[00:00:03]
>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
IT IS 8:00 AM AND I WELCOME EVERYBODY TO THE SEPTEMBER 9TH CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP.
[Call to Order]
WELCOME TO COUNCIL, WELCOME TO STAFF WHO'S HERE TODAY, WELCOME TO ALL OF THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT MAY BE VIEWING THIS TELECAST.GOOD MORNING TO YOU. GLAD TO HAVE YOU THIS MORNING.
JANELLE, COULD YOU DO ROLL CALL, PLEASE?
WE HAVE A VERY BUSY AGENDA THIS MORNING.
WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING SOME BUSINESS WITH OUR BUDGET, CLARIFICATION OF ITEMS AND THEN WE'LL BE MOVING INTO OUR WHARVES BOARD AND PLANNING COMMISSION INTERVIEWS.
GOT QUITE A FEW CANDIDATES HERE.
WE GOT 15 CANDIDATES FOR WHARVES BOARD, AND SIX CANDIDATES FOR PLANNING COMMISSION.
WE'LL HAVE A BUSY MORNING THIS MORNING.
JANELLE, LET'S MOVE TO OUR DISCUSSION ITEMS.
[3A. Discussion Of The FY2022 Budget And Capital Improvement Plan (M. Loftin - 30 Min)]
ITEM 3A, PLEASE.>> ITEM 3A: DISCUSSION OF THE FY 2022 BUDGET AND CAPITAL AND [INAUDIBLE] PLAN.
>> MIKE, COME ON UP IF YOU WOULD.
>> COUNCIL, THERE'S NO STRUCTURED POWERPOINT THIS MORNING.
I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO ASK QUESTIONS.
I DID BRING SOME NOTES FOR WHAT I WANT TO COVER AT THE FIRST.
HERE. YOU SHOULD JUST TAKE ONE AND PASS THESE. [NOISE]
>> IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE IN SCHOOL, RIGHT?
>> THE SCHEDULE THAT WE'VE GOT AHEAD OF US IS, OF COURSE, TODAY ON THE AGENDA, YOU'VE GOT PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE BUDGET AND THE TAX ORDINANCE, THE PROPERTY TAX RATE.
AT THE END OF THE BUDGET HEARING, WHICH IS UP FIRST, YOU HAVE TO TAKE SOME KIND OF ACTION.
YOU CAN DEFER THE BUDGET, YOU CAN APPROVE IT, YOU CAN AMEND IT, YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO WITH IT, BUT YOU ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE SOME KIND OF ACTION.
BECAUSE OF THAT, WE GO AHEAD AND PREPARE THE ORDINANCE FOR ADOPTION AND PUT THE BUDGET ON THE AGENDA FOR POTENTIAL ADOPTION AND APPROVAL.
IT TAKES A MAJORITY VOTE, AND THAT WILL BE A RECORD VOTE ON APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET, AND YOU HAVE TO PASS IT BEFORE THE TAX RATE CAN BE APPROVED.
YOU COULDN'T, FOR INSTANCE, DEFER THE BUDGET, BUT THEN DECIDE THAT YOU WOULD ADOPT THE TAX RATE TODAY.
YOU'D HAVE TO INSTRUCT US ON HOW TO CHANGE THE BUDGET, BRING BACK A DIFFERENT TAX RATE IF THAT WAS YOUR DESIRE.
>> IF WE GO THROUGH THIS TODAY AND WE DECIDE TO DEFER, WE COULD DO THE TAX RATE AT NEXT WEEK'S MEETING?
SEPTEMBER 16TH, YOU COULD APPROVE BOTH.
YOU COULD APPROVE THE BUDGET TODAY AND THE TAX RATE THEN, BUT THE TAX RATE AND THE BUDGET REALLY NEED TO BE IN TANDEM WITH EACH OTHER FROM A STANDPOINT.
>> BUT WE COULD DEFER IT TO THE FOLLOWING MEETING?
>> YEAH, JUST TO CLARIFY TO MARIE ON THAT, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT TODAY.
>> WE'LL OPEN THAT UP, BUT YOU'RE CORRECT, IF COUNCIL ELECTS THEY WANT TO DEFER THE BUDGET AND THE TAX RATE TO THE 16TH, WE HAVE IT ON THE AGENDA TOO.
>> WHEN THE BUDGET IS ADOPTED, IF THERE IS AN OVERALL INCREASE IN TAX REVENUE, YOU HAVE TO PASS A SEPARATE MOTION THAT RATIFIES THE TAX INCREASE THAT'S IN THE BUDGET.
THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE FOR THE MOTION THAT THE STATE REQUIRES FOR THAT ACTION IS IN YOUR STANFORD BOARD.
THE ORDINANCE INCLUDES A FEW THINGS THAT ARE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FROM BEFORE.
WE ARE ASKING YOU TO GO AHEAD AND ADOPT THE CIP AS A PART OF THE BUDGET ITSELF.
THE CHARTER REALLY SAYS IT'S PART OF THE BUDGET.
WE HAVE A SECTION OF THE BUDGET THAT SPECIFICALLY LIST THE PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THE CIP DOCUMENT ALONG WITH THE FUNDING SOURCES USED FOR IT.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THE CIP DOCUMENT HAS THE PROJECT LEVEL DETAIL THAT'S NOT IN THE BUDGET,
[00:05:03]
BUT THAT'LL BE CONSIDERED A COMPANION PIECE TO THE BUDGET IN THE WAY THAT WE PRESENT IT ON THE INTERNET AND EVERYWHERE ELSE.MADE A DISTINCTION TO BE VERY PRECISE THIS YEAR WITH WHAT COUNCIL APPROVES IN THE ORDINANCE IN TERMS OF APPROPRIATIONS AND WHAT IS IN THE BUDGET ITSELF IN TERMS OF THE DETAIL AND THE MANAGEMENT PLAN AND ALL THAT.
THE BUDGET IS BEING ADOPTED AS A PLAN UNDER STATE LAW THAT MEETS SOME FORM REQUIREMENTS AND PROCESS REQUIREMENTS.
WHAT WE'VE DONE HISTORICALLY IS WE'VE LISTED PRACTICALLY ALL OF THE BUDGET ORIGIN AND THE BUDGET ORDINANCE, BUT THEN WE MANAGE THE BUDGET WITHIN DEPARTMENTAL TOTALS WITH THE NOTION THAT'S IN THE CHARTER THAT COUNCIL APPROVES TRANSFERS THAT CROSS DEPARTMENT LINES AND THE MANAGER MANAGES THE BUDGET WITHIN INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS.
WE JUST TAKE INTO DEFINING MORE PRECISELY WHAT AN APARTMENT IS IN THE APPROPRIATIONS LISTING IN EXHIBIT A AND IT REFLECTS PRETTY MUCH THE WAY THAT WE HAVE ENFORCED THOSE REQUIREMENTS OVER THE YEARS.
FOR INSTANCE, WHEN YOU GET TO THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM FUND, THERE'S TWO NUMBERS, THE WATER FUND AND THE SEWER FUND, INSTEAD OF LISTING COLLECTIONS, DISTRIBUTION, AND ALL OF THE INDIVIDUAL WORKS.
THAT WAS THE WAY THAT WE BROUGHT YOU THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS IN ANY EVENT.
THAT'S THE OVERVIEW ON THE BUDGET ORDINANCE.
WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT SUBSTANCE IN JUST A SECOND.
THE PROPERTY TAX RATE HEARING IS UP AFTER THE BUDGET ITEMS. THE PROPOSED RATE IS 6.15 CENTS LESS THAN THE CURRENT RATE.
THAT IS 0.4985 PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUATION.
THE RATE MUST BE ADOPTED WITHIN SEVEN DAYS AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH IS WHERE THE 16TH WOULD COME IN IF YOU DECIDED TO DEFER BOTH ITEMS.
>> I THINK WE SHOULD MAKE SURE WE'RE GIVING A LITTLE MORE DETAIL FOR OUR CITIZENS BECAUSE WE HAVE A PROPOSED RATE WHICH IS 6.15 LESS, BUT WE'RE STILL INCREASING THEIR TAXES.
>> UNLIKE MOST OF THE COUNTY IS DOING.
MOST OF THE CITIES IN THE COUNTY HAVE DONE A NO-NET REVENUE RATE, WHICH MEANS BECAUSE APPRAISALS HAVE GONE UP SO MUCH, THAT THEY ARE NOT RAISING THE TAXES ON THEIR CITIZENS.
THE COUNTY ACTUALLY WENT $0.02 LESS.
I BELIEVE IT WAS TWO AT NO-NET REVENUE RATE.
I KNOW A LOT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS SPEAK ABOUT HERE HAVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SO FORTH.
I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO LOOK LONG AND HARD AND SEE IF WE CAN SHAVE SOME SENSE OFF BECAUSE IT WOULD MAKE SENSE FOR OUR CITIZENS.
IF WE CAN TAX PEOPLE OFF THE ISLAND, [NOISE] WHAT ARE WE GOING TO END UP WITH? A BUNCH OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO THINK LONG AND HARD ABOUT THIS AND LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET AS CLOSE TO IF NOT, A NO NET REVENUE TAX RATE.
I JUST WANT OUR CITIZENS TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
>> WE NEED TO DISCUSS THAT MORE BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S MORE INVOLVED IN THAT THAN SHE HAS SAID.
>> AS A MATTER OF FACT, THEY ARE NOT CUTTING THEIR RATE OR GOING BACK TO ANOTHER TAXES RATE BECAUSE OF APPRAISAL, THEY'RE DOING THAT BECAUSE OF THE EXCESS REVENUE GENERATED BY DEVELOPMENT AND NEW PROPERTIES ON THE TAX ROLES.
THAT'S TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THINGS.
IF WE WERE IN THE CITY WE WOULD [INAUDIBLE] WE WOULDN'T HAVE THIS PROBLEMS. WE DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF DEVELOPMENT.
WE DON'T HAVE THE ROOM TO EXPAND.
IT'S NOT THAT APPRAISALS WENT UP, IT'S BECAUSE OF NEW DEVELOPMENT.
>> WELL, WE ARE EXPERIENCING TREMENDOUS NEW DEVELOPMENT.
>> WE CAN CALL IT TREMENDOUS COMPARING TO CITIES AROUND US.
>> WELL, I WOULD SAY WE JUST BROKE GROUND ON $100 MILLION CRUISE TERMINAL.
>> WHICH IS NOT ON THE TAX ROLES.
>> WE JUST APPROVED $100 MILLION PROJECT IN DISTRICT 6.
[00:10:01]
I KNOW IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD ALONE THERE IS OVER, I THINK IT'S 100 AND SOME BRAND NEW HOUSES BEING BUILT.WE REALLY HAVE TO STOP AND FOCUS WITH THIS TAX CAP IN PLACE ON WHERE THE DEVELOPMENT IS HAPPENING ON THE ISLAND, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE ZIP.
BECAUSE WE TRADITIONALLY TAKE THE ZIP AND JUST TAKE IT AND SPLIT IT INTO SIX DISTRICTS.
I WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT IF IT WASN'T FOR ONE DISTRICT THAT'S 20 MILES LONG WHERE 60 PERCENT OF THE DEVELOPMENT IS GOING ON.
BUT FORGET ABOUT MY DISTRICT, LET'S LOOK AT YOUR DISTRICT WHERE HOW MANY $2 MILLION HOUSES HAVE GONE UP IN THE LAST YEAR? I THINK IT'S BEEN 20 SOME ACTUALLY.
WE HAVE INCREASED DEVELOPMENT AND WE HAVE INCREASED APPRAISALS.
I JUST THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT.
WE REALLY HAVE TO LOOK AT NOT TAXING OUR HOMEOWNERS OFF THE ISLAND.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE $2 MILLION HOUSES COME FROM IN THAT ESTIMATION, BUT EVEN IF IT'S TRUE, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT LOGO 1, THERE ARE 4,000 NEW HOUSES IN LOGO 1, 4,000 OF THEM.
[OVERLAPPING] THAT'S WHERE THEIR TAX CUTS ARE COMING FROM.
THAT'S WHERE THE NEW REVENUE IS COMING FROM.
YOU DON'T HAVE 4,000 HOUSES IN YOUR DISTRICT.
>> I COULD IF YOU EVER FIXED MY ROADS.
AGAIN, THAT GOES BACK TO THE ZIP.
>> WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE OFF TOPIC HERE AND LET ME SAY THIS COUNCIL, I THINK THAT THIS IS A HEALTHY DISCUSSION TO TALK ABOUT THIS NO-NEW REVENUE RATE THAT'S GOING TO BE ON OUR AGENDA THIS AFTERNOON.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT AND TALK ABOUT THE PROS AND CONS OF THAT AS WE TALK ABOUT THE PROPERTY TAX.
MIKE, GO AHEAD, LET'S GET THROUGH YOUR PRESENTATION AND THEN LET'S SEE IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> IF I COULD SPEAK TO THE DISCUSSION JUST A LITTLE BIT MAYOR.
I'VE GOT A SLIDE UP ON THE SCREEN THAT WAS FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING THAT WE HAD TO SHOW HOW THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE INCREASED TAX REVENUE FALLS OUT AND THE FACT THAT THE LIBRARIES TAX RATE IS FIXED, THEY WILL GET $670,000 REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU DO WITH THE OVERALL RATE OR SOMETHING IN THAT IMMEDIATE RANGE.
THE DEBT SERVICE FUND IS WHERE WE PAY FOR OUR LONG-TERM DEBT FROM AND WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN A CONSTANT TAX RATE THERE OF $5.25.
IF YOU CUT THE OVERALL RATE, YOU CAN SURE ENOUGH ACHIEVE THE NO-NEW REVENUE RATE, BUT THAT 2.4 MILLION WILL HAVE TO COME TOTALLY OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND BUCKET.
THAT'S WHERE THE RUB COMES FOR US.
WE'VE GOT TWO BARGAINING UNITS IN OUR POLICE AND FIRE ASSOCIATIONS.
IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH OUR BUDGET IN THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS IN ORDER TO MAKE AND KEEP THEM COMPETITIVE WITH THE MARKET, WE MET SOME REALLY BIG BULLETS IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH OF THE REVENUE GOES TO POLICE AND FIRE.
THAT MILLION DOLLAR INCREASE YOU SEE UP THERE IS JUST ABOUT THE COST FOR THIS YEAR'S PAY INCREASES BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY'VE STRUCTURED THEIR AGREEMENTS THE LAST FEW YEARS.
FIRE IS GETTING MORE THIS YEAR THAN POLICE BUT OVER THE LAST SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS THEY'VE BOTH GOTTEN A TOTAL OF ABOUT 33 PERCENT WHEN YOU INCLUDE THE INCREASES IN THEIR PENSION FUND CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE CITY AS WELL.
WE'VE ALSO GOT A MAJOR INCREASE IN HEALTH INSURANCE THIS YEAR.
WE COULD CUT THE PLAN, THE PLAN IS CONSIDERED BY MANY PEOPLE TO BE A RICH PLAN BUT IT'S ALSO BECAUSE OF THAT, A VERY VIABLE BENEFIT TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN COMPETENT PEOPLE AT ALL LEVELS OF THE ORGANIZATION.
THERE'S SOME SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS FROM THAT AND WE WOULD NEED TO AMEND THE BUDGET TO SUPPORT WHATEVER TAX RATE YOU WANTED TO SEE.
WE WOULD HAVE TO DO THAT IN A SHORT TIME-FRAME.
[NOISE] IT WOULD REALLY TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH TO COME UP WITH A LIST OF MEASURES THAT WE CAN GUARANTEE YOU WOULD GET THE SAVINGS.
WE HAVE A STRUCTURE THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN THESE OTHER CITIES.
WE DON'T ASK FOR MORE THAN WHAT WE ACTUALLY NEED.
THAT'S I THINK SOMETHING WE LIKE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER.
>> WELL, I CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING BUT THEN YOU'D ALSO HAVE TO LOOK BACK ON WHERE WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE OVERRUNS AND THINGS THAT,
[00:15:01]
OR WHERE MONEY IS PERHAPS NOT BEING MANAGED WELL ON PROJECTS.I'M GLAD WE HAVE THE CMP PROJECT COMING IN, BUT I JUST THINK WE NEED TO LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER AT THIS AND MAYBE WE CAN SAVE A CENT OR TWO.
EVERY CITY HIGHEST PORTION OF THEIR BUDGET IS FIRE AND POLICE AND IT SHOULD BE.
IF I COULD HAVE WE'D GIVE THEM MORE.
BECAUSE WE STILL ARE NOT EQUAL TO MOST OF THE MARKETS OUT THERE.
I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO LOOK CLOSER ON HOW WE CAN DO SOMETHING.
>> JUST A COUPLE OF POINTS THERE.
THE OTHER CITIES DO HAVE POLICE AND FIRE BUT THEY DON'T ALL HAVE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING LIKE WE DO.
IF WE COULD LOOK AT OUR ENTIRE BUDGET OF 150 MILLION FROM AN OPERATIONAL STANDPOINT AND LOOK TO CUT $2.5 MILLION, THAT WOULD NOT BE THE CHALLENGE THAT IT IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW MUCH OF THAT REVENUE IS RESTRICTED AND CAN'T BE REDEPLOYED TO COVER GENERAL FUND COST.
IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO ABOUT $15 MILLION IN THE GENERAL FUND THAT WOULD HAVE TO BEAR THAT ENTIRE COST CUT.
THERE'S [NOISE] JUST STRUCTURAL ISSUES THAT KEEP US FROM DOING WHAT IT DOES APPEAR TO MANY PEOPLE AND MYSELF, IF I THOUGHT WE COULD REALLOCATE MONEY FROM 45TH STREET OR SOME OTHER CAPITAL PROJECT TO SOLVE THE GENERAL FUNDS ISSUE IN THE FACE OF A $2.5 MILLION BUDGET CUT, WE'D LOOK VERY HARD AT THAT BUT WE CAN'T DO IT.
>> I KNOW [BACKGROUND] [OVERLAPPING].
>> THE TAX RATE WENT UP 20.3 PERCENT, [NOISE] AND WE'VE GOT SOME CHARTS IN THE PRESENTATION ON THAT IF YOU WANT TO REVIEW THAT.
BUT TAX REVENUE ITSELF IS GOING UP 6.29 PERCENT.
THE DIFFERENCE IN THOSE TWO PERCENTAGES IS THE 3.5 PERCENT ALLOWED INCREASE UNDER STATE LAW AND THE 11 PERCENT DIFFERENCE ON THE RATE CUT.
THE RATE THAT IS BEING PROPOSED ACTUALLY OFFSETS SLIGHTLY MORE THAN HALF OF THE INCREASES IN VALUE.
THE REMAINDER IS THE 3.5 PERCENT INCREASE THAT'S ALLOWED UNDER STATE LAW. THAT'S 100 PERCENT.
>> COULD YOU PLEASE REFRESH ME ON HOW MANY DAYS ON OUR RESERVE WE HAVE CURRENTLY.
>> ONE HUNDRED AND ELEVEN PROJECTED AT THE END OF THE NEXT YEAR.
>> WHAT DO WE HAVE PROJECTED AS OF SEPTEMBER 30TH?
>> SAME NUMBER. WELL, IT'LL BE THE SAME MONETARY AMOUNT BUT A SLIGHTLY HIGHER NUMBER OF DAYS.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK? HOW MANY DAYS?
>> I THINK IT'S APPROACHING 120.
>> I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT IS HAVING AN IDEAL, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR SITUATION AND THE FAMINE REQUIREMENTS WE HAVE AND WITH THE HURRICANES AND ALL THEY HAD 120 DAYS WAS SOMETHING THAT WE FELT AT LEAST WAS TALKED ABOUT BEING AN APPROPRIATE AMOUNT ON GENERAL FUND RESERVES ON THAT.
>> CAN I ASK ANOTHER QUESTION PLEASE? REFRESH ME ON THE NUMBER.
WHAT IS THE DAY? WHAT IS THE AMOUNT? I FORGOT MY BIG BOOK AT HOME TODAY.
>> [NOISE] THE NUMBER RIGHT ON TOP OF MY HEAD.
WE ARE PROJECTING TO END THE CURRENT YEAR AT $19,860,000 AND NEXT YEAR, $19,500,000.
>> ONE WILL BE 120 DAYS, THE OTHER WILL BE 111 DAYS AND THAT DAY IS?
>> I DON'T HAVE IT, [INAUDIBLE] IT'S HIGHER THAN THE 111 BECAUSE IT'S BEING COMPARED TO A BASE NUMBER THAT'S SMALLER, SO IT APPROACHES 120, 118-119, [NOISE] LET'S SAY.
[NOISE] THAT IS AN EXCESS OVER THE 90-DAY REQUIREMENT OF 4.9 MILLION THIS YEAR AND PROJECTED 3.7 MILLION NEXT YEAR.
I ALWAYS CAUTION PEOPLE ABOUT THINKING OF FUND BALANCE AS A REVENUE SOURCE BECAUSE IT'S TANTAMOUNT TO SAYING THAT THEY [NOISE] HAVE SAVINGS THAT YOU'LL IDENTIFY LATER, THAT YOU'LL NEVER ACHIEVE FROM SOMEPLACE.
THE PASSAGE OF A TAX RATE THAT RESULTS IN
[00:20:05]
INCREASED REVENUE DOES REQUIRE FIVE AFFIRMATIVE VOTES FROM COUNCIL.IT REQUIRES A 60 PERCENT MAJORITY, WHICH IN THIS COUNCIL'S CASE, THAT'S FIVE VOTES.
WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT'S IN THE BUDGET; WE HAVE DEPLETION, FIRE, HEALTH INSURANCE.
CIVILIANS ARE PROPOSED TO GET A TWO PERCENT COST OF LIVING INCREASE.
OUR LOW-PAID EMPLOYEES WILL BE BROUGHT TO 15 DOLLARS AN HOUR AND THEIR IMMEDIATE SUPERVISORS [NOISE] WILL BE ADJUSTED TO AVOID COMPRESSION OF THE LOW-PAID EMPLOYEES WHEN THEY'RE BROUGHT UP WITH THEIR IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR.
[NOISE] THERE'S NO INCREASE IN WATER SEWER RATES.
GARBAGE FEES HAVE ALREADY BEEN INCREASED WITH COUNCIL'S APPROVAL AND THAT REVENUE WILL BE REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET.
AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE NO SPECIFIC AGREEMENT WITH THE LIBRARY, SO THERE'S NO REPAYMENT FROM THE LIBRARY INCLUDED IN THIS BUDGET.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SAY, MIKE?
>> NOT REALLY. UNLESS YOU GOT A QUESTION.
>> LET'S OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS.
WE HAVE DAVID. JOHN, DID YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP, SIR? [OVERLAPPING]
>> WELL, JUST STARTING WITH A LIBRARY, WHAT WERE WE TRYING TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE LIBRARY? WHAT WAS THE REBATE AMOUNT?
>> FOUR HUNDRED AND [OVERLAPPING] FIFTY-THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS.
I THINK IT'S UP ON THE SCREEN.
>> THAT'S NOT DIRECTLY [NOISE] SUBTRACTED FROM THE 2.5 MILLION TO GET BACK DOWN TO THE NO NEW REVENUE?
>> NO, ALL THAT DOES IS ADJUST THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE REVENUE.
YOU'D STILL END UP HAVING TO TAKE ALL OF YOUR CUT FROM THE GENERAL FUND ITSELF.
[NOISE] THE ISSUE WITH THAT MONEY WOULD BE, HOW LONG DOES THE AGREEMENT RUN? WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE AGREEMENT MIGHT SAY IN WHETHER OR NOT IT'S GOING TO BE APPROVED ANYTIME SOON.
>> IT WOULDN'T AFFECT THE RATE AT ALL? IT WOULDN'T AFFECT REDUCING THE RATE AT ALL?
>> NO BECAUSE YOU STILL HAVE TO GIVE THEM THE SAME FIVE CENTS.
>> BRIAN, SAY THAT AGAIN [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOU STILL HAVE TO GIVE THE LIBRARY THE FIVE CENTS.
THAT DOESN'T GO AWAY AND THE CALCULATION DOESN'T CHANGE.
>> JOHN, TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA WHERE WE ARE ON THAT, I'M STILL IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH MIKE MILLER OVER THERE FOR LIBRARY ON THE CMOU THAT WE ORIGINALLY PRESENTED [NOISE] THEM.
HOPEFULLY, WE'LL KNOW SOMETHING HERE SHORTLY.
>> YOU STOPPED GIVING THEM FIVE PERCENT BUT YOU GET SOME OF THAT MONEY BACK? [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOU GET A SMALL AMOUNT BACK, YEAH.
>> IT'S GOT TO HELP. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT WILL HELP BUT IT WILL HELP FOR ONE YEAR BECAUSE THAT'LL MAKE YOU A ONE-YEAR AGREEMENT.
>> HELP A LITTLE BIT, BUT [INAUDIBLE] MIGHT.
>> MAYBE A HALF [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING]
>> FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND.
IT'D BE A LITTLE MORE THAN THAT BUT CONSIDER THIS TOO; WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOUR TAX RATE GIVEN THE CURRENT STATE LAW IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO DROP EVERY YEAR REGARDLESS OF ANYTHING ELSE THAT HAPPENS.
A CUT THIS YEAR BASED ON SPECULATIVE REVENUE, YOU'RE HANGING WITH THAT SAYING [OVERLAPPING]
>> NO, I'M NOT TRYING TO SPECULATE BUT I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DO GET A REBATE [NOISE] OR IF WE CHANGE THE FIVE CENTS.
>> IF YOU CAN CHANGE THE FIVE CENTS, THEN WHEN YOU REDUCE THE TAX RATE, IT ALL DOESN'T HAVE TO COME FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
>> BUT IF IT'S DONE WITH THE AGREEMENT, IT STILL HAS TO COME FROM THE GENERAL FUND. [INAUDIBLE] [NOISE]
>> NO, LET JOHN ANSWER MY QUESTION.
>> [INAUDIBLE], IF YOU DON'T MIND, I THINK COUNCILWOMAN LEWIS, YOU HAD SOME QUESTIONS TOO.
>> YES, AFTER GOING THROUGH THE BINDER.
[LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] FIRST QUESTION, WHAT'S THE PROCESS AND THE ALLOCATION FOR EACH COUNCIL MEMBER ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE FUND? IS THIS THE TIME TO ASK THAT OR NO?
>> WELL, WHAT WE DO IS WE HAVE AN ENGINEERING FIRM THAT DOES ROAD ASSESSMENT EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS, AND WE DO OUR STREETS BASED ON PRIORITY.
WE TAKE THE WORST STREETS IN EACH DISTRICT EACH YEAR AND ATTACK THOSE, AND WE TRY TO DO IT EQUALLY AMONGST THE DISTRICTS.
WE HIT CLOSE, SOMETIMES WE MISS A LITTLE BIT.
THERE'S BEEN YEARS WE DID MORE.
LAST YEAR WE DID 60 PERCENT OF THE DISTRICT 6.
[NOISE] SOME YEARS WERE MORE EVENLY SQUARED THAN IT IS IN OTHERS, SO IT JUST DEPENDS.
BUT WE TRY TO DIVIDE IT UP EQUALLY AMONGST THE DISTRICTS.
[00:25:02]
>> THE PEG MONEY. THAT IS MONEY THAT IS REBATED TO US FROM COMCAST, AND IT CAN ONLY BE USED FOR VARIOUS, ONE OF THOSE SILOS THAT MIKE REFERENCES IT.
WE CAN ONLY USE IT FOR VERY SPECIFIC THINGS LIKE OUR CONTRACT WITH SWAGIT TO BROADCAST OUR MEETINGS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR ELECTRONICS IN THE ROOM, THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT THAT IS ALL IT CAN BE USED FOR.
IT'S A FUND THAT GENERATES MORE MONEY THAN WE USUALLY CAN SPEND IN A YEAR.
>> THE PARKING MANAGEMENT FUND; WHAT'S THE PURPOSE [OVERLAPPING], AND WHO ALLOCATES THE MONEY?
>> COUNCIL ALLOCATES ALL MONEY.
BUT THAT MONEY IS WHAT IS THE MONEY THAT IS THE FEES THAT ARE COLLECTED DOWNTOWN AND IT IS USED TO PAY FOR THE PARKING ENFORCEMENT THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
THEN TYPICALLY WE USE THAT MONEY FOR OUR IMPROVEMENTS DOWNTOWN BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE ALL THE MONEY'S COLLECTED.
>> SOME OF THE OPERATING COSTS FOR ENFORCEMENT AT THE PARKING ARE [INAUDIBLE]?
>> PLUS A COUPLE POLICE OFFICERS?
>> THAT ARE FUNDED THEIR OPERATIONS?
>> CORRECT. THEN WE FUND DOWNTOWN POLICE OFFICERS OUT THERE TOO.
>> I THINK YOU ANSWERED THIS ONE.
ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, HOW DO WE INFLUENCE OUR IMPACT AS PROJECTS? DOES THAT GO BACK TO WHAT YOU ORIGINALLY SAID?
>> YES, WE TOOK POLITICS OUT OF THAT AND WE USE A VERY EQUAL HANDED DEAL BECAUSE IT USED TO BE WHATEVER COUNCIL MEMBER HAD THE VOTES, GOT ALL THE MONEY.
