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GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.[1. DECLARATION OF A QUORUM AND CALL MEETING TO ORDER]
GLAD TO HAVE EVERYBODY HERE THIS MORNING.GLAD TO HAVE YOU WITH US THIS MORNING.
I'M GOING TO OFFICIALLY CALL THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING WORKSHOP TO AGENDA TO ORDER FOR OCTOBER 12TH.
WE DO HAVE A CITY COUNCIL QUORUM, BUT LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO OUR CHAIRMAN OF THE PARK BOARD.
GREAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND WE DO HAVE A QUORUM OF PARK BOARD TRUSTEES AS WELL.
AND IF WE CAN GO AHEAD AND GET A ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
DO YOU HAVE A QUORUM HERE, JASON? YES YOU DO. YES WE DO.
OKAY. WE NEED FIVE AND WE HAVE SIX.
WE'RE HERE THIS MORNING TO DISCUSS THE PARK BOARD'S BUDGET.
[3.A. Discussion And Possible Recommendations As It Relates To The Park Board’s Budget For 2024 And Subsequent Years, Including Special Projects And Capital Improvement Items. (Brown/Bouvier)]
AND, JANELLE, LET'S GO AHEAD AND READ ITEM THREE A, PLEASE, MA'AM.OKAY. ITEM THREE A, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATIONS AS IT RELATES TO THE PARK BOARD'S BUDGET FOR 2024 AND SUBSEQUENT YEARS, INCLUDING SPECIAL PROJECTS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ITEMS. JASON, I'M GOING TO IF THIS MET YOUR APPROVAL, I'D LIKE TO LEAD.
JUST MAKE A STATEMENT AND LEAD THIS OFF, PLEASE.
AND WE CAN KIND OF OPEN THE FLOOR UP FOR DISCUSSION CONCERNING THIS PARK BOARD BUDGET.
MANY MONTHS AGO, THE CITY AND THE PARK BOARD RESTRUCTURED THEIR RELATIONSHIP AS IT RELATES TO THE DEPOSIT OF HOT FUNDS AND COUNCIL'S APPROVAL OF THEIR ANNUAL BUDGET.
THESE CHANGES WERE INTENDED NOT AS AN INDICTMENT OF THE OPERATION OF THE PARK BOARD, BUT AS A MEANS OF ALIGNING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CURRENT STATE LAW.
WITH CHANGE COMES QUESTIONS AND SOME DISRUPTION, WHICH IS UNDERSTANDABLE.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY THESE CHANGES AT TIME WERE COUCHED IN TERMS OF ACCUSATIONS OF UNETHICAL AND EVEN ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES WITH INFERENCES OF FRAUD AND INTENTIONAL MISREPRESENTATIONS.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT I DO NOT FEEL THAT IS THE CASE.
PERSONAL ATTACKS AND ACCUSATIONS OF THIS TYPE ARE NOT ONLY UNFOUNDED, BUT NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY PARK BOARD OR THE COMMUNITY.
THE PARK BOARD IS COMPOSED OF VERY QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS WHO, IN MY OPINION, ARE COMMITTED TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY FOR ITS BETTERMENT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF CITY COUNCIL.
TO THIS END, OUR ROLE IS NOT TO MICROMANAGE THE PARK BOARD, BUT TO WORK WITH IT FOR THE COMMON GOOD OF OUR COMMUNITY. IF COUNCIL'S GOAL IS TO MICROMANAGE, THEN THERE IS NO ROOM TO EVEN HAVE A PARK BOARD.
I THINK I CAN SPEAK FOR COUNCIL IN SAYING THIS IS NOT OUR INTENT.
TO THAT POINT, I PROPOSE THAT INSTEAD OF EVALUATING LINE ITEMS AND EXPENDITURES OF THE BUDGET, COUNCIL GIVES OVERARCHING GUIDELINES TO THE PARK BOARD AND ALLOW THEM TO DO THEIR JOB, AND THAT IS TO MANAGE WHICH THEY ARE APPOINTED TO MANAGE TO BEGIN THE DISCUSSIONS TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER TO EVERYONE HERE AS A FOUNDATION THIS MORNING TO OPEN UP OUR INPUT THE FOLLOWING IDEAS FOR GUIDANCE.
NUMBER ONE, THE OPERATIONAL BUDGET OF THE PARK BOARD INCREASES EACH YEAR IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE CITY'S OPERATIONAL BUDGET. NUMBER TWO, THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO THE $0.03 THAT IS ALLOCATED TO THE
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CVB, WHICH IS GUIDED BY THE CITY CHARTER.ALL SPECIAL AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS NOT INCLUDED IN THE OPERATIONAL BUDGET BE DELINEATED AND PRESENTED SEPARATELY TO COUNCIL FOR EVALUATION, POSSIBLE APPROVAL AND RESULTANT FUNDING, AND FOUR, THE ACCOUNTING FORMAT OF THE PARK BOARD TO BE IN THE SAME FORMAT AS THE CITY'S FOR EASY UNDERSTANDING AND EFFICIENT DIALOG BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE PARK BOARD STAFF.
I'M GOING TO PASS OUT THOSE PARTICULAR THOSE EXCUSE ME, I'M SORRY, THOSE PARTICULAR POINTS, IF IT MET YOUR APPROVAL.
JASON, I WOULD LIKE TO START OUR DISCUSSIONS ON THE PARK BOARD BASED AROUND THESE FOUR POINTS.
OF COURSE, WE CAN DEVIATE FROM THAT.
WE CAN TAKE THINGS AWAY FROM THAT.
AM I THE ONLY ONE HERE? IS BANJO MUSIC? NO, I AM MUSIC.
I DON'T HEAR IT. BUT WITH THAT SAID, I DON'T HEAR A LOT.
SO WE HEAR THE MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC PLAYING.
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD. VERY GOOD.
I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION AS WE DISCUSS THAT.
AS I MENTIONED THAT I'M VERY, VERY HAPPY TO BE WITH THE PARK BOARD TODAY.
I THINK THAT WILL BENEFIT US ALL.
YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU THE FOUR POINTS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH THE DISCUSSION AND LET'S OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION AND SEE WHERE WE NEED TO HEAD WITH THIS. I'D LIKE TO SAY ONE THING IN TERMS OF THE OPERATIONAL BUDGET.
THE PARK BOARD AND THE SERVICES IT PROVIDES TO THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT IT THE INFLUENCES IT HAS TO RESPOND TO OPERATE, I THINK ON A LITTLE DIFFERENT LEVEL THAN THE CITY, LIKE ONE OF OUR BIG EXPENSES AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG ON THIS IS LIKE OPERATIONALLY, IS PAYING LIFEGUARDS RIGHT SUMMER HELP, SEASONAL HIRES.
A LARGE PART OF THAT IS IS LABOR, RIGHT.
WE HAVE TO COMPETE WITH AND THESE AREN'T THESE AREN'T LIKE LONG TERM EMPLOYEES NECESSARILY THAT YOU'RE PULLING IN THAT YOU CAN LURE IN WITH BENEFITS OR SECURE JOB. THESE ARE KIDS, USUALLY YOUNGER PEOPLE, COLLEGE STUDENTS, PEOPLE WE'RE BRINGING IN FROM OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY TO TO FILL THESE SLOTS.
AND WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN THE SALARY THAT IS IN COMPETITION.
SO LIKE SCHLITTERBAHN OR MOODY GARDENS, WHEN THEY WHEN THEY JACK UP THE PAY IF WE DON'T MEET OR MAYBE EXCEED THAT A LEVEL, WE'RE NOT GOING TO FILL THOSE SLOTS AND WE WON'T HAVE LIFEGUARDS FOR THE BEACHES.
AND THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING.
AND WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE, HAVE THE MONEY IN THE IN ORDER TO DO THAT.
AND, YOU KNOW, IF AND I DON'T KNOW, I KNOW THE CITIES THE INCREASES THEY'RE LIMITED BY STATE LAW.
CORRECT. ON YOUR ON YOUR OPERATIONS, YOUR BUDGET.
WELL, JUST AD VALOREM TAXES ONLY.
RIGHT. AND WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY BOUND BY THAT.
RIGHT. WE'VE GOT WE'RE GETTING THOSE THOSE HOT FUNDS OR THE RESTRICTED FUNDS IS THE BULK OF THAT.
AND ALONG WITH THOSE INCREASES ARE MORE VISITORS, MORE PEOPLE VISITING THE BEACHES.
IT'S, I THINK, A SAFETY AND OPERATIONAL ISSUE THAT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO.
AND A LOT OF THAT WE HAVE NEW BEACHES THAT HAVE TO BE CLEANED, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL LIFEGUARD TOWERS, ALL THOSE OPERATIONAL THINGS KIND OF MULTIPLY ON EACH OTHER.
AND SO I THINK THERE'S A FLEXIBILITY THAT THAT WE NEED IN OUR, OUR BUDGET THAT THE CITY DOESN'T NECESSARILY, YOU KNOW, I WON'T SAY DOESN'T HAVE TO RESPOND TO, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LARGE PORTION OF OUR OPERATIONAL BUDGET.
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THAT WE PUT OUT THERE ABOUT THE.VERY GOOD. DAVID, HAVE YOU SEEN HAVE YOU SEEN OUR POLICE BUDGET, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET LATELY? I MEAN, IT'S GONE UP DRAMATICALLY, YOU KNOW THAT.
SO THE CITY CITIES, YOU KNOW, HAS GONE UP MORE THAN 3.5%.
THE THREE AND A HALF IS CAP ESTABLISHED BY THE LEGISLATURE FOR AD VALOREM TAXES.
AND A BIG PIECE OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF PUBLIC SAFETY, EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
SO YEAH, WE DO HAVE TO RESPOND TO THAT.
BUT IT DOESN'T IT'S NOT AN UNLIMITED.
WE HAVE TO CAP IT. THERE'S NO THERE'S NOT AN UNLIMITED AMOUNT OF FUNDS.
MARIE AND I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAY.
YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE FUNDS TO COVER YOUR SEASONAL EMPLOYEES.
AND I THINK IN PREVIOUS YEARS DO YOU DEFINE THAT BUDGET? BUT IT'S INTRIGUING TO ME.
IN 24, AS I WENT THROUGH EVERYTHING'S JUST IN A LUMP SUM.
IF YOU GO TO JUST TWO EXAMPLES, IF YOU GO TO STORE BEACH PARK, YOU HAVE YOUR LUMP SUM REVENUES, OR IF YOU GO TO A SEAWOLF PARK WHERE YOU HAVE YOUR LUMP SUM REVENUES, BUT THEN THEN YOU'RE NOT BREAKING DOWN REVENUES OR EXPENSES.
I MEAN, THERE JUST ISN'T A LOT OF DEFINITION, AND THAT'S WHAT I TAKE PAUSE WITH.
AND I FULLY UNDERSTAND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TO COMPETE FOR LIFEGUARDS.
BUT THEN I ALSO HAVE ANOTHER SIDE I LOOK TO WHICH EVERYBODY HERE.
MY DISTRICT PRODUCES A MAJOR BULK, MORE THAN 50% OF THE HOT TAX, AND I DON'T HAVE ANY LIFEGUARDS.
I DON'T HAVE ANY BEACH CLEANING.
AND THAT'S NOT TRUE. THE PARKS, MY NEIGHBORHOODS, WHO ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO RESTAURANTS, ALSO DOING HOT TAX AND HAVE A MAJOR BULK OF THE SHORT TERM RENTALS, AREN'T GETTING ANY BENEFITS FROM THE HOT TAX.
SO THAT'S WHEN I LOOK AT THIS AND I BREAK DOWN THE NUMBERS.
YOU JUST BECAUSE MONEY'S THERE DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU'RE ALLOWED TO SPEND IT ALL.
IT'S NOT THE PARK BOARD'S MONEY.
AND WE HAVE A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PEOPLE WHO ELECTED US TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS ARE ARE BEING DONE IN A PROPER MANAGE, A PROPER FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS THAT ARE THERE. CAN I RESPOND TO THAT? FIRST, NO ONE AT THIS TABLE HAS CLAIMED THAT THESE FUNDS ARE SPECIFICALLY THE PARK BOARD'S FUNDS.
SECOND, I DO BELIEVE THAT AS A GALVESTON RESIDENT, MY PERSPECTIVE IS THAT THERE ARE BENEFITS FOR ALL RESIDENTS WHO LEAVE THEIR HOME DO BENEFIT FROM HOT COLLECTION.
THIRD, WITH THOSE SPECIFIC ITEMS REFERRED TO IN OUR BUDGET.
BRIAN, WOULD YOU PLEASE COME TO THE TABLE AND RESPOND TO THIS? GOOD MORNING COUNCIL. GOOD MORNING BRYSON.
DO YOU NEED A CHAIR? BRYSON? I GOT ONE RIGHT HERE. OH, OKAY.
