[00:00:05]
ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL, GOOD AFTERNOON.
[1. DECLARATION OF A QUORUM AND CALL MEETING TO ORDER]
IT IS FIVE O'CLOCK, IT IS MARCH TWENTY FIFTH.THIS IS OUR REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND I'D LIKE TO WELCOME COUNCIL BACK.
WE HAD A VERY FRUITFUL WORKSHOP THIS MORNING.
STAFF, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
AND FOR THOSE IN ATTENDANCE IN THE COMMUNITY, GLAD TO HAVE YOU.
IT IS NOW FIVE O'CLOCK, AS I MENTIONED; I'M FORMALLY CALLING THE MARCH TWENTY FIFTH CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO ORDER.
WE DO HAVE A QUORUM, BUT NELLIE, IF YOU COULD CALL THE ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
WE HAVE OUR COUNCIL MEMBER HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER COLLINS IS COMING ON BOARD AS WE SPEAK.
REVEREND JOHNSON, I HATE TO CALL ON YOU AGAIN, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A ROTATING INVOCATION FROM DIFFERENT MINISTERS IN THE COMMUNITY STARTING IN APRIL.
BUT REVEREND JOHNSON, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND LEADING US TO PRAYER, PLEASE.
ETERNAL GOD, OUR FATHER, WHO IS OUR CREATOR AND MAKER, WHOM WE GIVE THANKS AND PRAISE ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR US TO [INAUDIBLE] FOR USE [INAUDIBLE] PROTECTION THAT YOU HAVE PUT AROUND US AND HAVE COME TOGETHER ON THIS DAY, WE BESEECH YOU, OH GOD, BY YOUR WONDERFUL DIVINE DIRECTION FOR OUR LIVES AS WE JOIN TOGETHER THIS EVENING SESSION FOR THE BENEFIT OF ONCE AGAIN SHARING AND GIVING LEADERSHIP TO THIS WONDERFUL ISLAND.
WE PRAY FOR THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF AND THOSE OFFICIALS WHO ARE YET A PART OF THIS GREAT WORK.
AND SO WE ASK THAT YOU ALLOW EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US TO HAVE A SPIRIT OF UNISON AS WE COME TOGETHER ON THIS DAY TO GIVE THANKS AND PRAISE WILL ALLOW US TO BE THE STEWARDS.
BUT MOST OF ALL, ASKING FOR YOUR GUIDANCE AND YOUR DIRECTION FOR ALL THINGS.
SO WE THIS, WE ASK IN YOUR SON JESUS NAME AMEN.
THANK YOU, REVEREND, VERY MUCH.
ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST THAT WOULD LIKE TO BE DECLARED AT THIS POINT.
[4. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST]
I'M NOT SURE IF I NEED TO DECLARE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST ON ONE ITEM THAT'S ON THE RAILROAD.OK, I DECLARE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST ON THE ITEM THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE RAILROAD, WHICH I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS AT THE TOP OF MY HEAD WE'LL HAVE A [INAUDIBLE] FOR YOU TO EXECUTE IN IT'S ITEM 10D, AS IN DAVID.
SO I GUESS WE WILL NEED TO PULL THAT WHEN WE TO CONSENT, SO I CAN ABSTAIN.
ALL RIGHT, VERY GOOD PRESENTATIONS OF COUNCIL OFFICERS AND BOARDS AND CITY
[5. PRESENTATIONS/REPORTS OF COUNCIL, OFFICER BOARDS, AND CITY MANAGER]
MANAGER-- DR. BROWN, IF I COULD, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT THE PARADE TOMORROW NIGHT FOR MIKE EVANS.AGAIN, HE'S A HOMETOWN BORN AND RAISED HERE IN GALVESTON, HE'S DONE PROUD BACKGROUND BY PLAYING IN SUPER BOWL.
WE'RE GOING TO BE HONORING HIM TOMORROW NIGHT.
LIKE I SAID, I THINK HIS GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT IS THAT HE WAS A STANDOUT ATHLETE AT TEXAS A&M [LAUGHTER] BUT HE ALSO MANAGED TO DO SOME THINGS IN A PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE HONORING, THE GISD AND SPECIFICALLY, I THINK IT WAS THEIR BOARD MEMBER, JOHNNY SMECCA, HAS ORGANIZED THIS PARADE IN THE CITY, HAS OFFERED TO HELP WITH IT.
IT BEGINS, I BELIEVE, AT 6:00 P.M.
STARTS, YOU KNOW, WE'LL DO THIS THE GALVESTON WAY AND NOT USE STREETS.
IT STARTS AT ACADEMY AND ENDS IT AND AT MENARD PARK.
SO WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET OUT THERE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE SOME KIDS THAT YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO EXPOSE THEM TO A FINE HUMAN BEING, THAT WOULD BE MIKE EVANS.
MIGHT BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO SEE HIM OUT THERE.
AND I'M SURE HE WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU, TOO.
SO I JUST WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT.
AND ALSO, THERE WILL BE A CEREMONY PRIOR TO THE STARTING OF THE PARADE WHERE I'LL REPRESENT THE CITY.
WE'RE GOING TO BE PRESENTING MIKE EVANS WITH THE KEY TO THE CITY AT THAT POINT.
I THINK THAT EVENT STARTS AROUND 5:00.
THAT WOULD BE PRIOR THERE AT THE STAGING OF THE PARADE THERE AROUND [INAUDIBLE] BEFORE THE PARADE STARTS.
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VERY GOOD.NELLIE, COULD YOU READ ITEM 5A, PLEASE, MA'AM? YES, SIR.
5A PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.0415, THE CITY COUNCIL MAY REPORT ON ANY OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. VERY GOOD.
MARIE, YOU HAD A THANK YOU, YOU WANTED TO-- YES, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE WEST GALVESTON ISLAND PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION FOR AWARDING ME THIS WEEKEND THIS BEAUTIFUL AND EVER SO HEAVY HUMANITARIAN AWARD FOR WHAT I WAS JUST DOING MY JOB DURING THE STORM.
BUT I AM BEYOND HONORED THAT THEY CREATED THIS GORGEOUS AWARD FOR ME AND I WANT TO THANK THEM.
I'M PROUD TO REPRESENT ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE WEST SECTION OF THE ISLAND.
EVEN THOUGH WE ARE ONE ISLAND, BUT DISTRICT 6, ESPECIALLY ROCKS.
ALL RIGHT-- NOW, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIVE THAT PLUMBING LICENSE.
[LAUGHTER] I GUESS I SHOULD HAVE HELD IT UP BACKWARDS BECAUSE THEN IT'S READABLE, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO [LAUGHTER] BUT, IT IS A BEAUTIFUL AWARD.
MOVING TO RECOGNITION OF INDIVIDUALS.
WE HAVE SOME PROCLAMATIONS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO READ.
AND I THINK WE HAVE SOME REPRESENTATIVES POSSIBLY OF EACH ONE OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS OR SOME OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL WANT TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS.
WE'LL START WITH INTERNATIONAL OLEANDER MONTH, AND THAT IS COUNCILMAN SCHUSTER.
WILLIAM? AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.
LET ME GET MY TEACHER VOICE READY.
[LAUGHTER] WELL, THE CITY OF GALVESTON WOULD LIKE TO ISSUE A PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS THE INTERNATIONAL OLEANDER SOCIETY WAS FOUNDED ON APRIL 18, NINETEEN SIXTY SEVEN BY LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PROMOTE GALVESTON AS THE OLEANDER CITY.
AND WHEREAS THE INTERNATIONAL OLEANDER SOCIETY WAS ESTABLISHED TO CULTIVATE AND PRESERVE OLEANDERS FOR THE BEAUTIFICATION OF GALVESTON ISLAND.
AND WHEREAS THE INTERNATIONAL OLEANDER SOCIETY ENDEAVORS TO PROMOTE, CARRY ON AND AID IN THE DEVELOPMENT, IMPROVEMENT AND PRESERVATION OF OLEANDER AND WHEREAS THE INTERNATIONAL OLEANDER SOCIETY WORKS TO EXTEND THE KNOWLEDGE, PRODUCTION, USE AND APPRECIATION OF OLEANDERS AND WHEREAS THE INTERNATIONAL OLEANDER SOCIETY HAS SUSTAINED AND OLEANDER GARDEN FOR OVER 50 YEARS IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN GALVESTON AND CURRENTLY MAINTAINS THE BETTY HEAD OLEANDER GARDEN PARK LOCATED AT TWENTY SIX TWENTY FOUR SEALY STREET, THAT IS HOME TO OVER 40 DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF OLEANDERS.
AND WHEREAS THE INTERNATIONAL OLEANDER SOCIETY HOSTS AN ANNUAL OLEANDER GARDEN FESTIVAL IN APRIL AS THE GARDEN AND THE 2021 FESTIVAL WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, APRIL 24TH, FROM 10 TO 4P.M..
THEREFORE, WE, THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF APRIL TWENTY TWENTY ONE AS INTERNATIONAL OLEANDER MONTH.
AFFIRMING THE CITY OF GALVESTON'S COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT AND APPRECIATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL OLEANDER SOCIETY AND ITS MEMBERS DEDICATION TO THE BETTY HEAD OLEANDER GARDEN PARK AND THE CONTINUING EFFORT TO PROMOTE GALVESTON AS THE OLEANDER CITY.
IN TESTIMONY WHERE I'VE WITNESSED MY HAND, THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, THIS TWENTY FIFTH DAY OF MARCH 2021.
VERY GOOD, THANK YOU, WILLIAM.
IT JUST MAYBE REMINDED ME, I NEED TO DO SOME YARD WORK THIS WEEKEND [LAUGHTER] JANELLE, DO WE HAVE SOMEONE REPRESENTING THE OLEANDER SOCIETY TO GET SOME WORDS ON THAT? I THINK WE MAY HAVE SOMEONE ON THE LINE.
I'VE JUST ALLOWED EVERYONE TO TALK.
IF SOMEONE HERE, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND SAY A FEW WORDS.
ANY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OLEANDER SOCIETY? OK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SCHUSTER.
MOVING TO OUR SECOND PROCLAMATION.
THIS IS FOR CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND AWARENESS MONTH.
JANELLE, COULD YOU READ THAT, PLEASE, MA'AM? YES, SIR.
THE CITY OF GALVESTON PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS CHILDREN ARE THE EMBODIMENT OF INNOCENCE AND OUR HOPE FOR THE FUTURE, AND EVERY CHILD DESERVES TO GROW UP IN A NURTURING ENVIRONMENT FREE FROM HARM AND FEAR.
SADLY, HOWEVER, CHILD ABUSE IS A REALITY IN TEXAS.
[00:10:01]
IT IS A PROBLEM WE MUST RELENTLESSLY JOIN FORCES TO COMBAT THROUGH AWARENESS, EDUCATION AND ACTION.THROUGH EDUCATION AND AWARENESS, PARENTING PROGRAMS, PROGRAMS THAT STRENGTHEN FAMILIES BY LEARNING THE SIGNS OF ABUSE.
TEACHING YOUNG CHILDREN ABOUT APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR.
SHARING INFORMATION WITH TEENS ABOUT HEALTHY DATING.
OFFERING A HELPING HAND TO STRESSED OUT CITY PARENTS.
REPORTING SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE.
ALL THESE INITIATIVES TO DISCOURAGE CHILD ABUSE.
AND WHEREAS OVER SIXTY EIGHT THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY ONE CHILDREN WERE CONFIRMED VICTIMS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN TEXAS JUST LAST YEAR AND OVER SIX HUNDRED AND THIRTY NINE OF THOSE CHILDREN WERE WITHIN GALVESTON COUNTY.
AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AFFECTING EVERY SEGMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY.
TO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT CHILD ABUSE, PARTNERSHIPS MUST BE ESTABLISHED BETWEEN CITIZENS, AGENCIES, SCHOOLS, RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND BUSINESS COMMUNITIES TO WORK TOGETHER AND MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO PROMOTE PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT CHILDREN AND STRENGTHEN FAMILY.
THEREFORE, STRONG COMMUNITIES THAT ARE SUPPORTIVE OF FAMILIES PLAY A ROLE IN PROMOTING CHILD AND FAMILY WELL-BEING.
WE, THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL AS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND AWARENESS MONTH IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, AND ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN US IN RENEWING OUR COMMITMENT TO PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND TO PROMOTE THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF OUR CITY'S CHILDREN.
IN TESTIMONY WHERE I'VE WITNESSED MY HAND IN THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, THE TWENTY FIFTH DAY OF MARCH, 2021, SIGNED DR.
CRAIG BROWN, MAYOR, AND JANELLE WILLIAMS, CITY SECRETARY, THANK YOU.
AND WE HAVE, I THINK, A MEMBER OF [INAUDIBLE] THAT IS HERE, THAT MIGHT SAY A FEW WORDS.
YES, MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH YOU ALL TODAY AT THE CITY COUNCIL AND TO ALL THE COUNCILMEN AND GUESTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
AND I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CONNIE RICKETTS OF GALVESTON COUNTY.
AND I'M ALSO HERE JUST TO REPRESENT ALL OF OUR CHILD SERVING AND FAMILY SERVING AGENCIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THANK YOU FOR HELPING US TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT CHILD ABUSE AND THAT WE ALL SHOULD BAND TOGETHER IN THE PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE AND JUST WRAP OURSELVES AROUND OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND HOW APPROPRIATE THAT MR. HANK THIERRY IS ON TODAY.
I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY, CHILDREN'S AND YOUTH BOARD, AND IT CERTAINLY IS PART OF OUR MISSION IS FOR THE CITY TO WRAP OUR ARMS AROUND OUR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN HERE ON THE GALVESTON ISLAND.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL AND FOR CLAIMING APRIL 2021 AS CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION MONTH.
MOVING NOW TO WE HAVE ANOTHER TWO MORE PROCLAMATIONS, ONE FOR THE SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH.
ALL RIGHT, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF STAFF ONCE AGAIN CITY OF GALVESTON PROCLAMATION WHEREAS SEXUAL ASSAULT IS A GROWING CONCERN FOR OUR COMMUNITY, STATE, NATION, AND IT NEEDS TO BE NOTED AND ADDRESSED.
AND WHEREAS SEXUAL ASSAULT HAS NO BIAS, REGARDING GENDER, AGE, ECONOMIC STATUS, EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS, RELIGION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR SOCIAL STATUS.
AND WHEREAS ONE IN FOUR WOMEN AND ONE IN SIX MEN WILL BE VICTIMS IN THE UNITED STATES, SOMEONE IS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED EVERY TWO MINUTES.
WHEREAS SEXUAL ASSAULT IS NEVER THE FAULT OF THE VICTIM.
IT COULD BE PREVENTED THROUGH THE RESOURCES THAT COULD BE FOUND HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS GALVESTON RESIDENTS CAN RELY ON THE RESOURCE AND CRISIS CENTER OF GALVESTON COUNTY BETTER KNOWN AS RCC, AND THEIR PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE A RANGE OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO ASSIST VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.
WHEREAS RCC URGES ALL GALVESTON RESIDENTS TO JOIN IN AND RENEWING OUR COMMITMENT TO PREVENTING SEXUAL ASSAULT AND TO [INAUDIBLE] SAFETY AND WELL-BEING AND [INAUDIBLE] OF VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND CHILD ABUSE.
AND WHEREAS GALVESTON HAS JOINING WITH ALL AMERICANS IN SUPPORTING VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND BELIEVE THAT A MONTH LONG OBSERVATION, SPECIFICALLY FOCUSING ON SEXUAL ASSAULT IN OUR COMMUNITY ACROSS THIS NATION HELPS US TO REINFORCE A LOUD AND CLEAR MESSAGE TO ABUSERS THAT SEXUAL VIOLENCE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
THEREFORE, WE, THE MAYOR CITY COUNCIL IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON, THEREFORE HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL AS THE SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH IN GALVESTON AND CALL UPON ALL GALVESTON CITIZENS TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST SEXUAL ASSAULT AND TO SUPPORT LOCAL EFFORTS TO
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PREVENT VIOLENCE, TO ASSIST VICTIMS AND CRIME, AND TO FIND [INAUDIBLE] AND THE HEALING THAT THEY NEED.IN A TESTIMONY WHERE I'VE WITNESSED MY HAND IN THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, THIS TWENTY FIFTH DAY OF MARCH 2021, THE HONORABLE MAYOR, CRAIG BROWN AND JANELLE WILLIAMS, CITY SECRETARY.
THANK YOU, MEMBER JOHNSON, APPRECIATE THAT.
DENNIS FERGUSON, WHO IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE RESOURCE CRISIS CENTER, COULD NOT BE WITH US.