WE DON'T DO IT THAT WAY ANYMORE.
WE TRY TO DO IT FAIRLY ACROSS ALL THE DISTRICTS.
>> WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT THE BUDGET, I JUST KNOW NUMBERS GO UP, NUMBERS GO DOWN OR WHENEVER.
SO WHY WAS THE BUDGET 3.2 MILLION MORE THAN THE ORIGINALLY APPROVED BUDGET?
>> THE CURRENT BUDGET? FIRST OF ALL, LAST YEAR WAS AN ANOMALY.
WE ADJUSTED A LOT OF THE BUDGET BACK DOWN BECAUSE OF COVID, AND NOT KNOWING WHERE OUR REVENUE WAS GOING TO BE.
AS REVENUE INCREASED, WE RAMPED BACK UP EXPENSES AGAIN.
SO YOU'RE COMPARING IT TO AN AMENDED BUDGET WHICH WAS A REDUCED BUDGET, BUT WE STILL ENDED UP UNDER BUDGET, BUT WE HAD MORE MONEY TO SPEND, SO WE WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE SOME PROJECTS THAT WE HAD NORMALLY SUSPENDED BECAUSE OF COVID.
>> GENERALLY WE UNDERSPENT THE 21 BUDGET, THE CURRENT YEAR.
>> WE CLAMPED DOWN PRETTY HARD, DURING THE SHUT DOWN.
>> IS THAT EVERYTHING CHAIRING THAT YOU HAVE?
>> FOR THE TIME BEING, I KNOW.
>> FOR THE TIME BEING. THANK YOU.
>> I KNOW MARIE, HAS SOME QUESTIONS, BUT MARIE, LET ME SEE BILL OR WILLIAM, ANYONE ELSE HAS ANY QUESTIONS IN MIND?
>> AM GOOD AT THIS POINT. THANKS.
>> VERY GOOD. GO RIGHT AHEAD MARIE.
>> WELL, ALONG WITH THIS DISCUSSION TOWARDS YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW IT'S DIVIDED AND IN THE BUDGET.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE UNDER THIS TAX CAP SITUATION, IS SOME DISTRICT, BECAUSE OF HOW THEY'RE DESIGNATED, HAVE ACCESS TO OTHER FUNDS SUCH AS CBDG FUNDS, WHERE A DISTRICT LIKE, JOHN PAUL'S, OR MY DISTRICT, AREN'T ELIGIBLE.
>> BUT WE ADJUST THAT. SO WHEN YOUR CIP COMES OUT, THAT FACTORS INTO THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE CIP.
THAT ACTUALLY MAKES YOUR CIP GO LONGER AND LETS US DO MORE PROJECTS IN THOSE DISTRICTS THAT DON'T GET CDBG. WE ADJUST FOR THAT.
>> WELL, AND SOME DISTRICTS ARE A LOT LARGER THAN OTHER DISTRICTS.
>> SOME DISTRICTS HAVE A LOT OF OLDER INFRASTRUCTURE THAN YOUR DISTRICT.
>> TRUE. BUT I HAVE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN TOUCHED IN 20 YEARS OF ROADS.
I MEAN, IT'S A $1 MILLION HOUSES WITH THEIR WORLD COUNTRIES AND POTHOLES.
>> LET US KNOW WHERE THOSE ARE AND WE CAN GET THEM ADDRESSED.
>> WELL, [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE DO HAVE CONDITION ASSESSMENT AND IT'S [OVERLAPPING]
>> I WOULD LIKE TO GO OUT WITH THE PERSON WHEN THE COMPANY IS [OVERLAPPING].
>> WELL THEY DO IT ELECTRONICALLY.
THEY CAN DO IT ALL VIA LIDAR NOW.
BUT YOU'RE WELCOME TO LOOK AT HOW WE DO IT BRENDA AND SHOW YOU HOW THEY DO THOSE ASSESSMENTS.
SO WE'LL GET READY TO REDO IT AGAIN.
>> OKAY. WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT BECAUSE IF THEY'RE USING GPS OR HOW THEY'RE DOING IT WITH LIDAR, THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY NOT PICKING UP SOME [OVERLAPPING]
>> THEY DOING CAR CAMERAS, YOU KNOW, LIKE A GOOGLE CAR.
I MEAN, THERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS THEY'VE DONE SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.
>> THEN THE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO GET BEFORE WHERE FINISHED IS, WHAT THAT ACTUAL DAY RATE IS.
I MEAN I DID DIVISION, I CAME UP WITH LIKE 165, BUT SOMEBODY IN FINANCE [OVERLAPPING] GET AN ACCURATE FIGURE.
>> I THINK WHAT SHE'S ASKING FOR IS OUR RATE OF BURN, RIGHT?
[00:30:01]
IS ASKING FOR, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG MARIE, YOU'RE WANTING TO KNOW, IF WE'RE SHOOTING FOR 120 DAYS, HOW MUCH MONEY THAT IS [OVERLAPPING].>> THAT'S 120 DAYS UNDER A NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS.
THAT IS NOT 120 DAYS UNDER A SEMESTER.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT. I'M JUST TRYING TO GET THE ACTUAL [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE END UP USING A LOT OF OUR CASH ALL THIS REIMBURSABLE GRANTS, PUTTING MONEY UP FRONT, AND THEN WAITING UNTIL WE'VE SATISFIED THE EXACT AUDIT REQUIREMENTS OF [INAUDIBLE] OR THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE TO GET A REIMBURSEMENT.
>> BUT, SOMEBODY MUST HAVE THAT FIGURE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUT YOUR BURN RATE'S ABOUT A $150,000 PER DAY. IS IT NOT?
>> I CAME UP WITH A 165 JUST DIVIDING BY THE NUMBER OF [OVERLAPPING].
I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT HAVING THOSE NUMBERS ON THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
I KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO COUNSEL AND I'LL CARRY IT AWAY.
>> [INAUDIBLE] 200 THOUSAND, MYSELF, JUST BECAUSE THERE'S SOME THINGS IN HERE THAT ARE NOT FUNDED OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND THAT SOMETIMES CROSSOVER DEPENDING ON WHAT FUNCTION WE'RE DOING.
SO I WILL USE 200 THOUSAND AS YOUR BALLPARK NUMBER.
>> BUT SOMEONE WILL FINANCE, I'M SURE.
>> GIVE ME A MINUTE AND I'LL GIVE IT TO YOU RIGHT NOW.
>> I WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
I KNOW THAT ALL OF THE DISTRICTS ARE WANTING TO HAVE THAT MONEY MOVED TO THEIR DISTRICT AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO TRY TO KEEP THIS BALANCED.
I'M GLAD TO HEAR BRIAN, THAT YOU'RE FACTORING THAT WHEN YOU APPLY THE CDBG FUNDS SO THAT THAT MAINTAINS BALANCE.
>> NO, BECAUSE IF WE CAN ATTRACT THEIR LOW HANGING STREET WITH CDBG MONEY, WE DO THAT AND THAT LEAVES MORE MONEY IN THERE INFRASTRUCTURE FUND TO BE SPREAD AMONGST THE OTHER DISTRICTS.
>> THAT SOUNDS GOOD. I WANT TO MENTION TOO.
I KNOW AS MENTIONED THAT THERE'S SOME STREETS THAT HADN'T BEEN TOUCHED IN 20 YEARS.
THEY'RE SOME STREETS WITH INFRASTRUCTURE HADN'T BEEN TOUCHED IN 50 YEARS.
I HEAR SO. THERE'S A LOT OF THEM THAT HAVEN'T BEEN TOUCHED.
ONE LAST THOUGHT ABOUT POLICE AND FIRE.
YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STAY AS EQUITABLE IN THE MARKET AS POSSIBLE WITH OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND OUR POLICEMAN.
>> WE ARE RIGHT IN OUR TARGET MARKET.
>> WE'VE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY AT THAT WITH TRYING TO MAINTAIN THAT TO EQUALITY.
SO YOU'RE DOING PRETTY GOOD WITH THIS LAST TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.
YOU KIND OF MOVED TO THE MIDPOINT, BRIAN?
>> YES, WHERE AT MIDPOINT ON EVERYTHING AND THE GOOD NEWS IS, IS THAT IS THIS THE TIME THAT I MEAN, LET'S JUST BE REAL HONEST, WHO WANTS TO BE A POLICE OFFICER NOW?
>> WHO WANTS TO BE A POLICE OFFICER NOW? YOU SHOULD BE HONEST WITH ME.
WHO WANTS TO BE A FIREFIGHTER? DEALING WITH COVID AND EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.
BUT WE'VE MANAGED TO KEEP OUR RECRUITING UP, WE'VE MANAGED TO KEEP OUR NUMBERS UP, OUR TURNOVER HAS GONE DOWN.
BRANDON AND CHARLIE HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB WITH THAT AND OUR GUYS CONTINUE TO WORK HARD AND I THINK IT'S ONLY FAIR THAT WE KEEP THEM AT THE MARKET LEVELS.
THE GOOD NEWS IS, EVEN WITH POLICE THIS YEAR, THE REASON THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO MOVE AS MUCH AS FAR IS BECAUSE WE HAD DONE A BETTER JOB OF THAT IN THEIR LAST CONTRACT OF GETTING THEM UP TO THAT MIDPOINT.
SO WE WERE ONLY A COUPLE OF PERCENTAGE POINTS OFF ON THEM THIS YEAR.
FIRE, THEY HAD CHOSEN TO KIND OF DEFER SOME OF THEIRS.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE BIGGEST EXPENSES IS TO PENSIONS AND THOSE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE.
THOSE DON'T GO AWAY AND THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO ESCALATE.
THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT AND YOU CAN'T RECOVER AT A 3.5 PERCENT GROWTH RATE, IF WE HAVE A BAD PENSION. THERE'S NO WAY.
EVEN IF YOU TOOK YOUR MONEY OUT OF SAVINGS AND CUT THE RATE TO OFFSET THAT, I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND ANYBODY DOING THAT.
I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND ANYBODY SPENDING DOWN ON THERE SAVINGS ACCOUNT TO PAY DAY TO DAY EXPENSES, BECAUSE THAT'S JUST A RECIPE FOR DISASTER.
BUT IF YOU DID THAT, AND YOU HAD A BAD YEAR IN YOUR PENSIONS OR EVEN A BAD YEAR WITH OUR INVESTMENTS, YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO RECOVER THEM.
WE'RE GROWING IT FASTER THAN 3.5 PERCENT A YEAR IN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY COST AND I THINK THAT'S TOTALLY APPROPRIATE.
WE CAN ALL SIT HERE AND SAY IT'S BECAUSE THEY COLLECTED BURDEN.
I DON'T BELIEVE SO. IT'S JUST BECOMING MORE EXPENSIVE.
WHEN I STARTED HERE, I COULD BUY A PUMPER FOR $350 THOUSAND.
A PUMPER NOW $700 THOUSAND IF I CAN GET ONE.
A LADDER TRUCK USED TO BE LESS THAN A $1 MILLION.
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE A TOWER TRUCK IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO, IT'S GOING TO CAUSE PRIOR TO A $1.5 MILLION AND TAKE ME TWO YEARS TO GET IT.
SO POLICE CAR WHEN I STARTED IT WAS 30 GRAND OUTFIT.
A NEW POLICE CAR NOW IS $60,000.
I UNDERSTAND COST WENT UP FOR ME PERSONALLY. THEY GO UP FOR EVERYBODY.
BUT WHAT A CITY DOES IS WE ARE A BUYER AND PROVIDER OF SERVICE.
SO IF THE COST GO UP FOR YOU, IMAGINE HOW MUCH THEY GO UP FOR THE CITY.
IF GAS GOES UP 10 CENTS FOR YOU, IMAGINE HOW MUCH IT GOES UP ACROSS OUR 300 VEHICLES.
A PIECE OF PVC PIPE ON A 10 TIMES [LAUGHTER] I'M SITTING ON A CITY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MARIE'S,
[00:35:03]
DISTRICT THAT HAS A LOT NEWER INFRASTRUCTURE.I'M SITTING ON A CITY FULL OF CLAY AND CAST-IRON PIPE, THAT I'M TRYING TO REPLACE BECAUSE IT'S BREAKING.
BILL, BROUGHT ME ANOTHER LEAK TODAY AND WHAT AM I REPLACING IT WITH? WHICH IS PVC, WHICH HAS GONE UP 10 TIMES WHAT IT USED TO BE.
>> I STILL HAVE SOME LEFT FROM THE FREES [LAUGHTER]
>> I ASKED JENELL TO PUT A CHART UP ON THE SCREEN FROM THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER, LEWIS' QUESTION MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ANSWERED ADEQUATELY.
I'M TRYING TO READ BETWEEN THE LINES.
THIS CHART SHOWS YOU HOW THE LAST FIVE BUDGETS HAVE BEEN BUILT, EXPLAINING THE DIFFERENCE WITH THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S BUDGET.
FOCUS, IF YOU WILL, ON THE FY '22 COLUMN.
YOU SEE THE COMMONALITY FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT.
MANY OF THE INCREASES THAT ARE LISTED ARE MANDATORY OR A RESULT OF COLLECTIVE BARGAIN.
>> THE INTEGRATION, THE TRANSFER TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, THAT'S SIMPLY EIGHT PERCENT OF WHATEVER YOUR INCREASE IS AND REVENUE FROM YEAR TO YEAR, THAT'S CHARTER MANDATED.
[NOISE] THE POLICE CIVIL SERVICE PAY 318,000, AND FIRE CIVIL SERVICE PAY 654,000 OR THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING INCREASES THAT I MENTIONED.
OUR OPERATING COST THAT WE PAY TO THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR EMS, IT'S GONE UP $97,000, TWO PERCENT COLAS FOR CIVILIANS IS $275,000.
I DON'T WANT YOU [OVERLAPPING] [INAUDIBLE] FOR ALL GENERAL FUND.
THEY JUST THE GENERAL FUND, WE GENERATE A LOT.
>> THERE ARE SECTIONS IN THE BUDGET WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE TOTAL OVERALL.
BUT IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WHERE THE TAX MONEY ON THE GENERAL FUND IS GOING TO BETWEEN THIS YEAR FISCAL '21 BUDGET AND NEXT YEAR'S PROPOSED, THIS IS THE COLUMN.
OUR HEALTH BENEFIT COST IS UP $710,000.
AS I SAID, WE COULD SUGGEST CUTTING THAT PLAN BACK.
IT'S A GREAT BENEFIT TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN PEOPLE.
>> NOT ONLY THAT, BUT WE DEAL WITH A LARGE AMOUNT OF OUR EMPLOYEE POPULATION.
FOR US TO HAVE $2,000 DEDUCTIBLES IS NOT A BIG DEAL.
FOR AN EMPLOYEE TO HAVE A $2,000 DEDUCTIBLE IN MEDICAL ISSUE MEANS A FAMILY DOESN'T GET TO EAT.
SO WE'RE VERY COGNIZANT OF THAT WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT, BECAUSE REALLY YOU DON'T SAVE MONEY ON INSURANCE.
IT COSTS WHAT IT COSTS TO PROVIDE HEALTHCARE.
YOU JUST SHIFT THE COST BETWEEN THE EMPLOYER AND THE EMPLOYEE.
WE CAN CONTINUE TO SHIFT MORE OF THE EMPLOYEE, BUT WE'RE ALREADY WITH THE CHANGES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THE HEALTH PLAN.
IT'S GOING TO ABSORB SOME OF THEIR TWO PERCENT COLA, AND I'M SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THEIR COST FOR LIVING WHEN IT WENT TWO PERCENT IN THE PAST YEAR.
WE'RE LOSING A LITTLE BIT OF GROUND THERE.
BUT WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THE STAFF VALUES, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT WORK IN THE FIELD.
THEY REALLY VALUED HAVING THAT INSURANCE OUT THERE FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.
THAT'S A BIG PLUS FOR US, BECAUSE THESE GUYS WORK IN VERY DANGEROUS JOBS.
>> DO WE HAVE THEIR SHADE AND THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED?
>> [OVERLAPPING] WHAT PAGE IS THAT, MIKE, IN YOUR BUDGET?
>> WELL, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT ONLINE, IT'S 72.
IN YOUR HARD COPY, IT'S UNDER THE GENERAL FUND AND IT'S GF3.
>> COULD YOU MAKE US A COPY OF THAT TO KNOW? I FORGOT MY BOOK AT HOME. THANK YOU.
>> [INAUDIBLE] THERE IS YOUR BUDGET IN THE PLACE.
>> THANK YOU, MIKE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT'S PRETTY WELL EXPLAINED HERE.
MIKE DOES A GOOD JOB OF BREAKING IT DOWN FOR EVERYBODY.
>> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ON BUDGET? THANK YOU, BRIAN.
THANK YOU, MIKE. LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 3B PLEASE, JENELL.
[3B. Clarification Of Consent And Regular City Council Agenda Items - This Is An Opportunity For City Council To Ask Questions Of Staff On Consent And Regular Agenda Items (20 Minutes)]
>> ITEM 3B, CLARIFICATION THAT CONSENT IN REGULAR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITY COUNCIL TO ASK QUESTIONS OF STAFF ON CONSENT IN REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS.
>> [INAUDIBLE] LET'S HAVE YOU LEAD THIS OFF. ANY QUESTIONS, SIR?
>> NO, BUT IT WAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND EXCITED TO GET INTO THOSE INTERVIEWS.
>> IT HAS A MORE SINCERE STATEMENT [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER]
[LAUGHTER] NO, I'M WITH WILLIAM ON THIS ONE, [LAUGHTER] LET'S MOVE THIS ALONG. [LAUGHTER]
>> I DO. [LAUGHTER] ON THE SHORT TERM RENTAL, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS ORDINANCE IS DONE AS ACHIEVING BECAUSE [INAUDIBLE] ONE STATEMENT.
[00:40:01]
THE GOAL OF WHAT I WANTED WITH THIS ORDINANCE IS FOR US TO GET EVERY [OVERLAPPING] SHORT-TERM RENTAL REGISTERED BY DECEMBER 31ST AT THE $50 FEE [BACKGROUND] AND [INAUDIBLE] WILL BE WORKING ON IT IN THE MAIN TIME.NEXT YEAR WE WILL HAVE AN ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEE AS WELL AS AN IMPACT FEE.
THEN THE ONE SENTENCE IN HERE, THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT SAID, IF YOU'VE PAID IT NOW YOU WOULDN'T BE EXEMPTED IN 2022.
>> THAT WOULD BE GOOD FOR A YEAR.
>> BUT YOU WOULD HAVE TO PAY IT IN '22 AS WELL.
YOU WILL HAVE AN ANNUAL FEE AGAIN [OVERLAPPING] AND IMPACT FEE.
>> WELL, THE IMPACT FEE IS [OVERLAPPING] A CONCERN, RIGHT?
>> YEAH. BUT THE WAY THAT READS, IT'S IN MY MIND.
THE REGISTRATION OF PROPERTY IN WHICH THE REGISTRATION IS BEING COMPLETE, FOR WHICH AN ANNUAL REGISTRATION HAS BEEN PAID IN 2021 IT SHALL BE VALID UNTIL DECEMBER '22.
>> THE WAY I READ THAT IT ACCOMPLISHES EXACTLY WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT.
I THINK THAT'S WHERE IT [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING]
>> JUST TO MAKE CLEAR FOR CITIZENS WHO MAY BE LISTENING BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S LIKE, "GOD, WHY HAS IT AFFECTED OUR FEE?", WE CURRENTLY HAVE A $50 FEE IN PLACE THAT 600 PEOPLE, A BARB RENTALS OF WHICH WE THINK WE HAVE SOMEWHERE PLUS OR MINUS 4,000, HAVE PAID $50.
SO THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN GET AN ACCURATE DATABASE IS TO MAKE EVERY SHORT-TERM RENTAL PAY A $50 FEE OF WHICH PART OF THAT MONEY WILL BE USED TO BUY SOFTWARE.
IT'S TOTALLY INSANE TO BUY NEW SOFTWARE AND POPULATE IT WITH BAD DATA.
THE GOAL IS TO GET GOOD, ACCURATE DATA AND TO, THIS YEAR ONLY, IT WILL BE JUST A REGISTRATION FEE.
TO BE VERY CLEAR, NEXT YEAR IT WILL BE A REGISTRATION AND AN IMPACT FEE.
>> WELL, THAT'S TO BE DETERMINED. [OVERLAPPING]
>> TO BE DECIDED BUT [OVERLAPPING] IN THE RIGHT WORLD.
>> YEAH. OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE, MARLIN? OKAY.
>> VERY GOOD. WE'RE MOVING INTO OUR INTERVIEW PROCESS ON THIS.
[3C. Interview Applicants For City Boards, Commissions, And Committees]
COUNCIL, LET ME GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE ON THIS INTERVIEW PROCESS AND [NOISE] GO OVER THIS.WE'LL START WITH THE WARDS BOARD FIRST.
[BACKGROUND] WE'LL START WITH THE WARDS BOARD FIRST.
WE'LL HAVE THOSE INTERVIEWS FIRST.
[NOISE] YOU HAVE A LIST IN FRONT OF YOU OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE IN THE ORDER THAT WE'LL BE USING THOSE.
[NOISE] WHAT WE'VE HAD WITH JENELL IS DOING, SHE'S BRINGING THOSE IN.
EACH GROUP IS COMING IN IN A GROUP OF FIVE TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
THEY'LL BE COMING IN AT DIFFERENT TIMES.
WE DIDN'T WANT TO BRING INDIVIDUALS IN AT 8:30 HERE AND NOT GET TO HIM TILL NOON.
SO WE'VE GOT HIM STATIONED COMING IN TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
ON WARDS BOARD, THERE ARE TWO VACANCIES THAT WE'RE GOING TO FILL, AND SO WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR TWO VACANCIES TO FILL.
ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THERE ARE TWO VACANCIES AND ONE REAPPOINTMENT.
SO JEFF AND TENIELLE AS ELECTED NOT TO REAPPLY FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
SO WE'LL HAVE TWO OPENINGS THAT WILL NEED TO BE FILLED ON PLANNING COMMISSION.
THEN STEPHEN AND [INAUDIBLE], IF COUNCIL ELECTS TO DO SO, IS UP FOR REAPPOINTMENT. VERY GOOD.
SAYING THAT JENELL, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH VICTOR PEARSON FIRST, AND I THINK MR. ROSS, WE'RE GOING TO LET YOU STEP OVER TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, SIR.
>> MORNING, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
>> PLEASURE BEING HERE AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RECENT ELECTION.
[BACKGROUND] I'M VERY PLEASED TO HAVE MY NAME SUBMITTED FOR A POSSIBLE APPOINTMENT TO THE WARDS BOARD.
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME,
[00:45:02]
WHY AM I DOING THIS.I'VE GOT A VERY FULL PLAY, MY JOB AT THE BANK, AND IT REMINDED ME OF MY DECISION TO RUN FOR MAYOR OF JAMAICA BEACH.
I'VE BEEN THE BANKER FOR JAMAICA BEACH A NUMBER OF YEARS.
I'VE DONE THEIR PRIVATE PLACE [INAUDIBLE] FOR THEIR PLANT EXPANSION, AND THEY HAD NOT REDUCE THEIR TAX RATE [NOISE] ON WATCHING THE BUDGET, IF YOU CALL THAT FUND, FOR FOUR YEARS AND I THOUGHT WE COULD FIND SOME EFFICIENCIES IN CITY GOVERNMENT.
I RAN ON A SIMPLE PROGRAM THAT WE WOULD REDUCE THE TAX RATE FROM [NOISE] 59.742 CENTS TO 25 CENTS IN EIGHT YEARS.
IN EIGHT YEARS WE'RE 25.11, AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS GOOD ENOUGH.
THEN HURRICANE IKE, DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE.
THEN WE HAD SOME MEDICAL ISSUES WITH SOME PEOPLE THAT WE'RE GOING TO RUN.
SO I ENDED UP SPENDING 14 YEARS.
GREAT POSITION I HAD AT JAMAICA BEACH.
THEN I'VE BEEN THE BANKER FOR THE PORT OF THE GALVESTON FOR OVER 27 YEARS.
WHEN I LOOK AT THE PORT, I CAN SEE SOME INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS THAT HAVE BEEN DIFFERED.
I THINK MY EXPERIENCE IN FINANCE BEING ABLE TO MANAGE CASH-FLOW AND WHEN TO LEVERAGE THAT CASHFLOW, WE CAN MAKE THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.
ALSO, THE CREWS BUSINESS HAS BEEN ENTIRELY FANTASTIC, HAS REALLY PUT THE PORT IN A MUCH BETTER FINANCIAL SHAPE.
BUT AS WE LEARNED HERE IN THE PANDEMIC, WHEN WE'VE GOT SO MANY EGGS IN ONE BASKET, IT CAN BE AN ISSUE AND I WOULDN'T LOOK TO FIND WAYS TO DIVERSIFY THE REVENUE STREAM FROM THE PORT.
I THINK MY BACKGROUND IN FINANCE I THINK WILL BE A BENEFIT FOR THE PORT IF I'M SO LUCKY TO BE APPOINTED AS THE MEMBER OF THE WARDS BOARD.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION.
WE WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT.
COUNCIL, LET'S TURN OVER INTO QUESTIONS FOR MR. PIERSON. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> [INAUDIBLE] MR. PIERSON, WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PELICAN ISLAND?
>> WELL, I THINK THAT'S AN UNTAPPED RESOURCE THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON.
OBVIOUSLY, THE BIG THING RIGHT NOW IS THE BRIDGE.
THEN ULTIMATELY TO GET REAL ACCESS OVER THERE LONG TERM I THINK THAT IS WHAT REALLY IS NEEDED AND GALVESTON IS A LIMITED RESOURCE FOR LAND AND WATERFRONT, AND THE BOARD IS WELL POSITIONED OVER THERE, THAT WAS SERVED BY THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
I HAD MENTIONED WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET THAT INFRASTRUCTURE OVER THERE TO REALLY MAXIMIZE THE POTENTIAL.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS OR IDEAS ON HOW TO CAPTURE THE LAND THAT THE PORT OF HOUSTON HAS ON PELICAN ISLAND?
>> I THINK THAT'S ALL NEGOTIATED.
I THINK THE PORT OF GALVESTON NEEDS TO WORK ACTIVELY WITH THE BOARD OF HOUSTON WHEN THAT ORIGINALLY HAPPENED, THIS IS JUST MY OPINION, BUT THE PORT OF HOUSTON WAS PROBABLY ACQUIRED THAT IN A DEFENSIVE MOVE TO KEEP A CONTAINER PORT OPENING.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S IN THE PORT OF GALVESTON'S RIGHT NOW LONG-TERM STRATEGIC PLAN.
IT WOULD PROBABLY BE A GOOD TIME TO TALK TO THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE THE BIGGEST PROPERTY OWNER OVER THERE.
>> WHAT ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BOARD DIRECTOR?
>> I HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BOARD DIRECTOR.
I'M TRYING TO HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH EVERYBODY.
SOMETIMES THAT'S DIFFICULT WHEN POLITICS INVOLVED.
>> BUT I DO HIGHEST ETHICAL STANDARDS AND I DON'T COME WITH AN AGENDA OTHER THAN TO HELP THE BOARD.
AGAIN TRY TO HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH EVERYBODY.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. I APPRECIATE THAT. VERY GOOD.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR THAT?
>> I'LL JUST MAKE A COMMENT ON, I'M SO EXCITED THAT YOU APPLIED FOR THIS POSITION.
VIC AND I HAVE SERVED ON A NUMBER OF BOARD STATE-WIDE CITY.
I MEAN I JUST THINK YOU'RE AN EXCELLENT CANDIDATE THE FINANCE EXPERIENCE YOU BRING TO THE TABLE IS ABOVE AND BEYOND.
>> I'M NOT GOING TO HOLD THAT AGAINST YOU.
[LAUGHTER] VIC I'D LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION, YOU HAD MENTIONED YOU'RE THE BANKER FOR THE PORT IS THERE ANY IN YOUR MIND, ANY CONFLICTS THERE SERVING ON THE TRUSTEES?
>> WELL, THERE CERTAINLY WOULD BE THAT'S PUT OUT FOR BID EVERY 2-5 YEARS.
[00:50:04]
I WOULD HAVE TO NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS JUST AS I WAS THE BANKER OF JAMAICA BEACH, MY 14 YEARS AS MAYOR.I DID ANTICIPATE THIS QUESTION.
>> I GOT IT FROM THE COMMUNITY.
>> THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
NOT ONLY WERE THERE ARE NEVER ANY ISSUES IN THAT REGARD, NONE OF THE OTHER BANKS COMPLAINED.
I TRIED TO, AGAIN, MAINTAIN A RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL LOCAL BANKS AND MY GOAL IS ALWAYS TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR WHATEVER ENTITY I'M REPRESENTING AT THE TIME.
I BELIEVE IT CAN BE DEALT WITH AS LONG AS YOU FOLLOW THE LAW.
>> I AGREE. THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE IT.