THERE'S A SUMMARY PAGE AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH DEPARTMENT BUDGET.
AND IT SPELLS OUT EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SPENDING THAT MONEY ON.
SO THE DETAIL IS INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET.
OKAY, JOHN, YOU WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING.
YOU SURE? JASON, I HAVE A QUESTION.
WELL, SO IS THIS A GENERAL STATEMENT? NUMBER ONE, IS THAT JUST A STATEMENT THAT AS THE CITY'S OPERATIONAL BUDGET INCREASES, WITH MORE VISITORS, MORE PEOPLE MOVING TO THE ISLAND, SO DOES THE PARK BOARD'S BUDGET NATURALLY INCREASES? OR IS THIS A STATEMENT THAT THE PARK BOARD'S OPERATIONAL BUDGET NEEDS TO MIRROR THE CITY'S OPERATIONAL BUDGET? NO, NOT TO MIRROR, BUT AS FAR AS THE INCREASE FROM YEAR TO YEAR, WE ARE GOING UP.
I THINK THIS YEAR OUR OPERATIONAL BUDGET, IF WE ELECTED TO ADOPT THIS NUMBER ONE TOPIC, THAT MEANS THE OPERATIONAL BUDGET FOR THE FOR THE PARK BOARD WOULD GO UP 8.5% FOR THIS YEAR.
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TO THE CITY COUNCIL AS A SPECIAL PROJECT OR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FOR US TO LOOK AT INDIVIDUALLY.GOTCHA. SO MY MY REAL WELL TO TOUCH ON MAYBE BARRY'S POINT IS NOURISHING AND EXTENDING OUR BEACHES.
IF WE HAVE A BIG PROJECT AND WE NOURISH BEACHES ALL THE WAY OUT TO PAST JAMAICA BEACH, YOU KNOW, ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE WEST END, IN A SENSE THAT'S A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, BUT THAT'S GOING TO DRASTICALLY INCREASE OUR OPERATIONAL BUDGET AS WE HAVE TO MOVE MORE TRASH PICKERS, MORE LIFEGUARDS IN THE DIRECTION THAT WE EXPAND THE BEACHES.
SO IN THE EVENT THAT NEXT YEAR, SOMETHING HAPPENS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CITY AND THE STATE FIND OURSELVES WITH AMPLE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO DO A HUGE NOURISHMENT PROJECT. THE PARK BOARD'S OPERATIONAL BUDGET IS GOING TO SKYROCKET IN THAT DEPARTMENT, IN MY OPINION, AND IN MY OPINION ON THAT.
AND THAT WOULD COME AS A SPECIAL PROJECT TIED TO THE TO THE INCREASE OF PERSONNEL AND THINGS THAT THAT PROJECT WOULD BRING WITH IT, AND THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL WOULD LOOK AT AND THEN FUND IF WE FELT THAT, THAT WE WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
BUT THAT'S ALSO GOING TO HAPPEN IN BUDGET YEAR OVER BUDGET YEAR.
IT'S NOT GOING TO SUDDENLY FALL OUT OF THE SKY ON YOU.
ONE DAY YOU JUST WAKE UP AND DISCOVER THIS TEN MILES OF NEW BEACH.
THAT'S SOMETHING YOU WRITE INTO FUTURE, FUTURE BUDGETS.
BUT TO MARY'S POINT, YOU DON'T PROVIDE LIFEGUARD SERVICES TO THE END OF THE SEAWALL.
DON'T DON'T PROVIDE LIFEGUARD SERVICES TO WEST 91ST STREET.
THEY DON'T. THEY HAVE JUST RAVINE.
OF COURSE, THAT TERRITORY ALL EXISTS TODAY.
IF WE NOURISH BEACH OUT THERE IN FRONT OF, SAY, PIRATES, WE'RE STILL NOT GOING TO HAVE LIFEGUARDS.
WE'RE STILL NOT GOING TO HAVE LIFEGUARDS.
BUT BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO INCREASE THE PATROLS NECESSARILY.
YOU STILL HAVE VISITORS ON ALL THE BEACHES TODAY.
WE DID PROVIDE LIFEGUARDS IN THE SAME AREA WHERE I LIVE.
I MEAN, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A CONSIDERABLE INCREASE IN EXPENSE THERE.
OH, YOU HAVE TO HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT.
I UNDERSTAND, BUT I HAVE TO LOOK AT IT FROM TWO SIDES OF THE ROAD.
I MEAN, I THINK THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT HOT TAX BENEFITS THE ENTIRE ISLAND.
I WISH WE HAD A HIGHER VALUE TOURISTS.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, I, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE AS I BRING UP ALL THE TIME HUB CITY AIRPORT ADVERTISING.
BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO PROVIDE LIFEGUARDS AND THAT WOULD INCREASE THE, THE, THE AMOUNT OF THE LIFEGUARDS. BUT I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR SPECIAL NOURISHMENT PROJECT THAT I WORKED ON AS WELL AS THE PARK BOARD, BECAUSE WE HAVE CRITICAL AREAS THAT NEED SAND BADLY, WOULD BE A SPECIAL PROJECT, AND IT WOULD TAKE MORE MANAGEMENT BECAUSE WE'D BE ABLE TO LOOK AT WHEN FEMA IF THERE WAS A STORM AND SO FORTH.
BUT THAT STILL DOESN'T MEAN YOUR INCREASE IN YOUR BUDGET SHOULD BE SUBSTANTIALLY MORE.
WHEN I READ THIS BUDGET AND EVEN READ THROUGH THE EXPLANATION AND SO FORTH, IT'S LIKE, OKAY, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING TO GET IN AND WE'RE GOING TO BUDGET EVERY PIECE OF IT.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S AN APPROACH, THAT'S A PROPER APPROACH TO BUDGETING ON.
WOULDN'T YOU? YOU WOULD HAVE TO, OF COURSE, BUDGET ALL YOUR REVENUE IN SOME MANNER.
BUT YOU DON'T. YOU'RE TAKING FROM YOUR RESERVES.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEND ALL OF YOUR REVENUE, BUT YOU HAVE TO BUDGET FOR IT.
THAT'S WHAT. THAT'S WHAT YOU MEAN TO SAY, RIGHT? WHAT IS WHAT IS THE.
WHAT'S THE GOAL OF THIS STATEMENT? THE NUMBER ONE OR THE ALL THE STATEMENTS? WELL, TAKE NUMBER ONE FOR TO START IT WOULD GIVE.
THERE WAS SOME I HAVE HEARD AND COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE STARTING TO RELAY THAT, THAT THERE'S A CONCERN THAT JUST BECAUSE THERE'S X AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THEY HAVE TO BUDGET FOR OPERATIONAL EXPENSES, SPECIFICALLY JUST EXPAND THEIR BUDGET TO MAKE SURE THOSE MONIES ARE COVERED.
LET ME ASK ANOTHER QUESTION BEFORE YOU GO FURTHER.
THAT IS THE 10% Y'ALL PULL FROM HOT TAX.
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NO NO NO.THAT'S THE ADMINISTRATIVE. OH, THAT'S THE ADMINISTRATIVE.
SO YOU'RE NOT YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT.
YOU'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT OPERATIONAL BUDGET LIKE OUR GENERAL FUND.
RIGHT. IT'S WELL BEYOND WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION.
AND SO THAT IS THE PORTION THAT YOU WANT TO CAP AT A NUMBER RELATED TO THE CITY.
YES. SO YES, BUT BUT WE DON'T DO THAT, DO WE? THE CITY OF GALVESTON DOESN'T DO THAT.
THEY DON'T THEY DON'T CAP DEPARTMENTAL BUDGETS.
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ASKING THEM TO DO.
WELL, WE YOU'RE RIGHT, JOHN, WE DON'T.
AND I THINK BARRY BRINGS UP A GOOD POINT THERE.
BUT CAN SOME OF THE CONSTRAINTS WE WORK UNDER OUR BUDGET CAN ONLY GO UP A CERTAIN AMOUNT EACH YEAR? IT'S 8.5%, I THINK THIS YEAR OUR CHARTER.
YEAH. WELL BY THE PARDON ME, THE ONLY THE ONLY STATUTORY CAP IS THE 3.5% LIMIT ON THE INCREASE ON PROPERTY TAX. PROPERTY TAX.
RIGHT. SO WE DON'T HAVE A CAP ON OUR BUDGET, THAT WE DON'T HAVE A CAP ON THE BUDGET.
WE JUST GO UP A CERTAIN AMOUNT EACH YEAR.
AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, I THINK STAFF IS HERE.
IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO THE CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE WITH THE WITH THE LIBRARY.
SO IF WE DON'T HAVE A I'M WONDERING HOW THIS WILL WORK IF WE DON'T HAVE A CAP ON OUR BUDGET, OUR INCREASE IN OUR BUDGET, HOW DO WE RELATE SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO THE PARK BOARD? DO WE WAIT TO PRODUCE OUR BUDGET AND SEE HOW MUCH WE'VE INCREASED OUR BUDGET, AND THEN TELL THEM TO MATCH THAT? AND LOGISTICALLY, THAT'S YOU'RE RIGHT.
I MEAN, THAT'S WHY IT'S ON THE TABLE HERE.
I THINK PERSONALLY I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT DO WE NEED IS THERE A NEED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT I THINK TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED, DAVID AND MARIE, THE TAKING ALL THE MONEY.
USE. I MEAN, YOU'RE GOING TO BUDGET THE MONEY REGARDLESS.
IT'S COMING IN. YOU'RE GOING TO BUDGET THAT MONEY.
WHETHER WHETHER YOU WHAT YOU MEAN TO SAY IS SPEND THAT MONEY.
CORRECT? WELL, I DON'T THINK IT'S EXACTLY RIGHT WHEN YOU SAY IT'S GOING TO BE BUDGETED.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S NECESSARILY TRUE.
I MEAN, THE PARK BOARD HAS BUDGETED EVERYTHING THEY ANTICIPATE SEEING FROM HOT TAX, BUT THAT'S NOT YOU KNOW, BUT IT'S UP TO COUNCIL TO DECIDE HOW MUCH OF THAT ALLOCATION SHOULD BE RIGHT.
WELL, I MEAN ONE ANTICIPATES THEM SPENDING EVERYTHING THAT'S IN THEIR BUDGET, RIGHT? I MEAN, IF YOU BUDGET IT, THAT'S YOUR THAT'S A PLAN.
AND MAYBE I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE BUDGET.
AREN'T YOUR RESERVES PART OF YOUR BUDGET? WELL, YEAH.
SO YOU'RE SAYING YOU NEED TO CAP THEIR EXPENDITURES.
THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT I THINK WE'RE SAYING.
OPERATIONAL EXPENDITURES OKAY.
AND AND THIS THE WAY I ENVISION IT NOW LET'S TAKE BEACH PATROL, FOR INSTANCE.
PETER HAS A BUDGET, WHATEVER THAT BUDGET IS THIS YEAR, AND LET'S SAY NEXT YEAR THAT THE CITY'S BUDGET GOES UP 9% AND PETER'S ON HIS STANDARD OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS WOULD GO UP 9%.
HE COULD GO UP TO 9% ON AN INCREASE IN HIS OPERATIONAL BUDGET.
NOW, PETER MAY SAY, WELL, WE'VE GOT MORE.
AND THAT WOULD COME TO COUNCIL, AND COUNCIL COULD LOOK AT IT AND APPROVE FUNDING FOR THAT.
I'M STILL WONDERING HOW HOW YOU'RE GOING TO SET THAT AMOUNT RELATED TO THE CITY.
SO I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS IS WE WE WELCOME OVERSIGHT.
WE WANT TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE, AND WE WELCOME DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL.
UM, I THINK THAT IT IS REASONABLE TO HAVE GUIDELINES SET FOR THE CAP ON EXPENDITURES.
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AS LONG AS IT'S PROVIDED TO US IN A TIMELY MANNER THAT WE CAN SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT IT.SO NOW WOULD BE A TIME WE'RE COMING UP IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS FOR US TO START PREPARING FOR FY 25.
SO WHEN I LOOK AT POINT ONE HERE, THOUGH, I WOULD PREFER TO AVOID AN ARBITRARY APPLICATION TO OUR EXPENSES FROM A MANDATE THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY APPLY TO US.
NOW, DOES THAT MEAN THAT I DON'T WANT TO MANDATE THAT? NOT NECESSARILY.
AND I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER CONSIDERATION AS WELL.
SO IF IF THERE IS A CAP THAT IS PUT ON US THAT WE CAN APPROPRIATELY PLAN FOR IT, THAT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WE ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO CONSIDER.
BUT I WOULD HATE TO SEE IT TIED SO STRINGENTLY TO MANDATES THAT ARE PUT DOWN TO THE CITY.
LET ME LET ME ASK THIS FOR EVERYBODY'S EDIFICATION.
