[00:00:02]
[FOREIGN] >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
IT IS 9:00 AM AND I WOULD LIKE TO OFFICIALLY CALL
[Call to Order]
THE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON TO ORDER FOR AUGUST 11TH, 2022.WE DO HAVE A QUORUM HERE, BUT NELLIE, COULD YOU DO A ROLL CALL, PLEASE?
>> COUNCILMAN BOUVIER IS ABSENT TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, NELLIE. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE TODAY.
NICE TO SEE EVERYBODY THIS MORNING.
COUNCILMAN BOUVIER IS TRAVELING TODAY, WON'T BE WITH US.
LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE AND WELCOME EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY THAT MAY BE WATCHING THIS BROADCAST.
WE ARE NOW MOVING TO OUR DISCUSSION ITEMS. ITEM 3 PLEASE.
[3.A Discussion Of FY 2023 Budget And Capital Improvement Plan (M. Loftin - 1 Hr)]
>> ITEM 3A, DISCUSSION OF FISCAL YEAR 2023, BUDGET AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
>> COUNCIL AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TWO ACTION ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA FOR THIS AFTERNOON AT 5:00 PM.
ACTION ITEM 8A, AND 8B, WHICH INVOLVES PUBLIC HEARING APPROVING FOR PUBLIC HEARING OF OUR BUDGET AND TAX RATE.
MIKE, I'M GOING TO TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO YOU.
OUR CITY FINANCE DIRECTOR, MIKE LOFTIN.
>> MAYOR, THANK YOU. LET'S TALK FIRST ABOUT THE TWO AGENDA ITEMS THAT ARE UP IN THE PLACE THEY HAVE IN THE WHOLE PLATE OF PROCESS.
THE FIRST ONE IS TO CALL A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET ITSELF.
BUT THE PUBLIC HEARING WOULD BE SEPTEMBER THE 8TH, THAT SATISFIES SOME TIME REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC HEARING TO OCCUR AT LEAST 15 DAYS AFTER WE'VE GIVEN YOU THE BUDGET, I THINK IT'S 10 DAYS AFTER THE AD RUNS AND ANNOUNCED THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE DO IT WITH COUNCIL CALLING THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THE VOTE OF HAVING THE HEARING IS A PUBLIC MATTER.
THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION IN THE STAFF REPORT ON THE APPROVAL PROCESSES FOR THE BUDGET.
ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATE LAW IS THAT WHEN THE PUBLIC HEARING OCCURS AT THE END OF THE PUBLIC HEARING, COUNCIL HAS TO VOTE SOMEHOW WITH REGARDS TO THE BUDGET.
YOU HAVE TO ADOPT THAT, YOU HAVE TO TURN IT DOWN, TO HAVE A TABLE IT, YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING WITH IT.
THAT'S A STEP IN ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER.
AS FAR AS THE SCHEDULE IS CONCERNED, WE ANTICIPATE THAT YOU MAY NOT WANT TO ADOPT THE DAY.
WE DO TALK ABOUT IN OUR SCHEDULING DOCUMENTS SAY OVER 15 BEING ANOTHER DAY THAT THE BUDGET COULD BE CONSIDERED.
IF THE BUDGET IS NOT ADOPTED IN SOME FORM, IS PROPOSED OR AMENDED BY SEPTEMBER 30TH, IT TAKES EFFECT AND IT'S LESS FORMAL PROPOSAL FORM FROM THE CITY MANAGER.
WE PUT THAT PROVISION IN THE CITY CHARTER THE LAST LAST TIME WE HAD THE CHARTER ELECTION FOR AN OBVIOUS REASON.
IF WE SHOULD HAVE A MAJOR STORM IN THE MIDDLE OF MONTH OF SEPTEMBER THAT WOULD INTERFERE WITH COUNCIL MEETINGS AND YOUR ABILITY TO ADOPT THE BUDGET.
WE'D HAVE WHAT BOILS DOWN TO AN INTERIM SPENDING PLAN AFFECTED OCTOBER 1ST.
THAT WOULD ALLOW THE CITY TO CONTINUE TO KEEP OPERATING UNTIL SOMETIMES THE COUNCIL COULD TAKE MORE FORMAL ACTION ON.
>> I THOUGHT IF WE DIDN'T ADOPT THE TAX RATE, IT AUTOMATICALLY WENT TO THE NET REVENUE.
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET.
YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THAT AS FAR AS TAX RATE IS CONCERNED.
BUT WHEN YOU DO ADOPT THE BUDGET, THERE IS A VOTE THAT TAKES PLACE AFTER THAT.
IF YOU'RE PLANNING TO ADOPT A TAX RATE ON THE NEXT ITEM THAT EXCEEDS THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, YOU HAVE TO VOTE TO RATIFY THE TAX INCREASE IN THE BUDGET.
THAT'S PART OF THE BUDGET LAW, AND OF COURSE THEN YOU'D VOTE ON THE TAX RATE AFTER THAT.
IT ONLY TAKES A MAJORITY VOTE TO PASS THE BUDGET AND TO PASS THE MOTION TO RATIFY THE TAX INCREASE.
I THINK LAST YEAR YOU ALL DID THAT.
THEN THE TAX RATE FELL BY ABOUT ONE OF THEM.
THERE'S SOME INTERESTING THINGS GOING ON WITH THOSE TWO LAWS.
BUT BUDGET LAW HAS BEEN AROUND LONGER.
IT'S PERHAPS DOESN'T HAVE ANY HIGHER AUTHORITY,
[00:05:01]
BUT THE TAX LAW DOES INDICATE THAT THE BUDGET HAS TO BE DISPOSED OFF BEFORE THE RATE IS PASSED, WHICH THE IMPLICATION IS THAT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO IS CLARIFIED FOR THE GOVERNING BODY WHEN YOU PASS THE BUDGET AND WHEN YOU PASS SOME TAX RATE.>> YOU'D LIKE THE TWO TO BE CONNECTED IN SOME WAY. [LAUGHTER]
>> THE POINT HERE BEING THAT YOU CAN PASS A BUDGET AND THEN FAIL TO PASS TAX RATE.
>> THAT;S RIGHT CLOSE TO THAT LAST YEAR'S. I RECALL.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. THE IMPLICATION OF THAT BEING?
>> WELL, AS COUNCIL MEMBER ROB WAS SAYING, IF THE TAX RATE DOESN'T PASS AT ALL BY SEPTEMBER 30TH, IT REVERTS TO BY LAW EITHER LAST YEAR'S RATE OR THE ANNUAL REVENUE RATE FOR THIS YEAR, WHICHEVER IS LESS.
IN THIS CASE IT WOULD BE THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE FOR THIS YEAR.
WHICH RAISES, WE ESTIMATE ABOUT THREE MILLION LESS THAN WHAT IS PROPOSED IN THE BUDGET.
CONSEQUENCES THAT ARE NOT AGREEING ON SOME TAX RATE THAT'S TIED TO THE BUDGET THAT MAKES LOGICAL SENSE ON THE BUDGET SIDE IS PRETTY DRAMATIC.
>> MARK DID YOU HAVE A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION? YOU WANT TO GIVE YOU THAT.
>> TODAY IS TO GIVE YOU GUYS YOUR DRAFT BUDGET AND TO HIT THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DRAFT BUDGET WITH YOU, WHICH MOST OF YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW THAT YOU'VE GONE THROUGH IT A DOZEN TIMES WITH YOU ALREADY PROBABLY.
ALSO, I BELIEVE IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE SETTING THE PROPOSED TAX RATE WHICH IS A NOT TO EXCEED NUMBER.
JUST BECAUSE WE SAY A NUMBER TONIGHT, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU HAVE TO ADOPT THAT NUMBER WHEN THE TAX RATE COMES.
THIS IS THE NUMBER YOU WILL ADOPT TONIGHT IS THE NOT TO EXCEED NUMBER.
IF YOU SAID THE RATE AT A DOLLAR, WE CAN'T GO ABOVE A DOLLAR.
IF YOU SAID IT AT 50 CENTS, WE CAN'T GO ABOVE 50 CENTS.
YOU CAN GO BELOW IT, YOU CANNOT GO ABOVE.
>> THE PROPOSED RATE IS 45 CENTS WHICH IS WHAT THE BUDGET IS BASED ON.
>> WHICH IS ROUGHLY AT 5 PERCENT DECREASE FROM THE LESSON PROCESS [INAUDIBLE] PER MONTH.
>> WE'VE HAD IN THE LAST TWO YEARS CLOSE TO 10 OR 11 CENTS DECREASE IN OUR TAX RATE.
>> YOU HAVE FOR HOMESTEADING PROPERTY.
UNDER THIS PROPOSED RATE, NO HOMESTEAD PROPERTY OWNER IN GALVESTON WILL HAVE AN INCREASE IN TAXES.
THEY WILL ACTUALLY HAVE A DECREASE IN TAXES.
>> VERY GOOD. MIKE, DID YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND GO THROUGH SOME POINTS ON THAT? BRIAN, DID YOU WANT TO.
>> YEAH. LET ME KICK OFF. VERY PROUD OF WHERE WE ARE AS A CITY RIGHT NOW FINANCIALLY.
I CAN RUN THROUGH A FEW HIGHLIGHTS WITH YOU.
GOING BACK TO THE 12 YEARS AGO WHEN I STARTED HERE, WE'RE IN GREAT FINANCIAL SHAPE, A LITTLE OVER A 120 DAYS AND FUND BALANCE WHICH IS WHAT THE BOND RATING COMPANIES AND REALLY WHAT IS REQUIRED TO BE A COASTAL CITY.
WE'VE GOT AN OUTSTANDING BOND RATE, ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN THE AREA.
FOR A COASTAL CITY WE HAVE ONE OF OUR LOWEST TAX RATES THAT WE'VE HAD.
I ANTICIPATE THAT TO CONTINUE TO DROP, ESPECIALLY IF WE HAVE GOOD GROWTH.
WE ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN OTHER CITIES IN THAT ALL OF OUR GROWTH PRETTY MUCH COMES FROM REDEVELOPMENT.
WE DON'T HAVE VAST ACREAGES OF CORNFIELDS TO PLOW DOWN AND BUILD NEW HOUSES, WHICH MAKES IT MUCH EASIER FOR THESE OTHER CITIES TO GO TO THEIR NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
BECAUSE WE CANNOT GET THAT GROWTH HERE, EXPONENTIAL GROWTH YEAR OVER YEAR.
IF WE COUPLED TOGETHER ALL OF OUR ACREAGE WE COULD MAYBE DO IT FOR A YEAR, [LAUGHTER] BUT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH UNFORTUNATELY.
WE'RE GROWING IN SOME AREAS IN THE BEACHES.
WE'VE LEARNED HERE RECENTLY IN OTHER ISSUES, BUT WE'RE SHRINKING IN OTHERS AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIX THAT.
WE'RE A LITTLE DIFFERENT POSITION THAN MOST OTHER CITIES.
BUT WE'RE HEALTHY, WE'RE GOOD.
WE'VE GOT SOME THINGS WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF IN THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET THAT I WANT TO TOUCH ON.
WE'RE HONORING ALL OF OUR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS WITH BOTH OUR POLICE AND FIRE, POLICE ARE GOING TO GET 10.2 PERCENT PAY RAISE THIS YEAR AS A RESULT OF THEIR CONTRACT.
THAT'S A GOOD THING. BOBBY IS NOT IN HERE.
I WAS TALKING TO HIM AND THE OTHERS [INAUDIBLE], BUT WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THAT.
PRETTY MUCH GETS US SHY OF THEM, ONE OF THE HIGHEST CITIES IN THE COUNTY.
WE'RE IN REALLY GOOD SHAPE FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS, WELL-DESERVED ON THEIR PART.
[00:10:02]
WE TOOK CARE OF THEM IN A GREAT WAY WITH THEIR PAY.THIS YEAR, THEY HAVE A COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT IN THIS BUDGET.
WE ALSO HAVE MONEY IN HERE THIS YEAR TO MAKE HOLD THE FIRE PENSION PLAN, AND THAT IS IN THIS BUDGET.
THE THING THAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO ME IS THAT FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, WE HAVE THE FULL COMPENSATION STUDY THAT THE CITY PAID FOR, WE HAVEN'T FUNDED IN HERE.
WE'LL PRESENT TO COUNSEL AND GO THROUGH ALL THAT WITH YOU.
BUT IT IS FUNDED IN HERE AS PRESENTED BY THE COMPANY FOR OUR CIVILIAN VOICE, SOMETHING WE HAVE NEVER DONE.
WE'VE DONE COMPENSATION STUDIES BEFORE, AND WE MADE THE FIRST MOVES, BUT WE NEVER QUITE COULD GET THEM WHERE THEY NEEDED TO BE AND MAY HAVE FALLEN WAY BEHIND OTHERS.
IT'S COST US IN THE LONG TERM.
WE'VE GOT PROBABLY MORE SHORTAGES IN THOSE AREAS, AND WE DIDN'T DO IT IN [NOISE] NATIONAL [INAUDIBLE].
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT GETTING THAT DONE IN HERE AS WELL.
WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY ALLOCATED TO WORK WITH THE CIVILIAN PENSION IN HERE, THAT'S PROBABLY THE NUMBER 2 CAUSE NEXT TO PAY AS TO WHY WE BLEED SOME CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES.
THAT'S ALL IN HERE, ALL VERY GOOD.
WE EXPERIENCED VERY GOOD GROWTH THIS YEAR, PRIMARILY, AS I SAID, IN REDEVELOPMENT GROWTH AND REAPPRAISAL, WE DID HAVE SOME NEW CONSTRUCTION, AND IT WAS A HEALTHIER FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION.
LOTS OF BUILDING PERMITS PULLED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.
IF YOU ARE A CONTRACTOR OR A REALTOR IN GALVESTON THIS PAST YEAR, YOU HAD A VERY GOOD YEAR.
EXCEPT FOR MAYBE JOHN, HE'S NOT [LAUGHTER] OF COURSE, IF YOU PRE-SOLD THOSE HOUSES AND THEN BANK THEM.
>> YEAH, THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
THE RISING COST OF MATERIALS HAS STRUCK US HARD, AS IT HAS TO EVERYBODY ELSE.
WE'RE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS OVER PROJECTED EXPENDITURES THIS YEAR ON FUEL.
EVERYBODY'S EXPERIENCING THAT, THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY WE CARRY HEALTHY RESERVES HERE AT THE CITIES TO ABSORB THOSE TYPE THINGS.
I CAN TELL YOU 12 YEARS AGO THAT WOULD HAVE SENT US IN THE HOLE.
WE'D BEEN IN HERE TALKING ABOUT CUTTING UNGODLY THINGS AND WE'RE NOT HAVING TO DO THAT.
WE'RE IN A VERY BALANCED AND GOOD SITUATION FOR THAT REASON.
WE'RE LIVING IN A VERY VOLATILE WORLD RIGHT NOW.
BECAUSE OF OUR INCREASED RESERVES TO A 120 DAYS, WE FEEL COMFORTABLE ACTUALLY INCREASING OUR PROJECTED SALES TAX FOR NEXT YEAR.
MR. LOFTIN IS ALWAYS VERY CONSERVATIVE WITH THAT NUMBER, BUT WE'RE WILLING TO HOPE TO THAT CONTINUES SOME, WE DIDN'T GO ALL THE WAY UP TO WHERE IT'S CRAZY NUMBERS, BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY WILLING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF CHANCE AT OUR SALES TAX.
WE FEEL IT'S GOING TO PLATEAU, BUT WE'RE HOPING IT'S NOT GOING TO DROP.
>> WE'VE GOT, DAVID HAD SOME QUESTIONS AND THEN MARIE.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, BRIAN GO AHEAD AND FINISH YOUR PRESENTATION THEN WE WILL GET THESE QUESTIONS.
>> THE OTHER THING THAT I WANT TO TOUCH ON AND I SAID IT AGAIN, WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING TO YOU ON BUDGET AND TAX RATE THIS YEAR.
NO HOMESTEAD AND HOMEOWNER IN GALVESTON WILL PAY MORE IN TAXES, THEY WILL PAY LESS IN TAXES.
THIS IS A BUDGET THAT PROVIDES EXCELLENT SERVICES TO OUR RESIDENTS, AND WE HAVE A VERY TRANSIENT POPULATION HERE IN GALVESTON.
WE HAVE 50,000 CORE PEOPLE HERE.
WE'VE GOT ABOUT 9,000 OR SOMETHING HOMESTEAD PROPERTY OWNERS, THAT'S THE CORE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE, VOTE HERE, SHOP HERE.
THEY'RE THE ONES AND THEY ACTUALLY CONSUME MOST OF OUR SERVICES.
THOSE ARE THE ONES WE WANT TO MAINTAIN SERVICES FOR.
WE'RE DOING SO IN SUCH A WAY THAT DOES NOT COST THEM ANY MONEY, IT ACTUALLY COSTS THEM LESS MONEY.
WE'RE VERY PROUD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THAT IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
MY GUESS, SOME OTHER GOOD TABLES IN THE COVER LETTER THAT LAYS IT OUT.
BUT AGAIN, THE THING I'M MOST PROUD OF TOO IS THAT WE'RE DOING SO IN A WAY THAT WE HAVE ONE OF THE LOWEST ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEADS OF ANY CITY THAT WE COMPARE TO.
WE DO THIS WITH VERY LIMITED OVERHEAD IN FOLKS.
IT STRETCHES BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'RE, AS IN EVERY AREA OF THE CITY WE'RE RUNNING SHORT.
BUT EVEN GIVEN ALL THOSE POSITIONS BEEN FILLED, OUR ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEAD IS BELOW FOUR PERCENT.
ACTUALLY WHEN YOU FACTOR IN CAPITAL, WERE IN THE ONE-AND-A-1/2, TWO PERCENT RANGE ON ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEAD, WHICH EVEN COMPARED TO OUR PEER GROUPS HERE ON THE ISLAND THAT THE CITY HAS IT COMPONENTS UNITS WE'RE VERY LOW.
I THINK WE'RE DOING A VERY GOOD SERVICE FOR THE RESIDENTS THIS YEAR.
I THINK WE'VE GOT MOST OF THEIR NEEDS MET IN THIS BUDGET.
WE HAVE EXCELLENT SERVICE AND A LOT OF WAYS WE'RE PROVIDING CADILLAC SERVICE TO OUR RESIDENTS.
WE'RE DOING SO, IS IT'S COSTING OUR HOMESTEAD PROPERTY OWNERS LESS. I THINK IT'S A GOOD BUDGET.
I THINK MIKE WAS READY TO WALK THROUGH THE ACTUAL BUDGET ITSELF PROVIDES ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
>> BEFORE WE DO THAT LETS LET DAVID START THEN MARIE.
>> WHAT IS THE COST OF THE INCREASE IN POLICE DEPARTMENT?
[00:15:01]
>> ONE POINT FOUR MILLION DOLLAR FIGURE THAT WE'VE SPENT LAST YEAR.
IT WAS LABELED COLON LAST MONTH.
>> WE MOVED IT INTO THE POLICE BUDGET NOW BECAUSE WE FINISHED IT. IT'S ABOUT 1.4.
