[00:00:02]
[Call to Order]
IT IS 9:00 AM.I'M GOING TO OFFICIALLY CALL THE WORKSHOP MEETING FOR THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON TO ORDER FOR AUGUST 25TH, 2022.
I WANT TO WELCOME EVERYBODY HERE.
EVERYBODY IN ATTENDANCE, GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE.
STAFF, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND ANYONE WATCHING THE PROCEEDINGS ON OUR STREAMING DEVICE ON CHANNEL 16.
GLAD TO HAVE YOU WITH US THIS MORNING.
WE DO HAVE A QUORUM [OVERLAPPING].
>> JANELLE, COULD YOU DO YOUR ROLL CALL PLEASE? [LAUGHTER]
>> I FORGOT MY TEA. [LAUGHTER]
WE HAVE ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SEATED THIS MORNING.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO ITEM 3A.
[3.A. Clarification Of Consent And Regular City Council Agenda Items - This Is An Opportunity For City Council To Ask Questions Of Staff On Consent And Regular Agenda Items (20 Minutes)]
PLEASE, JANELLE.>> 3A, VERIFICATION AND CONSENT OF REGULAR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITY COUNCIL TO ASK QUESTIONS OF STAFF ON CONSENT AND REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS.
JOHN PAUL, WOULD YOU WANT TO KICK IT OFF THIS MORNING?
[NOISE] CAN YOU JUST GIVE ME A RUNDOWN OF WHAT THIS IS AFFECTING?
>> CURRENTLY, THE ORDINANCE ADDRESSES TRAILERS, RVS, LARGE VEHICLES IN R0, R1, AND R3 NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH ARE SINGLE-FAMILY ZONES.
WE HAVE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS THAT COME IN AND OUT OF THOSE ZONES [NOISE] FOR TRAVEL TRAILERS, MOTOR HOMES THAT ARE BEING STORED AT THE CITY RIGHT OF WAY.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE NO WAY OF ADDRESSING THE TRAILERS BECAUSE OUR ORDINANCE SAYS, MOTOR VEHICLE AND A TRAILER IN ITSELF IS NOT A MOTOR VEHICLE.
WE NEED THIS SO WE CAN ADDRESS THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE BEING AFFECTED BY THESE TRAILERS TAKING UP VALUABLE PARKING.
>> A LOT OF THIS COMES INTO PLAY TOO WITH THE SIDELINES AT THE INTERSECTIONS.
THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THESE COMPLAINTS GET GENERATED FROM.
>> AND THIS IS JUST TO ADD TO THAT, THIS HAS BEEN CONSTITUENTS' COMPLAINTS FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW.
>> THEY WERE WANTING TO HAVE THOSE VEHICLES THAT ARE BASICALLY BEING STORED ON THE STREET, AFFECT OR BE ADDRESSED JUST LIKE ABANDONED CARS AND THE ORDINANCE WOULD NOT ALLOW IT SO WE'RE CLEANING THAT UP SO THAT WE CAN ENFORCE THAT COMPREHENSIVELY.
>> YOU GOT A TRAILER OUT THERE NO MORE THAN 48 HOURS AND IT'S GOT TO BE MOVED?
>> [NOISE] IT'S A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AND YOU'VE GOT AN APPROPRIATE LTE UNTIL NO TRAILER EVER COMES THERE.
>> THE ONLY THING DIFFERENT HERE IS THAT, LIKE YOU SAID, IT SAYS MOTOR VEHICLES AND WE'RE JUST MAKING THAT CHANGE TO TRAILERS.
>> MCDONOUGH PREPARED THE ORDINANCE, DIDN'T SHE?
>> CAN I ASK A QUICK QUESTION WHILE YOU'RE THINKING? DOES THIS APPLY TO THE RVS THAT ARE CAMPING ALL OVER TOWN?
>> WE WERE GOING TO REVIEW 48 HOURS?
>> WELL IT'S TRUE IF IT'S A MOTOR HOME, IT'S NOT TRUE IF IT'S TRAVEL TRAILER BECAUSE IT'S NOT A MOTOR VEHICLE.
>> THANK YOU. BUT WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM 48 HOURS, EVEN IF IT ISN'T A PLACE WHERE THEY HAVE PARKED THEIR CAR?
>> IT'S MONOPOLIZING THE CURB [NOISE] BASICALLY SO YOU GET 48 HOURS.
IF YOU BRING YOUR BOAT TO YOUR HOUSE FOR THE WEEKEND AND YOU'RE GOING BACK-AND-FORTH AND LAUNCHING IT, THAT'S NOT THE REAL ISSUE THAT WE'RE HAVING HERE, THE ISSUE IS THE PEOPLE WHO JUST STORE THEIR BOAT IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE.
>> OR THE TRAILER THAT STAYS [OVERLAPPING] THERE FOR MULTIPLE WEEKS BLOCKING THE INTERSECTION VIEWS UP RIGHT THERE.
>> A LOT OF THESE ARE LANDSCAPE TYPE TRAILERS THAT THEY JUST FILL UP WITH GARBAGE AND PARK IT AT THE CURB AND THEY DON'T WANT TO TAKE IT TO THE DUMP YET AND AS BRIAN SAID,
[00:05:05]
A LOT OF THESE ARE BLOCKING LINE-OF-SIGHT AT INTERSECTIONS.>> I'M LOOKING AT WHAT WE WERE SENT HERE IN OUR PACKET AND I'M LOOKING AT THE HIGHLIGHTED AREAS WITHIN THIS ORDINANCE.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE OLDER ORDINANCE HAD TRAILERS IN THAT ORDINANCE.
>> TRUE, R0, R1, AND R3 NEIGHBORHOODS ONLY.
>> SO THIS WOULD COVER URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS?
>> IT'S GOING TO COVER URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD, MULTIPLE USE, RES REC, ALL OF IT, THE ENTIRE ISLAND.
>> WHERE IS THAT CHANGED IN THE ORDINANCE?
>> LOOK AT THE HIGHLIGHTED AREA.
SEE IN UNDER A, ON THE THIRD LINE AT THE BOTTOM, YOU HAVE STRICKEN IN ANY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICT. THAT'S THE CHANGE.
>> I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT RESTRICTION OUT.
WE CUT INSTEAD OF ADDING [LAUGHTER].
>> I GUESS YOU COULD CAN SAY THAT.
[LAUGHTER] THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT ISLAND-WIDE.
IT WASN'T REALLY A TRAILER ISSUE BEFORE OR LANGUAGE IN HERE ABOUT TRAILERS, IT WAS REALLY THE AREA THAT YOU COULD ENFORCE. [BACKGROUND].
>> BUT HERE THE LANGUAGE FOR THE TRAILERS, WE JUST DELETED WHERE IT WAS ENFORCED.
>> OKAY, SO NOW IT'S ENFORCED ISLAND WIDE AT ANY STREET, RIGHT OFF WAY?
>> BECAUSE I THINK I WAS SEEING AN ISSUE IN MY DISTRICT WHERE PEOPLE COULD PARK THEIR TRAILER A FEW BLOCKS DOWN, STORE IT IN THE URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THEY'RE RIGHT OUTSIDE.
>> OR IF YOU LIVE IN ONE OF THE APARTMENT COMPLEXES IT BORDERED OUTSIDE, WE HAVE ONE, OF COURSE THE APARTMENTS GOT TORN DOWN BEFORE THE BOAT GOT MOVED.
WHERE THE BOAT WAS BEING PARKED, IT WAS AN ORDER BETWEEN TWO COMMERCIAL. [NOISE]
>> I THINK THIS IS A GOOD ADDITION TO THE ORDINANCE.
>> A FEW MORE QUESTIONS, JOHN?
>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
I HAD WRITTEN DOWN AS ONE BECAUSE ON MY DRIVE HERE I SAW THREE TRAILERS THAT I KNOW PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME THOUGHTS AND CONCERNS ABOUT.
NOW WITH THAT TRAILER, IF I MOVE IT DAILY AND IT COMES BACK EVERY DAY, DIFFERENT SPOT OR SAME SPOT, IS THAT?
>> IF IT'S LEGALLY LICENSED, AND IT MOVES EVERY 48 HOURS.
>> THAT LEGALLY LICENSED APPLIES TO BOATS TOO.
>> APPLIES TO EVERYTHING THAT ROLLS ON THE STREET.
>> IT CAN MOVE AWAY FOR A MINUTE.
LITERALLY, THEY CAN TAKE AROUND THE BLOCK.
>> THEY COULD PLAY CAT AND MOUSE GAME WITHOUT A DOUBT.
AND IT JUST WITH THE COMPLAINTS THAT KEEP COMING IN AND WE'LL JUST KEEP ADDRESSING THEM AS THEY COME IN.
OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE PEOPLE STORE THEIR STUFF IN A STORAGE FACILITY AND NOT THE CITY RIGHT OF WAY.
>> OR OWN THEIR PROPERTY, IF THEY CAN.
BECAUSE THE PEOPLE QUITE FRANKLY ARE TIRED OF SEEING EVERYBODY'S BOATS JUST STACKED ON THE CURB.
WE'RE AN ISLAND. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BOATS, BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO STORE IT SOMEWHERE, THEY WANT TO PUT IT INTO THEIR HOUSE.
THAT'S WHAT WAS THE DRIVING FACTOR WITHIN THIS CHANGE.
>> YEAH. THE MORE I THINK ABOUT IT THAT, IT GIVES YOU A TOOL TO FORCE THE ONE THAT'S THERE FOR TWO WEEKS AND THAT'S MOSTLY COMPLIANT DRIVEN.
>> ONE THAT'S GOING TO MOVE AROUND EVERY 48 HOURS.
>> THE PEOPLE THAT ARE USING THEM FOR WORK THAT USE THEM EVERY DAY, THOSE ARE NOT THE PEOPLE WE'RE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH.
WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE THAT JUST LEAVE THEM THERE AND STORE THEM THERE AND THEY HAVE FLAT TIRES OR THEY'RE FULL OF GARBAGE WITHOUT BEING COVERED.
THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE COMPLAINTS ON AND THAT'S THE ONES WE DEAL WITH.
>> WILLIAM, DID YOU GET YOUR QUESTION?
>> IF A NEIGHBORHOOD HAS DEEP RESTRICTIONS THAT ARE STRICTER THAN THE CITY CODE, THIS DEEP RESTRICTIONS RULE.
>> BUT IT'S UP TO THEM TO ENFORCE.
>> RIGHT, BUT THEY COULD ALWAYS USE THIS AS A BACKUP.
>> SURELY. JUST TO REITERATE, I THINK WHAT WE SEE, I KNOW WHEN I WAS IN DISTRICT TWO, IT WAS NOT THEY STORING THEM IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE.
THEY WERE TAKING THEM A BLOCK AWAY AND STORING THEM IN FRONT OF SOMEBODY ELSE'S HOUSE.
>> VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER GO AHEAD, JOHN? ANYTHING ELSE?
>> TEN C. THIS PARK'S BOARD AMENDMENT.
TELL ME WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO CLEAR UP ON THIS ONE?
>> I CAN DO THIS OR LEGAL CAN DO THIS. I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS.
[00:10:08]
>> FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS, THE CITY HAS PLACED EACH ITEM, EACH FUND AREAS UNDER CONTROL OF THE PARK BOARD TO OPERATE AND MANAGE, AND TO CLEAN, AND TO PROVIDE LIFE GUIDES.
AS THE BEACH HAS MOVED WEST, WE HAVE EXTENDED THAT AREA WEST.
THE BEACH HAS MOVED WEST AGAIN, THEREFORE WE'RE EXTENDING THE PART THAT WE'RE PUTTING INTO THE PARK BOARD TO MAINTAIN AND CONTROL FOR US.
>> AND RATHER THAN DOING IT AS FAR AS THE SAND, THIS TIME WE'RE JUST GOING TO TERMINUS TO THE SEAWALL AND BE DONE WITH IT.
WE PIECEMEALED IT IN PAST YEARS.
>> WHY WOULD IT STOP AT SEAWALL?
>> WELL, I'M NOT NECESSARILY SAYING IT IS, IT SHOULD, BUT I'M JUST SAYING AT LEAST UNDER THIS ONE, BECAUSE THIS ALSO INCLUDES CONCESSIONS WHICH I DON'T BELIEVE.
JUST HELP ME ON THIS, BEYOND THE TERMS OF THE SEAWALL, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE AGREEMENT IS THERE OR WHETHER WE HAVE SUCH A RULE.
>> RIGHT NOW. THEORETICALLY, UNTIL IT'S UNDER THE CONTROL OF PARK BOARD.
CAN YOU COME UP TO COUNCIL HERE, PLEASE, SIR?
>> DON, DID YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THIS? IF SHE DOES, WE CAN BRING HER.
>> SHE JUST MOVES UP IN THE BACKUP SPOT [LAUGHTER], KEEPS DON FROM GETTING JUMPED [LAUGHTER].
>> SHE UNDERSTANDS THERE'S CERTAIN ISSUES THAT YOU BETTER STAY AWAY FROM [LAUGHTER].
THE DELINEATION NOW IT STOPS AT 72ND.
>> SIXTY-NINTH RIGHT NOW, AND THIS WOULD GO TO THE TERMINUS OF THE SEAWALL.
I THINK JOHN'S QUESTION IS WHY STOP AT THE TERMINUS OF THE SEAWALL.
>> UP UNTIL YESTERDAY, IT WAS FAIRLY CLEAR TO ME THAT IN FRONT OF THE SEAWALL, IT STAYED OF WEST OF THE SEAWALL.
WE HAVE A WHOLE HOST OF ISSUES ON OWNERSHIP AND OTHER THINGS, THAT ARE BEST PARSED ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS.
[NOISE] IT'S ALL JUST THE SAME STUFF.
PERHAPS IT'S LAZINESS, PERHAPS IT'S CONVENIENCE.
BUT THIS TIME WE DECIDED, I SPOKE WITH DANIEL, INSTEAD OF PARSING IT THREE OR FOUR BLOCKS A TIME AS THEY EXTEND THE BEACH WEST, JUST PUT IT OUT TO THE END OF THE SEAWALL, AND THEN WE DON'T HAVE TO MESS WITH IT AGAIN.
>> IF I MAY, THERE ARE SOME DISTINCTIONS.
WE DO CLEAN THE ENTIRE BEACH, THE ENTIRE BEACHFRONT.
THAT'S HOTEL TAX FUNDED, SOMETHING WE'VE AGREED WITH THIS PART OF THE LEGAL TO DO THE BEACH PATROL.
LIFE GUARDING SERVE AS ONLY GOES IN TERMS. WELL, WOULDN'T GO BEYOND THE TERMINUS OF THE SEAWALL AND WE DON'T PROVIDE THAT ANY PLACE WEST.
BEACH PATROL STILL PATROLS IT, BUT THERE ARE NO LIFEGUARDS STATIONED OUT THERE.
THE CONSIGNMENTS ONLY EXIST IN THE URBAN PART, WHICH IS THAT TO THE TERMINUS OF THE SEAWALL WHERE THERE'S SAND. THE ARGUMENT ABOUT OWNERSHIP WASN'T SETTLED YESTERDAY.
IT WAS JUST THAT THE PARK BOARD DID NOT HAVE STANDING TO PURSUE THIS.
THAT IF THE STATE WON'T ENGAGE ON IT, THAT'S A DIFFERENT MATTER.
BUT EITHER WAY, THE CITY HAS ASSIGNED THE CAPACITY TO DO CONSIGNMENTS FOR BEACH SERVICES.
CHAIRS, UMBRELLAS, THAT KIND OF THING TO THE PARK BOARD.
AT THIS MOMENT, IT ONLY GOES TO 69TH STREET.
IN THE FACT THAT THE PARK BOARD LOST THEIR CASE YESTERDAY.
>> THEY DIDN'T LOSE THEIR CASE.
>> THEY DID NOT PREVAIL. THE MORATORIUM ON THE RENTALS.
SORRY. WHY WOULD WE BE DOING THIS NOW? WHY WOULDN'T WE WAIT TILL SOMETHING WAS SETTLED?
>> WHY DO IT AT ALL? WHY HAVE SUCH AN AGREEMENT AT ALL?
[00:15:06]
THE CITY COULD STILL REQUIRE A PERMIT OF EVERYONE DOING BUSINESS ON THE BEACH.THE OWNERSHIP OF THE BEACH, WHETHER IT'S THE STATE, THAT'S PRIVATE, THAT'S IMMATERIAL.
DOING BUSINESS IN THE CITY, THAT'S A PERMIT REQUIREMENT FOR THAT THE PERMIT COUNTS DOES NOT MATTER.
>> SO WHY DON'T WE HAVE A LANGUAGE IN HERE FOR THE PERMITS?
>> THAT'S GOOD. THAT'S THE QUESTION I'M GOING TO ASK.
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS IN HERE. I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED TO DISCOVER THAT IT WASN'T.
>> BECAUSE SEVERAL WEEKS AGO WHEN WE HAD AN APPLICANT OR A PERMIT TO OPERATE A BEACH UMBRELLA BUSINESS ON WEST END, I WENT THROUGH THE CITY ORDINANCES AND I FOUND THAT, YES, YOU DO NEED A CITY PERMIT UNLESS THAT AREA HAS BEEN DELEGATED FOR OPERATIONS TO THE PARK BOARD, IN WHICH INSTANCE THEY HAVE TO GET ONE FROM THE PARK BOARD.
>> WHY WOULDN'T WE INCLUDE A CITY PERMIT WITH THAT AS WELL?
>> WHY WOULDN'T WE PERMIT EVERY OTHER BUSINESS AND EVEN IN THE PARK BOARD IS GAINING THE VENDOR REVENUE, WHY WOULDN'T THE CITY HAVE A PERMIT ON THAT LIKE THEY DO OTHER BUSINESSES?
>> BECAUSE PAST CITY COUNCILS HAVE CHOSEN THAT WHEN EACH AREA FALLS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE OPERATIONS OF PARK BOARD, THAT THE PARK BOARD PERMIT WOULD BE SUFFICIENT, I SUPPOSE IT'S TO ELIMINATE DUPLICATION OF EFFORT FOR WHAT HAPPENED.
>> THEY GAVE THE REVENUE TO THE CITY.
NO. WE CAN REQUIRE A PERMIT FROM THE CITY, IF WE WANT TO.
IN THE PAST AND I WANT TO JUST MAKE SOME OBSERVATIONS AND THESE ARE NOT QUESTIONS.
WELL, THEY ARE QUESTIONS I NEED CLARIFICATION ON.
WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR QUITE A LONG TIME OF ASSIGNING SECTIONS OF THE BEACH FOR THE PARK BOARD TO MANAGE.
IT'S JUST NOT ON THE SEAWALL, IT'S DOWN THERE AT SUNNY BEACH.
I THINK WE'VE CHANGED THE RULES HERE NOT TOO LONG AGO, COUNCIL DID.
TO PUT SUNNY BEACH UNDER THEIR CONTROL AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THE PARK BOARD WHEN THEY THEN ARE ASSIGNED SECTIONS OF THE BEACH THAT'S UNDER THEIR CONTROL, THEY PUT EMPHASIS FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT AND A SUPPORT STANDPOINT WITH BEACH PATROL, CLEANING UP BETTER THAN THEY NORMALLY DO ON THE BEACHES IN THAT AREA AND SO FORTH AND SO ON.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IN MY OPINION, AND THIS IS A QUESTION, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PUBLIC OR PRIVATE LAND.
THAT'S A WHOLE SEPARATE ISSUE THAT IS BEING DETERMINED BY THE COURTS.
THERE'S QUITE A MISUNDERSTANDING ON THAT; IN MY MIND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM.
>> WELL, I'M GOING TO REFERENCE ONE INSTANCE BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED SUNNY BEACH.
IF THE PARK BOARD IS GAINING ALL THE REVENUE FOR SUNNY BEACH EVERY WEEKEND DURING THIS SUMMER, WE HAVE AT LEAST TWO OR THREE POLICE CARS THERE BECAUSE IT GETS SO OUT OF CONTROL.
AGAIN, THEY'RE GETTING THE REVENUES, WE'RE GETTING THE EXPENSE.
>> WELL, WE CAN ADDRESS THOSE INDIVIDUAL ISSUES IF WE FEEL THEY'RE NOT APPROPRIATE.
BUT MY POINT IS THIS PERMISSION, IF WE GRANT THIS TO THE PARK BOARD, THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH PUBLIC OR PRIVATE LAND.
THIS IS GIVING SECTIONS OF THE BEACH FOR THE PARK BOARD TO PUT EMPHASIS WITH BEACH PATROL AND THINGS LIKE THAT FUNDED THROUGH THE PARK BOARD.
[NOISE] WE HAVE BEEN DOING SECTIONS OF [NOISE] BEACHES, AS DAVID HAS MENTIONED, WE'VE BEEN PIECEMEALING IT ALONG.
WE GAVE APPROVAL FOR BABES BEACH UP TO A CERTAIN EXTENT WESTWARD, AND NOW WE'RE WANTING TO EXTEND THAT BACK AND DOWN BECAUSE THAT BEACH IS MOVING DOWN.
TO ME, THIS IS MORE THAN ADMINISTRATIVE MOVE RATHER THAN IT'S SETTING UP PRESTON OR PRIVATE AND PUBLIC LAND, WHICH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT.
NOW, I MADE THAT STATEMENT, DON,
[00:20:01]
I WANT YOU TO SEE IF THAT'S CORRECT OR SO IN YOUR MIND.>> LET ME TOUCH ON WHAT A MESS [LAUGHTER] THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE HAS VISITED UPON US.
FOR WHATEVER REASON [NOISE] THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE [NOISE] SHOWS [NOISE] AND THEY SURFACE LEASED TO NEWLY CREATED BEACHES, NOT TO THE CITY OF GALVESTON, NO.
THEY GAVE IT TO THE PARK BOARD.
>> WHAT AREA? CAN YOU CLARIFY WHAT THAT LEASE COVERS?
>> YES. FROM 10TH TO THE TERMINUS OF THE SEAWALL FOR STATE-OWNED LAND.
>> FOR STATE OWNED LAND, AND THAT OF COURSE IS THE CRUX OF THE ARGUMENT.
ABOUT WHAT'S STATE OWNED AND WHAT'S NOT, BUT FOR ALL STATE ON PROPERTY FROM THE 10TH STREET TO TERMINUS TO THE SEAWALL, THE SURFACE LEASE COVERS THAT.
GIVES THEM JURISDICTION AND ALLOWS THEM TO DO CONCESSIONS AND CONSIGNMENTS ON EVENTS.
>> NOW, LET US SAY SOMEBODY COMES TO THE CITY, TO OPERATE A CONCESSION ON 85TH STREET AND WE SAY CHECK THE BOX, INSURANCE, WHATEVER WE REQUIRE.
HERE'S YOUR PERMIT. NOW THEY GO AND THEY WANT TO SET UP AND THE PARK BOARD SAYS, UH-UH-UH, WE HAVE A SURFACE LEASE, THIS BELONGS TO US.
THEY'LL HAVE TO GO TO THE PARK BOARD AND GET A PERMIT ANYWAY.
OF COURSE, PART OF THESE ISSUES ARE INVOLVED IN THE PRESENT LITIGATION.
>> IF IT'S NOT DISPUTED TERRITORY, THE PARK BOARD CAN ALSO GIVE THEM A CONSIGNMENT, A CONCESSION TO DO BUSINESS THERE, SHARED REVENUE. [INAUDIBLE].
>> WELL, ONE WOULD THINK THAT IF THE STATE IMPOSES A DUTY UNDER CHAPTER, IT'S EITHER 61 OR 63 OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES CODE, THAT THE CITY HAS THE OBLIGATION TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN THE BEACH.
WHICH INCLUDES PICKING UP TRASH, PROVIDING LIFE GUARDS.
ONE WOULD THINK THAT IF THE STATE IMPOSED THAT DUTY UPON THE CITIES, NOT THE PARK BOARD, THE CITIES, ONE WOULD THINK THE GLO WOULD HAVE GIVEN THAT [NOISE] SURFACE LEASE TO THE CITY.
>> DID THE CITY EVER ASK FOR IT?
>> I DON'T THINK ANYONE EVER ASKED FOR THE SURFACE LEASE.
I THINK IT WAS [NOISE] PRESUMED AND THE SECTION PROTECTED NATIONAL RESOURCES CODE [INAUDIBLE], I HAVE NO EARTHLY IDEA.
THE MAYOR WILL SPEAK TO THIS BETTER. HE WAS WITH THE PARK BOARD AT THE TIME.
>> BECAUSE I KNOW I'VE DEALT WITH THE PARK BOARD ON SURFACE LEASE WHEN I HAD MY HOUSE SEVERELY DAMAGED WITH BERMUDA BEACH.
YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH A REQUEST WITH THEIR LAND DIVISION TO GET A SURFACE LEASE, WHICH WAS WHERE I WAS GOING TO PUT MY DUNE ON THE STATE OWNED LAND, AND IT'S NOT TYPICAL THAT THEY SAY, OH, HERE'S A LEASE.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S DONE BY REQUEST.
>> I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER ON WHY THE GLO STARTED PROVIDING THE LEASE TO THE PARK BOARD. I DON'T KNOW.
I CAME ONTO THE PARK BOARD AROUND 2008 AND IT WAS GOING ON QUITE A FEW YEARS BEFORE THAT.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT STARTED.
I WOULD MAKE THIS COMMENT TOO. THIS SAME ASSIGNMENT OF THE PARK BOARD MANAGING THESE BEACH AREAS IS ALREADY ONGOING FROM 10TH DOWN TO 69TH.
THERE'S A LOT OF LAND DOWN THERE, ESPECIALLY EAST OF 61ST THAT INDIVIDUALS ARE CLAIMING IS PRIVATE LAND DOWN THERE.
THE PARK BOARD IS NOT ENFORCING ANYTHING WITH THOSE PARTICULAR INDIVIDUALS.
THE PARK BOARD IS WORKING AROUND THOSE.
THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE PROVIDING SERVICES DOWN THERE THIS MORNING WITH BEACH UMBRELLAS AND ALL THAT OTHER NOT TIED TO THE PARK BOARD.
>> THAT'S WHY THEY'RE IN COURT.
[00:25:01]
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EAST OF 61ST.
>> THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, EAST OF 61ST.
THE PARK BOARD HAS ADOPTED A PHILOSOPHY THAT, AND I DON'T WANT TO NAME THE PARCELS OF LAND AND INDIVIDUALS, BUT YOU CAN GO DOWN THERE TODAY.
THEY'RE FUNCTIONING PRIVATELY DOWN THERE.
THEY'RE NOT FUNCTIONING UNDER THE PARK BOARD.
I'M SAYING THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE GIVEN THE SAME ABILITY ALREADY TO THE LAND ON THE BEACH FROM 10TH TO 69TH, THAT'S IN THIS ITEM, THAT IS THIS 10C.
IT'S NOT AFFECTING THE ISSUE OF PUBLIC OR PRIVATE LAND.
IT'S THE SAME SITUATION THAT'S BEFORE US TODAY.
IF WE APPROVE THIS, THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE CLAIMING PRIVATE LAND AND PURSUING THAT WILL BE HANDLED, I'M SURE, BY THE PARK BOARD AS THEY HAVE ON THOSE AREAS THAT ARE EAST OF 61ST.
>> PENDING RESOLUTION OF THAT CASE.
NOW, THAT LAND THAT IS WEST OF 61ST IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT SITUATION TECHNICALLY THAN THAT LAND EAST OF 61ST.
[NOISE] I'M GOING TO MAKE AN EDITORIAL OPINION BECAUSE [NOISE] I'VE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS FOR 20 YEARS IN THE CITY.
I TELL YOU THIS ISSUE IS NOT GOING TO BE SOLVED UNTIL THE GLO STEPS UP AND ASSUMES THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES REPRESENTING THE CITIZENS OF TEXAS TO DETERMINE THE PROPER SOLUTION TO THESE QUESTIONS.
WHEN THE GLO STAYS SILENT, THEN THEY ARE CAUSING THIS PROBLEM TO CONTINUE ON.
THE GLO IS GOING TO HAVE TO STEP UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS.
WILLIAM, YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING.
THE PARK BOARD TOMORROW WILL BE ABLE TO ISSUE CONCESSIONS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE END OF THE SEAWALL?
>> THEY WILL DO IT THE FULL CONTINUOUS 60 BLOCKS, OR 40 BLOCKS?
>> [OVERLAPPING] THE BLOCK THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANY SAND. [LAUGHTER]
>> EXCEPT FOR THE PART THERE ISN'T SAND. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT ONLY GOES TO ABOUT 92ND STREET THOUGH.
>> SO THEN HOW DOES THAT WORK WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE CLAIMING THAT THEY OWN PARCELS OF LAND. [OVERLAPPING]
>> OH, THAT REMAINS IN DISPUTE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT IS A CENTRAL ISSUE.
>> IF THE PARK BOARD WAS SMART, THEY WOULD NOT ISSUE ON ANY CONCESSIONS ON ANY BEACHES THAT ARE CONTESTED.
>> IF I MAY SAY, [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE CHAIRMAN HAS INSTRUCTED THE PARK BOARD NOT TO ISSUE ANY NEW CONCESSIONS WEST OF 61ST STREET UNTIL THIS MATTER IS RESOLVED.
THERE IS A HIATUS, THIS WOULD GIVE THEM THE LEAVE, I BELIEVE, TO DO SO, THE GALVESTON SEAWALL, ONCE THAT'S RESOLVED.
BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S ON HOLD, THE PARK BOARD PENDING RESOLUTION.
>> BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT IF WE APPROVE THIS, THAT ISSUE OF PRIVATE OR PUBLIC LAND IS STILL GOING THROUGH THE COURTS, AND THIS ISSUE HAS NO BEARING ON THAT.
THE APPROVAL OF THIS IS THE SAME AS EAST OF 61ST, THAT THERE'S PRIVATE LAND DOWN THERE AND THE PARK BOARD IS STAYING OFF OF THAT AND TRYING TO CONTROL THAT, AND THEY HAVE THE SAME MANAGEMENT APPROVAL FROM COUNCIL AS WE ARE LOOKING AT FOR WEST OF 61ST.
>> I MEAN GOING BACK TO, [OVERLAPPING] GO AHEAD.
[OVERLAPPING] WELL, GOING BACK TO YOUR COMMENTS, I'M LOOKING AT THIS NOW.
WHY DO WE NEED THIS IF THE PARK BOARD HAS THIS FROM 61ST? THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN THE LEASE TO IT, SO WHY IS THIS ORDINANCE EVEN HERE?
>> BECAUSE THE CITY CODE REQUIRES THAT IF YOU WANT TO UPGRADE [NOISE] A CONCESSION ON THE BEACH, YOU NEED A PERMIT FROM THE CITY AND THE [INAUDIBLE] AREA HAS BEEN PLACED UNDER THE MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF THE PARK BOARD. [OVERLAPPING]
>> RIGHT. BUT DAVID JUST SAID THE DIRECTOR OF THE PARK [OVERLAPPING]
>> I THINK THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID.
>> I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC OR PRIVATE.
>> I KNOW. NEITHER AM I. THIS DOESN'T APPLY TO PERMITS.
RIGHT NOW WE DO NOT, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, REQUIRE A SEPARATE PERMIT AND A CONCESSION FEE, BUT THE CITY HAS, ACCORDING TO THE LEGAL, THE RIGHT TO DO THAT.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE DOING THAT EVEN AT THE PARK BOARD BUT.
>> TO WILLIAM'S QUESTION, AND I THINK IT'S A VERY VALID QUESTION, IF YOU JUST SAID THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PARK BOARD HAS ADVISED THE PARK BOARD NOT TO ISSUE ANY MORE VENDORS, THEN WHY ARE WE DOING THIS AT THIS POINT? I THINK THAT WAS YOUR QUESTION.
>> I THINK NOW I'M GOING TO ASK DAVID HERE BECAUSE HE'S INTRICATELY INVOLVED WITH THIS CURRENTLY AT THE PARK BOARD.
[00:30:01]
MY ANSWER TO THAT IS THE PARK BOARD IS GOING TO PUT OUT EMPHASIS WITH BEACH PATROL AND WITH CLEANING TECHNIQUES THAT ARE MORE INVOLVED THAN THEY DO ON THESE WEST END BEACHES THAT ARE NOT UNDER THE ORDINANCE.THE ANSWER TO THAT IS IT GIVES THE PARK BOARD DIRECTION ON WHERE THEY NEED TO SPEND THEIR FINANCES TO PROVIDE BEACH SAFETY MEASURES, BEACH PATROL, AND EXTRA CLEANING MEASURES.
>> IT MAKES CONSISTENT THE ASSIGNMENTS, THESE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PARK BOARD.
I THINK WE SHOULD EITHER DO IT AND LET THEM ENFORCE IT, OR NOT DO IT AND THE CITY ENFORCES IT, WHICH I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF DOING.
WE'VE DRAWN A LINE FOR SEAWALL AND SAID PARK BOARD, DEAL WITH THIS STUFF.
THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES, THEY HAVE HOTEL TAX TO DO THAT.
WE'D NEED GENERAL FUND ENFORCEMENT IF WE DID IT OURSELVES.
BUT WHY NOT MAKE IT CONSISTENT? GO ALL THE WAY TO THE GALVESTON SEAWALL.
JOHN'S QUESTION, WHY DON'T WE GO TO THE SAND DUNES IN THE PAST? THAT'S ANOTHER QUESTION. IT'S A DIFFERENT ANIMAL. [OVERLAPPING]
>> YEAH. I WOULD LIKE TO PUT ON ANOTHER AGENDA, IF THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO CONCESSION AND SO FORTH ON SUNNY BEACH, WHY IS THE CITY PAYING? BECAUSE IT'S CONTROLLED BY CITY POLICE, IT'S MANAGED BY CITY POLICE AT THE ENTRANCE.
>> THAT'S A WORTHWHILE CONVERSATION. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT, I'D LIKE TO PUT THAT ON FUTURE AGENDA, IS ALL I'M REQUESTING.
>> YEAH. BUT THAT'S NOT THIS QUESTION.
>> TO FURTHER ON THAT POINT ABOUT WHY ARE WE PIECEMEALING THIS IN THESE SECTIONS HERE, THAT THE PARK BOARD ALREADY GOES DOWN TO THE WEST END.
THEY CLEAN THOSE BEACHES, RIGHT?
>> [OVERLAPPING] THEY JUST PICK UP THE TRASH.