THE PENNY WAS SET AT $2.7 MILLION LAST YEAR, THREE POINT ANTICIPATED TO BE $3.3 MILLION THIS YEAR.
BRYSON, CAN YOU TELL ME OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD? I'M NOT GOING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT HERE.
THAT WAS EXACTLY RIGHT. IT'S NOT A QUIZ.
NO, NO. THE NEXT QUESTION I'M ABOUT TO ASK.
OKAY, YOU GOT THE PENNY VALUES, BUT IF YOU IF YOU TAKE IF YOU TAKE SPECIAL PROJECTS OUT AND CONSIDER ONLY YOUR BUDGET FOR 24, WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE OVER 23 WHEN WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT PERSONNEL, MATERIALS, SUPPLIES AND SERVICES, IT'S ABOUT A 10.7% INCREASE FROM 23 TO 24.
THAT'S THE WHOLE ENTIRE BUDGET WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT HOT ALONE.
AND I GOT THAT RIGHT. HERE WE ARE LOOKING AT ABOUT A $3 MILLION INCREASE OF ABOUT WHAT IS THAT 24%.
14%. WELL HOW DID SO SO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT AND THE 22% INCREASE IS, WHICH IS WHAT THE INCREASE IN HOTEL TAX IS, IS, IS IN SPECIAL PROJECTS. YES. SO NO, WHEN IT COMES TO THE ACTUAL HOT THAT WE THINK WILL GENERATE AND COLLECT NEXT YEAR AND THEN GET APPROPRIATED IN THIS BUDGET, THAT'S FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS. CASH RESERVES IS WHAT WE TEND TO USE FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS, NOT ALL OF THEM.
IF WE CAN FIT IN A SPECIAL PROJECT AND USE THE REVENUE WE HAVE COMING IN, THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO.
WITH THIS INCREASE FROM 2227233.
RIGHT. THAT GIVES YOU PLENTY OF HEADROOM.
BUT WHAT IF WE HAD SET THE PENNY AT 2.7 THIS YEAR? WHAT IF WHAT IF, WHAT IF WE DIDN'T? I MEAN, BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING THIS TREND LINE I DON'T THINK IS GOING TO BE DECREASING ANYTIME SOON, BUT IT'S FLATTENING.
WE'RE SEEING THAT I THINK IN HOUGHTON SALES TAX AND ALL OF THAT.
WHAT WOULD THE RESULT BE IF WE HAD HAD BEEN FORCED TO SET THE PENNY WITH NO INCREASE? IF IT HAD BEEN 2.7 MILLION AGAIN THIS YEAR, HOW WOULD YOU HAVE ACCOMMODATED THAT IF YOU IF YOU IF YOU NEED 14% OR INCREASE IN YOUR BUDGET.
SO THERE WAS A GREAT QUESTION.
THERE WAS AN INTERESTING DYNAMIC THIS SUMMER.
IT WAS WHAT, LIKE 12 WEEKS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT OF STRAIGHT SUNSHINE.
AND WITH THE INCREASE IN THE LIFEGUARD RATES, WE WERE ABLE TO FULLY STAFF OUR SEASONAL STAFF.
SO THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE, LIKE IN A GROUP LIKE BEACH PATROL, WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE INCREASE WOULD GO IF THE PENNY WAS SET AT 2.7 AND THAT WAS THE REALITY, THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO GO AND REDUCE OUR BUDGET ACCORDINGLY.
SO BUT BUT SO I MEAN LIFEGUARDS A GOOD EXAMPLE.
BUT BUT WOULDN'T THAT HAVE IMPACTED YOUR ADMIN BUDGET AS WELL.
IF YOU GO FROM INSTEAD OF 3 TO 3, YOU HAVE TO SEVEN.
THAT'S 10% OF $600,000 A PENNY YOU DON'T GET.
NO, IT WOULD IMPACT THE ADMIN BUDGET AS WELL.
PART OF THE INCREASE IS TO THE ADMIN BUDGET.
SO HAVING SOMEBODY MANAGE THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
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THE OTHER REASON IS BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO BRING THAT FUND, THE GENERAL FUND OUT OF THAT NET ASSET DEFICIT AND GENERATING A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN WHAT WE WOULD NECESSARILY NEED TO COVER EXPENSES. SO WE CAN THEN SATISFY DEBT BACK TO THE OTHER FUNDS IS ANOTHER REASON WHY YOU MIGHT SEE AN INCREASE.BUT IT WOULDN'T JUST BE ARBITRARY.
WE WOULDN'T JUST SAY, OH, WE'RE INCREASING THIS OR WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE OUR ADMIN COSTS.
IN A WAY, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS.
BUT I THINK WHAT TRIGGERS THIS? I MEAN, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 10.8 AND 14 OR WHATEVER YOU SAID, THE 14 SEEMS HIGH.
BUT BUT I UNDERSTAND AS A SMALLER UNIT YOU HAVE THERE'S BASELINE COSTS BELOW WHICH YOU CANNOT GO.
RIGHT. I MEAN, THERE'S CERTAIN COSTS, YOU KNOW, ACCOUNTING COSTS YOU WOULD HAVE COST THE CITY THE I THINK WHAT TRIGGERS THIS IS PROBABLY SPECIAL PROJECTS IN THIS BUDGET, BECAUSE THE SPECIAL PROJECTS SEEM TO HAVE BEEN I DON'T USE THEY'RE PADDED BUT ADDED JUST, YOU KNOW, CREATED TO FILL THIS POTENTIAL 22% INCREASE IN HOTEL TAX.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US ALL TO UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT THAT ISN'T ACROSS THE BOARD, THAT THE SPECIAL PROJECTS WHICH WHICH WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HERE IN A MINUTE ANYWAY, IF YOU IF YOU WERE TO TAKE THE SPECIAL PROJECTS OUT OF THIS, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ADDING YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE INCREASE IS CONSIDERABLY LESS THAN THE 22%.
YEAH. I THINK I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW.
LET ME ASK THIS, JASON, I'M GOING TO DIRECT THIS TO YOU.
AND OF COURSE, THE TRUSTEES HERE.
I THINK YOU GET A SENSE OF WHAT THIS NUMBER ONE IS TRYING TO GET AT SAYING THAT.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON ADDRESSING THAT FOR INTEREST FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAVE CONCERNS WITH THAT? HOW CAN HOW CAN THIS BE ADDRESSED? SO I CAN KICK IT OFF AND DEFINITELY WELCOME THE OTHER TRUSTEES TO PROVIDE INPUT AS WELL? I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, FIRST OFF, I THINK THAT A STRUCTURED MANDATE ON HOW TO TREAT OUR UPCOMING EXPENSES IS COMPLETELY ACCEPTABLE AS TRUSTEES FROM THE COUNCIL WHO APPOINTS US.
I WOULD DEFER TO BRYSON WHAT TIME OF YEAR THAT THAT WOULD BE NECESSARY DURING OUR FISCAL YEAR.
MY WHERE I PUSH BACK ON IT IS TO HAVE IT RIGID, YOU KNOW, TIED TO THE CITY'S INCREASE IN EXPENSES DUE TO BECAUSE I DON'T I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE CITY WOULD COME UP WITH THAT NUMBER AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT NUMBER ACCURATELY TO US.
PERSONALLY. I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF THE OTHER TRUSTEES.
AND IT'S I THINK IT'S IN A WAY, IT'S TIED TO THE AD VALOREM CAP THAT THE STATE'S IMPOSED AND THAT I REALLY THINK IT'S A STUPID LAW BECAUSE AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HERE WOULD DISAGREE WITH ME ON THAT.
RIGHT. AND WHAT IT'S FORCING THE CITIES TO DO IS TO GO TO A USER BASED FEE STRUCTURE, AS OPPOSED TO AN AD VALOREM STRUCTURE, RIGHT, IN ORDER TO FUND NECESSARY OPERATIONAL EXPENSES.
AND THAT'S AND THAT'S WHAT THE PARK BOARD OPERATES ON NOW.
BUT IT'S ESSENTIALLY A A USER FEE TAX.
IT'S PEOPLE WHO COME DOWN AND THEY STAY DOWN HERE IN HOTELS AND SHORT TERM RENTALS.
YOU KNOW, BIG PART OF THE WEST END ECONOMY AND THE WHOLE CITY OF GALVESTON.
AND BUT IT'S A USER GENERATED FEE AS OPPOSED TO AN AD VALOREM TAX FEE.
AND SO AND USER GENERATED FEES ESPECIALLY ARE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO TO DO.
NOW, THERE MAY BE A BALANCE, LIKE HOW MUCH IS TOO MANY VISITORS FOR THE ISLAND? I KNOW THAT DISCUSSION HAS BEEN A PART OF IT, BUT THAT'S THAT'S ALMOST KIND OF Y'ALL'S JOB TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.
BUT WITH THE FUNDS THAT WE GET, WE SHOULD FULFILL OUR MANDATE.
[00:35:01]
AND SO, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE FUNDS GO INTO, YOU KNOW, ADVERTISING.I KNOW WE PUT MORE INTO ADVERTISING SOME THIS YEAR TO TRY TO KEEP THINGS GOING.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE TRY TO WORK WITH THE HOTELS AND, AND OUR STAKEHOLDERS ON THE ISLAND TO TRY TO BRING MORE PEOPLE IN AND LURE IN GROUPS THAT ARE GOING TO COME IN AND SPEND MONEY AT THE RESTAURANTS, AT AND THE OTHER ATTRACTIONS HERE ON THE ISLAND.
AND THAT'S PART OF OUR MANDATE.
SO, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE EXTRA MONEY THAT WE HAD THIS YEAR, YOU KNOW, WENT INTO THINGS LIKE THAT.
NOW, IF WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT MANDATE, MAYBE THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
BUT, YOU KNOW, PUTTING AN ARBITRARY RESTRICTION ON OUR ON OUR OPERATIONAL BUDGET.
AND I THINK THAT WOULD COME UNDER THAT, WOULDN'T IT, THE ADVERTISING AND STUFF.
AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THE ISLAND, NOT NECESSARILY IN A GOOD WAY.
I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT. I AGREE WITH WHAT THE PARK BOARD CHAIR SAID ABOUT, I THINK WE COULD WORK WITH A CAP IF IT'S GIVEN TO US EARLY ENOUGH IN THE YEAR, FIRST QUARTER OF THE CALENDAR YEAR. BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, I THINK WHAT THE MAYOR IS SAYING ABOUT SPECIAL PROJECTS, IF WE COULD INCLUDE BEACH PATROL EXPENSES.
AND I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT THAT THE MAYOR MAKES ABOUT SPECIAL PROJECTS.
AND THE SAME WITH TOURISM BUDGET.
SOME OF THAT STUFF COULD BE IN SPECIAL PROJECTS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE, YOU KNOW, THIS NEW THING WE'RE PAYING A LOT OF MONEY FOR TO ADVANCE OUR INTERNET COVERAGE AND SO FORTH. BUT I WOULD SAY THOSE IN COMBINATION WOULD BE A WAY TO DO THIS.
TO GO TO BARRY'S COMMENTS AND TALKING ABOUT A USER FEE, I GUESS THAT'S PRECISELY WHERE I HAVE A PROBLEM, THAT YOU HAVE BASICALLY NO CAP ON YOUR EXPENSES.
I THINK IT WAS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND ON SUNNY BEACH, WHERE WE HAD A PUT ALL OUR POLICE OFFICERS THAT WERE AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT WAS SO OUT OF CONTROL.
SO THEN THAT TAKES THE POLICE AWAY FROM OUR CITIZENS.
UM, AND EVERYTHING IS FOCUSED ON A BEACH THAT IS OUT OF CONTROL.
AND MATTER OF FACT, OUR BEACHES ARE GETTING MORE AND MORE CROWDED, ESPECIALLY AS PARK FEES GO UP.
AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, YESTERDAY I EVEN CALLED MANAGEMENT TO SAY, HAVE WE GOTTEN ANY OTHER INFORMATION? SO TO SAY THIS IS A SURPRISE OR YOU NEED TO GET IT EARLIER OR YOU DON'T WANT IT TO BE ADDRESSED IN THIS BUDGET? WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS NOW FOR HOW LONG? HOW MANY MONTHS? AND YOU APPROVED IT, AS YOU SEE ON EVERY SINGLE PAGE.
725 AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING AND IT'S NOW OCTOBER, SO THREE MONTHS AND YET THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
THE ONLY EXPLANATION WE EVER RECEIVED WAS THIS, WHICH IS KIND OF VAGUE.
AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN THIS TODAY, AND I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH PUTTING A CAP ON EXPENSES. AND AS BOB JUST SAID, LOOKING AT THINGS THAT COME IN AS SPECIAL SPECIAL PROJECTS.
UM, BUT I GUESS MY CONCERN COMES WITH BOTH.