ANYBODY ELSE? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OTHERWISE YOU HAVE A PLANE TO CATCH.
>> I DO, I WANT THAT TEXAS TAG, SO.
>> I MAY ADD ANOTHER FACT ABOUT VIC IS HE KNOWS THE MASCOT OF EVERY FOOTBALL TEAM [LAUGHTER] HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
>> I USED TO. [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOU ONLY NEED TO RECOGNIZE ONE, [INAUDIBLE] UNIVERSITY.
>> WE'RE GOING TO MAKE OUR SELECTIONS ON SEPTEMBER 16.
>> YES, SIR. YOU'LL KNOW AT THAT POINT AND WE'LL BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU.
>> THANK YOU. RICHARD PRINCE, PLEASE.
>> HE SENT TO ME AN E-MAIL JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO SAYING HE'S UNABLE TO ATTEND THIS MORNING, SO I'M GOING TO BRING IN, MR. ROSS.
WELL, IF SOMEONE SAYS THEY'RE NOT ATTENDING THOSE THINGS ALONE.
>> WELL IT'S TOO BAD, HE PRESSED ME ON THE PARK BOARD INTERVIEWS.
>> BUT IT'S NOT LIKE IT NEEDS TO BE NOBODY WHO COULD CHOOSE FOR.
>> BILL AND THE GENTLEMAN COMING IN NOW, BILL RYLE SAYS ABOUT, I THINK THIS MIGHT BE HIS 3RD APPLICATION FOR THE SOURCE BOARD.
>> BILL GOOD MORNING, HOW ARE YOU?
>> GOOD MORNING I KNOW MOST OF YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I THINK GALVESTON'S GOING TO BE BETTER BECAUSE OF YOU.
>> EITHER THAT OR I GAVE YOU A CHALLENGE TO LOOK UP TO [LAUGHTER] AND MARIE I'M SORRY, WE HAVEN'T MET.
>> I HAVE READ YOUR INFORMATION.
>> IF YOU HAVE AN OPENING STATEMENT VERY SHORT [OVERLAPPING] JUST LET US KNOW.
>> YES, I DO. IT'S LONG. WE'VE GOT THIS TO VOTE.
[BACKGROUND] FIRST OF ALL, FULL DISCLOSURE.
>> NO PLANS TO BUY ONE OR BEING IN VISITS.
THIS MORNING, WHEN THE SUN ROSE THERE WERE 2,700 HOMES DEMOLISHED IN GALVESTON.
THIS MORNING. THERE WERE ABOUT 10,000 DEATHS.
THIS IS A COMMERCIAL FOR THOSE PEOPLE.
BUT IN YOUR REGULAR MEETING, MAYBE YOU OUGHT TO HAVE A MINUTE OF SILENCE BECAUSE IT WAS THIS MORNING IN 1900 THAT THE PEOPLE SAW THE DEVASTATION.
THIS IS NOT MY FIRST TIME HERE.
I MAYBE STUPIDLY APPLIED WHEN THERE WAS NO VACANCIES.
[LAUGHTER] THAT'S WHEN SULLIVAN AND O'ROURKE RE-UPPED.
[NOISE] I DIDN'T GET ACCEPTED.
THEN THE LAST TIME I APPLIED AND YOU GUYS PICKED I THINK, GOT FINE.
I REMEMBER THERE WAS ONE OPENING AND SO I WAS OUT.
THIS IS MY 3RD TIME AND I DO PLAY BASEBALL AND I BELIEVE IN BASEBALL SO WISH ME LUCK.
[LAUGHTER] I WANT TO GO OVER A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT ARE NOT IN THIS, WHICH WAS PART OF MY APPLICATION.
[00:55:01]
HERE YOU GO. [INAUDIBLE]. [NOISE] ONE OF THEM IS THERE'S A JOB THAT I DIDN'T LIST BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH I WAS ACCEPTED AND HIRED, I DIDN'T TAKE IT.[LAUGHTER] BUT I THINK IT'S WORTH MENTIONING IT WAS FOR THE UNITED STATES STATE DEPARTMENT AS A FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER WITH A PATH TO INVEST.
IT WAS PROBABLY THE TOUGHEST JOB THAT I EVER APPLIED FOR.
IT WAS A YEAR AND A HALF PROCESS, ACTUALLY TWO YEARS, BEFORE THE ACTUAL APPOINTMENT.
IT INCLUDED TOP-SECRET BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION, IT INCLUDED AN ORAL INTERVIEW THAT WAS 13 1/2 HOURS.
[LAUGHTER] FIGURE THAT ONE OUT.
THE ORAL INTERVIEW INCLUDED DIVIDING A FEW OF US INTO GROUPS AND ROLE-PLAYING.
ESSENTIALLY, WHAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT WAS LOOKING FOR, THEY WERE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WHO DID NOT PICK UP THE AGENDA AND TAKE CHARGE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THAT RULED YOU OUT IMMEDIATELY.
WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR WAS SOMEONE WHO PLAYED WELL IN THE SANDBOX WITH THE OTHER PEOPLE.
I GOT THROUGH THAT. OF THE 10,000 THAT APPLIED, I WAS ONE OF 100 WHO WAS OFFERED A JOB FROM STATE DEPARTMENT.
THIS IS A TOUGH TIME FOR THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
THIS WAS IRAQ WAR AND SO FORTH, BUT I WAS WILLING TO SERVE AND WILLING TO DO IT.
SOME THINGS CHANGED IN MY LIFE THAT CAUSE ME NOT TO DO THAT.
PHOTOGRAPHED IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT IS MY WIFE AND I ON A SAILBOAT.
WE DECIDED TO SAIL AROUND THE WORLD, WHICH I DID.
I KNOW PORTS BETTER THAN PROBABLY ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM.
I THINK I'VE VISITED 300 PORTS IN THE WORLD.
I KNOW GOOD PORTS, I KNOW BAD PORTS, I KNOW SOME OF THE MOST CORRUPT PORTS.
ACTUALLY, I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, SRI LANKA TAKES THAT AWARD.
[NOISE] I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE, AND I KNOW THE VALUE PROPOSITION FROM USER'S SIDE.
I KNOW HOW GREAT THE PORT OF BARCELONA IS, WHICH BY THE WAY, HAS GREAT CARGO, GREAT CRUISE.
IT IS VERY MUCH A PART OF DOWNTOWN BARCELONA.
ONE OTHER THING THAT'S NOT ON HERE THAT I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD READ, THE LAST JOB I HAD BEFORE JUDY AND I SAILED AROUND THE WORLD WAS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF A PUBLIC COMPANY.
I UNDERSTAND BUDGETS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
PUT THEM TOGETHER, I KNOW HOW TO READ THEM.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW IT, BUT IF YOU VIOLATE THAT AND YOU'RE A CFO OR CEO OF A PUBLIC COMPANY, THE GUYS WOULD SHOW UP TO TELL YOU THAT YOU VIOLATED AND HAVE GUNS AND BADGES AND THEY'RE THE FBI.
[LAUGHTER] IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO PUBLIC COMPANY OFFICERS.
[NOISE] THE CEO OF OPEXA THERAPEUTICS, DAVID MCWILLIAMS, WROTE THIS AT MY RETIREMENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR CFO, BILL ROUSE, FOR WORKING TIRELESSLY TO HELP MOVE THE COMPANY TO ITS CURRENT STATE.
HIS FINANCIAL ACUMEN HAS BEEN A CRITICAL COMPONENT IN PUTTING THE COMPANY ON THE FIRMEST FINANCIAL FOOTING WE'VE EVER KNOWN.
THAT WAS CFO, BUT BILL ROUSE HAS OTHER THINGS BEHIND HIM.
AS YOU CAN SEE RIGHT HERE, PRESIDENT, CFO, SALES MANAGER, OPERATIONS MANAGER, A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
WHAT DRIVES ME IS REALLY THREE THINGS.
IT IS DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY; MEANING US, TEXAS, GALVESTON.
THOSE ARE THE THREE THINGS THAT DRIVE ME.
I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND MY RESPONSIBILITY TO THE CITIZENS OF GALVESTON, NOT JUST THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE PORT, NOT JUST THE PORT, NOT JUST THE DISTRICT THAT I LIVE IN.
DAVID AS MY COUNCILMAN, NOT JUST THAT, BUT TO ALL OF THE CITIZENS OF GALVESTON.
I, LIKE YOU, HAVE A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO EVERY SINGLE CITIZEN OF GALVESTON.
I ALSO UNDERSTAND WHAT A DISRUPTIVE BOARD MEMBER CAN DO TO A BOARD.
[01:00:03]
IT WILL ALMOST NEUTER A BOARD, MAKE IT INEFFECTIVE BECAUSE OF THE DISRUPTION.I'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH IT AS CFO OF A PUBLIC COMPANY.
I HAD A BOARD MEMBER THAT WAS A MAJORITY SHAREHOLDER.
NOT ONLY WAS HE DISRUPTIVE, NOT ONLY DID HE SUGGEST ALMOST ILLEGAL THINGS, BUT HE WAS THE 900-POUND GORILLA IN THE ROOM.
HERE IS MY CODE OF CONDUCT AS A MEMBER OF A BOARD, WHETHER IT IS THE [INAUDIBLE] BOARD OR A PUBLIC COMPANY : I WILL PARTICIPATE HONORABLY AND ETHICALLY BY OFFERING SOLUTIONS AND ALTERNATIVES WHILE RESPECTING THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS AND ALWAYS MAINTAINING MY FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PEOPLE OF GALVESTON.
WHEN THE BOARD AGREES, IN OTHER WORDS, THEY VOTE ON A POSITION THAT IS NOT MINE, I WILL IMMEDIATELY SUPPORT THAT POSITION WITHOUT DISCUSSION BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT A BOARD DOES.
A BOARD TAKES LOTS OF DIFFERENT HEADS, THEY GRIND THINGS UP, THEY COME TO A SOLUTION AND USUALLY EVEN THOUGH THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN MINE, IT'S PROBABLY THE BEST SOLUTION FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
EXCLUDED FROM FAST WOULD BE THINGS THAT ARE ILLEGAL OR THINGS UNETHICAL AND THE OTHER THINGS.
>> NO PROBLEM. ANY QUESTIONS, COUNCIL, FOR MR. ROUSE?
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. WHAT ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF PELICAN ISLAND?
>> I THINK THAT THAT IS A TREMENDOUS ASSET.
SINGAPORE ADDED 30 PERCENT TO THE ISLAND TO ENLARGE THEIR PORT AND SO FORTH, BUT DREDGED IN SAND AND FILL IT IN.
WE'VE ALREADY GOT THAT DONE FOR US.
I THINK IT'S A TREMENDOUS ASSET AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO KEEP IT IN MIND NO MATTER WHAT WE DO.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE 900-POUND GORILLA THERE IS A&M.
I WOULD GUESS THEY CAN PROBABLY INFLUENCE LEGISLATURES EASIER THAN THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
I'M TALKING ABOUT STATE LEGISLATURES.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE PORT OF HOUSTON?
>> OH, YOU MEAN PORT OF HOUSTON'S OWNERSHIP IN PELICAN ISLAND?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW THEY SNUCK UP ON US, RIGHT? MAYBE THAT SHOULD'VE BEEN US.
MAYBE I WOULD SAY LOOKING AT IT FROM A PURE BUSINESS POINT OF VIEW, THERE'S A BLOCKING MOVE.
>> VERY GOOD. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. ROUSE?
>> I THINK THE BIGGEST NEED IS AT THE PORT TODAY.
>> I THINK THE PORTS COME A LONG WAY SINCE JUDY AND I FINISHED SAILING AROUND THE WORLD.
IT IS CERTAINLY MORE ORGANIZED, CERTAINLY COMMUNICATING BETTER WITH CITIZENS OF GALVESTON [LAUGHTER] THAN IT DID BEFORE.
I WAS AMAZED THAT THE PORT WAS ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE COVID SITUATION.
I WAS ALSO AMAZED THAT THE PORT FOUND A NEW REVENUE STREAM THAT REALLY HADN'T BEEN APPROACHED, BUT I THINK THAT THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WITH THE PORT IS KEEPING OUR FOCUS ON WHAT MAKES US REVENUE.
THAT IS A BUSINESS AND IF THAT BUSINESS FAILS, THE CITY OF GALVESTON IS ON THE HOOK FOR MULTI-MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
WE NEED TO KEEP OUR EYE ON THAT, AND FOR INSTANCE, POSSIBLY PURSUE FREIGHT REVENUE THAT WANTS IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO AN INNER STATE.
HOUSTON DOESN'T HAVE THAT, AND WE DO HAVE THAT IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO AN INNER STATE.
I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S PROBABLY CERTAIN CARGO THAT FALLS INTO THAT CATEGORY, AND WE NEED TO PURSUE OTHER THINGS THAT MAKE US BETTER AND DIFFERENT THAN HOUSTON
[01:05:03]
SO THAT WE STAND OUT ON OUR OWN RATHER THAN TAKE AN OVERFLOW OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON OUR DIFFERENCES AND WHAT MAKES US BETTER.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.
>> WE WILL [NOISE] MAKE OUR DECISIONS [LAUGHTER] SEPTEMBER 16.
COUNCIL WILL MAKE THEIR DECISIONS AND APPOINTMENTS AND WE'LL BE IN CONTACT WITH YOU, SIR.
>> THANKS A LOT FOR HAVING ME.
>> SHEILA LYNN STONE, I THINK SHE'D BE OUR NEXT CANDIDATE.
>> ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE YEARS, 1900 [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING] >. HI, SHIELA. COME ON IN.
>> GOOD MORNING. SHEILA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING. APPRECIATE IT.
AS WE HAVE MENTIONED TO ALL THE CANDIDATES, WE'LL BE MAKING OUR DECISION ON SEPTEMBER 16TH AT OUR CITY COUNCIL LEANING ON OUR APPOINTMENTS AND WE'LL BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU AT THAT POINT, BUT GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE AND IF YOU COULD MAKE AN OPENING STATEMENT THEN WE'RE GOING TO OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.
I HAVE SPENT A FEW HOURS, ACTUALLY, ABOUT SIX HOURS PREPARING FOR TODAY.
I THINK THAT YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED WHEN YOU COME IN AND APPLY FOR A BOARD.
I DON'T THINK YOU CAN DO IT HAPHAZARDLY, I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE INVESTED IN THE PROCESS, AND QUITE FRANKLY, I WANTED TO SEE, IS IT SOMETHING THAT I THOUGHT I HAD SKILLS THAT I COULD LEND TO? IS IT SOMETHING THAT INTERESTS ME? I WAS SO EXCITED WHEN I LEFT THE TWO [INAUDIBLE] PORT TOUR.
WE WENT FROM [INAUDIBLE] ALL THE WAY DOWN TO [INAUDIBLE] WE STOPPED AT SEVERAL PLACES.
I HAVE READ THE MASTER PLAN AND THAT BROUGHT TO LIFE TO ME MASTER PLAN AND THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO SEE DONE ALONG THE PORT.
I BELIEVE THAT THE PORT IS IN A PIVOTAL PLACE, A STRATEGIC PLACE.
IT SEEMS LIKE THE FINANCES ARE IN ORDER, I CAN'T SAY THAT WITH 100 PERCENT CONFIDENCE BECAUSE I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THEM YET.
BUT FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE, I'M SORRY YOU GUYS, I'M NERVOUS.
>> YOU ARE GOOD [LAUGHTER] TAKE A DEEP BREATH.
>> BELIEVE ME NONE OF US [INAUDIBLE] PEOPLE MAY [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING].
>> I'M SORRY, [INAUDIBLE] I HAVEN'T INTERVIEWED IN A LONG TIME.
THE THINGS THAT I NEED TO UNDERSTAND BETTER IN PARTICULAR ARE HOW THE REVENUES FROM ROYAL CARIBBEAN FROM CARNIVAL, WILL HELP PAY FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO ADDRESS AT THE ECM, BUT ALSO PRIMARILY INTO [INAUDIBLE].
THE THING THAT BECAME VERY CLEAR TO ME ALSO IS THAT WE MUST HAVE A WORKING PORT IN ADDITION TO A CRUISE PORT.
I WAS UNDER PART BOARD WHEN MR. MITCHELL'S REPRESENTATIVE, BILL ROSS MET WITH SOME MEMBERS OF THE PARK BOARD I THINK IT WAS IN THE CHAIRMAN'S POSITION AT THAT POINT.
MR. MITCHELL DID NOT EVER INTEND FOR THIS TO BE A CRUISE PORT.
HE INTENDED FOR CREWS TO SUPPLEMENT, NOT SUPPLANT THAT THE CARGO PART OF OUR PORT, AND REALLY WHEN WE THINK ABOUT IT, THAT'S HOW THE CITY WAS FOUNDED.
WE ARE A NATURAL PORT AND I THINK WE OWE IT TO THE CITIZENS OF GALVESTON TO DO WITH THE VERY BEST THAT WE CAN IN BOTH AREAS.
THE ONE THING THAT I WALKED AWAY WITH AFTER HAVING COFFEE WITH A COUPLE OF PEOPLE IS THAT THE RELATIONSHIPS ON THE BOARD AT THE PORT NEED WORK.
[01:10:05]
IT'S NOT ANYONE'S FAULT.BUT I THINK THAT THE MEMBERS OF THAT BOARD HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AND COLLABORATE AND STOP FUSSING AND THE FIGHTING BECAUSE THERE'S IMPORTANT WORK TO BE DONE.
NOW, IS ONE BOARD MEMBER GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT? NO. BUT I THINK THAT IT FIGURES INTO WHO YOU CHOOSE FOR THAT POSITION.
WITH THAT, I THINK HAVE SENT YOU [INAUDIBLE] AFTER TODAY.
I'VE SENT YOU A WHOLE EXPRESSING WHY I'M INTERESTED AND FLY AWAY.
LET'S OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THE LETTER BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE AND I THINK THAT YOU COULD DO A GREAT JOB AS A TRUSTEE.
LIKE ALL OF YOU, I LOVE THIS CITY, I WANT TO SEE THIS CITY BE ITS BEST IN EVERY AREA.
I THINK THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PARK BOARD AND THE PORT TO HAVE A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP, CERTAINLY FOR THE CITY AND THE PORT TO HAVE A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP.
I THINK AND I HOPE THAT PEOPLE WOULD SAY ABOUT ME THAT I LIVED MY PUBLIC LIFE IN THE LIGHT OF DAY.
I DON'T LIKE PRIVATE MEETINGS, I DON'T LIKE PRIVATE PHONE CALLS AND YOU CAN QUERY THAT UNDERMINES THE BOARD AND THE WORK OF A BOARD.
THAT REALLY NEEDS TO GO ON IN THE LIGHT OF DAY AND WITH EVERYBODY AT THE TABLE HEARING THE SAME THING AT THE SAME TIME, AND THAT IS ONE THING THAT I WOULD BRING.
I'VE CERTAINLY HAD TO OPERATE THAT WAY AT GALVESTON ISD, AND CERTAINLY AT UTMB FOR ALL YEARS OF MY CAREER.
WHAT IS YOUR OPINION? DID YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PELICAN ISLAND, AND THAT THE PORT OF HOUSTON HAS MAJORITY [INAUDIBLE] THE INNER PORTION OF THE ISLAND.
I WILL JUST TELL YOU WHAT I THINK AND IT MAY BE VERY NAIVE AND IT MAY BE MISSING FORM BUT I'M STILL ASTOUNDED.
IF YOU STICK TO [LAUGHTER] ALL THE LAND ON PELICAN ISLAND, WHAT WAS THE IMPETUS FOR THAT? I THINK WE NEED TO WORK WITH THEM TO GET IT BACK FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THERE'S QUITE LIMITATIONS ON WHAT PORT OF HOUSTON CAN DO THERE.
WE DEFINITELY NEED TO HAVE THAT BACK.
TO ME, PELICAN ISLAND IS CRITICAL TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR PORT.
WE HAVE THE ONE STRIP THAT YOU CAN SEE, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR DEVELOPMENT.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE WOULD WANT TO MAKE A PRIORITY, PROBABLY NOT AN IMMEDIATE PRIORITY, BUT IN THE NEXT 5-10 YEARS.
WHAT ABOUT THE BRIDGE? DO YOU BELIEVE IN ONE OR TWO BRIDGES, A RAIL VERSUS THE [INAUDIBLE] TYPE OF BRIDGE? I HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THAT TOO MUCH, BILL TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.
I THINK THE WORD THAT I WOULD USE IS NEW.
WE CAN PUT THEM TOGETHER OR WE CAN BUILD THEM SEPARATELY, I'M NOT SURE WHICH WOULD BE THE FAVORITE IDEA, BUT THAT HAS TO BE DONE.
I'VE TALKED TO SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHERE [INAUDIBLE] THEY HAVE A CONTINGENCY PLAN SO THAT IF WE HAVE A STORM OF THAT BRIDGE WAS TO COLLAPSE OR WHATEVER.
WHAT DO YOU FEEL ABOUT BEING ON A BOARD TRYING TO PUSH THE CONTINGENCIES SO IF THIS HAPPENS, THAT WE MAY HAVE A LANDING DOCK THAT MAY BE CLOSE TO THE STATE ON EVERY LANDING? I THINK A CONTINGENCY PLAN IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA NO MATTER WHICH ORGANIZATION YOU'RE WITH.
BUT I WOULD MUCH RATHER SPEND OUR TIME AND OUR MONEY AND OUR RESOURCES IN GETTING THE BRIDGE DONE.
WE JUST KEEP WALKING UP AND THEN THERE IS A SETBACK.
WE ALL KNOW IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
I ACTUALLY GO TO PELICAN ISLAND QUITE OFTEN BECAUSE MY DAD LIKES FOR ME TO TAKE RIDE OVER THERE.
BECAUSE HE REALLY LIKES TO LOOK AT THE PORT FROM COMING ACROSS THE BRIDGE AND THERE'S SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY OVER THERE,
[01:15:04]
BUT IT'S NOT SECURED.WE HAVE THAT ONE LITTLE RICKETY, REALLY RICKETY BRIDGE THAT GOES OVER THERE AND WE NEED TO FOCUS SOME ENERGY ON THAT AND AGAIN COLLABORATE.
NOW, YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTIONS, BUT SHEILA, I JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, YOUR COMMENTS, AND [INAUDIBLE] HAVE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD BEFORE AND IF IT MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER I'M JUST AS NERVOUS MYSELF AS YOU ARE. [LAUGHTER].
I DIDN'T EXPECT YOU TO LISTEN.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU, SHEILA. I WANT TO ECHO, WE'VE BEEN BLESSED WITH THIS WORKS FOR THE APPLICATION HAS TO BE TOP-QUALITY CANDIDATES AND YOU FALL WITHIN THAT CATEGORY FOR SURE. THANK YOU FOR COMING.
[OVERLAPPING]I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY AND IT'S QUITE AN HONOR TO BE [INAUDIBLE] HARMON [INAUDIBLE] WILL BE OUR NEXT.
I HAD A SCHEDULE IN MIND, IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE [LAUGHTER] STICKING ON THAT SCHEDULE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'RE DOING GOOD. WE'RE DOING GOOD. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'VE GOT THREE QUESTIONS AND IF THEY CAN ANSWER TO THAT, TRUST THAT THEY'RE WAY TOO PROFESSIONAL [LAUGHTER].
A HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN YEARS [OVERLAPPING].
>> I HEARD THEY MADE YOU RUN WITH THEM LAST NIGHT OR SOMETHING.
>> NO. HE'S BEEN MESSED UP[OVERLAPPING].
>> YOU START OFF HOT AND WE HIT A LITTLE ROUGH SPOT.
SO IT'S LIKE BASEBALL TOOK A MARATHON.
[LAUGHTER] IT'S NOT HOW YOU START, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MIDDLE, IT'S HOW YOU FINISH.
>> MOHAMMED, GOOD MORNING TO YOU.
>> HELLO, GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS.
>> MOHAMMED I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION.
WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE SUCH QUALITY OF BACKGROUND TO APPLY. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR AN INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL HERE.
>> OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
I'VE ENJOYED BEING ABLE TO MEET AND VISIT WITH SOME FOLKS I HAVEN'T SEEN IN AWHILE.
YOU'VE GOT A GREAT TALENT POOL TO CHOOSE FROM.
I HOPE YOU'RE GLAD YOU'RE BEING HANDED TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
THE PORT OF GALVESTON IS IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY, IT'S IMPORTANT TO OUR COUNTY, OUR REGION, OUR STATE AND YOU OWN THE PORT.
WHICH MEANS IT'S OWNED BY THE CITIZENS OF GALVESTON AND YOU'VE ENTRUSTED THE WATERS BOARD TO TAKE CARE OF THAT ASSET.
I WOULD BE HONORED TO BE A PART OF THAT.
IT'S A BIG ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
NOT ONLY THE 90 EMPLOYEES THAT ARE IN THE FULL EMPLOYMENT OF THE WATERS BOARD, BUT ALSO THE STEVEDORING COMPANIES AND THE LONGSHOREMEN THAT THEY PUT AT WORK AND THE REAL ESTATE TENANTS THAT WE HAVE THERE AND THEIR BUSINESSES, AND THE END CONSUMERS WHO ENJOY THE PRODUCTS THAT COME THROUGH ARE PORT.
[NOISE] THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ASSET THAT WE HAVE IN GALVESTON AND I THINK THAT WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB, BEGINNING TO REALIZE THAT IT'S AN ASSET THAT IS OF GREAT VALUE.
I LIKE TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF, IF THAT'S OKAY.
I GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN MARKETING.
WHILE A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK I AM A BOMI, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
BUT I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE THE FOURTH GRADE AND GALVESTON IS MY HOMETOWN, AND I LOVE IT AND HAVE WORKED HARD TO IMPROVE IT OVER THE YEARS.
I HAD THE PLEASURE OF HAVING A SATISFYING CAREER HERE IN GALVESTON.
FOR SEVERAL DECADES, I WAS VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER OF TEXAS GENERAL.
WHICH IS A SUBSIDIARY OF AMERICAN INDEMNITY COMPANY, A PROPERTY CASUALTY COMPANY THAT WAS HERE.
WE WROTE WORKERS COMPENSATION INSURANCE.
I HAD A CLIENT LIST THAT WAS A LOT OF BEHEMOTH COMPANIES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
WE HAD UNOCAL AND AMICO AND MARATHON OIL, WEYERHAEUSER CORPORATION, GEORGIA PACIFIC, LOUISIANA PACIFIC, CROWNS THAT ARE ABOUT BEATRICE COMPANIES.
SO I SPENT TIME IN CORPORATE OFFICES IN LOS ANGELES AND IN DALLAS AND IN CHICAGO AND ATLANTA ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, EVEN FINLEY OHIO.
YOU HAVE TO WANT TO GO TO FINLEY OHIO.
[LAUGHTER] I DID IT BECAUSE A MARATHON WAS THERE.
IT WAS A GREAT LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR ME FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE.
[01:20:04]
I LEARNED THE VALUE OF KNOWING THE INTEGRITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE DOING BUSINESS WITH.THEN ALSO KNOWING THAT YOU ARE DOING BUSINESS WITH PEOPLE WHO HAD THE WHEREWITHAL TO MEET THEIR FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO ALWAYS TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHEN WE'RE LEASING OUR PROPERTY SHARE.
I THEN BECAME A TRUST OFFICER AND A VICE PRESIDENT WITH US TRUST, WHICH WAS BANK OF AMERICA'S PRIVATE WEALTH GROUP.
THERE I HAD CLIENTS WHO ARE HIGH NET WORTH INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND PHILANTHROPIES.
I WAS CLIENT-FACING AND SO I HAD THE PLEASURE OF BRINGING TO MY CLIENTS THE STRENGTH OF THE ORGANIZATION.
WHETHER IT WAS A PORTFOLIO MANAGER WHO DID EQUITIES AND IMPORT IN STOCKS AND BONDS.
WHETHER IT WAS SOMEBODY IN OIL AND GAS, OR SOMEBODY IN TIMBER, OR SOMEBODY IN FARM AND RANCH, OR ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS.
I CAN BRING THOSE PEOPLE AND THEIR TALENT TO THE CLIENTS.
IN THAT PROCESS, I LEARNED THE VALUE OF DIVERSIFICATION.
I THINK WE'VE LEARNED THE VALUE OF DIVERSIFICATION HERE AT OUR PORT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF CARGO OPERATIONS HERE, WE HAVE REAL ESTATE LEASES HERE, WE HAVE FORTUNATELY, THE BUSINESS WITH CRUISES THAT HAS BEEN VERY BENEFICIAL TO THROW MONEY TO THE BOTTOM LINE WITH THE PORT.
BECAUSE OVER THE YEARS WE'VE HAD A VERY DIFFICULT TIME.
ONE OF THE LIMITATIONS TO THE PORT IS ALWAYS BEEN, WE'RE NOT TAX-SUPPORTED.
TRUE. IT WAS LIKE IF WE CAN JUST STAY AFLOAT AND JUST MEET THE BUDGET, PUTS SOME PEOPLE TO WORK WE'RE DOING OKAY.
WE'VE SEEN IN RECENT YEARS THAT THE PORT CAN BE SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
WE SEE THE RENTAL RATES OF THE PORT GOING UP DRAMATICALLY.