>> NO, THEY DON'T CLEAN. [OVERLAPPING]
IT DIRECTS THE PARK BOARD TO PROVIDE BEACH PATROL SERVICES AND FOR CLEANING SERVICES THAT THEY DON'T [OVERLAPPING]
>> THEY DON'T HAVE LIFEGUARDS.
THEY ONLY EMPTY THE TRASH CANS.
[OVERLAPPING] THEY'LL PICK UP LARGE TREES.
>> ON THAT AREA, IT'S NOT AT THE [OVERLAPPING]
>> FURTHER WEST. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THEY DO THE SAME DOWN THERE, RIGHT?
>> WEST OF THE SEAWALL, ALL THEY DO IS PICK UP TRASH CANS OR IF THERE'S A LARGE TREE [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUT CAN I FINISH WHAT I'M SAYING?
>> IF THERE IS A SEAWEED INUNDATION, ALL THE SUBDIVISIONS THAT WERE INTERESTED IN HAVING THE PARK BOARD [OVERLAPPING] HAD TO PUT UP $10,000 TO $15,000 AND HAVE PEOPLE PAYING FOR IT.
>> THIS ORDINANCE DOESN'T TALK ABOUT PROVIDING THE QUALITY OF SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE AT ANY POINT ON THE BEACH?
>> IT DOES NOT, BUT AT THE PARK BOARD LEVEL, WHEN THEY ARE ASSIGNED THOSE PARTICULAR AREAS OF THE BEACH, THEY PROVIDE THOSE QUALITY OF SERVICES.
THE QUESTION IS BABES BEACH [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE CITY HASN'T CHARGED THEM FOR DOING THAT.
THAT'S WHAT THIS ORDINANCE DOES, IT GIVES THEM THE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT.
>> SO THEY ARE DOING THAT ON SECTIONS OF THE BEACH THAT WE HAVEN'T GIVEN THEM AUTHORITY TO DO IT.
>> THEY'RE NOT CLEANING IT LIKE THEY ARE [OVERLAPPING]
>> I UNDERSTAND ABOUT QUALITY OF SERVICE [OVERLAPPING]
>> THEY'RE ONLY DOING IT ON BABES BEACH.
>> NO. I'M NOT SURE IT'S AN ACCURATE STATEMENT, [OVERLAPPING] THE INTERLOCAL ADDRESSES.
[OVERLAPPING] SO THROUGH THE INTERLOCAL, WE GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.
>> CLEANING. THE BEACH CLEANING.
>> PICKING UP THE TRASH ON THE WEST END.
>> [OVERLAPPING] IF IT'S INUNDATION, THEY WOULD DO THAT.
>> NO. THE SUBDIVISIONS PAY THEM TO DO THAT [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE SUBDIVISIONS IS A SEPARATE POINT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE CITIZENS PAY THEM. THEY DON'T [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT GIVES THEM AUTHORITY TO DO WHAT AND WHAT THIS GIVES THEM AUTHORITY TO DO? [OVERLAPPING]
>> THIS ORDINANCE ASSIGNS SECTIONS OF THE BEACH THAT WILL SPECIFICALLY DIRECTLY FALL UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF THE PARK BOARD, AND THAT PRACTICALLY MEANS THEY HAVE BEACH PATROLS AND BEACH TOWERS AND ALL OF THAT SUPERVISION.
FROM THE PARK BOARD STANDPOINT, THAT'S HOW THEY WILL DO THIS.
TECHNICALLY SPEAKING, IF WE DON'T DO THIS, PARK BOARD MAY NOT HAVE ANY BEACH PATROL DOWN THERE.
THEY WON'T CLEAN THE BEACHES WELL.
>> THAT'S NOT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSING THIS ORDINANCE THOUGH, RIGHT?
>> NO, BUT THAT'S HOW IT FUNCTIONS AT THE PARK BOARD LEVEL.
AS SOON AS THEY'RE ASSIGNED THAT, THEY WILL TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MANAGING THAT.
>> OTHER SECTIONS OF THE CITY CODE DELINEATE VARIOUS RESPONSIBILITIES THROUGH THE PARK BOARD REGARDING BEACH AREAS ASSIGNED TO THEM.
THIS IS A VERY NARROW SECTION SAYING, PARK BOARD, YOU HAVE THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS, AND THIS.
STARTS AT EACH BEACH AND GOES TO WHAT?
[00:35:04]
65TH I THINK?>> I MEAN, IF THAT'S THE CASE, I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE DETAIL IN HERE ON WHAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO PROVIDE OUT THERE.
>> YOU'RE GIVING THEM AUTHORITY TO DO WHAT THEY WANT ON THIS SECTION OF THE BEACH.
THEY MAY PROVIDE THAT, THEY MAY NOT PROVIDE THAT.
>> WELL, THEY DIDN'T PROVIDE LIFEGUARDS.
THE DECISION TO JUST PLACE LIFEGUARDS IS A MATTER OF [INAUDIBLE] .
>> WE THE CITY ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE LIFEGUARD SERVICES FOR THE BEACH.
BUT, RIGHT NOW THERE'S NO LIFEGUARD SERVICE, WEST OF 69TH STREET.
>> BUT YOU JUST MENTIONED VOLUME PEOPLE, RIGHT?
I'VE SEEN MORE VOLUME THERE THAN I HAVE ON SOME OF THESE OTHER BEACHES.
>> I DON'T WANT TO ARGUE ABOUT THAT. WE DON'T LOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW I DON'T THINK WE.
>> THAT WOULD BE A PRACTICAL IMPOSSIBILITY WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SERVICES IN SAN LUIS AND CONTROLLED OUT THERE.
IT'S A LOT OF BEACH OUT THERE THAT WE DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY OR THE PERSONNEL TO STAFF.
STAFFING THE URBAN PARK WITH LIFEGUARDS IS PARK BOARD'S RESPONSIBILITY.
IF WE DON'T DO THIS, THEY HAVE NO REQUIREMENT FOR RESPONSIBILITY.
ACTUALLY EVEN AFFORD TO DO IT BEYOND 69TH STREET.
>> IF WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE VERBIAGE, THEN WE NEED TO PUT THE PERMITTING IN.
>> I'D LIKE TO SEE THE PERMITTING TOO.
I MEAN, I'M ALL FOR PERMITTING EVEN THE PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS OUT THERE ON THIS BEACH.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT LANGUAGE.
WHAT I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE, I'D LIKE TO SEE A JOINT MEETING WITH PARK BOARD.
I'D LIKE TO GIVE THEM HAVE THEM GIVE US A RUNDOWN ON WHAT SERVICES THEY'RE GOING TO PROVIDE OUT THERE.
I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH GIVING THEM CONTROL OF THIS EVEN FURTHER DOWN THE ISLAND, BUT I WANT TO SEE WHAT THAT IS.
I MEAN, I THINK THIS IS JUST A VERY SMALL PORTION OF WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE FROM THEM.
>> WE CAN. WE CAN EXPAND ON THIS AND THEN WE CAN SET IT UP AND HAVE IT.
WE TENTATIVELY HAVE A JOINT MEETING WITH PART BOARD IN OCTOBER.
WE COULD SET THAT UP AND BE ONE OF OUR TOPICS THAT ARE JOINT MEETING TO DISCUSS AND GET INTO MORE DETAILS ON IT, JOHN.
>> THERE'S A LOT MORE QUESTIONS ON THAT.
>> UNTIL THE END OF THE SEASON.
>> YEAH. THAT'S WHAT I WAS JUST GOING TO MENTION THAT WE'RE ALREADY AT THE END OF SEASON.
>> BID $7000 TO DEMO THIS STRUCTURE.
>> IS THERE A REASON WHY THAT ONE'S SO MUCH? I KNOW THIS [INAUDIBLE] COMPANY HAS A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF GALVESTON, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE.
>> THIS IS THE HOUSE AND SEE THE PERSONAL SCORE.
>> IT HAS TO BE HAND TORN DOWN. WE CAN'T MACHINE DO IT.
>> IF WE PUT A LIEN ON THE PROPERTY. WHETHER WE EVER GET REPAID.
>> FUNDING FOR THAT CAME OUT OF THE MARSHALS OFFICE.
>> OF COURSE. THAT'S THE NORMAL WAY.
I THINK THAT WE'LL BE SPENDING LESS ON THIS CONTRACTOR SINCE A DIFFERENT COURT HAS ENJOINED THE DESTRUCTION FOR NOW.
WE'RE TRYING TO CUT A DEAL BECAUSE THERE'S A NEW LANDOWNER WHO FEELS THEY CAN RECONSTRUCT IT.
IF THEY CAN FEEL THEY CAN RECONSTRUCT IT, VAYA CON DIOS.
BUT WE'VE ALREADY STARTED TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THIS GUY.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY HIM SOME MONEY.
>> THEY'VE ALREADY STARTED A LITTLE BIT.
>> BUT IF THE NEW OWNER DECIDES, THEY DON'T GO FORWARD, WE'LL HAVE THE HOUSE TORN DOWN.
>> I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO YOUR QUESTION BECAUSE I'VE HAD A HOUSE DEMOED.
MY HOUSE THAT I LOST [INAUDIBLE] AND THIS SEEMS LIKE IT'S SUPER HIGH.
>> THIS ONE SITS VERY CLOSE TO HOMES ON BOTH SIDES OF IT.
>> THERE'S NO MECHANIZED DEMOLITION ON THIS.
[00:40:04]
>> I DON'T THINK THAT WAS A SEPARATE BOARD THAT WANTED.
>> ON THE PERCENTAGE OF HOUSES THAT WE DEMOLISH AND I KNOW, I HAVE HOUSES IN MY DISTRICT THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN TOUCHED SINCE [INAUDIBLE] .
ON THE PERCENTAGE OF HOUSES WE DEMO, HOW MANY DO WE ACTUALLY GET REIMBURSED FOR IN DUE PROCESS?
>> THE LAST TIME WE DEMOED A HOUSE.
>> WE DID THOSE OVER ON 32ND STREET.
WE HAD TWO HOUSES DEMOED THERE.
THE PRICE WASN'T NOTHING LIKE THIS BECAUSE HE WAS ABLE TO GET HIS MACHINERY IN THERE.
IT WAS ALL MACHINERY DONE, NOT MAN HOURS.
WE PUT A LIEN ON THE PROPERTY, THE PROPERTY SOLD.
WE GOT ALL OF HER MONEY BACK PLUS INTEREST PLUS FILING FEES AND ALL THAT.
>> INTEREST FOR THE WHOLE TIME?
>> IT'S THE SAME AS OUR MODELING LEADS.
WE GO OUT AND PERFORM THE ONE ON PROPERTIES ALL OVER THE ISLAND. WE FILE LIENS.
SOMETIMES IT TAKES MANY, MANY YEARS.
WE JUST SETTLED A LIEN FOR OVER $100,000 THAT WERE STAGNANT MOWING LIENS ON A PIECE OF BASS PROPERTY.
>> THAT ONE WAS A SALES TAX LIEN.
>> I'M GOING TO BRING THEM IN SETTLEMENT.
>> ON THE OTHER ONE NEXT TIME.
>> OKAY. YEAH. BUT WE HAVE THESE ALL OVER.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE BECOME THE DE FACTO MOWING CREW FOR SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES.
WE'LL FILE A LIEN AND WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE, ESPECIALLY DURING A HOT MARKET AND WHEN THE PROPERTY SELLS, WE GET OUR MONEY.
>> HAS THIS PROPERTY BEING PURCHASED BY ANOTHER OWNER?
>> I CAN SPEAK. IT HAS BEEN PURCHASED BY ANOTHER OWNER AND THEY FILED AN INJUNCTION AGAINST US ON THE DEMOLITION. IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THEIR REPRESENTATIVE, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WANT TO FIX IT UP AND THEY'RE MAKING ASSURANCES.
WE'RE GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS RIGHT NOW THAT THEY WOULD CLEAN IT UP AND PAY OFF WHATEVER COST WE HAVE WITH THE DEMOLITION FOR WHAT'S OCCURRED SO FAR.
>> DO WE NEED TO APPROVE THIS ITEM?
>> YOU DO NEED TO APPROVE THAT BECAUSE THINGS AREN'T FINALIZED WITH THE SUIT AND THAT WAY WE HAVE TO PAY THAT CONTRACTOR AND THEN REIMBURSE OUR COSTS FROM THE NEW OWNER, WE CAN DO IT THAT WAY.
THAT'S FOR THE ESTIMATE OR THE BID AMOUNT THAT WAS DONE FOR THIS HOUSE.
HOPEFULLY, WE WON'T HAVE TO SPEND IT ALL.
I THINK WE PROBABLY SAVE SOME MONEY IF THAT HAPPENS.
>> WE BID THIS WITH MULTIPLE VENDORS?
>> WITH THE APPROVAL THIS THAT DOES NOT MEAN OF COURSE THAT WE'RE GOING TO DEMOLISH THE HOME. THAT JUST GIVES YOU.
>> IT'S JUST FOLLOWING UP ON THAT BID THAT WE PUT OUT TO DO THE DEMOLITION, WHICH WE HAD AN ORDER TO DO, AND THEY CAME IN AT THE VERY LAST SECOND TO SEEK THAT INJUNCTION.
>> JOHN, YOU'RE GOING THROUGH ALL THE HARD TALK.
>> [OVERLAPPING] TAKE IT OFF MY LIST.
>> 11K IS ABOUT THE BADGER METERS, $150,000.
IS THIS $150,000 OUT OF THE 15 MILLION OR IS THIS $150,000 ON TOP OF THE 15 MILLION?
>> THIS IS NEW SUPPLY, HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PROJECT.
THESE ARE ALL BRAND NEW TAPS COMING IN AND THE METERS SUPPLIED FOR THOSE TAPS.
>> THIS IS COVERING EXISTING NEEDS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE NEW INSTALLATION.
>> THE AMI PROJECT IS A METER CHANGE-UP PROGRAM AND INSTALLATION OF THE AMI SOFTWARE PLATFORM.
BUT EVERY TAP THAT COMES IN REQUIRES A BRAND NEW METER AND THAT'S NOT ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE AMI PROJECT.
THIS IS JUST OUR SUPPLY FOR GROWTH.
>> OKAY. I THINK I UNDERSTAND THAT.
THE $15 MILLION PROJECT IS FOR EXISTING METERS.
>> THE $150,000 IS FOR NEW METERS, WHICH WE SHOULD GET REIMBURSED FROM [OVERLAPPING] REVENUE FROM THE PEOPLE THAT ARE APPLYING THOSE TAPS.
>> BUT THE NEW METERS GOING IN ARE THE NEW METERS [OVERLAPPING] NOT THE OLD METERS.
>> OKAY. I WAS CONFUSED ON IF THOSE WERE OLD METERS THAT WE WERE BUYING, JUST TO SUPPLEMENT IN THE MEANTIME OR.
>> IF WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE METER WE ARE GOING AHEAD AND UPGRADE.
>> WITH NEW METERS SO THAT THEY DON'T MISS.
THANK YOU. 11L, IT HAS TO DO WITH THE 10 NEW PATROL CARS.
>> YEAH. I CAN GIVE YOU SOME BACKGROUND ON THAT.
WE HAD AN ORDER WITH FORD GOING BACK A COUPLE OF YEARS.
DAVID HUSTLED AROUND AND WE FEEL NOW WE'D GET THE TAHOES.
THIS IS TO REPLACE THE FORD ORDER WITH THE TAHOE ORDERS.
[00:45:02]
>> WE'RE GOING TO END UP WITH 22 TAHOES AT SOME POINT.
>> OKAY. WE DON'T CONSIDER POLICE CARS AS ONE-TIME PURCHASES.
>> WE HAVE TO KEEP BUYING THEM EVERY YEAR. TRUST ME. THEY'RE EXPENDABLE ON A WEEK-BY-WEEK BASIS; THEY GET CONSUMED.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST BUYING A COUPLE OF YEARS IN ARREARS.
>> BUT IF WE'RE BUYING IN A COUPLE OF YEARS IN ARREARS, THEN THAT MEANS WE DIDN'T SPEND THE MONEY IN THE PAST BUDGET.
>> NO, WE HAVE. OUR PURCHASING RULES AND OUR CHARTER REQUIRES ME TO ALLOCATE THE MONEY UPON ORDER, SO THE MONEY IS THERE AND IT'S ALLOCATED FROM PREVIOUS YEARS.
[NOISE] THE MONEY IS STILL THERE, IT WAS SPENT.
IT JUST HASN'T BEEN WRITTEN IN A CHECK TO THE DEALER, BUT THE MONEY IS THERE AND SPENT AND ALLOCATED FOR THESE TRUCKS.
>> EVEN IF WE HAVE THE MONEY ALLOCATED AND EVEN IF WE DO BUY POLICE CARS EVERY YEAR, IT DOESN'T MEAN A NUMBER OF CARS COULDN'T BE CONSIDERED A ONE-TIME CAPITAL EXPENDITURE?
>> I WOULD NOT DO THAT. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THAT.
WE BOUGHT POLICE CARS EVERY YEAR.
THAT'S A SLIPPERY SLOPE BECAUSE THEN YOU'RE GOING TO GET BEHIND NEXT YEAR, AND YOU'RE GOING TO NEED 10 POLICE CARS, AND YOU'RE NOT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WHY WE HAVE ALL THIS MONEY THAT'S BEING CARRIED FORWARD?
>> WE HAVEN'T CARRIED IT FORWARD, THE MONEY IS ALLOCATED TO THESE VENDORS.
IT IS AS WELL AS SPENT, YOU JUST DON'T HAVE THE VEHICLES.
>> A FIRE BUMPER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I CAN SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
>> POLICE CARS, ROUGHLY, THE FIRST THREE YEARS ARE HARD YEARS ON THOSE PATROL VEHICLES.
WE TRY TO GET THEM OUT OF PATROL WITHIN FIVE YEARS, PUT THEM IN OTHER AREAS, BUT A PATROL CAR IS RAN VERY HARD, ROUGHLY 3,000 MILES PER MONTH.
>> WHAT ABOUT, WELL, THAT'S NOT THE SUBJECT, BUT THE VEHICLES WE BUY FOR OR THAT ARE IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS WOULDN'T BE THINGS THAT WE BUY EVERY YEAR.
>> WE DON'T BUY A WHOLE LOT OF GENERAL FUND VEHICLES AS FOR THE POLICE REALLY.
WE BUY A FEW PUBLIC WORKS TRUCKS EVERY NOW AND THEN, BUT MOST OF THOSE ARE COVERED BY THE FUNDS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> NO. WHAT I MEAN, OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT ARE GIVEN THOSE? [OVERLAPPING]
>> ALL THE MARSHALS ARE HAND-ME-DOWNS.
>> YEAH. THEY'RE THE ONES WHO GETS THE OLD POLICE CARS.
>> ALL RIGHT, GOOD. ANYTHING ELSE, JOHN?
>> NOT ON THAT ONE. BUT I HAVE A COUPLE OF MORE.
DAVID, NEXT ONE IS FOR YOU TOO.
WHY DO YOU HAVE THAT IN THE STAFF REPORT? IT SAYS, MATCH ISLAND TRANSIT CAPITAL OR CONVENTION CENTER SURPLUS ACCOUNT.
>> IN THE STACK REPORTS OVER THE YEARS, WE GIVE OURSELVES THE OPTION, IF THE COUNCIL APPROVES. THERE WAS DISCUSSION THAT IF THESE BUSES ARE USED ON THE SEAWALL ROUTES FOR TOURISM, THEN CONVENTION CENTERS SURPLUS MIGHT BE UTILIZED.
IF NOT, ISLAND TRANSIT HAS A CAPITAL ACCOUNT THAT HAS SOME MONEY THAT SUPPLIES IT.
>> THESE ARE REPLACING [INAUDIBLE] BUSES, THE REGULAR ISLAND TRANSIT BUSES.
I DOUBT VERY SERIOUSLY THERE'LL BE USED ON THE SEAWALL, BUT WE ARE MOVING TO THE TROLLEY STYLE BUSES FOR ALL OF OUR BUSES THERE.
THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT MORE ROBUST AND THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT MORE ICONIC.
>> SURE. IF THAT'S THE CASE [LAUGHTER], IT WOULD COME OUT OF THE ISLAND TRANSIT CAPITAL ACCOUNT?
>> ACTUALLY, WE DON'T HAVE A GRANT FOR SOME OF THESE TOO? [OVERLAPPING]
>> JAMES OLIVER'S HERE, THE GENERAL MANAGER THAT HE APPLIED FOR A GRANT, HE WON THAT GRANT, AND THIS IS ONLY THE MATCH.
>> YEAH. A MILLION COMES OUT OF THE GRANT, 185,000 OUT OF THE CAPITAL ACCOUNT.
>> THOSE BUSES ARE NATURAL GAS.
>> YEAH, THEY ARE NATURAL GAS.
>> THE INFRASTRUCTURE PUZZLE IS A LITTLE MORE EVIDENT.
>> RUN BY THE [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER]
>> CAN WE MAKE THAT DISTINCTION BECAUSE ANYBODY WHO HEARS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING]
>> JOHN, TO WHAT YOU JUST SAID, YOU SAID THEY'RE NOW 175 COMES OUT.
>> A HUNDRED AND EIGHTY FIVE OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.
>> OUT OF THE TRANSIT CAPITAL FUND.
>> WOULDN'T THAT BE A ONE-TIME EXPENSE?
>> NO, BECAUSE WE BUY BUSES ON A RECURRING BASIS.
>> WE HAVEN'T BOUGHT BUSES FOR ALMOST FIVE YEARS FOR THE FEDERAL SIDE, LAST SIX BUSES NOW THAT ARE BEYOND MINIMUM GUIDELINES FOR USEFUL LIFE.
IT'S JUST NOT FAIR ENOUGH TO JUMP DIRECTLY TO THE TROLLEY BUSES.
>> THE ISLAND TRANSIT CAPITAL FUND IS A MIX OF FUNDS.
IT'S NOT JUST ALL GENERAL FUNDS.
>> IT'S A MIX OF REVENUE FROM THE PARK TROLLEYS.
IT'S A MIX OF FEDERAL OPERATING MONEY.
IT'S A MIX OF ALL DIFFERENT THINGS.
IT'S BEEN SET ASIDE OVER THE YEARS FOR [INAUDIBLE].
>> WHAT IS THE REVENUE WE GENERATE FROM THAT?
>> FROM THE FERRY, FROM OUR TROLLEYS?
>> NO, NOT FROM THE TROLLEYS, JUST FROM THE BUSES.
>> FROM THE BUSES. WE HAVE OUR FARE BOX COME
[00:50:05]
BACK AND PROBABLY LESS THAN 10 PERCENT FROM NINE AND 10 PERCENT.WE'RE JUST NOW STARTED OUR CHARTERS.
WE GOT THREE WITHIN THE LAST THREE DAYS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STRICTLY THE ISLAND TRANSIT FTA.
>> THE CAPITAL MONEY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WAS REALLY GENERATED WHEN WE HAVE THE SERVICE GOING UP TO LAKE CITY AND BACK.
WHEN WE WERE PAID BY CONNECT TRANSIT, I BELIEVE, THEY HAD A CERTAIN PORTION OF THAT WENT INTO THAT CAPITAL ACCOUNT.
THAT'S A MAJORITY WHERE THAT MONEY CAME FROM.
>> THIS WILL WORK THAT DONE WITH THE CAPITAL ACCOUNT ON ISLAND TRANSIT.
WE'RE GOING TO BE BUYING BUSES ON OUR OWN DIME HERE.
THAT'S THE GRANTS PRETTY QUICK.
>> THE FUTURE FOR ISLAND TRANSIT, IF I UNDERSTAND YOU, YOU'RE MOVING INTO TROLLEYS.
>> YEAH, TROLLEY-STYLE, THEIR BUSES JUST WITH A TROLLEY BODY ON.
>> CORRECT. WHEN YOU DO THIS, ARE YOU CHANGING THE ROUTES OR EXPANDING OR YOU ARE RETRACTING?
>> NOT JUST YET. NOT UNTIL UNTIL DECEMBER 2022 WHEN WE'LL KNOW.
THAT'S WHEN WE'LL KNOW FOR SURE.
>> JAMES, HAS THE SOFTWARE NOW.
IN THE PAST WE'VE PAID GOODMAN CORPORATION MONEY TO DO THESE ROUTES.
THOSE ROUTES ARE PROBABLY 20 YEARS OLD.
MR. OLIVER HAS EXPERIENCE WITH THE SOFTWARE WHICH HE'S PURCHASED AND HE'LL ACTUALLY BE DOING THE ROUTES,.
>> WE'VE ALREADY DONE SOME PRELIMINARY WORK, WE KNOW WHERE TO GO WITH THEM.
>> SO IF WE ARE BUYING MORE TROLLEY BUSES AND IF WE COULD EXPAND THIS SERVICE ON THE SEAWALL TO OBVIOUSLY THE BENEFIT OF OUR TOURISTS AND TO GET VEHICLES OFF THE SEAWALL, SINCE IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE WERE EVER GOING TO MOVE ON GOLF CARTS, WOULD THAT QUALIFY FOR HOT TAXES?
>> THESE ARE PRIMARILY USED ON FIXED ROUTES FOR EVERYBODY ELSE.
>> WE CAN'T [NOISE] USE HOT TAX TO SUPPLEMENT GENERAL OPERATION EXPENSES.
>> BUT ON SEAWALL COVERAGE, IF WE COULD.
>> THE TROLLEYS THAT WE DO OPERATE ON THE SEAWALL ARE 100 PERCENT FUNDED BY OUR TRICKLE-DOWN MONEY, 100 PERCENT.
>> HOW MANY TROLLEYS ARE THERE?
>> THERE'S FIVE OF THOSE. FIVE RUBBER WHEEL, THREE RAIL.
THERE'S A FORTH RAIL THAT WE'RE BRINGING FORTH TO YOU TO GET IT READY BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING A VERY DIFFICULT TIME AROUND, FOURTH RAIL TROLLEY.
BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING A REALLY DIFFICULT TIME MEETING THE SCHEDULE, AND WE HAVE A DEMAND FOR MORE AND MORE STOPS, AND IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE ALL FOUR TROLLEYS RUNNING.
SYSTEM IS DESIGNED FOR FOUR TROLLEYS.
>> CANE WE MAKE THE TROLLEYS GO FASTER? [LAUGHTER]
>> IT WILL STOP THE INSTRUMENT, THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
>> BECAUSE THEY ARE ICONIC AND THEY'RE RUNNING ON THOSE ROUTES.
>> DID WE GET THE PRICE ON THEM YET?
>> NO, THE PRICE ON THE SIDE OF THE TROLLEY SAYS EVERY RIDE FOR A DOLLAR?
>> I DON'T BELIEVE SO. DO WE HAVE IT ON THE GAME?
THAT WAS DISCUSSED BY THE COUNCIL BEFORE, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT TO MAKE CLEAR FROM THE STATE VIEW.
>> EXCEPT THAT I'D LIKE IT NOT TO BE A DOLLAR, BUT THAT'S OKAY. [LAUGHTER]
>> IF YOU LOOK AT THE BUDGET IN YOUR BUDGET BOOK FOR THE TRICKLE-DOWN MONEY, MAJORITY OF THAT MONEY GOES TO THESE TROLLEYS.
>> YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER ALSO WHEN THE TROLLEYS WERE BROUGHT IN IN '86, THEY BROUGHT IN FOUR TROLLEYS.
THE ROUTE THAT WAS BUILT WAS A TRACK THAT GOES TO SEAWALL AND ONE LOOP DOWNTOWN.
SINCE THEN, THERE HAVE BEEN TWO ADDITIONS ADDED THERE, ONE GOING OVER THE HARBORSIDE LOT, ANOTHER ONE'S GOING TO THE UTMB LOT.
TO LOSE THAT FOURTH TROLLEY IS ALREADY HURTING US BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL DESIGN WAS FOUR TROLLEYS WITH A SMALL ROUTE.
>> WE'LL BRING THAT BACK TO COUNCIL OR INTO CONSIDERATION.
>> WELL, YEAH. THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE A GENERAL FUND ITEM.
>> IT'S OFF TOPIC, BUT IT'S ABOUT TROLLEYS.
HOW MUCH MONEY DO WE MAKE ON THE ADVERTISING ON TROLLEYS?
>> WHEN [OVERLAPPING] WE WENT OUT FOR RFP FIVE YEARS AGO, GAUSS.COM HAD THE CONTRACT.
IN FAIRNESS, WHEN THEY WENT OUT FOR THE CONTRACT, THE THOUGHT PROCESS WAS THE STEEL WHEEL TROLLEYS WOULD BE IN SERVICE AT THAT TIME.
OBVIOUSLY, IT TOOK MANY YEARS TO DO THAT SO THEY WERE UNABLE TO ADVERTISE AS MUCH AS THEY HAD TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST.
THAT CONTRACT IS FIXING TO BE COMPLETED THIS YEAR AND WE'RE LOOKING AT OTHER AVENUES TO INCREASE THE REVENUE DOLLARS.
I'M SORRY NOT THE REVENUES, BUT THE ADVERTISING DOLLARS.
>> I'M GETTING VIBES FROM OUR ATTORNEY, WE'RE MOVING OFF OUR TOPIC.
>> MAYBE WE CAN PUT THAT ON A FUTURE AGENDA.
>> WAIT. CAN I ASK ONE QUESTION ON THAT? [OVERLAPPING]
>> I JUST NEED CLARIFICATION BECAUSE THESE ARE REPLACING THE BUSES.
>> CORRECT? OKAY. THAT IS GOING TO BE CONTINUING THROUGH THE COMMUNITY?
[00:55:01]
>> OKAY. JUST WANTED TO MENTION.
>> ONE OF THE THING THAT WE DID ON THE CUTAWAYS WHEN WE USE THE LIFT, WE HAVE TO STOP AND GET OUT, DROP THE LIFT.
THESE ARE LOW FLOORS; YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT, WE GO RIGHT STRAIGHT UP.
[NOISE] THAT'S A BETTER TECHNOLOGY.
>> THERE'S A PHOTO ATTACHED TO COMPLETE SHOWS THAT [OVERLAPPING].
>> NOT EXACTLY. COLORS WILL BE DIFFERENT.
>> ANY MORE QUESTIONS ON THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC?
>> I CAN'T REMEMBER. IT'S ON MY TABLET.
>> DEPARTMENT OF [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER].
>> GOOD TO KNOW WE THINK SO MUCH ALIKE.
>> MY QUESTION ON THESE ARE BOTH ONE-YEAR CONTRACTS.
I THINK WHEN WE SIGNED THE SELLING CONTRACT, WE DID A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT AT SOME POINT OR THE PREVIOUS CONTRACT MAYBE WAS THREE YEARS.
IS THERE ANY ADVANTAGE OF SIGNING A LONGER TERM CONTRACT TO GET THESE?
>> I CAN TELL YOU HOPE SHOPS THESE THINGS HARD.
I WOULD IMAGINE IF THERE WAS A BETTER DEAL SHE'D HAVE BROUGHT IT.
>> THIS ONE-YEAR CONTRACT, THEY DON'T GIVE ANY DISCOUNTS FOR EVERY DEAL. [OVERLAPPING].
>> MIKE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS.
>> HE JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE IS AN [INAUDIBLE] . [OVERLAPPING].
>> NOT REALLY. THESE LARGE COMPANIES LIKE THIS TENDER REVIEW THEIR COSTS AND SET THEIR MAINTENANCE A YEAR AT A TIME.
ONCE YOU INSTALL ONE OF THESE ENTERPRISE SYSTEMS, YOU'RE STUCK WITH IT FOR A WHILE.
>> OKAY. PAULINE. I HAD A QUESTION.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION ON N AND O AS WELL.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE BRINGING IN MORE SOFTWARE AND LOOKING AT MORE CONTRACT RENEWABLES AND SO FORTH.
BUT YET IT SEEMS LIKE SO MANY OF OUR SYSTEMS ARE STILL VERY ANTIQUATED.
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE SPENT ANNUALLY ON IT IS EXPENSIVE, IT'S HIGH AND JUST LIKE YOU SAID, ONCE YOU GET A PIECE OF SOFTWARE, YOU'RE STUCK WITH IT AND WE ALL KNOW THAT BECAUSE IT CAN BE EXPENSIVE.
IT JUST LEADS ME TO QUESTIONS.
IF WE HAVE AT LEAST ONE OR TWO ITEMS ON EVERY COUNCIL, INCREASING AGAIN, BECAUSE THIS IS PULLED OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.
IT'S AN ENTERPRISE FUND, SO IT'S FUNDED BY ALL THE FUNDS.
>> WELL, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT IT STILL COSTS MONEY.
STAFF PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT INEFFICIENCIES IN SOFTWARE.
>> FOR DECADES NOW, THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAS SPENT QUITE A BIT MORE THAN THE PUBLIC SECTOR ON SYSTEMS. IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO TAKE THE SAME PROJECT WITH THE SAME PIECE OF SOFTWARE AND INSTALL IT AT FIVE OR 10 TIMES THE COST TO ENSURE THAT IT MEETS EVERY REQUIREMENT, [NOISE] AND IT'S A CATCH-22.
IF YOU DON'T INVEST IN IT, YOU END UP WITH MORE INEFFICIENCY AND INEFFECTIVENESS THAN INVESTING IN IT.
GALVESTON HAS GONE THROUGH A TRANSITION FROM BEING A DESKTOP-ORIENTED OPERATION OVER THE LAST 15 OR 20 YEARS, TO ONE NOW THAT IS HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON THESE ENTERPRISE SYSTEMS. THE WATER BILLING SYSTEM, THE POLICE SYSTEM, THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM, WHAT HAVE YOU.
IT IS EXPENSIVE, BUT IT'S A WAY OF LIFE NOW FOR EVERYBODY.
WE'RE ALL CARRYING THESE THINGS AROUND NOW.
>> I KNOW WHY I AGREE WITH THAT.
>> FROM YOUR SELLER PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE LOOKING TO REPLACE A SELLER.
THAT'S WHAT THE SOLE PURPOSE WE DID A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT.
>> BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE REPLACED.
>> THAT WAS GOING TO BE A QUESTION.
>> I'M JUST SAYING IT SEEMS LIKE WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF INEFFICIENCY.
>> WE HAVE A LOT OF OLD SOFTWARE.
HOW OLD IS OUR FINANCIAL SYSTEM?
>> YEAH. IS THAT SOFTWARE FOR LESS THAN [OVERLAPPING].
>> YES, WE ARE WORKING ON IT NOW.
>> WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS SINCE WE HIRED HOPE, SHE'S GONE SYSTEMATICALLY THROUGH ALL THESE PROCESSES.
THEY'RE DEPARTMENTAL MOST OF THEM.
