[00:00:04]
IT IS 9:00 AM.[Call to Order]
GOOD MORNING, [NOISE] EVERYBODY.GOOD MORNING TO THOSE IN ATTENDANCE HERE AT CITY HALL, AND GOOD MORNING TO THOSE THAT MIGHT BE LISTENING IN THE COMMUNITY TO THIS VIRTUALLY OR ON CHANNEL 16.
JANELLE, IF WE COULD HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
>> VERY GOOD. WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.
WE'RE MOVING TO ITEM 3. [NOISE] NOW IT'S ON.
I ASKED YOU, YOU SAID TURN IT OFF.
[3.A. 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)]
ITEM 3A, PLEASE JANELLE.>> ITEM 3A, VERIFICATION 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.
>> VERY GOOD. WILLIAM, WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEAD US ON?
>> WE GOT HAVE BOARD STUFF THAT I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT, AND THEN ITEM IN OUR EVENING MEETING THAT WILL JUST DISCUSS THEN.
THAT I'LL TALK ABOUT THEN I'M GOOD FOR THIS MORNING.
>> VERY GOOD COUNCILMAN COLLINS?
>> TWO QUICK THINGS. ONE IS 10C.
I WANT EVERYBODY TO, IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT PREDICTIONS ON THE STRAND OF ADMISSION FEE.
MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT THAT'S ACTUALLY WRITTEN IN THE ORDER FROM THE CAP ON IT, AND WE'RE SIMPLY RAISING THE CAP.
[OVERLAPPING] A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT WAS TRUE, BUT IT RIGHT THE SECOND THE CAP IN THE ORDINANCE IS $15, AND WE'RE JUST RAISING IT TO 35.
WE'RE NOT RAISING ADMISSION PRICES TO 35.
THIS GIVES YOU IN THE ROOM TO EXPAND THIS AS THEY GO.
MY QUESTION IS, WHY ARE WE EVEN DOING THIS?
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT WAS A QUESTION, AND WE TALK TO LEGAL ABOUT IT DWAYNE AND I. DWAYNE JONES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF STROKE FOUNDATION, AND I TALKED ABOUT IT.
YES. COUNCIL, THIS IS A CITY SANCTIONED EVENT.
OBVIOUSLY IT'S [NOISE] RUN BY VHF, BUT IT IS A CITY SANCTIONED EVENT THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN IN OUR CODE IN THE EVENT WE SANCTION.
UNLIKE MARDI GRAS, AND THE THOUGHT WAS THIS STILL GIVES COUNCIL A MEASURE OF CONTROL OVER IT.
DOESN'T HAVE TO BE. THAT WAS JUST MY CONVERSATION WITH DWAYNE JONES, AND $35 SOUNDED LIKE A FINE THING TO DO IN THE ORDINANCE, AND IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE CHANGE.
PLEASURE OF COUNSEL, IF YOU THINK WE SHOULD TAKE THAT OUT, WE TAKE IT OUT.
>> BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A MATTER OF CHANGING THE ORDINANCE.
>> THAT JUST STRUCK ME AS SO ODD.
>> [OVERLAPPING] LIKE I SAID, MOST PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T KNOW THAT NUMBER WAS THERE.
[OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER] WHAT DID YOU SAY BROWN?
>> I DON'T THINK WE'RE QUALIFIED TO DESIGNATE THE COST OF CHRISTMAS.
>> WELL, IF WE PASS THIS AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, WE'LL BE COMING BACK, AND DOING SOMETHING ELSE.
I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE DOING IT. [NOISE]
>> WELL, THAT IT PROVIDES A MEASURE OF CONTROL, AND THAT'S PROBABLY WHY IT WAS DONE ORIGINALLY.
WE'RE IN OUR 46, 47 YEAR OR 45TH YEAR OF MARDI GRAS.
THAT WAS JUST A MEASURE OF CONTROL, COUNCIL AS EXERCISING.
I CERTAINLY DON'T THINK THAT STROKE FOUNDATION HAS A DOG, AND HOW DOES IT WORK? WONDERS REMOVE THAT LIMITATION AT ALL.
LET THEM SET THE PRICE, BECAUSE CLEARLY THEY'RE ARE GOING TO SET THE PRICE FOR THE MARKET.
WELL, THIS IS MORE TAKE IT OUT.
>> JOHN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT JUST REMOVING THIS CONTROL OF DICKINSON, ON THEIR FEES.
WHEN WE COME TO THAT ITEM, IF COUNCIL WANT TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION, WHAT TYPE DIRECTION DO WE NEED TO GIVE?
>> I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S BAD IN STANDARD QUESTION.
>> RATHER THAN CHANGING THE DOLLAR LIMITATION ON PRICING.
WE WERE TO JUST TAKE COUNSELS CONTROL OF LIMITATION, AND ANY LIMITATION ON PRICING OUT OF IT COMPLETELY.
>> JUST SAY VHF MAY CHARGE A FEE?
>> YOU WANT TO KEEP THAT $35 CAP OFF THAT YOU'VE PROPOSED?
>> WELL, WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS [OVERLAPPING] TO EVEN IMPOSE ANYTHING.
>> I THINK WE CAN DO IT THAT WAY, IF YOU WISH.
IF THEY CHARGE $150 FOR AN ENTRY FEE IT WILL BE A PRETTY SCARCELY ATTENDED EVENT. [LAUGHTER]
[00:05:04]
>> I THINK THE MARKET [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN THE MARKET.
>> $35 IS JUST A SUGGESTION, AND THAT'S WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO.
>> COUNCIL WANTS TO MAKE A MOTION TO DO AWAY WITH THAT CONTROL.
THEN THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO REFLECT THAT. THAT WILL BE GOOD.
>> THE OTHER IS 10A SUSPENDING MEETING [NOISE] IN PERSON MEETING.
CAN WE CHAT ABOUT THAT? WHAT THE EMPHASIS BEHIND IS? WHAT YOU'RE FEELING IS, AND HOW? I THINK WE NEED TO BE CLEAR ON HOW THAT AFFECTS BOARDS, AND COMMISSIONS VERSUS HOW IT AFFECTS COUNCIL.
>> [OVERLAPPING] BUT THIS DOES NOT AFFECT COUNCIL AT ALL.
>> THAT'S RIGHT [OVERLAPPING].
>> BUT FOR COMMITTEES, AND SUCH ARE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT STAFF BRINGING IT TO OUR VOLUNTEERS THAN I'M ABOUT THE VOLUNTEERS BRINGING IT TO STAFF.
>> WE'VE HAD SUCH AN OUTBREAK COMING HERE AT CITY HALL.
WHERE IT BECOMES A STAFFING CHALLENGE.
IT'S NOT JUST PEOPLE GETTING REALLY SICK.
IT'S PEOPLE ARE GETTING SICK, BUT IT'S ALSO JUST THE QUARANTINE PERIODS, AND EVERYTHING [NOISE] ELSE WITH THESE PEOPLE FOR TEN DAYS IT JUST KILLS US.
ANYTHING WE CAN DO THAT TO STATE THAT OFF IN ABSENCE OF US BEING ABLE TO REQUIRE MASK IN MEETINGS, THIS IS A BETTER SOLUTION.
>> DON, WOULD YOU CLARIFY OUR CONTROL OF COMMITTEES BOARDS, AND COMMISSIONS COMPARED TO WHAT GUIDELINES WERE UNDER CONTROL, COUNCIL'S MEETINGS ARE IN RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNOR'S ORDERS?
>> I'LL BE HAPPY TO DO THAT. YOU ARE REQUIRED TO MEET UNDER THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT PURSUANT TO A STATE STATUTE.
YOUR BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES MADE UNDER THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT PURSUANT TO A MANDATE IN THE CITY CODE.
[NOISE] WHICH MEANS THAT SOMETIMES CITY COUNCIL PASSED, AND KNOW WHAT THE ORDINANCE SAID.
THIS COMMITTEE IS GOING TO FOLLOW THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
YOU HAVE THE DISCRETION OVER THOSE MEETINGS BECAUSE YOU'RE CONTROLLING THEM BY ORDNANCE.
YOU CAN PROVIDE BY ORDINATES THAT THEY MEET OVER ZOOM.
THAT'S NOT EXACTLY IN COMPLIANCE FOR THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, BUT YOU CONTROL THOSE BOARDS COMMISSIONS, AND HOW THEY MEET.
YES, YOU CAN ACQUIRE THEM NOT TO MEET ONE PERSON AS THEY NORMALLY WOULD UNDER THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
BUT IF THEY CONDUCT THEIR BUSINESS BY ZOOM AS WE DID FOR THE LAST NINE MONTHS, YEAR, OR WHATEVER.
IT WAS [OVERLAPPING] A PAINFUL YEAR.
>> ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT EXISTED BECAUSE I TEND TO LISTEN TO OTHER COMMITTEE MEETINGS, I REMEMBER ONE TIME LISTENING TO LANDMARK, ONE TIME LISTENING TO PLANNING, AND WHEN THE PERSON WHO IS PROPOSING THE PROJECT WAS SPEAKING, YOU COULDN'T HEAR WHAT THEY WERE SAYING.
I THINK WE HAVE TO ADDRESS HOW OUR SYSTEM IS WORKING BECAUSE IT CERTAINLY PUTS THE APPLICANT AT A DISADVANTAGE WHEN PEOPLE CAN'T HEAR WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.
>> WELL, THAT'S A TECHNOLOGY ISSUE.
>> YEAH. BUT I THINK IT DEPENDS ON WHAT SYSTEM THEY'RE USING, BECAUSE IF THEY'RE DOING IT VIA ZOOM, THAT WOULD BE THEIR [NOISE] MICROPHONE, NOT OURS, BUT WE CAN DO THOSE TESTS BEFORE MEETING TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAS GOOD AUDIO.
>> YEAH. [OVERLAPPING] THAT MAY BE TRUE BUT READ RIGHT.
FREQUENTLY YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHAT'S BEING SAID ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE WATCHING IT ON TELEVISION OR ON ZOOM.
[OVERLAPPING] YOU DON'T HEAR THE OTHER END OF THAT CONVERSATION.
>> YOU CANNOT HEAR WHAT ANYONE IS SAYING.
MAYBE WE COULD DO LIKE AN EITHER OR BECAUSE IF THE APPLICANT WAS ALLOWED TO COME HERE AND DO THEIR PART, EVERYONE WOULD BE ABLE TO HEAR THEM AND IT GIVES THEM A FAIR CHANCE, AND THE PUBLIC CAN HEAR BECAUSE THE PUBLIC CAN HEAR WHEN AN OUTSIDE PERSON IS SPEAKING AT ALL.
[OVERLAPPING] THAT WOULD LIMIT EXPOSURE, AND YOU COULD GIVE THEM THAT OPTION.
I KNOW BECAUSE I'VE LISTENED TO YOUR COMMITTEE, AND I'VE LISTENED TO YOUR COMMITTEE, AND I'VE EVEN, LIKE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, I WENT IN VIA ZOOM AND YOU COULDN'T HEAR WHAT PEOPLE WERE SAYING EVEN AS YOU WENT ON TO BE A PART, I REGISTERED OVER THE MEETING.
>> WE CAN DO THAT. WE COULD AVAIL THEM TO COME AND USE THE MICROPHONE HERE IF THEY WANT TO.
[00:10:03]
>> [OVERLAPPING] WHY DON'T WE LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THE COMMITTEES THAT MEET.
I'M ON THE ZONING BOARD, LAST TIME SIX PEOPLE SHOWED UP.
WE HAVE THAT. I'D RATHER HAVE IN-PERSON RATHER THAN THAT.
>> I WOULD TOO, BUT I GET THE MAYOR'S POINT ON THIS BECAUSE LANDMARK ARE FREQUENTLY WELL-ATTENDED AND PLANNING, NEEDLESS TO SAY, YOU HAVE REAL CROWDS AT TIMES.
>> WELL, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING MAY WORK FOR SOME BOARDS AND NOT FOR OTHERS WHERE IT'S WEIGHT.
LIKE FINANCE COMMITTEE, SAME THING, NOBODY COMES IN THERE.
>> BUT I TAKE MR. MAXWEL'S POINT, THIS IS REALLY EXPOSING STAFF AS MUCH AS ANYTHING.
AS WE DO IT HERE, STAFF HAS TO ATTEND.
>> YOU DO BRING UP AN INTERESTING POINT BECAUSE LIKE THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE, WHEN THEY TRIED TO DO THE MEETING VIA ZOOM, NOBODY COULD HEAR.
NOBODY AT ALL COULD HEAR THE MASTER PLAN GUYS, NOBODY COULD HEAR THE QUESTIONS, AND THERE'S NOT A LOT OF STAFF THERE.
>> I THINK THAT WHEN IT BECOMES A PROBLEM ABOUT HEARING, IT'S WHEN WE TRY TO DO THESE MEETINGS WHERE SOME PEOPLE ARE ON ZOOM, SOME PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY IN PERSON, THEN THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN PERSON HERE DON'T GET CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE MIC.
BUT USUALLY WHEN YOU'RE ON A ZOOM TO ZOOM TYPE OF CALL, IT'S YOUR MIC, IT'S YOUR COMPUTER, YOU'RE ABLE TO GET CLOSE TO THE COMPUTER AND PEOPLE CAN HEAR YOU.
BUT [OVERLAPPING] LIKE THAT AIRPORT MEETING, I COULDN'T HEAR ANYBODY BECAUSE THEY WERE SITTING AT A TABLE THIS SIZE, THE MIC WAS AT ONE END, THEY WERE AT THIS END, AND YOU CAN'T GET ENOUGH VOLUME TO GET IN THAT MIC ON THE TABLE.
>> BUT I DON'T THINK THE AIRPORT HAS THE CAPABILITY [OVERLAPPING].
>> BUT YOU'RE CERTAINLY WELCOME TO USE OUR ZOOM CAPABLE ROOMS AND WHAT WE MIGHT BE DOING.
>> BUT AGAIN, THEY WOULDN'T BE IN PERSON ANYWAY.
THE PERSON WHO WAS PRESENTING WOULD HAVE BEEN [OVERLAPPING] ON THEIR ZOOM CONVERSATION, THEIR MICROPHONE, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN IN THAT ROOM WITH FIVE OTHER PEOPLE WHERE THE MIC WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM.
>> WHY DON'T WE JUST MAKE THE DECISION AND GO ON WITH IT.
THIS IS TIME-CONSUMING, WE'RE GOING BACK AND FORTH.
I'M FINE WITH THAT. EITHER YOU WANT TO DO ZOOM OR IN-PERSON.
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF THE OTHER.
IT CAN'T BE THESE IN PERSON, HALF IN PERSON, HALF ON ZOOM.
>> HOW LONG ARE WE GOING TO DO IT?
>> [OVERLAPPING] IN THE ORDINANCE IS THE JANUARY OF 22.
>> BUT WE CAN STOP IT SHORT IF WE GET THE SURGE DOWN AND UNDER CONTROL, WHERE WE'RE NOT JUST GETTING TENS OF CASES A DAY.
>> VERY GOOD. ANYTHING ELSE, DAVID?
>> YEAH. I THINK MR. POLVERIN IS IN THE ROOM LOOKING AT THE DRAFT AUDIT PLAN.
>> NO, WE HAD THAT COMING UP ON OUR AGENDA.
>> OF COURSE, IT IS. THEN I'M DONE.
>> [INAUDIBLE]. [LAUGHTER] VERY GOOD. ANYTHING ELSE, DAVID?
>> I THINK THOSE WERE MOST OF MY QUESTIONS RIGHT THERE.
I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION ON THE PARKING, TWO-HOUR PARKING.
DAVE, DO YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THAT?
>> BECAUSE WE'RE ISSUING TOO MANY TWO-HOUR VIOLATION TICKETS IN THOSE ZONES.
THE ONE AT THE PARK IS DIFFERENT, BUT ON 20TH STREET, PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE, THE SYSTEM DOES NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF DISTINGUISHING.
WHEN YOU PARK, AND THE SYSTEM SEIZE YOUR LICENSE PLATE, YOU GO OFF SOMEPLACE, YOU COME BACK AND YOU PARK IN THAT SAME BLOCK, THE SYSTEM DOESN'T KNOW YOU MOVED.
IT THINKS YOU'VE BEEN SITTING THERE FOR FOUR OR FIVE HOURS, AND THERE'S TOO MANY TWO-HOUR VIOLATION TICKETS.
>> I JUST GOT A TICKET OUT FRONT OF CITY HALL.
>> BUT WE'RE NOT MAKING THAT PAID PARKING. [OVERLAPPING] I'M SORRY, MAYOR.
WE'RE NOT MAKING THAT MOVE. THE SOLUTION WAS JUST TO MAKE IT PAID PARKING.
IT EXPANDS PAID PARKING TO 20TH STREET.
IT'S RIGHT UP TO THAT CORNER ANYWAY.
IT'S ESSENTIALLY ADDING TWO BLOCKS, AND THAT WAY EMPLOYEES CAN PAY AND MOVE AND THEY'RE NOT IMPACTED.
>> IF YOU PAY AND THEN COME BACK THE SAME DAY AND PARK IN THAT SAME SPOT AND PAY AGAIN.
>> YOU'D HAVE TO BE IN THE SAME SPOT.
>> AS LONG AS YOU'RE PAYING, YOU CAN PARK ANYWHERE.
AS LONG AS YOU'RE CURRENT ON YOUR PAYMENT, YOU CAN PARK IN ANY OF THE PAID PARKING SPOTS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] IT'S JUST THESE TWO HOURS THAT WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM WITH.
>> THE REASON IT'S ON THE AGENDA IS BECAUSE CITY MANAGER HAS DISCRETION TO MAKE A BLOCK PAID PARKING, BUT THE TWO-HOUR LIMITATIONS ARE ACTUALLY WRITTEN INTO CODE.
WE'RE JUST TAKING THAT OFF SO THEN RYAN CAN [OVERLAPPING] IMPLEMENT THE PAID PARKING.
>> WILL IMPLEMENT PAID PARKING. I THINK THAT'LL BE A GOOD THING, ESPECIALLY WE'VE GOT AN UPTAKE IN BUSINESSES IN THAT AREA WHERE PEOPLE NEED TO TURN.
SO I THINK THAT'LL WORK PRETTY WELL.
>> IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT THE SYSTEM AND THE FLAW?
>> IT'S NOT REALLY A FLAW. PART OF THAT IS BUILT INTO THE SYSTEM BECAUSE OTHERWISE, YOU'D COME OUT WITH THE CAR FOOT, AND IT'LL BE GOOD.
>> IT'S NOT A BUG, IT'S A FEATURE.
[LAUGHTER] WELL, I UNDERSTAND THAT.
[00:15:01]
>> THAT WAS INSPIRED BY DESIGN THAT WE DO THAT BECAUSE OTHERWISE THAT DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF THE TWO-HOUR PARKING.
>> YEAH. BUT IT'S REALLY TWO HOURS PER DAY.
>> NO, IT'S TWO HOURS [OVERLAPPING] PER DAY PER BLOCK.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. I CAN'T PARK THERE IN THE MORNING, GO OFF, AND THEN COME BACK AND [OVERLAPPING] MY TWO HOURS IS OVER.
>> YOU COULD, IN THEORY, IF THEY RAN YOUR THING IN THE MORNING AND THEN THEY RAN IT AND YOU WEREN'T THERE AND THEN THEY RAN IT AGAIN, YOU WOULD GET TAGGED AGAIN.
BUT IF THEY RUN IT ONCE, YOU LEAVE AND COME BACK AND THEN THEY RUN IT AGAIN, THEY DON'T KNOW THAT YOU LEFT.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE NEED TO BE VERY CLEAR IN OUR PRESS RELEASE ON WHAT BLOGS ARE BEING AFFECTED [NOISE] BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY HEARD PEOPLE DOWNTOWN SAYING, HEY, DID YOU HEAR WE'RE GETTING TWO HOURS FREE PARKING?
>> I'M NOT SURE WHERE THEY ARE GETTING THAT.
>> WELL, I'M JUST SAYING I'M HEARING THAT.
[OVERLAPPING] WE NEED TO BE VERY CLEAR IN OUR MESSAGE.
>> YEAH. I HAD A QUESTION ON THAT.
A COUPLE OF THINGS ON THE TWO-HOUR PARKING THAT WE'RE MOVING ON THE, I GUESS IS THE WEST SIDE OF THE 20TH.
ARE WE WANTING TO INSTITUTE PAID PARKING THERE?
>> YES, BUT THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING THAT.
>> THE TWO HOURS WRITTEN INTO THE CODE.
>> THE MANAGER HAS DISCRETION TO APPLY THE PAID PARKING.
>> HE DOESN'T HAVE TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL FOR THAT?
>> THAT'LL BE HALF, I'M ASSUMING YOU'LL DO THAT SUBSEQUENT [OVERLAPPING] REMAINING CASE.
>> THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD INCLUDED IN THIS IS THE 30TH, AND 31 UNDER BLOCK OF MARKET IN THIS ORDER.
>> WE'RE REMOVING IT I THINK FROM THERE. [OVERLAPPING]
IS IT YOU'RE REMOVING? [OVERLAPPING]
>> WELL, THERE WAS A BIG ISSUE THERE.
>> THE BUSINESS OWNER THAT WAS THERE WANTED IT AND THE BUILDING OWNER DID NOT.
THE BUSINESS LEFT THERE AND BUILDING OWNER HAS ASKED THAT IT BE REMOVED.
>> I WANT TO BE CLEAR. I WANT TO CLEAR THIS, IS REMOVING THAT?
>> WE'RE REMOVING IT ON THOSE SECTIONS.
>> THAT WAS THE CASE WHERE THE TENANT CAME TO US AND WE CHANGED IT BASED ON THE TENANT AND THE BUILDING OWNER GOT A HOLD OF US AND SAID, "NO, I DON'T WANT THAT." SUBSEQUENT TO THAT, THE TENANT LEFT SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO REMOVE THE TWO-HOUR RESTRICTION THERE.
>> SOUNDS GOOD. GREAT. JOHN, ANYTHING ELSE TO THE ANSWER?
>> I THINK THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTIONS.
>> YEAH. I NEED TO TALK ABOUT 11P.
THAT'S THE ADDITION TO THE AIRPORT WATER PLANT EXPANSION.
>> TRINA, WELCOME BACK TO YOU.
>> THAT'S THE ONE WE LIVE AND [OVERLAPPING].
>> YOU WANT TO SIT HERE OR YOU WANT TO SIT OVER HERE?
>> IT DOESN'T MATTER, WHEREVER YOU LIKE.
>> WE HAVE AN EMPTY CHAIR RIGHT HERE, TRINA.
>> THE AIRPORT PUMP STATION IS THE PUMP STATION BEING REBUILT RIGHT NOW.
IT INCLUDED THE REPAIRS OF THE OLD BUILDING AND THEN THE CREATION OF A BRAND NEW BUILDING, INSTALLATION OF TWO NEW PUMPS, AND THEN A RESTORATION OF THE DISINFECTION AND CORROSION CONTROL SYSTEM.
ALONG WITH IT WAS A TANK IN FLOW CONTROL FLOW METERS AND WHAT NOT.
THE DESIGN BEGAN MANY YEARS AGO, YEARS BEFORE I WAS HERE.
AT THE TIME THAT THEY WENT AND LOOKED AT THE BUILDING, IT MUST HAVE LOOKED LIKE IT WAS REPAIRABLE.
WHEN WE ACTUALLY CAME TO DO THE PROJECT AND STARTED BREAKING THE CMU, THERE WAS A WHOLE BUNCH OF SUBSURFACE DAMAGE.
IT WAS APPARENT THAT WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO REPAIR THE BUILDING WITHOUT PUTTING SOME EXTENSIVE WORK.
WHEN WE STARTED GETTING COST TO REPAIR THE BUILDING, THE COST WERE COMING IN PRETTY CLOSE TO 500K.
THE COST FOR A NEW BUILDING WAS COMING IN SOMEWHERE AROUND 640-650K.
IT JUST DIDN'T SEEM TO MAKE SENSE TO SPEND $0.5 MILLION TO REPAIR A BUILDING THAT WOULDN'T RESTORE ITS ENTIRE LIFE WHEN FOR ANOTHER $150K WE COULD REBUILD IT COMPLETELY.
PART OF THE COST IS THE FACT THAT WE'RE KEEPING THAT PUMP STATION RUNNING THE ENTIRE TIME.
THE EXTRA MEASURES HAVE TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN YOU'RE KEEPING THOSE VERTICAL TURBINE PUMPS, THE CHEMICAL CONTROL SYSTEM DISINFECTION GOING.
>> PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT BUILDING ONE UNDER ABOUT FOUR FEET OF WATER DURING HURRICANE HIKE.
I THINK THAT THE CORROSION AND STUFF AND STEEL ON THE WALLS IS GETTING PRETTY BAD.
[00:20:01]
I NOTICED THAT DURING THE FREEZE WHEN I WAS OUT THERE, IT WAS FALLING OFF. IT'S GETTING PRETTY BAD.>> WHEN DID THE PROJECT BEGAN?
>> I DON'T RECALL. I THINK IT HAD TO BE-
>> LET'S SAY, JANUARY. IT HADN'T BEEN A YEAR.
>> DID WE GO BACK AND LOOK AT IT TO ASSESS IT?
>> YES. THE PROBLEM CAME UP VERY EARLY ON, AND WHEN IT CAME UP, WE STARTED REALLY LOOKING AT IT.
THERE WAS A WHOLE BUNCH OF CONVERSATION.
WE BROUGHT DUDLEY INTO THE MIX BECAUSE DUDLEY ANDERSON IS AN ARCHITECT AND HE HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH BUILDINGS.
WE BROUGHT SCOTT GAREN WITH [INAUDIBLE] BECAUSE HE'S ALSO AN ARCHITECT AND HE STARTED WEIGHING IN.
THEN WE BROUGHT DEC OR DAN INVOLVEMENT TO DISCOVER HOW THE WHOLE THING WENT ABOUT.
WE WENT IN AND WE STARTED DOING STRUCTURAL TESTING ON THE REBAR, WHAT NOT THAT'S INSIDE IN BETWEEN THE CMU AND REALIZE THAT IN SOME PLACE YOU COULD BREAK IT APART WITH YOUR HAND.
ONE OF THE WALLS LOOKS LIKE IT COULD FALL AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT, WHICH IS THE STATE THE ISSUE IS IN.
WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TRYING TO DETERMINE WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP.
DO WE JUST TEAR THE WHOLE THING DOWN AND LEAVE IT WIDE OPEN? DO WE TRY TO ADDRESS THIS THING UP? DO WE REPAIR IT? DO WE REBUILD IT? IT TOOK SEVERAL MONTHS TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE WERE [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE'VE ALREADY EXPANDED THIS, WE'VE ALREADY BUILT IT, DIDN'T WE?
>> WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS, WE APPROPRIATE ACCORDING TO THIS ALMOST NINE MILLION DOLLARS FOR IT, CORRECT?
>> MOST OF THAT IS GLM MONEY, CORRECT, TRINA?
>> I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK INTO THAT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> SOME OF IT IS HURRICANE MONEY.
>> WELL, THIS SAYS IT'S THE CEO BOB WATER.
>> SOME OF IT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE QUITE ENOUGH TO DO THE ENTIRE PROJECT.
>> WE SHOULD HAVE HAD IT BROKEN DOWN IF IT'S FEMA MONEY?
>> THERE'S NO FEMA MONEY IN IT.
NO, I'VE GOT IT CONFUSED WITH AIRPORT WASTE WATER PLANT.
>> OKAY. ALL THIS IS SEAL MONEY?
>> OKAY. BECAUSE THE QUESTION I WAS LEADING UP TO IS THAT WE ALLOCATE THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY.
DID YOU TAKE A LOOK? DID YOU DO A SURVEY? DID YOU DO THE PRE-WORK? IN OTHER WORDS, TO ADD TO THE COST BEFORE WE GO BACK BECAUSE NOW WE'RE AT NINE PERCENT COST OVERRUN.
>> I GUESS, MY POINT IS, IF YOU WENT OUT THERE AND LOOK AT ADDED TO THAT POINT IN TIME, WE NEED TO ALLOCATE THAT MONEY UPFRONT INSTEAD OF COMING BACK AND GET BITS, AND PIECES.
BUT I DO UNDERSTAND IT'S DETERIORATING, BUT WE SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT THAT WITH THE FEASIBILITY STUDY RIGHT UPFRONT.
>> PART OF THAT WAS AS THE DESIGN ON THIS, PROBABLY IN 2014, 2013.
IT'S BEEN SEVEN YEARS SINCE IT WAS DESIGNED.
>> WELL, IF THE WORK BEGAN IN 2020, FEASIBILITY STUDY SHOULD HAVE BEEN RIGHT DONE AT THAT POINT THERE. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> NO. THESE BUILDINGS STUDIES DONE WHEN YOU HAD COMMISSIONED THE PROJECT FOR ENGINEERING.
>> OKAY. WHAT DID WE FIND ON A FEASIBILITY STUDY?
>> THEY LOOKED AT IT, THEN THEY THOUGHT THE BUILDING WAS FAIRLY STATED IN X-RAY WALLS AND EVERYTHING.
BUT THEY LOOKED AT IT, THEY THOUGHT THE BUILDING WAS SALVAGEABLE.
>> THAT MIGHT BE ONE THING WE NEED TO LOOK AT IN THE FUTURE.
BECAUSE YOU HAVE INFRARED THAT CAN LOOK AT THOSE STRUCTURES, ESPECIALLY THE ROD THAT'S PUT IN THERE, THE REINFORCEMENTS AND ALL THAT CAN BE DONE.
IT MAY SAVE US SOME MONEY IN THE LONG RUN.
WE HAD $30,000 AND 15, THEN WE HIT ANOTHER $600 AND ALMOST $700,000 BECAUSE I LOOK AT THE FINANCES TO SEE WHAT ACCOUNTS WE'RE TAKING IT ON? WHY DIDN'T WE DO A FEASIBLE STUDY? IF WE DID, HOW CAN WE ENHANCE THE NEXT PROJECT BY IT USE INFRARED TECHNOLOGY? THE COST, THE $600,000, WHAT IS THAT GOING TO INCLUDE?
>> IT'S GOING TO TEAR DOWN THE ENTIRE BUILDING.
THAT'S GOING TO BE A BRAND NEW BUILDING, BRAND NEW LOOK, BRAND NEW ROOF, BRAND NEW ELECTRICAL, BRAND NEW EXHAUST FANS.
>> WE'RE GETTING A BRAND NEW BUILDING?
>> THERE'S ALREADY A NEW BUILDING SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO IT THAT WE JUST FINISHED.
>> THAT'S PART OF THE ADDITION.
>> WE ARE GOING TO HAVE IT MATCH THE NEW BUILDING.
>> WE REALLY WANT IT GETTING INTO THIS BUILDING THAT MUCH BECAUSE WE PUT AN ADDITION ON TO IT.
