[Call to Order]
[00:00:03]
IT IS 9:00 A.M.I WOULD LIKE TO OFFICIALLY CALL THE WORKSHOP OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF GALVESTON TO ORDER THIS MORNING.
I WANT TO WELCOME EVERYBODY; COUNCIL, GOOD MORNING, GOOD MORNING TO STAFF THAT ARE HERE, AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT MAY BE WATCHING THIS PARTICULAR TELECAST.
GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE THIS MORNING.
JANELLE, WE COULD DO A ROLL CALL PLEASE.
>> VERY GOOD. WE DO HAVE ALL THE MEMBERS HERE THAT ARE SEATED.
WE NOW WILL MOVE TO OUR DISCUSSION ITEMS,
[3A. Park Board Interviews ( 30 Min )]
WHICH ARE THE PARK BOARD INTERVIEWS, OUR FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS.FOR THOSE CANDIDATES THAT ARE HERE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING AND THANK YOU FOR SERVING.
ALL OF THE CANDIDATES THAT ARE HERE ARE POTENTIALLY RE-APPOINTMENTS AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE OVER THIS LAST TWO YEARS.
GREATLY APPRECIATED BY THE PARK BOARD AND GREATLY APPRECIATED BY THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY.
WHAT WE'LL DO THIS MORNING, GENTLEMEN, IS WE'LL START WITH OUR INTERVIEWS.
MR. JACOBY WILL BE FIRST, MR. FLAK WILL BE SECOND, AND MR. PRIEST WILL BE THIRD.
WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL COME IN WHEN YOU SIT DOWN HERE AT THE TABLE, GIVE US A SHORT INTRO INTO WHY YOU'RE INTERESTED IN SERVING AGAIN ON THE PARK BOARD.
THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM THERE.
ONCE WE FINISH OUR INTERVIEWS TODAY AND WE FINISH WORKSHOP TODAY, COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL RANK THE CANDIDATES.
WE HAD SIX THAT INTERVIEWED LAST WEEK.
WE WILL RANK THE CANDIDATES IN THE PRIORITY OF WHAT EACH COUNCIL MEMBER FEELS THE WAY THE NOMINATION SHOULD BE MADE.
THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MAKE OUR APPOINTMENTS FROM THOSE RANK NOMINATIONS THIS AFTERNOON AT OUR FIVE O'CLOCK TIME OF OUR REGULAR MEETING.
IT WILL BE OUR LAST AGENDA ITEM ON OUR MEETING BEGINNING AT FIVE O'CLOCK.
VERY GOOD. ANY QUESTIONS, IF ANY? THE CANDIDATES, FOR GENERAL QUESTIONS? WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MARTY AND SPENCER, STEP OVER IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, PLEASE, SIR, TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
DAVID, HAVE A SEAT [OVERLAPPING] IF YOU WOULD PLEASE. YES, SIR.
>> NOW WE BRING OUT THE SPOTLIGHT. [LAUGHTER]
>> THANK YOU. DAVID, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AGAIN THIS MORNING.
GO AHEAD AND SAY LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHY YOU'D LIKE TO SERVE. [NOISE]
>> SURE. FIRSTLY, THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL, MAYOR BROWN, EVERYBODY ELSE IN ATTENDANCE, BOTH PHYSICALLY AND ONLINE, FOR HAVING ME HERE.
THIS WOULD BE IF SO CHOSEN MY SECOND TERM ON THE PARK'S BOARD, AND I'VE LIVED IN GALVESTON FOR A LITTLE OVER FIVE YEARS NOW, CHOSE TO RELOCATE MY GROWING FAMILY AND HAVE GROWN IT SINCE [LAUGHTER] ARRIVING HERE.
I'VE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH GALVESTON BEFORE I MOVED HERE, HENCE MY MOVING HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE AND HAVE FALLEN MORE IN LOVE WITH IT SINCE BEING HERE.
BUT MY GOAL FOR BEING A MEMBER OF THE PARK'S BOARD IS SIMPLY JUST TO CONTRIBUTE TO THAT COMMUNITY IN ANY WAY THAT I CAN SO THAT WE CAN GROW GALVESTON IN THE RIGHT WAYS THAT WORK FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND STILL LEVERAGE THE TOURISM ASSETS THAT WE HAVE HERE.
GIVEN MY BACKGROUND IN FINANCE, REAL ESTATE, AND FOCUS IN THE HOSPITALITY SECTOR, I FEEL THERE ARE SOME SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES THAT I CAN BRING TO THE PARK'S BOARD AND I ENJOY DOING IT.
I ENJOY THE PEOPLE I MEET FOR THOSE PROCESSES EVERY DAY, I ENJOY THE CHALLENGES THAT COME UP, BOTH ONGOING AND THE SURPRISE ONES YOU DON'T KNOW WERE COMING AND YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
I ENJOY GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND HOPE I'VE BEEN EFFECTIVE IN DOING THAT HERE.
BUT WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE TO DO IT FOR AS LONG AS YOU ALL HAVE ME.
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCIL, I'M GOING TO OPEN UP FOR QUESTIONS.
>> I'LL BE HAPPY TO START. DAVID THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.
WHAT IS THE PRIMARY CHANGE YOU THINK YOU'D LIKE TO SEE IN EFFECT IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS IN PARK BOARD?
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE GALVESTON DO
[00:05:01]
A BETTER JOB OF ATTRACTING HIGHER-QUALITY TOWARDS THE MASSES TO THE ISLAND.THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS THAT CAN BE DONE.
ONE EXAMPLE IS, I THINK EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM IS AWARE.
[NOISE] WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON A POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AT STEWART BEACH, THAT WOULD BE ONE EXAMPLE OF THAT.
BUT I THINK THERE ARE OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN LEVERAGE OUR RESOURCES, OUR ASSETS, OUR RELATIONSHIPS TO ATTRACT OTHER PEOPLE TO BRING HIGHER END AND FULL SERVICE AMENITIES TO OUR ISLAND.
WE TALK FREQUENTLY ABOUT INCREASING LENGTH OF STAY AND AMOUNT OF SPEND THAT WE GET FROM OUR GUESTS THAT DO COME HERE NOW, AND I THINK HAVING THE ASSETS TO EXTRACT THAT LENGTH OF STAY, AND TO EXTRACT MORE VALUE FROM THOSE GUESTS WHILE THEY'RE HERE, WE'D HAVE THE ASSETS TO MAKE THIS A COMPELLING DESTINATION FOR THEM.
I'D LIKE TO SEE US PUSH FURTHER IN THAT DIRECTION.
>> WHAT INDUSTRY DO YOU COME COME FROM? WHAT DO YOU DO? WHAT'S YOUR BACKGROUND? DO YOU HAVE THAT BUSINESS DEGREE OR?
>> YES, I HAVE AN UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE IN COMMUNICATIONS AND ECONOMICS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
AFTER GRADUATING, WENT TO NEW YORK, WORKED AS A FINANCIAL CONSULTANT ON WALL STREET FOR VARIOUS PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANIES.
I HAPPENED TO GET SLOTTED INTO A SECTOR WHERE THE PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANIES I WORKED WITH WERE IN THE HOSPITALITY SPACE AND PRIMARILY THE CASINO GAMING SPACE.
LEFT THAT POSITION AFTER ABOUT SIX YEARS, GOT AN MBA FROM CORNELL.
THEY HAVE A HOSPITALITY AND FINANCE PROGRAM.
WAS HIRED TO MOVE OUT TO LAS VEGAS AND WORK FOR A GROUP THAT WAS DEVELOPING CASINOS GLOBALLY.
DEVELOPED A CASINO WITH THAT GROUP GLOBALLY AND THEN WITH A SMALLER SUBSET OF THAT GROUP IN LAS VEGAS.
ESSENTIALLY SOON AS THAT OPENED IN 2016, LEFT THAT POSITION, RELOCATED MY FAMILY HERE TO GALVESTON BECAUSE THIS WAS MORE OF THE TYPE OF PLACE THAT I WANTED TO LIVE AND RAISE MY FAMILY.
SINCE THEN, I HAVE WORKED ON CONSULTING PROJECTS FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S COMPANIES, PRIMARILY IN THE HOSPITALITY SPACE.
BUT HELPING YOUNG COMPANIES FORM, GROW, AND FIGURE OUT THEIR STRATEGY TO GET OFF THE GROUND AND LAUNCH.
ALSO I'M PURSUING SOME OF MY OWN HOSPITALITY DEVELOPMENTS AS WELL.
>> YES, SIR. HAD ANOTHER QUESTION.
YOU JUST RECENTLY, WAS IT YOU OR INVESTORS JUST BOUGHT THE HOTEL ON 10TH STREET?
>> OKAY. YOU'RE ALSO LOOKING AT INTEREST IN EITHER LOOKING IN, LEASING PROPERTY ACROSS THE STREET FROM THAT ESTABLISHMENT?
>> MY QUESTION IS, IF YOU COME TO A VOTE TO APPROVE ANY ENTITY FOR THE PARK BOARD, BASICALLY STEWART BEACH, WOULD YOU HAVE TO DECLARE A CONFLICT OF INTERESTS BECAUSE ANY IMPROVEMENTS THERE IS GOING TO REFLECT ON THE HOTEL THAT YOU JUST BOUGHT ON 10TH STREET.
>> I POTENTIALLY WOULD, AND I'VE DISCUSSED THIS WITH THE PARK'S BOARD COUNCIL ALREADY.
I THINK THE GUIDANCE I GOT WAS, MAYBE.
IN THE ERA OF CONSERVATISM, I MAY LIKE TO JUST DECLARE A CONFLICT AHEAD OF TIME.
IF YOU WANT TO CONSIDER THIS DECLARING CONFLICT, I WILL, AS WE GET TO BOTH SPECIFICALLY ON THOSE ITEMS. IT'S DEBATABLE BASED ON WHAT I PLAN TO DO WITH MY PROPERTY AND WHAT WOULD BE [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOU DON'T FEEL THAT THIS WOULD BE A HINDRANCE TO YOU VOTING ON A PARTICULAR ITEM THAT MAY ENHANCE STEWART BEACH THAT THROUGH ADVERTISEMENT THROUGH YOUR OWN MOTEL THAT YOU HAVE OUT THERE THAT YOU JUST PURCHASED?
>> I BELIEVE I JUST SAID I WOULD DECLARE.
>> WELL, I GUESS ALONG THAT SAME TIMES WE COULD ALIGN.
YOU'RE THE CHAIR OF THE PAVILION COMMITTEE, WHERE THEY'RE LOOKING AND DOING SOME PRIVATE-PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP, AND YOU HAVE THIS PROPERTY THAT YOU'RE DEVELOPING, THAT TO ME ALREADY SEEMS LIKE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME WHY IT'S NOT?
>> WELL, FIRST OFF, MY INTEREST IN THE STEWART BEACH PROCESS WELL PREDATED MY PURCHASE OF A HOTEL NEARBY.
MY PURCHASE OF THAT HOTEL WAS UNDER A MONTH AGO, THAT WAS ONLY A FEW WEEKS AGO.
GRANTED, IT WAS A LONG PROCESS TO GET TO THAT POINT.
THOSE ARE OUR INDEPENDENT ISSUES AND IF YOU PREFER TO CONFLATE THEN YOU MAY, BUT I WANT TO SEE SOMETHING HAPPEN FOR GALVESTON AND I THINK STEWART BEACH IS THE BEST BEACHFRONT REAL ESTATE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND I DON'T THINK WE'RE DOING A GREAT JOB IN LEVERAGING THAT AS A COMMUNITY HERE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THAT BEACH WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT IS GOOD FOR GALVESTON LONG-TERM.
IF IT IS THE PERCEPTION THAT THAT IS SEEN AS A CONFLICT THEN I WILL ABSTAIN FROM VOTES ON THE TOPIC.
I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE WHATEVER GUIDANCE I CAN TO HELP PROVIDE RESOURCES,
[00:10:01]
INTRODUCE PARTIES THAT MAY BE GOOD DEVELOPERS FOR THAT SITE, WHATEVER ELSE I CAN DO TO HELP THAT PROCESS, HAPPY TO DO IT, BUT IF PEOPLE THINK IT'S A CONFLICT, I DON'T NEED TO VOTE ON.>> WELL, TO ME IT SEEMS LIKE A CONFLICT THAT YOU'RE CHAIRING THE COMMITTEE, THAT IN ESSENCE, WHAT HAPPENS AT THAT PROPERTY WILL DEFINITELY HAVE A REFLECTION ON YOUR PROPERTY.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR OPINION.
IF YOU'RE THE CHAIR OF THIS PARTICULAR COMMITTEE, YOU WOULD HAVE INFLUENCE, WOULDN'T YOU SAY? WOULD YOU ABSTAIN YOURSELF FROM THE ENTIRE MEETING, IF WE HAVE SOME ENTITY THAT'S GOING TO COME OUT THERE THAT'S GOING TO BENEFIT EVERYBODY ALONG THE BEACH? SINCE YOU'RE CLOSE TO THAT PROXIMITY, WOULDN'T YOU BE AT MORE ADVANTAGE THAN SOMEONE ELSE A MILE AWAY?
>> A LITTLE MORE THAN A MILE AWAY BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I'LL DISCUSS THIS WITH BARBARA COUNCIL AND FIGURE OUT WHAT'S APPROPRIATE.
I'M NOT A LEGAL EXPERT ON THESE MATTERS, SO I'D LIKE TO TALK TO SOMEBODY WHO IS BEFORE GETTING FURTHER INTO THE WINDS ON THIS.
>> IT'S AN EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISA PROGRAM.
>> BASED ON FOREIGN INVESTORS INVESTING INTO PROJECTS IN THE UNITED STATES.
>> HAVE YOU EVER USED EB MONEY?
>> VERY GOOD. MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER, DOESN'T IT?
>> NO, IT DOESN'T MAKE ME FEEL BETTER.
I DO MY HOMEWORK. [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] [BACKGROUND].
>> DAVID, WE ALREADY TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT STEWART BEACH TRYING TO MOVE ON TO ANOTHER QUESTION.
WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT BALANCING THE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS IN TOURISM.
WE ALWAYS START THAT OUT, WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THAT AS A BIG IDEA, BUT DO YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC IDEA OR A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE AS TO WHAT THAT REALLY COULD BE FROM THAT IDEA? WHEN WE SAY BALANCING THESE RESIDENTS IN TOURISM, WHAT'S A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE ON HOW YOU CAN DO THAT?
>> SURE. IT'S A DIFFICULT LINE TO TOW.
I KNOW IT'S SOMETHING THAT COMES UP OFTEN IN OUR COMMUNITY.
A LOT OF US ENJOY THE AMENITIES THAT ARE HERE SIMPLY BECAUSE WE HAVE TOURISM ON THIS ISLAND, AND IF WE DID NOT HAVING 7.3 MILLION TOURISTS A YEAR, WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE MOODY GARDENS, WE WOULDN'T HAVE SOME OF THESE OTHER ASSETS THAT ARE BIG PLUSES TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I THINK THERE'S TWO-FOLD, ONE IS WHEN THERE ARE NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN GALVESTON UNDER LARGE SCALE DEVELOPMENTS, WHETHER IT'S THE CITY OR THE PARK'S BOARD, OR SIMPLY THE SENTIMENT OF OUR RESIDENTS, MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS ATTENTION PAID TO MAKING THOSE DEVELOPMENTS WORK ALSO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WHETHER IT'S GREEN SPACE THAT WOULD BE ACCESSED BY US, WHETHER IT'S OTHER AMENITIES THAT MAKE SENSE FOR LOCALS IN WAYS THAT SOME THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT IN THE PAST DON'T ALWAYS.
BUT I THINK IT'S MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE MINDFUL AND MAKING SURE THE VOICES OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE HEARD HERE, AND MAKING SURE THAT THE DEVELOPMENTS WORK IN WAYS THAT MAKE SENSE IN FEBRUARY AND WORK IN WAYS THAT MAKE SENSE MIDWEEK, AND IT MAKES SENSE FOR PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE AND WANT TO WALK THEIR DOG, BOTH TO USE THOSE AMENITIES AND ALSO TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF THOSE AMENITIES FOR THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE NEAR THEM.
>> WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON BEACHES?
>> WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE BEACHES?
>> THE BEACHES ON THE ISLAND, I CALLED THE BEACHES.
>> I'M NOT SURE WE [OVERLAPPING].
>> THE PARK BOARD AND THE MANAGEMENT OF BEACHES AND WESTERN BEACHES VERSUS EASTERN BEACHES.
>> I THINK THE LINEATION NOW IS TO WHAT THE PARK'S BOARD SERVICES AND I'VE STRIVED TO PROVIDE THE BEST SERVICE FOR THOSE BEACHES THAT WE CAN, THAT INCLUDES TRASH AND ALSO LIFE SAFETY.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK WE CAN DO BETTER WITH TRASH BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE HAVING HUGE ISSUES WITH TRASH THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND?
>> IT'S DIFFICULT. I THINK A LOT OF THAT IS EDUCATION.
I THINK WE SHOULD ALSO BE PAYING EQUAL, IF NOT MORE, ATTENTION TO LIFE SAFETY.
CHIEF DAVIS HAS A VERY DIFFICULT TIME FINDING ENOUGH STAFF TO SERVICE THOSE BEACHES AND SOME EMPTY POTATO CHIP BAGS LOOK BAD, BUT DEAD CHILDREN ARE WORSE.
>> VERY GOOD. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS?
>> LET'S WIND THIS UP IF WE COULD. GO AHEAD, BILL.
>> DO YOU BELIEVE IN PROPERTY RIGHTS?
I HAD A SERIES OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU, DAVID, AND THEY'VE ANSWERED ALL OR ASKED ALL OF THEM.
THAT'S EITHER GOOD OR BAD FOR BEING THE LAST TO GIVE OUT QUESTIONS ON THAT.
BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, GREATLY APPRECIATED.
>> ANY LAST THING YOU WANTED TO MENTION TO COUNCIL?
>> APPRECIATE YOU ALL HAVING ME AND ASKING ME SOME QUESTIONS TODAY AND IF ANYBODY HAS ANY FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS, I HAVE TO ANSWER THOSE ANYTIME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. [OVERLAPPING]
[00:15:02]
>> THE NEXT CANDIDATE WILL BE MARTY FLUKE THAT WILL BE COMING IN.
>> MIND LEAVING THE LIGHTS ON IN THERE? [NOISE]
>> I THINK THAT THIS IS ON IN MAYBE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE.
>> I SEE YOU'VE GOT YOUR BACKUP MATERIAL AND YOUR BRIEFCASE WITH YOU.
>> EVERYTHING I KNOW IS IN THIS BRIEFCASE.
>> [INAUDIBLE] THEY SAID WHATEVER YOU DO, ALWAYS BRING A BRIEFCASE.
I KNEW SO MANY PEOPLE THAT WALKED AROUND WITH EMPTY BRIEFCASES [OVERLAPPING].
>> WHEN YOU'RE IN THE ARMY, YOU NEED A CLIPBOARD.
IF YOU WALK AROUND WITH A CLIPBOARD, NOBODY ASKS YOU WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
>> MARTY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING. APPRECIATED IT.
AS MENTIONED EARLIER, WE'LL START OUT WITH A BRIEF INTRODUCTION ON WHY YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO SERVE.
ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY IS THE NUMBER OF TOURISTS WE HAVE PER RESIDENT IN GALVESTON ISLAND.
MOST CITIES MEASURE THEIR RESIDENTS PER TOURIST, WE DO TOURISTS PER RESIDENT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WORKS, I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THAT WORKS.
IT WORKS TO THE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE CITY, THE PARK BOARD, THE GALVESTON HOTEL & LODGING ASSOCIATION, THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, GALVESTON HISTORICAL FOUNDATION, DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP.
ALL THOSE PARTNERSHIPS WORK TOGETHER SOME WAY TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL SERVICES TO THOSE 140 TOURISTS PER PERSON THAT COME TO THIS ISLAND, IT'S AN INCREDIBLE NUMBER.
I GOT BOUGHT BY IBM ONE TIME, THERE'S 300,000 PEOPLE, 100 BILLION IN REVENUE, I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WORKS, BUT IT WORKS.
OUR TOURISM WORKS AROUND THIS ISLAND.
I'M MARTY FLUKE, I'VE APPLIED FOR THE POSITION TO BE REAPPOINTED TO THE PARK BOARD.
I'D LIKE TO GO THROUGH FOUR AREAS HERE.
ONE'S A QUICK BACKGROUND, AND SECOND IS WHAT WE DID IN THE LAST TWO YEARS AT THE PARK BOARD.
THIRD IS WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE FOR NEXT YEAR, AND THEN I HAVE THREE PASSIONS I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IF THAT'S OKAY, WHICH WILL INVOLVE SOME WORK WITH THE CITY.
IT MAY NOT INVOLVE PARK BOARD, BUT IT'S THINGS THAT I WANT TO GET ALONG WITH.
SOME OF IT IS THAT MARIE'S PLANTING SEEDS IN MY BRAINS ABOUT OTHER ISSUES, BUT WE'LL GO THROUGH THOSE.
I WAS BORN IN DALLAS, TEXAS, SO I'M A BIT, BORN IN TEXAS.
I HOPE THAT COUNTS HERE ON THE ISLAND [LAUGHTER], BUT I'M A BIT.
BORN IN A BLUE COLLAR FAMILY, I'M THE ONLY PERSON IN MY FAMILY THAT WENT TO COLLEGE INCLUDING PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, AUNTS, UNCLES, SO ON AND SO FORTH.
I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GO TO SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY, I GOT A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE.
WENT TO THE ARMY, I'M A UNITED STATES ARMY VETERAN.
WENT TO THE ARMY, HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE.
I'VE BEEN IN GALVESTON FOR 23 YEARS.
LIVED ON THE BEACH, NOW LIVE ON THE BAY LIKE YOU, YOU LIVED ON THE BEACH, NOW YOU LIVE DOWNTOWN.
MY WIFE AND I BOTH HAVE SKIN CANCER, SO WE CAN'T GO TO THE BEACH EVERYDAY, SO WE TRADED THE BEACH FOR THE BAY.
I SPENT SEVERAL YEARS IN OPERATING COMPANIES, SEVERAL YEARS IN PRIVATE EQUITY COMPANIES AND INVESTMENTS, AND HAD A REASONABLY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS CAREER, AS I'VE TOLD JOHN PAUL WHEN WE MET INDIVIDUALLY.
I HAD SEVERAL SINGLES, MAYBE A DOUBLE, BUT NO HOME RUNS, NO BILL GATES.
IF WE GET TO THE LAST TWO YEARS ON THE PARK BOARD, I'M VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE FINANCE AND OPERATIONS COMMITTEE, AND VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BEACH MAINTENANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
MARIE'S ON THE BEACH MAINTENANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
WE COULD DO MORE WORK THERE, AND I'LL TELL YOU IN A MINUTE WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO BOIL UP MORE STUFF OUT OF THE [INAUDIBLE].
I'M ON THE CONVENTION CENTER OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, AND THEY ACTUALLY DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF ENROLLING FORECASTING, WHICH WE PROBABLY NEED TO DO MORE OF AT THE PARK BOARD, IF YOU WILL.
I RENEGOTIATED AND MEDIATED THE CONTRACT WITH THE CAVALLA HISTORICAL FOUNDATION.
WE HAD A HORRIBLY ACRIMONIOUS RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM, AS YOU KNOW BECAUSE CAPTAIN BELL WAS CALLING YOU EVERYDAY, AND NOW EVERYTHING'S WONDERFUL, SO WE WORKED THROUGH THAT.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT I'M PRETTY PROUD OF, IS WHEN I FIRST GOT APPOINTED,
[00:20:02]
BRIAN MAXWELL SAID, "LET'S GO HAVE COFFEE." HE SAID, "WE NEED TO HAVE A BETTER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE PARK BOARD." DAVID AND I UNDERTOOK A TASK TO BUILD THAT RELATIONSHIP, AND RIGHT NOW I THINK IT'S RUNNING SMOOTHLY, I REALLY DO.ESPECIALLY WITH THE CFO WHO WE RECRUITED, WE RAN INTO THE WALL WITH THE CFO WHEN MOSER RETIRED.
SO IT'S JUNE 30TH, WE DON'T HAVE A CFO, AND WE RECRUIT AND HIRE ONE JULY 1ST.
SPENCER, DAVID, AND I WERE ON THE RECRUITING TEAM, AND DAVID AND I WERE ON THE TRANSITION TEAM, SO WE LEARNED AS MUCH AS WE COULD ABOUT THE FINANCES OF THE PARK BOARD AND WE TRANSITIONED BRYSON IN.
I'VE ALWAYS LOOKED FOR THREE THINGS IN SENIOR MANAGERS THAT WE RECRUIT.
ONE, IS THEIR ABILITY TO RECRUIT, HIRE, AND TRAIN PEOPLE.
LAST IS TOTALLY REORGANIZED OUR FINANCIAL PROCESSES, AND THEY RUN SMOOTHLY.
WE WORKED REALLY WELL WITH MR. LAUGHLIN, AND I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A MUCH MORE INTEGRATED FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENT.
I WROTE AND CHANGED THREE BYLAWS, I WON'T TELL YOU WHAT THOSE WERE.
I ACQUIRED THE CPA DESIGNATION AND I WORKED WITH THE CITY.
I TRIED TO GET THE VCAS PASSED, BUT MR. LISTOWSKI DID A BRILLIANT THING BY WRITING AN ORDINANCE.
[LAUGHTER] HE TOOK THE CHAIR OUT FROM UNDER ME AND SAID, WE'LL JUST WRITE AN ORDINANCE AND WE'LL DO AWAY WITH THE VCAS, AND IT WAS REALLY, REALLY BRIGHT.
I ADMIRE THE CREATIVITY IN THAT APPROACH TO INCREASING OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.
I LEARNED THE SIGN LANGUAGE AS I TELL PEOPLE WHEN I SAID IN THE MEETING THE OTHER DAY, VERY FEW PEOPLE ARE FLUENT IN SIGN.
I'VE BECOME CONVERSANT IN SIGN BUT NOT FLUENT, SO I HAVE TO DEPEND ON PEOPLE LIKE KELLY AND SHERYL, MAYBE EVEN MARIE AND REUBEN TO BE FLUENT IN SIGN.
WHEN I RUN INTO A PROBLEM, I CALL ONE OF THOSE UP AND SAY, HEY LISTEN, WHAT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT? THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES NOMINATED ME TO BE THE POINT PERSON TO RENEW THE INNER LOCAL WITH THE CITY, SO I THINK WE'RE WELL ON THAT TRACK.
WE UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH IT.
IT'S NOT RE-WRITTEN, BUT WE UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH IT. GOING FORWARD.
IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS, I HAVE A CFO CONTRACT, BUT THAT'S DONE.
DAVID AND I WROTE THE CFO CONTRACT, IT'S BEEN PRESENTED TO HIM, HE HAS A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT TO WORK WITH THE CITY, SO HIS SALARY AND HIS SEVERANCE AND VACATION AND ALL THAT IS WELL UNDERSTOOD.
THE CEO CONTRACT WILL EXPIRE TWO YEARS FROM JULY 1ST, SO AT SOME POINT DOWN IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS WE'LL HAVE TO SAY, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THAT? WRITE IT, IS WHAT WE'RE JUST GOING TO DO.
WE HAVE TWO BEACH NOURISHMENTS GOING ON RIGHT NOW, THE HISTORIC BEACH AND BABE'S BEACH.
WE HAVE CEPRA CYCLE 11 AND HOPEFULLY CEPRA CYCLE 12 APPROVAL IN AUGUST TO NOURISH THE BEACHES BETWEEN THE END OF THE SEAWALL AND 13-MILE ROAD.
THOSE ARE DESIGNED IN ENGINEERING CONTRACTS.
TALK TO DAVID, I GOT MIXED UP ON THE PLACE.
BUT DAVID GREEN, WHO'S DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF THE GLO, MET WITH MARIE, AND HE DIDN'T SEE ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT CYCLE 12 CONTRACT, DOES HE?
>> WELL, THAT'S JUST FOR DESIGN AND ENGINEERING. [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT'S ALL DESIGN AND ENGINEERING.
>> BUT WE'RE MEETING WITH HIM TO SEE HOW WE CAN COME UP WITH AN EMERGENCY NOURISHMENT, WITH OTHER FUNDINGS.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT LATER, BECAUSE THAT'S GOT TO HAPPEN.
[NOISE] YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
[LAUGHTER] THIS ISN'T GOING TO SOLVE THE IMMEDIATE PROBLEM, THESE ARE LONGER-TERM THINGS THAT WILL HAPPEN.
WE HAVE 29 CONCESSIONAIRE AGREEMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE RE-BID IN AUGUST.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, THERE WILL PROBABLY BE 60 BIDS THAT COME IN, AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO REVIEW THOSE, I'M NOT SURE, BUT WE WILL REVIEW THOSE.
WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT PROCESS WHERE WE DON'T HAVE 60 COMING IN AT A TIME.
WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE, THE CONCESSIONAIRE CONTRACTS, I GUESS THEY EXPIRED JULY 30TH OR SOMETHING.
I SAID, YOU DON'T HAVE THESE MANY CONCESSIONAIRE, YOU WORK FOR A CONCESSIONAIRE IF IT EXPIRED JULY 30TH WHEN IT'S DUE.
THE FY22 AND FY23 BUDGETS HAVE TO BE DONE.
THESE APPOINTMENTS ON JULY 1ST FOR PARK BOARD WERE ABSOLUTELY THRONGED FOR BUDGETING PURPOSES.
[LAUGHTER] BECAUSE WE'RE HALFWAY THROUGH AND DAVID, SPENCER, AND MYSELF, AND MAUREEN ARE ON, AND SHE'LL BE THERE ON THE FOC, SO WE NEED TO DO THAT.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE WITH THE SEAWALL MASTER PLAN AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
OUR CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB MOVING OFF OF GALVESTON.COM AND TO VISITGALVESTON.COM, SO WE NEED TO COMPLETE THAT WEBSITE AND GET IT GOING.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO DO, IS I WANT TO LOOK AT DOING ELASTICITY STUDY ON OUR PARKING RATES AT THE PARKS, AT EAST BEACH AND RA APFFEL BEACH.
[00:25:02]
BECAUSE WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE, WE RAISED IT FROM $12-15, AND WE MADE LESS REVENUE.WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE TO GO EAST, WE NEED TO GET THEM TO PARK IN THOSE PARKS.
GO TO APFFEL PARK, GET THEM OUT OF PIRATES BEACH WEST, GET THEM TO APFFEL PARK, TO EAST PARK, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE GET $15, $12, OR $10, OR WHATEVER.
AS I TOLD WILLIAM WHEN I MET WITH HIM, WE HAVE A PERSON WHO DRIVES INTO THE PARK, GIVES US $15, THAT'S WORTH THREE NIGHTS IN A $200 HOTEL ROOM TO PARK BOARD.
THREE TIMES THREE, YOU GET $9 FROM THAT ONE, AND WE GET $15 IN THE PARK, SO THOSE PEOPLE THAT DRIVE OVER THE BRIDGE ARE VALUABLE IF WE CAN SHOVE THEM INTO THE PARKS.
ONE OF THE ISSUES THERE IS GOING TO BE BODDEKER ROAD, SO I'VE TALKED TO DAVID AND WHOEVER ELSE KNEW ABOUT BODDEKER ROAD, AND WHAT IDC CAN OR MIGHT DO TO GET BODDEKER ROAD.
BUT WE'VE JUST GOT TO GET BETTER ACCESS IN THESE BEACHES SO WE CAN SHOVE PEOPLE EAST INSTEAD OF WEST, BECAUSE THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE GETTING KILLED.
THERE'S JUST NO QUESTION, THEY'RE GETTING KILLED.
LET ME GO TO THE LONGER-TERM ISSUES.
I'LL CALL ONE SAND, I'LL CALL THE OTHER ONE STABILITY, AND I'LL CALL THE THIRD ONE FOUR THOUSAND.
LET'S START WITH SAND, I MIGHT FUCK IT UP.
>> NOT AT ALL. WE RESERVE SOME TIME FOR QUESTIONS NOW.
>> DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND MY STRATEGY HERE? THIS IS TEXAS TERMINAL SAND, WHICH IS ABOUT 1.1 MILLION CUBIC YARDS OF SAND, AND THIS IS CALLED A SAND PLACEMENT AREA OF PA IN THE SAND, BUT 99.
THIS IS A PA IN THE SAND AND ANGULAR, AND THIS SAND BELONGS TO THE CITY.
WE NOW DISCUSSES THIS SAND BELONG TO THE CITY.
SO I'M THINKING MAYBE WITH THAT SAND ALL UP AND DOWN WEST FEET.
I TALKED TO AN EXPERT FROM ATKINS ENGINEERING, WE ALL KNOW RHONDA.
I SAID, "WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO THAT?" SHE SAID, "WE HAVE TO GET A GEOTECHNICAL STUDY.