>> JUST A MOMENT YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE GENERAL FUND SECTION PAGE PLEASE.
>> I'M JUST CURIOUS AS TO WHERE I WAS GOING IN THAT, BUT YOU POINT OUT THAT'S CONTRACTUAL.
>> OKAY. THAT'S MY ONLY QUESTION.
MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS CITY IS PUBLIC SAFETY.
ROB BRAVO, I'M HAPPY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO BOTH ACCOMMODATE THE POLICE AND THE FIRE.
MY QUESTION IS BECAUSE I'VE HEARD DOWN THE PAST TWO WEEKS, THREE DIFFERENT NUMBERS.
>> OUR RESERVE THAT WE'RE PROJECTING, WHICH IS WHAT WE GO OVER IT AMOUNT TO 126 DAYS. [NOISE] [OVERLAPPING]
>> WELL I THOUGHT THE LAST MEETING YOU SAID LIKE A 130.
>> THAT WAS BEFORE WE DID OUR ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE INCREASES IN FUEL THIS YEAR AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAD TO ABSORB.
>> TWENTY-FOUR MILLION SIX EIGHT-SEVEN, SIX FORTY NINE, AND I BELIEVE THE AMOUNT THAT WE SPOKE UP BEFORE THAT IS THE DAILY AMOUNT IS ABOUT A 195,000.
>> ALL RIGHT, THAT'LL BE NEXT YEAR.
>> WE ARE PROJECTING THE WHOLE TO THE SAME FUND BALANCE THAT WE END THIS YEAR WITH.
>> DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT THE BURN RATE WAS LAST YEAR? [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT'S UP IN PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE FUEL AND WAGES.
>> AGAIN, I KNOW TRADITIONALLY WHAT WE'VE DONE IS LOOKED BACK, AT MEASURING THE DAYS, BUT I PREFER TO LOOK FORWARD BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO PRESERVE FOR SOMETHING THAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
>> I AGREE WITH THAT, BUT I ALSO WENT ON LOOKING BACK ON LAST YEAR'S BUDGET AND LOOKING FORWARD AND LOOKING AT THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, I THINK WE HAD SOME VERY LARGE NON-REOCCURRING EXPENSES.
THAT'S THE THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO LOOK AT AND LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE AT OUR FUTURE BUDGETS.
I THINK 120 DAYS IS A VERY HEALTHY RESERVE, WHICH THEN WOULD BE THUS SIX, WE COULD TAKE OFF THERE.
WHAT COULD WE? WHAT NON-REOCCURRING EXPENSES? BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE HAD IN THIS PAST YEAR, SOME VERY HIGH LEGAL EXPENSES.
WE'VE HAD SOME VERY HIGH CAPITAL EXPENSES THAT WERE ONE TIME, SUCH AS TRASH TRUCKS, OR FIRE TRUCKS.
I WOULD LIKE US TO LOOK AT WHAT NON-REOCCURRING EXPENSES WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO SHAVE A COUPLE OF DAYS OFF THAT RESERVE.
PERHAPS WE COULD GO LOWER THAN THAT 45.
>> THE CHALLENGE WITH THAT, AND I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU.
I'M ON BOARD WITH THAT. THAT'S A GOOD USE OF THAT MONEY.
THE CHALLENGE WITH THAT IS THE WAY THE CITY IS SET UP BY CHARTER AND EVERYTHING ELSE OUR FINANCES HERE, WE HAVE OUR GENERAL FUND HAS BEEN BASICALLY REDUCED TO RECURRING EXPENSES.
WE HAVE VERY FEW, A LOT OF WHAT YOU MENTIONED IS VERY TRUE AND WE COULD USE THE MONEY FOR THAT, BUT THERE ARE OTHER FUNDS IT WOULD NOT IMPACT, LIKE THE TRASH TRUCKS THAT WOULDN'T IMPACT THE TRASH TRACKS.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT'S ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
>> YEAH. BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT AREN'T AN ENTERPRISE FUND.
>> THE OTHER THING IS THAT INFRASTRUCTURE SET ASIDE, I GOT TO PUT EIGHT PERCENT IN THERE WHETHER WE TAKE SOME OF THE STREETS OUT OF THERE AND PAY FOR THEM OUT OF THE RESERVES OR NOT.
NOW, A GOOD USE OF THE MONEY IS IF WE WANTED TO ADD SOME PROJECTS FOR THAT MONEY, WE COULD DO THAT, AND WE'LL CERTAINLY DIVE INTO IT, MARIE AND COMB THROUGH IT, AND MIKE AND I'VE ALREADY STARTED DOING THAT TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY ONE TIME.
BECAUSE WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO IS WE DON'T WANT TO SELL OUR FUTURE.
BECAUSE NEXT YEAR GUYS, I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW, WE'RE IN REALLY GOOD SHAPE NOW, BUT NEXT YEAR YOU'VE GOT TWO CBA CONTRACTS COMING UP.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T SHORT CHANGE OUR EMPLOYEES, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PEOPLE NEXT YEAR BY NOT BEING ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE REVENUE THAT MEET THE CONTRACT NEEDS THAT WE HAVE FOR THEM.
I WANT TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS WITH THAT.
I LIKE YOUR APPROACH TO THIS, MARIE, I THINK IT'S A GOOD APPROACH AND WHY DON'T YOU ALLOW MIKE AND I TO COMPUTE AND SEE WHAT WE CAN COME UP WITH.
>> ONE THING I DON'T WANT TO HEARING YOU DO LIKE YOU DID LAST YEAR WHEN YOU CAME BACK IS TALK ABOUT CUTTING PUBLIC SAFETY, BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT TENDS TO HAPPEN AND I'M TIRED OF THAT.
>> WELL, YOU CAN GET TIRED OF IT, BUT IT'S THE MAJORITY OF YOUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET AND IT IS 100 PERCENT OF YOUR TAX RATE.
>> AS IT SHOULD BE. BUT YOU CAN'T CUT THE TAX RATE WITHOUT IMPACTING THOSE [INAUDIBLE].
>> WE ALSO KNOW THAT OUR HOMESTEAD WENT DOWN ONE PERCENT.
>> WHICH GIVES US MORE OF THAT TAX RATE.
BECAUSE A HOMESTEADED IS LIMITED, A NON-HOMESTEADED ISN'T.
[00:20:06]
WE HAVE A LOT OF HOMES BEING BUILT THAT WE KNOW WILL BE COMING ON IN THIS NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.THAT PROBABLY WILL NOT BE HOMESTEADED.
BECAUSE WE KNOW WE HAVE GOT THE SHORT-TERM RATE.
>> WE HAVE THAT PROJECTED GROWTH BUILT-IN.
>> YOU'D GOT TO KNOWS MIKE AS A CHART IN A GRAPH FOR EVERYTHING.
>> MIKE DOES A GREAT JOB IF I SAY THROUGHOUT NOW.
>> LET ME MENTION TO COUNSEL AS YOU MAY REMEMBER IT, MAYBE ONE OR TWO COUNCILMAN MEETINGS AGO, YOU TALKED ABOUT EXTRA ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF GETTING BETTER.
THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
>> WE TALKED ABOUT 11 AREAS OR 12 AREAS AND WE'RE WILLING TO COMMIT OUR STAFF-LEVEL THAT ANY DOLLARS THAT WE COME UP WITH IN THIS ADDITIONAL REVENUE WILL GO DIRECTLY TO THE BENEFIT OF THAT CAUSE.
BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT, AND WE HAD A GREAT MEETING YESTERDAY AFTERNOON WITH THE NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE PARK BOARD.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SOME PROGRESS THERE.
WE'RE HOPING TO HELP WITH SOME OF THOSE TOURISTS RELATED EXPENSES.
BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR ME SAY ANOTHER DISCUSSIONS HERE TODAY.
WE DO A LOT OF GOOD THINGS HERE IN GALVESTON, BUT WE GOT TO QUIT PUTTING IT ON THE BACKS OF OUR TAXPAYERS WHO LIVE HERE.
IF THERE'S TOURISTS RELATED EXPENSES, IT IS TO BE BORNE BY THOSE THAT VISIT THE ISLAND.
WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON THAT, AND THE OTHER THING IS, WE HAVE SOME GREAT THINGS AND I KNOW MARIE, YOU VISITED WITH THE PORT FOLKS ON THIS.
I HAD THIS DISCUSSION WITH COUNSEL MEMBER [INAUDIBLE] YESTERDAY. IT'S ALL ABOUT TIMING.
THIS IS TRULY THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE HAVE HIT THE A 120 OVER 120 DAY MARK, AND WE'VE BEEN BLESSED.
WE HAVEN'T HAD A STORM AND WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY OTHER, WE DID HAVE A PANDEMIC.
I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO PREDICT WHERE MONKEY POX OR THE NEXT ONE GOES.
BUT WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE AND WE'VE HIT THAT POINT NOW WHERE I FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE GETTING VERY AGGRESSIVE ON GOING AFTER THESE ALTERNATIVE FEES, AND HAVING A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE TAX RATE.
>> THAT WE NEED TO, AND I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING JOHN HAS BEEN REALLY BRINGING FALLING FORWARD.
JUST WANT TO MAKE A [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] COMMENT ON THAT.
HOWEVER WE APPROVE THIS TAX RATE, WE NEED TO FORMALIZE YOU BRINGING BACK THOSE ALTERNATIVES REVOLUTION.
>> I WOULD ANTICIPATE THERE SHOULD BE PART OF THE MOTION FOR ANY TAX RATE THAT WE ADOPT.
WHAT I UNDERSTOOD THERE WAS THAT YOU WOULD BRING US ALTERNATIVE REVENUE SOURCES, AND HOW I WOULD DIRECTLY IMPACT THE TAX RATE.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. WE WOULD COMMIT THOSE TO DIRECT REDUCTION IN THE TAX RATE.
>> WE WERE COMMITTED TO DIRECT PRODUCTION OF THE TAX RATE.
>> NO, THAT'S CORRECT BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY THIS YEAR. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE IT.
>> THAT'S GOING TO BE IN THE FUTURE YEARS.
>> WELL, THAT WOULD BE COME UP, BUT THAT'S THE BIG PAY OUT.
>> JUST STARTING OUT JUST YET.
>> YEAH. BUT THAT'S THE POINT.
>> I AGREE WITH WHAT JOHN SAID.
>> ANYTHING YOU DO THIS YEAR IS GOING TO ADVERSELY AFFECT THE FUND BALANCE.
BECAUSE WE CANNOT DEFICIT BUDGET AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ASKING US TO DO.
WE CAN'T DO THINGS ON THE COLUMN.
WE HAVE TO BASE ON REALITY, AND REALITY IS WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE GETTING AND WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND.
THAT'S OUR BUDGET. IF WE FALL SHORT, IF WE GO YOUR ROUTE AND WE FALL SHORT, AND THAT'S DEFICIT SPENDING AND IT'S GOT TO COME FROM THE FUND BALANCE.
>> IF THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT IN PLACE THAT YOU COULD PICK UP ADDITIONAL REVENUE BEFORE SEPTEMBER, YOU COULD REDUCE THE TAX RATE.
>> IF WE KNEW THE REVENUE AMOUNT SURE.
>> I COULD THINK WHAT ARE THE TOPICS ON HAND AND WHERE WE COULD DO IT IMMEDIATELY. WITH ENOUGH CONFIDENCE.
>> WE HAVE BEEN VISIONING THE BUSINESS SECTION OF THE BUDGET ORDINANCE ITSELF THAT DESCRIBES THAT POLICY FOR THE UPCOMING.
>> THAT WAY IT'S BINDING AND IT GOES FORTH.
>> PART OF THE BUDGET PLAN GOING FORWARD.
>> THAT LEAVES OTHERS. THAT'S SOMETHING TO FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE THAT COUNSEL CAN HANG THEIR HAT ON, IS THAT YOU DIDN'T JUST CUT THE BUDGET ONE YEAR AND BE DAMN WHAT HAPPENS.
YOU ACTUALLY INSTILL POLICY THAT WILL FUTURE THE 3.5 PERCENT CAP IS DONE.
YOU CAN ACTUALLY GUARANTEE FUTURE MANAGEMENT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE HERE.
YOU CAN GUARANTEE FUTURE MANAGEMENTS THAT THIS IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO OCCUR.
>> BUT AS YOU BRING THOSE ALTERNATE AND I THINK YOU'VE ALREADY MENTIONED THAT BRIAN, AS YOU BRING THOSE ALTERNATE REVENUE SOURCES TO US THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO PINPOINT FOR THE FUTURE YEAR HOW MUCH THAT COULD REDUCE THIS TAX RATE.
>> SURE, JUST LIKE WE DO WITH SALES TAX AND OTHER THINGS. ABSOLUTELY.
>> BUT THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT WE LOOK AT NON-REOCCURRING COSTS AND LOOK AT HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO UTILIZE SIX DAYS AND ACTUALLY COME IN WITH A LOWER TAX RATE BEING USED.
JOHN AND I AND MULTIPLE COUNSEL PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF
[00:25:05]
HEARING US COME IN WITH THE MAXIMUM EVERY SINGLE YEAR.WE REALLY, THAT'S A BAD TREND.
>> WE DON'T LIVE HERE TOO, AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE LESS TAXES. I AGREE WITH YOU.
BUT I ALSO HAVE TO THINK, I CAN'T JUST THINK ABOUT TOMORROW'S HEADLINE THAT WE CUT THE TAXES.
I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO RUN THIS CITY FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
>> WE ALL HAVE TO THINK OF THAT, BECAUSE WE'RE THE PEOPLE LIKED IT TO HAVE THE ERASER TO OUR CONSTITUENTS.
>> DAVID, YOU HAD SOMETHING TO SAY.
>> HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
>> I MEAN, THE ONE PERCENT REDUCTION IN THE OVERALL TAX RATE ON A $1 MILLION HOUSE.
I'M TALKING CAT, NOT WHAT TIME YOU COULD SELL IT FOR, BUT IT CAN SAVE YOU A $100 A YEAR.
>> IF YOU SAVED $100 FOR 30 YEARS, THAT ADDS UP.
IF YOU SAVE A DOLLAR EVERY DAY, THAT ADDS UP.
WE PUT SO MUCH ON THE BACK OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE PROPERTY, AND TO BUSINESSES LIKE YOU [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT'S NOT JUST THAT, IT'S OUR APPRAISED VALUES HAVE GONE UP TREMENDOUSLY.
[OVERLAPPING] I DIDN'T KNOW YOU DIDN'T. I'M NOT BLAMING YOU.
WE DON'T SET THE PRICE VALUE, BUT WE DO SET THE TAX RATE.
WE'RE SHIFTING ALL THESE TAXES, TO NON-HOME SET PROPERTIES IN OUR BUSINESSES MAINLY.
OUR BUSINESSES ARE WHO'S TAKEN THE MAJORITY OF THE HIT HERE.
OUR BUSINESSES THEIR PRICE VALUES HAVE GONE UP TREMENDOUSLY.
NOT JUST 10 PERCENT, THEY'VE GONE UP 100 PERCENT, AND THEY'VE GONE TO 50, 100 UPPER EVEN MORE THAN THAT [OVERLAPPING].
I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE ARE WITH OUR HOME SET OF PROPERTIES.
I THINK THAT'S GREAT. I THINK OUR CITIZENS ARE BENEFITING FROM THAT.
I THINK THEY WILL PAY A LOWER TAX RATE OR LOWER.
THEY WERE ACTUALLY WRITING CHECKS THAT'S LOWER THIS YEAR THAN LAST YEAR THAN LAST, BUT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE THAT WE NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR TOO.
>> I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT.
THE TROUBLE IS COSTS AREN'T GOING DOWN.
THE COSTS SIMPLY AREN'T GOING DOWN [OVERLAPPING].
WELL, NO, I UNDERSTAND, BUT IF YOUR COSTS GO DOWN AT HOME, YOU GOT TO CUT SOMETHING OUT.
DRIVE LESS, BUY FEWER THINGS WHATEVER.
THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, I CAN NEVER GET THAT RIGHT, WOULD CAUSE THE GENERAL FUND $3.3 ALMOST $3.4 MILLION THIS YEAR.
THAT'S MONEY YOU WILL NEVER GET BACK. NEVER GET IT BACK.
WE CAN PROBABLY COVER THAT WITH GENERAL FUND RESERVES TODAY.
NEXT YEAR, YOU DON'T GET IT BACK.
YOU CAN'T SAY, OOPS, THAT WAS A MISTAKE.
LET'S PUT IT BACK RIGHT BACK WHERE IT WAS.
WE'RE USING LAS VEGAS TERMINOLOGY OR BETTING ON THE OUTCOME, THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP YOU NEXT YEAR.
IS WHAT WILL THEY DO, BUT MY POINT IS THAT YOU COULD PAY THAT ONE YEAR OUT OF FUND BALANCE, BUT IN YEAR TWO, YOU STILL HAVE THAT DEFICIT, AND YOU GOT TO GET IT SOMEPLACE ELSE, AND THAT'S SOMEPLACE ELSE IN YEAR TWO IS GOING TO BE PARKS AND TRANSIT.
IN YEAR THREE IS GOING TO BE FIRE STATION EIGHT, AND IN YEAR FOUR.
I CAN TELL YOU WHERE IT'S COMING FROM.
THE 15TH STREET PUMP STATION THAT WE'RE GETTING $100 MILLION DOLLARS TO BUILD THESE PUMPS STATIONS.
THEY'RE GOING TO COST $250, 000 -$300,000 A YEAR TO RUN, AND THE YEAR IT COMES ONLINE, IT'LL NEVER START BECAUSE YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO RUN IT.
YOU NEVER GET THAT MONEY BACK. YOU DON'T.
>> WE PAINT A VERY ROSY PICTURE.
>> YOU PAINT THE GRIMMEST PICTURE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THERE'S GOT TO BE SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE THAT WE MEET.
WHY IS IT A GRIM PICTURE? [OVERLAPPING].
>> REALITY IS THAT WE ADOPTED A BUDGET LAST YEAR, THAT WAS $64 MILLION.
WE ACTUALLY BROUGHT IN REVENUE OF $70 MILLION.
WE OVERTAXED AND UNDERESTIMATED, AND WE HAVE A SURPLUS NOW.
THAT WAS SALES TAX, ON NOBODY TAX MONEY, BUT IT WASN'T THE OVERALL TAX, IT'S SALES TAX.
>> WHY DO YOU HAVE TO SEPARATE THOSE TWO THINGS?
>> BECAUSE YOU CAN GUARANTEE WHAT THEY HAD WARM.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I DON'T WANT TO GIVE A GUARANTEE WE HAVE LAWN TAX EITHER. WE SAW THAT HAVE A HIKE.
>> I ABSOLUTELY, BUT [OVERLAPPING].
>> THOSE PROJECTIONS ARE PRETTY DAMN GOOD, BECAUSE WE HAVE AN AMAZING PERSON, IN OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
YOU'VE GOT TO RELY ON THOSE PROJECTIONS.
>> WE HAVE BEEFED UP, THE SALES TAX PROJECTIONS THIS YEAR.
