[00:00:03]
[1. DECLARATION OF A QUORUM AND CALL MEETING TO ORDER]
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD TO USE MY GAVEL.I'M OFFICIALLY CALLING THE WORKSHOP MEETING FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON TO ORDER FOR THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17TH.
WE DO HAVE A QUORUM HERE, BUT IT'S TIME FOR ROLL CALL. PLEASE, JANELLE.
CAN YOU MAKE SURE SHE'S GOT [OVERLAPPING]?
>> COUNCILWOMAN LEWIS WILL BE VIRTUAL WITH US.
SHE'S IN KANSAS CITY RIGHT NOW. SHE JUST CALLED.
>> SHE IS AT THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES.
>> SHE WAS IN CINCINNATI LAST WEEK REPRESENTING THE CITY AT THE METRO GROUP.
>> OKAY. WHEN SHE COMES ON, WOULD YOU LET ME KNOW, PLEASE, MA'AM?
>> GOOD MORNING, MS. SHARON. CAN YOU HEAR US?
>> VERY GOOD. LET'S MAKE SURE THAT SHE CAN HEAR US.
OH, WE BARELY HEAR YOU, SHARON.
>> I CAN BARELY HEAR YOU ALL, BUT I CAN HEAR YOU.
>> WE'LL TRY TO SPEAK UP IF WE CAN.
MAURICE, YOU CAN INCREASE THAT.
VERY GOOD. WE HAVE ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT AND ACCOUNTED FOR.
BEFORE WE MOVE INTO OUR DISCUSSION ITEMS, COUNCIL, JUST AS AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR EVERYONE HERE AND FOR EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY, THERE'S GOING TO BE A BUSY DAY FOR COUNSEL.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE WORKSHOP THIS MORNING.
WE'LL RUN THAT UNTIL WE'VE FINISHED.
WE THEN, AT 2:30, HAVE A JOINT MEETING WITH THE PARK BOARD ON SOME VERY IMPORTANT SUBJECTS THAT WE'LL BE DISCUSSING WITH THEM.
THAT MEETING WILL LAST UNTIL 4:30 AND WE'LL TAKE A 30-MINUTE BREAK AND THEN WE MOVE DIRECTLY INTO OUR REGULAR MEETING AT 5:00.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE.
THOSE IN ATTENDANCE, STAFF, AND FOR THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING IN THE COMMUNITY, GLAD TO HAVE YOU THIS MORNING.
LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 3A, PLEASE, JANELLE.
[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)]
>> 3A, CLARIFICATION OF THE CITY AND REGULAR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITY COUNCIL TO ASK QUESTIONS OF STAFF ON THE STAND AND REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS.
COUNCILMAN BOUVIER, ANY QUESTIONS, SIR?
>> THIS IS FOR THE THINGS THAT INVOLVE [OVERLAPPING].
>> YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT. LET ME GET THE RIGHT NOTES. H11.
>> QUESTION IS CRUISE ELECTRIC, IS THAT A COMPETITIVE BID?
>> WE BID THAT ANNUALLY DURING A NEW CONTRACT, SO THEY HAVE A UNIT PRICE BID WITH US THAT WE BID ANNUALLY.
>> THEN IS THERE A REASON THAT THEY DON'T USE FRP STREP VERSUS STAINLESS STEEL 316?
>> WE ARE USING STAINLESS STEEL 316.
>> I KNOW, BUT FRP STRAP WOULD BE A LOT LESS.
>> WELL, HERE'S THE ISSUE, AND I'VE TALKED TO THE OWNER ABOUT IT, WE WENT WITH THE STAINLESS STEEL BECAUSE THESE ARE GOING TO GET BUMPED PROBABLY BY LAWNMOWERS AND THINGS, AND WE THOUGHT THAT'D BE MORE RESILIENT IN THE FRP.
>> I DIDN'T SEE A LINEAL FOOT FOR TRENCHING.
>> THEY MEASURED IT ALL. I HAVE NO IDEA.
>> THIS IS ON THE SEA WALL FENCE.
>> NO, THIS IS FOR THE TRENCH.
>> 25TH STREET, THIS IS PART OF THAT LIGHTING PROJECT.
>> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT, MIKE?
>> I JUST WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT.
>> IF WE APPROVED, WHAT'S THE TIMING OF THE CONSTRUCTION?
>> WELL, THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE LIGHTING OF THE ESCALATES ON EITHER SIDE OF BROADWAY.
THE ONE IN FRONT OF CITY HALL THAT SHOULD BE DONE NEXT WEEK.
THEY START I THINK TODAY, IF THE WEATHER WAS DONE COOPERATING, BUT THOSE SHOULD BE DONE.
THEN THEY DISCUSSED OUR MARCHING, BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 100 PERCENT OF THESE DONE BY CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR.
THERE WILL BE SOME TEMPORARY RUNS OF POWER THIS YEAR TO GET ACCOMPLISHES.
THIS IS GOING TO PROBABLY GET DONE AFTER CHRISTMAS, THIS PART HERE.
[00:05:02]
>> AS FAR AS SAFETY, NOT EVERY AVERAGE JOE CAN WALK UP AND PLUG INTO.
>> AFTER WE DO THIS PROJECT, NO.
>> WILLIAM, THEY'RE PROJECTING TO HAVE EVERYTHING UP AND RUNNING 100 PERCENT BY MARTY DRIVE.
>> YEAH, THAT'S CORRECT. THIS IS A PERMANENT INSTALLATION.
>> WE COULD DO IT NOW. WE WILL DO IT NOW.
THAT WAS SOME TEMPORARY MOVES, CORDS, AND SUCH, BUT WHAT WE'VE LEARNED IN PAST YEARS IS THAT SCARE PLUGS CAN GET USED TO CHARGE PHONES AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.
>> THIS IS A PERMANENT INSTALLATION THAT COMPLIMENTS.
>> IT DOES GET INSTALLED IN MARTY DRIVE.
>> YES, IT DOES. THERE'S A LOT OF FOOT TRAFFIC IN THOSE ESCALATORS.
>> I JUST WANT TO MENTION ON THIS TOPIC TOO THAT THIS IS A COMBINED EFFORT OF THE PARK BOARD AND THE CITY TO GET WORKING TOGETHER TO GET THIS ACCOMPLISHED OVER THERE.
I THINK THE PARK BOARDS ARE WORKING WITH FUNDING OF A GOOD PORTION.
>> WELL, THIS IS OUR FUNDING AND THEY BOUGHT THE LIGHTS.
>> WE'RE DOING THE ELECTRICAL.
DO WE SEE ANY REVENUE FROM THE FIRST THREE TROLLEYS? [LAUGHTER]
>> WAS THAT [OVERLAPPING] THE $12,000 AMOUNT OVER THE LAST YEAR OR FROM THE FIRST THREE TROLLEYS?
>> THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT REVENUE WE'VE EARNED.
>> JAMES, 12,000 WAS THE REVENUE FOR THE 12-MONTH PERIOD.
>> IT'S A HELL OF A ROI ON THAT ONE.
>> A GOOD RETURN, [LAUGHTER] 1.4 MILLION.
>> DO WE KNOW WHAT THE RIDERSHIP IS?
>> RIDERSHIP WAS ABOUT 400,000 FOR THE YEAR.
>> JUST A SECOND. THE RIDERSHIP FOR HOW LONG A PERIOD?
WE RAN A MONTH-AND-A-HALF IN OCTOBER.
WE HAD TO PULL IT DOWN. WE STARTED BACK UP IN FEBRUARY.
WE WENT FEBRUARY THROUGH SEPTEMBER, THEN WE STARTED NOW THREE DAYS OUT OF THE WEEK.
IN MAY, WE STARTED, EXCUSE ME, FIVE DAYS OUT OF THE WEEK.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION ON THAT TOO.
MIKE DID YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT?
>> I'VE GOT A QUESTION ON THAT.
IT'S COMING OUT OF HOT TRICKLE-DOWN. IS THAT RIGHT, BRIAN?
>> WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO ADD ANY MORE STOPS, WHICH IS A CONSTANT REQUEST THAT WE'RE GETTING, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO RUN THE FULL ROUTE, WHICH THERE IS AN EXTENSION TO THIS ROUTE THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY NOT RUNNING.
>> STOP, WHO'S REQUESTING THOSE STOPS?
>> RESIDENTS ON 25TH, AROUND THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
>> CAN I JUST COMMENT THAT [NOISE] IF WE WERE STARTING FROM SCRATCH, THAT'S PROBABLY A TERRIBLE IDEA.
BUT POST-HIKE WITH FEMA, WITH THE FEDS, AND THE REGULATION COMMISSION, ALL THIS STUFF, WE WOULD OWE THEM A LOT OF MONEY.
WE HAD A CHOICE OF EITHER USING TRICKLE-DOWN FUNDS TO PUT THESE BACK ON THE STREET OR NOT AND PAY THE FEDS BACK FOR ALL OF THIS.
I KNOW SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE NOT THE BIGGEST FANS OF THE TROLLEY SYSTEM, [LAUGHTER] BUT THEY'RE A GREAT TOURIST DROP.
THE FARE BOX IS NOT EVER GOING TO MAKE AN END TO THE COST.
>> THIS PAST YEAR WE RAN THEM FEWER DAYS AND LESS ROUTES BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE THE THREE TROLLEYS, WE'RE TRYING TO PRESERVE THEM.
THEY ARE A VERY COMPLEX PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.
THEY DO BREAK AND WE HAVE TO PRETTY MUCH HAVE TWO RUNNING TO DO THE ROUTES OR MAYBE THREE UNITS TO DO ALL THE STOPS THAT PEOPLE WANT.
THAT HAS US RUNNING WITH NO RESERVE.
TYPICALLY IF ONE BREAKS, WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO USE ONE UP TO GET THE OTHER BACK.
>> THAT WAS MY QUESTION, THIS TROLLEY.
THIS IS THE FOURTH TROLLEY WE'RE PUTTING OUT THERE.
IS THAT TIED UP IN THE FEDERAL FUNDING WHERE WE HAVE TO GET BACK? I DIDN'T THINK AS MUCH.
>> I DON'T THINK. NO, THIS IS ALL OUR FUNDING.
>> YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING.
I'VE BEEN OBVIOUSLY READING WAY TOO MUCH ABOUT HOT TAX LAST MULTIPLE DAYS.
THE HOT TAX COVERS THE TROLLEY, THE DRIVER, THE REPAIRS, THE AVERAGE.
>> IT'S OPERATIONAL. YES, MA'AM.
>> IT'S A TOURIST TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
>> HOW LONG WAS THIS GOING TO TAKE THE REFURBISHING TO GET BACK?
>> USUALLY, IT TAKES ONE YEAR TO DO IT. ONE YEAR.
>> THAT IS, LET ME QUALIFY THAT BY SAYING, A YEAR-ISH. [LAUGHTER].
>> DAVID, A QUESTION ON THAT TOO.
IS THAT A PRETTY HARD NUMBER NOW, THE REPAIR ON THESE? ARE WE GOING TO START GETTING CHANGE ORDERS AND ALL THAT OTHER?
>> NOT FROM THIS COMPANY, NO. IN FACT, THEY SENT ME A LETTER THE OTHER DAY CONFIRMING THAT NUMBER, IT'S A HARD NUMBER.
THE ONLY ADDITIONAL NUMBERS THAT MAY BE INVOLVED IS MAYBE SOME ADDITIONAL WORK ON THE AIR CONDITIONERS.
[00:10:03]
THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT, BEFORE WE HIRED AN INSPECTOR TO GO IN THERE AND MAKE SURE THE JOB WAS BEING DONE CORRECTLY.BUT THAT IS A HARD NUMBER TO MAKE THEM TO REFURBISH THAT TROLLEY.
>> THEY'VE DONE THESE ALREADY, SO THEY'VE GOT SOME GOOD EXPERIENCE WITH THEM.
I THINK THEY KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT NOW.
TO OUR ADVANTAGE ON THIS FOURTH TROLLEY, LIKE A LOT OF THINGS IN GALVESTON, IT WAS UP ON JACK'S WHEN THE STORM HIT, SO DID NOT TAKE ON QUITE AS MUCH WATER AS THE OTHER TROLLEYS. IS THAT CORRECT, DANNY?
>> I THINK YOU MENTIONED THIS BEFORE, BUT I'M TRYING TO CLEAR OVER MY HEAD.
WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH THE UTMB TRACKING SYSTEM?
>> THIS ONE HERE, LET'S JUST BEGIN USING THAT.
RIGHT NOW WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH BANDWIDTH TO RUN THAT.
>> THE SWITCHES WILL NEED SOME WORK, BUT THAT IS NOT PART OF THE TROLLEY.
>> THE UTMB ROUTER IS GOING TO SPREAD WHEN IT WENT OUT.
>> BUT WE'D LIKE TO EXTEND OVER THE PORT SIDE, WHICH WE HAVE A ROUTE THAT RUNS OVER THERE TOO.
BUT WHEN YOU START STRETCHING THE ROUTE WITH FEWER CARS, IT'S A REAL ISSUE.
>> LAST ONE. DID WE EVER GET A SIGN ON THERE THAT SAYS HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO RIDE?
>> WE'RE PUTTING THAT ON THERE FOR THE $1, WE GO WITH THAT TO THE NEXT POINT.
>> WE MAY WANT TO TALK, WHEN WE GET THIS FOURTH TROLLEY BACK, ABOUT THE DOLLAR.
BUT THAT'S THE DISCUSSION WE HAVE LATER.
>> WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF REQUESTS FOR WEDDINGS AND CHARLES, YOUR SWITCH.
JAMES'S BEEN WORKING ON ANOTHER GOOD IDEA THAT JAMES HAD BACK BEFORE WHEN THEY RAN BEFORE.
WE RAN THEM SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, WE RAN THEM ON GODLY HOURS.
JAMES HAS REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT'S RUNNING TO SAVE THE TROLLEY, BUT ALSO TO DRIVE.
IT'S LIKE MICRIB AND MCDONALDS.
IT'S VERY POPULAR WHEN IT COMES IN, THEY TAKE IT AWAY, YOU MISS IT AND IT HASN'T PAID OFF.
>> IT'S A LOT LIKE MICRIB. SOME PEOPLE LOVE IT AND SOME PEOPLE HATE IT.
[LAUGHTER] WE'RE NOT REALLY SURE WITH THE MEETING.
>> ARE WE ADVERTISING ON THAT, CHARLIE?
>> WE WILL. THAT IS A LARGE BANNER FOR ADVERTISING.
SO IT WILL RECEIVE MORE DOLLARS THAN THE SMALLER [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE JUST HAVE WORKED AN AGREEMENT TO HAVE THAT DONE.
AHOUSE.COM HAD IT BEFORE AND NOW WE HAVE OTHER PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THAT, AND SO AS SOON AS THEY GET ON BOARD AND GET THINGS GOING, WHICH THEY ARE NOW, THOSE DOLLARS SHOULD START TO COME IN.
>> WHY WOULDN'T WE JUST HANDLE IT OURSELVES?
>> WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFF IN HERE SO, YEAH.
>> I'M SORRY. MR. GALVESTON IS DOING THIS FOR US ON AN HOUR THEN.
>> THE PARK'S SPOT. WE HAD MARKED WITH A PARK SPOT AND THEY'RE TAKING IT OVER.
>> THEY WERE PAYING BEFORE AND NOW WE JUST DON'T [OVERLAPPING]
>> AHOUSE.COM HAVE PREVIOUS, THEY ARE NOW OUT OF IT WE'LL WORK WITH THE PARK SPOT
>> BUT YOU KNOW THEY DO A LOT OF ADVERTISING.
>> I KNOW, I AGREE. THAT MEANS
>> [OVERLAPPING] AND WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO ARTWORK DESIGN AND ALL THAT.
I MEAN, WE COULD STICK FIGURES AND STAFF [LAUGHTER]
>> I SAW CHEAP VALLEY STOOD UP.
DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING?
>> YES, SIR. WORKING WITH COMMUNITY OUT OF THE CITIES OUTREACH.
IT'S PART OF THE GETTING HOME SAFE GETTING SOME ADDITIONAL THE ROUTES AND EVERYTHING.
SO AS WE PUSH FORWARD, TRYING TO GET TOURISTS TO PARK THEIR CARS AT A HOTEL AND GET ON THE TROLLEY AND UTILIZE THAT DURING THE DAY SO THEY'RE NOT GOING OUT CONSUMING AND DRIVING.
>> DOUG IS OUR OFFICIAL TRAVELING MARSHALL, BY THE WAY.
IF YOU RIDE THE TROLLEY YOU WILL FIND DOUG.
>> THERE'S A WAY TO GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREET.
>> VERY GOOD, BUT WITH THREE TROLLEYS RIGHT NOW, WHEN ONE BREAKS DOWN, IT DID HARM MOST THINGS AND WHY NOT NEED TO PREVENT MAINTENANCE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT IT DOES SHUT DOWN THE SERVICES.
THE SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED IN 1988 WITH FOUR TROLLEYS FOR JUST A SMALL CIRCUIT.
WE'VE ADDED TWO MORE CIRCUITS.
THREE TROLLEYS NOT JUST NOT CUTTING IT.
IN OTHER WORDS, WELL, THESE TROLLEYS ARE REAL TROLLEYS.
WHEN WE WENT TO THE MAKER TO LOOK AT THE NEW ORLEANS IN SAN FRANCISCO, THOSE ARE WIND TROLLEYS, AS KIMIKO STATED, AT LEAST THE REAL THING.
SO IF WE LOSE THIS TROLLEY, IF WE DO NOT BRING IT BACK, WE'LL HAVE TO AUCTION IT OFF AND WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO GET IT BACK.
MIKE, ANY OTHER QUESTION, SIR?
>> THANK YOU, DAVID. THANK YOU, JACK
>> 11S, IS THIS AN ADDITION TO DOING GOOD? THE CITY ALREADY HAVE A VALVE EXERCISER?
>> SO THIS WILL BE OKAY AND 11T.
IS THERE ANY CONCERNS WITH THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF MANUFACTURERS?
>> WELL, YES. HOWEVER, OUR BIGGER CONCERN RIGHT NOW IS NOT HAVING TRUCKS.
>> SO DAVID HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF SCOURING LOTS THAT ARE STATE CONTRACT.
THESE WERE ORDERED, I BELIEVE BY HALLIBURTON AND HALLIBURTON ABANDON THEM.
SO THEIR LOSS IS OUR GAIN ON THESE.
PROBABLY NOT THE TRUCKS WE NORMALLY WOULD HAVE BOUGHT, BUT THEY WILL SERVICE US AND PROBABLY LAST A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN WHAT WE NORMALLY BUY.
>> ACTUALLY IT WAS AN OIL COMPANY, I'M NOT SURE IT WAS HALLIBURTON, BUT THEY ARE A LOT OVER THERE AND WE WILL TRAIN OUR MECHANICS.
>> AND THEY'LL BE WARRANTED FOR THE FIRST THREE YEARS TOO, SO.
[00:15:06]
>> OKAY. I HAD A QUESTION ON 11D.
I HAVE A QUESTION ON A HEARING ITEM.
SHOULD I WAIT TILL THE HEARING OR ASK IT NOW?
>> KEEP US IN ORDER. YEAH, MOSTLY DID. [LAUGHTER] OKAY.
>> YOU'RE GOING TO WHICH ONE NOW?
>> I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION FOR DENOUNCE.
>> I WOULD HAVE ACTUALLY TOLD HER THE CITY WOULD [LAUGHTER]
>> THEY ALWAYS PLAY IF [INAUDIBLE] EITHER THE TRASH MAN.
>> I'M NOT GOING THERE. [LAUGHTER] WE ALREADY FOUND OUT HOW OLD YOU WERE SINCE YOU REMEMBER EIGHT SIGN CODES.
>> SO I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS, LOOK AGAIN, THE PROJECT, I KNOW I'VE TALKED TO A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN THE SURROUNDING AREA, AND TO ME, READING THE PACKET, LOOKING AT GPS, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE BUILDING ON WETLANDS.
I KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO DO A NATURE PRESERVE THAT ESPECIALLY WHERE THEY'RE PUTTING THE ROAD IN AS A DESIGNATED WET AREA BY THE MAPS THAT I HAD ACCESS TO AND IT LOOKED LIKE WHERE THEY'RE PUTTING THEIR ACCESS ROAD IS ACTUALLY PRIVATE PROPERTY.
>> WELL, THERE'S A PRIVATE ROAD THAT LEADS TO THE SITE.
>> BUT DO THEY OWN IT BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE ELSE'S IS?
IT'S JUST A PRIVATE ROAD. IT'S NOT OWNED BY THE FOLKS ON THIS SIDE.
>> IT'S A PRIVATE ROAD FROM THE FOLKS OF WHAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED.
NOT EXACTLY SURE THE OWNERSHIP OF THAT ROAD, BUT IT IS ESTABLISHED AS A PRIVATE ROAD IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SURVEYS SUBMITTED.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE 20 UNITS ON THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY WITH THE AMOUNT OF WETLANDS THAT APPEAR TO BE THERE SEEMS LIKE A LOT.
>> WELL, THERE WAS SOME OF THE CONCERNS THE PLANNING COMMISSION EXPRESSED AND THE APPLICANT HAS PROVIDED A MAP SHOWING THAT MOST OF THOSE SEEM TO BE ON THE SOUTH PROPERTY LINE.
SO THEY'RE UTILIZING AN AVOIDANCE APPROACH.
SO THAT'S WHAT THEY HAVE STATED.
>> THE RESERVE IS ON THE NORTH.
>> RESERVE IS IN THE NORTH AND THEN THERE'S A RESERVE ALSO ON THE SOUTH SIDE.
>> IT WAS ON THE EAST SIDE, AT LEAST WHAT WAS IN OUR PACKET. I HAVE IT.
>> THE NATURE PRESERVE YOU MEAN?
>> DO WE HAVE THE WETLAND DELINEATION? DID THEY PROVIDE IT?
>> THEY PROVIDED A MAP THAT'S IN THE PACK SUBMITTED.
>> I DIDN'T SEE THAT ON A PACKET MAYBE I'LL [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUT THEIR MAPS ARE NOT REALLY VERY GOOD.
WHICH IS WHAT MADE IT EVEN HARDER.
>> CAN YOU POINT OUT WHICH ONE IS THEIR WETLAND DELINEATION?
>> TO THE NORTH OF THE PROJECT AND THEN TO THE EAST OF THE PROJECT.
>> YEAH, THEY'RE SHOWING A NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY MAP AND IT'S IRONIC, YEAH.
NOT A NATURAL DELINEATION OF THE ACTUAL.
>> I THOUGHT IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, THEY SAID THAT THEY ACTUALLY HAD THE LAND DELINEATED.
>> WELL, THE ISSUE IN HERE IS A MAP FROM THE NATIONAL [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUT THAT DOESN'T GIVE YOU A CLEAR PICTURE OF WHAT'S ON THE GROUND.
>> SO HAVE THEY TALKED TO THE COURT YET? ARE THEY ACTUALLY DONE?
>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT.
I BELIEVE THEY ARE IN THAT PROCESS, YES.
>> OKAY. BECAUSE TO ME, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD EITHER BE DEFERRED OR PUT OFF UNTIL WE HEAR WHAT BECAUSE I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT A PROPERTY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE'VE HAD SO LITTLE RAIN, IT MAY NOT LOOK.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MAPS OR AT LEAST THE MAPS THAT WERE AVAILABLE TO ME ON GOOGLE EARTH AND GOOGLE, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF THEM THERE.
>> WELL, YOU CAN'T REALLY TELL FROM A MAP.
>> I MEAN, YOU NEED A WETLAND DELINEATION.
>> TO APPROVE SOMETHING BEFORE THEY HAVE THAT, SAME IS NOT APPROVEMENT.
>> WE DON'T HAVE A REGULATION THAT REQUIRES YOU TO HAVE THAT THOUGH.
[00:20:04]
THIS WAS MY QUESTION IN PLANNING.THEY WANTED TO DEFER THIS TO GET A WETLAND DELINEATION.
MY QUESTION TO THEM IS, WHAT WOULD THAT TELL YOU? WHY WOULD YOU DENY OR APPROVE SOMETHING BASED ON THE WETLAND DELINEATION?
>> BECAUSE IT MAY TURN OUT THEY COULD ONLY DO 10 HOUSES.
>> POSSIBLY, BUT THAT'S NOT IN OUR PURVIEW.
THEY MAY SAY, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO GO MITIGATE THAT AND WE'RE GOING TO GET A CORE PERMIT TO DO THAT.
WE HAVE NO REGULATIONS ON OUR BOOKS.
>> ANY SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES TO THE PART THAT IS APPROVED REQUIRES YOU TO GO BACK, SO THAT WAS THE CASE THAT REQUIRES YOU TO GO BACK TO THE PROCESS.
>> I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT ROAD, ESPECIALLY WHEN I SPOKE TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED THERE FOREVER.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S AN ABANDONED EASEMENT.
I THINK IT'S A PRIVATE ROAD NOT CONNECTED TO THAT PROPERTY ON SOMEONE ELSE'S PROPERTY.
>> YEAH. THE SERVICE SHOW IT AS A PRIVATE ROAD.
I CAN'T REALLY SPEAK MUCH ABOUT IT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A WRITTEN AGREEMENT.
>> RIGHT. OTHER THAN THAT, WHAT THE SERVICES ARE SHOWING.
>> BUT WE'RE PROVING SOMETHING THAT HAS NO ACCESS OR THAT WE'VE BEEN SHOWN HAS NO ACCESS.
IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THERE'S SO MANY QUESTIONS.
I'M PRO-DEVELOPMENT, AND THEY SAY THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, SO IT WOULD BE A FULL-TIME NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH THEN PRESENTS EVEN MORE CONCERNS.
BECAUSE FROM WHAT I'M HEARING FROM THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AROUND IT, ONE HIGH TIDE, THEY'RE ALL TRAPPED AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THERE'S A ROAD TO IT.
I JUST THINK THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
>> I'M FINE WITH THAT. I THINK YOU BRING UP A GOOD POINT ABOUT THE ROAD AND I THOUGHT THAT THERE WERE SOME GOOD DISCUSSION AT PLANNING COMMISSION THAT WOULD HAVE FOCUSED ON THINGS LIKE THAT, THE ROAD AND NOT THE WETLAND ISSUE.
THEY PROBABLY COULD HAVE DEFERRED IT AT THAT POINT BASED ON THE ROAD.
I DIDN'T THINK THEIR ARGUMENT ABOUT THE WETLAND DELINEATION WAS A VALID REASON TO HOLD UP THE PROJECT.
>> BECAUSE I SPOKE TO SUNNY BROOM AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED THERE FOREVER AND THAT ROAD IS NOT CONNECTED TO THAT PROPERTY.
>> SUNNY WAS AT OUR PLANNING COMMISSION.
>> OR IT LEADS UP TO THE SITE AND THAT MAY BE A BETTER QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT, BUT THE DOCUMENTS THAT WERE SUBMITTED SHOW THE ROAD CONNECTING ALL THE WAY TO THE SITE.
>> IT CONNECTS THERE, BUT IT BELONGS TO ANOTHER PROPERTY. I DON'T KNOW.
THIS IS ON OUR AGENDA THIS AFTERNOON.
IF IT'S FOR PUBLIC HEARING, THE OWNER OR THE APPLICANT WILL BE THERE I'M SURE, SO WE CAN POSE SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS.
>> WELL, THAT'S WHY I ASKED IF YOU WANTED ME TO WAIT.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT YOUR QUESTION WAS.
>> THE WHOLE REASON FOR THE PROJECT WAS THE PRIVATE ROAD TO GET THERE.
>> THE PRIVATE ROAD AND THE WIDTH OF THE LOTS AND ONLY JUST A COUPLE OF THE LOTS.
MOST OF THE LOTS MEET OUR STANDARDS, SO IT'S ONLY A COUPLE OF LOTS THAT DO NOT MEET THE WIDTH.
>> SOME OF THE LOTS ARE 2,300 SQUARE FEET.
>> WITHOUT THE PUD AND THEY ARE R1, HOW MANY?
>> TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION MORE PRECISELY, I THINK I KNOW WHERE YOU MIGHT BE HEADING.
>> IF THIS WAS TO BE A PUBLIC ROAD AND THEY WERE TO ESTABLISH A BUILT-IN LINE FURTHER BACK IN THOSE LOTS, THERE WAS NO NEED TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.
WHAT WOULD THEY BE ABLE TO DO THERE? HOW MANY LOTS ARE THERE? [OVERLAPPING]
>> WHATEVER IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH R1, WHICH IS 50 BY 100 LOT. HOW MANY THEY CAN FIT?
>> ALL OF THE LOTS DO MEET THE SQUARE FOOT REQUIREMENT.
WHAT THEY DON'T MEET IS THE WIDTH REQUIREMENT BECAUSE OF THE PIE-SHAPED LOTS.
SOME OF THE PIE-SHAPED LOTS WHICH ARE 9,800 SQUARE FEET, 9,100 SQUARE FEET.
>> I KNOW ABOUT WHAT THEY SAID THERE, BUT WHEN YOU GO BACK AND DO THE MATH ON WHAT THEIR DRAWINGS ARE, THE SQUARE FOOTAGE THAT COMES UP IS DIFFERENT.
>> SIX THOUSAND AND IT SAYS 6,000 RIGHT THERE.
>> I WAS JUST DOING THE MATH ON SOME OF THEM AND WHAT THEIR NUMBER FOR A SQUARE FOOTAGE WAS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE NUMBER I WAS COMING UP.
BUT WE CAN LEAVE THIS TILL THE APPLICANT IS HERE.
>> LET'S WAIT TILL THE APPLICANT KNOW, WE'LL GET THERE [OVERLAPPING]
>> THEY MAY BE ABLE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTION.
IF THEY CAN'T, WELL THEN THERE'S CERTAINLY ELSE PREROGATIVE TO FOLLOW.
>> BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS TOPIC, I HAVE A QUESTION, ADRIEL OR JOHN? WHAT WAS THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S CONCERN ON TURNING THIS DOWN?
>> THEY DENIED IT BASED ON THEY DIDN'T HAVE A WETLAND'S DELINEATION.
[00:25:03]
>> YEAH, THE MAJORITY OF THE LOTS WERE SURROUNDED AROUND.
>> I TALKED TO STAN HUMPHREYS LAST NIGHT AS WELL, AND I ASKED HIM AND A LOT OF THEM JUST WANTED TO DEFER IT BECAUSE THEY HAD SIMILAR QUESTIONS TO WHAT I HAD AND THEN THEY ENDED UP BY.
THEY INITIALLY MADE A MOTION TO DEFER IT.
THEY DEFERRED IT BASED ON WANTING A WETLAND DELINEATION.
I ASKED HIM, WHY WOULD YOU ASK FOR THAT, WOULD THAT CHANGE YOUR OPINION WHEN YOU SAW IT BECAUSE WE DON'T REGULATE THAT? IF THEY WERE IN TOTAL AVOIDANCE, WOULD YOU APPROVE IT? IF THEY HAD TO MITIGATE SOME, WOULD YOU DENY IT? THAT QUESTION DIDN'T GET ANSWERED, AND THEN THEY CHANGE THEIR MOTION JUST TO OUTRIGHT DENY IT.
IT CAME TO US AND WE STILL HAVE QUESTIONS.
I THINK THEY MADE SOME VALID POINTS ON QUESTIONS THEY HAD BUT IT SEEMED LIKE THE DEFERRAL ONLY WAS CENTERED ON THE WETLAND DELINEATION.
>> JUST ONE LAST ONE. LET'S SAY WE APPROVE THIS TODAY, THIS IS JUST THE FIRST STEP BECAUSE THEY STILL HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING.
>> THEY STILL HAVE TO GO TO THE PLANNING PROCESS, BUILDING PERMITS, ETC.
>> BUT IT WOULD JUST BACK TO COUNCIL.
>> UNLESS THERE'S A SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE TO THE [INAUDIBLE]
>> BUT I DO HAVE A PROBLEM UNLESS WE CAN GET SOLID ANSWERS ON THE ROAD.
>> YEAH. I AGREE WITH YOU. [OVERLAPPING]
>> BY PROVING YOUR SELF-DIVISION WITHOUT ACCESS.
>> I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER] ANY OTHER WAY IS NO WAY OUT.
SO WHAT EXACTLY ARE WE DOING HERE? BECAUSE DIDN'T WE ALREADY HAVE THREE PEOPLE THAT.