HE CAME BY CITY HALL EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON WITH ME AND WANT TO EXTEND HIS THANK YOU FOR THE PROCLAMATION TO ALL OF COUNCIL AND TO THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
AND NOW MOVING TO OUR LAST PROCLAMATION IS ONE THAT I HAVE THE HONOR OF READING, IT IS RECOGNIZING GALVESTON WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP DAY, WHEREAS ON MARCH TWENTY SIX, THE GALVESTON REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, DR.
VIVIAN ROSE HERNANDEZ JUNIOR NAVIGATOR PROGRAM, HOSTED A LUNCH TO CELEBRATE WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP ON GALVESTON ISLAND, WHEREAS THE NAVIGATORS IS A HIGHLY VISIBLE CHAMBER GROUP FILLED WITH CAMARADERIE AND NOTABLE PRESTIGE.
THEY ARE A SPECIAL GROUP OF JUNIORS WHO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO HELP PROMOTE THE GALVESTON REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT CHAMBER FUNCTIONS.
AND WHEREAS NAVIGATORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WELCOMING NEW AND EXPANDING BUSINESSES TO THE CHAMBER AT RIBBON CUTTINGS, MIXERS, LUNCHEONS AND SPECIAL EVENTS, AND WHEREAS OVER 20 FEMALE LEADERS FROM GALVESTON COLLEGE, GALVESTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, UTMB, THE GALVESTON REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, FANFARE, GALVESTON REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FANFARE.
TEXAS A&M - GALVESTON, GALVESTON CITY COUNCIL, GALVESTON PARK BOARD, ODYSSEY ACADEMY, THE RAILROAD MUSEUM, GALVESTON DAILY NEWS AND THE GRAND 1895 OPERA HOUSE.
AND THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS WERE CELEBRATED AND WILL BE CELEBRATED THIS COMING AFTERNOON.
TOMORROW AFTERNOON AT NOON AT A LUNCHEON AT THE FIRST ANNUAL GALVESTON REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RECOGNITION.
DR. VIVIAN ROSE-HERNANDEZ AND THE JUNIOR NAVIGATORS PROGRAM WILL BE SPONSORING THIS LUNCHEON.
THEREFORE, WE, THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF GALVESTON, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH TWENTY SIXTH, TOMORROW, AS GALVESTON WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP DAY IN GALVESTON AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO JOIN IN IN RECOGNIZING THE SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS MADE BY THE U.S.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JUNIOR NAVIGATORS.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE PARTIES INVOLVED WITH THAT AND KNOW THE ATTENDEES AND THOSE BEING HONORED WILL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE LUNCHEON TOMORROW.
NOW MOVING TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEMS. IS THERE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS OR ANY RECOGNITIONS THAT COUNCIL WANTS TO MAKE AT THIS POINT? HEARING NONE, MOVING TO ITEM 5B, PLEASE, NELLIE.
ITEM 5B FAMILIES, CHILDREN AND YOUTH BOARD 2020 ANNUAL REPORT.
AND WE HAVE THE HONOR OF HAVING HANK THIERRY, THE CHAIRMAN HERE TO GIVE US THE REPORT FROM THE FAMILY CHILDREN AND YOUTH BOARD.
DR. BROWN AND MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, MR. MAXWELL, CHIEF HALE AND ALL THE CITY ADMINISTRATION.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW ME.
MY NAME IS HANK THIERRY AND I'M THE CURRENT CHAIR OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON'S FAMILIES, CHILDREN AND YOUTH BOARD.
AND I'M GOING TO SEE IF I CAN SHARE MY SCREEN SO I CAN DO MY PRESENTATION.
I'M NOT ABLE TO DO THIS WORK, CAN I? CAN YOU GUYS SEE MY SCREEN? NOT YET, HANK.
YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SHARE IT, HANK.
LET ME KNOW IF I NEED TO PULL IT UP ON MY END.
LET ME TRY THIS ONE MORE TIME.
WHAT DO YOU SEE NOW? THERE WE GO OKAY, VERY GOOD.
OK, LET ME SEE IF I'M GOING TO GO TO THE FULL PRESENTATION SLIDE.
AND CAN YOU SEE THE FULL PRESENTATION NOW? YES, SIR.
OK, SO THIS IS OUR ANNUAL REPORT.
THE CITY OF GALVESTON'S FAMILY CHILDREN YOUTH BOARD IS A UNIQUE BOARD IN THAT, AS PER OUR BYLAWS, WE'RE REQUIRED TO GIVE AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE CITY MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
[00:20:02]
IT'S BEEN A UNIQUE YEAR BECAUSE OF COVID, BUT I THINK WE'RE ABLE TO GET THIS IN.THERE SHOULD BE A SIXTY THREE PAGE ACTUALLY WRITTEN REPORT WITH A 10 PAGE ADDENDUM AS IT RELATES TO THE CITY INFRASTRUCTURE TASK FORCE.
SO LET ME GIVE YOU A QUICK INTRODUCTION, THE MISSION OF THE FAMILIES CHILDREN YOUTH BOARD IS TO PROMOTE PHYSICAL, ACADEMIC, PSYCHOSOCIAL AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT OF ALL FAMILIES, CHILDREN AND YOUTH OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
THIS BOARD WAS CREATED IN NOVEMBER OF 2001.
IT WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL BACK THEN.
AND OUR GOAL WAS TO PROMOTE COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION AMONG VOLUNTEERS, AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS IN COLLABORATION AND BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS PRETTY MUCH IS WHAT WE SEEK TO DO IN ALL PHASES AS IT RELATES TO CHILDREN IN OUR FAMILIES AND BASICALLY THE COMMUNITY OF GALVESTON.
SO OUR 2020 FAMILIES CHILDREN AND YOUTH BOARD, A TWENTY THREE MEMBER BOARD OUR FORMER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AMY BLY WAS OUR EX-OFFICIO MEMBER.
OUR CURRENT CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, MR. SCHUSTER, SERVES AS OUR EX-OFFICIO AND DIRECT LINK TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
WE'RE VERY, VERY HAPPY TO HAVE HIM.
AGAIN, THERE SHOULD BE WITHIN YOUR PACKET A 63 PAGE WRITTEN REPORT.
BASICALLY, WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT, GIVEN THE ERA OF COVID AND HOW WERE IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC, IS THE ROLE AND STRUCTURE OF OUR TASK FORCES.
THREE OF OUR FOUR TASK FORCES WERE ABLE TO PERFORM THROUGH THE COVID PANDEMIC.
AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT AND SUMMARIZE WHAT THEY BASICALLY DID.
AND THEY INCLUDE OUR CITY INFRASTRUCTURE, HEADED BY KATHY TIERNAN, OUR HEALTH TASK FORCE HEADED BY DR. BETH AUSLANDER AT UTMB AND OUR YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT HEADED BY MR. BRANDON WILLIAMS. SO OUR CITY INFRASTRUCTURE TASK FORCE TO GO THIS YEAR.
AND IT'S BEEN AN ONGOING GOAL FOR PROBABLY THE PAST TWO TO THREE YEARS, FRANKLY, WAS TO CREATE AN INVENTORY OF CITY PARKS AND RECREATION PROPERTIES AND ASSIST AS NEEDED FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF WHAT WE HAVE AS A CITY OF GALVESTON FOR FUNDRAISING.
AND THIS WAS A SHARED GOAL WITH A PRIVATE PARTNER, BETTER PARKS IN GALVESTON.
SO WHAT KATHY AND ALL OF US HAVE DONE AND WHAT SHE HAD BEEN REPORTED WAS A WAY TO GET OUR PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF TO IDENTIFY AND DISPLAY ALL PROPERTIES THAT THEY MANAGE.
AND THAT IS PART OF OUR HANDOUT.
WE ALSO SOUGHT COLLABORATION WITH, GAIN, THE GALVESTON ALLIANCE OF ISLAND NEIGHBORHOODS TO IDENTIFY NEIGHBORHOODS AND NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN ASSIST IN PARK DEVELOPMENT.
SO WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CONDUCTING A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS WITHIN THE PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF TO CREATE QUESTIONNAIRES AND TO UTILIZE TO COLLECT DATA FOR THE PARK FEATURES.
I THINK OUR OVERALL GOAL, AS WE SAY, IS PARK EQUITY.
NOT EVERY SINGLE PARK, OBVIOUSLY, WILL HAVE A SWIMMING POOL OR A BOAT RAMP OR TENNIS COURTS.
BUT FOR THE FACILITIES THAT ARE THERE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS EQUITABLE TO ALL CITIZENS.
SO WE'RE BASICALLY WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE NEW PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR, MR. CESAR GARCIA.
HE HAS BASICALLY I THINK HE'S BEEN WITH US A LITTLE OVER SIX MONTHS, BUT HE HAS COME TO OUR BOARD AS A STAFF AND LEADER ADMINISTRATOR, AND HE'S HIT THE GROUND RUNNING WITH OUR BOARD AND HE'S PUTTING TOGETHER DATABASES EVERY SINGLE CITY PARK, OF WHICH THERE ARE MANY.
WHAT IS THE TRUE COLLECTIVE INVENTORY OF WHAT IS ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY, STRUCTURALLY THERE AT THE PARK? WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE IT? AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO A COLLECTION OF ASSESSMENT? AND THAT HAS BEEN THE ROLE OF THE BOARD AS WELL.
SO WITH BETTER PARKS IN GALVESTON, WE ARE PLANNING WHAT WE CALL A PARK INVENTORY DAY.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY CAN BECOME INVOLVED WITH, WE'LL HAVE THE QUESTIONNAIRE, WE'LL HAVE THE CHECKLIST WHERE BASICALLY CITIZENS AND VOLUNTEERS CAN COME IN AND DO A TRUE ASSESSMENT OF THEIR PARK WHERE THEY ARE AND WE, OF COURSE, VOLUNTEER ANY PARK IN GALVESTON.
AGAIN, THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THIS INFRASTRUCTURE TASK FORCE IS TO HAVE A FULL COMPLEMENT, READILY AVAILABLE DATABASE OF ALL OF THE CITY FACILITIES AND STRUCTURES AT OUR PARKS.
AND THAT WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO SEEK OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING [INAUDIBLE] DONATIONS AND CITY PARK IMPROVEMENT.
AND AGAIN, THE MAIN EMPHASIS WITH THIS TASK FORCE WOULD BE EQUITY AMONG ALL OF OUR PARKS.
WE KNOW OUR PARKS ARE DIFFERENT, BUT IF THEY'RE FUNCTIONAL AND ALL CITIZENS CAN HAVE UTILITY FROM THEM, THAT IS OUR ULTIMATE GOAL.
THE CITY HEALTH TASK FORCE WAS HEADED BY DR.
BETH AUSLANDER, AND THE GOAL IN THIS YEAR PARTICULARLY WAS TO SAFEGUARD THE OVERALL HEALTH OF THE GALVESTON YOUTH DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND NATIONWIDE
[00:25:05]
CIVIL UNREST.BETH, AUSLANDER IS UTMB FACULTY AND SHE WORKS VERY TIRELESSLY WITH TEEN HEALTH CENTER HERE IN GALVESTON.
WHEN COVID BECAME THE REALITY AND THE TRAUMATIZING REALITY OF WHAT IT MEANT TO HAVE THIS HORRIBLE DISEASE, SHE WORKED WITH AREAS TO GET RAPID TESTING AMONG VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON AND TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON WHO SHOULD BE TESTED AND WHY AND PROVIDE THE RESOURCES.
OF COURSE, WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE UTMB THAT WAS ABLE TO DO A HOST OF THE TESTING HERE ON GALVESTON ISLAND.
ALSO, AS WE KNOW, IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD, THERE WERE SOME RACIAL JUSTICE AND CONCERNS AMONG CITIZENS, PARTICULARLY AMONG OUR YOUTH.
WHAT HAD HAPPENED? WHY DID IT HAPPEN? SO WE SOUGHT, THROUGH OUR HEALTH TASK FORCE, TO SEEK ENGAGEMENT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.
CHIEF HALE, I BELIEVE, WAS ON THE CALL.
HE WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN ADVOCATING FOR THIS AS WELL.
AND WE WANT TO TAKE ADVERSE OUTCOMES THAT CAME FROM MENTAL HEALTH, GIVEN COVID, GIVEN THE ISSUES WITH THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD SO THAT OUR YOUTH WERE NOT TOO TRAUMATIZED AND THAT THEY COULD MOVE FORWARD.
SO THAT HAS BEEN ONGOING WORK THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH OUR PARTNERS FROM THE TASK FORCE.
THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IS AN ONGOING GOAL IS TO PROVIDE MENTORSHIP FOR GALVESTON YOUTH, AND WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE MR. BRANDON WILLIAMS, HEAD UP THIS TASK FORCE.
WE HAVE COLLABORATION WITH THE ACES TO ASSETS AND THE FUTURE IS US PARTNERSHIP AND GRANT FOUNDATION, WE SOUGHT TO ADDRESS WHAT EVOLVED AS A RISE IN TEEN VIOLENCE OF CRIME THAT WAS PROBABLY BROUGHT ON BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
BUT WE FOUND WAYS DAILY FOR MENTORSHIP AND GUIDANCE FOR OUR YOUTH, PARTICULARLY THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
AS YOU KNOW, WHEN EVERYTHING SIT DOWN WITH COVID, THERE WAS PRETTY MUCH NO PLACE FOR OUR YOUTH TO GO.
THERE'S NOT MUCH FOR OUR YOUTH TO DO.
AND IN THAT STATIC STALEMATE OF JUST WONDERING WHAT TO DO, THINGS KIND OF GOT OUT OF CONTROL WHEN THEY HAD A LOT OF TIME ON THEIR HANDS.
SO WE PUT TOGETHER A PROGRAM WORKING WITH GALVESTON URBAN MINISTRIES, UNDER MR. WILLIAMS'S LEADERSHIP, TO DO DAILY WEEKLY CHECKUPS ON THE VULNERABLE YOUTH POPULATION.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT, AND I WANT TO SAY USUALLY WE GIVE RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR, GIVEN THE UNCERTAINTY OF WHEN WE ACTUALLY WILL, IN A TIMELY MANNER, COME OUT OF THE COVID-19 AND RESUME A NEW NORMAL.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PROBABLY TOWARDS THE LATTER PART OF THIS YEAR AS PER OUR GUIDELINES, AS WE COME OUT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, OUR GUIDELINES CALL TO HAVE A CITYWIDE MEETING OF THE FAMILIES, CHILDREN AND YOUTH BOARD AND ALL OF OUR COLLECTIVE FRIENDS, COLLABORATORS, PARTNERS, THERE ARE JUST A FEW I WANT TO THANK, A COUPLE OF PEOPLE I REALLY WANT TO CALL OUT AND THANK THEM FOR ALL OF THE ANNUAL YEARLY, SINCE THEY'VE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING FIRST AND FOREMOST WOULD BE POLICE CHIEF HALE.
POLICE CHIEF HALE HAS COMMITTED THE GALVESTON POLICE DEPARTMENT TO COMMUNITY BASED POLICING AND WITHOUT BEING PROMPTED WHEN HE SAW OUR ROLE AS THE FAMILIES, CHILDREN YOUTH BOARD, HE ASSIGNED GPD LEADERSHIP TO BE FACILITATORS.
SERGEANT JOVAN HARRIS, LIEUTENANT SIMS, EVERYONE ASSOCIATED WITH THE GPD LEADERSHIP HAS MADE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE.
OF COURSE, OUR STAFF SUPPORT COMES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION, THE NEW DIRECTOR, MR. GARCIA.
I MEAN, HE'S BEEN JUST WHAT A HIRE WHAT WHAT A FANTASTIC PERSON TO COME TO US, HIT THE GROUND RUNNING, JUST KEENLY TALENTED TO BE ABLE TO MEET OUR NEEDS AND JUST NOT BEING ASKED, JUST DOES WHAT HE HAS TO DO.
OF COURSE, I'VE MENTIONED THE TEEN HEALTH CENTER, THE GALVESTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, GALVESTON URBAN MINISTRIES, THE UTMB CENTER FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION BROUGHT IN SOME REAL GOOD IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS ON HOW WE MOVE FORWARD, GIVEN SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE HAD WITH OUR YOUTH AND YOUTH VIOLENCE.
OF COURSE, WE ALWAYS HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF PEDIATRICS, BETTER PARKS FOR GALVESTON, THE GALVESTON ALLIANCE OF ISLAND NEIGHBORHOODS, AND, OF COURSE, THE ACES TO ASSETS THE FUTURE IS US.
