[1. DECLARATION OF A QUORUM AND CALL MEETING TO ORDER]
[00:00:06]
>> GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. [NOISE]
>> I SAID IT BEFORE YOU [LAUGHTER]
IT IS 09:00 AM AND I'M OFFICIALLY CALLING THE WORKSHOP FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER.
GOOD MORNING AND GOT A FULL HOUSE TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE.
COUNSEL, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
I HOPE EVERYONE HAD NICE HOLIDAYS.
FOR THOSE THAT MAY BE LISTENING IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU WITH US THIS MORNING.
LET'S DIVE RIGHT INTO OUR AGENDA.
WE DO HAVE A QUORUM, BUT LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
>> VERY GOOD. WE DO HAVE EVERYONE HERE TODAY.
LET'S MOVE TO OUR DISCUSSION ITEMS.
[3.A. Clarification Of Consent And Regular City Council Agenda Items - This Is An Opportunity For City Council To Ask Questions Of Staff On Consent And Regular Agenda Items (1 Hour)]
ITEM 3A, PLEASE, MA'AM.>> ITEM 3A. CLARIFICATION OF CONSENT AND REGULAR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITY COUNCIL TO ASK QUESTIONS OF STAFF ON CONSENT AND REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS.
>> SHARON, FOR SOME REASON SOMETIMES WE WIND UP WITH YOU AT THE LAST.
I'M GOING TO LET YOU IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO FIRST.
>> SURE, IF YOU GIVE ME A FEW SECONDS TO SEE WHERE IT'S WHAT I MARKED.
NOW 10B CAN WE DISCUSS THAT? NO.
>> 10B. NOW WE HAVE THAT ON OUR AGENDA 10B, THAT'S COMING UP. IT'S ITEM 3B.
>> WELL, IF YOU DON'T MIND, WE'LL HOLD THAT TILL THAT TIME.
>> I THINK THE OTHER ONE WAS ON THE HOME STATION 11M?
>> YES. THIS IS THE PUMP STATION FOR THE GULF COAST WATER AUTHORITY.
>> BRANDON, WOULD YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF, SIR?.
>> I'M BRANDON COOK ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
>> COULD YOU SPEAK UP FOR THE-.
>> SURE. YES. WHAT THIS IS IS THE CITY'S SHARE OF 10% FOR THE REBUILD OF THE SHANNON PUMP STATION.
THE MONEY IS ACTUALLY SITTING IN FUND 12 AND THE GULF COAST WATER AUTHORITIES COFFERS AND THIS IS REQUEST IS GOING TO BE TO UTILIZE THAT MONEY THAT'S SITTING IN THEIR COFFERS FOR OUR PARTICULAR PERCENTAGE OF THIS PROJECT, THE MAJORITY OF IT'S BEING PAID FOR BY FEMA.
IT'S A HARVEY PW THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH IT AND THIS IS ONLY PHASE 1 OF THAT PROJECT.
IN THE FALL, THEY'LL BE INVOICING.
AS FOR PHASE 2, WHICH IS ANOTHER TWO MILLION DOLLARS THAT'LL BE COMING AROUND OCTOBER-ISH OR SO THAT STARTED ON THE NEW FISCAL YEAR.
>> IT WAS BASICALLY JUST TO EXPLAIN B THE PROJECT, WHAT'S IT DESIGNED TO DO?
>> IT'S THE PLAN IN TEXAS CITY THAT WHERE OUR WATER COMES FROM AND WE'RE PARTNERING IT WITH ALL THE OTHER ENTITIES.
>> SHARON, I HAD A QUESTION ON THAT.
>> I NOTICED THAT WITH THIS, WE'RE COMMITTED NOW FOR FUTURE YEARS.
I THINK IT MENTIONED THAT WE HAVE A COMMITMENT FINANCIALLY OF OVER TWO MILLION NEXT YEAR.
EXPLAIN THE FUNDING MECHANISM FOR THAT WHERE WE ARE.
>> RIGHT NOW, THERE'S 2.3 MILLION THAT'S SITTING ON THE COFFERS THAT'S RESERVED FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON UNDER SOME FORM OF DEBT THAT WAS ISSUED ON OUR BEHALF.
THIS WILL DRAW ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS OFF OF THAT.
WELL, THE SECOND ASK WILL BE FOR THE BALANCE OF THAT TO BE UTILIZED AS WELL DURING THAT PHASE 2.
THAT'LL LEAVE A FUNDING OF ABOUT $700,000, $800,000, SHORTFALL.
THE PLAN RIGHT NOW IS TO UTILIZE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, THE 2022 COS, IN ORDER TO BRIDGE THAT GAP THERE.
>> THOSE ARE CO'S THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE ALREADY?
>> WHAT WERE THEY INTENDED TO BE USED?
>> THE CO'S? WE PULLED ASIDE A CERTAIN DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR GULF COAST WATER AUTHORITY PROJECTS IN THERE.
IT USED TO BE WHENEVER THE CITY'S BOND RATINGS WEREN'T SO GOOD, WE WOULD UTILIZE GULF COAST WATER AUTHORITY AS
[00:05:01]
A FINANCING MECHANISM FOR THAT BECAUSE WE WOULD GET BETTER RATES AND EVERYTHING AT THAT TIME.NOW THAT THE CITY HAS AN INVESTMENT GRADE RATING FROM THE BOND AGENCIES, WE'RE NOW TRYING TO MANAGE OUR OWN DEBT, OUR OWN CASH FLOWS, AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
INSTEAD OF LEAVING THE MONEY OVER THERE IN THEIR COFFERS AND ALLOWING THEM TO MANAGE IT FOR US.
>> WE CAN DO AS WELL OR BETTER AS THEY CAN NOW.
>> ABSOLUTELY. WE'RE GETTING COMPARABLE KIND OF RATES AND STUFF, SO IT JUST MAKES A LOT MORE FINANCIAL SENSE.
>> THANK YOU. THE OTHER ONE WAS JUST A SIMPLE QUESTION ON 11O AND FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY'RE JUST SIMPLY HAVING A CHANGE IN RENTAL AGREEMENT.
SO THEY'RE MOVING TO ENTERPRISE RENTAL [OVERLAPPING].
>> I THINK IT'S JUST A RENEWAL, ISN'T IT?
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S A RENEWAL. DOUG, IS THIS JUST A RENEWAL?
>> THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN DOING.
IF WE UTILIZE THE BOTTLE, WE WE'RE TRYING TO GET ON THE COOPERATIVE WITH HARRIS COUNTY AND WE'RE STILL WORKING TOWARDS THAT.
BUT THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN DOING IN THIS WILL GIVE US A COST SAVINGS BY UTILIZING IT THIS WAY.
>> RIGHT. THE STATEMENT YOU JUST MADE, THAT'S WHAT I READ.
IT WAS UNABLE TO SECURE MUTUALLY AGREEABLE TERMS. [OVERLAPPING]. WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY.
BUT YOU DON'T NEED HARRIS COUNTY TO CONTINUE THIS AGREEMENT?
>> WE'RE STILL WORKING WITH HARRIS COUNTY TO IRON THE DIFFERENCES.
>> THESE ARE FOR UNDERCOVER USE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
>> I THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT ONE. NO, 11Q.
WHERE IT SAYS A PORTION OF THE FLOOR FOR THE FURNITURE, LIKE 114,000.
WHAT'S PORTION OF THE CITY HALL FLOOR AND WHAT HAPPENS TO THE OTHER PORTION?
>> WELL, A LOT OF IT IS GETTING THE FURNITURE FROM THE CITY SECRETARY BECAUSE IT WAS EXCELLENT CONDITION.
WE'RE MOVING IT UP THERE. THEY GOT ALL NEW FURNITURE.
WE'RE GOING TO REUTILIZE A LOT OF OLDER FURNITURE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO BUY THE WHOLE THING [NOISE] THE FLOOR IS WORTH OF FURNITURE.
WE'RE JUST BUYING WHERE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH.
>> DUDLEY ANDERSON SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER.
MOSTLY WHAT WE'RE BUYING WITH THIS MONEY IS THE CHEMICALS THAT ARE EFFICIENT IN THE FLOOR FOR IT.
WE HAVE SOME IT FURNITURE ALREADY.
WE'RE REUSING THAT, AND FACILITIES IS USING USED FURNITURE IN THEIR PORTION OF THE BUILDING. IT'S JUST A PORTION
>> THAT CAME FROM JANELLE'S AREA.
>> RIGHT. WE HAVE THE [INAUDIBLE] TOO.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THIS ONE TOO.
THE FUND THAT THIS IS BEING PAID OUT OF IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE DEBT SERVICE FUND.
>> THAT'S PART OF THE PROJECT.
>> WE WOULD PAY FOR OUR FURNITURE OUT OF THAT FUND?
>> WHAT WE DID, WE BUDGET THE ENTIRE PROJECT WHICH INCLUDES THE CUBICLES AND EVERYTHING.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE REALLY ONLY BUYING CUBICLES AND THESE THINGS BECAUSE WE CONSIDER THAT BECAUSE WE HAD A CHOICE OF EITHER BUILDING PONY WALLS OR BUYING THE CUBICLES.
THE CUBICLES ARE CHEAPER, SO WE JUST MADE IT PART OF THE PROJECT.
>> THEY'RE SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE IN PUBLIC WORKS NOW.
[OVERLAPPING] I'VE JUST BEEN OUT THERE SO-.
>> I'M KIND OF CURIOUS ABOUT FUND AND FIND SOMETHING LIKE FURNITURE OUT OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE FUND.
>> WE WOULDN'T DO IT JUST TO BUY FURNITURE, BUT, IF WE WERE JUST GOING TO REFURNISH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OR SOMETHING ELSE, WE USE REGULAR REFUNDS FOR THAT.
BUT WHEN IT'S PART OF AN OVERALL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT LIKE THIS, CUBICLES THAT ARE HARD WIRED IN AND EVERYTHING ELSE, WE CONSIDER THAT PART OF THE PROJECT.
>> I GUESS THAT WAS BUDGETED IN THE INITIAL PROJECT?
>> I HAVE ONE OTHER THING, BUT NOT FROM YOU.
[LAUGHTER] THIS IS 11S, AND IT IS TRINA AND I JUST LOVED READING THIS ON THE ROBOTS.
>> TRINA, I TALKED TO HIM LAST NIGHT ABOUT THIS.
HE'S ACTUALLY HAD YEARS OF EXPERIENCE OPERATING THESE.
>> I'M NOT KNOWLEDGEABLE SO I JUST WANT TO LEARN BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THE AREAS A LOT OF PEOPLE ASK ABOUT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE WATER METERS AND THAT KIND OF THING, SO I'D LIKE TO GAIN SOME KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING.
>> WHICH ITEM ARE WE ON, SHARON?
>> 11S, ORIGINALLY, IT USED TO BE CALLED A LATERAL REINSTATEMENT CUTTER.
IT'S A PRETTY OLD TOOL AND IT'S USED BY ANYBODY WHO PERFORMS TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY ON SEWER MAINS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE DOING CURED-IN-PLACE-PIPE.
I'VE BEEN USING THIS TYPE OF TOOL SINCE 2010.
BACK WHEN I WAS A MANAGER, OUR STAFF USED TO DO IN-HOUSE MANHOLE TO MANHOLE CURED-IN-PLACE-PIPE BACK IN CENTRAL TEXAS.
BY THE TIME I LEFT BEING A MANAGER, WE HAD DONE 45,000 FEET IN-HOUSE, WHICH SAVES ABOUT 50% OF THE COST.
OUR GOAL IS TO GROW INTO THAT AND POTENTIALLY BRING THAT FUEL SYSTEM NEXT YEAR.
[00:10:06]
WHAT THE LATERAL REINSTATEMENT CUTTER DOES, WITHOUT THE CURED-IN-PLACE-PIPE, IS IT'LL LET US CUT OUT PROTRUDING TAPS WHICH CAUSE CLOGS IN THE SEWER MAINS.IT'LL LET US CUT OUT ROOTS THAT BUILD UP INSIDE THE SEWER MAINS AND CAUSE CLOGS.
IT'LL LET US INSTALL PATCHES, LIKE CURED-IN-PLACE-PIPE PATCHES OR STAINLESS STEEL SEALS WITHOUT CUTTING STREETS, SIDEWALKS, CURBS, ANY OF THAT, WHICH WILL SAVE COSTS ON THE REPAIR.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, ESPECIALLY IN OLDER AREAS, ANYTIME A TAP IS DONE ON THE MAIN, THEY CUT A HOLE AND THEY PUT THE PIPE IN AND THERE'S A SEAL AROUND IT.
IT ALWAYS FAILS AND LAST BASED ON THE QUALITY OF THE CONTRACTOR OR EVEN OUR OWN IN-HOUSE GROUP, LIKE THEIR WORKMANSHIP.
MOST OF THE AND I&I COMES IN FROM THE SEAL INFLOW AND INFILTRATION.
PART OF WHAT THIS ROBOT DOES IS ONE OF THE PATCH VERSIONS IT DOES IS CALLED THE TOP HAT.
IF YOU CAN IMAGINE LIKE HERE'S A HOLE IN THE MAIN AND THEN THE SERVICE GOES OUT TO THE HOUSE.
WHAT THIS TOP HAT DOES IS GO IN HERE AND THEN IT SEALS THE CUT, AND THEN THE CURE IS THERE SO THEN NOW YOU HAVE A COMPLETE SEAL ON THE SERVICE COMING IN.
THAT'LL REDUCE INFLOW AND INFILTRATION WITHOUT CUTTING THE PIPE, WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY BRING BACK CAPACITY TO PLANTS LIKE WE DID IN [INAUDIBLE].
>> THIS IS FROM INSIDE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THIS IS NON-INVASIVE SURGERY ON A SEWER PIPE.
>> IF YOU'RE REALLY INTERESTED, I LOOKED IT UP, THEY HAVE A GREAT VIDEO ONLINE.
[OVERLAPPING] IT SHOWS ALL THE INSTRUMENTS, ALL THE TOOLS THAT COMES WITH.
>> WE'RE JUST NOT THAT FAR AWAY FROM JUST PUTTING AN AI ROBOT IN THE SEWER SYSTEM.
TURNING IT [INAUDIBLE] INSTEAD OF CHECKING ONCE A MONTH, ONCE GOT A COUPLE OF MONTHS.
>> IT HAS USED BEYOND JUST SEWER TOO.
>> THE BEST THING ABOUT THESE TOOLS IS A LOT OF OUR NEW EMPLOYEE, LIKE THE YOUNGER KIDS COMING INTO THE SYSTEM, GREW UP WITH VIDEO GAMES, THEY CONTROL THE HECK OUT OF THESE WITH PRECISION.
[LAUGHTER] YOU GET ME BEHIND IT AND YOU GET THEM BEHIND IT.
>> WHEN YOU GO TO OUR TV TRUCK, NOW, YOU DON'T SEE THE GUY SITTING THERE ANYMORE.
>> ARE YOU SAYING, TRINA, WE'RE GOING TO START HIRING 10-YEAR OLDS POTENTIALLY.
>> A FOUR YEAR OLD LOOKING FOR A JOB.
>> THIS IS A $200,000 ROBOT AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT TOOL FOR YOU ALL TO HAVE AND I'M ALL FOR IT.
HOW DO YOU DO LIKE A COST ANALYSIS ON THIS TO SAY, HEY, THIS IS A GOOD THING, THAT WILL SAVE US MONEY AND REPAIR NUMBERS.
>> I THINK WHAT I COULD DO FOR YOU GUYS IS THIS.
ONCE WE GET THE TOOL AND WE ACTUALLY START DOING THESE TRENCHLESS REPAIRS, WE'LL CAPTURE THE COSTS ON THE WORK ORDERS.
WE ALREADY HAVE PLENTY OF COSTS OF EVERY REPAIR THAT WE DO TODAY.
EMBEDDED IN THOSE COSTS ARE AN AVERAGE OF A $1,900 REPAIR ON STREET CUTS OR CURVES OR SIDEWALKS, THE WATERING MACHINERY, ALL THE BACK FIELD MATERIAL, THE REGULAR MATERIAL, AND THEN THE EMPLOYEE TIME WHICH USUALLY TAKES MORE THAN A DAY.
WHEN YOU USE TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY, YOU'RE DONE WITH THE JOB.
YOU'RE DONE WITH THE JOB WITHIN HOURS WITHOUT ALL OF THAT.
RIGHT. SO OVER TIME I'LL BE ABLE TO PRODUCE WORK ORDERS FOR LIKE FOR LIGHT REPAIRS.
THE INTANGIBLE IN THIS IS THAT BECAUSE ALL OF OUR UTILITIES AS AN OLD CITY ARE IN THE STREET, IS YOUR STREET LIFE WILL INCREASE DRAMATICALLY BECAUSE MOST FAILURES OCCUR ON OUR STREETS AT THE UTILITY CUTS, NO MATTER HOW WE'VE TRIED TO PATCH THEM, AND WE DO A PRETTY REALLY GOOD JOB WITH IT NOW WITH OUR NEW EQUIPMENT, THAT'S STILL GOING TO BE A SOURCE.
ANY SEAM YOU PUT IN AN ASPHALT STREET IS A SOURCE OF FAILURE, SO THIS SHOULD ELIMINATE A LOT OF STREET FAILURE AND PROLONG THE LIFE OF OUR STREETS.
>> I WOULD THINK THAT CUTTING INTO THE STREET WOULD GET EXPENSIVE PRETTY QUICK.
>> IT DOES AND IF WE DON'T USE STABILIZE SAND AND CONCRETE IN THE HOLE, WHEN WE FILL IT, WE END UP WITH A DIP AND THEN SO BUT THEN TO GET BACK IN THAT SAME HOLE, IF WE HAVE TO, AGAIN NOW WE'RE GOING THROUGH CONCRETE.
IT GETS TO BE VERY THIS IS THE WAY TO GO.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT CUTS LAY UNFINISHED.
>> WELL, FOR THE BACKLOG, CORRECT.
>> I HAVE NO QUESTION THAT THIS IS A TOOL THAT COULD SAVE US MONEY.
IT'D BE GREAT IF WE COULD KIND OF QUANTIFY THE SAVINGS THERE.
INSTEAD OF USING THE MONEY WE SAVED JUST TO ADD TO OUR BUDGET, WE COULD ACTUALLY SEE A REDUCTION IN A BUDGET AT SOME POINT.
[00:15:03]
SOME OF US ARE REALLY TRYING TO GET TO A LOWER TAX RATE. THINGS LIKE THAT.NOT SO MUCH ON THE SEWER AND WATER SIDE BECAUSE IT'S A DIFFERENT FUND.
BUT IT'D BE GREAT TO HAVE LOWER WATER BILLS AND LOWER SEWER BILLS.
>> WHAT WE SAW, AND WE WERE USING THIS TECHNOLOGY IN NEW BRANFORD AMOUNT OF SEWER MAIN WE WERE ABLE TO REPLACE INTERNALLY, WE REPAIRED OR REPLACED MORE THAN OUR BUDGET ALLOWED.
IF IT'S GOING TO COST US 30 GRAND TO REPLACE A BLOCK OF PIPE, WE WERE DOING IT FOR 15, WHICH LET US DO THE NEXT BLOCK 2.
>> THAT'S IMPORTANT TO US RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE'RE BEHIND.
>> IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE THE DATA AND GET THE NUMBERS SO WE CAN SHOW THE PUBLIC THAT WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS HERE.
WE'RE DOING THINGS THAT ARE BENEFICIAL TO EVERYBODY AND WE'RE SPENDING YOUR MONEY WISELY.
>> WHILE IT SAVES MONEY, IT'S ALSO EXTREMELY STRONG FORCE MULTIPLIER.
>> BUT IT INSTEAD, ON THE BACK END, SEEING THOSE NUMBERS, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS IN A STAFF REPORT LIKE THIS.
SAY, HEY, THIS IS THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE LAST YEAR THAT, IF WE HAD THIS TECHNOLOGY WE COULD'VE SAVED AS MUCH MONEY.
>> WE COULD PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER.
>> WE SEE THINGS LIKE THIS ALL THE TIME.
WE HAVE SEVERAL ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA TODAY THAT WE'RE SPENDING HUNDREDS OF THOUSAND DOLLARS ON NEW EXCAVATORS, NEW TRUCKS, NEW THIS, NEW THAT, AND WE APPROVE THESE THINGS.
BUT WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING FOR, WHAT IT'S DOING FOR US, HOW IT'S HELPING US.
WE'RE JUST GIVING YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO GET THE JOB DONE AND THINK YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.
BUT IT'S GREAT TO HAVE DATA THAT BACKS THAT UP TO PRESENT TO THE PUBLIC.
>> SHARON, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> WELL, I GUESS JOHN COMMENTED.
YOU'VE USED IT BEFORE BUT HOW RECENT HAS IT BEEN USED HERE?
>> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SO THAT DATA WON'T COME ALONG UNTIL LATER AFTER YOU.
>> WE HAVE OUR FIXED COSTS NOW AND WE'LL KNOW WHAT OUR NEW COSTS ARE, SO YEAH, WE'LL BE ABLE TO START SHOWING SAVINGS INSTANTLY.
>> WHAT'S YOUR TIME FRAME TO RECEIVE IT, TRINA?
>> IT'LL BE QUICK BECAUSE ONCE WE GET APPEAL, WE'RE GOING TO DRIVE THE UNIT OVER THERE TO THEM AND THEY'RE GOING TO OUTFIT OUR CCTV TRUCK WITH HIS ADDITIONAL UNIT.
THEY WILL HAVE IT WITHIN TWO DAYS.
I BELIEVE WE'LL HAVE IT BACK WITHIN 30 DAYS.
>> KEEP IN MIND THAT GALVESTON 10 YEARS AGO DIDN'T EVEN HAVE ONE CC TV TRUCK. WE'VE GOT TWO NOW.
WE HAVE ONE DEDICATED FOR DRAINAGE AND ONE DEDICATED FOR SEWER.
WE NEVER HAD ONE FOR DRAINAGE.
WE ALWAYS USED TO HAVE TO BORROW SEWERS, WHICH IS A WHOLE SANITIZING PROCESS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.
BUT NOW WE DON'T, WE HAVE THEM.
KIND OF STAYING ON THE TOPIC, MIKE?
>> FOR FUTURE IS TO HAVE THE CARE IN PLACE TO REPLACE.
>> YEAH, SO THAT WOULD BE THE NEXT PHASE THAT YOU WANT TO GET INTO?
>> THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR. PERFECT.
>> WHAT'S THE ANTICIPATED LIFE OF THIS TYPE OF PIECE OF EQUIPMENT?
>> IT'S LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE WITH TECHNOLOGY.
IT'LL LAST OPERATIONALLY LONGER THAN THE TECHNOLOGY IS SUPPORTED, PROBABLY.
>> THE TECHNOLOGY WILL ADVANCE. THANK YOU.
>> I HAVE ONE LITTLE COMMENT, AND I THINK JOHN TOUCHED ON IT, LOWERING THE WATER BILLS IN THE FUTURE OR SOMETHING.
BUT ALSO ON 11T, I REALLY WANT TO SAY KUDOS TO YOU AND THE STAFF BECAUSE C SAYS THAT YOUR STAFF WENT OUT TO REPAIR BUT COULD NOT PERFORM THE FULL REPAIR AND YOU MADE THE DECISION THAT THIS IS WHAT WAS NEEDED, AND I THINK THAT'S GREAT LEADERSHIP WHEN YOU CAN TAKE MEN AND THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO REPAIR IT, BUT YET THEY'RE ABLE TO MOVE ON TO SOMETHING ELSE THEY CAN DO AND YOU BRING IN THE EXPERTS.
>> IT WAS SO DEEP AND WE DON'T WANT TO RISK OUR GUYS.
WE DON'T HAVE THE PROPER EQUIPMENT TO DO THAT KIND OF STUFF.
OF COURSE, WE COULD TIE UP OUR ENTIRE CREWS OUT THERE FOR DAYS TRYING TO DO IT, AND THEN THE CITIZENS AREN'T GETTING THE SERVICE THAT THEY DESERVED DURING THE SAME PERIOD.
WE JUST HAD THAT SAME ISSUE ON 43RD STREET, WE DON'T PUT GUYS IN IF IT'S GOING TO BE UNSAFE.
>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THIS HAPPENED? WHAT WITNESSES STATED THERE.
ANYTIME YOU HAVE A DEEP MANHOLE, YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE BATTLING AN EXTRA AMOUNT OF H_2S GASES WHICH IS ACIDIC TO THE CONCRETE WALLS.
>> BY DEEP, WE'RE TALKING 18, 20 FEET?
>> NO, ON THIS ONE I THINK WE WERE TALKING LIKE 11, 12 FEET.
>> YOU'RE BUILDING A WATER TABLE.
>> THEN THE GASES TRAVEL UP AND THEN THEY'LL EAT THE CONCRETE WALLS.
NOW, THIS IS AN OLDER MANHOLE ON A TRUNK MAIN.
TRUNK MAIN BEING A 30 PLUS INCH PIPE, SO THERE'S A LOT OF GASES AND FLOW GOING THROUGH,
[00:20:04]
A LOT OF TURBULENCE.WHAT HAPPENS IS TODAY, ROB AND MYSELF HAVE CHANGED OUR SPECIFICATIONS AND NOW WE'RE USING DIFFERENT MATERIALS, SO WHEN WE INSTALL A NEW MANHOLE LIKE A PRECAST, WE'LL COME BACK AND LINE IT WITH CORROSIVE RESISTANT MATERIALS.
BUT BACK IN THE DAY WHEN THIS WAS INSTALLED, IT WAS JUST THE PRECAST MANHOLE WHICH DOESN'T STAND UP AGAINST THE GASES, SO IT GETS EATEN AND IT GETS CORRODED.
>> THAT'S A HIGH TRAFFIC INTERSECTION.
WITH THE WEIGHT OF THE TRAFFIC AND EVERYTHING ELSE, IT JUST COLLAPSES.
IS IT BROKE AT THE BOTTOM OR AT THE TOP?
>> ANYTHING ELSE, SHARON, MR. BRANDON WADE?
>> I CAME UP AND WITHDREW ALL THIS THE OTHER DAY AND WORKED OUT REALLY WELL.
>> I HAD A QUESTION AND I THINK THIS WAS ON ONE LINE, SHARON.
>> I HAD ONE OTHER QUESTION ON [INAUDIBLE].
WHY ARE WE COVERING THE LION'S SHARE OF IT?
THAT'S BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF WATER WE'RE CONTRACTED WITH ON GULF COAST WATER AUTHORITY.
THERE ARE OTHER CUSTOMERS ARE PAYING THE BALANCE OF 90% OR SO.
THE ALLOCATION IS ON ONE OF THE EXHIBITS THAT'S ATTACHED HERE AS WELL.
>> BUT WE ARE ONE OF THE LARGER MUNICIPAL CUSTOMERS OUT OF THE WHOLE GROUP.
>> THIS SUBJECT, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING DISCUSSION FOR QUITE A LONG TIME AT THE CITY STAFF LEVEL.
>> IT IS, AND RELOCATION OF THE OTHER LINE BECAUSE OF THE BRIDGE AND EVERYTHING ELSE, IT'S BEEN A LOT OF [OVERLAPPING].
>> APPRECIATE YOU GUYS WORKING THAT OUT WITH GULF COAST WATER.
>> BRANDON WADE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH HIS OWN AND WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING WITH HIM ON OUR OLDER WELLS AND EVERYTHING ELSE TO DO SO.
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO MEET WITH THEM NEXT WEEK ACTUALLY.
>> AS FAR AS THE BUDGET ITEMS AND THINGS THAT WE ARE MOVING OVER, I WANTED TO GET SOME FURTHER BECAUSE THAT WAS SIX DAYS EXCESS OF.
>> EXCUSE ME, WHAT WAS THE QUESTION?
>> COULD YOU JUST GIVE A QUICK REVIEW OF THIS?
>> ABSOLUTELY. THIS IS THE FINAL BUDGET AMENDMENT FISCAL YEAR '23.
>> I'M CSILLA LUDANYI, THE FINACE DIRECTOR.
IT'S THE FINAL BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR '23.
IT IS ABSOLUTE HOUSEKEEPING ITEM THAT THE CITY DOES EVERY YEAR WHEN THEY CLOSE OUT THE FISCAL YEAR.
WE DO AN ACCOUNTING ITEMS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN SPENT THAT COUNCIL APPROVED FOR SPENDING VIA A SINGLE AGENDA ITEM, BUT HAS NOT BEEN A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO APPROVE IT AT THE LEGAL LEVEL OF AUTHORITY.
IN THIS AMENDMENT, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOME ITEMS THAT WERE OFFSET AND WERE OF NO IMPACT TO THE GENERAL FUND.
I WANT TO SAY THAT'S ABOUT $875,000.
THE SECOND ITEM IS RELATED TO TRANSFERS THAT ARE IMPACTING THE GENERAL FUND. HERE WE GO.
THE $1.5 MILLION IS RELATED TO OVERRUNS IN THE CASUALTY AND LIABILITY FUND AND THE WORKER'S COMPENSATION FUND AND THE HEALTH INSURANCE FUND.
THEN THERE'S A TRANSFER RELATED TO IT ITEMS THAT WERE NOT SPENT AND ARE BEING TRANSFERRED TO THE IT TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENT FUND.
FINALLY, THERE IS THE $1.2 MILLION OF EXCESS IN GENERAL FUND RESERVES THAT ARE BEING TRANSFERRED OVER TO HELP WITH THE LIABILITY ON THE HEALTH INSURANCE FUND.
>> THAT WAS LIKE SEVEN DAYS IN EXCESS OF OUR 120-DAY RESERVE.
[OVERLAPPING] NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE?
>> WELL, WHEN WE SET OUR BUDGET WITH YOU GUYS, WE SET IT TO BALANCE OUT AT 120 DAYS.
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE UNDERRUNS AND DIFFERENT THINGS, SO THIS IS ALL BUDGET NEUTRAL, BUT ACTUALLY THIS TIME IS VERY FORTUITOUS BECAUSE THIS WOULD HAVE A SERIOUS ADVERSE IMPACT ON YOUR TAX RATE IF WE HAD TO COME BACK IN AND FUND THIS HEALTH FUND.
KUDOS TO CSILLA FOR MANAGING ALL THAT THROUGH.
WE DO THIS QUARTERLY. WE CALL IT THE END OF THE YEAR BUT THIS IS YOUR FOURTH QUARTER.
>> I GUESS THE ONE THAT JUMPED OUT AT ME THE MOST WAS THE POLICE OVERTIME FOR TOURISM RELATED EVENTS.
WHY WOULDN'T WE USE HOT TAX FOR THAT VERSUS GENERAL FUND MONEY?
>> WELL, I DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW THAT IT'S TOURISM RELATED, BUT [OVERLAPPING].
>> SO WHAT WE CAN WE COVER OUT OF HOT.
[00:25:04]
THERE ARE CERTAIN ITEMS. FOR EXAMPLE, AND STOP ME IF I'M WRONG, CHIEF, BUT IF THERE'S OTHER AREAS OF TOWN DURING LET'S SAY MARDI GRAS WHERE THEY HAVE TO HAVE OVERTIME THAT WE CAN'T COVER WITH HOT FUNDS, RIGHT? IT'S NOT SPECIFIC TO THE EVENT, BUT THERE MIGHT BE OVERTIME NEEDS THAT ARE ELSEWHERE IN THE CITY AS A RESULT OF THAT.AND SO YOU JUST CAN'T USE THE HOT FUNDS FOR THOSE SORTS OF COSTS.
>> ON THAT SUBJECT, MARIE, WE'RE GOING TO BE COMING UP HERE SHORTLY WITH SALLY LOOKING AT OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR THIS COMING YEAR.
THAT TOPIC NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED MORE, AND I AGREE WITH YOU. YES, JOHN.
>> WE WERE IN EXCESS OF 120 DAYS BY 1.2 MILLION.
WE TOOK THAT 1.2 MILLION TRANSFERRED OVER TO THE HEALTH AND LIFE INSURANCE FUND.
>> YOU MEAN THE HEALTH INSURANCE FUND?
