[00:00:02]
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.[1. DECLARATION OF A QUORUM AND CALL MEETING TO ORDER]
IT IS JUNE 17TH, THIS IS OUR CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP, AND IF ALL THOSE THAT ARE IN ATTENDANCE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT MAY BE VIEWING THIS, I APOLOGIZE FOR THE DELAY.WE HAD SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, BUT WE ARE UP AND RUNNING NOW.
WE DO HAVE A QUORUM HERE, AND IT IS 9:09 AM.
I'M GOING TO OFFICIALLY CALL THE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING TO ORDER THIS MORNING.
JANELLE, IF WE COULD HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE, MA'AM.
>> VERY GOOD. WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.
ITEM 3 IS OUR FIRST ITEM IT'S PART BOARD INTERVIEWS.
[3. PARK BOARD INTERVIEWS]
THOSE APPLICANTS THAT ARE HERE, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME YOU TO THE INTERVIEWS THIS MORNING.WE HAVE A NUMBER OF GOOD APPLICANTS, WE HAVE FIVE POSITIONS THAT WE'RE INTERVIEWING FOR AT THE PORT BOARD CURRENTLY THIS MORNING.
WE WILL HAVE SIX OF YOU INTERVIEWED THIS MORNING, AND THEN WE HAVE THREE MORE INTERVIEWEES THAT ARE OUT OF TOWN RIGHT NOW, [NOISE] AND WE WILL INTERVIEW THEM THE MORNING OF JUNE 24TH BEFORE OUR WORKSHOP MEETING TO GET ALL OF OUR INTERVIEWS COMPLETED.
I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE IDEA FOR THOSE THAT ARE HERE OF THE PROCESS SO THAT YOU'D BE AWARE OF THAT.
THE WHY THE PROCESS WILL WORK ONCE WE FINISH VISITING HERE, IN THE NEXT FEW MINUTES, WE'LL HAVE THE INTERVIEWEES STEP OVER TO THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
THEN WE WILL CALL FOR YOU IN THE ORDER THAT YOU FILED YOUR APPLICATION.
I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THAT ORDER SO THAT YOU'LL KNOW WHAT THE PARTICULAR SEQUENCE IS, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH RALPH MCMORRIS.
WE'LL MOVE TO WILL WRIGHT, WE'LL MOVE TO STEVEN KRIPES, CHARLES KILLEBREW, RICHARD PRAETS, AND THEN KIRK GONZALES, AND WE'LL CALL FOR YOU IN THAT ORDER.
[NOISE] THE WAY WE'LL DO THIS, APPLICANTS, AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE FIVE POSITIONS OPEN.
ALL FIVE OF THESE POSITIONS ARE CURRENTLY FILLED BY TRUSTEES THAT HAD BEEN APPOINTED BY THE COUNCIL.
THOSE FIVE OPENINGS ARE OPEN FOR REAPPOINTMENT, SO COUNCIL MAY REAPPOINT TO THOSE POSITIONS, THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE CURRENTLY SERVING IN THAT POSITION OR COUNCIL MAY LIKE TO GO AHEAD INTO PUTTING A NEW APPLICATION FOR THAT PARTICULAR POSITION INSTEAD OF [NOISE] A REAPPOINTMENT, THAT WILL BE UP TO COUNCIL.
ONCE WE FINISH OUR INTERVIEWS [NOISE] ON THE MORNING OF THE 24TH, COUNCIL WILL RANK THE CANDIDATES IN ORDER OF THEIR SELECTION ON WHO THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AS THEIR FIRST NOMINEE, THEIR SECOND NOMINEE, AND SO FORTH.
THE CITY SECRETARY WILL PUT TOGETHER A COMBINATION OF ALL THOSE RANKINGS AND THEN WILL PRESENT THOSE TO COUNSEL ON THE FIVE O'CLOCK MEETING OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON THE EVENING OF JUNE 24TH FOR US TO MAKE OUR SELECTIONS OF THE APPLICANT.
AFTER OUR JUNE 24TH, FIVE O'CLOCK MEETING YOU WILL KNOW WHO IS SELECTED.
IF YOU BY CHANCE ARE NOT SELECTED.
DON'T FEEL THAT THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO SERVE, PLEASE COME BACK, RE-APPLY.
IF YOU HAVE OTHER COMMITTEES THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SERVE ON, WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU APPLY FOR THOSE PARTICULAR COMMITTEES ALSO.
BEFORE WE MOVE YOU OVER TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION.
IT'S INDIVIDUALS SUCH AS YOURSELF THAT MAKE THIS COMMUNITY SO INVOLVED.
IT'S YOUR INTEREST IN WANTING TO SERVE THAT BENEFITS ALL OF US, SO WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATIONS.
WE'LL START OUR INTERVIEWS HERE.
WE'LL LET YOU GO OVER AND RALPH, WE'RE GOING TO LET YOU COME UP TO THE FRONT HERE.
IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND GENTLEMEN, WE'LL LET YOU SIT OVER IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND WE'LL CALL FOR YOU WHEN WE'RE READY.
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[BACKGROUND]. MORNING, RALPH. [OVERLAPPING]>> YES, SIR. HAVE A SEAT RIGHT THERE.
RALPH, YOU KNOW THE DRILL, YOU WERE ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS MANY TIMES, SO YOU KNOW ALL ABOUT IT.
WE'RE GOING TO LET YOU OPEN WITH A SHORT INTRO OF YOURSELF AND MAYBE WHY YOU WOULD WANT TO SERVE ON THE PORT BOARD.
THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. GO RIGHT AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. WELL, I'VE GOT OVER 60 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND SO I DON'T WANT TO BORE YOU ALL WITH YEARS OF ACTIVITIES.
[NOISE] I'VE PREPARED A STATEMENT OF MY ACTIVITIES AND VOLUNTEER WORK OVER THE YEARS, AND I'D LIKE TO PASS THIS OUT FOR EVERYBODY AND THEN I'LL DO IT AS BRIEF AS I CAN.
SO CAN I? [NOISE] I'M NOT GOING TO READ THROUGH IT OR GO THROUGH IT, BUT I THOUGHT I WOULD, BECAUSE WHEN I STARTED PREPARING, THIS IS WHAT I CAME UP WITH, AND I SAID THAT I'M NEVER GETTING THIS DONE IT.
BUT ANYWAY, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME OVER HERE, I'VE ENJOYED BEING PART OF GALVESTON FOR YEARS.
I WANTED YOU ALL TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY BACKGROUND AS A VOLUNTEER.
MY FIRST JOB VOLUNTEERING WAS AS A PARATROOPER IN THE 82ND AIRBORNE DURING VIETNAM.
I ACTUALLY VOLUNTEERED FOR THAT JOB, AND AS LUCK OF THE DRAW, I ENDED UP IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, WHICH WAS A SMALL SITUATION THAT WE WERE HANDLING AND THAT'S WHERE I GOT MY NICKNAME, LIEUTENANT BLENDER, BECAUSE I HAD THE ONLY BLENDER ON THE ISLAND.
[LAUGHTER] THAT LATER BECOME MY BRAND, WHICH YOU ALL MAY HAVE HEARD OF.
FROM THERE, I WENT TO MY FIRST REAL JOB AFTER SCHOOL IN ATLANTA.
I'M FROM ATLANTA ORIGINALLY, SERVED ON THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
I WAS A BUSINESS PERSON THERE.
MY JOB WAS REAL ESTATE, VICE PRESIDENT DEVELOPMENT FOR LENOX SQUARE WHICH IS THE NUMBER ONE SHOPPING CENTER IN THE UNITED STATES.
HEARD A LOT ABOUT REAL ESTATE EVENT TAB.
WITH THE CHAMBER, I VOLUNTEERED TO HEAD UP THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, AND WE GOT THE NORTH ATLANTA PARKWAY BILL BACK, COMPROMISING AND WORKING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
THAT WAS MY FIRST INVOLVEMENT AND I WAS ON THE BUSINESS SIDE THEN.
ATLANTA DEVELOPED A PROGRAM CALLED THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING UNIT PROCESS WHICH I INTRODUCED WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE TO GALVESTON AND THEY WEREN'T INTERESTED.
[LAUGHTER] IT WAS WHERE THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THE NEIGHBORS GOT TOGETHER IN EQUAL NUMBERS AND WORKED THINGS OUT.
THAT'S HOW WE GOT THAT PARKWAY BILL.
AT FIRST IT WAS CALLED YOGURT TECHNOLOGIES, IT WAS A YOGURT CULTURE.
IT WAS A CHAIN OF FROZEN YOGURT STORES, ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE UNITED STATES.
WE OPENED IN THE GALLERIA AMONG OTHER PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY IN CANADA.
IN THE MID '80S WHEN WE HAD THE OLD BUS, NOW IT'S ALL EXPANDED EVERYWHERE AND SO WE HAD TO CONTRACT, AND I CONTRACTED BACK.
MY FAMILY AND I BY LIVING IN GALVESTON, WE TOLD THE KIDS INTO WELL, LETS GET A BEACH HOUSE.
WE'VE LIVED ON THE WEST END FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS OFF AND ON TRYING TO COMMUTE TO HOUSTON, BUT THAT WAS TOO DIFFICULT.
WE ENDED UP MOVING TO HOUSTON FOR LIKE 15 YEARS AND WORKED AWAY, RAISED THE KIDS, AND EVENTUALLY THOUGH THE PURITY ICE CREAM FACTORY BECAME AVAILABLE AND NOBODY WANTED IT BUT ME AND NEGOTIATED ON FOR FIVE YEARS AND FINALLY BOUGHT IT AND LOVED IT BECAUSE MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER AND COULD LIVE IN THE CORNER STORE AND THE FACTORY WE CAN USE FOR OUR BUDDING MANUFACTURED PRODUCT.
AT THAT TIME, WE WERE DOING COCKTAIL MIX FOR LANDRIES, JOE'S CRAB SHACK, AND LOOK LIKE A GOOD BUSINESS TO BE IN.
WHEN WE GOT TO GALVESTON, WE INVENTED THE COCKTAILS IN A BAG, WHICH WE SELL NOW ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD.
I ENJOYED THE EAST END, WE HAD OUR BEST CRITICS ON NEW FLAVORS AND I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE CREDIT FOR HOW MUCH PEOPLE LIKE THE PRODUCT,
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GOT ACTIVE IN NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE I LOVE THE EAST END.I'VE LIVED IN A LOT OF OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS AND VERY VIBRANT, ACTIVE, GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD GOT INVOLVED THERE.
I WAS AN OFFICER IN THAT GROUP AND THEY ASKED ME TO REPRESENT THEM ON GAIN, GALVESTON ALLIANCE OF ISLAND NEIGHBORHOODS, WHICH I DID.
EVENTUALLY BECAME PRESIDENT OF GAIN AND ENJOYED MEETING THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE MEMBERS AT THAT TIME, WE HAD ABOUT 25 MEMBERS ALL AROUND THE ISLAND.
GOT TO KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND GALVESTON.
GOT ACTIVE ON DIFFERENT THINGS YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF PARTICIPATED ALL OF THE HIGH INTENSITY OF REGULATIONS.
ALSO, AFTER HURRICANE, I WAS ACTIVE WITH GETTING THE PUBLIC HOUSING BACK.
I WAS PUSHING FOR SCATTERED SITES WHICH WAS A RURAL POPULAR EVENTUALLY.
BUT ANYWAY, I FELT LIKE THAT NEEDED TO BE REBUILT.
THEN AS SOME OF YOU ALL MIGHT KNOW, THEN RAN FOR COUNCIL, SERVE FOR TWO YEARS ON CITY COUNCIL.
MY PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS ON COUNCIL, WERE THAT I PRESIDED OVER THE FIGURING OUT WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE PARKING PROBLEM DOWNTOWN.
WE GOT RID OF METERS, WE BROUGHT METERS BACK, WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO CHARGE, AND THIS WASN'T A REAL POPULAR THING, BUT WE WORKED TOGETHER AND GOT THAT WORKED OUT AS WHAT WE HAVE TODAY.
ALSO PUT TOGETHER A COMMITTEE OF CITIZENS AND BUSINESS PEOPLE. CRAIG WAS ON IT.
WE MET AT MY HOUSE TO COME UP WITH WAYS TO GET THE TROLLEY BACK.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, IT'S ALMOST BACK. I THINK.
CRAIG THICK WHO WAS ON THE COMMITTEE, CAME UP WITH THE ADVERTISING IDEA, WHICH I THINK WAS A SOURCE OF FUNDING THAT'S BEEN UTILIZED SINCE THEN.
SO I WAS PROUD OF MY ROLE THERE.
I ALSO PUSHED FOR, BACK THEN WE HAD A NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION PROGRAM AND I GOT THE COUNCIL TO APPROVE STREETLIGHTS AND REPAIR THE SIDEWALKS.
WE ARE STILL AWAITING ON THE SIDEWALKS.
BUT WE GOT THE STREET LIGHTS IN AND THROUGHOUT THE AREA.
THEN FINALLY, I SPENT ABOUT TEN YEARS WORKING ON SAVING THE BEACH, AT THAT TIME, THE PORRETTO BEACH WAS IN BANKRUPTCY AND I SAW IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO ACQUIRE THAT PROPERTY.
WE ACTUALLY HAD A VOTING COUNCIL AND AGREED TO PURSUE IT.
BUT SOME FOLKS CAME IN FROM OUT OF TOWN WITH $6 MILLION OF PROMISE TO BUY AND THEN WE WERE KIND OF COULDN'T AFFORD TO BID ON THAT, AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, THAT DEAL EVENTUALLY FELL THROUGH.
SO I STILL THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO ACQUIRE THAT PROPERTY, BUT THE PLAN OF THE PARK BOARD AND PARK BOARD, HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB AT ORIENTATION A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
THEY HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF GETTING MONEY TOGETHER TO RESTORE SAND, TO MAINTAIN SAND, TO MAINTAIN THE BEACHES HOUSES, SO IMPRESSED.
KELLY TOLD ME THEY HAD LIKE $50 MILLION, AND I REMEMBER WHEN WHEN 15 MILLION WAS A BIG NUMBER WE THOUGHT WE'D NEVER GET.
AM SO SUPER IMPRESSED WITH THAT.
BUT I ALSO THINK THAT SOMEONE I THINK PARK BOARD CAN ANALYZE AND LOOK AT MY PERMANENT SAND ON THE PORRETTO BEACH AREA, THOSE BEACHES THERE STILL BEACH PROPERTIES STILL IN PRIVATE HANDS ACQUIRING THAT PROPERTY AND IT IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO RESTORE THAT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO MAINTAIN.
THOSE BEACHES ARE ACTUALLY ACCRETING WHICH IS UNUSUAL AND UNIQUE IN THIS COUNTRY.
I THINK IT'S CERTAINLY UNIQUE IN TEXAS IT SO I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY THERE THAT I WOULD SUGGEST BE ANALYZED AND COMPARE THAT TO THE COST OF MAINTAINING BEACHES WITH SAND, LET'S JUST BUY AN ASSET WITH LIFE.
ANYWAY, THE REASON I'M APPLYING IS MY BACKGROUND HAS BEEN ENTREPRENEURIAL PRIMARILY AND SECONDARILY AS A VOLUNTEER, AND FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS REPRESENTING A RESIDENCE ON THIS ISLAND.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE FAR BOARD IS PAYING ATTENTION TO THE NEEDS OF THE RESIDENTS WHERE I COULD BE ANOTHER VOICE TO POINT OUT THINGS IF NECESSARY.
[00:15:07]
THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I AM AND GOT THE TIME AND LIKE TO HELP OUT SO TAKE ANY QUESTION YOU ALL GOT.>> SOUNDS LIKE YOU MAY HAVE ANSWERED A LOT OF MY QUESTIONS SO FAR [LAUGHTER].
[LAUGHTER] COUNCIL ANY QUESTIONS FOR, YES.
>> CAN YOU ANSWER, WE HAD A JOINT MEETING WITH THE PARK BOARD AND I ASKED A QUESTION LIKE YOU SAID, THE BEACHES ARE ACCRETING OUT THERE.
WHY IS PORRETTO BEACH AND, WHICH IS THE OTHER ONE, GRAND BEACH [OVERLAPPING] PRESERVE, WHY ARE THEY ACCRETING WHAT GAUSS JORDAN BEACH?
>> I CAN'T ANSWER THAT. IT SHOULD BE ACCRETING BECAUSE OF THE SHAPE OF THE ISLAND [OVERLAPPING] I DIDN'T KNOW IT WASN'T ACCRETING.
BECAUSE I TALKED TO SONIA PEREIRA DEFINITELY RAN INTO HER WHEN I WAS OUT JOGGING ON THE BEACH AND SHE TOLD ME SAND HAD HEADED LIKE 50 FEET TO HER PROPERTY.
I SAID THAT'S AMAZING THROUGH UPGRADING.
I ASSUME THAT WHAT THAT WHOLE LAND, THAT'S THE SHAPE OF THE ISLAND, SEEMS TO BE WHERE SAND BUILDS UP BEFORE IT FLOWS DOWN TO WEST ON THE REST OF THE ISLAND.
>> IT CREATES THE WEATHER JEDI STAR.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT MY QUESTION WAS, WE JUST AUTHORIZED A REVENUE OUT THERE FOR THE PARTICULAR BEACH STEWART BEACH TO HELP BUILD IT UP.
SO THE QUESTION IS, IT'S ERODING COMPARED TO WHAT I'M SEEING.
SO MY QUESTION IS NOBODY CAN ANSWER IT.
WHY? BOTH BEACHES ON EACH SIDE ARE ACCRETING AND STEWART BEACH.
>> I THINK THEY ARE ACCRETING ONLY IN SEAWARD SIDE, THE SAND IS BEING ADDED.
BUT I NOTICED ALSO PORRETTO BEACH HAS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT WHEN IT RAINS IT FLOODS AND THEY HAVE THE SAME SITUATION.
APPARENTLY THE SAND IS NOT MOVING INLAND AND FILLING IN, AND SO I KNOW WHAT I READ WAS THEY WON'T FILL THE INTERIOR PART WITH SAND AND RAISE THE LEVEL OF SOIL RUNOFF FROM THE SEAWALL TO THE WATER.
>> [OVERLAPPING] GO AHEAD. [OVERLAPPING]
>> DO YOU SUPPORT, PROPERTY RIGHTS?
>> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, JOHN?
>> RALPH, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT THE PARK BOARD IS GOING AFTER FOR US TO [INAUDIBLE].
>> I READ THE PROPOSAL THAT'S BEEN PUT OUT.
I THINK IT ALLOWS ANYONE THAT'S INTERESTED TO COME IN AND BASICALLY DEFINE WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.
DIDN'T SEEM THAT FROM WHAT I READ AND AGAIN, YOU ALL MET WITH HIM, DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO REALLY FIND OUT WHAT THE PARK BOARD IS ACTUALLY THINKING, BUT IT INCLUDES THE OPTION TO REPLACE THE PAVILION AS AN OPTION IF A DEVELOPER COMES AND WANTS TO DO THAT.
IT INCLUDES AN OPTION TO TALK TO THE CITY ABOUT THE PROPERTY FOR THE [INAUDIBLE] THAT COULD BE DEVELOPED INTO SOMETHING.
KELLY SAID, "MAYBE A HOTEL." IT'S BASICALLY THE PROPERTY THAT'S UP NEXT TO THE SEAWALL.
I THINK THERE'S GOOD AND BAD ABOUT EVERYTHING.
IT'S A FUNCTION OF WHAT THEY COME IN WITH AND THEN I THINK THE CITY SHOULD ENSURE THAT ITS INTERESTS ARE PROTECTED.
IT'S BASICALLY A LEASE OF THE LAND AND RETAIN THE CONTROLS AND APPROVAL OF WHAT'S THERE UNTIL THEY BECOME A TENANT.
I USED TO MANAGE WORK IN A LARGE SHOPPING CENTER, SO THE LANDLORD HAS ALL THE CONTROL HE OR SHE WANTS.
I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHAT THEY HAVE, RPS WILL COME BACK WITH.
THAT'S WHERE I WOULD START AND TO SEE WHAT FOLKS OUT THERE, THEY WILL LOOK AT IT AND FIGURE OUT WHAT'S ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE TO THEM AND THEN THEY WILL COME BACK AND PROPOSE TO THE CITY THAT, "HEY, THIS IS WHAT I LIKE TO DO AND THIS IS HOW MUCH I CAN PAY YOU BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO BE ECONOMIC." THEN IT NEEDS TO MEET THE DESIRE OR SOMETHING [INAUDIBLE].
HIGH DENSITY HAS BEEN A REAL CONCERN AND MAYBE WE HAVE REGULATIONS IN PLACE.
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I DON'T THINK THE HIGH DENSITY APPLIES TO THAT PROPERTY.MY MEMORY IS IT WAS NORTH OF THE SEAWALL AND THIS IS SOUTH OF THE SEAWALL.
THOSE OPTIONS ARE ALL SO IT WILL BE AGAIN.
BUT SINCE YOU'LL BE MAKING A DEAL WITH FOLKS, YOU'LL BE IN CHARGE OF WHAT THE CITY WANTS TO DO WITH IT.
>> THANK YOU. DAVID? [INAUDIBLE] OF MAJOR CHANGE, WHAT'S THE PRIMARY CHANGE YOU'D LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN IN HARTFORD?
>> I THINK WHAT I COULD BRING IS A MORE THOROUGH ANALYSIS ON BOTH SIDES OF ANY ISSUE.
I LOOKED AT THE DECISION, THE DIRECTION OF REPLACING OF THE [INAUDIBLE].
I WROTE AN EDITORIAL NOT NEARLY AS WELL-WRITTEN AS DAVID WATSON'S EDITORIAL ABOUT THIS IS AN ISLAND BUILT ON RESTORATION, RESTORATION OF THESE [INAUDIBLE].
I THINK DAVID WATSON HASN'T EVEN BEEN ASKED TO APPEAR BEFORE THE PARK BOARD TO PRESENT HIS SIDE OF HIS RECOMMENDATIONS.
I WOULD THINK HE AT LEAST OUGHT TO BE HEARD OUT.
IF I WERE ON THE PARK BOARD, I WOULD LISTEN TO BOTH SIDES, LISTEN TO THE WHOLE THING.
I THINK KELLY HAS SOME GREAT IDEAS ABOUT PORTABLE UNITS, LIKE CONTAINERS OR WHATEVER, TO PUT OUT THERE THAT THEY CAN PACK UP WHEN THE STORM COMES UP, I THOUGHT THAT WAS A GREAT IDEA.
YOU START LOOKING AT THE VARIOUS FUNCTIONS THAT ARE GOING ON, THEN HOW TO BEST HANDLE THEM.
I THINK THEY'VE ALREADY COME UP WITH SOME OF THE WORK, MAYBE LIKE THE LIFEGUARD AREAS OR MEETING ROOMS OR WHATEVER THEY HAVE MIGHT BE LOCATED SOMEWHERE ELSE.
YOU REALLY GOING TO PAY RENT SOMEWHERE ELSE, BUT THEY OWN THIS BUILDING.
THEN THE FACT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT 800,000 TO REPAIR IT, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN MAINTAINED THROUGH THE YEARS.
YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAINTAIN [LAUGHTER], I MAINTAIN MY PLACE [LAUGHTER].
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S NEW OR OLD BUILDINGS YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAINTAIN.
I LIKE THE WAY IT'S BEEN STRUCTURED IN THE PARK BOARD.
THEY HAVE FOUR OPTIONS AND ONE OF WHICH IS TO REPAIR IT AND THEN THEY LEAVE IT OPEN MAYBE 4 OR 5, WE'LL HAVE A PERIOD WHERE WE'LL CONTINUE TO DECIDE WHETHER IT'S GOING TO BE A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP OR MAYBE YOU WOULD FIT AN OPTION IN THERE TO REALLY LOOK HARD AT RESTORING THE BUILDING.
AT LEAST IF I WERE THERE, I'D ASK DAVID WATSON TO COME TO PRESENT AND THEN EVERYBODY HAS A CHANCE TO SHOOT HIM DOWN [NOISE] CAUSE TOO MUCH, IT WON'T WORK.