SEE IF IT'S A GRANULAR TO THIS TESTED FOR TOXICITY BECAUSE YOU WON'T BE PUT TOXIC SAND OUT ON THE BEACH." SO WE NEED TO GET A GEOTECHNICAL STUDY DONE BY THREE PEOPLE, AND IT'S GOT TO BE FUNDED.
>> I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT THIS SAND UP THERE.
>> TAT IS A VALUABLE. I HAVE ALL THE AVAILABLE SAND HERE, WE HAVE A CHART FOR IT, BUT WE WILL GO OVER, YOU KNOW, ROCKY'S GOT SAND OVER HERE THAT'S AVAILABLE, SO IT'S DIVINER BEACH.
I'M JUST LOOKING AT THAT FREE SAND AND GET IT TESTED.
I'VE TALKED TO DAVID, I'VE TALK TO TOM PAUL, MARIE, AND YOU YOU ALL ARE ON OBVIOUSLY.
I'M GOING TO ASK YOU AT SOME POINT IN TIME FOR A $125,000 OUT OF NOURISHMENT BUDGET TO TEST THIS SAND SO WE KNOW WHAT THE VOLUME IS, WHAT GRANULARITY IS, AND WHAT THE TOXICITY LEVEL IS, AND SEE IF IT'S AVAILABLE FOR US TO USE FOR NOURISHMENT PROJECTS.
>> BE EXPENSIVE TO MOVE THAT ONE.
>> ANOTHER ISSUE. YOU CAN'T TRUCK IT BECAUSE OF THE BRIDGE, SO YOU'D HAVE TO PUT IT ON A BARGE, BRING IT AROUND AND ALL THAT STUFF.
IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE TO MOVE PROBABLY THAN TEXAS TERMINALS SAND, BECAUSE THEY CAN PUT THAT ON HARBOR SIDE AND TAKE IT DOWN BY TRUCK.
BUT I THINK THAT RESIDENTS QUITE FRANKLY, RATHER HAVE THEM ON A BARGE AND HAVE COME OUT ON A PIPE, I DON'T KNOW.
THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE, WE'LL GET TO THAT.
I WAS HAVING DINNER, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBB AND HER HUSBAND AND THEY BRING OUT THIS VIDEO, YOUTUBE VIDEO, WRITE THIS NOW, DUTCH SAND MOTOR.
DUTCH SAND MOTOR IS KIND OF A CONTINUOUS NOURISHMENT IDEA, AND THEN AT ONE OF THE BMAC MEETINGS, MARIE SAID, MENTIONED BACK PASSING.
SO I GET THIS BACK PASSING SAND MOTOR IN MY MIND AND I'M THINKING, "IS THERE ANY WAY THAT YOU COULD USE THE SAND MOTOR, BACK PASS THE SAND, BRING IT ACROSS UP HERE SOME PLACE CONTINUALLY NOURISH THE BEACH." BECAUSE THERE'S A CREATING BEACH UP THERE ABOVE THE TURN OF THE ROAD, THERE IS A CREATING BEACH DOWN HERE AND THE REST OF IT IS ERODING BEACH.
IF WE HAVE AN AVULSIVE EVENT, IT JUST HAPPENS.
WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW WITH NOURISHMENT IS SHORT-TERM, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO WASH AWAY.
TO THAT END, THAT'S THE EXTEND OF THE KNOWLEDGE I HAD ABOUT IT.
I MET WITH COLE, AND SAID, "IS THIS FEASIBLE?" I SAID, "I DON'T KNOW, BUT YOU HAVE THE 2019 SAND MANAGEMENT PLAN.
YOU HAVE TWO AMENDMENTS TO IT.
WHY DON'T YOU JUST ASKED FOR THE THIRD AMENDMENT? WHICH WILL BE A BACK PASSING FEASIBILITY STUDY UNDER THE PAST PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FOR STATES,
[00:30:01]
FROM THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS." I SAID, "YEAH, THAT'D BE GREAT. WHO DO WE SEND IT TO?" ROBERT SAID, "OH, SEND IT TO ME.I'LL RUN THE PASS PROGRAM HERE.
SO WE'D HAVE A FRIEND OVER THE COURT." THAT'S ANOTHER THING I WOULD ROLL UP THROUGH THE BACK PASS, THERE NO COST TO IT.
WE JUST ASK AND REQUEST THE FEASIBILITY STUDY, IS IT FEASIBLE? WHO KNOWS? BUT I THINK WE OUGHT TO FIGURE IT OUT.
>> OKAY. GO AHEAD AND WIND IT UP.
HAVE THIS VISION IN 20 YEARS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 4,000 CERTIFIED TOURISM AMBASSADORS.
EVERY JOURNEY STARTS WITH THE FIRST STEP.
SO HERE'S OUR LATEST CERTIFIED TOURISM AMBASSADOR, WILLIAM SCHUSTER.
I'VE TALKED WITH WILLIAM ABOUT MAYBE INTEGRATING THAT INTO THE CURRICULUM AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, SO THERE'S FOUR ONE-HOUR SESSIONS THAT WE GRADUATE, 100, 200. WHO KNOWS HOW MANY CERTIFIED TOURISM AMBASSADORS OUT OF THE HOSPITAL.
WHEN ANSWER AND UNCLE JOHN GOTTMAN, I CAN TELL THEM WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO DO, AND THEN 20 YEARS, WE MIGHT HAVE 4,000 CERTIFIED TOURISM AMBASSADORS.
I HAVE A PASSION FOR FINDING OUT WHAT SAND IS, ADDING MORE STABILITY TO THAT BEACH AND PUSHING TOURISM IN THE CITY, GALVESTON THROUGH EDUCATION.
HOW I REALLY GOT HERE WAS, I HAVE TO MUST SAY, IF I WENT DOWN THE HALL OF THE SCHOOL AND ASK HOW MANY PEOPLE WHOSE MAYOR OF GALVESTON, HOW MANY WOULD ANSWER OUT OF A 100? HE SAID, "FEW. "
>> YEAH, NO OFFENSE [LAUGHTER].
WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT CIVICS, TEACHER KNOW ABOUT COUNCIL MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT AND ALL THAT STUFF, AND IT WIND UP WITH TWO ECONOMIC DRIVERS ARE EDUCATION AND TOURISM.
LET'S DRAG THEM INTO TOURISM, IT MIGHT BE THAT SOLVES OUR EMPLOYEE PROBLEM IN THE CITY.
>> QUESTIONS. WELL, I'M OUT OF BREATH NOW.
>> WELL, LET'S PUT IT THIS WAY.
WE GOT A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION FROM YOU, THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT
>> LET'S OPEN IT UP TO QUICK QUESTIONS IF WE COULD, COUNCIL.
NO, I THINK YOU'VE ANSWERED EVERYTHING. THANK YOU MARTY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANKS FOR BEING HERE, APPRECIATE IT.
>> FORTY SOME YEARS AGO, WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT THE OPERA SOPRANO FROM TCU AND AN ENGINEER FROM SMU, WOULD END UP IN GALVESTON, TEXAS ON THE BOARD TOGETHER AND SHARE THE SAME PASSION AND THE SAME VISION.
NOBODY WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT 45 YEARS AGO, RIGHT?
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE MARTY.
>> THANK YOU, MARTY. WILL MAKE OUR DECISION THIS AFTERNOON.
>> Y'ALL NEED TO TAKE A BREAK AFTER THAT [LAUGHTER].
THANKS FOR BEING PATIENT WITH US AND LETTING US INTERVIEW YOU.
THAT'S WHY WE MAKE THE BIG BUCKS.
>> SPENCER, THANKS FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING.
GOING AHEAD, TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO YOU, OR A SHORT INTRODUCTION AND WHY YOU WOULD LIKE TO SERVE AGAIN.
>> WELL, APPRECIATE IT. AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING US THIS THURSDAY MORNING TIMES SINCE MISS THE ORIGINAL TIME.
BUT I'M SPENCER PRIEST, I'M THE GENERAL MANAGER OR THE DOUBLETREE HERE AND GALVESTON, TEXAS.
I CONSIDER MYSELF A TOURISM PROFESSIONAL, GREW UP IN THE BUSINESS.
BEFORE MOVING TO GALVESTON, I USED TO WORK FOR A HOTEL COMPANY NAMED DAVIDSON HOTELS AND RESORTS.
I MANAGED OVER 50 HOTELS AND TOURISM DESTINATIONS FROM NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND TO BEACH DESTINATIONS IN FLORIDA, CALIFORNIA, AND EVEN HAWAII.
SO VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE TOURISM INDUSTRY.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WHENEVER I WAS ON THE ROAD SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AT TIMES, SO MY GETAWAY BECAME GALVESTON, TEXAS.
WE JUMPED IN THE CAR, DRIVE TO THE BEACH HERE, AND THAT'S HOW I FELL IN LOVE WITH GALVESTON.
SITTING ON THE BEACH I THOUGHT, "WOW, HOW DO I GET INVOLVED WITH THIS ORGANIZATION?" THEN GOT A PHONE CALL ONE TIME FROM PAUL SALTS, STARTED WORKING WITH THE SAND AND WE DID THAT STINT AS A DIRECTOR OF REVENUE.
WHERE I SINGLE-HANDEDLY, I SAY RAISE THE RATES ON GALVESTON ISLAND [LAUGHTER].
WORK THERE FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND THEN DURING THE WHOLE COVID PROCESS.
GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME A GENERAL MANAGER FOR A FULL-SERVICE HOTEL, SO TOOK THAT LIFE TURN AND DID THIS.
[00:35:01]
WHILE I WAS AT THE SAND AWAY IN 2016, I JOINED THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.DURING THAT TIME, I SAT IN THE AUDIENCE, LEARNED A WHOLE LOT ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION, THAT'S WHEN MAYOR BROWN WAS THE LIAISON.
SO GOT TO WATCH HIM, LEARN A LOT OF THAT STUFF.
BUT TOOK MY TIME TO LEARN WHAT THE ORGANIZATION WAS ABOUT, DIDN'T JUST JUMP IN AND ASSUME I KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT THE PART BOARD.
ATTENDED COMMITTEE MEETINGS, ATTENDING BOARD MEETINGS, DID ALL ON MY OWN TIME SO I CAN LEARN WHAT THE PARK BOARD ACTUALLY DID.
THEN I KNEW THIS ISN'T EXACTLY WHAT I WANT DO TO HELP THIS ISLAND, ONCE BECOMING A RESIDENT AND DOING ALL THAT.
ONCE I GOT TO BE ON THE PARK BOARD, BECAME THE SECRETARY TREASURER, AND JOYCE COVER MCLAIN BECAME THE CHAIR.
YEAR LATER, I GOT TO BECOME THE VICE-CHAIR, VERY ACTIVE.
EVERYTHING FROM THE KABBALAH HISTORIC FOUNDATION, INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, TOURISM DEVELOPMENT, PARKS AND ADMITTED AND COMMITTEE CHAIR.
I'VE DONE A PLETHORA OF THE COMMITTEES AND ACTIVE ON THAT.
WITH THAT, I'VE HAD MINE TOES IN THE SAND, SO TO SPEAK.
I AM A RESIDENT OF THE WEST END, DISTRICT SIX, NOT ON THE BEACH.
>> BUT UNDERSTAND ALL THE CONCERNS OF THE TRAFFIC SITUATION OUT THERE, DRIVE FROM THE WESTERN TO THE EASTERN TO MY JOB SO I GET TO SEE THE BEACH, SEE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE, WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE LITERAL SITUATION, WE SAW THE ARTICLES IN THE PAPER.
I GET IT AS A RESIDENT, JUST AS FRUSTRATED WITH EVERYONE ELSE ABOUT THE POTENTIAL TOURISTS THAT COME DOWN.
BUT WE'VE GOT TO MANAGE THE TOURISM.
I'VE SAID IT BEFORE, TOURISM PAYS.
THE TOURISTS ARE HERE; NO MATTER IF WE STOP ADVERTISING TODAY, THE TOURISTS ARE COMING.
WE HAVE A BEACH, THERE'S THE WATER, THEY'RE GOING TO COME, WE HAVE THE ATTRACTIONS.
HOW DO WE MAKE THESE TOURISTS THAT ARE HERE PAY FOR OUR CITY ASSETS, AND PAY FOR THE CITY SERVICES? THAT'S EVERYTHING FROM THE BEACH CLEANING, TO THE BEACH NOURISHMENT PROGRAMS, BEACH PATROL, AND THE LIBERATE WE'RE GETTING RIGHT NOW IS THROUGH HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES, CONCESSION FEES, AND BEACH USER FEES.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE THAT BETTER? SO REALLY, THAT'S ABOUT ME, AND WHAT I'M THINKING.
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, SPENCER, VERY MUCH.
TURNING IT OVER TO COUNCIL QUESTIONS. COUNCIL?
>> VERY HARD TO START, AS I RECALL, YOUR CAREER CHANGE HAPPENED IN ABOUT TWO DAYS BEFORE COVID-19.
[LAUGHTER] REALLY HUMILIATING TRANSITION FOR YOU, I FEEL ABSURD.
>> WHAT IS THE PRIMARY CHANGE YOU'D LIKE TO SEE AT PARK BOARD IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS?
>> I WOULD LIKE US TO CONTINUE OUR PATH.
WHAT WE'VE DONE IS TAKEN ON WHAT WE'VE PARTNERED WITH FIRED UP.
WE'RE TAKING A LOOK AT HOW THE ORGANIZATION IS REALLY SET UP RIGHT NOW; EVERYTHING FROM HOW OUR CEO, CFO, THE PARK BOARD, THE TRUSTEES, AND EVEN OUR COMMITTEE SETUP.
HOW CAN WE BECOME MORE EFFICIENT? WHAT ARE WE DOING THAT WORKS? WHAT ARE WE DOING THAT NEEDS FINE TUNED? HOW CAN WE IMPROVE ON THAT? WE'VE TAKEN IT TO THE LEVEL THAT WE'RE BRINGING IN COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND TALKING TO THEM.
WE'VE TALKED TO EACH OF THE TRUSTEES, AND WE'RE TAKING A REALLY DEEP DIVE INTO WHAT CAN WE DO BETTER.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, AS I SAT ON THE PARK BOARD, I CAN SEE THAT WE'RE JUST GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS, AND WE REALLY NEEDED TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT COULD WE DO TO IMPROVE OURSELVES.
I CHALLENGED KELLY TO FIND AS A COMPANY THAT WE COULD PARTNER WITH, BECAUSE YOU ONLY KNOW WHAT YOU THINK YOU KNOW, LET SOMEBODY ELSE COME IN, AND TELL YOU WHAT COULD YOU DO TO IMPROVE YOURSELF.
THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING TO TRY TO IMPROVE THE ORGANIZATION.
ONCE WE GET THAT, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO HELP THE PARK BOARD MOVE INTO A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
THE OTHER PART IS OUR RESIDENTS SENTIMENT SURVEY, WHAT DO THE RESIDENTS THINK ABOUT THE PARK BOARD.
WE THINK WE KNOW, AGAIN, LET'S LET THE RESIDENTS [OVERLAPPING] TELLS US.
>> YOU LET ME SHARE MY PHONES WITH YOU. [LAUGHTER]
[LAUGHTER] THE TRASH, I HEAR IT ALL THE TIME, "SPENCER WHAT CAN YOU DO?" I SIT RIGHT THERE ON THE BEACH SO I HEAR IT ALL THE TIME.
I HAVE PEOPLE WALK BY, "YOUR PROPERTY HAS TRASH TROLLEYS SET AROUND."
[00:40:02]
YOU NEED TO TAKE MORE CONCERN.THAT'S WHERE YOU DISCOVER YOU GOT TO HAVE THE BROAD SHOULDERS, YOU GOT TO LISTEN TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE TELLING YOU.
YOU'VE GOT A PARTNER, WE'VE GOT TO BE PARTNERS WITH THE CITY, THAT'S ONE THING.
WE HAVE KELLY, AND BRIAN THAT COME ALONG WAY WITH THAT PARTNERSHIP, BUT THAT TOOK A LOT OF GUIDANCE [LAUGHTER] OVER THE YEARS, AND THAT TOOK SOMEBODY THAT COULD WORK WITH BOTH KELLY AND BRIAN, THAT SAT DOWN.
MAYOR BROWN, YOU ARE A GREAT PARTNER WITH THAT RELATIONSHIP BUILDING WHEN WE DID ALL THAT.
I THINK OUR AREA LOCAL PROVED THAT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE NEEDED TO WORK ON TO GET US THERE.
I HOPE THAT ANSWERED THE QUESTION BECAUSE IT TAKES A VILLAGE, AND IT TOOK SOME OF THOSE OUTSIDE RESOURCES TO TELL US WHAT WE DON'T KNOW.
WE'RE STILL WORKING ON ALONG WITH THAT, AND WE WILL BRING SOME OF THAT TO COUNCIL, AND CONTINUING TO SERVE THOSE FINDINGS AS WELL.
>> VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL?
>> WE'RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT BALANCING NEEDS TO TOURISM, AND RESIDENTS.
CAN YOU GIVE SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OF HOW WE CAN ACTUALLY DO THAT.
IT'S ONE PARK BOARD TO DO TO THAT ACTUALLY PUT THAT PHRASE OF BALANCE, AND NEEDS TO RESIDENTS TO EMPLOY.
>> THE TOURISM PHASE, WE'VE GOT TO REINVEST BACK INTO THE ASSETS OF THE COMMUNITY.
ALL THESE TOURISTS DOWN HERE, AND WHEN I SAY THE ASSETS, IT'S EVERYTHING FROM THE STRUCTURES, ASSETS THAT WE MANAGE FOR THE CITY, OR TO SET THOSE SOCCER FIELDS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.
WE DON'T MANAGE THOSE YET, BUT HOW CAN WE GET SPORTS TOURISM TO DO THAT, THE BALL FIELDS THAT ARE OUT BY WEST END.
HOW CAN WE GET THOSE TO POSSIBLY [INAUDIBLE] TOURISM TO PAY FOR THAT.
IT'S THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT CAN DO IT.
ONE THING I'VE TALKED TO KELLY ABOUT IS THE BEACH NOURISHMENT.
WE DO EVERYTHING FOR THE TOURISM ON THE WEST END.
WE'RE NOT MANAGING ANY OF THOSE ASSETS SO IT'S HARD FOR THE PARK BOARD TO INVEST IN ANYTHING THAT'S NOT TOURISM RELATED.
I SAW THE ARTICLE WHERE THE CITIES ARE GOING TO INVEST IN THE ADDITIONAL PARKER PARTS.
HOW CAN ANY OF THAT THEN POTENTIALLY GO TO SOME OF THE NOURISHMENT PROJECTS BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE TOURISM RELATED.
IT'S NOT UNDER THE PARK BOARD, BY THE WAY, BUT PARTNERING TOGETHER WITH US THREE YEARS OR TWO YEARS, TO ADD ADDITIONAL CONCESSION FEES OR BEACH USER FEES OR ANYTHING TO THAT WEST END ASSETS.
IF WE GET THIS PARKER PARTS THEN MOVE FURTHER WEST, ANY OF THAT CAN REINVEST BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY.
WE DID A GREAT JOB ON THE EAST END, LET'S CALL IT THE SEAWALL SECTION.
WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO ON THE OTHERS? YEARS AGO, WE TALKED TO MAYOR BROWN ABOUT SAN JACINTO, THAT WHOLE AREA.
WE'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO INVEST THERE BUT WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A WAY TO PAY FOR THAT.
WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND BECAUSE THAT'S TAXPAYER.
I MEAN, THAT'S THE RESIDENTS PAYING.
HOW CAN WE GET TOURISM TO PAY FOR THAT? BUT AGAIN, THAT'S CONCESSION FEES, BEACH USER FEES.
HOT TAX IS TAPPED FOR THE MOST PART.
>> RECENTLY, THE PARK BOARD WAS FEATURED IN THE NEWS ARTICLE.
MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, HOW IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOUR NEIGHBORS, AND ARE YOU RESPONDING TO THEIR NEEDS OR THEIR COMPLAINTS OR WHATEVER?
>> THAT PARTICULAR ARTICLE, I'LL JUST ANSWER THAT.
THERE'S LITTLE DIFFERENCES HERE.
THE PARK BOARD ISN'T RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCEMENT.
WE MANAGE THE ASSETS OF THE CITY.
AS FAR AS ENFORCEMENT AT ANY ACCESS POINTS OR ANYTHING, WE STILL HAVE TO REFER THAT BACK TO THE CITY SO I CAN'T ANSWER THAT.
AS FAR AS THE NEIGHBORS, WE'LL DO WHAT WE DID.
WE'LL OFFER, TO SEND THAT EMAIL TO BRING THEM TO THE TABLE, AND DISCUSS ISSUES WITH THEM.
JUST LIKE WE DID WITH [INAUDIBLE] WE OFFERED TO INVITE HIM TO THE OFFICE, WE HAD A GREAT DIALOGUE WITH HIM.
WE'VE OFFERED THE ATTORNEY, ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS, TO BRING THEM TO THE OFFICE, WE HAVE GREAT DIALOGUE.
WE'LL INVITE ANYONE TO THE TABLE, AND THAT'S A GREAT THING YOU'LL KNOW ABOUT THE PARK BOARD.
>> BUT THERE'S NO LAWSUITS WHATSOEVER?
[00:45:01]
>> WE CAN TALK OF THE LAWSUITS WITH THE ATTORNEY.
>> I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING FILED TO THIS POINT OR YOU ALL STILL TALKING?
>> I'M NOT AT LIBERTY, I'M NOT DOING THE INTERVIEWS TALKING ABOUT THAT.
WE TAKE THAT OFFLINE, TALK TO KARLA ABOUT LAWSUITS.
BUT AS FAR AS OUR NEIGHBORS, WE WILL TALK TO ANY NEIGHBOR, GET A BEACH, A CONCESSIONAIRE, ANYTHING, THE PARK BOARD, THAT'S THE GREAT THING WE DO.
WE INVITE ANYONE UP TO THE OFFICE OR WE'LL GO TO THEM, TALK ABOUT THEM.
THAT'S ONE THING WE'VE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH ANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
>> VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? VERY GOOD. I WOULD SAY THAT WHEN YOU GO TO THE PARK BOARD YOU HAVE TO COMMIT TIME.
IT'S A VERY TIME-CONSUMING COMMITMENT THAT YOU MAKE, AND I WOULD SAY SPENCER BLESSES ART THOU, IT'S A FULL-TIME JOB.
HE HAS RELEASED AND DEVOTED THE TIME THAT IT TAKES.
THANK YOU, SPENCER, VERY MUCH.
>> PAID VACATIONS TOO. [LAUGHTER]
>> THANK YOU, SPENCER SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL.
>> [NOISE] VERY GOOD. I WOULD SAY THEY HAD ABOUT ALL OF OUR APPLICANTS THAT WE HAD LAST MEETING, AND THIS MEETING; GREAT APPLICANTS, GOOD CREDENTIALS, AND SO FORTH.
JANELLE, WILL YOU BE SENDING TO COUNCIL MEMBERS THE FORM TO FILL OUT ON THE [OVERLAPPING]
>> YES, SIR. I WILL SEND IT TO EVERYONE.
>> IT HASN'T YET. I'LL SEND IT HERE IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL, IF YOU COULD WRITE THE APPLICANTS, AND THEN WE'LL ADDRESS THOSE IN OUR MEETING THIS AFTERNOON AT FIVE O'CLOCK.
>> MAY I HAVE A POINT REQUEST?
>> I WOULD ASK THAT EVERYONE RANK EVERYONE.
ALL CANDIDATES THAT LEAVE BLANKS, IT MAKES THE ACCOUNTING PROCESS A LOT MORE [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE NEED TO RANK ALL OF THE NINE CANDIDATES THAT WE HAVE THAT IS CORRECT.
>> ALL RIGHT, COME ON. [LAUGHTER]
[3B. Clarification Of Consent And Regular City Council Agenda Items - This Is An Opportunity For City Council To Ask Questions Of Staff On Consent And Regular Agenda Items (20 Minutes)]
>> THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME IN 3B, JANELLE.
>> 3B, CLARIFICATION OF CONSENT, AND RECORD OF CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITY COUNCIL TO ASK QUESTIONS OF STAFF ON CONSENT, AND REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS.
>> WELL, LET'S WORK AROUND THE TABLE HERE.
I'M GOING TO START ON THE LEFT.
>> I'M JUST GOING TO SAY NO BECAUSE I THINK MOST OF MY QUESTIONS ARE GOING TO REFLECT TO GOLF CARTS, AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT SPECIFICALLY, I BELIEVE, HERE SO I'LL SKIP ON THEM.
>> I THINK I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
>> 9H. THIS IS ABOUT SOME WATERLINE OFFSETS ON BROADWAY.
NONE OF THIS WORK HAS BEEN DONE, RIGHT?
>> SORRY. THIS IS THE OFFSETS ON BROADWAY.
>> YEAH. THE WATERLINE OFFSETS.
>> YES. IT'S OUR TEXTILE PROJECT.
THEY HAVE CONFLICT BOXES THAT ARE THERE NOW THAT THEY PUT AS A TEMPORARY MEASURE.
THEY'RE WITHIN TWO FEET OF THE SANITARY SEWER, AND IT'S A VIOLATION OF [NOISE] TCQ REGULATIONS.
THEY CANNOT SPEND ANY OF THEIR MONEY.
THIS FEDERAL MONEY IS ONLY FOR DRAINAGE AND ROADWORK, SO THEY CAN'T SPEND IT ON ANY KIND OF UTILITIES, SO THEY'VE ASKED US TO STEP IN AND OFFSET ON THE UTILITIES.
>> IT'S AN AFTER FACT THING AND IT COMES TO US, OR [OVERLAPPING] MAYBE THE WORK, AND THIS A REIMBURSEMENT KIND OF THING.
>> THE WORK HAS NOT BEEN DONE YET [OVERLAPPING].
>> OH, THE WORK HAS NOT BEEN DONE.
>> BUT THERE'S BEEN A TEMPORARY PUT-IN.
>> YES, THERE'S A TEMPORARY MEASURE THAT'S BEEN PUT IN PLACE.
>> OKAY. SO WE STILL NEED TO DO MORE WORK THERE.
I GUESS MY CONCERN IS THAT THEY'RE MILLING AND LAYING ASPHALT OUT THERE AND THEY'RE [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT'S A TEMPORARY LAYER THEY'RE PUTTING DOWN AND THEY'RE WAITING ON US I BELIEVE. AIN'T THAT RIGHT BRANDON?
>> THAT'S WHY I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T DO LAYOUTS ON.
>> THIS [INAUDIBLE] STARTS ON 29TH STREET.
>> BUT THEY ARE MILLING REAL CLOSE TO 29TH RIGHT NOW.
>> YEAH REAL CLOSE, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR SEQUENCING LOOKS LIKE, THEY MAY JUST SKIP OVER THOSE INTERSECTIONS BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST AT THE INTERSECTIONS.
>> SO GOOD COORDINATION IN THERE THAT WE DON'T GO OUT AND LAY ASPHALT DOWN THERE. [OVERLAPPING].
>> OKAY. THANK YOU ON THAT ONE.
9I. IS THERE AN ERROR ON THAT STAFF REPORT BECAUSE THERE'S A $230,000 IDC ITEM IN THERE,
[00:50:05]
BUT IT'S ONLY $38,000?>> THE 200 SOMEWHAT THOUSAND IS WHAT'S LEFT IN THE FUND THAT'S [OVERLAPPING] THE BILLING OF THAT FUND FOR COMPLETION OF IT.
WE HAVE DECIDED WHICH IS A $38,000 [INAUDIBLE] WILL BE COMING OUT OF [INAUDIBLE]
>> IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS, WE'LL BE ADDING SOME TERMS THAT WILL SATISFY ALL THE AGREEMENTS WE'VE MADE ON THAT FUND.
>> PERFECT. 9N DEALS WITH THIS GRANT MONEY FOR THE AIRPORT.
IS THAT IN THE STAFF REPORT? IS THAT MONEY BEING REIMBURSED FOR SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALREADY SPENT MONEY ON, OR CAN WE USE THAT MONEY FOR OTHER THINGS?
>> WE'VE NOT SPENT THE MONEY YET.
PART OF THE MONEY HAS TO BE SPENT DIRECTLY ON THE CONTROL TOWER, SO WE'VE LOOKING AT PAINTING THE INTERIOR OF THAT CONTROL TOWER, REPLACING THE CARBON WHERE YOU DID SOME AIR CONDITIONING WORK.
THE OTHER ONE CAN BE SPENT ON THIS OPERATIONAL ITEMS. WE'RE LOOKING AT REPLACING THE CURLINGS ON HANGER 20 THERE.
NOW I KNOW YOU USING SOME OF THIS MONEY FROM 9N TO PAY FOR 9O?
>> OKAY. THAT'S ALL I HAD ON THAT ONE.
THIS IS THE SALES TAX ON THE PARKING?
>> WE FOUND OUT THAT WE NOW HAVE TO PAY.
>> WE ALWAYS HAD TO PAY [OVERLAPPING]
>> WELL, HISTORICALLY, WE WENT BACK WAY BACK AND IT'S BEEN SKETCHY AT BEST AS DURING THE CITY EVER PAID IT BUT SEAWALL IS EXEMPTED BECAUSE THAT'S A BEACH USER FEE.
>> SO THE MONEY WAS GETTING, BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS WE CAUGHT IT AND MIKE'S GROUP CAUGHT IT AND THERE'S NO PENALTY, NO INTERESTS.
WE JUST NEED TO PAY THEM THE SALES TAX.
>> THIS JUST DOWNTOWN PARKING?
>> THAT'S ONLY ON PARKING WE REALLY HAVEN'T [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT INCLUDES PARKING PERMITS TOO.
>> WILL THOSE FEES GO UP IN THOSE AREAS TO COVER SALES TAX?
>> WE CAN, OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS A VOTE OF COUNCIL SETTING THOSE FEES WHEN WE DID IT AND I THINK IT WAS ASSUMED AT THAT TIME THAT IT WOULD INCLUDE THE SALES TAX, SO IF THAT'S SOMETHING COUNCIL WANTS TO DO, WE'LL CERTAINLY ENTERTAIN IT.
>> FOR THE TIME BEING, WE'LL BE TAKING IT OUT OF THE REVENUE THAT'S COLLECTED OFF LOGISTIC FEES
WE NEVER INTENDED FOR THAT TO BE A PROFIT CENTER WE JUST WANTED IT TO COVER OUR COSTS DOWNTOWN FOR OPERATING THE PARKING SYSTEM.
IT DOES GENERATE SOME EXTRA FUNDS, SO IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD, THERE'S FUNDS IN THERE.
>> PAYING AN ADDITIONAL 6.25 PERCENT OUT OF THAT IS THAT IF WE DON'T MAKE A LOT OF MONEY, TO BEGIN WITH, DO WE NEED TO RECOUP THAT IN ADDITIONAL FEES?
>> PAY BY PHONE IS SET UP TO DO THAT IF WE WANTED TO DO THAT, THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM.
>> IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD PRESENT TO US AT SOME TIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE?
>> YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT A CITY TYPICALLY DOES [INAUDIBLE]
>> IT VARIES. I LOOKED AT IT WHEN THIS CAME UP, AND MOST OF US, IT'S JUST INCORPORATED INTO THE FEE, SO RARELY DO YOU PAY FOR PARKING AND GET A SALES TAX ON TOP OF PARKING.
TYPICALLY, THERE'S A PARKING FEE OF EVEN IT RELYING OR ANY PLACE ELSE'S 10 BUCKS OR IT'S A 1.50 OR IT'S 2.50 OR
>> THAT INCORPORATES YOUR SALES TAX.
>> THAT INCORPORATES YOUR SALES TAX. IF YOU WANTED TO INCREASE THE PARKING FEE, THAT'D BE ONE WAY OF DOING IT.
BUT JUST INCLUDING A SALES TAX ADD WHICH IS NOT SOMETHING MOST CITIES DO.
>> EITHER WAY, WE DON'T MAKE A LOT OF MONEY DOWN THERE, TO BEGIN WITH.
>> I DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANOTHER 6.25 PERCENT OUT OF THAT MONEY THAT WE DO MAKE AND MAKING IT LESS? SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE JUST NEED TO LOOK AT AND MAYBE JUST BRING BACK THOSE NUMBERS TO US.
>> THE COMPTROLLER WAS REALLY GOOD TO WORK WITH.
>> BECAUSE THIS PREDATES A LOT OF US AND IT GOES WAY BACK.
>> THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT I AGREE WITH JOHN PAUL.
THAT'D BE SOMETHING WE MIGHT NEED TO LOOK AT.
>> THOSE FEES WERE ESTABLISHED A LONG TIME AGO.
THERE WAS A LOT OF DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS GOING ON AT THE TIME.
>> [INAUDIBLE] I'VE TO DO WHATEVER COUNCIL WANTS TO.
>> CAN I ASK MY QUESTION ON THIS ITEM TOO.
>> I'M THINKING AHEAD OF CUT. IT'S A TOTAL OF LIKE 250 SOME THOUSAND.
