>> [BACKGROUND] GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
[Call to Order]
[00:00:03]
IT IS 9:00 AM.EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE AND STAFF, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING.
OF COURSE, COUNCIL, GOOD MORNING TO EVERYBODY, AND TO THOSE THAT MIGHT BE WATCHING ON THE APPLE TV LAND, [NOISE] GOOD MORNING TO YOU.
GLAD TO HAVE YOU JOIN US AT OUR WORKSHOP.
IT IS 9:00 AM, I'M GOING TO OFFICIALLY CALL THE WORKSHOP MEETING TO ORDER FOR JULY 22ND.
JANELLE, COULD YOU DO A ROLL CALL, PLEASE?
>> PRESENT. YOU HAVE A REVERB.
>> YEAH, WE'RE GETTING FEEDBACK.
>> SHUT YOUR VOLUME OFF YOUR SCREEN.
>> IT'S NOT ME, I HAVE WAS JUST NOW.
>> WE NEEDED TO MUTE EVERYBODY IF WE COULD.
HERE WE GO. CAN YOU HEAR US, JANELLE? JANELLE?
>> JANELLE, ARE YOU ON THE LINE?
>> I THINK YOU'VE MUTED US TOO.
>> YOU'VE MUTED US OR IS ANYONE OVER [INAUDIBLE]
>> [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER] ARE YOU OPEN [INAUDIBLE]
>> NOW I'M RIGHT WHEN WE'RE READY TO GET RID OF IT [OVERLAPPING]
>> [INAUDIBLE] MISMATCHED. WHERE'S MELLISSA?
>> THE MALE SINGER, SHE WAS [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING]
>> SHE VISITS ON FRONT OF THE CHAMBERS.
>> WE'RE HAVING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, SO GIVE US JUST A COUPLE MINUTES IF YOU WOULD PLEASE?
>> [INAUDIBLE] FEEDBACK GROUPS.
>> WELL, IT'S PRETTY GOOD TO HIM.
>> YEAH, IT'S ABOUT [OVERLAPPING]
>> YEAH. HIS AUDIO [BACKGROUND]
>> [NOISE] IT'S THE QUIETEST THIS ROOM HAS BEEN IN A LONG TIME.
>> JANELLE, ARE YOU BACK ONLINE WITH US?
>> THEY'RE ON [INAUDIBLE] BUT THEY CAN HEAR US?
>> [OVERLAPPING] I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE IS.
>> OKAY, LET'S [OVERLAPPING] FIRST OF ALL, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD [INAUDIBLE] BROADCASTING, IS THAT CORRECT? WE'RE BROADCASTING AUDIO, VIDEO, AND ALL OF OUR-
>> WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ON 16.
>> LET'S MAKE SURE WE'RE ON [NOISE] [INAUDIBLE]
>> WE HAVE A COUPLE OF SUBJECTS OF INTEREST SETTING.
>> WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND START IF WE'RE BROADCASTING ON ALL OF OUR MEDIUMS, VIDEO, AND AUDIO, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC CAN HEAR US HERE, SO WE'RE CHECKING ON THAT WE SHOULD KNOW SOMETHING HERE VERY QUICKLY.
>> THAT'S WHEN WE NEED. [INAUDIBLE] TO SING.
[OVERLAPPING] [INAUDIBLE] TO SING.
SHE'S THE SINGING [INAUDIBLE] WHEN I WAS IN COUNCIL 1ST.
[00:05:04]
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU. [NOISE] THEY CAN HEAR US ON FACEBOOK.
>> ARE WE BROADCASTING ON ALL OF OUR PLATFORMS?
>> WE'VE GOT AUDIO AND VIDEO IN BOTH ALL OF THEM?
>> OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND START. VERY GOOD.
IT IS 9:06 AND WE'RE CONTINUING OUR WORKSHOP MEETING.
WE'RE MOVING TO DISCUSSION ITEMS.
[3A. 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) (Part 1 of 2)]
ITEM 3A PLEASE, JANELLE?>> THE TRAFFIC ESTIMATES [INAUDIBLE] AND REGULAR [INAUDIBLE] COUNCIL IS IN THE [INAUDIBLE] THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITY COUNCIL TO ASK QUESTIONS THAT ARE [INAUDIBLE] REGULAR [INAUDIBLE] THE ITEM.
>> VERY GOOD. WE'RE GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS ON AGENDA ITEMS. BILL, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH YOU.
>> YEAH. I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF 2-3.
DAVE, CAN YOU COME UP HERE, PLEASE? [NOISE]
>> WANT TO SIT OVER HERE, DAVE?
>> OH. IT SAYS [LAUGHTER] L [OVERLAPPING] LACK OF TREPIDATION [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER]
>> THANKS. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DID UP HERE, YOUR WORK IS EXCELLENT.
SOME OF THE CMS STUFF THAT'S COMING OUT, WE USE THE TERM CREEP SCOPE WHERE THEY GO OUT THERE AND THEY WANT TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF MONEYS AND PLUS YOU DON'T PUT IN HERE NOT TO EXCEED.
I APPRECIATE THAT. THAT JUST HOLDS A LOT OF MONEY BACK FOR US.
BUT MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, YOU HAVE THREE PROJECTS COMING OUT TO THE [INAUDIBLE] WHAT [INAUDIBLE] DO YOU HAVE IN SELECTING THE CONTRACTORS? IS IT ALL BASED ON THEIR POINTS OR DO YOU HAVE AN INPUT IF YOU FEEL THAT?
>> THERE WAS A GRADING SYSTEM THAT WAS UTILIZED IN ALL THREE OF THEM, WHICH [INAUDIBLE] TESTS OF OUR BOSS GAVE MYSELF GRADED ALL THREE OF THESE PROJECTS AND THE RESPONSES TO THEM.
THE ENDING SCORE WITH THE HIGHEST SCORE ACTUALLY BROUGHT IT TO OUR ATTENTION TO VERY REWARDED TO THAT PARTICULAR VENDOR WITHIN THAT SCORING AND HAD TO DO WITH THE PAST EXPERIENCES WITH THE VENDOR, THEIR OTHER INFORMATION WITHIN IT, THEIR STAFF AND SO ON.
IT'S WAS A GRADING POINT THAT I WAS INVOLVED WITH, YES.
>> FOR THE PUBLIC, BILL, WOULD YOU MADE YOUR [INAUDIBLE], SO OKAY. [OVERLAPPING]
THAT IS 11K, AND LET'S SEE WHAT IS DOWN HERE.
>> AND 11L. JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, ITEM 11K WILL ACTUALLY BE PULLED, THAT WILL COME ON THE NEXT AGENDA.
THAT WILL COME UPON THE FOLLOW ONE.
THE TWO DIFFERENCES IS 11J, WHICH IS TEXAS GULF INSTRUCTION, THAT'S GOING TO BE CONSTRUCTION OF A CONCRETE WALL ON ONE SIDE OF THE TROLLEY BARN.
THESE ARE IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP THE FLOODWATERS OUT OF THE TROLLEY BARN IN FRONT OF A PROPER WAY FOR STORM COMING THROUGH.
THE SECOND ITEM IS ACTUALLY A CONTRACT WITH MAIN LINE INDUSTRIES.
THAT IS MORE OR LESS NOT A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, THAT'S TO PURCHASE WHAT WE CALL AN AQUA WALL.
THE AQUA WALL IS A TEMPORARY WALL THAT STAFF WILL PUT UP THAT WILL GO ON THE NORTH, THE EAST AND THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE TROLLEY BARN, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO KEEP THE WATER OUT OF THERE.
THOSE ARE TWO CONTRACTS THAT YOU'LL SEE FOR APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL DURING THIS COUNCIL MEETING.
THE THIRD ONE WILL ACTUALLY BE THE INSTALLATION OF A PUMP AND A GENERATOR SYSTEM.
IN CASE THE SYSTEM FAILS IT'LL PUMP WATER OUT OF THE TROLLEY BARN AS FAST AS IT CAN.
THAT WILL COME ON THE NEXT AGENDA, NOT THIS AGENDA.
>> WE'RE GOING TO DO THE WORK YOU SIGN?
WELL, THE INSTALLATION OF THE AQUA WALL WOULD BE PERFORMED BY STAFF, CITY STAFF.
AS WE KNOW, THIS WILL COME IN THE GOLF.
WE QUESTION WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO HIT OR NOT. THEY COME AND THEY GO OFF.
BUT AN EXAMPLE OF A HURRICANE ELSA, WHICH ACTUALLY CAME IN BEFORE WE KNEW IT AND TURN IT HONEST.
STAFF WILL BE TRAINED HOW TO QUICKLY PUT THIS WALL UP IN THE EVENT OF A SERIOUS THREAT OF A STORM.
>> ON THAT PARTICULAR JOB, WE'RE LOOKING AT OVER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.
>> THAT, IN REFERENCE TO THE MAINLAND INDUSTRIES, A MAJORITY OF THAT IS GOING TO BE ACTUALLY THE AQUA WALL ITSELF, WHICH IS ROUGHLY AROUND $400,000.
>> WHAT MAINLAND WILL BASICALLY DO IS THAT THEY WILL COME IN THERE AND THEY WILL INSTALL A MOUNTING PLATE AROUND THE TROLLEY BARN IN WHICH THIS AQUA WALL, WHICH WILL BE A FIXED TO.
IT'S NOT REALLY MUCH OF A CONSTRUCTION JOB.
THE CONCRETE WALL THOUGH, IS INSTALLATION OF A SOLID CONCRETE WALL ON THE FAR WEST SIDE OF THE BARN,
[00:10:02]
THAT ALL THESE LOOKS UP TO.>> OKAY. AGAIN, I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE CONTRACTORS.
I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT MAJORITY OF THE JOBS THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED ON MAINLAND/MCMC [OVERLAPPING], THEY'RE GETTING A LOT OF THE JOBS.
THAT'S THE REASON WHY I'M ASKING IT.
I MEAN, ARE WE SPREADING THE JOBS OUT OR WE'RE PICKING ON A PARTICULAR ONE BECAUSE IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE HISTORY, THESE GUYS ARE GETTING MOST OF ALL THE JOBS.
I GUESS ON YOUR SCHEDULING THAT YOU DO, READ YOUR POINTS, DOES THAT HAVE A PLAY INTO IT?
>> YES. ONE THING ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR RFP IS THAT THERE WERE ONLY TWO VENDORS HAVE RESPONDED, MAINLAND AND THE SECOND COMPANY.
THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF TO BE ABLE TO GRADE WOULDN'T HAVE 4 OR 5 TO GO THROUGH.
WE TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION BECAUSE WE KNOW THE COUNCIL'S CONCERNED ABOUT MAINLAND.
MAINLAND HAS DONE SOME GOOD JOBS AND THIS QUESTION WAS THEY HAVE NOT DONE.
YOUR CONCERN IS DO THEY HAVE TOO MANY JOBS WITH US AS WELL AS OTHER ORGANIZATIONS? WE UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT SO WE RE-EVALUATE AND REALIZE THIS IS MORE OF THE PURCHASE BLOCK, A WALL.
LIKE I SAID, THE ONE THING THAT MAINLAND, IS REALLY DOING IS PUTTING A MOUNTING PLATE.
I THINK THEY'RE DOING A LITTLE BIT OF A SEWER GRID MOVE ON THAT.
IT'S NOT A BIG MAJOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
SALES WOULD BE AWARD TO IF APPROVED.
>> MOST OF THE COSTS ARE MATERIALS NEEDED TO CONSTRUCT?
>> I THINK 90 PERCENT OF THE COSTS.
JUST CORRECT IF I'M WRONG, IT'S GOING TO BE THE PURCHASE OF THAT AQUA WALL.
THEY WERE ACTUALLY ABOUT $13,000 CHEAPER [OVERLAPPING] THAN THE OTHER COMPANY.
QUITE HONESTLY [INAUDIBLE] HAS TAKEN THE MAIN LEAD ON THIS.
I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT SHE DOES WITH IT.
>> YEAH, BUT WHEN WE INITIALLY PRICED THE AQUAFENCE WALL, THE MATERIAL COST JUST FOR THE PANELS WAS APPROXIMATELY $420,000.
THAT'S ABOUT WHAT THE COST IS JUST FOR THE PANELS OF THE WALL THAT THE TEMPORARY DEPLOYABLE WALL IT IS.
>> THE MATERIALS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS JUST ONE COMPANY GOES OUT AND GOES TO AN OUTSIDE VENDOR TO BRING IN THE MATERIALS.
>> THE COMPANY AQUAFENCE MANUFACTURES THESE PANELS.
THEY'VE BEEN TESTED AND APPROVED BY THE PORT ENGINEERS AND THEY SELL THESE AROUND THE COUNTRY TO THESE FLOOD PROOFING SYSTEMS.
>> THEY ARE THE ONLY COMPANY THAT BUILDS TO THE SPECIFICATIONS THAT WE PROVIDED.
>> THEY ARE BASICALLY THE ONLY TYPE OF SYSTEM THAT WE COULD FIND THAT WOULD GIVE US THE EIGHT FOOT PROTECTION BECAUSE WE HAD FIVE FOOT OF WATER INSIDE THE TROLLEY BARN DURING HIGH.
WE HAD TO PUT SOME MITIGATION STRUCTURE THERE THAT WOULD COVER THE FIVE-THIRDS PLUS THREE FOOT OF FREE FORWARD TO PROTECT THE TROLLEYS IN THE EVENT OF ANOTHER HIGH TIDE EVENT.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER, JUST YOU KNOW AQUA WALL IS THE MAIN ONE.
WE'VE RESEARCHED. WE'VE LOOKED AT OTHER WALLS OUT THERE.
HONESTLY, THAT WASN'T REALLY COMFORTABLE WITH THIS.
I'VE BEEN THROUGH THESE HURRICANES.
I'VE HAD THREE. I'M GOING TO WORK THROUGH.
BUT AFTER RESEARCH IN AQUA WALL, WE'RE PRETTY CONFIDENT IT'S A SOLID STRUCTURE THAT WILL HELP KEEP THOSE.
>> WE ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO ELEVATE THE TROLLEYS.
WE ACTUALLY BROUGHT LARGE JACK STANDS, WHICH WILL PUT THE TROLLEYS SIX FEET INTO THE AIR.
>> I MEAN, WE KNOW TRANSPORTATION IS A LOSING AREA.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT COSTS US MONEY ALWAYS.
GOD FORBID, IF WE COME IN ON THE INCENTIVES UNDER 50,000.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING INCLUDING THAT TROLLEY.
WE'RE INVESTING A HALF A MILLION INTO THE TROLLEY WALL.
LET'S JUST SAY WORST-CASE SCENARIO, WE DO HAVE TO MAKE CUTS ON TRANSPORTATION.
WHAT WILL WE BE ABLE TO USE THAT FOR?
>> TESAL, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
I MEAN, WE'RE OBLIGATED TO DO THIS BECAUSE OF FEMA.
>> YES, THIS IS BEING FUNDED 90 PERCENT BY FEMA AS PART OF THE MITIGATION PROJECT.
THEY FUNDED THIS IN AN EFFORT TO PREVENT FROM HAVING TO HAVE FUTURE DAMAGES TO THE TROLLEYS, WHICH CURRENTLY THE TROLLEYS ARE A LITTLE OVER THREE MILLION THAT HAD TO BE PAID TO RESTORE THE TROLLEY.
BECAUSE FEMA'S GOAL IS NOT HAVE TO COME BACK HERE AND REFURBISH THE TROLLEYS AGAIN AFTER ANOTHER I TYPE EVENT.
NINETY PERCENT OF THIS FUNDING IS COMING FROM FEMA.
>> THE OTHER 10 PERCENT, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IS INSURANCE.
>> IT'S COMING FROM I INSURANCE FUNDS.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTION?
YOU MAY BE ABLE TO ANSWER MY QUESTION IN MIND.
WE'RE GOING TO INSTALL THESE LIGHTS, THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS ON 45TH STREET.
>> THE CF GRADIENT SYSTEM WILL TALK.
>> OKAY. LET ME ASK YOU THIS, ARE THEY GOING TO INCLUDE CAMERAS?
>> IS THERE ANY PROBLEM WE CAN INCLUDE CAMERAS? [NOISE].
>> OBVIOUSLY, WE TESTING THAT WE SHOULD INCLUDE CAMERAS AS PART OF THIS.
[00:15:01]
>> WHAT WOULD BE THE INTENT? WE DON'T HAVE A WAY TO CAPTURE IT, REPORT IT, MONITOR IT.
>> YOU DON'T HAVE ANY? I THOUGHT WE DID.
>> WE HAVE SOME ON BOARD BUT WE DON'T RECORD ANYTHING AND WE USE THEM MAINLY JUST TO SEE IF WE NEED TO GO ON AND LEAVE THAT, NOBODY KNOWS.
>> WELL, WE'VE HAD SO MANY ACCIDENTS, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I HAVE BREAKFAST JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY OUT THERE.
THESE GUYS RUN THE STOPLIGHTS AND I WAS WITNESSED AT LEAST TWO OR THREE WITHIN ABOUT 5, 6 MONTH PERIOD.
I WAS ASSUMING THAT THE CAMERAS THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED OUT THERE, THEY'RE USED.
>> THEY'RE USED TO DETECT TRAFFIC, TO TRIGGER THE PHASES IN THE CABINET. THEY DON'T RECORD IT.
IF WE RECORDED THE DATA, WE WOULD HAVE TO STORE IT AND THEN IT WILL BECOME SUBJECT TO INSURANCE COMPANIES ASKING FOR THAT.
THE ANYONE WE HAVE ACCIDENTS AT A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER ISSUES THAT WE CAN REPLACE.
>> THOSE ARE TRADEMARKS. WE'D HAVE TO HARD MAIL AND SOMEHOW.
>> I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE MOUNTED ON POLLS.
>> WHAT CAUSE WE'RE LOOKING AT TAHANGS?
>> REPLACING THE POLES AND ALL THE EQUIPMENT IS 206,000.
>> WE'RE PLACING THE POLES, ALTHOUGH THOSE ARE GOING TO BE WOODEN POLES?
>> THEY WOULD BE WOODEN POLES. YES, SIR.
>> YEAH. 11N, I GUESS MR. [INAUDIBLE].
>> HE'S ONLINE. [INAUDIBLE], UNMUTE.
MAYBE NOT. WHAT'S THE QUESTION?
>> THAT'S OKAY. YOU'RE ON, WE CAN ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
>> I WAS LOOKING AT THE PLAN, YOU-ALL WANT TO PUT ON COVER ON HERE AT THE PARKING LOT?
>> FOR THE BACK DOOR? JUST FOR THE BACK DOOR.
>> MAYBE WHERE THEY POST THE AGENDAS.
>> THAT'S RIGHT THERE. WE'D SAY YES [OVERLAPPING] NOW WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF WATER, GETTING IN THE BACK DOOR, WE'RE GOING TO PUT A COVER.
>> OKAY. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU, SIR.
>> YES, SIR. THANK YOU BILL. MARIE?
>> I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE UNORDINANCE?
>> IT HAS TO DO WITH THE ONE THAT'S THE CHALK AND PAINT AND HOW NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO DRAW ON.
I'M GOING TO USE THE EXAMPLE OF JOHN PAUL JORDAN [OVERLAPPING]
>> MARIE WE HAVE THAT ON OUR AGENDA COMING UP.
>> [OVERLAPPING] IT'S IN THE WORKSHOP.
>> OH JORDAN DOING THE WORKSHOP BECAUSE IT SOUNDS A LITTLE BIT EXPENSIVE.
>> THAT'S COMING UP ITEM 3 FOR OUR AGENDA FOR THIS MORNING.
>> I'M GOOD. I'VE GOT EVERYTHING ON THE WORKSHOP [INAUDIBLE] I'VE GOT A QUESTION ON.
>> I HAD SOME QUESTIONS ON THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS ON 45TH STREET BUT I'M GOOD NOW.
[LAUGHTER] WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE GOLF CART ORDNANCE IN THIS MEETING BECAUSE OF THE BREAK TO TRY TO AVOID THE THREE HOUR MEETING.
THREE HOURS ADDITIONAL TO THE MEETING.
>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ABOUT THREE HOURS THIS AFTERNOON OF PUBLIC COMMENTS AT LEAST.
[NOISE] BUT IF WE TALK TODAY ABOUT SOME RECENT RESEARCH SUGGESTIONS WE'VE HAD WERE SINCE COUNCIL MAY BE WHAT WE MIGHT BE DOING ON THIS.
[NOISE] I WONDER IF WE COULDN'T FORESTALL SOME OF THAT CONVERSATION TONIGHT BECAUSE I THINK MOST OF US ARE, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR EVERYONE, BUT THE ONE'S PEOPLE I'VE TALKED TO, COUNCIL MEMBERS I'VE TALKED TO, WE'VE HEARD THE PUBLIC ON THIS.
THERE ARE SOME CHANGES COMING.
THAT THE ORDINANCE, AS IT IS WRITTEN IN THE WORKSHOP PACKET TODAY, IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S LIKELY TO SURVIVE TONIGHT.
I DON'T THINK I MIGHT HAVE TOO LONG TO LIVE SAYING THAT.
>> WHAT WE'D LIKE TO LOOK AT IS GOING BACK TO THE MASTER PLAN IDEA.
I'M LOOKING AT GOLF CARTS AS THEY'RE DEFINED BY THE STATE WHEN IT'S RELATED TO A MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY.
REMOVING THE STREET WEST OR EAST, THIS WOULD APPLY TO THE WHOLE ISLAND AND A MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY THAT THEY COULD FOLLOW THE REGULATIONS AS IT IS STATED IN THIS STATE AS FAR AS EQUIPMENT.
>> I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT DOESN'T SECTION 403 OR 404, ONE OF THEM PROVIDE A CARVE-OUT FOR MASTER PLAN COMMUNITIES? [INAUDIBLE]
>> FAIR WAY TO SAY SUCH [INAUDIBLE] THE OPERATION OF GOLF CARTS IN MASTER PLAN COMMUNITIES.
MASTER PLAN COMMUNITIES IS NOT WELL DEFINED ANYWHERE.
WE RELY ON A OPINION OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO DECIDE WHAT THEY ARE.
[00:20:06]
UNDER STATE LAW, GOLF CARTS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE, WHAT WAS IT?THE CARTS SIGNALS HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS [OVERLAPPING]
>> HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS, PARKING BRAKE [OVERLAPPING]
>> NOTE, FOR IN A MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY, THE WAY THE STATE BOARD READS, IT IS OPERATIONAL HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS, SIDE REFLECTOR, OPERATIONAL PARKING BRAKE, AND RARE VIEW MIRRORS.
>> NO SEAT BELT, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT'S THE WAY THE STATE DEFINES IT.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
IF COUNCIL FEELS THAT ADDING SEAT BELT MAKE IT MORE ACCEPTABLE IN A MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY, I'M SURE WE CAN DEAL TO THAT BECAUSE UPGRADING A GOLF CART WITH SEAT BELTS RUNS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN $50 TO $150 DEPENDING UPON THE GOLF CART.
ALTHOUGH THE STATE REQUIREMENT DOES NOT REQUIRE SEAT BELT AND THEN ALSO SLOW MOVING TRIANGLE, WHICH HAS BEEN REQUIRED FOR THIS CITY.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY AND I HAD EXTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS [NOISE] WITH SERGEANT WIGLEY, WHO IS THE OFFICER FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
THEY DEFINE A MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY AS A COMMUNITY THAT HAS [NOISE] AN ASSOCIATIONS, THAT HAS A SET OF RULES, THAT HAS A SWIMMING POOL, A GOLF COURSE, MAYBE A PEER.
IT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD WHICH IS PRIMARILY WHAT WE HAVE IN DISTRICT 6, MEASURED IT OUT ON GOOGLE MAPS TO WHERE PEOPLE DON'T TRAVEL BEYOND TWO MILES, ALTHOUGH IN THE STATE LAW THEY HAVE CHANGED THAT TO FIVE MILES WHEN IT COMES TO GOING [NOISE] AND COMING FROM MY GOLF COURSE BUT I'M GOOD WITH TWO MILES.
A GOLF CART IS A VEHICLE THAT DOESN'T EXCEED 20 MILES AN HOUR.
>> COULD I ASK A QUESTION, DAVID? OR YOU WANT TO [OVERLAPPING]
>> OH, PLEASE, I HAVE QUESTIONS BUT YES.
>> I WANT TO BE CLEAR TO THE WAY THE ORDINANCE IS THAT WE HAVE TWO FORMS OF THE ORDINANCE BEFORE US HERE IN OUR PACKET FOR THIS AFTERNOON.
THE ONE THAT OUTLINES MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITIES.
THE CARTS HAVE TO STAY IN THAT MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY.
>> WELL, YES, BUT THE MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY NEEDS, THEY CAN DRIVE ACROSS 3005 TO GIVE TO THE BEACH,
>> BECAUSE THE MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY EXTENDS TO THE BEACH AREA.
>> WELL, THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE.
WE'VE GOT CARTS MISTAKE THE WEST AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE DRIVING UP AND DOWN STEWART NEEDS TO GO TO THE GOLF COURSE. [OVERLAPPING]
THEY ARE GOING TO BE DRIVING UP DOWN THE STEWART ROAD.
IS THAT PART OF THE MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY?
>> WELL, WE NEED TO GET CLARIFICATION.
>> I DON'T SEE HOW YOU COULD SAY IT IS, STEWART ROAD EXISTED BEFORE ANY OF THOSE COMMUNITIES WAS BUILT DOWN THERE.
SO TO SAY, GEORGE MICHELLE DID NOT SIT DOWN AND DRAW STEWART ROAD-
>> -INTO THE PLAN [OVERLAPPING]
>> WELL HE DIDN'T DRAW IT INTO THE PLAN BUT HE DESIGNED THE GOLF CARTS AS PART OF THE PPOA COMMUNITY.
>> STEWART ROAD IS A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE AND IT PASSES SEVERAL MASTER PLAN COMMUNITIES.
YOU CAN'T JUST SAY EVERYTHING WAS PART OF [INAUDIBLE] OF MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY.
>> THE ONLY AREA THAT IT COMES INTO PLAY IS IN THE PPOA, SO IT'S THE PIRATES PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION.
NOW, IT COVERS THAT WHOLE AREA.
IT'S ACTUALLY WRITTEN INTO OUR DEED RESTRICTIONS.
CERTAIN AREAS OF PIRATE, THEIR HOUSES HAVE TO BE MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION,
>> BECAUSE IT IS WRITTEN INTO THE PPOA GUIDELINES AS PART OF THE MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY.
>> NONE OF THOSE ARE ON STEWART ROAD.
NONE OF THOSE ARE ON STEWART ROAD.
>> LET'S GET A CLARIFICATION. THE PUBLIC [OVERLAPPING]
>> THEY BE PART OF A MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY UNLESS
[00:25:03]
THEY HAD BEEN BUILT AS PART OF THE SUBDIVISION, THEN PRIVATE ROADS WOULD HAVE BEEN INSPECTED BY THE CITY AND ACCEPTED INTO THE CITY'S ROAD PROGRAM.STEWART ROAD WAS ORIGINALLY A COUNTY ROAD, WHICH BECAME A CITY ROAD WHEN THE CITY EXPANDED.
IF THE COUNCIL IS SO INCLINED, IT CAN BY DEFINITION STATE STEWART ROAD WOULD BE CONSIDERED PART OF THE MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY TO WHICH IT ABIDES.
>> WE COULD LIMIT THAT ROAD TO 20 MILES AN HOUR FROM THE EXTENSION FROM, I GUESS, WHATEVER THE STREET IS EAST OF ECKERT DRIVE THROUGH THE COUNTRY CLUB.
BECAUSE THE STATE LAW ALLOWS GOLF CARTS TO DRIVE TO AND FROM A GOLF CLUB.
A GOLF CART CAN BE AMENDED. [OVERLAPPING]
>> DOESN'T ALLOW THEM TO DRIVE DOWN A STATE HIGHWAY.
>> IT'S NOT A STATE HIGHWAY. [NOISE]
>> NONETHELESS [INAUDIBLE] YOU CAN'T JUST SAY [OVERLAPPING]
>> WHOA, OKAY [OVERLAPPING] SO THEY ALLOW THEM TO DRIVE ON A ROAD THAT'S LESS THAN 35 MILES TO A [NOISE] GOLF COURSE, THE STATE LAW?
>> ALLOWS GOLF CARTS TO BE DRIVEN, BUT THAT PART DOES NOT SPEAK TO THE EQUIPMENT ON GOLF CARTS.
>> IT DOES NOT SPEAK TO THE EQUIPMENT.
IT DOES SPEAK IN AS FAR AS IT SAYS, EVEN IF THEY HAD BEEN UPDATED OR ADVANCED, IT DOESN'T SAY THEY HAVE TO HAVE A GOLF BAG.
>> IS SEA ISLE A MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITY?
>> SEA ISLE IS BY THE DEFINITION OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, YES.
>> OKAY. AS WOULD BE BEACHTOWN S THE ONLY THING ON [OVERLAPPING]
>> I BELIEVE [INAUDIBLE] WOULD QUALIFY AS WOULD COLONY PARK.
>> WHY IS COLONY PARK AND WHY?
>> THEY HAVE DEED RESTRICTION ASSOCIATION. [OVERLAPPING]
>> DO NOT HAVE A MANDATORY HOA.
>> [INAUDIBLE] DOES, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE GOLF CLUBS.
I ALREADY CHECKED [OVERLAPPING] WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
[OVERLAPPING] WELL, I CHECKED WITH THEM THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE FOR THEM.
I CHECKED WITH THEIR HOA, AS MATTER OF FACT, NOW I'M TALKING [OVERLAPPING].
>> HERE'S THE THING, IF YOU LIVE IN [INAUDIBLE] YOU WANT TO DRIVE SOMEPLACE OTHER THAN [INAUDIBLE], SO YOU'D WANT YOUR GOLF CART TO BE [OVERLAPPING].
>> I DON'T THINK JUST ADDRESSING THE INDIVIDUALS WE NEEDED.
I DOUBT WE'VE SEEN THE LAST MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITY BUILT ON WEST INTO THE [INAUDIBLE].
>> I THINK WHAT IS A MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITY AND HOW FAR DO THEY EXTEND IS A MAJOR QUESTION HERE.
