[Call to Order]
[00:00:04]
ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY, IT IS 1:30 AND I WOULD OFFICIALLY LIKE TO CALL THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR APRIL 8 TO ORDER.
APPRECIATE EVERYONE BEING HERE.
AND GOOD INTERVIEWS THIS MORNING FOR THE PARK BOARD AND PLANNING COMMISSION APPOINTEES.
THANK YOU, STAFF, FOR BEING HERE AND ANYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY THAT'S WATCHING.
WELCOME TO HAVE YOU AND GLAD TO HAVE YOU.
COULD WE HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE JANELLE.
COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON IS ABSENT TODAY.
MOVING TO ITEM THREE PUBLIC COMMENT.
[3. PUBLIC COMMENT]
JANELLE, I THINK WE HAVE FOUR WRITTEN COMMENTS.WOULD YOU START WITH THOSE, PLEASE, MA'AM? YES, SIR.
THE FIRST ONE IS FROM JULIE [INAUDIBLE].
HER COMMENT IS I REQUESTED GAS SERVICE AT 5414 BORDEN AVENUE, GALVESTON, 11-18 MY MONTHLY CUSTOMER CHARGE WAS 12 DOLLARS AND 10 CENTS WITH THE DELIVERY CHARGE OF FOUR DOLLARS AND 11 CENTS.
THE COST OF GAS AT THAT TIME WAS .
54965 RESPECTIVELY 11-19, 12 -42 2-28- AND .
427720 11 20 SIXTEEN DOLLARS 228 AND POINT THREE NINE ZERO SIX NINE ZERO ZERO.
THE LEAST EXPENSIVE GAS WAS TEN TWENTY AT POINT THREE ONE SIX THREE TWO ZERO ZERO.
THE MOST EXPENSIVE TWELVE EIGHTEEN AT POINT SIX FOUR SEVEN FOUR ONE ZERO ZERO.
TWO THINGS CONCERN ME ONE THE RECENT INCREASE IN THE CUSTOMER CHARGE TO EIGHTEEN DOLLARS AND THIRTY EIGHT CENTS PER MONTH.
THAT IS OVER THIRTY PERCENT IN LESS THAN THREE YEARS.
NUMBER TWO THE DRASTIC FLUCTUATION IN THE COST.
SECOND ONE IS FROM BRIAN HOLLOWAY.
HIS COMMENT IS, HAS GALVESTON CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERED UTILIZING THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE'S RESOURCES SEA CREW TO ENHANCE THE TROLLEY RIDING EXPERIENCE? THERE MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENHANCE RIDERSHIP EXPERIENCE BY PLACING INFORMED GALVESTON AMBASSADORS ON THE TROLLEY.
THE GALVESTON TROLLEY AMBASSADORS COULD SHARE MANY TOPICS ABOUT GALVESTON WITH THE TROLLEY RIDERS.
THIRD IS FROM BRIAN HOLLOWAY HIS COMMENT IS MANY THANKS FOR PUBLISHING THE ONGOING GALVESTON FLAG DISCUSSION.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO DISTRIBUTE THE LINK BELOW TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, PLEASE? THE NORTH AMERICAN [INAUDIBLE] SOCIETY WEBSITE IS MANAGED BY NATIONAL FLAG EXPERT AND CONTAINS A LINK TO THE GOOD FLAG BAD FLAG.
BOTH THE WEBSITE AND BOOK COULD BE USED AS A REFERENCE MATERIALS TO LEVEL SET THE GALVESTON [INAUDIBLE] DISCUSSION.
AND FINALLY, ASHIRA [INAUDIBLE].
AND THE COMMENT IS, I'VE NOTICED ON THE WEEKEND, SOMETIMES EVEN STARTING AS EARLY AS THURSDAY IF YOU LIVE CLOSE TO THE BEACH, AS MY MOTHER DOES, SEAWALL AND 31ST STREET RESIDENTS HAVE EXTREME DIFFICULTY ACCESSING THE INTERNET.
MY MOTHER HAS BEEN WITHOUT HER INTERNET FOR THE PAST THREE WEEKENDS DUE TO AN OVERLOAD OF PEOPLE LOGGING ONTO THE INTERNET PROVIDERS.
IS THIS SOME KIND OF WAY THAT WE REPAIR THIS.
I KNOW WE HAVE SOME MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT ARE VIEWING THIS COUNCIL MEETING.
FOR ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES AND I WOULD REQUEST THAT YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND MAKE YOUR COMMENT.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE'S ANYONE OUT THERE.
HI, MAYOR BROWN I'D LIKE TO SPEAK.
YES, YES, MA'AM, COULD YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF, PLEASE, MA'AM? YES, THIS IS ANNA DRAY.
I'M THE OWNER AT 510 15TH STREET.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I SENT YOU ALL A LETTER YESTERDAY, WHICH I'M NOT GOING TO REHASH.
I JUST WANTED TO BRING UP SOME OF THE KEY POINTS.
DECISIONS TODAY ARE BEING BASED ON WHAT WAS AGREED UPON IN 2015.
AND IF YOU ALL WILL GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE VIDEO FROM THE MEETING ON MAY 5TH 2015.
MAYOR BROWN, YOU PROPOSED AND IT WAS AGREED UPON THAT STR'S WOULD HAVE THE SAME
[00:05:03]
PARKING REQUIREMENTS AS B&B'S ONE PARKING SPOT PER BEDROOM WITH A MAXIMUM OF TWO, WHICH CAN BE ALLOTTED FOR ON THE STREET TO BE ENFORCED AT THE TIME OF REGISTRATION, WHICH WOULD HAVE GRANDFATHERED IN EXISTING SHORT TERM RENTALS LIKE MINE.WHAT WAS WRITTEN IN THE LDR DIDN'T REFLECT WHAT YOU GUYS AGREED ON.
SO NOW WE'RE BACK DISCUSSING PARKING AND SHORT TERM RENTALS AGAIN.
BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE NOTE THIS BECAUSE SOME OF THE STUFF THAT'S BEING AGREED UPON TODAY IS BEING BASED ON THAT ERRONEOUS THING FROM 2015.
I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR PROPOSING MEASURES TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM DUPLICATING PASSES IN THE EAST END.
I THINK THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF THE PARKING ISSUES.
STIFF FINES A TICKET AND LOSS OF PARKING PRIVILEGES WILL HOPEFULLY PROVE AND EFFECTIVE DETERRENT.
AND I URGE YOU GUYS TO MAKE THAT FINE SIGNIFICANT.
AS YOU USE YOUR WISDOM TO TRY AND SORT OUT THIS ISSUE.
AND GOD BLESS YOU IF YOU EVEN SOLVE PARKING IN GALVESTON.
I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THE PROPERTY RIGHTS OF ALL GALVESTON PROPERTY OWNERS.
LET'S NOT CREATE A SECOND CLASS OF OWNERSHIP ON THE ISLAND OF OFF ISLAND OWNERS, ON ISLAND OWNERS.
ALL OWNERS NEED TO PARK AT THEIR PROPERTIES FOR A REASONABLE NUMBER OF CARS.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY, AND I PUT THIS IN MY LETTER.
IF Y'ALL LIMIT ME TO TWO CARS AT MY HOUSE, WHETHER IT'S MY FAMILY, MY GUEST, MY ONLY SOLUTION IS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO PARK AT MY HOME, TO GO AROUND THE CORNER AND PARK ON CHURCH OR PARK ON 16TH STREET WHEN I HAVE AMPLE PARKING IN FRONT OF MY HOME.
SO IT WOULD JUST BE THAT'S NOT RIGHT TO THOSE NEIGHBORS.
LET'S NOT CREATE A NEW PROBLEM IN THE SEARCH FOR THIS PROBLEM.
I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU ANNA APPRECIATE THAT.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE OUT THERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC HEARING? HEARING NO RESPONSE WE'LL NOW MOVE TO OUR DISCUSSION ITEMS.
[4.A. Receive And Discuss A Presentation From Vision Galveston (Brown - 45 Minutes)]
ITEM 4A PLEASE JANELLE.ITEM 4A RECEIVE AND DISCUSS A PRESENTATION FROM VISION GALVESTON.
WITH US TODAY IS KEATH JACOBY.
AND I THINK, KEATH, YOU BROUGHT SOME INDIVIDUALS WITH YOU FROM VISION GALVESTON.
AND I'M NOT GOING TO BELABOR THE POINT.
I'M GOING TO LET YOU JUST TAKE THIS OVER.
I KNOW YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION.
AND THEN IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT, KEATH, WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS AFTER YOUR PRESENTATION.
CAN YOU ALL SEE MY SCREEN I'M HOPING.
ALL RIGHT, WELL IT WENT AWAY, BUT HERE IT IS.
WELL, I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR GIVING US SOME TIME TO TALK WITH YOU TODAY AND SHARE SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING OVER THIS PAST YEAR.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR, VISION GALVESTON IS A COMMUNITY DEVELOPED ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON MOVING A COMPREHENSIVE VISION FORWARD AND FOR TODAY'S WORKSHOP WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON AND DISCUSS IS FIRST GIVING YOU ALL A HIGH LEVEL UPDATE ON OUR WORK AND GETTING A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE THE CITY'S PRIORITIES ALIGN WITH THE COMMUNITY VISION THAT VISION GALVESTON IS FOCUSED ON.
THINKING ABOUT AREAS OF SYNERGY AND PARTNERSHIP AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, ENSURING THAT THIS WORK ALIGNS WITH THE PRIORITIES OF COUNCIL AND STAFF.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, WE'RE FOCUSED ON A COMPREHENSIVE AND GLOBAL APPROACH TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, WHICH INCLUDES THINGS RANGING FROM COST ATTAINABLE HOUSING AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT TO GREEN SPACE ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT.
NEARLY 90 PERCENT OF GALVESTONIANS LIVE WITHIN THE URBAN CORE AND QUALITY AMENITIES ARE CRITICAL.
I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT FAMILIES AND RESIDENTS THAT WE WANT TO RETAIN AND ATTRACT WANT TO SEE GOOD PARKS, GOOD ROADS, GOOD SCHOOLS, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT MAKE A FABRIC OF A CITY SUCCESSFUL.
OUR JOB AT VISION GALVESTON IS TO UNITE THOSE COLLECTIVE VOICES OF GALVESTON, TO TRANSFORM BIG IDEAS FOR THE FUTURE AND TO ORGANIZE PROJECTS.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY INCREDIBLE PLANS, MANY OF YOU, ALL OF THEM INVOLVED IN THEM, AS HAVE I, AND REALLY GOOD IDEAS.
AND WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THIS PLAN MOVES INTO THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE AND DOESN'T SIT ON THE PROVERBIAL SHELF.
JUST TO GIVE A QUICK REFLECTION OF WHERE WE STARTED.
AS GALVESTON APPROACHES ITS 200TH YEAR, THE CITY OF GALVESTON PHILANTHROPY, A
[00:10:01]
GROUP OF GALVESTON ORGANIZATIONS AND RESIDENTS CAME TOGETHER.THE IMPETUS WAS THAT THE CITY WAS BEGINNING ON ITS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND WE WANTED TO PULL TOGETHER AND CREATE A COMMUNITY BASED VISION FOR THE ISLAND.
A 10 MONTH PROCESS PRODUCED A COLLABORATIVE VISION AND A VERY LARGE DOCUMENT WITH 78 RECOMMENDATIONS TO GIVE US A CLEAR PERSPECTIVE ON NEXT STEPS.
OVER EIGHTY FIVE HUNDRED COMMUNITY MEMBERS PARTICIPATED, AND THIS WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THAT WAS THE LARGEST NUMBER OF PARTICIPATION.
AND SINCE WE'VE BEEN PLANNING, APPARENTLY, AND ALSO THAT'S ABOUT 15 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION.
WE SPOKE TO A BROAD RANGE OF PEOPLE, BOTH AGE, SEX AND RACE.
WE LOOKED AT THE LATEST CENSUS DEMOGRAPHICS AND COMPARED AGAINST THOSE, WE LOOKED AT RESIDENTS ACROSS THE ISLAND.
WE USED A MAP RANGING FIFTY EIGHT NEIGHBORHOODS FROM EAST TO WEST AND HAD PEOPLE SIGN IN DURING EVENTS RATHER THAN USING ZIP CODES OR QUADRANTS.
WE WENT AHEAD AND USED ALL OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE THEN BROKE THAT INTO FOUR QUADRANTS TO IDENTIFY WHERE WE HAD SPOKEN TO FOLKS.
THAT CULMINATED IN A PRESENTATION ON JUNE OF 2019 THAT FOCUSED ON HAVING GALVESTON CITY LEADERSHIP PORT OF GALVESTON PARK BOARD GEDP, WHICH IS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP, AND UNIVERSITY LEADERS FROM TEXAS A&M, ALONG WITH A COMMUNITY LEADER, PASTOR SHERLYN THOMAS, TO PRESENT A UNITED VISION.
FROM THERE, WE ORGANIZED A BACKBONE ORGANIZATION.
WE TALKED WITH MANY OTHER CITIES WHO HAVE DONE THIS TYPE OF WORK IN TERMS OF A LARGE SCALE ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.
AND THEY REALLY ADVISED US THAT IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A BACKBONE ORGANIZATION TO QUARTERBACK THE PLAN, IT WON'T MOVE FROM THE SHELF TO IMPLEMENTATION.
SO WE ARE IN THAT PHASE TWO, WHICH IS A BACKBONE ORGANIZATION AND IMPLEMENTATION.
WE'RE GOVERNED BY A BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING CITY LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU, MAYOR BROWN, FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION.
AND MAYOR YARBROUGH, PRIOR TO THAT.
WE'RE DRIVEN BY COMMUNITY VOICE AND WE'RE SUPPORTED BY TOPIC SPECIFIC EXPERTISE.
SO ALTHOUGH WE ARE A LEAN AND MIGHTY ORGANIZATION, WE HAVE MANY FOLKS HELPING US.
SEVERAL OF THOSE EXPERTS ARE ON THIS CALL TODAY.
AND I ABSOLUTELY ENCOURAGE YOU TO ASK QUESTIONS AND WE CAN BE MORE SPECIFIC ABOUT ANYTHING PRESENTED.
I'LL TAKE A QUICK MOMENT TO INTRODUCE THOSE FOLKS.
WE HAVE AMANDA [INAUDIBLE] AND TINA COUNCIL WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR BUILD GALVESTON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION INITIATIVE.
THEY HAVE BEEN HOUSING INITIATIVE ADVISORS FOR MANY YEARS.
THEY ARE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SPECIALISTS, WHO HAVE MORE THAN TWENTY FIVE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN REAL ESTATE, FINANCE, PUBLIC POLICY PLANNING, HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT IN THE REGION.
WE ALSO HAVE ASAKURA ROBINSON, WE HAVE MICHELLE BRIGHT, KATIE COYNE AND ALEX MILLER.
ASAKURA ROBINSON IS A PLANNING, URBAN DESIGN AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE FIRM.
THEY'VE BEEN HEAVILY INVOLVED ON OUR HOUSING AND ON OUR GREEN SPACE PLANNING.
AND WE ALSO HAVE DAVID MCCLENDON FROM JANUARY ADVISORS, WHICH IS A DATA METRICS FIRM BASED IN HOUSTON.
AND WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE DAVID AS ONE OF THEIR PRINCIPALS LIVING IN GALVESTON WHILE HIS WIFE IS AT UTMB? AND LASTLY, THEY'RE NOT ON THE CALL TODAY, BUT FOR OUR ENTREPRENEURSHIP INITIATIVE, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE ION IN HOUSTON AND WE HAVE TWO REALLY IMPRESSIVE CONSULTANTS WORKING WITH US THERE.
SO WHAT ARE THESE INITIATIVES THAT WE'RE REFERENCING THAT THE COMMUNITY VOICED WERE PRIORITIES? ONE IS GREEN GALVESTON AND THAT IS AN OPEN SPACE AND GREEN SPACE PLAN TO LOOK AT CLIMATE READY NEIGHBORHOOD SPACES, MODERN AMENITIES, STREETSCAPES AND COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL BUILDS.
OUR FIRST PRIORITIES THERE ARE GOING TO BE [INAUDIBLE] AND SHIELD PARK, WHICH WE'LL GO INTO DETAIL A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THIS PRESENTATION.
BUILD GALVESTON IS OUR FOCUS ON COST-ATTAINABLE HOUSING AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, PRIORITIZING THAT ATTAINABLE HOUSING FOR FAMILIES, STABILIZING COMMUTER RATES AND FOCUS ON WORKFORCE HOUSING.
INCUBATE GALVESTON IS OUR ENTREPRENEURSHIP INITIATIVE FOCUSED ON EMPOWERING ENTREPRENEURS AND CREATING ACCESSIBLE OPPORTUNITY.
ENGAGE GALVESTON IS A DATA CENTER AND EDUCATION SYSTEM FOCUSED ON GETTING INFORMATION INTO THE HANDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
SO THAT BEING SAID, I KNOW I'M GOING VERY QUICKLY, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION TO GET ACROSS.
I'M GOING TO DIVE STRAIGHT INTO BUILD GALVESTON.
THIS IS THE INITIATIVE WE MENTIONED THAT'S FOCUSED ON COST ATTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH INCLUDES BOTH HOUSING STOCK AND COMMERCIAL MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT.
THE IDEA HERE IS HOW CAN WE MAKE GALVESTON A PLACE WHERE MORE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE AND MORE PEOPLE CAN LIVE? SO, MORE FAMILIES RAISING THEIR CHILDREN CAN AFFORD TO DO SO.
MORE WORKERS WHO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY, THAT CAN BE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND BUSINESSES THAT WANT TO LOCATE AND INNOVATE.
AND I FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT FIRST TO TELL A REALLY QUICK DATA STORY HERE ABOUT HOW WE'VE ARRIVED AT THIS JUNCTURE.
AND WE CAN CIRCLE BACK ON ANY OF THIS DATA OR DIG INTO ANY OF THIS DATA OFFLINE.
MAJORITY OF THE SOURCES USED HERE ARE FROM THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY, CENSUS DATA, NATIONAL STATE AND FEDERAL DATA, AS WELL AS LOCAL ENTITIES.
[00:15:03]
AND WE HAVE DAVID FROM JANUARY ADVISORS, IF ANYONE HAS SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.SO I FIND THIS TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT DATA POINT THAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON NOW, WHICH IS OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, GALVESTON HAS LOST AN ESTIMATED SEVEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIVE FAMILIES, WHICH REPRESENTS A 16 PERCENT DECLINE THAT CORRESPONDS TO AN.
AT LOSS OF FIFTEEN HUNDRED CHILDREN, AND WHILE GALVESTON HAS BEEN LOSING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, MANY NEARBY CITIES AND COMMUNITIES ON THE MAINLAND HAVE SEEN GAINS.
FOR INSTANCE, LAKE CITY SAW A 30 PERCENT INCREASE IN FAMILIES OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS.
WE HAVE THE FEWEST YOUNG CHILDREN PER CAPITA OF ANY NEARBY CITY.
ONLY EIGHT OF ONE HUNDRED RESIDENTS ARE CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 10, AND WE HAVE MORE POPULATION OVER THE AGE OF SIXTY FIVE THAN UNDER THE AGE OF 10 CURRENTLY IN GALVESTON.
I THINK AS MANY OF US ARE VERY AWARE, THE NUMBER OF COMMUTERS HAS BEEN INCREASING.
THE EXODUS OF FAMILIES OFF THE ISLAND DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE DUE TO JOB TO A LOSS OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN GALVESTON.
INSTEAD, MORE PEOPLE ARE LIVING OFF THE ISLAND AND CROSSING THE CAUSEWAY EACH DAY FOR WORK.
