>> [BACKGROUND] GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. [1. DECLARATION OF A QUORUM AND CALL MEETING TO ORDER] [00:00:03] >> GOOD AFTERNOON. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. [LAUGHTER] THIS IS A LIVELY CROWD TODAY. GLAD TO SEE YOU'RE UP. I WANT TO WELCOME EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE IN THE AUDIENCE HERE TODAY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, COUNCIL, GLAD TO SEE YOU. WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME THIS MORNING IN OUR WORKSHOP TOGETHER. STAFF, OF COURSE, GLAD TO HAVE EVERYBODY HERE STAFF WISE. FOR THOSE THAT ARE IN THE COMMUNITY, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME YOU AND GLAD TO HAVE YOU WITH US THIS AFTERNOON. I'D LIKE TO OFFICIALLY CALL THE THURSDAY, JUNE 22 CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO ORDER. WE DO HAVE A QUORUM, BUT COULD YOU HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? >> MAYOR BROWN. >> PRESENT. >> MAYOR PRO TEM COLLINS. >> PRESENT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER LOUIS. >> PRESENT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER FINKLEY. >> HERE. >> COUNSEL MEMBER BOUVIER. >> HERE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER LISTASCI. >> HERE. >> COUNCILMEMBER ROBB. >> PRESENT. >> HAVE ALL OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE AND SEATED. OUR INVOCATION TODAY, WE HAVE THE HONOR OF HAVING PASTOR HEBO RAVAS FROM THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD WITH US TODAY. PASTOR RAVAS, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, SIR. >> PROBABLY WE JUST THANK YOU FOR TODAY, LORD. GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR GALVESTON, GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS ISLAND, GOD, THAT WE GET TO CALL HOME, FATHER. FATHER, I JUST PRAY, GOD, THAT YOU JUST POUR YOUR WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE, GOD, AND BOLDNESS, GOD, OVER THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHERE WE THANK YOU FOR THE MAYOR, GOD. WE JUST PRAY THAT YOU BE IN ANY DECISION-MAKING PROCESS, LORD, THAT THEY'RE MAKING THIS EVENING, FATHER. GOD, I JUST THANK YOU FOR THEIR HEARTS, LORD, TO SERVE THIS ISLAND, GOD, TO SERVE GALVESTON, LORD, TO WANT TO MAKE THIS ISLAND A BETTER PLACE, LORD, A SAFER PLACE FOR THE COMMUNITY, GOD, FOR THE RESIDENTS OR FOR THE TOURISTS, GOD. FATHER, I JUST THANK YOU FOR THEIR HEARTS TO SERVE THIS CITY, GOD. FATHER, I JUST PRAY OVER ALL THE AGENDA ITEMS THIS EVENING, FATHER. GOD, I PRAY THAT YOU BE IN ANY OF THEIR DECISION-MAKING PROCESS THAT THEY'LL BE DOING TONIGHT, FATHER. GOD, SO I JUST THANK YOU, LORD, I JUST PRAY FOR PEACE OVER THIS BUILDING. GOD, I PRAY FOR A BLESSING OVER EVERYONE IN THIS BUILDING, GOD, EVERYONE IN THESE SEATS, GOD, AND ON THE ISLAND, FATHER. FATHER, WE JUST THANK YOU GOD AND WE LOVE YOU LORD. IT'S IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. >> AMEN. LET'S HAVE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> COUNCIL, ARE THERE ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO PROCLAIM? HEARING NO RESPONSE, LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 6, PLEASE, NELLY. [6. Pursuant To Texas Government Code Section 551.0415, The City Council May Report On Any Of The Following Items: 1. Expressions of thanks, gratitude, and condolences 2. Information regarding holiday schedules 3. Recognition of individuals a. Betty Head Day Proclamation b. Traffic Enforcement Unit Officers Reed Jones and Dennis Gardner 4. Reminders regarding City Council events 5. Reminders regarding community events 6. Health and safety announcement] >> ITEM 6, PRESENTATIONS, REPORTS OF COUNCIL, OFFICER BOARDS, AND CITY MANAGERS. >> VERY GOOD. FIRST OF ALL, SO WE HAVE SOME RECOGNITION CERTIFICATES, WE WOULD LIKE TO HONOR CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY. LET'S START WITH BETTY HEAD DAY PROCLAMATION AND OUR CITY MANAGER, BRIAN MAXWELL, WILL READ THAT. >> FOR A SECOND, MA'AM, COME UP, PLEASE. >> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY. >> I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU HAD THE PLEASURE OF KNOWING BETTY HEAD. BUT IF YOU HAVE EVER SEEN AN OLEANDER AND THOUGHT ABOUT THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLANT, YOU NEED TO THANK BETTY HEAD FOR THAT. SHE IS THE ONE THAT HAS MADE THEM PROLIFIC AROUND OUR ISLAND AND HAS MADE THEM ISLAND FAMOUS, FOR SURE. BUT LET ME READ THIS. WHEREAS CECEO ELIZABETH BETTY SPORE HEAD WAS BORN ON GALVESTON ISLAND ON JULY 10, 1928. WHEREAS SHE GRADUATED FROM BALL HIGH SCHOOL AND IN NORTH TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY WITH A DEGREE IN HISTOLOGY AND EARNED A BACHELOR DEGREE IN RESEARCH FROM UTMB. WHEREAS SHE WAS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL OLEANDER SOCIETY AND THE FRIENDS OF MOODY GARDENS, AMONG MANY OTHER PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC DUTIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS. WHEREAS THE INTERNATIONAL OLEANDER SOCIETY MAINTAINS THE BETTY HEAD OLEANDER GARDEN PARK LOCATED AT 2624 SEALY STREET, WHICH IS RIGHT OVER HERE. I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO GO LOOK AT IT. BETTY IMBUED CLASS, INNATE GOODNESS THAT INSPIRED HER FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES, AND FAMILY. SHE WILL BE REMEMBERED AS A BEAUTIFUL LADY, A MATRIARCH, AND A NORTH STAR. [00:05:01] THEREFORE, WE THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL AND I GUESS ME TOO, THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY OF GALVESTON DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MONDAY, JULY 10 2023 AS BETTY HEAD DAY, AFFIRMING THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO THE SUPPORT AND APPRECIATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL OLEANDER SOCIETY AND ITS MEMBERS DEDICATION TO THE BETTY HEAD OLEANDER GARDEN PARK AND THE CONTINUING ENDEAVOR TO PROMOTE GALVESTON AS THE OLEANDER CITY. IT'S SIGNED BY OUR MAYOR AND ATTESTED BY THE CITY SECRETARY. [APPLAUSE] THAT YOU AT THE OLEANDER SOCIETY? >> YES, WE ABSOLUTELY ARE. >> THIS GENTLEMAN IS FAMOUS IN HIS OWN RIGHT. [LAUGHTER] >> CAN EVERYBODY LOOK AT THE CAMERA. >> JUST SO EVERYBODY KNOWS, I USUALLY DON'T READ PROCLAMATIONS. IT'S NOT MY DEAL. I DON'T RUN FOR OFFICE AROUND HERE. I OCCASIONALLY RUN FOR THE CITY LIMITS, BUT THAT'S ABOUT IT. [LAUGHTER] BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, MS. HEAD WAS VERY SPECIAL. I JUST RECENTLY SPOKE AT THE OLEANDER [OVERLAPPING] >> ABSOLUTELY. >> SOCIETY AND FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT, [OVERLAPPING] >> I REQUESTED, JUST FOR THE RECORD, THAT WITH, [OVERLAPPING] >> WITH JUST THE FACT THAT YOUR LOYALTY ALWAYS. >> SHE ACTUALLY LIKES ME MORE THAN MY REGULAR MOM, SO I LIKE HER. [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO HAVE THE SERVICE OF YOUR MOTHER ALL THESE YEARS, FOR BRANDON. >> BETTY, DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? >> THAT'S MARY LOU. >> OH, MARY LOU, DID YOU WANT, I'M SORRY, MARY LOU. >> I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO INTRODUCE P. J. HEAD. P. J IS BETTY'S GRANDSON AND JENNIFER IS BETTY'S GRANDDAUGHTER AND HER TWO CHILDREN. YES, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING. I WAS THE ONE WHO INITIATED THE ARTICLE IN THE NEWSPAPER. >> SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE. >> I INITIATED THE ARTICLE IN THE NEWSPAPER IN REGARDS TO BETTY BEING RECOGNIZED WITH ALL HER YEARS AND SWEAT TIME OF SERVICE. I THOUGHT WHAT WAS SO INTERESTING IS JIM YARBOROUGH, WHO USED TO BE THE FORMER MAYOR AND COUNTY JUDGE, HIS COMMENT WAS BETTY WAS A NO-NONSENSE KIND OF PERSON AND HE ALSO COMMENTED WITH THE FACT THAT IF SHE HAD HER WAY, ALL THINGS WOULD BE OLEANDER IN THE CITY. I POINTED OUT TO HIM HOW UPSET SHE WAS WHEN THE CREPE MYRTLES WERE INSTALLED IN THE FRONT AND I CONTINUED TO TELL HER NOT TO WORRY. I'M SURE IN TIME THEY'LL ADD OLEANDERS. [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. >> WELL, IT'S MY HONOR TO HONOR TWO OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS TODAY. CHIEF BAILEY, DID YOU WANT TO COME AND SAY A FEW WORDS BEFORE I READ THIS CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION FOR THESE GENTLEMEN. >> BRIEFLY, THE TWO OFFICERS THAT ARE BEING HONORED TODAY DO AN EXTRAORDINARY JOB FOR THE CITY. OUR POLICE DEPARTMENTS SAW TRAGEDY FIRSTHAND LAST YEAR ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THESE TWO OFFICERS HAVE REALLY STEPPED UP THE DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE, THE ENTIRE OPERATIONS BUREAU HAS REALLY STEPPED UP TO THE TUNE OF CLOSING IN ON 600 IMPAIRED DRIVING ARRESTS SINCE LAST AUGUST. I'M EXTREMELY PROUD OF THEIR EFFORTS, VERY PROUD OF THESE TWO YOUNG MEN WHO ARE FINE EXAMPLES OF OUR OFFICERS AND WHO HAVE JUST THE WORLD IN FRONT OF THEM AND THEY'RE JUST SHINING STARS FOR THE DEPARTMENT, SO I CONGRATULATE THEM. >> THANK YOU, CHIEF. IT IS NOW MY HONOR TO PRESENT A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION TO OFFICER REED JONES. PRESENTED TO OFFICER REED JONES FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO SERVING THE CITIZENS OF GALVESTON. FROM THE CITIZENS OF GALVESTON, OFFICER JONES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] OUR SECOND CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION IS PRESENTED TO OFFICER DENISE GARDNER FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO SERVING THE CITY'S CITIZENS OF GALVESTON. OFFICER GARDNER, CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE CITY OF GALVESTON, SIR. [00:10:01] [APPLAUSE] >> AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, WE STOOD THIS UNIT UP LAST FALL. I'M A BIG BELIEVER THAT A STRONG TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT GROUP IS NOT ONLY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY ON OUR STREETS, BUT THEY ARE THE CORE OF OUR POLICE ENFORCEMENT IN GALVESTON. STOPPING ERRATIC DRIVERS DOES MORE THAN PROTECT OTHER DRIVERS. IT ALSO DOES A LOT OF OTHER THINGS AND STOPS A LOT OF OTHER CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. LET ME JUST TELL YOU A LITTLE STORY. THESE ARE BOTH VERY YOUNG MAN. REED JONES JOINED US IN 2019. OFFICER GARDNER JOINED US IN 2020. YOU'RE GOING TO BE STARTLED AT THIS, BUT SINCE AUGUST OF 2022, OFFICER GARDNER HAS HAD 245 TRAFFIC STOPS. HE HAS WRITTEN 88 CITATIONS, HE HAS HAS 20 NON-DWI ARREST, 48 TOTAL DWI ARREST. HE HAS SEIZED NEARLY 250 GRAMS OF NARCOTICS. HE HAS SEIZED 12 WEAPONS AND FOUR VEHICLES. THAT SOUNDS LIKE AN AWFUL LOT. THAT IS GREAT WORK. IT FAR OUTPACES MOST. BUT HOLD ON YOUR HATS FOR A MINUTE. REED JONES, 465 TRAFFIC STOPS, 122 CITATIONS, 245 NON DWI ARREST, 125 DWI ARREST. THIS IS SINCE AUGUST OF 2022 GUYS. HE HAS SEIZED ALMOST 16 POUNDS OF NARCOTICS, 45 WEAPONS, 10 VEHICLES, AND ALSO RECOVERED A STOLEN VEHICLE. FOR THE RECORD GUYS THAT'S 710 TRAFFIC STOPS, 458 TOTAL ARREST, ALMOST 17 POUNDS OF TOTAL NARCOTIC SEES FIT, 57 WEAPONS TAKEN OFF THE STREET, 14 VEHICLES THAT WERE IMPOUNDED FOR ILLEGAL AND IMPROPER OPERATION, AND AGAIN, ONE STOLEN CAR RECOVERED. THEY DON'T SLEEP. IF YOU GUYS ARE THINKING ABOUT HAVING A COUPLE OF DRINKS HERE AT COUNSEL, THINK AGAIN BECAUSE THEY'RE ON DUTY TONIGHT. BUT I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THEIR SUPERVISORS, SERGEANT DOHERTY AND SERGEANT SANDERSON WHO HAD UP OUR SAFETY UNIT, AND ALSO LIEUTENANT NUTELLA WHO THIS FALLS UNDERNEATH. ALSO WE HAVE JUST RECENTLY EXPANDED THIS UNIT NOW WITH TWO OTHER OFFICERS. ACTUALLY MORE IF YOU ALL COULD STAND UP, PLEASE. OR STANDING UP POINTS YOURSELVES OUT. THESE ARE ALSO GOING TO BE JOINING THE UNITS. I SUSPECT YOU WILL SEE SIMILAR STATISTICS FROM THEM. THE OTHER THING IS I'D LIKE ALL OF YOU IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE WHEN YOU LEAVE, TAKE A LOOK AT OUR NEW TRAFFIC SAFETY UNITS THAT ARE PARKED OUT IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING. THERE'S TWO MORE ON THE WAY, AND I MAY HAVE TOLD YOU TO LOOK AT THEM, SO THAT WAY TO GIVE YOU A FIGHTING CHANCE IF YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO DRINK AND DRIVE IN GALVESTON OR VIOLATED OUR TRAFIC LAWS. BUT I CAN'T THANK YOU GUYS ENOUGH FOR THE WORK YOU DO. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND] >> VERY GOOD. COUNSEL ARE THERE ANY OTHER RECOGNITIONS OR EXPRESSIONS OF THANKS, GRATITUDE, ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? YES. SHARON. >> JUST WANTED TO SAY A BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE. HAPPY JUNETEENTH AND THE WEEKEND WAS JUST AWESOME. WE CAN'T CALL NAMES, BUT WE DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO VISIT GALVESTON, THE PARK BOARD AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. OF COURSE, GUCCI, WHICH IS THE GALVESTON UNITE AT JUNETEENTH AND ALLIANCE AND NIA CULTURAL CENTER, THE OLD CENTRAL CULTURAL CENTER. WE KEEP GOING. WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION, BUT IT DOES NOT STOP HERE. WE ASK THAT EACH PERSON BEGAN THE CONVERSATION AND THAT WE LEARNED TO HELP TO END INEQUALITY, BIGOTRY, AND HATRED. THANK YOU. >> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. COUNSEL, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 7 NELLY. [7. COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS] >> ITEM 7, COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS CLAIMS 23-044 THROUGH 23-054 ARE ON THE SCREEN. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LET'S MOVE TO THOSE ITEMS REQUIRING PUBLIC HEARINGS 8A, PLEASE. [8.A. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Designating The Property Located At 514 17th Street, And Legally Described As M.B. Menard Survey, North 40 Feet Of Lot 14 (14-1), In The City And County Of Galveston, Texas; As A Historically Or Archeological Significant Site In Need Of Tax Relief To Encourage Its Preservation; Granting A Substantial Rehabilitation For Historic Property Tax Exemption; Designating The City Manager To Execute Those Documents Necessary To Implement The Tax Incentive Program; Planning Case Number 23LC-019; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject. (C. Gorman)] [00:15:03] >> ITEM 8A, CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AND ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, DESIGNATING THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 514, 17TH STREET AND LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS NB MINARD SURVEY NORTH 40 FEET OF LOT 14 IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS. AS A HISTORICALLY OR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANT SITE IN NEED OF TAX RELIEF TO ENCOURAGE ITS PRESERVATION, GRANTING A SUBSTANTIAL REHABILITATION FOR HISTORIC PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION, DESIGNATING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THOSE DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE TAX INCENTIVE PROGRAM PLANNING CASE NUMBER 23 LC-019, MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT. >> VERY GOOD. THIS IS BROUGHT TO HIS CATHERINE. GO RIGHT AHEAD. >> THIS IS A REQUEST FOR VERIFICATION AS A PARTICIPANT IN THE SUBSTANTIAL REHABILITATION FOR HISTORIC PROPERTIES TAX EXEMPTION PROGRAM. THE THRESHOLD TO PARTICIPATE WAS $107,000. THE APPLICANT HAS SUBMITTED DOCUMENTATION THAT SUPPORTS A TOTAL EXPENDITURE OF OVER $205,000. LANDMARK COMMISSION AND STAFF ARE BOTH RECOMMENDING APPROVAL. >> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, CATHERINE. COUNSEL, ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. GARMON? IT IS 5:16 PM. I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS? DO WE HAVE ANY WRITTEN COMMENTS CHANEL, ON THIS? ALL RIGHT. IT IS 5:16 PM. I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 8A. BRING THAT BACK TO COUNSEL FOR ACTION. DAVID. >> I WOULD MOVE APPROVAL OF THIS PER STAFF RECOMMENDATION. >> I'LL SECOND THAT. >> I HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL BY COUNCILMAN COLLINS. IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT? >> I'LL SECOND THAT. >> COUNCILWOMAN LEWIS HAS SECONDED THAT. VERY GOOD. PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES. THAT IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. ITEM 8B, PLEASE. [8.B. Galveston Landmark - 2214 31st Street Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Designating The Property Located At 2214 31st Street, As A “Galveston Landmark”, Property Is Legally Described As M. B. Menard Survey, South 30 Feet Of Lots 1 & 2 (2001-4), Galveston Outlots, In The City And County Of Galveston, Texas; Requesting The Historic Preservation Officer Record The Property's Landmark Designation In The Official Public Records Of Real Property In Galveston County, The Tax Records Of The City Of Galveston And The Central Appraisal District, And The Official Zoning Maps Of The City Of Galveston, Texas; Designating The Site As A Historically Or Archeological Significant Site In Need Of Tax Relief To Encourage Its Preservation; Planning Case Number 23P-034; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject. (D. Lunsford)] >> ITEM 8B, CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AND ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, DESIGNATING THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2214 31ST STREET AS THE GALVESTON LANDMARK PROPERTY IS LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS MV MINARD SURVEY SOUTH 30 FEET OF LOTS OF 1 AND 2 GALVESTON OUTLETS IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, REQUESTING THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER RECORD THE PROPERTIES LANDMARK DESIGNATION IN THE OFFICIAL PUBLIC RECORDS OR REAL PROPERTY IN GALVESTON COUNTY, THE TAX RECORDS OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON AND THE CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT AND THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAPS OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS. DESIGNATING THE SITE AS A HISTORICALLY OR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANT SITE IN NEED OF TAX RELIEF TO ENCOURAGE ITS PRESERVATION PLANNING CASE NUMBER 23P-034, MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT. >> ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, NELLY. DANIEL LUNSFORD. >> THANK YOU. SO CANADIAN IMMIGRANT ALEXANDER MCCLELLAND BUILT THIS HOUSE AND THREE IDENTICAL HOUSES TO THE NORTH, IT'S RENTAL PROPERTIES IN 1914. OF COURSE THREE OF THESE DO REMAIN. HE ALSO OWNED MCCLELLAN ELECTRIC COMPANY, WHICH IS LOCATED AT 2105 POST OFFICE. BUT IN 1922 THE HOUSES WAS OWNED BY WILLIAM LEE AND WIFE ELIZABETH. WILLIAM WAS ALSO CANADIAN IMMIGRANT. BY 1948, THE HOUSE WAS OWNED BY ILIA EVANGELISTS WHO OWNED THE FRENCH GROCERY, 2402 BALL, GRANTING GALVESTON LANDMARK STATUS. THIS PROPERTY WILL PRESERVE THIS CRAFTSMAN STYLE STRUCTURE AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH GALVESTON'S HISTORY OF IMMIGRATION AND LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS. THEREFORE, STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF REQUESTS. LANDMARK COMMISSION AND PLANNING COMMISSION ALSO UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS REQUEST. OF COURSE, HERE WE HAVE A LITTLE PHOTO OF THE HOUSE IN QUESTION AND THIS CONCLUDES TASKS REPORT. >> THANK YOU, DANIEL. COUNSEL, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. LUNSFORD? HEARING NO REPLY. IT'S 5:19PM. I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT? HEARING NO REPLY AT 5:19, I'M CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS. ANY WRITTEN COMMENTS AT ALL? VERY GOOD. BRING THIS BACK TO COUNSEL FOR ANY ACTION. COUNSEL. HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL FROM COUNCILMAN LEE. >> I'LL SECOND BY THE MOTION. >> SECONDED BY COUNSEL MEMBER BOUVIER. ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. >> THERE WE GO. [BACKGROUND] >> THAT IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. THANK YOU. LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 8C, PLEASE NELLY. [8.C. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Abandonment Of Approximately 6,556 Square Feet Of Street Right-Of-Way; Adjacent To 11628 And 11622 Sportsman Road And Adjacent Properties Are Legally Described As The East Part Of Lot 176 (176-7), And The Northwest Part Of Lot 157 (157-3), Trimble And Lindsey, Section 2; In The City And County Of Galveston, Texas; Planning Case Number 23P-033; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject. (T. Tietjens)] >> ITEM 8C, CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AND ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, ABANDONMENT OF APPROXIMATELY 6,556 SQUARE FEET OF STRAIGHT UP RIGHT OF WAY, [00:20:01] ADJACENT TO 11,628 AND 11,622 SPORTSMAN ROAD AND ADJACENT PROPERTIES ARE LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS THE EAST PART OF LOT 176 AND THE NORTHWEST PART OF LOT 157, TREMBLING LINDSAY SECTION 2. IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS PLANNING CASE NUMBER 23P-033, MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, APPRECIATED. TIM TIETJENS DIRECTOR OF PLANNING. TIM. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. THIS IS 23P033. IT'S A REQUEST FOR AN ABANDONMENT OF 6,556 SQUARE FEET. IT'S PORTION OF OF AN UNNAMED RIGHT OF WAY NORTH OF SPORTSMAN ROAD. AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE MAP, IT EXISTS ONLY FROM SPORTSMAN ROAD NORTHWARD TO GALVESTON BAY. IT'S PART OF THE TREMBLING LINDSAY SURVEY, WHICH AS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW, THAT'S AN OLD SURVEY THAT WAS ACTUALLY FILED WITH THE GLO BACK IN THE 1800S, WITH LARGE 10-ACRE LOTS AND RIGHTS OF WAY IN-BETWEEN. AS THE CITY ANNEX THE AREA, OF COURSE, THOSE PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY BECAME IN THE NAME OF THE CITY AT THAT POINT OR IN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY. THE REQUESTING PARTIES ARE LANCE AND JENNIFER ROBERTSON AND CASA DEL MAR GALVESTON, LLC, WHO HAVE THE LOTS OF BUDDING THE EAST AND WEST SIDES OF THE RIGHT OF WAY, RESPECTIVELY. BOTH OWNERS HAVE ENJOINING THE REQUESTS AND I HAVE SUBMITTED THEIR APPLICATION AND THEIR JUSTIFICATION, WHICH IS IN YOUR STAFF REPORT, AND I'M SURE YOU'LL HEAR TONIGHT. ZONING LAND USE SURROUNDING THE TRACK IS SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL. THERE IS NO IMPACT OF THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND THERE ARE NO UTILITIES ACCORDING TO THE CITY RECORDS. TWELVE NOTIFICATIONS WERE SENT OF THAT NUMBER 3 WRITTEN RETURNS. IN OPPOSITION, THE PLANNING COMMISSION VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO RECOMMEND DENIAL AT THE MEETING OF MAY 16TH THIS YEAR. ALTHOUGH YOU MAY HEAR THAT THE AREA IS OR HAS BEEN A PUBLIC BOAT RAMP, IT IS NOT. IT HAS A STEEP GRADE AND UNSAFE DROP-OFF THE WATER'S EDGE, AND SAFETY CONCERNS ARE WHY THE AREA WAS CLOSED OFF. THERE IS NO PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE BAY AT THIS TIME VIA THIS RIGHT OF WAY NOR ANTICIPATED IN FUTURE FROM THE CITY'S INVESTMENT STANDPOINT. THE APLICABILITY TO THE CAMP PLAN, THAT'S NOTED IN THE STAFF REPORT. THE TRANSPORTATION CHAPTER OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN HAS AN OBJECTIVE T4, IT'S ENTITLED, IMPROVE INTERNAL CITY ORGANIZATION POLICIES AND PLANNING TO PROVIDE BETTER TRANSPORTATION OPPORTUNITIES. SUB-OBJECTIVE OF PROVIDING THOSE BETTER TRANSPORTATION OPPORTUNITIES IS T4.2 WHICH DEALS WITH ENSURING APPROPRIATE USE OF THE PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY. THERE HAVE BEEN MADE REFERENCES TO THE LAST TWO SENTENCES OF THAT NARRATIVE AND THOSE SENTENCES STATE, CONTINUED PUBLIC ACCESS IS ACCESS TO BODIES OF WATER SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN THE ABANDONMENT PROCESS. NO RIGHTS OF WAY THAT PROVIDE PUBLIC ACCESS TO BODIES OF WATER SHOULD BE ABANDONED. SOME HAVE RELIED ON THOSE TWO NARROW STATEMENTS TO THE CLAIM THAT THE CITIES SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ABANDON THE RIGHT OF WAY. HOWEVER, THE NARRATIVE MUST BE TAKEN IN ITS FULL CONTEXT. THE PARAGRAPH IN THE COMP PLAN MAKES CLEAR THAT THE CONTEXT RELATES TO THE ROADWAY GRID WITHIN THE URBAN CORE. IN FACT, IN THAT SAME SHORT PARAGRAPH, THERE ARE EIGHT REFERENCES TO THE TERM URBAN CORE AND GRID. SPORTSMAN ROAD AREA IS NEITHER IN THE URBAN CORE NOR IS IT WITHIN THE STREET GRID. I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANY QUESTION OF THAT FACT, SO IT REALLY RAISES THE QUESTION OF APPLICABILITY IN THIS INSTANCE. AND ADDITIONALLY, IN THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPH, THERE'S A STATEMENT THAT THE CITY HAS A DUTY TO BALANCE THE DESIRES OF PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS WITH THE PROTECTION OF PUBLIC LAND. THE SYDNEY TO BALANCE DOES NOT SUPPORT THE NOTION THAT THE CITY IS SOMEHOW PROHIBITED FROM ABANDONING ANY RIGHT OF WAY. WHILE THE CITY IS NOT COMPELLED TO ABANDON ANY RIGHT OF WAY, IT MAY ABANDON A RIGHT OF WAY IF IT'S SO DEEMS, IT'S THE CITY COUNCIL'S DECISION. REMEMBER, THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS NOT AN ORDINANCE OR LAW. IT IS THE GUIDING DOCUMENT TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO DECISION-MAKING IN THE CONTEXT OF ITS OBJECTIVES. WHICH IN THIS CASE, ENSURING APPROPRIATE USE OF THE RIGHT OF WAY TO PROVIDE BETTER TRANSPORTATION OPPORTUNITIES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE APPLICABLE TO EITHER THE OBJECTIVE NOR THE GEOGRAPHY IN THIS INSTANCE. LASTLY, IN ROUTING THE APPLICATION THROUGH THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, THE SYDNEY ENGINEER HAS ASKED FOR A 20 FOOT DRAINAGE EASEMENT TO BE RETAINED ON THE CENTER LINE BETWEEN THE TWO TRACKS SHOULD THE CITY COUNCIL DESIRE TO ABANDON THE RIGHT OF WAY. [00:25:04] NOW, THAT CONCLUDES THE STAFF REPORT. MIGHT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU. QUESTIONS COUNCIL FOR MR. T. TIETJENS? >> YES. COUNCILMAN FRANKLY. >> TIM, YOU MADE THE STATEMENT THAT THIS DID NOT PROVIDE PUBLIC ACCESS TO A BODY OF WATER. THE RIGHT OF WAY IS PRESENT. HOWEVER, IT SEEMS THAT PUBLIC ACCESS TO THIS BODY OF WATER WAS ONLY RESTRICTED RECENTLY BY THE PLACEMENT OF BARRICADES, IS THAT CORRECT? >> IT'S BEEN PRETTY RECENTLY, YES. >> SO PRIOR TO THAT, THERE WAS PUBLIC ACCESS? >> WELL, IT'S PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY. YES. NOW THOSE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE LAUNCHING BOATS. NO, IT'S NOT A BOAT RAMP. THEY WERE BOTH LAUNCHED. THERE WERE BOATS ALSO BROUGHT UP TO THE AREA. >> NEXT, TELL ME HOW THIS BENEFITS ALL THE RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON. >> IT'S REALLY NOT AN ISSUE OF BENEFITING ALL THE RESIDENTS. IT'S AN ISSUE OF WHAT'S ALLOWED IN STATE LAW, WHICH CITY COUNCIL CAN ENTERTAIN AT ABANDONMENT OF ANY RIGHT OF WAY. SO IT'S REALLY JUST WHAT SOMEBODY CAN APPLY TO PARTAKE IN. >> UNDERSTOOD. FOLLOW-UP QUESTION. OFTENTIMES, WE FIND THAT STAFF HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO REPRESENT APPLICANTS AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. I WOULD ASK THAT WE ALSO BALANCE THAT WITH LONG-TERM GOOD PLANNING DECISIONS, UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE'S ALWAYS ANOTHER SOLUTION. YOU MIGHT MENTION THE FACT THAT THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE ANY LONG-TERM PLANS TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THAT AREA. SO ONE OPTION MIGHT BE THAT CITY COUNCIL OR STAFF MIGHT MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THAT AREA, IS THAT CORRECT? >> IT HAPPEN, YES. >> THANK YOU. >> VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. T. TIETJENS AT THIS POINT? ALL RIGHT, VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, TIM. WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE YOU BACK POSSIBLY AT ANOTHER TIME. IT IS 05:27 PM. I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 8C. I HAVE A LIST HAVE FORMED HERE OF MANY INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE ASKED TO TALK ON THIS. I'M GOING TO WORK MY WAY THROUGH THESE FORMS HERE. THEN IF THERE'S ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WANTS TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THAT BOTTLE MEANS YOU SURELY CAN. LET'S TALK WITH LANCE ROBERTSON. LANCE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU. I'M LANCE ROBERTSON, 11622 SPORTSMAN ROAD, IMMEDIATELY TO THE EAST OF THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION. MY FAMILY AND I HAD THIS PROPERTY IN GALVESTON FOR 12 YEARS. THIS WILL BE THE NINTH YEAR THERE HAS BEEN A HOME ON IT THE NIGHT SUMMER MY CHILDREN HAVE SPENT EVERY SINGLE DAY OF SUMMER IN GALVESTON. I WOULD TELL YOU IT'S QUITE A PRIVILEGE AS MANY OF YOU NOTICED, SPEND THEIR SUMMER TIME HERE TO BE RAISED FISHING AND WAITING AND WORKING THROUGH THE MARSH IN GALVESTON. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE MANY WONDERFUL NEIGHBORS WE HAVE ON THE STREET. WE HAVE BEEN ADJACENT TO THIS RIGHT OF WAY FOR SOME TIME NOW. OVER THE YEARS THERE'S BEEN MORE AND MORE TRAFFIC AND MORE USE OF IT. WE CONTINUE TO SEE WE HAVE ADVOCATED THROUGH THE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT TO CONTINUE TO HAVE IT. THE TRESPASSING HAS JUST GROWN OVER THE YEARS. THERE'S CURRENTLY A COMMERCIAL OPERATION OF A KAYAK BUSINESS THAT LAUNCHES OUT OF THERE THAT HAS A PICTURE OF OUR HOME ON THEIR WEBSITES AS MEAT HERE FOR TOURS. OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, THE TRAFFIC, IT'S JUST GROWN AND GROWN ON THAT ACCOUNT. WE'VE ASKED FOR THE ABANDONMENT APPLICATION TO END THE NOISE THE BOAT LAUNCH IN AT NIGHT. THIS CAN BE VERY LOUD IN THE SUMMER, TYPICALLY, SEVERAL BOATS AND NIGHT WILL LAUNCH. SOME ARE LOUD, SOME ARE NOT. IT DEPENDS ON THE AGE OF THE VESSEL AND THE ENGINE OF COURSE. THE TRESPASSING CAN BE CONSISTENT ACROSS THIS TIME. MOST OF THE TIME, PEOPLE WILL LAUNCH THOSE VESSELS AND THEN PARK THEM AT OUR DOCK OR OUR NEIGHBOR THE GREASE OFF HIS DOC. THEN THE REVERSE IS TRUE ON THE COMEBACK SIDE, EVEN MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS WHO'VE BEEN ASKED NOT TO AT TIMES HAVE DONE THAT OVER THE YEARS AND IT'S JUST AN ISSUE. WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS LOT THAT HAS BEEN A RIGHT OF WAY FOR MANY DECADES. NOW IS ACTUALLY CARVED AS A RIGHT OF WAY OVER 100 YEARS AGO IS 8.5 MILE ROAD AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE WITH THAT RIGHT OF WAY OVER THAT TIME OVER 100 YEARS AGAIN. WE'D LIKE TO SEE IT WHERE WE COULD TAKE IT, IMPROVE IT. IT'S A BIT OF AN EYESORE COLLECTS MOSQUITOES BECAUSE IT HAS NO DRAINAGE AND LEVEL IT GRADED FOR DRAINAGE, MAKE IT INTO A BETTER SPACE. WE THINK THERE'S ALSO CLEARLY ROOM WITH [00:30:02] OUR GOOD NEIGHBORS TO THE WEST OF CHRIS OFFICE TO PRESERVE ACCESS TO THE BAY FOR THE NEIGHBORS ON THE STREET BEHIND THAT LIE, BUT NOT MORE PUBLIC THAN THAT. WE ASKED FOR THE SUPPORT AND THE CITY COUNCIL AND THAT ABANDONMENT APPLICATION. IT'S A PRIVACY ISSUE FOR US. IT'S A THEFT AND ISSUE. WHEN YOU COME HOME AND YOU FIND SOMEBODY IN YOUR DOWNSTAIRS SHOWER SHOWERING THAT YOU DON'T KNOW AND YOU HAVE SMALL CHILDREN THERE, IT'S NOT A VERY COMFORTABLE EXPERIENCE. WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A BIT MORE SECURITY IN THAT SENSE ON THAT LOT. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. SCOTT HENDERSON. SCOTT. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL AND MAYOR. I'M SCOTT HENDERSON. I ENJOY THE BENEFIT OF HAVING A HOME ON SPORTSMAN ROAD. YOU'VE HEARD PROBABLY A LOT FROM DIFFERENT FOLKS ABOUT HOW CHARMING IT IS TO LIVE ON SPORTSMAN ROAD. I TRIED TO BUY THERE AND COULDN'T AFFORD IT, SO I DECIDED TO MARRY SOMEBODY THAT HAD A HOME THERE. ANYWAY, AND WE'VE BEEN MARRIED SINCE 1986. SO BELIEVE ME, THERE'S NO FREE PROPERTY ON SPORTSMAN ROAD. THERE'S NO FREE HOMES THERE. YOU PAY A LOT OF MONEY. BUT AT ANY RATE, I'M GOING TO READ A STATEMENT. I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESEARCH THIS AS A HOMEOWNER FOR ABOUT A WEEK SO THAT THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR UNDERSTAND WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS. I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT THE COUNCIL VOTE TO REGARDING THE ABANDONMENT OR NOT TO ABANDON. I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT THEY DIFFER THIS VOTE AND NOT VOTE TO ABANDON TONIGHT. I'LL TELL YOU WHY AT THE END, OR I'LL GIVE YOU SOME SUGGESTIONS AT THE END. AS A WHOLE, I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ THE STAFF REPORT. I READ OFF THE WEBSITE WHAT APPEARS TO BE A DRAFT ORDINANCE TO THIS ABANDONMENT, AND I'VE GOT A LOT OF COMMENTS, AND I CAN SAY THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF CONFUSION OR THERE IS A LOT OF CONFUSION ON SPORTSMAN ROAD, AND WE NEED TO WORK THROUGH THAT CONFUSION. I CALL THEM CONTRADICTIONS, UNKNOWNS. THERE'S SOME CLARIFICATIONS THAT ARE NEEDED. I PLAN TO GO THROUGH EVERY ONE OF THEM THAT I DOCUMENTED FROM THIS STAFF REPORT AND THIS DRAFT ORDINANCE, BUT WHAT I THINK I'LL DO IS JUST SAY THAT MY FIRST PREFERENCE WOULD BE TO REOPEN THIS RIGHT AWAY THAT THE CITY HAS BLOCKED. BUT I HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THE CITY MANAGER, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, AT LEAST FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE, THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE, AND REOPENING IT WOULD PUT THE CITY IN A SITUATION WHERE IT'S NON-COMPLIANT WITH STATE AND LOCAL LAWS. MY SECOND PREFERENCE WOULD BE TO GET THE OPPORTUNITY, AND THIS IS WHY I'M ASKING THAT THE VOTE TONIGHT BE DEFERRED OR WE AT LEAST VOTE NOT TO ABANDON JUST YET, IS THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY HERE IN MY MIND TO WORK WITH THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY THE ONES THAT HAVE SUBMITTED THE APPLICATION. I BELIEVE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO REACH A MEETING OF THE MINDS WITH THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS WHERE ALL SPORTSMAN ROAD PROPERTY OWNERS CAN MAINTAIN PRIVATE AND DISCRETIONARY ACCESS TO THIS RIGHT AWAY, EVEN IN THE EVENT THAT THE COUNCIL DECIDES TO VOTE FOR ABANDONMENT AND IF THE APPLICANTS TAKE OWNERSHIP OF IT. THESE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE APPLICANTS, LET'S JUST SAY THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL, BUT I'M OF THE MIND THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN A WHOLE LOT OF DIPLOMACY IN THAT PROCESS, AND I ALSO THINK THAT SOME OF THE RESEARCH IN THE BACKGROUND THAT I'VE DONE ON THESE STAFF NOTES WOULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS. I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I DON'T KNOW [INAUDIBLE]. >> JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, OUR MICROPHONES, WE HAVE A THREE-MINUTE LIMIT ON YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS. I'M GOING TO BE A LITTLE FLEXIBLE ON THAT DEPENDING TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS OUT AND SO FORTH. BUT JUST TRY, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, TRY TO KEEP OUR COMMENTS WITHIN THAT TIME LIMIT, PLEASE. KIMBERLY GAIDO. KIMBERLY? >> MY FAMILY HAS OWNED PROPERTY ON SPORTSMAN ROAD FOR FOUR GENERATIONS. THIS BOAT RAMP THAT HAS NOW COME INTO QUESTION AS AN EASEMENT HAS BEEN USED AS A BOAT RAMP BY THE LOCAL RESIDENTS FOR 100 YEARS. WE DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE BOAT RAMP UNTIL THE RESIDENTS ADJACENT TO THE RAMP FILED A COMPLAINT. I ARGUE THAT THESE RESIDENTS KNEW THE BOAT RAMP WAS THERE BEFORE THEY BUILT THEIR HOMES. [00:35:03] ONE OF THE RESIDENTS NEXT TO THE RAMP HAS A VERY BUSY SHORT-TERM RENTAL, AND THE NOISE LEVEL AND NUMBER OF VACATIONERS CAN BE RATHER LARGE AND LOUD. THE OTHER BUILT A PRIVACY FENCE TO PROTECT THEIR VIEW OF THE VISITORS LAUNCHING THEIR WATERCRAFT, INCLUDING KAYAKS. MOST ALL NEIGHBORHOODS FROM 61ST STREET TO STREET WEST TO BAY HARBOR HAVE BAY ACCESS AND HAVE THEIR OWN PRIVATE BOAT RAMP. ISLANDERS IN SPORTSMAN ROAD RESIDENTS USE THIS BOAT RAMP OFTEN. WE DO NOT HAVE ANOTHER OPTION. THE CLOSEST RAMP IS 61ST STREET OR COS-WAY BAIT CAMP. THESE VERY CROWDED BOAT RAMPS ARE NOT VIABLE OR CONVENIENT OPTIONS. IF THERE WAS A STORM, REMOVING ALL THE WATERCRAFT FROM THE PROPERTIES OF SPORTSMAN ROAD WITHOUT THE USE OF THE BOAT RAMP WOULD BE A MAJOR CONCERN. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE RESIDENTS ADJACENT TO THE BOAT RAMP OR TAXPAYERS LIKE THE REST OF US, BUT THEY KNEW THE BOAT RAMP WAS THERE WHEN THEY DECIDED TO BUILD. WHY SHOULD THE REST OF THE ISLAND RESIDENTS AND 55 PROPERTY OWNERS ON SPORTSMAN ROAD BE PUNISHED AND HAVE THE RAMP TAKEN AWAY BECAUSE OF ONE COMPLAINT? AGAIN, THE RAMP HAS GIVEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND LOCAL RESIDENTS ACCESS TO THE BAY AND THE FISHERIES THAT SURROUND SPORTSMAN ROAD FOR MANY GENERATIONS. MY ASK FOR THE CITY IS NOT TO ABANDON THE RAMP OR EASEMENT. IF IT IS ABANDONED AND GIVEN TO THE ADJACENT RESIDENTS TO OWN AND CONTROL IS GONE FOREVER AND NO CHANCE OF US EVER USING IT AGAIN. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HEATHER HUNTER? >> [NOISE] HI. MY NAME IS HEATHER HUNTER. MY FAMILY HAS OWNED PROPERTY ON SPORTSMAN ROAD. I'M 51. I LEARNED TO LAUNCH A BOAT ON THAT WHAT THEY'RE NOT CALLING IS NOT A BOAT RAMP, WHICH IS VERY UPSETTING TO EVEN HEAR THOSE WORDS. THAT IS ALWAYS BEEN A BOAT RAMP. IT WASN'T MUCH BETTER CONDITION, I WILL AGREE WHEN I WAS A KID, BUT THIS WAS MY GRANDFATHER'S, MY GREAT GRANDFATHER'S. THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BOAT RAMP. AS I HEARD BEFORE, THEY DO RENT THE HOUSE NEXT TO IT. NOISE, IT COMES FROM THERE A LOT OF TIMES MORE THAN THE BOAT RAMP. SO I DEFINITELY WOULD HATE TO SEE THIS BE ABANDONED. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MANY PEOPLE USE ON THAT STREET THAT IS THE ACCESS TO THE BAY. CURRENTLY, I DIDN'T GET A LETTER ABOUT THIS. I DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS HAPPENING UNTIL ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS TOLD ME, I ACTUALLY TRIED TO LAUNCH BY JET SKI LAST MONTH, READY WITH MY KIDS, AND I JUST CAME ACROSS THIS BARRICADE. IT WAS UNFAIR TO JUST SHUT DOWN. IT IS IN BAD SHAPE, I DO AGREE WITH THAT. THAT CANNOT BE ARGUED, BUT THIS IS DEFINITELY HAS BEEN A BOAT RAMP WAY BEFORE I EVER EXISTED, SO I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU ALL WOULD PLEASE NOT TAKE THAT FROM THE RESIDENTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. JULIE ROSS SANCHEZ. JULIE? >> HELLO, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. AND I'M HERE BECAUSE LAST YEAR WE HAD SOMETHING OUT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M NOT GOING TO BRING THAT UP, UNFORTUNATELY I WON'T, BUT I FEEL VERY NEAR AND DEAR ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAVING A BOAT LAUNCH. THE BOAT LAUNCH ON SPORTSMAN ROAD HAS BEEN USED BY THE NEIGHBORS OVER THERE AS I'VE HEARD FOR OVER 100 YEARS AND YOU CAN SEE ON GOOGLE EARTH WHEN YOU TOGGLE BACK TO THE '50S AND BEFORE IT WAS THERE, IT'S HISTORIC USE HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT BAY COMMUNITY. THEY NEED THE BOAT RAMP THERE, BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ANOTHER RAMP WITHIN REASONABLE DISTANCE. THERE IS NO RUSH OR REASON FOR THE CITY TO GIVE IT UP. IT'S NOT COSTING YOU ANYTHING. IT'S CLOSED NOW. IT SHOULD NOT BE BOTHERING THE NEIGHBORS. SO JUST LEAVE IT CLOSED AND KEEP YOUR OPTIONS OPEN. I'M ASKING YOU THAT. IT'S A SHAME THE DESIRES OF OUT-OF-TOWN SECOND HOMEOWNERS AND SHORT-TERM RENTAL BUSINESSES ARE TAKING PRECEDENT OVER PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE. IT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING OVER AND OVER THAT SOMEONE BUYS A PROPERTY OR DEVELOPS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD OR ON THE BEACH AND WANTS TO CHANGE THINGS, ESPECIALLY AGAINST THE WISHES OF THE PEOPLE WHO ALREADY LIVE THERE. WHY DO WE KEEP APPOINTING PEOPLE TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION? ALL OF YOU EXCEPT FOR ONE OF YOU WHO WAS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION YOU APPOINTED THOSE PEOPLE. THEY DO THEIR RESEARCH, THEY HOLD PUBLIC COMMENT. THEY VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO DENY THIS, SO FOLLOW THEIR LEAD. YOU APPOINTED THEM, RESPECT THEM. THE 2011 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT MANY OF YOU WORKED ON FOR OVER 10 YEARS. I WORKED WITH SOME OF YOU ON THAT. [00:40:01] IT TOOK WAY OVER 10 YEARS. CLEARLY STATES CONTINUED PUBLIC ACCESS TO BODIES OF WATER SHOULD BE CONSIDERATION AND THE ABANDONMENT PROCESS. I KNOW TIM, THAT ALL THIS SORT OF SMOKE AND MIRRORS ABOUT IT'S PART OF THE GRID AND IT'S NOT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT AND YOU DO. BUT THE TRUTH IS IT SAYS NO RIGHTS OF WAY THAT PROVIDE PUBLIC ACCESS TO BODIES OF WATER SHOULD BE ABANDONED. AND WE WORKED VERY HARD ON THAT. THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT BETTY MASSEY WAS HEAD OF, IT WENT ON WAY BEYOND 10 YEARS AND WE'RE DUE FOR NEW ONES. IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE THAT, THEN GET ON IT. BUT RIGHT NOW, THAT IS OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND IT SHOULD BE YOUR GUIDING LIGHT. IT'S NOT AN ORDINANCE, AS TIM SAID, BUT IT IS YOUR GUIDING LIGHT. IT SHOULD BE YOUR MANTRA FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING. SO JUST LEAVE IT LIKE IT IS, DON'T GIVE AWAY YOUR ASSETS. THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU JULIE. SUSAN FINNOWALLS. SUSAN. >> I URGE YOU NOT TO ABANDON THE PROPERTY. THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SPECIFICALLY SAYS, "UNDER THEIR GUIDE TO DECISION-MAKING, THEIR ACTION PLANS, PLAN TO MAINTAIN EXISTING BEACH AND BAY ACCESS POINTS, IMPROVE ACCESS AND DEVELOP NEW FACILITIES." IN ADDITION, IT SAYS, NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIES EXIST TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO AND PUBLIC ENJOYMENT OF GALVESTON BAY AND ASSOCIATED WATERWAYS. AND IN ANOTHER PLACE, IT SAYS, NO RIGHTS-OF-WAY THAT PROVIDE PUBLIC ACCESS TO BODIES OF WATER SHOULD BE ABANDONED. THIS IS THE ONLY ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT APPEARS IN THE URBAN CATEGORY, BUT THERE ARE NO PUBLIC ACCESS POINTS FOR THE BAY IN THE URBAN CATEGORY. LET ME SEE. THIS HAS BEEN A BOAT RAMP. IT HAS BEEN PAVED IN THE PAST. I'VE USED IT MYSELF TO LAUNCH KAYAKS IN THE PAST. THERE ARE NO PUBLIC BAY ACCESS POINTS FOR LAUNCHING KAYAKS IN MY DISTRICT 2. OR I BELIEVE IN DISTRICTS 1, 4, AND 3. WE RELY ON THE WEST END BAY ACCESS POINTS TO ENJOY THE NATURAL ADVANTAGES OF LIVING IN GALVESTON. THE CITY IS UNLIKELY TO MAKE A HUGE WINDFALL PROFIT ON THIS PROPERTY SINCE THIS PROPERTY CAN BE SOLD, BUT IT CAN'T BE BUILT ON AND WE'LL STILL HAVE AN EASEMENT GOING DOWN THE MIDDLE. SO IT'S NOT CLEAR HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD EVER BE TAKEN IN. AT THE VERY LEAST, IF YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT MAKING MONEY OFF OF IT, AN APPRAISAL SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE YOU ABANDON IT, NOT AFTER. THE CITY SPENDS LOTS OF MONEY ON BASEBALL, FOOTBALL, AND SOCCER FIELDS, NONE OF WHICH I USE. THE LEAST THE CITY CAN DO IS NOT THROWS AWAY SOMETHING THAT IS USED BY THOSE OF US WHO LIKE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE UNIQUE NATURAL LOCATION OF GALVESTON, IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO ACQUIRE NEW SITES FOR PARKS AND PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE BAY. WHEN NEW SITES ARE PROPOSED EVERYONE ALREADY LIVING THERE OBJECTS. WHEN I WAS ON CITY COUNCIL THERE WAS A PROPOSAL TO BUY UP A FEW DESTROYED BASE SIDE LIGHT LOTS FOR INCREASED ACCESS, BUT NEIGHBORS BOUGHT THE PROPERTY AT PRE HIKE VALUES TO PREVENT A PUBLIC ACCESS POINT NEAR THEIR HOMES. AT LEAST THAT'S THE WAY I READ IT. THERE WERE ISSUES ABOUT SOME BUY OUTS ON THE BEACH SIDE, BECAUSE IT WOULD CREATE NEW PUBLIC ACCESS POINTS. BUT IN THIS CASE, THE ACCESS POINT WAS THERE FIRST AND THEN THEY BUILT THE HOUSES. IF WE GET RID OF IT, WE CAN NEVER REPLACE IT. FOR THOSE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT COMPLAINTS FROM THE NEIGHBORS THAT HAVING A PUBLIC ACCESS POINT NEAR THEM CAUSES THEY NEED TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THE ACCESS POINT WAS THERE FIRST, THE LOT TO THE WEST DOESN'T EVEN HAVE PRIVACY PLANS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PLEASE EXCUSE ME IF I DON'T PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME CORRECTLY. HARRY ASSASY. >> I WOULD LIKE TO DEFER UNTIL LATER. >> EXCUSE ME. >> I WOULD LIKE TO DEFER UNTIL LATER, IS THAT OKAY? >> YES, SIR. I'LL PUT YOU DOWN IN THE STACK A LITTLE BIT HERE. ELIZABETH BEATON. ELIZABETH. >> MAYBE WE ALL WANT THE LAST WORD AND THEN WHAT? [LAUGHTER] MY NAME IS ELIZABETH BEATON. I'M HERE TO ASK THAT YOU DO NOT ABANDON THIS PROPERTY. IT OBVIOUSLY IS A BOAT RAMP AND I HOPE YOU HEARD MR. ROBERTSON SAY THAT IF IT'S ABANDONED, IT WILL STILL BE A BOAT RAMP, [00:45:03] AS HE MENTIONED, FOR THE BENEFIT OF HIM AND HIS NEIGHBORS TO THE WEST. I BECAME INTERESTED IN BAY ACCESS WHEN I SERVED ON CITY COUNCIL AND MY CONSTITUENTS WHO WERE FISHERMEN COMPLAINED TO ME ABOUT LOSING ACCESS TO THE BAY. THEY SAID AS THE ISLAND WAS BEING DEVELOPED, IT WAS BECOMING HARDER AND HARDER FOR THEM TO FISH. AND FISHERMEN LAUNCH FROM THIS ACCESS POINT FOR CONFEDERATE REEF, SOUTH DARE ISLANDS, AND SWEETWATER COVE. THERE'S NOT TOO MUCH TO BE GAINED BY THE CITY FROM ABANDONING THE PROPERTY, AND IT WOULD LOSE THE POSSIBILITY OF ANY FUTURE USE BENEFITING THE PUBLIC. THERE'S BEEN ONLY ONE POLICE REPORT FILED AT THIS LOCATION. THAT WAS A YEAR AGO BY THE ROBERTSON'S COMPLAINING THAT THERE WERE 10 PEOPLE ON THE HERE, WHICH SOUNDS A LOT LIKE A BOAT RAMP, WHO HAD LIGHTS ON AND WE'RE MAKING NOISE. SOMETIMES YOU DON'T SEE VALUE IN WHAT YOU HAVE UNTIL LATER. THINK ABOUT THE PORT FAILING TO BUY THE PROPERTY ON PELICAN ISLAND WHEN MITCHELL OFFERED IT TO THE CITY OR THE PORT. NOW WE WANT IT BACK AND WE'RE GOING TO PAY A LOT MORE FOR IT THAN WE WOULD HAVE PAID AT THE TIME. POSSIBLY TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE WOULD DEVELOP A BAY ACCESS PLAN IN THE FUTURE AND ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS LOCATION. THAT'S UNKNOWN. BUT ALL POSSIBILITIES FOR FUTURE PUBLIC BENEFIT WILL BE FORECLOSED IF YOU CHOOSE TO ABANDON. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU ELIZABETH. KENNETH BRAIDEN. >> BRAIDEN? >> YES, SIR. I'M SORRY. COME RIGHT FORWARD. [NOISE] >> MY NAME IS KENNETH BRAIDEN. I'M AT 11818 SPORTSMAN'S ROAD. FOR THE EASEMENT I HEAR A LOT OF BACK-AND-FORTH ON WHAT IT IS, WHAT IT ISN'T, SO MY QUESTION IS, WHAT'S ITS INTENDED PURPOSE? FOR THE EASEMENT, WHAT WAS THE INTENDED PURPOSE OF THAT EASEMENT BACK THEN, NOW, WHENEVER, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST A BOAT RAMP. IT'S A BUSINESS OR A PLACE OF BUSINESS. IT IS A CAMPGROUND. IT IS A PLACE TO DUMP UNWANTED, UNUSED BROKEN DOWN TRAILERS. IT IS A FISHING SPOT. IT IS A BARBECUE PLACE. PEOPLE UTILIZE THAT, AS EVERYBODY'S POINTED OUT, EVERYBODY USES IT 24/7, 365 THEY ARE UTILIZING THAT THING. WHAT IS THE INTENDED PURPOSE OF THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY WITH THE CITY? I HAVE WITNESSED, BONFIRES HAVE WITNESS PEOPLE FALL DOWN AND HURT THEMSELVES WHEN THEY'RE LAUNCHING BOATS, GETTING IN AND OUT OF JET SKIS. MORE PARTICULARLY FALLING OUT A KAYAKS, WHICH ARE NOT EASY TO GET IN AND OUT OF, SO I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THERE'S A LIABILITY THAT COMES ALONG WITH THIS. I PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN DRIVING AND I'VE BEEN IN BOATS, HAVE BEEN DOWN IN GALVESTON FOR A LONG TIME. I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME, WHICH SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS. BUT I HAVE LAUNCHED BOATS FROM THE TEXAS CITY DIKE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO PORT MANSFIELD. THAT IS NOT A PUBLIC BOAT RAMP BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION. THERE'S NO SAFETY. THERE'S NOTHING THAT FITS ANY QUALIFICATIONS OF WHAT A PUBLIC BOAT RAMP THAT I'VE SEEN IS. THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LUKE KARATSUBA. >> HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING? >> GOOD. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LUKE KARATSUBA AND MY FAMILY BOUGHT THE WESTERN SIDE OF THAT LOT, IT BACK IN THE 1960S. MY GRANDFATHER DID. ANTHONY, CHRIS AFI. THAT'S AT 11628 SPORTSMEN ROAD. WE CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN LONG-TIME OWNERS OF THAT PROPERTY, AND WE CERTAINLY HAVEN'T ENJOYED THAT PROPERTY. BUT THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF COST TO OWNING THAT PROPERTY. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TRESPASSING, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF URINATION. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF WORSE THAN URINATION. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE USING OUR PEER AFTER THEY LAUNCHED THEIR BOATS. THERE HAS BEEN ISSUES WITH PARKING, WITH TRAILERS, AND TRUCKS, WITH TRAILERS IMPACTING OUR ABILITY TO USE OUR PROPERTY. THERE'S DEFINITELY ISSUES WITH THIS BOAT RAMP AND THAT'S WHY MY FAMILY, [00:50:06] WHICH WHEN MY GRANDFATHER PASSED AWAY, WE ULTIMATELY PUT IT INTO THIS CONSTANT MRA LLC THAT MY MOTHER AND MY AUNT WHO'S IN THE BACK, AND MY UNCLE WHO'S IN THE BACK AND ONE OTHER AUNT ARE THE FOUR OWNERS OF THAT I'M JUST A GRAND KID. I'M I'M NOT AN OWNER, BUT WE CERTAINLY WOULD LIKE IT TO BE ABANDONED. WE WOULD LIKE IT TO REMAIN CLOSED. WE DO FEEL THAT IT IS A NUISANCE UNDER THIS TEXAS LAW OF WHAT A NUISANCE IS. BUT WHAT'S INTERESTING IS WE JUST HEARD FROM KENNETH BRAIDEN ABOUT WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OR THE PURPOSE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A STREET AND IT WAS GOING TO CUT ACROSS THAT MARSH THAT WOULDN'T NEVER GOT BUILT. IF YOU LOOK AT THAT TRIMBLE AND LINDSAY SURVEY FROM 100 PLUS YEARS AGO, THERE WERE MANY STREETS THAT CUT ALL THE WAY FROM STUART ROAD ALL THE WAY TO THE BAY. ALL OF MY NEIGHBORS THAT HAD THOSE RIGHTS OF WAY NEXT TO THEIR HOUSES THAT THEY ENCLOSED IN THE '60S AND '70S AND '80S. THERE ARE STILL PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY. AT THIS POINT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE YOU CANNOT ADVERSE POSSESSOR AGAINST THE CITY. SO THEY HAVE ACCESS TO BUILD THEIR OWN BOAT RAMPS. IF YOU'RE GOING TO OPEN THIS UP, LET'S OPEN UP ALL THE RIGHTS OF WAY ALL UP AND DOWN SPORTSMEN ROAD BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN FORMALLY ABANDONED BY MY ACCOUNT. I'VE LOOKED I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY EVIDENCE OF THAT. IF YOU LOOK AT IT. THERE ARE NO NOISE COMPLAINTS OF RECORD RELATING TO MY FAMILY RENTING OUT THAT HOME ON A SHORT-TERM BASIS IN ORDER TO PAY THE TAXES. I MEAN, IT'S EXPENSIVE. WE DON'T HAVE A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION THERE. I DON'T HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER THAT LIVES THERE, SO IT'S EXPENSIVE AND IF WE DIDN'T RENT IT OUT, WE'D LOSE ACCESS TO THAT PROPERTY AND I HAVE THREE BROTHERS. WE ALL MARRIED AND HAVE KIDS. WE HAVE MANY OTHER COUSINS THAT USE THAT PROPERTY, AND SO A LOT OF PEOPLE FOR SHORT-TERM RENTAL. MY FAMILY GOES DOWN THERE AND I KNOW THAT I'M GOING WRONG AND I APOLOGIZE. AS FAR AS WE'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE IT ABANDONED, AND IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO ABANDON, WE THINK IT SHOULD REMAIN CLOSED BECAUSE IT