[00:00:02]
[1. DECLARATION OF A QUORUM AND CALL MEETING TO ORDER]
GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING.SO GLAD TO SEE EVERYBODY OUT THERE THIS MORNING.
AND IT IS MY HONOR TO OFFICIALLY CALL THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR JUNE 26TH TO ORDER.
THIS IS A SPECIAL OCCASION FOR COUNCILMAN FINKLEA TODAY.
AND CONGRATULATIONS, DAVID, ON YOUR ELECTION.
SO WE'LL HAVE THAT ON OUR AGENDA.
WE WILL DO OUR CANVASING AND INSTALLATION OF COUNCILMAN FINKLEA.
THEN COUNCIL WILL MOVE INTO ROOM 204.
WE'LL DO OUR WORKSHOP THERE IN 204.
WE HAVE SOME ITEMS THAT ARE IMPORTANT THAT WE ADDRESS THIS MORNING.
AND THEN FOLLOWING THAT WORKSHOP, WE WILL START OUR INTERVIEWS WITH THE PARK BOARD APPLICANTS.
AND THOSE INTERVIEWS WILL SAY, I THINK, JANELLE, YOU HAD ASKED THE PARK BOARD APPLICANTS TO BE HERE AT WHAT TIME? 1015 1015 SO OUR APPLICANTS WILL BE HERE AT 10:15, AND WE'LL SEE HOW OUR SCHEDULE FLOWS TO HOPEFULLY START AROUND THAT TIME.
MENTIONING ALL OF THAT, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM, BUT COULD WE HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? MAYOR BROWN, PRESENT.
PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER BOB BROWN.
PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER PORRETTO PRESENT.
PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER ROBB HERE.
VERY GOOD. HAVE ALL OF OUR COUNCIL PRESENT TODAY.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE CITY KNOWS, BUT ARE YOU IN THE AUDIENCE? KNOW THAT WE HAVE AN OFFICIAL CHAPLAIN FOR THE CITY, AND SHE IS WITH US TODAY FOR THE INVOCATION.
WAS GIVEN THE INVITATION TO BE HERE.
WILL YOU JOIN ME IN PRAYER FOR THE SUMMER SEASON? GOD, WE GIVE YOU THANKS, FOR WE KNOW IT'S A TIME WHEN OUR ISLAND TRULY COMES ALIVE.
WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUALLY INCREASE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM AND ALWAYS EQUIP THEM TO LEAD WELL.
KEEP THEIR EYES ALWAYS OPEN TO WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND THEM.
LET'S HAVE OUR PLEDGES, PLEASE.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, MY STATE AND MY GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.
ARE THERE ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO DECLARE? VERY GOOD. LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM SIX.
WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS. AS THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE MAY KNOW, THIS IS TIME FOR THREE MINUTES FOR ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.
I'M CALLING NOW FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[7.A. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Council Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Canvassing The Returns Of The Runoff Election Held On June 15, 2024; Officially Declaring The Results Of The Election; Declaring The Regularity And Legality Of The Election; Directing The City Secretary To Prepare The Election Register And To Preserve The Election Records; Providing For Findings Of Fact And Providing For An Effective Date. (Legal)]
LET'S MOVE TO ITEM SEVEN A, PLEASE, MA'AM.ITEM SEVEN A CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AND ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, CANVASING THE RETURNS OF THE RUNOFF ELECTION HELD ON JUNE 15TH, 2024, OFFICIALLY DECLARING THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION, DECLARING THE REGULARITY AND LEGALITY OF THE ELECTION, DIRECTING THE CITY SECRETARY TO PREPARE THE ELECTION REGISTER AND TO PRESERVE THE ELECTION RECORDS.
PROVIDING FOR FINDINGS OF FACT AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
COUNCIL. I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF ITEM SEVEN.
A. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? MAP COUNCILWOMAN ROBB FOR SECOND ON THAT.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? CAN WE VOTE ELECTRONICALLY? VERY GOOD. PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES.
[00:05:05]
AND. I AM.I AM NEVER PLAYING FAMILY FEUD WITH YOU ON MY TEAM.
THANK YOU. AND DAVID, AGAIN CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.
[7.A.1. Administer The Oath Of Office To Elected City Council Member - District 2 David Finklea]
AND LET'S MOVE NOW TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF OATH, PLEASE.I'D LIKE TO READ THE FOLLOWING IF WE COULD.
IN THE NAME, AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT AT A RUNOFF ELECTION HELD ON JUNE 15TH, 2024, DAVID FINKLEA WAS ELECTED CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, DISTRICT TWO OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
CONGRATULATIONS. RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.
I, DAVID FINKLEA. SOLEMNLY SWEAR.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES.
THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF CITY COUNCIL.
MEMBER, DISTRICT TWO OF CITY COUNCIL.
DISTRICT TWO OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND WILL, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND, PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, AND OF THIS STATE, AND OF THIS STATE, AND THE CHARTER AND ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, AND THE CHARTER AND ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME GOD.
THANK YOU. AND MY WIFE'S IN ONE.
CONGRATULATIONS. THANK COUNCILMAN.
FINKLEA HAD A FEW WORDS HE'D LIKE TO SAY.
MY SON AND WIFE, WHO COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY.
I REMAIN FILLED WITH A DEEP SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND COMMITMENT.
WITH THE DEEP SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND COMMITMENT TO SERVE OUR GREAT CITY.
I HAVE A FEW THOUGHTS I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY.
TO SET THE TONE FOR MY TERM IN THIS OFFICE.
FIRSTLY, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF EFFECTIVE RESOURCE ALLOCATION.
OUR CITY, LIKE ANY OTHER, HAS A FINITE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES.
IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE UTILIZE THESE RESOURCES WISELY AND EFFECTIVELY.
WE MUST PRIORITIZE PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES THAT PROVIDE THE MAXIMUM BENEFIT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS MEANS INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC SAFETY, TARGETED TOURISM, AND OTHER CRITICAL AREAS.
THESE ENTITIES PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN SHAPING THE FUTURE OF GALVESTON.
BY WORKING TOGETHER, WE CAN CREATE A COHESIVE AND STRATEGIC APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT.
THROUGH COLLABORATION AND JOINT INVESTMENT, WE CAN ENSURE THAT SPACES, THESE SPACES AND THESE ENTITIES MANAGE THAT THEY MANAGE ARE WELL MAINTAINED, IMPROVED AND UTILIZED FOR THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
OUR CITY IS HOME TO A DIVERSE AND DYNAMIC COMMUNITY.
THIS IS A DUTY I AM HONORED AND EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO FULFILL.
WHETHER IT'S HELPING PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ENSURING ACCESS TO SERVICES, OR CREATING JOB OPPORTUNITIES, MY FOCUS WILL ALWAYS BE ON IMPROVING THE LIVES OF OUR CITIZENS. IT IS THEIR TRUST AND SUPPORT THAT HAVE BROUGHT ME HERE TO THIS POSITION, AND IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO HONOR THAT TRUST BY WORKING TIRELESSLY FOR THEIR BENEFIT.
[00:10:04]
YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT TO REPRESENT YOU ALL EFFECTIVELY, EFFICIENTLY AND FAIRLY.THAT PORTION OF OUR AGENDA THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS HAS BEEN COMPLETED.
WE ARE NOW MOVING TO ROOM 204 FOR OUR WORKSHOP.
VERY GOOD. SO WE HAVE LUNCH IS SUPPLIED FOR US TODAY.
NELLIE HAS ALREADY CONTACTED US ON THAT.
THOSE INDIVIDUALS WILL START ARRIVING AT 1015.
[8.A. Discussion Of Status Update To Proposed Improvement List In 2012 Galveston Major Thoroughfare Plan (T. Tietjens - 15 Min)]
DISCUSSION OF STATUS UPDATE TO PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT LIST IN THE 2000 2012 GALVESTON MAJOR THOROUGHFARE PLAN.WE HAVE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING DEPARTMENT TEMPTATIONS.
TIM, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
GOOD MORNING. CONGRATULATIONS, COUNCILWOMAN.
THANK YOU. AND MIGHT I ALSO SAY YOU HAVE IMPECCABLE TASTE IN SPORT, AS DO YOU.
TIM SENT OUT A WE HAD A PACKET MATERIAL IN OUR, IN OUR WHEN THE AGENDA WAS POSTED.
I HOPE EVERYBODY HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK THAT OVER.
THIS IS AN UPDATE TO THE STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR 2012 MAJOR THOROUGHFARE PLAN.
THAT WAS ADOPTED AS PART OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PROGRAM AT THAT TIME.
THE TWO MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THE MAJOR THOROUGHFARE PLAN ARE ONE, THE FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION LIST AND TWO, THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT LIST.
THIS IS A MAP OF THE FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF OUR ROADWAYS IN GALVESTON.
YOU CAN SEE THE BLUE IS FREEWAY RED ARE MAJOR THOROUGHFARES, AND THE PURPLE ARE COLLECTOR STREETS.
OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T PUT ROADS THAT THAT SERVE SIMPLE ACCESS TO PROPERTY IN THAT, IN THAT SYSTEM.
THIS IS A MAP THAT CORRESPONDS TO THE PLAN IMPROVEMENTS THAT WERE DENOTED IN THE PLAN.
THERE THERE ARE SEVERAL AND I'VE ACTUALLY GOT THESE ON ON A LIST THAT WE'LL GO OVER INDIVIDUALLY.
BUT WE CAN ALWAYS REFER BACK TO THIS IF WE NEED TO, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO.
ALL RIGHT. SO HOW THIS IS ALL SET UP IS I BASICALLY HAVE THESE ON A SPREADSHEET AS WELL DENOTING THE PROJECT NAME, THE IMPROVEMENT TYPE, THE JURISDICTION RESPONSIBLE, AND THE DESCRIPTION IN THE IMPROVEMENT TYPE IN PARTICULAR.
IT WAS IT WAS DEEMED TO BE ONE OF FOUR TYPE OF IMPROVEMENTS, TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC SYSTEM MANAGEMENT, WHICH IS BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, EFFICIENT STREET LIGHTING AND SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT ADDED CAPACITY, WHICH IS BASICALLY WIDENING OR TAKING AN EXISTING FACILITY AND ADDING TO IT NEW FACILITIES, WHICH OBVIOUSLY IS NEW.
AND MITIGATION IS WHERE THERE'S A NEED FOR FLOOD MITIGATION OR, YOU KNOW, ALONG THE LINES OF, OF MAKING THAT THOROUGHFARE SAFE TO, TO TRANSIT DURING STORMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE ALSO ADDED INTO THE COLUMNS OF THAT SPREADSHEET THE STATUS OF WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, WHETHER IT'S COMPLETE IN PROGRESS OR NO ACTION OR INFEASIBLE. AND THEN COMMENTS.
AND I'M EACH OF THESE ARE ON A SEPARATE SLIDE, SO I'LL JUST GO OVER THEM INDIVIDUALLY.
THIS IS ALSO A PORTION OF THE LIST THAT HAS SOME ADDITIONAL PROJECTS WEREN'T EVEN ON THE MAJOR THOROUGHFARE PLAN, BUT HAVE BEEN DEEMED TO BE NECESSARY MOVING FORWARD.
ESPECIALLY IN THE, IN THE, IN THE PROJECT THAT IS THE BROADWAY TO THE SEAWALL.
WHERE WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS ALSO PUT IN HERE THE AMENDMENT TO THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL PLAN, WHICH OCCURRED IN 2017, I BELIEVE. AND WE'LL GET MORE TO THAT IN A LITTLE BIT.
BUT THE MAJOR THOROUGHFARE PLAN DID NOT REALLY CONTAIN A HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL PLAN AT THE TIME.
SO THERE'S THERE'S NO SORT OF REPORTING OUT ON ON STATUS OF THAT.
[00:15:08]
SO THERE'S NO REAL ORDER TO, TO THESE PROJECTS OTHER THAN HOW IT IS ALREADY SET UP.THIS WAS A TRANS TRAFFIC SYSTEM MANAGEMENT PROGRAM TO IMPROVE SIGNALIZATION ON 61ST STREET.
WE ADDED SECOND LEFT TURN LANE ONTO I-45 AT 61ST.
SIGNAL COORDINATION WAS DEVELOPED GIVING TIME OF DAY PRIORITY TO THE NORTHBOUND LANES IN THE MORNING, SOUTHBOUND LANES IN THE AFTERNOON, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY WEEKENDS.
THERE WERE SOME YELLOW TURNING SIGNALS FLASHING TURN TURNING SIGNALS ADDED.
AND THE HERTZ LANE TRAFFIC SIGNAL IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
LED BY TEX DOT. BATTERY BACKUPS HAVE ALL ALSO BEEN ADDED TO TRAFFIC CABINETS.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT ONE? I HAVE A COMMENT, BUT IT'S A MOUTHFUL, SO I APOLOGIZE.
IDEALLY, WE STILL GET TREMENDOUS BACKUPS ON 60 FIRST, PRETTY MUCH IN EVERY DIRECTION.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN DO ANYTHING TO STOP THAT.
WE CAN DO OUR BEST TO KEEP IT.
WE'RE CHALLENGED WITH A LOT OF OUR TRAFFIC.
BECAUSE IF WE DO THAT, WE TRAP EVERYBODY IN THE MIDDLE.
SO IF WE DID THAT ON 61ST STREET AND KEPT IT MOVING, WE WOULD TRAP.
WE'VE DONE THAT BECAUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, YOU GET TRAPPED UNDER THE CAUSEWAY.
WHEN WE ADDED THOSE TWO RED LEFT LANES GOING OFF THE ISLAND, YOU ACTUALLY GET TRAPPED UNDER.
SO IF YOU HAVE FOUR CARS TRAPPED UNDER THERE, YOU'RE NOW BLOCKING.
THE ONLY WAY THAT HAPPENS IS IF THEY CROSS ON YELLOW I'VE CROSSED A GREEN.