>> THAT INCLUDES THE CITIES' TWO PERCENT THAT WILL COME BACK AND GO INTO THE IDC, AND WE'LL TAKE IT OUT OF THE FUND BALANCE AND THE PARKING MANAGEMENT FUND? RIGHT NOW IT APPEARS IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT 260, 250 SOMETHING
>> I THINK WE DEFINITELY NEED TO ADD IT ON.
>> SINCE THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SO LONG OR THE LACK THEREOF HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR LONG.
WE WON'T HAVE TO GO BACK, THEY'RE ONLY ASKING US.
>> I THINK [INAUDIBLE] HAD A MOMENT AGO GOT GLOSSED OVER.
THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE THE SEAWALL, BUT THERE IS A PARKING AREA RIGHT HERE, [INAUDIBLE].
>> ANYTHING THAT WE COLLECT A FEE ON IT'S NOT A BEACH USER FEE.
[00:55:04]
>> IT'S NOT JUST DOWNTOWN [INAUDIBLE]
>> PARKING PERMITS, PARKING PASSES.
>> WE TALKED TO THE COMPTROLLER, APPARENTLY, THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR CITIES.
THEY WERE VERY NICE TO WORK WITH ON IT.
THEY ARE APPRECIATIVE THAT WE CAUGHT IT BEFORE.
>> YOU WERE JUST TRYING TO GET IT RIGHT.
>> I UNDERSTAND THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE SEAWALL BEING IN THE EXAM BUT ISN'T THE NORTH SIDE OF THE SEAWALL.
>> THEY'RE ALL CONSIDERED BEACH USER FEES BY THE GLO, SO THEY'RE [INAUDIBLE] AFTER.
>> THERE IS A SPECIFIC ATTORNEY GENERAL JURY ON THAT [INAUDIBLE].
>>THEN MY LAST QUESTION, BUT, FOR INSTANCE, FROM THE PARK BOARD'S PERSPECTIVE, PARKING AT SEAWORLD PARK IS TAXABLE, BUT NOT IN STUART BEACH.
>> THAT'S A VERY GOOD THING TO KNOW.
>> MY FIRST QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH THE AUDIT FOR 45TH STREET AND THE CHANGE ORDER HERE.
BUT THEN THE AUDIT, IT TALKS ABOUT DOING AN EXCEL SPREADSHEET WITH ALL THE CHANGE ORDERS, BUT DID WE GET THAT INFORMATION? SOME TYPE OF SPREADSHEET WITH ALL THOSE SPREADSHEETS.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW WE HAD A COPY OF THE CHANGE ORDER.
>> I DIDN'T ACTUALLY SEE AN EXCEL SPREADSHEET OF THAT.
>> [INAUDIBLE] MARKED IT DOWN LINE YEAR BY YEAR BY YEAR.
>> IS THAT ONE THE EXCEL SHEET?
>> THAT WOULD BE [INAUDIBLE] WORK IF IT'S [INAUDIBLE] WORK PRODUCT I DON'T HAVE IT.
>> THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT GOES THROUGH ALL THE CHANGE ORDER [INAUDIBLE] AND THE NUMBER OF ITEMS.
>> YEAH, AND I GUESS WHAT WE SEE IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN FUTURE CHANGES, [INAUDIBLE]
>> IT'S PART OF THE CONTRACT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS.
>> OKAY. WHEN WILL THAT PART ACTUALLY, COME ONLINE.
>> I THINK IT'S COMING ONLINE RIGHT NOW. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THEY'RE WORKING ON IT AS WE SPEAK AND JOHN DID YOU NEED THAT EXCEL SHEET.
>> WELL I MEAN, HE MENTIONS IT IN HIS AUDIT AND I DIDN'T GET A COPY OF THAT WITHIN HIS AUDIT.
>> GLEN'S NOT HERE, I DON'T SEE GLEN, BUT.
>> WE CAN TALK TO HIM THEN I GUESS. [INAUDIBLE].
>> MAJORITY THAT CHANGE ORDER THAT DEDUCTIVE CHANGE OVER THE SIGNALS.
>> I CAN'T WAIT TILL I GET A NEW COMPUTER SO I CAN.
>> [INAUDIBLE] I'M GOING TO START OUT, I DIDN'T HEAR WHAT JOHN'S FIRST THING WAS THAT'S BECAUSE I WAS OUT OF THE ROOM.
>> OKAY. I'M GOING TO GET BACK TO 9H BECAUSE THERE'S A NUMBER OF ITEMS. I THOUGHT WE HAD DISCUSSED THAT A PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING THAT WE WOULD GET RID OF THAT LANGUAGE OF NOT TO EXCEED IN A CONTRACT.
BECAUSE IF YOU'RE SAYING IN A CONTRACT NOT TO EXCEED 172,392, YOU KNOW VERY WELL THAT THE COMPANY IS GOING TO CHARGE 172.
>> I THINK THIS IS A [INAUDIBLE] THAT WE GOT ON THIS.
>> BUT THAT WAS A REQUIREMENT OF THE ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT THAT WE'RE ENTERING INTO WITH TEXTILE, IS THERE A CONTRACTOR? THEY'RE MANAGING THE WORK AND CONTRACTING FOR THE WORK AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO REIMBURSE THEM AND WE'LL LOOK OVER ALL THE RECORDS THAT THEY HAVE OUT THERE.
WE EVEN HAVE AN INSPECTOR ON THAT JOB OUT THERE MONITORING AND EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT A CITY PROJECT ON A DAILY BASIS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY GETS ITS VALUE OUT OF WHATEVER FUNDS THAT WE PAY.
>>YEAH, I THINK MARIE'S POINT IS WHENEVER WE PUT NOT TO EXCEED ON A BID IF THAT GETS THE CONTRACT WAS GOING TO CHARGE EVERY BID UP TO THAT AMOUNT BECAUSE THE ACTUAL COST IS 156,000 AND TEXTILE REQUIRES ANOTHER 15 PERCENT CONTINGENCY WITHIN THAT AND THAT'S WHERE WE GET THEM NOT TO EXCEED THE AMOUNT UP TO 172, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE REQUIRING IN THERE.
SO HOPEFULLY IT WILL NOT SHOW UP TO 172 IT SHOULDN'T BE BECAUSE THERE MAY BE SOME SMALL COST OVERRUNS IF THEY HAVE TO DO A COUPLE MORE FEET, LINEAR PIPE, THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT WHEN THEY OPEN UP THE GROUND AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
>> BUT WE'RE AT THEIR MERCY ON THAT.
>> IN JUDGING FROM MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE TEXTILE PROJECT ON 3005,
[01:00:05]
IT SEEMS LIKE THEY EXCEED WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW MANY ITEMS WE HAVE HERE WITH EXCESSIVE CHANGE ORDERS ON THEM.ONE MORE QUESTION FOR YOU THOUGH, GOING BACK TO THE VISION GALVESTON ITEMS, READING THROUGH BOTH CONTRACTS WHERE WE DISCUSSED THAT AT IDC, WE SAID WE WERE GOING TO REIMBURSE AS THEY SPENT, ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T REALLY SEE THAT CLEARLY IN THE CONTRACT. [NOISE]
>> I BELIEVE THAT IT IS IN THERE.
I'LL TELL YOU THAT IS OUR INTENT TO DO IT THAT WAY, JUST AS WE [OVERLAPPING].
>> CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT'S CLEARLY PRESENTED.
BECAUSE I READ THROUGH BOTH AND I DIDN'T SEE IT CLEARLY.
>> IF YOU'D LIKE, JUST MAKE A MOTION AT THE REGULAR MEETING TO HAVE JANELLE PUT THAT IN THE MINUTES, AND THEN IT'LL BE ON THE RECORD, DOCUMENTED. WE'LL ADJUST ACCORDINGLY.
>> WE'LL PULL THOSE AND THEN JUST SAY MAKE SURE THAT IS [OVERLAPPING].
>> SURE. IT WILL BE ON THE RECORD, IN THE MINUTES, AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
>> OKAY. I'M GOING TO BRING UP 9L ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND IT'S BEEN THIS CONTRACT FOR THE POCKET PARKS WITH VERTEX HOLDING LLC.
YOU SAID THAT'S BEING PULLED OR IT'S NOT BEING PULLED?
>> IT'S BEING PULLED AND THE OUTGOING VENDOR HAS RAISED SOME CONCERNS AND WE'VE TURNED THAT OVER TO THE CITY [INAUDIBLE] TO LOOK AT.
WE'RE GOING TO GO AND EXTEND THE EXISTING CONTRACT BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT OPTION ANYWAY UNTIL SUCH TIME AS WE NEED TO INVESTIGATE.
>> WELL WHEN I WAS READING THROUGH MY PACKETS, I WAS CURIOUS, I'M LIKE, VERTEX HOLDING, NEVER HEARD OF THEM, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING, THERE'S A TON OF COMPANIES OUT THERE.
I WENT ON TO THE STATE SITE AND LOOKED UP VERTEX LLC IN TEXAS, OF WHICH THERE'S AN OIL AND GAS COMPANY AND I ASSUME PERHAPS IT'S NOT THEM OR THE ONES [OVERLAPPING].
>> THEY START DRILLING IN THE PARK. [LAUGHTER].
>> YEAH. [LAUGHTER] HOPEFULLY, IT'S NOT THEM DOING THE PROJECT.
THEN, I ACTUALLY CALLED A FRIEND WHO HAS A REAL PROGRAM.
WE COULDN'T FIND ANY VERTEX LLC.
MY QUESTION IS WHEN WE'RE DOING CONTRACTS, HOW DO WE QUANTIFY VENDORS?
THAT'S A QUESTION FOR OUR PURCHASING GROUP AND HE'S NOT HERE.
MIKE, ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THAT? SINCE PURCHASING [INAUDIBLE].
>> I'M NOT, FOR THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.
>> BUT THAT'S DISTRESSING WHEN YOU CAN'T FIND ANY RECORD.
MAYBE THEY MADE A MISTAKE AND PUT LLC AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN LLP, AND YOU LOOK AT LLPS.
NOTHING WAS APPLICABLE TO THAT TYPE OF VENDOR.
I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GET A SOLID ANSWER AS TO HOW WE ARE DOING THAT.
I'M ASSUMING THE OTHER CONTRACT THAT'S ON THERE FOR THE ICE THAT THAT WAS RESEARCHED CLEARLY AND SO [OVERLAPPING].
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NECESSARILY RESEARCH THE CORPORATE BACKGROUND OF EVERYBODY THAT BIDS.
THEY GIVE US SWORN STATEMENTS AND WE BASE IT ON THAT.
BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY ADD THAT TO OUR PROCEDURE SO THAT [OVERLAPPING].
>> I COULD NOT FIND ANY RECORD WHATSOEVER.
>> THERE WERE TWO THINGS WITH THIS LIGHT: IT WAS ONE, WHO THE VENDOR WAS, VERTEX LLC BECAUSE I COULDN'T FIND A RECORD OF THE COMPANY.
BUT THEN, ALSO, THE PURCHASING DIRECTOR HAD SENT A LETTER TO THE COMPANY DATED THE 16TH STATING YOU HAVE BEEN PICKED AS THE TOP VENDOR.
IT DOES STILL HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY COUNCIL.
BUT THAT SEEMS TO ME THAT, THAT SHOULD WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE COUNCIL MEETING VERSUS TELLING SOMEONE THEY'VE BEEN AWARDED A CONTRACT AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN DISCUSSED IT YET.
>> I DON'T THINK [OVERLAPPING]. GO AHEAD.
>> THE LETTER WENT TO THE VENDOR ON THE 16TH AND YET OUR COUNCIL MEETING IS TODAY THE 24TH.
>> THAT'S OUR STANDARD LETTER THAT WE SAY YOU'RE THE APPARENT LEAD BETTER.
>> YEAH. I DON'T THINK YOU SAY, "YOU'VE BEEN AWARDED THE CONTRACT."
>> IT DOES NOT. IT SAYS, "NOTHING IS AWARDED UNTIL SUCH TIME AS APPROVED BY COUNCIL."
>> BUT IT ALSO BRINGS THE QUESTION AS TO LOW VENDORS, WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW MANY ITEMS THERE ARE ON THIS AGENDA THAT TALKS ABOUT CHANGES.
>> BUT THAT'S COMMON. THAT'S EVEN LOOK AT YOUR TEXTILE PROJECTS, HOW MANY CHANGE ORDERS ON THAT ONE?
>> WELL I KNOW. THERE'S ONE CONTRACT HERE THAT HAS HAD OVER TIME A MILLION DOLLARS IN CHANGES.
[01:05:05]
>> WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THAT AS IN TOTAL PROJECT?
>> RIGHT. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT, WHILE WE'RE PICKING THIS COMPANY AS LOW BIDDER, BUT AT THE END OF A THREE-YEAR PERIOD, THEY'VE DONE $60, $100, $1 MILLION OF CHANGE AGREEMENTS.
WHERE THEY REALLY THE LOW VENDOR? OR IS THIS [OVERLAPPING].
>> WHY WOULDN'T ANOTHER VENDOR HAVE THAT SAME CHANGE ORDER PROCEDURE?
>> I DON'T KNOW. IT SEEMS TO HAVE A LOT OF CHANGE ORDERS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] ACTUALLY, WE'RE PRETTY MUCH IN LINE WITH MOST PROJECTS ON THERE.
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF CHANGE ORDERS, BUT I WANT TO CLEAR UP SOME MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT CHANGE ORDERS.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THE COMPANY SHOWS UP WITH ONE DAY.
THERE'S A CHANGE TO SCOPE, A CHANGE TO THE REQUIREMENTS THAT GENERATES.
>> IT'S COMPLETELY VETTED BY STAFF.
WE DON'T JUST GIVE CHANGE ORDERS BASED ON A VENDORS REQUEST.
I'M JUST SAYING [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT'S JUST SOMETIMES, I HAVE SOME SYMPATHY FOR THESE GUYS WHEN THEY'RE DIGGING IN THE STREET.
I'VE LIVED IN A COUPLE OF THESE HOLES.
THERE'S 180 YEARS WORTH OF STUFF UNDER THE STREETS AROUND HERE.
>> WE HAD AN ISSUE LAST NIGHT AND WE CALLED THE GAS COMPANY, THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE THEIR LINE IS.
IT'S AN OLD NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE THE LINE IS.
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO OUT AND TRY TO TAKE THEIR BEST SHOT AT IT.
>> GREAT EXAMPLE, WHAT HAPPENED IN FRONT OF CENTRAL ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO.
>> WHERE THE UTILITIES WERE CALLING EACH OTHER BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THE LINES WERE.
THAT PROJECT WAS DELAYED BY MONTHS WHILE GAS FOUND THE [OVERLAPPING].
>> FOR YEARS, NOBODY REQUESTED.
WE NOW REQUIRE ALL THESE VENDORS TO GIVE HIS AS-BUILT.
>> I WOULD GIVE MY $0.02 ON THAT.
I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING BECAUSE I WORKED FOR THE GAS COMPANY, FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.
WE HAVE LINES IN THERE, THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHERE IT WAS AT.
THE CITY, WHEN WE HAD THE BREAKAGE OF ALL THESE PIPES OUT THERE WHEN I WAS OUT THERE ON NEWMANN AND MINARD, THE SUPERVISOR TOLD ME IT WAS A TWO-INCH LINE, I SAID, "THAT CAN'T BE A TWO-INCH LINE." "WELL, IT'S ON THE DRAWINGS." IT WAS A SIX-INCH LINE, THAT'S WHAT BURST OUT THERE.
SO I DO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT THAT.
BUT AGAIN, I GO BACK WHEN YOU DO A PROJECT, YOU'VE GOT TO GET THAT FEASIBILITY STUDY DONE THERE TO FIND OUT WHAT'S UNDER THAT GROUND AND YES, I DO UNDERSTAND, WE HAD COST OVERRUNS ON MARKET STREET.
EVERYBODY IN GALVESTON, MY AGE KNOWS THAT WE HAD RAIL OUT THERE, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE GET A CHANGE ORDER BECAUSE WE FOUND THE RAIL OUT THERE.
45TH STREET, WE FOUND AN UNDERGROUND TANK.
AGAIN, MY PHILOSOPHY IS IF YOU DO YOUR FEASIBILITY STUDY CORRECTLY, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND ALL THOSE ITEMS THAT ARE UNDERNEATH THE GROUND, WHETHER YOU USE GROUND-PENETRATING RADAR OR WHATEVER TYPE OF RADAR SYSTEM YOU WANT TO USE.
I TALKED TO ONE PERSON, THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T USE IT BECAUSE IT COST TOO MUCH TO USE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TYPE OF RADAR IT WAS.
SO I UNDERSTAND [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE'VE HAD SOME FAILED ATTEMPTS AT THAT BECAUSE OF THE WATER TABLE AND THE COMPANIES WE USE TO SAY THAT THEY CAN'T GET GOOD IMAGES, ISN'T TRUE, BRANDON?
>> YEAH. IT GIVES REFLECTED FEEDBACK ON THE GROUND-PENETRATING RADAR.
>> THAT'S WHAT I'M ARGUING ABOUT. I'M PRETTY SURE THAT TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, BUT YOU STILL CAN DO WHATEVER YOU NEED TO DO.
THE ANSWER I GOT BACK IS THE REASON WHY THEY DIDN'T DO IT, IT'S BECAUSE IT'LL COST 100 THOUSAND OR WHATEVER THE FIGURE HE GAVE ME.
I SAID, "WELL, I'M MUCH LESS [OVERLAPPING]." EXCUSE ME.
>> IT'S BEEN SO LONG, I DON'T REMEMBER. WHOEVER WAS IN CHARGE [OVERLAPPING]
>> WAS IT THE CONTRACTOR OR THE DESIGNER?
IT'S BEEN FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS AGO, SIX MONTHS AGO.
>> BUT ANYWAY, THE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE IS, NO MATTER THE COST, RIGHT NOW, OF COURSE, I AM LOOKING AT 45TH STREET, WE SEEM TO GET MONEY BACK AND WE'RE NOW AT 12.5 PERCENT RATHER THAN A 21 PERCENT DEFICIT.
BUT THE KEY TO IT IS DOING ALL YOU CAN TO DO THAT FEASIBILITY SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE YOUR ASSESSMENT.
SOME OF THESE CHANGE ORDERS, I'VE WORKED FOR COMPANIES AND I'VE PAID PEOPLE BASED ON BONUSES WHERE THEY PUT US A PROJECT.
IF THEY WENT OVER 5 PERCENT, WE HAVE TO TALK.
IT LOOKS LIKE EVERY PROJECT THAT WE'RE SEEING HERE, LOOKING AT IT, WE'RE AVERAGING ANYWHERE FROM 15 PERCENT.
THAT'S A LOT OF TAXPAYER MONEY BEING THROWN OUT BECAUSE THESE CONTRACTORS ARE COMING BACK WITH CHANGE ORDERS, SO I DO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
>> ALMOST ALL OF OUR CHANGE ORDERS ARE INITIATED BY US, NOT THE CONTRACTORS.
WE FIND ADDITIONAL ITEMS IN THERE, OR WE GET INTO IT, WE DECIDE WE WANT TO CHANGE SCOPE.
THERE'S A WHOLE LOT THAT GOES INTO THOSE CHANGE ORDERS.
MOST OF THEM ARE NOT CONTRACT-DRIVEN.
>> THEN AGAIN, THE QUESTION COMES UP, WHY ARE WE DOING THAT? WHY AREN'T WE MORE EFFICIENT IN WHAT WE'RE DOING THAN SPENDING THE TAXPAYER'S DOLLARS?
>> WE DO OUR BEST WITH THAT. WE USE THE BEST ENGINEERING FIRMS TO DO THAT WORK IN ADVANCE FOR US, BUT EVEN THEY'RE NOT PERFECT.
[01:10:01]
LET'S GET BACK TO OUR QUESTIONS.THIS IS FOR CLARIFICATION OF AGENDA ITEMS. IF WE WANT TO GET INTO THE WHOLE CONCEPT AND TOPIC OF CHANGE ORDERS, LET'S GET IT ON THE AGENDA AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THEM.
>> GOING BACK TO [INAUDIBLE] I HAVE A QUESTION.
I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO TRY IT TO SUPPORT IT 100 PERCENT, BUT I THOUGHT WERE GOING TO LOOK AT MAYBE GETTING SO MUCH OF US THIS DOES. WITH THAT HAVE WE [OVERLAPPING]?
>> WE HAVE A GRANT IN PLACE, WHERE WE PETITION FOR AN [INAUDIBLE] LADDER. THESE ARE PUMPERS.
>> WE ACTUALLY HAVE ONE PUMPER ON ORDER THAT WE'RE WAITING ON.
THIS IS A SECOND ONE, AND WE WERE UP FOR A GRANT FOR A QUINT, WHICH IS A LADDER APPARATUS WHERE THE PUMP AND TAG FOR THE WEST END.
>> GREAT. AGAIN GOING ON AS NOT TO EXCEED WITH 9Z AND 9CC.
THEY BOTH HAVE NOT TO EXCEED LANGUAGE AND THEN TEXTILE CONTRACTS.
I JUST HAVE A PROBLEM WITH US PUTTING NOT TO EXCEED BECAUSE THEN IF IT'S NOT TO EXCEED $100,000 THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO CHARGE US HOPEFULLY 100,000.
>> WE'D HAVE IT NOT TO RECEIVE LANGUAGE AND ALL OF OUR STUFF THERE.
THERE ARE SOME CONTRACT LANGUAGE THAT WE'RE MOVING AWAY FROM NOT TO RECEIVE, INITIAL EXISTING CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE THAT.
I PERSONALLY BELIEVE WE NEED TO MOVE AWAY FROM THAT [OVERLAPPING].
>> I THOUGHT THOUGH, WE ACTUALLY DISCUSSED THIS ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO WHEN WE REQUESTED THAT WE MOVE AWAY FROM.
I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY BRANDON SAID, "IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TEXTS DOT AND WHATNOT CONTRACT AND THEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT 15 PERCENT, YOU CAN REFERENCE THAT, BUT JUST THAT NOT TO EXCEED [INAUDIBLE] WHEN TRYING TO TAKE.
>> THERE'S VERY LITTLE TO WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO FROM A CONTRACT PERSPECTIVE.
SO IT CERTAINLY IS THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO MOVE AWAY FROM.
>> OKAY. WELL, I CERTAINLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT.
BUT WE DID DISCUSS IT BEFORE, SEEMS LIKE TWO MEETINGS AGO, WE MADE THAT REQUEST.
>> THAT WE'VE REQUESTED NOT TO EXCEED, BE REMOVED FROM CONTRACTS [OVERLAPPING]
>> YEAH. IT LEAVES TOO MUCH OPENING.
THEN ON 9DD, AND THIS IS THE MAYOR'S ITEM, BUT NOT THAT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE MAYOR SIGNING THAT, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE, TOO LONG FOR A WORD, THE TECQ, THEY ARE HOLDING US RESPONSIBLE FOR NOT HAVING DONE MULTIPLE THINGS RIGHT AT OUR WASTEWATER PLANT.
>> DO YOU REALLY WANT TO BE THE ONE THAT SIGNS FOR THE MAYOR? [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] HAVE I READ THE DOCUMENT?
>> THE GOOD NEWS THERE IS THAT. [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER] IS WE JUST SWAP WORK WE WERE GOING TO DO ANYWAY, SO THAT WORKED OUT REALLY WELL NOW.
>> OKAY. AGAIN, ARE WE GETTING FINES, DOES THIS INVOLVE ANYTHING?
>> [OVERLAPPING] THIS GOES BACK TO A PREVIOUS, NOT DISCUSSED BUT GOING BACK TO THE LICENSE AND WE, WHAT HAPPENS IS WE RUN SHORT ON STAFF OVER THERE SOMETIMES, AND THAT HAPPENS.
>> BUT THIS HAPPEN, NOW THAT [INAUDIBLE] KNOWS YOU, I'M LESS CONCERNED ABOUT IT.
I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE LEGAL FEES FOR THE BLADDER AND THE SEWER.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE PAID THIS COMPANY IN QUITE A LOT OF MONEY OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, APPROACHING A MILLION DOLLARS, WHY ARE ALL OUR LEGAL ISSUES WATER AND SEWER, I HAVE TO SAY.
I DIDN'T REALIZE WE HAD THAT MANY ISSUES.
>> WELL, ACTUALLY THE CITY DIRECTS CONTRACTS WITH LLOYD GOSSELINK.
DUE THE TCEQ MATTERS BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A SPECIALIZED SUBJECT MATTER AREA.
WHAT ARE THEIR PROBLEMS? HOW CAN YOU ANSWER A SUCH A QUESTION? [OVERLAPPING] BASICALLY THERE'S A REGULATORY ISSUES THAT POP UP FROM TIME TO TIME, WHICH HAS TRIGGERED SOME KIND OF REQUESTS AND TCEQ TO THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT WHICH REQUIRED AN ANSWER TO THE CONDITION.
[01:15:01]
>> BUT THAT'S THE SMALLEST PART OF WHAT WE SPEND WITH LLOYD GOSSELINK.
A LOT OF THAT GOES ONTO SOME OF THE OTHER CASES WE DID, RATE CASES INSTEAD.
>> NO, THE RATE CASES [OVERLAPPING] [INAUDIBLE] FOR BY THE UTILITY ITSELF.
>> AGAIN, THIS WHY I HATE HAVING SO MANY TOPIC OF ONE CONCERN, NOW THAT WE'RE IN DOUBLE ALPHABET.
ALL THOSE WITH THIS COMPANY HAD TO DO WITH WATER AND SEWER.
OVER THE YEARS, A LOT OF MONEY, [INAUDIBLE] GOES BACK TO 2010.
>> THEY WERE ON CONTRACT WHEN I GOT HERE.
THEY ARE THE PREMIER FIRM FOR THAT STEP.
>> SO WHEN WE DO AN ADDITIONAL FUNDING, DO WE SPEND ALL THAT MONEY EVERY YEAR.
>> THAT IS A BUDGET I APPROVED.
AS FAR AS [INAUDIBLE] JOE HARRISON, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT.
>> DO WE CARRY OVER FROM YEAR TO YEAR [OVERLAPPING]
>> NO, IT DROPS TO FUND BALANCE AND THEN IT GETS RE-APPROPRIATED THE NEXT YEAR.
>> A MILLION DOLLARS IN 11 YEARS IS BETTER THAN HUNDRED MILLION A YEAR.
>> [INAUDIBLE] WAS A MILLION DOLLARS, THERE WAS ANOTHER WITH ANOTHER CONTRACTOR [OVERLAPPING] IT'S PROBABLY ABOUT 500 THOUSAND, BUT IT JUST SEEMS TO ME FOR WATER AND SEWER [OVERLAPPING] IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
>> JUST SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT.
>> SOME WOULD SAY WE DON'T SPEND MONEY EVERY YEAR, THIS YEAR WE HAVE.
SO A LOT OF TIMES AT THE END OF THE YEAR THEY JUST WANT TO WRITE BACK UNTIL [INAUDIBLE] I GUESS.
[OVERLAPPING] THIS YEAR WE HAD A LOT OF WORK IN THE ANTIQUITY MORE THAN WE THOUGHT.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID IS WE HAD TO RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE ENTIRE ISLAND CERTIFICATED, WHICH PROTECTS OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUR RIGHT TO OUR CUSTOMERS.
SO THAT WAS PART OF WHAT WE DID THIS YEAR THAT ADDED A COST.
IN ADDITION, WE HAD SOME AUDITS FROM TCEQ.
WE HAD THE TIT BUSTER PERMANENT DAY, WE RELEASED THAT CRUDE OIL SLUDGE INTO OUR PLANT THAT DID A LOT OF DAMAGE TO US.
SO TECQ CAME DOWN, AND THEN THEY WERE NOT PLEASED WITH THE WAY WE HANDLED IT.
THEY WANTED US TO BE A LOT MORE AGGRESSIVE, A LOT MORE ASSERTIVE, SO WE NEEDED THEIR ASSESSMENTS TO GUIDE US THROUGH THAT AND MADE SURE THAT WE FOLLOWED OUR ORDINATES AND THAT WE FORWARDED OUR PERMITS WITH THEM AS WELL.
>> NO. I GUESS THE ONE ON 45TH STREET, DID WE GET THAT EXCEL SHEET METAL ALLOY?
>> HAVE MADE A NOTE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GIVE WITH CLAIMS, IF IT SEEMS TO THE WHOLE ACCOUNT.
>> [INAUDIBLE] WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HERE SHORTLY.
>> ALL RIGHT, THAT'LL BE GOOD. BILL?
>> I'M SURPRISE I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO TALK ABOUT. [LAUGHTER]
>> YOUR RIGHT, MADE A FEW AT THE END OF THE LINE. [LAUGHTER]
>> I LOVE YOU TOO. [LAUGHTER].
>> I HAVE JUST ONE ITEM, 9B, AS IN BOY, KEN.
FOR SOME REASON, THIS IS THE FIRST I'VE HEARD OF THIS, AND THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM, I'M JUST VERY ALL IN FAVOR OF IT.
COULD YOU JUST CLARIFY ME AT THIS IF YOU CAN.
>> ABSOLUTELY. SO WE'VE ROUTINELY FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS NOW, WE'VE HAD INNER LOCAL AGREEMENTS OR MOUS WITH THE GALVESTON COLLEGE.
WHAT WE DO IS WE ESTABLISHED A LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM NOW.
A LOT OF THAT IS IN PERSON AND IT'S TAUGHT BY AN INSTRUCTOR THERE.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT EMPLOYEES CAN RECEIVE COLLEGE CREDITS ON.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S TAILORED TO PURSUE THE GALVESTON PROGRAM.
OUR BUDGET PROCESSES, OUR POLICIES, OUR PROCEDURES, AND SO FORTH.
SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS TRULY A BENEFIT TO OUR CITY EMPLOYEES.
FURTHERMORE, WHAT WE DID IS, YOU'VE SEEN THE GALVESTON PRO, THE GC PRO TRAINING PROGRAM? THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE GAINED ACCESS TO A CITY EMPLOYEES, AND THEY HAVE A LITANY OF TRAINING ITEMS FOR US TO ACCESS AND TO REALLY ALLOW OUR WORKFORCE TO DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS.
SO THAT COULD BE SOFT SKILLS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IN THE LEADERSHIP SIDE OF IT, IT REALLY HELPS US TOO, BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WE HAD SOME VERY GOOD WORKERS FOR US THAT WOULD LIKE TO MOVE IN THE NEXT LEVEL, BUT THEY'VE NEVER BEEN IN A LEADERSHIP ROLE.
SO WE CAN RUN THEM THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS AND THEY CAN GET UP TO SPEED.
IT REALLY HELPS US BEING ABLE TO PROMOTE FROM WITHIN, WHICH HAS BEEN A BIG GOAL.
>> I THOUGHT THAT WAS JUST GREAT.
I SAW THE TUITION ON THAT, IT SEEMS EXTREMELY REASONABLE.
IS IT PICKED UP BY THE CITY OR THE EMPLOYEE?
>> THE CITY WILL PICK THAT UP.
>> THAT'S VERY NICE, [OVERLAPPING].
>> EVEN FOR COUNSEL PEOPLE? [LAUGHTER].
>> I'M SURE WE CAN DISCUSS THAT. [LAUGHTER]
>>YEAH DISCUSS THAT UP [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER] [INAUDIBLE]
>> IT'S A GOOD PROBLEM. WE THAT WE GET A LOT OF PILOT FEEDBACK ON.
>> FOR SOME REASONS, IT'S FIRST TIME I'VE HEARD OF, BUT IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT FORWARD. I APPRECIATE IT, THANK YOU.
[01:20:02]
>> WHERE DO THEY GET THE MATERIALS TO TEACH THESE COURSES?
>> WELL, THEY ACTUALLY COMMUNICATE WITH US DIRECTLY.
MIKE [INAUDIBLE] FOR EXAMPLE, HAS A SESSION ON ONE OF THE LEADERSHIP COURSE, AND HE GOES THROUGH THE ENTIRE BUDGET PROCESS, GIVES AN OVERVIEW.
I MYSELF GIVE, FOR PRESENTATION ON SOME OF OUR INTERNAL POLICIES.
WE BRING IN ONE OF OUR ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEYS TO GO OVER SOME OF THE EMPLOYMENT LAW AND SOME OF THE THINGS TO AVOID AND SOME OF THE THINGS YOU CAN DO FROM A MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE TO STAY OUT OF THE HOT WATER.
BUT ALSO IN SOME OF THE OTHER COURSES, THEY TEACH BEST PRACTICES AND IT'S IN LINE WITH WHAT THEY TEACH SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE SEEKING A MANAGEMENT DEGREE THERE, SO IT'S ALL INSTRUCTOR-LED.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE FULL-TIME PROFESSORS, AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.
>> THEY DO, THAT'S SO IMPRESSIVE.
I APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD.
[3C. 87th Texas Legislature Wrap Up Report - S. Bakko ( 15 Min )]
I THINK THAT MOVES US TO ITEM 3C, PLEASE.>> GOOD. YOU READ ITEM 3C, PLEASE MA'AM.