AS OF 2020, SIXTY FIVE PERCENT OF GALVESTON'S WORKERS COMMUTE AND THAT'S AROUND TWENTY FOUR THOUSAND PEOPLE THAT DRIVE ONTO OUR ISLAND EVERY DAY AND THEN LEAVE AT THE END OF THE DAY.
THIS REPRESENTS A 17 PERCENT INCREASE IN THE COMMUTER RATE IN THE PAST 15 YEARS.
AND IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT RIGHT HERE, WE HAVE LISTED PUBLIC EMPLOYERS ABOUT 55 PERCENT OF THESE EMPLOYEES MAKE BETWEEN FIFTY TO ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND, WHICH IS THE AMI OR AREA MEDIAN INCOME RANGE THAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON AT VISION GALVESTON.
SO FAMILIES AND WORKERS ARE GETTING PRICED OUT.
AND WHO ARE WE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE SAY FAMILIES AND WORKERS? I MENTIONED THAT AREA, MEDIAN INCOME RANGE, WHICH IS A SIXTY TO ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY PERCENT OF AMI, WHICH IN DOLLARS AMOUNTS TO FORTY SEVEN THOUSAND TO ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND IN ANNUAL INCOME.
THESE ARE OUR HOSPITALITY WORKERS AND HOME HEALTH CARE AIDES, OUR NURSES, OUR FIREFIGHTERS, OUR POLICE OFFICERS, OUR NONPROFIT WORKERS, CITY WORKERS, TEACHERS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE HOUSING MARKET.
SO SINCE 2010, HOME VALUES AND RENTS HAVE INCREASED AT A FASTER PACE THAN PEOPLE'S WAGES.
MEDIAN HOME VALUE IN GALVESTON HAS INCREASED BY 50 PERCENT IN THE LAST 10 YEARS AND MEDIAN RENT HAS INCREASED BY 30 PERCENT.
MEANWHILE, MEDIAN EARNINGS HAVE ONLY INCREASED BY 19 PERCENT.
WE ALSO HAVE A SHRINKING SUPPLY OF HOMES SELLING UNDER THAT TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND RANGE, WHICH WOULD BE THE RANGE THAT THOSE INCOME RANGES COULD AFFORD.
SO IN 2011, HALF OF HOMES SOLD FOR UNDER ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND BY 2020, ONLY 18 PERCENT SOLD FOR THAT PRICE.
AND MOREOVER, HOMES LEFT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MARKET OFTENTIMES REQUIRE EXTENSIVE REPAIRS AND ARE NOT FAMILY READY.
SO GALVESTON'S HOUSING MARKET IS CHANGING RAPIDLY THAN MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS.
WE'VE HAD A 50 PERCENT INCREASE IN MEDIAN HOME VALUES, WHICH IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN THE REGION.
IN 2020, THAT MEDIAN HOME SALE PRICE WAS OVER TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY THOUSAND.
SO WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE HOUSING MARKET TO CAUSE THESE THINGS? WE REALIZE THERE ARE A HOST OF FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO RISING HOME PRICES THAT'S INCLUDING RISING HOME AND BUILDING LAND COSTS.
I THINK IN THE PAPER AS RECENT AS TWO DAYS AGO, THERE WERE BUILDING COSTS AND MATERIAL INCREASES UPWARD OF 40 PERCENT IN SOME INSTANCES OVER THE LAST YEAR.
I KNOW YOU ALL ARE DEALING WITH THOSE CHALLENGES AS THE CITY AS YOU BUILD ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER AREAS.
INCREASES IN FLOOD AND WIND INSURANCE.
WE'VE HAD AN INFLUX IN SHORT TERM RENTAL AND INVESTMENT PROPERTIES.
WE'VE HAD ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY PERCENT INCREASE IN SHORT TERM RENTALS SINCE 2016.
MANY OF THOSE IN THE URBAN CORE.
WE REALIZE THAT SHORT TERM RENTALS ARE IMPORTANT TO THE ECONOMY, BUT WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAINTAIN A BALANCE.
AND ALSO THERE'S BEEN COVID-19 FACTORS AND CHANGES IN PREFERENCE I THINK ARE MID TO LOW DENSITY IS VERY ATTRACTIVE FOR FOLKS, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS TIME AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SO MANY NATURAL ASSETS TO ENJOY.
IT'S BEEN A HUGE DRIVER DURING COVID.
SO WHAT'S THE COST OF LOSING THOSE WORKING FAMILIES? YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE A LOSS OF CHARACTER THAT CAN HAPPEN, WHICH IS WHEN YOU LOSE FAMILIES, WHAT KIND OF COMMUNITY WILL WE BE? IF WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE A DIVERSE AND CIVICALLY ENGAGED COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO MAKE ROOM FOR THOSE WHO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
AND IF WE LOSE THAT CHARACTER, WILL TOURISTS COME? WE'RE WORKING WITH THE PARK BOARD DIRECTLY ON A SUSTAINABLE TOURISM PLAN.
AND I THINK THERE'S A MAIN ADAGE OF IF IT'S NOT A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, THEN IT'S NOT A GREAT PLACE TO VISIT.
SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN TERMS OF DOLLARS? WE'VE GOT LOTS OF SCHOOL FUNDING.
WE TALKED ABOUT THOSE FIFTEEN HUNDRED CHILDREN THAT WE'VE LOST IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.
THAT TRANSLATES TO A NINE POINT TWO FOUR MILLION IN LOST REVENUE FOR GALVESTON ISD.
THE TEAS BASIC ALLOTMENT FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS IS 6000 PER STUDENT, WHICH IS HOW WE
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CALCULATED THAT NUMBER.CONSUMER SPENDING, GALVESTON IS POTENTIALLY MISSING OUT ON UP TO 50 MILLION IN CONSUMER SPENDING PER YEAR BY LOSING THOSE SEVEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIVE FAMILIES.
THAT BREAKS DOWN TO ALMOST 16 MILLION IN HOUSING RELATED SPENDING MORTGAGE, RENT, UTILITIES REPAIRS, EIGHT POINT SIX MILLION IN TRANSPORTATION RELATED SPENDING AND SIX MILLION IN FOOD SPENDING.
THESE STATISTICS ARE FROM THE BUREAU OF LABOR.
AND I THINK TO ROUND THAT OUT, THIS IS A TALENT RETENTION CONCERN AND ATTRACTION CONCERN.
FEWER HOUSING OPTIONS AND RISING PRICES WILL MAKE IT HARDER AND HARDER TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN A TALENT WORKFORCE ON THE ISLAND.
IF GALVESTON BECOMES MORE AND MORE UNAFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE AND RAISE A FAMILY, KEY ISLAND EMPLOYERS SUCH AS UTMB AND GALVESTON ISD WHO HAVE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH IN THIS REGARDS WE'LL FIND IT HARDER AND HARDER TO FIND AND HOLD ON TO GREAT WORKERS.
WE ALSO KNOW THERE'S DATA THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON IN TERMS OF PROJECT FEASIBILITY AND HOUSING TYPOLOGY.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE SPECIFICS OF DEMAND.
HOW MANY UNITS ARE WE LOOKING TO PRESERVE OR INCREASE? WHAT KIND OF HOUSING TYPES? IS IT, RENTAL OR HOME OWNERSHIP? WHAT DOES THAT CONTINUUM LOOK LIKE AND WHAT AMENITIES DO THESE CONSUMERS WANT? GREEN SPACE, RETAIL, CHILD CARE AMENITIES.
AND ULTIMATELY, THIS IS ABOUT FINDING A BALANCE.
IT'S NOT ABOUT YOUNG VERSUS OLD, AND IT'S NOT ABOUT MODERATE VERSUS HIGH INCOME.
AND HAVING YOUNG FAMILIES IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO BUILDING A FOUNDATION FOR A STRONG ECONOMY.
SO I REALIZE THAT SOME OF THAT DATA CAN FEEL DIRE OR STARTLING.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT AND THAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT.
AND WE'RE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT MOVING FORWARD.
WE FEEL THAT IF WE HAVE A STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY AND CITY TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES, THAT WE CAN RETAIN AND ATTRACT THOSE FAMILIES.
SOME WAYS THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TODAY TO DO THAT, TO SUPPORT COST-ATTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, ONE THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT, MANY OTHER CITIES WHO HAVE DONE THIS HAVE HAVE CREATED AND ESTABLISHED A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
WE HAVE ALREADY DONE THAT UNDER VISION GALVESTON.
AND WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
THERE ARE POLICY ISSUES THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IN TERMS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I KNOW YOU ALL ARE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT MANY OF THOSE THINGS, PRESERVING AND INCREASING ATTAINABLE HOUSING STOCK.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN AND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? AND THEN SUPPORTING TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT? I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT WITH THE CITY, AND WHEN WE SAY THINGS LIKE THAT, WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT NEIGHBORHOODS THAT SUPPORT HOUSING, COMMERCIAL FOOD AND BEVERAGE, GREEN SPACE, ALL OF THE AMENITIES THAT A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD SHOULD HAVE.
SO JUST TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
WE HAD AN ACTION TEAM OF 13 WHO WAS FORMED TO DEFINE INITIAL GOALS FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND CRITERIA OF WORK.
THAT TEAM WAS COMPRISED OF FOLKS FROM THE CHAMBER, THE COMMUNITY HOUSING ADVOCATES, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP IN THE CITY.
FROM THERE, WE RAN A HOUSING STUDY WHICH WAS VERY COMPREHENSIVE.
WE CONDUCTED OVER APPROXIMATELY TWO THOUSAND INTERVIEWS AND SURVEYS OVER A THREE MONTH PERIOD, AND WE WORKED WITH 28 EMPLOYERS TO GATHER DATA AND TRENDS ON NEED AND NEXT STEPS IN REGARDS TO HOUSING.
THE ORGANIZATION WAS FORMED LATE LAST YEAR AND A BUILD GALVESTON BOARD WAS SEATED.
WE USE AN OPEN NOMINATION PROCESS, WHICH WAS CONDUCTED BY EXTERNAL CONSULTANTS TO ENSURE THAT WE HAD A VERY DIVERSE BOARD.
THIS ALSO INCLUDES CITY MANAGER, HOUSING EXPERTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THIS TAKES US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
SO THIS BOARD HAS WORKED WITH HOUSING EXPERTS TO IDENTIFY INITIAL OPPORTUNITIES, SOME OF WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT TODAY, PRODUCTION GOALS, PROJECT CONCEPTS AND DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS.
THAT BEING SAID, WE DO NOT WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT ENSURING THAT WE HAVE THE SUPPORT AND ALIGNED VISION WITH THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
SO THAT BEING SAID, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO THE REAL EXPERTS, AMANDA AND TINA, AND LET THEM TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THESE POLICY CONSIDERATIONS, AS WELL AS WHAT WOULD THAT DEVELOPMENT LOOK LIKE.
THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT TODAY.
AND I'LL BE DOING THE PRESENTATION.
BUT MY COLLEAGUE TINA, COUNCIL, HAS A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND WILL BE CHIMING IN DURING THE Q&A.
SO IN DEVELOPING COST, ATTAINABLE HOUSING AND IN DEVELOPING ANY HOUSING, THERE ARE KEY FACTORS THAT PLAY IN NO MATTER WHAT PRICE POINT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.
AND THAT'S LAND, IT'S MONEY, IT'S THE MARKET, ITS EXPERTISE, AND THEN IT'S THE PROCESS.
AND WHAT ARE THE RULES? AND AS THE CITY GOVERNMENT, YOU PLAY THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLE RELATED TO PROCESS AND RULES BECAUSE OF THE AUTHORITY THAT YOU HAVE AND YOU PLAY A ROLE IN SOME OF THE OTHER FACTORS AS WELL.
SO TODAY'S CONVERSATION IS REALLY JUST THE OPENING OF A CONVERSATION RELATED TO PUBLIC POLICY AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE POLICIES THAT THE CITY OF GALVESTON HAS IN PLACE THAT CAN BE USED TO THEIR FULLEST EXTENT AND WHAT MIGHT BE SOME MODIFICATIONS THAT CAN HELP SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF COST, ATTAINABLE HOUSING? AS WITH ANY REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT, TIME IS MONEY.
[00:25:03]
AND IT'S ESPECIALLY TRUE WITH COST-ATTAINABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, BECAUSE YOU WANT TO SHRINK THE TIME AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO SQUEEZE EVERY DOLLAR OUT OF THAT SO YOU CAN REALLY MEET THE NEEDS OF THE FAMILIES AND THE WORKERS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING TO SERVE IN A WAY THAT THEY CAN AFFORD AND BE GREAT CONTRIBUTORS TO YOUR LOCAL ECONOMY.SO THERE ARE THINGS THAT THE CITY CAN CONSIDER.
THERE'S A LONG LIST OF POLICY OPTIONS THAT KEATH SHARED EARLIER TODAY.
AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO FEATURE A FEW OF THEM HERE TODAY, AGAIN AS THE CONVERSATION OPENER.
BUT WHAT ARE THE THINGS THE CITY CAN DO FOR EXPEDITING PROCESSES FOR THIS PARTICULAR PRICE POINT AREA, THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF HOUSING DEVELOPMENT? HOW CAN THE CITY USE SOME OF ITS TAXATION AUTHORITY, ITS ABILITY TO OPEN UP NEW REVENUE SOURCES THAT CAN GO TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING? AND HOW CAN BUILD GALVESTON AND THE CITY OF GALVESTON WORK TOGETHER TO OPEN UP AND ATTRACT OTHER FINANCIAL RESOURCES THAT CAN SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING IN THIS RANGE? I THINK THERE ARE ALSO OTHER RESOURCES THAT THE CITY HAS AVAILABLE THAT CAN CAN BE USED IN WAYS THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN USED BEFORE, LIKE USING CITY LAND OR PUBLIC LAND FROM ANY OF THE LOCAL JURISDICTIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF COST, ATTAINABLE HOUSING, AND THEN HOW TO OFFER INCENTIVES THAT HELP OTHERS BRING THEIR RESOURCES TO THE TABLE TO BRING THESE PROJECTS TO FRUITION.
I THINK KEATH IS GOING TO HIT THE NEXT SLIDE FOR US, A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES IN TERMS OF THE USING PUBLIC LAND FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING AND WHAT WE'LL DO, AS MENTIONED, A COUPLE OF CITIES WHO HAVE DONE SOME OF THESE AS EXAMPLES.
AGAIN, THIS CONVERSATION OPENERS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS DOWN THE ROAD.
IN KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON, WASHINGTON STATE, FOR OVER TWENTY FIVE YEARS, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT THERE HAS OFFERED SURPLUS CITY LAND FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF COST, ATTAINABLE HOUSING.
I KNOW SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL HAVE EXPRESSED IS REALLY IMPORTANT AS MEETING THE HOUSING NEEDS OF YOUR TEACHERS SO THAT TEACHERS CAN LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY WITH THE KIDS THAT THEY ARE TEACHING AND SERVING DIFFERENT ROLES AT THE SCHOOLS.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, USING A STATE LAW, IS LOOKING AT HOW ITS SCHOOL DISTRICT CAN USE SCHOOL DISTRICT LAND TO BUILD HOUSING FOR TEACHERS.
SO THERE ARE FOLKS AROUND THE COUNTRY DOING THINGS THAT ARE WORTH LOOKING AT SO THAT GALVESTON CAN FIND ITS GALVESTON SOLUTION.
SOME OF THE OTHER WAYS TO OFFER INCENTIVES AND MAKE THINGS EASIER AND MORE AFFORDABLE TO REACH THE THE POPULATIONS YOU'RE LOOKING TO SERVE ARE TAX ABATEMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, AGAIN, AN EXAMPLE IN CLEVELAND, OHIO, THEY OFFER TAX ABATEMENTS FOR RESILIENT HOMES THAT ARE NEWLY CONSTRUCTED SO THAT FOLKS CAN AFFORD TO STAY IN THEM FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME AND ALSO HELP BUILD THAT LOCAL ECONOMY BACK.
THEY'VE HAD LOSS OF POPULATION.
THEY'RE TRYING TO BRING FOLKS BACK.
BUT WHAT'S THE KIND OF SOLUTION THAT MAY BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THOSE HOUSEHOLDS AND ALSO MEET SOME OF GALVESTON'S GOALS? AND THEN THERE ARE ALSO ALTERNATE FINANCING STRUCTURES FOR HOMEOWNERS THAT CAN HELP ACHIEVE HOMEOWNERSHIP AND WHERE THE CITY WOULD PLAY A ROLE IN THAT IN SOME WAY.
THE NEXT SLIDE, IT'S REALLY ABOUT HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN THE HOUSING STOCK THAT YOU HAVE THAT IS AFFORDABLE TO PEOPLE AT THE RANGES OF THE EMPLOYEES WORKING ON THE ISLAND AND ADD TO THAT.
SO A NET INCREASE IN THE HOUSING UNITS ON THE ISLAND.
AND THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO THAT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE OPENING UP RIGHT NOW WITH SOME OF THE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT ARE BECOMING AVAILABLE.
AND A LOT OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES POINT TO THE IMPORTANCE OF COORDINATING HOUSING DEVELOPMENT WITH INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AND SO MAKING SURE THOSE TWO ARE BEING DONE IN TANDEM.
SOME OF THAT IS NOT NEW MONEY OUT OF THE POCKETS OF THE CITY.
IT IS ABOUT HOW TO COORDINATE, TO GET BETTER RESULTS FOR THINGS THAT ARE ALREADY ON THE BOOKS BY MAKING SURE THAT YOU GET EFFICIENCY AND MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE COMING IN.
PART OF THAT IS ANTICIPATING THAT THE STATE AND OTHERS ARE GOING TO BE OFFERING MORE RESOURCES FOR THAT.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING WITH SOME OF THESE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE COMING IS TO HAVE SHOVEL READY PROJECTS SO THEY WILL BE LOOKING TO MOVE THOSE DOLLARS QUICKLY WHEN THEY ARE AVAILABLE.
THERE ARE BOTH FORMULA DOLLARS THAT YOU ALL ARE GETTING DIRECTLY, BUT THERE ARE ALSO GOING TO BE COMPETITIVE DOLLARS AVAILABLE AND HOW YOU SPEND YOUR FORMULA MONEY WILL INCREASE YOUR COMPETITIVENESS FOR SOME OF THESE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.
AND AGAIN, HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING AND INFRASTRUCTURE IS GOING TO BE A BIG PUSH BASED ON WHAT WE'RE SEEING.
SO I THINK IT'S LOOKING AT THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU HAVE.
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NOW, AN EXAMPLE OF THAT IS THE MAPPING PROJECT THAT WE HAVE DONE WITH BUILD GALVESTON TO HELP IDENTIFY WHAT ARE THOSE FOCUS AREAS, AND WHERE ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES SITES FOR PROSPECTIVE DEVELOPMENT.AND THEN WHAT DOES THE CITY HAVE PLANNED ON ITS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN IN THOSE AREAS? SO THIS IS A VERY SIMPLE MAP THAT SHOWS THE LAND USE OF SOME OF THE AREAS THAT ARE BEING REVIEWED FOR PROJECT OPPORTUNITIES.
AND THEN JUST TWO OF THE MANY CITY PROJECTS FOR DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT ON ONE AND A STREET IMPROVEMENT ON ANOTHER.
SO REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS WANT TO KNOW THOSE AMENITIES THAT ARE COMING AND THOSE IMPROVEMENTS BECAUSE IT MATTERS FOR TIMING AND SEQUENCING.
AND THEN THE DISCUSSION ABOUT IS THE CAPACITY GOING TO MEET THE NEEDS SO THOSE DOLLARS CAN BE SPENT ONE TIME.
AND IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING FOR EVERYBODY TO BUILD A SIDEWALK THAT HAS TO BE TORN UP FOR SOME NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT FOLKS WEREN'T AWARE OF AND THEN REBUILT.
SO HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THOSE SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS, DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS, STREET IMPROVEMENTS ARE DONE ONCE TO THE DEGREE NECESSARY TO MEET EVERYONE'S NEEDS? NEXT SLIDE.