YOU GOT STUCK THERE. WE'LL CHECK IT AGAIN.
IT MAY HAVE JUMPED OUT OF TIME, BUT IT SHOULD NOT BE.
WE MIGHT WANT TO LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE LOOK AT IT.
I'VE NEVER GOTTEN STUCK THERE THAT THAT PARTICULAR INTERSECTION.
WHERE ARE WE WITH TEX DOT'S IMPROVEMENTS ON THE FLY OVER THERE? THAT'S THE NEXT SLIDE OVER RIGHT.
THERE WE GO. YEAH. AND THAT'S OBVIOUSLY AN ADDED CAPACITY PROJECT.
TEX-DOT IS LETTING THE PROJECT.
I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHERE THEY ARE IN THE IN THE CONFINES OF THEIR THEIR PROGRESS.
I THINK THEY SAID THEY'RE GOING TO LET IT IN 26.
GOOD MORNING. ROBB. IF YOU COULD IDENTIFY YOURSELF, PLEASE.
SORRY. ROBERT WINICK, DIRECTOR OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENGINEERING.
REGARDING TXDOT. HOLD YOUR MIKE CLOSER.
SURE. YEAH, BECAUSE I. NO PROBLEM.
OKAY. IS IT ON? MAY NOT BE ON. YEAH.
SO THEY'RE WORKING THROUGH DESIGN RIGHT NOW.
THEY'VE GOT SOME STAFF TURNOVER.
SOME PROJECT MANAGERS JUST RETIRED.
SO THEY'RE TRYING TO REGROUP AND CONTINUE THE DESIGN MOVING FORWARD.
VERY GOOD. ARE THEY COMPLETED WITH THE RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION? NO. THEY'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH THAT PROCESS OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. YOU JUST SAY ONCE THAT'S DONE THAT'S GOING TO IMPROVE THAT INTERSECTION GREATLY.
GETTING TRAFFIC IN AND OUT OF THE CITY.
THE NEXT ONE IS THE 61ST AS ONE MORE.
WILL THEY ARE THEY THINKING ABOUT DOING ANYTHING ON THAT RIGHT TURN AT SEAWALL AND 61ST? BECAUSE WHEN YOU DOUBLE UP THE TRAFFIC THAT THAT'S JUST GOING TO BACK THAT UP.
WORSE, ONE OF THE PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS WE'VE HAD WITH THEM IS DUAL TURN LANES THERE OKAY.
BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME PROPERTY AWAY FROM AN ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER.
SO THEY'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT OKAY.
THIS IS 60 FIRST EXTENSION, HARBORSIDE TO BROADWAY.
THIS IS A NEW PROJECT THAT WOULD CREATE A CONNECTION.
THERE'S BEEN NO ACTION AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
IT IS IN THE MAJOR THOROUGHFARE PLAN, BUT IT'S NOT ON THE TIP AT HDC.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT ONE? YEAH. AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY WEIGHING IT OUT VERSUS THE FLOW OVER AT HARBORSIDE.
RIGHT. THE AVENUE H EXTENSION.
[00:20:01]
CAP ON THAT AND GLOW DOES NOT ALLOW ACCESS ACROSS THAT.SO IT'S, IT'S IT'S AN INFEASIBLE PROJECT AT THIS POINT IN TIME, EVEN EVEN WITH THE REMEDIATION.
YES. YEAH. WELL IT WAS CAPPED.
IT WASN'T WOULDN'T NECESSARILY REMEDIATE.
RIGHT, RIGHT. STUART ROAD SEVEN AND A HALF MILE ROAD TO 305.
THIS IS AN ADDED CAPACITY PROJECT.
TO CONSIDER ADDING A CENTER TURN LANE WEST OF SEVEN AND A HALF MILE.
IT WOULD BE LOCALLY FUNDED AT THIS TIME.
BUT HOWEVER, THERE WAS AN ADDITION TO OUR HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL EAST FROM SANDHILL CRANE PARK GOING EAST EASTBOUND SO THAT THAT PORTION WAS ADDED.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT ONE? THEY WIDENED IT.
THE BIKE LANE. OH, IT'S STILL IN THE SAME COMPOSITION AS IT WAS CONSTRUCTED.
YEAH, BUT IT'S IT'S IN GOOD SHAPE, ALTHOUGH IT'S FAIRLY SMALL.
YEAH. THIS IS THE SEVEN MILE ROAD PROJECT.
AND BASICALLY THIS WAS COMPLETED WHEN TXDOT DID THE WIDENING AND OF THAT INTERSECTION AS WELL AS THE RE TOPPING OF THE ROAD. AND I HAVE TO SAY, THE EVEN THOUGH IT REALLY WASN'T A MAJOR RAISING OF 305, IT WAS EFFECTIVE IN THIS RECENT STORM.
SO OF COURSE IT WIPED OUT OUR BEACH ACCESS POINTS.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT IT THE THE ROAD DID NOT FLOOD.
ALL RIGHT. WELL THIS ONE OBVIOUSLY IS A IS A BIG DEAL.
THERE'S NO OFFICIAL ACTION, BUT IT IS IN THE TIP.
AND OBVIOUSLY WITH THE DAMAGE THAT WAS RECENTLY WITH THE BRIDGE BEING HIT IT'S, IT'S BEING REVIEWED FOR FURTHER POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENT.
I'M SORRY. WELL, JUST A THOUGHT ON THAT, TIM.
IT'S WE HAVE, AS YOU KNOW, COUNCIL EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM ON THIS COMING UP TOMORROW IN WORKSHOP.
WE'LL GET AN UPDATE OF WHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY ON THAT.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S TAKEN WINGS AGAIN.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S MOVING FORWARD.
SO WE'LL WE'LL VISIT WITH COUNCIL ON THE DETAILS ON THAT.
ALL RIGHT. THIS THIS WAS AN EITHER OR SITUATION 81ST OR 83RD.
TO ADD CAPACITY TO IMPROVEMENT TO IMPROVE TOURIST DESTINATION ACCESS UP NORTH OF THAT AREA.
AND IT WAS COMPLETED FOR THE SELECTED OPTION, WHICH WAS 81ST STREET.
SIGNALIZATION WAS ADDED AT STEWART.
OF COURSE, SEAWALL WAS ALREADY SIGNALIZED THERE.
THIS IS THIS IS THE ONE THAT KIND OF HAS BEEN A PROJECT OF FOCUS.
AND IT'S IT'S ON THE 24 TO 5 REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN OF HJCKRRH.
HAS THERE BEEN ANY CONCEPT DEVELOPED? HAS THERE BEEN ANY ENGINEERING AND CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT ON THAT YET? THERE'S A LOT OF CHALLENGES WITH IT.
OH YEAH. VERY RETICENT ABOUT IT.
BUT IT'S THEY WERE RETICENT ABOUT THE INTERSECTION OF HARBORSIDE AND 45 ANYWAY.
THERE IS SOME FUNDING, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR THIS FLYOVER SITUATION, AND THEY'RE GOING TO START LOOKING AT THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. AND IN THE INTERIM, THEY'RE DOING SOME INTERSECTION MODIFICATION FOR THE WIND FOR THE WIND BLADES.
GOTCHA. WE ALSO HAD YOU KNOW, THE, THE THE PORT HAS THE I'M SORRY. THE BASICALLY THE LOT THAT THEY ARE STORING AND ASSEMBLING A LITTLE BIT OF THE WIND BLADE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS NOW TAKEN OUT BY TRAIN WHERE THEY CAN WHICH IS HELPFUL TO OUR SYSTEM DOESN'T OVERLOAD OUR, OUR OUR ROADWAYS AS MUCH THAT WAY, WHICH IS, IS HELPFUL.
BUT YEAH, WHEN THAT FLYOVER'S DONE, IT'LL BE IT'LL BE REALLY NICE.
ONE OTHER QUESTION. THE FUNDING FOR THIS MAYOR BROWN ALLUDED TO IS FOR PLANNING, I GUESS.
[00:25:05]
YES, THAT IS CORRECT.AND I WILL SAY THAT WE'RE SAYING IT'S COMPLETE BECAUSE OF THE WONDERFUL WORK THAT TRINO AND HIS CREW HAS DONE ON CLEARING THESE OBSTRUCTIONS THAT WERE OUT THERE THAT WERE FOUND OUT THERE.
AND IT'S SORT OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO TO CITIES HORN IN SOLVING PROBLEMS IN THIS REGARD.
AND TRINA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS? SURE. HI.
MORNING. SO I'M TRINA PEDRAZA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES.
WE TOOK OLD PAPER MAPS THAT WE HAD STORED IN THE LIBRARY, OLD MAPS THAT YOU KNOW, RETIRED DIRECTORS HAD STORED AWAY IN FOLDERS, COMPARED THEM AGAINST WHAT WE HAD IN OUR GIS AND OUR CURRENT AS BUILTS.
AS WE DID THAT, WE ADJUSTED OUR MAPS AND THEN WE CAME ACROSS MANY DISCOVERIES.
WE CAME ACROSS OUTFALLS THAT WERE COMPLETELY COVERED, NOT JUST BLOCKED, BUT THEN COVERED.
THEY WERE FILLED IN BY THE PROPERTY OWNERS.
AND THEN THERE WERE SOME THAT WERE JUST BROKEN AND NEEDED RESTORATION, WHICH OUR STAFF DID.
AND THEN WE TRAILED ALL THAT BACK TO BROADWAY.
AND THEN WE DISCOVERED MAINS THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW EXISTED ON BROADWAY, BECAUSE IT WASN'T ON OUR MAPS.
AND WE UNCOVERED IT AND RAISED IT AND CLEANED IT.
AND IF YOU WATCHED RECENTLY BETWEEN 41ST AND 46, AT LEAST ON BROADWAY, THAT'S DRAINING.
ALL OF 43RD CONNECTS TO TO BROADWAY, AND IT SPLITS ON 43RD AND BROADWAY, WITH HALF OF IT GOING WEST AND HALF OF IT GOING EAST. AND AND SO NOW IT HAS A PATH TO GO.
AND SO LIKE IF YOU LOOK AT THE CORNER OF BROADWAY AND 43RD, WHERE THE CEMETERY IS AT, THAT USUALLY HOLDS WATER AND IT'S DRAINING NOW AND THEN GOING TOWARDS 45TH, WE STARTED CLEANING THAT WE DISCOVERED LIKE ABANDONED MAINS THAT WERE NOT PROPERLY TIED IN, AND WE TIED THEM IN AND CLEANED THEM ALONG 45TH BETWEEN L AND K, AND THEN ON L FROM THE BACK GATE OF CEDAR LAWN ONTO 45TH.
AND SO NOW THAT DRAINS AND WE'RE CONTINUING THIS PATH.
AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP DOING IT UNTIL WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE DONE.
IT'S A VERY EXPENSIVE PROCESS.
DRAINAGE IN GALVESTON IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE.
HE'LL BE BACK TO SQUARE ONE, BUT HE'S ON TOP OF IT.
COUNCILMAN FINKLEA. SO WHEN DID YOU START THIS KIND OF THIS PROCESS? WE STARTED THIS PROCESS, I WANT TO SAY APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS AGO.
OKAY. AND WHAT PERCENT WOULD YOU SAY YOU'RE COMPLETE.
GREAT. I WILL TELL YOU, WE HAVE FOUR INCHES OF RAIN OVERNIGHT.
AND ONE OF THE RAIN EPISODES IN 45TH AND 43RD PERFORMED STELLAR.
YEAH. WHICH IS A FIRST IN MY LIFETIME.
THAT'S RIGHT. RIGHT. AND THEN IF YOU DRIVE WEST WEST OF 51ST ON HARBORSIDE, ON ANY RAIN EVENT.
NOW IT DOESN'T HOLD WATER ANYMORE.
YEAH, I MEAN, THIS THIS TYPE OF INVESTMENT SPEAKS VOLUMES TO WHAT THE CITY'S COMMITMENT IS TO IMPROVING DRAINAGE IN, IN THE CITY, AND THAT IT'LL PAY DIVIDENDS DOWN THE LINE.
AND THESE ARE THESE ARE ALMOST LIKE RESOURCES.
AND TRINA IS DOING THIS. WE'RE PULLING PEOPLE OFF ALL OTHER JOBS TO DO IT.
[00:30:04]
OKAY. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DRAINAGE WORK, IT'S MORE THAN JUST BIG DRAINAGE PROJECTS.IT'S MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP AND SPENDING THE MONEY TO DO IT RIGHT, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE VERY EXPENSIVE FOR US BECAUSE OF THE SILTATION ISSUES AND THE VERY WE HAVE VERY LITTLE SLOPE, AS TRINA KNOWS.
AND SO IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH TO IMPEDE DRAINAGE IN GALVESTON.
OKAY. THANK YOU. WE HAVE COUNCILWOMAN ROBB, THEN RITA, THEN BROWN, THEN ROBBINS.
YES, MA'AM. I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT THE GREAT JOB THAT YOU DO, BUT CAN YOU ALSO MENTION A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SANDBAG ISSUE THAT YOU FOUND THROUGHOUT THE CITY FROM CONTRACTORS, WHERE I THINK WE'VE REALLY HAVE TO, LIKE YOU READ MY MIND, BRIAN.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ADDING MORE PEOPLE WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUDGET BECAUSE WE NEED MORE OVERSIGHT OF THESE CONTRACTORS.
SO WHEN THEY GO IN JUST FOR THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW THIS WHEN THEY GO IN TO DO A PROJECT.
THEY'LL DO A SANDBAG DAM AND WE LIKE WHEN JUST 305, WE ACCIDENTALLY FOUND 35 OF THEM THAT THEY LEFT THERE BECAUSE WE HAD ALL OF A SUDDEN A NEW DRAINAGE.
AND IT'S BACKING UP INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT IT NEVER DID.
BUT YOU FOUND THAT ON 37TH, ON 2020 THIRD, 43RD.