I DON'T SEE THE STEWART ROAD AS PART OF ANY MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT PREDATES THE DEVELOPMENT ALL OF THESE [INAUDIBLE] OUT THERE.
SECONDLY, THE ORDINANCE AT ONE OF THOSE ORDINANCES THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US MENTIONS EVERYTHING WEST OF 103RD STREET.
>> I DON'T WANT TO PROVIDE THE ISLAND THAT WE'VE DONE THAT FOR TOO LONG. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IF WE GO WITH THE DEFINED MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITIES THAT COULD HOLD TRUE FOR THE ENTIRE ISLAND.
>> CURRENTLY, IN THE CODE, THE SPEED LIMIT ON STEWART ROAD IS 45 MILES PER HOUR.
WHEN YOU GET TO ABOUT 11-MILE ROAD, THE SIGN SAYS IT'S 35.
BUT WOULD YOU READ THE CODE IT SAYS 45 MILES PER HOUR FROM ANY FIRST STREET TO THE WESTERN EXTENT FROM THE CITY? THAT SOUNDS LIKE LEGACY LANGUAGE TO ME THAT WAS PUT IN THERE BEFORE 1978, SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO DEAL WITH THAT.
I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH CONTINUING TO BE 35 MILES PER HOUR.
>> I THINK 45 IS TOO HIGH SPEED.
>> I THINK 35 IS A PERFECTLY GOOD SPEED BECAUSE IT'S TOO NARROW TO A ROAD.
IT'S NOT A RESIDENTIAL [OVERLAPPING].
>> [OVERLAPPING] TAKING IT DOWN TO 25.
>> PROBABLY WOULDN'T BECAUSE I DON'T THINK YOU COULD EVER ENFORCE THAT.
>> WE TAKE IT MOST OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TO 20.
>> THAT'S NOT A NEIGHBORHOOD. [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING]
>> ONE OTHER MAJOR THING I THINK WE NEED TO DECIDE HERE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EXEMPTING MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITIES, WE WILL START TO BOIL THIS DOWN, HAVE WE NOT? EVERYTHING WE HAVE ON THE BOOKS TODAY, OR MAY, EXCEPT WE WANT TO EXEMPT CARTS DRIVEN EXCLUSIVELY IN MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITIES.
EVERYBODY NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND, THEY GET OUT OF THE MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITY, TO GO DOWN TO SEVEN SEAS OR SOMETHING. THEY'RE SUBJECT TO [OVERLAPPING]
>> YES, THEY CAN AND THEY DO IT. [LAUGHTER]
>> A RENTAL CART MAY DO THAT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT BRINGS UP THE NEXT MAJOR QUESTION.
DOES THIS APPLY TO ALL CARTS, OR DOES THIS APPLY TO PRIVATELY OWNED CARTS?
>> PRIVATELY OWNED CARTS, THEN WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ADDRESS THAT IN THE LANGUAGE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] RESIDENTIAL GOLF CARTS, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.
>> [INAUDIBLE] MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITY.
>> ALL OF THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS THAT WE HAVE ON THE BOOKS,
[00:30:03]
RIGHT THIS SECOND, I BELIEVE SHOULD REMAIN WITH RENTAL CARTS.>> IF THIS IS THE DIRECTION WE GO, GUYS, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO, IS TO POST THE OUTWARD BOUNDARIES ON STEWART ROAD OF WHAT YOU GUYS DETERMINE TO BE THE MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITY WITH SOME SIGNS.
JUST SO PEOPLE SAY, I DIDN'T REALIZE I LEFT A MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITY.
>> THE ISSUE HERE IN MY MIND [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT'S MORE ALSO FOR THE EDUCATION OF LAW THE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THAT MAY BE ENFORCING THIS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE NOT FROM HERE.
>> YEAH, THE KEY IN MY MIND ON THIS APPROACH TO THIS IS THAT THE LOCATION IN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE IF THEY'RE ON A PUBLIC ROAD, THEN IN MY OPINION, THEY'RE NOT IN THE MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITY, THAT'S JUST ME.
THERE'S OTHER ROADS DOWN THERE THAT THEY'RE GOING UP AND DOWN ALSO.
>> WELL, THERE'S ROADS IF THEY GO, WHAT'S THAT ROAD THAT GOES BY THE LITTLE SHOPPING CENTER THERE WERE SAND AND SEAS [OVERLAPPING]
>> WELL, SO THEN THAT MAKES THE QUESTION, HOW DO YOU GET FROM [INAUDIBLE] TO THE BEACH? YOU HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE OF MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITY TO GET [INAUDIBLE] TO THE BEACH.
>> WELL, THAT AGAIN, WHEN IT WAS DESIGNED, WHEN THE CHURCH WAS DONE, THAT WAS ALL PART OF THE MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITY.
THAT'S WHERE MICHELLE'S OFFICE WAS RIGHT ON [INAUDIBLE]
>> THIS IS GOING TO BE AN [OVERLAPPING].
>> DONNA AND SHE'S PUT TOGETHER A LITTLE WORKFORCE WITH CHAIRMAN CATHERINE TO IDENTIFY WHICH MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITIES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
>> EVERYBODY SAYS THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE, BUT WE NEED A DEFINITIVE LIST.
>> IN THAT ANALYSIS, YOU'LL BE PRESENTING THAT THIS AFTERNOON, DON, IS IT [OVERLAPPING]
> OKAY. IN THAT ANALYSIS, DO YOU SET THE BOUNDARIES OF THAT MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITY ALSO?
THAT'S THE KEY BECAUSE IF THIS MOVES FORWARD WITH COUNCIL, AND WE PASS IT IN THE WAY THAT IT'S WRITTEN, IN MY OPINION, YOU GET OUTSIDE OF THOSE MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITIES, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT.
>> SO IF THEY ARE DRIVING DOWN STEWART ROAD TO GO TO THE GOLF COURSE, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT.
>> WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT BEFORE THAT HAPPENS.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT, AND THAT'S THE CRUX IN MY MIND.
THE CRUX OF THIS WHOLE QUESTION HERE.
>> SO YOU'RE GOING TO IGNORE THE STATE OR EVEN THEN FEDERAL REGULATIONS THAT TALKS ABOUT THE USE OF A GOLF CART GOING TO A GOLF COURSE?
>> WE WERE READING THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS THE THE OTHER DAY IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THEY DON'T MAKE THAT DISTINCTION.
THEY SAY IF IT'S A VEHICLE DESIGNED TO GO UP TO 25 MILES PER HOUR IT IS A SLOW MOVING VEHICLE AND IT REQUIRES ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THE [OVERLAPPING].
>> WELL, YOU CAN ALSO [INAUDIBLE] PART OF THAT STATUTE BECAUSE WE WERE LOOKING AT IT AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE EVER CAME TO A FINAL CONCLUSION.
ARE PARTS OF THE FEDERAL LAW THAT SAYS IF A VEHICLE GOES LESS THAN 20, IT IS NOT COVERED BY THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS.
>> [INAUDIBLE] ALWAYS FASCINATING [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER].
>> WHY DON'T WE TAKE THIS ALL, THOUGH, AS AN AGENDA ITEM IN THE WORKSHOP? BECAUSE THIS WAS ORIGINALLY ON AS SOME WORKSHOP AGENDA ITEM.
>> I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS ON WORKSHOP.
>> YEAH, WE'RE HERE NOW [LAUGHTER]. [OVERLAPPING]
>> [OVERLAPPING] THE WORKSHOP AGENDA ITEM SAYS,
[3H. Council Updates And Discussion Items (15 Minutes) 1. Coastal Resources Manager - Brown 2. Golf Cart Definitions - Robb/Brown]
"ONLY DEFINITION OF GOLF CARTS.".>> IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS KIND OF DISCUSSION, YOU REALLY NEED TO PROCEED NOW.
>> I'M FINE TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION NOW BECAUSE AS DON MENTIONED WE HAVE DEFINITIONS COMING UP.
>> WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING NOW.
>> I HEAR THIS, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT MARIE, YOU WANT TO LIMIT IT TO MASTERPLAN COMMUNITIES AND THEN CALL PEOPLE'S GOLF CART DRIVERS AT WEST END MASTERPLAN COMMUNITY.
I MEAN, IF YOU TAKE OFF DOWN 13-MILE ROAD, I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO WEST MASTERPLAN COMMUNITY ALL A SUDDEN.
YOU SAY THE MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY EXTENDS TO THE BEACH, TO THE BAY.
>> WELL, IT DOES. THE PPOA COVERS, LAFFITE'S COVE, PIRATES COVE, PIRATES BEACH, AND PIRATES BEACH WEST.
[00:35:01]
IT TALKS ABOUT A GOLF CART CAN BE USED IN A MASTERPLAN COMMUNITY GOING TO A PUBLIC BEACH THAT ALLOWS VEHICLE ACCESS OR, AND THIS IS A QUESTION THAT CAME UP, IF A PERSON IS HANDICAPPED AND THEY HAVE A HANDICAP STICKER, THEY CAN DRIVE TO A PUBLIC BEACH OR TO AND FROM A GOLF COURSE.>> ALL OF THESE THINGS EXEMPT, SAFETY EQUIPMENT?
>> NO SAFETY EQUIPMENT IS REQUIRED ON A CART?
>> [OVERLAPPING] WHAT IS REQUIRED, IS OPERATIONAL LAMPS, OPERATIONAL TAIL LAMPS, SIDE REFLECTIONS, OPERATIONAL PARKING BRAKES, REAR-VIEW MIRRORS, SLOW-MOVING.
>> THOSE ARE THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT,
>> [INAUDIBLE]. YOU'RE SAYING THOSE ARE NOT REQUIRED?
>> NO. [OVERLAPPING] THEY ARE REQUIRED BY STATE LAW.
>> ON ALL EQUIPMENT, ALL CARTS?
GOLF CARTS THAT ARE IN A MASTERPLAN COMMUNITY THAT ARE GOING TO AND FROM A PUBLIC BEACH.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK WE'RE EXEMPTING HERE? IF WHAT YOU JUST READ IS WHAT APPLIES TO ALL THE GOLF CARTS IN THE MASTERPLAN COMMUNITY, NO CHANGES TO THE ORDINATES ARE REQUIRED.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE IT REACHED TODAY.
>> NO. IT ISN'T WHERE IT'S REACHED TODAY [OVERLAPPING].
IT SAYS TURN SIGNALS, FORMS, ARE ORDINANCE GROUPS TOGETHER GOLF CARTS IN ANY B AND BOTH ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE THE SAME EQUIPMENT, WHICH INCLUDES TURN SIGNALS, HORNS, BRAKE LIGHTS AND SEAT BELTS.
>> DONNA, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WANTING TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
DONNA HAS BEEN RESEARCHING THIS, DONNA.
>> WELL, GOOD MORNING CITY COUNCIL.
>> [LAUGHTER] IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT DON MENTIONED THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DETERMINE WHAT A MASTERPLAN COMMUNITY IS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT CURRENTLY IN OUR CITY CODE, WE DON'T HAVE A DEFINITION OF A MASTERPLAN COMMUNITY.
TIM, CATH AND I, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT AND SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE LISTENING TO THE CONVERSATION AS TO HELP US DETERMINE WHAT COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER AS A MASTERPLAN COMMUNITY.
AGAIN, WE HAVE AN AG OPINION AS TO WHAT CAN BE TERMED AS A MASTERPLAN COMMUNITY.
I SUGGEST THAT WE WILL GET TOGETHER AND WE WILL DISSEMINATE THAT TO COUNCIL TO SEE HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THOSE PARAMETERS.
BUT CURRENTLY, WE DON'T HAVE A MASTERPLAN COMMUNITY DEFINED ON THE ISLAND.
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A MASTERPLAN COMMUNITY, LET US HEAR FROM YOU WHAT YOU CONSIDER WOULD BE A MASTERPLAN COMMUNITY, TYPICALLY SUB-DIVISIONS.
WE CONSIDER THEM AS A MASTERPLAN COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF IT ALL.
BUT AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE THAT DEFINITION IN OUR CITY CODE OR IN THE LDRS.
>> DONNA, IT IS IMPORTANT TO ME AND YOU MAY BE INCLUDING THIS IN YOUR THOUGHTS ON DEFINITION, IS THE BOUNDARIES OF A MASTERPLAN.
THAT'S THE KEY ON THE WEST END RIGHT NOW IN MY MIND, IT'S THE BOUNDARIES OF THAT.
>> WE'RE TAKING ALL THE COMMENTS.
I'M LISTENING TO ALL THE COMMENTS AND SO WE DEFINITELY NEED TO STAFF, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED, AND IF IT'S THE DIRECTION OF CITY COUNCIL TO COME UP WITH THOSE SUB-DIVISIONS OR AREAS THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED AS A MASTERPLAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THEN I THINK WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
I MEAN, I DON'T SPEAK OUT OF TURN FOR PLANNING, BUT IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION OF COUNCIL TO TRY AND HAVE US DETERMINE WHICH DEVELOPMENTS OR SUB-DIVISIONS ARE MASTERPLAN COMMUNITIES, THEN WE WOULD NEED TO BE DIRECTED TO DO SO.
>> THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, ASIDE FROM THE AG, HAVE DEFINITIONS OF MASTERPLAN.
WHEN I SPOKE WITH SERGEANT [INAUDIBLE] YESTERDAY AND SERGEANT [INAUDIBLE] IS THE PERSON FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY WHO EDUCATES POLICE FORCES, SHERIFFS, CONSTABLES, AROUND THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS.
WHICH IS ASTOUNDING AND WE WOULD NEED THAT.
BUT IN WHAT WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH IN THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, NOT AT ALL.
HE OFFERED TO COME TO THE MEETING TODAY.
WE COULD PROBABLY EVEN GET HIM TO COME TO
[00:40:01]
COUNCIL OR MAYBE EVEN SHOW UP A LITTLE LATER IN THE WORKSHOP.I THINK WE CAN IGNORE STATE LAW.
STATE LAW HAS DEFINITIONS FOR GOLF CARTS VERSUS NEVS.
I THINK THESE IS HOW IT'S AFFECTING MY DISTRICT.
IT'S THE GROUPING TOGETHER OF GOLF CARTS WITH THE NEV. A NEV IS CREATED TO GO FASTER AND TO DRIVE ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS THAT ARE 35 OR MORE, WHERE MOST GOLF CARTS.
>> THE ONLY THING I'M SUGGESTING IS THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT THE TRANSPORTATION CODE SAYS MASTERPLAN COMMUNITY.
>> I'M JUST STATING THAT WE DON'T HAVE A DEFINITION OF A MASTERPLAN COMMUNITY HERE ON THE ISLAND.
>> WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH THEM.
>> WE'RE JUST LISTENING TO THE COMMENTS TO HELP US DETERMINE WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED A MASTERPLAN COMMUNITY.
>> DON, DO YOU AGREE THAT WHAT WE HAVE ON THE WEST ON THE ISLAND, WE HAVE GOLF CARTS AND NEVS IN THESE COMMUNITIES.
LET ME REPHRASE THAT. WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF A GOLF CART AS OPPOSED TO AN NEV?
>> I MEAN, I CAN READ THE DEFINITION, BUT WHAT DO YOU INTERPRETING THAT TO BE?
>> A GOLF CART IS SOMETHING THAT'S INTENDED FOR USE ON A GOLF COURSE.
>> IF YOU'RE DOWN IN SEA ISLE.
>> IF YOU'RE DOWN IN SEA ISLE AND YOU NEVER TAKE YOUR.
>> VEHICLE TO THE GOLF COURSE.
COULD WE DEFINE THAT AS A GOLF CART?
>> WELL, LET ME ADD SOME STUFF TO THAT.
IF IT DOESN'T HAVE A PLACE FOR GOLF CART BAGS ON IT.
IF IT HAS JACKED UP AND HAVE BIG TIRES AND STUFF WOULD YOU CONSIDER THAT A GOLF CART? WOULD THAT FALL UNDER THE DEFINITION AS A GOLF CART?
>> LAST WEEK OR TWO WEEKS AGO, [INAUDIBLE] CAME IN AND GAVE A PRESENTATION WITH A SLIDESHOW.
UNDER HIS, AND I AGREE WITH HIM.
NO. THAT WOULDN'T BE A GOLF CART.
>> OKAY. [INAUDIBLE] HOW DO WE FIT THESE VEHICLES ON WEST END ISLAND THAT AREN'T GOING TO THE GOLF COURSE IN THIS DEFINITION OF A GOLF CART?
>> WELL, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR HOW THE STATE DOES IT? THIS IS FROM [INAUDIBLE], THE EXPERT IN THE STATE, WHO TRAINS POLICE FORCES, SHERIFF FORCES, CONSTABLES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
A DEFINITION OF THE GOLF CART IS FOUND IN THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE 551.401, WHICH ALL I HAVE TO DO IS TYPE 5 INTO MY PHONE AND THE LAWS ALL COME UP ONE AFTER THE OTHER.
IT READS, "A MOTOR VEHICLE DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED PRIMARILY FOR THE USE ON THE GOLF COURSE." THE WORD PRIMARILY IS SIGNIFICANT.
IT DOESN'T SAY DESIGNED BY A MANUFACTURER EXCLUSIVELY TO BE USED ON A GOLF CART.
SO THE IDEA BEHIND THE DEFINITION ALSO ISN'T TO LIMIT WHAT A GOLF CART IS PERMITTED AS STATE LAW ALLOWS GOLF CART OPERATIONS IN MANY PLACES BY DEFAULT AND SEPARATE SECTIONS.
IT'S INSTEAD BETTER TO DESCRIBE THE VEHICLE THAT WE'RE ENFORCING.
FOR EXAMPLE, LAWNMOWERS ARE NOT DESIGNED FOR PRIMARY USE ON A GOLF COURSE.
YOU COULDN'T TAKE A LAWNMOWER, PUT GOLF CART TIRES ON IT AND SAY, "OH, THIS IS A GOLF CART." THIS IS WHAT THE STATE FEELS WHEN THEY PUT A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT IN DESIGNING THEIR LAWS.
GOLF CARTS ARE STATUTORILY AUTHORIZED TO OPERATE IN THREE PLACES.
MASTERPLAN COMMUNITIES, BEACHES OPEN TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC AND TO TRANSPORT TO AND FROM GOLF CARTS.
THIS CHANGED THIS YEAR IT USED TO BE TWO MILES AND TO NOW FIVE MILES FROM WHERE IT'S PARKED LOCATION OR PRIMARY DOMICILE OR WHATEVER YOU WOULD CALL [NOISE] THAT A GOLF CART.
[00:45:02]
THE GOLF CART TRANSPORTATION IS EXCLUSIVE FROM OTHER TWO LOCATIONS.THE EXCLUSIVE OF OPERATION, ONLY DAY TIME OPERATION IS ALLOWED AND IT MUST BE ON A HIGHWAY WITH A SPEED OF 35 MILES OR LESS.
IF IT'S ON A HIGHWAY 35 MILES OR LESS, THEY CAN'T DRIVE AT NIGHT BECAUSE THIS IS THE STAPLE.
>> ON A HIGHWAY 30 MILES AN HOUR.
>> THIRTY FIVE MILES AN HOUR. [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUT YOU CAN STILL DRIVE ON CITY STREETS? WHAT'S OUR DEFINITION OF A HIGHWAY?
>> WELL, FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT WAS THAT ON 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND?
>> FAIRY ROAD. INDUSTRIAL BOULEVARD. THOSE ARE HIGHWAYS. THEY CAN'T DRIVE.
>> PEOPLE WHO ARE ON FAIRY ROAD.
>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S [OVERLAPPING]
>> YEAH DON'T THINK THAT'S RIGHT.
>> WELL, DPS WAS TICKETING PEOPLE FOR [OVERLAPPING] BEING OUT AT NIGHT TIME.
>> I THINK THE DEFINITION OF A HIGHWAY AND A STREET IS INDISTINGUISHABLE.
>> IF I'M SHARING THAT CORRECTLY, THAT MEANS YOU COULDN'T DRIVE A GOLF CART AT NIGHT IN A NEIGHBORHOOD?
>> NO, YOU CANNOT DRIVE A GOLF CART AT NIGHT ON A HIGHWAY. IT'S WHAT THE LAW SAYS.
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR ON THE DEFINITIONS AND EVERYBODY IS CLEAR ON THIS.
IS A STREET AND A HIGHWAY NOT THE SAME?
>> WE HAVE ROADS ON THIS ISLAND THAT ARE DESIGNATED A HIGHWAY.
WHAT'S THE PART OF THE SEAWALL'S A HIGHWAY?
>> NO. THEY'RE NOT DESIGNATED AS HIGHWAYS, THEY ARE [INAUDIBLE] AS A STATE ROAD.
>> CAN WE GO AHEAD TO MR. [INAUDIBLE] AND ASK THIS QUESTION [INAUDIBLE]
>> DON, YOU'VE ALREADY RULED ON THIS.
>> UNDER THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE SECTION, 541302 PARAGRAPH 5.
A HIGHWAY OR STREET MEANS THE [INAUDIBLE] BETWEEN THE BOUNDARY LINES OF A PUBLICLY MAINTAINED RIGHT OF WAY, ANY PART OF WHICH IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR VEHICULAR TRAFFIC.
A ROAD, A STREET AND A HIGHWAY ARE ALL THE [NOISE] SAME UNDER THIS DEFINITION.
>> THAT'S ANOTHER HURDLE THAT I THINK YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
IF YOU CONSIDER THESE GOLF CARTS THAT AT NIGHT THEY CAN'T DRIVE ON A CITY ROAD.
>> MARIE, THIS IS HOW MY UNDERSTANDING OF IT IS.
BY THAT DEFINITION, OUR CITY STREETS ARE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAYS, WHICH ARE HIGHWAYS AND [OVERLAPPING].
>> WHICH WOULD APPLIED IN TOWN AND.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. IT WOULD, OBVIOUSLY WOULD.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR ALL THE DEFINITIONS HERE.
>> DEFINITION WE HAVE USED OF A GOLF CART IS WHAT THE STATE CODE SAYS.
>> THIS [NOISE] DISTINCTION BETWEEN GOLF CARTS AND NEVS IS A RED HERRING.
THERE IS NOWHERE THAT SAYS AN NEV IS SOMETHING THAT YOU DRIVE MORE THAN 35 MILES AN HOUR.
IT SAYS UP TO 35 MILES AN HOUR.
THE SAME AS IT SAYS FOR GOLF CARTS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT SAYS AN NEV IS A VEHICLE DESIGNED TO DRIVE 25 MILES OR MORE IN THE STATE LAW.
IT DOES DEFINE AN NEV AND IT DOES DEFINE A GOLF CART.
>> YES. BUT FOR THESE PURPOSES, THERE'S NO REASON TO MAKE THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE TWO.
WHAT APPLIES TO A GOLF CART APPLIES TO AN NEV.
THEY OPERATE ON THE SAME ROAD, THEY OPERATE ON THE SAME HIGHWAYS.
NEITHER OF THEM CAN DRIVE ON THE STREET WITH THE SPEED LIMIT OF GREATER THAN 35 MILES AN HOUR.
I'VE RECEIVED ANY NUMBER OF EMAILS FROM PEOPLE WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT THEY THINK AN NEV IS SOMETHING DESIGNED TO DRIVE MORE THAN 35 MILES AN HOUR, AND THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE.
>> WELL, THEN WHAT YOU'RE SAYING THAN COMMERCIAL COMPANIES COULD, INSTEAD OF BUYING NEVS, COULD START BUYING GOLF CARTS AND THEN WE'LL HAVE VEHICLES THAT ARE ONLY DESIGNED TO GO 15 MILES AN HOUR ON A SEAWALL? JUST TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING BECAUSE THERE IS A DISTINCT DIFFERENCE.
>> A GOLF CART IS DESIGNED TO GO BETWEEN 11-16 MILES AN HOUR.
AN NEV IS DESIGNED TO GO 25 MILES [OVERLAPPING].
>> ACTUALLY ONLY ON THE SEAWALL, SLOW TRAFFIC IS THE PROBLEM.
THE PROBLEMS GOLF CARTS AND THAT, BY THAT DEFINITION,
[00:50:02]
NOT NEVS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S SLOW.NOBODY'S COMPLAINING THESE THINGS ARE GOING TOO FAST ON THE SEAWALL, I GUARANTEE YOU.
THERE'S NO POINT IN MAKING THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE TWO?
>> THERE IS A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE TWO WHEN IT COMES TO REQUIRED EQUIPMENT.
>> THAT IS TRUE. BUT THAT IT'S TURNED SIGNALS, SEAT BELTS [INAUDIBLE]
>> IF I COULD INTERJECT, WE COULD PROBABLY GO BACK AND FORTH ON THIS ALL MORNING.
I THINK THAT WE HAVE AN ACTION ITEM THIS AFTERNOON.
WE CAN LOOK AT IT, WE CAN DEFER IT AND GET MORE INFORMATION, WE CAN PASS IT AS IS.
I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS QUITE A BIT AND WE JUST NEED TO [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING]
>> I THINK I WOULD LIKE US TO CONSIDER THIS DISCUSSION.
I MEAN, SO WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?
>> A GOLF CART AND AN NEV ARE THE SAME THING FOR PURPOSES WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE THESE ARE NOT BEING USED ON A GOLF COURSE.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE DEFINITION OF WHERE THEY ARE USED, THEN DEFINE WHAT IS REQUIRED OF THEM?
>> I'M OKAY WITH GIVING UP FOR THE SAFETY OF THE GOLF CARTS.
I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF GIVING UP THE SEAT BELTS AT ALL.
SO LONG AS THEY'RE MAINTAINED IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS BUT THE SECOND THEY GET ON TO A ROAD, THEY'RE OUTSIDE OF NEIGHBORHOOD.
THAT'S NOT INSIDE A NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT DOES PASS ALONG NEIGHBORHOOD BUT [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE SECTION OF [INAUDIBLE] ROAD THAT IS TRAVELED THROUGH THE GOLF CART IS NOT A THOROUGHFARE.
>> I SEE THAT A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
TO ME, PIRATES BEACH AS A WHOLE IS A MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITY.
THIS IS HOW I DEFINE A MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITY, IT'S GOT NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES IN THERE.
IT'S GOT AMENITIES WITHIN THIS MASTER PLANNED AREA.
SOMETHING LIKE A SUBDIVISION WITH NO AMENITIES AND THERE'S JUST HOUSES THERE, TO ME, THAT'S NOT A MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITY, THAT'S JUST A NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE'S NO MASTER PLANNING TO THAT IN MY HEAD.
>> TYPICALLY THOSE AMENITIES WOULD BE OWNED BY AN ASSOCIATION.
>> COULD BE, BUT I DON'T SEE THAT.
I MEAN, THAT YOU GO TO MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITIES.
THERE'S PLENTY OF MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITIES OUT THERE THAT MAY HAVE A SCHOOL INSIDE THE MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITY.
THEY MAY HAVE SWIMMING POOLS AND ALL KINDS OF STUFF.
>> I SEE THAT A LITTLE DIFFERENT, DAVID.
THEN YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT ARE YOU OKAY WITH ALLOWING THOSE VEHICLES TRAVELING THOSE ROADS WITHOUT THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT? DO YOU THINK THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT IS NECESSARY WHEN YOU GET ON THOSE ROADS? I MEAN, IT IS, YOU DO OR YOU DON'T.
>> I THINK THAT'S, TO ME, IT BOILS DOWN TO A SAFETY QUESTION AND DO WE ALLOW VEHICLES NO MATTER WHAT THEY'RE CALLED, TO RUN AROUND ON PUBLIC ROADS WITHOUT THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT ON THAT WE'RE REQUIRING ON THE [INAUDIBLE] GOLF CARTS AND ALL THAT.
I THINK THAT'S THE BASIC QUESTION ON, THAT TO ME, IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE AND THIS IS WHAT COUNCIL'S GOING TO HAVE TO WEIGH IN ON WHAT WE DECIDE ON THAT.
>> ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH IS A DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, WHEN YOU'RE IN A MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITY OR WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO AND FROM THE BEACH, A PUBLIC BEACH, OR WHEN YOU'RE GOING THROUGH IN FRONT OF A GOLF CART, YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE THE OTHER EQUIPMENT ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, WHO IS THE ONE WHO EDUCATES THE POLICE FORCES AND SO FORTH, AND I AGREE WITH WHAT JOHN IS SAYING ON A MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITY AND TO WHAT DON SAID LIKE, A NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE SEA ISLE.
SEA ISLE HAS A NEIGHBORHOOD POOL THAT IS PAID FOR BY THEIR HOA.
THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A RESTAURANT AND MARINA AND WHATNOT LOCATED WITHIN IT.
A NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE ISLA DEL SOL OR TERRAMAR, THEY HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD POOL THAT IS PAID FOR BY THE HOA THAT WILL CLASSIFY THEM ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
THEY HAVE A CRABBING PIER THAT IS OWNED BY THE HOA AND AGAIN, BECAUSE THEY ARE A MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITY.
DOES EVERY SINGLE NEIGHBORHOOD FIT? NO. BUT I'D BE GLAD TO WORK WITH THE TEAM BECAUSE I KNOW MY DISTRICT, I KNOW THE PLACES THAT ARE MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITIES.
>> MAYOR, JUST TO HOPEFULLY MOVE ON THIS,
[00:55:05]
WHY DON'T YOU WORK WITH THEM TO PLAN OUT THESE AREAS WHERE YOU WANT TO SEE THE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS REDUCED.>> WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THAT FIRST MEETING IN AUGUST.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE COULD DO THAT.
I MEAN, WE NEED TO GET A DEFINITION.
>> YOU VOTE ON A DAY OR IF IT GETS TOO FAR, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD WANT TO SEE I WOULD WANT TO SEE THESE AREAS WHERE SAFETY EQUIPMENT GETS REDUCED.
>> WE NEED TO HAVE A DEFINITION OF MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY AND WE NEED TO HAVE A RULING.
WE MIGHT NOT AGREE WITH IT, A RULING ON THE BOUNDARIES OF THESE MASTER PLAN COMMUNITIES.
I FEEL IF THEY OWN PUBLIC STREETS, THEY HAVE TO HAVE FULL SAFETY EQUIPMENT.
BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT IT, IF WE DEFER, IT WILL GET THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
>> NO, I HAVE A QUESTION, A STATEMENT.