AND ALL PROJECTS ARE GOING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF SOMEBODY.
EVERYBODY NEEDS A PLACE TO LIVE ON THE ISLAND.
AND YOU HAVE FOLKS AT ALL DIFFERENT INCOME RANGES.
SO WE WANTED TO POINT OUT WITH THIS SLIDE WAS, THAT HOUSING IS A CONTINUUM.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT INCOME LEVELS THAT CAN AFFORD DIFFERENT PRICE POINTS OF HOMES THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND AND ANY COMMUNITY, AND IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THE RIGHT RESOURCES ARE MEETING THE NEEDS AT THE RIGHT PRICE POINT.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT THIS CONTINUUM, THOSE WITH VERY LITTLE INCOME ARE REPRESENTED ON THE LEFT AND THEN FOLKS WITH YOUR HIGHEST INCOMES ARE ON THE RIGHT.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MIDPOINT FORWARD, THE PRIVATE MARKET TAKES CARE A LOT OF A LOT OF THAT DEMAND AND NEED FOR HOUSING.
BUT YOU CAN SEE WITH THE GREEN ARROW IS WHERE BUILD GALVESTON IS FOCUSING.
THEY'RE FOCUSING ON THE 60 TO 120 PERCENT OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
AND AS KEATH SAID, THAT'S IN THE 40 THOUSANDS TO 100000 PER HOUSEHOLD.
AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DELIVER THOSE HOMES WITHOUT SOME SORT OF SUPPORT AND COORDINATION FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND OTHER FINANCING SOURCES.
SO I THINK IT'S ABOUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT THAT IS AND THEN HOW TO TAP THE RIGHT RESOURCES AND HOW TO USE THE GREAT TOOL THAT YOU HAVE AND BUILD GALVESTON AS A PARTNER TO BRING MORE RESOURCES TO YOUR COMMUNITY.
AND AS WE MENTIONED, THERE ARE LOTS OF FEDERAL FUNDING SOURCES.
I KNOW YOU ALL ARE ANTICIPATING SOME OF THOSE COMING TO YOUR CITY AND WE EXPECT MORE TO BE APPROVED SOON THROUGH THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED SPECIFICALLY IN THERE.
IT IS MONEY FOR HOUSING AND PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS AND TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS.
AND SO THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT WAYS THAT THE COORDINATION BETWEEN BUILD GALVESTON AND THE CITY OF GALVESTON COUNTY UP THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO ATTRACT EVEN MORE DOLLARS, AS WE'VE MENTIONED BEFORE.
BUILD GALVESTON IS ALSO GOING TO BE TAPPING TRADITIONAL FUNDING RESOURCES, BOTH FROM THE PUBLIC SIDE, BECAUSE THOSE DOLLARS HELP REACH THE COST, ATTAINABLE HOUSING GOALS AND THEN ALSO FROM THE PRIVATE SIDE.
SO FEDERAL AGENCIES, STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES USING BOTH TAX CREDITS AS WELL AS GRANT PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL LOW INTEREST LOAN PROGRAMS, AND THEN ALSO TAPPING RESOURCES FROM BANKS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND OTHER GRANT DOLLARS THAT ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH A VARIETY OF PARTNERS AND MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF THAT IS DONE TO IN CONCERT WITH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SO THAT THE RESOURCES ARE THERE TO DELIVER THOSE HOMES IN WAYS THAT ARE VERY CHALLENGING TO DO, BUT WITH COORDINATION CAN BE DONE VERY EFFECTIVELY.
AMANDA AND TINA, FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON THAT, AND AS I MENTIONED, IF THERE'S SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ON POLICY OR ANYTHING THAT WAS PRESENTED IN THIS SECTION, THEY'LL BE ON THE CALL.
YEAH, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, WE CAN BARELY HEAR YOU, KEATH.
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? THAT'S BETTER.
OK, SO I THINK IT'S JUST IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT TINA AND AMANDA ARE ON THE CALL TODAY, IF ANYONE HAS SPECIFIC QUESTIONS AS WELL AS ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE OF THIS CALL, I THINK THAT WHAT WE WANT TO DEFINE HERE IS A PATH TO SUCCESS.
SO HOW DO WE DEFINE PARTNERSHIP AND COMMON GROUND AS WE WORK TOWARDS ADDRESSING THESE NEEDS OF MIDDLE INCOME HOUSING? WHAT WE'VE HEARD YOU ALL SAY OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS IS THAT FOR PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT TO BE SUPPORTED BY THE CITY IS THERE IS A FEW REQUIREMENTS AND WE'D LIKE TO DEFINE THOSE FURTHER AS WE MOVE ALONG, ONE BEING THAT IT RETURNS PROPERTY TO THE TAX ROLLS, TWO, THAT IT IMPROVES REVENUE PERFORMANCE OF UNDERUTILIZED PROPERTY.
SO ADDING IMPROVEMENTS TO VACANT LOTS AND BEST AND EXISTING STRUCTURES.
LEVERAGING OUTSIDE DOLLARS, AS AMANDA MENTIONED, IT IS VERY HARD TO DELIVER ON HOUSING IN THIS RANGE, AND IT WILL REQUIRE MANY ORGANIZATIONS COMING TOGETHER TO FILL THE
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GAP, FUNDING PHILANTHROPY, FEDERAL FUNDING, ET CETERA.BUT ALL OF THIS IS IN THE VEIN OF EMPLOYEE RETENTION FOR MAJOR ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS AND PUBLIC AGENCIES.
THESE PROJECTS NEED TO WORK ON BEHALF OF EMPLOYERS AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN TALENT AND BUSINESS CONTINUITY RESULTING FROM EMPLOYEE ACCESSIBILITY.
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND 24/7 SERVICES LIKE HOSPITAL WORKERS.
SO THAT BEING SAID, LET'S MOVE TO GREEN GALVESTON, WHICH IS OUR PARKS AND GREEN SPACE PLANNING.
AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE HAVE AZACARA ROBINSON TEAM ON THE CALL.
MANY OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THEM.
KATIE COYNE AND MICHELLE BRIGHT ARE HERE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT GREEN GALVESTON AND THE WORK THAT WE-- EXCUSE ME, MAYOR.
BEFORE WE MOVE TO GREEN GALVESTON, CAN WE ASK SOME QUESTIONS ON THE HOUSING PRESENTATION? SURELY.
WELL, AMANDA, I THINK DID A GREAT PRESENTATION, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS MISSING WAS THE COST OF INSURANCE.
SO I DIDN'T SPEAK TO THAT SPECIFICALLY, BUT WE HAVE BECOME VERY AWARE THAT THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT COST AND HAS TO BE FACTORED IN AND IT JUST CREATES ANOTHER FUNDING GAP THAT NEEDS TO BE FILLED THROUGH SOME OF THESE OTHER RESOURCES.
SO IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR EYE ON.
WELL, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE ARE FUNDING SOURCES TO COVER PEOPLE'S HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE AND THEIR WIND INSURANCE AND THEIR FLOOD INSURANCE, WHICH THAT'S ONE OF THE DECIDING FACTORS FOR MANY PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE NOT TO LIVE ON THE ISLAND, SUCH AS A NUMBER THE UTMB EMPLOYEES, BECAUSE YOU CAN TAKE TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLAR HOUSE AND WHEN YOU TACK ON INSURANCE PLUS PROPERTY TAXES, SINCE OURS ARE HIGHER, IT MAKES IT A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PICTURE, AND THAT SEEMED TO BE A MAJOR VOID IN YOUR PRESENTATION.
I THINK THAT IT'S THAT NEXT LEVEL THAT WE DIDN'T GET TO TODAY WHEN WE START LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS.
SO, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THE INSURANCE COSTS ARE OFTEN OFFSET BY KEEPING THE MORTGAGE AMOUNT VERY AFFORDABLE.
SO THE MORE AFFORDABLE THE MORTGAGE AMOUNT IS FOR ANY HOUSEHOLD, THE MORE THEY CAN AFFORD INSURANCE COSTS.
IN ADDITION, BUILD GALVESTON, PLANS TO ADDRESS BOTH, KIND OF, THOSE HOMEOWNER NEEDS AS WELL AS RENTAL UNIT NEEDS.
SO DEVELOPING APARTMENTS FOR PEOPLE.
IN SOME OF THOSE LARGER PROJECTS, IT'S EASIER TO ABSORB SOME OF THOSE COSTS.
BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, IT IS A REALLY CRITICAL THING THAT HAS TO BE CONSIDERED ALL ALONG THE WAY.
SO, AGAIN, WHEN YOU'RE REFERENCING FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SUBSIDIZED HOUSING.
SOME GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY GOES INTO IT.
IT'S LIKE GRANT DOLLARS AND THEN ALSO FINANCING.
SO THEY BORROW MONEY AT A VERY LOW INTEREST RATE.
THERE IS ALSO TAX CREDITS WHICH JUST ATTRACT PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND MAKE IT A GREAT INVESTMENT FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO OFFER THEIR CAPITAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING.
I MEAN, THE TAX CREDITS TEND TO RUN WITH LOW INCOME HOUSING OR A PERFECT EXAMPLE WOULD BE SANDPIPER, WHICH WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU COULD TAKE THAT PROPERTY AND DO SOMETHING WITH IT.
THE WHOLE TIME POINT ON THE SALE OF THAT PROPERTY IS THE TAX CREDITS.
AND AGAIN, WHEN YOU START INVOLVING ALL THE FEDERAL FUNDING, WE'RE BACK TO MORE SUBSIDIZED, MORE HUD, MORE NOT NECESSARILY THE POPULATION THAT YOU SOUND LIKE YOU'RE ADDRESSING.
SO THE GOOD NEWS IS, IS THAT THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT FOLKS AT A REALLY WIDE RANGE OF INCOMES.
I THINK A LOT OF THE FOLKS THINK OF JUST THE CLIENTS OF THE GALVESTON HOUSING AUTHORITY AS TO WHO BENEFITS FROM GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES.
AND THAT IS ONE SUBSET OF THE POPULATION.
IT IS A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT POPULATION, KIND OF FARTHER UP THE INCOME BRACKET THAT BUILD GALVESTON WILL BE SERVING, AND IT IS STAIRSTEPS OF HOW THE RESOURCES ARE MADE AVAILABLE.
AND MOST TAX CREDIT PROJECTS ARE MIXED INCOME PROJECTS THAT HAVE A MIX OF MARKET RATE UNITS WHERE FOLKS OF ANY INCOME CAN LIVE, AS WELL AS PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST WORKING
[00:40:04]
FAMILIES AS WELL.I JUST QUESTION THE COST THEN SUBSIDIZING THE PLAN.
YEAH, IT'S A GOOD CONVERSATION TO KEEP HAVING DEFINITELY ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON HOUSING BEFORE WE MOVE ON? RIGHT HERE, MR. BROWN.
YES, SIR, BILL? MY QUESTION IS, BASED ON [INAUDIBLE] THAT WE HAVE IS THIS PARK I THINK IT'S SHIELD PARK.
IN THAT GENERAL AREA [INAUDIBLE] IS THE ITEM, I THINK MAYBE 12 YEARS BACK, MAYBE A LITTLE FURTHER? THEY BUILT ALL THESE HOMES AROUND THIS GENERAL AREA AND THEY HAD THE SAME CONCEPT WHERE THEY WANT POLICE OFFICERS TO FILL IN, BUY SOME OF THESE HOUSES OF FIREMEN, SCHOOL TEACHERS, BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND PEOPLE TO GO AHEAD AND PURCHASE THESE HOUSES BECAUSE I THINK ONE OBSTACLE AGAIN WAS THE PEOPLE COULDN'T PASS THE APPLICATION.
SO HOW IS THAT GOING TO COME INTO PLAY? ARE WE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE WITH BAD CREDIT THAT LENDING INSTITUTIONS ARE GOING TO LEND TO PEOPLE, WHICH CAN GO ONE WAY OR THE OTHER? THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS, WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO GET THE LAND? THE PHOTOGRAPH THAT WE HAD IN HERE SHOWING MY BANK TWENTY FIFTH STRAIGHT DOWN TO VEGAS, FORTY THIRD STREET FROM BROADWAY, ALL THAT LAND.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THIS WITHOUT A DOUBT.
I GREW UP IN THAT AREA WHEN I WAS A KID.
MOST OF THAT LAND IS CONTAMINATED.
SO HOW ARE YOU GOING TO [INAUDIBLE] THE CONTAMINATION? MARIE MENTIONED, I THINK [INAUDIBLE] OR-- SANDPIPER COVE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY, I'M SURPRISED THAT IT WAS BUILT BECAUSE IT'S BUILT ON GAS PIPES UNDERNEATH, AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS PROHIBITED.
SO, IF THAT THING GOES DOWN, I DON'T KNOW IF HUD'S GOING TO COME BACK AND TURN AROUND AND PUT MONEY INTO A PROJECT AS THAT.
SO, HOW ARE YOU ADDRESSING THE POLLUTION THAT, YOU KNOW, UNDERGROUND? YEAH, SO THOSE ISSUES ARE ALL REVEALED DURING THE FEASIBILITY PROCESS AND WILL DETERMINE THE PROJECT'S FEASIBILITY, BUT IN SOME CASES YOU'RE AN ISLAND.
SO I THINK LAND IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE FOR YOU ALL.
AND IT'S HOW DO YOU STILL MEET THE HOUSING NEEDS AND FIGURE OUT SOME OF THOSE CREATIVE SOLUTIONS IN GENERAL FOR FOR JUST LAND AVAILABILITY.
WHEN IT COMES TO POLLUTION, THERE ARE RESOURCES TO HELP CLEAN UP THE LAND, TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE FOR HOUSING THAT WILL WORK FOR SOME PROPERTIES, NOT FOR OTHERS.
SO THAT ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATION BEFOREHAND IS GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND BACK TO YOUR QUESTION, COUNCIL MEMBER QUIROGA ON MAKING SURE THE HOME BUYERS ARE QUALIFIED.
A REALLY IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIP FOR BUILD GALVESTON TO DEVELOP EARLY IN THE PROCESS IS WITH OTHER AGENCIES THAT DO HOME BUYER EDUCATION AND COUNSELING SO THAT CONCURRENTLY, WHILE THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS IS PLAYING OUT, THE PARTNER AGENCY IS LOOKING TO IDENTIFY FAMILIES WHO WILL QUALIFY TO BUY THOSE HOMES, BUT ALSO HELPING THEM CLEAN UP THEIR CREDIT, HELPING THEM BE PREPARED TO BE HOMEOWNERS BY EDUCATING THEM ABOUT THE PROCESS AND ALL OF THAT.
SO REALLY MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE READY TO BE GREAT HOMEOWNERS WHEN THE TIME COMES.
ANOTHER QUESTION I HAVE, HAVE YOU ALL FLAGGED WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE USING A SCALE FROM 40 TO 100 THOUSAND DOLLARS.
IS THAT BROKEN DOWN, THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES, MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY, LIKE FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS [INAUDIBLE] IS NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH MONEY.
AND THEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT A PAYMENT OF A BRAND NEW HOME TAKE ONE PERCENT.
IF IT'S TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND, YOU'RE LOOKING AT CLOSE TO EIGHTEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH, PLUS UTILITIES, PLUS THE COST OF LIVING, GAS, INSURANCE, AS MS. ROBB SAID.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER FACTORS THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED INTO.
ONE THING I'M LOOKING AT IS IT'S FINE IF YOU'RE GOING TO [INAUDIBLE] RUN THESE THROUGH FEDERAL FUNDING.
BUT IF WE HAVE TO PASS IT ON COST AND RAISE OUR TAXES IN GALVESTON, I'M TOTALLY AGAINST THAT.
WE ALREADY HAVE A CAPITAL DEBT, LET'S SEE, I THINK IT WAS TWO HUNDRED THIRTY FOUR MILLION DOLLARS.
THAT EQUATES TO FORTY SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS PER CAPITA.
NOW, I LOOKED AT THE PLANS FOR THE CIP, THEY WANT TO HAVE ANOTHER FORTY FIVE MILLION DOLLARS.
SO THAT'S GOING TO ALSO INCREASE.
SO THE BURDEN IS GOING TO BE PLACED ON "MIDDLE CLASS" IF WE DO HAVE A MIDDLE CLASS.
PEOPLE ARE LEAVING THE ISLAND RIGHT AND LEFT.
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AND I KNOW I'M GOING TO SAY SOMETHING HERE THAT MAYOR MAY NOT LIKE, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO CLEAN UP THE NEIGHBORHOOD BEFORE WE START TO TRY TO FIX THE NEIGHBORHOODS.WE HAVE ISSUES OF CRIME IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, OF DRUGS, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, BLIGHTED AREAS THAT STILL NEED TO BE CLEANED UP.
I THINK WE TAKE ON THIS VENTURE.
SO WHAT I CAN SPEAK TO IS, YES, THE FAMILY SIZE IS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN DETERMINING ALL THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS.
AND YES, THE BUILD GALVESTON HAS SAID VERY CLEARLY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CITY DOES NOT WANT ANYTHING THAT REQUIRES ANY RAISING OF TAXES.
SO, WE'RE OPERATING WITHIN THAT UNDERSTANDING.
AND THE GOAL IS TO ADD MORE PEOPLE TO THE ISLAND SO THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE TO HELP CARRY THAT PROPERTY TAX BURDEN AND PUT MORE DOLLARS INTO YOUR SALES TAX COFFERS SO THAT IT'S AN ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT IS A POSITIVE ONE FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON, BOTH AS A GOVERNMENT BUT ALSO AS A COMMUNITY.
THE TYPE OF JOBS THAT'S GOING TO BE OFFERED TO THE PEOPLE TRYING TO BRING IN, WE NEED HIGHER PAYING JOBS.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT KNOCKING HOSPITALITY, IT'S THERE.
BUT THE PEOPLE THAT WORK IN HOSPITALITY, THEY'RE WORKING TWO OR THREE JOBS TO MAKE FIFTY OR FIFTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR.
WE NEED BETTER JOBS HERE, BETTER CORPORATIONS TO COME IN TO OFFER THAT THE INCENTIVE THAT HIGHER PAY INSTEAD OF GETTING PAID TWELVE TO FIFTEEN DOLLARS; IT'S NOT ENOUGH.
WE NEED SOME CORPORATIONS COMING HERE THAT PAY 20-25 DOLLARS AN HOUR.
THAT MAY SOLVE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS. BUT AGAIN, THOSE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT I'M LOOKING AT WHEN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS THAT'S A GREAT POINT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THE HOUSING PRESENTATION? YEAH, MAYOR, I'VE GOT ONE.
THANK YOU, KEATH, THANKS VISION GALVESTON ND EVERYBODY ELSE FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER TODAY.
I KNOW WE'RE IN OUR FIRST SEGMENT, BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WORKFORCE HOUSING, YOU KNOW, JUST THROWING GENERALITIES OUT THERE, IF GISD WANTED TO DEVELOP HOUSING FOR TEACHERS OR THEIR WORKFORCE, UTMB WANTED TO DEVELOP IT FOR THEIR WORKFORCE, WHO BECOMES THE ULTIMATE RINGLEADER ON THESE PROJECTS AND WHERE IS THE YOU KNOW, THE GROUP WORK, AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, THE COHESION ON US TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU BRING MORE WORKFORCE HOUSING OR IF YOU HAVE MORE OF YOUR WORKERS LIVE HERE FROM GISD OR WHATEVER ENTITY, ULTIMATELY THAT HELPS THE OVERALL CITY.
SO, I MEAN, ALL THESE THINGS ARE RELATED.
ALL THESE ENTITIES ARE RELATED.
SO, WHO BECOMES THE, I GUESS, THE RINGLEADER ON AN OPERATION LIKE THAT.