SO WE'VE REALLY NEED TO KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN WE'RE DOING BUDGETING BECAUSE, WELL, THAT AND THE OTHER THING WE'RE DOING TOO IS WE'RE PUTTING IN OUR SPECS NOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW THAT ANYMORE BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY SANDBAG IT BECAUSE OUR DRAINS ARE WET ALL THE TIME.
THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO STOP FLOW TO DO A DRAIN REPAIR.
THEY CAN'T GET THE REST OF THE BAG, SO THEY MOVE DOWN THE SYSTEM UNTIL THEY DAM UP AGAIN.
SO BUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS WE'RE PUTTING IN OUR SPECS, WHICH IS GOING TO MAKE THE PROJECTS MORE EXPENSIVE, BUT WE'RE PUTTING IN THE SPECS THAT THEY CAN'T USE SANDBAGS ANYMORE. VERY GOOD.
COUNCIL REMEMBER, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A THOROUGHFARE PLAN AT THIS POINT.
SO ALEX, GO RIGHT AHEAD AND GET DONE.
WHAT Y'ALL DO AT PUBLIC WORKS.
SO IS THERE A MAINTENANCE PLAN? I GUESS IT'S REGULAR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE.
IS THERE LIKE A STRATEGIC MAINTENANCE PLAN? YES, WE DO, AND ACTUALLY THEY'RE OUR GROUP IS REFINING IT.
AND WHAT I HAVE THEM DOING FOR ME IS BREAKING DOWN THE PERCENTAGE OF LINES THAT CAN BE CLEANED, WHICH PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WILL BE GOING AROUND INSPECTING DITCHES TO SEE WHEN THEY NEED TO BE DESILTED OR CUT, AND THEN WHAT PERCENTAGE OF LINES THEY CAN TELEVISE? THE THING IS, A LOT OF THIS WORK HASN'T BEEN DONE IN MANY YEARS.
NOT JUST BECAUSE YOU KNOW OF A LACK, A LACK OF DESIRE, BUT ALSO THEY NEED EQUIPMENT, RIGHT? AND THEY DO BORROW EQUIPMENT FROM WATER AND WASTEWATER TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, WHICH THEN BACKLOGS WATER AND WASTE WATER.
AND THEN FOR THE MAPPING ON GIS, IS THERE A BACKLOG OR IS ALL THESE KIND OF YOU'RE ADDING THEM AS YOU GO OR THE CURRENT OR. YEAH.
SO WE HAVE THREE WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE IN DISTRICT IN DISTRIBUTION AND COLLECTION AND, AND DRAINAGE THAT MANAGE THE, THE, THE MAP.
AND WHAT THEY DO IS THEY'LL GO AROUND AND AS WE DISCOVER THINGS, THEY GPS IT AND THEY CORRECT IT, BUT THEN WE ALSO HAVE THEM GOING LIKE ACROSS THE ISLAND WEST TO EAST AND THEIR GPS AND EVERYTHING.
AND SO I WOULD SAY EVERYTHING FROM TERRAMAR TO MAYBE PIRATES BEACH IS ALMOST, YOU KNOW, 90% CORRECT. AND THEN AS YOU GO MORE EAST, IT'S 6040.
IT TAKES TIME THAT THAT'S A BIG BOOTS ON THE GROUND EFFORT.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A MEETING HERE IN A WEEK OF A DIFFERENT TYPE OF SOFTWARE SO THAT WE CAN MAYBE IN THE FUTURE, SHIFT THE WAY WE WE BUILD OUR MAPS, YOU KNOW, AND INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR AS BILLS TO COME IN SIX MONTHS AFTER A PROJECT TO UPDATE A MAP, BUILDING IT AS YOU GO SO THAT IT'S AS CONSTRUCTED VERSUS AS BUILT.
WOW. EVEN IS IN THAT DEPARTMENT, RIGHT? YES, SIR. I WENT TO A GIS CLASS WITH HER, SO IT'S A GOOD HIRE.
IS THERE ANY LONG RANGE PLANS TO ELEVATE THAT ROAD?
[00:35:06]
NOT AT THE MOMENT, ALTHOUGH AS I THINK WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS AS WE GET THROUGH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING PROCESS, WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THE LONG TERM.THE CHALLENGE WITH GRADE RAISING THE STREET IS THE SURROUNDING STRUCTURES WOULD FLOOD.
OKAY. THAT'S WAY DOWN THE ROAD, I GUESS.
YEAH. YEAH, IT IS, BUT IT IS ON THEIR RADAR SCREEN.
I GOT ONE MORE QUESTION. A LITTLE FURTHER DOWN ON YOUR LIST.
YOU TALK ABOUT THE STORMWATER PUMP STATION AT 14TH STREET.
WHAT WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON THE THE NORTH SOUTH 14TH STREET? IN ORDER TO HAVE THAT FUNCTIONAL, IS THERE GOING TO IS THAT GOING TO STREET GOING TO BE TORN UP LIKE SOME OTHER STREETS HAVE, OR WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THE STREET IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE 14TH STREET PUMP? GOOD QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW IF I KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT ONE.
THAT GETS RIPPED UP AND I'LL LET HIM FINISH.
OKAY. ROBERT WINNING, DIRECTOR OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENGINEERING.
AGAIN, THE CORRIDOR FOR THE 14TH STREET PUMP STATION IS ACTUALLY DOWN 15TH STREET.
SO 14TH STREET ITSELF IS NOT TORN UP.
AND THEN SOME OF THE EAST WEST STREETS WHERE WE'RE DOING SOME LATERAL TIE INS WILL BE RECONSTRUCTED.
SO WILL THAT WILL THAT BE TORN UP ALL THE WAY FROM WATERFRONT TO SEAWALL? IT GOES FROM HARBORSIDE OR, WELL, FROM THE WATER THROUGH HARBORSIDE, CROSS BROADWAY TO, I THINK, AVENUE N, SO.
AND ANY, ANY ANYTHING ON SCHEDULE FOR THAT? SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE FUNDING FROM FEMA.
WE'RE GETTING READY TO BID THE SOUTH SHORE PROJECT IN LATE JULY.
SO WE WANT TO BID SOUTH SHORE FIRST SHORE UP THE PRICING FOR 14TH STREET, BECAUSE THAT ONE'S BEEN SITTING ON THE SHELF A LITTLE BIT LONGER BECAUSE WE HAD A TWO YEAR REVIEW PERIOD THROUGH FEMA.
SO CONSTRUCTION I WOULD SAY WOULD START SOMETIME APRIL MAY ISH OF 25.
OKAY. ON 14TH ON 14TH STREET PUMP STATION.
YOU'RE WELCOME. COUNCILMAN ROLLINS.
TRINA. GOOD MORNING, BY THE WAY.
THIS IS PICKING BACK UP WITH THE DRAINAGE, JUST FOR MY KNOWLEDGE.
AT WHAT POINT? RUNNING RUNNING EAST.
WEST. WHERE IS OUR MAIN LINE? KIND OF LOCATED IN PROXIMITY TO.
IS IT BROADWAY? IS IT SO FOR FOR DRAINAGE? THAT'S A DIFFICULT QUESTION BECAUSE THERE'S NOT REALLY A MAIN LINE.
THERE ARE MULTIPLE OUTFALLS SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND, AND EVERY OUTFALL HAS ITS OWN CIRCUIT OR ITS OWN NETWORK OF OF LINES THAT CONNECT INTO IT.
AND EACH OF THOSE WILL HAVE SOME LARGE BOX THAT SERVES AS ITS AS ITS MAIN LINE.
SO LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, I WAS DESCRIBING BROADWAY EARLIER, THERE'S A, THERE'S A BIG TRUNK MAIN TRAVELING EAST AND WEST FROM 41ST TO 45TH, 41ST AND 45TH EACH HAVE AN OUTFALL THAT TRAVELS ALL THE WAY UP TO PORT INDUSTRIAL OR PASSPORT.
INDUSTRIAL 43RD CONNECTS INTO THAT.
WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT SOME OF THE OTHER LINES.
PEE IS ONE OF THE BIG MAINS THAT TRAVELS EAST AND WEST ALL THE WAY TO THE OUTFALL.
K HAS A BIG TRUNK MAIN THAT GOES FROM 43RD WEST TOWARDS THE OUTFALL.
AND YOU KNOW, I THAT'S ABOUT AS MUCH AS I HAVE TO MY MEMORY AT THIS TIME.
WE HAVE RAIN, TIDAL EVENTS, BUT SOMETIMES WE HAVE JUST TIDAL EVENTS.
SO WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION AND THEN WE USE THAT INFORMATION FOR SOME OF THE RESTORATION.
[00:40:03]
THE BIGGER ISSUE IS, IS THAT.SO THE ONLY WAY YOU'RE GOING TO GET TRUE BACKFLOW PREVENTION IS WITH MECHANICAL MEANS.
I WOULD THINK THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY OR ONLY APPLICATION THAT WE COULD.
HAVE WE HAD SITUATIONS WHERE WE'VE TRIED OR EXPERIMENTED WITH MECHANICAL.
NO. BECAUSE YOU'D HAVE THOSE WOULD ALL HAVE.
I MEAN, YOU WOULD WANT THEM AUTOMATED.
AND I MEAN, THAT'S BASICALLY A PUMP.
SO THAT'S THOSE ARE VERY EXPENSIVE.
SO THOSE WOULD HAVE BACKFLOW. WE'RE TYING THE SYSTEMS TOGETHER.
SO IT'S MORE THAN JUST THOSE INDIVIDUAL SYSTEMS. IT BRANCHES OUT COUNCIL BIGGER CHALLENGE WHEN YOU HAVE OPEN DITCH SYSTEMS. LET ME LET ME INTERJECT HERE.
THIS IS A THIS IS A REPORT ON THE UPDATE OF OUR PROPOSED MAJOR THOROUGHFARE PLAN.
WE'RE GETTING OFF INTO DRAINAGE ISSUES.
SO IF WE COULD, IF WE COULD KEEP OUR FROM A TIME STANDPOINT, IF WE COULD KEEP OUR TOPIC BACK TO THE UPDATE OF OUR THOROUGHFARE PLAN, I THINK THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.
TIM, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT UP.
OKAY. THIS IS THIS IS OBVIOUSLY THE 305 ELEVATION.
AND IT'S A IT'S A WELL, EXCEPT FOR ALL THE APPLES.
THIS ONE WAS A PROJECT THAT WAS KIND OF A LITTLE BIT OF PIE IN THE SKY, BUT IT'S IT'S WORKED ITS WAY INTO BEING PERHAPS POSSIBLE WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE GULF COAST PROTECTION AND RECOVERY DISTRICT AND, AND AND WHAT MIGHT BE HAPPENING WITH THE OFFICE RING LEVY.
RIGHT. AS I RECALL, I WAS I RECALL THAT IT WAS THE 90S BECAUSE.
YEAH, IF THE OFFICE RING LEVY TURNS OUT TO BE IN A LOCATION THAT'S SIMILAR TO WHERE THIS ROADWAY WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE GONE, IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DESIGNED INTO A CONSTRUCTION.
BUT THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT MORE OBVIOUSLY, ENGINEERING AND CONSIDERATION.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT ONE? ALL RIGHT, THE WEST END BRIDGE.
YEAH, THIS THIS ONE WAS A FULL ON BRIDGE FROM THE MAINLAND.
COMING OFF THE CAUSEWAY, BASICALLY HEADING OVER TO EIGHT MILE ROAD.
THAT'S AN EXTREMELY IMPACTFUL PROJECT.
REQUIRES A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL FUNDING AND BE A HUGE PROJECT.
BUT IT'S IT'S INFEASIBLE AT THE MOMENT.
AND THAT'S THAT'S KIND OF WHERE IT IS ON THE LIST.
THIS ONE. THIS ONE'S I 45 TO FERRY ROAD.
AND WHAT WHAT HAS BEEN DONE WITH TRAFFIC SYSTEM MANAGEMENT? BATTERY BACKUPS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED THROUGHOUT ALL OF HARBORSIDE FLASHING YELLOWS HAVE GONE ON.
AND SOME OF IT THE DESIGN FOR THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS IS BEING SCOPED FOR 16TH.
CROSSWALKS WERE IMPLEMENTED IN 2018 ACROSS THE ROADWAY AS WELL.
WE SYNC THEM, THEY GET THROWN OUT OF SYNC.
RIGHT. SO TO THAT POINT, DO WE KNOW IF THE PORT HAS FILED A TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE PROPER AUTHORIZATION FOR THE USE OF THOSE TO GET ON THOSE, TO GET ON THOSE PICKLES? AND IS THAT REQUIRED BY TXDOT? THERE ARE SIGNALS.
THERE ARE SIGNALS ARE SIGNALS.
[00:45:02]
WE HAVE NOT. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE COULD REQUEST? WE COULD I DON'T KNOW THAT.I MEAN, I, I, YOU KNOW, I KNOW FROM OPERATION OPERATIONS PREVIOUSLY WHERE I WORKED THAT THEY THINK THAT THEY'RE DOING GOOD, BUT THEY ACTUALLY INCREASE DELAY WHEN THEY'RE ON THOSE PICKLES.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YES, BOB.
IS THERE ANY PLANS TO MAYBE APPLY SOME COMPLETE STREET PRINCIPLES TO MAKING THAT MITIGATING THAT PROBLEM? WELL, PART OF WHAT PART OF WHAT WE MET WITH TEXDOT ON IS IF THEY ELEVATE, THEY'LL ELEVATE THROUGH DOWNTOWN.
BUT EVERY TIME WE DO THAT, BOB, WE GET MASSIVE COMPLAINTS FROM UTB STAFF ABOUT WHAT THAT WE'RE GIVING TOO MUCH DEFERENCE TO PEDESTRIANS AND IT'S SLOWING THEIR COMMUTE. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SAY INTERSECTION I THINK CROSSING IMPROVEMENTS IS THAT, LIKE TEXTURED CROSSWALKS OR.