>> ITEM 3C, 87, LEGISLATOR WRAP-UP SUPPORT [OVERLAPPING]
>> ALL RIGHT. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HARDWORKING EMPLOYEES WITH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION GOING ON OR [OVERLAPPING] JUST STILL GOING ON COMING OUT HERE IN JULY.
[INAUDIBLE] OUR LEGISLATIVE LIAISON IS WITH US [APPLAUSE] [LAUGHTER]
>> I HAVE WROTE YOU A NOTE FOR 15 MINUTES.
>> I'M GOING TO TALK REALLY FAST.
>> THERE'S A BAD, WE HAVE 15 MINUTES.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME THIS MORNING.
I PRODUCED A REPORT FOR YOU AND HAVE DISTRIBUTED TO THE DIFFERENCE BEING IN WHAT WAS POSTED AND WHAT I JUST HANDED TO YOU WERE SOME MINOR CORRECTIONS THAT I HAD TO MAKE.
THERE WAS A TYPO ON THE FIRST PAGE AND I ACCIDENTALLY REPEATED ONE BILL IN TWO DIFFERENT PLACES IN THE REPORT, SO I DIDN'T WANT TO CAUSE ANY CONFUSION WITH THAT.
JUST TO BE REAL FAST, THIS WAS A STRANGE SESSION, STARTED OFF REAL SLOW AND THEN PICKED UP AND MOVED REALLY FAST.
A LITTLE OVER A 1,000 BILLS WERE PASSED, AND THE GOVERNOR VETOED JUST 20.
THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL SESSION STARTS ON JULY 8TH, AND WITH SPECIAL SESSIONS THE GOVERNOR SETS THE AGENDA AND THOSE AGENDA ITEMS ARE REMAINED TO BE DETERMINED.
IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT AS WE GET CLOSER TO THAT SPECIAL SESSION DATE, HE WILL IDENTIFY THE ITEMS HE WANTS THE LEGISLATURE TO ADDRESS.
HOWEVER, THE SCUTTLEBUTT WHAT WE'VE HEARD THUS FAR, THIS IS WHAT WE KNOW.
HE HAS MENTIONED IN THE PAST HE WANTS LEGISLATORS COMING BACK FOR ELECTION REFORM.
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THAT HE VETOED TITLE 10 OF THE BUDGET, WHICH IS THE TITLE OF THE BUDGET THAT FUNDS THE LEGISLATURE AND THEIR STAFF, [LAUGHTER] SO HE'S UP THE AND TO THERE.
HE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SEE BILL REFORM ADDRESSED, AS WELL AS MOST RECENTLY MENTIONED FURTHER EXAMINATION OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND HOW EDUCATION IS DEALING WITH THAT.
NOW, THAT'S THE SPECIAL SESSION IN JULY 8TH.
WE'LL GET A SPECIFIC AGENDA AS WE GET CLOSER TO THAT DAY.
THE SPECIAL SESSION THAT WE'VE ALWAYS KNOWN ABOUT IS THE ONE IN SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER WHERE THEY HAVE TO COME BACK TO DEAL WITH REDISTRICTING AND MAPPING THOSE NEW STATE LEGISLATURE DISTRICTS AND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, HE HAS ALSO MENTIONED THAT THEY WILL BE ADDRESSING HOW THEY'RE GOING TO ALLOCATE $16 BILLION THAT THE STATE IS RECEIVING VIA THE AMERICAN RECOVERY PLAN ACT FROM COVID.
WHAT HAPPENED DURING THIS SESSION, YOUR REPORT IS DIVIDED UP INTO TWO SECTIONS.
THE FIRST SECTION RELATES TO BILLS THAT COVER ITEMS ON OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AT THIS SESSION, GALVESTON DID NOT SPECIFICALLY REQUEST LEGISLATION, INSTEAD, THERE WERE EFFORTS THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING ON THE COASTAL STORM SURGE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM,
[01:25:07]
TWITTER AND SOME ITEMS THAT THE POLICE CHIEFS WERE PUTTING FORWARD TO IMPROVE LAW ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES.VERY QUICKLY, THE GULF COAST PROTECTION DISTRICT PAST HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.
THAT DISTRICT IS MADE UP OF FIVE COUNTIES, 11 MEMBER BOARD, SIX OF THOSE MEMBERS ARE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, FIVE ARE CHOSEN BY THE RESPECTIVE COUNTIES.
I'M HONORED TO SAY THAT THE GOVERNOR APPOINTED ME TO SIT ON THE GULF COAST PROTECTION DISTRICT BOARD IN THE MUNICIPALITY [APPLAUSE].
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR A BETTER PERSON.
I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT HAVING A ROLE IN THIS EFFORT FOR TWO REASONS.
ONE, THE STORM SURGE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO GULF COAST COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY GALVESTON.
BUT TWO GALVESTON [NOISE] HAS A VOICE ON THIS DISTRICT, WHICH I FELT VERY STRONGLY THAT WE SHOULD HAVE.
BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, THERE ARE TWO BODIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT ARE ADDRESSING FLOOD ISSUES.
THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD, REGION 6, FLOOD PLANNING GROUP, WHICH BRIAN IS THE SELECTED NUMBER TO REPRESENT COASTAL COMMUNITIES, AND NOW THE GULF COAST PROTECTION DISTRICT, THEY WILL BE ADDRESSING THE TWO PRIMARY CAUSES OF FLOODING FOR COASTAL COMMUNITIES BEING HEAVY RAINY DAYS AND THE SEA LEVEL RISE AND STORM SURGE.
THE FACT THAT GALVESTON HAS A VOICE ON THOSE TWO ENTITIES IS CRITICAL BECAUSE THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD WILL TAKE THESE REGIONAL FLOOD PLANS AND THEY WILL MERGE THOSE INTO A STATE FLOOD PLAN.
THE STATE FLOOD PLAN WILL TAKE THE RECOMMENDED SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM PROJECTS, AND INCORPORATE THAT INTO A STATE FLOOD PLAN.
THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY NOT JUST FOR GALVESTON SHORT-TERM PROJECTS, BUT ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE STORM SURGE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM TO BE LISTED WITHIN THAT STATE FLOOD PLAN.
THAT THEN BECOMES ACCESS TO HELP ON THE LOCAL MATCH WITH THE CORE PROJECT.
THIS IS A GREAT EFFORT AND A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR GALVESTON TO HAVE A REAL VOICE.
I'VE ONLY TALKED ABOUT ONE ITEM AND I'VE TAKEN [INAUDIBLE] [BACKGROUND].
>> NEVER THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
>> GALVESTON IS GOING TO BE HEARD AND THAT'S WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT.
TWITTER, WE HAD SOME REAL GOOD PROGRESS ON TWITTER.
THE INTERIM WORK THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO OCCUR, THIS LAST SESSION HAVING TO DO WITH FUNDING STRUCTURE OF TWITTER THAT WORK HAS BEEN EXTENDED.
NOW, THE TWITTER BOARD MUST HAVE A TWO-THIRDS VOTE IN ORDER TO INCREASE PREMIUM RATES.
IN ADDITION TO LEGISLATION THAT REPRESENTATIVE MIDDLETON SPONSORED ALSO REQUIRES THAT THERE CANNOT BE A PROPOSED RATE VOTE IF THERE IS A VACANCY ON THAT BOARD FOR 60 DAYS OR MORE.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME IMPORTANT LEGISLATION THAT PASSED ON PROPERTY TAX AND THAT HAS OUR CONCERN, HEADING INTO SESSION WAS AN INTERIM REPORT FROM HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE THAT HAD SUGGESTED THEY MIGHT REPEAL THE THREE-YEAR DISASTER EXCEPTION THAT EXIST IN CURRENT LAW, WHEN CALCULATING THE 3.5 PERCENT REVENUE LIMITATION.
THAT THREE-YEAR DISASTER EXCEPTION CONTINUES.
HOWEVER, IT WILL CONTINUE WHEN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO ADOPTED AN EXEMPTION FOR PROPERTY OWNERS ON PROPERTY THAT'S BEEN DAMAGED BY A NATURAL DISASTER.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL PASSED IN NOVEMBER AS A RESULT OF HURRICANE DELTA I BELIEVE.
THE LANGUAGE [NOISE] THAT IS PASSED MADE BASICALLY MAKES THAT MANDATORY RATHER THAN A LOCAL OPTION.
THE IMPORTANT POINT IN THIS LEGISLATION, HOWEVER, IS AN EMERGENCY REVENUE RATE THAT IS ESTABLISHED.
THE CONCERNS THAT SENATOR BETTENCOURT AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE HAD WAS
[01:30:04]
THE DISASTER EXCEPTION AND EFFECT GIVES YOU THE ABILITY IF YOU ARE HIT BY A NATURAL DISASTER THAT HAS CAUSED PHYSICAL DAMAGE, THAT YOU CAN EXCEED THAT 3.5 PERCENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF RECOVERY.YOU CAN GO UP TO THE OLD EIGHT PERCENT ROLLBACK RATE FOR THAT THREE-YEAR PERIOD.
HOWEVER, THE CONCERN WAS THEY DIDN'T WANT THAT EIGHT PERCENT TO BECOME EMBEDDED IN YOUR RATE, THEY PUT IN A MECHANISM AND THE STATUTE WHERE YOU CAN GO UP, BUT THEN YOU'RE GOING TO COME BACK DOWN.
WORKING CLOSELY WITH MIKE BLUFFTON WHO MUST SAY IS ALWAYS THE HERO FOR US ON PROPERTY TAX ISSUES, AND PUTS UP WITH MY ENDLESS COMMUNICATIONS.
[LAUGHTER] WE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH CHAIRMAN BETTENCOURT STAFF ON US.
I BELIEVE WHAT WE HAVE IS IN EFFECT WHAT GALVESTON DID FOLLOWING IKE WHICH WAS WE WENT UP, HIS PROPERTY VALUES, RECOVERED WHO CAME BACK DOWN.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW OUT OF THE PROBLEM RATHER THAN RAISING RATES TO GET OUT OF A PROBLEM.
HOWEVER, IN TALKING TO SENATOR TAYLOR'S OFFICE, THEY SAID IF WE FEEL THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS AND CORRECTIONS THAT ARE NEEDED, THEY'RE OPEN TO WORKING WITH US AND LET'S SEE HOW THIS WORKS OUT.
WE HAD SOME IMPROVEMENTS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT HIRING PROCEDURES, POLICE OFFICER TRAINING.
THESE WERE EFFORTS THAT WERE SUPPORTED BY THE POLICE CHIEFS.
ALSO MENTAL HEALTH LEAVE POLICIES THAT WILL BE ADOPTED AND REQUIRED FOR POLICE WHO EXPERIENCE A TRAUMATIC EVENT AND A PEER SUPPORT NETWORK THAT'LL BE DEVELOPED BY TCOLE.
AN ITEM THAT WE'VE SPECIFICALLY LISTED AS IMPORTANT WAS PUBLIC RETIREMENT SYSTEMS AND THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THOSE GOVERNING BOARDS AND THE CORRESPONDING LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
THE LEGISLATURE PASSED HB 38-98, WHICH REQUIRES THAT THESE TWO BODIES JOINTLY DEVELOP AND ADOPT WRITTEN FUNDING POLICIES.
THIS IS CRITICAL BECAUSE THE FUNDING POLICY IS INTENDED TO LAY OUT YOUR PLAN FOR ACHIEVING 100 PERCENT FUNDING AND REMOVING YOUR UNFUNDED LIABILITY, PLACES BOTH BODIES ON THE SAME PAGE, WORKING IN THE SAME DIRECTION.
THIS WAS A GREAT IMPROVEMENT AND IT WILL PLACE PUBLIC RETIREMENT SYSTEMS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
THEY'RE ALSO REQUIRED TO JOINTLY DEVELOP A FUNDING SOUNDING RESTORATION PLAN SHOULD THEIR UNFUNDED LIABILITY EXCEED 30 YEARS.
BROADBAND WAS A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT THIS SESSION.
THERE'S A BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE THAT'S CREATED WITHIN THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE PUBLISHING A MAP DESIGNATING AREAS WITH 80 PERCENT OR MORE ADDRESSES THAT HAVE ACCESS TO BROADBAND SERVICE.
THEY WILL BE DEVELOPING A STATE BROADBAND PLAN TO PROVIDE GREATER ACCESS AND AFFORDABLE BROADBAND SERVICE.
GETTING BACK TO THE PROPERTY TAX, THIS IS THE SECTION 2 OF YOUR REPORT WHERE IT'S OTHER BILLS OF INTEREST FOR US.
DEBT FINANCING, THIS WAS A BIG BILL.
THIS CAME FROM CHAIRMAN BURROUGHS.
HE IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CALENDARS COMMITTEE, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL COMMITTEES IN THE HOUSE.
HE WAS ALSO THE AUTHOR OF THE PROPERTY TAX REFORM IN 2019.
HE PUT FORWARD A BILL THAT REDEFINES DEBT FOR THE PURPOSES OF CALCULATING DEBT SERVICE AND THIS WAS A GREAT CONCERN.
THE PURPOSE OF THE BUILDING, INTENT OF THE BILL IS TO TARGET THE USE OF CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
THERE WAS SOME CONCERNS THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME ABUSES OUT THERE THAT HE WANTED TO GET AT. OBVIOUSLY [OVERLAPPING]
>> COULD YOU REPEAT THAT AGAIN.
>> WHAT YOU JUST MENTIONED ABOUT THE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION MISUSE.
>> THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.
HE WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE WERE SOME ABUSES IN TERMS OF HOW CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION WERE BEING
[01:35:02]
USED BECAUSE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION DO NOT REQUIRE A VOTE, LIKE ISSUING A BOND.>> BUT YOU CAN PETITION AND GET FIVE PERCENT OF THE VOTE TO STOP IT.
I THINK THEY WERE GOING TO ADDRESS POSSIBLY THAT PERCENTAGE THRESHOLD, BUT I'M NOT SURE WHERE THEY ARE ON ALL THAT.
>> I DID NOT SEE THAT, BUT I CAN GO BACK AND AND CONFIRM THEM.
>> YES. BUT THAT WAS NOT ADDRESSED IN THIS FILM.
>> WHAT OUR CONCERN FOR THIS WAS THE BRIDGE ROLE THAT CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION AND REFUNDING BONDS PLAY WHEN WE ARE HIT BY A HURRICANE.
CHAIRMAN BURROUGHS WAS VERY ACCOMMODATING AND WORKING WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND THE CONCERNS, SO THERE ARE SEVERAL ITEMS IN THE BILL THAT ARE EXEMPT FOR GALVESTON REFUNDING BONDS AND OUR EMERGENCY NOTICE MECHANISMS THAT WE USE.
A UTILITY SYSTEM, WATER SUPPLY PROJECT, WATER PLANT, WIDE WASTEWATER PLANT, FLOOD CONTROL AND DRAINAGE PROJECTS ARE ALSO EXEMPT FROM THAT SO THAT WAS A GOOD THING.
THERE WERE A COUPLE OF BILLS, BUT ONE THAT I WANTED TO BE SURE AND BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION AND TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE IS GOING TO BE DOING SOME MORE RESEARCH ON THIS.
IT'S CLASS A MISDEMEANOR FOR A CITY OFFICIAL TO COMMUNICATE WITH A CHIEF APPRAISER TO INFLUENCE APPRAISED VALUE OF PROPERTY UNLESS THE PERSON IS THE OWNER OR LEASES THE PROPERTY.
EVERYONE'S SCRATCHING THEIR HEAD WONDERING WHAT DOES THIS REALLY MEAN? WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS AND MORE GUIDANCE WILL BE PRODUCED TO HELP UNDERSTAND WHAT THE LIMITATIONS ARE.
I WAS CURIOUS AS TO WHAT GENERALLY IT IS. [LAUGHTER]
>> IT'S LIKE WITH GENDER RIGHTS THAN ANY OF THESE BILLS.
IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, THERE'S SOME SPECIFIC AREA [OVERLAPPING].
>> SOMETHING HAPPENS, PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
>> WE CAN'T PROTEST OUT OWN PROPERTY?
>> BECAUSE I ALWAYS PROTEST MINE.
>> PANDEMIC LIABILITIES YOU MIGHT IMAGINE WAS A BIG CONVERSATION THIS SESSION.
LEGISLATION WAS PASSED TO PROVIDE LIABILITY PROTECTIONS FOR PHYSICIANS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, AND FIRST RESPONDERS.
AN IMPORTANT NOTE HERE THOUGH, IS THAT IT DID NOT PUT IN ANY PROVISION THAT WOULD WAIVE THE GOVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY THAT POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS HAVE AND WOULD NOT CREATE A CIVIL CAUSE OF ACTION.
PURCHASING. THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS IN TERMS OF HOW WE VIEW OUR CONTRACT, WRITE OUR CONTRACTS, ENTER OUR CONTRACTS.
THREE BILLS FOCUSED ON RETAINAGE AND WHEN A PROJECT IS SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE AND WITHHOLDING RETAINAGE.
HB 25-81 SPOKE TO COMPETITIVE BIDDING AND SCORING CRITERIA USED AND SP2-19 DEALT WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFECTS AND PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS.
THREE CONTRACTS THAT YOU REALLY NEED TO BE AWARE OF, ENERGY BOYCOTT, FIREARMS, AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
CONTRACTS OF 100,000 OR MORE WITH A COMPANY WITH MORE THAN 10 FTES AND THAT COMPANY BOYCOTTS ENERGY COMPANIES.
THIS IS WHAT SOME CYNICAL WOULD SAY IS THE FOSSIL FUEL PROTECTION BILL.
[LAUGHTER] THERE ARE COMPANIES AND ACTUALLY THE IDEA CAME OUT OF CALIFORNIA BECAUSE APPARENTLY, THAT IS QUITE THE PRACTICE FOR COMPANIES TO BE DISCRIMINATING AGAINST COMPANIES CERTAIN ENERGY COMPANIES.
THAT'S THE SAME WITH FIREARMS. THERE ARE SOME LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR BANKING INSTITUTIONS AND WHAT THEIR RELATIONSHIPS MAY BE OR PRACTICES MAY BE WITH REGARDS TO WORKING WITH FIREARM COMPANIES AND FIREARM TRADE ASSOCIATIONS.
FINALLY, THE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IS CYBERSECURITY SYSTEMS, YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE, ELECTRIC GRID,
[01:40:02]
HAZARDOUS WASTE TREATMENT SYSTEM, OR A WATER TREATMENT FACILITY.THIS IS TRYING TO GET A CHECK ON ENTERING CONTRACTS WITH COMPANIES THAT MAY BE OWNED EITHER THROUGH A MAJORITY STOCK OR THROUGH OTHER COMPANIES THAT ARE HEADQUARTERED IN CHINA, IRAN, NORTH KOREA, RUSSIA.
BRIEFLY, THE TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF THE TEXAS PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT.
THIS IS BASICALLY SAYING THAT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAN SUSPEND PUBLIC INFORMATION DURING A CATASTROPHE.
ONE INITIAL SUSPENSION, THAT EXTENSION MAY BE EXTENDED FOR SEVEN DAYS BUT CANNOT EXCEED 14 DAYS.
WHAT'S IMPORTANT HERE IS CATASTROPHE IS DEFINED AS AN EVENT WHERE THE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY IS DIRECTLY IMPEDED FROM COMPLYING WITH THE PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT.
BUT WHEN STAFF HAVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE WORKING REMOTELY, THE PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT IS STILL IN PLACE.
CAMPING BAN IS ANOTHER ITEM THAT YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD ABOUT.
THIS CAME OUT OF AUSTIN, AND IT'S A STATEWIDE CAMPING BAN IN UNAPPROVED PUBLIC PLACES.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE CAMPING IN PUBLIC PARKS, THAT PLAN MUST FIRST BE APPROVED BY THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.
IT'S A CLASS C MISDEMEANOR, PUNISHABLE BY A FINE OF $500 AND IT'S NOT INTENDED TO DISCOURAGE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM DIVERTING PEOPLE TO SERVICES.
CHAPTER 380, I JUST WANT TO MENTION THIS ONE REAL QUICK BECAUSE THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE IS GOING TO BE SETTING UP A DATABASE ON CHAPTER 380 AGREEMENTS OUT THERE, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND ON THOSE AGREEMENTS AND SUBMIT THOSE AGREEMENTS TO THE CONTROLLER.
EXISTING AGREEMENTS THAT ARE IN EFFECT NOW MUST BE TURNED IN BY JANUARY 1, 2022.
THEN THERE WAS QUARANTINE LEAVE FOR FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS, DETENTION OFFICERS, AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS.
THAT LEAVE IS NOW GOING TO BE REQUIRED AND IT CAN'T PENALIZE THEM FOR EXISTING LEAVE, SUCH AS: VACATION, SICK, HOLIDAY, OR PAID LEAVE.
THIS IS A RETROACTIVE PROTECTION FOR THOSE WHO EITHER 15 DAYS PRIOR TO BEING DIAGNOSED OR HOSPITALIZED OR HAVING PASSED AWAY.
THEY HAVE CERTAIN PROTECTIONS AND COMPENSATION THAT MAY BE APPLICABLE FOR THEM.
THESE PROVISIONS DO EXPIRE THOUGH ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 AND I KNOW I'M GOING VERY FAST BECAUSE I'M OUT OF TIME.
>> AN IMPORTANT PIECE THAT GOT A LOT OF DISCUSSION WAS THE UNLICENSED HAND GUN CARRYING.
PERSONS OVER THE AGE OF 21 CAN CARRY A HANDGUN, CONCEALED OR OPEN IN A HOLSTER WITHOUT A LICENSE.
IF YOU HAVE A CRIMINAL CONVICTION, YOU'RE A GANG MEMBER, YOU'RE UNDER THE AGE OF 25, IT ALSO SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITS CITIES FROM PROHIBITING PERSONS FROM CARRYING A HANDGUN IN A PUBLIC PARK, PUBLIC MEETING, UNLESS PROPER NOTICE IS POSTED.
POLITICAL RALLY, PARADE, AND IN SOME INSTANCES, SCHOOLS AND PROFESSIONAL ATHLETIC EVENTS.
>> YOU MENTIONED THE AGE 21 AND THEN YOU HAD MENTIONED THE AGE 25.
>> I'M SORRY, SIR. NO, IT'S 21. I'M SORRY.
>> GOOD QUESTION, I HEARD THAT TOO.
>> I'M SORRY. I DON'T KNOW WHERE 25 CAME FROM.
MY APOLOGIES. I DIDN'T MEAN TO BE CONFUSING [OVERLAPPING] IN THERE.
>> NOT AT ALL. WHAT YOU DO IS WE'RE PAYING ATTENTION.
>> WELL, OKAY, GOOD [LAUGHTER].
[01:45:02]
THIS IS MY 15 MINUTES OF FAME HERE, SO I'M GLAD YOU'RE LISTENING [LAUGHTER].THE STATUTE DOES DELINEATE THE TYPES OF NOTICES THAT MUST BE POSTED FOR OPEN MEETINGS.
IT DOES GIVE A POLICE OFFICER THE ABILITY TO TEMPORARILY DISARM A UNLICENSED CARRIER IF THEY ENTER A LAW ENFORCEMENT FACILITY AND THEY CAN PROPERLY STORE THAT WEAPON AND THEN RETURN IT TO THEM IMMEDIATELY.
I WILL SAY THERE'S ANOTHER PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT BASICALLY PROVIDES THE SAME TYPE OF THING FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO HAVE A TEMPORARY STORAGE PLACE.
IF, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU'RE GOING TO PROHIBIT PEOPLE FROM CARRYING INTO AN OPEN MEETING, YOU CAN HAVE A TEMPORARY STORAGE PLACE FOR THAT WEAPON AND BE ABLE TO CHARGE A FEE NOT TO EXCEED FIVE DOLLARS FOR [OVERLAPPING] USING IT.
>> ONE THING I DIDN'T HEAR YOU SAY, YOU WENT THROUGH ALL THAT.
WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ISSUES, IS THAT PROHIBITED?
>> THEY DO NOT MENTION MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
I EXPECT BECAUSE THAT YOU GET INTO A GRAY AREA ON HOW DO YOU DETERMINE [OVERLAPPING] SOMEONE'S MENTAL HEALTH.
>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET THROUGH THE LICENSE, [INAUDIBLE] , RIGHT?
>> NO, THEY GO THROUGH THE BACKGROUND CHECK.
LICENSE. THIS IS CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY UNLICENSED.
YOU WILL HAVE PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH A LICENSE, PEOPLE WITH THAT UNLICENSED.
WHAT WERE THE PARAMETERS, WHERE THE FRAMEWORK IS, IS WHERE THEY CAN GO IN AND CARRY.
BUSINESS OWNERS WITH PROPER NOTICE PROHIBIT IT IN THEIR BUSINESSES.
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN PROHIBIT IT IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT WITH PROPER NOTICE AND PROPER SIGNAGE.
>> THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT TRAINING? AT LEAST 48 HOURS TRAINING?
>> NO. THIS IS BOLD [OVERLAPPING].
THE LAW ENFORCEMENT HAD A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THIS.
>> IN FACT, I HAD HEARD SENATOR TAYLOR HAD CONCERNS ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT'S ABILITY TO ADDRESS CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
THIS IS MORE OF A PARK BOARD ISSUE BECAUSE IT HAS TO DO WITH LIFEGUARDS ON PUBLIC BEACHES.
BUT THE PARK BOARD WORK DILIGENTLY TO NEGOTIATE WITH CHAIRMAN TODD HUNTER ON THIS BILL.
HE CARRIED THIS BILL ON BEHALF OF ONE OF HIS CONSTITUENTS WHO LOST HER SON DUE TO A DROWNING AND AT A CORPUS CHRISTI BEACH.
IT SETS FORTH REQUIREMENTS FOR LIFEGUARD STATIONS OR MOBILE LIFEGUARD UNITS AT JETTIES OR STRUCTURES PROTRUDING INTO THE GULF FROM MEMORIAL DAY TO LABOR DAY DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS.
IT DOES GIVE SOME FLEXIBILITY IN TERMS OF HAVING ONE OF THESE STRUCTURE AT EACH JETTY OR STRUCTURE PROTRUDING INTO THE GULF.
IF THERE IS AN UNOBSTRUCTED VIEW, IT HAS REQUIREMENTS FOR SIGNAGE AND OF COURSE, SUSPENDS THESE REQUIREMENTS DURING DANGEROUS WEATHER EVENTS OR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS.
>> ARE THESE TOWERS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT?
>> YES. THESE ARE LIFEGUARD TOWERS OR MOBILE LIFEGUARD UNITS.
>> I THOUGHT WE ALREADY HAD THEM HERE.
>> WE [OVERLAPPING] DO NOT HAVE FULL COVERAGE.
IT'S GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON PORTABLES.
WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE'RE GOING TO PUT IN MORE SPOTS
>> [OVERLAPPING] THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS FINDING THE LIFEGUARDS [LAUGHTER].
>> YOU DON'T HAVE THE JETTIES, TO BE [OVERLAPPING] BUT WE'RE WOEFULLY UNDERSTAFFED.
THE J1 PROGRAM HAS LEFT US FROM A REAL HOLE IN THE LIFEGUARD PROGRAM.
SO THIS IS GOING TO BE A SERIOUS CONCERN FOR OUR BOARD.
WHEN IT SAYS, DAYLIGHT, I MEAN THAT'S 7:00 AM IN THE SUMMERTIME, SO FOR 13 HOURS OF A DAY.
>> COVERAGE IS MEMORIAL DAY TO LABOR DAY.
MEMORIAL DAY TO LABOR DAY, WHICH IS AN IMPROVEMENT BECAUSE INITIALLY IT WAS MARCH TO NOVEMBER.
I JUST HAD TO MENTION GOLF CART REAL QUICK.
WE HAD A GOLF CART BILL PASSED.
INITIALLY, THIS WAS LIMITED TO MASTER-PLANNED COMMUNITIES, BUT THE LEGISLATURE HAS WEIGHED IN ON GOLF CARTS,
[01:50:03]
ALLOWING A CITY TO PROHIBIT THE OPERATION OF A GOLF CART ON A HIGHWAY IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS, THE MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO ON A PUBLIC BEACH OR PRIVATE BEACH THAT IS OPEN TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC, OR A HIGHWAY WHERE THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT IS NOT MORE THAN 35 MILES PER HOUR, THAT BILL IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.>> IT DOES GIVE OUT THAT LITTLE EXCEPTIONS WHERE CITIES CAN COME BACK AND CHANGE THAT IF THEY FEEL IT'S THEIR SAFETY.
>> WHERE IS STORM URI? THAT WE HAVE SOME UTILITY LEGISLATION THAT PASSED.
THE MOST SIGNIFICANT BEING SP3. JUST REAL QUICK.
THIS IS THE BILL THAT REQUIRES THE WEATHERIZATION UPGRADES FOR POWER GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION LINES, THE RAILROAD COMMISSIONER NEEDS TO IDENTIFY CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND ESTABLISH WEATHERIZATION STANDARDS FOR THAT CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM FOR WEATHER EMERGENCIES, AND POWER OUTAGES.
A CONCERN FOR GALVESTON WAS THE PROVISIONS FOR WATER SYSTEMS, EXTENDED POWER OUTAGE, WHICH IS DEFINED AS 24 HOURS OR MORE, REQUIRES EMERGENCY OPERATION OF WATER SYSTEMS AT A MINIMUM WATER PRESSURE OF 20 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH OR AT A LEVEL OF PROOF BY TCQ, AS SOON AS SAFE AND PRACTICABLE FOLLOWING A NATURAL DISASTER.
WATER SYSTEMS ARE ALSO TO ADOPT AND SUBMIT TCQ, AN EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN THAT DEMONSTRATES EMERGENCY OPERATIONS AND A TIMELINE FOR THAT PLAN IMPLEMENTATION, AND THIS BILL IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
THE OTHER THREE BILLS THAT PASSED THIS REAL QUICK, A BIG CONTROVERSY OR A LARGE DISCUSSION CENTERED AROUND WHAT HAPPENS TO THE MARKET COSTS THAT EXCEEDED THE STATUTORY CAP.
THIS IS NEITHER ANCILLARY SERVICES.
THIS IS WHERE THE MARKET COSTS FOR ENERGY WENT UP TO THIS EXTREME AMOUNT OF MONEY LIKE $25,000 PER KILOWATT-HOUR FOR OVER A 33-HOUR PERIOD.
THOSE COSTS HAVE GENERATED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DEBT, AND AS A RESULT, THERE IS LEGISLATION AT HB4492, WHICH ALLOWS A SECURITIZATION FINANCING MECHANISM TO PAY THAT OFF OVER 20-30 YEARS BY ALL MARKET PARTICIPANTS.
THIS INCLUDES CUSTOMERS, AND THAT'S WHERE THE CONTROVERSY COMES UP.
THE OTHER BILL THAT I WANTED TO MENTION WAS ENERGY GENERATORS ARE GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO CONTRACT FOR ENERGY STORAGE FACILITIES IN THE FUTURE.
THAT WAS IT. OBVIOUSLY, NOT 15 MINUTES, BUT [OVERLAPPING] I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, SARAH, VERY MUCH.
>> I HAVE ABOUT 40 OF THEM, I'M GOING TO PUT THEM. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I GUESS, IT'S GOOD TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS FOR BEING EMBODIED TO THAT BECAUSE WE COULDN'T ASK FOR A BETTER PERSON, THEY DIDN'T KNOW WELL THAN YOU.
I'M GOING TO WORK VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BIGGEST HURDLES GETTING THAT PROJECT AUTHORIZED AND FUNDED, AND WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT DONE.
I WAS ALMOST SORRY TO HEAR THAT THEY WERE COMING TO AN AGREEMENT ON INFRASTRUCTURE [LAUGHTER] THAT WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY BECAUSE I THOUGHT, "OH IF YOU COULD JUST WAIT UNTIL" BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE MANY OF US THAT WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS THING FULLY FUNDED AND AN INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE.
BUT THE TIMING COULDN'T BE BETTER MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS, SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED AND I OF COURSE WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED.
>> AS I DO WITH THE LEGISLATIVE.
>> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR TIME AND ENERGY DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND BEFORE AND AFTER.
THANK YOU, SARAH. YOU ARE A WONDERFUL REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE CITY.
>> COOL. THANK YOU, SARAH. MY HOPE IS FOR THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND THE SPEAKER WILL COME OUT WITH INTERIM CHARGES.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS WITH YOUR CONCURRENCE, COME BACK TO YOU TO DISCUSS SOME OF THE INTERIM CHARGES OF INTERESTS TO GALVESTON SO THAT WE CAN START HAVING
[01:55:05]
A GREATER VOICE EARLIER ON DURING THE INTERIM ON THINGS THAT MIGHT CONCERN US AND THAT CAN HELP US BUILD OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT SESSION.>> BY ALL MEANS, JUST LET US KNOW.
I'M GOING TO MAKE AN EDITORIAL COMMENT TOO ON THE BILL THAT SENATOR TAYLOR HAD GREAT MOVE ON HIS PART.
WE'RE SO GLAD THAT THAT GOT FULL TO MOVE FORWARD.