>> HEALTH INSURANCE FUND AND LIFE INSURANCE.
>> THERE ISN'T TRANSFER RELATED TO THE HEALTH AND LIFE INSURANCE FUND, BUT THAT'S SPECIFIC TO ACTUAL COSTS.
THE 1.2 MILLION OF EXCESS IS TO OFFSET THE LIABILITY RELATED TO OPEP, WHICH IS IN YOUR FINANCIAL REPORT.
IT'S ABOUT $17MILLION LAST YEAR, SO THAT'S TO OFFSET THEN.
>> I JUST PULLED UP THIS ONE PAGE IN THE BUDGET, IT SAYS FUND HEALTH INSURANCE LIABILITY THAT IN FY 21 REACHED 14 MILLION.
>> YES. IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT '21, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.
>> I'M JUST LOOKING AT THE FOURTH QUARTER.
>> IN '21, IT WAS 14 MILLION AND ENDING FISCAL YEAR '22 WAS 17 MILLION.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER YET FOR FISCAL YEAR '23.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'LL GET WITH YOUR ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT THAT WILL BE PRESENTED IN MARCH.
BUT THIS IS TO OFFSET THAT LIABILITY.
WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING THIS WEEK, WE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT OTHER WAYS WE CAN BETTER OFFSET THAT LIABILITY.
>> REMEMBER WE KIND OF OPERATE THAT FUND ON A CASH BASIS.
THERE'S PLENTY OF MONEY FOR HEALTH INSURANCE IN THERE, BUT THE GOVERNMENT IRS MORE OR LESS REQUIRES US, UNDER OPEB LIABILITY BECAUSE WE ARE AN INSURANCE COMPANY AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN CERTAIN LIABILITIES AND THIS IS PART OF THAT, TO BUILD THAT UP.
>> IT'S NOT MONEY THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY SPENT OR BUT IT IS A LIABILITY, AND WE'RE TRYING TO PAY DOWN THAT LIABILITY.
>> THE MONEY IS THERE. IT DOESN'T GO AWAY AS HELD OVER TO OFFSET THE LIABILITY, AND THAT LIABILITY SEEMS LIKE IT'S INCREASING EACH YEAR.
>> YEAH. ALTHOUGH WE ACTUALLY JUST HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS THIS WEEK ABOUT WAYS WE CAN MAYBE DEBATE HOW IT'S BEING CALCULATED.
BECAUSE SOME OF IT, WE DON'T FEEL IS SUBSTANTIATED BASED ON THE WAY WE'VE STRUCTURED OUR POST RETIREMENT BENEFITS.
>> THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS WE CAN DO WITH THIS PARTICULAR MONEY IN TERMS OF TRUST AND OTHER THINGS THAT ALLOW US TO REDUCE THAT LIABILITY.
IT'S JUST LIKE VISITING YOUR ACCOUNT.
AND THERE'S 1,000 WAYS TO DO IT.
AND THERE'S AND WE'VE GOT OUR CONSULTANT WORKING ON THAT FOR US NOW.
>> OPEB LIABILITY IS A BIG DEAL ACROSS ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE SELF FUNDED.
I'M GLAD YOU CALLED ON THAT BECAUSE WE NEED TO CLARIFY THAT.
>> GOOD MORNING. HI, HOPE DEAN CITY CIO.
>> OKAY. MY QUESTION WAS ABOUT THE RP PROGRAM AND THE COST AND WHAT THAT ALL INCLUDED.
>> WHAT YOU HAVE IN 11D IS THE REQUEST TO APPROVE THE PLACEMENT OF OUR CURRENT FINANCIAL AND HR SOLUTION.
AND THE COST THAT'S INCLUDED IN THAT COVERS BOTH YOUR ONE TIME IMPLEMENTATION FEES AS WELL AS YOUR 10 YEARS OF SUBSCRIPTION COSTS.
>> THE SUBSCRIPTION COST FOR 10 YEARS IS 4.5 MILLION, AND THEN THE REMAINDER OF THAT IS ONE TIME.
THESE ARE ESTIMATED AT 3.6 FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SOLUTION OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS.
>> THAT'S JUST FOR TWO DEPARTMENTS THAT.
>> THE SOLUTION WILL BE USED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY.
IT IS THE ONE AND ONLY SOLUTION THAT WE RECEIVED A PROPOSAL ON THAT CHECKED ALL OF OUR BOXES AND MET ALL OF OUR FUNCTIONALITY.
IT HAS AN INVENTORY MANAGEMENT MODULE THAT WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO PUBLIC WORKS AS WELL.
THEN FROM A PROCUREMENT PERSPECTIVE, OUR PURCHASING DEPARTMENT WILL BE ABLE TO USE IT FOR BID MANAGEMENT, WHICH WAS NOTABLY MISSING FROM MANY OF THE OTHER PROPOSALS THAT WE RECEIVED AS WELL.
[00:30:05]
ULTIMATELY, THERE'S PROBABLY, I WOULD SAY FROM A USER BASE PERSPECTIVE, PROBABLY ABOUT 150 STAFF HERE IN THE CITY THAT USE IT ON A REGULAR BASIS.>> THE ANNUAL COST IS INCREMENTAL, SO THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF THE SUBSCRIPTION FEES ARE DISCOUNTED.
IT IS NOT HOSTED ON OUR ENVIRONMENT, ON ANY OF OUR HARDWARE.
THE FIRST TWO YEARS, THE FEES ARE HEAVILY DISCOUNTED IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN THAT DEPLOYMENT MODE, SO TO SPEAK, AND YOU'RE NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO BE USING IT IN A PRODUCTIVE ENVIRONMENT.
IN YEAR 3, LIKE IN THE FIRST TWO YEARS, THE FIRST YEAR IS 163,000 THE SECOND YEAR IS 283, OR JUST THE SUBSCRIPTION FEES.
THEN THERE WAS A 2% YEAR OVER YEAR COST.
>> BUT WE'RE ALSO PAYING THE LICENSING.
>> 4.5 IS THAT? IT'S THE SUBSCRIPTION.
THAT'S THE LICENSING FEES OVER 10 YEARS TOTAL.
TEN YEAR COST OF THE SUBSCRIPTION IS 4.53 POINT.
THE 3.6 OR THE ONE TIME FEES, THOSE ARE WHAT YOU INCUR TO HAVE PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES COME OUT, HELP YOU IMPLEMENT IT, TRAIN YOU, TEACH YOU TRAVEL, AND ALL OF THOSE RELATED EXPENSES.
>> YES, IT'S A FIXED FEE BASED ON A STATEMENT OF WORK THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE.
WE HAVE ESTABLISHED A 10% CONTINGENCY ALLOW FOR ANYTHING THAT COMES UP THAT IT'S DIFFICULT TO KNOW THE ENTIRE SCOPE UNTIL YOU START DIGGING IN.
THERE'S A 10% CONTINGENCY INCLUDED IN THAT CORE COLLABORATIVE.
THEN BEYOND THAT, WE WILL HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL FEES THAT ARE NOT KNOWN YET.
THEY PARTNER WITH A COMPANY CALLED TELLER FOR CASHIERING AND TO BE TRANSPARENT, ALL OF OUR PROPOSALS THAT WE RECEIVED INCLUDED THAT COMPONENT.
IT WASN'T JUST WORK DAY, ALL OF THEM DID.
WE'VE NOT VETTED THAT COST YET, OR THAT FEE THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH IT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO NEED THAT UNTIL LATER ON IN THE PROJECT.
THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME ADDITIONAL FEES OUTSIDE OF THAT.
>> WHY JUST DON'T IMPLEMENTATION OF NRP SYSTEM, CAN IT TURN INTO A BIG BLACK HOLE OF COST? WE DO HAVE DEFINED LIMITATIONS AND SO FORTH.
>> WE HAVE A DETERMINED STATEMENT OF WORK OF WHAT'S INCLUDED WITH THAT, 3.6 IN MILESTONE DELIVERABLES ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
>> DAVID, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION ON THAT? DAVID FINKLEY,.
>> I'D SAY WE GOT OUR MONEY'S WORTH OUT OF THE BANNER SYSTEM CONSIDERING IT'S WE'RE ABOUT, WHAT? FIVE YEARS PAST ITS USEFUL LIFE.
HE'S NOT HERE, BUT I'M GOING TO GIVE HIM CREDIT WHEN MICHAEL HOFTON GOT HERE.
KEEP IN MIND, BANNER IS A SOFTWARE PROGRAM.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THE CITY ENDED UP WITH IT LONG BEFORE I GOT HERE.
BUT IT'S DESIGNED FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
>> I USED IT IN A COUPLE OF UNIVERSITIES.
>> YEAH, MICHAEL HOFTON GOT HERE AND ACTUALLY FOUND DIFFERENT MODULES AND THINGS THAT WE WERE NOT USING, WE WEREN'T USING CORRECTLY AND HE IMPLEMENTED THEM ALL.
HE BASICALLY HIS ENTIRE TENURE HERE, HE EXTENDED THE LIFE OF BANNER BEYOND WHAT IT WAS EVEN DESIGNED TO FUNCTION.
WE'VE DONE THINGS WITH BANNER THAT PROBABLY A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVEN'T DONE.
>> THE CHALLENGE IS IN ORDER TO MAKE IT MORE EFFECTIVE AND MORE EFFICIENT FOR THE CITY, YOU HAVE TO DUMP MORE MONEY INTO IT AND THEN IT'S STILL NOT GOING TO MEET OVERALL OUR OBJECTIVES.
WE COULD HAVE THROWN MORE AT IT, AND SO WE'VE SPENT QUITE A NUMBER OF YEARS DOING IT, GROWING IT, AND MOVING IT FORWARD TO HELP US WITH SOME OF OUR INEFFICIENCIES.
BUT OVERALL, THERE'S JUST NO WAY THAT WAS EVER GOING TO MEET.
>> LIKE A LOT OF THINGS IN GAVESTON, THEY GIVE US A USEFUL LIFE ON THINGS THAT THEY'LL SAY THE USEFUL LIFE FIVE YEARS YOU SAY, GREAT, WE'LL SEE IN 10 YEARS. THAT'S HOW WE DO IT.
>> I THINK SNARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
HR AND FINANCE STAFF HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE DECISION MAKING.
THEY WERE THE DECISION MAKERS.
THE COMMITTEE DID A GREAT JOB.
THEY WERE VERY ENGAGED AND I THINK EVERYBODY AGREED, UNIFIED THAT WORK DAY WAS THE DESIRED SOLUTION THAT WAS GOING TO TAKE US INTO THE NEXT DECADE.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, MARIE?
>> SHE SAID [OVERLAPPING] OH, I'M SORRY.
[00:35:02]
>> SHE'S LOOKING FOR A QUESTION.
>> YEAH. I PUT MY NOTES IN MY [OVERLAPPING] FOR MY QUESTIONS.
11P, THE INCREASING COST ON THE CONSTRUCTION ON THE FIRST FLOOR.
>> FOURTH FLOUR, WHICH IS THAT?
>> DEBY WILL COME UP, BUT LET ME TOUCH ON THAT.
WE'RE HAVING TO SPRINKLE THE FOURTH FLOOR.
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE THE PIPE SIZE AND STANDPIPE SO WE CAN EVENTUALLY SPRINKLE THE ENTIRE BUILDING.
WE FEEL IT WOULD BE CHEAPER TO DO THAT NOW AS PART OF THIS PROJECT VERSUS WAITING AND GOING AHEAD AND TYING THIS IN AND WE WOULD STRUGGLE WITH THE PRESSURES TO BEGIN WITH TO GET AS THERE VERSUS WAITING AND DOING IT A FLOOR AT A TIME.
IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO UNDERTAKE THIS NOW SO THAT WAY AS WE IN THE FUTURE REMODEL FUTURE FLOORS, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SPRINKLE THE WHOLE BUILDING.
>> VERY GOOD. IT'S FAIRLY COMPREHENSIVE.
WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO BUILD A BIGGER SYSTEM LATER TO DO THE WHOLE BUILDING.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT CAME UP THAT CUTS THAT COST IN ABOUT A HALF, SO WE WANTED TO SUGGEST TO TAKE IT.
>> HOW DID THE OPPORTUNITY COME UP?
>> WHEN WE GOT UP THERE, WE BELIEVED THERE WAS A FOUR INCH STANDPIPE LAYING UP THERE AND THERE IS, BUT WE FOUND THIS PLACE FINALLY WHERE IT'S CHOCKED [NOISE].
>> THAT REDUCED THE PRESSURE THAT WAS AVAILABLE.
WE WEREN'T PLANNING ON OPERATING THE SYSTEM EFFECTIVELY, BUT THIS WILL ALLOW US TO OPERATE THE FOURTH FLOOR AND THE ATTIC EFFECTIVELY NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.
>> THE OPPORTUNITY WAS ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT CAME UP THAT YOU DIDN'T REALLY KNOW ABOUT THAT'S REALLY A DETRIMENT TO THE SYSTEM? IT WASN'T HAD IT WAS IT WAS A [LAUGHTER] OPPORTUNITY IT'S NOT THE WORD I WOULD PROBABLY USE FOR THAT THEN.
>> YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T. [LAUGHTER] WE KNEW THAT WE WERE GOING TO WANT TO MAKE THE BUILDING MORE SAFE FOR LIFE SAFETY AND IMPROVEMENT.
WE KNOW WE WANT TO PUT A FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM IN THERE.
WE HAVE INADEQUATE EXITING AND EVERYTHING IN THIS BUILDING.
WE TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY OF DOING THE RENOVATIONS ON THE FOURTH FLOOR TO INSTALL THE PIPES.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO HOOK THEM UP OR NOT AT THAT TIME, BUT RATHER THAN COME BACK AND RETROFIT IT, CUT OUT THE NEW CEILING, AND PUT NEW PIPES IN WHEN WE GOT IT AROUND BUILDING SYSTEM.
WHEN WE BEGAN TO HOOK IT UP, THE PRESSURE JUST WOULD NOT COME UP.
WE DID NOT RUN A PRESSURE TEST ON IT BEFORE WE PUT THE BUILDING OUT FOR GOOD.
IF WE HAD THEN WE MIGHT HAVE HAD TO ADD THAT TO THE ORIGINAL BID, BUT WE ASSUMED WE WOULD DO IT WHEN WE START HERE ON THE SECOND.
>> THE REAL PRESSURE ISSUE IS WITHIN THE BUILDING, IT'S NOT AT THE CITY END?
>> IT'S NOT THE CITY, SO WE FOUND A DIFFERENT METHOD OF COMING THROUGH IT.
WE ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO PUT A FIRE PUMP, A SEPARATE FIRE LINE SERVICE, A FIRE TANK TO OPERATE THE SYSTEM, AND NOW WE'VE FOUND ANOTHER WAY TO DO IT, WHICH IS JUST RUN A LARGER LINE OFF THE MAXIMUM AGAIN AND THEY SHOULD TAKE CARE OF [OVERLAPPING].
>> [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER] AS A SIDE NOTE.
JUST NOTE THAT TRINO DOES A GREAT JOB OF KEEPING OUR SYSTEM AND WE RUN AT PRETTY HIGH PRESSURES HERE.
I KNOW THAT [NOISE] DEALING WITH SOME PROJECTS IN HOUSTON PREVIOUS LIFE, YOU'RE LUCKY TO GET ENOUGH PRESSURE TO GET TO THE SECOND FLOOR AND A LOT OF THINGS IN HOUSTON, JUST ABOUT EVERY BUILDING IN HOUSTON, IS RUNNING ON PUMPS AND FIXING THAT'S VERY COMMON IN THESE BIG MUNICIPAL SYSTEMS. WE DO A BIG SERVICE TO A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE.
WE CAN PRETTY MUCH GET WATER PRESSURE NEEDED UP TO FOURTH, FIFTH FLOOR OF BUILDINGS HERE WITHOUT PUMPS.
>> YOU'RE DOING THAT HERE WITHOUT A PUMP?
>> THAT'S WHY LET'S TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
>> THEY'RE RUNNING 60 PSI SYSTEM, SO.
>> THE FIRE CODES ALSO CHANGED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.
WELL, FIVE MAYBE SIX, TIME FLIES WHEN GETTING THROUGH THIS, AND THEY INCREASED THE PRESSURE THAT'S REQUIRED UP TO THAT LEVEL.
IT WAS MARGINAL AT BEST, AND NOW I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH IT AND I HAVE NO PROBLEM WHEN WE HOOK UP THE OTHER FLOORS, IT WILL MAKE THIS BUILDING MUCH SAFER.
>> PLENTY OF PRESSURE, PLENTY OF VOLUME.
>> FURTHER QUESTIONS, MARIE, THAT YOU HAD?
>> AT THE OTHER NO, THAT'S GOOD ON THANKS FOR THE DEPTH.
>> THE OTHER QUESTION THAT I HAD WAS ON 12A.
>> WHICH IS THE [OVERLAPPING].
>> THE SUPPORTED DOCUMENT TO WORKFORCE HOUSING.
>> I DIDN'T SEE ANY WORDING IN THE PROPOSED [OVERLAPPING].
ONE OF THE THINGS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE MADE WORKFORCE HOUSING SUCCESSFUL WAS ACCOUNTABILITY.
[00:40:02]
ON A MONTHLY BASIS, THE PROOF THAT YOU WORK IN THE CITY OR THE COUNTY AND I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN THE RESOLUTION.>> I INTERFACED WITH JOHN RUTHERFORD AND THE BUILD GALVESTON GROUP ON THIS.
DON DID A LOT OF INTERFACING ON THIS.
THIS IS A PROGRAM, AS YOU KNOW, THAT THE CITY HAS NO INVOLVEMENT WITH.
THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN INITIATED BY BUILD GALVESTON, FUNDED BY BUILD GALVESTON, AND CONTROLLED BY BUILD GALVESTON.
>> BUT WE'RE STILL DOING A RESOLUTION IN FAVOR OF AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE ADDED TO THAT [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT SEEMS LIKE GETTING INTO SOMEBODY ELSE'S BUSINESS RIGHT THERE.
[OVERLAPPING] WHAT I SEE THIS IS A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT.
WE KNOW THERE'S A GAP IN FUNDING A THAT HOUSING FOR AT THAT LEVEL.
OBTAINABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING ON THE ISLAND WAS SOMETHING WE DRASTICALLY NEED.
JOHN AND I HAD WHEN WE SAW THIS PRESENTATION THE VERY FIRST TIME, I KNOW BOTH OF US CAME UP WITH THE QUESTION OF WHAT'S GOING TO COST THE CITY, AND THE ANSWER IS NOTHING.
>> WE DON'T HAVE A FINANCIAL STAKE IN THIS, BUT THIS RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR BUILD GALVESTON IS KEY TO THEIR ABILITY TO SECURE GRANTS, SO I'M UP.
>> BUT IF YOU'RE DOING WORKFORCE HOUSING AND IT ENDS UP BEING NOT FOR PROFIT CLARIFICATION, IT IS CAUSING GALVESTON PROPERTY TAX.
WE ALREADY HAVE WHAT? OVER 30% OF OUR PROPERTIES.
I AM IN SUPPORT OF IT, I'M JUST [OVERLAPPING].
>> IF IT WAS OUR INITIATIVE, I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER REQUIREMENTS THAT WE'D PUT ON IT, NOT JUST THAT.
I MEAN THERE BUT I WOULD DEPEND ON THE BOARD OF BUILD GALVESTON TO LOOK TO CONTROL THAT ASPECT.
>> I'VE GOT A COMMENT AND A QUESTION.
MARIE, I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM ON THIS.
I DON'T KNOW WHO WOULD YOU SUBMIT THAT TO AND WHAT AUTHORITY WOULD THEY HAVE?
>> WELL, I MEAN, I CAN CITE ONE I KNOW OF THAT WORKS VERY WELL AND IT'S SUMMIT COUNTY, COLORADO.
THEY WORK WITH DIFFERENT CITIES, AND THEY ACTUALLY, WITH THEIR RENT PAYMENT OR EVEN THEY HAVE TO PRODUCE MONTHLY, ANNUALLY, SHOWING THAT THEY WORK A MINIMUM OF 30 HOURS A WEEK IN EITHER WHATEVER CITY THAT CO OPS WITH OR TO PROVE THAT THEY ARE ELIGIBLE BECAUSE YOU CAN BUILD WORKFORCE HOUSING AND IF IT'S NOT SERVING ITS PURPOSE, IF IT ENDS UP BEING JUST LOW INCOME HOUSING, NOT NECESSARILY TIED TO EMPLOYMENT, WE'RE DEFEATING THE PURPOSE.
>> YOUR CONCERN IS THAT THEY WOULD BE BURDENED ON THE CITY BECAUSE OF A NONPROFIT STATUS AND THEY WOULDN'T PAY PROPERTY TAXES?
>> AND JUST HAVING NO CONTROLS ON THAT.
>> WAIT, AND SO IF THEY DO SUPPORT WORKFORCE HOUSING, AND THAT IS A POSITIVE TO THE CITY, THEN THEY SHOULD SHOW SOME PROOF THAT THEY ARE BENEFICIAL TO THE CITY? I AGREE WITH THAT. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU PUT THAT MECHANISM IN PLACE.
THEN MY COMMENT, WHY DO THEY NEED, OR THE QUESTION, WHY DO THEY NEED THIS FOR THEIR GRANT FUNDING?
>> WE HAVE JOHN RUTHERFORD WHO RUNS THIS WHO HAS PUT THIS TOGETHER.
LET ME SAY THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT, JOHN, COME UP AND HAVE A SEAT IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE.
THIS PROGRAM IS NOT WITH THIS GROUP TO BUILD HOUSING.
THIS PROGRAM, WHERE THEY WOULD BUILD THE HOUSING.
THIS PROGRAM IS TO INCENTIVIZE FINANCIALLY PRIVATE DEVELOPERS, INDIVIDUALS, OTHER ENTITIES IN THE COMMUNITY TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THEY ARE THE FUNDING MECHANISM.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DEAL THAT THEMSELVES.
THESE PROPERTIES WILL BE OWNED, PRIVATELY OWNED AND THOSE WILL BE ON THE TAX ROWS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
JOHN, WOULD YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF?
>> SURE, JOHN RUTHERFORD. I'VE BEEN WORKING AS A CONSULTANT WITH BUILD GALVESTON.
TO [NOISE] ADDRESS YOUR INITIAL QUESTION, FROM THE STANDPOINT OF ONCE PROJECTS,
[00:45:01]
THIS IS A FUNDING MECHANISM, AS MAYOR BROWN HAS SAID, [BACKGROUND] IT WILL BE CONTROLLED BY THE GROUP OF FUNDERS.RIGHT NOW, WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A LITTLE OVER TWO MILLION DOLLARS COMMITTED BY THREE FOUNDATIONS, AND THOSE FOUNDATIONS THEN [NOISE] ALONG WILL HAVE A MAJORITY OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF THAT FUND.
THEIR MISSION IS CLEARLY STATED WHEN WE RAISED THE CAPITAL, THAT THIS WAS FOR EMPLOYERS, EMPLOYEES, WORKFORCE, FAMILIES ON THE ISLAND.
WHEN THEY START UNDERWRITING PROJECTS, THE DEVELOPER COMES IN AND SAYS, WELL, WE WANT TO DO THESE FIVE HOMES ON THIS AREA.
PART OF THE UNDERWRITING PROCESS WILL BE, OKAY, WHO ARE YOU GOING TO SELL THEM TO? HOW ARE YOU GOING TO CONTROL THEIR RESALE? BECAUSE WE WANT LONG TERM AFFORDABILITY HERE.
[NOISE] THAT WILL BE ALL PART OF THE PACKAGE THE DEVELOPER SUBMITS TO SAY, ARE YOU GOING TO GET YOUR PROPOSAL GOING TO BE ACCEPTED BY THE FINANCIER AND BY THAT FUND ITSELF, WHICH IS AGAIN, IS CONTROLLED BY THOSE PEOPLE WHO PUT THE MONEY IN? [NOISE] THE MISSION IS CLEARLY STATED TO BENEFIT GALVESTON, THE MECHANISM FOR MAKING SURE THAT'S LONG TERM BENEFIT WOULD GET PUT IN PLACE WHEN THE DEVELOPER COMES IN AND SUBMITS THE PROPOSAL.
THOSE THAT MORE CLEARLY ALIGN WITH THAT MISSION WILL GET THE BENEFIT OF THE MONEY.
THOSE WHO DON'T WON'T, SO IT'LL REALLY BE UP TO THOSE FUNDING SOURCES TO MAKE SURE THE MISSION IS BEING ACCOMPLISHED, WHICH IS BENEFITING WORKERS ON THE ISLAND, FAMILIES ON THE ISLAND.
[NOISE] IF TWO PROJECTS COME IN AND ONE BENEFITS THAT MISSION DIRECTLY AND ONE DOESN'T, THE ONE THAT IS CONTROLLED AND BENEFITS THAT MISSION IS GOING TO GET THE NOD.
>> BEFORE JOHN, COUNCILMAN WESTASKI(PH) THERE WAS A QUESTION TOO ABOUT WHY DO YOU NEED THIS RESOLUTION.
>> ALMOST EVERY FOUNDATION THAT WE TALKED TO, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THEY ASKED IS WELL, IS THE CITY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS? WE TOLD THEM WE WERE NOT ASKING FOR CITY MONEY, WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR PUBLIC MONEY IN ANY FORM AT THIS POINT.
THE ANSWER WAS FINANCIALLY NO, BUT IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO THEM THAT PHILOSOPHICALLY, THE CITY SUPPORTED IT.
THAT'S WHY WE STARTED SAYING, WELL, WHAT EVIDENCE COULD WE GET OF THAT SUPPORT? IN TALKING TO PEOPLE, IT SEEMED LIKE THERE WAS SUPPORT FOR IT, BUT WHAT EVIDENCE COULD WE GET OF IT? THAT'S WHEN THE DIALOGUE WITH MAYOR BROWN CAME UP OF, WELL, MAYBE WE COULD GET RESOLUTIONS, THEY WOULD SUPPORT IT.
THAT'S THE PRIMARY PURPOSE BECAUSE EVERYONE IS ASKING THAT.
THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS BEHIND THIS INITIATIVE AND THE CITY BEING AN IMPORTANT PLAYER IN THAT COMMUNITY. THAT WAS PART OF IT.
THE OTHER PART IS IT DOES SHORE UP OUR 501C3 STATUS, OUR TAX ATM STATUS, WHICH ALLOWS US TO UTILIZE FUNDS FROM THESE FOUNDATIONS.
THE COMMENT, IT'S BEEN IDENTIFIED NOW, AND TWO COMPREHENSIVE PLANS THAT MIDDLE INCOME HOUSING IS A NEED FOR GALVESTON.
IN THE 2001 PLAN, THE 2011 PLAN BOTH IDENTIFIED THAT.
WE LOOKED AT THAT AND SAID, OKAY, WELL, THIS IS A WAY TO HELP THE CITY ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL, AND THAT WAS WHAT WAS THEN BUILT IN ON THE CONCEPT, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS SEEN AS A CHARITABLE PURPOSE IF YOU'RE ACCOMPLISHING A PURPOSE OF A MUNICIPALITY.
>> WELL, THAT WAS MY QUESTION.
WHAT IS THE NEED FOR THE RESOLUTION? I THINK YOU ANSWERED THAT.
>> I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS.
I AM SUPPORTIVE OF MIDDLE INCOME HOUSING DEFINITELY AND WORKFORCE HOUSING AS LONG AS IT DIDN'T PUT A BURDEN ON THE TAXPAYERS AND IS BENEFICIAL TO THE CITY.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO ADD ANYTHING LANGUAGE-WISE IN THERE, BUT I'LL LET MARIE SPEAK MORE ABOUT THAT.
>> NO, I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU AND MAYBE THAT'S THE WAY TO ACCOMPLISH OR TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT WE'RE BOTH TALKING ABOUT, IS ADDING TO IT THAT IT DOESN'T PUT ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL BURDENS ON THE CITY.
>> MAYBE I'M NOT HEARING CORRECTLY OR I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING.
I'M NOT CLEAR AS TO THE WORD BURDEN.
BECAUSE IF IT'S IN THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S NEEDED ON THE ISLAND.
WHY DO WE HAVE TO ATTACH A A, B, AND C, AND D TO HOUSING THAT'S NEEDED FOR PEOPLE? I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE WORD BURDEN.
>> I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT CONNECTED TO THIS.
>> NO. LET'S SAY IN ITS DEVELOPMENT, IT WAS PROPERTY THAT WAS DEVELOPED AS A NOT FOR PROFIT AND IT'S TAKEN OFF THE TAX ROLE, THAT WOULD BE A BURDEN ON THE CITY.
>> WE CLEARLY DID NOT PLAN ON DEVELOPING THE PROPERTY OURSELVES, WE'RE GOING TO HELP FINANCE IT.
COULD WE OWN PROPERTY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME?
[00:50:01]
YES, THAT IS PERMITTED WITHIN THE GOVERNING DOCUMENTS OF THE FUND.BUT BE CLEARLY WITH THE PURPOSE OF TYING IT UP AND THEN PRESENTING IT TO A TEAM OF DEVELOPERS TO SAY, OKAY, NOW YOU ALL BID ON THIS AND THEN WE SELL IT OFF.
THERE'S NO ANTICIPATE, WE DON'T HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO DEVELOP THE PROPERTY AND DON'T PLAN TO BUILD IT.
>> THIS IS IN A WAY WE'VE ALWAYS ENVISIONED IS RDA DOING WE'VE NEVER MANAGED TO ACCOMPLISH.
>> [OVERLAPPING] ALREADY DEVELOPED IN THE CORPORATION, WHICH IS WHAT WE WANTED THE RDA TO DO, BUT THEY'RE DOING IT.
THIS IS ADDRESSING A CONCERN THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IN OUR CITY FOR YEARS IS HOW DO WE APPROACH PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THOSE THAT LIVE HERE AND WORK HERE.
TO BE HONEST, WE'VE NEVER BROUGHT FORWARD ANY SUBSTANTIAL IDEAS AT THE CITY TO ADDRESS THAT.
I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS IS THIS IS A VERY COMPLEX ISSUE, AND WHAT I UNDERSTAND, AND IN MY UNDERSTANDING IS THIS BID GALVESTON IS BUILDING FOR BRINGING FORWARD, THEY'RE BASICALLY PROVIDING FUNDING TO INCENTIVIZE THESE PRIVATE DEVELOPERS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND THAT WAS THE MISSING PIECE IS THE INCENTIVIZING ACTUAL FUNDING AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND THAT'S WHAT BILL GALVESTON IS PROVIDING.
>> [OVERLAPPING] ADD TO THAT, THERE'S SOME CONFUSION ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT THIS IS CLEARLY AIMED AT WORKFORCE ON THE ISLAND.
YES, I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU JUST SAID, BUT THAT IT TIES TO IT.
IT NEEDS TO STILL TIED TO WORKFORCE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT FAMILIES WHO IN MOST CASES HAVE TO INCOME [NOISE] IF THEY'RE WORKING, THEY'RE COMMUTING TO THE ISLAND FOR THOSE JOBS INSTEAD OF LIVING HERE, SENDING THEIR KIDS TO OUR SCHOOLS, ETC.
>> LET ME ASK JOHN, AND I KNOW JOHN WANT TO SAY SOMETHING AND MARIE.
WHAT ARE YOU PROPOSING IN YOUR CONCERNS? WHAT ARE YOU PROPOSING?
>> WELL, ONE, SOME SORT OF ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THAT WAS MY QUESTION.
BUT EVEN IN, I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU COULD INCENTIVIZE SOMEONE TO BUILD A MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
BUT EVEN IF YOU BUILT IT, LET'S SAY IT'S A $250,000 HOUSE, YOU STILL HAVE TO ADD ON TO THAT INSURANCE, PROPERTY TAXES, AND SO FORTH, WHICH THEN MAKES IT, IT'S THE BIGGER ISSUE THAN THE COST OF THE HOUSING.
HOW DO YOU PLAN ON CALCULATING THAT?
>> WE'RE JUST NOW GETTING BACK DATA FROM A SURVEY THAT BILL GALVESTON DID AND WE REALLY AIMED AT.
