PLACE.
AND THAT ALSO WORKS FOR HURRICANES TOO WHEN WE IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WE HAVE IN GALVESTON IS WE HAVE ABOUT 30 MILLION GALLONS OF STORAGE, GIVE OR TAKE, DEPENDING ON TANK CONDITIONS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
WE BLED OUT AN HOUR AND A HALF, GUYS.
SO AND THE SAME THING HAPPENS AFTER A HURRICANE, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE LOSE A ROW OF BEACHFRONT HOMES.
AS MARIE ROBB KNOWS, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
SO IF WE CAN PREEMPTIVELY DO THAT WITHOUT HAVING TO SEND CREWS OUT TO DO THAT, I WOULD HAVE MUCH RATHER HAD MY FIRE DEPARTMENT DOING OTHER THINGS.
BUT THEY STEPPED UP AND TURN AS MARIE ROBB AND DAVID, THEY WERE OUT TURNING VALVES IN YOUR DISTRICTS.
THEY WERE OUR DE FACTO PUBLIC WORKS GROUP AS WELL.
SO AS WELL AS OUR GARBAGE GUYS, I MEAN, WE CALLED THEM AND THEY WERE EVERYBODY, IF YOU HAD TO.
I MEAN, CHRIS ROBB WAS DOING IT.
AND I DON'T REALLY KNOW THAT HIS BACKGROUND WAS VOLUNTARY, BUT HE STEPPED UP.
HE WAS DRIVING AROUND WITH EVERYBODY HAD A METER KEY.
[01:00:01]
SO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN PREVENT A LOT OF THAT WITH THIS AUTOMATED METERING SYSTEM.AND TRINO HAS BROUGHT IT FORWARD.
IT'S SOME OF THE TECHNOLOGY THAT HE'S PROPOSED TO US.
AND WE MAY NOW HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET IT ACCOMPLISHED.
YEAH, THIS WOULD BE IDEAL FOR OUR CITY AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT, BRIAN, AS THAT COMES FORWARD.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? LET'S BILL YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP SIR.
I JUST WANT TO CONCUR WITH MARIE AND MR. COLLINS, THE GUYS DID A GREAT JOB.
I WAS OUT AT ONE LOCATION, STAYED WITH THEM FROM START TO THE END.
SHE WAS OUT THERE GETTING PARTS FOR HER DISTRICT.
AND I THINK SHE NEEDS TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR WHAT SHE'S DONE FOR HER DISTRICT.
ACTUALLY COUNCIL MEMBER QUIROGA.
WE'RE HAVING HER INVESTIGATED FOR PLUMBING WITHOUT A LICENSE RIGHT NOW, SO.
[LAUGHTER] YOU CAN REST FOR SURE I DID NOT INSTALL SORRY ABOUT THAT MARIE.
I DIDN'T INSTALL A SINGLE PART.
[LAUGHTER] NOW, IF I CAN, I LOOKED AT I THINK I HAVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANS.
I'VE DONE OVER A HALF A DOZEN OR A DOZEN OVER MY CAREER.
AND ON THE LIST OF ITEMS THAT I SEE, YOU CAN TANGENT OFF YOUR HURRICANE, BUT BECAUSE BASICALLY DURING A HURRICANE, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT WATER, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT GAS.
ALL THOSE UTILITIES YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT.
BUT I WAS REALLY SURPRISED WHEN I CALLED THE CITY SECRETARY TO SEND ME A COPY OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN, THE FIRST BOOK THAT I RECEIVED WAS FORTY SEVEN PAGES, WELL I'VE NEVER SEEN A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY WITH FORTY SEVEN PAGES.
THE LEAST I'VE EVER WRITTEN WAS OVER TWO HUNDRED PAGES.
BUT IN SAYING THAT, I LOOKED AT WHAT ARE THE ADDENDUMS TO THIS PLAN.
I HAD TO GO DOWN THERE ON A MONDAY TO REVIEW THEM AND I WAS KIND OF CAUGHT OFF ON SURPRISE.
SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THIS CLEARED UP.
EVERY ONE OF THE ATTACHMENTS THAT WAS ON THERE WERE OUTDATED.
NO, NO, NOTHING TO SHOW THAT IT HAS BEEN UPDATED.
SO THESE THINGS REALLY NEED TO BE LOOKED AT.
WELL, I'M HAPPY TO ADDRESS THAT.
MOST EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND OURS ARE AUDITED ANNUALLY BY TDEM AND THEIR ANNEXES, AND THEY GET ADDED TO IT AND THAT'S HOW THEY DO IT.
THERE'S CERTAIN ANNEXES FOR CERTAIN PRESCRIBED THINGS AND THEY GET AUDITED AND THEY GET UPDATED AND WE GET AUDITED EVERY YEAR.
SO THE PLANS DON'T NECESSARILY CHANGE EVERY YEAR, BUT THEY DO GET LOOKED AT EVERY YEAR.
AND THEN WE UPDATE WE DO A COUPLE OF ANNEXES A YEAR AS PRESCRIBED BY THE STATE.
CERTAINLY IF SOMETHING CHANGES IN A PRESCRIBED AREA, WE ALWAYS ADDRESS THOSE FIRST.
YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S SOME NEW TECHNOLOGY OR THERE'S SOME NEW DISASTER THAT LIKE THIS.
THIS WILL MORE THAN LIKELY THERE WILL PROBABLY BE ADDITIONAL ANNEXES ADDED TO THE PLANS ACROSS THE STATE AS A RESULT OF WHAT HAPPENED WITH THIS.
THE STATE WILL PRESCRIBE THAT.
BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT OUR PLANS STAY COMPLIANT WITH THE STATE.
WE CAN CERTAINLY HAVE OPERATING RULES, AS COUNCIL MEMBER QUIROGA PUTS OUT LOCALLY FOR US.
BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT OUR PLAN FOLLOW THE STATE FORMAT AND THE FEMA FORMATS BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE OUR ASSISTANCE AND ALL OF OUR REIMBURSEMENTS ARE TIED TO.
BUT I DON'T WANT ANYBODY OUT THERE TO THINK THAT OUR PLAN IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE OR THAT IT IS OUTDATED.
OUR PLAN IS AUDITED AND CHECKED ANNUALLY AND IT IS CURRENT.
NOW WE LOOKING AT FEDERAL AND STATE VERSUS LOCAL PLANS, BECAUSE I DO KNOW THAT STATE AND FEDERAL, YOU HAVE TO MEET THEIR PLANS OR YOU WON'T GET FUNDING.
OK, BUT WHAT I'M LOOKING AT THE LOCAL PLAN.
SO WHEN I GO AND I ASK FOR THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN AND I SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE LOCAL PORTION IS NOT UPDATED AT LEAST.
EVERY HALF YEAR, YOU KNOW, THEY SHOULD BE UPDATED.
SO THIS IS AN AREA THAT NEEDS TO BE PULLED OFF AND WE NEED TO GET COPIES OF THE OF THE.
THE EMERGENCY PLAN THAT IS VIABLE TO EACH DISTRICT.
OUR EMERGENCY PLAN IS CURRENT AND IT IS FILED WITH THE STATE, AND THAT'S THE ONE YOU HAVE.
THAT'S WELL, NO, I THINK I'VE GOT SOME THAT THE ONE THAT I RECEIVED FROM THE CITY SECRETARY IS NOT CORRECT.
IT HASN'T SHOWN ANY UPDATES SINCE THE LAST UPDATE WAS DONE.
SO, YOU KNOW, AFTER THIS MEETING IF YOU WANT TO COME DOWN THERE AND I CAN SHOW YOU THE INFORMATION, I AND NOT EVERY ANNEX GETS UPDATED EVERY YEAR.
SO AND IF THERE'S NO IF THERE'S NO PRESCRIBED UPDATES THEY DON'T GET UPDATED.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S OUT OF COMPLIANCE.
THAT JUST MEANS IT HASN'T BEEN LOOKED AT OR UPDATED.
WELL, IT GETS LOOKED AT EVERY YEAR, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN UPDATED SINCE THEN.
I LIKE TO GET A COPY OF THE LAST AUDIT PLAN THAT THEY DID.
[01:05:03]
[INAUDIBLE] WE CAN REQUEST [INAUDIBLE] CAME DOWN AND LOOKED AT IT.THEY THEY REVIEW IT AND THEY THEY SEND US ANY CONCERNS THEY HAVE, IF WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY CONCERNS, THEY MAY NOT BE A WRITTEN TRAIL ON IT.
OK, THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK WE NEED TO INCLUDE IN HERE IS AN EMERGENT SITUATION FOR A GAS EXPLOSION, I WROTE ONE IN 2000.
AND I GAVE A COPY TO THE CITY WHEN I USED TO WORK FOR SOUTHERN UNION GAS.
ALSO, I GAVE ONE TO THE COUNTY.
AND WE NEED TO INCORPORATE THAT IN THERE BECAUSE, BRIAN, I THINK YOU WERE WITH THE COUNTY WHEN WE HAD THAT EXPLOSION, WHEN THEY WERE DOING THE JUSTICE CENTER AND THEY HAD A MAJOR EXPLOSION THERE.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAD AN EXPLOSION ON 43RD AND S, SO WE NEED A POLICY OR EMERGENCY PLAN.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IN THOSE TYPE CASES? BECAUSE, YOU KNOW.
IF YOU HAVE A GAS LEAK, YOU WANT TO GET RID OF ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO HAVE A SPARK THAT WOULD SET THAT ABLAZE.
SO THAT'S ONE THING WE NEED TO LOOK AT.
THAT MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE AN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T ACTIVATE THE EOC FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT I'M SURE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS THAT IN THEIR POLICIES.
YEAH, WE ALSO NEED BECAUSE YOU HAD I GAVE CONTACT NUMBERS WHO TO CALL ALL THE WAY UP TO THE CORPORATE OFFICE IN AUSTIN.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK Y'ALL NEED TO LOOK AT.
THE OTHER THING I THINK THAT WE NEED TO DO, MAYOR IS WE NEED TO LOOK AT MAYBE LOOKING AT A EITHER A.
CSP OR AN ASP IN A BRING THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE INTO THE FOLD OF THE COUNCIL, BECAUSE WHEN WE HAVE A DISASTER AREA, YOU'RE THE GUY THAT, THE MAYOR IS THE GUY THAT'S IN CHARGE AND HE SHOULD BE NEXT TO THE THE OPERATIONS DIRECTOR, AT THAT POINT IN TIME, I THINK IT'S BETTER COMMUNICATIONS THAT WAY WE CAN STAY ON TOP OF THINGS AND I THINK THAT'S ONE THING WE NEED TO LOOK AT.
ANYTHING ELSE BILL ON THAT? NO, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
WE HAVE ONE LAST COMMENT, MARIE.
OH, I JUST WANT TO ECHO WHAT YOU SAID, BECAUSE I WAS REMISS AND NOT ALONG WITH TRINO AND HIS TEAM, CHARLEY OLSEN AND THE WHATEVER BATTALION CHIEF, EACH MORNING THEY WOULD GIVE ME THE NAME AND WITH OUR CITIZEN TEAMS, WHICH WE HAD SO MANY WONDERFUL TEAMS, IF THEY COULDN'T DO IT, WE WOULD GO RIGHT TO THE BATTALION CHIEF.
SO I'D LIKE TO ECHO MY THANK YOU TO CHARLIE OLSEN AND ALL THE FIREMEN THAT HELPED US.
FYI MAYOR AND [INAUDIBLE]I JUST SIGNED OFF ON AT LEAST THREE ANNEXES IN THE LAST WEEK OR SO.
SO I'M ASSUMING THOSE THINGS ARE IN PROCESS, GETTING THEM FROM MARK OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.
AND SO [INAUDIBLE] THEM AND I BELIEVE THE GAS COMPANY SO THAT'S THE PLAN THAT I FIND.
[INAUDIBLE] SO THOSE ARE ALL PART OF THE ANNEXES.
AND THERE'S ALWAYS THERE'S ALWAYS AT LEAST TWO OR THREE ANNEXES IN PROGRESS AND PROCESS EVERY YEAR.
WAS THAT WAS THAT CHIEF HALE I HEARD? I DIDN'T SEE HIS VIDEO, SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU.
THERE YOU ARE, GLAD TO HAVE YOU.
THANK YOU COUNCIL VERY MUCH, BRIAN.
DAN, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
THOSE ITEMS THAT YOU FEEL ARE PERTINENT TO HAVE HERE ON OUR NEW BUDGET, YOU WILL BE BRINGING THOSE FORWARD AT BUDGET TIME, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT, SIR.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING WITH BUDGET IMPACT, WE WILL.
[3.C. Discussion Of The Mardi Gras Contract (B. Maxwell - 15 Minutes) ]
WE ARE NOW GOING TO MOVE TO ITEM THREE C AND DAVID, I'M GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO YOU AND JANELLE.3C DISCUSSION OF THE MARDI GRAS CONTRACT.
YEAH, OF COURSE, I THINK, AS EVERYONE KNOWS, THE APPEAL WAS HEARD YESTERDAY.
DON, DO YOU HAVE AN UPDATE FOR US ON ON THIS? DO WE OR DO WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THAT ASPECT OF THIS BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THE CONTRACT AT ALL? MAYBE I'M MAYBE I'M CONFLATING THE TWO AND I SHOULDN'T.
LET ME SEE, THE ORAL ARGUMENT WAS HEARD.
THE SENTIMENT IS UP BY THE CITY FOLKS THAT GENERALLY THE COURT OF APPEALS HAD READ THE BRIEFS AND SEEMED ACQUAINTED WITH THE ISSUES WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF KNOWLEDGE OF PUBLIC BIDDING.
WE WOULD EXPECT A AN OPINION FROM THE COURT OF APPEALS.
[01:10:04]
MY GUESS IS ABOUT THREE MONTHS, COULD GO LONGER.BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST MY GUESS.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR DISCUSSION ON THE MARDI GRAS CONTRACT PENDING.
THIS OPINION IS ALWAYS A REASON TO WAIT, BUT IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO MOVE FORWARD, TOO.
DO WE CAN WE TALK ABOUT THIS NOW? AND THE BRIAN, CAN YOU BRING US UP TO DATE WHERE WE ARE ON ON THE CONTRACT, CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS OR WHAT WITH ARE WE ARE WE WE'RE CLOSE TO SIGNING? YES, WE ARE, ACTUALLY.
DAVID, ACTUALLY, DAVID IS PREPARED TO DISCUSS THE THE AGREEMENT WITH YOU TODAY.
SO I HAD JANELLE SEND A COPY OF THE DRAFT CONTRACT TO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS YESTERDAY, YOU HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW IT.
IF NOT, TAKE A LOOK AT IT, SOME KEY ISSUES ON IT.
THE CITY DID UTILIZE AN RFP, WHICH IS A REQUEST REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL PROCESS.
THE RFP WAS PERFORMED AND WE UTILIZE THE ONLINE PROCESS.
AND WE ALSO ADVERTISED IN THE GALVESTON DAILY NEWSPAPER ON JUNE THE TWENTY THIRD AND ALSO JUNE THE 30TH.
THERE WERE SIX PARTICIPANTS WHO DID ATTEND THE PRE-BID MEETING.
YAGAS ENTERTAINMENT WAS ONE OF THOSE AND THEY'RE THE ONLY ONES WHO DID RESPOND WITH A WRITTEN PROPOSAL.
THE CITY MANAGER AND THE STAFF AND THE LEGAL COUNSEL HAVE HAD MEETINGS WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES OF YAGAS ENTERTAINMENT AND TO REVIEW ALL THE CITY'S REQUIREMENTS.
SO AN AGREEMENT HAS BEEN DRAFTED WHICH OUTLINES THE REQUIRED DETAILS AND IT COVERS THE ASPECTS OF THE EVENT.
YOU CAN ALSO REFER TO THE CONTRACT THAT I SENT OUT TO YOU.
IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE IT, JUST LET ME KNOW AND I'LL RESEND A SECOND COPY.
THE LAST ECONOMIC STUDY THAT WAS PERFORMED IN 2018 DID SHOW THAT MARDI GRAS BRINGS IN ABOUT 15 MILLION DOLLARS TO THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THIS EVENT IS A SHOULDER EVENT THAT OCCURS DURING THE COOLER MONTHS.
THIS IS A THREE YEAR AGREEMENT WITH THE ABILITY TO BE EXPENDED EXTENDED FOR AN ADDITIONAL TWO YEARS.
THE AGREEMENT ALSO INCLUDES A TERMINATION CLAUSE IF A MATERIAL BREACH HAS BEEN COMMITTED AND IT WAS NOT RESOLVED.
SO THE APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM WILL ALLOW THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO THE AGREEMENT.
ALSO, LITTLE SIDE NOTE, THERE HAS BEEN SOME INTERNAL MARDI GRAS ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES THAT WILL OCCUR.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PROMOTER, NOR THIS CONTRACT.
THE CONTRACT HAS SOME KEY ISSUES THAT WE CHANGED.
ONE IS AN ATTENDANT FEE PLUS AN ADDITIONAL DOLLAR PER HEAD.
AND THAT'S LISTED ON PAGE TWO AND THREE OF SECTION SIX.
THE STRAND BUSINESSES ALSO NOW HAVE THE FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL FOR VENDOR SPACES, AND THAT'S IDENTIFIED ON PAGE THREE, SECTION SEVEN.
THERE'S ALSO SOME ADDITIONAL WORDING REFERENCE TO THE SPONSORSHIP FEES ON PAGE FOUR AND FIVE, SECTION TEN.
AND ALSO WE INCLUDE SOME ORDINANCE WORDING IN REFERENCE TO RESIDENTS HAVING ACCESS PASSES INTO THE ENTERTAINMENT ZONE.
AND THAT'S LISTED ON PAGE SEVEN, SECTION TWENTY.
JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE EXAMPLE OF HOW THE FUNDING HAS CHANGED A LITTLE BIT, IF WE HAD AN EVENT WITH NOBODY SHOWING UP AT ALL, THE WAY THIS CONTRACT READS IS THE PROMOTER WOULD STILL HAVE TO PAY THE CITY ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS AND THAT'S IF ZERO PEOPLE SHOWED UP.
2020'S ACTUAL MARDI GRAS COSTS WERE ABOUT A THREE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.
SO THAT WOULD HAVE BROUGHT THAT DOWN TO TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.
BUT IF YOU HAVE A HIGH REVENUE MARDI GRAS.
IN 2017, WE HAD ONE OF OUR HIGHEST, OUR STRONGEST ATTENDANCE.
THE EVENT FEE PAID BY THE PROMOTER WOULD BE ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, THE DOLLAR HEAD AS PER THE ORDINANCE WOULD BRING IN SIXTY TWO THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED EIGHTY THREE DOLLARS.
AND SINCE WE'RE ASKING FOR AN ADDITIONAL DOLLAR, THAT WOULD TIMES TWO.
SO THAT WOULD MEAN THE PROMOTER WOULD PROBABLY PAY ABOUT TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED SIXTY SIX DOLLARS.