SHE HANDLES THEM AND MANAGES THEM, AND ASSISTS THE DEPARTMENTS, BUT THESE ARE THE SYSTEMS THAT WERE SELECTED BY THE DEPARTMENTS YEARS AGO AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO OFF ONE AT A TIME REPLACING THEM.
THE SOFTWARE COMPANIES USED THIS ISSUE AS A SITE LICENSE WHERE YOU COULD JUST PUT AS MANY PEOPLE ON IT AS YOU WANT.
NO. NOW IT'S PER USER [OVERLAPPING] EVERY TIME YOU WANT A USER OR SOMEBODY WANTS ACCESS TO US, THEY'RE CHARGING THEM.
THE WAY THESE COMPANIES BILL US DIFFERENTLY, AND WE'RE TRYING ONE AT A TIME TO DO IT.
ONE OF THE KEY SOLUTIONS IS OUR NEW FINANCIAL PACKAGE IS GOING TO BE COMING IN,
[01:00:02]
THAT'S THE FINANCIAL AND HR.THEN YOU'LL INTEGRATE EVERYTHING ELSE IN WITH THOSE BUT, AUTOMATION IS THE WAY TO GO.
NEW SOFTWARE IS THE WAY TO GO, BUT IT'S COSTLY.
>> BUT THAT MAKES SENSE WITH THE ONE-YEAR CONTRACTS, IF YOU'RE ALL ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW.
>> THAT'S THE ANSWER. SORRY, I'M LISTENING AND I GOT IN THERE AS QUICK AS I COULD.
>> ON THE MINUTES FROM THE 28TH [OVERLAPPING] THE JULY 28TH MEETING.
YEAH, THE 28TH MEETING. SORRY, I JUST HAD IT UP.
>> DAVID, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION.
I WAS NOT HERE FOR THIS MEETING, SO I'M JUST TRYING TO GET SOME SAILING.
>> [OVERLAPPING] YOU WERE SAILING IN THE MEDITERRANEAN I BELIEVE [LAUGHTER].
>> I WAS, NOT THINKING ABOUT THE CITY COUNCIL.
>> THERE YOU GO. [LAUGHTER]. WE WERE SITTING HERE ALL BEARING DUST.
>> IT SAYS HERE, WHEN IT COMES TO THIS PAVILION DISCUSSION AND THE AD HOC MEETING, OR AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORT, THAT WE WOULD HAVE A UPDATE [NOISE] AT THIS MEETING, BUT I DON'T THINK WE HAVE AN UPDATE OR? [OVERLAPPING]. I'LL WAIT FOR THAT.
I JUST DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING ON THE AGENDA.
I'M DONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE TIME.
>> I THINK WE SHOULD CALL EACH OTHER BEFORE THE MEETINGS, AND NEED TO DO HALF THE WORK.
>> [NOISE] CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN 11J, THE TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGIES, AND HANDLE REHABILITATIONS [BACKGROUND].
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.
>> SURE. ON 11J, THERE'S TWO PARTS TO [NOISE] THAT REQUEST.
A PIECE OF IT IS REHABBING 21 MANHOLES THAT ARE STILL IN BAD CONDITION OUT IN WEST END.
>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MANHOLES, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE WHOLE STRUCTURE OF THAT THING THAT GOES INTO THE STREET?
>> CORRECT. IT'S TRENCHLESS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT DIGGING UP THE STREET TO DO IT.
YOU'RE REBUILDING IT FROM THE INSIDE UPWARDS.
ON TOP OF THAT IS THE PURCHASE OF 200 SUPER COVERS, AND THE INSTALLATION WHICH INCLUDES RAISING THE RINGS OR RAISE THE LIDS, AND THEN PUTTING THESE NEW COVERS ON TOP.
IF YOU THINK TERAMORE, THAT WHOLE SEWER SHED HAS BEEN INUNDATED BY I&I FOR YEARS, AND SO WE STARTED THIS PROJECT TO KNOCK THAT DOWN.
>> CAN YOU DEFINE INFILTRATION, INCURSION AND WHEN YOU SAY SEWER SHED, YOU'RE REFERRING TO? [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE SEWER SYSTEM OUT THERE.
IT'S ALL OF THE SEWER THAT FEEDS TO THE TERAMORE.
BACK IN DECEMBER OF 2020, WE BROUGHT OUR FIRST REQUEST FOR THE OFFER REHABILITATION OF SOME OF THE MANHOLES OUT THERE.
OUR STAFF IS ALSO DOING OTHER WORK INTERNALLY.
WE BEGAN CHIPPING AWAY AT ALL THE PROBLEMS ON THE ACTUAL COLLECTION SIDE, SO THAT WAY WE COULD REDUCE THE CAPACITY THAT'S AT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
BECAUSE AROUND THAT TIME WE STOPPED DEVELOPMENT FROM OCCURRING IN THE TERAMORE SEWER SHED BECAUSE WE WERE OUT OF CAPACITY.
THIS EFFORT HAS BEEN PRODUCING FRUIT.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THIS YEAR WE'RE AVERAGING WELL BELOW WHAT WE NEED TO BE AVERAGING AND WE'VE BEEN TRACKING THIS MONTH BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A VERY RAINY MONTH, AND OUR EFFORTS ARE REALLY SHOWING.
>> YOU'VE DONE AN AMAZING JOB.
>> I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SEEMINGLY TRIVIAL AND TECHNICAL THINGS THAT SEWPER, S- E- W- P- E- R, THAT'S CUTE.
BUT THE SEWPER COVERS ARE DESIGNED, [INAUDIBLE] TO PREVENT WATER FROM THE STREAMS GOING INTO.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE'RE TRYING NOT TO DRAIN THE CITY THROUGH OUR SANITARY CENTER SEWER SYSTEM.
JUST LOOK AROUND, DOWN YOUR STREETS, THE TYPICAL CAST-IRON MANHOLE HAS ANYWHERE BETWEEN 2-6 VENT HOLES IN THERE.
AS LONG AS THERE'S WATER OVER IT, IT'S JUST GOING IN.
WE ACTUALLY POSTED A VIDEO TWO DAYS AGO ON FACEBOOK DESCRIBING A TEST THAT WE DID HERE, WITH ONE OF THE MANHOLE COVERS THAT WE PULLED OUT OF THE TERAMORE SEWER SHED,
[01:05:03]
AND THE NEW ONES THAT ARE GOING IN.WE CLOAKED IT AND BY CLOAKING IN IT, WE PUT THE MANHOLE COVER INSIDE THE TANK, SEALED IT, AND THEN WE FILLED IT WITH WATER.
THEN FROM THE BOTTOM WE WERE USING FIVE-GALLON BUCKETS TIMED AT 60 SECONDS TO TRY TO SEE HOW MANY BUCKETS WE WOULD FILL.
WE FILLED 12 BUCKETS IN 60 SECONDS, WHICH IS 60 GALLONS PER MINUTE.
AS LONG AS THERE'S WATER OVER THAT MANHOLE, THAT'S ABOUT WHAT WOULD BE GOING THROUGH.
THEN WE DID THE SAME EXACT TESTS WITH THE SEWPER COVERS, WE GOT ZERO.
WHAT DIDN'T SHOW IN THE VIDEO, IS OUR GUYS ACTUALLY WERE POKING FUN.
THEY SAID, "WELL, WHAT ARE THE GUYS DOING? A HALFWAY JOB WITH THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING, AND THEY DON'T PUT THE BOLTS BACK IN, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN?" WE SAID, "ALL RIGHT. LET'S TRY THAT." WE TOOK THE BOLTS OUT, REFILLED THE WATER, AND WE HAD, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE A QUARTER OF A GALLON COME OUT.
>> WELL, I DO WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THIS, BECAUSE HERE AS WE CELEBRATE THE ANNIVERSARY OF HARVEY, SAY HE'S FIVE YEARS LATER.
REMEMBER THE LABOR DAY STORM? THERE WAS A VERY RAINY SEASON.
THERE WAS AN INSTANCE WHERE WATER, THE HEAD PRESSURE IN THE SANITARY SEWER WAS MOVING MANHOLE COVERS ON 16TH STREET.
IT'S DANGEROUS, IT'S UNSANITARY, AND IT'S EXPENSIVE AND SINCE IT SHUT YOUR SEWER SYSTEM DOWN, FOR ALL OF THIS AND PURPOSES, SO I THINK THIS IS A GREAT INNOVATION.
>> IT'S ALSO VERY EXPENSIVE FOR US BECAUSE WE HAVE TO TREAT ALL THAT WATER.
>> RIGHT NOW IT'S MAXED OUT OUR CAPACITY OUT IN TERAMORE.
>> WE CAN'T ALLOW. WE'VE BEEN STOPPING.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE HAVE THE CAPACITY.
WE'RE SPENDING MONEY ON THIS, AND WE'RE GOING TO PROBABLY BE COMING TO YOU UP TO THE FIRST-YEAR TALKING TO YOU ABOUT SOME PIECE OF PROJECTS AND FUNDING THAT AS WELL.
THAT PROJECT THAT WAS CRITICAL.
ANOTHER GOOD MEASURE WE HAVE WITH THIS IS, MY ALTER CONSCIOUS, WHICH IS JOHN ZANT, WHO TREATS OUR SEWER EFFLUENT AT MOODY GARDEN, AND USES IT ON THE GOLF COURSE.
HE SENDS ME A REPORT REGULARLY ABOUT HOW MANY DAYS HE CAN EXTRACT WATER, BECAUSE IT HAS TOO HIGH OF SALINITY.
BECAUSE MOST OF THIS WATER THAT WE'RE GETTING THROUGH I&I, WELL, SOME OF IT IS RAINWATER, A LOT OF IT IS SALTWATER.
NOT ONLY DOES THAT CAUSE ISSUES FOR MR. ZANT, WHO WANTS TO WATER HIS GOLF COURSE WITH THE EFFLUENT WATER, BUT IT ALSO IS, WREAKS HAVOC ON OUR PLANTS.
THERE HAS BEEN ALMOST ZERO IODIDE DOWN HERE OVER THE YEARS.
TRINA HAS TAKEN THIS BULL BY THE HORNS, AND IT'S REALLY PAYING OFF BIG TIME.
>> I SAID THIS IS JUST ONE OF THESE INFRASTRUCTURE THINGS THAT PEOPLE DON'T SEE OR HEAR ABOUT.
>> IF I MAY SHARE, BACK WHEN WE STARTED THIS IN DECEMBER 2020, WE WERE FACED WITH HAVING TO REBUILD THAT PLANT IMMEDIATELY, WHICH IS GOING TO BE SOMEWHERE AROUND $20 MILLION COST.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT WHETHER OR NOT WE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT FOR SEVERAL MORE YEARS.
>> WELL, I HAVE ONE MORE COMPLIMENT TO TRINA WHO HAS ADVANCED OUR PUBLIC WORKS SYSTEM LIKE [OVERLAPPING].
EVERYBODY, YOUR WHOLE TEAM IS AMAZING.
ARE WE GOING TO LOOK AT THIS ASIDE FROM TERAMORE? WE HAVE A LOT OF AREAS THAT ARE SINKING, POTHOLES, AND WE REALLY NEED TO ADDRESS THIS.
>> BUT YOU'RE DOING IT FOR THEM. YOUR WHOLE TEAM IS DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB.
>> IT'S AGGRESSIVE ON ALL FRONTS WHERE WE HAVE [OVERLAPPING] WE WILL HAVE A CAMERA TRUCK, WE'RE GETTING THEM PREPARED RIGHT NOW, WE'RE TVING.
>> WELL, AND THAT'S WHAT'S AMAZING TO SEE WHAT THEY DO WITH THE CAMERAS, AND HOW THEY LOOK AT THE WHOLE SYSTEMS. PEOPLE ARE NOTICING.
THE WAY YOU WORK CLOSELY WITH, ESPECIALLY PROBLEM AREAS.
HOPEFULLY SOON WE CAN PUT SEWER IN THE REST OF THE WEST AND GET READY, THAT'S A BIG TIME.
>> [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER] MAYBE RUNNING WATER.
>> WHAT DO WE GOT? [LAUGHTER].
>> ONE MORE THING. THANKS, JOHN.
>> WHY WE DO WE DO THIS? BECAUSE WE DON'T DO IT FOR LYFT AND UBER.
>> YEARS AGO WHEN UBER WAS FIRST GETTING A GO ON THIS I BROUGHT THAT UP AND I WAS ALMOST LYNCHED BY THE CAB DRIVERS BECAUSE THEY WANT THIS. AT LEAST THEY DID AT THAT TIME AND THIS IS WHAT THEY SELL THEIR BUSINESS ON.
ALSO THEY DO SERVE A BIG PART OF OUR POPULATION THAT'S NOT CREDIT CARD ABLE AND THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME PROTECTIONS FOR THAT POPULATION AS WELL.
[01:10:01]
SO I HAVE ACQUIESCED AND WE'VE CONTINUED TO DO THIS.THEY 100 PERCENT AGREE WITH THESE RATES.
THEY SET THE RIGHTS BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA.
>> WHAT YOU SAYING IS THE INDUSTRY IS OKAY WITH YOU?
>> YEAH, THESE ARE THEIR RATES AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.
I WILL SAY THAT WE ENDURED COST IN ADMINISTERING THIS PROGRAM.
AS A SERVICE, IT'S PARTIAL COST.
WE HAVE TO DO TAXI INSPECTIONS AND ALL THAT STUFF.
>> WE MAY AT SOME POINT WANT TO LOOK AT THOSE FEES, BUT I THINK THAT'LL BE ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO OVER THE COMING YEAR.
>> BUT THE WAY THE ORDINANCE READS, IT READS SO THAT IT ALSO COVERS PRIVATE LIMOUSINE COMPANIES.
>> WHICH SO ARE THEY IN AGREEMENT WITH THIS?
>> LOOKS AT THE TAXI COMPANIES AS WELL
>> THEY'RE NOT TAXI COMPANIES, I'M TALKING ABOUT WE'RE NOW PUTTING LIMITS ON PRIVATE INDUSTRY, WHICH SHOULDN'T BE.
>> RATES [INAUDIBLE] ARE SET BY TAXI RATES.
THE RATES FOR SHUTTLES IS WITH THEIR OPERATING AUTHORITIES THEY ESTABLISH.
WHENEVER THEY TURN THEM IN, WE MAKE SURE THEY'RE IN LINE WITH THE OTHER COMPANIES.
SO WE DON'T HAVE ONE THAT'S ASTRONOMICALLY HIGH.
>> I'M NOT TALKING SHUTTLES. I'M TALKING PRIVATE LIMOUSINES, PEOPLE WHO TAKE A PRIVATE CAR.
>> THAT'S A DELIVERY SERVICE WE KNOW.
>> THE WAY THAT ORDINANCE READS, IT SAYS TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT, WHICH INCLUDES LIMOUSINES.
>> WE CALL THAT SHUTTLE SERVICE.
>> SOMETIMES FOR THOSE WHO GOT THE JETS, NOT ME.
>> THE FOUR COMPANIES THAT WE HAVE IN TOWN, WE ESTABLISHED THAT THAT'S THE RATES THEY WANTED.
THEY ALL WERE IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT.
>> TROPICAL, BUSY BEE, YELLOW CAB, AND READY SET GO.
>> WHILE I'M TALKING ABOUT LIKE A LIMOUSINE, GALVESTON, [OVERLAPPING] REPUBLIC. ARE THEY INVOLVED?
>> THOSE RATES DON'T PERTAIN TO THOSE.
BUT THOSE ARE NOT METERED RATES.
THEY DON'T CHARGE BY THE MILE.
THEY DON'T CHARGE BY THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE IN ADDITION TO THE METER.
THEY DON'T HAVE METERS AT ALL.
>> THEY ALSO MENTIONED THOUGH THE ROUND-TRIP, OR NOT ROUND TRIP, OR THEY SPECIFICALLY SAY TRIP FROM [OVERLAPPING] GALVESTON TO HOUSTON.
>> THE CRUISE TERMINALS WILL ONLY PLACE A FLAT RATE PERTAINS; THAT'S IN THE ORDINANCE.
THE ONLY PLACE YOU CAN HAVE A FLAT RATE IN A TAXI IS IF YOU GO FROM GALVESTON CRUISE TERMINAL TO THE AIRPORT OR FROM GALVESTON CRUISE TERMINAL TO A VEHICLE STORAGE PARKING LOT.
>> JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, DOES THIS APPLY TO UBER? LYFT?
>> WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER UBER OR LYFT, IT'S REGULATION.
>> WHICH IS WHY I'VE ALWAYS QUESTIONED WHY WE DO THIS, BUT THE CAB COMPANIES SPECIFICALLY HAVE ASKED FOR THIS.
>> THIS TRIES TO GET THEM IN ALIGNMENT WITH THOSE FEES BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THEY'RE BEING OUTGUNNED BY THESE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANIES AND THEY'RE TRYING TO BE COMPETITIVE.
THIS WAS A WAY OF BEING COMPETITIVE.
>> WELL, I WAS JUST MORE CONCERNED ABOUT PRIVATE LIMO COMPANIES BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD.
IT IS BEING COMPARATIVE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, ARE WE LOOKING AT POSSIBLY OVERPRICING FOR ELDERLY OR THOSE WHO TAKE THAT SMALL BUSINESS TAXI CAB SOMEWHERE? BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT $3.30, THE FIRST ONE-FOURTH OF MILE, IT'S INCREASED FROM 3 TO 3.30, SO YOU GO A MILE THEN THAT TOTAL COST.
>> IT WILL AFFECT THEM ACROSS THE BOARD UNLESS THEY ARE PART OF THE RIDE-SHARE PROGRAM.
[NOISE] THE COMPANIES WHENEVER THEY DISCUSSED THIS AMONGST THEMSELVES, THAT WAS A BIG TOPIC FOR THEM.
WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LOCAL ELDERLY WEREN'T BEING OUTPRICED OF A TRIP TO WALMART.
THEY ALL FELT THIS IS A FAIR PRICE THAT WOULD NOT OVERBURDEN THE ELDERLY.
>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS A PRIVATE INDUSTRY AND THEY WANT THESE LIMITS SET I THINK TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM SOMEBODY COMING IN AND MAYBE DOING SOMETHING THAT'S UNSAVORY.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN PRICE PROTECT.
WE OFFER ISLAND TRANSIT SERVICES AND DIAL-A-RIDE FOR THAT PURPOSE FOR THAT POPULATION.
WE SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON THAT.
>> THE DETAILS ON THE DIAL-A-RIDE.
>> I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT IS.
>> IS TRANSIT, BUT BASICALLY, IF YOU QUALIFY, MEANING YOU'RE DISABLED AND THERE'S A COUPLE OF OTHER CRITERIA, YOU CAN USE THE DIAL-A-RIDE OR THE CAB SERVICE.
[01:15:04]
>> WE USED TO RUN BUSES FOR THAT, WE DON'T ANYMORE.
WE CONTRACT THROUGH CAB SERVICES.
>> OUR DIAL-A-RIDE ADA COMPARE TRANSIT IS CONTRASTED WITH YELLOW.
THEY'RE THE ONES WHO PROVIDE THE [OVERLAPPING] YELLOW CAB.
THAT'S ACTUALLY THROUGH A SUB-CONTRACTOR OF HARRIS COUNTY RIDES WHO OVERSEES THAT PROJECT.
>> WE JUST NEED TO MAKE NOTE THAT WE'RE STILL MISSING THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO DON'T RIDE YELLOW CAB.
>> WELL, THEY HAVE TO QUALIFY FOR THAT. THAT'S NOT JUST ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO CALL. THEY HAVE TO QUALIFY.
>> YEAH. THAT ELDERLY POPULATION, THAT COST THAT GOES TO 3.30, THAT'S 6.60, AND THAT'S 6.60 TWICE.
FOR SOMEONE WHO RIDES IT OFTEN THAT'S QUITE AN INCREASE.
THEY CAN CHARGE LESS AND HERE WHAT'S HAPPENING.
IF YOU CALL YOUR DRIVER THAT YOU USE FOR YELLOW CAB OR TROPICAL OR READY SET GO, THEY'RE GOING TO TURN THE METER ON LIKE IT'S REQUIRED AND THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE A DISCOUNTED RATE FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE A REGULAR CUSTOMER.
THOSE ARE MAXIMUM RATES, THEY CAN GIVE YOU A RIDE FOR FREE IF THEY WANT AND THEY CAN'T CHARGE [NOISE] MORE THAN THAT.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, SHERRY?
>>YEAH. EIGHT D [INAUDIBLE] JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
I WAS HAVING SOME DENTAL WORK THAT DAY. I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO WATCH IT. I'M SORRY.
>> SORRY. [BACKGROUND] [OVERLAPPING].
>> THE NOTICES ARE SENT OUT, THE ONES THAT ARE OPPOSED BECAUSE THIS IS PROBABLY. AMONG R 0'S WE'VE DONE THIS PROBABLY THE CLOSEST ONE OF MY FAVORITE OF THOSE.
DO WE GET THOSE NOTICES AS FAR AS THEIR RESPONSE AS TO WHY OR DO THEY PUT COMMENTS ON THOSE?
>> WE USUALLY DISTRIBUTE THOSE TO YOU GUYS BEFORE THE MEETING.
>> ALL RIGHT, I DIDN'T SEE THEM IN THIS REPORT, BUT I NOTICE WE SENT OUT THE NOTICE 200-FOOT RADIUS, CORRECT? OF THE REQUEST?
>> YES. WE SEND TWO DIFFERENT NOTICES.
WE SENT ONE NOTICE TO THE PROPERTIES THAT ARE INSIDE OF THE BOUNDARY THAT WILL UNDERGO THE ZONING CHANGE.
WE ALSO SEND NOTICES TO PROPERTIES THAT ARE WITHIN 200 FEET.
>> THE PEOPLE ON THIS LITTLE SLIT, SORRY MY EAST END SHOWING I DON'T REALLY KNOW [LAUGHTER] WHAT'S THERE.
THEY'RE NOT PART OF THE GROUP, BUT THEY GET TO COMMENT ON THE CHANGE, RIGHT?
>> ACTUALLY THE BIGGEST PROPERTY OWNER IN THIS AREA IS US; WE DIDN'T COMMENT.
>> WAS THIS THE LINES MAYBE DRAWN AROUND IN A CERTAIN WAY JUST TO GET THIS APPROVED BECAUSE I NOTICE LIKE A HOUSE RIGHT OUTSIDE THE YELLOW LINE.
>> WELL, IT WAS SECTION C OF THEIR HOMEOWNERS' ASSOCIATION.
>> IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THAT TOO, WHOEVER IS REQUESTING THIS, THEY CAN MAKE THE BOUNDARIES WHEREVER THEY WANT AS LONG AS IT'S CONTIGUOUS.
>> BUT THIS DID HAPPEN TO BE SECTION C OF THEIR HOMEOWNERS' ASSOCIATION.
>> IT'S LIKE HAVRE LAFITTE, YOU GO THROUGH THEIR HOMEOWNERS' ASSOCIATION INCLUDES ONE SIDE OF ONE STREET, NOT THE OTHER; IT'S CRAZY.
>> TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT TOOK FOR THEM TO DO THIS YOU HAVE TO HAVE 75 PERCENT AND THE MAJORITY OF THE HOMEOWNERS, OR SECOND HOMEOWNERS SO THEN THEY HAD TO GET SIGNED AFFIDAVITS SAYING THAT THEY WERE NOT RENTING THEIR HOME, WHETHER LONG TERM OR SHORT TERM.
IT REALLY WAS QUITE AN UNDERTAKING.
>> WELL, BUT IN THE ORDINANCE FOR EVEN MEETING THE CRITERIA, 75 PERCENT OF THOSE HOMES HAVE TO BE OWNER-OCCUPIED, DON'T THEY?
>> THAT IS NOT HOW WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING UP ON PLANNING COMMISSION.
IS THAT THE DEFINITION, WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT DEFINITION BECAUSE THERE ARE SEVERAL R0S THAT HAVE GONE INTO EFFECT, OR THE HOUSES, THE OWNER DOES NOT LIVE IN THAT HOUSE, THEY HAVE RENTED THAT HOUSE LONG-TERM YET THE OWNER HAS SIGNED THAT DOCUMENT IN FAVOR OF IT.
[01:20:01]
PLANNING COMMISSION IS UNDER THE IMPRESSION AND HAS APPROVED R0S WITH PEOPLE SIGNING IN FAVOR OF IT THAT DO NOT LIVE IN THAT HOUSE.>> WELL, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE 75 PERCENT APPROVAL, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE BASIC CRITERIA.
IT SAYS RIGHT HERE, 75 PERCENT OF THE DWELLINGS IN THE PROPOSED ZONING AREA ARE SINGLE FAMILY OWNER OCCUPIED STRUCTURES.
>> THAT IS WHAT WE ARE HAVING SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT.
>> I THINK TOO, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
>> BECAUSE THAT IS NOT HOW WE DEFINED THAT IN THE PAST.
>> WELL, IF THAT'S THE CASE, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE THERE'S GROUPS THAT ARE NOT MEETING THIS BASE CRITERIA BEFORE THEY EVEN GO OUT AND SURVEY.
>> IN THOSE CASES, WHAT WE USE THIS IS DATA FROM THE GALVESTON COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
THE FIRST PLACE WE START IS TO IDENTIFY THOSE PROPERTIES THAT ARE HOMESTEADED.
THE HOMESTEADED PROPERTIES WE FIGURE ARE OWNER OCCUPIED.
FROM THERE, IF OWNERS OCCUPY THEIR HOMES, WHETHER IT'S AN ESTATE OR JUST THE FAMILY THAT OWNS THE PROPERTY AND THEY DO NOT RENT IT LONG-TERM OR SHORT-TERM, THEN WE CONSIDER THAT OWNER-OCCUPIED.
THEN THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS CAN GO THROUGH THE AFFIDAVIT PROCESS AND SUBMIT AN AFFIDAVIT.
>> A NOTARIZED AFFIDAVIT, AND ESSENTIALLY, WE LOOK AT THAT AFFIDAVIT AS THE WAY WE LOOK AT HOMESTEADED PROPERTIES AND IT GOES INTO THE CALCULATION OF BEING OWNER OCCUPIED.
>> WELL, THAT'S AN ISSUE, I KNOW THERE'S AREAS THAT HAD BEEN WANTING TO APPLY FOR R0, AND BEFORE THEY EVEN DO THEIR PETITION TO GET 75 PERCENT, THEY FEEL THEY'RE NOT MEETING THE CRITERIA OF OWNER-OCCUPIED STRUCTURES OF 75 PERCENT.
>> CORRECT. DONNA, MAYBE, SORRY.
>> I MEAN, YOU'VE SAID IN OUR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS AND I THINK WHAT I'VE HEARD IN OUR LAST PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, COMMISSIONER WALLA ASKED TO PUT THIS ON AN AGENDA THAT DEFINITION. IN THE PAST, I'M ALMOST POSITIVE THAT WE HAVE ALLOWED PEOPLE RENTING A HOUSE, LONG-TERM RENTAL, TO SIGN THAT AFFIDAVIT IN FAVOR, AND THEY ARE PART OF THAT 75 PERCENT THAT GO INTO THE APPROVAL SECTION OF THE 75 PERCENT.
>> WELL, IT'S CLEAR THAT WE NEED,+ AND THIS WAS A REQUEST FROM PLANNING COMMISSION AS WELL, THAT WE NEED TO REALLY GET AN UNDERSTANDING WHAT OUR REGULATIONS ALLOW AND HOW IT'S BEING IMPLEMENTED.
I ALWAYS DEFER TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON THEM LEADING THE REGULATIONS AND MAKING SURE THAT THE APPLICATION INCLUDES ALL OF THE REQUISITES THAT ARE NECESSARY TO MEET THE BOUNDARIES AND TO MEET THE ULTIMATE REQUIREMENTS, BUT WE ARE HAVING A WORKSHOP ON THE MATTER SO THAT HOPEFULLY WE CAN BRING CLARITY TO EVERYONE ACROSS THE BOARD.
>> WHEN IS THAT COMING UP, DONNA?
MAYBE SEPTEMBER 20TH, I THINK [OVERLAPPING]
>> COUNCIL WILL BE NOTIFIED WITH OUR NORMAL AGENDAS THAT YOU SENT DOWN, SO OKAY.
>> I MEAN, FOR THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT GO THROUGH THIS, IT'S QUITE AN UNDERTAKING, AND IT'S ALMOST EASIER TO DO IT DEED RESTRICTION, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE TO DEFINE NEIGHBORHOOD OF YOUR HOA, WHICH YES, YOU DON'T HAVE THE MARSHALL BACKUP.
BUT TO AS HOA, YOU HAVE MORE CREDENCE AND YOU ONLY HAVE TO HAVE 50 PLUS 1.
>> DEPENDING UPON HOW YOUR DEED RESTRICTIONS READ.
>> I THINK THE HARDEST SITE TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS, THEY JUST DON'T HAVE ANY MORE.
THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE 75 PERCENT OWNER OCCUPANCY.
>> WE LOOKED AT 9,000 HOMESTEADS OUT OF 23,000 OR 21,000 [OVERLAPPING].
>> CAN'T IGNORE THE FACT THAT WE LOST [OVERLAPPING].
>> I WANT TO TELL YOU, IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU.
WE DON'T SEE, GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE.
>> THANK YOU. VERY GOOD, WILLIAM.
>> THANK YOU. THAT WAS THE OTHER ONE THAT JOHN TOUCHED ON AND I HAD ON MY LIST.
[01:25:04]
>> I THINK THERE'S ONLY THREE IN THE ENTIRE AGENDA THAT [LAUGHTER].
>> I HAVE ONE. [LAUGHTER]. HE COVERED MOST ALL MINE EXCEPT FOR ONE.
ON 11C, UTILIZE OF TEMPORARY STAFFING FOR WHAT AREAS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?
>> YOU'RE SITTING WITH ME. [LAUGHTER]
>> THANK YOU. WHEN YOU SAY AREAS AND THAT'S ACTUALLY ANY DEPARTMENT THAT NEEDS TO HIRE TEMPORARY WE'LL CALL HUMAN RESOURCES AND WE'LL REACH OUT TO ROBERT HEFF OR WHOEVER PROVIDER IS AND ASK THEM TO SEND US OVER RESUMES OR GIVE US SOME OPTIONS OF WHO'S AVAILABLE.
>> WHEN WE DO A CONTRACT WITH THEM UPFRONT ARE WE SPENDING MONEY?
>> NO. ACTUALLY, THIS IS JUST WHERE I'M ASKING YOU TO APPROVE OUR ABILITY TO USE ROBERT HEFF THROUGH THE HTSC BOARD AND THEN WE JUST PAY, WE GET A TIME SHEET AND WE PAY IT THAT WAY.
>> WHAT TYPE OF DEPARTMENTS DO WE DO THIS FOR TYPICALLY, SAY LAST YEAR?
>> HR CURRENTLY HAS A TEMPORARY, WE'VE ONLY HIRED FIVE TEMPORARIES SINCE 2020.
I HAD THEM LOOK THAT UP, SO WE DON'T USE IT OFTEN.
SOMETIMES THERE'S A POSITION THAT'S HARD TO FILL, AND SO [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE'VE USED THEM IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT DURING BIG PROJECTS, WE HAD FINANCE, IT MAYBE.
>> ACTUALLY, YEAH, FINANCE HAS A TEMPORARY RIGHT NOW.
>> MAYBE THAT SOMETIMES FOR PROJECTS.
>> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE COVERED THE WHOLE CONSENT.
>> LEMONADE FURNITURE IS THAT A ONETIME PURCHASE OR IS THAT A REOCCURRING?
>> IT'S ACTUALLY PART OF AN AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY.
IS IT ON THE DRIVE THERE? I THINK THE COUNTY SHOULD BE REPLACING THIS FURNITURE, BUT THAT'S OKAY, IT'S WORKING.
>> FOR 16 YEARS WE'VE BEEN UTILIZING THE SAME DURABLES AND WHATNOT NOW CONTROLLERS LOT OF WEAR AND TEAR ON IT.
FIRST THING REPLACED BY THE COUNTIES ARE ABSORBING THOSE CHARGES AND THEN WE'RE PUTTING NEW CUBICLES.
>> LET'S FINISH UP AND WE'LL COME BACK TO, ANYTHING ELSE MIKE?
>> ALL RIGHT. SHARON, EVERYTHING FINE?
>> I DID HAVE TWO MORE, I APOLOGIZE.
ON 11H, THE DESIGN AND ENGINEERING AND RECYCLING CENTER OFFICE, IS THAT GOING TO BE ON THE NEW PROPERTY OR THE CURRENT PROPERTY?
>> NEW PROPERTY. THE ADJACENT PROPERTY.
>> OKAY. THEN ON 11I THE WORK ORDER CHANGE.
DID THIS HAVE TO DO, ROB ANOTHER GREAT ADDITION TO OUR STAFF.
THE WHOLE PUBLIC WORKS, ALL OUR STAFF IS GREAT.
BUT DID THIS HAVE TO DO WITH ANY OF THE INCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED WITH THIS PROJECT?
>> THIS IS BASICALLY TO GO AHEAD AND GET US SET UP SO WE CAN ACTUALLY OPERATE THE DOZING EQUIPMENT REMOTELY VERSUS JUST REPLACING WHAT WAS EXISTING.
SO THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT [INAUDIBLE].
>> WE ARE TRYING TO DO AS MUCH OF THIS REMOTE THROUGH SCADA ANOTHER THINGS, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO KEEP RUNNING A GUY OUT THERE WITH A TRUCK THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THESE DELAYS.
YOU CALL ME AND SAY I GOT AN ISSUE HERE IT'S ALL WE CAN HANDLE THINGS REMOTELY.
>> THAT ODOR YOU GET AS YOU DRIVE PAST THE WATER.
>> THE WATER OR THE SEWER PLANT?
>> THE SEWER PLANT WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING INTO THE GARDENS.
>> THIS ISN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING WITH THAT [LAUGHTER] THIS IS ON WATER SIDE.
>> IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO STINK. [LAUGHTER].
>> SMELL OF MONEY. [LAUGHTER].
>> THANK GOD, THAT'S THE SMELL OF MONEY.
>> I DO WANT TO MENTION ONE THING.
THERE IS ONE PIECE THAT IS NOT IN THIS CHANGE ORDER AND THAT IS THE SCADA HOOKUP.
>> THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO TRY AND GET INCLUDED.
NUMBERS DIDN'T COME BACK IN TIME SO I'M HOPING THEY'LL BE BACK FOR THOSE SEPTEMBER 8TH.
>> THANK YOU. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK ON YOUR [INAUDIBLE].