WE CAN GO AROUND AND BEAT THIS TILL WE ALL PASS AWAY, I GUESS, BUT HERE'S THE BOTTOM LINE.
>> TOMORROW I AM GOING TO THIS CLASS THAT'S PUT ON BY CLINT WICKLIN.
HE'S THE EXPERT. ALL THE QUESTIONS.
IF YOU WANT TO SEND ME A QUESTION, I'LL BE MORE THAN GLAD TO ASK.
THE SECOND THING I HAVE WHITNEY IS I HAVE TWO CLASSES, ONE ON THE EAST END AND ONE ON THE WEST END.
YOU ALL ARE THROWING OUT, SHOULD WE HAVE THIS SAFETY IRON NOT SAFETY IRON.
HE'S THE GUY YOU NEED TO TALK TO.
HE CAN TELL YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.
I THINK WE PUT THIS THING TO BED, WHETHER THEY WORK ON HIGHWAY OR STREET, THAT'S THE MAN THAT HAS ALL THE DEFINITIONS, EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT GOLF CARTS, AND I WAS AFRAID TO ASK.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
WE MAY WANT TO DEFER THIS UNTIL OUR FIRST WEEK IN AUGUST, ON 12TH, THAT'S UP TO MARIE, THAT'S UP TO THE COUNCIL WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
I'M JUST COMING BACK AND SAYING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS, AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE THROWING OUT, DO WE NEED THIS SAFETY IRON, THAT SAFETY IRON, WELL, THE HORSE IS COMING DOWN TOMORROW.
I'M SCHEDULING TWO CLASSES, ONE IN EASTERN, ONE WESTERN, AND YOU GET ALL YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
>> HE ACTUALLY IS HERE TODAY, AND OFFERING TO COME TO THIS MEETING.
>> YOU'RE GOING TO TELL US WHAT'S THE BOUNDARY OF CARTS, CART BREACHES.
>> YOU MAY BE AN EXPERT IN, I DON'T KNOW.
THE SIGNS' RIGHT THERE ON THAT ROAD, ON THAT 11-MILE ROAD, IT SAYS PIRATES COVE, THAT TURNS OFF A THREE NUMBER FIVE.
WHEN YOU GO IN, YOU SEE THE BEACH. [OVERLAPPING].
>> I DO WANT TO MENTION ONE THING.
THIS IS SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO.
IF A PERSON REGISTERS THEIR GOLF CART BY AUGUST 9TH, THEY HAVE A YEAR TO GET IT INSPECTED.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE KNEW THAT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, IT WAS SOMETHING BUTCH DID NOT SHARE WITH US.
THE MAYOR AND I FOUND THAT OUT BECAUSE WE HAD A MEETING ON OUR FAVORITE SUBJECT GOLF CART.
I THINK I WAKE UP AND TOSS AND TURN AT NIGHT MUMBLING GOLF CART, GOLF CART, GOLF CART.
IF A PERSON REGISTERS THEIR GOLF CART BY AUGUST 9TH, THEY HAVE A YEAR TO GET IT INSPECTED.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC IS AWARE OF THAT.
BUT I THINK BECAUSE WE DIDN'T MAKE THE PUBLIC AWARE OF THAT, THAT WE SHOULD EXTEND THAT TO SEPTEMBER 1ST, SO THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF IT.
ALTHOUGH WE'VE HAD A MAJOR INFLUX, BECAUSE ONCE I BECAME AWARE OF IT, I PUT IT OUT TO THE PUBLIC.
BUT THE CITY HAS NEVER PUT THAT OUT TO THE PUBLIC.
I MEAN, WE PASSED AN ORDINANCE, AND WE PASSED IT QUICKLY.
THEN THERE WAS A PANDEMIC OF MISINFORMATION.
AT ONE POINT, SOMEONE FROM THE DEPUTY'S DEPARTMENT SENT A LETTER TO ALL OF THE GOLF CART COMPANIES, THE ONES THAT ARE DESIGNATED AS INSPECTION PEOPLE.
>> I'M JUST SAYING. THEN WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO BRIAN'S ATTENTION AND BUTCH'S, ATTENTION, HE SAID, "WE NEVER DID THAT.
I'M LIKE, WELL, HERE'S THE LETTER THAT WENT TO ALL THE COMPANIES.
I'M JUST SAYING THERE IS SO MUCH CONFUSION ON THIS.
THE FACT THAT NO ONE AT THIS TABLE [NOISE] KNEW THAT THERE WAS AN EXEMPTION FOR A YEAR.
[01:00:04]
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US EXTEND THAT AUGUST 9TH THING TO SEPTEMBER 1ST.>> HE NEEDED A STATE LEGISLATURE.
>> AS FOR THE LEGISLATURE IT PRESCRIBED THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF PIECES OF EQUIPMENT REQUIRED IN A MASTER-PLANNED COMMUNITY.
MY STAFF ALWAYS FLUSTERS WITH THAT THING SAYING, WHY DON'T YOU REMIND CITY COUNCIL THAT HAS A HOMEGROWN CITY, THEY'RE FREE TO REQUIRE ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT, FUNDS HALF OF THAT REQUIRED BY THE STATE.
>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS AS ITEM 10.
>> I'M GOING TO DEFER IT TO THE FOLLOWING MEETING.
>>YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT DEFERRING IT?
>> WHEN WE DO THAT, MARIE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GIVE STAFF SPECIFICALLY,
>> I WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH STAFF ON THE TEAM THAT IS BOOKING.
>> IT WILL. I'M GOING TO ADDRESS MELLISSA, IF YOU'RE LISTENING MELLISSA, IN THE SKY THAT WE PUBLIC, WE ALL AGREE THAT WE'RE GOING TO DEFER THIS, SO THAT WAY WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE GOT THREE AND A HALF HOURS OF PUBLIC COMMENTS.
>> IF PEOPLE STILL WANT A PUPPET.
>> WELL, THAT'S FINE. THEY'RE COMMENTING ON AN INCOMPLETE PROJECT THAT WE DON'T EVEN KNOW YET.
>> BUT I THINK COUNCIL NEEDS TO BE AWARE.
I MEAN, WE TOOK THE BURDEN OFF THE COMMERCIAL COMPANIES, AND WE PUT THE BURDEN ON THE PEOPLE. BUT WE DID.
>> I WANT TO SEE IT THAT WAY BUT,
>> WE DID NOT TAKE THE BURDEN OFF THE COMMERCIAL PEOPLE.
>> WE MADE THEIR A LESS OF THE LOAD THAT DOESN'T THAT ALLOW US.
>> HOW DID THIS CONVERSATION GET STARTED TO BEGIN WITH?
>> I STARTED, I MEANT THAT EVERY TIME I SPEAK.
I WAS THE ONE, AND I'M STILL THE ONE WHO WANTS GOLF CARTS OFF THE SEAWALL.
NEVER INTENDED THIS TO GET SO BLOWN OUT OF THE WATER, BUT IT DID.
I THINK YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF HOW THE PEOPLE, BECAUSE I THINK IT ISN'T GOOD PRACTICE, ESPECIALLY LIKE SEA ISLE IS A PERFECT NEIGHBORHOOD TO ADDRESS WHEN YOU HAVE A SENIOR COUPLE LIVING ON A FIXED INCOME WHO HAVE OWNED A GOLF CART FOR 15 YEARS THAT THEY BOUGHT USED, AND ITS VALUE IS MAYBE A $1000.
WE'RE TELLING HIM THEY HAVE TO INVEST 1100 TO BRING IT UP TO STANDARDS, WHEN ALL THEY DO IS DRIVE TO THEIR MAILBOX AND TO THE BEACH OR TO THE WEST DAY GRILL IN THEIR MASTER PLAN COMMUNITIES.
>> WHAT DOLLAR AMOUNT IS ACCEPTABLE, BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO THAT CAR ANYWAY.
>> THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT LIGHTS ON IT. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT BRAKE LIGHTS.
>> THE ONLY THING THEY DON'T HAVE IS TURN SIGNALS?
>> IT COSTS $1,500 FOR TURN SIGNALS ON A CART?
>> ACCORDING TO SOME COMPANIES, I CALLED MULTIPLE COMPANIES.
WHO WAS IT THAT SAID, THE ESCALATE, YOU MAY KNOW, SOMEBODY WHO CAN DO IT CHEAPER, HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET IT DONE BY HIS MECHANICS AT SCHOOL, BUT THEY MAY NOT KNOW SOMEONE.
I CALL MISTER GOLF CART, AND I CALLED THE ONE THAT SEAN PORSCHE'S COMPANY OUT ON THE WEST END.
THEY SAID IT CAN RUN DEPENDING UPON THE YEAR, THE GOLF CART.
BECAUSE AGAIN, I'M TALKING ABOUT SOME PEOPLE HAVE 20 YEAR-OLD GOLF CARTS.
THE LIGHTING ALL COMES TO DO WITH THE HARNESS.
THEY HAVE TO ADD A WHOLE NEW WIRING SYSTEM THAT IF YOU'RE NOT CAPABLE OF DOING IT YOURSELF, CAN CAUSE YOU UP TO $1100.
I'M JUST SAYING THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE AWARE OF THAT.
>> I'D LIKE TO SAY ONE THING REALLY QUICK.
ONE, THE CLASSES ARE GOING TO START TOMORROW.
I'LL GET A HOLD OF WIGS IF YOU WANT TO SEND SOME OF THE STAFF TO THOSE CLASSES.
>> I RECOMMEND THAT YOU SIT AND THEN WE CAN WORK TOGETHER.
>> I THINK WE ALREADY HAD PLANNED ON HAVING SOME GOING.
>> YEAH. I'LL LET YOU KNOW IF TOMORROW.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO DEFER THIS COUNCIL, GET SOME THOUGHTS TOGETHER IF WHEN WE DEFER THAT, WHAT YOU.
>> CAN I ASK JUST A REALLY STUPID QUESTION BECAUSE I'M REALLY GOOD?
>> YOU WANT TO BUY MY GOLF CART.
>> EXCUSE ME, BRIAN, LET ME FINISH THE STATEMENT.
COUNSEL, GET YOUR THOUGHTS TOGETHER, SO WHEN WE DEFER THAT, WE GIVE DIRECTION ON WHAT YOU MAY WANT TO HEAR FROM STAFF ON CLARIFICATION IN THAT MOTION WHEN WE DO IT. GO AHEAD.
>> THE MAIN ISSUE IS JUST TURN SIGNALS.
CAN WE JUST ADDRESS THE TURN SIGNALS AND BE DONE WITH THIS? IT COMES. [OVERLAPPING]
>> BECAUSE YOU KNOW [OVERLAPPING] [INAUDIBLE] PEOPLE [INAUDIBLE] DON'T USE TURN SIGNALS ANYWAY.
[LAUGHTER] SO THESE GOLF CARTS USE [LAUGHTER].
[01:05:01]
>> THEY'RE NOT EVEN USING THE SEAT BELTS.
I TAKE PICTURES CONSTANTLY ON MY [OVERLAPPING].
SOME PEOPLE DO, SOME PEOPLE DON'T DO.
>> YOU CAN LEAD A HORSE TO WATER, YOU CAN MAKE THEM DRINK.
BUT MY THOUGHT IS IF IT'S JUST TURN SIGNALS, THAT'S AN EASY FIX, GUYS.
>> ALL RIGHT. DAVID, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO DEFER THAT REGISTRATION THING SINCE WE DID NOT MAKE THE PUBLIC AWARE OF THAT AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WASN'T DONE BY US.
>> I KNOW, IT WASN'T DONE FOR ANY REASON OTHER THAN IT TAKES A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME TO STAFF UP AND DO THINGS WHEN WE PASS AN ORDINANCE ON THURSDAY, IT DOESN'T MEAN BUTCHER IS PREPARED TO ENFORCE IT ON FRIDAY.
>> I REALIZED THAT DAVID, BUT WE DIDN'T MAKE THE PUBLIC AWARE NOR DID WE MAKE THE COUNCIL AWARE OF THE FACT THAT IF YOU REGISTER BY A CERTAIN TIME, YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO GET YOUR CART INSPECTED FOR A YEAR.
WE PASSED AN ORDINANCE THAT SAID, YOU NEED TO HAVE YOUR CART IN THAT SHAPE IN 45 DAYS.
>> DOES IT TAKE THAT LONG FOR SOMEBODY TO REGISTER A GOLF CART? I MEAN, IS AUGUST NINTH NOT ENOUGH TIME FOR YOU TO GET ONLINE AND REGISTER IT?
>> I'M JUST SAYING WE HAD A RULE TO IT, THAT WE DIDN'T MAKE THE PUBLIC AWARE.
IF YOU'RE GOOD WITH KEEPING THE PUBLIC IN THE DARK.
I MEAN, I'VE MADE MY PEOPLE AWARE OF IT.
I'LL BET YOU YOUR DISTRICT ISN'T AWARE OF IT.
I'LL BET YOU YOUR DISTRICT ISN'T AWARE OF IT.
>> MY DISTRICT IS AWARE THAT IT IS IN THEIR BEST INTERESTS TO REGISTER [NOISE] THEIR GOLF CARTS PROMPTLY.
>>THE REGISTRATION OF THE GOLF CARTS IS EASILY DONE AT THE TAX OFFICE.
THE THINGS THAT BUTCHER'S LETTING PEOPLE SPIED ON IS GETTING THEM INSPECTED WITH ALL THE CERTAIN EQUIPMENT BECAUSE IT TAKES TIME TO GET THAT UP.
>> THE REGISTRATION OF THE CITY.
JUST CONTACT IN THE CITY, AND YOU REGISTER YOUR CART.
IF YOU DO THAT BY AUGUST NINTH, THEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET IT INSPECTED FOR A YEAR.
INCLUDING THE COUNCIL [OVERLAPPING] I'M JUST SAYING.
>> I'LL TELL YOU THIS, I HAD PEOPLE CALL ME AND THEY'RE HAVING TROUBLE ACCESSING IT.
THEIR COMPLAINING ABOUT THE WEBSITE.
I EVEN HAD A TALK WITH MR. BUTLEY (PHONETIC) AND HE'S SUPPOSED TO MAKE THAT A LITTLE EASIER SO PEOPLE CLICK ON IT AND RUN THROUGH IT.
>> SO YOU THINK ANOTHER 20 DAYS IS - THEY'LL FIGURE OUT THE WEBSITE AND THEY'LL GET EVERYTHING?
>>YEAH, BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY SINCE THIS HAS BEEN ON THERE [OVERLAPPING] THE WEBSITE CHANGED [OVERLAPPING] TO SEPTEMBER FIRST.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE HAVE TO VOTE ON OR WHATNOT, BUT I'M JUST ASKING YOU AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, SO YOU CAN ALL MARK IT IN YOUR CALENDAR.
THAT ALSO HAPPENS TO BE MY BIRTHDAY.
[LAUGHTER] SO JUST SO YOU WANT TO WRITE THAT DOWN.
>> SOMEBODY SHOULD BUY YOU A GOLF CART.
>> I HAVE ONE, IT IS STREET-READY BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER.
>> ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE EXTENDED CLOSE TO ABOUT AN HOUR NOW DISCUSSING GOLF CARTS, SO LET'S MOVE ON.
[3A. 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) (Part 2 of 2)]
I KNOW COUNCILMAN KROEBER (PHONETIC) HAD ONE OTHER ITEM HE WANTED TO BRING UP ON THE AGENDA.THEN I HAD A FEW ITEMS. GO AHEAD, BILL.
>> THIS IS GOING TO BE TOWARDS YOU.
CAN YOU CLARIFY TENNESSEE, THE BEACH ACCESS, AND PARKING? WHAT IS THE INTENT OF THIS DOCUMENT?
>> THAT'S THE CHANGE ON CHAPTER 8.
>> THE CODE AS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK, LOOK IT UP RIGHT NOW IT SAYS [OVERLAPPING]
>> WOULD YOU MIND COMING OVER HERE PLEASE, SIR?
>> COME ON UP. LET'S DO THIS TOGETHER. [LAUGHTER]
>> PULL UP A CHAIR [OVERLAPPING].
>> EVERYBODY IT MUST BE LIKE, "OUTDO YOURSELF TODAY AND BUY A TIE." THAT'S A GREAT TIE. [INAUDIBLE]?
>> YEAH, I HAVE PLENTY OF [INAUDIBLE].
THEY'RE REALLY COOL TWO FOR EIGHT BUCKS.
>> SO WE HAVE THIS AREA IN FRONT OF, WHAT IS IT, WEST PRESERVE?
>> IF YOU'VE READ THE CITY CODE, IT SAID THERE'S NO DRIVING ON THE BEACH.
>> NO DRIVING ON THE BEACH, LIKE STUART TO THE EAST END, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE THAT AREA.
I REFER TO THAT AS THE SPECIAL USE AREA BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT COMMISSIONER PATTERSON (PHONETIC) REFERRED TO IT WHEN HE REQUESTED WE INCLUDE IT IN OUR BEACH PLAN.
[01:10:06]
HE REQUESTED THAT IN OUR BEACH PLAN.WE ALLOW PEOPLE TO DRIVE ON THE BEACH, WITH THE PURPOSE OF FISHING, LAUNCHING OF NON-MOTORIZED WATERCRAFT, AND HEAVY CAVALRY.
>> SO WE ADOPTED THAT BEACH PLAN ONE YEAR AFTER THE CODE PROVISION, THAT BANNED DRIVING ON THE BEACH.
WHEN WE ADOPTED THAT BEACH PLAN, AND QUIETLY REPEALED THAT PROHIBITION, DRIVING ON THE BEACH IN THAT AREA, AND NOBODY NOTICED IT UNTIL 2021.
SO WE'RE RECOGNIZING THAT CO-PROVISION WAS CHANGED UNDER THE BEACH PLAN AND WE'RE CLARIFYING IT.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
>> WHAT DOES THAT PERTAIN TO IT BECAUSE I'M GETTING A LOT OF EMAILS.
>> SO ACCORDING TO THIS, YOU USE THE TERM PUBLIC BEACHES, WHERE DOES IT FALL INTO PRIVATE BEACHES? ISN'T PRIVATE TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN PUBLIC?
>> WE'RE ONLY DEALING WITH THE PUBLIC BEACH.
>> OKAY. THEN LET'S SAY PART OF THE FALCON GROUP OR PART OF THE GRAND BEACH, AREN'T THOSE PRIVATE BEACHES? [NOISE] AGAIN, YOU NEED THE AUTHORITY TO GO TO THEM TO SAY, "HEY, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO USE YOUR BEACHES FOR TRAFFIC OR NO TRAFFIC, " OR WHATEVER THEY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT BECAUSE IT'S PRIVATE?
>> THERE IS THE PRIVATE PAGE AND THERE IS THE PUBLIC BEACH.
>> WE'RE ONLY DEALING WITH THE PUBLIC BEACH.
>> ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE EASEMENT OR ARE WE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC BEACH? IS THERE ANY PLACE WHERE PUBLIC BEACH GOES TO THE WATER?
>> PUBLIC BEACH OR PRIVATE BEACH?
>> YES, PRIVATE BEACH GOES TO THE WATER. THANK YOU.
>> WELL, WE STILL HAVE AN EASEMENT FOR PUBLIC ACCESS.
>> ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE EASEMENT AREA OR ARE WE TALKING ABOUT PRIVATE BEACH?
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE EASEMENT AREA.
>> OKAY. SO THAT'S BASICALLY, THE ENTIRE BEACHFRONT.
>> WELL, ISN'T THE ENTIRE BEACHFRONT [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE ONLY PART CONTEMPLATED IN THIS ORDINANCE IS THAT SMALL SPECIAL-USE AREA THAT'S IN OUR BEACH PARK.
>> BY THE WAY, IT'S IN OUR BEACH ACCESS PLAN AND REQUESTED BY THE GLO.
>> IN 2004, COMMISSIONER PATTERSON DESIGNATED THAT [NOISE] AREA AND MOVED [OVERLAPPING]
>> I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT I'M STILL LOOKING, PRIVATE BEACH IS PRIVATE BEACH.
IF YOU HAVE AN EASEMENT, YOU'RE JUST SAYING IT'S NOT?
>> YOU CAN'T IGNORE THE EASEMENT. I MEAN [OVERLAPPING]-
>> WELL, THE EASEMENT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE PERMISSION FROM THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE PRIVATE PROPERTY.
>> NO. BECAUSE IN THIS PORTION, IT'S ACTUALLY A JUDGMENT THAT HAS TO BE DEALT WITH.
GALVESTON EAST BEACH COMPANY VERSUS THE STATE, I THINK IT WAS, THAT DEALS WITH THIS SPECIAL USE AREA.
THIS IS VERY RARE IN THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND ADJUDICATED AREA.
>> WE'RE REMOVING THE CARS FROM THIS BEACH, CORRECT?
>> THERE'S A CITY CODE FROM 2000 WHAT THREE? [OVERLAPPING] DRIVING WAS PROHIBITED ON THE BEACH.
ONE YEAR LATER WHEN WE CHANGED THE BEACH ACCESS PLAN.
WE'LL ADD A DRIVING ON THAT PORTION OF THE BEACH, BUT NEVER REAPPEALED WITH CONFLICTING CODE PROVISION.
>> WELL, I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE EASEMENT.
HOW DOES THE EASEMENT COME ABOUT? WAS THAT THE PRIVATE OWNERS OF THE BEACH GIVING UP THAT PART OR ASKING FOR PERMISSION OR DID THE CITY OR COUNTY HAVE TO BUY THE EASEMENT? I'M LOST ON THE EASEMENT THING.
>> BECAUSE THIS AREA, THAT EASEMENT IS RECOGNIZED IN THE JUDGMENT PASSED BY THE TWO TWELFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, [OVERLAPPING] IN THE 1960S, NO, STATE DISTRICT COURT.
[01:15:01]
>> I THINK WE'RE GETTING TO A LEVEL OF DETAIL THAT'S UNNECESSARY.
WHAT THAT 1964 JUDGMENT DID IN MY OPINION WAS SIMPLY BRING THAT AREA OF EAST BEACH INTO COMPLIANCE WITH WHAT WAS ALREADY TRUE UNDER THE OPEN BEACHES ACT WITH THE REST OF THE BEACH.
I KNOW IT'S AN ADJUDICATED AREA, BUT I THINK WE DEFER ON WHAT THE IMPACT OF THAT IS.
ESSENTIALLY IT MADE THAT EASEMENT THAT EXTENDS ALL THE WAY FOR SANDALWOOD MAPS ALSO APPLY TO THAT AREA.
SO THE JUDGMENT DOESN'T APPLY.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IN THIS AREA.
I KNOW BECAUSE IT INCLUDED ALL THAT AREA IN FRONT OF BEACHTOWN, PALISADE PUMPS AND SO FORTH.
THE JUDGMENT DID IN 2003 DON SAYS WE.
WE PROHIBITED CARS ON THE BEACH, BUT IN 2004, COMMISSIONER PATTERSON, IN THAT LETTER, ASKED THAT THAT SPECIAL USE AREA BE ESTABLISHED AS PART OF OUR BEACH PLAN.
WE DID THAT. THAT OVERRULED THE PREVIOUS ORDINATE.
[OVERLAPPING] THE TRUNK OF THE ORDINANCE AND THE LANGUAGE IN THE ORDINANCE WAS NEVER CHANGED.
THIS IS ESSENTIALLY A MINISTERIAL ACTION TO MAKE THE ORDINANCE FROM 2003 COMPLY WITH THE 2004 BEACH PLAN.
WHETHER THERE OUGHT TO BE CARS ON THERE IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO DISCUSS SEPARATELY AS A BEACH, [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT ANIMAL THAT IS NOT THIS.
THIS IS SIMPLY TO AMEND THE 2003 ORDINANCE TO COMPLY WITH THE 2004 BEACH ACCESS PLAN WHICH RULES.
>> WELL, WHERE DOES FEDERAL COURT CASE I GAVE YOU ON LAST WEEK ABOUT PROPERTY RIGHTS.
BASICALLY, WHAT I GOT OUT OF THAT IS PROPERTY RIGHTS NEEDS ACCESS TO PROPERTY OWNERS, TRUNKS BEACH ACCESS.
>> I DISAGREE WITH THAT INTERPRETATION.
THAT'S FEDERAL JUDGMENT THAT CAME DOWN.
>> YES, BUT IT DIDN'T TALK ABOUT BEACHES.
>> THAT'S TRUE BUT IT GAVE A REFERENCE TOO.
>> THERE WAS A STATE SUPREME COURT RULING.
>> THERE CASES [OVERLAPPING] EVEN NO APPLICATION WHERE BASICALLY A COMPANY ON TOWN WAS REQUIRED UNDER CALIFORNIA LAW TO ALLOW UNION ORGANIZERS INTO THE AREA OF THE PREFACE OF ORGANIZING AND IMPOSE A RESTRICTION ON THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY AND IT BE USED BY A THIRD PARTY ORGANIZATION FOR THEIR OWN PURPOSES AND OWN BENEFIT.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THAT HERE.
>> LET'S KEEP OUR COMMENTS TO JUST THIS ITEM THAT'S ON MINISTERIAL TYPE CHANGE TO BE IN SYNC WITH OUR BEACH ACCESS PLAN.
>> I GUESS YOU CAN SAY OPEN FOR INTERPRETATION.
>> WELL, I'LL BET YOU CAN DO YOUR OPEN CHINA'S PLAN FASTER THAN YOU CAN DO GOLF CLUBS.
>> I WOULDN'T BET ON THAT [LAUGHTER]
DON I HATE TO HAVE YOU SIT UP HERE AND NOT SAY SOMETHING.
>> HE SAID IT ALL, BUT I WILL SAY THAT IN OUR PLAN, IT'S NOT DEFINED AS A SPECIAL USE AREAS IT'S RESTRICTED ACCESS AREAS.
>> SHE ALWAYS BEATS ME UP ON THAT.
[OVERLAPPING] I ONLY USE THAT PHRASE BECAUSE WE ARE A COMMISSION.
>> THE ONLY REASON I BROUGHT IT IS I WANT A CLEAR CUT DEFINITION BETWEEN PRIVATE BEACH AND PUBLIC ACCESS BEACH.
ANY OTHER BILL? OKAY. LET'S WINDUP THIS.
>> THANK YOU DONA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
HERE'S YOUR CHOCOLATE. VERY GOOD.
I HAD JUST A FEW QUICK QUESTIONS THAT I WANTED TO BRING UP BRIAN.
CAN SOMEONE JUST TELL ME [OVERLAPPING] WHAT 11Q IS?
>> TRINA. THIS IS ON THE AMI PROJECT?
>> TRINA JUST A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THIS IS WE'RE VOTING ON, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, SIR.
>> AS WE MOVE INTO OUR AMI PROJECT.
[01:20:01]
JUST OPENED BIDS YESTERDAY.>> CAN YOU COME SIT OVER HERE.
>> COME ON OVER HERE TRINA, WHERE WE CAN HEAR YOU AND YOUR ON CAMERA TOO [LAUGHTER]
>> AS WE MOVED INTO OUR AMI PROJECT, WE WENT OUT FOR BIDS.
WE JUST OPENED THE BIDS YESTERDAY.
PURCHASING IS ORGANIZED AT LEAST I HAVEN'T SEEN THE PRICES, PART OF THE AMI PROJECT IS A TON OF INTEGRATION WORK, AS WELL AS THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT.
THERE'S ALSO A COMPONENT OF GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT TO OUR CUSTOMERS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE LOUDER, SIR?
>> OH SORRY. THERE'S ALSO A COMPONENT OF GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT TO OUR CUSTOMERS SO THAT THEY KNOW WHAT'S COMING, THEY KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, THE BENEFITS.
AS WE GEAR UP FOR THAT PROJECT BECAUSE THIS IS A $60 MILLION PROJECT THAT WE GEAR UP FOR IT.
THIS FIRST PIECE IS GETTING THEM IN LINE WITH OUR IT DEPARTMENTS SO THEY CAN START WORKING OUT ALL THE INTEGRATION WORK THAT IS TO HAPPEN.
START WORKING WITH [INAUDIBLE] SO THEY CAN START PUTTING TOGETHER THE COMMUNICATION COMPONENTS AND THEN START PREPARING US TO LOOK AT OUR CONNECTION POLICIES, OUR SERVICE POLICIES TO SEE IF ANYTHING HAS TO CHANGE WITH THE NEW TECHNOLOGY AND SO THAT'S WHAT THIS PIECE IS.
>> FOR OUR CITIZENS, CAN YOU TELL THEM WHAT AMI IS?
>> AMI IS ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE NAME OF OUR PROJECT IS ACTUALLY CONSTANT, SUSTAINABLE, INTERACTIVE CUSTOMER CONNECTIONS.
THEN IT'S ALSO KNOWN AS AMI, IT'S A SMART CITY INITIATIVE AND THIS IS WHAT'S BRINGING IN NEW HIGH-END METERS THAT ARE VERY ACCURATE.
THE REMOTE CONNECT-DISCONNECT, A LOT OF INTEGRATION, A LOT OF NEW SOFTWARE.
IT'S GOING TO HELP AUTOMATE BUSINESS PROCESSES, IT'S GOING TO HELP GIVE US A TON OF DATA AND LET US REACT QUICKER TO EMERGENCIES. [OVERLAPPING]
>> LEAK DETECTION, PRESSURE MONITORING, WE'LL BE ABLE TO. [OVERLAPPING]
>> SO IT WILL IT HELP US WITH LEAK DETECTION ON THE CITY SIDE?
WE'LL HAVE LEAK DETECTION ON THE CUSTOMER SIDE AS WELL BECAUSE WHAT THEY HAVE IS A COUNTER THEY CALL IT CONTINUOUS CONSUMPTION.
THEORETICALLY, A METER SHOULD STOP TURNING AT SOME POINT, AND IF IT DOESN'T, WE'LL GET AN ALERT AFTER 48 HOURS OF CONTINUOUS CONSUMPTION.
THAT ALERT WILL BE ABLE TO BE PASSED TO THE CUSTOMER AS WELL AS OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE GROUP SO THAT WE COULD REACH OUT AND SAY, "HEY, WE'VE NOTICED THAT YOU HAVE A LEAK.
>> [OVERLAPPING] BUT WE ALSO HAVE ISSUES.
WE GET CALLS ALL THE TIME. I'M OUT OF TOWN.