YES, THE HOT TAX, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF NON HOT TAX MONEY HERE THAT GETS TRANSFERRED AROUND WHEN I LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE SAYS OUR POLICE BUDGET KEEPS GETTING HIGHER, BUT OUR POLICE BUDGET HAS BEEN FLAT BASICALLY FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS IT HAS FLUCTUATED BETWEEN 61 ACTUALLY 60 TO 62%.
AND NOW WE HAVE 8 MILLION PEOPLE COMING IN.
AND I'M CURIOUS ON THAT NUMBER, BECAUSE HOW MANY OF THEM ARE JUST PEOPLE GOING ON TOURS?
[00:40:04]
YOU KNOW, I DO TRAVEL MAYBE MORE THAN YOUR AVERAGE COUNCIL PERSON.AND WHEN I'M IN AIRPORTS AND I MEET PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME FROM THE CRUISE, I'M LIKE, OH, DID YOU COME AND STAY A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE? OR WHEN I TALK TO FRIENDS WHO HAVE STORES ON THE STRAND, AND THIS SUMMER THEY SAID THEY HAD TO HAVE THREE PEOPLE TO MAKE THE SAME SALE AS ONE PERSON.
I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED THAT WE WOULD LOOK AT THIS WITH CRITICAL EYES WHEN WE ARE CAPPED ON OUR EXPENSES. SHOULD TOURISTS GET MORE THAN OUR CITIZENS? I MEAN, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
DAVID AND JOHN LET ME PUSH BACK ON THAT JUST A LITTLE BIT.
I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING JASON AND COMPANY SAY IS THAT AN 8.5% CAP IS WITHOUT A DOUBT ARBITRARY.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE COULD LIMIT THE CITY BUDGET TO.
I MEAN, IF IT HAD BEEN 9%, HAD BEEN 8%, THAT'S WHAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN.
AND WE DON'T KNOW THAT UNTIL VIRTUALLY SEPTEMBER.
SO THAT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT THE POINT AT WHICH TO TOSS THAT IN YOUR LAP.
YOU KNOW, TO BOB'S POINT ABOUT DOING THIS IN JANUARY OR WHATNOT, I, I IT'D STILL BE ARBITRARY.
YOU STILL GOT TO YOU STILL GOT TO COME UP WITH A NUMBER TO DECIDE ON.
AND I'M NOT SURE YOUR BUDGET IS REALLY THE CULPRIT HERE.
I THINK. I THINK IT IS SPECIAL PROJECTS AND THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE AND THE FACT THAT THE THAT THE BUDGET EXPANDED TO FILL THE MONEY ANTICIPATED TO, YOU KNOW, TO BE RECEIVED THIS YEAR. SO I'M NOT SURE THAT YOUR OPERATIONAL BUDGET IS IS THE ISSUE.
WE DON'T HAVE NEARLY THE NUMBER OF LIFEGUARDS YOU GUYS DO.
BUT WE HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S JUST EASIER TO SIT IN THE TOWER AT SCHLITTERBAHN, LOOK AT THE GIRLS THAN, YOU KNOW, AND THEN GET OUT ON THE BEACH AND AND GET IN THE SALTWATER, I MEAN, SO AGAIN, I LET LET'S GOING FORWARD, LET'S THINK ABOUT HOW YOU CAP THIS, HOW YOU, HOW YOU, HOW YOU RESTRICT THIS.
BUT I MEAN, THE, THE EIGHT AND A HALF, THAT'S JUST WHAT THE CITY'S WENT UP.
THAT'S THAT'S WHY THIS NUMBER GOT ON THE TABLE.
BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT I'M NOT SURE YOUR BUDGET'S REALLY THE CULPRIT HERE.
AND I KNOW JOHN WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING.
I'M SORRY, JOHN, BUT BUT I AGREE WITH DAVID ON THIS.
AS I MENTIONED IN THE INTRODUCTION HERE, I DON'T WANT TO GET IN.
TWO. WELL, YOU GOT WHAT? ONE RAVE? 1 OR 2.
WAVE WAVERUNNERS. WHY DON'T YOU HAVE ONE? OR, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NONE OF OUR BUSINESS.
BUT I DO THINK THAT THE WAY IT'S STRUCTURED, IF WE MOVED AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT SOON AND 0.3 ABOUT THE SPECIAL PROJECTS, I THINK IF WE KEEP THIS OPERATIONAL BUDGET AND REMEMBER, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE OPERATIONAL BUDGET NOW OF THE PARK BOARD.
AND IF WE SEPARATE OUT THOSE SPECIAL PROJECTS OF EXPANDING, REALLY, SAY, AND USING PETER'S BEACH PATROL, AND HE WANTS TO MAKE A COMPLETE CHANGE OR EXPANSION OF THAT, THAT WOULD BE A SPECIAL PROJECT, AND YOU COULD BRING THAT FORWARD AND AND TALK WITH COUNCIL ABOUT FUNDING ON THAT.
AND I THINK THAT THROWS IT OFF.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
JOHN. SO, I MEAN, I THINK I'M LOOKING AT THIS IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAN CAPPING AN OPERATIONAL BUDGET. I MEAN, IN MY MIND, IT WOULD BE BETTER TO GIVE THE PARK BOARD GOALS OF WHAT COUNCIL WANTS EARLY ON SO THEY CAN DEVELOP THEIR BUDGET ACCORDING TO COUNCIL'S WISHES.
RIGHT. AND SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY CREATED A BUDGET THEY BROUGHT TO COUNCIL.
WE DON'T LIKE WHAT THEY'RE SPENDING THEIR MONEY ON.
SO WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE SITTING THERE CRITICIZING THEIR BUDGET THAT THEY'RE SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY WHEN IN REALITY WE WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY.
[00:45:04]
IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE NOT GOING TO SPEND THIS MONEY.WE'RE NOT SAYING, OH, WE THINK WE THINK WE'RE SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY.
YOU SHOULD BE SAVING SOME MONEY.
WE JUST THINK THAT THEY'RE SPENDING IT IN THE WRONG PLACES.
WE'LL SEE. I PERSONALLY DON'T VIEW IT THAT WAY.
I MEAN, IT SEEMS LIKE THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS MIGHT THINK THAT IT IS.
YEAH. AND SO WHY WHY PUT A CAP ON A BUDGET INSTEAD OF JUST SETTING GOALS THAT COUNCIL WANTS TO SEE EARLY IN THE EARLY IN THE PROCESS BEFORE WE LEAVE THAT SUBJECT.
ALL YOU GUYS ARE NOT IN YOUR HEAD. REMEMBER ME ARGUING BACK IN MARCH AND APRIL? WE SHOULD. WE SHOULD APPOINT THE TRUSTEES.
EARLIER. BUT. BUT YOU WANT TO SET YOU WANT TO SET GOALS WITH NEW TRUSTEES.
YOU DON'T GET TO DO IT IN JANUARY.
YOU DO IT. YOU DON'T NEED TO SET GOALS WITH INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS.
I NEED TO SET GOALS WITH THE BOARD WE APPOINT.
WE APPOINTED A NEW MAJORITY OF THIS BOARD IN IN JUNE.
HAVE WE DONE IT IN APRIL AND SAT DOWN WITH THESE FOLKS IN MAY? WE WOULDN'T BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.
WHEN DO YOU ALL START WORKING ON THE 25 BUDGET WILL START IN JANUARY.
FEBRUARY? YES. THAT'S THAT'S WHEN THEY NEED TO KNOW WHAT WE WANT.
WELL, I DID THEN WE HAD A VOTE ON THAT.
BUT DO YOU NOT THINK THAT THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN JANUARY WHEN THEY START THIS PROCESS? WHY WAIT TILL MAY? WHY? WHY PUSH THIS PROCESS BACK? WHY? WHEN DOES OUR BUDGET START AND WHEN DO WE SEE IT? AND WHEN DO WE AND WHEN DO WE? WHEN DO WE CHANGE IT? WHEN DO WE APPROVE IT? WHEN DO WE VET IT? WE DO IT IN THE SUMMER.
IF THESE FOLKS HAVE BEEN BEEN THERE, THEY START WORKING ON THE BUDGET MUCH SOONER.
I TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH YOU, DAVID.
WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN AT ALL, I GET THAT.
NO, NO, I DON'T I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU EVEN SAY THAT.
ALL RIGHT? I MEAN, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN IN FAVOR OF USING THIS MONEY IN A DIFFERENT MANNER.
I HAVE NOT WAVERED ON THAT SINCE DAY ONE.
I'M SORRY, MIKE, I APOLOGIZE, BUT MY CONCERN IS I'M GOING TO BE VERY CANDID.
I NEED TO TRUST THESE INDIVIDUALS ON THE PARK BOARD NOW.
WE CAN SET GOALS FOR THEM, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT GOAL I WOULD SET.
I DON'T HAVE A I'D HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND REALLY STUDY ALL OF THIS AND LOOK AT THE TOURISM SITUATION AND WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHAT CAN BE. THEY KNOW ALL THE BACKGROUND OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH TOURISM, AND I WOULD RELY UPON THEM TO HELP SET THOSE GOALS FOR THE YEAR.
SO WHY WHY NOT DO THAT? WELL, WE WE COULD DO THAT.
AND STARTING FOR 25 WE COULD HAVE A MEETING AND SO FORTH.
I ONLY HAVE ONE QUESTION WITH THE PARK BOARD RIGHT NOW.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT FUNDING OF STUART BEACH CHANGES.
BUT YEAH, I MEAN, WE COULD WE COULD DO THAT.
AND FOR 25, JOHN, WE COULD SIT DOWN AND WE COULD HAVE A MEETING AND SET GOALS.
WE SAW THE BUDGET ONE TIME BEFORE WE HAD IT.
WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IT ONE TIME AND IT WAS, OKAY, WE NEED TO GET THIS TO THE CITY NOW.
[00:50:02]
SO THERE WASN'T I'LL BE HONEST, THERE WASN'T A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT BIG CHANGES.AND SO IT WAS NEW, BUT YOU'VE GOT A NEW BOARD SITTING THERE.
AND I THINK THE BOARD THAT'S HERE NOW IS WILLING TO WORK WITH CITY COUNCIL.
AND I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD THIS FROM JASON AND STUFF ALREADY.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, IF WE'VE GOT GOALS THAT YOU WANT US TO MEET, WE'RE READY TO DO THAT.
BUT PLEASE DON'T PULL THE RUG OUT FROM UNDER US FOR THIS YEAR.
WE'VE GOT NOBODY IS PULLING THE RUG OUT FROM UNDER YOU THIS YEAR.
OKAY, I JUST I DON'T WANT TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE I SAY, OKAY, WELL, WE'VE LOOKED AT IT AND WE WANT YOU GUYS TO CUT YOUR BUDGET FOR 24 BY 20%. I UNDERSTAND, LET'S GET MIKE'S INPUT.
HE'S BEEN VERY PATIENT HERE I FORGOT.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE JOINT MEETINGS.
WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT GETTING TOGETHER ONCE A MONTH, ONCE EVERY OTHER MONTH AS WE COME TOGETHER, LET'S SAY SOMEBODY BRINGS UP GUARDING THE WEST, THE WEST END.
RIGHT? THAT WAY THE PARK BOARD GOES.
OKAY, WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS INTERESTED IN.
WE HAVE ANOTHER PERSON THAT COMES IN AND SAYS, HEY, WE NEED MORE ART AND PRESERVATION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY FOR OUR CITIZENS AND EVERYBODY ELSE TO ENJOY. WE TALK ABOUT IT, WE GET TOGETHER, WE WORK, WE COME UP WITH ANOTHER SPECIAL PROJECT, PUT SOME BUDGETING TOGETHER.
FOR THAT. WE CAN DO THIS NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, JANUARY, FEBRUARY.
I MEAN, WE'VE GOT 4 OR 5 MONTHS TO GET THIS WHOLE THING PUT TOGETHER.
EXTRA MONEY FOR IT. SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE MEANS TO DO IT.
WE CAN'T SIT HERE AT WORKSHOP AND DO THAT.
I MEAN, WE CAN DO IT, BUT WE I CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE WILL BE THINGS BROUGHT UP THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY NOT COMMENT ON OR WHATEVER, THAT THEY MAY NOT BE IN SUPPORT OF IT.
WE GOT TO TAKE IT IN THERE AND VOTE ON EVERY ONE OF THOSE, WHICH IS FINE.
WELL, YEAH, I MEAN, WE HAVE WASTED MORE TIME ON PARK BOARD ISSUES THEN.
AND SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME.
BUT THIS PROCESS SHOULD BE VERY STREAMLINED ONCE EVERYTHING GETS IN PLACE.
