THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [00:00:01] ALL RIGHT. 5:11 P.M.. [1. DECLARATION OF A QUORUM AND CALL MEETING TO ORDER] AND FIRST OF ALL, FIRST OF ALL, FOR THOSE THAT ARE ON THE LINE FROM THE COMMUNITY, I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. BUT WE THINK WE'VE GOT WE'VE GOT THOSE WORKED OUT. SO IT IS 5:11 P.M. I'M GOING TO OFFICIALLY CALL THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF GALVESTON TO ORDER. AND I SAY IT'S 5:12 P.M. AND WE DO HAVE A QUORUM. NELLIE, IF WE COULD HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? YES, MAYOR. MAYOR BROWN? PRESENT. PRESENT MAYOR PRO TEM COLLINS? HERE. [INAUDIBLE] WE DO HAVE A QUORUM HERE. WE ARE HONORED TODAY TO PASTOR ROSE FROM THE FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH TO READ OUR INVOCATION. [INAUDIBLE] BLUEPRINT. THIS IS OUR 171ST YEAR OF YOUR DISTRICT ON THE ISLAND. [INAUDIBLE] AND WE REMIND YOU OF OKTOBERFEST COMING UP IN OCTOBER, SO LOVE TO SEE OUR COUNCIL FOLK OUT THERE ENJOYING THE COMMUNITY AS WELL. FOR THOSE WHO ARE [INAUDIBLE], THEN PLEASE JOIN ME. ETERNAL AND HOLY GOD, WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THIS DAY. THIS DAY, YOU'VE ALLOWED US TO BE A PART OF AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE THIS DAY. BUT EVEN MORE, WE THANK YOU. FOR YOUR ABIDING LOVE THAT HAS BEEN WITH US. AS OUR BELOVED CITY COUNCIL. [INAUDIBLE] THIS MEETING. GRANT THEM WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING IN THEIR WORK, KEEP THEM AND ALL OF US MINDFUL. [INAUDIBLE] SEE EASILY, BUT ALSO THOSE WHO WE SEEM TO [INAUDIBLE]. LET THE WORK DONE HERE BE A BLESSING FOR ALL, INCLUDING SOME VULNERABLE IN OUR FAIR CITY. AS YOU HAVE GUIDED THE CITY WITH [INAUDIBLE] LEADERSHIP, [INAUDIBLE]. CONTINUE TO POUR OUT ALL THE DREAMS AND HOPES FOR THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE. AND LET US ALL WALK TOGETHER WORKING FOR WHAT IS NOBLE AND BRIGHT. BLESS THESE OUR ELECTED OUR LEADERS, CITY EMPLOYEES, [INAUDIBLE] WORKS THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY GOING. BLESS OUR CITIZENS IN SUPPORTING AND ENCOURAGING GALVESTON TO BE THE BEST THAT WE CAN BE. RECEIVE THIS PRAYER AND GRANT TO US WHAT YOU SEE IS BEST FOR US AND ALL THE PEOPLE JOIN AND SAY AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU, PASTOR. THANK FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU AND ON BEHALF OF THE GMA, ALLOWING US TO BE PART OF THIS AND WE DO SUPPORT YOU IN PRAYER AND SERVICE. ANYTHING WE CAN DO WE CAN DO JUST LET US KNOW. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WE CALL FOR CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. [4. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST] COUNCIL, I'D LIKE TO DECLARE A CONFLICT ON ITEM 9A. SO WHEN WE COME TO THAT ITEM, MAYOR PRO TEM, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND LEAVING? IT WOULD BE MY PLEASURE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. VERY GOOD. VERY GOOD. BEFORE I WANT TO START, ALSO, I'D LIKE TO, JANELLE, YOU MIGHT WANT TO NOTIFY THE PUBLIC ABOUT PUBLIC HEARINGS, BEING ABLE TO MAKE COMMENTS AT THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND PUBLIC COMMENT. COULD YOU GIVE US SOME GUIDANCE ON THAT, PLEASE? YES, SIR. [INAUDIBLE]. JANELLE, DID YOU HEAR THAT? YES, SIR. [INAUDIBLE]. YES, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT, VERY GOOD, VERY GOOD, IF I COULD, NELLIE, YOU COULD READ ITEM 5A, [5.A. Conduct A Public Hearing And Consider For Approval The 2021 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) And HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) Consolidated Program Objectives And Projects In The Total Amount Of $1,430,515 (CDBG Allocation Of $1,183,810 And HOME Allocation Of $246,705) And CDBG And HOME Program Income Total Estimates Of $50,000. Authorize The City Manager To File A Grant Application With The U.S. Department Of Housing And Urban Development (HUD) And Execute All Necessary Contracts, Certifications, And Documents For The Programs. (A. Law)] PLEASE, MA'AM. YES, SIR, ITEM 5A. [00:05:26] [INAUDIBLE]. THANK YOU, NELLIE. ALICE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE SOME DETAILS ON THIS PLEASE, MA'AM? I'M SORRY, I CAN'T HEAR YOU ON ZOOM. SO CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? RIGHT NOW? YOU HEAR ME NOW? YES, SIR. OK. ALICE, ARE YOU ON THE LINE HERE? YES, SIR, I AM. IF YOU COULD JUST KIND OF GIVE US A LITTLE OVERVIEW OF THIS ITEM 5A. PLEASE, MA'AM. YES, SIR. AS STATED, I'M BRINGING TO YOU OUR 2021 [INAUDIBLE] HOME PROGRAMS FOR [INAUDIBLE] PROJECT FOR YOUR APPROVAL TODAY. IF YOU'LL REMEMBER, I PRESENTED THIS LIST OF PROJECTS TO [INAUDIBLE] APRIL 22ND WORKSHOP MEETING SINCE THAT DAY HAS REVISED OUR CDBG ALLOCATIONS FOR 2021 DUE TO AN ERROR IN THEIR FORMULA CALCULATIONS BECAUSE THE CITY IS RECEIVING AN ADDITIONAL SEVENTEEN THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED NINETY TWO DOLLARS AND CDBG FUNDS. DUE TO THIS TRAINING TO HAVE INCREASED THE FUNDING FOR EACH OF PROPOSED CDBG PROJECTS BY THE PERCENTAGE OF INCREASE IN THIS ALLOCATION. THE 2021 FUNDING IS STILL A REDUCTION FROM OUR 2020 ALLOCATION. CDBG WAS REDUCED BY THIRTY THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED SEVENTY NINE DOLLARS AND [INAUDIBLE] WAS REDUCED BY TWENTY EIGHT THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED TWENTY THREE DOLLARS. ALL OF OUR PROPOSED PROJECTS THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING, OF COURSE, MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CDBG AND HOME PROGRAM AND MEET OUR 2019 CONSOLIDATED PLAN, FIVE YEAR OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITY NEEDS. WE HAVE COMPLETED ALL OF OUR REQUIRED CITIZEN COMMENT PERIODS FOR THE 2021 CDBG AND HOME PROGRAM AND NO COMMENTS WERE RECEIVED. WE ALSO ALLOWED FOR COMMENTS TO BE DIRECTED FOR OUR PUBLIC HEARING TODAY AND NO COMMENTS WERE RECEIVED. I WOULD BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE AND MAYOR, I WILL TURN IT BACK TO YOU TO PROCEED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ALICE. COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS? [INAUDIBLE] [INAUDIBLE] COUNCILMAN QUIROGA? UNDER CODE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES, WHERE DO YOU GET THE NUMBER [INAUDIBLE]. THAT'S THE APPROXIMATE NUMBER THAT THEY HAVE COMPLETED OVER THE PAST YEAR. WE HAVE TO PRODUCE AN OBJECTIVE SO THE PRODUCE THOSE OBJECTIVES BASED OFF OF WHAT THEY'VE PREVIOUSLY DONE. SO THESE ARE PREVIOUS? THESE IS NOT WHAT WE HAVE AND I GUESS [INAUDIBLE] TODAY? IS THAT WHAT I'M HEARING BRIAN? [INAUDIBLE]? AND THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE ON THAT WOULD BE THE BOXES IN RED. ARE WE CALLING THOSE LMIS? ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE MAP? YES. YES. THE BOXES THAT ARE IN THE RED ARE THE LMI NEIGHBORHOODS. [INAUDIBLE] WERE ALL CONSIDERED LOW INCOME? YES, SIR, THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF LOW INCOME POPULATION FOR THOSE AREAS IS OVER THE 51 PERCENT THAT HAS USES FOR A LOW INCOME AREA. DID, YOU KNOW YOU LIVE IN A LOW INCOME AREA? I DO, YEAH. OK, SO, THAT'S TO ME, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT YOU KNOW YOU ALL GOT THE STATISTICS. VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MS. LAW? IT IS 5:21 P.M. AND I WOULD NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 5A. [00:10:07] IS THERE ANY INPUT OF ANYONE THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO LIKE TO GIVE INPUT ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM? PLEASE SPEAK UP. ALL RIGHT, HEARING NO RESPONSES. IT IS NOW 5:22 P.M. AND I'M GOING TO BRING THAT CLOSE TO THE PUBLIC AND BRING THAT BACK TO COUNCIL FOR ACTION AND MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE 5A. MOTION FOR APPROVAL FROM COUNCILMAN LISTOWSKI. IS THERE A SECOND? I WILL SECOND. COUNCILMAN COLLINS SECONDS THAT. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE WHO FAVOR? IT IS UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ITEM 5B. [5.B. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Abandoning Property Mid-Block Alley Right-Of-Way Adjacent To 1728 Seawall And Adjoining Properties And Adjacent Properties Are Legally Described As M. B. Menard Survey, North Part Of Lot 14 (3014-1) Southeast Block 70, Galveston Outlots; And M.B. Menard Survey, Lot 1, Fred E Wyant Subdivision Replat; In The City And County Of Galveston, Texas; Planning Case Number 21P-022; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject (D. Lunsford).] NELLIE? ITEM 5B CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS. A BANNING PROPERTY MID BLOCK ALLEY RIGHT-OF-WAY ADJACENT TO 1728 SEAWALL AND ADJOINING PROPERTIES AND ADJACENT PROPERTIES ARE LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS M.B. MENARD SURVEY NORTH PART OF LOT 14 SOUTHEAST BLOCK 70 GALVESTON [INAUDIBLE] AND M.B. MENARD SURVEY LOT ONE [INAUDIBLE] SUBDIVISION REPLAT IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, IN CASE NUMBER 21P-022 MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, NELLIE. DANIEL LUNTSFORD. DANIEL? GO RIGHT AHEAD, SIR. MAYOR, I'M GOING TO ADDRESS THAT. OH YES. I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. JANELLE, HAS BROUGHT UP THE POWERPOINT. THIS IS AN ABANDONMENT OF AN ALLY. IT'S A VERY SMALL PORTION OF A RESIDUAL ALLEY THAT USED TO GO ACROSS THE EAST-WEST THERE. IT'S ONLY EIGHT HUNDRED AND SIXTY SQUARE FEET. [INAUDIBLE]. IT'S BETWEEN 1702 AND 1728 SEAWALL, WHICH IS PROSPECTIVELY A DOUBLETREE HOTEL AND SALTWATER SHOP HERE AT THE CORNER. THE APPLICANT IS ALEJANDRO [INAUDIBLE] AND THE 17TH STREET PROPERTIES. BASICALLY, IF YOU'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, JANELLE. THIS AS YOU SEE IN THAT SMALL AREA BETWEEN THE TWO BUILDINGS THERE, IT DOES CONTAIN A SIX INCH WATER LINE AND AN 8 INCH SANITARY SEWER AND [INAUDIBLE]. SO THE ENTIRE GEOGRAPHY WILL BE UTILIZED AS A EASEMENT. THERE WOULD BE NO BUILDINGS BUILT ON IT. THE APPLICANT INTENDS TO USE IT AS AN OUTDOOR STORAGE BEHIND THE SHOP, AND IT WOULD BE RE PLATTED AND ADDED INTO SOUTHERN TRACT 1702, ACTUALLY THE ADJACENT OWNER AT 1728 HAD INDICATED THAT THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED IN THEIR ONE HALF AS IT WOULD OTHERWISE BE [INAUDIBLE] SO, THEY BASICALLY DID A QUICK CLAIM TO THE OTHER OWNERS. THERE WERE 11 NOTICES SENT AND FOUR RETURN, ALL IN FAVOR. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, TIM, VERY MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS FOR TIM? WE KNOW THAT, OR ARE WE JUST BASICALLY, WE ARE SELLING IT? YES. IT'S STANDARD [INAUDIBLE] PROCEDURE WHERE WE SELL, WE GO OUT TO GET AN APPRAISAL AND THEN SOLD FOR YOUR ORDER ISSUED HERE. YES, SIR. ON THE EASEMENT THAT'S GOING TO BE LAID OUT, IT'S GOING TO BE A 10 FOOT EASEMENT, 5 FOOT EASEMENT. BUT THE ENTIRE GEOGRAPHY IS IT'LL BE A 20 FOOT WIDE. OK. OUR TRACT WILL BE NUMBERED. ARE THEY PLANNING TO ENCLOSE IT? YES. THANK YOU. OK, VERY GOOD. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM MR. [INAUDIBLE]? ALL RIGHT. IT IS NOW 5:26 P.M. I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 5B. IS THERE ANYONE ON THE LINE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM? YES. WELL, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I'M ROBERT DAGEN. I REPRESENT ALEX [INAUDIBLE] IS THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY AT 1728. WE DO THIS ALLEY OR SEGMENT OF AN ALLEY HAS REALLY BECOME A NEIGHBORHOOD NUISANCE. [00:15:03] IT ATTRACTS FOLKS FROM THE BEACH WHO THINK THAT IT'S A PUBLIC WASHROOM. IT ALSO COMPROMISES THE SECURITY OF THE TWO BUILDINGS. WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF ATTEMPTED BREAK INS AT THE BACK OF 1728 WHERE THERE IS ACTUALLY A DOOR. AND BECAUSE IT'S BLOCKED OFF LIKE THAT, YOU CAN'T REALLY SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE ALLEY TOO WELL. AND IT JUST ATTRACTS FOLKS INTO THE ALLEY. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE IT OFF WITH A GATE. IT WILL ALSO BE ASSISTIVE TO OUR BUSINESS AS IT WILL ALLOW US TO STORE A FEW MORE SURREYS AND SOME GOLF CARTS IN THE BACK OF THE BUSINESS. WE'RE AWARE OF THE CONDITIONS ON THE ABANDONMENT. WE DON'T INTEND TO BUILD ANYTHING THERE. WE'RE JUST GOING TO USE THE GATE TO CLOSE IT OFF AND STORE STUFF OVERNIGHT IN THE ALLEY THAT ARE USED IN OUR BUSINESS ON A DAILY BASIS. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, ROBERT, FOR BEING HERE. GOOD, ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM? THERE IS NO RESPONSE. IT IS 5:27 PM, I'M GOING TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 5B AND BRING THIS BACK TO COUNCIL. THIS IS IN YOUR DISTRICT, RIGHT? I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. ALL RIGHT. A MOTION FOR APPROVAL SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN ROBB. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? IT IS UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [5.C. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Amending The 2015 Galveston Land Development Regulations, By Amending ‘Article 3: District Yard, Lot And Setback Standards’, “Urban Neighborhood (UN) Addendum”, To Modify The List Of “Corner Stores – Permitted Structures” In Kempner Park By Adding The Property Address Of 2902 Avenue R; Planning Case Number 21ZA-001; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject. (C. Gorman)] ITEM 5C PLEASE, NELLIE. ITEM 5C, CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AND ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, AMENDING THE 2015 GALVESTON LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS BY AMENDING ARTICLE THREE DISTRICT YARD, LINE AND SET BACK STANDARDS FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. ADDENDUM TO MODIFY THE LIST OF CORNER STORES PERMITTED STRUCTURES IN KITMAN PARK BY ADDING THE PROPERTY ADDRESS OF 2902 AVENUE R PLANNING CASE NUMBER 21ZA-001 MAKING VARIOUS FINDING AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, NELLIE. TIM, ARE YOU ON THIS ONE? THANK YOU. THIS MENDS THE LDR WITH THE [INAUDIBLE] AS PART OF A FREE [INAUDIBLE] IN THE URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS ON ADDENDUM SIX MODIFIED WITH THE CORNER STORE PERMITTED STRUCTURES IN KITMAN PARK PRECINCT BY ADDING THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY TO 2902 AVENUE R [INAUDIBLE] LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF WHAT [INAUDIBLE]. THE APPLICANT AND OWNER IS [INAUDIBLE], AS YOU PROBABLY ARE WELL AWARE,[INAUDIBLE] IS A MIXED USE ZONE THAT ALLOWS FOR ANY PARTICLE USES ON THE NORTH. [INAUDIBLE] STREETS WITHIN THE DISTRICT. AND WHAT YOU'RE SEEING [INAUDIBLE] BUT THE UN ADDENDUM INCLUDES SEVERAL GEOGRAPHIC AREAS WHERE SPECIFIC PROPERTIES OF WATER STORED IN COMMERCIAL AND CONTINUOUS CORNER STORES. YES, IT WANTS TO REINSTATE THE PREVIOUS COMMERCIAL ALLOWANCES TO THIS PARTICULAR BUILDING. IT WAS USED FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES PRIOR TO BECOMING A RESIDENT UNIT OF [INAUDIBLE] SEE, THAT IS A ZERO LOT LAND STRUCTURE RIGHT UP AGAINST OR AT CANOPIES THAT ENTERED INTO [INAUDIBLE] THEY INTEND TO USE AS UPSTAIRS RESIDENTIAL UNIT AND THEN THE GROUND FLOOR AND [INAUDIBLE] AROMATHERAPY OILS, BACK OILS THESE THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND THEN THEY ALSO TEND TO REINSTALL THE COMMERCIAL DOORS, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. BECAUSE YOU CAN KIND OF SEE WHERE THEY HAVE THAT CORNER 45 DEGREE DOOR LIKE SO MANY OF THOSE CORNER STORES DID. THEY'RE GOING TO REINSTALL THAT AND THEN HAVE A SIDEWALK ALONG THE SOUTH SIDE. AND IN THIS PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED IT ON MAY 4TH,'21 AND STAFF RECOMMENDS [INAUDIBLE]. OH, AND LET ME ALSO SAY THE RED LETTERING ON THE [INAUDIBLE] PART PORTION OF THE DIAGRAM RIGHT THERE IS REALLY THE ONLY TEXT THAT WOULD BE AMENDED [INAUDIBLE] VERY GOOD. [00:20:01] ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FROM A STRATEGIC ON THIS? I HAVE A QUESTION. YES, THIS DWELLING WASN'T IT A HALFWAY HOUSE AT ONE TIME? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW THAT I KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT. IT DID REVERT TO RESIDENTIAL AND APPARENTLY SOME AREAS AT SOME POINT THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE RE USED THE BOTTOM AS. WELL. THEY WANT TO RAISE THE BOTTOM SO THE TOP IS GOING TO BE AN APARTMENT? IT WILL BE THERE, THEY'RE GOING TO LIVE THERE. THEY'RE GOING TO LIVE IN IT. THE OWNER OF THE SHOP. BECAUSE I'M FAMILIAR WITH THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY. OK. BECAUSE RIGHT BEHIND IT, YOU'VE GOT A DWELLING. SO IS THERE ANY PROBLEM WITH BEING COMMERCIAL TO THE PROPERTY RIGHT IN BACK OF IT. ANY ISSUES? IT HISTORICALLY WAS A COMMERCIAL USE. AND SO THEY ARE TRYING TO REINSTATE IT TO THAT PURPOSE [INAUDIBLE]. HAVE THEY ALREADY STARTED CONSTRUCTION, PUTTING UP FENCES AND ALL? NO, NOT YET. YOU NEED TO CHECK IT. YES, SIR. IF I WAS YOU I WOULD CHECK IT. OK. ALL RIGHT. I JUST THINK THAT [INAUDIBLE]. I GET THE MARSHALS GO OUT THERE. WELL, ACTUALLY, THEY CAN BUILD A FENCE FOR THE RESIDENTS [INAUDIBLE]. IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE FRONT DOOR AND WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE HIGH FENCE. IT'S GOING TO BE SEVEN FOOT. EIGHT FOOT IS GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, SO YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THAT. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CODES ARE, BECAUSE I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT I WILL CERTAINLY LOOK, I'M VERY SORRY. YOU SAID THEY'RE PLANNING ON DOING A SIDEWALK IN THE FRONT GOING I GUESS, BUT THE EAST WEST DID THEY LEAVE LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY DOWN THE ROAD IF THEY WANTED TO GET LIKE A LCU AND UTILIZE IT FOR THE TABLES LIKE, YOU KNOW, SPACE OUT THERE, OR IS THAT ALLOWED IN THE DISTRICT? I GUESS POTENTIALLY IT COULD BE BECAUSE THEY'VE NOT APPLIED FOR ANYTHING IN THIS PARTICULAR APPLICATION, BUT [INAUDIBLE]. OK, SO IF WE SURVEY THE NEIGHBORHOOD [INAUDIBLE] AND THIS WAS DONE THROUGH THE PLANNING COMMISSION, HOWEVER, TEXT AMENDMENTS ARE TYPICALLY[INAUDIBLE]. IT'S JUST IN A GENERAL SENSE, THAT'S ALL. THERE IS A GEOGRAPHIC ELEMENT INVOLVED WITH IT. THEY'RE SIMPLY PART OF THE TEAM [INAUDIBLE]. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM THIS STRATEGIC? IT IS NOW 5:34 P.M. AND WE'RE OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 5C, IF ANYONE ON THE LINE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE SPEAK UP. HEARING NO RESPONSE. IT IS 5:34 P.M. WE'RE CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM AND BRINGING THIS BACK TO COUNCIL FOR ACTION. I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN SCHUSTER FOR APPROVAL. I'LL SECOND THAT. VERY GOOD. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? IT IS UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU. ITEM 5D, PLEASE, NELLIE. [5.D. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Designating The Property Located At 1419 Ball / Avenue H And Legally Described As The M.B. Menard Survey, Lot 3, Block 254, In The City And County Of Galveston, Texas As A Historically Or Archeological Significant Site In Need Of Tax Relief To Encourage Its Preservation; Granting A Substantial Rehabilitation For Historic Property Tax Exemption; Designating The City Manager To Execute Those Documents Necessary To Implement The Tax Incentive Program; Landmark Case Number 21LC-019; , Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject. (C. Gorman)] ITEM 5D CONSIDER FOR A [INAUDIBLE] ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, DESIGNATING THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1419 BALL AVENUE H. LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS THE M.B MENARD SURVEY LOT THREE BLOCK 254 IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, AS A HISTORICALLY ARCHEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE SITE IN NEED OF TAX RELIEF TO ENCOURAGE ITS PRESERVATION, GRANTING A SUBSTANTIAL REHABILITATION FOR HISTORIC PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION. DESIGNATING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THOSE DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE TAX INCENTIVE PROGRAM. A LANDMARK CASE NUMBER 21LCF019 [INAUDIBLE] VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I GUESS FOR US AGAIN IN FINANCIAL. PROGRAM FOR HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT PRESERVATION, PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL REPAIR, AND WHAT IT BASICALLY DOES IS TEMPORARILY FREEZES AT PREDETERMINED VALUES. SO WE'RE STILL GETTING FREE MOVEMENT VALUE. IT'S NOT FREE, BUT 254 OF THE MBM AND OUR SURVEY LOCATIONS FOR WALL STREET HAVE DIVIDED THE OWNER. IS LEONARD [INAUDIBLE] THE CURRENT VALUE OF THE PROPERTIES, TWO HUNDRED FORTY TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED. AND THE THRESHOLD OF IMPROVEMENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM IS ONE HUNDRED AND TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS TWO HUNDRED SIXTY FIVE DOLLARS. IN THIS CASE, WE'VE[INAUDIBLE] IN THIS CASE. [00:25:08] SO IT RAISES THAT VALUE. SO THE ONLY FACTORS AT THAT LEVEL FOR A 10 YEAR PERIOD AND OF COURSE AT THAT POINT GOING FORWARD, WE HAVE SOME BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES THERE YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE CONDITIONS OF THE RAISING OF DOORS AND ACCESS POINTS AND THINGS, AS WELL IN THE NEXT YEAR AS WELL. GO TO NEXT SLIDE NOW. THAT THERE IS A LOT OF AESTHETIC IMPROVEMENT THAT YOU CAN SEE. BUT IN THIS CASE, THERE'S ACTUALLY SOME STRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENTS. I DON'T BELIEVE THEY WERE SHOWN WHERE THEY HAD TO SHORE UP SOME ACTUAL ROTTED [INAUDIBLE] AND THEY DID SO AS WELL. SO THAT'S NOT THEM AS WELL. I THINK THE HOUSE IS IN MUCH BETTER CONDITION AS A RESULT. THANK YOU, JIM. APPRECIATE IT. ANY QUESTIONS FROM [INAUDIBLE]? I GOT A QUESTION. WHY 10 YEAR ABATEMENT FOR THIS PROPERTY? IT'S WHAT'S CALLED OUT IN THE PROGRAM GUIDELINES, WHICH WOULD GO UP IN [INAUDIBLE] . BECAUSE THE PROPERTY IS OUTRAGEOUS ON THE ISLAND RIGHT NOW. I DON'T KNOW WHY WE HAVE TO GIVE A 10 YEAR ABATEMENT TO THIS PROPERTY. WELL, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS IT'S ONLY THE INCREMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE BEING [INAUDIBLE]. THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT WAS APPROVED BY LANDMARK COMMISSION 2015, I THINK. YEAH. TO INITIATE REMODELING OF THESE HISTORIC STRUCTURES, STRUCTURES IN FREEZING THE TAXES AT THE PRE REMODELING LEVEL FOR [INAUDIBLE], JUST LIKE THAT AT 10 YEARS, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LITTLE BIT STEEP. FIVE, I WOULDN'T HAVE SAID ANYTHING, BUT YEAH, IT'S ALL UP TO THE COUNCIL WHAT THEY WANT . OK. YES, MARIE? AND VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM MR. ? ALL RIGHT. IT IS 5:39 PM AND WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 5D. IS THERE ANYONE ON THE LINE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE COMMENT ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM ? HEARING NO RESPONSE. IT IS F5:39 PM. WE'RE CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING AND BRINGING THIS BACK TO COUNCIL FOR ACTION. I' MOVE FOR APPROVAL. A MOTION FOR APPROVAL, COUNCILMAN COLLINS. I SECOND IT. SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN SCHUSTER. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ABSTAIN. WE HAVE FIVE IN APPROVAL AND ONE ABSTENTION WITH COUNCILMAN QUIROGA. ALL RIGHT, VERY GOOD. ITEM 5E, PLEASE, NELLIE. [5.E. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston Approving An Amended Service And Assessment Plan And Amended Assessment Roll For Beachside Village Public Improvement District (The “District”); Levying Assessments On Certain Property Within The District; And Enacting Other Provision Related Thereto. (Legal)] ITEM 5E CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON APPROVING AN AMENDED SERVICE AND ASSESSMENT PLAN, AN AMENDED ASSESSMENT ROLE FOR BEACHSIDE VILLAGE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. LEVY AND ASSESSMENTS ON CERTAIN PROPERTY WITHIN THE DISTRICT AND ENACTING OTHER PROVISIONS RELATED. THERETO. THANK YOU, NELLIE. DON, DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? BRIEFLY AND THEN STAY FOCUSED ON THE TOPIC OF ON THE LINE TO PICK IT UP ESSENTIALLY IN THE [INAUDIBLE] CAN SPEAK UP A LITTLE BIT? OK, [00:30:02] [INAUDIBLE]. IMPROVEMENTS INTO THE GROUND AND ASSESSMENTS ARE MADE FOR THE DISTRICT TO HELP COVER THE COSTS OF THOSE THINGS. PLUS STANDARD PRICE POINTS IN 2014. AGAIN, I THINK IT'S 2017 TO INCLUDE OTHER ADDITIONS TO BE [INAUDIBLE] NOW THAT THEY'RE PUTTING INFRASTRUCTURE INTO THE NEWLY ACQUIRED PART OF THE FARMER MARKET. AND THEY'RE ASKING TO INCLUDE [INAUDIBLE] INTO THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AND WITH THAT [INAUDIBLE] IF YOU LIKE TO PICK IT UP BEFORE WE. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO THAT AS PART OF A PUBLIC HEARING? LET'S DO THAT AS PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY QUESTIONS FOR DON AND BEFORE WE BRING THE OWNER AND MR. SCHULTZ IN? VERY GOOD. IT IS 5:42 P.M. WE'RE OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM. ONLINE, STEVE, DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? I KNOW WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS WANTING TO SPEAK. WHEN IT'S WORKING, I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT SOMEBODY MIGHT HAVE AS FAR AS THE LEGAL ISSUES GO, BRUCE AND DEBBIE ARE ALSO THERE TO ANSWER ANY FACTUAL QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT NEED. ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD. BRUCE OR DEBBIE, DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING OR JUST SEE IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS? DR. BROWN? THIS IS DEBBIE REINHART AND BRUCE AND I ARE BOTH HERE IN ANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS OR YOURSELF HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT EASTSIDE VILLAGE OR OUR PROCESS. WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER PUBLIC INPUT ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM? ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS OF BRUCE OR DEBBIE RINEHART OR STEVE SCHULTZ? VERY GOOD. NO QUESTIONS ON THAT. THANK YOU, BRUCE AND DEBBIE AND STEVE, FOR BEING HERE. IT IS 5:44 P.M. I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM. BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL. MARIE? I MOVE TO APPROVE. APPROVAL BY COUNCILWOMAN ROBB. I'M GOING TO SECOND THAT. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? IT IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT, MOVING TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND YES, STEVE [6. PUBLIC COMMENT] ? BUT I'M SORRY I DIDN'T DO IT MYSELF. OH, THANK YOU. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD. WE'RE MOVING THE PUBLIC COMMENT. FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE SOME WRITTEN COMMENTS. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF WRITTEN COMMENTS. THOSE WERE SENT TO COUNCIL HERE TODAY. JANELLE IS GOING TO PARAPHRASE THESE AS WE HAVE THEM. ALSO, WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS ON THE LINE, I'M SURE, THAT WANT TO MAKE COMMENTS. BUT LET'S START FIRST WITH THE WRITTEN COMMENTS. JANELLE, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, IF YOU COULD GIVE US THOSE, PLEASE? OF THE 45 WRITTEN COMMENTS WERE RECEIVED ONE THE SUBJECT OF 3347 SEVEN MILE ROAD. FUTURE RV PARK DESTROYING 46 ACRES OF PRAIRIE LAND. HUGE IMPACT ON FLOODING, MIGRATORY BIRDS AND OTHER WILDLIFE. TWO COMMENTS ARE AGAINST BANNING ELECTRIC BIKES ON THE SEA WALL. ONE WAS RELATED TO RADIATION AND FOUNDATION BREAKING DISTURBANCE. FOUR COMMENTS ARE RELATED TO SHORT TERM RENTAL, ALLOWING BRBO AND AIRBNB TO COLLECT HOTEL TAXES. BUT IN OPPOSITION TO SECTION 19-118, [INAUDIBLE] SHORT TERM RENTAL OWNERS SHOULD NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR TAX COLLECTORS OF THE BRBO ENTITY OR ANY OTHER VACATION RENTAL PLATFORM THAT IS COLLECTING HOT TAX REGISTRATIONS SHOULD BE A SEPARATE ORDINANCE, NOT COMING WITH THE HOT PAYMENT AND NOT ABSOLVING THE OWNER OPERATOR LIABILITY, DIRECT PAYMENTS PLATFORM. AIRBNB AND BRBO AND CONTRARY TO THE STATE OF TEXAS AGREEMENT, THE [00:35:02] RESIDENTS. OPPOSING TO RESTRICTING NIGHT DRIVING WHEN VEHICLES ARE PROPERLY EQUIPPED [INAUDIBLE], FOLLOWING A STREET LEGAL GOLF CART AS PART OF THE ISLAND LIFE THAT SETS GALVESTON APART FROM OTHER CITIES. IT WILL DIMINISH THE COOL VIBE ON THE STRAND THE HIGHER REGISTRATION FEES, NEW STATE LEGISLATION SHOULD PREVAIL OVER LOCAL COMMUNITY OPPOSED TO REQUIRING INSPECTIONS. [INAUDIBLE] FACTORY CITY RESTRICTIONS, BACKSEATS ARE IN AN AFTER MARKET ADD ON TO ALMOST ALL GOLF CARTS. BUT A FIRST YEAR IS ACCEPTED BUT FIFTY DOLLARS IS THERE FOR INCREASED ENFORCEMENT. [INAUDIBLE] GOLF CART AND USING SEA WALL BOULEVARD, KEEP GOLF CARTS IN THE RIGHT LANE ON SEA WALL. PROBLEMS INCLUDE THE LARGE NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL CART RENTALS THIS YEAR VERSUS LAST YEAR. [INAUDIBLE] GOLF CARTS, WHICH ALL STARTED BECAUSE IT WAS LOWERED ON SEA WALL ALLOW GOLF CARTS TO 51ST STREET, THIS REACTIONARY ORDINANCE SHOULD BE SPECIFIC TO RENTALS ONLY. REQUIRE RENTAL COMPANIES TO ADD GPS TRACKERS TO THEIR UNITS TO ALLOW THE MARSHALS OFFICE TO IDENTIFY VIOLATORS. ADEQUATE DETAIL FOR HANDICAPPED OWNERS, SO WE DON'T RISK HAVING OUR [INAUDIBLE]. PROVIDE CLEAR GUIDANCE IN THE ORDINANCE FOR PARKING DOWNTOWN, OFTEN SHARE SPACES TO TAKE UP LESS ROOM. ORDINANCE AND HOLD A PUBLIC MEETING TO GET INPUT FROM PRIVATE OWNERS. GET BACK TO THE PROBLEM LIKE REASONABLE REGULATIONS THAT GOVERN RENTAL CARTS TIME [INAUDIBLE] DON'T STOP IT. WHAT'S GOING ON WITHIN THE INNER CITY? CORRECT THAT PROBLEM. I DON'T SEE ANYTHING ON THE [INAUDIBLE] OBEY THE LAW, ENFORCE EXISTING TRAFFIC LAWS, TURN DOWN THE RADIO, MAKE A SEPARATE LANE FOR THEM. REGARDING SESSION 34-20345 REGISTRATION BY THE STATE, SECTION A. IF THE LICENSE PLATE IS REQUIRED, THE FEE SHOULD BE LOWERED FOR GOLF CART PARKING, AS IT SHOULD BE FROM MOTORCYCLES. AND SEVERAL CARTS CAN OCCUPY THE SAME SPACE OF ONE CAR. C SPECIAL PARKING SPACES SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO BE SIMILAR FOR THESE SMALLER VEHICLES. RENTAL COMPANIES SHOULD NOT TAKE THE BURDEN OF YEARLY PERMITS BY PAYING TWO HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS PER CART A YEAR. WE ARE USING ANY OF THESE FOR WEDDINGS AND SPECIAL EVENTS. AND THIS OBVIOUSLY EFFECT OUR BUSINESS AND THAT'S THE CONCLUSION OF THE SUMMARY OF PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH JANELLE. APPRECIATE THAT. NOW, I KNOW WE HAVE THOSE THAT ARE ON THE LINE FOR COMMENTS. I WOULD SAY THAT COUNCIL IS, OF COURSE, ANXIOUS TO HEAR ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF COMMENTS CONCERNING GOLF CARTS. AND IF YOU FELT THAT IT WAS COVERED IN SOME OF OUR DISCUSSIONS ALREADY, FEEL FREE TO NOT MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT. BUT WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO SAY. WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP NOW FOR THOSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT, WE'RE GOING TO SEE IF WE CAN GET A VIDEO. GET YOU ON THE VIDEO, THOUGH. SO, JANELLE, CAN YOU GO AHEAD AND START THOSE, PLEASE, MA'AM? YES SIR. BRENDA PARKER. BRENDA. OK, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, BRENDA. GO RIGHT AHEAD, HAVE THREE MINUTES, BRENDA. GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS BRENDA WASHINGTON PARKER. I WAS BORN [INAUDIBLE], BUT TODAY I WANT TO SHARE SOME INFORMATION WITH YOU REGARDING RESIDENTIAL PARKING, SECTION 34 DASH 116, SPECIFICALLY LEAVING A VEHICLE IN THE SAME POSITION FOR MORE THAN 48 HOURS, A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION. OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. I'VE MADE A NUMBER OF CALLS TO CODE ENFORCEMENT, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, TO THE SECRETARY'S OFFICE AND SO FORTH. AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE, BEEN DILIGENT AND CONCERNED. I MADE MORE CALLS. AND EVENTUALLY I WAS CONNECTED WITH MR. CHRIS, WHO ANSWERED FROM CODE ENFORCEMENT. [INAUDIBLE] MR. CHRIS SEEMED TO BE AGITATED BY MY CALLS TO A POINT TO RUDENESS. [00:40:05] MR. CHRIS INFORMED ME THAT GALVESTON HAD FREE PARKING AND PEOPLE CAN PARK ANYWHERE THEY WANT TO AND AS LONG AS THEY WANT TO AND HE EXTENDED THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT AREA, MAY NOT DO ANYTHING. IT'S UP TO THEM. HOWEVER, THE RESIDENTIAL PARKING CODE CLEARLY STATES THAT A VEHICLE CAN NO LONGER THAN 48 HOURS WITHOUT MOVING. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED AT 5212 AVENUE M AND PART OF 5210 AVENUE M FOR ONE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED FORTY HOURS WITHOUT MOVING. THE VEHICLE IS A BURGUNDY COLORED DODGE RAM TRUCK LICENSE NUMBER TEXAS GJC5627. I DON'T KNOW WHO THE OWNER IS OR THE REASON THE TRUCK HAS BEEN PARKED THERE FOR SO LONG. IF IT IS ABANDONED OR A VEHICLE USE FOR SOME OTHER PURPOSES, PLEASE NOTE THERE'S ALREADY BEEN A RAID IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I DON'T KNOW IF IT COULD BE A HILL. I KNOW IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE. SINCE THE CODE CLEARLY STATES THAT A VEHICLE CANNOT BE PARKED MORE THAN 48 HOURS WITHOUT MOVING. IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE CITY OF GALVESTON TO HANDLE THIS EVENT OR SITUATION EXPEDITIOUSLY. IT IS NOBLE AND IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. JANELLE, WHO WOULD BE NEXT? ANNA [INAUDIBLE]. RIGHT. ANNA, GO RIGHT AHEAD. MAYOR BROWN, AND HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR TWO YEARS, THE CITY'S CLAIM THAT DON GLYWASKY HAD CONFIRMED WITH THE STATE THAT SHORT TERM RENTAL OWNERS WERE STILL LIABLE FOR STATE AGENCY TAXES COLLECTED BY AIRBNB AFTER MAY 1ST, 2017. BY DON'S OWN ADMISSION, THIS IS NOT TRUE. CONTACT WAS FINALLY MADE WITH THE STATE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE YESTERDAY CONFIRMING WHAT WE SAID ABOUT STATE HOT TAXES FOR TWO YEARS IS CORRECT. NOW IT'S ABOUT AGENCY. THAT WORKSHOP THIS MORNING, DON EXPOUNDED AT GREAT LENGTH ABOUT THE AGENT PRINCIPAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE OWNERS AND AIRBNB AND THE WELL-FOUNDED LEGAL IMPLICATIONS THEREOF. HE MISSED THE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE, AIRBNB WOULD BE THE CITY'S AGENTS, NOT THE OWNER'S AGENTS. TRUE, THE OWNER MAY HAVE ENGAGED AIRBNB GENERALLY TO FACILITATE THE RUNNING OF ITS PROPERTIES, BUT THE CITY HOT TAX REMITTANCE IS BEING PURSUANT TO AN ORDINANCE UNDER WHICH THE CITY MANDATES AIRBNB REMIT CITY HOT TAXES, AND THE OWNER IS COMPELLED TO PARTICIPATE WITHOUT ANY DISCRETION ON THE OWNER'S PART. TO CLAIM THAT AIRBNB IS THE OWNER'S AGENT UNDER THE SCHEME MANDATED BY THE CITY FOR THE CITY'S CONVENIENCE IS LUDICROUS AND NOT WELL FOUNDED AT ALL. IT IS EVEN MORE ABSURD TO INSIST THAT OWNERS SHOULD REMAIN LIABLE FOR AMOUNTS PAID IN GOOD FAITH TO A THIRD PARTY AGENT DESIGNATED BY THE CITY IF THE THIRD PARTY FAILS TO REMIT THE MONEY TO THE CITY. WHILE THE CITY IS NOT REQUIRED TO ADOPT THE SAME APPROACH THAT THE STATE HAS VERY SUCCESSFULLY USED FOR OVER FIVE YEARS, THE CITY SHOULD AT LEAST BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHY IT IS TAKING SUCH AN UNNECESSARILY DRACONIAN APPROACH WITH RESPECT TO ITS PROPERTY OWNERS. TRYING TO HIDE BY NOT AT ALL WELL-FOUNDED LEGAL PRINCIPLE THAT FLIES IN THE FACE OF REALITY IS DISINGENUOUS AT BEST AND DELIBERATELY PUNITIVE AT WORST, PARTICULARLY WHEN TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE TENOR OF OTHER RECENT ORDINANCES AFFECTING SHORT TERM RENTALS AND PARKING. THERE ARE STILL FAR TOO MANY OPEN QUESTIONS SURROUNDING THIS MATTER. I URGE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER MARIE ROBB'S MEASURED PROPOSAL FOR DELAY TWO WEEKS IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE A SOUND DECISION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ANNA APPRECIATE THAT. JANELLE WHO'S OUR NEXT OF THE COMMENTS. IF ANYONE IS ON THE LINE AND YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AT THIS TIME. RONALD DEAN. RONALD DEAN. HE MAY BE MUTED, RONALD, OR. WE CANNOT HEAR YOU IF YOU'RE ON THE LINE, ARE YOU, IS YOUR MUTE OFF? [00:45:08] I'VE ASKED HIM TO UNMUTE MAYOR BUT HE'S STILL ON MUTE. OK, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? YES, WE CAN RONALD GO RIGHT AHEAD, SIR. YES, MY NAME IS RONALD DEAN AND MY FAMILY HAS BEEN ON THIS ISLAND FOR 140 YEARS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I LIVE IN THE SAME HOUSE THAT MY FATHER LIVED IN AND MY GRANDFATHER LIVED IN. SO I'M NOT NEW TO THIS ISLAND, I OWN THE HOUSE AND I OWN PROPERTY ON THE ISLAND. AND I SHOULD BE PRIVILEGED TO THE SAME SERVICES THAT ANY OTHER TAXPAYING CITIZENS ARE PRIVY TO. AND WE MAKE A COMPLAINT. I THINK THAT COMPLAINT SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY, SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF. NOW, WHEN WE CALL THESE OFFICE AND DON'T GET A RESPONSE, WE KEEP CALLING UNTIL SOMEONE DOES ANSWER THE PHONE. THIS GENTLEMAN ANSWERED THE PHONE AND HE WAS SOMEWHAT RUDE WOULD SERVE NO PURPOSE. SO WE NEED TO WE NEED TO HAVE THESE DEPARTMENTS BE A LITTLE BIT MORE PLEASANT AND PATIENT WITH US ON THE PHONE SO JUST LIKE MS. [INAUDIBLE] SAID, WE HAD A TRUCK PARKED OUT THERE AND IT'S BEEN THERE FOR TWO MONTHS, ONE HUNDRED AND 40 HOURS, I MEAN, 1440 HOURS. AND SOMETHING SURELY SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THAT. AND I'M THINKING IF IT HAD BEEN IN ANOTHER UPSCALE NEIGHBORHOOD IT WOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN THIS LONG FOR IT TO BE ADDRESSED. SO I'M [INAUDIBLE] THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ENOUGH IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT BETWEEN 53RD AND 52ND ON M [INAUDIBLE] OUR PROPERTY AND WE WANT IT TO BE A CLEAN, NICE, GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD. SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, RONALD. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. ALL RIGHT, JANELLE, ANYONE ELSE? I DON'T SEE ANY ADDITIONAL HANDS MAYOR. THEY'RE VERY GOOD. I'LL MAKE ONE LAST CALL FOR ANYONE ONLINE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT. HEARING NO RESPONSE WE'LL MOVE TO ORDINANCES NOT REQUIRING PUBLIC HEARINGS. [7.A. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Ordering And Calling A Special Election To Be Held In The City Of Galveston On The 28th Day Of August, 2021, For The Purpose Of Electing A District Council Member For District One For A Term Ending In May 2022; Making Provisions For The Conduct And Giving Notice Of The Election; Designating Polling Places; Designating Dates And Hours For Early Voting; Designating The Date And Hours For The Election Day; Providing For Publication Of The Notice Of The Election; Providing Bilingual Election Requirements; Providing For A Severability Clause; Providing An Open Meetings Clause; Providing A Savings Clause; Declaring Findings Of Fact; And Providing For An Effective Date. (Legal)] ITEM SEVEN A PLEASE NELLIE. ITEM 7A CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AN ORDINANCE FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS ORDERING AND CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON ON THE 28TH DAY OF AUGUST 2021. FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING A DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT ONE. FOR A TERM ENDING IN MAY 2022, MAKING PROVISION FOR THE CONDUCT AND GIVING NOTICE OF THE ELECTION, DESIGNATING POLLING PLACES, DESIGNATING DATES AND HOURS FOR EARLY VOTING, DESIGNATING DATES AND HOURS FOR THE ELECTION DAY, PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION OF THE NOTICE OF THE ELECTION, PROVIDING BILINGUAL ELECTION REQUIREMENTS, PROVIDING FOR A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, PROVIDING AN OPEN MEETINGS CLAUSE, PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE, DECLARING FINDINGS OF FACT AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THANK YOU, NELLIE. THIS PARTICULAR ITEM COUNCIL, WHICH WE HAD A ORDINANCE IN OUR PACKAGE AND WE HAVE BEEN PRESENTED AT OUR PLACES HERE SOME AN AMENDED ORDINANCE. DON WHEN YOU TALK, IF YOU COULD TALK ABOUT THOSE AMENDMENTS PLEASE. SURE, FIRST, I AM DELIGHTED THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS GIVEN US PERMISSION TO HAVE A SPECIAL SPECIAL ELECTION ON A NON UNIFORM DAY WITHOUT HIS PERMISSION. WE COULD NOT MOVE FORWARD ON THIS. WE HAD PUT AN ORDINANCE, BUT WE HAD TO WAIT TO FILL IN SOME OF THE BLANKS. WE DID NOT KNOW WHEN GOVERNOR WOULD [INAUDIBLE]. BUT BASICALLY WHAT WE HAVE PROVIDED IS IN THE ORDINANCE A FILING PERIOD TO BEGIN JUNE 1ST, WHICH IS NEXT WEDNESDAY I THINK OR TUESDAY, SO CLOSING ON THE TWENTY THIRD. SO THAT GIVES US BASICALLY A THREE WEEK FILING PERIOD. IT GIVES US WE ARE DESIGNATING EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS AS THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE ANNEX ON BROADWAY AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO USE THE HISTORIC PUMP STATION BUILDING AT 30TH AND [INAUDIBLE]. THAT IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE USED IT AS A POLLING PLACE. I SAW IT THE OTHER DAY AND I THINK WOULD THE GREAT. THEN FINALLY, AFTER EARLY VOTING IS OVER, WE WILL CONDUCT THE DISTRICT ONE ELECTION IN THAT BUILDING AS WELL. WE'LL MAKE SURE TO GET THE COUNTY PEOPLE OVER THERE TO MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING IS AS THEY NEED IT WHEN THE TIME COMES. [00:50:02] THAT BASICALLY IS IT, AS FAR AS I RECALL, BUT I'M JUST GLAD WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS SO QUICKLY. VERY GOOD. IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR DON? MARIE. I'M JUST GOING TO MOVE TO APPROVE. VERY GOOD. WE HAVE MOTION FOR APPROVAL SECOND BY COUNCILMAN QUIROGA. ANY DISCUSSION? ONLY THING I WOULD MENTION, I KNOW YOU'LL PROBABLY DO THIS ONCE THIS IS APPROVED IF WE COULD MARISSA COULD GET OUT A PUBLIC NOTICE ON THE FILING DEADLINES. JUNE 1ST THROUGH THE 23RD. THERE IS A CORRECTION CODE REQUIRED NOTICE THAT YOU NOW WILL BE FILLING OUT. [INAUDIBLE] WE ARE SENT THE GOVERNOR A THANK YOU CARD. [INAUDIBLE] WE NEED TO DO THAT AND SEND SOME FLOWERS TOO. BUT WE, I GOT A NOTICE. I GOT CONTACTED BY THE GOVERNOR'S DEPUTY CHIEF LAST NIGHT TELLING US AND TELLING ME THAT IT WAS APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR. I THANKED HIM. I ASK HIM TO EXTEND THE GRATITUDE OF THE CITY TO THE GOVERNOR FOR THIS. SO WE GREATLY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT VERY MUCH SO. VERY GOOD. COUNCIL ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. IT IS UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [7.B. : Consider An Ordinance Amending The FY 2021 Operating Budget By Increasing Various Budgeted Expenditure Amounts In The Amount Of $3,075,444 With Funds Budgeted In Other Budgeted Accounts In A Like Amount To Adjust And Properly Record Expenses For The Fiscal Impact Of Winter Storm Uri, Additional Funding For Group Health Insurance, Funding For Unbudgeted But Necessary Costs In Finance, Wastewater, City Auditor, Elections, And Building Inspection, And Routine Adjustments To Special Fund Budgets To Reflect Fund Balance Outcomes Of FY 2020.] ITEM SEVEN B, IF WE COULD NELLIE. ITEM 7B CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2021 OPERATING BUDGET BY INCREASING VARIOUS BUDGETED EXPENDITURE AMOUNTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,075,444 WITH FUNDS BUDGETED IN OTHER BUDGETED ACCOUNTS IN A LIKE AMOUNT TO ADJUST AND PROPERLY RECORD EXPENSES FOR THE FISCAL IMPACT OF WINTER STORM URI, ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR GROUP HEATH INSURANCE, FUNDING FOR UNBUDGETED BUT NECESSARY COSTS IN FINANCE, WASTEWATER, CITY AUDITOR, ELECTIONS, AND BUILDING INSPECTION AND ROUTINE ADJUSTMENTS TO SPECIAL FUND BUDGETS TO REFLECT FUND BALANCE OF FISCAL YEAR 2020 . THANK YOU VERY MUCH, NELLIE. MIKE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE THIS? YES, THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL, IT'S GOOD TO SPEAK TO YOU. WE PUBLISHED OUR SECOND QUARTER BUDGET STATUS REPORT AND DISTRIBUTED IT ELECTRONICALLY A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. AND THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT IS BASED ON PROBLEMS, IF YOU WILL, ISSUES THAT WE'VE ENCOUNTERED SINCE THE BUDGET WAS ORIGINALLY ADOPTED BACK IN THE FALL. AND IT IT'S A LITTLE COMPLICATED BECAUSE THE CONFLUENCE OF THINGS HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME. BUT HOPEFULLY WE'VE LAID IT OUT IN THE STAFF REPORT TO MAKE IT UNDERSTANDABLE. THERE'S FOUR PROBLEM AREAS. OF COURSE, WE'RE ALL AWARE OF THE WINTER STORM. THE CITY SPENT ABOUT A MILLION SEVEN IN RESPONDING TO THE WINTER STORM. NOT ALL OF THAT WAS ON BUDGETED COST MUCH OF THAT WAS STRAIGHT TIME AND ALSO WE'RE ACCOUNTING EQUIPMENT COST AND THAT WAS NOT BUDGETED AS WELL. SO WE'RE PROPOSING TO ADJUST VARIOUS DEPARTMENT ACCOUNTS TO THE TUNE OF SEVEN HUNDRED TWENTY EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE UNBUDGETED COST OF THE WINTER STORM. AND NOT TO CONFUSE THE ISSUE, IT DID COST A TOTAL OF A MILLION SEVEN. AND THAT DIFFERENCE IS BASICALLY FORCED ACCOUNT LABOR. ALSO, BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF DISASTERS WE'VE HAD IN THE LAST YEAR, WE'VE HAD TO STAND UP A GROUP LED BY [INAUDIBLE] WITH SOME SOME TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO SUBMIT ALL OF THE COSTS THAT WE'VE HAD FROM THE WINTER STORM, HURRICANE LAURA, THE CARES ACT REIMBURSEMENT FOR COVID-19 RELATED COSTS AND ANSWER EVERY DETAILED QUESTION THAT THE STATE AGENCIES THROW AT THE CITY. IF YOU WANT TO HEAR SOME GOOD STORIES, SOMETIMES ASK TESSA ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE WITH THAT, AND IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN, BUT WE HAVE TO APPLY RESOURCES TO THAT AND WE ARE BEGINNING TO GET OUR MONEY BACK. WE HOPEFULLY WILL HAVE THE CARES ACT MONEY WITHIN A MATTER OF A WEEK OR LESS. SO THERE'S THOSE ADJUSTMENTS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE WINTER STORM. SECONDLY, ON A MORE ROUTINE NOTE, WHEN THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT WAS PUBLISHED, WE HAD THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS HIGHER ENDING FUND BALANCES IN THE SPECIAL FUNDS. THESE MONIES CAN ONLY BE SPENT ON THE PURPOSES SPECIFIED IN THE ORDINANCE OR THE LAW THAT GOVERNS THE FUNDS. AND SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS THEY'RE REFLECTED IN THE FUND BALANCES OF THOSE FUNDS NOW, AND [00:55:02] WE'RE ASKING TO ESTABLISH AN EXPENDITURE BUDGET FOR IT JUST IN THE EVENTUALITY THAT IT IS NEEDED BEFORE THE YEAR'S OUT. AND THAT'S STANDARD PROCEDURE FOR SPECIAL FUND. THE THIRD ITEM IS THE HEALTH BENEFITS PLAN. AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS. I BELIEVE WE'VE GOT A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE PROBLEM ADDRESSED IN THIS AMENDMENT. WE'RE SUGGESTING REALLOCATION OF 600,000 DOLLARS TO THE VARIOUS OPERATING FUNDS THAT SET ASIDE MONEY FOR THE FOR THE HEALTH, HEALTH INSURANCE OF OUR EMPLOYEES. AND WE'RE PROPOSING TO FUND THAT FROM THE FUND BALANCE OF THE DIFFERENT FUNDS. WE ALSO GOT A CATEGORY CALLED PREVIOUSLY UNBUDGETED, BUT NECESSARY COSTS. AND I SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME WITH THE STAFF REPORT EXPLAINING THIS. OF COURSE, YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE ELECTIONS COST AND SITUATION WITH A NUMBER OF ELECTIONS WE'VE HAD. THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT STAFF STAFFING NEEDS. WE'VE ADDRESSED THAT THIS YEAR AND WE HAD WE HAD SOME TURNOVER. WE REPLACED OUR PEOPLE THAT LEFT WITH SOME REALLY COMPETENT PEOPLE LIKE WE HAVE AND ADDED A POSITION FOR COMPLIANCE ACCOUNTING, WHICH PUTS US IN A PROACTIVE MODE ON CONTRACTUAL ISSUES WITH A FINANCIAL CONTENT. THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL POSITION OF BUILDING PERMITS TECHNICIAN IN THE BUILDING INSPECTION OFFICE AND SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT COUNCIL APPROVED EARLIER THIS YEAR FOR THE CITY AUDITORS TECHNICALLY BEING INCLUDED IN THIS AMENDMENT TO ROUND THAT OUT. WE'RE COVERING ALL OF THAT WITH UNDER RUNS IN THE STREETS AND THE TRAFFIC DEPARTMENTS AND THE RESERVE FOR THE CIVILIAN COST OF LIVING INCREASE, WHICH IS BEING ABSORBED IN THE VARIOUS OPERATING DEPARTMENTS. THE SUPER FUND IS IS A MAJOR PORTION OF THIS MILLION FOUR FOR UNBUDGETED BUT NECESSARY COSTS. WE'RE ADDING SEVEN HUNDRED ELEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS TO THE SEWER FUND. 200,000 OF THAT IS TO CORRECT THE SALARY ERROR THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY DISCLOSED IN THE FIRST QUARTER REPORT. BUT THE BALANCE OF IT, A HALF MILLION IS TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES THAT MR. PEDRAZA TALKED ABOUT THIS MORNING. WERE TALKING ABOUT THE AMERICAN RECOVERY PLAN ACT AND THE VARIOUS INI SITUATIONS. THE SITUATION HE DESCRIBED IS ACTUALLY PART OF THIS FOUR HUNDRED NINETY NINE THOUSAND BUDGET AMENDMENT. INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS, THREE HUNDRED EIGHTY TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS THERE THAT WILL BE BILLED BACK TO OPERATING FUNDS FOR LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE. ADDITIONAL COST FOR CITYWIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES AND TO PAY FOR GPS TRACKING UNITS TO THE GARAGE, NOW ALL OF THAT IS WRAPPED INTO THIS ORDINANCE. WE DO THIS TO ADDRESS ISSUES AS WE CAN IDENTIFY THEM WHEN THEY COME UP. WE DO PROJECTIONS IN EVERY FUND AT THE LOCAL LEVEL TO SUPPORT THE STATUS REPORT. AND THE BUDGET TEAM IS IS VERY DEDICATED TO THIS PROCESS AND IDENTIFIED PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS [INAUDIBLE]? MIKE WE APPRECIATE, THANKS FOR BEING HERE. VERY GOOD. I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF ITEM SEVEN. B, IS THERE A SECOND. I'LL SECOND THAT. AND SECOND BY COUNCILMAN COLLINS, ALL THOSE DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. IT IS UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NELLIE ITEM SEVEN C PLEASE. [7.C. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Amending "The Code Of The City Of Galveston 1982, As Amended”, Chapter 19, “Licenses, Permits And Business Regulations”, Article VI, “Short Term Rentals” By Adding Sections 19-117 Related To Advertisement Of Short Term Rental Units And Section 19-118 Related To Online Short Term Rental Platforms; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject; Providing For An Effective Date. (M. Loftin)] ITEM SEVEN C CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS AMENDING THE CODE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON 1982 AS AMENDED CHAPTER 19 LICENSES, PERMITS AND BUSINESS REGULATIONS, ARTICLE 6, SHORT TERM RENTALS BY ADDING SECTIONS 19-117 RELATED TO ADVERTISEMENT OF SHORT TERM RENTAL UNITS AND SECTION 19-118 RELATED TO ONLINE SHORT TERM RENTAL PLATFORM. MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MIKE. YES, WELL, LET ME HAVE MIKE. MIKE, GO RIGHT AHEAD. DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? SURE. I'M HAPPY TOO, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS ONE THIS MORNING. THIS IS ACTUALLY CORRECTING AN INEQUITABLE SITUATION THAT EXISTS RIGHT NOW WITH AS MANY AS A THOUSAND SHORT TERM RENTAL UNITS THAT ARE LOCATED IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON. WE BELIEVE IT'S IN THAT RANGE BECAUSE OF THE DOLLAR DIFFERENCE THAT WE SEE THE STATE COLLECTING ON A PENNY PER PENNY BASIS AS COMPARED WITH OUR NUMBERS AND THE AVERAGE AMOUNT [01:00:05] THAT OUR REGISTERED SHORT TERM RENTAL OWNERS PAY IN TAX EACH YEAR. THERE'S THAT MANY UNITS THAT SALES STAY, STAY, HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES BEING COLLECTED WHEN THERE'S A RENTAL. BUT THE LOCAL TAX IS NOT WHAT THIS ORDINANCE DOES IS REQUIRES IT, THAT WHOEVER IS IS COLLECTING THE STATE TAX FOR A CITY OF GALVESTON SHORT TERM RENTAL, THAT THEY WOULD ADD OUR NINE PERCENT TAX ON TOP OF THAT. THAT'S THE THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT WE'RE ACCOMPLISHING. THE OTHER THING IS, IF YOU ADVERTISE ANY OF OUR UNITS, THAT YOU WOULD CARRY THE REGISTRATION NUMBER ON THAT POSTED ADVERTISEMENT, WHETHER IT'S ONLINE OR A BULLETIN BOARD OR WHATEVER. AND ULTIMATELY WE THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE THOUSAND REGISTRATIONS. BUT THE FIRST REQUIREMENT FOR COLLECTION ACCOMPLISHES THE PURPOSE, WE BELIEVE, OF EVENING OUR COLLECTIONS UP WITH THE STATE. AND THE DIFFERENCE RIGHT NOW IS ESTIMATED AT BETWEEN TWO AND A HALF MILLION AND THREE MILLION A YEAR. IT'S OVER DUE. WE BELIEVE IF THERE IS A RESCHEDULED CONSIDERATION OF THIS, IF IT'S DEFERRED WE'D BE LOOKING AT PROBABLY A 30 DAY DELAY IN THE IMPLEMENTATION TIME FOR AUGUST 1ST AND SEPTEMBER 1ST TO HAVE THAT LAND ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH. ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD, MARIE. WELL, I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF CONFUSION ON THIS. I EVEN HAD TO CALL DON, IN BETWEEN WORKSHOP AND THIS MEETING TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING. SO I THINK THERE'S CONFUSION THAT ONE, PEOPLE THINK WE'RE APPROVING A VOLUNTARY COLLECTION AGREEMENT, WHICH WE ARE NOT APPROVING A VOLUNTARY COLLECTION AGREEMENT. WHAT WE'RE DOING AND I WANT TO IF I CAN STATE THIS RIGHT, MAYBE OTHER PEOPLE WILL UNDERSTAND. WHAT WE'RE DOING IS SIMPLY GIVING APPROVAL FOR ANY [INAUDIBLE], ANY RENTAL WILL HAVE TO HAVE A LICENSE NUMBER. WE ARE NOT SETTING UP FEE. WE ARE NOT SAYING THAT IF THIS OR THAT. WE ARE SAYING IF YOU'RE A RENTAL, YOU'LL HAVE TO SHOW A LICENSE NUMBER ON YOUR RENTAL. THE RENTAL FEE HAS NOT BEEN DECIDED. THAT WILL BE DECIDED. IT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT COMES BACK TO COUNCIL. THERE IS PRESENTLY A RENTAL FEE THAT'S BEING LOOKED AT BEING ASSESSED. WHAT IS IT NOW? REGISTRATION. RIGHT. SO THIS IS ASSIGNING A NUMBER TO THE REGISTRATION FEE THAT WILL REQUIRE ANY RENTAL TO HAVE TO SHOW THAT IN THEIR ADVERTISING. SO WE'RE NOT PUTTING A NUMBER TO IT. THE NUMBER NOW IS LIKE FIFTY DOLLARS FOR LIFETIME, BUT WITH THAT NUMBER WILL BE A LICENSE FEE THAT HAS TO SHOW IN THEIR ADVERTISEMENT. SO THIS IS NOT IF YOU'RE A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY, YOU'LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THE NINE PERCENT. IF YOU ARE A PERSON WHO DOES YOUR OWN RENTING THROUGH X, Y, Z, THEN THEY WOULD BE. SO I GUESS MAYBE THIS IS A QUESTION I HAVE. SO YOU'RE A PERSON WHO RENTS YOUR HOUSE. YOU YOU ADVERTISE ON VRBO. AND OR AIRBNB, WHICHEVER ONE. THEN IF YOU'RE NOT IF YOU'RE CURRENTLY PAYING THE TAXES, YOU WILL STILL CONTINUE TO PAY THAT TAX. RIGHT. IS THAT CORRECT? IF YOU'RE PAYING THE TAXES YOURSELF [INAUDIBLE]. YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO PAY THE TAX, EVEN IF. IF AIRBNB COLLECTS THE TAXES THEY WOULD PAY THE TAX. THEY WOULD PAY THE TAX. THE ONLY PEOPLE THIS APPLIES TO IS ANY AND I DON'T USE THE TERM PLATFORM. ANY MANAGEMENT OR ANY GROUP THAT COLLECTS THE TAX WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THE TAX. IF THEY COLLECT THE STATE TAX, COLLECT THE CITY TAX. IF THEY DON'T COLLECT THE STATE TAX, THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO OURS. BUT WE ARE NOT SIGNING AT VCA A VOLUNTARY COLLECTION AGREEMENT AND WE ARE REQUIRING A LICENSE NUMBER TO BE DEMONSTRATED TO BE SHOWN ON ANY RENTAL OF ANY PROPERTY. SO I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF CONFUSION EARLIER THAT EVEN I HAD, WHICH IS WHY I CALLED, BECAUSE IT'S LIKE I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THIS. I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT IN DOING THIS, WE STILL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO DISCUSS HOW WE [01:05:02] MOVE FORWARD AS WE COME UP WITH THESE AND SO FORTH. SO I JUST I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS. THE ONE THING I DID ASK DON TO CHANGE, WHICH HE DID CHANGE, WAS WE HAD THE TERM LEASE. AND LEASE TYPICALLY APPLIES TO SOMETHING THAT'S RUNNING FOR MORE THAN 30 DAYS. SO WE'VE CHANGED THAT TO CHANGE IT. WE CHANGED THAT TO RENTAL AGREEMENT. AND WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING, I'M COMFORTABLE WITH MOVING FORWARD ON THIS TODAY AS OPPOSED TO WHAT I THOUGHT YOU WERE SAYING EARLIER. SAYING THAT I'M GOING TO START THE DISCUSSION. I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AMENDED ORDINANCE THAT COUNCILWOMAN ROBB HAD REQUESTED AMENDMENTS TO, THE ORDINANCE THAT AS OUTLINED AND AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED, IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN COLLINS. NOW, DISCUSSION. I JUST WANT TO COMPLEMENT COUNCILWOMAN ROBB FOR WORKING THROUGH THAT UNDERSTANDING AND DELINEATING THAT PRETTY CLEARLY HERE, THE ENFORCEMENT, ALL THAT STUFF THAT'S YET TO BE DECIDED, YET TO BE DISCUSSED. WE'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT TAX COLLECTION TODAY. THAT IS THAT IS CORRECT. AND ASSIGNING A NUMBER TO PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT PART. RIGHT. THAT IS CORRECT. I'M SORRY. YES SIR. SO THE REGISTRATION NUMBER IS THE SYSTEM THAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE WITH THE PARK BOARD? YES. IT IS. AT PARK BOARD WE'RE WORKING ON BEEFING THAT UP BECAUSE GOING FROM A ONE TIME REGISTRATION TO A RECURRING REGISTRATION IS GOING TO REQUIRE SOME ADDITIONAL SOFTWARE UPGRADES AND SO FORTH. BUT IT DOESN'T IT DOESN'T MATTER FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY THAT WE'RE WORKING ON THAT. BUT THAT ISN'T EFFECTED. SO WE DON'T HAVE THAT PART YET. BUT WITH THE LISTING ON AIRBNB, THAT IS THAT SYSTEM READY TO GO, LIKE FOR ME TO PUT THE REGISTRATION NUMBER ON THE BUT IT DOESN'T IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT AIRBNB WILL NOW BE CONTROLLING YOUR PAYMENT OF PROPERTY TAX. ALL IT MEANS IS THAT LICENSE NUMBER IS GOING TO BE ON THERE. CORRECT. JUST ONE ONE ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATION TO THE LANGUAGE IN THE ORDINANCE IN THE LAST SECTION THAT TALKS ABOUT OWNERS BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR TAX, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT'S BEING COLLECTED ON THE [INAUDIBLE], THERE IS A NEW DOCTRINE IN THE STATE SALES TAX LAW THAT HAS ARISEN OUT OF THE INTERNET SALES ERA THAT'S ACTUALLY RECOGNIZING THIS DYNAMIC BETWEEN SOMEBODY THAT SIGNS UP WITH ONE OF THESE BIG INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONS TO BUY OR SELL SOMETHING, AMAZON OR SUCH AS AND IF YOU GOT YOUR RECEIPT THAT DOCUMENTS THAT TAX WAS PAID, THAT IT CAME OUT OF THE TRANSACTION ITSELF THEN YOU EXERCISED YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SEE THAT TAXES ARE BEING PAID. SO PEOPLE JUST NEED TO HOLD ON TO THE RECEIPTS, WHICH THEY'RE DOING ANYWAY. I'M SURE. THEY NEED TO DO THAT ANYWAY. YEAH. I WANTED TO SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR BRINGING AN ORDINANCE TO US, IN MY OPINION, IS VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT. I THINK MARIE OUTLINED IT VERY WELL. IT'S A THIS IS A DIFFICULT THING THAT STAFF HAS GONE THROUGH WORKING THROUGH THIS. AND THIS IS NOT BEEN IN A VACUUM. THEY HAVE HAD MULTIPLE MEETINGS WITH EVERY STAKEHOLDER THAT'S INVOLVED WITH THIS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS ORDINANCE WAS AS EQUITABLE AS POSSIBLE. SO I WANT TO COMPLIMENT YOU ON THAT. I'M GOING TO CALL MR. LOFTIN HE CAN EXPLAIN WHY WE HAVE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE STATE AND THE CITY? WE'VE ALWAYS HAD SOME DIFFERENCE BUT IT USED TO GO THE OTHER WAY, AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE AUDITORS BROUGHT UP EVERY YEAR WITH US, AND IT WAS BECAUSE THE CITY AT THAT TIME WAS WORKING, REGISTERING THE SHORT TERM RENTAL OPERATORS, BUT THE STATE WASN'T. AND THE CHART THAT'S IN THE STAFF REPORT, YOU SEE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, SEVEN, EIGHT, 10 YEARS, THE CITY COLLECTED MORE. BUT THEN IN THE SPRING OF 17, I THINK IS WHEN THE AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED WITH AIRBNB, THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. AND THEN THEY SIGNED AN AGREEMENT IN THE SPRING OF 19, THE STATE DID TO FOR HOMEAWAY TO BEGIN COLLECTING TAXES, AND THAT UNIVERSAL REQUIREMENT SHOT THEIR COLLECTIONS AHEAD OF OURS ON A PER PENNY BASIS, NOT NOT TOTAL DOLLARS, BUT JUST LOOKING [01:10:01] AT WHAT EACH PENNY WAS WORTH. AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GETTING THESE ESTIMATES FROM. IS BRYSON FRAZIER'S ESTIMATE FOR THIS YEAR, WHICH I BELIEVE IS PRETTY ACCURATE, IS OVER THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS PER PENNY. SO YOU HAVE TO MULTIPLY THAT BY NINE TO SEE WHAT THE POTENTIAL BENEFIT TO THE CITY IS. IF WE JUST GET THAT NINE PERCENT ADDED TO EVERY TRANSACTION THAT THE SIX PERCENT IS ON [INAUDIBLE] FOR THE STATE. WHICH YOU WOULD THINK WOULD BE A SIMPLE [INAUDIBLE]. VERY GOOD. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. I'LL ABSTAIN. ALL THOSE AGAINST AND, WE HAVE ONE ABSTENTION SO THAT'S FIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS IN FAVOR, COUNCIL MEMBER SCHUSTER HAS ABSTAINED. JUST WANT TO THANK MIKE AND DON [INAUDIBLE]. THEY SPENT A WHOLE LOT OF TIME ON THIS. IT WAS A PLEASURE. ACTUALLY, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBB EXPLAINED IT BETTER THAN I COULD, SO I APPRECIATE THAT. WELL, I WAS CONVINCED, THEN ONCE WE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK--THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR TWO YEARS. YES. YEAH. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. 7D, PLEASE, NELLIE. [7.D. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Discontinuing The State Of Disaster And Emergency In The City Of Galveston Related To The Winter Storm Of 2021; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject And Providing For An Effective Date. (Legal)] ITEM 7D CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AN ORDINANCE FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS DISCONTINUING THE STATE OF DISASTER AND EMERGENCY IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON ABLE, RELATED TO THE WINTER STORM OF 2021, MAKING VERY FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO [INAUDIBLE] AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND DON, IF YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING, DON'T USE THE WORD JURY. FINALLY HIT 80'S. [LAUGHTER] [INAUDIBLE] 82, I THINK WE'RE OK. I THINK WE CAN LET THIS ONE GO. WHO NAMED THE STORM ANYWAY? THE WEATHER CHANNEL DOES THAT. IT'S JUST A GIMMICK ON THEIR PART? I ALWAYS FOUND THAT IRRITATING. VERY GOOD. ENTERTAIN A MOTION, COUNCIL. MOVED TO APPROVE. SECOND. COUNCILMAN COLLINS MOVES FOR APPROVAL. SECOND, BY COUNCILWOMAN ROBB. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? IT IS UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CONSENT ITEM. [8. CONSENT ITEMS] WE HAVE A NUMBER OF CONSENT ITEMS. FIRST OF ALL, WOULD ANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS LIKE TO PULL ANY OF THESE PARTICULAR ITEMS TO [INAUDIBLE] INDIVIDUALLY. HEARING NO RESPONSE [INAUDIBLE] I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT. WHICH ONE, BILL? 8C. WE'RE GOING TO PULL 8C. ANY OTHERS. VERY GOOD. I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT ITEMS 8A THROUGH 8Z AS IN ZEBRA, EXCLUDING ITEM 8C, AS IN CAT. DO I HAVE A SECOND FOR THAT? SECOND. COUNCILMAN COLLINS. DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? UNANIMOUS. ITEM 8C, NELLIE, COULD YOU READ 8C, PLEASE, MA'AM? [8.C. Amendment The City Auditor's Office 2021 Audit Plan Consider for Approval the following amendments to the City Auditor's Plan for 2021 (G. Bulgherini).] YES, SIR. ITEM 8C, AMENDMENT TO THE CITY AUDITOR'S OFFICE, 2021 AUDIT PLAN. CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENT TO THE CITY AUDITOR'S PLAN FOR 2021. ITEM A [INAUDIBLE] 2021 THREE EVALUATE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PREPARATION B INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF CITY CONTRACTS FROM THREE TO NINE ON AUDIT CMS-2021-3. ALL CONTRACTS ARE FROM FEBRUARY 2021. AND THIS WILL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING IN THE [INAUDIBLE]. THEN ITEM C, TO DELETE CMS-2021-4 PROCESSES FOR THREE CONTRACTS THEN ITEM D TO DELETE S AND CPG 2021-4 EVALUATE [INAUDIBLE] ANALYSIS. THANK YOU, NELLIE. COUNCILMAN QUIROGA. EXCUSE ME NELLIE. GO RIGHT AHEAD. I'M DONE, MAYOR. YOU'RE WELCOME. COUNCILMAN QUIROGA, YES SIR? I'D LIKE TO START OFF WITH, GLENN, I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU'RE DOING. YOU KNOW, WITH CMS, I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING THAT WE STARTED THIS AND IMPLEMENTED THIS. AND I'D JUST LIKE YOU TO EXPLAIN THE NINE ITEMS, WHY WE CHOSE THOSE PARTICULAR ITEMS. WE PICKED A SAMPLE FEBRUARY OF 2021 OF ALL THE CONTRACTS THAT WERE CAME INTO EXISTENCE. AND WE THOUGHT WE WOULD JUST TAKE THOSE NINE CONTRACTS AND PUT THEM IN TO CMS, EVALUATE [01:15:04] THEM, AND PUT THEM INTO A SIMPLE REPOSITORY AND LET COUNCIL LOOK AT WHAT WE'VE COME UP WITH IN THE END. IT'S KIND OF LIKE WE'RE GETTING INTERNAL AUDIT COVERAGE OVER OUR CONTRACTS SO THAT YOU CAN REVIEW THAT. WE FELT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE COULD USE MORE AUDIT COVERAGE ON THAT AREA. I THINK FOR AN ALIGNMENT NOT ONLY WITH THE COUNCILMAN, WITH THE PUBLIC, LISTEN TO WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CMS PROGRAM. WE WANT TO MAKE IT MORE TRANSPARENT. THE CONTRACTS RIGHT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, BECAUSE APPARENTLY, YOU KNOW, WE APPROVED THESE CONTRACTS AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ON PAPER AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NO ONE ELSE IS BRINGING THEM BACK UP OR HAS A METHOD TO GET THEM WITHOUT A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST, BUT [INAUDIBLE] REPOSITORY, YOU'D BE ABLE TO GET ON THERE ANY TIME YOU'D LIKE AND REVIEW THESE CONTRACTS AND YOU CAN REVIEW IT ON THE WEBSITE ITSELF TO LOOK AT. NOW, DOES THIS TRACK PER STAGE FOR A CONTRACT? YES, WE PLAN ON THAT PER STAGE. PLAN ON HAVING MILESTONES BUILT IN TO SEE THAT UP FRONT, IF WE'RE MEETING THE PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS OF THE CONTRACT WHEN THEY'RE ACTUALLY EXECUTED. SO THERE'S NO QUESTION AND THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT ANY TYPE OF SPENDING IF WE GO OVER OR IF THEY'RE ENHANCEMENTS, YOU KNOW, WHICH WOULD NOT BE A COST OVERRUN. BUT WE KNOW FROM WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AND WE HAVE BETTER DATA TO COMPARE THE PERFORMANCE AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT. SO THE PROGRAM CATCHES THESE, CORRECT? CORRECT. SO, IS THERE A TRIGGER THAT SAYS, HEY, WE'RE GOING, DO YOU SET IT LIKE A FIVE PERCENT COST OVERRUN OF 15 PERCENT AND SO ON, SO FORTH? YES, WELL, WE CALCULATED IT IN, BUT THERE'S NO SOFTWARE THAT WE'RE USING RIGHT NOW FOR IT . SOFTWARE[INAUDIBLE] WE'RE EXPERIMENTING WITH THIS NINE. WE DECIDED SINCE IT WENT OVER SO WELL WITH THE PARK BOARD, HAD SUCH GOOD RESULTS WITH THIS AND F AND CPG PROGRAM AND MOVED VERY, VERY FAST OR IT WAS ACCEPTED VERY WELL OVER THERE THAT WE SAID, WELL, INSTEAD OF THREE, LET'S DO NINE AND TRY TO GIVE COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, A BETTER VIEW OF THESE TYPES OF CONTRACTS. FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE SAMPLE WE HAD, ONE CONTRACT, IT WAS CAR PARTS AND EQUIPMENT. AND THEN ONE CONTRACT, THAT WAS ANGELA GRASSO, WHO IS DOING CONSULTING. WELL, THOSE ARE DIFFERENT THINGS WE WANT TO LOOK AT IN EACH CONTRACT. WE WOULD WANT TO LOOK AT THE PROCUREMENT ISSUES FOR CAR PARTS AND EQUIPMENT, BUT ANGELA GRASSO WE MAY WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE OURSELVES COVERED AS FAR AS EMPLOYEE-EMPLOYER RELATIONSHIP, HAVING A W-9 MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE THAT FALL BETWEEN THE CRACKS THERE, [INAUDIBLE]. WHAT I'D LIKE TO SAY IS I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU AND CARRIE AND DYLAN, Y'ALL DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB. AND I THINK THIS WHOLE COUNCIL NEEDS TO SUPPORT YOU AND YOUR GROUP. AND I HOPE IN THE NEXT BUDGET THAT WE CAN INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU ALSO LOOK INTO THE PART BOARD AS WELL AS WHARVES BOARD, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET SOME SUPPORT FOR THEM TO DONATE A LITTLE MONEY TO OFFSET THE COST, BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE CITY OF GALVESTON ITSELF SHOULD FOOT ALL THE BILLS, SO HOPEFULLY THAT HAPPENED, BUT THANK YOU, I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL WHAT YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU. I WANT TO CHIME IN AND KIND OF SUPPORT, OF COURSE, WHAT BILL'S SAYING AND I THINK IN THE FUTURE, WHAT GLENN HAS STARTED NOW, BUT WE LOOK BACK ON THIS PROBABLY BE ONE OF THE BEST THINGS WE'VE EVER DONE HERE IN THE CITY, ESPECIALLY IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH [INAUDIBLE] AND WITH THE PARK BOARD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GLENN. YES, MARIE? I WANT TO ECHO THOSE SAME COMMENTS. I THINK THIS IS JUST A NEW ADDITION THAT WILL TAKE US OVER THE TOP AND THE MORE CONTROL AND MORE TRANSPARENCY YES, DAVID? GLENN, I ECHO EVERYONE'S COMPLIMENTS FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR HAVING PUT THIS TOGETHER. THE WAY YOU'VE WORKED WITH THE PARK BOARD, I KNOW IT'S WORKED VERY WELL OVER THERE. BUT FOR THE PUBLIC'S SAKE, WOULD YOU TELL US WHAT CMS STANDS FOR? CONTRACT MONITORING SYSTEM. AND WHAT IS F&CPG FINANCIAL AND COMPLIANCE POLICY GUIDES. THANK YOU. WE START USING THESE ACRONYMS, ALPHABET SOUP [CHUCKLING]. YOU KNOW, GLENN'S IN THE OFFICE ACROSS THE STREET. HE'S KIND OF OUT OF THE FLOW OF THINGS AND THEY'RE OVER THERE DOING GOD'S WORK AS WE SAY [CHUCKLING] SO CAN I ASK, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO MOVE THEM BACK HERE? WORKING ON THAT NOW. OK, BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE A LOT MORE ROOM THAT WE COULD. WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE [INAUDIBLE] TO BE FUNCTIONAL. VERY GOOD. COUNCILMAN QUIROGA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, SIR? [01:20:02] I MAKE A MOTION WE APPROVE. I SECOND. VERY GOOD WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. SECOND, BY COUNCILWOMAN ROBB DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. IT IS UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. WE'RE MOVING TO ACTION ITEMS. COUNCILMAN COMMENTS. [9.A. Discuss And Consider For Action A Change To The Current Audit Plan To Include The Mardi Gras Contract Into The CMS (Contract Monitoring System) Project. (Quiroga/Brown)] I WANT TO TURN OVER ACTION ITEM 9A TO YOU SIR. ALL RIGHT. NELLIE IF YOU WOULD READ 9A FOR US, PLEASE. YES, SIR. I HAVE 9A DISCUSS AND CONSIDER FOR ACTION A CHANGE TO THE CURRENT AUDIT PLAN TO INCLUDE THE MARDI GRAS CONTRACT INTO THE CMS PROJECT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN QUIROGA, YOU PUT THIS ON OUR AGENDA TODAY? YES, SIR. I THINK I TOUCHED BASE WITH GLENN AND HE SENT AN EMAIL THAT I THINK THIS WILL BE A GOOD START TO IMPLEMENT TO ACTUALLY SEE WHAT WE'RE SPENDING IN THE MARDI GRAS EVENT. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT HE ALSO ADD THIS ON TO HIS LIST SO WE CAN CLOSELY MONITOR AND SEE WHAT THE TRUE COSTS ARE. GLENN, IF I CAN ASK YOU A QUESTION, THIS ALSO WOULD BE JUST LIKE THE OTHERS WHERE YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND MONITOR ALL OF THE EXPENDITURE BOTH IF A VENDER'S SPENDING OR WE'RE SPENDING IT'LL MONITOR THAT CLOSELY. SURE. YES, THESE TYPES OF CONTRACTS, WHAT WE TYPICALLY WANT TO SHOW IT TO THE PUBLIC TO MAKE TRANSPARENT IS WE'RE EXECUTING THE BEST DEAL THAT WE CAN FOR THE CITY AS COMPARED TO ANY OF THE CONTRACTS THAT WE DO. SO THAT WOULD BE THE FOCUS ON THIS, TO LOOK AT THIS CONTRACT AND MAKE IT MORE TRANSPARENT FOR THE PEOPLE OF GALVESTON. AND THEN DOWN THE ROAD, AS WE LOOK AT THE THIS DATA, WE COULD MORE OR LESS, IF WE HAVE TO MODIFY THE CONTRACT, YOU KNOW, FOR TAX PURPOSES OR WHAT BASICALLY EXPENDITURES OF THE TAX DOLLARS BEING SPENT TO COVER THIS EVENT. WE CAN YES. IF WE CAN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL ON A LITTLE BIT BETTER DEAL IF IT'S POSSIBLE MORE TO BE MORE [INAUDIBLE] WITH OTHER TYPES OF CONTRACTS WHERE WE HAVE A CLEAR VIEW OF WHAT IF WE CAN HAVE SOME GUIDELINES FOR ALL OF OUR SPECIAL EVENT CONTRACTS. AND THIS WILL ALSO MODIFY ANY ONE OF THE CONTRACTS, THE CMS SYSTEM WILL TURN AROUND AND NOTIFY US OF CONFLICTS OR THE [INAUDIBLE] SYSTEM WHERE IT'S NOT WHAT I CALL A BROTHER IN LAW DEAL. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE SECOND PART OF CMS IS CONFLICTS OF INTEREST THAT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE WITH THE COUNCIL. BUT THE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST QUESTIONNAIRE THAT GOES OUT TO EMPLOYEES AS WELL, WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT'S BEEN. WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE EMPLOYEES AND, LET'S SAY, THE GOVERNMENT BODY HERE? WELL WE WANT THE EMPLOYEES TO REPORT ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AS WELL AND HAVE THAT IN WRITING. SO I DON'T KNOW PRESENTLY IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT WE ARE DOING THAT. YOU'RE SAYING THIS IS A MODIFICATION TO THE CONTRACT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. GENERALLY SPEAKING, WE WOULD LOOK AT THAT AS WELL TO ENSURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THE ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST WITH EMPLOYEES, WHICH IS A GOOD THING. YEAH. ANYONE ELSE QUESTIONS? SO WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS YOU'LL BE MONITORING THE [INAUDIBLE] CONTRACT AND ANY EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT CONTRACT. YES, BUT THERE ARE OTHER EXPENSES RELATED TO MARDI GRAS. SO YOU YOU WON'T INCLUDE THOSE IN YOUR AUDIT. YES, I WILL. YOU WILL. SO, SPENCER, WHAT'S ON OUR AGENDA HERE IS TO INCLUDE THE MARDI GRAS CONTRACT AND MONITOR THAT. BUT I MEAN, HOW DO YOU HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT EXPENSES TO INCLUDE OR ARE WE AUDITING OUR MARDI GRAS EXPENSES? THERE'S OTHER STUFF OUTSIDE THAT CONTRACT, RIGHT? WELL, I DON'T UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE MONITORING, I GUESS, WITH THIS CONTRACT. YEAH. BECAUSE AND I AGREE THAT IT'S CONFUSING BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE MONITORING AN EXTERNAL PARTY VERSUS WHAT WE'RE MONITORING IS WHAT THE CITY IS SPENDING ON MARDI GRAS. SO IT'S NOT MARDI GRAS CONTRACT. [INAUDIBLE] IS SPELLED OUT IN THAT CONTRACT. SO LET'S JUST PUT THAT ASIDE. I THINK WE HAVE TO DO HAVE SOME CITY EXPENSES AND EVENTUALLY GET REIMBURSED. [INAUDIBLE] OK, TYPICALLY WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS THE SCOPE OF THIS AUDIT IS, PUT IT IN CMS IS ARE WE GETTING THE CLEANUP [01:25:09] EXPENSES? ARE WE GETTING REIMBURSED FOR THE CLEANUP EXPENSES FOR MARDI GRAS? IT'S ALL SPELLED OUT IN THE CONTRACT. ..THE WAY THEE CONTRACTS WRITTEN AS WE RECEIVE A FEE FROM THE EVENT COORDINATOR. IT'S NOT TIED TO EXPENSES. AND WE HAVE WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER EXPENSES BESIDES WHAT'S INVOLVED IN THAT CONTRACT. I MEAN, STUFF THAT WE DO ON THE SEA WALL DURING, MARDI GRAS DOESN'T PERTAIN TO THAT CONTRACT. AND SO WE PICK UP THE EXPENSES DURING MARDI GRAS ON THE SEAWALL THAT DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH DOWNTOWN. SO I'M ASKING YOU, ARE YOU ARE YOU LOOKING AT MARDI GRAS? ANY EXPENSES TO DO THAT OR ASSOCIATED WITH MARDI GRAS FOR THOSE WEEKENDS? AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, BOTH WEEKENDS. YOU KNOW, IT JUST IT'S NOT VERY CLEAR HERE IN WHAT'S ON OUR AGENDA, BECAUSE THIS SPECIFICALLY SAYS THE MARDI GRAS CONTRACT. AND SO I'M ASSUMING THAT IS THE WHAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS THE MARDI GRAS CONTRACT WITH MY BEING IN THE DOWNTOWN ENTERTAINMENT AREA. AND MY FOCUS ON THE AUDIT WOULD BE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE BEST DEAL THAT WE CAN JUST TO GIVE ASSURANCE LIKE WE WOULD DO ON ANY SPECIAL EVENTS CONTRACT. I HAVEN'T DONE THE AUDITS YET. SO THERE MAY BE SOME THINGS THAT WE WANT, INCLUDED THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT AREN'T NECESSARY. I'M REALLY NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT AT ALL AT THIS POINT. YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T DONE THE AUDIT YET. AND THIS EVENT IS JUST A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN MY MIND, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT IT IS A IT IS A CITYWIDE EVENT, BUT YET WE HAVE A CONTRACT IN THIS SPECIFIC AREA OF TOWN FOR, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN ACTIVITIES, CERTAIN ACTIVITIES. YES. AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WHAT WE'RE ALL WHAT EXPENSES WE'RE PULLING IN, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE KIND OF SEEING WHEN THIS, YOU KNOW, COMES BACK TO US AND WE LOOK AT IT AFTER THE AUDITS DONE. BUT IF WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE, EVERYTHING IS FINE WITH IT, THAT WE ARE ABIDING BY THE CONTRACT. BUT CERTAINLY PART OF CMS AND WE ARE ABIDED BY THE CONTRACT. AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO PROBLEMS. BUT I THINK THAT IF CMS WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT IN EACH CONTRACT WE HAVE, WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ABIDING BY IT AND EVERYTHING'S GOING BY THE RULES OF THE CONTRACT. SO THAT'S WHAT I WOULD ECHO WHAT JOHN PAUL'S ASKING HERE, BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF THE EXPENSE FOR MARDI GRAS RUNNING, SAY, FROM [INAUDIBLE] BACK UP 25TH STREET, STRAIGHT OUT THE SEAWALL THAT'S NOT COVERED BY A CONTRACT. THAT'S JUST CITY EXPENSE. OH, I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. INTERESTING TO FIND OUT WHY WOULDN'T WE WANT TO LOOK AT. YEAH, YEAH. TO SEE WHAT THE OVERALL EXPENSES OF MARDI GRAS ARE I MEAN, THAT COULD BE AN AUDIT, BUT IT WOULDN'T BE A CONTRACT AUDIT. THAT'S RIGHT. AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SPECIFICALLY HERE. IT SAYS THE MARDI GRAS CONTRACT. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY, WELL, I FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WELL, YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AT JUST THAT CONTRACT OR YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, PICKING UP TRASH ON THE SEAWALL. NO OK, NOW I HAVE TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL TO ASK IF WERE GOING TO LOOK AT THE SEA WALL AND EVERYTHING INCLUDED WITH MARDI GRAS, THIS IS JUST THE CONTRACT [INAUDIBLE] ABIDED BY THE RULES OF THE CONTRACT. I MEAN, I'M FINE WITH THIS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I DON'T COME BACK BEFORE I WOULD EXTEND AND DO EVERYTHING I WOULD HAVE TO ASK IF YOU ALL WANT ME TO. YOU KNOW, THE QUESTIONS [INAUDIBLE] ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THIS? I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE, SECOND. [INAUDIBLE] SO A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN QUIROGA, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN SCHUSTER ANY DISCUSSION BEYOND THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? IT IS UNANIMOUS [INAUDIBLE] AND WE'LL MOVE DOWN TO 9B. MAYOR THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [9.B. Discuss And Consider For Action Approval Of The Policy For Board/Commission/Committee Appointments. (Brown)] ITEM 9 B, PLEASE. NELLIE. ITEM 9B DISCUSS AND CONSIDER FOR ACTION APPROVAL OF THE POLICY FOR BOARD/COMMITTEE/ COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS. AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION AT THIS AT OUR WORKSHOP CONCERNING THIS ITEM. LET'S SEE IF THE COUNCIL IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS THAT ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE CONCERNING THIS? IF NOT. I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO START THE DISCUSSION, BUT GO RIGHT AHEAD. ANY QUESTIONS, FIRST OF ALL? I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION THAT DESIGNATES NOMINATIONS BY COUNCIL RANKING SYSTEM AND DOES AND I WOULD ALSO DESIGNATE IN PERSON INTERVIEW PROCESS [01:30:09] UNLESS CHANGED BY COUNCIL. I WOULD SECOND THAT. OPEN FOR DISCUSSION. WELL, EARLIER IN OUR WORKSHOP, I JUST READ OR REITERATE WHAT MS. ROBB. I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE ON A DISTRICT BY DISTRICT. IF YOU LOOKED AT THE CHART THAT MS. ROBB, DID WAS AN EXCELLENT CHART THAT SHOWS THE IMBALANCE FOR DISTRICTS, SO I WOULD RECOMMEND WE GO BACK TO THE. EACH COUNCIL MEMBER MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THOSE BOARDS. BILL, LET ME ASK YOU, WHY DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD CHANGE IF WE DID THAT? YOU SAY AN IMBALANCE IN COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM THOSE DISTRICTS. WE'RE NOT REQUIRING ANYBODY TO BE FROM A SPECIFIC DISTRICT. I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT EACH DISTRICT CAN MAKE A NOMINATION, AS I SEE IT, AS IT WAS IN THE PAST. NOW I AGREE WITH YOU IT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE OF THE FOUR VOTES THERE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET, THEY'RE GOING TO GET ANYWAY. SO WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE. THAT DON'T WANT A GOOD PEOPLE THAT NEED TO APPLY. THEY DON'T APPLY BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT THEY ARE NOT GETTING A TRUE REPRESENTATION. SO THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS. NO MATTER IF YOU DO THE. EACH GETTING A LITTLE CONFUSED, IT'S EACH DISTRICT OR WE DO BY THE RANKING, IT'S JUST LIKE EARLIER THAT [INAUDIBLE] CONCEPT, YOU NEED FOUR VOTES. SO IT DOESN'T MATTER EITHER WAY YOU GO, BUT YOU SPECIFICALLY SAID THAT THE BOARDS ARE NOW NOT REPRESENT NOT REPRESENTED BY MEMBERS OF THOSE DISTRICTS. WELL, IT'S JUST LIKE [INAUDIBLE] LET'S SAY, DISTRICT FOUR. IF WE HAVE FOUR OR FIVE PEOPLE IN THERE, AND WE DO A RANKING THAT WAY. I WOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT BECAUSE I'M NUTS BECAUSE AGAIN, IT'S GOING TO COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL AND LIKE MR. COLLINS SAID IT'S GOING TO TAKE FOUR VOTES. SO IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER. BUT WE CAN MAKE A RECOMMENDATION WITHIN THAT DISTRICT. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. RECOMMENDATION WITHIN THAT DISTRICT, MEANING MEANING A CANDIDATE THAT WE CAN THROW OUT, WHETHER YOU VOTE FOR IT OR NOT, THAT LIVES IN THE DISTRICT, NOT NECESSARILY OK. YES YOU KNOW, I ECHO JOHN PAUL'S THINKING ON THIS. I DON'T SEE THE POINT OF THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE THERE THINGS THAT I DO THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY SPECIFIC TO MY DISTRICT CONCERNS I HAVE SPECIFIC TO MY DISTRICT. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE WHARFS BOARD THE PARK BOARD, THE PLANNING COMMISSION, ACTUALLY ANY COMMISSION OR COMMITTEE TO THE CITY, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE MY FOCUS AND MY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO THE CITY AS A WHOLE. YOU KNOW, I HAVE SUPPORTED, NOMINATED AND VOTED FOR SEVERAL PEOPLE ON EACH OF THESE COMMITTEES THAT DO NOT LIVE IN MY DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I KNOW THEY'RE SOLID CITIZENS WHO HAVE A DESIRE TO SERVE. AND WE TALK ABOUT QUALIFICATION. AGAIN, I GO BACK TO THAT, THAT THE NUMBER ONE QUALIFICATION FOR ANY OF THESE COMMISSIONS IS A WILLINGNESS TO SERVE, TO DO THE JOB TO HELP FURTHER THE CITY. AGAIN, I SEE THIS FROM A CITYWIDE PERSPECTIVE, NOT FROM A DISTRICT PERSPECTIVE. WELL, IN A WAY I AGREE WITH YOU AND I DISAGREE WITH YOU BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE THESE TYPE OF WARS THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT FOR US, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME KNOWLEDGE AND BACKGROUND. YOU JUST CAN'T THROW SOMEBODY IN THERE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO SERVE. THAT'S FINE IF THEY WANT TO SERVE. I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT YOU GOT TO HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE TO GO IN THERE TO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT PLANNING, KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THE PARKS, KNOWS SOMETHING ABOUT THE WHARFS. THAT'S MY OPINION. YOU HAVE YOUR OPINION. I'M NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT SURE IT'S TRUE THAT WE THAT WE NECESSARILY HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE KNOWLEDGE WHEN THEY GO IN THERE. I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, AND I'M NOT DISAGREEING WITH YOU. I'M JUST SAYING THAT A WILLINGNESS TO SERVE IS OFTEN HOW PEOPLE BEGIN TO LEARN. MOST PEOPLE DON'T JUST LEAP ONTO WHARFS BOARD MOST PEOPLE WHO'VE DONE THAT. THEY'VE SERVED ON LANDMARKS OR ZONING BOARD ADJUSTMENT OR THE AIRPORT COMMISSION OR SOMEPLACE ELSE [INAUDIBLE] I'M NOT DISAGREEING WITH YOU WHATSOEVER, BUT I LIKE TO SEE THE BEST QUALIFIED. I LIKE TO SEE A DIVERSITY IN HERE. IF YOU LOOKED AT THE JOINT MEETING, WE HAD WITH THE WHARFS BOARD. THERE WASN'T A SINGLE MINORITY IN THERE, NOT ONE. [01:35:03] I CERTAINLY WOULD DISAGREE WITH YOU ON THAT. I DON'T THINK THAT'S THIS TOPIC. I'M AFFIRMATIVE. I AGREE WITH YOU THAT WE NEED MORE DIVERSITY. SO YOU GO TO WAR WITH THE APPLICANT. YOU HAVE THAT. YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE, TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T LOOK LIKE US. YOU KNOW, I GET THAT WE NEED MORE HISPANICS MORE AFRICAN-AMERICANS, WE NEED MORE WOMEN ON THESE BOARDS, MOST ESPECIALLY WOMEN YOU'VE MADE THAT POINT A NUMBER OF TIMES THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE DIVERSITY WE NEED. BUT I DON'T THINK THIS ISSUE IS THAT ISSUE. MARIA. I AM I AM OPPOSED TO THE RANKING SYSTEM. AND I THINK THAT IT KEEPS PEOPLE FROM APPLYING. I THINK THAT IT ALLOWS A SITUATION WHERE BOARDS CAN BE STACKED AND I HENCE WHY I FAVOR DISTRICT APPOINTMENTS, WHETHER IT BE SOMEONE FROM YOUR DISTRICT OR NOT, I AM OPPOSED TO THE RANKING, I'M OPPOSED TO THE NON TRANSPARENCY OF IT, I'M OPPOSED TO BOARD MEMBERS LOBBYING COUNCIL PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR X, Y, Z, AND I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS. AND I'D LIKE TO APOLOGIZE TO THE PUBLIC FOR THE CONFUSION MY NOT CATCHING THAT THE AUDIENCE THAT I WAS FROM WAS DID NOT STATE THAT IT SHOULD NOT [INAUDIBLE]. BUT I AM OPPOSED TO THE BREAKING THE INTIMIDATION IT CREATES AND ALSO THE LOBBYING TO GET PEOPLE ON BOARD, WHICH HAS CREATED THE INEQUITY THAT WE HAVE ON THE BOARDS. SO THAT'S MY POSITION. ANY FURTHER [INAUDIBLE] YEAH, MY VOTE ON THIS, THAT THERE'S TWO OPTIONS FOR US. SO WHEN IT COMES TO BOARDS AND FILLING COMMITTEES, I THINK IT'S THE MOST DEMOCRATIC, MOST ETHICAL RANKING ADDS ANOTHER ELEMENT TO THAT. YOU REALLY GET TO VOTE AGAIN. IT'S UP TO US LIKE YOU SAID [INAUDIBLE] GO FIND THESE CANDIDATES, IT'S MY OPINION WHEN IT COMES TO DISTRICT NOMINEE, IT OPENS THE DOOR A LITTLE BIT FOR FAVORITISM, YOU MAY HAVE HELPED ME ON THE CAMPAIGN. LET ME GO PAY FAVOR TO YOU GET YOU ON THIS BOARD AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IT FEELS LIKE THE RANKING SYSTEM MAY GET AWAY A LITTLE BIT FROM THAT. AND YOU HAVE MORE COLLABORATION WITH THAT. AND THAT'S JUST [INAUDIBLE]. VERY GOOD JOHN. JUST FOR A LITTLE MORE DISCUSSION ON THIS, IF IT DID GO TO A RANKING SYSTEM, MARIE, EXCUSE ME NOT RANKING SYSTEM, BUT A COUNCIL, A COUNCIL PERSON NOMINATION, HOW WOULD YOU DECIDE ON WHERE THOSE NOMINATIONS FALL ON THE EXISTING BOARDS? LIKE WHO WHICH COUNSEL PERSON WOULD WOULD BE IN LINE TO NOMINATE SOMEBODY ON THE NEXT GO AROUND? I MEAN, WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THE STRUCTURE. I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY DISTRICT APPOINTMENTS. SO WHEN I YOU KNOW, I'M SAYING THIS BECAUSE I BELIEVE I'M REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE. SO JUST SAY IF YOUR POSITION WAS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST, YOU'D BE OK WITH THAT. SO, YOU KNOW, WE STARTED JUST TO TAKE A WHARFS BOARD AND WE GO TO THIS SYSTEM AND EACH ONE OF US HAVE A VOTE BEFORE WE GET YOU TO NOMINATE SOMEBODY ON THERE. WELL, WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY TRACK IT BACK TO 2016. I MEAN, IT WOULD NOT BE AN EASY DO. HAS IN THESE REPORTS THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE. SO I APPOINTEES, NOT PEOPLE. BUT I'M JUST SAYING, IF YOU LOOK ACROSS THE BOARD, WE HAVE OUR BOARDS DO NOT REPRESENT OUR POPULATION. AND I JUST THINK, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT ISN'T THE RANKING THAT'S KEEPING PEOPLE. OBVIOUSLY, A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM MY DISTRICT APPLY FOR BOARDS. I ADVERTISE THAT. I PROMOTE IT. I JUST THINK THAT THE WAY THE SYSTEM IS NOW AND THE CHANGE WE MADE IN 2016 MAKES FOR STACKING UP A BOARD. [01:40:04] AND THAT'S MY PERSONAL OPINION. AS THEY SAY, IF HAVE ONE OPINION IN ONE HAND TWO OPINIONS IN ANOTHER, YOU HAVE A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION. AND I JUST SAY THAT IT IS THE WAY OUR SYSTEM, THE WAY WE CHANGED IT TO IN 2016, BECAUSE OUR BOARDS ALL FUNCTION VERY WELL FOR YEARS UPON YEARS MAKES FOR A STACKING OF THE BOARD. AND I WILL BE VOTING AGAINST IT, VERY GOOD. I WOULD JUST SAY THIS. THE KEY IS FOR DIVERSIFICATION IN MY MIND ON THESE BOARDS, NO MATTER WHAT SYSTEM YOU HAVE, WE HAVE TO HAVE THE APPLICATIONS. AND SO I THINK IT BEHOOVES COUNCIL, IT BEHOOVES STAFF ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO GET THE WORD OUT AND MAKE SURE WE GET A CROSS-SECTION OF APPLICATIONS AS WE APPOINT FOR THESE BOARDS. THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ON THIS. VERY GOOD THAT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION PLEASE SIGNIFY. DID YOU HAVE A SECOND? YES, MA'AM, WE DID. COUNCILMAN COLLINS. THANK YOU. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? IT PASSES WITH COUNCILMAN COLLINS, SCHUSTER, MYSELF AND LISTOWSKI IN FAVOR JANELLE AND COUNCILMAN QUIROGA AND COUNCILWOMAN ROBB AGAINST. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. MOVING TO ITEM 9C PLEASE. [9.C. Discuss And Consider For Approval A Contract For Election Services Between The City Of Galveston And Galveston County For The Purpose Of Holding A Special Election For City Council District 1. (Legal)] ITEM 9C DISCUSS AND CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL A CONTRACT FOR ELECTION SERVICES BETWEEN THE CITY OF GALVESTON AND GALVESTON COUNTY, FOR THE PURPOSE OF HOLDING A SPECIAL ELECTION FOR CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 1. DON, WITH ANY ELECTION THAT WE HAVE CITY CONTRACTS WITH THE COUNTY TO CONDUCT THE ELECTION [INAUDIBLE] FOR MANY YEARS. CITY NO LONGER HAS THE CAPABILITY TO DO AN ELECTION, WE DON'T HAVE VOTING MACHINES ANYMORE. SO WE HAVE A SPECIAL ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR IN THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE. THEY PROVIDE THE VOTING MACHINES, BY THE STAFFING AND WE THE CITY CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY, THE ACTUAL CONDUCT OF THE ELECTION. AND THAT IS WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS ITEM IS, TO SIGN THE ELECTION CONTRACT THAT OUR AUGUST 28TH SPECIAL ELECTION START OFF. OK, THANK YOU. MOVE TO APPROVE. MOVE TO APPROVE BY COUNCILWOMAN ROBB, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN COLLINS AND QUIROGA, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. IT IS UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU. 9D PLEASE. [9.D. Consider For Approval A Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Providing For The Resumption Of In-Person Meetings Of City Council And All City Boards And Commissions And Allowing For The Attendance By The Public At All Such Meetings, Except As Otherwise Allowed By The Texas Open Meetings Act; Providing For Findings Of Fact And Providing For An Effective Date. (Brown)] NELLIE. YES SIR 9 D CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL, OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON TEXAS, PROVIDING FOR THE RESUMPTION OF IN-PERSON MEETINGS OF CITY COUNCIL AND ALL CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, AND ALLOWING FOR THE ATTENDANCE BY THE PUBLIC, AT ALL SUCH MEETINGS, EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE ALLOWED BY THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT PROVIDING FOR FINDING OF FACTS AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THANK YOU, NELLIE. I PLACED THIS ON THE AGENDA COUNCIL. I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE GO BACK TO IN-PERSON MEETINGS FOR THE PUBLIC AND FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS. STARTING JUNE 1ST. IDC ON TUESDAY MORNING WOULD BE OUR FIRST MEETING THAT WE WOULD HAVE THAT TYPE OF IN-PERSON MEETING RESPONSE. SECOND, SECOND, COUNCILWOMAN ROBB ANY DISCUSSION? YES, SIR. YEAH, WE'RE ALL WE'RE ALL READY TO GET TO THAT STAGE. YOU KNOW, I HAVE I HAVE A COMMITTEE MEMBER TWO OR THREE TIMES A WEEK FROM VARIOUS COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONS ASKING WHEN ARE WE GOING TO BE ALLOWED BACK IN CITY HALL? SECOND, ARE WE GOING TO MAINTAIN A HYBRID SYSTEM WHERE PEOPLE CAN STILL ZOOM IN TO MEETINGS? I'M TALKING ABOUT COMMISSION MEMBERS. YES WE ARE JANELLE DID WE TALK I TALKED TO JANELLE ABOUT THAT. DID YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT, JANELLE? SURE UNDER THE CURRENT ORDER FROM THE GOVERNOR, MEMBERS WOULD STILL BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING ON AUDIO OR VIDEO. BUT ONCE THAT ORDER IS RESENTED BY THE GOVERNOR, WE WOULD GO BACK TO THE OPEN MEETINGS REQUIREMENT WHERE A QUORUM MUST BE PRESENT AT THE PHYSICAL LOCATION OF THE MEETING. OK, BOARD MR. PRESIDENT, I GET THAT. BUT WOULD INDIVIDUALS STILL BE ALLOWED TO DIAL IN OR ZOOM IN TO A MEETING? [01:45:07] THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO ZOOM IN. THEY WOULD NEED TO BE ON VIDEO ONCE THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER IS RESENTED. YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SEE THEM ON SCREEN AND WE ALSO HAVE TO POST THEIR LOCATION ON THE AGENDA 72 HOURS PRIOR TO THE [INAUDIBLE]. SO THAT'S ESSENTIALLY JUST BACK TO WHERE WERE. BUT THIS IS AFTER THE GOVERNOR'S ORDERS LIFTED. AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY CLUE, OF COURSE, WHEN THAT MIGHT OCCUR. THAT'S RIGHT. THANK YOU. WELL, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THE OUR WORKSHOP MEETINGS ARE STILL GOING TO BE ZOOM OR WE MEETING IN PERSON ON WORKSHOPS. GOOD, GOOD QUESTION. PERSONALLY, I FEEL WE SHOULD GO BACK IN PERSON WORKSHOP MEETINGS ALSO. I AGREE. AND I CAN PUT THAT IN THE MOTION THAT WE WON'T GO BACK EXCUSE ME, CAN IT BE BOTH CAN I, DIAL IN ZOOM AND STILL PARTICIPATE? YES, SIR. CRAIG ARE WE STILL GOING TO HAVE THE PUBLIC COMMENT OPTION AS FAR AS SUBMITTING TO THE I GUESS THE PORTAL ONLINE AND WHERE IT'S WRITTEN THE WAY FOR US DIDN'T WE ADJUST THAT OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO. WE DID. THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION TOO THE WAY I ENVISION THIS IS WE GO BACK JANELLE WE'D GO BACK TO PUBLIC COMMENT WOULD BE LIKELY THEY WOULD BE IN THE ROOM EITHER COULD WE FILL OUT A FORM AND COME TO PUBLIC COMMENT THROUGH A FORM? I THINK COUNCILMAN SCHUSTER IS ASKING, CAN THEY STILL FILE A WRITTEN COMMENT LIKE WE'RE DOING NOW? VIRTUALLY. IF COUNCIL DECIDES WE CAN SURE CONTINUE THAT. I THINK THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO. ORDERS. EVEN AFTER THE ORDERS LIFTED. WE CAN STILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO MAKE ONLINE COMMENT. OK, THAT'S CORRECT. YES. BRIAN HOW IS THAT GOING TO DO THIS? TO HAVE STAFF ON ZOOM? NO FOR THE WORKSHOP YES, BECAUSE THEY'RE IN THEIR OFFICES AND THEY'RE STILL ANSWERING PHONES AND DOING THINGS LIKE THAT IN THE EVENINGS [INAUDIBLE]. WELL, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, JOHN, IS TO KEEP THE WORKSHOP VIRTUAL. WELL STAFF TO KEEP STAFF ON ZOOM SO THEY CAN BE A LOT MORE PRODUCTIVE AND PERFECTLY FINE [INAUDIBLE]. I MEAN, JUST NO WAY, BECAUSE, LIKE, TODAY, THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION OF THINGS AND GETTING WHARFS BOARD [INAUDIBLE] THEY WERE ON THERE, BUT THEY WERE STILL DOING THERE. YEAH, THEY WEREN'T SITTING THERE. LETS MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR FOR THE RECORD HERE, WE HAVE A MOTION TO GO BACK TO IN-PERSON MEETINGS FOR PARTICIPANTS. AND THE PUBLIC JUNE 1ST, WE'LL DO OUR WORKSHOPS IN PERSON. AND ALSO WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE PARTICIPANTS GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT. I THINK THAT YOUR THOUGHT WE COULD DO THAT VIRTUALLY ALSO. AS WELL AS COUNSEL PEOPLE, AS WELL AS COUNSEL PEOPLE ON ZOOM. YES SIR, THAT'S CORRECT. MARIE, DOES THAT MEET YOUR APPROVAL? YEP. OK, VERY GOOD. JANELLE, IS THAT CLEAR ON THE MOTION? LET ME JUST MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND ONE PART OF IT ON THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION. YOU WANT TO ALLOW WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN YOU ALSO WANT TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO ATTEND THE VIRTUAL MEETING TO MAKE COMMENT. YES, IS THAT RIGHT. YES [INAUDIBLE]. THAT'S THAT'S CORRECT. AND THAT'S RIGHT. YES. THEY COULD BE IN PERSON, OF COURSE. OK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. IT IS UNANIMOUS THANK YOU. ITEM 9E PLEASE. [9.E. Discuss And Consider An Appointment To The Houston-Galveston Area Council (HGAC) Gulf Coast Economic Development District.] NELLIE. ITEM 9E DISCUSS AND CONSIDER FOR AN APPOINTMENT TO THE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL GULF COAST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT. I GOT A REQUEST FROM THE HGAC, HOUSTON AND GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT REPRESENTING GALVESTON ON THE GULF COAST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT. AND I CONSULTED WITH STAFF. I CONSIDER THE NOMINATION OF MICHELLE HAY, WHO AS OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR FOR THAT POSITION, AND WE'RE BRINGING IT TO COUNCIL NOW FOR APPROVAL OF THAT WITH THAT [01:50:02] I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF MICHELLE HAY [INAUDIBLE] POSITION COUNCILMAN QUIROGA SECOND ANY DISCUSSION? WHO IS CURRENTLY. NOBODY IT WAS A VACANT POSITION AND WE WERE NOT PARTICIPATING. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT COMMITTEE. ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. IT IS UNANIMOUS. AND THE BEST FOR THE LAST ITEM 9F PLEASE, NELLIE. [9.F. Consider For Action A Direction To The City Manager To Designate Juneteenth As An Official City Holiday In The City Of Galveston. (Schuster/Brown)] ITEM NINE F CONSIDER FOR ACTION A DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER TO DESIGNATE JUNETEENTH AS AN OFFICIAL CITY HOLIDAY IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON. ALL RIGHT, GUYS, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS THIS MORNING, TALKED TO A BRIAN MEMBERS OF STAFF ABOUT MAKING JUNETEENTH A HOLIDAY THIS YEAR. JUNETEENTH FALLS ON A SATURDAY[INAUDIBLE] THIS YEAR ON THAT FRIDAY, YOU KNOW, TO BE FRIDAY, THE 18TH. YOU KNOW, THAT'LL BE THE DAY OFF HERE AT CITY HALL OR A CITY WITH CITY EMPLOYEES MOVING FORWARD IN THE YEAR YEARS COMING UP WITH BUDGET AND IMPROVING THE CALENDAR. I THINK A LOT TO LOOK AT HOW WE WANT TO HONOR IT FROM THERE. I THINK THIS YEAR IT PRESENTS IT. I WANT TO SAY EASY. NOTHINGS EASY. BUT LOOK AT THE CALENDAR IT ALMOST LINES UP PERFECTLY FOR US TO DO IT THIS YEAR, ESPECIALLY WITH THE ATTRACTION THAT IT'S GETTING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. I MEAN, THERE'S BEEN A PUSH TO MAKE IT A FEDERAL HOLIDAY. WE HAVE THE BIRTH PLACE OF IT HERE. I MEAN, IT'S SPREADING OUT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. I MEAN, THERE'S SO MANY CITIES THAT ARE HONORING IT, YOU KNOW, SO I THINK IT'S PERFECT FOR US TODAY. SO I'M A GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO DESIGNATE FRIDAY, JUNE 18TH, 2021 AS AN OFFICIAL CITY HOLIDAY RECOGNIZING JUNETEENTH, I WOULD SECOND THAT. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN COLLINS. ANY DISCUSSION? YEAH, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT. I DON'T DISAGREE, BUT IS IT GOING TO AFFECT THE CITY OPERATIONS. AS FOR BEING TOO SOON SHOULD WE HOLD OFF UNTIL NEXT YEAR WHERE YOU CAN BUDGET AND HAVE A LOT BETTER? IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ME EITHER WAY I VISITED WITH THE DEPARTMENTS THAT'LL BE MOST IMPACTED ARE POLICE, FIRE AND SANITATION. THEY ALL WERE. THEY WERE ALL OKAY WITH. VERY GOOD. GREAT MOTION. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING FORWARD THIS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEW CITY HOLIDAY. IF THIS PASSES, IT IS UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE A [INAUDIBLE] TO OUR AGENDA. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THANK YOU. FOR THOSE THAT HAD PATIENCE UNTIL WE GOT ON THE LINE TODAY TO THE PUBLIC. IT IS 7:04 AND WE ARE OFFICIALLY ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.