>> THANK YOU, ROB; APPRECIATE IT.
>> VERY GOOD. I DO NOT HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
WE WENT THROUGH THIS AGENDA AND EVERYTHING I WANTED TO COVER.
[3.B. Discussion Of The FY 2023 Budget And Capital Improvement Plan (M. Loftin - 20 Min)]
PLEASE, JANELLE. THANK YOU SAM.>> THE 3B; 2023 BUDGET AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
[01:30:03]
>> JUST WANT TO COMMENT ON THE CLARIFICATION ITEMS 20 MINUTES.
>> [LAUGHTER] IT'S BEEN AN HOUR AND A HALF IN OUR 20 MINUTES [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE MAY NEED TO CHANGE THIS WHOLE FLOW. [OVERLAPPING].
>> RETHINK THAT HE HAD AS THEY TOOK 20 MINUTES [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] ARE JUST END IT WITH A VOTE THEN WE DON'T HAVE TO MEET UNTIL 5:00 [LAUGHTER].
>> IS MIKE COMING, RYAN? [OVERLAPPING]
HAVE A SEAT. WE'RE DISCUSSING OUR 2023 BUDGET AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
>> GOOD TO BE HERE. WHAT I WANTED TO DO IS JUST RECAP WHERE WE STAND WITH THE BUDGET RIGHT NOW AS TO WHAT OUR REMAINING SCHEDULE IS.
ON SEPTEMBER THE 8TH, WE'RE SCHEDULED TO HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON BOTH THE BUDGET AND THE TAX RATE.
WE WILL HAVE ORDINANCES ON THE AGENDA AT THE SAME TIME TO TAKE VOTES AT LEAST ON THE BUDGET.
THE STATE LAW SAYS WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET, COUNCIL HAS TO TAKE SOME ACTION AT THE END OF THE HEARING AND DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO TAKE SOME SORT OF A VOTED ACTION.
THE BUDGET REQUIRES FOUR VOTES FOR APPROVAL.
IF YOU POSTPONED IT OR DID NOT PASS THE BUDGET UNTIL AFTER SEPTEMBER 30TH OR BY SEPTEMBER 30TH, BY STATE LAW THE BUDGET OR BY THE CITY CHARTER, THE BUDGET TAKES EFFECT AS PROPOSED BY THE CITY MANAGER AT THAT POINT.
THE TAX RATE IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A TAX RATE THAT'S GREATER THAN THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, WHICH IS 45 CENTS.
NO NEW REVENUE RATE IS 41, IN ORDER TO CHANGE THE NUMBERS HERE IN MY MATERIALS, I DON'T HAVE IT ON TOP OF MY HEAD.
41.4575 IS THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
ANYTHING ABOVE THAT REQUIRES A 60 PERCENT MAJORITY OF COUNCIL TO APPROVE IT.
IF IT'S NOT APPROVED IN SOME WAY BY SEPTEMBER 30TH, THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE GOES AUTOMATICALLY EFFECTIVE.
THIS BUDGET, JUST TO RECAP SOME OF THE MAJOR ITEMS THAT IT DOES INCLUDE, PAY RAISES THAT COMPLY WITH OUR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS, IT INCLUDES AN INCREASE FOR CIVILIANS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMPENSATION STUDY THAT IS VIRTUALLY COMPLETE.
>> WHAT IS THAT? WHAT PERCENT?
>> OVERALL, THE PERCENTAGE IS 6.4.
>> SO IS THAT EQUAL ACROSS EMPLOYEES OR?
THEY DID A COMPLETE DEEP DIVE ON IT.
SO THERE'S SOME POSITIONS THAT ARE GETTING A LOT MORE IN THEIR STUDENTS WORK AND THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE GETTING LESS THAN 6.4 PERCENT.
>> WHAT CITIES DID WE USE TO DO THE STUDY? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WAS QUESTIONED THE LAST TIME.
DAN WILL HAVE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION WHEN WE BRING IT UP.
WE WILL BRING THAT TO YOU GUYS, BUT WE'RE GOING TO [NOISE] BRING YOU GUYS ON IT.
IT WAS THE SAME CITIES WE USED IN THE PAST, PLUS WE ADDED SOME MORE.
I'M A BIG BELIEVER THAT YOU CAN'T COMPARE US BY POPULATION.
MOST CITIES DON'T COMPARE BY POPULATION, MOST CITIES COMPARE BY BUDGET SIZE.
BECAUSE BUDGET SIZE IS BASICALLY YOUR THROUGHPUT.
THAT'S YOUR PRODUCTIVITY AND THAT'S HOW YOU COMPARE YOURSELF TO WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING.
SO I KNOW WE EXPANDED OUR CITIES THIS TIME TO INCLUDE SOME CITIES, BEVERLY.
>> BRIAN, I COULD PROBABLY GO THROUGH.
>> THE VENDOR THAT WE HIRED, THEY TRIED TO LOOK AT THE POSITIONS THAT WE COMPETE, THEY DID A PRETTY BROAD THING AND WE COMPETE FOR CERTAIN POSITIONS HERE LOCALLY, WE MIGHT CAN SPEAK FOR OUR CITY MANAGER'S POSITION NATIONALLY.
SO THEY LOOKED AT THE POSITION WHERE THE COMPETITION WAS, AND THEY TRIED TO LOOK AT THOSE AND IDENTIFY THE SALARY LEVELS FOR THOSE LEVELS.
[01:35:03]
TO OUR NEW METHODOLOGIES AND NEW METHODOLOGY IS GOING TO BE KEEP OUR PAY BANDS, MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS PAID WITHIN THE SAME BAND.THE LABORERS ARE ALL IN THE SAME PAY BAND, LIKE A CATEGORY 15, FOR EXAMPLE.
OVER THE YEARS, HISTORICALLY THE CITY PUT PEOPLE ALL OVER DEPENDING ON WHERE THEIR PAY WAS, SO THERE WAS NO SYMMETRY AND ASSIGNMENTS OF PAY FOR INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEES DOING THE SAME JOB.
SO THAT'S WHAT REALLY WE'RE GAINING FROM THIS CURRENT STUDY.
BUT THE WAY THAT THEY WENT OUT AND LOOKED AT WHAT JOBS OR TASKS ARE CHALLENGED AND COMPETITIVE LOCALLY VERSUS REGIONALLY VERSUS NATIONALLY, IS HELPFUL TO US BECAUSE THAT'S BEEN OUR COMPETITION.
EVEN AS LATE AS THIS WEEK, WE'VE HAD PEOPLE APPLY FOR A JOB AND THEN WHEN THEY TALKED TO US, I SAID, WELL, YEAH, NO.
PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF OUR RETIREMENT SYSTEM [OVERLAPPING] FOR THE LAST MINUTE BECAUSE OF TEAM HIRES.
>> HOW DOES IT PLAY IN WITH WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR WITH INCREASING THE MINIMUM TO $15 AN HOUR? [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT WORKED WELL. WHAT WE DID WAS WHEN THE $15 AN HOUR PAY WAS INTRODUCED, THOSE EMPLOYEES BELOW $15 AN HOUR JUST MOVED UP TO $15 WITHIN THEIR CURRENT PAY BAND, AND TO MAKE AN EQUITABLE GOING FORWARD, WE CREATED A NEW PAY BAND THAT STARTED AT $15 AN HOUR, SINCE WE DIDN'T EVEN OFFER ONE BELOW THAT.
THEN WE'RE KEEPING THOSE PEOPLE AT THE SAME POINT WITHIN THEIR PAY RANGE WHERE THEY WERE UNDER THE NEW PAY STRUCTURE.
>> SO ARE WE GOING TO RECEIVE A COPY OF THIS STUDY?
>> THEY'RE STILL BEING FINE-TUNED, THEY'RE IN THE BENEFITS SECTION OF IT NOW.
TRYING TO COMPARE OUR SICK LEAVE, OUR VACATION LEAVE, OUR RETIREMENT AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WE OFFER COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES.
IT'S A LONG EXTENSIVE PROCESS, IT TRULY IS.
LET'S LET MIKE FINISH HIS PRESENTATION.
KEEP NOTE OF YOUR QUESTIONS AND WE'LL COME BACK TO THEM HERE.
>> JUST ANOTHER POINTER TO WHAT THE PROPOSED BUDGET DOES INCLUDE.
IN JUNE, COUNCIL APPROVED AN INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FROM $5,000 TO $60,000, BASED ON THE INFORMATION WE'VE RECEIVED FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT THAT'S BEEN APPLIED, THEY SAY THE SAME SORT OF BROAD-BASED EFFECT THAT WE EXPECTED TO THE EXTENT THAT TAX RATE BASICALLY FOR A HOMESTEADED PROPERTY WILL OFFSET THE 10 PERCENT INCREASE THAT'S THE MAXIMUM UNDER THE LAW FOR ASSESSED VALUE IN A GIVEN YEAR AND IT'S GOING TO ENSURE THAT ANYBODY WITH A HOMESTEAD [NOISE] WITH A TAX BILL THAT'S LESS THAN LAST YEAR.
IN SOME CASES NOT AS MUCH, BUT ON THE LOWER END OF THE HOMEOWNERS, IT'S MORE SUBSTANTIAL.
THE OTHER THING IS AND I WOULD POINT YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS SCHEDULE, WHICH I EMAILED OUT A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, DIDN'T INCLUDE IT IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
I DIDN'T GET THE TIME TO DO IT.
SO THIS IS THE BUDGET WE'VE HAD IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
I JUST WANTED TO SHOW WHERE OUR DISCRETIONARY REVENUE ALLOCATIONS HAVE GONE SINCE JULY 2017, GENERAL FUND REVENUE HAS BROUGHT UP 19.1 BILLION, AND IN DEFINING ORDER OF AMOUNT, YOU CAN SEE THE CATEGORIES THAT HAVE RECEIVED THE BENEFIT OF THOSE REVENUE ALLOCATIONS AND ITS HEALTH BENEFITS, POLICE PAY, INCREASE AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE SET ASIDE IN FIRE PAY AND NOW CIVILIAN PAY AS WELL AS THE POLICE PENSION CONTRIBUTION RAISE.
SO WE HAVEN'T JUST SAT IDLY AND LET THE COST CREEP AHEAD OF REVENUES WHICH WE'VE ADDRESSED THE HIGH-PRIORITY ITEMS. WHAT REMAINS IS A VARIETY OF CATEGORIES THAT ARE EITHER MANDATORY OR A PART OF OUR BASIC FISCAL STRUCTURE.
I'VE PROVIDED THAT AS INFORMATION TO THE COUNCIL.
THE OTHER THING IS I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO REVIEW JUST [NOISE] A FAIR EYE LEVEL ON THIRD PAGE WITH THE HIGHLIGHTED SECTIONS, WHICH I HAPPENED WITH GENERAL FUND BALANCE OF 6TH, 2015.
IN 2015 WE HAD A FUND BALANCE AND SET TO GO 148 DAYS OF OPERATIONS IN 2016 THAT GREW TO 154.
THE REASON FOR THAT WAS WE CLOSED TOWARDS '11 AND '16 AND IN '17,
[01:40:04]
REALLOCATED IT FROM FUND BALANCE TO SET UP THE PENSION REFORM SPECIAL FUND.THAT WAS THE REASON THAT THE FUND BALANCE DIPPED TO THE LOW LEVEL AND THE LOW AMOUNT AT THAT POINT.
TWO YEARS LATER, WE PAID SIX MILLION OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE CDM SETTLEMENT THAT I THINK MOST OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH.
THAT WAS A $13 MILLION SETTLEMENT.
WE DID NOT HAVE TO FINANCE IT OVER TIME OR HAVE ANY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH CDM TO MAKE PAYMENT OVER TIME, BUT IT DID DRAW OUR GENERAL FUND BALANCE DOWN.
IF YOU LOOK AT 2021 AND 2022, WHERE I'VE GOT IT HIGHLIGHTED, THE MAJOR REASONS FOR THE FUND BALANCE BEING WHERE IT IS TODAY, AS OPPOSED TO WHERE IT WAS AFTER THE CDM SUIT IN '19, OUR SALES TAX PERFORMANCE, WHICH WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A NUMBER OF TIMES IN HERE OVER THE TWO YEARS, IT SAYS SALES TAX OVER BUDGET HAS BEEN ABOUT SIX MILLION DOLLARS AND WE'VE RECEIVED REIMBURSEMENT FOR FEMA ELIGIBLE PANDEMIC AND HURRICANE EXPENSES IN THE AMOUNT OF 1.56 MILLION, SO 7.6 MILLION.
TODAY THE FUND BALANCE IS ABOUT EIGHT MILLION HIGHER THAN IT WAS AT ITS LOW POINT AT 24.7 MILLION COMPARED TO 16.6.
WITHOUT ONE FALSE, AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL THE FEMA REIMBURSEMENT A WINDFALL BECAUSE WE WERE SPENDING BUDGETED DOLLARS ON THE PANDEMIC RESPONSE AND ON THE HURRICANE EXPENSES, FUND BALANCE WOULD BE WHERE IT WAS BEFORE.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE'VE HAD A STEADY CLIMB FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT.
THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER ACTIVITY TAKING PLACE TO PRODUCE THESE FUND BALANCES AND THEY'RE ALL DOCUMENTED IN OUR FOURTH-QUARTER REPORTS THAT YOU COULD CALL UP FROM THE FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY SECTION ON THE WEB PAGE, BUT THAT LONG AND SHORT OF IT IS THE REASON OUR FUND BALANCE HAS JUMPED UP SO MUCH IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.
>> CAN I ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THAT?
>> WITH THAT, I'LL ANSWER QUESTIONS.
>> ANYTHING ELSE, MIKE, YOU WANT TO GO OVER?
>> NO, I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO COUNCIL'S QUESTIONS.
>> WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO GET THIS SHEET, WHICH IS A VERY INFORMATIVE SHEET, BACK TO 2009? BECAUSE BETWEEN 2009 AND 2010, WE HAD A DROP IN SALES TAX SINCE WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT HOW THERE COULD BE A POTENTIAL DROP IN SALES TAX.
IS THAT DIFFICULT TO DO? IF IT IS, BUT IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE BALANCE.
>> I WILL TELL YOU THAT WITHOUT THE QUARTERLY REPORTING SYSTEM WE PUT IN PLACE IN '14, IT IS A CHALLENGE. NOW, IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH SALES TAX, AFTER, I CAN TALK ABOUT THAT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] HOW MUCH THAT AFFECTED THE GENERAL FUND?
>> WELL, OF COURSE, ALL THE SALES TAX THAT THE CITY RETAINS OUTSIDE OF WHAT THE IDC GETS, GOES TO THE GENERAL FUND.
WHAT WE'VE SEEN ALONG THE GULF COAST IS WHENEVER THERE'S A HURRICANE, THERE'S A HURRICANE BONUS AS PEOPLE REBUILD THEIR HOMES IN ONE AREA AND THEN WHEN THAT'S FINISHED, THE BOTTOM DROPS OUT.
BOTH SALES TAX AND PROPERTY TAX DID THAT AFTER IKE.
SALES TAX I WANT TO SAY WAS ABOUT 15 PERCENT.
I SUSPECT WE'D BE LOOKING AT SOMETHING SIMILAR AS MUCH THE LOWER LEVEL OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY THAT COMES AFTER A HURRICANE.
WE DID LOSE SOME POPULATION WITH IKE, BUT IT'S ALSO THE [NOISE] END OF THAT REBUILDING BOOM THAT YOU GET.
>> MIKE, YOU CAN SEE THAT GRAPH ON CW-19 SHOWS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT BUDGET SUMMARY? FROM THE RIGHT.
>> YES, THAT IS, COUNSELOR. THIS IS A GRAPH THAT SHOWS THE DROP-OFF FROM 2009-2010 IN THE SALES TAX.
THE LITTLE SQUARES ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ACTUAL REVENUE RECEIVED THAT YEAR.
[01:45:08]
WITHOUT THE NUMBERS BEING LABELED, YOU CAN STILL SEE THE EFFECT.>> WHAT ARE WE ESTIMATING FOR SALES TAX THIS YEAR?
>> WE WERE ESTIMATING 18.2 MILLION.
THE ESTIMATE WE HAVE FOR THE BUDGET IS 21.7.
I THINK WE'RE STILL PRETTY MUCH ON TRACK.
IT'S A NUMBER BETWEEN THAT AND 22 MILLION.
>> WE'RE ESTIMATING IN THE '23 BUDGET WOULD BE AT 18.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I'M SORRY, BUT I THOUGHT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE '22 BUDGET.
>> IN THE '22 BUDGET, OUR SALES TAXES, WE'VE RECEIVED 28,000?
>> IN OUR BUDGET, IT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE IN '22?
>> WELL, YES, NOW. I AM PRESENTING THAT.
>> I CAN RELATE TO OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET THAT WAS 18.2 FOR THE CURRENT YEAR.
WE'RE TAKING THE ESTIMATE OF SALES TAX THAT WE'RE SAYING IS GOING TO COME IN THIS YEAR AND USING THAT AS THE BUDGETED NUMBER FOR '23.
>> 21.7, WHICH I WOULD SAY IS PROBABLY CONSERVATIVE AND I LIKE THAT YOU'RE CONSERVATIVE.
>> I HOPE THAT IT DOESN'T DROP.
>> YOU'D HAVE TO LOOK AT INFLATION.
THAT'S GOING TO DRIVE UP SALES TAX.
YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT NEW CONSTRUCTION THAT IS GOING ON.
WE HAVE A LOT OF NEW CONSTRUCTION THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THIS UPCOMING YEAR.
>> [OVERLAPPING] YOU'RE ESTIMATING FOR '23, MIKE.
>> THE SAME AMOUNT THAT WE'RE ESTIMATING WE'RE GOING TO COLLECT THIS YEAR.
>> WE'VE RAISED 28.9333, ALMOST 29.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S I DID SAY FOR GENERAL FUND, THE DISCUSSION
>> [OVERLAPPING] IF WE TAKE THE IDC OUT, THAT'S ROUGHLY SIX MILLION?
>> [OVERLAPPING] IT WOULD BE SEVEN MILLION.
>> MIKE, LET ME ASK YOU THIS, OR BRIAN.
IS THERE ANY OUTSTANDING COMMITMENTS THAT WE HAVE IN YOUR MIND OUT THERE THAT WE HAVEN'T SATISFIED TO FEMA OR ANYTHING ELSE?
>> [OVERLAPPING] NOT TO FEMA, BUT WE DO HAVE UNFUNDED LIABILITY ON ALL PENSIONS AS WELL AS THE HEALTH FUND PLAN.
>> HOW MUCH ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
>> GOSH, THAT'S IN THE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
>> THE HEALTH FUND, WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT MUCH IN HERE IS A $14 MILLION UNFUNDED LIABILITY FOR RETIREES.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S PRIMARILY WHO RETIREES ARE.
>> THAT'S JUST THE UNFUNDED LIABILITY FOR RETIREES.
>> HOW ARE YOU ACCOMMODATING THAT IN THE BUDGET?
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE ARE TRYING TO STAY UP WITH CURRENT CLAIMS.
>> YEAH. WE'LL TRY TO MANAGE THE FUND AS BEST WE CAN AND ALLOW IT TO BUILD UP AS BEST WE CAN.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO PROPOSE TO YOU GUYS THIS YEAR IS THAT EXTRA SIX DAYS IN THE FUND BALANCE, WE APPLY THAT TO THAT HEALTH CARE LIABILITY.
>> TALKED ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT ON THIS SHEET.
THAT SHEET WAS PASSED OUT, CORRECT?
>> I DON'T THINK IT HAS A BENEFIT. TEDDY, YOU WANT TO TAKE IT?
>> WE'VE RUN THAT FOR, ESSENTIALLY, PERSPECTIVE.
>> I CAN GO THROUGH SOME OF THE DETAILS ON THAT SHEET.
>> I SAT DOWN WITH MIKE AND DAN AND BRIAN AND BASICALLY, I SAID THIS LAST YEAR, THAT I WANT TO TRY TO MOVE US TOWARDS A NO-NET REVENUE RATE.
WHAT I'VE LAID OUT HERE IS SOMEWHAT OF A REDUCTION IN THE RATE THIS YEAR THAT WOULD TAKE $500,000 OFF OF THE RATE.
THEN WHAT'S IN THIS DRAFT HERE IS NOT REALLY WHAT MY GOAL WOULD BE,
[01:50:03]
BUT MY GOAL WOULD BE TO TAKE $500,000 OFF OF THIS YEAR, TO CUT IT IN HALF NEXT YEAR, AND BY YEAR 3, BE AT A NO-NET REVENUE RATE.TO GET THERE, I WOULD LIKE TO GO AFTER FUNDS FROM ADDITIONAL REVENUE STREAMS SUCH AS PARK BOARD, WOS BOARD, AND IN A COUPLE OF OTHER SOURCES THAT WE CAN LOOK AT TO REDUCE THAT BASICALLY $2.5 MILLION THAT TAKES US UP TO THAT THREE-AND-A-HALF PERCENT RATE CAP.
>> I'D LIKE TO GET JOEL'S INPUT ON THAT.
MY FEELING IS WE CONTINUE, WE'VE REDUCED HIS RATE EACH YEAR AND WE'VE SHIPPED A LOT OF THAT BURDEN ONTO OUR BUSINESS OWNERS AND OUR NON-HOMESTEAD PROPERTY OWNERS THAT THEY ARE PAYING INCREASED TAXES EACH YEAR, AND THEY'RE DOING THAT AT THE COST OF OUR TOURIST INDUSTRY IN MY OPINION.
WE HAVE AN ISLAND OF 50,000 PEOPLE.
WE HAVE A PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET THAT KEEPS 150,000 PEOPLE A DAY SAFE, AND WE NEED TO SHIFT THAT BURDEN FROM OUR TAXPAYERS TO OUR TOURS.
I THINK WE CAN GO AFTER SOME OTHER REVENUE STREAMS SO OUR PROPERTY OWNERS HERE DON'T HAVE THAT BURDEN.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID DISCUSS TOO WAS WE HAVE 126 DAY OF OPERATING [NOISE] RESERVE FUNDS AND THAT WE WOULD KEEP THAT AT 120 DAYS AND STAFF HAS RECOMMENDED THAT WE USE THAT MONEY TO BUY DOWN THIS UNFUNDED LIABILITY, MAINLY IN OUR HEALTH-
>> THE PENSIONS ARE ON. WE'VE GOT THOSE ON 30-YEAR LOCKED PLANS UNLESS WE WANT TO ACCELERATE THAT.
WE'VE GOT THE POLICE THERE SURVEYING PLANS IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE.
WE'RE WORKING ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GETTING THERE.
HOPEFULLY THOSE WILL RECTIFY THEMSELVES OVER TIME, ALTHOUGH [NOISE] THEY'RE GOING TO REQUIRE INCREASED COSTS FROM US IN FUTURE YEARS TO DO THAT.
BUT THE UNFUNDED HEALTH LIABILITIES, THE BIGGEST ONE HANGING OVER OUR HEADS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] LAST YEAR I SAID I'D LIKE TO LOOK AT REDUCING OUR TAX RATE, GETTING CLOSER TO THE NEW REVENUE RATE, BUT APPARENTLY, I DIDN'T GET ENOUGH SUPPORT IN THE FORM OF A VOTE TO DIRECT STAFF IN THAT DIRECTION.
I WOULD LIKE TO GET YOU-ALL'S OPINION ON WHAT YOU ALL LIKE TO DO GOING FORWARD, AND SO WE CAN GIVE STAFF A CLEAR DIRECTION ON WHERE WE WANT TO HEAD IN THE FUTURE WITH THE BUDGET AND WITH THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN MY GOAL TO GET TO A NEW NET REVENUE WITHOUT CUTTING SERVICES THAN ASIDE FROM THE AREAS THAT YOU MENTIONED.
I MEAN, ONE IF WE DID JUST A DOLLAR A CAR FOR PORT AS WELL AS EVERYONE WHO PARKS CARS, THAT WOULD BE SUBSTANTIAL.
BUT IF WE JUST TOOK THE RENTAL FEE, WHICH EVERYONE RENEWS ON DECEMBER 31ST AND WE INCREASE THAT TO 50, THAT'D BE A MILLION DOLLARS, WHICH WOULD GIVE US THE ABILITY TO LOWER.
BUT IF WE INCREASE THAT EVEN MORE, YOU JUST [INAUDIBLE] ON MULTIPLY.
I ALSO AGREE THAT THE SERVICES, AS WE WERE DISCUSSING TODAY, SUNNY BEACHES, A PERFECT EXAMPLE, WE HAVE TO HAVE EXTRA POLICE PATROLS OUT THERE, BUT REGENERATE NO REVENUE FROM THAT AREA.
I KNOW WHAT WAS SAID IN THE LAST MEETING AS WELL AS THE MEETING BEFORE THAT IF WE CHANGE THESE OR THINGS THAT CAN AFFECT THIS BUDGET, AND I WOULD BEG TO DIFFER AND GO BACK TO MY ORIGINAL WHICH IS JUST THE RENTAL RATE, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD COME IN ON DECEMBER 31ST BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE TO RENEW BY DECEMBER 31ST.
THAT COULD BE COUNTED IN THIS BUDGET.
I'M BEHIND YOUR MULTIPLE SUGGESTIONS.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THE HEADING OF THIS IS PRESENT THE FINAL '23 PROPOSED GENERAL FUND BUDGET, BUT THE FOLLOWING PROPOSALS WE NEED TO REDUCE OVERALL PROPERTY TAX.
I WOULD GO A STEP FURTHER THAN THAT AND HAVE STAFF LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE REVENUE STREAMS,
[01:55:03]
BRING THOSE BACK TO US.THAT CAN ALTER OR AFFECT OUR TAX RATE, REDUCING IT, WHETHER THAT'D BE SHORT-TERM RENTAL RATES, WHETHER THAT'D BE [INAUDIBLE] FUNDS FOR PARKING OR WHATEVER WE CAN ESTABLISH THERE, LOOK AT PARK BOARD, SEE WHERE WE CAN REDUCE COSTS ON OUR END BY USING SOME OF THE REVENUE STREAMS THAT COME IN THROUGH THEM, SO ABSOLUTELY.
>> LET'S OPEN THE DISCUSSION NOW. WILLIAM?
>> I NOTICED ON OUR BUDGET WATER AND SEWAGE MAKES UP A PRETTY BIG REVENUE SOURCE FOR THE CITY.
LOOKING AT THE HOMESTEAD RATE, HOW YOU MENTIONED AS ONE OF THOSE SUGGESTIONS TO OFFSET THE COSTS FOR RESIDENTS, NON-HOMESTEAD MOST SHORT-TERM RENTAL SECOND HOMEOWNERS, WHAT DIFFERENCE WOULD THAT MAKE IF YOU WERE TO?
>> WE'RE LOOKING. WE HAVE OUR RATE CONSULTANTS RIGHT NOW.
SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO BRING TO YOU AFTER THE FIRST YEAR BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF PROJECTS IN THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT THAT WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE.
BUT WE'RE TRYING TO DO THAT IN A WAY THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY PASS THOSE COSTS ON TO THE HOMESTEADED PROPERTY OWNERS.
THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE ROUTINELY USE THEIR WATER ON A REGULAR BASIS LIKE THAT AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM ON THAT TO TRY TO COME UP WITH A SCHEME THAT HASN'T BEEN DONE IN OUR HISTORY, SO IT'S A NEW THING, WE'RE WORKING ON A SOLUTION FOR THAT TOO.
I'M NOT SAYING 100 PERCENT WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO TRY.
WE CAN SQUEEZE EVERY PENNY ON A TOURIST AND IT HELPS TO ALLEVIATE IT ON THE HOMEOWNER.
>> IT'S A FINE LINE. YOU DON'T WANT TO KILL THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGG.
BUT THEN BY THE SAME TOKEN, WE'VE HIT THE WALL WITH WHAT WE CAN CHARGE THE 50,000 PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE TO SUBSIDIZE ALL THE PEOPLE.
THAT'S NOT JUST SHORT-TERM RENTALS GUYS.
THAT'S SECOND HOMEOWNERS, THAT'S LONGER TERM RENTALS THAT DON'T NECESSARILY OWN PROPERTY, BUT ARE SIX MONTHS.
>> HOW CAN WE, GIVEN STAFF DIRECTION, [INAUDIBLE] THINGS I PRESENTED OR [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'RE GOING TO BRING. WE'RE WORKING ON THIS.
>> STAFF IS ALREADY WORKING TO BRING BACK.
WE GAVE DIRECTION ON THOSE 11 POINTS OR 12 POINTS TO BRING BACK.
>> YEAH. WE ARE. BUT THE PROBLEM WITH IT IS THAT THOSE DON'T JUST HAPPEN LIKE THAT.
WE GOT TO SIT DOWN WITH THE PARK BOARD.
WE HAVE TO NEGOTIATE WITH OURSELVES OR WE HAVE TO NEGOTIATE THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THEM WHERE ALL THIS IS CONTAINED AND WE HAVE TO SIT DOWN WITH THE WARS BOARD, AND I WANT TO CLARIFY SOMETHING BECAUSE THE STATEMENT WAS MADE IN THE ARTICLE IN THE PAPER, WE'RE NOT ASKING TO TAKE ANY MONEY AWAY PARKING WISE FROM THE PORT.
WHAT WE'RE ASKING TO DO IS TO ASSIGN A FEE THAT WOULD BE COLLECTED.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. [OVERLAPPING] THIS WOULD NOT HINDER ANY FUTURE REVENUE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PORT.
NOW IF YOU GUYS WANT TO GET INTO DISCUSSING HERE A PILOT, WELL, YEAH, THAT CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON HIM. WE CERTAINLY [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT WON'T TAKE PLACE UNTIL THE ELECTION [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT'S CORRECT. THAT WOULD BE CHARTED.
THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT TAKE TIME.
NOBODY ON STAFF DISAGREES WITH ANYTHING COUNCIL MEMBER LISTOWSKI HAS PROPOSED.
>> SOME OF THOSE ARE HARD CHARGE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S REALLY A TIMING ISSUE.
I'VE NEVER IN ALL MY 30 YEARS OF DOING THIS EVER PLUGGED A NUMBER AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WANTING TO DO HERE.
I WILL TELL YOU HISTORICALLY THE CITY DID THAT.
THERE WERE SEVERAL YEARS IN A ROW.
[LAUGHTER] THAT DOES NOT END WELL SOMETIMES.
I FEEL FAIRLY CONFIDENT THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH THIS NUMBER.
BUT IT ALSO IS GOING TO CAUSE SOME MUSTERING OF COURAGE AMONGST YOU GUYS BECAUSE IT'S REALLY EASY FOR US TO SIT AROUND THIS TABLE AND THINK HOW EASY IT IS FOR THE PORT TO SPEND MONEY HERE, AND THE PARK BOARD TO SPEND MONEY THERE, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE DIFFERING OPINIONS AND THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO DISCUSS IT.
IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF POLITICAL COURAGE FROM YOU GUYS TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THAT AND IT CERTAINLY SOUNDS LIKE COMMISSIONER LISTOWSKI IS READY TO GO AND COMMISSIONER ROBS.
SORRY, YOU'RE ALL GOING TO PARKING IN THE BACK.
COUNCIL MEMBERS LISTOWSKI AND ROB [OVERLAPPING] ARE WILLING TO DO THAT.
IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD FOR US TO DO IT THIS WAY, I WOULD TELL YOU, IT'S PROBABLY NOT THE WAY I WOULD DO IT JUST BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE PLUGGING NUMBERS, BUT IS IT DOABLE? ABSOLUTELY.
>> LET ME SECOND. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IF I COULD JUST POINT OUT ONE THING THOUGH, ANYTHING WE DO WITH THE WATER AND SEWER FUND IS GOING TO STAY IN THE WATER AND SEWER FUND.
>> BUT I THINK YOU MADE THE POINT THAT THERE ARE QUITE A FEW OPERATIONAL NEEDS THERE IN TERMS OF THE WATER SUPPLY AND THE AGING SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM.
>> I CAN TELL YOU IF YOU GO BACK MANY YEARS, OUT OF PITY, I THINK I'VE DEVELOPED A VERY GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH A FORMER CITY MANAGER WHO I SEE ON SUNDAYS, BUT BACK IN THE DAY, THEY WOULD HAVE TO BORROW MONEY IN THE GENERAL FUND FROM THESE ENTERPRISE FUNDS IN ORDER TO KEEP THE GENERAL FUND AFLOAT.
[02:00:03]
WE HAVE FIXED THAT PROBLEM.>> MAUREEN WANTS TO SPEAK, BUT LET'S GET MORE THOUGHTS BEFORE WE JUMP OVER THAT.
>> JUST TO COMMENT ON WHAT BRIAN SAYS.
WITH THIS $500,000 I'M ASKING FOR TO REDUCE THE TAX RATE, I THINK IT'S A PRETTY LOW BAR.
I THINK BRIAN FEELS THAT HE'S ABLE TO COME UP WITH THAT REVENUE STREAM IN THE NEXT YEAR TO SATISFY THIS BUDGET.
EVEN THOUGH WE'RE PLUGGING THIS NUMBER, I JUST WANT A SIGN TO SHOW THAT THAT IS THE ROUTE WE'RE GOING, AND A CLEAR ENOUGH SIGN BECAUSE APPARENTLY I WASN'T CLEAR ENOUGH LAST BUDGET [LAUGHTER] TO SHOW THAT WE ARE ON THIS TRACK TO REDUCE OUR TAX RATE.
>> AGAIN, MIKE DOES A FANTASTIC JOB IN UPDATING YOU GUYS QUARTERLY, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE STARTED WHEN MIKE GOT HERE.
BECAUSE IF YOU WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR, IT'S TOO LATE.
HAY IS IN THE BARN. WE'LL MONITOR QUARTERLY AND IF WE GET TO MID-YEAR AND WE'RE NOT MAKING THESE REVENUE TARGETS, AND COUNCIL WASN'T ABLE TO STRIKE A DEAL OR COME UP WITH THESE THINGS, WELL, THEN I'LL MAKE THE APPROPRIATE ADJUSTMENTS IN STAFF AND SERVICES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BALANCE THE BUDGET.
>> THE 500,000 THAT WOULD LOWER THE RATE. HOW MUCH MORE?
>> IT WOULD GO [OVERLAPPING] YOU'LL HAVE SIX. [OVERLAPPING]
>> FROM $0.45 TO 44.4 PERCENT.
>> IT'S A GOOD POINT. [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING]
>> EIGHT DOLLARS A YEARS WOULD GO TO [INAUDIBLE].