WE SEE THE LIGHT BUSINESS, WHICH WAS SO IMPORTANT TO US IN THIS RECENT DOWNTURN IS GALVESTON'S DRIVING ON THE SEAWALL AND THEY SEE ALL THOSE TWINKLING LIGHTS IN MIND.
THOSE ARE ALL SHIPS BUT THEY'RE NOT COMING HERE.
THEY'RE WAITING FOR THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO THE PORT OF HOUSTON.
IF SOMEBODY ON THE PORT OF GALVESTON DECIDED THAT THERE WAS A WAY TO MONETIZE THAT.
SO WE BRING THOSE FOLKS IN AND THEY PAY DOCKAGE TO THE PORTS AND THEN THEY PROVISION THEIR SHIPS.
SO SOMEBODY'S MAKING MONEY THAT WAY.
THERE FOLKS CAN GET OFF THE SHIP AND BUY THINGS THAT THEY NEED.
SO WE'RE HELPING OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY THAT WAY.
THEY'RE JUST A LOT OF INTERESTING, POSITIVE THINGS GOING ON AT THE PORT RIGHT NOW.
I WAS LOOKING AT YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND YOU MENTIONED THE PORT PROBABLY ON FOUR OCCASIONS IN YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, MOST OF THOSE ARE RELATED TO LAND USE DEVELOPMENT.
I THINK THAT A LOT OF THOSE THINGS ARE COMING TO FRUITION AND BEING ACCOMPLISHED.
YOU EVEN HAD ONE IN THERE THAT HAD TO DO WITH CALMNESS AND KEEPING THE AREA CLEAN.
I SEE THAT THE PORT ACTUALLY DOING THAT RIGHT NOW, BUT THEY'RE DOING IT ALSO UNDER THE GUISE OF SAFETY.
THEY PUT A SAFETY COUNCIL TOGETHER AND THEY'RE GOING TO THEIR TENANTS AND SAYING YOU NEED TO CLEAN THIS AREA. SO IT'S TWOFOLD.
THEY'RE DOING IT FOR SAFETY, BUT THEY'RE ALSO MAYBE ONE YOUR COMPREHENSIVE GOALS IN YOUR PLAN.
I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY LIKE TO BE ON THE WATERS PORT RIGHT NOW IS TO LEND MY EXPERIENCE IN GOVERNANCE.
I SPOKE A MOMENT AGO ABOUT MY INVOLVEMENTS WITH MY BUSINESS LIFE.
I ALSO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
THROUGHOUT MY ADULT LIFE, I HAD EITHER BEEN THE PRESIDENT OR THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE 1894 GRAND OPERA HOUSE, THE GALVESTON ARTS CENTER, THE GALAXY HISTORICAL FOUNDATION.
I WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
AFTER SERVING TWO TERMS THERE, I CHAIRED THE GALVESTON BEACH NOURISHMENT COMMITTEE AND WE PUT 750 THOUSAND CUBIC YARDS OF SAND ON OUR BEACHES FOR THE FIRST BEACH NOURISHMENT PROJECT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AS PART OF THAT PROCESS, I CHAIRED THE BEACHES FOR JOBS COMMITTEE IN WHICH WE WENT TO THE CITIZENS OF GALVESTON AND ASKED THEM TO PUT IT ONE EXCEPT SALES TAX LEVY TO HELP DEFRAY THE EXPENSES OF DOING THAT BEACH RE-NOURISHING PROJECT AND TELLING THEM THAT THAT WAS AN ASSET OF OURS, SOMETHING WE NEEDED TO BE PROUD OF, SOMETHING THAT WAS THERE FOR US.
BUT ALSO IT'S THERE FOR OUR VISITOR COMMUNITY AND THAT BY PUTTING THAT TAX IN PLACE.
WE WERE ALSO GOING TO BE LEVERAGING ALL OF THE VISITORS WHO CAME TO TOWN WHO PAID THAT TAX, WHO HELPED US FUND OUR BEACH RE-NOURISHING.
[01:25:01]
THE LIST IS LONG AND YOU HAVE IT BUT LET ME MOVE UP TO GALVESTON COLLEGE.I'VE BEEN A REGENT OF GALVESTON COLLEGE FOR 12 YEARS NOW.
IN MY WORK WITH GALVESTON COLLEGE, I'M VERY AWARE OF OPEN MEETINGS AND THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT AND THE NEED TO BE TRANSPARENT IN THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
I KNOW THAT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES FOR THE PORTS.
I'M GOING TO STOP TO TAKE A BREATH.
MY GRANDDAD USED TO SAY, DON'T DO ALL THE TALKING SON BECAUSE YOU LEARN WHEN YOU'RE LISTENING [LAUGHTER].
I APPRECIATE IT. IT'S OPEN UP TO COUNCIL FOR QUESTIONS. COUNCIL?
>> CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RECENT ELECTORAL VICTORY.
>> THE BIGGEST THING HERE IS THAT THE PORT, OR YOU DON'T THINK IT WAS SPECIFICALLY WHAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK THAT NEED TO BE CHANGED AS FAR AS THE [OVERLAPPING].
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK THAT THE PORT NEEDS IS THAT NEW BRIDGE TO PELICAN ISLAND.
IN YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, YOU TALK ABOUT LAND USE DEVELOPMENT.
YOU TALK ABOUT PELICAN ISLAND BEING ONE OF THE AREAS WHERE THERE COULD BE SOME OF THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT AND NOT MOVING PEOPLE FROM HERE TO THERE BUT BRINGING PEOPLE TO THE COMMUNITY, NEW BUSINESSES.
WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU DON'T JUST MOVE TEXTURES.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN WITHOUT THAT BRIDGE.
I KNOW THAT THE COUNTY HAD BEEN INVOLVED FOR NUMBER OF YEARS AND IN A VERY HIGH-PROFILE WAY, THEY STEPPED ASIDE, BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THEY DIDN'T TAKE THEIR MONEY AWAY.
THEY LEFT THEIR MONEY ON THE TABLE, THEY JUST SAID SOMEBODY ELSE IS GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE THE LEAD ON THIS.
I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS HAD BEEN DOING THAT AND ARE TRYING TO KEEP THIS GOING.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE PORT I WATCHED ONE OF THEIR LAST MEETINGS.
THEY ARE WORKING WITH THE PORT OF HOUSTON NOW AND TO SEE THAT COOPERATION IS GREAT.
THEY ARE EACH PUTTING UP ONE AND $1.25 MILLION.
THEY'RE WORKING WITH [INAUDIBLE] TO TRY IN LEVERAGE ANOTHER $8 MILLION SO THAT THEY'LL BE $10 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR POSSIBLE COST OVERRUNS.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT IS, GETTING THAT BRIDGE TO CONNECT THE ISLAND IN PELICAN ISLAND.
I THINK THE ROAD WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING ON THEIR PROPERTY TO GET TRAFFIC OFF OF HARBOR-SIDE IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT BUSINESS ON THE PORT.
YOU'VE GOT BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN OR COMMERCIAL.
A LOT OF PEOPLE USE THAT ROAD TO GET TO RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND SO WHILE YOU'RE IN THE PROCESS OF ADVANCING YOUR OWN BUSINESS, YOU NEED TO FIGURE HOW TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR AS WELL.
I THINK THAT THEY'RE DOING THAT IN A LOT OF WAYS.
I THINK THE INTERNAL ROADWAY SYSTEM THEY'RE TRYING TO PUTTING THERE IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT, BUT THOSE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? MR. [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING]
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING [OVERLAPPING] APPLICATION, CONSIDERATION AND YOU'VE GOT A GREAT TALENT POOL TO CHOOSE FROM.
>> THANK YOU. SEPTEMBER 16TH, WE'LL BE MAKING OUR DECISIONS WE'LL BE IN TOUCH.
>> I'LL KEEP MY FINGERS CROSSED.
>> THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. BYE-BYE.
>> [LAUGHTER] LIKE THAT DURACELL BATTERY.
>> ARE WE STILL ON SCHEDULE [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'RE STILL ON SCHEDULE [OVERLAPPING] WE HAVE KATIE.
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN 9:30 WHEN KATIE COMES IN AND [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER]
>> AND THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE, [LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND].
>> I'M WELL. THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME.
>> KATIE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION.
WE WILL BE MAKING OUR SELECTIONS ON SEPTEMBER 16TH, SO WE'LL BE CONTACTING YOU AT THAT POINT AFTER THAT COUNCIL MEETING.
WE'RE GOING TO OPEN IT UP. IF YOU HAVE A SHORT INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT, WE'D LOVE TO HEAR IT, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS. GO RIGHT AHEAD.
>> WELL, FIRST OFF, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
IF YOU VERY WELL KNOW I HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE PORT AND HARBOR FOR MANY YEARS.
[01:30:03]
JACK AND I MOVED BACK TO THE ISLAND IN 2011.WE ARE VERY MUCH WATER PEOPLE, WE ARE ON THE WATER ALL THE TIME.
I SEE THE PORT OF GALVESTON AS A VERY STRONG ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR THE ENTIRE CITY OF GALVESTON.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP THE POSITIVE MOMENTUM THAT'S BEEN DEMONSTRATED THUS FAR THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP OF RODGER REES AND ALBERT SHANNON'S STATEMENT IN THE PAPER THAT HE SUMMARIZED THE ECONOMIC GROWTH, THE STRATEGIC PLAN, THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S IN PLACE IDENTIFIED, AND THE ABILITY TO GARNER FUNDING THROUGH SYNERGISTIC MEANS OF SUPPORT OF GAINING FUNDS IS PARAMOUNT TO THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
ME AND ALL OF YOU THAT ARE ON HERE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ECONOMICS OF WHAT YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH AND WORKING WITHIN THAT STRATEGIC BUDGET AND MAINTAINING THE EYE ON THE BALL TO HIT THAT BALL AND MAKE A HOME RUN.
WITH THAT, YES, THE CRUISE INDUSTRY IS BRINGING A NICE HOME RUN TO THE ISLAND IN A LOT OF WAYS, HOWEVER, IT DOESN'T MINIMIZE THE ABILITY OF WHAT OUR PORT HAS TO OFFER.
I WILL SAY THIS, THE EAST END LOOKS LIKE IT'S TRANSITIONING TO THE TOURISTS' SIDE OF THE WORLD AND THE WEST END LOOKS LIKE IT'S TRANSITIONING TO THE MARITIME CARGO INDUSTRY OF THE WORLD.
I'LL JUST SAY THIS, HAVING CROSSED UNDER PELICAN ISLAND BRIDGE MANY TIMES, WHAT THE SULLIVAN ENTERPRISES HAS DONE IS A STATE OF THE ART FACILITY.
THEY WILL BE THERE COME HELL OR HIGH WATER WITH A STRONG INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT ANY SHIP THAT WANTS TO DOCK THERE.
OUR PORT CAN HAVE THAT SAME INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE.
ALBERT OUTLINED IT VERY CLEARLY THAT IS ON THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE WARS BOARD AND I HOPE IF IT'S NOT ME THAT YOU CHOOSE THAT YOU CHOOSE SOMEONE THAT SHARES THAT SAME SENTIMENT.
OTHERWISE, IT'S GOING TO FALL INTO THE WATER.
I LIVE ON THE WATER, I MAINTAIN MY BULKHEAD AND IF MY BULKHEAD GOES, MY POOL'S GOING TO SLIDE INTO THE LAKE THAT WAY.
WITH THAT, I'LL STOP AND I'LL ASK OR ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
ANY QUESTIONS, COUNCIL FROM THIS PROGRAM.
>> HOW DO YOUR FEEL ON DEVELOPMENT OF THE PELICAN ISLAND?
QUITE FRANKLY, THE PORT OF HOUSTON OWNS THE MAJORITY OF THAT LAND.
YOU KNOW, DO WE CLAIM EMINENT DOMAIN.
DO WE SUCCEED OR PERHAPS CREATE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PORT OF HOUSTON, HAVING HAD A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH WILLIAM [INAUDIBLE] WAS THE CHAIR AND LATER AT THE MARITIME ACADEMY HERE AT TEXAS A&M AND WAS REMOVED FROM THAT POSITION.
WE ATTENDED A MARITIME FUNCTION AND I SAT NEXT TO HIM AND HE SAID, "THE KEY FOR GALVESTON AND THE KEY FOR HOUSTON, THEY NEED TO BRIDGE THE GAP.
THEY NEED TO SHARE FUNDS, THEY NEED TO MAKE DEVELOPMENT THERE." I'M IN SUPPORT OF DEVELOPING PELICAN ISLAND, BUT IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE'VE GOT TO HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO GET THERE.
THAT BRIDGE, IT'S THERE, IT'S HISTORY, IT'S HISTORIC AND WE CAN'T CHANGE HISTORY, YOU KNOW, BUT WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN IT.
IN ORDER TO BUILD FURTHER INFRASTRUCTURE THERE, WE'VE GOT TO HAVE THE ACCESS IN AND OUT OF THERE.
DO I KNOW PEOPLE AT THE PORT OF HOUSTON? DO I KNOW PEOPLE THAT ARE IN LEGISLATION THAT HAVE THAT EAR IN THAT VOICE, YES, SIR, I DO.
AND I AM NOT AFRAID TO ASK FOR A CONVERSATION.
THAT'S SOMETHING ABOUT KATIE BROWN.
SOME OF YOU ALL KNOW, BUT I AM NOT BASHFUL AND QUITE FRANKLY, [LAUGHTER] YOU'VE GOT TO BRING PEOPLE TO THE TABLE JUST LIKE WE ARE HERE TODAY.
THIS GUY AND THIS GUY COULD BE MY KID.
>> YOU WOULD WANT THAT. [LAUGHTER].
>> I'VE KNOWN THEM FOR [OVERLAPPING] I'VE KNOWN THEM FOR A LONG TIME.
I COMMEND THE USE OF LEADERSHIP OF GALVESTON AND THE PAST IS THE PAST, AND WE'VE GOT TO MOVE FORWARD, WITH A POSITIVE PLAN OF ACTION AND A LITTLE FOR THE MINUTIA THAT'S BEEN BACK THERE.
PELICAN ISLAND IS HUGE AND THERE'S A LOT OF SHIPS AND GO RIGHT PAST US TO HOUSTON,
[01:35:05]
AND THE COST THAT GALVESTON COULD GENERATE TO CREATE THAT IS VERY, VERY HUGE.BUT THERE'S GOT TO BE SYNERGY WITH THE PORT OF HOUSTON. IT'S NEVER HAPPENED.
>> CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. [LAUGHTER]
>> WHERE HE MADE MANY QUESTIONS.
>> HAVE YOU SEEN THE PLANS THAT THE PORT OF HOUSTON HAS FOR PELICAN ISLAND?
>> [OVERLAPPING] NAVIGATION DISTRICT.
>> I HAVE SEEN SOME ROUGH IDEAS, BUT THAT WAS YEARS AGO.
TO WHERE IT STANDS TODAY, I WOULD HAVE TO SAY NO, I DON'T KNOW THAT IN ITS ENTIRETY.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT AND I'D LOVE TO UNDERSTAND IT.
>> WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION WANTED TO GIVE $300 MILLION FOR ANYBODY COME AROUND RAIL SYSTEM OUT OF LAKE CITY?
>> WELL, I THINK THAT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING ECONOMIC INCOME THAT I WASN'T INVOLVED IN DECISIONS AND I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH TO COMMENT ABOUT THAT BUT I WOULD ASK YOU WHAT WAS THE CHALLENGE AND WHY DIDN'T THEY PASS.
>> I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN HAVE TO ASK PREVIOUS COUNTY JUDGE.
MOVING FORWARD, I'M GOING TO QUOTE ALBERT SHANNON.
LET'S SET THE SAIL AND LET SAIL FORWARD IN A POSITIVE LINE.
WHAT THE PAST WAS WE'VE GOT TO OVERCOME AND YOU'VE GOT TO BRING SYNERGY TO PEOPLE TO WORK TOGETHER FOR A COMMON GOAL.
THE PORT OF HOUSTON OWNS A LOT OF PELICAN ISLAND.
>> LET ME ASK YOU THIS. IF THEY PROPOSE NEW BRIDGE, WHO DO YOU THINK SHOULD MAINTAIN IT? NAVIGATION DISTRICT, GALVESTON.
>> I WOULD ASK YOU THAT QUESTION BECAUSE I'VE SEEN WHAT'S BEEN MAINTAINED TODAY, NOW, BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE SHARED FINANCIAL RISK AND FINANCIAL BENEFIT IN ORDER TO PAY FOR THAT.
>> WELL, SINCE YOU ASKED THAT, I'LL GIVE YOU THIS ANSWER.
>> KNOWING THAT THE NAVIGATION HAS THIS TAXABLE ENTITY, MORE PEOPLE THAN THE CITY OF GALVESTON AND THE RESIDENTS HERE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES TO USE THAT BRIDGE, SO THEY HAVE THE TAXING POWER TO GO AHEAD AND TAX.
I WOULD SAY THE ENTIRE COUNTY RIGHT NOW, THE BILL WAS FLIPPED FROM PEOPLE FROM 1ST STREET ALL THE WAY TO 99TH STREET.
>> IT STOPS AT THE END OF THE SEAWALL.
>> I THINK THAT'S TOTALLY UNFAIR.
OVER THE YEARS, I DON'T THINK THAT THE NAVIGATION DISTRICT UNDER THIS LEADERSHIP, THEY SHOULD EXPAND, THEY SHOULD HAVE LOOKED FORWARD INTO THE FUTURE, WHICH THEY DIDN'T.
>> WELL, YOU BRING UP THAT, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK I SHARED THREE YEARS AGO WHEN I SAT BEFORE THE SAME COMMITTEE, THERE NEEDS TO BE AN ENTITY THAT GENERATES FUNDS FOR THAT, THE NAVIGATION DISTRICT, AS YOU JUST DESCRIBED.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT AT THE SAME NOTE, TEXAS A&M HAVE SUPPORTED, BUT AT ONE POINT THEY BLOCKED, BUT NOW THEY'VE COME FULL CIRCLE AND THEY'RE BACK AND THEY'RE READY TO SUPPORT FUNDING.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, PORT OF HOUSTON HAS A VESTED INTEREST IN THAT.
WHO'S TO SAY THAT GALVESTON [INAUDIBLE] COULDN'T CREATE SOME COMMON GOAL FOR DEVELOPMENT.
THEY WOULD HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN SUPPORTING THAT.
COLLECTIVELY, THOSE FUNDS HAVE TO BE IDENTIFIED.
THE PLAYERS NEED TO BE SET AT RISK AND TO BUY INTO THAT.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE JUST GALVESTON.
IT'S NOT GOING TO JUST BE THE NAVIGATION DISTRICT.
THE FUNDS AND THE TAXING ENTITY DOESN'T SUFFICE IT, IT DOESN'T EVEN GO A LONG WAY DOWN TO THE WEST END, CORRECT?
>> GREAT JOB. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> WE'LL CONTACT YOU ON THE 16TH RIGHT AFTER OUR MEETING, KATIE. THANK YOU.
>> WELL, IN CLOSING, I WOULD ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
IF AGAIN, IT'S NOT KATIE BROWN THAT YOU CHOOSE, I WOULD ASK EACH OF YOU TO CHOOSE SOMEONE THAT HAS A POSITIVE OUTLOOK FOR THE MORE SUPPORTIVE COUNCIL. THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU, KATIE.
[OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING]
>> THERE'S JAY VALENTINE COMING IN.
IS IT VALENTINE OR VALENTINE? I DO NOT KNOW.
>> IT ALL DEPENDS WHAT MOODY HE'S IN.
[01:40:04]
>> THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF THE PORTS, [INAUDIBLE] THIS WEEK.
>> [INAUDIBLE] HAS ACTUALLY GOT A NICE RESOURCE FOR INFORMATION ON THEIR WEBSITE.
>> PRETTY GOOD, A LITTLE INTERESTING TIMELINE.
I FOUND A PDF FROM THE WEBSITE.
>> YOU SHOULD KNOW THE HISTORY OF THE PORT [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER]
>> MAUREEN, COME ON IN. HAVE A SIT. [OVERLAPPING].
>> GOOD, THANK YOU. HOW ARE YOU ALL?
>> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION AND GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU APPLIED TO THE [INAUDIBLE] BOARD.
>> THANK YOU, AND THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME. WE'RE GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A SHORT INTRODUCTION, AND THEN WE'LL OPEN UP FOR QUESTIONS.
>> I'M MAUREEN KUZIK MCCUTCHEN.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.
I HAVEN'T MET SOME OF YOU ALL.
I'VE LIVED AND WORKED ON THE ISLAND FOR 28 YEARS.
CAN YOU HEAR ME THROUGH THE MASK? [OVERLAPPING]
>> I WORKED FOR THE LAW FIRM IN MILLS SHIRLEY LLP.
IT'S BEEN ON THE ISLAND SINCE 1846.
WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR AWHILE AND I HOPE TO STAY THERE.
I BELIEVE WITH MY BACKGROUND, I CAN HELP THE PORT.
I THINK IT'S AN EXCITING TIME FOR THE PORT.
THE PORT HAS REALLY COME A LONG WAY IN THE PAST FEW YEARS.
I HAVE A BOAT AND I DRIVE TO THE HARBOR.
I THINK IT'S FUN AND I'M SO GLAD THEY DECIDED NOT TO DO THE LAND BRIDGE BECAUSE I REALLY LIKED COMING THROUGH THE HARBOR.
I THINK THE PORT NEEDS SOME MORE REVENUE.
I THINK IT'S AN EXCITING TIME WITH WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH THE INTERIOR ROAD.
I DRIVE UP AND DOWN HARBOR SIDE A LOT.
IT'D BE NICE TO GET ALL THOSE TRUCKS OFF THE HARBOR SIDE.
I THINK IT'S EXCITING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DEVELOPING THE EAST END FOR CRUISES AND THE BUSINESS, THE CARGO ON THE WEST END.
BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE MONEY TO REPAIR THE DOCKS AND TO BUILD A ROAD.
I ALREADY SAID THAT, I'M A LAWYER.
I DO MAINLY STATE WORK AND PROBATE BUT I DO CONTRACTS, I'VE DONE CIVIL LITIGATION, I'VE DONE COMMERCIAL LITIGATION, SO I CAN READ CONTRACTS.
I HAVE AN MBA, SO I'M FAMILIAR WITH FINANCE.
I'M ALSO A CERTIFIED MEDIATOR.
I DO A FAIR BIT OF MEDIATIONS WITH LAWSUITS, SO I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THE BOARD.
I'VE BEEN THE PRESIDENT OF SEVERAL BOARDS.
I'M STILL ON THE GALVESTON ISLAND HUMANE SOCIETY BOARD.
I WAS ON TEXAS SPECIAL OLYMPICS BOARD.
SO I'M USED TO WORKING WITH PEOPLE AND I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO WORK TOGETHER.
I BELIEVE WITH MY BACKGROUND, I COULD HELP THE PORT.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
>> ANY QUESTIONS, COUNCIL, FOR MS. MCCUTCHEN?
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE BIGGEST NEED OR ISSUE IS AT THE PORT AND HOW DO YOU THINK YOU CAN ADDRESS THAT ON THE [INAUDIBLE]?
IT REALLY NEEDS SOME IMPROVEMENTS.
SOME OF THE DOCKS ARE FALLING IN, SOME OF THE PORT AREA IS NOT STABLE, AND FOR YEARS, THINGS WERE NOT IMPROVED.
I THINK WITH MY BACKGROUND, WITH THE FINANCIAL AND BEING A LAWYER, I CAN HELP DRIVE THE REVENUE.
YOU CAN'T IMPROVE THE PORT WITHOUT MORE REVENUE.
>> WITH YOUR BACKGROUND AS AN ATTORNEY, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON SHARING COUNCIL WITH THE CITY TO TRY TO REDUCE COSTS WITHIN THE PORT'S BUDGET?
>> I THINK THE PORT AND THE CITY NEED TO WORK TOGETHER, BUT I THINK THE PORT IS ITS OWN ENTITY.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SHARING A POLICE FORCE?
>> I'D REALLY RATHER NOT ANSWER THAT ONLY BECAUSE MY FIRM DOES WORK FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON AND ARE COMPETING LAW FIRM, THE [INAUDIBLE] DOES WORK FOR THE PORT.
>>I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE FAIR.
[LAUGHTER] HONESTLY, I WOULD LIKE MY FIRM TO GET MORE WORK.
[LAUGHTER] I WOULD HAVE TO ABSTAIN FROM ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
>> MAUREEN, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU A QUESTION AND MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE, BUT IT'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT BRINGING THE USS TEXAS TO THE PORT.
WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS AT THIS POINT? I KNOW THAT MAY BE SUDDEN, YOU'D HAVE TO LOOK AT FURTHER, BUT WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON HAVING THE USS TEXAS SITTING AT THE PORT HERE?
>> I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR TOURISM HAVING THE BATTLESHIP TEXAS HERE.
WE ALREADY HAVE THE CAVALLA AND I FORGET THE NAME OF THE OTHER SHIP.
THE PROBLEM IS WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR IT?
[01:45:03]
I DON'T THINK THAT SHOULD BE A PORT EXPENSE TO PAY FOR THAT AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE CITY OR THE PARK BOARD WANTS TO PAY FOR THAT EITHER.IT'D BE GREAT IF THERE IS MONEY, IF THERE COULD BE A FOUNDATION TO RAISE THE MONEY, IF THERE COULD BE PEOPLE.
I KNOW IT WOULD COST A FORTUNE JUST TO GET THE PORT DOWN HERE.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S WISE USE OF THE PORT'S MONEY TO BRING THAT DOWN BECAUSE THAT'S NOT THE PORT'S GOAL.
>> VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL?
>> WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ON PELICAN ISLAND?
>> I THINK THE BRIDGE NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED.
I KNOW THAT'S A SOURCE SPOT ON WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR THE IMPROVEMENT.
THE COUNTY NEEDS TO GET FUNDS, BUT THE STATE OF TEXAS NEEDS TO STEP UP.
THEY HAVE A&M THERE, SO THEY SHOULD BE PUTTING MONEY UP.
ALSO IMPORTANT IS TO KNOW AND PRODUCTION LAND THERE.
EVERYONE SHOULD SHARE IN, NOT JUST PART OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, NOT JUST THE NAVIGATION DISTRICT AND CERTAINLY NOT JUST THE PORT.
I REALLY THINK THE STATE AND THE COUNTY NEED TO STEP UP WITH FUNDS.
I KNOW MAYOR BROWN'S WORKING ON THAT VERY DILIGENTLY [OVERLAPPING] AND I KNOW THE COUNTY IS INTERESTED IN THAT TOO.
BUT IT'S HARD WHEN YOU HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF PLAYERS AND NO ONE WANTS TO PLAY.
>> [LAUGHTER] ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL?
>> MAUREEN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, MAUREEN. APPRECIATE IT.
>> WE'LL MEET SEPTEMBER 16TH AND MAKE OUR APPOINTMENT.
SHOULD BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU AFTER THAT MEETING.
>> LISA BLAIR IS HERE, BUT JAY VALENTINE IS ALSO HERE NOW.
>> JUST BRING MR. VALENTINE IN.
>> [INAUDIBLE] THAT'S A GREAT CANDIDATE [OVERLAPPING] [NOISE] GOOD MORNING, JAY. HOW ARE YOU, SIR?
>> GOOD MORNING MAYOR [INAUDIBLE] SORRY I WAS A LITTLE LATE.
>> NO PROBLEM. GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR APPLICATION JAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> IS IT OKAY TO TAKE MY MASK OFF?
>> YES SIR. IT'S FINE IF YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE.
I APPRECIATE YOUR APPLICATION.
THANK YOU. WE ARE VERY BLESSED.
WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT HAVING SO MANY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES FOR THIS POSITION, AND YOU FALL IN THAT CATEGORY.
>> WE HAVE TIME FOR A SHORT INTRO, IF YOU WOULD LIKE, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP FOR QUESTIONS.
>> SURE. WELL, FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW ME, MY NAME'S JAY VALENTINE, BORN ON THE ISLAND BOY.
I ATTENDED PUBLIC SCHOOLS UNTIL THE SEVENTH GRADE.
I WENT ON TO O'CONNELL, AND GRADUATED THERE IN '81.
VERY HUMBLE BEGINNINGS WHICH JOHN WOULD KNOW.
I THINK I HELD JOHN WHEN HE WAS IN HIS DIAPERS.
[LAUGHTER] HIS PARENTS WERE VERY DEAR TO MY HEART.
I WENT OFF TO COLLEGE [NOISE] AFTER A YEAR AT GALVESTON JUNIOR COLLEGE, ATTENDED NORTH TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY, AND THEN THE MID '80S, I STARTED INTO BUSINESS, AND CO-FOUNDED THE FIRST HEALTH CARE COMPANY SPECIALIZING IN LONG-TERM CARE.
THAT COMPANY BECAME REGION CARE CENTERS.
[NOISE] I SOLD OUT IN '03, '04, STARTED A NEW COMPANY IN 2005 CALLED THE RADIAN CARE CENTERS.