WHAT IS YOUR MONTHLY COST MAXIMUMS THAT WOULD INCENTIVIZE YOU TO COME BACK TO THE ISLAND OR COME TO THE ISLAND FOR THE FIRST TIME.
IT'S REALLY TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP OF THE HOME PER MONTH.
NOW, YOU SAW BACK INTO THE NUMBERS OF, IS THAT A $300,000 HOME ONCE YOU ADD ON TAXES AND INSURANCE, ETC.
BUT IT'S REALLY COMING AT IT FROM WHAT CAN THEY AFFORD TO SPEND AND THEN WE'LL BACK IN THE NUMBER.
>> TOTAL EXPENSES OF HOMEOWNERSHIP, PUT A ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD ON THE ISLAND.
>> IT'S NEVER GOING TO BE CHEAP [INAUDIBLE].
>> THE GAP WE HAVE IS, AS WE ALL KNOW, AS OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE, OUR TEACHERS, OUR POLICE OFFICERS, EVEN NURSES AND THE LIKE AT UT &B. FOLKS THAT HAVE A JOB, GET THEM GO TO WORK, CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY.
THEY'D LIKE TO LIVE HERE, THEY'D LIKE TO LIVE CLOSE TO THEIR PLACE OR PREMISE.
>> THERE'LL BE A GAP BETWEEN WHAT IT CAN BE PROVIDED IN TEXAS CITY OR WHEREVER, BUT THEN THERE'S INCENTIVES.
PEOPLE LOVE LIT ON THE ISLAND.
WELL, HOW MUCH ARE THEY WILLING TO SPEND TO LIVE ON THE ISLAND? JOHN.
>> I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOMEOWNERSHIP.
BUT THE TOPIC RIGHT NOW IS A LITTLE BROAD AND IT BRINGS UP A WHOLE LOT OF QUESTIONS IN MY MIND AND THOSE QUESTIONS RAISE CONCERN.
IT'S THINGS LIKE, DOES WORKFORCE HOUSING MEAN AN APARTMENT COMPLEX OWNED BY A NONPROFIT THAT DOESN'T PAY TAXES AND THEY HAVE LOW RENT? I THINK THAT IS A BURDEN ON THE CITY.
THAT'S WHAT I'M CONCERNED WITH.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WHEN THE MAYOR AND I MET WITH VISION, WE MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THE CITY SUPPORTED DOING THIS AS A HOME OWNERSHIP HOLDER.
>> BUT IT DOESN'T SAY THAT, BUT.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GUYS KNOW,
[00:55:01]
WE MADE THAT EXPLICITLY HERE WITH JOHN.>> [OVERLAPPING] I THINK WE HAD THAT [INAUDIBLE] SOLUTION.
>> I THINK THE MARKET IS GOING TO TELL US WHAT IS PERMITTED ONCE WE GET THE DATA BACK AND DEVELOPERS COME IN AND START COSTING US OUT.
WHEN WE START DISCUSSING THIS A YEAR AGO, ALL TOO WELL, THE COST STRUCTURE IS CHANGED.
INTEREST RATES AREN'T WHAT THEY WERE A YEAR AGO.
I THINK THE MARKET'S GOING TO TELL US WHAT PRODUCT IS VIABLE AND THEN THE FUNDING SOURCES CAN SAY IS THAT SOMETHING THEY'RE WILLING TO SUPPORT THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT.
I THINK FOR US TO LOCK IN AND SAY NO, WE'D NEVER DO ANY FORM OF MULTIFAMILY IS A DIFFICULT TASK AT THE SUPPORT.
>> I'M NOT SAYING THAT, BUT BECAUSE THE RESOLUTION IS A BIT BROAD IN MY OPINION, IT RAISES THOSE QUESTIONS.
>> AND THOSE CONCERNS. THAT'S MY ONLY KIND OF HESITATION IN SUPPORTING THE RESOLUTION.
I FULLY SUPPORT TRYING TO GET MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING HERE ON THE ISLAND.
I'VE WORKED ON THAT FOR A LONG TIME AND DONE SOME OF THAT THROUGH GIRLS HOUSE FINANCE CORPORATION AND I SAT ON THAT COMMITTEE FOR YEARS AND WE DID SOME GOOD WORK.
BUT I DO HAVE CONCERNS, AS MARIE HAS MENTIONED, THAT BECAUSE OF HOW BROAD THE RESOLUTION IS, IT RAISES SOME QUESTIONS FOR ME.
>> I THINK YOU'RE GETTING TO THE REAL REASON AS YOU SPEAK.
THE CONCERN IS WHETHER SOMETHING IS GOING TO COME IN THAT IS SAFER.
HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE IT? OR MAYBE I SHOULDN'T TRY TO WALK ON GLASS, MAYBE I SHOULD JUST SAY IT.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT I DON'T WANT THIS CERTAIN TYPE OF BUILDING OR IF IT'S A DUPLEX OR WHATEVER, THAT WOULD SERVICE SOMETHING OF A LOWER.
THEN MAYBE I MISUNDERSTOOD YOU, BUT MAYBE WE CAN PLAY IT BACK WHAT YOU SAID.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE THINKING, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
IN THIS CASE, WHEN PEOPLE HEAR WORKFORCE HOUSING, WHAT DO YOU THINK? WHAT DOES A PERSON THINK WHEN YOU HEAR WORKFORCE HOUSING?
>> THANK YOU. BUT I'M JUST SAYING.
[OVERLAPPING] I'M SAYING GENERALLY SPEAKING, THAT'S DIFFERENT.
THAT BECOMES DIFFERENT IN YOUR EYESIGHT, HIS EYESIGHT, MY EYESIGHT WHENEVER WE SAY WORKFORCE HOUSING.
WE ALWAYS WANT TO ATTACH THESE SPECIAL THINGS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S GOING TO BECOME SOMETHING THAT WOULD HELP PEOPLE.
I KNOW A COUPLE LIVE ACROSS FROM ME AND THEY PAY 1,700 A MONTH.
THEY'RE BOTH WORKING ADULTS AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A HOME HERE.
I'M SURE THEY COULD PAY MORE A MONTH.
THEY'RE PAYING THAT. LIVING IN A CANDU.
HOW DO YOU ADD ALL THOSE LITTLE STIPULATIONS TO THIS WHEN YOU HAVE A NONPROFIT GROUP HAS A MISSION STATEMENT THAT HAVE ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING THEM FINANCIALLY AND DON'T YOU THINK THOSE ORGANIZATIONS WOULD WANT TO QUESTION WHAT THEY'RE DOING, BUT YET THEY'RE SUPPORTING THEM? I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND. I DON'T.
>> WELL, I HAVE DEVELOPED LOW-INCOME, MIDDLE-INCOME HOUSING IN YOUR DISTRICT.
>> I'M ALL FOR THAT. I WAS A PART OF THAT.
I DEFINITELY AM IN SUPPORT OF THAT AND I HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN ON THE GROUND DOING THAT.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT THAT STATEMENT IS LIKE WHEN IT'S PERSON SAYS, I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE BLACK.
>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE SAME AT ALL.
>> BECAUSE YOU DEVELOPED IT THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.
>> IT DOESN'T, NOT IN EYESIGHT.
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LOW AND MIDDLE-INCOME HOUSING YOU'RE SAYING I'M AGAINST IT, I'M SAYING I'M NOT AGAINST IT AT ALL.
>> I SAID HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU SAID.
>> BY SHOWING YOU THE TYPE OF HOUSING THAT I THINK IS NEEDED AND THAT WE HAVE PUT ON THE GROUND IN YOUR DISTRICT.
>> JOHN AND THOSE SHARON, EXCUSE ME.
COUNSEL, WE'RE GETTING WAY OFF-TOPIC.
THIS IS AN ITEM THAT IS DOWN TO APPROVE OR NOT, THIS RESOLUTION COMING UP THIS EVENING.
NOW, IF COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE AMENDMENTS TO THAT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THERE, PLEASE BRING THOSE FORWARD WHEN WE VOTE ON THIS.
IF VISION GALVESTON OR BILL GALVESTON CAN SENSE AND YOU FEEL THAT THERE ARE CHANGES THAT YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH IN THIS RESOLUTION THAT ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS HERE, PLEASE LET STAFF KNOW AND LET
[01:00:03]
OUR CITY ATTORNEY KNOW AND WE COULD POSSIBLY ENTERTAIN THE DISCUSSION, AND OR APPROVAL OF THOSE IDEAS AT OUR REGULAR MEETING THIS AFTERNOON.BUT THIS IS NOT A TIME TO DISCUSS THIS SUBJECT.
NOW IF WE WANT TO GET INTO DISCUSSING THIS SUBJECT AND GUIDE BILL GALVESTON ON HOW THEY SHOULD BE DOING THIS, AND WE CAN SET IT UP YOU COULD DEFER THIS ITEM THIS AFTERNOON AND WE CAN SET IT UP AS A SEPARATE WORKSHOP ITEM IN THE FUTURE.
I PERSONALLY FEEL THAT WE HAVE AN ORGANIZATION HERE THAT HAS PUT THEIR MONEY UP THERE TO MAKE WORKFORCE HOUSING A REALITY IN THIS ISLAND HERE.
I THINK THEY HAVE THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR COMMUNITY IN MIND AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD IN SOME DIRECTION THIS AFTERNOON AT OUR REGULAR MEETING.
I WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS ITEM.
IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? JOHN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.
>> MARIE, YOU WERE FOLLOWING UP WITH YOUR FINAL QUESTION.
>> YES, SIR. THE BASIC QUESTION FOR THIS ARE TWO.
ONE, WHAT'S THE ANTICIPATED CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE FOR THIS? I DIDN'T SEE THAT MENTIONED IN THE REPORT.
>> WOULD YOU COME UP [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE PUBLIC HEARING IS A REQUIREMENT THAT WE HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO REQUEST FUNDING FROM THE GLO THAT WILL HELP US MATCH THE $10,000,000 FUNDING THAT WE'RE ALREADY GETTING FOR THIS PROJECT.
CONSTRUCTION-WISE, WE'RE PROBABLY ABOUT 9-12 MONTHS AWAY.
>> THEN THERE'S A LINE ITEM ON HERE FOR GRANT ADMINISTRATION, IT'S CLOSE TO $500,000.
IS THAT OVER THE LIFE OF THE PROJECT OR JUST OVER DURING CONSTRUCTION? HOW DOES THAT WORK?
>> I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE YOU'RE SPECIFICALLY LOOKING AT, BUT FOR EACH OF THE GRANTS, THERE IS AN ALLOWANCE FOR GRANT ADMINISTRATION AND THAT'S FOR SPECIAL SKILL SETS THAT WE BRING IN TO HELP US MANAGE AND KEEP THIS MONEY.
IT'S NOT AS HARD TO GET THE MONEY AS IT IS TO KEEP IT.
ALL OF THE REPORTING AND ALL OF THAT WE HAVE HELP FROM PEOPLE THAT DO THIS FOR A LIVING, THAT COME IN AND SUPPORT US.
>> THAT IS PART OF THE GRANT ADMINISTRATION FOR THE FEMA CONTRIBUTION OF $10 MILLION.
WHAT DOES THAT APPLY TO IN OTHER WORDS?
>> IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE FEMA MONEY FOR FOR INSTANCE, THE CAUSEWAY WATER LINE, THAT'S AN EARMARK AND THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE CAN GET FROM THE EARMARK IS $10 MILLION SO ULTIMATELY THE MANAGEMENT COSTS ARE PART OF THAT $10 MILLION THAT WE GET REIMBURSED FOR ME.
>> CAN I FOLLOW ON ON COUNCILMAN FINKLEY'S QUESTION? BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THESE NUMBERS, BECAUSE GRANT ADMINISTRATION, WHERE DOES THAT GO? WHO GETS PAID FOR GRANT ADMINISTRATION?
WE GET PAID FOR OUR TIME IN ADDITION TO ANYONE THAT WE HIRE TO HELP US WITH THE COMPLIANCE MONITORING.
WE GET REIMBURSED FOR THAT AS WELL.
>> BECAUSE OTHER THAN CONSTRUCTION, IT COSTS MORE THAN THE ENGINEERING DOES GRANT ADMINISTRATION.
ALMOST 5-3. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY.
>> THERE'S ALREADY BEEN A LOT OF ENGINEERING DONE.
>> WELL, YEAH. THE WATER LINE IS ALREADY AT 95% DESIGN SO THE PRELIMINARY AND ALL OF THE INITIAL PERMITTING AND ALL OF THAT-.
>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT BECAUSE YOU CAN COME TO THINK OF $300,000 ENGINEERING TO BE A REAL DEAL.
>> I DON'T KNOW, THAT JUST SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY.
>> IT STOOD OUT WITH ME. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT THOSE FUNDS, SOME OF THOSE TO PAY FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT STAFF COST FOR THE TIME IN THE ADMINISTRATION.
THAT I UNDERSTAND. I THINK WHAT COUNCILMEMBER COLLINS AND I WERE MAY BE POINTING TO, AND WE'LL SAY IT DIRECTLY, YOU'RE HIRING OUTSIDE EXPERTS ALSO TO HELP YOU IN THE FINANCIAL CONTROLS AND REPORTING FOR THE GRANT.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. SPECIFICALLY THE 400 AND SOME ODD THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE WATER LINE THAT WE'RE REQUESTING FROM THE GLO THAT SPECIFICALLY IS FOR COMPLIANCE OF GLO FEDERAL REGULATIONS AND THAT'S A SPECIFIC ADMINISTRATION.
WE ALSO WILL HAVE FEMA MONEY WITH THIS WHICH IS ANOTHER ADMINISTRATION SIDE AND
[01:05:04]
KEEPING EVERYTHING STRAIGHT BETWEEN THE TWO GETS TO BE PRETTY COMPLEX.>> THE LIST OF DOLLAR ITEMS HERE ARE JUST WHAT'S BEING PAID FOR OUT OF THE FEMA MONEY.
THE PROJECT'S $18 MILLION SO IT'S ONLY $8 MILLION WORTH OF WORK HERE.
>> THERE'S EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR THE GLO TO PAY AND THERE'S $10 MILLION WE'RE ASKING FEMA TO PAY.
>> YOU HAVE A TOTAL HERE, 8,033,000.
>> THAT'S PART OF THE COST SHARE.
>> IS THAT WHY ALL THE ENGINEERING IS NOT IN HERE?
>> WELL, THAT'S A FINAL QUESTION.
>> IN ALL THE CONSTRUCTION, WE'RE ONLY SEEING EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF WORK OUT OF A $18 MILLION PROJECT.
>> WELL, WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IS THIS IS [OVERLAPPING].
>> ON THE EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS AT CDGB.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. THERE'S A LINE ITEM LIKE THIS IN A SET OF LINE ITEMS IN THE FEMA PORTION OF IT AS WELL IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?
>> THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SAYING THE GRANT WRITING IS COSTING MORE THAN ENGINEERING.
BUT WE'RE NOT SEEING ALL THE [OVERLAPPING].
>> YOU'RE NOT SEEING ALL THE ENGINEERING BECAUSE I GUESS IF I ASKED ROB WHAT THE ENGINEERING WAS,.
>> THERE'S ONLY SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF CONSTRUCTION COST AND $18 MILLION PROJECT.
[OVERLAPPING] I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE ENGINEERING.
>> THE DESIGN COST FOR THE WATER LINE THAT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE, WHICH IS WATER LINES AROUND 95% IS AROUND A MILLION DOLLARS.
IT'S ALREADY BEEN SPENT OUT OF CITY FUNDS OVER THE YEARS TRYING TO GET THIS PROJECT READY TO GO.
AT THIS POINT, WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE ONCE THIS IS AWARDED, WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH GETTING THE FINAL BID PACKAGES TOGETHER AND PUT IT OUT ON THE STREET TO BID.
>> THAT'S OUTSIDE OF THE 18 MILLION?
>> YOUR MONEY IS NOT ACCOUNTED FOR.
>> THAT'S WHAT WAS GETTING TO.
I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU JUST LUMP THAT INTO THE FEMA $10 MILLION ONE.
>> WELL, THE GLO HAS, FOUR OR FIVE LINE ITEMS THEY USE.
FEMA HAS ABOUT 50 LINE ITEMS..
IT'S ALL BROKEN DOWN BASED OFF OF THE APPLICATION.
>> GOT IT. BUT THE OVERALL PROJECT COSTS 18 MILLION?
>> WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON TODAY IS THE EIGHT MILLION OR IS THE APPLICATION FOR THE-.
>> IN ONE ITEM YOU'RE VOTING TO ACCEPT THE GRANT AWARD OF $10 MILLION FROM FEMA AND YOU'RE ALSO UNDER THE PUBLIC HEARING, AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO GO TO THE GLO AND SAY WE'RE GETTING A $15.7 MILLION ALLOCATION AND BECAUSE ALL OF THAT ALLOCATION IS NOT NEEDED ANYMORE FOR THE 59TH STREET PROJECT, WE WANT TO MOVE HALF OF THAT TO THE WATER LINE TO WHERE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE'S NO CITY MONEY INVOLVED.
>> JUST A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT THIS PROJECT IN GENERAL, WHY PUT A PIPELINE ON A BRIDGE INSTEAD OF LIKE BORN IN?
>> WELL, BECAUSE IT'S MUCH EASIER TO SERVICE AND WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY OVER THE YEARS TRYING TO SERVICE THE LINE THAT WE'VE EVENTUALLY ABANDONED UNDERNEATH THE WATER.
IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE TO SERVICE UNDERWATER LINE ALSO, IT'S HARD TO DETECT LEAKS AND OTHER ISSUES.
RIGHT NOW, ALL OUR CHIPS ARE ON 100 PLUS YEAR OLD BRIDGE WHERE OUR TWO WATER LINES ARE.
WE'VE GOT TO GET SOME REDUNDANCY NOT ON THAT BRIDGE.
>> IT SEEMS LIKE THEY PUT PIPELINES IN THE GROUND ALL THE TIME, ESPECIALLY WITH OIL AND GAS, AND THEY DON'T HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THOSE.
>> THOSE ARE COMPANIES THAT HAVE SPECIFIC GROUPS TO SERVICE THOSE LINES WE DO NOT.
>> VERY GOOD. DAVID, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> ONE OTHER ONE. THANK YOU TESS FOR SHARE.
>> MY MAIN QUESTION IS IN THE BACKGROUND SECTION C, REQUESTING THE CHANGE OF FUNDING SOURCE FROM INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEBT SERVICE FUND AND OR CDBGMIT REIMBURSEMENT EITHER WHOLE OR PART TO BEING PAID OUT OF THE 2019 GO BOND FUND AND OR THE SAME.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME WHY IS CHANGE NEEDED AND THEN WHAT'S THE IMPACT TO THAT 2019 GO BOND FUND AS A RESULT OF THIS REQUEST?
>> [OVERLAPPING] ROB WINKY, DIRECTOR OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENGINEERING.
THE CHANGE TO SWITCH FROM INFRASTRUCTURE DEBT SERVICE FUND IS NEEDED BECAUSE THE ERP PROJECT HAS BASICALLY COMPLETED FUNDS THERE, SO WE NEED TO MOVE THIS OUT TO A PLACE WHERE WE HAVE FUNDING AVAILABLE.
THE GO BOND FUNDS ALLOW FOR US TO GO AND DO CAPITAL PROJECTS,
[01:10:04]
AND WE HAVE A AVAILABLE BALANCE IN THERE TO GO AHEAD AND COVER THIS COST.>> YOU HAVE AN AVAILABLE BALANCE, BUT WHAT'S THE IMPACT TO THE FUND? IN OTHER WORDS, HOW FAR? YOU'VE GOT ENOUGH MONEY IN THERE, OBVIOUSLY.
>> WE'VE GOT SUFFICIENT MONEY IN THERE.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S ENOUGH MONEY IN THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COVER OTHER ITEMS.
>> WE TRACK ALL THE DIFFERENT PROJECTS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE FOLLOWING WITHIN RANGE.
>> WE'VE COVERED EVERYTHING THAT WAS IN THE INSURANCE. THIS IS ADDITION.
>>> VERY GOOD, THAT'S WHAT I MEAN IN HERE.
>> IT'S JUST NOT A TRANSFER OF A JOB.
>> THANK YOU, ROB. APPRECIATE IT.
>> GOT ONE QUICK THING. A LOT OF MY QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED.
BRIAN, GOOD JOB ON THE FIRE CONTRACT.
THAT'S TAKEN A LITTLE WHILE TO WRESTLE THAT ONE TO THE GROUND, BUT I THINK WE'RE REALLY GOOD.
>> WHILE WE'RE ON THERE, DO YOU MIND IF I ASK A QUESTION TOO? THAT'S 11A I, THINK ON OUR AGENDA.
BRIAN, THAT CONTRACT, THOSE PAY INCREASES START JANUARY 1, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> FEBRUARY 1. WE CANNOT LEGALLY RETRACT IF WE PAY.
>> SO THE PAY INCREASES START FEBRUARY.
>> THEY'LL START IN THE NEXT PAY PERIOD, WHENEVER THE NEXT PAY PERIOD IS THAT FOR THIS?
>> WHY CAN'T YOU RETRACT A PAY?
>> THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING IN HOUSTON WITH THEIR POLICE FORCE.
>> RETROACTIVE PAY IS NOT SUPPORTED BY THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION.
>> RETROACTIVE PAY IS IN VIOLATION OF THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION.
>> THE NEXT PAY PERIOD BEGINS JANUARY 27.
[INAUDIBLE] HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.
>> BRIAN, THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS, EVERYTHING.
>> YES. IT'S ACTUALLY IN THE CONTRACT THAT IT WILL BEGIN THE NEXT PAY PERIOD AFTER IT'S APPROVED.
>> SURE. ALL I WAS SAYING IS A GOOD JOB GETTING THAT BECAUSE I THINK WE'VE GOT GOOD AGREEMENTS WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE UNION, AND OUR FIRE UNION.
I THINK WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE, OUGHT TO BE.
>> THEY'RE BOTH CERTAINLY SOME OF THE HIGHEST PAID IN THE STATE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] BEEN AROUND SIX YEARS.
>> [LAUGHTER] IT'S BEEN A LONG SIX YEARS.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO GO A LONG WAY TO RETENTION.
THERE'S SOME GOOD PEOPLE IN THOSE DEPARTMENTS.
>> LET ME QUALIFY THAT, THEY'RE HIGHEST PAID FOR A MINUTE BECAUSE OTHERS, IT CHANGES DAILY.
>> SO I DIDN'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, MAYOR.
THANKS. THE OTHER THING, IN LOOKING THROUGH THIS, THE CAUSEWAY WATER LINE, THE 14TH STREET PUMP STATION, THE JUSTICE GRANT, THE POTENTIAL OF THE FIRE STATION PARTNERING WITH UTMV AND THE TDM GRANT ON THE WATER TANK.
THAT'S ALL SOMEBODY ELSE'S MONEY.
THAT'S ALL COMING FROM SOME PLACE THAT ISN'T DIRECTLY OUT OF THAT.
IT'S ALL PUBLIC MONEY, BUT IT IS NOT COMING DIRECTLY OUT OF THE POCKETS OF THE CITIZENS OF GALVESTONE.
THANK YOU, TESSA. WE'RE LEVERING A LOT OF OUTSIDE GOVERNMENT FUNDS.
>> IN MY 30 YEARS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, OF WHICH MOST OF IT HAS BEEN WITH TESSA, HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.
WE HAVE A NEW FIRE STATION, WE HAD NO LOCAL MONEY IN, WE HAVE A NEW PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY.
THIS IS WHAT I'VE ALWAYS TRIED TO DO.
>> WHAT DO YOU HAVE LOCAL MONEY IN? THAT'S JUST COMING OUT OF THE PEOPLE'S POCKETS, NOT THE GENERAL FUND.
>> THE DEFINITION OF LOCAL MONEY IS LOCAL TAX MONEY.
>> THE OTHER THING IS THE ONE ITEM RIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TONIGHT'S AGENDA IS THE CADBOARD.
>> WE HAVE SOMEBODY IN MINNESOTA SHARING THE COST.
>> THE CADBOARD, ARE THESE THE GUYS THAT HEAR THE APPEALS FROM APPRAISALS AND THAT KIND OF THING.
>> THESE ARE THE GUYS WHO SET THE APPRAISAL AMOUNTS.
SO WHO HEARS THE APPEALS AND SAYS, FINE, PUBLIC PROPERTY IS NOT PRIVATE PROPERTY. YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY TAX?
>> [OVERLAPPING] YOU COULD APPLY FOR THAT.
>> YEAH. [OVERLAPPING] I MIGHT JUST DO THAT.
>> I THINK WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF BUMPS TO PAY FOR THOSE ORDERS.
>> YOU CAN SOMETIMES HAVE AN EXPERIENCED GROUP.
WELL, I TRY TO NEVER GO TO ARB.
>> BUT I HAVE TO ASK, MAYBE IT'S A LITTLE OFF TOPIC, BUT WHO'S ARB?
>> I KNOW THAT. THANK YOU, BUT I'M SAYING, HOW ARE THEY APPOINTED? WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?
>> I THINK THEY'RE APPOINTED BY THE CADBOARD.
>> I THINK THEY APPLY AND THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE EXPERIENCE. IT'S REALTOR.
>> THERE'S DIFFERENT SUBGROUPS IN THERE TOO.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THEY SIT UP THERE EVERY DAY AND LISTEN TO PEOPLE COMPLAIN.
>> YOU SHOULD DO THAT. GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO DO.
>> I SAY OUR REPRESENTATIVE, BUT IS TOM FARMER.
[01:15:01]
>> WHICH, BY THE WAY, I TALKED TO TOM EACH YEAR WHEN THIS COMES UP AND THANK GOODNESS THAT HE WANTS TO [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'RE HAVING TOM ALSO STAY INVOLVED.
>> I JUST PUT MY TWO CENTS ON CAD, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MAYOR. THANK YOU.
>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS LEFT.
>> 10A [INAUDIBLE] SALES, WE'RE CHANGING OUR ORDINANCE ON THAT ONE.
>> HOW MUCH REVENUE DID WE BRING IN ON THAT? [OVERLAPPING] JUST OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD THAT, SHEILA.
>> IT'S TYPICALLY BEEN ABOUT 70, 75,000, AND THAT'S GOING TO DECREASE BY ABOUT 43,000-50,000 AS A RESULT OF THIS.
AND WE RETAIN THOSE REGISTRATIONS THAT DON'T SERVE FOOD AND DON'T HAVE A HEALTH DISTRICT PERMIT, AND SO WE RETAIN A SMALL PORTION OF THAT, BUT THE MAJORITY OF IT WILL NOT BE COMING TO THE CITY ANYMORE.
>> I'LL MAKE A REVENUE UP UNTIL NOW.
>> SO THAT MEANS THAT'S WHY WE SERVE FOOD HERE.
SO WHEN WE SELL ALCOHOL DURING THE MEETING.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THE BAR.
>> 11C, THIS TEXAS CLASS INVESTMENT.
WHAT IS THAT? THAT'S ANOTHER SHEILA QUESTION.
>> CURRENTLY THE CITY IN TWO LOCAL GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT POOLS.
WE ARE IN LOGIC AND WE ARE IN TEXT POOL, AND WE ARE ADDING THIS THIRD LOCAL GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT POOL.
THESE ARE ALL LIQUID FUNDS, AND THEY ARE HELD TO DOLLAR VALUE AND THEY TRACK WITH THE TREASURY.
SO RIGHT NOW, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS OUR INTEREST WAS SO HIGH THIS LAST YEAR, IS RIGHT NOW ABOUT 65%-70% OF OUR INVESTING IS DONE THROUGH LOCAL GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT POOLS.
AND IT MEANS THE MONEY IS AVAILABLE TO US AT ANY TIME.
THAT'S THE KIND OF LIQUIDITY THAT ANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ANY GOVERNMENT WANTS TO SEE.
WHEN WE NEED IT, IT'S AVAILABLE TO US, BUT WHEN THE INTEREST RATES ARE 5%, THEN WE GET TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
WHEN THERE IS ZERO, IT'S NOT AS GOOD FOR US, [LAUGHTER] BUT THIS PAST YEAR HAS BEEN GREAT, AND THIS WILL ALLOW US TO DIVERSIFY THAT PORTFOLIO A LITTLE.
AND OUR PLAN IS TO SPLIT THAT 70% THREE WAYS.
>> ABSOLUTELY IN SUPPORT OF THAT. ABSOLUTELY. YEAH.
>> JUST I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT BEFORE, SO I ASK QUESTIONS.
AND THEN THE FORMS WERE JUST HAND FILLED OUT AND THE MAYOR'S SIGNATURE'S ON THE BOTTOM THERE.
AND I THOUGHT THAT MIGHT BE ONE OF THOSE FRAUD EMAILS AGAIN.
>> GOOD THING YOU CHECK, JOHN.
>> [OVERLAPPING] ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU, SHEILA.
I CAN'T GO WITHOUT BRINGING UP 11K, THE AIRPORT LEASE AGREEMENT.
>> THAT'S YOUR SUGGESTION THAT WE'RE GOOD.
>> THIS IS DEFINITELY ONE OF MY SUGGESTIONS, BUT I WOULD LIKE MORE ON THIS.
OUR CURRENT "POLICY", I PUT IN QUOTATIONS IS THAT WE HAVE BOUGHT SEVERAL HANGERS FROM PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS EITHER BECAUSE THEY'RE COMING TO THE END OF THE LEASE AGREEMENT OR THEY WANT TO SELL THEM AND SO THE AIRPORT HAS PURCHASED THOSE HANGERS AT APPRAISED VALUE AND IT'S BEEN BENEFICIAL TO THE AIRPORT BECAUSE WE NEED REVENUE, AS WE ALL KNOW, IT'S ENTERPRISE FUND, DOESN'T GET ANY TAX DOLLARS, THEY HAVE TO BRING IN THEIR OWN REVENUE.
OUR LEASE AGREEMENT, I THINK, HAS BEEN AN ISSUE OF NOT HAVING DEVELOPMENT AT THE AIRPORT BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE THINGS IN OUR LEASE AGREEMENT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS BEING CHANGED HERE THAT'S IN FRONT OF US IS THAT THEY ARE REMOVING A PROVISION IN THERE THAT BASICALLY SAYS WHEN A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL SELLS THEIR HANGER, THEY HAVE TO PAY THE CITY ANYWHERE FROM 10-20% OF THE SALES PRICE AT THE TIME OF CLOSING, SO AN INDIVIDUAL GOES OUT THERE AND SIGNS A LEASE AGREEMENT, BILLS A HANGER, IF THEY WANT TO SELL THAT HANGER, THEY GOT TO PAY THE CITY A COMMISSION BASICALLY.
THE THING THAT I DON'T LIKE ABOUT OUR LEASE AGREEMENT IS THAT THERE IS, IS IT CALLED A REVERSION CLAUSE?
>> REVERSION CLAUSE IN THERE THAT BASICALLY SAYS AT THE END OF THE AGREEMENT, THE CITY RETAINS ALL IMPROVEMENTS THAT THE PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL HAS PLACED ON THE PROPERTY.
>> IMPROVEMENTS MEANING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, OR WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, JOHN?
>> ANY IMPROVEMENTS, YOU GO OUT THERE, YOU LEASE A PIECE OF PROPERTY FROM THE CITY, AND YOU BUILD A HANGER AT THE END OF THE SAY, 20-YEAR LEASE AGREEMENT, THE CITY HAS A RIGHT JUST TO SAY, NO, I'M NOT GOING TO RENEW YOUR LEASE, I'M GOING TO KEEP WHAT'S ON THE PROPERTY.
I PERSONALLY THINK THAT IS HINDERING DEVELOPMENT OUT THERE.
[01:20:04]
WHAT THAT BASICALLY IS, IS A PREPAID LEASE.THE INDIVIDUAL PUTS DOWN THE MONEY, DAY 1 FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS, AND THEN THEY BASICALLY LEASE THE LAND AND GET ZERO AT THE END OF THE DAY.
I THINK THAT IS HINDERING DEVELOPMENT OUT THERE.