IT'S WHAT WE STARTED ATTACHING TO IT, I THINK HERE WE FOUND THE PROBLEM.[OVERLAPPING]
>> YOU COULD WANT TO SHARE ON THAT.
>> YEAH. WHAT IS THIS GOING TO BE TO? HOW WILL THIS AFFECT THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THE WASTEWATER PLANTS?
>> THERE'S NO WASTEWATER AT ALL.
>> OTHER WATER PUMPS. WELL, HOW WILL IT AFFECT THE OPERATION?
>> IT WILL NOT. PART OF THE PROJECT IS MAKING SURE THAT THE PUMP STATION IS RUNNING THE ENTIRE TIME.
>> BUT WHEN COMPLETE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO FEED THE ENTIRE WEST END FROM THE AIRPORT.
>> WE HAVE DONE THAT. WE ARE GOING TO FREEZE, WE USE THE AIRPORT.
>> WE WERE DOING IT ON SOME VERY OLD TIRED PUMPS.
YOU'VE SEEN THE NEW TANK WE'VE BUILT THERE.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT BIGGER CAPACITY AT THAT LOCATION AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO FEED THE ENTIRE WEST,
[00:25:03]
AND THEN THERE'S AN INTERCONNECT FROM THE AIRPORT PUMP STATION, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE DOING ON HERTZ LANE TO 59 STREET PUMP STATION SO WE HAVE REDUNDANCY.IF ANY OF THAT GOES DOWN, WE COULD ACTUALLY PUMP FROM 59 STREET IF WE NEEDED TO.
THAT'S A BIG ENOUGH PLANT. WE CAN FEED THE ENTIRE ISLAND FROM 59 STREET.
>> THIS IS THE OTHER END OF ALL THAT BLUE PIPE PEOPLE CAN SEE ALONG BROADWAY.
>> OUT BY THE JUSTICE CENTER. THIS IS THE OTHER END OF THAT PIPE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT, AND THAT'S THE NEW TANK.
ACTUALLY ULTIMATELY THERE WILL BE A SECOND TANK PUT IN AT THE AIRPORT AS WELL.
HOW MANY OF YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH? BILL PROBABLY IS TO REMEMBER THE OLD CHECKERBOARD AERIAL TANK THAT WAS HERE.
>> IT WAS PROBABLY BEFORE YOU GUYS SERVED HERE.
>> WE'VE REMOVED THAT YEARS AGO BECAUSE OF DECAY LONG BEFORE ANY OF US WERE HERE.
WE'VE ONLY BEEN OPERATING OFF THE ONE TANK AT THE AIRPORT AND WE REALLY NEED TWO TANKS AT THAT AIRPORT.
NOW NOT ONLY THE NEW TANK WE PUT IN THERE IS MUCH BIGGER SO WE ALREADY HAVE MORE CAPACITY AND WE'RE GOING TO PUT A SECOND TANK THERE.
IN CASE WE HAVE MASSIVE LOSS ON THE WEST END, WE DON'T BLEED OUT AS MUCH AS WE DID BEFORE.
>> WHAT WILL THE CITY'S TOTAL WATER STORAGE CAPACITY BE?
>> APPROXIMATELY 30 MILLION GALLONS.
>> HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO [INAUDIBLE].
>> WE'VE PROBABLY HAVE ABOUT 20 MILLION A DAY.
>> I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY IN THE FUTURE, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT FUTURE TECHNOLOGY LIKE INFRARED, GROUND RADAR PENETRATION.
BECAUSE MOSTLY PROJECTS THAT I REVIEWED, LIKE MARKET, 45TH STREET AND THIS ONE, WE NEED TO DO OUR FEASIBILITY WAY IN THE HEAD ADVANCE.
IF THIS ONE, IF WE'RE REPLACING ONE BUILDING, WE SHOULD HAVE LOOKED AT IT LIKE THAT AT THAT POINT TO REPLACE THE OTHER BUILDING.
I THINK WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB ON FEASIBILITY STUDIES.
I WAS OPPONENT OF THAT BECAUSE I'VE DONE MAJOR PROJECTS.
THAT'S WHAT I WOULD PASS ON TO BRIAN TO SEE ABOUT GETTING BETTER FEASIBILITY STAGE TO CUT DOWN OUR COSTS FOR ONE TIME.
>> I'LL MAKE SURE I SHARE THAT WITH OUR ENGINEERING TEAM AS WE MOVE INTO FUTURE PROJECTS, SIR.
>> THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
>> HOW MANY GALLONS DO WE USE PER DAY?
>> PER DAY RIGHT NOW IN THE SUMMER WE'RE USING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 11.5 AND 14.
IT VARIES BASED ON WHETHER OR NOT IT'S A BEAUTIFUL SUNNY DAY.
IF IT'S ONE OF THOSE WEEKENDS WHERE WE HAVE AN EVENT GOING ON AND WE HAVE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE IN.
DURING THE WINTER, WE ARE DOWN TO ABOUT 9.5-10 MILLION.
>> BEFORE WE DID OUR LINK DETECTION WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, WE WERE PUMPING THIS TIME OF THE YEAR ABOUT 18 MILLION GALLONS A DAY.
IN THE WINTER MONTHS WE WERE NEVER GETTING BELOW NINE OR 10 MILLION GALLONS A DAY.
>> WE'RE REALLY ONLY ASKING TWO OR THREE DAYS.
>> THIRTY MILLIONS GALLONS WILL SERVE YOU ALMOST TWO WEEKS IF YOU'RE UNDER STAGE 5 RESTRICTIONS.
>> IF YOU ARE UNDER RESTRICTIONS.
>> DURING AN EMERGENCY WE'RE GOING TO CURTAIL USAGE.
DURING AN EMERGENCY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE HERE IRRIGATING LAWNS AND RUNNING FOUNTAINS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> TWO WEEKS I SHOULD THINK YOU ARE AT A STAGE 5.
>> IDEALLY. BUT REMEMBER, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE 30 MILLION GALLONS, NOT ALL OF THAT'S GOING TO BE CONSUMABLE BECAUSE YOU START GETTING GRAVITATION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TANKS.
WE LEARN THAT QUICKLY DURING THE FREEZE BECAUSE THESE TANKS REQUIRE SO MUCH UPTAKE AND WE PUT THESE HUGE PIPES, THESE HUGE PUMPS IN AND OUT TO PRESSURIZE IT.
>> OUR MAIN GOAL IS TO KEEP FIRE LINES PRESSURIZED.
>> BRIAN, IS THERE ANYWAY WE CAN GET GRANT MONIES FOR THE NEW TECHNOLOGY LIKE INFRARED TECHNOLOGY, GROUND RADAR PENETRATION?
>> WE WOULD OWN THAT, BUT THE ENGINEERS WOULDN'T, THEY ALREADY HAVE IT.
WE WOULD JUST BE PART OF THE COST OF THE PROJECT.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH NEED TO DO THAT KIND OF TECHNOLOGY IN-HOUSE.
>> WE'VE GOT TWO QUESTIONS, BUT BILL, ANYMORE QUESTIONS?
>> OKAY. RAISE IT ON THIS TOPIC.
>> DO WE KNOW HOW MANY GALLONS WE ARE LOSING A DAY NOW?
>> WE HAVE STATS WITH THOSE NUMBERS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
I DON'T HAVE THAT OFF TOP MY HEAD, BUT I CAN PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER AND GET BACK TO YOU TO.
>> I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO GET TO COUNCIL.
>> IT'S QUITE A BIT LESS THAN WHAT IT WAS.
>> WHAT THEY HAVE TOO IS THIS RANGE THAT MOST CITIES WOULD LOVED TO BE [OVERLAPPING].
>> ACTUALLY WE ARE LOWER THAN MOST OTHER CITIES.
>> STILL I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT NUMBER.
>> ARE WE NOT SUPPLYING LESS CRUISE SHIPS THAN WE USED TO AND NOT ONLY JUST BECAUSE OF COVID?
>> THEY'RE TAKING WATER IN OTHER PLACES.
>> THEY TAKE WATER IN OTHER LOCATIONS AND THEY WILL TAKE IT HERE [OVERLAPPING].
>> MOST OF THE NEW SHIPS HAVE DIESEL PLANTS ON THEM.
>> DIESELS HAVE MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
>> VERY GOOD. BILL, ANYTHING ELSE?
ITEM 8F, THIS IS FOR PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
FOR RAISING THE HEIGHT OF THE ACCESSORY STRUCTURES.
[00:30:02]
>> REMEMBER, CATHERINE, CAN SHE HEAR US?
>> BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO TALK TO YOU.
>> ADRIEL, I AM MAKING PRESENTATION.
>> ADRIEL, IN ITEM 8F, WE'RE DOING AWAY WITH THE HEIGHT REQUIREMENT ON ACCESSORY STRUCTURES. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES, SIR, AND OUR REQUIREMENTS WILL BE BASED ON THE INVESTORS, WHICH IN MOST CASE WOULD BE ROUGHLY ABOUT 50.
>> OKAY. THAT WAS MY QUESTION.
IT RAISES THE HEIGHT TO WHAT THE BASE HEIGHT FOR THAT PARTICULAR ZONING DID.
I DIDN'T SEE THAT IN YOUR CHANGES, BUT THAT'S UNDERSTOOD OR SOMEWHERE ELSE, I GUESS?
>> YES, SIR. THAT IS PART OF THE ACTUAL REGULATED BY THE ADDENDUMS FOR EACH DISTRICT, AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW THE CONSULTING DISTRICT HAS A SEPARATE GUIDELINES FOR THAT AS WELL, SO THAT'S ALL COVERED AND UNDERSTOOD UNDER THE DAWNING ADDENDUMS FOR EACH DISTRICT.
I KNOW IN SOME SECTIONS OF THE CITY WE'RE GETTING THESE TOWERS BUILT IN THE BACKYARDS OF HOMES.
DOES THAT TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THOSE TOWERS CANNOT BE ABOVE WHERE THAT BASE ZONING IS?
>> THIS IS MAINLY FOR AV USE ESPECIALLY [INAUDIBLE] UNITS.
NOW ACCESSORIES STRUCTURES, I BELIEVE THEY STILL HAVE TO MEET, AND I'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT THE DEFINITION PRECISELY TO GIVE YOU AN ANSWER.
>> WELL, MY CONCERN IS, WITH THESE TOWERS BEING BUILT, THEY ARE QUITE A HEIGHT ABOVE THE HEIGHT OF THE HOME AND I DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY FALL UNDER THIS SITUATION BEING AN ACCESSORY STRUCTURE.
>> TYPICALLY THEY DO. THEY WOULD BE CONSIDERED ACCESSORY BUILDINGS.
>> THEY WOULD HAVE TO MEET THE SAFE BELTS, THE SAME BASE ZONING HEIGHT. IS THAT RIGHT?
>> EXCUSE ME. WHAT'S THE HEIGHT OF THAT?
>> ROUGHLY FOR MOST DISTRICTS IT WILL BE ABOUT 50.
>> VERY GOOD. NO, I THINK I'VE GOT 10B ANSWERED.
10C, I'VE GOT THAT ANSWERED, AND 10D.
>> VERY GOOD. NOW I'VE GOT ALL MY QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
>> MAY I BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I JUST WANT TO MAKE THE COUNCIL AWARE AT 11 O'CLOCK, I HAVE TO STEP OUT FOR A HURRICANE CALL.
>> MAKE SURE IT'S OPEN IN THE RIGHT PLACES.
>> EVERYBODY BLOW TO THE EAST.
>> ONE LAST THING. ITEM 12A ON OUR AGENDA.
MICHELLE, ARE YOU ONLINE? MICHELLE, HEY.
MICHELLE, THERE WERE TWO ITEM THAT I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE COULD POSSIBLY INSERT INTO THE IMPLEMENTATION MATRIX THAT I HAD MENTIONED IN OUR LAST MEETING THAT I DID SEE IN YOUR NEW IMPLEMENTATION MATRIX JUST ON OUR AGENDA.
ONE OF THEM WAS UNDER THE TOURISM SECTION TO ADD MEDICAL TOURISM, AND THE OTHER UNDER THE MARITIME TARGET SECTOR TO HAVE DEVELOPMENT OF ADDITIONAL CRUISE TERMINALS AND OTHER LIKE TO HAVE ALSO CARGO FACILITIES ADDED THERE.
>> I THINK I HAVE THE MEDICAL TOURISM IN THERE, I NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHERE I FIT IT BUT I WILL DEFINITELY MAKE SURE TO ADD THAT CARGO THEN COME INTO THE MARITIME.
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL. WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM NOW 3B.
[3.B. Discussion Of The FY2022 Budget And Capital Improvement Plan (M. Loftin - 45 Minutes)]
PLEASE READ OUT.>> 3B, DISCUSSION OF THE FY 2022 BUDGET AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
>> VERY GOOD. MIKE, COME ON UP.
>> WHY DON'T YOU SWITCH THE MIC SO HE CAN BE THE HEAD IF YOU DON'T MIND?
[00:35:02]
>> YOU CAN SIT BY MARIE. GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD MORNING. I DO HAVE A POWERPOINT.
I DON'T WANT TO PREEMPT QUESTIONS BY COUNCIL, AND I KNOW YOU HAVE SOME TIME TO LOOK THROUGH THE BUDGET AND A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
CAN EVERYBODY HEAR ME OKAY WITH MY MASK ON?
>>THOUGH SO LOW. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I KNOW IF I'M NOT COMING THROUGH ON TV.
>> LET'S GO AHEAD AND HIT THE SLIDES BRIEFLY, JANELLE.
>> AS FAR AS THE SCHEDULE IS CONCERNED, WE ARE ON SCHEDULE.
THERE'S NO ACTION ON THE REGULAR AGENDA, LET'S DO WITH THE BUDGET.
SEPTEMBER 9TH THERE WILL BE FOUR ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
INCLUDING A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET AND THE BUDGET ORDINANCE ITSELF, AS WELL AS A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPERTY TAX RATE AND PROPERTY TAX RATE ADOPTION ORDERS.
THE BUDGET LAW SAYS THAT WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR PUBLIC HEARING, YOU'D HAVE TO TAKE SOME KIND OF ACTION ON THE BUDGET AT THE END OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THAT INCLUDES POSTPONEMENT, VOTED DOWN, ADOPTED, WHATEVER YOU THINK YOU WANT TO DO AT THAT POINT.
THAT'S THE REASON THAT THE BUDGET WILL BE ON THE AGENDA AT THE END OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THE PROPERTY TAX RATES, EXCUSE ME, I THOUGHT I HAD THEM ALL.
THE PROPERTY TAX RATE CAN'T BE SAID UNTIL THE BUDGET HAS PASSED.
THE LAW SAYS THAT AFTER YOUR TAX RATE HEARING ON THE NINTH, YOU HAVE TO ADOPT IT WITHIN SEVEN DAYS.
YOU COULD EASILY PUT BOTH ITEMS FOR APPROVAL, THE BUDGET AND THE POVERTY TAX RATE OFF TILL THE 16TH.
BUT YOU WILL HAVE TO TAKE ACTION ON THE BUDGET BEFORE YOU TAKE ACTION ON THE TAX RATE. NEXT SLIDE.
JUST A FEW THINGS FOR PEOPLE THAT OWN BIGGEST REVENUE SOURCE IS PROPERTY TAXES, SECOND BIGGEST REVENUE SOURCE IS WATER AND SEWER CHARGES COMBINED.
WE GOT A VERY SMALL PORTION OF HOTEL TAXES AFTER THE TRICKLE-DOWN PROCESS AND OUR OTHER FEES AND FINES ARE SOMEWHAT LESS.
NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS WHERE THE BUDGET GOES.
OUR LARGEST CATEGORY HAS ALWAYS BEEN, I THINK PERSONNEL.
RIGHT AT 50 PERCENT OF THE BUDGET IS PERSONNEL.
>> WELL, AND GOING BACK TO THE SLIDE BEFORE THIS.
WHEN WE LOOK AT WHERE OUR REVENUES COME FROM AND OUR REVENUES COME FROM PROPERTY TAXES.
THEN WHEN YOU [NOISE] GO TO WHERE THEY ARE GOING, FOR YOU LOOK AT THE CIT, YOU STILL SEE MY DISTRICT LACKING AND A LOT OF MONEY GOING INTO ROADS.
I WOULD LIKE TO FIGURE OUT HOW, WE HAVE THE MOST DEVELOPMENT GOING ON AND WE HAVE SOME OF THE WORST STREETS ON THE ISLAND.
HOW PEOPLE WOULD JUST BE HAPPY IF WE COULD GET ON BLACK JOBS.
HOW WE COULD GET MORE OF THE WESTERN ROADS INTO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
>> WELL, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT [INAUDIBLE] THAT'S THE IN-HOUSE STREET REPAIR PROGRAM, AND THAT'S A QUESTION OF RESOURCE ALLOCATION WITHIN THE EXISTING BUDGET.
TYPICALLY WHAT WE DO IS WE FOLLOW A SURVEY AND WE TAKE THE WORST STREETS FIRST, AND THEN WE TRY TO DIVIDE THEM UP EQUALLY TO SELF DISTRICTS.
>> BUT THE SURVEY WAS DONE PRIOR TO [INAUDIBLE] DELTA AND THE OTHER STAR, BETA AND DELTA.
MY QUESTION ONE, THE PEOPLE WHO GO OUT AND DO THE ROAD, ASSESS THEM, THAT THEY ACTUALLY GO AND DRIVE ALL THE ROADS TO DISTRICT 6.
BECAUSE I WOULD FIND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT I GET EMAILS ABOUT THIS ALL THE TIME.
WHERE IF YOU LOOK IN THE ROAD THING, OUR ROAD IS RATED AT 50 PERCENT AND YET YOU DRIVE TO THAT ROAD AND IT'S LIKE A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY.
I QUESTION THAT ALL ROADS ARE LOOKED AT, BUT I STILL WANT TO KNOW HOW I COULD GET MORE OF MY ROADS.
I HAVE THE MOST DEVELOPMENT GOING ON AND STILL THE MOST OPEN LAND.
[00:40:01]
WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW THE AREA THAT IS ALLOWING US TO AT LEAST LOWER OR WE'RE REALLY NOT LOWERING IN OUR TAX RATE OR APPRAISAL WE'RE NOT AGAIN, AND THAT REALLY AFFECTED MY DISTRICT.A LOT OF MY DISTRICT OR A PERCENTAGE OF MY DISTRICT DOESN'T HAVE THE HOMESTEAD.
THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GETTING YOUR BIGGEST BULK OF MONEY.
HOW CAN WE GET MORE OF MY STREETS INTO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN?
>> WELL, I THINK THAT'S A QUESTION, BRIAN, THAT YOU CAN ADDRESS.
>> ULTIMATELY THAT'S POLICY DECISION BY COUNCIL.
WE'VE DONE IT, DIVIDED IT UP AS EQUALLY AS WE COULD IN MOST OF THE DISTRICTS.
IF YOU-ALL WANT TO CUT THE OTHER DISTRICTS TO PUT IT IN HERS, THAT'S YOUR CALL.
WE'LL SAY IT'S EASIER FOR US TO INCREASE ONE DISTRICT A LITTLE MORE.
>> WELL, I DON'T WANT TO GET OFF ON THIS DISCUSSION UNTIL WE GET MIKE'S PRESENTATION FINISHED UP.
THIS SIDE AND ON HIS PRESENTATION, BUT I THINK THIS IS A GOOD POINT.
WE MIGHT NEED TO COME BACK AND ADDRESS THAT COMING UP HERE WITH ANOTHER SEPARATE ITEM ON THAT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THERE'S 1.6 MILLION IN THE CIP FOR THAT PROJECT NOW, CITY WIDE FOR THE PROGRAM.
>> YEAH, BUT IF THERE WOULD BE SOME WAY THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY, ONE, I'D LIKE TO SEE US LOWER THE TAX RATE BY ANOTHER $0.02.
BUT TWO, I'D LIKE TO SEE US SET A SECOND INTERNAL BLACK DOT TEAM.
I KNOW YOU CAN'T ASK FOR THE TAXES TO BE LOWERED THAN IT HA., THE CITY TO SPEND MORE MONEY, I'M NOT FOOLISH.
IF WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH THIS NUMBER WHICH EVERYONE SHOULD BE AWARE.
OUR TAX NUMBER IS THE EXACTLY AT WHERE WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO HAVE AN ELECTION TO MAKE IT.
WE ARE NOT GIVING A TAX CUT BECAUSE EVERYONE APPRAISALS WENT UP, THE TAX WILL BE A LOWER RATE, BUT WE ARE NOT GIVING THEM TAX CUT.
BUT THERE HAS TO BE SOME WAY THAT WE CAN LOOK AT SHIFTING SOME MONEY THAT WE END UP WITH TWO BLACK DOT TEAMS. BECAUSE ONE, IT SAVES US SO MUCH RUNNING OUT.
A PERFECT EXAMPLE WAS THE [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT'S NOT SO MUCH THE TEAMS IT'S THE EQUIPMENT.
THE EQUIPMENT IS MULTI MILLION DOLLAR WORTH EQUIPMENT.
>> LET'S LET MIKE FINISH UP ON HIS PRESENTATION AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK.
>> KEEP IN MIND, FIVE YEARS AGO WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A BLACK DOT MACHINE. SO, [OVERLAPPING].
>> OKAY. LETS GO AHEAD AND PRESENTATION.
>> NOW LET'S GO TO THE NEXT LINE.
KEY BUDGET ITEMS THAT THE TAX RATE IS GOING DOWN.
OUR REVENUE IS GOING TO INCREASE 6.29 PERCENT OVERALL IN THE BUDGET.
IF YOU ALL UNDERSTAND, WHEN WE LOOK AT TOTAL TAXES THAT ARE COLLECTED WE'RE COLLECTING TAXES RETURNS 13 IN THE MONTH 30 AS PART OF OUR TOTAL.
IT'S ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS THIS YEAR.
I CALL THAT TOTAL THE GRAND TOTAL.
THE BUDGET DOESN'T HAVE THOSE TAXES IN IT AS REVENUE, IT'S EXPANDED OUT AND IT'S PASSED ON TO RETURNS 13 IN THE MONTH 30.
THE SIX PERCENT CUT IN TAXES RESULTS IN AN OFFSET OF ABOUT 14 PERCENT IF THE TAX WERE PAID FROM THE INCREASED LEVELS.
>> THE INCREASE IS FOR POLICE AND FIRE CUMULATIVELY, BRINGING THE TOTAL TO ABOUT A 33 PERCENT INCREASE WHEN YOU COMPARE WITH 2015, AND THAT INCLUDES BOTH SALARIES AND PENSIONS.
THIS BUDGET HAS TWO PERCENT IN IT FOR CIVILIAN COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT.
THERE'S FUNDS FOR EQUITY ADJUSTMENTS INCLUDING BRINGING THE LOW PAID EMPLOYEES UP TO AT LEAST $15 AN HOUR?
>> CAN I ASK A QUESTION THAT I'M NOT SURE?
>> YOU'RE BRINGING EVERYBODY UP TO 15 DOLLAR AN HOUR.
DOES THAT INCLUDE A CALL INTO IT? THEN THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING $15 AN HOUR, IF THEY ARE MAKING SAY $17 AN HOUR, ARE THEY'RE GETTING 2 PERCENT INCREASE?
>> WE BUDGET THOSE SEPARATELY.
I'D HAVE TO SAY YES, THEY'LL STILL GET THERE TWO PERCENT ON TOP OF GOING UP TO $15.
>> THEY'RE GETTING 15 PLUS 2 PERCENT ON TOP?
>> THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE ABOVE THAT LEVEL THEY JUST GOING TO GET A TWO PERCENT INCREASE IN PAY?
>> NO, THE HR HAS LOOKED AT THE COMPRESSION EFFECT OF RATIONALIZES THESE PEOPLE, AND THAT'S ADDRESSED IN THOSE DOLLARS THAT WE'VE BEEN ALLOCATED.
>> YEAH. YOU GOING TO HAVE SOME CREW CHIEFS, EQUIPMENT OPERATORS, AND PEOPLE LIKE THAT.
>> WE DO GET AN INCREASE IN PAY?
>> WELL, I THINK [OVERLAPPING].
[00:45:01]
>> WHAT ARE WE UP TO? SIX ZEROS NOW.
>> YEAH. [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING]
>> OKAY. WE HAVE A NET GROWTH OF FOUR ADDITIONAL CIVILIAN STAMP CITYWIDE.
THERE'S NET 12.5 NEW POSITIONS, BUT WE'VE ELIMINATED 8.8.
YOU DO THE MATH, THAT'S ACTUALLY A 3.7 FTES.
OUR VEHICLE EQUIPMENT BUDGET IS 6.6 MILLION, QUITE A FEW REPLACEMENTS.
THERE'S SOME HEAVY EQUIPMENT BEING BROUGHT IN THERE, BUT IT'S VAST.
ABOUT 100 PERCENT OF THAT SERVICE RELATED VEHICLES IN PUBLIC WORKS.
[INAUDIBLE] WE'LL GET SOME DOLLARS OUT OF THAT.
I THINK THERE'S A DOZEN POLICE CRUISERS ON THE LIST
>> NOW, THERE IS REVENUE THAT'S NOT IN THE BUDGET.
WE'LL BE TALKING A LOT ABOUT THE LIBRARY LATER, BUT THE LIBRARY PAYMENTS, THE SHARE AND THE PROPERTY TAXES EQUITABLY ARE NOT IN THE BUDGET.
WHAT WE GAVE YOU IN THE WAY OF A DOCUMENT DIDN'T INCLUDE THE SANITATION FEE INCREASES OR THE TAP FEE INCREASES THAT YOU APPROVED.
BUT WHEN WE BRING YOU THE BUDGET TO ADOPT, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND BUDGET THE SANITATION FEE NUMBER.
THE SANITATION FUND IS MORE SOLIDLY BASED IN THE BUDGET.
THEY WON'T HAVE TO SHOW THAT WE'RE USING THE FUND BALANCE OFF.
>> SO IT IS REFLECTING IN HERE, ISN'T IT?
>> THE INCREASE IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO CURING SOME OF THE [INAUDIBLE] PROBLEMS.
>> I THINK YOU SAID, IT WILL BE WHEN WE GET THE FINAL BUDGET.
>> ARE THOSE INCREASES ALREADY.
>> [INAUDIBLE] 10 OUT OF 12, THE SANITATION FEE.
>> BRIAN, ARE THOSE INCREASES ALREADY IN EFFECT?
>> I BELIEVE. TRINA, WE IMPLEMENTED THE NEW TAP FEES YET?
>> HOW ABOUT THE SEWER INCREASE AND ALL, YOU [INAUDIBLE].
>> THAT'S ALWAYS THE WAY IT IS.
>> WE CAN END THE SANITATION FEE, SEWER CHARGE, NOT SURE.
>> COMMUNITY GARDENS PAYMENT ENDED IN FISCAL 21.
I WAS BORN IN HAT WAS $440,000 THAT WE'RE NOT SEEING AND IT'S NOT AN ISSUE.
JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW WITH WATER AND SEWER.
WE AREN'T GETTING UP RIGHT ON OUR GCWA PAYMENTS OR NOT THOSE WATER AUTHORITY THING THAT SAYS ALL OF OUR CONTRACT DEBT IS BEING PAID OFF IN THIS YEAR EARLY ON WITH THE AMOUNT OF 200,000 OR $300 THOUSAND AMOUNT.
WE DID BUMP THEIR MATERIAL AND SUPPLY COSTS BECAUSE INCLUDING GASOLINE TO MEET THE INFLATIONARY EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC.
WE'VE GOT SOME DEBT SERVICE SAVINGS IN THE SPRING WHEN WE REFUNDED OUR REMAINING REVENUE BONDS AND THE DEBT SERVICE BETWEEN WATER AND SEWER BONDS WHICH WAS SPLIT 50, 50 ON THE 2017 AND 2019 COS, WE ARE SHIFTING TO PAY 75% OF THAT FROM THE WATERFRONT ISSUE.
AND THAT'S REALLY A MORE EQUITABLE SITUATION FOR THOSE TWO FUNDS BECAUSE 75 OR 80 PERCENT OF THE PROJECTS HAVE BEEN WATER PROJECTS.
WE ALSO GOT A BIG BOOST IN THE ARM FOR THE WATER AND SEWER CIP FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, AND THEN 27 MILLION DOLLARS IN [INAUDIBLE] ALL THREE OF THOSE PRIVATIZATION INCLUDE THE PIRATES BEACH WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS, AND THEN THE I AND I PROBLEM. NEXT SLIDE.
>> [INAUDIBLE] WATER AND SEWER.
>> I KNOW THAT THE AMR SYSTEM HELPED WITH THE LOSS AND LIKE DAILY WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO [OVERLAPPING].
>> YEAH, THAT'S GOING TO OPEN A WHOLE NEW WORLD TO US IN TERMS OF PROPER USE OF AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY.
GENERAL FUND, JUST THE HIGH POINTS, TWO MILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE GROWTH, A MILLION OF THAT IS PROPERTY TAXES.
THE OTHER MILLION IS SALES TAXES.
AGAIN, I MENTIONED THE OTHER REVENUE THAT'S NOT IN THE BUDGET.
PUBLIC SAFETY, WE HAVE ONE AND A QUARTER MILLION TOTAL INCREASE INVOICE IN PRODUCT PAY.
WELL, 970,000 INCREASE IN POLICE DEPARTMENT PAY.
THE EMS CONTRACT PAYMENTS GOING UP 97,000.
AND THERE'S TWO CIVILIAN POSITION IN POLICE IN THIS BUDGET AS WELL AS A HALF A POSITION IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
[00:50:03]
FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THREE YEARS, WE HAD TO REALLY BOOST OUR HEALTH BENEFITS CONTRIBUTION ON THE EMPLOYER SIDE.WE ARE CONSIDERING SOME CHANGES IN THE PLAN WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF OUR CONSULTANTS.
COMPARING BENEFITS, WE HAVE A VERY RICH PLAN AND WITH THE COST INCREASES, WE'VE TAKEN THE LAST FEW YEARS.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE AN OPTION TO ADJUST AND STILL BE IN LINE WITH OTHER EMPLOYERS OUR SIZE.
THERE'S $330,000 AND A GENERAL FUND ALLOCATED WITH MATERIALS AND SUPPLY.
PRICE INCREASES AGAIN, GASOLINE [INAUDIBLE] [NOISE].
THERE'S ALSO ONE POSITION, EACH IN THE CITY AUDITOR'S OFFICE, THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT, AND THE BUDGET OFFICE.
THE EMPHASIS ON CONTRACT MANAGEMENT, CONTRACT COMPLIANCE IS REALLY GOOD.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GOOD TEAM EFFORT ON THAT WITH THE AUDITOR AND HIS GROUP, AND OUR PURCHASING GROUP.