TRINA HARRIS HAS BEEN AN ASSET AND WAS ALSO A BOARD MEMBER.
BUT AGAIN, BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY OF TIMING, WE REALLY DON'T HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS MOVING FORWARD.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I HAVE THAT I WANT TO GIVE TO YOU, JUST TO GIVE A BRIEF
[00:30:02]
SYNOPSIS.AGAIN, THE FULL REPORT SHOULD BE IN YOUR PACKETS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? AND SO I'VE GOT A QUESTION.
YOU MENTIONED THE CITY HAVING A NUMBER OF PARKS.
IS THIS AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS? WE ARE ONLY CONCERNED WITH THE PARTS THAT ARE MANAGED BY THE CITY OF GALVESTON, DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION, GISD HAS THEIR OWN PARKS AND PROPERTIES.
WE ARE NOT DOING ASSESSMENT OF THEIR PROPERTIES.
HOW MANY DO WE HAVE WITH THE CITY? SEVERAL.
ON THEIR WEBSITE, THERE ARE AT LEAST EIGHT PAGES AND AT LEAST TWO TO THREE PARKS PER PAGE, AND I WOULD PROBABLY SAY AT LEAST TWENTY FOUR PROPERTIES.
I THINK MR. GARCIA WOULD BE BETTER APT TO ANSWER THAT.
BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL PARKS THAT WE THAT FALL UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE GALVESTON PARKS AND RECREATION.
AND THE REAL QUESTION, CONCERN THAT WE HAVE, WHICH PARKS ARE IN WHICH NEIGHBORHOODS AND WHAT NEIGHBORHOODS AND WHAT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE SO THAT THE CITIZENS CAN BECOME INVOLVED IN HAVING A DIRECT IMPACT ON THEIR UPKEEP, BECAUSE I WAS UNAWARE WE HAD THAT MANY FACILITIES CLASSIFIED AS PARKS.
OH, YES, THERE'S SEVERAL IF I HAD TO GIVE A ROUGH GUESS, I WOULD SAY BETWEEN 20-25, IF NOT MORE.
AND I THINK HANK [INAUDIBLE] SEEMS LIKE COUNCIL, SHE HAD SENT US-- YEAH, A 10 PAGE ADDENDUM THAT OUTLINED EVERY SINGLE PARK.
IT WAS TEN PAGES AND IT WAS CLEARLY OUTLINED WHAT THE STRATEGIES WERE FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE TASK FORCE AND HOW EACH PARK WOULD BE ASSESSED AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
HANK, WHEN WILL YOU HAVE THIS ASSESSMENT FINISHED FOR THE PARKS? I WOULD SAY IT'S AN ONGOING CONTINUUM.
AGAIN, THE GOAL IS PARK EQUITY.
SO I CAN'T PUT AN ACTUAL TIMELINE.
BUT I WOULD SAY WITH THE UPCOMING INVENTORY DAY, THAT'S GOING TO PROBABLY HAPPEN SOONER THAN LATER, PROBABLY BEFORE JUNE 1ST, AND PUTTING TOGETHER A FULL, BROAD-REACHING DATABASE AND HAVE IT SET ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, UTILIZING OUR CITY STAFF.
WE'VE BEEN AT IT FOR TWO YEARS NOW.
AND, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF MR. GARCIA, IT HAS REALLY TAKEN OFF.
SO I DON'T WANT TO PUT ANY PRESSURE ON HIM OR WHEN THERE'LL BE AN ACTUAL DEADLINE.
BUT IT'S DEFINITELY A HIGH ITEM ON OUR AGENDA TO GET COMPLETED.
COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. THIERRY? YES, DAVID? YEAH, HANK, THANKS FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
AND YOU'RE RIGHT, [INAUDIBLE] HAS BEEN A GREAT HIRE.
AND THIS INVENTORY OF PARKS, THIS LIST THAT YOU PUT INTO YOUR BILL, IF YOU READ ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE REPORT, YOU'LL START TO SEE THAT LIST OF PARKS.
IT TOOK ME BY SURPRISE HOW MANY PROPERTIES WE HAVE OUT THERE.
AND YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S A DAUNTING TASK.
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING THE SONG.
COUNCIL, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? HANK, THANKS VERY MUCH.
THE FAMILIES CHILDREN AND YOUTH BOARD IS SUCH A VITAL COMMITTEE OF OUR CITY.
WE GREATLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU DO.
AND AS YOU GET THAT PARK INVENTORY AND YOUR SURVEY FINISHED, I KNOW COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT.
WE'LL DEFINITELY MAKE SURE YOU GET IT.
ITEM 5C, PERCENT OF THE FISCAL YEAR, 2020 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, I WANT TO INTRODUCE THIS BY SAYING THAT THIS IS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW, ALSO KNOWN AS THE AUDIT.
WE HAVE TO SUBMIT IT WITHIN ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY CALENDAR DAYS AFTER THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, WHICH WAS SEPTEMBER 30TH, AND THAT'S MARCH 29TH AS OUR DEADLINE.
AND WE DO THAT BY PLACING THE FINAL DOCUMENT IN THE CITY SECRETARY'S HANDS FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO KNOW.
I WILL SAY THAT THERE IS A CHANGE IN THE NAME TO THIS DOCUMENT THIS YEAR, THE GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL OFFICERS ASSOCIATION AND THE GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD THAT PROMULGATE THE STANDARDS AND POLICIES THAT DICTATE HOW THIS REPORT IS [INAUDIBLE] TOGETHER HAVE LED THE WAY ON THIS.
THE GFOA HAS ISSUED A POLICY THAT AS OF MARCH 9TH, THESE REPORTS WILL BE CALLED THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT, AND THE GASB BOARD IS EXPECTED TO ADOPT IT AS A FORMAL REQUIREMENT IN JULY.
SO JURISDICTIONS ARE MOVING TO COMPLY NOW, IT'S VERY SIMPLE, THE ACRONYM THAT WAS
[00:35:03]
USED FOR MANY, MANY YEARS CORRESPONDED TO A WORD THAT SOUNDED EXACTLY THE SAME, IT WAS A RACIAL SLUR AGAINST BLACK SOUTH AFRICANS AND THE WORLD IS UNITING TO, I THINK, ADDRESS THINGS LIKE THIS NOW TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE AND RECOGNIZE DIFFERENT HERITAGES.AND SO THIS THIS REPORT NOW WILL BE CALLED THE ANNUAL REPORT AND THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT.
BEFORE I TALK ABOUT A FEW OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT ARE IN THE REPORT, I WANT TO TURN IT OVER TO CHRISTOPHER BREAUX WITH WHITLEY PENN, WHO IS THE LEAD OFFICER THERE OVERSEEING YOUR AUDIT.
MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, PLEASED THAT YOU COULD HAVE THIS ON YOUR AGENDA TODAY.
I JUST WANTED TO GO OVER A LITTLE BIT OF THE REPORT.
THE REPORT THAT MIKE SPEAKS ABOUT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MANAGEMENT [INAUDIBLE] THE CITY, OUR RESPONSIBILITY'S TO EXPRESS AN OPINION ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
WE HAVE ISSUED AN UNMODIFIED OR CLEAN OPINION ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ASSURANCE WE CAN GIVE.
THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE FAIRLY PRESENTED IN ALL MATERIAL RESPECTS.
OUR AUDIT WAS CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOVERNMENTAL AUDITING STANDARDS, WHICH IS A STEP UP ABOVE GENERALLY ACCEPTED AUDITING STANDARDS BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL FUNDS THAT YOU RECEIVE.
AS FAR AS INTERNAL CONTROLS AND COMPLIANCE ISSUES.
WE NOTED NO MATERIAL WEAKNESSES OR NO SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES ON INTERNAL CONTROLS AND NO MATERIAL COMPLIANCE ISSUE TO REPORT TO YOU AT THIS TIME.
WE HAVE MET WITH THE FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE AND GONE OVER THE REPORT IN SOME DETAIL.
I WILL TURN THIS BACK OVER TO MIKE TO GIVE YOU SOME HIGHLIGHTS.
AND I'M GOING TO ASK JANELLE IF SHE CAN PUT MY ONE SLIDE UP ON THE SCREEN AND SCREEN SHARE WITH EVERYBODY FOR ME.
WE'RE OPERATING TONIGHT IN FULL RECOGNITION OF YOUR STATED GOAL TO GET OUT OF HERE EARLY TONIGHT.
UM, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND START SHARING SOME OF THE INFORMATION.
THIS IS REALLY JUST THE HIGH POINTS.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE NAME CHANGE.
THE GENERAL FUND ENDED THE YEAR WITH A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLAR INCREASE IN THE FUND BALANCE.
IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THE PANDEMIC HIT US, WE LOST REVENUE AND LAST MONTH, YOU ALL VOTED TO APPROVE A ONE TIME ADJUSTMENT FOR A MILLION AND A HALF IN UNREIMBURSED GRANT ADMINISTRATIVE COST FROM FISCAL YEAR 10 THROUGH 12, IN SPITE OF ALL OF THAT, WE STILL ENDED WITH A SIXTEEN POINT SEVEN FIVE MILLION DOLLAR RESERVE, EQUAL TO ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHT DAYS OF MAINTENANCE AND OPERATING COST.
TO FURTHER BUTTRESS THE MESSAGE THAT WE'RE IN STRONG CONDITION, THE UN REIMBURSED CARES ACT GRANT IS NOT COUNTED AS A RECEIVABLE IN THIS REPORT AND THAT IS EXPECTED TO COME IN THIS FISCAL YEAR.
OUR PENSION FUNDS THAT ARE CHALLENGE FACE CHALLENGES DO WELL WHEN THERE'S A STRONG YEAR IN THE STOCK MARKETS AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS REPORT IS BASED ON WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE MARKETS IN TWENTY NINETEEN, ALL THREE FUNDS DID WELL WITH SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN THEIR PORTFOLIOS.
AND SO THAT REDUCED THE CITY'S LIABILITY BY NINE MILLION DOLLARS ON THE BALANCE SHEET.
IN KEEPING WITH THE REPORTING ON OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, OUR NET CAPITAL ASSETS NOW EQUAL FIVE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS AND OUR LONG TERM BOND PRINCIPAL OUTSTANDING IS ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY ONE MILLION.
AND THERE'S SOME INTERESTING GRAPHS AND COMPARISONS IN THE TRANSMITTAL LETTER TO THAT EFFECT.
ALSO, OUR CAPITAL ASSET DEPRECIATION IN FY2020 IS TWENTY THREE MILLION.
AND IF YOU WANT TO THINK OF THAT AS THE ANNUAL INVESTMENT REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN THE CURRENT VALUE OF ASSETS IN PLACE, YOU WOULD BE CORRECT IN DOING THAT.
OUR OPEB LIABILITY, WHICH SPEAKS TO OTHER POST EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AS OF FISCAL TWENTY, IS ELEVEN POINT FOUR MILLION.
THAT DOES INCLUDE THE PORT THEY OF OUR OF OUR PLAN.
AND THE LAST THING IS WE DID NOT GET THE CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMANCE IN FY TWENTY EIGHTEEN.
THE ITEM THAT WAS DEFICIENT WAS CORRECTED AND IN TWENTY NINETEEN WE RECEIVED THE CERTIFICATE.
WE EXPECT THAT WE'LL GET THAT CERTIFICATE FOR THIS REPORT ALSO.
AND THE REPORT CAN BE FOUND ON THE FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY PAGE ON THE
[00:40:05]
WEBSITE.APPRECIATE IT AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I HAVE A QUESTION BEFORE WE LEAVE.
ON THE NET CAPITAL, THAT LINE THERE WHERE YOU GO TO THE BOND OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL.
WHAT IS THAT WITH THE INTEREST.
THE INTEREST IS INCLUDED IN THE REPORT.
I DON'T HAVE THAT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, COUNCILMAN, BUT TYPICALLY THIS FINANCIAL REPORT FOCUSES ON PRINCIPAL.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT IT IS PER CAPITA? I DON'T HAVE THAT HANDY, I'LL BE HAPPY TO SEND THAT TO YOU.
ANY QUESTIONS, OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MIKE.
MR. BREAUX, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
ALL RIGHT, MOVING TO ITEM SIX, PLEASE, NELLIE.
[6. COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS]
ITEM SIX, COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS CLAIMS, 21-011 THROUGH 21-016 ARE ON THE SCREEN.[7.A. Planning Case Number 21P-002 Consider for Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Designating The Property Located At 3503 Bernardo De Galvez / Avenue P, As A “Galveston Landmark”, Property Is Legally Described As M.B. Menard Survey, Part Of Lot 5 And North 82 Feet Of Lots 6 And 7 (1006-2), Northeast Block 86, Galveston Outlots, In The City And County Of Galveston, Texas; Requesting The Historic Preservation Officer Record The Property's Landmark Designation In The Official Public Records Of Real Property In Galveston County, The Tax Records Of The City Of Galveston And The Central Appraisal District, And The Official Zoning Maps Of The City Of Galveston, Texas; Designating The Site As A Historically Or Archeological Significant Site In Need Of Tax Relief To Encourage Its Preservation; Planning Case Number 21P-002; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject. (C. Gorman)]
MOVING TO OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS, ITEM 7A, PLEASE, NELLIE.ITEM 7A, PLANNING CASE NUMBER 21P-002.
CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, DESIGNATING THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 3503 BERNARDO DE GALVEZ AVENUE P AS A GALVESTON LANDMARK.
PROPERTY IS LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS MB MENARD SURVEY PART OF LOT 5 AND NORTH EIGHTY TWO FEET OF LOT 6 AND 7, NORTHEAST BLOCK EIGHTY SIX, GALVESTON OUTLETS IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, REQUESTING THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER RECORD THE PROPERTY'S LANDMARK DESIGNATION IN THE OFFICIAL PUBLIC RECORDS OF REAL PROPERTY IN GALVESTON COUNTY.
THE TAX RECORDS OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON IN THE CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT, AND THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAPS OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, DESIGNATING THE SITE AS A HISTORICAL OR ARCHEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANT SITE IN NEED OF TAX RELIEF TO ENCOURAGE ITS PRESERVATION PLANNING CASE NUMBER 21P-002, MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT.
STAFF, CATHERINE, GOOD AFTERNOON.
LET ME SHARE MY SCREEN AND I'LL GET A PICTURE OF THE CASE.
IT WAS BUILT IN 1888 ON LAND ORIGINALLY OWNED BY SAMUEL A.
WILLIAMS. IT IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THE QUEEN ANNE VERNACULAR STYLE AND WAS OWNED BY THE FISHER FAMILY FOR OVER 50 YEARS.
THE HOUSE WAS DESIGNATED AS A RECORDED TEXAS HISTORIC LANDMARK IN NINETEEN NINETY TWO.
THE LANDMARK COMMISSION PLANNING COMMISSION AND STAFF ARE ALL RECOMMENDING APPROVAL.
COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS FOR CATHERINE AT THIS POINT? HEARING NONE IT IS FIVE FORTY THREE P.M., I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 7A .
IS THERE ANYONE IN ATTENDANCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM? HEARING NO RESPONSE, I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT FIVE FORTY THREE P.M.
AND MOVE THIS BACK TO COUNCIL FOR ACTION.
I'D MOVE FOR THE APPROVAL OF ITEM 7A.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, COUNCIL? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED? IT IS UNANIMOUS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CATHERINE.
[7.B. Planning Case Number 21P-006 Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Designating The Property Located At 2805 Avenue O, As A “Galveston Landmark”, Property Is Legally Described As M.B. Menard Survey, Part Of Lots 3 Through 7 And The East 10.10 Feet Of Lot 2, Northwest Block 65, Galveston Outlots, In The City And County Of Galveston, Texas; Requesting The Historic Preservation Officer Record The Property's Landmark Designation In The Official Public Records Of Real Property In Galveston County, The Tax Records Of The City Of Galveston And The Central Appraisal District, And The Official Zoning Maps Of The City Of Galveston, Texas; Designating The Site As A Historically Or Archeological Significant Site In Need Of Tax Relief To Encourage Its Preservation; Planning Case Number 21P-006; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject. (C. Gorman) ]
NELLIE, MOVING TO ITEM SEVEN, PLEASE.ITEM 7B PLANNING CASE NUMBER 21P-006.
CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, DESIGNATING THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2805 AVE O AS THE GALVESTON LANDMARK.
PROPERTY IS LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS MB MENARD SURVEY, PART OF LOTS THREE THROUGH SEVEN AND THE EAST [INAUDIBLE] POINT [INAUDIBLE] OF LOT TWO NORTHWEST BLOCK SIXTY FIVE GALVESTON OUTLETS IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS.