OKAY. YEAH. TEXTURED CROSSWALKS.
BETTER, BETTER AND HIGHER DELINEATION OF LANES AND MARKINGS TO SIGNALIZATION AND SIGNAGE.
WE'LL HAVE THAT OPEN PROBABLY IN A YEAR.
THAT'LL BE THE CONSTRUCTION WILL BE FINISHED.
AND WE'LL BE HAVING THAT JUST FROM THE STANDPOINT OF COUNCIL WAS SURPRISED TO ME.
THEY THE PORT DID A COUNT OF HOW MANY PEOPLE GO ACROSS THAT INTERSECTION AT 25TH AND HARBORSIDE DURING CRUISE DAYS. IT'S IN A FOUR HOUR PERIOD.
THERE WERE 4200 PEOPLE, AND NOW THEY'VE MOVED THAT FURTHER EAST.
IT IS IT IS AMAZING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT GO ACROSS STRUGGLING ACROSS WITH THEIR LUGGAGE.
I KNOW, I MEAN, WHEN HE TOLD ME THAT NUMBER I WAS AMAZED.
THANK YOU. THIS IS AVENUE S THIS WAS TRANSPORTATION.
BATTERY BACKUPS WERE INSTALLED ON ON STUART 61ST, 65 AND 81ST DETECTION INSTALLED 37, 39TH, 45TH AND 53RD. THAT'S A COMPLETE PROJECT.
YES, SIR. DETECTION AS IN, CAN DETECT LOOP DETECTION.
OKAY. YEAH. BROADWAY BOULEVARD TO SEAWALL.
THIS IS THIS IS SORT OF WHERE THE CITY IS SPRINGBOARDED FROM JUST WHAT WAS DENOTED HERE AND GONE INTO ADDITIONAL THOROUGHFARE THOROUGHFARES THAT HAVE CONNECTORS COLLECTORS, EXCUSE ME CONNECTING THOSE TWO MAJOR THOROUGHFARES.
SO BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT WE INSTALLED A SIGNAL ON 33RD AND SEAWALL, CURRENTLY UNDER DESIGN.
I'M SORRY I SAID THAT IN PAST TENSE.
NORTH SOUTH GRID RECONSTRUCTION IS PRIORITIZED WITH, YOU KNOW, THE 27TH, 45TH, 23RD ALL THE THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE THAT WEREN'T EVEN CONTEMPLATED IN THIS PLAN.
SO WHERE WE HAVE DRAINAGE NEEDS, IF WE CAN GET A DOUBLE ON THAT ONE LIKE WE DID ON 45TH, 43RD AND OTHERS, WHEN WE START MOVING HIGH VOLUMES OF WATER, WE'RE REDOING ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE UNDER THOSE STREETS AS WELL.
SO 23RD STREET IS ANOTHER ONE BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE MOVING SOME GOOD VOLUMES OF WATER THERE.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD GOOD SYSTEMS IN PLACE.
SO YOU'LL HEAR ALL THE TIME THE CITY DID DRAINAGE WORK.
THE DRAINAGE DID IMPROVE. WELL, WE'RE DOING A LOT OF THIS IN ANTICIPATION OF THE PUMPS AND THINGS.
PRIORITIZE. EXPLAIN THAT TO ME.
[00:50:04]
THIS THIS IS ACTUALLY CONCEIVING OF ADDITIONAL PARALLEL CORRIDORS THAT IMPROVE ACCESS ALL THROUGHOUT THE GRID PORTION OF, OF THE CITY WITH THE ADDITION OF, AGAIN, 45TH CONSTRUCTION THE 27TH CONSTRUCTION NOW THE 23RD THAT'S GOING UNDERWAY.AND I MEAN, WE'VE DONE MANY, MANY OF THESE NORTH SOUTH STREETS.
AND WE'RE DOING 37TH NOW, RIGHT? WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE NORTH SOUTH STREETS BECAUSE THOSE ARE YOUR WIDER STREETS.
SO IT IS NORTH SOUTH BECAUSE NUMBERED STREETS.
OKAY. BUT IT SAYS BROADWAY TO SEAWALL.
AND IS THAT INCLUSIVE OF THE NORTH.
YOU'RE GOING NORTH OR NOT? NO, NO. OH, WELL, WE ARE WHERE THE STREETS CONNECT.
OKAY, WE'VE DONE SOME. ALRIGHTY.
WE'RE GOING TO. WE'LL WORK ALL THE WAY TO HARBORSIDE EVENTUALLY.
AND WE DON'T WANT TO DO I UNDERSTAND THAT.
SO 33RD STREET WOULD GO THROUGH TO HARBORSIDE ULTIMATELY.
SO YOU'RE GOING BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH? 39TH STREET GOES TO HARBORSIDE.
ALRIGHTY. AND 45TH DOES NOT 53RD.
REMEMBER, THIS IS THIS IS STRICTLY WHAT THE PLAN CALLED FOR.
AT THE TIME, THE PLAN REALLY WANTED MOBILITY FROM SEAWALL TO BROADWAY.
WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CROWDS THAT WE'RE GETTING.
YOUR CRUISE BUSINESS IS WHAT IT IS TODAY.
OKAY, BUT THOSE THAT RUN NORTH AND SOUTH, IT IS INCLUSIVE.
OKAY, AND WE'VE DONE DRAINAGE WORK ON THOSE STREETS ALREADY, AS YOU KNOW, IN THOSE AREAS.
SO THE EASTBOUND LANES HAVE PRIORITY FROM 5 A.M.
TO 1 P.M., AND THE WESTBOUND LANES HAVE PRIORITY FROM 1:01 P.M.
THAT TIMING COORDINATION WAS DEVELOPED.
BATTERY BACKUPS INSTALLED IN THOSE SIGNALS FROM 61ST TO 81ST, SIGNAL DETECTION AT 61ST, AND THEN NEW SIGNALS ON 75, 75TH, 89TH AND 89TH.
ON SEAWALL CURRENTLY UNDER DESIGN.
AND THAT'S A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD GUYS ON THAT DURING DESIGN WE SHOULD BE GETTING ROBB.
DO WE KNOW WHEN WE'LL HAVE THOSE SIGNALS? 75TH AND 80. WE'RE DOING AS PART OF 33RD STREET AND 60.
OKAY. YEAH, BUT THAT'S A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD GUYS.
BECAUSE BECAUSE THAT HELPS WITH PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT OUR RESIDENTS WANT.
BUT IT IS GOING TO FURTHER BACK THINGS UP ON 61ST STREET THAT'S TRYING TO GO WEST.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT ONE? YEAH, JUST ABOUT THIS.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE US, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A THOROUGHFARE PLAN.
LOOK AT LIMITING THE USE OF GOLF CARTS.
CAN'T BELIEVE I'M SAYING THAT AGAIN DURING THE TRAFFIC HOURS, LIKE ON THE SEAWALL.
YOU KNOW, BIGGER ISSUE WOULD BE WOULD BE WOULD BE THE 4 TO 6 TIME FRAME BECAUSE THE SIX.
YEAH. BECAUSE RARELY DO YOU SEE GOLF CARTS IN THE MORNINGS.
I MEAN, THOSE ARE OUR RESIDENTS.
AND IT'S NOT THAT. BUT THE EVENING.
YEAH. WOULD BE MORE OF AN ISSUE.
YEAH. BUT THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING COUNCIL COULD BRING UP AS AN ORDINANCE CHANGE.
AND WITH MOODY GARDENS FACILITIES OVER THERE THAT THAT BASICALLY WAS DEEMED TO BE INFEASIBLE BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT TWO BUILDINGS THAT ARE VERY CLOSE TOGETHER WHERE THAT WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE GONE.
SO BUT THERE WAS MILL AND OVERLAY FROM 61ST TO 73RD THAT WAS COMPLETED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
AND THEN TURNING IMPROVEMENTS ADDED AT THE 61ST AND HURDS INTERSECTION.
AND WITH THE NEW SIGNAL, WHICH IS ALL MAST ARM.
YEAH. LOT LESS CLEAN UP IN THAT CASE.
[00:55:05]
TOWN. 41ST IS KIND OF AN INTERESTING SPOT TO DELINEATE.I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT 43RD WOULD HAVE BEEN PERHAPS MORE APPROPRIATE.
BUT ANYHOW, THIS IS THIS IS WHAT THEY SAID.
BUT THIS WOULD INVOLVE DISPLACEMENT OF RESIDENTS.
AND IT WOULD ALSO INVOLVE DISPLACEMENT OF THE WIND BLADES WHICH HAVE BECOME WHICH WERE NOT A THING IN 2012 WHEN THIS CAME OUT AND UP HADN'T IMPROVED OR SORRY, BNSF HADN'T IMPROVED UP.
AND AGAIN WITH WITH HARBORSIDE BEING AT OR ABOVE CAPACITY.
ALL RIGHT. THIS THIS ONE IS ALSO AN INTERESTING PROJECT.
A NEW CAUSEWAY AND BRIDGE TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE ACCESS FROM THE MAINLAND TO THE GALVESTON PORT.
AGAIN, ANOTHER SORT OF A PROJECT THAT IS VERY AMBITIOUS.
BUT IT'S IT'S GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS.
IT KIND OF NEGATED THIS BECAUSE THEY'VE INCREASED THE CAPACITY GREATLY.
I DON'T REMEMBER THIS BEING A.
YEAH. IT WAS BEFORE MY TIME SO I DON'T KNOW.
YEAH. SO, YOU KNOW, IF HARBOURSIDE IS ELEVATED, THAT KIND OF SOLVES THOSE ISSUES.
SO AND JUST TO BE BRIEF, WITH TIME, THE IMPROVEMENTS FROM BROADWAY TO HARBOURSIDE ARE THEY EXPLICITLY STATED IN A THOROUGHFARE IN THE THOROUGHFARE PLAN? THEY WEREN'T THEY WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE ORIGINAL.
SOMETHING WE CAN ADD TO IT FOR TO MAKE SOME OF THOSE IMPROVEMENTS IF FOR, YOU KNOW, FUTURE PROJECTS.
YES. SO THE MAJOR THOROUGHFARE PLAN WILL BE ANALYZED DURING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
OKAY. PERFECT. WHICH IS AND, YOU KNOW, IS THERE I MEAN, TEXDOT WOULD PROBABLY BE THE ONE TO DO THIS, BUT IS THERE A WAY THAT WE COULD DO, LIKE A COMMERCIAL OR, YOU KNOW, TO THE PORT WITH THIS, LIKE USING LIKE A.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT TEX DOT WOULD BE OPEN TO, LIKE A TOLLWAY FOR QUICK ENTRY TO THE PORT, LIKE DIRECTLY SPIT YOU OUT INTO THE PORT NEWPORT ROADS OR SOMETHING THAT WE COULD, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BUILT NOW TWO DIFFERENT PORT ROADS THAT WERE SPECIFICALLY FOR PORT USE THAT WE HAVE TOTALLY INUNDATED WITH OTHER USES.
SO IT WOULD HAVE TO HAVE ENOUGH TRAFFIC TO PAY FOR ITSELF FOR IT TO BE A TOLL ROAD.
AND YOU'D HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE'D HAVE TO SOMEHOW DOVETAIL INTO EITHER HARRIS COUNTY TRANSIT AUTHORITY OR TOLL AUTHORITY, OR WE WOULD HAVE TO CREATE A SEPARATE TOLL AUTHORITY, WHICH WOULD TAKE A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE.
AND THEIR TRAFFIC SAFETY, YOU KNOW THEN YOUR WHOLE DRIVE IS NOT CONSUMED WITH INVOLVED IN A BIG RIG ACCIDENT LAWYER BILLBOARDS BECAUSE THEY HAVE SEPARATED THE BIG RIGS FROM THE CARS. ONE OF THE ISSUES ON 37TH, I'VE HEARD.
I'M SURE SHARON'S HEARD IT, TOO.
IS THE TRUCKS THAT GO UP AND DOWN 37TH STREET.
AND THEY DON'T LIKE TO GO TO HARBORSIDE BECAUSE THEY STAY THERE CARRYING A CERTAIN LOAD.
THEY HAVE TO STOP AT EVERY SINGLE RAILROAD CROSSING.
SO THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE COULD.
WE HAVE VIRTUALLY NO CONTROL OVER.
WELL, UNLESS TXDOT ELEVATES OVER THE TOP OF.
YEAH, IT'S IT'S THEY THEY HAVE MORE POWER THAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
BUT OBVIOUSLY IT IS A, AN EVACUATION ROUTE THAT'S LEGITIMATE, ESPECIALLY FOR WEST END FOLKS.
HOWEVER, YOU'RE ALSO, YOU KNOW, GOING DOWN PARALLEL TO THE COAST.
SO YOU DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO DO THAT EITHER.
BUT WHAT ARE HIGHWAY FUNDS BEFORE.
YEAH. I COULDN'T BELIEVE WHEN THE TDM GUY SAID THAT AT THE HURRICANE MEETING ON SATURDAY.
[01:00:01]
MAYBE CHARLES BARKLEY WILL JUST RENAME IT TO THE BROWN WATER.VERY GOOD. ANYTHING ELSE? JUST NOT NECESSARILY.
ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS? YOU HAD A QUESTION A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
IS THAT ANYTHING THAT'S EVER BEEN CONSIDERED IN ANY WAY? WE'VE TALKED TO TEXT.
I'VE TALKED PERSONALLY, TALKED TO TEXDOT ABOUT IT A COUPLE OF TIMES.
THEY WERE INTRIGUED, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO DO IT.
THEY'RE DOING SEVERAL OF THEM IN COLLEGE STATION RIGHT NOW.
AND THEY'VE ALSO DONE THE INVERTED WHAT THEY THE INVERTED OVERPASSES WHERE YOU CROSS.
AND ONCE YOU DO IT ONCE, IT'S REALLY NICE.