I DON'T LIVE IN GALVESTON BUT I'M UNDERSTANDING I HAVE A LEAK AT MY HOME.
CAN SOMEBODY GO OVER THERE? WE CAN PUT IT RIGHT UP. YES, THE METER IS RUNNING. WE CAN CUT IT OFF FROM HERE.
>> I KNEW THAT WE HAD APPROVED ALREADY THE $16 MILLION FOR THE AMI SYSTEM, SO THANK YOU FOR TELLING ME WHAT THAT WAS.
I COULDN'T FIGURE THAT OUT, SO THANK YOU.
>> YES SIR. THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN OUT FOR A WHILE, IT'S ACTUALLY ADVANCED.
WE ARE NOT UNDER EARLY ADOPTER.
IT'S GONE THROUGH MANY STAGES OF GROWTH, A LOT OF THE PLAYERS THAT COULDN'T HANG IN THERE AND HAVE ALREADY FALLEN OFF AND TODAY, THE PLAYERS THAT ARE STILL IN BUSINESS ARE PROVEN.
>> WHICH CITIES HAVE THIS IN OPERATION?
>> OH, THERE'S GOING TO BE HUNDREDS OF CITIES.
I CAN TELL YOU JUST FROM MY EXPERIENCE IN THE PLACES THAT I HAVE WORKED, THEY ALL HAVE IT WHICH WOULD BE SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM, NEW BROMFOS UTILITY, IN THE CITY OF SEGUIN.
I'VE WORKED IN GRIFFIN GEORGIA, WHICH IS JUST SOUTH OF ATLANTA, THEY HAVE IT.
I DO KNOW THAT CITY OF SAN MARCUS HAS IT.
CITY OF AUSTIN HAS IT, AND SO DOES THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
>> IS THERE ANY NEGATIVE FEEDBACK?
>> A LOT OF THE NEGATIVE FEEDBACK STARTED EARLY ON.
A LOT OF MOM-AND-POP SHOPS START TO COME UP WHEN AMI TECHNOLOGY FIRST CAME AROUND.
I THINK WHEN PRESIDENT OBAMA FIRST CAME IN, HE OFFERED A LOT OF GRANTS TO GET THIS THING GOING SO A LOT OF BUSINESSES JUST POPPED UP OUT OF NOWHERE.
COMPANIES OR CITIES PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO GETTING THESE THINGS INSTALLED WITH THE PROMISE OF THE TECHNOLOGY, BUT IT WAS TOO EARLY AND THERE WERE A LOT OF FAILURES, BUT THIS IS A DECADE AGO.
SINCE THEN, THIS TECHNOLOGY IS VERY STURDY.
I DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW MUCH MORE TO SAY.
>> HOW IS THE SIGNAL BAND GENERATE OUT TO THE METER BACK TO A RECEIVER?
>> THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE BID AND WE'RE GOING TO EVALUATE ALL OF THE BIDS.
YOU COULD EITHER DO RF, YOU COULD DO CELLULAR, YOU COULD DO ETHERNET, OR YOU COULD DO A COMBINATION OF IT ALL.
WHAT WE'RE PLACING ON THE DIFFERENT BIDDERS IS
[01:25:02]
THE FACT THAT WE'RE EXPECTING TO RECEIVE 99 PERCENT OR 99.8 PERCENT OF THE READS WITHIN THREE DAYS AND HOWEVER THEY GET THAT TO US, IT IS PART OF THE BID TO PITCH.>> WOULD IT TAKES THREE DAYS OF ITS OWN, LIKE THAT?
>> WELL, SO ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.
LIKE IT'S GOING TO GO FROM THE METER TO THE COLLECTOR, TO AN AMPLIFIER BACK INTO THE SERVER, WHETHER THE SERVER IS HERE OR IN THE CLOUD.
YOU CAN HAVE A CAR PARK OVER A METER AND IT CAN'T GET THE SIGNAL OUT, SO WHEN IT REACHES FOR THAT SIGNAL TODAY, IT MAY NOT BE THERE.
THE CAR MOVES AND THEN LATER ON IT GETS THAT SIGNAL AND IT SENDS IT OFF.
BUT IF IT'S NOT GIVING A SIGNAL TO US AFTER THREE DAYS, SOMETHING'S WRONG.
EITHER SOMETHING IS PERMANENTLY BLOCKING IT, THE COMMUNICATION PATH HAS FAILED, AND WE NEED TO GET OUT THERE TO INVESTIGATE IT.
THIS IS LIKE A ROLLING THREE-DAY.
THAT WAY WHEN IT IS TIME FOR A METER READ, THERE SHOULD BE NO ISSUE.
WE SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE YESTERDAY'S DATA, AND IF WE NEED AN INSTANT-READ WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE ABLE TO PUSH A BUTTON AND HAVE THAT METER COMMUNICATE BACK TO US.
>> SO THE DATA COLLECTION IS AUTOMATED? IT'S NOT SOMEBODY DRIVING THROUGH A NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. IT IS AUTOMATED.
>> THANK YOU [INAUDIBLE] VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.
IT'S ABOUT THE PILOT FOR THE OLEANDER HOME PROJECT.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE, JUST A QUESTION ON THE FIBER, IS THERE A FORMULA AND HOW THAT'S SET UP THEIR PAYMENTS?
>> I DO NOT KNOW. [OVERLAPPING]
COULD YOU LET COUNCIL KNOW HOW THE PILOT WORKS AND HOW THIS PILOT WOULD WORK IN THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT?
>> OKAY, SURE. ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE CLOCK?
THE LAST QUESTION 10B, AS IN BOY.
WHO APPROVES THOSE APPLICATIONS FOR THE TEMPORARY LAUNCH AND SO FORTH? [NOISE]
>> [INAUDIBLE] READS AND APPROVE THE APPLICATIONS.
>> THAT'S THE DEPARTMENT STAFF.
>> OKAY. VERY GOOD, AND THEN COME TO SENIOR MANAGER AND THE HARD PART TO YOU TO TIM?
>> THIS INFORMATION IS FOR GENERAL STAFF.
I'M IN THE APPEAL PROCESS AND BRIAN IS THE FINAL IN THE APPEAL PROCESS AS WELL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAD.
WE ARE NOW MOVING IF WE COULD PLEASE COUNCIL TO ITEM 3B, PLEASE JANELLE.
[3B. Discussion Of The FY2022 Budget And Capital Improvement Plan (M. Loftin - 1 Hour)]
THE BEST METHODS INCLUDE THE YEAR 2022 BUDGET AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
>> IS MY PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE.
>> OF COURSE, ALL THE STAFF'S BEEN BUSY, ESPECIALLY MIKE, IS BEEN REAL BUSY WITH BUDGET [INAUDIBLE]
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'LL GO AHEAD AND DIVE INTO THIS.
JANELLE, IF YOU COULD GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE SECOND SLIDE.
FIRST, LET ME ISSUE A CAVEAT BY HEARING ASSISTIVE DEVICES AROUND THE SHOP RIGHT NOW.
>> EVERYBODY, SPEAK UP. [LAUGHTER].
>> YOU DON'T SOUND LIKE CHARLIE BROWN'S TEACHER.
YES. [NOISE] [LAUGHTER] THE SCHEDULE HAS CHANGED A BIT.
WE HAD HOPED TO HAVE THE PROPOSED CIP TO YOU ABOUT TODAY, WE WILL HAVE THAT OUT IN THE NEXT WEEK OR 10 DAYS.
TODAY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET, THE CIP.
ON AUGUST 11TH, WE ARE GOING TO FILE THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED BUDGET THE CIP WITH THE CITY SECRETARY AND PROVIDE IT TO COUNCIL AT THAT TIME.
IN AUGUST 12TH WORKSHOP, WE'LL TALK SOME MORE ABOUT THE SAME SUBJECTS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
AGAIN, ON AUGUST THE 26TH, WE'LL DISCUSS BUDGET AND CIP.
IN THE AUGUST 12TH MEETING, IT'LL BE IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO GO AHEAD AND ADOPT A PROPOSED TAX RATE FOR ADVERTISEMENT PURPOSES AND THAT'LL BE BASED ON THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS THROUGH THE COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT AND THE TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR'S OFFICE.
>> IS THERE A DRAFT ON THAT, MIKE?
[01:30:01]
>> WE GET IT THE DAY BEFORE THE MEETING?
>> IS THERE A WAY WE GET A LITTLE BIT SOONER BECAUSE I LIKE TO REVIEW IT.
>> IT'S BETTER IF YOU HAVE A COMPLETE PRODUCT, I THINK.
>> YEAH. WE ARE STILL WAITING ON SOME INFORMATION FROM YOU GUYS TO FINISH IT UP.
>> ON AUGUST 12TH, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE VOTING ON THAT BUDGET AT ALL.
>> BUT YOU SAID WE WOULD HAVE THOSE SET OF PROPOSED TAX RATE.
>> YOU DECIDED NOT TO EXCEED, RIGHT?
>> I WAS TALKING TO HER JUST YESTERDAY AND I THINK WE CAN CERTAINLY CIRCULATE THAT BEFORE IT COMES TO THE ACCOUNTING.
>> YOU DON'T ADOPT PROPERTY TAX RATE UNTIL SEPTEMBER.
>> BUT THAT'S YOU. YOU SAID YOU'RE NOT TO EXCEED, RIGHT? SO PEOPLE AND COME IN I'M PRETTY SURE OF IT.
>> I'VE GOT SOME INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION ON THIS FORM TOO.
>> BECAUSE THE COUNTY IS SETTING THE NEXT WEEK TOO, RIGHT?
>> [INAUDIBLE] COUNTY SETTING ARE NOT TO EXCEED?
USUALLY THE 1ST OR 2ND WEEK IN AUGUST.
>> I KNOW WHEN I [INAUDIBLE] PROTEST OR PREVIOUS TWO WEEKS, ALTHOUGH THEY'LL BE DOING PROTESTS.
>> WELL, THEY HAVEN'T SET CERTIFIED ROLL YET, SO NO MONEY SHOULD BE GOING THERE.
>> I'LL GET TO ALL THAT. THAT'S THE HOT TOPIC [INAUDIBLE], THE FIRST ONE.
WE'RE IN A VERY INTERESTING TIME, THIS POST-PANDEMIC BOOM THAT WE'VE GOT.
>> SLIDE 3. WE HAVE TO REMEMBER LAST SPRING WE LOST IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA 330,000 JOBS.
[NOISE] WE RECOVERED ABOUT APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THOSE AND THE RECOVERY IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE, BUT THIS DELTA VARIANT IS RAISING ITS HEAD AND WE NEED TO RESPOND WITH EXTREME CAUTION.
>> OKAY. HERE'S WHERE WE ARE WITH THE PROPERTY TAX ROLL.
THE FINAL ROLL IS DUE TO US BETWEEN FRIDAY AND MONDAY.
THE CHIEF APPRAISER PRESENTS IT WHEN THEY'RE AT THE 95 PERCENT POINT IN TERMS OF VALUE HAVING THEN FINALIZED TO THE APPRAISAL REVIEW BOARD.
THE GROSS TAXABLE VALUE INCREASE AT THIS POINT, I'M ESTIMATING IT'S GOING TO BE 20 PERCENT, INCLUDING APPROXIMATELY 1.7 PERCENT FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION.
I'M BASING THAT ON A REPORT I GOT TUESDAY, THAT INCLUDES 88 PERCENT OF THE VALUE HAVING BEEN CERTIFIED.
WE STARTED OUT, JUST FOR SOME COMPARISON, WITH A FOR THIS YEAR, A SEVEN AND A QUARTER BILLION DOLLAR ROLL.
THAT LOOKS AS THOUGH IT'S GOING TO COME IN AROUND 8.7 BILLION.
THAT'S THE 20 PERCENT INCREASE.
THE PRELIMINARY VALUE WHEN WE WENT INTO HEARINGS WAS 9.8 BILLION TOTAL, AGAIN, COMPARED WITH SEVEN AND A QUARTER INITIAL, SO A 35 PERCENT INCREASE.
NOT SURPRISINGLY, PROPERTY OWNERS PROTESTED 4.8 BILLION OF THAT VALUE.
THEY RESOLVED 3.8 BILLION OF THAT AND 1.3 BILLION REMAINS.
THEIR OVERALL PROTEST VALUE LOSS IS 23 PERCENT OF THE 4.8 BILLION STARTING NUMBER.
WHAT I DO IS THAT I TRACK IT WEEKLY AND LOOK AT IT IN CATEGORIES.
THE BIG INCREASE WAS NOT SURPRISING, THREE CATEGORIES; SINGLE FAMILY, MULTIFAMILY, AND COMMERCIAL REAL PROPERTY.
WHAT THEY DID WAS: SINGLE FAMILY; THE PEOPLE THAT APPEAL AVERAGE DAY 14 PERCENT REDUCTION IN VALUE, MULTIFAMILY; AVERAGE 21 PERCENT, AND COMMERCIAL; WHICH ALMOST DOUBLED, IT WAS 98 PERCENT HIGHER THAN THE WHOLE CATEGORY.
THEY GOT THE BIGGEST REDUCTION IN VALUE AT 37 PERCENT, SO WHAT I'VE DONE IS I'VE TAKEN THOSE TRENDS AND EXTRAPOLATED THROUGH TO THE END OF THE PROCESS AND THAT'S HOW I'M COMING UP WITH THE 20 PERCENT INCREASE FOR THIS MORNING.
THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE ME, WE'LL HAVE THE FINAL.
I'M GOING SHARE WHEN I'LL BE FINISHED WITH THAT.
>> [INAUDIBLE], THESE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE NOW PROTESTING ISN'T GOING FURTHER, MAYBE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS?
>> THEY'LL BE RESOLVED IN SOME OF THOSE CASES UNTIL END OF THE FALL, BUT WE STILL, BECAUSE OF THE PROCESS OF SETTING THE TAX RATE, THE CHIEF APPRAISER WILL GIVE HIS ESTIMATE OF CERTIFIED VALUE FOR WHAT'S LEFT IN HEARINGS AND THAT'S WHAT GETS USED IN THE EFFECTIVE TAX RATE CALCULATION [INAUDIBLE].
I'LL PROBABLY USE A DIFFERENT ASSUMPTION FOR BUDGET PURPOSES.
I TEND TO USE 15 PERCENT AS A THROW DOWN ASSUMPTION.
LIKE I SAID, WE'VE GOT TWO MONTHS WORTH OF HEARINGS' RESULTS THAT SHOW WE LOST 23 PERCENT ON AVERAGE.
SO AS NOT TO OVERSTATE WHAT WE HAVE IN THE BUDGET,
[01:35:03]
I'LL PROBABLY BE USING THAT NUMBER.>> WELL, DID YOU JUST SAY WE'D BE AT THE 95 PERCENT?
>> WHAT THEY DO IS THEY TAKE THEIR [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING] PROPERTIES, AND THEY DO THOSE PROTESTS EARLIER, AND THAT'S HOW THEY COME OFF AT [OVERLAPPING] THE AVERAGE.
THEY'LL STILL BE HEARING PROTESTS THEY TOLD ME THE OTHER DAY THROUGH DECEMBER.
>> WE GET SUPPLEMENTAL ROLLS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
>> HERE'S THE IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR COUNCIL RIGHT NOW.
THE ESTIMATE THAT I'M WORKING OFF OF THAT INTERIM REPORT THAT I GOT THE OTHER DAY, IS IT LOOKS LIKE THE CITY'S TAX RATE WILL NEED TO DROP TO AT LEAST 4.4965.
THAT'S ABOUT SIX AND A 30 CENTS BELOW THE CURRENT TAX RATE.
THAT'S TO KEEP OUR REVENUE INCREASE FOR LAST YEAR'S PROPERTIES AT 3 1/2 PERCENT.
BUT THEN WE WILL GET THE NEW CONSTRUCTION ON TOP OF THAT.
SO THE ESTIMATE I'M USING AT THIS POINT IS A 5.2 PERCENT INCREASE IN REVENUE.
IT'S MUCH MORE NEXT THINKING MIKE.
>> WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF NEW CONSTRUCTION TAKING PLACE.
THIS CHART LOOKS LIKE WHAT YOU'VE SEEN BEFORE WHEN I PRESENTED THE SITUATION WITH THE LIBRARY TO YOU AND GIVEN THE NUMBERS THAT WE GOT OFF OF THIS INNER REPORT, THIS IS HOW THE 5.15 PERCENT STACKS UP, AND BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION WITH THE WAY THE TAX RATE IS STRUCTURED AND LET ME REVIEW THAT, BY STATE LAW, WE ONLY HAVE TWO TAX RATES THAT YOU ADOPT.
ONE PORTION OF THE RATE IS TO PAY OFF DEBT SERVICE.
THE OTHER PORTION OF THE RATE IS FOR OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE.
OUR CHARTER REQUIRES THAT THE CITY PROVIDE 5 CENTS WORTH OF THE TAX LEVY TO THE LIBRARY.
THAT 5 CENTS COMES OFF OF THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE TAX RATE.
THIS 6.30 CENT REDUCTION WILL HAVE TO COME DIRECTLY OFF OF THE GENERAL FUND PART OF THE RATE.
WE TALK ABOUT THE INEQUITABLE SITUATION THAT WE'RE FACING.
THE GENERAL FUND WOULD GET ABOUT A 2 PERCENT INCREASE OVER THIS YEAR.
THE DEBT SERVICE FUND AND THE LIBRARY WOULD BOTH BE IN THE 19 PERCENT INCREASE CATEGORY AND THE OVERALL INCREASE IS 5.15 PERCENT.
THAT AGAIN IS REQUIRED BY THE CHARTER AND STATE LAW, COMBINED EFFECT.
NEXT PAGE. [NOISE] THIS ALL BEARS ON THE BUDGET.
I KNOW THE NEXT ITEM ON YOUR AGENDA IS THE LIBRARY AGREEMENT BUT JUST SO YOU CAN SEE HOW THE PROPOSAL WE MADE TO THE LIBRARY WOULD WORK OUT.
[NOISE] THE PROJECTED TAX INCREASE FOR FY 2021 IS, THAT'S A PROPOSED TAX REVENUE FOR THE LIBRARY, $3,434,000.
THE OVERALL PERCENT INCREASE IN THE ROLE OF 5.15 PERCENT PRIOR TO THIS YEAR'S TAX AMOUNT, THAT'S A $177,000 INCREASE OVER WHAT THEY'RE GETTING THIS YEAR.
THE DISTRIBUTION THAT YOU SEE ON THE PREVIOUS PAGE IS $4,088,000.
THE DIFFERENCE IN THAT AND WHAT THE 5.15 PERCENT INCREASE WOULD GET THEN WHICH IS $3,611,000 IS $477,000.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING, THEY WOULD PAY THE CITY IS A PILOT PAYMENT, A REVENUE-SHARING PAYMENT SO THAT THE NET EFFECT OF WHAT THE CHARTER IS REQUIRING AND WE WILL PAY IN THIS ADDITIONAL PAYMENT WOULD BE THAT THEIR NET INCREASE IN THEIR AMOUNT WOULD BE THE SAME AS THE CITY WILL EXPERIENCE.
>> THE LIBRARY PEOPLE HAVE TO AGREE TO THIS CREDIT.
>> YEAH. THEY'VE BEEN INFORMED. WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT IT COMING UP.
THEY'RE GOING TO BRING INTO THEIR BOARD HERE.
>> BUT IT SAYS GET AROUND THAT CHARTER LANGUAGE.
>> DID THEY GET THEIR FULL AMOUNT AS PER CHARTER? THEY'RE JUST A REBATE.
>> THAT'S THE MATH AND THAT $477,000 IF THEY DO AGREE, WOULD JUST BE GENERAL FUND GROWTH, WHICH HELPS OUT A LOT.
[01:40:02]
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROPERTY TAX BEFORE I LEAVE IT.THAT'S THE BIG STORY I THINK SO.
SALES TAX IS SHOWING SOME GREAT POTENTIAL THIS YEAR, BUT IT'S VERY RISKY RIGHT NOW TO COUNT ON IT.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE CURRENT YEAR, THIS TOURISM BOOM THAT WE HAD, I BELIEVE IS GENERATING ABOUT $1.7 MILLION IN EXCESS FOR FISCAL 21, THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, THAN WE WOULD HAVE HAD WITHOUT THE PANDEMIC BASED ON CURRENT EMPLOYMENT LEVELS SO IT'S A BUBBLE, IF YOU WILL.
NOT DISSIMILAR FROM WHAT YOU EXPERIENCE AFTER A HURRICANE WHEN EVERYBODY IS FIXING UP AND REPAIRING THE PROPERTIES.
THE REAL QUESTION IS, HOW LONG IS IT GOING TO CONTINUE? PARTICULARLY IF THERE'S SOME FORM OF INTERRUPTIONS AT THE VERY LEAST IN PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN GOING OUT BECAUSE OF THESE VARIANTS OF COVID-19 THAT ARE COMING TO US IN SUBSEQUENT WAVES.
WHAT I'M DOING IN FISCAL 21 WITH THE NUMBER THAT WE'VE GOT SO FAR IS I'VE BEEN CAUTIOUS BUT I'M STILL ASSUMING WE'LL COME VERY CLOSE TO $17.8 MILLION.
WE GOT FOUR MONTHS REMAINING ON THE SALES TAX THIS YEAR.
IF ALL WE DID WAS COLLECT WHAT WE COLLECTED IN FISCAL 19, THAT'S TWO YEARS AGO BEFORE THE PANDEMIC OCCURRED LAST YEAR, WE'D BE AT $17.7.
THE ESTIMATE I'VE GOT RIGHT NOW IS $17.25 MILLION IN MY NUMBERS, THAT'S THE ESTIMATE FOR THIS YEAR.
TRYING TO BE CONSERVATIVE WITH IT BUT RECOGNIZED THAT THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH TIME LEFT IN THE YEAR AND ONLY SO MUCH VARIATION THAT [NOISE] WILL OCCUR.
>> DO YOU HAVE A PROJECTION MODEL?
>> I DO. I PUT IT IN ALL OF MY REPORTS.
IT'S BASED ON QUARTERLY TOTAL SO AUGUST WILL BE THE THIRD MONTH OF THE QUARTER THAT ENDED ON JUNE 30 SO I'LL BE ABLE TO REGENERATE THE DIAGRAM.
IF THE TREND CONTINUES AND WE WOULD GET EMPLOYMENT RECOVERED THE WAY DR. [INAUDIBLE] WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON IS PROJECTING, WE'D BE LOOKING AT BASICALLY $18.8 MILLION IN FISCAL 22.
SO WE GET A MILLION DOLLARS GROWTH FROM SALES TAX BUT THAT'S A BIG IF RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S A REAL RISK MANAGEMENT PROCESS.
THAT'S JUST OUR THOUGHT AS WE LOOK AT THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE. NEXT SLIDE.
THIS IS A SLIDE THAT LOOKS AT THE INFLATION RATE FOR THE LAST NOW 13 YEARS COMPARING JUNE VERSUS JUNE OF THE PRIOR YEAR.
LIKE ALL THE NUMBERS THAT COMPARE WITH 20, YOU HAVE TO TAKE THIS CURRENT NUMBER, 4.6 PERCENT, WITH A GRAIN OF SALT BECAUSE IT WAS BEING COMPARED WITH LAST JUNE WHEN PRICES WERE REALLY DEFLATED AND YOU'D HAVE SOME KIND OF AN INCREASE OVER THAT IN ANY EVENT.
BASICALLY, IF YOU COMPARE THE CURRENT INDEX WITH 19, WHICH IS I THINK STILL THE SAFEST COMPARISON WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT IN A LIGHTER NOTE IN PARTICULAR.
THIS IS ABOUT 2 PERCENT A YEAR, JUST ON A PURE TREND SO OBVIOUSLY WE'LL BE WATCHING IT CLOSELY.
[NOISE] HERE'S SOME THINGS TRUE ABOUT GENERAL FUND REVENUE.
>> NEXT SLIDE. WE DID GET THE BALANCE OF OUR CARES ACT REVENUE.
I THINK LAST MONTH YOU APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF A FIRE PUMPER WITH SOME OF THAT MONEY THAT CAME BACK TO US.
OUR RECURRING REVENUE IF YOU TAKE THAT OUT OF 21, DISCOUNT THAT BECAUSE THAT'S A ONETIME REVENUE INSURANCE, OUR RECURRING REVENUE AT THIS POINT IS UP $1.52 MILLION.
THAT INCLUDES THE PROPERTY TAX NUMBER THAT YOU SAW AND IT INCLUDES SOMETHING FROM THE LIBRARY.
THAT'S IN MY NUMBERS RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S TWO OTHER AREAS TO MENTION.
WE'RE PLAYING TO CATCH UP FROM THE PANDEMIC, BUT IT IS COMING IN STEADILY AT THIS POINT.
BUILDING PERMITS ARE SETTING NEW RECORDS IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
AGAIN, WE'D LIKE TO ASSUME THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE INTO NEXT YEAR BUT IT'S PROBABLY MORE AN ARTIFACT OF THE LOW-INTEREST RATES.
[01:45:02]
I DO NOT HAVE US REPEATING THAT IN FY 22.MAJOR EXPENDITURE ASSUMPTIONS WAS THE GENERAL THOUGHT.
WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MATERIAL AND SUPPLY PRICES.
WE'RE GETTING SOME INDICATIONS NOW THAT THE SUPPLIERS HAVE GEARED BACK UP ENOUGH THAT PRICES WON'T REMAIN AT THE CURRENT LEVELS INDEFINITELY.
BUT AGAIN, THE QUESTION IS, WHEN WILL IT STOP? NOBODY SEEMS TO HAVE THAT CRYSTAL BALL TUNE VERY FONDLY.
THE GARAGE BUDGET IS BUILT IN GAS PRICES THAT ARE 10 PERCENT HIGHER THAN FISCAL 19.
WE ARE SEEING IN THAT, STAND ON TOP OF THAT.
THAT'S BUILT OUT TO ALL THE DEPARTMENTS.
WHAT WE'RE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT IS, AND ELECTRICITY.
THERE'S NOT AMONG THE AGENDA TODAY TO GO AHEAD AND EXTEND IT, GET A NEW CONTRACT IN PLACE TO TAKE THE PLACE OF THE CURRENT ONE WHEN IT EXPIRES IN DECEMBER 23.
THIS IS ABOUT THE PLACE AND THE PREVIOUS CONTRACT THAT WE DID THAT.
AGAIN, RISK-MANAGEMENT EXERCISE THAT CONSIDERS WHERE NATURAL GAS PRICES HAVE BEEN, THEY HAVE STARTED TO RISE A BIT, BUT THERE'S STILL LOWER THAN THEY'D BEEN HISTORICALLY.
WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW CLOSE WE CAN GET TO THAT 3.5 CENTS PER KILOWATT AN HOUR.
>> THE NEXT CONTRACT IS GOING TO BE A LOCK IN PRIOR TO?
>> THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.
>> WE'RE HITTING CLOSE TO 3.5.
>> WHAT IT DOESN'T COVER OF COURSE IS WHAT HAPPENS TO THE UNDERLYING TARIFF CHARGES FROM CENTER POINT THAT [INAUDIBLE]
>> HOW LONG DOES CONTRACT [INAUDIBLE].
>> YEAH. WE'RE HALFWAY THROUGH THE CURRENT FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT.
WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO OUR CONSTRUCTION PRICES FOR OUR REMAINING CAPITAL PROJECTS.
WE'VE GOT BILLS COMING IN, I THINK ON 27TH STREET OR 37TH STREET?
>> NEXT WEEK AND THAT'LL BE OUR FIRST INDICATION OF HOW MUCH THESE PRICE INCREASES MAY AFFECT OUR CIP PROJECTS.
IN OUR OTHER FUNDING SOURCES ARE LIMITED IN TERMS OF OPTIONS ON WHERE WE GO IF WE GET SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN THOSE PROJECTS.
BRIAN WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT WITH YOU.
WE'LL BE BACK IN HERE ON THAT ISSUE AS SOON AS WE KNOW MORE.
NEXT PAGE, YOU'VE SEEN MOST OF THESE NUMBERS BEFORE.
THIS IS WHAT'S BAKED INTO THE GENERAL FUND ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE NOW.
WE'VE GOT A TOTAL OF ALMOST 1.4 MILLION FOR COMPENSATION INCREASES, INCLUDING A TWO PERCENT COST OF LIVING FOR ALL CIVILIANS.
THE CURRENT CBA RESULTS THAT WE'VE GOT FOR POLICE AND FIRE, AS WELL AS BRINGING ALL EMPLOYEES UP TO $15 PER HOUR MINIMUM.
OF COURSE, WE'RE WAITING ON THE DECISION OF COUNCIL AS FAR AS SALARIES FOR APPOINTEES AND STAFF.
>> DOES THAT EXCLUDED THE [INAUDIBLE]?
>> THAT INCLUDES THE [INAUDIBLE]
>> THE [INAUDIBLE] IS INCLUDED TO THE MINUTE 15 PER HOUR.
>> WELL, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO $15 AN HOUR NOW ARE, AND THEN THEY WOULD GET A TWO PERCENT ON TOP OF THAT.
>> OKAY. [OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE GOTTEN A $97,000 INCREASE REQUEST FROM THE COUNTY FOR EMS SERVICE.
THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF POSITION CHANGES UNDER CONSIDERATION IN POLICE FINANCE, CITY AUDITOR'S OFFICE, PARKS.
AGAIN, UNTIL WE KNEW WHERE THE TAX ROLL WAS GOING TO COME OUT, THERE ARE SOME BIG QUESTIONS LEFT TO ANSWER BEFORE WE CAN FINALIZE THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
I MENTIONED THE 10 PERCENT INCREASE IN FUEL PREVIOUSLY.
ALSO AS ONETIME ITEMS THAT ARE FUNDED OCCASIONALLY, LIKE EVERY FIVE YEARS, THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE AND THE CITYWIDE COMPENSATION STUDY WERE PROPOSING TAKE FROM GENERAL FUND BALANCE AT THE BUDGET.
ALWAYS BUILT IN TO OUR NUMBERS IS THE NET INCREASE THAT WE HAVE TO FUND ANNUALLY IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE FUND TRANSFER.
WE CALCULATE WHAT EIGHT PERCENT OF BUDGETED REVENUE IS, AND THAT'S THE BASIS FOR THAT TRANSFER.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE ESTIMATING IT'S ABOUT A $150,000 INCREASE.
