[00:00:02] GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE. [1. DECLARATION OF A QUORUM AND CALL MEETING TO ORDER] IT'S MY HONOR TO CALL THE SEPTEMBER 8TH REGULAR MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL OF GALVESTON TO ORDER. I WANT TO WELCOME EVERYBODY. COUNCIL, WELCOME YOU BACK FROM OUR WORKSHOP THIS MORNING. STAFF. GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE. THOSE IN ATTENDANCE IN THE AUDIENCE. GLAD TO HAVE YOU. AND ANYONE WATCHING THIS IN THE COMMUNITY. GLAD TO HAVE YOU TUNE IN TO US. WE DO HAVE A QUORUM TODAY, BUT COULD WE HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE, NELLIE? WE HAVE REVEREND DICK MADDOX FROM CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH. REVEREND MADDOX, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION, SIR. THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION TO BE WITH YOU AS IT IS YOUR TRADITION OR YOUR HEART'S DESIRE. PLEASE JOIN ME IN PRAYER. HOLY. WHEN WE CELEBRATE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS HOME. A PLACE WHERE MANY OF US MIGHT NEVER EVEN THINK ABOUT THIS BEING HOME. BUT IN THIS CHAMBER ARE YOUR SERVANTS WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED TO HEAR THE CRIES OF THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY SERVE, TO KNOW THE HOPES AND DREAMS OF SO MANY WHO DO INDEED MAKE THEIR HOME HERE. SO LET THIS GATHERING OF LORD TO BE ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF THIS COMMUNITY, THIS CITY, AND THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONS. BUT MAY THEY MAY WE NEVER FORGET THAT WE ARE HERE TO EXTEND LOVE TO ONE ANOTHER, TO KNOW COMPASSION, TO EXHIBIT CARE, TO BE ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF PROTECTING AND ENCOURAGING AND LOVING ALL OF YOUR CHILDREN WITH WHOM WE SHARE THIS COMMUNITY IN THIS CITY. BLESSINGS BE UPON THIS TIME, LORD, FOR YOU DECLARE THAT EVERY MOMENT OF LIFE IS SACRED. SO INDEED, THIS IS A SACRED TIME. SO LET US REFLECT THE SACREDNESS AS WE HAVE INTEGRITY, RESPECT, AN EAR AND A HEART. TO LISTEN TO OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO ARE HERE, BOTH THOSE WHO SERVE AS COUNCIL PERSONS AND THOSE WHO COME AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS. MAY WE LEAVE THIS PLACE OH, LORD, DETERMINED TO KNOW LOVE AND TO GIVE LOVE IN WAYS THAT PERHAPS WE HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT AS WE ARRIVED. AND MAY ALL OF OUR FAMILIES, OH, LORD, CONTINUE TO EXTEND TO US THE GRACE AS YOU DO, THAT WE MIGHT LOVE ONE ANOTHER IN A WAY THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THIS WORLD. IN YOUR HOLY NAME, WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU, REVEREND MADDOX. LET'S HAVE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEASE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. ON THE TEXAS FLAG, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE. [5. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST ] ARE THERE ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST COUNCIL MEMBERS YOU WOULD LIKE TO PROCLAIM AT THIS POINT HEARING NO RESPONSE. IF WE COULD HAVE ITEM SIX, PLEASE, NELLIE? ITEM SIX PRESENTATIONS REPORTS OF COUNCIL OFFICER BOARDS AND CITY MANAGER. [6.A. Pursuant To Texas Government Code Section 551.0415, The City Council May Report On Any Of The Following Items] I WOULD LIKE IN ITEM 6-A OUR AGENDA. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS IF I COULD. MANY TIMES WHEN WE LOSE LOVED ONES, ESPECIALLY SOMEONE THAT IS VERY YOUNG, WE QUESTION WHY. WE WILL NEVER KNOW. BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THIS. LAST FRIDAY EVENING, ONE OF OUR OWN WAS TAKEN FROM FROM US IN A HORRIFIC ACCIDENT AND OTHERS WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED. OUR HEARTFELT SYMPATHIES AND CONDOLENCES GO OUT TO THE NELSON FAMILY WHEN THE LOSS OF THEIR SON, MASON. AND OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE TO THOSE THAT SURVIVED FOR A FULL RECOVERY. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THESE FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS SO THAT THEY KNOW THE GALVESTON COMMUNITY GRIEVES WITH THEM AND SENDS OUR PRAYERS DURING THESE TRYING TIMES. [00:05:18] THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ARE THERE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO MAKE? LET'S MOVE TO ITEM SEVEN, PLEASE. [7. COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS] ITEM SEVEN, COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS CLAIMS 22-72 THROUGH 22-073 ARE ON THE SCREEN. READY? THANK YOU, NELLIE. LET'S MOVE TO OUR PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS, PLEASE. ITEM 8-A CONSIDER FOR ACTION IN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, ADOPTING THE ANNUAL GOVERNMENTAL AND PROPRIETY FUNDS BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, [8.A. Consider For Action An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Adopting The Annual Governmental And Proprietary Funds Budget For The Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2022 And Ending September 30, 2023; Making Appropriations For City Operations And Capital Projects For Such Fiscal Year As Reflected In Such Budget; Authorizing Various Other Transfers; Approving And Adopting The FY 2023 Capital Budget; Approving And Adopting The FY 2023-2027 Capital Improvement Plan; And Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject And Providing For An Effective Date.] 2022 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2023, MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE CITY OPERATIONS AND CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR SUCH FISCAL YEAR AS REFLECTED IN SUCH BUDGET AUTHORIZING VARIOUS OTHER TRANSFERS, APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 CAPITAL BUDGET APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 THROUGH 2027 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. MIKE, OUR DIRECTOR OF FINANCE HERE. MIKE LOFTIN. MIKE, GLAD TO HAVE YOU. IF YOU PRESENT THE SUBJECT, PLEASE, SIR. YES, SIR. THIS YEAR'S CITY OF GALVESTON BUDGET CONTINUES BASIC SERVICES AT CURRENT LEVELS. IT MEETS OUR LEGAL OBLIGATIONS FOR DEBT, PAYMENT AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, AMONG OTHERS. THE MAJOR ITEMS THAT HAVE HAD TO BE ADDRESSED THIS YEAR WERE INFLATION, HEALTH BENEFITS, THE INFRASTRUCTURE SET ASIDE, AND PAY INCREASES FOR ALL CITY EMPLOYEES SO THAT THEY CAN DEAL WITH INFLATION. THE TAX RATE THAT SUPPORTS THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS $0.45 PER $100 TAXABLE VALUE. THE CIP, WHICH IS INCLUDED THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN, IS INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET AS REQUIRED IN THE CHARTER. THIS YEAR'S EMPHASIS IS ON MAJOR DRAINAGE PROJECTS AND THE USE OF GRANT FUNDING TO INITIATE AND COMPLETE THOSE PROJECTS. WE DO HAVE A $65 MILLION BOND SALE FOR WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS THAT WILL BE PAID WITH CURRENT WATER AND SEWER RATES. THAT SHOULD BE COMING TO YOU IN THE NEXT MEETING OR TWO. THE CITY IS FINANCIALLY STRONGER THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN, WITH $25 MILLION IN OUR GENERAL FUND RESERVE, WHICH EQUATES TO 126 DAYS OF MAINTENANCE AND OPERATING COST. APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET TAKES TWO MOTIONS AND MAJORITY APPROVAL. AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK TO YOU. THANK YOU, MIKE. I APPRECIATE THAT. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME DISCUSSION ON THIS. BUT BEFORE WE START THAT, IT IS 5:08 P.M.. I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM 8-A. AND IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS SUBJECT? MR. MILLER, YOU WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET? YES, SIR. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET. THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET AND MORE IN PARTICULAR, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT MONEY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO USE TO DO STREETS AND OTHER THINGS. THAT BOTHERS ME A LITTLE BIT. I RISE THIS AFTERNOON TO SPEAK OF. AND IT WAS THIS MORNING WHEN I WAS GOING TO SAY THIS JUST SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT. THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST BUT ALL OF THE COMMUNITY. I RISE BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THE CDBG FUNDS WAS PUT TOGETHER FOR THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS. IF SO, WHERE WERE THEY? WHEN WERE THEY THE PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED AND HOW MANY? AND THE DATES THE MEETING. I RISE TO SAY THAT I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE REQUIREMENTS OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT YOU MUST DO BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR REQUEST FOR THE FUNDS. I RISE TODAY TO SAY THAT I AM AWARE THAT THIS CITY, BEING OVER 50,000 IS AN ENTITLEMENT CITY AND THAT YOUR [00:10:10] FUNDS AUTOMATIC ARRIVES TODAY TO SAY BEING OVER 50,000 MEANS YOU'RE NOT TO DISTRESS THE CITY, MEANING YOU MUST WAIT AND GET IN LINE FROM. YOU'RE NOT A DISCRETION SAY TO ME AND YOU'RE UNDER 50,000. I RISE TODAY TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I KNOW A LITTLE ABOUT THE RULES. I DO NOT WISH TO BORE YOU WITH HOW I KNOW THIS. YOU WON'T BELIEVE ME IF I TOLD YOU. I ARRIVED TODAY TO ASK THAT YOU CHANGE SOME OF THE LINE ITEMS TO INCLUDE SOME FUNDS TO REPAIR LOW INCOME HOUSES FROM THE GRANTS. TO REPAIR ROOFS, PORCHES, PLUMBING. FOR SAFETY REASONS AND WIRING. THIS IS FOR THE NEEDY AND NOT FOR THE GREEDY. I