>> WE DID, BUT WE HAD SOME TURNOVER IN THE OFFICE IN THE LAST YEAR.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET SQUARE WITH THAT.
>> JUST HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE ON THE ANSWER.
IF SOMEBODY IS OUT OF THE OFFICE SOMEONE ELSE WILL GET IN THERE.
I FIGURED THAT WAS THE ANSWER BUT I THOUGHT I'D ASK ANYWAY BECAUSE WHAT THE HECK? WE ONLY HAVE TIME TODAY.
[LAUGHTER] I HAVE A QUESTION ON 11 DAY, AND I READ THE PACKET. WHAT IS AMI?
THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE DRAWS ON THE PROJECT.
>> I'M FINE. I JUST READ THROUGH IT AND IT NEVER SAID AUTOMATIC [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOU SEE THAT'S WHY [INAUDIBLE] BUT DON'T GET TOO FAR.
[LAUGHTER] WELL, WHY ARE WE SOLE SOURCING THIS?
>> BECAUSE WE OWN THAT TYPE OF SPECIFIC SYSTEM AND SO WE'RE JUST BUYING TO SPECIFIC BOLTS THAT GOES WITH THAT SYSTEM.
>> SO WE'RE AND ONLY ONE COMPANY SELL IT?
>> NO. THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES.
BUT WHEN WE BUILT THE PLAN, WE WENT WITH ONE TYPE OF UV SYSTEM, AND SO WE'RE GOING WITH THE MANUFACTURER-RECOMMENDED BOLT WHICH IS THEIRS.
>> WE HAVE IN THE PAST TRIED TO DIFFERENT BOLT WHEN MONEY WAS TIGHT AND THEY JUST GO RIGHT OUT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT MADE FOR THAT SYSTEM.
BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER YOUR NAME.
>> JAMES, SORRY. HOW MANY PEOPLE USE THIS?
>> PROBABLY MORE THAN RIDE THE BUSES.
>> WE DID ABOUT 9,000 TRIPS DURING THE YEAR.
>> WHAT IT SAYS, THIS IS AN OUTER CYCLE BUILDING THEIR CONTRACT, WE RENEWED THE CONTRACT IN MAY.
IT CAME THROUGH COUNCIL IN APRIL, THERE WAS A DELAY ON HARRIS COUNTY RIGHTS, WE WEREN'T PREPARED TO PICK UP THE RIDERSHIP.
AGREEMENT WAS CONTINUE AS IS WHEN WE RIP, WE'LL SETTLE IT UP.
WHEN THE CONTRACT IS APPROVED.
THEY APPROVED THE CONTRACT AT THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
THERE WERE THREE MONTHS OUT OF CYCLE, THIS WAS THOSE THREE MONTHS.
WE'VE ALREADY WENT THROUGH THE DATA, VERIFIED THE TRIPS, VERIFIED THE CHARGES, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS.
>> OKAY. THIS IS A SERVICE THAT PICKS UP HERE RAISED IN HOUSTON MED CENTER?
>> IT TAKE THEM TO THE CLINICS SO UTMB CLINICS FOR ADA VERI-PRINTING.
>> THEN HOW DOES SOMEBODY GET SIGNED UP FOR THIS?
[00:30:01]
THERE IS THREE CRITERIA THAT NEEDS TO BE MET.GENERALLY, IT COMES DOWN TO DOES THE INDIVIDUAL HAVE A DISABILITY THAT PREVENTS THEM FROM ACCESSING A FIXED ROUTE SYSTEM.
>> ANYONE WHO MAY NEED ASSISTANCE IN GETTING TO A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT, WHERE DOES SOMEBODY GO TO APPLY FOR THAT?
>> WE DID THERE, THE APPLICATION IS ONLINE, THERE IS A REQUIREMENT THAT IT DOES HAVE TO BE SIGNED OFF BY THE DOCTORS.
IT DOES HAVE TO MEET THE FEDERAL ELIGIBILITY STANDARD.
WE LOOK AT IT, MAKE SURE THAT IT MEETS.
IF WE SAY NO, IT DOESN'T MEET OR IT MEETS ON A CERTAIN DAY, FOR EXAMPLE, FTA CAME OUT WITH DIALYSIS IS CONSIDERED A DISABILITY OF THAT DAY.
YOU CAN HAVE ADA SERVICES FOR THAT DAY ON YOUR DIALYSIS.
>> OKAY BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NEED THIS SERVICE AREN'T COMPUTER SAVVY OR DONE THAT.
>> THEY COME ON A TRANSIT OR THEY CAN EVEN CALL OR MAIL THROUGH THEM.
>> CAN I GET ONE OF THE FORMS?
>> BECAUSE I HAD SOMEONE MAKE A REQUEST AND I HAD NO IDEA.
JUST THE EDITORIAL COMMENT, I HAVE A FEELING IN MY MIND FOR THE FUTURE TRANSIT WE MAY BE LOOKING AT SIMILAR CONCEPTS THAT WE'RE DOING HERE FOR OTHER TRANSIT SERVICES IN THE CITY.
THAT'S JUST MY EDITORIAL COMMENT ON THAT.
THAT'S COMING UP HERE SHORTLY.
>> MR. FRANCIS THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. I APPRECIATE IT.
>> MAYOR. I COULD BARELY HEAR HIM, BUT I KNOW HE WAS EXPLAINING THE RIDERSHIP.
I'M GLAD MURRAY MENTIONED SOME OTHER WAY TO APPLY BESIDES ONLINE.
IF YOU CAN EMAIL ME THAT INFORMATION OR IF I NEED TO GO ONLINE AND GET IT, I WOULD LIKE THAT AS WELL.
BUT IF I COULD JUST RECEIVE HIS INFORMATION ON RIDERSHIP, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
HE WOULDN'T HAVE TO REPEAT IT, BUT I COULD NOT HEAR HIM.
>> I THINK HE SAID ABOUT 9,000.
>> WE WILL GET THAT, THEY'RE SHAKING THEIR HEAD.
SHARON WE'LL GET THAT INFORMATION EMAILED TO YOU.
>> YOU CAN EMAIL ME THE INFORMATION.
>> THANK YOU, SHARON, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT?
>> ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD. LET'S MOVE.
WHILE WE HAVE YOU ON THE LINE, SHARON, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE AGENDA THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE [NOISE]
>> I QUICKLY LOOKED OVER 10A THE NEW ORDINANCE FOR THE TAP CHARGES.
WAS THE ERROR IN WRITING THE NUMBERS AT ALL? IS THAT THE CHANGE THAT'S BEING MADE?
>> BASICALLY, WHEN WE APPROVED THE NEW NUMBERS, THEY FORGOT TO STRIKE THE OLD NUMBERS IN THE AGREEMENT. THAT'S ALL.
IT'S A SCRIVENER ERROR AS I LEARNED.
IT'S JUST A TYPO, BUT THE VERBIAGE IN THE ORDINANCE IS CORRECT.
>> SHARON, WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER LISTOWSKI ON THAT TOO. JOHN.
>> I'M TRYING TO PULL THAT ONE.
>> THIS IS THE ONE THEY HAD FOUR AND IT WAS 495.
>> THIS IS SIMPLY HOUSEKEEPING.
>> YEAH. THIS WAS MORE OR LESS A TYPO.
>> WHILE HE'S LOOKING. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU A QUESTION.
LET'S SAY BY SOME MIRACLE OF GOD, WE DO GET SEWER OUT IN DECEMBER THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ALL ARE ON SEPTIC TANK SOMEWHERE IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
WOULD WE BE ABLE TO BECAUSE IT WOULD BE SO MANY OR SOMETHING DO A LESSER CHARGE?
>> ONLY IF THE REST OF THE RATEPAYERS WANTED TO ABSORB THAT COST.
>> YEAH. WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE OFF-TOPIC HERE. JOHN.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION ON THAT BUT I DON'T WANT TO GET OFF TOPIC.
>> YEAH JUST STAY WITH THIS TOPIC.
>> WE'LL PUT THAT ON THE NEXT.
>> TRINO CAN YOU TELL ME, ARE YOU THE ONE TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE WITH TAPS?
>> WE SEE THE SEWER TAP FEE HERE.
TELL ME WHAT THE TOTAL COST IS TO GET A WATER TAP AND METER AND A FOUR-INCH SEWER TAP.
>> TRINO, CAN I ASK YOU TO COME UP A LITTLE CLOSER, I DON'T THINK COUNSEL MEMBERS CAN HEAR TOO WELL.
[00:35:02]
[LAUGHTER]>> I DON'T HAVE THE SHEET IN FRONT OF ME.
THE WATER TAP COST THAT INCLUDES THE BOX, 100 FEET OF PIPE AND THE METER IS, I BELIEVE 3,495, APPROXIMATELY 3,500.
NOW, THE SEWER TAP IS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME PRICE, IT'S ABOUT $3,500 AND IT'S REALLY SUPPOSED TO BE FOR A SIX-INCH TAP.
WE'VE INSTRUCTED OUR STAFF THAT WE DO NOT WANT FOUR-INCH TAPS.
THE STANDARD PREVIOUSLY WAS FOUR.
NOW, THE REASON WE HAVE FOUR IN THERE, THERE ARE SOME AREAS ESPECIALLY DOWNTOWN, WHERE THERE'S ALL KINDS OF INFRASTRUCTURE BUTTED UP AGAINST EACH OTHER.
IN SOME SCENARIOS, YOU NEED TO DOWNSIZE JUST TO FIT IT IN.
THE TOTAL COST SHOULD BE JUST SHY OF $7,000 FOR BOTH.
>> THIS ERROR, IN THE CURRENT ORDINATES, IT HAS A FOUR-INCH COSTING $500 AND A FOUR TO SIX-INCH COSTING $3,395?
>> YEAH, THEY FORGOT TO STRUCK THE FOUR-INCH.
>> THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL, THAT WAS WHAT WAS THERE BEFORE.
>> IF I CAN ALSO SAY THE FOUR ACTUALLY HAS A LINE THROUGH IT BECAUSE THE FOUR IS SHAPED LIKE THAT.
YOU DON'T SEE THE CROSS OUT IN THE FOUR.
>> OH, YEAH [LAUGHTER] IT'S ON THERE.
>> WHEN WE ORIGINALLY APPROVED THIS, IT WAS ALL STRUCK THROUGH LIKE THIS.
>> IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN STRUCK THROUGH LIKE THAT.
BUT EITHER THE CONIFERS DIDN'T CATCH THAT BECAUSE OF HOW IT'S SHAPED OR IT WASN'T HIGHLIGHTED FOR THE CONIFERS.
>> THE FIVE HAD THE STRIKE THROUGH, THE 500?
>> THE ENTIRE ROW SHOULD [OVERLAPPING] HAVE BEEN STRIKED THROUGH.
>> IT SHOULD HAVE HAD THE ENTIRE STRIKE THROUGH.
>> WHAT PROBABLY HAPPENED IS THEY STRUCK THROUGH THE FOUR, ONE AND THAT LINE.
>> I UNDERSTAND THE FOUR, WE'RE ASKING ABOUT THE 500.
>> I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER IF THE 500 ALSO HAD A STRIKE THROUGH OR IF IT WAS JUST MISSED.
>> YOU'RE JUST SAYING THAT THE MONK IN THE BASEMENT TRANSCRIBED THIS INCORRECTLY. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?
>> NO. I'M SAYING EITHER I DIDN'T HIGHLIGHT IT AND STRIKE IT THROUGH AND THAT WAS MY MISTAKE OR IT WAS STRUCK THROUGH AND IT WASN'T CAUGHT.
>> LET ME CLARIFY THIS, NOT A MONKEY, MONK.
>> THE MONK IN THE ROBES IN THE BASEMENT, WITH [OVERLAPPING] THE CANDLE.
>> I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT THERE WASN'T A MONKEY IN THE BASEMENT.
>> THAT'S AGAINST THE ORDINARY.
>> JOHNNY. [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER]
>> HOW MUCH ARE THESE COSTING US? NOW THAT WE HAVE THESE FEES IN PLACE, ARE WE TRACKING ON HOW MUCH IS ACTUALLY COSTING US?
>> IT'S 33 AGAIN ON THE LINE BELOW THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL HUNDRED.
>> THAT'S WHY I WAS SAYING 34.
>> THE MINUTE WE PUT THIS IN PLACE, WE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN LOSING MONEY BECAUSE WE PUT THIS IN PLACE IN THE SUMMER AND THOSE WERE ACTUAL COSTS.
WHEN OCTOBER CAME, WE HAD MOVED EVERYONE'S PAY UPWARDS TO 1,530 TO START AND THEN WE ADJUST THE PEOPLE ABOVE THEM TO DEAL WITH COMPRESSION.
OFF THE BAT, THE LABOR COSTS ALL WENT UP.
NOW, FAST FORWARD TO THIS YEAR, ALL THE ASPHALT COSTS HAVE ALMOST DOUBLED.
REALLY WE'RE LOSING MONEY ON EVERY TAP THAT WE DO.
IN ADDITION, WE'RE NOT DOING THE AMI PROJECT, AND THE COST OF THE NEW BOXES, AND THE COST OF THE NEW METERS ARE HIGHER THAN BEFORE.
EVERY ONE OF THESE TAPS WERE PROBABLY LOSING A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS.
>> STILL. ACTUALLY PROBABLY CLOSER TO FIVE.
>> I JUST WANT TO BRING US BACK.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 10A, WHICH IS THE SCRIBNERS AIR RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE OFF TOPIC ON THIS.
>> JOHN, I HAVE SOME LEEWAY, IF YOU WANT TO PURSUE.
>> I WAS ALL FOR RAISING THESE FEES.
I'M GLAD THIS GOT BROUGHT UP, JUST LOOK AT THIS SITUATION AGAIN.
MAYBE WE NEED TO GO REVISIT A LITTLE BIT.
I'D LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE MORE DATA ON WHAT IT ACTUALLY COST US.
$7,000 FOR A WATER METER AND A TAP SEEM HIGH TO ME.
MAYBE IT'S NOT. [OVERLAPPING] YEAH, EXACTLY.
>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT OTHER CITIES, THERE ARE SOME CHARGING PRETTY NEAR 5,000.
[00:40:01]
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID IS BRANDON HAD BROUGHT THROUGH LAST COUNCIL MEETING TO WORK WITH A NEW RATE CONSULTANT AND PART OF THEIR SCOPE OF WORK WAS TO REVIEW OUR TAP COST AND HELP US DEFINE WHAT THE PROPER TAP COST SHOULD BE.>> IN SITUATIONS WHERE YOU HAVE TO BREAK UP THE STREET, YOU HAVE TO PUT THE TAP IN, YOU HAVE TO RE-ASPHALT OR CONCRETE THE STREET, THERE'S A LOT OF COSTS INVOLVED IN THAT, THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.
IN OTHER CASES WHERE THE SEWER LINE MIGHT NOT BE IN THE STREET BUT IN THE ACTUAL RIGHT OF WAY OUTSIDE OF THE PAVED AREA, MAYBE IT DOESN'T COST THAT MUCH. MAYBE THAT'S A WASH.
>> MAYBE A REVIEW OF THIS IN THE FUTURE.
>> WHEN WE PUT THE COLUMN [OVERLAPPING].
>> ANYWAY, BECAUSE IF WE'RE LOSING MONEY, OUR FEES NEED TO STICK.
GUYS, REMEMBER THIS IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND.
ANYTHING THAT DEBT COST DOESN'T GET COVERED ON, A NEW DEVELOPMENT IS GETTING PICKED UP BY EXISTING USERS ON THE SYSTEM.
>> WE ACTUALLY COULD HAVE A WORKSHOP ON THIS [OVERLAPPING]
>> JOHN IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PUT THAT ON THERE, JUST WE CAN DO THAT BY ALL MEANS.
>> SURE. >> WE CAN REVISIT THAT.
>> THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO PUDDLE ALONG WITH IT IS WHAT THE RESULT OF THE LEAD TESTING HAS BEEN.
>> WHAT THE RESULT OF THE LEAD TESTING BECAUSE DECQ WAS HAVING US TEST THE LEAD AT EACH AND EVERY CONNECTION.
>> THAT IS PART OF OUR AMI PROJECT.
THEY'RE CAPTURING THE INVENTORY OF OUR ASSETS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE METER AND THEN TESTING WHENEVER THEY COME INTO SOME TYPE OF METALLIC PIPE.
TO DATE, WE'VE ONLY INSTALLED JUST SHY OF 1,000 METERS.
AS THEY'RE GOING ALONG, THEIR GPS NEEDED TO CAPTURE IN THE ATTRIBUTES.
THEY'VE ONLY CAPTURED THAT MUCH DATA AND I DON'T HAVE THE RESULTS OF THAT DATA YET.
>> WE'RE GETTING WAY OFF TOPIC ON THIS.
JANELLE, IF YOU MAKE SOME NOTES OF THOSE TOPICS THAT COUNCIL [INAUDIBLE] AND ROBB AND LISTOWSKI WOULD LIKE ON THE AGENDA, THAT SOUNDS GOOD.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE SCRUFFLE ERROR? [LAUGHTER]
>> CAN YOU SPELL IT? CAN YOU SPELL SCRUFFLE?
SHARON, ARE THERE ANY OTHER TOPICS YOU WANTED TO HAVE QUESTIONS?.
>> 11B. >> I THINK 11B AS IN BOY.
>> YES, MA'AM. 11B. WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION ON THAT?
>> DID THAT DURING RECOVERY GRANT, JUST LOOKING AT TABLE 3 ON THE FUTURE PROJECTS, ARE THERE ANY PLANS FOR THAT OR WHERE WILL THAT TAKE PLACE? I'VE SEEN THE PLAN FOR 59TH STREET AND THAT, BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS.
>> ROBB, COULD YOU COME OVER? [OVERLAPPING] ROBB, [INAUDIBLE] SHARON AND WE GOT HIM SITTING DOWN IN FRONT OF THE SPEAKER THERE.
>> ON PAGE 4 WHEN YOU GET TO YOUR TABLE 3.
JUST CURIOUS AS TO WHEN WILL FUTURE PLAN WOULD TAKE PLACE FOR THE PROJECT.
>> THIS IS LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR US MOVING FORWARD.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE SUCH [INAUDIBLE] FUNDING.
WE'RE LOOKING TO APPLY FOR NEW FUNDING FOR THE 59TH STREET WATER STORAGE TANK.
FUTURE PROJECTS WOULD BE AS OTHER FUNDS BECOME AVAILABLE FOR [INAUDIBLE].
WE CAN HAVE THIS IN PLACE AND WE CAN UTILIZE THIS AND JUST UPDATE THIS DOCUMENT MOVING FORWARD.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE FUTURE IN THERE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] IT PUTS US AHEAD IN SCORING FOR FUTURE GRANTS IF WE HAVE THIS IN ADVANCE AND WE'RE READY TO GO.
>> I KNOW THAT HAS BEEN GREAT AND FINDING A GRANT.
WE'LL GO BEYOND THE GMO AND THE KEY SCENARIO COUNCIL GRANT WE'LL GO BEYOND SEARCHING THERE.
>> WE ALWAYS DO, BUT MOST GRANTING AGENCIES FOR THESE TYPE OF PROJECTS UTILIZE THAT PATH.
IT MAY NOT BE CDBG MONEY, BUT IT MOST LIKELY WILL ALWAYS FLOW THROUGH HDAC.
>> THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, SHARON?
>> 11I, THE [INAUDIBLE] THE SEA WALLS.
ARE THEY GOING TO MATCH THE ONES THAT WE JUST PUT UP THERE?
>> WILL BE THE SAME ONES TO CONTINUE ON.
DO WE HAVE PLANS ON WHERE PHASE 3 OR 4?
>> WE HAVE PLANS TO EVENTUALLY DO THE ENTIRE LAND.
>> THEY DO LOOK GOOD. [OVERLAPPING]
[00:45:01]
>> WHAT'S THE LIFE EXPECTANCY ON THE [INAUDIBLE]?
>> WELL, THESE ARE ALL STAINLESS.
THE OTHER ONES THAT ARE UP THERE, THEY'RE MORE OF A PLASTIC TYPE COMPOSITION AND THEY'RE DEGRADING SOME.
WE PROBABLY WILL ULTIMATELY REPLACE THOSE AS WELL.
WE'RE LIKING THE LIGHT THAT THESE CASTS A LITTLE BIT BETTER AND THEY'RE A LOT CHEAPER THAN THE ONES THAT ARE UP THERE.
WE'RE HOPING TO GET 5-10 YEARS OUT OF THEM.
THEY GET HIT BY CARS, THEY GET HIT BY SORIES, THEY GET HIT BY GOLF CARTS.
>> I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO BUDGE KEN WORTHY.
THE NEW ONES HE PUT UP, THEY FLIP ON THE LINES THAT DEMARCATE THE FRONT AND BACK.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S CORRECT.
>> THE OTHER ONES WEREN'T. THEY WERE OPENING CAR DOORS.
>> CAR DOORS AND KNOCKING THEM OVER.
>> IF YOU'LL NOTICE, [OVERLAPPING] THAT WAS A GOOD CATCH ON.
>> HE DUDLEY DID THIS WORK AND WE'RE VERY HAPPY WITH IT.
THERE'S A SEAWALL PARKING FUND.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S CORRECT. SEAWALL PARKING FUND.
>> IT'S NOT A GENERAL FUND. THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT EXPENSIVE.
>> WE'RE GOING TO MAINTAIN THEM AND REPLACE THEM.
HOPEFULLY, NOT LET THEM GET TOO BAD BEFORE WE HAVE TO COME BACK TO YOU GUYS.
EVERY ORDER CONTAINS ATTIC STOCK FOR US.
IF IT GETS KNOCKED OVER IN SOME WAY, WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT BECAUSE THERE IS LONG LEAD TIMES ON THESE LIGHTS.
>> WE'RE GETTING THEM ALL THE WAY TO THE END OF THE SEAWALL.
>> THE GOAL IS TO EVENTUALLY GET IT ALL DONE EVERYWHERE WE HAVE PAID PARKING.
>> [OVERLAPPING] YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE THE NON-PAID PARKING SPOTS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A CONSISTENT.
>> IT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL IN THE PAID PARKING EXCEPT FOR THE FAR EAST END WHERE WE HAVE NO PARKING.
>> NO, BUT I'M TALKING BETWEEN 61ST AND-
>> I DO HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION. HOW FAR EAST DO WE GO ON THIS? I CAN'T REMEMBER.
>> RIGHT NOW WE GO TO 19. [OVERLAPPING]
>> ARE WE PLANNING ON GOING THE OTHER WAY?
>> YES. >> HOW ARE WE GOING TO GO FROM THE CLEVER LITTLE LIGHTHOUSE TO THIS CHEAPER STURDY MODEL? HOW MANY OF THE LIGHTHOUSE VERSIONS DO WE HAVE?
>> WELL, WE'RE ORDERING ANOTHER.
THE ONES WE GOT FROM 19 [OVERLAPPING]
WE DON'T HAVE THAT COUNT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT THERE'S MORE OF THOSE IN OUR OTHER LIGHTHOUSE BECAUSE THEY'RE DOUBLE.
>> WHAT I'M SAYING IS AS THOSE WEAR OUT, HOW WE'RE GOING TO REPLACE THEM?
>> [OVERLAPPING] RICH HAS A VERY GOOD PLAN ON THAT.
AS THOSE PHASE-OUT GET, KNOCKED OVER, AND THINGS WE'RE NOT GOING TO PUT ONE OF THE NEW ONES IN THE MIDDLE OF THOSE.
THEN WE'LL START WORKING FROM THE ENDS AND THEN WE WILL EVENTUALLY SHRINK THEM ALL DOWN.
THEN AT SOME POINT, IF WE GET DOWN TO A CRITICAL NUMBER, WE'LL [OVERLAPPING] JUST TAKE THEM OUT AND REPLACE THEM ALL.
>> MY FEEDBACK FROM MY CONSTITUENTS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] OF ALL THE SEAWALL IMPROVEMENTS, THE HIGHEST COMMENTED AND COMPLIMENTED ARE THE LIGHTS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THEY WERE MUCH NEEDED IN SOME AREAS WHERE THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY PITCH BLACK.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THEY HELPED TREMENDOUSLY.
>> [OVERLAPPING] HOW DOES THE BOLT PATTERN UP BETWEEN THE TWO?
>> I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT A DIFFERENT FLANGE ON.
>> EXACTLY. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR THE FUTURE.
RIGHT NOW WE STILL HAVE SOME ATTIC STOCK OF THE OLDER PLASTIC ONES.
>> ELEVEN IN THE LIMESTONE PURCHASE.
>> IT SELLS 36,000 OR SOMETHING.
ACTUALLY DOESN'T SEEM THAT HIGH IN MY OPINION.
HOW MUCH ARE WE GETTING, AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO THAT LIMESTONE FOR?
>> THAT LIMESTONE IS THE PORTION OF OUR BACKFILL FOR EVERY TRENCH AND IT'S [NOISE] THE ROAD BASE THAT'S BELOW THE ASPHALT.
NOW WE HAD PUT THROUGH A STREETS MATERIAL BID NOT TOO LONG AGO.
>> DO YOU MIND COMING A LITTLE CLOSER AGAIN, COUNSEL.
>> WE HAD PUT THROUGH A STREETS MATERIAL BID NOT TOO LONG AGO AND WE AWARDED IT TO FIVE DIFFERENT VENDOR THAT BID.
HOWEVER, FOR LIMESTONE, ALL OF THEM PUT A NO BID ON THERE, WHICH PUT US IN AN AWKWARD SPOT BECAUSE THAT'S OUR START BACK TO MATERIAL.
IN A RUSH TO GET SOME MATERIAL IN, WE WENT IN SOLICITING QUOTES, AND WE FELT THAT AMOUNT WOULD GET US BY ABOUT SIX MONTHS OR SO AND IN THE MEANTIME, WE WERE GOING TO WORK WITH OUR PURCHASING GROUP TO GET ANOTHER FORMAL BID GOING TO SEE IF WE GET ANYBODY SPECIFICALLY THAT BID ON LIMESTONE, AND THEN HAVE THAT ON THE STREET MATERIAL TYPE CONTRACT.
>> IS THIS WHAT WE USE IF SOMEBODY REQUESTS TO OTHER ALLEY LEVEL. IS IT THE SAME STUFF?
>> THAT'S IF THE RESIDENT ASKED FOR THAT, THAT'S FREE TO THEM ON THAT ALLEY.
>> [OVERLAPPING] IF WE JUST GRADE IT AND LEVEL IT, YES, WE DO THAT.
>> THEY'VE GOT TO PAY FOR IT. BUT LIMESTONE IS A LITTLE MORE ADVANTAGEOUS BECAUSE OF WATER DRAIN..
>> A LOT OF TIMES WE DON'T HAVE TO PUT LIMESTONE.
WE JUST GO IN THERE AND GRADE IT,
[00:50:02]
LEVEL IT, AND WE USE EXISTING MATERIAL.BUT IF WE HAVE TO FILL IN THE LONE SPOTS OR ANYTHING, THAT'S WHAT THEY USE.
>> THE SYSTEM WHAT WE'RE USING IT FOR ME TO BEACH IN AND SPANISH [INAUDIBLE]
WHAT THEY'RE LETTING US USE HERE?
>> HAVE WE CHECKED THEM LATELY?
>> I HAVE NOT. WE'LL GET IT ON OUR LIST.
>> WELL, THAT'S GREAT NEWS TOO THAT ALWAYS PLAYS WELL.
>> LET ME ADD SOME TAGS TO IT.
>> WILLIAM DID NOT HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS.
>> THAT'S IT. [INAUDIBLE] SECOND-TO-LAST, I GUESS.
[LAUGHTER] GET ALL THE OTHER ONES COMMENTS.
>> THAT'S HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT. I GOT ALL MY QUESTIONS ANSWERED, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE REFERENCE TO 11Q, [NOISE] THE SUPER COVERS.
THAT'S COST $77,000, BUT THAT'S GOING TO SAVE US A LOT OF MONEY IN WASTEWATER
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S PART AND PARCEL OF OUR INR PROJECT.
>> YEAH, IT'S WELL-WORTH MONEY. [NOISE]
>> IT IS. WHAT'S DIFFERENT ON THIS ONE FROM THE OTHER, THE LAST ONE WE BROUGHT THROUGH, WE HAD THE CONTRACTOR ACTUALLY DOING THE RAISING AND INSTALLING.
THIS IS JUST ALL THE MATERIALS, OUR STAFF IS DOING IT NOW.
DURING THAT TIME, THE CONTRACTOR ACTUALLY WORKED WITH US AND HE LET OUR STAFF WORK WITH HIM.
HE TAUGHT OUR STAFF HOW TO DO THIS JOB.
IN A SENSE, HE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF FREE LABOR, BUT WE GOT THE TRAINING WE NEEDED.
WE'VE DONE A COUPLE OF GOOD PRACTICE AND IT'S COME OUT REALLY GOOD, AND SO WE'VE DECIDED WE'RE MOVING FORWARD IN HOUSEMATES, THAT WILL WORK.
>> IT REALLY REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF INTRUSION [INAUDIBLE]
>> IT DOES. WE REALLY NEED TO SHOW YOU THE TERAMO SEWER AREA THAT THE NUMBERS ARE FANTASTIC.
FAR CHEAPER THAN EXPANDING THE PLANT. [LAUGHTER]
>> IT'S CHEAPER TOO WHEN [INAUDIBLE].
NOT A MUST WE DON'T PUT SUPER COVERS.
>> BUT WE'RE GOING TO GET TO DO IT FOR PURPOSES OF DEVELOPMENT, NOT FOR PURPOSES OF BEING MAINTAINED ROUGHLY [LAUGHTER]. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
>> ALL MY QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED.
>> GOOD. I'VE GOT JUST ONE QUESTION A DAY.
ROBB. [BACKGROUND] I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM WE HAVE A DAY A DOWNER OUR PUBLIC HEARING FOR JUST A PUBLIC HEARING, THERE'S NO ACTION ON THIS. IS THAT RIGHT?
>> I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM. THANK YOU, ROBERT.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL,LET'S MOVE ON NOW WITH OUR SECOND DISCUSSION ITEM,
[3.B. Discussion Regarding Abandonment Of A Portion Of Avenue P Between 20th And 21st Streets. (Tim Tietjens 15 Minutes)]
3B. PLEASE, JANELLE.>> 3B, DISCUSSION REGARDING THE ABANDONMENT OF A PORTION OF AVENUE P BETWEEN 20TH AND 21ST STREETS.
>> AS TEMPTATIONS IS COMING FORWARD ON THIS, I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT THIS IS A WORKSHOP ITEM TODAY.
WE WILL HAVE AN ACTION ITEM ON DECEMBER 8TH ON THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC ON THAT.
>> [BACKGROUND] WE'RE GOING TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS?
>> YES, WE WILL. TIM, DID YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THIS?
>> ALTHOUGH WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT UP ON THE SCREEN FOR YOU TO VISUALIZE.
>> LET'S PUT THOSE ON THE SCREEN FIRST, AND GET THOSE UP.
THEN I THINK JOHN WANTS TO START THE DISCUSSION HERE IN JUST A SECOND.
>> TIM, WHILE THAT'S COMING UP, OF COURSE, THIS ONE DENIED A PLANNING COMMISSION.
>> IT WAS SCHEDULED TO BE ON OUR AGENDA TODAY, CORRECT?
>> WHAT CAUSED THAT NOT TO ACTUALLY BE AN AGENDA ITEM AND WE ARE NOW IN A WORKSHOP ITEM?
>> WE THOUGHT IT PRUDENT TO GET YOU INFORMATION ON TRAFFIC COUNT INFORMATION.
LITERALLY, ROBB DROPPED THE TRAFFIC COUNT MECHANISMS OUT THERE TO COUNT WHAT'S GOING ON OVER A FOUR-WEEK PERIOD.
IT HAPPENED ALSO TO BE DURING MOTORCYCLE RALLY.
IT JUST HAPPENED TO BE THE TIMING THAT WE'RE PUTTING IT IN THERE.
>> THE MAYOR VERIFIED THE COUNTERS WERE THERE?
>> THE COUNTERS WERE IN PLACE.
[LAUGHTER] NOT ANCHORED PROPERLY.
>> IT'S A WHOLE ANOTHER STORY.