MIKE IS VERY CONSERVATIVE ON THAT, AND MIKE HAS BEEN TELLING YOU WE'RE IN A BUBBLE, AND I'M NOT CONVINCED WE'RE NOT IN A BUBBLE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, IF YOU WATCH THE NATIONAL NEWS LAST NIGHT,
[00:30:02]
YOU SAW THAT IN THE TOP TEN CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THE HOUSING STATS ARE WAY DOWN.HOUSES ARE SITTING ON THE MARKET.
THE HOUSES ON THE MARKET HAVE DOUBLED.
I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO CRASH HERE IN GALVESTON, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO PLATEAU.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE THIS LEVEL OF GROWTH.
DAVID IS CORRECT AND THAT WE WON'T BE ABLE TO CLIMB OUT OF THE HOLE.
WE DON'T WANT TO DIG OURSELVES TO DEEP IN THE HOLE.
WE JUST GOT HERE. CAN WE STAY HERE A LITTLE WHILE? [LAUGHTER].
>> I KNOW I'VE ASKED YOU THIS QUESTION BEFORE AND WE'VE TALKED WITH STAFF ON THIS IS THAT, WHEN DO WE NOT RAISE THE TAXES OR GO TO THAT THREE-AND-A-HALF PERCENT INCREASE EACH YEAR.
IS THERE A MECHANISM? I'VE ASKED FOR THE MECHANISM BE PUT IN PLACE TO DO THAT.
I DON'T THINK YOU AGREE WITH THAT, BECAUSE YOU THINK THAT WE NEED TO BRING IT THREE-AND-A-HALF PERCENT EACH YEAR
>> WELL, I DON'T NECESSARILY AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT. YOU'RE CORRECT.
I MEAN, WE SHOULD JUST REPLAY LAST YEAR THE VIDEO, BECAUSE WE HAVE [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING].
BUT I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT, BUT I'M REALLY LEERY OF BEDDING, THAT THOSE NEW REVENUE SOURCES ARE GOING TO COME ONLINE NEXT YEAR.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SOME THINGS THAT I'M NOT GOING TO SAY OUT LOUD, BUT WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, SOME THINGS WE CAN DO WITH ASSETS THAT WE HAVE, THAT COULD GENERATE MORE MONEY, BUT IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN NEXT MONTH, IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN BY SEPTEMBER.
>> [OVERLAPPING] YOU COULDN'T GUARANTEE IT.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT, I WANT TO SEE US DO.
I'M WILLING TO TAKE A REVENUE NEUTRAL POSITION SO THAT AS NEW THINGS COME ONLINE, WE CAN TALK ABOUT NOT DOING THIS AGAIN NEXT YEAR.
NOT DOING THIS WITH A 24 BUDGET, BUT TO SET THAT TAX RATE LOADS TODAY BETTING, YOU'RE GOING TO GET MORE REVENUE OUT OF THESE OTHER THINGS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S WHY I AGREE WITH YOU.
I DON'T WANT TO PUT THIS ON THE CHIN OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS, BUT THE OTHER FLIP SIDE OF THIS IS WE'VE GOT 9,000 HOMESTEAD OF PROPERTIES.
WE HAVE HOW MANY TOTAL PROPERTIES ON THE ISLAND?
>> [OVERLAPPING] TWENTY TWO THOUSAND.
>> TWENTY TWO THOUSAND, AND WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO IS HAVE TO GET PUT IN A POSITION WHERE IN ORDER TO GIVE A TAX BREAK TO 22,000 HOMES, AND I HAVE TO CUT SERVICE TO THE 9,000 PEOPLE [OVERLAPPING].
WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO BALANCE THAT OUT IN A GOOD WAY, AND I DON'T.
I DON'T WANT TO PAY MORE TAXES, BUT I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, I'VE MADE IT MY PRIORITY SINCE I LIVE HERE, BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE I START.
THIS IS WHERE I END AS A CITY MANAGER.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE LEAVE THE CITY IN THE BEST FINANCIAL SHAPE, AND IT'S IN BEST FINANCIAL SHAPE IT'S EVER BEEN IN.
WE JUST GOT TO THE PEAK OF THIS, AND WE CAN SEE.
I FEEL LIKE I'M GIVING A SPEECH.
WE CAN SEE THE OTHER SIDE, BUT WE'RE THERE.
BUT WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO IS TO MAKE ANY ABRUPT MOVES THIS COMING YEAR, THAT COULD ALL OF A SUDDEN HAVE ME.
ALL OF A SUDDEN NOT BEING ABLE TO BUY TRANSIT TO THE WORKERS OR TO NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE REC PROGRAMS TO THE KIDS IN THE SUMMER BECAUSE I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER BOUVIER HAS MENTIONED THAT HE DOESN'T WANT ANYTHING THAT CAUSES RENT TO GO UP, AND I GET THAT, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS, WHAT'S MORE HARMFUL TO A RENTER IN GALVESTON, THAT'S WORKING, WOULD BE IF THEY DON'T HAVE A WAY TO GET TO WORK OR THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A PLACE FOR THEIR KIDS TO GO FOR RECREATION PROGRAMS OR PARKS OR THINGS THAT WE PROVIDE AS WELL.
THOSE WOULD BE THE FIRST THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO IMPACT.
I JUST WANT TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT THIS, AND I KNOW I DON'T SAY I'M OVERLY CAUTIOUS, AND MIKE IS PROBABLY EVEN MORE SO THAN I AM, BUT I THINK WE'VE COWBOYED UP QUITE A BIT ON THE SALES TAX NUMBER THIS YEAR, AND WE'VE COWBOYED UP ON A LOT OF THE FEES.
I THINK, AND I FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING THAT BECAUSE I'VE GOT RESERVES.
I FEEL LIKE IF WE HAVE A RAINY 4TH OF JULY AND A RAINY MEMORIAL DAY IN THE SAME YEAR, I'M NOT GOING TO GO RUN WITH MY HEAD ON FIRE BECAUSE WE GOT IT, BUT IF WE HAVE BOTH OF THOSE AND A HURRICANE, I DON'T GOT IT [LAUGHTER].
>> WE HAVE THREE UNNAMED STORAGE WAS NO FEDERAL DECLARATION. THAT'S ANOTHER THING.
>> JOHN, I AGREE WITH WHERE YOU'RE GOING.
I'M ON BOARD BEFORE YOU'RE MOVING.
I DO FEEL THAT IT'S A LITTLE WAYS OFF.
WE NEED TO PUT THE PROCESS IN MOTION RIGHT NOW, SO THAT WE DON'T GET DOWN THE LINE AND SAY WE WANT TO DO THIS NEXT YEAR, AND NOW WE GOT TO PUT IT OFF AGAIN FOR ANOTHER YEAR.
WE NEED TO START THIS PROCESS NOW, WITH THIS ALTERNATE. I'M VERY BORED.
>> I THOUGHT I MADE THAT POINT CLEAR LAST YEAR, BUT APPARENTLY [OVERLAPPING] THREE OTHER VOTES MADE THAT HAPPEN.
>> WELL, I THINK THAT THE KEY IS JOHN.
I THINK YOU'VE ALREADY MAYBE ALLUDED TO THAT.
WE NEED TO GET THAT INTO MOTION.
WE NEED TO FORMALIZE THAT WHEN WE DO THIS TAX RATE, APPROVAL, WHATEVER THAT IS.
WE NEED TO FORMALIZE THAT PROCESS, SO THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE COME BACK AND WE'RE WILLING AWAY AT THIS TAX RATE, ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT THE THREE-AND-A-HALF PERCENT IS.
THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. YES, MA'AM.
[00:35:01]
>> I STILL WOULD LIKE TO SEE US SHAVE SOME PENNIES OFF THE TAX RATE, AND I THINK THERE'S WAYS THAT WE COULD DO IT WITHOUT ATTACKING TRANSIT, WITHOUT ATTACKING PARKS.
ONCE AGAIN, I HOPE YOU DON'T COME BACK WITH SUGGESTIONS THAT ARE ALL HEARTSTRINGS SUGGESTIONS, BECAUSE THAT GETS OLD.
>> [OVERLAPPING] GERMAN SUNNI WAITING. WE'VE GOT FLUFF AND WE DON'T.
>> WELL. SOME PEOPLE WOULD BEG TO DIFFER, BUT [OVERLAPPING] I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT NON REOCCURRING EXPENSES.
[OVERLAPPING] WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF CHANGE TO THE BETTER IN THIS CITY, BECAUSE WE USED TO SEE.
IF YOU LOOK AT LAST YEAR VERSUS THIS YEAR, MEGA OVERRIDE.
NOW WE'RE SEEING MONEY COME BACK.
IF YOU LOOK AT THAT THINGS AGAIN THAT ARE NON REOCCURRING, AND LOOK AT WHAT WE MAY HAVE INFLATED AN AREA BECAUSE OF AREAS WHERE WE DID HAVE SOME UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCE.
I THINK WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO TAKE A PENNY OR TWO, AND DAVID CAN SIT HERE AND SAY, THAT'S ONLY A $100 TO A PERSON, BUT TO A SMALL BUSINESS, WHICH IS THE BACKBONE OF OUR CITY.
THAT'S HUGE BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT THEIR COSTS ARE GOING UP TO.
>> THAT'S GOOD. THAT'S PERFECT RHETORIC.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT [OVERLAPPING] I MEAN, THAT'S THE WORD, BUT I'M JUST TELLING YOU'RE CONVOLUTING A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THERE, BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON YOUR GENERAL FUND IS YOUR GENERAL OPERATING MONEY.
[OVERLAPPING] THERE'S LITTLE CAPITAL IN THERE.
I'M ON BOARD WITH DOING ONE-TIME, CAPITAL EXPENSES ARE ONE TIME.
IF WE'VE GOT MONEY RESERVED FOR A LAWSUIT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] OR IT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO IN HOUSE VERSUS DOING IT OUTHOUSE. [LAUGHTER]
>> THERE ARE THINGS I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THE 23.
I WISH WE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN IT BEFORE YESTERDAY, AND I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THE 22.
I'VE BEEN GOING BACK AND LOOKING AT OUR MEETING AGENDAS, I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT ALL THE CONCERNED ITEMS, AND I CAN TELL YOU THERE ARE SOME NON REOCCURRING EXPENSES THAT WE HAD IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, WHICH IS PART OF WHAT DRIVES THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, AND I WOULD LIKE YOU TO LOOK AT THAT.
>> MARIE IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFICS ON THAT, I KNOW BRIAN WILL SPARE [OVERLAPPING]
>> LET'S GO OVER THERE. MIKE, YOU WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> THIS IS FINE. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I IMAGINED.
ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE, DOES EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND WHY WE KEEP MAKING THIS STATEMENT ABOUT NO NET INCREASE FOR HOMESTEAD OWNERS?
>> I'LL JUST CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THE PLACE WHERE THAT IS IN THE BUDGET.
SO YOU CAN POINT IT OUT THE CONSTITUENT IN THE BUDGET SUMMARY SECTION.
THERE IS A SECTION THAT TALKS ABOUT REVENUES, CITY-WIRE, PROPERTY TAXES [INAUDIBLE]
>> YOU'VE GOT THE 300 PAGES TO MEMORIZE.
>> WELL, WE DEVELOP THIS FORMAT OF THE COMPANY, SO THIS LITTLE CHARGE SIMPLY TAKES HOUSES OF DIFFERENT ASSESSED VALUE LEVELS AND ARE READY TO UNDERSTAND THIS.
THERE'S MARKET VALUE, WHICH IS WHAT PEOPLE SEE FIRST WHEN THEY GET THE LETTERS.
THEN THERE'S ASSESSED VALUE AND FOR HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES, THAT MEANS THAT'S THE PORTION OF THE MARKET VALUE.
THEY CAN ACTUALLY BE SUBJECT TO TAXATION.
A HOMESTEAD PROPERTY CAN'T HAVE THEIR ASSES VALUE GO UP MORE THAN 10% A YEAR.
THAT'S WHAT'S EMBODIED IN THIS CHART FIRST, ALONG WITH THE MINIMUM EXEMPTION THAT YOU-ALL ADOPTED FOR HOMESTEADS, AND THE WAY THAT WORKS IS PEOPLE HAVE 20% TAKEN OFF AND THEN IF THE $60,000 MINIMUM WAGE IS GREATER THAN WHAT 20% TURNS INTO, THEY END UP WITH A LOWER TAXABLE VALUE.
THAT'S IT IN A NUTSHELL FROM THAT STANDPOINT AND THE TABLE LOOKS AT WHAT LAST YEAR'S RATE WAS VERSUS THIS YEAR'S RATE AND CALCULATES THE TAX AMOUNT.
IT'S NOT A HUGE TAX CUT, BUT IT'S NOT A TAX INCREASE AND I JUST WANTED TO CALL THAT TO EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION AND COVER THAT.
[00:40:03]
THIS TABLE IS MY BEST ATTEMPT AT SUMMARIZING FOR YOU THE EFFECT OF THE 11 PAGE CALCULATION THAT THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR AND I GO THROUGH EVERY YEAR AND THEN SHE SIGNED OFF ON, IT'S ON PAGE CW15.I WON'T GO THROUGH IT BUT THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE 3.5% FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION AND SO FORTH.
>> I GOT TWO QUESTIONS, ONE ON EACH ONE OF THOSE TABLES.
>> THE FIRST TABLE HERE, DO YOU HAVE A TABLE LIKE THAT THAT WOULD SHOW ME NON HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES?
NO, I HAVEN'T DONE THAT, BUT I CAN GET THAT.
>> I'LL HAVE FOR YOU BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING.
>> THEN ON THIS NEXT TABLE, FIRST, I'M LOOKING AT THIS TABLE, SO I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M LOOKING AT, BUT ALLOWABLE GROWTH AND VALUE OVER 2022 IS 3.5 %, AND THAT'S 1.4 MILLION.
>> IS THAT THE AMOUNT THAT OUR TAX RATE IS GOING OVER? IS THAT WHERE WE GET OUR 3.5% FROM?
>> THAT'S WHERE THE 3.5% COMES IN IS AS AN ALLOWANCE BUT IF YOU READ THROUGH WITHOUT TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IN SOME DEPTH, THEY ELIMINATE CALCULATION.
>> ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS ARE A PART OF THAT CALCULATION AND REALLY THE THING THAT'S HAPPENED TO US THIS YEAR THAT I THINK MAKES THE OVERALL INCREASE A LITTLE GREATER, WE'RE COMPARING TO THE CURRENT YEAR'S ESTIMATED TAXES, AND THAT ESTIMATE HAS DROPPED IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS AS THE NUMEROUS COURT SUITS FOR THESE OVERLY HIGH APPRAISAL VALUES COME THROUGH TO FRUITION.
CHERYL GETS HIM AND SHE WILL, IF THEY PAID UPFRONT EVEN FOR THE AMOUNT THEY WERE CONTESTING, SHE HAS TO GIVE THE MONEY BACK SO THAT PERHAPS OUR COLLECTION RATE FOR THE CURRENT YEAR AND IF THEY GOT AN ALLOWANCE FOR VALUE ALONE AND THEY DIDN'T PAY THE FULL AMOUNT THAT THEY WERE CONTESTING, THAT SHOWS UP AS WELL, SO THAT'S A NEW THING PLUS THE SALES TAX THIS YEAR, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, GREW SO MUCH THAT THAT'S ACTUALLY A NEGATIVE FACTOR ON THE ALLOWANCE BECAUSE WE GOT SO MUCH SALES TAX.
>> IN BOTTOM LINE, THE $3.6 BILLION IS THE TOTAL INCREASE IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET OR ESTIMATED BUDGET AS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR'S ADOPTED.
>> ACCORDING TO LAST YEAR'S ESTIMATE.
>> IT WOULDN'T BE THAT MUCH COMPARED TO ACTUAL BECAUSE WE'RE OVER LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF FUEL AND OTHER EXPENSES, SO IT WOULD ACTUALLY BE LESS OVER ACTUAL FROM LAST YEAR.
>> WHEN YOU LOOK JUST AT PROPERTY TAX, WE'RE GOING TO BE UNDER BY ABOUT A $0.5 MILLION CITYWIDE AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT MAY BE EVEN MORE BECAUSE SHE CONTINUES TO GET SUITS FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, THAT THAT'S REALLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT HERE.
WHEN I DO THE LANGUAGE FOR THE TOP PAGE, THAT'S NOT BASED ON THE BUDGET, THAT'S BASED ON THE CURRENT INFORMATION THAT I HAVE FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT AND THE ASSESSOR AND COLLECTOR, SO THAT REALLY THIS PERCENTAGE IS PROBABLY 2% HIGHER THAN IT WOULD BE IN A NORMAL YEAR, AT LEAST, MAYBE THREE.
>> BUT UNDER 3.6, YOU'VE COMMITTED 1.4, YOU'VE GOT ABOUT A MILLION EXTRA IN FUEL.
>> THAT NUMBER IS 9% HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR'S ESTIMATED?
>> SO OUR BUDGET FOR 2022, GENERAL FUND 64 MILLION.
ESTIMATED BUDGET IS GOING TO BE 68 MILLION, SO WE ACTUALLY BROUGHT IN MORE REVENUE, SALES TAX.
>> REMEMBER, WE GOT REIMBURSED WITH THE CARES ACT, WHICH WAS JUST A REIMBURSEMENT. SO WE WERE LOW.
IF YOU LOOK BACK ON THE PREVIOUS YEARS, WE ACTUALLY SPENT DOWN AND DIDN'T PUSH THAT MONEY.
WE HAD TO SPEND IT BECAUSE WE HAD TO SPEND ALL THAT COVID MONEY, WE HAD EXPENSES DUE TO COVID AND EVERYTHING ELSE, WE FINALLY GOT REIMBURSED FOR IT, SO THAT'S WHY YOU REALLY CAN'T LOOK AT THIS AS A LEVEL THING BECAUSE WE HAD THIS MASSIVE, HOW MUCH MILLION DOLLARS WERE REIMBURSEMENT, MIKE?
>> IT WAS A COUPLE OF MILLIONS.
>> A COUPLE MILLIONS FROM THE COVID SIDE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] COUNCILOR, IF I MAY FLIP BACK TWO PAGES, GO TO CW13 AND I'LL SHOW YOU WHERE THE [NOISE] THAT MIGHT MAKE SENSE.
THE CHART ON CW13 IS SIX COLUMNS, FIRST ONE IS A DESCRIPTION OF THE ITEM.
THE FIVE RIGHT-MOST COLUMNS FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THE ACTUAL PROPERTY TAXES THAT
[00:45:07]
WE RECEIVED HERE BEFORE LAST YEAR IS WHAT WAS ADOPTED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AND WHAT WE'RE ESTIMATING CURRENTLY.LOOK AT THE BOTTOM MIDDLE LINE, THAT'S ENTITLED TOTAL BUDGETED COLLECTIONS, NOW THIS TAKES INTO ACCOUNT EVERYTHING WE HAVE IN OUR BUDGET IN THE WAY OF PROPERTY TAXES, INCLUDING NET OF THE [INAUDIBLE] INCREMENT NET OF THE AMOUNT WE GET AT 30 AND THAT LITERALLY HAS TO FIT IN WITH THE LANGUAGE THAT GOES ON THE TOP PAGE OF THE BUDGET THAT SAYS THIS BUDGET WILL GENERATE X AMOUNT OF TAXES COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.