RISE TODAY, THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE APPLICATION. I RISE TO SAY THAT THE REQUEST IS NOT HOT FOR THE FUNDS. I READ IN THE PAPER A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WHERE THE CITY HAD UNSPENT FUNDS FOR THE LAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS. NEVER HEARD THIS KIND OF STUFF BEFORE. WOW. WOW. AND WOW. MONEY NOT SPENT FOR THREE OR FOUR YEARS. WELL, I AM. WELL, JUST LET ME SAY, WHAT A MISTAKE IN ACCOUNTING. BUT SINCE THE FUNDS, THESE FUNDS LET DO SOME LIGHTING, FIXING THE STREETS, THAT'S WHAT THE LEADERSHIP SAID. THAT'S WHAT MY COUNCIL LADY ASKED FOR. THAT FIXED OF THE STREETS, LIGHTING AND FIXING OF THE STREETS OUGHT TO BE DONE OUT OF THE GENERAL FUNDS. YOU ALL HAVE A WINDFALL OF MONEY COMING IN WITH THE WAY THE APPRAISAL OF PROPERTIES NOW. AS I TOLD YOU EARLY ON, SOME OF MY PROPERTY WENT UP 360%. NOW YOU GONNA TELL ME THAT'S NOT YOU. BUT YOU AIN'T GOING TO TURN THAT MONEY BACK IN BECAUSE IT WENT UP. YOU'RE GOING TO PUT IT TO SOME USE. THAT'S ANOTHER SUBJECT. WHAT I'M ASKING IS THAT YOU ALL ARE LOOKING AT ME. DON'T LOOK AT ME. LISTEN TO ME. CAN WE TAKE SOME OF THAT MONEY OUT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND MAKE IT PEOPLE ELIGIBLE? THE NEEDY PEOPLE ELIGIBLE. IT'S AN ELIGIBLE EXPENSE TO FIX SOME HOUSES. THAT'S WHAT WE OUGHT TO BE DOING. I HOPE WE DO THAT. ONE MORE THING TO SAY AND I'M GOING TO SIT DOWN. I SAY, LET'S DO SOME GRANTS. YOU SAY, MY GLASSES, I'M LOSING WEIGHT, SO MY GLASSES IS GETTING TOO BIG. YOU SAY YOU PLAY COLUMBUS. YOU JUST YOU CAN'T DISCOUNT IT. YOU DON'T KNOW YOU HAD IT, BUT YOU SURE KNOW HOW TO SPEND IT. NOT ON STREETS NORTH OF BROADWAY, WEST OF 25TH STREET. I DISCUSSED WITH MY COUNCILPERSON ABOUT AVENUE M 35TH TO 37TH STREET. SO BAD, EVEN THE POSSUMS AND THE RACCOONS WON'T GO DOWN IT. BUT THE CITY BUS GOES EVERY DAY. I WONDER WHY THAT SMALL TWO BLOCKS HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED. I RISE TO ASK YOU TO DETERMINE WHAT STREETS AND HOW NEED TO BE FIXED AND WHO DETERMINE THAT. I KNOW YOU CAN'T ASK QUESTIONS AND WHAT HAVE YOU. BUT I DO SO WANT A LIST OF THE STREETS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO FIX. AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH WHATEVER I ASKED FOR. IT WAS GIVEN TO ME. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. AND I DO WANT TO KNOW WHO DETERMINES WHAT STREETS NEED TO BE FIXED. THE OTHER THING I WANT TO SAY, I COULD HAVE SAID THIS THIS MORNING IN WORK SESSION AND I THINK YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE A PLACE FOR COMMENTS IN WORK SESSION BECAUSE IT WASN'T 5:00 WHEN BRAINS WAS PASSED OUT. YOU ALL DON'T HAVE ONE BALL. I SAID THAT UP BEFORE FIVE. I GOT A LITTLE BIT TOO. SO IS THE COMMENTS BY THE PUBLIC AN ORDINANCE OR IS IT A POLICY? I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH POLICIES. [00:15:02] THAT'S WHAT TWO OR THREE PEOPLE DECIDED THIS IS THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO DO IT FROM NOW ON. AN ORDINANCE IS THE LAW, MEANING THIS IS THE WAY WE HAVE TO DO IT. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I APPRECIATE YOUR GIVING ME THE TIME, MAYOR. COUNCIL LADIES SAID I WILL GET YOU SOME TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL. I LIKE IT. THE MAYOR GAVE ME A COPY OF THE CITY FUNDS. I'D LIKE TO KNOW BEFORE THE CITY MANAGER SIGN OFF AND REQUEST THIS MONEY. WHAT'S IN IT? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MILLER. BRIAN, I THINK YOU'VE GOT THAT INFORMATION. GET TO MR. MILLER. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, MR. MILLER. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 8-A YES. COME FORWARD. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE CITY NOW THAT YOU'RE RECEIVING MONEY BACK FROM THE LIBRARY. I BELIEVE THIS YEAR WAS $453,000 AS WE GO FORWARD OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS. THE REPORT STATES THAT WE'RE IN AN EXTREMELY GOOD FINANCIAL POSITION, BETTER THAN THE CITY HAS EVER BEEN. SO IF YOU ARE RECEIVING ANOTHER 450,000 ABOVE THE TAX DOLLARS THAT YOU ARE COLLECTING ALREADY ON PROPERTY TAXES, THAT A PORTION OF THAT BE ALLOCATED FOR JUNETEENTH ACTIVITIES, MULTIPLE EVENTS, NOT JUST A SINGLE EVENT. BUT IF THIS IS AN EXTRA WINDFALL OF MONEY COMING BACK TO THE CITY, 10 TO 15% IS NOT UNREASONABLE TO ASK THAT THAT MONEY BE SPENT ON THE CITYWIDE CELEBRATION FOR 23, 24 AND 25. AND IF THE LIBRARY I KNOW YOU DON'T KNOW THE EXACT CALCULATION FOR 23, 24 AND 25, BUT OF THE MONEY THAT YOU'VE ALREADY RECEIVED, WOULD A PORTION OF THAT BE SET ASIDE TO SUPPORT ACTIVITIES IN THE CITY? IT MAY NOT BE A LINE ITEM RIGHT NOW, BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE CITY MANAGER TO CONSIDER ALLOCATING A PORTION OF THAT REFUND FOR THIS NATIONAL HOLIDAY ACTIVITY ON THE ISLAND NOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT? ANY COMMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED WRITTEN WISE? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, JANELLE. IT IS 5:17 P.M., I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 8-A. I'M GOING TO BRING THAT BACK TO COUNCIL. COUNCIL, WE DID NOT HAVE, I THINK, ENOUGH TIME POSSIBLY TODAY IN OUR WORKSHOP TO DISCUSS THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS I'M GOING TO OPEN THIS UP FOR DISCUSSION BEFORE WE HAVE ANY MOTION ON THIS SO THAT WE CAN START OUR DISCUSSION. AND BEFORE WE START THAT, DON OR MIKE, I'D LIKE FOR YOU. TO OUTLINE TO COUNCIL THE FLOW OF HOW WE WOULD APPROVE THIS. WE HAVE THE BUDGET, THEN THE RATIFYING OF THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE AND THEN THE SETTING OF THE PROPERTY TAX. COULD YOU GO OVER THAT WITH US, PLEASE? SURE. MIKE AND I CAN DO IT TOGETHER. TAG TEAM. YEAH. WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF DISCRETION HERE. THIS IS SET OUT IN THE TAX CODE. WE HAVE TO ADOPT THE BUDGET BEFORE WE ADOPT THE LEVY. THERE'S A LITTLE QUIRK IN THE BUDGET LAW THAT REQUIRES YOU TO BOTH ADOPT THE BUDGET AND ALSO TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE'S A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET. I THINK THOSE ARE MAJORITY VOTES. THE PASSAGE OF THE LEVY UNDER 8-B IS REQUIRED TO BE DONE ONLY AFTER THE BUDGET IS ADOPTED. AND THAT REQUIRES A VOTE OF FIVE OUT OF SEVEN. THAT'S RIGHT. THANKS. THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD TO THAT IS THE THE MOTION TO RATIFY THE TAX REVENUE INCREASE IS DONE BY VERY SPECIFIC WORDING THAT IS IN THE STAFF REPORT THAT WAS CIRCULATED. RIGHT, AS IS THE LEVY, AS I RECALL. I THINK THAT'S SCORING RECORD VOTES. THEY ARE, YES. AND TO EXPAND ON THAT, THE BUDGET IS A RECORD VOTE THAT NELLIE OR JANELLE WILL TAKE INDIVIDUALLY, AND IT'S A MAJORITY VOTE ONLY WHEN WE MOVE TO THE RATIFICATION OF THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE. THAT IS ALSO A RECORD VOTE AND THAT IS A MAJORITY VOTE ONLY. AND WHEN WE MOVE TO THE SETTING OF THE TAX RATE, IT'S A RECORD VOTE ALSO, BUT IT IS, AS DON [00:20:06] MENTIONED, A SUPERMAJORITY OF FIVE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THAT. SO LET'S OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION. NOW, ANYBODY WANT TO OPEN THIS DISCUSSION UP, JOHN? WHAT HAPPENS IF THE BUDGET PASSES AND THE TAX RATE DOES NOT? WELL, THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR. THEY HAVE TO BE HARMONIZED IN SOME WAY. SO DO YOU. SO IF THE THE PROPOSED BUDGET PASSES, WE COME TO THE TAX RATE. IT FAILS. DO YOU GO BACK TO THE BUDGET? I THINK YOU HAVE TO KEEP TRYING UNTIL YOU CAN PASS BOTH OF THEM. BUT SO CHICKEN OR THE EGG HERE. IF THE TAX RATE BUDGET PASSES, TAX RATE FAILS, DO YOU TAKE ANOTHER VOTE FOR A TAX RATE? AND THEN IF THAT PASSES, GO BACK TO THE BUDGET AND AMEND THE BUDGET. YOU COULD DO IT THAT WAY. WE'LL ACCEPT THAT UNDER THE TAX CODE, IT REQUIRES YOU TO PASS THE BUDGET FIRST. SO AND THIS IS VERY MUCH CHICKEN AND EGG STUFF. I THINK PASSING A BUDGET, HAVING THE LEVY FAIL OR PASSING IT AT A LOWER AND THEN AMENDING THE BUDGET, IS THAT STRICTLY ACCORDING TO HOYLE AND ROBERT'S RULES? IT PROBABLY IS. DOES IT THWART THE DESIRE OF THE LEGISLATURE, AS IS STATED IN THE STATUTE OF THE ORDER OF PRESENTATION AND PASSAGE? I THINK IT PROBABLY DOES AS WELL. HAVE I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION? NO. COULD I COULD I INSERT IN AND I'M TRYING TO CLARIFY THIS IN MY MIND. ALSO, JOHN, WE HAVE TALKED COUNCIL HAS TALKED REPEATEDLY ABOUT TWO APPROACHES. ONE IS TO TAKE THE APPROACH THAT IS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF AND THEY'VE WORKED ON THIS BUDGET AND RECOMMENDED A TAX RATE AND A BUDGET TO COUNCIL. THERE IS ALSO A SECOND TOPIC THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP BY COUNCIL MEMBER LISTOWSKI OF LOWERING THAT TAX RATE AND MAKING UP THAT AMOUNT THAT IS LOST AS WE LOWER THE TAX RATE WITH AN ALTERNATE REVENUE. SOME OF I THINK WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED AT $500,000. NOW, WHEN WE'RE DISCUSSING THOSE TWO ITEMS. CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHEN WE PASS THE BUDGET. THAT BUDGET COULD SUPPORT EITHER ONE OF THOSE TAX APPROACHES. IS THAT CORRECT? IT IT COULD. I THINK WE WOULD WANT TO REFLECT THE DIFFERENCE IN THE TAX RATE, IN THE BUDGET DOCUMENT ITSELF. AND I STILL THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR COUNCIL TO TO FINALLY APPROVE THE BUDGET BASED ON THE TAX RATE THAT WAS ADOPTED. THAT IS CORRECT. SO IF WE WERE GOING TO ADDRESS EITHER APPROACH WE WANTED TO MOVE TOWARDS, WE WOULD NEED TO DO THAT AT THE BUDGET TIME IN THIS ITEM. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT, YES, SIR. AND THEN WE WOULD MOVE THEN, BUT WE WOULDN'T REALLY HAVE TO CHANGE THE BUDGET ITSELF BECAUSE IT IS STRUCTURED STILL TO BE SUPPORTED EITHER WAY BY THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF REVENUE, THE BUDGETED EXPENDITURES WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE CHANGED. I'M SORRY, THE, THE THE THE BUDGETED EXPENDITURES DON'T HAVE TO BE CHANGED, BUT WHERE THE REVENUE DETAIL IS REFLECTED. THERE'S TWO TWO REVENUE SOURCES THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE AMENDED. YES, SIR. OKAY. I'M SORRY, JOHN. WELL, JOHN. GO AHEAD, MARIE. WELL, THERE ACTUALLY IS A THIRD OPTION WHERE WE COULD REDUCE THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET BY 800,000 BY USING THE SHORT TERM RENTAL FEES TO TAKE A PERCENTAGE OF GENERAL FUND EXPENSES, SUCH AS MARSHALS, POLICE, TRASH. AND WE COULD MOVE FORWARD WITH A RATE OF $0.44. [00:25:05] AND IN KEEPING WITH THE SAME SPIRIT, PROBABLY HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR, GO WITH THE NO NEW NET REVENUE. SO THERE ARE MORE THAN TWO OPTIONS OUT THERE, AND THE NUMBERS SUPPORT LOWERING IT AT LEAST A PENNY, WHICH IS WHAT I WOULD SUPPORT GOING TO $0.44. OKAY. AND JUST TO CLARIFY, IT'S NOT IT'S NOT QUITE IT'S NOT A REDUCTION IN THE BUDGET. THE BUDGET STAYS THE SAME. CORRECT. IT'S A TRANSFER. CORRECT. IT'S PUTTING FUNDS TOWARDS PULLING THEM FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND COVERING WITH SHORT TERM FEES. THEY ALL GO TOWARDS A GENERAL FUND, BUT I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU MEAN. YEAH. YEAH. IT BEHOOVES US THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO PASS. THE BUDGET AND WE NEED TO DISCUSS THE TAX RATE WHEN WE MAKE THAT MOTION BECAUSE THAT WILL NEED TO COME BACK AND BE SUPPORTED WHEN WE ESTABLISH THE TAX RATE. SO I ACCEPT THOSE ARE TWO SEPARATE ITEMS. THEY ARE. THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE ITEMS. I UNDERSTAND. ANY OTHER THOUGHTS, COUNCIL? YOU KNOW, I'LL KIND OF START THIS DISCUSSION OFF. ALSO, I THINK THE CONCEPT OF WANTING TO GET AS LOW A TAX RATE AS POSSIBLE. I HAVEN'T TALKED WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS SPECIFICALLY ON THIS, BUT I THINK WE ALL FEEL WE WANT TO DO THAT. I THINK THE KEY IS, IS HOW WE GO ABOUT THAT. AND I STILL HAVE CONCERNS PERSONALLY WITH TALKING ABOUT SHORT TERM RENTAL RATES, EVEN THOUGH THAT MAY SURE COME TO PASS AS COUNCILWOMAN ROBB MENTIONS OR OTHER METHODS OF POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT REVENUE SOURCES TO MAKE UP THAT AMOUNT THAT WE LOSE BASED ON THE TAX RATE REDUCTION. I HAVE CONCERNS WITH STRUCTURING A BUDGET BASED UPON THOSE PARTICULAR ITEMS THAT WERE NOT REAL SURE ABOUT AND THAT THAT JUST THE WAY I THINK THAT JUST KIND OF IS A CONCERN TO ME. BRIAN, DID YOU WANT TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THIS BUDGET? I THINK STAFF STAFF HAS PRESENTED YOU A BUDGET AND REVENUE THAT MEETS THE LAW AND IS ETHICALLY PREPARED TO MATCH UP REVENUES AND EXPENSES. I THINK BEYOND THAT, IT'S A POLICY DECISION. IF COUNCIL WANTS TO DEVIATE FROM THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS. OKAY. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION TOPICS THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP? ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FROM COUNCIL ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. I'LL MAKE A MOTION. SO I MOVE TO AMEND THE 23 BUDGET FY 23 BUDGET ORDINANCE TO REDUCE THE PROPERTY TAX RATE TO 0.4445 CENT AND REPLACE THE $500 IN LOST REVENUE THROUGH NON PROPERTY SOURCE TAX SOURCES INCLUDING PARKS BOARD. WHARFS BOARD. SHORT TERM RENTAL FEES. AND THEN I'LL ADD TO THAT. BUT WELL, I'LL STOP THERE AND I'LL IF WE HAVE SOME DISCUSSION, I MIGHT ADD SOME THERE. WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. IS THERE SECOND? MAY I ASK COUNCILMAN LISTOWSKI TO BASICALLY SAY IT AGAIN? TELL ME WHAT YOU JUST SAID. YOU LOST ME. YOU LOST ME THERE. HOW THIS IMPACTS THE BUDGET ITSELF. I MEAN, SO THE PROPOSED BUDGET HAS A TAX RATE, PROPERTY TAX RATE OF 0.45. I WOULD PROPOSE TO LOWER THAT TAX RATE TO .4445 AND REPLACE INCOME REVENUE FROM PROPERTY TAXES WITH A NON PROPERTY TAX REVENUE SOURCE. AND IN THAT THAT REPLACED THAT AMOUNT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO REPLACE IS 500,000. [00:30:02] I DON'T WANT TO PICK NITS TOO MUCH HERE, BUT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE IS NOT IN THE BUDGET. THE BUDGET REFLECTS OR THE PROPERTY TAX RATE REFLECTS THE BUDGET THAT STAFF HAS PRESENTED US. RIGHT. SO YOU'RE SUGGESTING THAT WE DON'T CHANGE THE AMOUNT OF THE BUDGET? THAT'S CORRECT. WE JUST REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF THAT PROJECTED REVENUE COMING FROM PROPERTY TAX THAT THE AD VALOREM TAX. WE SHOULD ADJUST THE BUDGET TO ANTICIPATE $500,000 LESS IN RECEIPTS FROM PROPERTY TAX INCOME AND FIND. YES, THE ANTICIPATION WOULD BE ONCE WE PASS THE TAX RATE AT THAT AT THAT RATE, THEN YOU WOULD GET LESS IN REVENUE ON THAT SIDE AND YOU WOULD SUBSTITUTE THAT REVENUE FROM A NON PROPERTY SOURCE, PROPERTY TAX SOURCE. ALL RIGHT. TOTALLY CLEAR. JOHN, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. WOULD YOU CONSIDER MAKING IT A 0.44. WELL, AGAIN, WE'RE NOT SETTING THE RATE. WE'RE JUST MOVING REVENUE. I WOULD DO THAT AND SEE IF IT PASSES, I GUESS. I'LL SECOND YOU THEN. SO YOU'RE SAYING THE SAME THING ABOUT 0.44? NO, JUST JUST ONE SECOND. THAT'S. WOW. SO THE MOTION IS STATE THIS MOTION AGAIN THAT NOW MARY WOULD LIKE ME TO AMEND MY MOTION AND GO FROM 500000 TO 800000. THAT WOULD BRING THE TAX RATE DOWN TO .44. I'M NOT SURE WHERE WHAT THE RATE WOULD BE AT THAT, BUT BECAUSE I DIDN'T DO THAT MATH. BUT I BELIEVE THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO AT THIS POINT IN THE BUDGET IS DECIDE WHAT THAT NUMBER IS. THERE'S THE CALCULATION. THE TAX RATE. YEAH, THE DOLLAR AMOUNT. IT WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 850,000. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND WE HAVE A SECOND ON THAT. WHAT? PARDON ME, BUT COUNCILMAN LISTOWSKI IS NOT AMENDED HIS MOTION THAT I HEAR. WELL, HE NEVER GOT. HE NEVER HAD A SECOND. WELL, BUT I'M SORRY. I'LL AMEND IT FOR THE SECOND. YEAH. THERE WAS NEVER A MOTION TO AMEND. HE DIDN'T GET A SECOND. BUT YOU'RE. YOU'RE NOW HAVING THE MOTION, AS YOU'VE OUTLINED IN RESET AT? AT 850,000. CORRECT. OKAY. WELL, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THAT. LET'S OPEN IT UP TO DISCUSSION, COUNCIL. WELL, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT. I THINK MR. MILLER HAD A VERY VALID POINT. AND IF YOU READ THROUGH THE MEMO THAT BRIAN GAVE US, OUR TAX APPRAISALS HAVE GONE UP MINIMUM OF 20%. SO OUR PEOPLE ARE BUSINESSES ARE ALREADY FEELING THE PAIN. AND IF WE CAN HELP THAT IN ANY WAY AND GRANTED, IT'S ONLY ONE PENNY LESS AND WE KNOW THAT WE'LL HAVE OTHER WE HAVE ALTERNATIVE REVENUES THAT CAN REPLACE WHAT'S COMING FROM THE PROPERTY TAX. I THINK WE NEED TO THINK OF OUR CITIZENS FIRST. SO I HOPE YOU SUPPORT THIS MOTION. YOU KNOW, I THINK WE ALL THINK OF THE CITIZENS HERE AND WHATEVER WE PASS HERE, I DON'T THINK THAT MEANS THAT THOSE THAT WANT SOMETHING ELSE, I DON'T THINK THAT MEANS THAT WE DON'T THINK OF OUR CITIZENS. I THINK WE HAVE TO THINK OF THE OPERATION OF OUR CITY. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $850,000 WE HOPE WILL COME FROM SOMEWHERE. AND YES. CAN I MAKE JUST ONE POINT? THE COUNCIL DID INCREASE THE MINIMUM HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AMOUNT FROM $5000 TO $60000 IN JUNE IN PREPARATION FOR THIS BUDGET CYCLE TO HELP HOMESTEAD PROPERTY OWNERS. WE HAVE. YES, SIR. AND WHEN YOU COMBINE THAT WITH THE 10% CAP ON INCREASES AND THE FREEZE VARIOUS FREEZES AND WHAT HAVE YOU, OUR ESTIMATE IS THAT NO HOMESTEAD PROPERTY OWNER WILL HAVE A TAX INCREASE THIS YEAR FROM THE CITY OF GALVESTON, EVEN AT THE 45 CENT LEVEL. CORRECT. AND THAT'S SAFE TO SAY, MIKE, THAT WITH THE BUDGET AS PROPOSED AT THE 45 CENT RATE, WITH THAT HOMESTEAD [00:35:02] CHANGES THAT WE MADE, INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE A HOMESTEAD HERE WILL HAVE SOME SORT OF TAX DECREASE. THAT'S CORRECT. ALL RIGHT. IT MAY IT MAY BE SMALL, TOO SMALL TO CALL A REAL TAX CUT, BUT PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT PEOPLE THAT OWN HOMES IN THE 200, $250,000 RANGE, THEY'RE GETTING A NICE BENEFIT FROM THAT INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM EXEMPTION. RIGHT. BUT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES WON'T. SMALL BUSINESSES WON'T, NEITHER WILL SHORT TERM RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS OR SECOND HOME OWNERS. OR LARGE BUSINESSES WON'T AS WELL? RIGHT. AND I GUESS THE QUESTION IS AND I'M SPEAKING TO THE POLICYMAKING BODY HERE, BUT I WOULD ASK YOU TO CONSIDER IF THE BUSINESSES BENEFIT FROM THE TOURISM THE SAME WAY THE CITY HAS WITH HIGHER REVENUES AND GREATER PROFITS. OKAY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YES. IS YOUR MICROPHONE ON? THANK YOU. I, TOO, AM CHALLENGED ON THE IDEA OF BANKING ON SOME FUNDS THAT WILL NOT IMMEDIATELY BE THERE FOR THE BUDGET. NOW, I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SAY IN WORKSHOP THAT IF WE WOULD PUT THAT OFF TILL NEXT YEAR, THEN THAT NO NEW REVENUE. RIGHT. COULD BE WE COULD COLLECT MAYBE 100,000 AND DO THE PENNY MAYBE NEXT YEAR. WELL, I'VE ALWAYS FELT THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO APPROACH THIS, THAT WE WOULD TASK STAFF TO BRING BACK TO US AND PUT INTO MOTION A CHANGES THAT WOULD BRING IN REVENUE SO THAT WE WOULD KNOW MORE, MORE, MORE CERTAIN WHAT THAT REVENUE WOULD BE, SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS AT OUR NEXT FISCAL YEAR. AND I THINK IF