NOBODY WANTS TO GO OUT THERE, PRE-PAY FOR A LEASE, PUT THE MONEY UP DAY 1, THEY'D RATHER THE CITY JUST BUILD HANGERS AND THEY'D LEASE THEM FROM THEM AND THEN YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO SPEND TWO, $300,000, DAY 1.
YOU JUST PAY YOUR MONTHLY LEASE AGREEMENT.
>> IS THAT TOPIC IN THIS AGENDA ITEM?
>> IF WE WANT TO DISCUSS THAT, WE SURELY CAN.
>> THAT WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION, IS THAT WE DEFER THIS WORKSHOP AT THE NEXT MEETING, AND THEN SEE IF WE WANT TO PUT THAT IN THERE.
>> I WILL TELL YOU THAT IS HIGHLY CUSTOMARY IN GOVERNMENTAL LEASES THAT THE PROPERTY REVERTS TO THE OWNER BECAUSE WE CANNOT SELL THE UNDERLYING PROPERTY IN FEE.
OTHERWISE, YOU'RE GIVING UP THE USE OF THAT PROPERTY IN PERPETUITY WITH A GUARANTEE.
>> THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SUGGESTING AT ALL THOUGH BECAUSE OUR POLICY HAS BEEN THAT WE ACTUALLY PAY INDIVIDUALS FOR THEIR HANGER.
WE'VE NEVER USED A REVERSION CLAUSE FOR ONE.
>> MAY I? EVERY LEASE ON EVERY HANGER BUILT OUT THERE OTHER THAN MAYBE ONE HAS A REVERSION CLAUSE.
>> THAT'S WHY I SAID WE'VE NEVER USED IT AND THE PRECEDENTS THAT WE HAVE SET IS THAT WE HAVE BOUGHT HANGERS FROM PEOPLE, SO AT THE END OF THEIR LEASE, WE HAVE PAID THEM THE APPRAISED VALUE.
>> NOT AT THE END OF THEIR LEASE.
>> NO. DURING THOSE. OF COURSE, NOT THE [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'VE PAID THEM THE APPRAISED VALUE BASED ON THE AMOUNT LEFT ON THEIR LEASE, NOT BASED ON THE IMPROVED VALUE OF THE PROPERTY.
>> I HAVEN'T GOT THE APPRAISAL ONE OF THOSE LEASES, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE THEM. SEE IF THAT'S RIGHT.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT, BUT IT COULD BE.
WE JUST PAID OVER ALMOST $600,000 FOR A HANGER WITH HOW MANY YEARS ON THE LEASE? JAMES HENDERSON'S.
>> I WANTED TO SAY THAT HAD ABOUT 25 YEARS LEFT BECAUSE TWO HANGERS ARE IN AN OFFICE SPACE, 25 YEAR LEASE.
>> WE'RE LOOKING, I THINK YOU'RE NEGOTIATION ON PURCHASING A HANGAR RIGHT NOW?
>> YOU'RE NOT TALKING TO ANYBODY ABOUT PURCHASING A HANGER?
>> ONE OF THE HANGERS THAT'S OUT THERE, YOU SEEN ANY OF THEM?
>> NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF [LAUGHTER]
>> WE'VE DONE IT TWO TIMES NOW.
AGAIN, I THINK IT IS HINDERING DEVELOPMENT AT THE AIRPORT.
I THINK I THINK WE COULD BE A MUCH MORE PROSPEROUS AIRPORT BY RESTRUCTURING OUR LEASE AGREEMENT TO PROMOTE PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS TO DEVELOP OUR AIRPORT.
>> FORGIVE ME, WHICH ITEM IS THIS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT?
>> 11 K. JOHN, IF YOU'LL BRING THAT FORWARD WHEN WE VOTE ON THAT THIS AFTERNOON AND YOU CAN MAKE YOUR CASE FOR THE DEFERRAL OF THAT.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
>> COUNCIL WILL TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AND VOTE ACCORDINGLY THEN.
>> SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU, MIKE. ANYTHING ELSE, JOHN?
>> I JUST HAVE ONE MORE, THE 11V, THE TEXTILE ROAD CLOSURE AGREEMENT.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE SIGN EVERY YEAR? AND SO WHAT DOES THAT GIVES US?
>> BECAUSE IT GIVES US PERMISSION TO SHUT BROADWAY DOWN SO THE PARADES CAN CROSS IT.
>> OH, THAT'S IT. I'VE WRITTEN INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE, SAYING THAT WE HAVE AGREEMENT WITH TEXTILE NOT TO SHUT DOWN THE HIGHWAY.
>> WE HAVE OTHER PARADES CROSS BROADWAY AND YOU WILL OFTEN SEE ME OUT THERE DURING THESE PARADES, AND COME ON, GET TO GO, GET TO GO BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE THESE AGREEMENTS.
BUT MARDI GRAS, THOSE PARADES ARE SO LONG AND WE HAVE THE STREET CLOSED FOR SUCH A LONG PERIOD OF TIME WHEN WE ACTUALLY PUT UP DETOURS, THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO GET TO TEXTILE.
WE DON'T NECESSARILY GET ROAD CLOSURES.
>> SO CAN WE ADD TO THIS ROAD CLOSURE THAT THEY GIVE US AT LEAST TWO WEEKS NOTICE WHEN THEY'RE CLOSING THE ROADS?
>> I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THIS TOO?
>> ACTUALLY THEY GIVE US TWO WEEKS NOTICE AND THEN DON'T DO IT AND THEN GIVE US ONE WEEK NOTICE THAT THEY ARE DOING IT, BUT [OVERLAPPING] GIVEN THE WEATHER AND EVERYTHING, I THINK I GET WHY THEIR SCHEDULES ARE MESSED UP.
>> IS THERE ANY SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND ROAD CLOSURES MIGHT BE A LITTLE OFF TOPIC, BUT I'M JUST GOING TO SAY IT OUT LOUD, IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO? BECAUSE THERE'S A TON OF CONSTRUCTION GOING ON RIGHT NOW AND WE HAVE SEEN BACK UPS AFTER BACK UPS ON TRYING TO GET OFF THE ISLAND.
YOU GOT ANOTHER ONE COMING THIS WEEKEND, AND IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE WHEN TEXTILE ACTUALLY GETS ON THE ISLAND AND START 61ST,
[01:25:03]
61ST STREET, TEARING DOWN OVERPASSES.WE DO HAVE SOME WEEKENDS THAT WE HOLD SACRED THE MARDI GRAS WEEKENDS, 4TH OF JULY, THE BIG WEEKENDS.
BUT EVEN AS YOU KNOW, I AM VERY FORTUNATE THAT ELIZA STILL TALKS TO ME AFTER THE MOTHER'S DAY DEBACLE.
HE SNUCK THAT IN ON THE AGENDA.
SO LET'S MOVE FORWARD WITH AGENDA ITEMS.
>> BUT WE ALWAYS REGISTER OUR THOUGHTS.
NOW, WHETHER THEY GET LISTENED TO OR NOT, THAT'S A DIFFERENT TOPIC.
>> ALL IN MY QUESTION IS THERE.
>> I DON'T THINK HE WAS THE ONE THAT HE ACTUALLY BROUGHT UP REGARDING THE CLOSING FOR PARADE CROSSING.
WHAT WOULD BE THE PROCESS IF THAT PARADE IS NOT LISTED THERE? AND I HEARD YOU SAY YOU MANUALLY GET OUT THERE AND CROSS.
>> MY QUESTION IS WHAT IF IT BECOMES ONE, A MAJOR JUNETEENTH PARADE, DO YOU HAVE TO GO BACK?
>> [OVERLAPPING] NEXT OR WHATEVER.
THE MLK PARADE CROSSES, USUALLY IN TWO LIGHT CYCLES.
IF WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE IT LIKE WHEN WE CLOSE BROADWAY FOR MARDI GRAS, WE CLOSE IT IN ADVANCE OF THE PARADE AND THEN WE GIVE TIME FOR THE PEOPLE TO CLEAR, IS A MUCH LONGER CLOSURE.
I MEAN, THAT WON'T AFFECT WHAT WE WANT TO DO AT JUNE 10TH?
>> I JUST WANT TO KNOW THE PROCEDURE.
>> EXACTLY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL, OF QUESTIONS ONLY?
>> VERY GOOD. I'M NOT GOING TO BRING UP ANY QUESTIONS I HAVE.
LET'S MOVE FORWARD TO ITEM 3B IF WE COULD PLEASE.
[3.B. Discussion Of Proposed Amendments To Chapter 18 “Property Maintenance Code” Of The Code Of The City Of Galveston To Modify Requirements For The Wildflower Exemption As Developed By The Tree Committee's Wildflower Subcommittee And Staff’s Recommendation. (Staff - 15 Min)]
>> ITEM 3B. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS [NOISE] TO CHAPTER 18, PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TO MODIFY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE WILDFLOWER EXEMPTION AS DEVELOPED BY THE TREE COMMITTEE'S WILDFLOWER SUBCOMMITTEE AND STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
>> COUNCIL, THIS IS THE SUBJECT.
>> WE JUST NEED A MINUTE TO GET OUR POWERPOINT UP.
THANK YOU FOR SITTING ON THIS.
THERE WAS LOTS OF MEETINGS ON THIS.
COUNSEL, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SUBJECTS THAT, ON THE SURFACE, LOOKS LIKE IT WOULD BE A VERY SIMPLE SUBJECT TO ADDRESS AND TURNED INTO HAVING A LOT OF RAMIFICATIONS THROUGHOUT THE LDRS AND BECAME MORE COMPLEX THAN I THINK ALL OF US WOULD LIKE TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH.
BEFORE WE START, I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN BOUVIER.
I THINK YOU BIRD DOG THIS THROUGH COUNCILMAN BOUVIER.
I WANT TO THANK THE TREE COMMITTEE.
YOU GUYS DID SUCH A GOOD JOB ON MEETING AND BRINGING THIS TOGETHER.
KATHERINE IS GOING TO MENTION THIS HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS.
I WANT TO SAY, KATHERINE, I'M GOING TO MAKE THIS STATEMENT.
PLEASE CORRECT ME. I THINK THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION THAT HAS BEEN ENDORSED BY CITY STAFF AS WELL AS THE TREE COMMITTEE IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
ALSO, WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE CITY MARSHALS ON THE ENFORCEMENT AND WHAT THEIR INPUT WAS ON IT AND THEY'RE ON BOARD ALSO.
VERY GOOD. GO RIGHT AHEAD, KATHERINE.
I'M KATHERINE GORMAN. I'M THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
ALSO HERE TODAY IS NANCY GREENFIELD.
SHE IS THE CHAIR OF THE TREE COMMITTEE, SO SHE'S HERE REPRESENTING THE TREE COMMITTEE.
ALISON O'DONNELL, WHO IS THE CHAIR OF THE WILDFLOWER SUBCOMMITTEE, SENDS HER REGRETS THAT SHE HAD AN APPOINTMENT THAT SHE COULD NOT MISS.
AS THE MAYOR WAS SAYING, THIS TASK WAS TAKEN ON BY THE TREE COMMITTEE AT THE REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL.
THE TREE COMMITTEE THEN CREATED A SUBCOMMITTEE TO SEEK PUBLIC COMMENT AND TO DRAFT CHANGES.
THE WILDFLOWER SUBCOMMITTEE MET SEVEN TIMES FROM AUGUST TO NOVEMBER, WORKING TO DRAFT THESE CHANGES THAT WE'RE REVIEWING TODAY.
THEY VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO THE TREE COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO THE COUNCIL OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION WITH SOME CHANGES THAT WERE PROPOSED BY STAFF.
SO WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE NOW.
THIS STARTS WITH HIGH WEEDS AND GRASS.
THAT'S A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT RECEIVED THROUGH THE CITY MARSHAL'S OFFICE THAT IS DEFINED AS UNCULTIVATED VEGETATIVE GROWTH HIGHER THAN 9 INCHES IN HEIGHT.
[01:30:05]
BUT THE CODE ALSO ALLOWS FOR THIS EXEMPTION THAT'S BEEN CALLED THE WILDFLOWER EXEMPTION.THAT ALLOWS FOR VEGETATIVE GROWTH TO EXCEED THAT 9 INCHES IN HEIGHT.
THE COMMITTEE STARTED BY TAKING PUBLIC INPUT AND DEVELOPING IDENTIFYING CURRENT ISSUES WITH THE CURRENT EXEMPTION PROGRAM, SO THOSE ARE LISTED FOR YOU ON THE POWERPOINT, THEY INCLUDE A LIMITED PERMITTING PERIOD.
CURRENTLY, THE PERMITTING IT IS ONLY IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY.
NEWLY ACQUIRED PROPERTY OWNERS CANNOT GET AN EXEMPTION IF THEY PURCHASE PROPERTY OUTSIDE OF THE PERMITTING PERIOD.
THERE'S NO DEFINITION OF UNCULTIVATED IN THE WEED DEFINITION, WHICH LEADS IT UP TO THE INTERPRETATION OF THE CITY MARSHAL'S OFFICE.
THE REQUIRED BUFFERS MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR ALL LOT SIZES.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF SLIDES THAT ARE GOING TO ILLUSTRATE THESE BUFFERS.
IT DOESN'T ADDRESS OTHER TYPES OF NATIVE PLANTS SUCH AS DUNE PLANTS AND WETLANDS DOESN'T ADDRESS SPECIES TO BE GROWN, INVASIVE AND NON-INVASIVE PLANTS AND THE RIGHT OF WAY.
THE COMMITTEE TALKED ABOUT ALL OF THESE THINGS AND THEN DIVIDED THEM INTO 22 GROUPS.
ONE GROUP IS THE CODE REVISIONS AND THEN ANOTHER GROUP IS THINGS THAT WILL BE REVIEWED AND ADDRESSED DURING AN EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT THAT WILL COME AFTER THE COUNCIL ADOPTS THE NEW REGULATIONS.
THE SUMMARY OF THE REVISIONS, THE FIRST IS A CHANGE OF TERMINOLOGY FROM WILDFLOWER EXEMPTION TO PLANNED NATURAL LANDSCAPE THAT IS TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE AND TO INCLUDE THESE OTHER TYPES OF NATIVE PLANTS, NOT JUST SPECIFIC TO WILDFLOWERS.
INCLUDE A DEFINITION OF UNCULTIVATED TO BE CLASSIFIED AS A WEED, VEGETATIVE GROWTH HAS TO BE BOTH GREATER THAN 9 INCHES AND UNCULTIVATED.
THE INCLUSION OF A DEFINITION WILL HELP REDUCE SUBJECTIVITY IN THE WEED DETERMINATION PROCESS.
INCLUDE WORDING THAT STATES THAT THE EXEMPTION ALLOWS FOR GROWTH GREATER THAN 9 INCHES.
WE ALL KNEW WHAT THE EXEMPTION WAS, BUT IT ACTUALLY WASN'T IN THE CODE.
THE PURPOSE IS TO ALLOW THAT NINE-INCH HEIGHT TO BE EXCEEDED.
EXPAND THE PERMITTING PERIOD FROM JANUARY ONLY TO JANUARY AND FEBRUARY.
SO TO GIVE AN ADDITIONAL MONTH FOR PROPERTY OWNERS TO GET THE EXEMPTION, BUT THEN ALSO TO ALLOW NEW PROPERTY OWNERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO RECEIVE THE EXEMPTION WITHIN 60 DAYS OF PURCHASING THEIR PROPERTY.
THAT'S TO ALLOW FOR SOME MORE FLEXIBILITY WHILE STILL REQUIRING THAT PEOPLE SHOW THAT THEY INTEND TO DO THIS AND IT'S NOT JUST A LOOPHOLE.
ESTABLISH A PERMIT FEE OF $250.
THIS IS ONLY FOR PROPERTIES WITH ACTIVE HIGH WEEDS AND GRASS VIOLATIONS.
THIS IS TO DISCOURAGE PROPERTY OWNERS FROM USING THE EXEMPTION AS A LOOPHOLE.
THEY GET A HIGH REEDS AND GRASS VIOLATION.
THEY COME DOWN TO THE CITY HALL, THEY GET A PLANT NATURAL LANDSCAPE EXEMPTION.
IT MAKES THE VIOLATION GO AWAY. WE DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.
REDUCE THE REQUIRED BUFFERS FROM A MINIMUM OF 36 INCHES TO 18 INCHES.
THIS ALIGNS WITH THE TYPICAL WIDTH OF A LAWN MOWER AND INCREASES THE AREA AVAILABLE FOR NATURAL LANDSCAPE GROWTH.
THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES WILL ILLUSTRATE THESE, PROVIDE MORE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE ON THE LOCATION AND ALLOWABLE ITEMS WITHIN THE BUFFERS, AND INCLUDE WORDING THAT ALLOWS ALLOWABLE MATERIALS WITHIN THE REQUIRED BUFFERS.
DO YOU WANT US TO HOLD OUR QUESTIONS? UP TO YOU.
THE FIRST THING ON ESTABLISH A PERMIT FEE OF $250 FOR PROPERTIES WITH AN ACTIVE HIGH WEED AND GRASS VIOLATION TO DISCOURAGE PROPERTY OWNERS FROM USING THE EXEMPTION PROCESS TO AVOID LOSS OF GRASS.
BRIAN, WHAT DO WE ASSESS PEOPLE IF WE GO OUT AND MOW MY NEIGHBOR'S OR A PERSON'S GRASS? YES, IT DEPENDS ON THE SIZE OF THE YARD AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
BUT IF WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH AN OUTSIDE VENDOR THAT GOES AND DOES IT, WE ASSESS THAT LIEN PLUS PENALTIES AND INTEREST.
IF SOMEBODY COMES DOWN HERE AND PAYS THEIR $250 AND GETS A HIGH GRASS EXEMPTION THAT THEY NEVER HAVE TO MOW IT AGAIN? FOR A YEAR.
WELL, NO, THERE'S STILL MAINTENANCE ON IT.
YOU HAVE TO DO THE PERIMETER MOWING.
YOU STILL HAVE TO MAINTAIN THE PERIMETER AROUND THE BUILDING ITSELF OR AROUND THE PROPERTY.
THERE IS MAINTENANCE THAT HAS TO HAPPEN.
SO IF THEY DON'T DO THE REST OF THAT AND THEY DON'T FOLLOW THEIR PLAN THAT THEY TURN IN, THEN THEY'RE STILL IN VIOLATION.
I JUST KNOW THAT THIS IS USING IT AS A WAY TO AVOID THE GRASSES.
OH, I'M SORRY, DONNA. GO AHEAD.
COUNSEL, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO IT YET, BUT ONE OF THE REVISIONS TO THE ORDINANCE IS THAT YOU CAN ONLY GET THIS EXEMPTION IN THE MONTHS OF JANUARY AND FEBRUARY.
IF YOU GET A VIOLATION IN MARCH, APRIL, AND MAY, YOU CANNOT THEN COME BACK AND GET THIS PERMIT.
YOU WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE FOLLOWING JANUARY OR FEBRUARY.
>> HIGH WEEDS AND GRASS IN JUNE OR JULY OR AUGUST, YOU'RE STILL GOING TO GET A VIOLATION AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CORRECT IT.
[01:35:03]
>> MIKE'S ANSWER IS GOOD, THANKS A LOT.
>> I HAD A QUESTION KATHERINE WEBER.
THE $250 FEE IS ONLY CHARGED IF THEY HAVE A VIOLATION THAT'S OUT THERE.
>> AN ACTIVE VIOLATION THAT'S NOT BEEN RESOLVED.
MY QUESTION IS IT SEEMS LIKE IN THE ORDINANCE, IT WAS NOT ONLY AN ACTIVE VIOLATION OF HIGH WEEDS AND GRASS, IT WAS ANY NUISANCE, IS THAT CORRECT? LIKE IF THEY HAVE A VIOLATION OF SOMETHING ELSE, THAT'S A NUISANCE VIOLATION, WILL THAT IMPACT THIS?
>> I THINK IT WAS SPECIFIC TO HIGH WEEDS AND GRASS.
>> FOR SOME REASON I THOUGHT IT WAS.
>> THERE'S A DEFINITION OF A NUISANCE AND THAT A PERSON CANNOT CREATE A NUISANCE ON THEIR PROPERTY.
THAT'S GENERALLY IN THE CODE ANYWAY.
IF THERE'S A SEPARATION OF WHAT A NUISANCE IS, YOU CAN'T PUT A REFRIGERATOR OUT THERE, YOU CAN'T LITTER OUT THERE.
THAT'S A SEPARATE TYPE OF VIOLATION IF WE'RE ONLY DEALING WITH, I HATE TO KEEP SAYING HIGH WEEDS AND GRASS, BUT IT'S A PLANNED NATURAL LANDSCAPE ISSUE, THEN THAT'S A PLANNED NATURAL LANDSCAPE ISSUE.
>> NUISANCE VIOLATIONS THAT AFFECT THE PERMITTING FEE ONLY ARE OF HIGH WEEDS AND GRASS?
>> A NUISANCE VIOLATION WOULD IDENTIFY IF SOMEONE GETS A CITATION IT'S IDENTIFYING WHAT THE NUISANCE IS.
>> BUT IF THEY HAVE A NUISANCE VIOLATION THAT'S ACTIVE OUT THERE THAT FOR PUTTING A REFRIGERATOR OUT ON THE OPTION, DOES THAT AFFECT THEIR PERMIT FEE OF 250?
>> [INAUDIBLE] ASKING QUESTIONS. THE 250, SO IF SOMEBODY HAS A HIGH WEED AND GRASS VIOLATION, THEY COME IN AND THEY WANT TO PERMIT, THEY CAN ONLY GET A PERMIT BETWEEN THE MONTHS OF?
>> JANUARY AND FEBRUARY. THE COMMITTEE WORKED WITH US ON THAT BECAUSE MARCH IS HISTORICALLY OUR HIGH COMPLAINT MONTH BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE CLOVER COMES UP AND EVERYTHING ELSE AND THAT'S WHEN EVERYBODY STARTS TURNING THEIR NEIGHBORS IN FOR THEIR HIGH GRASS AND STUFF, SO WE FELT THAT NARROWING THAT WINDOW WOULD STOP ANYBODY FROM MAYBE NOT DOING IT WITH INTENT.
>> SAY IT IS MARCH, THEY DON'T MOW THE GRASS.
THEY GET A VIOLATION. THEY CAN'T EVEN COME IN AND GET A PERMIT UNTIL JANUARY 1ST, THE NEXT YEAR?
>> THEY STILL HAVE THAT VIOLATION FROM JANUARY 1ST, THEN THEY HAVE TO PAY THE 250?
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO I MEAN, IT WILL HAVE BEEN RESOLVED BY COMPLIANCE WITHIN THAT PERIOD.
THERE'S GOING TO BE AN OPEN VIOLATION FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
>> IT HAS TO BE AN ACT OF VIOLATION, SO HOPEFULLY, LIKE YOU SAID, THEY PAID IT AND IT'S NOT AN ACT OF VIOLATION IF THEY DIDN'T PAY IT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DO WITH SOMEBODY THAT DOESN'T PAY A VIOLATION.
>> WHEN WOULD THEY ACTUALLY HAVE TO PAY THAT 250?
>> LET'S SAY THEY GOT ONE IN DECEMBER AND THEY DIDN'T RESOLVE IT AND THEY SAY, OH, I'M JUST GOING TO GO GET THIS EXEMPTION, THEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY.
>> OKAY. I GOT YOU. REAL SCENARIOS.
>> IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE USED RARELY.
>> I'M STILL CONFUSED EVEN TO DAVID'S QUESTION.
>> SOMEBODY JUST DOESN'T WANT TO MOW THEIR GRASS.
THEY CAN COME IN IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, PAY THIS 250 AND NOT HAVE TO MOW THE GRASS?
>> NO. THAT WAS WHAT MIKE'S ANSWER WAS ADDRESSING, THERE'S STILL BOUNDARY MAINTENANCE.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY CAN'T HAVE HIGH GRASS.
>> THEY WILL STILL GET A VIOLATION.
>> ALSO THERE'S A KEYWORD IN HERE THAT SAYS CULTIVATED.
THIS HAS TO BE AN ACTUAL PLAN, NOT JUST YOU'RE JUST GROWING HIGH GRASS.
>> YEAH, THAT'S A VERY SLIPPERY SLOPE [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOU DEFINED UNCULTIVATED. YES.
>> YOU DEFINED UNCULTIVATED BUT LIKE A NUMBER OF CITIES I'VE SEEN ACTUALLY LIST WHAT CAN BE THERE?
>> NO. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE COMMITTEE TALKED A LOT ABOUT, DECIDED THAT'S MORE APPROPRIATELY DONE IN AN EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT, THAT AFTER THESE RULES ARE ADOPTED, THEN THEIR NEXT STEP WILL BE TO WORK ON INFORMATION THAT CAN BE PROVIDED.
TO PEOPLE GETTING AN EXEMPTION ABOUT WHAT THEY SHOULD BE PLANTING.
>> MY OTHER QUESTION IS, AND IF HOA HAS STRICTER REQUIREMENTS, THEY RULE OVER THIS.
>> YEAH, IF YOU HAVE A CITY EXEMPTION,
[01:40:03]
IT DOESN'T APPLY TO WHATEVER HOMEOWNER REGULATIONS THERE ARE.>> WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF SLIDES.
THESE ARE TWO MINOR REVISIONS.
A DEFINITION OF NATIVE PLANTS WHICH IS USED IN THE PLANT NATURAL LANDSCAPE DEFINITION AND THEN CHANGE TERM FROM VEGETABLE TO VEGETATIVE, IF THE CODE IS CORRECT.
>> THAT WAS FUN. I GOT [INAUDIBLE] AT THAT.
>> HERE ARE A COUPLE OF SLIDES THAT ILLUSTRATE THE BUFFERS.
SO THERE ARE A COUPLE BUFFERS REQUIRED.
THIS IS THE ONE THAT'S REQUIRED ALONG THE PERIMETER OF THE PROPERTY, ON THE INSIDE OF THE PROPERTY LINE.
THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO REDUCE THE WIDTH OF IT FROM 36 INCHES TO 18 INCHES, AND NOTE THAT CULTIVATED BEDS, SO IF YOU HAVE SOME KIND OF LANDSCAPE THAT CAN BE COUNTED TOWARDS THAT BUFFER.
>> I'VE GOT A QUESTION ABOUT THAT. CAN THE CULTIVATED BED HAVE WILDFLOWERS IN IT?
>> WELL, IF IT'S CULTIVATED BED, IT CAN HAVE PLANTS IN IT AND THE PLANTS CAN EXCEED 9 INCHES.
>> IT CAN EXCEED 9 INCHES, IT'S OKAY.
I BRING THAT UP BECAUSE THAT WAS A COMPLAINT THAT I HAD FROM A CONSTITUENT.
NOT A COMPLAINT, BUT THE CITY MARSHAL WAS GOING TO GIVE THEM A VIOLATION BECAUSE THEY HAD SOME BEDS WITH EDGING AROUND THEM ON THEIR PROPERTY LINE THAT HAD WILDFLOWERS IN THEM.
>> THE CODE IS SILENT ON WHAT GROWS INSIDE THE BED.
>> BUT CULTIVATE IT AND YOU HAVE PLANTS THAT ARE HIGHER THAN THAT, THEN THAT'S FINE.
>> THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THIS IS IT THAT THE CITY SUPPORTS THIS, BUT WE WANT PEOPLE TO DO IT WITH INTENT.
WE DON'T WANT YOU TO WALK OUT ONE DAY AND SAY, OH, GOT A FLOWER AND I GOT TO MOW.
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WANT. WE WANT PEOPLE TO DO THIS WITH INTENT.
WE WANT PEOPLE TO NURTURE AND GROW GOOD, HEALTHY WILDLIFE AREAS.
WE DON'T WANT TO DO THIS IN A WAY THAT'S DETRIMENTAL TO YOUR NEIGHBORS OR THAT'S A POP UP.
[LAUGHTER] WE WANT PEOPLE TO DO IT WITH INTENT.
>> THIS IS THE BUFFER THAT'S REQUIRED IF THERE'S NO STRUCTURE ON THE PROPERTY, THERE ARE ADDITIONAL BUFFERS THAT ARE REQUIRED IF THERE'S A STRUCTURE, IF YOU HAVE A HOUSE, THEN THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT OF BUFFERING AROUND THE HOUSE THAT'S TO PROVIDE A CLEAR PATH TO TRAVEL IF THERE'S ANY CASE OF ANY EMERGENCY.
THAT IS ALSO PROPOSED TO BE 18 INCHES AND MEASURED FROM THE STRUCTURE OR FROM CULTIVATED BEDS.
THE GOAL IS TO BE ABLE TO WALK ALL THE WAY AROUND THE HOUSE IN CASE OF ANY KIND OF AN EMERGENCY.
THERE'S ALSO A REQUIREMENT THAT THE HOUSE BE ACCESSIBLE FROM THE RIGHT OF WAY, SO THAT ONE'S A LITTLE BIT WIDER, THAT'S 36 INCHES THE WIDTH USED IN ADA AND FOR STRUCTURES THAT CAN BE IMPROVED OR PAVED PATHWAY.
IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A SIDEWALK GOING FROM THE RIGHT OF WAY TO YOUR HOUSE AND THAT'S 36 INCHES, YOU ALREADY MEET THAT REQUIREMENT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY.
THEN THERE'S ALSO A REQUIREMENT WHICH IS TIED TO THE BUFFER AROUND THE HOUSE THAT ANY UTILITIES HAVE TO BE ACCESSIBLE AND ALSO THE POSTAL SERVICE.
THE EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT, WE'VE MENTIONED A COUPLE OF TIMES.
THAT WILL BE THE SECOND PHASE THAT THE COMMITTEE WORKS ON AND TALK ABOUT APPROPRIATE SPECIES, INVASIVE AND NON INVASIVE PLANTS, AND PLANTING IN THE RIGHT OF WAY.
THANKS TO THE TREE COMMITTEE AND THE WILDFLOWER SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS, DOWN TO FAIRWEATHER IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WAS VERY HELPFUL.
CITY MARSHAL'S OFFICE BUCH STROUD, JAMES POPE, AND NIKI ALL PARTICIPATED, AND THEN MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
WE HAD A REALLY GOOD PUBLIC INPUT AND SOME DEDICATED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT FOLLOWED THE PROCESS ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
>> ONE MORE QUESTION. YOU MENTIONED THE RIGHT OF WAY SEVERAL TIMES IN EDUCATION ABOUT THE RIGHT OF WAY, NO WILDFLOWERS WITHIN THE RIGHT OF WAY?
>> THE COMMITTEE REALLY TALKED ABOUT THAT A LOT ABOUT WHETHER THE EXEMPTION SHOULD APPLY TO THE RIGHT OF WAY AND DECIDED THE ANSWER TO THAT WAS NO.
THAT IT SHOULD JUST BE THE PRIVATE PROPERTY.
>> BUT THE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER IS STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING ADJACENT RIGHT OF AWAY SO THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO KNOW THAT.
>> HOW DO YOU COMPLY WITH THAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE MARKED BOUNDARIES?
>> WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, AND YOU CAN GET A SURVEY.
EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A SURVEY.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE, YOU CAN TRY TO FIND YOUR PINS, THE CITY CAN GIVE YOU SOME GENERAL GUIDANCE ON WHERE IT IS, WE CAN'T TELL YOU FACTS.
>> SO IT'S LEFT UP TO THE PROPERTY OWNER [OVERLAPPING]
>> RIGHT, IT'S A PROPERTY OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY.
>> JUST LIKE IF YOU WERE GOING TO BUILD A FENCE. IS THAT IN THE ORDINANCE?
>> NO, IT'S NOT. THAT'S JUST OUR GENERAL PRACTICE.
>> SHOULD THAT BE IN THE ORDINANCE?
>> I DON'T THINK SO BECAUSE IT APPLIES TO SO MANY THINGS LIKE BRIAN JUST SAID, FENCES, ANY ADDITIONS YOU'RE DOING TO YOUR HOUSE.
[01:45:01]
>> THE BURDEN OF PROOF IS ON THE PROPERTY OWNER?
>> IT'S ON THE PROPERTY OWNER, YEAH.