SO I WILL DEFER TO KEATH ABOUT THE VISION FOR VISION GALVESTON AND BUILD GALVESTON.
BUT TEAMWORK AND COORDINATION IS ESSENTIAL.
BUT I'LL PASS IT TO KEATH ABOUT ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW THAT MIGHT WORK.
YEAH, AND I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT.
AND SOMETHING THAT WE MENTIONED THAT IT WILL TAKE A COORDINATION OF MULTIPLE AGENCIES, INCLUDING EMPLOYERS.
AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BUILD GALVESTON CAN FUNCTION AS A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
AND WE LOOKED AT OTHER CITIES.
THAT IS AN ENTITY THAT CAN PULL TOGETHER THE FINANCING, THE DEVELOPER INCENTIVES OR STRUCTURES FROM THE CITY, FEDERAL FUNDING, AND THEN ALSO BRING IN EMPLOYERS, WHICH WE'VE ALREADY STARTED TO TALK TO SOME EMPLOYERS, LARGE AND SMALL, ABOUT HOW ARE THEY GOING TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS, INCENTIVIZING THEIR EMPLOYEES TO LIVE HERE? SOME OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS EARLY ON THAT WE HAD WITH THE MID-RANGE COMPANIES, WHERE WOULD THEY SUBSIDIZE FLOOD AND THEN INSURANCE COSTS FOR THE FIRST THREE YEARS? I KNOW THE CITY DOES THINGS LIKE THAT.
I DON'T THINK GISD CURRENTLY HAS ANY INCENTIVE PROGRAM OF THAT NATURE, BUT THAT'S AN OPTION.
BUT REALLY TRYING TO HAVE AN ENTITY THAT CAN PULL TOGETHER MULTIPLE AGENCIES AND STRUCTURE A DEAL OR STRUCTURE PROGRAMS THAT REQUIRE A LOT OF DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES.
SO IT IS TYPICALLY A CDC IN OTHER CITIES.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT DOING WITH YOU ALL.
I THINK THAT HOUSING INSIGHTS A VERY LONG AND LARGE CONVERSATION.
AND SO THIS IS ONE OF WE WOULD SAY THE FIRST OF MANY WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE WITH YOU ALL AS COUNCIL AND PULLING IN OTHER PARTNERS WILL BE CRITICAL DURING THIS DISCUSSION.
AND WILLIAM, I WOULD ALSO MENTION THAT ON THAT TOPIC, IT'S A GOOD QUESTION ON WHO WILL BE FACILITATING OR MANAGING THIS.
AND THAT'S A DISCUSSION THAT WILL COME TO COUNCIL PROBABLY IN OUR APRIL 22ND MEETING.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT, QUOTE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE STRUCTURE AND THE INTERRELATIONSHIP OF OUR REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, THE RDA, THAT WOULD POSSIBLY TAKE OVER A LOT OF THESE FUNCTIONS OR AT
[00:50:02]
LEAST FACILITATE THESE FUNCTIONS FOR THE CITY.BUT THAT WILL BE AT THE DIRECTION OF COUNCIL.
AND SO THAT PARTICULAR QUESTION WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS PROBABLY COMING UP IN OUR NEXT MEETING.
GOOD, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON HOUSING? YES.
RDA IS GOING TO BE TAKING OVER WHAT FUNCTIONS? I UNDERSTAND THIS IS GOING TO BE A CONVERSATION WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING.
BUT I DON'T THINK I'VE HEARD ANYTHING SO FAR TODAY THAT WOULD QUALIFY AS A GOVERNMENT FUNCTION.
BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WHEN I SAY TAKING OVER, WE NEED TO HAVE SOME TIME.
AND THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING WE'LL OPEN THAT DISCUSSION WITH NEXT MEETING.
BUT WE NEED TO HAVE AN ENTITY AT THE CITY THAT HELPS COORDINATE AND KEEPS KIND OF TRACK OF ALL OF THESE ACTIVITIES.
THAT MEETS OR THE AN OVERARCHING [INAUDIBLE] ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE CITY.
NOW THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY STRUCTURE LIKE THAT NOW.
AND THAT SORT OF FUNCTION, AS THE RDA MAYOR SAID.
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT EXPANDING THE GOVERNMENT? NO.
THIS IS GOING TO BE AN OUTSIDE ORGANIZATION? NO, SIR.
THE RDA BILL IS BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR YEARS.
IT'S A COMMITTEE OF INDIVIDUALS, THE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
IN THE PAST, THEY HAVE ALWAYS SERVED AS KIND OF THE OVERSEER OF OUR JURSIES, WHICH IS REALLY NOT A FUNCTION THAT RDA SERVE IN MOST CITIES.
THEY'RE MORE OF A COORDINATOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES.
NOW, WHAT THEIR ROLE WILL BE AND WHAT AND WHAT HOW THEY'LL BE STRUCTURED AT SOMETHING.
WE NEED TO GET GUIDANCE FROM COUNCIL.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS CONCERNING HOUSING? VERY GOOD.
WE'RE MOVING TO GREEN GALVESTON ONTO AN EASIER SUBJECT, I BELIEVE.
SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO KATIE COYNE AND MICHELLE BRIGHT, WHO WE HAVE ALL BEEN WORKING DIRECTLY WITH CITY STAFF, INCLUDING YOUR PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT, THE PARK BOARD AND OTHERS TO COALESCE AROUND A GREEN SPACE VISION.
AND THE FIRST ARTICULATION OF THAT WOULD BE INTO PARKS THAT WE WANT TO HAVE DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS BEING JONES AND SHIELD PARK.
SO I'M GOING TO LET FIRST KATIE SPEAK A LITTLE BIT AND THEN MICHELLE WILL TAKE OVER ON THE ILLUSTRATIVE DESIGNS THAT WE'VE COMPLETED SO FAR.
I'M A PRINCIPAL AT [INAUDIBLE] AND I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH VISION GALVESTON SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE WORK.
AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE WORKING ON GREEN GALVESTON.
AND YOU JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE HIGHLIGHT BEFORE WE DIG INTO THESE PILOT PROJECTS THAT KEITH MENTIONED, SOME OF THE FEEDBACK AND WORK THAT WE DID ENVISION.
GALVESTON REALLY LED TO THIS BEING A TOP PRIORITY FOR THE FUTURE OF WHAT THIS ISLAND CAN LOOK LIKE.
WE KNOW THAT 17 PERCENT OF THE ISLAND IS PARKLAND, BUT MUCH OF THAT PARKLAND THAT SHOWCASES NATURE IS DIFFICULT TO ACCESS.
WE HEARD A LOT FROM GALVESTONIANS THAT ESPECIALLY FOLKS WHO LIVE IN THE URBAN CORE, THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY KNOW THAT THERE'S NATURE ON THE ISLAND.
IT'S PART OF WHY FOLKS LIVE ON GALVESTON, BUT THAT MOST PEOPLE THINK OF NATURE AS THAT THING THAT'S OUT THERE, OUT AT THE STATE PARK, OUT AT THE BEACH, BUT NOT SO MUCH IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO THE VISION FOR GREEN GALVESTON IS A FUTURE GALVESTON THAT'S EMBEDDED IN NATURE.
OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK FOR INTEGRATING GREEN INTO GALVESTON'S LANDSCAPES.
AND LIKE HE SAID, THAT INCLUDES PARKS, OPEN SPACE, ALSO PUBLIC, RIGHT-OF-WAY, NEW DEVELOPMENT, REDEVELOPMENT, ET CETERA.
AND WE'VE DEVELOPED A SERIES OF GUIDING PRINCIPLES.
IF YOU WANT TO GO TO THE NEXT ONE, THAT REALLY TRIED TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE KEY VALUES THAT THOSE LANDSCAPES, PARKS, OPEN SPACE, ET CETERA, SHOULD REALLY ENCAPSULATE TO BEST SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY AND BEST IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
SO I'LL JUST REALLY QUICKLY GO THROUGH JUST A COUPLE EVERYTHING FROM RIGHT TO GREEN.
EVERYONE DESERVES ACCESS TO GREEN SPACE, HEALTH, ECOLOGY, ECONOMY.
HOW DOES THIS IMPROVE YOUR LOCAL ECONOMY? AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT IN A MINUTE.
THAT IS CONNECTED, THAT IS ACTIVATING AND AUTHENTIC AND THEN ALSO PROMOTES EDUCATION AND STEWARDSHIP OF YOUR NATURAL SPACES, NEXT.
SO ALL OF THOSE HIGH LEVEL VISIONS FOR WHAT GREEN SPACE AND WHAT LANDSCAPES CAN DO ON THE ISLAND HAVE NOW BEEN APPLIED TO TWO PILOT STUDIES.
AND SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS CHOSEN JONES AND SHIELD TO REALLY DIG IN A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO
[00:55:01]
WHAT THOSE GUIDING PRINCIPLES LOOK LIKE WHEN APPLIED TO A SINGLE SITE IN DESIGN.AND I'LL HAND IT OVER TO MICHELLE IN JUST A MINUTE TO WALK YOU THROUGH WHAT THOSE DESIGNS LOOK LIKE.
I BELIEVE MY LAST SLIDE, IF YOU WANT TO GO TO THAT ONE, JUST REALLY TALKS ABOUT I REALLY WANT TO HIT HOME ON THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THESE INVESTMENTS.
SO MUCH OF THE WAY PEOPLE THINK ABOUT GREEN INVESTMENTS AND PARKS INVESTMENTS, ESPECIALLY WITH THOSE GUIDING PRINCIPLES, IS REALLY BASED ON HOW WE'RE IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO THE ISLAND, BRINGING MORE NATURE INTO THE URBAN FABRIC AND INTO YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND ALSO IMPROVING THE ECOLOGY AND YOUR CLIMATE RESILIENCE, YOUR RESILIENCE TO STORMS AND YOUR CHRONIC FLOODING ISSUES.
BUT ALSO THESE PROVIDE ECONOMIC BENEFITS.
SO WHEN YOU GREEN AREAS, WHETHER THAT'S PART INVESTMENTS OR OTHER GREEN INVESTMENTS, WE KNOW THAT THERE MIGHT BE A LAG IN YOUR BENEFITS, BUT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY RECOUP IN YOUR REAL ESTATE VALUES SOME OF THOSE INVESTMENTS OVER TIME.
SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT THOSE ONGOING ACCRUING BENEFITS AND ESPECIALLY PLACES LIKE SHIELD PARK, WHERE THERE'S ALREADY A CONCENTRATED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND REVITALIZATION HAPPENING.
NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO INVEST IN A PLACE LIKE THAT TO REALLY ALSO MAXIMIZE THE BASE OF TAXES THAT YOU'RE BRINGING IN AS A CITY NEXT.
I'LL PASS IT OFF TO MICHELLE TO GO THROUGH SHIELD PARK.
I'M WITH [INAUDIBLE] ROBINSON AS A SENIOR DESIGNER AND I'M FIRST GOING TO TALK ABOUT SHIELD PARK.
AS WE KNOW, IT'S IN ONE OF THOSE HISTORICAL INDUSTRIAL AREAS OF GALVESTON.
IT RIGHT NOW IS AN ACTIVE PARK.
THERE'S THREE LARGE BASKETBALL COURTS AND TWO PARKING LOTS ON IT.
AND THE DAY WE WERE THERE, WE DID SOME PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
IT WAS A BIT HOT WITH ALL THOSE [INAUDIBLE] COVER.
IT TENDS TO BE A PRETTY WARM PARK.
CAN YOU GO TO THE NEXT ONE, KEITH? THIS IS A FEW PICTURES OF WHAT THE QUALITY OF THIS PARK LOOKS LIKE NOW, IT HAS THIS GREAT VIEW TOWARDS THE FALSTAFF GREEN COMPANIES OLD HISTORIC BUILDING.
IT HAS A REALLY NICE GROVE OF TREES IN THE NORTH KIND OF EAST CORNER OF THE SITE.
AND WE DID NOTICE THAT THERE COULD BE POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS THAT ARE ADVERSE TO DOING CERTAIN THINGS.
SO THERE IS A MONITORING WELL ON THIS SITE ON THE NORTHERN EDGE.
AND ALSO WE NOTED, SOME NOTED SOME OF THE PLANTS ARE KIND OF MOUNTED UP.
BOTH OF THE PARKS, BOTH JONES AND SHIELD.
WE DID COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, SO WE WANTED TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT PEOPLE THOUGHT ABOUT THE PARK CURRENTLY AND WHAT THEY COULD ENVISION THE PARK IN THE FUTURE.
ACTIVITY WHERE PEOPLE ACTUALLY PUT DOWN WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE AT THE PARK ON FLAGS AND PUT IT INSIDE THE PARK AND AROUND.
SO I'LL SHOW YOU SOME OF THAT DATA AS WELL.
IT WAS A GREAT EVENT AND WE DID THE ONE IN SHIELD PARK IN NOVEMBER.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE RAIN, THE WORD CLOUDS THAT CAME UP WITH SOME OF THE TOP ITEMS THAT PEOPLE WERE LOOKING TOWARDS AT SHIELD PARK.
PEOPLE WERE REALLY FOCUSED ON SMALL EVENT SPACES AND MOVIES IN THE PARKS AND ITEMS LIKE THAT THAT WOULD BRING KIND OF ACTIVE PROGRAMING TO THE PARK.
BUT THEY ALSO STILL WANTED TO HAVE SOME OF THOSE SPORTS KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES.
AND THERE IS A LOT OF FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY THAT'S DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO THE PROPERTY.
SO PEOPLE ALSO WERE INTERESTED IN PLAYGROUNDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THEY DEFINITELY MENTIONED SHADE AS BEING A MAJOR PRIORITY FOR THIS PARK AND TREES.
SO THIS IS AN OVERALL CONCEPT LEVEL DESIGN FOR THE PARK.
YOU CAN SEE ON THE LEFT SIDE THERE IS A STAGE AND THIS LARGE EVENT, ONE, THIS IS A SLOPE LINE THAT WOULD REALLY BENEFIT DOWN TO THE STAGE.
BUT ON THE OTHER EDGE OF THE BERM SLOPE, KIND OF TOWARDS THE TOP RIGHT OF YOUR SCREEN THERE, THERE IS A PLAYGROUND AREA THAT TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THE BERM TO PUT IN A SLIDE AND CLIMBING AREA AND ALSO TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THE NICE SHADE FROM THOSE GROVE TREES.
WE ALSO HAVE A SERIES OF BASKETBALL COURTS AND SOME SMALL GAMES AREAS FOR THIS PARTICULAR PARK.
WE'RE ALSO ARE INVESTIGATING WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE TO PUT A RESTROOM AT THIS FACILITY? YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT ONE.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE OVERALL, LIKE VISIONS OF OUR CONCEPT IN AN IMAGE FORM.
WE'RE THINKING OF SUSTAINABLE, AND VERY KIND OF HARDY MATERIALS FOR THIS PARTICULAR PARK.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SEE IN NAUTICAL ENVIRONMENTS AND THEN ALSO THINGS THAT BRING OUT KIND OF THE INDUSTRIAL HISTORY OF THE PARK, TOO, WITH CONCRETE AND POLISHED CONCRETE.
BILL ALREADY MENTIONED THAT THIS AREA DOES HAVE SOME CONTAMINATION ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
ON THE PARK SITE ITSELF, THERE WAS A PETROLEUM STORAGE AREA.
SO WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.
WE ARE PROPOSING A PHASE ONE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, WHICH WE ARE THINKING WILL LIKELY LEAD TO THE PHASE TO WHICH WHERE THEY ACTUALLY TAKE SAMPLES ON THE SITE TO
[01:00:01]
FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN DO OR PROPOSING THIS TO MOVE FORWARD AS THE FIRST STEP, BECAUSE WE REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO, BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO INFLUENCE THE COST OF THIS PARK IN THE LONG RUN.AND WE DIDN'T WANT TO REALLY PUSH THE ENVELOPE TOO MUCH FURTHER ON THAT.
SO RIGHT NOW, WE'RE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE PROPOSED TO GET DONE IN TWO TO THREE MONTHS.
AND IT'S LOOKING AT ABOUT A THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR THAT TO GET AN ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST TO WORK ON THAT PARTICULAR ONE.
YEAH, BECAUSE LET'S GO TO JONES PARK NEXT.
JONES IS A VERY DIFFERENT PARK, IT'S IN DISTRICT FIVE.
IT'S MORE OF A RESIDENTIAL PARK.
AND RIGHT NOW IT DOES HAVE SOME BENCHES AND SOME AMENITIES.
BUT THE MAIN ISSUE WITH THIS PARTICULAR PARK IS IT HAS FLOODING VERY OFTEN AND PONDED WATER.
THE ELEVATION OF THE SITE ITSELF IS LOWER THAN JONES DRIVE.
[INAUDIBLE] FLOWS OFF 71ST STREET, KIND OF COMES INTO THE AREA OF PONDS AND ISN'T ABLE TO ACCESS OR TO EXIT THE AREA.
SO HERE ARE SOME IMAGES OF THE SITE.
THE ONE ON THE RIGHT IS A PICTURE OF WALKING ON THAT SIDEWALK AND KIND OF THAT ELEVATION COMPARED TO THE PARK.
YOU CAN ALSO SEE SOME OF THE PARK STRUCTURES IN THE PHOTOGRAPH HERE AND A DRAINAGE DITCH.
SO WE DID THE SAME ACTIVITY AT THIS PARK, BETTER PARKS AND ALSO THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
PARKS AND REC WERE HUGE CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS.
AND SO WE THANK EVERYBODY FOR THAT.
WE ARE ABLE TO COLLECT SOME REALLY GOOD INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY.
SO THE OVERALL DESIGN CONCEPT FOR THIS PARK IS A MERGING OF TWO THINGS.
ONE, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE WATER AND WE CAN'T AVOID ADDRESSING IT.
SO WE DO REALIZE THAT PART OF THIS DESIGN HAS TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT COMES INTO IT AND BE ABLE TO EITHER DRAIN IT DOWN OR SEND IT OUT TO THE STORM DRAIN AT SOME POINT.
SO WE ARE PROPOSING A LARGE BIO SWELL AND A BIO INFILTRATION FIELD, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO MARRY THAT BY WHERE WE EXCAVATE.
LAND BY USING THAT SOIL TO TO MAKE ELEVATIONS A BIT HIGHER FOR THE PLAYGROUND AREAS IN THIS SITE.
SO WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS IN THE TOP IMAGE HERE IS A REALLY ACTIVE PLAYGROUND AREA THAT WAS INSPIRED FROM SOME OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT WE DID.
WE ALSO HAVE A LAWN WITH A SWING GALLERY AND THEN ALSO WE WANT TO INCORPORATE BASKETBALL.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS CURRENTLY AT THE PARK.
AND WE'RE KIND OF INTERESTED IN INVESTIGATING IF WE CAN USE A POROUS ASPHALT OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS.
SO THE BASKETBALL COURT COULD ITSELF BE HELPING WITH THE STORM WATER ISSUES AT THE SITE.
HERE ARE SOME IMAGES THAT JUST DEPICT SOME OF THE CHARACTER, WHAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT HERE, SOME OF THE STORM WATER SWAILS, ALSO THE MATERIALS WE ARE TRYING TO INVESTIGATE.
IF WE CAN USE POROUS MATERIALS AT THE SITE, THEN ALSO SOME PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AND IDEAS.
THERE YOU CAN GO TO NEXT WEEK.
SO NEXT UP FOR JONES PARK RIGHT NOW, BASED OFF OF JUST SUPPORT FROM VISION GALVESTON AND COMMUNITY, WE'RE LOOKING AT ENTERING INTO A SCHEMATIC DESIGN FOR THIS PARTICULAR PARK.
WE'LL DO A SURVEY AND GEOTECHNICAL BORINGS, A LANDSCAPE SCHEMATIC DESIGN.