LAST YEAR IS GENERATING UNDER BUDGET, BUDGET FOR FY22 WAS $41,000,166.
THIS YEAR THE ESTIMATE WHEN I DID THIS WAS $40,000,557.7.
>> THE NUMBER USING NORMAL COLLECTION RATES, NO ADDITIONAL LOSSES IN COURT IS $44,000,255, SO THE 9% IS BEING CALCULATED AGAINST THE $40,000,557, WHICH IS THE ESTIMATED AMOUNT THAT'S COMING IN LOW.
SO PART OF THE INCREASES WERE FORCED TO COMPARE TO A NUMBER THAT'S LOWER THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THIS PHENOMENON WITH A LARGE INCREASES IN PEOPLE'S RIFLE REACTION TO IT.
>> BUT MIKE, CAN I ASK A QUESTION ON THAT RIGHT NOW? BECAUSE WHEN YOU CAME IN TO THE LAST MEETING, YOU TALKED ABOUT, YOU WERE HIT WITH THE FINAL NUMBER THAT TOOK YOUR NUMBER DOWN FROM ALL THE LAWSUITS BEING SETTLED BUT NOT ALL SUITS, BUT PEOPLE WHO WENT TO COURT ON THEIR AD VALOREM TAXES AND ONE, SO EVEN WITH DEDUCTING THAT FROM LAST YEARS, WE WERE STILL AHEAD?
>> OKAY. WE WERE AHEAD BY HOW MUCH?
>> WELL, WE'RE PROJECTING IN '23, THEY WILL HAVE A REVENUE GAIN OF 3.7 MILLION.
BUT CURRENT YEAR WE'RE DOWN, COUNSELOR.
>> YOU'RE DOWN, HOW MUCH, I'M SORRY?
>> THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO KNOW.
PEOPLE ARE AVAILING THEMSELVES OF THE OPTION TO GO TO COURT AND ARE WINNING.
>> LET ME GO BACK, QUICK ONE HERE.
SO THIS YEAR'S PROPOSED BUDGET ACTUALLY INCREASED ABOUT $7 MILLION FROM LAST YEAR.
>> YOU'RE TALKING THE GENERAL FUND?
>> YES. BECAUSE THAT'S MAINLY WHAT WE'RE-
>> SEE, THE BIG REASON FOR THAT IS THE SALES TAX LOOKS LIKE IT'S COMING IN AT 21.7 MILLION AND MAY ACTUALLY EVEN BE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN THAT.
BUT JUST ON PRINCIPLE, I COULD NEITHER RECONCILE MYSELF TO SAY WE'D GET MORE THAN THAT NEXT YEAR OR LESS.
STAND FLAG WITH IT JUST SEEMED TO BE APPROPRIATE THING TO DO.
THAT'S THE BIG DIFFERENCE WITH LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ESTIMATE, IT'S A SMALLER NUMBER, IT'S ABOUT FIVE MILLION, WHICH AGAIN, THAT ESTIMATE HAS THE BIG SALES TAX, [INAUDIBLE] , BUT IT'S ALSO A HALF MILLION DOLLARS LESS FOR PROPERTY TAXES, BECAUSE OF WHAT WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT.
>> I'M SORRY. I'M GIVING YOU MORE THAN YOU MAY WANT TO KNOW.
>> WHEN YOU HAVE BIG SWINGS IN APPRAISAL, YOU HAVE BIG SWINGS IN REFUNDS AND WE HAVE TO PLAN FOR THAT.
IT USED TO BE WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT ONE OR TWO PERCENT, THE SWINGS WEREN'T TOTALLY RELEVANT.
>> ODDLY ENOUGH THOUGH, TALKING TO THE PEOPLE AT THE CAD, LESS PEOPLE ARE FIGHTING THEIR TAXES THIS YEAR THAN LAST YEAR, WHICH I FOUND ODD.
>> TIME EVERY TIME IF YOU THINK THEY'RE NOT RIGHT.
>> I DO EVERY YEAR, BUT I'M SAYING THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO VOTE LAST YEAR, BUSINESS AND HOMESTEAD, IT'S SMALLER THIS YEAR THAN LAST YEAR.
>> DAVID, JUST TO BRING THAT POINT, WE ARE INCREASING OUR BUDGET BY A LOT.
THIS IS A BIG INCREASE IN OUR BUDGET THIS YEAR FROM OUR ACTUALLY ADOPTED BUDGET LAST YEAR. MAYBE WE HAVE MORE EXPENSES.
WE DEFINITELY WENT OVER OUR BUDGET ON OUR EXPENSES LAST YEAR.
LUCKILY, WE COLLECTED MORE IN REVENUE THAN WE PROJECTED
[00:50:01]
SO WE ACTUALLY HAD A $3.5 MILLION NET GAIN.BUT MY WORRY IS THAT WE KEEP INCREASING THIS 3.5 PERCENT EACH YEAR ON OUR PROPERTY TAXES, WE INCREASE OUR BUDGETS BY BIG AMOUNTS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PERCENTAGES OF THAT IS, BUT I'M SURE YOU COULD CRUNCH THOSE NUMBERS IN YOUR HEAD REAL QUICK AND SET A PERCENTAGE FOR ME.
>> [INAUDIBLE] WHEN YOU LOOK GF3, THE GENERAL THUMB SECTION, GF3 [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'VE FACED SOME UNUSUAL INCREASES THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF INFLATION THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.
WHEN REVENUE GOES HIGHER, THE TRANSFER IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE FUND GOES HIGHER.
IT'S JUST A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT COMBINE TO PROVIDE THAT INCREASE.
>> DON'T LOSE SIGHT OF THE HEALTH BENEFITS. THAT'S TWO FOLD.
MEDICAL INFLATION IS FAR OUTPACED, EVEN THE CRAZY OTHER INFLATION.
SECONDLY, BECAUSE WE ARE STILL EXPERIENCING VAST AMOUNTS OF COVID AMONGST OUR EMPLOYEES, THEY'RE VISITING EMERGENCY ERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, OUR HEALTH COST ARE UP.
>> NO, I THINK I'M NEXT ACTUALLY, BUT THANK YOU.
TO GO TO JOHN PAUL'S REQUEST ON SHOWING A NON HOMESTEAD, I SECOND THAT, BECAUSE MY DISTRICT AND WHETHER THEY VOTE OR THEY DON'T VOTE, THEY'RE STILL MY CONSTITUENTS AND I STILL REPRESENT THEM.
I HAVE A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF SECOND HOMEOWNERS THAT ARE HIGH VALUE HOUSES.
I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT CROSS BOARD BECAUSE THE MORE WE FORCE EITHER PRIMARY CITIZENS OR SECONDARY HOMEOWNERS OUT, THE MORE WE'RE GOING TO TURN IT TO A SHORT TERM RENTAL HAVEN.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT CHART AS WELL AND HOW IT'S AFFECTING OUR SMALL BUSINESS.
LIKE I SAID, NO, I JUST DON'T WANT TO SACRIFICE SERVICES FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE [OVERLAPPING] SAVINGS FOR SOMEBODY THAT DOESN'T.
>> YEAH, I DON'T WANT TO SEEM UNSYMPATHETIC TO THOSE OF YOU WHO ACTUALLY OWN A BUSINESS.
I REALIZED THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT SAME EFFECT ON YOU.
I DO UNDERSTAND THAT, MAYBE EVEN YOU.
[LAUGHTER] I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE ON BUSINESS THESE DAYS.
SEVENTEEN DOLLAR VARY [LAUGHTER].
>> MOST OF US AROUND THE TABLE ARE UNDER THAT POSITION.
I UNDERSTAND MANY OF OUR CITIZENS ARE.
I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE TO PEOPLE THAT IT'S NOT AS THOUGH STAFF IS SAYING, LOOK AT ALL THIS NEW REVENUE, LET'S DO A BUNCH OF NEW STUFF.
A LOT OF THIS IS JUST HOLDING THE LINE, JUST KEEPING THE CITY AFLOAT FROM DOING THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING, KEEPING THAT POLICE FORCE ON THE STREET, KEEPING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RUNNING, KEEPING THE STREETS PAVED.
WE ARE RESTRICTED IN HOW WE HAD TO USE SOME OF THESE FUNDS, BUT IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE COMING UP WITH NEW STUFF TO DO WITH IT EVERY DAY.
>> WE'RE NOT ADDING PEOPLE WITH THIS.
>> WE'RE NOT ADDING PEOPLE. WE'RE NOT ADDING NEW PROGRAMS AND SO FORTH.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REALLY WORRY ABOUT DRIVING DOWN THE OPERATING FUND IS FEMA.
YOU COMMENTED ON THE COVID FUNDS EARLIER, BUT THINK ABOUT HOW LONG IT TOOK AFTER HARVEY DELAY HANDS ON THE MONEY IT COST US AND YOU HAVE TO FRONT THAT MONEY.
THAT'S CASH YOU GOT TO COME UP WITH SOME PLACE AND THEN HOPE FEMA STICKS TO THEIR OBLIGATION.
THOSE ONES ARE THE OBLIGATING PROGRAMS YOU GO AND WAIT AND NOT PAY YOU THAT MONEY.
THEY'RE JUST A NUMBER OF THINGS WE HAVE TO LAY OUT CASH FOR AND THEN HOPE WE GET IT BACK.
IF WE HAVE AN UNDECLARED STORM, WHICH AS YOU KNOW, THAT MAY BE MORE COMMON, THE DIRECT EFFECT IT HAS ON YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THAT'S MONEY WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET BACK FROM THE FEDS.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND ALL THE THINGS WE'VE PUT IN PLACE SINCE WHEN WE WERE VERY UNPREPARED FOR THAT.
I THINK WE LOOK AT THAT EVERY YEAR AND WE COVER THAT.
I DON'T THINK YOUR REASON ISN'T A JUSTIFIED REASON TO DO THE MAXIMUM TAX RATE EVERY YEAR IS WHAT I'M SAYING.
>> WHEN COSTS GO DOWN, I'LL GIVE YOU A CALL [LAUGHTER].
[00:55:01]
DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE THAT YOU WANT TO MENTION ON THIS BUDGET?>> I GUESS IN LOOKING AT THE GENERAL FUND SECTION, THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE DETAIL IS ON PAGES 4 AND 5, GF 4 AND 5. YOU CAN SEE WE'VE COVERED THE WATERFRONT THERE.
WE ARE EXPERIENCING SOME PRESSURES IN THE WATER AND SEWER FUNDS THAT CAUSED US NOT TO INCREASE THE INDIRECT COST TRANSFERS THIS YEAR.
YOU MIGHT UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE BUDGETED AT THE SITE LEVEL AS POINT TWO, AND THAT WAS JUST TO GIVE THEM A HOLIDAY.
THE SANITATION IS STILL HURTING, WATER AND SEWER HAVE SUFFICIENT CAPACITY.
>> MOST OF US SPEND 60-70 PERCENT OF OUR TIME IN DEALING WITH THOSE ISSUES.
WE'RE NOT EVEN COMING NEAR GETTING REIMBURSED FOR THAT TIME.
>> WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES, SALES TAX, BUT ALL THE REST OF THESE HAVE TO HOLD SERVE AS WELL.
>> MIKE, WE HAVE A [OVERLAPPING].
>> CAN I GET ONE MORE CHART THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT YOU MAY HAVE GIVEN IT TO US AND IT MAY BE IN HERE, BUT AGAIN, WE DIDN'T GET THIS TILL YESTERDAY.
CAN I SEE WHAT THE SALES TAX HAVE BEEN AND THE SALES TAX HAS BEEN ANNUALLY [OVERLAPPING] FROM THE YEAR 2000?
>> YOU WANT TO SEE IT MONTHLY, QUARTERLY, OR ANNUALLY?
>> ANNUALLY IS FINE, FROM 2000.
>> ENGLISH OR PORTUGUESE. [LAUGHTER]
>> MIKE PROBABLY GOT IT DOWN TO THE DAY AND HOUR TOO.
>> I GOT ONE MORE QUESTION FOR MIKE.
>> YOU HIT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WATER AND SEWER, BUT ANYTHING IN THESE OTHER FUNDS THAT YOU WANT TO POINT OUT, ANYTHING THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF?
>> LET'S LOOK AT THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS FOR JUST A SECOND.
>> EVERYTHING IN THIS SECTION OF THE BUDGET IS A FEE THAT IS LIMITED LEGALLY IN ITS EXPENDITURE, SO LET'S PEOPLE OUT THERE THINK THAT WE'RE NOT CHARGING FEES FOR THINGS AND WRITING DOWN THE PROPERTY TAX RATE.
THIS IN EFFECT, EVERY ONE OF THESE SERVICES HERE COULD ARGUABLY BE GENERAL FUND WERE IT NOT FOR THE EXISTENCE OF THE TRICKLED OUT HOT MONEY OR THE INFRASTRUCTURE FUND MONEY COMING TO THE GENERAL FUND BEING SET ASIDE FOR PROJECTS.
>> WHEN YOU'RE SAYING LEGALLY, YOU MEAN CITY OR STATE?
>> IT'S A COMBINATION OF BOTH IN HERE.
>> SO THOSE THINGS WE CAN CHANGE CITY-WISE [INAUDIBLE].
>> BUT THESE ARE FEE-BASED, ALL THIS IS FEE-BASED.
>> YES, AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, WE'RE EXPECTING 24 MILLION IN REVENUE THIS YEAR FOR THIS GROUP.
IT'S THE NUMBER AT THE BOTTOM OF THAT PAGE, BUT IF YOU FLIP THE PAGE AND SEE THE EXPENDITURES, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE IN DEFICIT SPENDING $23 MILLION TO GET TO THE 47 MILLION FIGURE.
WHEN IN FACT, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE TAKING THE BALANCES THAT ARE SITTING IN THOSE FUNDS AND BUDGETING THEM ALONG WITH NEW REVENUE SO THAT WE'RE NOT LIMITED IF SOMETHING OCCURS OR MAYOR AND COUNCIL WANTED TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S SPECIAL.
THE MONEY IS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE BUDGET, THEN IF IT'S NOT SPENT, IT GOES STRAIGHT BACK TO THE FUND THAT IT'S BUDGETED IN, SO THAT'S SOMETHING JUST KEEP IN MIND.
ALSO SOMETIMES WHEN YOU HAVE A DEDICATION THAT'S PART OF A FEE STRUCTURE, YOU JUST CAN'T SPEND THAT MUCH MONEY.
THE REASON I LIKED COUNCIL [INAUDIBLE] PROPOSAL IS IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE MONEY GETS SET ASIDE IN A SEPARATE FUND WHERE THE GENERAL FUND EXPENSE WOULD HAVE TO CHASE IT.
IT COULD GO INTO THE GENERAL FUND AND OFFSET PROPERTY TAXES AS A PART OF THE GENERAL FUND.
MIKE LET'S DO THIS, FIRST OF ALL, COUNCIL, ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR MIKE.
>> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. LAWSON AND FOR BRIAN?
>> SINCE WE IMPLEMENTED THAT SEWER AND WATER TAP FEE THIS PAST YEAR, DOES THAT SHOW UP IN HERE?
>> IT'S IN THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
>> I JUST WANT TO SEE WHAT THAT NUMBER IS AND SEE WHERE OUR [OVERLAPPING]
[01:00:05]
[LAUGHTER]>> TOP OF THE PAGE, THERE'S A LINE IN THE REVENUE SECTION CALLED SERVICE CONNECTIONS, AND YOU CAN SEE IN FY21, WE ACTUALLY COLLECTED 631,269.
THIS YEAR'S BUDGET WAS 566,200 AND THE ESTIMATE OF THE YEAR IN TOTAL WHEN WE DID THE BUDGET WAS DULY AT 56,000.
>> THANKS, JOHN. [OVERLAPPING].
>> I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU THAT THAT'S A 100 PERCENT COVERING THE COST.
I STILL DON'T THINK IT'S COVERING 100 PERCENT OF THE COST BECAUSE I CAN'T EVEN GET THE DAMN TAPS, [LAUGHTER] BUT WE'RE CLOSER.
>> CAN I ASK ANOTHER QUESTION? WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT NEW DEVELOPMENT, BECAUSE THE NUMBER SURPRISES ME, I THINK IT'S ON THE LOW SIDE.
WHEN DO WE COUNT THEM? WHEN PEOPLE FIRST START BUILDING, WE LOOK AT WHAT THAT ESTIMATED, OR WE WAIT TILL IT'S COMPLETED?
>> OH, IT COMES ONLINE IMMEDIATELY.
>> WHEN THEY'RE READY TO CONNECT TO THE WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM.
>> [OVERLAPPING] IT'S PROBABLY DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT TO HAVE BASIC UTILITIES. [NOISE]
>> WE HAVE SOME HOUSES SITTING UNDER CONSTRUCTION FOR TWO YEARS.
>> NOW, BUT WE HAVE A LOT THAT ARE MOVING FORWARD.
I CAN THINK OF SIX HOUSES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT IN THE LAST YEAR.
>> THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE ESTIMATE.
WE DON'T DETERMINE THAT, RIGHT?
>> THE TAXING COULDN'T TELL YOU. [OVERLAPPING].
>> I CAN'T COUNT IT [INAUDIBLE]
>> I UNDERSTAND YOU CAN'T COUNT IT TILL BUT I'M FAMILIAR WITH OTHER CITIES AND IT ALWAYS SURPRISES ME THAT A HOUSE THAT WAS ACTUALLY COMPLETED IN '18, THEY COUNT AS BEING BUILT IN '17 BECAUSE IT'S WHEN THEY CONNECTED TO THE WATER TAPS AND SO FORTH, SO THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING THE QUESTION.
FROM THE DISCUSSION, I THINK WE'RE MOVING AWAY AS WE MOVE INTO OUR NEXT ITEM, BUT I WANT TO WRAP THIS UP.
I THINK WE LEFT WITH TWO POINTS HERE.
FIRST OF ALL, FOR MARIE'S INPUT HERE, BRIAN, WE NEED TO LOOK AT WITNESS ROB'S REQUEST HERE [OVERLAPPING].
PLEASE GET WITH MIKE AND BRIAN TO SEE IF WE CAN WHITTLE AWAY AT THAT.
SECOND OF ALL, JOHN, I LIKE WHERE YOU'RE HEADING WITH THIS.
I THINK WE NEED TO FORMALIZE THIS WITH A MOTION, AND I KNOW YOU'RE LOOKING INTO THAT TO PUT SOME WORDING TO THAT SO WHEN WE BRING THIS FORWARD, HOPEFULLY THAT WOULD MEET YOUR NEEDS AS YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MIKE.
LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 3B, PLEASE NELLIE.
>> ITEM 3B, DISCUSSION OF THE STATUS OF THE GOLF CART ORDINANCE. [NOISE]
>> THANK YOU, MIKE. [LAUGHTER]
>> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ABOUT TWO OR THREE MINUTES FOR A BATHROOM BREAK AND THEN WE'LL START.