>> I MEAN, BUT IS THAT ALREADY [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT'S UNDERSTOOD. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I THINK IS, AS YOU SAID, A GENERAL PRINCIPLE OF PRACTICE.
>> I MEAN, EDUCATION IS A BIG COMPONENT OF THAT.
I MEAN, MOST PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHERE THEIR PROPERTY STOPS AND THE RIGHT OF WAY STARTS.
SOMETIMES YOU ACTUALLY OWN INTO THE RIGHT OF WAY BUT THE CITY HAS A RIGHT OF WAY.
>> IT IS CERTAINLY A TOPIC THAT THE COMMITTEE SPENT A LOT OF TIME DISCUSSING.
>> CATHERINE CAN ASK DAVID. THANK YOU.
>> I FIRST OFF ECHO YOUR THANKS TO THE COMMITTEE.
I HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS IS WHERE IT WAS GOING TO GO WHEN I MADE THE RECOMMENDATION TO REFER IT TO THE TREE COMMITTEE, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> CATHERINE DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT WAS A GOOD THING, WE ALL WORKED WELL TOGETHER.
>> AS MIKE BOUVIER MENTIONED, THIS WAS APPROVED BY STAFF, TREE COMMITTEE, OUTSIDE NATURE OF GROUPS, PLANNING DEPARTMENT, AND OUR MARSHALS ALSO.
IT WAS A JOINT EFFORT. IT TOOK SOME TIME.
APPRECIATE IT. THANKS, CATHERINE.
>> LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 3C, PLEASE.
[3.C. Presentation And Discussion Of The Agreed-Upon Procedures Report Submitted By Whitley Penn Regarding The Processes Of The Galveston Wharves, A Component Unit Of The City Of Galveston, As Of Or For The Period Ended October 31, 2023 (C. Ludanyi - 15 Min)]
>> 3C, PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF THE AGREED UPON PROCEDURES REPORT SUBMITTED BY WHITLEY PENN, REGARDING THE PROCESSES OF THE GALVESTON WHARVES, A COMPONENT UNIT OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, AS OF OR FOR THE PERIOD ENDED OCTOBER 21ST, 2023.
>> COUNSEL, LET ME GIVE YOU MY THOUGHTS ON CLARIFICATION ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
FIRST OF ALL, IT IS ITEM 12C ON OUR AGENDA FOR THIS EVENING FOR DIRECTION BY COUNSEL OR WHATEVER THAT MAY BE.
SECOND OF ALL, THIS AUDIT, THE WAY I UNDERSTAND THIS, AND WE'LL GET A FINAL REPORT.
WE HAD MR. PATRICK SIMMONS, I THINK. IS THAT RIGHT, SIR?
>> FROM WHITLEY PENN THAT IS WITH US TODAY TO REPORT ON THIS.
WHEN WE INITIALLY DIRECTED STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS AUDIT, THEY WERE TO GIVE A REPORT BACK IN JANUARY TO US ON WHAT THE STATUS OF THIS AUDIT WAS.
THIS AUDIT, THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT, AND YOU'VE GOT A FINAL VERSION, CURRENT FINAL VERSION, OR WHERE WE ARE NOW, IT MAY NOT BE THE FINAL VERSION, CAME IN TO US THIS MORNING WHICH HAS NOT GIVEN US ANY TIME TO REVIEW THIS WHATSOEVER.
THIS IS MORE OF A STATUS UPDATE TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO GET MORE CLARIFICATION FROM MR. SIMMONS, I THINK, ON SOME NEW THINGS.
THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT, MR. SIMMONS, THE FINAL RECORD ON THIS WON'T HAPPEN UNTIL YOU CAN GET YOUR TDM INFORMATION AND ALL OF THAT.
>> OKAY. AND THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE, ARE WE SHOOTING FOR FEBRUARY, SIR, TO GET THE FINAL?
>> IT'S OUTSIDE OF MY CONTROL, BUT I'M HOPEFUL.
THEY HAVE RESPONDED, TDM HAS RESPONDED BUT THEY'RE WORKING ON IT.
THEY'RE WORKING ON THE REQUEST.
>> I'M HOPEFUL WITHIN THE NEXT 30 DAYS.
>> VERY GOOD. WELL, SAYING ALL THAT, LET'S INTRODUCE MR. SIMMONS AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, SIR.
>> THANK YOU. SO MY NAME IS PATRICK SIMMONS.
I'M THE AUDIT PARTNER ON THE CITY'S AUDIT, AND SO WE WERE ENGAGED BACK IN OCTOBER TO PERFORM THESE AGREED UPON PROCEDURES ON THE COURT'S PROCEDURES, INTERNAL CONTROLS, AND FEMA RECEIVABLES, PAYABLES, AND THE ENTIRE PROCESS THERE.
THE WAY I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR ME TO GO THROUGH THIS IS JUST A HIT ON THE RESULTS, FIRST OF ALL, REALLY HIGH LEVEL ON OUR PROCEDURES.
THE WAY THE REPORT FLOWS IS IT HAS ALL THE RESULTS UP FRONT IN OUR FINDINGS.
THEN BEHIND IT, IT GOES INTO A LOT OF DETAIL BEHIND WHAT WE DID AND THE SAMPLES WE SELECTED.
MAYBE TOO MUCH INFORMATION, BUT WE JUST PUT AS MUCH IN THERE AS WE THOUGHT WOULD BE USEFUL.
LIKE I MENTIONED, WE WERE ENGAGED BACK IN OCTOBER TO PERFORM THESE PROCEDURES.
IT WAS A TIGHT TURNAROUND WITH THE PORT SCHEDULE.
I DO APOLOGIZE FOR SENDING THAT FINAL DRAFT AND GETTING IT TO YOU ALL TODAY BUT, THE FINAL OR THE DRAFT VERSION THAT YOU ALL PREVIOUSLY MAY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REVIEW, I CAN GO THROUGH THE CHANGES SINCE THAT POINT IN TIME AS WELL.
BUT I'LL GO AHEAD AND I'LL START.
REALLY, I'M GOING TO START WITH PROCEDURE NUMBER 2 THAT'S ON PAGE 2 BECAUSE THIS MARK 2 AND 3 WILL BE FAIRLY QUICK.
THE FIRST THING WE DID IS WE MET WITH THE PORT, NOVEMBER 13TH, AND WE SAT DOWN WITH THEM, DID A WALK THROUGH AND WE DISCUSSED INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, PURCHASING, PAYROLL, HR, REALLY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DO IN A NORMAL AUDIT, FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT.
[01:50:03]
WE VERIFIED, WE SELECTED SAMPLES THERE SOME LIMITED SAMPLES, WE JUST WANTED TO GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING, MAKE SURE THAT THE PROCEDURES THAT THEY HAD DEVELOPED WERE APPROPRIATE AND PUT IN PLACE.WE SELECTED SOME RANDOM SAMPLES BUT ALSO SOME TARGETED SAMPLING BASED ON DATA ANALYTICS.
WE REALLY DIDN'T NOTE ANY EXCEPTIONS RELATED TO CONTROLS SURROUNDING THOSE AREAS.
JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE'S VARYING DEGREES OF THESE TYPES OF PROCEDURES BASED ON HOW MUCH WE'RE ENGAGED TO DIVE IN ON THOSE.
WE COULD SELECT SAMPLES OF 200 OR WE CAN SELECT SAMPLES OF FIVE.
WE REALLY JUST TOUCHED THE SURFACE HERE, BUT WE FELT OVERALL, THE CONTROLS WERE IN PLACE AND WHAT THEY DESIGNED, IT WAS APPROPRIATE AND WE CAN GET A LOT OF COMFORT JUST FROM DISCUSSING IT WITH THEM AND WALKING THROUGH A FEW TRANSACTIONS TO SEE THAT IT'S APPROPRIATE.
AFTER THAT, WE ALSO HAD SOME PROCUREMENT TESTING THAT WE DID, AND SO OUR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE DISBURSEMENTS.
WE ALSO TESTED THOSE AGAINST THEIR PROCUREMENT RULES THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO FOLLOW BASED ON THEIR LOCAL POLICY AND THEN WE SELECTED SAMPLES FOR COMPLIANCE WITH STATE PROCUREMENT AND FEDERAL PROCUREMENT.
WE DIDN'T NOTE ANY NONCOMPLIANCE AND THE ONLY THING WE NOTED THERE IS WE RECOMMENDED THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE A FORMAL DOCUMENT TO SUPPORT THE INDEPENDENT ESTIMATE AND COST OR PRICE ANALYSIS WHEN THEY SPEND OVER 250,000 IN FEDERAL AWARDS.
I WILL SAY THIS IS A COMMON RECOMMENDATION THAT WE HAVE.
IT'S A NEW REQUIREMENT SIX OR SEVEN YEARS AGO, I BELIEVE.
BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE ON FILE WHENEVER WE GO IN AND WE SELECT, MAYBE IT'S $1,000,000 FEDERAL PROCUREMENT ACTION.
WE ALWAYS ASK FOR THE INDEPENDENT ESTIMATE, AND A LOT OF TIMES WE GET THE ANSWER THAT IT WAS DONE, IT JUST WASN'T PUT ON PAPER.
BUT IT'S REQUIRED TO BE FORMAL.
IT'S REQUIRED TO BE PREPARED AND APPROVED.
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THAT IT WAS APPROVED BY SOMEBODY, AND THEY AGREED WITH THAT AS WELL.
A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE DOING IT, IT'S JUST NOT FORMAL.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING WAS A SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION FORM, SO JUST ANOTHER RECOMMENDATION.
THEY ONLY DISCLOSED TO US ONE VENDOR THAT THEY USE THAT SOLE SOURCE AND THAT IS VERY LOW BASED ON ENTITIES THAT WE SEE.
NORMALLY, THERE'S MORE THAN ONE AND THERE COULD BE IF WE REALLY LOOKED IN TO SEE 100%.
BUT THAT WAS APPROPRIATE, BUT WE RECOMMEND A FORM TO DOCUMENT WHY THEIR SOLE SOURCE TO MAKE SURE IT'S IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATE LAW.
WERE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THOSE TWO STEPS? I'LL GO BACK TO PAGE 1 IS THE PROCEDURE AND THE RESULTS ON THE FEMA RECEIVABLES AND PAYABLES.
WE STARTED OFF WITH OUR WALK-THROUGH JUST TO GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING, WE TRY TO GO BACK ALL THE WAY TO 2008 WHAT WAS THE PROCEDURE BACK THEN? ON THE RECEIVABLE SIDE, TYPICAL REIMBURSEMENT, GRANT-TYPE PROCEDURES WERE IN PLACE INITIALLY, AS YOU ALL ARE AWARE, RECORDING THE REVENUE TO MATCH EXPENDITURES FOR GRANTS AND SO THEY ENDED UP WRITING OFF A LARGE RECEIVABLE, WHICH WE NOTED WAS AN APPROPRIATE ACTION TO DO AT THAT TIME IN 2018 I BELIEVE THAT WROTE OFF THE 8.2 MILLION.
THEN AFTER REVIEWING SOME OF THEIR WORKSHOP SESSIONS AND JUST TRYING TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE TIMELINE OF EVERYTHING, THEY ALSO DISCUSSED A POTENTIAL LIABILITY AT THE COUNCIL OR THE BOARD WORKSHOP AND SO WE DID ASK ABOUT THE ASSESSMENTS THAT WERE PERFORMED.
IN THESE BOARD WORKSHOPS, BEFORE THEY ISSUED THEIR 2018 REPORT, THEY MENTIONED SOME ASSESSMENTS THAT WERE DONE BASED ON POTENTIAL LIABILITIES THAT WERE OUT THERE.
WE REQUESTED THOSE ASSESSMENTS, BUT THOSE ASSESSMENTS DID NOT EXIST SO A LIABILITY WASN'T REPORTED IN THE 2018 REPORT OR 2019 OR 2020, AND SO WE ALSO ASKED, WERE ASSESSMENTS PERFORMED IN 2019/2020, SINCE A LIABILITY WASN'T REPORTED.
AS AUDITORS, MAYBE THAT'S APPROPRIATE, BUT LET'S SEE THE AUDIT TRAIL THAT SUPPORTS THAT.
LET'S PROVE IT HOW COME IF TTM SAYS YOU HAVE ONE, WHY ISN'T IT ON YOUR BOOKS? THAT WAS OUR APPROACH.
WE DIDN'T SEE ANY OF THOSE ASSESSMENTS.
WE NOTED THE RECONCILIATION PROCEDURES WAS ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE HAD TO RECONCILE DIRECTLY TO THE TTM REPORTS THAT YOU CAN DOWNLOAD.
THIS WAS ALSO A RECOMMENDATION THAT THE CITY AUDITOR MADE
[01:55:03]
AFTER THE 2018 REPORT WAS ISSUED THAT THOSE REPORTS ARE READILY AVAILABLE.YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THEM FROM THE WEBSITE AT ANY TIME.
USE THAT TO SUPPORT IF YOU HAVE A LIABILITY OR NOT.
WE DID NOTE THAT THE NOVEMBER RECON THAT THEY PROVIDED TO US WAS BASED ON THE MAY 2023 DEMAND LETTER AND THEN THE DECEMBER WAS RECONCILED TO THE TTM DATA REPORT IT APPEARED TO BE BUT THEN IT WAS NETTED AGAINST A $300,000 PW AND OTHER PW SO WE RECOMMENDED NOT TO NET BOOK REPAYABLE AS IT IS AND DON'T REDUCE OTHER PROJECTS RECEIVABLES AGAINST IT BECAUSE YOU RUN THE RISK OF MISSING THAT REVENUE THAT YOU NEED TO REPORT ON YOUR SEFA AS WELL, SCHEDULE OF EXPENDITURES OF FEDERAL AWARDS.
THEN WHAT WE WANTED FROM TTM, THE REQUESTS THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE, TWO DIFFERENT REQUESTS.
THE FIRST REQUEST IS TO PROVIDE US WITH BASICALLY ANY CORRESPONDENCE THAT TTM MADE DISALLOWING COSTS SO WE COULD SEE HOW WERE THEY MADE AWARE? AT WHAT POINT DID THEY BECOME AWARE THAT THERE WERE POTENTIAL LIABILITIES OUT THERE? BECAUSE WITH THE LACK OF RECONCILIATION, IF THEY'RE NOT GETTING INTO THE SYSTEM AND RECONCILING, THEN THEY COULD MISS A LIABILITY.
THEN THE OTHER OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS WE HAVE IS FOR THEM TO REALLY TELL US WHAT THE LIABILITY WAS AS OF DECEMBER 31ST, 2018, 2,019, AND 2020, AND JUST SEE WHAT WAS THE BALANCE AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
ULTIMATELY, UNFORTUNATELY, WE COULD NOT REALLY CONFIRM WHAT THE TOTAL DONA REALLY WAS BUT THEY MAY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT OVER THE YEARS.
BASED ON THE DEMAND LETTER I JUST WENT THROUGH AND NOTED SOME OF THE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE ISSUES HAVE DATES ON THERE.
FOR EXAMPLE, INSURANCE REVIEW PERFORMED IN 2011 WAS DONE AND AS A RESULT, $30,000 IS DISALLOWED.
NOW, THE REVIEW MAY HAVE BEEN DONE IN 2011 THEY MAY NOT HAVE SENT THE RESULTS TO THE COURT OR THE DECISION TILL WHO KNOWS WHEN.
WE DON'T KNOW WHEN BUT BASED ON THOSE AMOUNTS FROM 2010-2014 THERE WERE ABOUT $4.2 MILLION IN DISALLOWED COSTS.
A LOT OF THAT WAS DUE TO THE INSURANCE RECOVERY AND SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT WERE DONE ON LEASE FACILITIES SO THOSE WERE DISALLOWED.
THOSE WERE THE TWO MAIN CATEGORIES.
THAT'S REALLY MY SUMMARY OF RESULTS, BIT.
>> SOME QUESTIONS. PATRICK THE DEMAND LETTER WAS IN MAY OF '23 IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THERE WAS TWO. THERE WAS ONE IN JANUARY 10TH, 2022 AND THAT WAS FOR 10.7 MILLION AND THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE ON MAY 24TH, 2023 FOR 11.4 MILLION.
>> YES, SIR. I HAVE THAT ON PAGE 5 RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THOSE LISTING.
>> THOSE DEMAND LETTERS, LIKE THE JANUARY 22ND, DID THEY START BOOKING THAT LIABILITY AT THAT POINT, ONCE THAT DEMAND LETTER CAME IN?
>> YES, SIR. IT WAS THE DECEMBER 31ST, 2021 REPORT AFTER THEY FIRST REPORTED THE LIABILITY FOR THAT 10.7 MILLION.
>> THESE ARE MY WORDS SO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR NOW IS FROM TTM A HISTORY OF COMMUNICATION AND TRYING TO DOCUMENT KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT THE PORT KNEW WHEN BEFORE YOUR FINAL CONCLUSIONS WOULD BE DETERMINED IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES, SIR. THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE AGREED-UPON PROCEDURES THAT Y'ALL REQUESTED AS WELL AND SO ULTIMATELY IT'S WHAT WE ALL WANT US TO DO, AND I FELT LIKE THAT WAS THE APPROPRIATE ACTION AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE STILL WAITING ON.
>> COUNSEL, QUESTIONS FOR MR. SIMMONS? YES, JOHN.
>> THE LETTERS THAT YOU'RE WAITING ON FROM TTM, IS THAT INFORMATION THAT YOU REQUESTED FROM THE PORT AND COULDN'T GET AND YOU JUST WENT TO TTM OR IS IT YOUR POLICY JUST TO GO TO TTM DIRECTLY?
>> YES. I ALSO ASKED THE PORT FOR THEM TOO THOUGH.
THAT'S THE ASSESSMENTS THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE BUT I ALSO WANTED THIRD-PARTY CONFIRMATION DIRECTLY FROM TTM OF WHAT THOSE LIABILITIES WERE.
EVEN IF I HAD RECEIVED IT FROM THE PORT, I STILL WOULDN'T HAVE WANTED IT WITH TTM.
>> IS THAT INFORMATION NOT EASY TO GET? NOT BY YOU BUT BY THE PORT.
[02:00:02]
>> IF THEY DID THE RECONCILIATIONS BACK THEN IT WOULD BE ON FILE, THERE WOULD BE AN AUDIT TRAIL BUT WITH THE LACK OF RECONCILIATIONS THAT WERE DONE, THEN THEY SAID THEY DON'T HAVE THOSE.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, MR. SIMMONS? I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME THOUGHTS, COUNCIL, ON MY FEELINGS AS WE GET TO THIS ITEM ON OUR AGENDA.
IT'S ITEM, AS I MENTIONED, 12C.
I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND TO RECEIVE THIS REPORT FROM WHITLEY PENN AND TO HAVE A FINAL DETERMINATION OF THE STANDINGS OF THIS REPORT ONCE THE FINAL [INAUDIBLE] INFORMATION IS RECEIVED.
I THINK WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF THIS, AND I THINK SOME OF THIS WILL EITHER BE, WELL, HOPEFULLY, CLARIFIED A LITTLE BIT MORE ONCE WE GET THE [INAUDIBLE] INFORMATION ON THAT.
YOU'RE NOT SURE HOW LONG THAT WILL TAKE, MR. SIMMONS, TO COME THROUGH?
>> THEY HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THEM AND THEY HAVE REPLIED, SO THAT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I'LL GET SOMETHING SOON.
>> DON'T THEY HAVE ONLY SO MANY DAYS BECAUSE IT'S AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST?
HISTORICALLY, THERE'S ANOTHER ONE I DID A FEW YEARS AGO, AND WITHIN TWO WEEKS, THEY RESPONDED.
ONE OF THE REQUESTS FOR ALL THE COMMUNICATION TO THE COURT, THAT ONE I COULD SEE BEING TIME-CONSUMING BECAUSE THEY GOT TO SCRAPE A LOT OF DATA TO GET THAT.
THEN THEY REPLIED THEY HAD TURNED OVER WITH THE PERSON THAT NORMALLY HANDLES THOSE, AND SO SOMEBODY ELSE IS PICKING IT UP.
>> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL?
>> THANK YOU, MR. SIMMONS. APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
>> VERY GOOD. WE HAVE ITEM 3D, PLEASE.
[3.D. Discussion Of Park Board’s Special Projects And Capital Improvement Projects For Their 2023 - 2024 Budget (Bouvier/Brown - 20 Min)]
>> 3D: DISCUSSION OF PARK BOARD SPECIAL PROJECTS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THEIR 2023/2024 BUDGET.
>> THIS COUNCIL IS ITEM 10D ON OUR REGULAR AGENDA TODAY.
WE HAVE OUR CFO, I GUESS, WE WOULD REFER TO CSILLA AS OUR CFO HERE AT THE CITY.
>> THAT WE'LL BE PRESENTING THIS.
>> LET ME HOLD THAT FOR YOU, BRIAN.
>> AS YOU KNOW, COUNCIL, WE APPROVED THE PARK BOARD'S BUDGET, BUT WHAT WE LEFT OUT WAS THE CIP AND THE SPECIAL PROJECTS.
MS.LUDANYI HAS BEEN GOING THROUGH THAT, AND HAS ISSUED, I THINK, SOME RECOMMENDATION TO GO RIGHT AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> I BELIEVE THAT PARK BOARD, AT THEIR MEETING ON TUESDAY, RECEIVED THE RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO THESE PROJECTS THAT ARE FUNDED OUT OF THE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT FUND.
THEY SUBMITTED THAT TO US A LITTLE WHILE BACK, AND WE REVIEWED THAT.
ESSENTIALLY, PARK BOARD REQUESTED THAT THE CITY FUND, OUT OF THE CITY RESERVES, THREE OF THE PROJECTS THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT DOING OUT OF TOURISM DEVELOPMENT.
THEIR ORIGINAL REQUEST WAS A LITTLE OVER TWO MILLION DOLLARS, AND THE CITY, IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM, DETERMINED THAT THAT WOULD LEAVE THEM WITH OVER 120 DAYS OF RESERVES, AND SO OUR RECOMMENDATION WAS TO DECREASE THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTION TO LIMIT THEM TO HOLDING THE 120 DAYS OF RESERVES.
OUR FINAL RECOMMENDATION IS, ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT THEY REQUESTED SHOULD BE FUNDED.
THE PARK BOARD TOURISM DEVELOPMENT FUND BALANCE CAN FUND ABOUT 1.2 MILLION, SO $1,247,397, AND THEN THE CITY TOWARDS THOSE PROJECTS WILL CONTRIBUTE $1.8 MILLION TO ASSIST WITH THAT, FOR A TOTAL OF $3.1 MILLION IN PROJECTS.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
>> I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE MY SYNOPSIS OF THIS.
THE PARK BOARD HAS FUNDS AVAILABLE THERE THAT THEY ARE FUNDING A PORTION OF THEIR CIP AND THEIR SPECIAL PROJECTS.
THERE ARE, IF WE APPROVE ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT'S THERE, THE PARK BOARD WOULD NEED TO COME TO THE CITY FOR APPROVAL FUNDING FROM THE FUNDS OF THE PARK BOARD THAT ARE DEPOSITED HERE AT THE CITY.
THOSE REQUESTS, IF WE WILL MOVE IN THE RECOMMENDATION THAT HAS BEEN MADE HERE BY OUR CITY FINANCE DIRECTOR, THAT TOTAL WOULD BE $1,879,103, AND THAT IS TAKING OUT OF THEIR TOTAL OF THOSE PROJECTS,
[02:05:08]
$160,000 APPROXIMATELY, THAT THEY HAVE STILL IN THEIR BUDGET THAT IS ABOVE AND BEYOND THEIR 120-DAY RESERVES?>> COUNCILMAN MANDUVIER, I KNOW YOU'RE OUR LIAISON.
>> I HAD TALKED WITH BRYSON, AND HE HAD NO ISSUES WITH $160,000 NOT HAVING THAT ACCOUNTED FOR.
THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT FUNDED.
EVERYTHING ELSE, THEY WERE GREATLY APPRECIATIVE TO HAVE IT ALL FUNDED.
>> I WOULD SUPPORT THIS APPROACH.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS IN THERE.
MOST SIGNIFICANTLY FOR ME, THE WAY-FINDING PROJECT WHICH THE CITY AND THE PARK BOARD HAVE BEEN WORKING ON TOGETHER FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW.
WE HAVE A PROJECT UP IN THE AIR THAT'S THREATENED BY OUR DECISION HERE, SO I'D BE FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF GOING FORWARD WITH 1.8.
>> WE'VE BEEN LOST WITHOUT THAT.
>> I'LL GET THAT. TRY TO IGNORE THE CITY MANAGER.
BESIDE, I'D BE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE $1.879 MILLION FUNDING AS CSILLA HAS RECOMMENDED.
>> WELL, THIS IS ON OUR AGENDA THIS AFTERNOON.
AS I MENTIONED, IT WILL BE ITEM 10D.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS? CSILLA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE MAY BE COMING BACK TO YOU, CSILLA.
>> WE'LL PROBABLY TALK TO YOU AGAIN.
[3.E. Discussion Of Park Board Audit (Bouvier/Brown- 15 Min)]
>> LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 3E, PLEASE.
>> 3E: DISCUSSION OF THE PARK BOARD AUDIT.
>> VERY GOOD. THIS IS ITEM 12B, COUNCIL, ON OUR REGULAR AGENDA TONIGHT.
>> WELL, THIS AFTERNOON, I'M NOT SURE.
>> GOOD. WE ARE FORESHADOWING.
>> MIKE, I'M GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO YOU.
I KNOW ALSO COUNCILWOMAN ROBB HAD SOME THOUGHTS. MIKE, GO READY?
>> WHEN THIS WAS BROUGHT UP, WE JUST HAD RECEIVED A LIST OF THINGS THAT WE WANTED TO HAVE OPTIONS TO AUDIT THE PARK BOARD WITH.
OUT OF THAT, WE PICKED, I THINK, THREE OR FOUR OF THE OPTIONS.
I WANTED TO DIGEST THAT UNTIL THIS MEETING, AND THAT'S WHY WE DEFERRED IT.
I HAD A CONVERSATION OR IN A MEETING WITH THE PARK BOARD, AND THEY HAVE NO ISSUES WITH THIS AUDIT.
AS LONG AS THEIR AUDIT IS COMPLETED, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO FURNISH AND PROVIDE EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED TO DO THESE AUDITS.
>> VERY GOOD. I KNOW THE DETAILS OF THAT WAS PROVIDED TO US AT OUR LAST COUNCIL MEETING.
WE DEFERRED THAT TO THIS MEETING TO DIGEST THAT MATERIAL A LITTLE MORE THOROUGHLY.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT THAT ANYONE HAS?
[3.F. Discussion Of The Short Term Rental Registration Fees And Their Use (Brown -20 Min)]
LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 3F, PLEASE.>> ITEM 3F: DISCUSSION OF THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL REGISTRATION FEES AND THEIR USE.
>> COUNCIL, I PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA.
AS YOU KNOW, A LITTLE WHILE BACK, WE ENACTED A REGISTRATION FEE FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
THAT WAS $250 ANNUALLY AND THAT WOULD BE AN ANNUAL AMOUNT.
PARK BOARD HAS BEEN MOVING AHEAD WITH COLLECTING THAT AMOUNT.
WITH THE AMOUNT OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS THAT ARE REGISTERED, WE'RE TALKING A TOTAL AND ANNUAL AMOUNT OF PROBABLY AROUND $1.2 MILLION, SOMEWHERE IN THAT RANGE.
COUNCIL HAS NEVER FORMALLY WEIGHED IN ON HOW THOSE FUNDS ARE TO BE UTILIZED.
NOW, WE HAVE APPROVED, THE WAY THOSE ARE BEING UTILIZED AT THIS POINT IS, WE HAVE A PORTION OF THOSE FUNDS ARE UTILIZED FOR MAINTAINING AND FOR THE SOFTWARE PROGRAM THAT THE PARK BOARD IS DOING.
WE HAVE $60,000 OF THOSE FUNDS WHICH WAS APPROVED, AS YOU MAY REMEMBER IN A PAST MEETING, TO GO TO OUR CITY AUDITOR'S DEPARTMENT FOR THE AUDITING OF SHORT OF HOT TAX ACCOUNTS AND HOT TAX PAYMENTS.
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC IN MY MIND BECAUSE AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THERE ARE STILL AREAS THAT WE MAY WANT TO UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS FOR.
[02:10:08]
WE HAVE, ON OUR AGENDA FOLLOWING COMING UP HERE FROM COUNCILWOMAN ROBB AND FROM COUNCILMAN FINKLEA, SOME THOUGHTS ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS, BUT WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT, IN MY MIND, ENFORCEMENT AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT ADMINISTRATIVELY WHAT IT TAKES TO MANAGE THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN PLACE AS PERTAINING TO SHORT-TERM RENTALS.MY RECOMMENDATION AND MY THOUGHT ON THIS, COUNCIL, WAS TO GET INPUT FROM COUNCIL, AND DIRECT CITY STAFF TO SIT DOWN WITH PARK BOARD STAFF, MAINTAIN THE DATA THERE, TO GET THE DATA THAT WE HAVE FROM THE SOFTWARE PROGRAMS, AND COME BACK AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL ON WHAT THEY WOULD RECOMMEND ON WHAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE USE OF THESE FUNDS, AND HOW MUCH OF THESE FUNDS ARE ACTUALLY NEEDED TO FUND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT? THAT'S WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
STATING THAT I MENTIONED ENFORCEMENT.
WE HAVE COUNCILMAN FINKLEY IS GOING TO BE BRINGING UP PARKING.
WE NEED TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF MECHANISM TO MONITOR THAT AND TO ENFORCE THESE PARKING RULES ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
THERE'S A LOT OF AREAS HANGING OUT THERE THAT I THINK STAFF WILL LOOK AT.
SAYING THAT, LET'S OPEN UP THIS DISCUSSION, MARIE.
>> WELL, THERE ALSO [NOISE] IS A THIRD CONCERN THAT I KNOW, AT LEAST YOU AND I AND JOHN HAVE BEEN APPROACHED BY TERESA ELLIOTT FEELING THAT CONDO HOTELS SHOULD PAY A LESSER AMOUNT BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THEY FEEL THEY HAVE LESS STRESS ON THE SYSTEM SO TO SAY, WHICH I CAN'T SAY I AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THAT.
THE CITIES WHO HAVE DONE AND HAD HOTELS IN A DIFFERENT CATEGORY, AND HAVE SINCE REMOVED THAT BECAUSE IT WAS TOO DIFFICULT [NOISE] TO MANAGE.
BUT TO ME, IN TALKING ABOUT FEES AND REGISTRATION, THE BIGGEST DISCONNECT AND WHERE THE FALL-THROUGH HAPPENS IS WHAT INFORMATION THE PARK BOARD IS TAKING IN, IN REFERENCE TO OUR ORDINANCES, AND THEN THE FOLLOW-THROUGH WHEN THERE ARE COMPLAINTS GOING TO THE SOFTWARE COMPANY.
TO ME, IT SEEMS IT WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE TO COLLECT HOT TAX ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS AT THE CITY WHERE THE ORDINANCE IS SET VERSUS THE WAY WE HAVE IT NOW.
>> HOT TAX OR REGISTRATION FEES? DID YOU SAY HOT TAX?
>> WELL, THE REGISTRATION FEE.
>> ARE YOU SAYING REGISTRATION FEE?
IF THAT MEANS THAT THEY HAVE TO GO TO COLLECTING THE HOT TAX FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
BUT THERE IS A SERIOUS DISCONNECT AND IT'S AFFECTING OUR RESIDENTS BECAUSE THE HOTLINE ON THE RENTAL SIDE HAS PROVEN NOT TO BE EFFECTIVE.
I WAS STUNNED BY THE AMOUNT OF CALLS THAT BRYSON TOLD US THEY HAD FROM THE BEGINNING COMPARED TO THE AMOUNT OF CALLS I RECEIVED.
>> WE DID PUT YOUR NUMBER ON THE FLYER. [LAUGHTER]
>> SURE. [OVERLAPPING] THERE IS A GREAT DIFFERENTIAL, BUT OUR CITIZENS ARE SUFFERING FROM ALL THIS DISCONNECT.