[01:50:03]
>> THIS MONTH YOU HAVE YOUR HANDFUL OF POSITIONS.
DO WE KNOW WHAT NUMBER OF POSITIONS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT POLICE FIRE, ARCHERS, AUTHORS, ARTS.
>> THERE'S SOME POSITION THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING ELIMINATING TOO.
>> WHEN YOU TELL ME SIX, IS THAT ONE FOR EACH ONE OR TWO FOR, SURE I'M GETTING THAT.
HOW MANY EMPLOYEES WILL CITY AUDITOR GET?
>> WE'VE GOT ONE UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR HIM.
>> THAT'S IN THE MANAGER'S OFFICE.
>> I THINK THAT'S NOT ENOUGH, BUT WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS? ADMITTEDLY, THIS IS HIGH LEVEL, BUT THIS IS THE BIG POLICY.
LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME ABOUT WATER AND SEWER.
>> MIKE, I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, THERE'S A NET INCREASE IN INFRASTRUCTURE FUND TRANSFER.
>> THAT'S AN INCREASE OVER THE LAST YEAR?
>> BECAUSE YOUR TOTAL REVENUE GROWS, THAT TRANSFER HAS TO GROW WITH IT.
>> THAT'S JUST FOR EVERYBODY SAKE.
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE TRANSFERRING INTO THAT SET ASIDE FUND OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> IT'S OVER FIVE MILLION THAT WERE PUT IN THERE.
>> YEAH. ABSOLUTELY. AS FAR AS WATER AND SEWER ARE CONCERNED, THERE IS NO RATE INCREASE YET IN FY 22.
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO US HERE WAS WE GOT A RELIEF ON OUR PAYMENTS TO THE GULF COAST WATER AUTHORITY.
THEY WERE HOLDING ENOUGH CASH IN CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNTS AND DEBT SERVICE RESERVES THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO PAY OFF OUR CONTRACT DEBT TO THEM A YEAR EARLY.
WE'D ANTICIPATED THIS HAPPENING, BUT NOT TILL FISCAL POINTING 23.
IT'S A $3 MILLION REDUCTION AND WHAT WE'VE TRIED TO DO IS USE THAT FOR ONETIME COST.
THERE'S A PORTION OF IT THAT WE WANT TO SET ASIDE IN THE WATER IMPROVEMENT FUND.
THERE'S A GOOD ALLOCATION TO EQUIPMENT ITEMS THAT WE'LL HAVE FOR YOU WHEN THE BUDGET IS PRESENTED.
>> QUESTION, PLEASE. DOES THAT SUGGEST THAT OUR PREMISES OF THE WATER AUTHORITY IS GOING TO BE SOMEWHERE IN THE RANGE OF THE 7.7 NEXT YEAR AND YEARS FOLLOWING?
>> YES, AND THAT TAKES US TO A DISCUSSION OF GOING FORWARD WITH GULF COAST WATER AUTHORITY.
WHAT'S HAPPENED TRADITIONALLY WAS A CITY WOULD ALLOW GCWA TO ISSUE BONDS ON OUR BEHALF AND THEN WE'D SIGN A CONTRACT TO PAY THOSE BONDS OFF.
IT'S A LITTLE FUZZY WHEN THAT AVERAGE, WE DON'T HAVE THOSE RECORDS AND FRANKLY, NOBODY HERE KNEW THEY WERE HOLDING ENOUGH CASH TO PAY IT OFF YEAR EARLY.
MY RECOMMENDATION GOING FORWARD IS THE CITY HOLD ON TO THAT MONEY.
AS THEY HAVE A PROJECT THE CONTRACT THAT YOU WOULD SIGN OFF AND AUTHORIZE [INAUDIBLE] ACTUALLY, THEY COME TO YOU AND SAY, HERE'S OUR COLLEGE TESTAMENT OF THE PROJECT.
WE WOULD HAVE THE FUNDS FROM WATER AND SEWER FUNDS TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROJECT.
WE'RE IN CONTROL OF OUR MONEY.
>> THIS HARKENS BACK TO A TIME DAVID, WHEN THE CITY'S BOND RATING 20 YEARS AGO OR SO THAT THE CITY'S BOND RATING WAS NOT STELLAR.
NOW THAT OUR BOND RATING IS ON PAR WITH TOP RIGHT, WE'RE NOT IN THAT POSITION.
>> IF I CAN ALSO ASK, WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GET TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT?
>> IT'S AT THE END OF THIS. [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE DID GET SOME SERVER SAVINGS ON OUR OWN BONDS, INCLUDING WHAT WE GOT FROM THE REFUNDING DOWN IN THE SPRING THAT CHARLES GROUP AND JUST A NATURAL DROP-OFF AND THE DEBT SERVICE SCHEDULE.
TORINO HAS BEEFED UP IN HIS BUDGET.
THE COST OF JASON IS GROWING PROBLEM FROM THE STANDPOINT OF WHAT WE'RE AWARE OF NOW, THE INFILTRATION AND INFLOW IN OUR SEWER SYSTEM.
OF COURSE, AS YOU TALKED EARLIER, COUNCIL AGREED TO ALLOCATE THE ENTIRE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN BRAND OF 27 MILLION TO WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS AND THAT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO HELP US IN THE NEXT YEAR.
THE SAME EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION PROGRAMS WE MENTIONED IN THE GENERAL FUND PRESENTATION ARE INCLUDED IN THE WATER AND SEWER NUMBERS WITH TWO PERCENT CIVILIAN [INAUDIBLE], BRINGING THE EMPLOYEES UP TO $15 AN HOUR MINIMUM AND THE HEALTH BENEFITS COST INCREASE AND THERE'S NO GENERAL INCREASE,.
[01:55:05]
>> CAN I ASK A QUESTION ON THE INCREASE ON THE MINIMUM?
>> LET'S SAY YOU HAVE AN EMPLOYEE WHO'S BEEN HERE 20 YEARS.
THEN YOU HAVE A BRAND NEW EMPLOYEE THAT YOU'RE BRINGING.
NOW YOU'RE GOING TO INCREASE THEM, SAY THEY WERE AT $10 AN HOUR AND YOU'RE TAKING HIM TO 15, AND YOU HAVE THIS EMPLOYEE OVER HERE THAT HAS BEEN WITH US IN 20 YEARS AND THEY'RE MAKING 18 AN HOUR.
THERE'S SOME OTHER ADJUSTMENTS.
IT'S NOT JUST MOVING EVERYBODY TO $ 15.
THERE'S OTHER ADJUSTMENTS TO GET TO PROHIBIT COMPRESSION
>> THERE'S COMPRESSION EFFECTS TO THE SUPERVISORY.
>> KIDS GOT THAT ADDRESSED TO THAT NUMBER.
>> TRINO IS BRINGING FORWARD A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE HAVE SOME INFORMATION ON THE NEXT COUPLE OF PAGES FOR YOU.
THE REVENUE FROM THE TAP FEE INCREASE WE'RE ABOUT TO TALK ABOUT IS NOT IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
IT WILL BE ABOVE AND BEYOND, AND IT'S DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH YOU WOULD AGREE TO ADOPT, IT COULD POTENTIALLY ALLOW US TO PUSH POTENTIAL WATER AND SEWER RATE INCREASE OFF IS SUBSTANTIAL.
WE'RE DOING 750 TOTAL TAPS IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
I THINK I'VE GOT TRINO BACK HERE.
TRINO, YOU WILL COME UP AND HELP ME WITH SOME OF THIS.
>> THESE ARE TAPS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION REMODELS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE'VE HISTORICALLY KEPT THESE VERY, VERY LOW.
WE ARE PROBABLY A THIRD TO A QUARTER OF WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE CHARGING FOR TAPS.
WHAT HAPPENS IS IS YOUR EXISTING WATER PAYERS ARE SUBSIDIZING THIS.
YOU'VE HAD YOUR WATER AND WE'RE HAVING TO BOLSTER THE WATER FUND TO COVER THE COST OF THESE TAPS AND THAT'S WHAT TRINO IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] YOU DRIVE INTO COST.
>> THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'M PROPOSING.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO MENTION EVEN IN THIS IS WE DON'T CHARGE IMPACT FEES OR CAPITAL RECOVERY FEES.
THAT ALONE MAKES US DEVELOPER-FRIENDLY.
TODAY WE CHARGE, AS YOU LOOK AT PERIOD, THESE ARE OUR TYPICAL TAPS.
WE CHARGE $660 FOR A 5/8 TAP WHICH IS YOUR TYPICAL DOMESTIC WATER AND THEN $510 FOR A FOUR-INCH.
THESE PRICES WERE SET BACK IN 2012 AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN CHANGED SINCE.
NOW IF YOU LOOK AT THE NEXT COLUMN OVER WHERE YOU SEE THE ACTUAL COSTS IN THAT COLUMN.
THIS IS WHAT'S ACTUALLY COSTING US.
EVERY TIME WE INSTALL A 5/8 METER, IT COSTS THE CITY OR THE UTILITY $3,427, AND THEN THE SAME WITH THE SEWER COST US $3,494, SO THERE'S A LOSS ON EVERY SINGLE TAP THAT WE SET.
>> WHAT'S THAT NUMBER BASED ON?
>> THAT NUMBER IS BASED ON OUR HOURS OF LABOR, THE EQUIPMENT, THE MATERIALS USED.
NOW WHEN IT COMES TO THE MUNICIPAL UTILITY EMPLOYEES, WE DON'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ANY OF THE OVERHEAD LIKE FOR BENEFITS.
HOWEVER, WE DO PAY THE STREET'S DEPARTMENT TO PATCH THIS AND THEY DO CHARGE THAT TO US SO WE TAKE THEIRS INTO CONSIDERATION.
>> BECAUSE THAT'S A GENERAL FUND EXPENSE.
>> ESSENTIALLY, EVERY HOUSE THAT WE SET UP A WATER AND SEWER TAP WE'RE LOSING $5,751.
WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
>> WHAT ARE THE OTHER CITIES YOU'VE WORKED FOR? HOW DID THEY HANDLE THAT?
>> THAT'S FOUR MILLION A YEAR, OVER 750 TAPS, THE RESIDENTS SHOULD PAY.
>> I CAN SHARE BACK IN 2015, I WAS DIRECTOR FOR [INAUDIBLE] UTILITIES.
IN 2015, I ADJUSTED OUR RATES OVER THERE AND OUR RATES WERE PRETTY SIMILAR TO WHAT THEY ARE NOW AS FAR AS TAP COSTS.
IN ADDITION OUT THERE, THEY ALSO CHARGED THE IMPACT FEES.
THE TOTAL COST WAS CLOSER TO 10,000 FOR CONNECTION.
SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM AND HOUSTON, THEY DO NOT PERFORM TAPS WHATSOEVER.
WHAT THEY'VE DONE IS THEY'VE VETTED CONTRACTORS AND THEN THEY INTRODUCED THEM TO THE PROCESS OF THEIR PARTICULAR CITY OR UTILITY.
THEN THE CUSTOMER GOES TO THE CONTRACTOR, THAT CONTRACTOR WORKS WITH THE CITY ON ALL THE PAPERWORK, ALL THE INSPECTIONS, AND THEN THE CUSTOMER WOULD WORK DIRECTLY WITH THEM TO GET IT ALL SET.
IN THAT CASE, SO THE UTILITY OR THE CITY IS DOING THE WORK BUT I THINK IT'S MORE COSTLY FOR THE CUSTOMER BECAUSE THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR UNLESS THEY'RE A BIG COMPANY DID THIS GOING TO PROBABLY DOUBLE THE COST.
>> SOME OF YOU HAVE PROBABLY GOTTEN CALLS FROM
[02:00:02]
PEOPLE SAYING THAT I'M WAITING ON A WATER TAP.IT'S TAKEN ME FIVE OR SIX WEEKS.
WELL, IT'S BECAUSE I GOT ONE CREW DOING IT, [INAUDIBLE].
THE ISSUE THERE IS I'D LIKE TO PUT MORE PEOPLE ON THAT CREW, BUT LOSING $5,000 OF HOOKUP, I CAN'T AFFORD TO CREATE A SECOND CREW JUST TO DO THAT.
>> WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT CENTER OR CONTRACTOR?
>> I THINK WE'VE BEEN GETTING A GREAT DEAL FOR A LONG TIME.
>> THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THIS IS THAT I THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE NEW DEVELOPMENT HERE ON THE ISLAND, ESPECIALLY IN YOUR DISTRICT.
I REALLY THINK THAT THESE FEES ARE PROBABLY NOT JUSTIFIED WHEN THE PRIVATE DEVELOPER PUTS IN THE TAPS.
ON THE WATERSIDE, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE WATER METER DOES COST MONEY AND IT'S PROBABLY MORE THAN THE $500.
ON THE WATERSIDE, YOU PROBABLY DO NEED TO INCREASE THAT FIGURE NO MATTER WHAT BECAUSE OF THE WATER METER ALONE BUT THE SEWER TAP I MEAN, FOR EXAMPLE, IN ONE OF MY DEVELOPMENTS, I PAID THE SAME, THE EXISTING FEES BUT THE CITY DIDN'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING ON THE SEWER SIDE.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE COME OUT THERE AND ACTUALLY INSTALL A METER, BUT THE CAP WAS ALREADY INSTALLED FOR THAT METER.
THE SEWER WAS ALREADY INSTALLED.
MY PLUMBER HOOKED UP TO THE TAP BECAUSE WE INSTALLED ALL THE SEWER LINE OUT THERE AND THEN THAT GETS INSPECTED BY THE CITY.
>> A COUPLE OF THINGS I'D LIKE TO SAY TODAY.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COST THAT WE PUT TOGETHER ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, WE SHOW THE TOTAL COST BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY IT'S PUT OUT.
IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE'VE PUT TOGETHER HERE, WE'VE BROKEN IT INTO SECTIONS.
THEN I'LL PROBABLY DO THE SAME FOR THE SEWER SERVICE.
NOW HERE'S A COUPLE OF COMPONENTS.
ONE OF THE REASONS I BROKE IT INTO SECTIONS IS BECAUSE IF A DEVELOPER GOES AND PUTS IN THE WATER TAP, FOR EXAMPLE, THEN WE SHOULD ONLY CHARGING THE COST OF THE METER AND THE BOX.
IF THE CUSTOMER PUTS IN THE SEWER TAP, WE SHOULD NOT CHARGE THEM AT ALL BUT HERE'S THE KICKER TO WHAT'S GOING ON TODAY.
IF A DEVELOPER TURNS IN THEIR PLANS TO OUR ENGINEERING, GETS IN CONTACT WITH EITHER OUR DISTRIBUTION COLLECTION GROUP OR OUR CONSTRUCTION INSPECTORS, THEN WE WILL HAVE SOMEBODY THERE TO FULLY INSPECT IT BEFORE IT'S COVERED UP AND ACCEPTED BY US.
WHAT HAPPENS FROM A LOT OF BUILDERS IS THAT THEY DON'T DO THE JOB PROPERLY AND WE END UP BEING RIGHT OUT THERE SHORTLY AFTER THE CUSTOMER MOVES IN AND THEY REALIZE THAT THE WATER TAP WASN'T DONE RIGHT, THE SEWER TAP WASN'T DONE RIGHT.
WE END UP HAVING TO RIP IT OUT ANYWAYS AND DO IT AGAIN.
>> THAT NOBODY PAYS FOR THAT, WE [OVERLAPPING]
>> FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, DEVELOPERS ARE INSTALLING THEIR TAPS, AS LONG AS WE'RE THERE TO INSPECT IT AND CERTIFY THAT IT'S BEEN DONE PROPERLY, NO HARM, NO FOUL, OTHERWISE, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GETTING INTO.
>> I'D MAKE A COMMENT TO WE, COUNSEL DISCUSSED IN ABOUT FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO, IMPACT FEES.
WE BROUGHT IN EXPERTS ON THAT TO GUIDE COUNCIL ON THAT.
AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION, WE DECIDED NOT TO ENACT THE IMPACT FEES HERE IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
>> FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT REASONS, WE WANT TO BE MORE DEVELOPER-FRIENDLY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> THEN WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH. IT'S NOT LIKE I HATE TO BRING THIS UP AGAIN.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE BUILDING HUGE MASTER-PLANNED COMMUNITIES OUT THERE.
WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TO MERIT THE COST OF ADMINISTERING.
>> IT DEPENDS ON HOW YOU DEFINE THEM.
>> MY RECOLLECTION THAT YOU DID CREATE A THING, YOU'VE JUST CREATED A GREAT ZERO.
THERE IS ONE ON THE BOOKS BUT ZERO.
>> THEY'LL BE BACK TO WORKSHOP WITH YOU.
>> THAT HAS ITS OWN CONSIDERATION FOR YOU GUYS TO ADOPT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO BRING THAT BACK, MIKE?
>> HOW QUICK WOULD THAT HAVE [OVERLAPPING]
>> TRINO, HOW SOON CAN YOU BRING THAT BACK?
>> I CAN BRING IT BACK NEXT MONTH.
>> WOULD YOU BRING FIRST MEETING IN AUGUST IF YOU WANT TO?
>> WELL, GET IT ON THERE. JANELLE, LOOK OUT FOR YOU, WE'LL BE COMING.
IT IS TIME TO INCREASE THE SANITATION FEE.
THE LAST FEE INCREASED FOR OVERALL TRASH PICKUP WAS 2012, AND THE RECYCLING FEE THAT WE'VE GOT WAS SET UP IN 2015.
[02:05:02]
THIS GOING TO BE LIKE THE TRASH FEES.WE'VE GOT SOME INFORMATION THIS MORNING, BRANDON IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS, BUT WE'RE PUTTING THE ISSUE ON THE TABLE.
IN THIS CASE, THE FEES AREN'T IMMEDIATELY.
IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR AT ALL WITH GALVESTON, AS YOU FOLKS WORK REALLY HARD AND DEAL WITH COMPLAINTS FROM [OVERLAPPING]-
>> I'VE HAD SOME PEOPLE IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS THAT HAVEN'T HAND THEIR TRASH MEET UP AT ALL [OVERLAPPING]-
>> LET ME DIVE INTO THAT JUST A LITTLE BIT.
PART OF THE ISSUE IS WE BUY TWO TRUCKS A YEAR AND THAT HAS GOT US SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY.
[NOISE] WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT FAIL US HERE AT GALVESTON.
BY CHARTER, WE CAN'T GO OUT FOR BID AND GET THE LOWEST BID LIKE OTHER CITIES DO, BY CHARTER, WE HAVE TO OPERATE SANITATION DEPARTMENT.
I THINK WE OPERATED PRETTY GOOD.
IT'S EXPENSIVE. WHAT HAPPENED TO US THIS PAST YEAR, AGAIN, WE USUALLY BUY A COUPLE OF TRUCKS A YEAR, WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT LAST YEAR, WE TIGHTEN EVERY BUDGET UP, WE DID NOT BUY TWO TRUCKS.
THAT WAS PART OF WHAT WE DID TO MAKE IT THROUGH.
BUT IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE BEHIND TWO TRUCKS.
WE HAD THREE STORMS AND THEN WE HAVE THIS WINNER, [NOISE] WHATEVER THE HELL THE NAME OF THE STORM WAS. THEY CAME THROUGH.
IT ROASTED OUR EQUIPMENT, ALL THAT DEBRIS, WE WERE PUTTING STUFF IN THESE TRUCKS, WE PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN PUTTING IN THESE TRUCKS.
WE OVERLOADED THEM, WE OVERTAXED THEM.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE AGE OF OUR FLEETS, IT'S NOT THAT OLD, IT'S 2015, 2016.
THESE ARE CARS AND YEARS THAT WE DRIVE NOW.
[NOISE] THANK GOD DAVID SMITH IS ON TOP.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING THESE GUYS OVERTIME TO GET THE TRUCKS OUT.
BUT THIS WEEK, WE HAD CATASTROPHIC FAILURE.
WE LOST EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR AUTOMATED TRUCKS.
NOT THE TRUCKS, THE TRUCK WAS RUNNING, BUT THE ARM, THE HYDRAULICLES, THE COMPACTORS, WE GET CALLS ABOUT THE TRUCKS WEEPING WHEN THEY COMPACT, IT'S BECAUSE OF THE GASKETS.
WE CAN'T TAKE THE TRUCKS DOWN LONG ENOUGH TO EVEN SERVICE THEM, TO GET THEM WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.
PART OF THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT, ONE, WHEN THE CITY UNDERTOOK AUTOMATED TRASH SERVICE, WAS LONG BEFORE I GOT HERE, THEY BOUGHT JUST THE NUMBER OF TRUCKS THAT THEY NEEDED TO DO AT THAT MINUTE.
THERE WERE NO SPARES INVOLVED IN THAT.
OVER TIME WE'VE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF AUTOMATED, WE BOUGHT SOME SMALLER ONES AND STUFF TO SPECIFICALLY WORK ALLEYS ON THE EAST DANE AND THINGS WHERE THE BIGGER TRUCKS COULD, WE SWITCHED OUR AUTOMATED TRUCKS OVER THE YEARS FROM NON-COMPACTOR TRUCKS TO COMPACTOR TRUCKS SO WE CAN CARRY BIGGER LOADS, BUT WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TRUCKS.
WHAT'S HAPPENING IS, AND WE ARE BUYING ON TOP OF THE LINE STUFF, WE'RE BUYING OHIO WHICH IS THE CADILLAC OF THESE TRUCKS, BUT WE'RE GETTING TOO MANY LIFTS ON THE TRUCKS.
NOT ONLY ARE WE GETTING TOO MANY LIFTS, WE'RE GETTING TOO MANY HEAVY LIFTS ON THE TRUCKS.
THEN IF A TRUCK GOES DOWN AND THE TRUCK'S GOT TO RUN A DOUBLE ROUTE, NOT ONLY HAVE WE EXCEEDED THE NUMBER OF RECOMMENDED LIFTS FOR A DAY ON THAT TRUCK, THE FIRST TIME WE'RE RUNNING IT DOUBLED TIME TO GET THE SECOND NUMBER OF LIFTS.
WHAT'S COMPOUNDING THIS IS THAT WE LOVE RECYCLING, WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, BUT WE HAVE A RECYCLING FEE, ITS A $1.96, IT'S ON EVERYBODY'S WATER BILL BUT IT COST US FAR MORE THAN THAT FEE PAYS FOR.
WHEN RECYCLING COSTS GO UP, IT DRAWS FROM SANITATION.
TYPICALLY, WHAT WE DO IS, WE TRY TO BUY OUR TRUCKS OUT OF OUR EXCESS REVENUE IN SANITATION EVERY YEAR.
WELL, THIS IT'S DRAWING US DOWN TO THE TUNE OF $800,000 A YEAR ON RECYCLING COSTS, THAT'S [NOISE] ALMOST TWO TRUCKS.
WE'RE SUCKING WIND IN THE SANITATION DEPARTMENT TRYING TO PLEASE EVERYBODY THAT WE CAN.
WE WANT TO CONTINUE EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PICK UP EVERYTHING, GUYS, YOU ALL KNOW THAT, YOU CALL US, WE PRETTY MUCH PICK IT UP.
IF MR. GANDHI HAS AN EVICTION, WE TAKE CARE OF HIS STUFF THAT'S ON THE CURB.
IF SOMEBODY DUMP SOMETHING AT THE END OF SPORTSMAN ROAD, WE'RE OUT THERE PICKING IT OUT.
>> WE PICK UP MORE [OVERLAPPING]-
>> -IN ANY CITY THAT THERE IS, WHICH IS SPECIAL [OVERLAPPING]-
>> WE'VE GOT SOME SPECIALIZED TRUCKS FOR THAT, BUT I'VE GOT TWO OF THOSE.
[NOISE] WHEN YOU GET A WINTER STORM OR A TROPICAL STORM, IF YOU WAITED ON JUST THOSE TWO TRUCKS TO DO EVERYTHING AND WE DIDN'T GET A DECLARATION GUYS, SO WE HAD TO DO IT ALL OURSELVES.
WE DID IT, WE GOT IT ACCOMPLISHED, BUT IT'S SAID AS OFF-KILTER FROM OUR TWO TRUCKS A YEAR.
WE WERE ALREADY BEHIND AND THEN NOW WE'RE REALLY BEHIND.
>> WHAT ABOUT AT LEASING VEHICLES?
>> WE'VE LOOKED AT THAT. ON THE MATTER OF FACT, RIGHT NOW ON THE ROUTES, YOU'VE GOT SOME RENTED VEHICLES RUNNING RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE IN ROUTE HERE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE'RE SHORT ON TRUCKS AND WE WILL RUN THEM FROM TIME TO TIME.
MUNICIPAL LEASING IS SOMETHING YOU CAN DO, IT'S A FORM OF DEBT, HOWEVER, AND MIKE'S GOING TO TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS, GIVEN OUR CREDIT RATING AND EVERYTHING,
[02:10:01]
IT'S MUCH MORE COST EFFECTIVE FOR US TO DO A FIVE-YEAR CO AND BUY THE TRUCKS THAN IT IS FOR US TO LEASE THEM.>> BRANDON, WHAT'S AN AVERAGE COST OF THE TRUCK?
>> TRUCK COSTS ABOUT 250,000 AND 275 [OVERLAPPING]-
>> IT DEPENDS WHETHER IT'S AUTOMATED.
KEEP IN MIND, WE'RE LOADING TRUCKS, WHICH IS WHAT WE USE FOR OUR BRUSH AND HEAVIER PICKUPS.
[NOISE] WE GET 8-10 YEARS OUT OF OVERLOADED TRUCK.
THE AUTOMATED TRUCKS, GIVEN OUR ENVIRONMENT HERE AND EVERYTHING ELSE, 5-6 YEARS IS ABOUT ALL WE GET.
NOT THE TRUCK, THE TRUCK'S FINE, ITS THE EQUIPMENT ON THE BACK.
>> IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO ADD TO DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE CREATING SO MANY HOUSES THAT THEY'RE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE ONE TRUCK?
>> WELL, IN THEORY, IF YOU'RE CHARGING [NOISE] THE APPROPRIATE RIGHT, IF YOU ADD MANY HOUSEHOLDS, IT'LL PAY FOR THE TRUCKS.
>> QUICK QUESTION, SAY THE REAR LOADER TRUCKS ARE CHEAPER BUT DON'T THEY REQUIRE A LARGER STAFF?
>> CORRECT. THAT'S THE DOWNSIDE OF THE REAR LOADER TRUCKS IS THAT, AN AUTOMATED TRUCKS GOT ONE GUY, REAR LOADER TRUCKS GOT THREE GUYS.
>> NOW, IT'S ARGUABLE AS TO WHO CAN DO IT FASTER.
I GOT SOME GUYS WHO RUN THOSE REAR LOADERS AND THEY'RE JUST AS FAST AS THE AUTOMATED AND THEY'RE GOOD, BUT THEN AGAIN TOO, THEY GET HURT AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE REALLY STRIVE TO TRY TO AVOID.
>> BRIAN, THIS 25 DOLLARS YOU'RE GOING TO GET TO MIKE ON THE [NOISE] INCREASE, DOES THAT GIVE YOU ENOUGH MONEY TO ACTUALLY HAVE THE BACKUP AND AVOID WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH NOW?
>> HE'S GOING TO GET IN HOW WE'VE GOT THIS PLANNED OUT, WE'VE GOT A PLAN.
>> THAT APPROXIMATELY [NOISE] MEANS JUST THAT WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT [INAUDIBLE] A LOT OF ITS POTENTIAL AND HOW THE COUNCIL REACTS TO WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO.
>> [NOISE] AT A MINIMUM, THE RECYCLING FEE SHOULDN'T COVER AT LEAST THE CURRENT COST OR THE RECYCLING OPERATION AND THAT'S ABOUT $1.9 AND REACH FOR MORE THAN THAT FEE CURRENTLY IS.
THE COMMERCIAL TRASH FEES NEED TO BE RAISED BY ABOUT $10.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE PRINCIPLE, WHAT BRANDON HAS DONE I THINK THERE'S SOME SOUND THINK THERE.
[NOISE] IF YOU STARTED IN 2012 WITH A GIVEN RATE AND JUST ADD A TWO PERCENT TO IT, IT PUTS YOU UP IN THE RANGE OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WITH 25 DOLLARS FOR THE RESIDENTIAL PICKUP AND 53 FOR [OVERLAPPING]-
>> IT'S A NOTORIOUS PROBLEM AND I'VE BEEN WORKING IN GOVERNMENT FOR 30 YEARS.
YOU REALLY DON'T WANT TO EVER GO UP ON YOUR FEES. YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.
YOUR CITIZENS PAY ENOUGH AND YOU DON'T WANT THEM PAYING MORE.
HOWEVER, YOU END UP GETTING IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS WHERE YOU GOT TO MAKE A LARGER [NOISE] JUMP WHEN IN THEORY, [NOISE] EVERY YEAR IS PART OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS, WE SHOULD [NOISE] BE BRINGING YOU ACTUAL COSTS VERSUS FEES SO [OVERLAPPING]-
>> -YOU CAN [INAUDIBLE] [NOISE] IT'S TOTALLY UP TO YOU GUYS.
IF WE'VE HAD A TOUGH YEAR, LIKE A PANDEMIC YEAR, SURE, NOBODY'S GOING TO WANT TO INCREASE THESE THINGS.
KEEP IN MIND TO SANITATION, WE IN GALVESTON, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF AREAS IN GALVESTON THAT CANNOT GET COMMERCIAL DUMPSTER SERVICE.
[NOISE] THERE'S BUSINESSES ON THE SEAWALL, THERE'S BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN, THERE'S JUST NO PLACE TO PUT A COMMERCIAL DOWNSTREAM.
WE HAVE SOME BUSINESSES THAT HAVE 8, 10, 12 TRASH CANS.
SOME OF THESE, ESPECIALLY DOWNTOWN, WE SERVICE DAILY.
PLUS SANITATION ALSO EMPTIES ALL THE CANS DOWNTOWN EVERY DAY.
THAT'S ALL OF THE STEPS. WE'RE DOING A LOT WITH SANITATION THAT OTHER CITIES DON'T DO.