>> WHY COULDN'T WE HAND OFF THAT ALL OUT AT THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE?
>> [NOISE] WHICH MANAGE, EVEN VERSUS SUBJECTIVITY.
THAT PERSON WHO MANAGES IT, THEN YOU HAVE A PERSON THAT AUDITS IT, THERE'S A SEPARATION THERE.
>> BUT DO THEY WORK CLOSER TOGETHER?
>> THEN THE [INAUDIBLE] SO THE CITY AUDITOR'S OFFICE, THE PURCHASING OFFICE AND THEN THE BUDGET OFFICE, WHAT IS THAT POSITION?
>> THE BUDGET OFFICE WAS A PHYSICIAN THAT WE HAD BEFORE THAT WE ELIMINATED DURING THE FIRST ROUND OF CUTS.
WE REALLY NEED TO GET BACK THESE OTHER ONES FOR DUMPING ALL THIS BUDGET ON ONE PERSON.
AND I DON'T LIKE ALL MY EGGS IN ONE BASKET, THAT WAY.
>> REALLY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CONTINUING LEVEL OF GRANT ADMINISTRATIVE COST AND THE NUMBER OF GRANTS THAT WE'VE GOT.
AND I'LL SHOW YOU SOME DATA OFF OF A SURVEY THAT I'VE DONE THAT ADDS A LAYER OF COMPLEXITY TO THE BUDGET ITSELF BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING BUDGET COST REIMBURSED.
IT'S JUST THAT THIS IS A COMPLICATED PLACE.
IT'S A SMALL CITY, BUT IT'S A COMPLICATED PLACE TO ADMINISTER.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE WONDERFULLY ADDED BRANDON HILL AS OUR NEW COASTAL GUY BUT BRANDON HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE ON GRANTS.
SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LOOKING AT HOW WE COULD GET MORE SEWER.
AND DISTRICT 6 WHERE WE STORED SEPTIC TANKS, WE NEED TO GIVE BRANDING TOGETHER WITH THE PERSON IN THE BUDGET ALL THIS.
BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE TWO HEADS WITH EXPERTISE THEN HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO [OVERLAPPING] HAVE SIX OTHER TYPES OF GRANTS., [INAUDIBLE] NOT THINK THAT WOULD BE KEY.
>> CAN I ADD TO THAT BRANDON'S GOT HIS HANDS FULL.
I'M CERTAIN HE HAS SUCH EXPERTISE, I WOULDN'T QUESTION WHETHER [INAUDIBLE] THE GUY TO BE PUTTING ON THIS BOOK.
BUT SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING AT IS ADDING SOMEONE TO DO MORE GRANTS, SEEKING GRANTS.
NOT JUST MANAGING THE ONES WE HAVE, BUT GOING OUT AND ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR IT. THAT [OVERLAPPING].
>>CITY THAT'S GOING TO BE APPROACHING IT ON THEIR OWN, RIGHT? [OVERLAPPING].
>>I'M UPBRINGING, [OVERLAPPING] THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO TAKE A MORE PROACTIVE APPROACH.
I'M NOT CRAZY ABOUT THAT IDEA OF SPENDING $3.5 TRILLION ON ANYTHING, BUT IF THAT MONEY IS GOING TO BE IN THE PIPELINE OUT THERE.
THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF COMPETITION FOR IT.
WE- WE SHOULD BE LOOKING TO SEE WHAT RIGHTFULLY WE COULD DO TO GET OUT OF IT.
AND THAT MAY TAKE SOME ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL, SOME ADDITIONAL EXPERTISE.
I THINK ESPECIALLY LOOKING AT THIS BUDGET IS WE MOVED FORWARD FROM A REVENUE STANDPOINT, GRANTS ARE GOING TO BECOME AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR OPERATION HERE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL SO FAR, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN GRANTS THAT TESSA HAS BROUGHT.
HE HAS BEEN IRISH PROBABLY WOULD NEED TO KNOW.
YEAH, WE'LL NEED TO GET ASSISTANCE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WHERE WE CAN USE TESSA OF WORKING TOGETHER WITH BRAND NEW PEOPLE WE HAVE THAT HAVE THAT EXPERTISE.
'CAUSE RIGHT THERE TESSA ONE BRAND NAME THAT'S LIKE TWO GREAT MINDS TOGETHER, TWO OF THEM PROBABLY EQUAL THREE WITHOUT HAVING TO ADD A THIRD PERSON.
>>IF YOU LOOK AT THE FINANCE ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET, WHICH IS MY BUDGET, I'VE BEEN THE ONLY PERSON IN THAT BUDGET FOR SINCE I WAS HERE.
TESSA [INAUDIBLE] WHO WAS IN A CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT BUDGET THE LAST FEW YEARS
[00:55:04]
AND SHE'S REALLY GROWN INTO A CENTRAL ROLE ADJACENT THESE BIG BRANDS.>> YEAH. YOU SHOULD HEAR SOME OF THE STORIES THAT I GIVE ON WHAT IT TAKES TO GET REIMBURSED BY TDOM AND FEMA AND THE DOCUMENTATION THAT HAS TO BE PROVIDED ONE API AND THAT IS AN EXTRA EXPERTISE [OVERLAPPING].
>>I HAVE BEEN ON THE FINANCE OFFICE IS WASHINGTON.
>>HAVE WE CLOSED OUR DEPARTMENT FOR THE LAST IPW? THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
>> [LAUGHTER] WE ARE ON HARVEY NOW.
>> I DON'T THINK [INAUDIBLE]. [OVERLAPPING]
>> [LAUGHTER] ELEGANT ISLAND BUT STILL FLOATING AROUND.
>> I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE GOING FOR THE NEXT 40 YEARS.
>> LAST TWO SIGNIFICANT THINGS ABOUT THE GENERAL FUND.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE'S SET-ASIDE INCREASES EVERY YEAR BECAUSE IT'S EIGHT PERCENT OF YOUR TOTAL BUDGET.
THAT'S ABOUT A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS.
THE PROJECTED ENDING FUND BALANCE FOR 12 MONTHS FROM NOW, IT WAS 19 AND 1/2 MILLION FOR 111 DAYS OF OPERATING COST.
>> NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS JUST FOR REFERENCE FOR PEOPLE, IF THEY SIGN ON, THEY GO AFTER OUR FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY PAYS AND WE'LL LOOK AT SOME OF THE KEY THINGS OF THE BUDGET.
THIS IS WHERE THEY GO WHEN YOU'RE IN THAT DOCUMENT.
AGAIN, THE INDEX, THE TABLE OF CONTENTS.
>> I THINK THIS IS REALLY HELPFUL, MIKE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THAT IN.
[BACKGROUND] I ALSO HIGHLY SUGGEST THE READING LIKE IF YOU'RE HAVING A HARD TIME SLEEPING, IT DOES WORK FOR INSOMNIA. [OVERLAPPING]
>>I CALL TO ATTENTION [OVERLAPPING] [NOISE]
>>THERE'S A LOT OF DETAIL [OVERLAPPING]. A LOT OF THIS IS IN THAT BUDGET SUMMARY SECTION, AND THAT REALLY HELPS YOU GET A GOOD BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF THE WHOLE THING BEFORE YOU DIVE OFF INTO THAT PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT OR DETAIL.
NEXT LINE. OKAY. I WANT TO HIT SOME HIGH POINTS THIS MORNING FOR YOU ON FOUR KEY AREAS, SALES TAX, PROPERTY TAX, ALLOCATION OF FUNDS AND LONG-TERM DEBT.
WE'VE GOT CONSERVATIVE NUMBERS ON THE SALES TAX AND THE BUDGET.
AS COUNCIL MEMBER ROB SAID, TAXES ARE STILL GOING UP FOR MANY TAX PAYERS.
THEY ARE DROPPING SLIGHTLY ACCORDING TO OUR PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT FOR HOMESTEAD HOMEOWNERS IF THEY'RE DROPPING ABOUT $17, WHICH TURNS OUT TO BE 1.7%, BUT THEY'VE GONE UP FOR ALL OTHER SINGLE FAMILY OWNERS.
THAT'S THE WAY THAT I WORKED FOR.
>>I'M PROUD TO CALCULATE THAT, AND I'VE TALKED WITH CHERYL ABOUT IT AND IT'S HARD TO PUT TOGETHER.
IT'S AN APPLES AND ORANGES COMPARISON.
BUT THE NON-HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES LOOK LIKE THEY'RE ABOUT $100,000 MORE TAXABLE VALUE THAN THE HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES.
>>JUST SO PEOPLE ARE AWARE, I WOULD SAY PROPERTIES THAT ARE BELOW $500,000 ARE JUST NOW GOING IN.
HOMESTEADS ARE JUST DAMPING SCHEDULE FOR THEIR PROTEST.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE, I KNOW MULTIPLE BRANDS IN THE NEXT TWO, THREE WEEKS ALL HAVE PROTESTS.
THE PROTEST WILL PROBABLY GO THROUGH THE END OF SEPTEMBER.
>> [INAUDIBLE] AFFECT THE TAX RATE.
>> YEAH. WE'VE BEEN LOSING 20% IN THE HEARINGS AND 15-20 PERCENT, AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE GOT BACKED INTO MY ESTIMATED NUMBERS.
YOU CAN'T TAKE THE TAX RATE CALCULATION, TAX LEVY NUMBER AND BUDGET IT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE FREEZE.
IT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE [INAUDIBLE].
I HAVE TO TAKE IT AND REVIEW IT, AND THAT CHART THAT I'VE GOTTEN THE BUDGET ON PROPERTY TAXES, HOW I GET THERE.
>> THAT'S WHY THE WAY THE COUNTY ADDRESSES THIS, THEY TAKE THE COMMERCIAL, THEY TAKE THE HIGH-END VERSE SO THAT WHEN THEY'RE SETTING THEIR TAX RATE, THEY HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW MUCH THAT DIFFERENTIAL WILL BE AND THEY JUST USE A PERCENTAGE ON WHAT THE SMALLER ONES WILL BE.
>> NO, WE HAVE JUST [INAUDIBLE] THAT AND WE'LL GET CERTIFICATION OF VALUE ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH MAYBE EVEN THE EARLY CALENDAR YEAR '22. IT TAKES A WHILE.
>> SIXTY PERCENT OF THE BUDGET IS RESTRICTED.
I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT, AND IT MAKES IT HARD FOR US TO JUST REALLOCATE WITHIN OUR TOTAL BUDGET.
I'VE GOT SOME FRESH NUMBERS FOR YOU FROM THE FISCAL YEAR '20 FINANCIAL REPORTS FROM TWO GROUPS OF CITIES, AREA CITIES AND CITIES THAT ARE OUR POPULATION SITES.
[01:00:02]
NEXT SLIDE. SALES TAX.>> [NOISE] THIS GRAPH RIGHT HERE SHOWS HOW THE HOUSTON REGION IS DOING WITH RECOVERING JOBS LOST TO THE PANDEMIC.
EMPLOYMENT, WHEN I RUN MY ANALYSIS, EXPLAINS 90% OF THE VARIATION IN OUR SALES TAX ALL BY ITSELF.
I'VE GOT OTHER VARIABLES IN THERE TO BRING IT UP TO 99%.
BUT THIS IS THE BIG HITTER AND OUR SALES TAX WILL BE PROPORTIONALLY LESS, WERE IT NOT FOR THE STIMULUS AND SOME OF THE EUPHORIA I WOULD CALL IT AFTER THE LOCK DOWN LAST YEAR WITH ALL THE PEOPLE THAT JUST WANTED TO COME SEE THE WATER.
NEXT SLIDE. I'VE GOT A VARIABLE THAT ISOLATES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT'S ACTUALLY COMING IN AND THE AMOUNT OF TAX THAT WE WOULD NORMALLY EXPECT TO GET WITH THE LEVEL OF EMPLOYMENT THAT WE'RE AT.
YOU CAN SEE THIS YEAR, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT A TWO-MILLION BENEFIT FOR FISCAL '21.
I DID NOT INCLUDE ALL OF THAT WHEN I DID THE ESTIMATE IN JULY OF '17 AND A QUARTER MILLION THAT WAS TAKEN OUT A CONSERVATIVE APPROACH TO SEE IF IT WILL MATERIALIZE.
NOW, IT LOOKS AS THOUGH WE WILL BE A MILLION DOLLARS HIGHER THAN THAT, BUT IT'S ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE STIMULUS.
GOING INTO FISCAL YEAR '22, I'M NOT TAKING THE WHOLE PROJECTION THAT THE VOWEL WOULD GIVE ME ALONG WITH SOME PHASING OUT OF THE STIMULUS, WHICH ADDS UP TO ABOUT A MILLION BUCKS IF IT DOES OCCUR.
THAT WOULD GIVE US $19 MILLION AND THE BUDGET IS $18.2.
WE'RE TRYING TO BE VERY CAREFUL IN LIGHT OF THE VARIANTS THAT ARE HITTING US.
THIS IS A CHANCE ABOUT THE [INAUDIBLE]
>> MIKE, WHEN YOU DO YOUR CONSERVATIVE NUMBERS, WHAT PERCENTAGE IS THAT BELOW THE AMOUNT THAT YOU PROJECTED WE WOULD RECEIVE?
>> WELL, ACTUALLY THIS YEAR, THE BUDGET WAS $16.3.
WE WERE VERY CONSERVATIVE A YEAR AGO BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THINGS WERE GOING TO GO.
WE DON'T KNOW WHEN A VACCINE WAS GOING TO BE AVAILABLE.
BUT THIS YEAR, WE'RE TWO MILLION MORE HIGHER.
WE'VE BEAT THAT $16.3 MILLION BY ALMOST TOO LATE.
IT'S THE STIMULUS EFFECT AFTER THAT.
>> [BACKGROUND] NEXT SLIDE. PROPERTY TAXES, THERE ARE SOME HIGH POINTS HERE.
>>WHAT HAPPENED TO TAXABLE VALUES? WHAT CATEGORIES OF PROPERTY GOT HIT THE HARDEST? SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCES INCLUDING, AND THERE'S ABOUT 22,000 OF THEM INCLUDING ALL SORTS OF SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCES WENT UP ALMOST A BILLION-DOLLAR VALUE.
THAT'S OUR SINGLE LARGEST CATEGORY OF VALUE, OR 18.3%.
THE ONE THING THAT THE HOMESTEAD OWNERS, ACTUALLY SEVERAL THINGS, HOMESTEAD PROPERTY OWNER GETS 20 PERCENT DISCOUNT.
THERE'S A 10 PERCENT TAB ON HOW MUCH TAXABLE VALUE CAN GO UP IN A SINGLE YEAR.
THEN IF THEY'RE OVER 65, OR DISABLED, OR A VETERAN, THERE'S ADDITIONAL VALUE THAT'S EXEMPTED.
IN ADDITION, THERE'S THIS FREEZE ON THE AMOUNT THAT'S PAID, REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE REST OF THAT FOR DISABLED HOMESTEAD OWNERS AND OVER 65 HOMESTEAD OWNERS.
>> APARTMENTS WENT UP BY A THIRD.
THAT'S GOT TO BE AFFECTING RENTS.
COMMERCIAL REAL CATEGORY WENT UP 40%.
THEIR INVENTORY VALUES DIDN'T GO UP, THEY ACTUALLY DROPPED SLIGHTLY $10 OR $15 BILLION, BUT THE BIG STORY IN THERE WAS THE REAL PROPERTY OWNED BY COMMERCIAL VACANT LOTS AND LAND TRACKS, WHICH ARE TYPICALLY GOING TO END UP BEING SOME KIND OF SINGLE-FAMILY DEVELOPMENT WENT UP 21 PERCENT.
EVERYTHING ELSE WAS REALLY A NET-ZERO CHAIN.
UTILITY COMPANIES, ALL OTHER KINDS OF [INAUDIBLE].
SECOND BULLET THERE IS THE INFORMATION THAT IS IN THE ADVERTISEMENT THAT IS RUNNING ON THE MUNICIPAL CHANNEL, AND IT'S ON THE WEB PAGE AND IT'S GOING TO BE IN THE PAPER WHEN WE GET CLOSER TO
[01:05:04]
THE PUBLIC HEARING.[BACKGROUND] WE TALKED ABOUT THE NON-HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES.THEY'RE SAYING SOME INCREASED TAXES OF A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT TO GET THAT OVERALL INCREASE TO AN 18 PERCENT.
NEXT PAGE. THIS IS A CHART FROM THE BUDGET THAT BREAKS DOWN HOW WE ENDED UP WITH THE FISCAL 21 TAX ROLL, AND WHEN WE SAY IT'S COMPLICATED, THIS IS WHAT WE MEAN.
YOU START WITH A 3% ALLOWANCE, 3.5% ALLOWANCE OVER LAST YEAR'S TAXABLE VALUE OF 7.255 BILLION.
THAT TURNS OUT TO BE ABOUT $254 BILLION.
THEN WE LOOK AT THE VALUE WE LOST TO THE TAX REVENUE GAP THAT RESULTS IN THE RATE REDUCTION OF 6.15%.
NEW CONSTRUCTION IS ABOUT 2% OF THE TOTAL THIS YEAR, 142 MILLION.
THEN YOU'D GET INTO SOME OF THE SLEEPY TIME THINGS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ROBB WAS TALKING ABOUT.
THE GROWTH IN FREEZE ACCOUNTS IS PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL, ALMOST 89 MILLION THIS YEAR, AND AGAIN THAT'S DROPPED OUT OF THE TAX RIGHT CALCULATION.
IT DOESN'T FACTOR IN AT ALL, BUT IT MOVES AND CHANGES.
THE CORE PERCENT FOR SALES TAX ACTUALLY DROPPED THIS YEAR, BUT THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT WE COLLECTED COMPARED TO LAST YEAR BETWEEN JULY TO JUNE, I THINK, IS THE 12 MONTH PERIOD THAT THAT WE USE FOR THAT.
THAT WAS A 0.5% INCREASE IN [INAUDIBLE] VALUE.
THEN WE USED OUR PREVIOUSLY UNUSED INCREMENTAL RATE THAT WAS AVAILABLE WITHIN THE VOTER APPROVAL BREAK GAP.
THERE'S A VERY SMALL PORTION OF THAT LEFT, AND THAT'S 54 MILLION IN VALUE.
THE TIRZ 13 GREW ABOUT 23 MILLION, AND THE REST OF IT IS UNDER ADJUSTMENTS THAT I WASN'T ABLE TO IDENTIFY SPECIFICALLY.
BUT THAT GIVES YOU SOME IDEA OF WHERE OUR 20% INCREASE IN TAX PER VALUE CAME FROM. NEXT SLIDE.
THIS IS WHERE THE INCREASE IN OUR GRAND TOTAL TAX REVENUE COMES FROM, AND AGAIN, THIS INCLUDES WHAT WE'RE COLLECTING FOR TIRZ 13.
START WITH 3.5% INCREASE, THAT'S A BILLION THREE HUNDRED AND NINETY THOUSAND.
THE NEW CONSTRUCTION OF 142 MILLION GIVES US ABOUT 707,000 IN ADDITIONAL TAX REVENUE AT THE PROPOSED RATE THAT WE BUDGETED FOR.
>> ARE YOU COUNTING IN THE NEW CRUISE TERMINAL?
>> NO, BECAUSE THAT'LL COME ONLINE THIS NEXT YEAR.
>> MAYBE EVEN 2023 BEFORE WE GET THE FULL [INAUDIBLE].
>> THEY DO IT ON BIG PROJECTS, THEY'LL TAKE CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS AND PUT A VALUE ON AND STICK IT ON THE ROLL.
WE'LL SEE SOME BENEFIT PROBABLY IN THIS NEXT YEAR.
THE FREEZE ACCOUNT TAXES, I'VE TOLD YOU, I ESTIMATED THEY WOULD DROP.
WE ASKED FOR AND GOT AN INITIAL ANALYSIS OF WHAT THE CERTIFIED ROLE WOULD LOOK LIKE AT A 50 CENT RATE.
THAT WAS THE EASIEST THING TO ASK FOR AT THE TIME REALLY, AND WHAT THEY CAME BACK WITH WAS THE TAX PAYMENTS ARE GOING TO INCREASE FOR THE FREEZE ACCOUNTS.
WE'RE LOSING 1.4 MILLION RIGHT NOW TO THE FREEZE AND THAT WOULD MEAN THAT WE WOULD ONLY LOSE 1.1 OR 1.2, AND THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR AND I TALKED ABOUT THAT MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE TO EITHER ONE OF US.
SO I'M STAYING WITH THAT NUMBER UNTIL WE SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN THEY LOAD IT INTO THEIR SYSTEM TO BILL.
ALL THEY DID WAS TOOK THE CERTIFIED ROLE AND THREW IT IN THE SYSTEM FOR US ON A TEST BASIS.
>> I WONDER HOW MUCH OF THAT CAN BE INFLUENCED BY WHAT WERE FROZEN PROPERTIES THAT ARE NOW [INAUDIBLE] SHORT TERM RENTALS, AND THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SEEING IF IT COULD [INAUDIBLE].
>> IT ALSO COULD BE PICKING UP [INAUDIBLE] AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS [INAUDIBLE].
>> THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING TARGETS WITH THAT NUMBER.
>> SHERYL WILL TELL YOU THAT'S A VERY TRICKY CALCULATION.
[01:10:02]
WE USED TO STRUGGLE WITH IT WHEN I WAS AT THE COUNTY [INAUDIBLE].SHE WAS A VERY GOOD [INAUDIBLE].
>> YEAH, SHE SAID, "GIVE THEM A REPORT." [LAUGHTER] INSTEAD OF TRYING TO DO AN ESTIMATE, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT.
THE UNUSED INCREMENTAL RATE IS BRINGING IN ABOUT $272,000.
THE TAX INCREMENT WITH THE TIRZ IS ABOUT 45,000, AND THIS YEAR WE HAD REALLY STRONG COLLECTIONS ON DELINQUENT TAXES AND PENALTY AND INTEREST, BUT I BACKED OFF AND USED MORE OF A HISTORICAL NUMBER THERE, AND THE COLLECTION RATE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WE EXPERIENCE OVERALL, AND THE RATE THAT SHE WAS REQUIRED TO USE IN THE EFFECTIVE RATE CALCULATION IS ABOUT $377,000 WORTH, AND UNDER ADJUSTMENTS $10,500.
SO THERE'S WHERE OUR INCREASE IN TAX REVENUE IS COMING FROM UNDER THE GRAND TOTAL. NEXT PAGE.
THIS CHART SHOWS WHERE IT LANDS IN TERMS OF THE FUNDS, AND THE ROSENBERG LIBRARY, AND THE DEBT SERVICE FUND ARE EACH GETTING ABOUT $700,000 INCREASE OVER THIS YEAR.
THE GENERAL FUND OPERATIONS ARE GETTING A MILLION.
NOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE DEBT SERVICE FUND FOR A SECOND.
THAT IS WHERE WE'RE PAYING OUR OUTSTANDING DEBT SERVICE ON A SCHEDULED BASIS, AND THE AMOUNT THAT WE ALLOCATE OF THE TAX RATE DOESN'T COVER ALL OF THE DEBT SERVICE.
THIS YEAR IT'S COVERING ALL BUT ABOUT A MILLION OF IT, AND THAT DIFFERENCE COMES FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN DEBT SERVICE FUND FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
TO THE EXTENT THAT WE LEAVE THE DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE WHERE IT IS, WHERE WE'RE MAKING MORE MONEY AVAILABLE THROUGH THE INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, OR WHAT A MASTER SIGNIFICANT CAPITAL PROJECTS, INCLUDING THE STREET PROGRAM THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ROBB IS INTERESTED IN.
SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS, WE'VE SUGGESTED TO THE LIBRARY, THAT THEY WOULD TAKE THEIR 19.46% INCREASE AND SHARE IT BACK WITH THE CITY.
IF THEY DID AND BASED IT ON THE 6.29% INCREASE, THEY WOULD GET AN INCREASE OVER THIS YEAR'S ALLOCATION OF $216,000.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT TAKING MONEY AWAY FROM THEM.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STILL PROVIDING AN INCREASE TO THEM OF $216,000.
THE DIFFERENCE OF $453,000 WOULD COME BACK TO THE CITY IN THE FORM OF A PAYMENT.
NOW, THEY MADE A COUNTER PROPOSAL, WHICH I BELIEVE IS ON THE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION LATER, BUT WE WANT TO KEEP EMPHASIZING THAT THIS 20% INCREASE SEEMS EXCESSIVE.
>> BECAUSE REMEMBER FOR EVERY PERCENT THEY GO UP TO ABOUT 3.5%, WE HAVE TO BACK OURS OFF.
THAT COMES RIGHT OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND OPERATIONS, WHICH IS [OVERLAPPING].
>> THE ENTIRE REDUCTION IN THE TAX RATES COMING OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND, RIGHT?
>> WHICH MEANS YOUR PUBLIC SAFETY GROUPS TAKE THE BIGGEST HIT, BECAUSE THEY'RE THE MAJORITY OF YOUR [OVERLAPPING].
>> THE GENERAL FUND TAX RATE THIS YEAR IS 45.34 CENTS PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUE, AND IT'S GOING TO 39.6 CENTS.
>> WE'LL DISCUSS THE SPECIFICS OF THAT COMING UP HERE ON THE LIBRARY. YEAH.
>> SO THAT IS THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE STORY. NEXT SLIDE.
THERE'S A LOOK AT GENERAL FUND REVENUE AGAIN, YOU SEE THE PROPERTY TAXES AND SALES TAXES PROVIDE 80% OF THE TOTAL REVENUE, AND THAT'S WHERE ALL OF OUR REVENUE GROWTH COMES FROM.
THOSE OTHER CATEGORIES DON'T CHANGE THAT MUCH FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS WHERE THE MONEY GOES.
PUBLIC SAFETY AND INFRASTRUCTURE ADDS UP TO SOME 47 MILLION OR SO AND IS 74 OR 75% OF THE TOTAL BUDGET.
SO BASICALLY, YOUR PROPERTY AND SALES TAX REVENUE IS GOING TO FUND THOSE TWO VARIANTS. YES, SIR?
>> YOU GOT 2.28 MILLION DOLLARS IN VEHICLES AND FACILITIES FUND HERE, WHEREAS PUBLIC SAFETY [OVERLAPPING] [INAUDIBLE], YOUR TOTAL COST OF PUBLIC SAFETY IS A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN [OVERLAPPING].
>> REMEMBER, MOST OF YOUR PUBLIC WORKS EQUIPMENT IS COMING OUT [OVERLAPPING], BUT I'M SAYING THAT'S WHY MOST OF THAT IS POLICE AND FIRE EQUIPMENT,
[01:15:03]
BECAUSE MOST OF IS COMING FROM THE [INAUDIBLE].>> BUT IT'S AN EASY MATCH TO SEE PROPERTY AND SALES TAX IN THOSE PRIORITY AREAS.
PRETTY MUCH THE SAME DOLLAR. NEXT SLIDE.
OKAY. RESTRICTED FUNDS ARE THE MAJORITY OF THE CITY BUDGET, AND WE'LL TALK FOR A MINUTE ABOUT REALLOCATING ANY OF THAT TO OFFSET A LOWER TAX RATE. NEXT SLIDE.
WE HAVE ENTIRE CATEGORIES OF REVENUE THAT IS RESTRICTED FUNDS BY AN ORDINANCE OF STATE LAW OR FEDERAL LAW.
PEOPLE LIKE TO APPROVE A REVENUE SOURCE AND DIRECT IT TO A SPECIFIC TYPE OF ACTIVITY OR SERVICE.
WE ALLOCATE THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY; AND 91 MILLION OF OUR $155 MILLION BUDGET INCLUDES FUNDS THAT ALL FIT IN THE CATEGORY OF RESTRICTED MONEY.
NEXT SLIDE. IF YOU GET PAST THAT AND START LOOKING TO TRY TO REDUCE CATEGORIES IN THE GENERAL FUND, YOU GOT TO TAKE 48 MILLION RIGHT OFF THE BAT.
I SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED THE EQUIPMENT UP THERE IN THAT MIDDLE CATEGORY, PRIORITY SUBTOTAL WHICH PUTS IT OVER 50; AND WHAT YOU'RE LEFT WITH NOW IS ADMINISTRATIVE AREAS AND THEN THE SMALLER SERVICE DEPARTMENTS.
WE'VE ALLOCATED ABOUT 40 PERCENT OF THE SEVEN MILLION THAT'S BEEN SPENT IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENTS TO WATER AND SEWER FIRMS. IF YOU START MAKING CUTS IN ADMINISTRATION, YOU DON'T GET THE FULL VALUE OF THE CUT THAT YOU'VE MADE.
YOU HAVE TO GIVE SOME OF IT UP.
THAT'S FOR RUNNING THE ENTIRE CITY, IT'S JUST THE GENERAL FUND INCLUDES THE BUDGET FOR THOSE DEPARTMENTS.
CITY SECRETARY, CITY MANAGER, CITY AUDITOR, CITY ATTORNEY, FINANCE AND HR.
>> MIKE, I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IS THERE.
WHAT PERCENT OF THE WATER BILLS THAT INCLUDE A DONATION TO, I GUESS THE EMS. YOU KNOW WHAT THAT EQUATES TO?
IT'S OVER $400,000 A YEAR NOW.
>> WE'RE GETTING 400. WHERE DOES THAT GO? WHERE IS IT APPROPRIATED?
>> IT'S NOT BUDGETED BECAUSE WE TREAT IT AS A DIRECT DONATION.
IT JUST GOES TO THE BALANCE SHEET.
>> DOES IT GO TO GENERAL FUND?
>> WELL, IT GOES THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR EMS OPERATION.
>> THEY CALCULATE THAT AND THEN THEY WRITE BACK TO US, AND THERE'S AN OFFSET.
>> BUT THEY GET THAT MONEY DIRECTLY.
>> NOT TO BELABOR A POINT, BUT THIS IS WHY YOU HEAR THE CITY MANAGER SPEAK ABOUT CLOSING DOWN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT OR, PUTTING IT ALL ON A 100 PERCENT FEE FINANCING OF SOME SORT.
THAT'LL BE HARD BECAUSE PART OF WHAT PARKS DOES WITH THE RIGHT-OF-WAY IS CONSIDERED A PUBLIC GOOD.
PUBLIC GOOD ARE THOSE THINGS THAT EVERYBODY BENEFITS FROM, AND YOU CAN'T REALLY ISOLATE A PERSON AND CHARGE THEM A FEE.
POLICE AND FIRE, EMS AND EOC, CITY MARSHALL. NEXT SLIDE.
GOT SOME INTERESTING INFORMATION TO SHARE AND I HAD NOT UPDATED THIS SINCE LAST YEAR.
I HAD NO TIME TO DO IT. NEXT SLIDE.
HERE'S OUR FINDINGS AND WE'LL RUN THROUGH THE DATA REAL QUICK AFTER THIS.