IT'S NOT BEAUTIFUL. IT'S ALREADY BEATEN TO DEATH.
>> I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION. THE PARK BOARD IS GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR INVESTORS.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT EB PROGRAM?
I KNOW THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO INVEST IN THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WOULD BE MADE AND THAT'S AN INVESTMENT.
BUT BEYOND THAT, I DON'T KNOW.
I KNOW THE PARK BOARD HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL ON GRANT MONEY.
HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO HAVE LOOK AT ALL THAT AND WHERE THAT'S COMING FROM AND EVERYTHING.
I KNOW BACK WHEN THE RESTORE FUNDS WERE CREATED.
I REMEMBER I WAS ON THE COUNCIL AT THAT TIME WHEN THE PARK BOARD PUT TOGETHER A PROGRAM TO GO AFTER THE RESTORED MONEY AND THEY GOT A BIG CHUNK OF IT AND THAT'S COMING IN.
I KNOW WE TRIED TO PUT TOGETHER SOME RESTORE MONEY FOR THE RED VIPER OF AGE.
WE DIDN'T GET VERY FAR ON THAT [LAUGHTER].
WE WEREN'T ABLE TO SPEND THE MONEY TO PUT TOGETHER A PLAN THAT THEY DID.
>> I DON'T KNOW. I'LL LOOK IT UP.
>> VERY GOOD. I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE ALONG WITH OUR THINGS.
BUT ANY COUNSELS OR ANY SHORT THINGS THAT ANYBODY WANTS TO SAY OR MENTION TO MR. MIKE MOORES.
>> THANKS FOR ALPHA. YOU ANSWERED MOST OF MY QUESTIONS I HAD WRITTEN DOWN IN YOUR [LAUGHTER] AND DAY [INAUDIBLE] WHEN I WANTED TO ASK, SO I APPRECIATE YOU COMING.
>> RALPH, THANK YOU. YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN SO COMMUNITY-MINDED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION AND WE'LL BE MAKING OUR DECISION ON THE 24TH.
[00:25:02]
>> I WILL BE ON AN AIRPLANE ON [INAUDIBLE].
>> [INAUDIBLE] [BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER]
>> I GOT AWAY TO LET US DO THEM. [LAUGHTER].
>> OKAY. WE GOT WILL WRIGHT COMING IN FROM GALVESTON HISTORIC FOUNDATION.
>> YOU KNOW HIM VERY WELL THEN?
I DON'T KNOW KIRK GONZALES AND MR. [INAUDIBLE].
>> [OVERLAPPING] HEY, EVERYBODY. HOW'S IT GOING?
>> WELL, WHAT WE'LL DO IS YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES ALREADY.
LET YOU GIVE A VERY BRIEF INTRO ON WHY YOU WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THE PARK BOARD AND WE'LL OPEN THE QUESTIONS.
>> OKAY, GREAT. I'M I GOOD TO GO OR?
>> OKAY, GREAT. WELL, I'M WILL WRIGHT.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN.
I'M COMING UP FOR MY POTENTIAL THIRD RUN ON PARK BOARD.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING ON.
I'M THE CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER FOR GALVESTON HISTORICAL FOUNDATION.
I OVERSEE ALL THE BRANDING AND MARKETING AND CREATIVE EVENTS.
A LOT OF THE FUN WORK THAT GETS TO HAPPEN THERE THROUGH GHF, I GET TO BE A PART OF.
I'VE WORKED THERE FOR 10 YEARS NOW.
I'VE BEEN ON THE ISLAND FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS.
I MOVED FROM THE PANHANDLE, SEEMS LIKE A LIFETIME AGO.
NO WATER UP THERE AND A LOT OF WIND AND DIFFERENT WORLD DOWN HERE WHICH I ALWAYS HAVE BEEN ENJOYED.
SHE IS A RESEARCHER [NOISE] AND AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR THERE.
WE HAVE AN ALMOST SEVEN-YEAR-OLD SON, DEAN.
WE'RE ENJOYING OUR FULL-ON SUMMER DOWN HERE BECAUSE WE MOVE AROUND A LITTLE BIT.
WITH PARK BOARD I'M THE VICE-CHAIR PARK BOARD, THE CHAIR OF THE TDEC COMMITTEE, AND I SERVE ON FINANCE.
THEN OUTSIDE OF ALL THAT, I HAVE A GRAPHIC DESIGN WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS ARCHIVE THAT I'VE HAD FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS.
I STILL KEEP CLIENTS, I'VE GOT PEOPLE THAT I WORKED WITH ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES.
A LOT OF CONNECTS IN [INAUDIBLE] AS WELL, WHICH HAS BEEN NICE TO HAVE SOME STUFF THAT LETS ME USE SOME OF THE CREATIVE WORK THAT I GREW UP DOING THAT I ENJOY DOING.
THEN FINALLY, AS I'VE GONE THROUGH THESE INTERVIEWS OR GLASS TIERS TO PROGRESS WITH MY MASTERS AT TEXAS STATE, I'M DONE WITH ALL MY COURSEWORK AND ENTERING INTO THESIS, WHICH IS FANTASTIC FOR ME.
I'M READY FOR THAT. MY MFA WILL BE IN COMMUNICATION DESIGN WITH TEXAS STATE AND MY THESIS IS GOING TO BE ON BALANCED BRANDING AND HERITAGE TOURISM COMMUNITIES AND HOW WE LOOK AT [NOISE] RESIDENTS AND GUESTS AND VISITORS, AND HOW THEY ALL CAN POTENTIALLY TALK AND WORK TOGETHER A LITTLE BIT.
ANYWAY, HIGH-LEVEL, LOT OF STUFF THERE, BUT THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF MY BACKGROUND.
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. QUESTIONS, COUNSEL?
>> WHY ARE YOU INTERESTED IN CONTINUING ON THE PARK BOARD?
>> SURE. PERSONALLY, I ENJOY IT.
IT SEEMS LIKE A REALLY GOOD FIT FOR A LOT OF WHAT I ENJOY ABOUT GALVESTON AND WHAT I DO IN THE COMMUNITY.
I GET TO WORK ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF IT.
PARK BOARD REALLY IS A GOOD PLACE FOR ME TO FEEL LIKE A LOT OF THE WORK THAT I GET TO DO MIGHT HAVE A BENEFIT TO HELP THERE AS WELL.
IT'S AN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR ME AS WELL.
[NOISE] WE LOVE GALVESTON, WE LIVE IN GALVESTON, WE PLAN ON STAYING IN GALVESTON AND IT HAS PROVEN TO BE A GREAT WAY FOR ME TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW THE CITY OPERATES AND HOW WE INTERACT WITH PEOPLE.
IT'S JUST BEEN FUN. BEEN NICE.
>> AS YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WAS LAST WEEK, WEEK BEFORE LAST, THE PARK BOARD WAS IN THE NEWSPAPER AND THEY SEEMED TO BE HAVING DIFFICULTIES OUT THERE.
I'M GOING TO ASK YOU THE SAME QUESTIONS I ASKED THE LAST GUY.
DO YOU BELIEVE IN PROPERTY RIGHTS?
>> I DO. I THINK FROM WHAT I, AND I'M STILL LEARNING MORE ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION, BUT PROPERTY RIGHTS ARE IMPORTANT.
I DON'T THINK ANYONE COULD EVER PUSH BACK ON THAT, BUT THERE IS A LOT TO BE LEARNED FROM HOW THOSE RIGHTS ARE LOOKED AT.
WHETHER THAT'S THE STATE LEVEL, WHETHER THAT'S THE COMMUNITY LEVEL.
THAT HAS BEEN A HUGE PART OF WHAT MY CONTINUING EDUCATION IS WITH PARK BOARD.
PARTICULARLY IS LEARNING WHERE ALL THOSE THINGS MEET AND HOW THAT GETS CONVEYED AND IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S TIMES THAT THOSE THINGS CAN BE A LITTLE BIT MORE CLEAR CUT AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE NOT AS CLEAR CUT.
I THINK YOU ALL PROBABLY DEAL WITH THOSE ISSUES A LOT MORE THAN I DO, BUT SURE, ABSOLUTE ANSWERED QUESTION OF COURSE.
[00:30:03]
>> WELL, WHAT'S THE PRIMARY CHANGE YOU'D LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN IN PARK BOARD?
>> CHANGE WISE, I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT COMES ABOUT WITH THE STUDIES, THE STRATEGIC PLAN, THE CHANGES THAT COULD POTENTIALLY COME OUT OF THOSE.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK PUT IN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS ON SURVEYS AND SETTLEMENT SURVEYS AND HOW THOSE MEET UP.
I LIKE PERSONALLY THAT WE ARE GIVING A PRETTY HARD EFFORT TOWARDS ADDRESSING RESIDENT CONCERNS OR RESIDENT'S IMPACT AS WELL AS TOURISM, AND I LIKE THAT.
FOR ME IT FEELS LIKE PLACES THAT WE GO, THAT WE ENJOY GOING OR BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE SOME FORM OF CONNECTION TO THAT COMMUNITY, EVEN IF WE'RE JUST VISITORS THERE AND I LIKE THAT, THAT IS STARTING TO FEEL LIKE IT'S MORE IN PLANE WITH THAT.
CHANGE WISE, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S CHANGE SO MUCH AS SEEING THAT EVOLUTION OCCUR.
MORE ON HOW WE'RE SUPPORTING A REALLY INTERESTING AND CREATIVE COMMUNITY AND HOW THAT GETS TRANSLATED INTO THE PEOPLE THAT WE WANT TO COME DOWN AND EXPERIENCE GALVESTON.
I SAID THIS BEFORE IN PARK BOARD, BUT I DON'T NECESSARILY WANT PEOPLE TO COME DOWN AND JUST STAY IN A HOTEL FOR A WEEK AND NEVER COME BACK.
I'D RATHER HAVE THE LONG GAME ON IT WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMING DOWN AND GETTING A SENSE OF WHAT WE ARE, WHAT OUR COMMUNITY IS AND THEN POTENTIALLY HAVING THAT BE A LONGER INVESTMENT WITH PEOPLE.
INTENDED ON THAT, BUT WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMING DOWN TO FEEL MORE CONNECTED TO A PLACE THAT THEY ENJOY VISITING.
>> PRETTY GOOD. WE HAVE WILLIAM AND THEN JOHN.
>> WITH YOUR TIME ON THE PARK BOARD, WHAT'S ONE THING THAT YOU'RE MOST PROUD OF AS FAR AS ACCOMPLISHING AND MOVING FORWARD, WHAT'S ONE OF ASSET THAT THE PARK BOARD HAS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE MAYBE IMPROVED TO BRINGING MORE TOURISM OR MORE REVENUE TO THE PARK BOARD?
>> WELL, ONE OF THE ASSETS THAT I THINK IS BEING IMPROVED IS STAFFING.
I'M A FAN OF OUR STAFFING IN THERE.
I THINK THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING IN HAVE BEEN HELPING US ELEVATE [NOISE] WHAT WE CAN OFFER.
THE NEWEST ADDITION BEING OUR CFO, I THINK IS DOING SOME REALLY FANTASTIC WORK.
BUT EVERYONE, THERE'S A REALLY GREAT STAFF THERE AND I SAY THAT WE GET TO ENJOY IT.
BUT I'LL ALSO SAY WE AS A COMMUNITY AS WELL, GETS TO BENEFIT FROM THAT.
THEN FROM THE SIDE OF THE THINGS I'M MOST PROUD OF, THIS IS A BLANKET ANSWER, BUT I'M REALLY PROUD OF A LOT OF WORK.
FOR ME, I LIKE SUPPORTING THE WORK THAT THE STAFF IS DOING.
I DON'T WANT TO BE IN THERE TO MICRO-MANAGE ANYONE OR TELL SOMEONE EXACTLY WHAT THEY SHOULD OR SHOULDN'T BE DOING, BUT THE STAFF OR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ACTUALLY HAVING TO DO THE WORK ON A DAY IN AND DAY OUT BASIS.
I'M PROUD THAT I GET TO LEND MY HISTORY AND MY EXPERTISE TO SUPPORT THAT.
>> WELL, WHAT'S YOUR OPINION OF THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE EXISTING PAVILION ON STEWART BEACH?
>> WELL, I'M NOT GOING TO WEAR MY GHF HAT ON THAT.
[LAUGHTER] SO I GUESS I SHOULD KEEP THAT CLEAR AS WELL.
IN THE INSTANCE OF LIKE LET'S LOOK AT SEAWOLF PARK, I THINK THAT THERE WAS A VALID QUESTION ON THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE WITH THAT, AND WE SAW THAT THROUGH TEXAS LOOKING INTO IT AND FINALLY GETTING THE APPROVAL TO DEMO IT.
WITH STEWART BEACH, I THINK MORE OF THAT HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE MIGHT BE TIED MORE TOWARDS THE RESIDENTS' CONNECTION TO IT.
I'LL JUST BE UP FRONT, I WOULD BE VERY EXCITED TO SEE A NEW STRUCTURE THERE OF SOME FORM.
I KNOW WE'VE HAD LOTS OF DISCUSSIONS ON THAT OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.
IT FEELS WEIRD TO SAY THAT I'M IN FAVOR OF TEARING SOMETHING DOWN BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY NOT WHAT I'M USUALLY IN FAVOR OF.
I THINK IN THAT INSTANCE THERE'S SOME REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY THERE AND YOU ALL SEE THAT AS WELL.
BUT IT'S LITERALLY WHERE THE ROAD ENDS AND I LIKE THE IDEA OF US BEING ABLE TO DO SOMETHING THERE THAT'S PRETTY NEW AND INTERESTING.
IT'S A GREAT SPACE AND I THINK THAT, THAT STRUCTURE THAT'S THERE CURRENTLY ISN'T FACILITATING AS MUCH AS IT SHOULD BE.
>> GOOD. WELL I'VE GOT A QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU.
WE TALK ABOUT HIGH-VALUE TOURIST.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT.
IN YOUR MIND, JUST A COUPLE THOUGHTS IF YOU COULD COME BACK TO THE PARK BOARD THERE, WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO MAYBE INCREASE THAT HIGH-VALUE TOURIST?
>> YEAH, I THINK THAT HIGH VALUE, IN MY MIND, IT COMES FROM LONGEVITY INSTEAD OF A FIRST SHOT AT IT.
IF THEY'RE COMING DOWN FOR ONE WEEKEND AND WE'RE SEEING THAT, THAT'S FANTASTIC.
BUT I REALLY WANT TO SEE THAT TURN INTO A LONGER RELATIONSHIP WITH GALVESTON.
THAT'S A PRETTY SIMPLE ANSWER TO IT, BUT LONG-TERM,
[00:35:03]
I WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL THAT THEY HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH HERE, WHETHER IT'S ONE THAT RESIDENTS FEEL LIKE WE HAVE OR WE DON'T HAVE.I LIKE SEEING THAT, I DON'T THINK WE'RE IN A GOOD POSITION FOR THAT.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AT POSITIVES FROM COVID, WHICH I THINK THERE ARE PLENTY OF THEM, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING DOWN, THAT HAVE BEEN COMING DOWN AND THEY'RE STARTING NEW RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE ISLAND AS WELL.
PUTTING ON MY DICKENS HAT FOR A SECOND, I OVERSEE DICKENS ON THE STRAND LIKE GHF HAT, AND EVERY YEAR I HAVE PEOPLE COME UP AND SAY, I USED TO COME UP WITH MY PARENTS, NOW I'M BRINGING MY FAMILY HERE.
IT'S A GENERATIONAL RELATIONSHIP WHICH I REALLY LIKE.
BUT I THINK WE'RE IN A REALLY GREAT SPACE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT NOW.
WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE AND I THINK WE'RE HOPEFULLY READY FOR THEM.
>> TO FOLLOW ON WITH THE MAYOR'S QUESTION.
YOU TAKE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND OVER EVERY DAY, OVER 50,000 CARS CAME OVER THE COURSE WAY AND 48,000-49,000 LEFT EVERY NIGHT WHICH IS CERTAINLY A DAY TRIP.
BIRDS ARE CREATING AN ISSUE ON THE LAST END SINCE WE HAVE THE ONLY FREE AREA FLAP THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE BEING TAKEN OVER.
WHAT WOULD SIT YOUR MARKETING BACKGROUND, WHICH I PROBABLY WILL BE GIVING YOU A CALL.
JUST SO DECIDED, BUT WHAT WOULD BE HERE? WHAT'S YOUR SUGGESTION TO THE MARKETING SIDE OF THE PARK BOARD ON HOW WE CAN GO FOR MORE OF A WEEKEND STAY VACATION OR A PERSON'S JUST DRIVE IT ON, DRIVE IT OFF, MAYBE SPENDING MONEY, MAYBE NOT.
>> ON ONE LEVEL, I THINK THAT HOPEFULLY MAYBE IT DOES, MAYBE DOESN'T.
MAYBE THAT PLAYS INTO PEOPLE COMING DOWN FOR THE WEEKEND.
THEY WANT TO COME BACK AND STAY LONGER.
HOPEFULLY, THAT'S ONE OF THE AVENUES FOR IT.
FROM THE MARKETING SIDE OF IT, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A MAGIC BULLET TO FIX THAT.
I THINK PART OF THE ALERT AND PART OF WHAT MAKES GALVESTON A DESTINATION IS THAT ABILITY TO BE A DAY TROOPER.
I GET THE SPEAKING WITH A HOT PAD ON, THAT WE DON'T WANT THAT.
WE WANT PEOPLE TO STAY LONGER.
I THINK ELEVATING LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF OFFERINGS AND MAKING IT MORE INTERESTING FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO STAY AND IN SENSITIZING THEM TO DO THAT.
THAT CAN BE THROUGH RATES, THAT COULD BE THROUGH EVENTS, THAT COULD BE THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL OFFERINGS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS STARTING TO COME ONLINE THAT ARE REALLY NEW AND EXCITING.
I THINK GALVESTON IN A PRETTY GOOD PLACE TO JUST START TO SHOWCASE THAT MORE AND ON THE MORE NUTS AND BOLTS SIDE OF IT.
THERE'S THE WEBSITE AND DEVELOPMENT WITH VISIT GALVESTON.
I THINK SOME OF THAT, BUT ALSO TRANSLATE BETTER TO BEING ABLE TO SHOWCASE THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE TOO.
>> VERY GOOD. WELL, THANK YOU.
>> WHAT ABOUT TO INCREASE THEIR INVESTMENTS OUT THERE TO GET DIFFERENT ENTITIES WHICH WILL ATTRACT MORE PEOPLE COMING IN.
ARE YOU ALL COMMUNICATING WITH BOTH SIDES OF STORAGE BEACH TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S HAPPY? BECAUSE I'M GOING BACK TO CONCERNS ME ABOUT WHAT I READ IN THE NEWSPAPER THAT WE'RE NOT COMMUNICATING WITH BOTH SIDES OF HISTORIC BEACH.
>> BUT I FEEL LIKE WE ARE, I'M NOT THE ONE DOING THAT COMMUNICATION, SO I'M GOING TO SPEAK LIGHTLY ON WHAT I UNDERSTAND THAT IS HAPPENING, BUT YES, I BELIEVE THAT IS HAPPENING NOW.
ALSO AM AWARE THAT WE'VE GOT MULTIPLE PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT IDEAS AND DIFFERENT NOTIONS OF WHAT THOSE RIGHTS ARE AND HOW THAT GETS TRANSLATED.
I KNOW THAT SOME TOUCHY SUBJECT, I THINK ANYTIME YOU DEAL WITH PEOPLE'S PROPERTY, THAT IS UNDERSTANDABLY A VERY SENSITIVE TOPIC FOR PEOPLE.
BUT FROM A VERY BASE LEVEL, YES, FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN UPDATED ON, THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE HAPPENING NOW TO THE LEVEL OF SUCCESS THAT THAT MIGHT BE HAPPENING IS PROBABLY IN TIMES A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION, BUT FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, YES.
>> ONE LAST QUESTION. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE EV PROGRAM IS?
>> THANK YOU. I THINK THAT'S ALL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I APPRECIATE IT.
>> YEAH. GOOD SEEING ALL THINGS [OVERLAPPING]
>> THEY SHOULD HAVE THE GAP. THE KENT WILL BE STEVEN CRY FROM MITCHELL'S GROUP.
>> IT MIGHT EVEN GET A PAY RAISE. [LAUGHTER].
>> NOT SO SURE. WHAT IS THE EV PROGRAM? TELL US THEN.
I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE EV PROGRAM IS?
>> YOU GUYS GOT TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK.
[00:40:03]
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR INVESTORS, THAT'S ONE PLACE TO GET THEM.>> WE WANT TO SEE IT PAID FOR HIM.
>> WELL STEVEN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I APPRECIATE IT. YOU'VE GOT TO BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IF YOU WOULD MANAGE A SHORT INTRODUCTION OF WHY YOU WANT TO CONTINUE ON THE PART OF BOARD AND THEY WILL OPEN IT TO QUESTIONS.
>> GREAT. OF COURSE, STARTED ON THE POWERPOINT 2017.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AND HONOR OF BEING CHOSEN BY COUNSEL FOUR YEARS AGO, AND I TOOK MY ROLE ON THE BOARD VERY SERIOUSLY.
AS A RESULT OF THAT, I HAVE BECOME VERY PASSIONATE, ESPECIALLY ABOUT ONE CAUSE AND THAT IS THE EAST END LAGOON, WHICH IS A VERY IMPORTANT CONSERVATION AREA FOR GALVESTON ISLAND.
THERE'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS FOCUS AND GREAT COMMITMENT IN PURSUING TO RESTORE MONEYS IN THE GRANTS THAT WE PERCEIVE TO NEARLY $1.3/1.4 MILLION WHICH HAS BEEN AWARDED TOWARD FOCUSING ON THE PLAN OVER THE NEXT 16 TO 24 MONTHS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE OUTDOOR PAVILION OUT THERE.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME CONSERVATION CAMPAIGN OPPORTUNITIES, STARGAZING, CAMPING, TOWARDS SIMILAR IDEAS TO WHAT ARE YOU GOING ON OUT IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY HERE IN TEXAS.
OF COURSE, IF I CHAIRED THAT COMMITTEE AND I ALSO CHAIRED HACK, AND WE'RE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT MERGING THE TWO BECAUSE WE THINK THAT WE CAN BECOME A LOT MORE STRONGER AND MORE UNITED.
IN DOING SO, I THINK SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WITH THE STAR BEACH PAVILION, AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO REPLACE SOME OF THOSE AMENITIES OUT THEREFORE IF THE DECISION IS MADE TO REMOVE THE EXISTING BUILDING OR NOT.
WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD ON WHAT DECISION WE NEED TO MAKE THERE.
DAVID HAS BEEN A PART OF THAT AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO CONTINUE TO SERVE IN THIS ROLE SO THAT I CAN AT LEAST FULFILL ALL OF THE OBLIGATIONS THAT WE HAVE ON THE TABLE.
RIGHT NOW I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS COME TO FRUITION.
THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF MY INVOLVEMENT.
ASIDE FROM THAT, I'VE ALSO BEEN A COMMITTEE MEMBER OF TWO, THERE'S TWO OF US, FLICK AND I.
FOR THE DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY LIGHTING AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE VERY COMMITTED TO AS WELL, TO TRY TO HELP ENHANCE THE DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCE AND HELP OUT THE RETAILERS AND WE'RE LOOKING AT EXPANDING ALL OF THAT IN OTHER AREAS SUCH AS MARKET STREET TO HELP BRING ALL OF THAT UP TO THE SAME LEVEL AS RESTAURANT AND POST OFFICE.
AND I SAID THERE ARE A LOT OF EXCITING THINGS GOING ON, BUT I'D LIKE TO CONTINUE TO BE A PART OF IT.
>> WONDERFUL, FANTASTIC. VERY GOOD.
QUESTIONS THE COUNCIL? THERE DAVID.
>> FOR THE UNINITIATED PARK AS THE PARK AND AMENITIES COMMITTEE? YES.
>> NOT POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] SO IT'S CLEAR WHEN YOU SAID YOU ARE CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR [OVERLAPPING].