BUT THE FIRST TIME YOU DO IT, YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE HAVING A SEIZURE.
BUT. YEAH. YOU KNOW, BOB, ON THE ROUNDABOUTS, THERE'S A TRAFFIC SPECIALIST THAT LIVES ON THE ISLAND HERE, AND HE WORKS FOR AN INTERNATIONAL COMPANY.
HE CONSTANTLY WAS CONTACTING ME.
WE NEED TO HAVE ROUNDABOUTS ON THE SEAWALL FOR ALL THOSE STREETS COMING UP ON THE SEAWALL.
THE ISSUE, THE ISSUE FOR US WITH ROUNDABOUTS.
IT'S COME UP IN OTHER DISCUSSIONS.
ROUNDABOUTS TAKE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF REAL ESTATE.
YEAH THEY DO. AND ON AN ISLAND THEIR REAL ESTATE IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND VERY LIMITED.
SO THAT'S WHY THEY'VE NEVER REALLY GOTTEN A BIG TRACTION HERE.
IS THAT IS THAT YOUR SCOPE OF WORK? I GUESS WE COULD COORDINATE WITH THAT IF THERE WAS ANY KIND OF ACTION THAT CAME OUT, OR WE WOULD ASK OUR CONSULTANTS TO COORDINATE WITH THAT AS PART OF THEIR MASTER PLAN.
OKAY. ALEX, ANY ANY WORD ON, YOU KNOW, GETTING THE MARSHALS OUT DIRECTING SOME TRAFFIC.
WELL WE HIT SOME CHALLENGES IN THERE.
OUR MARSHALS ARE NOT REALLY EQUIPPED TO DO THAT.
WE DON'T HAVE CAMERAS IN THE CARS.
WE DON'T HAVE CAGES IN THE CARS.
THAT'S NEVER BEEN THEIR THEIR FORTE.
SO WE'RE WORKING NOW THAT THE CHIEF'S BACK THIS WEEK, MY PLAN IS TO WORK THROUGH HIM AND TRY TO COME UP WITH SOME TYPE OF PLAN EITHER COORDINATED WITH THE MARSHALS OR OTHERWISE, TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. THE BIGGEST ISSUE ON THE SEAWALL IS U-TURNS, AS WE ALL KNOW, AND WE MAY TRY TO DO A FEW SPECIALS TO SEE HOW THAT WORKS AND SEE WHAT WE CAN COME OUT OF IT.
BUT IT'S BEEN ONLY DO THEM WHERE THOSE PAINTED THINGS ARE.
RIGHT. WELL, THEY THAT THAT DENOTES WHERE THEY STOP TO MAKE THEIR U-TURN.
I KNOW, TIM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I APPRECIATE WE ALSO HAVE THEM ON EVERY SIGNAL TOO, IF YOU NOTICE THAT, YES, WE HAVE LOTS OF SIGNS.
MATTER OF FACT, JUST SO YOU KNOW, I TRULY HAVEN'T TOTALLY OFF AGENDA, BUT DON'S NOT HERE.
SO WE HAD WE DID HAVE A PEDESTRIAN ON AN ELECTRIC SCOOTER.
HIT A SIGN LAST NIGHT AND BECOME INJURED.
APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. TIME OF NIGHT.
[8.B. Presentation And Discussion Of Long Range Financial Forecast (C. Ludanyi - 15 Min)]
JANELLE, LET'S MOVE TO ITEM EIGHT B, PLEASE, MA'AM.ITEM EIGHT B, PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF THE LONG RANGE FINANCIAL FORECAST.
I'M JUST GOING TO LET SHEILA FINISH WITH HER PRESENTATION AFTER.
AND THEN LET ME, LET ME MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL.
THEN WE WOULD COME BACK LATER AND FINISH UP THE WORKSHOP.
SO IT WOULD BE UP WHEN YOU DO THAT.
YEAH, WELL, TWO DAYS IN A ROW.
YEAH. BRIAN, JUST LET LET COUNCIL WORK ON THIS AND LET'S SEE WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
COUNCIL THIS WOULD BE THINK ABOUT THAT AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT ONCE SHEILA FINISHES.
JUST TO SEGUE OFF OF EVERYTHING TIM WAS TALKING ABOUT, THERE'S.
AND HE MENTIONED THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
ALL OF WHAT I'M GOING TO BE PAINT A PICTURE OF HOW YOU PAY FOR ALL OF THAT STUFF.
AND SOME OF THIS MIGHT BE A LITTLE SCARY.
AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT EVERYBODY REALLY LISTENS AND UNDERSTANDS.
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS SCHEDULED FOR THIS COMING YEAR, AND THAT WILL BE GRANT FUNDED.
THE DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE SPECIFICALLY THAT WAS DISCUSSED WILL BE PARTIALLY IDC FUNDING NOW.
AND BRANDON WILL SPEAK TO YOU ALL ABOUT THAT TOMORROW.
BUT THE REST OF THIS INFRASTRUCTURE IS SOMEWHAT UNFUNDED.
AND EVEN IF THERE'S GRANTS COMING DOWN THE ROAD FOR IT, THEY WILL NEED MATCHES.
[01:05:01]
SO KEEP THAT IN MIND AS YOU LISTEN.SO JUST TO SET THE LAY OF THE LAND OF THE CONTEXT, IN THE EARLY 20 TENS, THERE WAS A LOT OF FEDERAL MONEY COMING OUT OF HURRICANE IKE AND A LOT OF RENEWAL INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND.
I THINK IF YOU HAVE PAPER MAIER.
I THINK IT MAY HAVE BEEN SHARON.
OKAY. IS THAT BETTER? YES. OKAY.
AND ALSO THEN THE COVID ERA MONEY ALSO PROVIDED ADDITIONAL FUNDING, ESPECIALLY FEDERAL, BUT ALSO IN PEOPLE'S POCKETS THAT IMPACTED OUR SALES TAX AND OUR HOT TAX AND THE FEDERAL DOLLARS AVAILABLE TO DO SOME INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
SO THAT IS THE POINT THAT WE ARE AT, AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TODAY.
MIKE LOFTON WAS LUCKY HE HAD ALL THAT MONEY.
SO GENERAL FUND THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS I WANT YOU TO SEE ON THIS SLIDE ARE THAT PROPERTY TAX MAKES UP ABOUT 49% OF OUR REVENUE IN THE GENERAL FUND FOR THIS COMING FISCAL YEAR, AND SALES TAX MAKES UP ABOUT 28%.
AND THE REST OF IT IS VARIOUS FEES AND FINES AND CHARGES.
THE OTHER THING THAT YOU MAY WANT TO NOTE IS THE WAY WE'VE PROJECTED THE GROWTH RIGHT NOW.
IT'S BASED ON THE CURRENT BUDGET PROJECTIONS WHICH ARE GOING TO CHANGE.
SO NONE OF THIS EVERYTHING YOU SEE IS ESTIMATES.
IT IS NOT SET IN STONE. IT WILL LOOK DIFFERENT BY THE TIME WE'RE REVIEWING SOME OF THIS IN AUGUST.
YOU'LL SEE PROPERTY TAX SHOWS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN 2025.
THAT IS BECAUSE WE ARE WORKING WITH REALLY PRELIMINARY NUMBERS AND WE DON'T KNOW.
BUT ALL WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE IS TO PAY FOR THE EXPENDITURES THAT WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE.
SO THAT'S WHAT'S DRIVING THAT RIGHT NOW.
AND THAT WILL PROBABLY CHANGE.
DON'T PANIC. BUT ALSO KEEP IN MIND THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW.
YOU'LL SEE INVESTMENT EARNINGS ARE GOING DOWN.
AND THAT'S IT LOOKS LIKE A BIG NUMBER.
BUT IT'S REALLY JUST RELATED TO WHAT WE BELIEVE THE FED IS GOING TO DO FOR THE OVERNIGHT RATE AND HOW THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT OUR TAX RATE OR OUR INTEREST RATE GOING DOWN OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS. SLIGHTLY, HOPEFULLY NOT PAST 2.5%.
AND YOU'LL SEE OTHER REVENUE IS INCREASING.
THAT DECREASE OF 1.7% IS JUST KIND OF ESTIMATES YEAR OVER YEAR BECAUSE IT'S A NEW TREND.
WE RECEIVE THE INITIAL ESTIMATE AND THE FINAL CERTIFIED VALUE AT THE END OF JULY.
AND THAT'S WHEN WE CAN GIVE YOU REAL NUMBERS, THE CALCULATION OF THE TAX RATE.
WE CALCULATE SOMETHING CALLED THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE AND THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE.
THEY ARE IN RELATION TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S TAX RATE.
AND WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE IS WHAT WE THINK THE BREAKDOWN IS KIND OF GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
YOU'LL SEE OUR TOTAL TAX RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 WAS THE 0.408850.
YOU SEE I HAVE A HIGHER NUMBER PLUGGED IN FOR THIS COMING YEAR.
IT'S JUST TRYING TO GET US TO WHAT OUR ESTIMATES ARE AT THE MOMENT.
ALL OF THAT IS GOING TO CHANGE.
ADDITIONALLY, PLEASE NOTE THAT THE LIBRARY IS ALWAYS SCHEDULED AT THE $0.05 OF THE TAX RATE.
AS A TAX RATE GOES DOWN, THAT BECOMES A HIGHER AND HIGHER PERCENTAGE.
AND THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE WITH THE LIBRARY BRINGS SOME OF THAT BACK TO US.
THAT IS ALSO ADDED INTO THAT OTHER REVENUE COMPONENT.
THAT BROWN PIECE OF THE PIE IN THE LIBRARY, BASICALLY IS TO INCREASE AS THE CITY INCREASES.
AND ONCE AGAIN, THOSE ARE ESTIMATES.
THAT'S THE KIND OF THE GUARDRAIL WE'RE SETTING ON THE LIBRARY AS WELL.
SO IF WE GO UP 10%, THEY'LL GO UP 10% AND THEY PUSH EVERYTHING BACK TO US.
REMEMBER THAT 49% ON PROPERTY TAXES, SO LONG TERM PARKING REVENUE AND CRUISE PASSENGER FEES.
I FIGURED EVERYBODY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN WHAT THAT'S LOOKING LIKE.
[01:10:02]
23 WAS OUR FIRST YEAR.IT WAS PARTIAL COLLECTIONS, 24 WILL BE OUR FIRST YEAR OF COMPLETE COLLECTIONS.
AMOUNTS ARE A LITTLE BIT PROBABLY LESS DETAILED THAN THEIRS ARE.
THIS IS REVENUE STREAM THAT WILL REMAIN HIGHLY SENSITIVE TO CHANGES IN THE TOURISM SECTOR, AND IT IS PROJECTED TO BE RELATIVELY FLAT OVER TIME YEAR OVER YEAR. ONCE A TREND HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED, ESSENTIALLY THE WAY IT'S STRUCTURED, A NEW CRUISE SHIP WILL IMPACT THE AMOUNT COMING TO US, RIGHT? IF THERE'S DECREASES IN THE CRUISES, IT'LL GO DOWN.
ON THAT ITEM, WE DISCUSSED IT AT THE BOARD YESTERDAY.
ALL RIGHT. WELL THAT WOULD BE LOVELY.
YEAH. FOR NOBODY WOULD COMPLAIN FOR 2025 FOR 2025 OKAY.
IT IS ALSO A DROP IN THE BUCKET.
SO WE'LL GET ABOUT TO GET TO THE BUCKET.
SO. IF YOU WILL NOTICE THE GIANT BLUE RECTANGLE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, PUBLIC SAFETY REPRESENTS 61.7% OF THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES.
THAT MEANS IT IS 12.7% HIGHER THAN PROPERTY TAXES.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS EVERY SINGLE CENT OF PROPERTY TAXES IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON GOES TO PAY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, AND THEN SOME 12.7% OF YOUR GENERAL FUNDS, IN ADDITION TO PROPERTY TAXES, LET'S SAY IT'S COMING OUT OF SALES TAX.
THAT MEANS 45% OF YOUR SALES TAX REVENUE IS ALSO GOING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO THE REMAINING PIECES OF THAT PIE, IF WE GO BACK AND LOOK AT IT, MAYBE HALF OF THAT ORANGE AND THE REST OF THOSE LITTLE PIECES ARE ALL YOUR OTHER GENERAL FUND SERVICES.
OKAY. THAT'S A BIG THING TO KEEP IN MIND, SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE PUBLIC OR PROPERTY TAX IS THE ONLY REVENUE SOURCE WE HAVE CONTROL OVER.
EVERYTHING ELSE IS EITHER GENERALLY FLAT OVER TIME.
IT'S BASED ON THE ECONOMY, IT'S BASED ON THE PORT, ALL SORTS OF THINGS OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL.
SO WHEN THINGS INCREASE IN PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH THEY INEVITABLY, WE INEVITABLY WILL RIGHT EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD, THE ONLY BREATHING ROOM WE HAVE IS WITH THAT PROPERTY TAX RATE.
SO WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO ADJUST ON THAT SIDE.
SO PUBLIC SAFETY IS SO IMPORTANT.
HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO WE HAVE A SLIDE ON THAT.
YEAH WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT ALEX.
HOW ARE WE IN COMPARISON TO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
I AM READY FOR YOU ALL FOR THOUGH.
SO THE OTHER PIECE I WANT TO DRAW TO YOUR ATTENTION IS WE HAVE THIS FANTASTIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEBT SERVICE SET ASIDE THAT IS 8% OF ALL GENERAL FUND REVENUE.
AND WE MOVE IT OVER FOR CAPITAL AND DEBT ASSISTANCE.
HOWEVER, PLEASE NOTE IT IS THE SECOND HIGHEST PIECE OF YOUR GENERAL FUND PIE AT 7.7%.
AND IF THAT WASN'T THERE, WE'D PROBABLY HAVE.
SO, SO. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT IT FROM THIS, I LIKE TO LOOK AT THINGS MORE IN PIECES.