WE HAVE LESS DEBT BURDENS THAN THE OTHER CITIES STUDIED, AND WE LOOKED AT A NUMBER OF WAYS.
OUR ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS ARE 9.8 PERCENT OF EXPENSES, WHILE THE AREAS CITIES AVERAGED 20 PERCENT IN A GROUP OF 50,000 POPULATION CITIES THAT WE FOUND COMPARED TO AVERAGE WHICH IS 13.3 PERCENT.
OUR DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE IS INCREDIBLY LOW COMPARED TO THE AVERAGE DEBT SERVICE RATES FOR BOTH THOSE GROUPS.
A FOURTH OF THE LOCALS IN VARIOUS CITIES AND A THIRD OF THE 50,000 POPULATION CITIES.
THE STANDOUT STATISTIC THAT COMES UP IN EVERY COMPARISON IS OUR RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCY RATE.
THIS IS WHERE WE SEE THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND THE SECOND HOMES AND OUR OCCUPANCY RATE OF SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES IS 65.9 PERCENT.
[01:20:03]
THIS IS BASED ON 2019 CENSUS DATA, BECAUSE THE 2020 DATA IS NOT FULLY RELEASED YET.>> JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY IN THIS AREA PEER STUDIES COMPARISON, WHY AREN'T WE PICKING A COUPLE RESORT CITIES? WITH THE MORE OF AN APPLES SAMPLE IS THE SAME LIKE IN SOUTH PADRE.
I MEAN GRANTED THEY ARE SMALLER.
>> BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT DEBT, YOU DON'T BASE IT ON THAT, YOU BASE IT ON BASICALLY, THE POPULATION AND UTILITY USAGE.
IN ALL HONESTY, WE PROBABLY SHOULD BE COMPARING OURSELVES TO LARGER POPULATION CITIES BECAUSE WE HAVE AN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SUPPORTS THAT, WHETHER THEY'RE A TOURIST CITY OR NOT, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
[OVERLAPPING] IT'S REALLY MORE A MATTER OF, AND I STRESS THIS TO YOU GUYS.
IT'S REALLY WE SHOULD COMPARE OURSELVES MORE BASED ON BUDGET AND BASED ON UTILITY TAPS AND SANITATION, TIMING, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> THAT'S A GREAT POINT BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO FIND OTHER COMPARABLE.
WE'RE ALMOST IN A GROUP ALL BY OURSELVES.
>> YEAH, THERE ARE ALMOST NO 50,000 POPULATION CITIES IN TEXAS IN OUR SUBURBS THAT WILL MAKE A METRO.
>> IF YOU SEE THE LIST YOU CAN'T FIND IT.
WILL SEE THE LIST IN A SECOND.
>> WE'RE PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE THAT OPERATES TRANSIT SYSTEM.
>> YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. [LAUGHTER].
>> WE'RE PROBABLY THE ONE OR THE ONLY ONES THAT HAS AN AIRPORT.
I MEAN, I CAN GO ON, AND I KNOW WE ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT GOT POOL.
>> [LAUGHTER] WE'VE GOT BEACH TOO.
>> I DIDN'T GO THAT FAR WITH THE COMPARISONS, BUT I'VE GOT THE BUDGETS AND FINANCIAL REPORTS.
I DO INTEND TO DO SOME OF THAT.
>> BUT WHEN WE COMPARE OURSELVES, WE REALLY NEED TO DO IT BASED ON BUDGET AND BASED ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
POPULATION, AS WE'VE LEARNED, ESPECIALLY FOR US IS THAT IT DOESN'T [INAUDIBLE].
>> LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
>> I'M SORRY, YOUR TABLE ON THE RIGHT, WHEN YOU SAY 3,500-4,000 SHORT-TERM RENTALS, ARE THOSE [INAUDIBLE]?
>> WHEN IT'S LISTED AS SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENT HOME THAT'S LISTED, THAT'S ONE.
BUT IF IT'S LIKE THE DUPLEX STYLE, IS THAT COUNTED AS FOUR?
IF YOU'VE GOT A FOUR UNIT BUILDING WITH FOUR DIFFERENT OWNERS, IT'S GOING TO SHOW UP IN THAT SINGLE.
>> IF IT'S A DUPLEX RENTAL, IT'S GOING TO SHOW MULTIFAMILY.
>> YOU'VE SEEN WE'VE GOT ABOUT 40 PERCENT OF OUR PROPERTIES ARE HOMESTEADS.
THAT NUMBER DID DROP A LITTLE FROM LAST YEAR, WHICH INDICATES THAT WITH THIS CONVERSION PROCESS THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE TO ENSURE A COUPLE MORE.
>> [INAUDIBLE], POPULATION OF 50,000 BUT BASED ON OUR WATER TAPS, WHAT ARE WE?
>> I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY ONCE WE GET OUR FIRM CENSUS NUMBERS WE'LL KNOW EXACTLY.
BUT I THINK WE'RE PROBABLY CLOSER TO THE CITY OF A 110,000.
>> CERTAINLY BY SEDIMENTATION.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THANKS A LOT.
>> LOOK AT THE HOUSING UNIT NUMBERS IN THE SECOND COLUMN.
THIS IS ALL THE LOCAL CITIES, EXCEPT TEXAS CITY, THEY'RE LARGER THAN US; SUGAR LAND, PEARLAND, LEAGUE CITY, PASADENA, BAYTOWN, WITH HERE SAN MARCOS AND PFLUGERVILLE HAVE A MARGIN APPROVED COMPARED TO US.
SAN MARCOS SHOULD BE SOMEWHAT CULPABLE TO THIS BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY STRANGE.
AS FAR AS POPULATION IS CONCERNED, WE ARE FAR BELOW THE AVERAGE FOR THE GROUP, WE'RE ABOUT HALF.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT HOUSING UNITS, WE'RE COMPARABLE.
THAT'S WHERE THAT VACANCY RATE COMES IN.
YOU CAN SEE CITY BY CITY, WHAT THEIR NUMBERS ARE.
>> IT'S HARD TO COMPARE BECAUSE MAINTAINING INFRASTRUCTURE FOR INDUSTRY IS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN MAINTAINING INFRASTRUCTURE TO A BUNCH OF RESIDENTIAL OWNERS.
IN THE HOUSING UNIT, IT REALLY INDICATES A MEASURE OF SERVICE DOMAIN IN QUITE A FEW AREAS.
IT ENCOMPASSES WATER TAPS AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS BRIAN WAS TALKING ABOUT.
TOTAL DEBT NOW IN THE FINANCIAL REPORTS, WHEN THEY REPORT TOTAL DEBT, IT IS PRINCIPAL ONLY, IT IS NOT INTEREST.
THAT'S PROVIDED IN THE REPORTS, BUT THERE'S NOT A SINGLE STANDARD PLACE THAT YOU CAN EASILY GO AND PULL THAT.
FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES, I JUST WORK WITH PRINCIPAL.
RELATIVELY SPEAKING, IF YOU SEE THE INTEREST IN, WE'RE STILL GOING TO LOOK SOMEWHAT LIKE THIS.
>> BECAUSE OF OUR REFINE OR LOW AMOUNT OF DEBT, ACTUALLY WE'RE PROBABLY THROUGH SOME OF THE WORK.
>> WE'RE HALF OF THE PRINCIPAL MEASURES.
THERE'S OUR DEBT RATE, YOU CAN SEE IT COMPARED TO 19.7, WE'RE AT FIVE-AND-A-QUARTER.
EXPENSES, THIS IS THE BUDGET IN A SENSE OF WHAT BRIAN WAS TALKING ABOUT, WE'RE COMPARABLE THERE.
WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL EXPENSES FOR THE GROUP.
[01:25:05]
>> WE'VE GOT PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST AGGRESSIVE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANS PER CAPITA IN THE STATE.
I WOULD SAY WE'RE PROBABLY IN THE TOP FIVE [INAUDIBLE] DISTRICT.
>> THE PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST PAYMENTS THAT WERE MADE IN FY20, YOU SEE THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS THERE, I'M NOT DEALING WITH PERCENTAGE JUST YET, JUST THE DOLLARS.
GRANTS IS TELLING TOO, THAT'S ACTUAL GRANTS SPENDING.
WE SPENT 16 MILLION AND THERE WAS ONLY TWO CITIES ON THAT LIST THAT SPENT ANYTHING AT ALL.
WE'LL HAVE ALL THAT ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
SAME STATISTICS FOR THE PROOF OF CITIES OF 50,000 POPULATION.
ALL I DID WAS I LOOKED IN THE WHOLE STATE OF TEXAS, FOR EXAMPLE, USING THE PATTERN CLOSEST TO US IN TERMS OF POPULATION AND THAT'S WHERE THIS GROUP COMES FROM.
POPULATION WERE SLIGHTLY LARGER THAN THE AVERAGE.
HOUSING UNITS WERE WAY BIGGER, WHICH MAKES THE POINT THAT WE'RE IN THE GROUP OURSELVES AND WE'RE VERY DIFFERENT IN EVERY OTHER RESPECT, TOTAL DEBT.
>> ONE THING I WANT YOU TO NOTE TOO, MIKE DOESN'T HAVE THIS, BUT I BET YOU LUNCH, IF YOU RESEARCH, MOST OF THESE CITIES WERE PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE OPERATING AROUND THE SANITATION DEPARTMENT.
>> OUR OWN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AND MAYBE OUR OWN, YEAH.
>> THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF ONLY SITTING THERE.
>> THAT'S PROBABLY CURIOUS WHEN YOU SEE SOMEONE LIKE IN SOME PROJECT [OVERLAPPING] TRANSPORTATION.
GRANITE, DOESN'T HAVE A [OVERLAPPING].
>> THIS IS WHERE THE FACTUAL DATA, I DID A LITTLE ANALYSIS AND THIS IS WHERE SOME OF THE PERCENTAGES COMES IN AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
BUT AS FAR AS THE AREA CITIES ARE CONCERNED, TO ALL THAT PER CAPITA, WE'RE RIGHT IN THE MIX WITH THE AVERAGE.
AGAIN THE OCCUPANCY RATE JUMPS OUT INTO THE TOTAL NET FOR HOUSING UNIT WHICH MAY BE A BETTER MEASURE FOR US.
COMPARING TO ANY GROUP OF CITIES WE'RE ABOUT 60 PERCENT OR SO.
FOR THIS GROUP IS AT $5,539 VERSUS $9,889.
THE STATISTIC THAT SURPRISED ME THE MOST WAS THE HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF THEIR OPERATING BUDGET DEVOTED TO DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS.
SUGAR LAND, PEARLAND, STARTED DOING VERY AGGRESSIVE THINGS WITH THEIR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 20 YEARS AGO.
MAJORITY OF THEM DID THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE.
THAT BASEBALL STADIUM THEY'VE GOTTEN THERE WAS BUILT WITH SALES TAX.
>> IT'S SO INTRIGUING WHEN YOU LOOK AT FORT BEND COUNTY AS A WHOLE, I MEAN, THEY GREW WITH LIKE 40 PERCENT [OVERLAPPING]
>> SUGAR LAND [OVERLAPPING] SETS OF POLICIES THAT ALLOW THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
>> MIKE, WHAT WOULD BE THE PER CAPITA IF YOU ADD IN THE INTEREST.
>> PROBABLY [OVERLAPPING] INTEREST ON THAT.
>> I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE PRINCIPLE OF INTEREST IS, THAT SHOWS A BIGGER PICTURE.
>> I WOULD THINK THAT THE RATIO WOULD BE ABOUT THE SAME, BECAUSE THOSE OTHER CITIES ARE GETTING THE SAME INTERESTS PRIOR, MIGHT BE ACTUALLY PAYING A LITTLE BIT BETTER INTEREST THAN THEM [INAUDIBLE] BETTER THAN SOME OF THESE CITIES.
>> IN OUR CASE, THE INTEREST IS ABOUT HALF OF THE PRINCIPAL.
>> THE INTEREST IS HALF OF THE PRINCIPAL.
SO WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT THOSE NUMBERS IS ALMOST DOUBLE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> TAKE THOSE NUMBERS AND MULTIPLY BY ONE-AND-A-HALF.
>> YEAH, THAT WOULD BE EVERYBODY IN THE CHART.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE BASE AND POPULATION WITH THE PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST IS EXTREMELY HIGH IN MY OPINION, FOR BASED ON THE POPULATION.
BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE POPULATION OF SUGAR LAND VERSUS LEAGUE CITY, YOU LOOK IN THE LEAGUE CITY, THE POPULATION OF A 106, YOU LOOK AT GAUSSIAN IT'S HALF THAT.
>> THAT MEANS YOU'RE DISCOUNTING EVERYBODY THAT OWNS PROPERTY HERE, THAT DON'T LIVE HERE.
>> PER CAPITA IS STILL THE SAME THING.
>> IT SHOULD BE FOR HOUSING UNIT BECAUSE IT'S BASED ON THE BUDGET [OVERLAPPING]
>> MUCH TO THE POINT OF THIS PRESENTATION COUNCILMEN IS THAT PER CAPITA DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE FULL WEIGHTINGS HERE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] NO, THE FULL PICTURE OF HAVING A [OVERLAPPING] BECAUSE WE'RE STILL, WE'RE STILL PAYING [OVERLAPPING]
[01:30:02]
>> IF WE DID IT PER CAPITA, WE SPEND MORE PER CAPITA THAN MURRAY'S DISTRICT AND PROBABLY ANYBODY IN THE STATE.
>> LOOK AT HOW WE COMPARE TO THE [OVERLAPPING].
>> NO, WE WOULD BECAUSE HE'S BASING IT ON POPULATION.
>> LOOK AT HOW WE COMPARE TO THE 50,000 POPULATION CITIES.
COUNCIL MEMBER IS RIGHT, TO ALL THAT PER CAPITA FROM [INAUDIBLE] WE'RE AT $1200 PER PERSON HIGHER.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOUSING UNITS AS THE BASE AMOUNT, WE'RE RIGHT THERE WITH THIS GROUP.
WE'RE PERHAPS NOT SERVING THE WEST END AS MUCH AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO SEE US OUT THERE, BUT THERE'S A DEMAND CREATED FOR EVERY DEPARTMENT BY THE SHAPE OF THIS ISLAND, THE BREADTH OF IT AND THE FACT THAT WE [INAUDIBLE] A LOT OF SERVICES [INAUDIBLE] I'VE GOT SOME OTHER SLIDES FOR PRESENTATION.
THAT REALLY IS THE BULK OF WHAT I WAS GOING TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT.
>> DID YOU WANT TO GO ON THE CIP, MIKE?
>> WE COULD JUST RUN THROUGH THOSE SLIDES FOR RECORDING.
>> YEAH, LET'S DO THAT REALLY QUICKLY, MIKE.
>> THE BIG STORY THIS YEAR IS DRAINAGE.
WE'VE GOT LARGE DRAINAGE PROJECTS IDENTIFIED EVEN IN THE ABSENCE OF HAVING A DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN, AND WHENEVER YOU LOOK AT DRAINAGE PROJECTS OUT OF HERE, WHAT CITY IT IS, THE COST OF DRAINING ENFORCED, ANY OTHER SINGLE CATEGORY, SEEMS LIKE WE SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON WATER.
BUT PUMPING THE WATER AROUND THE ISLAND UNDER CONTROLLED CIRCUMSTANCES IS A LOT DIFFERENT THAN GET RID OF IT WHEN YOU GOT IT UP AROUND YOUR NECK.
THAT REALLY IS THE STORY IN THIS YEAR'S FIVE-YEAR ROLLING CIP. NEXT SLIDE.
WE WENT FROM $70 MILLION IN LAST YEAR'S FY '21 CIP TO $159.5 BILLION THIS YEAR.
IT'S STREETS AND TRAFFIC, AND DRAINAGE AS WELL.
>> THE REASON I WANTED TO BRING THIS UP BECAUSE THIS SPEAKS TO THE PER CAPITA ARGUMENT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER QUIROGA BROUGHT UP, THEN THIS MEANS WE'RE SPENDING MORE CAPITAL BUYS PER CAPITA THAN PROBABLY JUST ABOUT EVERY OTHER CITY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO FIND, COMPARABLE OR OTHERWISE.
>> YOU GOT TO PUT IN PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT WE HAVE HERE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF GROWTH COMPARED TO SOME OF THESE OTHER CITIES THAT CAN'T AFFORD THAT.
>> WE'RE LOOKING AT A DATABASE OF WHAT, CLOSE TO EIGHT BILLION DOLLARS? COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES THAT DON'T HAVE THAT BASE.
>>THAT'S UNDER THE [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOU CAN'T USE THE PER CAPITA.
YOU'D HAVE TO USE IT AS A PER HOUSEHOLD OR A TAXABLE VALUE.
YOU CAN'T USE IT BASED ON THE PER CAPITA BECAUSE THERE'S FEWER PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE, WE HAVE A 69 PERCENT OCCUPANCY RATE.
THESE OTHER CITIES HAVE A 95 PERCENT OCCUPANCY RATE SO WHEN YOU COMPARE THE TWO, THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.
IT'S A SEMANTICAL THING ON THE USE OF PER CAPITA, AND THAT'S WHERE WE ALWAYS GET HUNG UP FOR YEARS IN GALVESTON.
WE HAD THAT ARGUMENT ABOUT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR YEARS.
WE HAVE TOO MANY COPS PER CAPITA.
WELL, IF WE COMPARED TO ALL THESE OTHER CITIES THAT WERE 50,000 PEOPLE, WE PROBABLY GOT WAY MORE COPS THAN THOSE OTHER CITIES.
>> I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HERE IS EVER GOING TO ARGUE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH POLICE.
>> YOU CAN'T USE THE PER CAPITA ARGUMENT IN GALVESTON.
IT JUST DOESN'T APPLY WITH 60 SOMETHING PERCENT ARGUMENT.
WE HAVE 2.8 COPS PER A THOUSAND RESIDENTS.
LAKE CITY IN THE COUNTY, THE CLOSEST ONE TO US IS LAKE CITY, AND THEY HAVE 1.8 COPS PER A THOUSAND RESIDENTS BECAUSE WE MAINTAIN A POLICE FOR A QUARTER OF REMAINING PEOPLE [OVERLAPPING] AND I LIVE HERE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THIS IS MY POINT IS THAT WE OFTEN GET BOGGED DOWN IN THIS PER CAPITA ARGUMENT.
>> WE CAN'T DO THAT, UNLESS WE'RE JUST GOING TO RESTRICT THE USE OF THE ISLAND AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, WHICH SOME WOULD LIKE.
YOU CAN'T REALLY USE THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ALL THESE.
IF 40 SOMETHING PERCENT OF OUR HOMES ARE UNOCCUPIED, I'D STILL HAVE TO MAINTAIN INFRASTRUCTURE.
I HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE WATER.
I HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY STILL HAVE STREET STILL, THAT THEY HAVE ALL THESE OTHER THINGS.
WE STILL HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE TRASH GETS PICKED UP.
WE STILL HAVE TO MAKE SURE THERE'S POLICE HERE.
I GUARANTEE ON MOST OF THOSE CITIES, WE'RE PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE WITH THE FULL-TIME FULL [INAUDIBLE] FIRE DEPARTMENT IN TEXAS CITY.
WE'RE PROBABLY ONE OF THE ONLY ONES OPERATING ANY NON-SHARED EMS SERVICE COMMITTEE JUST TO BE ON, SO THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS THAT WE DO HERE THAT THEY DON'T DO.
>> LET ME ASK YOU THIS, HOW MUCH IS OFFSET THROUGH GRANT MONIES?
[01:35:04]
>> [OVERLAPPING] ON THE OPERATING STANDPOINT, NOT A GREAT DEAL.
>> MOST OF OUR CAPITALS ARE GRANTS FOR CAPITAL.
>> WE'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN THAT FRONT.
>> IT HELPS YOU, AND I DIDN'T PUT IT UP THERE BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT NET ASSETS PER CAPITA OR PER HOUSING UNIT, WE'D BEAT THE STOCKS OFF EVERYBODY IN BOTH GROUPS BECAUSE OF ALL THE GRANTS THAT WE'VE USED TO IMPROVE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE SINCE I [OVERLAPPING]
>> KEEP IN MIND, GRANT MONEY IS NOT FREE MONEY.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF COST TO ADMINISTER.
>> YEAH, YOU TALK A LOT OF THE GRANT MONEY, IT'S TRUE AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WHEN I GOT HERE WE STARTED DOING BECAUSE IT WAS A MODEL THAT WE USED AND FOUND IT VERY SUCCESSFUL.
IT'S CHASING GRANT MONEY AND YOU CAN SEE OUR GRANT MONEY HAS QUADRUPLED, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT THERE'S A MATCH TO THAT.
A LOT OF THAT $159 MILLION IS LOCAL MATCH, AND THERE'S A LOT OF IT THAT THEY FOUND MATCH, AND THERE'S A LOT OF EXPENSE TO MAINTAINING OPERATING THOSE GRANTS.
IT'S NOT JUST MONEY THAT FELL FROM THE SKY.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT'S ALL TEXTBOOK, REGARDLESS WHERE THE GRANT CAME FROM.
>> LET'S GO AHEAD AND FINISH UP MIKE, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE.
>> WE'RE RUNNING DOWN TO THE END OF OUR CO SALE MONEY.
AS FAR AS WATER AND SEWER IS CONCERNED, YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH ALL THESE PROJECTS.
WE'RE TRYING TO PUSH THEM THROUGH.
WE DID GET THE 37TH STREET BIDS IN, AND I THINK WE'RE IN THE BALLPARK THERE, BUT WE ALSO SET ASIDE SOME CONTINGENCY MONEY FROM THIS YEAR'S WATER BOND TO HELP WITH SOME OF THE RISING COSTS.
WE'VE ADDRESSED THAT OPERATING SIDE. NEXT SLIDE.
STREETS AND DRAINAGE AGAIN, WE'RE PRETTY MUCH COMMITTED.
THE 37TH STREET PROJECT, WE'VE DONE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY.
DIDN'T WE GET THIS EIGHT MILLION FROM THE COUNTY?
>> THAT'S FOR 23RD STREET AND AVENUE S.
>> WE'RE RUNNING THE PLAYBOOK ON THESE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND WE'RE TRYING TO FINISH SOME OF THEM, AND STAY [INAUDIBLE] NEXT SLIDE.
>> GUYS, THIS IS A GOOD BUDGET.
>> WELL, AND WHAT IT SHOWS IS, AS USUAL, MIKE LOFTIN HAS DONE A SUPERB JOB WITH THE RESEARCH.
>> I DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM MIKE BUT THE WOMAN BEHIND THE MAN IN THIS ONE [LAUGHTER], WHO ACTUALLY RUNS THE SHOW UP THERE IS DEBBI PEARCE.
SHE IS THE BRAINS BEHIND THIS OPERATION.
MIKE DOES A FANTASTIC JOB WITH HIS MODELING BUT WHEN YOU SEE THAT REFERENCE TO FATHERS IN SOME PAGES, DEBBIE HAS TOUCHED INQUIRY OF ALL 500 PAGES.
>> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, AND WE GOT THE BUDGET AWARD AGAIN, AND IT'S LARGELY BECAUSE OF DEBBI PEARCE.
THIS IS A GREAT BUDGET GUYS, AND I JUST WANT TO ADD JUST FOR A MINUTE, I WANT TO REMIND YOU GUYS.
I TOLD YOU WHEN I TOOK THIS JOB, [INAUDIBLE], THAT IF WE JUST DID THE BASICS AND WE DID IT RIGHT, YOU WOULD SEE THE RESULTS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.
YOU'RE SEEING THE RESULTS IN INCREASED PROPERTY VALUE GROWTH, YOU'RE SEEING THE RESULTS IN INCREASED GRANT ACTIVITY, YOU'RE SEEING THE RESULTS IN INCREASED ODD RATINGS, YOU'RE SEEING THE RESULT IN INCREASED TOURISM, ALL OF IT, BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO VISIT A TOWN THAT NOBODY WANTS TO LIVE IN AND VICE VERSA.
I THINK WE'RE ACHIEVING OUR GOALS, AND ALSO I THINK I TOLD A COUPLE OF YOU THIS ONE, I TOLD YOU IN 2014 WHEN I TOOK THE INNER SPOT, THAT WE'LL KNOW WE'VE TURNED THE CORNER WHEN WE GET MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT SPEEDERS AND WE DO POTHOLES, AND I THINK WE'RE GETTING THERE NOW TOO.
>> I WOULD ALSO ADD THAT WE ARE SO MUCH BETTER POSITIONED FOR THE NEXT STORM.
I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO GO TALK ABOUT 99L RIGHT NOW WITH COLLEAGUES WITH THIS.
WE ARE SO MUCH BETTER POSITIONED RIGHT NOW FOR THE STORM THAN WE WERE IN 2000.
>> WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE PUBLIC WORK'S BUDGET WAS SPENT FOR 103RD STREET THE LAST IT WAS CLEARED.
>> THAT'S 73RD STREET, WEST IS MY DISTRICT.
>> PROBABLY MORE THAN THAT, PROBABLY CLOSER TO 70%.
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STREETS.
>> YEAH. THAT'S WHAT HE'S TALKING.
>> SEVENTY PERCENT OF OUR ROAD BUDGET GOES [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE TRY TO EVEN [OVERLAPPING].
>> IS THE AIRPORT YOUR DISTRICT?
>> THE AIRPORT PUMP STATION IS IN YOUR DISTRICT, [INAUDIBLE]
>> WELL, SEWER AND WATER, WE ARE WORKING ON.
>> I MEAN, WHEN YOU SAY THAT WE DON'T SPEND ANY MONEY ON DISTRICT 6, THAT'S JUST STRICTLY WRONG.
>> WE DON'T SPEND ENOUGH MONEY ON DISTRICT 6.
>> I DON'T THINK WE SPEND ENOUGH MONEY IN DISTRICT 3,
[01:40:01]
BUT THE FACT IS WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO SPEND. THAT'S [OVERLAPPING]>> I'M JUST SAYING [OVERLAPPING].
>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL.
WE'RE BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL WHEN WE STARTED HERE, AND I TOLD YOU WE WILL BE PLAYING CATCH UP AND WE'RE PLAYING CATCH UP AND WE'RE DOING IT THE SAME TOWN WHILE DEALING WITH DIMINISHING REVENUE SOURCES.
WE'RE CHANGING OVER IN HOW WE'RE DOING THAT.
OF ALL THOSE COMPARATIVE CITIES AND I KNOW THE CITY NAMES, ALL OF THEM, WE ARE IN A BETTER POSITION.
THERE'S A LOT OF THOSE CITIES THAT WOULD LOVE TO BE IN OUR POSITION RIGHT NOW BUT AS ALWAYS, IN A COUNTY LIKE GALVESTON, IT'S A PRECARIOUS SITUATION.
IT ONLY TAKES ONE INVEST IN 99L TO SCREW US UP OR IT ONLY TAKES A PANDEMIC TO SCREW UP OUR TOURISM, OR IT ONLY TAKES CRUISES NOT OPERATING OR A PROBLEM AT ET&B.
WE HAVE A LOT OF MOVING PARTS HERE THAT MAKES US GREAT, BUT THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF HAZARD HERE SO YOU KNOW WE HAVE TO PROCEED CAUTIOUSLY.
WE DO AND WE HAVE FAR BETTER RESERVES THAN WE DID IN 2008.
>> WE HAVE FAR MORE HARDER STRUCTURES THAN WE DID IN 2008, SO WE'RE IN A BETTER POSITION.
>> WE GOT A BETTER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PAN THREE AND FIVE-YEAR INTO THE FUTURE THAN WE DID [OVERLAPPING]
>>THERE WASN'T A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT [OVERLAPPING].
GLAD TO HAVE YOU. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I THINK MIKE'S UP ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
>> YES. NEXT SLIDE OF THIS AUDIT PLAN AND CONTRACT MONITORING.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE LIBRARY MOU?
>> CAN WE JUST JUMP ON THAT ONE REAL QUICK [INAUDIBLE] SO THAT I CAN [OVERLAPPING]
I REALLY WANTED A QUICK BREAK.
>> I'M GOOD WITH GOING THROUGH THE LIBRARY AND THEN CAN WE HAVE A QUICK BREAK? [OVERLAPPING]
>> MIKE, LET'S GO TO THE LIBRARY THEN.
[3. D1. Update on the Status of the City’s MOU with the Rosenberg Library ( Brown - 15 min )]
[OVERLAPPING]>>MIKE, COULD I MAKE A STATEMENT ON THIS BEFORE YOU START? I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE LET THE PUBLIC KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ALONG WITH THIS LIBRARY AGREEMENT.
THE LIBRARY IS ICONIC FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON, AND THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT IN IT.
THE LIBRARY IS SOMETHING THAT REPRESENTS OUR CITY AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF.
THE FIVE CENTS THAT WAS ALLOCATED, AND WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO SOME BACKGROUND INTO THAT ON WHY THAT OCCURRED, WAS SET UP TO SUPPORT THE LIBRARY.
I THINK WE ALL WANT TO SUPPORT OUR LIBRARY.
THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE HAPPENED THOUGH, WE DIDN'T FORESEE THE THREE AND A HALF PERCENT TAX CAP THAT WAS COMING FORWARD ON THIS.
WE'VE REACHED A POINT THAT NOW THE FIVE CENTS IS TAKING UP AN INCREASED AMOUNT OF OUR REVENUE EACH YEAR MORE AND MORE.
MIKE HAS ALREADY MENTIONED THAT WE HAVE A PLAN NOW THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO THE LIBRARY.
IT WAS PRESENTED EARLIER IN AN INFORMAL MANNER TO THEIR BOARD AND MEMBERS OF THEIR BOARD, TO ALLOW THE CITY THEN FOR THE LIBRARY THE PARTNER WITH THE CITY, AND ALLOW THEM TO CONTINUE TO GET THE FUNDING THEY'VE HAD IN THE PAST, TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW THEM TO HAVE A INCREASE IN THEIR FUNDING, BUT TO BE UNDER THE SAME TYPE OF REVENUE INCREASES THAT THE CITY EXPERIENCES.
AS MIKE HAS ALREADY MENTIONED WE'RE OFFERING A 6.29 PERCENT INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR'S FUNDING FOR THE LIBRARY.
IF THAT MOU IS NOT IN PLACE, THEN WHAT'S HAPPENED IS THAT IT WOULD GET ALMOST A 20 PERCENT INCREASE OF OUR MONEY.
THIS IS NOT MONEY THAT'S GOING TO STREETS.
THIS IS MONEY THAT'S GOING TO PERSONNEL FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, FOR PARKS AND FOR OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.
[BACKGROUND] WE APPROVED A MOU WITH COUNCIL HERE RECENTLY FOR THE LIBRARY AND SENT THAT TO THEIR LIBRARY BOARD.
IN YOUR PACKET MATERIAL IS THEIR RESPONSE.