BUT WE ARE ALSO BRINGING IN A CIVIL ENGINEER, FIRST AND FOREMOST TO HELP THINK THROUGH THE STORM WATER MANAGEMENT AT THE SITE AND DOING MODELING FOR US SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
THIS WILL HELP US GET TO AN OPINION OF PROBABLE COST CONSTRUCTION COSTS.
WE SEE THAT IS TAKING US ABOUT FIVE MONTHS TO GET THERE.
DEPENDS ON HOW FAST WE GET THE SURVEY AND YOUR TECHNICAL BORINGS.
AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT PIECE OF COST OF BEING ABOUT SEVENTY FIVE THOUSAND.
AND WE WILL LOOK TO WORK IN A PARTNERSHIP WAY WITH THE CITY TO ADDRESS BOTH OF THESE PARTS.
BUT I WOULD LOVE TO OPEN IT UP TO ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE IN PARTICULAR ABOUT SHIELD AND JONES PARK.
BUT IN COUNCIL, FOR THOSE THAT MAY HAVE NOT BEEN FOLLOWING IDC SAY THIS WAS PRESENTED IN OUR LAST IDC MEETING THIS LAST TUESDAY.
IDC VOTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH LOOKING INTO PARTNERING WITH VISION GALVESTON ON THESE TWO DUE DILIGENCE STUDIES FOR JONES AND FOR SHIELD PARK.
AND WE ARE LOOKING AT APPROXIMATELY ASSUMING ONE THIRD OF THOSE COSTS WITH VISION GALVESTON, ASSUMING TWO THIRDS THAT STILL HAS TO BE VETTED THERE AND IDC AND WILL BE BROUGHT TO COUNCIL ALSO BEFORE ANY DECISIONS ARE MADE.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE GREEN GALVESTON BILL? I THINK JONES PARK BEING MORE VIABLE TO LOOK AT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ELEVATE IT BECAUSE YOU'RE ALMOST SEA LEVEL AT THAT POINT AND YOUR DRAINAGE GOES RIGHT DOWN TO THE BAY.
SO YOU'RE RIGHT AT THAT LEVEL.
SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAYBE LOOK AT THE COST OF MINE DRAINAGE GOING OUT TO
[01:05:03]
THE BAY.AS FAR AS SHIELD PARK [INAUDIBLE] AROUND SIHIELD PARK, THAT PLAN WAS SOLD BY TEXAS GAS COMPANY, I'M SORRY, THAT WAS [INAUDIBLE] GAS TO THE CITY.
THEY BUILT A SMALL LITTLE LEAGUE PARK.
THEY HAD [INAUDIBLE] THAT PARK BECAUSE IT WAS OIL SEEPING OUT FROM THE GROUND.
THAT'S REASON WHY [INAUDIBLE] AND NOW WHEN THEY PLAY WITH THE BASKETBALL COURTS, BUT STILL THAT LAND IS HEAVILY CONTAMINATED.
SO I'D LIKE TO SEE BEFORE YOU EVEN START TO SPEND ANY MONEY ON IT TO DO A ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY ON THE RIVER THAT EVEN OUT IN THE STREET.
THE REASON WHY I USED TO WORK FOR THAT COMPANY.
SO I KNOW IT'S HEAVILY POLLUTED AND IT NEEDS TO BE REALLY LOOKED AT.
AND THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT YOU MAY WANT TO PUT ON THE BACK BURNER UNTIL YOU CAN FIND THE REVENUE TO CLEAN THAT UP.
BECAUSE, AGAIN, I TO BE IN THE HEALTH AND SAFETY ENVIRONMENT AND THE LAST CFR, IF YOU HAVE CONTAMINATION, YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE IT'S SIX TO EIGHT INCHES BELOW THE LEVEL OF CONTAMINATION.
WHAT THEY DID HERE IS THEY JUST ENCAPSULATED, BUT IT DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
THE [INAUDIBLE], IT'S GOING TO COME OUT TO THE PARAMETERS OF THE CONCRETE SLABS.
THAT'S THE REASON WHY YOU DON'T SEE A VERY HIGH TURNOUT OF CHILDREN PLAYING BECAUSE THEY DO KNOW THIS.
FOR YOUR KNOWLEDGE, MICHELLE, COULD YOU GO BACK TO YOUR SHIELD PARK, PLEASE, MA'AM? YOUR SLIDE ON THAT? YES, AND WE ABSOLUTELY.
THAT BILL GOOD POINT ON THAT AND THAT I THINK THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO ADDRESS IN THIS PARTICULAR THIS PARTICULAR STUDY.
WELL, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT IT PROXIMATE, PROXIMATE CAUSE, THE VERY THOUSAND, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ONE IF YOU PLAN ON IT.
THAT'S JUST THE STUDY TO GO AHEAD AND SAMPLE THE PERIMETER OF THE PROPERTY.
AND I THINK YOU HAVE TO GO X AMOUNT OF FEET BEYOND THAT POINT TO SEE WHERE THAT SEEPAGE OF POLLUTANTS IS COMING IN.
THAT'S WHAT THEY USED TO HAVE IN THE OLDEN DAYS, LIKE A LARGE RUBBER BALLOON WHERE THEY USED TO FILL UP WITH GAS AND RESIDUAL WAS OIL.
AND IT'D SEEP INTO THE GROUND.
AND AS YOU KNOW, THOSE CARCINOGENS AND CAUSE PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD.
ALL RIGHT, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE GREEN GALVESTON PORTION? VERY GOOD AND I THINK WE.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY FOR PEOPLE FROM THE IDC DISCUSSIONS, BECAUSE I KNOW MY CONCERNS AND SOME OTHER PEOPLE'S CONCERNS WERE HANDING GIVING MONEY TO OUTSIDE GROUPS AND HOW COULD THAT BE MONITORED? AND WHAT WE DISCUSSED WAS REIMBURSING AFTER THE FACT.
SO I JUST, I WANTED TO BRING THAT UP SO THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THAT.
WHERE ARE YOU GETTING YOUR OTHER FUNDS FROM? AND DO YOU CURRENTLY HAVE THOSE FUNDS? YEAH, I CAN ANSWER THAT.
MAJORITY OF OUR WORK IS PHILANTHROPICALLY FUNDED AND WE DO HAVE THE FUNDS SECURED.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I CAN'T SEE EVERYONE.
MAYOR, I'VE GOT QUESTIONS FOR HIM.
JUST A GENERAL QUESTION SO SHIELD AND JONES SEEMS TO BE THE PRIORITY AS FAR AS THIS PRESENTATION GOES RIGHT NOW.
DO WE HAVE AFTER THIS THEN WHAT TYPE PLAN AS FAR AS OUR OTHER GREEN SPACES ACROSS THE ISLAND AND, YOU KNOW, INCREASE IN EQUITY ALL ACROSS OUR LAND AS FAR AS THESE PARKS AND WHATNOT? BECAUSE I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN OUR GREEN SPACES, IN THE PARKS THAT WE OFFER IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, BECAUSE I THINK THEY'RE BIG ENOUGH FOR YOUNG FAMILIES TO MOVE INTO NOT ONLY OUR URBAN CORE, BUT JUST GALVESTON OVERALL.
SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS MORE WE FIXED THESE UP THEN WHAT? YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE PLAN AFTER THESE? AND THEN ALSO KIND OF THE THINKING ON OFFSETTING THE COST.
I MEAN, WE COULD ALL WORK TOGETHER ON THIS.
THERE'S PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER THESE FOR, YOU KNOW, EVENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I KNOW YOU DON'T MAKE A HUGE PROFIT, BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE WAYS TO MAKE THESE EFFICIENT.
AND JUST THAT REQUIRES THINKING AND COLLABORATION, KIND OF WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T PUT IT INTO THIS PRESENTATION BECAUSE IT'S QUITE LONG.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE A PROPOSAL FOR A LARGER GREEN SPACE PLAN, WHICH IS LARGE SCALE ACROSS THE ENTIRE ISLAND.
[01:10:01]
LOOKING AT AND REASON BEING THERE IS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES AND WE FEEL WE HAVE A LONG RANGE PLAN AND EVALUATION THAT WE CAN TRIGGER THOSE IN A WAY THAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE, BOTH ECONOMICALLY AND FOR THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF EQUITY.ALSO, WE ALREADY HAVE FUNDS SECURED FOR THAT AS WELL THROUGH PHILANTHROPY TO DO THAT PLANNING.
AND WHAT WE FIRST WANTED TO DO WAS TO START DOWN THIS ROAD OF PHASE ONE WAS IDENTIFYING TO DEMONSTRATION PARKS TO DEMONSTRATE THAT CLIMATE READY AND 21ST CENTURY GREEN SPACE DEVELOPMENT SO THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN SEE THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
AND FOR YOU ALL, AS POLICYMAKERS AND THE CITY CAN SEE THE EFFICACY OF THIS KIND OF DESIGN AND HOW IT BENEFITS THE COMMUNITY HOLISTICALLY.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO START ON THAT WORK, THAT LARGER GREEN SPACE PLAN IN THE FALL, IF NOT SOONER.
BUT WE WANTED TO DO THESE IN TANDEM.
WE DIDN'T WANT TO PUT PARK DESIGNS OUT THERE AND THEN WALK AWAY BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN AND IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO GET THEM BUILT.
I WILL ALSO SAY THAT COST SHARING IN THE BEGINNING IDEALLY WOULD CONTINUE.
BUT THE GOAL HERE IS THAT WE CAN FUNDRAISE AS VISION GALVESTON, BETTER PARKS AND OTHERS.
THERE IS A LOT OF PRIVATE AND PHILANTHROPIC MONEY THAT IS INTERESTED IN FUNDING GREEN SPACE RIGHT NOW.
IF WE LOOK TO OUR NEIGHBORS UP IN HOUSTON, MAJORITY OF THOSE PARKS AS WELL AS IN AUSTIN ARE FUNDED PRIVATELY AND WE WILL WORK TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT MAINTENANCE STRUCTURE AND FUNDING LOOKS LIKE.
WE KNOW THAT'S ALWAYS A CONCERN WHEN WE'RE TALKING TO CITIES, WHO PAYS FOR THE MAINTENANCE LONG TERM? SO THINKING OF REALLY INTERESTING IDEAS ON HOW DO WE FUND THOSE THINGS, SUCH AS WHAT YOU JUST SPOKE ABOUT, WHICH IS EASEMENTS ON THE PROPERTY POTENTIALLY TO SUBSIDIZE COST OR GENERATE REVENUE.
WE'VE TALKED WITH THE PARK BOARD ABOUT REVENUE STREAMS AS WELL FROM THEIR EXISTING PARKS AND HOW DO WE HAVE SYNERGY? HOW DO WE HAVE CATALYTIC PARKS THAT THE PARK BOARD MANAGES ALONG WITH COMMUNITY PARKS? AND HOW DO WE USE TOURISM TO ALSO HELP BALANCE COMMUNITY PARKS? SO THERE ARE CERTAINLY A LOT OF PLANS MOVING FORWARD, BUT WANTED TO FOCUS TODAY ON HOLDING THE TENSION BETWEEN SHORT TERM WINS AND LONG TERM VISION.
SO, SO HAPPY TO AND WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A LARGER CONVERSATION AND FOCUS WORKSHOP ABOUT GREEN IN THE FUTURE.
IF I DON'T HEAR ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON GREEN GALVESTON, LET'S MOVE.
I THINK YOU'RE MOVING TO YOUR FINAL PHASE NOW.
YES, I'M GOING TO ZIP THROUGH IT.
I KNOW THAT IT'S LONG SO INCUBATE GALVESTON IS AN INITIATIVE THAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON.
AND THE PURPOSE OF OF THIS INITIATIVE IS TO BRING TOGETHER PILLARS OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN GALVESTON.
WE WANT TO CREATE AN ACCESSIBLE, COORDINATED, PURPOSEFUL AND SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM.
AND WHAT WE MEAN BY THAT IS THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS WORKING ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN GALVESTON.
WE WANT TO HELP AND SUPPORT THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND ATTRACTION OF THAT TALENT AND CAPITAL TO THE ISLAND.
THIS DOVETAILS WITH OUR OTHER INITIATIVES OF QUALITY AMENITIES AND SOMETHING COUNCILMAN QUIROGA SAID IS WE NEED TO CREATE BOTH CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE JOBS.
BUT THOSE THAT CAN BE HIGHER PAYING FOR THOSE FAMILIES AND FOR THOSE RESIDENTS TO JOIN IN.
THIS IS A COLLECTIVE INITIATIVE THAT INCLUDES NOT ONLY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT GISD THROUGH THEIR INCUBATOR PROGRAM, THE ION OUT OF HOUSTON, WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT IN A MOMENT, THE GALVESTON REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, VISION GALVESTON, THE CITY OF GALVESTON, BLACKSTONE, WHICH IS A LARGE PE FIRM THAT HAS FUNDED SOME MONEY THROUGH UTMB, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY, GALVESTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP AND UTMB HEALTH.
SO THERE ARE MANY PARTNERS INVOLVED WITH THIS INITIATIVE, ONE OF THOSE BEING THE ION.
VISION GALVESTON HAS BROKERED A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ION.
FOR THOSE OF YOU NOT FAMILIAR, THAT IS A LARGE SCALE INNOVATION AND ACCELERATOR HUB IN HOUSTON, WHICH IS PRIMARILY FUNDED BY RICE AND PRIVATE SECTOR.
WE THEY WERE AWARDED A ONE POINT FIVE MILLION DOLLAR EDA GRANT TO DEVELOP AN ACCELERATOR HUB.
AND WITH OUR SUPPORT, THEY ARE GOING TO ALSO PULL RESOURCES DOWN TO GALVESTON, WHICH ALLOWS US TO CONNECT INTO THAT GALVESTON HOUSTON TALENT PIPELINE AND ALSO BRING SOME OF THEIR ENTREPRENEURSHIP RESOURCES.
IN THIS DURING THE FALL OF THIS YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO WORK TOWARDS UNCOVERING THAT ENTREPRENEUR CULTURE IN GALVESTON.
WE KNOW WE HAVE STARTUP COMPANIES TO MID-RANGE COMPANIES.
WE KNOW WE HAVE CAPITAL AND VCS HERE ON THE ISLAND AND WE KNOW WE HAVE RESOURCES AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL BUSINESS FOCUS WITH THE CHAMBER, GDP AND OTHERS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE HOSTING AN ABCS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP THREE PART SERIES.
THIS CAN BE JOINED BY ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY.
THE FOCUS WILL BE WHAT IS AN ENTREPRENEUR? HOW DO YOU BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR RESILIENCE IN A COASTAL CITY? WE FELT THAT WE SHOULD DEFINITELY FOCUS ON THAT COASTAL RESILIENCE ASPECT.
WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE'RE POSITIONED TO BE A QUOTE UNQUOTE, TECH HUB IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE OF PROGRAM SOFTWARE.
BUT WE CAN BE THE EXPERTS IN DISASTER RESILIENCE.
SO HOW DO WE HARNESS THAT AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
[01:15:02]
THIS WILL CULMINATE IN A COLLECTIVE INNOVATION HACKATHON.WE'LL BE INVITING FIVE TEAMS TO FORM GROUPS.
WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE CITY PARTICIPATION IN THE FORM OF AN ENGINEER JOINING A TEAM.
WE WOULD ALSO LOVE TO HAVE A PROBLEM SET PUT FORTH BY THE CITY, SUCH AS INFRASTRUCTURE, DRAINAGE, WATER SALINATION, BEACH RE NOURISHMENT, WHATEVER YOU ALL FEEL WOULD BE AN INTERESTING CONCEPT.
AND BY NO MEANS WILL THESE TEAMS SOLVE THAT IN A TWO TO THREE DAY HACKATHON.
BUT IT IS A GREAT WAY TO UNEARTH TALENT IN GALVESTON AND ALSO A WAY TO COALESCE THOSE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP TOGETHER.
SO WE'RE WORKING WITH MICHELLE AND HER TEAM ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HOW WE CAN PARTICIPATE IN THAT WAY.
LASTLY, I JUST WANTED TO FOCUS REALLY QUICKLY ON ENGAGE GALVESTON.
IT IS WHAT VISION GALVESTON WAS ROOTED IN.
WE WERE ROOTED IN COMMUNITY VOICE AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE COMMUNITY AND BE A CONDUIT BETWEEN THE CITY, THE COMMUNITY AND OTHERS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE PUT FORTH, WHICH HOPEFULLY I THINK ALL OF YOU HAVE RECEIVED AND HOPEFULLY HAD A FEW MOMENTS TO LOOK AT IS THIS LARGE SCALE MEASURE GALVESTON REPORT USING METRICS AND GOAL SETTING TO ADVANCE COMMUNITY ASPIRATIONS.
WE HAVE A, IT RANGES FROM TOPICS FROM COMMUNITY CONTEXT TO HOUSING ALL THE WAY TO HEALTH CARE AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
THE GOAL WAS TO FIRST PHASE HAVE AN AGGREGATE AND CREDIBLE DATA REPORT THAT WE COULD PUBLISH.
PHASE TWO IS HOW DO WE GET THIS IN THE HANDS OF THE COMMUNITY IN A MORE ROBUST WAY? START A DIALOG.
WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD? WHAT'S GOING ON AT A MACRO AND MICRO LEVEL? AND THEN PHASE THREE, AS WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER CITIES SUCH AS HOUSTON AND IN SAN ANTONIO, WITH UNDERSTANDING HOUSTON AND SA 2020, WHICH I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO CHECK OUT, IS THIS LARGE SCALE METRICS PROJECT WHERE CITY LEADERS COME TOGETHER TO SET SPECIFIC GOALS AROUND THESE SPECIFIC TOPICS.
AND THEN LASTLY, WE'VE CREATED A COUNCIL DISTRICT INTERACTIVE MAP.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO LET ME PUT THIS UP ON THE SCREEN, BUT I'M GOING TO SEND THIS TO YOU ALL AFTER THE CALL.
AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE WORKING WITH MARISSA AND BARBARA SANDERSON.
IDEA BEING THAT WHEN YOU SCROLL OVER A DISTRICT, IT WILL POP UP GRAPHICS THAT SHOW YOU HOUSING STATS, DEMOGRAPHIC STATS, WHO YOUR CITY COUNCILPERSON IS, WHO YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT PERSON IS, AND YOU WILL ALSO, AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER, HAVE THE ABILITY TO COMMENT.
SO YOU WILL DRAG THESE ICONS THAT YOU SEE AT THE TOP THAT SAY BIKE PATHS OR PARKS OR COMMERCIAL AND MAKE COMMENTS, LETTING YOU ALL KNOW WHAT OUR COMMUNITIES MEMBERS SAYING AT A NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL.
I THINK WE NEED TO WORK AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CLARIFY THAT THIS IS NOT A EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
AS MAYOR BROWN, YOU POINTED OUT.
SO REALLY WANT TO WORK WITH YOU ALL ON HOW WE CAN HELP FACILITATE AN ENGAGEMENT TOOL AND WHERE THAT WOULD BE HOSTED AND HOW IT WOULD BEST BE USED.
WE'VE USED THIS SOCIAL PINPOINT SOFTWARE ON OUR PARKS WORK AND IT WAS REALLY WELL RECEIVED.
THIS IS ALSO BEEN USED IN MANY OTHER CITIES, SO WE CAN SHOW YOU EXAMPLES OF THAT AS WELL.
SO JUST TO TO ROUND OUT THIS PRESENTATION, WHAT WE FEEL VISION GALVESTON IS PROVIDING IS A LONG TERM VISION AND A CONTINUOUS CONTIGUOUS VISION, CAPACITY BUILDING TOPIC SPECIFIC EXPERTISE SOME OF WHO YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO INTERACT WITH TODAY.
POLICY RESEARCH, WE'RE ALREADY DOING SOME POLICY RESEARCH IN SOME AREAS AND WE'RE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THAT THIRD PARTY EXPERIENCE AND RESOURCE TO YOU ALL GRANT WRITING CAPABILITY.