>> ALL RIGHT COUNCIL? [BACKGROUND] COUNCIL LET'S MOVE FORWARD NOW WITH OUR ITEM 3B.
[3.B Discussion Of The Status Of The Golf Cart Ordinance (Brown)]
>> COULD YOU REPEAT THAT, PLEASE, NELLIE?
>> YES, SIR. ITEM 3B, DISCUSSION OF STATUS OF THE GOLF CART ORDINANCE.
>> BEFORE WE START THIS DISCUSSION, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS ON THIS.
THIS LAST WEEKEND WE HAD A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY ON AN ISLAND HERE WHERE WE HAD AN ACCIDENT AND INDIVIDUALS LOST THEIR LIVES, AND I WANTED TO START OUT SAYING THE CITY OF GALVESTON SENDS OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS WITH ALL THE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THAT WERE INVOLVED WITH THIS ACCIDENT.
I WANT TO SAY ALSO THAT THIS COUNCIL REALIZES THAT THE MAIN CAUSE OF THE ACTIONS THAT BROUGHT ABOUT THIS ACCIDENT WERE ALLEGEDLY BECAUSE OF A DRUNKEN DRIVER.
BUT WE DO UNDERSTAND ALSO THAT WE ARE HAVING A PROLIFERATION OF GOLF CARTS AND OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ISLAND HERE, AND THAT WE FEEL TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO MAINTAIN THE SAFETY FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS HERE, OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR VISITORS, THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT, IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO OUR GOLF CART ORDINANCE THAT WOULD POSSIBLY
[01:05:04]
REDUCE THE RISK OF ACCIDENTS IN THE FUTURE ON THIS.OUR DISCUSSION THIS MORNING WILL EXPLORE MANY DIFFERENT TOPICS.
NO DEFINITE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE VOTED UPON TODAY.
THIS ITEM WAS ON THE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION AND FOR COUNCIL TO GET POSSIBLE GUIDANCE TO STAFF WHERE THEY MAY BRING BACK TO US ANY CHANGES IN ANY OF OUR RULES OR REGULATIONS THAT MIGHT ASSIST WITH THE SAFETY OF THE CARTS.
DEFINITE CHANGES, IF ANY, WILL BE FORMALIZED AT SUBSEQUENT COUNCIL MEETINGS, AND OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE AUGUST 25TH, SO IF WE DO HAVE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COUNCIL BRINGS FORWARD TODAY, THOSE WILL BE FORMALIZED IN A VOTE ON AUGUST 25TH.
BEFORE WE START THIS DISCUSSION, I WOULD LIKE FOR OUR CITY ATTORNEY TO CLARIFY A FEW POINTS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO COUNCIL SINCE THIS ACCIDENT.
THEY ARE THIS; ACCORDING TO STATE LAW, ARE GOLF CARTS ALLOWED TO OPERATE AT NIGHT ON PUBLIC STREETS? AND SECONDLY, QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO COUNCIL CONCERNING COUNCIL'S ABILITY TO CLOSE GOLF CART RENTAL BUSINESSES, AND DOES THE CITY HAVE THE RIGHT TO TERMINATE THESE BUSINESSES, AND WHAT WOULD BE INVOLVED IF WE DO HAVE THAT RIGHT? BEFORE WE START OUR DISCUSSION DON, I'D LIKE FOR YOU, OUR CITY ATTORNEY, DONALD LEGRAND, I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO ANSWER TO COUNCIL THESE TWO PARTICULAR QUESTIONS.
FIRST OF ALL, ACCORDING TO STATE LAW, ARE GOLF CARTS ALLOWED TO OPERATE AT NIGHT ON PUBLIC STREETS?
>> I HAVE HANDED YOU OUT A MEMO ON THE VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE ON GOLF CARTS.
IF YOU LOOK ON THE FIRST PAGE, THERE'S CITATION TO SECTION 551-403.
ON THE SECOND PAGE, UNDER SUBSECTION 3, GOLF CARTS ARE PERMITTED TO OPERATE ON A HIGHWAY WITH A POSTED SPEED LIMIT NOT LESS THAN 35 MILES AN HOUR.
IF THE GOLF CART IS OPERATED DURING THE DAYTIME.
DAYTIME IS DEFINED, AND THAT DEFINITION IS ON PAGE 1 AS HALF AN HOUR BEFORE AND AFTER SUNRISE.
THE DEFINITION OF HIGHWAY IS ALSO IN THE THE FIRST PAGE AS WELL.
THE CITY HAS THE AUTHORITY TO BAN OPERATION OF ALL GOLF CARTS ON ALL CITY STREETS.
THERE IS SOME CONFUSION AND MISTAKE OF COURSE IT SAYS THAT IF YOU LOOK AT 4031, IT'S ON THE SECOND PAGE, IT SAYS A COUNTY MAY PROHIBIT THE OPERATION OF GOLF CART [NOISE] IF THE MUNICIPALITY DETERMINES THAT THE PROHIBITION IS NECESSARY IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE SECTION 404, THE GOVERNING BODY OF A MUNICIPALITY MAY ALLOW AN OPERATOR TO OPERATE A GOLF CART ON PARTS OF THE HIGHWAY.
ONE SECTION SAYS A COUNTY CAN PROHIBIT IT, THE NEXT SECTION SAYS THE CITY CAN ALLOW IT.
[NOISE] THIS CITY HAS ALLOWED EXCEPT FOR MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITIES THE OPERATION OF GOLF CARTS, EXCEPT ON THE [INAUDIBLE] CONNECTION OF STREETS SET OUT IN SECTION 203.
THESE PROHIBITED STREETS INCLUDE AVENUE O, THE PELICAN ISLAND CAUSEWAY.
THESE THINGS WERE DEFINED IN, I THINK 2010 BEFORE YOU ALL CAME IN.
I THINK WE MAY HAVE CHANGED IT ONCE OR TWICE, I'M NOT SURE.
BUT GOLF CARTS ARE PROHIBITED FROM OPERATING ON CITY STREETS UNLESS THE CITY ALLOWS THEM.
WE HAVE ALLOWED THEM EXCEPT FOR CERTAIN STREETS DEFINED IN THE ORDINANCE.
[01:10:03]
IT IS MY POSITION THAT BECAUSE OF THE SECTION IN STATE A, THAT REQUIRES THEY BE OPERATED IN THE DAYTIME, THAT IT IS REQUIRED UNDER STATE LAW THEY OPERATE ONLY IN THE DAYTIME AND NOT AT NIGHT.I'VE SPOKEN WITH MR. SANDERSON.
SERGEANT SANDERSON HAS SPOKEN WITH DPS AND THEIR AGENCY ATTORNEY SAYS NO BECAUSE THE CITY HAS ADOPTED AN ORDINANCE, GOLF CARTS CAN OPERATE AT NIGHT.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER HEARD OF THAT INTERPRETATION, WHICH IS UNIQUE.
BUT SO AS MY BOSS, HARVEY BAZAMAN, ONCE SAID, THE ONLY THING TWO PUBLIC SERVANTS CAN AGREE ON IS WHAT A THIRD ONE WILL DO.
IT WAS OUR CONTEMPLATION A YEAR AGO, AS YOU MAY RECALL THAT WE DID NOT SPECIFICALLY INCLUDE PROHIBITION OF OPERATION DURING THE NIGHT, AS A DISCUSS TOPIC UNDER THE BELIEF IT WAS REQUIRED UNDER STATE LAW.
IT WAS PROHIBITED UNDER STATE LAW.
DPS SAYS THEY'RE NOT GOING TO ENFORCE THAT SO IF YOU WISH, A RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO EXPLICITLY PUT IT INTO THE ORDINANCE AS "OPERATION OF GOLF CARTS ON CITY STREETS IS PROHIBITED AT NIGHT," AND END WHAT APPEARS TO BE A FRONT OF CONFUSION.
>> BEFORE WE GET INTO DISCUSSION, THE SECOND QUESTION IS THE JOB DONE.
>> NEXT. CAN WE PROHIBIT THE RENTAL OF GOLF CARTS? WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO REGULATE ALL TYPES OF BUSINESSES.
I BELIEVE ALLOWANCE OF THE RENTAL OF GOLF CARTS IS AN ITEM WE COULD PROHIBIT.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE NOT CHOSEN TO DO THAT IN THE PAST AND IN RESPONSE, THE GOLF CART INDUSTRY HAS GROWN IN SOME INSTANCES RATHER DRAMATICALLY.
I SAW ONE OPERATOR HAS OVER A HUNDRED OF THESE CARTS.
NOW, YOU COULD SAY THAT WE'LL END THEIR RENTAL PROSPECTIVELY TO ALLOW THE PRESENT BUSINESSES TO RECOUP THEIR EXPENDITURES AND GET THEM TO EARN THEIR INVESTMENT EXPECTATION AND RECOVER THEM AFTER A STATE IN THE FUTURE.
YOU COULD NOT SAY AS OF MONDAY, RENTAL BUSINESSES ARE DONE.
WELL, YOU COULD, BUT THE CITY WOULD BE BUYING A LOT OF GOLF CARTS BY WAY OF DAMAGES FOR THAT TO OCCUR BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE TAKING OF PROPERTY.
IF YOU WANT TO DO IT, I BELIEVE YOU CAN.
YOU WOULD HAVE TO ALLOW FOR [INAUDIBLE] TIME FOR THE BUSINESSES TO RECOUP THEIR LOSSES OR THEIR INVESTMENTS.
THIRD, WE HAVE THIS LIST OF STREETS ON WHICH WE BAN OPERATION.
YOU MAY WANT TO REVIEW THAT AND SEE IF THERE'S OTHER STREETS THAT YOU WANT TO ADD TO THE LIST.
I HAVE TOLD YOU THAT MY LOVELY WIFE ABSOLUTELY GOES BANANAS OVER THE OPERATION OF GOLF CARTS ON THE [INAUDIBLE].
I RECALL MS. ROB, YOU WERE A PROPONENT OF THAT.
IF THAT IS THE TOPIC YOU WISH TO CONSIDER, I'LL LEAVE THAT UP TO YOU.
HAVE I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION?
>> YOU HAVE. I JUST WANT TO GO BACK THROUGH THAT THE DRIVING OF GOLF CARTS AT NIGHT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PUT INTO OUR ORDINANCE THAT IS NOT THERE NOW.
IF WE WERE TO PROHIBIT THEM AT NIGHT, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE IN OUR ORDINANCE FOR THAT TO BE ENFORCEABLE, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> OUR RELIANCE ON DPS ENFORCING THAT STATE LAW APPARENTLY WAS MISPLACED.
IF YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS AN ACTIVITY THAT IS ENFORCED IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON,
[01:15:03]
I WOULD RECOMMEND IT BE PUT IN THE CITY ORDINANCE.>> OKAY. ON THE TOPIC OF CLOSING GOLF CART BUSINESSES, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS OPEN TO THE COUNCIL TO DISCUSS AND POSSIBLY RECOMMEND IF THEY FEEL THAT SHOULD BE DONE.
>> YES, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF MATH INVOLVED THERE.
>> WE NEED SOME FINANCE PEOPLE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE AMORTIZATION ON THESE GOLF CARTS IS.
WE DON'T WANT TO HOLD ANYBODY UP, WE DON'T WANT TO DEPRIVE THEM OF ANYTHING.
YOU WANT TO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOUP THEIR INVESTMENT.
YEAH, I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO HURT ANYBODY EITHER.
>> OKAY. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, JOHN.
LET'S GO AHEAD COUNCIL, LET'S START OUR DISCUSSION. WE'RE READY.
>> OKAY. I WOULD NOT BE OPPOSED TO THE BANNING OF GOLF CARTS AT NIGHTTIME THROUGHOUT THE ISLANDS SINCE IT IS STABLE.
UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF THE ACCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED AREN'T HAPPENING AT NIGHT SO YOU CAN'T HELP. BUT LOOK AT THAT.
WE WERE GIVEN A LIST OF INCIDENTS THAT I CAN TELL YOU IT'S MISSING A NUMBER OF THEM BECAUSE I'D TAKE A PICTURE EVERY TIME I SEE SOMEONE BREAKING THEM ALL.
NOW, YOU HAVE THAT PICTURE THAT I HAD SAID IN THERE.
[NOISE] NOW, THIS IS A GOLF CART FLIP ON A PARTNER STAPLE FOR ABOUT COURTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SIX-SEVENTHS AND SEAWALL.
THIS WAS JULY 30TH, IT IS NOT ON THIS LIST.
THERE ARE SO MANY THAT ARE NOT ON THIS LIST.
BUT THERE IS ONE COMMON THEME ON THIS LIST.
I DIDN'T DO THE MATH, BUT I'M GOING TO ESTIMATE, 80 PERCENT OF THE ACCIDENTS ARE ON THE SEAWALL.
ANOTHER ROUGHLY EIGHT PERCENT.
AGAIN, I'M USING THOSE MAPS ARE WITHIN TWO BLOCKS OF THE SEAWALL.
I WAS ADAMANT ABOUT IT BEFORE AND I'M ADAMANT ABOUT IT AGAIN.
WE NEED TO GET GOLF CARTS OFF THE SEAWALL.
WE'RE NOT ASLEEP, BE LITTLE SEASIDE TOWN.
THE SEAWALL IS THE MAJOR ROUTE IN THE CITY.
ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT HAPPENED BACK IN 2017 WAS WHEN THE COUNCIL LOWERED THE SPEED LIMIT ON ALL THE SEAWALL TO 35, WHICH MEANT, I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET THE NUMBER BECAUSE APPARENTLY A LOT OF THIS ISN'T AUTOMATED YET, WHICH IS A WHOLE OTHER ISSUE I'D LIKE TO COVER AT A FUTURE COUNCIL MEETING, BUT IT HAS PROBABLY GROWN, WOULD YOU SAY DONE A 100 FOLD? THE NUMBER [INAUDIBLE].
[OVERLAPPING] WE DON'T HAVE THE LIST FROM 2017 AND YOU COULD EVEN REFERENCE.
>> LET'S JUST AGREE. THERE'S A WHOLE LOT.
I WOULD ALSO NOT BE OPPOSED AND I'M A PRO BUSINESS PERSON.
I SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS, LARGE BUSINESS, BUT I WOULD NOT BE OPPOSED TO TAKING A APPROACH TO BAN ANY RENTAL GOLF CARTS.
I HAVE FRIENDS WHO HAVE COMPANIES AND I FELT BAD.
I KNOW IT WOULD BE A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP TO THEM.
BUT THAT'S THE YOU CAN'T HELP BUT LOOK AT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE HAVING, IT'S PRIMARILY RENTAL GOLF.
BUT WE'RE ALSO SEEING ANOTHER PHENOMENON THAT WE NEVER SAW BEFORE.
THAT'S RESIDENTS DRIVING GOLF CARTS WHERE THEY SHOULDN'T BE.
WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE GOLF CARTS ARE OUT OF CONTROL AND THEY'RE LIKE IF EVERYBODY ELSE IS USING IN 61ST, I'M ON AS WELL.
I SAW A GOLF CART ON THE SAME SATURDAY THAT I SAW THIS ONE DERIVING TOWARDS 45 ON 61ST STREET.
NOW THAT'S REALLY FRIGHTENING.
WHEN YOU READ THROUGH THESE INCIDENTS REPORT IS BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HOW A LOT OF THEM ARE PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW HOW TO OPERATE GOLF CARTS.
THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEEK GO INTO PLACE.
RIGHT NOW, WE FINE THE OPERATOR OF THE CAR.
WE SHOULD ALSO BE FINING THE COMPANIES WHEN THEIR CARTS ARE
[01:20:03]
FOUND SOMEWHERE WHERE THEY SHOULDN'T BE OR INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.BECAUSE YOU CAN SAY YOU HAVE GEOCACHING, CAN YOU MONITOR THAT THEY DON'T GO ON STREETS BUT THEY AREN'T STOPPING THEM.
THE ONLY WAY WE COULD STOP THAT FROM HAPPENING IS ACTUALLY, HOWEVER WE APPROACH IT LEGALLY TO THE BETTERMENT OF THE CITY AND OUR RESIDENTS, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH POLICE TO, AND NOR DO I WANT THEM SPENDING THEIR TIME TAKING CARE OF THIS GOLF CART ISSUE.
NOR DO I WANT TO PAY ANOTHER TWO MILLION TO ADD ON MARSHALS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO PUT THAT ON MY DEBT BURDEN ON OUR CITIZENS.
I AM SICK AND TIRED PUTTING MORE EXPENSES ON OUR RESIDENTS TO BENEFIT TOURIST.
DON'T GET ME WRONG. I LOVE THE TOURIST INDUSTRY.
IT'S ONE OF OUR TOP INDUSTRIES.
BUT WE'RE A PORTS CITY AND WE HAVE A MAJOR UNIVERSITY [INAUDIBLE] CENTER.
WE HAVE ANOTHER MAJOR UNIVERSITY ON PELICAN ISLAND.
UNTIL WE'RE BRAVE ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY GET THIS UNDER CONTROL, IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE A GROWING PROBLEM.
WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
>> WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS WALK AROUND ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS AND GETTING INPUT FROM YOU ON THIS.
LET'S START OVER HERE, WILLIAM.
>> WHEN WE ADOPTED ORDINATES LAST YEAR, WE BASICALLY GOT OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW WHILE I'M AT NIGHT.
>> NO. IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATUTE, IT SAYS, IN ADDITION TO THE OPERATION AUTHORIZED UNDER [INAUDIBLE], THAT MEANS THOSE 403 OBLIGATIONS ARE IN ADDITION TO WHAT THE CITY PERMITTED BY [INAUDIBLE].
NO, I DO NOT THINK WE ARE OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW.
>> LAST YEAR WHEN WE ESTABLISHED DIFFERENT RENTAL FEES FOR COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL CARDS, DID WE ESTABLISH A PRINCIPLE THAT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO DIFFERENT RULES OR REGULATIONS WITH COMMERCIAL CARTS VS RESIDENTIAL CARTS?
I RECALL ADDING RESTRICTIONS ON THAT THE BRANCHES OF THE CARTS HAVE TO GIVE THE LIST OF PROHIBITED STREETS, GIVE THEM FLY AWAY.
IT WAS A SAFETY LESSON AND THEY HAD A SEAT BELT, ALL THAT TYPE OF STUFF.
THEY HAD TO HAVE A LICENSE PLATE AND VARIOUS SAFETY EQUIPMENT.
I THINK ALL THAT IS REQUIRED FOR PRIVATE CARTS AS A FUNCTION OF THE LICENSE PLATE IN ANY WAY.
BUT ASIDE FROM THAT, I DON'T REALLY RECALL ABOUT A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PRIVATE VERSUS THE RENTAL CART EXCEPT FOR THE FEE.
>> THE FEE AND THEN PROVIDING THE INFORMATION TO THE RIDER, RIGHT?
>> WE HAVE A WAY OF SAYING, HEY YOU MIGHT HAVE A DIFFERENT RULE VERSUS A RESIDENTIAL CART.
>> THE ISSUE WITH THAT COMES INTO THE ENFORCEMENT.