AND IF YOU START EARLY IN THIS PROCESS, YOU WOULDN'T BE HERE AT THE LAST MINUTE TRYING TO APPROVE A BUDGET BECAUSE IT'S THE FIRST TIME WE'VE SEEN IT AND WE DON'T LIKE IT. YEAH, WELL, IT'S NOT THAT I DON'T LIKE IT.
I MEAN, BUT BUT I THINK FOR 25, THIS IS MY TAKE.
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CHANGES WITH THE PARK BOARD HERE RECENTLY AND THESE CHANGES, WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WE DIDN'T KNOW WHEN WE GOT INTO THIS AND A LOT OF AREAS LIKE THAT, AND WE GOT INTO THIS BUDGET AND THINGS STARTED POPPING UP WHEN WE GOT INTO OUR BUDGET DISCUSSIONS AND EVALUATION OF THAT, THAT WE DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WAS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE ON THIS.
AND SO IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME.
RIGHT NOW I LOOK FOR 25, THOUGH FOR US, THE TIME WE'RE TAKING NOW IS TO SET A STRUCTURE GOING FORWARD FOR THE PARK BOARD, AND WE NEED TO PUT ATTENTION TO THAT.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE US A LITTLE TIME TO DO THAT.
THESE FOUR POINTS WERE PUT OUT THERE TO START A DISCUSSION FROM I THINK NUMBER ONE HERE IS POINT WELL TAKEN FROM JOHN AND BARRY AND A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO MENTIONED ABOUT THIS.
I THINK THAT'S A GOOD POINT, AND WE NEED TO CAN TAKE THAT IN CONSIDERATION.
WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK TO THAT IN JUST A SECOND.
AND NUMBER ONE, I WANT TO MOVE TO NUMBER TWO.
ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING ON NUMBER TWO, DAVID.
ABSOLUTELY. YOU KNOW YOU SAY THIS DOESN'T APPLY TO THE $0.03.
IT DOES. ACTUALLY THE $0.03 IS NOT ALLOCATED TO THE CVB.
THAT'S ALLOCATED TO THE CVB BY PARK BOARD.
[00:55:02]
YOU SAY YOU HAVE SPECIFIC PROBLEMS WITH STUART BEACH? FOR INSTANCE? I HAVE SPECIFIC PROBLEMS WITH THE CVB BUDGET.IF YOU FIND A CLOSE READING OF THE CHARTER WOULD TELL YOU THAT'S NOT YOUR ROLE.
IT'S NOT EVEN I DON'T THINK IT'S COUNCIL'S DESIRE, BUT I GUARANTEE YOU IT'S NOT IN THE CHARTER.
AND I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS.
IN THE EARLY YEARS, I DIDN'T HAVE A I DIDN'T SAY TOO MUCH ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT WAS BEING DONE.
BUT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PLACES WHERE THE CITY IS NOW RESPONDING TO THIS.
THE CITY HAS AN ACTIVE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION.
THEY'RE GIVING GRANTS FOR ADVERTISING PROMOTION.
THAT FUNCTION SHOULD BE IN THE CVB.
BUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH THE IMMERSIVE EVENTS, CONCERTS, BUYING PUBLIC ART, THOSE THINGS ARE NOT CVB'S JOB.
AND I THINK THOSE THINGS ARE ERRONEOUSLY IN YOUR BUDGET.
I DON'T I DON'T OBJECT TO THEM, BUT THEY OUGHT TO BE IN OUR BUDGET.
WE NUMBER TWO WHAT IT WHAT ARE YOU WANTING? WHAT DO YOU FEEL SHOULD BE DONE? I THINK I THINK THIS YEAR NOW BECAUSE THIS IS JUST BUDGET.
THESE THINGS ARE NOT ALREADY ACTIVATED.
THERE'S THERE'S SOME AMORPHOUS THINGS IN THERE.
THERE'S YOU KNOW, THE CITY IS TAKING STEPS ON HIRING A CONSULTANT TO TO ADDRESS THE JUNETEENTH MUSEUM ISSUE AND SOME JUNETEENTH EVENTS.
WE'VE RECENTLY HIRED A STAFFER TO TO MANAGE TO FEED OUR COMMISSIONS ON THIS.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE REASONS CVB'S BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL IS YOU HAVE A VERY ROBUST STAFF THAT TAKES IT TAKES SOME GUIDANCE FROM I'VE NEVER BEEN ON TRACK, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A COMMISSION THAT A COMMITTEE, A SUBCOMMITTEE THAT DEALS WITH THOSE EVENTS OR THOSE THOSE EFFORTS.
BUT I THINK IT'S JUST YOU SHOULD NOT BE DOING ACTIVATIONS.
AND I THINK THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF THINGS IN YOUR BUDGET TODAY THAT DON'T BELONG THERE.
AND I THINK I THINK WE SHOULD FORTHWITH HAVE A CONVERSATION, A DETAILED CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE HOW WE SWAP THESE THINGS BECAUSE WE ALLOCATE THREE PENNIES APPROPRIATE, THREE PENNIES FOR THIS.
BUT THAT SAID, LET'S REMEMBER THIS IS AN APPROPRIATION.
IT DOESN'T MEAN WE JUST SHIP THE $0.03 OVER THERE AND YOU DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.
BECAUSE MOST OF THIS, AGAIN OUTSIDE OF MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS, IS SPECIAL PROJECTS.
AND THOSE THOSE OUGHT TO BE COMING TO COUNCIL.
SO IF BY CHARTER THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DO PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, ARTS, IMMERSIVE EVENTS, CONCERTS, ETCETERA, BUT THOSE THINGS ARE VALUABLE TO THE COMMUNITY AS A PART OF AN OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE, BOTH IN ENCOURAGING TOURISM AND PROVIDING VALUE FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
THE QUESTION BECOMES IS THAT IF NOT AT THE PARK BOARD, THEN IF YOU'RE PROPOSING THAT IT GO TO THE CITY, DO WE HAVE THE STAFF AND DO WE HAVE THE EXPERTISE IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THOSE TASKS? I WOULD LOOK AT IT AS WHO HAS THE RIGHT STAFF AND RIGHT CAPABILITIES TO DELIVER THAT.
THAT'S A FAIR POINT, EXCEPT THAT YOU GOT TO LOOK AT THE CHARTER.
OKAY. YOU'RE SAYING TAKE PART OF THE $0.03 AND SEND IT OVER TO..
BUT THAT'S FOR ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION WHEN IT COMES TO THE AND LIKE I SAID, WE JUST APPROPRIATED $1.8 MILLION A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO TO THE ARTS THROUGH THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE ARTS AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION COUNCIL.
THAT'S JUST GRANTS FOR ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION.
I THINK WE SHOULD DO THAT A DIFFERENT WAY.
I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT WE SHOULD DO IT A DIFFERENT WAY, BUT NO MATTER HOW IT GETS DONE, IT'S CVB'S JOB.
[01:00:01]
THE CITY SHOULDN'T BE DOING IT.THESE JUNETEENTH ACTIVATIONS ARE VERY VALUABLE.
WE NEED TO GET THAT. WE NEED TO GET THAT ON THE PLATE NOW AND GET THAT DONE.
GET THAT SET UP. I MEAN, THERE'S MORE THAN THAT.
THERE'S A COUPLE OF IMMERSIVE EVENTS, THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT BELONG IN THE CITY.
WE DO HAVE THE BANDWIDTH TO DO IT.
WE HAVE VERY ACTIVE COMMISSIONS THAT THAT MANAGE THIS KIND OF STUFF ALL THE TIME.
YES. AND WELL, HOWEVER, THERE ARE EVENTS, LET'S JUST SAY DICKENS FOR AN EXAMPLE.
ALL RIGHT. SOME OF THAT MONEY GOES TO FUND DICKENS.
THAT IS SOMETHING THE CITY SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO, RIGHT? I MEAN, WE HAVE DICKENS IN AN ORDINANCE.
IT'S A CITY. IT'S A CITY SPONSORED EVENT.
HOW CVB GOES ABOUT PROMOTING IT, THAT'S THEIR BUSINESS.
THAT'S THEIR JOB AND THEY DO A VERY GOOD JOB OF IT.
SO THAT ONE POINT, MOST OF THE MONEY THAT OF THE 1.8 THAT WE VOTED FOR TO GIVE TO THE THOSE ORGANIZATIONS, THEY WOULD HAVE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE THAT PURVIEW, THEY WOULD VOTE ON THOSE.
COULD YOU BE A LITTLE MORE SPECIFIC? THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE HELPFUL TO US ON WHAT EXACTLY PROJECTS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT I DON'T HAVE I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE SPECIAL PROJECTS UNDER CVB, THERE'S THE I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE $200,000 FOR JUNETEENTH IS, IF IT'S PROMOTION, WHICH I THINK A FAIR AMOUNT OF IT LAST YEAR, THAT WHEN ALEX CAME AND PRESENTED THAT IT WAS A VERY GOOD PRESENTATION, A FAIR AMOUNT OF THAT WAS BUT SOME OF IT WAS FUNDING EVENTS, SOME OF IT WAS FUNDING CONCERTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I'M NOT SURE THAT'S THAT'S APPROPRIATE.
THE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES, THOSE THOSE ARE ACTIVATION EVENTS THAT I THINK ARE WELL WORTH DOING.
BUT THOSE SHOULD BE IN THE CITY.
WELL, THIS WHOLE DISCUSSION OF HOT.
SURE. SO THE JUNETEENTH, THE $200,000 IS ALLOCATED FOR JUNETEENTH WOULD BE FOR PROMOTIONS OF JUNETEENTH, SPECIFICALLY, VERSUS YOUR GENERAL MARKETING BUDGET TO BRINGING PEOPLE TO THE ISLAND THAT $200,000 WOULD BE FOR THAT SPECIAL PROJECT OF PROMOTION OF JUNETEENTH.
DOES THAT DOES IT MIRROR WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR? NO. IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR, OKAY.
BECAUSE LAST YEAR THERE WERE ACTIVATIONS AND THERE WERE EVENTS AND THAT WAS NOT THAT.
THAT IS NOT THE INTENT FOR THE COMING.
AGAIN, I'M A LITTLE FUZZY ON WHAT THAT IS, BUT IT SURE SOUNDS LIKE, BECAUSE WHAT I'VE SEEN IS AT LEAST THE LATIN AMERICAN HISPANIC AMERICAN ACTIVATION EVENT ISN'T ACTUALLY AN EVENT ON THE STREET THAT YOU WANT TO PUT ON.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LULAC.
ALL RIGHT. BUT LET ME LET ME SAY THIS.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE THERE ARE FUZZY AREAS IN HERE.
LET'S BE CLEAR. LIKE THIS, THIS WAYFINDING SIGN PROJECT.
IS THAT IS THAT PROMOTION? IS THAT ACTIVATION? HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT? I MEAN, BECAUSE THE CITY AND THE PARK BOARD, I THINK COOPERATED ON THAT VERY WELL, BUT I'M NOT.
I THINK WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT HOW THAT OUGHT TO BE FUNDED.
THIS NUMBER TWO, I'M STILL LET'S GET BACK TO WHAT WE'RE VISITING HERE ON NUMBER TWO.
WHAT ARE YOU EXACTLY? BUT BUT WHAT ARE YOU SAYING? ARE YOU SAYING THAT THE $0.03 SHOULD NOT BE SENT OVER TO THE WHAT I HEAR YOU SAYING? AND LET ME FINISH THAT.
THE $0.03 IS ALLOCATED TO THE CVB, BUT WE SHOULDN'T ARBITRARILY SEND OVER $0.03.
THAT'S WE SHOULD WAIT TO THE WE THEY NEED TO PRESENT A BUDGET AT THE CVB TO SEE HOW THAT INFLUENCES THE $0.03 THAT WE SEND OVER.
YES. WHY WOULD THAT APPROPRIATION BE ANY DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER APPROPRIATION? OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO APPROPRIATE AND WE ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO APPROPRIATE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR BEACH CLEANING, FOR BEACH PATROL.
WE KIND OF DO, ACTUALLY, BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
DO WE HAVE ANY CONTRACTUAL RESTRICTIONS ON THAT 3% TO CVB ONLY IN THE CHARTER? I DON'T I DON'T THINK IT'S ADDRESSED.
[01:05:01]
DO YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A FUNCTIONING I DON'T THINK SO BARRY.IT WAS MENTIONED IN THE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN LANDRY'S BUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT THAT IT EXISTED IS MY RECOLLECTION OKAY. YEAH.
COUNCIL MEMBER COLLINS WHAT'S KIND OF THE TIMING ON THAT? I MEAN, IS IT THAT THE BUDGET IS REVIEWED AND PRESENTED AND LIKE IT DID THIS TIME AROUND AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, WE REVIEW THE CVB PORTION OF THAT AND THEN DECIDE ON THE APPROPRIATION.