WE DID THAT, WE'RE PROBABLY LOOKING OVER $1,000,000 THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY DO. WE DISCUSSED 11 WAYS OR 12 WAYS THAT WE COULD BRING IN ALTERNATE REVENUE SOURCES THAT BASICALLY WERE FROM VISITORS ON THE ISLAND HERE THAT WOULD HELP WITH OUR REVENUE. AND TALKING ABOUT THAT FOR A YEAR AND WE'VE BEEN ASKING ABOUT THAT FOR A YEAR, WE HAVEN'T ASKED FOR A YEAR ON DISCUSSING SPECIFICALLY THOSE 1111 DIFFERENT APPROACHES AND THE MANNER IN IN THE SITUATION IS I THINK WE THINK THAT, WELL, IF WE PASS A REDUCED REVENUE OR REDUCED TAX RATE HERE, WE CAN FLIP A SWITCH AND WE'LL HAVE 850,000. THAT'S NOT GOING TO OCCUR. IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME FOR THESE THINGS TO BE WORKED OUT. THERE'S GOING TO NEED TO BE DISCUSSIONS AT THE PARK BOARD. IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO INVOLVE THE INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT IN SOME WAY, AND THAT HASN'T EVEN COME TO COUNCIL AS YET TO MAKE CHANGES TO ALLOW THAT. AT THE AT THE PORT, WE TALKED ABOUT PARKING RATES. YOU JUST DON'T FLIP THE SWITCH AND WE GET PARKING RATES THERE. THAT HAS TO BE PUT INTO EFFECT. WE TALKED ABOUT THE PRIVATE LOT OWNERS BEING INVOLVED. THERE MAY BE SOME LEGAL CONCERNS WITH THAT. I WOULD NOT BE IN FAVOR OF THAT AT THE PORT. IF WE DON'T INVOLVE THE PRIVATE LOT OWNERS. IT NEEDS TO BE EQUAL FOR BOTH PORT AND PRIVATE OWNERS AND A LOT OF THE REVENUE ON PARKING IS ALREADY BEEN PAID AT THE PORT. MORE THAN 50% OF THAT PARKING HAS BEEN PAID IN ADVANCE OVER THERE. SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO WORK THE LOGISTICS OUT. AND I THINK BY AT LEAST THIS FIRST QUARTER, DON'T YOU THINK, BRIAN, THAT YOU COULD COME BACK AND HAVE SPECIFICS ON THAT FOR US SO THAT WE WOULD KNOW WHERE WE STAND, WHEN WILL THIS COME FORTH AND HOW MUCH MONEY? WE'VE GOT TO WORK ON IT RIGHT AWAY. BUT YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE COURAGE TO VOTE FOR IT, NOT WHEN THEY COME, WHEN THESE BOARDS COME AND COMPLAIN THAT YOU'RE TAKING THEIR MONEY. YEAH, WE TRIED DOING THIS WITH AN AUDIT, AND WE GOT BACKED OFF OF THAT. I'M SORRY. WE TRIED DOING THIS BACK WHEN WE WANTED TO AUDIT THE ASSETS OF THESE TWO ENTITIES BACK IN BACK IN THE DAY. AND WE WERE FRAUGHT WITH ROADBLOCKS AND EVERYTHING ELSE TO TRY TO STOP IT. AND THE CITY HAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ASSETS OUT THERE THAT WE'RE NOT LEVERAGING TO THE BENEFIT OF OUR CITIZENS. AND I TOTALLY AGREE WITH WITH COUNCILMEMBER LISTOWSKI THAT WE NEED TO BE GOING AFTER THAT. BUT IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE TO DO THAT. AND COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE THING TO TO TELL, TO PLUG A NUMBER TODAY, WHICH I ETHICALLY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH, BUT THAT'S A POLICY DECISION. [00:40:07] BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT IT TAKES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF COURAGE TO COME BACK AND IN THE FACE OF THESE PEOPLE AND SAY, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THIS AMOUNT AND THIS AMOUNT, WE'RE GOING TO ASSESS THIS FEE AND THAT FEE. AND, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE RAN INTO THAT WITH GOLF CARTS. WE'VE RUN INTO IT WITH EVERYTHING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT. AND WE JUST CONTINUE TO HIT THE GENERAL FUND WITH EXPENSES WITHOUT ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO SUPPORT IT. SO I CAUTION YOU ON THAT, AND THAT'S WHY I'M FINE WITH WHATEVER YOU GUYS DO AS LONG AS AS LONG AS YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THAT WE START GETTING CLOSE TO MIDYEAR. IF THESE REVENUES DIDN'T COME IN, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE CUTS IN THE BUDGET AND THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT PEOPLE. BUT SOME OF THESE SHORT TERM RENTAL IS IS NOT AN IF, AND, OR BUT AND QUITE FRANKLY, WE SHOULD HAVE WENT HIGHER FROM THE BEGINNING AND WE WOULDN'T EVEN BE TALKING ABOUT THIS AS WELL AS WITH THE COMMERCIAL REGISTRATION OF OF GOLF CARTS. WE SHOULD HAVE WENT. HIGHER ON THAT IN THE BEGINNING. YOU KNOW, EVERY YEAR, AS JOHN HAS POINTED OUT, THE CITY COMES TO US WITH A 3.5, YOU KNOW, CAP, AND WE DO THE MAXIMUM WE COULD DO, WHICH ISN'T TO THE BENEFIT OF OUR CITY. OUR CITY IS SITTING WELL FINANCIALLY RIGHT NOW. THE BUDGET ACTUALLY COULD COVER EVEN IF THOSE REVENUES WEREN'T THERE. BUT THIS IS AN A MAYBE OR AN IF. IT'S IT'S A DEFINITE AND. BUT I JUST I DON'T THINK WE'RE DOING JUSTICE TO OUR CITIZENS. DAVID? WE DO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION EVERY YEAR. THIS YEAR, WE TALKED ABOUT THE 11 WAYS WE COULD RAISE REVENUE. AND I WILL POINT OUT, ONCE AGAIN, ALL 11 OF THEM ARE POLICY ISSUES. THERE ARE MEMBERS OF THIS BODY WHO TRY TO MAKE IT SOUND LIKE THE ADMINISTRATION FAILED TO DO SOMETHING. THEY HAVE CARRIED OUT POLICY FAITHFULLY. WE HAVE NOT MADE THESE CHANGES. WE COULD HAVE MADE THESE CHANGES LAST YEAR. WE CHOSE INSTEAD NOT TO DO THAT, TO WAIT UNTIL THE BUDGET WAS ON THE TABLE AGAIN THIS YEAR, THEN START COMPLAINING ABOUT IT ONCE A YEAR, ONCE AGAIN, AND SAY, LET'S FIX THIS RETROACTIVELY. THIS IS NO WAY TO RUN A RAILROAD. THIS IS I FIND THIS ENTIRE THING UNETHICAL. AND THE NOTION THAT ANY OF THESE REVENUES ARE GUARANTEED, ANY OF THEM IS FOOLHARDY TO BELIEVE THAT'S TRUE. THAT IS NOT MONEY ON THE TABLE. IT COULD BE THERE COULD BE A MILLION THERE COULD BE $2 MILLION, TWO AND A HALF. WE COULD LOWER THIS TO THE NEW REVENUE RATE NEXT YEAR. BUT TO DO SO NOW, YOU'RE JUST, YOU'RE TAKING A WINGER HERE. YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S COMING FROM. AND, YOU KNOW, I BET YOU, MARIE, YOU WOULD HAVE BET ME LAST YEAR THAT WE GET $500 A POP OUT OF THOSE THOSE GOLF CARTS, AND IT JUST DIDN'T WORK OUT THAT WAY. I SEE YOUR NUMBERS ON THE SHORT TERM RENTALS, AND IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE. IT'S JUST NOT. AND YOU CAN SAY, WELL, THIS IS I'M NOT QUITE FINISHED, COUNCILWOMAN. JUST A SECOND [INAUDIBLE]. THIS IS UNETHICAL. WE'RE DOING THIS WRONG. IF WE WANT TO SAY TO OURSELVES, WE NEED TO COME UP WITH THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX WAYS TO DO THIS IN THE NEXT YEAR AND RAISE $2 MILLION, TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE DON'T HAVE TODAY. THAT'S FINE. THAT'S ON US TO DO. IT WAS ON US TO DO LAST YEAR AND WE DIDN'T DO IT. AND NOW WE WANT TO PUNISH OUR EMPLOYEES. WE WANT TO PUNISH THE ADMINISTRATION. WE WANT TO SAY MAGICALLY FIND $500,000. IT'S JUST THE WRONG WAY TO DO THIS. YOU'RE PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE. AND IT'S A FOOLISH WAY TO TRY TO RUN A CITY. ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM? WE HAVE A MOTION. I'M SORRY, WILLIAM. I GET $0.45. WHAT WE DID WITH OUR HOMESTEAD MINIMUMS, I THINK IN MY DISTRICT, IT WAS PRETTY IMPACTFUL. I SAW A LOT OF I GUESS YOU COULD SAY IT'S NOT A TAX CUT, BUT THEY'RE NOT WRITING AS MUCH AS THEY DID THE YEAR BEFORE. AT $0.44, WHAT WOULD THAT $250,000 SEE, $250,000 HOUSE SEE AS A BREAK COMPARED TO THE 45. IT RAISES IT IN THE SAVINGS IN A SLIGHT WAY, NOT A MAJOR WAY, BECAUSE YOU THINK OF THE DIFFERENCE IN ONE PENNY IN A 45 CENT BASE, THAT'S ABOUT A 2% CHANGE, 2% OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT PAID. SO IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. BUT IT'S BUT IT'S STILL MARGINAL. IF THE $100,000 SENTENCE FOR BOTH ANDY. [00:45:04] I'M DOING THE MIDDLE MATH IN THE TAX RATE. DON, WOULD YOU TALK IN YOUR DON, TALK IN YOUR MICROPHONE, PLEASE. TAX RATE LEVY, WHICH IS AN AGENDA ITEM, TWO ITEMS DOWN THERE IS A REQUIRED SENTENCE. THIS LEVY WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF AN INCREASE OF PLANKED HOURS ON $100,000 HOUSE. THAT'S ALREADY IN THERE. AND I RAN THESE NUMBERS LAST WEEK. THEY'RE PRETTY COMPLICATED. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO SAY ON A $250,000 HOUSE WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE. BUT WE ALREADY HAVE THE STUFF ON THE $100,000 HOUSE. IF THAT HELPS YOU, I THINK WE COULD SAY, WILLIAM, IT'S MINIMAL. YEAH. AND I WOULD SAY I WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW WE SOME COMMENTS ARE THAT WE'RE NOT TRYING TO REDUCE THIS TAX RATE AND AND THAT WE'RE NOT TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE APPRAISED VALUES. IF THIS TAX RATE IS PASSED THAT IS PROPOSED BY STAFF, WE'RE GOING TO BE, IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, REDUCE THIS TAX RATE $0.11. THAT'S QUITE A BIT. THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST REDUCTION WE'VE HAD IN THE HISTORY OF THIS ISLAND. SO THIS IS THIS TAX RATE. AND IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO GO DOWN THE WAY THIS THREE AND A HALF PERCENT CAP IS. AND JOHN IS RIGHT. WE ALWAYS GO TO THREE AND A HALF PERCENT OR WE HAVE IN THE PAST WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO DO THAT. BUT THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS IN THIS CITY IS GOING UP. AND WE COULD GO THROUGH AND WE TALKED A LITTLE ABOUT IT IN THE WORKSHOP. THE NUMBER OF ITEMS THAT ARE DRIVING THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS HERE IS GOING UP AND IT'S GOING UP MORE THAN THREE AND A HALF PERCENT EACH YEAR. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE AND A SECOND. YOU NEED TO DO A RECORD VOTE, PLEASE. BROWN THIS IS FOR THE BUDGET. SO WE'RE VOTING ON JOHN PAUL II MOTION. YEAH. THE JOHN PAUL'S IS TO LOWER THE TAX RATE TO 0.44. AND TO THAT. IT'S TO GO WITH THE BUDGET. BUDGET, CORRECT. $850,000. OKAY. THANK YOU. IT'S NOT GREAT WHEN THE LEGISLATURE TELLS YOU THAT YOU HAVE TO DO IT THIS WAY. YEAH, IT'S KIND OF WACKY, BUT GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT. MOTION FAILS. I'D LIKE TO MAKE ANOTHER MOTION. YES, SIR. JOHN. JOHN'S GOT A LOT OF. OKAY, I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO MY ORIGINAL MOTION HERE FOR THE $500 REVENUE DISPLACEMENT, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, 500,000. THANK YOU. AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO AMEND THE BUDGET 2023 BUDGET ORDINANCE TO REDUCE PROPERTY TAX RATE TO THE POINT 0.445 RATE AND REPLACE THE $500 IN REVENUE LOSS THROUGH NON PROPERTY TAX SOURCES. THOSE PROPERTY TAX SOURCES COULD BE PARK BOARD OR BOARD SHORT TERM RENTAL. I'LL ADD IN THERE AND THIS IS WHERE IT GETS A LITTLE SLIPPERY, IS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY AT A 126 DAY RESERVE. I'D LIKE TO USE ANY KEEP OUR RESERVES AT 120 DAYS, USE ANY UNFUNDED LIABILITY OR USE ANY EXCESS MONEY TO PAY DOWN HEALTH CARE LIABILITY. I'D ALSO LIKE TO SET GOALS HERE, BUT I DON'T THINK I WANT TO INCLUDE THAT IN THE MOTION. SO I MIGHT DISCUSS THAT A LITTLE BIT WHEN WE GO IN DISCUSSION. SO THAT WOULD BE MY MOTION. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN LISTOWSKI, AND I THINK WE'RE CLEAR NOW ON THIS ONE. THANK YOU. YEAH. SO DISCUSSION. WELL AND SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ROBB DISCUSSION. SO MY GOAL HERE IS TO GET US ON A DIRECTION TO GO TOWARDS A NO NEW REVENUE RATE. WE'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION FOR THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS, AND WE CAN'T WE CONTINUE, AS MAYOR BROWN SAID, TO HIT [00:50:06] THAT RIGHT UNDER THAT THREE AND A HALF PERCENT EACH YEAR. 500,000, AS YOU HEARD IN OUR WORKSHOP FROM EDDIE, IS A ROUNDING ERROR. IT IS A LOW BAR. AND BUT WHAT IT SHOWS IS THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO GOING AFTER THESE ALTERNATIVE REVENUE STREAMS. IT'S A COMMITMENT FROM COUNCIL TO STAFF SAYING, WE'RE GOING TO BACK YOU UP, YOU GO FIND US MORE REVENUE AND WE WILL BE HERE WHEN YOU NEED US. DO WE CONTINUE TO PUT THIS THREE AND A HALF PERCENT IN OUR BUDGET EACH YEAR AND THAT IS A TAX INCREASE ON OUR RESIDENTS? WE ARE RAISING TAXES EACH YEAR. YOU MIGHT PAY THE SAME OR YOU MIGHT PAY RIGHT UNDER IT, BUT IT IS A TAX INCREASE. AND SO WE NEED TO SHIFT THAT BURDEN FROM OUR TAXPAYERS TO THE PEOPLE THAT BURDEN OUR BUDGET, AND THAT WOULD BE OUR TOURIST INDUSTRY. IT CONTINUES TO GET MORE AND MORE EXPENSIVE TO LIVE HERE. AND WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN FOR THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE, OUR BUSINESS OWNERS, OUR PROPERTY OWNERS TO TRY TO OFFSET THAT. SO THAT IS THE REASON WHY I WANT THIS $500,000 OFFSET. I THINK THAT IS VERY DOABLE. MY GOAL WOULD BE TO MOVE IN THIS DIRECTION. HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR WE CAN DOUBLE OR TRIPLE THAT NUMBER AND HOPEFULLY BY YEAR THREE WE COULD BE AT A NO NEW REVENUE RATE. THAT WOULD BE MY GOAL. I WON'T BE HERE IN THREE YEARS, SO I'LL LEAVE THAT TO THE PEOPLE THAT FOLLOW ME. BUT THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, COUNCIL? YES. COUNCILMAN LEWIS, I JUST NEED YOU TO REPEAT IT ONE MORE TIME FOR ME, BECAUSE YOU'RE SAYING THE SIX DAYS THAT ARE OVER, THE 120 DAYS, RIGHT. FOR THE. THAT'S CORRECT. WE WOULD KEEP WE WOULD KEEP OUR RESERVES AT 120 DAYS AND WE'D USE EXCESS MONEY TO PAY DOWN UNFUNDED LIABILITIES, MAINLY OUR HEALTH CARE, UNFUNDED LIABILITIES. WHAT WAS THE OTHER PART? THE FIRST? THE FIRST PART OF YOUR MOTION? THAT WE WOULD REDUCE THE PROPERTY RATE TO 0.4445, REPLACING $500,000 IN REVENUE TO A NON PROPERTY TAX SOURCE. AND THOSE MONIES WOULD SOME OF THOSE PROPERTY TAX SOURCES COULD BE MONEY FROM PARKS BOARD, MONEY FROM WHARFS BOARD SHORT TERM RENTAL RATES, GOLF, COURT FEES, THOSE WOULD BE A NON PROPERTY TAX SOURCE. ALL RIGHT. SO THE OTHER TOTAL AMOUNT WILL BE TO BUY DOWN THE HEALTH COST. CORRECT. WE WOULD USE ANYTHING ABOVE. WE COULD USE ANYTHING ABOVE 120 DAYS TO BUY DOWN OUR UNFUNDED LIABILITIES IN OUR HEALTH CARE PLAN. SO WHAT NUMBER WOULD THAT BE? WHAT'S THAT? THAT'S $14 MILLION RIGHT NOW. CURRENTLY, WE HAVE $14 MILLION IN UNFUNDED LIABILITY, 1 MILLION UNFUNDED LIABILITIES. ONE UNFUNDED LIABILITY IS 40. NO, NO. I THINK COUNCILMAN BOUVIER HAD THE CORRECT NUMBERS. IT'S 1,140,000 THEREABOUTS. ALL RIGHT, SHARON. ANY MORE QUESTIONS? NO, BUT WE'RE STILL BANKING ON PART OF THAT MONEY BEING MIKE. YES, THAT IT MIGHT BE. I MEAN, AND THIS WILL PROBABLY COME NEXT YEAR. AND I GUESS IN MY HOUSE, I CAN'T LIVE OFF A BUDGET WHERE I DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS THERE. SO I KNOW THERE ARE LOTS OF NEW ALTERNATIVE SOURCES THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT FOR GETTING EXTRA FUNDS. BUT THOSE FUNDS ARE JUST NOT HERE RIGHT NOW. SO IN THIS MOTION, THERE ARE TWO PARTS TO IT, CORRECT? I MEAN, THERE'S ONE MOTION, BUT IF I AM FOR IT, THEN I'M VOTING FOR THESE FUNDS THAT ARE HOPEFUL FUNDS. AND THE SIX DAYS OVER OUR 120 DAYS, RIGHT? RIGHT. WELL, SO. BUT THAT'S WHAT THE? IS IT? THIS WOULD BRING US TO 120, RIGHT? WELL, YEAH. SO AT THE END OF OUR BUDGET YEAR, IF THERE IS EXCESS FUNDS WE WOULD USE. [00:55:05] I DEFER TO MIKE ON THAT. I DON'T THINK WE WOULD NECESSARILY JUST MOVE THE SIX DAYS, OCTOBER 1ST. CORRECT. WE WOULD LEAVE THEM IN RESERVES BECAUSE WE HAVE A WHOLE HURRICANE SEASON BEFORE. THAT'S RIGHT. IN THIS BUDGET. BUT IF WE MAKE IT THROUGH AND WE HAVE THE MONEY AND EVEN IF OTHER EVEN IF THESE ADDITIONAL REVENUES, LET'S JUST SAY BECAUSE I'M GOING TO BRING YOU EVERYTHING BUT THE KITCHEN SINK. AND IF WE END UP WITH MORE THAN $500,000, THAT WOULD GO INTO THAT FUND, AND WE CAN ACTUALLY FURTHER GO DOWN ON OUR UNFUNDED LIABILITIES NEXT YEAR AND THEN USE THE BALANCE GOING FORWARD TO REDUCE THE TAX RATE. AND THERE'S A VEHICLE FOR DOING THAT CALLED THE YEAR AND BUDGET AMENDMENT. YEAH, YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. AND THIS VEHICLE HERE IS LIKE A SECURITY FOR THE AND BY THE SAME TOKEN, WE BRING YOU QUARTERLY BUDGET AMENDMENTS. AND IF WE'RE NOT MEETING THESE REVENUE TARGETS, I'M GOING TO START ADJUSTING. I'M SORRY. AM I? YES. THESE THINGS I DON'T TALK THAT MUCH AT THESE MEETINGS. THE THE BIGGEST THING IS, IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE MONITORING THIS QUARTERLY. AND IF THE REVENUES AREN'T COMING IN, WE'RE GOING TO START MAKING BUDGET CUTS AND REDUCING THE SERVICES WHERE WE NEED TO TO MAKE IT BALANCE OUT. THAT'S WHAT WE DO EVERY YEAR. WE DID IT DURING COVID. WE'VE DONE IT. WE DID IT WITH CDM. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE WE WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET DOWN TO THE END OF THE YEAR AND SAY, WELL, GUYS, IT DIDN'T WORK OUT. WE'RE GOING TO MONITOR IT AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS. AND AND I THINK YOUR MOTION INCLUDED THAT THAT YOU WOULD IF AT MID-YEAR. WE HAVEN'T DONE IT YET. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. AND THAT'S WHERE THE COMMITMENT COMES FROM. IT SHOWS THAT WE'RE COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING BRIAN TO GO AFTER THESE FUNDS. AND WE HAVE THE OPTION QUARTERLY TO REVIEW THIS, SEE IF THOSE FUNDS ARE COMING IN AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO OUR BUDGET. AND AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE'LL SEE WHAT OUR IF WE HAVE THESE EXCESS FUNDS, WE'LL TALK ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THAT, HOW WE'RE GOING TO PAY DOWN OUR LIABILITIES, HOW WE'RE GOING TO OFFSET OUR REVENUE, I MEAN, OUR TAX RATE THE FOLLOWING YEAR. SO SO THERE'S PLENTY OF PLACES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO MAKE THESE ADJUSTMENTS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, SHARON? NO. ALL RIGHT. BY CHRISTMAS, WE HAVEN'T GOT THE MONEY. YOU ALL ARE GOING TO BOX LUNCHES. WE ALREADY HAVE BOXED LUNCHES. DAVID CAKE. JOHN MISSED THE CAKE TODAY. I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS. ONE. HOW WOULD THIS BE REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET ITSELF? AND SECOND, I THINK IT'S PROBABLY A QUESTION FOR YOU, MR. LOFTIN. SECOND, PROBABLY FOR MR. LISTOWSKI, WHAT IS THE CONSEQUENCE OF THIS AMENDMENT NOT PASSING? LET ME TAKE A CRACK AT YOUR FIRST QUESTION. CORRECT. WE GO BACK TO 45. IN THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE DETAIL, WHICH LISTS EVERY SPECIFIC SOURCE OF INCOME EXPECTED DURING THE YEAR. THERE IS THERE ARE TWO LINES. ONE, THAT IS FOR WHAT WE CALL OTHER REVENUES, WHICH INCLUDES THINGS LIKE THE PAYMENT THAT WE ALREADY GET FROM THE PARK BOARD, THE PAYMENT THAT WE ALREADY GET FROM THE WATER BOARD. AND WE WOULD WE WOULD HAVE ADDED A NEW LINE ENTITLED AND I THINK I PUT A NAME ON IT, ON SOMETHING I GAVE TO THE GROUP, THE ANTICIPATED NON PROPERTY TAX REVENUE SOURCE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THAT'S WHERE THE 500,000 WOULD BE SET UP WITH A BUDGET AMOUNT OF, YOU KNOW, EXPECTING 500,000. AND THEN AS WE COLLECTED REVENUE, WE WOULD TRACK AGAINST THAT NUMBER. THE OTHER THING IS THERE'S A PROPERTY TAX DETAILED LINE THAT WOULD BE ADJUSTED BY 500,000 ON THE ON THE DOWN SIDE. AND SO THAT'S HOW IT WOULD ACTUALLY BE REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET AND THE WAY WE USE OUR BUDGETED REVENUE NUMBER. THAT'S WHAT DETERMINES 8% OF THAT DETERMINES THE TRANSFER THAT WE GIVE TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE FUND EACH YEAR. SO THOSE ARE IMPORTANT NUMBERS NOT TO BE FORGOTTEN. WELL, YOU KNOW, OUR FRIENDS AT THE CONVENTION VISITORS BUREAU, THEY DO A GREAT JOB OVER THERE. IT'S NOT A COMPLAINT ABOUT THEIR THEIR PERFORMANCE, BUT THEY HAVE A THEY HAVE A LINE ITEM IN THEIR BUDGET CALLED A REVENUE