BECAUSE WE DON'T REQUIRE A UNIFORM MARKINGS AT THE GOLF CARTS.
I THINK THOSE OF US THAT HAVE LIVED HERE LONG ENOUGH, WE CAN PICK THEM OUT.
YOU CAN TELL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MY GOLF CART FROM A RENTAL GOLF CART A LITTLE.
BUT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO DO THE ENFORCEMENT ON THAT TO DETERMINE WHAT'S REAL AND WHAT'S A RESIDENT IN TERMS OF APPLYING RULE TO A RENTAL CART VERSUS A RESIDENT CART.
>> IN ADDITION SOMEBODY FROM CAMPUSES THAT COMES DOWN TO RENT ONE OF THESE THINGS, THEY DON'T KNOW, AVENUE ALWAYS WHEN TO ACTION IN ONE WAY.
I'VE HAD THEM DRIVE TOWARDS ME HEAD ON.
>> I'VE TALKED TO FRIENDS WHO LIVE ON [INAUDIBLE].
THEY SAY ON AVERAGE DAILY, THEY SEE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 15-50 GOLF CARTS TRAVELING DOWN ON AND PAY FOR EXACTLY THE REASON YOU'RE SAYING'
>> WELL, THAT'S MY SPECULATION HONESTLY.
>> WHAT ELSE GETTING TO THE DIFFERENT CURRENT CAN YOU REQUIRE, AGE REQUIREMENTS ON GOLF CARTS? IF YOU PUT A MINIMUM AGE.
>> WE ALREADY REQUIRE THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE.
[01:25:04]
>> HE'S TALKING ABOUT PASSENGERS.
>> PASSENGERS. I HAVE HANDED YOU OUT A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, WHICH ANNOUNCES THE ISSUANCE OF A PAPER.
THEY INCLUDE THE ABSTRACT THERE THAT SHOWS THAT CHILDREN UNDER 18 WHO ARE INJURED HAVE VARIOUS PATTERNS OF INJURIES.
THE ONES THAT ARE INJURED THE MOST AND THERE'S A CHART GRAPH ON THE LAST PAGE, IS THAT AGE GROUP FROM I THINK IT'S 0-12, AND IT ALSO HAS AN INCLUSION OF THE TYPES OF INJURIES THAT ARE INCLUDED.
I THINK THAT COULD PROVIDE A RATIONAL BASIS FOR RESTRICTING PASSENGERS UNDER THE AGE OF 12 IN MENTAL COURTS.
BECAUSE THIS PAPER SHOWS THEY'RE THE ONES THAT GET HURT THE MOST.
>> BUT WHO'S GOING TO POLICE THEM? WE DON'T REALLY HAVE [OVERLAPPING]?
>> WELL, THERE IS THAT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOU MUST BE THIS TALL. [LAUGHTER]
>> [OVERLAPPING] IT'S JUST LIKE A KID DRIVING IN THE FRONT SEAT OF A CAR UNDERAGE AND THEY SHOULDN'T BE.
IT'S THE SAME CONCEPT, BUT YOU CAN STILL SEE IT THOUGH.
>> LET'S GET EACH COUNCIL MEMBER'S THOUGHTS OUT AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK AND GO BACK AND ASK QUESTIONS ON THAT. GO AHEAD.
>> WELL SINCE, OBVIOUSLY, THE TRAGEDIES HAPPEN.
I'VE HAD NUMEROUS GOLF CART IDEAS COME IN FROM CONSTITUENTS AND, PEOPLE AT RANDOM ON THE ISLAND.
MY TWO CENTS WOULD BE, I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR AUGUST MEETING.
I HAVEN'T [INAUDIBLE] OR SOMETHING, BUT I KNOW DON'T WE MEET AGAIN IN 1ST OF SEPTEMBER.
>> IT DOES GIVE YOU A LITTLE MORE CHANCE FOR INPUT AND DISCUSSION BECAUSE IF YOU DO THE MATH, WE'VE GOT OVER A THOUSAND REGISTERED GOLF CARTS THAT AREN'T COMMERCIAL TO RESIDENTS.
WHETHER YOU LIKE THEM OR NOT, THEY'VE BECOME PART OF PEOPLE'S WAY OF LIFE, ESPECIALLY ON THE EAST END OF THE ISLAND.
IT MAY SEEM SIMPLE, BUT WE'RE DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE EVERY SUMMER AND HERE WE ARE AGAIN, DEALING WITH IT.
NOW I WILL SAY THAT THE ISSUES I'VE BEEN RECEIVING FROM MY CONSTITUENTS, IS ABOUT GOLF CARTS.
SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS I'VE ADDRESSED WERE JUST THE AGE REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S A COMMON COMPLAINT WE ALWAYS HEAR IS, I SAW A BABY STRAPPED TO A GOLF CART OR PARENTS HOLDING IT.
I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT AGE, I THINK THAT ELIMINATES A LITTLE BIT OF THE ARGUMENT.
BUT IT DOES COME DOWN TO WHO POLICES IT.
WELL, NOW, WE'RE NOT LIABLE FOR THAT.
IT'S LIKE SOMEBODY DRIVING A CAR.
IF THEY'RE DOING IT ILLEGALLY, THE LAW IS THERE, THEY DOES HAVE TO TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY.
WE'RE JUST PROVIDING THE BASIS FOR THAT RESPONSIBILITY.
THAT'S JUST MY TWO-CENT ON THAT BUT THE OTHER ARGUMENT, OR JUST ISSUES HAVE COME UP WITH THIS INCIDENT IS LOOKING AT, AND IT'S NOT AN AGENDA ITEM, BUT I THINK IT'S RELATED, LOOKING AT OVERALL TRAFFIC AND WHERE THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED, AND ESPECIALLY IN THE INNER CITY.
RYAN, WE TALKED A LOT, YOU'VE EVEN MENTIONED IT WITH ROB.
WE'RE IMPROVING STREET AND GROUND AFFAIRS.
[NOISE] YOU NEVER THOUGHT YOU'D HEAR PEOPLE SAYING PEOPLE ARE DRIVING TOO DAMN FAST IN GALVESTON, WHICH YOU'RE GOING TO SEE MORE AND MORE.
WE'VE PUT GOLF CARTS ON A ROAD THAT ONLY GO 25 MILES.
BUT WE'VE GOT THOROUGHFARES THAT ARE 35 AND WE KNOW PEOPLE DAMN NEAR WELL THEY'RE GOING 45, 50 IN SOME NEIGHBORHOODS.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO PUT GOLF CARTS ON THE ROAD, [NOISE] THEN WE GOT TO LOOK AT THE OVERALL SAFETY OF HOW WE HAVE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SET UP.
WHETHER IT BE CERTAIN STOP SIGNS IN AREAS, SPEED LIMITS.
I KNOW WE'VE GOT OUR CONCERNS AND THOUGHTS ON SPEED BUMPS, BUT I'VE HAD RESIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE, REQUESTED THEM, AND SAYING PEOPLE ARE DRIVING TOO FAST IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THE SIGNS.
MY DOG WAS HIT, JUST LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT HAVE JUST COME TO LIGHT WITH IT.
JUST LIKE YOU SAID, AND WHEN WE IMPROVE ROADS, AND WE'D GET 7 MILLION PEOPLE HERE TO DRIVING LIKE [INAUDIBLE].
HOPEFULLY, THIS INCIDENT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST GOLF CARTS, WE HAVE SUCH A HIGH PEDESTRIAN AREA, DRIVING UP AND DOWN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, 30 SEGWAYS, YOU NAME IT.
I THINK IT OPENS THE DISCUSSION, NOT ONLY ON GOLF CARTS BUT REALLY JUST OVERALL [NOISE] IN THE INNER CITY OF WHAT WE'RE DOING, SINCE WE'RE SEEING INFLUX OF TRAFFIC, SHORT-TERM RENTALS, VISITORS, PEOPLE TRYING TO GET PLACES QUICKER.
[01:30:01]
THAT'S JUST MY TWO CENTS ON THE WHOLE SUBJECT. [NOISE]>> FIRST OF ALL, RICK, IN DEFENSE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HERE, I BELIEVE THIS INCIDENT IS THE LAST THING ON PAGE 6 OF THE LIST WE WERE GIVEN.
BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THE POLICE FAILURE TO REPORT THESE THINGS.
>> OH, I DON'T THINK THE POLICE ARE FAILING TO REPORT, [OVERLAPPING] A LOT OF HOW THEY REPORT IS DONE BADLY. [OVERLAPPING]
>> OUR ASSISTANT DOESN'T SINGLE IT OUT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I DON'T WANT TO DEBATE IT, IT'S JUST THAT INCIDENT IS AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE 6.
SECOND, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, SERGEANT SANDERSON, CAN WE GET SOME CLARIFICATION FROM THE STATE ON WHERE WE ARE? YOU SPOKE, SERGEANT TO? PLEASE.
>> I'LL COME UP AND EXPLAIN. [OVERLAPPING]
>> SERGEANT SANDERSON, COME ON UP HERE. [INAUDIBLE] [BACKGROUND]
>> I'LL EXPLAIN WHERE I GOT THE INFORMATION FROM THE ALL-OUT, MORE THAN HAPPY TO SEND IT TO YOU ALL.
I SPOKE WITH SERGEANT WEEKLY, HE'S A DPS HIGHWAY PATROL SERGEANT AND HE'S ONE OF THE INSTRUCTORS IN THEIR ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION CODE SCHOOL.
HE ALSO DEALS WITH THE GOLF CART SESSION, THAT A SECTION HE TEACHES THROUGHOUT RECRUIT SCHOOLS, THROUGHOUT ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AS IT RELATES TO WHAT THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS TALKED ABOUT WITH THE DAYTIME OPERATION, THERE'S AN ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION ON THAT.
I HAVE THAT ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION HERE.
AS IT REFLECTS IN THE STATUTE UNDER 551403, IT'S NUMBER 3 OF THAT.
IT TALKS ABOUT ON A HIGHWAY [NOISE] THOUGH WE SUPPOSE THE SPEED LIMIT IS NOT MORE THAN 35 MILES PER HOUR.
IF THE GOLF CART IS OPERATED, A, DURING THE DAYTIME, B, NOT MORE THAN FIVE MILES FROM ITS LOCATION WHERE THE GOLF CART IS USUALLY PARKED AND FOR TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM A GOLF COURSE.
IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION, THE DAYTIME OPERATION HAS TO DEAL WITH TO AND FROM A GOLF COURSE.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE 404 OPERATION OF THAT.
THAT'S WHAT THE INFORMATION I WAS GIVEN TODAY.
THAT'S WHAT I LEARNED FOR ENFORCEMENT OF THIS, ON THE STATE STATUTE SIDE.
NOW THAT DOESN'T PRECLUDE ANYTHING YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO DO AS FAR AS I KNOW ON THE CITY ORDINANCE SIDE.
>> I JUST WANT TO REHASH SO WE'RE CLEAR.
THAT IF WE ALLOW THEM AT NIGHT, WE'RE NOT IN VIOLATION OF STATE STATUTE.
BECAUSE IF DPS ISN'T GOING TO ENFORCE IT.
>> THEY'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THE AG'S OPINION.
THIS IS THE ONLY AG'S OPINION OUT AS IT RELATES TO THE GOLF CART OPERATIONS WITH THESE DAYTIME HOURS.
THIS IS THE AG'S OPINION THAT THEY'RE FOLLOWING. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE AG OPINION SAYS UNDER 403 THE CONDITIONS 1, 2 AND 3 ARE DISJUNCTIVE, NOT CONJUNCTIVE.
>> WELL, PUT THAT FOR EVERYBODY'S SAKE. PUT THAT IN.
[LAUGHTER] IN TERMS ON OF WHAT THAT [OVERLAPPING]
>> RESOLUTE FOR ME WITH CONJUNCTIVITIS.
>> I'M GOING TO PUT IN NON-CATHOLIC SCHOOL.
OPERATOR OPERATING A GOLF CART.
ONE, IN A MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY.
TWO, I'M GOING TO CUT OUT THE SUBSECTIONS.
TWO, ON A PUBLIC BEACH, ONE PRIVATE BEACH OPEN TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC, OR THREE, ON A HIGHWAY, FOR WHICH THE SPEED LIMIT IS NOT WITHIN 35 MILES AN HOUR DURING THE DAY TIME.
SO IF YOU'RE UNDER THREE, ONE AND TWO DON'T MATTER.
IF YOU'RE OPERATING IN A MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO TWO OR THREE.
THOSE THREE CONDITIONS ARE DISJUNCTIVE, NOT CONJUNCTIVE, MEANING CUMULATIVE.
>> YOU DIDN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION.
>> THE QUESTION IS ABOUT NIGHT TIME DRIVING.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WAS SAYING IN THIS, THAT THE PROHIBITION IT REQUIRES YOU TO BE IN THE DAYTIME DOESN'T APPLY.
>> IN MASTER PLAN COMMUNITIES AT NIGHT [OVERLAPPING] AND THAT'S NOT WHAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS SAYING AS TO THE REMAINDER OF THE CITY.
ONLY DEALS WITH THE VERY SPECIFIC THREE ITEMS.
>> IT IS NOT WHAT SERGEANT SAM HAS BEEN SAYING TO ME.
[01:35:02]
>> [OVERLAPPING] WELL, WE DISAGREE WITH DPS.
>> I HAVE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION RIGHT HERE.
I'M MORE THAN HAPPY IF IT'S ALLOWED, I'LL FORWARD YOU OUT THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED FROM SERGEANT JULIE EARLIER.
>> COULD WE GET NELLIE TO ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS?
>> YES. I CAN SEND IT TO NELLIE AND THEN I CAN READ YOU THE EXTRACT HERE FROM [NOISE] WHERE IT STATES 551403 IN HERE.
A PERSON WHO OPERATES A GOLF CART ON A PUBLIC HIGHWAY DURING THE DAYTIME HOURS, NOT MORE THAN TWO MILES, NOW SINCE CHANGED FROM TWO TO FIVE MILES FOR THE GOLF COURSE.
FROM WHERE THE GOLF CART AT JULIE PARK IS LIMITED TO DAYTIME, OPERATING THE GOLF CART ONLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRANSPORTATION DURING A GOLF COURSE DURING THE DAYTIME HOURS.
IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION, [OVERLAPPING].
>> ANY ROADWAY TO AND FROM WHEN THEY'RE TRAVELING TO A GOLF COURSE.
SO THIS ONLY HAS TO DEAL WITH THE GOLF COURSE PORTION OF THE STATUTE.
[OVERLAPPING] IT FALLS UNDER NUMBER THREE OF THAT 403 OPERATIONS.
THAT'S A SEPARATE SUBSECTION ITSELF WITHIN THAT.
IT DOESN'T DEAL WITH LIKE YOU SAID, IT DOESN'T DEAL WITH THE OPERATION ON THE BEACH, DOESN'T DEAL WITH OPERATION AT MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY.
>> SO IF YOU WANT CLARITY, YOU'D HAVE TO ADD IT TO THE ORDINANCE.
>> LET'S CUT TO THE BOTTOM LINE, IF COUNCIL WANTED TO PROHIBIT GOLF CARTS OPERATING AT NIGHT, WE CAN PUT IT IN THE ORDINANCE AND THAT'S ENFORCEABLE.
>> THAT'S WHERE YOU GET YOUR POWER UNDER THE 404, WHERE YOU CAN CREATE YOUR ORDINANCE TO DO YOUR STUFF THAT YOU ALL NEED TO DO, WITH WHATEVER YOU ALL CHOOSE.
>> MASTER PLANS WOULD OR WOULDN'T BE EXEMPT, I'M JUST TRYING TO CLARIFY WHAT HE'S SAYING.
>> MASTER PLANS ARE TOTALLY DIFFERENT [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE THE PROBLEM IS UNDER THE 403 OPERATION, MASTERPLAN COMMUNITIES ARE NOT VERY WELL DEFINED IN STATE CODE, AND I THINK YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THAT FROM THE LAST TIME WE ALL DEALT WITH THIS, SO THAT'S UP TO YOU ALL.
YOU HAVE QUESTION ON THAT SPECIFIC?
>> WELL, I GUESS I'LL GIVE IT TO JOHN.
>> I'VE GOT SEVERAL OTHER QUESTIONS, BUT I SEE THESE THREE POINTS HERE UNDER 551.
WHERE DOES IT TALK ABOUT OPERATING A GOLF CART OUTSIDE OF THOSE THREE POINTS?
>> SO THAT'S WHERE YOU WOULD GO? SO 51403 IS OPERATIONAL AROUND CERTAIN AREAS.
THAT'S ALLOWED UNDER STATE LAW AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW.
OKAY. THE WAY WE OPERATE OUR ORDINANCES IS, IF YOU LOOK AT 551 AND 404, IT'S OPERATION ON A HIGHWAY AUTHORIZED BY THE MUNICIPALITY OR CERTAIN COUNTIES.
>> SO IN THERE THAT TELLS THE STATE SAYS, OKAY, THESE COUNTIES AND THESE AGENCIES CAN SET OUT ORDINANCES OR RULES ON THEIR OWN ON TOP OF WHAT STATE LAW HAS.
>> OKAY. AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE USING THAT 404 TO KIND OF GUIDE US ON OUR GOLF CART OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
[OVERLAPPING] IF ITS' NOT IN MASTERPLAN COMMUNITIES, IF THEY'RE NOT ON A BEACH, PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO A GOLF COURSE.
>> LET'S JUST SAY WE WOULD BE WELL ADVISED TO SPECIFY [OVERLAPPING] IN OUR ORDINANCE, WHAT WE WANT TO ALLOW, WHAT WE WANT TO PREVENT.
>> AND THEN FROM THAT YOU GET YOUR 5514041, THAT GIVES YOU YOUR REQUIRED EQUIPMENT AT THE STATE REQUIRE FOR YOUR 404 OPERATIONS.
>> UNDERSTAND. OKAY. THANK YOU.
DON, CAN WE RESTRICT RENTALS WITHOUT OR IN A CERTAIN WAY AND ALLOW PRIVATE CARTS TO OPERATE UNDER DIFFERENT RULES?
>> RESTRICT THEM IN A CERTAIN WAY, HOW?
>> HOURS OF OPERATIONS, THERE YOU GO.
RENTALS CANNOT OPERATE AT NIGHT, PRIVATE CARTS CAN.
>> SO YOU'RE NOW MAKING HIS JOB 10 TIMES [INAUDIBLE]
>> HONESTLY, IT WILL BE A NIGHTMARE ON ENFORCEMENT.
>> CAN I GET AN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION? [LAUGHTER].
>> I WOULD SUGGEST THAT SUCH AN APPROACH WOULD BE ATTACKED AS BEING ARBITRARY AND CAPRICIOUS.
>> THANK YOU. THAT'S A BETTER ANSWER.
>> COULD WE RESTRICT PASSENGERS UNDER 12?
>> I BELIEVE THAT EVEN THE ABSTRACT THAT I'VE HANDED OUT SHOWING THE HIGHER INCIDENCE OF INJURY TO 12-YEAR-OLD, I THINK YOU COULD.