REQUESTING THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER RECORD THE PROPERTY'S LANDMARK DESIGNATION AND THE OFFICIAL PUBLIC RECORDS OF REAL PROPERTY IN GALVESTON COUNTY THE TAX RECORDS OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON AND THE CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT AND THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAPS OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, DESIGNATING THE SITE AS HISTORICALLY OR ARCHEOLOGICAL
[00:45:01]
SIGNIFICANT SITE IN NEED OF TAX RELIEF TO ENCOURAGE ITS PRESERVATION.PLANNING CASE NUMBER 21P-006 MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT.
IT'S COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE SEALY HUTCHINGS HOUSE, BUILT IN EIGHTEEN NINETY SIX.
THE HOUSE IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF QUEEN ANNE SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING WITH POSSIBLE REVIVAL DETAILING.
IT'S ASSOCIATED WITH SEVERAL PROMINENT GALVESTON FAMILIES, INCLUDING THE HUTCHINGS, THE SEALY'S, AND MOODY'S.
THE HUTCHINGS HOUSE WAS LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES IN NINETEEN NINETY FOUR.
LANDMARK COMMISSION PLANNING COMMISSION AND STAFF ARE ALL RECOMMENDING APPROVAL.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR CATHERINE AT THIS POINT? IT IS NOW FIVE FORTY FIVE P.M.
I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM SEVEN, B, IS THERE ANYONE IN ATTENDANCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? THERE IS NO RESPONSE.
I'M CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING AT FIVE FORTY SIX P.M.
BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL FOR ACTION, I WOULD SAY THIS OWNER HAS DONE A MARVELOUS JOB TO DATE ON THE REHABILITATION OF THIS HOME, VERY BEAUTIFUL.
YES, MARIE? I'M MOVE TO APPROVE MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
IS THERE A SECOND? WILLIAM? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? IT IS UNANIMOUS, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, CATHERINE, FOR BEING HERE.
[8. PUBLIC COMMENT]
ITEM EIGHT, PLEASE, NELLIE.WE HAVE SOME WRITTEN COMMENTS AND WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE REGISTERED TO GIVE VERBAL COMMENTS.
LET'S START WITH THE WRITTEN COMMENTS FIRST.
JANELLE, ARE YOU GOING TO READ THOSE, OR NELLIE? I AM DR.
OK, THIS ONE IS FROM JESSE SALINAS.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, SATURDAY MORNING, APRIL 17TH, THE ANNUAL BEACH CLEANUP WILL TAKE PLACE ALONG MOST OF THE SEAWALL FROM 9 A.M.
OVER FOUR HUNDRED VOLUNTEERS FROM ALL OVER TEXAS WILL PARTICIPATE TO CLEAN OUR BEACHES.
MANY WILL BE PARKING ALONG THE SEAWALL TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE BEACH.
WE'RE REQUESTING IF THE SEAWALL PARKING FEES FOR THAT MORNING OF APRIL 17TH BE WAIVED UNTIL NOON.
THIS REQUEST CERTAINLY WILL BE KIND TO THE VOLUNTEERS FOR THEIR KINDNESS.
THE NEXT ONE IS FROM JOHN CURWEN.
WHAT IS THE ISSUE WITH THE CROSSWALKS ON SEAWALL IN FRONT OF THE ST.
LOUIS? THEY SEEM TO BE BROKEN AND COVERED UP MORE THAN THEY ARE WORKING.
OCCASIONALLY THEY ARE BARRICADED, BUT PEOPLE STILL USE THEM.
SO IT IS VERY CONFUSING AND DANGEROUS FOR EVERYBODY.
STATE LAW REQUIRES YOU TO YIELD, BUT DOING SO IT'S VERY DANGEROUS WITHOUT THE ADDITIONAL HELP OF THE LIGHTS.
WHY IS IT SO HARD TO KEEP THEM WORKING? THE NEXT ONE IS MARISSA HICKS.
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR A WOMAN THAT LIVES ON AVENUE O 1/2 WHO STILL DOES NOT HAVE WATER.
SHE HAD BUSTED PIPES FROM THE STORM AND COULD HEAR THE WATER SPILLING OUT ONCE THE GUY GOT THERE TO TURN HER WATER OFF, SHE ASSUMED THAT WAS OK FOR THE TIME BEING.
WHEN SHE WENT BACK TO HER HOUSE TO CHECK ON IT, SHE COULD STILL HEAR THE WATER COMING OUT, BUT LESS AGGRESSIVELY.
SO I GUESS IT WASN'T ALL THE WAY UP.
NOW SHE'S STILL WITHOUT WATER BECAUSE SHE CAN'T GET ANYONE TO GET OUT THERE.
THE NEXT ONE IS FROM JUDY JONES.
WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE ADDRESS THE SUBJECT OF THE SEAWALL TROLLIES? LIKE MANY LOCALS, I USE IT TO OBTAIN ESSENTIALS? I AM DISABLED, SO A ONE MILE WALK TO THE NEAREST CITY BUS STOP IS NOT DOABLE, LET ALONE WALKING BACK A MILE WITH SIX BAGS OF GROCERIES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONCERN IN THIS MATTER.
THE NEXT ONE IS FROM ALLISON B., GOLF CARTS NEED TO BE NOT ALLOWED ON THE SEAWALL.
IT IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR THEM TO BE ON THIS ROAD.
THERE ARE TOO MANY DISTRACTIONS ON THE SEAWALL WITH PEDESTRIANS, BIKE RIDERS AND [INAUDIBLE].
BICYCLES ARE A CRITICAL MODE OF TRANSPORTATION FOR MANY PEOPLE IN TOWN, FROM TOURISTS TO RESIDENTS, BICYCLES CAN EASILY BE PARKED WHEN CAR PARKING IS SCARCE.
BICYCLES ARE RELATIVELY CHEAP TO ACQUIRE.
BICYCLES HAVE LOW MAINTENANCE COSTS.
THEY ALSO HAVE ZERO INSURANCE PREMIUMS, ALL INCOME LEVELS OF RESIDENTS ON GALVESTON ISLAND USE BICYCLES FOR PLEASURE AND TO GET TO WORK.
BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE SHOULD BE SUPPORTED IN OUR UNIQUE HIGH BICYCLE PER CAPITA CITY.
THE NEXT ONE IS FROM CONNIE HENDERSON.
WE HAVE LIVED HERE SINCE TWENTY FOURTEEN.
[00:50:01]
THE TRAFFIC HAS INCREASED A LOT, WITH THE MAJORITY OF THEM DRIVING WAY TOO FAST.IT'S MORE DANGEROUS NOW TO GET IN AND OUT OF YOUR CAR WALKING AND MOWING THE YARD.
THIS IS A RESIDENTIAL STREET 30 MILES PER HOUR.
HOW DO WE SOLVE THIS PROBLEM? THE NEXT ONE IS FROM JIM GAINER.
INSTEAD OF TALKING ABOUT CLOSING IN THE CENTER, WHY DON'T YOU TAKE A DRIVE TO TEXAS CITY AND LOOK AT THE BIOSPHERE? THEY ARE VERY ORGANIZED AND THE RECYCLED MATERIAL IS NOT MOVED NUMEROUS TIMES BY THE WORKERS.
OUR RECYCLE CENTER APPEARS TO BE LABOR INTENSIVE AND AT TIMES VERY CONFUSING TO THE HOME OWNER WHERE TO PLACE ITEMS. THE NEXT ONE'S FROM JIM GAINER.
GOLF CARTS, WHAT IS THE CITY DOING ABOUT THE NUMEROUS GOLF CARTS THAT ARE DRIVING WEST OF 61ST STREET? THEY ARE DANGEROUS AND A NUISANCE FROM 61ST STREET AND DEFINITELY BECOME MORE DANGEROUS AS THEY PASS 61ST STREET, SINCE THE SPEED LIMIT INCREASES AND THEIR TOP SPEED IS 18 TO 20 MILES AN HOUR.
I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL AS FAR DOWN AS 3005 JUST RECENTLY.
AND THE LAST ONE IS FROM DELEON KEITH.
WE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING A NUISANCE OF NOISE AND ALSO VIBRATING OF OUR HOME FROM SOMETHING ON THE EAST SIDE OF MY HOME.
THIS IS NOT IN THE ORDINANCE FOR MACHINES TO BE ON ALL NIGHT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
SOMETIMES THIS BURNS OUR SKIN.
UNDER FIOA, WHAT KIND OF EQUIPMENT IS THIS? AND THAT CONCLUDES THE WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT.
THANK YOU, NELLIE, I APPRECIATE THAT.
JANELLE, WOULD YOU NOW OR NELLIE, EXCUSE ME, WE NOW HAVE THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE REGISTERED FOR VERBAL COMMENTS.
IF WE COULD GO AHEAD AND START THOSE PLEASE.
WE HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS ON THE LINE, I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT OR NOT, BUT I'VE UNMUTED THEIR MICS, SO IF I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT, THEY CAN DO SO AT THIS TIME.
WELCOME, IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT AND WE HAVE A THREE MINUTE TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS, PLEASE SPEAK UP IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT.
BRIAN, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWING UP ON THOSE THAT HAVE ISSUES THAT MAY NEED TO HAVE CITY INPUT? VERY GOOD.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU NELLIE, AND THANK YOU, JANELLE.
THIS MOVES US TO, ITEM 9, AN ORDINANCE NOT REQUIRING PUBLIC HEARINGS, 9A, PLEASE.
[9.A. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas Discontinuing The State Of Emergency And Disaster In The City Of Galveston Related To The Covid-19 Virus, Repealing All Associated Emergency Orders; Providing Compliance With Federal Orders Related To Public Transportation; With Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject And Providing For An Effective Date. (Legal) ]
ITEM NINE A CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AND ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, DISCONTINUING THE STATE OF EMERGENCY AND DISASTER IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON RELATED TO THE COVID-19 VIRUS, REPEALING ALL ASSOCIATED EMERGENCY ORDERS, PROVIDING COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL ORDERS RELATED TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, WITH MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.BUT, DON, YOU WANT TO GIVE JUST AN OVERVIEW HERE.
THIS IS BASICALLY THE LOGICAL CONCLUSION OF THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER.
WE TALKED ABOUT IT TWO WEEKS AGO.
HIS LATEST ORDER BASICALLY GUTTED EVERY MUNICIPAL ORDER WITH REGARD TO COVID RELIEF.
HIS ORDER HAS RESERVED TO THE COUNTY JUDGES THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE ANY COVID MITIGATION MEASURES UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
SO THAT BEING THE CASE OUR ORDERS WERE EFFECTIVELY UNDERMINED AND, YOU KNOW, CONVENIENTLY SO PERHAPS BECAUSE I THINK THE SENTIMENT OF COUNCIL WAS IT WAS TIME FOR THEM TO GO ALONG AND BE DONE.
SO THIS IS A FORMAL DECLARATION OF THE END OF THE STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND TERMINATES THE MASK ORDER THAT HAD BEEN PRAISED BY SOME AND VILIFIED BY OTHERS.
ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS OR I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION? YES, MARIE? I'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO APPROVE.
ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL BY COUNCILWOMAN ROBB.
SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN LISTOWSKI.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? IT IS UNANIMOUS.
[9.B. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Amending "The Code Of The City Of Galveston 1982, As Amended”, Chapter 34, "Traffic” Section 34- 118. Regarding Residential Parking Permits; Providing For Regulations, Clarification, And Amending Requirements; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject; Providing For An Effective Date. (Legal) ]
ITEM 9B, PLEASE.ITEM NINE B, CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS,
[00:55:02]
AMENDING THE CODE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON NINETEEN EIGHTY TWO AS AMENDED CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR, TRAFFIC SECTION THIRTY FOUR, DASH ONE EIGHTEEN REGARDING RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMITS, PROVIDING FOR REGULATIONS, CLARIFICATION AND AMENDING REQUIREMENTS, MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.THIS WAS DISCUSSED IN OUR WORKSHOP THIS MORNING, COUNCIL.
TO MOVE THIS ITEM FORWARD, TO AT LEAST GIVE US A BASIS FOR DISCUSSION.
I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO DEFER THIS ITEM TO OUR APRIL 8TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND REQUEST THAT COUNCIL SEND THEIR COMMENTS CONCERNING THIS ITEM [INAUDIBLE] STAFF FOR CONSIDERATION AND BRING IT BACK TO THE COUNCIL.
I SECOND THAT WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND DISCUSSIONS ON THAT, COUNCIL.
AM I MISTAKEN, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME WE SAW THIS THIS MORNING IN THIS FORM, SO THAT WERE PRESENTED IN WORKSHOP AND ASKED TO VOTE ON IT IN THE AFTERNOON? THAT'S CORRECT, DAVID.
YOU KNOW, WE DISCOVERED SOME ERRORS IN THE EXISTING ORDINANCE WE WERE TRYING TO EXPEDITE THIS ONE BECAUSE WERE ACTUALLY NOT ISSUING PERMITS RIGHT NOW.
SO IT'S CAUSING SOME CONSTERNATION.
BUT I THINK THAT I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR AND MARIE, THERE ARE THINGS IN THIS THAT WE NEED TO BAT ABOUT A BIT MORE.
SO, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF DEFERRING.
YES, WILLIAM? I HAVE TO AGREE [INAUDIBLE] ON THAT AS WELL.
LET'S GET SOME MORE DISCUSSION GOING ON IT.
GET IT OUT TO CONSTITUENTS AND LET'S GET SOME MORE DIALOG AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE IT.
ANY FURTHER THOUGHTS ON THIS? WE HAVE A MOTION AND THE SECOND.
[9.C. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Amending Chapter 34, “Traffic”, Section 34-117.5, “Two-Hour Parking Between 9:00 A.M And 6:00 P.M.” Of “The Code Of The City Of Galveston 1982”, As Amended, Adding Both Sides Of The 3100 Block Of Market Street; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject; Providing For An Effective Date. (Legal) ]
ITEM 9C, PLEASE, NELLIE.ITEM 9C CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, AMENDING CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR, TRAFFIC.
SECTION THIRTY FOUR, DASH ONE SEVENTEEN POINT FIVE TO OUR PARKING BETWEEN 9:00 A.M.
OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON 1982 AS AMENDED, ADDING BOTH SIDES OF THE THIRTY ONE HUNDRED BLOCK OF MARKET STREET, MAKING VARIOUS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ANY QUESTIONS? DON, DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM? I THINK THIS WAS DISCUSSED EARLIER THIS MORNING BY THE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING, THIS WAS TO DISCOURAGE OUR EMPLOYEES FROM PARKING IN THE STREET AND SINCE THEY HAVE PLENTY OF PARKING, I BELIEVE THIS WAS REQUESTED BY SOME OF THE MERCHANTS IN THE AREA.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM STAFF AND TO START OUR DISCUSSION, I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS ITEM.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? ALL RIGHT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? IT IS UNANIMOUS.
[10. CONSENT ITEMS]
ITEM TEN, PLEASE, NELLIE.ITEM TEN, CONSENT ITEMS. THE FOLLOWING ITEM SHALL BE CONSIDERED FOR ACTION AS A WHOLE UNLESS ONE OR MORE COUNCIL MEMBERS OBJECTS, THE CITY MANAGER IS AUTHORIZED TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS UPON FINAL APPROVAL BY THE CITY ATTORNEY.
CONSENT ITEMS 10A-10V ARE ON THE SCREEN.
VERY GOOD AND-- I WANT TO REMOVE 10D, SINCE I'LL HAVE TO ABSTAIN.
WE'RE GOING TO REMOVE FOR SEPARATE DISCUSSION 10D.
COUNCIL, ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE? 10L OK, 10D AND 10L.
ANY OTHERS, COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT, VERY GOOD AT ENTERTAINING MOTION, THEN, FOR ALL THE CONSENT ITEMS FROM 10A-10V, AS IN VICTOR EXCLUDING ITEM 10D AND 10L.
I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION OR I'LL GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THOSE ITEMS EXCLUDING 10D AND 10L.
IS THERE A SECOND? I WILL SECOND THAT.
WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN COLLINS.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
[01:00:02]
IT IS UNANIMOUS.LET'S NOW MOVE TO THOSE ITEMS THAT WERE SINGLED OUT FROM OUR CONSENT ITEMS.