OUR FIRST BUILDING, WE PURCHASED IT OFF THE COURTHOUSE STEPS.
IT WAS ON A BANKRUPTCY, AND I CAN TELL YOU TODAY THE LADY THAT OWNED THAT FACILITY STILL WORKS FOR ME.
THAT WAS 15, 16, 17, 18 YEARS AGO.
I CARE ABOUT OUTCOMES, I MAKE VERY DIFFICULT DECISIONS THROUGHOUT MY LIFE, AND IT WAS ALWAYS TO TRY TO BETTER
[01:50:01]
EITHER THE FACILITY OR THE PATIENT OR THE FAMILIES INVOLVED.WE CURRENTLY HAVE 11 FACILITIES SCATTERED AROUND THE STATE, I EMPLOY OVER 1,000 EMPLOYEES.
I KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE A PAYROLL, IN GOOD TIMES, AND BAD.
JUST LAST YEAR, IN FEBRUARY, I HAD TO MAKE A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION OF SHUTTING DOWN THE MERIDIAN TO ALL OUTSIDERS, EVEN FAMILIES.
BELIEVE ME, I CAUGHT A LOT OF FLACK FROM FAMILIES.
BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO END UP ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE NEWSPAPER.
WE SHUT DOWN A MONTH EARLY, AND I CAN TELL YOU, WE KEPT IT OUT 99 PERCENT.
THOSE SAME FAMILIES THAT WERE SCREAMING, AND YELLING AT ME AND CALL ME NAMES, THANKED ME THREE MONTHS LATER, BECAUSE THEIR RESIDENTS ARE STILL ALIVE, AND SURVIVED THE COVID.
OTHER THAN THAT, I'VE LIVED HERE MY WHOLE LIFE, GALVESTON IS VERY DEAR TO MY HEART.
I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO, AT AN EARLY AGE, BE APPOINTED TO A TAX REINVESTMENT ZONE THAT OVERSAW A CENTRAL CITY DEVELOPMENT.
IN THE '80S I WAS APPOINTED BY MAYOR [INAUDIBLE], AND EUGENE ALEXIS, AND I FORGOT THE OTHER COUNCIL.
IT WAS VERY ENLIGHTENING TO SIT ON THAT BOARD.
I'VE SERVED ON BANK BOARDS, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN A LOT OF COMMUNITY EVENTS.
I'M A PROUD FATHER OF A DAUGHTER THAT'S JUST BEGINNING HER FIRST YEAR AT TULANE MEDICAL SCHOOL.
I HAVE TWO STEP CHILDREN, ONE THAT'S IN ART SCHOOL IN SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, AND ONE THAT'S A SENIOR AT BALL HIGH.
ALL OF OUR KIDS WENT TO TRINITY, AND THEN THROUGH BALL HIGH, AND GRADUATED.
OTHER THAN THAT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE I CAN SAY.
I'VE ALWAYS SHUN THAT SPOTLIGHT.
COUNCIL QUESTIONS, COUNCIL SCHUSTER.
>> THANKS FOR YOUR TIME MR. VALENTINE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUE WOULD BE AT THE PORT AND WHAT'S YOUR PLANS ON, IF YOU'RE ON THE WATCH PORT, HOW COULD YOU ADDRESS THAT?
>> WELL, JUST MAKING IT TRANSPARENT, MAKING IT CONFLICT-FREE.
I'M A CONSENSUS BUILDER, NOT A DIVIDER.
THE PORT HAS POSITIONED ITSELF TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL IN THE YEARS TO COME.
I THINK IT'S JUST A STEADY GUIDANCE OF WHAT'S BEEN PUT INTO PLACE.
YOU DON'T GO WRECK SOMETHING THAT'S WORKING VERY WELL OR TRY TO CHANGE IT.
IT WOULD BE, GIVING IT BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE FROM BUILDING THREE COMPANIES FROM SCRATCH, AND SEEING IT SUCCEED BECAUSE IT'S REALLY ON A GREAT PATH AT THIS POINT.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? VERY GOOD. JAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THANKS YOU ALL. I APPRECIATE IT.
HOW LONG DO YOU NEED A BREAK? [OVERLAPPING] TWO MINUTES?
>> [INAUDIBLE] WATER COKE OR WHAT?
>> BILL, COULD YOU BRING ME A WATER, PLEASE, SIR? [LAUGHTER] [NOISE]
>> HE'S A PRINCE, ISN'T HE? [LAUGHTER].
>> FINE. LISA, COME ON IN HAVE A SEAT.
WE'RE TAKING ABOUT A TWO-MINUTE BREAK SO WE'LL START UP.
>> WELL, I WAS GOING TO SAY, I DON'T GET THE WHOLE ENCHILADA?
>> OH, NO, WE'RE WAITING TO SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE GONE FOR ABOUT TWO MINUTES.
>> I'M GOING TO OPEN IT UP IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A SHORT INTRO STATEMENT AND THEN WE GOT TO OPEN UP FOR QUESTIONS.
[01:55:01]
>> SURE. MY INTEREST IN THE WHARVES PORT IS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THE PORT IS A BUSINESS, AND I'D LIKE TO SEE IT BE A VERY SUCCESSFUL AND VERY PROFITABLE BUSINESS.
MY HUSBAND AND I OWN A BUSINESS.
WE STARTED IT WITH VIRTUALLY NOTHING, BUILT IT INTO A VERY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS WITH NOTHING BUT OUR TALENT AND A WHOLE LOT OF HARD WORK.
I JUST SEE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES AT THE PORT.
IF WE LOOK AROUND THE ISLAND AND WE THINK ABOUT WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE FOR OPPORTUNITIES, FOR INDUSTRY, FOR REALLY GOOD PAYING LIVING WAGE JOBS WITH GOOD BENEFITS, THAT'S GOT TO BE THE PORT.
WE DON'T HAVE THE REAL ESTATE TO BRING IN BIG INDUSTRY OR ANY OF THOSE OTHER THINGS.
I'M NOT TALKING $10 AN HOUR JOBS, BUT GOOD PAYING JOBS.
THOSE ARE THE JOBS THAT WE NEED IF WE WANT THE THINGS THAT WE ALL SAY THAT WE WANT, IF WE WANT VIABLE NEIGHBORHOODS, IF WE WANT MORE THAN 40 PERCENT OF OUR HOMES BEING ACTUALLY OWNED, IF WE WANT PEOPLE TO LIVE HERE AND WORK HERE, AND NOT JUST COMMUTE TO HERE.
I ALSO SEE THE PORT IN RELATIONSHIP TO IT BEING A BUSINESS.
I THINK IT HAS LITTLE BIT OF AN IDENTITY CRISIS.
I THINK THE PORT COULD DO A LOT BETTER JOB OF MARKETING ITSELF, OF LETTING THE PUBLIC KNOW WHO IT IS AND WHAT IT DOES.
I THINK THE PORT IS A MYSTERY TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY CITIZENS WHO KNOW IT'S OVER THERE, BUT YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW IT WORKS OR THAT IT ACTUALLY BELONGS TO THE CITY.
I THINK THERE'S A REAL TURNING POINT RIGHT NOW FOR THE PORT IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH ARE WE GOING TO SKEW TOWARDS TOURISM AND CRUISE, HOW MUCH ARE WE GOING TO SKEW TOWARDS CARGO AND THE UNION JOBS THAT COME FROM CARGO.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S A MASTER PLAN AND A MASTER PLAN HAS BEEN IN PLACE, BUT WE'VE JUST SEEN A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF 60% OF ITS REVENUE STREAM.
TO ME, THAT WOULD CALL FOR TAKING ANOTHER LOOK.
TAKING ANOTHER LOOK AT HOW THE PORT BALANCES ITS REVENUE.
I THINK I'M A GOOD FIT FOR THE WHARVES PORT BECAUSE OF MY BUSINESS ABILITY, I'M AN EXCELLENT DECISION-MAKER, I'M VERY INDEPENDENT, I HAVE NO RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PORT, I HAVE NO FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE PORT, I HAVE NO BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS [LAUGHTER] WITH THE PORT, AND THEREFORE, I HAVE NO CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS WITH THE PORT.
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCIL, QUESTIONS FOR MISS BLAIR? YES, WILLIAM
>> YOU ALLUDED A LITTLE BIT WITH ROYSE CIVIL CITIZENS, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE BIGGEST NEED IS AND CHANGE OF THE PORT AND HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS THAT ON THE WHARVES PORT?
>> WELL, WE KNOW THE BIGGEST NEED IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE, TO REPAIR THE INFRASTRUCTURE SO THAT WE KNOW WE CAN BE VIABLE WITH CARGO AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
I THINK THAT THE PORT NEEDS TO REALLY TIE ITSELF IN WITH THE CITY AND REALLY TIE ITSELF IN WITH CITIZENS BECAUSE THESE ARE HOW MUCH MORE CRUISE WE BRING ONTO THE ISLAND.
I THINK THAT'S A CHOICE THAT CITIZENS SHOULD BE MAKING.
NOT SEVEN PEOPLE UP ON THE TOP FLOOR OF A CONTROLLED ACCESS BUILDING.
DON'T GET ME STARTED ON THE WHY [LAUGHTER] OF THE WHARVES BOARD MEETINGS BECAUSE IF YOU WATCH THEM, YOU KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT CONDUCIVE TO PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. [LAUGHTER]
[02:00:01]
I'D LIKE TO SEE THEM COME BACK HERE PERSONALLY.I MEAN, I THINK THAT WOULD REALLY MAKE PEOPLE FEEL MORE A PART OF THE DECISIONS THAT WERE BEING MADE AT THE PORT.
>> IT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT BRINGING IT TO THE PORT.
DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
>> I'VE HEARD A LOT OF REALLY GOOD EMOTIONAL ARGUMENTS FOR THAT.
THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD REASONS, BUT IT ALWAYS COMES DOWN TO MONEY AND IT APPEARS TO BE ASTRONOMICAL AMOUNTS OF MONEY THAT IT WOULD TAKE, PLUS IT WOULD BE ANOTHER TAX-EXEMPT ATTRACTION THAT WOULD BE OFF OF OUR TAX ROLLS AND MAYBE WE'D GET SOME SALES TAX FROM IT OR SOMETHING, BUT IT WOULD BE TAKING A PRETTY VALUABLE PRIME PIECE OF REAL ESTATE AND MAKING IT ANOTHER TAX-EXEMPT ENTITY, SO THAT WOULD BE MY CONCERN.
>> VERY GOOD. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR MISS BLAIR? LISA, THANK YOU.
WE'LL BE MEETING SEPTEMBER 16TH AFTER THE COUNCIL MEETING.
WE'LL MAKE OUR APPOINTMENTS AT THAT TIME.
>> WE HAVE [INAUDIBLE] COMING IN.
UNLIKE WE HAVE SO MANY WOMEN APPLYING THIS IS [INAUDIBLE].
GOOD MORNING, MR. MOLLY, HOW ARE YOU, SIR?
>> MR. MOLLY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION FOR THE WAR SPORT GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.
GOING TO OPEN IT UP IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A SHORT INTRO STATEMENT, [INAUDIBLE] WILL OPEN UP TO QUESTIONS.
FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS FOR GETTING THE NEW CRUISE TERMINAL STARTED.
I'M REALLY PLEASED TO SEE THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE ONCE BEFORE, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT [OVERLAPPING] REMEMBER THAT THE REST OF YOU.
YOU ELIZABETH [INAUDIBLE] CONGRATULATIONS.
>> YOU'RE IN MY DISTRICT, SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME.
>> I LIVE RIGHT IN BETWEEN THE PORT AND THE BEACH.
I REALIZE BOTH. I LIVE IN THE MIDDLE OF 25TH STREET.
I REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF BOTH SIDES OF THIS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BUSINESSES FOR GALVESTON COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO GROW, AND PROSPER AS FROM BEING A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF.
I THINK A LOT OF GOOD DECISIONS WERE DONE ON THE OTHER HAND DURING THIS TIME PERIOD.
I VISITED MANY BAD PLACES OF THE WORLD WHERE WE HAD TO TAKE NUMEROUS VACCINES JUST TO BE ALLOWED INTO COUNTRIES.
I AM NOT YOUR TRADITIONAL CANDIDATE.
I'VE BEEN SITTING WATCHING A LITTLE BIT ON ZOOM AND I KNOW WHERE I'M GOING TO FALL SHORT, OVER SOME OF MY BACKGROUND.
I'VE BEEN ON THE SHIPS, LOCKED ON THE BRIDGE, BUT MAKING SURE THAT THEY COULD DO THEIR BUSINESS.
BUSINESS OVERSEAS IS WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO TODAY AND OBVIOUSLY I KNOW THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE HERE IS VISIBLE HERE ON THE MAP.
I WAS TO GO WALK AROUND THE PELICAN ISLAND.
THERE'S A LOT OF UNUSED LAND THERE.
BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT PRIOR TO LISTENING TO SOME OF THESE INTERVIEWS YOU SAID THAT PORT OF HOUSTON OWN A LOT OF THAT LAND.
I ALSO SAW RECENTLY IN THE NEWS THAT YOU WILL BE SOON HAVING SOMEBODY DELIVER LNG DIRECTLY TO THE BOATS HERE FOR THEIR FUEL NEEDS.
I THINK THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT GOING FORWARD TO HAVE THESE CLEAN FUELS AVAILABLE BECAUSE NOT MANY HAS.
[02:05:02]
IT'S GOING TO BE DECADES BEFORE THEY ARE PREDOMINANT FUELS BUT IF YOU'RE EARLY IN THE DOOR, YOU GET SOME OF THAT BUSINESS.WITH THAT BIG ISLAND, THEY'RE ALSO ROOM FOR POSSIBLY AMMONIA, WHICH IS ONE OF THE FUELS NOW BEING USED BY SOME SHIPS OUT OF EUROPE.
THEY'RE ONLY JUST BEHIND HYDROGEN AS FAR AS CLEANLINESS IS CONCERNED.
THEY'RE ALL NASTY SMELLING AND PRODUCING, BUT THEY'RE REALLY GOOD FOR CLEAN ENERGY.
I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE AS AN ISLAND HERE CAN BENEFIT GOING FORWARD HAVING BEING AN EARLY PROVIDER OF THESE SERVICES ATTRACTING SHIPS, AND COMPANIES WHICH COULD THESE THINGS IN THE FOREFRONT.
I'M MORE OF A LISTENER THAN A TALKER.
HAVING WORKED IN MY HOME OFFICE FOR 20 YEARS, I HAVEN'T HAD TOO MANY PEOPLE AROUND ME.
COVID HAS HARDLY AFFECTED ME AT ALL BECAUSE I WORK FROM HOME.
I'VE ALWAYS DONE. PRACTICALLY BEEN IN QUARANTINE FOR 20 YEARS [LAUGHTER].
IT'S ONLY MY SOCIAL LIFE THAT HAS SUFFERED.
[LAUGHTER]. I HAVEN'T BEEN IN TRIPS ON THE TREE MODE HOTEL THAT LATELY. I MISS THAT GREATLY.
I HAVE AN ELECTRONICS BACKGROUND.
MY DEGREE IS IN FIXING FIGHTER AIRCRAFT AND HELICOPTERS.
SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN PERHAPS WHAT THE WHARF BOARD NEEDS, BUT I HAVE BUSINESS EXPERIENCE.
I'VE BEEN IN MANAGEMENT IN SCHLUMBERGER, WHICH SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW AS THE BIGGEST OILFIELD SERVICE COMPANY IN THE WORLD.
I LEARNED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO SACRIFICE TO BE ABLE TO GO FORWARD.
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO GO AND TAKE A STEP BACK TO GET FORWARD.
THERE ARE A LOT OF CHOICES TO BE MADE.
I REALIZED ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES WE'RE LOOKING AT IS OBVIOUSLY THE BRIDGE.
I SEE YOU GUYS ASKED A LOT ABOUT THAT TO THE PREVIOUS CANDIDATES.
LOOKING ASIDE FROM THE PAIN BIT, I WOULD SAY THE MORE THE MERRIER.
THE MORE THE BRIDGE YOU CAN GET.
THE MORE YOU CAN GET ACROSS THAT BRIDGE IN TRAIN AND TRAFFIC, THE BETTER THAT IS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE ISLAND.
WITHOUT TRAIN THERE IS GOING TO BE ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN DO.
YOU PUT A THRESHOLD ON HOW MUCH YOU CAN FREIGHT TO CROSS A BRIDGE OR TRAINS AS MUCH AS IT DOES TODAY FOR US, I THINK IS THE BEST WAY FORWARD, BUT PAYING FOR THIS, THAT'S WHERE THE SACRIFICE IS COMING.
I THINK FOR THAT I'M GOING TO STOP MY STATEMENT.
>> THANK YOU, MR. LLOYD. APPRECIATE IT.
COUNSEL, ANY QUESTIONS? WELL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, SIR. [LAUGHTER].
>> [OVERLAPPING]. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, SIR.
>> WE DON'T HAVE THAT MANY PEOPLE IN THERE, I'M GOING TO SEE WHO'S HERE.
>> BUT IF HE'S HERE AND YOU DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUT WE'RE ZIPPING RIGHT ALONG HERE.
[INAUDIBLE] WAS TRYING TO BRING THEM IN BATCHES THINKING WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE FOR A WHILE.
>> I THINK THE AMOUNT OF QUESTIONS IS DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL.
[LAUGHTER] I SHOULD SAY INVERSELY PROPORTIONAL.
>> I ASKED THEM ALL TO BE VERY CLEAR AND INCLUSIVE IN THERE INTROS SO I CAN DO MY TAX THING THIS MORNING.
>> [INAUDIBLE] IS THE NEXT ONE ON OUR LIST BUT IT MAYBE SOMEONE ELSE.
>> WE ASKED HIM TO BE HERE AT 10:30.
>> GOOD MORNING. HOW ARE YOU ALL?
GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY, SIR.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION, AND IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, [INAUDIBLE] GIVE YOU TIME FOR A SHORT INTRO, INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND THEN WE'LL OPEN UP THE QUESTIONS. [INAUDIBLE]
>> GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS OF [INAUDIBLE].
WITH MARK HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATED IN '99.
FROM '99 TO 2003 I ATTENDED TEXAS CITY IN GALVESTON.
I GOT A MARINE TRANSPORTATION DEGREE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE.
[02:10:02]
I WENT TO SEA FOR 10 YEARS.I GOT A MASTER IN UNLIMITED LICENSE.
THEN IN 2011, I DECIDED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL TO FURTHER MY EDUCATION WITH THE UNO.
WHILE I WAS GETTING A BUSINESS DEGREE, I STARTED A REAL ESTATE COMPANY.
STARTED REFURBISHING HOUSES IN NEW ORLEANS.
I WAS LIVING IN NEW ORLEANS AT THE TIME, AND I STARTED A REAL ESTATE COMPANY.
REFURBISHING HOUSES, LEASING THEM OUT.
THEN IN 2012, I GRADUATED FROM UNO WITH A MBA.
IN 2013, I DECIDED I WANT TO GET OUT OF REAL ESTATE BUSINESS AND CONTINUE MY DREAM AND TRY TO BECOME A PILOT.
IN 2016, I MOVED TO GALVESTON, AND IN 2017 I GOT INTO THE GALVESTON TEXAS CITY PILOTS.
I THINK THAT EXPERIENCE MAKES ME UNIQUE.
I DON'T THINK ANY OTHER APPLICANT KNOWS THE CHANNEL LIKE I DO.
I KNOW THE DEPTHS, I KNOW THE WIDTH OF THE CHANNEL, I HAVE THE PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE, I DRIVE THE PORT EVERY DAY, ALL DAY.
I TURN SHIPS IN OUR TURNING BASIN.
I THINK THAT MAKES ME UNIQUE HERE.
PLUS I HAVE MY BUSINESS DEGREE IN THE EDUCATION OF THE BUSINESS SCREEN TO BACK ME UP WITH MY CONTRACTS AND WHATNOT.
THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY. I THINK I WOULD REPRESENT THE CITY OF GALVESTON WELL, THE PEOPLE OF GALVESTON WELL, AND THE BOARD OF GALVESTON WELL.
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
APPRECIATE IT. COUNSEL, ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. MALCOM.
>> I THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS HELPING THE PORT.
IF YOU'RE ON THE WARDS BOARD, HOW DO YOU PLAN ON ADDRESSING THAT?
>> I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES IS THE BRIDGE OBVIOUSLY.
THAT'S A BLACK EYE. IF YOU CAN'T GET THE BRIDGE DONE, YOU CAN'T DEVELOP THE PELICAN ISLAND.
THAT'S HALF OUR PORT. I MEAN, HERE'S A GOOD PICTURE OF IT RIGHT THERE.
IF YOU ONLY WORK IN ONE SIDE OF THE PORT YOU ONLY HAVE 50 PERCENT OCCUPANCY, RIGHT? I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO GET TO DOING.
IF WE CAN WORK WITH THE COUNTY AGAIN AND GET THAT DONE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
I MEAN, THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, MAYBE IF WE COULD WORK WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND MAYBE GET A FEDERAL GRANT TO HELP WITH BUILDING THE PORT, AND MAYBE EVEN THE BRIDGE.
I EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT THE BRIDGE.
SOMEBODY COMING IN AS AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR AND BUILDING THE BRIDGE FOR US [INAUDIBLE] CHARGING A TOE.
I DON'T KNOW. THAT'S JUST A THOUGHT.
I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT THAT THE OTHER DAY.
>> YEAH, THANKS FOR THAT. I APPRECIATE IT.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNSEL?
>> WOULD IT BE A CONFLICT OF INTERESTS AT ANY TIME WITH YOU BEING A PILOT AND A -
>> I MEAN, THERE COULD BE A TIME WHENEVER MAYBE A RARE CASE CAME UP, BUT I WOULD RECUSE MYSELF FROM THAT OR EXCUSE MYSELF FROM THAT CONVERSATION, I'LL SAY.
>> VERY GOOD. SINCE YOU BRING THAT EXPERIENCE AS A PILOT, RYAN, HERE, THESE BIG CRUISE SHIPS COMING IN HERE, THESE OASIS-CLASS SHIPS, CAN YOU BACK THOSE SHIPS UP? I HEAR THAT PILOTS SOMETIMES DON'T LIKE TO GET INVOLVED WITH BACKING SHIPS IN LIKE THAT.
>> WELL, I MEAN, WE BACK UP THE NORMAL CRUISE SHIPS [INAUDIBLE] CARIBBEAN CARNIVALS.
WE HAVE A TURNING BASE AND THEN WE TURN IT IN THE TURNING BASE, BUT THE OASIS-CLASS SHIP, THE PLAN IS TO EXPAND THE TURNING BASE FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, AND THEN TURN THEM THERE AND THEN BACK THEM DOWN AT PIER 10.
FIRST, I THINK THE MASTER PLAN IS A GREAT PLAN.
THE STRATEGIC PLAN OF EXPANDING THE PORT OF GALVESTON, I THINK IT'S SPOT ON.
I THINK OUR PORT IS SET UP FOR CRUISE SHIPS.
SIXTY-FIVE PERCENT OF OUR REVENUE IS COMING FROM CRUISE SHIPS RIGHT NOW, 50 PERCENT CRUISE SHIPS ALONE, 15 PERCENT COMING FROM PARKING.
THAT ALL DEPENDS ON CRUISE SHIPS.
IN THE SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, I THINK MAYBE THAT WAS PART OF THE PLAN.
I DON'T KNOW. THIS IS JUST FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN.
WE WANT TO GENERATE SOME REVENUE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE SEED MONEY TO EXPAND THE WEST SIDE OF GALVESTON FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN.
>> BUT THE OASIS-CLASS SHIP, WE'RE GOING TO EXPAND THE INTERNAL BASE AND THEN WE CAN BACK IT DOWN AT PIER 10.
>> THAT'S VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL?
>> HE SAID THEY WERE REALLY SCARY JUMPING FROM THE [INAUDIBLE]. [LAUGHTER]
IT GETS REALLY ROUGH OUT THERE.
IT GETS 3-4 [OVERLAPPING] [INAUDIBLE] WINDS BLOWING [LAUGHTER] IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER.
STRONG NORTH WIND AND STUFF SOMETIMES, BUT WE GET IT DONE.
[02:15:01]
>> WE'LL BE MAKING OUR DECISIONS, RYAN, SEPTEMBER 16TH.
AFTER THAT COUNCIL MEETING, WE'LL BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU AND LET YOU KNOW WHERE YOU STAND.
THANK YOU FOR BEING IN HERE. APPRECIATE IT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> HERE HE COMES. HEY FRANK [NOISE].
LET ME GET THAT CHAIR FOR YOU.
>> I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU HOW THE KNEE IS DOING BUT.
>> IT AIN'T DOING GOOD, AND EVERY DAY THAT GOES BY, I GET CLOSER AND CLOSER TO WANTING SURGERY.
IT SUCKS. [LAUGHTER] IT DON'T STOP DOING BUSINESS AND THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE TO DO TODAY.
>> I DON'T THINK I MENTIONED BEFORE, BUT AWESOME.
[LAUGHTER] I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE GOT ONE OF MY RESUMES EITHER.
>> IF Y'ALL NEED ME TO SIGN Y'ALL'S CARD, FINE.
[LAUGHTER] BUT I UNDERSTAND YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING FOR SOME GOOD WARDS BOARD CANDIDATES.
>> WE ARE. OF COURSE, NEEDLESS TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION.
AS YOU KNOW, FRANK, YOU WERE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS MANY TIMES.
>> GOT AN INTRODUCTION AND THEN WE'LL OPEN UP TO QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
>> WELL, GUYS, I WOULD START, I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS ME PRETTY WELL EXCEPT FROM THIS [INAUDIBLE] IN LAY OUT.
I WENT TO BALL HIGH FOR A WHILE AND I ENDED UP GOING TO O'CONNELL AND GRADUATING MY LAST YEAR.
I WASN'T DOING SO WELL IN SCHOOL AND FATHER FRANK [INAUDIBLE] GAVE ME A SCHOLARSHIP MY LAST YEAR AND SAID, "HEY, YOU GOT TO DO IT." I WASN'T IN THE BUSINESS OF MAKING HIM MAD OR JESUS MAD.
[LAUGHTER] I JOINED MARINE CORPS AT 19.
I DID MY FOUR YEARS IN THE MARINE CORPS, AND I CAME BACK ON THE OBERLIN CHAIR BUSINESS AND DID THAT FOR ABOUT EIGHT, 10 YEARS AND ENDED UP ON SCHOOL AT TEXAS A&M GETTING MY UNLIMITED MARITIME LICENSE.
I STILL HOLD TODAY IS THE UNLIMITED [INAUDIBLE].
I'VE ACTUALLY PUT THAT TO WORK.
I PUT IT TO WORK IN A GNH TOLLING.
I DID SOME DEEP SEA SAILING TOO ON MY COMMERCIAL CRUISE WITH TEXAS A&M.
I GOT A MAJOR OVER THERE IN MARINE TRANSPORTATION AND A MINOR IN MARITIME ADMINISTRATION, WHICH IS THE SAME DEGREE THAT BRIAN'S GOT OVER THERE.
SO AS FAR AS THAT KIND OF PEDIGREE GOES, I THINK I FIT THE BILL.
I THINK I'VE GOT THE EDUCATION AND THE EXPERIENCE IN THAT INDUSTRY TO THRIVE IN THAT POSITION.
I THINK ANOTHER THING I BRING TO THIS IS MY EXPERIENCE IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY'S BROUGHT UP TOURISM THIS MORNING YET, BUT IT'S BECOMING SUCH A BIG PART OF OF WHAT THOSE GUYS DO ON THE DOCKS DOWN THERE, FROM THE [INAUDIBLE] GUYS ALL THE WAY TO THE PORT DIRECTOR.
BESIDES SCHUSTER THERE, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY KNOWS THE TOURISTS BETTER THAN THE GUYS ON THE BEACH.
YOU KNOW WHAT THEY WANT, WHAT THEY EXPECT, AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT AND I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT SKILL SET TO HAVE ON THAT WARDS BOARD IN ADDITION TO MY MARITIME SKILL SET THAT I THAT I BRING TO THE TABLE.
THAT'S WHERE I'M AT. I'VE GOT SOME VISIONS FOR THE PORT.
[02:20:03]
I'D SAY THE PAST FIVE YEARS HAS BEEN A REAL TRANSITIONARY PERIOD FOR THE DOCKS DOWN HERE.WE'RE SEEING THE CRUISE SHIPS COME IN ON A BIG, BIG SCALE.
I THINK ON THE SAME TOKEN, WE'RE SEEING WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY DON'T OPERATE, BUT THAT'S NOT SLOWING DOWN ROGER OVER THERE.
I THINK HE'S DOING A GOOD JOB WITH THE LABORERS AND I THINK HE'S DOING A GOOD JOB FILLING THE DOCKS.
I TOOK A TOUR LAST WEEK WITH ROGER DOWN ON THE DOCKS AND I WAS PLEASED TO SEE THAT A LOT OF THE STEPS THAT HE'S TAKEN THEY JIVE WITH WHAT I'M SEEING DOWN THERE.