MARDI GRAS IN 2020 WAS THREE HUNDRED FIFTY FOUR TWENTY FOUR.
WITH A REDUCTION OF WHAT THE PROMOTER WOULD PAY UNDER THE NEW CONTRACT, THAT MEANS THE FINAL COST FOR MARDI GRAS WOULD BE ABOUT ONE HUNDRED TWENTY FOUR THOUSAND FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
IF YOU RECALL, WAY BACK WHEN MARDI GRAS USED TO COST AROUND A MILLION DOLLARS.
SO THESE COSTS WITH THE CONTRACTS IN PLACE HAVE HELPED, ASSIST RUNNING MARDI GRAS TO A CHEAPER AND SAFER MODE.
AND I WOULD I WOULD REMIND EVERYBODY THAT MARDI GRAS, OUR COST IS NOT REALLY SO MUCH DOWNTOWN AS IT IS ALONG THE SEA WALL AND TWENTY FIFTH STREET, WHICH IS NOT COVERED BY THIS CONTRACT, IS THAT NOT CORRECT? ARE WE TALKING? ARE WE ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE COST OF MARDI GRAS FOR THE ENTIRE ROUTE? THESE NUMBERS I GAVE YOU ARE STRICTLY THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
OK, THAT'S THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW.
ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL, ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THIS? YEAH.
[01:15:02]
QUIROGA.THE COST OF THE [INAUDIBLE] WAS RIGHT.
ABOUT FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN THOUSAND.
FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED FORTY SEVEN DOLLARS.
THE PROMOTER PAID A CHECK FOR ONE HUNDRED SIXTY THREE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY SEVEN DOLLARS.
SO THE BOTTOM BALANCE TO THE CITY WAS TWO HUNDRED FIFTY ONE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED SIXTY DOLLARS.
OK, AND I DID AN OVERALL SYNOPSIS ON THE AVERAGE.
SINCE THIS IS THE NUMBERS I HAD IS FROM 2000 ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 2019.
THE CITY AND ITS EXPENSES WERE AROUND THREE POINT THREE MILLION AND THAT AVERAGES TO THREE HUNDRED SIXTY FOUR THOUSAND PER YEAR.
I DON'T I THINK WE NEED TO SEE IF WE CAN CUT THAT EXPENSES DOWN BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROMOTER IS MAKING, BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COUNT IS THAT THE THE GATES, BECAUSE THEY RECEIVE CASH MONEY.
CORRECT? THEY ARE REQUIRED TO KEEP A TALLY AS PER ORDINANCE OF THE DOLLAR A HEAD.
BUT IN ADDITION, WITH THIS CONTRACT, WE'LL ADD IN AN ADDITIONAL DOLLAR.
I THINK, JANELLE, IF YOU COULD SHARE THAT SCREENSHOT, I DID GO FROM 2005 TO 2020 AND IT SHOWS THE COST, HOW MUCH THE PROMOTER PAID INTO IT AND THE NET BOTTOM OF THE CITY END UP PAYING.
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT ATTACHED.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE DARK ORANGE IS ACTUALLY THE COST OF MARDI GRAS AND THE YELLOW LINE IS ACTUALLY AFTER THE PROMOTER HAD REDUCED OR ACTUALLY PAID INTO THE CITY, WHICH REDUCED THE OVERALL COST TO THE CITY.
SO WHAT'S THE AVERAGE EXPENSE THAT WE'RE PAYING PER YEAR OUT OF THE THE CITY'S COFFERS? WELL, IF YOU LOOK AT THIS, THE LAST ONE IS GOING TO BE ABOUT TWO HUNDRED SIXTY TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS AFTER THE PROMOTER HAS PAID US BACK.
OK, SO WE'RE STILL IN A DEFICIT ON THE OPERATION OF THIS EVENT.
ONE THING TO REMEMBER, TOO, IS THAT UNLIKE LONE STAR RALLY AND OTHER EVENTS, MARDI GRAS IS A CITY OF GALVESTON EVENTS.
WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE WHO CONTROLS IT.
SO, I MEAN, MY BEST BET IS TO TRY DOWN TO BRING DOWN THOSE COSTS.
AND AS PER THE CONTRACTS THE CITY MANAGERS TRIED TO DRAFT OUT IS TRY TO BRING BACK MONEY IN THERE TO REDUCE THE COST TO THE CITY OF GALVESTON FOR MARDI GRAS EVENTS.
UNFORTUNATELY, FROM A LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE, THESE TYPE EVENTS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GET JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE EXPENSIVE BECAUSE WAY SOCIETY IS, PEOPLE KEEP FINDING NEW WAYS TO MAKE THESE THINGS NOT NOT SAFE.
SO WE HAVE TO WE HAVE TO CONTINUE.
AND THAT'S WHERE MAINLY OUR COST INCREASE HAS BEEN.
WE'VE REDUCED COST IN JUST ABOUT EVERY AREA.
THE LATEST INCREASES HAVE ALMOST ALL ENTIRELY BEEN WITH SECURITY COST, AND I THINK RIGHTLY SO.
WELL, DAVE LET ME ASK YOU THIS.
DO WE HAVE A RIGHT TO AUDIT WHAT THE THE AMOUNT OF GROWTH AND NET REVENUES [INAUDIBLE] THE PROMOTER? DON? CAN YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION? MR. GLYWASKY? I'M WORKING ON IT.
TELL ME THE QUESTION AGAIN, PLEASE.
THE QUESTION IS, IS AFTER THE EVENT IS OVER WITH, IS THERE A COST COMPARE ANALYSIS WHERE WE DO AN AUDIT TO SEE WHAT WAS WHAT IS BROUGHT IN? AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT THE PROMOTER IS MAKING.
WE CAN ADJUST OUR COST AND LET THE PROMOTER PICK UP MORE OF A COST THAN OUR CITIZENS PAYING THROUGH TAXES.
I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE AUDIT SCHEDULE IS ON MARDI GRAS.
AND FOR CLARITY, THERE'S NO PROPERTY TAX OR SALES TAX INVOLVED IN THE EXPENSES WITH MARDI GRAS, BUT THERE IS ON THE SALE OF THE ITEMS THAT THEY DO AT MARDI GRAS.
HOW DO WE HOW DO WE TRACK IF YAGAS AS A VENDOR AND HE SELLS X AMOUNT OF BEER? HOW DO WE TRACK THAT? WE'RE GETTING OUR TRUE SALES TAX FROM THAT INDIVIDUAL? WE HAVE IN THE PAST, GLENN BULGHERINI HAS VISITED THESE BOOTHS TO CHECK CERTIFICATES AS WELL AS THE COMPTROLLER IS USUALLY ON SITE CHECKING THESE THINGS.
AND TABC IS ALMOST ALWAYS HERE BECAUSE WE GET COMPLAINTS ABOUT THEM BEING HERE.
WE GET THE REPORT FROM THE I'M PRETTY SURE WHEN I USED TO BE IN THE BUSINESS, THE TABC HAS A REPORT OF WHAT PRODUCTS YOU BUY.
IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE MOSTLY ON THE STREETS, CAN BE A BEER PRODUCT.
SO DO THEY KEEP TRACK OF THE INVENTORY THAT CAME IN AND THE INVENTORY CAME OUT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THOSE TAX AND DOLLARS? WELL TO ANSWER, WE I MEAN, I DO NOT GO DOWN THERE AND ACTUALLY COUNT WHAT'S GOING IN, WHAT'S COMING OUT, BUT YOU ARE CORRECT AND WITHIN THE CONTRACT, WE DO REQUIRE THAT ANYBODY, ANY VENDORS, THE YAGAS OR WHOEVER THE PROMOTER MIGHT BE IS HIRED,
[01:20:04]
HE'S REQUIRED TO LIST THE CITY OF GALVESTON AS A TAX RECIPIENT ON THAT.THESE ARE THINGS WE CAN PERIODIC CHECK.
ARE WE CHECKING THEM NOW? NOT ON MARDI GRAS, ON OTHER EVENTS.
ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS EVENT? WE HAVE THE BUSINESSES OUT THERE ON THE STRAND.
WHY AREN'T THEY PUTTING ON THIS? YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THEIR THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT MARDI GRAS BEING DOWN ON THE STRAND, CLOSED UP? IS IT? THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO KNOW.
IS THIS THING GOING BE OPEN TO PUBLIC COMMENTS? AND IT IS.
THE REASON WHY WE ARE BRINGING THAT TO YOU TODAY AND NOT VOTING ON TODAY IS TO GIVE YOU TIME TO REACH OUT TO YOUR CITIZENS OR HAVE THEM REACH OUT TO YOU SO YOU CAN RECEIVE INFORMATION PRIOR TO THE VOTE OF NEXT MONTH.
OK, AND IS THIS, I GUESS, THIS DRAFT THAT WE HAVE, IS THAT GOING TO BE PLACED ON THE WEBSITE SO PEOPLE CAN REVIEW IT? IF IT LEGALLY CAN BE DONE, SO WE WILL, BUT UNTIL I THINK UNTIL IT'S AGREED UPON, APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL AND SIGNED OFF ON, I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN PUT IT OUT FOR PUBLIC [INAUDIBLE].
WELL, DON, YOU CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION, RIGHT? IT WOULD BE HIGHLY UNUSUAL, IN MY VIEW, TO PUT A PURPORTED A PROPOSED CONTRACT UP FOR THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT ON TERMS. I MEAN, THEY COULD PUT IT UP, BUT.
WELL WELL, JOHN MY CONCERN IS THIS, IF YOU SIGN A DOCUMENT, IT'S ALREADY SIGNED AND DONE DEAL, THE PUBLIC DOESN'T HAVE A RIGHT TO COME AND COMMENT ON MAYBE A CERTAIN SECTION OF THE CONTRACT.
I THINK WE NEED THE BUSINESSES AND THE PUBLIC TO HAVE THEIR INPUT ON THIS CONTRACT.
LET THEM HAVE A COMMENT, BECAUSE THEY MAY CATCH SOMETHING THAT WE OVERLOOK.
WELL, OF COURSE, YOU'RE ALWAYS FREE TO SEEK COMMENTS FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
BUT IN TERMS OF WHETHER OR NOT TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT, THAT'S A NON DELEGABLE DUTY ON THE PART OF CITY COUNCIL.
THAT'S WHY THEY PAY YOU THE BIG BUCKS.
NOW, ALL I'M LOOKING FOR, DON, IS FOR COMMENT ON YOU KNOW, I'M NOT YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT LOOKING TO NEGOTIATE ANYTHING, BUT MAYBE THEY MAY HAVE A CONCERN WHY YOU'RE BLOCKING THIS OR WHY YOU'RE NOT GIVING ME THIS.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE A VENDOR OF MY OWN IN FRONT OF MY OWN PROPERTY OR OUT OF MY BUSINESS LIKE I USED TO DO IN THE OLDEN DAYS.
WELL, THAT'S THAT'S NOT A COMMENT ON THE CONTRACT.
THAT'S THE COMMENT ON THAT, THE PROCEDURAL PLAN ITSELF.
AND, BILL, I FEEL LIKE THAT DAVID AND STAFF HAVE ADDRESSED THAT BECAUSE THIS IS, OF COURSE, IN MY DISTRICT.
SO WE'VE HAD A LOT OF COMMENT, CONVERSATION WITH VENDORS AND RESIDENTS, VENDORS AND AND MERCHANTS DOWNTOWN ABOUT THESE ISSUES.
SO I FEEL LIKE THE PUBLIC IS COMMENTING ON THIS.
I'VE GOTTEN A FAIR AMOUNT OF FEEDBACK ON IT.
THAT MR. COLLINS IS, YOU KNOW, THEM TO COME UP AND VOICE THEIR OPINION.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE DOWN ON THE STAND AND HAVE BUSINESSES AND THEY'RE NOT VERY HAPPY BECAUSE YOU JEOPARDIZE THEIR INCOME BY SHUTTING DOWN THE STREETS AND COMING IN, NOT BEING ABLE TO GO TO THEIR BUSINESS AND HAVE TO PAY WHATEVER THE CHARGE IS.
BUT BUT BUT THAT'S AGAIN, I THINK THE PUBLIC HAS WEIGHED IN ON THIS.
AND I WOULD KIND OF AGREE WITH DON THAT IT DOESN'T SEEM THAT WE DON'T NORMALLY PUT THE VERBIAGE OF CONTRACTS OUT FOR PUBLIC REVIEW BEFORE THEY'RE SIGNED.
COUNCIL MEMBER, IF I MAY SAY, THAT CONTRACT IS NOT GOING TO BE SIGNED UNTIL A COUNCIL, A MAJORITY OF COUNCIL VOTES TO APPROVE IT.
BRIAN'S NOT GONNA SIGN ANYTHING UNTIL Y'ALL HAVE LOOKED THROUGH THERE.
BELIEVE ME, YOU WILL GET COMMENTS THIS WEEK AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO WEIGH THOSE COMMENTS.
AND IF EVERYTHING GOES FINE, IT WILL BE VOTED ON NEXT MONTH AS WE, THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT IN THIRTY DAYS EARLY.
AND THEN WHEN THIS VOTE UPON IF IT'S APPROVED, THEN THE CITY MANAGER WILL SIGN OFF ON IT.
BUT NOTHING'S SIGNED UNTIL THE COUNCIL, A MAJORITY COUNCIL APPROVES.
PLUS, WASN'T IT JUST SAID BY DAVID THAT THE STORES OR PROPERTY OWNERS WILL GET FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL ON THE VENDING LOCATIONS? WHICH I THINK COVERS PART OF THAT CONCERN.
IS THAT IN THE CONTRACT DAVE? YES, SIR IT IS.
[01:25:01]
AND YOU DO HAVE A COPY OF THAT CONTRACT.AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO ME AT ANY TIME.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS WE HAVE HERE? DAVE YOU INDICATED YOU'LL BE BRINGING US BACK TO US IN APRIL? THAT IS CORRECT.
I WOULD COMMENT AS WE GO FORWARD WITH THIS, IF WE APPROVE THIS CONTRACT AND THE CITY NEEDS TO START DOING SOME SUCCESSION PLANNING BECAUSE WE'VE HAD THE SAME VENDOR FOR QUITE A WHILE AND, YOU KNOW, SOONER OR LATER WE'RE GOING TO SOMEBODY'S GOING TO HAVE TO GROW UP AND TAKE THIS OVER.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT AS MOST EVENTS MATURE, THEY CHANGE.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT MAY BE THAT.
THIS MAY NOT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO IT THIS WAY, BECAUSE THAT SEEMS TO BE THE WAY THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC LIKES TO ACCEPT IT.
BUT AS THE EVENT MATURES AND AS THE CLIMATE CHANGES IN TERMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND OTHER THINGS, WE'VE SEEN HOW QUICKLY A PANDEMIC CAN CHANGE A WHOLE YEAR.
WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE MARDI GRAS.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE LOOK EVERY YEAR.
IS THERE A BETTER WAY TO DO THIS? BILL, YOU HAD ANOTHER COMMENT.
WHERE IS THE FUNDING COMING FROM, DAVE, TO OFFSET THE COST OF THE TO THE CITY? THE SPECIAL EVENTS REVENUE IS IT'S ALL FUNDED BY HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES.
NO LOCAL TAX DOLLARS INVOLVED IN PROMOTING OR PUTTING ON MARDI GRAS.
WELL, THEN I GOT A QUESTION FOR YOU.
MR. MAXWELL IS IN THE NEWS MEDIA.
IT WAS A COMMENT ABOUT USING THE HOTEL, MOTEL TAX TO PAY FOR THIS EVENT WHERE THE THE.
BETTER WORDS, WHERE'S THE LOOPHOLE THAT WE CAN USE HOTEL, MOTEL TAX TO PAY FOR THIS EVENT? I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S A LOOPHOLE.
I BELIEVE THIS IS AN AUTHORIZED USE UNDER THE STATUTE.
I MEAN, THIS IS A, AS MR. MAXWELL TESTIFIED, MARDI GRAS IS AN EVENT THAT PROMOTES THE ISLAND.
HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, HAS AS ITS GOAL THE NUMBER ONE ATTEST IMPOSED BY THE TEXAS HOTEL LODGING IS WHETHER IT PUTS HEADS IN BEDS.
IT WAS DEMONSTRATED THAT THIS PUTS A LOT OF HEADS IN BEDS LOCALLY.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ITEMS IN THE HOT TAX STATUTE THAT APPLY.
THIS ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO SEE A CULTURAL EVENT WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO HOT, IT BRINGS THEM TO LOCAL LANDMARK VENUES.
AS I RECALL, THAT IS A PERMITTED TO USE OF HOT.
I CAN'T RECALL ANY OTHERS OFFHAND, BUT THERE IS TESTIMONY IN A TRIAL COURT REGARDING THIS.
AND I THINK ALTHOUGH PERHAPS IN THE PAST THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS WHETHER HOT WAS APPLICABLE.
I THINK IT'S BECOME GENERALLY ACCEPTED THAT IT IS.
AND I THINK IT'S A PERFECT USE OF HOT TAX MONEY.
I THOUGHT THAT THE ONE OF THE ISSUES WAS PAYING FOR THE POLICE AND EMS AND THAT TYPE OF EXPENSE.
WELL, THERE WAS AN ATTEMPTED ISSUE ON THAT.
AND WE CANNOT USE HOT TAX TO FUND ORDINARY DAY TO DAY CITY ACTIVITIES.
BUT AS IS MY RECOLLECTION, THAT THE USE OF HOT TO REBATE TO THE CITY IS THOSE POLICE AND EM COSTS ONLY RESULTING FROM THE MARDI GRAS EVENT ITSELF.
IS THIS PART OF THE ARGUMENT OF THE APPEAL? THIS WAS ONE OF THE ALLEGATIONS BEFORE THE TRIAL COURT.
I DO NOT RECALL HOT BEING SPECIFICALLY REFERRED TO IN THE APPEAL.
ALL RIGHT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MR. COLLINS, ALL RIGHT, GOOD DEAL, THANK YOU.
IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO THIS COMING BACK IN APRIL.
MAYOR, ARE YOU WITH US AGAIN, PLEASE? THERE YOU ARE.
I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU.
[3.D. Discussion Of Refurbishing The Fourth Trolley (D. Smith - 15 Minutes) ]
WE'RE MOVING TO ITEM THREE D, PLEASE, JANELLE.DISCUSSION OF REFURBISHING THE FOURTH TROLLEY.
DAVID, LOOKS LIKE IT'S THE DAVID SMITH SHOW THIS MORNING, DAVID.
[01:30:02]
JUST A LITTLE BRIEF INFORMATION.AGAIN, THIS IS NOT BEING VOTED ON THIS MONTH.
WE'RE JUST BRINGING YOU SOME INFORMATION AS IT COMES IN TO US.
A LITTLE BACKGROUND AND ALSO SEND A COPY OF THE DRAFT STAFF REPORT TO COUNCIL LAST NIGHT IF YOU'VE HAD TIME TO REVIEW IT.