SOURCE OR A BUDGET A BUDGET ITEM CALLED UNANTICIPATED SPECIAL PROJECTS. AND I'M LIKE, IT'S FAIRLY SPECIFIC NUMBER BEHIND IT. HOW DID YOU GET TO THAT NUMBER IF IT'S UNANTICIPATED? SO THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE JUST WRITING IN A LINE OF THIS. THIS IS GOING TO COME FROM SOMEPLACE. REVENUE CAME LATER. REVENUE TO BE NAMED LATER. THANK YOU. AND MR. LISTOWSKI, IF YOU COULD ADDRESS MY SECOND QUESTION? THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT PASSING THIS BUDGET. YOU CANNOT PASS A TAX RATE UNTIL AFTER YOU PASS THE BUDGET. I ASSUME IF THIS MOTION PASSES, YOU'LL TRY AGAIN. OH, NO. FAILS. IF THIS FAILS. IF THIS FAILS? I ASSUME YOU'LL TRY AGAIN. WE COULD KEEP TRYING UNTIL YOU ALL GET CRANKY AND WANT TO GO HOME. AND WE CAN COME BACK NEXT WEEK AND DO IT. I'M ALREADY CRANKY, BUT YEAH. [01:00:02] AND IF I COULD ADD TO THAT? THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE BUDGET AND THE TAX RATE THE BUDGET PASSES WITH A MAJORITY VOTE. AS WE'VE SAID, THE TAX RATE PASS HAS TO PASS WITH FIVE VOTES. IF YOU CANNOT MUSTER THE MAJORITY TO PASS THE BUDGET, IT SIMPLY TAKES EFFECT ON OCTOBER 1ST AS PROPOSED BY THE MANAGER, AND THAT'S TO ALLOW US TO HAVE A SPENDING PLAN IF WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE WEATHER OR ANYTHING THAT WOULD KEEP YOU ALL FROM PASSING A BUDGET. TAX RATES MORE COMPLICATED IF YOU CAN'T AGREE, 60% OF YOU FIVE VOTES TO SET A TAX RATE. AND THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE. THEN THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE TAKES EFFECT, AND THAT'S A $3 MILLION REDUCTION IN SPENDING. THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD STEP UP AND FIX THIS, MAKE IT FOUR AND FOUR OR FIVE AND FIVE, WHICHEVER. BUT THEY SHOULD BE EQUIVALENT BECAUSE IT'S A 60% MAJORITY, WHICH TURNS INTO FIVE VOTES FOR THIS GROUP. BUT THE PROVISION OF THE LAST PROPOSED BUDGET SUBMITTED BY THE CITY MANAGER IS A CHARTER PROVISION THAT KICKS IN IF YOU DO NOT APPROVE A BUDGET BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER. THAT'S TRUE. AND AGAIN, IF WE FAIL TO APPROVE THIS BUDGET AND THEN GO FORWARD AND APPROVE A TAX RATE, TAX LAW SAYS YOU HAVE TO APPROVE THE BUDGET FIRST BEFORE YOU APPROVE THE TAX RATE. SO THE CHARTER AMENDMENT IS SORT OF OBVIATED BY THAT COMPLETELY, ISN'T IT? I MEAN, IF YOU HAVE TO IF BY LAW WE HAVE TO APPROVE A BUDGET ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET TO A POINT WHERE WE DON'T HAVE A BUDGET. YOU'LL HAVE A BUDGET, BUT YOU WON'T HAVE A TAX RATE. NO, I GET THAT. MAGICALLY, THE TAX RATE WILL BE THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE AND YOU WILL HAVE THE LAST PROPOSED BUDGET. THAT IS AT GREAT VARIANCE WITH THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE. AND I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME. SERIOUS EDITING OF THE BUDGET THAT'S GOING TO BE PRESENTED TO YOU WITHIN THE. THAT'S CORRECT. I'M NOT TRYING TO SOUND LIKE A WISE GUY, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE SEQUENCE IS SET OUT IN THE TAX CODE THAT YOU HAVE TO DO THE BUDGET FIRST. OKAY. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. I'M GOING TO TRY TO PARAPHRASE WITH THE MOTION IS, WELL, I WON'T EVEN DO IT, JOHN. IT IS YOUR MOTION. COULD YOU RESTATE THAT? SO AMENDING THE FY 2023 BUDGET ORDINANCE TO REDUCE THE PROPERTY RATE TO 0.4445, REPLACING 500,000 IN LOST REVENUE THROUGH NON PROPERTY TAX SOURCES INCLUDING BEACH, THE BEACH PARKS BOARD, GALVESTON WHARFS BOARD, SHORT TERM RENTALS. OTHER NON PROPERTY TAX SOURCES AND THEN. ANYTHING OVER 120 DAYS OF EXCESS, WE WOULD USE THAT TO PAY DOWN UNFUNDED LIABILITIES WITHIN HEALTH CARE PLAN. WE WOULD MONITOR THAT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND MAKE THOSE BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS AS NECESSARY. IF WE DO GET THE MONEY OR IF WE DON'T GET THE MONEY. AND JOHN, IN THAT MOTION THAT THAT ALSO INVOLVES THAT STAFF WILL BE MONITORING THIS. AND IF THAT EXTRA REVENUE SOURCE DOES NOT COME IN, WE'LL BE HEARING FROM STAFF ON BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS OF POSSIBLY CUTTING PERSONNEL OR STAFF OR I MEAN, OR WHATEVER. THAT'S RIGHT. OKAY. VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, LET'S TAKE A RECORD VOTE ON THAT. BROWN YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO MAKE A STATEMENT ON THIS. I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THIS. BUT I REALLY SUPPORT WHAT COUNCILMAN LISTOWSKI IS TRYING TO DO HERE. AND I JUST THINK THAT THE WAY WE'RE GOING ABOUT IT, I'M FAR MORE COMFORTABLE WITH HOW HE STATED THIS. BUT AT THIS POINT, I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST COLLINS ? I BELIEVE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT DOING THIS. TAKING WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE A FOOLISH STEP. THE CONSEQUENCE OF NOT DOING IT IS TANTAMOUNT TO DISASTER FOR THE CITY STAFF. [01:05:06] I VOTE AYE. LEWIS? LISTENING TO THIS AND HEARING THAT IT MIGHT AFFECT OR WILL AFFECT STAFFING PROGRAMS. IT'S A CHALLENGE TO MAKE A DECISION HERE. I LIKE THE PART OF MAYBE THE DEALING WITH THE NUMBERS FROM THE SIX EXTRA DAYS, BUT SINCE I HAVE TO VOTE AS A WHOLE, THEN I VOTE AGAINST. SCHUSTER? NO. BOUVIER? YES. LISTOWSKI? YES. ROBB YES. MOTION PASSES. OKAY, THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU, JOHN. LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 8.1. [8.A.1. Consider For Action A Motion Ratifying The Property Tax Increase Reflected In The FY 2023 Budget. (M. Loftin)] ITEM 8.1, CONSIDER FOR ACTION A MOTION RATIFYING THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE REFLECTED IN THE FY 2023 BUDGET. THIS DOES NOT REQUIRE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, BUT IT REQUIRES A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION FOR RATIFYING THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET THAT WE JUST PASSED. IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT SAME POINT FOR. YES, MA'AM. NO, NO, NO. THAT'S NOT. I'M SORRY. WE'RE RATIFYING A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET. NOT. NOT A TAX RATE. CORRECT. CORRECT. IT'S CONFUSING. IT IS. AND IT'S LAW. THE STATES EFFORT TO SIMPLIFY THIS. THEY HAVE MADE THIS ALMOST TOTALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND. ARE WE GOOD? WHAT ARE WE VOTING FOR? WE'RE VOTING. LIKE OUTLINE IT READ IF THAT WOULD HELP. YES. THE MOTION IS THAT THE COUNCIL RATIFIED THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE REFLECTED IN THE FY 2023 BUDGET. AND THAT THAT WAS DECIDED UPON WITH COUNCILMAN LISTOWSKI MOTION. YES, THAT'S THAT IS MY MOTION. I, I MAY MOVE THE MOTION FOR APPROVAL. I'LL SECOND THE MOTION. ALL RIGHT. ANY DISCUSSION, COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT, LET'S HAVE OUR RECORD VOTE, PLEASE, MAN. BROWN YES. COLLINS YES. LEWIS YES. SCHUSTER YES. BOUVIER YES. LISTOWSKI. YES. ROBB. NOW. OKAY. THAT DOES PASS. THAT WAS A MAJORITY VOTE. LET'S GO TO IDOL MAYBE, PLEASE. [8.B. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Levying Ad Valorem Taxes In The Amount Of 45 Cents And No Mills ($0.450000) Upon Each One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) Of Property Valuation For The Tax Year 2022; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject. (M. Loftin)] NELLIE. ITEM EIGHT BE CONSIDERED FOR APPROVAL IN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, LEVYING AD VALOREM TAXES IN THE AMOUNT OF $0.45 AND NO MILLS UPON EACH $100. A PROPERTY VALUATION VALUATION FOR THE TAX YEAR 2022, MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT. MIKE, DID YOU WANT TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS ON THIS? I'VE GOT A SLIDE FOR THE TAX RATE HEARING. THE TAX ROLL INCREASED OVERALL BY 19% FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, WHICH IS NOT ONLY UNPRECEDENTED, IT'S ALMOST UNIMAGINABLE. THE PROPOSED RATE THAT WAS PUBLISHED IN THE PAPER WAS $0.45, AS WE DISCUSSED, WAS THE BASIS FOR THE BUDGET, AND IT WAS $0.56 TWO YEARS AGO. THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE IS 0.414575. THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE IS 0.451386, WHICH IS ACADEMIC. AT THIS POINT, YOU COULDN'T HAVE ADOPTED A RATE HIGHER THAN $0.45 IF YOU WANTED TO. AFTER YOU VOTED TO PROPOSE THAT TO THE PUBLIC IN YOUR AD, THE DEBT SERVICE RATE, WHICH IS THE PROBABLY TO A QUARTER TO HALF OF THE AMOUNT CHARGED BY MOST CITIES THAT WE CAN COMPARE IT TO OF ANY SIZE IS 5.20 $0.05. THE MINIMUM HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION WAS INCREASED FROM 5000 TO $60000 THIS YEAR. THAT'S GOING TO BE A CONTINUING BENEFIT, PARTICULARLY TO LOWER VALUE HOMEOWNERS. NO HOMEOWNER HOMESTEAD OWNERS GETTING A TAX INCREASE THIS YEAR FROM THE CITY OF GALVESTON. [01:10:03] AND APPROVAL REQUIRES 60% MAJORITY OF COUNCIL OR FIVE VOTES. AND THERE IS SPECIFIC LANGUAGE REQUIRED IN THE MOTION. OK. THANK YOU, MIKE. IT IS 510. EXCUSE ME, 6:10 P.M.. I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM EIGHT. BE ON OUR AGENDA. IS THERE ANYONE THE AUDIENCE WOULD LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS? HEARING. NO COMMENT. JANELLE, ANY WRITTEN COMMENTS THAT YOU'VE RECEIVED? YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT. IT IS FIVE. IT'S 6:10 P.M.. I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM EIGHT B, I'M GOING TO BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL AND I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO I MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF 0.4445. I'LL SECOND THAT. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR. AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE, LET'S HAVE A RECORD. VOTE THIS. YES, MIKE. FOR THE RECORD, IF YOU GIVE ME A SECOND, I'LL CALCULATE REAL QUICK THE PERCENT INCREASE. THANK YOU, MIKE, IF YOU WOULD, AND I'LL PUT THAT IN THE MOTION. WHERE'S THAT LANGUAGE? DO WE NOT HAVE SPECIFICS IN THIS? IT'S IN A STAFF REPORT. THANK YOU. I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FIRST ITEM. OKAY. THANK YOU. THE PERCENTAGE IS 7.21%, MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. I MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF 0.4445, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 7.21% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE. AND WE HAVE A SECOND FOR THAT. JOHN, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD. ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? LET'S HAVE OUR RECORD VOTE. BROWN YES. HOLLINS, YES. LEWIS, YES. SCHUSTER YES. VA YES. LISTOWSKI YES. ROB NO. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, EVERYONE. THAT DOES PASS. I MIGHT JUST POINT OUT YOU APPROVED A 7.2% INCREASE AND I KNOW PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HEAR THAT. BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT YOUR POLICE OFFICERS ALONE ARE GOING TO TAKE A 10.2% INCREASE THIS YEAR, AND THEY'RE THE MAJORITY OF WHAT IS YOUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET. YEAH, WE AND THAT'S A GOOD THING. I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S A BAD THING, THAT'S A GOOD THING. BUT I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT YOU ARE NOT KEEPING PACE WITH THE EXPENSE OF YOUR PUBLIC SAFETY UNITS. YEAH, ONE SECOND. WHAT WAS THAT MOTION? TO IMPROVE. 0.4445 TAX RATE. SO IF WE INCLUDE, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 7.21% INCREASE. YES. VERY GOOD. THAT DOES PASS WITH SIX AFFIRMATIVE VOTES. I WANTED TO THANK STAFF COUNSEL. THIS WAS A GOOD EXERCISE FOR ALL OF US. I THINK WE ALL ARE MOVING FORWARD AND WANTING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN TO LOWER THESE TAX RATES. AND AND BRIAN, THANK YOU. AND PLEASE THANK YOUR STAFF, PLEASE. AND SPECIAL THANKS TO MIKE LOFTON IN AND DEBBIE PEARCE IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. THEY THEY DO THE HEAVY LIFTING SO AND THANKS THE REST OF YOU BRANDON AND DAN WHO IN TRINO AND ALL THOSE GUYS WHO WORK SO HARD ON THE PUBLIC WORKS BUDGET IN THE CAPITOL. VERY GOOD. THANKS SO MUCH. LET'S MOVE TO ITEM NINE, PLEASE. [9. PUBLIC COMMENT] NELLIE, ITEM NINE, PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS IS THE PUBLIC COMMENT TIME. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT. THESE ARE ON AGENDA ITEMS OR NON AGENDA ITEMS. WE ALLOW 3 MINUTES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ACCORDING TO THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, UNFORTUNATELY COUNCIL OR FORTUNATELY IS THE CASE MAY BE COUNCIL CANNOT RESPOND IN ANY DIALOG WITH THOSE THAT ARE MAKING PUBLIC COMMENT. I'M GOING TO START WITH LIZ ROGERS. LIZ MY NAME IS LIZ ROGERS. 10213 STEWART ROAD MAYOR COUNCIL. THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING US THIS TIME TO TALK. I AM A 15 YEAR BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBER FOR THE GALVESTON ISLAND HUMANE SOCIETY, AND YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE SEEN TODAY'S PAPER OR HEARD IN THE MEDIA THAT WE ARE IN A SEVERE CRISIS SITUATION WHERE OUR SHELTER IS VERY OVERCROWDED. THE GALVESTON ISLAND HUMANE SOCIETY IS A 500 1C3, BUT WE ALSO HAPPEN TO BE THE CITY INTAKE FOR ALL STRAY ANIMALS IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON. WE DON'T HAVE AN OPTION OF WHETHER OR NOT TO TAKE ANIMALS. WE HAVE TO TAKE THEM IN. WE ARE AT ALMOST DOUBLE CAPACITY. [01:15:01] OUR SHELTER IS INTENDED TO HOUSE AND CARE FOR 55 DOGS. WE ARE CLOSE TO 100 DOGS RIGHT NOW. OUR SHELTER IS EQUIPPED TO CARE FOR 85 CATS AND WE ARE TOPPING 140 CATS AS OF YESTERDAY, PROBABLY MORE TODAY BECAUSE THEY JUST KEEP POURING IN. WE ARE WE ARE REALLY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT OUR SHELTER HAS A VERY HIGH LIVE RELEASE RATE FOR BEING A CITY INTAKE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE DISCRETION OVER WHAT COMES THROUGH THE DOOR. BUT WHEN THE CARE OF THE ANIMALS IS JEOPARDIZED BY THE AMOUNT OF SPACE THAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE TO MAKE REALLY SERIOUS CHOICES. AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO DO. SO WE'RE CALLING ON THE PUBLIC. THERE ARE THREE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO. IF YOU HAVE CONSIDERED ADOPTING AN ANIMAL AT ANY TIME, DO IT. NOW. WE HAVE ANIMALS THAT ARE READY TO GO. THEY COME FULLY VACCINATED, MICROCHIPPED, SPAYED AND NEUTERED. WE HAVE EVERY SIZE PUPPIES, ADULT DOGS, SENIOR DOGS, BIG DOG, SMALL DOGS, EVERY COLOR. COME AND FIND YOUR NEXT BEST FRIEND. YOU CAN APPLY ONLINE. YOU CAN WALK INTO THE SHELTER, YOU CAN MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, WHATEVER WORKS. YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND WE HAVE LOTS OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE PERSONALITIES AND THE DOGS THAT WE HAVE AT THE SHELTER. THE SECOND THING THAT YOU CAN DO IS FOSTER AND WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT FOSTER FAILURES. BUT TRULY, IF YOU CAN TAKE AN ANIMAL FOR ONE WEEK OUT OF THE SHELTER ENVIRONMENT, IT PROVIDES TREMENDOUS RELIEF ON OUR RESOURCES. IT GETS THE ANIMAL OUT OF THE SHELTER, WHICH IS A VERY HIGH STRESS ENVIRONMENT. SO IF YOU ARE ABLE TO FOSTER A KITTEN OR A CAT OR A PUPPY OR A DOG FOR ONE WEEK, WE HAVE A FOSTER IN MY OFFICE RIGHT NOW. PLEASE CONSIDER DOING THAT. YOU CAN YOU CAN FILL OUT THE FOSTER APPLICATION ONLINE. WE PROVIDE YOU WITH ALL OF THE RESOURCES, FOOD, CRATES, ANYTHING THAT YOU NEED LEASHES, LITTER BOXES IN ORDER TO FOSTER. THE THIRD THING THAT YOU CAN DO IS SUPPORT US BY DIRECTLY SHARING OUR SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS. IF YOU HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT YOU THINK WOULD CONSIDER ADOPTING OR FOSTERING, PLEASE REACH OUT DIRECTLY TO THEM. I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH HOW MUCH OF A CRISIS THIS IS. WE HAVE LITERAL CAGES DOWN THE HALLWAYS STACKED. IT IS JUST A TREMENDOUS STRAIN ON OUR STAFF AND OUR RESOURCES AND THE ANIMALS AND WE HATE THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, LIZ. APPRECIATE IT. REGRET IT IF YOU ADOPT ONE. WINSTON WELL, FAVORITE BREED RESCUE. RANDALL RUBENSTEIN. RANDALL HELLO, MY NAME IS RANDALL RUBENSTEIN. I LIVE NEAR 45TH STREET AND A COUPLE OF ITEMS I WANTED TO BRING UP. I WANT TO LET THE CITY KNOW THAT PUBLIC WORKS HAS BEEN VACUUMING OUT DRAINAGE FOR SEVERAL DAYS NOW ON 45TH STREET AT SW AND ONE HALF. AND THE LAST TWO OR THREE WEEKS, THE HEAVY RAIN HAS REALLY SHOWN HOW BAD THE DRAINAGE IS ON 45TH. AND IT WAS JUST RECENTLY COMPLETED ON 45TH STREET. BUT OF COURSE, A LOT OF LITTER, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SERVICES THAT MOW THEIR YARD AND THEY DON'T CLEAN IT UP. THEY JUST BLOW IT IN THE STREET, YOU KNOW. AND 45TH STREET DOES FLOOD OFF IN 43RD ALSO. AND SO I'M KIND OF TRAPPED BETWEEN THOSE TWO STREETS ON S AND A HALF. BUT MY NEIGHBOR WHO LIVES ON THE CORNER NOTICED AT 45TH AND S AND A HALF, HE SAID THE PIPE IS HALF THE DIAMETER OF THE CONTRACT AND THE SLOPE IS WRONG. SO HE SAID ON HIS CORNER, WHICH IS 45TH AND SW AND ONE HALF ON THE SOUTHEAST CORNER, I WANTED TO SEE IF Y'ALL COULD HOLD THE CONTRACTOR TO THE DEFICIENCY IF IT'S NOT TOO LATE ON THAT, BECAUSE Y'ALL ARE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP SUCKING IT OUT, YOU KNOW? BUT THAT'S ON THE WHOLE ISLAND. I KNOW A LOT OF TIMES THE WATER HAS NOWHERE TO GO. THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO BRING UP IS SINCE I'M A RETIRED SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR, I SPOKE WITH UTMB PSYCHIATRY TODAY TO INQUIRE WHEN THEY WILL REINSTATE THE INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC PROGRAM THAT ENDED AFTER HURRICANE IKE. AND THEY WEREN'T SURE. THEY SAID THEY'RE WORKING ON IT, THEY'RE WORKING ON FUNDING AND THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT IT. BUT RIGHT NOW, IT TAKES SIX MONTHS JUST TO GET INTO THEIR OUTPATIENT TO GET MEDICATION MANAGEMENT. AND SO I'M ASKING THE CITY TO ENCOURAGE THIS AS IT WOULD HELP THE ISLAND. IT WOULD ESPECIALLY BE HELPFUL AS THE MAYOR AND THE POLICE CHIEF HAVE STARTED THE MENTAL HEALTH OFFICERS ON CALLS. BUT THEN IF THEY DO AN ON CALL ON THE STREET, THEY HAVE TO TAKE THEM TO HOUSTON FOR INPATIENT, THEN THEY TAKE THEM RIGHT BACK TO US. AND SO I KNOW THAT A LOT OF THESE INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC CAN ONLY ESPECIALLY UTMB BE IS ONLY GOING TO HAVE THE FUNDING [01:20:09] TO HOLD THEM FOR A SHORT TIME. BUT IF WE COULD DO CRISIS INTERVENTION, MANAGE THEM AND THEN SLIDE THEM INTO OUR UTMB, BE OUTPATIENT, THAT WOULD BE IDEAL. BUT YOU KNOW, WE WE NEED TO HAVE SOME WAY TO UTILIZE THE MENTAL HEALTH OFFICERS. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, RANDALL. I APPRECIATE IT. SAM COLLINS. SAM. THANK YOU. MAYOR SAM COLLINS, 70 902 HIGHWAY SIX. NOT IN GALVESTON. YOU AIN'T FIGURED THAT OUT. IT'S ON THE MAINLAND. I'VE BEEN ADVISED TO BE RESERVED IN MY TONE WHEN ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES. FIRST ONE TO COVER THESE THREE THINGS I'LL COVER. FIRST IS TOMORROW. TEXAS A&M STUDENTS WILL BE HERE AGAIN WORKING ON A JUNE 10TH MUSEUM PROJECT. THEY'LL BE DOWNTOWN INITIALLY AT 11:00. THEY'LL BE ON THE ISLAND UNTIL 6:00. I THINK THEY HAVE INVITED SOME CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO ATTEND A MEETING WITH THEM AS THEY WORK ON A PROJECT TO DESIGN A MUSEUM FOR THE COMMUNITY OF GALVESTON. IT'S A CLASS PROJECT. IT'S NOT A REAL WORLD PROJECT. THEY'RE NOT LICENSED ARCHITECTS. THEY'RE STUDENTS. THEY WERE EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WORK HERE ON THE ISLAND. WE ARE THE AGGIES. THE AGGIES ARE WE? AND SO WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING TOGETHER TOMORROW. HOPEFULLY SOME OF YOU CAN STOP BY AND SEE THEM WHILE THEY'RE HERE. THE CARRIAGE HOUSE HAS PROVIDED SOME TRANSPORTATION FOR THEM TO TAKE A TOUR OF THE CITY, WHICH I'LL BE LEADING AT 11:00 AT A DISCOUNTED RATE, NOT FREE, BUT AT A DISCOUNTED RATE. THE SECOND THING IS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NATIONAL JUNETEENTH CONFERENCE OCTOBER 14TH THROUGH 16. TWO YEARS AGO, I RAISED MY HAND FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON TO BE SELECTED FOR THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE. THIS IS THE FIFTH CONFERENCE THAT'S GOING TO BE A NATIONAL MISS JUNETEENTH PAGEANT AT CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL ON OCTOBER 15 AT 6:00. TICKETS ARE $20. WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT IF ANY OF YOU WANT TO ATTEND AND YOU CAN'T AFFORD THE $20, I'LL HELP YOU WITH THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN ATTEND. WE WILL HAVE A MISS JUNETEENTH FROM GALVESTON THAT WILL BE ENTERED. AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO MAKE THAT EVENT, IF YOU CAN. AND THEN THE LAST MINUTE I WILL USE TO ADDRESS THIS THIS ISSUE OF OF JUNETEENTH. SOME MAY PERCEIVE THAT WE MAY BE PUSHING THIS HOLIDAY TO BRING AN EMBARRASSMENT TO THE CITY OR COUNTRY. BUT MY FOCUS IS NOT ON THE PAST OR ENSLAVEMENT. JUNETEENTH IS ABOUT FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY. AND SOME OF THE STORIES THAT YOU DO NOT KNOW IS THAT BECAUSE OF JUNETEENTH, PEOPLE LIKE MATTHEW GAINES AND GEORGE TRUBY BECAME STATE SENATORS. GEORGE T RUBY. BEING FROM GALVESTON, A NEW STATUE HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO GAINES ON THE CAMPUS OF TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY. AT THAT TIME, IN THE 1870S, GAINES WAS ADVOCATING FOR ALL CHILDREN TO GO TO SCHOOL TOGETHER IN THE 1870S. AND THE REASON THAT THIS HISTORY IS IMPORTANT AND THAT MUSEUM WOULD GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO TELL MORE OF OUR AMERICAN AND GALVESTON HISTORY STORY. AND THAT'S WHY I THINK IT SHOULD BE SUPPORTED. SO IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT A SINGLE DAY BEING SUPPORTED. IT'S ABOUT WHAT THAT DAY CREATED. FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY AND. ALLOW ME TO SPEAK. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT, SAM. MR. MILLER. COME RIGHT UP, SIR. BUT EVEN AGAIN, I INTEND TO BE GOING HOME BY NOW. WELL, I WANT TO COMMENT ON WHAT MR. COLLINS SAID EARLIER ON ABOUT GETTING FUNDS FOR THE 19TH OF JUNE. SO THIS SHOULD BE OVER HERE, OVER THEIR HEAD IN WANTING TO DO THIS. ALL THIS STUFF TOOK PLACE IN GALVESTON, AND WE HAVE HARD TIME GETTING FUNDS AND WE HAVE A HARD TIME. I HATE TO SAY IT WHERE THEY PUT YOUR MAN OVER HERE. OVER HERE. I KNOW ALL Y'ALL WENT TO CHURCH SUNDAY. EVERY ONE OF YOU WENT TO CHURCH. MY QUESTION IS, WHAT DID YOU GO TO CHURCH FOR? WELL, WE ASKED FOR THINGS AND WHATEVER. WE CAN'T GET IT. WHY IS THAT? I HOPE YOU ALL HELP US AND GET. WHAT IS THAT, MR. COLLINS? FOR YOU. THAT FUNDS BECAUSE YOU SAY THE PEOPLE ALREADY ON THE LIST. THEY TOLD ME ONE TIME I ASK FOR FUN. WELL, YOU GOT TO PUT US IN THE BUDGET. THEN YOU TELL ME THAT. WELL, IF PEOPLE ALREADY GOING TO TAKE ALL THE MONEY WE CAN'T PICTURE AND THAT'S FACEBOOK, THAT FRONT DOOR. THAT'S NOT THE WORD I WANT TO SAY. SO HELP US. AND THE OTHER THING I SAY, MAYOR, COUNCIL PEOPLE. [01:25:04] I INSIST THAT MY GRANDCHILDREN WATCH THE COUNCIL BECAUSE AS A MINORITY, A BLACK PERSON, WE DON'T GET INVOLVED. I INSIST THAT MY KIDS ALL VOTE. Y'ALL MADE A MOCKERY OF THE PROCEDURE TODAY. MAYOR, I WISH I WOULD DO BETTER ON THAT. Y'ALL DISCUSSING SOMETHING. IT HAD BEEN SECOND MAN HAD WITHDRAWN HIS MOTION AND Y'ALL DISCUSSING Y'ALL. Y'ALL KNOW THAT'S NOT FOLLOWING PROCEDURE. I'M GONNA SHUT UP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MILLER. I APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT TO WRITTEN COMMENTS? YES, MA'AM. THE FIRST IS FROM JASON FLORY. HELLO. MY NAME IS JASON FLORY. I LIVE AT 5729 AVENUE. Q IN GALVESTON, THE AT&T BUILDING NEXT DOOR HAS A LARGE, APPROXIMATELY FIVE FOOT TALL MOUND OF EARTH BUILT UP. EVERY TIME IT RAINS EVEN SLIGHTLY, IT RUNS OFF OF THEIR PROPERTY AND ONTO OUR OUR OUR PROPERTY AND FLOODS OUR YARD. THIS HAS CAUSED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGE TO OUR YARD AND HOUSE. THIS MORNING, OUR PUMP FOR OUR FRENCH DRAIN WENT OUT, MAKING THE PROBLEM EVEN WORSE. I'VE CONTACTED AT&T DOZENS OF TIMES. AT THIS POINT, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. THE NEXT ONE IS FROM BRIAN SMITH. PLEASE DO NOT STOP THE USE OF GOLF CARTS ON THE ISLAND. FIX THE PROBLEM. DWI IS BAD FOR WHOEVER ENDS UP ON THE OTHER END OF A DRIVER, A MOTORCYCLE, SMALL CAR, SCOOTER, BIKER, ETC. WOULD HAVE ENDED THE SAME FIX. THE PROBLEM STOP SIGNS ARE HARD TO SEE, PUT BLINKING LIGHTS ON THEM AND CLEAR THE TREES AND SHRUBS THAT BLOCK THEM FOR WAY TOO WAY. WHO KNOWS WHICH WAY? GOLF CARTS ARE PART OF THE COOL FACTOR. TAKING THIS AWAY MAKES GALVESTON LESS ATTRACTIVE AND WILL NOT FIX THE ISSUE. THANK YOU, JANELLE. I THOUGHT WE COULD GET THROUGH THE EVENING WITHOUT A GOLF CART COMMENT, BUT WE GOT ONE. SO. ANYTHING ELSE, JANELLE, YOU HAVE? ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD. WE'RE MOVING NOW. ITEM TEN ORDINANCES NOT REQUIRING PUBLIC HEARINGS. [10.A. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Amending The Criteria And Selection Procedures For Contributions Of Hotel Occupancy Tax To Arts And Historical Preservation, Found In Chapter 33-92 Distribution Of Tax Proceeds Of The Code Of The City Of Galveston 1982 As Amended, By Increasing The Funding Available To The Cultural Arts Commission; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject And Providing For An Effective Date (M. Jadidi)] TEN A, PLEASE, NELLIE. ITEM TEN, CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, AMENDING THE CRITERIA AND SELECTION PROCEDURES FOR CONTRIBUTIONS FOR CONTRIBUTIONS OF HOTEL OCCUPANCY, TAX TO ARTS AND HISTORICAL PRESERVATION, FOUND IN CHAPTER 3392. DISTRIBUTION OF TAX PROCEEDS OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, 1982. AS AMENDED BY INCREASING THE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION, MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, RON. I KNOW WAS INVOLVED WITH THIS FROM A STAFF STANDPOINT, DON, DID YOU WANT TO GIVE INPUT ON THIS? THIS IS JUST AN INCREASE IN THE PRICE TO. I THINK WE THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION, THE ARTS COMMISSION, CURRENTLY, THEY'VE BEEN GETTING $50,000 A YEAR. THIS IS TO INCREASE THAT AMOUNT TO $100,000. OKAY. VERY GOOD. I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION COUNCIL. I WOULD MOVE APPROVAL. I'LL SECOND THAT. LET ME. THANK YOU. WE'RE BACK OR WE'RE BACK TO. HERE WE ARE. HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM TEN. A BY COUNCILMAN COLLINS, SECOND BY MAYOR BROWN. VERY GOOD. WOULD YOU PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES? I WOULD LIKE TO JUST. OH, YES. I'M SORRY. IF YOU DON'T MIND TO REMIND PEOPLE THIS IS AN EXPENDITURE OF HOTEL TAX FUNDS. THIS IS NOT DOESN'T COME OUT OF THE BUDGET. GENERAL FUND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES. THAT IS. WELL, CLEARLY CAN'T TAKE IT BACK IF YOU GET THAT. GARY SCHUSTER VOTES AGAINST THE ARTS. I DO NOT KNOW. IT'S A UNANIMOUS, UNANIMOUS VOTE IN FAVOR BY ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS VOTE. SO I SWEAR I HIT. YES. ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 11, PLEASE. [11. CONSENT ITEMS] ITEM 11 CONSENT ITEMS. THE FOLLOWING ITEM SHALL BE CONSIDERED FOR ACTION AS A WHOLE. UNLESS ONE OR MORE COUNCIL MEMBERS OBJECTS, THE CITY MANAGER IS AUTHORIZED TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS UPON FINAL APPROVAL BY THE CITY ATTORNEY CONSENT ITEMS. 11 A THROUGH 11 L ARE ON THE SCREEN COUNCIL. IS THERE ANY PARTICULAR ITEM THAT ANY COUNCILMEMBER LIKE TO PULL OUT FOR INDIVIDUAL DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 11 A THROUGH 11 L. IS THERE A SECOND? [01:30:01] I WOULD SECOND. WE GET. I WOULD LIKE BEFORE WE VOTE COUNCIL. I WOULD LIKE TO. ON ITEM 11 G. I WANT TO THANK BETTER PARKS FOR GALVESTON. THIS IS KIND OF AN UNSUNG HERO IN OUR COMMUNITY HERE. BARBARA SANDERSON IS THERE. AND YOU WORK TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH THEM. THEY. GOODNESS. WE COULD LIST SO MANY PROJECTS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN BEHIND FUNDING WISE AND SUPPORT. WITHOUT THEM, WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE. THE IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR PARKS THAT WE HAVE TODAY. AND SO BARBARA, PLEASE EXTEND COUNCIL'S COMPLIMENTS AND THANK YOU TO THEM. VERY GOOD. WE HAVE A MOTION. PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES ON THAT. CHEERING OH, IT IS UNANIMOUS WITH COUNCILMAN SCHUSTER VOTING NO. ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET IT DONE. I'M KIDDING. YES. ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD. WE HAVE NO ACTION ITEMS. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH ALL OF OUR ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA. AND IT IS 631 AND WE ARE OFFICIALLY ADJOURNED. THANK YOU, COUNSEL. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.