>> WHILST SHE WAS CHECKING THESE COUNTERS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER] THAT'S WHY WE DECIDED TO MOVE THIS BACK TO GET YOU GUYS SOME BETTER INFORMATION, MORE ACCURATE AND COMPLETE INFORMATION IN MAKING THIS DETERMINATION.
>> TIM, WHILE WE'RE ON THAT SUBJECT, THOSE COUNTERS WENT DOWN AND THEN WE TOOK THOSE COUNTERS UP AFTER AN ACCIDENT IN THAT AREA,
[00:55:03]
THE COUNTERS CAME UP ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT.IT WAS THAT YOUR TIMELINE, WERE YOU GOING TO TAKE THEM UP AT THAT POINT? THANK YOU. I WAS WATCHING THAT RIGHT NOW FROM MY HOME.
THEY'VE SEEMED THEY WERE ONLY UP A WEEK OR SOMETHING.
>> YEAH, THAT'S ABOUT WHAT IT WAS.
>> IS THAT ALL WHICH YOU NORMALLY EXTEND THEM?
>> I THINK GENERALLY SPEAKING, ROBB PUTS THOSE UP, BUT WE WANTED TO HAVE A FULL WEEK SO THAT WE COULD HAVE HIGH NUMBERS DURING THE EVENT.
ON THE ENDS OF THE WEEKDAYS, I THINK TUESDAY WAS THE LAST DAY SHOWING A NORMAL STANDARD COUNT OF WHAT WE WOULD GET.
>> I JUST WONDERED, YOU HADN'T GOTTEN THE COUNT YET, IS THAT RIGHT?
>> WE DO, AND WE'RE GOING TO SHOW THOSE TO YOU.
>> COME ON, HAVE A SEAT. THAT'S ONE OF THE THREE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO DISCUSS WITH YOU ABOUT THIS.
OBVIOUSLY, THIS HAS BEEN APPLIED FOR AS AN ABANDONMENT, THE GRANT GALVEZ HAS APPLIED FOR.
THAT SECTION YOU'RE SEEING THERE IN YELLOW BETWEEN 20TH AND 21ST, THEY OWN BOTH SIDES OF THE PROPERTY.
IT HAS GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
BEFORE WE GET TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA FOR ACTION FOR YOU, WE WANTED TO DISCUSS A COUPLE OF ITEMS BECAUSE THIS ONE IS SOMEWHAT UNIQUE IN THAT IT'S AN ACTUAL ROADWAY THAT EXISTS.
IT'S NOT AN UNUSED ROADWAY THAT IS OUT THERE AND WE'D GO INTO THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR ITS DEVELOPMENT OF WHATEVER KIND.
IN FACT, IN THIS CASE, THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING TO PLACE BASICALLY, A PUBLIC PLAZA IN THAT AREA IN LIEU OF THE STREET, SO THERE'S A PUBLIC PURPOSE THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT, AND A BENEFIT TO THE PUBLIC AS SUCH.
OF COURSE, THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE ARE SEEKING FROM YOU HERE IS, AS WE LOOK AT THE TRAFFIC COUNTS TO DETERMINE WHAT LEVEL OF TRAFFIC IMPACT THERE IS, WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE APPLICANT COME UP AND MAKE THEIR CASE FOR WHY THEY WANT TO DO THIS, AND WHAT IMPACTS THIS WILL HAVE.
ALONG WITH THAT IS THE NOTION THAT THE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE RESPONDED, THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE HAD SOME CONCERNS WITH THIS.
WE WANT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT IF THOSE CONCERNS CAN BE MITIGATED OR NOT.
THEN THE THIRD THING, OF COURSE, [NOISE] IS ABANDONMENT THE RIGHT WAY TO DO THIS? IS AN ACTUAL SALE OF THE REAL ESTATE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO PURSUE VERSUS POSSIBLY ANOTHER OPTION, WHICH WOULD BE MAYBE SOME RIGHT-OF-WAY AGREEMENT, OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
IN 80 YEARS FROM NOW, WILL THEY STILL IN FACT NEED THAT AS A RIGHT-OF-WAY? THERE'S A SECTION OF OVER UT AND B, I BELIEVE, THAT HAS A RIGHT-OF-WAY AGREEMENT IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, ON MACKINAC, THERE'S THAT THREE BLOCK STRETCH THAT'S A PUBLIC PLAZA THAT'S BEEN QUITE SUCCESSFUL.
ANYHOW, THOSE ARE THE THREE GENERAL ISSUES WE'D LIKE TO GET OUT ON THE TABLE HERE WITH THIS.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, WE COULD HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT.
>> LETS GO THROUGH THE COUNTS.
LET'S LOOK AT ALL THAT THEY DID.
>> I'LL KIND OF PROCESS THIS IF I COULD.
THIS IS NOT A TRAFFIC STUDY AT THIS POINT.
[NOISE] THIS IS JUST DATA THAT WAS COLLECTED FOR A SIX-DAY PERIOD TO SEE WHAT BIOS LOOK LIKE.
WE, FORTUNATELY, GOT LUCKY TO HAVE THIS GOING ON THERE, SPECIAL EVENT, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR MAJOR EVENTS.
WE REALLY GET TO SEE HOW AS YOU HAVE MORE TOURISM ON THE ISLAND, THOSE NUMBERS RAMP UP.
WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS JUST AN OVERALL OBSERVATION FOR THE FULL SIX DAYS, WE HAD ROUGHLY 3,800 VEHICLES GOING EASTBOUND ON MDP,
[01:00:05]
AND THEN WE HAD ROUGHLY JUST UNDER 2,960 GOING SOUTH.>> WRONG, I THINK THE STREETS ARE MARKED INCORRECTLY THERE.
>> THAT'S THE 2,100 BLOCK YOU'RE LOOKING AT.
>> THE COUNTERS WERE ON THE WEST SIDE.
>> THEY WERE DEPLOYED ACTUALLY AT 20TH STREET DOWN AT THE INTERSECTION.
>> I HAVE MY LABELS MISSED, SO YES.
TAKE YOUR NUMBERS AND MOVE THEM ONE BLOCK TO THE EAST.
IT'S ACTUALLY JUST ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE PARKING LOT THERE.
>> RIGHT. NOW, LET ME MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND, YOUR COUNTS THAT YOU'RE SHOWING THERE, YOU'RE TAKING THEM AT 21ST UP THERE?
>> THE INFORMATION THAT I GOT BACK FROM TRAFFIC IS THAT IT IS 21ST, YES.
>> I DIDN'T SEE A COUNTER ON 21ST.
>> I MUST GO BACK TO CLARIFY THAT.
>> IF YOU'RE COUNTING ON 21ST COMING UP THAT INTERSECTION, MOST OF THOSE CARS TURN THERE, THEY DON'T GO DOWN ON THAT STREET.
>> WELL, THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE REASONS TO GET THAT INFORMATION AT 21ST STREET.
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOME MORE NUMBERS ON THIS ONE. I APOLOGIZE.
>> PLUS WASN'T THAT SKEWED BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THE SEAWALL WAS CLOSED? BECAUSE IT, BECAUSE I KNOW I GOT STUCK IN THAT AND I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW.
>> THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY WE WANTED TO DO IT FOR THE RALLY SO THAT WE COULD SEE THE HIGHEST TRAFFIC PATTERN [OVERLAPPING]
>> SEE WHAT THE IMPACTS ARE, RIGHT?
>> I WOULD SAY TOO [OVERLAPPING]
>> IF YOU WOULDN'T GO DOWN OR THAT WAY BECAUSE YOU THEN WERE BLOCKED.
>> NOT, MDP ACTUALLY PUT MORE TRAFFIC. [OVERLAPPING]
>> NO, THE ROAD WEREN'T CLOSED.
BUT YOU'RE COUNTING ALSO ISN'T MENTIONED, I THINK THAT'S INCORRECT ON HOW WE HAVE IT.
BUT YOU WERE COUNTING ALSO MOTORCYCLES COMING THE WRONG WAY ON P. THEY WERE SCREAMING DOWN P GOING THE WRONG WAY, COMING FROM MILLER'S. OUR AREA.
>> THAT'S A PROBLEM WITH THIS STRETCH AS IT IS, THAT'S ONE OF THE REMIT.
[OVERLAPPING] THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THIS WOULD REVENUE.
BECAUSE YOU WOULD TAKE THAT SECOND END DOWN THERE FROM 19TH TO 20TH.
IF THE COUNCIL WOULD CHOOSE TO DO THIS, THAT WOULD BECOME TWO-WAY TRAFFIC. [OVERLAPPING]
>> ONE THING, THE CAMERAS DID NOT PICK UP DIRECTION.
SINCE THIS IS A ONE-WAY ROAD, WE ASSUME THAT ALL TRAVELING IS GOING EASTBOUND.
IF IT'S GOING THE OTHER DIRECTION, THAT'S NOT GOING TO SHOW UP.
ON THE TWO-LANE ROADWAY, WE CAN DO THAT BECAUSE IF A VEHICLE WANTS TO CROSS ONE LANE, STAGGERED WITH THE OTHER ACROSS THE OTHER LANE AND WE CAN GET THE OPPOSING DIRECTIONS.
BUT ON THIS ONE THAT'S DIFFICULT TO ATTAIN.
>> SINCE IT'S NOT AN OFFICIAL TRAFFIC CAM, DO WE STILL HAVE TO DO AN OFFICIAL TRAFFIC CAM?
>> WELL, THIS IS AN OFFICIAL TRAFFIC CAM.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO KIND OF [OVERLAPPING]. IT'S NOT A STUDY.
>> YOU ARE NOT PUTTING IN A SIGNAL OR ANYTHING.
THIS IS JUST ANECDOTAL INFORMATION TO HELP YOU GUYS MAKE A DECISION.
>> JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT VOLUMES ARE THERE.
IDEALLY, WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH COUNTERS TO DEPLOY ACROSS THE FULL TWO-BLOCK STRETCH.
WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN IDEAL IS TO HAVE COUNTERS AT THE 21ST STREET, COUNTERS IN 20TH, COUNTERS IN 19TH STREET, CATCHING ALL DIRECTIONS SO WE CAN SEE WHAT FULLY COMES IN, WHAT GOES PAST IT, WHAT GOES DOWN THAT SECTION THEN WHICH BRANCHES OFF INTO THE OTHER DIRECTIONS.
THAT WOULD BE THE BEST WAY TO DO A FULL STUDY TO SEE WHAT YOU HAVE THERE.
>> YOUR COUNTERS JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, YOUR COUNTERS WERE ON P AT 20TH.
>> I BELIEVE SO. YEAH. [OVERLAPPING]
>> YEAH. THEY WERE ON 20TH ALSO GOING SOUTH.
>> THOSE ARROWS NEED TO BE MOVED OVER ONE MORE BLOCK TO THE EAST, RIGHT?
>> THE 3,700 CARS THAT WENT DOWN, 800 KEPT GOING IN 19TH STREET? THAT'S HOW I'M READING THAT RIGHT?
>> NO. BASICALLY WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE IS, YOU WOULD HAVE 3,786 GOING EASTBOUND.
>> WHERE THAT 2,955 COMES IN AT 20TH STREET, THOSE HAVE TO GO EAST.
THOSE WOULD FILTER AND ADD TO THAT NUMBER.
THAT NUMBER WOULD GROW MORE GOING TO THE EAST.
THEN YOU SEE IT GOING RIGHT NOW [OVERLAPPING]
>> ONE OF THE WAYS [OVERLAPPING]
>> THIS IS ONE WAY, IS IT? [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT'S ONE WAY RIGHT NOW, YEAH.
>> REMEMBER WE WERE ONLY TRACKING SOUTHBOUND LANES. [OVERLAPPING]
>> NO. WHAT I'M SAYING, SO ONLY 800 PEOPLE KEPT GOING EAST TO 19TH STREET, RIGHT? AM I READING THAT WRONG?
>> ALL THREE TAILS WITH THOSE WOULD HAVE TO GO EAST TO 19TH BECAUSE THAT IS A ONE-WAY STREET.
>> THAT IS CARS TURNED ON THE 21ST.
>> WELL, MY QUESTION WAS HOW MANY PEOPLE TURN LEFT ON 20TH STREET INSTEAD OF UTILIZING THE FULL ONE WAY TO 19TH STREET? [OVERLAPPING] THAT WAS MY QUESTION.
>> WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW MANY CARS WENT EAST SINCE THEY WERE AT 20TH STREET,
[01:05:02]
HOW MANY CARS WERE HEADING EAST SHOULD HAVE TO ADD THE TWO SETS OF NUMBERS TOGETHER? BECAUSE ONCE YOU WERE COMING DOWN 20TH, YOU HAD TO TURN LEFT AT LEAST.WOULD ACTUALLY BE [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOU HAD ALMOST, YOU HAD ALMOST THE SAME AMOUNT [OVERLAPPING]
>> YEAH. THE HEAVIER TRAVEL STRETCH IS 19TH TO 20TH, THEN 20TH TO 21ST.
>> I TELL YOU, I'M DOWN THERE EVERY DAY DURING THE MORNING, AFTERNOON, THERE'S VIRTUALLY NO CARS.
VERY FEW CARS HAVE COME DOWN P AND TURN NORTH ON 20TH. THERE'S HARDLY ANY.
>> OR PROBABLY GO DOWN 20TH AND TURN ON P. [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUT REMEMBER THIS IS AFTER-BIKE RALLY WE CAN'T [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE DON'T HAVE THAT ALL 0 AND A HALF OBVIOUSLY, RIGHT? YOU SEE HOW [OVERLAPPING]
>> DOES THAT MEAN THAT HINDSIGHT WOULD HAVE BEEN, WHILE IT WAS CLOSED? WE COULD HAVE HAD THAT ONE HOUR AND A HALF.
SEE HOW MUCH PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY GOING DOWN DON'T WANT TO HAVE THE 18TH TO, 21ST HUNDRED BLOCK, I GUESS YOU'D SAY.
BECAUSE THAT IS ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE COMMENTS I'VE HEARD IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> I JUST WANT TO COMMENT, I'M NOT SURE WHAT TRAFFIC COUNTS I HAVE TO DO WITH IT.
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BENDING THE STREET, THIS IS NOT THE LEAST USED STREET IN GALVESTON.
YOU WANT A STREET THAT DOESN'T HAVE MUCH TRAFFIC.
YOU CAN FIND ONE WITHIN BLOCKS OF THAT.
MOVE OVER TO 22ND STREET, YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO GET 3,000 CARS APPROACHING P ON 23RD, 22ND STREET.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULD ABANDON IT.
I MEAN, THIS IS A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE AND TO SAY, WELL, NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE USE IT, OR FEWER PEOPLE USE IT THAN USE 19TH OR USE 21ST STREET.
I'M NOT SURE THAT'S THE ONLY CRITERIA FOR WHAT WE DECIDE TO ABANDON A RIGHT-OF-WAY TO PRIVATE PROPERTY.
>> I AGREE WITH YOU, DAVID. I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THE TRAFFIC STUDY REALLY MAKES A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENCE IN MY OPINION ON EITHER WAY.
WHETHER YOU WANT TO ABANDON IT OR YOU DON'T WANT TO ABANDON IT.
I'LL GIVE YOU MY OPINION ON IT.
I DON'T REALLY WANT TO, I WOULD NOT ABANDON THE STREET.
I WOULD BE FINE WITH SOME TYPE OF LTU TO CLOSE THIS STREET.
I LOOK BACK ON A STREET LIKE POST-OFFICE WHEN WE HAD IT CLOSED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
IF WE WOULD ABANDON THAT STREET, WE WOULD NOT HAVE POST OFFICE AS WE DO TODAY.
I'M ALL ABOUT NOT JUST FLAT-OUT ABANDON THE STREET.
TRAFFIC-WISE, IT'S AT THE END OF THE ONE-WAY PRETTY MUCH 19TH, OR 21ST IS A PRETTY HEAVILY TRAVELED STREET.
IT'S A BIGGER STREET, JUST LIKE 19TH FOR PEOPLE TO GO DOWN 21ST STREET HEADING NORTH.
I THINK IT'S FINE INSTEAD OF GOING ALL THE WAY TO 19TH STREET AND HEAD NORTH.
WITH ALL THAT SAID, SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT AT PLANNING COMMISSION THAT I THINK WE DO NEED TO ADDRESS, OR A COUPLE OF THESE ISSUES.
SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT GOT BROUGHT UP WAS DELIVERY TRUCKS FOR THE HOTEL.
THEY HAD A BUNCH OF ISSUES WHEN THAT STREET WAS CLOSED ON HOW DELIVERY TRUCKS ACCESS THE HOTEL.
THE ALLEY WAY BEHIND IN-BETWEEN P AND 0 AND A HALF.
THEY SAID PEOPLE WOULD USE THAT ALLEYWAY TO TRANSITION OVER TO 19TH OR EAST.
THE GREEN LIGHT, WHICH PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE.
WELL, STILL IS AN ISSUE THAT, WELL MAYBE NOT AN ISSUE NOW, IF YOU CLOSE IT, BUT THEY SAID THAT THE GREEN LIGHTS WORK ON THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF TRAFFIC.
>> YES. PEOPLE WOULD BE ON 19TH, TURN ON TO P GOING THE WRONG WAY, SEE A GREEN LIGHT AND GO, I'LL JUST KEEP GOING.
>> THAT WAS AN ISSUE. THE [NOISE] BY CLOSING THIS STREET, THE HOMEOWNERS IN THAT AREA SAID A LOT OF THAT TRAFFIC MOVED OVER TO 0.5 SO THEY WOULD COME DOWN P, TURN ON 21ST STREET, TURN ON 0.5 TO GO TO 19TH OR GO EAST SO 0.5 PICKED UP A LOT OF THE TRAFFIC THAT P WAS HANDLING BEFORE THEY HAD THE TEMPORARY CLOSURE.
THEN THERE WAS SOMETHING TO DO ABOUT THE ISSUE.
THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE SPOKE ABOUT THE VALETS AND JUST ISSUES WITH THE VALETS DRIVING CARS AROUND THE AREA.
[01:10:03]
I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ADDRESS ALL THOSE ISSUES.IF WE DO SOMETHING AND CLOSES THE STREET WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING THOSE ISSUES THAT DON'T CREATE OTHER PROBLEMS WITHIN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT'S MINE.
>> TIM, COULD YOU EXPAND FOR COUNCIL, IF WE DON'T WANT TO PURSUE A FORMAL ABANDONMENT, WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS OF ALLOWING THIS STREET TO BE CLOSED WITHOUT FALLING IN THAT CATEGORY.
>> WELL, DAN AND I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THAT CONCEPT.
IT'S NOT AN OFTEN USED CONCEPT, BUT RIGHT OF WAY AGREEMENT AS JOHN DESCRIBED WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE VIABLE.
IT'D BE A SPECIFIC AGREEMENT PROBABLY WITH LONGER TERMS THAN A STANDARD LTU BECAUSE THEY'RE PROPOSING SOME INVESTMENT OUT THERE TO CREATE THIS PLAZA.
INSTEAD OF THE STANDARD 60 DAY, IF WE NEED TO REVOKE, I THINK WE PROBABLY EXTEND THE TERM FOR THAT, BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, IT WOULDN'T BE TOO DISSIMILAR TO AN LTU.
>>I WAS GOING TO SAY IT'S ABOUT AN LTU.
I KNOW WE HAVE THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE GALVEZ HERE.
WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH THE GALVEZ? COME ON UP GENTLEMEN.
ONE OF YOU COULD SIT OVER HERE IF YOU'D LIKE.
>> MIGHT INTRODUCE YOURSELF, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE.
WE'RE BEING TELEVISED AROUND THE COMMUNITY. YOU'RE ON TV [OVERLAPPING].
>> AROUND THE WORLD ACTUALLY. [LAUGHTER]
>> I SHALL BE INFAMOUS FROM THIS POINT ON.
MY NAME IS DARRYL HILL. I'M THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE GRAND GALVEZ.
>> ALEX GONZALEZ, LOCAL CONTRACTOR, CONTRACTOR FOR THE GRAND GALVEZ.
I KNOW THAT DOESN'T BEAR A LOT OF WEIGHT, BUT WE ACTUALLY HAVE VALET IN THAT AREA TOO.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE WAY THE VALET RAN, THEY WERE COMING BACK AND FORTH OR THAT.
WE WERE ACTUALLY TIME IN OURSELVES GOING IN AND OUT.
THAT TRAFFIC WAS VALET BECAUSE WE HAD A FULL OCCUPATION, BECAUSE WE HAD THE BIKER RALLY.
ALTHOUGH THE GUYS WANT THEIR TRUCKS AND TRAILERS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
THAT ULTIMATELY WOULD INCREASE THE WAY THE ROAD WAS CLOSED, THAT WOULD INCREASE OUR VALET SITUATION.
ALSO, THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT USE THAT ROAD IS OUR ASSOCIATES.
ASSOCIATE PARKING IS RIGHT THERE TOO.
I HAVE 198 PEOPLE THAT WE EMPLOY FROM THE CITY ON THE ISLAND, AND ULTIMATELY THEY USE OUR PARKING SO THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT WOULD ACTUALLY INCREASE THAT YIELD WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS.
>> IF YOU CLOSE THE STREET, HOW WOULD THESE FOLKS GET TO THAT PARKING?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, JOHN.
BASICALLY, DOWN IN THAT 19 AND IT GOES A TWO WAY, GO DOWN, GO STRAIGHT INTO THE PARKING, SAME AS THE DELIVERY TRUCK SITUATION, YOU GET THOSE TRUCKS THAT COME DOWN ALMOST SO WE HAVE DELIVERY LIKE EVERY OTHER BUSINESS AROUND AND THEY COULD COME DOWN 19 IF IT WAS A TWO-WAY, THEY WOULD COME DOWN IN 19, DO THAT DELIVERY AND THEN OFF THEY WOULD GO.
>> ALSO YOUR PARKING LOT DARRYL, THAT IS NORTH OF THAT, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO ENTER THAT FROM 21ST AND EXIT IT ON 20.
>> THEY'LL BE ABLE TO GET TO THAT PARKING THE SAME.
I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO EXPAND YOUR PARKING THERE.
>>THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO ENTER AND EXIT ON THOSE NUMBERED STREETS AND NOT HAVE TO COME DOWN PAY?
>> EXACTLY. TWENTY FIRST IS A GRASSED AREA, AS YOU CAN PROBABLY SEE ON ONE OF THOSE MAPS THAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY AND THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE A BUNCH OF CONTAINERS RIGHT NOW WITH SUPPLIES OBVIOUSLY DOING THE RENO WORK.
ULTIMATELY, YOU CAN SEE THE CONTAINERS IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS, ACTUALLY THOSE THIN LINES, ONE OF THEM, THE WHITE ONES, WE'RE EXPANDING THAT OUT, THAT PARKING YOU CAN SEE BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT LAND AND YOU WOULD ENTER THAT WAY, THEN YOU WOULD EXIT ON THE OTHER SIDE ON 20 TO GET OUT.
IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE 19 CURRENTLY IS, IF THAT WAS A TWO-WAY WHICH QUITE FRANKLY, PEOPLE USE IT AS A TWO-WAY, BECAUSE THEY SEE A GREEN LIGHT AND THEY'RE LIKE, HEY, LET'S GO.
>> I'LL ALSO ADD THAT ALL THE FOLKS THAT ARE DIRECTLY BEHIND THE ASSOCIATE PARKING LOT, AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING ALL AGREE THEY LOVED THE IDEA BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A TWO-WAY.
>> TWO-WAY HELPS THEM FOR SURE.
[LAUGHTER] I MEAN, SELFISHLY, I'M SURE THEY'RE LOOKING AT THAT SAYING, HEY, THAT REALLY HELPS US.
ONE QUESTION, DEREK, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
THE FIRE MARSHAL RAISED A CONCERN ABOUT HAVING ACCESS TO THE BACK OF THE BUILDING AND I KNOW IN SPEAKING TO ALEX ON OTHER OCCASIONS, EVEN PERSONALLY, HE HAS RECOMMENDED DIFFERENT TYPES OF TURF,
[01:15:04]
AND I AGREE WITH THE FIRE MARSHAL WITH A HISTORIC BUILDING LIKE THIS.WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE AERIAL APPARATUS.
>> I KNOW THIS IS JUST A RENDERING, BUT WE WOULD CERTAINLY, IF THIS IS SOMETHING WHETHER WE DO IT THROUGH A ABANDONMENT LTU OR IF WE DON'T DO IT AT ALL, BUT WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WORK WITH THEM ON A DESIGN THAT WILL ACCOMMODATE OUR LADDER APPARATUS BACK HERE, BECAUSE WE CERTAINLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PROTECT THIS HISTORIC LANDMARK FOR GALVESTON.
IT'S NOT LIKE YOU GUYS HAVEN'T PUT A FEW PENNIES INTO IT.
I'M SURE YOU WOULD LIKE US TO BE ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT TOO.
>> EXACTLY. WE'VE GOT 55 MILLION [OVERLAPPING].
>> BUT I DO KNOW THAT ALEX HAS GOT GOOD SOLUTIONS IN THAT, HE'S DONE A COUPLE OF HOMES ALREADY HERE ON THE ISLAND WITH THE TURF AND THINGS [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT'S BASICALLY CONCRETE UNDERNEATH THE TURF, JUST LIKE IT WOULD BE AT ANY FOOTBALL FIELD WHERE AMBULANCE WOULD GO OUT AND PICK UP HURT PLAYERS.
IT'S A SOLID CONCRETE UNDERNEATH.
OF COURSE WE'D HAVE THE ALL THE ACCESS FOR ANY CITY UTILITIES, ACCESS TO EVERYTHING.
I THINK ON ONE OF THOSE PHOTOS, THE BOLLARDS THAT ARE THERE ARE NOT REMOVABLE.
>> BREAKAWAY VOLUNTEERS, THERE YOU GO.
>> A FIRE TRUCK CAN RUN STRAIGHT THROUGH.
THEY'RE NOT GETTING STUCK, FIRETRUCKS, AMBULANCE WHEREVER IT'S MOST REGULARLY.
>> THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS. I MEAN, WE CAN TALK ABOUT TRAFFIC COUNTS.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS, BUT HEALTH AND SAFETY ARE ALWAYS OUR TOP CONCERNS AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT GETS ADDRESSED.
>> I KNOW YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T WANT FERRARI'S PARKED ON YOUR LAWN NO MATTER HOW EXPENSIVE THE CAR IS.
I FIGURED YOU GUYS HAD A DIFFERENT SOLUTION IN YOUR PICTURES, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS MENTIONED TODAY, THAT THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE DO IF WE DO THIS AND THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT WILL SUPPORT OUR AERIAL APPARATUS BACK THERE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT WOULD BE A CONCRETE BASE AND ULTIMATELY JUST LIKE AN ASTRO TURF IN THAT ONE SECTION, SO ANY VEHICLE CAN GO RIGHT OVER AND OPERATE NEXT TO THE FTC'S FOR THE FIRE, OBVIOUSLY, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY FOR REACH FOR LADDERS, SHOULD THAT BE NEEDED.
BASICALLY, THE ROAD WOULD BE THE SAME.
I WOULD JUST HAVE GREEN ASTROTURF ON TOP OF IT.
>> THE APPROPRIATE LANDSCAPING AS WELL.
>> YEAH. TO MATCH THAT, OF COURSE.
>> DARRYL, QUESTION I HAVE, WILL THIS SPACE BE AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY FOR EVENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT?
>> YES. WHERE YOU WOULD OBVIOUSLY PUT BENCHES DOWN.
IT WILL BE A COMPLETE WALKWAY THAT WILL BE DESIGNED.
OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS IN STONE AS FAR AS THE DESIGN, WE WOULD WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE CITY FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE FIRST, AND THEN ALSO A COSMETICS PERSPECTIVE AS WELL THAT WE CAN FACILITATE BASICALLY A PARK.
THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD LOVE TO DO IS HAVE A PARK THERE.
SOME OF THE COMMUNITY CAN USE AT-WILL BENCHES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
>> YES. GREAT. WHEN WE ABANDONED PROPERTY, IT'S GOT TO SERVE A PUBLIC GOOD, RIGHT?
>> WHAT GUARANTEES DO WE HAVE FOR THAT? IS IT LIKE TAKING YOUR WORD.
I MEAN, TWO YEARS FROM NOW, IS THERE A CAST-IRON OFFENSE RATHER THAN THE WHOLE PROPERTY?
>> I THINK WHAT YOU DO IS WELL.
AGAIN, DEPENDING ON WHICH PATH YOU GUYS, IF YOU CHOOSE TO GO THIS PATH, IF YOU DID IT THROUGH ABANDONMENT, YOU CAN SPELL IT OUT IN THE DEED.
IF YOU DID IT THROUGH AN LTU CERTAINLY, THAT'S A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY AND WE WOULD HAVE THAT TOO.
I THINK YOU CAN HAVE THOSE ASSURANCES IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION THE COUNCIL WISHES USED TO GO.
I MEAN AN LTU IS SPELLED OUT IN A CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT.
WHEN WE PUT LTU OUT NOW FOR DIFFERENT USES, WE TELL THEM YOU CANNOT DO THIS OR YOU CANNOT DO THAT.
IT WOULD BE THE SAME TYPE SITUATION FORUM.
AGAIN, IT ALL COMES DOWN TO WHICH PATH YOU GUYS TAKE.
YOU HAVE THREE PATHS, NO ABANDONMENT OR SOME TYPE OF HYBRID.
THE ONES I'VE SEEN, THEY HAVE A SITE PLAN SO THAT YOU'LL KNOW WHEN THE LTU IS APPROVED AS BRIAN MENTIONED, THERE'S A CONDITION AND SO FORTH CAN APPLY TO THAT.
>> THERE'LL BE A FULL-ON STAFF REPORT THAT WOULD RECOMMEND CONDITIONS AND ACCESS.
>> THAT WOULD COVER WHAT [OVERLAPPING].
>> IF THREE YEARS FROM NOW A LANDSCAPE BECAME SO OVERGROWN THAT THE FIRE MARSHAL FELT LIKE WE CAN'T GET LADDER APPARATUS ANYMORE AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO MODIFY THAT.
THOSE ARE ALL RESTRICTIONS THAT YOU PUT IN UPFRONT.
IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU WANT TO DO, I MEAN, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE IT'S, GO ANY WAY YOU WANT TO GO WITH IT.
>> WHAT ABOUT DRAINAGE THERE, RYAN WHITE? I MEAN, AVENUE P THERE USUALLY DOESN'T GET TOO BAD ON HEAVY RAIN, BUT HAVING [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT STREET SHEET DRAINS TO 21ST STREET, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, ROBB MAY KNOW BETTER OR TREE NOW.
[01:20:01]
ARE THERE ANY IN-LINKS IN THIS AREA, YOU GUYS? DID YOU KNOW THAT?THERE'S WHY YOU GOT A CLOSER LOOK AT STREET LEVEL.
>> UNFORTUNATELY. [LAUGHTER] LANDSCAPING IS NOT LIKELY TO INCREASE YOUR DRAINAGE PROBLEM.
>> I KNOW, BUT IT'S SOLID MATERIAL.
>> I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T BELIEVE BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IN THE SHEET FLOW THAT WE DO NOT INHIBIT ANY SHEET FLOW DRAINAGE IN THE AREA AND THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE TO SPELL OUT IF THIS IS A PATH YOU GUYS CHOOSE TO TAKE.
I DON'T SEE ANYTHING INSURMOUNTABLE, BUT AGAIN, AS FICKLE AS OUR DRAINAGE IS AROUND HERE IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME FINESSE.
>> BECAUSE WHEN YOU SAID IT'S SOLID CONCRETE UNDERNEATH, AND I'LL TAKE YOUR WORD FOR IT, BUT USUALLY WHEN YOU TURF A BASEBALL FIELD, IT'S NOT SOLID CONCRETE.
>> IT'S GRAVEL ROCK. YES, IT'S CRUSHED ROCK AND WITH THAT YOU HAVE A FRENCH DRAIN SOMEWHERE COMING OUT OF THAT BASEBALL FIELD.
>> WE CAN DO THAT TOO. WE JUST HAVEN'T CONSULTED THE ENGINEERS.
>> WELL, MY WORRY IS WHERE DOES THAT FRENCH DRAIN END UP? IS IT GOING TO BE AT THE MAYOR'S HOUSE COMING OUT OF HIS FRONT YARD [LAUGHTER] OR THE NEIGHBORS? THAT'S KIND OF THE LOOK.