>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT ISLAND-WIDE, ON THE ONE HAND WE'RE HELPING SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNERS BY DOING THIS.
BUT ON THE OTHER HAND WE'RE HELPING BUSINESS, WE'RE HELPING OUR DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES, OUR SEAWALL BUSINESSES, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PAYING THESE RATES.
BECAUSE WHEN WE SHIFT THE BURDEN OFF OF THE HOMESTEAD TAXPAYER, WHICH I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF DOING, SOMEBODY'S GOT TO PICK UP THE SLACK AND THAT SLACK IS BUSINESS PEOPLE, SECOND HOMEOWNERS, IS PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT HOMESTEADING FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, PEOPLE UNDER 65 WHO PAY SOME OF THAT, SOME OF YOUR RESTAURANTS.
PICK UP THAT COST. YOUR HOTELS, PICK UP THAT COST.
YOUR ISLAND BUSINESSES PICK UP THE COST.
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU'RE COLLECTING DOESN'T CHANGE.
>> I'M SORRY, I HAD MY HAND UP FOR FIVE TIMES.
>> IF YOU LOOK AT FEES, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T AFFECT ANYONE, BUT TOURISTS.
IF YOU LOOK AT RENTAL FEES, IF YOU LOOK AT COMMERCIAL GOLF CART FEES, IF YOU LOOK AT SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE BY THE END OF THIS CALENDAR OF YEAR, SIGNIFICANTLY, WE COULD REDUCE THE TAX RATE EVEN LOWER.
IT IS AFFECTING IF YOU TAKE OFF GUARDS, THAT WOULD AFFECT SOME BUSINESS AND YES, IT WOULD AFFECT THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL BUSINESS, BUT THEY'RE MAKING SUBSTANTIAL INCOMES.
THEY'RE TAXING THE CITY WITH OUR SERVICES, SUCH AS TRASH, SUCH AS OUR ROADS, SUCH AS ALL THE MANY THINGS THAT COME ALONG WITH HAVING SO MANY TOURISTS THAT WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE IN SOME WAYS.
THAT WOULD BE A WAY THAT WE COULD REDUCE THE TAX BURDEN ON OUR CITIZENS AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER YEAR.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S EASY TO CALCULATE.
>> WELL, IT WILL BE EASY TO CALCULATE, PERHAPS PUT IT BACK TO BRIAN'S POINT.
THIS BODY HAS TO HAVE THE WILL TO DO THAT WHEN THE TIME COMES.
AND I DON'T MEAN JUST RAISE RATES ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS, BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO GO NEGOTIATE WITH THE PORT, WE'RE GOING TO GO NEGOTIATE WITH THE PORT.
THIS BODY HAS TO HAVE A WILL TO CARRY THROUGH ON THAT.
OTHERWISE YOU'RE DIGGING A HOLE AND YOU WILL NEVER GET OUT OF IT.
IF YOU SAY, GO FIND ME A MILLION DOLLARS; NOT A MILLION DOLLARS IN GOLF CARTS.
>> I AGREE. I'M A WILLING BODY.
AND AGAIN, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PARKING THING, WE'RE TALKING CROSS BOARD, WE PROBABLY HAVE THE LOWEST CITY RATES ON SERVICES OUTSIDE SERVICES.
IF YOU GO TO AUSTIN AND YOU RENT A CAR THERE'S BOOM, BOOM.
>> WE DON'T WANT TO BE AUSTIN; I'LL SAY THAT.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU I AGREE WITH YOU.
>> WE'RE THAT ON ALL OF OUR FEES.
IT'S JUST THAT WE'VE HIT THE WALL GUYS AND WE CAN'T KEEP DOING THIS AND STAY HEALTHY.
ALSO KEEP IN MIND THAT IF YOU RAISE A MILLION DOLLARS,
[02:05:02]
IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO CUT A MILLION DOLLARS NEXT YEAR BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE INCREASED COST.BUT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS RAISE ENOUGH MONEY TO OFFSET YOUR FUTURE COSTS AND CONTINUED LIKE JOHN PAUL WANTS TO AND I AGREE WITH YOUR TACT.
DO YOU WANT TO START RAMPING IT DOWN? I THINK WE'LL GET THERE. I'M LIKE A DOG ON A BONE YOU TELL ME TO GO GET IT I'M GOING TO GO GET IT BUT YOU GO IT. [LAUGHTER]
>> JUST THE PARKING LINE ALONE, WE KNOW WE HAVE A NEW TERMINAL IN. POSSIBLY ONE AFTER THAT, IT'S GOING TO INCREASE PARKING, ONE JUST AS COVID GOES FURTHER AWAY, MORE PEOPLE WILL BE CRUISING, JUST THAT CROSS BOARD.
>> WELL, I DON'T DISAGREE WITH ANYTHING.
LIKE I SAID, IT'S REALLY ALL ABOUT TIMING AND BUDGET PHILOSOPHY.
>> I WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT TOO.
I DON'T THINK THAT I MAY BE WRONG, SO COUNCIL, PLEASE CORRECT ME.
I DON T THINK THERE'S JUST A FEW COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WANT TO PUT THE BURDEN ON OUR VISITORS AND THOSE THAT USE OUR SERVICES RATHER THAN OUR RESIDENTS, I THINK ALL OF US FEEL THAT WAY.
I THINK SECONDLY, IF WE CAN GET THIS DOWN TO THE NODE OF REVENUE RATE, I THINK WE ALL WANT TO DO THAT.
WE LIVE HERE AND WE WANT TO DO THAT AND WE WANT TO DO IT FOR OURSELVES AND FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
THE KEY IS, IN MY MIND, IS THE PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH THIS AND JOHN HAS BEEN VERY PATIENT. THE LAST TWO YEARS.
HE'S BEEN WANTING TO DO THAT AND I TAKE MY HAT OFF TO HIM.
[OVERLAPPING] WE NEED TO, AS I MADE A STATEMENT AT OUR WORKSHOP NOT TOO LONG AGO, WE NEED TO FORMALIZE THE PROCESS THAT WE LOCK THIS IN, THAT WE'RE GOING TO START REDUCING THIS RATE.
THE KEY IS HOW WE GO ABOUT THAT.
DO WE SET UP A $500,000 AMOUNT, PLUG A NUMBER IN THERE? I THINK WE'LL REACH THAT. I THINK JOHN'S RIGHT.
I THINK THAT'S A VERY LOW BAR ON THAT AND I AGREE WITH THAT.
I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ON THE PROCESS AND SETTING A PRECEDENT ON DOING IT THIS WAY.
I JUST AM A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
I'M NOT SAYING I'M AGAINST IT, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANOTHER WAY TO FORMALIZE THIS TO LOCK IN FOR '23 WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO HERE BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT A LOT MORE THAN 500,000, JOHN.
I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT MILLION AND A HALF PERSONALLY.
>> WELL, BUT JUST REMEMBER TOO THOUGH, YOU'RE GOING TO GET THAT ONE BUMP WE NEED TO CONCLUDE IF WE REALLY GO AT THAT AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO A REDUCTION BUT YOU REDUCE DOWN SO YOU'RE DOING THAT NEW NET AND YOU GET TO THAT POINT THAT YOU ALL WANT TO BE BUT YOU HAVEN'T SOLVED THE REAL ISSUE OF YOUR PUBLIC SAFETY COSTS, WHICH CONTINUES TO ESCALATE SO WE HAVE TO CONTINUALLY WORK ON REVENUES.
MIKE, IT'S REALLY EASY TO BUDGET EXPENSES AROUND HERE GUYS. THEY'RE FIXED. THEY RECUR AND WE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE.
WORKING NET REVENUE IS THE HARDEST PART OF THIS IN THOSE ESTIMATES.
A LOT OF CITIES HAVE GOTTEN IN TROUBLE OVER THE YEARS BY OVERESTIMATING SALES TAX OR BY PLUGGING POTENTIAL REVENUE OR SALE OF ASSETS AND ALL THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
I'M ALWAYS VERY CONSERVATIVE ON THAT.
IT'S GOT US WHERE WE ARE TODAY I THINK BUT IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT ONCE WE DO THIS, IT ISN'T A SET IT AND FORGET IT TYPE THING, GUYS.
IF WE INCREASE REVENUES AND REDUCE THE TAX RATE IN YEARS TWO AND THREE, LIKE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REMAIN VERY VIGILANT IN CONTINUING TO GO AFTER THESE REVENUES AND ALSO TO ENHANCE THOSE REVENUES.
JUST MAKE SURE IF YOU'RE HANGING YOUR HAT ON TOURISM REVENUES FOR THIS, THEN YOU'RE IN THE BUILDING TOURISM MODE, AND WHICH IS GOOD, ALL GREAT BUT THAT MAY ALSO NOT BE WHAT'S YOUR RESIDENTS WANT EITHER.
>> YOU'RE ALSO PRAYING THERE'S NO STORM.
>> WELL, THAT'S TRUE BUT THAT'S I FEEL LIKE.
>> WELL, I KNOW [LAUGHTER] WHEN YOU WHEN YOU HANG YOUR FINANCIAL HAT ON IT.
>> YEAH. WELL, TWO YEARS AGO I WOULD HAVE PROBABLY PUT UP A LOT MORE OF AN ARGUMENT ABOUT THIS, BUT WE HAVE 120 DAYS IN THE BANK, WHICH IS WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
WE'RE ACTUALLY ATTACKING SOME OF OUR UNFUNDED LIABILITIES.
WE'RE ALSO STEMMING THOSE UNFUNDED LIABILITIES FROM GROWING WITH SOME OF OUR RATE ADJUSTMENTS AND THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN. I WILL TELL YOU AT SOME POINT, GUYS, IN FUTURE YEARS WE'RE GOING TO BE COMING TO THE EMPLOYEES FOR AN INCREASE.
THAT'S ONE OF THE AREAS THAT WE'VE TRIED VERY HARD NOT TO INCREASE EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS.
THAT THIS YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO GET A GOOD MARKET IN THAT ADJUSTMENT FOR THE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, ACTUALLY WE'RE GOING TO GET A COST OF LIVING COMPONENT TO IT AND THEN THERE'S A MARKET ADJUSTMENT COMPONENT TO IT.
WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT AND THEN IN FUTURE YEARS, IF WE'RE GOING TO BE COMPETITIVE IN THE MARKET WITH THE PAY, WE ALSO HAVE TO BE COMPETITIVE IN THE MARKET INTO WHAT IT COSTS TO PROVIDE HEALTH INSURANCE IN THE OTHER SECTORS THAT WE'RE COMPETING AGAINST.
SAY IF WE'RE PAYING LOWER BUT WE'RE CHEAPER, ON INSURANCE, THAT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS SAID.
[02:10:01]
BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO BE COMPETITIVE IN THIS AREA, WE HAVE TO BE COMPETITIVE IN THAT AREA AS WELL.JUST KNOW THAT THAT WILL BE FORTHCOMING PROBABLY IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET DISCUSSIONS.
>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET SOME MORE INPUT, MIKE.
>> I'M IN LINE WITH JOHN ON THAT I AGREE WITH HIS HANDOUT.
ALSO, MAYBE SHIFTING SOME OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES TO PARK'S BOARD ON 61ST STREET AND BROADWAY.
>> I'M IN FAVOR OF SHIFTING FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THOSE, BUT I THINK THE ACTUAL WORK PERFORMED NEEDS TO REMAIN WITH THE CITY STAFF BECAUSE THE PARK WOULD HAVE TO COMPLETELY FROM THE GROUND-UP CREATE.
>> IS THAT SOMETHING THAT COULD WORK?
>> IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ALREADY HAVE ON THE LIST OF THINGS TO DISCUSS IN THE INTERLOCAL I DON'T ENVISION THIS INTERLOCAL PROBABLY GETTING DONE UNTIL AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR.
>> BUT THEN THAT WOULD HELP THE FOLLOWING YEAR BECAUSE WE'RE REDUCING.
ALSO WAS TALKED ABOUT WAS NOT JUST BROADWAY AND 61ST, BUT ALSO 25TH STREET.
>> YEAH. THOSE ARE ALL ON THE TABLE TO DISCUSS WITH THEM.
I DON'T WANT TO GET OFF ON A TANGENT, BUT I JUST WANT TO MENTION IT GOES BACK TO THE EXPANDED USE OF HOT TAX.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO DRESS IN A STATE LEGISLATURE TO WRITE.
>> THEN ALSO AS WE'RE CREATING OUR TOURISM.
IT IS INCREASING OUR ASSETS AND UNIFYING BEACH AND DRIVING PEOPLE HERE TO BIG ATTRACTIONS.
IT ALL WORKS TOGETHER IN A THREE, FOUR YEAR PLAN.
>> I CAN TELL YOU HOW MY DOG ON A BONE WITH THIS, BUT JUST REMEMBER THAT WHEN MR. SHAWN AND MR. FLUKE COME OVER HERE, YOU ALL FORGET IT. LET'S SAY MR. FLUKE AND MR. SHAWN MRS TO MR. FLUKE. [LAUGHTER] BUT IT'S TYPICALLY THAT'S WHO WE'RE WORKING WITH ON THE YELLOWS.
SHARON, DID YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS AT ALL?
>> YES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR BULLET POINTS HERE, THAT GIVES A BENEFIT TO ALL OF US.
IT'S AN AWESOME PLAN WITH THE NUMBERS.
I THINK IT'S GREAT TO TRY TO FIND ANOTHER REMNANT SO ITS JUST I'M GOING TO SKIP IT.
>> I'M GOING TO REMIND YOU ALL WANT TO BRING IT TO YOU.
>> I'LL SAY BRIAN, THAT YOU HAVE SEEN US BECAUSE I THINK WE VOTED ON THIS BANANAS MEANS TO INCREASE THE SEWER TAP AND WATER TAP FEES.
I KNOW THAT DOESN'T AFFECT THE GENERAL FUND, BUT YOU NEEDED MORE MONEY TO FACILITATE THOSE SERVICES AND WE WERE BEHIND YOU TO DO THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO BE BEHIND YOU TO DO ARE THESE OTHER FEES.
THIS $500,000 I THINK WE'VE SHOWN THAT WE ARE WANTING TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION.
>> THE $500,000 IS JUST ON YOUR SIDE SHOWING US THAT WE'RE GOING TO START REDUCING OUR RATE.
MORE THAN THREE PERCENT DECREASING.
>> VERY GOOD DISCUSSION. THANK YOU, JOHN. I APPRECIATE IT.
LETS SHARE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION.
WITH MY IF WE DON'T, WE NEED TO MOVE ON.
WE'RE LIKE ANY THOUGHTS YOU HAVE, SIR.
>> YEAH I ASK BECAUSE YOUR HOSPITAL TO SPENDING THE NEXT TWO.
BRANDON WE'VE GOT PERSONALLY, I DON'T WANT TO HOLD STAFF UP.
BRANDON SCHEDULED TO COME INTO THIS NEXT SLOT.
BUT IF BRANDON AND TIM AND ALL OF THEM WANT TO DELAY THAT.
WE COME INTO THIS OTHER ONE, I'M FINE WITH IT.
>> CULTURE ARCHES ZOOMING IN FROM, I THINK CHICAGO.
>> FIFTEEN TO 20 MINUTES DISCUSSION.
>> IS GOING TO BE PROBABLY 20 MINUTES OR MORE.
>> LET'S READ THAT. PLEASE CHECK IT NOW.
[3.D. Receive And Discuss An Update On The Cultural Arts Master Plan (B. Sanderson - 15 Minutes)]
>> BRIGADE RECEIVED THE DISCUSSION UPDATE ON THE CULTURAL ARTS.
>> VERY GOOD, BARBARA. THANK YOU. BYE.
I WANT YOU TO INTRODUCE THIS, PLEASE, SO WE CAN GO THROUGH THIS.
>> WE HAVE JOSH AND WE HAVE NICHOLAS.
NICHOLAS, I WILL CHOP YOUR NAME.
[LAUGHTER] THAT ARE WITH US FROM THE LAKOTA GROUP.
>> I ALSO HAVE OUR COMMITTEE HERE, [INAUDIBLE] , MEGAN PEERS, ANTOINETTE, LYNCH, IS LISA HERE? THEY ARE HERE ALSO. THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS.
[02:15:01]
WE APPLIED FOR THIS GRANT.THE CITY OF GALVESTON DID WITH MATCHING FUNDING FROM THE PARK BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNERSHIP AND ANTOINETTE, DO YOU WANT TO JOIN ME UP HERE SINCE YOU ARE THE COORDINATOR? [LAUGHTER]
>> THE PARK FUND ALONE HAS ADDED IN APPROXIMATELY 30,000 FOR INCIDENTALS, PARTY PLANNING, OUR [INAUDIBLE] SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY MEETINGS, WE'VE DONE MULTIPLE OF THOSE.
WE ARE AT A POINT THAT WE ARE READY TO PROBABLY MOVE FORWARD AND GET BETTER DETERMINATION ON HOW COUNCIL FEELS ABOUT THIS CITY OF GALVESTON MASTER CULTURAL PLAN.
THAT'S OUR ART, KEEPING PARKS IN THERE TOO PLAN BECAUSE WE'D LIKE MORE ART IN THE PARKS IF YOU ALL WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH.
[LAUGHTER] I WOULD LIKE THE GENTLEMAN TO TAKE OVER.
UNLESS COUNCIL MEMBER COLLINS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING?
>> YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB.
THIS WAS THE IDEA HERE IS TO PRODUCE A CULTURAL ARTS MASTER PLAN THAT WOULD BE INTEGRATED INTO OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO EXPAND AND GROW THE CULTURE AND ARTS BOTH FOR THE ATTRACTION OF RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS MAKES IT A NICER PLACE TO LIVE.
IT WOULDN'T COME OUT THE GENERAL FUND IN CASE YOU ASK.
>> WE'RE HOPING TO BRING MORE MONEY IN.
>> THESE FOLKS ON SCREEN HERE.
THESE FOLKS KNOWN AS NICK AND JOSH ARE WITH THE LAKOTA GROUP IN CHICAGO AND THEY'VE DONE SOME YEOMAN'S WORK ON GETTING US STARTED ON THIS PLAN.
I THINK WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE SHOWING US TODAY, WE SAW THIS AT PARK BOARD THE OTHER DAY IS, AN UPDATE ON WHERE GALVESTON RANKS AS THE STATE OF THE CULTURAL ARTS AS A CITY.
>> GLAD TO HAVE YOU GUYS, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE ON A TIGHT TIME SCHEDULE, GENTLEMEN, SO ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO TO MOVE THAT FORWARD, WE'LL BE APPRECIATIVE OF THAT. GO RIGHT AHEAD.
>> WE'LL SPEAK AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.
NICK AND I ARE BOTH LEADING THE TOTAL CONNECTION PLAN.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COLLINS AND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL FOR HAVING US HERE.
WHAT WE THOUGHT WE WOULD SHOW YOU IS JUST A QUICK UPDATE OF WHERE WE ARE AT THIS POINT, WE'RE NOT THROUGH WITH THE PLAN.
WE'RE ACTUALLY AT THE HALFWAY MARKER.
I'M GOING TO SHARE MY SCREEN SO THAT YOU CAN SEE A COUPLE OF SLIDES.
IS THAT WORKING FOR YOU? [NOISE].
BARBARA JUST TALKED ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP WHICH HAS BEEN A GREAT ONE.
WE'RE REALLY GLAD THAT THIS PROJECT HAS BROUGHT THESE GROUPS TOGETHER ON PLANNING A VIBRANT ARTS AND CULTURE FUTURE FOR GALVESTON.
THE ORIGIN TO THIS IS THAT GALVESTON HAS TONS OF ARTS AND CULTURE THAT ARE PART OF ITS ATTRACTIONS, PART OF THE ECONOMY.
THE GOAL OF THIS PLAN IS REALLY TO BRING THEM TOGETHER AND TO THINK STRATEGICALLY ABOUT THE FUTURE AND HOW TO ENHANCE THOSE AND BUILD THAT ARTS ECONOMY AS COUNCILMAN COLLINS WAS SAYING, BOTH FOR GALVESTON RESIDENTS AND FOR OTHER AREAS.
WE WERE IN GALVESTON FOR THE FIRST TIME, I THINK IT WAS EARLY MARCH OF THIS YEAR, AND IT WAS A BRIEFING CALLED WEAK FOR SOME REASON.
WE SPENT A WEEK THERE AND WE DID A TON OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WHICH HAS BEEN FOLLOWED UP BY SOME WORKSHOPS THAT ANTOINETTE, WAS PART OF THAT.
THERE WERE COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSES AND WE DID A BUNCH OF EXERCISES AND ASKED PEOPLE TO PROVIDE THEIR INPUT.
THE STAGE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW IS THAT WE ARE WORKING ON SYNTHESIZING SOME OF THAT INFORMATION IN COMMUNITY INPUT.
THE RESEARCH WE'VE DONE TO PLAN THE STRATEGIES AND THE GOALS WHICH WILL BE THE PLAN ITSELF.
AS PART OF OUR WORK UP TO THIS POINT, WE DID AN INVENTORY OF TOTAL ASSETS IN THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT.
THERE ARE MANY, THIS IS JUST A SUMMARY OF A FEW OF THEM, FROM THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS TO MUSEUMS AND ART GALLERIES AND THEATERS AND SO ON.
[02:20:07]
OF COURSE, THE LIBRARY AND OTHER PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.THE ENGAGEMENT, AS I SAID, HAD A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF HOW PEOPLE COULD PARTICIPATE.
THERE WAS A DIGITAL ASPECT WHERE PEOPLE COULD GO ONLINE AND RESPOND TO QUESTIONS AND IMAGES.
IN THE OPEN HOUSES, WE DID A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS WITH PEOPLE.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THEM, A VISUAL PREFERENCE SURVEY WHERE PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO JUST FIT THE ARTISTIC INTERVENTIONS THAT PARTICULARLY APPEALED TO THEM.
WE DID SOME OTHER EXERCISES AND PUTTING MAD LIBS TYPE EXERCISE WHERE WE PRESENTED SENTENCES WITH BLANKS OF WHAT KIND OF THINGS PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SEE.
WE ASKED SOME QUESTIONS OF HOW PEOPLE AGREED OR SAW ARTS AND CULTURE IN THE FUTURE IN GALVESTON.
AS PART OF THIS INITIAL, WHAT WE CALL THE STATE OF ARTS AND CULTURE IN GALVESTON, WE ALSO LOOKED AT THE ARTS ECONOMY.
THERE'S A CREATIVE VITALITY INDEX, WHICH SUDDENLY SCORES CITIES ON THEIR ARTS ECONOMIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE LOOKED AT THAT AND DID SOME COMPARISON WITH OTHER SIMILAR-SIZED CITIES THAT HAVE ARTS COMPONENTS.
WE LOOKED AT CONSUMER DEMAND, PARTICULARLY LOOKING FOR POCKETS OF CONSUMERS AND POTENTIAL VISITORS WHO HAS AFFINITY FOR ARTS AND CULTURE, WHO MAY OR MAY NOT BE VISITING GALVESTON RIGHT NOW.
THE LARGEST MARKET IN THE REGION IS HOUSTON.
UNTIL WE LOOKED PARTICULARLY AT CENSUS TRACKS AND THE BLOCKS IN POPULATION IN THAT GREATER HOUSTON METROPLEX, WHO MIGHT BE LIKELY ARTS AND CULTURE CONSUMERS OR PARTICIPANTS.
WE LOOKED AT A TAPESTRY SEGMENTATION, WHICH IS ALSO A WAY OF LOOKING AT CONSUMERS AND WHAT THEIR PREFERENCES ARE.
WE LOOKED AT ECONOMIC IMPACT, AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE ARTS AND CULTURE ECONOMY CONTRIBUTES ABOUT $62 MILLION TO THE GALVESTON ECONOMY.
I DON'T THINK ANY OF THESE WILL BE UNFAMILIAR TO YOU.
GALVESTON IS KNOWN AS A BEACH COMMUNITY, AND THAT TENDS TO OVERSHADOW EVERYTHING ELSE.
THE ECONOMY, OF COURSE, RUNS ON VISITORS AND THAT BRINGS A TON OF SPENDING ONTO THE ISLAND.
THE CRUISE INDUSTRY, WHICH IS ON ONE HAND SO IMPORTANT THEN ON THE OTHER HAND, THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE CRUISERS ARE ESSENTIALLY NOT VISIBLE DOWNTOWN.
THE CRUISE INDUSTRY IS EVERYWHERE AND YET NOT VISIBLE AT THE SAME TIME.
TALK ABOUT HOUSTON AS THE LARGEST MARKET.
THE GROWTH OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS ON THE ISLAND WHICH HAS HAD BOTH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE IMPACTS.
IT CERTAINLY INCREASED THE NUMBER OF HOTEL SPACE.
THERE ARE SOME ADVANTAGES SUCH AS THAT PEOPLE WHO STAY IN RENTAL HOMES DON'T HAVE A RESTAURANT IN THEIR LOGIC FOR EXAMPLE, AND SO THEY MIGHT BE MORE LIKELY TO GO DOWNTOWN TO THOSE THINGS.
AT THE SAME TIME, IT CAN HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON JUST THE BUILDING OF COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
SPACE FOR PERFORMING ARTS. YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF FAMOUS AND HISTORIC SPACES FOR PERFORMANCES, BUT IT IS LIMITED TO THOSE SPACES.
OF COURSE, THERE ARE SO MANY ARTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT TEND TO OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY AND, AS I SAID, ONE OF OUR GOALS FOR THIS IS TO BRING MORE COHESION TO THOSE MANY GROUPS AND HOW THEY STRATEGICALLY CAN MARKET THE ARTS TO VISITORS NOW.
AS YOU KNOW, FUNDING IN GALVESTON TENDS TO BE MORE CENTRALIZED THAN IN OTHER CITIES PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF THE BIG HOTELS.
NEXT STEPS, WE ARE WITH YOU TODAY, SHOWING YOU A HIGHLIGHT SUMMARY.
WE WILL BE WORKING ON FINALIZING THE PLANNING THEMES, WHICH WOULD BE THE ESSENTIALLY THE FOUNDATION OF THE FINAL PLAN AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THE STEERING COMMITTEE ON DEVELOPING THOSE.
THEN THOSE PLANNING THEMES WILL BE VERY BROAD,
[02:25:03]
AND THEN WE'LL BE WORKING ON MUCH MORE SPECIFIC INITIATIVES THAT CAN HELP TO EXPAND THE ARTS AND CULTURE ECONOMY IN GALVESTON.MAKE IT SOMETHING THAT GALVESTON IS REALLY KNOWN FOR AS MUCH AS IT'S KNOWN TO THE BEACHES AND CAN BE A CENTRAL PART OF ITS OFFERINGS.
WE WILL BE DELIVERING THAT PLAN AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER.
THEN NICK AND I AND OUR COLLEAGUES WILL BE BACK IN GALVESTON IN MID-OCTOBER AND HOPE TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT THAT PLAN TO YOU AT THAT TIME, OR SHORTLY AFTER.
AT THIS POINT IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM, OR YOU CAN ALWAYS REACH OUT TO US BY EMAIL, OR PHONE AS WELL.
>> I JUST WANT TO BE SURE YOU'RE UPDATED ON WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THIS BUSINESS.
WE APPROVED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO THE EXPENDITURE OF $50,000 NEA GRANT, WHICH [INAUDIBLE] THEY FUNDED THE OTHER HALF TO LET US KNOW THIS IS WHERE YOUR MONEY IS GOING.
WE HOPE TO EXPAND AND DIVERSIFY CULTURE IN GALVESTON AS A RESULT OF THIS.
>> SHE'S ALSO PART OF OUR COMMITTEE, OUR STEERING COMMITTEE.
>> YES. I ALSO WANTED TO ADD THAT WHEN YOU DID THE INTRODUCTION WITH THE CITY, THE GAC SAID YES.
THE GRANT APPLICATION AND HAVE HOUSED ME, AND BEEN WONDERFUL.
>> DOES EVERYONE KNOW ANTOINETTE LYNCH?
>> ALSO THE MARIN MOODY NORTHERN FOUNDATION ALSO?
>> WE'VE BEEN VERY LUCKY, AND HAVE HAD SOME GREAT SUPPORT WITH MOVING THIS PROJECT FORWARD.
>> IT'S JUST PROBABLY MOVING A LITTLE SLOWER THAN WE ALL WOULD LIKE BUT WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE.
>> DAVID, LET ME ASK YOU JUST YOUR THOUGHTS.
ONCE THE PLAN IS PRESENTED AND SO FORTH, WHERE DO THEY GO FROM THERE?
>> WELL, IT'S BEING INITIALLY BUILT AROUND THE DOWNTOWN CULTURAL ARTS DISTRICT, WHICH COUNCIL SET UP THROUGH A TEXAS COMMISSIONER OF THE ARTS DESIGNATION IN 2012.
IT HASN'T BEEN ACTIVE SINCE THEN AND WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO TALK ABOUT GETTING IT MORE ACTIVE.
CULTURAL ARTS, I THINK WE ALL AGREE RESIDES WITHIN THE CITY.
BUT ONE OF THE FOLKS AT LAKOTA COMMENTED THE OTHER DAY THAT WE SEEM TO BE IN, WE'RE ENGINEERS WHERE OUR FOCUS IS DRAINAGE AND STREETS AND CURVES.
THEN TO GET TO PARK, TO GET TO CULTURAL ARTS, WE HAVE TO THINK A LITTLE BIT ABOVE THAT.
BARBARA, ANDREA, AND I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT STRUCTURE THIS.
BUT WHAT THIS DOES, IT GIVES US A ROAD-MAP TO MOVE TO THE NEXT STEP IN COORDINATING, AND CONSOLIDATING SOME OF THESE CULTURAL ASSETS THAT WE HAVE AND MAKING THEM AGAIN, MORE ATTRACTIVE TO LOCALS.
OUR PHILOSOPHY IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE IS A GREAT PLACE TO VISIT.
LET'S DO OUR JOB HERE MAKING THIS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.
>> VERY GOOD. GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANTED TO MENTION TO COUNCIL AT THIS POINT?
>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
I'LL JUST SAY THAT WE HOPE THAT ULTIMATELY THE BROAD STRATEGIES OF THIS PLAN WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND MAKE IT PART OF THE CITY'S OVERALL EFFORTS TO GROW THE ARTS AND CULTURE ECONOMY.
>> VERY GOOD. YOU'RE IN CHICAGO. IS THAT RIGHT?
>> I AM SITTING IN PHILADELPHIA, NICK IS SITTING IN CHICAGO.
>> ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD. WELL, THANK YOU.
[OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WATCHING THE TIME CLOCK TOO; I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING US.
>> BARBARA, DID YOU OR ANTOINETTE WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE WE MOVE ON?
>> NO. I JUST HAVE ENJOYED WORKING WITH THEM AND WITH THE COMMITTEE. TRE? DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO ADD ABOUT THE COMMITTEE?
>> WE DID A GREAT WORK. WE'VE REALLY WORKED WELL TOGETHER AND THE LAKOTA GROUP HAS BEEN WONDERFUL.
WE'RE EXCITED BECAUSE I LIKE DOWNTOWN.
[LAUGHTER] WHO'S ON YOUR COMMITTEE JUST SO WE KNOW?
[02:30:04]
>> IT'S MYSELF, KELLY DESHAWN, ANTOINETTE FROM THE GULF ART CENTER, BARBARA STAFFING FROM THE CITY, AND TRE PLAYED FROM THE DOWNTOWN.
>> LISA SHAW FROM GALVESTON ART CENTER, AND ALSO MEGAN PIERCE FROM MY DEPARTMENT.
>> I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF ALSO THE CITY WORKING WITH A NON-PROFIT AND THEY HAD TO WORK WITH THE GAT TO GET THE GRANT TO DO THIS.
I JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT. WHEN WE MOVE FORWARD LOOKING LIKE [LAUGHTER] THE BONUSES TO WORKING WITH A NON-PROFIT AND THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
>> THE [INAUDIBLE] HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNER.
>> WE'LL HEAR FROM YOU, I GUESS IN OCTOBER AGAIN OUR LAST OF SEPTEMBER.
[OVERLAPPING] IT WAS A GOOD TIME.
>> THANK YOU. [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER]
>> I JUST WANT TO SHOW YOU GUYS THAT THERE'S SOME CONFUSION LAST MONTH ABOUT NOVEMBER REPORT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> LET'S TAKE ABOUT A THREE-TO-FIVE-MINUTE BREAK AND WE'LL START UP WITH BRANDON.
THE BRANDON AND TIM SHOW OR THE TIM AND BRANDON SHOW. [NOISE]
>> FIRST POINT I WANT TO MAKE IS ADDRESSING PREVIOUS PLAN AMENDMENTS.
[3.C. Discussion Of Amendments To Chapter 29 - Planning - Beach Access Dune Protection And Beach Front Construction (B. Hill/T. Tietjens - 1 Hour)]
THERE HAVE BEEN FOR SOME TIME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOW TO ADDRESS THE CITY'S BEACH ACCESS PLAN.I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THE AMENDMENTS THAT I'M BRINGING TO YOU TODAY WERE TO FIX SPECIFIC ISSUES THAT ARE FOUND IN THE CURRENT CODE LANGUAGE, INCLUDING ORDINANCE LANGUAGE WHICH HAS BEEN PASSED, HOWEVER, WAS NOT CODIFIED IN THE RECORD OFFICIALLY.
THIS AMENDMENT INCLUDES SOME OF THOSE.
IT ALSO INCLUDES MORE BENIGN THINGS LIKE SMALL TYPOS OR OMISSIONS OR INCONSISTENCIES.
THEN THERE ARE A SMALL SELECTION OF ACCESS PLAN UPDATES THAT WE AS CITY STAFF CONSIDERED LOW-HANGING FRUIT.
THINGS THAT NEED TO BE UPDATED IN THE ACCESS PLAN SOONER THAN LATER.
THERE WILL NEED TO BE A, WHAT I'VE BEEN REFERRING TO AS A PHASE 2, AMENDMENT THAT COMES AFTER THIS WHICH DOES A DEEP DIVE INTO EVERY SINGLE ACCESS POINT, EVERY SINGLE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND ESTABLISHES IF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE THE VEHICULAR ACCESS FROM THEIR BEACH FRONT AREA.
HOW IS THAT GOING TO BE DONE? WHERE'S THAT PARKING GOING TO BE LOCATED AND WHERE'S THAT ACCESS GOING TO BE GRANTED TO THE PUBLIC? WE DID NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO TACKLE EVERY SINGLE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS THAT DESIRE IN THESE AMENDMENTS.