[10.D. Consider For Approval The Proposed Settlement Of The Condemnation Action In TREX V. City Of Galveston; Authorizing The City Manage To Sign Upon Final Approval Of The City Attorney. (Legal)]
ITEM 10D, COULD YOU READ THAT, PLEASE, NELLIE? YES, SIR, ITEM 10D CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT OF THE CONDEMNATION ACTION IN TREX V CITY OF GALVESTON AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN OFF ON FINAL APPROVAL OF THE CITY ATTORNEY AND COUNCILWOMAN ROBB HAS DECLARED CONFLICT ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.DON, DID YOU WANT TO GIVE ANY INPUT ON THIS ITEM? SURE, FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE PUBLIC, WE DISCUSSED THIS IN WORKSHOP THIS MORNING.
THIS WAS A CONDEMNATION ACTION INITIATED AGAINST THE CITY BY THE TEXAS RAILROAD EXCHANGE TO CONDEMN SOME CITY LAND TO PUT A SPUR [INAUDIBLE] TO JOIN THEIR PLANTS ONTO THE MAIN LINE OUT OF TOWN.
FOLLOWING CONDEMNATION PROCEEDINGS, THEY MADE AN INITIAL OFFER OF EIGHTY THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR THE CITY'S PROPERTY.
THEY FILED THEIR CONDEMNATION ACTION IN THE COUNTY COURT OF LAW.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH PROCEDURES, A HEARING OF SPECIAL COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED BY THE JUDGE WAS CONVENED BY.
THE SPECIAL COMMISSIONERS ISSUED AN AWARD OF NINETY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS.
WE CONTINUED WITH THE CASE, FINALLY WENT TO MEDIATION, AND WE HAVE ARRIVED AT AN AGREEMENT OF ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE CITY'S LAND.
WE'RE ASKING CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE THIS.
THE FINAL PAPERWORK IS BEING DONE IN TERMS OF THE EASEMENT, WHICH WILL CONVEY THE WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO FORMALLY CONVEY THEIR OCCUPANCY OF THE LAND OTHER ASSORTED SETTLEMENT DOCUMENTS TO CLOSE OUT THE CASE.
AND WE DID DISCUSS THIS IN OUR WORKSHOP IN EXECUTIVE SESSION THIS MORNING OF.
COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS OF DON BEFORE WE ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS? ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL, I WOULD OPEN THE FLOOR FOR A MOTION ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
APPROVAL BY COUNCILMAN LISTOWSKI, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN COLLINS.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
IT IS UNANIMOUS, OTHER THAN COUNCILWOMAN ROBB--.
[10.L. Consider For Approval Amendment #2 From T. Baker Smith (TBS), For Additional Geotechnical And Utility Conflict Design For The 14th Street Drainage Improvement Project – DR-4332-024, Based On Findings During The 30% Design Review By The City, Thereby Increasing The Design Fee By $15,400 For A Total Project Design Contract Fee Of $2,252,411 Which Is Below The Original Contract Fee Of 2,272,861 (Attached). Authorizing The City Manager To Execute All Necessary Documents Upon Final Approval By The City Attorney. (D. Christodoss)]
LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 10L AS IN LADY, PLEASE, NELLIE.ITEM 10L CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO FROM T.
BAKER SMITH FOR ADDITIONAL GEOTECHNICAL AND UTILITY CONFLICT DESIGN FOR THE 14TH STREET DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT DR-4332-024 BASED ON FINDINGS DURING THE 30 PERCENT DESIGN REVIEW BY THE CITY, THEREBY INCREASING THE DESIGN FEE BY FIFTEEN THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED FOR A TOTAL PROJECT DESIGN CONTRACT FEE OF TWO MILLION TWO HUNDRED FIFTY TWO THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED ELEVEN, WHICH IS BELOW THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT FEE OF TWO MILLION TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY TWO THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED SIXTY ONE, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS UPON FINAL APPROVAL BY THE CITY ATTORNEY.
COUNCILMAN QUIROGA, YOU HAD REQUESTED THIS BEFORE.
ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT, SIR? WHAT I'M LOOKING AT IS, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY THANKS TO AUDIT DEPARTMENT FOR REDOING THESE STAFF REPORTS.
BUT ANYWAY, ON THE THIRD ITEM, IT HAS FIVE HUNDRED SIXTY THREE THOUSAND, THE CITY'S TWENTY FIVE PERCENT MATCH, SAYS GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHICH ONE IS IT.
IS IT 19 OR, IT'S NOT LISTED ON HERE WHICH BOND IT'S TAKEN FROM.
THAT WOULD BE THE OLDEST BOND STILL UNSPENT, IT WOULD EITHER BE THE 2017 OR TWENTY NINETEEN.
OK, CAN WE HAVE THOSE-- THOSE WERE ALL FROM THE SAME BOND APPROVAL.
LET ME CLARIFY AND MAKE SURE WE'RE ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION RIGHT.
IT IS ALL FROM THE BOND ISSUE THAT WAS THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE VOTERS IN TWENTY SEVENTEEN.
HOWEVER, WE DID NOT SELL ALL THE BONDS IN TWENTY SEVENTEEN.
WE HELD SOME BACK AND DID NOT SELL THEM.
SO WE WOULDN'T BE PAYING INTEREST ON THE MONEY BEFORE WE COULD SPEND IT.
SO IT'S ALL FROM THE SAME ELECTED BOND ISSUE.
IT MAY BE IT MAY COME FROM TWO DIFFERENT BOND SALES.
[01:05:01]
DOES THAT HELP ANY, COUNCIL MEMBER? WELL, WHAT I'M LOOKING AT IS I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.BUT I'D LIKE TO CLARIFY WHICH ONE THAT CAME FROM.
DID IT COME FROM TWO THOUSAND SEVENTY.
YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING, OR TWO THOUSAND NINETY? I UNDERSTAND WE GO FURTHER BACK, BUT WE NEED TO KNOW, OR I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT ACCOUNT IT CAME OUT FROM GENERAL BOND 2017? WELL, THEY'RE THE SAME BOND.
IT'S THE SAME BOND ISSUED, TWO DIFFERENT SALES.
IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO COME FROM BOTH, MIKE, ISN'T IT? YES.
I MEAN, WE'RE REQUIRED TO EXHAUST THE OLDER BALANCES FIRST.
AND THERE'S REALLY NO DIFFERENCE IN THE TWO BOND FUNDS, AS THE CITY MANAGER IS EXPLAINING.
WELL, THE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE IS THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE BOND IT CAME FROM.
I UNDERSTAND IT COMES FROM A GENERAL BOND, BUT EACH GENTLEMAN HAS ANOTHER SUFFIX ADDED TO IT, LIKE GENERAL BOND '19 OR GENERAL BOND '14.
IT'S THE SAME DIFFERENCE TO THE IRS WHEN THEY TELL US WE HAVEN'T SPENT OUR OLDEST BONDS.
I CAN GET YOU THAT IN WRITING AFTER THE MEETING.
THAT'S ALL I REALLY HAD, MAYOR.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN QUIROGA.
I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, PLEASE.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN QUIROGA FOR APPROVAL.
WE HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN COLLINS.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
ALL RIGHT, MOVING TO ITEM 11, OUR ACTION ITEMS, PLEASE, NELLIE, 11A.
[11.A. Discuss And Consider For Action An Ordinance Authorizing The Issuance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2021; Levying A Tax In Payment Thereof; Setting Certain Parameters For The Bonds; Authorizing The Authorized Officer To Approve The Amount, The Interest Rate, Price And Certain Other Terms Thereof; Authorizing The Redemption Prior To Maturity Of Certain Outstanding Bonds; Authorizing The Execution And Delivery Of A Purchase Agreement, A Paying Agent/Registrar Agreement And An Escrow Agreement Relating To Such Bonds; Approving The Preparation And Distribution Of An Official Statement; And Enacting Other Provisions Relating Thereto; And Providing For The Effective Date Thereof. (M. Loftin)]
YES, SIR.ITEM 11A, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER FOR ACTION AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS.
GENERAL OBLIGATION, REFUNDING BOND SERIES 2021, LEVYING A TAX AND PAYMENT THEREOF, SETTING CERTAIN PARAMETERS FOR THE BONDS, AUTHORIZING THE AUTHORIZED OFFICER TO APPROVE THE AMOUNT, THE INTEREST RATE PRICE AND CERTAIN OTHER TERMS THEREOF, AUTHORIZING REDEMPTION PRIOR TO MATURITY OF CERTAIN OUTSTANDING BONDS AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF A PURCHASE AGREEMENT, A PAYING AGENT CASH REGISTER AGREEMENT AND AN ESCROW AGREEMENT RELATING TO SUCH BONDS.
APPROVING THE PREPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT AND ENACTING OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING THERETO AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE THEREOF.
MIKE, YOU WANT TO WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS THIS MORNING, YOU WANT TO GIVE JUST A QUICK THOUGHT ON THAT.
YES, THIS IS REFUNDING SOME BONDS THAT WERE SOLD AS REVENUE BONDS FOR WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS, THE DEBT IS SCHEDULED TO BE PAID OFF BY FISCAL YEAR 2030.
THIS PROPOSAL WOULD REFINANCE THOSE BONDS AT CURRENT RATES, WHICH ARE VERY LOW, AND THE NET PRESENT VALUE SAVINGS IS ABOUT FOUR PERCENT, WHICH IS IN EXCESS OF OUR POLICY, MINIMUM OF THREE PERCENT.
AND THIS WOULD BE A NEGOTIATED SALE SO THAT THE TEAM OF UNDERWRITERS THAT HAVE BEEN SELECTED AND NAMED IN THE STAFF REPORT COULD WORK WITH OUR FINANCIAL ADVISER TO PICK A FAVORABLE DAY IN THE MARKETS SO THAT THE CITY COULD GET THE MOST SAVINGS OUT OF THE REFINANCING.
ANY QUESTIONS OF MIKE LOFTIN ON THIS, COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT, I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS.
ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL FROM COUNCILMAN LISTOWSKI, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN ROBB.
ANY DISCUSSION COUNCIL? MAYOR, I MIGHT ADD THAT IT DOES BY THE CITY CHARTER, REQUIRE SIX VOTES OF COUNCIL TO APPROVE ANY KIND OF BOND SALE THAT INCLUDES THIS ONE.
NEEDS TO BE SUPER MAJORITY ON THAT OR SIX VOTES.
IT IS UNANIMOUS OF ALL SEVEN MEMBERS.
I DID JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT, MAYBE WITH SOME OF THIS MONEY, NOW THAT IT'S EVEN AT A BETTER RATE, WE COULD GET SOME OF THE SEWER OR PROJECTS THAT ARE SO NEEDED IN DISTRICT SIX.
[11.B. Discuss And Consider For Action The Adoption Of A Policy Related To The Return To In Person Meetings And Associated Protocol Related To Public Attendance At City Council And City Committee Meetings. (Brown) ]
ITEM 11B, PLEASE, NELLIE ITEM 11B DISCUSS AND CONSIDER FOR ACTION THE ADOPTION OF A POLICY RELATED TO THE RETURN TO IN-PERSON MEETINGS AND ASSOCIATED PROTOCOL RELATED TO PUBLIC ATTENDANCE AT CITY COUNCIL[01:10:01]
AND CITY COMMITTEE MEETINGS COUNCIL, WE DISCUSSED THIS EARLIER THIS MORNING A LITTLE BIT.IT'S ON AS AND ACTION ITEMS THAT WE CAN TAKE ACTION ON THIS.
THERE HAS BEEN SOME WE HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED BY THE IT DEPARTMENT.
IF WE WANT TO START OUR IN-PERSON MEETINGS, WE WOULD PROBABLY SET THOSE UP IN ROOM 204.
STAFF HAS WORKED THAT OUT SO THAT WE COULD HAVE COUNCIL PRESENT THERE.
IT REQUESTS THAT IF WE DO WANT TO DO THAT, THEY WOULD LIKE TO START THAT ON APRIL TWENTY SECOND, MAINLY BECAUSE THAT GIVES THEM TIME TO GET ALL OF THE AUDIO VISUAL AND EVERYTHING HOOKED IN AND SO WE CAN TELEVISE FROM THAT ROOM PROPERLY AND EVERYTHING.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE AT THIS POINT.
I THINK WE OUGHT TO START WITH THE MOTION IN SOME MANNER ON THIS TO GET OUR DISCUSSIONS GOING.
YES, MARIE? I MOVE TO APPROVE THAT WE GO BACK TO MEETING AT CITY HALL, CHANGING THE ROOM TO 204 VERSUS THE COUNCIL CHAMBER.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT? SECOND.
SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN QUIROGA.
COUNCIL? MARIE, LET ME ASK A QUESTION.
DOES THAT INCLUDE ALSO OUR WORKSHOP MEETINGS BEING IN PERSON ALSO? WELL, I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE OUR WORKSHOP MEETINGS TO BE IN PERSON, BUT I GUESS THERE WAS SOME QUESTION OF FOLLOWING CDC GUIDELINES OR NOT, AS WE DISCUSSED IN OUR EARLIER MEETING.
I WOULD INCLUDE IT, BUT I THOUGHT THE GOAL WAS TO GET THE COUNCIL MEETING BACK IN AND THEN WE WOULD ADDRESS THE WORKSHOPS.
I'M ASKING A QUESTION OF YOU FROM OUR DISCUSSIONS TODAY.
WELL, PERSONALLY, I THINK I WOULD SUPPORT YOUR MOTION IF IT INCLUDED DOING OUR WORKSHOPS VIRTUALLY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
AND THAT MEANS WE COULD GO TO IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS AS SOON AS WE FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING THAT.
BUT THAT WOULD BE UP TO YOU AND BILL, IF YOU WOULD ACCEPT THAT AMENDMENT OR WE COULD VOTE ON IT; WHATEVER YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO, MARIE.
[INAUDIBLE] SHE GAVE HER SQUEAKY APPROVAL AS SHE SO LOVES TO DO.
HOW ABOUT IF WE SAY THE COUNCIL MEETINGS TO BE VIRTUAL, UNLESS THE CDC GUIDELINES CHANGE IN THE MEANTIME AND COUNCIL MEETING TO BE IN PUBLIC, [INAUDIBLE] JUST THE WORKSHOP YOU'RE REFERRING TO? WORKSHOPS WOULD BE VIRTUAL UNLESS THE CDC GUIDELINES CHANGE AND THE COUNCIL MEETINGS TO BE IN PUBLIC SO THAT I WOULD SUPPORT THAT.
AND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING THEN IS APRIL 22ND, WE WOULD GO BACK TO IN-PERSON COUNCIL MEETINGS AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS, MEETINGS UNTIL THE CDC CHANGES THEIR GUIDELINES.
AND JUST SO THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS, THE CDC HAS SUGGESTED THAT MEETINGS BE HELD FOR NO LONGER THAN AN HOUR.
AND SINCE THE GOAL OF COUNCIL IS TO HAVE WORKSHOPS WHERE THEY CAN COVER MOST OF THE AGENDA ITEMS SO THAT WE'RE NOT KEEPING STAFF OVER TIME, WE WOULD STILL DO THE WORKSHOP VIRTUALLY, MUCH TO ROSIE'S DISMAY, BUT.
BEFORE WE OPEN THAT FOR DISCUSSION, BILL, MARIE HAS CHANGED HER MOTION.
ARE YOU IN APPROVAL OF THAT SECOND TO THAT? I APPROVE WITH THAT; IT'S OK WITH ME.
LET'S OPEN IT UP TO DISCUSSION.
I MEAN, I'M FINE WITH THAT MOTION.
IT'S GREAT, YOU KNOW, MEETING IN PERSON.
I JUST WANT TO, WHATEVER WE APPROVE HERE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW IT.
AND RIGHT NOW, SINCE IT'S 6:14, WE WOULD HAVE WE WOULD HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, EITHER TAKE A BREAK OR DO SOMETHING TO FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES.
SO WE NEED TO CHANGE THESE GUIDELINES OR WE NEED TO ONLY HAVE MEETINGS FOR AN
[01:15:06]
HOUR WITH THE WAY THE GUIDELINES ARE SET UP.YEAH, I'VE NOTICED THAT, TOO, JP AND MY THOUGHT IS, IS THAT WHAT WE COULD DO TO APPEASE THAT IS PERHAPS WE COULD DO SOME OF THE CEREMONIAL STUFF AT THE WORKSHOP.
THAT IS REALLY AT THE END OF THE DAY, EVEN IN SOME OF OUR LONGEST MEETINGS, THAT'S WHAT TAKES UP MOST OF YOUR TIME.
YEAH, AND LIKE I SAID, I'VE NO PROBLEM MEETING IN PERSON, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE BEFORE WE APPROVE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES THAT WE APPROVED.
SO WE NEED TO JUST BE AWARE OF THAT.
AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD POINT, JOHN.
AND IF IT MET COUNCIL'S APPROVAL, I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH STAFF HERE AND WITH JANELLE ABOUT THE CEREMONIAL ASPECTS IN OUR MORNING MEETING.