BEFORE WE SPEND ANOTHER DIME ON ANYTHING ELSE PARKS, TRANSIT, ANYTHING ELSE.
AND BEFORE WE LEAVE THAT SET ASIDE, I JUST WANT TO THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CONCEPT TO REMEMBER.
THAT'S 8% OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS GENERAL FUND REVENUE, GENERAL FUND REVENUE.
AND THAT'S SET ASIDE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.
AND THAT'S A MANDATORY AMOUNT.
WE HADN'T DONE THAT IN THE FUTURE UNTIL STEVE GREENBERG BROUGHT THIS FORWARD.
YEAH. 2012 VERY INSIGHTFUL BECAUSE WITH THE I MEAN, HE DID NOT KNOW THIS, BUT WITH THE CAP ON TAXES AND THE EVER INCREASING COST OF PUBLIC SAFETY IN THAT REALM FROM COVID AND INFLATION AND EVERYTHING ELSE, WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD MONEY WE, OUR STREETS WOULD BE.
THEY WOULD BE WHERE THEY WERE BEFORE, WHICH IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STACK.
SO THIS NEXT SLIDE SPEAKS TO THOSE QUESTIONS.
EVERY CITY HAS DIFFERENT THINGS INCLUDED IN THEIR PUBLIC SAFETY.
[01:15:01]
SO FOR EXAMPLE, GALVESTON DOESN'T DO ANY ANIMAL CONTROL LEAGUE CITY DOES.RIGHT. BUT IT FALLS UNDER THAT PUBLIC SAFETY UMBRELLA.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TOTAL PUBLIC SAFETY SPEND, AND I JUST PICKED SOME CITIES REALLY BASED ON GEOGRAPHIC AREA SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE I THINK FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, THAT'S A REALLY BIG CONSIDERATION HOW MUCH LAND WE'RE COVERING.
WE'VE GOT LEAGUE CITY, PASADENA, BOTH OF THEM HAVE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS.
SO THOSE TWO DO NOT HAVE A FULLY PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT.
GALVESTON, PEARLAND, SUGARLAND AND THE WOODLANDS ALL HAVE PAID FIRE DEPARTMENTS.
YOU'LL SEE OUR POPULATION IS LESS THAN HALF OF ALL OF THESE.
BUT OUR SQUARE MILES ARE SIMILAR EXCEPT FOR PASADENA.
AND THEY'RE IN THE COMPARISON SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF THAT VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPONENT.
LEAGUE CITY IS LOWER. AND THAT'S WHERE THAT VOLUNTEER FIRE PIECE COMES IN.
RIGHT. AND SO THAT'S WE EXPECT TO SEE THAT.
RIGHT. BUT OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS ABOUT 49% SMALLER THAN PASADENA AND 23% SMALLER THAN THE SMALLEST CITY, WHICH IS LEAGUE CITY.
YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THAT PUBLIC SAFETY COST AVERAGES ABOUT 40% IN GALVESTON IS AT 60%.
RIGHT. AND THAT'S A BIG SWING.
IT IS 20% OF YOUR GENERAL FUND SPEND.
AND AS YOU WILL SEE, THE GALVESTON HOT AND WE US IN THE WOODLANDS ARE 9%, WHICH IS UNUSUAL.
MOST CITIES IN THE STATE ARE AT 7%, BUT THE AMOUNT OF HOT COMING INTO THE COMMUNITIES, WE ARE JUST BLOWING THESE CITIES OUT OF THE WATER BECAUSE WE KNOW TOURISTS ARE EVERYTHING HERE, AND WE CAN CLEARLY TELL THE STORY THAT OUR.
A PUBLIC SAFETY COST IS WAY LARGER THAN OUR POPULATION WOULD INDICATE.
IT IS WAY LARGER THAN OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET WOULD INDICATE.
IT IS IN LINE WITH THE TOURISTS, BUT THIS MONEY IS NOT NECESSARILY AVAILABLE TO HELP US FUND THAT PIECE, AND THAT IS WHY THE RESIDENTS ARE CARRYING IT, AND WHY YOU HAVE LESS AVAILABLE IN YOUR GENERAL FUND FOR OTHER THINGS.
AND THAT'S WHY COMPARATIVES DON'T WORK.
THAT'S WHY I'D BE INTERESTING TO SEE A COMPARISON OF THIS TO OTHER RESORT TOWNS.
I MEAN, BECAUSE I KNOW WE CAN DO THAT.
YOU CAN DO THAT. I WOULD TELL YOU THOUGH, WE DID THAT WITH THE POLICE ON ON SALARY DISCUSSIONS.
YOU'LL NEVER GET APPLES TO APPLES TO GALVESTON.
IT'S IT'S IT'S IT'S JUST SOMETHING UNIQUE HERE TO OUR CITY.
THE OTHER THING THAT'S NOT ON THIS SLIDE, BUT THAT I'LL POINT OUT TO YOU, IS THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT LEAGUE CITY, PEARLAND AND OTHERS, THESE ARE YOUR TOP PAID POLICE DEPARTMENTS THAT WE NOW BENCHMARK.
SO NOT ONLY ARE WE IN THE MIX AND THAT WE HAVE WAY MORE POLICE OFFICERS THAN WE HAVE POPULATION TO COMPARATIVE BECAUSE OF TOURISM, BUT WE HAVE TO SHARE THAT MARKET IN THE RECRUITMENT MARKET TO GET POLICEMEN AND SPECIFICALLY FIREMEN TO SO IT MAKES IT MAKES POLICING AND FIREFIGHTING AND PUBLIC SAFETY IN GENERAL VERY EXPENSIVE.
THAT'S TRUE. AND THE NUMBER OF POLICE IT YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT IT FROM THE POPULATION STANDPOINT, IT'S ONE THING IF YOU LOOK AT IT A NUMBER OF SERVICE CALLS, IT'S A WHOLE NOTHER THING HERE IN GALVESTON.
AND YOU WE KNOW THAT THE SALES TAX BENEFIT COMES TO US WITH LONG TERM STAYS.
[01:20:02]
SO IT'S A BETTER TIE TO HOT IN TERMS OF HOW THAT IMPACTS SALES TAX CITIZENS THERE 50% OF IT.BUT THE NUMBERS WHEN YOUR POPULATION OF TOURISM IS SO CENTRIC UPON DAY TRIPPERS, THE SINGLE BIGGEST BENEFICIARY OF THAT IS BUCKY'S NOT US.
WELL, IF YOU'RE GETTING THAT MANY VISITORS, YOU SHOULD SEE IT IN YOUR SALES TAX.
I WANT TO GO BACK REAL QUICKLY TO WHAT SHEILA SAID ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE ON THIS.
THEY'VE HAD SOME COMMITTEE MEETINGS RECENTLY ON EXPANDING THE USE OF HOT.
MARFA IS PUSHING THIS BIG TIME IN THE STATE, THE SAME SITUATION WE HAVE HERE.
BUT. BUT THE LEGISLATURE IS NOT IN EMBRACING THIS AT ALL.
AND SO WE'LL WE'LL SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT.
BUT IT'S NOT A REAL FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE CURRENTLY UP THERE ON THIS.
AND I CAN, YOU KNOW, I GUESS SOME I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I THINK IF LIKE, IF WE GET CREATIVE SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DO IN THE SEAWALL, DOING IT ON THE BEACHES OR DOING IT WITH SHORT TERM RENTALS SO THAT IT'S A WAY THAT WE CAN SUBSIDIZE ACTUALLY OUR POLICE FORCE THAT WAY AND TRAFFIC.
AND I THINK PART OF THE STORY IS IF THE STATE IS VERY FOCUSED ON LOWERING PROPERTY TAXES, THEN THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BE AN OFFSET IN A COMMUNITY LIKE THIS. AND SO THAT STORY, WHILE IT'S NOT NECESSARILY EVERYONE'S FAVORITE STORY, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT IF YOU'RE CONCERNED WITH THE INCREASE OF PROPERTY TAXES, YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT IN SOME COMMUNITIES THERE'S A RESTRICTION.
AND AND KEEP IN MIND THERE'S A COMPONENT IN HERE THAT YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW.
WE HAVE BEEN HIT WITH A REQUEST FOR MILLIONS OF INCREASE IN MS FOR NEXT YEAR.
WE ARE WORKING THROUGH SOME ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS AND SOME OTHER THINGS RIGHT NOW.
BUT THAT'S IN HERE, THAT IS IN HERE.
SO WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL OF THAT.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE ONE OF THE ONLY CITIES THAT OFFERS THE EMS SERVICE THAT WE OFFER.
IS IT IN THE BUDGET? IT IS IN THE BUDGET TO TAKE THE EMS OVER HERE.
NO. OKAY. RIGHT NOW, WHAT'S IN THE BUDGET? SO THIS PAST YEAR, 20 OR CURRENT YEAR, THERE WAS ABOUT ALMOST $1 MILLION IN THE GENERAL FUND FOR EMS. THE PROPOSAL FROM THE COUNTY IS TO DOUBLE THAT TO $2 MILLION.
THAT'S WHAT'S IN THE BUDGET RIGHT NOW.
THERE ARE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT IF WE'RE ALREADY A $2 MILLION, IS THIS THE BEST WAY OF DOING THINGS? THOSE ARE ONGOING DISCUSSIONS.
SO WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT RIGHT NOW.
BUT AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF CHOICE.
AND THIS IS THE WAY IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN OKAY.
OKAY. SO WE'RE GOING TO SHIFT GEARS TO THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS, WHICH ARE OUR UTILITIES.
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE SELF CONTAINED.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO BRING IN AS MUCH REVENUE AS WE'RE SPENDING.
OKAY. SO THE COMBINED WATER AND SEWER UTILITY IS THE TOP LINE.
AND IF YOU WANT TO SEE IT BIGGER, IF YOU CAN'T SEE THAT IN YOUR OTHER PACKET, IT IS ON PAGE 11.
SO YOUR COMBINED WATER AND SEWER UTILITY, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THE NET OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES STARTING IN 2025 IS IN A DEFICIT, AND BY 2029, THIS IS THE COMBINED UTILITY.
BY 2029, IT WILL HAVE DEPLETED ITS FUND BALANCE.
SANITATION AND RECYCLING IS ALSO PROJECTED TO RUN A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT STARTING THIS YEAR.
[01:25:06]
RECOMMENDATIONS TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO FIX THESE STRUCTURAL DEFICITS.AND WHAT HAPPENS WITH THESE RATES IS AND I'VE GONE THROUGH THIS SITTING ON PRIVATE SCHOOL BOARDS FOR YEARS, YOUR FIRST INCLINATION IS HOLD THE LINE, DON'T INCREASE THE FEES, EVEN THOUGH YOUR COSTS ARE GOING UP 3 TO 10% A YEAR JUST FROM INFLATIONARY VALUES.
BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO PASS THAT ALONG.
BUT THESE NUMBERS SHOULD GO UP WITH YOUR COST EVERY YEAR.
BUT WE COULD INCREASE THE RATE OF RENTALS.
THERE'S A THERE'S A THOUSAND DIFFERENT WAYS TO SKIN THE CAT, BUT AT SOME POINT WE NEED TO BE DOING SOMETHING ANNUALLY, AND NOT JUST BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS IT BECOMES A SHOCK TO A RESIDENT THAT YOU KNOW, WELL, $10 INCREASE SHOULD HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABSORBED OVER THE LAST 5 TO 7 YEARS.
AND THE OTHER THING ON THIS, THESE RATES HAVEN'T CHANGED.
THE OTHER THING ON THIS, THE COUNCILS I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH, WE HAVE FACED THESE ISSUES AND STARTED TO ADDRESS THIS SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM, SO MANY YEARS IN THIS CITY, THE PAST ADMINISTRATIONS, I'LL BE HONEST, IT'S EASY TO JUST GO.
WE'LL WAIT AND WE'LL DO THAT LATER AND WE'LL WON'T FOOL WITH THAT.
AND WE DON'T REALLY WANT TO DO THAT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.
ALEX HOW MUCH DO THESE BONDS, THE SERVICING OF THE C-O BONDS HURT I GUESS THE OVERALL PROJECTION.
SO THEY DO NOT NECESSARILY ON THE WATER AND SEWER SIDE.
THE C-O BONDS THAT WE HAVE ARE FULLY FUNDED ON THE SANITATION AND RECYCLING.
THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A GAP THERE.
AND THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING.
BUT WE CAN ON YOUR PAGE 11, YOU CAN SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
THE OTHER OPERATIONAL COSTS OR IS THAT THE TRANSFERS AND OH, OTHER OPERATIONAL COSTS.
YES. OTHER OPERATIONAL COSTS CONTAINS THE DEBT SERVICE ON ALL OF THESE.
AND I CAN PROVIDE MORE DETAIL IF YOU ALL WOULD.
ARE INTERESTED. I CAN EMAIL THAT OUT.
ON THE COMBINED WATER SEWER UTILITY.
ON THE NEXT SLIDE, WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT A LITTLE ON SANITATION AND RECYCLING.
IT'S DEFINITELY A SIGNIFICANT PIECE, BUT NOT THE ONLY PIECE.
AND IF YOU WANT MORE DETAIL, I CAN PROVIDE IT.
THAT'D BE GREAT. THAT'D BE GOOD.
YEAH. ON DRAINAGE, ONCE AGAIN, THERE IS A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT.
AS WE KNOW. WE TALKED ABOUT DRAINAGE.
IT'S NOT BEEN FUNDED HISTORICALLY VERY WELL.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF ADJUSTING AND IMPLEMENTING THE EXISTING FEES.
AND THEY'RE GOING TO SELL LAND HOPEFULLY IN THE COMING YEAR.
AND THE AIRPORT IS IN GREAT SHAPE.
SO GO SCHOLES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
THAT'S A FUN ONE TO REPORT ON.