MY QUESTION WOULD BE, IF IT COMES TO THE REGISTRATION FEE, THE INFORMATION THAT'S CONNECTED, WHO SHOULD BE COLLECTING THAT INFORMATION AND HOW DO WE ACTUALLY TIE IT TO EXISTING OR FUTURE ORDINANCES? BECAUSE WE CAN WRITE A MILLION ORDINANCES, AND IF THERE ARE NO FOLLOW-UP ON THE ORDINANCE, WE'RE DEFEATING OUR PURPOSE,
[02:15:02]
WHICH PRETTY MUCH SEEMS TO BE WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW.IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WITH TRASH, WE NOW HAVE NEW TRASH CAN REQUIREMENTS.
HOW DOES THE PARK BOARD QUANTIFY THAT WHEN THEY'RE TAKING REGISTRATION? MAYBE 250 ISN'T ENOUGH TO COVER EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE.
JUST TO SUMMARIZE MY CONCERNS ONE IS THE BIG DISCONNECT.
TWO IS DO WE NEED TO COME UP WITH SPECIAL REGULATIONS FOR HOTELS REGISTRATION, AND THREE IS WHERE SHOULD THE REGISTRATION ACTUALLY RESIDE?
>> I AGREE WITH MARIE ON A COUPLE OF THOSE POINTS.
[NOISE] I CAN'T SPEAK TO HOW WELL THE HOTLINE IS WORKING.
I'M NOT SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH DATA ON EITHER SIDE, BOTH OF THE COMPLAINTS OR THE ENFORCEMENT SIDE.
WE NEED MORE OF THAT. WE'RE GATHERING IT NOW.
BUT WHAT'S CLEAR IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE A DIRECT VISION INTO WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THAT SYSTEM.
[NOISE] THERE IS THE DISCONNECT.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL WHETHER THAT ENFORCEMENT THAT THE POLICE TAKE WAS RELATED TO A SHORT-TERM RENTAL COMPLAINT OR A COMPLAINT THAT CAME INTO DISPATCH THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY VISIBILITY INTO THE SYSTEM.
IT DOES NEED TO BE CONSOLIDATED.
SINCE I DON'T THINK WE CAN GIVE THE PARK BOARD ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY OVER THIS, I THINK THE COLLECTION AND THE REGISTRATION OUGHT TO BE HAPPENING AT THE CITY.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW MR. MAXWELL FEELS ABOUT THAT FROM A STAFF POINT OF VIEW.
[NOISE] IT'S NOT THE PARK BOARD IS DOING A BAD JOB OF THIS.
THEY'RE DOING A FINE JOB OF IT.
IT'S JUST THESE TWO, THE COLLECTION OF THE DATA AND THE ENFORCEMENT ARE DISCONNECTED.
AS TO THE HOTELS VERSUS CONDOS.
>> CONDO HOTELS. WE DON'T MEAN HOTELS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A RENTAL.
[NOISE] I HAVE THAT COMPLAINT AS WELL.
THE TROUBLE IS I CAN NAME BIG CONDO BUILDINGS THAT ARE MANAGED.
[NOISE] YOU NEVER GET CALLS OR COMPLAINTS FROM THAT ARE NOT MANAGED, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GETTING CALLS OR COMPLAINTS, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN SINGLE OUT STANDALONE SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND SAY THAT'S WHERE THE PROBLEM IS, PROBABLY WHERE THE PROBLEM IS.
BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN DO THAT OR WE MAY BE PREMATURE IN DECIDING THAT WE CAN DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE TWO.
>> WELL, AND WHY OTHER CITIES HAVE GONE AWAY FROM THAT AND THERE ARE STILL CITIES IN FLORIDA, FOR EXAMPLE, WHO DO HANDLE THEM DIFFERENTLY.
BUT OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE GONE AWAY FROM THAT IS EVEN IN A CONDO HOTEL BUILDING, THE MANAGEMENT MAY NOT MANAGE ALL OF THOSE UNITS, WHICH IS WHERE IT BECAME A TOTAL DISCONNECT FOR OTHER CITIES AND WHY THEY ELIMINATED.
>> PARDON ME. BUT THE PROBLEM IS I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENTS OR BUILDINGS, BUT I CAN THINK OF AT LEAST ONE DEVELOPMENT WHERE IT'S VERY WELL MANAGED WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT BUT THERE'S A CERTAIN NUMBER OF STANDALONE HOMES THAT ARE SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN THERE.
THEN I CAN NAME CONDO BUILDINGS WHERE, I GUESS, I SAID I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COMPLAINT RATE IS IN THERE, BUT THERE'S NO MANAGEMENT EVIDENCE.
IF YOU HAVE ONE, YOU PUT IT ON THE MARKET AND YOU RENT IT.
I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY CITIES HAVE BACKED AWAY FROM THAT.
GIVEN THE DISCONNECT THAT WE HAVE AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BETWEEN HERE AND THE PARK BOARD AND ENFORCEMENT AND MANAGEMENT, WE DON'T HAVE THE DATA.
WE CAN'T SAY WE'RE COLLECTING TOO MUCH MONEY.
WE'RE COLLECTING TOO LITTLE MONEY. WE JUST CAN'T DO THAT AT THIS POINT.
>> WE HAVE COUNCILMAN FINKLEY AND COUNCILMAN TOPSKY.
>> AS IT RELATES TO THE COLLECTION OF FEES AND THE APPROPRIATE EXPENDITURES OF THOSE REGISTRATION FEES, I'M COMPLETELY ON BOARD WITH COUNCILMEMBER ROB IS THAT ONE OF THE KEY PIECES OF THOSE FEES NEEDS TO BE USED ON THE ENFORCEMENT OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE REGISTRATION PROCESS AND WITH OTHER ORDINANCES THAT ARE APPLICABLE TO THAT.
WE'LL GET INTO THAT HERE IN JUST A MINUTE.
I THINK THAT THERE HAS TO BE A BALANCE.
I THINK TWO VERY APPROPRIATE ONES, THERE'S ONE, YOU GOT TO PAY FOR THE SOFTWARE AND TWO, YOU PAY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THAT SOFTWARE, FOR THE PEOPLE, THE STAFF THAT ARE RUNNING IT,
[02:20:03]
AS WELL AS FOR THE ENFORCEMENT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.NOW, I WILL SAY THAT IN TERMS OF PROCESSES, WE NEED TO TALK TO THE PARK BOARD AND HAVE BETTER INFORMATION BEING REPORTED OUT RELATED TO THE DATA THAT THEY'RE COLLECTING.
THE OTHER GAP THAT I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM CONSTITUENTS IS THAT THERE'S NO WAY FOR THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE MAKING THE REPORTS TO UNDERSTAND IF AND WHEN THAT HAS BEEN RESOLVED.
THERE'S NO CLOSING OF THE TICKET.
AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING FROM THE RESIDENTS AS WELL.
I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE GAPS THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS WELL.
I THINK THAT THE TWO SOURCES ARE IN TERMS OF THE USES FOR THE FEES OR PROBABLY THE SOFTWARE APPLICATION AND THEN THE MANAGEMENT OF THAT FROM THE STAFF, AND THEN ENFORCEMENT.
WHAT THAT NUMBER IS, OF COURSE, WE'RE GOING TO NEED DATA FROM THE PARK BOARD IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND. WHAT IS THAT TRUE DATA?
>> I DO SEE A DISCONNECT HERE WOULD SAY THAT CITY.
>> REGARDING THE CONDO HOTEL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AT THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL TASK FORCE WAS UNDERSTANDING THE ROLES OF DIFFERENT ENTITIES IN THE EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
IT'S NOT JUST THE OWNER, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE REQUIRING RIGHT NOW.
YOU ALSO HAVE PROPERTY MANAGERS THAT HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CARE OF THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL.
THEN YOU ALSO HAVE PLATFORMS. OF COURSE, WE'VE ADDRESSED THE TWO BIG ONES PREVIOUSLY, BUT YOU STILL HAVE PLATFORMS THAT ARE QUITE A FEW THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT ARE COLLECTING FEES AND HAVING TO REMIT IT TO THE CITY.
WE DON'T UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE EVERYTHING'S GOING BACK DOWN ONLY THROUGH THE OWNER.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT WAS HAVING A PROCESS BY WHICH WE UNDERSTAND THOSE THREE GROUPS AND THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE CARE AND FEEDING OF SHORT-TERM HOMES.
>> THAT GOES BACK TO THE DATA.
OUR SOFTWARE MAY BE ABLE TO CAPTURE THAT PARTICULAR ASPECT OF IT.
>> I'LL JUST ECHO SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE MAINLY ON THE FEES AND THE HOTEL CONDO SITUATION.
I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE DATA, FIRST OF ALL, TO SEE WHAT OUR PROBLEMS ARE SO WE CAN SOLVE THOSE.
THEN IF WE SEE THAT THAT ON-SITE MANAGEMENT IS HOLDING UP THERE INTO THEIR BARGAIN AND THEY'RE MANAGING THEIR PROPERTIES PROPERLY, THEN I THINK WE NEED TO REWARD THEM FOR THAT.
>> SOMEWHERE THE RELIEF IS IN ORDER.
>> ABSOLUTELY. I'M ON BOARD WITH THAT.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THE DATA AND THEN WE CAN MAKE AN ASSESSMENT BASED ON THAT AND ADJUST FEES IF NEEDED.
>> THE DATA IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE TALK ABOUT ALL THE COMPLAINTS OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
ON THE WEST END, SOME OF THESE COMPLAINTS ARE GOING TO GUM OUT THERE, WE DON'T HEAR ABOUT THEM.
>> AND SOME ARE GOING TO NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE THEIR OWN SHERIFF BACKUP.
>> CORRECT, AND SOME OF THEM ARE GOING TO OUR MARSHALS.
I'M HEARING ANECDOTALLY AND THIS IS NOT ANYTHING OBJECTIVELY, THAT CALL CENTER DOES GET A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS COMING INTO THE CALL CENTER.
MANY OF THOSE COMPLAINTS ARE MY BEDROOM LIGHT DOESN'T WORK OR THE WATER IS NOT NOT ON OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS AND OBJECTIVELY QUANTIFY THIS.
ON THE CONDO THING, IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT SUBJECT BECAUSE I THINK THE CONDOS IN QUESTION ARE INDIVIDUALLY OWNED.
THESE ARE NOT OWNED BY ONE ENTITY.
THEY'RE INDIVIDUALLY OWNED AND I MAY BE TALKING OUT TO TURN HERE, BUT THERE ARE SOME DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE GETTING READY TO HAPPEN ON THE ISLAND HERE WHERE THERE WILL BE QUITE A FEW "SHORT-TERM" RENTALS AND BE CLASSIFIED CONDOS THAT MAY NOT BE TYPICALLY CONDOS.
NOW WE GOT 250 UNITS OUT THERE THAT ARE NOT PAYING A REGISTRATION FEE INDIVIDUALLY.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS BECAUSE IT HAS RAMIFICATIONS I THINK THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
JOHN, YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING?
[02:25:01]
>> WHEN WE'RE INTO THAT, SHORT-TERM RENTAL IS GETTING THIS BAD PR IN PERCEPTION AND IT'S BECOMING THIS NEGATIVE WORD.
WE HAVE HAD FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, SHORT-TERM RENTALS FOR A LONG TIME.
>> AND WE HAVE NEVER HAD PROBLEMS WITH SOME OF THEM.
CASA DEL MAR IS ONE OF THEM THAT TERESA TALKED TO US ABOUT.
THEY'VE BEEN AROUND FOR I DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT PLACE WAS BUILT, BUT IT'S PRETTY OLD.
THEN SHORT-TERM INDUSTRY REALLY BOOM, WE'VE HAVE ALL THESE PROPERTIES ON THE ISLAND THAT ARE BASICALLY MISMANAGED AND WE ARE PUNISHING THE LOT WITHOUT ANY REGARDS TO THE FEES THAT WE'RE PLACING ON THEM.
I THINK IT IS TIME TO REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AND ADJUST THOSE FEES ON THE PROBLEM, CHARLES.
EVEN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE COMING ALONG THAT COULD BE DEDICATED TO SHORT-TERM RENTAL.
PERSONALLY, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.
IF THEY WERE MANAGED PROPERLY, IT IS LIKE ANOTHER HOTEL THAT'S GOING ON THE ISLAND.
WE'VE GOT OUR ISSUES WITH HOTELS, BUT WE'VE ADJUSTED ORDINANCES AND THEY WORK.
IT'S ALL ABOUT MANAGING PROPERTIES CORRECTLY.
I THINK THAT WE ARE PUTTING FEES ON PROPERTIES WITHOUT LOOKING AT IT INDIVIDUALLY.
WE ARE JUST THROWING A BROAD NET OVER THIS ISSUE TO TRY TO GET A REIN ON IT.
I HAVE DONE A LITTLE BIT OF THAT, PROBABLY NEEDS A LITTLE MORE WORK, BUT I THINK IT'S TIME TO START LOOKING AT A LITTLE MORE SERIOUSLY AND HOW WE STRUCTURE OUR FEES.
>> WE HAVE SORT OF BLANKET COVERAGE AND IT BROUGHT 2,500 SHORT-TERM RENTALS OUT OF THE WOODWORK TOO.
>> ABSOLUTELY. [OVERLAPPING] EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT THE GROWTH IN SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'RE GROWING, WE'RE JUST FINDING THEM.
WE'RE JUST SEEING THEM OR WE DIDN'T SEE THEM BEFORE.
AS FOR WHO THE RESPONSIBILITY GOES ON, I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU CAN TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY OFF THE PROPERTY OWNER.
THAT'S THE PERSON WHO ULTIMATELY IS BENEFITING, EVEN WHEN YOU HAVE CONDO ASSOCIATIONS AND MANAGEMENT DOING THE LEASING, THAT STILL REDOUNDS TO THE BENEFIT OF THE PROPERTY OWNER, AND THAT'S WHERE THE BURDEN NEEDS TO LIE, BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE THAT WE COULD FIND A PROPERTY MANAGER FOR SOMETHING THEY'RE FAILING TO DO.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED. THE KEY HERE IS WE SAY WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHO ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? WHO'S WE? ARE WE ARE WE SAYING, MR. MAXWELL, WE'RE LOOKING TO YOU TO FIND THE STAFF TIME TO DO THIS? ARE WE LOOKING AT CHELA? [LAUGHTER] WHO'S GOING TO DO IT? WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR TO COME BACK TO US? WHEN? HOW'S IT FUNDED?
>> WE'RE HAPPY TO BRING YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE'RE GOING TO BE CHALLENGED WITH THE DATA BECAUSE THE DATA IS ENTERED AT THE PARK BOARD, BUT IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY PROVIDE THE DATA WE NEED TO SYNC IT TO OUR SYSTEMS, WHICH IS A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE COLLECTION POINT AND THE ULTIMATE AND FICTIONAL POINT.
>> AND IT COULD BE, BRIAN, AS YOU LOOK AT THIS, THAT WE HAVE ONE CENTRAL CLEARING HOUSE FOR THAT DATA, THAT ALL COMPLAINTS COME IN THROUGH ONE PARTICULAR ENTITY.
>> WHAT I'VE MADE NOTES HERE FROM COUNCIL'S SUGGESTIONS HERE AS COUNCIL, AS THE STAFF LOOKS AT THIS, THAT CONSIDER THE CITY COLLECTING THE REGISTRATION FEE AND HANDLING ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT GOES ALONG WITH THE REGISTERING OF THESE SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
LOOKING AT FUNDING OF SOFTWARE ENFORCEMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL TO MANAGE THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS SO THAT THEY'RE ENFORCED PROPERLY.
AND COULD EVEN LOOK AT THE STRUCTURE IN DEVELOPING A PARTICULAR STRATA OF DIFFERENT REGISTRATION FEES FOR INDIVIDUAL GROUPS DEPENDING ON NUISANCE, COMPLAINTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> ARE WE ARE WE INSTRUCTING THE STAFF TO BRING SUCH A RECOMMENDATION?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT AND I WOULD LIKE TO SET.
I'VE TALKED TO STAFF ABOUT THIS BEFOREHAND BECAUSE I WOULD NOT BRING THIS FORWARD UNLESS I KIND OF VISITED WITH THEM BEFOREHAND ON THIS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SET A DEADLINE OF NO LATER THAN THIS COMING JUNE,
[02:30:05]
TO BRING THAT INFORMATION BACK AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE HOPEFULLY SOONER. DAN.>> THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO ME, JOHN, GOOD PLAN.
>> THANKS FOR THAT. JUNE OF 27 OR 28TH. I'M GOOD.
>> AS BRIAN JUST ALLUDED TO, THERE'S COMPLICATIONS WITH DATA NO MATTER WHAT.
THE REGISTRATION SYSTEM, THE PARK BOARD HAS HAS ADDRESS FIELDS THAT ARE SET UP ONE WAY.
COULD BE THE CITY HAS ADDRESS FIELDS THAT ARE SET UP A DIFFERENT WAY.
RMS SYSTEM HAS ADDRESS FIELDS THAT ARE SET UP A DIFFERENT WAY.
PART OF OUR RECOMMENDATION AS WE DO IT IS TO CONSOLIDATE.
THIS ACTUALLY CAME FROM OUR CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER, IS THAT WE NEED TO CENTRALIZE THE FIELDS AND PROBABLY THE BEST WAY TO DO IT IS GOING TO BE UNDER THE CAD ADDRESS OR OWNERSHIP.
BUT THAT'S A PROCESS AND THAT'S GOING TO BE PART OF THIS ENTIRE THING BECAUSE ALL THESE SYSTEMS, THE DATA HAS TO BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON SOME FIELD THAT'S CONSISTENT AMONG THEM.
OTHERWISE THE DATA IS NOT GOOD.
>> KEEP IN MIND WE'VE GOT IT UNITS A, UNITS B, UNITS FRONT, UNITS BACK, UNITS ALLEY.
YOU HAVE NAME STREETS OR LETTERED STREETS.
AND SOME PEOPLE PUT THE NAME, SOME PEOPLE PUT THE LETTER, WHICH THE POST OFFICE IS FINE WITH EITHER WAY, YOU'VE GOT.
>> WHEN YOU HAVE THE SEARCH GOING OUT AND LOOKING FOR A SPECIFIC ADDRESS, IT HAS TO BE CONSISTENT.
I LIKE HOPE'S IDEAS OF USING THE CAD BECAUSE THAT'S A CENTRALIZED.
>> THEY'RE INCONSISTENT TOO IF YOU LOOK AT IT IN THAT ANGLE.
[LAUGHTER] WHEN YOU LOOK AT FIELDS, YOU'VE GOT TO REMEMBER SOME HAVE STREET, STREET.
THEY GIVE YOU TWO STREETS, ONE FOR A NUMBER, ONE FOR A LETTER.
SOME PEOPLE PUT EVERYTHING ON THE FIRST LINE, SOME PEOPLE PUT IT ON THE SECOND.
YOU KNOW WHEN YOU GO IN AND FILL OUT THOSE FORMS AND YOU START TYPING YOUR ADDRESS AND THEY SAY, WE SUGGEST YOU USE THIS ONE? THAT'S TO FORCE THAT CONSISTENCY.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN AS YOU'RE TRYING TO GRAB ALL THE DATA AND THEN APPLY IT ACROSS ALL THESE VARIOUS COMPONENTS.
OUR TRASH MANAGEMENT, WHICH IS RUBICON, OUR COZY, WHICH IS UTILITY BILLING, OUR RMS SYSTEM, WHICH IS THE POLICE, THAT'S WHERE IT GOES.
SO THOSE ARE THE CHALLENGES. WE HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR, WE WILL WORK ON IT, BUT PART OF THE PROCESS IS GOING TO BE WE NEED TO MAKE CHANGES TO GET THERE.
>> WE HAVE OUR ESTEEMED ATTORNEY WANTING TO TALK TO.
>> I CAN OBSERVE THAT HAVING A HIGHER REGISTRATION FEE FOR PROBLEM CHILDREN PHRASE DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM IMPACTED ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE'S STILL A PROBLEM CHILD THAT JUST SPENDING WOULD BE A PROBLEM WHICH YOU'RE PROBABLY OKAY WITH.
HOWEVER, IF YOU LOOK AT IT THAT BY REGISTERING, THEY ARE GETTING A LICENSE TO OPERATE, AND IF THEY ARE A PROBLEM, SAY THEY HAVE THREE VIOLATIONS, FIVE VIOLATIONS, YOU YANK THAT LICENSE AND THEY'RE OUT OF BUSINESS FOR THE NEXT EXTRA.
>> THERE'S NO WAY TO TRACK THAT CURRENTLY.
>> [OVERLAPPING] BUT THERE'S A WAY TO ENFORCE IT.
>> I THINK IT IS ESSENTIAL TO HAVE ONE REPORTING COMPLAINT, SO WE CAN TRACK THAT STUFF.
>> WHEN WE SET THE REGISTRATION FEE, AT LEAST FOR ME, I NEVER THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS ETCHED IN STONE.
I THOUGHT WE WOULD COME BACK AND REEVALUATE THAT REGISTRATION FEE, AND I MADE A COMMENT AT THAT TIME.
I DIDN'T WANT THE REGISTRATION FEE TO BE JUST AN MONITORED REVENUE SOURCE FOR THE CITY.
I THINK WE NEED TO BE MORE DETERMINED ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO UTILIZE THESE MONIES AND RESPONSIVE TO THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL INDUSTRY.
BECAUSE AS JOHN SAID, SHORT-TERM RENTAL INDUSTRY ALMOST HAS GOT A BAD NAME.
HERE IN GALVESTON, YES, WE HAVE OUR PROBLEMS. I GET CONTACTS.
I TALKED WITH A MAYOR OF ANOTHER CITY RECENTLY, THEY LOOK TO GALVESTON.
THEY FEEL LIKE IT'S WORKING DOWN HERE AND THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING TO MAKE THIS WORK, AND WE HAVE OUR CONCERNS HERE.
>> I HAVE TO COMMENT THAT JOHN IS RIGHT.
IT'S GOTTEN A BAD CONNOTATION, BUT WE HAVE 5,000 SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND WE DON'T GET COMPLAINTS ON 5,000 RENTALS AROUND HERE.
WE GET COMPLAINTS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT? TWENTY-FIVE, MAYBE. I DON'T KNOW.
TO DON'S POINT, YOU DON'T UP THE REGISTRATION FEE ON THOSE FOLKS.
YOU HAVE THE FINES AND ENFORCEMENT OF THOSE FOLKS.
>> BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THE SINGLE MOST EXPENSIVE THING YOU'RE GOING TO DO
[02:35:03]
ASIDE FROM THE SOFTWARE IS THE ENFORCEMENT.THAT'S VERY EXPENSIVE THAT IT IS.
THAT'S A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE THOUGH, THAT WE HAVE WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.
>> THAT'S WHERE HOUSING THEM UNDER ONE ROOF MAKES TOTAL SENSE.
>> WELL, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD SIT AROUND THE TABLE AND TALK, BUT I THINK YOU'VE GOT YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHERE WE'RE GOING.
I'LL SEND MY NOTES TO YOU GUYS ON WHERE I FEEL COUNCIL'S THOUGHTS WERE ON THIS AND LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN COME.
>> I THINK WE COULD PROBABLY EXCEED THAT TARGET, BUT LET'S PUT THAT OUT THERE.
>> HOLD ON, I DON'T WANT TO KICK BRIAN UNDER THE TABLE.
>> DAN, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, WE SEE WHAT DATA WE'RE GETTING OUT OF THE PARK BOARD.
THEN, LIKE YOU SAID, YOU'VE ALREADY IDENTIFIED ONE AREA WHERE YOU'VE GOT A FIELD ISSUE.
BUT WHAT METRICS ARE WE GOING TO BE TRACKING AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO REPORT BACK TO THE CITY IF WE NEED TO TWEAK IT?
>> WHAT INFORMATION DO WE NEED? IT'S PART OF WHATEVER WE'RE TRACKING.
>> THE DATA POINT HERE IS NOT JUST THE PARK BOARD SOFTWARE, BUT NOW WE'VE GOT RUBICON ONLINE WITH SANITATION.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO START. WE NEED TO GET THOSE IDENTIFIED THERE SO WE KNOW IF WE HAVE ANY PROBLEM, SANITATION ISSUES.
WE'LL CORRESPOND IT WITH THE SELLER SO WE'LL MAKE SURE WE'RE HAVING THE RIGHT CORRESPONDENCE WITH WHERE THE MARSHALS ARE ENTERING THINGS.
IT MIGHT EVEN BE INTERESTING TO CROSS REFERENCE HOW MANY SHORT-TERM RENTALS HAVE WILDFLOWERS? WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
>> NOT MORE THAN 10. [LAUGHTER]
>> OH, MAN, IT'S ONLY 10 THAT ARE THERE.
>> WE COULD REDUCE OUR REGISTRATION FEE IF THEY DO HAVE WILDFLOWERS.
>> WE'VE GOTTEN TO THE END OF THIS CONVERSATION.
>> THE ONLY THING THAT I HAVE THAT I'D LIKE TO ADD IS CAN WE GO DOWN INTO THE OTHER ISSUES [OVERLAPPING]
>> IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS SUBJECT HERE, COUNCIL?
[3.G. Discussion Of The Short Term Rental Ordinance ]
LET'S LET JANELLE.JANELLE, WOULD YOU READ 3G, ONE AND TWO, AND THEN WE'LL OPEN THAT DISCUSSION UP.
>> 3D, DISCUSSION OF THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE.
ONE, CLARIFICATION AND ENFORCEMENT AND TWO, RELATIONSHIP TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS PARKING.
>> WE HAVE AN ORDER OF DISCUSSION IF YOU DON'T MIND, DAVID.
COUNCILWOMAN ROBB, DID YOU WANT TO BRING UP OTHER THOUGHTS?
>> WELL, THEY REALLY FALL TOGETHER BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT, AGAIN, OF THE DISCONNECT.
CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A PARKING PLAN SUBMITTED.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THE PARK BOARD HAS EVER COLLECTED A PARKING PLAN, AND EVEN IF THEY DID, IF THEY REFERRED THAT OVER TO THE CITY, SO IT COULD BE PART OF THE ENFORCEMENT PROCESS BECAUSE PARKING IS A BIG ISSUE WHEN IT COMES TO SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
>> I DID TALK TO BRYSON AND I DID GET CONFIRMATION THAT'S IN THE NOTES THAT I GAVE YOU, THE TWO-PAGE NOTICE THAT I HAD.
AS A PART OF THE REGISTRATION PROCESS, AND IT'S ON THE SECOND PAGE, THE PARK BOARD COLLECTS THE NUMBER OF OFF STREET PARKING SPACES.
THAT INFORMATION IS USED TO CALCULATE THE NUMBER OF REQUIRED PARKING SPACES FOR THE STR.
BUT WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS SHOW UP UNDER SECTION 2.366 ON THE FIRST PAGE THERE.
IT SAYS PARKING AREA, PARKING IS LIMITED TO ONE SPACE PER GUEST ROOM, TWO ON STREET SPACES MAY BE COUNTED TOWARDS THE TOTAL REQUIRED PARKING.
HOWEVER, THIS IS A LIMITED USE STANDARD.
CURRENTLY, IN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS, THERE IS ONLY ONE ZONE WHERE THAT APPLIES, WHICH IS INTERESTING BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE LOOKED AT THIS AND SAID, OH, WELL, IT APPLIES TO ALL STRS.
NO, IT DOESN'T. IT ONLY APPLIES TO STRS THAT ARE A LIMITED USE, AND THAT'S IN R-3.
I TALKED TO CATHERINE. IS CATHERINE HERE STILL, CATHERINE GORMAN?
>> OH [INAUDIBLE] I TALKED TO CATHERINE ABOUT THIS AND SAID, JUST TO CONFIRM, THIS PARKING REQUIREMENT APPLIES ONLY TO THE LIMITED USE ZONE R-3.
WE'RE COLLECTING THE INFORMATION BUT WE CAN'T EVEN ENFORCE IT UNLESS IT'S IN ZONE R-3.
THE QUESTION BECOMES, UNDERNEATH THE RESIDENTIAL LAND USE SHORT-TERM RENTAL, RESIDENTIAL DWELLING, SHOULD SOME OF THOSE OTHER CATEGORIES BE CHANGED FROM PERMITTED TO LIMITED SO THAT THOSE ORDINANCES ARE THEN APPLICABLE TO SHORT-TERM RENTALS?
>> THE ANSWER TO THAT IS DEFINITELY IN MY MIND, YES.
>> I AGREE, AS LONG AS WE HAVE A WAY TO ENFORCE IT WHICH WE DO NOT HAVE NOW.
[02:40:01]
>> WELL, WE'RE COLLECTING THE DATA.
WELL, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DATA SAYS AND WE ALSO DON'T KNOW IF VIOLATIONS ARE NOW BEING CALLED.
WELL, VIOLATIONS WOULD ONLY BE APPLICABLE IN R-3.
THE RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF WAS ON THE SECOND PAGE, WAS TO CONSIDER CHANGING THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL RESIDENTIAL DWELLING TO A LIMITED USE FOR R-1, R-2, UN, AND TN AS WELL.
>> PERSONALLY, I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.
JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ON THAT.
WHEN IT WAS ENACTED IN 2015 OR WHENEVER WHEN THIS WAS PUT IN, IT WAS THE INTENT OF COUNCIL THAT THAT WOULD APPLY TO SHORT TERM RENTALS NO MATTER WHERE THEY WENT.
I'M NOT SURE HOW IT GOT INTO R3, BUT THAT'S A GOOD CATCH ON YOUR PART.
>> I THINK IT WAS DRIVEN AHEAD, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, YOUR DISCUSSION, THAT WAS DRIVEN BY BED AND BREAKFAST AS THEY WERE STARTING TO [OVERLAPPING].
>> I'M NOT SURE BUT I THINK THAT'S A GOOD CATCH ON YOUR PART COUNCILMAN FINKLEA. VERY GOOD CATCH.
MY QUESTION IS, AS YOU MENTIONED AND MARIE MENTIONED, WE HAVE TO HAVE THE MECHANISM FOR ENFORCEMENT AND THAT GOES BACK TO DIRECTION OF STAFF THAT WE JUST GAVE.
WHAT'S THE GRANDFATHERING? DOES THIS APPLY ONLY TO NEW REGISTRATIONS?
>> I HAVEN'T HAD THAT DISCUSSION WITH STAFF YET.
THE OTHER COMPLEXITY OF THIS IS THAT IN THE URBAN CORE, WE HAVE SHORT TERM RENTALS WITH NO OFF-STREET PARKING.
IF YOU HAVE A THREE STORY STRUCTURE, YOU'RE ONLY ALLOWED TWO ON-STREET PARKING SPACES, THEN HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THAT? I DON'T HAVE A PERFECT ANSWER FOR THIS.
I UNDERSTAND HOW IT WORKS WELL OUT ON THE WEST END WHERE TYPICALLY YOU HAVE OFF-STREET PARKING AVAILABLE?
>> THEY ALMOST HAVE NO ON-STREET PARKING.
>> YEAH, AND BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT PARKING IS RESERVED FOR BEACH ACCESS TOO THAT YOU CAN.
>> I'M SURE THIS ALLOWED, SO YOU REALLY HAVE RESIDENT PARKING.
>> YEAH. I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT WE MAKE THIS CHANGE RIGHT NOW, BUT I DO WANT COUNCIL TO BE AWARE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A HARDER LOOK AT, AND WE CAN DO THIS AT THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL TASK FORCE.
>> BUT I THINK IT IS A CHANGE THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE NOW BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE RENTALS THAT ARE STILL ADVERTISING FOR 8TH STREET 45, AND THEY SHOW UP WITH 15 CARS.
>> IT NEEDS MORE ANALYSIS BECAUSE WE HAVE RENTALS IN R3 ZONES THAT DON'T HAVE ANY PARKING RIGHT ALONG THE STREET AND NONE AT ALL ON THE PROPERTY.
IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT COMPREHENSIVELY.
>> WELL, IT NEEDS TO BE DONE SOONER THAN LATER BECAUSE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT LEAST TWICE IN THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS AND WE'VE DONE NOTHING.
