May 13, 2021 Special Council

[00:00:03]

WELL, GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

IT IS 9:30 A.M.

[Call to Order]

WELCOME. GLAD TO HAVE YOU WITH US THIS MORNING.

IT IS 9:30 A.M.

I'M GOING TO OFFICIALLY CALL THE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING TO ORDER FOR MAY 13.

WE DO HAVE A QUORUM, BUT COULD WE HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? MAYOR DR.

BROWN. PRESENT.

MAYOR PRO TEM COLLINS.

PRESENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER SCHUSTER.

HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER QUIROGA.

PRESENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER ROBB.

HERE. AND COUNCIL MEMBER LISTOWSKI HAS NOT JOINED US YET.

GOOD, THANK YOU. WE DO HAVE A QUORUM THIS MORNING BEFORE WE GET INTO OUR ACTION ITEMS. I'D LIKE TO CALL FOR ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT WE MAY HAVE.

THERE WERE NO THERE WERE NO REGISTRATION FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.

BUT I'D LIKE TO CALL NOW FOR ANYONE THAT MAY BE WATCHING THIS BROADCAST IF YOU DO HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT, IF YOU COULD [INAUDIBLE]. NO RESPONSES, WE WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 3A OF OUR ACTION ITEMS.

[3.A. Consider For Approval A Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Directed To The Honorable Gregg Abbott, Governor Of The State Of Texas, Requesting The Governor Issue An Order To Allow A Special Election In The City Of Galveston For The Purpose Of Filling A Vacancy On City Council; Requesting The Governor specify In His Order That The Election Be Conducted On The Non-Uniform Election Date Of August 28, 2021; Noting That An Emergency Exists To Justify A Special Election On A on-Uniform Election Day; Providing For Findings Of Fact And Providing For An Effective Date.]

ITEM 3A CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, DIRECTED TO THE HONORABLE GREG ABBOTT, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR ISSUE AN ORDER TO ALLOW A SPECIAL ELECTION IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON FOR THE PURPOSE OF FILLING A VACANCY ON CITY COUNCIL, REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR SPECIFY IN HIS ORDER THAT THE ELECTION BE CONDUCTED ON THE NON-UNIFORM ELECTION DATE OF AUGUST 28, 2021, NOTING THAT AN EMERGENCY EXISTS TO JUSTIFY A SPECIAL ELECTION ON A NON-UNIFORM ELECTION DAY, PROVIDING FOR FINDINGS OF FACT AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

THANK YOU, JANELLE.

OF COURSE, IT'S IN OUR PACKET AND DON HAS SENT OUT INFORMATION TO COUNCIL PRIOR TO OUR MEETING ON THIS, DON.

I'D LIKE FOR YOU, IF YOU COULD, TO INTRODUCE THIS.

YES, I SHALL. UNFORTUNATELY, I SEE THE RESOLUTION IN YOUR PACKET INCLUDES THE TRACT CHANGES. AND IF CITY COUNCIL PASSES THIS RESOLUTION, I CAN ASSURE YOU IT WOULD GO TO THE GOVERNOR IN A FINAL FORMAT.

UNFORTUNATELY, REVEREND JOHNSON PASSED CREATING A TRUE VACANCY ON CITY COUNCIL.

HE OBVIOUSLY CANNOT HOLD OVER THE SEAT AND IT IS OPEN.

THE CITY CHARTER REQUIRES THAT IF THERE IS A VACANCY ON CITY COUNCIL, A SPECIAL ELECTION WILL BE CONDUCTED TO FILL THE SEAT UNLESS THERE IS A REGULARLY SCHEDULED ELECTION WITHIN ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY DAYS OF THE CREATION OF THE VACANCY.

THE NEXT REGULAR CITY ELECTION IS MAY, SO WE ARE WAY OUTSIDE THE ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY DAYS. THERE ARE TWO UNIFORM ELECTION DATES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, BASICALLY THE FIRST TUESDAY IN NOVEMBER AND THE FIRST SATURDAY IN MAY.