BASICALLY FOUR RAIL TROLLEYS WERE DESTROYED ON SEPTEMBER THE 13TH OF 2008 DURING HURRICANE IKE.
THE FOUR TROLLEYS WERE POSITIONED INSIDE THE TROLLEY BARN AT 214 TWENTY EIGHTH STREET, WHICH WAS HEAVILY FLOODED BY THE STORM SURGE.
COMPENSTATION FROM TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE INSURANCE ONLY PAID THE CITY ABOUT ONE HUNDRED SIXTY EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE FOUR TROLLEY CARS.
FEMA CREATE A PW, WHICH IS IT113 TO REPAIR THREE OF THE FOUR TROLLEYS.
AT THE TIME OF THE STORM, ONLY THREE TROLLEYS WERE IN OPERATION, ALTHOUGH ALL FOUR SUSTAINED WATER DAMAGE.
THE FOURTH ONE WAS BEING USED FOR PARTS AT THE TIME BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER NO LONGER MADE THE PARTS THAT WERE REQUIRED TO KEEP THE OLD TROLLEYS RUNNING.
FEMA ESTIMATED THE RESTORATION OF THE THREE TROLLEYS AT ONE POINT SIX MILLION DOLLARS.
IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT, ACCORDING TO THE TERMS OF THE PW, FEMA SHOULD REIMBURSE THE CITY THE FULL COST TO BRING THE THREE TROLLEY CARS BACK INTO OPERATION.
FEMA HAS PAID THE CITY ONE POINT SIX MILLION FOR THIS PW.
AND CITY STAFF IS STILL WORKING TO RECOVER THE REMAINING FUNDS FROM FEMA.
COUNCIL WAS ADVISED THAT IF THE TROLLEY SYSTEM WAS NOT RESTORED, THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION WOULD REQUIRE A PAY BACK OF AN ESTIMATED SEVEN POINT THREE DOLLARS MILLION PLUS FUTURE FTA FUNDED PROJECTS WOULD BE JEOPARDIZED.
IN ADDITION, UTMB HAD ADVISED IN 2015 THAT THE TROLLEY TRACKS ON CAMPUS WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED IF THE CITY'S AT THE CITY'S EXPENSE.
THE CITY COUNCIL WENT ON AND APPROVED THE RESTORATION OF THE TROLLEY SYSTEM ON FEBRUARY THE TWENTY SIX OF 2015, WHICH WAS ITEM TWELVE A.
THE FOURTH TROLLEY WAS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR RESTORATION IF FUTURE FUNDS WERE AVAILABLE.
THREE OF THE TROLLEYS ALSO HAD THE HVAC SYSTEMS REPLACED, THE AC SYSTEM REPLACED.
SO CURRENT DAY, THE THREE TROLLEYS HAVE BEEN RESTORED AND RETURNED TO GALVESTON AND ARE CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH TESTING AND THEY DO HAVE TO BE CERTIFIED BY TXDOT BEFORE THEY CAN BEGIN REVENUE SERVICE.
STAFF IS NOW CONSIDERING THE RESTORATION OF THE FOURTH AND FINAL TROLLEY.
[INAUDIBLE] IS OFFERED TO RESTORE THE FOURTH TROLLEY CAR FOR ONE POINT FOUR MILLION DOLLARS IF THE CITY DECIDES TO HAVE THE WORK PREFORMED.
THE CURRENT ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE TROLLEYS.
NEW IS TWO POINT NINE MILLION DOLLARS PER CAR.
AS I STATED BEFORE, THE FOURTH TROLLEY IS NOT RESTORED.
THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION WOULD REQUIRE PAYBACK FOR THE SINGLE TROLLEY ESTIMATED ABOUT NINE HUNDRED NINETY SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS.
THIS INFORMATION AND NUMBERS WERE RECEIVED IN FEBRUARY 9TH IN AN EMAIL FROM THE FTA FINAL FINANCIAL ANALYSIS, AS WELL AS THROUGH A VERBAL CONVERSATION ON MARCH 16TH WITH THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR OF FTA.
IN ADDITION, WHEN YOU DECIDE NOT TO BRING THIS VEHICLE BACK, WE BASICALLY GET A BLACK EYE THROUGH FTA.
SO OUR SUPPORT AND ANY POSSIBLE FUTURE FUTURE GRANTS WOULD BE JEOPARDIZED.
ANY PAYBACK WOULD PROBABLY COME FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
IF IT'S COUNCIL'S DESIRE NOT TO RESTORE THE FOURTH TROLLEY, THE DAMAGED TROLLEY WILL BE ADVERTISED FOR AUCTION.
ISLAND TRANSIT CAN PROVIDE SERVICE WITH THREE TROLLEYS BUT IT'S A REDUCED SERVICE.
HAVING THE FOUR TROLLEY AS THE SYSTEMS ORIGINALLY DESIGN WILL PROVIDE A BETTER SERVICE AND MORE SERVICE AND BETTER RELIABILITY.
ALSO NOTE THAT WHEN THE TROLLEY SYSTEM WAS BROUGHT IN, WE HAD FOUR TROLLEYS THAT WAS DESIGNED FOR.
AND SINCE THEN WE'VE ADDED TRACKS TO PIER TWENTY ONE AND UTMB.
SO THE NEED FOR FOUR TROLLEYS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
IT SHOULD ALSO BE UNDERSTOOD THAT IF THE CITY WAS DECIDING NOT TO RETURN THE FOURTH TROLLEY TO SERVICE, THE FTA WOULD THEN PERFORM A FINAL CALCULATION IN THE FINAL NUMBER WOULD BE SUPPLIED TO THE CITY FOR PAYBACK.
AND THAT PRETTY MUCH CONCLUDES MY TALK, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, I'M OPEN.
WE HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL JUST TO GIVE US MORE INFORMATION BEFORE WE ENTERTAIN THOSE QUESTIONS.
DAVID, YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT FEMA IS TO REIMBURSE US OUR ACTUAL COST.
SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S OVER TWO MILLION DOLLARS.
WE'RE STILL TRYING TO GET FROM FEMA.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
THEY WILL PAY FOR THE THREE CARS AND THEY SHOULD.
AND I TALKED TO TESSA EARLIER THIS WEEK AND SHE FEELS RATHER CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO RECOVER THAT MONEY.
SECOND OF ALL, DAVID, THE ROUTES HAVE BEEN DECIDED OVER HOW THESE TROLLEY SYSTEM WILL RUN? YOU MENTIONED, IS IT GOING TO RUN BACK TO UTMB, IS THAT THE PLAN? EVENTUALLY WILL WHEN THE TROLLEY STARTS UP, IT WILL JUST BASICALLY BE DOING BURN IN TIME.
AND WE WILL BE UTILIZING THE DOWNTOWN ROUTE TO START OFF WITH AS AS THE SYSTEM
[01:35:02]
PROGRESSES.WE'LL START MOVING OUT TO THE UTMB AREA AND ALSO AS WELL OVER TO HARBOR SIDE AREA.
IN THE PAST, UTMB HAD PAID A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THAT TROLLEY TO RUN OUT THERE.
IS THAT STILL CONTEMPLATED? IF WE MOVE IT OUT TO UTMB? WE ARE GOING TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH UTMB TO THE SEAL THAT UP.
DAVID COLLINS AND THEN MARIE, DAVID.
YEAH, I HAVE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS, DAVID.
WHEN ARE WE TALKING ABOUT RESTORING RAIL OPERATIONS? WHEN WILL WE BE PUTTING RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS ON THESE TROLLEYS ON THE TRACK? WE WERE HOPING TO DO SO BY SUMMER.
YEAH, WELL, HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, THIS QUESTION COMES UP EVERY YEAR.
WE'RE RUNNING A LOT OF TESTS WITH THEM.
TXDOT DOES REQUIRE THAT WE HAVE EVERYTHING CERTIFIED AND WE ARE WORKING WITH TXDOT AT THIS POINT.
BUT I ANTICIPATE SUMMER OF THIS YEAR.
WHAT IS THE WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE BEING THE OPERATION COST FOR EACH TROLLEY? IT'S UNKNOWN NOW.
WE'LL HAVE THE GENERAL OPERATION COSTS, WHICH WILL INCLUDE THE FUEL AS WELL AS THE DRIVERS AS WOULD A DRIVER FOR A BUS.
THE TROLLEYS ARE UNDER WARRANTY FOR THE FIRST YEAR OR SO, AND WE EXPECT THE OPERATION COSTS TO BE VERY MINIMAL FOR THE START OUT.
BASICALLY, WE HAVE A BRAND NEW MACHINE.
THEY SHOULD RUN A LOT MORE EFFICIENTLY.
THEY ARE SHOULD BE A LOT MORE COST IN REFERENCE TO FUELING.
WE HAVE TO RUN THEM TO GET AN IDEA WHAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE.
YEAH, THEY'RE STILL BIG, HEAVY, COMPLEX MACHINES.
AND BRIAN, THE THE DOES THE TRICKLE DOWN FUND COVER THE COST OF DOES THAT, THE SOURCE OF THE FUNDING FOR THE OPERATION OF THE TROLLEY? WE ARE OPERATING THESE AS A TOURIST TRANSPORTATION OPTION AND THAT IS BEING FUNDED IN THAT AREA.
OK, AND IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY WE COULD TALK, TALK TO THE DOT ABOUT FORGIVING SOME OF THIS? I MEAN, DO WE REALLY ANTICIPATE FEMA GIVING US GETTING THE MONEY BACK TO US? DO WE DO WE ANTICIPATE FEMA PAYING FOR THE LAST ONE? NO.
FEMA HAS ALREADY FEMA HAS ALREADY DECLINED PAYMENT ON THE FOURTH TROLLEY.
AND SO SO AND I DOUBT VERY SERIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, IF I ASKED JAMES OLIVER, THIS IS OUR TRANSIT DIRECTOR, MANY, MANY YEARS EXPERIENCE WITH THIS, IT'S NOT FELT THAT THIS IS A FORGIVABLE ITEM, DAVID IS JAMES THERE? HE'S OUR TRANSIT DIRECTOR.
JAMES, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE TO THE FORGIVENESS ON THE ON THE FOURTH TROLLEY? IN REGARDS TO THE FTA, IN HOW THEY VIEW WHEN THEY AND THE FUNDING, THEY PUT FUNDING INTO A BUILDING, A VEHICLE, A ANY TYPE OF INSTANCE LIKE THAT, EVEN CONSTRUCTION WORK, IN THEY'RE IN THEIR MINDS, THEY OWN IT.
SO WHEN WE IF WE DECIDE TO SAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO RUN THAT TROLLEY, THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME PAYBACK THAT FTA IS GOING TO REQUIRE ON THAT.
FINAL NUMBER IS WE'RE STILL GOING THROUGH AT ONE POINT.
I KNOW IT WAS IT WAS NINE HUNDRED TEN MILLION DOLLARS.
THAT'S ONE ASPECT OF IT, THE OTHER ASPECT OF IT IS WHAT IS? CAN BE DETERMINED THAT THE BAD WILL OF, IF YOU WILL, THERE IS THERE'S GOING TO BE A PRICE TO PAY FOR THAT WHEN DEALING WITH FTA.
YEAH, OK, I DON'T WANT TO DAMAGE OUR CREDIBILITY WITH THE FTA.
I MEAN, I'M HAPPY TO GO TRY TO START A CONVERSATION WITH SECRETARY OF [INAUDIBLE] IF WE THOUGHT THAT WOULD HELP.
BUT BUT, YOU KNOW, THE ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE TRICKLE DOWN TO PAY FOR THE REFURBISHING OF THAT FOURTH TROLLEY IF FTA IS NOT GOING TO PAY FOR IT? WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GET THE MONEY TO PAY FOR REFURBISHING THE FOURTH ONE? MOST LIKELY TRICKLE DOWN, FEMA WILL NOT PAY FOR ANYTHING BECAUSE IT WAS NOT OPERATING PRIOR TO THE STORM.
SO WE ARE EYEBALLING THE TRICKLE DOWN TO PAY FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE FOURTH TROLLEY.
IT HAS A LITTLE BIT OF INSURANCE MONEY INVOLVED, BUT IT'S NOT THERE AND.
AND AGAIN, JAMES REACHED OUT TO THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR JUST LAST WEEK WHO CLEARLY MADE IT CLEAR THAT YOU WILL YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY BACK SOMETHING ON THIS.
THE WAY IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME MANY YEARS AGO WAS THIS.
CITY OF GALVESTON CAME TO US, THEY WANT A RAIL TROLLEY SYSTEM.
WE GAVE THEM A RAIL TROLLEY SYSTEM.
AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT WAS BACK IN EIGHTY SIX AND STAFF AND COUNCILS HAVE CHANGED.
BUT NEVERTHELESS IT WAS ASKED FOR BACK THEN WE SUPPLIED IT.
SO THEREFORE IT'S THEIRS AND IF WE DON'T BRING IT BACK A HUNDRED PERCENT THEY WILL HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT.
[01:40:02]
MARIE? WHAT IS THE COST TO REFURBISH THE FOURTH TROLLEY? ONE POINT FOUR MILLION.WITHIN THE STAFF REPORT THAT I SENT YOU.
THAT IS [INAUDIBLE]'S BID TO BRING THAT IN.
THERE ARE TWO OTHER ITEMS THAT WILL HAVE TO BE PAID FOR, THE AIR CONDITIONER, WHICH WE DO NOT HAVE A HARD COST ON THAT YET.
BUT ROUGHLY THE LAST ONE IS ABOUT THIRTY TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING TO BE REBUILT.
AND THE THIRD ITEM IS THE INSPECTOR, AND THAT'S GENERALLY AROUND 10 TO 20 THOUSAND DOLLARS.
SEND THE INSPECTOR TO [INAUDIBLE] TO MAKE SURE IT'S DONE PROPERLY, MAKE SURE THE PAPERWORK'S FILLED OUT PROPERLY AND MAKE SURE WE GET ALL OF [INAUDIBLE].
OK, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT SPENDING ROUGHLY SOMEWHERE AROUND ONE POINT FIVE BILLION TO REFURBISH THE FOURTH TROLLEY IN ORDER TO NOT HAVE TO PAY BACK NINE HUNDRED THOUSAND.
SO IS THERE A WAY THAT WE COULD TALK TO THE FOLKS THAT WOULD WANT THE NINE HUNDRED THOUSAND BACK AND ACTUALLY DO THE FOURTH TROLLEY AS [INAUDIBLE] TROLLEY.
SO WE WOULD HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY.
SO WE'RE SUPPLYING THE SAME AMOUNT OF TROLLEYS, BUT NOT USING A RAIL TROLLEY.
SO WE'RE ALWAYS OPEN TO DISCUSS WITH THEM AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE FURTHER CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM, EVEN THOUGH TWO WEEKS AGO THEY SAID YOU'LL HAVE TO PAY IT BACK.
AND THEY DO UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE RUBBER WHEEL TROLLEYS.
BUT BASICALLY IT'S AN ASSET DEAL, YOU HAVE FOUR STEEL WHEEL TROLLEYS THE FEDS PAID FOR.
SO THEY WANT TO BRING ALL FOUR BACK INTO SERVICE.
IF YOU DON'T BRING THE FOURTH ONE BACK IN SERVICE, THEN YOU'LL HAVE TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF PAYBACK FOR THAT.
AND YOU WILL ALSO MAY HAVE PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE WITH FUTURE GRANTS OR SUPPORT FROM FTA.
SEEMS TO ME THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM, THAT WE COULD PROVIDE THE SERVICE USING WHEELED OR EVEN TWO WHEELED TROLLEYS, THAT WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE FLEXIBILITY AND SOME WAY THAT WE COULD MEET IN THE MIDDLE SO THAT WE'RE NOT HAVING BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THE TROLLEY SYSTEM COSTS US MONEY EVERY YEAR.
I MEAN, IT HAS NEVER BEEN A PROFITABLE DEVELOPMENT.
AND WITH THAT PART OF THE ISSUES THAT HAPPENED OR THAT EXISTED IN THE PAST WAS IT HAD NO REAL SCHEDULE.
SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO CHANGE THAT IF WE DID DECIDE TO INVEST IN A FOURTH RAIL TROLLEY? THAT'S KIND OF HAVE THE POINT OF HAVING THE FOURTH RAIL TROLLEY, BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE THE FOUR TROLLEYS, THEN YOUR WAIT TIME WILL BE REDUCED.
IF YOU HAVE LESS TROLLEYS THEN YOUR WAIT, TIME IS GOING TO BE INCREASED.
AND BRIAN BRAGGS LIED ABOUT DISNEY WORLD.
I MEAN, GO TO DISNEY WORLD EVERY 20 MINUTES.
THERE'S A BUS THERE TO PICK YOU UP, FEEL CONFIDENT WITH THAT.
WHEN THE TROLLEYS WERE RUNNING PRIOR TO HURRICANE IKE, YOU WERE LUCKY IF IT SHOWED UP.
I MEAN, AND THAT JUST DISCOURAGED PEOPLE TO RIDE IT, WE DID NOT HAVE THE PLEASURE PIER AT TWENTY FIFTH AND SEAWALL.
YOU BASICALLY HAVE A BRAND NEW MACHINE.
NOW THE THREE WE HAVE NOW ARE BRAND NEW.
THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THE ROUTES WITH NO PROBLEM.
THEY SHOULD NOT BE A LOT OF WAIT TIME.
BUT HAVING THREE AS COMPARED TO FOUR WILL INCREASE THE WAIT TIME.
ALSO IF YOU HAVE A TROLLEY GO DOWN FOR EVEN GENERAL MAINTENANCE OR ANYTHING AT ALL IT'S GOING TO PUT MORE PRESSURE ON THOSE OTHER TWO TROLLEYS ROLL AROUND, THOUGH, THE KEY TO HAVING A BETTER SYSTEM IF YOU HAVE THE FOUR TROLLEYS REPAIRED.
BUT I MEAN, YOU'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THE TRENDS THAT ARE GOING ON AROUND THE COUNTRY WITH THE ISSUE WITH THE RAIL TROLLEY.
AND YOU SEE MOST CITIES DOING AWAY WITH IT.
GRANTED, EVERYBODY ALWAYS WANTS TO CITE SAN FRANCISCO, BUT SAN FRANCISCO IS MORE OF A LANDMARK THAN IT IS A TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK LONG AND HARD AT THIS AND HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS TO CUT THE COST OF RETURN OR WHAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO MAYBE WE CAN SAY, HEY, WE'LL PROVIDE TWO WHEEL TROLLEYS VERSUS A RAIL TROLLEY.
AND ALSO SO, YOU KNOW, WELL, THE RUBBER WHEEL TRIALS WILL STILL OPERATE AND THEY'LL CONNECT WITH THE RAIL TROLLEYS TO HELP THAT SERVICE OUT.
BUT AGAIN, THIS IS WHY WE BROUGHT IT TO YOU NOW.
AND IT'S CERTAINLY NOT FOR VOTE TODAY.
THIS GIVES YOU A MONTH TO WORK ON IT.