>> STEVEN, WHAT'S THE PRIMARY CHANGE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN IN PARK BOARD?
>> WELL, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS I'D LIKE TO SEE.
I WOULD PREFER TO SEE A LITTLE BIT STRONGER PUSH FROM THE TRUSTEES WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND DECISION-MAKING.
[NOISE] WE'RE A BOARD AND I THINK THAT WE'RE A VERY STRONG BOARD.
I THINK THAT WE CAN BECOME STRONGER, AND I THINK THAT THE UNITY THAT WE HAVE THERE IS GREAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'M ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION.
>> YOU SURE ARE BEING VERY CAREFUL ABOUT HOW YOU [LAUGHTER].
>> WELL FEEL FREE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION.
>> WELL, I JUST THINK THAT WE'RE
[00:45:02]
A BOARD-DRIVEN ORGANIZATION AND THE BOARD NEEDS TO BE MAKING SOME MORE DECISIONS AT A BOARD LEVEL.I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPRESS IT.
>> I JUST THINK THAT WITH [OVERLAPPING].
MR. COUNSELOR, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE? MY QUESTION WOULD BE, GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD CHANGE OTHER THAN BEING A STRONGER BOARD THAT, I DON'T BELIEVE IN MICROMANAGEMENT, BUT YOU HAVE A CEO THERE ALSO.
>> I'M GETTING VIBES THAT WE HAVE MAYBE A CONFLICT HERE.
MAYBE THE WAY SHE WANTS TO GO VERSUS WHERE THE DIRECTION THE BOARD WANTS TO GO.
>> NO, I WOULDN'T SAY THAT IT'S A CONFLICT.
I THINK THAT BOARDS NEED TO RUN THE BOARD.
I DON'T KNOW ANY OTHER WAY HOW TO EXPRESS MYSELF.
I'M NOT SINGLING ANY ONE PERSONNEL.
I JUST THINK THAT A STRONGER BOARD WILL MAKE US A BETTER BOARD AND I THINK THAT WE'VE MADE STRIDES IN THAT AND I AM TRYING TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT HOW I SAY ALL OF THIS BECAUSE I THINK THAT EVERYONE THAT'S INVOLVED, WHETHER YOU'RE AN EMPLOYEE OR A BOARD TRUSTEE, I THINK THAT THE LEVEL IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN THERE HAS RISEN TO A LEVEL THAT I WOULD HAVE NEVER IMAGINED HAPPENED.
I MEAN, I REMEMBER THE DAYS OF THE ARTBOARD 20 YEARS AGO WHEN I ARRIVED, IT WAS A VERY DIFFERENT FEELING.
I JUST THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY THAT WE COULD BE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF, THAT WE'RE NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF RIGHT NOW.
>> WE HAVE, WILLIAM, AND THEN [OVERLAPPING].
>> JUST THE TAIL OFF ON US SOME OPPORTUNITY THAT WE'RE NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF, WHETHER IT BE STARTED AT THE BEACH TO SEE WHAT PART OR A TYPE OF EAST TIME AGO, WHAT'S THAT ONE THING THAT IN YOUR LIFE YOU CAN POINT IT BACK TO THE BOARD.
WHAT'S ONE OF THOSE THAT YOU'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE BE A MAJOR ATTRACTION OR BRING MORE TOURISM TO THE ISLAND?
>> WELL, I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT THERE'S A LOT OF MISSED OPPORTUNITY OUT IN STEWART BEACH.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE ATTACHED TO THE EXISTING CIVILIAN THAT'S OUT THERE.
I THINK THAT AS IN OTHER BEACH SIDE COMMUNITIES, THERE'S USUALLY A BIT OF A THING OR SOMETHING THAT SORT OF SPEAKS TO THE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS.
I THINK THAT OUR FOCUS WITH TRYING TO REPAIR ALL OF THE DRAINAGE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IS A TOP PRIORITY BUT I ALSO THINK THAT THE PAVILION IS A TOP PRIORITY AS WELL.
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BRING THE SERVICES CLOSER TO THE BEACH FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO THE ISLAND.
I THINK THAT WE NEED SOMETHING THAT IS INDICATIVE OF WHAT GALVESTON IS.
I THINK THE PAVILION AS AT STANDS NOW I DON'T THINK IS A VERY GOOD REPRESENTATION OF GALVESTON OR SOMETHING THAT IS AN ATTRACTIVE VOCAL POINT AT THE VERY END OF SEAWALL THAT REALLY REPRESENTS WHO WE ARE.
I MEAN, LOOK AT ALL THE CHANGE THAT'S OCCURRED HERE.
WE WANT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO DRAW PEOPLE THERE.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.
>> [INAUDIBLE]. THERE'S TWO PART QUESTION.
FIRST ONE IS DO YOU BELIEVE IN PROPERTY RIGHTS?
>> DO I BELIEVE IN PROPERTY RIGHTS?
>> OKAY, AND THE OTHER ONE IS, YOU MENTIONED THAT A FEW SECONDS AGO, WHY WE HAVE A DRAINAGE ISSUES OUT THERE? BECAUSE IF THE PROPERTIES ON EITHER SIDE IS JOB NATURE CREATING, WHY DO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE DRAINAGE AT STEWART BEACH?
>> WHY DO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE DRAINAGE?
>> YES. WHAT'S CAUSING THE DRAINAGE PROBLEM AT STEWART BEACH IF WE HAVE SECRETION?
>> WELL, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE ISLAND
[00:50:03]
SECRETES CLEARLY TO THE EAST OF GALVESTON.IT'S CERTAINLY NOT RAISING THE LEVEL OF WHERE THE PARKING AREA NEEDS TO BE CURRENTLY.
I THINK, AND FROM MY OWN OBSERVATIONS, THE DRAINAGE FROM THE TWO BUSINESSES THAT ARE LOCATED AT THE END OF THAT AREA, DRAIN RIGHT INTO THAT STEWART BEACH AREA THAT ACCUMULATES IN OUR PARKING LOT, WHICH PREVENTS US FROM ALLOWING PEOPLE PARKING THERE.
I THINK THE PLAN THAT WE'VE COME UP WITH, THE CHAIR OF VERSIONS THAT NEEDS TO BE WORKING ON THERE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW COULD HELP SOLVE THAT BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS FOR SECRETION BECAUSE SECRETION BUILDS THE ISLAND OUT IT DOESN'T RAISE IN IT.
IT EXTENDS THE WIDTH, BUT IT'S NOT ELEVATING THE
>> I'VE BEEN STAYING HERE FOR 70 YEARS.
A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SUCCESSFUL GREW UP THERE TOGETHER AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN SECRETION.
THE PROBLEM I SEE DOWN THERE IS TAKING OF SAND MOVING FROM ONE LOCATION TO THE OTHER THAT MAY CAUSE THE PROBLEM.
THAT'S WHY I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU HAVE A SECRETION, YOU CAN MOVE THAT SAND, FROM IF YOU SAY TOWARDS THE SHORELINE, YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD, SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
THE PROBLEM I'M SEEING THAT'S HAPPENING OUT THERE IS MORE OR LESS SAND BEING TAKEN OFF AND TAKEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION WHICH IS STILL, [INAUDIBLE] SAYS YOU CAN DO THAT, WHICH I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM BUT IN ESSENCE, WHEN YOU TAKE THAT SAND OFF, YOU CAN CREATE A DRAINAGE PROBLEM.
THAT'S WHAT I'M GETTING AT. WHY WE ARE HAVING A DRAINAGE PROBLEM, ARE WE CAUSING THAT DRAINAGE PROBLEM FROM REMOVING THAT SAND?
>> I'M TRYING TO FOLLOW WITH YOU.
IT'S NOT MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'VE REMOVED ANY SIGN FROM THAT LOCATION AND THE ACCRETION OF THE ISLAND, AGAIN IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE ELEVATION OF THAT PARKING AREA.
THE GOAL IS TO CHANGE THAT BERM LENGTH, SO THAT IT'S SET BACK A LITTLE FURTHER AND WE'RE GOING TO END FILL WITH MORE SEAMS SO WE CAN RAISE THAT ELEVATION TO HELP PREVENT THIS IN THE FUTURE.
I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE ABOUT THE ACCRETION QUESTION.
HOW WELL DO YOU GET ALONG WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS?
>> NO. STEWARDSHIP, I'M TALKING ABOUT STEWARDSHIP.
I GET ALONG GREAT WITH ALL MY NEIGHBORS.
>> NEIGHBORS IN RELATIONSHIP TO [INAUDIBLE] BEACH, PORRETTO BEACH AND GRAND BEACH ON THE OTHER SIDE?
[BACKGROUND] THE REASON WHY I'M ASKING THAT IS IT DISTURBS ME THAT THE ARTICLES THAT I'M READING IN THE PAPER THAT THE PARK BOARD IS NOT MORE OR LESS TALKING TO THEM.
THE BOTTOM LINE AND IT'S ALL PUBLIC RECORD, IT WAS IN THE LOCAL MEDIA, PROBLEM IS ISSUES ARE GOING TO BE PUSHED WHERE IF IT GOES TO SOME KIND OF LITIGATION, YOU ARE DOING THIS, YOU ARE DOING THAT, WHATEVER WILL COME UP.
THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO MAKE MONEY ARE GOING TO BE ATTORNEYS.
MY QUESTION WAS, HOW GOOD DO YOU ALL GET ALONG SO WE CAN STOP THIS FROM ESCALATING TO SOLVE THE ISSUES?
>> I HAVEN'T HAD PERSONAL INTERACTION WITH EITHER GRAND BEACH OR PORRETTO.
>> [OVERLAPPING] BUT DOESN'T IT COME IN FRONT OF THE BOARD TO DISCUSS?
>> NO. I MEAN I'VE READ THE ARTICLES, AND I THINK OVERALL, THE PARK BOARD ON A WHOLE IN TERMS OF STEWARDSHIP AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN TRYING TO BE RESPECTFUL AND GRACIOUS WITH EVERYONE IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR US, I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT IN FACT, I THINK THAT WE ARE GOOD [NOISE] NEIGHBORS.
>> I'M GOING TO CHANGE DIRECTION, JUST ONE THING AND I GUESS MAYBE A LAST QUESTION.
I COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR PASSION FOR THE EAST END LAGOON.
IT HAS BEEN A STEP CHILD FOR THE CITY FOR A LONG TIME, AND AT TIMES FOR THE PARK BOARD.
IN AN IDEAL SCENE STEVEN, IF YOU CAME BACK IN 30 YEARS FROM NOW OR SO, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE EAST END LAGOON LOOK LIKE? WHAT WOULD BE THERE?
[00:55:03]
>> I THINK THAT ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES WOULD BE BODDEKER DRIVE BEING IMPROVED.
THAT'S ONE ISSUE THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE THAT WE'RE VERY WELL AWARE OF.
THE NUMBER ONE THING IS THE CONSERVATION OF THAT LAND.
WE HAVE SOME OF THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF MIGRATORY BIRDS THAT COME THROUGH THAT AREA, THE BIRD COUNTS ON A YEARLY BASIS.
ALEXANDER DONALD, [INAUDIBLE] , KRISTEN BAILE, WE HAVE A VERY STRONG COMMITTEE OF INDIVIDUALS.
THEY'RE VERY COMMITTED TO THE CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION OF THIS AREA.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT BE KEPT AS PRISTINE, CLEAN, AND A JEWEL FOR GALVESTON BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY UNUSUAL PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE, AND IT'S UNLIKE ANYTHING ELSE ON THE ISLAND.
TO BE ABLE TO COME BACK, AND TO CONTINUE TO SEE THE CLOVER PIPERS AND THESE ENDANGERED BIRDS CONTINUING TO NEST OUT THERE IS PRIORITY NUMBER ONE.
THAT WOULD MAKE ME VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT [INAUDIBLE]
>> THANK YOU, STEVEN. I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
HOWEVER IT WORKS OUT, CONTINUE WITH YOUR PASSION FOR THE EAST END LAGOON.
>> THANK YOU. I HOPE TO SEE YOU GUYS IN THE JUNETEENTH DEDICATION CEREMONY.
>> WE HAVE CHARLES KILLEBREW NOW COMING TO COUNCIL, [NOISE] THEN WE'LL HAVE RICHARD PRAETS [INAUDIBLE] [NOISE].
>> YOU'VE GOT TO GIVE US A HAND, BILL. [INAUDIBLE]
>> WHAT? HEY, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO THAT ACTUALLY.
>> I'M SURPRISED, I REALLY AM.
>> IT GIVES YOU SOMETHING TO DO A LITTLE BIT LATER. OKAY.
>> I HAVE A FEELING NOW, IF YOU GOOGLE EB AND YOU'LL COME UP WITH THE MOST INTERESTING. [LAUGHTER]
>> IF IT DOESN'T PERTAIN TO ECONOMICS, I DON'T GET INVOLVED IN IT.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF MR. KILABRU IS HERE.
>> I DIDN'T SEE CHARLIE EITHER.
>> HEY, LISTEN, THE WAY OUR TIME IS RUNNING RICHARD, IT'S A GODSEND.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AS I MENTIONED EARLIER.
I APPRECIATE YOUR APPLICATION.
IF YOU COULD, RICHARD, GIVE US A SHORT INTRO TO YOU AND WHY YOU WANT TO SERVE ON THE PARK BOARD.
THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS.
I'VE BEEN ON THE ISLAND ALL MY LIFE, AND MY FAMILY GOT HERE IN THE 1800S.
I'M MARRIED BUT MARRIED TO THE SAME OLD FOR 35 YEARS.
WE HAVE THREE GROWN CHILDREN, ALL GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE.
I HAVE A SMALL FARM ON THE FAR WEST END OF GALVESTON ISLAND THAT I'VE HAD THE WHOLE 35 YEARS I'VE BEEN MARRIED.
I WANTED TO SERVE BECAUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME, I ONLY HAVE ONE JOB AND THAT IS MANAGING REAL ESTATE HERE ON THE ISLAND, FAMILY-OWNED PROPERTIES.
BEFORE THAT, I WAS WITH [INAUDIBLE] COLLEGE FOR 11 YEARS.
I TAUGHT ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND BEFORE THAT, MY FAMILY HAD PRETS LUMBER, AND ACE HARDWARE, WHICH WE HAD FOR ABOUT 75 YEARS.
I LEFT THE COMPANY TO GO TO WORK AT [INAUDIBLE] COLLEGE, AND I GUESS ABOUT 10 YEARS LATER, MY BROTHER CLOSED THE SHOPS.
>> WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS, COUNCIL.
>> I JUST LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT.
I APPRECIATE YOUR FAN FOR SUPPORTING LITTLE LEAGUES.
COAST LEAGUE AND THE [NOISE] PONY LEAGUE.
>> GROWING OLD, MY DAD SPONSORED FOR 35 YEARS AND THEN I CAME BEHIND HIM TO SPONSOR FOR ANOTHER 20, SO ABOUT 55 YEARS WE HAD PRETS LUMBER AND WE BOTH DID SOME COACHING, BUT DAD PARTICULARLY DID A LOT OF COACHING.
MY BROTHER IS THE PRESIDENT OF LASSIE LEAGUE FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS, AND HE STILL COACHES.
EVERY TIME I SEE HIM, HE'S ON HIS HANDS AND KNEES OUT AT THAT PARK DOING THUMB.
[01:00:02]
>> AS YOU KNOW, WE HAD AREAS [INAUDIBLE] BEACH ALL THE TIME.
>> I DON'T REMEMBER THAT. [LAUGHTER].
>> THE [INAUDIBLE] LAST LEAGUE, JUST WON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS.[OVERLAPPING].
>> BY THE WAY, COUNCIL, THEY'RE GOING TO BE AT COUNCIL MEETING ON JUNE 24TH, AND THE ENTIRE TEAM WILL BE HERE.
WE'LL PUT A SPECIAL [INAUDIBLE] IT'S GOING TO BE NICE.
>> MY BROTHER TOLD ME THAT LAST NIGHT THAT HE'D BE HERE.
I TOLD HIM I WAS COMING THIS MORNING.
HE SAID, "WELL, I'LL BE RIGHT BEHIND YOU."
>> THERE WE GO. QUESTIONS COUNCIL FOR MR. PRATTS?
>> YES, SIR. I'M DAVID COLLINS.
>> PLEASURE TO SEE YOU TODAY. THANKS FOR YOUR APPLICATION.
WHAT CHANGES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE OR HELP WITH THE PARK BOARD?
>> THAT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE OF COURSE I GET THE DAILY NEWS AND HAVE FOR A LONG TIME, AND CERTAINLY I'M A TEAM BUILDER I THINK AND HAVE BEEN FOR A LONG TIME.
I'D LIKE TO SEE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PARK BOARD, AND COUNCIL, AND THE CITIZENS.
SOMETIMES I THINK THE CITIZENS FEEL LEFT OUT OF THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS.
WITH CHANGES, IT'S HARD TO SAY.
[INAUDIBLE] THE BOARD RIGHT AWAY.
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A FAN OF NO PARKING ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE SEA WALL, AND I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY WE COULDN'T MAKE LANES FOR RUBBER WHEEL, THE SURREYS, AND THE SKATEBOARDS, AND THE BICYCLES, AND MAYBE EVEN A WALKING LANE ON THE SOUTH SIDE.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE COULD DO MORE.
AGAIN, I'M STEPPING ON TOES HERE.
IT SEEMED LIKE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN FOR THE CITIZENS, FOR THE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE ALL THE TIME.
>> YEAH. WELL, NOT ON PURPOSE.
>> DO YOU [NOISE] BELIEVE IN PROPERTY RIGHTS?
>> YES AND NO. OF COURSE I REALIZED THAT A LOT OF THE FOLKS ON PARTICULARLY PAST THE END OF THE SEAWALL, WHICH GETS CLOSER EVERY DAY, THOSE FOLKS BELIEVE THAT THE BEACH IN FRONT OF THEIR HOMES BELONGS TO THEM AND I GET THAT.
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE PAYING THE TAXES, [NOISE] IN SOME CASES, A WHOLE BUNCH.
IN FACT, JUST THIS YEAR PROBABLY WAY MORE TAXES THAN THEN THEY CAN BELIEVE OR ARE COMFORTABLE PAYING.
BUT I BELIEVE IN OPEN BEACHES.
I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED IN OPEN BEACHES.
I THINK THE BEACHES BELONG TO THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, I THINK ALWAYS HAVE.
>> DO YOU KNOW WHAT EB PROGRAM IS?
>> E-B [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING]
>> NOBODY KNOWS WHERE HE'S TALKING ABOUT.
>> OKAY. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE STEWART BEACH DEVELOPMENT THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED?
>> STEWART BEACH, TO ME, IS NOT AT ITS POTENTIAL.
I THINK A GREAT DEAL MORE DEVELOPMENT CAN BE DONE AND I WAS A BUSINESS CONSULTANT FOR A LONG TIME AND I HELPED A FIRM GET THE CONTRACT TO OPERATE THE PAVILION AT SYLVAN BEACH AND THE FISHING PIER AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY HAVE THERE IN LA PORTE.
BEFORE IT WAS OPERATED BY THE CITY OF LA PORTE UNDER AN AGREEMENT FROM PRECINCT TWO HARRIS COUNTY, BUT THEY WENT TO A PRIVATE OPERATOR AND THAT GUY, HE MADE SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENTS AND ADDED A LOT OF AMENITIES.
[NOISE] THEY TACKLE SHOPS, RESTAURANTS, JUST DID A TREMENDOUS JOB OF EXPANDING THAT WHOLE AREA THAT IS SYLVAN BEACH.
I THINK THAT RATHER THAN REINVENTING THE WHEEL, I THINK WE CAN LOOK AT SOME OTHER FACILITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND I THINK SYLVAN BEACH CAN GO A LONG WAY. I DON'T THINK THERE ARE [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL PAVILION.
>> THAT'S SYLVAN BEACH BUT THE WHOLE AREA IS NOW GORGEOUS AND IT SAT THERE BEGGING FOR FIVE YEARS AFTER IKE AND MY CLIENT AND I WE WENT IN WE MADE A PROPOSAL, WE GOT THE TICKET AWAY FROM THE CITY, A GUY FROM PRECINCT TWO HARRIS COUNTY COMING IN.
HE'S BEEN RUNNING EVER SINCE WITH THAT PROJECT.
AGAIN, SYLVAN BEACH HAS A LONG WAY TO GO.
[01:05:02]
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF PEOPLE MENTIONED THAT WE NEED TO DO THINGS OR THE ISLAND NEEDS TO PREPARE ITSELF AHEAD.
PEOPLE STAY HERE LONGER WHEN THEY COME DOWN AND VISIT, RICHARD, I KNOW THIS IS A NEW AND I KNOW YOU HAVE MORE THOUGHTS ON THIS ONCE YOU'VE GOT IF YOU WERE APPOINTED THE PARK BOARD, IN YOUR MIND RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD YOU FEEL THAT GALVESTON EASY DAY TO HAVE PEOPLE COME DOWN AND STAY MORE THAN JUST OVERNIGHT TO STAY LONGER?
>> WELL, OF COURSE EVERYBODY HERE UNDERSTANDS THAT WE HAVE GOT A PLAYGROUND FOR YOUTHS IN THE HARRIS COUNTY, WHICH MAKES IT INEVITABLE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO COME DOWN FOR A DAY OR TWO DAYS OR THREE DAYS.
SO IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT.
THE FOLKS IN HARRIS COUNTY JUST NOT GOING TO MOVE TO GALVESTON ISLAND.
WE COULDN'T SUSTAIN IT IF THEY DID.
I DON'T MIND THE SHORTER STAYS, I'D LIKE TO SEE THEM SPENT MORE WHILE THEY ARE HERE.
THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS THEY COME HERE INSTEAD OF GOING OTHER PLACES.
THE OVERNIGHT HOUSING, THE HOTELS AND MOTELS.
THEY'RE INEXPENSIVE IN GALVESTON COMPARED TO MANY OTHER WATERFRONT PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
IF WE DO A GOOD JOB OF BUSINESS CONVENTION, FOLKS, THEY DO THEIR JOB MARKETING, I DON'T SEE WHY WE CAN'T INCREASE EVEN THE SHORTER STAYS.
WE'VE BEEN ADDING IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, PARTICULARLY WE'VE BEEN ADDING RV PARKS LEFT AND RIGHT.
WE'VE GOT BUNCH OF NEW ONES RIGHT OFF THE SEAWALL WITH WITH ONE MORE COMING SOON.
I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS HERE THAT WILL AND I THINK THOSE FOLKS DO STAY LONGER.
I SEE THOSE RV STAYING ANYWHERE FROM A WEEK TO 10 DAYS, TWO WEEKS, THEY STAY A GOOD LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND HOPEFULLY THEY'RE SPENDING WHILE THEY'RE HERE.
I THINK THAT'S THE KEY, WHETHER THEY'RE HERE FOR THREE DAYS OR THREE WEEKS.
YOU JUST NEED TO GET AS MUCH PERCENTAGE OF WALLET [LAUGHTER] AS WE CAN LEGALLY [LAUGHTER], EXTRACT [LAUGHTER].
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS COUNCIL FROM THIS PRESS?
>> RICHARD, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [OVERLAPPING] I APPRECIATE IT.
>> JUST ONE MORE THING IF IT'S OKAY.
I KNOW YOU DON'T WANT TO GO ANY LONGER THAN YOU HAVE TO.
BUT WHEN I WAS AT CENTRAL COLLEGE FOR OVER A DECADE, I'VE TAUGHT ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT THAT'S VERY MYOPIC AND IT'S THE EXACT OPPOSITE.
WE TAUGHT OUT OF MY DIVISION OF THE COLLEGE, WE TAUGHT LEAN SIX SIGMA OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT.
WE TAUGHT ACCOUNTING AND IN PARTICULAR, FINANCIAL STATEMENT PREPARATION AND ANALYSIS, MARKETING, A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK THE PARK BOARD COULD USE SOME EXPERTISE ON.
I'VE BEEN TEACHING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
ONE OTHER POINT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A POINT PERSON FOR THE TEXAS GULF COAST FOR DISASTER RELIEF.