WE GIVE, WE GET THE AIRPORT GETS NO PUBLIC MONEY.
WE OPERATE OUR WELL BEING ONE OF THEM.
BUT A LOT OF THESE OTHER CITIES ALSO OPERATE THEIR OWN.
THEY HAVE SEPARATE WATER AND SEWER OPERATIONS.
THEY HAVE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS AND TAXING DISTRICTS THAT DO ALL THAT.
WE DO NOT DO THAT AND OURS DO NOT GET IN.
TO BE VERY CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC, NONE OF THOSE ITEMS MENTIONED ON THERE RECEIVE TAX MONEY.
THE NET REVENUES AND EXPENSES GOING INTO A DEFICIT IN 28, BUT ON THE FUND BALANCE RELATED TO WATERWORKS IS FUNCTIONING RIGHT NOW.
AND THIS IS ASSUMING NO RATE INCREASE.
THAT'S ASSUMING NO RATE INCREASE, NO SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS AND NO CAPITAL.
NO CAPITAL IN THE OUT YEARS, RIGHT.
NO DEBT, NO FUTURE DEBT ISSUANCES.
THIS IS JUST OPERATIONAL ON THE SEWER SIDE.
YOU'LL SEE THAT IT'S NOT THE CASE.
AND WE'VE BEEN RUNNING A DEFICIT ON THE SUICIDE FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW.
WE'VE BEEN SUBSIDIZING IT FROM THE WATER SIDE.
THE SUICIDE HAS NOT BEEN ADJUSTED IN NINE YEARS I BELIEVE.
[01:30:03]
PLAN CITYWIDE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS GOING TO COME TO COUNCIL NEXT YEAR.BUT IN JULY, WE'RE GOING TO BRING TO YOU RECOMMENDATIONS JUST TO ADDRESS THE SEWER SIDE SUSTAINABILITY AS OPERATIONS STAND TODAY WITH NO ADDITIONAL CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO THE PRESENTATION YOU WILL SEE IN JULY IS JUST TO FIX THIS PROBLEM ON THE SEWER SIDE.
AND THAT WILL, YOU KNOW, BEYOND OUR WORKSHOP TOMORROW.
NO, IT'LL BE ON THE WORKSHOP IN JULY.
BRANDON IS SPEAKING ABOUT IDC.
OH, OKAY. DRAINAGE SOUNDS GREAT.
OKAY. SO DEBT SERVICE FUND, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF AND THIS IS ONLY RELATED TO GENERAL DEBT.
WE'RE ALREADY GOING OVER BUT SO YOU WILL SEE THAT THIS GRAPH SHOWS US HOW THE DEBT SERVICE, THE ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE OBLIGATIONS ROLL OFF THROUGH 2039.
AND I HAVE IT ON THERE SO THAT YOU CAN SEE WHAT DROPPED OFF COMING INTO 2024.
RIGHT. SO THERE WAS $1 MILLION THAT CAME OFF OUR ANNUAL OBLIGATION IN 2024 IN THAT RANGE.
AND BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ADDITIONAL DEBT ISSUED, OUR TAX RATE DROPPED OFF RELATED TO DEBT SERVICE.
WE ALL HAVE THREE OBLIGATIONS GENERAL OBLIGATIONS AFTER STARTING THIS CURRENT YEAR.
SO THAT'S WHAT'S REFLECTED IN YOUR FORECAST.
HOWEVER, WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE ESTIMATED A $35 MILLION ISSUE FOR 26.
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING DISCUSSED THAT ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
YOU'LL SEE THE INCREASE IN THE YOU'LL SEE THE FUTURE BOND DEBT SERVICE OF, LET'S SAY 2.5 MILLION.
SO THAT WILL INCREASE OUR ANNUAL COST TO ABOUT 7000 OR.
AND YOU SEE THAT WHERE I'M REFLECTING THE REVENUE ON THE TOP.
AND YOU SEE THAT WE'RE BRINGING IN A TRANSFER FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEBT SERVICE FUND FOR THREE YEARS TO HELP SOFTEN THAT THAT PROPERTY TAX IMPACT. SO JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME IDEA OF WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE AND WHAT KINDS OF THINGS WE MIGHT BE WORKING TOWARDS IN THE COMING YEARS.
AND FINALLY, HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.
YOU'LL SEE THAT WE'RE PROJECTING ABOUT A 1% INCREASE PER YEAR FOR 25.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE PROJECTING IT TO BE FLAT.
WE'RE NOT 100% CERTAIN ON THAT, BUT THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW.
SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO PROJECT THE SAME GROWTH THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
AND WE THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A PLATEAU HERE.
AND ONCE AGAIN, HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX REVENUE IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR MOST OPERATIONAL ITEMS, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO ALL OF THE WORK WE DO IN GALVESTON. SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME, SHEILA, BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS SUBJECT, LIKE FOR YOU TO GIVE SOME INPUT, THE PERCENTAGE OF ADMINISTRATION PERSONNEL COSTS TO OUR BUDGET IS WHAT IT'S ABOUT.
IT'S ONE OF THE LOWEST AROUND OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE LOW IN, THAT'S ONE OF THEM.
THE OTHER IS WE ARE VERY LOW IN DEBT SERVICE.
WE DO NOT HAVE IN MOST CITIES OUR SIZE AND AND YOU CAN COMPARE CITIES AND SIZE IN TWO WAYS.
OUR BUDGET AND POPULATION ARE.
THE SPIRIT BECAUSE OF THE TOURISM SIDE OF IT.
BUT IN EITHER CASE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU INCLUDE BUDGET, OUR DEBT IS ALMOST NOTHING.
A SECOND QUESTION OR SECOND THOUGHT THAT HAS NOT PAID WELL FOR THE CITIZENS OF GALVESTON.
OUR TAX RATE, OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE CURRENTLY.
HOW DOES IT COMPARE IN THE COUNTY? ARE WE ONE OF THE LOWER ONES OR WE ARE ONE OF THE LOWER ONES? I WOULD HAVE TO I WOULD I CAN LOOK THAT UP AND PROVIDE THAT FOR YOU ALL.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT AND JUST CONFIRM OUR COST.
WE DO THAT USUALLY ANNUALLY BY BUDGET MAIER BECAUSE TO DO IT NOW, I MEAN WE'VE ALREADY DONE IT.
SO THE NUMBER YOU HAVE IN YOUR BUDGET IS LEGITIMATE 4%.
[01:35:02]
THAT'S RIGHT. ALEX, I THINK YOU'RE.I'M SORRY. OH, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
I'VE BEEN DOING IT EARLIER TODAY.
THE SAME THING. WE DON'T HAVE A DEEP BENCH.
SOUNDS GOOD. ANY OTHER FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR CHIEF? SHEILA, YOU'LL BE COMING BACK ON A LOT OF THESE SUBJECTS BEFORE WE FINISH OUR BUDGET, BUT THIS IS JUST AN OVERVIEW TO KIND OF GET YOU UP TO SPEED ON THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBER S. WE DO THIS. THIS.
WE DO THIS IN JUNE EVERY YEAR.
THIS IS THIS SETS THE TONE FOR THE FOR THE BUDGET.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SHEILA, VERY MUCH.
LET'S I'M GOING TO GIVE SOME THOUGHTS HERE AND SEE IF COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO DO WE HAVE OUR PARK BOARD APPLICANTS HERE FOR THEIR INTERVIEWS. WE HAVE ITEM EIGHT, C, D, E AND F WHAT I SEE HERE, BRIAN, FROM WHAT I'M LOOKING AT, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU HAVE A CONCERN TRYING TO KEEP STAFF HERE.
WHAT I SEE IS ITEM EIGHT E MIGHT BE THE ONLY ONE THAT REALLY NEEDS STAFF'S INPUT.
SO THAT WAY WE COME BACK AND WE CAN GET OUR REGULAR APPOINTMENTS AND EVERYTHING HANDLED.
WE'RE NOT JUST SITTING HERE WATCHING TV TO SEE WHEN Y'ALL FINISH.
WHAT? I'VE GOT AN APPOINTMENT AT TWO, BUT I CAN CHANGE THAT IF NEED BE.
THAT'S ALL RIGHT. I MEAN, I CAN CHANGE THAT IF NEED BE.
MAKE IT ONE. I DON'T CARE, IT'S JUST I'M GOING TO THROW OUT ANOTHER IDEA.
SO IF WE COULD DO 80 REAL QUICKLY THEN WE CAN COME BACK AND DO 8CD.
YOU'RE GOING TO NEED STAFF HERE FOR EIGHT D, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE POLICIES.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU REALLY ARE INVOLVED WITH.
WELL IT'S MORE THAN POLICIES BECAUSE IT HAS TO DO WITH THE OPERATION OF THE WATER SYSTEM THERE.
YOU NEED THE PERSON THAT'S IN CHARGE OF THE WATER SYSTEM TO BE HERE.
YEAH. AND H C IS REALLY COUNCIL.
SO EIGHT D AND E WE COULD DO THOSE QUICKLY AND THEN WE COULD START WITH OUR INTERVIEWS.
LET'S LET'S MOVE TO ITEM EIGHT.
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU I HAD SCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS OUT OF THE OFFICE, SO I.
IF I'M NOT HERE TO FINISH DAN, I'LL BE HERE.
ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAD PLANNED ON RUNNING THROUGH THIS.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN Y'ALL ARE GOING TO FINISH YOUR INTERVIEWS.
SOUNDS GOOD. ALSO, JANELLE, FIRST OF ALL, WOULD YOU LET THE APPLICANTS KNOW THAT WE'LL BE STARTING HERE HOPEFULLY SHORTLY, SHORTLY ON THEIR INTERVIEWS? WE APOLOGIZE TO THE APPLICANTS.
WE KIND OF RAN A LITTLE OVER ON SOME OF OUR ITEMS, SO WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO CATCH UP AND INSERT YOU IN SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAY WAY TOO MUCH LONGER ON THIS. LET'S DO ITEM EIGHT D PLEASE.
[8.D. Discussion Of Policies As They Relate To Water Meter Management During Emergencies (Porretto/Brown - 10 Min)]
ITEM EIGHT D DISCUSSION OF POLICIES AS THEY RELATE TO WATER METER MANAGEMENT DURING EMERGENCIES.SO I MEAN, WE WERE GETTING ALL THOSE UPDATES FROM BRIAN.
AND, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE PUBLIC WORKS FOR WATCHING OUT FOR OUR WATER SUPPLY.
THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION PUT INTO IT.
SO SOME IRRIGATION READ IS RESIDENTIAL, RESIDENTIAL, READ IT, READ, READ AS IRRIGATION.
AND SOME OF THEIR THEIR HOMES WERE TURNED OFF.
AND I GUESS WE HAD TO FIGURE OUT GETTING THOSE SWITCHED BACK.
AND THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF AN ISSUE.
SOME PEOPLE HAD ISSUE WITH THE NOTICE SENT TO THEM ON, YOU KNOW, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO SHUT THE WATER OFF BECAUSE WE'RE MOVING TO EMERGENCY PROTOCOLS. AND I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO GET SOME CLARITY ON THAT.
WHAT CONSTITUTES US TO GO TO EMERGENCY PROTOCOL? AND THEN ALSO SINCE WE ARE, YOU KNOW, RESORT TOWN, I'D LIKE TO SEE IF THERE'S A, YOU KNOW, SOME POLICY THAT WE CAN ENACT TO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE SHUT DOWN, YOU KNOW, THREE QUARTERS OF THE WATER AT, YOU KNOW, USE THAT SOME OF THE PARK BOARD, YOU KNOW, CITY MANAGE PARKS.
STEWART, SEE IF THERE'S ANY KIND OF METERING WE CAN DO THERE.
BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE, THIS IS THE FIRST GO AROUND WITH THIS AUTOMATED METER SYSTEM.
SO THE ACTUAL RESIDENTS THAT GOT IMPACTED, THAT HOPEFULLY IS ALL SORTED OUT NOW.
IN TERMS OF POTABLE WATER, WE USE THE WE USE THE THRESHOLD.
OR ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO FIGHT A FIRE? AND ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO FLUSH TOILETS? AND WE SAW OURSELVES ON A VERY STRONG TRAJECTORY AFTER ASKING FOR CONSERVATION THAT DID NOT OCCUR.
[01:40:08]
WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE TAKEN A DIFFERENT STANCE IF WE HAD IF THIS WAS AN ISSUE WHERE THE LINE BROKE AND WE HAD NO IDEA WHEN IT WAS GOING TO BE FIXED, WE WOULD HAVE HANDLED IT DIFFERENTLY THAN KNOWING THAT THIS WAS A VERY TEMPORARY SITUATION.SOME PEOPLE'S LANDSCAPE IS VERY TENDER, BUT 72 HOURS ISN'T GOING TO KILL EVERYTHING.
YOU KNOW, THE OTHER THING THAT WE USED TO DO IS WE WOULD GO TO WE WOULD WE WOULD HAVE IMMEDIATELY GONE TO STAGE FIVE OR STAGE FOUR DROUGHT RESTRICTIONS, WHICH WOULD HAVE HAD POLICE OFFICERS OUT ISSUING TICKETS.
AND WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IS, IS MOST THE BIG WATER USERS WILL PAY THE TICKETS.
AND THAT DOESN'T HELP US BECAUSE THE FACT THAT I'M NOT DOING THIS FOR MONEY.
WE HAVE TO KEEP THE TANKS FULL.
WE DON'T WANT TO GO ON BOIL WATER NOTICES.
WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO FIGHT FIRES.
SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE TOOLS THAT CAME TO US WITH THIS, THAT WHEN WE ACTUALLY HAVE IT SEPARATED.
I DON'T HAVE AN IRRIGATION METER AT MY HOUSE.
SO THIS WAS A SUGGESTION BROUGHT TO US BY PUBLIC WORKS STAFF, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD ONE.
I THINK IT SOLVED OUR ISSUE FOR THAT WEEK.