BUT TO YOUR QUESTION, WHO DOES IT APPLY TO? EVERYONE. YOU DON'T SAY, OH, YOU MAKE IT ON YOUR ANNUAL REGISTRATION OR YOU HAVE TO SUBMIT A PARKING PLAN.
>> JUST TO COMMENT ON THIS, I THINK THE PARK BOARD, AS YOU MENTIONED, IS ASKING THE APPLICATION NUMBER OF OFF-STREET PARKING SPACES.
YOU REALLY NEED TO BE ASKING HOW MANY BEDROOMS.
>> AS PART OF THE REGISTRATION, THEY ALSO ASK FOR THE NUMBER OF BEDROOMS. WE DO HAVE THAT INFORMATION AS WELL.
>> COULD YOU SEND THEIR PRICING? COULD YOU SEND OUT TO ALL COUNCIL PEOPLE WHAT QUESTIONS ARE ASKED?
>> MAYOR, ONE OTHER COMMENT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE ON PAGE 2 IS THAT THE IF WE CHANGE THIS LIMITED USE, IT WOULD ALSO ADDRESS SIGNAGE ISSUE WHICH THE LIMITED USE STATES THAT SIGNAGE IS PROHIBITED BY THAT LIMITED USE.
THAT'S SOMETHING AND I HAVE SPOKEN TO MEMBERS OF STROKE.
YOU'VE GOT SOME THAT ARE LIKE, YEAH, I DON'T WANT TO PUT A SIGN ON MY HOUSE ADVERTISING THAT IS VACANT.
[LAUGHTER] LET'S KIND OF INVITING PROBLEMS. YOU'VE GOT OTHERS THAT USE IT TO ADVERTISE THAT YES, IT IS INDEED A SHORT TERM RENTAL AND AVAILABLE.
IF YOU MAKE THE CHANGE, VACANCY SIGN.
>> BY CHANGING IT TO LIMITED USE, IT WOULD ALSO REMOVE THE ABILITY FOR SHORT TERM RENTALS TO PUT SIGNAGE ON THEIR PROPERTY.
[02:45:01]
>> WELL, AND THEY HAVE DOWN NAME PLATES ON THAT.
IT'S A TWO SQUARE FEET, THEY SAY THE SIZE OF THE SIGN.
I KNOW WE DISCUSSED THIS WHEN WE DID THE SIGN COMMITTEE WENT AND LOOKED AT ALL THE SIGNS THINGS, BUT GOOD POINT, DAVID.
>> ANYWAY, THAT'S MY INTENTION.
>> YOU'VE REALLY ADDRESSED THE TWO ISSUES THAT STAFF HAS HAD CONCERNS ABOUT AS WELL.
THE FACT THAT THE LIMITED ONLY APPLIES IN R3 AND IT SHOULD APPLY ACROSS THE BOARD.
THEN THE SECOND THING IS BASICALLY THE COORDINATION CLAUSE ON THE REGULATORY SIDE BECAUSE OUR DEPARTMENT'S HAPPY TO DO THAT ANALYSIS AS A NEW APPLICATION COMES IN, WE JUST DON'T SEE IT.
IF WE CAN GET IN THAT LOOP AND OR CENTRALIZE, WE'D BE VERY HAPPY TO DO THAT.
>> ALSO THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL COMMITTEE, PLEASE MAKE SURE CITY STAFF IS INVITED.
I DON'T THINK THEY'VE BEEN INVITED THUS FAR.
>> WE HAVEN'T REALLY [OVERLAPPING].
>> I HAVE HAD A LITTLE HIATUS IN THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, BUT YES, I WILL.
>> BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO BE BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL AND THEN SLOW YOU GUYS DOWN.
>> BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS TOPIC, DAVID FINKLEA, WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHERE YOU'RE HEADING WITH THIS NOW?
>> I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS DOWN TO THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL TASK FORCE.
MEET WITH THEM, ALONG WITH SOME OF THE OTHER COMMENTS THAT WE'VE COLLECTED HERE, PUT TOGETHER SOME THOUGHTS AND THEN COME BACK AT NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
>> WE NEED TO LIMIT THAT TO LIKE 30 DAYS BECAUSE THIS TOPIC HAS COME UP SO MANY TIMES AND WE'VE DONE NOTHING.
>> LIKE I SAID, LET'S COME BACK TO WORKSHOP IN FEBRUARY WITH SOME OF THE OUTCOMES FROM THAT.
>> WELL, IF IT MET COUNCIL'S APPROVAL, I'D ADD SOMETHING TO THAT.
I WOULD COME BACK TO WORKSHOP.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, I WOULD GET WITH PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND PUT TOGETHER A DEFINITE ORDINANCE ON HOW THESE CHANGES WOULD BE MADE SO IF COUNCIL WANTS WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
>> [INAUDIBLE] FORWARD EVERYWHERE. IT'S OKAY.
>> [INAUDIBLE] WHERE THE GAPS ARE.
I'LL TAKE THAT ON. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> THANK YOU. MARIE, ANY OTHER THOUGHTS ON YOUR TOPICS?
>> THANK YOU, TIM VERY MUCH. VERY GOOD.
[3.H. Discussion Of Funding For The Establishment Of An African American Cultural District (A Lynch/Lewis/Brown - 15 Min)]
WE'RE ZIPPING RIGHT ALONG HERE.>> 3H, DISCUSSION OF FUNDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL DISTRICT.
>> WE DISCUSSED THIS A LITTLE WHILE EARLIER AT THE PAST MEETING.
[NOISE] HAVE A SEAT ANTOINETTE.
THIS IS ITEM 11J COUNCIL ON OUR AGENDA TODAY AT OUR REGULAR MEETING, AND WE HAVE OUR CULTURAL ARTS, WHAT IS YOUR?
>> ARTS AND CULTURE COORDINATOR.
>> ARTS CULTURE COORDINATOR, ANTOINETTE LYNCH, ANTOINETTE.
>> HI. I DID THIS PRESENTATION AT WORKSHOP LAST TIME.
WE HAVE SINCE INVOLVED MORE OF THE COMMUNITY AND REALLY SOLIDIFIED WHAT THE PROCESS WILL LOOK LIKE SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE WE'RE NOT JUST BLAZING AHEAD WITH SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF DATA BEHIND.
VISION GALVESTON WILL BE DOING THE OUTREACH.
WE'LL FUND IT THROUGH OLD CENTRAL.
THAT'LL HELP EXPEDITE EVERYTHING SO THEY CAN PULL IN ALL OF THE COORDINATION.
VISION WILL DO THE OUTREACH, WE'LL DO STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS.
WE'VE SINCE SPOKEN TO THE GHF A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE SUBJECT.
ANY QUESTIONS I'M HERE? [LAUGHTER]
>> FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS IS IN OUR ITEM.
WHERE'S THAT FUNDING COMING FROM?
>> WHO IS THE FUNDING GOING TO?
>> IT'S GOING TO BE GOING THROUGH OLD CENTRAL, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE CONTRACTED THROUGH LEGAL.
IS GOING TO WORK UP A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY AND OLD CENTRAL.
IT WILL BE SPENT FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT BUT ALSO IT'S A TWO FOR US BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE COLLECTING A LOT OF DATA AND A LOT OF COMMUNITY RESPONSE THAT WE NEED ON A LOT OF THESE TOPICS ANYWAY.
I SEE IT AS A VERY IMPORTANT RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR OUR HOT AND COVERING A LARGER SWAP WITH HOW WE'RE SPENDING IT.
>> IF I COULD POINT OUT THE $50,000 THAT GRANT IS A THRESHOLD AND WE WANT TO DO THAT FOR THREE YEARS RUNNING.
BECAUSE WHAT THAT DOES THAT ESTABLISHES THE DISTRICT AS LEGITIMATE.
THEY HAVE A $50,000 BUDGET OVER A THREE YEAR PERIOD.
THAT ESTABLISHES IN THE EYES OF THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON THE ARTS AND THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS AS A LEGITIMATE ARTS DISTRICT.
THAT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THEM TO THAT LEVEL.
THAT GIVES THEM THE INCREASED CAPABILITY THEN TO GO OUT AND LOOK FOR FUNDING OUTSIDE,
[02:50:04]
TO TAKE ON THEIR OWN INITIATIVES, THAT KIND OF THING.THIS IS BASICALLY SEED FUNDING OVER THESE THREE YEARS TO GET THIS UP AND RUNNING.
>> YEAH, I APPRECIATE YOU POINTING THAT OUT.
I WILL SAY THAT THE WAY WE DID IT THIS WAY INSTEAD OF COMING AND SAYING $150,000 PAID OUT IN $50,000 INCREMENTS, IS THAT WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO COME TO COUNCIL AND SHOW YOU THIS IS WHAT YOUR $50,000 IS FOR EACH YEAR.
WE'LL COME BACK AT THOSE THREE YEARS AND SAY THIS IS WHAT THE CITY IS GETTING OUT OF THIS AS WELL, AND THEN BE ABLE TO REPORT BACK TO YOU ON THE PROJECT.
>> IN ADDITION THAT I WANT TO THANK ANTOINETTE FOR BRINGING THIS BECAUSE THIS IS TRULY THE DOORSTEP INTO SOME MANY, MANY GREAT THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO OCCUR IN AND AROUND THIS AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL DISTRICT.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS AND THE MAYOR FOR THEIR PERSEVERANCE IN THIS.
YOU GUYS HAVE TAKEN IT TO THIS POINT AND WE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO, BUT WE APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME. WE HAD COUNCILMAN BOUVIER AND COUNCILMAN [INAUDIBLE].
>> WHEN WE SAY DISTRICT, I KNOW WE TOUCHED ON A PERIMETER.
DID WE SET THE ACTUAL BOUNDARIES YET?
>> THAT DECISION IS NOT MADE BY ME.
THAT WILL BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH THAT FIRST OF ALL IT'S GOING TO SAY SHOULD IT BE A CULTURAL DISTRICT, AND THAT'S PART OF THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING WITH STAKEHOLDERS AS WELL.
THERE'S A LOT OF OPTIONS OUT THERE.
WE WANT TO DO THE EDUCATION PORTION AS PART OF THE OUTREACH TO BE LIKE THIS IS WHY THIS OPTION.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS WE CAN DO CULTURAL DISTRICTS.
THE WAY WE HAVE OUR ORIGINAL DISTRICT, OUR DOWNTOWN DISTRICT WHICH, SPOILER ALERT, WE'RE GOING TO COME TRYING TO DO SOME ROI WITH THEM AS WELL.
BUT YOU CAN DO IT WHEN YOU IDENTIFY AN AREA THAT IS A CONCENTRATION OF ARTS FOCUSED WHICH IS HOW THAT ONE WAS CREATED.
THEN YOU CAN DO IT THE WAY WE'RE DOING THIS WAY, WHERE WE'RE IDENTIFYING AN AREA THAT HAS A LOT OF THINGS BUT ALSO A LOT OF POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPMENT.
WE'RE GOING TO USE THIS AS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THAT AREA.
IT'S GOING TO START WITH THIS AREA.
THE ONLY REASON WE PROPOSED THIS AREA EXACTLY IS THAT WE SPOKE WITH THE TCA, GOT AD NAUSEAM [LAUGHTER] ABOUT HOW BIG CAN IT BE? IT CAN BE CONSIDERED WALKABLE FOR THE INITIAL APPLICATION, AND THAT WAS ONE MILE.
I WENT UP AS HIGH AS YOU COULD, WHICH WAS 35TH STREET, ALMOST EXACTLY A MILE LONG TO MAKE THAT CLEAN SQUARE.
IT'S 25TH TO 35TH BROADWAY TO THE BEACH IS THE CURRENT PROPOSED AREA.
IF THAT IS THE ROUTE THAT THE COMMUNITY DECIDES TO GO AND WE APPLY FOR THAT, IT'S VERY EASY TO INCREASE THE SIZE OF YOUR DISTRICT AFTER THE INITIAL APPLICATION.
IT'S REALLY JUST A STARTING POINT AND THEN WE GO FROM THERE.
>> THAT WAS MY QUESTION ABOUT THE AREA OF THE DISTRICT.
THAT IS THE AREA THAT YOU PRESENTED TO US LAST TIME IS THIS AREA THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
>> IT IS THE AREA THAT WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT WHEN WE REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND SAY THIS IS WHY WE'VE IDENTIFIED THIS AREA.
>> THE $50,000 PER YEAR OVER THREE YEARS IT SAYS HERE OUTREACH, DIGITAL COLLECTION.
>> THE FOLLOWING YEARS, WHAT DOES THAT GO TOWARD?
>> COMING OUT OF THAT COMMUNITY OUTREACH IS GOING TO BE SOME SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS AS WELL AS COMING OUT OF THE APPLICATION FOR THE DESIGNATION, WHATEVER DIRECTION WE GO WITH THAT, AS WELL AS THE BIGGER CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE GOING TO HAPPEN ONCE WE'VE PROVEN THAT WE ARE INVESTING IN THIS.
WHETHER OR NOT WE RECEIVE THE DESIGNATION YEAR 1, THAT MAY NOT EVEN HAPPEN, BUT IT DOES MEAN WHEN WE APPLY FOR OTHER GRANTS, WE CAN SHOW THAT WE ARE PLANNING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AROUND THE CULTURAL ARTS, AND I THINK WILL HELP US GET SOME ADDITIONAL GRANTS TOWARDS EVERYTHING.
YEAR 2 COULD BE THAT WE'RE CO-AUTHORING A GRANT WITH THAT DISTRICT, ETC.
MAYOR BROWN'S GOING TO SET UP A CONVERSATION WITH SCOTT JOSTLE.
ALSO, I'M GOING TO INCLUDE HEATHER MELTON FROM THE PARK BOARD, SO THAT WE'RE BOTH ASKING HIM QUESTIONS AT THE SAME TIME.
ONE OF THOSE QUESTIONS IS IF HOT TAX CAN BE USED AS A MONEY MATCH ON GRANTS SPECIFIC TO DEVELOPMENT.
>> WE'D HAVE ON OUR AGENDA GROUP $50,000 FOR THIS YEAR AND THEN THE FOLLOWING YEARS THAT WILL COME BACK TO COUNCIL FOR ADDITIONAL APPROVAL.
>> YES. I SEE THIS $50,000 IS TELLING US WHAT THE NEXT $50,000 IS GOING TO SPEND AND WHICH DIRECTION THAT WE'RE GOING.
BUT IT'S ALSO GOING TO SIMULTANEOUSLY BE COLLECTING SOME CONCRETE THINGS.
[02:55:05]
I'VE ALSO SPOKEN TO MELODY OVER VISIT GALVESTON ABOUT A WEBSITE THAT'S WITH VISIT GALVESTON THAT THIS CAN ALL GO TO ALL OF THE DATA SO THAT IT IS A COMMUNITY ASSET.ANY ORAL HISTORIES THAT ARE COLLECTED, THINGS LIKE THAT DURING THIS PROCESS, BELONG TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE ARE NOT OWNERS OF THAT. THAT MAKES SENSE.
>> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR [OVERLAPPING]?
>> STILL HAVEN'T FIGURED THAT ANTOINETTE NEVER SLEEPS.
>> I CAN SEE THAT I GET THE EMAILS.
>> LITTLE BROTHER GETS IT FROM, SO YOU'VE LEARNED HIM WELL.
>> AS BRIAN MENTIONED, IF THIS IS APPROVED BY COUNCIL, THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF ESTABLISHING A BASIS FOR NOT ONLY GRANTS AND FUNDING FOR EXPANSION OF THE ENTIRE CONCEPT OF HONORING THE AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE ON THIS ISLAND.
THAT CAN TAKE MANY DIFFERENT FORMS AND THIS IS THE FOUNDATION LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR THAT.
>> IT'S THE PROPER WAY TO DO IT.
>> IT IS. IT'S THE PROPER WAY AND IT SETS A SUSTAINABLE WAY OF DOING IT SO THAT NOT ONLY FROM AN ORGANIZATIONAL STANDPOINT BUT FROM A FUNDING STANDPOINT ALSO.
>> EXACTLY. THANK YOU, ANTOINETTE.
[3.I. Discussion Of Returning To In-Person Meetings For City Boards, Commissions And Committees (Collins/Brown - 10 Min)]
APPRECIATE IT. WE'RE ALMOST FINISHED.>> OKAY, 3I, DISCUSSION OF RETURNING TO IN-PERSON MEETINGS FOR CITY BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES.
>> THIS WAS COUNCILMAN COLLINS.
>> YOU ALWAYS CALL ON ME AT LUNCHTIME.
[LAUGHTER] HOLD THAT LUNCH UP. I'LL MAKE THIS SHORT.
WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT WHETHER WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW HYBRID ZOOM MEETINGS FOR COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS.
BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT WORKS, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T.
SOMETIMES WE WILL SIT THERE [NOISE] FIVE OR SIX OF US IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS WAITING FOR SOMEBODY TO GET THEIR AUDIO ON OR ZOOM IN OR GET THAT COMMUNICATION GOING, AND YOU'RE ON MUTE.
IT'S JUST THERE'S NO SUBSTITUTE WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, I'LL JUST USE AN EXAMPLE, THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMITTEE.
THERE'S NO SUBSTITUTE FOR HAVING EVERYBODY AROUND THE TABLE TO SHARE IDEAS, TO SEE AND HEAR OTHER PEOPLE.
WHEN YOU HAVE LITERALLY HALF THE COMMITTEE ON ZOOM, IT FRAGMENTS EVERYONE'S ATTENTION.
IN MY OPINION, IT'S A POOR AND IRRITATING WAY TO WORK.
IT'S ESPECIALLY TRUE ON A COUPLE OF THE LARGER COMMITTEES.
BARBARA WAS IN THE AUDIENCE A MINUTE AGO, BUT SHE'S HAD THIS COMPLAINT, BARBARA SANDERSON, PARKS AND RECS HAD THIS COMPLAINT HERSELF.
>> FURTHER, THE CITY HAS OFFICIALLY MOVED AWAY FROM ZOOM AND WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN TEAMS BECAUSE IT'S PART OF WHAT WE'RE ALREADY PAYING FOR IN THE ZOOM LICENSES AND IT'S JUST A MORE STABLE PLATFORM.
>> I WASN'T SUGGESTING WE JUST CHANGE PLATFORMS. [LAUGHTER] THIS WOULDN'T APPLY TO COUNCIL.
THERE ARE GOOD, PRACTICAL, AND LEGAL REASONS WHY YOU WOULD NOT APPLY TO COUNCIL.
>> IN THIS APPROACH, DAVID, THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, LET'S TAKE, I DON'T KNOW, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AS AN EXAMPLE, DOES THIS PROHIBIT SOMEBODY ATTENDING THAT MEETING BY ZOOM, ONE OF THE MEMBERS?
>> MEETINGS THAT ARE TELEVISED WOULD NOT BE LIMITED.
MEETINGS THAT ARE NOT NORMALLY TELEVISED, NO.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE STREAMING.
WE CAN STREAM THEM IF YOU'D LIKE, BUT TO HAVE PARTICIPATION, YOU HAVE PEOPLE COMMENTING BY WE STOPPED DOING THAT AT COUNCIL BECAUSE IT BECAME SO PROBLEMATIC.
WE'VE HAD INSTANCES OF PEOPLE TRYING TO DO THAT ON SOME OF THE COMMISSIONS AT PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE'VE EVEN HAD APPLICANTS TO CERTAIN COMMITTEES FOR LANDMARKS, SPECIFICALLY, PEOPLE TRYING TO COMMENT ON THEIR CASES OR TESTIFY ON THEIR CASES BY ZOOM.
MAYBE I'M OLD-FASHIONED. IT JUST DOESN'T WORK AS WELL.
>> INSIDE A PARK BOARD, WARDS BOARD?
>> I WOULDN'T ATTEMPT TO HOW THEY WANT TO DO BUSINESS IS THEIR PROBLEM.
>> IT'S THEIR PROBLEM. WELL, NO, I WOULDN'T ATTEMPT TO PUT THAT RESTRICTION ON THOSE BOARDS.
>> WELL, BUT WHAT CHANGES DO WE NEED?
>> ALL THE BOARDS THAT IT APPLIES TO. [NOISE]
>> IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE FOLLOWING CITY BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND SO FORTH TO BE ALLOWED THE OPTION OF MEETING IN VIRTUAL CAPACITY.
THAT'S VIRTUALLY ALL OF THEM THAT DON'T
[03:00:01]
HAVE THAT THEY SAY WOULD NOT UNDERMINE THEIR EFFECTIVENESS, YET WE DO IT.I'M GLAD YOU BRING THIS UP BECAUSE THERE ARE A COUPLE ON HERE, JANELLE, THAT ARE NOT [INAUDIBLE]. WE DO IT ON PLANNING. I THINK WE DO IT ON PLANNING.
>> LANDMARK'S NOT ONE OF THEM.
>> LANDMARK ISN'T ON HERE, YET WE DO IT ON LANDMARK.
>> THEY DO IT ON A MORE HISTORICAL PLATFORM.
>> THEY DO IT ON DIAL-UP, USE PIGEONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I DON'T THINK I HAD DISTINGUISHED THAT LANDMARK WASN'T ON THE LIST OF THOSE WHERE IT'S ALLOWED.
>> DAVID, IN MY MIND, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, COULD YOU MAKE THE SUGGESTED CHANGES TO THIS ORDINANCE AND BRING THAT BACK TO COUNCIL?
>> WELL, I WOULD PROBABLY STRIKE EVERYTHING ON HERE.
[LAUGHTER] JUST SAYING, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE ON A CITY COMMITTEE, COMMIT TO COMING TO COUNCIL, OR TO CITY HALL. [OVERLAPPING] WHAT'S THAT?
>> ONE LESS ORDINANCE WE NEED.
>> SOMETIMES THERE COULD BE UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
>> IF PEOPLE DON'T MAKE COMMITTEE MEETINGS ALL THE TIME, THAT'S OKAY.
BUT I'LL TELL YOU ONE OF THE IRRITATING THINGS, AND WE SEE THIS A LOT, AND I WON'T NAME NAMES OR COMMITTEES, WHERE PEOPLE LOG IN, REGISTER THEIR PRESENCE, AND THEN YOU SEE THEM TURN AROUND [LAUGHTER] AND START DOING THIS AND I'VE NEVER SEEN THE SOLITAIRE GAME ON THE SCREEN.
>> IF I COULD ADD, YOU HAVE AN ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENT FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO ATTEND, AND ZOOM MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO MONITOR THAT REQUIREMENT FOR THE VERY REASON YOU SAID.
YOU HAVE THE ATTENDANCE TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION AND DIALOGUE AND IF THEY'RE JUST PUTTING THE DOG UP ON THE SCREEN AND SAYING, I'M HERE.
>> I KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE'S DOGS AND CATS NOW THAT I DIDN'T KNOW THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO.
IN 2020, ZOOM SEEMED LIKE A BRILLIANT IDEA, I'M NOT SO SURE WE THINK IT IS ANYMORE.
>> BUT I'M GOING TO GIVE THE FLIP SIDE BECAUSE I COULD THINK OF TWO COMMITTEES THAT I'M ON, ONE BEING HGAC, THE TRANSPORTATION POLICY COMMITTEE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'M NOT TRYING TO TELL HGAC WHAT TO DO.
>> NO, BUT 50% OF THE PEOPLE, BECAUSE OF THE DISTANCE, PARTICIPATE VIRTUALLY, AND IT'S A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE MEETING AND WONDERFUL INPUT, AND YOU HAVE TO BE ON SCREEN TO VOTE.
>> I WOULD PUSH BACK ON THAT. I SERVED SEVERAL YEARS ON THAT COMMITTEE ITSELF AND I'M NOT SO SURE ABOUT THE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PART ABOUT THE VOTING.
>> THAT'S BECAUSE YOU WERE PLAYING SOLITAIRE.
>> BUT TO BE ON A COMMITTEE, YOU HAVE TO BE RESIDENT, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT HGAC.
>> DAVID, YOU WOULD EXCLUDE PARK BOARD, YOU WOULD EXCLUDE WHARVES?
>> IS WHARVES BOARD EVEN ON THIS LIST?
>> WHARVES BOARD'S NOT ON THIS LIST EITHER. THAT'S PARKS AND RECREATION.
>> WHAT IF YOU COUNTED IT AS ONE OF YOUR MISSED MEETINGS, BASICALLY, YOU COULDN'T ZOOM INTO THREE MEETINGS IN A ROW.
>> IT COULD BE LIKE ON YOUR LUNCH CARD ON ST. PATRICK'S OR THEY GIVE YOU HALF OF THAT.
>> I'LL JUST THROW IT OUT TO [INAUDIBLE].
>> THEN YOU'D JUST PUT THE BURDEN ON JANELLE. THAT'S RIGHT.
I'D LIKE TO SEE US COME BACK TO IN-PERSON MEETINGS.
>> I TRIED TO GO WITH MY PRE-DEVELOPMENT MEETING YESTERDAY IN PERSON.
[OVERLAPPING] I HAD TO DO IT ONLINE.
>> THAT'S NOT A COMMITTEE. [LAUGHTER]
>> BUT DAVID, IF WE DID THAT, THEN THIS WOULD CHANGE BY JUST CHANGING THE LAST WHEREAS ON THE FIRST PAGE.
>> IS THERE ANYTHING IN THIS ORDINANCE?
>> YOU WANT AD HOC COMMITTEES MEET VIRTUALLY?
>> I SAY PEOPLE OUGHT TO SHOW UP.
>> I WANT PEOPLE TO SHOW UP [OVERLAPPING] AND MEET IN PERSON.
THAT'S THAT'S MY RECOMMENDATION.
>> WELL, WE NEED TO MAKE AN ORDINANCE CHANGE IF THAT'S THE CASE.
>> I HAVE A DRAFT, NEXT MONTH'S [INAUDIBLE]. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT'D BE PREMAIL, WE CAN'T REALLY DISCUSS IT THIS AFTERNOON.
[3.J. Discussion Of The Imposition Of Drainage Fees On Properties That Have Current Drainage Systems (Robb/Brown - 10 Min)]
>> THANK YOU, DAVID. ITEM 3J, PLEASE, MA'AM.
>> 3J, DISCUSSION OF THE IMPOSITION OF DRAINAGE FEES ON PROPERTIES THAT HAVE CURRENT DRAINAGE SYSTEMS.
>> I AM GETTING COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE DRAINAGE FEE. PAY ATTENTION, BRIAN.
[03:05:08]
>> IT HAS TO DO WITH YOU. ABOUT DRAINAGE FEES AND SPECIFICALLY PEOPLE, AND I'LL SAY, WELL, TWO DIFFERENT ISSUES, BUT PEOPLE HAVE DRAINAGE DETENTION PONDS AND HAVE PUT DRAINAGE IN PLACE AND THEY'RE STILL BEING CHARGED.
>> THE STATE LAW ACTUALLY PRESCRIBES IT, THEY JUST HAVE TO SHOW US THAT THEY'RE NOT DRAINING IN OUR DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
>> THERE'S A DISCONNECT THERE BECAUSE ONE PARTICULAR PERSON, I'M REFERRING TO RUSTY WALLA, AND HE HAS BEEN LIKE SIX MONTHS.
IT GOES TO THE BILLING DEPARTMENT AND THEN IT DOESN'T GO TO [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUT IT GOES TO ENGINEERING, DOESN'T IT BRANDON?
>> NO, THE COMPLAINT GOES TO THE BILLING DEPARTMENT.
>> THEN THEY WOULDN'T BE THE ONES SURVEYING IT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THE COMMITTEE SET UP THAT REVIEWS IT, AND AN ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE OVER THERE.
I CAN CHECK ON THE STATUS OF THIS PARTICULAR ONE AND TRY TO SEE WHAT THE HANG OF IT'S ON THERE.
BUT A LOT OF TIMES IT INVOLVES THE USE OF THE PROPERTY, IT INVOLVES THE OWNERSHIP OF THE PROPERTY AND SO THERE'S A DEEP DIVE THAT NEEDS TO GO ON THE PROPERTY RECORDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT ESPECIALLY [OVERLAPPING]
>> WHEN A PERSON CALLS ABOUT DRAINAGE, THEY CALL THE NUMBER ON THEIR WATER BILL AND THAT GOES TO BILLING.
WHAT HAPPENS IS A LOT OF TIMES IT DOESN'T GO BEYOND BILLING, SO THERE REALLY SHOULD BE A NUMBER THAT GOES TO WHOMEVER IS ON THIS COMMITTEE.
>> OR THEY SHOULD JUST REFER HIM TO THE FORM THAT WE HAVE TO START THE WHOLE PROCESS AND THEY FILL OUT THE FORM. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THEY FILL OUT THE FORM, AND AS I SAID, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS.
>> I CAN'T GET INTO THE DETAILS OF THAT ONE AND IT'S A NEW PROCESS THAT WE SET UP, SO LIKELY THERE ARE HANGUPS AND THINGS LIKE THAT GOING ON.
I'LL LOOK INTO IT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE FIX THAT.
>> THE CITY CODE DOES EXPRESSLY INCORPORATE THE STATE LAW WHICH EXEMPTS PEOPLE FROM THE [INAUDIBLE].
>> IT'S ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE AREAS OF MAJOR DISCONNECT JUST BECAUSE OF THE WAY OUR SYSTEM ISN'T SET UP.
>> FOR COUNCILS, WE ARE WORKING RAPIDLY TO DEVELOP THIS CENTRALIZED CALL CENTER.
JESUS, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO THIS FOR 10 YEARS, BUT I'M SO CLOSE TO GETTING A CENTRALIZED CALL CENTER THAT WE CAN REMOVE A LOT OF THIS NON-EMERGENCY STUFF EVEN FROM OUR POLICE DISPATCH CENTER, BUT IT'S GOING TO ALL BE INCORPORATED.
SO THERE'S QUICK TRANSFERS, 24-HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
IF YOU GET HOME FROM WORK AND YOU GOT YOUR WATER BILL AND IT'S EIGHT O'CLOCK AND YOU NEED TO REGISTER A COMPLAINT, YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WAITING TILL THE NEXT DAY.
YOU'D BE ABLE TO CALL THIS REGISTER AND HAVE SOMEBODY CALL YOU BACK THE NEXT DAY AND ALL THOSE TYPE STUFF.
WE'RE VERY CLOSE ON GETTING THAT ACCOMPLISHED.
KEEPING IN MIND THAT 10 YEARS AGO WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE NIGHT CREWS.
NOW WE'RE A 24-HOUR DAY OPERATION, SO WE'RE GOING TO RUN A 24-HOUR DAY CALL CENTER, WHICH MAY LEAD IN SOME OF YOUR OTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND OTHERS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.
>> I HAVE TO SAY PEOPLE LOOK AT ALL THESE EXTRA FEES THAT ARE COMING UP AS JUST ANOTHER FORM OF TAXES.
SO WE HAVEN'T EVER REALLY LOWERED THEIR TAXES, BUT YET WE KEEP ADDING THESE NEW FEES ON.
>> MY TAXES WERE WAY CHEAPER THIS YEAR.
>> THAT WAS BECAUSE OF THE STATE, NOT BECAUSE OF THE CITY.
>> NO. MY VALUE STAYED THE SAME AND WE LOWERED OUR TAX RATE.
>> YEAH, THE TAX RATE WENT DOWN.
>> THE DRAINAGE FEES HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR OVER TWO DECADES NOW. THEY HAVEN'T EVEN CHANGED.
>> BUT NOT EVERYONE WAS CHARGED THEN.
THE DRAINAGE FEES HAVE BEEN IN EFFECT, BUT THERE WERE PROPERTIES THAT WEREN'T CHARGED DRAINAGE FEES.
IN THE LAST YEAR, I THINK THE CITY HAS GOTTEN AGGRESSIVE.
IT'S NOT BEING WELL RECEIVED, ESPECIALLY NOT WELL RECEIVED BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE DRAINAGE ALREADY COMPLETED.
THEN WHEN IT COMES TO NOT-FOR-PROFIT SUCH AS CHURCHES, YOU'RE PUTTING ADDITIONAL BURDEN.