MAYOR? YES? WHAT ABOUT THE PUBLIC COMMENT AREA, THE MEETINGS THAT WOULD BE-- THAT WOULD STAY REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND SO.
I MEAN, WE WOULD GET TO A TOPIC THAT ONCE AGAIN BECOMES A HOT BUTTON THERE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WILLING TO COME FORWARD TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL AND THEN WE FIND OURSELVES ONCE AGAIN GOING OVER THE LIMIT.
WE WOULD TAKE A BREAK AT THAT POINT AND FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND THEN WE WOULD RECONVENE AFTER WE TOOK WHATEVER THE GUIDELINE IS.
SO THIS IS NOT 100 PERCENT FOOLPROOF THAT WE'RE GOING TO STAY WITHIN THAT TIME FRAME.
I MEAN, IT'S OUR GOAL, BUT FACING THE REALITY OF IT IS A GOOD CHANCE IT PROBABLY WON'T HAPPEN I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO BUY COUNCIL MEMBER QUIROGA HOTDOGS EVERY WEEK.
OK, WELL WHAT WE'RE SHOOTING FOR, COUNCILMAN JOHNSON IS FORTY FIVE MINUTES.
THAT GETS US A LITTLE [INAUDIBLE] TO WORK WITH.
WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM COUNCILWOMAN ROB, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN QUIROGA.
IS COUNCIL CLEAR ON THE MOTION NOW? I THINK WE ARE OK.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? IT IS UNANIMOUS.
MOVING TO ITEM 11C, PLEASE, NELLIE
[11.C. Discuss And Consider For Action The Approval Of A City Flag. (Brown)]
ITEM 11C, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER FOR ACTION THE APPROVAL OF A CITY FLAG.THIS WAS AN ITEM THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THIS MORNING, COUNCIL.
BEFORE WE GET INTO THIS, WE HAVE OUR CHAIRPERSON OF THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION, NICK BARBEE, WHO USHERED AND CHAMPIONED THIS THOUGHT OF CITY FLAG ISSUE WITH THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION AND SO FORTH.
NICK, COULD YOU GIVE JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW FOR COUNCIL AND THEN BE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS IF WE HAVE ANY, PLEASE, SIR? YES, OF COURSE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR CONSIDERING THIS.
THIS IS A PROCESS WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH FOR THE LAST JUST OVER TWO YEARS.
AND WE FOLLOWED THE NORTH AMERICAN VEXILLOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION'S GUIDELINES FOR PICKING A FLAG.
WE WORKED IN CONVERSATION WITH THEM.
UNDER THEIR GUIDANCE, THE FLAG SHOULD BE SIMPLE, YOU KNOW, SIMPLE ENOUGH THAT A CHILD COULD DRAW IT FROM MEMORY.
IT SHOULD HAVE MEANINGFUL SYMBOLISM, USE SIMPLE COLORS, IT SHOULDN'T HAVE LETTERING OR SEALS, AND IT SHOULD BE DISTINCTIVE AND RELATED TO OTHER FLAGS.
SO WE RECEIVED ONE HUNDRED SUBMISSIONS.
WE NARROWED THAT DOWN TO 10, PUT IT OUT FOR PUBLIC TO NARROW THOSE 10 DOWN AND THEN USING THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND PUBLIC VOTE TO GUIDE US.
WE SETTLED ON THE THREE FINALISTS.
I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE REGARDING THE PROCESS FOR THE DESIGNS THAT WE SENT ALONG TO YOU.
AND NICK, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, WHILE COUNCIL'S THINKING ABOUT THOSE, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, JANELLE, COULD YOU SHOW THE THREE FINALISTS THAT WERE SUBMITTED TO COUNCIL AGAIN, PLEASE?
[01:20:18]
CAN YOU SEE THAT ONE, NICK, ALSO? YES, WE CAN SEE THAT.ON THIS ONE, NICK, COUNCILMAN LISTOWSKI ASKED, AND I STARTED THINKING LATER TODAY, IF I GAVE HIM THE CORRECT INFORMATION, IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ARTIST OF THIS PARTICULAR SUBMISSION WAS OPEN TO CLEAN THIS UP, AND MAKE IT MORE UNIFORM AND COLORS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
IS THAT CORRECT, NICK? THAT'S CORRECT.
HE DESIGNED THIS WITH CHILDREN AND THEY PRODUCED IT.
BUT WE ASKED HIM IF IT WOULD BE CLEANED UP AND HE AGREED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, NELLIE OR JANELLE, DR. BROWN, IF I MAY, ONE LAST THING I DID WANT TO MENTION.
WITH THE DESIGN, WITH THE FLAG DESIGNS, YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT WE REALLY KEPT COMING BACK TO AND CONSIDERING AND I WANT TO REEMPHASIZE THIS IS A FLAG IS DIFFERENT THAN A SEAL CITY SEAL.
IN THAT IT IT'LL READ AS LEGIBLY ON A LAPEL PIN AS IT WOULD ON A FOOTBALL FIELD, FLAGS OPERATE DIFFERENTLY, BUT IT SHOULD BE LEGIBLE AND CLEAR ENOUGH THAT IF IT WERE ONE INCH LAPEL PIN, PEOPLE WOULD RECOGNIZE IT, OR IF IT WAS LARGE ON A FOOTBALL FIELD OR PAINTED ONTO A CITY STREET OR SOMETHING, THAT IT WOULD BE JUST AS LEGIBLE AND NOT AS COMPLICATED.
ALL RIGHT, MR. BARBEE'S HERE FOR ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS.
COUNCIL, FIRST OF ALL, ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. BARBEE THAT YOU HAVE? YES, REVEREND JOHNSON? YEAH, MR. BARBEE, OF COURSE, MY CONCERN, OF COURSE, LAST TIME WAS OUT OF THE THREE, OF COURSE, WE [INAUDIBLE] TO GO BACK TO REVISION.
OF COURSE WE COME DOWN TO NARROWED DOWN TO THREE, THE TOP THREE THAT WE HAVE, I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHICH ONE GOT MORE THAN THE OTHER AS FAR AS FROM THE COMMUNITY INPUT.
AS FAR AS FROM THE COMMUNITY INPUT, OF THE THREE THAT WE SENT YOU AND I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THEY WERE ALL WITHIN THE SAME RANGE.
WITHIN THE A COUPLE OF PERCENTAGE POINTS.
SO ONE WASN'T GREATER THAN THE OTHER? NO, SIR.
I WAS LOOKING FOR THAT TOO, REVEREND JOHNSON.
THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT OF BRINGING IT BACK TO THEM SO THEY COULD KIND OF GIVE US AN IDEA, SINCE THE CITIZEN HAD INPUT ON IT.
THAT WAS MOSTLY MY CONCERN, TO HAVE THE CITIZENS TO HAVE SOME INPUT ON THIS AND TO KNOW THAT ONCE AGAIN, IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY ONCE AGAIN ARE LOOKING FOR US TO, OF COURSE, ADOPT AND PUT IN PLACE.
BUT I WAS HOPING MORE THAT THE CITIZENS WOULD HAVE A VOICE IN THIS IDEA OF THIS FLAG.
I DON'T HAVE IT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
THAT'S WHY I WAS JUST TRYING TO SEE WHICH ONE HAD MORE THAN THE OTHER.
SO WE KIND OF NARROW IT DOWN TO WHICH ONE, BECAUSE ALL OF THEM WOULD FIT ME.
SO, I WAS JUST TRYING TO GET A LITTLE MORE HELP ON MY VOTE, THAT'S ALL.
NICK, WOULD YOU, I KNOW THE COMMISSION BEFORE WE GET SOME QUESTIONS, THE COMMISSION DISCUSSED PUTTING THAT BACK OUT, POSSIBLY TO THE COMMUNITY.
WOULD YOU KIND OF EXPAND ON THAT, WHY YOU SENT THIS [INAUDIBLE] IN THE PROCESS, AND THIS WAS THE GUIDANCE FROM THE FIVE PEOPLE, NAVA, AND THIS IS
[01:25:01]
WHAT THEY DO.BUT THEIR GUIDANCE WAS PUBLIC COMMENT IS HELPFUL.
IT ALSO REALLY GETS PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT, WHICH IS THE BIGGEST BENEFIT, IT LETS PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING AND THAT THESE FLAGS, THE FLAG DESIGN, SOMETIMES THERE ARE THINGS THAT WHEN IT GOES OUT TO THE PUBLIC, MIGHT NOT BE READILY APPARENT.
SO IT'S THE JOB OF THE COMMITTEE IN THIS CASE, THE COMMISSION ON THE ARTS, TO NARROW THAT DOWN [INAUDIBLE] AND THEN TO SEND IT TO COUNCIL.
THAT IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COMMISSION TO MAKE A HARDER DECISION THAN THE PUBLIC WOULD BE ABLE TO DO.
WE HAVE COUNCILWOMAN ROBB, AND THEN THEN COUNCILMAN SCHUSTER.
MARIE? WELL, AND I HAVE TO SAY, I HAVE THE SAME QUESTION AS THE REVEREND, BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT WAS WHAT WE DECIDED AT THE LAST MEETING, THAT WE WOULD PUT THE FINAL THREE OUT TO THE VOTE OF THE PUBLIC.
I MEAN, ALTHOUGH IT'S GREAT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A DECISION, I'D RATHER HAVE OUR PEOPLE HAVE THE TOP THREE, GET THAT ONE MORE DEFINED.
YOU KNOW, THE ONE THAT WAS DONE WITH THE INPUT OF THE CHILDREN THAT I HAVE TO SAY IS MY FAVORITE, EVEN THOUGH I DO LIKE NUMBER ONE.
I THINK THE FACT THAT ONE IS MISSING THE SEA, WHICH IS SUCH A MAJOR ELEMENT OF OUR ISLAND, OR WE WOULDN'T BE AN ISLAND WITHOUT IT, I DON'T KNOW.
I STILL THINK THAT WE SHOULD ALLOW NOW THAT WE HAVE IT LIMITED DOWN TO THREE, WE SHOULD LET THE PUBLIC VOTE.
AND I THOUGHT WE DECIDED THAT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING.
WELL, IT WENT BACK TO THE COMMISSION, MARIE, WITH THAT INTENT OR THAT THOUGHT COMMISSION, THOUGH, AS NICK HAD MENTIONED, FELT THAT THEY HAD VETTED THAT PROPERLY WITH THE PUBLIC AND WANTED TO SEND THAT BACK TO COUNCIL.
BUT WE CAN GIVE INFORMATION OR GIVE THAT DIRECTION AGAIN, IF COUNCIL WANTS TO DO THAT AND COUNCIL, COULDN'T A CITY DO IT FROM THIS POINT, GET THAT ONE FLAG MORE REFINED SO THAT THEY ARE ON EVEN KEEL AND THEN THE CITY PUTS IT OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND THEN WE KNOW WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT.
I THINK ALL THE FLAGS THAT WERE SUBMITTED ARE EXCELLENT, BUT I'D RATHER NOT HAVE US MAKE THE CHOICE.
I'D RATHER HAVE THE PEOPLE MAKE THE CHOICE.
WILLIAM? I AGREE IT MAKES IT KIND OF HARD WITH THREE THAT ARE VERY SIMILAR.
WERE THESE THE TOP THREE VOTE GETTERS THAT WERE POLLED? DID THESE FALL ONE, TWO, THREE IN NUMBERS? NO, THEY DID NOT FALL ONE TWO THREE IN NUMBERS.
OK, AND WAS THERE A RECOMMENDATION THAT THE COMMITTEE HAD FOR THEIR EXACT ONE THEY WOULD LIKE? NO, IT WAS VERY TOUGH TO GET IT DOWN TO THREE.
I MEAN, I'M HAPPY TO GIVE YOU MY NUMBER ONE, BUT THAT WOULDN'T BE APPROPRIATE NOW.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE THING AND JUST TO BRING IT BACK HERE IS THAT THE CONSIDERATIONS THAT WE WOULD KEEP IN MIND, BOTH AS THE COMMISSION AND AS CITY COUNCIL, IS WHAT WOULD THE FUTURE POSSIBLE USES BE FOR THIS FLAG? SO CLEARLY, A FLAG IS A SYMBOL THAT REPRESENTS OUR CITY.
IT SHOULD BE EASILY IDENTIFIABLE.
IT SHOULD REPRESENT OUR ISLAND.
AND THOSE ARE THE CONCERNS THAT YOU ALL HAVE VOICED.
AND I UNDERSTAND I UNDERSTAND WHY THE PUBLIC COMMENTS IMPORTANT WITH THAT.
BUT THEN THINKING ABOUT OTHER POSSIBLE USES FOR A FLAG.
WOULD THE FLAG BE ABLE TO BE ADAPTED FOR, SAY, MARDI GRAS? COULD ONE OF THE FLAGS BE CHANGED IN COLOR TO REPRESENT MARDI GRAS SO WE CAN HAVE GALVESTON'S MARDI GRAS AND IT BECOMES IDENTIFIABLE OR OR FOR ANY OTHER SORT OF CELEBRATION? SO THOSE ARE THE SORT OF CONSIDERATIONS THAT THE COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL, I THINK THAT'S OUR EXPERTISE AS WELL AS ARE THERE ANY SYMBOLS OR ASSOCIATIONS FROM THE FLAGS, FROM THE FLAG THAT MAY NOT BE READILY APPARENT IN A PUBLIC VOTE.
THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT IT ON CLOSER INSPECTION, WE WOULDN'T WANT ON OUR CITY
[01:30:02]
FLAG.I THINK A FLAG SHOULDN'T NEED EXPLANATION.
AND YOU SHOULD SAY, YEP, THAT'S IT.
YOU SHOULDN'T NEED THE BACK STORY ON IT, RIGHT? BUT THEN IT WOULD BE OUR FURTHER RESPONSIBILITY TO CONSIDER POSSIBLE ASSOCIATIONS OR BACK STORY.
AND THAT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COMMISSION, AND THAT'S WHY WE SENT THESE THREE BACK TO COUNCIL.
WHO'D YOU CALL ON? YES, DAVID.
OK, YEAH, YOU KNOW, NICK, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE COMMISSION AND THE FLAG PROFESSIONALS, KIND OF WHAT I HEAR YOU SAYING HERE IS THAT YOU WANT TO GIVE THIS TO THE PUBLIC BECAUSE THEY MIGHT CHOOSE SOMETHING THAT THE PROFESSIONALS AREN'T THAT CRAZY ABOUT, THAT IT VIOLATES SOME SACRED SET OF FLAG RULES.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I PROMISE TO TAKING THOSE GUIDELINES THAT YOU EXPLICATED LAST TIME I PULLED UP A PAGE OF THE US FLAGS AND FULLY A THIRD OF THEM FAILED THOSE TESTS.
THEY'RE STILL RECOGNIZABLE, SIMILAR TO COLORADO'S FLAG LOOKS LIKE.
YOU KNOW WHAT NORTH CAROLINA'S FLAG LOOKS LIKE, BUT THEY WOULDN'T PASS MUSTER WITH THE FLAG PEOPLE, AS IT WERE.
SO IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS, I MEAN, I'M NOT CRAZY ABOUT ANY OF THESE DESIGNS.
I SAID FROM THE BEGINNING I THOUGHT WE TAKE THE CONCEPT AND GO FIND A PROFESSIONAL DESIGN FIRM TO LOOK AT THESE.
BUT HOWEVER WE DO IT, YOU KNOW, I'M WITH WILLIAM AND MARIE.
WE NEED THE PEOPLE'S INPUT ON THIS.
AND I KNOW YOU SAID YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF RESPONSES, BUT IT DIDN'T FEEL TO ME LIKE THIS HAS BEEN PUT OUT TO THE PUBLIC.
I'VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY TO ME, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
WELL, LET ME--GO AHEAD, REVEREND JOHNSON, I'M SORRY.
SO WITH THAT SAID, WHAT MR. COLLINS' SAYING IS, IS IT POSSIBLE THAT JUST AS MR. MAXWELL SENT OUT THE COMMUNICATION ABOUT THE LIGHTS TO THE WATER BILL, IS THAT POSSIBLE THAT WE CAN SEND OUT SOMETHING IN THE WATER BILLS WHICH GO OUT TO THE MAJORITY OF THE RESIDENTS, AND THEN THEY CAN TAKE, YOU KNOW, TAKE THE SURVEY OF WHICH ONE THAT THEY WOULD, OF COURSE, PREFER, AND THEN GET THE FEEDBACK FROM THEIR.