I'VE SET UP BUSINESS ASSISTANCE CENTERS AND HOSTED FEMA, HAVE A CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP, THE SBA AND THE DISASTER PEOPLE FROM HARRIS COUNTY SO I'VE BEEN DOING THAT.
I DID SET UP A BUSINESS ASSISTANCE CENTER, AFTER THAT DID ONE AFTER RV.
I'VE GOT A LOT OF CONNECTIONS AND DO A LOT IN TERMS OF DISASTER RECOVERY AT SNOW COLLEGE AND FOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS.
>> SOMEONE WITH YOUR EXPERIENCE, IF FOR SOME REASON YOU'RE NOT POINTED AT THE PARK BOARD YOU WILL BE IDEAL IN MANY COMMITTEES.
RICHARDS, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU APPLY.
>> ONE TIME, ONE JOB [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING]. [NOISE]
>> IF WE HAVE OUR LAST CANDIDATE, KIRK GONZALES, WHO'S AN ATTORNEY. LAST ONE.
>> I DON'T THINK. I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PERSONALLY, THINK I'LL DO THE WHOLE THING [LAUGHTER].
THE ONLY REASON I ASKED YOU SEE THE GROUND AGE.
>> I THINK I WOULD DO A LITTLE TOO [NOISE].
>> THAT TAKE OUT TO THAT LEVEL EITHER JOHN [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER] WHERE EITHER JOIN.
HERE, I'M GETTING OLDER US, TRUST US, WE KNOW.
>> HOW ARE YOU DOING? [OVERLAPPING]. HOW IS THE GOING. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'M ALL RIGHT. HANGING IN THERE, CAN'T COMPLAIN.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
WHAT WE'D LIKE FOR YOU TO DO, KIRK, IS IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, GIVE A SHORT INTRO ON WHO YOU ARE AND WHY YOU WOULD LIKE TO SERVE ALL THE PARK BOARD AND THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS.
[01:10:02]
GET IT OUT OF THE WAY, I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE.WENT TO O'CONNELL, GRADUATED IN 2007, WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS AND EASTON, AND GRADUATED WITH MY BACHELOR'S IN POLITICAL SCIENCE WITH A CONCENTRATION OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.
FROM THERE, WENT TO LAW SCHOOL AT SOUTH TEXAS, IS RIGHT THERE IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON, GRADUATED IN 2014, AND MOVE RIGHT ON BACK HOME.
I STARTED MY PRACTICE AS A FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY FOR A FAMILY FRIEND AND THEN THE RESOURCE CRISIS CENTER POSITION OPENED UP.
I STARTED THERE I WAS THREE YEARS AS THEIR DIRECTOR OF LEGAL, WHERE I REPRESENTED DIRECTLY SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND COURT PROCEEDINGS THERE.
THERE'S KIND OF A BURNOUT FACTOR WITH IT CONSIDERING WHAT THE DAY-TO-DAY, WHAT YOU HEAR, AND WHAT NOT SO DECIDED TO TRY AND GO BACK TO PRIVATE PRACTICE.
THAT'S WHY I END UP WITH A MAP OF RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FOR A YEAR AND A HALF AND THEN THE POSITION OPENED UP AGAIN AND RCC AND THAT'S WHERE MY CALLING WAS AS FOR SERVICE.
I DECIDED TO GO ON BACK AND SO I HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE MARCH, THAT'S A BRIEF BACKGROUND.
I GUESS REALLY THE REASON WHY I WANT TO SERVE ON THE PARTNER BOARD IS BECAUSE IN I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD THIS FROM EVERY OTHER APPLICANT.
YOU'LL HEAR FROM ANYBODY IS I WANT TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, HAS JUST GIVEN SO MUCH TO ME.
I WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF GALVESTON AND MY FAMILY, OF COURSE.
MY FAMILY IS ALSO A BIG GUIDING FACTOR AND WHY I WANT TO SERVE.
THEY ARE VERY INVOLVED AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
MOST OF THEM ARE ENTREPRENEURS ON THE ISLAND HERE, WHERE THERE IS ENTERTAINMENT OR ITS CONSTRUCTION, REAL ESTATE, RESTAURANT, AND HOSPITALITY.
SORRY. HE USE A BIG HEART AND INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY.
I FEEL HIS PRESENCE WITHIN ME ALL THE TIME. EXCUSE ME.
[LAUGHTER] IT'S STILL REALLY FRESH WHEN YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT IT UNTIL YOU REALLY START TALKING ABOUT IT.
BUT HE SERVED THE COMMUNITY AND, IT'S JUST A NUMBER OF WAYS.
MY DAD ALSO, HE SEES BUILDING ZONING BOARD, THINK WILLINGNESS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND AT ONE POINT AND IF SO, I FIGURED IT'S MY TIME TO STEP UP AND FOLLOW OFF.
BUT REALLY I THINK YOU DON'T NEED ME TO SIT HERE AND TELL YOU HOW BEAUTIFUL THE ISLAND IS AND THE COMMUNITY IS. WE ALL KNOW THAT.
THAT'S NOTHING WOULD GIVE ME MORE PLEASURE THAN TO HAVE SOME SMALL PART AND CONTINUING ON THE GREAT TRADITION THAT THE GALVESTON IS KNOWN FOR.
>> FANTASTIC GOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> MY PARENTS ARE JUAN AND MICHELLE GONZALES.
>> AT MY AGE. I KNOW THE GENERATION ABOVE YOU AND I WASN'T [OVERLAPPING].
>> YEAH, MY DAD IS ONE OF THE QUIETER ONES IN THE GROUP.
>> WE KNOW A LOT OF, WHAT CHANGES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN AT FRANKFORT.
>> REALLY I THINK WITH WHAT A BIG GOAL OF MY OWN B IS TO SOMEHOW GET RESIDENTS TO SEE THAT TOURISM IS NOT BAD.
I SAY THAT BECAUSE, WELL, THAT, AND I'LL SAY ANOTHER THING TOO IS TO CHANGE THE PERCEPTION OF WHAT GALVESTON IS.
I SAY THAT BECAUSE, I'LL REMEMBER THE FIRST DAY OF CLASSES IN UNDERGRAD.
I WENT TO EASTON IS NOT VERY FAR IN OBVIOUSLY, I GO AND FLIP-FLOPS AND BOARD SHORTS AND BILLABONG OR QUICKSILVER T-SHIRT HAS SOME ISLAND BOY AND I'M LIKE, "OKAY, WHATEVER," AND I GET QUESTIONS AND STARES AND WHATNOT AND I'M LIKE, "WHAT'S GOING ON?" I GET TALKING TO SOME PEOPLE AND THEY SAID, "WHERE ARE YOU FROM?" I SAY, "FROM GALVESTON," "OKAY?" WE GET TO TALK MORE ABOUT IT.
WELL, THAT'S THE PLACE WHERE THE DIRTY WATER? IT'S NOT DIRTY WATER, IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, BROWN FROM SEDIMENT, WHATEVER.
BUT THAT GETS THEM THINKING ABOUT IT.
I SAID, "WELL, WAIT A MINUTE. WHY IS THAT YOUR PERCEPTION?" THAT'S JUST WHAT IT IS.
START TO ASK WHAT HAVE YOU VISITED? "WELL NO," "OKAY THEN." THE REASON I BRING THAT UP IS BECAUSE I WANT TO CHANGE THE PERCEPTION TAKEN BECAUSE WE GET A LOT OF VISITORS HERE OBVIOUSLY.
FOR THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER AND OFF-SEASON,
[01:15:05]
I THINK IT CAN BE A LITTLE BIT BETTER AND THAT'S ONE THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE.I THINK A LOT MORE COULD HAVE A HAND IN IS HOW TO GARNER VISITORS IN THE OFF-SEASON AND MID-WEEK TAKE AS WELL, NOT JUST WEEKENDS.
GOING BACK TO THE COEXISTING OF RESIDENTS AND VISITORS, I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
I THINK THAT'S A BIG GOAL OF MINE.
I LIKE TO SEE A KIND OF CHANGE.
>> WHAT WOULD BE YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW WE CAN HAVE LESS DAY TROOPERS, MORE LONG-TERM STAY PEOPLE?
>> DEFINITELY. AWARENESS AND EDUCATION ABOUT WHAT ELSE IS HERE ON THE ISLAND, I THINK IS ONE EASY WAY TO START.
BUT CREATING NICHE KIND OF GROUPS OF, AND KIND OF THINKING.
I GUESS THAT'S WHAT COMMON I'M GOING BEYOND THE BEACHES.
OKAY. WHAT ELSE IS GALVESTON HAVE AND ITS A MORE WELL-ROUNDED ISLAND.
WHETHER IT'S THE ARTS OR IT'S DEFINITE RESTAURANTS AND HOSPITALITY THAT WE HAVE ON THE ISLAND.
I'M A BIG PROPONENT OF POLLING AND SURVEYS.
WHY DO YOU JUST COME DOWN FOR TWO DAYS WHY NOT THAT THIRD DAY? SOMETIMES IT'S MONEY.
IT MORE ACCESS TO YOU FREE AMENITIES ALONG THE ISLAND OUTSIDE ON THE BEACH.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S DOABLE.
AGAIN, BECAUSE THERE IT'S ALSO I'M LOOKING AT MYSELF.
WHEN I GO VISIT PLACES, WHAT DO I LOOK FOR AND WHATNOT.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS ONE THING TO THIS.
WELL, I'M THINKING ABOUT MY OWN TRIPS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CITY COULD THINK IT'S DOING GREAT AND BETTER AND I THINK THE TRIAL IS COME BACK, ITS GOING TO BE AWESOME.
BUT LOOKING AT THAT AND SEEING, AND FIGURED PERSONAL US FIGURE OUT WHY AND GO FROM THERE.
>> DO YOU BELIEVE IN PROPERTY RIGHTS?
>> WELL, ABSOLUTELY HAVE A PROPERTY WELL, NOT NECESSARILY PROPERTY OWNER, BUT MY WIFE IS LIKE YES, BUT I URGE YOU THAT I AM.
WELL, SO I DO BELIEVE IN PROPERTY RIGHTS. YES.
>> I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH QUESTIONS.
>> I APPRECIATE YOUR STATEMENT ABOUT FLIP-FLOPS AND SHORTS, AND SHIRT TODAY.
NOW DISAPPOINT I GO THROUGH FULL.
>> WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE STORY BEACH DEVELOPMENT FOR PAVILION OUT THERE? THE PROPOSED IDEAS FOR ACQUIRING PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.
>> YEAH. I THINK THAT STEER BEACHES.
FORGETTING TO SPECIFIC, I'LL BE HONEST, I DON'T, I'M NOT ALL THAT WELL VERSED ON WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN THERE.
BUT I THINK THAT IT'S DEFINITELY ONE OF THE UNTAPPED, IT'S GOT UNTAPPED POTENTIAL DOWN THERE.
I THINK ULTIMATELY, IT'S A PLACE THAT COULD USE A LITTLE BIT OF WORK. [LAUGHTER]
>> BESIDES RENOVATION, IS THERE ANOTHER SPECIFIC AREA YOU'D LIKE TO SEE LIKE TOURISM?
>> THE EAST END AND THE WEST END, OBVIOUSLY.
I USED TO GO OUT TO THE EAST END A LOT AT THE PAVILION DOWN THERE.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE BEEN DOWN THAT WAY.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I KICK MYSELF ALL THE TIME.
I THINK AS A RESIDENT, YOU GET THAT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ASK, "DO YOU GO TO THE BEACH ALL THE TIME? WELL, ACTUALLY, I DON'T." [LAUGHTER].
BUT THE EAST END AND WEST END OBVIOUSLY ARE OUR GEMS OF THE ISLAND, AND I THINK THEY'RE GETTING FORGOTTEN A LITTLE BIT.
WHAT IS [INAUDIBLE] OF THE WEST END.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? KIRK, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION.
WE'LL MAKE OUR DECISION THE EVENING OF THE 24TH.
>> FOR SURE. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY, AND THANKS FOR HAVING ME. THANK YOU.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME. [BACKGROUND]
[01:20:01]
>> COUNCIL, I THINK THAT IS IT FOR OUR INTERVIEWS.
NOW ON THE 24TH, WE HAVE IN ORDER, DAVID JACOBY, MARTY FLUKE, AND SPENCER PREACH.
>> I'M GOING TO GO INTO MY OFFICE SO I CAN PULL UP COUNCIL MEMBER QUIROGA'S PRESENTATION.
>> SOUNDS GREAT. THANK YOU FOR THE ACTION.
>> WE'RE GOING TO MOVE NOW TO A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BREAK, COUNCIL?
>> I'M GOING TO BREAK A LITTLE BIT.
>> [NOISE] WE'RE ON CITY UPDATES ITEM 4 OF OUR AGENDA.
[4.1. CMS report 45th street finding and project update]
OF ITEM 4, WE HAVE A POINT FOR SEAWALL [INAUDIBLE] 26- 27. BILL?>> RIGHT HERE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT PART WAS TELEVISED, BUT MY LAST QUESTION ON THAT IS THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'RE DOING THERE.
THAT WAS NO ONE INDIVIDUAL OTHER THAN IT WAS PART OF THE 27TH STREET?
>> BECAUSE I'M GETTING A LOT OF CALLS THAT THE PERSON THAT OWNS THE PROPERTY ACROSS THE STREET, IT WAS HIS IDEA AND HE'S GETTING ALL THE BLAME FOR IT.
THAT'S JUST THE FEEDBACK THAT I'M GETTING, AND I WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT THAT WAS MORE OR LESS PART OF THE PROGRAM.
>> TO ENHANCE 27TH STREET WHICH WAS IDC MONEY BEING APPROPRIATED FOR.
>> THERE'S ACTUALLY THREE PHASES TO 27TH STREET.
TWO PHASES WERE IDC AND THE LAST PHASE KNOWN TO BROADWAY BECAUSE OF THE INCOME LEVELS ON THAT SIDE WE WERE ABLE TO USE CBG MONEY.
>> YEAH. IT WAS DONE IN PHASES 2 ON THE PART THAT IT WAS FUNDED BY THE IDC FROM BROADWAY TO AVENUE O WAS THE FIRST PHASE.
THEN WE CAME BACK AND DID A SECOND PHASE FROM AVENUE O TO SEAWALL.
>> WHAT OTHER PLANS DO WE HAVE? ARE WE GOING TO ADD MORE ESTIMATES DOWN THE STREET, OR IS THIS GOING TO BE IT?
>> WELL, THIS WAS MORE OF A PILOT PROJECT TO SEE HOW THEY WERE, TO SEE IF THEY GET UTILIZED, TO SEE HOW THEY WORK AS A PROTECTED MEASURE.
OVER TIME, THE SEAWALL'S PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC INCREASES UP THERE, WHICH IT'S DOING. I'VE LIVED HERE ALL MY LIFE.
I'VE NEVER SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE ON FOOT ON THE SEAWALL FOR SUCH LONG STRETCHES.
THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE A WHOLE MIX OF THINGS THAT WE DO UP THERE TO TRY TO INCREASE PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY WORK UP THERE, AND TRY TO DO THAT WHILE KEEPING TRAFFIC MOVING.
>> YES. DEVICK, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE TIMEFRAME IS ON THOSE?
>> IT'S ABOUT THREE WEEKS OUT.
>> I TELL YOU, I HAD SOME APPOINTMENTS IN HOUSTON YESTERDAY.
IN BETWEEN, I STOPPED AT THE GALLERIA.
IT'S LIKE THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE.
THEY HAVE NO STAFFING, AND I THINK THEY WERE PARTICIPATING IN THE AIRCON THING BECAUSE THERE WAS NO AIR CONDITIONING.
[LAUGHTER] I HAVE NEVER IN ALL MY LIFE GO IN BY THE GALLERIA AND BEEN THE ONLY PERSON WALKING THERE AROUND.
EVERYWHERE YOU WENT, WE DON'T HAVE THIS, WE DON'T HAVE THAT.
WE'RE WAITING ON THIS. WE'RE WAITING ON THAT.
>> IT'S BECAUSE THEY PUT THAT GLORIOUS BUS LANE IN THE MIDDLE OF POST OAK [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER] WHICH KILLED THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE MAY WANT TO THINK [OVERLAPPING].
>> THEY'RE COOL-LOOKING BUSES.
>> I HAVE TO SAY I HAD LUNCH AT CLEVELAND CAFE YESTERDAY, AND EVERYTHING WAS UP AND RUNNING JUST FINE.
>> BRIAN, I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.
>> YOU SAID YOU'RE GOING TO PUT SOME PLANTER BOXES OUT THERE?
>> OH, OKAY. BECAUSE IF THEY PUT PLANTERS, WE USED TO HAVE THOSE CO-BOXES OUT ON THE EAST END AND YOU KNOW WHAT THE PEOPLE ARE USING THOSE FOR.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANYTHING HAPPEN HERE.
>> THESE ARE GOING TO BE BIG POTS.
THAT WAY IF THEY DO GET DAMAGED OR SOMETHING ELSE, WE JUST REPLACE THE POT.
>> WHAT KIND OF SIGNAGE OR LIGHTING ARE WE GOING TO HAVE THERE TO MAKE THE PEOPLE OR TRAFFIC AWARE?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY LIGHTING THERE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] DEVICK, COME UP IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, PLEASE.
>> THESE POTS HAVE A DECORATIVE BORDER AROUND THEM [INAUDIBLE] STRIP [NOISE] [INAUDIBLE]
>> WILL IT HOLD UP TO DEGRADATION DURING THE WEATHER, SO ON, SO FORTH.
>> WELL, IT'S EASY TO REPLACE.
>> I SO LIKE THE WORD MASSIVE.
>> WE DON'T WANT THEM TO FLOAT OFF IN THE SMALL STORM.
[INAUDIBLE] IF THE WAVES COME UP ALL THE WAY, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PICK THEM UP AND PUT THEM BACK.
>> ANY QUESTIONS, BILL? ANY MORE COMMENTS?
THIS IS GOING TO BE THE LAST PHASE.
JUST A LITTLE BIT [INAUDIBLE].
>> WE HAVE 45TH AND AVENUE P REPORT.
[01:25:03]
>> JANELLE, IF YOU COULD PUT UP THOSE PHOTOGRAPHS.
I HAD ABOUT 15 PEOPLE CALL ME ABOUT THE INNER IN THE AREA ABOUT A DWELLING THAT'S BEING PUT UP AT THE CORNER OF 45TH AND P. YOU HAVE FOUR DWELLINGS THAT ARE BEING [INAUDIBLE].
>> YEAH, I SAW THAT. I BELIEVE THAT'S A POD, ISN'T IT? I THINK THAT WAS APPROVED WHEN CHERRY LYN WAS ON COUNCIL, AND I THINK THAT'S A POD. THE COUNCIL APPROVED.
>> I'M THINKING TO GO AT THE POWERPOINT.
YEAH. THE REASON I TOOK THESE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT PERMITS WERE ISSUED, BUT THAT IS NOT.
>> I BELIEVE THEY HAVE AND WE CAN GET PLANNING.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THIS ITEM WAS, OR ELSE I WOULD HAVE TIM HERE, BUT I BELIEVE THEY HAVE A POD TO DO ALL THAT.
>> ARE YOU SAYING THAT THE BUILDING IS INCORRECT?
>> WELL, WHAT'S THE EASEMENT, FIVE FOOT?
>> IT DEPENDS ON THE AREA, BUT IT'S ANYWHERE FROM 3-5 FEET.
>> OKAY. THIS IS ON THE OTHER SIDE, AND YOU SEE WHERE YOU PUT PLUMBING IN.
JANELLE, CAN YOU GO BACK ONE? YEAH, RIGHT THERE.
THAT'S NOT IN COMPLIANCE, WHAT I KNOW OFF RIGHT NOW.
>> THAT GOT APPROVED A LONG TIME AGO.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT POD IS STILL IN EXISTENCE, OR IF THIS IS JUST A SEPARATE PROJECT FROM THAT.
>> I DON'T KNOW. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE PROBLEM WITH THESE PHOTOS IS THAT WITHOUT A SURVEY, IT'S HARD TO TELL WHERE THAT HOUSE IS.
THAT FENCE MIGHT NOT BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE, SO WE REALLY NEED TO SURVEY THE PROPERTY. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I'LL DO COUNCILMEMBER, I'LL GET TIM TEJANS TO RESEARCH, AND GET WITH YOU, AND GET YOU ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED BECAUSE [OVERLAPPING] I'VE GOTTEN THE SAME CALLS ABOUT IT.
>> BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MEET FIRE CODE, AND YOU'RE RIGHT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MAIN BOUNDS ARE ON THIS PROPERTY.
BUT GO AHEAD AND DO THE NEXT ONE JANELLE, IF YOU DON'T MIND PLEASE.
THIS IS ON THE OTHER SIDE IN THAT COURSE, YOU CAN SEE THAT MAY FALL WITHIN YOUR THREE-FOOT.
OKAY. THIS IS ALSO NOT LEGAL BECAUSE YOU GOT YOUR CLEANOUT, IT'S ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AND WE AS THE CITY, CAN'T GO IN PRIVATE PROPERTY.
>> BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS, I WENT BY THERE THE OTHER DAY AND THEY DIDN'T MOVE IT.
EVERYTHING GOES OUT TO THE ALLEY.
BUT THE POINT IS, WE NEED OUR INSPECTORS TO GO OUT THERE AND LOOK AT THIS, AND LOOK AT THE PLANS TO MAKE SURE.
I'M PRETTY SURE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE DRAWINGS.
>> YEAH, I'M SURE THERE'S A TAP IN THE ALLEY.
>> BUT THAT IS REMOVED NOW, SO THAT'S KOSHER.
BUT THE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE, WE NEED TO GET THESE GUYS OUT THERE IN EACH STAGE OF THE BUILDING SO THAT IT SAVES THEM MONEY AS WELL AS HEARTACHES BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GO BACK IN THERE AND TAKE IT ALL OUT.
NEXT SLIDE, JANELLE. THIS IS A PHOTO AND THE REASON I TOOK THIS, THIS IS A COMPLIANCE.
THEY HAD THE LICENSE TO USE, AND THAT'S FINE.
>> THAT WAS THE LAST ONE? OKAY.
>> BILL, IS THIS 45TH IN P THAT YOU'RE SHOWING?
>> YES, THAT'S ON A CORNER OF 45TH STRIP AND P. THE OTHER PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS THAT WHOEVER'S DOING THE CONSTRUCTION RIGHT OUT IN FRONT, ALL THEIR MATERIALS ARE PLACED OUT ON THE WALKWAY SO PEOPLE HAVE TO GET OUT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S LICENSE TO USE. THEY DON'T HAVE ANY DUMPSTER. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THIS IS AT THE 45TH STREET?
>> THAT'S APPROXIMATELY 45 OR FIVE.
>> OKAY. IT NEEDS TO BE CLEANED UP BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING.
THEY WALK THEIR DOGS AT NIGHT.
THEY'VE GOT MATERIAL OUT THERE, THEY'RE BUMPING.
>> WE CAN SERVE THEM, MAKE THEM CLEAN IT UP.
>> ITEM 2, BILL, BUDGET ITEMS AND CIP.
>> LET'S GO TO ITEM 1 BEFORE THAT BECAUSE GLENN IS HERE.
[OVERLAPPING] LET ME READ THAT.
IT'S CMS REPORT 45TH STREET, FINDING IN PROJECT UPDATE.
>> I WANT GLENN TO GO AHEAD AND START. [OVERLAPPING]
>> GLENN, YOU WANT TO SIT HERE?
>> BEFORE YOU START, I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING.
I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU AND CARRIE ARE DOING.
YOU-ALL ARE DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
THE CATALYST TO PUSH THIS WAS THE 45TH STREET PROJECT BECAUSE OF THE FINDINGS THAT WE FOUND AND I WASN'T LOOKING FOR ANYTHING WHEN I STARTED TALKING,
[01:30:04]
POINTING FINGERS, AND MISUSE OF DOLLARS, I JUST WANTED CORRECT ACTIVITIES THAT ARE PLACED ON THE CHANGE ORDERS.IF THERE'S A MISTAKE, WE SHOULD CALL IT.