WE APPRECIATE THEM GETTING BACK WITH THIS AND GIVING US THEIR AMENDED ISSUES OR THEIR AMENDED CHANGES TO THE MOU.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FINANCES, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY, THEN I'M GOING TO COME BACK TO THIS MOU AND THE AMENDMENTS THERE, AND THEN WE NEED TO GET COUNCIL DIRECTION AT THAT POINT.
THIS IS NOT A DESIRE TO FUND THE LIBRARY OR ANYTHING ELSE.
THIS IS A MATHEMATICAL PROBLEM.
BUT IF THEY GO UP 20 PERCENT AND WE HAVE TO CAP OUR REVENUE AT THREE AND A HALF PERCENT, THAT MEANS THAT ALL THEIR INCREASE, ALMOST 89 TO 90 PERCENT OF THEIR INCREASE, HAS TO COME FROM OUR PUBLIC SAFETY UNITS OR OUR TRANSIT UNITS,
[01:45:02]
OUR PARK UNITS, OUR GENERAL FUND AREA.WE JUST WANT TO LEVEL THAT OUT.
I DON'T THINK THE LEGISLATURE EVER INTENDED TO HAVE ONE COMPONENT OF GOVERNMENT NOT GET CAPPED BY THE THREE AND A HALF PERCENT.
THEY WANTED EVERYBODY [LAUGHTER] TO BE CAPPED BY THREE AND A HALF PERCENT. THAT'S HOW THIS WORKS.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE LIBRARY ON THAT AND MIKE MILLER WHOM I AM ASPIRING TO WORK WITH.
>> WE'VE HAD GOOD DISCUSSIONS ON THIS.
WE HAD A ZOOM MEETING YESTERDAY WITH MIKE MILLER.
MIKE UNDERSTANDS THE POSITION THE CITY'S IN.
WE APPRECIATE HIS RESPONSE AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS MOU AND WORKING OUT SOME OF THE DETAILS SO THAT WE CAN BOTH HAVE A WIN-WIN FOR THIS.
MIKE, WE'VE ALREADY HAD A LOT OF FINANCIAL DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING THE LIBRARY.
GO RIGHT AHEAD AND IF YOU'D LIKE, YOU CAN MAKE THAT FAIRLY SHORT AND JUST HIT THE HIGH POINTS IF YOU WOULD.
>> I WILL. I'LL JUST TAKE OVER THE THINGS THAT BOTH YOU AND THE CITY MANAGER SAID.
LET ME TELL YOU THE CHANGES THAT THEY MADE AND WHAT WENT OVER.
I'LL GIVE YOU SOME INSIGHT INTO THEIR THINKING AT THIS POINT.
ON THE FIRST PAGE, NUMBER TWO, UNDER WHAT THE PARTIES AGREED TO.
THEY REMOVED THE LANGUAGE FROM OUR PROPOSAL THAT SAYS THE LIBRARY AGREES THAT DELIVERY OF THESE FUNDS SATISFIES THE CITY'S OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE CITY CHARTER.
THAT IS THE PAYMENT OF THE $4,114,400.
>> THEY REMOVED THAT. YOU'VE GOT BOTH THE NEW SETUP SIDE-BY-SIDE AND DO THE SAME COMPARISON THAT [OVERLAPPING].
THEN UNDER FISCAL YEARS, WE PROPOSED A TWO-YEAR AGREEMENT.
THEY TOOK OUT [OVERLAPPING] IN THE SAME SENTENCE ALTOGETHER.
HIS HONOR, IT WAS NOT THE WAY.
>> THAT MATERIAL WAS SENT OUT A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO TO YOU.
>> THEN UNDER THE PAYMENTS TO THE CITY [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING]
>> THEY SHOULD BE IN YOUR PACKET MATERIALS, THE SAME MATERIAL I THINK, JOHN.
>> CAN YOU BRING US A COPY? BECAUSE MOST OF US DON'T HAVE IT. [BACKGROUND]
>> CAN WE GET A COPY OF IT OR BORROW SOMEBODY'S?
>> CAN WE GET A COPY OF THE PACKING MATERIAL THAT MIKE'S BY REFERRING TO?
>> UNDER PAYMENTS TO THE CITY FROM THE LIBRARY.
[BACKGROUND] THEY TOOK OUT OUR REFERENCE TO A PILOT PAYMENT.
THERE'S A LEGAL ARGUMENTATION BEHIND THAT, BUT WE DO PILOT PAYMENTS WITH ALL FORM AND MATTER OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE SOME IMPACT ON CITY OPERATIONS.
JUST AS A PAYMENT, MOODY GARDENS, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. [OVERLAPPING]
>> MONEY THAT WILL BE COMING FROM THE NEW PORT TERMINAL.
>> WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
[BACKGROUND] THAT'S THE MAIN CHANGE THEY MADE THERE, BUT THEN THEY WANT TO DIRECT THE MONEY.
THEY ADDED A SECTION FOUR AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SECOND PAGE THAT TALKS ABOUT THE PROVISIONS OF THE 21ST CLAUSE OF THE WORLD HENRY ROSENBERG, TALKING ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES THAT BASICALLY HIS A STATE HAS TO FUND [NOISE].
THEY'RE SUGGESTING THAT THEY WOULD PAY US THE MONEY THAT'S BEING REQUESTED, THE $453,000, BUT IT WOULD HAVE TO GO TO PROGRAMS LIKE THE LIBRARY.
FURTHERS NOW, FOR THE IMPROVEMENT, INSTRUCTION, AND ELEVATION OF THE CITY AND CITIZENS OF GALVESTON.
WE'VE JUST GOT TWO QUESTIONS AND ONE IS DOES THAT REALLY APPLY TO FUNDS COMING FROM THE CITY OR THEY APPLY TO THE ESTATE? IF IT DOES APPLY TO US, THERE'S SOME PRETTY BROAD LANGUAGE IN HERE THAT WE WOULD THINK THAT INCLUDE PUBLIC SAFETY AND TAKING CARE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE CITY.
THEY'VE SPECIFIED LITERACY, DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC BROADBAND, INTERNET ACCESS, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, OR OTHER SIMILAR MATTERS THAT ARE RELATED TO PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICES.
I'M NOT SURE THEY'RE THAT DIRECTLY RELATED TO PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICES AND ALL WORTHY PROGRAMS, BUT IT'S A QUESTION OF HOW SHOULD CITY FUNDS BE USED.
IS THAT REALLY SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE [OVERLAPPING].
>> IF I COULD ADD IN, WHEN HE WROTE HIS WILL, THERE WERE NO CITY FUNDS BEING SENT TO THE LIBRARY SO THE WILL COULD NOT HAVE CONTEMPLATED CITY FUNDS.
THAT LANGUAGE COULD ONLY APPLY TO [NOISE] TRUST I THINK.
>> THE OTHER THING, THEY INSERTED WAS AN AGREEMENT.
YOU'LL SEE THIS [NOISE] IN THE COPY TO BASICALLY A
[01:50:02]
NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT FOR THE TERMS OR WHAT THEY WERE ASKING US TO APPROVE.>> WE CAN'T. THIS IS GOVERNMENT [INAUDIBLE]
>> ON THAT COMMENT, AS I MENTIONED TO MIKE MILLER WHEN THEY SENT THIS ITEM BACK, [NOISE] I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT THIS HAS TO GO BEFORE COUNCIL BECAUSE THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN THE DOCUMENT WE ORIGINALLY APPROVED FOR COUNCIL TO APPROVE IT, IF THEY WERE GOING TO DO THAT.
THE ONLY WAY I CAN DO THAT IS TO GET BACK TO COUNCIL AND THAT IS PUBLIC INFORMATION.
WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO SHELTER THIS INFORMATION.
WE HAVE THE DUTY TO MAKE SURE THIS IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
>> THE THING I WOULD ADD TO THIS VERY GOOD MEMORANDUM THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY, [BACKGROUND] GAVE YOU ON THE LIBRARY.
WE WENT AND FOUND IN OUR ARCHIVES THE 1947 CITY BUDGET AND THE FIVE CENT TAX AMOUNT THAT WAS DEVOTED TO THE LIBRARY AT THAT POINT WAS COMING OFF OF A $2 TAX RATE, NOT A 50 CENT TAX RATE.
I THINK THAT'S TERRIBLY IMPORTANT.
OVER TIME [INAUDIBLE] WE'RE NOW AT 10 PERCENT OF THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE THAT WE GET.
I KNOW THIS WILL OPEN UP QUESTIONS FOR THE COUNCIL.
WHAT I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND COUNCIL, AND MOSTLY HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED.
BRIAN, IS IN DISCUSSIONS RIGHT NOW WITH THE LIBRARY ON POSSIBLE CHANGES TO THEIR ADVANTAGE CONTRACT, THAT WOULD POSSIBLY WORK OUT FOR THE CITY, AND FOR THE LIBRARY.
AT THIS POINT, THE LIBRARY HAS SHOWN QUITE A BIT OF INTEREST IN WORKING WITH THE CITY, AND I THINK, WE NEED TO CONTINUE THOSE DISCUSSIONS, AND I FEEL THAT IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO LET STAFF CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE LIBRARY TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO, AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO HELP WITH THAT TO MOVE THIS FORWARD AND COME UP WITH A SOLUTION THAT EVERYBODY WOULD SUPPORT.
COUNCIL, WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS? YES, MARIE.
>> I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SAYING MAKES SENSE, BUT I WONDER WHY THEY DID THIS NON-DISCLOSURE THING.
>> THEIR COUNTER-PROPOSAL DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THEY'RE WORKING WITH THIS VERY MUCH [LAUGHTER].
>> WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE. I THINK WE'LL END WITH A LITTLE BOOMING PROGRESS AND I'LL BRING THIS BACK WITHIN.
IT'S HARD TO NEGOTIATE WITH PEOPLE THAT READ YOU LIKE A BOOK [LAUGHTER].
>> SO THIS THING IS PRELIMINARY.
>> WELL, JUST TO THROW AT WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW, JUST FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.
>> WELL, BECAUSE WE APPROVED AN MOU, WE SEND IT TO THE LIBRARY AND THEY HAVE AMENDED IT.
THEREFORE, THAT HAS TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL.
NOW, DOES COUNCIL WANT TO APPROVE WHAT THEY HAVE SENT OVER? DOES COUNCIL WANT TO HAVE A FURTHER DISCUSSIONS TO TRY TO NEGOTIATE A SETTLEMENT ON THIS? OR DOES COUNCIL WANT TO MOVE TO A CHARTER CHANGE, WHICH IS ALWAYS OPEN?
>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THAT, WITH THE CHARTER AMENDMENT THIS COULD ALL GO AWAY?
>> BUT IT'D HAVE TO BE BY ELECTION.
>> ABSOLUTELY, VOTE OF PEOPLE AND THIS COULD GO AWAY?
>> JUST FOR TIMELINE, WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT IF THAT WAS THE WAY WE HAD TO PROCEED?
>> IT'S FUNNY YOU ASK, DON, HE'S PREPARED TO GIVE.
>> CHARTER ORDERS CAN ONLY BE AMENDED BY A VOTE EVERY TWO YEARS, THOUGH SOME ACTIONS HAVE TO BE COMPARTMENTALIZED.
UNIFORM ELECTION DATES IN TEXAS ARE IN NOVEMBER, MAY.
WE HAVE MISSED THE DEADLINE TO HAVE IT NOVEMBER.
SO YOUR NEXT SHOT IS ABOUT A YEAR FROM NOW, MAY OF 2022.
YOUR NEXT SHOT IS NOVEMBER ELECTION, AND THEN MAY OF 2023.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE LIBRARY.
I WOULD HATE TO SEE THIS GO TO A CHARTER ELECTION BECAUSE IF IT DOES, I FEEL THAT THIS WOULD GO AWAY.
I DO NOT THINK IT WOULD BE VERY POPULAR
[01:55:03]
AMONG OUR CITIZENS WHO WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP OUR TAXES DOWN, AND THEY SEE THAT WE CONTINUE TO INCREASE THIS BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN.>> MAY I ADD SOMETHING IN? IN THE 1946 CHARTER, THEY GAVE THE CITY WHAT'S CALLED COUNCILMEN, THE THEN CITY COUNCIL BUDGET OVERSIGHT OVER THE EXPENDITURES MADE BY THE LIBRARY.
TO MY MIND, IT GAVE THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AUTHORITY, BUT NOT AN OBLIGATION TO PAY UP TO FIVE CENTS.
THEY HAD SOME DISCRETION IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH THEY SPENT AND THEY HAD BUDGET OVERSIGHT OVER WHAT THE LIBRARY ACTUALLY SPENT.
THEN BOTH OF THOSE THINGS WENT AWAY, I THINK PROBABLY IN THE CHARTER OF 1960, BUT THAT'S AN OPTION YOU COULD PUT IN, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO GO AWAY ENTIRELY.
YOU COULD REDUCE IT FROM FIVE CENT TO ONE CENT, AND THAT'S A WHOLE DISCUSSION.
>> WE CONTINUE NEGOTIATIONS AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN COME TO RESOLUTION.
IF THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN, WHAT WOULD BE OUR CUTOFF DATE TO HAVE AN ELECTION IN MAY?
>> THE FILING DATE, I THINK I PUT IT IN MY MEMO LAST NIGHT IS, FEBRUARY.
IT'S THE SAME AS FILING DEADLINE.
>> WE WOULD HAVE TIME IF NEED BE, TO PUT IN FOR AN ELECTION.
>> WELL, THE CURRENT MOU CALLS FOR THEM TO PROVIDE THE DETAIL THAT SHOWS HOW THEY'RE SPENDING THEIR MONEY, AND THEY'VE GOT 30 DAYS TO GIVE THAT TO US.
AFTER I'VE NOTIFIED THEM WHAT THE AMOUNT IS GOING TO BE, AND THAT 30 DAY, I THINK WE AGREED YESTERDAY, IS TOMORROW.
WHEN I GET THAT DOCUMENT FROM THEM, I'LL DISTRIBUTE IT TO EVERYBODY.
>> IF YOU CAN DISTRIBUTE THAT TO ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, MIKE THAT WILL BE GREAT.
CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, COUNCIL, WE'RE LOOKING AT CONTINUING OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE LIBRARY TO SEE WHAT WE CAN WORK OUT ALONG THIS MOU LINE THAT WE ORIGINALLY APPROVED, AND THEN WE'LL BRING BACK A REPORT POSSIBLY AT OUR NEXT MONTH'S MEETING ON THAT.
>> THEY DID ACCEPT THE MATHEMATICAL APPROACH WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
>> THEY DID ACCEPT THE NOTION OF THE UNIFORM PURSUE [INAUDIBLE].
>> WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THAT.
>> WE SHOULD PROBABLY MAKE IT CLEAR THAT IF WE CAN'T COME TO AN ACCEPTABLE AGREEMENT, THAT WE WILL BE LOOKING AT PUTTING IT ON THE ELECTION IN MAY, AND HOPEFULLY WE COULD RESOLVE THAT BEFORE THEN.
>> HOPEFULLY SO. THAT'S WHERE I THINK WE'RE ALL LOOKING TOWARDS.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU, DON.
LET'S TAKE A BREAK, FIVE-MINUTE BREAK, RECONVENE HERE AT AROUND A LITTLE AFTER 11:00.
WE ARE BACK FROM A BREAK, IT IS 11:05 AM. LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 3C, PLEASE, JANELLE?
[3.C. Discussion Of The Annual Audit Plan And Contract Monitoring System ( G Bulgherini - 20 Min )]
>> 3C, DISCUSSION OF THE ANNUAL AUDIT PLAN AND CONTRACT MONITORING SYSTEM.
>> COULD YOU COME ON UP IF YOU WOULD AND HAVE A SEAT.
COUNCIL, FOR YOUR KNOWLEDGE, YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW THIS.
[NOISE] UP TO ABOUT 2014, 2015, THE CITY AUDITOR'S DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF DIRECTION ON HOW THEY WERE PROCEEDING WITH THEIR AUDIT FUNCTIONS COMING UP FOR THAT FISCAL YEAR.
AT 2014, 2015 COUNCIL ADOPTED POLICY TO ESTABLISH AN ANNUAL AUDIT PLAN FOR THE CITY AUDITOR THAT WOULD BE BROUGHT TO COUNCIL FOR THEIR APPROVAL FOR THAT UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.
THEN IF ANY CHANGES WERE TO OCCUR TO THAT AUDIT PLAN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THEN THOSE CHANGES WOULD NEED TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL FOR OUR APPROVAL SO THAT THE AUDITOR COULD MAINTAIN HIS AUDIT PLAN.
GLENN HAS BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY HERE FOR A LITTLE WHILE ON
[02:00:01]
THIS PLAN AND HE'S BRINGING IT TO US FOR THIS COMING FISCAL YEAR. GLENN?>> EXCUSE ME. WHAT ARE THE PROCEDURES ON THAT?
>> FOR BRINGING THAT TO COUNCIL?
GLENN CAN OR AS A COUNCIL MEMBER CAN PUT THAT ON THE AGENDA AND THEN THE COUNCIL WOULD DISCUSS IT IN THEN VOTE [OVERLAPPING]
>> SO IT'S EITHER OR IS WHAT YOU SAYING?
>> THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THE APPROVAL OF THE AUDIT DRAFT PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING 2022.
DOES ANYBODY NEED ANOTHER COPY HERE? [BACKGROUND].
>> I'LL TAKE ONE. [OVERLAPPING] [BACKGROUND].
>> I'LL TAKE ALL THE QUESTIONS AND [NOISE] WE CAN MAYBE GET THIS FINALIZED AND IRONED OUT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> ALL RIGHT. IT IS ON OUR AGENDA FOR THIS AFTERNOON TO, OF COURSE, CODE ON IS.
I HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF CLARIFICATION ITEMS. YOU'VE MENTIONED A COUPLE OF TIMES HERE IN YOUR AUDIT PLAN, AND BY THE WAY, I APPRECIATE THE BAR CHART THAT YOU BUILD TOGETHER. IT HELPS ME [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER]
>> [LAUGHTER] IT HELPS ME UNDERSTAND.
YOU MENTIONED A COUPLE OF THINGS IN HERE ABOUT THE CITY'S AUDITOR'S OFFICE WILL WORK WITH CITY LEADERSHIP.
WHO SPECIFICALLY? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU, "CITY LEADERSHIP?"
>> IN THE BEGINNING, WE WERE GOING TO WORK WITH THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP, THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.
THEN THEY CAME UP WITH ANOTHER POSITION I BELIEVE, CONTRACT ADMINISTRATOR IN FINANCE.
WE'LL BE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THAT PERSON.
I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO WRITE OUT SOME POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, AND CONTROLS INITIALLY.
WE'LL BE WORKING WITH OUR PART AS SHOWN GIVE THEM THE BENEFIT OF OUR RESEARCH, OF WHAT WE FOUND.
WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING, AND WHAT WE FIND IN OUR CITY AUDIT LIBRARY AND WORK WITH THEM AS FAR AS CREATING A COMPLETE MANUAL WRITTEN UP, KEYWORD BEING WRITTEN UP FOR THIS CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE THAT'S WHERE MOST OF OUR RISK IS MONITORING OUR CONTRACTS.
>> THE WAY I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN UP HERE, GLENN, IS THAT THE ROLE OF THE CITY AUDITOR'S OFFICE WILL BE TO ASSIST THESE ENTITIES, ART BOARD OR BOARD TOWARD THE CITY IN ESTABLISHING AND RECOGNIZING BEST PRACTICES FOR THESE PARTICULAR COMPONENTS THAT YOU HAVE OUTLINED.
THEN IT WOULD BE UP TO THOSE ENTITIES THOUGH, THAT'S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY OF PUTTING THOSE PRACTICES TOGETHER; IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT. IF WE DO FEEL LIKE THERE IS A BEST PRACTICE THAT THEY REALLY NEED TO CONSIDER.
JUST SAY IN THE INSTANCE WHERE MANAGEMENT DOES NOT FEEL LIKE THAT AND THE CITY AUDITOR'S OFFICE DOES, WE'LL BRING THEM FORWARD TO COUNCIL AND THE COUNCIL MAY ABLE TO MAKE THE DECISION.
>> SO FAR WITH THE CMS WITH THE PORT BOARD AND ALL OF THOSE STAFF REPORT IT WAS PRETTY MUCH AGREED ON EVERYTHING, ON THE PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES.
>> ANOTHER QUESTION ON THE HOT TAX AUDITS WITH THE PORT BOARD.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE ASSISTING THOSE, AND I THINK THE PORT BOARD IS ALREADY BUDGETED FOR THAT.
>> I'M SORRY. I DON'T THINK I CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
>> THEY WILL BE HELPING TO REIMBURSE THAT COSTS FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT ON THAT, IS THAT RIGHT?
>> YEAH. FOR THAT PARTICULAR, YES, THROUGH THEIR AUDITOR.
>> SOUNDS GOOD. ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL?
>> I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE PORT BOARD FOR DONATING THE 66,000.
YOU MAY OR SINCE YOU'RE ON THE PORT, I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU TALK TO THE PORT BOARD TO SEE THEIR DONATIONS ALSO TO GLENN'S ORGANIZATION.
>>THANK YOU, BILL. THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
I'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE STAFF HERE ON THAT.
I'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH MEMBERS OF THE TRUSTEES, DEPARTMENT, BOARD ON THAT.
SO YES, WE WILL BE MOVING IN THAT WAY.
>> WE LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THE CONTRIBUTION TO THE EXPENSE,
[02:05:03]
NOT A DONATION. [LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND] [OVERLAPPING]>> ARE THERE GOING TO BE WRITTEN RULES WHAT THE CITY ARE JUST GOING TO HELP WITH THE PORT BOARD AS WELL AS THE PORT?
>> YES. ABSOLUTELY. THE PORT MADE ME FEEL LIKE I'M ON IT.
WE NEED TO DO MAYBE IN THEIR ADMINISTRATION OR MAYBE WITH THE VENDORS THAT THEY DEAL WITH.
>> SO WE CAN BE WORKING WITH THE VENDORS OR [OVERLAPPING]
>> WHENEVER THE PORT FEELS, WHENEVER THE TRUSTEES OF THE WEST BOARD FEELS LIKE WE NEED TO GO.
>> BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A CONTACT POINT WITH THE PORT AS WELL AS THE PORT BOARD.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WELL, VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT?
>> WELL, I'M JUST MINORLY CONCERNED ABOUT USE OF THE WORD TRAINING IN THESE EFFORTS.
>> WE UPDATED THE REPORT. I DON'T KNOW.
MAYBE DAN, HE DIDN'T LIKE THAT WORD EITHER.
>> I'M LOOKING AT WHAT'S ON THE BACK.
[OVERLAPPING] STILL SAYS RIGHT.
[LAUGHTER]. WELL, TO IDENTIFY AND DEVELOP TRAINING-RELATED, DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU GUYS ARE ON THE SAME PAGE?
>> I THINK WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE. [OVERLAPPING] WE'RE GOING TO WORK COLLECTIVELY.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S ALL I NEED TO KNOW.
>> GLEN'S EXPERIENCE AND OUR EXPERIENCE TOGETHER DEVELOP THE BEST TRAINING.
>> WE WANT TO GET THE BEST PRACTICES, THE BEST TRAINING.
HOWEVER, YOU WANT TO WORD IT IN WRITING FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS SO WE DON'T HAVE TO KEEP RECREATING THE WHEEL EVERY TIME WE HAVE AN EMPLOYEE TURNOVER.
WE WANT THIS TO BE FOR THE TAXPAYERS AND THE CITIZENS OF GALVESTON TO SEE THAT WE ARE CONCERNED CONTRACTS, WE ARE MONITORING THEM IN REAL-TIME BASIS SO THAT THEY CAN REST ASSURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT THE CONTRACTS.
>> I WOULD SAY, OF COURSE CITY AUDITOR IN THAT DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY AUDITOR'S POSITION IS UNDER THE CONTROL OF COUNSEL THAT GLENN HAS AND PUTTING THIS TOGETHER HAS MET WITH CITY STATURE, WORKING THROUGH DAN AND SOME OTHER INDIVIDUALS AT THE CITY, TO COME TOGETHER SO THAT THEY COULD BE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE ON THE SAME PAGE ON THIS.
>> [INAUDIBLE] WE NEED THIS FINAL PRODUCT OF A WRITTEN MANUAL THAT WE'RE AFTER.
NOT SO MUCH IT'S EFFICIENCY REPORTS, GOING BACK AND FORTH.
CERTAINLY, IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE CAN'T AGREE ON, WE'RE GOING TO BRING THAT TO COUNCIL, LET COUNCIL MAKE THAT DECISION.
>> ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> I JUST WANT TO THANK GLENN FOR THE EXCELLENT JOB HE'S DOING.
>> THANK YOU, GLENN, APPRECIATE IT.
>> THEN THAT WAS A LOT EASIER THAN WE THOUGHT.
>> COME BACK AGAIN. [LAUGHTER]
>> YEAH, THERE WE ARE. LET'S MOVE TO COUNCIL UPDATES AND DISCUSSIONS.
[3. D2. Update of Staff's research of an Annual Registration Fee for Short Term Rentals (D. Buckley - 15 min )]
WE'VE BEEN ON ITEM, ALREADY DISCUSSED THE LIBRARY.WE'RE MOVING ON TO ITEM 2, JANELLE.
>> ITEM 2. UPDATE ON STAFF RESEARCH OF AN ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEE FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
>> COUNCIL, WE HAD A DISCUSSION ON AN ANNUAL FEE FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
COUNCIL GAVE DIRECTION TO STAFF WITH DAN, WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS, INDUSTRY, AND OTHER ASSOCIATED INDIVIDUALS TO COME BACK WITH SOME THOUGHTS.
DAN STILL IN THE PROCESS, I KNOW, BUT WE WANTED AN UPDATE, DAN.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT MY FIRST HALF OF MY PRESENTATION BY THE WAY.
IT'S NO LONGER FIVE, IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT TWO MINUTES.
>> AGAIN, COUNCIL DIRECTED STAFF TO MEET WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES FOLLOWING OUR PRESENTATION LAST TIME WHEN EVERYBODY WAS IN SHOCK AND ALL OVER THE COST OF DOING THE TYPE OF ENFORCEMENT THAT AGAIN, WAS REQUESTED BY THE LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THOSE SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
WE WERE ASKED TO GO BACK AND TRY TO BETTER DEFINE WHAT THE SCOPE OF THOSE ACTIVITIES MAY BE AND TO MY SURPRISE, AND EVERYBODY ELSE'S, THE MEETING THAT WE HAD WITH THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL PEOPLE WAS A COMPLETE REVERSAL OF WHAT THEY ASKED FOR ORIGINALLY.
THEY SAID, "WE LIKE THIS DEAL ABOUT USING OFF-DUTY POLICE OFFICERS AND WE'RE GOING TO STICK WITH THAT.
WE WANT TO HELP OFFSET THE COST THIS REGISTRATION SYSTEM, BUT WE'RE NOT SURE ABOUT ANY CALLS FOR ENFORCEMENT OR BEYOND THAT." THAT WAS A COMPLETE REVERSAL.
BUT WE KEPT MOVING FORWARD AND WORKING WITH THE PARK BOARD AND TRIED TO IDENTIFY WAYS THAT WE CAN QUANTIFY IF THERE'S COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ADMINISTERING AND OVERSEEING THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
TO THAT END, WE'RE DOING THREE OR FOUR THINGS.
NUMBER 1, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE PARK BOARD TO IDENTIFY A REGISTRATION PLATFORM.
[02:10:04]
THIS IS GOING TO BE A SOFTWARE PACKAGE, WHETHER IT'S HOSTED OR IT RESIDES AT THE CITY OR THE PARK BOARD, THAT WE CAN USE TO QUANTIFY DATA.REGISTRATION, THE ADDRESS, THE OWNERS, THE CONTACTS, EVERYTHING THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW.
WELL, WHO IS THE POINT OF CONTACT? HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN REGISTERED, WHERE IS IT? YOU CAN GET ALL THAT INFORMATION.
THAT PLATFORM DOESN'T EXIST RIGHT NOW.
THE PLAN FOR PARK BOARD IS TO PUT TOGETHER A GROUP.
THE GROUP IS GOING TO CONTAIN TWO CITY STAFF, HOPE DEAN, OUR DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, MIKE LOFTIN, YOU ALL KNOW,K KERRY, BRYSON FRAZIER, AND THEN THREE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE LOCAL INDUSTRY ON THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
THEY'RE GOING TO TALK THROUGH THE ISSUES ABOUT WHAT THE SYSTEM COULD DO, HOW IT'S GOING TO BE BEST UTILIZED AND WE'RE GOING TO MOVE IN AND OUT OF THOSE, BOTH KELLY AND I, BRIAN OR WHATEVER GOING TO WORK WITH THIS GROUP TO TRY TO BRING SOMETHING FORWARD.
THAT'S NUMBER 1. NUMBER 2 IS TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO IDENTIFY THE PUBLIC SAFETY, CALL IT THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH CHIEF HALE AND I THINK WE'VE IDENTIFIED A FIELD IN THEIR DATA SYSTEM WHERE WE CAN PLUG IN THAT THIS PROPERTY IS A SHORT-TERM RENTAL.
LIKE RIGHT NOW, THEY MAY PULL UP AN ADDRESS AND IT SAID, WHOEVER'S THERE IS A SEX OFFENDER OR SOMETHING ELSE.
WELL, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FIELD FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
IF YOU GET A DISPATCH THERE, YOU'RE GOING TO KNOW IT'S A SHORT-TERM RENTAL.
WE CAN GO AND LOOK AT CALLS AT SHORT-TERM RENTALS THAT WAY.
THAT'S GOING TO HELP US QUANTIFY DATA GOING FORWARD ABOUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY CALLS.
BIG PART OF THAT IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO INTEGRATE THAT DATA.
SOMEBODY'S EITHER HAVE TO MANUALLY GO IN AND DO IT OR ELSE WE'LL BE ABLE TO REMOTELY IMPORT IT ONCE WE GET NEW PLATFORM, BUT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THOSE PARTICULARS RIGHT NOW.
IT'S INTERESTING TO KNOW, AND WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AGO, 2,800 SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
ANYBODY WANT TO GUESS WHAT THEY ARE NOW?
>> ACCORDING TO THE GALVESTON VISION, IT'S 5,203.
>> THEY'RE PROJECTING 4,000 PLUS.
THERE'S A LOT OF NUMBERS OUT THERE.
>> 3,600 IS NOT EVEN CLOSE, PROBABLY.
BUT IT'S REMARKABLE THAT SINCE THE COUNCIL TOOK ACTION AND REQUIRED THE REGISTRATION AND THE VRBO, CAN'T LIST WITHOUT A REGISTRATION NUMBER, YOU'VE HAD THAT KIND OF INCREASE OF 600 IN JUST A FEW WEEKS.