WE'LL BRING IT BACK NEXT MONTH FOR ADJUSTMENTS IF NEED BE.
BUT THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE PUT IT JUST ON WORKSHOP.
OK, THANK YOU, JOHN AND THEN BILL.
HOW LONG ONCE WE GET THE TROLLEYS BACK IN OPERATION, HOW LONG ARE WE ON THE HOOK FOR THEM
[01:45:01]
AT THAT POINT? I THINK THE [INAUDIBLE].WE'RE GENERALLY ALWAYS ON THE HOOK.
BUT I THINK WHAT YOU'RE ASKING IS WHEN DOES EXPIRE? YEAH, YEAH.
[INAUDIBLE] 30 IN A 40 YEAR TERM.
BUT I'LL GET THAT INFORMATION.
DO WE GET FUNDING FROM FTA EACH YEAR TO SUPPLEMENT THIS? YES, SIR, WE DO.
HOW MUCH IS THAT? LET ME LET JAMES SPEAK TO THAT.
WE JUST FY TWENTY ONE APPORTIONMENT JUST CAME OUT, WE WERE AWARDED CITY OF GALVESTON, WAS AWARDED ONE POINT SIX MILLION DOLLARS.
THE OTHER ASPECT IS THAT THE RECENT ONE POINT NINE TRILLION DOLLAR PACKAGE THAT CAME OUT, WE WERE ADDITIONALLY HAS NOT BEEN APPORTIONED YET.
WE'RE ALL EVERYBODY'S WAITING FOR THE APPORTIONMENT SO WE CAN APPLY FOR ADDITIONAL ROUGHLY EIGHT HUNDRED AND SIXTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.
SO I'M LOOKING AT A LITTLE OVER TO TWO MILLION DOLLARS, FOR FY TWENTY ONE.
A LITTLE BACKGROUND IS THAT WE ARE STILL OPERATING ON CARES FUNDING RIGHT NOW.
I STILL HAVE FY 20 FUNDING AVAILABLE AND I STILL HAVE AND NOW WE HAVE FY TWENTY ONE AVAILABLE.
AND THAT'S THAT'S OPERATIONAL MONEY.
JAMES, THAT IS NOT [INAUDIBLE].
AND SO WHAT ARE OUR OPERATIONAL COSTS? I MEAN, I THINK SOMEONE ASKED THIS QUESTION AND WE COULDN'T GET A GOOD ANSWER ON THAT FOR OPERATIONAL COSTS SINCE WE SINCE WE HAVE NEW TROLLEYS.
BUT IN THE PAST, WHAT IS OUR OPERATIONAL COST BEEN ON THIS? DO WE HAVE OUR BUDGET SET UP FOR I GUESS WHAT IS OUR BUDGET FOR OPERATIONAL OPERATION OF THE TROLLEY FOR THE NEXT YEAR OR SO? FOR THE FOR THE RUBBER WHEELED [INAUDIBLE] IS ROUGHLY ABOUT FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
FOR THE RUBBER WHEEL? AND SEAL.
SO FTA'S GIVING US TWO MILLION DOLLARS FOR OPERATIONAL COSTS, BUT OUR OPERATIONAL COSTS ARE ONLY FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE, THE RUBBER WHEELS ARE NOT COUNTED AS PART OF THAT FTA FORMULA FUNDING.
THEIR STEEL WHEELS CAN BE COUNTED IN TO THE FTA FORMULA FUNDING.
I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED HERE, SO FTA COST, OPERATIONAL COST YOU SAID THAT WE'VE GOT TWO MILLION DOLLARS FOR FY TWENTY ONE.
IS THAT FOR THE ENTIRE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM? I THINK THAT'S THE QUESTION.
YES, THAT'S FOR THE ENTIRE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
I THINK WHAT COUNCILMAN LISTOWSKI IS ASKING IS WE'RE FOCUSING ON THE TROLLEYS THEMSELVES.
THE OPERATIONAL COST FOR THOSE.
THE OPERATIONAL FOR THE STEEL WHEELS.
LIKE DAVID MENTIONED EARLIER, WE DO NOT HAVE THE HARD NUMBERS FOR THAT.
WHAT WERE OUR OPERATIONAL COSTS IN THE PAST? HUGE.
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING THESE QUESTIONS.
SO THIS IS WHAT I WILL DO AND I WILL GET THAT INFORMATION PRIOR TO HURRICANE IKE AND SEND YOU THAT INFORMATION.
IN REFERENCE TO THE OPERATIONS OF JUST A STEEL WHEEL TROLLEYS.
BUT IT'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE NOW.
AND AS JAMES STATED, WE HAVE AROUND FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND.
IT'S PUT INTO AN ACCOUNT FOR STEEL WHEEL AND RUBBER WHEEL TROLLEYS.
THAT'S BASICALLY TO PROVIDE THE TRANSPORTATION FOR TOURISM, SHALL WE SAY.
SO THAT'S WHERE HE'S GETTING THAT NUMBER FROM.
BUT I'LL GET THAT INFORMATION PRIOR TO THE HURRICANE AND GET THAT TO YOU TODAY.
BUT THOSE NUMBERS ARE NOT GOING TO BE AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON TO WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE NOW.
AND WE DO HAVE SOME ESTIMATIONS OF WHAT THE OPERATIONS OF THE STEEL WHEEL MAY BE, AND I'LL SEND YOU THAT AS WELL.
OK, I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO KNOW.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE WE HAVE TO PUT THESE IN OPERATION, OF COURSE, THAT YOU THINK THEY'RE GOING TO GO IN OPERATIONS THIS SUMMER.
I WOULD THINK WE WOULD HAVE A BUDGET ALREADY ESTABLISHED FOR OPERATION OF THE OF THE TROLLEYS, SINCE IT'S THIS YEAR.
AND SO I'M JUST LOOKING TO SEE WHAT WHAT IS THIS GOING TO COST US IN THE FUTURE? I MEAN, WE'RE ON THE HOOK FOR 30 YEARS FOR THIS TROLLEY.
IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS EVER GOING TO PAY FOR ITSELF.
IT NEVER, NEVER DID IN THE PAST.
WE ARE OUR RUBBER WHEEL TROLLEYS.
I DON'T EVEN THINK THEY PAY FOR THEMSELVES RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE DEFINITELY MAKING PROGRESS WITH THOSE.
I THINK ALL OF IT IS VITAL TO GETTING TOURS AROUND THE ISLAND.
BUT I JUST WANT TO KNOW THE COST OF THOSE.
I MEAN, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU KNOW, WHAT THE COSTS ARE AND WHERE WHERE THE FUNDS ARE GOING TO COME FROM.
[01:50:01]
IF IT'S FTA, GREAT.IF IT'S TRICKLE DOWN, YOU KNOW, LET'S WE ONLY HAVE SO MUCH OF THAT MONEY LEFT AND A LOT OF THAT IS GOING PRETTY, PRETTY MUCH BEEN EATEN UP BY THE STEEL WHEELED TROLLEY.
SO, YOU KNOW, ALL THOSE NUMBERS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
AND SO IF YOU CAN GIVE ME THAT INFORMATION, THAT'D BE GREAT.
AND IT IS BUDGETED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
I THINK, MR. BUCKLEY, IF I KNOW HIM WELL, HE'S LOOKING AT IT RIGHT NOW, AND THAT'S WHERE THE FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND MARK COMES IN AT.
BUT WE'LL GET TO THAT IS IN THE BUDGET.
EVEN THOUGHT THE TROLLEYS DIDN'T COME BACK.
WE STILL HAD IT WITHIN THE BUDGET.
MR. [INAUDIBLE] IT'S GOING TO MAKE MAKE SURE THAT AS WELL.
BUT I'LL GET YOU THAT INFORMATION TODAY, MR. BUCKLEY DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? ABSOLUTELY.
WE DID HAVE A LINE ITEM BUDGET FOR THE RETURN OF THE TROLLEYS.
ONE THING WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND IS THE RUBBER WHEELED TROLLEYS ARE NOT FTA ASSETS.
THOSE WERE PURCHASED WITH HOT AND THEY'RE PURELY TOURIST TRANSIT ASSETS.
THE STEEL WHEEL TROLLEYS, UNFORTUNATELY, ARE FTA ASSETS, AND THAT'S A FIXED ROUTE IN OUR SYSTEM.
THAT'S THAT'S THE BIG COMPARISON.
AND THAT'S WHY FTA'S SO CRITICAL OF US, YOU KNOW, PUTTING IN THE TROLLEY AND THEN SAYING WE'RE GOING TO CANCEL THE SERVICE.
SO THAT'S THE ONE THING THAT'S VERY DIFFERENT.
AND IF WE HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING WHEEL TROLLEYS, THOSE DOLLARS ARE UNAVAILABLE TO US WITHIN ANY OF THE GENERAL FUNDS THAT WE HAVE NOW.
BUT WE'LL GET, I'LL GET THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.
WE'LL SEND IT OUT TO EVERYBODY.
OK, AND THAT'S THAT'S KIND OF MY POINT.
YOU KNOW, WE SEE THAT THE RUBBER WHEEL TROLLEYS ARE, OF COURSE, MUCH CHEAPER OPERATE AND WE SEE MUCH MORE USE OUT OF THOSE.
AND SO JUST COMPARING THOSE TO THE STEEL WHEEL TROLLEYS, WHICH I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET HALF AS MUCH USE, HALF AS MUCH REVENUE, YOU KNOW.
BUT BUT IF THE FTA IS PAYING FOR THEM EACH YEAR, I'M FINE WITH THAT.
BUT I DON'T THINK IT WORKS LIKE THAT.
BUT I WOULD LIKE IT'D BE GREAT IF IT DID.
REMEMBER THE FTA PAYS A CHUNK OF MONEY TO ISLAND TRANSIT.
SO PORTIONS THAT IS USED FOR THE FIXED ROUTE AND EVERYTHING, THAT'S WHAT THAT NUMBER CAME FROM.
HE HAS SOME IDEAS TO TRY TO BRING MORE POPULARITY TO STEEL WHEEL TROLLEYS, CHARTERING FOR ONE IF IT'S ALLOWED, WHICH IT IS ALLOWED THROUGH FTA.
I MEAN, ADVERTISING BRINGS IN HOT DOLLARS, ESPECIALLY ON SEAWALL [INAUDIBLE].
SO THESE ARE AVENUES THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET BACK INTO AFTER COVID.
BUT LET ME BE LET ME BE VERY CLEAR TO EVERYBODY.
THERE IS NO TRANSIT SYSTEM ANYWHERE THAT BREAKS EVEN OR MAKES MONEY.
AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT I WILL TAKE THAT A STEP FURTHER.
THERE IS NO RAIL SYSTEM ANYWHERE.
[LAUGHTER] THAT'S WHY THE GOVERNMENT RUNS AMTRAK.
SO THESE THINGS ARE I MEAN, THE DECISION WE ARE LIVING WITH A DECISION THAT WAS MADE IN THE 80S AND WHEN THEY MADE THAT DECISION, I'M HOPING THAT THE COUNCIL THAT WAS SEATED AND WHEN JOHN PAUL WAS PROBABLY STILL TODDLING AROUND THAT WHEN THAT THEY KNEW THAT THEY WERE COMMITTING THE TAXPAYERS OF GALVESTON FOR THIS FOREVER LONG HAUL ON THESE TROLLEYS.
AND OF COURSE, SUBSEQUENT COUNCILS MADE DECISIONS TO EXTEND AND EXPAND THE TROLLEY SYSTEM, WHICH FURTHER COMMITTED US ON THESE TROLLEYS.
SO LOVE THEM OR HATE THEM, WE GOT HIM AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO RUN THEM AS EFFICIENTLY AS WE CAN.
THE ONE THING WE DO RECOGNIZE IS, IS THAT THEY ARE DEFINITELY A TOURIST TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
MOST PEOPLE DON'T RELY ON THE TROLLEYS.
ACTUALLY, NOBODY RELIES ON THE TROLLEYS FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN TOURIST TRANSPORTATION.
NOW, LUCKILY, WE DO NOW HAVE THINGS TO CONNECT WITH THE TROLLEYS.
BEFORE WE DID NOT, WE HAD AN OLD HOTEL THAT WAS NOT EVEN OPEN THAT WE CONNECTED ON ONE END.
WE DID NOT HAVE A TRANSIT TERMINAL ON THE STRAND.
OUR TOURISM AND DOWNTOWN BUSINESS HAS GROWN AND FLOURISHED, WHICH IS A GREAT THING.
SO NOW WE HAVE SOME CONNECTIVITY THERE.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE NOW ACTUALLY HAVE MORE DEVELOPMENT DOWN ON THE PIER.
SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE INCREASED RIDERSHIP.
BUT I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO LEAVE THIS MEETING SAYING THAT ANYBODY ON STAFF SAYS, OH, RIDERSHIP IS GOING TO BE GREAT AND IT'S GOING TO COVER ALL THESE COSTS BECAUSE THAT IS.
NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT KEEP IN MIND, AND DAVID SAID, I MENTIONED DISNEY, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU STAY AT A DISNEY RESORT THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A BUS COMING EVERY SO MANY MINUTES.
AND THAT'S WHERE THE THAT'S WHERE THE FOURTH TROLLEY REALLY COMES INTO PLAY HERE.
IF YOU WANT A VIABLE TROLLEY SYSTEM, OUR SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO RUN ON FOUR.
CAN WE RUN IT ON THREE? CAN WE RUN IT ON TWO? THE GALVESTON WAY SAYS WE CAN RUN IT ON ONE, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE LONG TERM ARE GOING TO RIDE IT IF WE DO THAT.
AND THEN ARE WE JUST RUNNING SOMETHING FOR THE SAKE OF SATISFYING THE FTA? I WOULD MUCH RATHER HAVE A TOURIST BENEFIT OF THIS, SINCE THAT'S THE FUNDS THAT ARE OPERATING IT AND DO IT CORRECTLY.
BUT THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE'RE COMING FROM ON THIS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS HERE ON THAT? NO, THAT ANSWERED MY QUESTIONS.
WE HAVE SIX HUNDRED FIFTY ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS BUDGETED FOR RAIL OPERATIONS
[01:55:04]
IN TWENTY ONE.WE'RE AT, LET'S KIND OF WARM THIS UP.
I KNOW COUNCILMAN QUIROGA HAS SOME THOUGHTS.
I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR DAVE.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ESTIMATE NUMBERS? HOW MANY PEOPLE RIDE THIS TROLLEY IN PAST HISTORY? I DO HAVE THOSE NUMBERS I DON'T HAVE IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I WILL GET THAT TO YOU ALL AS WELL TODAY.
AND WHAT EFFECT IS THE TWENTY FIFTH STREET PROJECT GOING TO HAVE ON THE TROLLEYS.
IS IT WINDING DOWN OR ARE THEY GOING TO SWITCH OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE, DO YOU KNOW? SO TXDOT PROBABLY WILL NOT LET US OPERATE THAT STEEL WHEEL TROLLEY ON TWENTY FIFTH STREET AS LONG AS THERE'S CONSTRUCTION GOING ON.
SPEAKING WITH MR. DUDLEY, HE'S ADVISING ME THAT AROUND SUMMER THAT THAT CONSTRUCTION IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED.
MIRACLE OR WHAT? I'M SURE YOU'LL BE OUT THERE WATCHING.
THIS WILL BE BACK ON OUR WORKSHOP AGENDA.
AND WE MADE WORKSHOP THIS ONE MORE TIME BEFORE WE EVEN VOTE ON IT.
SO LET'S SEE HOW IT WILL RELATE TO DAVID GUIDE US ON WHEN YOU WANT THAT BACK ON THE AGENDA, THEN.
[3.E. Discussion Of Easement Policies (Quiroga/Brown - 15 Minutes) ]
MOVING TO ITEM THREE E, IF WE COULD, PLEASE, JANELLE.OK, ITEM THREE E, DISCUSSION OF EASEMENT POLICY.
COUNCILMAN QUIROGA, THIS WAS AN ITEM YOU HAD REQUESTED TO BE ON THE AGENDA.
AND SO I LET YOU GO AHEAD AND LEAD THIS.
THIS ISSUE CAME UP WITH ONE OF THE CONSTITUENTS IN MY DISTRICT.
THEY PLACED A NEW SEWER LINE UNDER STREETS BETWEEN FRAZIER AND STEWART AVENUE, AND THEY USE THE METHOD CALLED A BURST TYPE METHOD WHERE THEY WOULD GO UNDERNEATH THE THE PROPERTY AND IT WOULD BREAK UP THE EXISTING, AND I GUESS THAT'S CAST IRON IS, WE'VE GOT AN ENGINEER MAY BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
WAY TO PUT IT, AS SLIP LINING, WHICH MEANS WE PUT IN LINE WITHIN A LINE.
THE CITY DID NOT INSTALL A NEW SEWER LINE THERE.
THE RESIDENTS BUILT ON TOP OF OUR SEWER LINE.
THE QUESTION IS WHERE THEY NOTIFIED THE.
THOSE HOMES, I WENT DOWN THERE AND I ASKED A COUPLE PEOPLE AND AGAIN.
THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE CITY HAD VERSUS, YOU KNOW, THE THE THE PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, IGNORANT OF THE FACT OF ALL THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS AND DURING TIME THEY BUILT ON TOP OF THIS LINE.
BUT WE NEED TO BE AWARE THAT WHEN THIS PROCESS OCCURS, THEY NEED TO BE NOTIFIED OR WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES WERE.
I DON'T EVEN, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN SO LONG.
YOU KNOW, I LIKE TRYING TO GET SOME KIND OF RELIEF FOR THIS INDIVIDUAL BECAUSE THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE THAT WAS SUSTAINED ON THE PROPERTY IS IS PRETTY EXTENSIVE.
I MEAN, THE ISSUE IS, IS THAT IN PROBABLY PRIOR TO THIS RESIDENT OWNING THE HOME, I HAVE NO IDEA HOW LONG HE'S OWNED A HOME.
IT APPEARS AN UNPERMITTED STRUCTURE WAS BUILT IN THE EASEMENT.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE EASIER SOLUTION FOR THE CITY AND PROBABLY THE CHEAPER SOLUTION WOULD HAVE BEEN FOR US TO GO IN THERE AND DIG UP SEWER LINE AND DO AN OPEN TRENCH.
BUT THAT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED US DEMOLISHING ALL THESE STRUCTURES.
SO WHAT WE DID WAS IS WE USED A SLIP LINE METHOD TO TRY TO GET IN THERE AND REPAIR THE SEWER LINE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY HAD THE LINE COLLAPSED, IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A WHOLE LOT MORE DAMAGE.
YOU KNOW, I DEFER TO DON ON THIS AS TO WHAT THE RAMIFICATIONS ARE FOR PEOPLE WHO BUILD IN THE RIGHT OF WAY OR BUILD IN THE EASEMENTS.
BUT THE CITY HAS TO HAVE A RIGHT TO GET TO IT.
IT'S IT'S UTILITIES BECAUSE THEY SERVE EVERYBODY.
THEY DON'T DESERVE THAT ONE HOUSE.