THIS IS GOING TO LEAD INTO ANOTHER ITEM WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT LATER ABOUT HAVING TO ME BECAUSE THERE'S TOO MANY ITEMS BEING PLACED SO THAT WE CAN LOOK AT IT ONE TIME.
BUT IN SAYING THAT, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR WORK AND IF YOU CAN TURN AROUND AND GIVE EVERYBODY HERE AND THE PUBLIC, WHAT THIS SYSTEM IS GOING TO DO, WHAT IT'S GOING TO STOP, AND THEN ONCE YOU DEFINE THAT, THEN WE'LL GO INTO YOUR REPORT ON WHAT WAS FOUND.
>> WELL, WE PUT THE 45TH STREET PROJECT INTO THE CMS SYSTEM.
>> CAN YOU TELL EVERYONE IN THE PUBLIC WHAT CMS IS JUST IN CASE [OVERLAPPING]
>> CMS IS CONTRACT MONITORING SYSTEM.
WE WANTED TO SEE, WELL FIRST WE'VE DIVIDED IT IN TWO PARTS.
WE DIVIDED IT INTO STAFF REPORT, WHAT WE COULD DO WITH A CMS TO PROVE THE STAFF REPORT, AND HOW IF WE WOULD HAVE HAD THE CONTRACT MONITORING SYSTEM IN PLACE, WHAT WOULD IT HAVE SHOWN THE PUBLIC IN REAL-TIME? ON THE STAFF REPORT, COUNSELOR [INAUDIBLE] FOUND SOME CALCULATION ERRORS, SO WE GOT WITH MR. BUCKLEY AND WHAT WE DID IS WE INCLUDED AN EXCEL SPREADSHEET ON THE STAFF REPORTS TO ELIMINATE THESE MATHEMATICAL ERRORS IN THE FUTURE.
CARRIE ALSO WORKED WITH DEVIN PIER IN BUDGETS AND TOGETHER THEY CREATED AN SOP, A STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE AND I HAVE TO ACCOMPLISH THE QUARTERLY REPORTS FOR THE CIP, WHICH WAS VERY MUCH NEEDED.
IT'S MORE OR LESS YOU'RE GETTING MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK FROM THE ETERNAL LOT OF DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE WHEN WE DO THESE THINGS WE'RE AIDING IN THE TRAINING OF THE EMPLOYEES.
WHEN THEY WROTE UP THIS SOP FOR EMPLOYEES TO COME IN THE FUTURE OR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO LOOK AT IS HOW TO ACCOMPLISH HOW TO WRITE UP THE QUARTERLY REPORT FOR THE CIP THAT MR. LOFTIN DID WHICH IS VERY GOOD I THINK.
ON THE SIDE OF WHAT WE WOULD HAVE INCLUDED TO THE PUBLIC IN REAL TIME FOR THE CONTRACT MONITORING SYSTEM IF WE WOULD HAVE DONE THIS ON THE ONLINE, ON A CENTRAL REPOSITORY, THE FIRST TIME WE WOULD'VE HAD WAS A JUSTIFICATION FOR THE PROCUREMENT METHOD.
WE WOULD HAVE SHOWN IN ALL DETAILS HOW THE CONTRACT WAS PROCURED AND THIS WOULD HAVE SOLVED A LOT OF QUESTIONS RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING.
WE WOULD HAVE ALSO HAD COMPLETED CONFLICTS OF INTEREST ON THE CENTRAL REPOSITORY THAT WOULD HAVE ALSO INCLUDED CITY EMPLOYEES.
WE WOULD HAVE HAD A LIST OF KEY INDIVIDUALS ON THE VENDORS AND BY THAT LIST OF KEY INDIVIDUALS, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ALL CONTRACTS.
IF A COMPANY HAS TWO NAMES WE'RE TRYING TO SHOW THAT SO THAT WE DON'T GIVE TOO MUCH WORK TO ONE COMPANY WHERE WE WOULD HAVE HAD THE FINANCIAL SUMMARIES AND THE BUDGET AUTHORIZATIONS ON THERE FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE.
WE WOULD HAVE INCLUDED AN S-CURVE GRAPH, WHICH WOULD DETAIL WHAT WE PLAN TO DO, THE TIMING OF THE PROJECT, AND THE COST, AND COMPARE THAT TO THE ACTUAL DATA THAT WE WERE GETTING AND WE WOULD HAVE DONE THAT IN REAL TIME FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE.
THAT WOULD'VE ALSO ANSWERED A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
THE S-CURVE GRAPH IS USED COMMONLY IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CONTRACT MONITORING SYSTEM WOULD DO, WAS ALL CONTRACTS FOR CONSTRUCTION, AS WELL AS WHAT IS TYPICALLY DONE AFTER THE S-CURVE GRAPH IS PERFORMED, MANAGEMENT WILL COME IN WITH SIX-SIGMA MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES AND LEAN TECHNIQUES TO TRY TO MODIFY AND MAKE THE PROJECT MORE EFFICIENT IN THE FUTURE SO THAT WE DON'T REPEAT OUR MISTAKES.
WE WOULD'VE HAD AN INTERNAL CALENDAR EVENTS FOR THE PUBLIC,
[01:35:02]
AND WE WOULD HAVE DISTINGUISHED BETWEEN COST OVERRUNS AND COST ENHANCEMENTS.THESE THINGS NEED TO BE DONE UP FRONT.
THAT'S THE WHOLE IDEA BEHIND THE CONTRACT MONITORING SYSTEM INSTEAD OF AFTER THE FACT WHERE THE PUBLIC KNOWS AND THEY'RE GETTING THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED IN REAL TIME.
BECAUSE AFTER EVERYTHING IS DONE OVER THE PROJECT, PEOPLE MAY HAVE CONCERNS, IT TOOK A LONG TIME OR THE COST, DOT WE HAVE AN OVERRUN HERE, OR IT WASN'T ENHANCED.
A LOT OF THESE THINGS NEED TO BE ANSWERED BEFOREHAND BECAUSE AFTER THE FACT, I CAN'T GO BACK AND PROVE INTENT OF SOMEONE.
[LAUGHTER] WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS GET MORE PREVENTIVE RATHER THAN DETECTIVE.
>> GLEN, YOU WOULD APPLY THESE POINTS THAT YOU'VE MENTIONED TO ALL THE CONTRACTS?
>> IT'S NOT JUST THE 45TH, BUT IT WOULD BE FOR ALL THE CONTRACTS THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH HERE AT THE CITY?
>> 45TH PROJECT LIKE I MENTIONED, IT WAS A CATALYST TO PUSH THIS OUT AND HELP YOU TO GET THIS THING STARTED TO RECOGNIZE ALL THE PROBLEMS WE HAD, NOT ONLY A 45TH STREET, BUT I'VE LOOKED AT SOME, I SAY 15 OR 16 PROJECTS.
THEY HAD A LOT OF COST OVERRUN AND IF YOU WOULD DEFINE WHAT SCOPE CREEP IS CHARGED.
>> IT'S WHEN YOU HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT THAT IS APPROVED IN THE BEGINNING, SAY 11 MILLION FOR THE WHOLE ENTIRE PROJECT BUT THE PROJECT WE HAVE ASSIGNED IS SAY MAYBE COST NINE MILLION AND WE WANT TO PREVENT THE CONTRACTOR, THE VENDORS FROM TRYING TO INCREASE THE SCOPE UP ONCE THEY KNOW THAT FIGURE TO CREEP THE SCOPE AND SCOPE CREEP WILL ADD TREMENDOUS COST TO YOUR PROJECTS.
WE WANT TO STICK TO JUST THE SCOPE WITHOUT LETTING THE VENDORS CREEP UP, SO TO SPEAK.
>> HOW DOES THE SYSTEM RAISE A FLAG? IS THERE A PERIMETER SET THAT IF WE DO SOME COST OVERRUN, IS IT A PERCENTAGE? LIKE STATE REQUIRES, YOU CAN'T GO OVER 25 PERCENT? THIS PROJECT IS NOT COMPLETE YET AND WE'RE RIGHT AT 21 PERCENT.
>> WELL, NOW, OF COURSE, EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT WOULD SAY THAT SOME OF THAT IS ENHANCEMENT VERSUS AN ACTUAL COST OVERRUN.
I CAN'T GO BACK AND PROVE INTENT, BUT I THINK THAT RIGHT UP FRONT, WHEN COUNCIL DOES APPROVE FOR ANOTHER COST, LIKE I SAID, IT NEEDS TO BE DETERMINED IF THIS IS AN ENHANCEMENT AND THEN WE'D HAVE TO GUARD AGAINST SCOPE CREEP OR IS THIS AN ACTUAL COST OVERRUN.
I CAN'T GO BACK AND PROVE INTENT ON THE DETECTIVE SIDE, BUT WE CAN LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES AND TRY TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPFRONT WITH THESE PROJECTS AND THAT'S WHAT CMS, THE CONTRACT MONITORING SYSTEM WAS TRYING TO DO.
>> ANYTHING ELSE? I'M SORRY, MARIE.
>> MOVING FORWARD WILL BE IMPLYING THE CMS AS THE PROJECTS ARE BID?
>> YES. INTERNAL LOGS WILL COME IN AND TRY TO START DETERMINING THIS INFORMATION.
WE DON'T WANT TO GET INTO TRYING TO AFFECT THE DETERMINATION OF WHO THE VENDOR IS GOING TO BE, WE WANT TO ACT AS COMPILERS OF INFORMATION AND ACCURATE INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC AND THEN PRESENT THAT TO THEM.
>> I WISH WE COULD DO THAT WITH THE [INAUDIBLE] PROJECT ON 3005.
WHOMEVER IS ON THE TPC SHOULD BRING THAT PROJECT UP BECAUSE I GUARANTEE YOU THAT THE [OVERLAPPING] 3005, THE RAISING OF 3005, WHOEVER NEVER RUNS ON THAT PROJECT MUST BE HELLACIOUS.
>> YOU'RE STEALING MY THUNDER, IS 45TH STREET. [LAUGHTER]
>> AGAIN, I WANT TO REITERATE THE GREAT JOB YOU AND CARRIE ARE DOING.
THE STAGNATED BIG FOUR IT BROUGHT FORWARD, I THINK IT'S GOING TO SAVE THE CITIZENS, ESPECIALLY TAXPAYER MONEY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I REALLY APPRECIATE.
>> THANK YOU, GLEN. [OVERLAPPING]
[01:40:03]
BILL, WE'RE ON ITEM 2, BUDGET ITEMS IN CIP.>> LET ME PUT MY GLASSES ON SO I CAN SEE.
>> WAS THAT THE END OF ITEM 1?
>> I'M SURE IT FALLS UNDER THE PROJECT UPDATE FOR THIS WEEK.
>> [NOISE] IS BRIAN BACK THERE?
>> BRIAN, I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF CALLS ABOUT THE LIGHTING.
CAN YOU GIVE ME AN UPDATE ON THE LIGHTING ON THE PROJECT?
>> YEAH. WE, AS YOU GUYS REMEMBER, COUNCIL CHANGED, I THINK IT WAS LAST COUNCIL CHANGED IT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> CHANGED THINGIES OF LIGHTS.
ALSO, SOME PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING THERE'RE TOO MANY LIGHTS ON 27TH STREET.
IN ORDER TO GET THE FOOT CANDLES THAT WE NEEDED, WE'VE RAISED THE POLES OUT THERE.
I THINK SOME OF THEM ARE ANYWHERE FROM 2-3 FEET HIGHER THAN THE ONES ON 27TH STREET.
>> YEAH. BUT WHAT WE HAVE ON 45TH IS PRETTY MUCH STANDARD HEIGHT.
PART OF THE REASON I WAS UP IN HOUSTON IS THAT I HAVE GOT A CIRCLE OF PEOPLE I KNOW UP THERE, THEY'RE BUILDING THE SAME THING, THERE IS A STANDARD HEIGHT ON 45TH STREET BUT WHAT'S ON 27 STREET IS ACTUALLY A SHORTER LIGHT THAN WHAT IS NORMALLY USED TO LIGHT THE STREET.
>> SO THEY WERE CHANGED FROM THE ORIGINAL TO TOP?
>> NO. THEY RESPECT THIS WAY BECAUSE THAT WAS THE LAST PART OF THE PROJECT.
>> SO THEY RESPECT THAT AT THE HIGHER THAN THE LOWER.
>> THEY RESPECT THAT AT THE HEIGHT NOW.
>> [NOISE] IS THERE ANY CONCERN WITH SOME OF THOSE LIGHTS BEING TOUCHING WIRES, NOT A DANGEROUS SITUATION
>> THOSE ARE CONFLICTS THAT WE'RE HOPING CENTERPOINT IS GOING TO WORK OUT.
BUT WE DEFER THE BUILDING OF THE TWO CENTERPOINT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T INSTALL THE LIGHTS, THEY DID.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS [NOISE] WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.
THEY'RE THE EXACT SAME LIGHTS, THEY'RE JUST ON A LITTLE BIT HIGHER POLE.
>> WHO SET THE FOUNDATIONS FOR IT? WAS THAT ON THE DRAWING?
>> WHO DID IT? THE ENGINEERS MAYBE DID IT, BECAUSE I'M GLAD YOU ALMOST [NOISE] FORGOT THAT.
THERE ARE CERTAIN AREAS THERE THAT MAY BE TWO FEET AWAY FROM THE BUILDING.
THERE'S ONE ON 45TH STREET AND THERE'S A COUPLE OF OTHER ONES.
BUT A LOT OF THEM ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE AESTHETICS OF THE WIRES AND SO ON SO FORTH.
I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE A GREAT TIME TO HAVE EVERYTHING PUT UNDERGROUND INSTEAD OF UP IN THE AIR.
>> WELL, CENTERPOINT IN ALL THE UTILITIES ARE NOT PUTTING ANYTHING UNDERGROUND ANYMORE.
THEY WANT EVERYTHING ABOVE GROUND BECAUSE OF FLOODING ISSUES.
WE HAD THAT DISCUSSION WITH CENTERPOINT THE OTHER DAY.
THEY'RE NO LONGER DOING UNDERGROUND, NO MORE PAD MAN OR TRANSFORMERS, ALL THAT STUFF, IT'S ALL ON POLES.
>> WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA FOR THE AVENUE O, P, Q, AND S TRAFFIC LIGHTS? WHAT'S GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT THOSE?
>> WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING SOME UPGRADING TO THE ACTUAL MECHANICAL SUPPORT, BUT GOOD GOD, IT'S BEEN THREE COUNCILS AGO.
THE COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WAS SITTING IN WANTED TO LEAVE THE STRING LIGHTS UP AND DIDN'T WANT MAST ARMS. WE ORIGINALLY HAD MAST ARMS IN THE PROJECT AND WE TOOK THEM OUT.
>> [LAUGHTER] WELL, THERE'S [OVERLAPPING] A PROXY THERE BECAUSE WE SPENT $42,000 FOR ENGINEERING FOR THAT UPGRADE NOW WE'RE NOT DOING IT.
>> WE HAVE THE ENGINEERING IF WE EVER DECIDE TO GO BACK WITH MAST ARMS. [LAUGHTER]
>> BUT WE'RE NOT. THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BACK WITH MAST ARMS RIGHT NOW?
>> NO. WE'RE JUST GOING TO IMPROVE THE [OVERLAPPING] OPERATIONS. THE OPERATORS.
>> WHAT WAS THE REASON FOR NOT GOING WITH THIS AESTHETICS?
>> I THINK THE COUNCIL MEMBER AT THE TIME SAID THEY ADDED A SENSE OF QUAINTNESS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> WITH THE ADDITION OF THE NEW LIGHTS OR THE EXISTING ONES?
>> I'M TALKING ABOUT THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS.
>> TRAFFIC LIGHTS, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
>> THAT'S WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT.
>> HE'S CALLING IT A STRING LIGHT THAT IS HANG ON UP. [OVERLAPPING]
>> JUST HANGING UP AND SET ON A POLE.
>> HANGING UP ON A POLE, THAT'S CORRECT.
>> WE'RE SAYING THAT THE PROCESSOR WAS THE ONE THAT WANTED THAT CHANGE THERE OR NOT?
>> COUPLE COUNCILS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> SO HE WANTED THE STRING LIGHTS THAT ARE HANGING NOW VERSUS THE POLE, SO THEY WANTED TO GET AWAY FROM THE POLE STRINGING LIGHTS OR HOWEVER YOU WANT TO PUT IT?
>> SET WELL ON THE ARM TO BE STRUNG OUT ON SOME WIRES?
>> RIGHT. WHICH IS THE WAY THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN.
>> WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT IN SHOP?
>> YES. WE'RE GOING TO DO THE IMPROVEMENT PART OF THE SHOP AND HOUSES.
>> DO WE HAVE ANY COST SAVINGS ON IT ON THE LIGHT SET UP?
>> YEAH. YOU GUYS APPROVED A DEDUCTIVE CHANGE ORDER ON IT.
>> UNLOCK TRACK WITH THAT CHANGE ORDER.
>> I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT CHANGE ORDER.
>> IT'S SOMETHING THAT RAN THROUGH A QUARTER OF A MILLION.
[01:45:01]
>> [OVERLAPPING] IT'S ABOUT QUARTER OF A MILLION.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT SO MANY DAMN THINGS.
>> IT'S ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLAR DEDUCTION.
>> THEN WE'RE STUCK UP HERE ON THAT.
WE HAD IN THE BUDGET FOR MAST ARMS. THEY ISSUED CHANGE ORDER TO GO BACK TO STRING LIGHTS, SAVE HIS MONEY.
BUT IS THAT MONEY STILL THERE?
>> I THINK IT GOT CONSUMED IN SOME OF THE OTHER ADDITIONAL EXPENSES ON THE PROJECT.
>> IT ACTUALLY WILL COME OUT OF THE OVERALL PROJECT.
>> WELL, HOW MUCH MONEY DID WE HAVE THERE THAT'S GOING TO GO BACK TO OTHER MONETARIOS OR WHATEVER WE'RE GOING TO USE?
>> [NOISE] THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME NUMBERS TO JOG OUR MEMORY.
>> I'LL GO BACK THERE BUT I'M GOING TO HOLD THE JOBS.
>> THAT ITEM WAS ABOUT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LIGHTS.
>> THAT ITEM IN THE PROJECT AS MAST ARMS. SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.
>> WHEN WE TAKE IT OUT, WE HAVE SOME COST INTERNALLY TO GET ALL THE LIGHTS LOOKING THE SAME.
SOME OF THEM ARE VERTICAL, SOME OF THEM ARE HORIZONTAL, THEY'RE ALL GOING TO BE THE SAME AS YOU DRIVE DOWN THE STREET AND THAT'S SAYING AT LEAST LIKE QUARTER A MILLION.
SO IT MAYBE MORE THAN THAT, ONCE IT'S GETTING TO THAT AMOUNT.
>> I GOT TO ASK THIS QUESTION.
YOU'RE SAYING 500,000 [NOISE] OR HALF A MILLION THAT WE'RE SAYING?
>> THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE PART OF THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
>> IT'S NOT GOING TO BE PART, WE'RE LOOKING AT A HALF A MILLION OR 250, A QUARTER OF A MILLION?
>> WE WILL HAVE SOME INTERNAL EXPENSES, SO IT'S GOING TO COST US SOMETHING TO REWORK THE LINES.
I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER IN FRONT OF ME.
IF WE ALREADY SPENT THE MONEY IT'S ALLOCATED FOR, HOW ARE WE GOING BACK TO THE STRING?
>> OKAY, WE HAVEN'T SPENT IT, BUT IT WAS ALLOCATED FOR IT.
WE SPENT $42,000 ON ENGINEERING.
NOW WE'RE THROWING AND WASTING AWAY 42,000.
THAT'S MY OPINION BECAUSE THIS WHOLE PROJECT TO ME HAS BEEN, I CAN USE ALL ADJECTIVES, BUT IT HASN'T GONE LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN GONE.
MY PROBLEM IS WE SPENT CLOSE TO TWO MILLION DOLLARS COST OVERRUNS, WE'RE NOT FINISHED, AND NOW WE'RE CHANGING FOR SOME WHATEVER REASON.
EVERYBODY IN THE DISTRICT, NOT ONLY MY DISTRICT, BUT EVERYBODY ELSE TALKS ABOUT THE FIASCO ON 45TH STREET.
>> THIS MIGHT HAVE TO BE AGENDA ITEM FOR SUCH DISCUSSIONS.
>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT FIASCO IN THE DISTRICT OR THE WHOLE COST OVERRUNS, BUT I'M MORE INTERESTED IN THE LIGHTS THEMSELVES AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO ADD AT THE END OF THE DAY AND IF WE HAVE MONEY IN THE BUDGET.
MY UNDERSTANDING HERE WHERE WE GOT THIS, ORIGINALLY THE CONTRACT WAS FOR MAST ARM LIGHTS.
SOMEBODY SAID, NO, WE DON'T WANT THOSE.
WE WANT TO KEEP IT QUAINT AND WE WANT TO KEEP THE STRING LIGHTS, SO WE DID DEDUCT CHANGE ORDER FOR HALF A MILLION DOLLARS AND WE'RE GOING BACK AND WE'RE GOING TO RECONFIGURE THE STRING LIGHTS TO MAKE THEM ALL CONSISTENT.
MY THOUGHT IS WE HAVE THE MONEY STILL THERE.
I'D RATHER SEE THE MAST ARM LIGHTS LIKE WE HAVE IN THE REST OF THE CITY UPGRADED AND MODERNIZED.
>> THE PROBLEM IS WE'VE ALREADY CLOSED EVERYTHING UP, WE REALLY HAVE TO [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'D HAVE TO TEAR STUFF OUT TO MAKE THAT UP, SO THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE.
>> ALL RIGHT, THAT'S ALL I NEED TO KNOW.
>> AREN'T THEY A LOT MORE VULNERABLE WHEN IT COMES TO HURRICANES AND SO FORTH, SO WE GOING TO SAVE THAT EXTRA MONEY AS A RESERVE FOR EVERY TIME WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE QUAINT OF THE LIGHTS?
>> [OVERLAPPING] YOU CAN SAVE THAT MONEY FOR RESERVE.
>> NO, THE STRING LIGHTS ARE MORE VULNERABLE.
>> TO A CERTAIN DEGREE THEY ARE BUT IN THE LONG TERMS WE HAVE MORE DAMAGE ON THE MAST ARMS AND IT'S FAIRLY INVARIABLE THIS PAIR.
>> IT'S HALF A DOZEN ONE OR THE OTHER.
>> DEPENDS ON WHERE AND WHEN AND WHAT HITS IT.
WE HAD MAST ARM DAMAGE THE OTHER NIGHT IN THE THUNDERSTORM.
>> OKAY, LET'S BILL ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
>> IT'S THE MAST ARM. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I JUST DON'T LIKE THE WHOLE PROJECT HOW IT STARTED AND STILL GOING ON.
DO WE HAVE A COMPLETION DATE WHILE WE IN IT? THIS IS WHAT, GOING ON FOR FOUR YEARS?
>> WE'LL WAIT ON THAT. I'M NOT SURE.
[OVERLAPPING] [INAUDIBLE] WAS OUT OF TOWN THIS WEEK, SO HE GIVES A COMPLETE UPDATE.
I THINK THE LIGHTS ARE GOING IN AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO DO THE SIGNALS INTERNALLY AND I THINK THAT'S IT.
>> I THINK THE CENTERPOINT LIGHTS WERE THE LAST THING THEY'RE WAITING FOR.
>> YEAH, BECAUSE WE'RE DOING THE SIGNALS INTERNALLY.
>> WE CAN CHECK ON THAT POINT.
>> CENTERPOINT IS GOING TO ADDRESS THE LIGHTS THAT ARE IN THE WIRES AND COULD BE DAMAGED BY SWINGING WIRES.
>> THEY ARE THE ONES WHO CAME UP WITH THE HIGH POLES, SPACING, THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> IF THERE'S A CONFLICT WE'LL GET THEM TO DO IT.
CENTERPOINT TOLD ME THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT THE CITY GIVING THEM DIRECTION ON WHAT TO DO.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HEARD THAT CENTERPOINT IS GOING TO BE INVOLVED.