THEN THERE'S MORE COMING AND ONCE WE CAN GET THE DATA, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S UNIQUE IN THESE REGISTRATION PLATFORMS THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET, THEY'LL GO AND SCRUB THE DATA.
THEY'LL LOOK AT EVERY SINGLE CLASSIFIED AD, RENTAL ADS, CRAIGSLIST, FACEBOOK, AND THEY'LL START SCRUBBING DATA FOR ANYTHING LISTED IN GALVESTON, AND THEN THEY'LL LOOK AGAINST THE REGISTRATION, SEE IF THE PROPERTY IS REGISTERED.
THEN THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO HELP IDENTIFY THESE UNREGISTERED RENTALS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
THERE'S A LOT OF THEM. BUT I THINK THAT THAT'S GOOD.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS THERE'S A GROUP OF OFF-DUTY POLICE OFFICERS, GALVESTON POLICE OFFICERS THAT RUN SECURITY OUT ON THE WEST END OF THE ISLAND.
THAT'S WHO THEY'VE BEEN USING FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS FOR THE ENFORCEMENT, FOR ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO GET DATA FROM THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT DISPATCHED THROUGH OUR SYSTEM, SO WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE DATA.
CHIEF GOING TO WORK WITH THEM AND SEE IF HE CAN GET INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.
ALL OF THOSE ARE GOING TO GO INTO THESE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT WE NEED, HOW WE NEED IT, AND ALL OF THIS IS GOING TO BE ASSESSED FOR AND GET BACK TO YOU GUYS AGAIN.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE COMBINED WITH THAT OF THE PARK BOARD WITH THIS COMMITTEE TO TRY TO COME UP WITH AN ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEE THAT CAN SUPPORT THE HOP CONNECTION AND AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF ENFORCEMENT.
I WOULD ANTICIPATE THE RECOMMENDATION COME INTO COUNCIL AS SOON AS WE GET THE SELECTION FOR PLATFORM, WE CAN AGGREGATE THE DATA AND WE CAN ANALYZE THE DEMANDS PLACED ON PUBLIC SAFETY BY THE STR INDUSTRY IN GALVESTON.
I'VE CAUTIONED COUNCIL THAT WE'RE WORKING ON THIS DILIGENTLY RIGHT NOW, PROBABLY 12 MONTHS TO FULL IMPLEMENTATION.
IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN QUICKLY.
THEY'LL BE INCREMENTAL PROGRESS ALONG THE WAY AS WE MAKE GOALS OR WE GET DATA INTEGRATED.
BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
THERE'S ONE ABSOLUTE I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE OR TO TELL COUNCIL RIGHT NOW, IS THE CURRENT FEE SHOULD APPLY TO ALL OPERATORS.
ALL FUNDS COLLECTED SHOULD BE ALLOCATED PROPORTIONALLY AGAINST COSTS OF IMPLEMENTING A NEW SYSTEM AND COLLECTION EFFORTS AND ENFORCEMENT.
AGAIN, THAT THE FUNDS SHOULD BE ANNUAL, ALLOCATED AND APPLY TO EVERYBODY.
THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY EXCLUSIONS.
>> DO WE HAVE A PROJECTION ON WHAT THE COST WOULD BE?
>> HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS FOR THE PLATFORM.
[02:15:02]
>> [OVERLAPPING] IS THAT PER A YEAR OR? [OVERLAPPING]
>> NO. IT'S A ONE TIME, PART OF THEN IT'S GOING TO BE SOLVED FOR LICENSING AND MAINTENANCE EVERY YEAR SO IT'LL COME DOWN AFTER THE FIRST YEAR.
>> THERE'S ACTUALLY A LIKELIHOOD OF AN ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL COST BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, WE'RE JUST DOING SINGLE ONE TIME REGISTRATION.
TO DO THE ANNUAL REGISTRATION, WE HAVE TO SPREAD IT ACROSS THE YEAR, SOMEONE IS GOING TO HAVE TO MONITOR AND ALL OF THAT.
>> PERSONNEL COST IS ADDING ANOTHER EMPLOYEE TO MONITOR THIS OR?
BUT I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR [INAUDIBLE] BUT HE PROBABLY DOESN'T HAVE THE STAFF TO MANAGE THIS KIND OF PROGRAM.
>> THE PART BOARD IS GOING TO MANAGE IT.
THEY CURRENTLY ARE MANAGING IT.
>> THEY CURRENTLY ARE AND THEN WE MAY STAY THERE.
BUT AS DAN SAYS, THE COMMITTEE IS GOING TO DECIDE WHERE THE PLATFORM ON A LAND IN [INAUDIBLE] HOME'S OFFICE OR PDA OR MARSHALL.
>> CHANCES ARE IT'S GOING TO BE AT THE PARK BOARD.
I THINK HOPES ARE FOR HER EXPERTISE.
SHE'S PROBABLY MOST QUALIFIED PERSON WE HAVE ON STAFF DEALING WITH PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION AND MANAGEMENT.
>> BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE THAT INTERFACE WITH POLICE AND MARSHALL'S OFFICE.
THE 12 MONTHS ESTIMATE SOUNDS VERY RATIONAL TO ME BECAUSE IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET THESE THINGS FULLY POPULATED, THE DATA CLEANED UP AND [OVERLAPPING] TRAINING PROCEDURES, AND ALL THAT STUFF.
>> [OVERLAPPING] ONE OTHER THING I WANTED TO TOUCH ON IS YOUR SAYING RIGHT NOW THEY'RE USING OFF DUTY POLICE OFFICERS TO MONITOR SOME OF THESE [OVERLAPPING], THERE'S NO LIABILITY AGAINST THE CITY IF THEY GO IN THERE?
>> WHERE ALSO WHEN YOU'RE QUANTIFYING THAT INFORMATION, PEOPLE USE ALL 30 POLICE VAN, BUT THEY ALSO USE OFF DUTY SHERIFFS.
>> THAT'S REALLY HARD TO QUANTIFY BECAUSE TYPICALLY THEY'RE EITHER GIVING A WARNING OR THEY HAVE TO CONTACT POLICE.
SOME NEIGHBORHOODS USE OFF DUTY CONSTABLES AS WELL.
>> WELL I THINK [INAUDIBLE] IS A ONE RESOURCE.
>> REQUIREMENT IS ONE THAT'S ALL POLICE, BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO OFF DUTY SHERIFFS THAT PEOPLE WILL USE DURING THE WEEK VERSUS IN THE WEEKEND THEY USE OFF DUTY.
THEN THERE'S ALSO WHEN ALL THE SUPPLY OF OFF DUTY PEOPLE, PEOPLE WILL GO TO THE CONSTABLES.
THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER AVENUE THAT YOU'LL RUN AND CHECK WITH TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CAPTURING ALL THE INCIDENTS.
BECAUSE ONE THING THAT WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW WITH THIS HUGE GROWTH OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS, ESPECIALLY THESE BIG BOX RENTALS, IS THAT WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE IN ROBBERIES.
IN JUST THE PAST WEEK WE HAD A ROBBERY IN KAHALA BEACH AND WE HAD ROBBERY THAT WAS FOUND IN PIRATES BEACH.
THAT PERSON HAD RING CAMERAS, CAUGHT THE GUY ON CAMERA, CALLED 911.
THEY WERE ABLE TO GO OUT THERE.
THE PERSON WAS STILL DRIVING AROUND AND STILL LOOKING AT ROBBING OTHER HOUSES.
>> DAVID, DO YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? [OVERLAPPING].
>> I'M SORRY. WHAT WAS OUR USE FOR BIG BOX?
>> IT'S A COMPANY [OVERLAPPING].
>> I THINK BEACH BOX IS WHAT SHE MEANS.
>> IT'S A CATEGORY OF SHORT-TERM RENTAL.
>> THEY'RE A LARGE AGGREGATOR OF SHORT-TERM RENTAL PROPERTY.
>> RIGHT. THEY OWN MAYBE 72, I'D SAY ON AVERAGE RIGHT NOW.
>> YEAH. I'VE HEARD SOME PEOPLE CALL THEM THE GREAT MONSTER ICON IN THAT BIG BOX.
>> AGAIN, GOING BACK TO SECURITY, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE A PRIVATE FIRM OR THEY GET ADDITIONAL HAND IT RIGHT OFF TO GAUSSIAN PD, BECAUSE WHO IS GOING TO DO THE REPORTING? IF WE'RE WORKING WITH TIRED MAN HOURS OUT THERE YOU NEED TO FIGURE THAT INTO YOUR COST.
>> COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT CONCERN THE OFF DUTY OFFICERS AREN'T BEING EMPLOYED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY IN THE HOAS AND MASTER PLAN COMMUNITIES ON THE WEST END.
WE DON'T SEE THAT IN TOWN. I BELIEVE.
>> OH NO. WELL, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
>> OFF DUTY OFFICERS BEING EMPLOYED TO DO.
>> NO. BUT I'VE HEARD LIKE KEN PEACHY, WHICH I MEAN, WE'RE NOT TALKING WEST UP 103 STREET.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THERE ARE SOME NEIGHBORHOODS IN TOWN THAT DO YOU USE THESE SECURITY.
>> THERE'S OCCASION, BUT IT'S MAINLY VAST MAJORITY ON THE WEST END.
>> OF COURSE, COST YOU NEED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT IS THAT WHEN THESE OFF DUTY OFFICERS RESPOND TO SOMETHING, THEY VERY FREQUENTLY CALL GPD FOR BACKUP.
>> THAT'S WHO THEIR BACKUP WOULD BE.
>> THAT IS NATURALLY WHO THE BACKUP IS.
SOMETHING WE NEED TO BE SURE WE KNOW AS YOU SAY THAT SHOCK AND ALL PRESENTATION.
WHEN BUSH CAME IN AND SAID, IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS AT NIGHT, IT'S GOING TO COST YOU $2 MILLION.
[02:20:03]
THAT SEEMS A LITTLE EXCESSIVE.BUT THAT'S WHEN THE PROBLEM IS, HE IDENTIFIED IT PERFECTLY THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, 11:00 PM TO 4:00 AM.
THAT'S WHEN THE ENFORCEMENT ISSUE REALLY RISES, WHETHER IT'S SECOND HOME, ON OUR PARTIES OR JUST LOCALS HAVING PARTIES OR WHETHER IT'S INDEED IT'S SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
WE NEED TO FACTOR THAT COST IN AS WELL OR WHO'S GOING TO ANSWER THESE CALLS? I MEAN, WHO ANSWERS THEM NOW? WHO'S GOING TO ANSWER THEM? BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT USING THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE TO DO THIS.
IF WE USE THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE TO DO THIS, WE STILL DON'T HAVE THEM IN THOSE TIME PERIODS.
WE STILL DON'T HAVE THE NIGHTTIME COVERAGE.
>> WE WOULD REQUIRE STAFFING CHANGE.
>> IT WOULD AND SO THAT'S A COST THAT NEEDS TO BE [OVERLAPPING].
>> I THINK SOMETHING I SHARED WITH COUNCIL, I DON'T KNOW IF I SHARED WITH THEM LAST TIME.
THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT WELL, THIS IS AN INDUSTRY WHERE WE'D BE TAXING TO POLICE ITSELF, AND WE DON'T DO THAT ANYWHERE ELSE.
THE REST OF IT IS PAID FOR THROUGH PUBLIC FUNDS, THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND OF THE CITY.
WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS IS THE DEMANDS THEY'RE STRESSING ON OUR SYSTEM.
THAT CAME, GOLF GUARD ENFORCEMENT WAS ANOTHER THING THAT STRESSES THE NORMAL SYSTEM.
WE HAVE A NORMAL SYSTEM THAT WE'VE ALLOCATED, PAY FOR FUND, AND PROVIDE BUT WE'VE GOT THESE NEW GROUPS, THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL BOX, THE BIG BOX GROUPS THAT ARE COMING IN WITH 50 SHORT-TERM RENTAL HOMES.
IT'S PROBABLY 95 PERCENT GOOD OPERATOR AND 5 PERCENT BAD OPERATORS, WITH THOSE 5 PERCENT BAD OPERATORS PUT STRESSES ON THE SYSTEM THAT WE JUST CAN'T MANAGE WITH OUR CURRENT LEVELS.
>> AS I WAS SAYING EARLIER, WE HAVE 2.8 POLICE OFFICERS PER 1000 RESIDENTS.
WE'RE THE NEXT HIGHEST TO THE COUNTY OF 1.8.
THAT'S A LOT OF POLICE OFFICERS.
WE HAVE 50 POLICE OFFICERS OVER AND ABOVE WHAT WE'D HAVE IF WE WERE SOME FARM COMMUNITY.
>> IT AFFECTS MORE THAN POLICE, IT AFFECTS OUR SANITATION.
>> IT ABSOLUTELY DOES. BECAUSE AS WE ALL KNOW PARKING NOISE AND GARBAGE, THOSE ARE THE ISSUES. YOU'RE RIGHT.
IT'S A SMALL GROUP, BUT IT'S NOT A GROUP SITTING IN ONE HOUSE OR ONE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S ALL OVER THE ISLAND AND WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED WITH POLICE AND ALL.
>> IT'S GETTING BIGGER EVERY DAY.
>> DAN, I WANT TO BRING US BACK ON POINT HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME, I KNOW MARIE'S GOT AN ITEM COMING UP HERE FOR OUR NEXT DISCUSSION.
BUT I WANT TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION ON THIS.
THE 12 MONTHS THAT YOU'VE MENTIONED, THAT IS TO GET THE SYSTEM UP AND RUNNING AND GET THE SYSTEM TO START SENDING BACK DATA SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE DECISION BASICALLY ON THE NEED FOR ENFORCEMENT AND HOW THAT ENFORCEMENT WOULD BE STRUCTURED.
>> TWELVE MONTHS IS PROBABLY GLOBALLY.
I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE INCREMENTAL STEPS.
IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY TO POPULATE THE POLICE RMS SYSTEM WITH SHORT-TERM RAILS, WE CAN START AGGREGATING DATA NOW.
THERE MAY BE SOME INCREMENTAL STEPS OVER THAT 12 MONTHS IF THE 12 MONTHS INCLUDES, THE COMMITTEE MEETING, THE COMMITTEE MAKING A RECOMMENDATION, DOING AN RFP, PROCURING THE PRODUCT AND IMPLEMENTING THE PRODUCT.
IN 12 MONTHS MAY BE OVERLY OPTIMISTIC, I MEAN, THAT'S PROBABLY A GOOD GUESS AT THIS POINT ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD BE.
>> OKAY. BUT THAT'S A TURN KEY TYPE.
>> OKAY. BUT TO COME UP WITH AN AMOUNT FOR ANNUAL REGISTRATION, DO WE HAVE DATA COMING IN HERE SHORTLY? I KNOW FROM THE PART BOARDS COMMITTEE.
DO WE HAVE DATA COMING IN IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS THAT WOULD GIVE US GUIDANCE ON THAT, WHAT THOSE COSTS WOULD BE AND SO FORTH? MARTY, YOU'RE HERE.
ARE YOU CHAIR OF THAT COMMITTEE AT THE PART BOARD, MARTY?
ROSS AND FRAZIER'S RUNNING THE COMMITTEE AT THE PARK BOARD.
>> OKAY. WOULD YOU COME UP? WE GOT TO GET YOU ON CAMERA.
>> I WOULD SAY THAT WE HAD PARK BOARD THE OTHER DAY DESIGNATED MARTY TO SPEAK TO THE COUNSEL ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES.
>> OKAY. MARTY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GETTING DATA TO SET AN ANNUAL REGISTRATION COMING UP HERE.
I'M ON THE ZOOM MEETING, I'M TRYING TO TURN IT OFF.
[LAUGHTER] I'M HEARING MYSELF SPEAK.
>> [LAUGHTER] WE'RE HEARING TWO OF YOU, MARTY. TURN THE VOLUME DOWN.
>> YOU'LL BE FINE. [LAUGHTER].
>> GIVE THIS TO WILLIAM [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER].
[02:25:02]
>> THANK YOU. ONE OF THE MAIN ISSUES IS WE CAN ACCEPT A ONE-TIME PAYMENT, BUT WE CAN'T BILL ANNUALLY UNTIL WE GET THIS IMPLEMENTED.
THE COMMITTEE IS EXACTLY WHO DAN SAID IT IS.
NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ISN'T REPRESENTED ON THIS COMMITTEE IS THE SINGLE HOMEOWNER THAT OWNS A GARAGE APARTMENT IN THE BACK.
NOW, HOW DO THEY GET ENFORCEMENT? DON'T KNOW.
YOU RIDE OUT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, EVEN IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND MARIE'S NEIGHBORHOOD, WE SUBCONTRACT A SHERIFF, TO DO ENFORCEMENT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THAT DOESN'T HELP THE HOMEOWNER THAT HAS ONE OR TWO OR THREE PROPERTIES.
I'LL SPEAK TONIGHT BUT FROM THE PARK BOARD'S PERSPECTIVE, AND I THINK I'VE TALKED TO ALL OF YOU, WE BELIEVE IN AN ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEE.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT NUMBER IS YET, AND WE'D LIKE TO HAVE THIS GROUP THAT DAN TALKS ABOUT, WHICH INCLUDES MR. LOFTEN AND, BRYSON AND, FRAZIER AND RON, BACK THERE.
BUT BRYSON AND MIKE, AS YOU KNOW, ARE PRETTY BUSY WITH BUDGETS RIGHT NOW.
IT MAY BE 30 DAYS OR SO BEFORE THEY CAN FULLY ENGAGE IN THIS EFFORT.
FROM THE PARK BOARD'S PERSPECTIVE, WE FULLY BELIEVE IN AN ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEE.
WE CAN DO A ONE-TIME RECEIPT OF THOSE 600 THAT WE'VE HAD SINCE MAY AND COLLECT THE $50, BUT WE HAVE NO WAY TO BILL THEM.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO STRETCH THEM OUT.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE A WATER BILLING ISSUE, ALTHOUGH THEY'RE DOING IT MONTHLY, WE HAVE TO DO IT ANNUALLY.
WE CAN'T DO 3600 ON OCTOBER 1ST AND MANAGE THAT.
WE HAVE MONEY IN THE BUDGET AND I THINK THE GUESS IS TO INSTALL THE PLATFORM, HIRE A PERSON, IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT $220 THOUSAND.
THAT'S THE NEED FROM THE PARK BOARD, THE $50 REGISTRATION FEE.
EVEN IF YOU STARTED IT NOW, IT'S ONLY GOING TO COVER A 153,000 PEOPLE.
AS MR. COLLINS SAID, ONE OF THE KEY ISSUES FROM OUR STANDPOINT, AND I'M SPEAKING AS A CITIZEN NOW MIGHT BE AS PART OF THE PARK BOARD, IS INTEGRATING THAT SYSTEM WITH THE NON-EMERGENCY CALL NUMBER AND THE 911 SYSTEM, SO THAT WE KNOW IF THEY GET A CALL, IT'S A SHORT-TERM RENTAL, NOT A SHORT-TERM RENTAL.
RON AND THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL ASSOCIATION DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR ENFORCEMENT THAT ISN'T THEIR PROBLEM.
AS I THINK I'VE TOLD ALL OF YOU, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBER IS.
I THINK WE OUGHT TO LET THIS GROUP COME UP WITH THE NUMBER AND DO A BOTTOMS-UP APPROACH TO THIS, INSTALL THE PLATFORM AS RAPIDLY AS WE POSSIBLE CAN.
LIKE YOU SAID,THERE'S THREE OF THEM BEING EVALUATED NOW, GET IT UP, INTEGRATE IT WITH THE SYSTEM, FIND OUT WHERE THE PROBLEM ACTUALLY EXISTS.
AS I'VE TOLD SOME OF YOU, AND I THINK THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE DETERMINE WHAT THE FEE IS.
IS THIS A ONE-TIME FEE FOR EVERYBODY? IS AT A LARGER FEE FOR THE GUYS, THE BEACH BOX RENTALS THAT ARE GETTING 15 THOUSAND A WEEKEND, I THINK YOU BROUGHT THAT UP YESTERDAY, AS OPPOSED TO $200? WHOEVER MADE THAT DISCUSSION TO ALL GOING ON.
DO WE CHARGE FOR BEDROOM AS A ONE-TIME FLAT FEE? WHILE THE PARK BOARD LOVES ANNUAL REGISTRATION, AN AMOUNT, I JUST THINK THIS EVENING IS TOO PREMATURE TO GET THAT DONE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR ME ON THAT ISSUE? EVEN MARIE, WE DON'T KNOW THE ADVERTISER.
IF YOU GO ON VRBO RIGHT NOW AND LOOK FOR OVER 20 IN GALVESTON, THERE ARE 204 PROPERTIES LISTED FOR OVER 20 PEOPLE.
>> MARTY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, BRYSON AND I'VE TALKED ABOUT IT.
I BELIEVE THAT THE PARK BOARD HAS IDENTIFIED THEIR $75 THOUSAND [INAUDIBLE] THAT CAN BE USED TOWARD.
>> THE 180 PLUS THE 70 IS CERTAINLY ENOUGH TO IMPLEMENT.
>> A 180 OR THE 70 THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO USE, WE'LL HAVE TO DO AN INNER FUND TRANSFER THAT HOT.
>> THIS IS PROBABLY NEXT YEAR, BUT THE PARK BOARD'S LOOKING, TOO.
THEY'RE LOOKING AT ALL THE RESOURCES THEY HAVE TO DO THIS.
BETWEEN THE TWO, IF WE GET AN ANNUAL FEE, THE MONEY IS GOING TO COME ROLLING IN TO HELP DO THIS.
THEN ONCE WE HAVE THE DATA, WE CAN ASSESS THERE'S A DETERMINATION ON WHAT SHOULD BE SET IN.
>> WE'RE A DEPARTMENT OF ONE RIGHT NOW, KAY PERRY.
IT'S JUST AN INSURMOUNTABLE TASK FOR HER TO DO AN ANNUAL FEE COLLECTIVE.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT NUMBER IS.
LIKE DAN SAID, AND AS THE MAYOR EVEN SAID THAT WE [INAUDIBLE] MARIE, HE SAID,
[02:30:01]
WHEN THE DART STARTED FLYING ABOUT THE $2.3 MILLION, HE SAID, LOOK, WE ASK YOU TO COME UP WITH A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.NOW, WE'RE ASKING ABOUT THE [INAUDIBLE] BACK.
I THINK DAN IS WORKING ON THAT.
I DON'T KNOW, I'M WITH YOU, HAVE AN OFF-DUTY POLICEMEN.
HOW YOU GET IT INTO THE SYSTEM? I DON'T KNOW. LOT OF DETAILS THAT WE JUST DON'T HAVE YET.
>> I DON'T THINK SO. THANK YOU, MARTY. APPRECIATE IT.
>> DAN IS RIGHT. FOR $220 THOUSAND WE THINK WE CAN IMPLEMENT A SYSTEM, BUT WE'VE GOT TO PICK WHICH ONE, WHATEVER.
>> ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS, MAYOR, WOULD BE THAT WE HAVEN'T DISCUSSED [INAUDIBLE].
THAT'S THE OTHER SIDE OF THE EQUATION.
IF WE DON'T GO TOWARD FEES, YOU NEED TO GO TOWARD FINES.
THAT CAN BE DRIVEN BY NUMBER OF CALLS, CALL TYPES, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THERE'S A LOT THAT WE STILL HAVE TO REVIEW.
>> CAN WE SEGUE INTO THE NEXT ITEM?
>> YEAH. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION FOR DAN? ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, DAN, VERY MUCH.
[3. D3. Discussion of an Occupancy Requirement and Annual Registration Fees for Short Term Rentals ( Robb/Quiroga - 20 min )]
>> ANYWAY, NOW FOR THE REST OF THE STORY.
>> ITEM THREE, DISCUSSION OF AN OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS AND ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEES FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
[NOISE] THESE ARE ACTUALLY, THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN LISTED AS TWO DIFFERENT ITEMS, BECAUSE THE OCCUPANCY, IS A DISCUSSION UNTO ITSELF.
I 100 PERCENT BELIEVE THAT THE COMMITTEE SHOULD COME UP WITH WHATEVER EVENTUALLY WILL BE THE ANNUAL FEE.
I HAD REQUESTED A MEETING WITH DAN TO TALK ABOUT SHORT-TERM RENTALS, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOSING ANYWHERE FROM 10-30 HOUSES A MONTH, IN NEIGHBORHOODS ALL OVER THE ISLAND, TWO SHORT-TERM RENTALS, AND UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF THOSE ARE BIG BOX RENTALS.
THAT'S LIKE WALMART, GREEN MONSTER RENTALS, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.
DAN SAID WHY I SUGGEST WE INCLUDE BRYSON IN ON THE CALL.
BRYSON AND DAN AND I HAD A ZOOM CALL ABOUT WHAT WE THOUGHT WE COULD DO AT THIS POINT THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO QUANTIFY WHAT THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF RENTALS ARE.
BECAUSE SOMETHING THAT CAME WHEN WE STARTED WORKING ON THIS, SOMETHING THAT I BECAME AWARE OF, THAT I'LL BET HALF THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM AREN'T AWARE OF, IF YOU WERE A SHORT-TERM RENTAL, THAT STARTED BEFORE 2014, YOU'RE NOT EVEN INCLUDED IN THE NUMBER, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE ALL AGREED THAT NEEDS TO COME OFF THE BOOKS, BECAUSE THEY DON'T EVEN PAY A $50 ANNUAL REGISTRATION.
>> ARE YOU SAYING THAT'S AN ORDINANCE SOMEWHERE?
>> THAT WAS NEWS TO ME, NOBODY KNEW IT, AND THAT'S WHERE WE STARTED ADDRESSING THAT ORDINANCE.
BRYSON, HIS REMARK WAS, SO YOU GOT THIS NUMBER OUT HERE, I CAN'T EVEN TELL YOU THE NUMBER THAT IS.
HE SAID, "THERE COULD BE HOUSES THAT ARE LISTED HERE THAT HAVE SOLD THREE TIMES AND IT'S FULL-TIME RESIDENTS, AND I DON'T KNOW." WE ALL THOUGHT, WHAT COULD WE DO IN THE INTERIM THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO FIGURE OUT HOW MANY ARE OUT THERE.
IT WAS, WELL, WE COULD IMPLEMENT AN ANNUAL FEE AT A INTERIM RATE, NOT CHANGING THE RATE, IMPLEMENT ANNUAL FEE, WHICH HE STATED, THEY COULD HANDLE DOING THAT, AND IT'S FOR, AS DAN SAID IN HIS FIRST PART OF HIS PRESENTATION, ALL RENTALS.
BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS WHOLE POCKET NOW THAT WE DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY THERE ARE OR AREN'T.
THE GOAL OF THIS CHANGE WAS TO GET RID OF THE 2014 THING, BECAUSE EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE EQUAL, AND TO DO AN INTERIM, NOT CHANGE THE FEE, ANNUAL REGISTRATION, THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO QUANTIFY EXACTLY HOW MANY RENTALS ARE OUT THERE.
THERE WAS NO, I'M TRYING TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE COMMITTEE, I KNOW THE COMMITTEE HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS DILIGENTLY FOR THE LAST YEARS.
IT'S JUST, WOW, WE HAVE THIS 2014 THING,
[02:35:04]
AND WE HAVE NO WAY TO QUANTIFY.IN THE INTERIM, WHILE THE COMMITTEE IS COMING UP WITH THE HARD NUMBERS, WE IMPLEMENT THIS ANNUAL FEE.
WE ALL CAME TO THE AGREEMENT THAT IT WOULD BE LIKE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY BY DECEMBER 31ST.
WORST THING, IT DOES GENERATE LIKE 150,000 OF INCOME, THAT THE CITY COULD MANAGE AND YOU'D GIVE A PORTION TOO FOR THE SOFTWARE, WHICH WE ALL KNOW WILL RUN ABOUT 100,000.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS SINCE LAST FALL.
ONE, IT WILL ALLOW US GET RID OF THAT FLAW BEFORE 2014, AND TWO, IT WOULD ALLOW US TO QUANTIFY EXACTLY, HOW MANY RENTALS ARE OUT THERE? BRYSON, SAID, HE COULD MANAGE THAT.
AM I LEAVING ANYTHING OUT FROM OUR CONVERSATION?
>> I WANT TO CLARIFY, BECAUSE, MAKE SURE, PART OF THIS YOU MENTIONED MARIE, IS DOING AWAY WITH THE 2014 PORTION ORDINANCE BUT IT'S ALREADY DONE AWAY WITH, DIDN'T IT DAN?
>> WE CLARIFIED THE LANGUAGE TO MAKE SURE, 2014, WAS A ONETIME PASS IF YOU'RE ALREADY OPERATING, YOU WOULDN'T BE CHARGED THE NEW ONE TIME FEE.
>> WE'RE CHANGING THE WHOLE GAME AND EVERYBODY'S GOING TO PAY AN ANNUAL FEE EVERY YEAR, WE'VE CLEANED UP ANY LANGUAGE, THAT WOULD MAKE EVEN PEOPLE THINK REMOTELY, THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY EVERY YEAR, $100 DOLLAR PROPOSED FEE.
>> IF, WE'RE REQUIRING REGISTRATION NUMBER ON THE PLATFORM, LISTING OF THE PLATFORM IS REQUIRED REGISTRATION NUMBER THEY WOULD GO OFF TO REGISTER.
YOU GET A BLACK REFRESH NUMBER, RIGHT OR YOU'RE SUGGESTING, THAT PEOPLE WHO WERE IN BUSINESS IN 2014, ALREADY HAVE REGISTRATION NUMBERS?
>> THEY ALREADY HAVE THE REGISTRATION.
>> THEY MAY OR MAY NOT BE THERE, BECAUSE, THERE'S NOTHING THAT HAS BEEN IN EFFECT.
THE [INAUDIBLE], AND JUST ANSWER, AND THE NEW ORDINANCE THAT WAS PUT INTO THE BOOK THAT YOU READ, IT'S ELIMINATED ON THE OLD ORDINANCE, IT'S STILL THERE.
>> I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS STILL THERE, I WAS TOLD, THAT IT WAS A ONE TIME.
BECAUSE WE'LL NEVER APPLY AGAIN, BECAUSE, THE TRUTH IS, THOSE THAT EXISTED WHEN THE ORDINATES WEREN'T IN EFFECT.
>> BUT, COULD POSSIBLY BE HUNDREDS OF HOUSES, OUT THERE THAT WAS STILL COVERED BY THE OLD ORDINANCE.
>> LET ME SEE, IF, I UNDERSTAND THIS.
2014 THERE WAS A WAIVER FOR ANY SHORT-TERM RENTAL OUT THERE, THAT DID NOT HAVE CLEARED FEE?
>> IT'S GONE. BUT, THERE IS A HUNDREDS OF RENTALS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THOSE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP, GOT A REGISTRATION NUMBER?