IS A DANGER. I APPRECIATE ALL THE TIME AND CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. HARRY HC YOU'RE UP AGAIN. [LAUGHTER] >> [NOISE] ONE OF SEVERAL SIBLINGS WHO OWN THE PROPERTY, THAT'S 11618 SPORTSMAN ROAD, THAT'S ADJACENT TO LANCE AND JENNY ROBERTSON WHO WERE ON THE EAST SIDE OF THIS EASEMENT PROPERTY AND MY PARENTS BOUGHT THE PROPERTY IN 1965. WE CONTINUE DOWN. WE HAD TO REBUILD AFTER HIKE AND WE HAVE A BOSTON WHALER THAT MY FATHER PURCHASED IN 1967 THAT WE STILL OWN. WE KEEP IT IN THE GARAGE AND WE HAVE USED THE PUBLIC BOAT RAMP TO LAUNCH IT INTO THE BAY. I KNOW THERE I FEEL VERY SYMPATHETIC TO THE CONCERNS THAT MR. GRASAFI JUST ADDRESSED AND THAT LANCE ADDRESS WITH REGARD TO PEOPLE USING THE BOAT RAMP AT NIGHT, I WOULD HOPE THAT SOME MIDDLE COURSE CAN BE DERIVED HERE, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH ONE OF THE EARLIER SUGGESTIONS THAT I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN WITH LANCE AND I'VE SPOKEN WITH MR. GRASAFI WHO HAVE EXPRESSED WILLINGNESS TO ALLOW NEIGHBORS ON THE ROAD TO USE IT. BUT I THINK THAT I KNOW THERE'S ALSO THE CONCERN THAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD HAVE ACCESS. I WOULD HOPE THAT THERE'S SOME WAY THAT THIS CAN BE WORKED OUT WHERE THE PROBLEMS OF USE DURING THE NIGHT OR RESTRICTED. THAT IT'S NOT AVAILABLE FOR USE AT NIGHT AND THAT SOME MEANS OF ENFORCING PROPER USAGE OF IT AND IMPROVING IT AS IT WERE AS A BOAT RAMP WHICH HAS BEEN USED AS CAN BE REACHED. I WOULD ADD THAT WHEN I WAS DOWN. AS I SAID, I SHARE IT WITH SIX SIBLINGS SO I GET IT ABOUT CAN USE IT ABOUT ONE WEEK OUT OF SEVEN DURING THE YEAR. WHEN I WAS DOWN THERE ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A FELLOW WHO WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE WEST BAY AND CONFEDERATE REFUND IT, PURCHASED NICE PONTOON BOAT, CAME WEST FROM A CAUSEWAY AND RAN IT UP ON CONFEDERATE REEF WITH FIVE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE BOAT, ONE OF WHOM WAS INJURED AND HOW WERE THEY RESCUED? JAMAICA BEACH VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT BOUGHT THEIR AMPHIBIOUS VEHICLE THERE AND THEY ENTERED THROUGH THAT STREET EASEMENT BOAT RAMP INTO THE BAY TO RESCUE [00:55:05] THE PEOPLE ON THE BOAT AND RECENTLY I HAD A HEARD BECAUSE THE BOAT LAUNCH WAS BLOCKED OFF. I WENT TO WATERMAN'S RESTAURANT WHERE THEY HAVE A RAMP, [NOISE] BROUGHT IT TO OUR PEER BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A BOATLIFT AND THE DAY THAT I WAS GOING TO TAKE IT BACK, DRIVE IT FOR THE LONG DISTANCE TO WATERMAN'S AND BRING IT BACK TO PUT IN THE GARAGE. I TOOK A VISITOR OUT FOR A SPIN AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE A LONG STAY BECAUSE THERE WAS A FAILURE OF THE BOAT AND WE COULDN'T GET ABOUT BOATS. UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS ONE OF THEIR BOAT REMAINED IN THE BAY GAVE IT SOMEWHERE TO THE HOUSE FOR DOORS TO THE EAST. I NOTICED THEIR GATE WAS OPENED AND THEY HAD A SMALL LITTLE PRIVATE BRAND, SO I TOOK IT THERE AND THEY WILL PULL MY BOAT OUT AND I CONTACTED THAT OWNER. EXPLAIN WHAT HAD HAPPENED. ANYWAY, I REALIZE IT'S DIFFICULT OR PART FEELINGS ON BOTH SIDES. I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I HOPE SO MIDDLE GROUND CAN BE REACHED SO THAT ALL THE CONCERNS THAT ARISE CAN BE SATISFIED. I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT. >> THANK YOU, HARRY I APPRECIATE IT. RICHARD KRUMMHOLZ. RICHARD,. >> I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO GET UP AND TALK, BUT I GUESS [LAUGHTER] I'LL SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS. I WANT TO READ SOMETHING THAT WAS SENT TO ME. IT WAS SENT BY IT WAS FROM MARK LARSON IN 2005, WRITTEN TO MR. ROMANI, WHICH I PRESUME HAS TO DO WITH A REAL ESTATE COMPANY HERE SAID, YOU ASKED ME TO LOOK FOR ABANDONMENT OF THE 50-FOOT ROW, RIGHT-OF-WAY BETWEEN LARGE 150-70-1706 OF THE TREMBLE LIMBIC LINDSAY SURVEY, SECTION TWO. THIS IS ROAD THAT WAS DEDICATED ON THE MAP OF TRENDS LINDSAY SURVEY. IT WAS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE COUNTY OF GALVESTON UP UNTIL THE YEAR 1978 WHEN THAT PORTION OF THE ISLAND WAS ANNEXED BY THE CITY OF GALVESTON. CURRENTLY, THERE IS A COUNTY OWNED BOAT RAMP ON THAT PORTION OF THE 50-FOOT RIGHT-OF-WAY LYING NORTHERLY, THE SPORTSMAN ROAD THE BOAT MET WAS IN OPERATION BEFORE THE CITY AND NEXT AND IN 1978 AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY THE COUNTY. I SENT A COPY OF THAT TO YOU, DR. BROWN. I SEND A COPY OF IT TO MR. MAXWELL. HE SEEMS TO BE VERY CONVINCED THAT WHAT EVERYBODY IS NOT CALLING A BOAT RAMP. MY SON TOOK A BOAT THE DAY BEFORE THE BARRIERS WERE PUT THERE OUT FOR MAINTENANCE, CAME BACK THREE DAYS LATER TO PUT IT BACK IN WHAT'S NOT CALLED A BOAT RAMP AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, A DROP-OFF THAT CAN'T BE MANIPULATED AND ITS BARRICADED. NO WARNING, NO NOTHING. JUST, WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO DO? I HAVE COMPASSION FOR THE ROBERTSON'S WITH THE ISSUES THAT THEY'VE SAID THERE. I THINK THAT A LOT OF THEM, LIKE THE BATHROOM ISSUE, JUST PUT UP A PUBLIC A PORT A PORTABLE BATHROOM. I MEAN, THAT'S PRETTY EASY AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THAT JUST I ALSO HAVE ADDRESSED MR. MAXWELL. I MEAN, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE SEEN IN A HUNDRED YEARS A LAWSUIT BROUGHT AGAINST THE CITY ON SPORTS FANS ROAD IN WHAT'S CALLED A BOAT RAMP. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE SUED THE CITY BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A DANGEROUS SPOT AND CAN'T BE USED. NOW I'VE GOTTEN GOTTEN AN ANSWER TO THAT AND I FIGURED I HAVEN'T GOTTEN AN ANSWER BECAUSE NOBODY'S EVER FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST IT. SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT TO THE BOAT RAMP. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE WERE EVEN WILLING AS HOMEOWNERS TO PAY FOR SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT TO THE BOAT RAMP, CAN WE BRING IT UP TO WHEELCHAIR ACCESS? I MEAN, THAT'S NUTS. HOW MANY CARS CAN YOU PARK ON THE 61ST STREET BOAT RAMP? IS THAT OPERATED BY THE CITY OR THE COUNTY? >> CITY. >> CITY, HOW MANY CARS CAN YOU PARK THERE? I MEAN, WE CAN PARK THREE OR FOUR CARS THERE. THAT'S ALL YOU CAN REALLY PARK THERE BECAUSE THAT NOW MR. MAXWELL WAS NICE ENOUGH TO GET OUR ROAD ELEVATED AND THERE'S A BIG DROP-OFF NOW, SO YOU CAN'T REALLY USE THE WHOLE LENGTH OF THE ROAD BECAUSE THERE'S A BIG DROP-OFF. IF IT CAN ONLY BE USED BY THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE AT A TIME AND I MEAN, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND IF THE BOAT RAMP ON 61ST FRAME CAN ONLY BE USED BY 10 PEOPLE AT A TIME. YOU CAN'T PARK A 100 CARS THERE. WE CAN'T PARK A 100 CARS ON OUR STREET BECAUSE WE'RE JUST DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T DO IT. NO. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OUTLIVE THEIR FULL-TIME. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY GROSS CHANGES AND [NOISE] ARE THEIR ISSUES THERE? [01:00:01] THEIR ISSUES, BATHROOM ISSUES, EASY ONE TO SOLVE. WHAT I'D RATHER SEE IT BEING USED BY THE PEOPLE ON THE ROAD. I HAVE COMPASSIONATE TO PEOPLE THAT USED IT. MOST OF THEM WERE FISHERMEN WHO NEEDED ACCESS. I DON'T KNOW. >> OKAY. >> THE CITY IS JUST SET ON [INAUDIBLE]. I'D LIKE TO SEE IT JUST IMPROVED A LITTLE BIT AND REOPENED AND IF IT IS SUCH A LIABILITY ISSUE, THEN I THINK YOU GUYS SHOULD PURSUE A BUNCH. THANK YOU, RICHARD. APPRECIATE IT. ANTHONY GROSOFFI. ANTHONY. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ANTHONY GROSOFFI. I LIVE AT 11702 SPORTSMAN ROAD, WHICH IS THE FAR-LEFT HOUSE. IN TRUTH, YES, THERE HAS NOT BEEN A LOT OF 911 CALLS ASKING FOR POLICE TO COME DOWN AND HANDLE BEHAVIOR AND PEOPLE AT THE BOAT RAMP. WHY? BECAUSE I'M FROM THAT GENERATION THAT IT'S EASIER TO TALK TO PEOPLE AND TO GET THEM OFF OF YOUR PROPERTY RATHER THAN INVOLVING THE LAW AND NOT WORRYING ABOUT RETALIATION AND STUFF LIKE THAT. IT'S NEWS TO ME THAT IT'S CLOSED BECAUSE THREE TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH I'VE HAD TO TALK TO PEOPLE THAT WERE SITTING UP UNDERNEATH THE SUN DECK OF THE HOUSE WITH THE BLUE ROOF, THAT WERE SITTING UP UNDERNEATH THE SUN DECK, FISHING INTO THE RIGHT-OF-WAY. ACCESS HAS NOT BEEN SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. WE'RE STILL DEALING WITH TRESPASSING. EARLIER IN THE YEAR BEFORE THE BARRICADES WENT UP, I HEARD A VEHICLE PULLED DOWN THAT EASEMENT, TWO GENTLEMEN GET OUT AT 10 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT AND I'M WALKING OUT ON MY FRONT PORCH TO LET MY DOG OUT AND I HEAR PEOPLE TALKING. YES, IT IS USED AS A VACATION RENTAL PART-TIME, BUT IT WAS NOT RENTED AT THIS TIME AND I'M HEARING VOICES. THERE WERE TWO GENTLEMEN STANDING UP UNDERNEATH THE HOUSE WITH THE BLUE ROOF TALKING AND ONE OF THEM GOES IN TO USE THE RESTROOM IN THE DOWNSTAIRS SHOWER, AND I CALL OUT TO GET THEIR ATTENTION, EXCUSE ME, IS THERE SOMETHING THAT I CAN DO TO HELP YOU TWO GENTLEMEN? THEY'RE LIKE, NO. I SAID, I SUGGEST THAT YOU TAKE YOURSELF BACK OVER TO WHERE YOUR CAR IS PARKED IN THAT EASEMENT AND GET OFF OUR PROPERTY. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS AND I DO NOT ENVY YOUR POSITION. I REALLY DON'T. AND IT WAS BROUGHT UP THE HOUSE WITH A BLUE ROOF, DOES NOT HAVE A FENCE TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM ENCROACHING ONTO OUR PROPERTY. HURRICANE IKE TOOK THAT FENCE DOWN. IT WAS A SIX-FOOT CHAIN LINK FENCE. BUT THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAD WAS THAT CLOSER TO THE WATER'S EDGE, PEOPLE WOULD CUT THE FENCE WITH WIRE CUTTERS AND THEN THEY WOULD BACK THEIR BOATS IN TIME TO THE T-HEAD AND THEN USE OUR PROPERTY IN OUR DOCK TO LOAD THEIR EYES CHEST, LOAD THEIR PEOPLE. THEY DIDN'T CARE IF YOU WERE THERE OR NOT. IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT HEY, IT'S PUBLIC ACCESS. I'D BEEN USING THAT DOCK TO GET ON MY BOAT FOR YEARS SO WHY ARE YOU GOING TO TELL ME I CAN'T NOW? IT'S NOT FAIR. SO WE'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF BURDEN BEING ADJACENT TO IT. AND IT WAS THERE WHEN WE BOUGHT THE PROPERTY. BUT WE'RE DEALING WITH PEOPLE FROM HOUSTON. WE'VE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH ANYBODY ON THE STREET. WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE WHOSE BOATS HAVE BROKEN DOWN ON THE STREET THAT ENDED UP TIED UP TO THE DOCK AND IT WASN'T, HEY, CAN WE TIE UP TO YOUR DOCK WHILE WE GET THIS FIGURED OUT? IT'S JUST HAPPENS. BUT BEING GOOD NEIGHBORS, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO RUN THEM OFF YOUR DOCK. SO PLEASE CONSIDER EVERYTHING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR DILIGENCE IN GETTING ALL OF THIS INFORMATION, THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THE FORUM SO THAT WE CAN COME IN HERE AND LET YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH. IN MY OPINION, IT NEEDS TO STAY CLOSED. IF IT IS ABANDONED, THEN THE ROBERTSON FAMILY AND OUR FAMILY CAN COME TOGETHER AND FENCE IT OFF AND ACTUALLY CLOSE IT SO THAT THERE IS NO ACCESS BECAUSE THERE IS STILL ACCESS, THEY'RE STILL KAYAKERS GOING DOWN THERE. AND WE WILL DO WHAT WE CAN TO ENABLE THE CITIZENS ON THE STREET TO STILL HAVE SOME ACCESS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. JENNY ROBERTSON. HELLO, I'M JENNY ROBERTSON. WE FEEL SO LUCKY AND BLESSED TO HAVE A HOMELAND SPORTSMAN'S ROAD. IT'S THE PERFECT SPOT FOR OUR FAMILY WITH OUR THREE BOYS. WE HOPE TO RETIRE THERE SOMEDAY. WE GET ALONG GREAT WITH OUR NEIGHBORS THAT WE KNOW. WE'VE NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES, EVEN WITH THE RENTERS THAT RENT ON BOTH SIDES. NO ISSUES WITH NOISE OR TRASH, NO COMPLAINTS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE YEARLY NEIGHBORHOOD PARTY WE'VE HOSTED AT OUR HOME. WE DO LIVE NEXT DOOR TO THE RIGHT-OF-WAY IN QUESTION. [01:05:01] FOR THE 12 YEARS WE'VE OWNED THE PROPERTY. IT BEING USED AS A BOAT RAMP HAS BEEN A NUISANCE, BUT IT'S BECOME UNBEARABLE WITH THE INCREASED TRAFFIC ON THE STREET, SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTING IT, COMMERCIAL KAYAK COMPANIES THE LAST FEW YEARS STARTING TO USE THE CITY-OWNED LOT AS THEIR PLACE OF BUSINESS. THEY LAUNCHED TOURS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. OUR NEIGHBORS [INAUDIBLE] AND I, WE HAVE STRANGERS TRESPASSING ALMOST DAILY IN THE SUMMER AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THEY LAUNCH THEIR BOW, TIE THEIR BOAT UP TO OUR DOCK, WALK ALONG OUR DOCK THROUGH OUR BACKYARD TO THEIR VEHICLE, AND THEN BACK AGAIN. WITH SO MUCH PUBLIC USE OF OUR PROPERTY, IT CONCERNS US THAT SOMEONE WILL EVENTUALLY FALL AND SUE US. OUR DOCK HAS BEEN DAMAGED BY WAYWARD BOAT LAUNCHINGS. OUR MASTER BEDROOM WINDOW OVERLOOKS THE BOAT RAMP AND IT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO SEE PEOPLE PUBLICLY URINATING IN PLAIN SIGHT. PEOPLE BLOCK OUR DRIVEWAY, THEY IMPEDE ACCESS TO OUR HOME, PARKING THEIR TRUCKS AND TRAILERS ALONG THE ROAD. WE'VE SEEN THE LUSH MARSH ACROSS THE STREETS BE PARKED ON INTEGRATED FOOT BY FOOT OVER THE YEARS. THE BIG ISSUE FOR ME, ESPECIALLY OUT OF ALL OF THESE, IS THE NOISE. THE GALVESTON NOISE ORDINANCE SAYS THAT NO PERSON SHALL CONDUCT, PERMIT, OR ALLOW ANY ACTIVITY OR SOUND SOURCE TO PRODUCE A SOUND DISCERNIBLE BEYOND THE PROPERTY LINES OF THE PROPERTY IN WHICH THE SOUND IS BEING PRODUCED THAT EXCEEDS 75 DECIBELS IN THE DAYTIME 70 DECIBELS AT NIGHT. AN ENGINE REVVING DURING A BOAT LAUNCH CAN EASILY EXCEED 100 DECIBELS. WE HAVE BOATS COMING AND GOING AT ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT AND DAY. THE NOISE FROM A BOAT ENGINE REVVING 20 FEET FROM YOUR BEDROOM WINDOW WILL WAKE EVEN THE SOUNDEST OF SLEEPERS. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON TO HAVE 4-5 BOAT LAUNCHINGS IN ONE NIGHT ON A SUMMER WEEKEND. WE UNDERSTAND AND EMPATHIZE THAT THERE ARE SOME FAMILIES ON SPORTSMEN WHO HAVE FOND MEMORIES AND ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED TO LOSE THE CONVENIENCE. THERE ARE 16 PRIVATE BOAT AND KAYAK RAMPS ON SPORTSMAN'S ROAD. WE'RE A VERY FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE FAMILIES ARE HAPPY TO HELP ONE ANOTHER AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH OUR NEIGHBORS IN THAT REGARD. MANY OF THE LOTS ARE STILL LARGE ENOUGH WHERE PEOPLE COULD INSTALL THEIR OWN BOAT RAMP IF THEY DESIRE. THERE ARE ALSO THREE PUBLIC RAMPS FOR BOATS AND KAYAKS THAT I'M AWARE OF WITHIN A 67 MILE RADIUS. CURRENTLY, THE RIGHT-OF-WAY PROPERTY HERE IS PERILOUS. IT IS AN UNMAINTAINABLE EYESORE, IT'S FULL OF POTHOLES AND BROKEN-DOWN DEBRIS, IT'S A BREEDING GROUND FOR MOSQUITOES. WE EARNESTLY REQUEST YOUR SUPPORT FOR ABANDONMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NOW, WE ARE STILL STAYING WITH PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS SIDE ON MHC. I HAVE TWO FORMS HERE. JOHNNY STEIHOUSE, JOHNY, ARE YOU WANTING TO SPEAK ON THIS PARTICULAR SUBJECT? >> [INAUDIBLE]. >> VERY GOOD. I HAVE ANOTHER ONE, ADANYA HAYNES, DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON THIS SUBJECT? NO. VERY GOOD. NOW, I'M GOING TO ASK FOR THE COMMUNITY IF YOU HAVE ANYONE ELSE THAT WANTS TO SPEAK ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND YOUR ADDRESS. PLEASE, MA'AM. HI. I'M HEIDI HENDERSON. I'M THE ONE THAT HE MARRIED TO GET ON SPORTSMAN'S ROAD. [LAUGHTER] THAT'S NOT TRUE. I LIVE AT 1150642 ROAD. MY DAD BOUGHT THE PROPERTY IN 1969. WE HAVE FIVE ACRES THERE. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY IT'S ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT RAMP. THERE'S 65 NEIGHBORS ON SPORTSMAN'S ROAD. THERE'S TWO NEIGHBORS THAT DON'T WANT THE BOAT RAMP. THAT'S THE TWO THAT LIVE ON EACH SIDE OF IT. THEY KNEW IT WAS THERE WHEN THEY BOUGHT THE PROPERTY. I DO BELIEVE THAT THE CITY COULD MAYBE WE'RE HOPING BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE LAST NIGHT WITH THE BAD STORM THAT CAME UP LIKE THAT, MY NEIGHBORS BOAT TOOK ON WATER, GOTTEN TO THE ENGINE, RUINED THEIR BATTERIES BECAUSE THERE WAS NO BOAT RAMP TO GET IT OUT FAST ENOUGH BECAUSE THAT'S HOW FAST THAT STORM CAME UP LAST NIGHT. SO I THINK THE BEST THING WOULD BE IS THAT IF THE CITY CAN MAYBE MAKE THE BOAT RAMP BETTER, PUT A PUBLIC TOILET, ONE OF THOSE OUT THERE FOR PEOPLE. I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF POLICE PRESENCE ON OUR HOUSE, BUT LATE AT NIGHT AT TO PAST 10 O'CLOCK MAYBE THAT'S WHEN THEY ROAM THE STREET TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE BEHAVING THEMSELVES. ANYWAY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. AND SCOTT, YOU'RE RIGHT. THAT IS YOUR BETTER HALF RIGHT THERE. [LAUGHTER] VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER? YES, MA'AM. COME FORWARD. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS LYDIA BRADEN. I LIVE AT 11818 SPORTSMAN ROAD. WE BOUGHT THIS HOME IN 2019. MY HUSBAND AND OUR TWO BOYS LOVE TO FISH IN GALVESTON. THEY LOVE BOATING, THEY LOVE BEING OUT ON THE BAY. [01:10:02] WE HAVE BEEN HERE EVERY SUMMER SINCE WE PURCHASED THIS PROPERTY, AND WE JUST LOVE IT AND WE ENJOY OUR NEIGHBORS AND WE'VE BECOME FRIENDS WITH THEM OVER THE YEARS. I WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT ABANDONING THE EASEMENT BECAUSE WE ARE INTERESTED IN PROTECTING PROPERTY RIGHTS. I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP THIS EVENING. PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE USING THE SO-CALLED BOAT RAMP OR THE EASEMENT, THEY ARE NOT BEING RESPECTFUL TO THE NEIGHBORS. I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST ISSUE HERE. ALSO, I THINK THAT PERSONALLY FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WHAT I'VE NOTICED BEYOND THE TRESPASSING ON THE PRIVATE PROPERTY IS, THERE'S A LOT OF ILLEGAL PARKING UP AND DOWN THE ROAD ENCROACHING ON THE MARSH, BLOCKING DRIVEWAYS, BLOCKING ACCESS TO YOUR OWN PROPERTY AND PEOPLE ARE DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THERE'S MORE AND MORE A HIGHER VOLUMES OF TRAFFIC COMING DOWN AND IT REALLY IS BECOMING A NUISANCE AND REALLY A SAFETY ISSUE FOR NOT ONLY THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE THERE, BUT FOR OTHER CITIZENS WANTING TO COME IN AND ENJOY THE BAY THEMSELVES. >> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. VERY GOOD. ANYONE ELSE THAT WANTS TO SPEAK? NOW, HARRY, YOU GOT YOUR HAND UP. WELL. GO AHEAD GUYS, I'M SORRY. >> THAT'S OKAY. GALVES [INAUDIBLE] 3120 HERE AND DRIVE GALVESTON, TEXAS 77551. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TONIGHT. FIRST OF ALL, I KNOW WE'VE BEEN HERE AWHILE ALREADY. I REPRESENT LANCE AND JENNIFER ROBERTSON, THE OWNERS AT 11622 SPORTSMAN ROAD. THIS RIGHT-OF-WAY EASEMENT WE'RE ASKING TO BE ABANDONED IS NOT A BOAT RAMP. STAFF HAS ALREADY TOLD US THAT TONIGHT, IT'S NOT A CITY OWNED BOAT RAMP. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY HAS ACTUALLY NOT SPENT CITY FUNDS IMPROVING THIS. FURTHERMORE, THE BEST WE CAN TELL IS THAT THIS IS AN OLD COUNTY RIGHT-OF-WAY OR AN OLD COUNTY RIGHT-OF-WAY EASEMENT THAT EXISTS FROM THE TIME WHEN THE CITY ANNEX THAT AREA OF SPORTSMEN. WE'RE ASKING THE CITY TO ABANDON THE OLD UNIMPROVED RIGHT-OF-WAY EASEMENT. THE CITY IS ALREADY BARRICADED THE PROPERTY WITH CONCRETE BARRICADES BECAUSE OF THE STATE OF THE PROPERTY, MR T. JIN'S SPENT A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME TONIGHT. I'M SURE THE COUNCIL IS AWARE OF. THIS PROPERTY IS IN PRETTY POOR CONDITION. THE CITY STAFF DECIDED IT WAS IN SUCH POOR CONDITION. THEY BARRICADED IT OFF WITH THE SAME CONCRETE BARRICADES YOU SEE ALONG I35 AND THE CONSTRUCTION AREAS. THE ROBERTSON'S AND THEIR NEIGHBORS TO THE WEST ARE JUST MERELY ASKING THEM TO ABANDON THE UNIMPROVED RIGHT-OF-AWAY AND ALLOW THEM TO PURCHASE THE EASEMENT FROM THE CITY PURSUANT TO AN APPRAISAL THAT WILL BE DONE, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, PURSUANT TO THE PROCEDURE SET DOWN IN CHAPTER 253 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE. ALL MY CLIENTS AND THE GALVE'S OFFICE ARE ASKING IS, THEY HAVE SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION TO THE CITY TO PURCHASE SOMETHING PURSUANT TO STATE LAW. THAT'S ALL WE'VE DONE. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WANTING TO DO, IS JUST FOLLOW THE STATE LAW. MY CLIENTS AND THE NEIGHBORS. WE UNDERSTAND ALREADY ONLY UNDERLYING LAND WHERE THIS RIGHT-OF-WAY EASEMENT IS, THEY OWN IT IN FEET. IT'S THEIRS. WE'RE JUST ASKING THE CITY TO ABANDON THE RIGHT-OF-WAY EASEMENT. THAT'S ALL. AS FAR AS THE BENEFIT TO THE CITY, OF COURSE, THE CITY WILL ENJOY SOME AMOUNT OF MONEY FROM THE SALE OF THIS THAT WILL GO TO THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND. CURRENTLY, WHAT IS OUT THERE IS NOT THE MOST ATTRACTIVE AREA, IT'S BEST I CAN TELL CRUSHED GRANITE, CUT CRUSHED CONCRETE, SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES WITH CONSTRUCTION BARRICADES. IF THIS WERE TO BE ABANDONED, MY CLIENTS AND THEIR NEIGHBORS, SHOULD THEY PURCHASE IT? WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BEAUTIFY IT AND BRING IT UP TO THE STANDARDS THAT EXIST THROUGHOUT THE SPORTSMAN ROAD AREA. FINALLY, MY CLIENTS HAVE ALREADY SAID I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO AND AS WELL AS OF COURSE OFFICE THAT SHOULD THE CITY ABANDON THIS AND MY CLIENTS PURCHASE IT, THEY DO LOOK FORWARD TO COMING UP WITH AN AMICABLE [INAUDIBLE] WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM IN THERE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, GUYS. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE NOW. HARRY, IF YOU'VE ALREADY TALKED THAT. >> [INAUDIBLE] >> WELL, LET ME GET ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENTS HERE AND WE'LL GET YOUR QUESTION HERE. YES, COME FORWARD. >> [NOISE] EXCUSE ME. JEFF SCIENCE ZYMER 1427 LOTUS [01:15:03] DRIVE TIKI ISLAND, 4TH GENERATION BOI. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER FOR YOUR POINT BLANK QUESTION ABOUT HOW THIS BENEFITS THE CITIZENS OF GALVESTON, OTHER THAN A FEW PROPERTY OWNERS. I OPPOSE THE ABANDONING OF THE BOAT LAUNCH. THIS IS A FURTHER DETERIORATION OF PUBLIC ACCESS TO OUR WATERWAYS. NO PUN INTENDED. YOU'RE BEING POOR STEWARDS OF THE CITY'S PRICELESS REAL ESTATE. YOU LET THAT ASSET TO TEAR. NOW, YOU USE THAT AS AN EXCUSE TO LET IT SLIP AWAY COMPLETELY. I TOO HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF THAT AREA AS A TEENAGER. IT'S WHERE I LEARNED TO FISH. THAT PUBLIC LAUNCH WAS THERE LONG BEFORE THESE INTERESTED PARTIES BOUGHT THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES. THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE GETTING INTO. NEIGHBORS LIKE THE GAIDO'S WHO HAVE BEEN THERE LONGER HAVE EVEN OPPOSED TO THE SALE. THE CITY'S PLANNING COMMISSION VOTED AGAINST IT. JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A FEW RICH PEOPLE TALKING YOU OUT OF WHAT'S BEST FOR THE PUBLIC NOT TO MENTION WHAT IS HISTORICALLY THEIRS. THE LAUNCH ADDRESS HAS BEEN SPECIFICALLY REFERENCED IN NUMEROUS PUBLICATIONS FOR YEARS, INCLUDING THE CURRENT TEXAS GLO APP CALLED TEXASCOAST.COM AND THE TEXAS BEACH IN BAY ACCESS GUIDE, ALSO PUBLISHED BY THE GLO BACK IN 2001. MS. [INAUDIBLE] CURRENTLY REFERENCED THE AWESOME FISHING RACE THAT FRANKLY, KAYAKS CAN ONLY ACCESS FROM THAT PARTICULAR SPOT. IF I MAY, I'D LIKE TO USE THE REST OF MY TIME ON THE OTHER MATTER OF THE NON AGENDA ITEMS. MAY I SPEAK? >> NO, SIR. THIS IS ONLY FOR THIS PARTICULAR ONE. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU JEFF. HARRY YOU HAD A QUESTION SIR. >> YES. MY QUESTION IS THAT THE CITY ENGINEER WANTS THE CITY TO RETAIN A 20-FOOT WIDE DRAINAGE EASEMENT DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THIS PROPERTY. IF THAT IS DONE, WHAT'S THE INTENT OF THE CITY BECAUSE IF THE ADJOINING LANDOWNERS WANT TO IMPROVE THE BOAT LAUNCH AND LET NEIGHBORS USE IT AS WELL. IF THE CITY PUTS IN A 20-FOOT DRAINAGE DITCH, HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THAT? >> BRIAN, DO YOU WANT TO ANSWER THAT? >> THE CITY IS RETAINING AN EASEMENT JUST LIKE MOST PEOPLE HAVE IN THEIR BACKYARDS FOR POWER POLES AND SEWER LINES. PEOPLE IMPROVE OVER THOSE EVERY DAY. THEY PUT IN FLOWER BEDS, THEY PUT IN NOT PERMANENT STRUCTURES. I DON'T ENVISION A PERMANENT BOAT RAMP EVER BEING PUT HERE UNLESS THE GRID FALLS. THEY DID THAT AFTER PURCHASE. BUT THAT BEING SAID, THE CITY HAS A DRAINAGE EASEMENT, IF THEY HAVE TO GET IN THERE AND TEAR IT UP FOR DRAINAGE PURPOSES, THEY WILL. THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF AN EASEMENT. BUT IT DOES NOT PROHIBIT ANYONE FROM IMPROVING IT. >> SO THEY DON'T HAVE [INAUDIBLE]. >> NO. >> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE OR ANY FURTHER COMMENT, I SHOULD SAY ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM? IT IS 6:18 PM. NOW YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THOSE THAT TESTIFIED ALREADY AND MADE THEIR COMMENTS. WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU HAVE TO STAY TO THE END OF THE MEETING [LAUGHTER] ANYWAY, I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:18 PM. I'M GOING TO BRING THIS BACK TO COUNCIL. I'M GOING TO ENTERTAIN IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OF STAFF, BUT IF WE DON'T, I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION, PLEASE. >> I HAVE QUESTION. >> YES, MA'AM. >> COULD YOU READ THE STATE LAW OUT LOUD SO EVERYONE HEARS IT OR THAT THE ORDINANCE, WHATEVER THAT WAS REFERENCED, AS FAR AS OWNERSHIP OF THAT RIGHT-OF-WAY. >> I QUOTED A DOCUMENT THIS MORNING THAT SAID IT IS AN EASEMENT. IT'S ALL THAT WE HAVE IS AN EASEMENT. WE DON'T HAVE FEE TITTLE. FEE TITLE BELONGS TO THE ADJOINING LANDOWNERS, TO THE CENTRAL VINE. ALL THEY'RE ASKING FOR IS TO HAVE THE CITIES RIGHT-OF-WAY REMOVED FROM THAT PROPERTY. >> IT'S THE RIGHT [OVERLAPPING] >> MR. KNABLE JUST POINTED OUT. >> THEN ALSO, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR BRIAN. DOES THIS BE THE STATE REQUIREMENTS FOR A BOAT RAMP? >> NO. WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RECEIVE TEXAS STATE PARKS AND WILDLIFE FUNDING FOR THIS RAMP IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION. I DON'T EVEN KNOW EVEN WITH A GRANT TO PUT UP A FULL RAMP AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PARKING AND EVERYTHING ELSE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS, NOR DO I THINK THE RESIDENTS WOULD WANT TO PARK 15 OR 20 TRUCKS AND TRAILERS LIKE WE DO AT WASHINGTON PARK. >> I THINK THIS IS A HARD THING. [01:20:02] I THINK BOTH THE OWNERS HAVE COMMITTED TO THE NEIGHBORS THAT THEY WOULD GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO REMOVE THEIR BOATS, ESPECIALLY IN A STORM, WELL, CAN WE ASK THE OWNERS TO COME UP AND ASK THEM THAT QUESTION? >> JUST ONE SECOND. THIS GOOD. DON, YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING. >> HOW ABOUT TESTIMONY IS CLOSED? >> PLEASE SPEAK IN THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE, SIR. >> HOW ABOUT TESTIMONY IS CLOSED, CAN I TAKE THAT? >> WELL, I HEARD BOTH PEOPLE SAY THEY WOULD WORK WITH THE NEIGHBORS. WHEN I WAS APPROACHED ABOUT THIS SUBJECT BY THE ATTORNEY, I SAID THAT THING TO DO WOULD BE TO ALLOW THE NEIGHBORS TO ACCESS IT. SPORTSMAN ROAD IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO LIVE. I'VE ATTENDED A NUMBER OF THE ANNUAL MEETINGS. EVERYONE CERTAINLY GETS ALONG. I ALSO UNDERSTAND HOW PEOPLE FEEL AND JUST THE HISTORY OF BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING WITH THE ONE GENTLEMAN STATED ABOUT ALL THE OTHER RIGHTS-OF-WAYS, WHICH WE'VE HAD ANOTHER CASE EARLIER THIS YEAR, WHERE RIGHT-OF-WAY WAS FENCED OFF AND IT WAS FINALLY SOLD TO THE CITY. IT IS AN A BOAT RAMP AS MUCH AS HISTORY WANTED TO BE A BOAT RAMP, IT WOULDN'T BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN PUT A PORT-A-POTTY ON. THAT WOULD FALL OVER, BLOW OVER. THAT WOULD BE AN ISSUE. WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ABANDON THESE ONE. >> I HAVE A MOTION FOR ABANDONMENT TO SUPPORT THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. IS THERE A SECOND? >> I'LL SECOND THE MOTION. >> WE HAVE SECOND BY COUNCILMAN LISTOWSKI. THE MOTION WAS BY COUNCILMEMBER ROBB. LET'S OPEN IT UP. I WANT TO ASK A QUESTION AS WE START THIS DISCUSSION. DON, WITH THE OWNERS ALREADY OWNING THE LAND UP TO THE EASEMENT. >> SUCH A CLIENT OF THE EASEMENT. >> CENTER LINE, CAN THEY GO IN AND FENCE THAT AT THIS POINT? >> SORRY? >> CAN THEY GO IN THERE AND FENCE THAT AT THIS POINT? >> YES, THEY CAN UNTIL SUCH POINT AS WE DETERMINE THAT THEY'RE INTERFERING WITH THE USE OF OUR EASEMENT. >> CORRECT. BUT THEY COULD GO IN AND PUT A FENCE UP RIGHT NOW, EVEN WITHOUT THIS ABANDONMENT THEN ON THAT LAND THAT THEY OWN, THEY OUTRIGHT. >> SUBJECT TO OUR COMPELLING THEM TO TAKE IT DOWN. >> YES, SIR. I UNDERSTAND. VERY GOOD. YES, JOHN. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY IF THIS DOES PASS, I WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE TO SEE THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS WORK WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS OUT THERE TO CONTINUE HAVING SOME TYPE OF ACCESS FOR THEIR NEIGHBORS. REGARDING THE PUBLIC, SPORTSMAN IS DEAD ENDS INTO THE BAY AS WELL. IT SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE STILL ACCESS IN THAT AREA FOR PEOPLE TO LAUNCH KAYAKS AT THE END OF SPORTSMAN, IS THAT NOT RIGHT? >> THAT'S NOT RIGHT. >> I'M LOOKING AT THE RIGHT-OF-WAY HERE AND IT DEAD ENDS INTO THE BAY. >> THERE'S NO PARKING. >> OKAY. >> THERE'S NO PARKING WITH A BUNCH OF OWNERS NOT EVEN [INAUDIBLE] >> NOT A BOAT RAMP, BUT YOU COULD HAVE ACCESS TO THE BAY IF YOU WANTED TO. >> JOHN, IF YOU COULD JUST FOCUS YOUR QUESTION. >> WELL, IT'S NOT A QUESTION. IT'S A STATEMENT. IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S OPEN TO THE BAY THERE AT THE END. AGAIN, I WOULD JUST RECOMMEND THAT THE OWNERS ON THE ADJACENT PROPERTY WORK WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS OUT THERE AND COME UP WITH SOME TYPE OF AGREEMENT. >> MAYOR, I HAVE A QUESTION. >> YES, MA'AM. >> BRIAN, IF THE EASEMENT IS AN ABANDONED, DO YOU HAVE ANY INTENTIONS OF OPENING IT? >> NO, MA'AM. THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN OPEN THAT BACK UP IN THE CONDITION THAT IT'S IN AND SUBJECT THE CITY TO THAT LIABILITY. >> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OF THIS TOPIC? I WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT. I'M SORRY, DAVID DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT? >> YEAH, JUST A QUICK COMMENT. I HEARD THAT THE DESIRE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO WORK COLLABORATE OR ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE COUNCILMEMBER ROBB SAID THE DESIRE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO MAINTAIN ACCESS FOR THOSE PARTICULAR RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA. [01:25:03] THEN WE ALSO HEARD THAT SOME INTERESTS FROM PUBLIC COMMENT THAT MAYBE THERE WAS AN OPTION TO POSSIBLY DEFER THIS, TO ALLOW THEM TO WORK JOINTLY TOGETHER IN ORDER TO TRY TO DEFINE THAT MAY BE IN THE FORM OF AN MOU BEFORE WE ACTUALLY ABANDONED THE RIGHT-OF-WAY. >> I'M GOING TO MAKE A COMMENT. A LOT OF THESE ISSUES THAT COME BEFORE US HERE, IT'S PRETTY EASY TO SEE ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT I CAN SEE BOTH SIDES OF THIS. I WISH THERE WAS A WAY THAT WE COULD GUARANTEE THAT THAT WOULD STAY OPEN AS A BOAT RAMP. IF WE TURN THIS DOWN AND DON'T ABANDON THIS, THIS IS NOT GOING TO OPEN BACK UP, OUR CITY MANAGERS ALREADY MENTIONED THAT FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT REASONS DUE TO LOCAL AND STATE LAWS, THE BEST WAY IN MY MIND TO GET THIS TO HOPEFULLY OPEN BACK UP FOR THOSE RESIDENTS DOWN THERE IS TO WORK WITH THESE PROPERTY OWNERS. I'VE HEARD BOTH PROPERTY OWNERS MENTION THIS, THAT THEY HAVE THAT INTEREST. I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN IN SOME WAY OVER DOWN THERE BUT IF WE DON'T ABANDON THIS, THERE'S NO ALTERNATIVE. THIS IS NOT GOING TO OPEN BACK UP. YES, DAVID. >> MAYOR, THAT WAS EXACTLY MY POINT IS THAT, IT'S NOT THAT YOU HAVE TO ABANDON THE RIGHT-OF-WAY AND THEN SEEK THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. MAYBE THE CONVERSE OF THAT COULD BE DONE AND OFFERING THAT THE NEIGHBORS COULD WORK TOGETHER WITH EACH OTHER. I'LL STATE IT MORE CORRECTLY, A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING RATHER THAN JUST AN MOU THAT SAYS THIS IS THE INTENT FOR THE PROPERTY BEFORE ASKING THE CITY TO ABANDON IT. >> BRIAN, DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? >> NO. I JUST HAD A QUESTION FOR DON. >> OKAY. >> DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING DON? >> NO. >> VERY GOOD. WE HAVE BEFORE US THE ITEM, WE HAVE A MOTION FOR ABANDONMENT. THERE HAS BEEN MENTIONS BY MANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT WORKING WITH THE RESIDENTS TO SEE ABOUT UTILIZING THIS FOR PUTTING IN BOATS AND SO FORTH. PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. THAT FAILS. THAT ITEM DOES FAIL AND THAT IS NOT ABANDONED [APPLAUSE] VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. LET'S MOVE DOWN TO PUBLIC COMMENT IF WE COULD. [9. PUBLIC COMMENT A. Agenda Items B. Non-Agenda Items] WE HAVE HAD PUBLIC COMMENT ON SOME OF THE AGENDA ITEMS HERE, AND WE NOW HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS THAT I HAVE BEFORE ME HERE AND FOR SOME OF THE OTHER AGENDA ITEMS. FOR THOSE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO LEAVE, FEEL FREE TO DO THAT [LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND]. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> YOU GOT TO COME BACK MAYBE [LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND] WE'RE NOW AT OUR PUBLIC COMMENT TIME. HAVE 3 MINUTES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THOSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT. AS YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T ANSWER QUESTIONS NOR CAN WE ENTER INTO DISCUSSION ON THESE PUBLIC COMMENTS. I WOULD MENTION TOO, THAT IF THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS HERE, THEN I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU ALSO CONTACT THE CITY MANAGER OR YOU CONTACT ONE OF YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO GET FEEDBACK AND TO POSSIBLY GET THIS RESOLUTION IF YOU HAVE A CONCERN. I'M GOING TO START OFF WITH ADANYA HAYNES, ADONYA. >> IT'S DAINA HAYNES. >> IS IT ADENYA? >> DAINA. >> DAINA, I'M SORRY. >> 15, 14 MECHANIC STREET AND I'VE PUT ON THERE NON-AGENDA. [01:30:02] BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO PUT THIS FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN HERE, BUT I'M SPEAKING ABOUT THE NIXING OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS. IS THAT OKAY? >> YES, MA'AM. >> WELL, I WAS ONE OF THE 80 LETTERS THAT WASN'T READ AT THE LAST MEETING SO I THOUGHT THIS TIME I BETTER COME IN PERSON. I'M VERY MUCH AGAINST NIXING THE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS. I SEE THIS AS A TOTAL LACK OF RESPECT FOR YOUR CITIZENS' VIEWS. IT HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN A GREAT WAY FOR GALVESTONIANS TO COMMUNICATE THEIR VIEWS TO THE CITY AND CITIZENS OF GALVESTON. JUST BECAUSE IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA, DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT IMPORTANT. I THINK THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE ON THE CITY COUNCIL, YOU SHOULD EXPECT TO HAVE TO LISTEN TO ITEMS OTHER THAN WHAT IS ON YOUR AGENDA, NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES. YOU SAY WE CAN JUST EMAIL THE CITY COUNCIL ABOUT OUR ISSUES, BUT THE PUBLIC DOESN'T GET TO HEAR THOSE ISSUES. HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THOSE EMAILS ARE READ ENTIRELY AND IF THEY'RE READ AT ALL? JUST BECAUSE THERE ARE A FEW BAD APPLES, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE PUNISHED AND SILENCED ON ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO US. HOW ABOUT SETTING SOME GUIDELINES AND ACTUALLY ENFORCING THOSE GUIDELINES? THERE SHOULD BE A WAY TO RESTRICT COMMENTS THAT ARE NON-AGENDA A BIT OR NOT CITY ISSUES. YOU COULD TURN OFF THE MIC LIKE YOU DO WHEN YOU GO OVER THE TIME. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT FOR THAT. I THINK THE CITY HAS FORGOTTEN WHO THEY WORKED FOR. FIRST, IT WAS THE AT LETTERS NOT BEING READ AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING AND NOW THIS. I ASK YOU TO PLEASE RECONSIDER AND NOT GET RID OF NON-AGENDA COMMENTS. >> THANK YOU, DAINA. JOHNNY STEIHOUSE, JOHNNIE >> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, JOHNNY STEINHOUSE, 12, 14 BUOY DRIVE. AS A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, I HAVE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS SENT EMAILS TO THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. AT TIMES SPECIFIC TO A CONCERN IN MY HOME OR WORK DISTRICT OR GENERAL CONCERN. THE MAYOR HAS ALWAYS ACKNOWLEDGED MY MESSAGES AND MANY TIMES HE HAS FOLLOWED UP WITH A PHONE CALL. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME, THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE NOT ACKNOWLEDGED MY MESSAGE SO HOW AM I TO KNOW THEY READ IT AND WILL TAKE IT INTO CONSIDERATION WHAT I'VE STATED IN THIS MESSAGE? I SPECIFICALLY SENT THE EMAIL TO THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL ON THE AGENDA ITEM ON SPORTSMAN'S ROAD. THE MAYOR AND TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS REPLIED, WHAT AM I TO THINK ABOUT THE OTHER FOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE MY MESSAGE? AS A MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, BOTH BY EMAIL AND MORE IMPORTANTLY AT A PUBLIC MEETING. I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AND IN ORDER TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY, AT TIMES, YOU NEED TO PUBLICLY HEAR FROM THEM ON AN ITEM THAT HAS NOT MADE TO THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA. I HOPE THAT YOU CONSIDER CHANGES TO THE ABILITY OF THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK OPENLY AT A CITY COUNCIL MEETING. YOU WILL REFLECT ON WHY YOU RAN FIRST FOR THE OFFICE AND THE BEST WAY FOR YOU TO SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY. IS IT BY SILENCING US? THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, JOHNNY. >> TED O'ROUKE. TED. >> [INAUDIBLE] >> NO, SIR. [LAUGHTER] [NOISE] PROBABLY PERSONAL. >> THAT'LL WORK, 11, 23 CHURCH STREET. FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO COMMEND THE COUNCIL AND IT'S SCARY THAT WE'RE ONLY A YEAR AWAY FROM AN ANOTHER ELECTION AND THE PROBABLY GOT ONE OF THE BEST COUNSELS THAT WE'VE HAD IN A LONG TIME IN GALVESTON RECOMMENDED AND THERE'LL BE CHANGES BECAUSE SOME OF YOUR TERMS WERE UP. BUT THE MAIN THING I CAME AS I DID SEND, HOPEFULLY, YOU'VE GOTTEN MY LITTLE PACKET OF MY SMALL THREE PAGES THAT I GAVE YOU. I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS IF YOU LOOK AT IT, THE COMPLAINTS THAT ARE FILED LAST YEAR, AND FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO MENTION HOW IT'S AN HONOR TO SERVE ON THE WARD'S BOARD FOR THE SIX YEARS THAT I WAS THERE, I FEEL LIKE I WOULD'VE STAYED CHAIRMAN IF I WOULDN'T ASK SO MANY QUESTIONS. I KNOW I'M A LITTLE BIT RADIOACTIVE, BUT SOME OTHER PEOPLE'S SAID I'M LIKE THE WEED IN THE DRIVEWAY, YOU CAN BURN IT ALL ON IT BUT IT'S STILL GOING TO COME BACK. BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS I HAVE REAL CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT'S COMING UP. THE BIG BOND ISSUE THAT MIGHT BE COMING IN FRONT OF YOU OVER 100 STARTED AT 70 AND NOW IT'S AT APPROXIMATELY $150 MILLION. BUT THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER WHERE I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE STATE BOARD AND AS YOU CAN TELL BY THE COMPLAINT LETTER WHICH SPEAKS TO IS IT'S JUST VERY CRITICAL AND IMPORTANT AND I THINK YOU NEED TO TAKE THE TIME TO DIGEST IT. WHAT I WILL REFER TO IS THE LETTER THAT I WROTE AUGUST THE 19TH THAT'S INCLUDED [01:35:04] IN THAT 2019 WHEN I WAS THE CHAIRMAN AND A CITY AUDITOR. THE CITY HAD SENT THE CITY AUDITOR OVER THERE AND IF THE BOARD AT THAT TIME WOULD HAVE DONE WITH THE CITY AUDITOR HAD RECOMMENDED, WE COULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF A FEMALE LIABILITY BETWEEN 800000 AND $2 MILLION. THE FEMALE LIABILITY GREW TO $10.7 MILLION BECAUSE OF DOUBLE-DIPPING AND THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED AT THE BOARD. WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT THIS BOND COUNCIL AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE BONDS AND THE LEGAL COUNCIL. I'M SURE. I'M NOT POSITIVE, BUT I WOULDN'T THINK THE BOARD WOULD MAKE THOSE PEOPLE AWARE OF THE INVESTIGATION ABROAD AND OTHER COPIES FOR YOU ALL. JUST GOT THIS ON MY EMAIL THE DAY DATED JUNE THE 21ST FROM YESTERDAY, THAT THE INVESTIGATION IS STILL VERY ACTIVE BECAUSE THE LAST ONE YOU'VE GOT IN YOUR PACKET IS FROM THREE MONTHS AGO. THIS JUST HAPPENED TO COME ON MY EMAIL THIS AFTERNOON. BUT THIS IS A TIME THAT YOU ALL ARE LOOKING AT THE BIGGEST CHANGE THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO EVER HAPPEN TO GALVESTON. WE GOT TO A PORT. IT'S A FABULOUS PORT. WE DON'T WANT TO PUT SO MANY EGGS IN ONE BASKET WITH THE CRUISE BUSINESS. THAT'S THE LINE THAT WE'RE MARCHING DOWN. IN SOME OF THE TRUSTEES, MR. YARBOROUGH AND SOME OF THE OTHER TRUSTEES AND THE MAYOR ASKED HIM TO TRY TO PUT THE BRAKES ON AND EVALUATE WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THE PORT. BUT THAT'S MY PASSION, IT'S MY FAMILY AND THEN THE PORT. BUT I'M TELLING YOU YOU NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT THOSE BEFORE YOU GO OUT ON THE HOOK AND SIGN A COSINE FOR $150 MILLION. YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHERE THAT MONEY IS GOING TO BE SPENT. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THEY SHOW YOU THE MOST AND WE NEED TO GET THE BOARD AUDITED. THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT WE NEED TO DO IS GET THE BOARD AUDITED BECAUSE IT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR HANDS. >> THANK YOU. TED. >> IT SHOWS THAT IT CAME TODAY. >> THANK YOU, TED. APPRECIATE IT. >> [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER] >> PAUL WINGSTONE. PAUL. >> THANK YOU, GUYS. >> THANK YOU. >> IN 16 POST-OFFICE STREET. JUST WANTED TO COME AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO LET CITIZENS COME WITH ANY TYPE OF ITEM THEY MIGHT WANT TO DISCUSS WITH THE CITY COUNCIL. I THINK IT'S A RIGHT AND A PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO COME AND ADDRESS YOU. I DO LIKE THE IDEA OF GOING TO YOUR CITY COUNCILMAN FIRST, BUT SOMETIMES YOUR IDEA, YOUR CONCERN MAY NOT HIT FERTILE GROUND. BEING ABLE TO TALK TO ALL EIGHT OF YOU, THAT SEED MAY HIT FERTILE GROUND. EVEN THOUGH IT MAY NOT BE A HIGH PRIORITY FOR A PARTICULAR CITY COUNCIL PERSON, WHEN SOMEONE COMES UP HERE, SOMEBODY ELSE MAY TAKE THAT AND SAY, WELL, WE REALLY DO NEED TO ADVANCE THAT OR THAT MAY BE A POSSIBILITY. JUST TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP THAT OPEN THAT WE CAN COME UP HERE AND WHEN WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE NOT BEING HEARD, WE CAN ADDRESS EVERYBODY SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, PAUL. APPRECIATE IT. JEFFREY HILL, JEFFREY. >> HELLO. DURING THE SUMMER OF 1970, 300 FOR SHARKS TEETH ON WIDTHS BEACH, FOUND HUNDREDS OF THEM. LISTEN DEVOTED LEAD TO THE WATERGATE HEARINGS AND MADE A LIFELONG PLEDGE TO THE IDEALS OF A FAIR GOVERNMENT FOR ALL PEOPLE. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEM 10B, THE ELIMINATION OF PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS. I OPPOSE THIS ITEM AND ASK YOU TO DO THE SAME. YOU WERE ALL ELECTED BY THE PUBLIC. YOU ARE THEIR VOICES IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS TO TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE THAT INCLUDES WORDING AS THIS ORDINANCE DOES, STATING THAT HEARING FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS IS A DRAIN ON CITY COUNCIL, IS IN MY OPINION, AN INSULT TO ALL CITIZENS OF GALVESTON. IT IS YOUR VERY DUTY TO LISTEN TO THOSE PEOPLE, WHATEVER THEY CHOOSE TO SAY, WHETHER YOU AGREE OR NOT, WHETHER YOU ARE TIRED AND READY TO GO HOME. YOU CAMPAIGN FOR THIS JOB. YOU ASKED FOR IT, AND THAT INCLUDED LISTENING IN A PUBLIC FORUM TOO ANNOYING WEIRDOS LIKE ME WHO AREN'T OKAY WITH JUST SUBMITTING COMMENTS BY EMAIL AND WONDERING WHETHER YOU READ THEM. PERHAPS HAS MENTIONED THIS MORNING AT WORKSHOP, [01:40:02] YOU COULD CONSIDER MODIFYING THE PARAMETERS FOR NON-AGENDA COMMENTS TO A SHORTER TIME PERIOD, REQUIRING ADVANCED REGISTRATION, INCLUDING A GENERAL TOPIC OR SOME OTHER ACCEPTABLE MEANS OF SHORTENING THE LENGTH OF COMMENTS. BUT TO RESTRICT THEM TO SOCIAL MEDIA, EMAIL, OR OTHER NONPUBLIC FORUMS IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE. I KNOW YOU ALL SPEND AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF TIME ON THESE VOLUNTEER JOBS, JOBS FOR WHICH YOU RECEIVE LITTLE THANKS. LET ME TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR WORKING TO MAKE OUR CITY BETTER, AND THANK YOU ALSO TO OUR CITY STAFF. YOU WORK INCREDIBLY HARD AND ARE ENORMOUSLY DEDICATED. I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND ON MANY OCCASIONS AND ALSO BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO EXPERIENCE YOUR KINDNESS AND PROFESSIONALISM, I ASKED YOU ALL AGAIN RESPECTFULLY PLEASE DON'T TAKE AWAY THE PEOPLE'S PUBLIC VOICE AT COUNCIL ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS. THIS IS STILL A GRAND AND GLORIOUS DEMOCRACY, RESPLENDENT IN ITS MESSINESS AND IMPERFECTION. YES, RIFE WITH CIVIL DISCOURSE, BUT STILL FERTILE FIELD FOR COMPROMISE AND COMMON GROUND. VOTE AGAINST 10B. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CRAIG BUOY. CRAIG,. >> THANK YOU MAYOR. >> YOU'RE WELCOME, SIR. >> I LIKE LISTENING TO WHAT I HEARD. BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE. MY NAME IS CRAIG BUOY, I'M AN 1801 PATTERSON STREET IN HOUSTON AND I HAVE GILTS FOR YOU, MAYOR. >> THANK YOU CRAIG. >> ONE IN PARTICULAR IS A POSTER IDEA 21 YEARS AGO ON JUNETEENTH. YOU'LL PROBABLY BE THE ONLY ONE HERE THAT HAS ONE. THE OTHER ONE IS A BOOK THEY WROTE IN GALVESTON 20 YEARS AGO. THEY WENT FROM NEW YORK CITY TO CALIFORNIA, AND THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE ALOUD TO THEM ABOUT US HERE IN GALVESTON, SO WE IN YEAR TWO TALKS ABOUT JUNETEENTH, BUT IT'S GOING TO COST YOU A NIGHTMARE TO GIVE ME A HANDSHAKE [LAUGHTER] >> THANK YOU, CRAIG. WHAT I'M GOING TO DO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT GETS DISPLAYED HERE AT CITY HALL FOR ALL TO ENJOY, AND THE SAME FOR THE BOOK, I'LL HAVE IT FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ALSO IN ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO ENJOY IT. WHOOPS. >> ONE IN PARTICULAR WE'RE DOING ANY EVENT NEXT WEEK AT THE FIRST BLACK HIGH SCHOOL IN TEXAS. I KNOW ALL OF YOU GUYS KNOW WHERE THAT IS. WE GOT NICK SAID WE'VE GOT ICE CREAM CONTEXT FOR OLD FOLKS. FROM 3:00, WE GOT DOMINO CHAMPIONSHIP. WE GOT A WHOLE LOT OF FUN. WE REACHING OUT AND HELP RESTORE AND IT'S PARTICULARLY A BUILDING. WHAT I NOTICED ABOUT WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT OTHER REMINDS ME WHEN I WAS BORN IN GALVESTON IN 1957. WE COULDN'T GO NOWHERE. WE COULDN'T GO TO TT. WE HAD TO GO TO ONE PARTICULAR PART OF THE BEACH. THEY SAY, HEY, NO PHONE WHEN THE RABBIT GOT THE GUN EVERY DAY AND THEN CHANGED AROUND NOW AND I SHOW HOW YOU HANDLED IT, SIR. THANKS YOU. >> THANK YOU, CRAIG. I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. CAROL HOLLOWAY. CAROL. >> GOOD EVENING. I'M CAROL HOLLOWAY. I LIVE AT EIGHT PARK LANE, 77551. I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT AGENDA ITEM 10B. I OPPOSE YOUR CENSORING PUBLIC INPUT DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD OF YOUR COUNCIL SESSIONS, YOUR SUGGESTION THAT EMAILS AND SOCIAL MEDIA REPLACE IN-PERSON COMMENTS DOESN'T ADDRESS HOW THOSE EMAILS WILL BECOME PART OF THE OFFICIAL RECORD. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE 80 COMMENTS THAT THE WRITTEN COMMENTS THAT WERE NOT READ INTO THE RECORD AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, THOSE EMAILS WERE IN OPPOSITION TO CLOSING THE SPECIAL USE BEACH, BUT YOU DECIDED THAT YOU DIDN'T WANT TO SPEND THE TIME READING THEM INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD. IF YOU ARE GOING TO RESTRICT PUBLIC COMMENT, THEN YOU NEED TO OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE TO IN-PERSON COMMENTS TO ASSURE US THE VOTING PUBLIC THAT OUR CONCERNS ARE HEARD. RIGHT NOW, THE ONLY ASSURANCE WE HAVE OF BEING PART OF THE PROCEEDINGS IS WITH PERSONAL COMMENT, IN-PERSON. WRITTEN COMMENTS, AND EMAILS NEED TO BE MADE PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD. IF YOU ARE UNWILLING TO SIT THROUGH A THREE-MINUTE NON-AGENDA ITEM PRESENTATION, [01:45:06] THE RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS NEEDS TO REFLECT ALL OF THE PUBLIC INTERESTS, EVEN ISSUES THAT ARE NOT IMMEDIATELY RELEVANT TO THE AGENDA. YOU WILL NOT BE SILENCING US BY LIMITING PUBLIC INPUT TO THESE PROCEEDINGS, WHICH YOU WILL BE DOING IS ANNOUNCING LOUD AND CLEAR, YOUR DISINTERESTED IN HEARING WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU CAROL. CHARLES A. TOWNSEND. >> WELL, HI EVERYONE. I LIVE DOWN ON 204308 CODE VIEW BOULEVARD AND WE'D HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WITH THAT INTERSECTION. IT NEEDS TO BE CONTROLLED BY A LIGHT. THREE YEARS AGO I STARTED TO GET INVOLVED AND TRYING TO GET A LIGHT ON THAT INTERSECTION [NOISE] ON THAT INTERSECTION AND WAS TOWED. WELL, WE CAN'T PUT AN INTERESTS, WE CAN'T PUT A LIGHT ON THE INTERSECTION UNTIL WE HAVE A TURN LANE PUT IN AND THE CITY DOESN'T HANDLE THE TURN LANE, SO I GOT A HOLD OF THE STATE. GOT THOSE PEOPLE I DO AT THE STATE MADE SOME CONNECTIONS THAT GOT TO TURN LANE, PUT IT. NOW WE HAVE A TURN LANE. I'M DOWN HERE TO SEE ABOUT GETTING A LIGHT PUT IN. I WAS TOLD THE LAST TIME I CALLED WELL, THAT'S A BLIND INTERSECTION, BUT IT'S NOT A BLIND INTERSECTION. THEY ARE PROBABLY TALKING ABOUT THE ONE AT THE TOP WHERE YOU CROSS OVER BEHIND THE BIG BUILDING THERE. THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A BLIND INTERSECTION WHEN YOU CROSS THERE, BUT DOWN THERE AT THE BOTTOM, IT'S WIDE OPEN. BASICALLY THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE FOR US TO TRY TO GET SOME MOVEMENT ON TRYING TO GET A LIGHT PUT IN AT THAT INTERSECTION AND IT NOT ONLY DANGEROUS AND WHEN IT'S FOGGY, YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE THE INTERSECTION. IT JUST GETS CRAZY. I THINK A LIGHT WOULD HELP IT A LOT, BUT THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE FOR. MR. OPS OFFICE OVER THERE, SO ALL RIGHT SO THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, CHARLES. WOULD YOU THE PRION. >> [INAUDIBLE]. >> VERY GOOD AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, SHEILA BELLE. SHEILA. [MUSIC]. >> I MEAN THAT THIS TIME BECAUSE I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO COME BACK OUT Y'ALL PAST 10B OH MY GOODNESS. GOT SOME FREE LIFE JACKETS. LOOK, I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO RACHEL AT ACADEMY. AIN'T THIS WONDERFUL? THEY GAVE US THESE THEY'RE FREE. ANYONE WHO WANT ONE WANT, WHEN I'M WALKING OUT OF HERE JUST RAISE YOUR HAND AND YOU GOT ONE, OKAY? UNTIL THEY RUN OUT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. THANK YOU, ACADEMY. THANK YOU, RACHEL. EVERYBODY IT'S MY PRAYER THAT EVERYONE ON THIS ISLAND HAS A LIFE JACKET. THERE'S GOING TO BE A FLOOD GULF SHOWN IT TO ME. NOW WHEN YOU SEE THE GOLF TURN BLUE, THAT'S A SIGN. SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG THAT DAY. [LAUGHTER] MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A LIFE JACKET, A BOAT, FLOTATION DEVICES. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A GOOD DAY. NOT GOING TO BE A GOOD DAY. LAST AUGUST, I WAS EATING SOME COOKIES. I'VE BEEN EATING FOR ABOUT 50 YEARS. [LAUGHTER] AND I TASTED LIKE, WHAT IN THE WORLD? PICKED UP SOME CHIPS AND SPIT THEM OUT AGAIN. I KEPT ON TRYING DIFFERENT THINGS, AND THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE FOOD. I'M LIKE LORD, I HAD TO PRAY. WHAT'S GOING ON, LORD I HAVEN'T EATEN ALL THESE. I SAY, COOKIES, CEREAL, CRACKERS, CANDY, CHOCOLATE, EVERYTHING STARTS WITH A C. THE LORD CORRECTED ME. NO, IT'S WHEAT. RIGHT AROUND THE TIME THERE WAS A WHEAT SITUATION OVER THERE IN UKRAINE. REVELATION 6.6, THE WHEAT AND BARLEY, THAT'S A PROBLEM. THERE'S AN ATTACK ON OUR FOOD SYSTEM. LOOK, ALL SHEILA BELLE IS SAYING BE CAREFUL. SOMETHING GOING ON. TORNADOES, METEOROLOGISTS ALL OVER THE WORLD. THE LORD SHOWED ME THIS TO HELP SAVE LIVES AND AIN'T NONE OF YOUR REPORTING ON IT. I HOPE WE GET A NEW STATION HERE SO WE CAN SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT. YOU TRACK TORNADOES BY ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRICITY. I BROUGHT THE GRAPHS HERE AT ONCE BEFORE. WHERE THERE'S ELECTRICAL, HOW DO YOU KNOW? LIGHTNING. WE ALL KNOW THAT WATER AND ELECTRICITY DON'T MIX. AND WHEN THEY DO, BOOM, THAT'S THE LIGHTENING. THE WATER AND ELECTRICITY MIX. YOU WANT TO GAUGE ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRICITY TORNADOES ARE TEARING UP OUR NATION AND PEOPLE ARE DYING. IF YOU WANT, QUIT BEING BEHIND THEM, GET IN FRONT OF THESE TORNADOES. WHEN YOU SEE A TORNADO IN YOUR AREA, TURN THE POWER OFF BECAUSE YOU'RE FEEDING IT. HERE ARE SOME PICTURES FOR YOU, CITY COUNCIL. I SAT DOWN AND JUST TOOK A BUNCH OF PICTURES. EVERY LAST ONE OF THESE TORNADOES PAST POWER LINES. [01:50:03] Y'ALL ARE MISSING METEOROLOGISTS. THE MAGNETISM, ELECTRICAL, AND METAL. THEY LOVE CARS, AND 18-WHEELERS, AND MOBILE HOMES THAT THE TORNADO LITERALLY IS SUCKING OUT YOUR NAILS IN YOUR BUILDINGS, SUCKING OUT THE NAILS IN HOUSES, CHURCHES, AND EVERYWHERE ELSE. THEY ARE INCREDIBLE, EVERY LAST TORNADO PASSED THE POWER LINE. Y'ALL MISSING ALL OF THAT. SIX HUNDRED AND THIRTY-PAGE BOOK I GOT. I'M OUT OF TIME. [LAUGHTER] I'M SORRY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SHEILA. >> DON'T PASS 10B. >> HEY, SHEILA, I'VE ALREADY DECIDED. NO MATTER HOW IT WORKS OUT, WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A POSITION FOR YOU ON THIS AGENDA. [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU, SHEILA VERY MUCH. >> THIS IS GREAT. THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER, Y'ALL. THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE YOU. >> LET'S MOVE TO 10A PLEASE, NELLY. [10.A. Consider For Action An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Adopting The Homestead, Elderly, And Disabled Ad Valorem Tax Exemptions For Tax Year 2023, Pursuant To Chapter 33, Section 33-24 Of The Code Of The City Of Galveston 1982, As Amended; Maintaining The Minimum Amount For The Homestead Exemption At $60,000; And Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject. (M. Loftin)] >> OKAY. ITEM 10A. CONSIDER FOR ACTION AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, ADOPTING THE HOMESTEAD, ELDERLY, AND DISABLED, AD VALOREM TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR TAX YEAR 2023, PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 33, SECTION 33-24 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, 1982 AS AMENDED, MAINTAINING THE MINIMUM AMOUNT FOR THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AT $60,000 AND MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THIS SUBJECT. >> VERY GOOD. MIKE? >> THIS ORDINANCE SIMPLY RENEWS THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR THE UPCOMING TAX CYCLE THAT WE HAD IN PLACE THIS LAST YEAR. YOU DID CHANGE THE MINIMUM HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AMOUNT FROM $5,000 TO 60,000 LAST YEAR, AND THAT DID A GREAT DEAL OF GOOD FOR HOMEOWNERS THAT HAVE THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE. >> VERY GOOD. ANY QUESTIONS TO MIKE? >> I WAS GOING TO MOVE TO APPROVE. >> A MOTION FOR APPROVAL BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROBB. SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER LISTOWSKI. PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES. THAT'S UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. THANK YOU, MIKE. ITEM 10B. [10.B. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Amending "The Code Of The City Of Galveston 1982, As Amended”, Chapter 2, “Administration”, Article III, “City Council”, By Amending Section 2-139, “Order Of Business”, Related To Deleting Requests To Address City Coucil On Non-Agenda Items; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject; Providing For An Effective Date. (City Council)] >> ITEM 10B. CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, AMENDING THE CODE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, 1982 AS AMENDED CHAPTER 2 ADMINISTRATION, ARTICLE 3 CITY COUNCIL, BY AMENDING SECTION 2-139 ORDER OF BUSINESS RELATED TO DELETING REQUEST TO ADDRESS CITY COUNCIL ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS, MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. >> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. THIS WAS PUT ON HERE BY CITY COUNCIL HERE, AND I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS. COUNCILMAN FRANKLY. >> I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO DENY OR REJECT THIS, PLEASE. >> WE HAVE A MOTION FOR THE DENIAL. WE HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN COLLINS. ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? YES. >> SURE. FIRST OFF MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO OFFER AN APOLOGY FOR TRYING TO DEBATE THIS IN WORKSHOP. >> NO PROBLEM. >> I WENT BEYOND ASKING CLARIFICATION QUESTIONS, SO I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT. BUT HOWEVER, HAVING SAID THAT, I PRESENTED TO MEMBERS OF COUNCIL SOME POTENTIAL, MAYBE LANGUAGE, THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO BE OFFERED FOR COMPROMISE AND I'D WELCOME DISCUSSION ON THAT. >> I'M GOING TO OPEN THAT DISCUSSION UP. THIS IS A MOTION FOR A DENIAL. I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THAT ALSO. I WOULD SAY THIS, THOUGH. I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT A WAY THAT WE COULD STRUCTURE THE NON-AGENDA ITEMS. ONE THOUGHT THAT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION IS LIMITED TO ONE MINUTE. I PERSONALLY DON'T THINK THAT'S THE APPROPRIATE THING TO DO. BY THE TIME THEY GET UP AND STATE THEIR NAME AND SO FORTH, ABOUT 30 SECONDS OR LESS. ONE THING THAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST COUNCIL IS WE HAVE MOVED OUR NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS TO THE END OF OUR AGENDA. >> I HAVE TO SAY, MAYOR, I AGREE WITH THAT. I THINK WHEN I WAS ON COUNCIL LAST THAT WAS THE WAY IT WAS DONE. BECAUSE I AGREE LIMITING TO ONE MINUTE REALLY, AS YOU CAN SEE BY MOST COMMENTS TODAY, PEOPLE RAN OUT OF TIME EVEN WITH A LIMIT OF THREE MINUTES. BUT THE BENEFIT TO MOVING IT TOWARDS THE END IS IT DOESN'T RETAIN THE STAFFED. >> DAVID, AND THEN JOHN. >> LISTENING TO THE PUBLIC IS NOT A BURDEN. ON THE CONTRARY, IF WE GET ONE OR TWO, IT'S NOT AN ISSUE TIME WISE. [01:55:02] IF WE GET 10 OR 12 OF THEM, THEN WE'RE HEARING AN ARGUMENT THAT WE HAVEN'T HEARD IN PUBLIC, THAT ONE OR TWO OF US MAY HAVE GOTTEN THAT WE DON'T ALL KNOW ABOUT. SOMETHING THAT WE EITHER DON'T KNOW ABOUT OR HAVEN'T GIVEN SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO. PUBLIC COMMENT BROUGHT US THE HEAT BEHIND GOLF CARTS ON THE SEAWALL, IF YOU REMEMBER, AMONG OTHER THINGS. IT'S JUST IT'S NOT A BURDEN. I'M HERE TO LISTEN TO ANYBODY WHO SHOWS UP TO SPEAK ON PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT. I DON'T APPROVE MOVING IT TO THE END OF THE MEETING IN ORDER TO BURDEN PEOPLE. YOU WONT TO HAVE TO SIT THROUGH ALL OF THIS DISCUSSION SOMETIMES JUST TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTARY. BESIDES WHICH IF WE ELIMINATE NON-AGENDA ITEMS, WE DON'T GET TO HEAR FROM MRS. BELL ANYMORE. >> THAT'S TRUE. SHE'S A TRADITION. [LAUGHTER]. >> SHE'S GALVESTON TRADITION. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM UNTIL IT APPEARED ON THE WORKSHOP AGENDA. >> GOOD. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS? >> CAN WE JUST MAKE SURE IT SAYS MOTION TO REJECT. >> WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THAT. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> TO JOHN. >> SORRY. >> WE HAVE MOTION FOR DENIAL OF THIS ITEM 10B. PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES. THAT IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. [APPLAUSE] VERY GOOD. MOVING TO ITEM 10C, PLEASE. [10.C. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Amending Chapter 10, “Building Code”, Section 10-16. “Drainage Regulations”, Of The Code Of The City Of Galveston, As Amended, To Amend The Height Of Freeboard Above Base Flood Elevation (Bfe) To Be In Sync With The City’s Floodplain Ordinance; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject; Providing For An Effective Date. (R. Winiecke)] >> ITEM 10C. CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS AMENDING CHAPTER 10 BUILDING CODE, SECTION 10-16, DRAINAGE REGULATIONS OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON AS AMENDED, TO AMEND THE HEIGHT OF FREEBOARD ABOVE BASE FLIGHT ELEVATION TO BE IN SYNC WITH THE CITY'S FLOODPLAIN ORDINANCE MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. >> VERY GOOD. ROBB, THANKS FOR BEING HERE. >> YEAH, SURE. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THIS IS A CLEAN UP LANGUAGE FOR THE ORDINANCE. IN JANUARY, WE APPROVE THE ORDINANCE. THAT WAS A TWO-FOOT THAT INADVERTENTLY GOT PUT IN THERE. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN 18 INCHES, SO IT MATCHES THE FLOODPLAIN ORDINANCE. WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT TWO-FOOT OUT AND MAKE IT SAY 18 INCHES, SO IT'S UNIFORM ACROSS THE BOARD. >> OKAY. VERY GOOD. I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 10C. IS THERE A SECOND? >> I WILL SECOND. >> JUST MAKE THAT MOTION. >> I WILL SECOND THE MOTION. >> COUNCILMAN LEWIS AS, SECOND THAT MOTION. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES. THAT IS UNANIMOUS BUT FOR COUNCILWOMAN ROBB, WHO IS NOT HERE AT THIS POINT, SHE ABSTAINS. THIS MOVED ITEM 10D, THANK YOU, [10.D. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Amending The Code Of The City Of Galveston, As Amended, Chapter 18, “Property Maintenance Code”, Section 18-7, “Wildflower Exception”; To Extend The Registration And Timeframe Period Of The City’s Wildflower Exception Regulation; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject; Providing For An Effective Date. (City Council)] ROBB, VERY MUCH. 10D, PLEASE. >> ITEM 10D: CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, AMENDING THE CODE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON AS AMENDED CHAPTER 18, "PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE", SECTION 18-7 "WILDFLOWER EXCEPTION" TO EXTEND THE REGISTRATION AND TIME-FRAME PERIOD OF THE CITY'S WILDFLOWER EXCEPTION REGULATION, MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. >> THANK YOU. WE HAD DISCUSSED THIS AT A WORKSHOP BEFORE AND WE HAD IT DISCUSSED AT THIS MORNING'S WORKSHOP, I'M GOING TO LOOK TO COUNCILMAN FRANKLY, DO YOU HAVE A MOTION ON THIS, SIR? >> YES, SIR. PER OUR DISCUSSIONS THIS MORNING, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO REFER THIS TO THE TREE COMMITTEE SPECIFICALLY AND ASK THEM TO INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES FROM CITY PARKS, CITY PLANNING, AND CITY ENFORCEMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN APPROPRIATE AND RECOMMENDED ORDINANCE. >> I'LL SECOND THAT. >> OF COURSE, GOT IT. >> VERY GOOD. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES. >> THAT IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. ITEM 10E, PLEASE. [10.E.Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Amending "The Code Of The City Of Galveston 1982, As Amended”, Chapter 19, “Licenses, Permits And Business Regulations,” Article VIII. “Long Term Paid Parking”, Adjusting The Fee To Be Paid By Operators Of Vehicles Parked In Excess Of Forty-Eight Hours In Certain Long Term Parking Facilities; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject; Providing For An Effective Date. (T. Fanning)] >> ITEM 10E: CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, AMENDING THE CODE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON 1982 AS AMENDED. CHAPTER 19, LICENSES, PERMITS, AND BUSINESS REGULATIONS. ARTICLE 8, LONG-TERM PAID PARKING, ADJUSTING THE FEE TO BE PAID BY OPERATORS OF VEHICLES PARKED IN EXCESS OF 48 HOURS IN CERTAIN LONG-TERM PARKING FACILITIES, MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. >> VERY GOOD AND WE HAVE BEFORE US, YOU'VE OFFERED AN ALTERNATIVE, DAWN? >> [INAUDIBLE] AUTHORED THE CHANGE EVEN AS WE WERE SPEAKING IN WORKSHOP. [02:00:02] >> VERY GOOD. IS THAT WHAT'S ON OUR PROCEEDING? >> YES, CITY COUNCIL, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THE SECOND VERSION. IT'S REALLY AT THE PLEASURE OF CITY COUNCIL, WHICH ONES YOU WANT TO GO WITH OR WHICH ONE YOU WANT TO GO WITH. >> VERY GOOD. JUST A QUESTION ON THIS, IF THIS IS PASSED, WE NEED TO GO BACK TO THE REPORT. IS THAT CORRECT? >> YEAH. >> AND REDO THE MOU WITH THE BOARD? >> YEAH. >> VERY GOOD. >> WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE TO DO THAT. >> I'M HERE TO ASSIST. [BACKGROUND] VERY GOOD. ANY QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE ON THIS? YES, JOHN. >> IN THAT SECOND PAGE, THE FIRST LETTER A, THE ASSESSED FEE IS 115 PER DAY, AND IT SAYS OR ANY FRACTION OF A DAY THEREOF. >> CORRECT. >> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? >> A DAY, YOU CAN CONSIDER THAT 24 HOURS, BUT IF SOMEBODY IS ONLY PARKING, WELL, I GUESS IT'S OVER 24 HOURS OR 36 HOURS, OR 37 HOURS, EACH DAY IS JUST GOING TO BE WHETHER IT'S A PART OF A DAY, PART OF A 24-HOUR PERIOD OR NOT, THAT'S WHAT THAT MEANS. >> IF YOU PULL INTO PARK AT TWO O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON, YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THAT DAY. >> SO NOT A FRACTION, YOU PAY FOR A FULL DAY. >> CORRECT. >> IT'S THE DAY THAT'S CONSIDERED IF IT'S A FRACTION OF A DAY, NOT A FRACTION OF THE ASSESSMENT FEE. >> I LOOK FOR CALENDAR DAY, WHETHER YOU'RE THERE FOR ONE HOUR OR ONE DAY. >> BEYOND THE 48 HOURS. >> AFTER 48 HOURS. >> THERE WE GO, THANK YOU. >> ASSESSMENT OF IT. VERY GOOD, DAVID. >> WELL, THEN OKAY. MR. FINKLEA JUST SAID SOMETHING THAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED. IF YOU'RE PARKING MORE THAN 48 HOURS, YOU PARK FOR THREE DAYS, THIS TRIGGERS THIS ORDINANCE WHICH YOU'RE PAYING FOR ALL THREE DAYS, AM I RIGHT? >> YES. >> LET'S BE CLEAR. >> BUT IF YOU'RE PARKING LESS THAN 48 HOURS, IF YOU PARK YOU DON'T GET CHARGED AT ALL ON THIS. >> VERY GOOD. DID WE HAVE A MOTION? >> [OVERLAPPING] CONFUSING. >> WHAT? >> IT'S A FRACTION OF A DAY THING IS? >> NO, THINK ABOUT THIS, IF YOU GO TO THE AIRPORT AND YOU ARE IN ANY PLACE THAT CHARGES BY THE DAY IF YOU ONLY STAY HALF A DAY YOU DON'T PAY HALF A DAY. IN SOME PLACES BUT. >> YOU PAY THE FULL [OVERLAPPING] >> YOU PAY THE FULL 50, SO ANY FRACTION OF A DAY IS CHARGED AS A FULL DAY. ANY DAY OR FRACTION OF A DAY IS CHARGED $150. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT. [OVERLAPPING]. >> I THINK IT'S NECESSARY. >> MORE WORDS SEEM TO MAKE IT MORE CONFUSING, OR SOMETIMES. >> MANY WORDS. >> I'M OKAY WITH IT. >> I'M GOING TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION, COUNCIL. >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS IT IS PRESENTED TO US HERE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CALL THIS. >> SECOND VERSION. >> THE SECOND VERSION. >> I'LL SECOND. >> VERY GOOD. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE SECOND VERSION WHICH IS CHARGING $1.15 PER DAY. [OVERLAPPING] >> A FRACTION OF THE FIRST MOTION. >> OR ANY FRACTION OF A DAY THEREOF AND WE HAVE A SECOND BY COUNSEL MEMBER BOUVIER. ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE ASK. YES, DAVID. >> I'M GOING TO REITERATE WHAT I SAID TO JOHN THIS MORNING. I THINK THIS IS A VERY WELL-THOUGHT-OUT SOLUTION TO THE PLAYING FIELD LEVELING QUESTION YOU HAD BEFORE, I LIKE THIS ORDINANCE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I MENTIONED THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES AT WORKSHOP BRIAN, EVERYBODY'S GOT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY SIGNS UP AND MOVES FORWARD WITH THIS. VERY GOOD. >> BUT YOU SAID THAT. >> [LAUGHTER] PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. THAT IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. THANK YOU. THANKS, JOHN. LET'S MOVE FORWARD NOW. [Consent Items] WE HAVE THE CONSENT ITEMS. WOULD YOU READ THAT, PLEASE? >> YES. >> HELEN. >> ITEM 11: CONSENT ITEMS. THE FOLLOWING ITEM SHALL BE CONSIDERED FOR ACTION AS A WHOLE, UNLESS ONE OR MORE COUNCIL MEMBERS OBJECT. THE CITY MANAGERS AUTHORIZED TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS UPON FINAL APPROVAL BY THE CITY ATTORNEY. CONSENT ITEMS 11A THROUGH 11Q ARE ON THE SCREEN. >> COUNCIL, IS THERE ANY PARTICULAR ITEM COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD [02:05:01] LIKE TO PULL OUT TO DISCUSS INDIVIDUALLY? >> I DON'T REALLY WANT TO PULL ONE OUT, BUT COULD WE JUST DISCUSS 11A? >> LET ME MAKE A MOTION AND A SECOND IN AND WE'LL OPEN THAT DISCUSSION, JOHN. I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF ITEMS 11A THROUGH 11Q. >> I'LL SECOND. >> WE HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ROBB. NOW, JOHN, GO RIGHT AHEAD. >> I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH 11A BUT I WANTED TO ASK WHEN GLENN WOULD BE BACK TO COUNCIL TO SPEAK TO US ON HOW AS AUDIT PLANS ARE GOING. >> SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME, JOHN. >> WHEN WILL GLENN BE BACK TO COUNCIL? >> JULY. >> JULY. >> YES, SIR. HE'S GOING TO MAKE A PRESENTATION ON HIS CURRENT AUDIT PLANS, BUT ALSO BE BRINGING TO US A DRAFT OF HIS UPCOMING AUDIT PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR. >> I'LL WAIT TILL THE END TO TALK MORE ABOUT THAT THEN. THANK YOU. >> SOUNDS GOOD. VERY GOOD. WE HAVE MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF 11A THROUGH 11Q. [BACKGROUND] COUNCILWOMAN ROBB, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES. THAT IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. LET'S MOVE TO 12A. PLEASE. NILLY. [12.A.Consideration Of A Motion Direction City Staff To Move Forward With The Acquisition Of Real Property In The City Of Galveston As Discussed In Executive Session Including The Filing Of Condemnation Proceedings In Accordance With The Laws Of The State Of Texas. (Legal)] >> ITEM 12A. CONSIDERATION OF EMOTION DIRECTION CITY STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON AS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, INCLUDING THE FILING OF CONDEMNATION PROCEEDINGS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. >> TO OPEN THAT DISCUSSION, I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION. THAT MOTION IS I MOVE TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PROCURE REAL PROPERTY LOCATED ON ENGLISH BY YOU AS DISCUSSED IN OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION THIS MORNING, INCLUDING THROUGH THE USE OF EMINENT DOMAIN. IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT? >> I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION. I'M SORRY. >> GO AHEAD. >> I GOT IT. >> WE HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN COLLINS. ANY DISCUSSION? >> I HAVE A QUESTION. DO WE NEED A BETTER DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTY THAN WHAT YOU'VE JUST SAID? >> NO, I THINK YOU'RE OKAY. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS? PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES. THAT IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED, BUT FOR COUNCILMAN BOUVIER. LET'S MOVE TO 12.B, PLEASE. [12.B.1. Discuss And Consider Appointments To The Following City Boards, Commissions, And Committees: Galveston Housing Finance Corporation/Galveston Property Finance Authority ] >> ITEM 12.B. DISCUSSING CONSIDER APPOINTMENTS TO THE FOLLOWING BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES. ONE, GALVESTON HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, GALVESTON PROPERTY FINANCE AUTHORITY. TWO PARK BOARD OF TRUSTEES. >> VERY GOOD. WE HAVE FIVE INDIVIDUALS FOR UP FOR REAPPOINTMENT ON THE GALVESTON HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION FIRST OF ALL, FOR THE REAPPOINTMENT OF MARINE MCCUTCHEN IN POSITION 1. MARK MCKINNON IN POSITION 3. LEON PHILLIPS IN POSITION 4, AND CHRIS ROBB IN POSITION 5, AND JOHN LIGHTFOOT IN POSITION 7. THESE WOULD BE FOR REAPPOINTMENT. IS THERE A SECOND? >> I'LL SECOND. >> SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN LOUIS. ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS? PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES. >> YES, THINKING ABOUT IT. >> SHOULD BE ABLE TO NOW. >> NO. >> IT'S NOT POPPING UP. >> DOESN'T LIKE IT. >> WE'RE GOING TO VOTE BUT JUST MANUALLY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. [02:10:03] THAT IS ALL. EVERYONE IMPROVES. BUT FOR COUNCILWOMAN ROBB, WHO'S ABSTENTION ON THAT. WE DO HAVE TWO OPEN SLOTS NOW. THE SLOT FOR PATRICIA BOLTON LEG, SHE IS TERMED LIMITED AND WE HAVE THE SPOT FOR SAM DELALIO WHO HAS REQUESTED NOT TO CONTINUE TO SERVE. I WOULD SAY THIS COUNCIL, I HAD SOMEONE OUTLINED AND ALL LINED UP FOR THIS AND I GOT A TEXT HERE THIS AFTERNOON THAT MY INDIVIDUAL HAS A RELUCTANT NOT TO SERVE ON THIS SO I'M GOING TO OPEN UP TO COUNSEL IF YOU HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS AT THIS POINT. YES. >> HAS INTEREST IN SERVING ON THIS BOARD. >> CORNELIA HARRIS BANK IS A NOMINEE FROM SHARON LEWIS. >> I'LL SECOND. >> COUNCILWOMAN ROBB HAS SECONDED THAT? >> ARE WE STILL ON HOUSING FINANCE? >> YES. >> YES. >> WE HAVE TO DO THIS MANUALLY. >> YEAH. THIS WOULD BE IN POSITION FOR PATRICIA BOLTON LEGS POSITION. JENEL. CORNELIA HARRIS BANK. ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. THAT IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. NOW WE HAVE THE OPENING FOR SAM DELALIO. >> BLESS YOU. >> ENTERTAINED NOMINATIONS FOR THAT POSITION. WE HAVE NO. WITH THAT I WOULD JANE ALICE PUT THIS BACK ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING. IF YOU WOULD COUNSEL THINK ABOUT AND RESEARCH ON SOMEONE TO SERVE ON THIS COMMITTEE, PLEASE? VERY GOOD. LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 2 OF 12.B. [12.B.2. Park Board of Trustees (Part 1 of 2)] PART BOARD OF TRUSTEES. NOW, WE HAVE CAST OUR VOTES ON THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN RANKED BY CITY COUNCIL HERE. OUR FIRST NOMINEE IS GERALD WILSON. I NOMINATES GERALD WILSON'S POSITION 1. >> I'LL SECOND. >> WE HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ROBB. ANY DISCUSSION? >> SORRY, I HIT THE WRONG BUTTON [LAUGHTER] >> GET THE MOTION AGAIN. >> THANK YOU. >> IT WOULDN'T UNDO MINE. TWO TABS IN YOUR MOTIONS. >> MY MIC SAYS IT'S OFF. >> YOU WANT TO DO THIS MAN? >> YEAH, LET'S DO THESE MANUALLY. COUNCILMAN FRANKLY WAS THE MOTION? >> NO. >> COUNCILWOMAN ROBB MADE THE MOTION. I DID MAKE THE MOTION. >> THERE WE GO. >> IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF MR. WILSON. THAT IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. THE SECOND NOMINEE WAS MARTY FLUKE THAT WAS ON THE RANKINGS HERE. I'M GOING TO NOMINATE, AS I HAVE ON ALL OF THESE THAT MARTY FLUKE IS FOR POSITION 6. IS THERE A SECOND? >> I'LL SECOND THERE. >> HAVE A SECOND. IS THERE DISCUSSION ON MARTY FLUKE? COUNCIL MEMBERS? VERY GOOD. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF MARTY FLUKE. PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES. LET'S DO THAT ONE MORE TIME. I'M STICKING MY HEAD. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF MR. FLUKE, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. >> ARE YOU IN FAVOR? >> NO, MA'AM I'M NOT. I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE WE PUT OUR HANDS UP. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE DOWN THE LINE. IN POSITION 6, THAT WOULD BE BARRY WILLIE. MAKE A MOTION FOR BARRY WILLIE. >> I'LL SECOND. >> I HAVE A SECOND, BARRY WILLIE IN POSITION 3. VERY GOOD. [02:15:04] THERE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? IT'S 1, 2, 3, 4. FOUR IN FAVOR. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. EXCUSE ME. YOU GOT THOSE THE WAY THEY VOTED, PLEASE, JENEL. WE HAVE BARRY WILLIE AND MR. WILSON. BARRY WILLIE WAS IN POSITION 6. I'M GOING TO NOMINATE SARAH GODWIN IN POSITION 8. >> I'LL SECOND. >> WE HAVE A SECOND FOR THAT. ANY DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. IT IS UNANIMOUS. >> I VOTED NO. >> YOU VOTED NO. COUNCILMAN COLLINS VOTED NO ON THAT, BUT IT DID PASS. NOW, WE HAVE ROBERT BULLWINKLE IN POSITION 8. >> ARE YOU BUMPING IT UP? >> YES. I WAS. >> BARRY WILLIE WAS APPOINTED POSITION 6. >> SARAH WAS APPOINTED POSITION 3 [OVERLAPPING] >> THANK YOU. THAT IS CORRECT. YES, SIR. WE HAVE ROBERT BULLWINKLE A KNOCK TO NOMINATE HIM FOR POSITION 8. >> I'LL SECOND. >> I'LL SECOND. > EVERYBODY, ALL RIGHT. >> COUNCILWOMAN LOUIS. >> LOUIS, I THINK SHE'D BEAT ME. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF MR. BULLWINKLE? ALL IN FAVOR BUT FOR COUNSEL MEMBER BOUVIER. NOW, WHO IS THE NEXT IN LINE? >> THERE'S A QUESTION. >> YES, SIR. >> CAN WE SEE COUNCIL RANKINGS. >> SURELY. >> WHO WAS NEXT ON THE LIST? >> WHO'S NEXT ON THE LIST, JENEL? >> NEXT ON THE LIST IS WILLIAM CLEMENT. I'M GOING TO EXPLAIN. >> [NOISE] BUT LET'S LOOK AT THAT LIST BEFORE WE MAKE THIS FINAL. THIS POSITION WOULD SERVE THE UNEXPLORED TERM, THAT JEFF OSCOP HAS BEEN IN [NOISE] WHILE WE'RE WAITING ON THAT, [13. RECEIVE AND FILE (Non-Action Items)] OUR ITEM OR NEXT ITEM UP, WOULD IT BE THE. >> RECEIVING FILES >> RECEIVE FILE. >> YES, MA'AM. >> 13A, 2023 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT IN HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS, PLANNING FOR PROPOSED OBJECTIVES AND PROJECTS, IN THE AMOUNT OF 1,099,400 IN CDBG AND $284,860 IN HOME. YOU WANT ME TO KEEP GOING DOWN THE LINE? >> YES, MA'AM. >> 13B, TURTLE ISLAND RESTORATION NETWORK LETTER OF SUPPORT. 13C, GALVESTON CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT PROPOSED 2024 OPERATING BUDGET. 13D ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION [NOISE] 13E, LETTER FROM SENATOR JOHN CORNYN, JUNETEENTH [NOISE] >> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, NELLY. [12.B.2. Park Board of Trustees (Part 2 of 2)] I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE CORRECT SHEET. IS IT? JENEL, YOU'RE NOT LISTING THE. >> SCORES? >> NO, BUT SHE HAS A SHEET WITH IT. >> HERE. >> YES. >> WHAT I GAVE YOU WAS THE INDIVIDUAL SCORES FROM THIS COUNCIL. >> YEAH. WE NEED THE RANKINGS. [02:20:01] COULD YOU DUPLICATE THAT FOR ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS? >> YEAH [NOISE] >> I DON'T KNOW [OVERLAPPING] >> MAYOR? >> YES, MA'AM. >> AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH 13A,13B WILL WE COME BACK TO ASK QUESTIONS FOR 13A? >> WHICH ONE? >> 13A. ARE WE JUST GOING THROUGH AND VOTING? >> YOU SURELY COULD YES, MA'AM. IF YOU WOULD LIKE. WOULD YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND ASK THAT QUESTION NOW? >> YES, I CAN. ON THE PROPOSED OBJECTIVES AND PROJECTS. DO WE GET ANY WAY TO COMMENT ON THAT IN OUR BUDGETING QUESTION MEETING, OR? >> REBBECA IS HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. >> YOU JUST MAGICALLY APPEARED [LAUGHTER] I WAS QUESTIONING THE OBJECTIVES FOR THE CDBG FUNDS. >> YES, MA'AM. >> THE PROJECTS. ARE THESE ETCHED IN STONE? OR ARE WE ABLE TO LOOK AT PROJECTS THAT YOU ARE PROPOSING? >> THAT IS PROPOSED FOR RIGHT NOW. WE'RE TAKING COMMENTS. WE WILL ALSO BRING THE ACTION PLAN, WHICH IS WHAT ACTUALLY HAS TO BE VOTED ON BY COUNCIL IN JULY. IF YOU WANT TO SET UP A MEETING AND WE CAN DISCUSS PROJECTS. WE HAVE THE OBJECTIVES. WE HAVE TO MEET HEADS OBJECTIVES. THOSE ARE ETCHED IN STONE. BUT AS FAR AS PROJECTS WE CAN DISCUSS ANY PROJECTS THAT MEET THE OBJECTIVES FOR HUD. >> I LIKE TO DO THAT. >> DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? >> YES. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> YOU ARE WELCOME. >> THERE I WOULD MOVE APPROVAL OF ITEM 13. >> DOING IT. DON'T DO IT [OVERLAPPING] >> IT'S JUST RECEIVING FILE. >> LET'S MOVE BACK TO OUR ITEM ON THE PARK BOARD APPOINTMENTS. >> I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS. >> YES [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER] >> TELL ME WHAT I'M LOOKING AT HERE, AND HOW THIS WORKS. >> THE FIRST LIST THAT I GAVE YOU WAS JUST COUNCIL'S. THE FIRST ONE I GAVE YOU. WHENEVER WE SENT INSTRUCTIONS OUT TO COUNCIL, WE ASK THAT YOU LIST YOUR FIRST NOMINEE WITH A NUMBER ONE AND THEN GO DOWN THE LIST. WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO WAS, THE PERSON WITH THE LOWEST SCORE WOULD BE YOUR NUMBER ONE. BUT THEN WE FIGURED OUT THAT WAS NOT GOING TO WORK, BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT A BUNCH OF PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T GET ANY, THEY WOULD HAVE ZEROS. THEN IF YOU HAVE ONLY ONE PERSON THAT GETS ONE NOMINATION, THEY WOULD BE YOUR NUMBER ONE PERSON BECAUSE THEY'RE NUMBER ONE. WHAT WE DID WAS SIMPLY JUST INVERT THE NUMBERS. ALL THE ONES BECAME SEVEN, THE TWOS BECAME SIXES. WE JUST INVERTED IT SO THAT WE HAD A HIGH SCORE INSTEAD OF A LOW SCORE. [NOISE] >> I MIGHT ADD, THOSE ARE MERELY A GUIDE, NOT BINDING ON YOU. >> IT ALSO TURNS OUT THAT THIS IS HOW WE DID IT LAST YEAR. I'LL DEMONSTRATE IT TO YOU. >> YES, WE DID HIGH SCORES LAST TIME. >> SAME THING. >> YOU'RE NUMBER ONE PERSON SHOULD HAVE BEEN SEVEN INSTEAD OF ONE. >> CORRECT >> BUT WE JUST INVERTED THE NUMBERS THAT YOU GAVE ME. I JUST USE THAT AS A GUIDE TO INVERT THE NUMBERS SO THAT WE CAME UP WITH THE HIGH SCORE, FOR THE FIRST FIVE PEOPLE. >> NOW, THIS IS THE WAY THAT WE DID IT. WE HAVE DONE IN YEARS PAST. >> THAT'S THE WAY WE'VE DONE IT IN YEARS PAST SINCE WE STARTED THIS RANKING SYSTEM. >> WHEN WE HAD QUESTIONS, JOHN COME UP ON THE RANKING SYSTEM, THAT THIS IS NOT MY FORTE. I ASKED MIKE LOFTON AND SHEILA TO COME DOWN. WE JUST DIDN'T GUIDE THEM. WE JUST ASKED THEM THE FAIREST WAY TO DO THIS. THIS IS WHAT MIKE AND SHEILA OUTLINED FOR US [NOISE] >> WE HAVE A MOTION ABOUT BUILDING. >> NOW. >> EXCUSE ME. >>DO WE HAVE THAT MOTION FOR THAT. >> WE DON'T HAVE A MOTION FOR WILLIAM CLEMENT WHICH WOULD BE POSITION 7. I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF WILLIAM CLEMENT IN POSITION 7. HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCIL ROMAN ROBB. ANY DISCUSSION? [02:25:07] >> JOHN WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. WE HAVE 1,2,3,4. IT'S UNANIMOUS. JENEL, PLEASE READ THE PARK BOARD APPOINTEES AND READ THEIR POSITION, PLEASE. >> WE HAVE GERALD WILSON IN POSITION 1. BARRY WILLIE IN POSITION 6. SARAH GODWIN IN POSITION 3. ROBERT BULLWINKLE IN POSITION 8 AND WILLIAM CLEMENT IN POSITION 7, WHICH IS AN UNEXPLORED TERM >> CORRECT. WILLIAM CLEMENT WILL BE COMING BACK TO US NEXT YEAR. >> THAT'S THE POSITION WHERE JEFF AUSTIN COP RESIGNED. >> THAT IS CORRECT. IF WILLIAM CLEMENT IS REAPPOINTED EACH YEAR, HIS TOTAL TERM WOULD BE SEVEN YEARS INSTEAD OF SIX. >> THAT'S RIGHT. >> IT HAS HAPPENED. >> YES. >> ANSWER WAS THAT WAY. OUR COUNCIL ON IT. FILL OPEN POSITIONS. MAYOR MY I. MAYOR. >> WELL, I WANTED TO SAY ONE THING, DAVID. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE NEW APPOINTEES TO THE PARK BOARD. I WANT TO ALSO THANK THOSE THAT HAVE SERVED ON THE PARK BOARD IN THE PAST THAT HAD NOT BEEN REAPPOINTED. I APPRECIATE THEIR SERVICE VERY MUCH. THEY SERVED DURING A VERY DIFFICULT TIME WHEN THINGS WERE UP AND DOWN WITH RELATIONS WITH THE CITY IN THE PARK BOARD. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE CONGENIAL AND WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE PARK BOARD COMING UP. I WANTED TO ALSO THANK ALL 37 APPLICANTS, THAT APPLIED. I READ EVERY ONE OF THE RESUMES, THE APPLICATIONS AND THEIR QUESTIONS. WE HAVE SOME VERY TALENTED PEOPLE THAT HAVE APPLIED. I JUST WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR APPLICATION. I KNOW COUNCIL IS LOOKING AT THEM, TO POSSIBLY FEEL SOME OTHER FUTURE SPOTS ON SOME OF OUR OTHER COMMITTEES. DAVID. >> I WOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE, PARK BOARD GOING FORWARD, TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THESE FOLKS FOR YOU FOR SERVICE ON COMMITTEES AT THE PARK BOARD. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY INTERESTED IN TOURISM AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GREAT ADDITION STRATEGIC, AND OTHERS. WE DISCUSSED THIS MORNING, LOOKING AT THE STATE LAW, SAYS THAT THE SWEARING IN MUST BE DONE IN A BOND FILED WITH THE CITY SECRETARY IN 15 DAYS. I WOULD THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO CALL A JOINT MEETING WITH PARK BOARD, WITH THE NEW TRUSTEES. IN THE NEXT 15 DAYS, SIT DOWN, GO OVER PRIORITIES. FIRST LET'S GET THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NEW BOARD OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT. SET OUR PRIORITIES. TALK ABOUT DIFFICULTIES, IDEAS WE MAY HAVE, AND JUST RESET THE TONE OF THE PARK BOARD. THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS. IT ALSO GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE SURE THESE FOLKS ARE SWORN IN AND FILE A BOND WITHIN 15 DAYS, WHICH AS WE KNOW, WE'VE BEEN VERY LAX ON IN THE PAST. >> I WOULD SAY I'VE VISITED WITH KIMBERLY DENAC, THE NEW INTERIM CEO. THE PARK BOARD, HAVE MENTIONED THAT TO HER DAVID. THEY ARE ALL ON BOARD THERE, THE PARK BOARD TO SET UP THIS JOINT MEETING WILL BE SETTING THAT UP SHORTLY. >> YES, SIR. >> COUNCIL, WE HAVE GONE THROUGH OUR AGENDA. WE ARE NOW ADJOURNED AND IT IS 7:28. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.