YOU GIVE THAT PLAN TO CENTERPOINT AND THEY DO WHAT THEY WANT WITH
[01:50:04]
IT WHERE THEY WANT AND TELL YOU WHERE THE STUFF GOES. [OVERLAPPING]>> [OVERLAPPING] IF YOU'RE TALKING TO THE LOCAL STREET LIGHT GUY, I'M NOT TALKING TO THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.
THERE'S A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT CENTERPOINT TO TALK TO ON THAT.
>> WELL, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT I TALKED TO SOME TOP PEOPLE IN CENTERPOINT AND THEY ALL THEY CONSENSE, "WE DON'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL THE CITY TELLS US WHAT THEY WANT."
>> I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.
IF WE'RE PAYING FOR A GOOD PROJECT, YOU CAN SEE ME BRINGING THIS UP.
IT WOULD'VE BEEN MORE PERFECT IF WE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN MORE INVOLVED IN.
>> I THINK THE KEY ON CENTERPOINT GUIDE ME ON THIS IS THAT IF WE REQUEST SOMETHING THAT'S AGAINST STATE LAW THAT THEY HAVE TO MEET, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WELL, IF WE REQUEST SOMETHING THAT'S AGAINST CENTERPOINT'S BEST INTERESTS, THEY ALSO DON'T THAT.
>> IF THERE'S A CONFLICT CENTERPOINT WON'T DO IT.
>> THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ORDERED THE POLES, THEY'RE THE ONES WHO STOCK PILED THE POLES, DECIDE WHICH POLES TO GET, WHICH FIXTURES TO GET.
WE HAVE A LIMITED CHOICE IN THERE.
WE USE THEIR PRODUCTS AND THEY TELL US WHAT THE FOUNDATIONS ARE, THEY TELL US WHAT GROUNDINGS ARE, THE WHOLE BILL.
IF THEY DON'T LIKE THE SPACING, THEY TELL YOU TO CHANGE THE SPACING.
>> I ONLY HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION.
I GUESS I'LL DIRECT THIS TO DON.
DON, WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE LAWSUIT, IS THIS STILL GOING ON?
>> STILL IN THE DISCOVERY STATE?
>> WELL, WE HANDLE IT INTERNALLY? [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT'S ALL I GOT. LET'S MOVE TO BUDGET ITEMS AND CRP, PLEASE.
[4.2. Budget Items and CIP]
THERE'S A COUPLE OF ITEMS ON HERE.I'M NOT GOING TO TALK TO ONE, I THINK WE'LL DO THAT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION WHERE WE TALK ABOUT THE FOUR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE APPOINTEES.
I'LL BRING THAT UP THERE BECAUSE THERE'S REASONS WHY.
BUT WHEN I BRING IT UP, I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE BUDGET IS.
JANELLE, CAN YOU BRING THAT UP? ALL MEN ARRESTED IS IN THE CHART.
THIS IS A CHART THAT MR. LAUGHLIN PUT TOGETHER.
I THINK IT WAS TWO MEETINGS AGO WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY AND DEBT THAT WE'RE IN DEBT.
I WAS READING OFF THE INTERNET THAT MR. MAXWELL, YOU'RE WANTING TO GET $45 MILLION IN CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATIONS IF THAT'S STILL HOLD TRUE TODAY?
>> IN TALKING ABOUT IN THE WATER AND SEWER FUND?
>> I'M TALKING ABOUT YOUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO, YES. IN ORDER TO CONTINUE WITH THE CAPITAL.
>> YOU WANT TO DO THIS ALL CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATIONS?
>> THAT'S ONE OF THE OPTIONS. YES, SIR.
>> OKAY. YOU CAN PAN DOWN, JANELLE, OR UP, I'M SORRY.
KEEP GOING, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE CHART.
[NOISE] BASICALLY, I LOOKED INTO THIS AND I'VE TALKED TO SOME OTHER PEOPLE.
WHEN CITIES COME OUT AND WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE INDEBTEDNESS WE HAVE, THERE'S TWO THINGS THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT, IS THE AMOUNT OF TAXES PER CAPITA FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL, WHICH IN THIS CASE IT'S 4,600.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE OUTSTANDING PRINCIPLE, WE GOT 153 MILLION AND THEN YOU GOT THE OUTSTANDING INTERESTS, THAT EQUATES TO THE 234 MILLION, WHAT POPULATION DID YOU USE? FIFTY THOUSAND?
>> I WOULD HAVE USED THE OFFICIAL CENSUS POPULATION.
>> I LOOKED AT DEBT AND ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL, SINCE WE'RE NOW GOING TO THE NEXT PHASE OF THE CENSUS, WE USE PROJECTIVES.
THEY GIVE YOU A PROJECTION OF AMOUNT OF POPULATION, AIN'T THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT'S TRUE, BUT IT'S ESSENTIALLY THE SAME AS IS THE ACTUAL WHEN IT COMES OUT.
THE NUMBER THAT I'VE SEEN SO FAR ONLINE FOR THE '20 CENSUS IS 50,085.
>> FIFTY THOUSAND AND EIGHTY-FIVE?
>> WE'RE GETTING CLOSER. [LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND]
>> THE REASON I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THIS NUMBER PART IS 45TH STREET PROJECT, WE STARTED LOOKING AT THE BONDS THAT WERE BEING USED.
[01:55:03]
WE ASKED FOR 33 MILLION AND IT ADDS UP WITH THE PREMIUMS AND ALL INTO 37 MILLION.WITH THIS AND WHAT WE HAVE HERE, A PLUS, IF WE GO ON FORWARD WITH THE $45 MILLION FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, THAT'S GOING TO ADD MORE DEBT.
NOW, WHEN I LOOKED AT THE BONDS FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS, IT WAS WHAT, TWO PERCENT? NOW IT'S GOING TO BE AROUND FIVE PERCENT, SO NOW WE'RE DEEPER IN DEBT.
WOULD YOU SAY THAT'S A CORRECT STATEMENT?
>> INTEREST RATES RIGHT NOW, COUNCILMAN, ARE LOWER THAN THEY WHERE WHEN THEY DID THE OTHER TWO STATES.
>> THAT'S TRUE, BUT OVER THE AMORTIZATION OF THE SCHEDULE, IT SHOWS AN INCREASE FROM TWO PERCENT DOWN TO ALMOST 4.5, MAYBE FIVE.
>> ACTUALLY, IT'S A DIFFERENCE IN THE COUPON RATE AND THE YIELD.
IT GOES TO HOW THEY MARKET THE BONDS, NAVIGATE BUYERS TO BUY A BOND.
NOBODY WANTS TO BUY A SIX OR SEVEN-YEAR BOND, THAT'LL PAY A PERCENT AND A HALF.
THEY PAY LESS PRINCIPLE IN ORDER TO GET A HIGHER INTEREST RATE ON THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY FROM OUR BONDS.
THAT'S A VERY POOR LAYMAN'S EXPLANATION OF HOW THAT WORKS.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE BOND SALES, YOU CAN'T JUST LOOK AT THE COUPON RATE, WHICH IS WHAT? THE PRINCIPLE OF [INAUDIBLE] IS JUST BASED ON.
[BACKGROUND] WE GET MORE MONEY UPFRONT, THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THE SALE, THAT'S THE BENEFIT THE CITY GETS FROM THAT LOWER [OVERLAPPING] YIELD.
>> I UNDERSTAND IT. YOU GET THE UPFRONT MONEY. THAT'S TRUTH.
BUT AS TIME GOES ON, THAT INTEREST IS GOING TO ESCALATE.
WHETHER IT'S ONE PERCENT OR 2.5 PERCENT, THAT'S NOT GOING TO SAY TWO PERCENT.
>> YES, YOU'RE LOCK IN WITH THE BOND.
>> TECHNICALLY, YOU'RE RIGHT, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE COUPON RATES, BUT YOU CAN'T GET AWAY FROM WHAT YOU PURCHASED, WHICH WAS THE BENEFIT THAT YOU GOT FROM THE GREATER AMOUNT OF MONEY.
BUT AS YOU STATED, WE'RE STILL GOING TO PAY AN INCREASE AMOUNT OVER TIME.
>> THE LONGER THE BOND GOES, TYPICALLY, IT DRAWS A HIGHER RATE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. UNLESS WE PAY DOWN ON THE PRINCIPAL SOMEHOW.
WE'RE ADDING MORE DEBT AND THEN WE WANT TO GO WITH CERTIFICATE.
I DON'T LIKE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATIONS.
NOW, PEOPLE SAY YOU CAN'T VOTE.
WE DO THAT, PEOPLE DON'T VOTE ON.
BUT THERE IS A METHOD TO THE MADNESS WHERE YOU CAN GO TO THE STATE, ISSUE A PETITION, FIVE PERCENT OF THE VOTE AND YOU CAN BLOCK IT.
WE'RE PAYING TREMENDOUS TAXES.
WE'RE PUTTING MORE BURDEN ON OUR CITIZENS.
THE MIDDLE-CLASS IN GALVESTON TO ME IS DEAD.
WHAT HOMES RUN ANYWHERE BETWEEN 265,000 PER UNIT, IT'S OUTRAGEOUS.
THEN WITH THE RULING THAT WE HAD, JOHN, YOU MAY WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ON THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS, THAT'S THE RULING OF THE SUPREME COURT, CORRECT?
>> IN COURT, DISMISSED THE REVIEW, WITHOUT COMMENT.
THE COURT OF APPEALS CONSTRAINTS UPON THE CITY OF AUSTIN ATTEMPTING TO REGULATE A SHORT-TERM RENTAL INDUSTRY HAD BEEN UPHELD.
>> THAT MEANS IT'S NOT A BUSINESS?
>> I UNDERSTAND. BUT YOU CAN SEE WHERE I'M LOOKING HEAVILY AT THE ECONOMICS OF THIS.
[BACKGROUND] OUR CITIZENS CAN'T BEAR MORE AND MORE TAX.
>> BECAUSE THERE'S NO TAX DOLLARS INVOLVED IN THOSE CO, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT, RIGHT?
>> NO TAX DOLLARS INVOLVED IN THOSE COS, THOSE ARE REVENUE BONDS.
>> WHO PAYS FOR THOSE REVENUE BONDS?
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WHO PAYS THEM?
>> PEOPLE WHO BUY WATER AND SEWER SERVICES.
>> WE'RE PAYING FOR IT INDIRECTLY SOMEHOW.
>> IF YOU USE THE SERVICES, YOU DO, YES.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'S MY POINT. EXACTLY.
>> BUT IT'S NOT TAXES. IT'S A THING.
>> POTATO, POTATO, TOMATO, TOMATO.
>> BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE SEWER. [LAUGHTER]
>> THE OTHER THING IS THAT'S A LOT HELL OF THAT, MR. LAUGHLIN, UNLESS YOU WANT TO ELABORATE.
>> WE WILL BE BACK IN HERE NEXT WEEK TO TALK WITH YOU AND WORKSHOP ABOUT SOME OF THE SPECIFICS OF THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AND CNP.
BRIAN, IF I MAY, WE HAVE MONIES THAT'S COMING UP.
WHAT ABOUT THIS 30 MILLION IT'S COMING UP?
>> THAT WILL DELAY THE NEED TO ISSUE THE DEBT.
>> THAT IS ON NEXT WEEK'S AGENDA.
>> OKAY. WHAT ABOUT OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS WE GAVE YOU?
[02:00:02]
>> THANK YOU. BEST THOUGHT ABOUT APPRECIATE ALL YOUR INPUT.
>> I'M JUST GOING TO SAY COUNCIL MEN COLLINS AND I HAD A QUESTION, BUT GO AHEAD AND BUILD WITH YOU [NOISE].
>> ON THE OTHER, THAT'S 30 MILLION.
WHAT DOES THAT REPRESENT OR BOTH?
WE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THE PART OF SPEECH SEWER IN OUR INI WORK.
>> OKAY. WHAT ABOUT WHEN WE REDISTRICT? WHEN REDISTRICTING COMES, WHAT PART OF THAT 17 BILLION YOU'D THINK THAT WE WOULD BE APPROPRIATED FOR GALVESTON?
>> WELL, IT'S COVID MONEY I THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR'S SUPPOSED TO WATCH WHERE REDISTRICT TO.
>> WE'RE ALREADY GOT THE MONEY?
>> WE'VE GOT HALF OF IT. YEAH.
>> IT WAS AT FIRST DRAW MY 20S [INAUDIBLE]. YEAH, 13.6.
>> WHAT'S THAT GOING TO BE ALLOCATED TO?
>> THE FIRST PROJECT, I BELIEVE IS THE PIRATES PROJECT AND THEN AMI.
>> THAT'S COOL. NOW, I CAN ASK COUPLE MORE OF QUESTION BUT OF DAVID WANTS TO KNOW BOTH.
WHAT ABOUT THE, WE'RE GETTING GRANT MONIES, THE CBD GRANT MONEY.
OKAY. I JUST READ THE NEWSPAPER.
I DIDN'T THAT'S FIRST TIME I'VE EVER HEARD ABOUT IT.
THREE MILLION DOLLARS AS THE EITC WANTS TO PUT FOR DOWNTOWN.
NOW, THE CBBG GRANT MONIES, WHY DON'T THEY USE THAT? TAKE THE MONEY THAT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PEOPLE WANT TO GIVE THE 3 MILLION.
WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS PUT MORE MONEY OUT WEST, THEY PAY 50 PERCENT, 57 PERCENT OF TAXES.
>> AND NOW THEY'RE DOWN TO 38 PERCENT.
38 IF YOU'RE COUNTING THEM IN THE RESIDENTIAL WELL IN THE FORTIES.
NOT IN HERE, NOT WHAT THE [INAUDIBLE] REPORT.
>>I LOVED HOW YOU ALL THINK OF THEM, LIKE THE NEWS NO OFFENSE.
>> SOMEONE HAD TO DO THE RESEARCH AS OPPOSED TO JUST MAKING MEMOS.
>> I DID. I ACTUALLY WENT TO THE CARD.
IF YOU INCLUDE ALL THE PORT AND EVERYTHING, THE TOTAL REVENUES THEN WE ARE 39 PERCENT.
IF YOU JUST DO RESIDENTIAL, TO RESIDENTIAL, WE ARE AT ABOUT 45 TO 47, I'LL BE GLAD TO SEND OVER THIS STUFF FROM DAVID.
>> WHATEVER IT IS, IT'S A NICE BIG CHUNK OF CHANGE.
>> THAT'S WHY WE'RE COMMITTING ALL THE RESCUE ACT MONEY TO DO THAT.
>>BECAUSE I THINK THEY NEED THAT BECAUSE A HEALTH ISSUE BECAUSE EVERY TIME WE HAVE FLOODING OUT THERE AND IF IT'S HIGH ENOUGH, THE SEWER SYSTEMS WILL OVERFLOW AND YOU'LL HAVE BACTERIA GO TO THE BAY AS WELL AS TO THE GULF.
>> THE CHALLENGES WITH THE SEWER THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS, AS YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
WE WERE TO PUT THE SEWER IN THE WEST AND THAT MEANS EVERYBODY IN TOWN WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO ADD THAT WHEN MOST OF THE DEVELOPERS ON THE WESTERN THAT HAVE SEWER DID THAT THROUGH MUD, AND OTHER MEANS.
I'M WORKING WITH JERRY MOANER OUT THERE RIGHT NOW TO POSSIBLY CREATE A NON-CONTIGUOUS MUD DISTRICT OUT THERE THAT WOULD FUND SEWER OUT THERE BECAUSE, IF YOU GO TO SUNSET CO PIRATES, ALL THOSE WERE CREATED BY MUD AND THEY FUNDED THEIR OWN INFRASTRUCTURE.
WHICH IS TYPICALLY HOW WE DID, THE CITY DOESN'T GO IN AND TYPICALLY INSTALLED IN THERE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> WHAT IS THE VISIBILITY OF HAVING A SORE PLAN OUT THERE TOO?
>> LET ME INTERJECT, COUNCIL, I THINK WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE OFF BASED ON THE BUDGET AND CRP.
WE'RE GETTING INTO DETAILS ON ALL OF THIS.
WE'VE GOT THE BUDGET COMING UP, MIKE AND 24 OF JUNE 24TH WITH THE CRP AND WE COULD DIVE INTO THESE SPECIFICS AT THAT PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME. IF WE COULD.
>> JUST GO AHEAD AND, EXCUSE ME.
>> WELL, BILL'S DONE. BILL GO AHEAD AND FINISH UP YOUR THOUGHTS.
>> I'M FINISHED WITH WHAT I WANTED TO ASK. DAVID.
>> MY COMMENT WOULD BE THIS, ONE OF THE REASONS THE CITY WAS ILL-PREPARED FOR HURRICANE 2008 WAS BECAUSE 2025 AND 30 YEARS AGO, WE MADE THE DECISION THAT WE'D SAVE A LOT OF MONEY IF WE STOPPED PAVING STREETS, WE STOP PUTTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE, WE STOPPED HARDENING THIS ISLAND.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THIS MONEY.
THIS IS NOT WHAT WE'RE NOT HAVING A PARTY WITH, IS WE'RE IMPROVING WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM FOR MAKING SOME VERY NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS, AND PIRATES AND OUT WEST WITH THESE FUNDS.
NOW I'M HAPPY THAT THESE ARE NOT DIRECT TAX FUNDS. THIS IS MONEY THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM THE FEDS TO PUT OUT THERE, WHICH IS TRUE OF ALL OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE, PASS THROUGH WAS THREE YEARS AGO, $80 MILLION AND A CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION BONDS.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SELLING THESE DAYS.
THAT'S JUST TO UPGRADE WATER AND SEWER THAT'S PAID BY USER FEES? YES, THE PEOPLE OF GALVESTON ARE PAYING FOR IT.
WE PAY FOR ALL THIS IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
BUT PENNY WISE AND POUND FOOLISH AS THEY SAY, TO DECIDE YOU CAN SAVE MONEY BY NOT UPGRADING AND HARDENING YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> WELL, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED IN 45TH STREET.
[02:05:02]
WE FOUND CORRUGATED METAL TIE TOGETHER NOW I'M DRAINS AND COLLAPSE WHERE OVER THE YEARS AND THEN FIXING IT, REPLACING CORRECTLY, THEY BAND-AID IT UP.>>IN WHAT'S HAPPENED OVER THE YEARS, IN THE CITY IS, THEY TURN A DUMB THOUGHT OF A BLIND EYE AND A DEAF EAR TO THESE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AND THAT'S WHAT GOT US TO THE POINT THAT WE ARE NOW.
>> ONE THING THAT'S BILL KNOWS THIS BECAUSE HE DID THIS FOR A LIVING.
EVERY DAY YOU POSTPONE INFRASTRUCTURE.
HE FEELS THAT MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE.
>> THAT'S THE ONLY THING YOU CAN GUARANTEE [LAUGHTER].
>> I CAN GUARANTEE ANOTHER THING.
THESE ARE THE LOWEST INTEREST RATES MOST OF US ARE GOING TO SEE IN OUR LIFETIME.
LET'S HAVE ONE LAST COMMENT ON THIS SUBJECT.
>> I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION NOW BECAUSE IT WAS SURPRISING TO ME, AND ONE OF THE LAST MEETINGS WHEN BOTH CRAIG AND DAVID SAID THEY LIVED IN A MODERATE INCOME AREA.
IS THIS STRAND CONSIDERED A LOW TO MODERATE INCOME AREA?.
>> IT GETS DICEY BECAUSE THERE'S A COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS THAT HAS TO BE DONE AND THERE'S SO MUCH COMMERCIAL NEAR IT, IT GETS DICEY WHAT WE HAVE DO THAT.
>> NOW I WOULD BE CURIOUS AND SAY THAT BECAUSE WE ARE [OVERLAPPING].
>> TECHNICALLY IT FALLS UNDER ONE OF MY AREA.
BUT THEN AGAIN, THERE HAS TO BE SOME OTHER COMPARATIVE IN THERE AS WELL.
>> WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN MONEY FOR PUMP STATION DOWNTOWN.
>> THEY'RE COULD BE OTHER FUNDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE WHERE MY DISTRICT OR JOHN'S DISTRICT, DOESN'T FALL INTO AN AREA THAT MAKES US ELIGIBLE.
WE HAVE TO BE DEPENDENT ON ONLY CERTAIN THINGS.
IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAN BE CHANGED FROM IDC SILO TO ONE AND THE OTHER FUNDS BECAUSE IT DOES FALL IN THAT AREA.
I THINK WE'D BE BRINGING MEDICINE, NOT LOOKING AT IT.
>> YES, I WOULD AGREE WE NEED TO WHEN WE FIND THESE, [NOISE] WE NEED TO LOOK AT POTENTIAL OTHER SOURCES OF REVENUE.
>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON, BILL, I DIDN'T WANT TO SHORT CHANGE YOU. ANYTHING ELSE?
>> NO, THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.
>> COUNCIL, I'M GOING WE'RE MOVING OUT OF OUR UPDATES.
WE'RE MOVING INTO, AND I'M GOING TO INSERT TO YOU MAIL HAVE RECEIVED, WE HAVE ADDED AN ITEM THAT A SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM, TO CONSIDER BOTH FOR APPROVAL AND THE ORDINATES OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON FOR OUR HOLIDAY OF GYM TEAM.
WE HAD TO WAIT TILL 10:10 AFTER 10:10 AM TO HAVE THIS AGENDA ITEM ON OUR AGENDA.
JANELLE, IF YOU, AM NOT SURE IF JANELLE IS AROUND, BUT I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND.
>> JANELLE COULD YOU READ THIS ITEM 1 A NOT REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARINGS, PLEASE.
[NOISE] EXCUSE ME JANELLE, [OVERLAPPING] JANELLE, JANELLE.
>> I DON'T HAVE WORKSHOP RIGHT NOW.
DON'T YOU HAVE TO OPEN AND MAKE ANY OTHER MEETINGS [OVERLAPPING] IN SINGLE ITEMS.
>> YEAH. I WAS PROBABLY WOULDN'T DISTINCT ON THAT MADONNA'S WEEK, I SHOULD ABANDON.
I'M GOING TO OPEN OUR REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNSEL.
IT IS 12:24, EXCUSE ME, 11:40, 24 [LAUGHTER].
I KNEW, I'M GETTING THERE 11:24 A.M. MOVING TO OUR REGULAR MEETING AGENDA, WHICH IS AN ORDINANCE NOT REQUIRING PUBLIC HEARING.
I DON'T WANT A POLICE. JANELLE.
>> OKAY. THE VIDEO PROTOCOL AND THE ORDINANCE FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON TEXAS CHAPTER 32 HOLIDAY OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, PERSONNEL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL, BY ADDING JUNE TWO AS A DAY TO THE CITY OF GALVESTON HOLIDAY RESCHEDULED, PRESIDING AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT.
>> VERY GOOD AND OF COURSE, WE CAN THANK WILLIAM SCHUSTER FOR BRINGING IN THAT 40 MILLION MANY COMMENTS OR MOTIONS.
>> WELL, LOOKS LIKE LAST NIGHT, IT'S GOING TO BE A FEDERAL HOLIDAY IN THE COMING YEARS.
>> JUST CITY COUNCIL, YOU MOVE THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE.
>> WELL, THIS IS WHY WE STUDIED HISTORY, RIGHT HERE.
IN A 166 YEARS AGO, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAD TO TELL YOU HOW TO DO SOME TO DO SOMETHING AND NOW WE'RE SWITCHING THE ROLE, WERE DOING IT BEFORE THEY TELL US, HERE WE GO.
SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS.
>> VERY GOOD. WE HAVE MOTION BY COUNCILMAN SCHUSTER.
[LAUGHTER] HAS BEEN SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN ROB.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? IT IS UNANIMOUS.
IT IS NOW 11:25 A.M AND I'M CLOSING THE REGULAR MEETING OF JUNE 17TH AGENDA AND MOVING BACK INTO WORKSHOP ITEM NUMBER FIVE, DISCUSSION ITEMS. JANELLE, IF YOU COULD READ THOSE THREE, PLEASE, MA'AM.