I BELIEVE THIS PERSON MAY HAVE FILED A CLAIM WITH THE CITY.
AND IF THEY DO, THAT CLAIM WILL BE HANDLED ACCORDING TO THE PROCEDURES OF OUR INSURER AND EVERYBODY ELSE.
BUT IT'S JUST AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION.
IT PREDATES ANYBODY THAT'S SITTING HERE.
THAT THE STRUCTURES WERE PLACED ON THIS EASEMENT WHERE OUR UTILITIES ARE.
I CAN ASSURE YOU UNDER TODAY'S GUIDELINES, WE WOULDN'T ALLOW IT.
BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF UNPERMITTED WORK BACK IN THE DAY THAT WENT ON THAT UNFORTUNATELY, WE TRY TO WORK AROUND NOW AS A CONVENIENCE TO THE RESIDENT, DON.
WELL, IT'S NEVER A GOOD IDEA TO BUILD OVER A SEWER LINE OR WATER LINE OR ANYTHING.
SO TODAY, IF YOU DO SO, YOU DO SO AT YOUR PERIL.
[02:00:01]
I'M NOT DISPUTING THAT AT ALL.THE THE ITEM THE QUESTION IS WHERE THEY NOTIFIED? DID THE, I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WAS BUILT LIKE MINE, SAID I, YOU KNOW, BUT WE STILL CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE PROPERTY, WHETHER IT'S WE BUILD ON TOP OF IT OR THEY DIDN'T HAVE A PERMIT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S HERE, THERE.
BUT I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK IN THE IN THE FUTURE TO NOTIFY A LOT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS.
LIKE I SAID, WHEN I WENT OUT THERE AND LOOKED AT IT, HE DID HAVE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE.
BUT THE QUESTION IS, WHERE THEY NOTIFIED BEFORE IT STARTED? WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES WERE? OR DID WE GIVE THEM A TIMELINE AND SAY, HEY, YOU HAVE TO MOVE THIS STRUCTURE? IF NOT, IT MAY CAUSE YOU DAMAGE DOWN THE ROAD OR WHATEVER.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE SHOULD HAVE REACHED OUT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER BECAUSE IT AFFECTED, I THINK THREE OR FOUR, A TOTAL OF 12 HOUSES OUT THERE.
IT, IT'S UNKNOWN WHAT CAUSED THE DAMAGE.
AND NOTHING IN THIS CONVERSATION SHOULD BE CONSTRUED AS AN ADMISSION THAT THE CITY CAUSED ANY DAMAGE AT ALL.
THAT IS A FINDING EFFECT IT WILL HAVE TO BE LOOKED INTO.
WELL, I'M NOT WHAT I'M SAYING IS IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE MAYBE A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER, HAVE TO GO THERE AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
BUT WHATEVER THE PROCESS IS, I LIKE TO SEE IF THE CITY CAN HELP THIS INDIVIDUAL.
HE'S NOT A MILLIONAIRE AND HE CAN'T AFFORD IT.
BUT WE NEED TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT IT.
BILL, I WOULD ADVISE, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, IF YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THIS.
BRIAN, COULD YOU WORK WITH COUNCILMAN QUIROGA ON THIS? SURE, SURE.
I MEAN, WE HAVE TO BE REAL COGNIZANT BECAUSE WE CAN'T GO IN AND IMPROVE OR OR DO ANY WORK ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, ESPECIALLY UNPERMITTED THINGS THAT ARE IN OUR EASEMENT.
I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO CHARGE ALL THE OTHER TAXPAYERS TO DO SOMETHING TO CORRECT A WRONG AND SOMEBODY ELSE THAT SOMEBODY ELSE COMMITTED.
BUT WE'LL CERTAINLY WORK WITH COUNCIL MEMBER QUIROGA TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET ALL THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
THAT'D BE GREAT AND THEN COULD KIND OF INTERFACE WITH COUNCILMAN QUIROGA AND POSSIBLY THE RESIDENTS THERE.
WELL I DON'T HAVE A COMMENT, BUT READING AS THE ITEM DOES, I HAVE A QUESTION JUST BECAUSE THE ITEM IS ON EASEMENTS, I HAVE A CASE WHERE THE MARSHALS HAVE BEEN OUT ONCE WHERE A RESIDENT ACTUALLY FILLED IN THE DRAINAGE ISSUE.
AND ALTHOUGH I BELIEVE THE HOUSE WAS RED TAGGED AND SO FORTH, THE FILLING IN OF THE DRAINAGE ISSUE CONTINUES.
WHAT SHOULD I TELL THE NEIGHBORING RESIDENTS? I MEAN, WHAT'S.
IT IT'S CONTINUING IN THE [INAUDIBLE] IT'S BEEN THERE ONCE, LIKE, WHAT AVENUES SHOULD THEY BE PURSUING? BUTCH, DO YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THIS? I THINK YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH IT.
THIS IS IN A PUBLIC EASEMENT MARIE? IN A, YEAH, A DRAINAGE EASEMENT.
WE GOT WORD THAT THEY WERE [INAUDIBLE].
AND WHEN WE WENT OUT THERE, WE RED TAGGED IT, THEY RECEIVED CITATIONS AND THEY WERE REQUIRED TO GET FILL PERMITS AND GIVE THEIR FILL SCHEDULE OF HOW THEY WERE GOING TO FOOT THE BILL IF IT WAS GOING TO BE A [INAUDIBLE].
THEY HAD TO HAVE A DRAINAGE PLAN IN PLACE AT THAT TIME.
AND THAT'S WHERE THEY WERE REQUIRED TO REMOVE THAT STUFF OUT OF THAT DRAIN AND.
SO WE CONTACTED PLANNING AND THEY WERE LOOKING AT THAT WHENEVER.
THAT WAS OUR LAST INVOLVEMENT.
BECAUSE THE PROBLEMS STILL EXIST AND THEY'RE PUTTING MORE MORE FILL IN, I DON'T BELIEVE THE PERSON WHO IS THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY HAS DONE ANYTHING.
SO BUTCH, CAN YOU GO BACK OUT THERE? I KNOW, BRIAN, IT'S VERY SENSITIVE TO DRAINAGE IN [INAUDIBLE].
SINCE WE HAVE SUCH TREMENDOUS PROBLEMS. WE DON'T NEED ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS BEING CREATED IN AREAS THAT ARE ALREADY HAVING ISSUES.
SO IF WE COULD REVISIT THAT BUTCH, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
DOING THIS, IF IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE VIOLATING THE RED TAG ORDER.
GET WITH LEGAL TO FILE INJUNCTIVE RELIEF.
WE'LL GET OUT THERE AND CHECK THAT OUT AND TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS.
[3.F. City Updates (20 Minutes)]
[02:05:01]
ALL RIGHT, MOVING TO ITEM 3F, JANELLE.ITEM THREE F CITY UPDATE ONE FORTY FIFTH AND 49TH STREET PROJECT TWO COYOTE CONTROL, THREE STREET LIGHTING AND FOUR POLICE COVERAGE IN DISTRICT SIX.
BILL, ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT? ANY QUESTIONS? YEAH, I NEED TO ASK MR. MAXWELL, YOU KNOW, THE STATUS OF 45TH STREET IF I LOOK AT PAST WRITINGS ON THIS IT SHOULD BE FINISHED THIS FIRST QUARTER.
BUT WHERE DO WE STAND ON THE RIDING ISSUE OUT THERE? I THINK DUDLEY'S ON THE LINE.
DUDLEY CAN YOU GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THIS, OR IS THIS SOMETHING TRINO NEEDS TO DO? CENTERPOINT WILL BE DOING THEIR INSPECTION ON THE CONDUITS AND THE FOUNDATIONS ON APRIL 1ST.
GENERALLY SPEAKING, IT TAKES SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS AFTER THEY APPROVE IT BEFORE THE LIGHTS ARE INSTALLED WE ARE ON THEIR SCHEDULE.
BECAUSE I THOUGHT WERE ON THE [INAUDIBLE].
WELL, I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE LIGHTS WOULD HAVE BEEN ORDERED SEVEN OR EIGHT WEEKS AGO WHEN WE FIRST TALKED ABOUT IT.
WAS THERE A DELAY? NO, WE UPDATED YOU AT THE LAST MEETING WHERE WE SAID THAT CENTERPOINT WILL NOT ORDER THE LIGHTS UNTIL THE CONTRACTOR IS FINISHED AND ALL INSPECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE CENTERPOINT IS VERY DIFFICULT ON THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.
OK, I WOULD I'M LIKE YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, I WOULD HAVE ORDERED THE LIGHTS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROJECT, BUT CENTERPOINT DOESN'T OPERATE THAT WAY.
WELL, WHEN THE STREAM WAS OPENED, I WOULD HAVE BORED ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL CONDUIT.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY DIDN'T DO THAT.
I MEAN, IT WAS OPEN AND WE HAD TO GO BACK AND BUST SOME CONCRETE.
BUT ANYWAY, OTHER THAN THAT, I'LL REFER THAT ON TO THE PEOPLE OUT THERE.
AND THEN 49TH STREET, MY CONCERN IS WE HAVE A LOT OF THESE BARRELS OUT THERE, THE BARRICADES OUT THERE.
AND WE JUST HAD A TERRIFIC FLOOD, AND THIS IS KIND OF A SAFETY ISSUE WHERE THESE THINGS CAN GO AND FLOAT DOWN THE STREET.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION.
THE CONTRACTOR WENT OUT AND REMOVED A BUNCH OF THEM.
THEY ONLY EXIST WHERE THERE'S SOME MANHOLES THAT I BELIEVE THEY NEED TO ELEVATE.
TRINO CAN YOU UPDATE US ON THAT? YES, I DROVE, THIS IS TRINO.
SO I DROVE THE JOB SIDE THIS MORNING.
AND I'VE BEEN DRIVING THAT JOB SITE DAILY FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS THERE AT THE FINISH LINE.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO PUSH THEM TO ACTUALLY HIT THAT OR CROSS THAT FINISH LINE.
AS OF THIS MORNING, THE GREATER MAJORITY OF THE BARRELS AND BARRICADES HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE SITE.
THERE ARE STILL SOME PRESENT BECAUSE THERE'S A FEW DRIVEWAYS, A RETAINING WALL, A PORTION OF SIDEWALK THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.
SO THEY LEFT SOME STUFF OUT THERE.
SO WHEN THEY GET OUT THERE, THEY DON'T HAVE LIKE THEIR TRAFFIC CONTROL.
BUT BEYOND THAT, THE GREATER MAJORITY IS COMPLETELY GONE AND THE ROAD IS WIDE OPEN.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE DRAINAGE PERFORMED RATHER NICELY.
IT DID HAVING DATED AND MARRIED A WOMAN THAT LIVED ON THE CORNER OF 49TH AND Q I WAS SHOCKED THAT IT WAS DRY THE OTHER MORNING.
ALSO JUST TO NOTE, I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER YOU BROUGHT UP THE WHOLE ON 48TH AND S THAT WAS DUG BY THE GAS COMPANY, I DID NOTICE ON MY WALK THIS MORNING THAT APPEARS TO BE COMPLETE AS WELL.
I THINK JUST FYI IN THE FUTURE WHEN WE START TO DO THESE CONTRACTS, WE NEED TO PUT A TIME LIMIT ON, YOU KNOW, AS THEY FINISH.
WHEN I USED TO DO IT, AS WE FINISHED, WE PICKED UP THE SIGNS.
SO THEN WE'D HAVE TO WAIT TO THE END OF THE PROJECT TO START DOING THAT.
AND ANOTHER THING IS, IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE JOBS BEING ISSUED DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE PUT IN THE CONTRACT SO THAT IF WE DO HAVE A STORM APPROACHING, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S IN THERE NOW BECAUSE I HAVEN'T READ ANYTHING THAT SHOWS THIS, BUT A LOT OF THE MATERIALS THAT ARE HANGING OUT THERE, WE NEED TO GET THEM OFF BECAUSE THOSE CREATE A LOT OF PROJECTILE AND THE HIGH WINDS COME TO THE ISLAND.
WE TYPICALLY MAKE THEM SECURE.
BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER, WE'LL MAKE SURE WE FOLLOW UP ON THAT.
YES, ON THE COYOTE ISSUES, I TALKED TO THE STATE, THE PARKS AND WILDLIFE.
I TALKED TO OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND I ALSO TALKED TO A MR. CHRIS.
CHRIS WATTS, AND HE'S WITH AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND BASICALLY ALL THREE OF THEM ARE TELLING US, IS SAYING THIS, IT'S UP TO THE CITY TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO EASE
[02:10:01]
THE EITHER THE POPULATION OR WHATEVER.IT'S DETERMINED THAT WE MAKE THAT DETERMINATION TO THE CITY.
AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MATING SEASON AND I'M GETTING A LOT OF COMPLAINTS.
I HAD A PHOTOGRAPH SENT TO ME WHERE A COYOTE HAD A CAT IN HIS MOUTH, LIKE THERE WERE AROUND 39TH STREET AND THE COLLEGE HAS SOME THERE.
I KNOW THE PORT HAS QUITE A FEW OUT THERE.
SO BOTTOM LINE IS, I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION.
DO WE HAVE THEM CAPTURED, THERE WAS A SERIES OF THINGS I DON'T WANT TO BE BECAUSE I KNOW PEOPLE ARE STILL GOING TO SAY, WELL, THE COYOTES LEAVE THEM ALONE, BUT I'M LOOKING AT THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN AND THE MOTHERS THAT ARE GOING OFF TO THE PLAYGROUNDS AT MOODY, AT ALAMO.
AND THERE'S QUITE A FEW THAT ARE ON THE CEMETERIES OUT ON 61ST STREET.
SO WE NEED TO COME UP WITH SOME KIND OF DECISION ON WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO EITHER REMOVE THE PROBLEM OR ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM.
BILL IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, AND I SEE SOME HANDS, I KNOW JOHN HAD HIS UP.
BILL, IF YOU WOULD MIND, MAYBE GET WITH THE STAFF ON THAT.
AND IF YOU FEEL THAT ANY DEFINITE FORMAL ACTION BY COUNCIL NEEDS TO BE TAKEN ON THAT, WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE OR ANY OF THE OTHER GOVERNING AGENCIES THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO RELOCATE OR EUTHANIZE COYOTES.
I CAN FORWARD YOU THE E-MAIL, BRIAN, OK, PLEASE DO, BECAUSE THAT CONTRADICTS, AS YOU KNOW, THE CALL WE HAD WITH THEM THE OTHER DAY.
THAT CONTRADICTS WHAT THEY TOLD US.
WELL BILL FEEL FREE TO IF YOU HAVE ANY DEFINITE ACTION YOU WANT COUNCIL TO TAKE TO BRING THAT FORWARD AND I KNOW WE'D BE HAPPY TO LOOK AT THAT.
WE HAVE QUESTIONS AND I'M SORRY, BILL, ANY MORE ON THE THREE ITEMS YOU HAD SIR.
ON THE ITEMS, ONE, TWO AND THREE.
THAT'S 45TH 49TH COYOTES AND STREET LIGHTING.
JOHN, YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP FIRST DO YOU HAVE COMMENTS ON THOSE THREE ITEMS SIR.
I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE 49TH STREET PROJECT.
SURELY AT 49TH AND STUART OR AVENUE S THE ELEVATION THERE IS MUCH DIFFERENT AT THAT INTERSECTION THAN THE REST OF STUART, IT IS THAT STUART ROAD IS SCHEDULED TO BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION HERE SOON.
WILL THAT ELEVATION DIFFERENCE BE YOU KNOW, THE SLOPES LESSENED ONCE THE PROJECT STARTS.
IT WILL THE SLOPE WILL BE REDUCED ON THAT.
THAT'S KIND OF WE ACTUALLY PLANNED AHEAD ON THAT ONE.
SO THAT WAY IT'LL BE ADDRESSED WITH THE AVENUE S PROJECT AS WELL.
AND THERE AN TRINO IS ON TOP OF THAT ONE WITH THE ENGINEERING ON THE AVENUE S PROJECT.
AND JUST WHEN WILL THAT BE SCHEDULED TO START CONSTRUCTION? DO YOU KNOW.
WHERE WE AT I THOUGHT I HEARD WERE 60 OR 70 PERCENT ON AVENUE S, DO YOU KNOW, OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD.
NO, SO I BELIEVE I HOPE I DON'T OUT SPEAK HERE, BUT I BELIEVE ON AVENUE S WE'VE COMPLETED THE DESIGN.
OR WE ARE AT THE NINETY FIVE PERCENTILE OF THAT.
IT'S TWENTY THIRD STREET I WAS THINKING OF IS THE OTHER COUNTY PROJECT.
OUR GOAL IS TO GET IT BID SOMETIME THIS SUMMER, I BELIEVE.
THE STREET DEFINITELY NEEDS IT.
YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ON THESE THREE ITEMS. YES, I HAVE QUESTIONS ON BOTH THE 49TH STREET AND THE COYOTES.
ON FORTY NINTH STREET I'VE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS FROM MULTIPLE CONSTITUENTS AS TO WHY THIS PROJECT WAS DONE.
WHEN WE HAVE A LOT OF STREETS THAT ARE IN A LOT WORSE CONDITION.
DUE TO WE HAD AN UNDERLYING UTILITY ISSUE ON THAT STREET.
IT REALLY WASN'T DONE AS A STREET PAVING PROJECT.
IT WAS DONE AS A UTILITY PROJECT.
BUT WE REPAVED THE STREET AS PART OF THE PROJECT.
OK, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF UNDERLYING UTILITY ISSUES ON STREETS THAT ARE WAY WORSE IN DISTRICT SIX.
SO I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW THE PRIORITY COMES ABOUT.
WE USE FOR STREETS AND THINGS SUCH AS THIS WE HAVE AN OUTSIDE ENGINEERING FIRM THAT EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS UPDATES US ON PRIORITIES.
OF COURSE, AS UTILITIES FAIL, THOSE PRIORITIES GET PRIORITIZED.
TRINO, DO YOU REMEMBER, DID WE HAVE A COMPLETE FAILURE ON THIS STREET OR WAS THERE ANOTHER ISSUE ON THAT STREET THAT PRECIPITATED.
WHAT WAS THE STREET AGAIN? FORTY NINTH STREET.
AND THAT WAS BEFORE YOU ARRIVED, THAT STREET WAS IN THE WORKS FOR A
[02:15:01]
WHILE BECAUSE WE DID HAVE SOME SERIOUS UTILITY ISSUES ON THE STREET.YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A CHANGE OF HANDS ON THIS PROJECT.
FROM WHAT I'VE GATHERED ON FORTY NINTH STREET THE SUB GRADE WASN'T WHAT IT WAS THOUGHT TO BE.
SOME OF THE LINES WEREN'T WHERE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE.
THERE WERE THINGS THAT WERE THERE THAT DIDN'T SHOW UP ON ANY PLANS.
AND SO AS THIS PROJECT WAS, AS WERE GOING THROUGH THE PROJECT.