>> I WOULD TELL YOU RIGHT NOW AND LIVING HERE MY WHOLE LIFE, I BELIEVE THAT STREET SHEET DRAINS TO 21ST AND I WOULD SUSPECT THAT IF THEY DO ANY DRAINAGE, IT'S GOING TO DRAIN TO 21ST STREET.
I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE DRAINAGE PATTERN.
IT MIGHT SLOW IT A LITTLE BIT.
THE FLOW ONTO 21ST STREET MIGHT ACTUALLY HELP THINGS ON 21ST STREET.
IF IT'S GOT HOLD WATER, IT'S GOING TO HOLD IT BY THEIR HOTEL NOT WHERE PEOPLE LIVE.
>> THE WHOLE GOAL OF THIS IS TO GET PEOPLE EASILY BACK-AND-FORTH TO THE PARKING LOT WITHOUT.
>> THAT'S PART OF IT BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I THINK IT'S THE COMMUNITY PROJECT AS FAR AS THE BEAUTIFICATION AS WELL.
WE DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SOME OF THAT THAT IS GOOD ON THE EYE AND ULTIMATELY WHERE THE COMMUNITY CAN COME AND ENJOY AND HAVE A PARK, BASICALLY.
I THINK THE MOST PLACES IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOME KIND OF CHANGE THERE, IT HAS TO BENEFIT PEOPLE AROUND.
IT JUST CAN'T BE A SELFISH EVENT.
I THINK HAVING A PARK WHICH WE INTEND TO DO, WE'D LOVE TO DO, WOULD BE IN.
>> SHARON, DID YOU HAVE QUESTIONS?
>> LET HIM FINISH, MAYOR BROWN.
>> I THINK WILLIAM MIGHT HAVE TOUCHED ON THE BENEFIT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE DRAINAGE, I THINK YOU ANSWERED.
BUT HOW DOES THIS POSITIVELY BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY? DO YOU HAVE YOUR DESIGN AS TO WHAT THE PROCESS WOULD BE LIKE?
>> WE HAVE ONE, SHARON AND WE'LL SEND IT TO YOU.
>> SHE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE IT.
>> IS IT ON THE SCREEN THERE? CAN YOU SEE THEIR SCREEN-SHARING?
>> YES, SHE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THAT.
>> YES. BUT HOW DO YOU DO THAT IF YOU DON'T ABANDON?
>> WELL, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS HAVING A LICENSE TO USE OUR RIGHT-OF-WAY AGREEMENT THAT WOULD ALLOW THAT PROJECT TO PROCEED, BUT IT WOULDN'T FORMALLY ABANDON THE ROW WHERE THE CITY COULD TAKE THAT BACK IN THE FUTURE.
>> OKAY, SO IT CAN BE TEMPORARY AND THEN IF THE CITY DECIDED, HEY, WE NEED THAT STREET BACK, THEN EVERYTHING IS REMOVED AND YOU GET THE STREET BACK.
>> THERE WOULD BE PROVISIONS IN THE LICENSE TO USE AS TO HOW THAT WOULD HAPPEN.
>> BUT BASICALLY, THAT'S THE WAY IT WOULD HAPPEN.
YOU'D GIVE THEM THE STREET BACK, RIGHT?
>> I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PARKING LOT.
I KNOW THIS IS JUST THE DRAWING, BUT WITH OUR LDOS, THERE'S A LOT MORE GREEN SPACE REQUIREMENT IN PARKING LOTS, ARE YOU ALL AWARE OF THAT?
>> BECAUSE IT'S NOT SHOWING IT ON THAT DRAWING.
>> THIS WAS NOT A PERMIT SUBMITTAL, THIS WAS A CONCEPTUAL DESIGN AND THEY'RE AWARE OF THAT.
>> THEY'VE GOT TO PUT SOME ISLANDS IN THERE, TREES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I WOULD THINK THEY'D PROBABLY WANT TO DO FOR AESTHETIC PURPOSES ANYWAY.
>> EXACTLY. YOU SEE A LITTLE HAND OF IT ON THIS RENDERING, BUT YEAH.
>> WE HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, COMMENTS ABOUT GETTING FIRE TRUCKS IN THERE AND SO FORTH. ANY QUESTIONS, CHIEF?
>> THAT'S WHAT WE COMMENTED ON.
[01:25:01]
WE HAVE A PROBLEM, NOT JUST THERE, BUT HIGH-RISES IS ALL ON HOTELS ON THE SEAWALL.BUT WE'RE STRICTLY ADDRESSING, WE'RE NOT HERE TO KILL THE PROJECT BY ANY MEANS OR ANYTHING, BUT FAR AS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE PAPERS WE WERE PRESENTED, IT SHOWED IT'S PARKING AREA, IT SHOWS LIGHTS INSTALLED ALONG HERE, SHRUBBERY INSTALLED ALONG HERE.
I NEED SOME 20 OR AT LEAST A MINIMUM OF 26 FT WIDE TO GET THAT TRUCK IN THERE AND SET IT UP.
>> AS LONG AS WE THE CITY COULD WORK WITH THAT, YOU CAN POSSIBLY WORK WITH THEM.
>> DARRYL KNOWS ME AND SO DOES ALEX KNOWS ME REALLY WELL.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO APPROVE IT UNLESS WE MEET THE PUBLIC SAFETY STANDARDS THAT WE NEED.
I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE, BUT I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE SOME CHANGES TO WHAT THEY'VE SHOWN US.
>> I KNOW THIS IS A CONCEPTUAL DRAWING, WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THAT THE GREEN SPACE IS ACTUALLY WIDER THAT GOES INTO THE PARKING LOT? I KNOW PARKING IS A VALUABLE THING BUT TO ACTUALLY TAKE MAYBE THE FIRST SET OF PARKING SPOTS AND MAKE THAT WIDER, AND SO IT'S MORE OF A PARK SETTING VERSUS A STREET WITH A PATHWAY THROUGH IT.
>> YOU MEAN TAKE BASICALLY THE SOUTHSIDE OF NORTH PARK AND MOVE IT NORTH?
>> YEAH. MAKE THAT A WIDER GREEN SPACE, MORE OF A PARK SETTING.
>> I THINK WE CAN ACTUALLY WORK WITH THEM ON THAT.
TIM, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG BECAUSE HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO COME UP WITH CERTAIN AMOUNT OF LANDSCAPING FOR THAT PARKING LOT ANYWAY.
>> SOME PORTION OF IT WILL BE DESIGNATED RIGHT THERE, ADJACENT TO THAT [OVERLAPPING]
>> I THINK WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT WITHOUT NECESSARILY HINDERING.
YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE SOME SPOTS WITH THE APPROVED WITHOUT THE MEETING THE ORDINANCE.
I THINK IF YOU DID THAT, WE COULD TRY TO WORK WITH YOU ON THAT TO DO WHAT MIKE IS SUGGESTING WHICH I THINK IS A GOOD IDEA.
>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT AND A BETTER BENEFIT TO THE PUBLIC.
HAVE A BIGGER GREEN SPACE BUT I KNOW IT'S COSTLY FOR YOU GUYS.
>> YEAH, I THINK IT'D BE GOOD IF STAFF COULD WORK WITH DARRYL AND ALEX TO SEE IF THAT'S POSSIBLE AND HOW THAT COULD BE WORKED ON.
>> BY ALL MEANS. COUNCIL, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS? THIS WILL BE ON OUR AGENDA FOR DECEMBER. ALL RIGHT, JOHN?
>> ARE Y'ALL TRYING TO USE THE REAR ENTRY FOR ANY VEHICLE ACCESS?
WHAT WE WOULD HAVE, AS YOU CAN SEE ON 21, YOU CAN SEE THE GAP IN THE HEDGEROW THERE FOR ONE OF A BETTER EXPRESSION WHERE WILL COME IN AND THEN ON THIS SIDE WE HAD SOME [INAUDIBLE] WHERE WE WOULD COME OUT.
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, NO, WE WOULD NOT.
>> IF YOU JUST HAVE THAT LEGACY DRIVEWAY AND THE PARK SHARE THE [INAUDIBLE].
>> THAT'S JUST A LEGACY COSMETIC.
IT'S NOT USED IN ANY WAY [INAUDIBLE].
IT'S GALVESTON AND YOU CAN CHOOSE THE BACK.
>> I THINK IT DOES PRESENT A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN THERE FOR AN EVENT AND WITH THE VALLET, THE CARS ARE BACKED UP ON TO THE SEAWALL.
WHAT IF YOU HAD TO GET AN AMBULANCE BECAUSE SOMEONE WAS HAVING A HEART ATTACK?
>> YOU MEAN THE WAY IT IS NOW?
>> I'VE BEEN TO MANY EVENTS AT THE [INAUDIBLE] AND WHEN YOU'RE AT A LARGE EVENT AND PEOPLE ARE VALLET PARKING, IT'S BACKED UP ALL THE WAY ONTO THE SEAWALL.
NOW, YOU CAN BRING IN AN AMBULANCE.
>> I WOULD SAY THAT FIRST OF ALL, IF WE CAN MAKE A LADDER TRUCK FIT, WE CAN MAKE AN AMBULANCE FIT.
BUT I PROBABLY THE FIRE TRUCKS CAN BE FIRST ONE THERE ANYWAY.
THAT'S MY STICKING POINT WITH THIS WHOLE THING, IS THAT WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE ENSURE THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE CORE.
>> BUT YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET UP TO THE DOOR WITH THIS DESIGN.
>> I THINK AT SOME POINT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK OUT TO MAKE SURE.
>> YOU CAN PROBABLY MAKE IT BETTER.
>> THERE ARE [INAUDIBLE] THERE NOW YOU CAN'T PULL UP THERE ANYMORE.
>> RAINY DAY MEETINGS HERE, TRUST ME, I KNOW. [LAUGHTER]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DARRYL.
ALEX. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TIM.
THANK YOU FOR [INAUDIBLE]. APPRECIATE IT.
[3.C. Discussion Of Galveston’s Storm Water Master Plan (B Cook - 30 Min)]
SPEAKING OF DRAINAGE, LET'S MOVE TO 3.C PLEASE.>> 3.C, DISCUSSION OF GALVESTON STORMWATER MASTER PLAN.
>> WE HAVE A SEAT OVER HERE AND WE HAVE ONE OVER HERE.
[01:30:02]
WE'RE GOING TO INTRODUCE THIS TOPIC, SIR.>> COUNCIL GAVE APPROVAL FOR THIS PROJECT IN FEBRUARY, WE GAVE NOTICE TO PROCEED IN MARCH.
SINCE THEN, WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF DATA COLLECTION AND CREATING THE STORM WATER MODEL.
NOW, WE'RE MOVING INTO MORE OF A PUBLIC OUTREACH PORTION OF THE PROJECT TO WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GET FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC ON DOES THE MODEL REPRESENT EXISTING CONDITIONS ACROSS THE ISLAND SO THAT WE CAN FURTHER REFINE AND CALIBRATE THE MODEL? WE'LL BE HAVING A PUBLIC TOWN HALL MEETING NEXT MONTH, DECEMBER 15TH AT 6:00 PM IN ORDER TO START ENGAGING THE PUBLIC IN THIS.
WE'LL LAUNCH THE WEBSITE, THEN MARISSA SENT LINKS TO INFORMATION FOR YOU ALL IN YOUR INBOX YESTERDAY, I BELIEVE.
>> THEY HAD TO SENT THE SUBSCRIPTION ISSUE.
>> SEPARATE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE MEETINGS.
IS THAT THE ONLY MEETINGS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ARE IN TOWN?
>> NO. WELL, SO WE'VE GOT PROVISIONS WHENEVER WE COME INTO MAYBE THE EXISTING CONDITIONS PORTION OF IT THAT WE CAN HAVE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT MEETINGS, ONE IN OUT WEST AND THEN ONE IN TOWN AS WELL.
WE SCOPED THAT IN PARTICULAR IN THE CONTRACT.
>> YEAH, FOR THE PROPOSED CONDITIONS.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE JUST ON THE EXISTING CONDITIONS, IT'S JUST THE CALIBRATION.
WE CAN GET FEEDBACK THROUGH THE INTERNET.
IT'S NOT NECESSARY THAT YOU COME TO THE MEETING.
WE'RE JUST DOING THAT FOR PEOPLE THAT MAY NOT BE SO FAMILIAR WITH TECHNOLOGY OR WHAT HAVE YOU. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.
BUT WILLIAM CONLAN IS OUR CONSULTANT WITH LAN.
HE'S A PROJECT LEAD ON THIS AND HE'S GOING TO DIVE INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THE DETAILS ON WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.
>> JANELLE, DO YOU HAVE THE SLIDES?
>> WE HAVE ABOUT 15 SLIDES REAL QUICK.
THIS IS MEANT TO BE A HIGH-LEVEL PRESENTATION OF JUST WHERE WE ARE, WHERE WE'RE GOING.
AGAIN, THIS PUBLIC MEETING THAT BRANDON SUGGESTED IS SCHEDULED FOR MID-DECEMBER.
WE HAVE A STAKEHOLDER BRIEFINGS SCHEDULED FOR EARLY DECEMBER.
THAT'LL ALLOW US TO GET SOME MORE INTERNAL FEEDBACK AND WHATNOT.
BUT FOR TODAY'S TOPIC, AGAIN, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF THE PURPOSE, THE OVERVIEW, THE TIMELINE, AND THEN WHAT OUR NEXT STEPS ARE.
AGAIN, PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO JUST TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK ISLAND WIDE, LOOKING AT ALL OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE, ROADSIDE DITCH, CULVERTS, STORM SEWERED INLETS, ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE ISLAND, IDENTIFY SOME PROBLEM AREAS, IDENTIFY SOME POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS, MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND WORK TOWARDS DEVELOPING WHAT'S CALLED THE CIP, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR THE NEXT 10, 15 YEARS, ALONG WITH IDENTIFYING SOME IMMEDIATE PROJECTS AS WELL.
THE THE GENERAL NEED MAYBE YOU ALL HAD, A CIP WAS DEVELOPED, I THINK IT WAS 15, 16 YEARS AGO, MAYBE 10, 12 YEARS AGO.
MOST OF THE PROJECTS IN THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.
IN ADDITION THINGS THAT HAVE CHANGED, THE INFRASTRUCTURES, OF COURSE GOTTEN OLDER, RAINFALL AMOUNTS HAVE CHANGED [INAUDIBLE] 14, SOMETHING WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN A FEW MINUTES.
THEN JUST THE MORE TECHNOLOGY WE HAVE ALLOWS US TO GET A MUCH BETTER DETAILED UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE SYSTEM IS AND HOW IT WORKS. NEXT SLIDE.
AGAIN, AS I SAID, JUST THE TWO MAIN STEPS ARE UNDERSTANDING THE EXISTING CONDITIONS AND THEN REVIEWING SOME ALTERNATIVE IMPROVEMENTS TO TRY TO IMPROVE OR REDUCE THE FLOOD RISK.
AGAIN, AS BRENDA MENTIONED, WE STARTED EARLY FEBRUARY.
THEN WORKED ON DATA COLLECTION, WE SPENT PROBABLY THREE OR FOUR SITE VISITS AROUND THE ISLAND.
USED A LOT OF GOOGLE STREET VIEW, THE LIDAR TECHNOLOGY, THE INFORMATION THAT THE CITY HAS PROVIDED FROM GIS, CONSTRUCT AND DEVELOP AN ENTIRE MODEL FOR THE WHOLE ISLAND.
WE'VE RUN FOUR HYPOTHETICAL STORM EVENTS, AS WELL AS TWO CALIBRATION EVENTS OF REAL-TIME STORMS. WE ARE EFFECTIVELY PREPPING FOR A PUBLIC MEETING THE NEXT TWO, THREE WEEKS.
THEN ONCE WE GET THE FEEDBACK FROM THAT AND CONFIRM THAT OUR MODEL DOES REPRESENT THE BEST AVAILABLE INFORMATION FOR THE CITY AND THE ISLAND, WE WILL BEGIN ALTERNATIVE ANALYSIS.
I THINK OUR GOAL IS TO IDENTIFY 15-16 PROBLEM AREAS ACROSS THE ISLAND. ACTUALLY UPWARDS OF 18.
THE STRAND STEADY, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN FEW SECONDS AS WELL.
IDENTIFY THESE PROBLEM AREAS, PROPOSE SOME SOLUTIONS TO DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES.
ONE THAT'S AN EASY, MORE RECURRING EVENT AND ONE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD SOLVE THE LARGER A 100-YEAR TYPE STORM EVENT.
AGAIN, PREPPED FOR A PUBLIC MEETING ON THE POST CONDITION.
THAT'S ONE WHERE THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE TWO MEDIANS, ONE OF THE EAST AND ONE OF THE WEST END.
THEN PROGRESSIVELY WORK TOWARDS THE CIP DEVELOPMENT, WORKING WITH CITY COUNCIL TO IDENTIFY THE NEXT PROJECTS IN NEED AND WHERE THEY ARE AND HOW TO BUDGET AND PLAN FOR THEM.
[01:35:04]
WE DO PLAN TO BE DONE SOMEWHERE AROUND OCTOBER OF NEXT YEAR, NOVEMBER.NEXT SLIDE. AGAIN, THE CREATION OF THE BASE MODEL.
I GOT THREE PRETTY PICTURES UP HERE.
FOR THE PUBLIC MEETING, OUR INTENT IS TO HAVE EFFECTIVELY THIS SIZE EXHIBIT, WHICH IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF THIS WALL, COULD BE A THREE, FOUR FOOT PANELS.
WE CAN HAVE TALKING POINTS WITH ANY RESIDENT THAT COMES OUT.
WE HAVE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE LAYOUT UP HERE WITH ALL THE PIPES AND MANHOLES AND INLETS AND OUTFALLS.
WE HAVE THE LIDAR TECHNOLOGY, WHICH IS THE TERRAIN TOPOGRAPHY.
AND THEN WE HAVE OUR RESULTS, DIFFERENT PONDING MAPS.
I BELIEVE THIS IS A 10-YEAR EVENT.
WE RAN THE FIVE, THE 10, THE 25 AND THE 100-YEAR NOAA ATLAS 14 RAINFALL ANALYSIS.
[OVERLAPPING] WE ALSO RAN HURRICANE HARVEY, WHICH WAS EQUIVALENT TO ABOUT A 10-YEAR STORM IN TERMS OF RAINFALL.
NOW AGAIN, SURGE IN HURRICANE TYPE WINDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT OR SOMETHING THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF OUR SCOPE.
THE INTENT OF THIS PROJECT IS TO REALLY IDENTIFY WHAT IS THE CITY SYSTEM LOOK LIKE DURING A RAINFALL EVENT, NOT NECESSARILY A 10, 12, 13 FOOT STORM SURGE EVENT.
THOSE ARE THINGS THAT THE ARMY CORPS IS LOOKING TO SOLVE.
>> I THINK WE KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
>> YES. EXACTLY. [LAUGHTER] MUCH BETTER, FEEL BETTER.
>> DID YOU DO LAURA, BETA, OR DELTA BECAUSE LAURA WOULD HAVE BEEN A PERFECT ONE.
WE WEREN'T HIT BY IT AND WE HAD QUITE THE SURGE.
>> THE REASON WE PICKED HARVEY AND WE DID ANOTHER STORM. [OVERLAPPING]
>> HARVEY AFFECTED US VERY LITTLE.
>> YES. WE DID HAVE 30 INCHES OF RAIN THOUGH.
>> YEAH, IT WAS 30 INCHES OF RAIN OVER THREE-AND-A-HALF DAYS.
>> WHAT WE DID, WE HAD ABOUT A FIVE FOOT SURGE AS WELL.
>> IT WAS ABOUT FOUR-AND-A-HALF PLUS THE SURGE.
>> NO. WE DID HARVEY BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S PROBABLY IN PEOPLE'S MINDS.
THE INTENT OF THE TWO STORM EVENTS WE RAN WERE TO ASSIST WITH CALIBRATION SO THAT WE COULD GET SOME FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS AND GET A SENSE OF ANYBODY THAT MIGHT HAVE SOME KNOWLEDGE OF THIS INTERSECTION WAS TWO-AND-A-HALF FEET UNDERWATER.
IT WAS THE OTHER DAY, WE ALREADY JOKING ABOUT THE DAY I CAME HOME FROM SO AND SO FIGHT OR SOMETHING.
>> YEAH, THAT WAS IT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE OTHER EVENT WE DID WAS OCTOBER OF 21, SO JUST LAST YEAR.
THE REASON WE PICK THAT EVENT WAS IT BECAUSE WHEN IT RAINED THAT DAY AND IT WAS LIKE A TUESDAY AFTERNOON TYPE RAINSTORM.
BUT I THINK ROBERT HAD BEEN OUT IN THE FIELD AND TOOK 400 PICTURES ACROSS THE ISLAND.
WE HAVE SOME REALLY GOOD INFORMATION TO THESE INTERSECTIONS AND HOW THEY LOOKED.
AS WE RAN THE MODELS AGAIN FOR CALIBRATION, WE TOOK THAT RAINFALL THAT WAS THE GAUGES FOR THAT DAY.
WE PUT IT IN THE MODEL AND RAN IT AND WE WERE ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT THE PATTERN YOU SEEN IN THE MODELS MATCHED WITH THE PHOTO SHOWED IN THE STREETS, SO THAT WE HAD A GOOD REPUTATION OF PIPE SIZE, INLET COUNTS, AND MANHOLE NUMBERS.
IT REALLY GAVE US A GOOD COMFORT THAT WE DO HAVE THE BEST REPRESENTATION OF THE UNDERGROUND SYSTEM BASED ON THESE TWO EVENTS.
>> WHAT ABOUT FOR THE WEST END? IT'S A LOT OF WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT INTERSECTIONS.
>> YES. WE HAVE A COMPLETE MODEL ALL THE WAY OUT.
IT INCLUDES ROADSIDE DITCHES. LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE STREET AND STUFF?
>> THE INFORMATION IS ALL THERE.
WE'VE ANALYZED IT. WE HAVE PROBLEM AREAS.
>> AGAIN, THAT'S NOT THE WEST END.
>> I KNOW. I APOLOGIZE, I'M GETTING THERE.
[LAUGHTER] THE UPTAKE TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE GIS THAT THE CITY HAS IS INCREDIBLY DEVELOPED.
WE WENT OUT AND DID SITE VISITS.
WE LOOKED AT AERIAL STREET VIEW IN GOOGLE MAPS AND WHATNOT.
WE ADDED ABOUT THREE TIMES MORE INFORMATION TO THE SYSTEM IN TERMS OF MANHOLES, INLETS, CULVERTS FOR DRIVEWAYS, ROADSIDE DITCH CROSSINGS WAY OUT IN THE WEST END.
WE DIGITIZED EVERYTHING, PUT IT IN THE MODEL.
NEXT SLIDE SHOULD I THINK BE A LIDAR SLIDE.
THIS IS STUFF OUT ON THE WEST END WHERE THE LIDAR IS AIRLY FLOWN TOPOGRAPHIC INFORMATION, LIGHT DETECTION AND RANGING.
IF IT HITS A DRIVEWAY, IT SHOWS THE DRIVEWAY BEING ELEVATED SO YOU DON'T HAVE THAT CONNECTIVITY, THAT CONVEYANCE.
WE IDENTIFIED EVERY DRIVEWAY CROSSING.
>> YOU CAN SEE IT RIGHT THERE. YEAH.
>> YOU SEE THE WATER TRYING TO GET HERE GETS STOPPED AND STOPPED.
WE CAME IN AND DIGITIZED IT AND BURNED IT INTO OUR EFFECTIVELY IT GAVE THE SHEET FLOW PATH A WAY TO GO.
WE ALSO MADE THE CONNECTIONS HERE BECAUSE THIS IS EFFECTIVELY A PIPE THAT GOES OUT.
FOR THE SAKE OF THIS ANALYSIS AND UNDERSTANDING, IT'S JUST EASIER TO DRAW A LINE AND SAY BURNING SOMETHING THAT'S 10 FOOT WIDE VERTICAL WALL FOUR FEET DEEP, YOU CAN JUST LET THEM WORK IT OUT.
IT ALLOWS THE CONNECTIVITY TO SHOW AND THE PONDING AREAS.
YOU CAN TELL THAT THE BURNOUTS ARE MUCH SMALLER THAN THE ACTUAL DITCH, SO IT IS STILL A RESTRICTION AND CONSTRICTION, THE WATER STILL PONDS.
[01:40:02]
FOR THE WEST END, WE DID HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT HELPS US SHOW WHERE THE WATER BOWLS AND PONDS AND POOLS BECAUSE IT CAN'T GET OUT SOMEWHERE.WE INCORPORATED F1 3005 CONSTRUCTION PLANS, CROSS CULVERTS ON IT.
>> BUT DID YOU COVER THE FACT THAT THEY DIDN'T DO A LOT OF THEM AND [LAUGHTER] IT'S CONNECTED TO NOWHERE NOW?
>> YES. THE LIDAR IS 2018 LIDAR.
>> BUT THEY PUT GUARDRAILS ON [LAUGHTER]
>> THAT YOU CAN HOLD ONTO WHILE YOU'RE OUT THERE. [LAUGHTER]
>> THERE IS A LOT OF THAT WHERE WHEN WE LOOK AT THE MODELS AND THE MAPS, YOU'LL SEE WATER PONDING BECAUSE IT CAN'T GO ANYWHERE, IT HAS NOWHERE TO GO.
THE TERRAIN SHOWS IT TO BE A BOWL, THERE'S NO REAL CONNECTIVITY.
THE 3,005 PLANS, WE HAVE DRIVEN THAT AND WE'VE LOOKED AND WE STOPPED TO TAKE THE PICTURE THAT WAS DIGITALLY TAGGED SO THAT WHEN WE GET BACK TO THE OFFICE, WE CAN SEE EXACTLY WHERE THAT PICTURE WAS TAKEN, WE KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, WE HAVE A SENSE OF IS IT CLOGGED, IS IT FULL, IS IT EMPTY? WE DID A LOT OF INFORMATION TO UPDATE FOR THE DATA COLLECTION, WHICH HONESTLY IT TOOK ABOUT TWO MONTHS MORE THAN WE ANTICIPATED BUT WE HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION NOW AND A MUCH BETTER DETAILED MODEL ACROSS THE ENTIRE ROAD.
>> LIKE A 103 STREET, THAT WHEN IT'S A HIGH TIDE GOES COMPLETELY UNDER WATER AND PEOPLE CANNOT LEAVE THEIR HOMES.
>> THIS IS EXACTLY WHY THE PUBLIC MEETING IS IN PLAY AND EXACTLY WHY THE WEBSITE WAS DEVELOPED.
>> BUT YOU'RE DOING ON A PUBLIC MEETING IN 30TH STREET?
>> [OVERLAPPING] HE SAID HE'S DONE IT TOO.
>> I'M HAVING ONE OF THE SAME ONE.
>> FOR THE EXISTING CONDITION, WE'RE DOING A LIVE MEETING WITH A VIRTUAL WEBSITE THAT ALLOWS INTERACTION WITH EVERYBODY.
THE OTHER INTENT IS BECAUSE WE ARE HERE TODAY, IT'S TO HELP BROADCASTS THAT INFORMATION.
THE WEBSITE IS BEING DEVELOPED FOR A DATA COLLECTION PROCESS.
THERE'S FOUR WAYS THAT YOU CAN INTERACT WITH THE TEAM.
THE FIRST ONE IS JUST TO SIGN UP AND GET INFORMATION AND FEEDBACK WHENEVER THERE'S ANY MEETINGS OR NEW INFORMATION.
THE SECOND ONE IS A MAP WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY PEN AROUND, DROP A PIN AND PROVIDE A COMMENT OF A KNOWN PROBLEM OR AN EVENT.
YOU CAN SAY AT 103RD AND X STREET ON THIS DAY, IT WAS THREE FEET UNDERWATER.
THEN THAT WOULD GIVE US INFORMATION TO GO BACK AND LOOK.
THERE'S THINGS LIKE THIS THAT YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVEN'T HEARD YET.
>> ANY HIGH TIDE, 103RD STREET, THEY COUNT.
>> AGAIN, WE ARE LOOKING AT MULTIPLE HIGH TIDES.
WERE LOOKING AT TODAY'S HIGH TIDE AND WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT THE YEAR 2100 FUTURE SEA LEVEL RISE HIGH TIDE.
WE'VE LOOKED AT TWO DIFFERENT BOUNDARY CONDITIONS AND HOW THAT INTERACTS WITH THE SYSTEMS. AS OF RIGHT NOW, OUR MODELS HAVE BEEN RUN FORWARD AGAIN, THE 5, 10, 25 AND 100.
WITH WHAT WE'RE CONSIDERING, I THINK 1.6 MEAN SEA LEVEL IS THE CURRENT DESIGN CRITERIA FOR A NORMAL HIGH TIDE, THAT EQUATES TO GIVE OR TAKE HONESTLY, GERVIA IS IT LIKE TWO FEET NAVD 88 FOR THE 1.6?
>> I THOUGHT THAT WAS A LOW TIDE, I THOUGHT A HIGH TIDE WAS 3.4.
>> WELL, SO THERE'S DIFFERENT DATUMS AND ELEVATION THAT YOU CAN SIT IN.
THERE'S CALIBRATIONS FOR THE NUMBER OR CORRECTIONS FOR THE NUMBER.
WE'RE USING WHAT'S CALLED NAVD 88, NORTH AMERICAN VERTICAL DATUM, WHICH IS WHAT THE LIGHTER IS BASED ON.
IF WE HAVE NATURAL GROUND AT THREE AND HIGH TIDE IS LIKE 2.2, MAYBE AT 1.6 MEAN SEA LEVEL, BUT IT'S 2.2 NAVD 88.
WHEN WE GO TO YEAR 2100, THE NUMBERS LIKE 3.9, I BELIEVE, FOR NAVD 88.
IT'S ABOUT A 2.4 RISE IN SEA LEVEL, LIKE FROM 2020 TO 2100. WE HAVE INCLUDED THAT.
>> YOU USED THE SAME DATA FOR THE ENTIRE ISLAND?
>> YES, WE ACTUALLY WE HAVE TWO BOUNDARIES, ONE FOR THE BAY AND ONE FOR THE GULF.
WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT BOUNDARY CONDITIONS.
>> I MEAN COULD YOU HAVE SEA WARM PART OF THE ISLAND AND THE OTHER PART OF THE ISLAND THAT DOESN'T HAVE SEA WATER?
>> YES, AND EVEN DURING HARVEY WE ACTUALLY WERE ABLE TO USE VARIABLE TAIL WATER BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT THE BASE SIDE HAD A LOT HIGHER TIDE THAN THE GULF SIDE IN HARVEY BECAUSE OF ALL THE RAIN THAT WAS COMING OUT OF CLEAR LAKE AND ARM AND BY YOU AND EVERYTHING FROM UP THERE IN THE TRINITY AND EVERYTHING FROM THE GULF SIDE OR THE BASE SIDE.
>> HARVEY WAS REALLY AN EVENT FOR US PEOPLE EVACUATED TO USE THEN I CAME HERE.
COULD YOU ADD IN A STORM LIKE LAURA, THAT WAS, ALL OF THEM FOR US THAT HAD TREMENDOUS EFFECT ON MY NEIGHBORHOODS?
>> SO IN TERMS OF OUR SCOPE, WE STOP FOR HAVING TO CALIBRATION EVENTS.
AND THE INTENT IS NOT TO DOCUMENT AND ACKNOWLEDGE WHERE THE WATER WAS, IT'S TO CONFIRM THE SYSTEM MATCHES REAL LIFE.
AND SO THAT WAS THE INTENT AND WE DID FIND REALLY GOOD CALIBRATION AGAINST THE TWO STORMS THAT WE DID PICK.
ONE WHICH WE HAVE 400 STORM PHOTOS, AND THE OTHER WHICH WE HAD REALLY GOOD INFORMATION FROM TWITTER AND FACEBOOK AND EVERYWHERE ELSE WE CAN GO GET RESEARCH FROM AROUND THE ISLAND,
[01:45:03]
BOTH FOR EASTERN AND THE WESTERN HARVEY.>> THANK YOU, I HAD A QUESTION AND THEN WE'LL LET YOU FINISH YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> WE APPROVED FOR THE PUMP STATION OVER ON BY YOU SHORE DRIVE.
>> AND I THINK WE ARE IN A DESIGN PHASE, SO WHERE WE'RE GETTING STUDIES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
HOW DOES THAT GO INTO WORK WITH THIS STUDY?