>> JUST ON RENTALS OR [INAUDIBLE]?
>> GENERALLY SPEAKING, BECAUSE THERE'S A GUY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD DRIVES A GOLF CART AROUND CARRYING HIS VERY SMALL CHILD IN HIS ARMS AS HE DRIVES.
[01:40:05]
[OVERLAPPING]. THAT'S NOT A RENTAL.>> DAVID, YOU'RE SAYING ON RENTALS IN RESIDENTIAL PARTS.
>> I REMEMBER ASKING IF WE COULD DO IT PERIOD.
>> BUT IF WE CAN'T MAKE RULES FOR ONE AND NOT THE OTHER, THEN THE QUESTION BECOMES, CAN WE MAKE THAT RULE AT ALL?
>> BECAUSE SO MUCH OF THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE ENFORCEABLE.
I MEAN, I'M NOT AS NEGATIVE ABOUT GBDS, THE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES IS THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE.
I'VE SEEN GBD, IT HASN'T BEEN TWO DAYS SINCE I SAW HIM STOPPING SOMEBODY ON BROADWAY.
I'VE SEEN HIM STOP PEOPLE IN HARBORS, PULLED THE CARTS OVER.
AND THIS IS NOT DPS, THIS IS GBD DOING THE JOB.
RIGHT? SO I THINK WHEN PEOPLE SAY IT'S NOT BEING ENFORCED, IT'S BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A COP THERE TO SEE IT HAPPENING OR IT'S NOT BEING REPORTED BUT IT HAPPENED.
>> WE REALLY DON'T WANT OUR POLICEMEN SPENDING [INAUDIBLE] TIME, [OVERLAPPING] POLICING GOLF CARTS.
>> WELL, BUT WHEN THEY'RE DOING TRAFFIC PATROL, THEY'RE DOING TRAFFIC PATROL.
OKAY. I'M NOT THINKING WE'RE NOT CALLING SWAT DOWN THESE GOLF CARTS.
SO WE COULD RESTRICT UNDER 12, AND A LOT OF THIS IS GOING TO BE MANAGED, I THINK THROUGH THE RENTAL AGENCY OR JUST GENERAL EDUCATION.
SAY DON'T PUT A CHILD ON A GOLF CART.
IF YOU CAN PUT A CHILD WHO CAN'T MANAGE THEMSELVES ON A GOLF BAR, DON'T CARRY THEM AROUND.
>> WHO'S GOING TO ENFORCE? I MEAN, WE COULD CREATE ALL THESE RULES THAT IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO ENFORCE.
>> PUTTING THEM IN THE RIGHT LANE ON THE SEAWALL.
THEY'VE GOT THE PLACARDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL, THAT HAS HELPED.
NOW NOTHING'S GOING TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM DOING SOMETHING STUPID, NOTHING'S GOING TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM DRIVING INCORRECTLY, 98% OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IS GOOD CITIZENSHIP.
THESE GUYS ARE ON THE STREET FOR THE OTHER 2% AND I GET THAT, BUT THAT HAS ACTUALLY HELPED.
THERE IS NOT NEARLY THE INCIDENT. DON'T TELL ME HERE.
I SAW ONE JUST YESTERDAY BECAUSE I KNOW IT HAPPENS, BUT WITH THOSE PLACARDS ON THE CARTS TO KEEP THEM IN THE RIGHT LANE HAS HELPED.
WE DON'T GET NEARLY THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THAT THIS YEAR AS WE DID LAST YEAR.
I KNOW EVERYBODY CALLS YOU, NOT ME.
I USE THE SEAWALL ALL THE TIME AND THEY'RE IN THE LEFT LANE.
>> COUNCIL, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS GET INPUT FROM ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE MAKING LISTS TO THESE.
THEN WE'LL COME BACK AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT EACH ONE OF THESE ITEMS. GO AHEAD, DAVID.
WHAT IS TRUE OF GALVESTON AND MAY BE TRUE OF OTHER DECISIONS CITIES.
BUT WHAT IS TRUE OF GALVESTON STREETS ARE NOT JUST FOR CARS ANYMORE.
JUST I DON'T KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE VEHICLES ON THE CONVEYANCES, AS YOU SEE ON THE STREET AROUND HERE, ARE NOT AUTOMOBILES.
WE HAVE GOLF CARTS, WE HAVE NEVS, WE HAVE SEGWAYS, WE HAVE ELECTRIC BICYCLES, WE HAVE NON-ELECTRIC BICYCLES.
WE HAVE ALL THE LITTLE SCOOTERS.
>> ELECTRIC SKATEBOARD, REGULAR SKATEBOARDS.
I MEAN, SO I THINK WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE WHEN WE START RESTRICTING WHO CAN BE ON THE STREET AND WHAT KIND OF CONVEYANCE.
>> I AGREE BUT OUR TOPIC TODAY IS GOLF CARTS.
>> THANK YOU. FOR ANOTHER TOPIC, FOR ANOTHER TIME IS THE ISSUE OF SPEED BUMPS AND FOR FOUR-WAY STOP SIGNS AND EVERY INTERSECTION.
SO I THINK WE NEED CLARIFICATION TO THE NIGHTTIME RULES.
DECIDE WHAT WE CAN DO AND WANT TO DO WITH RULES AT NIGHTTIME.
WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO PUT RESTRAINTS ON RENTALS OR ELIMINATE RENTALS ALL TOGETHER AND THINK ABOUT AGE LIMITS ON PASSENGERS WE ALLOW IN GOLF CARTS.
>> GOING BACK TO THE RULES THAT WE'RE GOING TO PLOT RENTAL COMPANIES OUTSIDE OF PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS, YOU DO NOT THINK WE CAN APPLY RULES TO RENTAL COMPANIES AND NOT HAVE IT ACROSS THE BOARD?
>> GIVE ME A BETTER EXAMPLE BECAUSE I REQUIRE RENTAL COMPANIES TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE WHO CAN'T DRIVE ON STREETS BUT WE WOULDN'T IMPOSE THAT ON A PRIVATE OWNER.
>> COULD YOU A RENTAL OWNER THE HOURS OF OPERATION?
>> YOU CAN DRIVE ON THE STREET BUT A RENTAL COMPANY CAN'T.
>> THAT'D BE AN EXAMPLE AS WELL. I DON'T KNOW IF I GOT THE APARTMENT.
>> YOU'RE GOING TO ASK THE GENTLEMEN, GOVERNMENTAL INTERESTS IN REGULATION.
THE REGULATION MUST BE RATIONALLY RELATED TO THAT INTEREST.
[01:45:02]
SAY PRIVATE PEOPLE CAN DO IT BUT NOT RENTAL COMPANIES.WHAT IS THE RATIONAL BASIS WITH THAT DIFFERENCE? I'M NOT SAYING IT'S NOT THERE, I JUST NEED A LITTLE MORE TO TALK ABOUT IT.
>> WELL, IF YOU HAVE TRUE SAFETY CONCERNS AND YOU THINK THAT NIGHTTIME OPERATIONS CREATES A PROBLEM AND THE RENTAL COMPANIES ARE THE MAJORITY OF THESE ISSUES AND THAT'S WHERE I WOULD GO WITH THAT.
>> OR THE SIMPLE NUMBER. THERE'S A [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE DANGEROUS OPERATION AT NIGHT ARE PROBABLY THE SAME TO A PRIVATE AS THEY ARE TO A RENTAL.
DON'T YOU THINK? I DON'T KNOW.
I THINK THAT'S WHY WE'RE TALKING HERE.
>> CAN WE LIMIT THE NUMBER OF RENTAL UNITS AROUND [INAUDIBLE]?
>> YOU'RE NOT PROBABLY DOING IT IN THE FUTURE.
>> CAN WE LIMIT THE NUMBER OF RENTAL COMPANIES?
>> NOW, WE'RE GETTING INTO THE DANGEROUS GROUND OF TELLING PEOPLE WHAT THEY CAN DO WITH THAT PROPERTY.
THE MARKET IS A BETTER DICTATOR OF THAT BECAUSE PEOPLE AGREE IN HERE TO MAKE MONEY OFF THESE THINGS.
>> I AGREE BUT WE BROUGHT UP THAT SITUATION IN SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND SO I'M LOOKING AT THIS INSTANCE AS WELL.
>> YEAH, BUT THEY'RE DIFFERENT.
>> WELL, THERE'S REAL PROPERTY, WHICH IS SACRED AND THERE'S PERSONAL PROPERTY WHICH SUBJECT TO REUSE THESE CONTROLS.
WE CURRENTLY PLACED BLAME ON THE OPERATOR OF THE CARD ITSELF. IS THAT CORRECT? [OVERLAPPING]
>> CAN YOU PLACE BLAME ON THE OWNER OF THE CARD AS WELL?
>> I HAVE DIFFICULTY PLACING BLAME ON THE OWNER OF THE CARD, I WOULD SAY THAT IF A CARD HAS FOUND IN A PROHIBITED AREA, IT IS SUBJECT TO TOEING, WHICH PUTS A BURDEN ON [INAUDIBLE] TO RECOVER IT.
>> IF A CARD HAS OPERATED OUTSIDE OF A LEGAL AREA, CAN YOU REVOKE A LICENSE?
>> I THINK WE COULD REVOKE A LICENSE REQUIRED SOME DUE PROCESS.
I'M NOT FAMILIAR WHAT REVOCATION PROCEDURES WE HAVE INCLUDED IN THE CODE.
IF WE HAVEN'T, WE'LL HAVE TO PUT TO SAY.
>> OKAY. I DEFINITELY LIKE TO SEE MORE OF WHAT WE COULD DO IN THAT AREA.
>> WHEN YOU SAY LICENSE DO YOU MEAN PERMIT?
>> PERMIT LICENSE, I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT IT TAKES TO OPERATE OUR OWN COMPANY, WHAT TYPE OF PERMITTING OR LICENSING THEY HAVE.
BUT I WOULD BE CURIOUS WHAT THAT IS.
>> YEAH. MAKE THEM HAVE INSURANCE, LOCATION WITH THE VEHICLE STORE, ID NUMBERS, LICENSE PLATE NUMBERS, PROOF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.
WE HAVE TO HAVE THEM INSPECTED.
THAT WAS A BIG TOPIC LAST WEEK.
>> I GUESS SOME OF THEM DO HAVE AN LTU REPLACING CARDS IN RUN-WAYS.
>> WE JUST CHANGED THAT [INAUDIBLE]
>> I WOULD LIKE TO GO DOWN THAT PATH.
IF THESE CARDS ARE GETTING OUT OF HAND, THEN WE NEED SOME MECHANISM IN THERE TO DRAIN THAT BACK.
I THINK PERMITTING OR LICENSING OR CONTINUING TO OPERATE THAT BUSINESS TO PLAY A FACTOR ON THAT.
>> I THINK WHAT JOHN PAUL'S TALKING ABOUT, IT'S A LICENSING THING.
>> TAXI CABS, WHICH I KNOW YOU LOVE.
>> YEAH. [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER]
>> WE NEED TO INCLUDE ACKNOWLEDGES.
>> HEARING, WE TALKING ABOUT A PROCESS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE NEED IT IN OUR ORDINANCE.
THAT WOULD BE PRETTY ANNOYING.
>> JUST TO THROW SOME STUFF OUT THERE, I PERSONALLY, AT THIS POINT, NOT WILLING OR NOT READY TO PULL THE GALVESTON OF THE SEAWALL.
[01:50:07]
I'M NOT SURE IF I'M IN FAVOR OF SOME AGE LIMIT ON IT.I'D LIKE TO LOOK INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE.
I PERSONALLY KNOW, MY MOM EXCEPT FOR MY DAUGHTER TWO BLOCKS AWAY TO SCHOOL AND I'VE HEARD ALL FAR.
THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE PROHIBITED IF A 12-YEAR-OLD LIMIT WAS PLACED ON THERE.
>> NO BIG DEAL, BUT JUST SOMETHING THAT WE CURRENTLY DO.
>> I AGREE. I THINK WE DO NEED TO GET A HANDLE ON OUR RENTAL COMPANIES.
I THINK THEY ARE GROWING LEAPS AND BOUNDS, AND THIS IS PROBABLY A TIME TO LOOK AT THAT AND SEE HOW WE REGULATE THAT.
THAT'S WHERE I WOULD WANT TO GO.
>> AS I LOOK AT THE ORDINANCE AND THEN I LOOK AT THE ACCIDENTS, THERE ARE 20 OUT OF THE 36 THAT ARE HERE THAT THE GOLF CART WAS BEING OPERATED BY JUVENILE, FLIPPED OVER, DAMAGED CAR, STRUCK A PASSENGER CAR, ROLLED OVER, ATTEMPTING TO NEGOTIATE THEN TURN, FAILED TO CONTROL SPEED.
WHEN I LOOK AT THESE AND I KNOW THAT THE SPEED LIMIT IS 35 ON THE GOLF COURSE CART THAT'S BEEN SAID.
THEN I THINK IT SAYS HERE ACCORDING TO TRANSPORTATION CODE THE MAXIMUM SPEED OF 20 MILES PER HOUR.
I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE SPEED THAT WE ARE ALLOWING THEM, WHERE WE'RE SAYING YOU'RE NOT A CAR, BUT YOU'RE ALLOWING THE SPEED LIMIT TO BE THE SAME AS A VEHICLE THAT WOULD BE ON THE SEAWALL OR SOMEWHERE ELSE.
I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE SPEED LIMIT THEN WE'VE ALLOWED ON THOSE, WHICH I THINK WILL CURTAIL SOME OF THE FLIPPING, THE TURNING TOO FAST BECAUSE THEY'RE FUN AND THEY'RE A GREAT LITTLE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION FOR YOUR DAUGHTER OR ANOTHER.
BUT I THINK WE NEED TO CONTROL THE SPEED OF IT.
I WOULD CONSIDER LOWERING THE SPEED THAT WE'RE ALLOWING THEM TO GO BECAUSE THE MINDSET IS A CAR, AND GET ON THIS AND I GO.
I LOOKED AT AN ACRONYM THAT OF COURSE, THE DRIVER SHOULD HAVE A LICENSE AND ALCOHOL SHOULD BE PROHIBITED.
I DID A LAST AND OF COURSE SEAT BELTS REQUIRED AND I DO LIKE THE IDEA OF THE TIMING, LIMITED AFTER DARK.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WOULD DO THAT SINCE WE MOVED THE TIME, WE FALL BACK AND BILL WAYS FORWARD.
SO TIMES WOULD HAVE TO BE ADJUSTED FOR WHEN THE SUN SETS.
BUT THAT'S WITHOUT SLIPPING AT SUCH A HORRENDOUS ACCIDENT WHICH BRINGS US TO THIS POINT.
BUT I DON'T WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH NOT ALLOWING THEM TO OPERATE AS A BUSINESS, BUT I THINK ADULTS NEED TO BE MORE ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THEY WERE IN THOSE.
>> THANK YOU, SHARON. LET ME GIVE YOU MY THOUGHTS.
I WON'T BELABOR THE POINT BECAUSE WE HAD A LOT OF GOOD INPUT HERE TODAY ON THIS.
PERSONALLY, I THINK WE NEED TO PUT PROHIBIT NIGHTTIME DRIVING GOLF CARTS, AND NEEDS TO BE IN OUR ORDINANCE SO THAT WE CAN ENFORCE THAT.
I NEED TO GET MORE INPUT ON THAT BUT I THINK THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE 12 AND UNDER ON THESE GOLF CARTS.
THAT'S WHAT SCARES ME THE MOST OF SEEING THESE GOLF CARTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN.
SOMETIMES YOU'LL SEE CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS JUST A FEW MONTHS OLD, BEING HELD IN THE ARMS BY PEOPLE IN GOLF CARTS.
I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THAT AND I'M NOT AS CERTAIN ON THAT AS I AM THE NIGHT TIME PROHIBITION, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT.
AGAIN, I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF SHUTTING DOWN A COMPANY OR A BUSINESS OR AN INDUSTRY TO RETALIATION FOR AN ACCIDENT THAT HAS OCCURRED HERE RECENTLY THAT WAS INVOLVED WITH AN ALLEGEDLY DRUNK DRIVER.
FOR ME TO GET TO THAT POINT, I WOULD HAVE TO REALLY GIVE THAT A LOT OF THOUGHT,
[01:55:01]
BUT THAT WOULD BE AT THE BOTTOM OF MY LIST CONCERNING SHUTTING DOWN THE GOLF CART RENTAL COMPANIES BECAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT.SAYING THAT BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD, I'VE WRITTEN DOWN WHAT COUNCIL HAS MENTIONED HERE.
WE HAVE WHAT I SEE, THE CONSENSUS AND NOT SO MUCH A CONSENSUS, BUT MOST COUNCIL MEMBERS AGREEING THAT WE NEED TO POSSIBLY CONSIDER HAVE A PROHIBITION AT NIGHTTIME.
NOW THERE'S INDIVIDUALS THAT MAY HAVE A DIFFERENT OPINION, BUT I SEE MORE COUNCIL MEMBERS IN FAVOR OF THAT POSSIBLY, BUT NOT.
ON THE SEAWALL, AGE LIMIT, I THINK WILLIAM BROUGHT UP SOME GOOD THOUGHTS HERE, BRIAN, ABOUT OUR INTERSECTIONS AND HOW WE ARE ADDRESSING INTERSECTIONS WHERE THE STOP SIGNS ARE HIDDEN AND SO FORTH.
I KNOW IN THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENTS THAT WAS NOT A CONCERN THAT HAPPENED LAST SATURDAY NIGHT, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT.
>> THAT'S A CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUES SO JUST GET READY BECAUSE WHEN WE STEP UP THOSE ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ALL THOSE RESIDENTS THAT WE TOLD THEY HAD TO TRIM NARROW MEANDERS OR REMOVE THEIR TREES, THEY'RE ALL GOING TO BE UP HERE TELLING YOU THE MARSHALS OF BULLYING.
ALSO THE RED PAINTING FROM THE CORNER BACK 20 FEET I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT HERE IN THE CITY ALSO ON THAT.
I LIKED THE IDEA THAT JOHN BROUGHT UP ABOUT THE PERMITTING LICENSING ON THIS AND HOW THAT WOULD PLAY A ROW AND ENFORCEMENT OF THESE GOLF CART VIOLATIONS ON THAT.
I THINK WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT STREETS IN THE MPH AND HOW THESE GOLF CARTS WOULD BE PERMITTED ON [NOISE] CERTAIN STREETS.
I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO LOOK AT.
SAYING ALL THAT BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION ON THIS, I WANTED TO ASK SERGEANT SANDERSON, YOUR THOUGHTS.
YOU'RE OUT THERE IN THE FIELD, YOU'RE IN THE TRENCHES GIVE ME THOUGHTS ON THIS SIR.
>> I DON'T THINK ANY OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE ISSUE THAT BROUGHT US HERE.
I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE REASON WE'RE HERE IS NOT BECAUSE OF THE GOLF CART, IT'S BECAUSE WHAT OTHER INDIVIDUALS ACT IS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT SO I THINK YOU ALL ARE THE ONES WHO ARE ELECTED TO CREATE OUR ORDINANCES.