GET TO BE A PRIORITY OVER OTHER STREETS? ALL RIGHT.
HIS WIFE HAD SURGERY TODAY, BUT HE CAN UPDATE YOU ON THAT AND I WILL HAVE HIM REACH OUT TO YOU, BUT IT WAS DONE AS A UTILITY PROJECT ORIGINALLY.
I WOULD LIKE TO GET AN UPDATE ON HOW STREETS ARE PRIORITIZED.
AND ACTUALLY, THAT'S 100 PERCENT ONLINE COUNCIL MEMBER, ROB.
AND YOU CAN LOOK IN THE STREETS ARE RATED AND GRADED AND YOU CAN LOOK AT THAT.
I KNOW, BUT WE ALL KNOW THERE'S BEEN SO MANY CHANGES WITH THE DIFFERENT WEATHER EVENTS OR LACK THEREOF.
SO HOW COULD WE GET THAT? HOW COULD WE LOOK AT THAT AND GET IT UPDATED, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE FREEZE HAS SEEMED TO HAVE A MAJOR EFFECT ON A NUMBER OF STREETS, ESPECIALLY IN MY DISTRICT.
I MEAN, IT'S ONLINE IF THERE'S A SPECIFIC ISSUE YOU NEED TO LET US KNOW.
BUT WE'RE NOT SEEING ANY UNDERLYING UTILITY ISSUES AS A RESULT OF THE FREEZE AT THIS POINT.
OK, WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THAT MORE.
ALSO, THE COYOTES, I MEAN, I GET SO MANY REPORTS ON A DAILY BASIS AND THE PROBLEM JUST SEEMS TO BE MULTIPLYING.
AND WE'RE SEEING COYOTES BECOME MORE AGGRESSIVE AND IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND SO FORTH.
SO I HOPE WE CAN DO SOMETHING, AND I KNOW THE CITY OVER TIME HAVE TAKEN A DIFFERENT APPROACH, BUT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
BRIEFLY, HAVE YOU HAD ANY CORRESPONDENCE WITH ANY OF OUR GOVERNING AGENCIES THAT HAVE ALLOWED US TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'RE DOING? HELLO, SIR, BRIEFLY ON THAT, THE LAST CHAT WE HAD WAS WITH THE URBAN WILDLIFE BIOLOGISTS, WITH TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE, AND THEIR RECOMMENDATION HAS BEEN REMARKABLY CONSISTENT AS COYOTES ARE A RABIES VECTOR SPECIES, WE'RE BOUND TO RELOCATE THEM NO MORE THAN 10 MILES FROM THEIR TRAPPING LOCATION, WHICH IS REMARKABLY RESTRICTIVE AND EFFECTIVELY ALLOWS US TO RELOCATE THEM TO A MORE SUITABLE LOCATION IN THEIR HABITAT OR WITHIN THEIR ALREADY ESTABLISHED TERRITORY.
BUT WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RELOCATE THEM TO A ZOO OR COYOTE PRESERVE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STATE FOR SPEAKING PURPOSES.
JOSH, COULD YOU COVER SOMETHING I KNOW WE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW THE ISSUE OF PEOPLE FEEDING FERAL CATS HELPS TO PERPETUATE THE COYOTE PROBLEMS, ESPECIALLY, WELL, THE RAT PROBLEM, AS WELL AS THE COYOTE PROBLEM COMING IN TO NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND I'LL TRY TO KEEP THIS AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE.
WE DO HAVE A WELL-ESTABLISHED TRAP NEUTER RELEASE PROGRAM FOR FERAL CATS.
WE'VE GOT NO SHORTAGE OF FERAL CATS ON THIS ISLAND, AS WELL AS INDOOR OUTDOOR CATS WITH ALL OF THE FOOD THAT IS LEFT OUTSIDE.
SOMETIMES THAT EXCESS FOOD CAN CONTRIBUTE TO A BOOM IN THE RAT POPULATION, WHICH IS A NATURAL FOOD ITEM, AS WELL AS THOSE OVERFLOWING FOOD BOWLS IN SOME LOCATIONS COULD CONTRIBUTE TO A RESOURCE FOR COYOTES TO FIGHT OVER AS SIMPLY AS FIGHTING OVER THE CAT FOOD, WHICH CAN CREATE CONFLICT.
AND SO WE ARE UPDATING OUR [INAUDIBLE] OUR PROGRAM.
KEEPING THAT DATABASE AS CURRENT AS POSSIBLE, WHICH WILL ALLOW US TO WORK MORE CLOSELY ON CONFLICT MITIGATION WITH THOSE THAT ARE FEEDING FERAL CATS, TRYING TO REDUCE THE ATTRACTANTS IN NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE COYOTES SHOULD NOT BE HUNTING.
AND I'M JUST GOING TO ADD TO THIS, BECAUSE WE HAD AN EXPERIENCE THIS WEEK AND IT DID NOT HAVE TO DO WITH COYOTES, BUT WITH ALL THE VEGETATION THAT WE LOST, I THINK WE'RE GOING
[02:20:03]
TO SEE MORE AND MORE WILD ANIMALS COMING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO HOME, AND WE ACTUALLY CAUGHT ON OUR RING CAMERA, A RACCOON TRYING TO ACCESS OUR BACK DOOR.SO PEOPLE PLEASE BE ON THE WATCH BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WE LOST SO MUCH VEGETATION.
I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE'VE HAD SINCE OUR LAST MEETING, WE HAD 12 REPORTED COYOTES.
I'M SURE YOU GUYS ARE GETTING CALLED [INAUDIBLE] OFFICIAL REPORT FOR COYOTES.
WE'VE LOST ABOUT FOUR FERAL CATS, NO PET CATS, NO PET DOGS, NO CHILDREN OR HUMANS ATTACKED AT THIS POINT.
NOT TO SAY THAT IT COULDN'T HAPPEN, BUT I DO THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THUS FAR, THE ONLY THING WE'VE LOST IS FROM FERAL CATS.
WE'VE ALSO HAD TO EUTHANIZE TWO COYOTES THAT WERE SEVERELY INJURED AND CAPTURED, ANOTHER ONE AND THEN RELEASED IT.
AND ALSO OF NOTE, WE HAD ONE COYOTE THAT WAS FILMED AND TAPED AMAZED ME.
I KNOW YOU HEAR OF MULTIPLE SIGHTINGS.
WE THINK IT'S A LOT OF THE SAME COYOTES.
IT AMAZES ME HOW FAR ACROSS THE ISLAND A COYOTE WILL TRAVEL.
WE TRACKED ONE ALMOST ALL THE WAY DOWN THE BEACH, ALL THE WAY TO THE EAST AND FLATS, WHICH IS WHERE MOST OF THEM COME FROM, I THINK.
BUT IT AMAZED ME HOW FAR IT WENT.
IT WOULD BE INTRIGUING IF WE WOULD HAVE SOME WAY OF PUTTING A TRACKING DEVICE, I MEAN, GPS STUFF HAS BECOME SO INEXPENSIVE, IF WE COULD TAG THEM LIKE WE TAG TURTLES OR SPEAKERS] [INAUDIBLE] IS IN THE PROCESS OF COMING HERE WITH THREE GPS TRACKER PAID FOR BY THEM--JOSH CAN SPEAK WITH MORE DETAIL ABOUT IT--BUT WE ACTUALLY ARE TRYING TO GET A STUDY WITH THE UNIVERSITY TO TRACK A FEW OF THEM AND THEIR HABITATS AND WHERE THEY'RE GOING.
BUT IT OBVIOUSLY WON'T BE EVERY COYOTE, BUT WE WILL HAVE SOME TRACKING.
YOU KNOW, JOSH HAS BEEN WORKING ON THAT TO POSSIBLY EXPAND INTO THAT TRACKING SYSTEM ON COYOTES.
AND MARIE, SINCE WE'RE HAVING PROBLEMS, OF COURSE, AS YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR AREA, AND BILL, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO BRING, GET WITH STAFF, SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO FORMALIZE ANY APPROACH TO THESE COUNTIES AND BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL.
AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING TAKEAWAYS THAT I HAVE IN MY NOTES FROM THE CONVERSATION WE HAD WITH TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE IS THEY DON'T NECESSARILY FEEL THAT THE POPULATIONS OF ANY OF THIS WILDLIFE HAS INCREASED ON THE ISLAND.
WHAT THEY FEEL IS THE PROLIFERATION OF RING DOORBELLS.
HAS INCREASED THE SUSPECTED VOLUME OF THIS.
ALTHOUGH I WILL TELL YOU, HAVING GROWN UP HERE, IT SURE SEEMS LIKE I SEE IT MORE OFTEN THAN I USED TO.
AND THAT'S PROBABLY MORE A FUNCTION OF NOT AN INCREASE IN POPULATION, BUT THAT WE'VE PROBABLY MOVED THEM FROM THEIR HABITATS.
THAT'S WHY I THINK IT WOULD BE SO IDEAL IF WE COULD GET SOME KIND OF TRACKING DEVICE, AND BECAUSE I HAVE HAD REPORTS IN MY AREA ABOUT AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR.
[INAUDIBLE] GET THOSE PLEASE PASS THOSE ALONG SO WE CAN TRACK THEM.
AND BRIAN, I'LL SEND YOU THAT EMAIL FROM THE US.
PLEASE DO AND COPY JOSH HENDERSON AND THE CHIEF ON THAT TOO, COUNCIL MEMBER.
THANK YOU, GUYS, AND THANK YOU, BILL, FOR BRINGING THESE ITEMS FORWARD.
WE'RE ON ITEM 4-- WHAT ABOUT THE LIGHTING ISSUE? OH, I'M SORRY.
I THOUGHT YOU COVERED THAT, BILL, GO AHEAD.
NO, I JUST WANT TO THANK BRIAN FOR HELPING SET THE MEETING ON THIS THING AND PUTTING IT ON THE WATER BILL.
I CHECKED MINE THE OTHER DAY AND SURE ENOUGH, IT'S ON THERE.
BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC KNOWS THAT THEY CAN CALL CENTERPOINT TO GET THE LIGHTS FIXED.
THE OTHER ISSUE IS I'M BEING CALLED AND PEOPLE WANT LIGHTS ON THEIR STREETS.
BRIAN, HOW DO WE GO ABOUT DOING THAT? YOU'RE MUTED.
WE HAVE A LIGHTING PLAN FOR DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE AREA, AND IF THERE'S A SHORTAGE OR A MISSING LIGHT IN YOUR AREA THAT SHOULD BE THERE ACCORDING TO OUR LIGHTING PLAN.
PETE MILBURN IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT HAS THAT.
AND WE CAN GET CENTERPOINT TO WORK ON TRYING TO GET THAT PUT IN THERE.
CAN WE GET ADDED TO THE LIGHTING PLAN? BRIAN, I GET A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, WE HAVE THE BALLFIELDS THERE, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE SOCCER FIELDS.
WE HAVE SITUATIONS ALONG STEWART ROAD WHERE THE POLES ARE THERE IT WOULD JUST BE NEED FOR A LIGHT ADDED.
[02:25:01]
JUST GET WITH ME AND LET ME KNOW THE LOCATIONS AND WE'LL SEE, YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE THERE'S A POLE DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN IT'S SUITABLE FOR A LIGHT FIXTURE.BUT IF IT IS AND IT FITS WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF THE LIGHTING PLAN, WE'RE HAPPY TO PUT THEM IN [INAUDIBLE] I THINK, HAD SAID THAT THEY COULD BE ADDED.
SO I WILL TALK WITH YOU ABOUT THAT.
ANYTHING ELSE, BILL, ON THAT? BILL, YOU'RE MUTED.
JUST THANK MR. MAXWELL FOR PUTTING THAT ON THE WATER BILL, AND I HOPE THAT THE PUBLIC WILL UTILIZE THE METHOD ON HOW TO GET THEIR LIGHTS TURNED ON AND IT'LL BE EASIER FOR THEM JUST TO GET CENTERPOINT TO GO AHEAD AND REPAIR THEIR LIGHTS, PLUS, BRIAN, DO WE KEEP TRACK OF THAT ON THE LIGHTS THAT ARE OUT, VERSUS WHAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR? IF THEIR REPORT NO CENTERPOINT KEEPS TRACK OF THAT, WE DO NOT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T COME THROUGH US, WE DON'T HAVE ANY WAY OF TRACKING IT.
ITEM FOUR, POLICE COVERAGE IN DISTRICT SIX.
YEAH, THE QUESTION IS ALWAYS HAS ALWAYS BEEN HOW DO WE GET MORE POLICE COVERAGE? I CAN TELL YOU I HEAR FROM PEOPLE EVERY SINGLE DAY HOW MUCH OF AN ISSUE THIS IS.
AND AGAIN, I'M GOING TO EMPHASIZE THAT WE PAY CLOSE TO 60 PERCENT OF THE RESIDENTIAL TAX AND WE GET ABOUT 10 TO 20 PERCENT OF THE SERVICES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
EACH OF MY NEIGHBORHOODS HAS TO PAY FOR THEIR OWN SECURITY ESPECIALLY ON WEEKENDS.
THIS HAS BEEN SUCH A LONG GOING ISSUE.
WE NEED TO FIX IT, AND BRIAN, TELL ME HOW WE FIX IT, OR CHIEF, TELL ME HOW WE FIX IT.
I KNOW, BRIAN, YOU AND I HAVE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS, AND IT WAS THE THOUGHT OF ADDING ANOTHER DISTRICT.
I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE US PUT A SUBSTATION IN THAT OLD MUNICIPAL BUILDING.
IT IS NOT FAIR THAT THE FINAL DISTRICT OR THE ISLAND OR THE ONE POLICE DISTRICT RUNS FROM 61ST STREET TO THE END OF THE ISLAND OR CAR BREAK-INS OR MULTIPLE SAFETY ISSUES HAVE INCREASED OVER TIME.
AND I WANT TO KNOW, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO ADDRESS THIS? I CAN ADDRESS THE SUBSTATION ISSUE.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE DONE IS NOW OUR POLICE OFFICERS ARE OUTFITTED TO DO JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO DO IN THEIR CARS.
I WOULD MUCH RATHER HAVE POLICE OFFICERS IN THEIR CARS DOING WORKING IN A SUBSTATION.
I THINK THE CHIEF HAS TALKED TO ME ABOUT THAT IN THE PAST.
THERE'S REALLY NO BENEFIT TO A SUBSTATION THERE.
I THINK A BIGGER BENEFIT WOULD BE MAYBE A REDRAWING OF THE DISTRICTS, BECAUSE I AGREE, YOUR DISTRICT COVERS A LOT OF GEOGRAPHIC AREA, ALTHOUGH I BELIEVE IT'S PROBABLY DIVIDED UP MORE ALONG THE LINES OF CALL VOLUME.
CHIEF, BUT I'LL LET YOU GO FROM THERE.
SO IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHAT WE CONSIDER OUR EXPECTATIONS.
I CAN TELL YOU, THERE'S EQUAL COVERAGE IN EACH DISTRICT.
I THINK PEOPLE JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THAT STAFFING WORK.
SO I'LL TRY TO DESCRIBE IT AS EASILY AS POSSIBLE.
NO MATTER HOW MANY DISTRICTS ARE DRAWN, THERE AREN'T MORE COPS.
SO WE HAVE A DEFINED NUMBER OF COPS IN A POT AND WE HAVE TO [INAUDIBLE].
SO YOU HAVE EAST, WEST AND MIDTOWN AND TRUST ME, MS. ROBB, I'M A WEST ENDER, SO I FEEL YOUR PAIN AND I UNDERSTAND IT, BUT OUR CRIME IS NOT OUT ON THE WEST END.
BURGLARIES [INAUDIBLE] ALL THOSE THINGS ARE MIDTOWN, BUT THAT'S NOT HOW IT'S DRAWN OUT.
I CAN DRAW NUMBERS ANY WAY YOU WANT TO SEE THEM.
WE KNOW WHERE OUR HOT SPOTS ARE, WE MAP THEM.
BUT YES, YOU HAVE THE BIGGEST DISTRICT, ABSOLUTELY.
WHAT ESSENTIALLY HAPPENS WITH THESE DISTRICTS, OUR FIRST RESPONSIBILITY IS TO RESPOND TO 9-1-1 CALLS.
YOUR RESPONSE TIME IS NOT ANY HIGHER, BECAUSE ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID WHEN I GOT HERE IS THERE MUST BE AT LEAST TWO WEST OF 103RD PERIOD.
DISPATCH IS INSTRUCTED NOT TO BRING THEM BACK EAST UNLESS THEY ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO FOR AN EMERGENCY, BUT FOR THE OTHER THREE DISTRICTS, EAST, WEST AND MIDTOWN.
IN A PERFECT WORLD, WE'D HAVE 20 OFFICERS PER SHIFT IF WE WERE FULLY STAFFED.
FOUR SHIFTS THAT ROTATE DAYS AND WEEKENDS.
SO IF YOU HAD 20 ON A FULLY STAFFED PD, WHICH WE AREN'T THERE YET,
[02:30:04]
WE'VE GOT ABOUT 10 OPENINGS.GOT PEOPLE GOT 12 IN THE HIRING PROCESS RIGHT NOW.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'LL MAKE IT, BUT IF WERE IN A PERFECT WORLD, THERE WOULD BE 20 PATROL OFFICERS PER SHIFT.
YOU DIVIDE THAT BY THE 3 DISTRICTS, IN A PERFECT WORLD, YOU'D BE LOOKING AT SIX PER DISTRICT, THAT'S IT.
IT'S NOT GOING TO GET ANY BIGGER.
YOU STILL HAVE TO TAKE THE TRAINING DAYS OUT OF THAT, SICK DAYS OUT OF IT.
PEOPLE HAVING BABY DAYS OUT OF THAT.
ALL THOSE THINGS, SO AN AVERAGE DAY YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PROBABLY ABOUT 15, 16 HOURS, WHICH MEANS FOR BASICALLY FOUR PER DISTRICT.
THE MOTORCYCLE OFFICERS, THE ARMY OFFICERS, NARCOTICS OFFICERS, THE COMMUNITY SERVICES OFFICERS, STREET CRIMES OFFICERS AND DETECTIVES.
PATROL OFFICERS ONLY THERE WOULD BE 20.
IF I PUT 15 OUT WEST AND ALL THE CALLS ARE EAST IT'S NOT GOING TO MATTER, THEY GOT TO COME TO ANSWER THOSE CALLS.
SO A LOT OF IT IS CALL DRIVEN, BUT THE NUMBER OF ASSIGNED PER DISTRACT [INAUDIBLE] EACH YEAR IS EQUAL FOR THOSE DISTRICTS, EVEN THOUGH THE CALL VOLUME IS NOT EQUAL FOR THOSE DISTRICTS.
WELL, YOU'RE SAYING IT IS EQUAL FOR THE DISTRICT, BUT MY DISTRICT, SO THE DISTRICT IN DISCUSSION IS LIKE TWENTY FIVE MILES, WHEREAS THE OTHER TWO DISTRICTS ARE MUCH SMALLER.