>> SO WE ACTUALLY CARVED OUT THAT PORTION BY INSURANCE [OVERLAPPING].
YEAH AND WE'RE TAKING THE EACH AND EACH STUDY THAT THEY'RE PERFORMING IN THERE AND WE'VE GOT PROVISIONS IN THE SCOPE TO HAND IT OFF TO THEM AND THEN PLUG IT INTO THEIR MODEL.
>> SO WE'RE NOT DOING DOUBLE WORK?
>> YES, SO OUR INTENT WAS TO DEVELOP ISLAND WIDE EXISTING CONDITIONS.
WE HAVE SCAPED OUT THE SOUTH SHORE PUMP STATION AVENUE P, AND ALSO THE STRAND FROM OUR PROPOSED CONDITION ANALYSIS AS PART OF OUR CONTRACT BECAUSE THE AVENUE P SOUTH SHORE IS BEING DONE BY ANOTHER FIRM.
THEY WILL GIVE US EITHER A BASELINE MODEL AND WE'LL CONFIRM MATCHES WHAT WE HAVE, WHICH WE'VE DONE AND IT DOES REALLY GOOD JOB.
THEIR PROPOSED WILL BE DUMPED IN AS A PROBLEM AREA SOLUTION.
THE STRAND IS UNDER A SEPARATE GRANT FUNDED STUDY THAT SHOULD BE GOING TO CITY COUNCIL, FOR EXAMPLE.
>> IN OTHER WORDS ITS LIKE, I JUST ASKED MY QUESTIONS AND TO MAKE ON YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO FURTHER WITH [OVERLAPPING]
>> YES WE'RE NOT DOUBLE-DIPPING.
>> WE ARE LEVERAGING YOUR EXISTING CONTRACTS.
>> WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND FINISH YOUR PRESENTATION AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO QUESTIONS.
>> NEXT SLIDE, AGAIN, JUST ALICE OUR TEAM WHAT THIS DID WAS INCREASE THE UNDERSTANDING OF HYPOTHETICAL OR STORM EVENTS ON THE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS ACROSS THE STATE.
OUR NORMAL USED TO BE 100 YEAR EVENT HAS BEEN, OR WHAT USED TO BE 500 EVENT HAS NOW BEEN TURNED INTO THE 100 YEAR EVENT BECAUSE THERE'S MUCH MORE RAINFALL IN ALLISON, HARVEY, IMELDA, MEMORIAL DAY, TAX DAY, YOU NAME IT OVER THE PAST 15, 20 YEARS.
THE 100 YEAR EVENT IS NOW LIKE A 15-YEAR EVENT, SO THIS UPDATED THAT.
WE'RE RUNNING THE NEW RAINFALL, WE'RE LOOKING AT NEW HYPOTHETICAL STORMS, SO JUST AN UPDATE ON THAT, [NOISE] NEXT SLIDE.
AGAIN, OUR EXISTING CONDITIONS, JUST WHAT WE'RE SEEING, THESE ARE JUST SOME SNAPSHOTS.
AGAIN, WE'VE DEVELOPED A CITYWIDE INTERACTIVE MAP THAT HAS THE OCTOBER EVENT HARVEY, THE FIVE, THE 10, THE 25 AND 100 YEAR STORM EVENT.
IT HAS ALL OF THE PIPE NETWORK MEMOS AND INLETS, HAS ROADSIDE DITCHES, HAS PERSONAL DATA HAS THE LIDAR AND IT EVEN HAS THE ACTIVE PROJECTS CITY IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON.
ONE OF THE NUANCES TO THIS ANALYSIS, WE'VE INCORPORATED ABOUT EIGHT OR NINE ACTIVE PROJECTS THAT ARE EITHER IN DESIGN OR IN CONSTRUCTION OR ALREADY BEEN FUNDED, BUT MAYBE YOU'RE IN THE PROCESS.
THINGS LIKE THE 14TH STREET PUMP STATION, THAT'S ACTIVE DESIGN, IT'S GETTING PRETTY CLOSE.
WE TOOK THE DESIGN OF THAT INCORPORATED INTO OUR BASE MODEL, SO OUR EXISTING CONDITION MODEL IS MORE ALONG THE LINES OF A BASELINE MODEL.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE RESULTS, IT'LL BE A LITTLE WEIRD BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE 14TH STREET HAD VERY LITTLE PONDING BECAUSE WHAT WILL IT BE WHEN THE AVENUE 14TH OR 14TH STREET PUMP STATION IS BUILT? THERE'S A SLIGHT NUANCE THERE, BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS IT DOES SHOW THE VALUE OF THAT PUMP STATION.
AND IT HELPED CONFIRM TO US THAT PUMP STATIONS ARE EXTREMELY VALUABLE AND VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO HAVE ROOMS OUT HERE.
THAT'S ONE OF THE WEIRD NUANCES, AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE INTERACTIVE MAP, THERE WILL BE THESE YELLOW ACTIVE PROJECT AREAS TO WHERE IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS PLANNED TO BE DONE.
IT'S IN THE MODEL AS IF IT WAS DONE AND IT HELPS GIVE US A SENSE OF WHAT'S THERE.
THE ONLY WEIRD NUANCES IS THEY DIDN'T REALLY HAVE THE [NOISE] EXISTING AND THEN THE PRELIMINARY REVISED BASELINE AND THEN THE ULTIMATE WE JUST JUMP STRAIGHT TO THE BASELINE AND IT GIVES US SOME REALLY GOOD INFORMATION.
NEXT SLIDE. AGAIN, OUR NEXT STEP IS NOW WE HAVE EXISTING CONDITION MODELS COMPLETED.
WE HAVE SOME METRICS OF FLOODED INTERSECTIONS, ROADWAYS, PARCEL PONDING.
THIS IS ALSO THE REPETITIVE LOSS, HISTORICAL HEATMAP.
LOOKING AT CITY REPORTS FEMA DAMAGES AND WHATNOT.
THIS JUST HELPS US CONCENTRATE ON WHERE THE PROBLEMS ARE.
HUMAN LIFE IS USUALLY THE FIRST THING YOU TRY TO SOLVE.
LOSS OF HUMAN LIFE IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THAT, OF COURSE THAT'S THE OBVIOUS ONE.
STRUCTURES IS NUMBER 2, INNOVATION AND MOBILITY IS NUMBER 3.
AND THEN JUST NUISANCE PONDING THINGS ARE JUST LOOK BAD ON HOW THE FOURTH LEVEL OF WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SOLVE FIRST.
WE'LL TAKE THE STRUCTURE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY LOSS OF LIFE THAT I KNOW OF THE ISLAND FROM RAINFALL EVENTS, HURRICANE, DIFFERENT BALL GAME OF COURSE.
SO STRUCTURE LOSSES ARE FIRST HIGH-LEVEL SOLUTION WE'RE LOOKING AT, AND THEN ROADWAY PONDING AND IMPEDIMENTS TO PUBLIC SAFETY, TRIED TO GET TO HOSPITALS AND POLICE AND FIRE ARE WHATNOT SO.
[01:50:04]
MAJOR ROADWAY INTERSECTIONS ARE THE NEXT LEVEL TO LOOK AT.THAT'S OUR NEXT STEP IS TO IDENTIFY THESE PROBLEM AREAS AND THAT'LL BE THROUGH COORDINATION WITH CITY STAFF, BRANDON AND HIS TEAM AND REALLY IT'S TRYING TO IDENTIFY WHERE DO WE WANT TO FOCUS ON POTENTIAL PROJECTS THAT CROSS THE ISLAND. NEXT SLIDE.
>> WHAT REALLY HAPPENS ON THE EASTERN AND THE WESTERN?
>> TWO-FOOT HOUSE VERSUS THE 14-FOOT HOUSE.
AGAIN, OUR NEXT STEP, THE PUBLIC MEETING.
[LAUGHTER] SO PUBLIC MEETING AND EXISTING CONDITIONS IS OUR NEXT STEP IN DECEMBER AND THEN ULTIMATELY WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS OUR FINAL REPORT IN OCTOBER, NOVEMBER.
THE NEXT SLIDE. FOR THE PUBLIC MEETING OPEN HOUSE HOLLOWAY ARE SUB-CONSULTANTS DOING A LOT OF ARCHIMEDES COMMUNICATION EFFORTS.
SHE'S BEEN IN A LOT OF CONTACT WITH MARISSA FOR THE COMMUNICATION SIDE, THEY'VE WALKED TO THE BUILDING.
THEY GOT A LAYOUT OF WHERE THEY WANT TO SET THINGS UP.
IT'LL BE ABOUT A SIMILAR TYPE PRESENTATION, ABOUT A 10,15-MINUTE PRESENTATION LIVE.
THEN WE'LL JUST OPEN THE ROOM UP.
THERE WILL BE THIS LEVEL OF EXHIBIT, BUT ON THREE FOUR-FOOT FOAM BOARDS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE TALKING CONVERSATIONS WITH ACTIVE RESIDENTS.
THERE'LL BE AN AREA IN THE BACK ROOM THAT HAS, I THINK THREE OR FOUR LAPTOPS AND TABLETS WITH THE WEBSITE THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO PAN AND ZOOM AND SCROLL.
IT WILL ALSO HAVE PLACES WHERE YOU CAN INPUT COMMENTS.
WE WILL HAVE A PLACE JUST FOR THE COMMENT BASKET WHERE YOU CAN WRITE YOUR COMMENTS.
THIS INTERSECTION GETS REALLY BAD EVERY TUESDAY WHEN THE SURGE COMES IN AT HIGH TIDE IS THIS AREA GOES UNDERWATER.
THOSE ARE THINGS THAT HELP US IDENTIFY PROBLEM AREAS.
OUR BIGGEST GOAL OF THIS MEDIUM IS TO GET THE FEEDBACK AND REALLY START TO UNDERSTAND WHAT TRULY ARE RESIDENT CONCERNS, AS WELL AS YOUR ALL CONCERNS ON TOP OF WHAT OUR MODEL IS SHOWING US.
THAT'S THE INTENT IN THE GAME PLAN FOR THE MEETING AND THEN I GUESS LAST SLIDE IS JUST QUESTIONS FOR YOU ALL. VERY GOOD.
BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS WITH THOSE THAT ARE HERE, LET ME CHECK WITH COUNCILWOMAN LEWIS, SHARON, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE AT THIS POINT?
>> CAN YOU DO IT? NO. [LAUGHTER]
>> GREAT PRESENTATION. I LOVE IT.
>> YOU DO THE STUDY WE TAKE INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC, WE FIND ALL THE ISSUES.
HOW DOES THAT COME BACK TO COUNCIL IN THE FORM OF FUNDING?
>> IT WILL APPEAR FOR YOU AND YOUR CIP.
WE'LL TAKE THEIR, WE'LL USE THAT FOR PRIORITIZATION AND YOU'LL SEE THAT SPELLED OUT OVER TIME IN YOUR FIVE-YEAR CIP, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE THAN YOU CAN DO IN FIVE YEARS AND YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE MORE THAN YOU CAN EVER AFFORD, BUT WE'LL HAVE IT LINED OUT WE'LL HAVE OUR PRIORITIES HERE.
>> CAN I MAKE A REQUEST THAT WE DO TWO MEETINGS IN MY DISTRICT? ONE IN THE MOODY GARDEN AREA AND ONE AT CIO.
>> SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COME TO THE 30TH STREET STATION.
>> WHEN WE GET TO THE PROPOSED CONDITION AND WE START TO REALLY HAVE PROJECTS.
WE'VE EFFECTIVELY DIVIDED THE ISLAND INTO 18 ZONES, NINE FROM HERE OVER NINE OVER THIS WAY.
WE PLAN TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE PROJECT IN EACH ZONE.
EVERY PROBLEM AREA, THERE'S 18 ZONES.
EACH ZONE MAY HAVE TWO PROBLEM AREAS, SOME MAY HAVE ONE, SOME MAY HAVE SIX.
IF THERE'S LIKE A SERIES OF OUTFALLS HERE THAT THIS MAY BE ONE OR IF THERE'S A SINGLE OUTFALL HERE, THEN ALL OF THIS MAY GO TO ONE.
IT REALLY DEPENDED ON THE SYSTEMS, THE WATERSHEDS, WE CALL THEM SEWERSHEDS, AS WELL AS SHEET FLOW PATHS, YOU HAVE THE LIDAR, AND FIGURE OUT WHERE THE DIVIDES WERE.
THERE REALLY WASN'T ANY DEFINITIVE NATURE OTHER THAN OUR SCOPE HAD 18 PROBLEM AREAS TO BE ANALYZED AS PART OF OUR PROJECT.
TWO OF WHICH FOR THE SOUTH SHORE OR ACTUALLY 16 FOR US, TWO FOR THE SOUTH SHORE, TWO FOR THE STRAND, AND THEN 16 UNDER OUR PURVIEW SO THAT BY THE END OF OUR PROJECT, WE WOULD HAVE 20 POTENTIAL PROJECTS, 20 POTENTIAL AREAS THAT HAVE SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO THEM.
NOW, AND THE INTENT WAS TO DISTRIBUTE THEM ACROSS THE ISLAND.
[01:55:04]
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE REPETITIVE LOSS MAP, THERE IS A LOT MORE REPETITIVE LOSS OVER HERE IN TERMS OF FLOODPLAINS AND FLOOD INSURANCE.THERE PROBABLY WILL BE A LITTLE MORE TO THIS SIDE, BUT WE'RE DEFINITELY NOT NEGLECTING THIS.
>> WHAT ABOUT WHERE THERE ARE NO OUTFALLS? LET'S TAKE SPANISH SIDE.
THE HOME FRONT MAIN STREET FLOODS, ANY STORM EVENT.
>> AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE TIME ON THE WEBSITE, YOU CAN DROP AS MANY PINS AS YOU NEED AND THAT WILL HELP FOCUS AND GUIDE OUR INTENTIONS TO REVIEW THE INFORMATION.
CONFIRM PROBLEM AREAS, LOOK AT THE MODEL RESULTS, THE METRICS WE HAVE, SO EVERY ROAD OUT HERE HAS A SATELLITE ON IT AND ALL THE WAY DOWN THE END OF ISLAND.
WE HAVE SAMPLED, I THINK ON QUARTER-MILE SEGMENTS, JEREMY, THE ROAD FLOODING.
WE'VE TAKEN EVERY ROAD BROKEN INTO QUARTER-MILE LINE WIDTH.
WE'VE LOOKED AT THE POCKET ON TOP OF THE ROAD AND SAID WHAT IS THE MAX DEPTH AGAINST THAT QUARTER MILE LINE? THEN THAT ASSIGNS TO THAT LINE AND THEN SO WE HAVE EVERY ROAD IN THE ENTIRE ISLAND AND WE KNOW HOW MANY ARE OVER TWO FEET OF DEPTH, BETWEEN ONE AND TWO FEET OVER SIX INCHES.
WE CAN START TO PRIORITIZE HOW MANY ARE THOSE IN THIS AREA, HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE IN THIS AREA? HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE IN THIS AREA? WE CAN START TO SEE IF ROADWAY INUNDATION IS AN ISSUE IN A CERTAIN AREA.
WE LOOKED AT FLOODING, BUT I GUESS THE PARCEL, SO IF 50 PERCENT OF THE PROPERTY IS FLOODED, IT GETS A SCORE OF TWO.
IF LESS THAN 50 PERCENT, MORE THAN 10 PERCENT IS FLOODED, IT GETS A SCORE OF ONE.
IF LESS THAN 10 PERCENT, IT GETS A SCORE OF ZERO.
SO WE DEVELOPED SOME METRICS TO ALLOW US TO, WHAT'S THE RIGHT WORD?
>> EXTRAPOLATE BUT DIGITIZE. WHAT'S THE WORD I'M THINKING ABOUT?
>> QUANTIFY. QUANTIFY THE MAGNITUDE OF PROBLEMS IN EACH AREA.
INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, WITH THE TOP FOUR ARE LIKE RIGHT WHERE YOU EXPECT THEM TO BE.
AVENUE P'S PUMP STATION, THE STRAND.
RIGHT AROUND THIS AREA OF BROADWAY AND AGAIN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE LIDAR, GREEN IS LOWER THAN YELLOW.
THAT'S A BOWL. THAT'S GOING TO BE AN OBVIOUS HERE IT'S HOLDING WATER.
AVENUE P PUMP STATION RIGHT AROUND HERE, THIS IS BLUE AND THIS IS SUPER LOW.
OVER HERE ON WHAT IS THIS? IS A CIRCLE AND BE, IT'S GOT A LOT OF REPETITIVE LOSSES.
IT'S GOT ABOUT FLOODPLAINS AND IT'S GOT A LOT OF POMPEII. IT'S GOING TO BE A PRELIMINARY.
THAT'S PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW THIS ONE BECAUSE WHERE I GOT PROJECT FIXING IT, THIS IS ONE OF THE PROBLEM AREAS.
OF COURSE, THE STRAND AREA, 14TH STREET LOOKS TO BE IN REALLY GOOD SHAPE BECAUSE THE PROJECT WILL IMPROVE IT AND IT'S ALREADY A PROJECT IN THIS ISLAND.
>> I'M NOT FINISHED. I CAN ASK ONE MORE.
WHAT ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT WERE CREATED BY THE THREE DEPLOYED FIVE PROJECT?
>> IN TERMS OF BLOCKING CHIEF FOOT.
>> IN TERMS OF LIKE THE FRONT OF THE PIRATES BEACH WEST NOW, ANY RATE LAW HASN'T FOOT OF WATER.
>> I THINK WE DO SHOW THAT IN THE MAP.
WE DO SHOW THAT IT'S OVER-POUNDING AGAINST BOTH SIDES.
WE'VE DIGITIZED HOW MUCH WATER GOES OVER 3,005.
ONCE WE IDENTIFIED THOSE PROBLEMS, OUR NEXT STEP STARTING JANUARY THROUGH APRIL WILL BE ALTERNATIVE ANALYSIS OF WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE IT.
EITHER IMPROVE THE CROSSINGS, WORK WITH TEXT DATA IN TRIPLE BARRELS, OR SOMETHING ELSE, LOOKING AT SOME WAY TO PROVIDE ANOTHER OUTFALL.
ALL OF THE THINGS ON THE TABLE, PIPE IMPROVEMENT, ROADSIDE DITCH GRADING, THE TENSION, PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE ONE OF THE GOOD SOLUTIONS.
PUMPS, BACKFLIP PREVENTERS, AND ALL THE LITTLE THINGS WE HAVE, OUR TOOLBOX, WE WILL START APPLYING TO EACH INDIVIDUAL AREA INDEPENDENTLY BECAUSE EACH ONE WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT CAUSE AND SOLUTION.
>> WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE, BRIAN, FOR ME TO MEET WITH THEM ONE DAY SINCE NOBODY KNOWS MY DISTRICT BETTER THAN ME IN FLOODING?
>> THAT'S OPEN FOR EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER BECAUSE EVERY AREA HAS A LOT OF FLOODING AREAS.
>> THE WEBSITE GIVES A LOT OF ABILITY TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION AND IT TRACKS IT IN DETAIL AND KEEPS A RECORD OF IT AND WE CAN GO LOOK AT IT AND WE CAN RANK AND PRIORITIZE.
IF WE LOOK AT THIS AREA, HOW MANY PINS GET DROPPED IN THAT AREA? WELL, IF THERE'S 45 PEOPLE THAT ALL HAVE THE SAME TYPE PROBLEM, THEN IT'S OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM.
IF WE'VE GOT ONE PIN OVER THIS 45 MILES OR 10 MILE STRETCH OF ROAD, THEN YEAH, WE'LL LOOK AT THAT AREA, BUT IT'S NOT AS IMPORTANT PER SE.
[NOISE] BUT AGAIN IF YOU HAVE 25 PINS [OVERLAPPING]
[02:00:05]
>> [INAUDIBLE] A LOT OF THE HOUSE AGAIN IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD ARE ELEVATED.
>> YOU WILL NOT SEE A FLOOD CLAIM BECAUSE FLOOD DOESN'T START TILL YOU GET TO THE BFA BUT YOU MAY NOT KNOW THE ROBE WAS GONE.
>> YEAH. WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE INTERSECTIONS ROADS AS JUST AS IMPORTANT AND THEY METRIC AS STRUCTURAL FLOODING.
>> COUNCIL MEMBERS, THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ONGOING PROCESS FOR A LITTLE WHILE SO ABOUT A YEAR PROCESS.
>> YEAH, WE GO THROUGH IT TILL NOVEMBER OF NEXT YEAR.
>> THAT IS CORRECT. THIS IS GOING TO GET TIME FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SIT DOWN INDIVIDUALLY TO GET WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS, TO GIVE INTEREST TO THE WEBSITE THAT YOU HAVE. WILLIAM.
>> ONE OF THE ISSUES IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT TO NUISANCE FLOODING, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT, A TOWN THAT WAS MADE BEFORE CARS WERE MADE, LISTEN TO RYAN MULTIPLE TIMES WHERE A TOWN WHERE THE STREETS WERE MADE TO HOLD OUT WATER AND INSTEAD OF THE HOUSES.
I'M FINE WITH THAT TO AN EXTENT.
THAT'S ALWAYS GET THE OVERALL ENGINEERING BEHIND THAT, WHICH WAS DONE 100 AND SOMETHING YEARS AGO.
BUT ON THE SAME SIDE OF IT IS THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES.
PEOPLE PARK THEIR CAR ON THE STREET, THEY GET FLOODED. THAT'S THEIR CAR.
IT MIGHT BE THEIR ONLY CAR OR THEY'RE STUCK IN THE HOUSE AND I GET THAT IT'S HARD TO FIX NUISANCE FLOODING, BUT A CITY LIKE OURS AND I'M SURE YOU'VE DONE MULTIPLE CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
HAVE YOU SEEN CITIES LIKE ARE THERE THAT HAVE A DRESS X? I KNOW YOU SAID IT FOURTH ON PRIORITY, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS A LOT.
>> YEAH. I WOULD PUT THAT MORE IN 3, THE MOBILITY AND TRUE TRAFFIC ISSUE.
THE NUISANCE PONDING IS MORE ALONG THE LINES OF LARGE PARCELS AND FRONT YARD TYPES STUFF.
YOUR FRONT YARD PONDING BUT THE STREET IS FINE, OR YOUR BACKYARD AND THE ALLEYWAY FLOOD OR SOMETHING.
BUT ANYTHING THAT'S ROADWAY DERIVED OR CAR DERIVED USUALLY FALLS IN THE CATEGORY 3 BECAUSE IT IS STILL A HUGE IMPACT TO PEOPLE, BOTH FROM ABILITY AND FUNDING, JUST COST OF LOSSES.
ONE OF THE OTHER METRICS WE HAVE, AND ONE OF THE COOL THINGS ABOUT THE MODEL WE'RE DOING IS AGAIN, THIS IS A TWO-DIMENSIONAL MODEL WHERE WE APPLY RAIN ON THE GRID, ON THE TERRAIN AND IT GOES WHERE IT WANTS TO GO.
IT FINDS AN ALLEY, DROPS INTO THE PIPE, GOES TO THE PIPE UNTIL THE PIPE BECOMES OVERLOADED, BUBBLES BACKUP A MANHOLE, SHEETS FLOWS DOWN A ROAD.
PIPE MAY GO THIS WAY AND THE SHEATH FLOW MAY GO THAT WAY BECAUSE OF NATURAL SLOPE.
UNDERGROUND GOES ONE WAY, SHEATH FLOW GOES THE ANOTHER WAY.
WATER JUMPS WATERSHEDS AND IT LEAVES 45TH STREET AND ENDS UP ON 52ND STREET.
THE 52ND PIPE MAY BE MONSTROUS ENOUGH TO WHERE IT CAN TAKE ALL THE FLOW AND IT INTERCEPTS LOT OF STUFF BEFORE IT GOES TO 53RD.
I'M JUST PULLING NUMBERS OUT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW.
YOU KNOW THE NUMBERS A LOT BETTER THAN I DO.
>> IN 45TH STREET IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT.
WHAT WE TRIED TO DO ON 45TH STREET IS BECAUSE WE KNOW WE HAVE FULL CAPACITIES, IS THAT WITH THE BULB OUTS EVERYTHING, WE TRIED TO CAPTURE WATER AS WE MOVE FROM SOUTH TO NORTH AND 45TH STREET AND DIVERT DOWN THESE SIDE SYSTEMS. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, SOME OF THESE SIDE SYSTEMS, TRINA IS WORKING ON THEM ALL RIGHT NOW, BUT SOME OF THESE SIDES SYSTEMS MAX OUT BECAUSE THEY ARE TAKING OVERFLOW FROM SYSTEMS THAT THEY PROBABLY SHOULDN'T.
WELL, WE ADDRESSED THE 45TH STREET SYSTEM, THEN THERE'RE OTHER SYSTEMS THAT WE THOUGHT ON PAPER HAD GREAT CAPACITY OF TAKING WATER FROM OTHER SYSTEMS SO THAT'S PART OF WHAT HE'S DOING.
>> BECAUSE AROUND MY HOUSE IT'S GOING TO FLOOD ON 17TH STREET, BUT WE START TO SEE THE EAST AND WEST A MINUTE AND A HALF.
THAT'S WHEN YOU KNOW YOU'VE GOT SOME PROBLEMS BECAUSE THAT'S USUALLY WHERE YOU PARK YOUR CAR ON A HEAVY RAIN EVENT, YOU MOVE AROUND THE CORNER AT [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER]
>> DID YOU SEE THIS ALL OVER GALVESTON WHERE 51ST FLOOD [OVERLAPPING] BUT 53RD DOESN'T AND THEY'RE AN HIGH SIDE OF EACH OTHER AND IT'S JUST TWO SEPARATE SYSTEMS WORKING AGAINST EACH OTHER.
THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
>> WHAT I WAS GETTING AT IS NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE QUARTER MILE SEGMENT, WE HAVE DEPTH ON THAT PIPE OR THAT ROADWAY LIKE HOW DEEP IS IT OVER THE ROAD? WE ALSO ARE STARTING TO SAMPLE THE DURATION OF THE PONDING BECAUSE, THERE'S A THOUGHT OF, IF THE WATER IS TWO FEET DEEP AND IT'S THERE FOR FIVE HOURS OR IF IT'S TWO FEET DEEP AND IT'S THERE FOR 10 MINUTES, YOU'RE STILL GOING TO LOSE THE CAR.
BUT IS THE MOBILITY NOW IMPROVED, AND IS THE DURATION AS IMPORTANT AS THE DEPTH OR THE DEPTH MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE DURATION? HAVING THIS NUMBERS, HAVING THESE METRICS HELP US WORK WITH BRANDON AND ROBB AND TRINA TO START FIGURING OUT WHAT ARE THE WINS THAT WE WANT TO WORK TOWARDS? WHAT ARE THE ACCEPTABLE NATURES OF STUFF? BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT.
THE WATER GETS INTO THE PIPE FIRST AND THEN IT GETS INTO THE ROAD AND THEN IT GETS INTO THE HOUSE OR THE FRONT YARD THEN THE HOUSE.
IF WE KEEP IT OUT OF THE HOUSE WE WIN, IF WE KEEP IT OUT OF THE FRONT YARD WE WIN, IF KEEP ALL THE CARS WE WIN.
WE KEEP IT IN THE PIPE, YOU'RE AWESOME.
[02:05:02]
BUT BECAUSE TITLE HERE IS SUCH AN ISSUE AND ESPECIALLY WE GO TO THE 2,100 TYPE, YOU GOT PARTS OF THE CITY THAT JUST ARE UNDERWATER ON A TUESDAY REGARDLESS OF ANY RAIN.WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THAT AND THAT'S WHERE PUMPS AND BACKFLOW PROVIDERS AND THINKS LIKE [OVERLAPPING]
>> ITS STRICT DESIGN TOO BECAUSE HE TOUCHED ON IT EARLIER THAT RETENTION IS NOT AN OPTION.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO JUST START DIGGING HOLES OR A GALVESTON TO STORE WATER BUT WE CAN CHANGE OUR DESIGN OF OUR STREETS.
LOWER CROWNS DO THINGS LIKE THAT.
ON THE FLIP SIDE OF IT, WE CAN ALSO [INAUDIBLE].
WE CAN ELEVATE STREETS, BUT AS WE ALL KNOW, THAT CAUSES PROBABLY MORE PROBLEMS THAN IT SOLVES BECAUSE WE START PUTTING MORE WATER ONTO THE PROPERTY WHEN WE DO THAT.
I CAN MAKE EVERY STREET WE HAVE SHED WATER BUT IT'S JUST WHERE I SHED IT TOO.
THAT'S THE ISSUE. YOU KNOW THIS GUY'S IF WE EVEN PUT AN INCH OVERLAY IN AN ALLEY, HOW MANY COMPLAINTS YOU GET?
>> WATER IS IN MY GARAGE, WATER IS IN MY PROPERTY.
WHEN YOU KNOW IT'S REALLY GREAT TO SAY, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO START ELEVATING ALL THE STREETS BUT THEN THE WATER DOESN'T GO AWAY.
ALL WE'VE DONE IS MOVE THE WATER AND WHERE ARE WE MOVED IT TO IS THE ISSUE.
>> IF WOULDN'T MIND, RANDY, COULD YOU SEND TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS THE WEBSITE INFORMATION ON HOW WE CAN NOTIFY OUR CONSTITUENTS TO CONTACT.
I KNOW YOU SAY IT'S ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE OR SOMETHING.
WE NEED TO LINK SO THAT WE CAN PUT THAT OUT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> ACTUALLY WE'RE PLANNING TO DO A PRESS RELEASE.
MARISSA IS WORKING ON ONE RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT COUNCIL'S FEEDBACK ON THAT FIRST AND SO THAT'S OUR NEXT STEP THERE, AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE THE PRESS RELEASE IN HAND.
YOU CAN FORWARD THE [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING].
>> BECAUSE ONE OF THE PARTS OF THE PACK I THINK MARISSA SENT OUT WAS, OR IS WORKING ON IS A, HOW TO INTERACT FOR THE PUBLIC MEDIA AND IT TALKS ABOUT WHERE IT IS, WHAT TIME IT IS, AND WHAT YOU CAN DO TO BE PART OF IT, WHAT YOU EXPECT TO GET OUT OF IT.
THAT INCLUDES THE WEBSITE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE'RE ALSO HAVING THE SAME MEETING LIKE TODAY WITH THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP, MAYOR OF GALVESTON, UTMB, ARMY CORPS, ANYBODY ELSE.
I THINK ABOUT TWO MORE WEEKS TO THE WEEK AFTER THANKSGIVING.
THE INTENT OF THAT IS AGAIN TO FACILITATE THE INFORMATION SHARING FROM THEM TO THEIR PEOPLE SO THAT IT GETS OUT AS MUCH AS THEY CAN.
>> THAT'S THE KEY IS YOU GET IT OUT TO EVERYBODY WE CAN HERE ON THE ISLAND.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FRANK VERY MUCH.
COUNCIL, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE WE WRAP THIS UP? BEFORE [OVERLAPPING]
>> THIS IS A MASSIVE UNDERTAKING, BUT IT ALSO IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST EFFORT WE'VE EVER TAKEN ON THIS AND THIS WILL HAVE MASSIVE BENEFITS.
>> WE KNOW WHAT IS SO GOOD ABOUT THIS.
[OVERLAPPING] YES, WHAT'S SO GOOD ABOUT THIS IS WE'VE HAD PAST STUDIES DONE, BUT WE'VE HAD SO MANY CHANGES WITH SEA LEVEL RISE AND STORM INNOVATIONS AND ALL THAT.
IT'S JUST SOMETHING WE HAVE TO UPDATE AND THIS IS GOING TO BE SUPER TO GET THIS UPDATED. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I MAY BE MISTAKEN, BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS THE FIRST ONE THAT SERIOUSLY IT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT, TIED INTO OUR DRAINS.
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU GENTLEMEN.
[OVERLAPPING] LET'S MOVE TO 3D.
[3.D. Discussion Of Homelessness In The City Of Galveston (Listowski/Brown - 20 Min)]
PLEASE JANELLE.>> 3D, DISCUSSIONS OF HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
I KNOW HE AND I HAD TALKED ABOUT THIS, BUT JOHN, GO RIGHT AHEAD.
I'M NOTICING A LOT MORE HOMELESS PEOPLE AROUND THE CITY, A LOT MORE PANHANDLING ON OUR STREETS.
WE'VE GOT THE SALVATION ARMY RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM US AND SO EVERY DAY THERE ARE PEOPLE WALKING UP AND DOWN THAT STREET.