>> OH, ON THAT GULF COAST PROTECTION REGISTER?
>> YES, VERY FANTASTIC BILL, AND I'M GLAD IT MOVED FORWARD.
I JUST HOPE THAT THE STATE ATTACHES PARTICIPATES AS A GENERAL STAY IN THE FUNDING HERE.
THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE STRESSED CONSISTENTLY THROUGHOUT SESSION, WAS THAT THIS ISN'T A GULF COAST PROJECT, THIS IS A STATE PROJECT WITH NATIONAL IMPLICATIONS.
I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT BECAUSE I REALLY WANT TO SAY THE WORK OF SENATOR TAYLOR AND REPRESENTATIVE DENNIS PAUL ON THIS LEGISLATION WAS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.
THE WORK OF THEIR STAFF, THEY WERE UNSUNG HEROES, IT WAS A HUGE LIFT TO GET THIS.
BECAUSE WE HAD TO HAVE THE TAXING AUTHORITY AND THE EMINENT DOMAIN AUTHORITY TO BE ABLE TO SIGN THAT PROJECT AGREEMENT WITH THE CORE.
WITHOUT IT AND WE HAD TO HAVE THE 100 VOTES ON THE HOUSE SIDE TO GET IT.
IT WAS JUST VERY IMPRESSIVE WORK AND WE WERE VERY WELL REPRESENTED BY SENATOR TAYLOR.
>> RIGHT NOW IF WE CAN GET THE ENTIRE STATE TO BE INCLUSIVE IN THIS, THAT WOULD BE NICE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I'M SORRY FOR GOING OVER MY TIME [OVERLAPPING].
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT.
[3D. Discussion Of The 2021 Budget/CIP - M Loftin ( 45 Min )]
TO MOVE AN ITEM 3D, PLEASE SHANELLE.>> 3D, DISCUSSION OF THE 2021 BUDGET AND [OVERLAPPING]
>> VERY GOOD. WE HAVE A FEATURED SPEAKER THIS MORNING, MIKE LOFTON.
MIKE, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
>> THERE'S QUITE A FEW SLIDES HERE, BUT I WANT TO TRY AND MOVE SO MUCH EXPEDITIOUSLY AND MAKE SURE WE HIT THE HIGH POINTS.
>> DO WE HAVE A COPY OF THAT OR CAN WE GET A COPY OF THE BUDGET?
>> PAGE 2 IS OUR SUGGESTED SCHEDULE AND OF COURSE, THE COUNCIL HAS ADDITIONAL DATES.
WE ARE OVER THAT, THIS IS BASED ON WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WITH OUR SCHEDULE.
TALKED ABOUT THE MAJOR ISSUES AND THE FOURTH IS COME BACK ABOUT A MONTH AND GIVE YOU AS MUCH OF A BIRD'S IDEA OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT ON AUGUST 11TH AS POSSIBLE.
THAT'S ABOUT THE TIME WE'LL KNOW MORE ABOUT THE PROPERTY TAX ROLLS AND I'LL GO ON THAT IN JUST A MINUTE.
AUGUST 12TH IS WHEN WE'LL PRESENT THE PROPERTY TAX ROLL AND ASK YOU TO ADOPT THEIR PROPOSED TAX RATE FOR PUBLICATION PURPOSES AND CALL PUBLIC HEARINGS.
THEN, AGAIN, ON AUGUST 26, WE'LL DISCUSS THE BUDGET AND THE CIP THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED TO YOU, AND SEPTEMBER 9, SEPTEMBER 16TH, ARE GOING TO BE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONSIDER ADOPTING BOTH DOCUMENTS, BUDGET, AND CIP.
THE MAJOR ASSUMPTIONS, ON PAGE 3, I SAID, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE PROPERTY TAX IN A MINUTE.
THIS THREE-AND-A-HALF PERCENT LIMIT IS REALLY BINDING US NOW IN COMBINATION WITH THE CHARTER PROVISION ON THE LIBRARY, AND THEY'RE GUARANTEED THAT THEY GET TO MAKE A LONGER TAX RATE.
I'VE GOT SOME NUMBERS HERE THAT I'LL SHOW YOU.
>> EXCUSE ME, WAS THAT THE LIBRARY, SIR?
>> CONSTANT WATER AND SEWER RATES, WE'RE ASSUMING FOR FISCAL 22, NO NEW BOND SALES FROM 22.
WE'LL SPEND DOWN OUR EXISTING BOND FUND BALANCES.
OF COURSE, THE ITEM IS ON THE AGENDA TODAY FOR APPROVAL OF THE AMERICAN REST OF THE PLAN MONEY FOR THE PROJECTS THAT WE COVERED IN LAST MONTH'S SESSION WITH YOU.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE GETTING AN EMBARRASSMENT [NOISE] OF RICHES IN OUR SALES TAX REVENUE.
THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS HAVE BEEN REALLY STRONG AND IN THE MODELING THAT I DO, THE ONLY EXPLANATION FOR IT IS THE STIMULUS,
[02:00:01]
AND THE PIN-UP DEMAND FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO THE ISLAND.THE QUESTION IS, HOW LONG DO WE THINK THAT BOOM WILL CONTINUE? I'M PRETTY CAUTIOUS ABOUT THINGS LIKE THAT.
I'D LIKE TO SEE IT HAPPEN BEFORE WE COUNTER THE MONEY IN THE BUDGET.
JUST TO KEEP IN MIND WHERE WE ARE WITH THE RECOVERY, THE HOUSTON, GALVESTON AREA LOST 330,000 JOBS LAST SPRING TO THE SHUTDOWN AND BUSINESS CLOSURES RELATED TO COVID.
AS OF NOW, WE'VE RECOVERED ABOUT HALF OF THOSE JOBS.
THE RECOVERY IS PROJECTED TO CONTINUE.
THERE'S TWO LOCAL EXPERTS THAT I ADHERE TO, PATROGEN CASPI WITH A GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP AND DR. BALE GAYLORD, THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, THEY'VE BOTH BEEN MONITORING THE HOUSTON ECONOMY FOR 30 OR 40 YEARS.
THEY TEND TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE IN THEIR PROJECTIONS AND '22 DOES LOOK LIKE THE YEAR THAT WE GET BACK TO WHERE WE WERE LAST SPRING.
JUST SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING YEAR OVER YEAR.
THESE ARE ANNUAL INFLATION RATES, AND WE SEE AROUND THE TWO PERCENT LEVEL.
APRIL OVER LAST APRIL IS FOUR AND A HALF PERCENT.
OF COURSE LAST APRIL WAS DEPRESSED BECAUSE AGAIN OF THE PANDEMIC.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR CRISIS TO CONTINUE RISING.
I THINK ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, WE HAVE TO ASSUME THAT THE PANDEMIC IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO AFFECT US THROUGH 22, PUBLIC WORKS IS LOOKING AT PRICE INCREASES ON ALL OF THEIR MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES, TRAIN AREA, STREETS AND TRAFFIC [NOISE].
I'VE TAKEN A LOOK AT GASOLINE PRICES WITH DAVID SMITH, AND YOU REALLY CAN'T COMPARE VERY MUCH OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LAST TWO FIRST WEEKS AS WE DID EARLY ON GASOLINE BECAUSE PRICES HAVE BEEN ARTIFICIALLY DEPRESSED.
WE'RE LOOKING AT 19 AS A BASE TO JUDGE WHAT 22 LOOKS LIKE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT A NUMBER THAT'S ABOUT 10 PERCENT HIGHER THAN FY19.
THE PATTERN ON GASOLINE PRICES IS PROBABLY GOING TO REMAIN THE SAME AS IT HAS FOR THE LAST 20 OR 30 YEARS.
THE PRICE DROPS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS AND THEN THE DEMAND PICKS UP IN THE SUMMER MONTHS.
THAT'S ALL A PART OF THE NUMBERS [NOISE] THAT WE WORKED OUT.
OUR ELECTRICITY CONTRACT IS GOOD THROUGH DECEMBER OF 23, AND WE GOT JUST A FABULOUS RATE AT THREE AND A HALF CENTS PER KILOWATT HOUR THROUGH THAT TIME.
WE ARE LOOKING AT EXTENDING THAT RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE NATURAL GAS PRICES HAVE STARTED TO RISE BACK, AND THAT'S DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE ELECTRICITY PRICE.
WE SPEND UPWARDS OF $3 MILLION ON ELECTRICITY, SO THAT'S A CONCERN.
AS FAR AS THE 22 BUDGET IS CONCERNED, WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.
>> MIKE, CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION ON THE ELECTRICITY COST? ISN'T THERE A MECHANISM THE STATE, BECAUSE THE STATE HAS PROPERTIES THAT THEY LET GAS COMPANIES, OBVIOUSLY GAS ON TEXAS PROPERTIES, AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE GET IT AT A LOWER PERCENTAGE, LIKE SCHOOLS, MUNICIPALITIES, COUNTIES?
>> I'LL GET YOU AN ANSWER TO THAT.
WE HAVE AN ENERGY ADVISOR THAT WORKS WITH THE CITY.
I JUST KNOW THAT WHEN NATURAL GAS PRICES ARE DOWN, CITIES DO WELL WITH THEIR ELECTRICITY GRID.
OF COURSE THAT'S NOT THE ENTIRE COST.
THE UNDERLYING COST THAT CENTER POINT CHARGES FOR MAINTAINING THE LINES OF WATER IS ALSO A PART OF THE BILL.
WE'VE GOT WHAT IS A SHORTLIST, BUT IT'S SOME SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS LEFT TO DO IN THE CIP AND CONSTRUCTION PRICES ARE UNDOUBTEDLY GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY IT.
37TH STREET IS OUT FOR BID, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE WATCHING THOSE BIDS WHEN THEY COME IN LIKE A HAWK TO SEE WHAT THAT TURNS OUT TO BE COMPARED TO THE ENGINEERING ESTIMATES.
I'VE MENTIONED THE INFLATION RATE.
WE HAVE GOTTEN THE BALANCE OF OUR CARES ACT REIMBURSEMENT FOR LAST CALENDAR YEAR.
[02:05:09]
WE DEPOSITED THE FUNDS BACK IN THE FUNDS WHERE THE EXPENSES ORIGINATED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF EQUIPMENT USE AND WE PUT THE EQUIPMENT USE IN THE GARAGE BUDGET ALONG WITH THE REIMBURSEMENT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS COST, AND THAT'S WHAT'S FUNDING THIS SECOND PUMPER TODAY.THAT'S ON THE AGENDA. THAT HAS COME OFF THE TOP.
GENERAL FUND STILL GOT A MILLION AND A QUARTER BACK.
THAT ALONG WITH THE HEALTH BENEFITS COST INCREASE, WHICH IS USING SOME OF THAT MONEY.
WE'LL NET OUT TO THE INCREASE IN THE ENDING FUND BALANCE AND PUT US AT 116 DAYS, 18.4 MILLION.
PROPERTY TAX REVENUES IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM.
>> MIKE CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION PLEASE?
>> THE HEALTH BENEFIT COST INCREASE, IS THAT TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE COURT'S INVOLVEMENT IN GIVING MONEY BACK?
ACTUALLY, IT'S A NET-ZERO TO US NOW.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING.
>> IT APPEARS THAT WE WILL GET A QUARTER MILLION TO 300 THOUSAND BACK.
THAT'S GOING TO BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT THEY'VE BEEN PAYING US AND WHAT THEIR COST HAS BEEN THROUGH JUNE 30TH.
THEY ARE GOING TO THEIR OWN CARRIER ON JULY 1ST.
>> WE HAD A HEALTH BOARD MEETING YESTERDAY, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THAT TOO.
>> REALLY, WE'RE JUST DEALING WITH THEIR OWN COST NOW, ON TAXABLE.
PROPERTY TAX REVENUE IS A REAL RISK MANAGEMENT EXERCISE RIGHT NOW FOR US BECAUSE IT COULD VARY ANYWHERE FROM A MILLION DOLLARS MORE FOR THE GENERAL FUND TO ONLY 400 THOUSAND OR LESS AS COMPARED TO FISCAL 21.
THE SALES TAX, THE MODELING THAT I DO, WE'RE LOOKING AT A 4.2 PERCENT INCREASE OVER A BASE NUMBER FOR THIS YEAR.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVEN'T SEEN IT BEFORE, THE MODEL THAT WE USE IS REALLY BASED ON METROPOLITAN AREA EMPLOYMENT.
NINETY PERCENT OF THE VARIATION IN GALVESTON SALES TAX IS EXPLAINED THROUGH REGRESSION ANALYSIS BY HOUSTON AREA EMPLOYMENT.
THE MODEL GOES BACK TO 1991 ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.
WHEN WE ADDED LOCAL AND NATIONAL FACTORS LIKE GDP AND PRICE OF GASOLINE, WE GET UP TO 98 PERCENT.
IF THE TREND IS GOING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION OF THE MODEL, I'LL LOOK AT THE MODEL AND SEE WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT.
I BELIEVE WE'LL HAVE A STRONG SALES TAX YEAR IN THE NEXT YEAR BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH OF OUR EMPLOYMENT.
OTHER GENERAL FUND REVENUE IS GENERALLY FLAT.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF A SURGE DUE TO THIS CONTRACTION THAT YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT.
BUILDING PERMITS, FIRE INSPECTION PERMITS, THE THINGS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF RESIDENTIAL HOUSING.
WE'RE FACTORING THAT IN, BUT AGAIN, IT'S A QUESTION OF HOW LONG DO WE THINK THAT THAT IS GOING TO LAST? WE'RE LOOKING AT TOTAL INCREASE IN GENERAL FUND REVENUE OF ANYWHERE FROM 1.1-1.7 MILLION DEPENDING LARGELY ON FINAL PROPERTY TAX ROLL.
LET ME GIVE YOU SOME NUMBERS ON PROPERTY TAX.
THE ORIGINAL TAX ROLL, PRE-HEARINGS TAXABLE VALUE TOTAL WAS HIGHER BY $2.6 BILLION IN VALUE, A 35 PERCENT INCREASE IN TAXABLE RATE.
>> ONE YEAR. THAT'S COMPARED WITH THIS YEAR'S ROLL, THE 2020 ROLL THAT WE'RE COLLECTING RIGHT NOW.
IT WAS FOCUSED IN THE THREE AREAS YOU SEE THERE, SINGLE-FAMILY CATEGORY, TAXABLE VALUE STARTED OUT ONE AND A HALF BILLION HIGHER THAN THE CURRENT LEVEL OR A 28 PERCENT INCREASE.
THE MULTI FAMILY CATEGORY WENT UP A QUARTER OF A BILLION, OR A 58 PERCENT INCREASE.
COMMERCIAL REAL PROPERTY DOUBLED. IT DOUBLED.
I GET A REPORT FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT EVERY WEEK TO MONITOR TOTALS AND LOOK AT WHAT'S MOVED FROM BEING UNDER ARB REVIEW TO BEING APPROVED BY THE ARB TO TRY TO KEEP UP WITH LOSS OF VALUES.
[02:10:06]
BUT THEY'VE, I THINK, ADOPTED A PRACTICE OF NOT PUTTING THOSE RESULTS IN THEIR SYSTEM UNTIL IT'S BEEN APPROVED BY THE ARB, SO WE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH OF A TREND.I'VE TALKED TO THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
THEY RAN A SPECIAL REPORT THE OTHER DAY FOR ME, AND WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO GET A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN VALUE.
IF YOU WOULD GO TO SLIDE 8, YOU CAN SEE THE HISTORY OF WHAT'S HAPPENED GOING BACK TO 2007.
THE FAR-RIGHT COLUMN IS THE INITIAL INCREASE OF THE PRE-PROTEST ROLL OVER THE PRIOR YEAR, AND THEN THE NET INCREASE IS WHERE EACH ONE OF THOSE YEARS ENDED UP WHEN PROTESTS WERE FINISHED AND WE GOT A CERTIFIED ROLE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT A 35 PERCENT INCREASE INITIALLY.
I WAS GUESSING THAT WE WOULD LOSE AS MUCH AS 1.8 BILLION AGAIN IN THE HEARING'S PROCESS, WHICH WOULD NET US AT A 10 PERCENT INCREASE.
>> THOSE ARE CONSERVATIVE NUMBERS?
>> YEAH, BUT THE HIGHER PERCENTAGE IS EVEN MORE CONSERVATIVE, AND I'LL SHOW YOU WHY IN JUST A MINUTE.
BUT IT APPEARS IT MAY BE AS MUCH AS 15 PERCENT.
LOOK AT PAGE 9, SLIDE 9 AND WRAP YOUR MIND AROUND THIS WITH ME.
THE HIGHER THE INCREASE IN THE TAXABLE ROLL, THE MORE OUR TOTAL PROPERTY TAX RATE HAS TO DROP TO STAY WITH THE 3 1/2 PERCENT INCREASE IN REVENUE OVERALL.
IN OTHER WORDS, IT'S A TIMES B EQUALS C. C IS LIMITED TO A 3 1/2 PERCENT INCREASE.
IF A IS HIGHER, B HAS TO GO LOWER.
THAT TAX RATE CALCULATION A LOT MORE COMPLICATED IT.
IT INCLUDES A LOT OF THINGS THAT FARS UP THE EDGES OF WHAT THE HEART OF IT HAS BEEN NATURALLY.
WHAT I WANTED YOU TO SEE HERE IS WHAT, AND THERE'S NUMBERS ON THE NEXT PAGE, DOLLARS.
IF WE HAVE 3 1/2 PERCENT GROWTH, WE COULD STICK WITH THE CURRENT TAX RATE OF 56 CENTS, AND THE GENERAL FUND SHARE [NOISE] WOULD BE THE SAME, 45.75 CENTS.
IF WE GO UP 10 PERCENT, WE WOULD LOOK AT HAVING TO CUT THE RATE ABOUT THREE CENTS.
NOTICE THAT THE LIBRARY RATE REMAINS IN A NICKEL.
WE'RE KEEPING THE DEBTS AROUND DEBT SERVICE RATE AT 5 1/4 CENTS, SO ALL OF THIS THREE CENT REDUCTION HAS TO COME OFF OF THE GENERAL FUND TOTAL.
I THINK THAT NUMBER IS WRONG; 45750 SHOULD BE 42750.
>> [OVERLAPPING] YOU SHOULD KNOW THE NEW CONSTRUCTION PERCENTAGES LIKE [OVERLAPPING]
>> YEAH, THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE NEW CONSTRUCTION.
>> RIGHT, BECAUSE THAT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO HAPPEN.
IN FACT, WHEN YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT MAJOR INCREASES.
>> RIGHT. BUT THE PROBLEM WITH THAT NEW CONSTRUCTION IS THAT WE'RE PUT IN DISADVANTAGE COMPARED WITH LEAGUE CITY AND ALL THOSE OTHERS CAN PREDICT FEDERAL BOOMING WITH NEW CONSTRUCTION HAPPENING SOON.
>> I COULD TELL YOU, WE'RE BENDING WITH NEW CONSTRUCTION [OVERLAPPING]
>> YEAH, BUT NOT BY COMPARISON.
>> THEY BUILD ABOUT 1,500 HOUSES A YEAR.
>> CAN YOU EXPAND ON THAT LIBRARY FUND RATE?
>> THERE'S A PROVISION IN THE CITY CHARTER, AND IT WAS PUT IN IN 1979, WHICH IS BEFORE ANY OF THESE EFFECTIVE TAX RATE CALCULATION BUSINESS WENT INTO PROPERTY TAX CODE.
IT SAYS THE LIBRARY WOULD GET ANNUALLY AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE TAX LEVY THAT RESULTED FROM THE APPLICATION OF A FIVE CENT TAX RATE.
THAT WAS MINIMUM. COUNCIL COULD VOTE TO GIVE MORE.
IT'S A FLAT FIVE CENT GUARANTEE.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WAY THE TAX RATE IS CALCULATED, ACCORDING TO THE STATE'S RULES, THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS RATE REALLY INCLUDES WHAT WE HAVE AS THE GENERAL FUND AND THE LIBRARY RATE.
WHEN THOSE TWO GET ADDED TOGETHER, THAT'S WHAT HAS TO DROP IN THIS EQUATION.
>> WHAT THAT MEANS TOO IS THAT WITH THE 3 1/2 PERCENT TAX GAP THAT WE'RE WORKING AT OVER THE YEARS COMING FORWARD, THAT FIVE CENTS IS GOING TO BECOME AN INCREASINGLY LARGER AMOUNT OF OUR REVENUE.
[02:15:06]
>> WHEN OUR RATE HITS 50 CENTS, WHICH IT COULD DO WITH A 15-16 PERCENT INCREASE.
>> THE LIBRARY WOULD BE TAKING 10 PERCENT OF OUR OVERALL TAXES.
I WANT TO JUST MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THE LIBRARY FUND.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS AGO, MAYBE FOUR YEARS AGO OR FIVE YEARS AGO, WE APPOINTED A CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT ASPECTS OF THE CHARTER, BECAUSE THIS IS OUTLINED IN THE CHARTER.
ONE OF THE THINGS THEY LOOKED AT WAS THE LIBRARY SITUATION.
FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT REASONS, THEY RECOMMENDED NOT TO MAKE A CHANGE IN THE CHARTER FOR THAT.
BUT THERE HAS BEEN SOME DIALOGUE RECENTLY [INAUDIBLE] WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THEIR BOARD AND THEIR NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ON THIS SUBJECT, AND THEY'RE VERY OPEN TO SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT THIS.
THEY UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION AS IT'S UNFOLDING NOW, AND THEY'RE OPEN TO LOOK AT POSSIBLY SOME CHANGES ON THIS, SO WE'RE GOING TO PURSUE THAT.
>> IT'S A VERY PASSIONATE ISSUE.
>> SLIDE 10 REALLY BRINGS IT HOME.
>> WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT RATES ON SLIDE 9.
>> NEXT SLIDE, JANELLE. THERE WE GO.
LAST FISCAL YEAR, YOU SEE WHAT WE COLLECTED IN OUR THREE FUNDS; THE GENERAL FUND, THE DEBT FUND, AND THE LIBRARY FUND, 35,353,000 TOTAL, AND THE GENERAL FUND GOT 82.3 PERCENT OF THAT 29,102,000.
THIS YEAR, WE'RE ESTIMATING THAT THE GENERAL FUND IS GOING TO GET 31,473,000 OF A $38 MILLION TOTAL, SO THAT'S NOT SO BAD.
THE PERCENTAGE DROPPED TO [NOISE] 81.8 PERCENT, BUT LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS TO US IN '22, AND THIS IS WHAT THE PROBLEM [NOISE] REALLY IS.
I'LL JUST READ THE TEXT BOX THERE ON THE RIGHT, THAT IF THE ROLL GOES UP BY 20 PERCENT, AND YOU'VE SEEN IN THAT LAST COLUMN, THE GENERAL FUND WILL SEE AN $80,000 INCREASE, AND THE LIBRARY'S SHARE WILL INCREASE OVER THIS YEAR BY $600,000.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF [NOISE] LAWS PASSED 40 YEARS APART, THAT'S IT.
I'M GOING TO BE HANGING ON EVERY REPORT I GET EVERY WEEK AND MONITOR IT AS CLOSE AS I CAN BUT RIGHT NOW, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A VERY LEANING HERE IN TERMS OF REVENUE GROWTH.
[NOISE] LET'S LOOK AT THE NEXT SLIDE.
WE NEED TO GO BACK TO SOME OF THESE.
WE START EACH YEAR WITH A LIST THAT LOOKS SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN TERMS OF THE THINGS THAT WE FEEL LIKE NEED TO BE BAKED INTO THE BUDGET ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, STARTING WITH OUR EMPLOYEES AND COMPENSATION, MINIMUM OF TWO PERCENT FOR ALL OF THEM.
[NOISE] THE BALANCE OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASED.
THIS YEAR WE'VE GOT IN EFFECT FOR THE LAST FOUR MONTHS OF THE YEAR, WE HAVE PICKED UP THE FIRST EIGHT MONTHS.
THAT'S THE GENERAL FUND SHARE OF THAT $690,000.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE FUND TRANSFER IS NO LONGER GROWING AT THE RATE IT WAS.
ONCE YOU GET TO EIGHT PERCENT, WHICH IS WHERE WE'VE BEEN SINCE FISCAL '20, IT TRACKS WITH REVENUES, AND THAT'S THE WAY WE MEASURE THAT.
THE CHARTER SAYS EIGHT [NOISE] PERCENT OF THE BUDGET.
WE BUDGET TO THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT WE HAVE, AND THAT REALLY DOESN'T CHANGE.
WE MAY SPEND MORE OR LESS IN A GIVEN YEAR, BUT IT'S A FIXED AMOUNT, [NOISE] SO WE CAN COUNT ON IT.
WE'VE BEEN TOLD TO EXPECT SOME INCREASE REQUEST FROM THE COUNTY HEALTH AUTHORITY EMS, AND WE'VE BEEN PUTTING OFF AN UPDATE OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW.
THAT ALL ADDS UP TO A ABOUT 1,800,000.
WE'VE GOT REQUEST FOR A VARIETY OF OTHER THINGS TOTALING TWO MILLION IN THE GENERAL FUND.
THERE'S A REASON FOR THIS IN PART, LET ME WALK YOU THROUGH THE NEXT COUPLE OF PAGES.
[NOISE] WE HAVE TARGETED OUR REVENUE GROWTH OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS TO SOME NEEDY AREAS THAT WE JUST HAD TO MAKE THEM A PRIORITY.
THE POLICE PENSION CONTRIBUTION,
[02:20:01]
THE FIRE PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS, AND HEALTH BENEFITS, ALONG WITH THE TRANSFER TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEBT SERVICE FUND, WENT UP 5.3 MILLION BETWEEN 2017 AND 2021.AS FAR AS SALARIES ONLY ARE CONCERNED, POLICE DEPARTMENT SALARIES WENT UP 2 1/2 MILLION, [NOISE] FIRE DEPARTMENT SALARIES WENT UP 1.4, AND WE TRY TO KEEP THEM AT PACE WITH MARKET THERE.
ALL OTHER GENERAL FUND SALARIES WENT UP A TOTAL OF $242,000.
THE EXPENSES IN THE GENERAL FUND THAT DIDN'T FIT ONE OF THOSE CATEGORIES DROPPED $661,000.
WE HAVE SQUEEZED THESE BUDGETS THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS.
YOU REMEMBER WE PAID CDM FOR CASH FOR THAT SETTLEMENT.
IT'S BEEN A SERIES OF THINGS THAT'S HAPPENED TO US.
THIS CHART, I'M PULLING THIS FROM THE '21 BUDGET, IF YOU WILL DO IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES.
YOU'LL SEE BY DEPARTMENT HOW THIS WORKS.
[NOISE] DEVELOPMENT SERVICES IS TIGHT.
PARTS THAT'S PICKED UP SOME NEW RESPONSIBILITIES.
FORTUNATELY, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO FINANCE MOST OF THAT WITH FEES, AND WE HAVE A SPECIAL REVENUE FUND NOW FOR REVENUE-PRODUCING PARKS.
WE'VE ADDRESSED THIS IN SOME OTHER WAYS WITH MANAGEMENT STRATEGY.
YOU SEE THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS WHAT YOU THINK OF AS AN ADMINISTRATION, [NOISE] HAS GROWN $18,000 IN THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
MY DEPARTMENT, THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, [NOISE] THE BUDGET DROPPED, 402,000.
YOU ALL APPROVED A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO ALLOW US TO DO THAT.
THE NUMBER OF BRANDS THAT WE'RE TRACKING AND JUST A CONFLUENCE OF CIRCUMSTANCES PUT US IN A POSITION WHERE WE GOT TOO FAR.
[NOISE] THE ISLAND TRANSIT SUBSIDY, WE WERE ABLE TO CUT BACK BECAUSE OF THE CARES ACT GRANT THAT TOTALED 4.7 MILLION THAT WE GOT JUST FOR ISLAND TRANSIT.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BANK OUR NORMAL GRANT FUNDS FROM FDA AND TXDOT AND USE THAT FOR 4.7 MILLION, BUT IT'S GONE NOW.
NOW, WE'RE GOING TO BE SCRATCHING OUT WHAT WE SAVED.
THAT'S GOING TO ALLOW US TO KEEP THAT OPERATING SUBSIDY LOW, BUT WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE IF WE'RE GOING TO TURN UP NEEDING IT TO BE BACK IN 800,000 RANGE FOR [INAUDIBLE] PURPOSES, WE DON'T WANT TO LET THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN IN ONE YEAR.
>> DO THE TROLLEYS FALL UNDER THIS?
>> DO THE ELECTRIC TROLLEYS FALL UNDER THIS?
>> IT'S PART OF IT, BUT WE'RE ABLE TO USE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX DOLLARS, OUR TRICKLE-DOWN MONEY FOR THAT.
WE'VE BEEN HOLDING SOME IN RESERVE THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
WE'RE GOING TO DISCOVER WHAT THAT OPERATING COST IS GOING TO BE THIS YEAR.
>> CAN WE GET BACK TO THE SLIDES BEFORE THIS?
>> TO THE PUBLIC WORKS, STREETS AND TRAFFIC.
I KNOW WE HAVE TREMENDOUS BACKLOGS.
ARE WE LOOKING AT ADDING MORE EMPLOYEES IN OUR PUBLIC WORK SECTOR?
>> CITY MANAGER SHAKING HIS HEAD.
>> WE'RE ADDING A FEW KEY POSITIONS IN THERE, BUT NO.
OVERALL, NO LARGE SCALE EXPANSION.
>> COULD YOU BRING [INAUDIBLE]? [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] [BACKGROUND].
>> HEY, BRIAN, WOULD YOU HAVE A SEAT OVER HERE.
>> WE'RE PLANNING SOME KEY POSITIONS IN THAT AREA, BUT NO.
>> MY QUESTIONS, WE HAVE SO MANY INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
[NOISE] MY QUESTION WAS, ARE WE LOOKING AT ADDING MORE EMPLOYEES IN PUBLIC WORKS? BECAUSE WE HAVE TREMENDOUS BACKLOGS AND PROJECTS.
>> GIVEN THE FUNDING CONSTRAINTS, STUFF THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
>> KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE'S TWO FUNDING SOURCES FOR THAT.
ONE IS GENERAL FUND TAX DOLLARS AND STREETS AND TRAFFIC, THE OTHER IS YOUR UTILITY FUNDS, WHICH ARE ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
THEY HAVE TO EAT WHAT THEY KILL.
[02:25:02]
IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP THE BRAKES NEUTRAL [INAUDIBLE] , THERE'S NOT A LOT OF EXTRA FUNDING IN THERE FOR THAT.>>THERE'S ANOTHER COUPLE OF THINGS GOING ON UNDERNEATH THESE NUMBERS.
THE IN-HOUSE STREET CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM IS BEING FUNDED VIRTUALLY 100 PERCENT THROUGH THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEBT SERVICE FUND AS PROJECT WRIT LARGE.
>> WHICH HAS SAVED US QUITE A BIT OF MONEY.
>> THE ONLY THING IS PUBLIC WORKS HAS GOTTEN REALLY AGGRESSIVE, I THINK AT THE BEHEST OF THE MANAGER'S OFFICE.
[NOISE] IT'S RECOVERING THE COST OF REPAIRING STREET CUTS BY PRIVATE UTILITIES.
[NOISE] THEY'RE COLLECTING UPWARDS OF TWO MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR COVERING THAT COST.
>> IT'S ALSO HELPING IDENTIFY THEIR UTILITIES IN OUR STREETS.
>> I JUST THINK THEY DO SUCH A TREMENDOUS JOB.
I JUST KNOW WHAT THEIR BACKLOG IS.
>> WHAT'S KILLING US IS WE [INAUDIBLE] THE CONTRACT OUT, IF WE NEED TO, BUT THOSE COSTS HAVE ESCALATED SO HIGH.
I WAS SPEAKING WITH ONE OF OUR SUPERVISORS LAST NIGHT [INAUDIBLE] FROM $200 TO OVER $1,000.
>> ALL THESE CHANGE ORDERS TOO. [NOISE]
>> THAT'S PART OF WHAT'S DRIVING IT.
[NOISE] BUT THE MATERIAL COST ARE DRIVING UPWARDS WHAT IS OUR PUBLIC WORKS BUDGET MORE SO THAN THE EMPLOYEE COST.
>> IF YOU GO TO SLIDE 15, [NOISE] BUDGET POSITIONING, COUNCIL, LOOK LIKE IT TRACKS THE DOLLARS.
[NOISE] PUBLIC SAFETY CATEGORY, THE POSITION COUNT WENT UP 15.775 PRIOR POSITIONS.
PUBLIC WORKS ACTUALLY IS DOWN FROM 17 BY ONE FTE, 9/10 FTE.
>> [INAUDIBLE] POSITION THERE OR WHAT'S THE STORY WITH THAT?
>> HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT AGAIN, THE INCREASE IN FTE IS [INAUDIBLE]
>> THE ONES WITH PARENTHESES SHOW A DECREASE.
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES IS AWASH, TWO LESS POSITIONS IN BUILDING INSPECTION AND TWO MORE IN PLANNING.