[02:10:02]
GETTING CHARTER CLARIFICATION [INAUDIBLE] AND CHANGING THE TIME AND THREE, BEACH ACCESS, PARKING FEE FUND.>> BILL, WE'LL LET YOU START WITH THE CITY CHARTER CLARIFICATION.
[5.1. City Charter clarifications]
>> YEAH. I'M JUST GOING TO LEAVE THE FIRST PORTION OUT.
BUT THE ONE I WANT CLARIFICATION ON IS, I ASK FOR SOME INFORMATION.
THE UPCOMING BUDGET AND SALARIES AND SO FORTH.
I GUESS SOME OF THEM IS THROUGH YOU, BRIAN.
>> I STARTED CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN ME AND MR. BUCKLEY.
ONE QUESTION MR. BUCKLEY WAS, I DON'T COMMUNICATE WITH MR. BUCKLEY.
I COMMUNICATE WITH YOU THAT IF YOU THROUGH HIM, DID YOU GIVE HIM THE AUTHORITY TO TALK TO ME? OKAY. THE REASON WHY I BRING THIS POINT UP IS THAT'S THE SAME THING I DO WITH OUR CITY SECRETARY.
I ASK ON MY BEHALF TO ASK FOR THIS INFORMATION.
MR. BUCKLEY CAME BACK TO COMMENT THAT HE DOES NOT TALK AND JANELLE, DID NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TOO.
BUT JUST WHEN YOU GAVE MR. BUCKLEY THE AUTHORITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH ME, I'M ASKING AGAIN, ON MY BEHAVE TO GET THE INFORMATION I WANTED SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.
>> YEAH. I MEAN, THE PROPER WAY BY CHARTER IS THAT IF YOU NEED INFORMATION, JUST SEND IT TO MY OFFICE WILL GET YOU ANYTHING YOU NEED.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO GO ONTO ANOTHER PART OF THE CHART WHERE I CAN GO RUNNING.
I GO RIGHT TO THE ORGANIZATION AND ASK FOR THAT INFORMATION.
>> ANY DEPARTMENT. LET'S SAY I WANT SOMETHING FROM HR.
I ASKED FOR DOCUMENTATION FOR INQUIRY.
ARE YOU SAYING I HAVE TO GO THROUGH YOU?
>> HOLD ON. THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT THE CHARTER STATES AND WHAT PROTOCOLS STATES.
>> IN ESSENCE, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT STAFF IS CREATING A PROTOCOL SO THAT THE COUNCIL WILL FOLLOW.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WHEN YOU SAYING SOMETHING TO HR AND SAY I NEED THIS, YOU WERE DIRECTING STAFF.
>> A CHARTER SAYS THAT YOU WILL NOT DEAL WITH THE STAFF FROM THE CITY MANAGER EXCEPT THROUGH HIM.
HE HAS CREATED A PRACTICE OR PROTOCOL THAT YOU ARE FREE TO DO THAT JUST INCLUDE THEM IN THE COMMUNICATIONS SO HE CAN MAKE SURE HE'S AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH HIS DEPARTMENT.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
>> [OVERLAPPING] IF I FOLLOW THE CHARTER DIRECTLY, YOU WOULD ONLY CORRESPOND WITH ME.
I'M MUCH MORE FLEXIBLE THAN THAT.
LET ME SAY BILL, YOU CAN GO THROUGH ME.
BUT THAT'S JUST GOING TO SLOW THINGS DOWN IF YOU NEED A QUESTION FROM TIM TIGGENS.
IF CAN'T HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE FOR INFORMATION.
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW YOU WERE ASKING FOR.
>> THERE'S THE CHARTER WHICH IS VERY STRICT IN THAT.
>> IF I GO TO MR. TIGGENS OR COUNT DOWN AND ASK FOR INFORMATION AS LONG AS YOU SEE CC, YOU'RE HAPPY WITH IT?
>> OKAY. NOW, MY QUESTION IS, WHEN I ASK FOR THAT INFORMATION, I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WAS TRANSPOSED OVER TO YOU UNTIL I STARTED CORRESPONDING WITH MR. BUCKLEY.
THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING, THAT'S FINE.
>> YEAH, BECAUSE I WAS OUT, I WAS DMZ AT OTHER MEETINGS AS A DAMP WOULD YOU PLEASE GIVE COUNCIL MEMBER QUIROGA, CLARIFY THAT REQUEST AND MAKE SURE HE UNDERSTANDS IT GETS WORK DONE ON THE KRONOS IMPLEMENTATION THAT WE MAY BE A LITTLE BIT DELAYED, BUT WE'LL GET TO HIM AS QUICK AS WE CAN.
>> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT.
>> WE HAVE ITEM TWO BACK TO TWO MEETINGS PER MONTHS AND CHANGING THE TIME.
[5.2. Back to two meeting per months and changing the time]
>> YEAH. I'D LIKE TO SEE US GO BACK TO TWO MEETINGS AND THE REASON WHY IS JUST THIS.
WE HAVE SO MANY ITEMS THAT ARE PLACED ON A GENERAL ONCE A MONTH.
I SPENT MAYBE 30, 40 HOURS, TRYING TO READ ALL THE DOCUMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT PROPERLY OR WHATEVER COMES UP.
IT'S JUST A LOT OF INFORMATION WHEN YOU'VE GOT, 30, 40 ITEMS TO LOOK AT AND TO REVIEW.
IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME WHERE YOU HAVE TWO MEETINGS A MONTH.
WE CAN CUT THAT DOWN, WE WON'T MISS ANYTHING.
A GOOD POINT THAT I'M TRYING TO MAKE IS LIKE THE 45TH STREET PROJECT.
I NOTED SEVEN ORDERS, CHANGE ORDERS WE HAD FOUR.
THE COUNCIL SAID AT THAT TIME, COFFEES PROBLEMS. I JUST WALKED IN, START DOING ANALYSIS AND THAT'S WHAT STARTED THE CMS PROJECT.
BUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS RAISES THE QUESTION,
[02:15:03]
IS TO COUNCIL PEOPLE WRITTEN THESE CHANGE ORDERS, A SET OF SAYING "PASS, ANYBODY, " THE CONSENT ITEMS. EVERYBODY JUST SAYS YEAH.BUT DID THEY READ IT? IF THEY WOULD'VE READ IT AND THEY WOULD SAW IT, THEY PROBABLY COULD CAUGHT THE DIFFERENCE IN THE MATHEMATICAL ERRORS THAT WE FOUND.
IT TAKES, I THINK THEY'LL SPLIT IT UP WHERE WE CAN LOOK AT IT MORE CLOSELY SO WE CAN IDENTIFY ERRORS IF IT OCCURS.
I THINK WE NEED TO GO BACK TO TWO MEETINGS A MONTH, BUT AGAIN, THAT'S UP TO COUNCIL.
>> MARIE, WE HAD IN COMMON, YEAH.
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED TO GIVE BACK TO TWO MEETINGS A MONTH.
BUT MAYBE THE IDEA OF TWO WORKSHOPS A MONTH BECAUSE ONE THING THAT DOES BOTHER ME AND I'VE SEEN IT, IS WE'LL HAVE 52 ITEMS SAYING CONSENT.
THAT'S REALLY A LOT OF ITEMS AND THEN CONSENT AND THAT'S HOW THEY DO GET MISSED.
PERSONALLY, I THINK OUR MEETING SHOULD BE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH VERSUS THE END OF THE MONTH.
BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT IF WE DO NEED A SECOND MEETING IT'S EASIER TO HAVE IT AT THE END OF THE MONTH INSTEAD OF CALLING A MEETING BEFORE A MEETING.
BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED TO GET BACK TO TWO MEETINGS A MONTH, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S A BAD IDEA TO HAVE TWO WORKSHOPS IN A MONTH.
>> BILL, IF YOU FEEL THAT YOU WANT TO BRING THIS TO COUNCIL, WE COULD PUT HER IDEAS IN ACTION AND I DON'T EVEN GET COUNCIL TO VOTE ON THAT IF WE WANT TO CHANGE OUR MEETING SCHEDULE.
PERSONALLY, I THINK ONE MEETING IN A MONTH, AS MARIE'S THOUGHT ON THE WORKSHOPS IS INTRIGUING TO ME AND I THINK THAT MIGHT HAVE MERIT.
I WOULD SAY, IT ALSO TIES STAFF TIME, BUT THOUGH I DON'T THINK YOU'D REALIZE THE PUBLIC DEBATE AND HOW MUCH TIME STAFF PUTS INTO PREPARING THESE AGENDAS.
>> WE USED TO DO, AND YOU HAVEN'T PLANNED TO DO IT YET.
BUT WE WOULDN'T CATCH UP WORKSHOPS.
IF WE END UP BECAUSE WE WOULD GET OUR WORKSHOP ON STAFF DEFINITELY IT GOT TO BE TOO MUCH THAT WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO DO IT.
PREVIOUSLY I WOULD CALL A CATCH-UP WORKSHOP.
TO KEEP OUR SPECIAL MEETINGS, SPECIAL WORKSHOP.
>> IT SEEMS LIKE WITH THE ONE MEETING, LIKE WHEN WE WERE TO SET UP ONE, A FEW MONTHS AGO BY WHERE WE HAVEN'T MET TWICE.
[INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING] ONE RIVAL IT [LAUGHTER] SEEMS IF YOU ADD ANOTHER ONE AND WE'VE ALREADY THREE TIMES A MONTH, SO THIS IS SOMETHING TO CONSIDER THERE.
>> BUT STAFFS SPENDS A GOOD WEEK OF THEIR TIME BASICALLY SHUTTING DOWN PREPARING THE INFORMATION FOR THESE MEETINGS.
IF WE HAD TWO MEETINGS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO WEEKS OF THE MONTH THAT THEY'RE SHUTTING DOWN. YES, SIR.
>> I AGREE. I THINK A TREMENDOUS BURDEN ON STAFF.
IT'S A LOT OF MATERIAL TO GO OVER.
BUT I PRETTY MUCH TO VOTE WEDNESDAYS AND FREQUENTLY BEFORE THAT, I TRIED TO SHORTEN WORKSHOPS BY HAVING QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY STAFF.
I GO TO MR. MAXWELL ALL THE TIME BEFORE THE MEETING, BEFORE THE WORKSHOP AND ASK QUESTIONS OF THINGS THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
DO I READ THESE CONTRACTS WORD FOR WORD? NO, IS NOT MY JOB.
WE'RE POLICYMAKERS I'M NOT YOUR CONTRACTOR, I'M NOT YOUR PROCUREMENT GUY.
I'M NOT YOUR CONTRACTS MANAGER.
WHETHER ERRORS THAT'S UNFORTUNATELY WE VOTE WITH THEM, FIX THEM, AND I THINK IT WAS AN OVERREACH DOING A GREAT JOB AND INTEGRATING THE CITY'S CONTRACTS WITH THE CMS TO DO THAT VERY THING.
YEAH, IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME, BUT THAT'S PART OF THE JOB.
LIKE I SAID, I SPENT AS MUCH TIME AS I CAN TALKING TO STAFF TO GET ANSWERS TO THESE THINGS.
SO I'M NOT ASKING QUESTIONS FOR MYSELF.
IF THERE'S SOMETHING I REALLY THINK NEEDS TO BE AIRED IN PUBLIC AND THAT SOMETIMES WE ASK QUESTIONS SO THAT EVERYBODY GETS TO HEAR THAT.
BUT I DON'T DO IT JUST EDUCATE MYSELF IN WORKSHOP.
I WOULD OBJECT TO GOING BACK TO TWO MEETINGS A MONTH JUST BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT ON STAFF WOULD BE I THINK [INAUDIBLE].
>> I AGREE. I DON'T SUPPORT TWO MEETINGS, BUT IN JUST WHAT YOU'RE SAYING THE TWO WORKSHOPS MAY MAKE EVEN MORE SENSE.
BECAUSE IF YOU'RE GOING TO BRIAN OR TO STAY UP THROUGH BRIAN, I'M GOING TO BRIAN AND TO STAY UP THROUGH BRIAN.
JOHN'S GOING TO BRIAN AND TO STAY, SO FORTH AND SO ON, ARE WE THEN USING MORE TIME AS STAFF? WHERE IF WE TAKE HIM AND SAY INSTEAD OF HAVING BECAUSE TYPICALLY WHAT HAPPENS EVERYONE FROM STEP IS AVAILABLE WILL WARM WORKSHOP.
[02:20:03]
INSTEAD, WE IN THE EARLY FIRST WORKSHOP OF THE MONTH, WE HAVE STREET DRAINAGE, AND XYZ, AND THEN IN THE SECOND WORKSHOP, WE HAVE OTHER DEPARTMENTS.I JUST THINK WE'RE NOT DOING A SERVICE, I'VE SEEN AS HIGH AS ONE MEETING PRIOR TO US OR [OVERLAPPING] REACH 77 [NOISE] CONSENT ITEMS AND THAT'S INSANE.
>> LIKE HURRICANES, WE'RE GETTING INTO THE GREEK ALPHABET.
>> THAT'S INTRIGUING [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT'S SOME INTRIGUING NOTION THAT [OVERLAPPING] DIFFERENT WORKSHOP.
>> I LIKE TO SEE IS, I MEAN, EVER, [OVERLAPPING] I WOULDN'T -
>> YOU ONLY COME [OVERLAPPING] TO THE WORKSHOP PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
>> BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE THE AGENDA ITEMS TO OR SHOP?
>> YES. THAT'S THE ISSUE THAT'S -
>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS PROBABLY -
>> MOST OF ARE CONSIDERED ITEMS ARE CONTRACTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WITH THAT, WE MIGHT HAVE COURSE OF ABOUT MY NOD, AND SO A LOT OF THAT STUFF WE DON'T EVEN REALLY DISCUSS.
>> WE CAN MOVE IT UP IF YOU NEED MORE TIME.
>> A LOT OF OUR ITEMS OR BY BOARD ITEMS WHERE WE'RE PURCHASING VEHICLES AND SAW THINGS.
>> YEAH, AND THAT'S DIFFERENT.
BUT A LOT OF TIME, AND AGAIN, I'M GOING BACK, IT'S BEEN CONTRACTS AND THINGS THAT PEOPLE WOULD HAVE QUESTIONS ON AND GOING INTO TRIPLE ALPHABET LETTERS.
>> BUT YOU DON'T REALLY WANT IT TO MOVE UP THE AGENDA RELEASE.
SO YOU GUYS HAVE MORE TIME WE COULD DO THAT.
>> EXPLAIN THAT, BRIAN A LITTLE MORE.
>> BUT RIGHT NOW, THE AGENDA COMES UP BASICALLY ON FRIDAY.
JANELLE COMES OUT BASICALLY ON FRIDAY, DONE IT.
>> YEAH. SO IF WE WANTED A BARRIER [OVERLAPPING].
>> THURSDAY IS FOR DRAFT, AND FRIDAY IS THE FINAL.
>> YEAH, WE COULD MOVE THAT BACK.
THAT WAS A POLICY ESTABLISHED BY COUNCIL MANY YEARS AGO, BUT WE COULD -
>> IF TIME'S THE ISSUE THAT'S -
>> THE PROBLEM IS, A LOT OF THESE ISSUES ARE PERCOLATING, RUN AROUND TOWARDS THE DEADLINE AND MORE WE'VE MOVED THIS -
>> THAT'S PRETTY GOOD ABOUT WORK AND OUR STUFF AROUND AND DEADLINES.
IF YOU MOVE THE DEADLINE, DID MAYBE A LITTLE CRUNCH THE FIRST MONTH, BUT WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT.
>> OKAY. OR YOU DO A DRAFT OR FINAL? [OVERLAPPING] FINAL ON TIME BUT A DRAFT EARLY.
>> YEAH, I MEAN, IF IT'S ON THE DRAFT, IT'S GOING TO BE IN THE REGULAR MEETING.
>> A LOT OF OUR ITEMS THAT WILL BE ON JULY MEETING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MISBEHAVING SO WE KNOW WHAT ITEMS WILL BE.
I THINK IT'S SOMETHING TO CONTEMPLATE, [OVERLAPPING] A FAN TO GO INTO THEM TOO.
>> HAD BEEN THERE, DONE THAT AND THAT'S -
>> THE TWO WORKSHOPS WOULD BE SOMETHING TO CONTEMPLATE.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE TIME ISSUE? WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?
>> I LIKE TO HAVE EARLY AS POSSIBLE.
I WANT MY EVENINGS FOR ME [LAUGHTER].
>> MAYBE. HOW EARLY CAN YOU GET A DRAFT? WE COULD INTO NOW, RIGHT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I CAN GET A DRAFT OUT ON THURSDAY.
>> COULD YOU MOVE IT UP MORE THAN.
>> WE COULD USE IT MOVE IT UP A DAY.
YOU WOULD HAVE YOUR DR. COX TO THE ORDINATE THOUGH YOU WOULD NEED TO BE MORE DRAMATIC THAT CONTAIN THAT DEADLINE [OVERLAPPING] BATH.
>> LIBRARY STAFF THEN WHEN I WAS A TUESDAY AND YOUR DEADLINE, WEDNESDAY AND THEIR AGENDA WOULD BE RELEASED ON THURSDAY.
[OVERLAPPING] YOU'LL GET A DRAFT ON WEDNESDAY OR [OVERLAPPING].
>> RECYCLED BACK TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION BEFORE WE MOVE TO THE TIME OF DAY?
>> YEAH. I MEAN, WE'D NEED TO PUT THAT ON AND HAVE VOTE ON THAT.
>> IF THERE'S A CRITICAL ITEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDED.
WE DO THAT WITH LITTLE DISCLOSURE THE COUNCIL LIKE WE DO.
SO THAT'S TYPICALLY NOT AS THAT ADDED.
IT'S TYPICALLY YOU GOT [OVERLAPPING]
>> I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW TO CATCH-UP WITH WORK.
>> WELL, [OVERLAPPING] WHICH IF YOU REMEMBER [OVERLAPPING] , IF IT'S ON YOU GOING BACK AND LAY THINGS, WE KNOW WHAT JIM WAS HERE.
HE KEPT A RUNNING LEDGER OF ALL POTENTIAL WORKSHOP ITEMS. BECAUSE WE KNOW WE HAVE CERTAIN ITEMS THAT WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO MEET WITH THE PORT, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO MEET WITH THE PARK BOARD.
WE KNOW WE TRIED TO HAVE ME NO ONE BUDGET'S GOING TO BE WE KNOW AND WE HAVE THESE WORKSHOPS ON A CALENDAR.
IF IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE RUNNING BEHIND BECAUSE THAT TIME IS NOT A PROBLEM NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE TIME, THAT'S WHEN WE HAD TO COMPRESS WORKSHOP.
REMEMBER WHERE WE RUN OUT OF TIME IN ITEMS WOULD STACK UP.
>> YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT CONSENT ITEM, AGENDA ITEM.
>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A [OVERLAPPING] WORKSHOP ITEMS THAT WE FALL -
BUT THAT'S LESS OF A PROBLEM NOW BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE AN END TIME THE WORKSHOP TO IT.
>> UNFORTUNATELY, YOU ARE CORRECT.
>> YES. [LAUGHTER] I TRY NOT TO DO THAT BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO HAVE SOME SERVE CITIZENS AT SOME POINT,.
>> YEAH. I THINK THERE'S A MICROPHONE.
>> I WOULD SAY, IN MY ESTIMATION, THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN VERY GOOD ABOUT GETTING BUSINESS.
IN PAST, SOMETIMES WE WOULD GET THROUGH HALF THE AGENDA AND WE GET TWO ITEMS AND WE HAD TO PUT THEM OFF TO THE NEXT WORKSHOP.
THIS COUNCIL'S BEEN PRETTY GOOD MOVING THROUGH THE AGENDAS.
[02:25:02]
I DO KEEP A LIST OF ALL THE UPCOMING TOPICS THAT WE HAVE COMING UP AND THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE THESE SPECIAL MEETINGS THAT POP UP.WE'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING AS AN EXAMPLE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON JUNE 24TH, I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A SPECIAL MEETING PROBABLY FOR THAT COMING UP AFTER THAT DISCUSSION ITEM.
SO I THINK YOUR POINT'S WELL TAKEN, MARIE, AND LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO ON THAT.
>> NOW AGAIN, IF I DON'T AS NEEDED BASIS, WE CAN ALWAYS PLUG IT.
>> ACTUALLY, COULD RELEAF STAFF TIME, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT [INAUDIBLE].
>> WORKSHOPS DON'T REQUIRE AS MUCH LEAD UP TIME IS THE REGULAR IMAGE INTO THIS POTENTIAL.
>> BILL, YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT TIME.
>> I LIKE TO HAVE THE MOVED UP DURING THE DAY RATHER THAN EVENING TIME.
I KNOW WE CHANGED IT TO THE EVENING, BUT I LIKE IT WHEN WE FIRST STARTED DURING THE DAY, YOU ALL TAKE CARE OF.
I GO TO WHERE I WANT TO DO AT NINE [LAUGHTER] BILL'S GOING TO THE DB FORUM.
>> WHEN WE MOVED THE MEETING TIMES, WE DIDN'T ANTICIPATE THE IMPACT OF THE COVID. WHO DID? WE WERE HOPING TO SEE MORE PUBLIC INPUT, MORE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
WE'VE NOT HAD A FULL EVENING MEETING IN THAT ROOM WITH PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT FIVE O'CLOCK.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING].
WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE IMPACT OF WHAT WE INTENDED TO DO.
IT MAY BE A BIT EARLY TO TALK ABOUT MOVING THE EVENING MEETINGS AGAIN.
>> MY WIFE WANTS TO COME IN AND GROUSE ABOUT GOLF CARTS.
>> THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA, RIGHT?
>> BY HAVING THE MEETING AT 5:00 DONE, SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO USE A DAY OFF FOR WORK, DON'T HAVE TO USE HOURS, DOESN'T NEED TO PAY MONEY.
>> THEN DAN'S DINNER WILL BE READY WHEN HE GETS HOME. [LAUGHTER]
>> I THINK WE NEED TO LET THIS RUN AND LEARN A LITTLE MORE ON WHY WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS AND LET'S SEE HOW THAT WORKS OUT.
>> OUR MEETINGS THANK GOODNESS HAVE BEEN SHORT, BUT ANOTHER WAY WE DID IT WHEN I PREVIOUSLY WAS ON COUNCIL, I THINK OUR MEETING STARTED AT 4:00, BUT WE HELD COMMENT AT 5:30, SO WE COULD GET THROUGH CERTAIN THINGS AND THEN THE PUBLIC ALWAYS KNEW WHEN THE TIME WAS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, WHICH ALLOWED PEOPLE TO GET OFF OF WORK.
>> THE NEW DYNAMIC HERE IS RECEIVING PUBLIC COMMENT ELECTRONICALLY, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE DID NOT PREVIOUSLY DO, AND I WILL SAY THIS, WE ARE GETTING REALLY VALUABLE, GOOD PUBLIC INPUT IN MUCH BIGGER NUMBERS THAN WE EVER DID.
>> WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY COUNSELING ON LIFE JACKETS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT WE ARE GETTING.
>> BUT WE ARE GETTING REALLY GOOD PUBLIC INPUT AND I THINK YOU GUYS, BECAUSE YOU GET IT ALL IN WRITING AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE WHO SAYS IT YOU HAVE THEIR INFORMATION, IF YOU WANT TO LOOK FOR A SILVER LINING, TO COVID, THAT IS A GREAT SILVER LINING BECAUSE YOU ARE GETTING MORE PEOPLE.
BECAUSE IF I CAN SEND YOU SOMETHING AND I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO GET IT AND I KNOW IT'S GOING TO GO ON THE RECORD OF THE MEETING AND YOU'RE GOING TO CONSIDER IT.
AND I CAN DO THAT WITHOUT HAVING TO COME SIT HERE THROUGH 50 OTHER THINGS THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO LISTEN TO TO BEGIN WITH, SURE I'M GOING TO DO THAT.
THAT'S BEEN A BIG ADD TO US TO FAVOR WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER COROGE IS ASKING FOR IN TERMS OF PUBLIC INPUT.