I THINK THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT WE WILL PROBABLY GET ANY TYPE OF PUBLIC FEEDBACK TO NARROW IT DOWN TO--IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.
LET ME ASK THE COUNCIL THIS QUESTION, AND I WANT TO GET CLEAR ON THIS, IF WE SEND THIS OUT TO THE PUBLIC AGAIN, THAT SAYS TO ME THAT WE'RE GOING TO CHOOSE WHAT THE PUBLIC CHOOSES, WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENT CHOICE, WHATEVER GETS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF VOTES IS GOING TO BE THE FLAG.
AND SO, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, IT COMES OUT OF OUR HANDS, AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO SUPPORT WHAT THE PUBLIC SUPPORTS ON THAT.
IS THAT RIGHT, COUNCILWOMAN, MARIE? I WOULD SAY YES.
I MEAN, WE REPRESENT THE PEOPLE, BUT IN THIS CASE, LET'S LET THE PEOPLE CHOOSE.
I MEAN, THAT WAS OUR DIRECTIVE FROM THE LAST MEETING.
AND I THINK IT'S OUR DIRECTIVE THIS MORNING.
AND I LOVE THE REVEREND'S IDEA ABOUT PUTTING IT IN THE WATER BILL.
WE CAN HAVE IT UP ON THE WEBSITE.
WE CAN HAVE IT ON FACEBOOK, WE CAN HAVE IT ON MULTIPLE PLACES, AND THE PEOPLE GET TO CHOOSE.
I MEAN, BECAUSE WE HAVE SEVEN PEOPLE HERE, WE COULD END UP NOT EVEN PICKING ONE AND GETTING INTO A DEBATE OVER EVERYONE MIGHT LIKE SOMETHING, BUT IT'S STILL OUR CONSTITUENTS SHOULD HAVE A SAY, THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE THE ONE THAT PICK THE PEOPLE.
I MEAN, DAVID MENTIONED COLORADO'S FLAG.
I THINK THAT'S UGLY, BUT IT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE CHOSE, YOU KNOW? [LAUGHTER] I DIDN'T SAY I LIKED IT; I JUST SAID IT'S RECOGNIZABLE.
BUT I MEAN, I DON'T LIKE IT BUT I THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT, THE CITY'S FLAG.
AND I THINK WE SHOULD LET THE PEOPLE CHOOSE FROM THESE THREE.
I THINK THE COMMISSION DID A GREAT JOB.
ALL RIGHT, NOW I'M SOMEWHAT IN DAVID'S CAMP HERE.
I MEAN, THE ARTISTS THAT DID THESE FLAGS PUT IN A TON OF THOUGHT TO THEM.
AND I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THEIR PRESENTATION LAST TIME THEY THEY PRESENTED THEIR FLAGS TO US.
[01:35:01]
NONE OF THEM REALLY JUST TOTALLY STAND OUT TO ME FOR WHAT I SEE GALVESTON.BUT THAT'S JUST MY OPINION, OF COURSE.
IF WE DO PUT THIS OUT TO THE PUBLIC, HOW DO YOU DO THAT AND ACTUALLY HAVE A FAIR VOTE? YEAH, IT'S DIFFICULT.
I MEAN, THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS LIKE A CITY ELECTION TYPE OF VOTE.
ANY INTERNET VOTE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS NOT GOING TO WORK.
I MEAN, I WOULDN'T GO INTO THAT INSTEAD.
BUT ONCE AGAIN, WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS JUST TRYING TO GET IT NARROWED DOWN TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR ALL OF US TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT THIS FLAG BECAUSE LIKE I SAY, WE'RE SPENDING 20 MINUTES NOW DISCUSSING THIS FLAG AND SO I'M JUST TRYING TO GET PAST IT WHERE WE CAN FINALLY JUST PICK A FLAG, HAVE A FLAG PICKED EITHER BY COUNCIL, OR ONCE AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, LIKE I FELT LIKE IT WAS MORE EASIER FOR THE CITIZENS TO MAKE A DECISION BECAUSE THE COUNCIL MAKES A DECISION, THEN THE NEXT COUNCIL COULD COME BACK AND THEY CAN CHANGE IT.
WHATEVER THEY DECIDE TO DO, THEY CAN COMMISSION THEM TO GO BACK AND FIND US ANOTHER FLAG.
SO BUT I WAS JUST TRYING TO MOVE THIS PROCESS ALONG EASIER SO THAT WE COULD FIND A WAY TO TRY TO JUST MOVE ON JUST TO HAVE AN ACTUAL FLAG.
[INAUDIBLE] WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, IS PICK AN ACTUAL FLAG FOR THE CITY.
AND SO I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM MAKING A MOTION ACCEPT ONE, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF [INAUDIBLE] PASS A VOTE ON THAT.
I'D LIKE TO JUST COMMENT ON JOHN'S THOUGHTS, BECAUSE I SAT IN ON THEIR FIRST ROUND OF VOTES AND THEY HAD THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF VOTES COMING IN.
JOHN'S EXTREMELY, JOHN'S CORRECT.
WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE IS IT'S GOING TO BE A POPULARITY CONTEST.
AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT MAY BE FRIENDS OF ONE OF THE DESIGNERS, THEY'RE GOING TO GET JUST PEOPLE CONSTANTLY SENDING IN THINGS.
NOW, THAT MAY BE WHAT THE COUNCIL WANTS TO SETTLE ON.
I THINK WE MIGHT MISLEAD OURSELVES IF WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO PUT THIS OUT FOR A VOTE AND EVERYBODY'S GOING TO CAST ONE VOTE AND DECIDE WHAT THE MAJORITY OF THE CITIZENS WANT, THAT'S NOT PROBABLY NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
SO THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHTS ON THAT.
JOHN, ARE YOU THROUGH WITH YOUR COMMENTS OR.
WE HAVE DAVID AND WILLIAM, I WILL REITERATE WHAT I SAID LAST TIME.
THIS SEEMS LIKE THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM WE DIDN'T KNOW WE HAD UNTIL SOMEBODY CAME ALONG AND SAID, HERE'S A NEAT IDEA, LET'S DO A FLAG.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A I STILL THINK IT'S A PERFECTLY GOOD FLAG OUT FRONT OF CITY HALL.
BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION EARLIER, WAS ARE THESE THE TOP VOTE-GETTERS? THE ANSWER WAS NO, THAT THE COMMISSION DID PUT IT OUT FOR VOTE.
THEY TOOK THOSE VOTES, IGNORED SOME ASPECT OF IT, CHOSE ONE OF THESE BECAUSE IT WAS THE GUY WHO CAME UP WITH THE IDEA TO DO THIS TO BEGIN WITH, AND ADDED HIS IN HERE.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE SEEING THE PUBLIC'S REAL OPINION ON THIS OR NOT.
I MEAN, I'M OK WITH NOT GIVING IT TO THE PUBLIC OR, YOU KNOW, BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT EITHER, BECAUSE, LIKE I SAID, I DON'T SEE WHY WE'RE EVEN DOING THIS.
CAN I MAKE A NOTE ON THAT POINT ABOUT TOP VOTE GETTING JUST TO CLARIFY.
OK, IS THAT EXACTLY THE SCENARIO THAT DR.
BROWN OUTLINED HAPPENED, THAT THERE WAS ONE PERSON WHO SPAMMED THE VOTE? AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IS WE CAN CLEARLY SEE THAT FROM THE IP ADDRESS, SO THE SOLUTION WOULD BE, WELL, LIMITED TO ONE IP ADDRESS.
BUT WHAT ABOUT SOMEBODY THAT DOESN'T HAVE INTERNET IN THEIR HOUSE AND THEY'RE USING A LIBRARY OR USING PUBLIC WI-FI OR USING A PUBLIC COMPUTER AT THE SCHOOL? SO, I THINK WE WOULD END UP WITH MORE PROBLEMS IF WERE TO SIMPLY SAY TOP VOTE-GETTER.
WHAT WE SAW WAS THE TOP CHOICE WAS BEING SPAMMED AND THAT'S WHY WE DIDN'T INCLUDE IT OR ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE CONSIDERED IT.
EXCUSE ME, I SHOULD SAY, LET ME REPHRASE THAT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CONSIDERED WHEN WERE NARROWING IT DOWN, WE HAVE COUNCILMAN SCHUSTER, AND THEN COUNCILMAN QUIROGA.
JUST LOOKING AT THE ONES WE HAVE TODAY, LET'S JUST PLAY WHAT-IF.
TWO OF US LIKE A, TWO OF US LIKE B, THREE OF US LIKE C AND THIS MOTION FAILS RIGHT NOW.
WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THE FORWARD? [LAUGHTER] IT COULD BE THAT OUR FOREFATHERS CAME TO THE SAME SITUATION.
THAT'S WHY WE DON'T HAVE AN OFFICIAL FLAG.
[01:40:01]
SO, YEAH, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT, WILLIAM.IT JUST MAKES IT HARD WITH THE THREE CHOICES AND, YOU KNOW, THE DISCUSSION WITH IT.
ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I MEAN, THE EFFORT FROM THE PEOPLE THAT DID IT WAS AWESOME.
THE PRESENTATIONS THAT DAY, I MEAN, I LEARNED MORE FROM GALVESTON IN THOSE FIVE MINUTES THAN I HAVE IN A LONG TIME.
IT'S JUST THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO REPRESENT THE ISLAND.
SO I JUST DON'T SEE THE HURRY OF JUMPING INTO IT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT TOO PRESSING OF AN ISSUE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A FLAG FLYING OUT AT TOR BASEBALL FIELD.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK IT NEEDS TO BE NEXT MONTH.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I LOOK AT THE AGENDA COUNCIL, EACH MEETING I LOOK AT, I WONDER WHAT ITEM WILL CATCH US AND HOLD US UP.
I FIGURED THIS WOULD BE THE ONE.
COUNCILMAN QUIROGA AND THEN MARIE.
I'M JUST GOING TO CONCUR WITH WHAT JOHN AND DAVID SAID.
I THINK THE ONE FLYING OUT IN FRONT OF THE CITY GETS MY VOTE.
MARIE? WELL, TO WHAT COUNCILMAN QUIROGA SAID IT GOES RIGHT TO WHAT SCHUSTER SAID.
OBVIOUSLY, WE'D HAVE A LOCK VOTE AND NOTHING WOULD GET VOTED ON.
BUT THERE ARE WAYS THAT YOU CAN WITH TECHNOLOGY TODAY THAT YOU CAN LIMIT A VOTE TO ONE VOTE.
AND WE COULD ALSO TIE IT TO THE WITH THE COMMENT ON THE WATER BILL.
IT COULD BE TIED TO AN ADDRESS AND HAVE ONE VOTE PER ADDRESS.
I MEAN, THERE ARE WAYS YOU CAN DO IT, BECAUSE I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S RIGHT THAT THE COUNCIL SHOULD MAKE A CHOICE.
AND I DON'T THINK IT WOULD EVEN HAPPEN.
I WANT TO MAKE AN ATTEMPT, MAYOR.
[LAUGHTER] I KNEW YOU WERE, REVEREND JOHNSON; GO RIGHT AHEAD.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE CLEANED UP, THE ONE THAT WE LOOKED AT IT AS, I GUESS, THE CHILDREN HAD PARTICIPATED IN.
I'M GOING TO MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THAT JUST TO KIND OF GET THIS THING OUT IN THE OPEN.
SO WE CAN GET SOME KIND OF DIRECTION ON IT.
WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCILWOMAN ROBB.
JANELLE, WOULD YOU PUT UP ON THE SCREEN AGAIN THAT ONE? I THINK IT WAS THE SECOND ONE THAT YOU SHOWED.
ALL RIGHT, THANKS VERY MUCH, REVEREND JOHNSON ONCE IT'S KIND OF CLEANED UP AND WE CAN KIND OF GO BACK AND SEE.
BUT THIS IS THE ONE THAT I THINK THAT WE CAN GO WITH AND LIVE WITH.
COULD I REQUEST--I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT TO THAT, REVEREND JOHNSON, SEE WHAT YOU THINK, WHATEVER YOU THINK ON THAT.
WHY DON'T WE HAVE THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION, WORK WITH THE ARTISTS TO CLEAN THIS UP AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO PRESENT IT TO HAVE SEEN IT IN A CLEAN VERSION? THAT'S FINE.
DOES THAT NEEDS YOUR APPROVAL [INAUDIBLE].
AND MARIE, THAT'S GOOD WITH YOU? SHE'S SHAKING GER HEAD.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF--WE HAVE A MOTION FOR SENDING THIS PARTICULAR CHOICE BACK TO THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION, HAVING THEM WORK WITH THE ARTISTS TO CLEAN THIS UP AND THEN BRING THIS BACK TO COUNCIL FOR POSSIBLE ACTION AT THAT POINT.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS ON THIS? ALL RIGHT, JANELLE, COULD--.
YES, YES, [INAUDIBLE] SORRY, DAVID.
OK, SO WE'VE JUST ELIMINATED THE OTHER TWO.
WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS CLEANED UP, BRING IT BACK AND THEN VOTE UP OR DOWN THAT WE'RE GOING TO-- YEAH, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
IS THAT WHAT JUST HAPPENED? YEAH, THAT'S WHAT HIS MOTION IS.
OK, AS LONG AS I KNOW [INAUDIBLE] THAT'S THE MOTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF REVEREND JOHNSON'S MOTION, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR HAND, PLEASE.
A GOOD STAB AT IT, REVEREND JOHNSON.
[LAUGHTER] THEY CAN'T SAY WE DIDN'T TRY.
I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE BRING ALL THREE FLAGS BACK WITH THE
[01:45:05]
REFINEMENT OF THE ONE THAT HAS THE STAR OF TEXAS, THE BEACHES, THE ENVIRONMENT, IT'S LIKE A STARFISH WITH THAT ONE BEING REFINED.SO WE BRING ALL THREE BACK TO LOOK AT THEM AND THEN WE PUT IT OUT OF THE PUBLIC.
AND THEN WE PUT IT OUT FOR A VOTE.
[LAUGHTER] S, IN YOUR MOTION, YOU WANT TO PUT THAT OUT FOR ONCE WE BRING THEM BACK, WE PUT THOSE OUT TO A VOTE OF THE PUBLIC? ALL RIGHT.
IS THERE A SECOND? OK, THE MOTION FAILED--UH, OH, JOHN.
I'LL SECOND IT JUST FOR DISCUSSION ON THAT ONE.
WHY WOULD WE BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL AND THEN IT GO OUT TO A VOTE OF THE PUBLIC? WHAT'S KIND OF THE THEORY BEHIND THAT? MARIE DOESN'T WANT TO GET BLAMED FOR IT [LAUGHTER] WELL, I UNDERSTAND THAT I MEAN, I'M PRETTY ADAMANT ABOUT HAVING A VOTE AT THE PUBLIC.
AND SINCE WE FOUND OUT THIS EVENING THAT IS NOT IN REFINED FASHION, IF WE ARE--I MEAN, I WOULD BE OPEN TO AMENDING MY MOTION THAT WE BRING IT BACK, BUT IF WE'RE NOT BRINGING ALL THREE BACK, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, BUT AND NOPE, I'M NOT WILLING TO AMEND MY MOTION, SO I APPRECIATE YOUR SECOND.
ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE MOTION ON THE TABLE FOR CLEANING UP, FLAG TWO, BRINGING ALL THREE BACK TO COUNCIL AND THEN SENDING THEM OUT FOR PUBLIC VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? OK, THAT FAILS WITH NOT ENOUGH VOTES.
DON'T FORGET ABSTENTIONS ON THIS, PLEASE.
YOU DIDN'T ASK FOR ABSTENTIONS.
OH, ARE YOU ABSTAINING? YEAH YEAH, ME TOO, MAYOR.
I'M LIKE REVEREND JOHNSON, I'M GOING TO MAKE A FINAL STAB AT THIS.
I'M GOING TO SAY I'D LIKE FOR THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION.
I MOVE THAT THEY WORK WITH THE ARTISTS ON FLAG NUMBER TWO.
THAT WAS REVEREND JOHNSON HAD BROUGHT UP EARLIER TO CLEAN IT UP AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO THE COUNCIL FOR REVIEW AND DECIDE WHAT WE WOULD DO WITH THAT AT THAT POINT.
OK, SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
SO THAT FLAG WOULD COME BACK TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL, JUST THE ONE FLAG LIKE REVEREND JOHNSON.
BUT THAT ONE WOULD BE CLEANED UP.
AND THEN I JUST SAID FOR COUNCIL'S ACTION, IT COULD BE COUNCIL WOULD VOTE TO SEND IT FOR A PUBLIC VOTE.