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF WRITING SOME PARKS GRANT WITH YOUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT IN OTHER AREAS AS WELL.
AND THEN PHILANTHROPIC, FEDERAL AND PRIVATE FUNDRAISING.
WE ARE ROOTED BY PHILANTHROPY AND WE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A CONTINUED PIPELINE OF PHILANTHROPIC DOLLARS TO SUPPORT THIS WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH CITY SUPPORT.
SO THE QUESTION THAT WE WANT TO END WITH, WITH EVERYONE TODAY IS HOW DO WE WORK TOGETHER FOR GALVESTON? HOW DOES A NONPROFIT LIKE VISION GALVESTON THAT REPRESENTS COMMUNITY VOICE WORK WITH THE CITY TO IDENTIFY PRIORITIES AND PARTNERSHIP AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, COMMON GROUND? WE DON'T AT ALL ASSUME THAT EVERY ONE OF YOU AGREES WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE PRESENTED TODAY OR IN THE PAST.
BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT RESONATES WITH YOU AS COUNCIL.
WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE CAN PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION OR DATA ON? AND HOW CAN WE MOVE TOGETHER AS PARTNERS? YOU KNOW, THIS IS MEANT TO BE A CONVERSATION OPENER, AND OUR HOPE IS THAT THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF MANY WORKSHOPS.
THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT WAS PRESENTED TODAY, AND EACH OF THEM DESERVE THEIR OWN AMOUNT OF TIME AND DETAIL, AS MANY OF YOU HAVE ASKED SOME DETAILED QUESTIONS.
SO I HOPE THAT THIS GAVE YOU A BROAD OVERVIEW.
AND I THINK THAT THE NEXT STEPS FROM HERE WOULD BE TO TRY TO CONFIRM SOME SHARED PRIORITIES BY THE END OF MAY, IDENTIFY SOME ADDITIONAL DATA THAT YOU ALL, AS COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF, WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND SCHEDULE SOME SPECIFIC WORKSHOPS THAT DIVE INTO THE DETAILS OF HOUSING, GREEN SPACE, ET CETERA.
TAKE A BREATH AND HOPE THAT THAT DIDN'T OVERWHELM AND DIDN'T GO TOO LONG, I REALIZE IT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION TO GET ACROSS.
[01:20:02]
SO I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.LET'S OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL NOW.
INPUT COUNCIL ON THIS THAT YOU MAY HAVE? I HAVE A QUESTION, DR. BROWN.
WE KEEP USING THE TERM MIDTOWN.
WHAT AREA DOES THAT ENCOMPASS? USE THE TERM MIDTOWN, IN WHAT SENSE? I MEAN, I THINK WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON THE URBAN CORE, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOUSING PRICES, DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE ONLY FOCUSED IN THAT AREA.
BUT AREAS BEHIND THE SEA WALL ESSENTIALLY IS HOW I WOULD FRAME IT.
BUT I THINK THAT'S UP FOR DISCUSSION.
WHERE DO WE WANT TO FOCUS IN TERMS OF PARKS, HOUSING, QUALITY AMENITIES? WELL, ISN'T THERE A LAND AVAILABLE ON THE EASTERN AND WESTERN THE.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY WHAT IS THE MOST ELIGIBLE PROPERTY FOR DEVELOPMENT, WHETHER THAT BE SMALL INFILL SITES OR LARGER SCALE.
THERE ARE SOME SITES THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY ON THE TAX ROLLS THAT I THINK COULD BE IN PLAY, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE THAT DECISION TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY.
AND TO THAT THAT WOULD BE OUR APPROACH.
BILL, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, SIR? NO.
I THINK AT ONE TIME ON THE EAST END, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TURNED OVER 125 ACRES AND I THINK THERE WERE SOME DEVELOPERS AT ONE TIME WANTED TO ACCESS THAT.
SO WHY CONCENTRATE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ISLAND IF WE COULD SPREAD IT OUT A LITTLE BIT AND PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT YOU NEED BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT PLENTY OF LAND.
I THINK SO MANY ACRES WERE ELIGIBLE TO BE BUILT UPON.
IT'S BEEN YEARS SINCE I LOOKED INTO IT.
MARIE? I GUESS MY QUESTION WOULD BE, WHY ARE WE WANTING TO TURN OVER CITY FUNCTIONS TO AN OUTSIDE GROUP? I DON'T ANTICIPATE US PERFORMING CITY FUNCTIONS.
I THINK WHAT WE WANT TO PROVIDE IS PRIVATE CAPITAL, PHILANTHROPIC CAPITAL AND A STRATEGIC CAPACITY TO YOU ALL.
WE CERTAINLY DO NOT PRESUME TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS ON HOW WE MOVE FORWARD.
BUT I DO THINK THAT WE DID A LOT OF WORK IN TERMS OF TRYING TO UNDERSTAND COMMUNITY NEEDS AND CONTINUING TO FILL THAT DATA GAP.
AND SO I THINK WE WANT TO WORK TOGETHER RATHER THAN I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND YOU ALL'S DIRECTIVES SO THAT WE'RE HELPING TO SUPPORT THOSE DIRECTIVES.
WELL, I'M STILL WAITING TO SAY YOU WERE GOING TO GET TO ME THE ZIP CODES OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE TALKED TO, BECAUSE I STILL FEEL THAT THIS WAS A VERY POINTED STUDY.
I DO NOT THINK IT REPRESENTED THE ENTIRE ISLAND.
AND I DO REALLY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH TURNING OVER CITY FUNCTIONS THAT WE NOW MENTIONED THE RDA OVER TO AN OUTSIDE GROUP.
YEAH, I HAVE ISSUES WITH THAT.
LET ME BE CLEAR ON THE RDA AND WE'LL, I DON'T WANT TO GET IT OFF ON A TANGENT BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO BE ON OUR AGENDA COMING UP.
BUT THE RDA IS A CITY COMMITTEE.
THERE IS NO INTENTION OF TURNING THIS OVER TO VISION GALVESTON.
THAT'S JUST [INAUDIBLE] WILL SERVE IF COUNCIL WANTS IT TO BE A CLEARINGHOUSE FOR PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE CITY.
AND HELP VET THAT THOSE PROJECTS AND BRING TO COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION FROM THAT COMMITTEE.
JOHN MANLOVE CHAIRS THAT COMMITTEE RIGHT NOW.
AND THAT WOULD BE THAT DIRECTION ON HOW WE WANT THE RDA TO FUNCTION WILL COME FROM COUNCIL.
BILL, YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP AGAIN, SIR? YEAH WHO ARE GOING TO BE THE MAIN DEVELOPERS OF THESE PROJECTS? IT'S NOT DETERMINED YET.
SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO EVALUATE SEVERAL DEVELOPERS TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHO EVERYONE FEELS COMFORTABLE WITH ON THAT DEVELOPMENT.
WE'VE TALKED TO ABOUT FIVE DIFFERENT DEVELOPERS SO FAR, BUT I DON'T THINK WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD ON ANYTHING UNTIL WE HAVE MORE PROJECT FEASIBILITY AND CAN UNDERSTAND WHO'S BEST SUITED TO DO THAT DEVELOPMENT.
BECAUSE I LIKE TO SEE A DETAILED LIST OF WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE, WHAT ARE THEY, YOU KNOW, THEIR BACKGROUNDS, WHAT THEIR EXPERIENCE IN BUILDING THESE TYPE THINGS.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO GO.
BUT I WOULD SAY BEFORE WE START ANY OF THIS CONSTRUCTION THAT EVERYTHING BE LOOKED AT BEGIN WITH, BEFORE YOU START TO BUILD.
WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE THERE, THE DRAINAGE RIGHT NOW, WE'RE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH DRAINAGE ALL OVER THE ISLAND, HOPEFULLY IT CAN BE TAKEN CARE OF.
WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS OVER OUR CRIME RATE AND OUR DRUG RATE
[01:25:06]
THAT'S PRESENTLY EXISTING.EVERY TIME I LOOK ON FACEBOOK, SOMEBODY IS GETTING ROBBED AND SOMEBODY HAS BEEN BUSTED FOR DRUGS OR NOW SOMEBODY SOME PEOPLE GETTING SHOT.
SO WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE PROBLEMS FIRST BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VISION GALVESTON AND THANKS, KEITH, FOR COMING OUT, GIVING THE PRESENTATION.
IT'S GOOD STUFF TO SEE THE COMMUNITY.
AND IT'S ALSO GOOD TO SEE THE DATA SHOWING YOU WHERE WE'RE HEADED OR WHERE YOU KNOW, WHERE WE NEED TO GO.
ONE OF THE, JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS AND A FEW QUESTIONS JUST MIXED IN.
ALL THESE ISSUES THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHETHER WE'RE TRYING TO INCREASE WAGES ON THE ISLAND OR YOU'RE TRYING TO BRING IN NEW CORPORATIONS, WHICH I'D LIKE TO END UP WITH ALL THAT, BECAUSE REALLY TO GET TO THAT POINT, YOU KNOW, I'M A BIG BELIEVER NOW THAT IF YOU INVEST IN THE QUALITY OF LIVING, WHICH IS A LOT OF THESE IDEAS AND GOALS, THAT KIND OF BRINGS AND SOLVE SOME ISSUES THAT WERE JUST MENTIONED.
BUT ALSO IT BRINGS, YOU KNOW, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WHEN YOU INVEST IN THE QUALITY OF LIVING, WHEN YOU TRY TO GET WORKING CLASS PEOPLE OR WORKING FAMILIES TO WANT TO LIVE HERE.
THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE THE BIG CORPORATIONS.
BIG COMPANIES ARE LOOKING FOR IS, YOU KNOW, THEY MAY LOOK FOR TAX INCENTIVE, TAX ABATEMENTS, WHATEVER.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR THE QUALITY OF LIVING IN THAT COMMUNITY BEFORE THEY DO DECIDE TO MOVE THERE.
YOU KNOW AND I DO LIKE THE PLANS THAT ALL HAVE FOR THE IDEAS I'M SORRY, MORE THE IDEAS.
AND I WOULD LIKE, YOU KNOW, AND I'LL CHALLENGE MYSELF AND, YOU KNOW, A VISION GALVESTON AND THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT KNOW WE'VE GOT ALL THESE IDEAS THROWN AT US.
SOME WE AGREE WITH, SOME WE DON'T.
SOME OF YOU MIGHT NOT AGREE WITH WHATEVER, BUT, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE INCORPORATE THIS INTO OUR OVERALL PLAN OF WHERE WE WANT TO BE IN ONE YEAR AS GALVESTON, FIVE YEARS, 10 YEARS, 20 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD? BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE REALLY FACING TODAY.
YOU KNOW, IT'S ALMOST LIKE GALVESTON, YOU KNOW, WHAT DIRECTION ARE WE HEADED HERE? BUT WE'VE KIND OF GOT SOME IDEAS TO GUIDE US IN THAT DIRECTION.
BUT HOW DO WE NOW INCORPORATE THIS INTO AN OVERALL PLAN OF ACTION? YOU KNOW, WHAT'S OUR SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM, I GUESS, IS WHAT I'M GETTING.
CORRECT, JOHN? YEAH, THE MAIN THING I THINK I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO KEITH AND THE TEAM THAT YOU PUT TOGETHER, VISION GALVESTON, AND I THINK IT'S DOING SOME GREAT THINGS.
AND IT'S EXCITING TO SEE ALL THESE IDEAS.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T MADE DECISIONS ON ANY OF THIS STUFF, BUT IT'S GREAT TO SEE ALL OF THESE IDEAS COME IN FRONT OF US AND SEE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE.
AND I THINK WE KIND OF POINTED OUT A COUPLE OF THINGS ABOUT OUTSOURCING, SOME OF THE STUFF.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE AS A CITY AND OUR CITY STAFF, WE ARE BUSY WITH SO MUCH STUFF IN THE CITY RIGHT NOW THAT WE MORE THAN WE'VE EVER DONE IN THE PAST WITH INFRASTRUCTURE, AND NEW PROJECTS COME ONLINE.
AND SO IT'S GREAT TO SEE THE CITY REALLY FOCUS ON THOSE THINGS.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE CAN OUTSOURCE SOME OF THIS STUFF.
WHEN IT COMES TO PARKS AND IN HOUSING, THE MORE IDEAS WE GET BROUGHT TO US, THE BETTER.
YOU KNOW, JUST THE STUFF I'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS WITH SOME OF THE PARKS, JONES AND SHIELD.
I MEAN, WE ARE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THESE THINGS FOR THREE AND FOUR YEARS NOW.
AND WE'VE MOVED FAR FURTHER JUST IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS WITH THE HELP OF VISION GALVESTON AND SOME OF THESE IDEAS THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR CITY STAFF.
AND THAT'S NOT TO SAY ANYTHING BAD ABOUT CITY STAFF.
I MEAN, LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE HAD SO MANY PROJECTS GOING ON IN THIS TOWN THAT WE ONLY HAVE SO MANY SO MUCH STAFF TO HANDLE THAT STUFF.
SO IT'S GREAT TO SEE SOME HELP FROM THE OUTSIDE SECTOR AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT I'M TOTALLY ON BOARD HERE.
I LOVE WHAT I'VE SEEN SO FAR AND KEEP BRINGING THAT STUFF BACK TO US.
YOU KNOW, I'D LOOK AT VISION GALVESTON AS A RESOURCE FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND FOR THIS CITY.
AS A CITY COUNCILMAN, AS MAYOR, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT ALL ASPECTS OF ANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE WELL DOCUMENTED DATA THAT BRINGS IT TO US THAT MAY HELP US MAKE DECISIONS HERE AT THE CITY.
GALVESTON HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR QUITE A LONG TIME.
THEY HAVE FUNDED THROUGH LOCAL PHILANTHROPIC FUNDING.
THEY HAVE CONSULTANTS THAT ARE TOP NOTCH AND THEY'RE BRINGING IDEAS FORWARD TO US FOR US TO EVALUATE.
THEY'RE ALSO BRINGING IDEAS FOR FUNDING AND HOW FUNDING CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED FOR SOME OF THESE PROJECTS.
BECAUSE EACH TIME I TALK WITH THEM AND THEY NOT ONLY BRING IDEAS THAT WE POSSIBLY COULD CONSIDER, BUT THEY ALSO BRING AREAS OF FUNDING AND HOW THIS COULD BE FUNDED AND NOT UTILIZED TAX DOLLARS FOR THAT.
[01:30:02]
AND THAT'S WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY, I THINK, FOR US.SO LET'S YOU KNOW, PERSONALLY, I THINK THAT THEY'RE A RESOURCE.
I APPRECIATE ALL THAT THEY HAVE DONE.
AND AS PROJECTS COME UP, AS WE EVALUATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AS THEY BRING FORWARD PROJECTS, WE'LL SEE TAKE THEIR INFORMATION AND TAKING IT INTO CONSIDERATION AS WE MAKE DECISIONS.
ANY OTHER THOUGHTS, COUNCIL? VERY GOOD, KEITH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, APPRECIATE IT.
I APPRECIATE THE TIME AND THANK ALL YOUR OTHER ATTENDEES CAME WITH YOU.
[4.B. Update Of The Residential Parking Ordinance]
ALL RIGHT.ITEM FOR THE UPDATE OF THE RESIDENTIAL PARKING ORDINANCE COUNCIL.
THIS WAS A TOPIC THAT WE HAD AT OUR LAST MEETING AND GENERATED A LOT OF LIVELY DISCUSSION AND EVEN LIVELY DISCUSSION OVER THE LAST WEEK OR TWO.
WE HAD TASKED TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA AND REQUESTED THAT STAFF GIVE US AN UPDATE AND LET US KNOW WHERE WE'RE HEADING WITH THIS.
I'M GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO DAN BUCKLEY.
DAN, YOU'VE BEEN PUTTING A LOT OF ATTENTION TO THIS.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO JUST FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC, THAT MIGHT BE ALL THIS IS JUST TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE RESIDENTIAL PARKING AREAS ARE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
LET'S SEE IF I CAN SHARE MY SCREEN AND DO IT SUCCESSFULLY.
CAN Y'ALL SEE THE SCREEN? YES.
WELL, I WANTED TO GET IN PRESENTATION MODE, BUT AGAIN, LET'S SEE IF WE GOT IT HERE.
NO, WE'LL RUN WITH THIS SCREEN.
LIKE I SAID, THERE'S EIGHT RESIDENTIAL PARKING AREAS, ABOUT 75 PERCENT OF THEM INCORPORATE TWO GENERAL AREAS, ONE BEING UTMB AND THE OTHER BEING A SEAWALL.
THERE'S TWO SEPARATE AREAS THAT DEAL AROUND BALL HIGH AND GALVESTON COLLEGE.
BUT THIS AREA IS THE FIRST UTMB DISTRICT.
IT'S BORDERED BY UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD, 14TH STREET, WINNIE AND MARKET.
THE NEXT AREA ADJACENT TO UTMB IS EAST AREA EAST, END TO OUR PARKING AREA.
IT'S GOT A MUCH BROADER DEFINITION.
AS YOU CAN SEE, IT STARTS AT HARBORSIDE DOWN TO ABOUT 19TH STREET.
NOW ON THE SOUTH, IT GOES TO BROADWAY AND IT'S IN THE AREA THAT'S ABOVE THAT, THAT'S THE WINNIE POST OFFICE.
THAT'S THE AREA THAT'S IN THE UTMB PARKING AREA.
SO YOU OVERLAY THE TWO, THAT'S A VERY LARGE AREA SURROUNDING UTMB, WHERE THE RESIDENTIAL PARKING IS INSTALLED.
THE NEXT AREA IS A SEAWALL PARKING DISTRICT.
IT RUNS FROM 7TH STREET TO 59TH STREET.
THERE'S A COUPLE OF CAR ROUTES IN THERE, WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT IN A MINUTE, BUT IT GENERALLY FOLLOWS THOSE BLOCKS THAT ARE ADJACENT TO THE SEAWALL.
THIS DISTRICT WAS DESIGNED TO TRY TO PREVENT THE FLOW OF PEOPLE FROM THE SEAWALL WHERE WE IMPLEMENTED A PAID PARKING YEARS AGO INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND I THINK THE IDEA WAS TO MAKE IT A COUPLE OF BLOCKS OFF THE SEAWALL SO PEOPLE WOULD NOT WANT TO INCONVENIENCE THE RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA BY PARKING THERE WHERE THEY COULD PARK FOR FREE.
THAT'S THE MOST BROAD RESIDENTIAL AREA BECAUSE IT SPANS A GOOD PORTION OF THE SEAWALL.
THE NEXT AREA, IT'S A PLEASURE PIER.
YOU SAW THAT AS A CARVE OUT IN THE SEAWALL PARK AREA.
IT'S DIRECTLY AROUND THE PLEASURE PIER, RUNS FROM 23RD STREET TO 28TH STREET, OFF THE SEAWALL AND IN AND AROUND THE AREAS OF MCGUIRE DENTON, YOU CAN SEE THERE.
AND THEN THE PLEASURE PIER PARKING, WHICH IS ACROSS THE STREET ON THE SEAWALL.
NEXT AREA IS SAN JACINTO NEIGHBORHOOD.
AGAIN, IT IS ADJACENT TO THE SEAWALL JUST OFF OF 18TH STREET.
IT'S A VERY SMALL REALLY THREE STREETS DEALS ON 20TH STREET AND ON 19TH STREET AND AVENUE P, RIGHT OFF THE SEAWALL.
THE NEXT AREA IS GALVESTON COLLEGE AREA, AND IT'S PARKING THAT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD GENERALLY SURROUNDING GALVESTON COLLEGE.
IT DEALS WITH TO TRY TO PROVIDE THE RESIDENTS THE ABILITY TO PARK AT THEIR HOUSES AND NOT BE INUNDATED BY STUDENTS ATTENDING THE COLLEGE.