BUT THE VOLUME IS MUCH HIGHER.
AND AND THE CALL VOLUME IS HIGHER.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'M UNCOVERING AS I GO THROUGH BECAUSE EACH NEIGHBORHOOD IS PAYING ON TOP OF THE TAXES FOR SECURITY, WHETHER IT'S OFF DUTY SHERIFF'S OR OFF DUTY POLICE.
THERE'S A LOT OF CALLS THAT YOU DON'T RECEIVE THAT I'M WORKING ON CHANGING THAT OR WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A WAY TO FIX THAT.
I JUST THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE DISTRICTS BECAUSE IT'S BECOMING MORE AND MORE OF AN ISSUE AND I HAVE TO ANSWER TO PEOPLE EVERY DAY ON THIS, AND IT'S A VALID IT'S A VALID COMPLAINT.
I'LL GET CALLS SAYING THAT WHY ARE THEY OUT HERE [INAUDIBLE] LIKE I GOT CURSED OUT OVER THE WEEKEND.
WHY DO YOU HAVE THEM STOPPING THESE GOLF CARTS.
DON'T THEY HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO? AND [INAUDIBLE] THEM IF YOU WANT TO POLICE PRESENCE AND WHEN WE PROVIDE POLICE PRESENCE WE GET ASKED, DON'T THEY HAVE SOMETHING BETTER TO DO? HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AND ON THE WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS, FOR INSTANCE, JUST THIS PAST WEEK, YOU HAD MORE COVERAGE THAN ANYBODY ON THIS ISLAND.
WE HAD ADDITIONAL WE HAD MOUNTED OUT [INAUDIBLE].
WE HAD OFFICERS ON ATVS AT BOTH [INAUDIBLE] AND SUNNY BEACH.
WE HAD OFFICERS WORKING 305 FOR TRAFFIC, ALL THESE THINGS FOR SPRING BREAK.
SO AS THESE SPECIAL EVENTS AND OTHER THINGS COME UP, I KNOW THE TOURS GO OUT WEST AND THEN WE STAFF THAT ACCORDINGLY.
BUT WE HAD OVER TIME, EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR EIGHT DAYS TO MAKE SURE WE PROVIDED ADDITIONAL COVERAGE SPECIFICALLY OUT WEST.
WE ALSO HAVE EVERY DAY ONE OFFICER [INAUDIBLE] DOWNTOWN, OBVIOUSLY TWO OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO THE SEAWALL THAT ARE TAKEN OUT OF THE 20 AS WELL.
SO IT'S JUST A MATTER OF NUMBERS, BUT ABSOLUTELY, WE CAN GET MORE NUMBERS AND PUT MORE OUT THERE.
WE STILL HAVE TO HAVE TO HIRE THEM.
WE'VE HAD AN AVERAGE OF SIX SINCE THE DAY I GOT HERE, SIX TO 12, AND WE HIRED OVER 50 LAST YEAR.
BUT PEOPLE, RETIRED PEOPLE LEAVE, ET CETERA.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, EVEN IF WE GET FULLY STAFFED, IT'D BE ABOUT 20 OFFICERS PER SHIFT TO COVER THIS ISLAND.
AND THAT THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS.
AND I GUESS THIS IS PART OF THE PROBLEM.
AND I KNOW BRIAN AND I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS.
THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS DEPARTMENT HAS CALLED OUT TO THAT ARE ACTUALLY CODE ISSUES, AND THAT'S A WASTE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S TIME, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU MIGHT HAVE, YOU KNOW, A CAR BURGLARIES GOING ON [INAUDIBLE], AND THEY'RE DEALING WITH A SHORT TERM RENTAL.
MAYBE WHAT WE CAN DO IN THIS IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS IS YOU AND I AND BRIAN AND MAYBE EVEN BUTCH.
WE COULD SIT DOWN TO LOOK AT WHAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO DO TO FIX IT.
BECAUSE THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT ACTUALLY IS A CRIME CRIME OR A BREAK IN WHERE IT CAN TAKE UP TO 20 MINUTES TO GET A POLICE OFFICER OUT TO A HOUSE.
[02:35:02]
AND I KNOW WE'RE YOU KNOW, ON YOUR STAFF, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SIDES OF THE DISTRICT, MY DISTRICT IS REALLY UNDERSTAFFED.BOTH OF US SUFFER FROM THAT SINCE THE BREAK OFF IS 61ST STREET.
SO MAYBE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US GET A MEETING ON THE BOOKS IN THAT FIRST WEEK SPEAKERS] THE INVITATION STANDS.
I INVITED EVERY ONE OF YOU TO HAVE INDIVIDUAL MEET WITH ME CONCERNING SPECIFIC ISSUES TO YOUR DISTRICT.
AND WE CAN DISCUSS DISTRICT ISSUES, CRIME ETC.
WE TRY TO [INAUDIBLE] ALL THE CRIME NUMBERS AND CALLS AND ALL THE THINGS SPECIFIC TO YOUR DISTRICT AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
AND WE CAN SHOW YOU THOSE THINGS.
THAT'S WHY I SENT THE INVITATION [INAUDIBLE] BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
AND MARIE, JUST SO YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I MET AS RECENTLY AS YESTERDAY WITH CHIEF HALE.
I'M A BIG PROPONENT OF GETTING AS MANY NON POLICE NEEDED FUNCTIONS OUT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS IS NECESSARY AND GET THEM INTO AREAS WHERE.
IT FREES UP HIS OFFICERS TO DO THE WORK THAT WE HIRED HIM TO DO.
AND IT ALSO HELPS US PERFORM THOSE IN A MUCH MORE COST EFFECTIVE MANNER.
[INAUDIBLE], MR. MAXWELL AND THE MAYOR ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO TRY TO GET EVEN LIKE THE HOMELESS AND MENTAL HEALTH WHICH [INAUDIBLE] THESE WELFARE CHECKS AND ALL THESE TYPES OF THINGS THE MORE WE CAN DO TO GET THOSE TYPES OF THINGS OFF POLICE PLATE.
ESPECIALLY IN YOUR DISTRICT, MARIE, WHERE YOU HAVE AN AGING POPULATION IN SOME OF YOUR MORE PERMANENT RESIDENTS.
THIS WILL BE A BIG THING BECAUSE WE DO A LOT OF WELFARE CHECKS IN YOUR AREA.
I ACTUALLY HEARD OF AND I KNOW EMS DOESN'T FALL UNDER POLICE.
THERE WAS A CASE WHERE WAS A HEART ATTACK AND IT TOOK 20 MINUTES FOR THAT EMS TO GET THERE.
I KNOW YOU CHIEF HAVE REACHED OUT TO ALL OF US AND WE HAVE ALL HAD A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON.
WOULD YOU WOULD YOU LET ME KNOW WHERE THAT CASE WAS? BECAUSE WITHIN 20 MINUTES THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A FIRE BUMPER THERE.
BUT MARIE, WHY DON'T WE GET WITH IF YOU'LL GET WITH BRIAN AND CHIEF AND LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO ADDRESS THAT.
THERE IS A LOT OF TALKS GOING ON.
I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH BRIAN AND THE CHIEF ON LOOKING AT THESE CALLS THAT TIE UP POLICE THAT ARE NOT CRIMINAL OR CRIME ORIENTED, CALLS THAT MAY BE BE HANDLED IN A DIFFERENT MANNER, THAT WILL BE BROUGHT BACK TO COUNCIL HERE, I THINK, IN THE FUTURE HERE FOR US TO WEIGH IN ON.
I THINK IT'S ALSO GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR THOSE GUYS OUT WEST TO GET OUT OF THESE CARS.
AND I THINK A LOT OF IT IS JUST VISIBILITY AND NOT BEING SEEN.
AND SO I THINK THEY GOT ALSO DO A BETTER JOB OF COMMUNICATING WITH OUR FOLKS AND MAKING SURE THEY GET ON THOSE SIDE STREETS AND RESIDENTIAL STREETS, NOT JUST HANGING OUT ON THE ON THE OUTSKIRTS AND 3005.
I'D LIKE TO SAY THEY THEY DO DO A GOOD JOB OF THAT.
THEY COME TO THE WEST GALVESTON ISLAND MEETINGS, THEY COME TO DIFFERENT HOMEOWNERS MEETINGS WHEN THERE'S FUNCTIONS OR WHATNOT, THEY WILL MAKE A POINT TO SHOW UP.
ANY OTHER THOUGHTS MARIE ON THAT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING WITH YOU ALL ON THE BEGINNING OF APRIL.
[3.G. Discussion Of Golf Cart Issues On Seawall Boulevard (Quiroga/Robb - 15 Minutes)]
AND WE'RE NOW MOVING TO ITEM 3 G, PLEASE, JANELLE.DISCUSSION OF GOLF CART ISSUES ON SEAWALL BOULEVARD, PERMITTING SAFETY ISSUES, CITATIONS, LOCATIONS DRIVABLE.
MARIE, BUT I LIKE TO THROW IN ALSO WE NEED TO TAKE ON THE CONSIDERATIONS ON THE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE BEACH, WHICH IS CLOSEST TO THE GULF WE'RE STARTING TO HAVE A LOT OF THE GOLF CARTS THAT ARE PARKING.
AND MY CONCERN TO THE CHILDREN THAT ARE RIDING IN THE BACK, THEY'RE NOT SECURED, BUT THAT'S ONE ISSUE.
THE OTHER ISSUE IS WE HAVE A LOT OF MOTOR LIKE MOTOR BIKES WITH ELECTRIC MOTORS ON IT.
THEY'RE ALL RIDING UP AND DOWN THE BOULEVARD AND YOU HAVE PEDESTRIANS WORKING AND LIKE THIS PAST WEEKEND, IT WAS SO PACKED, I STAYED OFF THE BEACH BECAUSE I SOMETIMES LIKE TO GO RIDING ON THE BEACH WITH MY BIKE, BUT I DON'T DO IT BECAUSE OF ALL
[02:40:01]
THE HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH SCURRIES WITH THE SCOOTERS THAT ARE COMING OUT, LIKE TO SCOOTERS AND ELECTRONIC BIKES THAT ARE BEING USED OUT THERE.YEAH, WE BOTH PUT THIS ITEM ON.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE GOLF CARTS REMOVED FROM THE SEAWALL PERIOD.
THIS WEEK, THESE PAST COUPLE WEEKS.
I KNOW THEY'RE ONLY SUPPOSED TO GO SO FAR.
AND SUPPOSEDLY ON THE RENTALS, THEY HAVE THAT INSTRUCTION.
WELL, I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THAT IS NOT BEING FOLLOWED.
THEY ARE GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE END OF THE SEAWALL AS WELL AS BEYOND WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 45.
AGAIN, WE DON'T NEED OUR POLICE HAVING TO SPEND THEIR TIME GETTING THESE ILLEGALLY RUN GOLF CARTS.
I THINK WHEN I'M NOT EVEN SURE HOW GOLF CARTS BECAME ALLOWED ON THE SEAWALL.
BUT IT IS SUCH A TREMENDOUS SAFETY ISSUE.
I CAN'T TELL YOU AND I WOULDN'T CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE IF I GOT A PICTURE OF EVERY SINGLE ONE THAT WAS WITHOUT SEATBELTS, THAT HAD KIDS HANGING OFF THE BACK, THAT WERE OVERCROWDED, THAT WERE WEAVING IN AND OUT OF CARS.
AND I THINK WE'RE JUST, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S IT GOING TO TAKE SOMEONE TO DIE.
WE HAVE HAD GOLF CART INCIDENTS, EVEN WITH OUR PORT DIRECTOR WHERE HE WAS HIT BEHIND.
IT'S JUST THANK GOD THAT HIS YOUNG SON WASN'T KILLED.
BOTH HIS WIFE AND HIS SON HAD SIGNIFICANT INJURIES.
IT ISN'T SAFE THAT STREET IS TOO BUSY.
IT DOES NOT SERVE ANYONE WELL HAVING GOLF CARTS ON THE SEAWALL.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US PUT A LAW INTO EFFECT THAT STOPS IT.
DAVID, YOU HAVE A COMMENT ON THAT? YEAH, I DON'T SEE WHY THIS ISN'T A POLICE ISSUE.
THIS IS A MOVING VIOLATION, TRAFFIC ISSUES, TRAFFIC SAFETY.
BUT THAT'S PART OF WHAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES.
I MEAN, THE CHIEF FEELS DIFFERENTLY ABOUT THAT HE CAN WEIGH IN.
BUT I MEAN, THAT'S YOU KNOW, THE TICKETING THEM IS THE SAME AS TICKETING A VEHICLE, THEY SHOULD ALL BE REGISTERED.
THEY SHOULD HAVE A REGISTRATION NUMBER THAT SO THE TICKET, COULD BE APPLIED TO THEM BECAUSE IT'S NOT APPARENT THAT WE'RE CHARGING THEM FOR PARKING BECAUSE I DON'T YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T HAVE A LICENSE PLATE.
SO I'M NOT SURE HOW PARKING ENFORCEMENT EVEN WOULD GO ABOUT DOING THAT.
BUT WE DO NEED TO FIND A WAY TO DO THAT BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST SUMMER WE'VE HAD IN A LONG TIME.
AND THIS IS THESE CARTS ARE OUT THERE.
THE FLUORESCENT ONES ARE A LOT MORE APPARENT NOW, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO BE MORE CARTS.
YOU KNOW, I SUGGEST WE RAISE THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE SEAWALL TO THIRTY SIX MILES AN HOUR, MAKE IT ILLEGAL FOR THEM TO BE OUT THERE AT ALL.
WHAT DID YOU SAY MARIE, SORRY.
I SAID RAISING THE SPEED LIMIT WOULD BE GREAT.
BUT JUST TO YOUR COMMENT, DAVID SAYING THAT IT IS A POLICE MATTER, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE AGAIN, THAT OUR POLICING DISTRICT RUNS FROM 61ST STREET WEST TO THE END OF THE ISLAND.
AND WE DON'T WANT OUR POLICEMEN ON THE SEAWALL WRITING TICKETS BECAUSE GOLF CARTS SHOULDN'T BE ON THE SEAWALL TO BEGIN WITH.
IT'S TOO MUCH OF A THING [INAUDIBLE] [INAUDIBLE] GOLF CARTS SHOULDN'T BE DRIVEN BY CHILDREN AND THEY SHOULDN'T BE ON 3005.
AND THE CHIEF JUST COMMENTED ON ENFORCING THAT ON THE WEST END.
BUT AGAIN, IT'S TYING UP OUR POLICE FORCE AND WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH A WAY TO ADDRESS IT.
BUT SPECIFICALLY, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THE SEAWALL AND.
THAT'S NOT LIMITED TO THE SEAWALL MARIE, BECAUSE YOU HAVE THAT ISSUE IN YOUR DISTRICT, TOO, IT'S A BIG PROBLEM ON THE SEAWALL.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT ENFORCEMENT THAT IT'S ALREADY AGAINST THE LAW TO DRIVE IT ON 3005 OR FOR CHILDREN TO DRIVE IT.
AND YOU KNOW WHO'S GOING TO ENFORCE THAT? I DON'T THINK YOU CAN PUT PARKING ENFORCEMENT OUT THERE TO DO IT.
YOU NEED TO YOU NEED TO HAVE THE POLICE DO IT.
THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE ENFORCEMENT IN YOUR DISTRICT ON THIS AS WELL.
AND OUR DISTRICT ISN'T SO MUCH AN ISSUE ON 3005 BECAUSE WE DON'T REALLY SEE THEM ANYTHING BUT CROSSING OVER AND THAT IS ALLOWED BY LAW.
THE ISSUE WE HAVE OUT HERE THAT WE DO HAVE A LOT OF SIGNAGE IS PEOPLE WITHOUT A VALID
[02:45:01]
LICENSE DRIVING THE GOLF CART.BUT AGAIN, THE ISSUE TODAY OR THE DISCUSSION ITEM TO KEEP US ON TRACK IS REMOVING GOLF CARTS FROM THE SEAWALL IS SOMETHING AN ORDINANCE THAT I WILL PLAN ON PUTTING UP ON PERHAPS THE NEXT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SEE SOMEONE DIE.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW.
I'M NOT I KNOW DAVID SAID THIS IN JEST, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE ANYBODY SUPPORTS RAISING THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE SEAWALL.
WE LOWERED IT FOR PEDESTRIANS.
WELL, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO RAISE THE SPEED LIMIT TO PROHIBIT GOLF CARTS.
YOU PASS AN ORDINANCE TO PROHIBIT GOLF CARTS.
YOU CAN PROHIBIT GOLF CARTS ON THE SEAWALL.
AND I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER SCHUSTER HAD HIS HAND UP BUT THE ISSUE ON THE SEAWALL.
IT'S DANGEROUS TO DRIVE A CAR UP THERE SOMETIMES.
LET ALONE HAVING GOLF CARTS UP THERE WITHOUT ANY PROTECTION, NO SEATBELTS, CHILDREN AND BABIES IN THE BACK OF THESE CARTS, IN THESE GOLF CARTS.
IT'S NOT AN AREA THAT WE NEED TO HAVE GOLF CARTS.
AND I FELT THAT WAY FOR A LONG TIME.
WE DON'T HAVE TO CHANGE THE SPEED LIMIT.
WE CAN HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT JUST PROHIBITS IT IN THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION.
CAN WE PUT THIS ON FOR A LONGER WORKSHOP DISCUSSION ITEM, BECAUSE I THINK THERE ARE SEVERAL ISSUES HERE THAT WE'RE GOING TO GLAZE RIGHT OVER BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO SPEND AN HOUR TALKING ABOUT THIS.
I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND I'M GOING TO GIVE SOME THOUGHTS AND SEE WHAT COUNCIL FEELS.
I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS WE NEED TO PUT IT ON FOR ANOTHER DISCUSSION.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT GOLF CARTS IN GENERAL ON NOT ONLY THE SEAWALL, BUT OTHER AREAS AND HOW THEY'RE BEING MANAGED.
AND THEN WE NEED TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
WELL, THAT AND JUST KEEP IN MIND, GUYS, THERE'S DIFFERENT RULES FOR DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY.
AND WE MAY HAVE BEEN TO THE POINT WITH THE SATURATION OF GOLF CARTS THAT OUR RULES NEED TO BECOME UNIFORM.
IF IT'S SAFE, IF YOU'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE SEAT BELTS IN TOWN, IT ONLY MAKES SENSE THAT YOU SHOULD REALLY BE WEARING SEAT BELTS ON THE WEST END TOO, I MEAN, ACCIDENTS ARE ACCIDENTS AND THEY CAN HAPPEN AT THE END OF YOUR DRIVEWAY JUST LIKE THEY CAN ANYWHERE ELSE.
SO IF IT'S ABOUT THE SAFETY, I THINK THAT WOULD HELP.
AND THAT ALSO STOPS THE CONFUSION OF THIS RULE APPLIES HERE, BUT IT DOESN'T APPLY THERE.
AND I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE UNIFORM.
AND IT'S JUST BECAUSE GOLF CARTS HAVE EVOLVED QUICKER THAN OUR RULES HAVE.