IF WE WERE TO WAIT TILL NOVEMBER, THIS SEAT WOULD BE OPEN FOR ANOTHER FOUR MONTHS AND POTENTIALLY NOT FILLED UNTIL AFTER CHRISTMAS.

WHAT GETS OUR ATTENTION IS THE FACT THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE REDISTRICTING.

REDISTRICTING MUST HAPPEN PRETTY MUCH BY THE END OF THE YEAR, ALTHOUGH WE COULD HAVE A LITTLE CARRY OVER INTO JANUARY AND WE CANNOT HOLD THAT PROCESS UP.

I'VE SPOKEN WITH BOB HEATH OUR COUNSEL, WHO YOU'VE RETAINED, AND WE REALLY, REALLY HAVE TO GET THIS GOING FOR THE NEXT COUNCIL ELECTION IN MAY OF 2022.

TO DO THAT, WE HAVE TO HAVE THE LINES DRAWN IN JANUARY BECAUSE FILING IS GOING TO OPEN UP PRETTY MUCH AROUND THAT TIME.

SO WE CAN ASK THE GOVERNOR TO HAVE AN ELECTION ON AN NON-UNIFORM ELECTION DATE AND HE

[00:05:01]

WE WORKED WITH THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE IN CHOOSING THE DATE.

WE REALLY COULD NOT GET ANYTHING BEFORE THE STATE BECAUSE OF SOME TRAINING REQUIREMENTS IN HIS OFFICE REGARDING ELECTION TRAINING.

MANDATORY THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE DOES.

REMEMBER, WE HAVE EARLY VOTING THAT OPENS UP A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE THE ELECTION DAY ITSELF, AND THAT WOULD INTERFERE WITH HIS STAFF.

SO WE WORKED WITH HIM AND CHOOSE THIS DAY IS REALLY THE BEST WE CAN DO.

SO IF YOU ARE INCLINED TO REQUEST, WE WOULD SEND THE RESOLUTION IN A FINAL FORMAT TO THE GOVERNOR. NORMALLY WE DON'T HAVE THE MAYOR SIGN THEM.

BUT IN THIS INSTANCE, GIVEN THE GRAVITY OF THE MATTER I'VE PUT HIS SIGNATURE ON, I'VE REACHED OUT TO THE TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE, ELECTIONS DIVISION CHIEF, KEITH INGRAM.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WILL CERTAINLY CONFER WITH HIM.

SO WE'LL SEND HIM A COPY OF THE RESOLUTION.

I'VE EXPLAINED WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHY IT'S NEEDED FOR US.

AND, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY THE QUESTION IS, DO WE WANT TO DO REDISTRICTING WITHOUT A FULL COUNCIL IN PLACE? AND THAT IS A QUESTION ONLY YOU CAN DECIDE.

I WILL SAY IF YOU DO ASK THE GOVERNOR TO ORDER A SPECIAL ELECTION ON THE NON-UNIFORM DAY, IT IS WITHIN HIS DISCRETION TO SAY NO, IN WHICH INSTANCE WE WOULD SIMPLY HOLD THE SPECIAL ELECTION ON A UNIFORM ELECTION DATE TO BE HELD ON THE FIRST TUESDAY IN NOVEMBER.

THAT'S JUST GOING TO SET US BACK AN ADDITIONAL 60 DAYS.

AND THE CANDIDATE FOR THAT SEAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE FORECLOSED FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS.

YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

ANY QUESTIONS OF DON? COUNCILMAN COLLINS? YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO REDISTRICTING IN A VACUUM.

I MEAN, I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF HAVING THIS ELECTION AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE IN AUGUST.

IT'S LIKELY TO BE A CONTESTED ELECTION.

WE'RE LIABLE TO BE LOOKING AT A HOLDING OVER FOR A RUNOFF.

THAT'S LIKELY TO HAPPEN WHETHER WE DO IT IN AUGUST OR DO IT IN NOVEMBER.

SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT ONE ALMOST AS LATE AS POSSIBLE, NO MATTER HOW WE GO ABOUT DOING THIS, WE WILL BE DEEP INTO THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT IN A VACUUM.

AS I SAY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PLENTY OF PUBLIC INPUT.

AND I THINK IF WE ARE CONSTRAINED BY THE STATE IN DOING THIS IN NOVEMBER, WE CAN BE JUST TAKE EXTRA CARE TO BE SURE THAT THAT DISTRICT THROUGH YOUR OFFICE, MAYOR, AND THROUGH OUT COMMUNITY OUTREACH INTO THAT DISTRICT, THAT THEY HAVE A FULL VOICE IN HOW THIS HOW THIS GOES ABOUT AND HOW IT COMES ABOUT.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO DO ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO PUT US IN A BAD LIGHT, AS IT WERE. THAT DISTRICT MAY CHANGE.

IT WAS IT WAS KIND OF SPARSELY POPULATED IN 2010.

AND IT'S A LARGE DISTRICT.

SO IT'S THOSE BOUNDARIES ARE LIKELY TO CHANGE.

BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO AFFECT JUST FROM MY SORT OF CURSORY REVIEW OF IT IS NOT GOING TO AFFECT ITS SOMEWHAT TRADITIONAL MINORITY MAJORITY NATURE.

THAT'S MY FEEL ON IT.

I WOULD ASK THIS, DON.

IS THE GOVERNOR LIKELY TO IS IS THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE IN SYMPATHY WITH OUR RESOLUTION HERE? AND IS THE GOVERNOR LIKELY TO RESPOND TO THAT OR WILL HE DO THAT HIMSELF IN SOMETHING OF A VACUUM.

OH, I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S ELECTION DIVISION AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

MY IMPRESSION IS THEY RESPECT HIS WORD.

THE ELECTIONS DIVISION CHIEF WAS PLEASED THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR LOCAL ADMINISTRATOR. WE HAVE HAD SALLY REACH OUT TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO KIND OF PAVE THE WAY TO EXPLAIN WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT TO US.

BUT WHAT THE GOVERNOR WILL DO WHO AM I TO SAY.

OK, IF THERE'S BOARD, I MEAN COUNCIL.

LET ME FIRST ASK THIS IS FOR QUESTIONS OF DON IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT IN FOR OR AGAINST SOMETHING THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING HERE, I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

THIS IS FOR QUESTIONS FOR DON.

[00:10:01]

I JUST WANTED TO CHALLENGE YOUR LIP READING ABILITY.

I'D BE GLAD TO MAKE THE MOTION TO MOVE THE SPECIAL ELECTION FORWARD.

ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR MOVING THIS FORWARD.

I'LL SECOND THAT.

THEN LET'S DELVE INTO DISCUSSION.

I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, I THINK WE CAN CERTAINLY WORK WITH OUR ELECTED STATE OFFICIALS TO SPEAK TO THE GOVERNOR AND STATE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS HAVING THIS ELECTION ON THIS STATE WITH THE ADVENT OF REDISTRICTING.

AND I THINK WE CAN ALL WORK ON THAT TOGETHER.

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS COUNCIL? THIS IS AN IMPORTANT THING IN MY MIND.

DISTRICT ONE NEEDS A REPRESENTATIVE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE THERE FOR NOT ONLY THE REDISTRICTING DISCUSSIONS, BUT OTHER DISCUSSIONS THAT HAPPEN CONCERNING POSSIBLY THEIR DISTRICT. AND SO THE SOONER WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, I THINK THE BETTER, NOT ONLY GALVESTON, BUT THAT DISTRICT WILL BE SERVED.

SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS MOTION PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR HAND.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED.

IT IS UNANIMOUS.

THANK YOU, DON. APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL.

WE HAVE NOW GONE THROUGH OUR AGENDA AND HAVE ACTED ON ALL THOSE ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA.

IT IS 9:41 A.M..

THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR BEING HERE.

AND WE ARE OFFICIALLY ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.