[00:00:05] GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. [1. DECLARATION OF A QUORUM AND CALL MEETING TO ORDER] SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE THIS AFTERNOON. IT IS 5 P.M.. I WOULD LIKE TO OFFICIALLY CALL THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR MAY 23RD, 2024 TO ORDER, AND I WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE. COUNCIL, IT'S NICE TO SEE EVERYONE THIS AFTERNOON. AGAIN, THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. BEING HERE, WE HAVE STAFF AND OUR OTHER ROOMS THAT WILL BE COMING IN THAT WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THE MEETING. WE APPRECIATE THEM BEING HERE, AND FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE WATCHING THIS BEING BROADCAST, WE WISH YOU WELCOME AND GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE THIS AFTERNOON. WE DO HAVE A QUORUM AND ALL OF OUR COUNCILMEMBERS HERE, BUT LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE. VERY GOOD. WE HAVE EIGHT BOARD MEMBERS HERE. COUNCILMEMBERS HERE. WE HAVE TWO BROWNS WITH US THIS AFTERNOON. VERY GOOD. WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION. WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE REVEREND MEGAN T FROM THE FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH WITH US. HOW ARE YOU, REVEREND T? GOOD EVENING. I'M SO EXCITED TO BE HERE. GREETINGS FROM FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH TO EVERYONE. UNFORTUNATELY, I WON'T BE ABLE TO STAY. I HAVE TO GO OVER TO BALL HIGH FOR THEIR BACCALAUREATE. RIGHT AFTER THIS, BUT I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BE HERE. SO LET US PRAY. DEAR, LOVING AND GRACIOUS GOD, I PRAY YOUR BLESSING THIS DAY UPON THE FOLKS ASSEMBLED IN THIS ROOM. EACH OF THEM HAS MADE THIS INCREDIBLE DECISION TO BE ON COUNCIL. THE OTHER FOLKS IN THIS ROOM HAVE MADE THE DECISION TO BE HERE TO SUPPORT THIS WORK. THESE DECISIONS DEMAND SO MUCH SOMETIMES, AND I PRAY YOUR BLESSING UPON EACH OF THEM, THAT THE FIRE OF YOUR PURPOSE AND YOUR JOY ENFOLDS THEM IN COURAGE AS THEY MEET TONIGHT IN THEIR MEETING. MAY THEIR MINDS REMAIN SHARP, HEARTS SOFT AND OPEN, AND MAY THEY REMEMBER THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US WHO OFTEN HAVE NO VOICE. CHILDREN, FOLKS FACING HOUSING AND FOOD INSECURITY, FOLKS STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, AND SO MANY OTHERS. BLESS THE WORK OF THIS COUNCIL'S HANDS, HEADS AND HEARTS THIS NIGHT, AND WE KNOW THAT WHEREVER WE GO, YOU'RE ALREADY THERE, AWAITING US. IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT, AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT WAS NICE TO MEET YOU ALL. THANK YOU, REVEREND T, APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. LET'S HAVE OUR PLEDGE, PLEASE. [6. PRESENTATIONS/REPORTS OF COUNCIL, OFFICER BOARDS, AND CITY MANAGER] IF WE COULD HAVE ITEM SIX, PLEASE. NELLIE. ITEM SIX PRESENTATION 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. VERY GOOD. I'M GOING TO LEAD THIS OFF. I WANTED TO, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, WISH EVERYONE A WONDERFUL MEMORIAL DAY. COMING UP, A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY COMMEMORATING THOSE THAT HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIFE IN THE SERVICE OF OUR COUNTRY, AND SO IT'LL BE A LOT OF CELEBRATIONS ON THE ISLAND, AS YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED, COMING UP HERE TO CITY COUNCIL HALL. WE'RE PUTTING OUR FLAGS UP. WE'LL HAVE OUR FLAGS OUT, UP AND DOWN THE BOULEVARDS, ESPECIALLY ON 25TH HERE. SO HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY TO EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY. WE ALSO HAVE NOW SOME SPECIAL PROCLAMATIONS SAFE BOATING WEEK, AND COUNCILMAN PORRETTO WILL BE READING THAT. THE CITY OF GALVESTON PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS ON AVERAGE 650 PEOPLE DIE EACH YEAR IN BOATING RELATED ACCIDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES, 75% OF THESE FATALITIES ARE CAUSED BY DROWNING, AND WHEREAS THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT 2023 STATISTICS INDICATE 175 BOATING INCIDENTS RESULTING IN 104 DEATHS AND OR INJURIES, [00:05:08] AND WHEREAS THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE ACCIDENTS ARE CAUSED BY HUMAN ERROR OR POOR JUDGMENT, AND NOT BY THE BOAT, EQUIPMENT OR ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS, AND WHEREAS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF BOATERS WHO LOSE THEIR LIVES BY DROWNING EACH YEAR WOULD BE ALIVE TODAY HAD THEY WORN THEIR LIFE JACKETS. THEREFORE, WE, THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, DO HEREBY SUPPORT THE GOALS OF THE SAFE BOATING CAMPAIGN AND PROCLAIM MAY 18TH THROUGH THE 24TH, 2024 AS SAFE BOATING WEEK IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON AND THE START OF OUR YEAR ROUND EFFORT TO SUPPORT SAFE BOATING ON OUR AREA WATERS, AND TESTIMONY WHEREOF WITNESS MY HAND IN THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, THIS 23RD DAY OF MAY, 2024. THANK YOU. THANKS. YEAH. GET ALL THE PICTURES YOU NEED. OKAY. READY? ONE. TWO. THREE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. YOU'RE VERY WELCOME. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER, AND THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS AT THE COAST GUARD FLOTILLA NUMBER SIX EIGHT. THANK YOU, AND WE HAVE A THANK YOU GIFT FOR YOU GUYS. GRATITUDE FOR YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, Y'ALL. LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS, GO AHEAD. I'M GOING TO HAND THIS TO THE MAYOR. OKAY. MAYOR BROWN. COUNCILMEMBERS CITY OF GALVESTON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING AND SUPPORTING THE, AND OF COURSE, THE CITY AND RESIDENTS AND THE CITIZENS OF GALVESTON CITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING THE COAST GUARD AND THE COAST GUARD AUXILIARY. REALLY COULDN'T BE, YOU KNOW, DOING THE THINGS WE DO WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE LOCAL RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY ONE THING WE'D LIKE TO MENTION IS OUR FLOTILLA AT STATION GALVESTON. ONE FLOTILLA OF THE YEAR. THAT'S FOR THE COUNTRY THIS PAST YEAR IN 2023. SO THAT'S THE OUT OF 900. WE JUST LOOKED IT UP. THAT'S OUT OF 980 FLOTILLAS AROUND THE COUNTRY. SO SO WE'RE QUITE HONORED TO BE SUPPORTING GALVESTON IN OUR LOCAL WATERS, BUT SPECIFICALLY WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY IS THIS IS NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK AS WE GO INTO BUSY BOATING SEASON, AS EVERYBODY HERE COULD ATTEST IT'S ALREADY STARTED TO GET A LITTLE BIT BUSY ON THE WATER GOING INTO MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AND THROUGH LABOR DAY WEEKEND. THAT'S WHAT WE CLASSIFY AS BUSY BOATING SEASON. WE'D LIKE TO REMIND EVERYBODY TO BE SAFE ON THE WATER, WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKETS, TAKE A SAFE BOATING COURSE, AND MORE MOST IMPORTANTLY YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE, IN A CAR BOATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE IS A BIG DEAL. SO PLEASE BE CAREFUL. IF YOU'RE GOING TO DRINK, HAVE A DESIGNATED BOAT BOATER TO DRIVE THE BOAT, BUT WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING GALVESTON HAS DONE FOR FOR THE COAST GUARD AND REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THIS SUPPORT. SO THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU'RE WELCOME, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE CERTIFICATE HERE OF GRATITUDE. THAT'S FAIR. I'M HONORED. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN, VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WE NOW HAVE A APRAXIA AWARENESS DAY PROCLAMATION AND COUNCILMAN FINKLEA WILL BE READING THAT. IS THERE ANYBODY HERE FROM [INAUDIBLE]? NOPE. ALL RIGHT, WELL, MAYOR, I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ IT. YES, SIR. THIS PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS CHILD APRAXIA OF SPEECH, OR CAS, IS AN EXTREMELY CHALLENGING SPEECH DISORDER THAT AFFECTS 1 IN 1000 CHILDREN, CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DIFFICULTY LEARNING TO SPEAK, AND IS AMONG THE MOST SEVERE SPEECH DEFICITS IN CHILDREN AND WHEREAS CHILDREN WITH APRAXIA REQUIRE EARLY AND APPROPRIATE INTENSIVE SPEECH THERAPY TO LEARN TO SPEAK WITHOUT THE APPROPRIATE THERAPY INTERVENTION, CHILDREN WITH APRAXIA WILL DEVELOP POOR COMMUNICATION SKILLS, BE AT HIGH RISK FOR LEARNING DISABILITIES IN SCHOOL RELATED SKILLS, AND FACE FUTURE INDEPENDENCE AND EMPLOYMENT CHALLENGES, AND WHEREAS, CHILD APRAXIA OF SPEECH AWARENESS IS ESSENTIAL FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN, WITH THIS NEUROLOGICAL DISORDER AND THE PROFESSIONALS WHO PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH THE NEEDED SERVICES FOR THOSE WHO ARE LEARNING TO USE THEIR OWN VOICE, AND THEREFORE WE, THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 14TH, 2024 AS APRAXIA AWARENESS DAY AND TESTIMONY WHEREOF WITNESS MY HAND THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, THIS 23RD DAY OF MAY, [00:10:06] 2024. CRAIG BROWN, MAYOR. JANELLE WILLIAMS, CITY SECRETARY. THANK YOU, AND NOW IT IS MY PLEASURE. I'M GOING TO COME DOWN AND READ THE PROCLAMATION DECLARING AN OFFICIAL MASCOT FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS. LAST MONDAY, THE ISLAND HUMANE SOCIETY HERE HAD A FUNDRAISER AND IT WAS A THREE HOUR FUNDRAISER, AND THEY SET A GOAL AND THEY EXCEEDED THAT GOAL IN THREE HOURS. IT WAS PHENOMENAL. THEIR GOAL WAS $60,000 FROM 10 TO 1 AND THEY EXCEEDED THAT. I THINK IT WAS 70 OR 67,000. IT WAS, AND SIR, WE'VE ACTUALLY EXCEEDED IT. I BROUGHT IN ANOTHER $10,000 CHECK TODAY. WE'RE SITTING AT 82. OH HOW WONDERFUL. WELL WE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED, BUT OUR ANIMAL CONTROL SYSTEM, OUR HUMANE SOCIETY AND OUR SHELTER HERE IS QUITE A GEM. THIS IS AN EXEMPLARY FACILITY THAT PEOPLE TRY TO COPY AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND JOSH HENDERSON HERE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HUMANE SOCIETY. SO IT IS NOW MY HONOR, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THIS EVERY QUARTER. WHEREAS THE GALVESTON ISLAND HUMANE SOCIETY INCORPORATED, IS SOLELY DEDICATED TO THE CAUSE AND WELFARE OF UNWANTED, UNWANTED OR HOMELESS ANIMALS, WHEREAS THIS ORGANIZATION PROVIDES A TEMPORARY REFUGE FOR THESE ANIMALS, ARRANGES PLACEMENT IN RESPONSIBLE HOMES, AND PROVIDES COMMUNITY EDUCATION TOWARDS THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS IN THE INSTRUCTION OF HUMAN PET CARE. HUMANE PET CARE, EXCUSE ME. [CHUCKLING] WHEREAS THE HUMANE SOCIETY WILL BE PRESENTING QUARTERLY A LIVE MASCOT TO THE CITY OF GALVESTON AT THEIR REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS IN HOPES OF ADOPTIONS FOR THESE PETS, AND THEREFORE, WE, THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 23RD, 2024 AS GIHS QUARTERLY LIVE MASCOT DAY IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON AND RECOGNIZE SHY AS THE FIRST QUARTER MASCOT, AND WE HOPE SHE FINDS HER FOREVER HOME. SO [INAUDIBLE] WHERE I HAVE WITNESSED MY HAND IN THE SEAL OF GALVESTON, OF GALVESTON THIS 23RD DAY OF MAY, 2024, AND WE NOW OFFICIALLY INTRODUCE OUR MASCOT FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON, SHY. THANK YOU, JOSH, AND THIS IS FOR YOU AND SHY. THAT'S EXCELLENT. HERE. WE GOT ONE HERE. JOSH. THIS WAY. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD STRETCH. GOOD STRETCH. GOOD STRETCH. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A MASCOT EVERY QUARTER. SO THREE MONTHS FROM NOW WE'LL HAVE A NEW MASCOT AND JOSH WILL BE INTRODUCING HIM AT THAT POINT. DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY. THIS IS INDEED A GREAT HONOR. SHY IS HONORED AS WELL. HE ASKED ME TO TELL YOU. [CHUCKLING] THE FUNDRAISER ON MONDAY, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE NOT SEEN IT, GO TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE. I PROMISE IF YOU CAN'T FIND A REASON TO LAUGH THROUGHOUT THAT LIVE STREAM, THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE WAY YOU'RE BUILT. WE WERE ABLE TO RAISE. [00:15:01] NOW WE'RE ALL THE WAY UP TO $82,000. WE ABSOLUTELY ARE ORDERING OUR ADOPTION TRAILER THIS WEEK. IT'S GONE FROM A PIPE DREAM TO A REALITY, AND IN LARGE PART, I HAVE TO SAY, IT'S THANKS TO THE HELP WE GOT FROM OUR LOCAL OFFICIALS. I GOT TO SEND THIS GROUP OF FOLKS AN EMAIL AND ASK THAT THEY SHOW UP AND PARTICIPATE. BECAUSE WHO DOESN'T WANT TO SEE BRIAN MAXWELL GET A CREAM PIE SLAPPED BESIDE HIS FACE? [CHUCKLING] HE TOOK IT LIKE A CHAMP. ALEX, YOU DRANK PEE WITH ME, MAN. [CHUCKLING] THANK YOU. I LEGITIMATELY WATCHED THE LIVE STREAM. THE THINGS THAT Y'ALL WERE ABLE TO COME OUT AND DO. I DON'T KNOW THAT MY SLIME COVERED CLOTHES ARE GOING TO BE THE SAME. IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE TO REGROW MY EYEBROWS, BUT WHAT A RIOT OF A DAY THAT WAS, AND I'M HONORED THAT YOU ALL CAME OUT AND GREAT SPORTS CAME OUT TO PARTICIPATE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FROM THE STAFF, FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND FROM THE ANIMALS OF THE HUMANE SOCIETY. WE APPRECIATE YOU STEPPING UP AND THE COMMUNITY FOR SUPPORTING US AND BRINGING IN THOSE DONATIONS AND MAKING OUR DREAM OF AN ADOPTION TRAILER ITS OWN ORDERED REALITY. 22 TO 24 WEEKS. WE SHOULD HAVE ONE IN TIME FOR THANKSGIVING. THANK YOU FOR THIS. CONGRATULATIONS TO SHY, AND THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE CITY COUNCIL. VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS, COUNCILMEMBERS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE? BRIAN? YES, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY WE'RE AT THIS SUMMER. WE'VE STARTED BACK UP OUR, YOU KNOW, SINCE COVID. WE'RE A LITTLE SLOW GETTING IT GOING, BUT WE STARTED BACK UP OUR SUMMER INTERN PROGRAM. THIS IS PRIMARILY FOR KIDS FROM GALVESTON THAT WE'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE TO WORK FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON IN THE FUTURE, AND WE'VE ALSO PARTNERED WITH A&M GALVESTON AS WELL TO GET A FEW SUMMER INTERNS HERE BUT OUR INTERN THAT'S ALREADY STARTED IS TATE BIRCHFIELD. HE'S A LOCAL GALVESTON BALL HIGH GRADUATE GOES TO SAINT EDWARD'S UNIVERSITY, AND WITH ANY LUCK WE ENCOURAGE TATE TO POSSIBLY COME BACK AND MAYBE BE OUR CITY ATTORNEY AT SOME POINT IF WE DON'T SCARE THE HELL OUT OF HIM IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS AS A SUMMER INTERN. SO WE APPRECIATE HIM BEING HERE. VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? COUNCILMEMBERS? YES, MA'AM. I WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE TO THE PUBLIC OUR JUNETEENTH EVENTS ARE COMING UP FOR THE MONTH, AND YOU SHOULD PICK UP A PLACARD. JUST AS YOU GO OUT THE DOOR AND THERE'S A WHOLE LIST OF ACTIVITIES THAT ANYONE CAN PARTICIPATE IN OR ENJOY FROM CONCERTS THIS YEAR. THERE IS A PLAY, AND WE'RE JUST SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT. WE HAVE A VIOLINIST WHO'S COMING, PARADES, EVERYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE ON THE CARD. TAKE ONE AND MAKE SURE YOU PARTICIPATE IN SOMETHING. THANKS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SHARON. VERY GOOD. LET'S MOVE TO ITEM SIX B, PLEASE. ITEM SIX B CITY MANAGER'S REPORT, THE INVESTMENT REPORT AND THE SECOND QUARTER REPORT FOR QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31ST, 2024. SHEILA, COME FORWARD. WE HAVE SCILLA LUDANYI, OUR DIRECTOR OF FINANCE HERE AT THE CITY. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO RETHINK MY TIMING. I'M GOING TO FOLLOW THE MASCOT EVERY QUARTER NOW, AND THIS IS NOT NEARLY AS EXCITING. SO I'M GOING TO START WITH THE SECOND QUARTER REPORT, WHICH FOR THE NEWBIES, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS AND YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED IT IN YOUR PILE OF ITEMS IN THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE IN YOUR MAIL. I'M GOING TO GO INTO A LITTLE MORE DEPTH THIS TIME AROUND JUST BECAUSE IT'S NEW TO SOME OF YOU, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE TO ASK. OTHERWISE, THE FORMAT WE USE EVERY QUARTER IS VERY SIMILAR. THERE WILL NOT BE A THIRD QUARTER REPORT BECAUSE WE DO THE BUDGET IN THE THIRD QUARTER, AND SO YOU'LL BE MEETING WITH ME AND OTHER FINANCE DEPARTMENT MEMBERS, BUDGET MEMBERS TO DO THE BUDGET, AND THEN WE DO A FOURTH QUARTER REPORT AFTER THE END OF THE YEAR. SO ON YOUR REPORT, PAGES TWO AND THREE ARE RELATED TO THE GENERAL FUND SUMMARY, AND THE ITEMS THAT I THINK ARE OF NOTE AS WE END THE SECOND QUARTER ARE PREDOMINANTLY SALES TAX IS DOWN FROM WHERE WE BUDGETED IT TO BE, AND WE'RE PROJECTING IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT $1 MILLION OR 5% DOWN FROM HOW WE SET THE BUDGET. SO THAT'S KIND OF A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER IN THE GENERAL FUND. WE HAVE SOME OFFSETTING ITEMS SPECIFICALLY INVESTMENT EARNINGS. LUCKILY INTEREST RATES FOR THE PURPOSES OF INVESTMENTS HAVE STAYED HIGH, AND SO WE'RE PROJECTING ABOUT 275,000 ADDITIONAL IN INTEREST REVENUE, AS WELL AS IN THE