I'VE GOT A LOT OF CALLS FROM CONSTITUENTS WITH PHOTOS OF SHOPPING CARTS BEING PUSHED AROUND TOWN, LEFT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.
THERE WAS A PICTURE OF A SHOPPING CART IN THE MIDDLE OF SEAWALL BOULEVARD JUST THE OTHER DAY. I JUST WANTED TO BRING THIS UP.
IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM AND IT'S ON THE VERGE OF POSSIBLY GETTING OUT OF CONTROL AND SO I JUST WANT TO SEE WHAT OPTIONS WE HAVE, WHAT OPTIONS DO WE HAVE TO HELP THE PEOPLE THAT WANT HELP AND TO JUST CONTROL THE OVERALL POPULATION IN SOME MANNER.
YOU EITHER GET THEM HELP OR GIVE THEM A RIDE, WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO.
>> MARIE WANTS TO SAY A FEW THINGS, BUT THIS IS A DIFFICULT AND I'M GLAD JOHN BROUGHT THIS UP.
THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT TOPIC AND EVERY CITY IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN THE WORLD IS WRESTLING WITH THIS ISSUE IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.
WE HAVE SOME UNIQUE SITUATIONS GOING ON HERE IN GALVESTON THAT MAY BE ADDING TO OUR PROBLEMS HERE.
BRIAN AND I ADDRESSED THOSE WITH UTMB HERE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
[02:10:03]
BUT IN THE PAST THE CITY HAS BEEN MORE AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG RYAN.WE'VE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE, BUT WE'VE RELIED UPON THE NON-PROFITS TO HELP MANAGE THESE SITUATIONS.
IT COULD BE THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR INTERFACE WITH THE NON-PROFITS, BUT I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE. MARIE.
[NOISE] WE DISCUSSED THIS THE OTHER DAY AND THE MAYOR WAS TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE FROM ANOTHER CITY THAT MAY BE HAVING WHATEVER AN ISSUE IN THEIR OWN LIVES AND THEY BRING THEM TO UTMB.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST UTMB, BECAUSE IF THEY BREAK UP THE HOMELESS CAMP IN LAKE CITY, THEY BRING THEM TO THE COUNTY JAIL.
IF THEY'RE RESISTANCE, THEY'RE IN THAT COUNTY JAIL FOR 24 HOURS, THEY'RE LED OUT IN GALVESTON SO THEY'RE NOW LIVING IN GALVESTON BECAUSE NOBODY GIVES THEM A RIDE BACK.
I CAN TELL YOU THIS, I WORK OUT EARLY, SO I TAKE THE SEAWALL ALL THE TIME AND I WOULD SAY JUST ABOUT EVERY BUS STOP HAS SOMEONE LIVING IN IT.
IF YOU'RE ON SEAWALL AROUND 6:30 OR 7:00, HOMELESS CAMPS ARE MOVING FURTHER WEST.
I KNOW THEY BROKE UP A BIG ONE.
OUR POLICE DO A MAGNIFICENT JOB AS QUICKLY AS THEY CAN.
BUT ON 99TH STREET, WE HAVE ALSO HAD I KNOW AND THERE'S BEEN MORE THAN ONE, BUT ONE IN SUNNY BEACH WHERE THEY WENT AND TRIED TO OPEN THE HURRICANE CHARTERS.
[NOISE]. WENT IN, INVITED FRIEND, TRASHED THE HOUSE, WHATNOT.
WE'VE HAD PEOPLE SLEEPING BEHIND MY BOYCOTT STORE, THE DOLLAR GENERAL.
PRETTY MUCH ANYWHERE WITH A ROOF.
PRETTY MUCH ANYWHERE WHERE THERE'S A CONCRETE WALL, WE'RE HAVING HOMELESS SLEEP THERE SO WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH SOME PLAN.
IN THAT CASE, THERE WAS A HOMELESS CAMP ON 73RD AND SEABROOK BETWEEN STUART AND SEABROOK.
WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE LANDOWNER TO REMOVE SOME STRUCTURES THAT WERE THERE AND WHATNOT BECAUSE THERE WAS A WALL.
THEY ENDED UP THAT PEOPLE WOULDN'T LEAVE.
THEY END UP IN JAIL FOR 24 HOURS AND THEN THEY'RE BACK ON THE STREET.
I KNOW THAT CHIEF AND I HAVE MET WITH FAMILY SERVICES BECAUSE THEY PROBABLY HAVE MORE MENTAL HEALTH PEOPLE THERE TO HELP.
BUT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE'RE BECOMING THE DUMPING GROUND FOR EVERYBODY HOMELESS OR TROUBLED.
>> YEAH, LET'S SORT THIS ACTUALLY.
FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO INVITE YOU UP AND IF YOU COULD HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE HERE, PLEASE, SIR.
>> [INAUDIBLE] WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP? [OVERLAPPING] DO THIS ON A REGULAR BASIS AS WELL.
>> THIS IS GOING TO PROBABLY GET INTO DISCUSSIONS ABOUT LEGALITIES OF WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO.
>> I'M A LITTLE SORRY, THAT WE DID NOT PUT PATROL HERE BECAUSE THEY MOVE PEOPLE OUT OF LIFE GUARDING TOWERS AND OFF THE BEACH EVERY DAY, EVERY MORNING [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE OPERATIVE WORD HERE IS MOVE AND WE'RE NOT ELIMINATING ANYTHING.
>> FIRST OF ALL, LET'S START THIS OFF.
WE'VE HAD SOME CONCERNS, QUESTIONS TO ME ABOUT UTMB.
THEY HAVE INDIVIDUALS BROUGHT FROM SOMEWHERE IN THAT AREA, THE COUNTY AND THEY DEPOSIT AT UTMB AND THEN THEY DISCHARGE THEM ON THE STREET.
WE MET WITH DR. MOUTON ON THIS COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
BRIAN, DID YOU WANT TO [OVERLAPPING].
>> YEAH, THERE'S TWO THINGS THAT HAPPEN WHEN A HOMELESS PERSON IS PICKED UP.
THEY'RE EITHER PICKED UP FOR SOME TYPE OF CRIMINAL TRESPASS AND THEY'RE BROUGHT TO THE JAIL.
HOWEVER, THE JAIL HAS GOTTEN PRETTY SLICK AND SAYING, THIS PERSON HAS A HEALTH ISSUE, WE CAN'T TAKE THEM, THEY NEED TO GO TO HOSPITAL.
WELL UTMB, THEY DO WHAT THEY DO IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND THEN THEY'RE RELEASED.
I'VE USED THIS ANALOGY SEVERAL TIMES.
AS UNFORTUNATE AS THIS IS, YOU'RE NOT SEEING A STREAM OF HOMELESS PEOPLE WALKING ACROSS THE CAUSEWAY OR COMING ACROSS ON THE FAR AREA OF SAN LUIS PASS BRIDGE.
THEY'RE GETTING HERE SOMEWAY SOMEHOW AND THEY'RE OVERWHELMING THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE TO HELP THEM.
UTMB IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGER CONTRIBUTORS TO IT NOT IN A BAD WAY BECAUSE THEY ARE HELPING THESE FOLKS BUT IT IS AN ISSUE.
[02:15:04]
THE JAIL IS VERY MUCH AN ISSUE, BUT IN A MUCH EASIER SOLVED ISSUE, I THINK BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN WORK WITH THE SHERIFF ON TO SAY IF DICKINSON DROPS THEM OFF, DICKINSON HAS GOT TO COME PICK THEM UP.OF COURSE, MAKING THEM DO THAT.
>> RIGHT, HOW DO WE POLICE THAT?
>> YEAH. WELL, WITH THAT THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE THE SHERIFF DOING IT, I GUESS.
>> WHEN YOU TAKE THEM BACK THERE, YOU'VE GOT TO [INAUDIBLE].
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S EVEN LEGAL FOR US TO LET [OVERLAPPING] PEOPLE HERE AND ASSUME WHERE THEY LIVE AND TAKE THEM BACK AS THEY WERE PROBABLY HOMELESS IN DICKINSON AND THEY WERE PROBABLY ENDED UP THERE SOMEHOW.
I DOUBT DICKINSON'S PRODUCING A HUGE HOMELESS POPULATION IN LAKE CITY.
THEY JUST END UP THERE AND PROBABLY UTMB, AS IN OTHERS, WHEREVER YOU HAVE LARGE HOSPITAL PRESENCE.
>> THEY KNOW THAT'S TOURISM AS WELL, THEY KNOW THAT, GET MORE MONEY [NOISE] HANGING OUT IN A TOURIST TOWN. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IN WARMTH AND IN SHELTER AND IN [OVERLAPPING]
>> ELEVATED HOUSES MEANT FOR GOOD SHELTER. [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT'S WEIRD THOUGH THAT YOU'RE SEEING DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOMELESS.
I KNOW JOHNNY'S VACA HE HAS THE BIG PROBLEM BEHIND MARIO'S SEAWALL AND UNCAPPED GAS STATION THAT'S BEHIND THEM.
IT'S LIKE 30-YEAR-OLD COUPLES WITH [NOISE] SUITCASES LIVING BEHIND THERE.
>> WELL, THERE IS, AND IT IS JUST THE VOLUME TOO AND THAT WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE ON THE STREETS, MORE AND MORE ON THE BEACHES IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF THAT.
>> THERE WAS SOMEBODY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD GOING INTO THE TRASH LAST NIGHT AND THEY WERE ON A BIKE.
THEY DIDN'T NECESSARILY WANT TO TELL ME WHERE THEY WERE FROM.
I ASKED THEM IF THEY NEEDED ANY HELP OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. JUST GONE.
>> I DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHERE THE BIKE CAME FROM.
>> CHIEF AND BUTCH, WHAT ARE THE PARAMETERS WE'RE WORKING WITHIN ON MANAGING HOMELESSNESS HERE ON THE ISLAND?
>> WE GET PLENTY OF CALLS FOR SERVICE.
WE GET PLENTY CALLS FOR SERVICE FOR CAMPING OVERNIGHT ON THE BEACH, WHICH IS A TOUGH ONE TO SOLVE BECAUSE IF YOU'RE FISHING OR IF YOU'RE UTILIZING THE BEACH, YOU PRETTY MUCH HAVE TO BE IN A TENT SLEEPING FOR US TO DO THAT AND THEN I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE AND THEY'RE SMART.
THEY'RE MOVING VEHICLES ON A SEAWALL MOVE AND YOU CAN WATCH THEM WHILE THEY'RE WALKING 5:30 IN THE [OVERLAPPING] MORNING, AND YOU CAN SEE THEM MOVE BACK INTO THEIR SPOTS AND THEY'LL STAY THERE ALL DAY.
THEY'RE LIVING OUT OF THEIR CARS UNTIL THAT CAR BREAKS DOWN AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT, THEY'RE GOING TO PROBABLY BE HOMELESS, BUT I THINK ANYWHERE YOU HAVE A COUNTY SEA, YOU HAVE A COUNTY JAIL.
YOU'RE ALSO GOING TO FIND HOSPITALS AND RESOURCES FOR THE HOMELESS AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE HERE AND THEY CONTINUE TO COME.
I HOPE THAT AS WE GET INTO OUR PROJECT WITH THE MDRT PROGRAM, THAT IS GOING TO RELY HEAVILY ON GULF COAST CENTER PERSONNEL BEING WITH US AT ALL TIMES, AND US GOING OUT AND PROVIDING THE RESOURCES THAT GULF COAST CENTER HAS AVAILABLE, AND ALSO THE COUNTY HAS AVAILABLE AND WITH THE HOPE THAT WE CAN AT LEAST SOLVE SOME OF THIS PROBLEM.
BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW BIG OF AN IMPACT THAT WILL HAVE AND HOW SOON THAT WILL OCCUR. I THINK [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE STILL DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY PLACE TO TAKE PEOPLE?
>> HISTORICALLY, THE PROBLEM OF HOMELESSNESS HAS BEEN THRUST UPON THE POLICE AND IT'S JUST ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT REALLY WE DON'T HAVE A TOOL BAG TO SOLVE.
WE HAVE ONE OPTION FOR THE MOST.
[NOISE] WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THEM ALONG, AND IT'S JUST GOING TO BE A CALL LATER OR HANDCUFFS.
IT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO GET PRISONERS ADMITTED TO THE COUNTY JAIL.
IT'S BECOMING HARDER AND HARDER AND HARDER AND SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN, WE GET THERE AND SAY, I'VE CHEST PAINS, OR MY BLOOD PRESSURE FEELS HIGH OR IF YOU BROKE THE LAW, BUT THEIR BLOOD PRESSURE IS A LITTLE HIGH, THEN WE HAVE TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.
WE HAVE TO SIT FOR HOURS AND REALISTICALLY, DOING THAT FOR A CLASS C CHARGE IS JUST NOT SMART FOR A POLICE DEPARTMENT TO DO, SO WE'LL DROP YOU OFF SO THAT YOU CAN GET TREATMENT.
THEY DON'T GET TREATMENT, THEY WALK AWAY [OVERLAPPING] AND THEN WE GO BACK IN SERVICE.
>> CAN I? IN ORDER TO BE ADMITTED TO THE COUNTY JAIL, THEY DO THEIR VITALS?
>> THE MEDICAL STAFF IS ALL CONTRACT PERSONNEL BUT THEY CONTROL, WHETHER OR NOT THAT PRISONER CAN BE BOOKED [NOISE] AND MOST OF THE FIRST TIME. [OVERLAPPING]
[02:20:05]
>> ONCE THEY ACCEPT A PRISONER, THE JAIL MEDICAL PROVIDER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SUPPLYING ALL THEIR MEDICAL NEEDS.
WHICH MEANS IF THEY TAKE SOMEBODY WHO HAS [NOISE] PNEUMONIA, THAT MEDICAL PROVIDER HAS TO COVER THE COST OF TREATING THAT PNEUMONIA SO THEY'RE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT WHO THEY ADMIT.
BECAUSE IF THEY BUY SOMEBODY WITH A SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITION, IT CUTS TO THEIR BOTTOM LINE.
THAT'S TO HAVE THEM SCREENED AT UTMB IF OR WHEN THEY'RE ADMITTED.
>> BUTCH, ANY COMMENTS ON THIS?
>> NO. THE PROBLEM IS ISLAND WIDE, WE GET CALLS REGULARLY ABOUT THE CANTS CAMPS OR THEY'RE IN PLACES THEY SHOULDN'T BE IN STRUCTURES THAT THEY CONSTRUCTED OUT OF WHATEVER THEY'VE APPROPRIATED IN THE ALLEYS OR WHEREVER.
SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES, THE PROPERTY OWNERS DON'T EVEN KNOW THEY'RE THERE.
THEY DON'T LIVE HERE. THEY'RE SOMEWHERE ELSE AND WE GET THE CALL [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE SEALY AND SMITH FOUNDATION, THEY OWN ALL THE PROPERTY BEHIND SPECS [OVERLAPPING].
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK ABOUT THAT.
>> WE MOVED ON, BUT I BET WE FOUND 20 BICYCLES, 30 BICYCLES BACK THERE, WHICH HAS BEEN A HOT AND THEFT ITEM AROUND HERE.
>> THEY'VE MOVED ACROSS THE POND NOW.
>> THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS HERE IN GALVESTON, IS YOU JUST RELOCATE THEM.
FOR LACK OF BETTER WORDS, WHENEVER YOU'RE DEALING WITH THE STREET DRUG CRIME, YOU'RE NOT ELIMINATING IT, YOU'RE JUST MOVING IT FROM PLACE TO PLACE, AND THIS IS NO DIFFERENT BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A SOLID SOLUTION TO THIS.
THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH A HOUSE, A PLACE TO LIVE, AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT.
>> IT'S NOT EVEN THAT [OVERLAPPING] [BACKGROUND] I DID THE COUNTY INDIGENT PROGRAM AT UTMB FOR SIX YEARS AND IN ALMOST EVERY INDIGENT CASE, 99.9 PERCENT OF THEM HAD AN UNDERLYING DIAGNOSIS, EITHER A PRIMARY UNDERLYING DIAGNOSIS OF SOME TYPE OF MENTAL ILLNESS.
PROVIDING SHELTER IS A GREAT AND THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT DEFINITELY NEED THAT.
BUT I WOULD SAY THE VAST MAJORITY, ARE NOT NECESSARILY SEEKING THAT SHELTER.
>> THEY'RE NOT, SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SEE OUT ON THE STREETS ACTUALLY OWN HOMES, THEY DON'T WANT TO BE IN IT.
>> HAVE FAMILIES, [OVERLAPPING] HAVE AN INCOME.
>> THEY'RE ON THE STREETS, BY CHOICE [OVERLAPPING].
>> THERE'S NOT A SOLUTION TO THAT.
>> IT'S DIFFICULT. SHARON, I KNOW YOU WANT TO SAY SOME THINGS ON THIS. GO RIGHT AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. IT IS A HUMAN CRISIS.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, IS THERE ANY WAY, I KNOW THERE WAS BILLIONS OF DOLLARS RELEASED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON A CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR THE HOMELESSNESS POPULATION THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, IS THERE ANY WAY THAT THE CITY CAN LOOK AT ACCESSING ANY OF THAT AND POSSIBLY RUNNING ANOTHER SHELTER HERE TO HELP WITH SOME OF THE HOMELESSNESS? I KNOW SOME YEARS BACK WE HAD ONE THAT WAS GREAT AND I THINK IT WAS BY THE BAPTIST MINISTER'S ASSOCIATION.
IT WAS ON MARKET STREET AND IT WAS A HOMELESS SHELTER WHICH HAD THOSE COMPONENTS, OF COURSE, IT'S MORE THAN JUST A PLACE TO STAY, IT IS MENTAL.
BUT GOD FORBID THAT ANY OF US, IT'S A MAJOR ISSUE.
IS THERE ANY WAY TO ACCESS ANY OF THAT AMERICAN RESCUE? [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE DID USE THAT MONEY FOR PURPOSES LIKE THAT.
WE DID THAT TO HELP PEOPLE GET DEPOSITS SO THEY CAN RENT PLACES AND WE DID RENTAL ASSISTANCE WITH IT AND ALL THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.
IT'S TRULY A POLICY DECISION BY COUNSEL IF YOU GUYS WANT TO START OPERATING A SHELTER.
I WOULD CAUTION YOU AGAINST THAT THOUGH, BECAUSE I GUARANTEE YOU, AND DOUG CAN TELL YOU THIS, IF A CITY IS OPERATING SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU BECOME A DESTINATION FOR ALL THE OTHER CITIES AND YOU'RE BURDENING YOUR LOCAL TAXPAYERS WITH SERVING CITIZENS FROM A LOT OF OTHER CITIES [OVERLAPPING] AND THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN REQUIRED LOCAL CONTRIBUTION.
>> I'M SORRY, SHARON. GO AHEAD.
>> YES THE CITY WILL RUN BUT A TEMPORARY OVERNIGHT,
[02:25:03]
IF WE HAVE THE ISSUE TO FOLLOW THEN HOW ARE WE GOING TO SOLVE IT? [LAUGHTER] IF THEY NEED A PLACE TO GO FOR THE NIGHT, WHAT'S THE SOLUTION?>> THEY'RE A LOT OF PEOPLE, YOU'LL TAKE THEM IN AND THEY REFUSE TO GO.
>> THEY HAVE TO BE SOBER TO GET IN SO THAT'S OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM. [OVERLAPPING]
>> DO WE HAVE A COUNT [OVERLAPPING].
>> IS THERE REALLY AN ACTUAL COUNT OF HOMELESSNESS ON THE ISLAND?
>> THERE ARE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT REALLY FOCUS IN ON THIS AND THEY DO AN ANNUAL COUNT.
SO THERE'S AN ANNUAL COUNT THAT'S DONE.
NOW, I'M NOT SURE WHERE WE STAND WITH THAT AT THIS POINT.
>> I BELIEVE THE LAST COUNT WAS DONE PRIOR TO COVID.
IT'S A LOCAL NATIONAL [OVERLAPPING].
>> ARE THE PLACES, DO YOU THINK WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF FUNDS? I HEARD SOMEBODY SAID SOME PEOPLE ARE CHOOSING NOT TO AND THEY DO MAKE THEIR CHOICE NOT TO GO.
BUT WHAT DO WE REALLY DO? ARE THOSE ORGANIZATIONS FUNDED WELL ENOUGH TO TAKE THEM IN? ARE WE SEEING WHY THEY ARE IN THE STREETS? I DON'T KNOW THE SOLUTION, I'M JUST ASKING.
>> THIS IS THE SITUATION, I THINK BRIAN HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.
IF THIS COUNCIL WANTS TO DIRECT RESOURCES, FEDERAL AND OTHER RESOURCES TOWARDS THIS CONCERN AND GET INTO INTERFACING WITH THE HOMELESS AND BEING THE PRIMARY SOURCE FOR RESIDENTIAL CARE AND/OR OTHER RESOURCES FOR THEM, THAT'S A POLICY DECISION THAT THIS COUNCIL WOULD NEED TO MAKE.
IN THE PAST WE'VE ALWAYS RELIED UPON THE NON-PROFITS AND THERE'S A LOT OF NON-PROFITS THAT ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY WITH THIS SITUATION.
THE SALVATION ARMY, THE CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH HERE WITH MICHAEL GANGER.
BRIAN AND I MET WITH THE PHILANTHROPIC GROUP A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO THAT ARE GOING TO PUT TOGETHER A RESIDENTIAL FACILITY HERE ON THE ISLAND FOR THE HOMELESS.
>> BUT THERE'S A GENTLEMAN WHO PARKED A CHAIR RIGHT THERE AT THE CORNER AS YOU'RE LEAVING THE ISLAND.
I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT CITY I WAS GOING TO, THEY HAD A CITY ORDINANCE AGAINST BEING ON THE STREETS PEDDLING JUST FOR SAFETY REASONS.
BUT HE SAFELY PARKED THAT CHAIR THERE AND DO YOU CONSIDER HIM HOMELESS? I DON'T KNOW.
>> THIS BRINGS UP A QUESTION, CHIEF AND BUTCH, LEGALLY CAN YOU ENFORCE NOT CAMPING IN THE CITY RIGHT AWAY?
>> IT'S STATE LAW ACTUALLY, SADLY, I THINK WE WENT BACK-AND-FORTH ON AN EMAIL ON THIS.
EMAIL THAT YOU ORIGINALLY SENT OUT REGARDING A STATE LAW, NO BLANKET, NO SLEEPING BAG, NO LAYING DOWN, NO SLEEPING IN PUBLIC.
IT'S A VERY BROAD LAW THAT WAS PASSED.
I THINK IT WAS PASSED AND BASICALLY IN ANTICIPATION TO ENSURE THAT NOWHERE IN TEXAS BECAME LIKE WHAT SAN FRANCISCO LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW.
>> IT WAS BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR WAS ANGRY WITH BOSTON.
>> THAT'S OKAY. THAT'S THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY.
BUT ACTUALLY ARRESTING SOMEONE FOR THAT LAW AND SUCCESSFULLY GETTING THEM INTO THE COUNTY JAIL WOULD LEAD TO THEM BEING PUSHED RIGHT BACK OUT AND SO IT'S NOT THE ANSWER [OVERLAPPING].
>> DON'T YOU HAVE TO INVENTORY AND SAFE KEEP
THEIR POSSESSIONS [OVERLAPPING] AT CITY COST, ETC? >> YES.
>> THE BIGGER YOUR BASKET IS, THE HARDER IT IS TO MAKE THAT RISK.
>> YOU ASKED THE QUESTION, IF WE WANT TO MAKE THIS A PRIORITY IN SET POLICY, I WOULD SAY YES, BUT I DO NOT WANT TO MAKE THIS A DESTINATION PLACE FOR HOMELESS.
I WANT TO DO THE EXACT OPPOSITE HERE.
PEOPLE ARE IN NEED, WE NEED TO PROVIDE SERVICES, BUT DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO MAKE A DESTINATION AT GALVESTON BY PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES.
I WOULD SAY THIS IS AS BIG AN ISSUE AS STRS, DEFINITELY BIGGER THAN GOLF CARTS AND WE HAVE SET A TON OF TIME ON BOTH THOSE ISSUES AND SO I WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE TO MAKE THIS A PRIORITY ON OUR AGENDA AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
>> I KNOW DAVID HAS A THOUGHT.
I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO LOOK INTO FURTHER.
BARBARA SANDERSON HAS OUR COMMUNITY LIAISON.
SHE'S BEEN PARTICIPATING I UNDERSTAND WITH SOME OF THESE NON-PROFITS.
IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY VIA STAFF AND WORKING WITH BARBARA?
[02:30:03]
>> I THINK IT IS NOT UNIQUE TO US.
EVERY CITY IN AMERICA IS STRUGGLING WITH THIS.
NOBODY HAS COME UP WITH A SOLUTION FOR IT YET, OTHER THAN TO THROW MONEY AT IT.
I THINK THAT WE COULD PROBABLY HAVE A BETTER COORDINATED EFFORT WHICH WE'RE TRYING TO DO THROUGH BARBARA WITH THE LOCAL CHARITIES BUT THERE'S A LIMIT THERE TOO.
OF COURSE, AGAIN, I'M GOING TO CAUTION THAT THE MORE YOU PROVIDE ALONG THOSE LINES BE IT CITY FUNDS OR OTHERS, IT'S AN ENABLING ISSUE.
>> DAVID. I'M GOING TO USE THE [OVERLAPPING].
>> I DON'T AGREE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE AN ENABLING ISSUE.
I DON'T THINK PEOPLE ARE SITTING AROUND, HOMELESS PEOPLE AND SAYING I'M GOING TO GALVESTON.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S ENABLING.
I AGREE WITH SAYING PATTERN DOES NOT JUST STAY THERE, WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT AS AN ISSUE JUST LIKE GOLF CART OR ANYTHING ELSE, THIS IS A HUMAN ISSUE.
I KNOW THAT CITY COUNSEL DOESN'T, BUT I'M JUST SAYING I COULD BE WRONG, THERE'S TWO LEFT SHOES, BUT I DON'T THINK HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LOOK AND SAY, LET ME GO TO GALVESTON, I DON'T AGREE THAT.
>> I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU, BUT IT'S NOT THE HOMELESS PEOPLE CHOOSING TO COME TO GALVESTON NOW.
IF WE PROVIDE THE SERVICES, IT BECOMES A HUMANE DROP SPOT FOR OTHER ENTITIES, NOT THE HOMELESS POPULATION.
IF THE HOMELESS POPULATION WANTED TO FIND A WAY TO GALVESTON, THEY WOULD.
>> YOU'RE THINKING THAT IF WE BUILD THOSE ENTITIES WOULD LITERALLY DRIVE AND BRING THEM TO THE ISLAND FOR THAT PURPOSE?
>> YES, MA'AM. I BELIEVE THAT'S ALREADY OCCURRING.
>> WE HAVE DAVID AND THEN MARIE.
>> I'M JUST GOING TO USE THE WORD FUNDING.
ANYTHING YOU DO HERE IS GOING TO COST MONEY.
WE CAN INSERT ANY PROGRAM YOU WANT, BUT IT COSTS MONEY.
WE JUST FINISHED HAVING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT LOWERING TAXES AND TAKING THE BURDEN OFF HOMEOWNERS, THIS WILL COST YOU MONEY. JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND.
>> NOAH AND I AGREE WITH YOU 100 PERCENT [LAUGHTER]
>> ONE THING THAT WE DO IS AT LEAST HAVE THAT DISCUSSION WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE NOW BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WE KNOW THAT IT'S HAPPENING.
>> THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, IS THAT IT'S A DISSERVICE TO THE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING PUT IN AN AREA WHERE WE DON'T HAVE THE FACILITIES OR THE ABILITY TO HELP THEM.
I THINK THAT WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE BACK TO THE JURISDICTIONS THAT BRING THEM IN, THAT'S A BIG THING.
THAT DISCUSSION, IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME.
I THINK THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'VE OPENED WITH UTMB, EVEN THOUGH THEIR LEADERSHIP'S IN A TRANSITIONAL PERIOD OUT THERE, THAT'S GOING TO BE PART OF IT TOO.
UNFORTUNATELY, WITH UTMB, THERE'S SO MANY PATHS INTO UTMB, IT'S HARD FOR THEM TO DETERMINE WHERE ARE THE FOLKS.
IN MY MIND, IT'S JUST AS INHUMANE FOR US TO TAKE THEM AND DROP THEM SOMEPLACE THAN IT WAS WHEN THEY GOT DROPPED [OVERLAPPING].
WE'RE AN ISLAND AND WE HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES AND WHEN YOU START PUTTING THIS POPULATION HERE, IT HURTS THEM.
I THINK IF WE KEEP FOCUSED ON WHAT'S BEST FOR THE PEOPLE WE'RE TRYING TO HELP AND WORK THOSE LINES ALONG WITH UTMB AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE JAIL AND THE OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, THIS MAY BE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO TAKE UP WITH THE OTHER CHIEFS TO TRY TO STEM THIS AS BEST WE CAN.
BECAUSE IF EVERY CITY PARTICIPATES AT THE SAME LEVEL, THAT'S THE CLOSEST YOU'RE GOING TO GET TO SOLVING THIS ISSUE.
PONDING ALL OF THESE FOLKS IN ONE SPOT, EXPECTING US TO SERVE THEM, WE'LL DO OUR BEST, BUT IT'S GOOD JUST GOING TO HURT THE PEOPLE.
>> MIKE HAD A QUESTION. MIKE, GO AHEAD.
>> [NOISE] WHEN WE FIRST CAME TO THE ISLAND, OUR FAMILY JOINED A CHURCH.
THROUGH OUR FOUNDATION, WE TRIED TO HELP THE HOMELESS.
I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES ON THIS ISLAND IS, AT THE TIME, THERE'S SOMETHING LIKE 80 CHARITIES OUT THERE WITHIN GALVESTON ISLAND THAT THERE'S NO ORGANIZATION.
EVERYBODY'S GOING IN THEIR OWN DIRECTION AND THERE'S NO ORGANIZATION TO HELP THE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY NEED THE HELP.
THERE ARE SOME ORGANIZATIONS THAT GIVE FREE FOOD AWAY.
THERE'S SOME ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO CHILD SUPPLIES FOR SCHOOL AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> I'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION AND THE MAYOR'S HEARD ME GIVE THIS PITCH TO BURKE BAGLEY OVER TO PEF.
WE HAVE NO SHORTAGE OF PHILANTHROPIC ABILITIES IN GALVESTON.
IT IS TRULY, TRULY, TRULY A GREAT PLACE, BUT WE TOTALLY LACK COORDINATION OF EFFORTS.
GALVESTON COCARE IS WORKING ALONG THOSE LINES NOW,
[02:35:01]
BUT IT IS A VERY FOCUSED AREA, BUT IT GOES BEYOND EVEN HOMELESSNESS IN THAT FRONT.JUST IMAGINE WHAT WE COULD ACCOMPLISH WITH THE AMOUNT OF PHILANTHROPIC PARTICIPATION IN GALVESTON IF OUR EFFORTS WERE ALL FOCUSED IN ONE DIRECTION.
BUT INSTEAD, EVERY GROUP DOES THEIR OWN THING AND, BY RIGHTS, THEY SHOULD, IT'S THEIR MONEY.
BUT I DO BELIEVE HAVING A COORDINATED EFFORT ON THE ISLAND TO DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES THROUGH THE PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS IS GOING TO HAVE TO OCCUR IN ORDER FOR US TO BEGIN TRULY.
AS I BURKE BAGLEY, WE WILL CONTINUE TO NIBBLE AROUND THE EDGES OF ALL THESE PROBLEMS AND IT MIGHT MAKE US FEEL BETTER INSIDE FOR DOING THAT, BUT WE'RE MAKING NO PROGRESS IN SOLVING THESE PROBLEMS.
>> THE KEY THROUGH THIS IS WE NEED A CHAMPION, AN ORGANIZATION OR WHATEVER, THAT CHAMPIONS THIS CAUSE AND BRINGS EVERYONE TOGETHER TO HAVE A COMMON DIALOGUE ON THIS.
WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT, I VISITED WITH VISION GALVESTON ON THIS SUBJECT YESTERDAY MORNING.
FROM THIS STANDPOINT, THEY'RE HAPPY TO HELP IN ANY WAY THEY COULD WITH THIS.
I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT WANT TO HELP.
WE NEED TO BRING THEM TOGETHER.