>> WHERE'S ALL THAT INFORMATION KEPT? WHERE ARE ALL THOSE REGISTRATION NUMBERS, DATABASE, THE CATERING MAINTAINS, AND HOW MANY ARE IN THAT DATABASE?
>> THEY HAVE NO WAY TO QUANTIFY THAT.
>> WHY WAS THERE A QUESTION? [OVERLAPPING]
>> THEY DON'T KNOW WHICH ONES WERE FREE, FROM THE 2014, THEY DON'T HAVE THAT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUT, THERE'S A COLUMN, THERE'S A NUMBER IN THERE THAT THEY COULD QUANTIFY THEM.
THEY DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE STILL SHORT-TERM RENTALS OR NOT, RIGHT?
>> THOSE PROPERTIES ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DO ANYTHING RIGHT NOW.
>> IT'S NOT JUST THEM, NOBODY IS.
>> EVERYBODY, IS REQUIRED TO REGISTER ONCE.
>> NOBODY IS REQUIRED TO PAY ANY ADDITIONAL FEES, IT'S A ONE TIME FEE.
WITH WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY HERE, IT GOES THROUGH THIS PROCESS OF GETTING THE SOFTWARE, IMPLEMENTING IT, 12 MONTH PROCESS.
WHEN DO YOU THINK IN THE 12 MONTHS, YOU ALL WOULD START COLLECTING THE FEE?
>> UNTIL THIS COUNCIL TELLS US.
>> THAT'S NOT THE ANSWER YOU WANT.
>> WHICH FEE ARE YOU TALKING OF?
>> BECAUSE WE COULD START NOW DOING A $50 ANNUAL.
>> WHY ARE WE GETTING DIFFERENT SIDES OF THIS, ON IF WE CAN OR CANNOT ACTUALLY FACILITATE THAT?
[02:40:04]
>> WE TALKED TO BRYSON. HE SAID THAT THEY COULD FACILITATE AN ANNUAL COLLECTION RIGHT NOW, BUT THE OPTIMAL CASE IS GOING TO BE WHEN THEY GET THE DATABASE IN FORCE AND THAT WILL TAKE AWAY THE WORKLOAD, THE CASE [INAUDIBLE].
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, WHEN WE HAD THE DISCUSSION, WE DON'T KNOW.
DO YOU BREAK THE 3,400 DOWN AND BILL IT TWICE A YEAR, OR HALF OF THEM HAVE SIX MONTH AND THEN A 12 MONTH?
>> WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT THOUGH? I MEAN, IS THERE REALLY THAT MUCH OF A CHALLENGE OF BILLING 4,000 PEOPLE ALL AT ONCE?
>> WE HAVE THE SYSTEMS TO BILL BECAUSE OF THE WATER SYSTEM.
[OVERLAPPING] THEY DON'T HAVE THAT AT [INAUDIBLE] BOARD.
>> IT'S NOT AN INSURMOUNTABLE.
>> IMPLEMENT THAT SYSTEM, THOUGH.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WHEN MARTY WAS SAYING THAT WE NEED TO DO THIS SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR FOR 4,000 BILLS, THEY GO OUT, THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] MORE THAN THAT MONTHLY [OVERLAPPING].
>> UNTIL THEY HAVE THIS SOFTWARE.
HE SAID WE WOULD DO IT ONE TO TWO TIMES A YEAR, BUT IT WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM.
>> BUT EVEN THEN, SO WE WOULD HAVE THE SOFTWARE WITHIN A YEAR.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE REAL CHALLENGE OF SENDING OUT 4, 000 BILLS.
>> WELL, YOU'RE NOT SENDING OUT.
WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS YOU'RE [INAUDIBLE] AND [INAUDIBLE] YOU'RE GETTING RID OF THE 2, 014.
>> BUT WE THINK WE HAVE OVER 4,000 SHORT-TERM RENTALS OUT THERE OR SOME NUMBER UNDER THAT OR LESS THAN 4,000 BILLS.
>> TWO THOUSAND FOURTEEN IS GONE AWAY.
IT'S STILL THERE ON THE BOOKS AND THEY'RE STILL HUNDREDS OF HOUSES THAT ARE NOT [OVERLAPPING] ANNUAL.
>> IF WE STARTED BILLING PEOPLE FOR AN ANNUAL REGISTRATION THAT WOULD GO AWAY.
>> IF WE STARTED BILLING PEOPLE AND THIS WOULD BE A BABY STEP.
>> WELL, I THINK WE NEED TO GET SOMETHING IN PLACE SOONER THAN LATER.
I MEAN, I DON'T WANT TO WAIT 12 MONTHS TO THE SEND OUT BILLS FOR FOR THESE FEES.
I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WAY BEHIND ABLE ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
THE QUICKER WE STARTED BALLOON POLICIES, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO DO IT, BUT I WANT TO PUT THIS IN PLACE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
>> THAT'S WHAT THE GOAL OF THIS, WAS TO GET SOMETHING IN PLACE WHILE THE COMMITTEE HAS TIME BECAUSE, THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR A VERY YEAR TO GET THE RIGHT SOFTWARE, TO HAVE THE PEOPLE IN PLACE, TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL IT AND TO PUT THE STAIR-STEP FEES.
WHICH WE ALL KNOW IT SHOULD BE STAIR-STEP FEES.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME [OVERLAPPING]
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT I AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT I DON'T THAT THESES FEES, BY STAIR-STEP, YOU MEAN THE NUMBER OF BEDROOMS OR OCCUPANCY [OVERLAPPING]
>> WELL, MAYBE IT DOES OR DOESN'T.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I NOTICE THINGS LIKE THAT, I THINK WE CAN WORK THROUGH THIS, BUT MAYBE IT'S NOT TODAY.
WE PUT THIS POLICY IN PLACE, BUT I THINK FOR THE NEXT 30, 60 DAYS, WE NEED SOMETHING IN PLACE AND WE NEED TO START COLLECTING FEES BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUT THIS WOULD BE THE EASIEST WAY TO ADDRESS IT AND GIVE TIME FOR THE COMMITTEE TO DO THE REST OF THEIR RESEARCH.
THEY HAVE CITIES THAT ARE COMING IN TO TALK TO THEM AND WHATNOT THAT HAVE REALLY GOOD RENTAL PROGRAMS. THIS WOULD BE AN INTERIM THAT WOULD ALSO ALLOW US TO GENERATE SOME INCOME.
BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, THE BIG BOX FOR [INAUDIBLE], SIT BACK AND THEY'D LAUGH AT US BECAUSE WE MADE IT SO EASY FOR THEM TO COME OVER, TO COME AND TAKE OVER OUR CITY.
>> I DON'T TO REALLY SEE THE BIG, YOU KEEP SAYING BIG BOXES, DO YOU MEAN HOUSES THAT PULLED MORE PEOPLE?
>> NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT THESE CORPORATIONS THAT ARE COMING IN, THAT HAVE BUILT 70 HOUSES.
>> IT'S A BUSINESS [OVERLAPPING].
>> THEY ARE SAYING SIX BEDROOMED HOUSE SLEEPS 40 PEOPLE.
>> I'LL TELL YOU MY FEELINGS ON THIS.
I THINK WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING AS QUICKLY AS IT WOULD BE FEASIBLE TO DO.
I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT JUMPING IN THERE AND PUTTING A $50 OR A $100 FEE ON THEM RIGHT NOW.
IF WE CAN GET SOME DATA BACK FROM THE COMMITTEE WITHIN THE NEXT 30 TO 60 DAYS AND MAKE A DECISION THAT'S BASED ON SOME OBJECTIVE DATA.
IF THE COMMITTEE SAYS, "THERE'S NO WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANY GUIDANCE FOR YOU." I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED OF GOING OUT THERE AND SAYING, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO THROW AN ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEE." THE PARK BOARD MAY OR MAY NOT, BRYSON SAYS HE CAN HANDLE IT, BUT WE'RE HEARING MAYBE NOT.
THEN WE COME BACK IN ANOTHER TWO OR THREE MONTHS AND CHANGE IT AGAIN.
I JUST THINK THAT IF WE CAN GET SOME DATA HERE QUICKLY WITHIN THE NEXT 30, 60 DAYS, I'M READY TO ACT.
[02:45:02]
IF WE CAN'T, THEN WE'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD.I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE ON THAT.
I UNDERSTAND THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION, BUT I'D LIKE TO GET SOME DATA ON EXACTLY THE TRACKING SYSTEM AT THE PARK BOARD.
HOW MUCH ADMINISTRATIVE-WISE? IS IT GOING TO BE OTHER PERSONNEL COSTS THAT WE'LL NEED TO COVER? THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
ADMINISTRATIVELY, IS THERE ANYTHING IN THE CITY THAT'S INVOLVED WITH THAT? I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT DATA SO THAT WE CAN SAY WE'RE GOING TO ESTABLISH A $50 OR ON A $125 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THAT'S JUST MY [INAUDIBLE]
>> I THINK THE FIRST MEETING THEY'RE TRYING TO SCHEDULE'S UP IN OCTOBER.
OCTOBER 6TH WILL BE THE VERY FIRST MEETING OF THIS COMMITTEE.
THIS ISN'T A COMMITTEE THAT HAS STOOD BEFORE.
THIS IS A BRAND NEW COMMITTEE.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN THERE FIRST TIME IN OCTOBER.
AS I MENTIONED DURING MY PRESENTATION, I THINK IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO CREATE UNREALISTIC TIMEFRAMES FOR SETTING THE FEE.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO ESTABLISH AN ANNUAL FEE, STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE ESTABLISH AN ANNUAL FEE, MAKE SURE IT APPLIES TO EVERYBODY.
WE ALREADY KNOW THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT APPROXIMATELY $200,000 COST ON JUST THE SOFTWARE.
IF YOU TRY TO IMPLEMENT AN EARLY ANNUAL FEE, YOU KNOW UP FRONT AND YOU'D HAVE TO COMMUNICATED UP FRONT THAT THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THOSE FEES ARE GOING INCREASE THE LATTER YEARS.
AS WE DETERMINE WHETHER THERE'S ADDITIONAL COST OR THERE'S AN ENFORCEMENT COMPONENT THAT NEEDS TO GO INTO THIS.
WE'D HAVE TO MESSAGE TO EVERYBODY, WE'RE SETTING IT UP, WE'RE SETTING IT UP AT A DE MINIMIS AMOUNT, TO ESTABLISH A METHODOLOGY FOR US TO COLLECT THE FEE ANNUALLY, AND THEN UNDERSTAND THAT IT WOULD GO UP AT A LATER DATE BECAUSE IT'S INEVITABLE IF YOU'RE GOING TO ADD THE ENFORCEMENT SIDE.
>> FIFTY DOLLARS IS NOT [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT'S $50 ONCE IN YOUR LIFETIME.
>> YEAH. [OVERLAPPING] I THINK WE ALL AGREE ON THAT.
>> YEAH. I'D SUPPORT MUCH HIGHER FEES THAN THAT.
>> I WOULD. I MEAN, IF YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT FEES I'D SUPPORT OVER MUCH HIGHER. [LAUGHTER]
>> ESPECIALLY IN MASTER-PLAN COMMUNITIES.
>> ESPECIALLY ON WEST END. [LAUGHTER]
>> YEAH. [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] I THINK IT WAS GOLFER.
BUT IN ALL SERIOUSNESS THAT WE DO NEED TO ESTABLISH THE FEE AND I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO WAIT FOREVER TO DO IT UNTIL A YEAR FROM NOW.
I DON'T THINK IT'S ANTICIPATED DOING IT A YEAR FROM NOW, BUT THE FACT IS WE'RE PUSHING RIGHT UP AGAINST SEPTEMBER HERE, SEASON'S GOING TO START WINDING DOWN.
>> YEAH, BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO IMPLEMENT THIS KIND OF THING, OFF SEASON IS THE BEST TIME TO DO IT.
YOU'D RATHER DO THIS THE MIDDLE OF JULY [INAUDIBLE]
>> I CAN'T SAY THAT BRYSON MADE IT VERY CLEAR TO BOTH OF US, WHEN THEY GET THAT NEW SOFTWARE, AND I KNOW MY HUSBAND'S A CPA, CFO, WHEN YOU'RE PUTTING IN NEW SOFTWARE LIKE THIS, YOU'RE TALKING AT LEAST A YEAR [OVERLAPPING] BEFORE IT'S PURELY OPERATIVE, IMPLEMENTED.
WE KNOW THE REALITY OF THAT, SO WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.
>> ANYBODY SUGGESTING THAT WE'LL WAIT A YEAR TO IMPLEMENT A FEE.
BUT DOING IT TONIGHT, I'M NOT SURE THAT WE KNOW ENOUGH, BUT I CAN BE CONVINCED THAT WE NEED TO PUT A HUNDRED, TWO HUNDRED, WHATEVER.
>> I THINK WE ARE TO SHOOT FOR FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR.
>> TO GIVE AT IT FULLY IMPLEMENTED OR [OVERLAPPING]
>> [OVERLAPPING] I DON'T KNOW. I'M GOING TO LET IT MAKE THAT CALL BECAUSE I KNOW THAT I'VE DONE ENOUGH SOFTWARE IMPLEMENTATIONS, TOO.
>> IS THERE ANYTHING, YOU FLEW THE SPACE SHUTTLE ONCE? [LAUGHTER].
>> YOU FLEW THE SPACE SHUTTLE ONCE? [LAUGHTER]
BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID OF HEIGHTS. [LAUGHTER]
>> I UNDERSTAND IT'S GOING TAKE A WHILE TO GET IT IMPLEMENTED.
BUT IF KAY AND BRYSON SAY THEY CAN MANAGE IMPLEMENTING A FEE NOW, THAT'S COOL.
>> WHY DON'T DO IT AT $100? YOU JUST DON'T WANT TO THE SAME THING. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WHY DO YOU PICK THAT NUMBER?
>> WELL, I PICKED 50 BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S ON THE BOOKS NOW.
IT'S DRIVING ME CRAZY THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE BEING TORN APART AND WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING. [OVERLAPPING]
>> CAN I POINT, 50 BUCKS IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE ANYTHING. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE IT DIFFERENT.
>> WE NEED TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR THESE RENTALS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT'S A REALLY DIFFERENT QUESTION. [OVERLAPPING].
>> BUT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.
>> IF WE MADE A $1,000 A YEAR, IT WOULD HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF IMPACT IN THE MIDDLE OF TERM, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD IMPACT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD OR NOT.
THEY WOULD AFFORD $1,000 WHATEVER BECAUSE THEY GET THAT OVERNIGHT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> A LOT OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS ON THE WEST ARE SIMPLY RESTRICTING SHORT-TERM RENTALS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT'S WHAT WERE GOING TO PUSH.
>> THIS IS REALLY AFFECTING YOUR DISTRICTS EVEN MORE NOW BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING A CHANGE IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
[02:50:02]
I JUST THINK WE DON'T HAVE A YEAR TO WAIT.THIS WAS AN ATTEMPT TO BRING IT OUT ON THE TABLE, I KNOW THERE IS A COMMITTEE WORKING ON IT.
DAN AND I TALKED TO BRYSON, AND BRYSON SAID HE COULD HANDLE AN ANNUAL FEE, WE COULD GET THAT EXEMPTION FOR THE 2014.
WE COULD PUT ANOTHER NUMBER ON IT FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING OR WE CAN BRING IT UP TO THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
>> WELL, LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION PLEASE.
IF YOUR FIRST MEETING ISN'T GOING TO BE UNTIL OCTOBER, HOW LONG WOULD YOU EVEN CONTEMPLATE IT TAKING BEFORE YOU START GETTING US A PRELIMINARY NUMBER ON WHAT THE FEE OUGHT TO BE? [OVERLAPPING]
>> I THINK WE HAVE A GOOD IDEA OF WHAT THE SOFTWARE IS GOING TO COST.
THEY TALKED TO [OVERLAPPING] THREE DIFFERENT VENDORS OF SOFTWARE AND THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE IMPLEMENTATION AND [OVERLAPPING] INCLUDES NO ENFORCEMENT RIGHT ON IT.
>> IT'S GOING [NOISE] TO TAKE TIME TO GET THE DATA INTO THE RMS SYSTEM AND THEN YOU HAVE TO TRACK IT.
HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO TRACK IT FOR BEFORE YOU SAY THERE IS X NUMBER OF CALLS? [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO TRACK IT.
DAN, I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE TRACKING THAT DATA, BUT WE CAN GET A PRELIMINARY IDEA OF COST, OF PERSONNEL AND ALL THAT, I WOULD THINK, BEFORE 12 MONTHS OR BEFORE SIX MONTHS, I WOULD THINK.
>> CERTAINLY. WE HAVE ALREADY GIVEN YOU THE NUMBERS OF WHAT IT COSTS FOR MARSHALLS.
>> EXCUSE ME. THAT WAS A NUMBER YOU GAVE US FOR WHAT IT WOULD TAKE IF WE IMPLEMENTED A FULL MARSHALL FORCE TO IMPLEMENT THAT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WHAT IT COST TODAY TO ENFORCE THIS, [OVERLAPPING] WE DON'T KNOW.
>> THAT'S WHERE YOU USE THE DATA.
>> THAT'S WHERE YOU WILL NEED THE DATA. [OVERLAPPING]
BY THE THE TIME YOU GET IT IMPLEMENTED, POPULATED WITH SUFFICIENT DATA TO BE ABLE TO TELL WHAT'S A SECOND HOME OR WHAT'S LOCAL, WHAT'S SHORT-TERM RENTAL HOUSES, [OVERLAPPING] IT WILL TAKE A YEAR AT MINIMUM.
>> THERE'S NO EVIDENCE OF THAT. [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING IS MY POINT IN THE INTERIM.
I'LL SHARE WITH YOU JUST SO IN NUMBERS SO YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD THAT NUMBER BE.
BRIAN IS NOW PART OF A SHORT TERM RENTALS, CITY CONSORTIUM. [OVERLAPPING]
>> CITY MANAGERS THAT DO THAT.
HE SAID PEOPLE LITERALLY LAUGH AT US BECAUSE THE MINIMUM IN MOST CITIES I GUESS, AND I ASSUME THAT'S IN TEXAS, IS 500.
>> FIVE HUNDRED. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'RE NOT EVEN DOING AN ANNUAL FEE, THAT'S WHAT DROVE ME, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.
>> I THINK EVERYBODY AGREES THAT 12 MONTHS IS TOO LONG TO DO THAT OR WAIT.
I THINK EVERYBODY AGREES THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE AN ANNUAL FEE.
I THINK EVERYBODY AGREES THAT IT HAS TO BE MUCH MORE THAN $50 IN MY OPINION.
I THINK THE KEY IS WHERE DO WE STEP IN AND WHERE DO WE STAND ON GETTING DATA THAT GIVE US A LITTLE MORE DETAILS ON THAT? DO WE ACT TONIGHT OR DO WE WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING OR SO TO GET MORE INPUT FROM THE PARK BOARD? MIKE.
>> IF WE COULD JUST OFFER SOMETHING, I WORK WITH BRYSON ON THIS ISSUE A LOT.
HE DOESN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BILL AND FOLLOW-UP WITH PEOPLE THAT DON'T PAY THE BILL.
IF YOU WANT TO GET SOME CASH FLOW GOING, MAYBE THE THING TO DO IS TO TASK THE COMMITTEE WITH COMING UP WITH ANOTHER WAY OTHER THAN GIVING THAT TASK TO BRYSON AND KAY.
THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX A LITTLE BIT.
>> RATHER THAN TAKING TO THIS COMMITTEE.
>> SIGN A ONE-TIME CONTRACT WITH A COLLECTION AGENCY [NOISE] TO BILL A GIVEN LIST OF PROPERTIES AND FOLLOW-UP INSTEAD OF RUNNING THE WHOLE SYSTEM.
[OVERLAPPING] [NOISE] WRITE SOME CASH, BUT WE CAN'T DO THAT.
[OVERLAPPING] IT'S THE FOLLOW-UP THAT WE CAN'T DO.
>> BUT HE COULD DO THE INITIAL BILLING AND HANDLE THAT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I WOULD BE WILLING TO FORWARD THIS ISSUE TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL NEXT MEETING ON SOMETHING IDEAL LIKE THAT.
I WANT TO PUT THIS IN PLACE, I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. [OVERLAPPING].
>> NOW WE'LL START GIVING YOU INFORMATION, SO ONCE YOU GET SOFTWARE, YOU CAN START BUILDING THAT DATABASE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUT YOU HAVE TO IMPLEMENT AN ANNUAL FEE, [OVERLAPPING] HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE COLLECTION.
>> BUT I DON'T WANT TO APPROVE SOMETHING TODAY THAT WE CAN'T DO.
>> HE SAYS HE DOESN'T HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY TO BILL ANNUALLY OR TRACK WHO HAS OR HASN'T PAID. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WHICH YOU HIRE THE COMPANY TO SEND THE BILLS OUT AND DO THE COLLECTION ACTIVITY AND CASH PAYMENTS WOULD COME TO THE PARK BOARD.
>> WE CAN DO THAT IN THE INTERIM UNTIL WE HAVE THE SOFTWARE.
>> THEN I'M GOING TO SUGGEST THAT MARTY AND DAN MIGHT TAKE THIS
[02:55:01]
BACK TO BRYSON AND TALK ABOUT AN INTERIM SOLUTION BECAUSE I LIKE THE IDEA OF USING AN OUTSIDE SURFACE.LET'S SEE AND BRING IT BACK NEXT MONTH IF [OVERLAPPING] THEY [NOISE] CAN COME UP WITH A SUITABLE WAY TO DO THIS.
WE THROW THIS OUT. DO YOU KNOW WHAT ENHANCED 911 IS?
>> WELL, WHEN YOU DIAL 911 IT GOES STRAIGHT TO EMERGENCY.
>> AUTOMATICALLY THE ADDRESS COMES UP.
>> I SET THAT UP IN 1991 OVER THREE MILLION PEOPLE THAT WE HAD TO DO, WE DID IN LESS THAN SIX MONTHS, THAT'S TESTING.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO, IF I WOULD SAY, IS GET THE PROGRAM THAT YOU NEED, YOU HAVE THREE VENDORS.
PICK A VENDOR, START FROM THERE, START PUTTING IT INTO YOUR DATABASE, ALL THAT YOU HAVE, YOU TEST IT OUT.
>> OKAY. IT'S A TURNKEY, ONCE YOU GET THE SOFTWARE, THAT'S WHERE I WOULD START.
>> CAN WE ASK QUESTIONS TO ADDRESS THIS PORTION OF IT AGAIN? IF YOU DON'T MIND.
>> WE NEED TO WIDEN THIS SUBJECT UP.
BUT MARTY COME UP, WE HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
>> BEFORE THAT, I HAVE ONE QUICK POINT.
WHAT THE PARK BOARD DOES, AND THE SAME REGISTRATION FEE IS PART OF THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY.
WHEN YOU CHANGE, YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO MAKE THE [INAUDIBLE].
FOR THE PARK BOARD TO DO IT AS WE'VE PUT IT IN A LOCAL AGREEMENT, WHICH DAN AND I HAVE DISCUSSED AND WE CAN DO THAT IN 10 MINUTES.
THAT'S IT. THE OTHER THING IS THERE ARE THREE, DAN, YOU KNOW ABOUT PURCHASING.
WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO? [OVERLAPPING]
>> IF WE'VE IDENTIFIED THREE VENDORS, I'M WITH YOU GUYS, I DON'T SEE WHY WE COULDN'T PUT OUT AN RFP IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS OR WHATEVER.
>> WE HAVEN'T EVEN DONE A NEEDS ASSESSMENT YET.
WE NEED TO DO A NEEDS ASSESSMENT, AND FROM A NEEDS ASSESSMENT YOU DRIVE YOUR RFP.
>> BUT I WILL SAY THAT THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT IN MY MIND IS PRETTY SIMPLE.
WE WANT A DATABASE OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND WE WON'T BE ABLE TO BUILD THEM MANUALLY, SO I DON'T KNOW. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO TAKE THIS CONVERSATION BACK TO BRYSON AND SEE WHAT THERE IS THAT WE CAN DO?
>> I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW HE'S ON THE TEXT MACHINE.
>> I LIKE THE IDEA OF BRINGING IT BACK TO THE NEXT MEETING, LOOKING AT IMPLEMENTING SOMETHING, TALKING TO BRYSON ON THE MOTION.
HE CAN HANDLE IT USING MIKE'S SUGGESTION ABOUT LOOKING AT A COLLECTION AGENCY.
WE CAN AT LEAST QUANTIFY THE NUMBER OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS THAT ARE IN PLACE.
>> WELL, THAT SOUNDS GOOD, I WOULD SUPPORT THAT.
I THINK OUR NEXT MEETING IS SEPTEMBER 9TH.
I'M NOT SURE THAT'S GOING TO GIVE THEM TIME TO GET THEIR THOUGHTS TOGETHER. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT SHOULD GIVE EVERYBODY TIME.
>> WELL, EVERYBODY IS IN BUDGET, I HOPE WE ALL HAVE COLLECTION AGENCIES [OVERLAPPING] THAT WE ALREADY WORK WITH.
>> WE COULD PUT IN THE MOTION.
WE WOULD REQUEST SEPTEMBER 9TH OR AS SOON AS THEY CAN GET THAT AFTERWARDS.
SEPTEMBER 9TH IS FINE, I'M JUST NOT SO SURE THEY'LL HAVE THE DATA.
[OVERLAPPING] IT'S TWO WEEKS AWAY.
>> IT'S LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AWAY. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS WHAT WOULD IT COST TO HAVE A COLLECTION AGENCY FOLLOWING UP ON ANNUAL RENTAL? WE CURRENTLY USE [OVERLAPPING] COLLECTION AGENCIES FOR OUR PROPERTY TAX FOR THIS, FOR THAT.
>> WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT COME WHENEVER YOU START PUTTING A BILLING SYSTEM UP, IT'S WILLY-NILLY.
I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE PACKAGES IN PARTICULAR THAT WE FOUND THAT A LOT OF CITIES WERE USING WHEN WE WERE DOING THE INITIAL WORK A YEAR AGO, IT IS AN ENTERPRISE SYSTEM.
IT HAS FUNCTIONALITY IN IT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT OWN THE PROPERTIES IN ADDITION TO JUST PAYING THE TAX.
>> I DID. BRYSON'S BEEN LISTENING AND HE LIKES THE IDEA MAYBE OF GETTING A COLLECTION AGENCY THAT GENERATES.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE THE SOFTWARE, WE ALL KNOW IS A YEAR AWAY.
I MEAN, ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE IS NOT AN OVERNIGHT IMPLEMENTATION.
>> [OVERLAPPING] JUST A THOUGHT FOR YOU, A THOUGHT THAT I'VE HAD ALL ALONG, IS IT FOR THIS THING TO BE A MATURE SYSTEM AS IT GOES, WE OUGHT TO BE LOOKING AT RENEWAL EVERY YEAR ON AN ANNIVERSARY DATE [OVERLAPPING] OF THE ORIGINAL CERTIFICATION.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE CANNOT DO THAT NOW.
>> WE NEED TO GET THESE THINGS WORKED OUT A LITTLE MORE AS YOU AND BRYSON ARE LISTENING MIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT THESE ITEMS COVERED.
I DON'T WANT TO PUT IT TOGETHER AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DELIVER ON IT.
[03:00:02]
>> WE JUST WOULDN'T WANT ANYTHING SHORT-TERM TO UNDERCUT OUR ABILITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL LONG-TERM.
>> I AGREE. I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY.
>> THERE'S THE OTHER HALF OF THAT BECAUSE THEY NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUT TOGETHER, BUT IT'S THE QUESTION OF OCCUPANCY.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE, IT'S ACTUALLY A FORM OF STATE LAW, TEXAS PROPERTY LAW AND TALKS ABOUT OCCUPANCY LIMITS AND I THINK THIS WAS ALL IN HERE.
EVERYBODY GET A COPY OF THIS, JANELLE?
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE'VE GOT MONTHS [INAUDIBLE].
>> YEAH. BUT I MEAN, GO AHEAD DON.
>> WELL, THE PROPERTY CODE SECTION REFERS TO THE ABILITY OF A LANDLORD TO PROPOSE OCCUPANCY LIMITS ON A RENTAL HOUSE TO A TENANT FOR A DWELLING THAT IS USED AS A PERMANENT RESIDENCE.
IT'S A COUPLE OF THINGS RELEVANT THERE.
IT'S NUMBER 1, IT'S THE PROPERTY OWNER, NOT THE GOVERNMENT, SETTING THE OCCUPANCY LIMIT, AND IT'S FOR A DWELLING THAT'S FOR PERMANENT AND PERMANENT OCCUPANCY, WHICH BY DEFINITION A SHORT-TERM RENTAL IS NOT.
I THINK THAT IN LIGHT OF THE APPELLATE DECISION OUT OF AUSTIN STRIKING OCCUPANCY LIMITS, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SEEK THE ABILITY THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE TO OPPOSE THEM.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO WORK UP ON THE SIDE.
I LOOKED AT THE BUILDING CODES AND I DON'T THINK BUILDING CODES SUPPORTED THE OCCUPANCY LIMIT ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
IN ANY EVENT, WHEN AND IF WE IMPOSE AN OCCUPANCY LIMIT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE SOME FACTUAL FINDINGS BASED ON DATA THAT SHOWS WHY AN OCCUPANCY LIMIT IS NECESSARY.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SHOW THAT OVER OCCUPIED HOUSES PRODUCE, I DON'T KNOW, 25 PERCENT MORE POLICE CALLS, 85 PERCENT MORE EMS CALLS, WHATEVER.
I MEAN, THIS AGAIN GOES TO, I SUPPOSE WHAT THE PARK BOARD IS GOING TO DO IS TRACK DATA OF RESPONSES TO SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
YOU'VE GOT TO CREATE THAT FACTUAL DATA THAT WILL SUPPORT AN ORDINATE LATER ON.
>> WELL ANYWAY, SO THAT WAS THE OTHER PART OF IT AND THEN THE THIRD PART OF IT THAT ISN'T ACTUALLY ON HERE, BUT I'M JUST GOING TO MENTION BRIEFLY, IS THERE IS A POSSIBILITY AND I'M TALKING CURRENTLY WITH THE CAD BOARD, AND THEY DO THIS IN OTHER STATES, AND I KNOW TEXAS IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF PROPERTY RIGHTS, BUT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT WE COULD DO A PROPERTY TAX ON THAT CONTENT OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
NO DIFFERENT THAN LIKE OUR HOTELS.
OUR HOTELS, THEY NOT ONLY PAY TAX ON THEIR BUILDING, BUT THEY ALSO PAY TAX ON THE BEDROOM, THE TV, ALL THE OTHER AND IT IS CURRENTLY NOT THAT'S IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAWS THAT EXIST.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I'LL BE PUTTING ON FOR THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM BECAUSE IT WOULD BE ANOTHER SOURCE OF REVENUES AND IT ALSO PUTS ANOTHER PIECE IN THE PUZZLE THAT MAKES IT MORE CHALLENGING FOR SURE.