WHAT I'M SEEING DOWN THERE, GUYS, IS TWO LINES OF BUSINESS, AND MAYBE MORE.
BUT TWO LINES OF BUSINESS, NARROWING IT DOWN TO REALLY SPECIALIZE. LET'S CALL IT THREE LINES.
THE FIRST AND SECOND WOULD BE CRUISE SHIPS AND ROLL ON ROLL OFF CARGO, THE CAR CARRIERS.
I THINK AS A PORT, WE'RE ALREADY SET UP NATURALLY, AND WITH PROXIMITY TO HOUSTON AND TEXAS CITY, THOSE TWO TYPES OF SHIPS IN PARTICULAR THEY DON'T WANT TO MAKE THAT RIDE UP THE CHANNEL OF THE HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL.
THAT'S WHY THAT BAY PORT TERMINAL DIDN'T REALLY MAKE IT BECAUSE THAT LEAVES A LOT OF UNKNOWNS WHEN YOU BRING A SHIP UP THAT SHIP CHANNEL.
WE'RE SET UP FOR THAT. THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR BOTH OF THOSE LINES OF BUSINESS ARE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME.
IT'S PARKING LOTS, SO I KNOW THAT THAT'S A BIG MONEY DRIVER DOWN THERE ON THE DOCS, WHICH I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT LESS OF A PROPORTION OF THE REVENUE.
[LAUGHTER] BUT ANOTHER THING THAT I SAW WHEN WE WERE DOWN THERE WAS TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM LEASING TO SPECIFIC COMPANIES AND STARTING TO LEASE TO STEVEDORE COMPANIES THAT CAN BRING ANYTHING IN.
THAT OPENS OUR DOCKS A WHOLE LOT MORE AND IT'S GOING TO FILL OUR DOCKS A WHOLE LOT MORE DOING THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE HAVEN'T EVEN TOUCHED ON PELICAN ISLAND YET, BUT I DO SEE THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE DOCKS AS BEING A REAL AND CRUCIAL CARGO INDUSTRY.
THEN WE GOT TO GET THAT BRIDGE BUILT BEFORE WE REALLY TALK ABOUT PELICAN ISLAND.
I HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT FOR, HELL, HOW LONG, DAVE, HAVE I BEEN TELLING YOU ABOUT THAT? [LAUGHTER] PUT ON THAT NOTE, WE GOT SOME REALLY GOOD TENANTS OVER THERE, AND THERE'S A LOT OF SPACE AND A LOT OF ROOM.
I THINK THAT HAVING SOMEBODY ON THAT WARS BOARD THAT'S ACTUALLY LEAD PEOPLE UP TO THE CAPITAL AND ADVOCATED FOR FUNDING AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.
SOMEBODY THAT HAS THAT EXPERIENCE IS AN ASSET TO THAT BOARD TOO.
I'M SURE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE, BUT I DID IT FROM A ELECTED POSITION.
AS YOU ALL KNOW THAT BRINGS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT DYNAMICS TO CONVERSATIONS.
RIGHT? I DON'T THINK I'M LEAVING ANYTHING OUT.
I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME ELECTRIC VEHICLES. WHY NOT? [LAUGHTER] THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I'D LIKE TO SEE DOWN THERE TOO, SOME PERCENTAGE.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THE CITY DO THAT TOO, WHICH [INAUDIBLE] TAKE SOME PERCENTAGE OF YOUR FLEET AND MAYBE THE PARKING GUY, MAYBE THE CITY MARSHAL'S OFFICE HAS ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT, GUYS.
I THINK I STILL PRETTY TALL WHEN I WAS ON COUNCIL.
AS FAR AS INTEGRITY AND OPEN MEETINGS.
I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE GUYS ARE STILL SUBJECT TO OPEN MEETINGS OVER THERE, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HAVE OPEN MEETINGS ALL DAY LONG GUYS.
BUT WHAT IF WE DON'T MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE, IT'S NOT OPEN MEETINGS.
RIGHT? ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION WITH ALL OUR BOARDS AND EVEN WITH CITY COUNCIL AND THERE'S THINGS THAT YOU GUYS CAN DO TO BE MORE ACCESSIBLE.
THERE'S ALWAYS THINGS THAT WE CAN DO, SO ALONG THOSE LINES I'LL BRING THAT TO THE TABLE TOO.
>> THANK YOU, FRANK. ANY QUESTIONS COUNCIL?
>> FRANK, I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE FOR THE CITY AND FOR OUR COUNTRY. GREAT JOB.
WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE BIGGEST NEED OF THE PORT, THE BIGGEST ISSUE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT IS? IF YOU GOT ON THE WARS BOARD, WHAT'S THE SPECIFIC WAY YOU CAN ADDRESS THAT?
[02:25:02]
>> I'M GOING TO JUMP RIGHT TO THE BRIDGE MAN.
IF YOU WANT ME PICK ONE I'M GOING RIGHT TO THE BRIDGE.
IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH RIGHT NOW MAN, I'D SAY WE NEED TO CONTINUE AND ENCOURAGE THESE LABOR EARTH BUSINESS.
RIGHT? BECAUSE THAT'S QUICK EASY MONEY AND IT'S GOOD FOR EVERYBODY, IT BRINGS JOBS, NOT JUST TO ALL LA GUYS, BUT NEARLY GO SHOPPING DOWNTOWN AND EVERYTHING, RIGHT.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT CRUISE TIME WILL FINISHED UP, RIGHT? I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT ROAD.
THAT'S ANOTHER BIG PART OF THE SOUTH SIDE AND A CURRENT OPERATIONS THAT ARE GOING ON OUT THERE IS THAT INNER PORT ROAD.
THAT RAJ TOOK ME DOWN, IT WAS GOING TO GO FROM SORRY, POINT AT THE JOHN PAUL, BUT IT'S GOING TO GO FROM PURE TEN TO THE WEST SIDE OF THE DOTS AND THAT'S GOING TO ALLEVIATE SO MUCH TRAFFIC ON HARBOR SIDE AND IT'S JUST GOING TO BE AWESOME.
IT'S ALSO GOING TO GIVE US OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP ALONGSIDE THAT ROAD IF WE WANT CERTAIN AREAS TO.
THAT OPENS US UP TO HUGE OPPORTUNITIES RIGHT THERE I THINK.
THAT REAL ACCESS SITUATION, I'M NOT GOING TO SAY TOO MUCH ABOUT IT, BUT I THINK YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE RAIL ACCESS DOWN THERE.
SOMETHING THAT MIGHT NEED YOUR REASON WITH, YOU KNOW WHAT I AM SAYING.
BUT THINGS LIKE THAT GUYS, IT'S THE BRIDGE I WANT TO DO.
IT'S A BRIDGE, IT'S THAT INNER ROAD AND IT'S ENCOURAGING THAT LABOR EARTH BUSINESS ACTION SITE.
LOOKING FOR THAT? [LAUGHTER] OKAY. YES SIR.
>> VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> COME ON YOU GOT SOMETHING FOR ME HERE [LAUGHTER]
>> I AM GOING TO GET ASK YOU A QUESTION. ALL RIGHT KID
>> YOU KNOW, WE HEAR ABOUT BEACHES, WHICH IS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE, THE PORT.
ONE OF ITS MISSIONS IS TO PROVIDE JOBS DOWN THERE AND WE'VE GOT REALLY THE CARGO IN THE CREW SIDE OF IT.
IF CRUISE EXPANDS DOWN THERE, DOES THAT TAKE AWAY FROM THE NUMBER OF JOBS THAT ARE DOWN THERE COMPARED TO CARGO OR IS IT EVEN FRANK IN YOUR MANNER SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT?
>> I'M NOT BIG ON QUOTE ON TEDDY AWARD.
[LAUGHTER] HE SAID SOME ONE TIME, IT STRUCK A CHORD.
HE SAID," I'M ALL FOR THE CRUISE SHIPS, BUT I DON'T WANT TO LOSE ONE POUND OF CARGO," RIGHT? I AM ON THAT SAME MENTALITY.
RIGHT? I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S PROBABLY MORE MONEY IN THE CRUISE SHIPS, RIGHT? BUT YOUR SUSTAINABILITY AND YOUR RENOWNESS IS GOING TO COME FROM CARGO, I THINK AND ON THAT TOKEN DOCK.
YEAH MAN, I DON'T WANT TO LOSE CARGO MAN.
TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO PUT THEIR KIDS THROUGH COLLEGE ON THAT CARGO RIGHT THERE AND I DON'T WANT TO LOSE IT.
I DO BELIEVE I DIDN'T MENTION THE FILL IN IN THE SLIPS.
BUT THAT'S GOING TO HELP PUT SOME LAY-DOWN AREA TOO.
THAT'S ANOTHER IMPORTANT RIGHT THERE, HATE TO BOUNCE BACK BUT, YEAH.
AS LONG AS WE'RE NOT LOSING CARGO AND FILLING THOSE SLIPS, I THINK WILL GIVE US MORE DOCKAGE.
I THINK IT WILL GIVE US MORE LAY-DOWN AREA, AND I THINK IT'LL GIVE US MORE ROOM TO OPERATE DOWN THERE IN GENERAL.
YEAH, THAT'S MY ANSWER AND IT WAS A LONELY PLACE, BUT YEAH.
>> THAT'S GOOD. THAT WAS VERY GOOD.
ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL?
>> ASK ME WHY I PUT MY APPLICATION.
>> [LAUGHTER] WHY DID YOU PUT YOUR APPLICATION?
>> DR. BROWN ASKED ME TO. [LAUGHTER] I WOULDN'T HAVE RUN FOR COUNCIL TIME AND TIME AGAIN, RIGHT? IF I DIDN'T WANT TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY.
RIGHT? I HOPE THAT MEANS SOMETHING AND HOPE THAT YOU GUYS MAKE A GOOD PICK ON THIS BOARD HERE.
IF YOU GUYS GOT ANY QUESTIONS I DIDN'T PUT MY NUMBER DOWN.
JUNELS GOT ONE NUMBER, BUT ANYWAY I'M SURE IT'S ON THE APPLICATION.
YOU GUYS CALL ME AND WE CAN CLEAR ANYTHING UP THAT YOU GUYS HAVE. COOL?
>> YEAH. I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE COMPLETE UNLESS WE LET YOU LEAVE.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE, I GOT TO GIVE A PLUG FOR MY SHIELD SPOT.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. [LAUGHTER]THANKS A LOT YOU GUYS.
THAT'S WHAT'S UP WELL, LOOK. THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. YEAH, I APPRECIATE IT AND GOT SOME REALLY GOOD CANDIDATES.
REALLY GOOD CANDIDATES GUYS AND I GOT SOME COMPETITION OUT THERE.
>> WE'LL MEET SEPTEMBER 16TH, FRANK.
>> THAT'S WHEN WE WILL MAKE THE APPOINTMENTS AND WE WILL BE IN TOUCH RIGHT AWAY.
[02:30:03]
>> OKAY. THAT'S SOUNDS GOOD. I'M SURE I'LL READ IN THE PAPERS OR SOMETHING. [LAUGHTER]
>> THANK YOU. ARE YOU ALL DONE FOR THE DAY?
>> NO. WE'VE GOT PLENTY TO GO MORE.
>> I'M GOING TO GO HOME AND TAKE IT EASY. [LAUGHTER] CONTINUE GUYS.
>> THANKFULLY, HE ASKED THAT QUESTION.
>> THE CARGO VS THE [OVERLAPPING] MY DAD WAS A LONGSHOREMAN.
>> THAT'S HOW HE TOOK CARE OF US.
>> YEAH, RIGHT. I'VE HEARD THAT.
>> WILLIAMS, YOUR FATHER WAS TOO, WASN'T HE?
>> YEAH, MY DAD AND MY GRANDFATHER WORKED DOWN THERE.
I HAD TO GO AHEAD AND CHANGE UP, BECOME A TEACHER. [LAUGHTER]
>> YEAH, THAT'S TRUE. [LAUGHTER] [NOISE]
>> IT SHOULD BE CARLOS PENA WHO WILL BE OUR NEXT ONE MAYBE.
>> WE ARE. LET'S NOT FORGET WE STILL HAVE PLANNING TO DO.
>> IT'S REALLY AMAZING THE AMOUNT OF LAND WE HAVE OVER THERE [INAUDIBLE].
>> YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO GET THAT DIALOGUE.
THEY'VE STARTED IT WITH THE PORT OF HOUSTON, BUT MAN, WE NEED TO PUT EMPHASIS ON THAT.
>> EVEN THE PROPERTY THAT WE OWN [OVERLAPPING]
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING IN YOUR APPLICATION, AND I WANT TO TELL YOU I APPRECIATE YOUR SON SERVING IN OUR PLANNING TOO.
>> IT'S GREAT TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED.
>> WHAT WE'LL DO IS OPEN IT UP, LET YOU GIVE AN INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT AND IT WILL OPEN UP TO QUESTIONS, SIR.
>> OKAY. WELL, AS YOU KNOW, MY NAME IS CARLOS PENA.
MY WIFE DIANE AND I LIVE AT 5010 DENVER DRIVE, I'VE BEEN THERE ABOUT APPROXIMATELY 25-30 YEARS.
WE HAVE THIRD, FOURTH-GENERATION GRAND KIDS DOWN HERE.
[NOISE] WE ALSO OWN A CLEANING SUPPLY COMPANY LOCATED AT 25TH AND CHURCH.
IT'S A BUSINESS THAT MY DAD STARTED IN 1971 IN OUR GARAGE.
I CAME IN ABOUT 78, 79, BUT WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE WE'RE CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF BUSINESS.
I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO GALVESTON, HOUSTON, AUSTIN, THE WHOLE STATE FOR SUPPORTING US AND HELPING US KEEP TEXAS CLEAN.
I JUST CAME UP THE STAIRS JUST IN TIME AS SHE CAME IN AND SAID, ARE YOU CARLOS? YES, YOU ARE. I NEED TO EXERCISE MORE.
BUT AS I SAID, WE'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS 50 YEARS, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN A LOT OF COMMUNITY EFFORTS.
MY DAD WAS, GROWING UP, CHAIRMAN OF THE FED FESTIVAL AND THOSE THINGS BACK IN THE DAYS.
I TOOK A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT ROUTE, GOT INVOLVED WITH MY CHURCH ON THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, AND JUST VOLUNTEERING, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN IN OUR BLOOD, BEING INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY, TRYING TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY BETTER.
I SAW AN OPPORTUNITY HERE AS I GET OLDER AND GET READY TO RETIRE AND STEPHEN COMES ON AND NOT FAST ENOUGH, BUT COMES ON AND GRADUALLY IS TAKING OVER THE BUSINESS, IT ALLOWS DIANE AND I TIME TO GET OUT AND TRAVEL AND DO SOME OTHER THINGS.
VOLUNTEERING, AGAIN, IT'S ONE OF MY STRONG POINTS, SO I THOUGHT I WOULD APPLY IT.
>> FIRST OFF, THANKS, CARLOS. I APPRECIATE YOU COMING.
I CAN PERSONALLY ATTEST OF BEING MEMBERS OF THE SAME CHURCH SEEING YOU SINCE I WAS A KID WITH ALL YOUR VOLUNTEERING IN OCTOBER FEST AND ALL THAT STUFF.
I APPRECIATE THAT. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS AT THE PORT, AND IF YOU'RE ON THE PORT'S BOARD, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PLAN TO ADDRESS THAT?
>> I THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUE WOULD PROBABLY BE HOW WE CAN MAINTAIN DIVERSIFICATION.
[02:35:02]
IF THE PANDEMIC TAUGHT US ANYTHING, IT SHOULD TEACH US THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSIFYING.YOU HEAR IT IN INVESTMENTS, YOU HEAR IT IN BUSINESS, REVENUE STREAMS. IF WE DON'T LEARN ANYTHING FROM THAT, I THINK THAT WE'RE MISSING AN OPPORTUNITY.
TO ME, THE PANDEMIC WAS LIKE A RESET MOMENT, THE GROUND ZERO.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT FRESH, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT NEW EYES AND SEE WHAT WE LEARN, WHAT WE CAN DO BETTER.
THE PORT HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB.
IF WE WOULD'VE PUT ALL OUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET WITH THE TOURIST AND THE CRUISE SHIPS, WHO KNOWS WHERE WE WOULD BE NOW, BUT THE BOARD AND THE DIRECTOR HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB IN DIVERSIFYING.
I THINK THE OTHER THING IS, IT'S IN MY BUSINESS, IS TO GET BIGGER IT HELPS US AS THE SMALL BUSINESS [NOISE] BECAUSE WE CAN PROVIDE PRODUCTS, WE'RE MORE FLEXIBLE, WE'RE MORE NIMBLE, AND I THINK THAT'S GOOD FOR THE PORT AS THEY GET BIGGER TO REALIZE THAT WE STILL HAVE TO REMAIN FLEXIBLE AND NIMBLE.
WHEN OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS, WE HAVE TO BE THERE AND TO LOOK AT IT LIKE THEY DID WITH LATE SHIPS THAT CAME IN, THAT HAD BEEN SOMETHING THAT THEY PROBABLY HADN'T EVEN THOUGHT OF AND HERE IT IS.
WE HAVE A NEW SOURCE OF REVENUE, IF WE'RE FAST ENOUGH TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT, WE CAN MAKE IT REALLY HAPPEN.
I THINK WE JUST NEED TO RE-LOOK AT EVERYTHING.
I'M NOT NECESSARILY SAYING CHANGE, BUT JUST LOOK AT IT WITH A SET OF FRESH EYES AND SEE WHERE WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THIS STUFF THAT'S HAPPENING NOW, THAT WE WOULD HAVE NEVER EVEN THOUGHT OF.
>> VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL?
>> WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE BRIDGE?
>> [LAUGHTER] I'M AT A DISADVANTAGE BECAUSE WHAT I SEE AND WHAT I READ IS IN THE NEWSPAPER.
ONCE YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION BEFORE YOU, THEN YOU CAN MAKE A VALID ARGUMENT EITHER WAY.
WE HAVE LIMITED SPACE, THE NORTHERN PART OF THE ISLAND, WE HAVE THE SOUTHERN PART OF PELICAN ISLAND, AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THAT AND GET THE BEST USE OF OUR LAND.
HOW CAN WE DO THAT? PELICAN ISLAND, FOR THE MOST PART, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A DESOLATE AREA FOR THE COMMUNITY.
MAYBE WE NEED TO TAKE A BETTER LOOK AT IT.
WHAT CAN WE DO? HOW CAN WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT AND USE IT MORE WISELY? SAME WITH THE GALVESTON PART IN THAT WE HAVE X AMOUNT OF LAND, X AMOUNT OF SPACE, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE COSTED OUT IN TERMS OF X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS PER SQUARE FOOT.
HOW CAN WE GET THE BEST USE OF THE WHOLE PROPERTY? I DON'T WANT TO SOUND LIKE A POLITICIAN AND SAY YES AND NO, BUT IT'S JUST I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO SEE WHAT'S THE DOWNSIDE OF NOT DOING IT OTHER THAN THE FACTOR OF COST.
BUT I GUESS THAT WOULD BE MY ANSWER.
>> VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. PENA? MR. PENA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE WILL MEET SEPTEMBER 16TH, SIR, FOR A CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
WE'LL MAKE OUR APPOINTMENTS THEN AND WE'LL BE BACK IN TOUCH WITH YOU THEN AFTER THAT.
>> WELL, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ALL. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT SHOULD BE SHERRY BROOKS WHO WILL BE OUR NEXT.
>> I KNEW THAT NAME WAS FAMILIAR.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. SHE'S THE HOSPITALITY [OVERLAPPING]
>> SHE'S THE CHAIRPERSON OF OUR SISTER CITY.
>> SHE'S DONE A GREAT JOB WITH THAT. [NOISE]
>> YEAH, AND WE COLLABORATED WITH HER FOR THE SUMMER, THE COOKING PROGRAM THAT THE ACE KIDS DID.
>> YOU STOPPED ASKING YOUR QUESTIONS.
>> YOU STOPPED ASKING YOUR QUESTIONS.
YOU WERE GOING AROUND ASKING EVERYBODY.
>> VERY TRUE TO THE GREATEST NEEDS.
[02:40:01]
>> GOOD MORNING SIR. HOW ARE YOU TODAY?
COME ON IN AND COUNCILMAN SCHUSTER WAS SAYING, NOW WE'VE GOT TWO TEACHERS HERE, SO THAT'S GREAT.
>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE AND CONGRATULATIONS.
>> HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING TODAY?
>> PROBABLY HAPPY TO SEE MY FACE SINCE I'M THE LAST ONE OF THE MORNING.
>> WELL, WE'VE GOT PLANNING COMMISSION TOO.
>> OH, WHO'D YOU WANT TO SEND IT TO?
I HAVE NO IDEA WHY I SAID THAT.
>> SHERRY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU FOR APPLYING AND WE'RE GOING TO OPEN IT UP, ALLOW YOU TO GIVE AN INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT, AND THEN WE'LL OPEN UP THE QUESTIONS THEN.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAYBE AREN'T AWARE OF WHAT I DO IN THE VARIOUS DIFFERENT THINGS.
I AM A TEACHER AT BALL HIGH FOR THE HOSPITALITY PROGRAM OF BALL HIGH, THIS IS MY NINTH YEAR THERE.
DURING MY TIME THERE, I HAVE TAKING THE HOSPITALITY PROGRAM FROM IN THE QUOTE OF MR. PILLAR MY PRINCIPAL, WASN'T QUITE SURE IF YOU'D BE ABLE TO KEEP ME THE ENTIRE FIRST YEAR OR NOT BECAUSE THE PROGRAM WASN'T THAT STAY.
TILL I'M HAPPY TO SAY AN INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM THAT HAS A WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PARK BOARD, WITH LAUNDRIES AND THE HOTEL ASSOCIATION, AND THE LEADERS OF THE INDUSTRY.
SOMETHING THAT I'M VERY HONORED TO BE ABLE TO DO.
I AM THE CHAIR IN THE SISTER CITIES COMMITTEE HERE, THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
WE'VE TAKEN THAT FROM A VOLUNTARY COMMITTEE WHEN I FIRST STARTED ATTENDING THE MEETINGS TO ACTUAL OFFICIAL CITY COMMITTEE AND RECENTLY IF YOU'LL REMEMBER WAS ABLE TO COME TO THE COUNCIL AND DO THE REPORT OF AFTER TWO YEARS OF WORKING ON IT, FINALLY HAVING CONNECTION MADE WITH VERACRUZ, MEXICO, ONE OF OUR SISTER CITIES THAT WE'VE REGAINED OUR CONTACT WITH.
I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT THE WAY FORWARD AND THEN OPEN OF COURSE, TO ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS.
>> WHAT MADE YOU PUT YOUR APPLICATION IN FRONT OF [INAUDIBLE].
>> HONESTLY SPEAKING, IN DOING WHAT I DO WITH HOSPITALITY ON THE ISLAND, I'M A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE STUDENT AND THE INDUSTRY AND WHAT THEY MAKE.
I HAD BEEN VERY BLESSED, I HAVE A VERY GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE INDUSTRY.
THAT'S HOW I ENDED UP IN THE SISTER CITIES PROGRAM BECAUSE TO ME, IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF INTERNATIONAL HOSPITALITY AND THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY THERE, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE'RE BEGINNING WITH VERACRUZ WORKING ON AS FAR AS EXCHANGING FOR TOURISM AND THINGS.
BUT IN MY CONTEXT THAT I HAVE WITH MIRACLES AND IN SPEAKING TO THEM, WE HAVE JUST BEGUN, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE JUST RECENTLY GOTTEN TO OUR SISTER CITY COMMITMENT.
WHERE NOW INITIATING ANY INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC EXCHANGE BETWEEN OUR SCHOOLS AND THAT'S THE FIRST STEP TO SEE HOW IT GOES TO OPEN THEIR PORT ARE GOING TO DISMISS WITH THE POINT IN GALVESTON.
SET IT TO ME, THIS SEEMS LIKE A NATURAL STEP TO GO FROM THE SISTER CITIES PROGRAM WITH THE SKILLS THAT I HAVE AND THE INTERACTIONS THAT I HAVE TO MOVE INTO THE WORKS FORWARD.
THERE'S A LOT OF TECHNICALITY ASPECTS OF THE WORKS FORWARD THAT I WON'T DENY I'M NOT OVERLY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT AND THAT'S NOTHING I CAN'T LEARN. I'M AN EDUCATOR.
I KNOW HOW TO DO THAT. BUT I CAN BRING TO THE TABLE A WONDERFUL CONNECTION THAT I FEEL WOULD HELP THE WORKS FORWARD IN THE COURSE.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE COUNCIL? VERY GOOD.
SHERRY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND WE'LL MEET SEPTEMBER 16TH.
>> COUNCIL WILL, WILL MAKE OUR APPOINTMENTS THEN AND THEN BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU AFTER THAT.
>> YES, SIR. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
>> SO WE GO INTO GO INTO PLANNING THEN.
>> WE'VE HAD ONE PERSON APPLYING FOR PLANNING THAT'S BEEN ONLINE ALL MORNING.
I CAN UNMUTE HER AND I THINK WE ALSO HAVE STEVEN TAENIA THAT'S HERE.
>> SURE. HOW LONG A BREAK WOULD YOU NEED COUNCIL? 5,10 MINUTES?
[02:45:01]
>> ALL RIGHT. LET'S TAKE ABOUT A 5-10 MINUTE BREAK.
>> TEN-MINUTE BREAK? OKAY. HOW ABOUT 10 O'CLOCK.
>> LET'S GO. [OVERLAPPING] WE'LL RECONVENE AT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] IF I CAN BE SO TECHNICAL AS TO DO POINT.
>> THE HUMIDITY IS STILL OUT THERE WITH THE DEW-POINT.
>> GOOD MORNING [INAUDIBLE] HOW ARE YOU?
>> GOOD MORNING. HOW ARE YOU DOING SIR?
>> DAVID, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND PLAN TO HAVE YOU HERE.
WE'LL BE MEETING SEPTEMBER 16TH TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS SO WE'LL BE IN CONTACT WITH YOU AFTER THAT.
WE'LL OPEN IT UP, LET YOU DO AN INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT, AND THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP THE QUESTIONS.
>> VERY GOOD. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW FOR THIS POSITION.
MY NAME'S DAVID FINKLEY, I AM A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER, CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGER, AND BI-VOCATIONAL MINISTER WITH THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH DISCIPLES OF CHRIST.
MY FULL-TIME JOB IS I WORK IN COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION.
I ALWAYS REPRESENT OWNERS AND I'M THE OWNER'S REP, HELPING THEM TO FIND THE RIGHT SIDE, PUT TOGETHER THE RIGHT PROJECT DELIVERY METHOD, AND THEN DELIVER COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS EITHER INTERIOR TO THE INFIDELS OR GROUND-UP CORN SHELL.
MY SECOND JOB IS I FOUNDED AND RUN A MINISTRY OF BICYCLE RECYCLING WHOSE MISSION IS TO PROVIDE BASIC TRANSPORTATION TO FOLKS WHO ARE REENTERING SOCIETY.
WE CURRENTLY ARE BASED OUT OF HOUSTON, BEEN THERE FOR 10 YEARS, AND WORKED WITH OVER A DOZEN ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES UP THERE.
I HAVE CONTACTED, I'VE MET WITH A GROUP DOWN HERE RECENTLY AS WELL AND WE HAD ONE WORKDAY AND WE'RE HOPING TO TRY TO CONTINUE EFFORTS DOWN HERE ON THE ISLAND AS WELL AND PARTNER WITH THEM.
THAT GROUP IS OUT OF CENTRAL CHURCH OVERALL THE 37TH.
MY BACKGROUND, I TRIED TO DESCRIBE IT A LITTLE BIT TO YOU BUT BASICALLY, WHAT BROUGHT ME TO HOUSTON WAS AFTER I GRADUATED WITH MY MASTERS AND CIVIL ENGINEERING WAS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 610 RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT AND SO THE FINAL RESULT THAT YOU SEE OUT THERE IS A RESULT OF MY EFFORTS WORKING WITH UPTOWN HOUSTON AND ENGINEERING CONSULTING FIRM AND TEXTILE OF PUTTING TOGETHER THE WHAT WE CALL DIRECT CONNECTORS UP AT 610 AND I10 WHICH ALLOW FOR BETTER ACCESS IN UPTOWN.
THROUGH THAT, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY HELP CREATE TOURISM INCREMENT ZONE NUMBER 17 OVER IN UPTOWN HOUSTON PUT TOGETHER $250 MILLION CAPITAL PERMIT PROGRAM, THEN WENT AND ADVOCATED FOR THAT AT THE CITY AS WELL AS ALSO HELPED WRITE POSITION PAPERS FOR THE MAYOR AND COUNTY JUDGE FOR ADVOCATING FOR ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS FOR I-10 AND US 290.
FROM THERE, I WENT TO WORK FOR THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP, CONTINUED IN POLICY, MANAGED 10 DIFFERENT INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEES MADE UP OF CEOS AND PRESIDENTS OF ENGINEERING FIRMS, FINANCIAL FIRMS, ETC AND ALSO MANAGE THE ALLIANCE FOR I-69 WHICH WAS MADE UP OF 34 COUNTIES FROM THE VALLEY ALL THE WAY UP TO TEXARKANA CAMP AND ADVOCATED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING FOR TEXAS AS WELL AS US FOR THE COMPLETION OF I-69 THROUGH US.