IT COULD BE THAT THE CITY MAY NOT BE THE MANAGER OF THESE BUT BE THE FACILITATOR BRINGING THESE GROUPS TOGETHER, AND I THINK THAT MIGHT BE THE ROLE OF THE CITY.
I THINK IT IS THE ROLE OF THE CITY TO BE A FACILITATOR OR BRING THESE PEOPLE TO THE TABLE TO SEE WHAT COULD BE WORKED OUT. MARIE?
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE COULD DO, AND I KNOW IT'S AT THE OFFICER'S DISCRETION, BUT WE COULD ALSO TALK TO PETER DAVIS.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET FURTHER WEST, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO USE OUR BEACHES THAT AREN'T SUPPOSED TO HAVE CAMPING AS A CAMPGROUND.
WE'RE NOT TALKING HOMELESS PEOPLE, WE'RE TALKING [INAUDIBLE] CAMPER.
RIGHT NOW, WE JUST TELL THEM TO GO.
IF WE WROTE MORE TICKETS, BECAUSE I GUARANTEE YOU ON THOSE CAMP SOCIAL MEDIA SITES, IT'S LIKE YOU CAN CAMP FOR FREE IN GALVESTON ON THE WEST OF THE ISLAND AND YOU WON'T EVEN GET A TICKET.
>> WELL, THE PROBLEM WITH THAT, AND THE CHIEF AND I DISCUSSED THAT, YOU CAN'T GIVE A TICKET FOR SOMEBODY AT FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON FOR CAMPING ON THE BEACH.
>> NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT AT TWO O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING AND WE JUST ASK THEM TO LEAVE.
>> THE ORDINANCE IS, I THINK FROM MIDNIGHT TO 04:00 AM.
IS THAT RIGHT, G? SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE.
THEY CAN'T BE CAMPING ON THE BEACH.
BUT AS THE CHIEF SAID, YOU GOT TO CATCH IN A TENT, YOU GOT TO CATCH THEM [OVERLAPPING].
CURRENTLY, PARKED BOARDS KNOCKED DOWN THERE IN AN HOUR.
>> BECAUSE PEOPLE CALLED THEM AND I KNOW IT'S AT THE DISCRETION OF THE POLICE OFFICER TO WRITE A TICKET OR NOT.
BUT IF WE DON'T START WRITING TICKETS, IT'S NEVER GOING TO CHANGE.
YOU CAN'T SAY IT'S NOT BEING NOT NICE, THAT WAS A DOUBLE NEGATIVE, TO WRITE SOMEONE A TICKET WHO THINKS THAT OUR BEACHES ARE FREE CAMPGROUND.
>> SOME OF IT IS BEING STEWARDS OF THE ISLAND AND KNOWING THAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T LIVE HERE AND THEY MAY NOT KNOW THE LOCAL RULES AND ORDINANCES AND TRYING TO EDUCATE THEM ON THAT AND I THINK THAT THE OFFICERS TRY TO TAKE THAT APPROACH TO MAKE IT A WELCOMING PLACE, BUT TO INFORM THEM THAT YOU CAN'T DO THAT HERE, AND THAT'S SOMEWHAT OF A PROBLEM WITH EVERYTHING.
"YOU CAN'T DRIVE YOUR GOLF CART HERE.
YOU CAN RENT THAT CART AND DRIVE IT HERE.
YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT." "WELL, I WASN'T INFORMED." THEN THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, AND I'M WITH YOU ON WE TAKE A HARDER LINE ON SOME OF THE [OVERLAPPING].
>> THEY DRIVE RIGHT BY THE SIGNS, SAID THEY DIDN'T SEE IT.
>> BUT WE THOUGHT WE TAKE A HARDER LINE ON SOME OF THESE THINGS.
BUT THERE'S THAT FINE LINE OF MAKING THE ISLAND VERY WELCOMING PLACE TO BE BECAUSE WE WANT YOU HERE.
BUT IF YOU HAVE A FISHING POLE OUT THERE, YOU'RE FISHING NOW.
YOU CAN HAVE YOUR CAMPER THERE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'RE OFF SOMETHING. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CAMPING AND NOT HOMELESS PEOPLE [OVERLAPPING].
>> JUST A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH WILL SHOW YOU LIKE ALL THE CITIES, HOW THEY'RE TRYING TO COMBAT IT ACROSS TEXAS.
EVERY COMMON THING IS THEY HAVE A CITYWIDE VAN ON CAMPING.
THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE COMMON TOOLS THEY'VE THROWN OUT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WOULD WORK IN GALVESTON, BUT HOUSTON IS GETTING PRAISE BECAUSE THEY'VE CUT THEIR HOMELESS POPULATION DOWN.
[OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER] I'M JUST TRYING TO GET YOU FOOD FOR THOUGHT AND PLAY DEVIL'S ADVOCATE, BUT THEY'RE THROWING BIG-TIME AMOUNTS OF MONEY AT IT.
THERE'S A PLEDGE TO WORK WITH ALMOST $100 MILLION WORTH OF WITH PHILANTHROPY,
[02:40:04]
FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY, CITY.THAT'S A TON OF MONEY, AND THEY ARE PROVIDED DIRECT HOUSING.
THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE SAID WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE AN APPETITE FOR, BUT THAT'S HOW THEY'RE FACING IT.
>> BUT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND.
>> DO YOU ALL REMEMBER WHEN THAT STUDY WAS DONE HERE? IT WAS MAYBE 15 YEARS AGO, AND IT'S STILL SOME OF THOSE SAME PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY SOME OF THE DOWNTOWN PEOPLE THAT YOU KNOW, I MEAN, YOU PHYSICALLY KNOW THEM TO SAY HELLO, THAT ARE HOMELESS, ACTUALLY HAVE A HOME HERE, OR VETS WHO ARE RECEIVING REGULAR INCOME.
>> SEVERAL OF THE REGULARS, [OVERLAPPING] MIKE, YOU KNOW THESE GUYS, THEY ARE AROUND THE POST OFFICE, I KNOW WHERE THEY LIVE, THEY LIVE ABOVE BOB'S, THEY LIVE OVER HERE, THEY HAVE PLACES TO LIVE.
THEY ARE PANHANDLING, BUT THEY'RE NOT HOMELESS.
BY DEFINITION, THEY HAVE A PLACE.
THAT HAPPENS MORE THAN YOU THINK.
THERE'S THIS ONE GENTLEMAN I'VE BEEN HELPING HIM AND GIVING HIM MONEY SINCE I FIRST STARTED WORKING HERE IN GALVESTON IN THE 90S.
THAT'S HOW LONG HE'S BEEN AROUND.
HE HAS A PLACE TO LIVE AND A PLACE TO SLEEP.
HE'S GOT HEALTH ISSUES NOW, HE'S IN A WHEELCHAIR.
>> WE CAN TALK ABOUT TIME ON THIS.
>> WHY DON'T WE DO THIS CREW? IF YOU DON'T MIND, LET ME SET UP ANOTHER MEETING BECAUSE THE INTEREST SEEM TO REALLY BE THERE WITH THE PEF, AND THEY ARE THE ONES STEPPING UP WITH THIS NEXT PHASE OF HOMELESSNESS AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.
WHY DON'T YOU AND I SCHEDULE ANOTHER MEETING WITH REV.
BAGLEY AND LET'S SEE IF WE CAN JUST GET ONE OF THE LARGER PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP LEAD THIS CHARGE AND HELP US? I CAN CALL A MEETING, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHO I'M GOING TO GET.
>> WELL, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA.
LET'S DO THAT AND THEN WE CAN EXPLORE SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE NOT MENTIONING.
ALSO, I STILL FEEL THAT THE CITY MAY NEED TO BE A FACILITATOR OF BRINGING THESE ENTITIES.
>> I THINK WE WILL BE, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME BUY-IN FROM SOME OF THE BIG PLAYERS OR ELSE WE'RE NOT.
>> I THINK THOSE ARE GREAT IDEAS. ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE, WHAT LAWS ARE OUT THERE TO DETER PEOPLE FROM PANHANDLING AND THINGS LIKE THAT WHERE THOSE ARE SOURCES OF INCOME FOR THE HOMELESS PEOPLE AND IF WE DON'T STOP THAT, WE JUST ARE BASICALLY SAYING, "HEY, IT'S OKAY TO DO THAT AND DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO STAND ON THE STREETS."
>> WE HAVE ORDINANCES ON THE BOOKS AGAINST AGGRESSIVE PANHANDLING AND MEETINGS IN WHICH WE CAN HANDLE THOSE THINGS.
IT'S A MATTER OF GETTING THAT DONE AND HAVING THE TIME TO DO THAT IN WHICH IT CALLS FOR ASSURANCE, ETC.
>> SOLICITATION IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN MAYBE STRENGTHEN OUR ORDINANCES ON AND MAYBE EVEN HELP YOU GUYS OUT BY GETTING BUTCH SOME HELP IN THAT AREA.
BECAUSE I AGREE WITH JOHN ON THAT TOO.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS TO HAVE ALL ISSUES.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO SOLVE THAT ISSUE.
BUT THERE'S ALSO PEOPLE, LIKE WHEN I WENT TO TARGET THE OTHER DAY, I WAS SITTING THERE.
THEY'RE NOT FROM HERE, THEY'RE IN A CAR.
THEY DROVE DOWN HERE, THEY'RE STANDING THERE.
THEY GOT THEIR KID ON AN IPAD SITTING THERE SOLICITING MONEY.
THOSE ARE THE ONES WHERE IF WE TOOK THESE TYPE OF ACTIONS, WE COULD AT LEAST MAYBE, LET'S JUST SAY IT'S A THIRD, A THIRD, A THIRD.
WE CAN KNOCK THAT THIRD OUT AND THEN YOU HAVE THE THIRD THAT'S COMING.
WE HAVE THE THIRD THAT'S JUST OURS THAT WE HAVE TO HELP, AND THEN WE HAVE THIS OTHER THIRD, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COORDINATE AND HELP WITH.
BUT I THINK THAT WOULD BE A BIG THING.
WHY DON'T WE TAKE A STRONGER LOOK AT THE ORDINANCES AND YOU AND BUTCH GET TOGETHER AND SAY, "WHAT TEETH CAN WE ADD TO THIS?" BECAUSE SOME OF THESE FOLKS DON'T WANT WARRANTS AND SOME THEY LOVE DRIVING THEIR CARS TO THESE LOCATIONS TO SOLICIT I SEE IT.
CHIEF AND BUTCH GET TOGETHER WITH STAFF BECAUSE THIS IS A MULTI, I THINK IT'S AN APPROACH THAT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A LOT OF DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO THIS, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE CAN PUT ALL THE ORDINANCES WE WANT IN THERE BUT IF YOU ARREST THEM, WHAT HAPPENS NOW? THOSE SUCH QUESTIONS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] A LOT OF PANHANDLERS, THEY'RE JUST GOING TO LEAVE.
AGAIN, [INAUDIBLE] AND PANHANDLING ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT THEY FALL ON THE SAME CATEGORY.
I THINK WE CAN ADDRESS SOME OF THAT WITH SOME STRONGER ORDINANCES.
>> SOUNDS GOOD. GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, JOHN FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
WE HAVE TWO MORE TOPICS BEFORE WE GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[3.F. Presentation Of The Classification And Compensation Study By Evergreen Solutions. (B. West – 15 Min)]
I'M BEING TOLD THAT THE GROUP HERE BY EVERGREENS.SOLUTIONS HAS A TIME CONSTRAINT THAT THEY NEED TO BE AT AND SO FORTH,
[02:45:07]
SO I'M GOING TO MOVE THEM UP.SHE'S FEELING UNDER THE WEATHER.
>> SHE'S GOT SOMETHING CONTAGIOUS, BUT I THINK DAN IS GOING TO HELP OUT WITH IT, AND THEN BEVERLY IS ALSO AVAILABLE BY PHONE IF YOU FOLKS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, IF DAN CAN'T ANSWER.
>> ESPECIALLY WHEN WE GET TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
>> WHEN WE EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE CAN DIAL BEVERLY AND YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND HER.
>> MARIE, LET ME INTRODUCE KELLY.
>> [OVERLAPPING] SHE'S A CHAMP. I TAKE THAT.
>> KELLY BROCHIE. SHE'S FROM EVERGREEN SOLUTIONS.
SHE'S OUR PROJECT LEAD ON THIS ENDEAVOR AND WE'RE PLEASED TO HAVE HER.
>> [OVERLAPPING] FIRST TIME WE'VE EVER SEEN HER FROM THE WAIST.
>> RIGHT. ALWAYS IN ZOOM CALLS.
>> IT'S ALL BEEN ZOOM CALLS UP TO THIS POINT.
>> WHAT WAS YOUR LAST NAME AGAIN?
>> FROM THIS POINT SEE IF YOU CAN REMEMBER THAT LATER.
>> GO RIGHT AHEAD, KELLY, IF YOU WOULD.
>> FIRST I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR HAVING ME HERE.
WE DO HAVE A POWERPOINT THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH.
THE FIRST PART OF IT IS REALLY JUST US GOING OVER WHAT OUR PROJECT ENTAIL.
WHY WE'RE HERE? WE'RE DOING A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
WE WANTED TO LOOK AT INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL EQUITY.
>> SORRY. I DIDN'T WANT TO GET TOO FAR AHEAD.
>> YOU CAN JUST KEEP IT RIGHT HERE FOR THIS ONE.
IF YOU TAKE THE NOTES SECTION DOWN, IT'LL MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT BIGGER FOR PEOPLE TO READ.
>> CLICK ON THE THING DOWN THE BOTTOM.
>> IN THAT CASE, YOU'LL SEE SOME MISSPELLINGS AND THE CLICKED IN NOTE, JUST IGNORE THEM.
>> I CAN CONVERT IT TO PDF REAL QUICK.
>> THAT'S OKAY. WE'LL JUST GO AHEAD.
>> WE CAME OUT, WE TALKED TO SEVERAL EMPLOYEES ACROSS ALL DIFFERENT PARTS.
WE WANTED TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.
WE LOOKED AT THE CURRENT CONDITIONS.
WHERE ARE YOU GUYS PAID INTERNALLY COMPARED TO SUPERVISORS BASED ON TENURE? THEN ALSO EXTERNALLY, WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.
ALL OF YOUR EMPLOYEES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLETE A JOB ASSESSMENT TOOL, WHERE THEY GOT TO TELL US WHAT ARE THEIR DUTIES, WHAT ARE THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES.
THAT WAS A GREAT WAY FOR US TO COMPARE THEM TO THEIR JOB DESCRIPTIONS.
WE DID A COMPLETE COMPENSATION STUDY WHERE WE REALLY CAST A BROAD NET OF PEERS FOR YOU GUYS TO SEE WHERE THEY'RE PAYING AND WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] JUST A NOTE, I BELIEVE YOU GUYS ARE ALSO DOING THE WORK FOR LAKE CITY RIGHT NOW OR DID.
>> WE ARE FINISHING UP LAKE CITY AND SEA BROKE. YES.
HOLD ON A SECOND. THERE WE GO.
>> HAVE YOU TRIED JUST DOUBLE-CLICKING ON THE SLIDE? SOMETIMES THAT [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT'S OKAY. COULD YOU GO DOWN FOUR? AWESOME. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE EMPLOYEES REALLY LIKED ABOUT WORKING FOR GALVESTON REALLY IS THE LEADERSHIP.
THEY APPRECIATED BENEFITS, LEAVE ACCRUAL, THINGS THAT YOU ALWAYS GET IN PUBLIC SERVICE, BUT IT WAS REALLY AN APPRECIATION OF LEADERSHIP.
I THINK THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT EVERYBODY HERE.
THEIR CONCERNS REALLY DEALT WITH STAFFING SHORTAGES, RETIREMENT OPTIONS, AND QUITE HONESTLY, THEIR WAGES.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT MORE.
WE LOOKED AT WHERE ARE YOU GUYS AT RIGHT NOW.
YOU GUYS HAVE A REALLY STRONG SYSTEM WHERE THERE'S
[02:50:01]
A GOOD CONCENTRATION OF TENURE AND PAY GRADE PENETRATION.>> WE'RE OUT OF QUORUM. JUST ONE SECOND.
>> SHARON IS STILL HERE, I'M SORRY.
>> YOU HAD A REALLY GOOD RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TENURE AND PAY GRADE PENETRATION.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HELPED US IN OUR SOLUTION AND ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE CHOSE THE ONE WE DID, WHICH IS BASICALLY A COMPO RATIO, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT.
THEN IF YOU WANT TO GO DOWN TO SLIDE 8, THAT'S GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT ONE FOR US TO TALK ABOUT.
I DON'T EXPECT YOU GUYS TO READ ALL OF THIS.
YOU HAVE IT IN YOUR REPORT, BUT I REALLY WANT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE NUMBER OF PEER GROUPS THAT WE USED.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT NOT EVERY PEER GROUP WAS ASKED ABOUT THE SAME POSITIONS.
EVERY RESPONSE WAS ADJUSTED FOR COST OF LIVING.
YOU GUYS MENTIONED WE'RE DOING LAKE CITY.
LAKE CITY HAS A LOWER COST OF LIVING THAN THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR, THAT'S NOT AN EQUAL COMPARISON.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE WANTED TO LOOK AT IS DEPENDING ON THE POSITION, SOME POSITIONS AREN'T GOING TO MOVE.
WHO YOU'RE COMPETING FOR IS WHERE CAN I WORK AND NOT HAVE TO MOVE MY FAMILY, BUT THEN WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT DIRECTOR POSITIONS AND ABOVE, THOSE ARE PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE COMPETING WITH STATEWIDE IF NOT NATIONALLY.
YOU'LL SEE, I BELIEVED WE LOOKED AT PANAMA CITY.
WE LOOKED AT SOME OTHER BIGGER CITIES BECAUSE WE REALLY WANT TO REINFORCE THAT THIS IS NOT AN APPLES-TO-APPLES-BY JOB.
YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO FIND A PEER GROUP THAT IS AN APPLES FOR APPLES FOR EVERY SINGLE POSITION.
WHAT WE FOUND IN SLIDE 9, IS THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MARKET WHEN WE MADE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS, THE BEGINNING OF YOUR PAY SCALES, YOU'RE ABOUT 12 PERCENT BELOW MARKET.
ONCE WE GET TO THE TOP OF THE RANGE, YOU EVEN OUT.
THAT'S REALLY BECAUSE YOU GUYS HAVE A SHORTER RANGE SPREAD THAN EVERYBODY ELSE, WHICH IS NOT A BAD THING.
THEN YOU CAN COME DOWN. WE COULD SKIP 10.
THAT'S WHERE WE LOOKED AT THE COMPA RATIO.
YOU GUYS HAVE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED THIS.
IT'S GOT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT COSTS.
WHAT WE REALLY DID IS BECAUSE YOU HAD SUCH A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH TENURE, WE JUST ADJUSTED THE PAY SCALES.
YOU WERE WITH MARKET AND THEN WHEREVER THEY FELL WITHIN THEIR CURRENT PAY POSITION OR THEIR CURRENT PAY SCALE, THEY WERE IN THAT SAME POSITION IN THE NEW.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? WHEREVER THEY FELL WITHIN MIDPOINT IS WHERE WE ARE.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT BEFORE WE START TALKING ABOUT NEXT STEPS?
>> YOU UNDERSTAND WHY WE DO THAT? BECAUSE PEOPLE MOVE UP IN THE SCALE BASED ON THEIR TEAM.
WHAT WE DID WANT TO DO IS ADJUST THE RANGE UP AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU LOST ALL YOUR TENURE.
NOW YOU'RE GETTING PAID THE SAME AS THE GUY THAT JUST GOT HIRED.
THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU GET PLACED IN THE RANGE.
THE RANGE MOVES AND YOU HAVE TO MOVE WITH THE RANGE.
>> I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTICE OR NOTE THAT EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE RECEIVED A THREE PERCENT COST OF LIVING BECAUSE THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT CONTINUALLY CAME UP IN OUR ARRAY.
I'M SURE YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE NEWS AND YOU'VE SEEN WHAT THE COST OF LIVING AND INFLATION HAS BEEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED, WHERE WE WENT, AND NOW WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT WHERE WE'RE GOING.
ONE OF THE BIG THINGS AGAIN, THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE EMPLOYEES AS THEY WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR RETIREMENT.
RETIREMENT CAN BE A RECRUITMENT NIGHTMARE.
YOU GUYS HAVE MADE A VERY SMART DECISION TO MOVE TO A FIVE-YEAR INVESTMENT PERIOD.
YOU'RE GOING TO INCREASE THE FACTOR AND THEN THERE'S A LONG-TERM GOAL TO MOVE TO TMRS.
>> WE ARE SUGGESTING THIS[OVERLAPPING] TO THE PENSION BOARD.
WE DO NOT HAVE AUTHORITY TO IMPLEMENT ANY OF THIS.
>> THAT IS ONE THING ON THE FULL REPORT THAT YOU GUYS HAVE, WE ARE SUGGESTING.
>> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT TMRS OR ALL OF THEM?
>> WELL NO. TMRS IS A LONG-TERM GOAL, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN PROBABLY WHILE ALL OF US ARE HERE.
BUT IF WE CAN NAIL THESE TOP 3, WE WILL EVENTUALLY GET TO THE FOURTH ONE. THAT'S THE GOAL.
>> IF YOU HIT THOSE FIRST TWO, YOU'RE GOING TO BE ALMOST AS COMPETITIVE AS TMRS.
>> FIVE-YEAR INVESTMENT MEANS YOU'VE WORKED HERE FIVE-YEARS, YOU'RE 100 PERCENT INVESTED.
>> RIGHT NOW, WE'VE A CAP ON THE CIVILIAN PLAN OF $5,000 A MONTH.
[02:55:06]
NO MATTER HOW MUCH, ONCE YOU GET THAT CAP, YOU'RE THERE.BUT THE BIGGEST THING IS THAT THE CAP IS CALC, YOU GET YOUR PAYOUT CALCULATION BASED ON YOUR AVERAGE MONTHLY COMPENSATION TIMES A FACTOR.
>> FOR COMPARATIVE SAKE, THE FIREFIGHTERS IS THREE.
>> WE ARE PROPOSING THAT THAT FACTOR GET INCREASED BECAUSE IN THE PAST WE JUST RAISE THE CAP, BUT THAT HELPS SIX PEOPLE, SEVEN PEOPLE, THOSE PEOPLE LIKE ME, I DON'T WANT TO HELP PEOPLE LIKE ME.
I WANT TO HELP THE GUY THAT'S PICKING UP TRASH.
I WANT TO HELP THE GUY THAT'S WORKING IN PARKS.
IF YOU INCREASE THE FACTOR DAY 1, IT IMPROVES EVERYBODY'S PENSION FROM THE LOWEST PAID PERSON AND ACTUALLY TO THE HIGHEST PAID ONCE YOU CAPTURE CAP, IT DOESN'T HELP ME ANY ALL, BUT IT HELPS A LOWER PAID EMPLOYEES.
THAT'S WHY THAT WAS SUCH A BIG THING IN HER STUDY, WAS TO INCREASE THAT FACTOR.
>> IN THE FULL REPORT, WE DO SUGGEST THAT YOU REVIEW ALL OF THIS WITH AN ATTORNEY TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE HITTING ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS WITHIN THE CONTRACTS FOR RETIREMENT.
WE ARE WORKING IN THE NEXT SLIDE.
OUR JOB DESCRIPTION COORDINATOR IS WORKING TO UPDATE ALL OF YOUR JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND THAT'S A BIG PART OF THAT MORALE, THAT ISSUE THAT A LOT OF EMPLOYEES HAD.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE BEING PAID FOR THE DUTIES THAT THEY WERE PERFORMING AND THAT THOSE DUTIES ARE DOCUMENTED.
WE WILL COMPLETE AN HR TRAINING.
IT WAS GOING TO BE TODAY, HOWEVER, WITH BEVERLY OUT SICK, WE'RE GOING TO POSTPONE THAT AND DO THAT PART VIRTUALLY.
THE PENSION REFORM THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WHERE YOU GUYS ARE MOVING WITH THE BENEFITS.
THEN THE LAST SUGGESTION IS TO MOVE TO A MERIT-BASED SYSTEM.
YOU GUYS ALREADY HEARD AS PEOPLE ARE HERE, THE LONGER THEY ARE HERE, THE FURTHER THEY MOVE THROUGHOUT THEIR RAGE.
BUT HOW ARE YOU REWARDING THOSE WHO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND? HOW ARE YOU REWARDING THOSE WHO BRING EFFICIENCIES WHO CAN CUT YOUR COST.
WHO CAN DO MORE FOR LESS, BUT SET THAT EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN REQUESTED FROM THE EMPLOYEES.
IT IS A GREAT MORALE MOTIVATOR.
WE'RE HEARING THAT A LOT IN THE RECRUITMENT.
>> IT'S ALSO VERY TRICKY IN A GOVERNMENT LEGITY BECAUSE YOU CANNOT DO BONUSES AND YOU CANNOT DO THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT'S BEEN DONE IN OTHER CITIES AND STUDIED, BUT IT'S NOT AS EASY FOR US TO DO.
IF YOU SIT DOWN AND TALK TO KEITH GRAY NOW THAT HE'S RETIRED, HE'LL TALK ABOUT HIS BONUS STRUCTURE AT CENTER POINT.
I'M LIKE, WOW, THAT'S REALLY NICE.
BUT WE COULDN'T DO IT THAT WAY.
BUT THERE ARE WAYS WE CAN DO IT.
THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON IN THE FUTURE YEARS BRINGING IT TO YOU.
>> WHEN I WAS A COUNCIL LAST, WE DID FOR EMPLOYEES WHO'VE MADE LESS THAN 30 BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO INCREASES FOR EMPLOYEES THAT MADE LIKE LESS THAN 30,000.
WE GAVE THEM $1,000 EACH AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
HOW COULD WE DO THAT THEN IF WE COULD?
>> THAT WAS A ONETIME PAY ADJUSTMENT.
THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL WHAT YOU CALL IT.
BUT ALSO ONETIME PAY ADJUSTMENT IS ONE THING, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL WE DON'T UNDO ALL THE WORK THEY'VE JUST DONE BY MESSING WITH JUST THIS LITTLE PIECE OR THIS LITTLE PIECE, THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE HAD TO PAY CORRECT.
BECAUSE OVER THE TIME WE'D SAY, WELL, WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY SO LET'S JUST ADDRESS THIS GROUP AN ISSUE.
THEN WE HAVE TOTALLY SCREWED UP OUR PAY SYSTEM.
THESE GUYS HAVE GOT US BACK ON TRACK.
>> THAT ONETIME PAY ADJUSTMENT IS NOT A MERIT-BASED SYSTEM.
THAT COULD BE MORE OF A COST OF LIVING TYPE OF ADJUSTMENT.
THE BRIGHT SIDE, YOU GUYS HAVE REALLY QUALITY, GOOD EMPLOYEES WHO LOVE WORKING HERE, WHO ARE PROUD TO WORK HERE.
THEY JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.
>> I WOULD TELL YOU, I HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMED WITH RESPONSE FROM EMPLOYEES THANKING US FOR THE WORK THAT WE IMPLEMENTED AS PART OF THIS BUDGET AS A RESULT OF THEIR WORK.
IT WAS WONDERFUL AND THEN THE STAFF TRULY APPRECIATED THE EFFORT YOU GUYS PUT IN HELPING US DO THAT.
THEN I'VE HAD ACTUALLY ONE PERSON TOLD ME, SO THIS COUNCIL WILL GO DOWN AS THE ONLY COUNCIL THAT EVER STOOD UP FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
I THINK THAT IS A HUGE COMPLIMENT TO YOU GUYS.
KELLY, THE ONLY CONCERN I HAVE THAT YOU WOULD HAD A CHANCE TO INTERVIEW COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THEIR PAY.
>> THAT'S IT. PROBABLY NOT ENOUGH.
[LAUGHTER] BUT I'VE NEVER MET ANYBODY WHO SAID DON'T PAY ME MORE. RIGHT?
>> WHENEVER YOU CAN, YOU CAN ADD ZERO TO A ZEROS.
[03:00:02]
KELLY, WERE YOU THROUGH?>> YES, SIR. I'M HERE FOR QUESTIONS.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR KELLY? VERY GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THIS WAS HELPFUL. THE MAYOR AND I WERE UP IN LAKE CITY THE DAY IN THEIR HOUSE.
HE ALLUDED TO IT THAT WE LEARNED LATE IN OUR PROCESS THAT THEY WERE WORKING POLICE CITY, WHICH ACTUALLY HELPED.
I DON'T THINK THAT GIVES YOU A GOOD COMPARATIVE BECAUSE THEY ARE THE SECOND.
WE TRADE A LOT OF EMPLOYEES WITH LAKE CITY.
>> IT DID WORK OUT. A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU DO THESE MARKET STUDIES, YOU'RE LOOKING AT WHERE THEY WERE PAYING IN THE PAST BECAUSE WE WERE CURRENTLY DOING LAKE CITY, WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING SEABROOK, PLUS WE PROBABLY HAVE ABOUT 12 OTHER TEAMS WORKING AT THIS AREA PLUS NORTH DALLAS.
WE KNOW WHERE THEY WERE GOING, SO WE WERE ABLE TO PUT IN THEIR APPROVED PAY PLANS VERSUS LOOKING AT WHERE THEY WERE IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
>> SHE ALSO TOOK INTO ACCOUNT NOT JUST THESE OTHER CITIES, BUT ALSO THE PARK BOARD.
THE BOARD, WHICH TURNED TO BE THE COUNTY.
BECAUSE WE DON'T JUST LOSE EMPLOYEES TO OTHER CITIES, ESPECIALLY AS YOU MOVE DOWN THE RANKS, OR EVEN AT THE TOP OF THE RANKS, WE BLEED OFF GOOD PEOPLE TO UTMB, WE BLEED THEM OFF TO TEXAS A&M.
SHE TOOK ALL THAT INTO ACCOUNT, WHICH WAS A BIG HELP.
THEY DID A GREAT JOB. WE APPRECIATE IT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT POP UP, DAVE AND BEVERLY CAN GET A HOLD OF ME.
>> VERY GOOD. WE ARE MOVING TO OUR LAST OPEN SESSION ITEM,
[3.E. Discussion Of The Draft City Of Galveston 2023 State Legislative Agenda (S Bakko -15 Min)]
THIS IS ITEM 3E IF WE COULD PLEASE DO NOW.>> 3E, DISCUSSION OF THE GRAPH CITY OF GALVESTON, 2023 STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. [NOISE]
>> SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST, COME ON ELLIE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT'S WHAT BETWEEN YOU AND THE LUNGS.
>> GLAD TO HAVE YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE, ELLIE.
>> OH, ABSOLUTELY. I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY TAKE 15 SECONDS TO COMMENT ON THE ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS.
IT IS SO TRUE, IT'S COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION.
THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL FOR LITERALLY DECADES.
BACK IN THE '80S THEY CREATED THE INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS TO TRY AND ADDRESS THE SILOED EFFECTS OF FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING.
WHEN I DID MY LITTLE STENT BETWEEN EMPLOYMENT WITH THE CITY OF GALVESTON OVER AT HARRIS COUNTY, I WORKED FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, OF COURSE, ANALYSTS OFFICE AND I PREPARED A REPORT ON THE COST OF HOMELESSNESS TO HARRIS COUNTY.
YOU CAN REALLY BEGIN TO SEE THE SILOED EFFECTS OF THOSE FUNDING STREAMS AND HOW COORDINATION OF SERVICES CAN GET BLOCKED.
[NOISE] I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO THINK ABOUT HDAC AS A WAY OF COORDINATING HOMELESSNESS ON A REGIONAL LEVEL.
BECAUSE IT IS A REGIONAL PROBLEM.
IT'S ALL ABOUT SERVICE, ENRICHED HOUSING AND COMMUNICATION.
>> HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL, THEY ARE THE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS HERE.
>> BUT ANYWAY, I COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITH THE OBSERVATIONS THAT BRIAN AND OTHERS WERE MAKING THE VISIT, SO VERY TRUE.
YOU HAVE YOUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA BEFORE YOU.
JUST AS A REMINDER, OUR AGENDA SERVES THREE PURPOSES FOR US: IT SETS FORTH OUR POLICY PRIORITIES AND POSITIONS ON AREAS THAT ARE PRIORITIES FOR GALVESTON AND ALSO POSITIONS ON ANTICIPATED LEGISLATION THAT WE SEE COMING DURING SESSION.