THEY HIRE BFI, BFI COMES IN TWICE A WEEK, THEY [INAUDIBLE] THEY'RE DONE. [NOISE]
>> THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
>> IF YOU'RE A COMMERCIAL PERSON THAT HAS THEIR TRASH PICKED UP EVERY DAY, THEY PAY THE SAME PRICE THAT HAS ANOTHER COMMERCIAL PERSON [OVERLAPPING]-
>> OKAY. I'M GOING TO [INAUDIBLE]
>> [LAUGHTER] NO, IT'S CHEAPER TO HAVE OUR TRASH CANS THAN IT IS TO HAVE A BFI DUMPSTER, IN MOST CASES.
>> BUT YOU DIDN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION.
MY QUESTION IS IF YOU'RE SOMEONE WHO GETS THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY THAT GETS YOUR TRASH PICKED UP EVERY DAY, ARE WE CHARGING THEM MORE THAN A COMMERCIAL CUSTOMER THAT DOES, IS THEIR TRASH PICK UP ONCE A WEEK?
>> YES. THERE'S A DIFFERENTIAL. IT'S NOT A HUGE DIFFERENTIAL, BUT THERE'S A DIFFERENTIAL.
>> I THINK RIGHT NOW WE CHARGE THEM $43.58, AND I THINK RIGHT NOW THE RESIDENTIAL PICKUP IS, $20.48.
>> I MEAN WHAT'S THE DIFFERENTIAL ON THE COMMERCIAL CUSTOMER THAT GETS THEIR TRASH PICKED UP EVERY DAY?
>> WELL, MOST OF OUR COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS GET IT MORE FREQUENTLY. IT DEPENDS.
THERE'S DIFFERENT LEVELS. I'LL USE MY NEIGHBOR, HE'S GOT A DENTIST'S OFFICE.
WE PICK UP HIS TRASH OUT OF A GREEN CAN BECAUSE HE HAS NO PLACE FOR A DUMPSTER.
WE STILL PICK HIM UP ONCE A WEEK.
HE'S NOT PAYING ANY MORE THAN YOUR AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL PICK UP.
>> BUT IF SOMEONE HAS A DUMPSTER, THEN THEY'RE PAYING FOR THEIR OWN.
>> MIKE, THE PROPOSED INCREASES THAT YOU HAVE, HAVE YOU FACTORED THOSE INTO YOUR BUDGET YET?
>> NO, WE HAVEN'T. THAT'S WHERE I WAS GOING.
>> LET'S LOOK AT THE NEXT SLIDE, JANELLE.
THE PROBLEM WITH THE FLEET IS IT MEANS A SIGNIFICANT SHOT
[02:15:04]
IN THE ARM AND IT'S COMPLICATED RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THIS BACKLOG OF ORDERS FOR ALL VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT.>> WE'RE LOOKING AT SIX MONTHS MINIMUM TO GET A GARBAGE TRUCK.
>> THEY DON'T WANT YOUR ORDER IN MORE THAN TWO AT A TIME.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, PROBABLY TO GET WELL AND BE OVER THE HUMP SO THAT THE FLEET IS UPDATED, WHAT WE'RE SUGGESTING HERE IS WE LOOK AT REPLACING AS MANY AS 20 OVER TIME AS WE GET THEM TO GO THROUGH THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS.
IT'S ABOUT FIVE MILLION DOLLARS.
COUNCILMAN [INAUDIBLE] MENTIONED LEASING.
THE LEASE PRICES THAT I'VE SEEN, THE PUBLIC WORKS AND THE GARAGE WHERE IT WOULD COME UP WITH, WERE USING A 2.3 PERCENT INTEREST RATE.
WE CAN SELL CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION RIGHT NOW FOR FIVE YEARS AT 90 BASIS POINTS, NINE-TENTHS OF A PERCENT.
IF WE DO THAT, THEN THE MONEY IS AVAILABLE AND WE COULD ORDER THE TRUCKS AND GET THEM IN AS FAST AS WE GET THEM IN AND UPDATE THE FLEET, MA'AM.
>> WHO DOESN'T WANT YOU ORDERING MORE THAN TWO AT A TIME?
>> THE MANUFACTURERS, BECAUSE THEY ARE SO FAR BEHIND.
>> EVERY MANUFACTURER WE'VE TALKED TO IS PUTTING THAT RESTRICTION ON US.
>> THE ISSUE IS THE CAB CHASSIS.
IT'S NOT SO MUCH THE AUTOMATIC EQUIPMENT ON THE BACKS OF TRUCKS.
THAT'S WHAT THEY DO, SO THEY HAVE THAT.
BUT IT'S THE SAME REASON MR. HOWIE DOESN'T HAVE ANY CARS ON HIS LOT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> NOBODY CAN SELL A LEASE CAR AT THAT.
>> WE WRECK A POLICE CAR AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE HELL WE'RE GOING TO DO.
WE CAN'T EVEN GET A POLICE CAR. BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO STOP BUILDING $100,000 ESCALADES TO BUILD US A $40,000 ON TOP.
>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO COME BACK WHEN WE WORKSHOP.
WE BRING IT UP BECAUSE NORMALLY ON THE BUDGET IS WHEN YOU PROPOSE TO REPLACE EQUIPMENT AND WE'VE GOT A MILLION-DOLLAR BUDGET NEXT YEAR FOR FOUR TRUCKS AND THAT WILL DEPLETE THE FUND BALANCE.
BEFORE WE WOULD PULL THE TRIGGER ON THAT COMPLETELY, WE WANT TO BRING THIS OTHER PROPOSAL ABOUT YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THE FEES AND DO A CO FINANCING QUORUM.
>> SANITATION FUND BALANCE IS IMPORTANT.
IT'S NOT REQUIRED BY CHARTER TO HAVE A DEAL.
WE HAVE TO HAVE 90 DAYS IN OUR MAIN NUMBERS, BUT SANITATION IS AN INDEPENDENT FUND, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE GET IT WITH THREE TRUCK QUORUMS IN A ROW AND WE DON'T GET A DECLARATION.
THAT'S HOW WE FUND ALL THE OVERTIME TO GET THAT WORK DONE.
>> PLUS, IF YOU'RE REALLY UNFORTUNATE AND YOU GET A BIG STORM AND YOU WANT TO SUSPEND GARBAGE FEES FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME, YOU'VE STILL GOT TO KEEP THESE PEOPLE WORKING.
>> THE FUND BALANCE GOES TO BRIDGE THAT GAP.
>> MIKE, YOU MENTIONED THE COS THAT YOU'LL BRING BACK TO US TO SEE IF WE WANT TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION FOR FIVE YEARS. IS THAT RIGHT?
>> YEAH. IT'S A 60 LEVEL PAYMENT.
SIXTY-MONTH NOTE JUST LIKE A CAR NOTE.
>> IT WOULD BE DONE WITH THE PLEDGE OF THE SANITATION FEE REVENUE?
>> BUT THIS IS NOT A ONE-AND-DONE SITUATION.
THAT'S FIVE YEARS FROM NOW WHEN WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT IT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WELL, HERE'S THE THING, DAVID.
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO A COUPLE OF THINGS AS PART OF THIS.
I'VE TALKED TO DAVID ABOUT THIS.
ONCE WE GET THE NEW TRUCKS IN, I'M GOING TO TAKE TWO OR THREE OF THEM.
BECAUSE AGAIN, OUR CABS AND CHASSIS ARE NOT THAT OLD RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO GET SOME NEW EQUIPMENT PLACED ON THOSE AS WELL.
HAVE MORE RESERVED UNITS LIKE WE DO IN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.
IF A FIRE TRUCK GOES DOWN WE JUST DON'T SAY WE DON'T HAVE A FIRE TRUCK, WE HAVE EXTRA FIRE TRUCKS.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE EXTRA SANITATION TRUCKS FOR THAT PURPOSE.
THEN WITH THESE INCREASED FEES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WE CAN GET BACK INTO WHERE WE'RE BUYING MORE THAN TWO TRUCKS A YEAR BECAUSE OUR FLEET GROUP, AS OUR SERVICE IS EXPANDED, TWO TRUCKS A YEAR WORKED REALLY WELL WHEN WE HAD SIX AUTOMATED TRUCKS.
>> NOW, I'VE GOT EIGHT OR 10 AUTOMATED TRUCKS AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY REAL LOADERS WILL INCREASE THAT NUMBER OF TRUCKS WE'RE REPLACING EVERY YEAR ON A BETTER ROTATION.
>> WE'RE A VICTIM OF OUR OWN SUCCESS HERE GUYS.
YOU CAN'T COMPARE US TO CITIES OF 50,000 FOR TRASH.
OUR TRANSFER STATION IS MOVING TRASH AT A WEIGHT RATE OF A CITY OF 120,000, 130,000 ON AVERAGE FOR A YEAR.
IN THE SUMMERTIME, WE ARE PROBABLY MOVING TRASH AT THE EQUIVALENT OF A CITY OF 250,000.
YOU CAN'T LOOK AT IT IN THAT PERSPECTIVE.
WE'RE A VICTIM OF OUR OWN SUCCESS.
WHEN YOU HAVE ALL THESE PEOPLE COME TO THE ISLAND AND GENERATES TRASH, AND THAT'S ONE OF THINGS WE'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH.
>> JOHN, I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.
HOW ARE WE DOING ON THAT SIDE? WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE ACTUAL TRUCKS AND PICKUP, BUT THE TRANSFER STATION AND ACTUAL PLAN FOR DISPOSAL OF ALL THIS TRASH, HOW'S THAT LOOKING? HOW ARE THOSE RATES?
>> PRETTY GOOD. CINDY'S NOT HERE, BUT I THINK WE EITHER JUST REWARDED OR WE'LL BE RE-REWARDING THAT CONTRACT IN WHICH WE'LL GET MONEY OFF TRANSFER STATION BECAUSE COMMERCIAL TRUCKS PAY US TO COME THERE.
[02:20:01]
WE ACTUALLY MAKE A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY ON THAT.THE TRANSFER STATION, SO FAR, WE'RE SOLID HERE.
ACTUALLY, THOUGH WE'VE EXPANDED THOSE SERVICES, AS A RESULT OF THIS, WE'RE NOW KEEPING THE TRANSFER STATION OPEN ON SUNDAYS, PARTIAL DAYS, AND ON HOLIDAYS AND THINGS LIKE THAT BECAUSE NOT ONLY ARE WE RUNNING TRUCKS ON THE WEEKENDS TO KEEP UP.
WE ALL HEAR ABOUT THE TRASH ON THE BEACH, EVERYTHING ELSE.
THEY'RE TRYING THEIR BEST AND THEY'RE DOING MORE PICKUPS, EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT ONCE THEIR TRUCK'S FULL, THEY CAN'T DO ANYMORE.
THEY DON'T HAVE ANY PLACE TO PUT IT, SO WE'RE KEEPING THE TRANSFER STATION OPEN FOR THEM TO TRY TO ASSIST WITH THAT AMOUNT OF TRASH.
THE OTHER ISSUE WE HAD WAS THEY WERE TAKING IT GOING OVER HERE TO THEIR LOT AND JUST DUMP IT IN THE TRASH SO THEY COULD GO EMPTY MORE TRASH, AND THEN NEXT WEEK THEY WERE HAVING A SCOOP IT ALL UP, WHICH IS GOOD, BUT IT CREATES LITER PROP AROUND THE AREA.
WE'VE EXPANDED OUR TRANSFER STATION HOURS.
WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO EXPAND THEM OR EXTENDED MORE.
BUT TRASH PROBLEM IS A GOOD THING AND IT'S A BAD THING.
IT'S A SIGN OF GOOD ECONOMIC HEALTH, BUT IT'S A BOGGER TO DEAL WITH.
>> ARE WE PLANNING ON EXPANDING THE ACTUAL TRANSFER STATION?
>> NOT EXACTLY. WE ARE BUILDING SOME NEW STRUCTURES OUT THERE FOR OUR SIDE OF IT, BUT I THINK THE TRANSFER STATION RIGHT NOW THERE, WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY REQUEST TO EXPAND.
I THINK WE'RE DOING ALL RIGHT. BECAUSE THEY CAN INCREASE THEIR FLOW THROUGH THERE IF THEY NEED TO.
>> OKAY. LET'S SEE IF THEY CAN HANDLE A TRUCK DOWN I DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD. [OVERLAPPING] THERE'S A LINE OUT THERE.
>> THAT'S A SYMPTOM OF NEW CONSTRUCTION.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS BRIAN, WE'VE GOT TO ADDRESS OUR POLICIES OF WHAT TRASH WE PICK.
THE SANITATION DOES A FANTASTIC JOB, BUT THEY'RE PICKING UP TRASH THEY SHOULDN'T BE PICKING UP OUT THERE.
>> IF THESE LANDSCAPE COMPANIES COME IN [NOISE] AND THEY'LL CUT TREES, THEY HAVE TO TAKE THAT OFF.
THEY'RE NOT. THEY'RE STACKING IT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE HAVE SOME RULES ON THE BOOKS, BUT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.
>> HOW DO YOU DIFFERENTIATE IT BECAUSE I MIGHT BE IN AN EXTREMELY ENERGETIC, FRUSTRATED FROM COUNCILMAN, [LAUGHTER] AND TRIM ALL PALM TREES AND PUT THAT ON THE CURB, VERSUS MY GUY TAKES IT AWAY. HOW DO YOU TELL?
>> IT'S DIFFICULT, AND IN THE OTHER THING IS CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS.
>> WE STAY PRETTY FIRM ON THAT BECAUSE THAT IS REALLY ROUGH ON OUR TRUCKS.
WE TRY. YOU'LL SEE THE GUY IN THE PICKUP TRUCK.
HE'S NOT A WEIRDO. HE PICKS UP YOUR LIT.
HE'S LOOKING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT DUMPING ANYTHING IN THE CANS AND STUFF.
[NOISE] BUT THERE'S CONSTRUCTION.
WE GET THAT CALL ALL THE TIME.
''YOU DIDN'T PICK THIS UP.'' ''WELL, THERE'S CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL IN THERE.'' ''THAT'S NOT CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL.
THAT'S A DOOR AND WOOD THAT I TOOK OUT THIS WEEK.'' WELL, IT'S CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL.
>> BECAUSE IT ONLY TAKES A CINDER-BLOCK OR A BIG PIECE OF TIMBER TO BREAK THE COMPACTORS IN THE TRUCKS.
>> MIKE, YOU'RE GOING TO COME BACK IN AUGUST WITH THIS ITEM ON THE SANITATION. [NOISE]
>> I THINK YOU HAVE TWO WORKSHOP ITEMS IN AUGUST THAT WOULD BE THE [NOISE] ON THIS ISSUE.
>> WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION.
ALSO LOOK, BEFORE WE LEAVE THAT, I ALSO THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF RECYCLING, THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT RECYCLING COSTS.
IT'S A GOOD THING. I THINK EVERYBODY IS WILLING TO PAY FOR IT, BUT I THINK WHEN YOU MASK WHAT IT REALLY COST, IT SKEWS WHAT PEOPLE ARE REQUESTING IN TERMS OF SERVICES.
>> MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ASK ABOUT CURBSIDE RECYCLE.
IT POISES THE QUESTION, THAT IF WE HAD CURBSIDE RECYCLING, WHERE PEOPLE WERE RECYCLING, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T RECYCLE BECAUSE IT'S DIFFICULT, HOW MUCH WOULD THAT CUT DOWN ON OUR TRASH INTAKE IF WE ACTUALLY HAD CURBSIDE RECYCLING?
>> CURBSIDE, IT DOES REDUCE IT BUT NOT IN A MEASURABLE AMOUNT THAT WE'D SAY WAS ANY MONEY ON THAT SIDE OF IT.
WE'VE LOOKED AT THAT, WE'VE DONE THE ANALYSIS OF IT.
IT'S BEEN SEVERAL YEARS AGO NOW THAT COST IS PROBABLY 15 TO $20 A MONTH EXTRA ON TOP OF WHAT THEY'RE PAYING NOW JUST TO DO IT.
PART OF OUR ISSUE IS THAT AGAIN, BY CHARTER, WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR OWN SANITATION DEPARTMENT.
MOST CITIES THAT HAVE CURBSIDE RECYCLING HAVE CONTRACT COMPANIES FOR PICKUP.
THE RECYCLING IS ONE OF THOSE COMMONS WITH THEIR CONTRACT AND IT'S BUILT INTO THEIR RATES, BUT THEY DO THAT AND THEY HAVE RECYCLING ON, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THAT.
I'M NOT EVEN SURE WE GOT TO HAVE DON LOOK AT IT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE BROUGHT IN A CONTRACTOR FOR RECYCLING, IF THAT WOULD VIOLATE THE CHARTER IN TERMS OF REFUSE, OR WOULD WE HAVE TO OPERATE THAT OURSELVES? IT'S A QUESTION THAT CAME UP THE LAST TIME.
>> WILLIAM, YOU'RE THE CHAIR OF THAT RECYCLING COMMITTEE.
>> WELL, I WAS GOING TO ASK, THE ACTUAL TRANSFER STATION AT THE LANDFILL OF RECYCLABLE MATERIAL THAT WE SEE OUT THERE, LET'S SAY IN A PERFECT WORLD, ALL THAT ENDED UP IN A PROPER PLACE, WHAT ECONOMIC IMPACT WOULD THAT EVEN HAVE? WOULD YOU SEE A DIFFERENCE?
>> NOT REALLY. IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER TO US BECAUSE WE'RE TRANSPORTING IT.
AGAIN, WE DON'T OPERATE A DUMP, WE OPERATE A TRANSFER STATION.
[02:25:02]
EVERYTHING THAT COMES IN GETS MOVED TO SOME PLACE ULTIMATELY.WHETHER IT GOES TO THE RECYCLING CENTER, OR WHETHER IT GOES TO THE TRANSFER STATION, IT HAS TO BE PAID BEHOLD OFF THE HOUR BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A DUMP ANYMORE.
[OVERLAPPING] WE CALL IT THE DUMP BUT IT'S THE TRANSFER STATION.
>> YOUR COMMITTEE IS GOING TO BE SENDING RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNSEL HERE BECAUSE YOU'VE PRETTY WELL HAS SATISFIED WHAT COUNSEL'S DIRECTIVE WAS.
>> YES. I THINK WE'VE GOT TWO MORE MEETINGS.
WE'RE WRAPPING UP THE FINAL REPORT TO PRESENT TO COUNSEL.
I CAN SEE THEY'RE IN AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER.
>> LET ME MOVE TO FINISH THIS UP.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEBT SERVICE FUND.
THERE IS A LIST OF PROJECTS THAT WE'D LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD USING THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEBT SERVICE FUND MONEY.
BUT THE ONE KEY IS GOING TO BE WHAT WE NEED NOW, AND THE DEBT SERVICE FUND TO COVER OUR EXISTING PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST PAYMENTS.
FRANKLY, THAT IS ONE ASPECT WHERE THE 20 PERCENT INCREASE IN TAXABLE VALUE HELPS US, BECAUSE THAT PROVIDES ADDITIONAL CAPACITY IN THE FUTURE TO SELL ADDITIONAL GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBT IF WE HAVE A BOND ELECTION.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT JUST IN A SECOND BUT [OVERLAPPING] WE HAVE MORE CAPACITY.
>> SINCE WE'RE PROVIDING THE ADDITIONAL INCOME, MAYBE WE CAN GET SOME OF THE STREETS OF THE DISTRICT FIRST.
>> WE HAVE THE CIP AND WE DIVIDED UP EQUALLY AMONGST ALL THE DISTRICTS.
>> OBVIOUSLY WE'RE COMMITTED TO THE LIST OF CURRENT PROJECTS IN THE CIP, AND WE'RE REALLY WAITING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS BID THAT COMES IN ON 37TH STREET.
[NOISE] CONVENTION CENTER SURPLUS FUND, THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX HAS BEEN PERFORMING LIKE THE SALES TAX.
WE TALKED ABOUT THAT BEFORE, AND IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THIS YEAR WE'LL HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH MONEY COMING TO US THROUGH THE TRICKLE DOWN PROCESS TO COVER THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN COVERED WITH THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUND THAT ARE CONNECTED TO TOURISM.
THESE PAGES ARE JUST WHAT YOU'VE SEEN BEFORE ON THE CIP.
THERE'S BEEN NO CHANGE EXCEPT FOR THIS CONCERN ABOUT THE PRICE.
THAT REALLY SUMS UP MY PRESENTATION.
IF YOU WANT TO ASK ME ANYTHING.
YOU WILL REVIEW THE PROPOSED BUDGET AS PROVIDED UNDER STATE LAW ON AUGUST 11TH.
WE COULD'VE GOTTEN IT DONE SOON BUT IT'S A COMPLETE WORK PRODUCT.
>> MIKE, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY TOO ON YOUR CONVENTION CENTER OF THE TRICKLE DOWN FUND, THAT'S COMING FROM THE CONVENTION STANDARD CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE WITH LAND RATES.
>> THE MONEY GOES THROUGH THEM AND WE GET WHAT'S LEFT OR SPLIT WHAT'S LEFT.
>> WE GET WHAT'S LEFT AND WE SPLIT IT WITH THEM.
>> OUR PORTION IS ODD. [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT'S A MIRACLE HOW THAT WORKS.
>> WE HAVE CONSTRAINTS ON HOW THAT MONEY CAN BE UTILIZED.
>> THE ONLY THING, MIKE, I'M JUST GOING TO MAKE A COMMENT.
DON'T REALLY WANT TO GET IN DISCUSSION NOW.
IN THE BUDGET, BRIAN, WILL YOU BE COMING FORWARD WITH HOW WE'RE GOING TO USE THEIR SEAWALL PARKING MONEY?
>> WE'RE WORKING ON SOME PROGRAMS WITH THAT NOW. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK AT A FUTURE PLAN FOR HOW THAT MONEY WILL BE UTILIZED OF THE SEAWALL, AND WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE, AND HOW WE WOULD DO THAT.
>> HAPPY TO. THE MONEY'S THERE, IT CAN BE PROGRAMMED AT ANY TIME.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE HAVE TO BUDGET.
>> CAN WE TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK?
ANY QUESTIONS, SOMEBODY? THANK YOU MIKE VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE THIS.
>> I'M HERE FOR THE LIBRARY TOO.
>> YES. WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO THAT.
GIVE US ABOUT 3-5 MINUTES AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK AND START THE LIBRARY.
[LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND] LET'S GO AHEAD.
WE ARE RECONVENING OUR WORKSHOP FOR JULY 22ND.
[NOISE] WE DO HAVE A QUORUM HERE TO RECONVENE OUR WORK.
MYSELF, MAYOR BROWN, WE HAVE JOHN LESTALSKY HERE.
WE HAVE WILLIAM SCHUSTER AND BILL KROGER HERE.
WE DO HAVE A QUORUM TO BEGIN OUR DISCUSSION.
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS PROBABLY,
[3C. Discussion Of A Memorandum Of Understanding With The Rosenberg Library (M. Loftin - 15 Minutes)]
[02:30:02]
MIKE, BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS.REAL QUICK, I WANT TO GIVE COUNSEL AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE LIBRARY SITUATION.
AS WE KNOW, TO CHANGE ANY TYPE OF COMMITMENT TO THE LIBRARY [NOISE] FINANCIALLY, WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH A CHARTER CHANGE.
WE KNOW THAT MIKE HAS BEEN VERY GOOD IN OUTLINING THE IMPACT OF THE LIBRARY'S FIVE CENTS ON OUR BUDGET, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF OUR THREE AND A HALF PERCENT TAX CAMP THIS YEAR.
I INITIATED CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE LIBRARY BOARD, AND THEIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY ALTERNATIVES THAT WE COULD LOOK AT UNTIL WE GOT TO A CHARTER CHANGE, TO START POSSIBLY SETTING UP A SCENARIO THAT WOULD BE MORE EQUITABLE FOR THE CITY ON THIS.
BRIAN AND I MET WITH MIKE [INAUDIBLE] WHO IS I THINK, THEIR SECRETARY, TREASURER OR TREASURER THERE WITH THEIR BOARD, AND CITY STAFF TO DISCUSS AN APPROACH TO BRING US IN MORE OF AN EQUAL TERMS AND ENACT ROLE ARRANGEMENT ON THIS.
THEY WORKED WITH THIS VERY OPENLY, AND WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
MIKE IS GOING TO PRESENT THIS.
IT'S GOING TO BE ON THE LIBRARY BOARD'S MEETING, I THINK, NEXT WEEK, FOR THEM TO LOOK AT THIS AND WEIGH IN ON THIS.
BUT I THINK IT'S A GREAT FIRST STEP FORWARD TO TRY TO GET US BACK ON MORE OF A GREATER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LIBRARY.
THEY DO SUCH A GREAT JOB FOR THE COMMUNITY.
>> JUST SOME CLARIFICATION, THIS DOES NOT REDUCE ANYTHING THE LIBRARY GETS.
THIS JUST ALLOWS THEM TO GET THE SAME THREE AND A HALF PERCENT THAT WE'RE ALLOWED.
BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS, FOR EVERY DOLLAR ABOVE THE THREE AND A HALF PERCENT THAT THEY GET, IT COMES OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND.
THAT'S WHY WE WOULD NEVER GET AHEAD.
IF VALUES SHOT UP LIKE THEY DID THIS YEAR, THEY WOULD'VE GET ALL OF IT, AND WE WOULD HAVE TO OFFSET THEIR INCREASE.
THAT WOULD ALL COME STRAIGHT [NOISE] PRIMARILY FROM PUBLIC SAFETY ON OUR SIDE.
THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT. GREAT BOARD OVER THERE.
>> THE LIBRARY DOES IS WE KNOW [OVERLAPPING].
IF THERE'S THREE AND A HALF PERCENT GROWTH OR WHATEVER GROWTH, THEY GROW THE SAME RATE THAT WE DO.
I THINK THAT'S VERY FAIR FOR THEM, AND IT'S GOOD FOR THE LIBRARY, WHICH IS A DIAMOND FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
>> BUT THEY'LL WILL BE UNDER THE SAME CONSTRAINTS [OVERLAPPING] WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT REVENUE INCREASE THAT WE WILL INSTEAD OF HAVING THEIRS UNCAPPED.
>> I DON'T THINK THAT ANYBODY AT THE LEGISLATURE REALIZED THAT OUR CHARTER HAS SO MANY OF THESE NUANCES TO IT.
I BELIEVE IF YOU TALK TO ANY OF THE LEGISLATORS, THEY WOULD SAY, "NO, WE'RE CAPPING.
IT'S THREE AND A HALF PERCENT GROWTH.
IT'S THREE AND A HALF PERCENT FOR EVERYBODY.
IT'S [LAUGHTER] NOT JUST FOR YOU BUT NOT THEM.
>> BUT MIKE, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD.
MIKE HELPED LEAD THE DISCUSSION ALSO WITH [INAUDIBLE] BASSETT ON THIS. GO AHEAD MIKE.
>> WELL, THE IDEA I HAD WAS TO TRY TO BUILD OFF OF SOME EXISTING PROCESS OR DOCUMENTATION THAT WE HAD THAT SUPPORTED THE SPLIT OF THE PROPERTY TAXES.
WHEN WE TRY TO REINVENT SOMETHING OR MAKE IT TOO HARD, THAT'S WHERE YOU END UP WITH CONTROL ISSUES, AND ERRORS, AND MISTAKES, AND THINGS.
FOR THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS, I'VE GOT A SCHEDULE.
IT WAS PAGE 37 OF THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
WHICH IS THE WAY THE TAX ROLL IT GETS DELIVERED, AND THEN CONSIDERING THE OVER 65 FREEZE, TAXES, COLLECTION RATES, ALL OF THE ABOVE GETS TURNED INTO REVENUE FOR THE CITY, THE DEBT SERVICE FUND, AND THE LIBRARY FUND.
THE NUMBER THAT'S PUBLISHED IN THIS BUDGET WAS FOR THIS YEAR AS FAR AS THE BUDGET IS CONCERNED.
BUT I HAVE TO INCLUDE AN ESTIMATE OF THE FISCAL 20, LAST FISCAL YEAR, WHEN WE PROCURED THE BUDGET. THAT'S ROUTINE.
THAT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR, AND THE INTERPRETATION THAT WE HAVE OF THE LIBRARY LANGUAGE IS, NOT JUST THAT IT'S A STATIC CALCULATION THAT HAPPENS AT ONE POINT OF THE YEAR, BUT IT'S A PROCESS OF DETERMINING [NOISE] WHAT TO SPLIT BETWEEN THE THREE FUNDS.
THE TWO FUNDS IN THE CITY, AND THE LIBRARY.
WE DO THAT BASED ON THE TAX RATE.
THE STATE HAS A REQUIREMENT THAT REALLY SIMPLIFIES IT FOR US.
[02:35:01]
THIS HAS BEEN IN THE STATE LAW SINCE 2008.IT REQUIRES THAT WE PUT IT ON THE TOP PAGE OF THE BUDGET.
AS YOU CAN SEE, IT SAYS THIS BUDGET WILL RAISE MORE REVENUE FROM PROPERTY TAXES THAN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET BY AN AMOUNT OF $3,156,000, WHICH IS A 8.95 PERCENT INCREASE IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.
THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE WOULD BE RAISED FROM NEW PROPERTY ADDED TO THE TAX ROLL THIS YEAR $626,000.
AS COMPLIANCE LANGUAGE, IT'S REQUIRED BY THE STATE.
REALLY MY RECOMMENDATION IS WE TAKE THAT PERCENTAGE THAT'S DISCLOSED IN THIS DOCUMENT AND USE IT TO IMPLEMENT THE FORMULA THAT'S PROVIDED FOR IN THE PROPOSED MOU.
THE WAY THAT WOULD WORK IS, IT WOULD BE BASED ON THE BUDGET INITIALLY GOING INTO THE YEAR BUT THEN AS ACTUAL REVENUES COME IN, AND WE SPLIT THOSE REVENUES BASED ON THE TAX RATE, THE YEAR THAT THE TAXES WERE LEVIED.
IF SOMEBODY'S PAYING DELINQUENT TAXES, WE GO BACK AND SPLIT THAT DELINQUENT AMOUNT OUT BY THE TAX RATE FOR THAT YEAR, SO WE'RE VERY PRECISE WITH THE WAY WE DO IT.
WE GET TO THE END OF THE YEAR AND APPLY THE SAME FORMULA.