NOW, THERE'S STILL GOING TO BE SOME FOLKS THAT WANT TO COME IN PERSON AND THAT'S FINE.
YOU CAN ADDRESS THAT WITH A DESIGNATED PUBLIC INPUT TIME.
BUT YOU'RE GETTING A LOT OF PUBLIC INPUT NOW ELECTRONICALLY.
AS THE WORLD GOES, EVERYBODY HERE, PRETTY MUCH, EVERYBODY YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESSES ARE ONLINE I FOLLOW FACEBOOK DURING OUR MEETINGS BECAUSE YOU'LL SEE IF PEOPLE MISUNDERSTOOD SOMETHING OR SOME YOU CORRECTED DURING THE MEETING.
TECHNOLOGY HAS HELPED US A LOT IN THAT RESPECT.
THERE MAY BE SOME MERIT TO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER COROGE WAS TALKING ABOUT IN THAT YOU ARE GETTING GOOD INPUT NOW.
IF YOU HAVE A CONTROVERSIAL ITEM, WHEN YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE LOT OF FOLK, YOU CAN MOVE THE MEETING FOR THAT ONE TIME.
>> YOU'RE THINKING BECAUSE OF THE COVID SITUATION WHERE THEY WILL STAY AWAY AND COME IN ON
>> I CAN TELL YOU MY WIFE AND I ANY BUSINESS WE CAN DO ONLINE, WE'RE DOING IT ONLINE WITHOUT HAVING TO GO IN PERSON.
I WAS TELLING YOU GUYS I DON'T KNOW IF YOU LISTENED, BUT I HAD SOME APPOINTMENTS YESTERDAY IN HOUSTON, I WAS OFF, AND IN BETWEEN I RAN TO THE GALLERIA.
THE GALLERIA LOOKS LIKE IT'S LIKE THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE.
THE STORES, THE SHELVES WERE HALF EMPTY. IT'S CRAZY.
[02:30:04]
I THINK THE WORLD HAS CHANGED IN MORE OF A PERMANENT WAY THAN WE MAY REALIZE.>> PLUS I'VE BEEN SEEING WILLIAM SCHUSTER IN THE DUGOUT.
>> THERE'S SOME GOOD THINGS ABOUT ZOOM TOO.
BUT AS FAR AS PUBLIC INPUT, I HAVE JANELLE WILL TELL YOU THAT AFTER THE FIRST TIME WE DID IT, I WENT TO HER, I SAID THIS IS AWESOME.
WE GOT TO KEEP DOING BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING INPUT THAT WE DIDN'T GET BEFORE, [INAUDIBLE] HEALTHY.
>> I'M ATTENDING MEETINGS WITH HGAC THAT I PROBABLY WOULD NOT ATTEND THAT MANY AND ALL THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS IF I HAD TO DROP UP TO HOUSTON AND COME BACK.
>> THE REGION SIX FLOOD COMMITTEE THAT I GOT PUT ON.
WE MEET VIA ZOOM AND THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT GOING BACK IN PERSON, WHICH MEANS WE ALL HAVE TO DRIVE IN THE [INAUDIBLE] ONCE, SO YOU LOSE TWO HOURS ON EITHER END WHERE NOW I CAN JUMP RIGHT OFF THAT CALL AND GET RIGHT ON ANOTHER CITY ISSUE WITHOUT HAVING TO DO ALL THE COMMUNITY.
SO THERE'S BENEFIT TO ZOOM WITHOUT A DOUBT.
>> ARE WE GOING TO KEEP OUR [INAUDIBLE] TO THE OTHER ROOM, OR ARE WE GOING TO KEEP THAT HYBRID OPTION LIKE SO MANY GROUPS ARE DOING? [OVERLAPPING]
>> THERE ARE SOME ISSUES WITH IT, I KNOW AND HOPE COULD TELL YOU THIS BETTER THAN I CAN.
THERE ARE SOME ISSUES WITH DOING A FULL HYBRID MEETING.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, YOU CAN ONLY DO THE HYBRID MEETING AS LONG AS THE GOVERNOR'S ORDERS STILL APPLIES.
>> OTHERWISE, WE HAVE TO POST YOUR LOCATION, WHERE YOU ARE AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE AMPLE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
>> BUT I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT COUNSEL.
>> OH, YOU TAKING ABOUT STAFF?
>> I AM TAKING ABOUT FOR CITIZENS.
>> YEAH. WELL, I THINK CITIZENS WOULD. [OVERLAPPING]
>> CITIZENS THEY'VE ALWAYS JUST TUNED IN 16 [OVERLAPPING].
>> NO. I AM TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO COMMENT VIA ZOOM.
>> THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH. THAT WOULD FACILITATE MORE ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT BILL WANTS TO DO.
BECAUSE IF YOU ALLOW COMMENTS VIA ZOOM AND ELECTRONICALLY, YOU'VE PRETTY MUCH ADDRESSED EVERYBODY'S CONFLICT NEEDS.
>> I BELIEVE JANELLE HAD A COMMENT.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THAT HOPE IS ON THE LINE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT EQUIPMENT BUT WE WERE PLANNING ON POSTING NEXT WEEK, NEXT WEEK MEETING BEING AS A HYBRID MEETING SO THE THE PUBLIC CAN PARTICIPATE VIA ZOOM.
>> WE WERE GOING TO DO THAT, IT WAS A THOUGHT THAT AS LONG AS THAT GOVERNOR'S ORDERS END IN CLEARING THE DISASTER DECLARATION, WE WERE GOING TO OFFER THAT OPTION AND THEN WE'LL PULL OUT OF THAT ONCE HE CANCELS THAT ORDER.
>> FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, I DON'T THINK IT CHANGES IT.
>> BUT RIGHT NOW, THE HYBRID RIGHT NOW UNDER THESE CURRENT ORDERS, BILL IF YOU DIDN'T WANT TO COME, YOU CAN PARTICIPATE FROM HOME.
>> OH, I LOVE TO COME HERE, BRIAN.
[LAUGHTER] I LOVE TO SEE EVERYBODY'S SMILING FACE.
>> IT'S THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR DAY.
>> ESPECIALLY DON'S OVER THERE.
>> IT'S THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR DAY. I UNDERSTAND.
>> WELL, AND BILL AS YOU KNOW, YOU'VE HEARD THE COMMENTS ON THE TWO MEETINGS AND THE CHANGING THE TIME, IF YOU'D LIKE TO BRING THAT FORWARD AS AN ACTION ITEM, FEEL FREE TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA.
>> THANK YOU. ITEM 3, BEACH ACCESS AND PARKING CONCERNS.
[5.3. Beach Access and Parking Concerns ( Robb/Brown )]
THIS IS A TOPIC THAT MARIE AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT QUITE A BIT HERE IN THE LAST TWO OR THREE WEEKS AND EVEN HAD A MEETING SPECIFICALLY ON THIS SUBJECT.MARIE, I'M GOING TO LET YOU. [OVERLAPPING]
>> SURE. WITH THE ADVENT OF MORE AND MORE PEOPLE COMING TO TOWN, THE ISSUES IN MY NEIGHBORHOODS ARE REALLY EXPLODING WITH BEING INUNDATED BY VEHICLES BECAUSE THERE'S NO CHOICE TO PARKING.
MATTER OF FACT, DAN, AND I HAD A MEETING WITH THE GLO YESTERDAY AND WE EVEN TALKED ABOUT THIS.
STREETS ON THE WESTERN OR DESIGN, THERE ARE SMALLER STREETS BY NATURE.
RIGHT NOW YOU'RE ALLOWED TO PARK ON EITHER SIDE OF THE STREET.
SO ONCE THAT HAPPENS, YOU CAN NO LONGER GET AN EMS OR A FIRE TRUCK VEHICLE DOWN THE STREET.
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND WAS JUST INSANE AND AGAIN, I KNOW WE HAD OVER 50,000 EVERY DAY COMING ON, 49,000 GOING OFF.
THE MAJORITY OF THOSE WERE DAY TROOPERS, WHICH I THINK WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE DAY TROOPERS.
BUT WHEN SAY, SUNNY BEACH ACCESS POINT GETS FILLED UP, IT CLOSES.
WHEN PARKER PART 2 GETS FILLED, IT CLOSES.
WHEN PARKER PART 4 GETS FILLED IT CLOSES.
WHEN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS GET FILLED,
[02:35:01]
PEOPLE START PARKING ON THE GRASS OF PEOPLE'S DRIVEWAYS AND NEVER CLOSES.SAY A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S SUPPOSED TO HAVE 290 PARKING SPOTS MAY END UP WITH A 1,000 CARS PLUS THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE.
WE NEED TO REOPEN THE BEACH ACCESS PLAN AND WE DID TALK ABOUT THAT WITH THE GLO.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO DO IN REISMAN, TRUST ME, SHE'S ON TOP OF THIS, IS THAT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING IS CREATING, IT'S 15 FEET, WHICH I'D DO ANYTHING TO FIND A15 FOOT-LONG CAR BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER HAS A HONDA THAT'S LONGER THAN 15 FEET.
BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE ONE SPOT FOR EVERY 15 LINEAR FEET OF EACH.
I THINK WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS DESIGNATE THOSE SPOTS AND THEN MAKE THE REST OF IT IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS RESIDENTIAL HOME.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO NOW IT'S ENFORCEMENT ISSUE AND IT TAKES MONEY TO ENFORCE IT.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE OPTIONS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON THAT.
THAT'S WHY ROB IS TAKING HIS TIME TRYING TO GET FAR LANDS PUT IN AND TRYING TO MEASURE THE SPOTS AND GET ALL THAT DONE.
BECAUSE WE ARE, AND I DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY OR STEAL ANY OF MARIE'S THUNDER BECAUSE SHE IS 1,000 PERCENT RIGHT.
BUT WE'RE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. EVERYWHERE.
>> I KNOW. I'VE REALIZED THAT.
>> 45TH STREET FOR ALL IT'S WORTH, THERE WERE CARS LINED UP DOWN 45TH STREET ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, ALL THE WAY DOWN ALMOST TO AVENUE S.
>> I KNOW THERE'S QUESTIONS ON THIS COMMENTS.
I WOULD SAY THAT YOU'RE RIGHT.
I'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF COMPLAINS THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND THAT THEY'RE PARKING UP FROM THE SEA WALL INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS, BLOCKING DRIVEWAYS AND ALL OF THAT TYPE OF THING.
I THINK THERE'S SOME THINGS AND REASON WE COULDN'T HAVE EXPAND ON THIS, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE ON THIS AND MARIE'S MENTIONED A FEW OF THEM.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS BEACH ACCESS.
MARIE AND I TALKED ABOUT IT YESTERDAY.
WE NEED TO DETERMINE, PUT ACTUALLY A STATUTE ORIENTED WHAT ACTUALLY IS JUST PROTOCOL THAT SOMEBODY'S FOLLOWING THERE.
>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A SPECIAL NEED FOR SPECIAL WORKSHOP?
>> [OVERLAPPING] YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT.
>> BUT THE MEETING WITH THE GLO, WE BROUGHT UP THE POINT WE HAVE TOO MANY ACTUALLY, WE DO HAVE TOO MANY BEACH ACCESS POINTS RIGHT NOW.
THE PARK BOARD'S COMMENT WAS, "WELL, THEY NEED TO BE EVERY HALF-MILE.
WELL, RIGHT NOW THEY'RE EVERY BLOCK." [LAUGHTER] THAT'S ALLUDED FOR US.
[LAUGHTER] SOUTH PATRICK DOESN'T HAVE THIS.
PORT ARANSAS DOESN'T HAVE THIS AND THE OTHER THING WE NEED TO DO WITH THAT IS GET THE CORES OFF THE BEACH.
IF YOU GO DOWN TO STAVANGER BEACH RIGHT NOW, IT LOOKS LIKE DAYTONA.
WE ACTUALLY HAD THE INCIDENT IN FROM MEMORIAL DAY AND THIS IS ON THE BEACH, THIS ISN'T EVEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THE FIRE TRUCKS AND THE EMS COULDN'T GET ON IT AND PEOPLE STARTED HARASSING THE FIREMEN FOR TRYING TO GIVE SOMEONE CARE AND THAT'S INSANE.
WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
>> WE HAVE DAVID AND THEN WILLIAM. DAVID.
>> WELL, I JUST FULLY SUPPORT MARIE'S CONCERNS ON THESE.
>> WE'RE FINDING THE POINT BECAUSE THEY WOULD NEVER ENTERTAIN A CHANGE TO OUR BEACH ACCESS SUSPENDED UNTIL WE GOT ANY COMPLIANCE AND RECOVERY.
>> WE'RE THERE, SO NOW IT'S TIME.
>> THIS IS A PROCESS, IT'S GOING TO TAKE TWO YEARS AND A MINIMUM, YOU KNOW IT IS. WE'VE GOT TO WORK.
>> I THINK, WELL, ONE WE NEED TO DO RIGHT.
TWO, I DON'T THINK IT WILL ACTUALLY TAKE TWO YEARS IF WE DO IT RIGHT.
>> THAT'S FABULOUS IF IT IS TWO.
>> WE HAVE THAT AND JUST SO THE COMMITTEE WHO PUT SO MANY HOURS INTO THAT PLAN.
BECAUSE I KNOW HOW THEY FEEL WHEN I WORKED ON THE PLAN THAT WAS VOTED IN A WEEK BEFORE THE ELECTION IN 2012, YOU PUT HUNDREDS OF HOURS AND THEN SOMEONE JUST JUDGE YOUR WORK.
I ACTUALLY AM GOING HOME WITH A COPY OF THEIR PLAN SO WE CAN TAKE THE VALID POINTS THAT THAT AD HOC COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT THAT AND TO LOOK AT WHAT THE NEEDS ARE.
I'M IN THE PROCESS OF SETTING UP A MEETING.
BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING WE ALWAYS DIDN'T DO.
WITH ALL THE PRECEDENTS INVOLVED, THE BEACHFRONT COMMUNITY, PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATIONS, BECAUSE WE NEVER GET INFO FROM THEM.
WHO KNOWS THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS BETTER THAN YOU, THAN A PERSON WHO LIVES THERE.
I'M JUST GOING TO MENTION THIS SIGN BECAUSE IT JUST CRACKS ME UP EVERY TIME I PULL INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
[02:40:04]
IT SAYS, "EVERY SINGLE STREET IS A BEACH ACCESS POINT, DO NOT PARK ON ONE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DO NOT PARK IN THE FIRE ZONES." WE HAVE NO FIRE ZONES, WE HAVE NO PARKING SIGNS, SO WHERE DO PEOPLE PARK? THEY JUST PARK EVERYWHERE, BUT WE HAVE THIS SIGN UP.>> IT'S QUITE A CONCERN. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I MAY HAVE ANSWERED THIS, BUT MARIE IS IT ADVERTISED AS FREE BEACH PARKING OR ARE THERE SIGNS THAT SAY FREE BEACH PARKING?
>> PUBLIC BEACH ACCESS, THERE ARE SIGNS AT THE ENTRANCE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT'S NOT THE SAME ONES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> WE HAVE NO PARKING [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, BUT THE ISSUE WITH THAT IS THOSE AREAS BECOME MAGNET FOR TRASH AND [OVERLAPPING] THE ISSUE.
>> WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR ULTIMATELY CLEANING UP THAT AREA? WHERE DOES THAT FALL ON?
>> IT BLOWS INTO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THE PROPERTY OWNERS.
>> THAT'S THE HABITUAL PROBLEM IS, IT'S FREE PARKING SPOTS ON THE SEAWATER IS BECOMING TRASH MAGNETS ARE COMING.
ALL KINDS OF OTHER ISSUE, MAGNETS, AND IT'S PUSHING MORE PEOPLE INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE I KNOW THAT FREE BEACH PARK GOES FROM SEAWALL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO O.
THAT'S ALMOST TWO BLOCKS OF [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'VE ADDED A TON OF FREE PARKING ON THE SEA WALL.
>> THERE ARE NO SERVICES, SO SOMEBODY HAS TO GO TO THE BATHROOM, THEY EITHER DO IT ON THE DUNE OR THE [OVERLAPPING]
>> THERE HAS TO BE A HAPPY MEAN BECAUSE THE STATE WANTS US TO BE TO OPEN AND FREE AND TO ENTERTAIN THE BEACH GOERS OF TEXAS, WHICH WE ARE HAPPY TO DO.
BUT THEY ALSO HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE A CITY TO RUN AND WE HAVE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE HERE ON A PERMANENT BASIS.
IT'S LIKE IF YOUR PARENTS GO TO DINNER EVERY WEEKEND, YOU JUST CAN'T HAVE YOUR FRIENDS OVER TO TRASH THE HOUSE EVERY WEEKEND, IT JUST DOESN'T WORK.
ULTIMATELY, YOUR PARENTS WILL GET TICKED OFF AND THEY'LL NOT LET YOU HAVE PARTIES ANYMORE.
WELL, WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO CUT OFF THE PARTIES.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY COME AND THEY HAVE A GOOD SAFE TIME, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE THOSE THAT LIVE HERE.
THAT'S OUR PRIMARY CONCERN HERE.
>> WE'VE NEVER HAD A BEACH ACCESS PAN IN MY OPINION.
IT IS BEEN WELL-THOUGHT OUT, THAT HAS GOT TOTAL PUBLIC INPUT TOO.
IF WE LEAVE A LEGACY OF ANYTHING HERE WITH THIS COUNCIL, WE NEED TO LEAVE THAT.
>> LET'S WIND THIS SUBJECT UP, WE HAVE BILL AND THEN DAVID.
I GUESS YOU MAY HAVE ASKED YOUR MAYOR IS, DO WE HAVE A BEACH ACCESS PLAN NOW?
>> WHERE CAN I GET A COPY? I SAW IT HERE.
>> I THINK IT'S ON MY MIND BECAUSE WE CAN CERTAINLY GET YOU A LINK TO IT.
>> OKAY. THE OTHER THING IS MARIE IS TALKING ABOUT ACCESS POINTS.
IS THE WEST END CONSIDERED DIFFERENT THAN THE EAST END?
>> IT'S ALL THE SAME. IF MARIE MENTIONED EVERY MILE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE ACCESS.
>> EVERY HALF MILE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT WOULD BE AWAY FROM THE WEST END TO THE EAST END. IT'S ALL THE SAME?
>> AGAIN, WE'RE DOING 10 TIMES MORE THAN WHAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO.
>> THE CATCH ON THIS, WE'RE NOT SURE IF THAT'S ACTUALLY AN ACCURATE STATUTE TYPE REQUIREMENT.
>> IS THIS SOMETHING SET BY GLO?
>> THE GLO, IT'S LIKE WE TALKED EARLIER.
THERE'S PROTOCOL AND THEN THERE'S LAWS.
THE GLO HAS A LOT OF PROTOCOLS THAT THEY ASK US TO FOLLOW AND WE ALWAYS TRY TO ABIDE BY THAT.
BUT THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT ARE DEFINITELY STATUTORY AND THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT ARE GLO PROTOCOLS IF THEY PREFER.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. TWO VERY QUICK THINGS.
ONE, PAID PARKING ON THE SEA WATERS VILIFIED QUITE OFTEN, BUT I GUARANTEE THAT'S NOT WANT PEOPLE TO GO INTO THE WEST END.
THOSE PARKING PLACES ARE ALL FILLED.
>> THEY'RE FILLED. THE VACANT LOTS ARE FULL.
>> THE VACANT LOTS ARE FULL. PEOPLE WOULD GO INTO THE WEST END BECAUSE THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE PLACE TO GET TO THE BEACH.
SECONDLY, IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THE BEACH ACCESS PLAN IS OURS.
IT WAS A DEAL WE CUT WITH THE STATE TO TAKE CARS OFF THE BEACH.
>> WE DID. WE HAVE MORE CARS ON THE BEACH NOW THAN WE EVER DID. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT START THERE IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE?
>> LESS LOCATIONS WHERE THEY CAN'T GO IN THE BEACH.
>> BUT THEY DON'T DRIVE, THEY CAN'T DRIVE.
>> THERE ARE SO MANY ON-BEACH DRIVING PARKING AREAS ON THIS ISLAND, AND I REMEMBER US TAKING IT OFF TOO.
BUT SOMEHOW IN 2012 THAT WENT AWRY.
>> WELL, PROBABLY, [OVERLAPPING] DOES THAT FALL INTO THE REGULAR NEIGHBORHOODS HERE, WERE MY SISTER HAS HER PROPERTY, THERE'S A SHORT-TERM RENTAL ACROSS THE STREET.
I COME THERE TO DO SOME REPAIRS.
[02:45:03]
THEY HAVE FOUR OR FIVE, SOMETIMES SIX PEOPLE COME INTO THAT SHORT-TERM RENTAL AND THE PEOPLE NEXT DOOR SAYS, "HEY, CAN'T YOU CANCEL PEOPLE DO ANYTHING ABOUT." I SAID IT'S PUBLIC STREET.SO MY QUESTION, MARIE, IS IN THESE SUBDIVISIONS, ARE THOSE PUBLIC STREETS, ARE THEY PRIVATE?
>> IF THEY'RE PUBLIC, CAN WE REALLY DO ANYTHING ABOUT OTHER THAN CLASSIFY THEM AS RESIDENTIAL?
>> WHEN IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE, WE CAN CREATE FIRE ZONES AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.
>> GETTING BACK TO WHAT MARIE SAID THOUGH, WHEN YOU HAVE IN YOUR SUBDIVISION A BEACH ACCESS POINT THAT'S GEARED FOR CERTAIN NUMBER OF PARKING THERE, THAT CAN BE ADDRESSED.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT WHOLE SITUATION.
>> WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT. IF WE ARE PUTTING A CAPACITY ON A BEACH PARK, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO PUT CAPACITIES ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> THE GOOD NEWS IS, AS WE LEARNED THIS DURING THIS LAST COMPLIANCE ISSUE WITH THE GLO, THE NEIGHBORHOODS, IF I GUARANTEE THAT MOST OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS ON THE WEST END WOULD INVEST MONEY, IF WE SAY GUYS, YOU HAVE TO BUILD ONE WALK OVER ONE ACCESS POINT AND MAINTAIN IT AND IN EXCHANGE FOR THAT, WE'RE GOING TO LIVE IN THE PARKING HERE CORRECTLY.
I GUARANTEE THAT MOST OF THE [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE CAN AT LEAST TALK ABOUT A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.
>> ABSOLUTELY. [OVERLAPPING] ALL THAT.
>> THIS IS A PRETTY COMPLEX ISSUE.
I AGREE. I THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME.
THE LAST COMMITTEE THAT WAS FORMED TO LOOK AT THIS ISSUE, THEY MET FOR OVER A YEAR.
THAT WAS NOT TOO LONG AGO AND WE DIDN'T REALLY USE ANY OF THAT INFORMATION.
>> WELL, THERE'S SOME THINGS WE'RE WORKING ON SHORT-TERM THAT'S GOING TO TRY AND ADDRESS THAT.
>> YES, WE'LL ADDRESS SOME OF THAT.
>> MAYBE THAT'S THE WAY WE NEED TO APPROACH IT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WELL THAT'S RIGHT, [LAUGHTER] ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
>> MUCH OF THAT WE COULDN'T [OVERLAPPING] ACT ON UNTIL THE PLAN WAS BROUGHT IN COMPLIANCE.
>> COUNCIL, LET'S WRAP THIS UP.
I CAN SEE RIGHT NOW I'VE JUST BEEN MAKING A LIST OF TWO WORKSHOP TOPICS [LAUGHTER] THAT WE CAN DELVE INTO.
WE'LL GET BACK AND LOOK INTO THESE MORE THOROUGHLY.
[6. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
I THINK. THANK YOU, BILL. [LAUGHTER]>> IT'S 12:05 PM AND WE ARE NOW MOVING OUT OF OUR WORKSHOP AND WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
LET'S TAKE ABOUT A FIVE, 10-MINUTE BREAK AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT IS 2:30 PM.
WE HAVE NOW COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE ARE NOW BACK INTO WORKSHOP FOR OUR JUNE 17TH MEETING.
IT IS 2:30 PM AND WE HAVEN'T GONE THROUGH ALL OF OUR AGENDA AND WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.