LOBBIED IN AUSTIN AND DC AS WELL, FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORTATION FUNDING FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, AND THEN SPENT A NUMBER OF YEARS WITH A CONSULTING FIRM HERE IN TOWN THAT SPECIALIZES IN RETRACTABLE ROOFS AND LONG-SPAN STRUCTURES.
THEN FROM THERE, WHEN THE MARKET WENT UPSIDE DOWN IN 2001, I LEFT THERE AS A PRINCIPAL WITH THE FIRM, WENT TO WORK FOR MYSELF AS A CONTRACT EMPLOYEE FOR LARGE INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE COMMERCIAL FIRM AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS.
JUST HELPING CLIENTS FIND THE RIGHT SITES AND THEN HELPING THEM PUT TOGETHER THE PLAN AND DEVELOP PRIMARILY IN THE INDUSTRIAL LIGHTENING IF ACTION SPACE.
WITH THAT I'VE ALWAYS HAD A HEART FOR SERVICE, I WAS PRESIDENT OF MY LOCAL MEMORIAL IN CIVIC ASSOCIATION FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, HELPED DEVELOP A HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL CONNECTION TO BUFFALO BAYOU UP INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE WAS A CAR SHARE PROGRAM WITH HARRIS COUNTY AND STEVE RODDICK.
I'VE ALWAYS HAD A PASSION FOR SERVICE.
I CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE ANY PROJECTS DOWN HERE IN GALVESTON, I DON'T HAVE ANY CONFLICTS, I DON'T HAVE ANY CLIENTS IN GALVESTON BUT I DO KNOW ABOUT PLANNING AND ZONING AND FIND IT A VERY INTERESTING AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DAVID.
[02:50:03]
VERY GOOD. COUNCIL, WE STILL HAVE JOHN.>> WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT HERE IN GALVESTON, JUST GENERAL DEVELOPMENT.
I THINK THAT THE CITY HAS A REALLY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO BALANCE BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
I THINK THERE IS AN UNTAPPED RESOURCE RELATED TO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE PORT IN PELICAN ISLAND.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO BALANCE OUT WITH THE QUALITY OF LIFE HERE IN THE CITY AND TO THAT END, I WOULD SAY THAT PART OF GOOD URBAN PLANNING IS TO HAVE YOUR COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN HELPED TO INFORM POLICY DECISIONS AND WHATEVER THAT LOOKS LIKE.
BUT WHATEVER THAT LOOKS LIKE I THINK WE HAVE A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO BE PROACTIVE IN SEEING THE ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
WE'RE SEEING SUPPORT WITH CRUISE TERMINAL THREE, POTENTIALLY, CRUISE TERMINAL FOUR.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? DO WE HAVE THE ROADWAY IN PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE NECESSARY IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THAT? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE TO THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY? I THINK THERE HAS TO BE A VERY GOOD BALANCE BETWEEN THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR CITIZENS AND RESPONDING TO BOTH TOURISM AND COMMERCIAL GROWTH.
>> OKAY. [INAUDIBLE] LOOK OVER THOSE COMMUNITY, ANY OF THAT STUFF?
ONLY TO THE EXTENT THAT IT IMPACTED THE PROPERTY NEXT TO ME THAT WAS A FORMER COMMERCIAL STORE THAT WANTED TO TRY TO REDEVELOP IT.
THAT WAS MORE OF A LANDMARK COMMISSION THING.
>> YES, DAVID, WHERE DO YOU LIVE FOR NOW?
>> I LIVE AT 1807 AVENUE L. RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM SUNNY'S.
>> YEAH, THAT GUY IS MY MAN. [LAUGHTER]
>> DIDN'T SEE YOU AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING LATE NIGHT? [LAUGHTER]
>> YEAH. [LAUGHTER] MILTON WAS THERE FOR ME.
>> WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THE RELEVANT ON THE SEA WALL?
>> DEVELOPMENT ON THE SEAWALL, I THINK MORE ALONG LINES OF TRYING TO FIND THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE OF THAT LAND.
BUT THE CHALLENGE THAT YOU HAVE IS THAT THE SEAWALL IS USED AS A MAJOR TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR.
YOU'VE GOT MAJOR CONFLICTS BETWEEN BEACHGOERS, VEHICLES, PEDESTRIANS, AND COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO IT.
I WATCHED AS THE PEDESTRIAN ALCOHOL AND THE FOG CROSSINGS AT ST. LOUIS WERE INTRODUCED.
>> THAT'S GOOD NEWS. [LAUGHTER]
>> MY MASTER'S IS IN CIVIL ENGINEERING, TRANSPORTATION PLANNING.
THAT'S REALLY MY FOCUS. I'VE SEEN ALL GOOD, BAD, AND UGLY.
WENT TO TEXAS A&M, WHERE I THINK THEY USE THAT CITY AS AN EXAMPLE OF GOOD, BAD, AND UGLY.
THEY TRY OUT EVERYTHING RIGHT THERE AND THEN WHAT DOESN'T WORK, THEY KEEP THERE BUT NEVER CHANGE IT AND THEN THEY USE WHAT'S GOOD [INAUDIBLE].
COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, FIRST OFF, COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT ALONG WITH COIR THINK IS THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE AND NOT NECESSARILY RESIDENTIAL.
FROM A PURE CITY DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE? I DON'T KNOW. I HAVEN'T DUG THAT DEEP DOWN INTO REGULATIONS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE HIGHEST AND BEST.
>> BE CAREFUL BY USING THE WORD HIGHEST WHEN YOU'RE REFERRING TO BUILDING OR ANOTHER THING.
>> I DIDN'T MEAN FOR [OVERLAPPING].
>> DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
>> DEALING WITH COMMERCIAL AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT CONDOS OR ANY HOTELS ALONG SEA WALL I'M TALKING ABOUT INDUSTRY.
WHAT'S YOUR OPINION ON INDUSTRY THEY COME IN OR YOU FAIR TO INDUSTRY BY LOOKING AT ALL THE CODES, SINCE YOU'RE AN ENGINEER, I'M NOT GOING TO EVEN GO TO COACH BECAUSE I KNOW YOU HAVE THAT BACKGROUND AND KNOW THE CODES.
I'VE LOOKED AT THE ZONING PLAN FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON AND THERE ARE SPECIFIC I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE APPROPRIATE AREAS FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
THERE SHOULD BE CONTROLLED AND SOUND APPROPRIATELY BECAUSE YOU'RE DEALING WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT.
YOU'VE GOT DIFFERENT ZONING REGULATIONS, YOU'VE GOT DIFFERENT PERMITTING REGULATIONS, EITHER AT THE LOCAL, STATE, OR FEDERAL LEVEL.
YOU ALSO HAVE A MIX OF MORE OF A WORK-BASED TRIPS THAT ARE GOING THERE RATHER THAN YOUR TOURISM TRIPS.
I AM ABSOLUTELY FAIR. THAT'S PART OF MY JOB.
MY PART OF MY JOB AS A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGER WITH MY CLIENTS IS TO HELP THEM FIND THE BEST PROPERTY THAT FITS THEIR SPECIFIC BUSINESS NEEDS AND OBJECTIVES.
NOT BRING THAT SAME APPROACH TO PLANNING COMMISSION.
>> WHAT MADE YOU PUT YOUR APPLICATION?
>> WELL, THE GENTLEMAN DIRECTLY ACROSS THE TABLE, HE WAS MY COUNCIL MEMBER WHEN I CAME HERE YEARS AGO.
PART OF THE VERY FIRST HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION MEETING,
[02:55:02]
I WENT TO EXPLAIN TO THEN, COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN WHAT I DID.HE SAID IT IN URBAN PLANNING BECAUSE WE'RE WORKING ON 27 STREET MASTER PLAN.
WOULD YOU MIND COMING IN AND MEETING THE STAFF? WE'RE WORKING ON IT AND MAYBE LENDING A CRITICAL EYE TO IT.
I WROTE GRANTS FOR TEXAS DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORTATION I KNOW WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR.
THROUGH THAT, I GOT A CHANCE TO REALLY MEET THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CITY.
MAYBE IT WAS JUST LIKE ONE OR TWO MEETINGS, BUT I LIKE THE DIRECTION THAT THEY WERE GOING, THAT THEY WERE FORWARD THINKING ENOUGH TO NOT JUST SIMPLY SLAP DOWN MORE CONCRETE FOR CARS, BUT ACTUALLY PAY ATTENTION TO OTHER MODES, PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLES PARTICULARLY.
I LIKED THE APPROACH THAT THE MASTER PLAN HAD.
I DID A FEW EDITS, TOLD HIM A FEW KEYWORDS THEY NEEDED MENTIONED, DIDN'T REALLY SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON IT, BUT THROUGH THAT, BECAME REALLY FOND OF WHAT THE CITY DOES.
I WANT TO CONTINUE TO SERVE IN SOME CAPACITY.
NOW, HONESTLY, I LOOKED THROUGH THE LITANY OF ALL THE DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT THEY ASK CITIZENS TO BE A PART OF.
I SAW THE TAX INCOME [INAUDIBLE] I WAS LIKE, WELL, THAT WOULD BE IT.
I HELPED PUT ONE TOGETHER AND THEN WHAT THEY DO AND HOW THEY'RE FUNDED.
I KNOW THE FINANCING BEHIND IT, ETC, BUT I WANTED TO TRY SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
SO I THREW MY HAT IN THE RING FOR PLANNING COMMISSION.
>> WHAT INDUSTRIES DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON?
>> WHAT INDUSTRIES? I THINK THIS IS A LITTLE SELFISHLY BECAUSE I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS AS I LIKED.
I THINK THE PORT OF GALVESTON, IT'S MORE IMPORTANT, NOT JUST NECESSARILY THE CITY AS A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE COLD STORAGE NEEDS.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW MOST OF THEIR FRUIT AND VEGETABLES THAT YOU GET OUT OF SOUTH AMERICA ARE GOING TO LONG BEACH OR TO LONG ISLAND AND THEN THEY'RE COMING BACK TO TEXAS. HOW CRAZY IS THAT? WHY WOULD WE NOT TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP MORE COLD STORAGE AT A PORT WHICH IS CLOSEST TO SOUTH AMERICA? I THINK THERE'S A REAL OPPORTUNITY THERE TOO.
I THINK PELICAN ISLAND IS AN UNTAPPED RESOURCE.
I DIDN'T FOLLOW IT TO SEE IF THE LEGISLATION WENT THROUGH TO SEE IF THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THE PORT OF HOUSTON TO RELINQUISH THEIR PROPERTY, DO ANYTHING TO IT.
BUT IN TERMS OF YOU SAID WHAT INDUSTRY SPECIFICALLY, THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY ONE THAT COMES TO MIND.
I THINK WE AS A COMMUNITY NEED TO BE VERY PROACTIVE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GOING ON WITH CHRIS TERMINAL 3 AND POTENTIALLY 4 AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR PLANNING ALONG HARBOR SIDE AND THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO THAT IN A VERY TIMELY MANNER.
>> BIOTECH COULD BE A NICE SUPPLEMENT TO UTMB.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A NATURAL HARMONY TO THAT.
I THINK THE CHALLENGE WOULD BE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE LABOR DEMAND FOR THAT, BASED ON THE POPULATION HERE OR IN GALVESTON COUNTY, DO WE HAVE ENOUGH LABOR TO SUPPORT? PROBABLY SMALL STARTUPS.
BUT LARGE-SCALE MIGHT BE A LITTLE MORE CHALLENGING.
>> HEARING GOOD AT ANY OF THE QUESTIONS. DAVID, THANK YOU.
I WOULD SAY, DAVID, HE GOT TO KNOW HE AND HIS FAMILY IN DISTRICT 2 THERE, HE'S NOT ONLY INVOLVED PROFESSIONALLY QUITE A BIT AS YOU CAN TELL BUT QUITE A BIT JUST IN THE COMMUNITY DOING A LOT OF THINGS WITH DISTRICT 2.
I KNOW WHERE YOU ARE BY EXAMPLE, YOU THERE IN MILTON ALSO.
>> WALK DOWN THE STREET EVERY MORNING TRY TO SEE IF HIS JEEP IS OUT FRONT.
>> YEAH. HE'S LIKE, [LAUGHTER] I'M RUNNING LATER THEN.
AS A SIDE NOTE ALSO, MY SON WAS THE IMPETUS FOR PUTTING FORWARD THE IDEA OF A COMMUNITY FLAG.
I WAS REALLY PROBABLY ONE OF HIS SELECTIONS WAS ONE OF THE FINALISTS.
I'M EAGER TO SEE WHERE THAT COMES OUT TO AND HE IS TOO.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF JANEL IS GOING TO BRING UP MR. BERKELEY, SHE'S WORKING ON THAT SHIRLEEN [OVERLAPPING].
>> SHOULD'VE BEEN MR. FAGAN, JAMES FAGAN.
>> GOOD MORNING GUYS. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME COME INTERVIEW TODAY.
>> HAPPY TO HAVE YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION AND
[03:00:02]
YOUR DESIRE TO SERVE MR. FAGAN. GLAD TO HAVE YOU.I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO IN GALVESTON TO VOLUNTEER FOR, AND THEN I SAW THIS OUT THERE AND WENT THROUGH AND LOOKED.
I SAID, WELL, THAT COMMITTEE FITS WHAT I KNOW BEST.
>> GOOD. WHAT WE'LL DO IS, WE'RE GOING TO LET YOU GO AHEAD AND GIVE A SHORT INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT AND THEN WE'LL OPEN UP TO QUESTIONS, SIR.
>> MY NAME IS JAMES FAGAN AND I LIVE IN [INAUDIBLE].
I BUILT MY HOUSE THERE IN 2009.
I'VE BEEN LIVING THERE FULL TIME FOR TWO YEARS NOW.
I WORKED IN ENGINEERING FOR 47 YEARS.
I'VE GOT AN EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE SUPPLYING CODES, STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS TO BUILDING FAC CODES AND FPA CODES.
I'VE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING THE DESIGN OF FACILITIES, MAINLY PETROCHEMICAL FACILITIES, THAT ARE ANYWHERE FROM THREE MILES WIDE TO SIX MILES LONG.
WITHIN THAT, THE SIDE WHERE EVERYTHING GOES, [NOISE] ROADS, DRAINAGE, FAR WATER SYSTEM, SANITARY SEWER, YOU NAME IT.
A LOT OF WHAT I'VE DONE, IN MY WORK HISTORY IS APPLICABLE TO INTERPRETING THESE CODES IN EVERY CITY.
WHICH I THOUGHT WILL BE VERY GOOD.
IT'S VERY EXTENSIVE AND A QUARTER FEW PAGES I'VE SCAN THROUGH IT.
I LOOKED IN THE PAST, WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS DONE, ON PREVIOUS MEETINGS, AND REVIEWED THE DOCUMENTS THAT WERE SUBMITTED WITH THOSE MEETINGS AND I WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH EVERYTHING THAT WAS SUBMITTED.
I DECIDED I APPLY FOR WHAT I KNOW BEST.
>> VERY GOOD. WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. FAGAN?
>> WHAT ENGINEERING? WHAT TYPE OF ENGINEERING?
>> I WAS MANAGER OF PIPING ENGINEERING.
A DIRECTOR OF PIPING ENGINEERING FOR 23 YEARS.
WITH KBR FOR LAST FIVE YEARS I'M RETIRED.
>> NO. IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, I WAS WITH THE CBNI WHICH WAS BOUGHT OUT BY MARK NORMAN, AND PREVIOUS TO THAT, I WAS WITH PARSONS ARNP FOR 12 YEARS.
I WENT TO FIVE YEARS NIGHT SCHOOL AND GOT A DEGREE IN POLITICAL SCIENCE.
[LAUGHTER] I WORKED IN THE DAY TIME FOR AN ENGINEERING COMPANY [BACKGROUND] ALL THROUGH THAT.
I DID UTILIZE THAT POLITICAL SCIENCE DEGREE.
IN A SENSE THAT I WORKED FOR SEVERAL CAMPAIGNS FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS IN [INAUDIBLE] AND NATIONALLY.
I JUST WORKED IN ENGINEERING THAT WHAT MY PAID BILLS.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTION? YES MOM.
>> ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH OUR LDR OR LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS?
>> WITH SCAN THROUGH THESE DOCUMENTS NOW AND IT'S PRETTY LONG, IT'S LIKE 307 PAGES LONG.
[LAUGHTER] I'VE JUST PICKED OUT [NOISE] SECTIONS AND JUST SCAN PARAGRAPHS, LIKE ONE B&B AS LOUD ON ONE BLOCK PER ADJACENT CORNERS OR WHATEVER.
THIS IS 2015, I'M TALKING OF 2009.
FROM BUILDING MY HOUSE STARTED IN JANUARY 2009, IT WAS FINISHED IN DECEMBER OF 2009.
I HAD TO [INAUDIBLE] BUILD A FILE CHAPTER 11 AND THEN FILE CHAPTER 7, SO YOU LEARN TO GET OUT OF A CONTRACT, AND I FINISHED MY HOUSE.
I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT WHAT ARE THE RULES FOR BUILDING YOUR HOUSING AND GAPS.
[LAUGHTER] I SEE IT TODAY IN IT'S NEIGHBORHOOD FACEBOOK PAGE, AND YOU'D SEE THESE QUESTIONS ON THAT PAGE ALL THE TIME ABOUT WHY IS THIS HOUSE THIS CLOSE TO THE STREET? WHY IS IT THIS FAR FROM HERE? I HAVE THOUGHT THIS A COUPLE OF MANY YEARS,
[03:05:02]
THEY WANTED DEVIATIONS FROM WHAT THEIR RULES ARE OUT THERE.WHICH ARE PRIMARILY CONTROLLED BY THE SOLID ONES IN THERE.
I NOTICED A LOT OF WHAT'S ON THIS COMMITTEE, WHAT COMES TO THIS COMMITTEE, I CALL IT DEVIATIONS FROM LIPS.
I THINK IT WAS CALLED DEVIATIONS IN MY INDUSTRY.
WHERE YOU SEE SOMETHING AND THE STANDARD SAYS YOU SHOULD DO THIS OR LOCATE IT HERE, BUT NOT NECESSARILY THE WANTED TO BE THAT FAR AWAY FROM SOMETHING ELSE.
YOU'D COME TO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CLIENT ON IT, OR EVEN WITH FARC FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, YOU SUBMIT THAT DEVIATION TO THEM AND THEY APPROVE IT, OR THEY DON'T APPROVE IT.
BUT I SEE A LOT OF DEVIATIONS COMING ACROSS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT ONE RIGHT NOW, THAT A HOUSE ON A LOT WITH A ROAD IN FRONT OF IT, AND IT ENCROACHES ON THE VEGETATION LINE BY 60 FEET, AND THERE'S 25 FOOT ONLY BEING IN LINE WITH 200 FEET ON THAT VEGETATION.
WELL WE HAVE MOVING ROAD, AND THIS PERSON HAS A LOT.
WHAT WOULD COMMON SENSE TELL ME IS THAT, THE ROAD NOT GOING TO MOVE.
YES, IT DOES ENCROACH [NOISE] 60 FEET ONTO THE REGISTRATION ALIGNMENT, BUT THE ROADS HAVE BEEN THERE, AND THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'D HAVE TO GO ALONG WITH.
THAT WOULD BE AT AN EXAMPLE OF A DEVIATION THAT I WOULD CONSIDER.
MAYBE GOING ALONG WITH ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO ENABLE SOMEBODY TO BUILD THEIR PROPERTY ON THAT LAND.
>> VERY GOOD. YES. WHAT ARE YOUR GENERAL THOUGHTS ON RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT WHEN YOU'RE ON THEIR CONTINUED GROWTH INVESTMENTS?
>> I LIVED ON THE EAST OF HUSTON, AND I SAW A LOT OF HOUSING ON SOME OF THE MAJOR THOROUGHFARES THAT WAS REZONED AS COMMERCIAL.
ACTUALLY, I'VE THOUGHT A LOT OF THAT LOOK LIKE TRASH TO ME. IT DID.
BECAUSE IT WASN'T LIKE TEAR-DOWN BUILD SOME NEW.
IT WAS LIKE CONVERT A HOUSE AND SIMILAR STUFF.
I BELIEVE IN THE COHESIVENESS OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
I WAS PRESIDENT IN MY CIVIC CLUB IN HUSTON FOR SIX YEARS.
I WAS ACTIVE IN ENFORCING THE BEE RESTRICTIONS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
I THINK THAT YOU CAN HAVE ECONOMIC ZONING WHERE YOU CAN CHANGE FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND THAT HAS TO BE CONSIDERED.
BUT I THINK ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, I THINK THAT WOULD BECOME WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD DECIDE BECAUSE A LOT OF ECONOMIC ZONING, THERE'S PURPOSES STUFF TO WORK OUT ON TAXES AND STUFF FOR DEVELOPMENT OF PROPERTY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING FOR A LIVING.
STEWART BEACH AS FAR AS THAT GOES, BUT THAT'S A BEACH IT'S A PARK.
BUT THEN THERE'S BEEN A REQUEST TO MAYBE DEVELOP THAT PROPERTY.
THERE ARE SOME COMPANIES COME IN THAT MAINLY MANAGED HOTELS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
THAT WOULD BE A CHANGE TO SOMETHING THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY.
RIGHT NOW IS A PARK, BUT THAT CAN REALLY BECOME A VERY COMMERCIALIZED AREA.
>> VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? MR. FAGAN? THANK YOU. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT.
>> HEY, STEVEN PINKER STATEMENT IS UP FOR REAPPOINTMENT.
>> SO IS IT THE REAPPOINTMENT AND PICK ONE OR IS TWO, THAT WE SELECT AND THEN ONE.
>> WE HAVE TWO VACANCIES AND THEN STEVEN CAN USE REAPPOINTMENT.
>> YES MA'AM. TECHNICALLY WE HAVE THREE APPOINTMENTS TO PLANNING COMMISSION WITH ONE OF THE POSSIBLE REAPPOINTMENT.
[NOISE] MORNING STEPHEN? [NOISE] THIS IS THE OPINION FAMILY DAY LAUGHTER].
[03:10:03]
FOR REAPPLYING FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION.>> I OPEN THE FLOOR UP FOR YOU FOR ANY INTRODUCTIONS, YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE.
THEN WE'LL OPEN UP TO COUNCIL FOR QUESTIONS. GREAT.
>> WELL, I THINK I HAVE MET MOSTLY EVERYBODY HERE.
SOME NEW FACES THAT I HAVE NOT HAD THE PLEASURE OF DIRECTLY MEETING SOME.
MY GRANDPARENTS WERE BORN, AND RAISED HERE.
MY MUM WAS AS WELL, SO I'LL GO BACK A WHILE THROUGH THE GALVESTON HISTORY.
I WENT TO A&M IN COLLEGE STATION, WENT OFF TO TO PURSUE MY WIFE AND CAREER IN DALLAS AREA FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS, AND I CAME BACK TWO YEARS AGO, AND HAVE SETS CONJOINED MY DAD IN A FAMILY BUSINESS, KLEEN SUPPLY WHICH IS RIGHT DOWN THE STREET HERE, AND ANXIOUSLY ANTICIPATE HIS RETIREMENT.
>> BUT WE'VE REALLY DONE SOME GOOD THINGS TOGETHER HERE THIS PAST YEAR, AT THE OFFICE AT KLEEN AND WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO CELEBRATE OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY THERE THIS YEAR.
I CAME FROM A HEALTH CARE BACKGROUND, A LITTLE BIT OF THE HEALTH CARE FACILITY SIDE, CAME INTO KLEEN HERE WITH THAT SAME CLEANING BACKGROUND, BUT I'M ALSO BRINGING IN THE BUSINESS OWNERS MINDSET AS WELL AS A CIVIC MINDED [NOISE] COMMUNITY ASPECT TO GALVESTON.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT I'VE ENJOYED HERE IN GALVESTON IS BEING ABLE TO BE ACTIVE WITH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WITH [INAUDIBLE] IN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT BOARDS THERE, AND WITH THE CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS, ADVOCATING FOR BUSINESS HERE ON THE ISLAND, AS WELL AS VISION GALVESTON, WHICH IS ADVOCATING FOR THINGS.
BUILD GALVESTON, WHICH IS LOOKING AT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AT COST ATTAINABLE HOUSING.
HOW TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR [NOISE] FUTURE GROWTH WITH THAT MIDDLE INCOME, AS OPPOSED TO [INAUDIBLE].
BALANCING THOSE TWO AND THAT'S WHERE I HAVE ENJOYED SERVING ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, BECAUSE YOU GET TO SEE BOTH SIDES OF THAT.
SOMETIMES [NOISE] THAT DEVELOPMENT MATCHES AND FOR ME PERSONALLY, AND I THINK THIS IS GREAT, THIS IS WHAT WE REALLY NEED, AND SOMETIMES YOU DISAGREE BUT THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF THE [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER]
>> WELL, THANK YOU, STEPHEN. WE APPRECIATE IT.
COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS? YES, MA'AM.
>> WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE LDRS?
>> IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE WE HAD A DISCUSSION IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OVER HERE AMONGST OURSELVES.
PLANNING COMMISSION WAS INTERESTING HOW THERE'S TWO SIGNS YOU HEAR INDIVIDUAL CASES OF SOMEBODY COMING FORTH, AND WANTING [NOISE] TO BUILD XYZ ON A PLOT THAT WASN'T TECHNICALLY MEANT FOR XYZ.
YOU LOOK AT THAT ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, AND HOW THAT RELATES [NOISE] TO THE LDR.
THEN YOU ALSO THINK, THAT DIDN'T FIT THAT CRITERIA, THAT DIDN'T FIT THE LOGIC BEHIND THE LDR, SO THAT ONE INSTANCE, BUT WHY? THEN WE CAN LOOK AT THE POLICY BEHIND IT, AND IS THE POLICY OUTDATED? WAS THAT SOMETHING THAT WORKED FOR WHEN IT WAS WRITTEN, OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT NEEDS SOME TWEAKING, AND SOME REWORKING? I THINK THAT WAS SOMEWHAT OF THE CASE COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WITH ANCILLARY STRUCTURES.
WHERE A PERSON OWNS TWO PLOTS, ONE IN FRONT OF THE OTHER WANTED TO BUILD AN ANCILLARY STRUCTURE ON ONE, BUT YOU CAN'T BUILD AN ANCILLARY STRUCTURE WITHOUT A PERMANENT STRUCTURE.
IN THAT PARTICULAR INSTANCE YOU DON'T WANT TO JUST OPEN THE FLOOD GATES AND, LET EVERYTHING IN, BUT AT THE SAME TIME [NOISE] IT MAKES SENSE IN THAT SPECIFIC INSTANCE, BUT WE NEED TO WORK IT TO WHERE, IT FITS WITHIN THE [INAUDIBLE] AND WE CAN KNOW WHAT CAN HAPPEN.
LDRS ARE GREAT THAT'S YOUR STANDARD AND YOUR, BIBLE PER SAY.
[03:15:06]
BUT OFTENTIMES IT NEEDS TO BE RE-LOOKED AT AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ADAPTABLE TO, WHETHER THAT BE EVERY 5 YEARS, 10 YEARS, WHATEVER IT IS.THAT IT'S ADAPTABLE TO THE DIRECTION THAT THE CITY, WANTS AHEAD?
>> VERY GOOD, ANY OTHER QUESTION, [NOISE] JOHN?
>> I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS, SO THE FIRST-TERM [NOISE] ON PLANNING COMMISSION WERE YOUR THOUGHTS, NOW THAT YOU HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE ON PLANNING, AND ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD CHANGE, OR ANY THINGS THAT YOU REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON? [NOISE]
>> SURE, IT'S INTERESTING SURE THAT WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT MY OLD ANSWERS FROM WHEN I FIRST APPLIED, AND THEY HAVE CHANGED A LITTLE BIT.
BECAUSE I JUST DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL YOU'RE THERE UP THEN IN THAT CHAIR AND SEEING, GETTING ALL THIS INFORMATION, AND READING THIS AND DIGESTING IT.
I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A LITTLE BOTH OF LIKE I SAID EARLIER, WE GET THE CHANCE TO HEAR THE INDIVIDUAL REQUESTS [NOISE], AND THE INDIVIDUAL CASES.
BUT THEN IT'S ALSO HELPFUL TO KNOW THE POLICY BEHIND THAT AND WHY IT IS, AND DOES THAT POLICY NEED TO CHANGE, OR DOES THAT COMPLETELY FIT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF THE CITY, OR WHERE WE WANT TO GROW.
IF I COULD CHANGE ANYTHING, YOU WOULD BE THAT WE LOOK AT BOTH ON A MUCH MORE FREQUENT BASIS, AS OPPOSED TO WHEN SOMETHING JUST TRIGGERS THAT REACTIVE ACTIONS SUCH AS WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH NOW WITH THE FOOD TRUCKS, THAT CONCESSION STAND, PERMANENT.