WHAT WAS THE ACTUAL FOR THIS YEAR VERSUS THE ACTUAL FOR LAST YEAR, AND SHARE THAT PERCENTAGE APPROPRIATELY WITH THE LIBRARY AT THE VERY END OF THE PROCESS.
THAT'S WHERE THE COMPLEXITY COMES IN, BUT IT'S BASED ON THE SAME THINGS WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW AND THAT'S THE SPIRIT OF IT.
I THINK WE'LL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO TALK WITH THEM.
THEY'RE NEITHER UNALTERABLY OPPOSED NOR IN FAVOR YET OF THIS PROVISION.
TO BE FAIR, I MEAN IT'S COME UP ALL OF A SUDDEN.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY COULD HAVE PREDICTED THESE APPRAISALS THAT TOOK PLACE BACK IN THE SPRING.
>> I CAME IN HERE IN JUNE AND TOLD YOU WE WERE HOPING FOR A 10 OR 15 PERCENT INCREASE.
WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ENOUGH OF A TREND UNTIL JULY 1ST TO KNOW THAT WE WERE GOING TO GET HAMMERED THE WAY THAT WE'VE BEEN HAMMERED WITH THE BIGGER INCREASE.
REALLY, WE'VE ALL RESPONDED PRETTY QUICKLY.
WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING.
I'VE SHARED A LOT OF DOCUMENTATION WITH THEM AND WE'LL SEE WHAT THEY DO IN THEIR MEETING NEXT TUESDAY.
SO FAR THOUGH, I AM RECOMMENDING THAT YOU PASS THIS AT LEAST IN THIS FORM TO SUPPORT THE CONCEPT AND WE'LL SEE WHAT THEY DO.
WE MAY HAVE TO COME BACK WITH A SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENT.
BUT IT WOULD BE VERY VALUABLE IN DEALING WITH LIBRARY IF COUNCIL WOULD GO AHEAD AND SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL.
>> PLUS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO OUT AND NEGOTIATE WITHOUT YOU GUYS KNOWING [OVERLAPPING]
>> YEAH. IT'S COMING BACK TO COUNCIL.
IT'S ITEM 11D ON OUR AGENDA FOR THIS AFTERNOON, IF IT PASSES, IF THE LIBRARY DOES NOT FEEL THAT THAT'S APPROPRIATE AND WANTS TO CHANGE THAT IN SOME WAY, THIS WILL COME BACK TO COUNCIL.
SO COUNCIL'S INPUT. MIKE, WE LITERATE JUST QUICKLY, HOW MUCH MONEY IN YOUR PROJECTIONS WITH THIS FORMULA IF WE PASS THIS IN ITS [OVERLAPPING].
>> THEY FOUND THE 20 PERCENT INCREASED $477,000.
>> APPROXIMATELY ALMOST 500,000 [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT WILL TAKE US FROM A TWO PERCENT INCREASE TO 5.15 ALONG WITH THE LIBRARY.
>> ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. [INAUDIBLE]?
>> MIKE THANK YOU. ITS ALL OF US AND AS MIKE WAS UP HERE, I GET CALLED FOR A MEETING ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY WORKING ON THIS JOB [OVERLAPPING].
[3D. Discussion Of Economic Development And Galveston Island Redevelopment Authority, Galveston Housing Finance Corporation And Galveston Property Finance Authority Structure And Process (M. Hay - 40 Minutes)]
LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 3D, IF WE COULD PLEASE JANELLE>> ITEM 3D. IT'S DISCUSSION OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN GALVESTON OR REDEVELOPMENT AS ALREADY [OVERLAPPING].
>> THE GALVESTON ECONOMIC FINANCE CORPORATION AND GALVESTON PROPERTY AND FINANCE AUTHORITY, STRUCTURE AND PROSPECTS.
>> COUNCIL, I WANT TO GIVE YOU GUIDANCE ON THIS BECAUSE WE'VE HAD A VERY LONG MEETING, SO I WANTED TO SUMMARIZE THINGS HERE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NUMBER OF MEETINGS ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
WE HAD ONE OUR LAST MEETING, WE'VE GOT ONE TODAY, WE'LL HAVE MORE COMING UP IN FUTURE WORKSHOPS.
THERE ARE THREE ITEMS TODAY THAT MICHELLE WILL GO OVER WITH YOU THERE.
I WOULD LIKE FOR COUNCIL TO PUT ATTENTION TO AND GIVE INPUT ON THE GOALS TODAY WOULD BE ONE TO TRY TO FINALIZE THE MISSION STATEMENT FOR THE RDA.
MICHELLE HAS A RECOMMENDED MISSION STATEMENT IN OUR PACKET HERE.
SECONDLY, MICHELLE HAS RECOMMENDED THE STRUCTURE OF THE RDA AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO THE GALVESTON HUD.
IS THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AND THE GALVESTON HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY AND HOW THAT IS SET UP.
WE NEED TO GIVE DIRECTION ON THAT.
THIRDLY, MICHELLE HAS ORGANIZATIONAL FLOWCHART IN HER MATERIAL.
THOSE THREE ITEMS, I THINK THAT OUR GOALS
[02:40:03]
THIS MORNING IS TO GIVE INPUT ON THAT TO FINALIZE SOME THOUGHTS ON THAT.>> I HAVE A FEW SLIDES THAT I'M GOING TO USE VISUALS AND I ALSO MADE COPIES OF SOME OF THEM.
THAT'S SHOULD MAKE THEM UP THIS SMALL.
[NOISE] [INAUDIBLE] THAT LEADS TO THAT.
THEN I WILL BE AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE I KNOW YOU HAVE OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
AS MAYOR MENTIONED, IN 2020, THE RDA, THE GALVESTON HOUSE AND FINANCE CORP AND THE GALVESTON PROPERTY AND FINANCE AUTHORITY , HAD ONE BOARD.
BUT THEY STRUCTURED AND PUT ALL OF THOSE ENTITIES UNDER. THERE WE GO.
ACTUALLY I'M GOING TO HAVE YOU GO ONE MORE PLEASE.
IN AN EFFORT TO THE STREAMLINE THE COORDINATION COMMUNICATION AND TO HAVE SOME COST SAVINGS, IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'VE PUT THESE BOARDS TOGETHER.
ONE BOARD WOULD GOVERN ALL THREE ENTITIES.
HOWEVER, WE NEEDED SOME CLEAR DIRECTION.
THEY DID NOT ACTUALLY HAVE SOME CLEAR DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL ON HOW THEY OPERATE AND WHAT THEIR PLAN OF WORK SHOULD BE.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TODAY IS BASED ON SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I GLEANED FROM OUR INTERVIEWS.
WHAT DO WE WANT TO DO? HOW DO WE WANT TO FORWARD? YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, JANELLE.
THAT IS THE HANDOUT THAT I GAVE YOU BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY TINY UP THERE.
BASICALLY THIS SHOWS WHAT EACH PURPOSE IS FOR THESE ENTITIES, THEIR STRUCTURE, THE RESOURCES THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO TAP INTO AND THEN SOME OF THE PAST PROJECTS.
AS YOU RECALL, THE GALVESTON HOUSING AND FINANCE CORPORATION, THEY ARE REALLY GEARED TOWARDS HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE LOW AND MODERATE INCOME RESIDENTS.
THE GALVESTON PROPERTY AND FINANCE AUTHORITY IS A NON-PROFIT THAT WAS FORMED TO BASICALLY ACQUIRE, SELL, LEASE, REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTIES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITY.
THEY'VE BEEN USED FOR PROJECTS SUCH AS THE BARTON SQUARED DEVELOPMENT GEARED FOR A MIDDLE-INCOME HOUSING.
THEY'VE ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE GALVESTON HOUSING AND FINANCE CORPORATION ON OTHER PROJECTS.
THEN WE HAVE THE GALVESTON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, WHICH HAS PROBABLY THE MOST FLEXIBLE STRUCTURE AND MAKE UP THE THREE OF THESE ENTITIES.
RDA WAS PRIMARILY SET UP TO MANAGE THE [INAUDIBLE] DISTRICTS.
THEY ALSO MANAGE THE PIDS THAT WE HAVE.
IT WAS AMENDED, I GUESS FEW YEARS BACK TO BROADEN THEIR SCOPE AND TO ALLOW THEM TO DO MORE.
ONE OF THE QUESTION AND RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE HAVE TODAY IS WHERE WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO FOCUS.
JANELLE DO YOU WANT TO MOVE ON TO.
THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH SOME RECOMMENDATION NOW.
PERFECT. AS MAYOR MENTIONED, I HAD THIS IN OUR PACKET A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
MISS TALKED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL ORGANIZATIONAL FLOW FOR THE THREE ENTITIES WITH REGARDS TO THE CITY COUNCIL IN HELPING TO FLOW.
I WOULD BE THE STAFF LIAISON TO THESE ENTITIES.
WE MONITOR PLAN OF WORK AND REPORT BACK TO CITY COUNCIL.
THE KEY WOULD BE OF ALL THE THREE ENTITIES, THE CITY COUNCIL DIRECTS THE PLAN.
THAT THE OBJECTIVES, THE PRIORITIES.
THEN ANY FUNDING, ANY BONDS THAT THE ENTITIES MIGHT ISSUE, THAT WOULD ALL NEED TO ALSO BE APPROVED THROUGH THE CITY COUNCIL.
YOU DO HAVE THAT AUTHORITY, THERE IS ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE COUNCIL WITH THOSE ENTITIES.
JANELLE DO YOU WANT TO GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
YOU ALL HAVE QUESTIONS IN THIS PROCESS, FEEL FREE TO STOP BUT, I JUST HAVE A FEW MORE SLIDES.
THIS WAS WHAT WAS SAID LAST YEAR IN 2020.
I THINK WE CAN CONTINUE THIS SETUP WITH A ONE SET OF BOARD MEMBERS FOR EACH ENTITY.
[02:45:03]
SAME OFFICERS, THE PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, TREASURER, SECRETARY IS HOW IT IS.THE OFFICERS ARE FORMED NOW AND THEN WE MIGHT THINK ABOUT QUALIFICATIONS FOR BOARD MEMBERS HAVING AT LEAST ONE MEMBER WITH SOME FINANCIAL BACKGROUND AND ONE WITH POSSIBLY SOME CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND.
THOSE ARE JUST MY RECOMMENDATIONS.
THAT WAY THERE'S INPUT PROVIDED BECAUSE THESE ENTITIES WILL HAVE A LOT OF FINANCIAL INCOME POTENTIAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
>> QUESTION THERE. CURRENTLY THEY HAVE AN RDA OR A CHAIRMAN PRESENT?
>> ACTUALLY IN 2020, IT WAS DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE THIS ONE BOARD STRUCTURE.
SO THERE WAS A PRESIDENT BUT WAS IN THE TREASURER SECRETARY WHO APPOINTED, SO THERE SHOULD BE ONE. [OVERLAPPING].
>> NOT OFFICIALLY, BUT UNOFFICIALLY WE HAVE TWO CHAIR PERSON.
>> THOUGH UNOFFICIALLY WE NEED TO BE AT ONE.
>> WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO TO GET THERE-.
>> WELL, THIS IS WHY WE'RE GETTING DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL THAT WILL BE TAKEN BACK.
MICHELLE'S BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE COMMITTEE TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THE COUNCIL WILL BE GIVING THEM DIRECTION COMING UP SHORTLY?
>> YES [INAUDIBLE] I THINK WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE HERE.
THIS TALKS ABOUT RECOMMENDATIONS.
AGAIN, I TOOK WHAT THE FRAMEWORK AND STRUCTURE OF THE ENTITIES ARE, AND THEN WINNING SOME OF THE PRIORITIES THAT ROSE TO THE SURFACE FROM MY INDIVIDUAL DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THESE ARE WHERE I FELT LIKE THEY MAY FIT.
WITH THE RDA, OBVIOUSLY, WE NEED TO CONTINUE WITH THE TIRZ 13 AND THAT DEPENDS IF WE ADD THAT IN THERE.
[NOISE] BUT THE RDA COULD POTENTIALLY DESIGNATE PELICAN ISLAND AS SOME TYPE OF REDEVELOPMENT AREA AND THEN WE CAN EXPLORE SOME RESOURCES ON HOW TO STIMULATE GROWTH OVER THERE.
MARITIME HAS BEEN A HIGH PRIORITY FOR ALL OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, SO THIS COULD BE ONE WAY WE COULD [NOISE] DO SOMETHING ON THE PELICAN ISLAND WHEN WE HAVE THE MOST OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH.
WE'VE ALSO BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE BROADWAY CORRIDOR, WE'VE HAD CORNER STORES IN MIDTOWN.
EAST END DISTRICTS COME TO SURFACE AS POTENTIAL PRIORITIES, AND SO THE RDA COULD ALSO BE USED TO DESIGNATE SOME COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS IN WHICH WE COULD INCENTIVIZE DEVELOPMENT OR HAVE SOME FRAMEWORK IN PLACE.
THOSE ARE A FEW WAYS THAT THE RDA COULD BE UTILIZED.
WITH GALVESTON HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BECAUSE IT IS AGAIN LIMITED TO TARGETING HOME-OWNERSHIP FOR THE LOW AND MODERATE-INCOME RANGE.
THEN MY THOUGHT WOULD BE TO MEET WITH THE OTHER ENTITIES IN THE GRANTS AND HOUSING DEPARTMENT HAS PROGRAMS, I BELIEVE VISION GALVESTON IS FOR THE BUILDING GALVESTON PUTTING TOGETHER SOME PROGRAMS, GALVESTON HOUSING AUTHORITY OR GALVESTON HISTORICAL FOUNDATION.
I KNOW THAT GHFC HAS WORKED WITH THEM IN THE PAST.
WE CAN EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION WITH US [OVERLAPPING]
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. WHEN YOU SAY DEVELOP SHORT AND THEN MID-TERM GOALS.
WHAT ARE THE EXAMPLES OF JUST A SHORT-TERM HOUSING GOAL?
>> WELL, WITH SOME OF THE EXISTING ENTITIES THEY PROVIDE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE AND SUCH IT WOULD BE REALLY GOOD TO FIND OUT WHERE THEY MAY HAVE A GAP.
>> I KNOW THEY DO QUITE A BIT RIGHT NOW IN THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE MIDTOWN DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, BUT THERE MAY NEED TO BE SOME STRATEGIES IN HELPING THE FOLKS BE MORE QUALIFIED FOR THE MORTGAGES BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE GETTING STUCK.
>> MID-TERM GOAL IS THAT THE [INAUDIBLE].
>> WHETHER THERE'S LET'S START LOOKING AT, FOR CLOSURES AND PURCHASING THOSE PROPERTIES AND REHABBING THEM.
BUT I KNOW THEY'VE DONE THEM IN THE PAST.
MOST RECENTLY, I GUESS IT WAS 2017-2018,
[02:50:02]
THERE WERE FIVE THINGS [NOISE] THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO CONSTRUCT NEW HOMES IN THAT $150,000-165,000 PRICE RANGE.THOSE WERE SOLD CLOSE IN THAT RANGE.
>> THEN AS FAR AS GALVESTON PROPERTY FINANCE AUTHORITY, BASED UPON SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS [NOISE] THEN YOU LOOK AT HOUSING INITIATIVES FOR ADDRESSING WORKFORCE [NOISE] FOR THE MIDDLE-INCOME EARNERS.
THEY COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE A BAND BANK PURCHASING PROPERTIES WHETHER BUILDINGS OR THEY GET LOTS FOR REDEVELOPMENT IN BOTH COMMERCIAL OR RESIDENTIAL CAPACITY.
THOSE ARE ALL OPTIONS THAT COULD BE TAKING OUT THESE THREE ENTITIES.
JANELLE YOU WANT TO MOVE OVER ONE MORE SLIDE. THANK YOU.
IF THAT WERE THE CASE, I ENVISION THE FLOW OF PROJECTS AS THEY COME IN, IF WE HAVE A PROJECT COME ABOUT THAT DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR IDC FUNDING OR ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE 4B SALES TAX, THEN WE CAN LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT IT MIGHT AS WELL FALL UNDER THIS UMBRELLA OF THIS NEW [NOISE] SYSTEM.
THEN OBVIOUSLY COME TO COUNCIL, SEE IF THAT FALLS IN LINE WITH THE MISSION OF THE THREE ENTITIES AND THE OBJECTIVES THAT COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO MEET AND GO FROM THERE.
JANELLE ONE MORE. NOW, LOOKING SPECIFICALLY AT THE RDA, I KNEW I HAD THIS PRETTY BIG SLIDE THE LAST TIME.
BUT THIS IS THE PURPOSE OF THE RDA.
THIS IS WHAT IS IN THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION.
I THINK THIS COULD REMAIN SIMPLY BECAUSE IT'S BROAD.
IF 5-10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD ANOTHER COUNCIL SAYS, "HEY, WE'D LIKE TO DO X, Y, Z, " THIS LANGUAGE WILL STILL ALLOW MORE THINGS TO HAPPEN.
WHERE WE CAN GET A LITTLE MORE SPECIFIC WOULD BE WITH THE ACTUAL MISSION OF THE RDA.
JANELLE, IF YOU WOULD MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
AGAIN, THIS IS JUST TAKING FROM OUR CONVERSATIONS, AND SOME OF THE PRIORITIES THAT I'VE FELT I WAS HEARING.
PROPOSED MISSION COMPETING TO CREATE SUPPORT AND PROMOTE ENDEAVORS THAT ENHANCE HOUSE OPPORTUNITIES AND BUSINESS GROWTH, AND TO SERVE AS CATALYSTS FOR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT IN THE COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS AND WATERFRONT AREAS IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
I DON'T THINK RDA SHOULD BE DOING SUBSIDIZED HOUSING.
>> IT DIDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE SUBSIDIZED HOUSING RIGHT NOW.
A LOT OF THE [INAUDIBLE] IS THAT WERE OUT THERE BEACHTOWN, IN THE AIRPORT WITH A [INAUDIBLE], THOSE WERE ALL HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS.
[NOISE] JUST THINK OF IT AS SUBSIDIZING HOUSING AS IT, DO YOU WANT MORE HOUSING IN GENERAL?
>> DAVID, WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY WATERFRONT AREAS.
>> ANYWHERE ALONG THAT PELICAN ISLAND OR MARITIME.
>> I MEAN IS IT ALREADY IS A MISSION TO FOR THE OTHERS.
>> THAT WOULD BE UP TO [INAUDIBLE].
>> WHAT IF IT DOESN'T? [LAUGHTER]
>> I REMEMBER IN THE LDRS, THEY ZONED ALL WATER R1 SO MAYBE WE'RE TALKING FLOODING COMMUNITIES.
[LAUGHTER] WHETHER IT'S ZONED R1.
>> I COULD SEE THERE WOULD BE A ROW POSSIBLY THROUGH THE RDA, POSSIBLY ON PORT DEVELOPMENT OVER THERE, THAT THEY COULD DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP AND THE CITY WOULD, IN SOME MANNER PARTNER WITH THE BOARD ON DEVELOPMENTAL THERE.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE MEANS I KNOW.
THE PATTERN 25 ACRES ON PELICAN ISLAND THAT THE PORT HAS, THERE'S NO BULK HEADING AND SUCH.
IS IT SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR INFRASTRUCTURE? IT'S UP TO YOU, AND FOR YOU ALL TO DECIDE.
>> WE'VE GOT A QUESTION. WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS ONE FITS ALL.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ONE MAJOR BULWARK TO CONTROL THE THREE.
WITH THESE SAME STRUCTURES, THEY COULD COME WITH BONDS.
[OVERLAPPING] WHY DON'T WE JUST GET RID OF THE COUNCIL, LET THEM MAKE THE DECISIONS? BECAUSE YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? WE'RE GOING [NOISE] TO MAKE DECISIONS.
THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE DECISIONS ON BONDS, LOANS.
[02:55:02]
>> THEY HAVE TO COME TO COUNCIL.
>> THEY HAVE RESOURCES THAT ARE SEPARATE FROM THE CITY.
IF THEY ISSUE DEBT, THE BOND DOESN'T FALL INTO THE CITY.
>> IF THEY WANT A BOND OR THEY HAVE A LOAN, THEY HAVE TO COME THROUGH US FOR PERMISSION?
>> ABSOLUTELY. I BELIEVE THE LAST SLIDE JANELLE, IS JUST THE SAME SLIDE WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN CASE WE WANT TO FURTHER DISCUSS.
THOSE ARE MY SLIDES, AND I AM HAPPY TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS.
>> LET'S TAKE THESE ONE AT A TIME.
THE ORGANIZATION OF A FLOWCHART.
IF YOU GO TO THAT SLIDE JANELLE, COUNCIL TO RE-LOOK AT THAT AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY SPECIFIC COMMENTS FOR MICHELLE ON THAT.
GOOD. MICHELLE, LET ME ASK YOU THIS.
WHERE DOES GDP FIT INTO THIS BOOK?
>> I THINK BEING A PARTNER IN THIS SITUATION, I KNOW THEY SAID, IDC AND THERE WAS A SIEGE ON RDA, I BELIEVE AS WELL.
>> THEY HAD A NON-VOTING SIEGE ON THE RDA.
THERE ARE DEFINITELY THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION OR INPUT.
AS FAR AS THAT GOES, WITH CHAMBERLAIN, IMPORTANT THAT PART BORN ALL OF THEM.
>> ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL, ANY COMMENTS ON THIS?
>> WE HAVE THE IDC IN THIS SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU'RE THE STAFF.
>> YES. YES, IT IS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'RE NOT [INAUDIBLE] THE IDC DID THE RDA TO YOU? [OVERLAPPING]
>> COUNSEL MEMBER, THEY'RE JUST ANOTHER TOOL IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
TOOL BUILT THAT THE CITY HAS AVAILABLE TO HIM.
>> COULD WE GO TO NOW, MICHELLE, IF YOU DON'T MIND TO THE SLIDE ON THE STRUCTURE OF THE RDA [NOISE] AND SO FORTH.
NO, IT'S THE ONE THAT HAS THE ONE PRESIDENT.
>> IT'S ON PAGE 4. HERE WE GO.
>> IS THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THAT OR DIRECTION FOR MICHELLE?
>> [OVERLAPPING] I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION. [OVERLAPPING].
>> I MEAN THAT'S HOW IT SHOULD BE.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S HOW IT IS.
>> THESE MEMBERS THAT'LL BE SELECTED, HOW MANY ARE THERE?
>> SEVEN? YOU HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BACKGROUND IN FINANCE ECONOMICS? WHAT IN CONSTRUCTION AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
>> ONE MEMBERSHIP FINANCIAL BACKGROUND WITH IT, ONE MEMBERSHIP CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND.
>> IF I CAN POINT SOMETHING OUT, THE CURRENT ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION FOR THE RDA PROVIDED FOR FIVE AMENDMENTS, WHEN COUNSEL WAS CHANGING WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE, COUNSEL HAS TO PASS AN ORDINANCE SAYING, "WE'VE RECEIVED THESE, WE APPROVE THEM".
THE LAST TIME WE WENT TO COUNSEL FOR SUCH AN ORDINANCE, IT WAS TABLED BECAUSE OF SOME QUESTIONS OVER A FORMER COUNSEL MEMBER, INCLUDING WEB BY GEDP WAS IN THERE, WHICH CREATED THIS HIATUS TO STUDY WITH RDA WAS GOING TO BE ALL ABOUT.
EVENTUALLY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET THOSE ARTICLES UP TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
>> I THINK THAT WAS MY QUESTION.
>> THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE [INAUDIBLE]
>> WHEN IS THAT GOING TO HAPPEN? WHEN IS THAT GOING TO HAPPEN?
>> WELL, WE'VE ALREADY DRAFTED THE ARTICLES.
I GUESS WE'LL GO BACK AND WE TINKER WITH THEM BASED ON WHATEVER YOU DECIDE TODAY, BUT WE COULD COME BACK WITH THE ORDINANCE PROBABLY IN AUGUST.
WE'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE, I'D LIKE AUSTIN ALSO TO LOOK AT THEM.
THEY'VE HAD PROBLEM GETTING THE IDC ARTICLES THROUGH AS A SECRETARY OF STATE AS WELL.
SO MAYBE THEY'VE LEARNED SOMETHING WE CAN USE, BUT WE COULD HAVE THESE BACK TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE IN AUGUST.
WE JUST NEED AGREEMENT ON COUNSEL.
[03:00:03]
OVERALL, THE LITTLE MINUTIA, LIKE WHERE THE GEDP SHOULD ADD A NON-VOTING, SEE THAT KIND OF STUFF.>> THAT'S GOT TO COME BACK TO COUNSEL FIRST.
>> THEN IT WILL TAKE US DAYS AFTER THAT.
YOU'RE SAYING IT WOULD COME BACK TO US IN AUGUST?
>> WE WOULD NEED AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE AMENDED ARTICLES, AND THAT WITNESS MUST ACCOMPANY THE AMENDED ARTICLES TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
>> SO THERE'S CONVERSATION IN SOME WAYS OR IN THIS SLIDE IS PREMATURE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GET ALL THAT CHANGED FIRST BEFORE THIS IS DECIDED.
>> THIS IS THE FIRST WHAT WE WANTED TO OTHERS.
OUR RECOMMENDATION TO PUT ON THE TABLE NOW AND IF THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO DO, THEN WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ARTICLES.
>> BY THE WAY, MY MIND WORKS COUNSEL NEEDS TO VOTE ON THIS ON THE STRUCTURE CHANGES AND ALL THAT OFFICIALLY SO THAT WE THEN GIVE DIRECTION FOR LIGO TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
>> THE PICTURE THERE ACCURATELY REFLECTS WHAT YOU HAVE ON THE GROUND.
WE JUST HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO JUMP THROUGH THAT HOOP AND GET THOSE ARTICLES UP TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
>> COUNSEL PASSES THE ORDINANCE SAYING, "YES, THIS STRUCTURE IS WHAT WE WANT."
>> THIS HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF DISCUSSION FOR HOW MANY MONTHS NOW?
>> QUITE A LONG TIME. YES, JOHN.
>> SORRY, ONE MORE QUESTION ON THAT.
ARE YOU MAKING ALL OF THE THREE BOARDS, THE ARTICLES MATCH?
>> DON'T YOU REMEMBER? YOU APPOINTED ALL THE MEMBERS, [OVERLAPPING] I HAD A MOTION FOR A POINT AND THEY ALREADY DID IT.
THE MEMBERS OF EACH OF THESE THREE BOARDS IS THE SAME PEOPLE SIT ON EACH OF THE THREE BOARDS.
>> BUT THEY SAW THEIR OWN ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION?
>> DO THOSE ARTICLES MATCH OF THE BOARD MAKEUP?
>> ONLY RDA. WE GOT TO FIX THE RDA.
>> JUST THE RDA? SO WE'RE JUST FIXING THE RDA TO MATCH THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION FOR PROPERTY AND HOUSING?
>> WELL, WHEN STATUTORY AND THE OTHERS CREATED BY ORDINANCE.
YES, IT'S THE RDA, WE NEED TO TAKE ON.
>> WE'RE TECHNICALLY KEEPING ALL THREE ORGANIZATIONS, JUST MATCHING UP THEIR ARTICLES AND IT'LL ALL BE THE SAME PEOPLE.
>> THAT'S WHERE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS.
>> COULD YOU BRING THAT BACK TO US HERE SHORTLY THEN FOR US TO CONFIRM [OVERLAPPING].
>> PROBABLY THE END OF AUGUST.
WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH MICHELLE AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE ALL OUR BOOKS TAKEN CARE OF.
>> THEY WILL JUST HAVE ONE MEETING.
>> ONE LAST QUESTION. SORRY. DO WE NEED A SEPARATE DOCUMENT THAT UMBRELLAS THESE THREE? WE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH OUR CHAIRMAN AND PRESIDENT OF THESE BOARDS RIGHT NOW WHERE WE HAVE THIS UNOFFICIAL TWO CHAIRMAN'S, CHAIRMAN FOR ONE AND CHAIRMAN FOR THE OTHER.
THAT DOESN'T GET ADDRESSED IN THE ARTICLE OF INCORPORATION, NO.
>> HOW DO WE ADDRESS THAT OVERALL?
>> I'M NOT SURE. I WOULD NEED TO LOOK AT THE HOUSING STATUTE.
IF THE HOUSING STATUTE SAYS THAT BOARD WILL PICK THEIR PRESIDENT, THE RDA ARTICLES SAY THAT COUNSEL DESIGNATES THEIR PRESIDENT.
WE'LL HAVE TO FIGURE THAT ONE OUT.
IT'S HOW THE COMMITTEE WOULD SAY.
>> YOU BRING THOSE DETAILS BACK, OF COURSE, TO COUNSEL DON TO GUIDE US ON THAT.
OKAY. DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION JOHN?
>> YES. [LAUGHTER] I WANT TO GO WITH YES.
>> ANY OTHER THOUGHTS ON THAT? LET'S MOVE TO THE LAST SLIDE, THE MISSION STATEMENT FOR THE RDA, IF WE COULD PLEASE, MICHELLE AND JANELLE.
>> THIS ABOUT COVERS EVERYTHING. IT WAS GOOD.
>> IT COVERS EVERYTHING. [LAUGHTER]
[03:05:03]
>> SO FAR WE'RE LAMENTING ON THE MESH AND BY SAYING COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS.
>> IT SAYS PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT.
WHAT I'M SAYING SO IS THAT LIMITING?
>> WELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK WAS MISSING?
>> WE'RE LIMITING IT TO COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS.
>> WELL, IT SAYS A CATALYST FOR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT.
>> MY UNDERSTANDING SAYS [INAUDIBLE].
>> REDEVELOPMENT OF COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS.
>> REDRAW. WELL, SPIRIT QUESTION. WHAT SHOULD IT?
>> I READ TO MEAN ON BOTH OF THOSE COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS ON THE WATERFRONT AREA MIGHT WANT TO BE JUST SERVICE AND CATALYST FOR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT AND RE-DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT MAY BE A LITTLE UNCLEAR WHAT THAT MEANS.
>> WHAT THEY'RE SAYINGS MORE UNCLEAR.
>> NO, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. [LAUGHTER]
>> MARIE, REPEAT AGAIN WHAT YOU WOULD RECOMMEND.
>> OKAY. IT'S SAYING TO SERVE AS A CATALYST FOR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT AND RE-DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
>> DID YOU MEAN THE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT TO BE LIMITED TO COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS?