OTHER REVENUE CATEGORY IS WHERE WE'VE CATEGORIZED LONG TERM PARKING RELATED TO THE CRUISES AND CRUISE PASSENGER REVENUE, AND THIS IS ONLY THE SECOND YEAR THAT WE'RE SEEING THESE REVENUES, AND IT'S ALMOST A FIRST FULL YEAR. [00:20:01] THERE'S GOING TO BE ADDITIONS ALONG THE WAY, BUT SO WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A TREND LINE BY WHICH TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE RIGHT NOW, BASED ON THE TREND SO FAR IN THE FISCAL YEAR, WE'RE PROJECTING ANOTHER 443,000 IN REVENUE RELATED TO THOSE TWO SOURCES. SO THERE'S AN OFFSET TO THAT DECREASE FROM OUR BUDGET FOR SALES TAX. HOWEVER, AS A RESULT OF THIS YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT THE YEAR END FUND BALANCE RIGHT NOW, WE'RE PROJECTING AT 24.1 MILLION, WHICH IS 114 DAYS, AND AS WE ALL KNOW, OUR GOAL IS 120, AND SO MANAGEMENT HAS INSTRUCTED STAFF TO REALLY WATCH OUR SPENDING IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR SO THAT WE ACTUALLY REALIZE THAT 120 DAY YEAR END FUND BALANCE, AND SO THOSE ARE THE IMPORTANT ITEMS ON THE GENERAL FUND. IF YOU LOOK AT PAGE 6 TO 7, THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE SUMMARIES FOR YOUR SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS. THESE ARE FUNDS THAT ARE LIMITED IN THEIR USE BASED ON THE REVENUE TYPE. THERE ARE LEGAL RESTRICTIONS BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE COLLECT THE REVENUE OF THIS GROUP OF FUNDS. A LOT OF THE REVENUE, ALMOST 50% IS RELATED TO HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, AND SO THE FLUCTUATIONS IN THAT OR THE FUND BALANCE IS RELATED TO THAT IMPACT THE AGGREGATE FOR THESE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, SPECIFICALLY THE ONES I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU IN THIS MONTH'S REPORT OR THIS QUARTER'S REPORT ARE ON PAGE NINE. YOU'LL SEE THE CONVENTION CENTER SURPLUS FUND, AND IN THIS FUND, I'M ONLY BRINGING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION BECAUSE AFTER THESE QUARTERLY REPORTS, THE FOLLOWING MONTH IS USUALLY WHEN WE DO A BUDGET AMENDMENT BASED ON THE TRENDS WE'VE SEEN, AND IN THIS FUND SPECIFICALLY, WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING BUDGET AMENDMENT RELATED TO THE TROLLEY BUSSES AND TROLLEY STYLE, BUT THE TROLLEY CAR BUSSES AND THE TROLLEY STYLE BUSSES, AND WHEN WE DO OUR BUDGET AMENDMENT NEXT MONTH, YOU'LL BE SEEING THAT IF YOU TURN TO PAGE 11, THIS IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEBT SERVICE FUND, AND I BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION, BECAUSE THIS IS THE 8% OF GENERAL FUND REVENUE THAT IS SET ASIDE FOR THE PURPOSES OF PAYING OFF A PORTION OF OUR ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE OBLIGATION OR ANY INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. IN OUR CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, THERE WAS NOT A NEED TO USE IT TO PAY FOR DEBT. SO ALL OF IT'S GOING TOWARDS CAPITAL PROJECTS, AND IT'S JUST AN IMPORTANT ITEM OF NOTE FOR COUNCIL TO UNDERSTAND THAT'S WHERE THAT IS CAPTURED. SO IF WE GO ON TO PAGE 22, THIS IS WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ALL OF THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUNDS, AND ALREADY TODAY I HEARD THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT IN THE BUDGET PROCESS. SO FEEL FREE TO PERUSE THIS SECTION AND FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH IT SO YOU HAVE SOME IDEA OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE RELATED SPECIFICALLY TO THIS AREA. THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF ITEMS OF NOTE RIGHT NOW. HOT TAX IS PLUGGING ALONG JUST AS BUDGETED. WE EXPECT IT TO BE RIGHT IN THE RANGE THAT WAS BUDGETED, AND ALL OF THAT WILL, OR THE MAJORITY OF THAT IS TRANSFERRED TO THE PARK BOARD FOR THEIR ACTIVITIES, AND THEN THERE'S ARTS AND CULTURAL AND HISTORIC THAT PORTIONS OF THAT STAY WITH THE CITY. IF YOU LOOK ON PAGE 25 SPECIFIC TO ARTS AND CULTURAL EVENTS, AS WE ARE BEGINNING TO FUND THAT ON THE CITY SIDE INSTEAD OF THE PARK BOARD SIDE. WE'RE TRYING TO ALIGN OUR BUDGET SETTING PROCESS WITH THE COMMITTEE'S WORK, AND IN THIS LAST BUDGET SETTING PROCESS, THE COMMITTEE'S INFORMATION WAS NOT A PART OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS. SO YOU WILL SEE BUDGET AMENDMENT RELATED TO THIS NEXT MONTH; IT'LL BE PART OF THAT SAME BUDGET AMENDMENT WHERE WE CAPTURE ALL OF THE WORK THAT COMMITTEE DID AND ALL OF THOSE ALLOCATIONS SO THAT THEY ARE IN THE BUDGET DOCUMENT ON PAGE 28 IS WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE SUMMARY OF ALL YOUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS AND THE ITEMS OF NOTE HERE, AND YOU'LL BE HEARING MORE FROM ME NEXT MONTH AS WE BEGIN THE BUDGET PROCESS AND WE DO THE LONG RANGE FORECAST. IT WILL BE VERY EXCITING, I'M SURE, BUT SO IN THE COMBINED UTILITY, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THERE'S A $2.3 MILLION INCREASE IN REVENUE AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT IT IS OFFSETTING A LARGE SPEND DOWN FOR CAPITAL, BUT IT DOES NOT MAKE IT GO AWAY ENTIRELY. SO ON PAGE 29, YOU WILL SEE THAT THERE'S ABOUT $6.1 MILLION BUDGETED TO SPEND DOWN INTO FUND BALANCE RELATED TO CAPITAL PROJECTS OR SPECIFICALLY EQUIPMENT. FOR THE MOST PART AND THAT AMOUNT IS BEING REDUCED BASED ON THAT INCREASE IN REVENUES, BUT THERE'S STILL A $3.2 MILLION SPEND DOWN, AND SO IN THE COMBINED UTILITY, BOTH WATER AND SEWER WERE LOOKING AT RATES EFFICIENCY RIGHT NOW, AND OVER THE SUMMER, AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, YOU'LL BE HEARING FROM US AND PUBLIC WORKS AND CONSULTANTS RELATED TO WHETHER THE REVENUE THAT WE'RE GENERATING IS SUFFICIENT TO SUSTAIN THE OPERATIONS OVER TIME. [00:25:02] THIS ALSO APPLIES TO PAGE 32, WHICH IS YOUR SANITATION FUND, AND IN THIS FUND AS WELL, WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING A REVENUE SUFFICIENCY STUDY, AND AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT AS WELL. SO MORE TO COME. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO ME OR BRANDON OR TRINO, ANYONE OVER IN PUBLIC WORKS, AND FINALLY, ON PAGE 35, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE SUMMARY OF THE INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS. THESE ARE THE FUNDS THAT WE USE TO SUPPORT INTERNAL OPERATIONS FOR THE CITY INSURANCE, GARAGE MAINTENANCE, THAT SORT OF THING. THE IMPORTANT ITEM OF NOTE HERE, AND THIS WILL BE A YEAR END BUDGET AMENDMENT. IT WILL NOT BE IN THE SECOND BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT WILL COME TO YOU IN JUNE. THE WORKERS COMPENSATION FUND HAS SEEN HIGHER CLAIMS THIS YEAR THAN WE HAD PROJECTED, AND SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A DEFICIT IN THIS FUND, AND WE WILL HAVE TO DO A BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR IT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL YEAR END UNTIL WE SEE HOW THE NEXT SIX MONTHS PLAY OUT, TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT AMENDMENT WILL LOOK LIKE. SO THAT IS YOUR SECOND QUARTER REPORT, AND FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. THE OTHER THING WE PRESENT TO YOU IS THE INVESTMENT REPORT, WHICH WE ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO PRESENT ON A QUARTERLY BASIS. YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THIS AS WELL, AND SO IF YOU TURN TO PAGE FIVE OF YOUR INVESTMENT REPORT, YOU'LL SEE THAT OUR MARKET VALUE FOR THE QUARTER ENDING MARCH 31ST, 2024 IS ABOUT $212.1 MILLION, AND THAT'S ABOUT AN $18.2 MILLION INCREASE FROM OUR DECEMBER 31ST BALANCES IN OUR INVESTMENTS. THIS IS PARTLY DRIVEN BY INTEREST, BUT THAT WOULD BE A WHOLE LOT OF INTEREST, AND SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING THERE IS PROPERTY TAX REVENUE THAT WE GET THE MAJORITY OF IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, AND SO THERE'S A LARGE BALANCE INCREASE DURING THIS PERIOD, SPECIFICALLY EVERY YEAR AS A RESULT OF THAT PROPERTY TAX REVENUE COMING IN. HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, WHILE IT IS NOT DELINEATED IN THIS REPORT, MAKES UP ABOUT $28.2 MILLION OF WHAT WE HAVE INVESTED. SO IT'S NOT A HUGE PERCENTAGE. HOWEVER, IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW APPROXIMATELY HOW MUCH THAT IS. IF YOU TURN TO PAGE SIX OF YOUR REPORT, YOU WILL SEE THAT RIGHT NOW, THE MAJORITY OF OUR PORTFOLIO, AS A RESULT OF THE REALLY HIGH OVERNIGHT INTEREST RATES, CAN. CONTINUES TO BE VERY LIQUID AND OVERNIGHT INVESTMENTS IN THE POOL FUNDS. IT'S ABOUT 88.4%, AND ESSENTIALLY THAT MONEY IS AVAILABLE