HOWEVER, I DID NOT WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ANY AMENDMENT WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING THE WORK THAT WAS DONE IN THE AD HOC COMMITTEE.
ALL OF YOU ARE VERY FAMILIAR I'M SURE, WITH THE WORK THAT WAS DONE BY THE AD HOC COMMITTEE.
WHAT I WANTED TO SHOW IN THIS SLIDE IS, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE POINTS, ALL 10 ARE ACTUALLY ON THE KEY RECOMMENDATIONS PAGE IN THE AD HOC COMMITTEE BINDER THAT I RECEIVED FROM CHULA MY FIRST WEEK HERE.
EVERYTHING THAT'S BOLDED IS SOMETHING THAT EITHER IS DONE OR IS BEING DONE CURRENTLY BY CITY STAFF.
JUST BECAUSE WE ARE NOT ABLE TO CHECK EVERY BOX THAT THE AD HOC COMMITTEE CREATED FOR US WITH THIS AMENDMENT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE ITEMS THAT THEY PRIORITIZED AREN'T BEING TAKEN CARE OF BY THE CITY.
I DID WANT TO SHOW EVERYBODY THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT ARE EITHER DONE ALREADY OR BEING WORKED ON THAT ARE ADDRESSING THE ITEMS THAT THE AD HOC IDENTIFIED.
THE NEXT THING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IS HOW A PLAN AMENDMENT WORKS.
UNLIKE OTHER CHAPTERS OF THE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES, WHICH YOU ALL ARE ABLE TO CODIFY SIMPLY BY PASSING AN ORDINANCE, BECAUSE CHAPTER 29 IS ALSO THE CITY'S DOING PROTECTION AND BEACH ACCESS PLAN, NO CHANGES CAN BE MADE TO IT THAT FALL OUTSIDE OF THE STATE PROCESS FOR DOING A PLAN AMENDMENT.
EVEN IF YOU WANTED TO CHANGE YOUR DEFINITION OR SOME VERY SIMPLE TEXT IN CHAPTER 29, THAT SIMPLE CHANGE CAN'T BE SIMPLY DONE BY AN ORDINANCE.
[02:35:01]
IT HAS TO BE PASSED THROUGH THIS PROCESS.I WANTED TO SHOW YOU ALL THE STEP THAT WE'RE ON IS ACTUALLY STEP 0.
[LAUGHTER] THE POINT THAT WE'RE AT IS WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER THIS AMENDMENT TEXT TODAY AS A COUNCIL.
THEN STAFF WILL BE HANDING THIS OVER TO THE GLO FOR AN INFORMAL REVIEW AND COMMENT PHASE WHERE THEY WILL LOOK AT WHAT'S BEEN PROPOSED IN THIS AMENDMENT.
THERE'LL BE ABLE TO JUST TELL US OFF THE CUFF WHETHER OR NOT ANYTHING WE'RE SHOWING THEM IS GIVING THEM HEARTBURN.
AT THAT POINT, IT COMES BACK TO THE CITY AND IS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE CONSIDERED FORMALLY BY THE CITY.
NOW, THIS CAN TAKE MULTIPLE PHASES.
IF WE WANTED TO HAVE ANOTHER STAFF AND CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP, THAT WOULD BE FINE.
IF WE WANTED TO HAVE THE PROCESS RUN THROUGH PLANNING COMMISSION, ALSO FINE.
THAT IT'S REALLY UP TO THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL HOW THAT GOES.
BUT IT NEEDS TO CULMINATE IN BEING PASSED BY AN ORDINANCE.
ONCE WE'VE WORKED THROUGH THE GLO AND THE INFORMAL PROCESS, IT HAS TO GET PASSED BY AN ORDINANCE BEFORE IT CAN BE HANDED TO THE GLO FOR FORMAL COMMENTS.
>> CAN I JUST MAKE ONE COMMENT?
>> EVEN THOUGH WE ARE AT 0, WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE GLO ABOUT THIS PROCESS.
>> OF COURSE, YEAH. THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT.
THE ORDINANCE IS WHAT ALLOWS US TO GO TO THE FORMAL PROCESS.
ONCE IT'S FORMALLY CONSIDERED AND THEY'RE OKAY WITH IT, IT GETS PUBLISHED TO THE TEXAS REGISTER FOR 30 DAYS, AND THAT ALLOWS FOR A 30-DAY COMMENT PERIOD.
ONCE THE COMMENT PERIOD CONCLUDES AND WE'RE ABLE TO ANSWER AS A CITY ANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS THAT ARE RAISED, THEN IT IS OFFICIALLY CODIFIED AND IT CAN GO INTO BEING ENFORCED.
THAT'S WHAT IS ON THE HORIZON FOR THIS PLAN AMENDMENT.
THIS PROCESS CAN TAKE SOME TIME, WHICH IS WHY I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU ALL AND DISCUSS THE AMENDMENT TEXT THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON SINCE MY ARRIVAL HERE WITH THE CITY.
TODAY, THIS IS JUST A SUMMARY OF WHAT I'M GOING TO BE GOING THROUGH WITH YOU.
I DID NOT CREATE A POWERPOINT THAT INCLUDED EVERY TIME I FIXED A TYPO.
[NOISE] WHAT I'VE DONE HERE IS REALLY JUST DID A FLY-BY OF THE MOUNTAIN RANGE THAT IS THIS ISSUE AND KNOCKED THE SNOW OFF THE PEAKS OF THE MOUNTAINS.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT UPDATED OR NEW DEFINITIONS.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT A PURVIEW ADJUSTMENT, THE CITY AND PARK BOARD ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND WHAT WE HAVE TO GO TO THE GLO TO GET PERMITS ON, EROSION RESPONSE STRUCTURES, WALKOVER FEATURES, APPLICATIONS AND FEES, ACCESS PLAN AMENDMENT ITEMS, WHAT I'VE BEEN DUBBING THE 3RD-ROW HOUSE DUNE ISSUE, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER AT THE END.
THEN I ALSO WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE WHILE I WAS SITTING HERE WITH YOU ALL TO DISCUSS THE DUNE OF PROTECTION LINE, THE LANDWARD EXTENT OF THE DCA, WHICH IS ALSO GOING TO BLEED INTO SLIGHTLY A ISSUE WHICH YOU ALL I'M SURE MAYBE FAMILIAR WITH, WHICH IS THE FACT THAT THE GLO DID RESCIND THEIR SUSPENSION OF THE LINE OF VEGETATION FOR THE AREA FROM THE END OF THE SEAWALL TO 13-MILE ROAD AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD AND THE RESIDENTS.
FIRST OF ALL, JUST SOME DEFINITIONS.
AGAIN, I'M NOT GOING TO READ EACH OF THESE FOR YOU, BUT I'LL JUST TELL YOU WHY IT IS THAT THEY WERE INCLUDED.
THESE ARE SOME DEFINITIONS THAT DID NOT EXIST PREVIOUSLY IN OUR ORDINANCE.
THE EXCITING ONES ARE BEACH MAINTENANCE.
WE DESCRIBE WHAT MANUAL VERSUS MECHANICAL MEANS BECAUSE WE DO TALK ABOUT PROHIBITED TYPES OF BEACH MAINTENANCE, BUT THAT WASN'T WELL SPELLED OUT.
WE ALSO TALK ABOUT ENCLOSURES BECAUSE FOR THE SAKE OF THE COASTAL ISSUES AN ENCLOSURE BELOW THE BFE CAN'T EXIST INSIDE THE DUNE CONSERVATION AREA.
HOWEVER, ENCLOSURE WAS NOT WELL DEFINED AND SO WE WERE PUTTING OURSELVES IN A SITUATION WHERE STAFF WAS HAVING TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS BASED ON THE CLARITY THERE.
THE REASON THAT THE WORD HINTERLANDS EXISTS IS ACTUALLY BECAUSE IT FEEDS INTO THE NEXT DEFINITION, WHICH IS THE NORTH TOE OF CRITICAL DUNE AREA.
YOU ALL HAVE HEARD, I'M CERTAIN THROUGH YOUR TIME WITH THE CITY, SOMETHING IS THIS DISTANCE FROM THE NORTH TOE OF THE DUNE.
WHAT IS ACTUALLY BEING REFERRED TO IS THE NORTH TOE OF THE CRITICAL DUNE AREA, WHICH WAS NEVER ACTUALLY DEFINED.
WHAT I'VE DONE HERE IS I'VE CREATED A SCIENTIFICALLY SOLID, FAIRLY NON-SUBJECTIVE MEANS OF IDENTIFYING WHAT IS A NORTH TOE OF A CRITICAL DUNE AREA, WHICH IS GOING TO HELP MOVING FORWARD MAKE THINGS A LOT MORE CLEAR FOR FUTURE STAFF.
[02:40:02]
THEN PAYMENT OF A FEE IN LIEU.THAT ONE YOU MAY HAVE NOT EVER HEARD OF BECAUSE IT'S NOT EVER BEEN USED SINCE IT WAS INCLUDED IN THE PLAN.
YOU'VE DELETED IT AND I'LL TOUCH ON A LITTLE BIT MORE LATER ON WHY WE DELETED IT.
BUT ESSENTIALLY IT WAS A WAY TO IF YOU WERE GOING TO HAVE TO BUILD A DUNE BUT YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO BUILD A DUNE, YOU CAN PAY THE CITY A CERTAIN UNSPECIFIED AMOUNT OF MONEY IN ORDER TO BUILD DUNES ELSEWHERE IN EXCHANGE FOR BUILDING THE DUNE.
BUT THE LACK OF SPECIFICITY THERE LED TO THE DECISION TO ACTUALLY JUST GO AHEAD AND RECOMMEND THAT IT GET REMOVED FROM THE CODE ENTIRELY BECAUSE IT'S NEVER BEEN USED AND I DON'T SEE A WAY OF USING IT THAT IS CLEAR-CUT IN ANY MANNER.
THERE'S DEFINITIONS; SO WE'RE ALREADY DOWN ONE SECTION.
THIS IS THE CHANGE IN JURISDICTION AND WHAT'S BEEN CHANGED HERE, THE REST OF THIS TEXT IS ALREADY IN OUR CODE, OUR CHAPTER OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.
WHAT'S BEEN ADDED IS THE RED TEXT HERE.
CURRENTLY, WE SAY THAT YOU HAVE TO GET A BEACHFRONT CONSTRUCTION CERTIFICATE OR DUNE PROTECTION PERMIT IF YOU'RE DOING ANYTHING WITHIN 1,000 FEET OF MEAN HIGH TIDE, OR IF YOU ARE LANDWARD OF THE FIRST PUBLIC ROAD, WHICHEVER DISTANCE IS GREATER BUT THAT DOES NOT EXTEND TO THE FACE OF THE SEAWALL.
MEANING THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO TO A HOTEL THAT'S BEHIND THE SEAWALL AND SAY, YOU HAVE TO GET A BEACHFRONT PERMIT BECAUSE YOU'RE CLOSE TO THE BEACH BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT THEY'VE GOT THE SEAWALL IN FRONT OF THEM.
WHAT WE'VE RECOMMENDED FOR CHANGING HERE IS THAT WE ADD IN THE LANDWARD EXTENT OF FM3005.
THE REASON THAT WE FEEL LIKE THAT IS CRUCIAL, IS THAT WE FREQUENTLY, AS STAFF, ARE DEALING WITH HOMEOWNERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO PUT IN SOMETHING THEY THINK IS INNOCUOUS.
A SMALL CONCRETE DECK IN THEIR BACKYARD OR A POOL, AND THEY ARE ON THE LANDWARD SIDE OF FM3005, IN NO WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM THINKING OF THEMSELVES AS BEACHFRONT.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THIS CURRENTLY, THEY ARE.
THEY ARE BEACHFRONT BECAUSE THE 1,000 FEET GOES PAST FM3005 IN MANY PLACES AND BECAUSE IT'S OR GREATER, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO STOP IT AT FM3005.
THIS, HOWEVER, ADDRESSES THAT ISSUE WITHOUT PUTTING US IN A SITUATION WHERE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T LOOK AT OR LESSER LANGUAGE, BUT WHAT THAT WOULD ACTUALLY DO IS EXCLUDE A VAST NUMBER OF NEIGHBORHOODS THAT DO NEED TO BE WITHIN BEACHFRONT PURVIEW.
THIS GETS PROPERTIES THAT FRANKLY WE AS STAFF DON'T FEEL NEED THE ADDITIONAL BURDEN OF HAVING TO CLEAR THE BEACHFRONT HURDLE.
IT GETS THEM OUT FROM UNDER THAT.
IT'S ULTIMATELY A WAY OF US TRYING TO CUT SOME RED TAPE AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT IT'D BE INCLUDED IN THE AMENDMENTS.
>> BUT IT DOESN'T GO BEYOND THE THOUSAND.
>> JUST SAY IT AGAIN, I'M SORRY.
>> IT DOESN'T GO BEYOND THE THOUSAND.
BECAUSE THERE'S NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE SEAWARD OF FM 3005 WHERE THERE ARE STREETS THAT ARE BEYOND THE THOUSAND.
>> ALSO I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT IF AT ANY POINT YOU GUYS ARE INTERESTED IN WHERE THIS IS GOING TO BE BOUND, I HAVE ADDED THE PAGE NUMBER ON THE BOTTOM OF EACH SLIDE.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED FOR CONTEXT'S SAKE OF LOOKING AT WHERE IN THE CODE THIS IS, I HAVE ADDED THAT FOR YOU. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I FOUND VERY ODD WHEN I DUG INTO THE CITY'S CODE OF ORDINANCES WAS THAT WE WERE ACTUALLY PERMITTING OURSELVES AND THE PARK BOARD FOR THINGS THAT WERE PART OF OUR ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AS ENTITIES.
WE AS A CITY OWE IT TO OUR RESIDENTS TO BE ABLE TO PUT SAND FENCING OUT AND STOP SAND FROM BLOWING DOWN A STREET.
BUT IN ORDER TO DO THAT, I HAVE TO APPLY TO THE STATE TO GET PERMISSION TO PUT SAND FENCING IN A SPECIFIC WAY AND THEN WRITE MYSELF A PERMIT SO THAT I CAN TELL PUBLIC WORKS TO PLEASE GO PUT SOME SAND FENCING OUT ON THIS AREA.
TO ME THAT IS ALLOWING BUREAUCRACY TO GET IN THE WAY OF TAKING CARE OF OUR RESIDENTS.
WHAT I'VE ADDED IN HERE IS THAT AS LONG AS IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS IN LINE WITH THE GLO'S STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES, AS LONG AS WE'VE ALREADY TALKED TO THEM AND WE'VE SAID, HEY, WHEN WE GO OUT AND PUT IN SAND FENCING, THIS IS THE WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IT, THEN WE OUGHT TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO JUST GO OUT THERE AND DO IT AND NOTIFY THEM OF THAT ACTION RATHER THAN HAVING TO REQUEST PERMISSION, WAIT FOR REVIEW, WAIT FOR COMMENTS, AND THEN PERMIT OURSELVES TO DO IT.
THAT'S WHAT THIS AMENDMENT IN THE ORDINANCE WOULD ALLOW FOR US TO DO.
[02:45:04]
EROSION RESPONSE STRUCTURES.AS WE CONTINUE TO SEE EROSION THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND THREATEN NOT JUST PRIVATE INFRASTRUCTURE BUT ALSO PUBLIC, WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF DEFINING HOW PEOPLE CAN FIGHT BACK AGAINST EROSION.
CURRENTLY, THE ONLY PART OF THE CODE THAT DISCUSSES EROSION RESPONSE STRUCTURES IS A SMALL SECTION ENTITLED PROHIBITED EROSION RESPONSE STRUCTURES AND IT JUST SAYS WHAT ISN'T ALLOWED.
BUT IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY SPECIFY WHAT IS ALLOWED OR WHO CAN APPLY FOR THESE.
YOU REALLY HAVE TO DIG INTO THE TEXAS NATURAL RESOURCES CODE OR THE TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE TO FIND THAT LANGUAGE.
WHAT I'VE DONE IS I'VE BORROWED SOME OF THEIR LANGUAGE AND CREATED THIS SECTION.
THE ONLY THING THAT ISN'T ADDED IS THE UNDERLYING SECTION HERE.
THE REST OF THIS IS STUFF THAT WE AS CITY STAFF HAVE WORKED ON AND THINK WOULD ALLOW US TO HELP FOLKS THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
BECAUSE MANY, MANY TIMES WE HAVE PEOPLE SAYING, LOOK, I BOUGHT THIS HOUSE, I CANNOT LET IT JUST FALL INTO THE OCEAN. WHAT CAN I DO? THEY AS A SINGLE HOMEOWNER CAN'T BUILD AN EROSION RESPONSE STRUCTURE, WHICH IS ANY HARD INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S GOING TO BE A LOT MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN A DUNE.
AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN YOU CAN GO OUT THERE AND PUT A DUNE IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE ALL DAY LONG.
BUT IF YOU WANT TO, LET'S SAY, PUT IN A GO2 OR A T WALL OR A PILE DRIVEN WALL, LIKE WHAT'S BEING CONTEMPLATED FOR THE CONDOMINIUMS AT THIS TIME, THAT IS NOT SPECIFICALLY CALLED OUT IN THE ORDINANCE AS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE, JUST THAT OTHER THINGS CAN'T BE DONE.
WHAT THIS ESTABLISHES IS, LOOK, IF YOU ARE A NEIGHBORHOOD, AN AGGREGATION OF RESIDENCES OR STRUCTURALLY ATTACHED SERIES OF RESIDENTIAL UNITS OR A COLLECTION OF COMMERCIAL STRUCTURES, YOU AS A COMMUNITY ARE ABLE TO APPLY FOR SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND EROSION RESPONSE STRUCTURE, WHICH COULD HELP PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY.
WITH THE WEST END SEEING THE EROSION THAT IT IS AND ALSO SEEING THE HURDLES THAT ARE PRESENTED REGARDING GETTING SAND IN FRONT OF THEM, THIS I THINK IS GOING TO BE A CRUCIAL THING TO HAVE CODIFIED.
BECAUSE IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO PUT SAND IN FRONT OF A HOUSE, THEN THEY'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING.
THIS AT LEAST OPENS THE DOORWAY TO HAVING THAT CONVERSATION.
IT STILL HAS TO GO THROUGH THE GLO APPROVAL PROCESS.
IT STILL HAS TO MEET SOME VERY HIGH STANDARDS WITH REGARDS TO SHOWING THAT IT WILL NOT IMPACT NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES.
IT WILL NOT IMPACT MIGRATING BIRDS, IT WILL NOT IMPACT SEA TURTLES.
BUT THEY CAN CLEAR THAT HURDLE WITH A LITTLE BIT MORE HELP FROM STAFF, IF STAFF KNOWS NOT JUST WHAT ISN'T ALLOWED, BUT WHO CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS EFFORT.
THIS IS REALLY JUST A FEEL GOOD ITEM.
THESE ARE SOME LESSONS LEARNED FROM HAVING BUILT A NUMBER OF PUBLIC WALKOVERS DOWN IN SOUTH PADRE ISLAND.
I WORKED WITH RUSSELL COLE CLOSELY ON PUTTING SOME OF THESE TOGETHER BASED ON SOME OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM FOLKS WHO WERE BUILDING THESE WALKOVERS.
THIS JUST GIVES US A STANDARD TO TRY AND RECOMMEND PEOPLE GO TO.
IT DOES NOT ENFORCE ANYBODY TO ADD A SPRINKLER SYSTEM TO THEIR WALKOVERS SO THAT IT WILL HELP THEIR DUNES GROW UNDERNEATH.
BUT IT DOES SAY THAT THEY'RE ENCOURAGED TO DO IT TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE.
ALL OF THESE ARE SIMPLY SOME GOOD IDEAS THAT WE FEEL LIKE SHOULD AT LEAST BE SPECIFIED IN A MANNER IN OUR CODES.
NEXT, I KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT HOW DO WE ADJUST OUR FEES TO HELP THE CITY BE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE WANT TO DO FOR THE RESIDENTS.
THIS IS ONE WAY THAT I THINK IS APPROPRIATE.
WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE IS I'VE SET SIDE BY SIDE THE EXISTING FEE SCHEDULE VERSUS THE PROPOSED FEE SCHEDULE THAT I HAVE RECOMMENDED IN THE AMENDMENT.
THIS PROPOSED FEE SCHEDULE DOES ACTUALLY TWO THINGS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE CORE THREE ROWS, YOU'LL SEE THAT NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
THE BASE APPLICATION FEE, A FIBERCRETE MAINTENANCE FEE, AND A PLANNING COMMISSION REVIEW, THAT STRUCTURE IS UNCHANGED.
HOWEVER, WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS SAID, IF YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE AS MUCH STAFF EFFORT TO PROCESS, YOU'RE DOING SOME DUNE PLANTINGS OR RESTORATION, YOU'RE OUT HERE WITH A GIRL SCOUT TROOP WHO JUST WANTS TO DO A PROJECT FOR THE WEEK OR THE PARK BOARD WANTS TO COME OUT AND PLANT SOME DUNES, WE'RE NOT CHARGING THEM THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE CHARGING SOMEBODY TO BUILD A HOUSE NEXT TO THE BEACH.
>> WE AREN'T CHARGING ANYTHING NOW?
>> NO. IF SOMEBODY GOES OUT THERE AND WANTS TO PLANT DUNES, THEY'VE GOT TO PAY $500 FOR A DUNE.
[02:50:03]
>> YES. THIS ALLOWS FOR US TO MINIMIZE THAT BASED ON THE FACT THAT IT'S A MUCH EASIER THING FOR US AS STAFF TO WORK THROUGH.
THE OTHER ITEM THAT WE'VE ADDED HERE IS IF YOU'RE REQUIRING AN EXEMPTION TO BUILD WITHIN THE DUNE CONSERVATION AREA, WHICH MEANS THAT YOU'RE BUILDING WITHIN AN AREA THAT OUR CODE ACTUALLY SAYS IT'S PROHIBITED WITHOUT EXEMPTION FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THOSE CASES REQUIRE A LOT MORE WORK ON STAFF BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO DO A LOT OF MAPPING.
WE'VE GOT TO DO A LOT OF WORK WITH THE RESIDENTS TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY HOW MUCH WE CAN HELP PULL THE REINS BACK SO THAT WHAT THEY'RE BRINGING FORWARD MAYBE HAS A CHANCE OF GETTING APPROVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
IT TAKES A LOT OF ADDITIONAL WORK THAT'S NOT CAPTURED IN A AVERAGE PERMIT.
WE'RE CAPTURING THAT ADDITIONAL WORK WITH THIS ADDED FEE THAT WOULD STACK WITH THESE OTHER ONES.
THIS HOPEFULLY WILL HELP US AS A STAFF TO CAPTURE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THE ADDITIONAL EFFORT THAT'S GOING INTO THESE PROJECTS IN A MANNER THAT ALLOWS FOR US TO BETTER SERVE THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
THIS IS A VERY SPECIFIC TOPIC TO GALVESTON.
I SAY THAT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T EXIST ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, THE SPECIAL USE AREA IS ACTUALLY PART OF THE CITY'S BEACH ACCESS PLAN AND WAS BORN FROM A LETTER THAT WAS RECEIVED BY COMMISSIONER PATTERSON BACK IN THE DAY.
THE ACTUAL STANDARD THAT WAS ESTABLISHED WAS A PROPOSED FOR AN UNSPECIFIED AREA ON EAST BEACH TO REPLACE THE IDEA OF A SEASONAL ACCESS SOMEWHERE OUT THERE.
THIS ALL TIES BACK ACTUALLY WHEN THERE WAS AN EAST BEACH CORPORATION THAT OWNED EVERYTHING THAT WAS ON THIS SIDE OF THE ISLAND.
I DON'T HAVE TIME TO GET INTO THE HISTORY OF IT, BUT IF ANY OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO FEEL FREE TO JUMP INTO IT LATER.
BUT WHAT I'M GETTING AT HERE IS THE SPECIAL USE AREA NOW SETS OFF OF STEWART BEACH AND IN FRONT OF TWO PRIVATE PROPERTY AREAS TO A DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THEN A LOT THAT IS POTENTIALLY GOING TO DEVELOP IN THE FUTURE.
WHAT I'VE RECOMMENDED IN THIS AMENDMENT IS THAT WE LOOK AT WHAT IS REQUIRED OF THE SPECIAL USE AREA, AND WE RECOMMEND THAT IT'D BE PLACED ADJACENT TO A PUBLIC BEACH SPACE.
I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU A MAP HERE IN A MINUTE.
THIS IS NOT A MAP THAT HAS TO BE CARVED IN STONE, BUT IT IS A MAP THAT IS AN OPTION, AND IF THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO SEE OTHER OPTIONS OR WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND OTHER THINGS, HAPPY TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS ACCOUNTED FOR.
BUT WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THE SPECIAL USE AREA IS THAT THE EXISTING ORDINANCE, THE ORDINANCE THAT PUT IT INTO PLACE STATES THAT IT IS APPROXIMATELY 2,640 LINEAR FEET.
THEN PARENTHETICALLY WITHIN PARENTHESES, IT SAYS, WHICH PROVIDES 95 PARKING SPACES.
WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THAT IS THAT 95 PARKING SPACES DOES NOT IN ANY MATH THAT IS USED IN BEACHFRONT STUFF, ADD UP TO 2,640 FEET, IT'S NOT THE 15 TO 1 RATIO.
IT'S NOT ANY RATIO THAT I CAN FIND, SO I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE FROM WHENCE THE NUMBER CAME.
HOWEVER, I WANT TO BRING TO EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION THESE SPECIAL USE AREA REPORTS.
THESE REPORTS ARE VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE THEY'VE ACTUALLY BEEN COLLECTED SINCE JUNE OF 2018 WHEN ONE OF OUR RESIDENTS WAS TOLD BY THE GLO THAT IF THEY WANTED TO BE ABLE TO CLOSE THE AREA IN FRONT OF THEIR PROPERTY TO VEHICULAR ACCESS THEY NEEDED TO HAVE REPORTS SHOWING WHO USED THE BEACH.
NOW THAT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT'S ACTUALLY IN CODE AND REQUIRED ANYWHERE IN LAW, HOWEVER, THE INDIVIDUAL WAS TOLD THAT.
SINCE THE 2018 NINE-DAY STUDY, THERE HAVE BEEN A 164 SAMPLES TAKEN ACROSS BOTH HOLIDAY AND STANDARD DAYS.
WHAT I FIND FASCINATING ABOUT THIS IS THEY WERE LOOKING AT THE PARKING LOT THAT IS THERE AT ACCESS 1C AND THEY WERE LOOKING AT THE USE ON THE SPECIAL USE AREA.
WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS THAT NOT ONLY THE PARKING LOT IS BEING USED MUCH MORE HEAVILY THAN THE SPECIAL USE AREA BUT
[02:55:03]
THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF FOLKS WHO USE THE SPECIAL USE AREA ARE ACTUALLY UNAUTHORIZED USERS.PEOPLE WHO DO NOT FIT THE FISHERMEN, HANDICAPPED, OR LAUNCHING OF NON-MOTORIZED VEHICLES.
THE NEXT HIGHEST CLASS IS THE FISHERMEN.
BUT IT IS PRETTY INTERESTING AFTER LOOKING AT THESE SPREADSHEETS TO SEE THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF FOLKS WHO ARE ACTUALLY ON THE SPECIAL USE AREA ARE FOLKS WHO DON'T ACTUALLY MEET THE CRITERIA TO BE THERE.
BUT THIS ALSO HELPS TO PAINT THE PICTURE THAT PERHAPS THE 95 SPACES OF WHAT WERE PRESCRIBED IN THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE AND THE 2,640 LINEAR FEET MAY NOT TOTALLY LINE UP, WHICH IS WHY I TURNED TO A RESET METRIC THAT THE GLO HAS APPROVED OF.
AS PART OF MY EFFORTS HERE WITH THE CITY, I'VE BEEN WORKING HARD TO GET US INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN BEACHES ACT, MEANING INTO COMPLIANCE WITH OUR OWN PLAN.
PART OF THOSE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH EVERY SINGLE NEIGHBORHOOD TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE X NUMBER OF SPACES IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THEY DO AND THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED WHERE THEY ARE.
WITH ONE NEIGHBORHOOD, BERMUDA BEACH.
WE FOUND THAT BECAUSE OF THE EROSION, ALL OF BERMUDA BEACH DRIVE WAS NOT GOING TO BE USABLE FOR PARKING FOR THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE ONCE YOU ADD A ROW OF PARKING ALONG THAT STREET, RESIDENTS WERE HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING IN AND OUT OF THEIR DRIVEWAYS BECAUSE THEIR DRIVEWAYS LITERALLY GO ONTO A ROAD WHICH IS IN EFFECT THE BEACH.
MUCH LESS TALKING ABOUT A FIRE ENGINE OR AN AMBULANCE TRYING TO GET DOWN THERE AND PEOPLE WERE PARKED.
WHAT WE DID IS WE LOOKED AT EXPANDING THEIR ON-BEACH PARKING AREA, AND WE UTILIZED THIS 2018 SURVEY, WHICH ESTABLISHED THAT A CERTAIN RATIO OF SQUARE FOOTAGE AND LINEAR FOOTAGE TO PARKING SPACES.
WE USED THIS TO ALLOW US TO CALCULATE HOW FAR OUT THE BOLLARDS NEEDED TO BE WIDENED.
I KNOW THAT THIS IS A STANDARD THAT HAS RECENTLY COME INTO PLAY ON THE GALVESTON BEACH FRONT.
I USED THIS SAME STANDARD TO CALCULATE THAT THE 95 SPACES THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE VIA ORDINANCE 11-037, WOULD ALLOW US TO ACTUALLY PROVIDE THAT IN 35,000 SQUARE FEET OR APPROXIMATELY 318 LINEAR FEET.
WITH ALL THAT FANCY MATH DONE, HERE IS MY PROPOSED MAP.
NOW I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THE ONLY THING I'M ACTUALLY CHANGING IN THIS MAP IS THAT TRIANGLE RIGHT THERE.
EVERYTHING ELSE IS ALREADY PART OF THE BEACH ACCESS PLAN.
THIS PINK AREA THAT YOU SEE ON THE BEACHFRONT THAT IS ACTUALLY ALREADY AN IDENTIFIED ON-BEACH PARKING AREA WHICH WAS PART OF THE BEACH TOWN DEVELOPMENT.
THIS TRIANGLE HERE IS APPROXIMATELY 410 LINEAR FEET, WHICH IS OVER THE 318 THAT WAS REQUIRED.
BUT THIS IS ALSO THE MOST SENSIBLE THAT I COULD MAKE THE SHAPE WHILE USING THE ENTRANCE TO THE GATE AS A STARTING POINT.
>> CAN I INTERRUPT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION?
>> FIRST OF ALL, I WAS GOING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT AREA, TO BEGIN WITH.
BECAUSE AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IT'S NOT AN OPEN AREA, THERE'S ONLY X NUMBER 15 HANDICAP SPACES OR SOMETHING DESIGNATED FOR THE AREA INSIDE THAT.
YET IT BECOMES A SUNNY BEACH-LIKE PARKING PARTY DAY IN DAY OUT DOWN THERE.
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO PUSH BACK.
I'M LOOKING AT THE EASTERN EXTENT OF BEACH TOWN, AM I RIGHT? I'M SURE WE'RE LOOKING AT IT. I'M GOING TO PUSH BACK STRONGLY ON TAKING THAT ACCESS OFF STEWART AND SIMPLY DUMPING IT ON EAST BEACH.
>> IT'S NOT ON STEWART CURRENTLY THOUGH.
THE SPECIAL USE AREAS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WHATEVER YOU CALL IT, THE ACCESS TO STEWART. THIS WILL BE ACCESSED THROUGH A NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> NO. IT WOULD BE ACCESSED THROUGH THE ENTRANCE AT APFFEL PARK.
>> YOU CAN NIT PICK THAT ALL YOU WANT, BUT THIS JUST DOUBLES YOUR PROBLEM AT THE FREE ACCESS POINT AT APFFEL PARK.
>> I WANT TO SAY TWO THINGS ABOUT THIS.
ONE BECAUSE I'VE HEARD SOME OF THE SAME CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE.
THE AREA THAT I'M BLACKING OUT RIGHT NOW.
THE AREA THAT IS ON BEACH TOWN WAS NEGOTIATED BY THE LANDOWNER WITH THE GLO,
[03:00:01]
AND IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK AND WORK WITH THE GLO AS PART OF A PLAN AMENDMENT TO CHANGE UP THE ACCESS IN THAT AREA, HAPPY TO FACILITATE THAT [OVERLAPPING]>> I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH CHIEF DAVIS LESS THAN A WEEK AGO.
NEGOTIATING IS ONE THING, SEEING 200 CARS SITTING OUT THERE ON SATURDAY NIGHTS IS ANOTHER THING.
>> RIGHT NOW IN THE PLAN, SO WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT'S IN THE [OVERLAPPING]
>> DAVID, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PINK AREA?
>> DAVID, CAN I ASK A QUESTION SINCE YOU GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THIS LAST MEETING? THE AD HOC COMMITTEE THAT'S WORKING ON STEWART BEACH WASN'T THERE, THAT AREA THAT WAS IDENTIFIED FOR HANDICAPPED, WHICH COULD BE USED AS A [OVERLAPPING]
>> YES. THAT'S A FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.
POSSIBILITY. THAT'S NOT ON THE TEXAS PLAN.
IT WOULD GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE THE AREA THAT BRANDON IS TALKING ABOUT.
>> BUT THAT'S NOT THIS, OBVIOUSLY.
>> THIS IS A DIFFERENT BUSINESS.
>> I AGREE BUT WHEN [OVERLAPPING] COULD REPLACE THIS.
>> WELL, IT'S TAKING THE BURDEN OFF ONE NEIGHBORHOOD THE [OVERLAPPING] GRAND BEACH AND JUST PLACING IT ON ANOTHER AREA WHICH IS REACH DOWN.
>> WHICH IS WHY I PREEMPTED THIS DISCUSSION BY SAYING THAT THIS MAP, IT'S JUST NUMBERS.
THE LOCATION, STAFF WILL BE GLAD TO MOVE IT WHEREVER.
WHETHER IT'D BE IN FRONT OF STEWART BEACH, OR WHETHER IT'D BE IN FRONT OF EAST BEACH.
>> [OVERLAPPING] IT CAN BE ANYWHERE IN HERE.
THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE SPECIAL USE AREA AS A WHOLE IS A PUBLIC AMENITY THAT IS CURRENTLY NOT ADJACENT TO ANY PUBLICLY MANAGED AREAS.