YOU GO TO THE NEXT PAGE AND YOU SEE THAT GENERAL GOVERNMENT CATEGORY IS AWASH.
FINANCE, [NOISE] WE ACTUALLY STARTED THE YEAR WITH 5 1/2 POSITIONS LESS.
WE'RE LEAFING OUR WAY THROUGH [NOISE] WHAT THE DEPARTMENTS HAVE ASKED FOR AND WITH THIS LATEST INFORMATION ON THE PROPERTY TAX ROLL, WE'RE GOING TO PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND DETERMINE WHAT THE STRATEGY IS GOING TO BE [OVERLAPPING]
>> [INAUDIBLE] QUESTION PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES, DO WE HAVE NUMBERS THAT ARE [INAUDIBLE] OPENINGS.
>> WE GOT SLAMMED HARD THE LAST YEAR ON SOME UNROUTINE ITEMS. THREE STORMS AND A WINTER STORM SET US BACK.
THAT IS AS MUCH OF A CAUSE OF OUR DELAYS ON THINGS NOW AS ANYTHING ELSE.
FOR ROUTINE EVERYDAY WORK, WE'RE FAIRLY WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
>> BUT WE DO NOT HAVE ANY CUSHION.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT I DON'T HAVE ANY, WE'RE TRACKING ALL THE SHORTAGES AROUND THE WORLD.
>> BUT A BIG PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE I KNOW I'M PERSONALLY WAITING ON [INAUDIBLE] OUR TRUCKER, AND AS THOSE RATES RISE, IT'S CAUSING US PART OF AN ISSUE AT HIRING AND RETAINING EQUIPMENT OPERATORS.
WE DID SOME RAISES ON THAT, WAS IT LAST YEAR BRANDON?
>> TO TRY AND RECRUIT MORE, AND IT WORKED. WE'VE GOT A FEW BACK.
BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE A CONSTANT STRUGGLE FOR US AS WE TARGET THESE PAY INCREASES TO TRY TO MAINTAIN KEY-PIECE EMPLOYEES [NOISE] IN THESE AREAS BECAUSE WE ARE FIGHTING THE MARKET.
>> WHEN WE RUN INTO THAT NOW, SCHOOL BUS, SCHOOL DISTRICT GOES UP, [INAUDIBLE] AN HOUR FOR SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS WHO'S ON TRANSIT JOBS? I MEAN, IT'S JUST I GO UP, [NOISE] THEY LOSE THE BUS DRIVERS, IT HAPPENS.
>> BUT WE FACED THAT PRETTY HARD WITH EQUIPMENT OPERATORS LAST YEAR, BUT WE'RE GETTING BACK ON PACE WITH EQUIPMENT OPERATORS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M HOLDING FIRM TO IS I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR MINIMUM LABORERS ARE MAKING $15 AN HOUR HERE AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M PRESSING HARD TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP IN THE BUDGET.
I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE A HUGE DEAL FOR US.
IT'S NOT A HUGE ITEM, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO THAT.
>> I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD BRIAN WHEN YOU BRING THAT FORWARD TO LET US KNOW DOLLAR WISE.
>> THAT WILL BE; IT'LL BE SPELLED OUT.
NEXT SLIDE, WE'LL MOVE ON TO COVER WATER AND SEWER REAL QUICK, OUR OTHER MAJOR.
[02:30:08]
AGAIN, NO RATE INCREASE IN '22 AND WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THE FACT THAT OUR DEBT SERVICE THAT WE PAY GCWA FOR BONDS THEY SOLD FOR CITY OF GALVESTON PROJECTS, WE THOUGHT WAS GOING TO END IN FISCAL '23.IT TURNED OUT THAT THEY HAD ENOUGH CASH BALANCES ON HAND FROM CONSTRUCTION PROCEEDS AND THEIR DEBT SERVICE RESERVE THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO KNOCK THAT DOWN TO $200,000 THIS YEAR.
THAT'S GIVEN US A BREAK IN OUR WATER FUND.
WATER AND SEWER IS GOING TO HAVE MATERIAL AND SUPPLY COSTS GOING UP.
[INAUDIBLE] SAID HE WAS TALKING TO ONE OF HIS GROUPS AND THEY'D ALREADY SPENT [NOISE] THIS YEAR'S BUDGET ON MATERIALS, SO THAT'S AN INDICATION OF THAT.
>> KEEP IN MIND ON UTILITIES AND STREETS, WE'RE STILL PLAYING CATCH-UP.
WE'RE FIGHTING 20 TO 30 YEARS OF ZERO MAINTENANCE AND REPLACEMENT; WE'RE TRYING TO CATCH UP.
JUST LAST NIGHT, [INAUDIBLE] STREET CAVED IN SMALL, IT'S NOT THE WHOLE STREET CAVED IN, BUT WE'RE FINDING THIS MORE AND MORE BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS OLD CLAY PIPE THAT'S COLLAPSING IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF TOWN.
IT'S A STRUGGLE FOR US AND WE'RE PLAYING CATCH UP.
AT SOME POINT, THIS WILL LEVEL OFF, BUT WE'RE HAVING TO PLAY CATCH UP RIGHT NOW AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE WATER AND SEWER FUNDS AND THE BOND FUNDS.
GOING BACK TO THAT ONE THAT HAD TO DO WITH THAT LEGAL GROUP WE PAY THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE [INAUDIBLE] AND WHAT NOT, WELL THAT COMES OUT OF THE BOND FUND.
>> NO THAT'S OPERATING [OVERLAPPING] OPERATING COST.
>> OPERATING? THERE WERE A SET NUMBER OF CHANGES THAT CAME OUT OF THE REFERENCE COMING OUT OF THE BOND.
>> IF IT'S A PROJECT, YES [INAUDIBLE]
>> THAT'S PRIMARILY OUR [NOISE] AND OUR ENGINEERS WORK ON SPECIFIC PROJECTS.
>> IT'S PART OF THE PROJECT COST.
>> WE'RE GETTING NATURAL SAVINGS THIS YEAR IN WATER AND SEWER OF $665,000.
WE JUST DID OUR REFUNDING, YOU RECALL, A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND THAT SAVED US ABOUT 400 A YEAR AND THE BALANCE WAS BILLED INTO OUR EXISTING DEBT SERVICE SCHEDULE.
OUR MAJOR MAINTENANCE COST WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WITH THE INFILTRATION AND INFLOW AND SEWER, IS GETTING A SHOT IN THE ARM WITH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, BUT WE'VE GOT TO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT AS [INAUDIBLE] IDENTIFIES PROBLEM AREAS, AND IT'S BASICALLY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE KIND OF INFORMATION WE'VE HAD ON THE STREET SURVEY FOR FIVE YEARS.
>> WHERE YOU CAN PRIORITIZE AND SAY HERE'S ONE THAT'S GOT TO GO NOW.
>> ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO UPGRADE THE WATER METERS?
>> THAT IS ACTUALLY UP TO BID NOW. AM I CORRECT? [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT'S CORRECT, AND WE'LL SAVE A LOT OF MONEY ON THAT.
>> BUT I JUST WANT TO COMPLIMENT OUR PUBLIC WORK STAFF AND OUR CITIZENS OF THE ISLAND, HOW WE'VE MANAGED TO GET ALL THOSE WATER LEAKS SHUT OFF AND MANAGE NOT HAVE TO CHARGE ANYONE WITH EXORBITANT FUNDS.
I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THAT BECAUSE IT WAS AMAZING THAT WE CAME OUT OF THAT WITH-
>> WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST CITIES TO COME OUT FROM UNDER BOWL OF WATER TOO [OVERLAPPING] AS A RESULT OF THAT.
>> WE REALLY TECHNICALLY WERE THE FIRST CITY.
>> YEAH, TECHNICALLY, TECHNICALLY.
>> NEXT PAGE. [NOISE] OTHER FUNDS BESIDES WATER AND SEWER, I'VE MENTIONED ISLAND TRANSIT, [BACKGROUND] IT DOES APPEAR BASED ON SOME EARLY INFORMATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO HOLD ON TO OUR URBAN TRANSIT SYSTEM STATUS; NOT FINALLY OFFICIAL YET, BUT I HAVE STUMBLED ON A CENSUS.
>> I WANT TO CAUTION COUNSEL ON THAT TOO.
WE'VE GOT ABOUT $200,000 IN HERE FOR THIS YEAR FOR TRANSIT SUBSIDY.
IN A TYPICAL YEAR, THAT'S MORE LIKE $800,000.
>> WE'RE WORKING ON SOME CARES ACT MONEY NOW.
IF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE TRANSIT, THAT SUBSIDY'S GOING TO INCREASE AGAIN.
YOU CAN SEE HOW THAT COULD QUICKLY CONSUME ALL OR MORE OF OUR GROWTH IN ONE YEAR THAT WE'RE ALLOWED.
WE'RE GOING TO BE FACED WITH SOME VERY TOUGH DECISIONS AS IT RELATES TO FEDERALLY OPERATED TRANSIT.
THE TOURIST-OPERATED TRANSIT WERE ABLE TO FUND OFF THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.
THE FEDERALLY OPERATED TRANSIT IS GOING TO BE CHALLENGE FOR US GOING FORWARD.
[02:35:02]
I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S AWARE OF THAT.>> WHAT IS THAT BASED ON, BRIAN?
>> THE FEDERAL FUNDING, WHAT'S IT BASED ON FOR TRANSIT?.
>> IT'S BASED ON OUR POPULATION. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET OUR SUBSIDY.
BUT REMEMBER, THAT DOESN'T FUND US 100 PERCENT.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE USING CARES ACT MONEY TO FUND THAT DELTA.
BUT ANYWHERE FROM 800,000 TO $1 MILLION A YEAR IS OUR COST OF TRAINING.
>> WHEN I CAME ON TO COUNSEL IN 2014, OUR DEBTS IT WAS 1.2 I THINK.
>> YEAH, IT HAD ACTUALLY JUMPED UP TO 1.4 AT ONE POINT AND WE'VE WHITTLED IT DOWN, GOT IT DOWN IN 700,000 TO 800,000 RANGE.
WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO KEEP IT IN THAT, BUT I PERCEIVE TRANSIT BECOMING AN ISSUE THAT COUNCIL WAS GOING TO HAVE TO FACE IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO AS TO WHETHER NOBODY CAN CONTINUE TO OPERATE THAT SERVICE [OVERLAPPING]
>> [INAUDIBLE] I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE PERCENTAGE [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE HAVE ALL THAT INFORMATION THAT [INAUDIBLE]
>> WE HAVE ONE OF THE BEST TRANSIT DIRECTORS IN THE STATE RIGHT NOW AND HE'S WORKING HARD ON ALL THIS AND HE'S WORKING HARD ON GRANTS.
>> LET ME ASK, HOW MUCH IS THE FEDERAL SUBSIDY [INAUDIBLE] PERCENTAGE WISE? [OVERLAPPING]
>> DO YOU MEAN AN IRREGULAR YEAR?
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE HAVEN'T HAD A REGULAR YEAR, KEEP IN MIND, WE HAD A LONG TIME.
>> BUT HOW SOLID IS THIS 50,000 PLUS NUMBER?
>> MIKE GRANT THAT OFTEN FROM THE SITES.
>> YEAH, BECAUSE I'VE HEARD ANOTHER NUMBER IS ALSO ABOVE 50,000, SOMEBODY ELSE.
>> BUT IT'S LIKE, BUT IT ONLY HAS TO BE ABSENT AND WE WANT, AND WE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT ONE GOD THAT'S ON THE ABOVE OF THAT MURAL AND THAT I HAD, KEEP IN HERE.
>> BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT TRAIN ALREADY LEFT THE STATION.
>> THAT NUMBER'S GOING TO BE WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO KNOW THAT FOR SURE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30TH. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> FISCAL YEAR ENDS ON MY BIRTHDAY.
>> I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAYING, IT SEEMS RATIONAL TO ME, [LAUGHTER] BUT THAT'S THE DATE WE'RE ALSO SUPPOSED TO HEAR THOSE NUMBERS ARE CORRECT.
>> I LOOKED A LOT AT THE BONDS AND THE BONDS PLACE THAT I GET 50,477, SOMEWHERE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> THAT WAS THE AMERICAN SURVEY NUMBER.
>> THAT TELLS US OUR CHECK NUMBER FLYING.
>> YEAH. THEY'RE ESTIMATING, THEY DO SAMPLING.
>> THE CATALOG ESTIMATED NUMBERS WE DEAL WITH THAT.
>> JUST REMEMBER THE PROCESS GUYS, WE WERE HERE BEFORE.
WE'RE GOING TO GET A CENSUS NUMBER, AND THEN THERE'S GOING TO BE A PROTEST PERIOD OVER CENSUS NUMBER AND DEPENDING ON HOW CLOSE WILL COLLIDE.
SO EVEN WHEN YOU GET THAT NUMBER THAT'S NOT DEAD, DOES IT MEAN THAT'S THERE NOW YOU'LL HAVE A NUMBER THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR THINGS LIKE REDISTRICTING.
BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME PROTESTS NUMBERS IN HERE, SO, BUT WE FEEL FAIRLY CONFIDENT WE'RE GOING TO KEEP ABOVE THE 50,000.
>> WHICH IS UNLIKELY THE PROTEST NUMBER'S LOWER THAN THE FIGURE.
>> WOULDN'T LOWER IT, BUT YOU COULD RAISE IT.
>> EXACTLY SO, WE'RE IT TO COME IN BELOW 50,000 AND THAT WOULD COST US ONE.
>> ESSENTIALLY IF IT FALLS BELOW 50,000 OFFICIAL FROM THE CENSUS, THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM SHOULD JUST.
>> WELL, BASICALLY THE BEST WAY TO PUT IT THERE IF IT FALLS BELOW, IF WE FALL BELOW 50,000 YOU'D PRETTY MUCH PICK IT UP 100 PERCENT OF THE OPERATIONAL COST ALL IN TRANSIT.
>> BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A DOMINO EFFECT.
>> OF COURSE. BUT IF WE MAINTAIN THE 50,000 AND WE GET THAT FEDERAL SUBSIDY, WE ARE THEN OBLIGATED.
WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A CHOICE ABOUT THAT.
>> BUT THAT'S AN ANNUALIZED NUMBER.
CAPITAL INVESTMENTS ARE DIFFERENT, YOU MAKE CAPITAL INVESTMENTS ON FTA GRANTS.
YES, YOU'RE OBLIGATED FOR THE LIFE OF A CAPITAL ASSET, BUT THE OPERATIONAL MONEY, I THINK JUST OBLIGATES YOU FOR THE YEAR THAT YOU RECEIVE MONEY.
>> AND WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THE MONEY NOW.
>> YEAH. BUT IF WE DON'T, AND WE JUST LIKE START BACKING OUT OF TRANSPORTATION IMMEDIATELY THEN?
>> PHILOSOPHICALLY, THAT'S ANOTHER QUESTION THAT IS, MOST CITIES ARE SIZED DON'T HAVE A PUBLIC TURN OUT.
>> THAT THERE ISN'T REALLY A SHARE IN A COUNTY OR ROYAL FAMILY.
>> RIGHT, WHICH WE'RE DOING WHEN WE'RE MEASURING ENVIRONMENTAL THAT NOW.
>> THE TROUBLE WITH THAT IS THE THE TRIGGER FUND ISN'T BOTTOMLESS AND IT ISN'T REALLY PREDICTABLE,
>> IT'S NOT PERMANENT [LAUGHTER].
>> LEANING FORWARD TO HANG AROUND THE $2 BILLION LEVEL FOR US AND IT LOOKS LIKE BASED ON THE ESTIMATE THAT I HAVE CONFIDENCE THE WORKHORSE CFO FOR A PERIOD OF 2.1 BILLION PER PITTING.
I FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THAT.
>> WE ADOPTED THAT ON TUESDAYS.
>> I USE THAT TO ESTIMATE THAT WILL END UP WITH ABOUT A BILLION-DOLLAR AFTER THE TRIPLE DOWN PROCESS, AND THAT DOESN'T COUNT ANY GAINS FROM YOUR THAT YOU BASED ON SHORT-TERM RENTAL.
>> WHATEVER GAINS WE GET FROM THAT WILL BE LAME HERE.
[02:40:02]
>> CIP IN LAST FEW PAGES, I'LL JUST TELL YOU WHERE WE'VE GOT AN UNCOMMITTED BALANCE OF EXACTLY THE SAME AMOUNT.
INTERESTINGLY, IN OUR 16.2 MILLION FOR BOTH WATER SEWER STREETS IN THERE, SOME SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS COME THROUGH.
YOU SAW THE NEW STORY THE OTHER DAY ABOUT THE COUNTY AND THE SITUATION THEY'RE FINDING THEMSELVES AND WITH THEIR FACILITY PROJECTS AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH THOSE MATERIAL PRICES EACH CARRY OVER TO INFRASTRUCTURE FOR GROUND, WE MAY BE FACING THE SAME SITUATION.
>> WE'LL NEED TIME ON THESE PROJECTS THAT HE NEEDS.
IF WE DECIDE TODAY TO DO A PROJECT FOR TWO YEARS OUT WITH ENGINEERING IS WITH THE BACKLOG AND THE ENGINEERING FIRMS.
>> WE DECIDED A LONG TIME AGO IN 2013,
>> WE DID WELL, WE'RE ALMOST FINISHED WHERE WE SHOULD BE BEEN 23RD STREET OUT YOUR PROOF QUICK, RIGHT?
>> PREPARED TO DO ALL WORK AS PART OF THE POINTER FROM 1617 BOND PROJECTS.
>> WE'LL HAVE INSPECTORS ON THE JOB BUT THEY'LL DO IT.
>> ARE WE GOING TO DO ANY? I'VE BEEN GETTING SOME FEEDBACK BASICALLY BECAUSE THE BUSINESSES ARE THERE AND YOU GET A TEAR UP THAT HOST STRAIGHT AND WE'RE ASKING ABOUT THE SIDE STREETS, COULD THEY HAVE SOME TYPE OF PARKING?
>>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PARKING ISSUE BECAUSE YOU HAVE BARBER SHOPS, RESTAURANTS.
>> WE'RE GOING TO ASSIGN AN INSPECTOR FOR THE PROJECT AS WELL SO THAT WE CAN WORK WITH [OVERLAPPING].
>> YEAH, WE'RE DOING IN SEGMENTS TO ALL OF OUR PROJECTS, NOW WE'RE DOING IT IN SEGMENTS AND THAT WORK WELL ON 25TH STREET AHEAD OF SCHEDULE UNDER BUDGET, WE WERE VERY BLESSED AND 25TH STREET.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WELL, THAT'S ACTUALLY A TEXT.
>> NOW WE HAVE AN INSPECTOR ON THAT TANK STOP BROUGHT BY A PROJECT.
>> WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO DIRECT THEM.
>> I'M GOING TO TRY TO GET YOU SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THAT CONTRACT [OVERLAPPING] STAFF ABOUT IT TOMORROW.
>> I JUST THREW IN A COUPLE OF EXTRA SLIDES ON WHAT ARE OUR LONG-TERM DEBT STRUCTURE LOOKS LIKE.
GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, IF YOU WOULD.
THE BLUE IS PRINCIPAL PAYMENTS, GREEN IS INTEREST.
WELL, WE'VE GOT THAT LAID OUT FOR 20 YEARS FOR THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND 30 YEARS FOR THE WATER AND SEWER.
I WANTED YOU TO SEE THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO THE BRANCH WILL HAVE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS EVERY YEAR.
WAS THE PAYMENTS DROP-OFF PERIODICALLY LIKE THAT, THAT GIVES YOU WHAT'S THOUGHT OF AS ADDITIONAL CAPACITY FOR SUPPORT FOR NEW DEBT.
>> THAT IS NOT THE LAST THING I'M GOING TO HAVE TO FIT.
>> SET OUR GOAL IS TO KEEP THE DEBT SERVICE LEVEL.
[OVERLAPPING] [NOISE] [LAUGHTER]
>> THANK YOU, MIKE. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME CHALLENGES THIS YEAR, AND FOR THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING, I WANT EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND.
YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY, THE LIBRARY HAS PUT US ALMOST IN A SIMILAR SITUATION TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
MORE AVAILABLE VALUE DOESN'T NECESSARILY HELP US BECAUSE THEY GET A 100 PERCENT OF THAT, AND WE HAVE TO BASICALLY MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE ON OUR SIDE, CUTTING IT OFF.
>> AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST, THE GENERAL FUND IS ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY PUBLIC SAFETY AND A FEW OTHER ITEMS, PARKS IN TRANSIT.
AS THE LIBRARY CONTINUES TO GO DOWN IN THE LIBRARIES, WE HAVE A FABULOUS LIBRARY SYSTEM HERE.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WANTS TO REDUCE ANY MONEY TO THE LIBRARY.
BUT AS WE GO FORWARD, THIS COULD BE A HUGE PROBLEM FOR US, AND SAME FLIP SIDE OCCURS IF WE HAVE AN ACTIVE, WE HAVE AN INCIDENT IN OUR TEXT-BASED DROPS.
IT DOESN'T HELP US [LAUGHTER],
>> WE THOUGHT WE'VE SEEN THIS EFFECT, BUT OVER A THREE OR FOUR-YEAR PERIOD TIME, WE DIDN'T EXPECT A 35 PERCENT INCREASE [OVERLAPPING].
>> THIS YEAR CAN BE REALLY HURTING US, AND OUR PUBLIC SAFETY COSTS ARE ESCALATING AND WAY MORE THAN 3.5 PERCENT.
NOT JUST THE VEHICLE COST ALONE.
>> THAT SAID, THAT BY ITSELF IS SOMETHING WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO LEGISLATURE ABOUT.
>> BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY ALL WE'VE GOT IN GENERAL.
[OVERLAPPING] WE HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB OF OFFLOADING AS MUCH AS WE CAN OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND TO PRESERVE THAT BECAUSE IT'S AN IMPORTANT FUNCTION.
IT'S ALSO ONE OF OUR MOST COMPETITIVE AREAS.
IT'S ALMOST ALL LABOR AND IT'S MORE OF MOST COMPETITIVE AREAS, NO PUN.
I COULDN'T PAY ME ENOUGH TO BE A POLICE OFFICER TODAY AND THAT IS A TOTALLY COMPETITIVE AREA FOR US.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG-TERM STRUGGLE WITH THE CITY.
LUCKILY WE HAVE IDC THAT'S HELPING PARKS.
[02:45:03]
SO PARKS WE CAN KIND OF KEEP SOME THINGS GOING THERE THAT TRANSITS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE ON THE HIT LIST COMING FORWARD AS WELL AS SOME OF THESE OTHER ANCILLARY THINGS THAT WE DO HAVE THE GENERAL FUND.>> WAS TALKING TO CHIEF HALE RECENTLY ABOUT HIS PLEDGE AND HE HAS FOR OVERTIME PAY AND BRINGING IN OFFICERS FOR EVENTS AND OCCASIONS ON THE ISLAND.
WE'VE ALREADY GONE THROUGH THAT BUDGET AND WE'RE COMING IN THEIR BUSINESSES [OVERLAPPING].
>> CAN WE TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK?
>> BECAUSE AS WE ALL KNOW, I DON'T THINK ANY OF YOU ARE HAVE PEOPLE CALLING YOU RIGHT NOW SAYING, WE REALLY WANT LESS CITY SERVICES RIGHT NOW.
JAVA'S PLEASE STOP, STOP PREPARING THESE ACCESS POINTS, STOP ACCESSING THE FINAL, STOP REPLACING THE SEWER.
WE'RE NOT GETTING THOSE CALLS.
PLEASE STOP BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GETTING ANY OF THAT.
>> THAT'S WHY THIS SECTION OF MIKE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> WE'VE GOT ONE OF THE BEST FINANCE DIRECTORS IN THE ENTIRE CITY [OVERLAPPING]. [LAUGHTER]
>> REDO THIS BUDGET, GO OVER IT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, GET WITH MIKE AND LET'S TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK.
[3E. Discussion Of Seasonal Temporary Parking Lot Permits - T Tietjens (15 Min )]
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT I CAN KEEP US WITHIN OUR 15 MINUTE.
>> THAT'S THE HOT TIME. [LAUGHTER]
>> WELL, GOOD MORNING CO-COUNCIL.
THIS WE'RE SHIFTING GEARS HERE TO THE REGULATORY AND SOME OF THE REGULATORY ISSUES, AND IN THE REALM OF GALAXIES REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT, WE HAVE CERTAIN ORDINANCES THAT WE KEEP PRETTY WELL TWEAKED AND UP-TO-DATE AND OTHERS WHICH IN THIS CASE HAVEN'T BEEN AND IN PARTICULAR, THE TEMPORARY PARKING TEMPORARY SEASONAL PARKING ORDINANCE, WITH ONE VERY MINOR EXCEPTION, HASN'T BEEN AMENDED IN 40 YEARS, AND IT REALLY IS SORT OF A BARE-BONES ORDINANCE RIGHT NOW.
JANELLE, YOU WANT TO PUT THAT ON THE SCREEN?
>> IS THAT WHAT'S IN OUR PACKAGE?
>> YOU WILL SEE THAT IN SECTION 19, 1958, THE TEMPORARY PARKING LOT PERMITS.
WE'RE GOING TO BE GETTING TO THE SPREADSHEET IN JUST A SECOND, BUT THE TEMPORARY PARKING LOT PERMITS HAVE JUST BASICALLY FIVE CLAUSES IN IT AND IT'S VERY VAGUE.
IT ALLOWS FOR TEMPORARY PARKING LOTS DURING SCHEDULED WEEKENDS OF SPECIAL EVENTS.
THEN DOWN IN SECTION D, TALKS ABOUT SEASONAL PARKING PERMITS WHICH ARE BASICALLY [NOISE] FROM EARLY MARCH THROUGH LABOR DAY.
IT REALLY DOESN'T GIVE ANY GUIDANCE AS TO THE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT AT ALL.
IT JUST SIMPLY SAYS APPLICANTS MUST GET A PERMIT.
THEY MUST HAVE THE ACQUIESCENCE OF THE PROPERTY OWNER IN WRITING, AND THEN THEY PAY A FEE.
THESE FEES ARE ALSO FAIRLY OLD, TEMPORARY FEE IS 50 BUCKS AND A SEASONAL FEE FOR THOSE SIX MONTHS IS $500.
BUT THERE'S NO GUIDANCE AT ALL IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THESE PERMITS SO WE ARE BOUND TO ISSUE THEM BASED UPON THOSE THREE ITEMS, JUST PAYING THE FEE, HAVING THE OWNER'S AUTHORIZATION, AND APPLYING FOR THIS PERMIT.
WE WANTED TO START A DIALOGUE WITH YOU ABOUT THIS.
IS IT APPROPRIATE TO MAYBE TWEAK THIS ORDINANCE?
>> YOU CAN TAKE ANY AMOUNT, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU SEE EVERY PUBLIC PARKING LOT TURNS UP, THAT'S GOT A THING AND IT'S $10 TO PARK AND THEN GIVE YOU A LITTLE FAIR [OVERLAPPING] TICKET.
>> [INAUDIBLE] IT'S LITERALLY BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S DOING IT.
SOME OF THEM I WONDER IF IT'S JUST NOT SOME INDUSTRIOUS PERSON WHO THOUGHT THEY WON'T NOTICE, I'LL STICK A CODE NO ONE CAN TELL, [OVERLAPPING] WHICH I'M SURE IT DOES BECAUSE DO ALL THOSE FOLKS GET PERMIT CURRENTLY?
>> NOT LIKELY, BUT WE HAVE ABOUT 14, 15 OF THE SITES THAT GO THROUGH THE TEMPORARY SPECIAL EVENTS THAT WE TYPICALLY GET ROUTINELY FOR MOTORCYCLE RALLY, MARDI GRAS.
>> MARSHALL SPENDS A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME CHECKING THOSE, AND THEN MAKING SURE IF WE HAVE A LEGALLY OPERATE [INAUDIBLE]
>> THAT'S USUALLY HOW I SPEND MOST OF MY DAYS ON
[02:50:01]
MARDI GRAS AND BIKE RALLIES DEALING WITH PEOPLE CALLING SAYING, ''HEY, MARSHALL, JUST SHUT IT DOWN.WHY CAN'T I CHARGE TO PARK ON THIS PARK?''
>> A LOT OF THOSE LOTS, I SHOULD SAY THE ONES ON THE SEAWALL OR THOSE OPEN SPACES ON THE SEAWALL, THEY ARE THOSE SEASONAL PERMITS UP THERE.
>> YEAH. THAT'S MORE OF THE SEASONAL STUFF.
>> SPECIAL EVENTS, THAT'S MAINLY SPECIAL EVENTS.
>> SPECIAL EVENTS, YOU'LL SEE ANY GIVEN PARKING LOT.
>> DRIVEWAYS. [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER]
>> [OVERLAPPING] SEE GIVEN PARKING LOTS AND I'VE OFTEN WONDERED [NOISE] IF IT WAS JUST INDUSTRIOUS PEOPLE.
>> LIKELY, YEAH. WITH THE SEASONAL LOTS, WE ONLY HAVE FOUR THAT REGULARLY PERMIT [NOISE] FOR EACH YEAR.
ONE OF THEM NEAR THE MCDONALDS ON THE SEAWALL.
>> ONE AT 34TH NEAR THE NEW HOLIDAY INN.
ONE AT 48TH WHICH IS NEAR ACADEMY.
THEN THE ONE JUST THE WEST OF JOY BIKES.
>> THEN WE HAVE THE ONES THAT JUST CREATE THEMSELVES. [NOISE].
>> RIGHT. NONE OF THESE THINGS HAVE ANY [INAUDIBLE]
>> I MEAN IF IT'S DRY 75TH AND SEAWALL, AS A PARKING LOT.
>> NONE OF THESE HAVE ANY OPERATIONAL [NOISE] COMPONENTS TO THEM AT ALL.
IT'S JUST OPEN GAME TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.
[NOISE] THAT'S WHAT WE WANT [INAUDIBLE]
>> NO REQUIREMENT FOR LIGHTING, NO REQUIREMENT FOR LITTER PICKUP, NO REQUIREMENT FOR TRASH CANS.
>> I DON'T KNOW HOW EXCITED I AM ABOUT THE NOTION.
[INAUDIBLE] SPONSORED BY THE CHURCH THAT THEY CAN'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SPECIAL EVENTS, THAT KIND OF THING.
>> WELL, I DON'T THINK WE WANT TO STOP THEM.
THAT'S WHAT WE WANT YOUR INPUT FOR AS TO HOW YOU WANT TO HANDLE IT.
>> BUT THE ONES THAT WE GET THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT, [NOISE] I'M SURE IT'S TRUE OF EVERYBODY ARE THE ONES ON THE SEAWALL IF THERE WAS A GARBAGE, CLEANING DEPOSIT OR SOMETHING BECAUSE EVEN SOME REASONABLY RESPONSIBLE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO DO THIS DON'T PICK UP AFTER THEMSELVES.
>> SEE, AND THE ISSUE IS, KELLY AND I HAVE WORKED THROUGH THIS SEVERAL TIMES.
WE CAN'T GO ON THEIR PROPERTY TO CLEAN IT OUT.
>> WHAT WE DO IS, WE WAIT FOR THE WIND TO PUT IT WHERE WE CAN PICK IT OUT.
>> WELL, SO OFTEN IS THE GULF.
>> WELL, THE GULF, TYPICALLY IN THE SUMMERTIME, IT'S MAINLY [NOISE] [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER].
>> THOSE AREAS NOW. LIKE SOME ANY OTHER THINGS, IF WE MANAGE IT ON THE SEAWALL, AND WE TAKE SOME STEPS TO GET IT CLEAN, KEEP IT CLEAN UNTIL THE SUNDAY NIGHT, MONDAY MORNING.
IT'S NOT A [INAUDIBLE]. THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE.
>> I AGREE WITH THAT BECAUSE THERE'S SOME LOTS THAT I KNOW THAT AREN'T ON THAT LIST.
>> THEY POP OUT. FOURTH OF JULY, YOU CAN TAKE A ROLL CALL ON THAT ONE.
>> THOSE ARE AFFIRMATIVE ONES, BUT THERE ARE OTHERS THAT POP UP.
THEY DO UNTIL THEY'RE HIT BY COVID.
>> THE SAD PART IS IT'D BE EASY TO SAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO SEASONAL PARKING LOTS ON THE SEAWALL, BUT WE REALLY NEED [OVERLAPPING] THEM.
>> YEAH. I THINK WE'RE MAINLY TALKING ABOUT THE SEAWALL.
IN B HERE, TEMPORARY PARKING LOT.
JOHN, I MEAN A PARKING LOT THAT DOES NOT ORDER A FEE FOR PARKING.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE BOY SCOUTS, ARE WE ASKING FOR PEOPLE TO GET A PERMIT IF THEY HAVE AN EXISTING PARKING LOT, AND THEN THEY HAVE THE BOY SCOUTS' PARKING ON THAT PARKING LOT?
>> LET ME GIVE YOU A GOOD EXAMPLE.
ACROSS THE STREET, JEFF ANTONELLI LETS THE BOY SCOUTS CHARGE TO PARK AT SPECIAL EVENTS.