TO US EVERY DAY, AND BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE MONEY IS POOLED AND INVESTED, WE GET THAT REALLY GREAT OVERNIGHT INTEREST RATE AND THERE'S NO REASON NOT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT. ABOUT 11.6% OF OUR INVESTMENTS ARE IN TREASURIES RIGHT NOW, AND THAT PORTFOLIO GOES OUT UNTIL ABOUT SEPTEMBER. SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS ABOUT NO LONGER THAN SIX MONTHS ON ANY OF OUR INVESTMENTS CURRENTLY. THE CITY HAD A TOTAL GAIN OF 2.4 MILLION, ALMOST 2.5 MILLION, IN THE QUARTER ENDING MARCH 31ST, 2024. DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR ME? VERY GOOD. IT'S A LOT TO GO OVER, BUT GREAT, GREAT MATERIAL IN THIS REPORT. I APPRECIATE THAT, SCILLA. COUNCIL, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO SCILLA ON THAT AND BRIAN CAN HELP YOU. DAN CAN HELP YOU, BUT BE SURE TO GET THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED AS WE MOVE FORWARD HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SHEILA, VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. NELLIE. LET'S MOVE TO SEVEN, ITEM SEVEN. [7. COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS] ITEM SEVEN, COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS. CLAIMS 24-023 THROUGH 24-033 ARE ON THE SCREEN. LET'S MOVE TO ITEM EIGHT A, PLEASE, MA'AM. [8.A. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Designating The Property Located At 1705 Ball / Avenue H, As A “Galveston Landmark”, Property Is Legally Described As M.B. Menard Survey, Lot 6 Block 257, 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 24P-010; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject. (D.Lunsford)] ITEM EIGHT A CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AND ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, DESIGNATING THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1705 BALL AVENUE H AS A GALVESTON LANDMARK PROPERTY LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS RMB MENARD SURVEY LOT SIX, BLOCK 257, 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 24, DASH 010, MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT, AND WE HAVE CATHERINE. GOOD MORNING. GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS IS A LANDMARK DESIGNATION, A GALVESTON LANDMARK DESIGNATION THAT IS AN INDIVIDUAL HISTORIC DESIGNATION THAT CAN BE USED INSIDE OF A HISTORIC DISTRICT LIKE THIS ONE. IN THAT CASE, THERE'S NO CHANGE TO THE PROTECTION OF THE PROPERTY. IT'S JUST A NICE WAY TO HONOR IT. IT CAN ALSO BE USED OUTSIDE OF A HISTORIC DISTRICT, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'LL SEE IN THE NEXT CASE, AND IN THOSE INSTANCES, THE PROPERTY IS THEN PROTECTED FROM DEMOLITION AND [00:30:04] INAPPROPRIATE CHANGES. SO THIS IS 1705 BALL IT IS THE AG WALKER HOUSE. IT WAS BUILT IN 1887. AG WALKER WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE HOUSE. THE HOUSE HAS BEEN OWNED BY 11 FAMILIES IN THE LAST 137 YEARS. THE A.G. WALKER HOUSE REMAINS AN IMPORTANT PART OF GALVESTON'S ARCHITECTURAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY. LANDMARK COMMISSION, PLANNING COMMISSION AND STAFF ARE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL. THANK YOU, CATHERINE. APPRECIATE IT. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS GORMAN? STAFF? YES. I MEAN, COUNCIL. LET'S HAVE DAVID FINKLEA AND THEN COUNCILMAN BROWN. YEAH. THE MICROPHONE HERE SHOULD BE. I'M STILL AT THE LEARNING CURVE ON THIS. YEAH, CATHERINE, JUST TO BE CLEAR THESE TWO LANDMARK CASES, ONE OF THEM IS THEY'RE BOTH LANDMARKS, BUT ONE OF THEM IS ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TAX BREAKS BECAUSE THEY ARE OUTSIDE OF A CURRENT HISTORIC DISTRICT, AND ONE IS NOT BECAUSE IT IS ALREADY PROTECTED WITHIN A HISTORIC DISTRICT. IS THAT RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT, AND IT'S THE TAX BREAK IS EQUAL TO 35% OFF THEIR CITY TAXES FOR FIVE YEARS. IS THAT FIVE YEARS? YES. OKAY, GREAT. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT. MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD THAT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN FINKLEA. NO. ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MISS GORMAN? IT IS 5:31 P.M.. I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM EIGHT A. IS THE PROPERTY OWNER IN THE ROOM HERE? IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO GIVE INPUT ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM? HEARING NO RESPONSE. I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 5:31 P.M, AND BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL FOR ANY ACTION. I'LL MOVE APPROVE. WE HAVE A, WE'LL NEED TO, YEAH, BE THE SECOND THERE. I'LL SECOND THAT, MAYOR. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL BY COUNCILWOMAN ROBB, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER BOB BROWN. ALL RIGHT. ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES, COUNCIL. BOB, HIT YOUR SECOND AGAIN. HIT YOUR SECOND AGAIN. HIT YOUR SECOND AGAIN. YEAH. HERE WE GO. NOPE. IT'S NOT WORKING. IT'S NOT WORKING. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO. FOR THE REST OF THE EVENING, WE'LL BE DOING A MANUAL VOTE ON THAT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS APPROVAL OF EIGHT A, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT IS UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ITEM EIGHT B, PLEASE. [8.B. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Designating The Property Located At 3520 Broadway/Avenue J, As A “Galveston Landmark”, Property Is Legally Described As M.B. Menard Survey, Lot 12, Block 215, In The City And County Of Galveston, Texas; Requesting The Historic Preservation Officer Record The Property's Landmark Designation In The Official Public Records Of Real Property In Galveston County, The Tax Records Of The City Of Galveston And The Central Appraisal District, And The Official Zoning Maps Of The City Of Galveston, Texas; Designating The Site As A Historically Or Archeological Significant Site In Need Of Tax Relief To Encourage Its Preservation; Planning Case Number 24P-011; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject. (C. Gorman)] ITEM EIGHT B CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AND ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, DESIGNATING THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 3520 BROADWAY AVENUE J AS A GALVESTON LANDMARK PROPERTY IS LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS MB MENARD SURVEY LOT 12, BLOCK 215, IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, REQUESTING THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER RECORD THE PROPERTY'S LANDMARK DESIGNATION IN THE OFFICIAL PUBLIC RECORDS OF REAL PROPERTY IN GALVESTON COUNTY, THE TAX RECORDS OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON AND THE CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT, AND THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAPS OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, DESIGNATING THE SITE AS A HISTORICALLY OR ARCHEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANT SITE IN NEED OF TAX RELIEF TO ENCOURAGE ITS PRESERVATION PLANNING. CASE NUMBER 24P-011, MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT. I HAVE CATHERINE GORMAN. CATHERINE. THIS IS THE JOHN AND MARGARET CLARK HOUSE WAS BUILT IN 1896, CONSTRUCTED BY CARPENTERS JOHN S BRANHAM AND FRED ROGERS. IT'S UNUSUAL TO HAVE SO MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT THE ACTUAL BUILDERS OF THE HOUSE, AND THIS IS THE ONLY REMAINING RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE 3500 BLOCK OF BROADWAY. LANDMARK COMMISSION, PLANNING COMMISSION AND STAFF RECOMMEND APPROVAL. VERY GOOD. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS GORMAN? IT IS 5:34 P.M.. I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM EIGHT B. IS THE PROPERTY OWNER OR ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS? OH, COME FORWARD. WE ARE VERY THANKFUL TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS. WE CONSIDER IT OUR FULL TIME HOBBY, KEEPING THIS HOUSE UP, AND IT IS WORTH IT. IT IS LOCATED IN AN AREA THAT USED TO BE ALL RESIDENTIAL, AND I WAS CONCERNED WHEN OUR NEIGHBORS, THE GOLF CART [00:35:03] SHOP ON EITHER SIDE OF US, RETIRED AND LEFT, AND I KNOW IT KIND OF TOUCHES ON A A THORNY PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN GREAT DETAIL, THAT WE HAVE AN AWFUL LOT OF AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESSES ON BROADWAY. YEAH. WHICH LEADS US TO SOME SOME DEEPER PROBLEMS THAT AS A HISTORICAL CITY WITH HERITAGE THAT HAS DEMONSTRATED RESILIENCE AND PEOPLE PULLING TOGETHER AND DEMONSTRATING WHAT PEOPLE CAN DO WHEN THEY PULL TOGETHER. I THINK IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY AREA TO DRAW A LINE IN THE SAND THAT POTENTIALLY THE PROPERTY NEXT TO US ON THE CORNER MIGHT BE KEPT FROM BECOMING ANOTHER, YET ANOTHER AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS. IN ISAAC'S STORM, THEY REFERENCE A RESIDENCE AT THE CORNER OF 36TH AND BROADWAY. THAT WAS A HOUSE THAT PEOPLE HELD UP IN DURING THE 1900 STORM. NOW WE HAVE WE HAVE AN AUTOZONE. WE HAVE THE CORNER PROPERTY NEXT TO US. WE HAVE A VACANT LOT, AND WE HAVE ANOTHER BUSINESS ACROSS THE STREET. THE PROPERTY NEXT TO US IS UP FOR LEASE. IT WOULD BE AN IDEAL PROPERTY TO DEMONSTRATE HOW GALVESTONIANS COULD COME TOGETHER TO DO SOMETHING LIKE UNDER A 501(C)(3), SHOW HOW PEOPLE CAN COME TOGETHER AND DO SOMETHING FOR THE LARGER COMMUNITY, AND. IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE GALVESTONIANS COME TOGETHER BOTH AT THE CITY LEVEL AND THE CITY COMMISSIONERS, THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS LEVEL, TO COLLABORATE AND CREATE SOMETHING THAT COULD DEMONSTRATE HOW PEOPLE CAN BE PULLING TOGETHER AND BE RESILIENT. I AM OFFENDED AT THE IDEA THAT A U-HAUL ORGANIZATION WOULD BE BEHIND THE JUSTICE CENTER AS YOU ENTER THE ISLAND. I THINK POSSIBLY I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE. THAT OUGHT TO BE A WELCOME TO GALVESTON AREA, AND I'M SORRY IF I'M GETTING OFF TOPIC, BUT THIS IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART, AND LET ME SAY THIS, WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION THAT YOU COULD COMMENT ON SOME OF THESE OTHER ITEMS AT THAT TIME TODAY, IF YOU WOULD LIKE. I WANT TO THANK YOU, THOUGH, FOR LANDMARKING THIS YOUR HOME? THANK YOU FOR THAT. IT'S THAT TYPE OF THING THAT PRESERVES THE HISTORY OF THESE RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. WELL, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT BECAUSE I FEEL THE VULTURES CIRCLING. I UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH I APPRECIATE THAT. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM? IT IS 5:38 P.M.. I'M GOING TO BRING THE EIGHT B ITEM BACK TO COUNCIL FOR ANY ACTION. I MOVE TO APPROVE. THIS IS A POPULAR HOME WE'VE GOT THREE COUNCILMEMBERS. I HAVE COUNCILMAN FINKLEA WANTING FOR APPROVAL OF THE EIGHT B. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. I'LL SECOND, AND I JUST LIKE TO SAY I REMEMBER WHEN YOU ALL FIRST BOUGHT THIS HOUSE AND THE WORK THAT YOU'VE PUT INTO IT. I MEAN, THAT WAS A LOT OF LOVE, A LOT OF WORK, A LOT OF HARD, HARD WORK AND CONGRATULATIONS. WE'RE BACK TO ELECTRONIC VOTING, SUPPOSEDLY, SO HOPEFULLY. VERY GOOD. WE HAVE A MOTION. COUNCILMAN FINKLEA AND ROBB, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES. THAT IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU VERY MUCH. LET'S MOVE TO ITEM NINE, IF WE COULD. [9. PUBLIC COMMENT] ITEM NINE PUBLIC COMMENT. A AGENDA ITEMS B NON AGENDA ITEMS. WE HAVE THOSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT IF YOU COULD FILL OUT A FORM. WE HAVE THOSE IN THE BACK AND WE WOULD. THAT GIVES US INFORMATION AND WE THEN CAN GET HIM BACK IN TOUCH WITH YOU IF NEED BE. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. I WOULD SAY THAT ACCORDING TO THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, ESPECIALLY ON NON AGENDA ITEMS, WE CAN'T REALLY RESPOND TO YOU. IT'S AGAINST THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS, BUT AND WE LIMIT THE PUBLIC COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES. [00:40:08] SO I HAVE A NUMBER OF FORMS. I'M GOING TO START WITH RON RUBENSTEIN. RON. IS THERE A THREE MINUTE TIMER SOMEWHERE? YES, SIR. IT'LL TICK OH, RIGHT HERE. OKAY? YES, SIR. I SEE IT NOW. OKAY. MY NAME IS RON RUBENSTEIN AND I LIVE IN GALVESTON. THANK YOU, GALVESTON CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR BROWN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE AN IMPORTANT TOPIC FOR GALVESTON. IT'S HOMELESSNESS. I RECENTLY WAS RIDING MY BIKE NEAR 61ST, AND STEWART AND I ATE LUNCH AT THIS PANDA RESTAURANT CHINESE FOOD, AND AFTER EATING, I SAW A HOMELESS MAN IN HIS HEAD DOWN ON THE TABLE, ON THE OUTSIDE TABLES THEY HAVE FOR PEOPLE TO EAT. I GAVE HIM A LARGE BOTTLE OF BUBBLY WATER AND SAID, SIR, ARE YOU OKAY? AND HE DIDN'T RESPOND AND I WAS CONCERNED. BOY, THAT TIME GOES BY QUICK. I WAS CONCERNED FOR HIS SAFETY, AND SO I CALLED THE POLICE NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER, AND THEY SENT TWO POLICE OFFICERS, AND THEY TALKED TO HIM FOR TEN MINUTES, AND THEN THEY LEFT. I KNOW WE CAN'T FORCE PEOPLE TO GET HELP, BUT IT'D BE NICE TO HAVE A PLACE OR SOME THINGS IN ORDER FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT HELP, AND I'M AWARE THAT MAYOR BROWN WENT TO HOUSTON TO WITH OTHER CITY OFFICIALS TO MODEL HOUSTON BECAUSE THEY THEY CUT THEIR HOMELESS POPULATION IN HALF WITH SOME VERY GOOD IDEAS AND THINGS GOING ON IN HOUSTON. I WAS HOMELESS IN DALLAS. I MOVED HERE SIX YEARS AGO FROM DALLAS, BUT I WAS HOMELESS IN DALLAS. SO I UNDERSTAND HAVE EMPATHY FOR THIS, AND I'VE BEEN HERE SIX YEARS. NOW, ON A POSITIVE NOTE, THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN THE GALVESTON PAPER RECENTLY, SOLUTIONS EMERGING AS HOMELESSNESS TRENDS UPWARD, WRITTEN BY MARCIA WILSON RAPOPORT. THEY HAVE SEVERAL THINGS FOR GALVESTON COUNTY THAT'S HAPPENING. ONE IS A TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROJECT WITH 19 UNITS. THE OTHER IS A LARGER PROJECT DESIGNED TO CREATE NEW HOUSING FOR OUR WORKFORCE, AND THIS REALLY THIRD ONE REALLY IS NICE. THE GALVESTON COUNTY IS WORKING ON A PROJECT THAT WILL GET HELP FOR PERSONS AT RISK FOR HOMELESSNESS DUE TO MENTAL ILLNESS. YOU KNOW, REALLY THAT'S A BIG PART OF THE HOMELESSNESS IS UNTREATED MENTAL ILLNESS. THE SEALY AND SMITH FOUNDATION RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT MID ISLAND, AND SEVEN SECONDS LEFT. THERE'S A FAITH BASED PROJECT IN THE MAINLAND ON THE VERGE OF. BREAKING GROUND. THANKS. THANK YOU RON. APPRECIATE IT. SHEILA BELL. SHEILA. HEY, Y'ALL, HOW Y'ALL DOING? WELL WE'RE GOOD, SHEILA. HOW ARE YOU? WHIRLWINDS IN THE SOUTH. HELLO, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. SO GOOD TO SEE YOU. WHIRLWINDS OF THE SOUTH. ISAIAH 21 AND ONE, ZECHARIAH NINE AND 14. HOSEA FOUR AND SIX LET'S US KNOW PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED FOR THE LACK OF KNOWLEDGE. I GET SICK TO MY STOMACH WHEN I WATCH TORNADOES. PEOPLE ARE DYING, PROPERTY DESTROYED, AND I KNOW, I DON'T HAVE NO PHD AND I DON'T HAVE NO DEGREE, BUT I DO HAVE GOD WHO CREATED ALL OF IT. HE TOLD ME 20 YEARS AGO HOW TORNADOES ARE FORMED. SIX, ALMOST 600 PAGES WORTH OF INFORMATION JUST ON TORNADOES AND CLIMATE CHANGE. AIN'T NOBODY CALLED AND ASKED ME WHAT HE SAID. MEANWHILE, PEOPLE ARE DYING AND IT'S JUST VERY HURTFUL. ALL Y'ALL DO IS CALL ME, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT'S GOING ON, AND IT'S, AND I'M NOT EVEN SMART LIKE Y'ALL. I JUST LOVE GOD. OKAY. ESPECIALLY DURING NIGHTTIME AND RAIN WRAPPED TORNADOES. YOU WANT TO GET IN FRONT OF THESE TORNADOES AND STOP BEING BEHIND THEM? YOU WILL SAVE MORE LIVES. IF YOU DO, YOU MUST GAUGE ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRICITY. WEATHER IS ELECTRICAL. THE TORNADO IS BETWEEN THE ELECTRIFIED CLOUD AND ELECTRIFIED GROUND. [00:45:03] HURRICANES ARE BETWEEN ELECTRIFIED CLOUDS AND ELECTRIFIED WATERS, SO ARE WATERSPOUT. GOD MAKES IT SO SIMPLE. Y'ALL ARE HUNDREDS OF YEARS BEHIND BECAUSE YOU JUST WON'T ASK OR READ THE BIBLE. OKAY YOU'RE MISSING THE ELECTRICAL AND MAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF WEATHER. I COULDN'T GET IT PRINTED. I TRIED MY FLASH DRIVE WOULDN'T PRINT LAST WEEK DURING THE DERECHO. MY METER THAT I TESTED SHOT STRAIGHT UP WITH ELECTRICITY. THERE WAS A LOT OF ELECTRICITY HERE. Y'ALL AREN'T REPORTING IT. THE METEOROLOGISTS AREN'T REPORTING IT THAT WAY. WEATHER IS ELECTRICAL, IT'S THE MAIN, IT'S THE CATALYST ALONG WITH OTHER PROPERTIES. TORNADOES ARE ALWAYS NEAR POWER LINES, METAL, MAGNETS, AND IT ALL CONNECTS. THERE'S A REASON WHY, OH, DURING TORNADOES AND BAD WEATHER, TURN THE POWER OFF. POWER SYSTEMS, POWER EVERYTHING, BECAUSE ALL YOU'RE DOING IS FEEDING THE TORNADO. IT LOVES ELECTRICITY. AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN YOU SEE A TORNADO, YOU'RE LOOKING AT A LIVE CURRENT, AND I HAVE A 700, 600 SOMETHING PAGE BOOK THAT'S EXPLAINED HOW ALL THIS WORKS. GOD IS