THAT'S NOT MY DROP. I'M HERE TO ENFORCE IT.
WE WILL TAKE WHATEVER DIRECTION IF YOU ALL HAVE QUESTIONS.
I KNOW MYSELF AND SHE VALUES HERE, HAVE NO ISSUE COMING FORWARD AND HELPING YOU ALL ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS ON HOW TO, IF WE HAVE SUGGESTIONS ON IF YOU WANT THAT, I'LL GIVE THEM.
I MEAN, I THINK YOU'LL HAVE A NUMBER OF GOOD IDEAS THAT YOU ALL NEED TO GO THROUGH AND FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING TO WORK BEST FOR THE CITY HERE.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.
PLEASE CAN WE REQUIRE GEOFENCING [NOISE] AND [INAUDIBLE]? I DON'T KNOW IF I MISUNDERSTOOD WHAT YOU SAID, BUT THE GOLF CART OPERATIONS ARE ONLY ALLOWED ON THE STREET ON WHICH THE SPEED LIMIT IS 35 MILES AN HOUR LESS, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT GOLF CARTS CAN GO 35 BECAUSE MOST OF THEM CAN DO 35 AND 15, 20 MILES AN HOUR.
TRY TURNING ONE. YOU TURN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THAT'S WHY THEY FLIP OVER.
>> EXACTLY BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE PUSHING THEM FASTER.
>> GEO FENCING FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW IS THAT THIS HAPPENED ON GOLF COURSES ALL THE TIME.
WE CAN'T JUST TAKE OFF INTO THE WOODS ON A GOLF COURSE.
THE GEOLOCATION DEVICE WILL TELL YOU THAT YOU'RE OUT OF BOUNDS AND STOP THE CAR.
COULD WE DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT FOR A CART THAT GOES BEYOND 61ST STREET, SAY ON THE SEAWALL, THE ALARM GOES OFF OR WHATEVER MECHANISM THAT MIGHT HAVE, AND COULD WE RESTRICT THE SPEED? THEY HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY TO DO THIS COULD WE LEGISLATE THAT?
>> IT'S TO REQUIRE THE RENTAL COMPANIES TO INSTALL THAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.
>> I THINK MOST OF THEM HAVE IT, BUT YES, THAT'S THE QUESTION.
>> SURE. I THINK YOU COULD DO THAT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] BUT WHAT WITH IT.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S NOT BEING SET NOW. NOT THAT THEY DON'T HAVE IT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYBODY SAID [OVERLAPPING] [INAUDIBLE] YOU CAN'T OR SOMETHING.
>> YOU WOULDN'T WANT THE CAR JUST TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SETTLE.
>> BUT ALARM GOING OFF MAKES THAT A TERRIBLE RACKET [INAUDIBLE].
[OVERLAPPING] OR WE SHOULD SLOW DOWN TO FIVE MILES AN HOUR SO THEY GET OVER AND PULL OVER OR GET BACK TO WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO GO.
>> I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD INVESTIGATE WHETHER WE CAN HAVE THAT IMPACT.
[02:00:04]
WE JUST HAVE TO ENFORCE SEAT BELT LAW.THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE THING WITH CHILDREN.
WHEN I SEE THEM ON THE SEAWALL, IT'S ALWAYS TWO KIDS IN THAT REAR-FACING SEAT, NO SEAT BELTS IN THE SUN, YEAH.
>> I DON'T WANT TO BURDEN ANY OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT ANYMORE THAN WE HAVE TO, BUT THAT JUST NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING WE PUSH AWARENESS ON THAT DOWN THROUGH THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WE PUSH AWARENESS OF THAT DOWN THROUGH THE RENTAL COMPANY.
THEY'RE NOT AVERSE TO HAVING US TELL THEM THEY HAVE TO TELL THINGS TO THEIR CUSTOMERS.
YES, IT'S GOING TO GET IGNORED A LOT, BUT SOME OF IT HELPS.
>> OUR CODE ALSO ALREADY REQUIRES WEARING RESTRAINTS.
UNDER STATE LAW, THAT CHANGES THE SEAT BELT TO A CHILD SAFETY SEAT.
>> SOMETHING WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THEN.
>> CAN WE DO A SAFETY ON THE TV OR SOMETHING TO REMIND ADULTS TO GET BACK TO SEAT-BELTING YOUR KID.
DON'T PUT YOUR KID ON YOUR LAP.
I'M JUST ASKING, CAN WE TAKE AN APPROACH TO TELL RESIDENTS TO TELL CITIZENS, HEY, WE'RE HAVING SOME ISSUES HERE AND WE'VE SEEN IT THERE SO THAT THE POLICE DON'T HAVE TO STEP UP UNTIL HOPEFULLY, YOU JUST HAVE THE BOARD JUST ABSOLUTE NOT FOLLOWING RULES.
BUT I THINK WE NEED TO BE INCLUSIVE OF RESIDENTS TO SAY YOU'VE GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB.
>> PUT THOSE KIDS BECAUSE ONE OF THESE ON HERE WAS 16-YEAR-OLD.
A LOT OF THE KIDS ON HERE WERE UNDER AGE AND DRIVING.
I DON'T CARE IF THAT THING SAYS IT GOES 20, THEY'RE PUSHING THOSE THINGS AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE FLIPPING AND SPINNING AND TURNING OVER.
>> WELL AND I THINK WE NEED TO DEEPER DIVE ON WHAT WHAT WE CAN ACQUIRE RENTALS THAT WE DON'T REQUIRE RESIDENCE.
A VAST MAJORITY OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE OWNERS, RESPONSIBLE DRIVERS.
PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT THEY GO FROM SPEAK FOR YOURSELF.
[LAUGHTER] MY NEIGHBORHOOD IT'S A DOWNTOWN.
ON A NICE SUMMER EVENING, YOU'LL SEE A TON OF GOLF CARTS GOING DOWN THERE FOR DINNER.
I DON'T WANT TO RESTRICT THAT.
I DON'T WANT TO KEEP RESIDENTS FROM BEING ABLE TO DO THAT.
>> MARIE, YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING?
>> I AGREE, I DON'T WANT TO PUT EXTRA BURDEN ON OUR RESIDENTS, BUT THERE ARE WAYS THAT WE COULD HAVE RESTRICTIONS ON THE SEAWALL, BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN, THAT'S PERHAPS THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE FOR A GOLF CART TO BE.
WE COULD ACCOMMODATE RESIDENTS BECAUSE YOU CAN PARK BY THE SEAWALL AND STILL WALK ACROSS TO THE BEACH, OR YOU COULD PARK BY THE SEAWALL AND STILL GO TO A RESTAURANT THAT YOU'D LIKE AND MAYBE WE COULD EVEN MARK THE FIRST THREE SPOTS AS GOLF CARTS ONLY.
BUT WE COULD ALSO LOOK AT THESE IF YOU'RE SO OPPOSED [NOISE] WHICH I'VE NEVER LIVED TO UNDERSTAND OF GETTING GOLF CARTS OFF THE SEAWALL, WHICH IS A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE IN OUR CITY, IS RESTRICT GOLF CARTS AT THE MORNING TRAFFIC TIME.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM OUR DISTRICTS THAT COMMUTE TO UTMB AND I CAN TELL YOU THE AVERAGE SPEED ON THE SEAWALL IN THE MORNING IS SOMEWHERE AROUND 40.
BRIAN AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT YESTERDAY.
SAME THING WHEN IT'S TRAFFIC TIME AND PEOPLE ARE GOING HOME.
PEOPLE STILL WORK IN THE SUMMER.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE EMPLOYED ON THE ISLAND DON'T HAVE A BREAK IN THE SUMMER WHEN THE SEAWALL IS INUNDATED WITH GOLF CARTS.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO MENTION IF WE DID SOME BAN OR SOME RESTRICTION, WE'RE NOT ALONE IN THIS.
YOU SEE IT MOST PROMINENT IN FLORIDA WHERE THEY ARE BANNING RENTALS, WHERE THEY ARE LIMITING RENTALS, WHERE THEY ARE PUTTING A MORATORIUM ON RENTALS.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S UNIQUE TO US, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO ADDRESS.
AGAIN, THE SEAWALL IS THE MOST DANGEROUS AREA AND MOST OF THE ACCIDENTS THAT ARE ON THIS LIST.
BY NO MEANS WAS I EVER REFERRING THAT OUR POLICE AREN'T DOING THEIR JOB, BECAUSE OUR POLICE ARE AMAZING.
IN THE LIMITED NUMBER OF PLAYS WE HAVE TO ACCOMMODATE THE POPULATIONS THAT ARE HERE ON, DURING THE WEEK AND DURING THE WEEKEND BECAUSE WE CAN GO FROM BEING A CITY OF 50,000 TO 500,0000 AND THEY'RE AMAZING,
[02:05:06]
BUT YOU CAN'T HELP BUT TIE THE MAJORITY OF THESE ACCIDENTS TO THE SEAWALL BECAUSE THEY ARE EITHER ON THE SEAWALL OR WITHIN 2-3 BLOCKS OF THE SEAWALL.EVEN THAT MOST RECENT ONE, BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY ONE TO LOOK AT.
IF THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED BECAUSE YOU COULD SEE IN THE PICTURES THAT WERE THERE, THERE WERE SLUSHIES ALL OVER MAYBE KIDS RAMP UP AND TO GO INTO THE SEAWALL TO GO GET SLUSHIES.
IF THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED ON THE SEAWALLS, THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE HAPPENED.
THAT MAY BE A STRETCH, BUT YOU CAN'T HELP BUT TIE THE SEAWALL, WHICH IS A MAJOR HIGHWAY IN OUR CITY.
WELL, THERE ARE BROADWAY AND HARPER SIDE, WHICH BROADWAY AND HARPER SIDE ARE RESTRICTED FROM GOLF CARTS AND YET YOU SEE THEM ON THERE ALL THE TIME.
THERE ARE MAJOR HIGHWAYS THAT PEOPLE USED TO GO TO WORK.
AGAIN, I HATE BURDENING OUR CITIZENS FOR THE SAKE OF TOURS.
WE REALLY HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT.
>> ONE OF THE CONCERNS I HAVE IS ENFORCEMENT ON THIS, DAVID, I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN ABOUT RESIDENTS BEING MORE CONSCIOUS OF SAFETY THAN THE RENTAL USERS BUT FROM AN ENFORCEMENT STANDPOINT WE'RE SEEING NOW THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS PURCHASING GOLF CARTS AND HAVING THOSE AVAILABLE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING IN AND VACATIONING.
IT BECOMES AN ISSUE THAT FROM AN ENFORCEMENT STANDPOINT, JUST PERSONALLY, I THINK IF WE DO PUT A NIGHTTIME BAN ON THIS, I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE ON ALL GOLF CARTS.
I THINK IT IS JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS AND NOW IF WE PUT AT NIGHTTIME BAN ON WE COULD PUT IT AT, SAY 9 PM, ANY GOLF CART IS NOT ALLOWED AFTER 9 PM UNTIL CERTAIN TIMES COULDN'T BE DONE.
>> I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU ADOPT THE [OVERLAPPING] DEFINITION THAT SAYS DAYTIME MEANS THE PERIOD BEGINNING ONE AND HALF HOUR BEFORE SUNRISE AND ENDING ONE HALF HOUR AFTER SUNSET.
>> I'M HERE FOR THE BUDGET AND ALL I'M GOING TO ASK IS IF YOU'VE HAD RULES THAT YOU ADD A WAY TO ENFORCE THEM AND DO SO WITHOUT, BECAUSE I JUST GET GOING THROUGH ALMOST AN HOUR TALK WITH YOU GUYS ABOUT HOW WE'RE TRYING TO RELIEVE THE GENERAL FUND THAT THESE EXPENSES SO WE CAN REDUCE THE TAX RATE.
IF WE KEEP ADDING RULES AND I HAVE TO ADD ENFORCEMENT, THAT WE'RE GOING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
>> HOW WOULD YOU ASSESS A FINE FOR THIS? I ASK THAT QUESTION BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PLACE A FINE TO HIDE A FINE ON IT THAT IT PREVENTS SOMEONE FROM DOING IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.
>> SAY IT'S OUTSIDE OF THE BOUNDARIES, IT'S LEGALLY OBLIGATED TO OPERATE IN.
>> PRESENTLY, WE PROVIDE FOR $200 FINE WHERE ANY VIOLATIONS.
IT'S MY RECOLLECTION THAT STATE LAW WOULD ALLOW FOR UP TO A $500 FINE FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY VIOLATIONS AND I THINK CLEARLY THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
I WOULD SUGGEST WE COULD UP THE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION AGAINST CITY CODE UP TO 500 BUCKS.
>> CAN I ASK A QUESTION TO THAT QUESTION? CURRENTLY, WHEN WE WRITE A FINE ON A GOLF CART FOR SOMETHING IN ORDINANCE THAT'S ALREADY IN EFFECT, WHAT'S OUR COLLECTION RATE ON THAT?
>> I HAVE NO IDEA. THAT'S WHY FINANCE PEOPLE ARE THERE.
>> IT'S A LITTLE BIT BUT IT DEPENDS ON IF IT'S A MOVING VIOLATION OR NOT BECAUSE THAT GETS TIED TO YOUR LICENSE IN THE CORRECT ON THAT.
>> I BELIEVE IF IT'S A MOVING VIOLATION IT'S TIED TO YOUR LICENSE.
>> ONLY IF THE UPPER RISK OF THE CODE WITH OUT OF STATE.
>> OUT-OF-STATE, YOU'RE CORRECT.
IF IT OCCURS WITH SOMEBODY OUT OF STATE, IT'S NOT.
>> THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO GET THE OWNERS OF THE CAR.
>> YOU'VE GOT TO PUT MORE BURDEN ON THE OPERATORS OF THE BUSINESS TO BE MINDFUL OF THEIR CARTS.
>> WELL, AND YOU CAN REFERENCE THE ARTICLE THAT WAS IN THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE WHERE THE REPORTER ACTUALLY CALLED UP THE GOLF CART COMPANIES AND THREE OF THEM SAID,
[02:10:05]
NO, WE DON'T AFFORD ON PEOPLE AT THE LAW.IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, WHEN WE DID OUR ORDINANCE, ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO HAVE THE LAW CLEARLY WRITTEN ON THEIR DASHBOARD?
>> YEAH, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE IT LISTED WHERE THEY CAN DRIVE [NOISE] INSIDE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE.
>> YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE OPERATOR'S RESPONSIBILITY ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS PARTIAL LIST OF INCIDENTS.
ONE, THEY'RE NOT TELLING PEOPLE HOW TO DERIVE A GOLF CART, WHICH I DON'T KNOW, WE ALL HAVE DRIVER LICENSE HERE, YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH AN EDUCATION AND SO FORTH IN ORDER TO GET YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE.
TWO, THEY'RE NOT REINFORCING THE LAW WHEN THEY RAN A GOLF CART AND IF WE DON'T PUT SOME ORDINANCE ON THEM [OVERLAPPING] THE SITUATION IS NEVER GOING TO CHANGE.
>> THE CODE PROVIDES THE INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED ON GOLF CART RENTALS.
I LISTED THE STREETS WHERE THEY ARE PROHIBITED, A NOTICE THAT SAYS SEAT BELTS ARE REQUIRED TO BE WORN.
[NOISE] [OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU.
A NOTICE PERMANENTLY AFFIXED AND DISPLAYED THAT THE VEHICLE IS TO OPERATE ONLY IN THE RIGHT LANE ABOUT MORE TIGHT LANE STREET.
>> [OVERLAPPING] DO WE ASSUME BECAUSE WE HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE THAT WE CAN OPERATE A CART? [NOISE]
>> WE ASSUME THAT BECAUSE ONE OF THE ACCIDENTS IN HERE WAS IN THE PARKING LOT WHERE THE PERSON WAS LEARNING TO OPERATE THE GOLF CART.
>> I HAD DEALT THAT SOME PEOPLE WITH A LICENSE CAN ACTUALLY OPERATE A CAR.
>> ANY OTHER INPUT? DON, YOU'VE GOT INPUT FROM COUNCIL NOW, SOME THOUGHT?
>> WELL, CLEARLY I'M GOING TO BRING BACK THE ORDINANCE NEXT WEEK TO BAN DRIVING AT NIGHT.
AS THE OTHER TOPICS, I GET THE SENSE YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT STUFF.
>> WELL, WE NEED TO GET SOME MORE DETAILS JUST FROM STAFF'S STANDPOINT ON ENFORCEMENT AND FROM YOUR STANDPOINT LEGALLY ON WHAT WE CAN DO AND CAN'T DO ON SOME OF THESE AREAS.
WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT IT BUT I THINK WHEN WE GET DOWN TO IT, TO THE DETAILS OF IT, IT COULD BE GOOD TO GET YOUR INPUT ON THAT DON. YES, JOHN.
>> I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF PEACE FEELING THIS.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE AN ORDINANCE NEXT WEEK ABOUT NIGHTTIME DRIVING AND NOT ALL THESE OTHER ISSUES ADDRESSED.
>> I AGREE WITH THAT AND I THINK WILLIAM'S IDEA WAS A GREAT IDEA.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF MEETINGS COMING UP TO RUSH INTO THIS.
PEACE BALLOT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE.
>> BECAUSE THE OTHER THING WE NEED TO ADD TO THAT AND, AS YOU KNOW, I TRIED TO DO IT AT LEAST THE LAST TIME, IS WHAT AMOUNT OF MONEY THE APPLICATION ON A GOLF CART RENTING PERSON PAYS PER GOLF CART.
IF WE RAISE THAT TO A NUMBER THAT WAS MEANINGFUL WE WOULD BE ABLE BRING IN MORE AND MORE SHOWS, SO TO SAY, BECAUSE I'M JUST GOING TO PULL A NUMBER BECAUSE IT'S EASY.
IF YOU'VE RAISED IT TO 500 PER GOLF CART, WHICH PRETTY MUCH THEY'VE REGROUPED AND SOMEWHERE AROUND TWO MONTHS PER GOLF CART, IT WOULD BRING ANOTHER 265,000 TO THE CITY, WHICH WOULD ALLOW US TO THEN BRING IN MORE MARSHALS THAT COULD JUST TAKE CARE OF IT.
IT'S NOT PUTTING THE BURDEN ON OUR CITIZENS AND IT'S A WAY TO DO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING WHEN I BELIEVE HOW WE NEED TO LOOK AT FEES THAT TAKE THE BURDEN OFF OUR CITIZENS.
BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT AND THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IN THIS ORDINANCE AS WELL.
>> WHEN WE LOOKED AT THAT I THINK IT'S A GOOD POINT.
BRIAN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT, THAT'LL BE SOMETHING THAT WHEN WE COME BACK WITH RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL TO GIVE INPUT ON THAT PERMITTING FEE ON THAT TOO.
VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
APPRECIATE THAT. IT IS NOW 11:16 AM.
WE HAVE GONE THROUGH ALL THE ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA.
OUR WORKSHOP IS ADJOURNED, WE WILL READJOURN AT 5:00 PM THIS AFTERNOON, TALK ABOUT TWO BUDGET ITEMS. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.