IT ALSO PROVIDES WHAT I CALL CATCHALL PROVISIONS.
PROTECTING HOME RULE, OPPOSING UNFUNDED MANDATES.
THINGS THAT ALLOW US TO TAKE POSITIONS DURING SESSION WHEN SOMETHING'S SUDDENLY POPS UP AND WE CAN'T COME BACK, THE COUNCIL CAN DECLARE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO TAKE A POSITION.
I CAN GO TO CITY MANAGEMENT AND CITY MANAGEMENT CAN GIVE ME AN ASSESSMENT OF WHAT POSITION THE CITY WOULD LIKE TO TAKE.
THEN THIRDLY, WE HAVE OUR LEGISLATIVE REQUESTS WHERE WE WILL ASK OUR DELEGATION TO SPECIFICALLY AUTHOR AND FILE A BILL ON OUR BEHALF.
THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA [NOISE] IS ORGANIZED IN THOSE BASICALLY TWO SECTIONS,
[03:05:02]
THE POLICY POSITIONS AND THEN THE LEGISLATIVE REQUEST.WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE POLICY POSITIONS, I'VE CATEGORIZED THOSE IN FOUR SECTIONS: MAINTAINING A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY, STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIP ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, PROMOTING SOLUTIONS THAT ARE UNIQUE TO GALVESTON AND OPPOSING STATE AND FEDERAL UNFUNDED MANDATES.
MAINTAINING A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY.
NUMBER 1 ON OUR PRIORITY IS GOING TO BE THE COASTAL STORM SURGE PROTECTION SYSTEM.
THIS IS A [NOISE] CRITICAL TIME FOR THIS PROJECT.
WE ARE ON THE VERGE OF GETTING AUTHORIZATION FROM CONGRESS FOR THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS COASTAL TEXAS STUDY PROJECT.
SIMULTANEOUSLY, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE INITIAL FUNDING.
THE CORE IS LOOKING FOR IT, WHICH IS 100 MILLION THE FIRST YEAR, 500 MILLION THE SECOND YEAR.
WHAT THAT MEANS FOR US IS BEING ABLE TO GO TO THE LEGISLATURE AND ADVOCATE FOR THE NON-FEDERAL SHARE.
[NOISE] NOW THIS PROJECT SERVES THE TREMENDOUS ECONOMIC BENEFIT FOR THIS STATE BECAUSE OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTIONS THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH THE GATE SYSTEM AND OTHER STORM SURGE PROTECTIONS.
BUT THIS PROJECT ALSO PRESENTS AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR GALVESTON WITH REGARDS TO BEACH MAINTENANCE, NOURISHMENT AND DOING PROTECTION.
WITH THE DOUBLE DUNE EXPANDED BEACH PORTION OF THE PROJECT, THAT CONSTRUCTION WOULD BE 65, 35 AND [NOISE] THE SIX YEAR WE NOURISHMENT MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE WOULD BE 50, 50.
FIFTY FEDERAL, 50 FOR THE NON-FEDERAL SPONSOR.
THAT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR GALVESTON BEACHES.
TWITTER WHICH FOR BRIAN HAS SPENT MORE TIME ON THAN YOU EVER THOUGHT OR WISH TO.
[LAUGHTER] THIS IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR TWITTER.
WE'RE LOOKING AT AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY RESTRUCTURE THE PURPOSE AND ROLE OF TWITTER.
SENATOR LIKE MIDDLETON HAS A REAL INTEREST IN PURSUING THAT RESTRUCTURE.
SENATOR TAYLOR ALONG WITH REPRESENTATIVE BARTON AND THE 86 LEGISLATURE PUT FORWARD LEGISLATION TO CREATE A FUNDING STRUCTURE BOARD COMMITTEE WHERE THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE WOULD EACH HAVE APPOINTMENTS TO LOOK AT THE FUNDING STRUCTURE OF TWITTER.
COVID HAPPENED, THEY EXTENDED THE PURPOSE OF THAT BILL.
BUT THE APPOINTMENTS WERE MADE BY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR VERY LATE THIS YEAR AND WORK WAS NEVER ACCOMPLISHED.
THERE'S ALSO DISCUSSION ABOUT EXTENDING THAT AGAIN.
BUT I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE LEGISLATORS LIKE SENATOR MIDDLETON.
I THINK SENATOR CREIGHTON HAS A WHOLE A LOT OF INTERESTS.
BUT THE CONCEPT THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN PROPOSING HAS BEEN LOOKING AT TRANSITIONING TWITTER TO A REINSURER ROLE, A LIMITED REINSURER ROLE.
WE'RE NOT SUGGESTING THAT TWITTER SHOULD BE OUT THERE COMPETING WITH A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR REINSURERS OUT THERE.
BUT OFFERING A LOW-COST ATTACHMENT UP TO $25,000, $35,000 WHERE ANYTHING ABOVE THAT TWITTER WOULD TAKE ON RESPONSIBILITY FOR.
THAT COULD ACT AS AN INCENTIVE TO LOWER THE RISK FOR INSURERS INVITING THEM TO COME BACK INTO THE COASTAL REGION AT A HIGHER LEVEL THAN THEY CURRENTLY ARE AND SPECIFICALLY TRY AND ENTICE THEM BACK INTO GALVESTON TO WRITE POLICIES WITH THE CONCEPT THAT IF YOU REALLY WANT TO CONTROL PREMIUM COSTS, YOU NEED TO DIVERSIFY YOUR RISK, BUT YOU ALSO NEED TO COMPETE.
YOU NEED TO HAVE COMPETITIVE PREMIUMS OUT THERE AND WITHOUT THE PRIVATE INSURERS HERE ACTIVELY WRITING POLICIES THAT'S HARD TO MAINTAIN.
>> SURPRISINGLY, THIS LAME-BRIAN IDEA HAS GOTTEN SOME TRACTION.
I THINK SENATOR CREIGHTON'S PARTICULARLY HAD SOME INTEREST IN BRIAN'S CONCEPT.
NOW, SADLY, THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY IS NOT ENTHUSED WITH OUR CONCEPT.
[03:10:06]
I KNOW THAT'S A SURPRISE TO YOU, [LAUGHTER] WHICH IS DIFFICULT.>> BUT CERTAIN COMPONENTS OF IT THEY ARE.
>> BUT THERE'S PROGRESS BEING MADE THERE TOO.
SOMETIMES YOU GOT TO THROW STUFF OUT LIKE THIS JUST TO GET AND MOVE THE NEEDLE A LITTLE BIT, AND WE GOT THE NEEDLE MOVE JUST FROM US.
JUST A LITTLE GIRL WAS DIDN'T MEET WITH THEM.
I THINK WE HAVE THE NEEDLE WITH THE INDUSTRY, A LOT ON BEHALF OF THE STATE AND WE'RE NOT GIVEN UP. TRUST ME WHEN WE WERE NOT GIVEN UP.
SALLY COULD FILL UP EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY FOR ME WORKING ON THIS.
IT'LL BE INSURANCE THAT RUNS THOSE OFF THIS ISLAND LOAN FOR TAX AS WELL. WE'VE GOTTEN. [OVERLAPPING]
ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS THAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO MAKE IS WHETHER YOU'RE TALKING WINDSTORM INSURANCE OR FLOOD INSURANCE, YOU ARE SLOWLY BUT SURELY BEGINNING TO TALK A SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUE.
BECAUSE OUR INDUSTRIES, OUR EMPLOYERS ON THIS ISLAND, ON OUR COAST, ARE GOING TO HAVE INCREASING DIFFICULTY RECRUITING WORKERS.
WHEN THAT STARTS HAPPENING, THAT STARTS IMPACTING OPERATIONS, WHICH IMPACTS SUPPLY CHAINS, WHICH IMPACTS BUSINESSES. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WHEN YOU IMPACT COASTAL POPULATIONS, YOU IMPACT THE ENTIRE ECONOMY.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO DISCUSS AND I THINK BRIAN'S COMMENT ABOUT INCREMENTAL IS VERY IMPORTANT.
THIS IS GETTING A SERIOUS DISCUSSION GOING ON THIS AND AS WE HAVE MENTIONED FOLKS, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A LIGHT SWITCH TODAY, IT'S TWITTER, TOMORROW IT'S TWITTER REINSURER.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S A TRANSITION INVOLVED HERE, BUT THE DISCUSSION HAS GOT TO HAPPEN AND THIS IS A RARE OPPORTUNITY WITH THEM BEING DEBT FREE.
>> CAN I ASK JUST A BRIEF QUESTION? IS THIS HOW WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT TO LEGISLATORS? LIKE IS THIS GOING TO BE OUR HANDOUT?
>> YES, IT IS. I WON'T PUT IT [OVERLAPPING]
>> NOBODY IS GOING TO READ THAT MANY PAGES.
>> WELL, THE LEGISLATOR WON'T, BUT TRUST ME, THE STAFF DO.
OUR AGENDA ISN'T WRITTEN FOR THE LEGISLATOR, IS WRITTEN FOR THEIR STAFF BECAUSE THIS BECOMES A RESOURCE FOR THEM.
THE DATA, THE INFORMATION, THE CONTEXT OF THE ISSUE, IT BECOMES AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE FOR THEM. WHAT WE DO [OVERLAPPING]
>> I WANT TO READ IT REAL SAM, HE'S GOING TO COME THERE. [LAUGHTER]
>> I'M ALWAYS THERE TO HELP THEM, BUT I THINK THAT HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT OF OUR ISSUES IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
>> LET ME ASK THIS AND I KNOW WE WANT TO GO OVER ALL OF THESE SALLY.
ARE THERE ONES THAT STAND OUT DO YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE OR JUST HIGHLIGHT?
>> I WILL DO WHATEVER YOU WOULD LIKE FOR ME TO DO RECOGNIZING YOU HAVE AN EXTREMELY FULL DAY TODAY.
>> WE ALL KNOW. I DON'T WANT TO CUT YOU SHORT.
WE'VE BEEN THROUGH TWO OF THEM IN ABOUT 15 MINUTES, SO.
>> WELL, AND I DO HAVE A BAD HABIT OF GOING ON.
>> OH, NO, NOT AT ALL. I DIDN'T KNOW.
>> IF I MAY MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU THAT PART BECAUSE THAT [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING].
>> WOULD YOU PIN THOSE OUT [INAUDIBLE]?
>> WHY DON'T WE TOUCH ON THAT THEN MAYOR ASK YOU GUYS TO REVIEW AND GET BACK WITH SALLY NEXT WEEK IF YOU COULD.
BUT IF YOU COULD HIGHLIGHT THOSE THAT YOU FEEL ARE IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW ABOUT, I'LL BE GREAT.
>> YES. ABSOLUTELY. WHAT WE HAVE IN OUR PRIORITY SECTION IS WE WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ANY LEGISLATIVE OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE TO ENGAGE IN A DISCUSSION ON EXPANDING HOT USE FOR TOURISM-ORIENTED PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE STARTED THIS DISCUSSION BACK IN 2017 WITH PROVIDING THAT FLEXIBILITY IN THE SECTION OF THE CODE WHERE ELIGIBLE COASTAL MUNICIPALITIES CURRENTLY HAVE AUTHORITY FOR BEACH PATROL, LIFEGUARD SERVICES, MARINE SAFETY, AND PARK LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WE WANTED TO ADD AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD INCLUDE TOURISM-ORIENTED ENFORCEMENT.
COLLEGE STATION HAS RECEIVED NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR THEIR TOURISM ORIENTED POLICING.
THEY HAVE A SPECIFIC UNIT AND THERE'S A LOT INVOLVED IN TRAINING AND PERSPECTIVE AND CONTEXT IN THAT FORM OF LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.
[03:15:01]
>> YOU READ THE STATE LAW NOW.
IT SAYS YOU CAN CREATE A SPECIAL SECURITY GROUP FOR THE PURPOSE OF TOURISM.
>> WHAT I HAVE FOUND IS THE AUTHORITY FOR THE BEACH PATROL AND PARK LAW ENFORCEMENT.
NOW, WHAT I'VE UNDERSTOOD IS IN ORDER FOR US TO DEVELOP A TOURISM-ORIENTED POLICE UNIT, WE WOULD NEED SOMETHING BEYOND WHAT IS DESCRIBED IN THE CURRENT LAW.
>> WELL, AND THIS WAS DISCUSSED AT THE PARK BOARD.
THEY'RE GOING TO COME OUT 100 PERCENT WHEN THEY LOBBYISTS AGAINST THIS.
>> YES. WE'RE NOT SEEKING LEGISLATION. [OVERLAPPING]
>> OR THEY BE PREEMPTED THOUGH WITH THIS? WHAT AMAZES BILLS THIS YEAR BECAUSE THEY ARE A TAX-FUNDED ENTITY, HOW DO THEY HAVE LOBBYISTS?
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY ARE NOT COVERED BY THIS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT [OVERLAPPING]
>> BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT A GOVERNMENT ENTITY.
>> THEY'RE NOT A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY.
>> SAY THAT TO THEM THIS AFTERNOON. WILL YOU PLEASE?
>> I WILL AND I BROUGHT THE DEFINITION AS DESCRIBED BY BOTH TEXAS AND FEDERAL.
>> LET ME SAY TWO THINGS ABOUT YESTERDAY'S DISCUSSION ON THIS.
ONE, WE'RE NOT SEEKING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD APPLY STATEWIDE.
WE TRIED THIS IN 2017 WITH IT JUST CARVED OUT FOR ELIGIBLE COASTAL MUNICIPALITIES.
WE COULD NOT FIND AN AUTHOR FOR THE BILL.
LET ME JUST QUICKLY SAY, THE HOTELIERS ARE OPPOSED TO THIS LEGISLATION.
BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT THEY ARE ALREADY PAYING TAXES TO SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THEY FEEL LIKE THIS IS DOUBLE TAXATION.
MY ARGUMENT IS THIS AND IT'S REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO START WITH THE HOTEL INDUSTRY, RECOGNIZING THAT IN TODAY'S WORLD, A KEY COMPONENT OF TOURISM MARKETING IS TOURISM SURETY, WHICH IS [OVERLAPPING] BEING ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE AND PROTECT YOUR SAFE AND SECURE TOURISM DESTINATION REPUTATION AND IT ONLY TAKES A LAS VEGAS, A FLORIDA, ONE OF THAT CAN DO WHOLESALE DAMAGE TO THAT REPUTATION.
THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD SAY AND I KNOW YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING THERE.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS THAT MAKES GALVESTON UNIQUE.
WE ARE A SMALL CITY WITH A SMALL CITY BUDGET THAT SUPPORTS A POLICE DEPARTMENT, FOR A SMALL CITY THAT'S SUPPORTS SEVEN MILLION TOURISTS A YEAR.
THERE'S ALMOST NO OTHER COMMUNITY THAT FACES THAT SAME UNIQUE CONSTRAINT [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE STATE WANTS US TO BE OPEN FOR BUSINESS TO EVERYBODY THAT EVER WANTS TO COME TO THE BEACH, BUT YET THEY DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO HELP US SUPPORT THAT MISSION.
WE'RE HAPPY TO DO THAT WE'LL ROLL OUT THE WELCOME MAT FOR ANYBODY AS THE STATE WANTS US TO, BUT THEY OUGHT TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THAT MISSION AND THEY DO NOT DO THAT.
>> MY SUGGESTION IS UNTIL WE CAN ENGAGE THE HOTEL INDUSTRY AND RECOGNIZING THAT FEELING SAFE IS ESSENTIAL FOR TOURISM AND THAT WE HAVE THIS SIGNIFICANT IMBALANCE THAT EXISTS ON GALVESTON.
THIS IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE.
>> WE'RE NOT PROPOSING ANY LEGISLATION CONCERNING THIS, BUT [OVERLAPPING].
>> POSITION SO THAT IF LEGISLATION DOES OCCUR CONCERNING THIS.
>> I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THAT AUTHOR [OVERLAPPING] THE POLICY POSITIONS ARE MEANT FOR THAT.
THEY'RE MEANT TO GIVE CITY MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE ON WHERE I CAN GO AND WHAT I CAN ADVOCATE AND THE POSITION THAT [OVERLAPPING]
>> ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ON HERE, I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU ON IS THE BEACH PARTS AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THE BEACH PART BE MOVE CLOSER TO THE STORM SURGE PROTECTION.
SINCE WE KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE ABILITY TO HAVE INCLINE OUR PROJECTS, BE COUNTED THE INCLINE, WHICH ARE BIG KEY AT THE LEGISLATION AS FAR AS THEIR FUNDING.
>> I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT AND I WANT TO ALSO MAKE THE DISTINCTION, YESTERDAY THEY CONVERGED THOSE TWO TOPICS AND THERE ARE TWO VERY SEPARATE POSITIONS.
[03:20:05]
ONE POSITION IS THE COASTAL STORM SURGE PROTECTION SYSTEM.THE OTHER POSITION IS SUPPORTING STATE FUNDING, INCREASING STATE FUNDING FOR BEACH NOURISHMENT AND DUN PROTECTION, WHICH IS THE KEPPRA MONIES THAT JELLO ADMINISTERS.
I APOLOGIZE, I SHOULD NOT BE USING.
>> WHEN YOU SAY YESTERDAY, WHAT ARE YOU REFERRING TO?
>> I'M SORRY. THE PART BOARD HAD THEIR BOARD OF TRUSTEES [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT'S COASTAL EROSION PLANNING AND RESPONSE ACT AS KEPPRA.
>> WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THAT AFTER THE DISTRICT HEALTH PROJECTS, WE ATTEND TO A PROJECT, WE HAVE TO USE THAT.
>> OTHER PARTNERSHIP ADVOCACY WE'RE SUPPORTING THE TEXAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE COMMISSION REPORT AND THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT THEY WANT TO MAKE.
WE'RE SUPPORTING THE PORT AND THEIR EFFORTS TO GET MORE PORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE FUNDING.
ONE, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR INCREASING THAT 40 MILLION TO 75 MILLION AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A BILLION DOLLAR TO CAPITALIZE THE SHIPPING INFRASTRUCTURE
>> MIGHT I SUGGEST GUYS, SALLY HAS GIVEN THIS TO YOU IN UNUSUAL SALE IN FACT SHE IS DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
THIS IS ON YOUR DECEMBER AGENDA TO VOTE ON IT.
I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE EACH OF YOU TO DIGEST THIS SCHEDULE SOMETIME WITH SALLY, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AND LET HER GO THROUGH THIS WITH YOU ONE ON ONE BECAUSE SHE IS TOUCHING ON SOME VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DIVE INTO, PROBABLY YOUR SATISFACTION ON CERTAIN LEVELS IN THIS WORKSHOP GIVEN ARE PRESSED FOR TIME AND EVERYTHING TODAY, I WOULD REALLY STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET WITH SALLY.
SHE MAKES WILL HERSELF AVAILABLE.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN SALLY GETS HOME.
>> I HAVE A GREAT OFFICE [LAUGHTER]
>> CAN YOU ASK YOUR QUESTION, I'D LIKE TO HEAR IT.
>> WELL JOHN HAD IT [OVERLAPPING].
>> IF YOU COULD HIT ON THE TOPIC OF THE PUBLIC RETIREMENT SYSTEM GOALS BECAUSE [OVERLAPPING] I'VE ALREADY GOT COMMENTS ON THIS ONE.
>> THE PUBLIC RETIREMENT SYSTEM GOALS.
>> WE WANTED TO PROMOTE SOME BEST PRACTICES THAT CAME OUT OF OUR EXPERIENCE IN DEVELOPING THE POLICE PENSION LEGISLATION THAT WAS ADOPTED IN 2019.
IN FACT, DAN BUCKLEY WAS INVITED TO TESTIFY ON THE INTERIM CHARGE DEALING WITH THE TEXAS LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS, RETIREMENT ACT, GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT.
BASICALLY, WHAT WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR IS A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PLAN SPONSOR AND THE GOVERNING BOARD SO THAT THERE'S A GREATER DEVELOPED REVIEW AND CONCUR WHEN DEALING WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF THE PLAN.
BUT SPECIFICALLY, IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MAJOR CHANGES TO THE PLAN, YOU HAVE A SUPER MAJORITY IS ONE.
THE SECOND IS THAT THE PLAN IS ADMINISTERED IN AN ACTUARIALLY SOUND FASHION WITH A CLOSED 30 YEAR DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION RATE.
CHANGES SHOULDN'T INCREASE THE UNFUNDED LIABILITY.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE CHANGES, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE FIND A WAY TO PAY FOR IT BASICALLY.
ANY ADDITIONAL INCREASES TO UNFUNDED LIABILITIES SHOULD BE APPROVED BY THE CITY SPONSOR.
RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE A REAL IMBALANCE WITH THE GOVERNING BOARD WHERE THE CITY AS A SPONSOR HAS LITTLE REPRESENTATION.
WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO VOTING FOR THESE CHANGES, FISCAL IMPACTS CAN OCCUR.
WELL, HERE'S WHAT WE DID, JUST MAKE THE CHECK OUT IN THIS AMOUNT.
WE'RE TRYING TO CURTAIL THAT BECAUSE THAT IS INCREASING THAT UNFUNDED LIABILITY, WHICH IS SEVERELY DAMAGING TO THE PENSION PLAN, TO THE PEOPLE WHO BENEFIT FROM THOSE PENSION PLANS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT MORE EQUAL REPRESENTATION ON THE BOARD.
>> WITH THE POLICE, WERE THEY GETTING CLOSER TO THEIR, WE HAVE THAT SO IT'S MAINLY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT'S THE BEST PRACTICES TO START THINGS
THE CITY OF IRVING IS GOING AFTER POLICE PENSION, I THINK IT'S POLICE OR FIRE I CAN'T REMEMBER, BUT THEY'RE LOOKING AT WHAT GALVESTON DID IN 2019.
[03:25:01]
THAT IS HOW [OVERLAPPING]>> WE HAVE BECOME THE BENCHMARK, AND THAT'S TO THE CREDIT OF DAN AND JEFF GAYNOR, I WILL GIVE THEM ALL CREDIT AS SALLY [OVERLAPPING].
>> NOTE TO THE CREDIT OF LATE REPRESENTATIVE [FOREIGN] CHIEF OF STAFF BECAUSE THAT BILL WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT THEM. I CAN ASSURE YOU.
>> WHEN YOU'RE SAYING SUPER-MAJORITY, YOU MEAN?
>> EXCUSE ME. BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD, JOHN ANY MORE?
>> NO, THOSE WERE MY ONLY ONE.
I PROBABLY HAVE QUESTIONS ON OTHER STUFF HERE, BUT I'LL GET WITH YOU OUTSIDE OF THIS MEETING.
I'VE ALREADY GOT COMMENTS ON THAT PORTION.
>> ONLY RAISES OUT EVERY TIME IT COMES UP EVERYBODY JUST NEEDS CLARIFICATION.
>> I WILL SAY, WITH THAT DAN AND I MET WITH EACH OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY AND I DID TRY AND INCORPORATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE THE ISSUES THAT YOU RAISED AND CONCERNS THAT YOU WANTED TO SEE IN THE AGENDA, SO I WILL SAY UPFRONT IF I GOT SOMETHING WRONG OR IF I MISSED SOMETHING, MY APOLOGIES.
>> THERE'S A DIFFERENT TWIST YOU'D LIKE ON IT, NOW IS THE TIME BEFORE WE CAN BRING IT TO VOTE NEXT WEEK OR NEXT MONTH.
>> WE GOT HAD WILLIAM HAD A QUESTION.
>> YES. THIS MORE PROCEDURAL, SIR.
YOU'RE IN AUSTIN AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU GET AWARE OF JUST SOMETHING OFF THE CHARTS, OFF THE WALL THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEET THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES WE'VE GIVEN YOU, BUT YOU KNOW THAT THERE MIGHT BE A SPLITTING COUNCIL ON HOW WE FEEL TOWARDS THIS IDEA.
HOW DOES THAT PROCEDURE WORK TOWARD YOUR FIGHTING FOR GALVESTON, MAKE SURE IT'S THE RIGHT THING.
BUT YOU KNOW THAT WE MIGHT BE SPLIT ON THAT ISSUE.
>> WITH THE ISSUE OF ABOLISH THE PROPERTY TAXES.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE MIGHT ALL DISAGREE WITH RIGHT HERE, I KNOW, THERE YOU GO [LAUGHTER].
HOW DOES THAT WORK? BECAUSE I SAW THAT BILL FILED JUST YESTERDAY.
>> WELL, THE FIRST THING YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, THERE COULD BE UP TO 7,000 BILLS FILED BETWEEN NOW AND MID-MARCH WHEN THE FILING DATE ENDS.
ABOUT 20 PERCENT OF THOSE ACTUALLY PASS.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT GETS FILED.
WE HAVE 40 NEW MEMBERS IN THE LEGISLATURE, WHICH MEANS EVERYONE HAS A LOT OF IDEAS [OVERLAPPING] GOOD, BAD AND DIFFERENT.
BUT PROCEDURALLY, WHAT HAPPENS IS, I FOLLOW OUR AGENDA ONE.
TWO, IF I HEAR SOMETHING I'M VERY INVOLVED WITH MY COLLEAGUES FROM OTHER CITIES, WE MEET REGULARLY DURING SESSION.
IF I GET WIND OF CITIES HAVING OTHER CONCERNS ABOUT STUFF OR A BILL POPS UP, OR I HERE OF A BILL GETTING AMENDED, THAT TO ME ON THE FACE IF IT SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD BE A CONCERN TO GALVESTON OR SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE AWARE, THE FIRST THING I DO IS I GO TO CITY MANAGEMENT.
>> THERE ARE THINGS THAT SOUND GREAT IN THESE LEGISLATIVE BILLS, BUT YOU HAVE TO DO A DEEP DIVE.
SOMEBODY FILED A BILL THE OTHER DAY ABOUT, YOU CAN HAVE MORE THAN ONE HOMESTEAD IF IT'S WITHIN SAME COUNTY.
THAT'S ON PAPER SOUNDS GREAT TO ME.
BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT FROM THE STANDPOINT THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE A PROBABLY AN EXPLOSION OF MORE SHORT-TERM RENTALS ON THE ISLAND.
>> I KNOW I AGREE, BUT THAT'S THE TYPE OF ANALYSIS THAT WE HAVE TO DO, BECAUSE WHILE WE MAY NOT NECESSARILY OPPOSE HAVING MULTIPLE HOMESTEADS WITHIN THE SAME COUNTY, WE MAY WANT PROTECTIONS ADDED TO THAT BILL THAT SAYS THEY CAN NOT APPLY TO SOMETHING THAT'S A SHORT-TERM RENTAL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
JUST BECAUSE I COULD EASILY SEE US BECOMING AN INVESTMENT BANK POINT FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTY THAT JUST WANT TO SEEK MONEY IN A SURE THING HERE ON THE ISLAND AND ALL SUDDEN WE'RE INUNDATED WITH MORE SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I SUGGEST EVERYONE DOES IS YOU CAN GO ONLINE AND IF THERE'S A SUBJECT THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN, YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR UPDATES OR BILLS THAT ARE FILED.
I FOLLOWED TWILIO, I FILED NATURAL RESOURCES, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE BEACH IS, I FOLLOW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND IT'S ALL FREE.
IT WILL SEND YOU AN A BILL OR SOMETHING ON A SUBJECT THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN.
>> LET ME SHOW YOU AN EXAMPLE.
THIS IS WHAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT.
YOU CAN DO IT BY SUBJECT MATTER.
IT'S HOW I AM ABLE TO GET THROUGH BILLS.
I UTILIZE THIS AND THE WORK THAT TML DOES TO HELP ME IDENTIFY BILLS, BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE OVER 1,000 BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED TODAY AND THERE'S NO WAY I COULD GET THROUGH THEM BY MYSELF [LAUGHTER]
>> I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON WILLIAM'S QUESTION THOUGH BEFORE WE MOVE ON.
IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT POPS UP AT THE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL AND IT'S NOT IN OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES HERE, HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT?
>> IF IT'S SOMETHING SO SERIOUS THAT I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A DISCONNECT.
[03:30:03]
YOU BRING THIS OUT.>> I'M GOING TO BRING IT TO YOU AND I WILL SAY MAYOR WE PROBABLY NEED TO HAVE A QUICK MEETING ON THIS WITH COUNCIL TO DETERMINE HOW WE WANT TO ACT.
>> LIKE ALL HOMELESS SHOULD BE PUT IN THE TEA [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER]
>> REMEMBER I WANT TO MIGRATE.
>> THAT WOULD PRECIPITATE AN EMERGENCY MEETING, YES IT WOULD.
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF BAD BILLS FILED.
BECAUSE IT'S FILED DOESN'T MEAN IT'S GOING ANYWHERE.
I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE UP YOUR TIME ON SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN FILED, THAT ISN'T GO ANYWHERE.
>> BUT SALLY WILL LET US KNOW IF SOMETHING'S GETTING LEGS AND IF WE HAVE TO TAKE A ACTION.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR SALLY? SALLY, ANY OTHER THINGS YOU WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IN THIS, OR JUST WE WILL BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU INDIVIDUALLY.
I'VE ALREADY RELAYED SOME CONCERNS TO YOU THAT I'VE HEARD ABOUT SOMETHINGS.
>> SIR, IF I WILL, I WILL ASK SALLY, AFTER SHE HAS MET WITH EVERYBODY, BUT BEFORE THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING WHEN YOU APPROVE THIS, ANYTHING THAT CHANGES FROM THIS DOCUMENT, SHE WILL SHARE WITH ALL OF YOU SO YOU'RE NOT SURPRISED WITH IT AT THAT COUNCIL MEETING?
>> THAT SOUNDS GOOD. SALLY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT'S NICE TO HAVE YOU HERE.
>> LET ME JUST SAY THIS AS I ALWAYS DO.
I NEVER HAVE CEASED BEING AMAZED BY SALLY.
SHE IS ONE IN A MILLION AND WE'RE SO THANKFUL FOR SALLY.
>> AT THE PORT LAST TUESDAY THEY JUST HIRED A NEW CONSULTANT THERE, RYAN?
>> YES. I'VE WORKED WITH RYAN IN PAST SESSION.
>> YES, AND AT FIRST THING I SAID [OVERLAPPING]
>> RYAN AND I HAVE A REAL GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP.
>>THEY DO. FIRST THING I SAID WHEN WE WERE [BACKGROUND] PROVING THAT WHAT YOU'VE WORK WITH SALLY, OVER HERE AND RYAN SAID, HEY, SALLY IS THE BEST, I'LL MEET WITH HER, SO THAT'S GOOD.
>> WELL HER NICKNAME IS BULLDOG. [LAUGHTER]
>> THAT'S RIGHT, THANK YOU SALLY.
>> BELIEVE IT OR NOT. THIS IS MY FOURTH SESSION.
>> NICE. THANK YOU. [OVERLAPPING]
>> AM GLAD WE FIND YOUR HOME UP THERE THAT YOU HAVE YOUR CONDO UP THERE.
>> [LAUGHTER] I'M LOOKING FOR MY HOME HERE ON THE ISLAND [LAUGHTER]
>> THAT PROBABLY THE BETTER STATEMENT I EVER SAID.
>> JANELLE, WE READY TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION HERE. [BACKGROUND]
>> I'M GOING TO OPEN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THEN YOU GO GET FOOD.
>> THANK YOU, FOLKS. [BACKGROUND] I'LL SEE YOU ALL AT 2:30.
>> THANK YOU, BRIAN [BACKGROUND]
>> YOU'RE READY FOR THE EXECUTIVE SESSION?
>> YEAH. IF YOU COULD JUST ANNOUNCE AN OPEN SESSION.
>> I WILL. ITEMS 4A EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUE IT TO THE GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551074.
[4. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
COUNCIL WILL CONDUCT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR DISCUSSING THE EVALUATION, REASSIGNMENT DUTIES OF THE FOLLOWING EMPLOYEES, CITY MANAGERS, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY SECRETARY, AND CITY AUDITOR, AND IT IS 12:33 PM ON NOVEMBER 17TH.>> YOU WANT TO GOING TO TAKE A BREAK TO GET LUNCH?
>> IT IS 1:38 PM AND WE ARE NOW OUT OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AT 1:38 PM WE HAVE GONE THROUGH ALL OF THE ITEMS ON OUR WORKSHOP ALREADY AND WE ARE ADJOURNED TILL 2:30.
THANK YOU COUNCIL. [BACKGROUND]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.