IDEALLY, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SOMETHING THAT WE PUT TOGETHER, OR WE'VE GONE UP [INAUDIBLE] THAT, AND OF COURSE THAT'S AN ECONOMIC BOOM FOR CERTAIN PARTS OF TOWN.
BUT IT WOULD'VE BEEN NICE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE FIRM OF A PLANE BACK THEN IN RETROSPECT, THEN WHAT WE HAVE NOW.
>> GOOD. WHAT DO YOU SEE GALVESTON GOING OVER THE NEXT 5 OR 10 YEARS WITH ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, WHETHER IT'S RESIDENTIAL, OR COMMERCIAL.
JUST TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE ISLAND, AND GROWTH FOR THE ISLAND.
>> SURE. [NOISE] IT'S A LITTLE TROUBLING TO SEE THE TREND OF FAMILIES THAT ARE LEAVING, BUT YET YOU SEE THIS LARGE POPULATION THAT COMMUTES TO GALVESTON EVERY DAY.
HOW DO YOU FIX THAT? WHERE DOES THAT BALANCE COME FROM, OF GETTING MORE PEOPLE THAT WORK AT UTAB? YOU'RE GETTING MORE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT TO LIVE HERE ON THE ISLAND.
THERE'S HOUSING INCENTIVES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, NEED TO BE LOOKED AT.
WE ALSO DEPEND HEAVILY ON TOURISM AND ON HOTELS, AND LARGE RESORTS, [NOISE] THINGS LIKE THAT, I'M ALSO [NOISE] BRINGING IN A LARGE AMOUNT OF SALES FOR TAX REVENUE TO THE ISLAND.
WE BRING IN MIDDLE-INCOME FAMILIES, BUT YET ALSO SUPPORT ALL THE CITY'S ECONOMIC STRUCTURE ON THE PORT, ON PRIVATE [NOISE] BUSINESSES.
BUT YOU'RE ALSO SUPPORTING THE TOURISM INDUSTRY, AND WITH [NOISE] SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THEY BRING IN THAT DOLLAR.
IT'S A BALANCE, WHERE DO I SEE IT? I SEE A BALANCE, OF BEING ABLE TO BRING IN THAT HIGH DOLLAR INVESTMENT, BUT ALSO PROTECTING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? STEPHEN THANK YOU SO MUCH [OVERLAPPING].
>> THANK YOU. [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING]
I'M GOING TO GO SEE IF HE'S ARRIVED YET, [OVERLAPPING] BUT IF NOT MS. [INAUDIBLE] [NOISE] WILL BE NEXT AND SHE'S ON ZOOM.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. [NOISE]
>> YOU ALL REMEMBER WHEN COUNCILMAN REVEREND THOMAS SAID BUILD A TALL BRIDGE TOURIST PEOPLE COMING IN ON THE ISLAND?
[03:20:01]
[NOISE] IF WE LOOK AT IT TODAY, ONE OF THE APPLICANTS WENT TO [INAUDIBLE] OVER PELICAN ISLAND BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WASN'T SUCH A BAD IDEA [LAUGHTER].>> THERE HAS BEEN SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT A THE TOLL BRIDGE TO PELICAN ISLAND JUST RECENTLY? [OVERLAPPING] YES, MA'AM. [NOISE]
>> [NOISE] [OVERLAPPING] MS. [INAUDIBLE], OR MS. EDWARD, I'M SORRY.
[NOISE] SURE IS AN INTELLIGENT LUCKY GROUP [LAUGHTER].
>> YEAH I GUESS [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT WAS COMING OUT OF A PICTURE THAT'S [LAUGHTER]
>> CAN WE GET HER ON THE SCREEN?
>> THERE WE ARE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION.
WHAT WE'LL DO IS, COUNCIL WILL BE MEETING SEPTEMBER 16TH TO MAKE OUR APPOINTMENTS.
SO WE'LL BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU AFTER THAT, BUT LIKE TO OPEN IT UP LET YOU GIVE A SHORT INTRODUCTION AND THEN WE'LL OPEN UP TO QUESTIONS TO COUNCIL. GO RIGHT AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT' AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO HOVER OVER THE MAYOR OF GALVESTON.
[LAUGHTER] I WANTED TO TELL YOU A LITTLE ABOUT MY SELF.
I WOULD THE FIRST WOMAN, TO GET A DEGREE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING HERE AT GROTON.
MY FIRST JOB AFTER SCHOOL WAS AT A CHEMICAL PLANT IN [INAUDIBLE], WHERE I WAS THE SECOND FEMALE ENGINEER.
I WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT STORY BECAUSE OF ONE OF MY PERSONAL HEROES WAS THE LADY WHO WAS THE FIRST PROFESSIONAL FEMALE AT THAT PLANT.
SHE WENT ON TO GET HER MBA, SHE BECAME A VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING IN A MAJOR OIL COMPANY HERE IN TOWN IN THAT [INAUDIBLE] AREA.
DURING ONE OF THE BUYOUT, SHE TOOK THE PACKAGE AND BECAME A HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE AND MATH TEACHER IN AN INNER CITY SCHOOL.
I LOVE THE WAY THAT SHE HAS SUPPORTED OUR COMMUNITY AND WHEN MY KIDS WERE GROWING UP, OF COURSE, WE WANTED TO SUPPORT A CHURCH IN OUR SCHOOL.
WE USED TO WELCOME BY VOLUNTEERING, I'M NOW RETIRED AND I'M LOOKING FOR BIGGER CHALLENGES.
I'M HOPING NOW TO END UP IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND IF NOT, I'M GOING TO KEEP LOOKING AND I'M GOING TO FIND THE PLACE TO SERVE.
YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT TO FINDING MY SPOT TO DO THAT.
I AM READY TO MAKE A STRONGER CONTRIBUTION AND OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS I'VE DONE A LOT OF WORLDWIDE TRAVEL.
I'VE BEEN TO 20 SOMETHING COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD AND IN ALL OF THOSE PLACES.
I'VE DONE PRESENTATIONS AND MEETINGS AND IN THE [INAUDIBLE] THE TRANSPORTATION AND THE AIRPORT AND LOTS OF CONFERENCE ROOMS ALL OVER THE WORLD.
I STILL HAVE A STRONG NETWORK OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD, THAT I CAN CALL ON WHEN I NEED TO.
CAREER WISE I'VE MORPHED FROM BEING A PROJECT MANAGER TO A PROGRAM MANAGER.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE, A PROJECT MANAGER BUILDS SOMETHING, MAKES SOMETHING HAPPEN.
A PROGRAM MANAGER HAS A BIT BROADER, HE IS NOT ALWAYS BUILDING A THING BUT ALL MORE OFTEN GETTING PEOPLE ON BOARD WITH A VISION, WHETHER IT'S A PHYSICAL THING OR HOW YOU SPEND YOUR TIME, WHERE YOU PUT YOUR MONEY, HOW YOU'VE MANAGED YOUR PRIORITIES.
I HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH THAT.
I HAVE TRAINING, CERTIFICATE AND MEETINGS FACILITATION AND CONSERVATIVE BUILDING TECHNIQUE AND IN CHANGE MANAGEMENT.
MY LAST JOB IN MY FORMER COMPANY BEFORE I RETIRED WAS DOING PREDICTIVE ANALYTICS.
IN SUCH A WAY, USING BIG DATA TO PREVENT UNPLANNED DOWNTIME OF OUR FACILITY.
AS I LEARNED HOW TO DO THAT AND LEARNED HOW TO TEACH THAT, I REALLY ENJOYED THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN CHARTING DATA AND INFORMATION, AND TURNING INFORMATION INTO ACTIONABLE INTELLIGENCE.
THAT'S ONE OF THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO YOU, SO I THINK IS THIS ROLE OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO BRING YOU GUYS THIS AGE OF THE INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTIONABLE INTELLIGENCE,
[03:25:05]
BECAUSE DATA DRIVEN DECISIONS TEND TO BE BETTER AND STRONGER AND LAST LONGER.THEN ARGUING ALL OVER OPINIONS WHICH WE'RE ALL AND I WON'T SAY THAT HOW PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THINGS IS PART OF THE DATA AND NOT TO BE IGNORED.
I LEFT FEW POSITIONS AND WORLDWIDE POSITIONS THAT I HELD OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS OR SO.
I'VE HAD ASTHMA BUT I HAVE KNOWN HOW TO CONTROL.
THAT'S HOW OUR COMPANY WAS ORGANIZED.
WE CAN INFLUENCE SOME SUBSIDIARIES, BUT FOR LEGAL REASONS, THEY MAINTAINED THEIR OWN DECISION-MAKING.
YOU REALLY HAVE TO HELP PEOPLE WANT TO DO WHATEVER PROGRAM YOU ARE PERMITTING.
I THINK I WOULD LOVE TO BRING THOSE SKILLS TO GALVESTON AND CERTAINLY THERE.
WE'RE GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL NOW FOR QUESTIONS.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS?
>> I HAVE PINNED THROUGH ALL 302 PAGES.
[LAUGHTER] THERE ARE CERTAINLY A LOT OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO BECOME VERY FAMILIAR WITH.
IF YOU SCRUTINIZE THE DOCUMENT THAT LONG EVERYBODY CAN FIND FAULTS IN IT.
I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT, THAT THE LDR SUPPORT YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND IT'S A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO SUPPORT THE DIRECTION OF THE COUNCIL.
SO I SEE THAT AS A NECESSARY MATCH OF HOW WE EXPRESS OURSELVES AND COMMUNICATE OUR VISION TO PEOPLE.
>> WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON DEVELOPMENT ON GALVESTON RESIDENTIAL AND INDUSTRIAL.
>> I'VE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN INDUSTRIAL LIGHT INDUSTRIAL COMMERCIAL AND BEEN A HOMEOWNER SINCE I WAS 22.
I HAVE A BROAD RANGE OF EXPERIENCE TO BRING TO THAT.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT IT'S PERSONALLY MY OPINION THAT GALVESTON IS FLAWED, THAT WE CAN'T DO MORE WITH THE SYSTEM CURRENTLY IN PLAY.
I THINK MOST OF THE WESTERN PRESIDENTS ARE ABSOLUTELY AVOIDING THE CITY ON WEEKENDS DURING THE SUMMER AND THAT IS NOT A GOOD THING.
I THINK THAT DEVELOPMENT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT.
NOT JUST IN TERMS OF HOW DO WE ATTRACT THE HIGHER DOLLAR PRESIDENT, BUT WE OFTEN HAVE TO THINK OF THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT ISSUE, WHICH IS, WHERE DO WE REALLY WANT THE [INAUDIBLE] TO GO? WHERE DO WE WANT THEM TO PARK AND DRIVE AND HOW DO WE INCENTIVIZE THEM TO DO THAT FOR US?
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MS. HARDAWAY THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENDANCE AND WE'LL BE BACK AS I MAY HAVE MENTIONED, SEPTEMBER 16TH.
WE'LL BE BACK IN TOUCH AND LET YOU KNOW COUNCIL'S DECISIONS THERE.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> I TOOK THAT [INAUDIBLE] SO I'M GOING TO TAKE THIS PLAY [LAUGHTER].
>> I TOOK THE [INAUDIBLE] SO THAT WE GET OUT HERE.
>> I GOT A MISS A [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER].
>> I DON'T KNOW IF WERE ANY GOOD GAMES THIS WEEKEND, LAST WEEKEND WAS THE BEST COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEKEND OF ALL [OVERLAPPING].
>> AND ALL THE WAY TO MONDAY NIGHT.
>> AND IF I CAN'T SEE IT'S BECAUSE MY GLASSES [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] [INAUDIBLE] NOTHING TO DO WITH ME, IT'S THE MASK AND THE GLASS.
>> [BACKGROUND] CHOOSE BETWEEN MASK OR GLASS.
>> FIRST, YOU WANT ME TO FEEL LIKE I'M SHORT.
[LAUGHTER] THANKS FOR SEEING ME TODAY.
>> THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION FORM.
[03:30:02]
WE OPENED IT UP, AS YOU KNOW, FOR AN INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT AND THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS THEN. GO RIGHT AHEAD, SIR.>> WELL, MOST OF YOU HAVE SEEN ME HERE BEFORE [INAUDIBLE] I'VE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION BECAUSE I'M INTRIGUED BY THE ROLE IT HAS IN INFLUENCING THE LONG-TERM FUTURE AND SOME SHORT-TERM IMPACTS TO THE ISLAND COMMUNITY, AND I THINK A LOT OF MY BACKGROUND AND TECHNICAL AND CIVIC INTEREST ALIGN WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION ROLE, THAT'S WHY I'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON IT FOR A WHILE, AND NOW I HAVE A LOT OF DUE DILIGENCE, PARTICULARLY EITHER AS AN INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTOR OR AS A TECHNICAL TEAM LEAD AND ORGANIZATIONS ON CAPITAL PROJECTS, BUT USUALLY THE TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS, AND I THINK THAT FITS WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S ROLE AS WELL.
A BIT OF AN ADVISORY ROLE TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. SIVAN? YES, MA'AM.
>> WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS?
>> WELL, SINCE THEY'VE BEEN A THORN IN THE SIDE FOR DISTRICT 6 SINCE 2015, I BELIEVE WHEN THEY WERE PUT TOGETHER, AND THEY'VE BEEN FIXED IN THE AD HOC MANNER.
I HAVE A SENSE THAT WE'VE GONE TOO FAR DOING IT THIS WAY TO WORRY ABOUT FULL [INAUDIBLE] TO THE CITY.
THE BENEFITS OF LDRS ARE, I THINK, CLEAR IN TERMS OF GUIDANCE TO THE PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO DO DEVELOPMENT AND THOSE PEOPLE WHO TRIED TO CONTROL DEVELOPMENT, AND THEN WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ORIGINAL PROPERTIES FIT INTO THEIR ROLE AND THEIR CORRECT POSITION IN THE LDR.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK WHAT WE'RE DEALING IS WHEN WE FIND AN ISSUE, THAT A MISTAKE WAS MADE OR THINGS DON'T FIT, THEY CAN BRING IT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THE COUNCIL, AND DO OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT PROPERTY PHASE IS HISTORIC PURPOSE, AND IS OF BENEFIT TO THE CITY MOVING FORWARD AS WELL.
>> VERY GOOD. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, SHAWN?
>> WHAT'S YOUR OVERALL THOUGHT ON THE GROWTH OF THE ISLAND, BOTH WITH COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
>> I'M THINKING THAT THE ISLAND, IN THE LONG-TERM IS GOING TO STABILIZE IN TERMS OF GROWTH.
I THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER OFF IF DEVELOPMENT WAS ENCOURAGED MORE BEHIND THE SEAWALL, PARTICULARLY LARGER STRUCTURES.
I THINK MAINTAINING GREEN SPACE IS IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY AND MANAGE IT TO DO NO HARM.
I'D LIKE TO SEE DEVELOPMENT WITH BENEFIT, EVEN IF THERE'S JUST NO BENEFIT IS BASICALLY BENIGN TO THE COMMUNITY, THAT'S FINE.
I JUST DON'T WANT TO SEE A LOT OF HARM DONE TO THE SAFETY OF THE RESIDENTS AND THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE IN THESE DEVELOPMENTS, AND THERE'S A LOT OF ROOM FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT PARTICULARLY WHEN I DRIVE ALONG THE SEA WALL.
THERE'S TONS OF PROPERTIES THAT ARE YEARNING FOR REDEVELOPMENT I THINK.
>> YOU MENTIONED DEVELOPMENT BEHIND SEAWALL.
DO YOU THINK THERE'S ANY NEED TO CHANGE OUR HEIGHT AND DENSITY REGULATIONS BECAUSE OF THAT?
>> I'M OPEN TO A HEIGHT AND DENSITY REGULATION CHANGE IF IT IS USED TO LEVERAGE MORE OF A FOCUS DENSITY TO OUR DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE IT'S JUST WHAT I EXPLAINED, I THINK THE ISLAND, HAVING A SMALLER FOOTPRINT BEHIND THE SEAWALL INCREASES INTEGRITY OF THE COMMUNITY OR HELPS US WHETHER SIGNIFICANT STORMS AND SEA-LEVEL IMPLICATIONS, AND I THINK WE COULD USE THAT AS SOME CHARACTER TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A DENSITY, DECREASE THE COST OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN MAINTAINING THESE FEATURES, AND JUST KEEP THIS ALL AS A SAFE COMMUNITY.
>> AND THE UNDERSTANDING ON THAT, JUST TO CLARIFY, ARE YOU SAYING YOU WOULD BE OKAY WITH HIGHER DENSITY, SMALLER FOOTPRINT TO GET THAT HIGHER BUILDING IF THEY HAD A SMALLER FOOTPRINT?
[03:35:08]
>> YEAH. I WOULD ACCEPT THE LARGER FOOTPRINT AS WELL.
WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER IS IF I HAD TO BUILD A LARGE FOOTPRINT DEVELOPMENT ON WEST OF THE SEAWALLS, I PREFER TO HAVE A DEVELOPMENT INSTEAD ENCOURAGED WITHIN THE SAFETY OF THE SEAWALL.
I'M NOT TRYING TO TRADE OFF FOOTPRINT.
I'M JUST SAYING DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE FOCUSED AND ENCOURAGED PREFERABLY BEHIND THE SEAWALL.
WHEN THE STORM HITS, THE SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE DONE, I THINK IT WILL BE SIGNIFICANT AND IMPORTANT TO US AS TAXPAYERS AND FEDERAL STATE, AND CITY LEVEL.
>> WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO PUT YOUR APPLICATION IN?
>> WELL, I GUESS MY INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT, I'VE APPLIED A NUMBER OF TIMES TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I'VE DONE SOME EXAM, I ACTUALLY GO AND I WATCH SOME OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS WHILE [BACKGROUND] [OVERLAPPING] AND IT SOUNDS A LITTLE EGOTISTICAL, BUT I THINK MY STYLE OF DISCUSSION AND APPROACHING PROBLEMS, THE RIGOR OF MY PREPARATION THAT I FELT OVER 40 SOME YEARS IN OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY WOULD POSITIVELY CONTRIBUTE TO THE DISCUSSIONS AND NOT DIRECT THEM ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, BUT MAYBE HELP MAKE SURE THAT YOU LOOK AT IT IN A BROAD FULL WAY, AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF MY DUE DILIGENCE BACKGROUND, AND ALSO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND UNFORESEEN IMPLICATIONS OF THE DECISION.
MAKE SURE WE'VE HAD THAT DISCUSSION.
I JUST THINK IT FITS WITH BOTH MY PERSONALITY, MY TRAINING, AND MY INTERESTS.
>> WHAT INDUSTRIES DO YOU SEE THAT WOULD HAVE A FUTURE IN GALVESTON AS A WHOLE?
>> MOSTLY A RECREATIONAL COMMUNITY.
ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH ACCESS TO WATER.
THAT GIVES A FOCUS AREA TO HOTEL TOURISM INDUSTRY.
I WORKED IN INDUSTRIES WHERE PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO PUT THEIR PEOPLE, THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEMS, THEIR DATABASES AT RISK, AND I THINK AS A COASTAL COMMUNITY, IT'S A HARD SELL TO BRING IN REAL INDUSTRY OTHER THAN THE ONES THAT ARE HISTORICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH COASTAL COMMUNITIES.
THAT'S AN IMPRESSION, I'M NOT AGAINST ANY OF IT.
IT'S JUST SITTING AS AN OUTSIDER IN THE INDUSTRY, I'D SAY IF I GO TO GALVESTON, WHAT ARE THE RISKS TO MY PEOPLE AND MY INFRASTRUCTURE AND WE'RE HIGH-RISK PLACE.
>> THANK YOU, PAUL, VERY MUCH.
I WANT TO COMMEND YOU ON YOUR PERSEVERANCE.
YOU HAVE BEEN SO, I KNOW, CONCENTRATED ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION IN THE PAST AND APPRECIATE THAT.
SOUNDS LIKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WANT TO GIVE SOMETHING TO THE COMMUNITY AND YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT HOPEFULLY, YOU CAN MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION. THANK YOU.
>> [OVERLAPPING] ARE WE GOING TO HAVE MR.BERKLEE, ONLINE?
>> WE DO. I THINK JANELLE IS GOING TO PUT HIM ON AFTER WE FINISH, STAN.
[INAUDIBLE] YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT [INAUDIBLE] WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PLANNING.
>> OF COURSE, MANY OF THESE SUBJECTS HAVE TO GO OVER INTO THE BOARD AND BACK AND FORTH.
>> MR. HUMPHREY, COME RIGHT IN, SIR.
[03:40:01]
>> GREETINGS, HAVE A SEAT IF YOU WOULD, SIR.
>> I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION.
WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR DESIRE TO SERVE THE CITY.
WHAT WE'LL DO IS LET YOU MAKE AN INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT AND THEN WE'LL OPEN UP TO QUESTIONS, SIR.
>> OKAY. WELL, INTRODUCTORY WISE, STAN HUMPHREY.
I KNOW A COUPLE OF YOU, BUT SOME I DON'T.
I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE PERMANENT LEASE ASSOCIATES.
RETIRED IN 2019 FROM SOUTHWEST AIRLINES AND TRIED TO GET INVOLVED WITH DOING THINGS WITH THE CITY AS SOON AS I COULD.
I STARTED OFF WITH THE AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD AS I WILL GET TO THE TERMS. QUOTE JOHN UPDIKE, NOT JOHN UPDIKE, I'M SORRY, JOHN IRVING.
JOHN IRVING IN A FAMOUS BOOK, TOLD HIS PROTEGEE, I WANT YOU TO BE OF USE.
MY POSITION IS, I WANT TO BE OF USE AND SEE IF I GOT ANYTHING IN MY BACKGROUND EXPERIENCE OR KNOWLEDGE THAT COULD HELP OUT, MAKING SOME GOOD DECISIONS.
>> VERY GOOD. I'LL START OUT WITH THE QUESTION.
WHAT TRAITS OR WHAT ATTRIBUTES DO YOU THINK YOU CAN BRING TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION THAT WOULD BE OF BENEFIT TO THEM?
>> WELL, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE ARE ALWAYS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE ATTRIBUTES YOU SHOULD HAVE.
I THINK PROBABLY GOT KNOWLEDGE, MAYBE NOT A WHOLE LOT, SOME PEOPLE WOULD JUDGE ME FOR LESS.
[LAUGHTER] I THINK I DO, BUT ALSO IS JUST THAT I'VE HAD VARIETY OF EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE AND I'VE BEEN PRETTY MUCH, IN MY CAREER TASKED WITH REGULATORY.
I UNDERSTAND THAT REGULATORY IS PART OF ANY PROCESS AND ANY THING THAT HAPPENS.
[NOISE] YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO USE COMMON SENSE AND JUDGMENT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT REGULATIONS, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO APPLY THEM.
I THINK I'VE HAD SOME EXPERIENCE AT DOING THAT IN DYNAMIC SITUATION SOMETIMES.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL?
>> WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS?
>> IN GENERAL, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT REALLY CLOSELY.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'M CONCERNED WITH IS NOT ONLY OVER-DEVELOPMENT, BUT UNDER DEVELOPMENT.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL EITHER WAY.
WE'VE GOT TO FIND A MIDDLE GROUND SO THAT WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE NURTURING HERE AND THEN ALSO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT PROVIDE ECONOMIC GROWTH HERE.
ONE OF THE THINGS I SEE IS PROBABLY POTENTIALLY ECONOMIC GROWTH THAT I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE, IS THE PELICAN ISLAND AREA, THE BRIDGE COMPLETION.
I THINK THERE ARE SOME THINGS AROUND THERE.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO WATCH FOR AS FAR AS ENCROACHMENT AND STUFF IS OUR COASTLINE AND NORTH HABITATS.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE HABITATS FOR THE PRISTINE AREAS.
>> VERY GOOD. JOHN, IF YOU GOT QUESTIONS.
>> HE ANSWERED SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS, BUT JUST OVER ALL, RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL GROWTH HERE IN TOWN OVER THE NEXT FIVE OR TEN YEARS.
WHERE DO YOU SEE THAT GOING? ARE THERE CERTAIN AREAS OF THE ISLAND THAT YOU SEE MORE, MAINLAND RESIDENTIAL GROWTH THAN OTHERS? ARE THERE AREAS OF COMMERCIAL GROWTH THAT YOU SEE? YOU MENTIONED PELICAN ISLAND OR SOME OF THAT.
>> YEAH, I THINK PELICAN ISLAND IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE COULD DO IN INDUSTRIAL GROWTH.
AS FAR AS RESIDENTIAL GROWTH, THEN I THINK WE CAN LOOK AT, WELL, THERE ARE CERTAIN AREAS OF THE ISLAND, IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT, THAT PROBABLY COULD BE DEVELOPED BETTER RESIDENTIALLY.
I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT AND PROVIDE MEANS FOR THAT TO HAPPEN WITH THE COMMERCIALS, NOT THE COMMERCIALS, RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT SIDE SHOULD BE DONE BY PRIVATE ENTITIES.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THE ABILITY FOR PRIVATE ENTITIES TO COME IN AND DO SOME RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AND WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING TO ENHANCE THAT OR MAKE IT EASIER TO FLOW THROUGH, SO THAT WE CAN GET SOME GOOD PRICED HOUSING, A GOOD TAX BASE FOR THE CITY, WHICH WOULD BE AN INCREASE IN ANY HOUSING, TO PROVIDE US MORE TAX BASE.
INDUSTRIAL WISE, WE KNOW THAT TOURISM HAS BECOME A BIG DOG HERE, BUT WE STILL HAVE UTNB, WE STILL HAVE SOME BIG INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES THAT'S PER SE.
BUT THOSE AREAS SURROUNDING THOSE, AGAIN, THERE'S SOME PROPERTY THAT PROBABLY COULD BE DEVELOPED FOR RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL USE, MULTI-USE.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL FOR MULTI-USE AROUND HERE.
[03:45:01]
>> OKAY. GREAT ANSWER. THANK YOU.
>> VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> MR. HUMPHREY, THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
>> I MADE IT THROUGH HUNGRINESS.
[LAUGHTER] NOBODY YELLED AT ME.
[OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> WE HAVE MR. BERKELEY ON, IS THAT RIGHT?
>> HE IS NOT ONLINE. HE HAS NOT JOINED THE MEETING.
>> DID YOU GIVE HIM THE INFORMATION TO DO SO? [NOISE]
JANELLE, BEFORE WE ADJOURN, WOULD YOU MENTION TO COUNCIL ABOUT THE RANKING SYSTEM AND WHEN YOU'LL SEND THAT OUT AND SO FORTH AND SO ON.
>> I'LL SEND THE RANKING OUT TO YOU GUYS THIS AFTERNOON BY EMAIL.
IN BETWEEN THE TWO MEETINGS, WE HAVE 14 CANDIDATES FOR BOARD AND SIX CANDIDATES FOR PLANNING COMMISSION.
IF YOU'LL JUST PUT THESE IN THE ORDER THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE, YOUR FIRST CHOICE, DISCOVERING YOUR FIRST CHOICE ALL THE WAY DOWN.
>> ALL NOMINATIONS FOR THE 16TH MEETING.
[NOISE] YOU CAN EMAIL THOSE TO ME OR I CAN PRINT OUT A FORM FOR YOU IF YOU'D LIKE TO FILL IT OUT.
>> VERY GOOD. ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT COUNSEL?
>> IS IT ONE FORM, WITH COLUMNS ON THERE WHERE YOU WRITE, OR IS IT AN INDIVIDUAL FORM PER PERSON?
>> IT'S ONE. THE QUESTION IS, WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE? FIRST CHOICE, SECOND CHOICE, THIRD CHOICE? THE WAY WE'VE DONE IT, BY ORDINANCE NOW, IS WE PRESENT OUR INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS TO JANELLE.
SHE CORRELATES THOSE, AND THEN THE HIGHEST RANKED CANDIDATE, IS PRESENTED TO COUNCIL AS THE FIRST POTENTIAL NOMINEE.
NO MATTER HOW THEY RANK, THEY STILL HAVE TO HAVE FOUR POSITIVE VOTES FROM COUNCIL TO BE APPOINTED.
THIS RANKING SYSTEM SIMPLY GIVES THE MAYOR, THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY WOULD BE PRESENTED TO COUNSEL ON THE 16TH.
>> IF IT WAS COLLINS AND HE WAS TOP RANKED ON THERE, THEN HE WOULD BE PRESENTED AND THEN EVERYBODY WOULD VOTE?
>> BUT IF YOU DON'T GET FOUR VOTES [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE MOVE TO THE SECOND, THEN THIRD, THEN FOURTH, [OVERLAPPING].
>> IF YOU CAN PUT THAT LIST DOWN, PUT IT INTO AN EXCEL SHEET SO IT'S EASY TO MOVE AROUND.
WE HAVE GONE THROUGH EVERYTHING ON OUR AGENDA.
WE ARE OFFICIALLY ADJOURNED AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
THIS WAS A GOOD MORNING, AND I KNOW THE CANDIDATES, I'M JUST VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE QUALITY THAT WE HAVE..
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.