THIS, AGAIN, IS A REALLY AN OFFSHOOT OF THE UTMB PARKING.
THESE ARE THE THREE STREETS THAT ARE MOST ADJACENT TO UTMB AND THE LINDALE AREA.
SO THERE'S A RESIDENTIAL PARKING IN THOSE AREAS.
ALSO, BALL HIGH RESIDENTIAL AREA IS TO THE EAST OF BALL HIGH THERE BETWEEN 40TH AND
[01:35:05]
41ST STREET ON AVENUE O AND BORDERED BY AVENUE O AND AVENUE P.AS YOU CAN TELL THOSE AT THE TOP RIGHT OF THE SCREEN OR REALLY THE UTMB PARKING AREAS.
THAT INCLUDES THE THE LINDALE AREA AND THEN THE EAST INTO OUR AREA AS WELL AS UTMB PARKING THE YELLOW'S ENTIRE THE SEAWALL PARKING AREA AND THEN THE THE RED BLUE AND THE GREEN OR THE OTHER DEFINITIVE AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN LAID OUT FOR PARKING.
SO WITH THAT SHARED AND GIVES EVERYBODY SOME PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WHAT I WANTED TO DO IS JUST BRING YOU AND I THINK THIS AGENDA ITEM DEALS WITH JUST PROVIDING Y'ALL AN UPDATE.
THIS HAS BEEN AN ITEM THAT'S BEEN VETTED BY COUNCIL NUMEROUS TIMES.
AND TO BE QUITE HONEST, WHEN WE GOT BACK TO THE BRINGING SOMETHING TO COUNCIL LAST TIME, IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT THE ORDINANCE LACKED DEFINITION.
IT PROBABLY LACKED CLARITY IN IT, AND IT DIDN'T MEET THE OBJECTIVES OF COUNCIL.
AND AS STAFF BEGAN TO LOOK AT IT, I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE PERFECT ORDINANCE, TO SAY THE LEAST.
AND SO WHAT I TOOK UPON MYSELF WAS GO OUT AND LOOK AT OTHER ORDINANCE AROUND THE STATE AND AREAS THAT HAVE RESIDENTIAL PARKING.
ONE IN PARTICULAR THAT I REALLY LIKED WAS SAM MARCOS'S.
I THOUGHT IT WAS IT WAS VERY CLEAR IS A GOOD WELL THOUGHT OUT AND WELL ORGANIZED ORDINANCE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO SAY THEIRS IS PERFECT, OURS ISN'T.
BUT THERE'S PIECES OF THEIRS THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE AND TRY TO MOVE IT INTO OURS.
PROBABLY THE THE MOST IMPORTANT AND MOST CRITICAL OF EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IN THIS IS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF DEFINITIONS IN THE ORDINANCE BECAUSE THAT SEEMS TO BE THE PROBLEM WHEN WE WRITE ORDINANCES, AS SOON AS WE'RE DONE WITH THEM, AS SOON AS WE DRAFT THEM, PEOPLE COME BACK AND SAY, WELL, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? AND HOW DO YOU? WHAT'S THE DEFINITION OF A VEHICLE? WELL, YOU KNOW, QUITE HONESTLY, I THINK YOU TALK TO FIVE DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
YOU'RE GOING TO GET FIVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS OF WHAT A VEHICLE IS.
SO WITHIN THIS ORDINANCE, WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK TO YOU GUYS IN APRIL WITH A DRAFT, IT'S GOING TO ADDRESS MY DEFINITION OF WHAT A VEHICLE IS.
WE'RE GOING TO BRING SOME CLARIFICATION, BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS I'VE HAD ALL ALONG IS HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH SERVICE VEHICLES? YOU KNOW, IN OUR OLD ORDINANCE, THEY HAD TO HAVE A VISITOR'S PASS.
WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK IF SOMEBODY IS PROVIDING SERVICE TO A HOUSE IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA, IF THEY'RE IN A SERVICE TRUCK, I THINK THAT BE EVIDENCE THAT THERE ARE SERVICE VEHICLE.
AND QUITE HONESTLY, THAT'S HOW SAN MARCOS DEALS WITH IT.
SO, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE EXCLUDED FROM THE RESIDENTIAL PARKING AREA.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S GOING TO BE AN ABUSER.
EVERYTHING WE DO, THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT'S TRYING TO GET AROUND THE SYSTEM.
BUT MOST PEOPLE WANT TO COMPLY AND MOST PEOPLE DO COMPLY.
AND SO WE NEED TO WRITE OUR ORDINANCES FOR THE 99 PERCENT AND NOT THE ONE PERCENT.
WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE CLARITY RELATED TO WHAT'S A PERMIT AND WHAT'S TO PASS.
THE PERMITS ARE GOING TO BE THE PERMANENT STICKERS THAT GO ON THE WINDSHIELDS FOR THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES WITHIN THE RESIDENTIAL PARKING AREAS.
THE PASSES ARE GOING TO BE THOSE THAT WOULD BE TEMPORARY.
WE'VE CALLED THEM GUEST PASSES OR WE CALL THEM TEMPORARY PASSES.
AND THE PROPOSED RULE THAT WE'LL BE BRINGING YOU THE ORDINANCE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PROPOSING TALKS ABOUT BUSINESSES THAT OPERATE IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS AND HOW THEY, TOO, SHOULD BE PROVIDED SOME PARKING.
THEY CAN'T MONOPOLIZE THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THEY CAN CERTAINLY AS TAXPAYERS IN THAT AREA SHOULD BE PRIVY TO SOME PARKING.
AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO BRING RECOMMENDATIONS FORWARD FOR THAT.
WE'RE ADDRESSING CONSTRUCTION.
WE'RE GOING TO REFER BACK TO THE LICENSE TO USE THAT SOMEBODY CAN GET A LICENSE TO USE IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING CONSTRUCTION ON THEIR HOUSE AND AND, YOU KNOW, BLOCK A PARKING SPACE OR TO IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE.
BUT THEY WE ALREADY HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE FOR THAT.
SO THERE'S NO REASON TO CLOUD OUR ORDINANCES WITH THINGS THAT ARE ALREADY ADDRESSED SOMEWHERE ELSE.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE BY ORDINANCE THAT SHORT TERM RENTALS CAN HAVE UP TO TWO PARKING SPACES COUNTED TOWARD THEIR SHORT TERM RENTAL.
NOW, UNDERSTANDING THAT IS RELATED TO THEIR OCCUPANCY AND HOW THEY MEET THE THE REQUIREMENTS IN THE LDRS, IT'S NOT HAS REALLY NOTHING TO DO WITH SHORT TERM RENTALS.
BUT SINCE THEY CAN ONLY COUNT TWO TOWARD THEIR OCCUPANCY BY AN ALTERNATE CITY ORDINANCE, IT PROBABLY IS APPROPRIATE FOR THAT TO BE THE SAME TWO THAT WOULD BE AWARDED IN RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMITS.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE GIVING IT A LOT OF THOUGHT.
WE'RE UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR CONCERNS AND COMMENTS WE RECEIVED LAST TIME WHEN WE DISCUSSED THE TOPIC.
AND I THINK IN APRIL YOU'LL RECEIVE AN ORDINANCE THAT IS MORE TO YOUR LIKING.
I THINK IT'LL BRING MORE CLARITY, FAR MORE CLARITY THAN THAN WHAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST.
AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO WRITE THE ORDINANCE TO THE 99 PERCENT OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COMPLY AND PROVIDE ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS TO ADDRESS THE ONE PERCENT THAT DON'T COMPLY.
[01:40:02]
VERY GOOD, DAN, THANK YOU.MARIE? ONCE AGAIN, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THERE IS NO PROTECTION FOR THE BEACH FRONT AREAS IN MY NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO WE WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT BECAUSE THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE GETTING OVERRUN WITH THE PEOPLE THAT AREN'T PARKING IN TOWN AND IT CREATES SAFETY HAZARDS.
AND IT'S TIME THAT WE DO SOMETHING TO ADDRESS THAT.
DAVID? YEAH, YOU KNOW, A KIND OF CORRELATED TOPIC THERE, DAN.
AS WE'VE NOTICED BEFORE, THE THE LOCATION OF RESTRICTED PARKING BLOCKS IN THE EAST END IS KIND OF HAPHAZARD.
YOU KNOW, MOST OF THEM WERE BROUGHT ABOUT BY PEOPLE ON THAT BLOCK COMPLAINING AND THOSE BLOCKS BEING INCLUDED.
BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF BLOCKS JUST SPOTTED IN THERE WHERE THERE DON'T SEEM TO BE PARKING PROBLEMS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE SHORT TERM RENTALS AND NOT CLOSE ENOUGH TO UTMB AND I'M NOT SURE THE RESIDENTS WOULD WANT A RESIDENTIAL PERMIT REQUIREMENT FOR THEIR BLOCK.
ARE WE GOING TO TALK ABOUT STANDARDIZING THAT, MAKING AN ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD TO OUR RESIDENTIAL OR MAKING AT LEAST MAKING THOSE BLOCKS CONTIGUOUS? I WILL TELL YOU BY DEFINITION, IN THE PROPOSAL THAT WE'RE DRAFTING, WE'RE DEFINING A BLOCK AS THE BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET, ONE INTERSECTION TO ANOTHER INTERSECTION.
SO THAT'S DEFINED AS A BLOCK AND HAVE A PROVISION IN THERE WHERE A BLOCK COULD WITHDRAW FROM RESIDENTIAL PARKING WITH A MAJORITY OF THE THE BLOCK WISHING TO DO SO WELL.
SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO TAKE, SAY, THE ENTIRE AREA OF THE EAST END BETWEEN 14TH AND UTMB AND CALL THAT AND MAKE A REPORT AND MAKE A PARKING STICKER REQUIREMENT THERE.
AND THEN PEOPLE CAN OPT OUT IF THEY WANT.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? WELL, THE NEIGHBORHOODS, THE DISTRICTS ALREADY EXIST COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND I THINK WHAT WE'VE RECEIVED THAT YOU RECEIVED THE SAME COMPLAINTS WITH PEOPLE IS THAT WE REALLY DON'T WANT IT.
WE DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARY.
AND WHAT IT WOULD BE IS BLOCK THE BLOCK.
OTHER THAN THAT, YOU JUST REMOVE ALL OF IT.
NO, I GET THE PROBLEM WITH THAT.
BUT AS I SAY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU I MEAN, I DON'T MIND HAVING A RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMIT ON MY CAR, BUT I HAPPEN TO LIVE IN A BLOCK THAT'S NOT CLOSE ENOUGH TO UTMB OR CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE BEACH OR CLOSE ENOUGH THAT THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE TO WARRANT HAVING ANY PARKING RESTRICTIONS.
WOULD I SUDDENLY HAVE THOSE AND THEN WE'D HAVE TO OPT OUT OF IT OR GO GET A STICKER OR WHATEVER.
YOU KNOW, YOU SAY THOSE DISTRICTS ALREADY EXIST.
ARE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE STREETS THAT ARE ALREADY DESIGNATED AS RESIDENTIAL ONLY PERMIT REQUIRED, OR YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ENTIRE BLOCKS AND JUST SOME OF THEM DON'T HAVE SIGNS WHERE YOU'RE NOT ENFORCING IT ON CERTAIN BLOCKS.
I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT VIA THE DEFINITIONS I PROVIDED, THE MAPS I PROVIDED THOSE AREAS OR THE ONES THAT ARE CURRENTLY DESIGNATED AS RESIDENTIAL PARKING.
I THINK IT'D BE A GREAT IDEA IF COUNCIL WANTED TO SAY THESE ARE THE ONLY AREAS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESIDENTIAL PARKING.
THAT'S A DIFFERENT DISCUSSION.
I'M NOT SURE HOW TO GO BACKWARDS.
I'M NOT LOOKING TO GO BACKWARDS.
I'M JUST ASKING ABOUT BLOCKS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY DESIGNATED TODAY AS A RESTRICTED PARKING.
OH, THOSE THAT WANT TO JOIN FOR RESIDENTIAL? JUST THE ONES THAT ARE.
WELL, OK, PERHAPS I SHOULD LOOK AT YOUR MAP.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU COULD SHARE THAT WITH COUNCIL AND YOU KNOW, I'LL TAKE THAT AND I'LL GO SURVEY THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
GO, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT IT BLOCK BY BLOCK, WHICH I'VE DONE BEFORE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER WHAT THE, YOUR OFFICE OR THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE THINKS IS, YOU KNOW, ARE THOSE BLOCKS CONFORMS TO WHAT I SEE IN REALITY ON THE STREET.
CERTAINLY JANELLE HAS A COPY OF THE PRESENTATION, AND [INAUDIBLE] WOULD BE GLAD TO DO THAT.
YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE'RE TRYING TO WE'RE.
I'M STARTING THIS EXERCISE, ASSUMING THAT WE'RE TO KEEP THE SAME AREAS THAT WE HAVE NOW.
IF THE DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL IS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO STEP BACK AND DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT.
I GUESS I'M CURIOUS ABOUT WHETHER YOUR DESIGNATED AREAS CONFORMS TO THOSE STREETS IN MY DISTRICT, WHICH ARE CLEARLY MARKED OR UNMARKED.
AND WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
THERE ARE, WE'D BE GLAD TO DO THAT.
WE CAN CONFIRM EVERYTHING ON THE MAP.
COUNCIL MEMBER THERE'S NO SENSE OF YOU HAVING TO GET OUT AND DRIVE AROUND.
I THINK I RECEIVED THESE FROM THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE AND FROM PLANNING AND THESE ARE THE MAPS THAT WE HAVE NOW THAT ARE DESIGNATED.
THEY SHOULD BE APPROPRIATELY SIGNED.
I DID NOT GO OUT BEFORE THIS MEETING AND CONFIRM THAT.
IT IS WHAT WE PUBLISH ON OUR GIS MAPS AS THOSE AREAS THAT CURRENTLY HAVE RESIDENTIAL
[01:45:08]
PARKING.AND I WANT TO EXPAND, JUST IF YOU COULD, NOT ONLY FOR OUR SAKE, THE PUBLIC'S WOULD YOU OUTLINE A LITTLE MORE THOROUGHLY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE RESIDENTIAL AND WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING NOW AND THE LDR REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SHORT TERM RENTALS? WOULD YOU? BECAUSE THOSE TWO ARE NOT INTERCHANGEABLE NECESSARILY.
AND FOCUSING ON, I'VE BEEN FOCUSING ON THE PARKING, RESIDENTIAL PARKING, BUTT THE LDR AS MY UNDERSTANDING, MAYOR, IS THAT A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO MIGHT HAVE BEEN 2015, THERE WAS A DECISION MADE THAT SHORT TERM RENTALS HAD TO HAVE ADEQUATE PARKING BASED ON THEIR OCCUPANCY AND THEN NO MORE THAN TWO PARKING PLACES OF THE STREET PARKING COULD BE COUNTED TOWARD THAT OCCUPANCY.
YES, SIR? SO, UTILIZING THAT AND REMEMBER, PROBABLY MOST OF THE SHORT TERM ROOMS ARE NOT IN RESIDENTIAL PARKING AREAS.
SO YOU WOULD THINK THAT THOSE THAT ARE HAVE TO BE HELD TO THE SAME STANDARDS OF LDR OR WE WOULD HAVE CONFLICTING ORDINANCES.
SO IF YOU'RE LIMITED TO TWO, TO COUNT TOWARD YOUR OCCUPANCY OF A SHORT TERM RENTAL YOU SHOULDN'T BE ALLOCATED FOR.
CORRECT AND THAT ORDINANCE I WAS THE AUTHOR OF THAT WHEN WE DID THAT IN THE LDRS.
THE INTENTION WAS TO THAT APPLIED JUST FROM AN LDR STANDPOINT, APPLIED TO SHORT TERM RENTALS THAT CAME ON BOARD AFTER 2015.
BUT THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN THIS, WHAT I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY FOR THE PUBLIC, WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS A DIFFERENT SITUATION NOW.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ADDRESSING PARKING REQUIREMENTS IN MANAGEMENT OR PARKING IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS, IN SPECIFIC RESIDENTIAL AREAS THAT ARE DEFINED AS RESIDENTIAL APARTMENTS ONLY OR TWO HOUR PARKING ONLY.
COUNCILMAN COLLINS, I THINK ABOUT IT, BUT ONE SECTION OF UTMB PARKING IS TWO HOUR RESIDENTIAL.
SO IT'S TWO HOUR RESIDENTIAL APARTMENTS EXCLUDED.
THE OTHER UTMB AREA IS RESIDENTIAL APARTMENTS ONLY.
SO THAT MAY BE SOME OF THE DIFFERENCE IN THE SIGNAGE SPECIFICALLY AROUND UTMB.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? BILL? MR. BUCKLEY, YOU CAN CLARIFY THIS FOR ME, I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED ON RESIDENTIAL PARKING AND GOT SHORT TERM PARKING THAT REQUIRES TWO SLOTS SO AND SO FORTH.
BUT THE QUESTION IS, I GUESS I NEED TO KNOW A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ARE SHORT TERM RENTALS OR LONG TERM RENTALS, WHICH [INAUDIBLE].
THEY CLASSIFY IT AS A BUSINESS.
BY DEFINITION, A LONG TERM RENTAL IS A RESIDENCE THAT WOULD BE THE SAME AS OWNER OCCUPIED, IF IT'S A RENTER OCCUPIED ON A LONG TERM BASIS, THAT WOULD BE BY DEFINITION, AS WE CURRENTLY HAVE IT, IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED A RESIDENCE.
SO IT'S TREATED THE SAME WHETHER YOU'RE A RENTER OR AN OWNER.
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT SOMEONE THAT'S RENTING A PIECE OF PROPERTY.
I'M TALKING ABOUT WE'RE LOOKING AT LONG TERM AS A.
WELL, I TELL YOU WHAT LET'S SCRATCH THAT.
LET'S TALK ABOUT SHORT TERM BUSINESS.
SHORT TERM RENTALS BY THE CURRENT PROPOSAL WOULD BE PROVIDED TWO GUEST PASSES.
BUT MY QUESTION IS, ARE THEY CLASSIFIED AS A BUSINESS? IF I COULD INTERJECT? YES.
UNDER THE THIRD CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS, THEY ARE RESIDENTS REGARDLESS OF THE AMOUNT OF TIME THEY ARE RENTED FOR.
HOWEVER, THAT DETERMINATION IS BEING REVIEWED BY THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT.
I AGREE THAT UNDER THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX STATUTE, THEY'RE CLASSIFIED AS A HOTEL.
BUT NONETHELESS, THE THIRD COURT OF APPEALS IN CONSTRUING, I THINK IT WAS THE AUSTIN STATUTE, USE THEM AS A RESIDENCE.
OK, BUT IT'S GOING TO YOU SAY THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT? TEXAS SUPREME COURT HAS PENDING A REVIEW OF THE AUSTIN ORDINANCES REGULATING SHORT TERM RENTALS THEY HAVE.
PREVIOUS TEXAS SUPREME COURT HAS PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED A PROHIBITION BY A HOMEOWNER'S
[01:50:01]
ASSOCIATION AGAINST THE RENTING OF PROPERTIES FOR LESS THAN 30 DAYS AS A VIOLATION AND HAS HELD THOSE ARE RESIDENTIAL USES.BILL, I WISH I COULD GIVE YOU CLARITY HERE.
I'M GIVING YOU THE BEST CLARITY THE LAW ALLOWS.
SO THIS IS BASICALLY ON THE BACK BURNER UNTIL WE HEAR FROM THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT? I HAVE IT BOOKMARKED ON THE SITE.
SO WHEN THEY MAKE THE DECISION AND THEY RELEASED THEM ON FRIDAY, SO I'LL KNOW ABOUT IT STRAIGHT AWAY.