>> NO, I'M JUST LOOKED AT THIS FROM THE STANDPOINT OF WHAT CAME TO THE SURFACE WITH OUR CONVERSATIONS AND SO A LOT OF IT WAS MORE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
>> YOU DON'T THINK I'M BEING SILLY? PUT A COMMA AFTER THE FIRST DEVELOPMENT.
>> I SEE DEVELOPMENT COMMERCIAL AND AREAS.
>> IT DEPENDS GRAMMATICALLY IF YOU PUT A COMMA BEFORE AND OR NOT IN THE TEXT.
>> RIGHT. [OVERLAPPING] BECAUSE THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. YEAH.
>> YOU'RE RIGHT. [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT DOES DEMARCATE IT OUT.
ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, MARIE?
>> VERY GOOD. ANYTHING ELSE, MICHELLE, THAT YOU WANTED TO?
>> AS FAR AS THE RECOMMENDATIONS GO FOR EACH OF THE ENTITIES, I'D LIKE TO [OVERLAPPING].
>> WELL, I THINK WE NEED TO DISCUSS THAT WITH THE NEXT SLIDE.
WITH EACH OF THOSE FOR THE RDA SPECIFICALLY, DO WE WANT TO LOOK AT ANY OF THOSE BULLETS UP THERE? DO WE NEED THOSE? IT'S NOT GOOD.
WE'RE NOT MEETING YOUR APPROVAL.
I'M MISSING SOMETHING IMPORTANT.
>> ONE MORE THING, SORRY, TO GO BACK TO THE PREVIOUS SLIDE.
IT TALKS ABOUT PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT, BUT THERE'S A PLACE FOR THE RDA ON THE PUBLIC SIDE TOO.
>> WELL, SO I MEAN, HISTORICALLY, THE RDA HAS OVERSEEN THE TOURIST AND A LOT OF THAT MONEY FROM THE TOURIST HAS GONE INTO PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT SEEMS LIKE IT LIMITS LIMITS IT TO HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES, BUSINESS GROWTH, PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT.
>> CATALYSTS FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A PUBLIC SECTOR OR PUBLIC PORTION OF THAT NEEDS TO BE IN THAT VISION STATEMENT.
>> QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS.
TAKE WORD PRIVATE OUT OF IT. JUST SAY DEVELOPMENT.
>> YEAH, YOU CAN TAKE THAT OUT.
>> TAKE OUT PRIVATE, PUT A COMMA AFTER DEVELOPMENT.
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, MICHELLE, VERY MUCH.
I APPRECIATE IT, DAN, THANK YOU.
>> ONE THING I WAS GOING TO MENTION TO YOU ALL AS THIS BEGAN IS HAVE A VACANCY, YOU ALREADY HAVE A CHAIR THAT WAS ON.
CHAIRS ARE APPOINTED BY COUNCIL.
SO THERE IS NO CHAIR FOR THE RDA.
>> JOHN IS RUNNING FOR FEDERAL OFFICE, IS THAT RIGHT?
>> SO THAT'S JUST SOMETHING TO LET Y'ALL KNOW THAT UNTIL YOU ACT ON WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE RDA, THERE'S NO CHAIR.
WE ARE ON A JOB TO BE AWARE OF THAT.
>> WE WILL BE ADDRESSING THAT COMING UP AT OUR NEXT MEETING OR SO.
[03:10:07]
>> SURE CAN. THANK YOU, MICHELLE.
[3E. Discussion Of An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Amending The Code Of The City Of Galveston, Chapter 8, “Beaches And Waterways”, To Update Beach Access And Parking On Regulated Beach Areas; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject; Providing For An Effective Date (Legal - 10 Minutes)]
IF YOU COULD READ THAT, BUT I THINK WE'VE PRETTY WELL GONE THROUGH THIS ALREADY, BUT COULD YOU READ 3E, PLEASE, MA'AM?THE STEPS THAT ARE IN ORDINANCE THAT THE CITY OF GALVESTON LOCAL CODES AS THE CITY OF GALVESTON CHAPTER 8, BEACHES AND WATERWAYS TO UPDATE THESE ACTS [INAUDIBLE] ON REGULATED BEACH AREAS, THEY CAN VARY FUNDING BY PROVISIONS PROVIDED FOR THE SUBJECT PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> CORRECT. THIS IS ITEM 10 C. COUNCIL, ON YOUR AGENDA, THAT WILL BE AN ACTION ITEM ON SATURDAY.
WE PRETTY WELL GONE THROUGH THAT FOR ME IN OUR DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS. IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE ON ON THIS ITEM? YES.
>> NO QUESTION. BUT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ON THIS SUBJECT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE SOME NEW COASTAL RESOURCES MANAGER NOW AND GET THAT OUT OF WAY SO HE [OVERLAPPING] MAYBE DO COURSE TO RESOURCE?
>> THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. EXCUSE ME.
>> HE'S BEEN WAITING PATIENTLY.
I SAW HIM COME INTO THE CITY, ALWAYS MOVING MAYBE HE WANTS TO BUY A GOLF CART.
[LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] THIS IS OUR BRANDON THAT I MET YESTERDAY AND HE'S ALREADY HARD AT WORK.
HE'S ALREADY JUMPED DIVING INTO OUR BEACH ACCESS PLAN AND DOING COMPARATIVES TO WHAT THE WORK THE COMMITTEE HAS DONE.
HE'S GOING TO BRING FORTH TO YOU GUYS ONCE HE COULD FIND OUT WHERE THE BATHROOM IS, HE'S GOING TO BRING FORTH HIS WORK AND EFFORTS AND SUGGESTIONS AND EVERYTHING ON HOW WE CAN WORK WITH THAT COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND GET THEM INCORPORATED IN OUR PLAN.
I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO STRESS HERE IS THAT BRANDON DID GO TO TEXAS A&M.
[LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] [BACKGROUND] HE'S A CA BUT WE'RE GLAD, VERY GLAD TO HAVE HIM, AND GOD LOVE HIM.
HE HAS HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING HIM HERE AND HE CAN FILL YOU IN MORE ON HIS BACKGROUND AND THOUGHT.
>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCIL FOR GIVING ME THE CHANCE TO HAVE A SEAT IN THE CHAIR.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MY CONGRATULATORY CHOCOLATE FOR HAVING SAT HERE.
I THINK I HEARD THAT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED.
I WANTED TO JUST INTRODUCE MYSELF VERY QUICKLY TO YOU ALL AND YOU HAVE LOTS OF THINGS ON THE AGENDA, SO I WON'T TAKE UP TOO MUCH TIME.
AS BRIAN MENTIONED, I DID A 10-DAY IN GALVESTON.
THAT'S WHERE I MET MY WONDERFUL WIFE WHO AGREED TO PUT UP WITH ME FOREVER.
WE LEFT THE ISLAND AND TOOK A JOB AT SOUTH PORT WHERE I RAN THE SHORELINE DEPARTMENT THERE FOR THEM, GOT THEM INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN BEACHES ACT, ESTABLISHED THE PROPER NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES THERE ON THE ISLAND.
I THEN WENT AND WORKED A FEW YEARS IN PRIVATE CONSULTING AS A COASTAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNER.
I HAD A HAND IN THE DEEPENING AND EXPANSION OF THE SHIPPING CHANNEL FOR THE PORT OF HOUSTON, AS WELL AS THE PORT OF CORPUS CHRISTI AND THE PORT OF BROWNSVILLE.
I WAS ALSO ON THE TEAM THAT AUTHORED AND CONTINUED TO IMPLEMENT THE TEXAS COASTAL RESILIENCY MASTER PLAN FOR THE GLO.
SO THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF MY EXPERIENCE IN TERMS OF COMMUNITIES AND PROJECTS THAT I'VE WORKED ON, I REALLY LOOKING FORWARD, AND JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS THAT I'VE BEEN ON THE GROUND HERE, I'VE SOME IDEAS AND SOME THOUGHTS ON HOW TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD.
HOW TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED HERE TODAY? REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ON THE AGENDA ITEMS THAT YOU FIND THE MOST RIVETING AND LOOKING FORWARD TO JUST ACTING AS BOTH AN EDUCATOR AS WELL AS A RESOURCE FOR NOT JUST YOU ALL, BUT ALSO THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU REPRESENT.
IT'S SOMETHING I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT [NOISE] SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO BE A PART OF.
AS BRIAN MENTIONED, I AM MOVING ON TO THE ISLAND.
MY WIFE AND OUR TWO CHILDREN WILL BE HERE FULL-TIME BY THE END OF AUGUST.
WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING INTEGRATED IN THIS COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR MAKING THAT POSSIBLE.
>> OH, GOSH, WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE YOU.
>> YOU GET [OVERLAPPING] HOME AROUND HERE.
>> GUYS, I'M REALLY IMPRESSED.
>> THIRTY-SEVENTH [LAUGHTER] ISLAND.
>> YOU ARE A COUNCILMAN SCHUSTER'S.
SO GOOD. YOU GOT YOUR CONGRATULATORY CHOCOLATE.
[03:15:03]
>> YEAH. [OVERLAPPING] EVERYONE GOT OPENING GOLF COURSE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
>> ANOTHER BRANDON. [OVERLAPPING] JUST SO YOU KNOW, HE'S CB HE'S COASTAL BRAIN, THE OTHER ONES, DB, HE'S DRAINAGE BRAIN, [LAUGHTER] CHANEL, COULD YOU READ 3F, PLEASE, MA'AM?
[3F. Discussion Of Cultural Arts Commission’s Policy On Art In Public Places (Listowski/Brown - 15 Min)]
>> OKAY. THREE F, THE EFFECT OF CULTURAL ART COMMISSION POLICY ON ART AND OTHER [INAUDIBLE]
>> THIS WAS BEFORE COUNCIL IN THE [NOISE] PAST FOR A POLICY ON PUBLIC ART, GRAPHICS ON THE STREET, AND PUBLIC ROADWAYS.
WE REMANDED THIS BACK TO THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION FOREIGN POLICY.
[NOISE] THEY HAVE BROUGHT THAT BACK AND COUNCILMAN [INAUDIBLE] LISTOWSKI WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THIS.
>> HERE WE ARE. [LAUGHTER] THAT'S ON OUR AGENDA DAVID.
I THINK I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND DEFERRAL BECAUSE I HAVE SOME THINGS THAT I WANT TO CHANGE ON THIS AND I WANT TO JUST YOUR INPUT ON IT.
THE FIRST ONE, AS MARIE BROUGHT UP EARLIER, IT TALKS ABOUT, IT'S UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON TO WRITE PAINT CHALK, PAINT OR OTHERWISE PLACE ANYTHING ON THE SIDEWALK.
I DON'T WANT WILLY OUT THERE [OVERLAPPING] WITH A CHALK GETTING ARRESTED BY THE CITY MARSHAL.
>> BECAUSE THAT'S WAY [OVERLAPPING].
>> YEAH. YEAH. [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER]
>> I THINK I'D LIKE TO MAKE ON THAT [INAUDIBLE] THE WHOLE REASON THIS THING I BROUGHT UP WAS MAINLY, BECAUSE WHEN OUR CROSS ARTS WENT OUT HERE, THAT CAUSED SOME PEOPLE TO CALL IN AND I DON'T WANT TO GO DOWN A PATH WHERE WE ALLOW EVERYBODY THAT WANTS TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE STREET IN A PUBLIC RIGHT AWAY THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.
WHETHER IT'S RIGHT OR WRONG, WHETHER YOU LIKE THE ORGANIZATION OR YOU DON'T LIKE ORGANIZATION.
I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME OTHER LANGUAGE CHANGE IN HERE THAT THE CITY DOESN'T ENDORSE ORGANIZATIONS, ANY POLITICAL CAUSES OR AGENDAS AND THAT'S NOT REALLY IN HERE.
[NOISE] EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY OR MAY NOT BE FOR SOME OF THE STUFF THAT'S ON OUR STREETS.
IT COULD GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A POLICY TO ALLOW OR DISALLOW THAT.
IF THIS IS GOING TO GO IN FRONT OF OUR CULTURAL ARTS COMMITTEE, I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE ART AND NOT SOMEBODY TRYING TO ADVERTISE SOMETHING OR PUSH AN AGENDA.
I'D LIKE TO GET JOEL'S INPUT ON THAT AND THEN EITHER JUST HAVE STAFF, PUT SOME ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE IN HERE.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO SEND THIS BACK TO THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMITTEE AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO US WITH THAT LANGUAGE.
>> BECAUSE, TRULY THE WAY IT REHEATS FOR WHEN I READ THIS, I'M LIKE, OKAY, SO MILLY IS UP CHALK AND HER DRIVEWAY AND STREET.
SHE'S GOING TO GET ARRESTED BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T HAVE [OVERLAPPING] THAT DOWNTOWN.
>> YOU-ALL LET ME KNOW BECAUSE I GOT THOSE FUNDS IN THE BUDGET. [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER]
>> FANTASTIC, WE NEED TO FIX IT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE ARE IN THE JOB OF ARRESTING LITTLE KIDS.
>> AGREED. WE PROBABLY NEED SOME GUARD LANGUAGE.
BECAUSE THERE SOME ART THINGS THAT HAVE APPEARED DOWNTOWN, SPRAY PAINTED ON THE SIDEWALKS NOT THEY'RE GOOD [NOISE] OR BAD IT'S JUST THEY'RE [OVERLAPPING]
>> I APPRECIATE YOU-ALL ARE DOING THIS BECAUSE IT TAKES THE OWNER'S OFFICE STAFF DECIDING WHAT SHOULD BE THERE, WHICH SHOULD BE CLEAR-CUT POLICIES.
>>I'M HAPPY TO ENFORCE ANYTHING YOU-ALL WILL DO I JUST DIDN'T HAVE A GOOD POLICY ON IT.
YOUR THINKING IS IF THERE WAS LANGUAGE IN HERE TO PREVENT ANY ART GRAPHICS THAT WOULD PROMOTE SOME NATIONAL AGENDA OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT WOULD APPLY TO MILITARY.
>> YOU DO FOR ONE, YOU DO FOR ALL.
>> EXCEPT FOR ARRESTING LITTLE KIDS.
>> YEAH. [LAUGHTER] THINGS THAT HAVE COME UP, THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE.
LET'S JUST SAY ALL I WANT TO DO IS TORNADO CROSSWALKS AROUND THE SCHOOL.
THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WOULD BE UNDER THE POLICY THAT PROMOTES AN AGENDA.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THAT DOESN'T AND MAYBE THAT FALLS UNDER THIS WHERE IT SAYS THIS PROVISION DOES NOT APPLY TO ANY SCHOOL-SPONSORED PROGRAMS. OR MAYBE A TORNADO ON THE STREET FROM BALL HIGH WOULDN'T APPLY TO THIS POLICY, BUT IT SAYS AS PRE-RULE ABOVE THE CITY MANAGER FOR THAT ONE SO THAT'S ON YOU.
[LAUGHTER] BUT AGAIN, THE MILITARY INSIGNIA IS THAT OUR DOWNTOWN.
I LIKE THEM PERSONALLY BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT
[03:20:04]
REALLY SHOULD BE GOING INTO A PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY WHERE TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING FOR THAT.>> WELL THAT'S TRUE BECAUSE [OVERLAPPING] IT'S NICE, PEOPLE RAISE MONEY TO INSTALL AND THEY RARELY RAISE MONEY TO MAINTAIN.
>> IF I MAY, YOU'RE NOT EXPRESSING AN INTEREST IN CONTROLLING ANY TYPE OF SPEECH OF ANY TYPE.
IT'S ACTUALLY THAT YOU ARE THROUGH THIS ORDINANCE FINDING A WAY TO PROMOTE PUBLIC ART ON PUBLIC STREETS. ISN'T THAT TRUE?
>> YES. THAT'S WELL STATED I GUESS. [LAUGHTER]
>> IF THE PROJECTS WOULD BE MANAGED THROUGH THE CULTURAL RIGHTS [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK.
>> THEN BROUGHT TO COUNCIL [OVERLAPPING] FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
THAT'S WE WERE JUST TRYING TO FORM A FORMALITY.
I THINK YOU-ALL KNOW, THE DEAL BECAUSE.
>> THERE IS NO INTENTION OF ARRESTING CHILDREN FOR THE ART.
>> THAT WAS MY QUESTION. THERE'S STILL THE VETTING PROCESS AND APPROVAL IT'S NOT RANDOM NEW POLITICAL STUFF JUST POPS UP ON A SIDEWALK WITH THIS CHALK IS RELATED TO LOOK AT IT.
IT'S A TEMPORARY SUBSTANCE VERSUS A PERMANENT SUBSTANCE OR MAYBE EVEN GET INTO THE OR I HAD SOME WORRIES.
IF YOU BETTER KNOW WHEN SOMEBODY IS SAY THERE'S PAINT, THERE'S CHALK.
>> FLOYD IN EUROPE, THEY USE CHALK IN ALL OVER THOSE SIDEWALKS AND I'M TELLING YOU IT'S THERE FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND IT FINALLY GOES AWAY, BUT IT'S VIRAL.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THE PAINT THAT'S AROUND HERE, THE PAINT GOES AWAY TOO. [LAUGHTER]
>> BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO INCREASE [OVERLAPPING] HAS FULL STREETS.
>> I KNOW. I THINK ANY ART IN THE PUBLIC SPACE, NEEDS TO BE VETTED BY THE COMMISSION.
WE'LL FIND A WAY TO LET LILLY EXPRESS HERSELF.
>> THAT YOU WOULD WORK WITH STAFF TO POSSIBLY GET SOME LANGUAGE TO BRING BACK TO THIS ON THAT.
>> THE STORY THAT IS FOUND IN OUR WORLD, BUT IT'S NOT POLITICAL, BUT BELIEVE IT OR NOT, [LAUGHTER]
>> THERE'S ART AND NOT EVERYTHING IS POLITICAL.
>> WHERE WE FALL INTO THE EYES.
>> I'M NOT HEARING A CHANGE HERE TO EXPRESS REGULATION OF ANY TYPE OF SPEECH.
IT'S JUST THE PROMOTION OF ARTISTIC, AESTHETIC MATTERS BY THE CITY RIGHT OF WAY.
>> ANY OTHER THOUGHTS FOR JOHN?
>> JOHN, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS BACK.
SOME OF THESE TOPICS GIVEN LOTS [NOISE] OF SHUFFLE AND I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THEM BACK.
>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 3G.
[3G. Discussion Of A Draft Ordinance Prohibiting The Release Of Balloons (Schuster/Brown - 10 Minutes)]
WE [NOISE] GO FROM PUBLIC GUARD TO BALLOONS. CHANEL?>> DAVID WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET THEM FOR A TRAP, WE'LL ARREST THESE KIDS FOR DOING [LAUGHTER]
>> ALL RIGHT, SAY THAT I'M HERE.
>> ARE YOU GOING TO USE CHLOE AS AN EXAMPLE IN HERE?
>> LET ME FINISH [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] WE HAVE LUNCH PROVIDED FOR EVERYONE, SO I WAS THINKING WE'LL FINISH THIS ONE, [NOISE] SEE IF WE HAVE ANYMORE GOLF GUARD DEF DISCUSSIONS.
>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT ONE. [LAUGHTER].
>> WATCH YOUR MOUTH. [LAUGHTER] THEN WE'LL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE COULD EAT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
YEAH. GO AHEAD JANELLE ON ITEM 3G PLEASE.
>> OKAY. 3G. DISCUSSION OF A DRAFT ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE RELEASE OF BALLOONS.
>> ALL RIGHT. I BROUGHT THIS TO COUNSEL.
LEGALS PUT TOGETHER A DRAFT ORDINANCE [NOISE] FOR US TO DISCUSS TODAY.
I WAS APPROACHED BY CONSTITUENT.
[NOISE] THAT'S WAS MY DISTRICT OFFICER, AND SHE HAPPENS TO RUN THE TURTLE ISLAND RESTORATION NETWORK.
ESPECIALLY LIVING IN GALVESTON, THE WHOLE IDEA OF THIS IS TO LIMIT THE INTENTIONAL RELEASES OF BALLOONS ON THE ISLAND.
NOW ACROSS THE WORLD, THIS IS BECOMING A WORLDWIDE CAMPAIGN TO MAKE IT NOT ONLY BRING ATTENTION TO LITTERING, BUT ALSO TO STOP THE INTENTIONAL RELEASES OF HELIUM FILLED BALLOONS INTO THE ENVIRONMENT.
WE ALL KNOW THE ISSUES WITH HAVING THAT HAS HAPPENED.
WE'RE A COASTAL COMMUNITY, THEY GET ON A GULF.
THEY DO CAUSE AVIATION ISSUES.
THE OTHER DAY THE AIRPORT SAID THEY HAD A LARGE FLOCK OF BALLOONS MOVING BY THE AIRPORT.
SO DON'T KNOW IF THOSE WERE INTENTIONALLY RELEASED OR WHAT BUT, HERE WE ARE.
[OVERLAPPING] [NOISE] [LAUGHTER] I APOLOGIZE.
>> A GROUP OF BALLOONS. SORRY.
>> WHAT IS THE SEASON TO HUNT THOSE?
[03:25:03]
>> I'LL ADMIT I DO SEE ME BEING A MODERN CYCLE COMMUNITY.
MY WIFE IS VERY MUCH ATTUNED TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
>> YES, MY WIFE. THAT'S RIGHT.
SHE'S VERY ATTUNED TO THE BEACH.
WE'RE VERY ATTUNED TO GET OUT THERE PICKING WHATEVER WE CAN.
WE DO HAPPEN TO NOTICE BALLOONS OR STRINGS HERE AND THERE.
WHETHER THOSE WERE INTENTIONALLY RELEASED OR NOT, WHETHER THOSE ARE FROM A PARTY I'M NOT SURE.
BUT I DO HAPPEN TO GO ON FACEBOOK HERE AND THERE AND YOU DO SEE EITHER IN TIMES OF CELEBRATION, TIMES OF MOURNING, YOU DO SEE THIS. IT'S NOT UNCOMMON.
IT'S USUALLY SOME PEOPLE THAT MAN, YOU DON'T WANT TO SAY YOU THOUGHT THEY KNEW BETTER, BUT YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD AT LEAST KNOW THAT THAT IS LITTERING AND CAUSING AN ISSUE [NOISE] IN THE ENVIRONMENT.
IT'S IN OUR AGENDA FOR THE WORKSHOP [NOISE] TO LOOK AT THE ORDINANCE.
WE DO HAVE IN IT AND I'VE TALKED TO DIANA(PHONETIC) ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY.
IT'S WHERE COUNCIL WANTS TO GO WITH THIS.
YOU COULD RELEASE BIODEGRADABLE [NOISE] AIR BALLOONS, ONES THAT WILL BREAK DOWN PHOTOSYNTHESIS-WISE.
I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT AND I'LL SAY WHY IS BECAUSE, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BREAK DOWN OVERNIGHT.
IT'S NOT AN INSTANTANEOUS THING.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE A COUPLE OF DAYS, MAYBE MONTHS, BUT IN THAT TIME IT COULD CREATE AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE.
>> THE NOTION OF BIODEGRADABILITY IS A FALSE FLAG BECAUSE THEY BREAK DOWN, BUT THEY BREAK DOWN INTO MINISCULE BITS OF PLASTIC THAT GRILL STILL EAT, THEN IT'S STILL IN THE FOOD CHAIN.
IT'S NOT LIKE THESE BALLOONS ARE BIODEGRADABLE.
>> [OVERLAPPING]. WELL OBVIOUSLY THERE'S REALLY NOT TOO MANY TRUE BIODEGRADABLE BALLOONS OUT THERE [OVERLAPPING] IN REALITY.
>> THERE ARE, SO IT WILL HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED.
BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME BALLOONS THAT ARE MADE WITHIN 24 HOURS, BUT THE STRING THAT THEY'RE CONNECTED TO IS NOT BIODEGRADE.
>> WELL, THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT [OVERLAPPING].
>> YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THOSE ITEMS ARE ADDRESSED.
>> THIS MUST BE A THING IN OTHER CITIES.
BECAUSE WE GET A LOT OF CALLS UP IN OUR OFFICE THAT HEY, WE'RE COMING TO TOWN THIS WEEKEND FOR MY DAUGHTER'S BIRTHDAY.
WE WANT TO DO A BALLOON RELEASE.
DO YOU ALL HAVE ANY RULES PROHIBITING THAT? WE GET A LOT OF CALLS EVENTS.
SO THAT MUST BE A THING IN OTHER CITIES BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TUNED TO ASKING US WHETHER THEY CAN OR CAN'T DO IT.
>> I'VE PERSONALLY SEATED ON THE ISLAND IN GROUPS OF PEOPLE WHERE IT'S LIKE, HEY, I THOUGHT WE MAY EVEN DO BETTER, BUT NOT ONLY CAN WE USE THIS ORDINANCE TO GIVE US A LITTLE TEETH ON THIS, LIKE BRIAN JUST SAID, BUT ALSO BE OUT THERE EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, LIKE HOW MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT THERE NEXT WEEK, ARE PLANNING ON DOING THIS? WE PUT IT OUT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, MAYBE I SHOULDN'T RELEASE BALLOONS.
I SHOULD DO BUBBLES OR CANDLES OR WHATEVER.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IF YOU'RE RELEASING IT IN MOURNING, IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
[LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] NO, I'VE TALKED SOME GOOD FRIENDS OUT OF IT THAT WE'RE DOING IT FOR MOURNING PURPOSES AND I SHOWED THEM THE PICTURES OF THE TURTLES AND WHAT NOT AND THEY STOPPED.
>> WITH THE WAY YOU BROUGHT THIS FORWARD INITIALLY, HOW DID YOU KNOW? I DIDN'T THINK THIS WAS DONE A LOT.
I JUST I DON'T SEE THAT BEING DONE A LOT, BUT I START CHECKING INTO AND IT'S DONE MORE THAN YOU THINK.
IT IS FOR FUNERALS AND MOURNING AND [OVERLAPPING].
>>WELL, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO WALK DOWN THE BEACH AND NOT FIND A STRING FROM A BALLOON.
I MEAN YOU MIGHT NOT FIND THE BALLOON BUT YOU FIND THE STRING FROM THE BALLOON AND YOU KNOW [NOISE] THAT'S WHAT IT WAS FROM.
>> I BROUGHT IT HERE FOR DISCUSSION.
NOW, A COUPLE OF THINGS LIKE WITH LILY, SHE'S OUTSIDE LEAVING CHUCK E CHEESE [OVERLAPPING] AND A BALLOON, AND SHE LETS GO OF A BALLOON [LAUGHTER], TECHNICALLY THE PARENT IS LIABLE [OVERLAPPING] [NOISE] FALLS IN THE SAME LINE OF LITTERING WHERE I SEE IT ALL THE TIME ON THE BEACH.
MOM'S GOT HER HANDS FULL, KID'S GOT A BAG OF CHIPS AND THE BAG OF CHIPS, I HATE TO SEE IT, IT FLIES AWAY.
I MEAN, DO WE TAKE A PICTURE OF THE MOM'S [INAUDIBLE] TICKET RIGHT THEN IN THERE, THAT'S IN MY OPINION, THE SAME TYPE OF SITUATION.
>> SO YOU'RE SAYING YOU SHOULD?
>> NO. [LAUGHTER] I'M SAYING IT'S THE SAME SITUATION WITH THE BALLOONS AND THAT IDEA WITH THE KID.
I THINK THE EMPHASIS NEEDS TO BE UNINTENTIONAL. THAT'S THE THING.
IS THAT IT NEEDS TO BE AN EMPHASIS ON INTENTIONAL AS FAR AS OR AT LEAST, YES.
>> GOOD. I THINK YOU'RE MOVING ON.
>> ALL RIGHT. I APPRECIATE IT. [LAUGHTER]
>> [INAUDIBLE] YOU BRING THAT BACK TO US [OVERLAPPING]
>> YEAH. THANKS FOR DOING THAT.
ALL RIGHT. WE'RE MOVING TO ITEM 3H.
WE HAVE NOT EACH COUNCIL UPDATES AND DISCUSSION ITEMS.
[03:30:03]
WE HAVE GOLF CART DOT DEFINITIONS.MARIE, DO YOU HAVE [OVERLAPPING] DO WE NEED TO DISCUSS THAT [OVERLAPPING]?
>>THIS COULD BE OVER TIME IF YOU WANTED TO DO IT.
[3I. Report Of City Council's Park Board Representative (Collins/Brown - 10 Minutes)]
>> ITEM 3I. REPORT OF CITY COUNCIL PARK BOARD REPRESENTATIVE.
>> NO. [INAUDIBLE] JUST MOVE ALONG HERE.
THERE'S NOTHING THAT COUNCIL RELEASED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK.
>> I KNOW. [LAUGHTER] I CAN'T SEE, I'M GIVING HIM A [INAUDIBLE].
[4. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
>> WE ARE NOW LEAVING OUR REGULAR WORKSHOP AND WE'RE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE'LL TAKE ABOUT A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK AND COME BACK.
CONVENIENT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, GET OUR FOOD AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE THERE?
>> YEAH. I'M SORRY JANELLE. GO RIGHT AHEAD.
>> 4A. PRESERVE THE TEXAS [INAUDIBLE] CODE SECTION 5.1 [INAUDIBLE] FOR PERSONAL MATTERS.
THE DELIVERY OF THE APPOINTMENT IS GOING TO EVALUATION, REASSIGNMENT OR DEALING WITH OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE.
MANAGER BRIAN MAXWELL, THE CITY ATTORNEY, DONALD VELOSKY.
VICTOR R GREEN, [INAUDIBLE] SECRETARY JANELLE WILLIAM.
>> THANK YOU, JANELLE. VERY GOOD.
WE WILL NOW GET OUR FOOD AND RECONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE'RE GOING TO BE DONE AT THE BEGINNING OF THAT DON.
>> JUST TO MAKE A SHORT PRESENTATION AND THEN WE'LL HAVE [INAUDIBLE] COME IN FOR SURE. [NOISE]
>> [INAUDIBLE] PEEL OFF AND GO GRAB LUNCH. [OVERLAPPING]
COUNCIL IS NOW OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR JULY 22ND MEETING.
WE HAVE GONE THROUGH ALL OF OUR AGENDA ITEMS AND AT 3.11 PM, OUR WORKSHOP MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
>> WOW.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.