IS THAT THE TIMING OF IT OR DOES IT START IN THE PLANNING OF THE BUDGET? IT HAS TO START IN THE PLANNING OF THE BUDGET, BUT THIS BUDGET HASN'T BEEN APPROVED AND THESE FUNDS HAVE NOT HAVE BEEN EXPENDED.
YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THE BUDGET AND SAY, OH, LET'S NOT DO THAT.
THAT'S THE CITY'S OR WE LOOK AT OURS.
THAT'S NOT OURS. THAT BELONGS TO CVB THAT THAT'S A DELINEATION WE CAN MAKE.
AND IN A CONVERSATION OVER COFFEE OR BEER, DEPENDING ON THE TIME OF DAY.
BUT THE BUT SHE DIDN'T DRINK EITHER.
BUT NO BUT BUT YOU UNDERSTAND MY QUESTION THOUGH.
WELL BUT THE QUESTION IS WHAT'S THE WHAT'S THE GOAL? WHAT IS HOW DO WE HOW DO WE SET THAT GOAL? HOW DO WE SET THAT EXPECTATION? I AGAIN, I THINK WE CAN DO THAT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE OUTSIDE THE CHARTER AND THE WAY IT'S FUNCTIONING TODAY.
AND I'M GOING BACK TO THE THE FUNDING OF EVENTS, FUNDING OF PROMOTIONS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL NEEDS TO DISCUSS.
WE JUST CAN'T WE NEED YOU NEED TO BRING THIS BACK NEXT MONTH AND PRESENT HOW YOU SPECIFIC.
WE WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THIS AND THEN WE CAN LOOK AT THAT OKAY.
THE POINT BEING THAT WHAT YOU SAID HERE, THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO THE $0.03 IT'S ALLOCATED TO THE CVB.
WE DO THAT IN RESPONSE TO A BUDGET THAT COUNCIL WOULD APPROVE.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET.
SO I THINK THAT THIS WOULD BE A GREAT TOPIC FOR FY 25 IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY MOVING FORWARD.
THERE ISN'T ANYONE AT THIS TABLE, I DON'T THINK THAT DOES NOT WANT TO SEE VISITORS COME DOWN AND STAY LONGER AND SPEND MORE MONEY, BUT TO ATTRACT THOSE VISITORS WHO WILL DO THOSE THINGS, YOU KNOW, WE DO NEED TO MARKET MORE AND THAT IS GOING TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE FROM A MARKETING PERSPECTIVE, AS WELL AS ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF SERVICES ONCE THEY ARRIVE, AND HOPEFULLY ENCOURAGING A REPEAT TRIP OR FOR THEM TO STAY LONGER.
I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT THE CVB IS DOING AND WHAT IT HAS HAS DONE.
BUT FOR WHAT I'M SAYING ABOUT THIS IS NOT A 25 DISCUSSION.
THE THINGS THAT THAT ARE UNDER THE CVB BUDGET THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ACTIVATIONS, IT CAN BE CORRECTED.
THESE ARE NOT THINGS YOU'VE. YOU'VE EXPENDED FUNDS ON.
THESE ARE NOT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING THIS MONTH.
THIS CAN BE CORRECTED IN THIS BUDGET.
AND I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT EITHER.
SO I GUESS WE'RE AGREEING A LOT HERE.
I WOULD RATHER SEE THE FULL APPROVAL OF EVERYTHING THAT EVERYONE'S FINE WITH, AND THEN MAYBE CONTINGENCY APPROVAL, WHICH WE WELCOME DISCUSSIONS ON HOW TO ALTER SOME OF THE MORE ITEMS IN THERE THAT PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS OVER.
MURRAY. I HAVE, AND YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE THIS DONE FOR NOW, BUT DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT YOUR ACTUAL FOR 2023? JUST AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT? BECAUSE WE HAVE PROPOSED THEN PROPOSED BUDGET PROJECTED.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOUR ACTUAL IS FOR 23 LIKE AT OVERALL OR IS SPECIFIC JUST YOUR BUDGET LIKE 47. SO WHAT WHAT IS IT THE ACTUAL BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THAT HERE.
IS IT SPECIFIC TO THE CVB? NO, NO I'M ASKING A GENERAL OVERALL EXPENSE THIS YEAR.
[01:10:02]
THIS IS THE WHOLE CABOODLE.WE PROJECTED AT ABOUT $43 MILLION.
43 YOU PROBABLY WON'T KNOW THAT UNTIL NOVEMBER 1ST RIGHT.
YOU'RE NOT. SO YOU'RE CLOSE TO THAT.
NOT IT'LL BE IT'LL BE AROUND THAT AMOUNT.
YEAH. YEAH. SHE'S TALKING OF 23.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT 2020 YOUR BUDGET WAS 19 MILLION.
WELL BASICALLY 20 MILLION IF WE ROUND IT UP AND 21, 23 MILLION AND WELL, THE ACTUAL WAS 28 MILLION AND THERE WAS AN INCOME OF 7 MILLION, IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR PROPOSED OR AROUND 43, AND THAT'S WITH A MINUS INCOME OF 3,000,875.
AND THEN IF YOU LOOK AT 24, WE'RE UP TO 58 MILLION.
AND I GUESS, I MEAN, I SAID ON THE PARK BOARD BEFORE AND 12 TO 14 AND, WELL, IN ANYTHING I'VE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE AND CITY COUNCIL OR IN BUSINESS, WHEN YOU'RE DOING A BUDGET, THERE'S A CONSERVATIVE FACTOR TO IT.
AND IN THE LAST TWO YEARS I'M NOT SEEING THAT.
BUT IN THIS YEAR ESPECIALLY, WE'RE FORECASTING 3.3 WILL BE A PENNY AND WE'RE USING EVERY CENT OF THAT, WHICH I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS ON PARK BOARD YOU, IT WAS A MORE CONSERVATIVE APPROACH.
AND I GUESS THAT'S THE FIRST THING.
AGAIN, THAT JUMPS OUT TO ME ON THAT ITEM OF NUMBER TWO, THE $0.03.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
AND I KNOW THINGS HAVE GROWN, THINGS HAVE CHANGED, BUT I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ANYONE TO SPEND EVERY CENT THAT YOU'RE ESTIMATING COMES IN.
I DON'T MEAN TO CUT YOU OFF. GO AHEAD.
SO JUST A COUPLE THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND IF I, IF I COULD.
MARIA. AND I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERNS.
THE FY 20 BUDGET WAS A COVID CUT BUDGET.
THESE AMOUNTS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT INCLUDE GRANT FUNDING, WHICH IS VERY CYCLICAL.
YOU MIGHT HAVE $10 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDING THIS YEAR, $2 MILLION, I UNDERSTAND THAT.
WHICH BRINGS ANOTHER POINT TO THAT.
IT'S 19.8 MILLION THAT WE HAVE BUDGETED THIS YEAR.
WE'RE PROJECTED TO SPEND 19.3.
THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE FUNDED THROUGH ACTUAL REVENUE COLLECTED.
THE REST IS FUNDED THROUGH WHAT WE CALL CASH RESERVES OR CASH USE.
SO I THINK THAT THAT'S ALREADY GOING TO HAPPEN.
I THINK SO. THAT'S $1 MILLION RIGHT THERE JUST ON THAT MEDIA PLACEMENT.
THAT'S NOT HOW IT WAS ADDRESSED.
IF WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO DIP INTO RESERVES AND INCREASE OUR MEDIA PLACEMENT, IF WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO DIP INTO RESERVES AND BUY EQUIPMENT THAT WE HAVEN'T IN A COUPLE OF YEARS. THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN HERE.
YOU'VE HAD FEMA AND YOU'VE HAD GRANTS FOR YEARS.
I MEAN, THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN IN YOUR BUDGET.
SOMETIMES EXTENT SOMETIMES THEY'RE BIGGER AND SOMETIMES SMALLER.
THERE'S 14 MILLION OF IT IN NOURISHMENT IN THAT 58 MILLION YOU MENTIONED.
[01:15:01]
LET'S LET'S DO THIS NOW.WE'VE WE'VE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT TWO.
WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK TO THESE IN JUST A SECOND.
YEAH, I GOT TO BE THERE, TOO. MEETING? WE DON'T HAVE MEETINGS. OKAY.
THE BE DELINEATED AND PRESENTED SEPARATELY TO COUNCIL FOR EVALUATION.
ANY CONCERNS WITH THAT AT ALL? ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. MR. MAYOR, IF I MAY, JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION FOR ME, AND THIS IS SOMETHING I COULD PROBABLY WORK OUT WITH STAFF.
SO WE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET.
WE DO HAVE THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN BROKEN OUT AND SEPARATED.
IT'S ALSO INCLUDED IN THE REGULAR BUDGET WORKSHEETS THAT YOU SEE.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THAT WE TAKE THE CAPITAL OUT COMPLETELY, HAVE IT BE ITS OWN TOTAL STANDALONE BUDGET SEPARATE FROM MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS, AND DON'T MIX THOSE TWO TOGETHER.
THAT'S WHAT I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE.
YES, SIR. BUT BUT YOU'RE INCLUDING SPECIAL PROJECTS IN THAT.
AND SPECIAL PROJECTS YOU CAN BREAK OUT SPECIAL.
SO DO WE M&O? BY ITSELF. I MEAN BUT DON'T YOU HAVE A LOT OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND, AND OTHER OPERATIONAL COSTS IN THOSE SPECIAL PROJECTS? NO. WHEN LET'S SAY THERE'S A SPECIAL PROJECT THAT'S GOING TO RESULT IN MAYBE WE NEED TO HIRE AN EXTRA LIFEGUARD OR SOMETHING.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO SAYING LAYING THE SAND ON THE BEACH, THAT'LL BE ITS OWN SPECIAL PROJECT BUDGET.
SO NO, WE DON'T BUDGET OPERATIONAL COSTS AND SPECIAL PROJECT BUDGETS.
IT WOULD BE WRAPPED INTO OUR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS BUDGET.
BUT THE PROJECT ITSELF WOULD BE FUNDED THROUGH THE FUNDED THROUGH THE SPECIAL.
AND I GUESS, KIMBERLY, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD? JUST A CLARIFICATION.
WHEN WE BRING THESE PROJECTS IN, SOME OF THEM, AS YOU KNOW, ARE GOING TO BE YEAR OVER YEAR PROJECTS, AND IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND ONCE YOU'VE APPROVED THAT PROJECT ONE BUDGET YEAR, DO WE THEN HAVE TO COME BACK AND GET APPROVAL ONCE AGAIN THE NEXT BUDGET YEAR? IF IT'S A CONTINUATION OF THE PROJECT, DO YOU SEE THAT HAPPEN WITH A LOT OF FEMA PROJECTS? SOME OF OUR NOURISHMENT PROJECTS, FOR EXAMPLE, GET PASSED OVER YEAR OVER YEAR.
WELL, THE WAY I WOULD INTERPRET THAT, KIMBERLY, IS WHEN THOSE COME TOGETHER, WHEN YOU BRING THOSE TO COUNCIL, YOU WOULD DELINEATE THAT THIS WHEN WE APPROVE THIS, THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THESE PROJECTS WILL BE GOING ON FOR THE NEXT 3 TO 5 YEARS, AND IT WOULD BE UP TO COUNCIL'S DECISION, THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THAT.
AND YOU'RE GOOD TO GO FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, OR WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THIS YEAR.
AND WE'D LIKE TO HAVE YOU COME BACK THE NEXT YEAR.
YES, VERY MUCH SO, VERY MUCH SO.
I KNOW BRYSON YOU'RE WORKING WITH SHEILA ON THAT AND THAT'S MOVING FORWARD.
ARE YOU COMING TOGETHER ON THAT.
ABSOLUTELY. ONE OF ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SHE MENTIONED, AND IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE TO ME, IS PRESENTED AS A FUND BALANCE PERSPECTIVE, RIGHT BEGINNING FUND BALANCE, ALL YOUR ACTIVITY, ENDING FUND BALANCE.
CAN I WEIGH IN ON THIS? I THINK ON ITEMS ONE AND OR TWO AND THREE HERE.
THESE ARE THINGS WE CAN ACCOMPLISH WITH THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE ON THE TABLE.
ON NUMBER FOUR, I SPENT A LONG TIME WITH MY CAREER.
AND I CAN TELL YOU, HAVING BEEN A TRUSTEE AND WATCHED SOME OF THE SAUSAGE BEING MADE, BRYSON HAS DONE SOME GREAT WORK IN PUTTING SOME GUARDRAILS AROUND THE PROCESS AT PARK BOARD, BUT YOU'RE WORKING WITH 30 YEARS OF YOUR PREDECESSORS.
I DON'T WANT TO. YEAH, IT WAS A GOOD ACCOUNTANT, BUT THE PROCESSES ARE.
BUT SOME OF THE PROCESSES WERE KIND OF BACK OF THE ENVELOPE OR IN MIKE'S HEAD.
