[00:00:05] GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. [1. DECLARATION OF A QUORUM AND CALL MEETING TO ORDER] GLAD TO HAVE YOU WITH US THIS AFTERNOON. AND, LOOKS LIKE IT'S MARDI GRAS TIME AGAIN. I SEE Z CREW IN THE AUDIENCE. SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU WITH US. IT IS 5 P.M. I'M OFFICIALLY CALLING THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON TO ORDER, FOR JANUARY 25TH. THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR BEING HERE. APPRECIATE THAT. AND FOR THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING IN THE AUDIENCE AND IN THE COMMUNITY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. GLAD TO HAVE YOU WITH US THIS AFTERNOON. WE DO HAVE A QUORUM, BUT LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE. VERY GOOD. ALL OF OUR COUNCIL ARE SEATED. MOVING ITEM THREE, OUR INVOCATION. WE HAVE THE REVEREND RICHARD ROSE WITH FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH WITH REVEREND RHODES. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. GREETINGS AGAIN FROM, YOUR NEIGHBORS OVER AT FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH, HERE AT 25TH AND WINNIE ONLY CELEBRATING 174 YEARS OF ACTIVE. WOW. SO WE'RE STILL WORKING ON IT. IF YOU'RE A PERSON OF PRAYER, I INVITE YOU TO QUIET YOUR HEART, CALM YOUR MIND, AND JOIN ME. HOLY AND MERCIFUL GOD, BY YOUR GRACE, IT IS OUR PRIVILEGE TO LIVE ON THIS ISLAND AND TO STRIVE TOGETHER AS NEIGHBORS FOR THE GOOD OF ALL. WE THANK YOU FOR OUR CITY EMPLOYEES AND OUR ELECTED LEADERS WHO ARE CALLED UPON TO STEWARD AND GUIDE OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING OUR MAYOR, THE CITY COUNCIL, AND THE STAFF. WE THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FAITHFULLY SERVED OUR CITY, INCLUDING THE LATE BO QUIROGA. AS WE MOURN HIS DEATH. HOLY GOD, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT OUR COMMUNITY FACES CHALLENGES AND JOYS, AND WE SEEK WISDOM FOR OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE THE JOYS. GIVE CLARITY AND UNDERSTANDING AND HUMBLENESS OF HEART TO ACT. HELP US TO WORK TOGETHER TOWARD ROBUST EMPLOYMENT, SUFFICIENT HOUSING, VIBRANT LIVABILITY, AND ADDRESSING THE DIFFICULT ISSUES FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOOD OF OUR COMMUNITY. STIR OUR CITIZENS TO VALUE ONE ANOTHER AND TO ENGAGE MORE FULLY FOR THE CARE OF OUR CITY. OPEN OUR EARS TO HEAR THE STILL, SMALL VOICE, AND TO LISTEN FOR THE VOICES OF THOSE TOO OFTEN NOT HEARD. EMPOWER US AS A COMMUNITY TO WALK TOGETHER, SHARING RESPECT AND HONOR AND LOVE. HOLY GOD, YOU HAVE BLESSED US WITH THE OPPORTUNITY OF CALLING GALVESTON OUR HOME. BLESS US STILL AS WE WALK AND WORK TOGETHER. INDEED, MAY THE WORDS OF OUR MOUTHS AND THE MEDITATIONS OF OUR HEARTS BE PLEASING TO YOU, O LORD. I OFFER THIS IN JESUS NAME AND INVITE THE PEOPLE TO SAY AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. LET'S HAVE OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEASE. MOVING TO ITEM MOVING TO ITEM SIX. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. ARE THERE ANY CONFLICTS, COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO DECLARE? HEARING NO RESPONSE. LET'S MOVE, AND BEFORE WE MOVE TO ITEM SIX, I JUST WANT TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT. OUR, TRUSTY AUTOMATED VOTING SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING TODAY, SO WE'RE GOING TO BE VOTING OLD SCHOOL WITH THE SHOW OF HANDS FOR EACH ONE OF OUR PARTICULAR ITEMS. LET'S MOVE TO ITEM SIX, PLEASE NELLIE. [6. PRESENTATIONS/REPORTS OF COUNCIL, OFFICER BOARDS, AND CITY MANAGER] ITEM SIX, PRESENTATIONS, REPORTS OF COUNCIL OFFICER BOARDS AND CITY MANAGER. SIX A, PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.0415, THE CITY COUNCIL MAY REPORT ON ANY OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. [00:05:08] BEFORE WE START, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT IF I COULD. WHENEVER WE HAVE A RESIDENT OF GALVESTON THAT PASSES AWAY, IT IS ALWAYS A LOSS AND RECENTLY, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF RESIDENTS THAT WERE NEAR AND DEAR TO MANY OF US. I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE RECENT LOSS OF MAYOR ROGER "BO" QUIROGA. MAYOR QUIROGA WAS NOT ONLY A FORCE WHO GUIDED THIS CITY DURING HIS TERM OF OFFICE, BUT WAS A COMMUNITY PARTNER TO MANY ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS AND HIS PRESENCE WILL BE MISSED. ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A THANK YOU TO MAYOR QUIROGA FOR HIS EFFORTS IN MOVING OUR CITY FORWARD AND EXTEND OUR SYMPATHIES AND CONDOLENCES TO THE QUIROGA FAMILY. DAVID. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO REMEMBER OUR GOOD FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, FRAN AND MARTY, KELLY AND THEIR SON, DAVID. THEY DIED IN THE HOUSE FIRE ON SEALY THIS PAST WEEKEND. I, FRAN WAS ONE OF THE VERY FIRST PEOPLE I MET WHEN I MOVED TO GALVESTON AND KNOWN HER AND WORKED WITH HER IN THE EAST END HISTORIC DISTRICT FOR MANY YEARS. AND I ALSO SAY MR. MAXWELL AND FIRE CHIEF OLSEN, THANK YOU FOR THE RESPONSE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ON ON SCENE VERY QUICKLY. THEY PROBABLY SAVED THE HOUSES ON EITHER SIDE OF IT BECAUSE THOSE OF YOU HAVE SEEN THE PICTURES, THE FIRE WAS ENORMOUS AND TOOK THOSE THREE LIVES. I'D ALSO LIKE TO JUST TO SHOUT OUT TO OUR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES. I KNOW SOME OF THEM MOBILIZED TO HELP US, INCLUDING THE SANTA FE FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE APPRECIATE THEIR HELP. THANK YOU DAVID. ANY OTHER COMMENTS COUNCIL MEMBERS? WE CAN MOVE TO OUR RECOGNITION OF INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS ON OUR AGENDA. WE HAD DOWN TO RECOGNIZE THE TUCKER LODGE 297. THAT HAS BEEN MOVED TO OUR FEBRUARY MEETING, SO WE'LL BE VISITING WITH THEM THEN. WE NOW HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR Z CREW DAY AND READING THAT WILL BE COUNCIL MEMBER BOUVIER. ALL RIGHT. PROCLAMATION. CITY OF GALVESTON PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS THE Z CREW WERE ORGANIZED IN 1994, HERE ON THE BEAUTIFUL ISLAND CALLED GALVESTON IS CELEBRATING THE 28TH ANNIVERSARY OF THIS YEAR. AND WHEREAS THE Z CREW IS RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR CONTINUED WORK AND GOODWILL IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND WHEREAS THE Z CREW IS ACKNOWLEDGED FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO THEIR MISSION TO PERPETUATE THE SPIRIT OF MARDI GRAS EVERY YEAR, THEREFORE, WE, THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 10TH, 2024 AS Z CREW DAY IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON AND ENCOURAGE EACH CITIZEN TO ENJOY THEIR TRADITION, FUNDS, MERRIMENT OF MARDI GRAS, GALVESTON, 2024. AND THE TESTIMONY, WHEREFORE THE WITNESS BY MY HAND AND THE SEAL OF GALVESTON, THIS 25TH DAY OF JANUARY, MAYOR CRAIG BROWN AND JANELLE WILLIAMS, CITY SECRETARY. COUNCIL MEMBERS ON BEHALF OF Z CREW, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE COME HERE EVERY YEAR AND WE GET OUR Z CREW DAY PROCLAMATION. THIS IS SHARED, WE CHERISH THIS EVERY YEAR AND WE HAVE OUR MAYOR COMING OUT ON THE 10TH. I'LL BE THERE.. TO OUR PARTY AT 1:00 AND HE WILL BE READING THIS TO EVERYONE ON THE STRAND TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THIS IS Z CREW DAY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HAVE MY OUR ROYALTY WITH US, THIS YEAR OUR THEME IS GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY. LIKE LIKE STAR WARS AND STAR TREK AND ALL THAT SCIENCE FICTION. SO WE HAVE OUR KING AND QUEEN HERE, AND WE HAVE SOME ROYALTY MEMBERS AND WE HAVE OTHER ZANIES. SO EVERYONE UP AND LET'S GIVE SOME BEADS TO OUR GALVESTON ROYALTY, GALVESTON COUNCIL. [00:10:04] GO AHEAD. UP.. TRADITION THAT WE LOVE TO COME TO EVERY YEAR. AND WE KIND OF THINK MARDI GRAS STARTS WHEN WE COME TO THIS MEETING. I AGREE, WE ALL GO THE SAME WAY. YOU CAN GO THIS WAY ALL THE SAME WAY. THEY DON'T WANT US TO GO THAT WELL. YOU CAN GO THAT WAY. TO GO THAT WAY, TO GO THAT WAY TO EVERYBODY UP. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, GO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. GET THAT LOOSE. THERE WE GO. YOU'RE THE KING. OH, YOU WANT ME TO HOLD YOUR YOUR THING? HOLD THIS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK. OH. COOL, BABY. WHOA! RIGHT HERE TO THE LOVELY LADIES. OH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AGAIN. WHAT DID YOU GET? OH, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. MAYOR. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OH, WONDERFUL. MY PARTNER DECIDED HE WANTED TO DO SHOT GLASSES THIS YEAR INSTEAD OF BEADS. HOW ARE YOU DOING? GOOD. THANK YOU. I'M FINE, SIR, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. YEAH. MARDI GRAS. WELL, I'LL BE THERE. LOOKING GOOD. THANK YOU. YO, THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. WE HOPE THIS STARTS YOUR MARDI GRAS SEASON. AND WE'LL BE BACK NEXT YEAR FOR ANOTHER PROCLAMATION. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. DO I NEED THIS? EXCUSE ME. DO I NEED THIS? NO, I. OH, YEAH. I THINK IT'S FOR EVERYBODY JUST TO READ. YEAH. YA'LL HAVE A GOOD DAY HERE. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. PASS IT AROUND. I BETTER PUT MY GLASSES ON FOR THAT. YEAH, YEAH. THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. GIRL. NO. VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE NOW, MOVING TO OUR NEXT PROCLAMATION, TO HONOR THE SOUTH TRANSPLANT ALLIANCE PROCLAMATION. AND THAT'LL BE READ BY COUNCILMAN COLLINS. HI, GINA. HELLO, EVERYONE. HOW ARE YOU? OH, SORRY. GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD. WHEREAS FOR 50 YEARS, SOUTHWEST TRANSPLANT ALLIANCE HAS BEEN A KEY GALVESTON NEIGHBOR, FULFILLING THE GIFTS OF ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION. AS ONE OF THE LARGEST FEDERALLY DESIGNATED ORGAN PROCUREMENT ORGANIZATIONS, STA SAVES AND HEALS LIVES THROUGH DONATION, CARES FOR DONORS WHILE SUPPORTING THEIR FAMILIES, AND RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT THE NEED AND IMPACT OF DONATION. THERE ARE MORE THAN 100,000 PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES, 10,000 TEXANS AND HUNDREDS OF GALVESTONIANS WAITING FOR A LIFE SAVING ORGAN TRANSPLANT, WITH ANOTHER PERSON ADDED TO THE WAIT LIST EVERY NINE MINUTES. THE IMPACT OF DONATION IS INCREDIBLE. JUST ONE DONOR CAN SAVE UP TO EIGHT LIVES AND IMPROVE THE LIVES OF 75 OTHERS. WHEREAS THANKS TO THE SUPPORT OF THE GALVESTON COMMUNITY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH, STA WILL CONTINUE TO SAVE AND HEAL LIVES IN GALVESTON THROUGH EDUCATION, INNOVATION, AND COMPASSION FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS AND BEYOND. THEREFORE, WE, THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JANUARY 25TH, 2024 AS SOUTH TRANSPLANT ALLIANCE DAY. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF WITNESS, MY HAND AND THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, THIS 25TH DAY OF JANUARY, SIGNED CRAIG BROWN, MAYOR, JANELLE WILLIAMS, CITY SECRETARY. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR BROWN. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS FIBBENS ADDO KORANTENG, AND I SERVE AS THE GENERAL COUNSEL FOR SOUTHWEST TRANSPLANT ALLIANCE. MY CEO, MR. BRADLEY ADAMS, WISHED HE COULD HAVE BEEN HERE WITH US. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, HE WAS CALLED BACK TO DALLAS. [00:15:01] AND SO YOU GET ME INSTEAD. AND, UNFORTUNATELY, I DIDN'T BRING ANY BEADS. BUT, I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY A BIG THANK YOU FOR CELEBRATING WITH US OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF SAVING LIVES THROUGH ORGAN DONATION IN THIS GALVESTON COMMUNITY. I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE AND SAY A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR HEALTH CARE PARTNERS, ESPECIALLY UTMB, WITHOUT WHOM WE CAN'T DO THE WORK THAT WE DO. BECAUSE OF THE GENEROSITY OF PEOPLE LIKE ALL OF YOU AND THE GALVESTON COMMUNITY. IN OUR FIRST 50 YEARS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HONOR THE GIFT OF ORGAN DONATION FOR OVER 10,000 INDIVIDUALS, SAVING LIVES. I THINK SAVING THE LIVES OF OVER 30,000 PEOPLE. AND WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR CONTINUED LEGACY OF LIFE FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS TO COME. SO ON BEHALF OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF SOUTHWEST TRANSPLANT ALLIANCE, I SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH AGAIN AND GOD BLESS. THANK YOU. NOW HAVE A PROCLAMATION HONORING THE CATHOLIC DAUGHTERS OF AMERICAS AND OUR THAT WILL BE READ BY COUNCIL MEMBER FINKLEA. HI, EVERYBODY. THIS IS A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION PRESENTED TO THE CATHOLIC DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAS, FOUNDED ON FEBRUARY 14TH, 1914. AND FOR THE PAST 110 YEARS, THEY HAVE DEDICATED THEIR LOVE AND TIME TO NUMEROUS PROJECTS, WHICH ENABLES THEM TO MAKE DONATIONS TO LOCAL, PARISH, PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS, NATIONAL AND LOCAL DESERVING CHARITIES. THIS ORGANIZATION STOOD STRONG THROUGH THE GREAT DEPRESSION, WORLD WARS AND MANY HURRICANES SERVING OUR COMMUNITY FOR MANY YEARS. THEREFORE, WE, THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE CATHOLIC DAUGHTERS OF AMERICAS FOR THEIR CONTINUOUSLY HARD WORK AND DEDICATION IN SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, WITNESS MY HAND AND THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON THIS 25TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2024. DOCTOR CRAIG BROWN, MAYOR. JANELLE WILLIAMS, CITY SECRETARY. THANK YOU. WE JUST WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'RE VERY HONORED AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO CELEBRATE THIS YEAR. WE'LL BE HAVING SOME OTHER FESTIVITIES GOING ON LATER, NEXT MONTH, ACTUALLY AT MOODY GARDENS TO CELEBRATE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'RE VERY HONORED. YOU'RE WELCOME. GOOD TO SEE YOU BACK. OKAY. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. IT IS NOW MY HONOR TO COME FORWARD AND HONOR TWO OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES. THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE PERFORMED HEROIC SERVICES. ONE IS LOUIS NAVARRO, AND THE OTHER IS LARRY SARICH. GOOD. NICE TO SEE YOU. NICE TO MEET YOU. YOU DOING? VERY NICE TO MEET YOU. MY PLEASURE SIR. CITY OF GALVESTON CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION PRESENTED TO LOUIS NAVARRO IN RECOGNITION OF THE SELFLESS ACT OF RENDERING LIFE SAVING AID TO A PERSON IN TIME OF NEED. THEREFORE, WE, THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE LOUIS FOR HIS EXCEPTIONAL COURAGE AND PERFORMANCE IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, WITNESS MY HAND. THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, THIS 25TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2024. CONGRATULATIONS. CITY OF GALVESTON CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION PRESENTED TO LARRY SARICH IN RECOGNITION OF THE SELFLESS ACT OF RENDERING LIFE SAVING AID TO A PERSON IN TIME OF NEED. THEREFORE, WE, THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE LARRY FOR HIS EXCEPTIONAL COURAGE AND PERFORMANCE. [00:20:01] IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, WITNESS MY HAND IN THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, THE 25TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2024. CONGRATULATIONS. DID YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS? I'D LIKE TO. YES, SIR. I WAS BORN ON THE ISLAND, SO, B-O-I, AND I'M PROUD TO HAVE THE JOB THAT I DO HAVE AND SERVE EVERYBODY HERE. SO IT'S. IT'S BEEN A GOOD LIFE. AND I APPRECIATE THE WHOLE ISLAND, AND IT'S BEEN GOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND THE PERSON WE HELPED, EXCUSE ME, IS A GOOD MAN. AND HE NEEDED TO BE HELPED. AND HE WAS. AND HE'S STILL KICKING. SO THAT'S GOOD TOO. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION, I GUESS. BUT THE GREATEST RECORD OR AWARD IS JUST JACK, MR. JACK BEING ALIVE. IT WAS MY FIRST TIME WORKING WITH HIM. I HAD ONLY BEEN HERE TWO WEEKS, SO I THINK I HAD BEEN AT MY OTHER JOB FOR TEN YEARS. AND I THINK IT'S GOD'S PLAN, I GUESS, FOR ME TO BE WHERE I'M AT RIGHT NOW AND JUST THANK YOU. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THIS JUST TOTALLY EXEMPLIFIES THE FAMILY THAT WE ARE HERE AS CITY EMPLOYEES, THAT THEY CARE ENOUGH TO DO THAT FOR THEIR FELLOW EMPLOYEE. AND THE READ YOUR LETTER, I THINK. YEAH. YEAH. BUT I ALSO WANT TO FINISH BY SAYING THAT, I DON'T I HOPE THAT THE CITIZENS OF GALVESTON KNOW HOW BLESSED THEY ARE TO HAVE, THE STAFF THAT WE DO HERE THAT WORKS FOR THEM EVERY SINGLE DAY. THIS HAPPENED, THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN ON A REGULAR WORKDAY, THIS HAPPENED ON SATURDAY RIGHT BEFORE THE FREEZE. SO THESE GUYS WERE ALREADY WORKING EXTRA, FOR THE CITIZENS OF GALVESTON WHEN THIS HAPPENED. SO I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT OUR CITY STAFF. SO. JUST FOR BACKGROUND, ON JANUARY 13TH, TWO EMPLOYEES FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON ACTED SELFLESSLY TO SAVE ANOTHER EMPLOYEE'S LIFE. EMPLOYEES LOUIS NAVARRO AND LARRY SARICH WERE AT THEIR CITY WORKSITE WHEN ANOTHER EMPLOYEE PASSED OUT, SUSTAINING AN INJURY TO HIS HEAD. LARRY SARICH LEFT LOUIS NAVARRO WITH THE EMPLOYEE TO RETRIEVE GAUZE AND ANTISEPTIC FOR HIS HEAD, AND CALLED 911. WHILE INSPECTING THE EMPLOYEES HEAD INJURY, LOUIS NAVARRO NOTICED THE EMPLOYEE HAD STOPPED BREATHING. HE CHECKED THE EMPLOYEES PULSE TO FIND HE DID NOT HAVE ONE. HE BEGAN PERFORMING CHEST COMPRESSIONS ON THE EMPLOYEE. BOTH LOUIS NAVARRO AND LARRY SARICH ADMINISTERED AID TO THE EMPLOYEE UNTIL EMS ARRIVED. EMS WAS ABLE TO RESUSCITATE THE EMPLOYEE AND TRANSPORTED HIM TO OUR LOCAL HOSPITAL. LOUIS NAVARRO WAS TOLD BY THE EMS. HAD HE NOT ADMINISTERED THE CHEST COMPRESSIONS TO THE EMPLOYEE, HE MOST LIKELY WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED. WOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU BRIAN. NELLIE, LET'S MOVE TO ITEM SIX B, IF WE COULD PLEASE. ITEM SIX B, CITY MANAGER'S REPORT THE INVESTMENT REPORT FOR QUARTER ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023 AS PART OF THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT. THIS WILL BE PRESENTED BY OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, CSILLA LUDANYI. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO FOLLOW THAT UP WITH THE INVESTMENT REPORT. SO THE REPORT YOU RECEIVED TONIGHT IS A QUARTERLY REPORT REQUIRED BY STATE LAW, THE PUBLIC FUNDS INVESTMENT ACT. PER OUR ADOPTED INVESTMENT POLICY, THE REPORT, REFLECTS OUR INVESTMENTS THAT PRIORITIZE SAFETY, LIQUIDITY, DIVERSIFICATION AND YIELD. AND THIS IS THE REPORT FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER OF FISCAL YEAR 2023. SO THE QUARTER ENDING SEPTEMBER 2023. THE REALLY IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE IS THIS PERIOD OF TIME WAS IN A CONTINUED HIGH INTEREST RATE YIELD PERIOD, WHICH IS GREAT FOR THE CITY. IF YOU TURN TO PAGE FIVE OR IF YOU HAVE IT IN FRONT OF YOU, I JUST LIKE TO DRAW A COUPLE OF ITEMS TO YOUR ATTENTION. SO AT SEPTEMBER, AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER 2023, THE PORTFOLIO MARKET VALUE WAS ABOUT $205.7 MILLION DOLLARS. FOR THE QUARTER, THE INTEREST INCOME WAS $2,026,000. AND FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR. [00:25:01] AND THIS IS FOR THE FULL FISCAL YEAR 2023, THE YIELD WAS NINE, ALMOST $9.5 MILLION, WHICH IS FANTASTIC. AND THAT IS A RESULT OF THE HIGH INTEREST RATES WE SAW IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR. THE ANNUAL RATE OF RETURN FOR THE PORTFOLIO AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME WAS ALMOST 5.4%, WHICH IS FANTASTIC. I THINK UNFORTUNATELY, WE'LL SEE A LITTLE DECREASE IN THAT OVER FISCAL YEAR 2024, BUT HOPEFULLY NOT. WE'LL HOLD OUT FOR CONTINUED AT LEAST INTEREST RATES ABOVE 4%. THAT'S OUR GOAL, RIGHT? AND FINALLY, I JUST WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT THE ASSET ALLOCATION REFLECTS THAT ABOUT 75% OF THE PORTFOLIO WAS IN POOL FUNDS, AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER. AND SO THIS GOES BACK TO WHAT WAS DISCUSSED EARLIER, THAT A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF OUR INVESTMENT IN OUR INVESTMENTS ARE IN POOLS, WHICH ARE HIGHLY LIQUID, AND THEY'VE REALLY TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THOSE HIGH INTEREST RATES. AND THE CITY WILL CONTINUE TO ADJUST ON THAT AS NEEDED. BUT AS LONG AS THE INTEREST RATES ARE HIGH, IT'S A VERY SAFE AND EFFECTIVE WAY FOR THE CITY TO INVEST ITS FUNDS. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. LUDANYI? THANK YOU CSILLA VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. [7. COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS] ITEM SEVEN, PLEASE NELLIE. ITEM SEVEN, COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS. CLAIMS 23-109 THROUGH 24-004 ARE ON THE SCREEN. THEY ARE ON THE SCREEN THERE, VERY GOOD. WE ARE NOW MOVING TO OUR PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS. [8.A. Conduct Public Hearing On CDBG-MIT Regional Application For Funding For The Causeway Waterline. (T. Wrobleski)] ITEM EIGHT A, PLEASE. ITEM EIGHT A, CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARING ON CDBG. MIT REGIONAL APPLICATION FOR FUNDING FOR THE CAUSEWAY WATERLINE. VERY GOOD. WE HAVE TESSA, I THINK WROBLEWSKI. WILL TESSA BE APPEARING BRIAN? SHE'S COMING. THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DELAY. COME FORWARD TESSA. PERFECT TIMING. I DON'T THINK I CAN FOLLOW THE BEADS VERY WELL EITHER. THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS JUST TO ADDRESS THE APPLICATION THAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO THE GLO TO HELP FUND THE, CAUSEWAY WATERLINE. VERY GOOD. AND, THERE'S NO VOTING AT THIS TIME. THIS IS MORE A PUBLIC HEARING. CORRECT? WE JUST, ACCEPT ANY COMMENTS, AND, WE CAN PROVIDE RESPONSES AT A LATER DATE. WE HAD DISCUSSED THIS AT OUR WORKSHOP THIS MORNING. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS COUNCIL FROM MISS WROBLEWSKI. VERY GOOD. IT IS NOW 5:27 P.M.. I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THIS? HEARING NO RESPONSE. IT'S 5:27 P.M.. I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM EIGHT A. THANK YOU TESSA. ITEM EIGHT B PLEASE NELLIE. [8.B. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Designating The Property Located At 1915 Avenue M, As A “Galveston Landmark”, Property Is Legally Described As M.B. Menard Survey, Lots 5 And 4 And East 10-9 Feet Of Lot 3, Northeast Block 19, Galveston Outlots, In The City And County Of Galveston, Texas; Requesting The Historic Preservation Officer Record The Property's Landmark Designation In The Official Public Records Of Real Property In Galveston County, The Tax Records Of The City Of Galveston And The Central Appraisal District, And The Official Zoning Maps Of The City Of Galveston, Texas; Planning Case Number 23P-090; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject (D. Lunsford)] ITEM EIGHT B, CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AND ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, DESIGNATING THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1915 AVENUE M AS A GALVESTON LANDMARK PROPERTY IS LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS MB MENARD SURVEY LOTS FIVE AND FOUR AND EAST 10-9 FEET OF LOT THREE, NORTHEAST BLOCK 19. GALVESTON OUTLOTS IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, REQUESTING THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER RECORD THE PROPERTY'S LANDMARK DESIGNATION IN THE OFFICIAL PUBLIC RECORDS OF REAL PROPERTY IN GALVESTON COUNTY, THE TAX RECORDS OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON AND THE CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT, AND THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAPS OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS. PLANNING CASE NUMBER 23P-090, MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH NELLIE. DANIEL LUNSFORD. DANIEL. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, SIR. SO, PROMINENT ATTORNEY WALTER GRESHAM BUILT THIS ONE STORY, FIVE BAY CENTER HALL COLLEGE IN 1886 AS A TENANT PROPERTY. HOUSE REPLACED A HOUSE LOST IN THE 1885 FIRE. GRESHAM WAS AN ATTORNEY, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, STATE LEGISLATURE, AND IS A VERY WELL KNOWN HERE LOCALLY AS THE MAN WHO BUILT THE OR LIVED IN THE BISHOP'S PALACE, DESIGNED BY ARCHITECT NICHOLAS CLAYTON. GRESHAM ALSO BUILT A KNOWN NUMBER OF OTHER TENANT RENTAL PROPERTIES, IN WHICH CLAYTON WAS KNOWN TO DESIGN SOME OF THEM. THIS MAY HAVE BEEN ONE WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE. BUT REGARDLESS, THE HOUSE RETAINS A HIGH DEGREE OF ARCHITECTURAL AND HISTORICAL INTEGRITY AS PART OF THE LOST BY A HISTORIC DISTRICT, LANDMARK COMMISSION PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL THIS REQUEST, AS DOES STAFF. WE HAVE A PHOTO HERE OF THE HOUSE. AND THIS CONCLUDES STAFF'S REPORT. THANK YOU DANIEL. BEAUTIFUL HOME. IT, COUNCIL, ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR MR. LUNSFORD? IT IS 5:29 P.M.. I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM. ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT ITEM EIGHT B? HEARING NO RESPONSE. I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 5:29 P.M. [00:30:02] ON THIS AND BRING THIS BACK TO COUNCIL FOR ACTION. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE, ITEM 8P ON THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. I WOULD SECOND THAT. GOOD. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL BY COUNCILMAN FINKLEA AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN COLLINS. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT IS UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU. ITEM EIGHT C, PLEASE. OH, NOT AT ALL. THAT'D BE GREAT. THE OWNER IS NOT IN THE AUDIENCE, BUT STEPHEN CREUTZ IS HERE AS A REPRESENTATIVE. OKAY. WE'RE IN TROUBLE NOW. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. LET'S MOVE TO ITEM EIGHT C PLEASE. [8.C. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Amending The 2015 Galveston Land Development Regulations, By Amending “Article 2: Uses And Supplemental Standards”, Division 2.300, “Standards For Limited And Specific Uses”, And Division 2.600, “Supplemental Nonresidential And Mixed Use Standards”, In Order To Modify Requirements For Certain Uses To Provide Restroom Facilities; To Amend Article 14: “Definitions” As Applicable; Planning Case Number 23ZA-005; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject. (C. Gorman)] ITEM EIGHT C, CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS AMENDING THE 2015 GALVESTON LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS BY AMENDING ARTICLE TWO USES AND SUPPLEMENTAL STANDARDS. DIVISION 2.300, STANDARDS FOR LIMITED AND SPECIFIC USES AND DIVISION 2.600 SUPPLEMENTAL, NON RESIDENTIAL AND MIXED USE STANDARDS IN ORDER TO MODIFY REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN USES TO PROVIDE RESTROOM FACILITIES TO AMEND ARTICLE 14, DEFINITIONS. AS APPLICABLE PLANNING CASE NUMBER 23ZA-005 MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT. THANK YOU NELLIE. WE HAVE CATHERINE GORMAN. CATHERINE. GOOD EVENING. THIS CASE IS RELATED TO A RECENT CASE THAT WAS 23ZA-004, IN WHICH MICHAEL GERTNER HAD REQUESTED SOME CHANGES TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS TO MODIFY PERMANENT COMMERCIAL USES. DURING THE DISCUSSIONS ON THAT CASE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION DIRECTED STAFF TO RESEARCH THE ADDITION OF AIRPLANE HANGAR AND CHARGING STATION AS NEW LAND USES AND TO MAKE ADDITIONAL CHANGES FOR REQUIREMENTS OF PERMANENT USES. SO THAT'S WHAT THIS CASE DOES. ADDS AIRPLANE HANGAR AND ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION AND ADDS IT INTO THE LDR AS NEW USES. IT ADDS AIRPLANE HANGAR, PARKING STRUCTURE OR LOT INCIDENTAL TO MAIN USE AND PARKING STRUCTURE. MIXED USE AS USE IS EXEMPT FROM PROVIDING A RESTROOM AND ADDS ELECTRICAL VEHICLE CHARGING STATION AS A USE. EXEMPT FROM PROVIDING A PERMANENT BUILDING AND A RESTROOM FACILITY. STAFF AND PLANNING COMMISSION ARE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL. THANK YOU. CATHERINE. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS GORMAN COUNCIL? IT IS NOW 5:32 P.M.. I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM HC. ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS? IT'S 5:32 P.M.. I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND BRING THAT BACK TO COUNCIL. I MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 8C. IS THERE A SECOND? THANK YOU. SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN LEWIS. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? IT IS UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU. ITEM 8D PLEASE. [8.D. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Abandonment Of Approximately 3,800 Square Feet Of Alley Right-Of-Way; Adjacent Property Is Legally Described As M. B. Menard Survey, Lots 8-14, Part Of Adjacent 12th And 13th Street, Block 732; In The City And County Of Galveston, Texas; Planning Case Number 23P-093; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject. (A. Montalvan)] ITEM 8D, CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AND ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS. ABANDONMENT OF APPROXIMATELY 3800FT² OF ALLEY RIGHT OF WAY ADJACENT PROPERTY IS LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS MB MENARD SURVEY LOTS EIGHT THROUGH 14, PART OF ADJACENT 12TH AND 13TH STREET, BLOCK 732, IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS. PLANNING CASE NUMBER 20 3P-093 MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT. THANK YOU NELLIE VERY MUCH. GOOD. WE HAVE ANDREW. YES, SIR. IN THIS CASE, THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING AN ABANDONMENT OF THE REMAINING 3800FT² OF ALLEY RIGHT OF WAY ADJACENT TO 1201 AND 1228 HARBORSIDE. THERE WERE NO OBJECTIONS FROM PUBLIC OR PRIVATE UTILITIES. BOTH PLANNING COMMISSION AND STAFF ARE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL. THAT CONCLUDES STAFF'S REPORT. THANK YOU ADRIA, THAT'S PRETTY QUICK. SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. MONTAVON? VERY GOOD. IT IS 5:34 P.M.. I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 8D, ANY COMMENTS IN THE AUDIENCE? OH, GOD. YES, SIR. COME FORWARD. YES, SIR. IT'S ALWAYS PROPER TIME FOR YOU, MR. HILL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I GOT A COUPLE OF JUDGES I NEED YOU TO TALK TO. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THANK YOU ALL FOR. THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING TIME OUT TO LISTEN TO ME TODAY ON THIS. IT'S AN INTERESTING LITTLE DEAL. AND EVERYBODY HAS HAS BEEN FOR IT SO FAR. AND I HOPE YOU ALL ARE TOO. THE 3800FT² THAT WE SEE AT THE VERY TOP BETWEEN THE, AQUA AND THE YELLOW LINE, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO COME BACK [00:35:01] ON THE TAX ROLL. IT'S PART OF AN ABANDONED ALLEY. THE PROPERTY IS NOW BEING USED AS PARKING FOR OUR NEW CRUISE SHIPS. SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REVENUE AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INCOME. AND WE'LL STILL HAVE DOWN AT THE FRONT A GREEN SPACE. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR WE'RE ASKING TO MAKE IT CONTINUITY ADJACENT AND, TO ABANDONMENT. WE WILL PAY THE CITY THE APPRAISED VALUE, AND THEN WE'LL BE BACK ON THE TAX ROLLS. AND WE'LL BE HELPING THAT WAY, TOO, IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, MR. HILL. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. HILL COUNCIL? THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER INPUT ON THIS ITEM? IT IS 5:35 P.M.. I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM EIGHT D BRING THAT BACK TO COUNCIL FOR ACTION. MAYOR, I WOULD MOVE APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM. THIS IS 8D. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN COLLINS OF 8D, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN LISTOWSKI. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THAT IS UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE ARE NOW NINE, PLEASE. [9. PUBLIC COMMENT] NELLIE. ITEM NINE. PUBLIC COMMENT. A, AGENDA ITEMS AND B, NON AGENDA ITEMS. MAKING THE WAY UP. OKAY. PUBLIC COMMENT. AS EVERYONE KNOWS, THIS IS A TIME FOR THE PUBLIC TO MAKE COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS OR NON AGENDA ITEMS. WE ALLOW THREE MINUTES FOR YOUR COMMENTS. ACCORDING TO THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, WE CANNOT RESPOND TO YOUR COMMENTS. BUT COUNCIL AND STAFF IS LISTENING AS YOU MAKE YOUR COMMENTS. LET'S START WITH JULIANNE BROWN. JULIANNE. MORE. AFTERNOON, JULIANNE BROWN I LIVE AT 1824 AVENUE N AND A HALF, AND I HAD A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ABOUT THE, WILDFLOWER ORDINANCE REVISIONS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS EVENING. I THINK THAT I WAS AT ALL BUT ONE OF THE TREE COMMITTEE AND, THE WILDFLOWER ORDINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETINGS. AND ALTHOUGH THE REVISIONS DON'T REFLECT ALL OF THE CHANGES THAT WE WERE HOPING FOR, WE THINK THAT IT'S DEFINITELY PROGRESS. AND, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO CITY STAFF FOR ALL OF THE TIME, PUT INTO THIS, ESPECIALLY KATHERINE, AND COUNCIL PERSON BOUVIER, WHO SAT THROUGH ALL THOSE MEETINGS AND LISTENED TO TO EVERYONE, INCLUDING US IN THE AUDIENCE. THANK YOU. AND THEN ALSO THE TREE COMMITTEE, OF COURSE, AND ALLISON O'DONNELL, WHO, KIND OF BY DEFAULT LED THE SUBCOMMITTEE. THERE WERE A LOT OF HOURS THAT WENT INTO THE DISCUSSION, AND I JUST APPRECIATE THE TIME AND THOUGHTFULNESS THAT WENT INTO IT. SO THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU JULIANNE. AND IT'S, BEGINNING OF 24 WOULD NOT BE 24 UNLESS WE HAD SHEILA BELL. SHEILA. HEY, Y'ALL. HEY, HEY. WE'LL START OFF. OH, I GOT A LOT TO SAY TODAY. REAL QUICK. FIRST OF ALL, OH. JUST HOPING THAT SOMEONE WILL, LOOK FOR THE COURT ORDER FOR CASE 57 849. THERE NEVER WAS A COURT ORDER. JANUARY 5TH, 1998. IF SOMEONE COULD JUST KIND OF LOOK INTO THAT. ALL RIGHT, I GOT SOMETHING TO TELL Y'ALL. MY, I WAS, LAST WEEK, JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS, FEW DAYS AGO, MY HUSBAND SAY, WHAT IS THAT SMELL? I SAY, IT'S THAT RICE, I TOLD YOU NOT TO COOK. REMEMBER? I TOLD Y'ALL SOME STUFF GOING AROUND IN SOME OF THESE PRODUCTS? THIS STUFF STUNK SO BAD. I'M GONNA LEAVE YOU WITH Y'ALL. OKAY? I WANT YOU TO KNOW WHAT IT IS. I BOUGHT IT RIGHT HERE ON THE ISLAND. HERE IS A SHORT LIST OF SOME OTHER PRODUCTS THAT SAME STUFF IS IN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT BY THE TIME THE NEWS GETS A HOLD TO IT, EVERYBODY BE DEAD. SO PLEASE DON'T Y'ALL LOOK AT THE LESSON. DON'T EAT IT. IT'S IN THERE. YOU CAN SEE IT. OKAY. OTHER THING, DANIEL SEVEN AND FOUR TALKS ABOUT CHINA ATTACKING AMERICA'S FOOD SUPPLY. IT SAYS IT PROPHETICALLY, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO DECIPHER IT. NOW, THEIR THE NUMBER ONE PRODUCERS OF GRAIN. THOSE PRODUCTS ARE MADE FROM GRAIN PRODUCTS. SO THERE'S A CONNECTION THERE. THE BARON DANIEL CHAPTER SEVEN AND FOUR IS A PANDA BAND REPRESENTS CHINA. HE'S EATING RIBS, WHICH HAVE NO MEAT. SO THE BEAR ECONOMY AND THE FAMINE IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN AROUND THE SAME TIME. AND YOU CAN SEE, WATCH THE NEWS, THIS STUFF GOING ON EVERYWHERE. THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE HEADING TOWARD WHEN I CHECK WITH SOME OF THOSE PRODUCTS WERE HEADQUARTERED, [00:40:02] THEY'RE HEADQUARTERED FROM ENEMY NATIONS. CHECK. BEFORE YOU START EATING EVERYTHING UP, Y'ALL. YOU GOT TO DO THAT FOR YOUR OWN LIFE AND YOUR OWN HEALTH. OKAY. UPRISINGS. THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON. I'VE BEEN WRITING ABOUT ALL THIS STUFF FOR OVER 20 YEARS BECAUSE GOD GAVE IT TO ME. I AIN'T SPECIAL, HE JUST LOVE ME LIKE THAT. AND I LOVE HIM, TOO. HE SHARES THINGS WITH ME. THERE'S GOING TO BE UPRISINGS BY PEOPLE THE US LET INSIDE THIS NATION. REMEMBER THOSE BURGLAR BARS I'VE BEEN TELLING Y'ALL FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS? THAT'S WHY I WAS TELLING YOU. YOU MUST START PROTECTING YOUR HOUSES AND YOUR BUSINESSES. LAW ENFORCEMENT. GOD SHOWED ME SOME THINGS Y'ALL NEED TO DO. THERE'S GOING TO COME A TIME WHEN THE CITY IS GOING TO BE SHUT OFF AT I-45, 3005 AND AT THE FERRY, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE MORE THAN ONE CHECKPOINT. AND KNOW Y'ALL POLICE. Y'ALL GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER BECAUSE, IN THE DREAM THAT GOD SHOWED ME, SOMEBODY JUST WALKED UP TO YOU AND GOT RID OF ALL OF YOU. THINGS ARE GETTING REAL TICKY. AND, YOU GOT TO IF YOU'RE PREPARED FOR IT, IT AIN'T NO BIG DEAL. WEATHERMAN, HERE ARE ALMOST 40 PICTURES OF TORNADOES AND LIGHTNING. THERE'S A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN ELECTRICITY AND TORNADOES. EVERY TIME I TURN ON THE NEWS AND I HEAR HIM SAY NOBODY KNEW WHERE TORNADOES WERE. THAT'S NOT TRUE. GOD KNOWS, BECAUSE HE CREATED THEM. AND HE GAVE ME A WHOLE BOOK ON IT. THIS IS FOR Y'ALL. EVERY LAST ONE OF THESE TORNADOES IS BY A POWER SOURCE. POWER LINES. ARE YOU SERIOUS? OH, I HAD SOME STUFF TO TELL Y'ALL. Y'ALL GOING TO MISS OUT. OH MY GOSH. HERE'S THAT BAD RIGHT Y'ALL. OH NO DON'T EAT IT OKAY. THANK YOU SHEILA, APPRECIATE IT. LET'S, MARK MORGAN JR. MARK. GOOD EVENING. MARK MORGAN JR. PRESIDENT, THE GALVESTON FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION, LOCAL NUMBER 571. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF EVERY GALVESTON FIREFIGHTER. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON OUR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT, THAT WILL BE IN THE CONSENT ITEMS. THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, THE TONE WAS MUCH DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE WERE AT AN IMPASSE IN OUR NEGOTIATIONS. BUT TODAY, I'M HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE'VE WE'VE COME TO A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT. THAT'S GOING TO SERVE OUR FIREFIGHTERS WELL. THE WAGES THAT ARE THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE AGREEMENT WILL HELP US TO ATTRACT QUALITY CANDIDATES. BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE WANT THE BEST CANDIDATES HERE TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF GALVESTON. THE WAGES ALSO HELP OUR CURRENT FIREFIGHTERS TO COMBAT, HIGHER THAN NORMAL INFLATION THAT WE'VE ALL EXPERIENCED THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. NEGOTIATING A CONTRACT TAKES A LOT OF WORK TIME AND MOST OF ALL, THICK SKIN. I THINK THAT BOTH SIDES, EVENTUALLY WE BOTH CAME AROUND TO, AGREEING ON ONE THING, AND THAT IS, THAT OUR PRIMARY GOAL IS TO SERVE THE CITY. I WANT TO THANK OUR BARGAINING TEAM, FOR ALL THE HARD WORK AND EFFORT THAT THEY PUT IN. AND, ALSO, MR. MAXWELL, YOUR TEAM AS WELL. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TO THE TABLE AND PUTTING IN THE WORK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MARK. TELL THE GUYS GOOD WORK. CONGRATULATIONS. YEAH, VERY MUCH SO. TED O'ROURKE. TED, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY. WOULD YOU ANYTHING TO SAY? WOULD SOMEONE RECORD THAT, PLEASE? THAT HE. STEPHEN PENA. STEPHEN. I'VE GOT MY COMMENTS ARE RESERVED FOR LATER IN THE. WELL, I'M NOT SURE STEPHEN, WE'LL HAVE A TIME FOR THAT. YOU'RE REFERRING. YOU'RE VISITING ON 12 A, IS THAT.. 12 A, YES ON 12 A. SO GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS STEPHEN PENA. I'M A PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF VISION GALVESTON. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I AM A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER AND A RESIDENT OF OUR WONDERFUL ISLAND COMMUNITY. VISION GALVESTON WAS FOUNDED ON A COLLECTIVE VOICE OF THE CITIZENS OF GALVESTON. MORE THAN TWICE AS MANY RESIDENTS GAVE THEIR INPUT TO THIS PLAN AS IS, IN A CITYWIDE ELECTION. AMONGST THIS INPUT WAS A RESOUNDING CONCERN FOR THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES LOST DUE TO RISING COSTS OF LIVABILITY ON THIS ISLAND. THESE FAMILIES CONSIST OF OUR TEACHERS AT GISD, LAB WORKERS AT UTMB, A DATA ANALYST AT AMERICAN NATIONAL. THESE ARE OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR FIREFIGHTERS, OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND OUR MEDICS. THESE ARE OUR LITTLE LEAGUE COACHES, OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS, OUR COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS. [00:45:06] ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUALS ADD TO THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF OUR ISLAND. THEY SHOP AND EAT LOCALLY. THEY EVEN GET THEIR HAIRCUTS LOCALLY. THEIR SPEND SUPPORTS OUR ISLAND DURING OFF AND SLOW SEASONS. THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU TONIGHT FOR SUPPORT IS A LABOR OF LOVE FROM RESIDENTS, FUNDERS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT WANT DESPERATELY FOR THIS ISLAND TO FLOURISH AND GROW TO NEW LEVELS WHILE STILL MAINTAINING THE UNIQUENESS OF OUR COMMUNITY. YOUR VOTE TONIGHT IS A DIRECT VOICE OF IMPACT ON SOLUTIONS OF CHANGE AS TO WHETHER WE HAVE A PUBLIC SAFETY FORCE THAT LIVES ON OUR ISLAND, OR ONE THAT SIMPLY COMMUTES HERE FOR THEIR SHIFT. THE SAME GOES FOR OTHER ESSENTIAL WORKERS AS WELL IN OUR COMMUNITY. TO THRIVE AS AN ISLAND, WE NEED SPACE FOR ALL WORKERS TO LIVE HERE, NOT SIMPLY A FEW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. PENA. APPRECIATE IT. KATE BLACK. KATE. HI, I'M KATE BLACK. I KNOW MOST OF YOU. I AM, I ECHO MUCH OF WHAT STEPHEN JUST SAID. I AM THE VICE OR THE CO-CHAIR, VICE CHAIR FOR BUILD GALVESTON, WHICH IS, AN ARM FROM VISION GALVESTON TO DIRECTLY ADDRESS THE LACK OF ATTAINABLE MIDDLE INCOME HOUSING ON THE ISLAND. AS HE SAID, A VOTE FOR THIS IS A VOTE TO SUPPORT WHAT HAS BEEN IN GALVESTON COMPREHENSIVE PLANS FOR OVER 20 YEARS. A VOTE AGAINST IT IS SAYING THAT YOU DON'T SUPPORT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN OUT THERE FOR 20 YEARS, AND THAT GENTLEMEN SUCH AS LOUIS NAVARRO AND LARRY SARIC, WHO YOU JUST HONORED, WHO SAVED A LIFE IN GALVESTON, DON'T NECESSARILY DESERVE TO HAVE AN OPTION TO LIVE HERE, AS THE LACK OF HOUSING BECOMES A GREATER AND MORE APPARENT ISSUE ON THE ISLAND, WE ARE HOPING TO STEP IN AND HELP ALLEVIATE SOME OF THAT FROM THE CITY. SO I HOPE ALL OF YOU ARE VOTING YES ON THIS TONIGHT, BECAUSE WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THAT UNANIMOUS SUPPORT, AND I THINK IT WILL BE A SIGN TO THE CITY THAT YOU REALLY DO CARE ABOUT THE RESIDENTS HERE ON THE ISLAND. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU KATE. TYLER ROBERT. TYLER. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM TYLER ROBERT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BUILD GALVESTON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. ON BEHALF OF MY BOARD AND THE RESIDENTS INPUT THAT HELPED FORM OUR ORGANIZATION, I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING. AS A FLOURISHING COASTAL COMMUNITY, WE KNOW THAT THE ISLAND PROVIDES A DESIRABLE QUALITY OF LIFE UNMATCHED THROUGHOUT THE STATE. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS VERY ISSUE HAS EXACERBATED AFFORDABILITY FOR A LARGE SEGMENT OF OUR FAMILIES. SINCE 2010, GALVESTON HAS LOST AN ESTIMATED NET TOTAL OF 775 FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN. WE ALSO KNOW THAT 65% OF ISLAND WORKERS COMMUTE FROM OFF THE ISLAND, EQUIVALENT TO 21,255 INDIVIDUALS. OUR ORGANIZATION STRIVES TO ADDRESS THIS CRISIS AND BRIDGE PATHWAYS FOR ATTAINABLE HOUSING FOR OUR WORKFORCE, AS WELL AS TO ENSURE THAT CURRENT RESIDENTS ARE PROVIDED SAFE AND CLEAN HOME ENVIRONMENTS WITHOUT BEING DISPLACED. THIS YEAR, BILL GALVESTON LAUNCHED ITS FIRST NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CENTERPOINT ENERGY AND REBUILDING TOGETHER HOUSTON. TITLED THE OK COMMUNITY PROJECT, THIS INITIATIVE WORKED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE OLD CENTRAL CARVER PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION TO HELP IDENTIFY SEGMENTS OF THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH WE COULD PROVIDE HOME REFURBISHMENT WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE'RE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE'VE RECEIVED OUR FIRST APPLICANTS AND ANTICIPATE CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN THIS SPRING. AS WE BEGAN DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, WE WANTED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND OUR WORKFORCE NEEDS BY ALLOWING THEM DIRECT INPUT INTO OUR DECISION MAKING. WE'VE WORKED HAND IN HAND WITH MANY OF OUR MAJOR EMPLOYERS TO UNDERSTAND THAT, TO UNDERSTAND THAT NEED THROUGH A SURVEY WHICH WAS RECENTLY COMPLETED, THE RESULTS WE RECEIVED HAVE HELPED GUIDE US AS WE ROADMAP PROJECTS FOR THIS YEAR AND INTO THE FUTURE. ONE OF THE KEY TAKEAWAYS TO COME OUT OF THIS IS THE REAFFIRMATION THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF MORE ATTAINABLE SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING IS NECESSARY HERE ON THE ISLAND. BUILD HAS IDENTIFIED THIS AS A HIGH PRIORITY TASK AND PLANS TO CARRY OUT THIS INITIATIVE WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE GALVESTON ESSENTIAL WORKFORCE HOUSING FUND ONE, LLC. TONIGHT, WE HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL WILL APPROVE THE RESOLUTION. UNDERSTANDING THAT BILL, GALVESTON AND THE GALVESTON ESSENTIAL WORKFORCE HOUSING FUND WILL PROVIDE PATHWAYS TO ADDRESS THE VERY PROBLEM THAT MANY HAVE WORKED DECADES TO [00:50:06] OVERCOME. WE LOOK FORWARD TO TODAY BEING ONE OF THE MANY INTERACTIONS IN WHICH BUILD GALVESTON WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY TO TACKLE THESE KEY CHALLENGES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. ROBERT. CHRISTINE BRYANT. CHRISTINE. GOOD EVENING. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS CHRISTINE BRYANT. I RESIDE AT 1504 BOWIE, DISTRICT FOUR. I'M HERE ON THE ISLAND. HONORABLE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER, CITY STAFF AND RESIDENTS FOR I'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT MY RECORD. I AM THE VERY PROUD CEO OF VISION GALVESTON. SO WHEN I FIRST CAME TO THE ISLAND TO BEGIN WORK ON IMPLEMENTING THE 78 RECOMMENDATIONS HIGHLIGHTED IN THE VISION GALVESTON PLAN GENERATED BY TEN MONTHS OF ENGAGEMENT WITH GALVESTON RESIDENTS, THE BUILD GALVESTON BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAD ALREADY BEEN AT WORK. THEY HAVE RESEARCHED, ANALYZED, AND CONSIDERED THE EXPLICIT DELICACIES OF DEVELOPMENT OF WORKFORCE HOUSING IN GALVESTON. THIS INCREDIBLE GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS REPRESENTING ALL OF GALVESTON WORK TO TACKLE THE ISSUE WITH ALWAYS WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR HOME. THEY ALSO HAVE ONE MAJOR FOCUS THEIR WORK CANNOT BE AT THE COST OF AN EXISTING RESIDENT. WE ARE COMMITTED TO KEEP OUR EXISTING RESIDENTS ON THE ISLAND AND SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE HOMES. SO HOUSING IS TOUGH. HOUSING ON A FINITE LANDMASS SURROUNDED BY WATER IS REALLY CHALLENGING. BUT AS MY MOM WOULD SAY, IT'S NOT, CAN WE DO IT? BUT HOW DO WE DO IT? HOW DO WE DO IT? WE FIGURED OUT HOW TO DO IT, TO LEARN HOW WE VISITED THE BEST CDC IN THE COUNTRY. CINCINNATI. IT'S CALLED THREE CDC. THREE CDC STARTED WITH MONEY AND THEY STARTED WITH LOTS OF IT. THE PRESENCE OF A PRIMARY EMPLOYER, HEADQUARTERS LIKE KROGER AND PROCTER AND GAMBLE WAS ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING WORKFORCE HOUSING. IT WAS VITAL TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. IT WAS VITAL THAT THEY HAD THEIR EMPLOYEES NEXT TO THEIR ASSETS TO FILL JOBS. SO THE THREE CDC CREATED AN EQUITY FUND WITH PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT TO DEVELOP HOUSING. IT WAS THEIR EQUITY FUND STRATEGY THAT INSPIRED THE GALVESTON ESSENTIAL WORKFORCE HOUSING FUND ONE LLC IN CINCINNATI. THEY HAD MONEY, THEY HAD A CDC, AND THEY HAD A STRATEGY. AND WITH THE INCREDIBLE EXPERTISE OF JOHN RUTHERFORD, GALVESTON BASED ATTORNEY, THE GENEROSITY OF OUR PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY AND BUILD GALVESTON, THE ISLAND NOW HAS THE SAME. SO TONIGHT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT. IT'S SIMPLE AND IT'S EASY. A RESOLUTION THAT SUPPORTS THE COUNTLESS VOLUNTEER HOURS OF RESEARCH AND THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF FOUNDATIONAL SUPPORT TO CREATE HOMES FOR THE HARD WORKING, ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEES THAT ARE THE HEART AND SOUL OF OUR COMMUNITY. SUPPORTING THIS RESOLUTION AS PRESENTED IS NOT ONLY SUPPORTING THE FUND. TO ME, IT FEELS LIKE SUPPORTING ALL OF US THAT RUN NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND I'VE GOT SOME NONPROFIT FRIENDS BEHIND ME THAT CAN ATTEST TO THAT. BECAUSE WHEN NONPROFITS COME BEFORE YOU, WE WANT YOU TO SMILE, OKAY. WHEN NONPROFITS COME BEFORE YOU, WE WANT YOU TO COLLABORATE. BUT HONESTLY, NONPROFITS WANT YOU TO LIKE US. WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOUR EFFORTS. SO ON BEHALF OF VISION GALVESTON AND BUILD GALVESTON, WE SURE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JOHN RUTHERFORD. JOHN. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JOHN RUTHERFORD AND I LIVE HERE ON THE ISLAND. I'VE BEEN WORKING AS A CONSULTANT WITH BUILD GALVESTON FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW, IN CONNECTION WITH THE FORMATION AND CAPITALIZATION OF THE WHAT WE'RE CALLING THE GALVESTON ESSENTIAL WORKFORCE HOUSING FUND ONE, THAT FUND ONE IS INTENTIONAL TO IMPLY THAT IF SUCCESSFUL, THERE WILL BE A FUND TWO. THE WORKFORCE HOUSING FUND, WHICH I'LL REFER TO IN GENERAL TERMS, IS FORMED BY A GROUP OF PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS, AS YOU'VE HEARD. AND IT'S DESIGNED TO PROVIDE LOW COST CAPITAL, TO PROVIDE INCENTIVES TO PRIVATE DEVELOPERS TO DEVELOP MORE WORKFORCE HOUSING ON THE ISLAND. WE CURRENTLY HAVE COMMITMENTS FROM THREE FOUNDATIONS FOR A LITTLE OVER $2 MILLION, AND WE'RE NOT DONE YET. AS MENTIONED BY THE PRIOR SPEAKERS, THIS NEED FOR MIDDLE INCOME HOUSING OR WORKFORCE HOUSING WAS IDENTIFIED IN GALVESTON'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF 2001 AND AGAIN IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF 2011. THE WORKFORCE HOUSING FUND THAT WE'VE NOW DESIGNED, AND IS NOW A REALITY, IS TO PROVIDE PRIVATE MONEY TO HELP ADDRESS THE PUBLIC IDENTIFIED NEED THAT IS ONLY GETTING WORSE. THIS IS AN EFFORT TO HELP FAMILIES WHO WORK IN GALVESTON, WANT TO LIVE IN GALVESTON, BE ABLE TO AFFORD A HOME IN GALVESTON. THIS IS NOT LOW INCOME HOUSING. THERE ARE OTHER INITIATIVES ADDRESSING THAT. THIS IS DESIGNED FOR WORKING FAMILIES WITH MEDIUM INCOMES BETWEEN 80 AND 120% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME. [00:55:07] MANY OF THE FAMILIES WE ARE TARGETING HAVE TWO INCOMES, AND THEY'RE STILL STRUGGLING TO FIND A HOME ON THE ISLAND. THESE FAMILIES, AS MENTIONED, ARE TEACHERS. THESE FAMILIES ARE COMPOSED OF FIRST RESPONDERS. THESE FAMILIES ARE COMPOSED OF THOSE MEMBERS ARE WORKING COMMUNITY ON THE ISLAND, WHICH ARE CRUCIAL TO THE FABRIC OF THIS COMMUNITY. IF WE DO NOTHING, GALVESTON IS LIKELY TO BECOME A COMMUNITY OF RETIRED, COMMUTERS AND THOSE WHO AND BASICALLY TOURIST, WHICH ARE DEFINITELY THE ECONOMIC DRIVERS BUT NOT NECESSARILY BUILDERS OF THE COMMUNITY AS ITSELF. WE'RE CURRENTLY LOSING FAMILIES TO THE MAINLAND, AND THE HIGH COST OF HOUSING IS ONE OF THOSE FACTORS. THESE FAMILIES ARE ONES WHO, IF THEY LIVE HERE ON THE ISLAND, WILL PUT THEIR KIDS IN OUR SCHOOLS. THEY WILL COACH OUR FOOTBALL TEAMS, THEY WILL COME TO OUR FOOTBALL GAMES. THEY'RE ESSENTIAL TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE ALL LOVE TODAY. THEY'LL BE SPENDING OUR THEIR PAYCHECKS ON THE ISLAND. THEY'LL BE PAYING LOCAL PROPERTY TAXES AND LOCAL SALES TAXES. THIS IS ALSO AN EFFORT TO MAKE SURE TO ALLOW MULTIPLE GENERATIONS OF BOI TO LIVE ON THE ISLAND THAT THEY LOVE. WORKFORCE HOUSING, WILL BE CONTROLLED BY A BOARD OF MANAGERS, WHICH WILL BE ELECTED BY THE FUNDING SOURCES, AND THAT BOARD OF MANAGERS WILL DEVELOP WILL DECIDE WHICH DEVELOPERS ARE. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE FUND THAT'S BEEN BUILT, AND WE HOPE AND ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT FROM THE. THANK YOU. PRISCILLA FILES. PRISCILLA. HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING TODAY? I AM HERE TO TELL YOU ALL ABOUT OUR 5,000,000,000TH GREAT GALVESTON TREE GIVEAWAY THAT WE'RE HAVING ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 27TH. THIS IS THE GALVESTON ISLAND TREE CONSERVANCY, AND WE HAVE GOT 275 SHADE TREES COMING IN, FUNDED BY THE APACHE TREE GRANT FOUNDATION. TREE LIFE FARMS, TREES FOR HOUSTON, THE IPPOLITO FOUNDATION, MARY MOODY NORTHERN FOUNDATION, AND OF COURSE, TEXAS A&M FOREST SERVICE. WE ARE ALSO BRINGING IN SOME FRUIT TREES. WE'VE GOT SIXTY FRUIT TREES COMING IN. PEACHES, PLUMS, BLUEBERRIES, NECTARINES, ONE OTHER THAT I COULD, FIGS, FIGS. AND I'D LIKE TO INVITE EVERYBODY TO COME. WE START AT 8 A.M. GET BETTER, GET THERE EARLY BECAUSE THEY GO FAST. EVERY ISLAND RESIDENT CAN GET TWO, AT LEAST TWO TREE, SHADE TREES FOR THEIR HOMES. AND ALSO, WE'RE ASKING FOR A SMALL DONATION TO HELP COVER THE COST OF THE FRUIT TREES. AND THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO TELL YOU. COME HAVE SOME TREES. WE NEED MORE TREES. WE NEED TREES, TREES, TREES AT THE GHF DEPOT ON MARKET. THAT'S 3304 MARKET STREET. WE START AT 8 A.M.. THANKS. SO UNTIL THEY'RE GONE, WHICH COULD BE AN HOUR AND A HALF. THAT'S HOW IT WAS LAST YEAR. SO THANKS. PRISCILLA. APPRECIATE IT. TAURUS WOODS. TAURUS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL. GOOD AFTERNOON. I, I ALMOST WAS ABOUT TO TELL YOU THAT I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY. I FELT THAT YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE IT. I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION ON THE WORKFORCE HOUSING. NOW, LET ME SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF MY CONCERNS WITH THE WORKFORCE HOUSING. I WANT TO WORK WITH CHRISTINE AND THE BOARD VISION GALVESTON, BECAUSE I REALLY THINK THAT WHEN IT FIRST CAME TO MY ATTENTION, IT WAS AS THOUGH THAT WE WAS GOING TO I GUESS STOCKPILE HOUSING OVER ON THE NORTH SIDE OF BROADWAY BETWEEN 25TH AND 51ST STREET. BUT THEN I FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS BROADER. IT WAS A MUCH LARGER EXPANSION OF HOUSING. SO CONGRATULATIONS, I SUPPORT THAT. ANDI HOPE TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH YOU AND YOUR GROUP. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. NOW THERE GO MY OLIVE BRANCH. OKAY. LET'S MOVE TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN DISTRICT MAYOR. NOW, I WAS AT WORKSHOP THIS MORNING, AND YOU, YOU ZOOMED BY IT SO FAST UNTIL, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T GET THE [01:00:06] GIST OF THE FOUNDATION WHAT IT WAS GOING TO DO. THE RFPS, YOU BASICALLY SAID WAS $150,000. THAT'S GOING TO BE BROKEN UP INTO THREE YEARS. WELL, DID YOU TAKE THE RFP? WHAT'S THE MONEY SOURCE? WHERE DID THE HOT TAX COME FROM THAT'S GOING TO BE ALLOCATING THE MONEY. AND I HEARD YOU EARLIER SAID THAT THE COUNCIL CANNOT RESPOND. AND I GUESS THAT'S THE REASON WHY DON IS SITTING THERE WATCHING ME CLOSELY. BUT THE QUESTION HERE IS, I WAS THINKING THAT THE COUNCIL COULD NOT GET IN A DEBATE ABOUT AN ISSUE WITH THE PERSON THAT WAS COMING UP. SO I GUESS, BRIAN, YOU'LL BE NEXT IN LINE. I'LL BE STOPPING AT YOUR OFFICE AND HOPEFULLY YOU'LL HAVE THAT INFORMATION FOR ME THAT I COULD TAKE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING TOTALLY NEW THAT, THAT WE ARE HEARING ABOUT. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG YOU GUYS BEEN, DISCUSSING THIS. AND IF THAT'S FINE WITH YOU. FINE WITH YOU, MAYOR. SURELY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. DORIS AND I DIDN'T USE MY THREE MINUTES UP. STARTING THE YEAR OFF RIGHT. NANCY GREENFIELD. NANCY. SO GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. I PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY'S TALKED ABOUT IT ALREADY, BUT SINCE I'M THE CHAIR, I THOUGHT I NEEDED TO MAKE SURE I RECOGNIZED EVERYONE. I'M THE CHAIR FOR THE GALVESTON ISLAND, THE CITY OF GALVESTON TREE COMMITTEE. WE JUST WANTED TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT HAS ATTENDED LOTS OF MEETINGS. WE HAD SEVEN ADDITIONAL MEETINGS IN ADDITION TO OUR REGULAR SEVEN MEETINGS. SO WE HAD 14 MEETINGS IN SIX MONTHS. SO IT'S A LOT OF WORK, AND I APPRECIATE IT FOR THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT CAME AND AND ATTENDED ALL THE MEETINGS. WE ALSO WHEN I WANT TO THANK THE CHAIR, ALLISON O'DONNELL, SHE WAS THE CHAIR OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE. WE HAD A LOT OF WELL, PRISCILLA HAS SPOKEN. PRISCILLA FILES FROM THE GALVESTON ISLAND TREE CONSERVANCY. AND ALSO, I KNOW JULIANNE BRAND JUST LEFT THEIR GROUP, MADE A LOT OF BIG CONTRIBUTION TO OUR OUR WORK AND HELPED US GET A GOOD PERSPECTIVE. WE ALSO HAD A LARGE NUMBER. IN FACT, USUALLY THIS LAST MEETING WE DIDN'T HAVE IT, BUT ALMOST EVERY OTHER MEETING WE HAD STANDING ROOM ONLY. OH, AND I FORGOT TO THANK MIKE. HE'S AWESOME. HE WAS THERE EVERY DAY AND SO REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY. IT WAS MUCH MORE COMPLICATED THAN WE ALL THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE. AND I THINK THAT THE WE'VE WE'VE GOT TO START HERE AND I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. NANCY. KATHLEEN DE NATALI. KATHLEEN. BRING THIS DOWN A LITTLE BIT. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL. MY NAME IS KATHLEEN DE NATALI. I LIVE AT ONE 1116 WINNIE. I'M THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR CULTURAL ART IN GALVESTON. THIS THERE'S REMARKABLE NEW THINGS THAT ARE COMING UP. AND I THINK WE ALL HAVE A LOT TO BE PROUD OF. I WANT TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO YOU TODAY REGARDING THE, APPROVAL REQUEST FOR, FUNDS FROM HOT TAX FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN BEACH MONUMENT. AND THIS IS A REMARKABLE PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN SPEARHEADED BY CHIEF DAVIS AND HIS WIFE, DOCTOR CAROL DAVIS, TO HONOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN LIFEGUARDS WHO MAINTAINED AND SUPPORTED AND TOOK CARE OF PEOPLE ON THE BEACHES IN THE DAYS WHEN THEY WERE ONLY ALLOWED A CERTAIN AREA. AND SO THIS IS A REALLY BEAUTIFUL PROJECT THAT'S BEING PUT TOGETHER WITH THE HELP OF, DAVID MITCHELL WITH PARKS BOARD AND CHIEF DAVIS AND A WHOLE COMMITTEE OF PEOPLE WHO REALLY ARE DEDICATED TO SHARING THIS UNTOLD OR UNDER TOLD HISTORY OF ALREADY GOT, RECOGNITION FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS. THERE'LL BE A MONUMENT ON THE SEAWALL AND THEN THIS, FUNDING THAT WE'RE THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION IS ASKING YOU FOR $15,000 TO HELP PUT TOGETHER THE RFQS FOR, REACHING OUT FOR CALL TO ARTISTS, FOR ARTISTS TO, OFFER, SCULPTURE, CONCEPTS FOR THE MONUMENT, WHICH WILL BE UP ON MENARD PARK OR MCGUIRE DENT PARK. SO, I'M HERE FOR THAT. AND ALSO TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO FUND THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT. [01:05:07] THIS MONUMENT WILL FIT RIGHT INTO THE FOOTPRINT OF THAT. VERY IMPORTANT FOR US HERE IN GALVESTON TO HONOR THIS HERITAGE. AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, KATHLEEN. APPRECIATE IT. THESE, THAT'S THE END OF MY, FORMS HERE. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT? I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION AT 6:05 P.M., AND LET'S MOVE NOW TO ORDINANCES NOT REQUIRING PUBLIC HEARINGS. [10.A. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Amending "The Code Of The City Of Galveston 1982, As Amended”, Chapter 4, “Alcoholic Beverages”, Article II, “Tax And Permit”, Pursuant To Statutory Amendments Of The 2023 Texas Legislature; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject And Providing For An Effective Date. (X. Vandiver-Gaskin)] TEN A PLEASE NELLIE. ITEM TEN A, CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AND ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, AMENDING THE CODE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, 1982, AS AMENDED. CHAPTER FOUR, ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, ARTICLE TWO TAX AND PERMIT PURSUANT TO STATUTORY AMENDMENTS OF 2023 TEXAS LEGISLATURE MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. DONNA, IS THAT GOING TO BE YOU? IT CAN BE. WELL, ALL RIGHT. GLAD TO HAVE YOU. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL. AS DISCUSSED IN WORKSHOP, THIS IS BASICALLY TO ADDRESS THE LEGISLATIVE CHANGES THAT HAPPENED. THEY ARE IN EFFECT FROM SEPTEMBER FIRST, I WANT TO SAY 2023. AND OUR ORDINANCE JUST NEEDS TO COME UP TO SNUFF SO THAT WE CAN BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS FOR, MISS FAIRWEATHER? I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS COUNCIL. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. I WOULD SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. COUNCILMAN LISTOWSKI, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN COLLINS. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THAT IS UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU DONNA. APPRECIATE ITEM TEN B PLEASE NELLIE. [10.B. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Amending The Code Of The City Of Galveston, As Amended, Chapter 18, “Property Maintenance Code”, Section 18-4, “Definitions”, Section 18-5, “Nuisance” And Section 18-7, “Wildflower Exception”, Amending Regulations Related To The City’s Wildflower Exception Ordinance, Including A Rename To “Natural Planned Landscape Exemption”; To Extend The Registration Timeframe; To Provide Additional Definitions; And Renumber Or Rearrange The Chapter As Applicable; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject; Providing For An Effective Date. (C. Gorman)] ITEM TEN B, CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS AMENDING THE CODE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, AS AMENDED. CHAPTER 18 PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE, SECTION 18-4 DEFINITION. SECTION 18 DASH FIVE NUISANCE AND SECTION 18 DASH SEVEN WALLFLOWER EXCEPTION. AMENDING REGULATIONS RELATED TO THE CITY'S WALLFLOWER EXCEPTION ORDINANCE, INCLUDING A RENAME TO NATURAL PLAN LANDSCAPE EXEMPTION TO EXTEND THE REGISTRATION TIME FRAME TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DEFINITIONS, AND RENUMBER OR REARRANGE THE CHAPTER AS APPLICABLE, MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THANK YOU. CATHERINE. GOOD EVENING. THIS IS A REQUEST TO CHANGE CITY CODE. IT IS REGARDING THE WILDFLOWER EXEMPTION. THE MAJOR CHANGES ARE TO RENAME THE EXEMPTION TO PLANNED NATURAL LANDSCAPE FROM WILDFLOWERS, EXTENSION OF THE PERMITTING PERIOD. ALLOWANCE OF NEW PROPERTY OWNERS TO RECEIVE THE EXEMPTION YEAR ROUND, AND REDUCTION OF THE WIDTH OF THE REQUIRED BUFFERS, AS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED THIS MORNING AND ALSO THIS EVENING, IT HAS BEEN A VERY, LENGTHY BUT INCLUSIVE PROCESS THAT WE ALL THINK WENT VERY WELL. SO I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO WORKED DILIGENTLY ON THE PROJECT, THE TREE COMMITTEE. MANY MEMBERS OF THE TREE COMMITTEE ARE HERE THIS EVENING. THE WILDFLOWER SUBCOMMITTEE. DONNA FAIRWEATHER AT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE CITY MARSHAL'S OFFICE, BUTCH STROUD, JAMES POPE AND NICK ELY ALL PARTICIPATED. AND THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO FOLLOWED ALONG AND PARTICIPATED AND PROVIDED ALL OF THEIR GOOD COMMENTS. SO STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL AND SO IS THE TREE COMMITTEE. THANK YOU CATHERINE. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS GORMAN? I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS COUNCIL. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. COUNCILMAN BOUVIER, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FINKLEA. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THAT IS UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU EVERYONE THAT WORKED ON THIS. ITEM TEN C PLEASE. [10.C. Budget Amendment Ordinance Consider for approval an ordinance of the City of Galveston, Texas, amending the total operating budget for fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, by adjusting various budget accounts in the amount of three million eight hundred seventy-four thousand one hundred eighty-five dollars ($3,874,185) to properly record expenditures, including: (1) eight hundred seventy-five thousand five hundred dollars ($875,500) from one department to another department without increasing the General Fund budget in total (related to the increase in Police and Fire overtime, Streets and Traffic overruns, additional funding for separation payouts for city departments, and other budget variances); (2) an increase to fund expenditures from corresponding fund balance by one million five hundred forty-six thousand eighty-six dollars ($1,546,086) to cover overruns in the Casualty and Liability Fund, Workers’ Compensation Fund, and Health and Life Insurance Fund (for the impact of the wire fraud settlement, higher premiums, and increase in costs of medical care); (3) the transfer of underrun of two hundred fifty-two thousand five hundred ninety-nine dollars ($252,599) in the Technology Department to the Technology Improvement Fund; and (4) a transfer of one million two hundred thousand dollars ($1,200,000) of excess General Fund balance to the Health Insurance Fund (to fund the retiree health care liability); making various findings and provisions related to the subject; and providing for an effective date. (C. Ludanyi)] ITEM TEN C, CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS AMENDING THE TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023, BY ADJUSTING VARIOUS BUDGET ACCOUNTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,874,185 TO PROPERLY RECORD EXPENDITURES, INCLUDING $875,500 FROM ONE DEPARTMENT TO A TO ANOTHER DEPARTMENT, WITHOUT INCREASING THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET. IN TOTAL, RELATED TO THE INCREASE IN POLICE AND FIRE OVERTIME, STREETS AND TRAFFIC OVERRUNS, ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR SEPARATION PAYOUTS FOR CITY DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER BUDGET VARIANCES, AND INCREASE TO FUND EXPENDITURES FROM CORRESPONDENT FUND BALANCE BY $1,546,086 TO COVER OVERRUNS IN THE CASUALTY AND LIABILITY FUND, WORKER'S COMPENSATION FUND, AND HEALTH AND LIFE INSURANCE FUND FOR THE IMPACT OF THE WIRE FRAUD SETTLEMENT, HIGHER PREMIUMS AND INCREASE IN COST OF MEDICAL CARE. THE TRANSFER OF UNDERRUN OF $252,599 IN THE TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT TO THE TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENT FUND, AND A TRANSFER OF $1,200,000 OF EXCESS GENERAL FUND BALANCE TO THE HEALTH INSURANCE FUND TO FUND THE RETIREE HEALTH CARE LIABILITY, MAKING VARIOUS [01:10:10] FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THANK YOU NELLIE. CSILLA. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THIS ORDINANCE IS RELATED TO FISCAL YEAR 2023, AND IT IS THE FINAL BUDGET AMENDMENT, RELATED TO THE ENTIRE BUDGET THAT COUNCIL APPROVES. IT CAPTURES ALL OF THOSE OVERRUNS AND UNDERRUNS WE MOVED FROM DEPARTMENT TO DEPARTMENT IN THE GENERAL FUND, AND THERE IS NO ACTUAL COST OVERRUN ON THAT. THE $1.2 MILLION IS ABOVE THE 120 DAY RESERVES, AND THAT IS BEING TRANSFERRED TO OFFSET THE LIABILITY AND THE HEALTH INSURANCE FUND. THERE ARE AMOUNTS THAT WERE IN RESERVES, IN THE INSURANCE FUNDS THAT ARE MOVED TO EXPENDITURES BASED ON WHAT WAS SPENT. AND THEN THERE'S THE TRANSFER FOR IT TECHNOLOGY TO THAT CAPITAL FUND. I AM HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS FROM MISS LADANYI? THANK YOU, CSILLA, VERY MUCH. ENTERTAIN A MOTION COUNCIL. MOTION FROM COUNCILWOMAN ROBB FOR APPROVAL. IS THERE A SECOND? COUNCILMAN COLLINS SECONDS THAT. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THAT IS UNANIMOUS. ITEM EIGHT. ATTENDEE, PLEASE. [10.D. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Amending The Annual Operation Budget And CIP For The Park Board Of Trustees For The Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2023 And Ending September 30, 2024; Providing For An Effective Date; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject. (C. Ludanyi)] ITEM TEN D CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AND ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, AMENDING THE ANNUAL OPERATION BUDGET AND CIP FOR THE PARK BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2023 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE, MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CSILLA. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THE PARK BOARD SUBMITTED TO US THEIR CIP PROJECTS RELATED TO THE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT FUND THAT WERE NOT APPROVED IN DECEMBER. THESE ITEMS ARE RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL BY COUNCIL. THE TOTAL AMOUNTS THAT WILL BE FUNDED BY THE PARK BOARD TOURISM FUND ARE HOLD ON, 1,247,397. AND THEN THE CITY, OUT OF THE CITY'S TOURISM DEVELOPMENT RESERVE, WILL FUND $1,879,103 TOWARDS THESE PROJECTS, FOR A TOTAL OF $3,126,500. AND I'M HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. LADANYI? WE DISCUSSED THIS AT LENGTH, MANY, MANY TIMES. AND THIS MORNING, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS. COUNCIL. TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. AND, I WANT TO BE CLEAR ON THE MOTION, MIKE. THEY HAD PRESENTED IN THE PACKET MATERIAL, TWO OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR ON THOSE OPTIONS. WHAT WERE THE OPTIONS? THE 189. THE 1.879 MILLION. 1.8. SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE TOTAL OF COST BY 1.879, 103. ALL RIGHT. OPTION A. I WOULD SECOND THAT. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL THAT COUNCILMAN BOUVIER HAS JUST READ. WE HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN COLLINS. ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THAT IS UNANIMOUS. VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE FORWARD. [10.E. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Ordering And Calling An Election To Be Held In The City Of Galveston On The 4th Day Of May, 2024, For The Purpose Of Electing A Mayor At-Large And Six (6) District Council Members, Each For A Two-Year Term; Making Provisions For The Conduct And Giving Notice Of The Election; Designating Polling Places; Designating Hours For Voting; Providing For Publication Of The Notice Of The Election; Providing Bilingual Election Requirements; Providing For A Severability Clause; Providing An Open Meetings Clause; Providing A Savings Clause; Declaring Findings Of Fact; And Providing For An Effective Date. (M. Jadidi)] ITEM TEN E PLEASE. ITEM TEN E, CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AND ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS. ORDERING AND CALLING AN ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON ON THE FOURTH DAY OF MAY, 2024 FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING A MAYOR AT LARGE AND SIX DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS EACH FOR A TWO YEAR TERM, MAKING PROVISIONS FOR THE CONDUCT AND GIVEN NOTICE OF THE ELECTION. DESIGNATING POLLING PLACES, DESIGNATING HOURS FOR VOTING. PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION OF THE NOTICE OF THE ELECTION. PROVIDING BILINGUAL ELECTION REQUIREMENTS. PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY CLAUSE. PROVIDING FOR AN OPEN MEETING CLAUSE. PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE. DECLARING FINDINGS OF FACT AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WAS THERE ANYONE WANT TO, DON, DID YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THIS? WELL, GUYS, WE DO THIS EVERY OTHER YEAR. I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU ARE GOING TO REGRET WELL, BEING ON COUNCIL ANYMORE, BUT IT IS WITH STATE LAW, WE HAVE TO ORDER THE ELECTION, WHICH IS TO BE HELD ON THE FIRST SATURDAY OF DECEMBER.. AND MAY. SO, WE START THAT PROCESS THROUGH THE PASSAGE OF THIS, ELECTION ORDINANCE. [01:15:07] ALL RIGHT, THIS IS ITEM TEN ON OUR AGENDA. ANY QUESTIONS FOR OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT? MAYOR, COULD I ADD SOMETHING? EXCUSE ME. I NEED TO ADD SOMETHING. WE NEED TO UPDATE THE POLLING LOCATIONS TO REFLECT COUNCIL PRIORITIES THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY SET IN 2022. IF I COULD JUST READ THOSE. IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE, MA'AM. OKAY. ONE IS THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE, TWO IS MOODY METHODIST CHURCH, THREE IS SEASIDE BAPTIST CHURCH, FOUR IS 30TH STREET PUMP STATION AND FIVE IS GISD ADMIN BUILDING. I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 10E WITH THE ADDITION OF THE POLLING LOCATIONS, AS CURRENTLY HAS JUST BEEN READ BY OUR CITY SECRETARY. IS THERE A SECOND? I WOULD SECOND. WE HAVE COUNCILMAN COLLINS FOR A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THAT IS UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LET'S MOVE TO OUR CONSENT ITEMS NELLIE. [11. CONSENT ITEMS] ITEM 11. ITEM 11, CONSENT ITEMS. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS SHALL BE CONSIDERED FOR ACTION AS A WHOLE, UNLESS ONE OR MORE COUNCIL MEMBERS OBJECTS, THE CITY MANAGER'S AUTHORIZED TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS UPON FINAL APPROVAL BY THE CITY ATTORNEY. CONSENT ITEMS 11 A THROUGH 11 LL ARE ON THE SCREEN. VERY GOOD. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF CONSENT ITEMS. WE WENT THROUGH SOME OF THESE THIS MORNING IN OUR WORKSHOP. ARE THERE ANY CONSENT ITEMS, COUNCIL, THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO PULL OUT AND ADDRESS INDIVIDUALLY? COUNCILMAN LISTOWSKI. I'D LIKE TO PULL OUT 11 K, PLEASE. 11 KK. JUST 1K. 1K. 1K. SINGLE K. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT WE'D LIKE TO PULL OUT? COUNCIL. NOT HEARING ANY OTHER RESPONSES. I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF CONSENT ITEMS 11 A THROUGH 11 LL, EXCLUDING 11 K. I WOULD SECOND. I HAVE A SECOND, COUNCILMAN COLLINS. VERY GOOD. ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? GREAT. NELLIE. IF YOU'LL READ ITEM 11 K, PLEASE. [11.K. Consider For Approval Amending The 2017 Aviation Ground Lease Policy By Removing Section VIII Transfer Fee From The Policy Upon Final Approval Of The City Attorney (M. Shahan).] ITEM 11 K, CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AMENDING THE 2017 AVIATION GROUND LEASE POLICY BY REMOVING SECTION EIGHT TRANSFER FEE FROM THE POLICY UPON FINAL APPROVAL OF THE CITY ATTORNEY. VERY GOOD. JOHN. I'D LIKE TO DEFER THIS ITEM AND WORKSHOP IT. I THINK THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO THIS LEASE AGREEMENT TO PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT AT OUR AIRPORT, WHICH ARE CURRENTLY HINDERED BY SOME OF THE LANGUAGE THAT'S IN THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT. AND SO I WOULD LIKE I DON'T YOU KNOW, I'VE NEVER ASKED THIS BEFORE, BUT I'D LIKE SOME LEEWAY TO WORK WITH DON TO, TO TO BRING A SECOND OPTION TO BACK TO YOU. AT THE NEXT MEETING FOR WORKSHOP AND THEN HAVE THE HAVE BOTH OF THESE LEASE AGREEMENTS ON OUR AGENDA FOR ACTION. OKAY. SO THAT IS IF THE I MEAN I'M I DON'T WANT TO HOLD THINGS UP. SO THAT'S WHY I THOUGHT THAT MIGHT BE AN OPTION TO SPEED THINGS ALONG. SO YOU'RE MAKING THAT AS A MOTION, JOHN, I WOULD MAKE THAT A MOTION. OKAY. AND BRING IT BACK TO WHAT? MEETING THE, FEBRUARY 22ND. SECOND MEETING. ALL RIGHT. FEBRUARY 22ND. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR DEFERRAL TO FEBRUARY 22ND. SECOND, I WOULD SECOND THAT BECAUSE I COUNCILMAN SUPPORT THE DEFERRAL OF THIS ITEM BECAUSE I THINK SOME A NUMBER OF THE THINGS COUNCILMAN LISTOWSKI AIRED THIS MORNING WERE COMPLETELY NEW TO ME. THE AIRPORT'S NOT MY BAILIWICK, BUT ABSOLUTELY. BUT I WOULD SUPPORT LEARNING A LOT MORE ABOUT THIS AND AND SEEING AND I SUPPORT THE NOTION OF YOU GOING FORWARD AND WORKING WITH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT ON THIS. GREAT. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. WE HAD A MOTION COUCILMAN LISTOWSKI AND A SECOND ON THAT. ANY DISCUSSION COUNCIL? YEAH. QUESTION. YES, SIR. COUNCIL MEMBER LISTOWSKI. IS IS THERE ANYTHING IN ADDITION TO. I KNOW THIS IS OFF TOPIC A LITTLE BIT, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING IN ADDITION TO THIS LEASE AGREEMENT THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED OR LOOKED AT RELATED TO HELPING TO PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT AT THE AIRPORT? I'M JUST GOING TO THROW IT OUT THERE IF YOU FIND OUT ANYTHING. YEAH. YEAH. PLEASE, PLEASE BRING IN. I'D BE VERY INTERESTED IN SEEING HOW WE COULD LEVERAGE THAT ASSET. AND WE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AN AMAZING AIRPORT. WE HAVE AMAZING FACILITIES OUT THERE. I THINK IT'S TOTALLY UNDERUTILIZED. I THINK AND IT IS A ENTERPRISE FUND, WHICH MEANS IT HAS TO MAKE ITS OWN REVENUE. THERE ARE NO TAX DOLLARS THAT GO TO OUR AIRPORT. [01:20:03] AND SO WE HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO GENERATE REVENUE OUT THERE TO SUPPORT IT. AND THAT'S WHY I'D LIKE TO LOOK INTO THIS A LITTLE BIT FURTHER. AND JOHN, YOU'LL BE WORKING WITH STAFF ON BRINGING BACK INFORMATION ON THIS. VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE DEFERRAL. THAT IS UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU. LET'S MOVE TO OUR ACTION ITEMS 12 A PLEASE. [12.A. Consider For Approval A Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Acknowledging Expressions Of Concern About A Lack Of Affordable Housing And Encouraging Non-Governmental Organizations; Including But Not Limited To, Not For Profit, Charitable, And Private Sector Entities, To Collaborate And Coordinate Their Efforts To Develop Programs Designed To Increase The Availability Of Affordable Workforce Housing; Providing For Findings Of Fact And Providing For An Effective Date. (Brown)] NELLIE ITEM 12 A CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, ACKNOWLEDGING EXPRESSIONS OF CONCERN ABOUT A LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ENCOURAGING NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDED BUT NOT LIMITED TO, NOT FOR PROFIT, CHARITABLE AND PRIVATE SECTOR ENTITIES TO COLLABORATE AND COORDINATE THEIR EFFORTS TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING, PROVIDING FOR FINDINGS OF FACT AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THANK YOU, NELLIE VERY MUCH. MARIE, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER THIS TO OUR NEXT MEETING. BECAUSE I STILL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. I, UNFORTUNATELY, WAS NOT AT THE WORKSHOP WHEN THE FIRST PRESENTATION WAS DONE, AND I HAD, CALLED DON TODAY TO ASK HIM IF THERE WAS, LIKE, A SENTENCE OR SOMETHING WE COULD PUT IN. AND AS FAR AS NO ADDITIONAL COST TO THE CITY. AND HE MENTIONED TO ME AN EMAIL HE HAD RECEIVED. DON. WELL, THERE WAS AN EMAIL THAT THE IMPETUS BEHIND THIS IS TO SUPPORT OR TO STRENGTHEN. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ENTERPRISE FUND IS GOING TO ISSUE SOME PROMISSORY NOTES. AND THE INTEREST FROM THOSE, I THINK, IS SUPPOSED TO BE TAX FREE. AND THIS RESOLUTION, BECAUSE THE LANGUAGE LESSENS THE BURDEN TO THE GOVERNMENT, IS INCLUDED. IT WOULD ENSURE THAT THE IRS WOULD LOOK FAVORABLE ON THE TAX FREE STATUS OF THE PAPERS. AND, YOU KNOW, I SENT YOU THOSE DOCUMENTS. WHICH IS ALL FINE. OKAY. THAT'S THE FUNDING MECHANISM THAT THEY HAVE CREATED. IS THIS, GALVESTON ESSENTIAL WORKFORCE HOUSING FUND NUMBER ONE, WHICH IS A NOT FOR PROFIT LLC. AND THIS RESOLUTION IS IN SUPPORT OF THOSE THOSE PAPERS. SO AS TO OTHER QUESTIONS THAT YOU RAISED ON, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO ENSURE, YOU KNOW, WORKFORCE HOUSING GETS THERE? THIS DOESN'T ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT, LET'S. BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD WITH DISCUSSING THIS, WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. IS THERE A SECOND TO THIS? I'LL SECOND THE MOTION, FOR DISCUSSION, BUT I'LL SECOND IT TOO, AND SAY THAT I, TOO HAVE QUESTIONS. I WAS AT THE PRESENTATION AT THE LAST MEETING. I HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS AT THAT PRESENTATION. I WOULD SUPPORT A DEFERRAL BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO ACTUALLY GET WITH VISION, TO UNDERSTAND, TO GET SOME ANSWERS TO MY QUESTION AND UNDERSTAND, HOW THE FUND WORKS. AND JUST, JUST I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS STILL I THINK. I'M A HUGE SUPPORTER OF MIDDLE INCOME HOUSING ON THE ISLAND. AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE SERVED SEVERAL YEARS ON GALVESTON HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, AND WE TRIED TO BRING A LOT OF THIS TO THE ISLAND. IT'S VERY HARD TASK. SO I'M GLAD TO SEE SOMEBODY ELSE KIND OF TAKEN THE REINS AND RUNNING WITH THIS. BUT I DO HAVE QUESTIONS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET THOSE ANSWERS BEFORE TAKING A VOTE ON THIS, I'D LIKE TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR DEFERRAL. FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN THE IDEA, IF THIS MOTION PASSES, THAT WE POSSIBLY MOVE THIS TO OUR FEBRUARY 6TH MEETING THAT WE HAVE COMING UP THAT WOULD, MOVE THIS ALONG VERY QUICKLY. NOW WE CAN PUT IT OFF TO THE FEBRUARY 22ND MEETING. THE SECOND POINT I HAVE COUNCILMAN LISTOWSKI MENTIONED. HE JUST WANTS SOME TIME TO VISIT WITH BUILD GALVESTON TO GET HIS QUESTIONS ANSWERED. WOULD YOU LIKE TO FOLLOW THE SAME ROW OR WOULD YOU ON THAT? I MEAN, WE, I GUESS, COULD MEET TOGETHER. I'D BE FINE WITH THAT. I JUST OKAY, JUST STILL HAVEN'T I 100% SUPPORT WORKFORCE HOUSING? I JUST HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS PARTICULAR MOTION? COUNCIL. YEAH. I WE WERE AT THE PRESENTATION. I THOUGHT THE PRESENTATION WAS GREAT ON THE MEETING BEFORE. [01:25:01] I'M NOT FOR SURE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE HERE. IT'S A RESOLUTION. NO COST TO THE CITY. I WISH WE WOULDN'T POSTPONE THIS. I WISH WE COULD JUST GET THIS GOING AND SUPPORT THIS WORK FORCE HOUSING. ALL RIGHT. WE, YES. SHARON, I, TOO AGREE. THIS IS A GREAT IDEA. I KNOW THAT THE MISSION IS, IS A VERY, A MISSION THAT THE CITY HAS IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. I KNOW THAT THE FINANCIAL SUPPORTERS BACK IT, AND I AM IN SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION, AND I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE WE HAVE NO DOLLARS IN IT. AND, I THINK WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH IT. ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD. DID WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY, I NEED TO CLARIFY WHEN YOU WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THIS BACK TO THE AGENDA. I'D BE FINE TO HAVE IT ON THE FEBRUARY 6TH. ALL RIGHT. WE'D HAVE THAT IN THE MOTION FOR OUR FEBRUARY 6TH AGENDA. IF THIS MOVES FORWARD, I'M GOING TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS. I'M 100% IN FAVOR OF THIS RESOLUTION. THIS IS SOMETHING BROUGHT BEFORE US BY A GROUP THAT HAS RESEARCHED THIS VERY THOROUGHLY AND HAVE COME UP AND WANTING TO NOT ONLY PUT TOGETHER AN ORGANIZATION, BUT PUT TOGETHER A FUNDING MECHANISM TO MOVE THIS FORWARD, SAYING THAT I'M GOING TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE DEFERRAL, I THINK COUNCILMAN LISTOWSKI AND COUNCILWOMAN ROBB, HAVE, SOME QUESTIONS. I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT TO GET THOSE ANSWERED FOR THEM BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD, AND COUNCILWOMAN ROBB WAS NOT HERE WHEN THE PRESENTATION WAS DONE. THAT'S JUST MY PERSONAL COMMENTS. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS? YES. COUNCILMAN FINKLEA, SO THE PURPOSE OF THE DEFERRAL IS TO, ASK ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, GET CLARIFICATION. DOES IT INVOLVE MAKING ANY AMENDMENTS TO THE ORDINANCE AS PRESENTED? I GUESS IT DEPENDS ON. . DEPENDS UPON, DEPENDS UPON THE FINDING. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR DEFERRAL TO OUR FEBRUARY 6TH MEETING COMING UP HERE VERY SHORTLY. THAT WOULD GIVE TIME FOR COUNCIL MEMBER, ROBB AND LISTOWSKI TO VISIT WITH BUILD GALVESTON AND GET THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND BECOME EDUCATED. A LITTLE MORE ON THIS. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION OF ALL THE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE DEFERRAL? ALL RIGHT. THAT DOES NOT PASS. I'D ENTERTAIN A SEPARATE MOTION. I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION. OKAY. I HAVE A MOTION FOR SUPPORTING AN APPROVAL OF ITEM 12A, THE RESOLUTION AS WRITTEN. IS THERE A SECOND I SECOND THAT HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER BOUVIER SECONDING THAT. VERY GOOD. ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL RIGHT. THAT DOES PASS. ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE FORWARD. [12.B. Discuss And Consider For Action The Scope Of The Financial Audit For The Park Board Of Trustees, And Directing Staff To Find An Outside Audit Firm To Conduct The Audit. (Collins/Brown)] ITEM 12B, PLEASE. ITEM 12B DISCUSS AND CONSIDER FOR ACTION THE SCOPE OF THE FINANCIAL AUDIT FOR THE PARK BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND DIRECTING STAFF TO FIND AN OUTSIDE AUDIT FIRM TO CONDUCT THE AUDIT. VERY GOOD. AND THIS IS A MOTION THAT, FOR THE PARK BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR OUR AUDIT HERE. WE HAD, I THINK COUNCILWOMAN ROBB HAD TALKED TO ME. YOU WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS. YOU CAN GIVE IT TO, COUNCILMAN BOUVIER. TO DO WHAT? I'M SORRY, I WAS. IT'S ITEM 12B. MAKE A MOTION TO. YES, SIR. APPROVE, FOR THE AUDIT ON THE PARK BOARD. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. WHAT IS GOING TO BE OKAY? YES. INTERFUND TRANSFER POOL CASH, AS IT RELATES TO CHAPTER 351 FOR HOT, DUE TO DUE FROM ENSURE THE FUNDS WERE ONLY USED AS INTENDED AND AUTHORIZED. TWO, WOULD BE REVIEW OF THE GRANTS AND AWARDS OF HOT DERIVED FROM THE FUNDS TO THE THIRD PARTY TO ENSURE SIGNIFICANT CONTROLS EXIST TO MONITOR TERMS, CONDITIONS, USE AND GRANTS OF RESTRICTIONS. THREE REVIEW ALL BEGINNING AND ENDING FUNDS BALANCES FOR FOUR YEARS, INCLUDING FOR FIXED ASSETS AND RECONCILE ANY DIFFERENCES AND FOR REVIEW CASH ACCOUNTS AND RECONCILE HOT VERSUS NON HOT FUND [01:30:05] BALANCES. VERY GOOD. WE'LL HAVE THAT IS SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN ROBB. VERY GOOD. ANY DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BEFORE WE LEAVE THAT SUBJECT, I'M SORRY, DID WE HAVE A TIMELINE SET ON THAT? READ REVIEWS, COMPLETE WITH 120 DAYS AFTER THE START OF THE ENGAGEMENT. OKAY. VERY GOOD. BRIAN, DOES THAT. YOU GOT YOUR CLEAR ON THAT? OKAY, LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 12 C, PLEASE. [12.C. Consideration Of The Receipt Of And Possible Further Action Related To The Agreed-Upon Procedures Report 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.] ITEM 12 C, CONSIDERATION OF THE RECEIPT AND OF POSSIBLE FURTHER ACTION RELATED TO THE AGREED UPON PROCEDURES. REPORTING REGARDING THE PROCESSES OF THE GALVESTON WHARVES, A COMPONENT UNIT OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, AS OF OR FOR THE PERIOD EXTENDED OCTOBER 31ST, 2023. VERY GOOD. COUNCIL I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION ON THIS. I MOVE TO RECEIVE THE AGREED UPON PROCEDURES REPORT, REGARDING THE GALVESTON WHARVES, AND REQUEST A SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT FROM WHITLEY PENN UPON THEIR RECEIPT OF REQUESTED TDM DOCUMENTATION. IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT SECOND SECOND FOR COUNCILWOMAN ROBB ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THAT IS UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. LET'S SEE, HERE WE ARE NOW AT 12 D, PLEASE. [12.D. Discuss And Consider Appointments To The Following City Boards, Commissions, And Committees] ITEM 12 D DISCUSS AND CONSIDER APPOINTMENTS TO THE FOLLOWING CITY BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES. ONE, POLICE PENSION BOARD. VERY GOOD. I AM GOING TO NOMINATE SCOTT GORDON FOR THE POLICE PENSION BOARD. THIS IS. I BET HE'S SURPRISED. HE'S VERY SURPRISED. HE DIDN'T SEE THIS COMING. AND VERY GOOD. I HAVE A NOMINATION AS SCOTT GORDON FOR THIS POSITION. IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. COUNCILWOMAN ROBB SECONDS. THAT, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? CONGRATULATIONS, MR. GORDON. VERY GOOD. LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 13. [13.A. Receipt And Review Of Revised 2024 Holiday Schedule The Holiday Schedule for 2024 was revised to replace the day after Christmas with the day before Christmas (Christmas Eve).] THESE ARE RECEIVING FILE. IF YOU COULD JUST READ THOSE NOW. YES, SIR. ITEM 13A, RECEIPT AND REVIEW OF REVISED 2024 HOLIDAY SCHEDULE. THE HOLIDAY SCHEDULE FOR 2024 WAS REVISED TO REPLACE THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS WITH THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS. 13B, GALVESTON CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTION 2024 THROUGH 2025 RESULTS. [13.B. Galveston Central Appraisal District - Board Of Directors Election 2024-2025 Results] THANK YOU NELLIE. APPRECIATE THAT. IT IS 6:32 COUNCIL WE HAVE GONE THROUGH ALL OF OUR ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA. WE ARE ADJOURNED. AMEN. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.