WELL, I'LL CITE ONE WHO HAS CONTACTED ME, WHICH IS CHURCH OF LIVING GOD, AND THEIR WATER BILL IS SOMETHING LIKE $350 A MONTH, 250 OF THAT IS DRAINAGE FEE.
>> WELL, THEY DO HAVE A PARKING LOT, BUT IT STILL IS PUTTING ADDITIONAL URBAN.
SEEMS WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DEVELOP WHERE THEY'RE MADE AWARE IF THEY DID X, Y, Z BEFORE PUTTING IN THE PARKING LOT THAT THEY COULD LOWER THEIR DRAINAGE FEE?
[03:10:06]
ANY EXCEPTIONS FOR THE TYPE OF MATERIALS THAT YOU USE, OR WHAT HAVE YOU, TO LOWER THAT FEE, WE LOOKED AT A POSSIBLY RESTRUCTURING THE WHOLE THING TO LOOK AT PERMEABLE PAVEMENTS AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
FRANKLY, WE COULDN'T IMPLEMENT THAT JUST GIVEN THE EXISTING BILLING SYSTEM AND EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S A LOT OF TECHNOLOGICAL LIMITATIONS THAT PROHIBITED US FROM DOING THAT, BUT ONCE WE GET PAST THIS ERP IMPLEMENTATION, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD REVISIT AND BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE [OVERLAPPING]
>> PLUS GUYS, I'M JUST GOING TO REMIND YOU, WITH THE MAJORITY OF YOUR TAX MONEY, BOTH SALES AND PROPERTY TAX GOING TO PUBLIC SAFETY, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF MONEY LEFT OVER FOR STREETS AND DRAINAGE.
SO THINK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE WHEN SOMEBODY BUILDS A PARKING LOT AND DRAINS IT ALL INTO YOUR SYSTEM, THAT'S CAPACITY IN YOUR SYSTEM THAT'S BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE THAT PAY TAXES TO DRIVE ON YOUR STREETS AND GET THEIR CARS FLOODED.
>> YOU GOT TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE PICTURE THOUGH.
WE ALSO IMPLEMENTED SOME PRETTY HEFTY DRAINAGE REQUIREMENTS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS THAT ARE EVEN PUTTING MORE OF A BURDEN ON THE PROPERTY OWNER ON NEW DEVELOPMENT, AND THEY ARE STILL PAYING THOSE SAME FEES.
>> BUT EVERYBODY GETS A DISCOUNT ON THEIR FLOOD INSURANCE FROM THOSE TYPES OF REQUIREMENTS, RIGHT?
>> I UNDERSTAND IT, BUT YOU KNOW THEY'RE HAVING TO PAY FOR THE GROSS OF DISCOUNT.
>> MARIE, DO YOU HAVE A REQUEST? WHAT DO YOU WANT?
>> THE REQUEST IS, AGAIN, THE DISCONNECT WHEN PEOPLE CALL WITH A COMPLAINT, THEY'RE CALLING BILLING AND THEY'RE NOT GETTING RESPONSE BACK.
>> COORDINATE THAT WITH SARAH AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A RECEIVING SPOT ON THE ENGINEERING SIDE FOR THAT.
>> THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER DISCONNECT.
YOU WANT TO READ THE NEXT ITEM?
[3.K. Discussion Of New Water Meters And Property Owner Access (Robb /Brown - 10 Min) ]
>> GOING TO OUR LAST DISCONNECT ITEM.
>> 3K, DISCUSSION OF NEW WATER METERS AND PROPERTY OWNER ACCESS.
>> ONE MORE PERSON SAYS TO ME, BUT THAT'S WHAT THE METER SAID, SO THE NUMBER MUST BE RIGHT.
OUR NEW READER METERS HAVE BECOME SUCH AN ISSUE.
THERE'S NOW ON FACEBOOK A NEW WATER METER PAGE FOR PEOPLE JUST COMPLAIN AND PUT ISSUES AND SO FORTH.
BUT HERE AGAIN, PART OF IT IS CAUSED BY A DISCONNECT.
A PERSON WILL CALL BILLING WHERE REALLY THE CALL SHOULD GO TO PUBLIC WORKS BECAUSE THERE IS AN ISSUE.
BILLING DOES NOT ALWAYS MAKE THAT REFERRAL TO PUBLIC WORKS.
>> WHAT WOULD THEY BE CALLING FOR TO THE BILLING DEPARTMENT THAT WOULD REQUIRE PUBLIC WORKS? THE ONLY THING THEY WOULD CALL PUBLIC WORKS FOR WOULD BE A KNOWN LEAK.
>> GOES TO BILLING, THAT GOES TO THE WATER BILLING.
>> GOES TO BILLING, AND THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO REFER TO PUBLIC WORKS SO SOMEONE CAN COME OUT AND CHECK THEIR METER?
>> NO, WE CAN CHECK IT ALL ELECTRONICALLY. NOW, THAT'S WHAT YOU PAID FOR.
>> YOU CAN'T CHECK IT ALL ELECTRONICALLY BECAUSE NOT ALL THE METERS ARE ELECTRONIC. AND EVEN THE ONES.
>> THE METERING DEPARTMENT WORKS FOR BILLING, IT DOESN'T WORK FOR PUBLIC WORKS.
>> WELL, SOMEONE NEEDS TO GO OUT AND PHYSICALLY CHECK THE METER.
HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF A WOMAN WHO IS AT 13938 PIRATE SPEECH BOULEVARD.
THE CONTRACTOR CONNECTED THE NEW METER, BUT DIDN'T CONNECT IT CORRECTLY TO THE HOUSE, AND I KNOW OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE, SO THAT YES, THE WATER IS RUNNING THROUGH THE METER AND THEN IT'S LEAKING OUT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT CONNECTED PROPERLY BY THE CONTRACTOR.
SOMEONE WENT OUT ON THIS CASE AND THEY SAID, YOUR WATER IS JUST RUNNING OUT.
IT IS NOT CONNECTED TO THE SYSTEM.
THEY CALLED BILLING AND BILLING'S RESPONSE WAS, THE WATER WENT THROUGH THE METER, YOU'RE BEING CHARGED.
THE CONTRACTOR TOLD THE BILLING PERSON THAT IT'S A DYSFUNCTIONAL METER.
THE METER IS NOT WORKING RIGHT.
>> ARE YOU AWARE OF THIS CHAIR?
>> I'M NOT AWARE OF THE DYSFUNCTIONAL METER.
I AM AWARE OF AN OCCASIONAL CONSTRUCTION INSTALLATION ISSUE, AND WE PUT UP DOOR HANGERS THAT GIVE THE PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBER FOR CUSTOMERS TO CALL.
>> YOU'RE PUTTING THEM OUT, OR THE CONTRACTORS ARE PUTTING THEM OUT?
[03:15:02]
>> THE CONTRACTORS ARE NOT PUTTING THEM OUT.
THE CONTRACTORS ARE NOT FULFILLING THAT REQUIREMENT.
>> YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S A DOOR HANGER GOING WHEN NEW METERS ARE INSTALLED?
>> YES, SIR. THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO AND WE'VE BEEN ADDRESSING THAT WITH CONTRACTORS.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, ON I THINK IT WAS ON GALVESTON TALK, JUST THIS PAST WEEKEND, AND THERE WERE SEVERAL THREADS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THEY WERE WORKING ON ON SUNDAY.
AND I ACTUALLY WEIGHED IN GIVEN THE PROCESS AND A COUPLE OF PEOPLE ACTUALLY TOOK A PICTURE OF THE ONE THAT WAS LEFT ON THEIR DOOR TO SHOW.
NOT TO SAY THAT SOME EMPLOYEES DON'T DO WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO, BUT WHAT THE CONTRACTORS PROCESS IS, IS THEY GO TO A HOUSE, THEY KNOCK ON THE DOOR.
IF NO ONE ANSWERS THE DOOR, THEY LOOK AT YOUR METER TO SEE IF IT'S SPINNING.
IF IT'S SPINNING, THEY ASSUME YOU'RE IN THE RESTROOM OR YOU'RE IN THE SHOWER.
SO THEY GO TO THE NEXT AND THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO COME BACK.
IF IT'S NOT SPINNING, THEY GO AHEAD AND CHANGE THE METER.
AND THEN THEY LEAVE A DOOR HANGER WITH ALL THE INFORMATION.
IF YOU ACTUALLY ANSWER THE DOOR, THEN THEY'LL SPEAK WITH YOU AND GIVE YOU ALL THE INFORMATION.
THAT'S THE WAY THE PROCESS IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN.
>> AND THEY'RE ALSO SUPPOSED TO TELL THE RESIDENTS THAT THEIR WATER IS GOING TO BE SHUT OFF FOR X, Y, Z PERIOD, AND THAT IS NOT HAPPENING.
SO THE SYSTEM THAT HE HAD JUST DESCRIBED WORKED AT OUR HOUSE.
I CAME HOME, SAW A BRAND NEW BLUE WATER METER BOX LID.
FIGURED SOMETHING HAPPENED. WENT TO THE DOOR.
THERE WAS A DOOR HANGER, HAD ALL THE INFORMATION ON IT. EVERYTHING SORTED OUT.
>> I DON'T RECALL THAT HAPPENING IN MY HOUSE.
NOW, I LIVE WHERE THE METERS IN THE ALLEY.
THERE WERE PROBLEMS ORIGINALLY WITH THE CONTRACTOR AND THEIR PROCESS, BUT EACH TIME IT'S BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, WE IMMEDIATELY HOLD A MEETING WITH THE PROJECT MANAGER AND THE SUPERINTENDENT AND WE'VE BEEN PRETTY FORCEFUL.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, JUST THIS PAST MONDAY, ALL THE COMMENTS THAT CAME OUT ON FACEBOOK WE SHARED WITH THE ENTIRE PROJECT TEAM, AND THEN THE CONTRACTOR CONTINUES TO SAY, WE WILL ADDRESS IT.
AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE, BUT JUST LIKE WITH ANY CONSTRUCTION JOB THAT GOES ON, THE MINUTE WHOEVER'S INSPECTING THE JOB ISN'T ON THE JOB, WHO KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS WITH QUALITY CONTROL.
>> MAYBE IT'S JUST THEY DON'T WANT TO CLIMB UP THE STEPS AND THAT'S WHY IT ISN'T HAPPENING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THIS I CAN SAY MULTIPLE LOCATIONS THAT THEY WERE NEVER HANG.
AND I'M GLAD YOU SAID THE NEW BLUE BOXES BECAUSE THAT'S BECOME A NEW THING OF CONCERN.
WHEN A NEW ACTUAL METER BOX, IS THAT WHAT IT'S CALLED?
>> A BOX AND LID HAVE TO BE PUT ON, THEY'RE NOW LOCKED, AND PEOPLE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THAT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE UPCOMING FROST OR WHEN WE HAD THE WATER METERS LOCKED.
>> IF THEY REPLACED YOUR BOX. IF [INAUDIBLE]
>> WE'RE NOT REPLACING ALL OF THEM.
>> WHAT IF THAT'S THE ONLY SHUTOFF THOUGH?
>> IT SHOULDN'T BE, BUT ON AN OLDER HOUSE, THERE'S NOT A REQUIREMENT TO HAVE IT SHUT OFF.
>> WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT SAYS NOBODY SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE BOX.
>> IT'S A PROBLEM. BECAUSE IT WAS GREAT THAT THE CITY SENT OUT A DEAL SAYING, JUST CALL PUBLIC WORKS AND SOMEONE CAN COME OUT AND SHUT YOUR WATER OFF, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THAT MANY PEOPLE.
>> ON THIS PROJECT, WE ONLY PURCHASED 2,600 REPLACEMENTS FOR BOXES AND LIDS THAT WERE BROKEN.
SO EARLY ON WHEN YOU CONSIDER ALMOST 29,000 METERS THAT IF COUNSEL CHOOSES TO NOT HAVE A LOCK BOX, WE JUST DON'T PUT THE LOCKING LIDS ANYMORE.
THE LOCKING LIDS WERE CHOSEN FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.
IF YOU GO BACK IN TIME WHEN WE ACTUALLY STARTED BIDDING THIS, IT WAS BACK IN 2020 AND 2021.
IN 2020 SUMMER, WE HAD ALL THE HURRICANE ALPHABET GO THROUGH.
IN '21, WE GOT HIT BY NICHOLAS, AND ALL THE LIDS WERE FLOATING AWAY. THAT'S ONE ASPECT.
THEN 2, AFTER YURI, WE DECIDED TO GO FULL SCALE WITH OUR AMI AND ADD REMOTE CONNECT-DISCONNECT TO OUR 5, 8 METERS, AND WE WANTED TO PROTECT THE METERS.
THE LOCKS WERE TO SERVE A PURPOSE OF KEEPING THEM FROM FLOATING AWAY AND PROTECTING OUR METER, BUT THE COST OF THE LIDS ENDED UP BECOMING TOO MUCH ONCE WE DECIDED TO GO 100% REMOTE CONNECT-DISCONNECT.
[03:20:01]
SO WE OPTED TO ONLY DO REPLACEMENTS.>> DO I HAVE A KEY TO TURN MY WATER OFF, IF I HAVE A NEW AMI METER?
>> NO. WELL, YOU HAVE THE SAME VALVE.
EVERYBODY HAS THE SAME VALVE BUT NOT A KEY TO OPEN THE LID.
>> FOR THE METER THERE IS THAT SAME KEY, BUT YOU CAN'T GET IN THE BOX IS WHAT HE'S SAYING.
>> LOOK, BUT I HAVE A BLUE LID BUT THE BOX ISN'T LOCKED.
IT'S IN THE ALLEY, BUT IT STANDS ABOUT THAT FAR ABOVE GROUND LEVEL.
I CAN PICK THAT BOX UP AND MOVE IT OVER.
>> YOU CAN TAKE THE BOX UP. THE BOX IS JUST IN THE GROUND.
>> THE BOX ISN'T GLUED DOWN OR ANYTHING.
>> YOU CAN ALSO POP THAT LOCKED LID OPEN WITH A FLAT-HEAD SCREWDRIVER, JUST TAKES A LITTLE EFFORT.
>> I GOT TO GO IN THE ALLEY AND LOOK.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THERE'S A BOX.
>> THE GOAL HERE IS WE'VE ALREADY HAD ONE RESIDENT IN MR. FINKLEY'S DISTRICT THAT HAS ALREADY DISMANTLED THIS METER.
HOW MANY TIMES? [LAUGHTER] WE'VE ALREADY FOUND PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALREADY BYPASSED OUR NEW METERS.
>> YOU GOT TO HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF LOCK LIDS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE DO HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT SAYS [OVERLAPPING].
>> WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO ON THOSE?
>> ONE, WE NEED TO FIX THE DISCONNECT IN THE METERS.
TWO, HOW MANY NEW METERS ARE OUT THERE?
>> TODAY? THE PROJECT IS JUST SOUTH OF 29,000 IT'S LIKE 28,600 PLUS TOTAL.
ACTUALLY, INSTALLED TODAY IS 13,363 THAT'S AS OF LAST FRIDAY.
AS FAR AS METER LIDS THAT WERE REPLACED, IT'S 2,317 BUT WE ONLY PURCHASED 2,600.
>> WE'RE WAY BEHIND ON THAT PRODUCT DUE TO PROJECT.
>> THE PROJECT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN FINISHED BY DECEMBER.
NOW, IT'S SCHEDULED TO BE FINISHED BY JUNE.
>> WE REALLY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO AUTOMATICALLY CONNECT AND DISCONNECT.
>> ONLY THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN INSTALLED, AND D THE TECHNOLOGY ONLY EXISTS ON THE 5, 8 METERS WHICH MAKES UP ABOUT 26,000 OF OUR METERS.
>> LET ME ASK THIS IS, BRIAN, FIRST COUNCILWOMAN ROBS BROUGHT UP THAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET INTO THESE METERS.
>> WE'RE FINE WITH SUSPENDING THE USE OF THE LOCKED METER BOXES AND WE'LL REPLACE THEM AS REQUESTED WITH UNLOCKED.
THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM, BUT YOU NEED TO GO CHANGE YOUR ORDINANCE THEN BECAUSE YOU GOT AN ORDINANCE THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR A LONG TIME THAT SAYS NOBODY IS SUPPOSED TO BE ENTERING THOSE BOXES.
>> BUT WE COULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH YURI, IF IT WASN'T FOR KNOWLEDGEABLE PEOPLE HELPING US [OVERLAPPING] SHUT THE WATER OFF.
>> YOU'RE RECOMMENDING THAT THAT ORDINANCE BE CHANGED; IS THAT CORRECT?
>> I'M RECOMMENDING THAT IT WOULD BE LOOKED AT AND APPROPRIATE CHANGES.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT TRINA AND I TALKED ABOUT, AND IT'S AN EXPENSIVE PROPOSITION, AND REALLY WHAT SHOULD BE HAPPENING.
IN MOST HOMES NOW THAT ARE BUILT, YOU'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE A SHUTOFF.
THESE OLDER HOMES THAT DON'T, WE PROBABLY NEED TO BE PUTTING A SEPARATE CYLINDER BOX NEXT TO IT THAT THE RESIDENT CAN ACCESS SO THEY CAN'T GET INTO ALL OF OUR ELECTRONICS.
BECAUSE YOU START REACHING AROUND, THERE'S WIRES AND THINGS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S REQUIRED NOW.
>> IT'S REQUIRED TO HAVE A SHUT OFF AFTER THE METER AT THE BOX.
>> [OVERLAPPING] IT'S AN EXAMPLE.
>> BUT THAT HAS ONLY COME INTO PLAY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, IF NOT THE LAST YEAR.
WE WOULD ALWAYS PUT A SHUTOFF OUT ON A HOUSE AT THE HOUSE.
>> NOW, IT'S REQUIRED AT THE METER.
OUTSIDE OF THE BOX, [OVERLAPPING] THERE'S A REQUIRED SHUT OFF.
>> MY IRRIGATION SYSTEM'S THAT WAY.
RIGHT NEXT TO THE METER BOX IS MY IRRIGATION BOX, I CAN POP IT OFF AND TURN OFF MY IRRIGATION.
>> THEN ROB WINDIGIE ALREADY CHANGES OUR SPECIFICATION PREVIOUSLY.
>> I HAD A TALK ABOUT IT. I DIDN'T REALIZE WE ACTUALLY PUT IT OUT THERE THOUGH.
>> MY PLUMBER IS SAYING THAT HE IS BEING FORCED TO PUT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] BECAUSE THAT'S THE NORMAL UTILITY STANDARD.
>> I BROUGHT THESE PLANS ONLY TO SHOW MY HOUSE IN THE HILL COUNTRY IS SET UP THIS WAY AND ALL THE HOUSES OUT THERE ARE SET UP THIS WAY.
SO YOU HAVE THE ONE VALVE THAT BELONGS TO THE CUSTOMER AND THEY CAN TOUCH IT ALL THEY WANT.
>> IT'S EXACTLY HOW I'VE STARTED BUILDING HOUSES.
>> ON NEW HOMES, THAT'S THE WAY IT IS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] ITS NOT EXISTING.
>> MINE IS TOO, BUT IF YOU'RE BUILDING A HOME, THEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE SEPARATE RIGHT UP.
>> MARIE, WHAT ARE YOUR REQUESTS FOR THIS ITEM?
[03:25:04]
>> WELL, NO. I WAS HEARING WHAT YOU WERE SAYING ABOUT BUILDING THEM THAT WAY ON NEW HOMES AND I DIDN'T REALIZE HE ACTUALLY PUT IT IN.
>> BUT WE HAVE TO GET PAST AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE FIX THIS, THE BILLING COMMENT.
YOU SAY IT ALL THE TIME, THE WATER WENT THROUGH THE METER, AND THEREFORE, THERE IS NO PROBLEM.
WE KNOW THAT'S NOT TRUE BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE ISSUES OF CONNECTION.
>> IF THAT OCCURS, WE JUST NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT AND THAT'S WHY [OVERLAPPING]
>> I KNOW, BUT HOW DOES IT GET TO PUBLIC WORKS? THAT'S JUST IT.
>> WELL, [OVERLAPPING] ALL PUBLIC WORKS IS GOING TO DO IS FIX THE LEAK.
THAT'S ALL THEY'RE GOING TO DO.
BILLING IS THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO DEAL WITH.
BUT REMEMBER, IF THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE METER, THAT'S JENNY.
JENNY WORKS FOR SARAH DOWNSTAIRS.
BUT SHE REPORTS TO SARAH, SHE DOES THE PROFILING AND ALL THAT STUFF FOR ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.
SO THESE ARE VERY REMOTE ISSUES.
>> THEY DON'T REMEMBER. TRULY.
>> YOU'RE TELLING ME THERE'S 10,000 PEOPLE THAT HAVE LEAKS ON THEIR SIDE.
>> I'M TELLING YOU THERE'S HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE ISSUES WITH THE METERS.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE NOW GETTING BILLED FOR WATER THAT THEY, PREVIOUSLY, NEVER PAID FOR, YES.
THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE AMI PROJECT.
IF THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT HAS A LEGITIMATE LEAK OR AN ISSUE AND THERE'S BEEN A LEAK AND IT'S PROVEN TO BE A RESULT OF OUR CONTRACTOR, I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY THAT WE HAVEN'T REFUNDED THEIR MONEY.
>> MIKEY GIVE ME THE INFORMATION ON THIS BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T.
>> I'M ASSUMING THAT THE SOFTWARE HASN'T BEEN FULLY INTEGRATED.
>> BECAUSE THE LADY THAT HAD THE LEAK WOULD HAVE IMMEDIATELY SEEN IT ON HER APP.
>> THE APPS NOT DISTRIBUTED YET BECAUSE WE'RE NOT 100% IMPLEMENTED.
>> THE SOFTWARE IS IMPLEMENTED.
WE HAVE ADVERTISED IT ONCE, BUT WE HAVEN'T ADVERTISED IT AGAIN BECAUSE WE WERE WAITING TO GET MORE METERS INSTALLED.
WHEN THEY SPEAK WITH SARAH'S GROUP, SHE GETS THEM SIGNED IN SO THAT SO THAT CUSTOMERS CAN SEE IT.
THERE IS LIKE A SIDE CAMPAIGN GOING ON BY SARAH'S GROUP TO ENCOURAGE CUSTOMERS TO ENROLL, BUT WE HAVEN'T DONE LIKE A MASS PUBLICATION OF IT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE METERS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] SO DEEP WE COULD HAVE 13,000 PEOPLE ON THE APP.
>> IS THERE A REASON WHY WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT? WHY CAN'T THE 13,000.
>> BECAUSE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE OTHER 13,000 ARE GOING TO BE CALLING, WANTING TO DO THE APP, AND I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF STAFF DOWN THERE TO HANDLE THE PEOPLE, TO TELL THEM THEY DON'T HAVE THE APP AND TALK THEM THROUGH THAT.
>> BUT IF THEY ARE 13,000 [OVERLAPPING] HAVE THE METER CALL IN.
THEY CAN GET ON THE SIDE CAMPUS.
>> IF THE 13,000 THAT DO HAVE THE METER INSTALLED, THEY CAN CALL IN.
THE ORIGINAL PLAN WAS NOT TO HAVE ANYBODY JUMP ON THE APP UNTIL THE WHOLE SYSTEM WAS PUT IN.
THE SYSTEM DRAG ON AND WE WANTED TO ACTUALLY GET SOME EXPERIENCE WITH IT, SO WE'VE STARTED PUTTING SOME PEOPLE ON.
>> YEAH. IT JUST KIND OF SPREAD PEOPLE.
YOU'RE. [OVERLAPPING] EXACTLY.
>> IT'S SPREADING THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA BECAUSE SOCIAL BECAUSE PEOPLE FELT LIKE ISSUES AREN'T GETTING ADDRESSED.
>> I GRABBED THAT DOOR HANGER AND I PUT IT ON THE COUNTER.
MY WIFE'S LIKE, I'M JUST GO THROW NO, NO, THERE'S AN APP ON THE BACK.
WE NEED TO DOWNLOAD IT. I LOOKED, I WAS LIKE, I DON'T KNOW THIS.
>> WHEN ARE YOU PLANNING TO HAVE ALL THE METERS TRANSFERRED OVER.
>> RIGHT NOW THERE'S THE PROJECT SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED BY JUNE.
>> OUR CONTRACTOR IS UP TO INSTALLING 500 METERS A WEEK NOW.
>> BUT HAS THE SUPPLIER BEEN BACK ORDER NOW?
>> NO. THEY THEY HAVE BEEN, WELL, WE HAVE A HEALTHY SUPPLY WITH OUR CONTRACTOR.
IT'S IMPACTING US MORE AS A SIDE CUSTOMER LIKE FOR NEW TAPS.
AND WE'VE BEEN BORROWING SOME OF THE METERS FOR NEW TAPS FROM THE CONTRACTOR UNTIL OUR ORDER COMES IN AND WILL REPLENISH.
>> BUT YEAH, THE CONTRACTOR THEMSELVES, THEY HAVE A HEALTHY SUPPLY.
>> SO ARE ALL NEW TAPS GOING IN THE CONTROL RUN.
>> BUT SOME OF THE BIGGER ONES, YOU'RE STILL USING THE OLD METER THAT DOESN'T HAVE CONNECTIVITY?
>> NO, SO ALL METERS ARE THE NEW AMI METERS.100% OF THE NEW AMI METERS.
THEY DON'T ALL HAVE REMOTE CONNECT, DISCONNECT BECAUSE THE TECHNOLOGY ONLY EXISTS ON THE 5, 8 METERS.
ANYTHING OVER 5, 8, IT DOESN'T EXIST YET.
AT LEAST NOT WITH OUR PRODUCT.
>> SO ALL NEW METERS JUST MIGHT NOT HAVE DISCONNECT.
>> BUT THEY ALL HAVE THE REST OF THE TECHNOLOGY.
>> WE HAVE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF MAKING SURE THAT MOST RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS HAVE 5, 8 METERS BECAUSE THAT WAS THE OTHER PROBLEM, AND THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GETTING A LOT OF THIS.
[03:30:02]
WE ARE OUT THERE REPLACING A LOT OF ONE INCH, AN INCH AND A HALF METERS, GOING TO 5, 8 METERS, WHICH IS APPROPRIATE FOR HOUSE.THOSE METERS WERE NEVER SPINNING APPROPRIATELY, SO THEY WEREN'T PAYING THE CONSUMPTIVE USE.
I DON'T KNOW. I JUST PUT A TWO INCH IN IN MY HOUSE AND IT WOULD HAVE NEVER SPUN.
>> BROWN LET'S FIRST OF ALL, COUNCILWOMAN ROBS WITH THIS DISCONNECT ISSUE.
LEWIS COULD YOU GET THAT RESOLVED ANY TIME?
>> ANYTIME THERE'S AN ISSUE LIKE THAT, SARAH'S REALLY GOOD ABOUT WE PROFILE THE METERS.
WE CAN LOOK NOW, IT'S REAL TIME.
WE CAN LOOK RIGHT NOW AND SEE.
THE OTHER THING IS ABOUT HAVING ACCESS TO THESE METERS.
MARIE, IF YOU WANT TO PUT THAT ON WE CAN HAVE A ORDINANCE CHANGED TO LOOK AT THAT.
>> WE CAN WE CAN STOP THE INSTALLATION OF THE LOCK BOXES NOW.
BUT THE ISSUE IS THAT EVEN THE PEOPLE, WE HAVEN'T CHANGED THEM YET.
WE LITERALLY HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT SAYS YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE METER BOX.
>> BUT IN THE SAME SENSE, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED ON JURY.
>>PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HELP US, WE WOULD HAVE DEPLETED THE WATER.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WAS ON A HURRICANE.
>> [LAUGHTER] SANDY HAD A NAME AND URI HAD A NAME.
>> HURRICANE, HIT THE EAST COAST.
>> IT WAS ONE THAT WAS NOT A HURRICANE THAT THE NAME WINTER STORM, URI, HAS A NAME FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER ASSOCIATION.
>> JUDGE, LET'S WIND THIS DISCUSSION.
>> TO THE POINT. IF IT WASN'T FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HELPED SHUT METERS, WE WOULD HAVE DEPLETED ALL THE WATER ON THE WEST END.
NOW WITH A LOT OF THINGS, ALTHOUGH PEOPLE HAVE FIGURED IT OUT [OVERLAPPING] ONE WE HAD AND I'M GOING TO SEND YOU THE DOCUMENTATION ON HOW THEY NAMED IT, ANYWAY.
>> THE GOOD NEWS IS, IS THAT ONCE WE'RE PAST JUNE, IF WE HAVE TO DO REMOTE DISCONNECT, THAT'S INSTANTANEOUS AND IT'S, WELL, IT'S ACTUALLY MUCH BETTER THAN OUT THERE FOOLING WITH A VOW BECAUSE THAT'S HOW THEY GET BROKE.
>> LET'S ADDRESS THE DISCONNECT ISSUE THE COUNCILWOMAN ROB HAS MENTIONED.
AND ALSO, LET'S LOOK AT THE ORDINANCE.
I GUESS WE'LL NEED TO GET THAT BACK.
>> TRINO'S GOT A GOOD IDEA. THERE'S A PROVISION IN THERE THAT IN AN EMERGENCY YOU CAN GET IN YOUR METER AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> OKAY. TO DO THAT, THEY HAVE TO CALL YOU TRINO?
>> NO. ACTUALLY, IN OUR CURRENT ORDINANCE, SECTION 3618, UNDER WATER EMERGENCIES, THAT SAYS THE CITY COUNCIL MAY PROPERLY DETERMINED THAT A WATER EMERGENCY EXISTS, MAY PUBLICLY SO DECLARE AND MAKE ALL NECESSARY RULES, REGULATIONS, OR PRESCRIPTIONS AND PROHIBITION TO ENSURE THE CONSERVATION OF WATER.
IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE WHAT IT'S SAYING IS IF THE COUNCIL DECLARES AN EMERGENCY, WE CAN ALLOW PUBLIC TO DO WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
>> WITH THE HARD FREEZE THEY JUST EXPERIENCED, IT WASN'T DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND YET PEOPLE STILL HELP SHUT OFF PEOPLE WATER.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I DON'T DISAGREE WITH WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER ROB IS SAYING.
BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU AT MY HOUSE I HAVE NO WAY TO SHUT THE WATER OFF EXCEPT AT THE METER.
>> YEAH. ALLOWING PEOPLE IN THE METERS BY LAW AND PUTTING LOCK LIDS ON THE BOX ARE TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
STOP DOING THAT WITHOUT CHANGING THE LAW.
>> SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE.
WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH THE BOXES THEMSELVES?
>> TRINO IS GOING TO SUSPEND PUTTING LOCK METER BOXES OUT.
>> ANYBODY HAS A LOCKED METER BOX AND THEY WOULD LIKE IT REPLACED, WILL GO OUT IF THEY HAVEN'T A REMOTE AND DIFFERENT DISCONNECT, WE'LL TELL THEM YOU HAVE A REMOTE DISCONNECT, PLEASE USE THAT ONE.
IF NOT THEY HAVE NO OTHER MEANS OF DOING IT, WE'LL PUT A NON LOCK LID ON IT.
>> DOES THAT HE GOT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS, AND ON THE DISCONNECT YOU'LL GET WITH, YOU'LL WORK ON THAT DISCONNECT ISSUE.
>> I THINK HE'S GOT IT. I THINK HE'S ALREADY MOVING.
>> I'M TALKING ABOUT DISCONNECT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF CALLING SOMEONE AND BEING ABLE TO.
>> YEAH. I JUST DON'T KNOW ANYBODY IN THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT SENDING WATER WENT THROUGH YOU METER, YOU'RE DONE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT TO BE THE CASE.
>> THERE IS A NAME. I DIDN'T FEEL THE NECESSITIES OFF.
>> OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE ON THAT, MARIE?
>> [OVERLAPPING] THE CALL BE RECORDED, SO THAT'S A GOOD THING.
>> OKAY. VERY GOOD. AS WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE DISCONNECT.
WE HAVE GONE THROUGH OUR AGENDA ITEMS. WE ARE ADJOURNED. COUNCIL, BEFORE WE LEAVE, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SOME.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.