THAT'S THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM.
AND SO THE REASON I RELATE IT TO COMPUTER, THE COMPUTER WORLD IS BECAUSE YOU GO TO A NEW SOFTWARE PACKAGE, YOU THINK, OH, THAT'S EASY TO DO. IT'S NEVER EASY TO DO.
[01:20:02]
IT'S JUST NOT. YOU DISCOVER YOUR DATA IS NOT AS CLEAN AS YOU THOUGHT.THE PROCESSES ARE DIFFERENT. YOUR CHART OF ACCOUNTS IS GOING TO BE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
THAT'S KIND OF THINGS. SHORT TERM RENTALS IS A GREAT IT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE.
SO THIS IS THIS IS SOMETHING WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE IN THE 25 BUDGET.
AND I KNOW YOU'VE GOT A GOOD RELATIONSHIP GOING WITH SHEILA.
THERE'S SOMETHING WE'D LIKE TO SEE.
THE 25 BUDGET MORPHED INTO MORE WHAT COUNCIL SEES IN THE CITY BUDGET.
BUT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I THINK WE'RE EXPECTING IN OCTOBER.
I'VE GOT A QUESTION ON NUMBER THREE.
ARE YOU LOOKING AT THAT FOR FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR? I DON'T SEE WHY. I DON'T CARE WHERE IT APPEARS, BUT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT WE JUST WANT, I WANT I DON'T WANT TO OVERLOAD BRYSON IN TERMS OF LIKE REDOING THE BUDGET, BUT THEY'RE ALL IN THIS, YOU KNOW, IN THE NEXT MONTH.
BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT THOSE PROJECTS.
THEY'RE ALL IN THERE. I MEAN, I'M INTERESTED TO KNOW WHAT SOME OF THEM ARE RELATED TO.
I DON'T I DON'T GET. BRYSON BRYSON IS SENT OUT A PAGE AND DELINEATED THESE SPECIAL PROJECTS.
IS THERE ANY I MEAN DO Y'ALL NEED ANYTHING MORE OTHER THAN THAT DELINEATION THAT HE'S PROVIDED YOU? WELL, THAT AND THAT.
RIGHT. AND THAT'S WHAT I KIND OF MORPHING IN.
WE HAVE APPROVED YOUR BUDGET AS IS THROUGH THE FIRST QUARTER.
AND THAT'S THROUGH DECEMBER THAT WE'VE APPROVED YOUR BUDGET.
NOW, I NEED TO GET GUIDANCE ON WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO, AND I NEED TO GET COUNCIL AND TRUSTEES GUIDANCE WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO ON THE TIMELINE OF MOVING FORWARD TO GETTING THE FINAL PORTIONS OF THIS BUDGET FOR THE NEXT THREE QUARTERS, GOING AHEAD AND GET APPROVED.
SO ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THERE IS A UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FROM THE TRUSTEES TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE THROUGH THAT NEW BUDGET FORMATTING IN PROCESS THAT WILL MORE IN LINE WITH THE CITY'S.
AND WE WILL WE WILL BE READY TO DO THAT NEW FORMATTING PROCESS BY FY 25 BUDGET APPROVAL SEASON.
YES, I MEAN, THAT'S ALREADY A SEPARATE WHERE THAT GOES TO THE APPROVAL PROCESS THROUGH COUNCIL.
WE CAN GET A LIST OF THAT AND PRESENT THEM THE WAY I ENVISION.
I'M GOING TO GET MY MY TIMELINE ON THIS.
JASON AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS AND MIKE AND I TALKED ABOUT IT.
WE WOULD GET YOUR SPECIAL PROJECTS.
AND SHE'LL DISTRIBUTE THAT TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS LISTING YOUR SPECIAL PROJECTS AND YOUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FOR THIS YEAR'S BUDGET SO THAT COUNCIL CAN GO THROUGH THAT.
AND WE NEED TO HAVE STAFF LOOK THROUGH THAT TOO.
I KNOW THEY ALREADY HAVE, BUT STAFF WILL LOOK THROUGH THAT.
US THAT COMING UP PROBABLY IN OUR OCTOBER BUDGET.
AND THEN IN NOVEMBER, AT OUR NOVEMBER MEETING, WE WOULD GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON THOSE TO GIVE APPROVAL TO THAT AND MOVE FORWARD SO YOU COULD MOVE FORWARD WITH YOUR BUDGET. IS THERE ANY COMMENTS WHEN WHEN YOU SEND THAT BACK OVER, COULD YOU PLEASE NOTE WHICH ONES ARE MULTI YEAR PROJECTS THAT HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED, THAT HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED FUNDING, THAT HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED PRIOR APPROVAL IN PREVIOUS YEARS? OKAY. AND THE CONCERN, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT.
ONE OF THE CONCERNS IS ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FEMA GRANTS OR GRANTS IN GENERAL, ONCE IT ONCE IT'S APPROVED AND WE'VE ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT, WE KIND OF HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO.
YEAH. AND EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT WE'RE EVERY YEAR YOU READ IN THE PAPER, YOU HEAR PEOPLE
[01:25:02]
OR YOU GET CALLS FROM SENATORS SAYING THAT, OH, YOU CAN'T IMPROVE THE PARK BOARD BUDGET QUARTERLY.AND THEN YOU EXPLAIN THE DETAILS AND IT'S LIKE, WOW, THANK GOD YOU'RE GIVING THAT OVERSIGHT.
NOBODY'S INTENTION IS TO PUT YOU ON A QUARTERLY BUDGET BASIS.
NOBODY'S INTENTION IS TO TAKE MONEY AWAY.
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE HIRED TO DO.
I MEAN, WE ARE VOTED INTO OFFICE TO HAVE TO TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PEOPLE'S MONEY.
AND THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S MONEY, EVEN IF IT DOES COME FROM TOURISTS OR WHATNOT.
IT'S OUR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY.
MAYOR. SO ON ITEM THREE, ARE WE KIND OF CLEAR ON HOW WE'RE PROCESSING THAT AT COUNCIL THE WAY I AM? BUT LET'S MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S ON THE SAME PAGE.
PLEASE DELINEATE THOSE SO THAT, AS KIMBERLY MENTIONED, WE WILL DISCUSS THOSE AT OUR OCTOBER 26TH MEETING AND GO OVER CIP PROJECTS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS.
AND THEN AT OUR NOVEMBER MEETING, IT WILL BE AS AN ACTION ITEM TO GO THROUGH THOSE AND APPROVE THOSE BY COUNCIL OR HOWEVER COUNCIL WANTS TO TAKE ACTION ON THOSE. OR IS I UNDERSTAND, IS THAT ALL RIGHT? SOUNDS GOOD I WANT.
YES. UNDERSTAND KIND OF THE IMPACT OF THAT, BECAUSE I HEARD SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.
IF WE WERE GOING TO DO A STRUCTURED MANDATE BASED UPON OUR CITY'S APPROVED BUDGET, THIS 8.5% INCREASE, THAT THAT WOULD BE APPLICABLE TO EITHER FY 24 OR FY 25.
WHAT WAS THE PREFERENCE? WE NEED TO JUST I KNOW I'M GOING TO GO INTO THAT DISCUSSION AND GOOD POINT DAVID RIGHT NOW.
THE WOULD YOU GO OVER AGAIN, IF YOU TAKE OUT YOUR SPECIAL PROJECTS AND YOU TAKE OUT YOUR CIP AND YOU TAKE OUT THE PERSONNEL THAT MAY BE INVOLVED WITH THOSE SPECIAL PROJECTS AND ALL THAT, IF THAT'S IN THERE, THAT WAS OPERATIONAL EXPENSES WITH THOSE.
BRYSON, WHAT IS YOUR INCREASE OF YOUR BUDGET, OPERATIONAL BUDGET FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR? 10.7% 10.7%.
SO YEAH. SO MY QUESTION IS, IS THAT IS THIS PROPOSED MANDATE APPLICABLE IN THE SAME FISCAL YEAR BY THE CITY, OR DOES IT FLOW INTO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR FOR THE PARK BOARD? AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT I THINK THERE'S A REAL DANGER IN TRYING TO DO IT THE LATTER WAY AND SAYING ESTABLISHING THE CITY'S BUDGET IN ONE YEAR AND YOU HAVE A CAP ON IT, AND THEN YOU'RE PROPOSING THAT TO BE THEN THEIR CAP FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR, THAT YOU DIDN'T HEAR THAT.
SO YOU WANT IT IN THE SAME, SAME FISCAL YEAR.
WE WANT IT IN THE SAME FISCAL YEAR.
BUT THIS IS WHY I SAID, I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS, I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS THAT NUMBER YOU JUST GAVE? 10.7.
SEE, MY POINT ORIGINALLY ON THIS IS THAT'S NOT EXTRAORDINARY.
OKAY. OURS IS EIGHT AND A HALF.
AND THERE ARE REASONS WHY A SMALLER UNIT WOULD HAVE A LARGER.
M&O BUDGET. THIS EIGHT AND A HALF WAS A TALKING POINT.
I DON'T SEE US ATTEMPTING TO IMPLEMENT THAT IN ANY WAY.
IF WE WANT TO SET A PERCENTAGE CAP A CAP, WE WANT TO DO THIS.
THIS IS SOMETHING FOR DISCUSSION IN THIS FISCAL YEAR.
I DON'T THINK IT APPLIES TO THE BUDGET THAT'S ON THE TABLE TODAY.
I DON'T THINK YOU CAN APPLY IT TO THE BUDGET.
WELL, THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGET THAT WE APPROVED, IS THAT THE ONE THAT YOU'RE WANTING TO APPLY IT TO? WELL, I'M TALKING ABOUT IF IT HAPPENS, IT WOULD APPLY TO THE PARK BOARD'S FISCAL 25.
THANK YOU. THERE YOU GO. OKAY. THAT'S WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.
WHAT I WOULD TELL YOU ON THAT, WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL IS DAVID TO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT.
I THINK THE 10.7% IS VERY ACCEPTABLE AT THIS POINT.
AND BRYSON, IF YOU WOULD HIGHLIGHT THAT IN THE MATERIAL JUST TO CONFIRM THAT'S THE CASE WHEN YOU SEND THAT MATERIAL TO JANELLE TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO COUNCIL FOR OCTOBER MEETING.
AND THEN WE NEED TO CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSIONS ON SETTING, I DON'T WANT TO USE THE WORD CAP, BUT SOME TYPE OF GOAL SETTING FOR THAT OPERATIONAL BUDGET STARTING IN 25 DAVID, WE NEED TO DISCUSS THAT.
THIS IS, IT HAS TOO MANY RAMIFICATIONS THAT TO JUST IN MY MIND SHOTGUN AN 8.5% OR WHATEVER.
[01:30:07]
AT THIS POINT, I WOULD ALSO REMIND PARDON ME, BUT I WOULD ALSO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT WE'RE TASKING BRYSON WITH COMMUNICATING DIRECTLY TO COUNCIL.I'M NOT SURE THAT'S TOTALLY APPROPRIATE.
THAT'S OUR OUR MANAGEMENT STAFF.
WE DEPEND ON THEIR ANALYSIS AND AND ADVICE ON THIS, SO I'D RATHER SEE IT DONE THAT WAY.
I JUST, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE COUNCIL THAT.
BRYSON WHEN DO YOU HAVE WHEN WILL YOU HAVE THIS MATERIAL.
YOU PROBABLY GOT IT ALREADY DONE.
YES. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING YOU GUYS LIKE TO HAVE THIS STUFF AT LEAST A WEEK BEFORE YOUR MEETING.
SO HOW MANY? TWO WEEKS YOU POST? USUALLY A WEEK BEFORE, RIGHT.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, IF WE COULD, FOR THIS OCTOBER MEETING.
I WANT COUNCIL TO HAVE AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE TO LOOK THROUGH IT AND THEN ANSWER, ASK QUESTIONS IF WE NEED TO, AND WE, THE 26, PROBABLY THE 20TH, WILL POST THAT MEETING.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE IT EVEN BEFORE THEN, BRYSON, IF WE COULD FOR THAT.
YEAH, THAT WOULD BE NEXT WEEK.
OKAY. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH, JASON.
AND THEN MAYBE WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST FOR ITEM NUMBER ONE HERE IS MAYBE NOT TRY TO SHOOT FOR AN EXACT PRECISE NUMBER AS A TARGET, AT LEAST TO START UNTIL WE GET A HANG OF THIS AND SEE HOW IT WORKS BETWEEN THE ORGANIZATIONS AND EVERYTHING.
AND MAYBE START WITH A A RANGE WHEN WE GO INTO FY 25 TO STAY IN, OR MAYBE A CEILING THAT WE DON'T CROSS OVER, BUT NOT NECESSARILY MEAN WE GOT TO HIT THAT CEILING.
ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD. VERY GOOD SUGGESTION.