BUT, DAN, WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT IS THESE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PARKING AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
BUT EVERYTHING TO ME ON THE ISLAND IS IF YOU PARK ON A STREET, THAT'S CITY RIGHT-OF-WAY.
CORRECT? IT WOULD BE STREET RIGHT AWAY.
SO WHY ARE WE FIGHTING THIS PERSON, NEEDING TO OR THAT PERSON NEEDING THREE OR BEDROOM THIS OR THAT.
IF IT'S PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY, I MEAN CITY RIGHT-OF-WAY.
WHY ARE WE, YOU KNOW, TO ME IT'S, I HAVE A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT LOST MY SISTER, I MAINTAIN ACROSS THE STREET IS A SHORT TERM RENTAL.
THEY, AT ONE TIME YOU HAVE FOUR, YOU HAVE FIVE, YOU HAVE SIX PEOPLE PARING OUT HERE.
THE WAY I VIEW IT, IF I'M NOT HERE FIRST TO GRAB MY SPOT TO WORK ON MY SISTER'S HOUSE.
I PARK AROUND THE CORNER AND I'M NOT GOING TO ARGUE THAT POINT BECAUSE IT'S CITY RIGHT -OF-WAY AND THEY HAVE X AMOUNT OF HOURS TO PARK AT THAT ONE SPOT BEFORE THEY HAVE TO MOVE .
CORRECT? YES, SIT, THAT'D BE CORRECT.
AND BY DEFINITION, IN THIS RULE, THERE IS NO RESERVED PARKING, IT'S ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS IN THESE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO YOU'RE NOT GUARANTEED A SPOT AT ALL.
CORRECT, SO WHY ARE WE SAYING THAT THE SHORT TERM RENTAL IS HAVING TWO PARKING SPOTS? IS THAT OFF PREMISE OR IS THAT OUT IN THE STREET? WELL, UNDER THE LDRS, THE TWO PARKING SPOTS THAT ARE ALLOCATED, THEY'RE NOT ALLOCATED.
I MAY HAVE USED THE WRONG TERM, BUT THEY ARE AS THEY CAN USE THAT TOWARD THEIR COUNT OF REQUIRED PARKING.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S IN FRONT OF THE SHORT TERM RENTAL IT JUST MEANS IF THEY HAVE TO HAVE FOUR PARKING SPACES AND THEY HAVE TWO ON SITE, THEN YOU CAN ALLOCATE, YOU CAN JUSTIFY THAT THE OTHER TWO WOULD BE STREET PARKING SOMEWHERE IN THE GENERAL AREA.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS TO DAN? WHAT I WOULD OFFER TO COUNCIL MEMBER ROBB, IS I'D BE GLAD TO TALK WITH HER OFFLINE ABOUT THIS, ESPECIALLY ON THE WEST END.
YOU KNOW, SOME VERY UNIQUE CHALLENGES OUT THERE BECAUSE OF THE BEACH ACCESS PLAN.
AND I UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE, COUNCIL MEMBER.
SO IF YOU WANT TO GIVE ME A CALL OFFLINE, WE CAN CERTAINLY VISIT ON THE WEST END AND TRY TO COME UP SOME.AND I THINK WE HAVE THE ZOOM MEETING FOLLOWING THIS ONE.
AND I APPRECIATE WHAT COUNCILWOMAN ROBB IS SAYING.
I LIVED ON FOR 12 YEARS ON THE STREET, ON THE WEST END THAT WAS THAT PARKING LOT.
SO I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ON THAT.
DAN, JUST TO REEVALUATE WHERE WE ARE ON THIS, YOUR GOAL IS TO BRING A AN ORDINANCE TO COUNCIL ON OUR APRIL 22ND AGENDA, IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR.
AND I THINK YOUR GOAL IS TO PROBABLY GET THAT OUT TO COUNCIL AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE BEFORE THAT MEETING FOR OUR VALUATION IN PUBLIC INPUT.
WELL, I WOULDN'T BE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INPUT.
I THINK THAT WHAT MY PROPOSAL WOULD BE, AS SOON AS WE GET A DRAFT DONE, I'D LIKE TO SEND IT OUT TO COUNCIL Y'ALL CAN SEE WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON, GETTING Y'ALL ON ONE OFF BASIS AS CAN CERTAINLY CONTACT DONNA FAIRWEATHER OR ME AND WE CAN DISCUSS THE QUESTIONS OR ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS OR ISSUES YOU MAY HAVE IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING SO WE CAN BRING THE BEST POSSIBLE ORDINANCE FORWARD ON IN APRIL, AT THE APRIL MEETING.
ONE OTHER THING, COUNCIL, I'M GOING TO MENTION ON THIS, AND WE NORMALLY WE DON'T VOTE ON AN ITEM THAT WE WORKSHOPPED THAT DAY, BUT THIS ITEM HAS BEEN DISCUSSED A LITTLE BIT.
THERE'S A POSSIBILITY IF COUNCIL FELT THEY'D WANT TO DO THAT, IS HAVING A WORKSHOP IN APRIL AND THEN HAVE IT ON THE AGENDA TO VOTE ON THIS ITEM AT OUR APRIL AGENDA AND OUR APRIL TIME ALSO.
WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO DO THAT.
THE ONLY REASON I SAY THIS IS STAFF HAS BEEN WANTING TO HAVE SOMETHING ON THE BOOKS HERE KIND OF AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
BUT THAT'S JUST SOME THOUGHTS ON THAT.
AND WE'LL SEE HOW COUNCIL WANTS TO PLAY, HOW TO WANT TO PROCEED WITH THAT AS WE GET CLOSER TO THAT MEETING.
[01:55:01]
ALL RIGHT, DAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.MOVING TO ITEM 5A PLEASE, JANELLE.
[5.A. Discuss And Consider Appointments To The Following City Boards, Commission, And Committees: 1. Park Board of Trustees 2. Planning Commission]
OK.5A, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER APPOINTMENTS TO THE FOLLOWING CITY BOARD COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES.
ONE PARK BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND TWO PLANNING COMMISSION.
AND WE HAD OUR INTERVIEWS THIS MORNING.
CAN I HAVE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE.
AND WE HAD TALKED ABOUT WE SENT IN OUR RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE SENT IN THEN TO TAKE THE FIRST NOMINATION FROM THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.
BUT YOU WANTED TO MAKE A MOTION.
YEAH, I WANTED TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPOINT THERESA ELLIOTT TO THE PARK BOARD AND I WILL SHARE THE REASON WHY.
ONE, I DO THINK SHE IS THE BEST QUALIFIED.
BUT TWO WE TALK ABOUT BEING A CITY.
A DIVERSIFIED CITY, AND WE HAVE THE PARK BOARD THAT IS MADE UP AND I'M GOING TO BE BLUNT, PRIMARILY WHITE MAN AND ONE WOMAN.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN CALL OURSELVES DIVERSIFIED WHEN WE ARE NOT MAKING UP OUR BOARDS OF A DIVERSIFIED POPULATIONS.
SO HENCE, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPOINT THERESA ELLIOTT.
OK, DO WE HAVE? WE HAVE A SECOND BY BILL QUIROGA.
BEFORE DAVID SAYS SOMETHING, DAVID, GO RIGHT AHEAD.
WELL, WE SET UP THE SYSTEM WHEREBY WE GAVE OUR PREFERENCES TO JANELLE.
SHE CREATED A LIST BASED ON THAT OF THE ORDER IN WHICH THESE PEOPLE WOULD BE NOMINATED FOR THE BOARD.
THAT WAS THE GENERAL UNDERSTANDING.
WE DID IT SO THAT TO FORESTALL THE FIRST PERSON TO THROW HER HAND UP, GOT GOT TO NOMINATE WHOEVER THEY WANTED.
SO IF WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO THAT SYSTEM, I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE WHO DID NOT INDICATE THAT TERESA WAS THE FIRST ON THEIR LIST OF PEOPLE TO BE NOMINATED TO ABSTAIN ON THIS VOTE, BECAUSE, AS ALWAYS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE FOUR POSITIVE VOTES TO TO BE APPOINTED.
BUT THIS IS JUST GETTING OUTSIDE, I UNDERSTAND WHAT MARIE'S SAYING ABOUT DIVERSITY, BUT THIS IS JUST COMPLETELY OUTSIDE OF THE PROCESS.
THIS IS NOT WHAT WE AGREED TO.
AND SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE NOT TO INTERRUPT ME.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO WHO DOESN'T THINK WE SHOULD GET OUTSIDE THIS PROCESS TO ABSTAIN ON THIS VOTE.
ACTUALLY, WHEN THE MAYOR BROUGHT UP THE PROCESS EARLIER TODAY, HE SAID TYPICALLY WE LIST THEM BY THE PEOPLE THAT WERE APPOINTED, BUT THAT IS NOT HOW WE HAVE TO VOTE FOR THEM.
AND YOU CAN, I COULD HAVE JANELLE PULL OUT WHAT THE MAYOR SAID EARLIER, BECAUSE HE STATED THAT VERY CLEARLY.
SO I'M JUST SAYING AND TRULY, WE'RE GOING TO CALL OURSELVES A CITY OF DIVERSITY.
WE NEED TO START APPOINTING HISPANIC PEOPLE.
WE NEED TO START APPOINTING BLACK PEOPLE.
WE NEED TO START APPOINTING MORE WOMEN, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT A DIVERSIFIED CITY IF WE'RE JUST GOING TO KEEP ON STACKING BOARDS WITH A NON DIVERSIFIED POPULATION.
BUT THE MAYOR VERY CLEARLY SAID WE DON'T HAVE TO APPOINT THE FIRST PERSON ON THE LIST.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO APPOINT THE FIRST PERSON ON THE LIST.
YOU CAN VOTE NO ON THE FIRST PERSON ON THE LIST OR ABSTAIN THE FIRST PERSON ON THE LIST.
BUT THE IDEA WAS THE FIRST PERSON ON THE LIST WOULD BE THE FIRST PERSON NOMINATED AND CONSIDERED FOR APPOINTMENT.
IF WE WANT TO BE AN ORGANIZATION WITHOUT RULES WHERE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO FOLLOW ANY PROCEDURE, WE CAN DO IT THAT WAY.
BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT WE AGREED TO PREVIOUSLY.
IT WAS MY INTENTION WHEN WE TALKED THIS MORNING THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO, WE WOULD TAKE THE FIRST NOMINEE THAT WAS CHOSEN BY THE COUNCIL.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO APPROVE THAT PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL IF YOU FELT THAT THEY WERE NOT IN YOUR LIKING OR THAT YOU WOULDN'T FEEL THAT IF SOMEONE IF YOU FELT SOMEONE ELSE WAS MORE APPROPRIATE.
NOW WE HAVE, JANELLE, COULD YOU LIST WHO WAS OUR FIRST, WHAT WAS YOUR COUNCIL'S CHOICE OF THE FIRST NOMINEE?
[02:00:01]
FOR PARK BOARD, THE FIRST NOMINEE WAS JASON HARDCASTLE, JASON HARDCASTLE.WE HAVE ORDER THOUGH, WE HAVE MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.
THERE'S THE ROOM FOR DISCUSSION HERE THEN, RIGHT? YES, MA'AM.
OK, BUT AS FAR AS THE DIVERSITY TO GO WITH WHAT MARIE'S SAYING, I AGREE.
WE DO NEED AN INCREASE IN DIVERSITY ACROSS THE AISLE AND ON THESE BOARDS AND WHATNOT.
BUT IN MY OPINION, THE DAY OF DECIDING WHEN YOU ONLY HAVE THREE CHOICES THAT LIMITS YOUR DIVERSITY AND THE OPTIONS THAT YOU CAN GO FROM, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE BEST QUALITY CANDIDATE.
SO TO GO AROUND THAT, IT'S OUR JOB, RESPONSIBILITY TO GET OUT TO THE PUBLIC, GET OUT TO THE PEOPLE, GO TO NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS AND ENCOURAGE THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE REPRESENT THE ISLAND ON ALL THESE BOARDS TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO RUN FOR CITY IN THAT LIGHT INSTEAD OF ON THE DAY OF DECIDING MAKING DECISIONS BASED ON THAT, INSTEAD OF GOING INTO THESE COMMUNITIES ENCOURAGING, YOU KNOW, PARTICIPATION.
AND I FEEL LIKE THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO GET DIVERSITY THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR ON THIS BOARD.
BUT LIKE I SAID, IT'S UP TO US TO GO FIND IT AND MAKE THESE SUGGESTIONS FOR PEOPLE TO WANTING TO RUN TO REPRESENT THEM.
FIRST OF ALL, LET ME BILL, I SEE YOUR HAND.
LET ME FOR SOME REASON, JANELLE, DO WE HAVE CONTROL OF THE SCREEN HERE? IS THERE A SHARED SCREEN UP THERE? I THOUGHT THERE WAS.
BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE I CAN SEE ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS PROPERLY.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE A FLAT STATEMENT.
I'LL TELL YOU ONCE WHEN THIS PROCESS STARTED THAT I LOOK AT THE MOST QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL AND BASED ON THE APPLICATIONS THAT I'VE SEEN WHEN I HAD FIVE AND I BROKE IT DOWN AND PUT THEM IN ORDER, THE PERSON THAT I SECOND ON HAS THE MOST QUALIFICATIONS.
SHE'S BEEN ON THE BOARD BEFORE.
SHE HAS AN IMPECCABLE REPUTATION ON THE ISLAND AND SHE HAS DONE OUTSTANDING WORK ON THE ISLAND.
SO I'M NOT MAKING THIS AS A CHOICE OF BEING POLITICAL BECAUSE I HAVE THE VOTES TO PICK AN INDIVIDUAL.
I PICK IT BY THE CHOICE OF THE QUALIFICATION OF THE INDIVIDUALS.
WHAT HE TOLD ME WAS VERY SIMPLE.
HE WENT, IF YOU AIN'T GOT YOU AIN'T GOING TO MAKE A DECISION.
AND LIKE I SAID, I VOTED FOR THE PERSON THAT HAD THE BEST QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE POSITION.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON, NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE A WOMAN, NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE BLACK OR BROWN OR MALE OR FEMALE, BUT WE HAVE POLITICAL CLOUT THAT WE WANT TO GO AHEAD AND THROW IN.
CAN I JUST BRING UP SOMETHING.
YEAH, MINE IS TOO I THINK IT IS VISION GALVESTON, POSSIBLY IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER INVOLVED.
COULD YOU CHECK ON THAT, PLEASE, MA'AM? MARIE, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO TURN ON YOUR VIDEO NOW.
CAN YOU SEE EVERYONE NOW? I'M STILL NOT GETTING I'M GETTING THEM IN SMALL LITTLE BOXES AND NOT EVERYONE AS WHEN THE SCREEN IS SHARED.
AND IT SEEMED TO OCCUR, RIGHT, I SAW A LARGE VIDEO OF KEITH, BUT IT'S STARTING TO APPEAR RIGHT AFTER THAT.
MAYOR BROWN, I DO HAVE MY HAND UP.
[INAUDIBLE] GO RIGHT AHEAD, DAVID, I'M SORRY.
I'M NOT ALTOGETHER SURE THAT MARIE'S MOTION IS IN ORDER ANYWAY.
I BELIEVE ROBERT'S RULES SAY THAT THE PROCESS NEEDS TO BE VOTED ON AND WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT, WHERE WE'RE MAKING AN AD HOC DECISION ABOUT THE PROCESS HERE.
AND WE HAVE NOT WE'VE NOT DONE THAT.
SO I WOULD ASK JANELLE TO OR DON OR WHOEVER IS IN CHARGE OF OUR RULES OF ORDER HERE TO TO VET THAT, BECAUSE I WOULD FOLLOW THAT WITH A MOTION TO TO SET THE PROCESS TO BE THAT WHICH WILL BE FOLLOWED.
NOW, I'M LOSING VIDEO NOW, SO THEY SAY TO ME, I WOULD MAKE A MOTION THAT WE SET THE PROCESS TO VOTE ON THE FIRST PERSON WHO WAS ON THE LIST OF
[02:05:01]
APPOINTMENTS THAT WE GAVE TO JANELLE THIS MORNING.BUT THAT'S WHERE IT'S GOING TO TAKE A PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE RULING TO DETERMINE WHICH I MUST POINT OUT THAT THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.
AND AT THIS POINT, I THINK IT WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE TO CALL THE QUESTION BUT IS THAT MOTION IN ORDER? WELL, IT'S IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AGENDA.
WELL, BUT HOW WOULD WE NOT BY INCORPORATION ADOPT TO ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER, ACTUALLY.
IT IS STATED, I BELIEVE, IN THE CHARTER THAT WE DO IT HOWEVER YOU WILL.
HAVE YOU FOLLOWED THIS PROCEDURE BY IS I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BEEN ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE.
IT'S JUST A PRACTICE THAT I THINK HAS BEEN DONE.
MAYBE JANELLE CAN HELP ME OUT ON THAT.
JANELLE, CAN YOU HEAR ME, JANELLE? YES, I CAN.
OK, FIRST OF ALL, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON OUR SCREEN PROBLEM AT ALL? AND IT LOOKS OK ON THE TV.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU GUYS ARE SEEING, BUT I MAY STEP IN THERE TO YOUR OFFICE TO SEE WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.
OK, THAT WOULD BE LET'S CLEAR THE SCREEN UP IF WE CAN REAL QUICKLY AND THEN LET'S WE'LL GET INTO THAT.
IF UNDER YOUR VIEW, YOU CLICK GALLERY VIEW, I THINK IT'LL GET YOU THERE.
UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER OF THE GRAY FIELD.
IS EVERYBODY ELSE OK NOW ON THEIR SCREENS.
NOW WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
AND DON, YOU WERE SAYING THAT WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
THE DISCUSSION WAS THAT WE FOLLOW WHAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THIS MORNING OF TAKING THE FIRST NOMINEE THAT WAS CHOSEN BY COUNCIL.
AND COUNCILWOMAN ROBB HAS MADE A MOTION OF SOMEONE THAT WAS NOT IN THAT FIRST CHOICE COUNCIL.
SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND FINISH THIS OUT.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND FINISH THIS PARTICULAR VOTE OUT AND THEN WE'LL ENTERTAIN ANOTHER MOTION IF NEED BE.
WE'RE IN A DISCUSSION PHASE NOW.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION BOARD? OK.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF COUNCILWOMAN ROBB'S MOTION PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
I'D ENTERTAIN ANOTHER MOTION, COUNCIL.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPOINT JASON HARDCASTLE TO THE THANK YOU.
I HAVE A MOTION FOR JASON HARDCASTLE FOR THE PARK BOARD, APPOINTED SECOND BY DAVID COLLINS.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED, THAT DOES PASS.
JASON HARDCASTLE, CONGRATULATIONS TO JASON.
JASON IS OUR NEW APPOINTEE TO THE PARK BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
MOVING TO OUR PLANNING COMMISSION.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD IF YOU COULD READ OUR FIRST CHOICE OF COUNCIL'S CHOICE OF THE FIRST NOMINEE, PLEASE.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THE FIRST CHOICE WAS [INAUDIBLE] EDWARDS.
AND I WILL NOMINATE MS. EDWARDS AS THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPOINTEES ARE SET.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND ALL THOSE OPPOSED? SO THAT DOES PASS.
WE ARE NOW AT THE END OF OUR AGENDA.
WE HAVE GONE THROUGH ALL OUR ITEMS. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY.
APPRECIATE ALL THE APPLICANTS THAT HAVE APPLIED.
WE WILL HAVE MORE BOARD APPOINTMENTS COMING UP IN JUNE AND WE WILL HAVE MORE APPOINTMENTS FOR PLANNING COMMISSION COMING UP IN SEPTEMBER.
SO THOSE THAT DID NOT GET CHOSEN, WE DO HAVE OTHER APPOINTMENTS, APPOINTMENTS COMING UP HERE SHORTLY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.