AMAZING. I'D BE LIKE, REALLY, LORD? FOR REAL? WOO! YOU KNOW, I'D BE ON ME AND THAT TYPEWRITER, WE'D BE JUST ME AND MY COMPUTER. WE'D BE GONE, BECAUSE I'M FASCINATED BY WISDOM, AND Y'ALL ARE TOO. WE'RE GOING INTO HURRICANE SEASON. THE MEETING WAS GOOD. I WON THIS LIFE JACKET. MAIER HAD A VERY GOOD SPEECH, AND HE SAID SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY ON THIS ISLAND NEEDS TO KNOW, I HOPE. I HOPE Y'ALL HAVE MORE MEETINGS LIKE THAT AND REPEAT WHAT YOU SAID, MAYOR. EVERYBODY WASN'T THERE. IT WAS A GOOD TURNOUT. IT WAS A WONDERFUL TURNOUT, BUT EVERYONE DIDN'T HEAR WHAT YOU SAID. THAT WAS SO IMPORTANT. THANK YOU, SHEILA. I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. MATT HANNAN. MATT. I'M MATT HANNAN, I LIVE AT 2901 SEALY, AND I'M HERE TO PETITION YOU TO PLEASE HELP THE RESIDENTS OF THE 2800 BLOCK OF SEALY AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD. HERE ARE SOME PHOTOS OF TWO EYESORES FOSTERED ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD BY JOHN VIGGIANO, THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTIES. HE OWNS TWO LOTS THERE THAT ARE REGISTERED AS RESIDENTIAL. HE'S OPENED AN UNLICENSED MECHANIC SHOP AT THE 2807 RESIDENTIAL LOT, AND THERE SEEMS TO BE NO HAZARDOUS WASTE FACILITIES AT THE LOCATION. OIL, GAS, ANTIFREEZE AND WHATEVER ELSE IS GOING DIRECTLY INTO THE SOIL BETWEEN THE BARNES'S HOUSE AT 2817 SEALY AND MR. VIGGIANO'S WAREHOUSE IS ANOTHER RESIDENTIAL LOT, THAT HE'S TURNED INTO A DUMP. THERE ARE AT LEAST 73 USED TIRES THERE, BREEDING MOSQUITOES. THERE'S PICTURES IN HERE A HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT, JUNK VEHICLES DRUG ACTIVITY AND PROSTITUTION. WE'D LIKE TO SEE HOW LONG THESE CONDITIONS WOULD BE TOLERATED AT 38TH STREET AND AVENUE O AND A HALF WHERE MR. VIGGIANO LIVES. WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS DONE. CLEANED UP FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS. THE CITY SEEMS TO BE POWERLESS TO DO ANYTHING. OR IS THERE A POSSIBILITY OF SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT IN PLAY WITH MR. VIGGIANO? MR. VIGGIANO HAS RECENTLY MOVED A FLATBED TRAILER TO ALMOST THE BACK DOOR OF THE BARNES'S HOUSE. THE TRAILER IS ABOUT A FOOT DEEP OR SO OF HIS HOUSEHOLD ROTTING GARBAGE, AND I'VE INCLUDED THAT PICTURES OF THAT. ALSO HE HAS MADE A VEILED THREAT TO MRS. BARNES. HE'S HAD SOMEBODY TELL HER TO STOP PUTTING PEOPLE ON HIM. HE CALLS ME GLADYS KRAVITZ, I DON'T CARE. GLADYS WASN'T CRAZY AND SAMANTHA WAS UP TO SOMETHING, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT HE'S A HOARDER. I UNDERSTAND THAT HOARDING AND [INAUDIBLE] ARE DIFFICULT MENTAL ISSUES. SO THIS IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE EASY TO GET HIM TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT, AND WE'RE ASKING IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS MESS. PLEASE, AND I'M GOING TO LEAVE THESE PICTURES THERE. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, BUT I MEAN IMAGINE THIS IS THE VIEW FROM THE BARNES'S BACK DOOR THEIR DINING ROOM, BACK DOOR, KITCHEN AND BEDROOM WINDOWS. THAT'S WHAT THEY HAVE TO LOOK AT. THE ILLEGAL GARAGE IS OPEN AIR. THERE'S A MRS. ADAMS SIGNED THE PETITION. ALSO, SHE'S THE AGENT FOR THE HOUSE THAT SHE'S TRYING TO SELL. THAT HOUSE SEES THE OPEN AIR GARAGE, AND I'LL SHUT UP NOW, BUT THERE, THERE'S MORE WRITTEN ON THE PICTURES, BUT, [00:50:07] PLEASE, WE'RE TRYING TO GET, YOU KNOW, WE'RE. THANK YOU MAN. BRIAN, I'M GOING TO GIVE THIS TO YOU IF YOU'LL GET, YOU HAVE THIS. OKAY. VERY GOOD. JESSICA BEAMER. JESSICA, AND I'VE GOT SOME HANDOUTS. JESSICA I'M GOING TO GIVE TO THE COUNCILMEMBERS HERE. PERFECT. THANK YOU. MAYOR BROWN. MY COLLEAGUE, NICHOLAS JIMENEZ SENDS HIS REGARDS. OH. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS JESSICA BEAMER, AND I AM THE NEWEST ADDITION TO THE COMCAST GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM HERE IN THE TEXAS REGION. I WORKED PREVIOUSLY AS THE CHIEF OF STAFF FOR CITY OF HOUSTON MAYOR PRO TEM DAVE MARTIN, WHO REPRESENTED THE LAKE HOUSTON AND CLEAR LAKE ELLINGTON AREAS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AND SHARE INFORMATION ON COMCAST RISE, WHICH IS A GRANT OPPORTUNITY THAT IS OPEN NOW FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY HERE IN GALVESTON. COMCAST IS MORE THAN A MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY COMPANY. IT IS A COMPANY THAT UTILIZES ITS BUSINESS MODEL TO ENGAGE CUSTOMERS AND CONNECT WITH THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH INVESTMENTS LIKE OUR COMCAST RISE GRANT PROGRAM AND PROJECT, WHICH IS BACKED BY $1 BILLION OF COMCAST CAPITAL TO FORTIFY COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS COMCAST XFINITY AND NBC UNIVERSAL, CONNECTING PEOPLE TO INTERNET, ADVANCING ECONOMIC MOBILITY, AND OPENING DOORS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF INNOVATORS, ENTREPRENEURS, STORYTELLERS AND CREATORS. FROM THE CONNECTIVITY AND PLATFORMS WE PROVIDE TO THE CONTENT AND EXPERIENCES WE CREATE, WE REACH HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF CUSTOMERS, VIEWERS AND GUESTS WORLDWIDE. TODAY, I'M ASKING FOR YOUR HELP TO SPREAD THE WORD THROUGHOUT GALVESTON TO HELP COMCAST AWARD BUSINESS SUPPORT GRANTS TO SMALL BUSINESSES, WHICH WILL INCLUDE CASH PLUS TECHNOLOGY MAKEOVERS, MARKETING, CONSULTING, AND EDUCATION SUPPORT. COMCAST RISE WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED IN 2020 TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES HARD HIT BY COVID 19 HELP THEM RECOVER AND THRIVE. TO DATE, OVER 13,500 SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN AWARDED OVER $125 MILLION IN MONETARY, MARKETING AND TECHNOLOGY GRANTS AS SMALL BUSINESSES TRANSITION AWAY FROM PANDEMIC RECOVERY TO A FOCUS ON EXPANSION AND GROWTH, COMCAST WILL CONTINUE THEIR SUPPORT AND EFFORTS TO HELP EVEN BROADER RANGE OF SMALL BUSINESSES WHILE CONTINUING TO FOCUS ON COMMUNITY INVESTMENT. THERE WILL BE 100 GRANTS AWARDED HERE IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA THIS SUMMER, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE SMALL BUSINESSES IN GALVESTON ARE AWARE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY AND ARE AMONG OUR RECIPIENTS. APPLICANTS MUST BE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR THREE OR MORE YEARS, HAVE 100 OR LESS FULL TIME OR PART TIME EMPLOYEES, AND BE INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED. APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN NOW THROUGH THE END OF THE MONTH, AND THEY CLOSE ON MAY 31ST. GRANTS WILL BE AWARDED THIS AUGUST AND APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT COMCASTRISE.COM. EACH OF YOU SHOULD HAVE A COPY, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED EARLIER, AND I AM ALSO HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOUR OFFICES TO PROVIDE DIGITAL COPIES TO EACH COUNCILMEMBER. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE DAY AND HAPPY MEMORIAL HOLIDAY. THANK YOU JESSICA VERY MUCH. YES, WE GET JESSICA'S CONTACT INFORMATION. YES, AND COULD YOU GIVE THAT CONTACT INFORMATION? WOULD YOU GIVE THAT TO JANELLE AND SHE'LL GET THAT TO US. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'LL GET THIS. COUNCIL, I'LL HAVE THIS DISTRIBUTED. WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CARDS, SO I'LL HAVE THIS DISTRIBUTED TO ALL THE COUNCILMEMBERS HERE. WOULD YOU PLEASE, JANELLE? THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THAT'S ALL THE FORMS I HAVE. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS AT THIS PUBLIC COMMENT TIME? HEARING NO REPLY. IT IS 5:53. WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE OUR PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION OF THE AGENDA, AND WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO ORDINANCE 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 2, “Administration”, Article Iii “City Council”, Section 2-141. “Addresses To Council By Public”, Clarifying That Speakers Addressing Council Indicate Whether They Are Residents Of The City Of Galveston, And Providing That There Will Be No Discussion Of Remarks Made To Council On Non-Agenda Items; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject; Providing For An Effective Date. (Legal)] LET'S MOVE TO 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 TWO ADMINISTRATION ARTICLE THREE CITY COUNCIL SECTION 2-141 ADDRESSES TO COUNCIL BY PUBLIC, CLARIFYING THAT SPEAKERS ADDRESSING COUNCIL INDICATE WHETHER THEY ARE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, AND PROVIDING THAT THERE WILL BE NO DISCUSSION OF REMARKS MADE TO COUNCIL ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS, MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WE DISCUSSED THIS THIS MORNING AT WORKSHOP. DON, COULD YOU GIVE US A KIND OF A SYNOPSIS OF THIS FOR THE PUBLIC, PLEASE? DON LET'S GET YOUR MICROPHONE HERE. [00:55:06] HOW'S THAT? MUCH BETTER. THANK YOU. LET'S TAKE IT FROM THE TOP. ALRIGHTY. THIS IS A SLIGHT AMENDMENT TO SECTION 2.14, ONE OF THE CITY CODE, DEALING WITH ADDRESSES TO CITY COUNCIL BY PUBLIC. IT DELETES THE REQUIREMENT THAT PEOPLE WISHING TO ADDRESS COUNCIL GIVE THEIR ADDRESS, AND INSTEAD MERELY REQUIRES THEY INDICATE WHETHER THEY ARE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON. IT ALSO INCLUDES THE ADMONITION THAT YOU GIVE AT THE BEGINNING OF EVERY MEETING THAT IF AN ITEM IS NOT ON THE AGENDA, THERE'S NO DISCUSSION OF THE REMARKS, QUESTIONS, OR DIALOG GIVEN TO COUNCIL. THAT'S A REQUIREMENT UNDER THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT. SO TO SUMMARIZE THIS, TO WHEN THEY FILL OUT A FORM TO SPEAK AT CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, THEY GIVE THEIR NAME AND THEN THEY ADDRESS ALL THEY HAVE TO SAY IS CITY OF GALVESTON OR WHEREVER THEY'RE A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, WHERE THEY'RE A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON. OKAY, AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, AS WE DISCUSSED THIS MORNING, THIS JUST APPLIES TO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND PLANNING. PEOPLE WILL STILL--NO, ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE THE COMMISSIONS FOLLOW THE SAME RULES THAT ARE FOLLOWED BY CITY COUNCIL. BUT, IF PEOPLE WANT TO GIVE THEIR ADDRESS, OH, THAT'S PURELY STILL GIVE THEIR ADDRESS, AND I THINK WE WERE GOING TO CHANGE THE FORM TO GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALS TO GIVE THEIR ADDRESS IF NEED BE. YEAH. VERY GOOD. IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF OUR CITY ATTORNEY ON THIS, COUNCIL? I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS ITEM. MOTION TO APPROVE. MOTION TO APPROVE. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL, COUNCILMAN PORRETTO. I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION. I HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN LEWIS. SHARON, HAVE YOU? YEAH. SORRY, AND VERY GOOD. ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS, COUNCIL? PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES ON THIS. THAT IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LET'S MOVE TO ITEM TEN B. [10.B. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Amending The Code Of The City Of Galveston, As Amended Chapter 9, “Bicycles”, Defining The Terms “One Wheel”, “Motor Assisted Skate Board” And “Motorized Conveyance” Requiring Eighteen (18) Years Of Age To Be The Minimum Age To Rent A Motorized Conveyance And/Or A Minimum Of Sixteen (16) Years Of Age, Provided The Renter Is Also Accompanied By A Renter That Is Eighteen (18) Years Of Age, Or Older, To Rent A Motorized Conveyance; To Provide Definitions And Make Clarifications, As Applicable; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject; Providing For An Effective Date. (Legal)] 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 NINE, BICYCLES, DEFINING THE TERMS ONE WHEEL MOTOR ASSISTED SKATEBOARD AND MOTORIZED CONVEYANCE REQUIRING 18 YEARS OF AGE TO BE THE MINIMUM AGE TO RENT A MOTORIZED CONVEYANCE, AND OR A MINIMUM OF 16 YEARS OF AGE, PROVIDED THE RENTER IS ALSO ACCOMPANIED BY A RENTER THAT IS 18 YEARS OLD OF AGE OR OLDER TO RENT A MOTORIZED CONVEYANCE TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS AND MAKE CLARIFICATIONS AS APPLICABLE MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. VERY GOOD. DON, WOULD YOU WANT TO GIVE US A SYNOPSIS OF THIS? AS YOU MAY RECALL, LAST MONTH WE PASSED A RESTRICTION ON THE RENTAL OF THESE MOTOR ASSISTED SCOOTERS TO PEOPLE. YOU HAD TO BE 18 YEARS OLD, 18 YEARS OR OLDER, BUT YOU COULD RENT ONE IF YOU WERE 16, IF YOU WERE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT OVER 18 WHO WAS ALWAYS RENTING, ALSO RENTING ONE FOR THEIR OWN USE. CITY COUNCIL ASKED THAT BE TO BE EXTENDED TO THE OTHER CONVEYANCES SET OUT IN SECTION 19 OF THE CODE. WE HAVE DONE THAT. IT INCLUDES. A NEW DEFINITION OF A ONE WHEEL, WHICH IS KIND OF A ONE WHEELED POWERED SKATEBOARD, WHICH IS CONFOUNDING TO ME, INCLUDES ALL OTHER ITEMS SET OUT IN CHAPTER 19, BUT I HAVE EXCLUDED MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIRS FOR DISABLED PEOPLE. CORRECT. IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR OUR CITY ATTORNEY? COUNCILMAN BROWN? YEAH, HOW DO WE PLAN TO COMMUNICATE THIS TO THE VENDORS AND THEN WHEN WOULD THIS TAKE EFFECT? I HAD ACTUALLY PASSED THIS CHANGE BY THE VENDORS, AND THEY WERE IN FAVOR OF IT, SO THEY HAD IT BEFORE YOU GUYS. GREAT, AND WHEN WOULD IT TAKE EFFECT? AND BE THE VENDORS BE NOTIFIED AFTER THIS MEETING? EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR OUR CITY ATTORNEY? HEARING NO REPLY, I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS COUNCIL. COUNCILMAN BROWN. MOTION FOR APPROVAL. SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN PORRETTO. ANY DISCUSSION? [01:00:01] PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. THAT IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. THANK YOU. NELLIE, LET'S GO TO CONSENT ITEMS, PLEASE. [11. CONSENT ITEMS] CONSENT ITEMS. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS SHALL BE CONSIDERED FOR ACTION AS A WHOLE, UNLESS ONE OR MORE COUNCILMEMBERS OBJECTS, THE CITY MANAGER IS AUTHORIZED TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS UPON FINAL APPROVAL BY THE CITY ATTORNEY. CONSENT ITEMS 11 A THROUGH 11 Q ARE ON THE SCREEN. COUNCIL. ARE THERE ANY PARTICULAR CONSENT ITEMS THAT A COUNCILMAN WOULD LIKE TO PULL AND TO ADDRESS INDIVIDUALLY? HEARING NO RESPONSE. I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF ITEM 11 A THROUGH 11 Q. IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT? SECOND. I KNOW. I'LL SECOND THAT. AS SOON AS IT COMES ON. SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN LEWIS. VERY GOOD. ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES, AND THAT IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. LET'S MOVE TO ACTION ITEMS, PLEASE. [12.A. Consider For Approval The Appointment Of A Chairman/President Of The Galveston RDA.] NELLIE ACTION ITEMS 12 A CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL THE APPOINTMENT OF A CHAIRMAN. PRESIDENT OF THE GALVESTON RDA. AS YOU MAY KNOW, COUNCIL, THE RDA, WE HAD CHANGED THE MAKEUP OF THE RDA TO BASICALLY BE STAFF MEMBERS. AT OUR LAST MEETING, I THINK IT WAS, AND NOW THAT THEY HAVE, WE HAVE APPOINTED THOSE MEMBERS IT IS UNDER THE PURVIEW OF COUNCIL TO APPOINT THE CHAIRPERSON OF THAT COMMITTEE. I'M GOING TO NOMINATE DAN BUCKLEY AS THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE RDA. IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT? I'LL SECOND THAT. I HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN LEWIS. VERY GOOD. ANY DISCUSSION ON MR. BUCKLEY? PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES. PLEASE, AND THAT IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED FOR THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT HAS BEEN FOLLOWING [12.B. Election of a Mayor Pro Tem (Supplemental Agenda Item)] OUR AGENDAS, WE NOW HAVE ONE MORE AGENDA ITEM. IT WOULD BE ITEM 12 B FOR THE ELECTION OF MAYOR PRO TEM. LET'S GO AHEAD AND READ THAT PLEASE. NELLIE ACTION ITEMS WILL BE ELECTION OF MAYOR PRO TEM. I'M GOING TO START THIS OFF, COUNCIL, AND I'M GOING TO NOMINATE. I HAVE A POINT OF ORDER. YES, SIR. I FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THIS, AND I FEEL LIKE THIS VOTE. THIS ACTION ITEM IS A VIOLATION OF THE CHARTER, AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THIS WAS PUT ON THE AS A SUPPLEMENTAL TO THIS WORKSHOP OR TO THIS THIS COUNCIL MEETING, SURELY BY ALL MEANS THIS WAS PUT ON THIS WORKSHOP BY OUR CITY ATTORNEY. DON, DO YOU WANT TO DO YOU WANT TO BRING TO ATTENTION WHY THIS WAS DONE? MAYOR GAVE ME A CALL SUNDAY MORNING AND ASKED IF WE NEEDED TO ACT ON THIS NOW AND I SENT HIM THE TEXT OF THE CHARTER, WHICH INDICATED THAT IT WAS AN ITEM THAT NEEDED TO BE DEALT WITH AT THE FIRST MEETING AFTER THE HERE IT IS. AT THE FIRST REGULAR MEETING OF THE COUNCIL AFTER THE INTRODUCTION OF NEWLY ELECTED MEMBERS. FOLLOWING EACH REGULAR ELECTION OF COUNCILMEMBERS, THE COUNCIL SHALL ELECT ONE OF ITS MEMBERS