THANKS, JASON. DAVID, WE'RE GOING TO WRAP ALL THIS UP.
GO AHEAD. WELL THERE'S ONE ITEM WE STILL NEED TO TALK ABOUT.
SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HATE IT WHEN I GO BACK TO THE LAW.
IN THIS CASE, I'M NOT GOING BACK TO THE LAW.
I THINK THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN OVERLOOKED.
I PRESENTED THIS AT OUR LAST JOINT MEETING.
I DIDN'T GET A LOT OF TRACTION WITH THIS.
BUT YOU ALSO HAVE A SAND REPLACEMENT CATEGORY THAT YOU DON'T SHOW IS HOT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG AGO THIS HAPPENED THAT THAT SAND REPLENISHMENT.
NOURISHED BEACH GOT CREATED AND THAT MONEY JUST GOT MOVED INTO THE NOURISHED BEACH.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'S ABOUT, BUT I WOULD I WOULD DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION BACK TO THE CONVENTION CENTER MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT, WHICH THE 2002, THE BOND OFFICIAL STATEMENT, I CAN TELL YOU PAGE 23, SCHEDULE ONE, BECAUSE I'VE GOT IT RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF ME.
THE TWO CENT TWO CENT STATE CONTRIBUTION COMES BACK TO US AND WE ARE BOUND BY THE CONVENTION CENTER MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT TO ALLOCATE IT 0.76 PENNIES TO BEACH CLEANING, 0.67 BEACH PATROL AND 0.57 TO BEACH RENOURISHMENT.
THAT'S NOT BEEN A SOURCE OF BEACH RENOURISHMENT FUNDS.
I MEAN, IF IT IS, I DON'T SEE IT, BUT IT HAS BEEN A SOURCE.
ONCE IT WAS MOVED, ONCE IT WAS RE CLASSIFIED AS AS NOURISHED BEACH.
SUDDENLY IT BECAME KIND OF FREE TO USE FOR ANYTHING.
AND I BELIEVE THAT'S IMPROPER.
I THINK RIGHT NOW IN YOUR BUDGET SHOWS $888,000 COMING OUT OF THOSE FUNDS, NOT GOING TO BEACH RENOURISHMENT THAT 0.57 NEEDS TO STAY WITH THE CITY AND BE ALLOCATED FOR BEACH RENOURISHMENT PROJECTS.
IT DOESN'T MATTER. WE ARE NOT MANDATED TO GIVE THIS CARDBOARD TO DO.
IT'S JUST KIND OF. HISTORICALLY, PARK BOARD HAS MANAGED MOST OF THE BEACH RENOURISHMENT PROJECTS, BUT THIS FIVE SEVEN JUST DOESN'T EVEN BELONG IN YOUR BUDGET THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN TODAY, THE 0.57 GOING TO NOURISH BEACH.
IT'S BEEN CALLED SEAWALL BEACH BEFORE.
IT'S BEEN CALLED TEN THROUGH 61ST.
THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT NAMES, BUT THAT IS THE FUND THAT WE DO USE FOR SAND PLACEMENT.
[01:35:04]
THERE'S $888,000 IN THIS BUDGET AND HAS BEEN PRETTY MUCH.AND IF WE NEED TO, THIS IS A GREAT CONVERSATION.
IF YOU TRANSFER IS COMING FROM NOURISH BEACH TO BEACH CLEANING AND BEACH PATROL ARE PURSUANT TO I THINK IT'S CHAPTER, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE ONE THAT TALKS ABOUT THE STATE REBATE ONE SOMETHING, ONE 60 151 161 ONE.
AND THEN IT SAYS, AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN CHAPTER 61 OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES CODE, CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE IS DEFINED AS, OF COURSE, NOURISHMENT AND SAND PLACEMENT, BUT IT ALSO INCLUDES LITTER CONTROL, TRASH PICKUP AND THE EMPLOYMENT OF LIFEGUARDS.
SO THE TRANSFER FROM BEACH TO BEACH CLEANING OF BEACH PATROL IN OUR MINDS, IS LEGAL THROUGH THOSE TWO STATUTES, AND JUSTIFIED IN THE SENSE THAT AS WE LAY NEW SAND, AS WE GROW THESE BEACHES, THE SURFACE AREA OR THE SURFACE AREA THAT BEACH PATROL AND BEACH CLEANING HAVE TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO HAS GROWN.
BUT HISTORICALLY, THAT'S WHY WE'VE DONE IT AND HOW WE'VE DONE IT.
CALL THESE TWO FUNDS THE SAME THING.
IF THAT'S BECAUSE YOU HAVE A BEACH REPLACEMENT OR A SAND REPLACEMENT THAT YOU DON'T USE.
YOU AND I'VE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE, THERE'S A LOT OF LANGUAGE THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE.
RIGHT. I'LL TALK TO I'LL TALK TO LEGAL ABOUT IT.
I THINK YOU SHOULD DO THE SAME BECAUSE I DON'T I DON'T READ THIS THIS WAY.
BRYSON, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD ON THAT PARTICULAR TOPIC WITH COUNCILMAN COLLINS REFERRING TO IS IN THE BOND DOCUMENTS FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER. I'M NOT SURE IF THAT, FOR LACK OF BETTER DESCRIPTION, TRUMPS WHAT'S IN THE STATE LAW OR NOT, I DON'T KNOW.
IT DOESN'T, I WOULDN'T SAY IT TRUMPED IT.
I SAID, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW ON THIS.
DEPENDS ON WHO YOU GOT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE.
YOU KNOW, I'M NOT UNCOMFORTABLE WITH IT IF IT DOES.
BUT BUT THAT'S NOT HOW I READ IT.
AND LET ME, FOR THE RECORD, LET ME CLARIFY TO STEVE GREENBERG, WHO MAY BE LISTENING.
HE'S LISTENING. THOSE OF YOU DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT SAYING IT'S HARD TO WORK WITH LANDRY'S.
AND I WOULD HAVE I DON'T DISAGREE WITH YOUR STATEMENT AT ALL, DAVID.
BUT YEAH, I THINK IT WARRANTS MORE DISCUSSION.
IT'S IT'S WARRANTS A DISCUSSION TO LOOK INTO THAT FURTHER.
JASON. SO I WANTED TO ASSURE EVERYONE, AS ELOQUENT AS BRYSON CAN SPEAK OVER CODES AND ORDINANCES AND LAWS AND EVERYTHING WE HAVE DEVELOPED THIS OPINION IN THIS CONSENSUS BASED ON CONSULTATION WITH OUR ATTORNEYS.
SO OUR ATTORNEYS ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THE WAY THAT WE ARE ALLOCATING THESE FUNDS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT THE IN MY OPINION, AND BASED ON CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD WITH EVERY SINGLE GENERATION REPRESENTATIVE ACROSS THE ISLAND, THE BEACHES LOOK SUPERIOR THAN THEY EVER HAVE BEFORE.
SO ASSUMING WHEN OUR LEGAL TEAMS BOTH SPEAK ON THIS AND TALK ABOUT THIS, IF THERE'S ANY WAY TO CONTINUE THE CURRENT PROCESSES AND IN PLACE RIGHT NOW, I WOULD DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE THAT CONTINUATION.
VERY GOOD, JASON, AND I'M GOING TO SUMMARIZE COUNSEL FOR WHAT WE I HAVE DOWN HERE AND ALSO JASON AND TRUSTEES. PLEASE GUIDE ME IF THIS IS INCORRECT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OVERARCHING GUIDANCE FOR THE PARK BOARD'S BUDGET FOR THIS COMING YEAR.
THEY HAVE HAVE MENTIONED IT'S A 10.7% INCREASE IN THE OPERATIONAL BUDGET, WHICH IS SEEMS TO BE VERY ACCEPTABLE TO COUNCIL AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME.
WE'LL DISCUSS IN THE FUTURE POSSIBLY SETTING SOME TYPE OF RANGES OR CAPS OR WHATEVER, AND THAT'S OPEN TO DISCUSSION, AND WE'LL WORK TOWARDS 25 ON THAT.
ON THE $0.03 FOR THE ALLOCATION TO CVB.
[01:40:07]
ALLOCATED, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR OUR UNDERSTANDING ON THE SPECIAL AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.WILL BE RECEIVING THAT FROM THE PARK BOARD SO THAT WE CAN REVIEW THOSE, HAVE TIME TO REVIEW THEM.
WE'LL BE LOOKING AT DISCUSSING THIS MORE AT OUR WORKSHOP ON OCTOBER 27TH, AND THEN WE WILL BE VOTING ON THOSE ON NOVEMBER 19TH. COUNCIL AT OUR REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING AND ON THE ACCOUNTING FORMAT WE HAVE, BRYSON IS WORKING DILIGENTLY WITH OUR CFO, SHEILA, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE SAME TYPE OF FORMATS AND ARE STRIVING TO GET THAT DONE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. VERY GOOD.
ANY OTHER INPUT? TO SUMMARIZE, I WASN'T LISTENING AT THE INITIAL PART, SO I APOLOGIZE.
YEAH, WE WILL RECEIVE BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING THE BREAKDOWN OF THE SPECIAL PROJECTS AND CAPITAL.
CORRECT. AND WE'LL HAVE THOSE.
BRYSON UNDERSTANDS, AS HE MENTIONED, HE'S GOING TO MAKE THAT A PRIORITY AT THE PARK BOARD.
SHARON, WOULD YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? JUST A QUICK QUESTION.
I HEARD AND I JUST NEED CLARIFICATION BECAUSE I HEARD DAVID SAY THE LABELING OF THE COLUMNS.
AND I HEARD YOU SAY THAT YOUR ATTORNEY WAS OKAY WITH THE ALLOCATION OF IT.
SO ARE THOSE USED INTERCHANGEABLY OR ARE WE ANSWERING THE QUESTION OF THE LABELING? WELL, I THINK THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THE 0.57.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT IT'S USED FOR.
I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY CALL IT. OKAY.
OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR INPUT ON THIS, JASON.
SO THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT I THINK THAT UNCERTAINTY IS OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW TO IMPLEMENTING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS MODEL, AND WE DO NEED THE CERTAINTY THAT WOULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FULL APPROVAL, WITH THE CONTINGENCIES THAT WE DISCUSSED TODAY AND I'M PLEASED WITH ALL OF THE AGREEMENTS THAT WE CAME TO.
I THINK OPERATIONALLY, WHAT WE'VE DISCUSSED IS ALL REALISTIC AS WELL.
WHAT WE'RE DECIDING TO TO HAVE IN PLACE FOR THE FY 24 BUDGET APPROVAL AND THEN WHAT WE CAN HAVE IN IMMEDIATELY BEGIN WORKING TOWARDS FOR THE FY 25 BUDGET APPROVAL.
SO JUST TO REITERATE IN THE I KNOW THAT I SPOKE WITH TRUSTEE WILSON LAST NIGHT WHO EXPRESSED HIS REGRET THAT HE COULDN'T BE HERE, AND HE ALLOWED ME TO SPEAK ON HIS BEHALF TO THESE TO THESE ITEMS THAT I'M ABOUT TO PRESENT.
AND THEN I'M CERTAINLY WELCOME ANY OF THE OTHER TRUSTEES TO CHIME IN AS WELL.
BUT WE ARE HAPPY TO REFORMAT AND STRUCTURE OUR BUDGETS AT COUNCIL'S DIRECTION FOR FY 25, WHETHER IT'S RELATES TO THE PRESENTATION OR THE APPROVAL PROCESS WITH AN APPROPRIATE RUNWAY, SO THAT WE CAN GET THERE IN AN APPROPRIATE TIME CONSIDERATION AS WELL.
SO I'M ASKING TO IN SEEKING THE APPROVAL OF THE FY 24 WITH THE AGREEMENTS THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED TODAY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, HOPEFULLY IN OCTOBER IS WHAT I HAD HOPED FOR THE OCTOBER MEETING, AND THAT WAY WE CAN START MOVING FORWARD WITH THE FULL FUNDING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR PROJECT PROJECTS AND OPERATIONS THAT WE HAVE PLANNED FOR QUARTER TO QUARTER THREE AND QUARTER FOUR AS WELL. AND THEN THIS WILL ALSO ALLOW US TO IMMEDIATELY BEGIN PREPARING FOR WHAT WE DISCUSSED TODAY AND AGREED TO TODAY FOR THE FY 25 APPROVAL PROCESS AS WELL.
AND DAVID, I MEAN, JASON, IT'LL PROBABLY BE NOVEMBER BEFORE WE APPROVE.
THAT DIDN'T STOP ME FROM ASKING FOR OCTOBER, BUT I UNDERSTAND I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE AGENDA.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADJOURN YOUR MEETING? YES. AND AT 1044, WE'LL ADJOURN THE PARK BOARD MEETING.
THANK YOU EVERYONE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.