AND I THINK THAT WE CAN WE CAN DO THAT AS WELL AS WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER QUIROGA SAID.
I BELIEVE NO MECHANIZED VEHICLES SHOULD BE NON PEDDLE DRIVEN VEHICLE SHOULD BE ON OUR SIDEWALKS.
DONNA, BUTCH AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO DRAFT THE GOLF CART ORDINANCE.
YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE WORKSHOP NEXT MONTH IF WE WISH, YOU KNOW, REALLY FLESH IT OUT, BUT ALSO MOTORIZED VEHICLES OF ANY TYPE ON SCENE WHILE I.
YOU KNOW, ELECTRIC SKATEBOARDS OR WHATEVER.
THINGS GO PRETTY QUICK AND THEY ARE A SAFETY HAZARD.
AND SO WE'VE GOT TO COME UP WITH A WAY TO DEAL WITH THAT.
JANELLE, IF YOU DON'T MIND LOOKING AT ON OUR AGENDA FOR NEXT WORKSHOP FOR THAT ORDINANCE SO THAT WE CAN START DELVING INTO THIS AND COUNCIL, GET YOUR THOUGHTS TOGETHER ON THIS.
WILLIAM, YOU'VE BEEN SO PATIENT.
NO IT'S FINE, A LOT OF MY QUESTIONS WERE JUST ANSWERED.
AND ALSO, I KIND OF APPRECIATE US MOVING THAT FOR A LITTLE MORE DISCUSSION TO NEXT MONTH.
BUT RIGHT NOW DO THE RENTAL GOLF CARTS HAVE THE SAME PERMITTING AS RESIDENTS OR PERSONAL ONES LIKE WITH MINE, I TAKE IT.
YOU KNOW, I TAKE MY LITTLE CHECKLIST DOWN AND I GET MY REGISTRATION PERMIT.
BUT DOES EACH INDIVIDUAL GOLF CART GO THROUGH THAT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE EVEN SAFE AT THIS POINT? I CAN ANSWER THAT.
CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW ALL GOLF CART PERMITS ARE HANDLED THE SAME AS THE ORDINANCE.
WE DO HAVE AN EAST END AND WEST END CRITERIA.
I'M ACTUALLY WORKING ON SOMETHING, TRYING TO MAKE IT UNIFORM, AS [INAUDIBLE] SAID.
I'M ALSO LOOKING AT THE INSPECTION PROCESS WHERE THEY HAVE TO HAVE IT INSPECTED WITH A LOCAL BUSINESS THAT'S APPROVED TO MAKE SURE IT IS A GOLF CART AND DOES HAVE ALL THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT [INAUDIBLE] AND THEN THEY CAN GET THERE PERMIT.
SO EVERY ALL THE RENTAL GOLF CARTS GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NOT AN INSPECTION PROCESS IN PLACE BY ORDINANCE.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, ALL THE [INAUDIBLE] COMPANIES DO HAVE ALL THE EQUIPMENT REQUIRED FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN.
AND I'VE VISITED EVERY ONE OF THEM.
[02:50:02]
AND THERE MAY BE SOME THAT SLIP THROUGH FROM TIME TO TIME BUT RESIDENTIAL A RESIDENT GETTING A PERMIT GOES THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS AS THE RENTAL COMPANIES GO THROUGH TO GET A PERMIT.REVEREND JOHNSON, YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP.
ALSO, JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
WGEN WE'RE DISCUSSING THIS ISSUE WITH THE SEAWALL.
ISN'T THE SEAWALL CONSIDERED A STATE HIGHWAY? BUT FROM SIX TO SIXTY FIRST.
THAT IS ACTUALLY A IT'S A CITY STREET, BUT IT'S A COUNTY OWNED STREET.
AND I'LL JUST SAY GENERALLY FOR ENFORCEMENT, WE ALL KNOW THIS IS 99 PERCENT TOURISTS ON THE SEAWALL.
I THINK IT IS A REQUIREMENT IN MY HOA IF YOU DON'T HAVE A GOLF CART, THEY PUT YOU OUT OF THE COMMUNITY.
BUT FOR THE SEAWALL SPECIFICALLY, THAT'S NINETY NINE POINT NINE NINE PERCENT TOURISTS.
AND SO, GENERALLY SPEAKING, YES, I AGREE WITH MR. COLLINS, IT IS A FUNCTION OF POLICING AS WELL, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S SAFETY AND ACCIDENTS THAT CAN BE INVOLVED.
HOWEVER, LIKE MS. ROBB SAID, IT DOES TAKE UP TIME.
BUT GENERALLY, I HEARD THEM OUT THERE ALL SPRING BREAK STOPPING GOLF CARTS, CETERA, BUT THEY DIDN'T WRITE A LOT OF TICKETS.
THEY GENERALLY WARN THEM AS TO SAY, HEY, THIS IS WHAT I NEED YOU TO DO, BUT I RECOGNIZE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STEP UP AT SOME POINT AND START ISSUING THOSE CITATIONS, ESPECIALLY WITH KIDS DRIVING AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE SEATBELTS AND THE SAFETY ISSUES AND THOSE THINGS, RATHER THAN THE TYPICAL VERBAL WARNINGS WHICH I GUARANTEE WE PROBABLY DO AT LEAST 80 PERCENT OF THE TIME.
I DON'T KNOW IF HE GIVES MOSTLY WARNINGS OR CITATIONS, ETC., BUT I GENERALLY PULL THEM OVER EVEN WHEN I'M ON THE WALL, AND SEE KIDS DRIVING AND MAKE THEM GET OUT OF AND SWITCH SEATS WITH THEM.
BUT I AGREE, AT SOME POINT WE'VE GOT TO START WRITING THOSE TICKETS.
CHIEF, BUTCH STROUD WAS A FORMER MOTOR OFFICER.
I DON'T BELIEVE HE HAS A WARNING BOOK.
DON, IF WE COULD GET THIS, IF YOU WOULD MIND, SIR, ON THE AGENDA FOR OUR NEXT WORKSHOP ON THAT ORDINANCE AND CHIEF, I HEAR THAT YOUR GOLF CART IS PAINTED CAMOUFLAGE, IS THAT RIGHT? NOT YET.
I'M WORKING ON IT, I'M WORKING ON IT, MAYBE THE NEXT ONE, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE SEA WALL OFFICERS.
WE'RE GETTING A NEW UTV FOR OUT THERE.
AND AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO GET SOME BICYCLE TRAINING AND IT'LL BE A LOT EASIER FOR THEM TO DEAL WITH THOSE FOLKS ON BICYCLES AND STUFF AS WELL.
THANK YOU, COUNCILOR ROBB, COUNCILMAN QUIROGA.
THANKS FOR BRINGING THIS TOPIC FORWARD.
[3.H. Discussion Of Proposed Policy Related To The Return To In Person Meetings And Associated Protocol Related To Public Attendance At City Council And City Committee Meetings (Brown – 15 Minutes) ]
ITEM 3H PLEASE, JANELLE.DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED POLICY RELATED TO THE RETURN TO IN-PERSON MEETINGS AND ASSOCIATED PROTOCOL RELATED TO THE PUBLIC ATTENDANCE AT CITY COUNCIL AND CITY COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
WE DISCUSSED THIS A LITTLE BIT COUNCIL, ANY OTHER FURTHER THOUGHTS? IT IS A VOTING ITEM ON 11 B ON OUR AGENDA THIS AFTERNOON.
SO ANY THOUGHTS ON THIS ITEM? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, WILLIAM, GO RIGHT AHEAD THEN MARIE.
I SUPPORT ONE HUNDRED PERCENT GOING BACK TO PUBLIC MEETINGS, I JUST THINK DISCUSSIONS AND SO FORTH AND ARE SO MUCH BETTER WHEN DONE IN PERSON AND I HAVE TO ONE HUNDRED PERCENT SUPPORT ROSIE WHEN SHE SAYS THAT I JUST STARE AT A SCREEN WITH A BUNCH OF LITTLE SQUARES ON A TALKING WAY TOO MUCH.
SO WE'LL BE FOLLOWING THE ONE HOUR IN PERSON MEETING TIME WHEN WE DO THAT AT 5:00, YOU KNOW, FROM FIVE TO SIX AND HAVE OUR WORKSHOPS AS ZOOM FORMAT LIKE WE'RE DOING NOW TO KIND OF GET AROUND THAT HOUR TIME LIMIT.
WELL, THAT WOULD BE ONE THOUGHT OF HAVING OUR WORKSHOPS FOR THE TIME BEING, STAYING VIRTUALLY AND THEN HAVING IN-PERSON MEETINGS HERE.
THEY HAVE LAID OUT A FORMAT IN TO BRING 204 A WAY COUNCIL COULD BE POSITIONED AROUND AN EXTENDED CONFERENCE TABLE THERE.
AND WE COULD HAVE IN-PERSON MEETINGS THAT WOULD NOT ALLOW REALLY FOR PUBLIC ATTENDANCE.
WOULDN'T BE A LOT OF ROOM FOR HAVING HARDLY ANY PUBLIC ATTENDANCE ON THAT.
WE MAY WANT TO KEEP OUR PUBLIC ATTENDANCE VIRTUAL FOR A LITTLE WHILE, EVEN THOUGH WE START BACK OUR IN-PERSON MEETINGS WITH A REGULAR MEETING.
AND THEN, OF COURSE IT WOULD BE UP TO COUNCIL IF WE WANTED TO DO WORKSHOPS
[02:55:04]
VIRTUALLY OR IN PERSON.AND COACH I'LL TAKE I'LL TAKE THE HIT FOR SUGGESTING THE VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS.
AND I MAINLY DO THAT BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR SCREEN HOW MANY STAFF ARE INVOLVED IN THE MEETING.
AND IF YOU START PUTTING ALL THEM IN A ROOM IN A WORKSHOP SETTING, WE QUICKLY DON'T FOLLOW ANY GUIDELINES.
SO THAT'S WHY MAYBE THE WORKSHOP IS BETTER SUITED TO ZOOM.
BUT I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ROBB, MAYBE THE IN-PERSON MEETING AND CERTAINLY MUCH EASIER TO KEEP THAT IN-PERSON MEETING TO AN HOUR, ESPECIALLY IF WE DO OUR IF WE DO GOOD WORK IN OUR WORKSHOP.
IT'S EASY TO KEEP THOSE MEETINGS TO AN HOUR.
I HAVE A FURTHER ON TO MY QUESTION.
IF YOU HAVE THEY SAY TO KEEP THEM TO AN HOUR AND LET'S SAY WE HAPPEN TO HAVE A COUNCIL MEETING IN PERSON AND IT DOES REQUIRE GOING TO AN HOUR, COULD WE PUT IN A BREAK TIME AND THEN COME BACK, WHICH WE HAVE DONE PREVIOUSLY IN COUNCIL MEETINGS? WE COULD YES, WE.
I WAS GOING TO ASK WHEN WE MOVE TO IN PERSON, I READ THROUGH THE RULES AND STUFF WE WOULD FOLLOW.
DO WE STILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR PUBLIC OR A FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBER OR STAFF TO ZOOM WHILE THE REST ARE LIVE? WE WOULD, IN MY OPINION, I THINK WE WOULD NEED TO.
I THINK WE'VE ALWAYS HAD THAT OPTION AND THE ONLY LIMIT ON THAT IS IT BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT TO OPERATE HYBRID MEETINGS AND BROADCAST THEM.
I WAS JUST WORRIED THAT ONE OF US HAD TO QUARANTINE OR ONE OF US WAS MISSING OR THEY GOT SICK.
AND IT WAS THE ONLY OPTION AVAILABLE TO THEM.
IN MY MIND THE BIGGEST CONSTRAINT ON AN HOUR LONG MEETING IS RUNNING OUT OF OXYGEN WITH THE MASK ON.
VERY QUICKLY, WASN'T THE BREAK AFTER ONE HOUR MEETING SO THE ROOM COULD BE SANITIZED BEFORE YOU GO BACK INTO IT? CORRECT.
SO, YOU KNOW, FOR FOLLOW STRICT TO FOLLOWING GUIDELINES JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND.
WELL, I'M HAPPY TO HAVE A ONE HOUR COUNCIL MEETING, FIVE TO SIX.
AND IF THEY DO, YOU KNOW, WE WILL JUST HAVE AND WE WILL NOTE THE MEETING.
I ASSUME THAT IF THE MEETING GOES LONGER THAN AN HOUR, THERE MAY BE BREAKS IN STARTING.
I DON'T THINK YOU SCHEDULED IT RIGHT.
I THINK YOU JUST HAVE TO MENTION TO THEM THAT COULD HAPPEN.
DON'T YOU GUARANTEE IT'S JUST AN HOUR.
SO I'M WITH YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER QUIROGA, I'M WITH YOU ON THAT ONE.
WERE YOU THROUGH WITH YOUR COMMENTS.
IF I COULD INTERJECT, I SENT A QUICK MEMO ON THE COASTAL PROTECTION LEGISLATION SALLY WAS IN, BUT SHE HAD TO RUN BACK TO A COMMITTEE.
SENATOR [INAUDIBLE] BILL IS GOING TO GO UP FOR A HEARING NEXT WEEK, AND IT IS ESSENTIAL SALLY POINTS OUT THAT THE CORE REQUIRES A LOCAL SPONSOR WITH AD VALOREM TAXING AUTHORITY FOR THIS PROJECT TO GO FORWARD.
AREN'T THERE CDC GUIDELINES FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED AND NOT VACCINATED AND SINCE GALVESTON COUNTY HAS OPENED THE VACCINE PROCESS TO EVERYONE, IF OUR COUNCIL WAS FULLY VACCINATED AND OR HAD MOST OR SOME OF THE MEMBERS MAY HAVE HAD COVID ALREADY AND HAVE BEEN VACCINATED, DOESN'T IT FALL UNDER DIFFERENT GUIDELINES? BECAUSE I KNOW THEY SPECIFICALLY PUT OUT A SAID IF THE GROUP HAS BEEN VACCINATED.
COUNCIL MEMBER, I CAN ADDRESS THAT.
WHEN WE DRAFTED THE REGULATIONS, THEY HAD NOT YET COME OUT WITH THEIR GUIDANCE ON FULLY VACCINATED SMALL GROUP MEETINGS, WHICH THEY'VE ISSUED NOW.
AND I THINK THEIR CONSENSUS WAS AT THAT TIME IS IF EVERYBODY IN THE MEETING HAD BEEN VACCINATED.
THEY STILL RECOMMENDED THE MINIMAL HOUR, BUT YOU CAN MEET WITHOUT MASKS IF EVERYBODY'S VACCINATED.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN EXCLUSION THAT I RECALL ABOUT IF YOU'D HAD COVID.
THEY JUST ADDRESSED VACCINATIONS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
WE ARE NOW MOVING ITEM 3I, JANELLE.
[3.I. Report Of City Council's Park Board Representative (Collins/Brown - 10 Minutes) ]
3I, REPORT OF CITY COUNCIL PARK BOARD REPRESENTATIVE.YES, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A JOINT MEETING WITH THE PARK BOARD SCHEDULED.
[03:00:02]
MAYBE YOU DON'T KNOW THIS.SCHEDULED FOR OUR REGULAR APRIL MEETING.
WHERE WE'LL BE UPDATING YOU ON SEVERAL THINGS.
IF ANY OF YOU BEEN FOLLOWING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PARK BOARD, THE QUESTION OF WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE STEWART BEACH PAVILION IS REARING ITS EXPENSIVE HEAD AGAIN.
WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT MAINTENANCE ON THAT BUILDING AND WHERE WE COULD MOVE SOME OF THOSE SERVICES.
WE'RE ALREADY MOVING SOME OF THE SERVICES, PARKING, HELP DESK AND THOSE THINGS OUT OF THE STEWART BEACH PAVILION BECAUSE THERE'S SIGNIFICANT ISSUES AND SOME AIR CONDITIONING ISSUES.
SO THE BUILDING IS PROBABLY REACHING THE END OF ITS USEFUL LIFE.
THE STAFF OVER THERE WOULD LIKE TO JUST HAUL OFF AND TEAR IT DOWN.
WE TOLD THEM YESTERDAY NOT TILL YOU HAVE ALL THE REST OF THESE THINGS FIGURED OUT, SITED, RESTROOMS AND ALL ON THE SAND.
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO REPLACE OR RELOCATE ALL OF THOSE SERVICES.
THAT'S GOING TO BE THE BIG ISSUE.
ALSO, WE HAD ABOUT FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE DONE AT DELLANERA PARK PAVILION.
THAT WAS THE NUMBER ONE LOCATION WHERE WE HAD PIPES BREAK DURING THE FREEZE AND DID QUITE A BIT OF DAMAGE TO THE COMMON ROOM UP THERE.
BUT WE THINK MOST OF THAT'S GOING TO BE COVERED BY INSURANCE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THOSE FINAL FIGURES YET.
THOSE ARE THE BIG THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AT PARK BOARD.
WE WILL BE BACK TO TALK TO YOU IN APRIL IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR WANTS TO SEE ANYTHING SPECIFIC ADDRESSED IN THE JOINT MEETING IN THAT APRIL MEETING PLEASE GIVE ME A SEND ME AN EMAIL AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS.
AS COUNCILMAN COLLINS MENTIONED APRIL TWENTY SECOND JOINT MEETING WITH PARK BOARD, JUST FOR YOUR KNOWLEDGE.
REAL QUICKLY MAY 27TH JOINT MEETING WITH [INAUDIBLE] BOARD COMING UP.
SO WE'LL HAVE SOME MORE JOINT MEETINGS COMING UP HERE.
[4. EXECUTIVE SESSION ]
MOVING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.WE'RE GETTING READY TO RETIRE TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND JANELLE, WE HAVE A DIFFERENT SITE LINK FOR THAT.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
YOU'LL GO TO THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION LINK AND THEN ONCE YOU CONCLUDE EXECUTIVE SESSION, YOU'LL COME BACK TO THIS LINK SO WE CAN ADJOURN THE WORKSHOP.
JANELLE, WOULD YOU READ THE ITEMS FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION, PLEASE, MA'AM? AND SOMEONE ALSO NOTIFY ME WHEN I COME BACK IN.
JANELLE, COULD YOU LET COUNCILWOMAN ROB KNOW ONCE WE FINISH THAT 4A1 ITEM? I SURE WILL.
WE ARE MOVING INTO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
IT IS 12:02 AND FOR ITEMS 4A PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551 .
071 CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY AND 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 TO THE GOVERNMENTAL BODY UNDER THE TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS [INAUDIBLE] WITH THIS CHAPTER RELATED TO THE FOLLOWING 4A1 TEXAS RAILWAY EXCHANGE VERSUS CITY OF GALVESTON AND COUNTY COURT OF GALVESTON COUNTY AND CONDEMNATION AND ACTION AND 4B PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.072 DELIBERATION REGARDING REAL PROPERTY TO DISCUSS THE PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY.
IT IS 12:03 AND WE ARE NOW MOVING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.