IT IS A PUBLIC AMENITY THAT WE PASS THROUGH APART AND THEN PUT IN FRONT OF ANOTHER SET OF RESIDENTS.
AS STAFF, WE FELT THAT IT SHOULD BE PLACED IN FRONT OF AN AREA THAT WE MANAGE.
>> IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE HERE.
IT CAN BE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF EAST BEACH, R.A. APFFEL PARK.
>> ISN'T THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE AN ATTENDANT WHERE THE SPECIAL USE? BECAUSE THERE WAS ONE AT STEWART BEACH.
>> THERE ISN'T AN ATTENDANT HERE.
>> THE REASON THAT WE PUT IT HERE IS THAT THERE IS A GATE AT APFFEL PARK RIGHT THERE AND THAT'S WHAT THAT'S FEEDING OFF OF, JUST THE GATE.
>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT GATE TO GET ONTO THIS AREA.
>> NOT TO GET ONTO THE PINK AREA.
>> YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT GATE.
>> YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE GATE TO GET TO HERE WHICH IS NOT THE PROPERTY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH.
>> WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS PROPERTY HERE WHICH IS BOLLARDED OFF.
>> BUT THERE'S NONE, THERE IS NO GATE.
>> THERE IS A GATE HERE AND THEY WOULD JUST REQUIRE STAFF.
THE PARK BOARD WOULD HAVE TO STAFF IT.
>> WELL, SOMETIMES THAT GATE'S STAFFED AND SOMETIMES THERE'S NOT ANY OF THE PERSONNEL.
BUT EVEN IN STEWART BEACH, THAT GATE IS NOT OFTEN STAFFED.
THAT CLEARLY FROM LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS, IT IS NOT WELL-ENFORCED.
YOU CAN'T PUT A 17-YEAR-OLD LIFEGUARD OUT THERE AND CHARGE HIM WITH RESPONSIBILITY TO TELL PEOPLE THAT THEY CAN'T GO ON THE BEACH.
THE PERCENTAGE OF TIME THAT STEWART BEACH IS OPERATIONAL, YOU MAY HAVE SOMEBODY OUT THERE ATTEMPTING TO MONITOR IT.
BUT THE COMPLAINT FROM THE RESIDENTS TO GRAND BEACH IS THAT THERE'S NO MONITORING.
>> OF THE GRAND BEACH NOW, THIS IS THE BEACH TOWN.
>> BUT THERE'S NO MONITORING AND THEY HAVE THE SAME MEASURES.
>> WE'RE OFF IN THE WEEDS HERE AND THAT WOULD NEED TO.
>> WHAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND, WE'RE AT STEP ZERO; STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE SPECIAL USE AREA BE RELOCATED IN FRONT OF SOMETHING THAT IS A PUBLICLY MANAGED AREA.
WHERE THAT ENDS UP LANDING, WE'RE HAPPY TO TWEAK IT.
RIGHT NOW THE LANGUAGE THAT WE HAVE IN THE AMENDMENT WOULD BE THIS TRIANGLE.
HOWEVER, HAPPY TO MAKE THAT ADJUSTMENT ONCE WE'RE ABLE TO AGREE UPON WHERE IT OUGHT TO LAND.
[03:05:02]
REALLY, THE BIG TAKEAWAY FROM THIS AMENDMENT PIECE IS WE THINK IT OUGHT TO BE REMOVED FROM WHERE IT IS CURRENTLY BECAUSE WHERE IT IS CURRENTLY DOESN'T WORK FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.>> WE COULD GO THROUGH EACH ONE OF THESE AND IT'LL TAKE US ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN HOURS.
LET'S GO THROUGH THIS AND BE SURE TO LET BRANDON KNOW CHANGES THAT YOU FEEL NEED TO BE CONSIDERED.
>> BECAUSE THE NEXT STEPS FOR US AS STAFF IS TO TAKE WHAT IT IS THAT WE HEAR TODAY AND WHAT IT IS THAT WE HEAR AFTER THE CONVERSATION TODAY.
RUSSELL'S ALREADY QUEUED UP TO BE RECEIVING ANY EMAILS THAT YOU GUYS MAY WANT TO SEND HIS WAY, AND TAKE THAT, ADD IT TO THIS AMENDMENT LANGUAGE PRIOR TO HANDING IT OFF TO THE GLO FOR THAT INFORMAL REVIEW.
>> WELL, I WANT TO GET INTO SOME THINGS ON THAT PROCESS.
BRANDON, ONCE YOU'RE FINISHED, WE NEED TO GET THROUGH THIS.
>> THE NEXT AND ONLY OTHER AMENDMENT ITEM THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE ACCESS PLAN IS THE SUNNY BEACH CHANGEOVER FROM BEING A VEHICULAR BEACH TO BEING A PEDESTRIAN-ONLY BEACH WITH A VEHICULAR DROP-OFF.
THE WAY THAT THIS WOULD WORK, IS THAT THE OWNERS AND DEVELOPERS OF THIS LAND THAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SHEET, HAVE PROPOSED AND HAVE ALREADY HAD SOME INFORMAL COMMENTS FROM THE GLO, ON PUTTING A PARKING LOT THAT RUNS ALONG 8-MILE ROAD THAT WOULD ACCOMMODATE FOR THE PROPER NUMBER OF LINEAR FOOT PARKING SPACES AT SUNNY BEACH.
WE ALSO DISCUSSED WITH THEM ADDING IN THIS BLUE LOLLIPOP-LOOKING THING THAT I'VE DRAWN, PARDON MY ARTISTIC ABILITY.
WHAT THAT'S SUPPOSED TO SHOW YOU IS THAT THERE WOULD BE A BOLLARDED CUL-DE-SAC THAT WOULD BE CREATED JUST OFF OF THAT BEACH ACCESS, SO THAT THE FOLKS WHO ARE USED TO COMING TO SUNNY BEACH AND UTILIZING THIS AREA FROM A VEHICULAR MANNER, WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO DRIVE UP, PULL UP TO THE CUL-DE-SAC, DROP GRANDMA OFF, OFFLOAD THE COOLER, OFFLOAD THE GRILL, AND THEN DRIVE BACK TO THE PARKING AREA.
THE ABLE-BODIED INDIVIDUALS CAN WALK FROM THERE TO THE BEACH ITSELF.
WE FEEL LIKE SINCE THE PARKING SPACE ARE FURTHER BACK ON 8-MILE ROAD, ADDING SOMETHING IN LIKE THIS CUL-DE-SAC FEATURE OUT OF BOLLARDS, HELPS TO ACCOMMODATE THE USER BASE WHO HAS GROWN USED TO COME IN TO SUNNY BEACH, WHILE ALSO ALLOWING FOR THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO DO WHAT THEY'RE ALLOWED TO DO UNDER THE OPEN BEACHES ACT AND PROVIDE ADEQUATE PARKING IN EXCHANGE FOR A NON-VEHICULAR BEACH.
THESE ARE THE TWO ACCESS POINT AMENDMENT ITEMS. NEXT THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT VERY QUICKLY IS THE THIRD-ROW HOUSE DUNE ISSUE.
I'VE DONE A COUPLE OF THINGS HERE.
I'VE ADDED THE RED TEXT, AND I'VE RECOMMENDED THAT WE REMOVE THE TEXT THAT'S CROSSED OUT, OBVIOUSLY.
CURRENTLY, OUR CODE SAYS THAT PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION, A DUNE ENHANCEMENT OR RESTORATION PROJECT, CONSISTENT WITH THE DEFINITION FOR RESTORED DUNES SHALL BE COMPLETED.
WHAT THAT MEANS IN LAYMAN'S TERMS IS ANYBODY THAT'S GOING TO BUILD ANYTHING AND ANYWHERE THAT'S CONSIDERED BEACH FRONT AREA, HAS TO BUILD A DUNE THAT'S 50 FEET WIDE, 10 FEET TALL, IN FRONT OF THEM, BEFORE THEY BUILD IT.
NOW, THAT'S NOT BEEN ENFORCED.
THAT'S NOT EVEN BEEN PRACTICED.
WE RECENTLY STARTED TO TRY TO ENFORCE IT IN AREAS WHERE IT MADE SENSE TO DO SO, WHERE DUNES HAD BEEN COMPLETELY DESTROYED.
HOWEVER, WHEN YOU GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL, DECEMBER 3RD, 2010, WE FOUND SOME VERBATIM MINUTES THAT ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT THESE ISSUES AND THIS ISN'T A NEW DISCUSSION.
IT SAYS THE DEFINITION OF THE BUILDING LINE MAKES SENSE IF THERE'S DUNES, HOWEVER IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE IF THERE'S NO DUNES.
WENDY DONAHUE, IN THIS INSTANCE, WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW, REMEMBER WE TALKED ABOUT BECAUSE HOW THE DUNES WERE DESTROYED, WE'RE GOING TO BE REQUIRING DUNES TO BE BUILT IN FRONT OF EVERY PROPERTY THAT'S GOING ANYTHING OUT THERE.
THAT AS I'VE MENTIONED, HAS NOT BEEN THE COMMON PRACTICE.
WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE TRIED TO FIND SOMETHING THAT MATCHES THE INTENT OF THAT ORDINANCE, WHICH IS THAT WHERE NO DUNES EXIST ON A LOT DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO A GULF BEACH, YOU'VE GOT TO BUILD YOURSELF A DUNE IF YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD A PROPERTY.
HOWEVER, IF YOU'RE NOT ADJACENT TO THE BEACH, IF YOU'RE THREE ROWS BACK AND THERE'S TWO HOUSES, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUILD A DUNE IN FRONT OF YOUR NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE.
[OVERLAPPING] HOWARD, OUR HOUSE.
[03:10:02]
NOW, I'M GOING TO ASK STUDENTS DO NOT BRING [OVERLAPPING].YOU'RE REQUIRED TO BUILD A DUNE.
THE NEXT THING I WANT TO TALK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT IS A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A HIGH LEVEL THAN WE'VE BEEN DOING.
WHICH IS THE IDEA OF ADAPTATION PATHWAYS AND WHAT THE CITY IS GOING TO BE DOING MOVING FORWARD.
I'VE TALKED TO AND I'VE BRUSHED UP AGAINST SEVERAL TIMES NOW, THE EROSION ISSUES THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING, THE RISK THAT WE ARE PUTTING BOTH THEIR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INFRASTRUCTURE.
THEN THIS LAST ISSUE, COULD THE CITY TAKE A HARD LINE AND SAY, LOOK, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD ANYTHING, YOU'VE GOT TO PUT A DUNE IN FRONT OF YOUR NEIGHBOR'S PROPERTY, YOU COULD PROBABLY WOULDN'T WORK OUT, BUT YOU COULD.
THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO BE DOING AS AN ISLAND TO PROTECT OURSELVES AGAINST THE ONCOMING ISSUES THAT WE'RE SEEING ALREADY.
ARE WE GOING TO REQUIRE GREATER PROTECTION? ARE WE GOING TO GO WITH A RETREAT PLAN, OR ARE WE GOING TO DO A HYBRID OF RETREATING AND ACCOMMODATING AND PROTECTING? THIS WAS PUBLISHED IN AN ASBPA PAPER RECENTLY.
THIS IS WHERE I'M PULLING THIS FROM AND IT SHOWS WHAT ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD OR ANOTHER TOWN IN NORTH CAROLINA IS GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW THIS IS THEIR DISCUSSION.
PREVIOUSLY THEY HAD VERY FEW POLICIES BACK IN THE '70S.
COME TO '80S, THEY STARTED GOING WITH SETBACKS AND ZONING RESTRICTIONS.
COME 2010, THEY PICKED UP NOURISHMENTS.
NOW, ALL OF THIS SHOULD SOUND FAMILIAR TO YOU GUYS BECAUSE WE'VE DONE ALL OF THESE THINGS AS A CITY, WE HAVE A SEAWALL.
WE'VE ADOPTED AN ASSESSED, A PRACTICALITY OF RETREATING TO SOME EXTENT.
BUT AS THE CITY CONTINUES TO GROW AND CONTINUES TO INFILL AND CONTINUES TO SEE DEVELOPMENT ON THE WEST END.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STRUGGLE WITH THESE DECISIONS AS A CITY.
THESE ARE THE LINES THAT ALL OF YOU ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH.
WE'VE GOT THE LINE OF VEGETATION, WE'VE GOT THE NORTH TOE, THE DUNE, THE DUNE PROTECTION LINE, AND THE 1000 FEET FROM MEAN HIGH TIDE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE FIXING WITH THIS AMENDMENT IS SOME PROBLEMATIC TERMINOLOGY.
LINE OF VEGETATION IS SOMETHING THAT WE KNOW FAIRLY CLEARLY WHAT THAT'S DEFINED AS.
IT'S THE BOUNDARY OF NATURAL VEGETATION, WHICH THANKS TO THE RESCISSION OF THE SUSPENSION ON THE LOV, WE NOW KNOW THAT THE ENTIRETY OF THE ISLAND IS BACK UNDER THE TYPICAL RULES REGARDING THE LOV, WHICH IS UNDER SECTION 61016, AND 61017 OF THE NATURAL RESOURCE CODE.
SOME OF THE GREATER PROBLEMATIC TERMINOLOGY THAT WE RUN INTO IS THINGS LIKE DUNE PROTECTION LINE, WHICH IS A LINE LOCATED AT THE NORTH TOE 25 FEET LANDWARD OF THE NORTH TOE.
THAT'S ONE OF THOSE TYPOS THAT WILL FIX OF THE CRITICAL DUNE AREA WHERE NO DUNES EXIST ON THE BEACHES WEST OF THE WESTERN MOST TERMINUS OF GALVESTON SEAWALL, THE LINE SHALL BE LOCATED 200 FEET FROM THE VEGETATION LINES.
DOING CONSERVATION AREA HOWEVER, SO THAT'S THE DUNE PROTECTION LINE.
WE KNOW PRETTY CLEARLY WHERE THE DUNE PROTECTION LINE IS EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A TYPO; DUNE CONSERVATION AREA, HOWEVER, WHERE CONSTRUCTION IS ACTUALLY PROHIBITED.
THIS IS WELL-DEFINED WITHIN TERMS OF WHERE IT STARTS.
WE KNOW THAT THE DUNE CONSERVATION AREA INCLUDES LANDS WITHIN 25 FEET OF THE NORTH TOE OF THE DUNE.
NOW ITS LIMITS, WHICH IS A SEPARATE DEFINITION.
WE SPENT A LONG TIME TALKING ABOUT THE SEAWARD LIMIT OF THE DCA, AND THEN REGARDING THE LANDWARD LIMIT OF THE DCA, DUNE CONSERVATION AREA, WE SIMPLY SAY THAT IT'S DEFINED AS THE NORTH TOE OF AN EXISTING DUNE RESTORED OR MAN-MADE PLUS 25 FEET LANDWARD OFFSET.
HOWEVER, IF YOU SEE WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS, WHAT IF THERE ARE NO DUNES? THE ISSUE HERE BECOMES IF THERE ARE NO DUNES THE SITUATION THAT WE'RE PUTTING OURSELVES IN IS THAT YOU START SEEING THINGS LIKE THIS WHERE BECAUSE OF THE DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS HAPPENED THE DUNES THEMSELVES WANT TO FORM ALONG THE PROPER AREA OF THE BEACH ENVELOPE.
WHICH PUTS THEM SOMETIMES WHERE PEOPLE'S LIVING ROOMS ARE, WHICH DOESN'T WORK WELL FOR THE PERSON WITH THE LIVING ROOM.
WHAT I'VE GOT HERE IS A SET OF SLIDES THAT I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH AGAIN AS QUICKLY AS I CAN TO TRY AND ILLUSTRATE WHAT THE ISSUE HERE IS.
IF WE HAVE A DUNE, YOU TAKE YOUR NORTH TOE OF THAT DUNE, YOU MEASURE 25 FEET, THAT'S YOU'RE DUNE PROTECTION LINE, BADA BING, BADA BOOM, YOU CAN PUT YOUR BEACH HOUSE THERE.
BUT IF THE DUNE PROTECTION LINE IS THE SAME AS THE LANDWARD EXTENT OF THE DUNE CONSERVATION AREA, WHICH I WANT TO BE CLEAR.
I'M MAKING THAT RECOMMENDATION.
[03:15:01]
I'M MAKING THE RECOMMENDATION AS STAFF THAT WE OUGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DUNE PROTECTION LINE IS THE LANDWARD EXTENT OF THE DCA.I'M GOING TO MAKE MY ARGUMENT FOR WHY RIGHT NOW.
IF IT IS, THEN WE MEASURE 200 FEET OFF OF THAT LINE OF VEGETATION.
THAT BECOMES YOUR DUNE PROTECTION LINE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE GREEN HOUSE WITH NO DUNES CAN BUILD HIS HOUSE, BUT HE HAS TO BUILD IT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER LANDWARD THAN THE BLUE HOUSE WHICH HAD DUNES IN THE LAST SCENARIO.
IF HOWEVER, THE DUNE PROTECTION LINE IS NOT THE SAME AS THE LANDWARD EXTENT OF THE DUNE CONSERVATION AREA, THE OTHER INTERPRETATION THAT COULD EXIST IS THAT WE WOULD TAKE THE LOV, WE'D ADD THE 50 FEET OF DUNES THAT COULD BE THERE.
WE'D ADD THE 25-FOOT SETBACK AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN SOMEBODY CAN BUILD HOMES FURTHER SEAWARD THAN IF THEY HAD DUNES.
I THINK THAT'S THE DEFINITION OF PERVERSE INCENTIVE.
THE NEXT SCENARIO I WANT TO SHOW YOU GUYS IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN UNDER WITH THE CURRENT RULES OF THE LOV AND WHAT IS STILL IN EFFECT ANY TIME THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO IDENTIFY AN LOV ON NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES FOR AN AREA THAT DOESN'T HAVE ONE WHICH IS 200 FEET FROM ME, LOW WATER BECOMES OUR LINE OF VEGETATION AND THEN 200 FEET OFF THAT BECOMES OUR DUNE PROTECTION LINE.
THIS MEANS THAT THE HOUSE THAT CAN BE BUILT ON THIS PROPERTY OR ON ANY PROPERTY IN THE AREA HAS TO SIT 400 FEET FROM MEAN LOW WATER.
HOWEVER, IF THE DPL DID NOT EQUAL THE LANDWARD EXTENT TO THE DCA, AGAIN, WE'RE IN A SCENARIO WHERE PERVERSE INCENTIVES PREVAIL AND YOU'RE ACTUALLY ABLE TO BUILD A HOUSE FURTHER SEAWARD THAN IF YOU HAD DUNES.
ALL THESE SLIDES ARE JUST TO SHOW YOU WHY WE, AS STAFF FEEL THE DPL OUGHT TO BE THE LANDWARD EXTENT OF THE DCA.
ANOTHER REASON THAT THIS IS SO CRITICAL IS BECAUSE OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED RECENTLY REGARDING THE LINE OF VEGETATION.
I WANT TO DO THIS AS PART OF THE PUBLIC SESSION BECAUSE THIS IS A QUESTION THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET A LOT OF.
>> ALREADY GOT TIME MY TEXTS, THIS ONE.
>> BECAUSE THE GLO DID NOT CHANGE ANY RULES, THE GLO SIMPLY SAID, THE SUSPENSION ON THE RULES THAT WE'VE BEEN PRACTICING UNDER, WE'RE NO LONGER SUSPENDING.
WE'RE GOING BACK TO THE BASE RULES.
THIS IS JUST YOUR INTRODUCTION TO WHAT THE BASE RULES ARE.
IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO PUT A HOUSE SOMEWHERE ON THIS MIDDLE LOT AND THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHERE TO PUT IT.
THEY'RE GOING TO TRY AND LOOK TO EITHER OF THEIR NEIGHBORS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE DUNES.
MAYBE THEY START TO THINK, WELL, THAT'S WHERE THEY SHOULD PUT IT.
WELL, WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS IS YOU TAKE THE ELEVATIONS FOUND ON THOSE DUNE LINES.
YOUR LOVS, YOU DRAW A CONNECTION BETWEEN THEM ON THE TOPO LINE, MEANING THE ELEVATION OF THE AVERAGE LOV BECOMES THEIR ELEVATION OF THEIR LINE OF VEGETATION; 200 FEET BACK FROM THAT BECOMES YOUR DUNE PROTECTION LINE.
THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE ABLE TO BUILD YOUR HOUSE.
THIS IS STANDARD RULES HOW IT WORKS IF YOUR NEIGHBORS HAVE DUNES AND YOU DON'T.
NOW, WHAT HAPPENS IF WE HAVE A HURRICANE AND THE DUNES ARE GONE? WELL, NOW WE GO BACK TO THE 200 FEET FROM MEAN LOW WATER.
THAT'S YOUR LOV 200 FURTHER FEET.
THAT'S WHERE YOU BUILD YOUR BEACHFRONT HOME.
IT DOES RESULT IN SITUATIONS WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BUILD HOUSES THAT ARE EITHER SMALLER OR FURTHER SETBACK.
OR WE AS A CITY ARE GOING TO ALLOW FOR AND THIS IS THE STANDARD RIGHT NOW AN EXEMPTION PROCESS WHERE YOU CAN GO AND YOU CAN BUILD YOUR HOUSE AS BIG AS YOUR NEIGHBORS.
WE'RE GOING TO JUST EXEMPT IT AND ALLOW IT TO BE BUILT THERE.
WE HAVE DONE THAT RECENTLY, BUT THIS IS THE SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN NOW.
THAT'S ALL THE STUFF I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU GUYS TODAY.
I TRIED TO BREEZE THROUGH THAT AS QUICKLY AS I COULD, BUT I KNOW I'M PONTIFICATING.
FIRST OF ALL, I'M GLAD THAT WE HAVE BRANDON HILL AND TIM KEEP UP WITH THIS AND TO BRING BACK RECOMMENDATIONS TO US.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT TAKES A SPECIAL MIND TO WORK THROUGH THIS.
THANK YOU, BRANDON, VERY MUCH.
I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND THIS TO, COUNCIL.
WE CAN OPEN SOME DISCUSSION HERE, BUT WE'RE REALLY MOVING THROUGH.
I WOULD RECOMMEND A COUPLE OF THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, I THINK BRIAN HAD AND DAN HAD SPECIAL MEETINGS, PERSONAL MEETINGS WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THE BUDGET.
I THINK THIS WILL BE SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO ENTERTAIN THIS, OKAY TIM?
>> HAVE A SPECIAL WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THIS BECAUSE THIS.
>> SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT I DON'T THINK EVERYBODY.
>> YEAH. THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO GET INTO.
>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU NEED TO SIT DOWN. [OVERLAPPING]
[03:20:01]
>> BUT SOME OF YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE IN THE FRONT IN YOUR HAND [OVERLAPPING].
THIS AFFECTS ME AND MORE PERHAPS THAN YOU CRAIG PAGE.
EVERYTHING ELSE IS IN FRONT OF THE SEAWALL.
THERE ARE SOME OTHER THINGS THAT CAME TO LIGHT YESTERDAY THAT I'M GOING TO BE ADDRESSING WITH BRIAN AND DAN ON WHERE WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GAIN SOME SAND BACK ON THE BEACH THAT WILL HELP EASE THIS ISSUE, SO I WILL TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT LATER.
TIM IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND AND BRANDON COORDINATING THIS WITH INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH YOU PERSONALLY ON THIS SO YOU CAN GO THROUGH THE SPECIFICS ON ANY OF THEIR CONCERNS OR CHANGES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> AM I HEARING THAT'S JUST TO DO WITH BEACHFRONT OR IS THAT?
>> I WOULD TOUCH BASE WITH ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, GIVE US TIME TO REVIEW THIS MATERIAL.
>> ABSOLUTELY. [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER]
>> WE'D GET THE POWERPOINT WITH THE THUNDER NOISE.
>> I COULD SEND IT TO YOU. [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUT IF WE COULD TOUCH BASE WITH ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SEE IF THEY WANTED TO SPEND SOME TIME AND WORK WITH THIS.
THE SECOND QUESTION I HAVE, WHERE DOES THE PLANNING COMMISSION PLAY A ROLE IN THIS? IN THE PAST THE PLANNING COMMISSION IN THIS FLOW TO REALLY EVALUATE AND PUT A LOT OF ATTENTION TO THIS.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER AT THIS POINT?
>> YEAH, I THINK IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE.
THIS IS AN ORDINANCE WHICH GOES THROUGH YOU GUYS.
BUT I KNOW IN THE CASES WHERE YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT LAND DEVELOPMENT ISSUES, YOU WANT TO GET THEIR OPINION AND THAT MAKES PERFECT SENSE.
THAT'S WHY BRANDON KEPT THOSE AMENDMENT STEPS GENERAL ENOUGH TO INSERT WHATEVER PROCESS YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION WANTS TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS.
I THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE. OBVIOUSLY.
>> AS LONG AS DOESN'T DELAY IT TOO.
>> WELL, IT WILL DELAY IT PROBABLY. [OVERLAPPING]
>> LIKE MULTIPLE MEETINGS DELAY IT.
>> THEY ARE VERY [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUT I'D RECOMMEND STEP 3. MR. MAYOR.
IF I WERE IN YOUR SHOES, I WOULD SAY, HAVE YOUR CITY COUNCIL LENS LOOK UPON THE AMENDMENT TEXT.
GO AHEAD AND GET IT TO THE GLO FOR INFORMAL REVIEW, [OVERLAPPING] SO THAT WE EVEN KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO ENTERTAIN EVERYTHING THAT WE PUT IN HERE.
THEN ONCE WE'VE GONE THROUGH WITH THAT LARGER SIEVE, TAKE IT AND REALLY GET DOWN TO THE NITTY-GRITTY WITH PLANNING COMMISSION SO I CAN INTERJECT THEM AT THE CITY ADDRESSES, GLO COMMENTS AND RECENT MESSAGE.
>> LET'S MAKE SURE THAT THE GLO JUST DIDN'T THROW IT OUT.
>> THEY MAY THROW A PARTS OF THAT OR SOME VARIATION THEREOF.
BUT I THINK IF YOU'RE GOING TO INSERT THE PLANNING COMMISSION INTO THIS, IT WOULD BE AFTER THAT HAPPENS SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT CONTEXTS WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE TAKING TO DO THESE FURTHER STEPS.
>> WELL PERSONALLY, I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET IT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I'M FINE WITH INSERTING IN AT THE TIME THAT YOU'RE THERE.
WE'VE GOT PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS THAT ARE VERY KEEN ON THESE SUBJECTS AND I THINK IT'D BE GOOD, ESPECIALLY IN LINE OF THE LDRS AS YOU MENTIONED THAT.
>> BUT IT DOES NEED TO GO TO THE GLO FIRST.
>> THERE'S NO DOUBT, WE'VE ALREADY YEAH.
>> BRANDON DID PRESENT A PORTION OF THIS PRESENTATION TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION ALREADY.
>> THEY ARE AWARE THAT THESE CHANGES ARE BEING MADE, AND I THINK BRANDON, HE ANSWERED MY QUESTION THE SAME QUESTION EARLIER, AND I THINK IF WE GET SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY THE GLO AND JUST GET THEIR GENERAL APPROVAL ON IT, I THINK THAT WOULD-
>> FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION ALSO.
>> COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS NOW FOR TIM OR BRANDON?
>> GOOD JOB. THANK YOU. [OVERLAPPING]
>> VERY THOROUGH. GREAT JOB ON IT.
>> IT'S A VERY COMPLEX ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT AND UNFORTUNATELY, AS YOU GUYS ALL KNOW, WE'RE LOSING BRANDON.
I WILL SAY RUSSELL IS STELLAR, INDIVISIBLE ABOUT THE TECHNICAL ISSUES THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE AND HE'S BEEN KEPT ABREAST OF ALL OF OUR CONVERSATIONS, THE THINGS THAT BRANDON I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND HE'S BEEN INCLUDED IN THIS, THINGS THAT WERE BROUGHT BACK TO BRIAN, AND SO HE'S GOING TO BE A GREAT GUY TO HELP US OUT IN THE INTERIM.
WE WILL NEED HELP OVER THIS TIME WHILE WE TRY TO FILL THE POSITION, AND BY THE WAY, I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE'RE ACTIVELY SEEKING THAT AND WE'VE
[03:25:05]
EXPANDED THE COMPONENTS OF THE ROLE TO COASTAL RESILIENCE AS A WHOLE.WHICH MIGHT GET US A BIGGER NET OF INDIVIDUALS WHO MIGHT WANT TO APPLY FOR THE POSITION NATIONWIDE.
>> THANK YOU, TIM. BRANDON, THANK YOU, AND WISH YOU THE BEST.
WE'VE ENJOYED HAVING YOU AND YOU'RE REALLY WORKING WITH TIM AND THE GROUP THERE HAVE REALLY EXPANDED AND BROUGHT EXPERTISE TO THAT COAST FROM RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT.
>> I THINK THE BEACHES IN OHIO WILL BENEFIT FROM [OVERLAPPING].
>> THE OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE A FAMILY MINUTES FROM THE REST OF MY FAMILY IS GOING TO BE A REAL BLESSING AND I LOVE THE COMMUNITY OF GALVESTON.
I WILL ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER MY PHONE IF ANYBODY EVER NEEDS ANYTHING.
BECAUSE IN MANY WAYS THIS COMMUNITY IS LIKE FAMILY.
BUT ULTIMATELY THIS MOVE GETS US WITH FAMILY AND WATCHING MY SON SIT ON MY DAD'S LAP LAST NIGHT AT DINNER, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WANT ONE FOR THE KIDS AND WANT FOR THE WIFE AND I. I APPRECIATE ALL THAT I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO HERE, AND I APPRECIATE GETTING TO WORK WITH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU GUYS, AND IF YOU EVER NEED ME, YOU KNOW HOW TO GET ME.
>> WE'RE GOING TO NAME THAT HURRICANE SOUND AFTER YOU.
>> YES. GREAT. IT SOUNDS EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME HERE.
>> THEY WILL BUY YOU A LUNCH TODAY.
>> LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 3E, PLEASE, JANELLE.
[3.E. Discussion Of A Policy For Council Recognition On Public Buildings (Brown - 10 Min)]
>> 3E, DISCUSSION OF THE POLICY FOR COUNCIL RECOGNITION ON PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
>> THIS IS AN ITEM STAMP THAT WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING HERE AT THE CITY.
A TRADITIONAL WAY OF NAMING BUILDINGS.
>> NOT NAMING BUILDINGS, COMMEMORATING THEM.
>> THANK YOU, BRIAN. WE FOLLOWED A TRADITIONAL METHOD OF COMMEMORATING THE COUNCILS AND RECOGNIZING THE COUNCILS THAT WERE INVOLVED WITH THE BUILDINGS AND WHEN THEY WERE COMPLETED AND SO FORTH.
THIS WAS DONE THROUGH A TRADITIONAL METHOD.
I WAS CONTACTED BY A FEW CONSTITUENTS THAT FELT THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE HANDLED IN A DIFFERENT MANNER.
WHEN WE LOOKED INTO THIS, WE DID NOT HAVE A POLICY FOR THIS, SO WHAT'S I RECOMMENDED IS THAT WE ESTABLISH A POLICY, WHATEVER COUNCIL WANTS TO DO ON THIS, AND RECOGNIZING THOSE COUNCILS ON THOSE BUILDINGS THAT ARE INVOLVED.
BRIAN AND STEFF HAVE PUT TOGETHER A PROPOSAL FOR US.
>> IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD WHEN I GOT HERE OR WHATEVER, A LOT OF NEW BUILDINGS TO DEDICATE, SO THERE HASN'T BEEN A BIG ISSUE, BUT LATELY WE'VE DONE A FEW PROJECTS AND WE HOPEFULLY HAVE A FEW MORE ON THE HORIZON.
THE STANDARD ACROSS MOST GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES IS THE COUNCIL SEATED AT THE TIME OF DEDICATION.
IT IS BY FACT, THE DEDICATION PLAQUE AND IT COMMEMORATES THOSE THAT ARE THERE THE DAY THE FACILITY IS DEDICATED.
WHEN I WORKED AT THE COUNTY BECAUSE THINGS CHANGE AND ESPECIALLY HERE WITH THE TERM LIMITS AND THE CRAZY TWO-YEAR TERMS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
WHEN I GOT HERE, WHAT I DID WAS I ADDED TO THE ATTITUDE THAT THE COUNCIL THAT ACTUALLY VOTED THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT OR THE CONTRACT, AND AS WELL AS THE COUNCIL THAT WAS SEATED AT THE TIME OF DEDICATION OR SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION OCCUPANCY OF THE BUILDING, SO YOU BASICALLY HAVE THREE OPTIONS WITH THIS.
YOU CAN JUST DO THE COUNCIL THAT SEAT AT A TIME AND DEDICATION.
YOU CAN DO THE COUNCIL THAT'S SEATED AT THE TIME OF CONSTRUCTION AWARD, AND WHEN I SAY AWARD THAT IS ACTUALLY VOTING TO SPEND THE MONEY WITH THIS CONTRACTOR IN THIS AMOUNT FOR THIS PROJECT AND YOU CAN EITHER YOU CAN VOTE JUST THE DEDICATION OR YOU COULD ALSO INCLUDE THAT OR YOU COULD OFTEN NOT DO PLAQUES ANYMORE.
ALTHOUGH I THINK THAT'S FOR A CITY THAT PRIDES ITSELF IN ITS HISTORIC NATURE, I THINK THAT THAT'S FAIRLY COMMON AND I THINK WE SHOULD.
>> YOU COULD DO BOTH, THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.
WE DO BOTH SEATED COUNCILS AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS A FAIR THING TO DO.
LIKE I SAID, AS I LOOKED AROUND HERE, IT WAS ALWAYS JUST THE COUNCIL THAT WAS SEATED AT THE TIME OF DEDICATION, BUT IT'S HIGHLY LIKELY WITH OUR TWO-YEAR TERMS OF ABOUT A BUILDING GETS COMPLETE AROUND HERE.
THE COUNCIL THAT SEATED HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE AWARD OF THE CONTRACT TO BUILD IT.
[03:30:05]
THAT'S THE COUNCIL THAT REALLY TAKES COURAGE TO DO IT.THEY ARE VOTING TO SPEND THAT MONEY ON THAT DAY WITH A CONTRACTOR TO START THE WORK.
BUT AS JOHN PAUL TELLS YOU WHEN THEY SIGN THAT PAPER, THAT'S A HAPPY DAY FOR THE CONTRACTORS.
>> IT'S A GOOD DAY. I'LL GIVE IT TO YOU GUYS HOWEVER YOU WANT TO DO IT.