IF IT DOES COME BACK, I WOULD HATE FOR THESE THREE FLAGS TO COME BACK AND WE'RE IN THE SAME BOAT WE ARE TODAY, I WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT THAT PROCESS IS GOING TO BE.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION COULD MAKE SOME MORE RECOMMENDATIONS ON, YOU KNOW, OPTIONS FOR US TO GO OUT FOR ABOUT WHAT THE CRITERIA WOULD BE, HOW THAT VOTE WOULD BE TAKEN.
MAYBE THERE IS AN OPTION FOR THESE THREE DESIGNS TO GO OFF INTO A PROFESSIONAL FLAG DESIGNER TO INCORPORATE SOME IDEAS AND BRING THAT BACK TO US.
I MEAN, I WOULD HATE FOR THIS TO COME BACK TO US, BUT JUST THESE THREE FLAGS AND NO OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE'RE, YOU KNOW, SPENDING 20 MINUTES AGAIN AND NOT COMING UP WITH ANY DECISIONS.
BUT I WANT TO HEAR A LOT MORE INPUT WHEN IT DOES COMES BACK TO US.
WELL, I THINK, JOHN, SINCE I MADE THE MOTION, I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.
AND I'D LIKE TO PUT INTO THE MOTION THAT ALSO WHEN THEY SEND THESE FLAG DESIGNS BACK TO COUNCIL, THAT THEY HAVE RESEARCHED AND REVIEWED OTHER APPROACHES TO THE SELECTION OF THE FLAG.
SO, FOR COUNCIL'S GUIDANCE ALSO.
[01:50:01]
YES, THE OTHER THING THEY COULD DO IS THEY COULD BRING EACH FLAG BACK AND SHOW A BLACK AND WHITE VERSION THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE FOR NEWSPAPERS.THEY COULD SHOW WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE ON A LAPEL PIN.
THEY COULD SHOW IT IN MULTIPLE DIFFERENT FORMATS, WHICH IS TYPICAL.
ANY TIME YOU LOOK--HAVING HAD AN ADVERTISING FIRM--ANY TIME YOU LOOK AT A GRAPHIC, YOU SHOULD LOOK AT IT AND EACH OF THE DIFFERENT FORMATS.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO CLEAN UP FLAG TWO BRING THEM BACK FOR COUNCIL'S ACTION OR MOTION AT THAT POINT AND TO BRING IT TO THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION.
AND YOU'VE GOT TO HEAR WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOR OTHER INPUT FROM THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION ON RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO WORK WITH THE SELECTION.
NICK, YOU'VE HEARD WHAT WE'VE MENTIONED? YES, YES.
ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE MOTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
OH, MY GOODNESS, THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED.
WE HAVE FOUR VOTES, SO, NICK, YOU HAVE YOUR TASK THERE AND WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR INPUT AS YOU COME BACK.
MAYOR, CAN WE GO ON THIS IN WORKSHOP NEXT TIME.
[LAUGHTER] BECAUSE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO MEET THAT ONE HOUR MEETING GOOD IDEA, WE MAKE EVERYBODY LOCK IN AT THAT TIME.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS WASN'T THE LAST ITEM OF THE DAY.
WE GOT TO THREE FROM THE BOTTOM AND ALMOST MADE IT.
[11.D. Consider For Approval A Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Expressing Its Support For Legislation Sponsored By Senator Larry Taylor And Representative Dennis Paul For The Creation Of The Gulf Coast Protection District Which Will Act As A Non-Federal Sponsor For The Proposed Coastal Barrier Project; Providing For Findings Of Fact And Providing For An Effective Date. (Robb/Brown)]
ITEM 11 D.CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, EXPRESSING ITS SUPPORT FOR LEGISLATION SPONSORED BY SENATOR LARRY TAYLOR AND REPRESENTATIVE DENNIS PAUL FOR THE CREATION OF THE GULF COAST PROTECTION DISTRICT, WHICH WILL ACT AS A NON FEDERAL SPONSOR FOR THE PROPOSED COASTAL AREA PROJECT.
PROVIDING FOR [INAUDIBLE] AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL AND A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION COUNCIL? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? YOU'RE MOVING TOO FAST.
I REALLY DO THINK THAT WHAT I'VE READ IN THIS IS FLAWED.
I UNDERSTAND IF SENATOR TAYLOR'S JUST TRYING TO GET A LOCAL SPONSORSHIP ON THE TABLE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE COULD WE COULD SAY YES TO THIS.
AND THEN WHEN IT GETS AROUND TO ACTUALLY PULLING THE TRIGGER ON IT, IT COULD GO OUT TO VOTE OF THE PEOPLE, WE COULD JUST SAY, NO, WE DON'T WANT TO PARTICIPATE, YOU KNOW, AND SOMEBODY ELSE CAN JUST PICK UP THE TAB FOR THIS.
THIS SEEMS JUST TERRIBLY FLAWED.
I'M ONLY GOING TO VOTE FOR IT BECAUSE I WANT TO SUPPORT THE SENATOR'S EFFORT TO GET TEXAS ON THE RECORD ON THIS, BUT I HAVE TO SAY, I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUSLY FLAWED APPROACH TO THIS.
JOHN, YOU HAD A COMMENT? CAN WE STATE SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN OUR RESOLUTION? IN THE SENSE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE LOCAL AUTHORITY AT SOME POINT DOWN THE ROAD OR.
IF I MIGHT INTERJECT, THIS IS SET FOR A HEARING I SET OUT OF TOWN ON TUESDAY, ACCORDING TO SALLY, AND I THINK THE TIME TO INTERJECT OUR THOUGHTS AND LOOK FOR AMENDMENTS WOULD PROBABLY BE AT THE HEARING.
AND, YOU KNOW, SALLY CAMPS OUT IN AUSTIN FOR THE ENTIRE LEGISLATURE AND SHE IS THERE NOW.
SO I WOULD SUGGEST YOU GO AHEAD AND PASS THE RESOLUTION AS AN EXPRESSION OF SUPPORT, BUT HAVE HER CONVEY OUR CONCERNS SO THAT THEY CAN WORK INTO THE BILL.
AND I HAD SENT YOU A MEMO EARLIER AND THERE'S A CONFLICT IN THAT BILL IN THAT THERE ARE TWO IDENTICALLY NUMBERED SECTIONS, ONE SAYS THERE'S NO EMINENT DOMAIN POWER AND THE OTHER ONE SAYS THERE IS.
SO, THIS BILL IS GOING TO BE REWORKED.
AND WHEN IT IS BEING REWORKED, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD TIME TO GET OUR OBSERVATIONS PUT INTO IT.
I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR AND IT'S BEEN SECONDED.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
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IT IS UNANIMOUS.[11.E. Consider For Approval A Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Galveston, Texas Requesting The Commissioner Of The General Land Office To Provide All Data Related To The Location Of Various Benchmarks On The Beach On The West End Of Galveston Island Including The Line Of Vegetation, Mean Low Tide Line, Mean High Tide And Other Data Relevant To Any Contemplated Order Of The Commissioner Under Texas Natural Resources Code §61.0171, As Well As Any Draft Order Contemplated Pursuant To Such Statute, For Review And Comment By The City Of Galveston; Providing For Findings Of Fact And Providing For An Effective Date. (Legal) ]
ITEM 11E, CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, REQUESTING THE COMMISSIONER OF THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE TO PROVIDE ALL DATA RELATED TO THE LOCATION OF VARIOUS BENCHMARKS ON THE BEACH OF THE WEST END OF GALVESTON ISLAND, INCLUDING THE LINE OF VEGETATION, MEAN LOW TIDE LINE, MEAN HIGH TIDE AND OTHER DATA RELEVANT TO ANY CONTEMPLATED ORDER OF THE COMMISSIONER UNDER TEXAS NATURAL RESOURCES CODE SIXTY ONE DASH, SIXTY ONE POINT ZERO ONE SEVEN ONE, AS WELL AS ANY ORDER CONTEMPLATED PURSUANT TO SUCH STATUTE FOR REVIEW AND COMMENT BY THE CITY OF GALVESTON PROVIDING FOR FINDINGS OF FACT AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.DON, DID YOU WANT TO GIVE SOME BACKGROUND TO THIS.
SURE, AS YOU RECALL, LAST WEEK WE HAD A MEETING WHERE IT WAS OBSERVED BY STAFF YOURSELF AND MS. ROBB, THAT THE GLO WAS CONTEMPLATING ENTERING AN ORDER THAT BASICALLY ALLOWED THE COMMISSIONER TO MAKE A SORT OF AN INTERIM RULING WHERE VARIOUS MEAN LOW TIDE MARKS WERE AND WE, THE CITY WOULD LIKE SOME INPUT ON THAT.
BUT DESPITE REQUESTS FROM STAFF, THE GLO HAS NOT PROVIDED THAT DATA.
SO WHAT THE RESOLUTION DOES IS THAT IT ASKS THE GLO TO SHARE ITS DATA WITH THE CITY SO THAT THE CITY STAFF CAN COMMENT BEFORE THE COMMISSIONER ISSUES HIS ORDER UNDER THE NATURAL RESOURCES CODE.
ALL WE'RE ASKING FOR IS INFORMATION.
VERY GOOD, MARIE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE SOME BACKGROUND? YOU'VE BEEN CHAMPIONING THIS.
WELL, YEAH, FIRST I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO APPROVE THAT WE PASS THIS RESOLUTION SO THEN WE CAN GET A DISCUSSION.
WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN QUIROGA.
OK, WELL, I'M SURE YOU ALL ARE VERY MUCH AWARE THAT WITH LAST SEASON'S HURRICANE EVENTS, EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T TAKE A DIRECT HIT, WE DID SUFFER A LOT OF LOT OF ISSUES ON OUR BEACHFRONT PROPERTIES.
AND WE HAVE BEEN ADDRESSING THEM.
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN GETTING PERMITS PUTTING OUT DUNES.
THE CITY IS LOOKING AT FORTIFIED DUNES, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS WITH SAND SOCKS.
AND WHEN WE HAD A MEETING WITH THE GLOBE TO DISCUSS LOOKING AT SAND SOCKS, THEY BROUGHT IT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO A RULING THAT WOULD PUT OUR RUNS FROM THE END OF THE SEAWALL TO 13 MILE ROAD IT WOULD PUT A NUMBER OF OUR BEACHFRONT PROPERTIES IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE THEY WOULD FALL UNDER RULES WHERE BASICALLY THEY WOULD BE LIMITED ON THE AMOUNT OF PROTECTION THEY COULD DO GOING INTO HURRICANE SEASON.
WE HAVE REQUESTED THAT THEY PROVIDE SURVEY LINES, THEY CAME OUT AND DID A SURVEY IN JANUARY.
THEY HAVE NOT PROVIDED THAT TO US.
THEY HAVE MADE INSINUATIONS BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY STOPPING PROJECTS THAT IT GOES THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF A NUMBER OF HOMES.
BUT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO ADDRESS IT WITHOUT HAVING THE INFORMATION.
AND EVEN THOUGH THE CITY HAS DONE REQUESTS UNDER THE OPEN RECORDS ACT, WE HAVE NOT BEEN PROVIDED ANY INFORMATION.
WE BASICALLY JUST HAVE BEEN THREATENED.
SO I WOULD ASK YOU ALL TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION BECAUSE NUMBER ONE, WHEN YOU HAVE AN UNCERTAINTY HANGING OUT THERE, WE ALL KNOW BEACHFRONT PROPERTIES COME WITH A HIGH PROPERTY RATE, WELL, YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT, CUTTING IT IN HALF, AND THE CITY CERTAINLY CAN'T AFFORD THAT AS WELL.
SO I WOULD ASK YOU ALL TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION.
WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
DAVID, QUESTIONS? YEAH, I FULLY SUPPORT MARIE ON THIS, BUT WHERE ARE OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES IN AUSTIN ON THIS.
ARE WE ARE WE NOT ABLE TO LEVER THEM TO GET THIS INFORMATION OUT OF THE STATE? IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THE STATE WAS TWO YEARS AWAY FROM MAKING THIS DETERMINATION.
BUT YOU'RE GIVING ME THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY'RE SNEAKING UP ON IT RIGHT NOW.
AND THEN YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S GOING TO HAVE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON EVERYBODY'S
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PROPERTY, EVERYBODY THAT FRONTS THE WATER AT LEAST.SO HAVE WE SPOKEN TO OUR REPS ON THIS? YEP.
THERE ARE TWO PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT ARE UP THERE TO AVOID THIS FROM HAPPENING AND HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE.
THEY HAVE BEEN ASSISTING US ON GETTING A MEETING WITH COMMISSIONER BUSH.
BUT AS OF YET, I MEAN, WE ALL KNOW THIS IS A HIGHLY UNUSUAL SESSION WITH A LOT OF UNEXPECTED ISSUES SUCH AS ERCOT RECORD AND THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON UP THERE.
SO, WITH THEY ARE HELPING US AS MUCH AS THEY CAN.
BUT I THINK THIS RESOLUTION SOLIDIFIES HOW THE CITY FEELS ABOUT IT.
ALL RIGHT, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR HAND, ALL THOSE OPPOSED? IT IS UNANIMOUS.
WE ARE NOW TO OUR LAST ITEM COUNCIL.
[11.F. Discuss And Consider Appointments To The Following City Boards, Commission, And Committees: 1. Industrial Development Corporation 2. Recycling Ad Hoc Committee ]
ITEM 11F, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER APPOINTMENTS TO THE FOLLOWING CITY BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES.WE'LL START WITH THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, EITHER NELLIE OR JANELLE, COULD YOU READ THE THREE POSITIONS THAT WE'LL BE APPROVING? AND I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
JANELLE, COULD YOU READ THOSE, PLEASE? WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE APPROVING TODAY ARE THE APPOINTMENT FOR GEDP, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE PARK BOARD.
AND THE INDIVIDUALS FOR EACH ONE, DO YOU KNOW? FOR GEDP, THEIR APPOINTMENT IS MR. BILL [INAUDIBLE] FOR THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THEIR APPOINTMENT IS TERRILYN TARLTON-SHANNON AND THE PARK BOARD IS SPENCER P.
AND TERRILYN AND SPENCER ARE CURRENTLY SERVING IN THOSE POSITIONS.
BILL RIDER HAS RESIGNED ON THAT.
I MADE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THOSE.
MARIE, IS THAT A SECOND? YEAH.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
IT IS UNANIMOUS, THANK YOU, AND WE HAVE THE RECYCLING AD HOC COMMITTEE.
HOW MANY OPENINGS DO WE HAVE, JANELLE, ON THAT COMMITTEE? WE HAVE TWO OPENINGS, WE HAVE TWO RECENT RESIGNATIONS FROM MATT H.
ONE OF THOSE POSITIONS, JACKIE COLE HAS REQUESTED THAT SHE BE APPOINTED TO THE RECYCLING COMMITTEE, SHE WAS THE COUNCIL MEMBER THAT BROUGHT THAT BEFORE COUNCIL TO ESTABLISH A RECYCLING COMMITTEE.
I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE JACKIE COLE FOR ONE OF THOSE VACANT POSITIONS.
YOU'D THINK AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS I'VE FIGURED THIS OUT.
I WOULD SECOND JACKIE'S NOMINATION.
ARE WE GOING TO DEAL WITH THESE ONE AT A TIME, BECAUSE I HAVE SOMEONE REQUESTING TO FILL THAT OTHER SLOT IF WE WANT TO TAKE THESE TOGETHER.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO THEM INDIVIDUALLY IN CASE OTHER [INAUDIBLE].
WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND FOR JACKIE COLE.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
WE HAVE ANOTHER POSITION TO FEEL.
COUNCILMAN COLLINS? YEAH, I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE DAVID FORTENBERRY.
HE HAS ACTUALLY BEEN WORKING WITH MATT H., WHO JUST LEFT THE COMMITTEE TO PICK UP THAT.
AND HE'S QUITE FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM AND THE COMMITTEE.
SO I WOULD NOMINATE DAVID TO FILL THAT POSITION.
WE HAVE A NOMINATION OF DAVID FORTENBERRY.
IS THERE A SECOND? I WILL SECOND THAT.
COUNCIL, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
THANK YOU, STAFF, AND THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY THAT MAY BE VIEWING THIS MEETING.
WE HAVE GONE THROUGH ALL OF OUR AGENDA ITEMS. I'D LIKE TO NOTIFY THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFTS WILL BE A WILDCAT WITH A CITY FLAG ON IT.
SO ALL OF YOU GET READY FOR THAT.
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ENJOYED IT.THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND EVERYONE HAVE A NICE EVENING.
GOOD NIGHT
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.