>> HE ALWAYS BUYS A $25-PERMIT PREMISE.
>> THOSE PARKING LOTS, DO YOU NEED TO GET A PERMIT?
>> AS UNDER THE CURRENT ORDINANCE, YES THEY DO.
>> I THINK WE NEED TO BE CONSISTENT.
>> I MEAN, I THINK IT'S HARD TO SAY WE'RE ONLY GOING TO ENFORCE THIS ON THE SEAWALL, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HAVE A MILLION PARKING LOTS POP UP ANY WHERE THERE'S OPEN SPACE.
>> BECAUSE OF MARDI GRAS AND RALLY, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE [INAUDIBLE].
>> THE PROBLEM THAT WE RUN INTO THE WAY I SEE IT, IS THAT WE HAVE CRITERIA THAT HAS TO BE MET FOR SURFACE PARKING LOTS BEING PERMITTED.
>> ON THESE, WE HAVE NO CRITERIA.
THEY BASICALLY PAY A FEE, AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO PROVIDE LIGHTING, LITTER CONTROL, TRASH RECEPTACLES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
TIM, JUST QUICKLY, COULD YOU TELL COUNCIL WHAT CRITERIA DOES THE PERMITTED LOTS HAVE TO MAKE COMPARED TO THESE TEMPORARY LOTS? THEY HAVE TO HAVE WHAT?
>> WELL, OF COURSE, THE PERMITTED LOTS ARE YEAR-ROUND.
>> OF COURSE THEN, THEY HAVE TO HAVE AN ACTUAL FACE STRUCTURE WHETHER IT'S AN IMPROVED SURFACE OF SOME SORT,
[02:55:02]
WHETHER THAT'S BRICK FAVORS OR WHAT HAVE YOU.WITH INTEGRATED DRAINAGE, THEY MEET THE LANDSCAPE COORDINATES IF IT'S OVER A CERTAIN NUMBER OF PARKING STALLS.
NONE OF OUR PARKING LOTS HAVE TO HAVE LIGHTING, BUT MOST OF THEM CHOOSE TO.
IF THEY DO CHOOSE TO, THEY HAVE TO DO THAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR ORDINANCE.
WE WERE GOING TO SUGGEST MAYBE A FEW THINGS THAT ARE MORE ON THE OPERATIONAL END AT LEAST FOR THESE TEMPORARY LOTS KNOWING THAT THEY'RE NOT FULL-YEAR-OUT LOTS AND IT'S NOT A LAND USE AS SUCH.
BECAUSE THIS IS A SEPARATE ORDINATE IN THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, THIS IS SORT OF ITS OWN ANIMAL.
IN OUR LDRS, WE HAVE COMMERCIAL SURFACE PARKING LOTS WHICH ARE REALLY RESTRICTED EVERYWHERE EXCEPT FOR THE INDUSTRIAL AREAS.
THIS IS AN [INAUDIBLE] , BUT THIS IS ALSO A VERY OLD ORDINATE.
IT'S BEEN OUT THERE A LONG TIME.
IF WE WERE TO PUT SOME CRITERIA INTO IT, FOR EXAMPLE, I THINK IT WOULD HELP BUTCH OUT JUST TO HAVE ANY PERMIT DISPLAYED ON SITE, PROVIDE A SITE PLAN WHEN THEY'RE APPLYING FOR IT WITH PARKING LOT LAYOUT BECAUSE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, SHOULD THERE BE A FIRE IN ONE OF THESE LOTS AND CARS ARE JUST JAMMED IN THERE, JAM-FULL DURING THE SUMMER WEEKEND, THAT CAN BE A REAL PROBLEM. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE GET THE CALLS TOO. THEY MAKE IT BLOCKED END.
>> YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. AT LEAST THOSE THAT AREN'T IMPROVED WITH A PAVEMENT STANDARD AND ARE ON GRASS, HAVING AN OVERALL LAYOUT THAT WE [NOISE] COULD TAKE A LOOK AT AND HAVE THEM IMPLEMENT, PROVIDING TRASH RECEPTACLES, AND HAVING THEM SERVICED ON A DAILY BASIS.
MAYBE ONE PER 20 CARS OF SPACES THEY'RE ON A GIVEN LOT OR PERHAPS MORE RURAL PARTICIPATION ON THAT.
>> THAT'S THE OTHER ISSUE BECAUSE THE CANS OVERFLOW.
A LOT OF TIMES, THE LITTER FLYING OFF THESE LOTS.
WE HAVE SOME VERY CONSCIENTIOUS, SOME OF THESE GUYS TRIED TO DO THEIR JOB.
>> THEY PUT A FEW TRASH CANS OUT THERE.
BUT ONCE THE CANS ARE FULL, IT ALL BLOWS OUT OF THE CAN.
>> PROVIDING FOR ON-SITE STAFF RATHER FOR FEE COLLECTION.
A LOT OF THEM ALREADY DO THAT OR SOME OF THEM DO AT LEAST DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, AND ESSENTIALLY ACTING AS SECURITY IN A WAY. [OVERLAPPING]
>> ALSO, WE DO ADDRESS ON THESE LOTS' OVERNIGHT CAMPING.
>> BECAUSE SOME OF THESE LOTS, THEY'LL SELL ALL WEEKEND TO AN RV, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE FINE, BUT IT'S TOTALLY UP TO YOU ALL.
BUT JUST KEEP IN MIND, NONE OF THESE LOTS HAVE WATER AND SEWER.
AS SOMEBODY WHO OWNED AN RV IN THE PREVIOUS LIFE AND BEEN AROUND ENOUGH OF THESE PARKS, I KNOW WHAT PEOPLE DO WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE ON-SITE SEWER.
>> YEAH, I HAD THE ISSUE OF 18-WHEELERS CAMPING OVERNIGHT, KEEPING THEIR ENGINES RUNNING.
>> THAT'S AN ISSUE TOO. THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT [INAUDIBLE].
>> ANYTHING YOU DO AFTER HOURS OF OPERATION, AND HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT? YOU REQUIRE THEM [INAUDIBLE]
>> THAT'S WHAT THAT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO HOW WE WOULD HANDLE THE ORDINANCE.
YOU NEED TO FIND THE OWNER OR YOU COULD PUT A TOW PROVISION IN THERE I GUESS.
BUT IT'S OWNED PRIVATE PROPERTY, THEY GET SO STICKY, WE'D HAVE TO GET MR. LAWASKI INVOLVED IN THAT. [NOISE]
>> I THINK THE OWNER WOULD HAVE TO DO THAT MOSTLY.
>> YEAH, MORE THAN LIKELY, IT WOULD BE A FINE ON THE OWNER.
>> IF IT WAS IN TERMS OF THE HOURS OF OPERATION, [NOISE] WHICH YOU ALL COULD ESTABLISH, THEN I THINK IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR THE OWNER TO ENFORCE THOSE [INAUDIBLE] PROVISIONS [NOISE].
>> ALSO TO HAVE DEDICATED ENTRANCES AND EXITS TO THESE PARKING LOTS BECAUSE IT CAUSES US HAVOC WITH TRAFFIC.
YOU WATCH ON THE FOURTH WHEN THE FIREWORKS ARE OVER, EVERYBODY JUST DRIVES.
>> THEY GO DOWN THE WRONG WAY ON THAT LITTLE ONE WAY THAT'S OVER THERE.
>> ON THE SEAWALL, THEY HAVE RVS THAT PULLED UP THERE AND GOING TO BE UP THERE FOR DAYS, SITTING UP THERE ON THAT GRASSY QUAD.
>> THESE ARE SOME OF THE CONCEPTS THAT WE'VE THROWN OUT THERE AND CERTAINLY OPENS IT.
>> ALSO, REMEMBER GUYS, AS WE LEARNED THIS MORNING.
PARKING IS TAXABLE, SO THEY SHOULD SUPPLY AS A SALES TAX NUMBERS, THE PARK DEPARTMENT.
>> IT SEEMS THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO INCREASE OUR PERMANENT CHARGE.
BUT COULDN'T WE HAVE A FOR PROFIT AND A NOT FOR PROFIT?
>> WE'VE BEEN DOWN THIS BEFORE WITH SOME OTHER THINGS.
THAT'S FINE, WE'RE FINE WITH IT.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, EVERYBODY'S AFFILIATED WITH ENOUGH PROBLEM.
[03:00:03]
>> WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT TO ME IS NOT THE MONEY.
WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT TO ME IS THAT THEY FOLLOW THE RULES.
>> WELL, EXCEPT FOR THE ENFORCEMENT.
>> WELL, THAT WHERE THE FINE COMES IN.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE DEALING WITH 50 OR 100 OF THESE, WE'RE DEALING WITH A COUPLE OF DOZEN.
>> ON SPECIAL EVENTS, WE'RE ALREADY STAFFED UP ANYWAY, SO THAT'S THE BIG ISSUE.
WEEKENDS, IT'S A STRUGGLE FOR US, BUT WE CAN HANDLE THAT.
WE ARE WORKING MARSHALS ON THE WEEKENDS.
>> TIM, WHAT'S THE FINES FOR SOMEONE THAT'S OUT THERE AND DOESN'T HAVE A PERMIT?
>> I THINK IT'S THE GENERAL [OVERLAPPING]
>> PLUS, WE PROBABLY HAVE NEVER ENFORCED THAT.
>> IT'S HARD TO DO BECAUSE IF THEY'RE NOT REGISTERED WITH A PERMIT, WE GOT TO TRACK DOWN THE OWNER AND, "I DIDN'T GIVE HIM PERMISSION." TYPE THING. IT BECOMES QUITE THE ISSUE.
>> HOW MANY OF THESE DID WE HAVE IN A YEAR? I MEAN, TEMPORARY PERMITS TO GET PULLED.
>> WELL, IT'S A SPECIAL EVENT ONE.
I THINK IT WAS AROUND 14 LAST YEAR.
LAST YEAR WAS A [OVERLAPPING] THE LAST YEAR THAT WAS TYPICAL ROUTINE.
I THINK IT WAS AROUND 14 THAT WERE PERMITTED.
I KNOW THERE WERE PROBABLY MORE THAN THAT OPERATING.
THE SEASONAL ONES, IT WAS FOUR LAST YEAR.
THAT WAS PART OF THE ISSUE, IS THAT THIS FIFTH ONE THAT CAME IN.
WELL, 13TH, 14TH, AND SEAWALL, WHERE THAT WHITE BUILDING WAS THAT WAS TORN DOWN.
NOT NECESSARILY THAT WE'D WANT TO. AGAIN, THERE'S NO STANDS.
>> THERE'S PLENTY OF BEACH PARKING DOWN IN THAT AREA TOO.
>> WHEN YOU START GETTING INTO THE MIDDLE OF TOWN, WE'RE STRUGGLING FOR PARKING.
EVEN ON THE WEST END, WE START STRUGGLING FOR PARKING.
BUT DOWN EAST END, THERE'S PLENTY OF PARKING.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO EXCLUDE ANY PARKING LOTS, WE UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR THESE LOTS, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF REGULATION TO WHERE WE CAN AT LEAST NOT HAVE TO SPEND ALL OF OUR MONEY AND TIME ON MONDAYS PICKING UP THE TRASH.
>> TIM, I PERSONALLY LIKE THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU'VE MADE.
I DO FEEL WE NEED TO HAVE NO OVERNIGHT CAMPING INVOLVED WITH THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS PERSONALLY.
YOU MENTIONED ABOUT SECURITY, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT MEANS.
>> ESPECIALLY IF THERE'S NO ONE THERE OVERNIGHT.
>> WHY DON'T WE DO THIS GUYS. IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU, I'LL GET WITH TIM AND WE'LL COME BACK WITH RECOMMENDATIONS.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE IT ON WORKSHOP ONE MORE TIME OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO BRING IT BACK IN THE FORM OF AN ORDINATES CHANGE?
>> PERSONALLY, THE COUNSEL MAN DO WANT.
I JUST BRING BACK AN ORDINATES CHANGE AND THAT WE CAN PULL IT UP AT THE CLARIFICATION TIME.
>> IN WORKSHOP AND BOTH THE SAME DAY.
>> PERFECT, OKAY. I NEVER WANT TO SURPRISE YOU ALL.
>> I THINK WE COULD PRINT THIS THING OUT FOR THE JULY MEETING.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> TIM, YOU ONLY TOOK 12 MINUTES. WHAT CAN I SAY?
>> ALL RIGHT, I'M AHEAD OF THE GAME. [LAUGHTER]
>> TIM, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SAY, "I RESERVED MY LAST THREE MINUTES FOR YOU." [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING]
>> ALL RIGHTY, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
>> WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS THE LATTER PART OF OUR AGENDA,
[3F. Discussion Of The Golf Cart Ordinance - D Glywasky ( 20 Min )]
WE KEEP OUR LATTER [INAUDIBLE] TO THOSE THAT DON'T HAVE A LOT OF INPUT TO, SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE LIVING IN THE GOLF CART.YOU DID [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER] JANELLE, COULD YOU READ ITEM 3F, PLEASE.
DISCUSSIONS OF THE GOLF CART ORDINANCE.
>> WE HAVE OUR GOLF CART GURU COMING FORWARD, OUR CITY ATTORNEY.
>> I KNOW THAT [INAUDIBLE] HAND THESE OUT.
I WANTED TO RE-HAND THEM OUT TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE RECORD FEES, OR THE ACCIDENTS WHICH HAVE OCCURRED WITH GOLF CARTS.
FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, IT'S GENERATED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
DESIGNATED AS MINOR AND MAJOR ACCIDENTS.
I DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAD DISTINGUISHED FROM THESE INJURIES, UNLESS IT IS THERE.
CURIOUSLY, I SEE THAT SOME OF THESE SIDE STEPS APPEAR ON THE DRIVEWAY, WHICH ACTIVELY UNDER OUR FESTIVAL EVENTS, DRIVING IS PROHIBITED.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION ON THESE ACCIDENTS HERE.
ARE THESE PRIVATELY OWNED? ARE THEY MORE COMMERCIAL?
>> THESE GO BACK TO 2018, I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD ANY RENTAL AGENCIES.
[OVERLAPPING] THIS IS THE DAY THAT I GOT FROM THE POLICE,
[03:05:06]
THAT'S THE BEST THEY COULD GIVE.>> I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY TRACK IT THAT WAY.
>> I KNOW, BUT IN THIS [OVERLAPPING] MARSHAL GET INVOLVED?
>> THE CITY MARSHALL, BASICALLY IN THE LAST YEAR, SO [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING].
>> I REALLY ONLY HAVE A FEW REMARKS TO MAKE.
WHEN WE LAST PRESENTED THIS ORDINANCE TO YOU, YOU REQUESTED, COUNSEL REQUESTED, BASICALLY FOUR CHANGES TO BE MADE.
WE HAVE MADE THEM, THERE'S ONE ADDITION BACK IN REQUEST OF MS. ROB, I HAD PREVIOUSLY PLACED IN THAT GOLF CART SHOULD THAT BE DRIVEN 1 1/2 HOUR BEFORE THE SUNSET, AND 1 1/2 HOUR AFTER SUNRISE.
ONE COUNCIL MEMBER SUGGESTED THAT BE DELETED IN ITS ENTIRETY, AND IT'S MR. COLLINS, SINCE IT'S IN STATE LAW ANYWAY.
ON THE OTHER HAND, MS. ROB SUGGESTED THAT WE SPECIFICALLY MENTION IT.
PROHIBITION THE HALF HOUR BEFORE SUNSET AND HALF AN HOUR BEFORE AFTER SUNRISE, SPECIFICALLY ON SEAWALL BOULEVARD.
WHETHER COUNCIL WANTS IT TO REMAIN IN, THAT IS UNTRUE.
>> ON THIS SIDE IN HERE, YOU MENTIONED STATE.
IS THAT COMPLETE UGLY SEAWALL BOULEVARD AS A HIGHWAY OR WE DEDUCT [INAUDIBLE] 61ST TO 4TH STREET?
>> SEAWALL FOR THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF IT.
>> TO BE CONSIDERED AS THE HIGHWAY?
>> TO BE CONSIDERED AS A HIGHWAY WITHIN THE STREETS OF THIS ORDINANCE.
IN THIS ORDINANCE, WE HAVE 203.
THESE ARE ALL THE HIGHWAYS THAT WE RESTRICT OPERATION ON.
WHAT MS. ROB HAD REQUESTED IS THAT WE RESTRICT OPERATION ON THE SEAWALL.
HALF NOW BEFORE SUNSET, AND A HALF NOW AFTER SUNRISE.
NOW, THE STATE SAYS IT SHOULDN'T BE OPERATED AT NIGHT ANYWAY.
BUT I THINK FOR PURPOSES OF EMPHASIS, YOU WANTED IT ON THE SEAWALL?
>> RIGHT, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO USE GOLF CARTS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, IN MY DISTRICT.
>> I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT IT TOO BECAUSE I'VE REMINDED PEOPLE ANY NUMBER OF TIMES.
THE REQUIREMENT HAVE A HEADLIGHT, THE REQUIREMENT HAS LICENSE PLATES IF THEY'RE OPERATED ON THE STREET, AND [INAUDIBLE] IS OPERATING IN AT NIGHT.
THOSE ARE ALL ALREADY IN THE STATE LAW.
>> WELL, THE STATE LAW, AND I'M SURE DON CAN TELL US ABOUT THAT, HAS A DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN GOLF CARTS AND NEIGHBORHOOD ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
STABLE AS IT READS, IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE I WAS ESPECIALLY OVER REVISITING IT AGAIN LAST NIGHT.
YOU READ IT, AND I HAVE IT MOVED ON MY PHONE.
I SAID TO MY HUSBAND, "I'VE READ THIS FIVE TIMES, CAN YOU READ IT OUT LOUD." BECAUSE THE STATE LAW EVEN SEEMS TO CONTRADICT ITSELF.
>> THERE'S A DIFFERENTIAL, AND THEM WITH WHAT SALLY HANDED US TODAY.
IT EVEN THEN CHANGES IT MORE BECAUSE PART OF THE STATE LAW SAYS ON NEIGHBORHOOD ELECTRIC VEHICLES TO BE ON A ROAD 45 MILES AN HOUR.
>> WE HAVE VERIFIED DURING THE SESSION THAT THE CHANGE IN THE STABLE OUTLOOK HAVE AN IMPACT ON THESE [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'M SORRY, I WAS GOING TO ASK DETECTIVE DAVIS.
WHAT ARE YOU PROPOSING ON THIS? TO REMOVE THIS OR TO LEAVE IT IN PLACE?
>> THE 30 MINUTES BEFORE SUNSET?
>> I JUST DIDN'T THINK IT WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE I'M READING FROM DMV WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT GOLF CARTS.
IT SAYS, IT MAY BE OPERATED ON VARIOUS AND SUNDRY ROADS.
THIS IS WHERE IT SAYS, ON A HIGHWAY WITH THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 35 MILES AN HOUR DURING THE DAYTIME, AND NOT MORE THAN TWO HOUR OR TWO MILES FROM LOCATION WHERE HE'S USUALLY PARKING.
NOW, THAT'S ALREADY IN THE STATE LAW.
[03:10:01]
WHAT'S THE POINT OF THEN COMPLICATING IT BY SAYING, "BUT IN GALVESTON, YOU CAN DRIVE 30 MINUTES BEFORE SUNSET OR 30 MINUTES AFTER SUNRISE.>> WELL, IF YOU AGREE TO REMOVE THIS, I AGREE WITH YOU. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD HAVE [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER].
>> YOU ALL SHOULD [INAUDIBLE] TOGETHER.
>> AGAIN. I'M SORRY. [OVERLAPPING].
>> NO. IT'S JUST THAT THAT'S IN THE STATE LAW NOW.
I'M READING FROM [OVERLAPPING].
>> BUT DEPENDING UPON WHICH SECTION OF THE STATE LAW YOU'RE READING.
>> I'M READING FROM [OVERLAPPING] THE TEXAS DMV.
IT'S DIVIDED INTO ALL HIGHWAY VEHICLES, GOLF CARTS, AND NEIGHBORHOOD ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
>> WHICH SECTION ARE YOU READING?
>> I'M NOT TRYING TO READ IT INTO LAW.
I'M READING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES BECAUSE I TOTALLY AGREE.
IF YOU READ THAT LAW, YOU GOT TO DECONSTRUCT THAT THING LINE AT A TIME.
BUT I'M READING DMV'S UNIQUE VEHICLES INFORMATION PAGE.
>> YOU SEE AND I INTERPRET THAT DIFFERENT THAN YOU ALL DO.
>> I WILL GET IT AS [OVERLAPPING]
>> OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES, GOLF CARTS, AND NEIGHBORHOOD ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
THREE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF BUSY VEHICLES.
>> IT SAYS IT MAY BE OPERATED.
>> MAYBE OPERATED ON A HIGHWAY WITH THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 35 MILES AN HOUR OR LESS DURING THE DAYTIME, AND NOT MORE THAN TWO MILES FROM [OVERLAPPING].
>> ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE WILLIAM AND THEN MARIE [OVERLAPPING].
>> [INAUDIBLE] SORRY. MY GOD [INAUDIBLE] CAN'T READ THIS.
[LAUGHTER] THAT WILL BE GOLF CART LICENSE PLATE ON A HIGHWAY FOR WHICH THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT IS NOT MORE THAN 35 MILES PER HOUR.
I TOOK IT AS IF THERE WAS A HIGHWAY AND IT'S 35 MILES, YOU COULD LET THAT GOLF CART ON THAT BROADWAY FOR EXAMPLE.
IT'S 35 IF WE WANTED TO CHANGE ORDINATES.
THAT WAS THE WAY I INTERPRETED THAT.
BECAUSE THE WORD HIGHWAY IS ACTUALLY USED DIFFERENTLY, I GUESS IN THE ACTUAL LAW.
>> WE HAVE A STATUTE THAT ALLOWS US TO REGULATE THE OPERATION OF GOLF CARTS AND NEIGHBORHOOD ELECTRIC VEHICLES WITHIN THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
THAT'S THE BASIS OF THIS CHANGE.
>> IN ORDER TO DO TIME, IT'S GOT TO BE CONSISTENT.
EITHER 30 MINUTES BEFORE, 30 MINUTES AFTER.
NOVEMBER 8TH, YOU'RE SAYING AT 4:30, THERE'S NO GOLF CARTS ON THE SEAWALL BECAUSE THE SUN SETS AT 5:01 EXCEPT FOR WEEKEND.
I DON'T KNOW THAT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
[LAUGHTER] BUT ANYWAY, [OVERLAPPING] A LITTLE BIT LATER.
[LAUGHTER] I DO SEE A LOT OF RESIDENTS THAT RIDE OFF FROM MY AREA OF TOWN, THEY GO STRAIGHT UP TO THE SEAWALL, THEY UNLOAD THEIR FISHING STUFF, THEY'RE WALKING UP TO THE PEER, AND IT'S AFTER FIVE O'CLOCK.
>> WELL, THE STATE LAW, AND HERE IT IS, IF ANYBODY WANTS TO READ THROUGH IT, DEFINITELY DIFFERENTIATES BETWEEN A NEIGHBORHOOD ELECTRIC VEHICLE AND A GOLF CART.
>> IT ACTUALLY HAS MULTIPLE SUBSETS.
BECAUSE ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I'M GETTING FROM MY CONSTITUENTS IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DEFINITION OF A GOLF CART, IT DOESN'T SAY THAT YOU'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE SEAT BELTS, SO FORTH, AND SO ON.
>> NOT SO FORTH AND SO ON NECESSARILY BUT THE SEAT BELTS IS ANOTHER QUESTION I HAVE [INAUDIBLE] BECAUSE [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT'S THE SEAT BELT. IT'S THE REARVIEW MIRROR.
I THINK THEY'VE STILL REQUIRED TO HAVE TURN SIGNALS.
BUT THERE IS A DEFINED GOLF CART AND THERE'S A DEFINED NEIGHBORHOOD ELECTRIC VEHICLE.
WHAT I'M GETTING FROM MY CONSTITUENTS IS BECAUSE THEY'RE BOTH COVERED BASICALLY IN OUR ROLES AS NEIGHBORHOOD VEHICLES.
WE GROUP THEM TOGETHER AND THEY FOLLOW THE SAME RULES.
I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO SPEND MORE MONEY.
OUR GOLF CART ACTUALLY HAS ALL THOSE THINGS EVEN THOUGH IT'S ELECTRIC AND IT IS STREET-READY, EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T DRIVE IT ON THE STREET.
I CAN UNDERSTAND PEOPLE'S CONCERNS, BUT I ALSO HAVE SEEN KIDS FALL OUT OF THE BACK OF A GOLF CART BECAUSE IT DIDN'T HAVE A SEAT BELT.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM IN GROUPING THEM TOGETHER.
BUT WHEN I LOOK AT A NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE SEAWALL THAT HAS A RESTAURANT IN THE INNER SECTION,
[03:15:05]
A LOT OF PEOPLE USE GOLF CARTS AFTER THE DARK, WHICH IS WHY MY REQUEST WAS THAT THAT APPLY TO SEAWALL.>> THAT DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT IT'S STILL IN STATE LAW.
>> BUT UNDER STATE LAW, IT DOES NOT SAY FOR A GOLF CART, IT CANNOT BE DRIVEN IN THE EVENING. [OVERLAPPING].
>> I DON'T THINK SO BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, NOT ONLY DID I READ IT MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT I HAD [LAUGHTER] MY HUSBAND READ IT OUT LOUD BECAUSE I WAS TRYING [OVERLAPPING].
>> ALSO HAD THE CITY MARSHAL EXPRESS THAT A NUMBER OF TIMES.
ODDLY, I AGREE WITH MARIE ON THIS.
IT DOESN'T SAY THE GOLF CARTS HAVE TO HAVE A SEAT BELT.
IT SAYS A NEIGHBORHOOD ELECTRIC VEHICLE DOES, BUT I DON'T SEE ANY REFERENCE TO GOLF CARTS REQUIRING A SEAT BELT OR TURN SIGNALS.
A LICENSE PLATE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE FOR ALL OF THEM.
>> IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE THE LICENSE PLATE YOU HAVE TO HAVE FOR ALL OF THEM.
I COULD BE CONFUSED AGAIN, BUT YOU CAN ONLY CHARGE ONE TIME [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT IS A COUNTY SLASH STATE ISSUE.
AS LONG AS THEY HAVE THE LICENSE PLATE, WE'RE HAPPY.
I BELIEVE THAT THE ISSUANCE OF THAT PLATE IS, I THINK THAT IS A ONE-TIME THING.
>> IT'S UNTRANSFERABLE AS YOU COVER IN OUR LAW.
>> CAN I ASK A QUESTION ON TOP OF THAT? IF WE'RE REQUIRING THEY HAVE LICENSE PLATES, WHICH IS TO SAY REGISTERED WITH THE COUNTY AND THE STATE, WHY ARE WE ALSO TRYING TO REGISTER THEM WITH THE CITY? THAT SEEMS [OVERLAPPING]
>> VERY GOOD POINT AND I AGREE.
>> [LAUGHTER] CAN I ANSWER THAT?
>> BECAUSE IT'S IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
>> NO. I UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAVE THE POWER TO DO SO [OVERLAPPING].
I'M ASKING PRACTICALLY SPEAKING, WHY?
>> LET'S SAY YOU RENT OUT ON A RENTAL CAR, YOU GO OVER TO THE COAST, OR YOU GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
BUT THAT GOLF CART'S STAYING IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON [OVERLAPPING].
>> I'D SAY THE SAME THING FOR MY VEHICLE.
>> I'M NOT SURE THAT THE CONCERNS IN THIS PART IS REALLY ABOUT A RENTAL PERSON'S [OVERLAPPING]
>> PERSON IN THE REGISTRATION [OVERLAPPING]
>> I THINK THE CITY AND THE STATE. [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING] PART.
>> IT ALLOWS THE CITY TO HAVE JUST AN EXTRA FEATURE OF MONITORING. [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUT IT IS INTRIGUING IN A STATE LAW BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE COUNTY IS CHARGING $75 OR SOMETHING.
>> BUT IN THE STATE LAW, IT SAYS IT CANNOT BE ABOVE $10.
>> WE CAN'T CHARGE MORE THAN THAT.
>> THE REGISTRATION IN GALVESTON MY MIND, IT ALLOWS US TO NUMBER ONE, IF WE PASS THOSE, THEY HAVE TO HAVE SEAT BELTS.
THEY HAVE A WAY OF DETERMINING IF THAT IS HAPPENING.
SECOND OF ALL, IT GOES BACK TO THE INSPECTION TIME TOO.
IF WE PASS THE INSPECTION RULE ON THAT, THEN WHEN THEY REGISTER THOSE, THEY HAVE TO SHOW GOOD INSPECTIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT DOES GIVE US A CHANCE TO MONITOR THE QUALITY AND SAFETY[OVERLAPPING].
>> ALSO ACCESS THE DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL BY THE COLOR OF THE STICKER.
BUT WE'VE HAD TO REGISTER OUR GOLF CARTS FOR A LONG TIME [OVERLAPPING] I MEAN, OURS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN REGISTERED.
>> WELL, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT ANNUAL REGISTRATION OR ONE-TIME REGISTRATION?
LICENSE PLATES ARE $10 FOR THE LIFE OF THE GOLF CART.
>> BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THE COUNTY IS ONLY CHARGING $10.
>> WELL, THE COUNTY STATE CHARGE IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'RE ALLOWED TO CHARGE.
>> BUT OUR LICENSE PLATES COME FROM THE COUNTY AND IT'S MONITORED BY [OVERLAPPING]
>> AS WELL AS THE EMV STATION.
>> I COULDN'T BE MISTAKEN, BUT I WAS IN A MEETING WHERE I THOUGHT SHE SAID JAMAICA BEACH ALREADY DOES ALL THESE THINGS AND HAS BEEN FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THAT OUT.
BUT I WAS IN A NEIGHBOR MEETING AND ONE OF THE JAMAICA BEACH POLICEMEN LIVES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT WITH NO ISSUES WHATSOEVER.
GRANTED THAT'S WHY THE RENTAL PLACE THAT RENTS TO PEOPLE IN JAMAICA BEACH IS LOCATED RIGHT OUTSIDE OF JAMAICA BEACH AND THAT'S THE ONE YOU SEE OVER THE BEACH.
BUT I WILL SAY, I THOUGHT THAT YOU DID A GREAT JOB OF PUTTING OURS TOGETHER BECAUSE THIS IS THE MOST CONVOLUTED LANGUAGE I'VE EVER READ.
[03:20:01]
[OVERLAPPING] NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU READ THIS.AT LEAST THAT BUILT TODAY, LOOKS LIKE IT CLARIFIED SOMETHING.
BECAUSE I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I SAW 45 MILES AN HOUR [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE BILL TODAY SEEMS A LOT BETTER [OVERLAPPING]
>> TAKES EFFECT ON THE 35, WHICH IS MUCH BETTER.
>> LET ME ASK ABOUT LICENSE PLATES.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ALLOW IS FOR US TO CHARGE A PARKING FEE FOR THESE WHEN THEY'RE PARKING DOWNTOWN OR ON THE SEAWALL.
>> IF THEY GET A PARKING TICKET, DOES THAT GO TO THE RENTAL COMPANY?
>> A PERFECT QUESTION, BECAUSE IT SERVES AS A SEGUE TO SOMETHING BUTCH HAS REQUESTED I ADD IN, AND I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT WE DO THIS, IS HE HAS REQUESTED THAT THE LICENSE PLATE BE DISPLAYED ON THE REAR OF THE GOLF CART TO THE LEFT, SO THE LICENSE PLATE READER CAN READ THE LICENSE PLATES EASY.
I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT IN THIS AFTERNOON.
BUT YES, A TICKET WOULD GO TO THE REGISTERED OWNER OF THE VEHICLE.
>> JUST LIKE A RENTAL CAR. [OVERLAPPING]
>> LIKE A RENTAL CAR. MARIA AND I DISCUSSED THIS.
IF THEY HAVE A MOVING VIOLATION OF SOME SORT, [OVERLAPPING] THAT GOES TO THE DRIVER.
>> MAY I ASK A QUICK QUESTION.
[OVERLAPPING] REGARDING THAT, BECAUSE WE TALK ABOUT PARKING PARALLEL AND I'VE HEARD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE SAY WE PARK.
[OVERLAPPING] PERPENDICULAR SAVE A LOT OF SPACE AND ALL THAT STUFF.
GETTING THE LICENSE PLATE READER READ THAT.
>> IT CAN'T READ THE LICENSE PLATE IF IT DRIVES BY.
>> NOT IF IT'S NOT FACING THE STREET.
>> NO, I'M SAYING, IF IT IS REALLY HARD TO NOSE IN THAN FACING THE STREET, THEY CAN READ THAT.
>> I WOULD TELL YOU, OUR READER PROBABLY WOULD READ THAT, BUT IT ALSO CAUSES ALL KINDS OF OTHER ISSUES WHEN THEY DO THAT.