>> IN MY MIND, IT'S JUST IMPORTANT TO GET A GOOD PRODUCT TO THE CITIZENS AND WHO TAKES CREDIT FOR IT IS PETTY. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I WANT TO KNOW WHEN I GET TO THE [INAUDIBLE] BEACH DONE, HOW ARE WE GOING TO PLAQUE THAT?
>> WELL, WE'RE JUST GOT TO PAY SOMEBODY TO GO TO OUT THERE EVERY DAY AND ETCH IT IN THE SAND. LAUGHTER]
>> I'M SYMPATHETIC PEOPLE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THIS.
BUT JUST FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, MY EGO IS JUST NOT INVOLVED IN THIS.
I DON'T NEED MY NAME ON [INAUDIBLE].
I DON'T NEED MY NAME ON NEW SEWER PLANT.
IT'S JUST IMMATERIAL TO ME, SO IF WE DON'T PUT PLAQUES ON IT, I'M OKAY WITH IT.
IF WE DO, WE'LL EITHER OF THESE OPTIONS.
I'M HAPPY TO GO WITH WHATEVER SENSE OF COUNCIL WE HAVE HERE.
>> VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER THOUGHTS?
>> WE NEED TO BRING THIS FORWARD.
WE NEED TO HAVE AN ACTION ITEM ON THIS.
WE'LL BRING IT FORWARD NEXT MEETING FOR ACTION NIGHT OF COUNCIL, AND THEN WE'LL JUST VOTE ON THIS AND SEE HOW COUNCIL WANTS TO MOVE.
LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 3F IF WE COULD PLEASE, JANELLE.
[3.F. Council Discussions And Updates]
>> 3F COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS AND UPDATES.
ONE, DISCUSSION OF THE STATUS OF THE 30TH STREET PUMP STATION.
TWO, DISCUSSIONS OF THE STREET RATINGS.
>> COUNCIL WOMAN LEWIS HAS BROUGHT THESE TWO ITEMS TO US.
WE'LL START WITH NUMBER 1, PLEASE.
>> THE STATUS OF THE 30TH STREET PUMP STATION AND EVERYONE IS FAMILIAR WITH WHERE THAT'S LOCATED, CORRECT? WE'VE HAD SOME RESIDENTS, CONSTITUENTS TO BRING UP SOME QUESTIONS REGARDING THE BUILDING.
THAT PARTICULAR BUILDING AND THE BUILDING AROUND FROM THE HOUSES, THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE.
THE FIRST QUESTION THAT WE NEEDED TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION ON IS THE IDENTIFYING THE BUILDING AS ONE BUILDING OR TWO BUILDINGS.
THE BUILDING THAT IS LABELED THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND THE BUILDING WHERE THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE IS LOCATED.
>> IT ALWAYS BEEN TWO SEPARATE BUILDINGS, ONE OF THEM WASN'T OUR BUILDING THAT WAS DESIGNED WITH THE ORIGINAL AND ACTUALLY IT WASN'T EVEN BUILT WITH THE ORIGINAL PUMP STATION.
IT WAS DESIGNED TO HOUSE MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE OPERATION PUMP STATION IN LATER YEARS AND ITS NOT INCLUDED IN THE GRANT TO RESTORE THE PUMP STATION.
IT'S BEEN AN OFFICE BUILDING FOR THE CITY SINCE WELL BEFORE MY TIME ACTUALLY, IN SPEAKING TO PREVIOUS CITY MANAGERS, GOING BACK THREE CITY MANAGERS.
IT WAS OFFICE SPACE DURING THAT TIME AND IT HAS ALWAYS GOOD OFFICE SPACE AND IT WAS NEVER INTENDED TO BE PART OF IT.
IT'S NOT EQUIPPED NOR IS IT UP TO CODE FOR COMMUNITY CENTER USE AND IT'S OFFICE SPACE HAS BEEN SINCE IT WAS CONVERTED BACK IN THE EARLY DAYS BEFORE I WAS HERE.
>> ACCORDING TO WHAT I'VE SEEN, MANAGERS SAID THAT THESE ARE TWO SEPARATE BUILDINGS.
ONE IS IDENTIFIED AS THE SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTER, WHICH WE CAN TELL IF I WANTED TO DO BINGO ONE NIGHT, I CAN CALL UP AND HAVE BINGO THERE OR WHATEVER.
THE OTHER PART, WHICH WILL BE THE WEST END OF IT IS WHERE THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE IS HOUSED AND OTHER OFFICES OR WHATEVER HAVE BEEN HOUSED THERE.
THE QUESTION OR CONCERN WAS THAT THEY WERE ONE BUILDING.
HAVE WE ESTABLISHED THAT IT'S TWO SEPARATE BUILDINGS? [OVERLAPPING] THE OTHER CONCERN WAS IT BEING USED AS A COMMUNITY CENTER, THE CEDARS COMMUNITY CENTER, WHICH I THINK IT'S IDENTIFIED AS THAT BECAUSE USUALLY WHEN WE WANT TO HAVE SOMETHING WOULD GO THROUGH BARBARA SANDERSON DO THE PAPER WORK WITH THE BUILDING AND USE IT.
>> IT'S FREE OF CHARGE TO THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY HERE.
>> FREE OF CHARGE TO PEOPLE LIKE OUR.
>> WE HAVE A FORM AND IT'S ONLINE.
WE OPERATED THIS COMMUNITY CENTER NOT TO INTERRUPT. YOU CAN [OVERLAPPING].
FROM 8:00 AM TO 8:00 PM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AND THEN WE OFFER A RENTAL FOR PRIVATE EVENTS ON THE WEEKENDS.
WE'VE HAD ONE RENTAL, WHICH WAS A WEDDING, AND WE HAVE ANOTHER RENTAL THAT IS PLANNED FOR
[03:35:03]
JANUARY 2023 AND ITS ALSO A RENTAL AND I WILL PRINT THAT.>> THAT'S TRUE AND WE HAD SEVERAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
>> WE'VE HAD SCOUTING EVENTS IN THERE.
>> MAYOR'S FORUM [OVERLAPPING].
IF YOU COULD REVIEW THE MONEY THAT WAS SPENT TO REMODEL, THAT IF HE COULD JUST HIGHLIGHT THAT.
>> I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT DOLLARS IN FRONT OF ME.
BUT THE DOLLARS THAT WERE SPENT REMODELING WERE ALLOCATED BY THE GLO FOR THAT SPECIFIC BUILDING.
WHEN THAT BUILDING WAS PUT IN A PROGRAM, IT'S ACTUALLY A SMALLER PART OF THE BIGGER PROJECT, WHICH WAS THE ACTUAL CEDAR'S REDEVELOPMENT AREA AND THE GLO AT THAT TIME WANTED TO EXPEND SOME DOLLARS IN THAT AREA TO PROVIDE A CENTRAL COMMUNITY CENTER FOR THAT CEDARS AREA.
THAT AREA CAME OUT SO WELL IN DEVELOPMENT.
THEY WANTED TO ADD THAT AND THAT MONEY WAS ALLOCATED FOR THAT BUILDING.
MOST OF THE MONEY WAS ACTUALLY USED TO REMOVE ALL THE OLD EQUIPMENT THAT WAS IN THERE, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF MOST OF YOU KNOW THAT BUILDING FUNCTIONING AS A PUMP STATION.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE PUMP STATION, IT WAS A PUMP STATION AND IT WAS FUNCTIONING AS A PUMP STATION UP UNTIL WE COMPLETED THE OTHER AROUND HURRICANE IKE TIME AND THE OFFICES BEHIND IT AS THEY ARE NOW, THEY WERE OFFICES.
THAT WAS WHERE MOST OF THE MONEY WAS SPENT.
WE FILLED IN THE HOLES IN THE FLOOR USED TO BE YOU COULD WALK UNDERNEATH THERE AND THEY'RE STILL SMALL CAVERN THAT YOU CAN GO UNDERNEATH THERE.
I DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW IF YOU'RE CLAUSTROPHOBIC IF YOU'D WANT TO.
BUT THERE WERE SUBMERGED PUMPS AND WELLS AND EVERYTHING IN THERE AS WELL.
WE FILLED ALL THAT IN; THAT'S WHERE MOST OF THE MONEY WENT, AS A MATTER OF FACT, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IT'S NOT ON TODAY'S AGENDA, IT'S ON A FUTURE AGENDA, A CONTRACT TO CONTINUE TO TREAT THE TERMITES IN THAT BUILDING.
WE HAVE FOUND A LOT OF GOOD CURES IN THIS WORLD, BUT WE HAVEN'T FOUND A CURE FOR FORMOSA AND TERMITES YET.
THAT BUILDING IS A BIG PART OF THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING IN THERE AND REPLACE THE BEAMS AND THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN EATEN UP BY TERMITES AND WE'VE HAD TO TREAT IT.
WE THINK WE GOT THEM UNDER CONTROL, BUT WE HAVE TO REPAIR THE WOOD NOW, AND THAT'S DAMAGE SINCE THE RESTORATION OF IT.
>> FORMOSA AND TERMITE ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS THE ONLY ONE WE DID NOT COVER.
>> I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER THE TOTAL AMOUNT THAT WAS SPENT ON THAT BUILDING.
ITS LIKE $3,000,000 OR $4,000,000, [NOISE] AND THE GLO HANDLED ALL OF THAT.
THEY'D BEEN DOWN TO INSPECT IT AND ALL THAT SINCE THEN.
THEY'VE ACTUALLY HOSTED AN EVENT THERE.
>> THE REASON IT IS ON THE WORKSHOP IS TO TRY TO BRING CLARIFICATION TO THIS THAT THE BUILDING, 30 PUMP STREET STATION BUILDING HAS BEEN USED FOR SEVERAL THINGS AND BARBARA SANDERSON THEN PASSED OUT PAPERWORK FOR EVENTS.
AS A COMMUNITY CENTER, IT HAS THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE, THERE'S BEEN QUESTIONS ABOUT MOVING THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE.
>> THAT IT SHOULD BE A COMMUNITY CENTER.
>> IT'S LITTLE SMALL OFFICES IN THERE, IT'S NOT REALLY SET UP.
YOU'D HAVE TO COMPLETELY GUT THE BUILDING.
IT'S BEEN AN OFFICE BUILDING FOR SO LONG.
IT DOESN'T HAVE FULLY ADA ACCESSIBLE FOR BATHROOMS AND ALL THOSE THING EITHER.
IT'S AN OFFICE BUILDING. IT'S BEEN THAT WAY FOR MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS.
IT WAS PUBLIC WORKS FOR A WHILE.
IT WAS ENGINEERING FOR A WHILE.
IT'S PROJECT MANAGEMENT FOR A WHILE; THAT'S JUST SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.
I BELIEVE THIS IS SMALL PART OF THE GRANT STEP AFTER HURRICANE IKE WAS IN THERE.
IT'S ASSIGNED BY THE CITY MANAGER, NOT RIGHT NOW.
IT'S THE MARSHAL; MAY NOT ALWAYS BE THE MARSHAL, MAYBE SOMEBODY ELSE IN THE FUTURE.
>> WELL, I JUST NEED TO BRING CLARIFICATION TO THOSE QUESTIONS AND RECEIVE SOME INFORMATION HERE.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR DO WE NEED TO GET MORE CLARITY, SO THAT WE CAN GET THESE QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND MOVE ON?
>> ABSOLUTELY, ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT OR COMMENTS?
>> I THINK ALL OF YOU HAVE BEEN THERE, BUT IF YOU HAVEN'T, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO LOOK AT IT.
IT'S REALLY A MAGNIFICENT STRUCTURE.
>> IF YOU LOOK AT THE BEAMS THAT THEY'RE REPAIRING, THAT IN ITSELF IS GOING TO BE FUN TO WATCH.
>> SHARON, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ON THIS OR ANY OTHER THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO DISCUSS CONCERNING THIS TOPIC.
[03:40:02]
I DON'T TOO AGREE IF THE DISCRETION OF THE STREET RATING SYSTEM, SHARON.
>> WE WANT TO LOOK AT AND WE'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED THAT WE CAN BE PART OF THAT.
CDBG FUND FOR STREET IMPROVEMENTS, WE KNOW THAT BALL STREET IS [OVERLAPPING]
>> YES. WE JUST WANT TO BE PART OF THAT AND I'D LIKE FOR COUNCIL TO BE PART OF THAT IN HELPING US TO MAKE SURE THE STREETS ARE IMPROVED WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY.
>> WE'RE ON TOP OF THAT. ALICE LAW BROUGHT THAT TO YOU GUYS.
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW.
I'M NEGOTIATING WITH A SUCCESSFUL FIRM OR SEVERAL SUCCESSFUL FIRMS TO DO THE NEXT STREET ASSESSMENT.
IT'S ACTUALLY REALLY COOL HOW THEY'RE DOING IT NOW, WE'VE GONE FROM THE ORIGINAL STREET ASSESSMENT.
WE'RE DOING OUR FIRST GOT HERE THING, PEOPLE WALKING THE STREETS TO USING LIDAR TO NOW THEY ACTUALLY USE AN ALTERNATIVE. WHAT'S THE TERM, BRANDON?
>> THE AI. YEAH, AI METHOD WHERE IT'S ALL DONE.
THEY GO OUT AND THEY USE LASERS AND EVERYTHING ELSE TO ASSESS IT.
UNDERSTANDING THAT WE DO THESE EVERY TWO OR THREE YEARS, IF THE STREET SHAKES LOOSE IN THE INTERIM, SOMETIMES STREETS RAPIDLY DETERIORATE AFTER WE'VE DONE THIS, WE ALWAYS CAN REAPPRAISE AND WORK ON THAT.
BUT WE DID THIS BACK WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE TO TAKE THE POLITICS OUT OF THE STREETS AND IT'S WORKED FAIRLY WELL.
I THINK WE'VE BEEN VERY FAIR AND EVENHANDED.
WITH THE HELP OF CDBG FUNDING, WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN ABLE TO ALLOW MOST OF OUR STREET FUNDING TO GO FURTHER IN THE OTHER DISTRICTS BECAUSE IN MISS LEWIS' DISTRICT, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE HER SHARE OF THE STREETS PRETTY MUCH WITH THE LMI MONEY FROM CDBG, WHICH FREES UP THE OTHER STREET MONEY TO BE USED IN THE OTHER DISTRICTS THAT DON'T QUALIFY FOR IT.
>> RIGHT, AND DISTRICTS THAT ARE 20 MILES LONG, THAT ARE ONLY GETTING A PORTION.
WE HAVE SOME REALLY HORRIBLE STREETS.
>> OUR OVERALL STREET RATING, AND I WILL SAY THIS, OUR OVERALL RATING GRANTED HAS COME UP QUITE A BIT AS IN OUR STREETS FROM THE LAST ASSESSMENT.
>> FROM HURRICANE IKE, WE'VE MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN OUR PCI INDEXES FROM 2017 EVER SINCE THE BOND PACKAGES.
I THINK OUR OVERALL RATING IS ABOUT SATISFACTORY ON AN ISLAND-WIDE BASIS.
BUT THIS NEW ROUND OF ASSESSMENT WILL BE VERY TELLING, I GUESS TO SEE WHERE WE LANDED THAT WE'VE REALLY BEEN CRANKING IT AS WHOLE.
>> THEY ACTUALLY COVER EVERY SINGLE STREET ON THE ISLAND.
>> PROBABLY ABOUT 99 PERCENT [OVERLAPPING] HERE AND THERE BUT WE CAN ALWAYS RE-MOBILIZE AND POINT THEM.
THERE'S OTHER STREETS THAT MAY BE PUBLIC THAT DON'T APPEAR SO.
WHENEVER YOU DRIVE BY IT, IT LOOKS LIKE IT MAY JUST BE A DIRT ROAD OR SOMETHING AND IT ACTUALLY IS A PUBLIC STREET.
THEY'LL MISS SOME LITTLE PIECES LIKE THAT BUT PREDOMINANTLY, I'D SAY 99.5 PERCENT.
>> WHO DID THE PCI SCORE FOR DETERMINING WHICH STREETS WE DO? WHAT WE ALSO DO IT TO COMPARE OURSELVES TO OTHER CITIES AND WHERE WE ARE.
LIKE I SAID, WE'RE RIGHT IN THERE WITH ALL THE OTHER CITIES; WE WEREN'T, BUT WE ARE NOW.
>> BECAUSE I THINK ALL OF US CAN PROBABLY SAY, I'VE GOT THE WORST STREET, KNOW WHERE THE WORST STREETS ARE, BUT IF COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE A REQUEST ON HAVING THOSE STREETS RE-EVALUATED AND POSSIBLY RE-PRIORITIZED, WHO DO THEY CONTACT?
>> YOU CONTACT BRANDON, THEY'LL COMPARE IT TO THE SURVEY AND MAKE SURE THE ENGINEERS GET A GOOD HARD LOOK AT IT.
>> I THINK WE ALL HAVE A LIST OF THOSE.
ANYTHING ELSE ON THAT, SHARON?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. VERY GOOD, WE CAN HAVE DAVID PRESENT.
[3.G. Report Of City Council's Park Board Representative (Collins/Brown - 10 Minutes)]
WE ALWAYS KNOW WE'RE AT THE END OF OUR [OVERLAPPING] REPORTED AS TO THE COUNCIL BOARD.>> IN ANSWER TO JOHN'S QUESTION, WHO WAS NOT HERE WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST TIME, QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VIABILITY OF THE STEWART BEACH PAVILION WERE RAISED AGAIN BECAUSE PARK WORKS, SO THAT THEY COULD REHAB IT FOR FOUR YEARS TO KEEP THE BEACH CONTROL IN THERE WHILE THEY CONTEMPLATE BUILDING A NEW ONE.
THAT PROMPTED US TO SUGGEST TO MR. MAXWELL WHAT WE NEEDED WAS A ROBUST ENGINEERING SURVEY OF THE EXISTING PAVILION.
THAT INITIAL SURVEY HAS BEEN DONE, THE VIEW SEEMED TO BE THAT IT CAN BE FIXED.
THEN WHAT WOULD IT COST TO FIX IT AND WHAT WOULD IT COST TO RELOCATE IT COMPLETELY? TO REDESIGN IT.
IT'S TWO STEPS, TWO QUESTIONS.
WE WERE WAITING ON THAT REPORT BACK ON THE ENGINEERING COST TO REHABILITATE THE BUILDING.
[03:45:03]
WE'LL BE BRINGING THAT BACK JUST AS SOON AS WE HAVE THAT BUT THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.>> BASICALLY, YOU'RE LEFT WITH SHORT.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS THE STRUCTURE ITSELF, AND OBVIOUSLY THE ENGINEER SAYS IT'S SALVAGEABLE, ANYTHING IS SALVAGEABLE.
BUT HE'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT WRAPPING EPOXY, ALL THOSE TYPE OF THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT IT.
THEN WHERE YOU GO FROM THERE IS TO WHETHER YOU WANT TO RE-IMAGINE THE FACILITY.
FIXING THE FACILITY IS ONE THING, WHETHER IT'S FUNCTIONING IN THE MANNER YOU WANT IS A WHOLE SEPARATE ISSUE.
>> CAN WE RID IT BECAUSE IT IS UGLY.
IF WE CAN REDESIGN IT AND REPROGRAM IT TO FILL OUR NEEDS AND QUITE FORTUNATELY TO MEET BEACH PATROLS NEEDS AND THAT'S ONE THING, IF WE CAN DO IT FOR COST COMPETITIVE WITH WHAT IT WOULD COST TO BUILD A NEW ONE.
>> YOU HAVE A LOT OF SQUARE FOOTAGE IN THAT.
>> IT'S ALMOST 17,000 SQUARE FEET IN THERE, SO THAT TRUMPS SIZE-WISE, ANYTHING WE CONTEMPLATE BUILDING ELSEWHERE.
BUT THAT'S THE PROCESS AND WE'LL BE BACK AND TALK ABOUT THAT.
THE ONE OTHER THING WAS, AS YOU KNOW, JUDGE GRADY [INAUDIBLE] DISTRICT COURT REFUSED TO ISSUE AN INJUNCTION ON THE OWNERSHIP OF THE BEACH, AND THE VENDORS WHO ARE ON THE BEACH BECAUSE THERE WERE CONCERNS THAT THE SURFACE LEASE THAT THE PARK BOARD HOLDS TODAY, IT'S NOT SUFFICIENT TO GIVE THEM STANDING TO PURSUE THIS.
IT'S AN OPEN QUESTION TO THE GLO RIGHT NOW, OR IF THEY WANT TO ENGAGE IN IT LEGALLY OR THEY WANT TO COME DOWN AND DEFEND IT.
IF THEY DON'T, IT'S PROBLEMATIC, BUT WE'LL BURN THAT BRIDGE WHEN WE GET TO IT.
WE'RE WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM, THE PARK BOARD PLACE.
THAT'S REALLY ALL I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT THAT.
>> THE RULING, DAVID, IT REALLY DIDN'T ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF PUBLIC OR PRIVATE.
>> WHAT YESTERDAY'S HEARING WAS ABOUT WAS SEEKING A TEMPORARY, AN INJUNCTION.
A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER WAS PUT OFF UNTIL YESTERDAY.
AN INJUNCTION AGAINST PEOPLE OPERATING ON WHAT THE PARK BOARD CONSIDERS TO BE STATE BEACH.
I WASN'T THERE, BUT I THINK I UNDERSTAND IT CORRECTLY THAT JUDGE GRADY SIMPLY SAID THE PARK BOARD ALLOWS STANDING FOR RULING THAT IT WOULD TAKE THE STATE BECAUSE IT IS THE STATE THAT'S ASSERTS WHERE THE LINE OF JURISDICTION IS AND THE STATE ASSERTS THAT IT IS PROBABLY A STATE OWNED PROPERTY, THAT IT WOULD TAKE THE STATE COMING DOWN AND ASSERTING, SO WHETHER THEY JOIN THE SUIT, THE SUIT GETS DISMISSED AND WE WILL SEE; DO YOU UNDERSTAND THIS ANY DIFFERENTLY THAN WHAT I'VE JUST OBSERVED?
>> YOU TRULY CAPTURED THE ABSENCE.
GLO IS A NECESSARY PARTY, THEY'RE NOT THERE.
IF THEY'RE NOT THERE, I CAN'T SEE A LOT OF ALTERNATIVES HERE.
>> WE SHOULD KNOW PRETTY SHORTLY WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO ENGAGE.
>> THE QUESTION IS FOR THE GLO TO SAW THE LIMB OFF THE PORT.
>> GO BACK TO THE PAVILION, IF NOBODY ELSE HAS ANY QUESTIONS.
THE PARK BOARD HAD A SETTING DOWN ON THE BUILDING, CORRECT? WHY DID WE NOT HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION IN THAT STUDY? WHY ARE WE SPENDING MORE MONEY ON ANOTHER STUDY?
>> I CAN GIVE YOU PART OF THAT ANSWER.
THE STUDY WAS IN 2018, SO IT'S NOT NEW.
BUT THE NARRATIVE HAD BEEN FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, THAT IT'S FALLING APART, WE GOT TO TAKE IT DOWN. IT'S DANGEROUS.
IN FACT, WE HAVE IT FENCED AND NO ONE BUT PARK BEACH PATROL STAFF IS OPERATING OUT OF THE BUILDING.
THE KIDS AREN'T IN THERE FOR THE JUNIOR GUARD PROGRAMS AND SO FORTH.
AS I SAID, THE NARRATIVE WAS JUST, WE PRESENTED THIS NARRATIVE THAT IT WAS JUST COLLAPSED, PRACTICALLY.
IT JUST NEEDED TO BE TORN DOWN.
I WAS READY TO COME TO COUNCIL THIS FALL AND SAY, CAN WE JUST ALLOCATE THE MONEY AND GET RID OF THIS THING.
BUT THEN IN TRYING TO FIND ANOTHER HOME FOR BEACH PATROL IN THE INTERIM, THE BEST ALTERNATIVE, ACCORDING TO STAFF, WAS TO KEEP BEACH PATROL IN THAT BUILDING FOR UP TO ANOTHER FOUR YEARS, WHICH WE COULD DO FOR SOMEWHERE BETWEEN A $175-200,000 A YEAR, MAINTENANCE COST, WHICH IS NOT A GREAT DEAL MORE THAN WE SPEND ON IT ALREADY.
THE QUESTION WAS RAISED, WHAT'S THE TRUTH HERE? CAN WE KEEP IT? IS IT FALLING DOWN?
>> THERE'S NO DANGER OF IMMINENT COLLAPSE.
>> I DON'T THINK WE REALLY FELT THAT WAS THE CASE, BUT THAT WAS THE NARRATIVE.
WHEN IT WAS RAISED THAT FOR $800,000,
[03:50:01]
WE COULD REHAB IT TO THE POINT OF KEEPING BEACH PATROL IN THERE FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS, THAT BEGS THE QUESTION, WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO GET THEM IN THERE ANOTHER 40 YEARS, 20 YEARS, WHATEVER.WHAT CONDITION IS THE BUILDING REALLY IN. TO SAY CONCRETE'S FALLING IS ONE THING, TO SAY THIS BUILDING CAN'T BE SAVED, AGAIN IS ANOTHER.
THEN LIKE I SAID, THE THIRD STEP OF THIS IS IF WE KNOW THAT, WE KNOW HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS IF WE DO THAT, THEN WE STRIP OUT THE WALLS, WE COMPLETELY REDESIGN THE BUILDING.
WE PUT A NEW ROOF ON IT, NEW DESIGN, MAKE IT LOOK.
BECAUSE IT'S JUST ESSENTIALLY A BIG PARKING GARAGE IS WHAT IT IS, A BIG CONCRETE STRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE ADAPTED OVER THE YEARS.
IT WAS BUILT AS A BEACH HOUSE, A BATHHOUSE, ESSENTIALLY.
WE'VE PUT WALLS IN IT, WE PUT AIR CONDITIONERS AND WE'VE ADDED WATER SYSTEMS. IT IS NOT FUNCTIONING AS IT WAS DESIGNED.
IF WE TEAR IT BACK TO THE CONCRETE, WHAT IS IT GOING TO COST US? IT WAS JUST THAT FOUR-YEAR PLAN THAT BROUGHT UP THE QUESTION, REALLY.
IF IT'S NOT IN THAT BAD A CONDITION, WHAT IS ITS CONDITION? CAN IT BE SAVED? WHAT WOULD IT TAKE?
>> PLUS WASN'T THE PARK BOARD ALSO TALKING ABOUT SPENDING $8-10,000,000 TO JUST BUILD A LIFE GUARD BUILDING?
>> YES. IT WAS 10 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS THE FIRST TIME.
SECOND TIME THE CIP CAME AROUND, IT WAS EIGHT AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'LL BE THE THIRD TIME, BUT AGAIN, THAT WAS SO MUCH MONEY THAT IT SEEMED PRUDENT TO KNOW WHAT IT WOULD COST.
>> TO SAVE THAT ONE, THIS ONE.
THERE'S THE ANCILLARY CONCERN THAT ANYTHING NEW WE BUILD WOULD HAVE TO HAVE GLO APPROVAL AND THE GLOS PRETTY MUCH SAID THAT YOU CAN'T BUILD ANYTHING CLOSE TO THE WATER.
THAT THAT, THE EXISTING BUILDING IS, WHICH IS OVER 800 FEET FROM THE WATER LINE ANYWAY, OR 600 FEET, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S A LONG WAY AND A MISERABLE WALK IF IT'S A LONG DISTANCE.
WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
IT WILL ALSO BE FASTER TO REHAB THIS ONE, IF WE CAN DO SO AND MAKE IT ATTRACTIVE, MAKE IT FUNCTIONAL, AND DO SO FOR A REASONABLE COST BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY THERE, WE DON'T HAVE TO GET A BUNCH OF PERMISSION TO BUILD. THAT MAKE SENSE?
>> YES AND NO. MY ONLY THOUGHT HERE IS, DOES THAT WORK IN THE LONG TERM PLAN FOR WHAT WE HAVE PICTURED FOR STEWART BEACH.
IT GOES DOWN TO THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION IS, WHERE'S THE MASTER PLAN AT? WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH STEWART BEACH? WHERE DO WE WANT TO GO WITH STEWART BEACH? IF IT'S NOT IN THE MASTER PLAN, THEN WE'RE SPINNING ON OUR WHEELS HERE.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SPINNING WHEELS BECAUSE WE DO NEED THAT FUNCTIONALITY.
I DON'T OBJECT TO HAVING IT THAT CLOSE TO THE BEACH.
I THINK ANYTHING WE TALKED ABOUT THE AD-HOC COMMITTEE, WE CAN STILL DO.
I THINK WE NEED AN ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION HOW MUCH AND WHAT WOULD IT COST BEFORE WE PROCEED, BECAUSE WE HAD THAT CONVERSATION IN THE STEWART BEACH AD-HOC COMMITTEE AND THE SECOND I PRESENTED BACK TO THE PARK BOARD, I DISCOVERED THE WHEEL WASN'T REALLY [NOISE] GOING TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THAT.
THAT THEY WANT A SHINY NEW BUILDING ON THE BEACH AND THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT.
>> THAT'S FINE. IF THAT IS IN LINE WITH THE MASTER PLAN THEN LET'S BUILD A NEW BUILDING OUT THERE.
I DON'T THINK THE BUILDING NEEDS TO BE CLOSER THAN IT IS AND IT'S PROBABLY, IN MY OPINION, NEEDS TO BE FURTHER AWAY FROM THE BEACH.
>> IT'S IN HARM'S WAY, SITTING DOWN THERE.
>> LET'S SEE WHAT IT WOULD COST AND THEN WE CAN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
>> WHEN IS THAT COMING BACK? WHEN ARE WE GOING TO?
>> HE'S WORKING ON IT NOW, I WOULD HOPE WE HAVE SOMETHING BACK TO YOU GUYS WITHIN THE NEXT 30 DAYS. I'M HOPING FOR THAT.
>> THE ENGINEER HAS BEEN OUT THERE?
>> THE ENGINEER HAS ALREADY BEEN THERE.
>> ONE TIME, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
BUT IT SEEMED LIKE WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS ONE BEFORE BRINGING IN CONTRACTORS TO DECIDE WHAT TO BUILD THERE, FIND OUT IF THE STRUCTURE CAN HOLD UP.
I REMEMBER WHEN I TALKED ABOUT THE FIRE STATION AND THEY COULDN'T DO THAT AND I THINK WORKING ON THE FIRE STATION ON THE CORNER OF.
IF YOU'VE GOT ENOUGH MONEY, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT.
BUT IF THAT DOESN'T FIT WITHIN A MASTER PLAN OR A LONG-TERM GOAL, THEN WHY SPEND THE MONEY ON IT?
>> EXACTLY. THE POINT I'M GETTING TO, WE'RE WORKING A LITTLE BACKWARDS.
THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A MASTER PLAN. I AGREE WITH THAT.
BUT I THINK AT THE SAME TIME, THAT WE SHOULD HAVE LOOKED AT WHAT WE HAD.
IF WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT IT, THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE EARLY ON BEFORE BRINGING IN FOUR DIFFERENT MASTER PLANS OR WHATEVER, SAYING LET'S PUT THIS THERE, LET'S PUT THAT THERE.
I JUST THINK WE WORKED A LITTLE BACKWARDS AND A LITTLE WASTEFUL WITH MONEY.
[03:55:06]
>> WELL, I AGREE WITH YOU TO THE POINT THAT THE PARK BOARD DID LOOK AT THIS, THEY DID DO A STUDY ON THAT BUILDING.
NOW, WHETHER OR NOT THAT STUDY WAS ADEQUATE OR NOT IS REALLY THE QUESTION.
I GUESS WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FROM THAT STUDY TO TELL US.
>> WHAT WE WANT TO DO HERE. WHICH I THOUGHT WE DID, BUT MAYBE NOT.
>> I DID HAVE A PRESENTATION PRESENTED TO ME FROM A PARK BOARD, I'M NEW, I DON'T KNOW THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AROUND.
I WAS PRETTY SURPRISED THAT THERE HAS BEEN PLANS SINCE 2015 TO CURRENT WITH A BUNCH OF PRESENTATIONS THAT I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY'S BEEN ABLE TO VOTE ON ANYTHING TO DO OUT THERE.
>> THERE'S BEEN PLANS EVEN BEFORE THAT.
>> WHY CAN'T WE GET IT FROM THERE TO HERE SO WE CAN VOTE?
ONE OF THOSE PLANS THAT WAS BROUGHT TO COUNCIL WAS A $27 MILLION PLAN OR SOMETHING OF BUILDING QUITE A FANTASTIC STRUCTURE THAT WAS MAINLY GLASS OUT THERE ON THE BEACH, WHICH THIS COUNCIL, SINCE IT'S OUR LAND, PARK BOARD HAS TO COME TO US FOR APPROVAL.
THIS COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY TURNED THAT DOWN AND SENT IT BACK TO THE PARK BOARD TO COME BACK WITH ALTERNATIVES.
FROM THAT POINT FORWARD, WE'VE JUST BEEN TREADING WATER EVER SINCE THAT TIME.
>> YOU SPENT SIX MONTHS OR FIVE MONTHS ON THE STEWART BEACH, AD HOC COMMITTEE COMING UP WITH A PLAN FOR THE BEACH FOR THE PARK.
AS I SAY, THAT HASN'T BEEN, LET'S JUST SAY, ADOPTED BY EVERYONE.
>> THIS IS GOING TO HAVE TO COME TO A HEAD.
IT'S NOT ON OUR AGENDA TODAY, BUT WE'VE HAD GOT TO BRING THIS TO A HEAD AND MOVE THIS FORWARD AND YOU'RE RIGHT.
WHO'S SUFFERING FOR THIS IS NOT ONLY, I THINK THE PARK BOARD WANTS TO GET SOMETHING DONE, WE NEED SOMETHING DONE.
THE COMMUNITY, IT IS THE ICONIC PARK FOR GALVESTON.
WE'VE GOT TO REALLY MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
>> FROM WHAT WE'VE LEARNED OVER THE LAST TIME, AS DAVID WAS TELLING US ABOUT THE GO-KARTS AND HOW FUN AND CARNIVAL TYPE, BUT LIKE BOARDWALK TYPE, SITUATION WAS BACK IN THE HEYDAY, WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT GOING THERE, ATTRACTION.
>> BY ALL MEANS. VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER THOUGHTS? THANK YOU, DAVID.
COUNCIL, WE WILL ADJOURN AGAIN IN A FEW HOURS, BUT WE ARE TOTALLY ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.