THESE BIG BOX COMPANIES WHO ARE SOLELY USING THEIR HOUSES AS A GREEN MACHINE, AND NOT THAT I'M AGAINST BUSINESS BECAUSE I AM NOT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] LET'S NOT GET IN THE DISCUSSION BECAUSE IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA.
>> RIGHT. I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT UP.
>> FISCAL PROPERTY TAXES CAN BE ASSESSED AGAINST ESPIONAGE, PERIOD.
FOR OVER $25,000 WORTH OF VALUE, AN INCOME-PRODUCING PROPERTY.
>> [OVERLAPPING] LET'S BRING THAT BACK AND WE'LL DISCUSS THAT MORE.
>> WE'LL PUT THAT ON THE NEXT AGENDA, JANELLE.
>> BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT.
LET'S WAIT UNTIL WE GET THAT BACK ON THE AGENDA.
OKAY. MOVING TO ITEM 4, PLEASE, JANELLE.
[3. D4. Discussion of Proposed Mental Health Officer Program ( Brown - 15 min )]
[03:05:01]
>> ITEM 4, DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED MENTAL HEALTH OFFICER PROGRAM.
>> FOR TIME'S SAKE, I'M GOING TO MAKE THIS VERY QUICK.
IT'S MORE OF AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE ON THIS COUNCIL.
ONE OF MY PERSONAL GOALS, WHEN I WAS ELECTED AS MAYOR, IS LOOK AT THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING MENTAL HEALTH OFFICERS AVAILABLE HERE IN GALVESTON TO RESPOND TO CALLS THAT ARE NOT OF A CRIMINAL NATURE, NECESSARILY.
OTHER CITIES ARE ADDRESSING THIS AND HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS.
WHEN I STARTED TO LOOK AT THIS TOPIC, FIRST THING I DID IS WE'VE GOT THE NUMBER OF 911 CALLS THAT ARE COMING INTO OUR 911 SYSTEM HERE.
A GOOD NUMBER OF THOSE CALLS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH CRIMINAL COMPLAINTS.
IT'S MORE OF SOCIAL ORIENTED CONCERNS AND/OR MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS.
THIS TOPIC IS NOT ADDRESSING, DOES NOT INCLUDE REDUCING THE NUMBER OF POLICE.
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN, WE MAY EVEN EXPAND OUR POLICE FORCE, BUT THIS TOPIC IS TO POSSIBLY SET UP A TRIAGE SYSTEM WHERE THESE CALLS CAN BE SCREENED AND THEN APPROPRIATE INDIVIDUALS WITH TRAINING IN THOSE AREAS THAT ARE THE COMPLAINTS COULD RESPOND TO THESE CALLS.
AS I MENTIONED, OTHER CITIES ARE DOING THIS IN THE COUNTY.
GALVESTON COUNTY IS LOOKING AT THIS ALSO.
STEPHEN HOLMES IS HEADING UP A COMMITTEE THERE AT THE COUNTY TO LOOK IN THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING THIS BE A COUNTY-WIDE PROCESS ALSO.
[OVERLAPPING] WELL, ONE LAST THING BRIAN, AND THEN I WANT BRIAN TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS BECAUSE BRIAN AND I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR QUITE A LONG TIME.
EACH ONE OF YOUR AREAS ARE AFFECTED BY THIS.
IF YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT EACH ONE OF OUR DISTRICTS HAVE SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT ARE REALLY MENTAL HEALTH OR SOCIAL ORIENTED CONCERNS.
WE HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL THAT CALLS 911 AND THERE'S HUNDREDS OF CALLS THAT COME IN, AND THIS IS MORE OF A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE INTRODUCED GPD.
THIS WOULD FREE IF WE HAD A SYSTEM LIKE THIS AND IS STILL BEING EVALUATED IF IT WOULD MEET THE NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT THIS WOULD FREE UP OUR GPD OFFICERS THEN TO POSSIBLY RESPOND MORE APPROPRIATELY TO THOSE CALLS WHERE THEIR TRAINING IS CONCENTRATED IN CRIMINAL TYPE OFFENSES.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THERE ARE GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR THIS.
THERE IS PHILANTHROPIC FUNDING POSSIBLY AVAILABLE FOR THIS.
FOR THIS TYPE OF MENTAL HEALTH OFFICER PROGRAM TO BE EFFECTIVE, IT REQUIRES A PARTNERSHIP.
ONE OF THE BIG PARTNER ON THIS IS UTMB BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS.
THAT DIALOGUE HAS BEEN GOING ON IN UTMB WITH DR.
RAMER TO POSSIBLY INCREASE THE SERVICES AND PROVIDE THESE SUPPORT SERVICES.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE'LL BE BRINGING BACK MORE DETAILS TO COUNSEL ON THAT BEFORE ANY DECISIONS WOULD BE MADE. BRIAN.
[INAUDIBLE] WE HAD A LADY DOWNTOWN HAD TAKEN UP RESIDENCE ON THE SIDEWALK DOWN THERE.
SEVERAL BUSINESSES CALLED OUT OF CONCERN FOR HER WELL-BEING, SEVERAL CALLING FOR OTHER REASONS.
AT ONE POINT IN TIME, I HAD FIVE OFFICERS TIED UP JUST DEALING WITH THAT.
WE SENT OUT POLICE OFFICERS WHO OBVIOUSLY HAVE MUCH BETTER THINGS TO BE DOING OR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY TO BE DEALING WITH.
BUT NOT ONLY THAT, THEY'RE ONLY TOOL IS TO REALLY ARREST HER AND WE DON'T WANT TO ARREST HER.
AS CRAIG POINTED OUT WE HAVE ONE ADDRESS THAT WE CAN POINT TO YOU THAT WE GET CALLS FREQUENTLY ABOUT RECEIVING RADIO WAVES FROM SPACE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I KNOW EXACTLY WHO [OVERLAPPING] YEAH, AND THAT TIES UP ONE IF NOT TWO OFFICERS EVERY TIME THAT WE HAVE TO RESPOND TO THOSE CALLS.
THIS IS TAKING UP A LOT OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS' TIME.
IT ALSO PUTS OUR POLICE OFFICERS IN A VERY AWKWARD POSITION BECAUSE SOME OF THEM HAVE VERY GOOD TRAINING IN THESE AREAS, BUT THEY'RE FOCUSED ON TAKING THE CALL, CLEARING THE CALL, MOVING ON TO THE NEXT CALL.
SOME OF THESE THINGS TAKE A LOT MORE TIME THAN THAT.
IT'D BE GREAT IF WE COULD SEND SOMEBODY OUT THERE WHO COULD DIVE A LITTLE BIT DEEPER, FIND OUT WHO THE NEXT OF KIN IS,
[03:10:02]
WHO MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PERSON, HOW WE CAN GET THEM HELP, MAYBE GET THEM SOMEPLACE ELSE.ARE THEY UP FOR MEDS? ARE THERE SOME UNDERLYING ISSUE THAT WE'RE NOT DEALING WITH HERE? THESE GO BEYOND WHAT A POLICE OFFICER CAN HANDLE WHEN HE'S GOT FOUR CALLS STACKING UP BEHIND HIM. [NOISE] HOW ARE YOU GOING TO IDENTIFY IF SOMEONE CALLS 911? AT FIRST WE WERE WORKING ON THE TRIAGE SYSTEM WITH THE COUNTY.
THEY ALREADY HAVE A GOOD TRIAGE SYSTEM SETUP FOR THEIR [INAUDIBLE] DEPUTIES.
I THINK WE WOULD BEGIN TO FOLLOW.
YOU CAN TELL THAT OBVIOUSLY, IF IT'S A 911 CALL, WE CONSIDER THE POLICE FIRST FOR SOME DISTRESS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WE SPEND AN ORDINATE AMOUNT OF TIME WITH POLICE OFFICERS, JUST DEALING WITH SOME HOMELESS POPULATION UNDERNEATH 61ST STREET OVERPASS.
IT WASN'T ANY CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THERE.
THEY CALLED IT, THEY COME IN AS A CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
[OVERLAPPING] ON A DOMESTIC DISPUTE.
THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS. WELL, WHAT YOU MAY OR MAY NOT DO WITH A SITUATION LIKE THAT IN OUR DISCUSSION, AS YOU SEND THE POLICE [NOISE] AT IT FIRST, BUT ONCE THEY REALIZE IT WAS A DOMESTIC, THEY WOULD CALL IN THIS GROUP AND THE POLICE COULD BE FREED UP TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT CALL.
ONCE THEY REALIZE IT'S NOT A VIOLENCE CALL.
THE POLICE IS GOING TO GO OUT TO THIS PARTICULAR AREA, ASSESS IT AND TURN AROUND AND HEY, WE NEED SOMEBODY THAT HAS.
I WOULD HOPE WE WOULD ALWAYS HAVE AT LEAST ONE POLICE OFFICER WITH THIS PERSON.
THAT'S TRUE, AND IF THEY NEED ONE [OVERLAPPING] OH, YEAH, NO. WE'RE NOT NAIVE ENOUGH TO THINK [OVERLAPPING] THAT WE'RE GOING TO ELIMINATE POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THIS.
THIS IS NOT TAKING ANYTHING AWAY FROM THE POLICE OFFICERS. WE'RE JUST TRYING TO HELP.
I TRY TO GIVE THEM SOME SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED.
BUT LEAVING ONE OFFICER THERE IS A LOT DIFFERENT THAN HAVING THREE STANDING THERE.
WE'LL BRING BACK, WE'RE DOING SOME RESEARCH.
CHIEF HALES IS INVOLVED IN THIS MORE THAN EVEN CRAIG AND I ARE.
BRIAN AND I, CHIEF HALE, HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH STEPHEN HOLMES ON THIS, AND NOW UTMB IS COMING ON BOARD.
THAT'S BEEN THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT WE PICK THESE PEOPLE UP, AND THE JAIL WAS NO PLACE TO TAKE A PERSON LIKE THIS.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TO DRIVE INTO DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.
WE DON'T HAVE A SINGLE MENTAL HEALTH THAT IS ON ASYLUM.
UTMB IS WORKING ON IT. EXCUSE ME.
VERY GOOD, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT COUNCIL? THANK YOU.
[3. D5. Review applications for City boards, commissions, and committees ( Quiroga/Robb - 10 min )]
PLEASE, 3D5 [INAUDIBLE].ITEM 5, REVIEW APPLICATIONS FOR CITY BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES.
COUNCILMAN [INAUDIBLE] THE REASON I BRING THIS UP IS I MEET WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE, I GO TO BREAKFAST EVERY MORNING AND I TALKED TO MY CONSTITUENTS OUT THERE AND VISIT.
NOW THAT WE HAVE ANYMORE OR THESE BOARDS, THAT PEOPLE WILL ASK ME HOW SO-AND-SO GET ON THERE, THIS PERSON GOT THERE, WHATEVER.
BUT MY QUESTION IS, I THINK WE NEED TO TIGHTEN THIS UP.
WE HAVE ONE THAT I'M LOOKING AT.
IT SAYS HERE, HAVE YOU BEEN EVER CONVICTED OF A FELONY OR STATE WITHOUT YOUR CIVIL RIGHTS HAD BEEN RESTORED.
BUT I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER STEP.
I GUESS WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THAT IS THE HABIT.
IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING BEHIND YOU AS FAR AS LITIGATIONS SET AGAINST YOU OR DO YOU HAVE OTHERS THAT ARE NOT CLASSIFIED AS A FELONY.
BECAUSE THE PEOPLE I'M SPEAKING WITH, HOW CAN THIS PERSON GET ON THERE IF THEY HAVE THIS OR THEY HAVE THAT, EVEN THOUGH IF IT'S NOT A FELONY.
THAT'S WHAT I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT.
THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'LL BE WORKING WITH DON.
I WANT TO GIVE TO DON AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT IT.
BUT I JUST WANT OPEN DISCUSSION ON YOU ALL'S FEELINGS ABOUT IT.
THIS IS FOR VETTING OF CANDIDATES? YES.
YOU'RE ASKING TO CHANGE THE APPLICATION FORM? [NOISE] YOU CAN ADD ANOTHER TO IT.
BUT IF THEY HAVE ANY KIND OF PENDING LITIGATION AGAINST THEM OR ANY ALLEGATIONS, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT.
WHAT WE HAVE DONE ON OUR FORM.
YOU HAVE TO PUT DOWN IF YOU'VE HAD A FELONY OR IF YOU'RE IN A LAWSUIT WITH A BLA, BLA.
I'LL SAY ANYTHING ABOUT BEEN IN A LAWSUIT.
THAT'S CITY COUNCIL. [OVERLAPPING] I'M SAYING I AGREE WITH YOU, THAT I THINK THAT THE BOARD SHOULD BE SIMILAR TO THE COUNCIL APPLICATION, EVEN THOUGH IT IS YES DIFFERENT.
BUT WOULD YOU REALLY WANT TO HAVE FELONS SERVING ON A BOARD OF THAT COMMITTEE? PROBABLY NOT.
I BELIEVE THAT'S ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF.
IT'S IN HERE, BUT I'M TAKING IT DOWN ANOTHER STEP BECAUSE I GET INFORMATION BASED AND I'M PRETTY SURE YOU ALL GET THE SAME THING BECAUSE SOME OF THE STUFF THAT I HAVE YOU ALL RECEIVED IN THE MAIL.
[NOISE] WHY IS THIS PERSON ON THERE BECAUSE THEY HAVE THESE ALLEGATIONS OR WHATEVER THAT'S DONE IN THE PAST.
[03:15:04]
I THINK WE NEED TO THROW THAT OUT THERE SO WE WON'T BE EMBARRASSED ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.OR WE COME BACK SAY, WELL, THIS CANDIDATE SHOULDN'T BEEN ON THERE BECAUSE OF THIS REASON OR THAT REASON.
THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING WE NEED TO TAKE IT DOWN A LOWER STEP.
MY ONLY COMMENT IS I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND I THINK THERE'S POSSIBILITY OF LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS.
THERE'S A POSSIBILITY OF LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS IN THESE DECISIONS.
BILL, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA TO GET WITH DON, AND THEN IF YOU FEEL THAT CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE OR WHATEVER, BRING THIS BACK TO COUNCIL AND WE'LL MOVE FORWARD.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE AN OPINION? DAVID, PAUL? I MEAN, IF YOU HAVE A WISH LIST OF STUFF YOU WANT TO KNOW, SEND US AN EMAIL AND WE CAN DO IT THAT WAY.
EITHER WAY, EMAIL OR I COULD TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW.
YOU TALK TO ME BUT I'M SAYING [OVERLAPPING] IF THEY HAVE SOMETHING, THEY CAN SEND OVER.
ANYTHING ELSE ON THAT BILL? NO, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
[3. D6. Discussion of the process for City Council to receive information related to legal matters (Quiroga/Robb - 10 min )]
ITEM 6, DISCUSSION OF THE PROCESS FOR CITY COUNCIL TO RECEIVE INFORMATION RELATED TO LEGAL MATTERS.YEAH. I'LL BRING THIS UP AGAIN FOR DISCUSSION WHERE AT WHAT POINT, DON, DO WE SET POLICIES, PROCEDURES, WE PAY BILLS.
I'M SAYING LEGAL NOT IN PARTICULAR, COME UP SAY I NEED $30,000, I NEED $50,000 TO PURSUE THIS CASE, OR THAT CASE OR WHATEVER THE CASE IS.
WHAT I'M SAYING, SHOULD WE HAVE MORE INPUT TO MAKE THAT LOGICAL DECISION WHERE WE HAVE OPTION A, B, AND C THAT WE CAN BRING UP.
IT CAN BE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON LIKE OUR PENDING CASES WE HAVE NOW.
WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TO MAKE A LOGICAL DECISION? TO COME BACK AND SAY, HEY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO SPEND A HUNDRED, $200,000, IF WE CAN SETTLE THIS CASE RIGHT OFF THE BAT.
BUT WE NEED I THINK IS COUNSEL PEOPLE TO KNOW WHAT THAT INFORMATION IS.
TYPICALLY, I SEND OUT A LITIGATION REPORT THIS TIME OF YEAR ANYWAY, BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT OUTSIDE COUNSEL.
THE [INAUDIBLE] CASE, PERFECT EXAMPLE.
COUNCIL DECIDED TO HIRE OUT. [OVERLAPPING] WHAT IS TRO? TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER.
WHICH BECAUSE OF SCHEDULING CONFLICT WITH THE JUDGE SPREAD OVER THREE WEEKS, AND WE HAD AN APPEAL.
THEN WE HAD, TAKE ANOTHER APPEAL.
SOMETIMES IT'S DIFFICULT TO KNOW HOW MUCH WE'RE GOING TO SPEND ON A CASE.
NOW, YOU CAN ALWAYS DECIDE THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO BEING A FULL TRIAL, THEN APPEAL ALL THE WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT, COME UP WITH FIGURES THAT WAY SOMEHOW.
I OFTEN ASK OUTSIDE COUNSEL, GIVE ME A BALLPARK ON WHAT YOU THINK THIS IS GOING TO COST SO I CAN ADD IT IN.
>> WELL, WHAT I'M SAYING IS, THE FIRST ONE I THINK THAT I GOT INVOLVED WITH WAS THE SETTLEMENT FOR THE POLICE OFFICER.
WHETHER TO TAKE THIS TO THE NEXT LEVEL AND SPEND X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS OR JUST SAY, HEY, THESE ARE THE OPTIONS.
THIS MIGHT TAKE US TO THIS LEVEL AND WE KEEP FIGHTING IT, RATHER THAN SAY, LET'S CUT THE BLOOD OFF FROM POURING OUT, AND LET'S JUST GO AHEAD SELL AND END IT.
>> BUT PRIOR TO THAT, IF YOU HAVE PLEADINGS, DON'T YOU THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THOSE PLEADINGS TO READ IT?
>> NO. THAT'S WHAT YOU RELY ON YOUR LAWYERS TO DO.
>> I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU RELY ON YOUR LAWYERS TO DO, [OVERLAPPING] TO REVIEW PLEADINGS.
>> TO REVIEW THEM, TO LOOK AT THEM, WHAT'S THE DATA IN THEM.
>> THERE IS NO DATA IN PLEADINGS.
THERE ARE INSERTIONS OF FACT WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE BORN OUT BY EVIDENCE.
>> WHETHER THOSE FACTS STATE A CAUSE OF ACTION, BOTH IN TERMS OF WHETHER THE COURT HAS JURISDICTION, OR WHETHER EACH STATE'S CLAIM, THOSE ARE LEGAL STANDARDS.
>> DAVID, YOU HAD A QUESTION OR A COMMENT.
>> PEOPLE OF D3 ELECTED ME TO PROTECT THEIR MONEY AND ESTABLISH POLICY,
[03:20:05]
NOT TO RUN THE CITY OPERATIONS.NOT WHETHER IT'S LEGAL OR GINO'S OFFICE OR BRIAN'S OFFICE.
THAT TENDS TO TAKE US TOO DEEP INTO RUNNING THE CITY TO ADMINISTRATION [OVERLAPPING].
>> NO, I'M NOT LOOKING AT RUNNING THE CITY.
>> IF YOU'RE READING PLEADINGS BEFORE YOU DECIDE HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT FUNDING A CASE, YOU'VE GONE TOO FAR.
I DON'T WANT TO READ THE DETAIL OR CONTRACT BY THE STREET.
WE HIRE PROFESSIONALS TO DO THIS.
I'LL JUST SAY, I DO NOT FEEL LIKE I HAVE MADE ANY DECISIONS ON PURSUING OR TERMINATING LEGAL CASES WHERE I DIDN'T HAVE SUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
>> I UNDERSTAND. I RESPECT YOUR OPINION.
ALL I'M SAYING IS TO BE A GOOD STEWARD OF TAXPAYERS MONEY, I'D LIKE TO KNOW, WHAT ARE WE SPENDING OR WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS THAT ARE THERE? AT WHAT POINT DO WE STOP, JUST LIKE THE POLICE OFFICERS CASE, WE COULD HAVE TAKEN IT ANOTHER TWO STEPS [NOISE] AND SPEND A $100,000 INSTEAD OF JUST SAYING, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO SETTLE AND THAT'S IT.
>> AS I JUST SAID, EVERY TIME WE'VE BEEN FACED WITH THAT, I BELIEVE I'VE HAD SUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION.
>> YOU DON'T THINK YOU'VE GOT ENOUGH INFORMATION ON THAT CASE?
>> DO YOU NOT THINK YOU HAD ENOUGH INFORMATION ON THAT CASE [OVERLAPPING].
>> NOT REALLY. I WAS BASING IT ON ON PROJECTION OF AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE WOULD SPEND VERSUS WHAT THE SETTLE AMOUNT WAS.
THIS IS MY OPINION, DAVID HAS HIS OPINION OF COURSE, YOU'LL HAVE YOURS.
EVERYBODY'S GOT THEIR OWN OPINION.
BUT WHEN YOU START TO SPEND MONIES THAT YOU CAN STOP AND SAY, HEY, LET'S JUST CLOSE THIS OUT AND MOVE FORWARD. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
>> ISN'T THAT WHAT WE DID IN THAT CASE?
>> ISN'T THAT WHAT WE DID IN THAT CASE?
>> WHAT WERE WE ASKED FOR, 30,000?
>> OH, I DON'T REALLY REMEMBER.
>> I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS IS AND WHAT THE SETTLEMENT WAS.
IF WE LOOSE THAT, THEN WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
WE NEED THOSE OPTIONS, A, B, AND C, TO DETERMINE THE COST THAT IT'S GOING TO COST THE TAXPAYERS TO PURSUE THE LITIGATION RATHER THAN JUST TO SETTLE.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. I'M NOT LOOKING TO TAKE HIS JOB OR MICRO-MANAGE.
IT'S JUST AN OVERSIGHT OF TAXPAYER'S DOLLARS, WHEN TO CUT IT OFF AND STOP THE BLEEDING. THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING AT.
>> I FEEL WE GET THAT INFORMATION FROM OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
I THINK WHEN THOSE DECISIONS ARE MADE, LEGAL DEPARTMENT DOESN'T MAKE THOSE IN A VACUUM.
THEY BRING THOSE TO COUNCIL AND WE HAVE TIME TO GIVE INPUT AND WE HAVE TIME TO ASK QUESTIONS.
IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH COUNCIL MEMBER, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT CASE, YOU CAN GET WITH DON AND I KNOW DON WOULD BE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU.
[OVERLAPPING] BUT I PERSONALLY THINK THAT THE WAY THINGS ARE BEING HANDLED IS AN APPROPRIATE WAY, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT WE HIRE OUR LEGAL STAFF FOR.
TO BRING US INFORMATION AND GIVE THEIR OPINION, THEN IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ASK QUESTIONS AT THAT TIME OR TO SEEK MORE INFORMATION INDIVIDUALLY, IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
WE'RE COMING TOWARDS THE END OF OUR COUNCIL MEETING BECAUSE IT'S THE ART BOARD REPORT.
[3.E. Report Of City Council's Park Board Representative (Collins/Brown - 10 Minutes)]
DAVID, I'D SUSPECT YOU HAVE NOTHING TO SAY.>> NO. I WANT TO SAY THAT I BROUGHT UP THE ISSUE OF TRASH, THROUGH THE LTU PROCESS OR WHAT HOWEVER DOWNTOWN I PUT IT IN THE PAPER ON US THE OTHER DAY.
BUT THIS IS PART OF AN INITIATIVE THAT WE'RE ALSO PURSUING AT THE PARK BOARD WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD A WHOLE NEW EFFORT TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ON GARBAGE.
WE'RE DOING A REALLY CLEVER THING, WHICH IS BEACH TOY BOXES, WHICH ARE LIKE PLANTER BOXES ON THE BEACH AND VARIOUS ACCESS POINTS WHERE YOU CAN LEAVE YOUR BEACH TOYS OVERNIGHT OR WHEN YOU'RE THROUGH WITH THEM WHEN YOU'RE LEAVING YOU CAN PUT THEM IN THERE SO THEY DON'T GET SWEPT UP THE NEXT DAY AND THEY DON'T JUST GET LEFT ON THE BEACH.
SOME THINGS LIKE THAT, MORE EDUCATION, TRYING TO GET SOME OF THIS OUT TO THE PEOPLE IN HOUSTON.
>> IS THIS JUST FOR THE BEACH OR DOWNTOWN ALSO?
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DROP STUFF.
BUT THE BEACH IS WHERE WE REALLY SPEND THE MONEY.
BRIAN AND I ARE WORKING ON SOME THINGS ABOUT DOWNTOWN THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TO ENHANCE COLLECTION DOWN THERE, FIND SOME MORE FUNDS TO DO THAT.
BUT THE PART WHERE WE HAVE MOSTLY THE BEACH.
[03:25:06]
DAN IS WORKING WITH THE PARK BOARD STAFF ON THE FIVE-YEAR CIP PLAN FOR THE PUBLIC PARKS.WE'LL PROBABLY BRING THAT TO YOU NEXT MONTH.
>> I WENT DOWN TO THE SAND CASTLE ON SUNDAY AND IT'S THE FIRST TIME I SAW THE WHITE POLICE TRUCK, PARK BOARD POLICE.
>> THEY HIRE OFF-DUTY OFFICERS.
>> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT BEACH PATROL OR YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT [OVERLAPPING]
>> THEY HIRE OFF-DUTY GALVESTON POLICE OFFICERS AND WE DON'T PROVIDE THEM A CAR, THEY JUST HAVE THEIR CAR.
THEY DON'T HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WELL, THEY DO [OVERLAPPING] BEACH PATROL.
>> I KNEW THEY DO BEACH PATROL, BUT I HAD NEVER SEEN A WHITE [OVERLAPPING] TRUCK PARK BOARD POLICE AND IT SURPRISED ME.
>> THEY'RE OFF-DUTY POLICE AND THEY'RE USED FOR SPECIAL EVENTS [OVERLAPPING]
>> THEY'RE UNIFORMED OFFICERS, SO THEY CAN'T. [OVERLAPPING].
>> A LOT OF WHAT THEY DO IS CROWD CONTROL, JUST PRESENCE.
>> SOMEONE WAS SETTING OFF FIREWORKS AND THEY JUST DROVE BY.
I THINK IT'S GREAT IF WE HAVE THESE EXTRA POLICE, BUT IF THEY'RE NOT WRITING FINES, I THINK WE NEED TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT WRITING FINES ON PEOPLE WHO ARE THROWING TRASH OR SETTING OFF FIREWORKS.
BUT I HAD ALSO NEVER SEEN THEM SO THAT'S WHY I JUST WANTED TO ASK THAT QUESTION.
>> I'D LIKE TO SEE THE CITY ALSO GOING WITH THE PARK BOARD TO HAVE A LITTER CAMPAIGN.
I JUST GOT BACK FROM WEST TEXAS AND I WENT, CLOSE TO [INAUDIBLE] AND DEL RIO.
BUT WHAT IMPRESSED ME WAS, BESIDE THAT PROBLEM, COMING BACK, I RODE THROUGH THE SMALL TOWNS, VIVALDI, CASTROVILLE, ALL THESE LITTLE TOWNS.
IT'S AMAZING TO ME, THE FIRST THING I'VE NOTICED IS THERE WAS NO TRASH IN THE GUTTERS.
YOU COME DOWN GALVESTON ON BROADWAY, YOU LOOK AT THE DITCHES AND THEY'VE GOT PLASTIC BOTTLES, ALL KIND OF TRASH.
I THINK WE NEED SOME CAMPAIGN WHERE [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE CONVENTION VISITORS BUREAU WAS DETAILING RIGHT NOW.
THE VALLEY DIDN'T GET SEVEN MILLION VISITS A YEAR EITHER.
>> YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT, BILL.
WE NEED TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF CAMPAIGN OR DIFFERENT FOCUS ON LITTER IN THE SENSE LIKE THE PARK BOARD.
>> WHAT CVB IS ATTEMPTING TO DO PHILOSOPHICALLY IS CONVINCE HOUSTONIANS THAT THIS IS THEIR BEACH, THESE ARE TEXAS BEACHES, NOT GALVESTON BEACHES THAT THEY HAVE RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING CARE OF THEM.
>> THE BROADER PICTURE, THE CITY DOESN'T LOOK GOOD IN MY OPINION BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL THAT LITTER OUT THERE.
>> I WALKED STRANDS THIS MORNING BETWEEN 5:30 AND SIX O'CLOCK THIS MORNING, [INAUDIBLE], THEY DO A GOOD JOB.
NOW I REALIZE IT'S A THURSDAY MORNING, [OVERLAPPING].
I'M FOCUSING ON THE ENTIRE ISLAND.
>> A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING I CALLED BRIAN ABOUT IS TEXT DOT FINALLY MOVED [INAUDIBLE] WITH ALL THIS RAIN AND IT WAS SO BAD.
WE HAVE TO GET SOMEONE OUT THERE BECAUSE IT JUST LOOKED LIKE LITTER CITY, ESPECIALLY [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE COULD COMMIT EVERY PERSON WE HAVE IN THE CITY TO PICKING UP LITTER AND I DON'T THINK WE'D EVER CATCH UP WITH IT.
>> BUT LIKE A LOT OF THE CITY, YOU GO TO THESE CONVENIENCE STORES, THESE DOLLAR STORES, AND IT'S FULL WITH LITTER.
I GET COMPLAINTS ON 45TH STREET [OVERLAPPING] AND IT'S TERRIBLE.
>> IT'S AN EMBARRASSMENT AND WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE OFF TOPIC.
>> BUT WE NEED TO WRITE MORE SOLID CITATIONS.
>> WELL, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT, TRUST ME.
NOBODY LIKES TO WRITE TICKETS MORE THAN [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING].
THE WAY IT'S STRUCTURED, YOU HAVE TO WITNESS THEM THROWING IT DOWN, YOU HAVE TO GIVE THEM AN OPTION TO PICK IT UP. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'LL GET INTO THIS, BUT THE MEDIANS ON BROADWAY ARE OUR FACE WHEN PEOPLE COME IN HERE AND THEY DON'T LOOK GOOD.
I KNOW THEY'RE SOME [OVERLAPPING] CONCERNS.
[OVERLAPPING] I SAW THAT WHICH IS GOOD, SO THAT [OVERLAPPING] ANY OTHER TOPIC DAVID?
>> HE'S TRYING TO SAY THE AGENDA ITEM IS THE REPORT OF THE PARK BOARD REPRESENTATIVE.
[03:30:05]
>> YES. WE LOVE BEING TOGETHER SO MUCH THAT WE LOVE TALKING ABOUT THINGS.
WE HAVE GONE THROUGH OUR AGENDA.
WE ARE DONE WITH OUR WORKSHOP.
>> THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.