>> THAT'S THE MARSHALL'S REQUEST IN THIS REQUEST? [OVERLAPPING]
>> JUST TO CLARIFY MORE SO IN YOUR QUESTION, LET'S SAY THAT SOMEBODY WHO HAS THEIR 14 YEAR-OLD GRANDCHILD DRIVING, AND THE ADULT GETS THE $500 TICKET.
IT'S NOT BECAUSE YOU'RE A CHILD, YOU DON'T GET A TICKET, THE ADULT GETS THE TICKET.
>> IF THE ADULT ISN'T THERE, THEY ARE GOING TO GET THE TOW FEE TOO.
>> IS THE PARK MORE OR SO THE READER CAN READ IT OR IS IT MORE A BIT LIKE THEY STICK OUT TOO MUCH INTO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
>> BOTH, THERE'S MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH A PARKING THAT WAY.
IT'S HARD TO POLICE A BRIDGE RED ZONES, THEY STICK OUT THE TRAFFIC.
>> ALL YOU ISSUE IS PARKING PARALLEL.
YOU TAKE OUT ONE GOLF CART, YOU COULD PROBABLY FIT THREE OR FOUR OF THEM. [OVERLAPPING]
>> OKAY. SHOULD BE THE SAME THING FOR THE GOLF CARTS.
>> YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE THESE GOLF CARTS THAT ARE EXTRA LONG, NEXT THING YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT ON PADIAN AND THEY ARE STICKING OUT IN TRAFFIC. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I GOT AN EMAIL WITH A PICTURE OF THREE GOLF CARTS PARKED THERE, ONE BEING A SIX-SEATER AND THEY'RE LIKE WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO PARK LIKE THIS.
BUT OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S NOT A GOOD THING BECAUSE A SIX-SEATER IS STICKING OUT IN TRAFFIC.
THE PICTURE THEY SENT, THEY WERE TRYING TO PROVE THAT POINT OF PARKING MORE GOLF CARTS IN THE SAME SPACE, BUT OBVIOUSLY THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF THAT GOLF CART'S STICKING OUT INTO TRAFFIC.
>> WE'RE GOING TO BRING UP THE TOPIC OF THE REGISTRATION FEE, THE PERMIT FEE, IT'S 25 AND 250.
>>> YES. I'VE GOTTEN INPUT FROM CITIZENS THAT THEY FEEL THAT THAT'S PUNITIVE IN A MANNER, ESPECIALLY FOR THE RENTAL.
>> WELL, IS IT THE 25 OR IS IT THE 250?
>> WE SHOULDN'T CHARGE THAT AMOUNT.
>> I WANTED JUST THROW THAT OUT FOR DISCUSSION TO SEE WHAT COUNCIL FEELS ABOUT THAT.
>> IF WE WON'T CHARGE THE 25 RESIDENTS, I DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT.
IT'S NOT FAIRLY TRIVIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT IF WE DON'T CHARGE OUR RESIDENTS ANYTHING WHEN I REGISTER THEM, I DON'T CARE, BUT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO COVER THE COST OF ENFORCEMENT.
I DON'T CARE IF WE DON'T ENFORCE THIS [INAUDIBLE] .
BEACH, I DON'T CARE IF WE DON'T ENFORCE IT DOWNTOWN, BUT IT HAS TO BE ENFORCED ON THE SEAWALL.
I THINK THAT'S ONE THING WE DO AGREE.
>> WHAT HAS TO BE ENFORCED ANYWHERE AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE MORE EMPLOYEES THAN WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR.
>> IT DOES BUT, WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT HOW WE'RE
[03:25:04]
ALLOCATING RESOURCES TO ENFORCE ANY NUMBER OF THINGS.NOW, THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE ARE GETTING TAGGED WITH A BUNCH AND WE'RE ABOUT TO LAY SHORT-TERM RENTALS ON.
SO I DON'T WANT 40 PEOPLE AT THE MARSHALL'S OFFICE.
I DON'T WANT THAT EXPENSE AND I DON'T WANT TO OVERBURDEN THEM.
>> KEEP IN MIND, PUBLIC SAFETY IS YOUR BIGGEST EXPENDITURE IN THE GENERAL FUND.
>> ONE THING WE HAVEN'T PUT IN HERE THAT MIGHT END UP TALKING ABOUT IS GEOFENCING.
PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THESE THINGS THEY'VE GOT GPS TRACKERS ON THEM, I WOULD THINK THAT I KNOW MOST OF THOSE, AND ALL SCOOTERS DO.
I WOULD ASSUME THAT MOST RENTAL GOLF CARTS DO.
CAN WE NOT GEOFENCE THEM TO KEEP THEM OFF 61ST WESTERN TO THE SEAWALL?
>> WELL, THE PROBLEM THAT YOU HAVE WITH THAT, IT SEEMS LIKE I HAD THIS.
I EITHER HAD THIS DISCUSSION WITH YOU OR THE MARSHAL.
IF YOU PUT THE THING THAT AUTOMATICALLY STOPS THEM, THEN YOU COULD END UP CAUSING A FIVE CAR COLLISION, LIKE YOU HAVE A BIGGER ISSUE WITH THAT THAN YOU DO.
>> IT'S HAPPENED WITH BIG CARS.
>> WELL, ALL RIGHT. THAT'S FAIR [LAUGHTER]
>> AGAIN, IF WE START TALKING ABOUT HOW WE ALLOCATE ENFORCEMENT RESOURCES, THE HOT BED OF COMPLAINT ON THIS, OTHER THAN THE PARKING, THE PARKING DOWNTOWN ISN'T AN ISSUE.
WITH KIDS DRIVING THE CARTS, MAYBE HE'S HANGING OFF THE BACK, BUT I SAW GUY, BABY WITH A PACIFIER IN HER MOUTH SITTING IN THE SEAT, UNBUCKLED ON THE SEAWALL YESTERDAY, A COUPLE DAYS AGO.
THE THING ABOUT HAVING SEAT BELTS, I DON'T MIND REQUIRING THAT.
THEM BEING SLOW MOVING VEHICLES HAVE TO BE IN A RIGHT LINE, THAT'S ALREADY IN THE LAW.
>> NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES, THE SEAWALLS WHERE I WANT TO SEE THIS ENFORCED PRIMARILY.
WE'LL GET AROUND THE REST OF IT LATER.
>> WELL, WE'RE GOING ON A TANGENT HERE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ABOUT 250 ISSUE, RIGHT?
>> I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THAT. I'M JUST SAYING THERE'S AN ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES PROBLEM HERE IF WE HAVE MARSHALS AT SEAWALL PATROLLING FOR GOLF CARTS.
>> ONE THING WE DO NEED TO ADD, WHICH I THINK IT'S EVEN IN THE STATE LAW, BUT I MIGHT HAVE MISSED IT, IS THE THING ABOUT CAR SEATS.
>> I THINK WE HAVE IT IN HERE.
>> THEY'RE REQUIRED TO BE IN A CAR SEAT VEHICLE.
>> WE HAD PREVIOUSLY SPECIFIED SEAT BELTS FOR FACTORY INSTALLED SEATING.
WE'VE CHANGED JUST FOR SEAT BELTS FOR THE DRIVER AND EACH PASSENGER.
BECAUSE APPARENTLY THE ONES THAT FACE TO THE REAR ARE AFTERMARKET.
>> WELL, THE SEAT BELT THING IS, I'M NOT A HUGE FAN OF THE SEAT BELT ISSUE BECAUSE NONE OF THAT IS TESTED.
THERE'S NO THERE'S NO SAFETY TESTING ON THE SEAT BELTS, I COULD GO TO SCREW SOME SCREWS IN THE GOLF CART.
>> THE INSPECTION PROCESS IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO CATCH THAT.
>> ARE THEY RELIABLE? IF SOMEBODY GETS HURT AND THEY GOT A SEAT BELT ON, DOES LIABILITY FALL TO SOMEBODY ELSE?
>> THAT WE WOULD PERMIT THE USE OF THE VEHICLE.
>> ARE YOU GUARANTEEING THAT THAT SEAT BELT IS GOING TO BE INTACT IF IT HAS AN ACCIDENT.
THAT'S THE THING, THERE'S NO THERE'S NO REGULATIONS ON IT.
THERE'S NO TESTING, THERE'S NO STANDARDS.
I THINK THAT'S A BIG ISSUE RIGHT THERE.
>> THERE'S ALL QUESTIONS OF WHETHER YOU'RE BETTER OFF WELL STRAP IN.
>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SEAT BELTS, IT'S FIBERGLASS.
YOU'RE GOING TO GET HIT BY A CAR GOING 30 MILES AN HOUR, YOU'LL BE LUCKY IF YOU SURVIVE.
WHETHER YOU HAVE SEAT BELT OR NOT [OVERLAPPING]
>> THEY HAD SEAT-BELTS ACTUALLY, THEY GOT HURT BUT IT SAVED THEM.
>> WELL, THE BIGGEST THING THAT YOU WANT SEAT BELTS TO DO IS TO KEEP ANYBODY FROM FALLING OUT.
ANYBODY THAT'S PLAYED IN A TOURNAMENT THAT HAS ALCOHOL, PEOPLE FALL OUT OF GOLF CARTS.
>> FAIRLY WELL-TAKEN BECAUSE [OVERLAPPING] I'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THEM.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WHEN YOU GET OFF THE TREE AFTER MARKET EDITION OF A SEATBELT-.
>> YEAH. BECAUSE THEY DON'T COME WITH-.
>> BRIAN, I'VE GOT A QUESTION FOR YOU. [OVERLAPPING]
>> OKAY. RIGHT NOW WE WANT TO CHARGE THE BUSINESSES $250.
NOW, TWO MEETINGS AGO, THEY GRABBED MY CDBG.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A 192044 CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.
>> NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT, CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
>> OKAY. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO.
[03:30:02]
[INAUDIBLE] WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A NON-ISSUING OF CODE ENFORCEMENT VERSUS THE ONES THAT ARE POLICE OFF?>> ONLY A LICENSED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IN TEXAS CAN PULL OVER A VEHICLE.
>> OKAY, THE POINT IS, INSTEAD OF CHARGING, I'M PRO-BUSINESS.
I DON'T LIKE THEM BEING IN CHARGE OF THAT KIND OF MONEY.
THEY PRODUCE REVENUE FOR THE CITY.
THEY ARE PAYING PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX.
THE THIRD THING IS POOR PEOPLE.
THE REASON WHY I ASKED YOU ABOUT THAT, IS YOU'VE GOT 4,000 REGISTERED GOLF CARTS AND YOU GOT 400, COMBINE THEM ALL, WHATEVER WE NEED, AND BALANCE IT OUT BETWEEN EVERYONE BECAUSE DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE RESIDENTIAL OR IF YOU ARE COMMERCIAL.
THEY CAN BE OUT OF THE SAME GUIDELINES.
WHY ARE WE CHARGING COMMERCIAL? I DON'T LIKE IT.
>> WE'RE FINALLY WHERE WE ALL WANTED TO COME UP WITH.
WE JUST NEED TO COVER OUR COSTS.
>> I THINK WE ALL NEED TO LOOK AT THAT AND BALANCE IT OUT THROUGH ALL THAT WE NEED TO COVER.
>> WHY NOT $75 APIECE? THAT BALANCES OUT.
>> WHY WOULD YOU PUT THAT BURDEN ON OUR CITIZENS?
>> WHEN IT'S MAINLY A TOURIST ATTRACTION? [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT'S NOT WHERE THE PROBLEM IS.
THE CITIZENS ARE NOT WHERE THE PROBLEM IS.
>> WELL, WAIT A MINUTE. ON THE NUMBERS THAT WE JUST GOT, HOW DO YOU KNOW IF THEY ARE BUSINESSES OR IF THEY'RE RESIDENTIAL?
>> ON ACCIDENTS? [OVERLAPPING]
>> WELL, LET ME ASK YOU THIS. WHY SHOULD WE PLACE THE BURDEN ON THE BUSINESS?
>> FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, AND I'VE TALKED TO TWO OF THE RENTAL COMPANIES, THEY'RE OKAY WITH PAYING A FEE FOR THIS.
>> THEY'RE OKAY FOR WEARING TOO? THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M GETTING.
>> IF IT IS AN EVEN PLAYING FIELD ACROSS THE BOARD, THE PEOPLE THAT I TALKED TO WERE OKAY WITH IT.
THEY FEEL THAT AT LEAST WHO I'VE TALKED TO, THERE WERE OPERATIONS OUT THERE, OPERATORS OUT THERE THAT HAD A BIT SHADIER REPUTATION, THEY WEREN'T FOLLOWING STANDARDS AND THEY WANTED STANDARDS PUT IN PLACE AND THEY WERE OKAY WITH FEES PUT IN PLACE TO COVER COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH MAKING THEM PLAYING FEEL EVEN.
I HEAR FROM A LOT OF RESIDENTS.
I DON'T WANT TO CHARGE THEM MORE MONEY FOR A PROBLEM THAT'S BEING CAUSED BY OUR TOURIST INDUSTRY.
>> I WANT TO PUT MORE FEES ON OUR TOURISTS THAT COME HERE TO OFFSET SOME OF THE COSTS THAT OUR CITIZENS ARE FACING.
THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THAT.
>> I SOUND SAD BUT I DON'T WANT TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF EXPENDITURES TO A BUSINESS.
>> [NOISE] SOME OF THESE UNITS THAT ARE OUT THERE RUN $14,000.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT THE TAXES THEY'RE PAYING ON PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX FOR BUSINESS.
AND THEN YOU WANT TO INCORPORATE, SAY YOU GOT 10-20 VEHICLES OUT THERE, MULTIPLY BY $250.
THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY. WHAT I'M SAYING IS, HOW LONG HAVE THE RESIDENTS BEEN PAYING $25? I THINK THAT'S WHAT I PAID 10 YEARS AGO.
>> ISN'T IT TIME TO INCREASE? [OVERLAPPING]
>> LET ME ASK THIS TO BRING US BACK TO THIS CHARGE THING.
HOW MANY GOLF COURSES WERE YOU THINKING WERE RENTAL CARDS OUT THERE?
>> THEY WERE THREE OR 400. THAT WOULD BE PROBABLY BETTER IN [INAUDIBLE].
>> WE DON'T HAVE 4,000 REGISTERED.
I THINK THE REGISTER [INAUDIBLE]
>> WHAT DO WE HAVE? THAT'S THE NUMBER SOMEBODY THREW OUT.
>> I THINK HE MAKES ENOUGH WITH SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
[LAUGHTER]. I THINK IT'S A LITTLE OVER 1,000, LIKE 1,100 GOLF CARTS.
>> ONE THOUSAND AND ONE HUNDRED AND ABOUT 400 ARE RENTAL UNITS RIGHT NOW.
>> BUT THAT'S JUST REGISTERED, CRAIG.
THERE ARE A LOT MORE GOLF CARTS.
>> I UNDERSTAND. HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU NEED TO HAVE PROPER ENFORCEMENT?
>> IT'S LIKE THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
WE'RE GOING TO NEED MAYBE DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS AND IT'S MAINLY PRIMARILY ON WEEKENDS, BUT WE'RE GETTING A LOT MORE ON THE WEEKDAYS.
I WOULD THINK PROBABLY A COUPLE OF $100,000 TO DO THE ENFORCEMENT CORRECTLY, BUT YOU HOPEFULLY WORK YOURSELF OUT OF THAT.
>> BUT THOSE INDIVIDUALS WOULD BE DOING OTHER THINGS, JUST NOT GOLF CARTS TO-
>> PROBABLY AT THE FRONT THEY'LL BE VERY FOCUSED ON GOLF CARTS.
BUT RIGHT NOW I DON'T NECESSARILY NEED THEM DOING ANYTHING ELSE RIGHT NOW.
IF THEY'RE WORKING, I'M NOT GOING TO LET HIM SIT THERE AND WAIT FOR A GOLF CART TO DRIVE BY OVER THERE.
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THEM PRODUCTIVE, BUT THAT'S TRUE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. IN A CASE, AS DAVID SAID, HE THINKS SOMEONE WHO WOULD HAVE A SEATBELT, WHERE'S THE CODE ENFORCEMENT GAP?
>> BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE WE'VE STARTED THIS CONVERSATION AND WE MADE IT REAL CLEAR THAT WE THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS BEING IN THE LEFT LANE, THE RENTAL OWNERS HAVE RESPONDED AND I THINK THEY'RE TELLING THEIR PEOPLE TO STAY IN THE RIGHT LANE BECAUSE I'M SEEING JUST SINCE WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS 2-3 MONTHS AGO,
[03:35:01]
WHENEVER IT WAS, I'VE SEEN MANY FEWER GOLF CARTS IN THE LEFT LANE.>> I'M A PRO-BUSINESS PERSON THROUGH AND THROUGH.
BUT I ALREADY HAVE A DISTRICT THAT FEELS LIKE IT DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH POLICE OFFICERS OR COVERAGE.
I HAVE OUR POLICE OFFICERS ON THE SEAWALL DEALING WITH THESE GOLF CARTS.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM THAT THE RENTAL FEES [OVERLAPPING].
THE RENTAL COMPANIES ARE CHARGING A GOODLY AMOUNT OF MONEY AND IT'S PRO-BUSINESS.
BUT I DON'T THINK $250 IS AN UNREASONABLE CHARGE.
DO WE REALLY WANT TO BE OVERRUN WITH GOLF CART RENTAL COMPANIES? I THINK IT ALSO HELPS IN STOPPING THAT HAPPEN.
I DO NOT THINK IT'S AN UNREASONABLE CHARGE.
I WOULD GO ALONG WITH WHAT DAVID SAID, TO REGISTER, NOT EVEN CHARGING OUR CITIZENS TO REGISTER, BUT I THINK $25 IS A NOMINAL FEE AND PEOPLE ARE OKAY WITH THAT.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, I'LL BET YOU SINCE WE GOT SERIOUS AND STARTED GIVING OUT TICKETS, NOT JUST WARNING, WE'VE HAD AN INFLUX OF REGISTRATIONS BECAUSE I KNOW OF AT LEAST THREE PEOPLE THAT HAVE GOTTEN A $500 FINE BECAUSE THEY HADN'T PAID $25 TO REGISTER THEIR GOLF CART.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE OUR POLICE HAVING TO BE TIED UP IN THIS, AND I THINK IT'S AN UNNECESSARY FEE TO ONE, PROTECT OUR CITIZENS, AND TWO, I THINK IT'S A FAIR AND JUST FEE.
>> BASED ON CURRENT REGISTRATIONS, IF YOU KEPT THE FEES IS DONE HASN'T BEEN THERE, RAISES ABOUT $115,000.
>> IF YOU KEPT THE FEES AT WHAT?
>> WHAT DON HAS THE ORDINATES.
>> WHICH IS GOING TO PAY FOR ABOUT A PORTION AND A HALF.
>> FOR THE RENTAL COMPANIES, THAT'S [INAUDIBLE].
>> BASED ON WHAT IS REGISTERED WITH US NOW.
NOW, THERE'S GOING TO BE INCREASED REGISTRATIONS BECAUSE THE MARSHALS ARE GOING TO BE ON WORK AND IF HE'S STOPPING A CART THAT DIDN'T HAVE REGISTRATION ON IT, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET REGISTERED.
>> WE GAVE WARNINGS FOR WAY TOO LONG.
>> ONE MORE THING. WILL YOU CLARIFY THE TIMES WHEN GOLF CARTS CAN BE [INAUDIBLE] BECAUSE I'M STILL A LITTLE UNCLEAR ON THIS SEAWALL? SUNSET. NOT SUNSET.
>> WHY CAN'T WE JUST PUT 11 O'CLOCK, A CUT-OFF LIMB? NINE O'CLOCK, COME BACK ON.
>> PERSONALLY, I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF NOT HAVING A TIME RESTRICTION ON GOLF CARTS. [OVERLAPPING].
>> I AGREE. [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER]
>> EVERYBODY IS POSITIONED ON THAT.
[OVERLAPPING] MUCH LIKE WE'RE SEEING SOME INFLUXES OF THIEVES IN GALVESTON FROM HOUSTON BECAUSE THERE'S GOOD GETTING HERE, WE'RE ALSO SEEING AN INFLUX OF DPS TROOPERS AND SUCH WORKING HERE AND THAT'S STATE LAW AND THEY CAN STOP GOLF CARTS [OVERLAPPING] ALL NIGHT LONG AND THEY HAVE DONE THAT.
I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT EVEN IF YOU DON'T PUT IT IN YOUR ORDINATES, IT'S IN STATE LAW AND FOLKS DRIVING GOLF CARTS AT NIGHT ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO BEING STOPPED.
THEY COULD BE STOPPED BY A SHERIFF DEPUTY, A CONSTABLE, A DPS TROOPER.
>> WELL, THEY KNOW THE CONSEQUENCES [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT'S NOT LIKE WE HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER IT.
>> SOUNDS LIKE THE TWO ISSUES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
>> I DON'T CARE FOR THE $10 INSPECTION.
THAT'S THE GOVERNMENT TELLING BUSINESSES WHAT THEY CAN CHARGE.
I THINK IN THE LAST VERSION WE SAID THAT IT WOULD BE $10.
WE HAVE JUST SAID WE CAN'T EXCEED $10.
IF THEY DO IT FOR FREE, THAT'S OKAY WITH US.
>> WHY SHOULD WE PUT THAT DOLLAR FIGURE IN THERE? THAT SHOULD BE UP TO, AGAIN, BEING BUSINESS-WISE BECAUSE I'M PAYING THAT EMPLOYEE TO INSPECT THAT VEHICLE.
IT MAY TAKE HIM 15 MINUTES, HE MAY FIND A PROBLEM, CHARGE MORE.
HE'S JUST GOING TO CHARGE FOR THE APPARATUS THAT MAY BE DEFECTIVE, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE LABOR COST?
>> I UNDERSTAND. I THINK THIS WAS IN THE NATURE OF A CONSUMER PROTECTION ISSUE THAT AN INSPECTION WOULD COST 100 BUCKS, BUT WE CAN TAKE THIS OUT.
>> IF I MAY, THIS IS GOING TO BE HAVING BILLS RIGHT.
IF HE CHARGES 10 BUCKS FOR AN INSPECTION AND I CHARGE $100 FOR INSPECTION,
[03:40:01]
GUESS WHO'S GOING TO GET THE BUSINESS? THAT'S A SELF-CORRECTING.THAT STRIKES ME AS A SELF-CORRECTING PROBLEM RIGHT THERE.
>> UNDER HOURS, WE SAY YOU CAN'T DO MORE THAN 10 BUCKS.
SOMEBODY PUTS THE SIGN OUT, NO INSPECTION FEE, THEY DON'T HAVE SOME EXTRA ADVERTISEMENT.
>> THEN WHY PUT THE [INAUDIBLE] ON IT AT ALL?
>> WHY PUT THE CAP ON IT AT ALL?
>> IF IT IS YOUR PLEASURE, WE WILL TAKE IT OUT.
>> I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE RATIONALE FOR [INAUDIBLE].
>> ISN'T IT IN THIS STATE LAW THAT [OVERLAPPING].
>> DO YOU WANT MY OPINION TAKE OUT?
>> BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO REGULATE A BUSINESS AT ALL.
[INAUDIBLE] CITY IMPLEMENTED INSPECTIONS.
KEEP IN MIND, THERE'S A LIMITED NUMBER OF THESE PLACES THAT WILL DO THE INSPECTIONS.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GETTING GOODS. I DON'T THINK THAT'S WRONG CHARGING 100 BUCKS.
>> [LAUGHTER] THAT WAS THE CONCERN, I THINK.
BUT I AGREE WITH YOU GUYS. I THINK, LET THE MARKET DICTATE WHAT'S THE VALUE.
THIS CAME OUT FROM MULTIPLE AREAS IN MY DISTRICT.
THE CITY SELLS THE REGISTRATION IN EUROPE FROM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY TILL FIVE O'CLOCK.
WHILE THERE'S SOME PEOPLE THAT DON'T GET DOWN HERE UNTIL SEVEN O'CLOCK.
WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE LIKE ONCE A YEAR OR SOMETHING YOU COULD DO A REGISTRATION SPOT OVER THE WEEKEND ON THE WESTERN?
>> AGAIN, THOSE ARE OVERTIME COST, BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO DO WHATEVER WORKS FOR THE CITIZENS.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON EXPANDING OUR HOURS OVERALL ANYWAY.
>> THE REGISTRATION, COULD THAT NOT BE ONLINE?
>> OR CAN YOU PUT IT ONLINE? THAT WAS THE OTHER REQUEST. IF YOU CAN PUT IT ONLINE, THEN [OVERLAPPING]
>> BECAUSE WITH THE WAY WE'RE GOING, IF YOU PROVIDE THE DOCUMENTATION THAT YOU'VE HAD AN INSPECTOR, I THINK WE CAN DO THAT.
>> WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE INSPECTING CARDS.
>> I THINK WE'LL DO IT ONLINE THEN.
>> [INAUDIBLE] EASIEST THING, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT.
IT'S SEEMS WE HAVE THREE TOPICS OF THE GOLF COURSE ORDINANCE THAT NEEDS TO BE POSSIBLY ADDRESSED THIS AFTERNOON WHEN WE START A REGULAR MEETING NIGHTTIME OPERATION OR PROHIBITING NIGHTTIME OPERATION ON A SUITABLE POSSIBLY CONSIDERING NO INSPECTION FEE OR PUTTING ANY LIMITS ON INSPECTION FEES, AND IF POSSIBLY ADDRESSING THE PERMIT FEE.
THAT CAN BE DONE IN THE MOTION THAT WE'LL DO THIS AFTERNOON AND WE'LL SEE HOW THAT FLOWS.
BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS TOPIC, DAWN, I WANT YOU TO GO OVER THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
YOU SAID THERE WERE CHANGES THAT BUCH HAD.
>> BUCH HAD REQUESTED THAT IN PLACEMENT, THAT THE LICENSE PLATE BE PUT ON THE REAR OF THE GOLF CART.
PREFERABLY TO THE LEFT OF CENTER SO THAT THE RIDERS CAN OPERATE IT.
>> IF YOU COULD WRITE THAT IN AND WE'LL HAVE YOU REPEAT THAT AT THE MOTION TIME.
>> THEN IN THE OUTCOME OF 250 BUCKS IN THE DRIVING AT NIGHT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL, VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.
WE'RE MOVING NOW, WE HAVE TWO ITEMS THAT ARE STANDING ITEMS, I WAS TOLD.
3G, UPDATE ON BEACH ACCESS AND PARKING CONCERNS.
[3G. Update On Beach Access And Parking Concerns Robb/Brown - ( 15 Min )]
BUT WE DISCUSSED THIS AT LENGTH LAST TIME.>> I DID STEP 1 ON THE BEACH ACCESS.
I KNOW WE'VE REQUEST A LOT OF SIGNS AND THINGS LIKE THAT BUT WE HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF SIGNS.
SO DO WE HAVE A TIMELINE ON WHEN WE MIGHT BE ABLE THE GET SIGNAGE UP?
>> I KNOW WE'RE GOING FULL TILT ON SIGNS.
>> ONE THING ON THE BEACH ACCESS.
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING THIS PAST WEEK, WE DISCUSSED BEACH ACCESS.
THIS GOT BROUGHT UP IN COUNCIL AND THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT, FIRST, WE FORM ANOTHER COMMITTEE AND GO BACK THROUGH THIS, AND THEN THEY LOOKED A LITTLE BIT UPSET ABOUT THAT [INAUDIBLE].
>> BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH COMMITTEES. [LAUGHTER]
>> I THINK ABOUT WHAT I'M DOING BECAUSE I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS WITH THE MAYOR.
I HAVE THE WHOLE LAST DEAL THAT THEY LOOKED AT.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND THE MAYOR.
EVEN WHEN THE PARK BOARD AND THE GLO, WHEN BUCKLEY AND I MET WITH DAVID GREEN, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE AND I HAVEN'T SEEN IT DRAWS SHED IN THAT TIME AND THEY DID A LOT OF WORK IS WE REALLY HAVE MORE BEACH ACCESS POINTS THAN WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE.
I'M LOOKING AT EVERYTHING THEY DID, I'M WORKING WITH STAFF, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET RID OF BUT WE'RE NOT BRINGING IT BACK FOR ANOTHER COMMITTEE TO BE FORMED AND SO FORTH.
>> ONE OF THE GRAY TIMES I GET SAY THAT'S A POLICY DECISION.
>> I AGREE WITH THAT 100 PERCENT.
[LAUGHTER] I DON'T THINK THIS SHOULD GO BACK TO SOME COMMITTEE.
[03:45:02]
THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT TIME THEY SPENT IN THERE WAS WELL USED.>> I HAVE IT. AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN I PICK THIS UP I PICK THAT UP AND THEY ARE ABOUT THEIR SAME SIZE.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION IN THERE.
>> THERE IS A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE ABOVE AND BEYOND OF ALL THAT.
>> SO [INAUDIBLE] THE BEACH ACCESS PLANS TO BE A FUTURE TOPIC FOR US.
>> MORE THAT EVER. MARIA AND I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS.
WE'LL BE MOVING FORWARD ON THAT VERY QUICKLY.
>> JOHN, YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
THIS COMMITTEE PUT OUT A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY TO COME UP WITH A LOT OF RECOMMENDATIONS HERE.
I DON'T SEE REALLY A NEED FOR A NEW COMMITTEE.
WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND REEVALUATE WHAT WE CAN.
>> I'M GOING TO PUT THAT IN AND LOOK AT.
>> IT'S PAST TIME TO DEAL WITH THIS.
>> THE OTHER BIG ISSUE IN BEACH ACCESS PLAN WAS MAINTENANCE.
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION WITH BEACH MAINTENANCE IN OUR PAST COUPLE OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS WITH REC AND THE BEACHES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND SO THAT IS A TOPIC THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT.
>> THAT IS SOMETHING BECAUSE, BOY, THEY ARE GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT.
>> SOUNDS WEIRD. [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER].
>> IT WILL POP UP ON MY PHONE AND IT'S COME UP AND I'LL JUST SAY, "GOD BLESS JOHN.".
>> I NEED TO ASK THIS QUESTION, I RECEIVED THIS INFORMATION AND I WANT TO GIVE IT OUT TO EACH COUNCILMEMBER AND YOU, BUT ONLY FOR THE EYES OF YOU AND THE COUNCIL MEETING THAT WE MAY WANT TO DISCUSS AN EXECUTIVE MEETING.
>> WHY DON'T YOU HAND IT TO ME AND LET ME REVIEW IT?
>> THAT'S SOMETHING BROWN CAN DO.
>> YOU DON'T PASS IT TO ANY COUNCILMEMBERS BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE, YOU CAN'T PASS IT TO ANY COUNCILMEMBERS.
>> WE SHOULD GET A COPY OF IT.
[3H. Report Of City Council's Park Board Representative (Collins/Brown - 10 Minutes)]
>> SOUNDS GOOD. LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 3H. JANELLE?
REPORT OF CITY COUNCILS [INAUDIBLE] IN IT.
>> DAVID, YOU'RE WINDING THIS UP HERE.
>> I'M HAPPY TO DO SO IN VERY SHORT FASHION.
WE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE LIFEGUARD ORDINANCE, THE NEW LEGISLATION, THINGS LIKE THAT.
OTHER THAN THAT, I THINK MR. FLUID GAVE US A PRETTY GOOD UPDATE THIS MORNING.
>> I WAS COMING IN TO SEE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NOW.
>> HE IS VERY ACTIVE, TRUST ME, BELIEVE ME.
ANYWAY, THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE IN THERE.
>> I WENT BACK TO VISIT FAMILY THIS WEEKEND AND I WAS IN AVALON, NEW JERSEY, DOWN AVALON, EXCUSE ME, [INAUDIBLE] NEW JERSEY, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE THE LAST FREE BEACH, UNTIL NEXT YEAR, ON THE JERSEY SHORE.
THEY DEAL WITH A LOT OF THE PARKING, WHICH I HAVE SOME PICTURES TO SHOW YOU.
BUT WHAT WAS INTRIGUING BECAUSE THEY DON'T PUT THEIR LIFEGUARDS OUT UNTIL JULY 4TH, WELL, THEY PUT HALF THEIR LIFE GUARDS OUT UNTIL JULY 4TH.
WHAT THEY HAVE IS THERE'S ROVING LIFEGUARDS.
THERE'S ONE THAT GOES THIS WAY, ONE THAT GOES THAT WAY.
IT'S UPPER TOWNSHIP, NEW JERSEY.
>> WE'RE SHORT STAFFED, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT PETER DOES, THEY MOVE.
BUT THAT'S NOT HOW I READ THE NEW LAWS.
>> IT PROBABLY COLD THERE TOO EARLY IN JUNE.
>> NO NEVER IS. I DON'T KNOW WHY.
>> COUNCIL, IT IS 1:00 PM AND I DON'T CARE WHAT THAT CLOCK SAYS. IT'S 1:00 PM.
[LAUGHTER] WE ARE OFFICIALLY ADJOURNED.
WE'VE GONE THROUGH ALL OF OUR ITEMS. WE'LL SEE EVERYBODY AT 5:00 PM THIS AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.