AS MAYOR PRO TEM. WHO SHALL HOLD SUCH OFFICE AND TITLE FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR, AND UNTIL A SUCCESSOR MAYOR PRO TEM IS ELECTED AS PROVIDED HEREIN. SO WHILE I MAY AGREE WITH YOU, THE CHARTER DOES NOT CONTEMPLATE HOLDING IT AFTER ALL, SPECIAL ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN CONCLUDED. I WOULD ARGUE THAT WHEN THE CHARTER WAS CREATED IN 73 AND IN 77, WHEN THE CHARTER WAS AMENDED, IT DID. IT LEFT OUT THE PART ABOUT REGULAR ELECTION, EACH REGULAR ELECTION, AND IN 96, THE VOTERS APPROVED THE CURRENT FORM OF THE MAYOR PRO TEM VOTE. [01:05:03] AT THIS POINT, I'D LIKE TO ENTER THE RECORD THE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FOR JUNE 14TH, 2012. IF YOU'D PASS IT OUT, PLEASE. THIS WAS A VOTE THAT WAS TAKEN AFTER BOTH REGULAR ELECTIONS WERE CONCLUDED AND HAD A RUNOFF. I'D ALSO LIKE TO ENTER DECEMBER 29TH, 2020 MEETING MINUTES. WHICH WAS NOT THAT LONG AGO WHERE WE HAD RUNOFFS AND THE VOTE FOR MAYOR PRO TEM WAS AFTER. THE REGULAR ELECTION RUNOFF. THANK YOU. I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH ON THIS AND. SEVERAL OPINIONS FROM. RANGING TO THE ELECTIONS. CHIEF AT THE COUNTY AND. THE MAY 4TH AND JUNE 14TH DATE WAS SET WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE, AND THOSE ARE REGULAR ELECTIONS, AND AT THIS POINT I WOULD MOVE TO DEFER THIS ITEM TO THE JUNE 27TH, 2024 MEETING, RISKING THE FACT THAT WE WOULD MAKE A VOTE THAT WOULD VIOLATE THE CHARTER AND IT WOULD BECOME INVALID, OR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE AN INVALID VOTE. WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. COUNCILMAN PORRETTO WANTS TO DEFER THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE A DATE THAT YOU WANT TO DEFER THIS TO THE NEXT REGULAR ELECTION AFTER ALL? NEXT MEETING AFTER [INAUDIBLE]. AT THE FIRST REGULAR MEETING OF THE COUNCIL AFTER THE NEWLY INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW. AFTER THE INTRODUCTION OF NEWLY ELECTED COUNCILMEMBERS FOLLOWING EACH REGULAR ELECTION, WHICH I BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE JUNE 27TH. WELL, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT THE ELECTION DATE IS JUNE 15TH, I THINK BE THE ELECTION DATE WE'RE GOING TO CANVASS JUNE 26TH ON THAT. SO YOU'RE HOLDING WANTING TO DEFER THIS TO OUR JUNE 27TH COUNCIL MEETING. I AM. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT? I HAVE A QUESTION. I WAS TRYING TO FOLLOW YOUR WELL, LET'S LET'S GET A SECOND TO THAT BEFORE WE START THE DISCUSSION HERE. OKAY. IS THERE A SECOND TO THIS, COUNCIL? I'LL SECOND THE MOTION. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN ROLLINS. GO RIGHT AHEAD, SHARON. I WAS JUST TRYING TO FOLLOW YOUR LAST COMMENT. DID THAT COME FROM THE 12/20 MEETING? COUNCILMAN YOUR LAST COMMENT REGARDING FROM THE WHICH 12/20 MEETING. THE 12/29 I'M SORRY. 12/29 YES, THAT WOULD BE THAT WAS THE MOST RECENT RUNOFF WHERE WE HAD. TWO ELECTIONS, AND WE WAITED TO TAKE TO MAYOR PRO TEM VOTE AFTER THE RUNOFF WAS COMPLETED. OKAY. I WOULD HAVE IF I MAY CHIME IN, I WOULD HAVE TO SAY I AGREE WITH COUNCILMEMBER PORRETTO. TYPICALLY, AND I KNOW BEING THAT THIS IS MY I'M FINISHING MY SIXTH YEAR ON COUNCIL GOING INTO MY FINAL TERM AS A CITY COUNCILMEMBER, AND HISTORICALLY, THE MAYOR PRO TEM HAS BEEN APPOINTED AFTER THE RUNOFF ELECTION. WELL, IT IT EBBS AND FLOWS, AND I TALKED TO JANELLE ABOUT THIS. JANELLE, I THINK IN 22, WE WERE GOING TO DO THIS AFTER THE WAITING FOR THE RUNOFF, AND WE MOVED IT UP TO DO IT AFTER THE REGULAR ELECTION. IS THAT CORRECT, OR AM I WRONG ON THAT? I BELIEVE WE POSTED A SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEM JUST LIKE WE DID THIS TIME, AND WE DID MOVE IT UP. OKAY, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS 2022 MAYOR. I CAN'T REMEMBER ON WHAT WHAT RACE THAT WAS ON THAT. I THINK THE QUESTION AND I'D LIKE TO ASK COUNCILMAN PORRETTO, IS IT YOUR THOUGHT, ALEX, THAT WE ARE DEFERRING THIS BECAUSE YOU FEEL THAT SINCE WE'VE DONE IT IN THE PAST, AFTER THE RUNOFF ELECTIONS, THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING IT THAT WAY? [01:10:07] OR DO YOU FEEL THAT THE ACTUAL CHARTER ALLOWS US TO WAIT FOR THE AFTER THE RUNOFF? I WOULD IF IT WERE 1963, I WOULD IT AND I WISH I HAD MORE FOR EVERYBODY, BUT IT DOES NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IT. JUST SAYS NEWLY ELECTED MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN IN OFFICE. 97, IT KIND OF TOUCHED ON BOTH ELECTIONS, AND THEN THAT IS YOU'RE READING IN 97. WHAT IS THAT, ALEX? THIS IS 1977. 77? THIS IS READING MAYOR PRO TEM AT THE FIRST REGULAR MEETING OF THE COUNCIL AFTER THE INDUCTION OF THE NEWLY ELECTED COUNCILMEN FOLLOWING EACH REGULAR ANNUAL ELECTION OF COUNCILMEN, AND THEN 96 IS THE VERBIAGE THAT WE DO HAVE TODAY. MAYOR PRO TEM AT FIRST REGULAR MEETING OF THE COUNCIL AFTER THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NEWLY ELECTED COUNCILMEMBERS FOLLOWING EACH REGULAR ELECTION OF COUNCILMEM BERS AND I BELIEVE THIS HAS PROBABLY COME UP BEFORE IT'S GALVESTON. IT HAS TO HAVE AND I THINK SOME OF THESE CHARTER AMENDMENTS WERE BECAUSE OF THAT, AND I MEAN, MARIE ROBB WAS AT THE MEETING AT JUNE 14TH, 2012, AND I THINK IT'S GOOD PRACTICE TO CONTINUE WHAT WE'VE DONE. I FEEL VERY STRONGLY, AND, MEAN, WE CAN GET INTO THE BANTER OF WHAT THE DEFINITION OF IS, IS OR WHAT THE LEGAL DEFINITION OF EACH IS BUT AND I MEAN, I ACTUALLY WHEN THE SUPPLEMENTAL CAME OUT, I ACTUALLY CALLED JANELLE AND WE BOTH REVIEWED THE CHARTER, AND MY INTERPRETATION, I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU WAS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AND THIS IS NOT A THIS IS NOT TO, THIS IS NOT A SLIGHT AT ANYBODY. THIS IS NOT TO POSTPONE A I FEEL A VERY IMPORTANT VOTE, BUT I THINK THE ELECTION PROCESS STILL HAS TO PLAY OUT. A NEW COUNCIL IS NOT SEATED. IT IS NOT COMPLETE, AND I TAKE MY OATH VERY SERIOUSLY AND I JUST FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT IT. I'VE DONE A TON OF RESEARCH AND SOME OF THIS RESEARCH WAS DONE TODAY, THIS AFTERNOON AFTER WORKSHOP, AND I'M JUST I FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT IT AND I DON'T WANT TO VIOLATE THE CHARTER. EVERYBODY EMPHASIS IS DO NOT VIOLATE THE CHARTER, AND I FEEL VERY, VERY STRONGLY ABOUT IT. YOU KNOW, I PERSONALLY I AGREE WITH WHAT YOUR OPINION IS ON THAT, AND THAT'S WHY I'VE CONSULTED WITH DON TO GET HIS THOUGHTS ON THAT, AND THAT'S HE GAVE YOU HIS FEELINGS ON THAT. I WAS PERSONALLY WAITING FOR THE COUNCIL TO BE COMPLETELY SEATED BEFORE WE VOTED ON THIS, BUT WE MOVED THIS UP. ANY MORE QUESTIONS? LET'S DISCUSS THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE. ANY INPUT FROM COUNCIL? COUNCILMAN PORRETTO, I THINK YOUR YOUR RESEARCH IS VERY APPROPRIATE AND SPOT ON. YOU KNOW, AND I, YOU KNOW, I'D BE IN SUPPORT OF WAITING UNTIL YOU HAVE ALL THE ENTIRE ELECTION PROCESS COMPLETE BEFORE YOU MAKE A VOTE FOR MAYOR PRO TEM. I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT. APPRECIATE THAT. ONE THING, I LOVE THE RESEARCH, AND I'M JUST APPALLED, AND. THANK YOU. IT'S GREAT RESEARCH. I WANT TO I WANT TO TALK TO DON A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS. DON, WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR OF DEFERRING THIS ITEM UNTIL OUR JUNE 27TH MEETING. [INAUDIBLE] EXCUSE ME? [INAUDIBLE]. RIGHT. YEAH, AND COUNCILMAN RAWLINS HAD SECONDED THAT. CORRECT, AND WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO DEFER THIS TO JUNE 27TH, AND THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR THE RUNOFF ELECTION TO BE COMPLETED AND HAVE THAT PARTICULAR SEAT AT DISTRICT TWO SEAT DETERMINED AT THAT POINT. IF WE DEFER THIS, WHERE DOES THAT PUT US, DON IN, I'D LIKE TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS LEGALLY, AND WHERE THAT PUTS US FROM THE STANDPOINT OF MOVING FORWARD WITH THE SEATED COUNCIL AND ALL OF THAT. WELL, YOU WON'T HAVE A MAYOR PRO TEM FOR NOW, BUT AT THAT POINT, IT WOULD BE ENTIRELY PROPER TO MOVE FORWARD. A MONTH FROM NOW IT WOULD BE. NO QUESTION. OKAY. VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS? [01:15:03] LET'S CAST OUR VOTES ON THIS. THAT IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED TO DEFER THIS ITEM. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD. WE ARE NOW FINISHED WITH ALL OF OUR ITEMS ON THE AGENDA FOR OUR WORKSHOP TODAY OF MAY 23RD. HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY. WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. DID SOMEBODY SAY 6:15? I SAID 6:15. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.