AND I THINK NOW HAVE WE HAD WE HAD A MASSIVE BREAK.
WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HAD TO DO EVEN MORE THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW THE END OF IT.
WE THOUGHT THIS WAS A VERY GOOD SOLUTION FOR A VERY SHORT TIME PERIOD.
ALEX, YOU'RE PROPOSING, DO YOU HAVE A PROPOSAL THAT I JUST.
I WANTED TO GET SOME CLARITY ON IT.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S IN THE CONTRACT WITH WITH THE THE, YOU KNOW, THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE THEIR IRRIGATION METERS? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T HAVE CONTRACTS FOR? I MEAN, WHEN THEY SIGN UP FOR IT OR.
NO, THEY, THEY HAVE THEY PAY FOR THE BILL, OKAY.
THERE'S NO CONTRACT. THERE'S NO GUARANTEE OF SERVICE.
NO THIS WAS ONE OF THE ONES WE HAD TO KIND OF DO ON THE FLY.
WE'D REALLY HOPED THAT RESIDENTS WOULD COOPERATE.
AND I'VE ASKED TRINO TO DEVELOP A MORE PERMANENT TYPE POLICY FOR THAT.
BUT EVERY EVERY ONE OF THESE WATER EMERGENCIES IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT.
IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO HAVE A ONE SIZE FITS ALL.
BUT WE DID PUT OUT NOTICES THROUGH OUR APPROPRIATE CHANNELS AND EVERYTHING.
AND WE HAD TOLD EVERYBODY TO, YOU KNOW, WE WE'D STARTED ADVISING OF THIS 7 OR 8 DAYS PRIOR.
YEAH. ONE OF THE ISSUES WAS JUST THE NOTICE.
SO MAYBE WE CAN GET SOME FEEDBACK FROM, YOU KNOW.
YEAH. AGAIN, I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY THAT'S WATCHING, SIGN UP FOR ALERTS.
I HEARD FROM PEOPLE I DON'T READ THE PAPER.
SO SHORT OF US GOING AND KNOCKING ON YOUR DOOR AT YOUR OFFICE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET THAT TO YOU.
SIGN UP FOR ALERTS IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE CITY.
OKAY. IS THERE IS THERE A WAY? I MEAN, ARE WE GOING TO APPLY, YOU KNOW, FOR THE PEOPLE THAT DID HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE ISSUES WHERE THEY WERE SWEPT, FLIPPED IS, IS THERE, YOU KNOW, CAN, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, JUST TO MAKE IT RIGHT. IS THERE SOMETHING WE CAN DO, SAY, YOU KNOW, A CREDIT OR SOMETHING OF THAT SORT? WELL, NOBODY SHOULD HAVE BEEN OUT MORE THAN AN HOUR OR TWO BECAUSE ONCE WE KNEW ABOUT IT WE IMMEDIATELY DISPATCHED TO IT AND THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE THAT WERE OUT.
YEAH, I HAD A FEW PEOPLE THAT WERE OUT AND AND NO FAULT OF, YOU KNOW.
WE TURNED OFF WE TURNED OFF 20, 48M ELECTRONICALLY AND ABOUT 200 LARGER METERS MANUALLY.
OF THE 2048, THERE WERE 50 THAT WERE SWAPPED.
OF THE 50 GREATER THAN 70% OF THEM CALLED WITH WITHIN AN HOUR OF THEIR WATER BEING DISCONNECTED.
AND WE WERE THERE RIGHT AWAY TO GET IT TURNED BACK ON.
WE KEPT STAFF TILL MIDNIGHT FOR ANY OTHER PEOPLE SHOWING UP AFTER HOURS WITH CALLS.
SO THEY LEARNED ABOUT IT ON SATURDAY.
OKAY, WE WE DO THOUGH, BECAUSE I'VE HEARD THIS REPEATEDLY ON MULTIPLE ISSUES.
THE HOTLINE OR THE TROUBLE CALL TO PUBLIC WORKS DOES NOT ALWAYS.
THERE IS NOT GOOD RESULTS WHEN PEOPLE CALL.
IT WAS WE WERE IN THE MIDST OF THAT.
WE'RE PUTTING IN ALL THE SOFTWARE AND EVERYTHING.
SOMEONE AT THE CITY OR IT'S AN OUTSIDE.
THAT DOESN'T WORK. SAY, LORD NO, WE'RE DOING THIS.
WE'RE STANDING IT UP LIKE A REGULAR DISPATCH CENTER.
BEFORE IT WAS, SOMEBODY HAD A CELL PHONE.
THEY TOOK IT HOME WITH THEM. THEY WERE THE ONES ANSWERING THE CALLS.
[01:45:01]
WE'RE NOT DOING THAT ANYMORE. WE HAVE A 24 HOUR CALL CENTER THAT WILL DISPATCH OUR TRUCKS 24 HOURS A DAY.I'D LIKE TO. YEAH. BRING IT TO COUNCIL AND I APPRECIATE IT.
AT ONE POINT WE LOST WATER WEST OF TERRAMAR COMPLETELY ALL WATER.
DO WE FULLY UNDERSTAND? WE NEVER LOST WATER WEST? WE DID. WE LOST WATER FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES.
OH, FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES. YEAH.
AND WE DIDN'T LOSE THAT THAT PRESSURE DROP THAT WE HAD.
WE, WE HAD A LEVEL TRANSMITTER IN THE TANK THAT THE CALIBRATION WAS OFF.
SO THE FOOTAGE IN THE TANK READ DIFFERENT THAN IT REALLY WAS.
WE SINCE HAVE REPLACED THAT LEVEL TRANSMITTER AND IT'S ALL SET UP IN OUR SCADA SYSTEMS. THANK YOU. OKAY.
USUALLY FIND FAILURES IN THE SYSTEM WHEN WE REALLY WHEN WE STRESS THEM AND WHEN WE, YOU KNOW.
AND OF COURSE AS SOON AS THIS WAS OVER, WE HAD GULF COAST WATER AUTHORITY SENDING US.
AND THAT'S TYPICALLY WHEN WE EITHER SEE THAT'S THE SECONDARY LINE OF FAILURES.
WHEN WE START MOVING THAT MUCH WATER BACK IN TO FILL OUR TANKS AND EVERYTHING.
IT WAS MADE TO BELIEVE THAT THAT WAS A GALVESTON ISSUE.
IT ENDED UP BEING MOST OF THE USERS ON THE GULF COAST WATER AUTHORITY SYSTEM.
IT WAS SEDIMENT STIRRED UP IN THE SYSTEM.
YEAH. HITCHCOCK. IS THAT FROM JUST THE DIVERSION OF WATER? YEAH, IT WAS JUST. YEAH.
WHEN A SYSTEM, WHEN THEY WHEN THEY START AND OPEN AGAIN, IT STIRS UP SEDIMENT.
WHAT'S THE NEW WORD I USED WITH THAT ONE HOUSE WE HAD IN HARVEY? THEY HAD, THEY HAD THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD.
IT'S A IT'S A WORD CAUSED BY THE SEDIMENT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, IT LOOKS LIKE LAVA.
TUBERCULATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TORINO.
APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. TRINA.
THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN PERRETTA.
DOES THAT ANSWER ALL YOUR QUESTIONS? IT DOES. ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO TO AD.
[8.E. Discussion Of Minimum Lot Size Standards As It Relates To Urban Neighborhoods (Robb/Lewis - 10 Min)]
AD DISCUSSION OF MINIMUM LOT SIZE STANDARDS AS IT RELATES TO URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS.OKAY, I KNOW THIS WAS COUNCILWOMAN.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO. SHARON AND I DID.
ANYWAY, THIS IS A DISCUSSION THAT'S GOING ON IN PLANNING RIGHT NOW AS WELL.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THEY'RE LOOKING AT.
SO I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YEAR IT WAS, BUT IT WAS BEFORE YOU WERE MAYOR.
SO IT WAS WHEN YARBOROUGH WAS MAYOR.
IN OUR URBAN CORE, THE LOT SIZE WAS TAKEN DOWN TO 2500FT².
AND THE THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD MAKE FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
BUT WHAT IT HAS TURNED OUT TO DO IS TO IT'S BASICALLY CHANGING THE FABRIC OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND CREATING MORE SHORT TERM RENTALS.
I CAN THINK OF JUST TWO OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD BECAUSE I'LL WATCH PLANNING REMOTELY WHERE THERE WAS ONE WHERE THEY TOOK I THINK IT WAS ONE AND A HALF OR TWO AND A HALF.
YOU PROBABLY KNOW BETTER THAN I THEY THEY PUT WAS ONE AND A HALF.
THEY PUT FOUR HOUSES ON IT WITH BASICALLY TWO OF THEM HAVING THEIR EGRESS THROUGH THE ALLEY, WHICH IS, TO ME, REALLY AN ISSUE.
AND I SO THE WAY THIS DATE RULE READS, WHATEVER OUR MINIMUM LOT SIZE IS, IF A PERSON PUTS IN FOR THAT, EVEN THOUGH IT GOES TO PLANNING FOR A HEARING, THEY HAVE NO POWER.
AM I GETTING THIS RIGHT, DONNA? CORRECT ME IF I'M.
THERE ARE STATUTORY THERE ARE STATUTORY REASONS FOR RED FLAGS.
[01:50:10]
IT'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS IN MANY RESPECTS.I THINK WHAT YOU MAY BE REFERRING TO OR REALLY REGARDING THE ALLEY ACCESS ISSUES, THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF, WELL, THE ALLEY ACCESS AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE, BECAUSE I KNOW ONCE IT MEETS THE STATE AT THE WHATEVER OUR MINIMUM LOT SIZE IS, WE HAVE NO SAY.
EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE A HEARING, THEY CAN'T VOTE ON IT.
AND THE CITY ACCESS ISSUE I WANT TO SAY THOSE ARE THE LDR CITY REGULATION ISSUES AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS, AGAIN, THAT IS ALLOWABLE THROUGH STATE LEGISLATION IF IT'S FOUR OR LESS.
RIGHT. OKAY. LET'S LET'S CLARIFY THIS.
WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO YOU WANT THEM TO KEEP AT 25 THE COUNCIL TO DISCUSS THIS AND PERHAPS LOOK AT CHANGING OUR POLICY.
TO WHAT? HAVING INCREASING THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE, WHICH WOULD RELIEVE THE.
BECAUSE WHATEVER OUR MINIMUM LOT SIZE IS BY STATE RULE WITH THE OTHER SIDE LINES TO IT IT'S BASICALLY ADMINISTRATIVE.
WELL, I UNDERSTAND AND AND SO YOUR THOUGHT IS, IS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO GET COUNCIL'S DIRECTION ON MOVING FROM 2500, GOING BACK UP TO 5000 OR WHATEVER, 3000 OR 3000 500 OR 4000, BECAUSE I HEAR FROM RESIDENTS ALL OVER THE ISLAND THAT IT'S RUINING THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
TIM, LET ME ASK YOU, THIS IS PLANNING COMMISSION.
ARE THEY REVIEWING THE LOT SIZES OR IS THIS SOMETHING ON THEIR AGENDA THAT THEY'LL BE LOOKING AT? I THINK THEY'RE WORKSHOP.
YEAH. THEY'VE BEEN WORKSHOPPING IN RESPONSE TO SOME COMMISSION CONCERNS ABOUT THAT SAME ISSUE.
I WILL SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THIS STUFF IS OUT OF OUR HANDS.
IN THIS CASE, IT IS NOT, AT LEAST AT THE MOMENT.
WHICH SQUARE ROOT OF 1400 FEET IS 37FT.
SO YOU'D HAVE A 37 BY 37 LOT AS AS BEING ALLOWED BY.
RIGHT. AND THAT WAS MY DAUGHTER'S LOT IN HOUSTON.
I'VE BEEN I'VE BEEN NOTIFIED THE STATE LEGISLATURE COMING UP HERE, THAT'S ONE OF THE AREAS THEY WANT MUNICIPALITIES TO DECREASE THEIR LOT SIZES.
THAT'S NOT THE CASE HERE IN GALVESTON.
AND SO WE WORK IN THE HEIGHTS.
SO TO TO FURTHER ON WHAT SO IN THE ONE CASE THE OTHER THING THAT WAS DISCOVERED AT THE WORKSHOP IS WE HAVE THIS MINIMUM LOT SIZE OF 2500, BUT THERE ARE NO OTHER DIMENSIONAL PIECES TO IT.
SO THESE PARTICULAR LOTS ARE ONLY 20FT WIDE.
AND BASICALLY IT WAS AGAIN BY STATE LEGISLATION, NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT THAT. BUT I THINK I WOULD LIKE AND WE DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO FULL DISCUSSION TODAY BECAUSE THIS WILL BE MORE THAN A MINUTE.
BUT AS I, I WATCHED PLANNING AND SEE THIS HAPPENING ALL OVER, I MEAN, AND MOST OF DISTRICT SIX, IT'S STILL A MINIMUM LOT SIZE OF 5000, BUT IT HAS STILL HAPPENED IN DISTRICT SIX, WHERE A LOT.
BUT IN OUR URBAN CORE, IT'S THE WORST.
AND IT REALLY IS KILLING THE FABRIC OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, WHICH IS A SHAME.
IS IT THE GOAL OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO BRING RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL ON THIS MINIMUM LOT SIZE? I BELIEVE THEY WILL BE RECOMMENDING SOMETHING.
AND AND THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL WOULD HAVE JURISDICTION ON.
AND HOW LONG WOULD WE BE LOOKING AT WHEN WOULD THIS OCCUR.
WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET IT ON THE NEXT WORKSHOP.
AND I THINK RUSTY WALLER WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND, AND WE AND WE COULD.
OF COURSE, WILL BE ADDRESSING THIS WHEN THIS COMES TO COUNCIL.
YES, SIR. AND WE COULD PUT IT ON TO DISCUSS IT FURTHER.
[01:55:03]
I'VE GOT SOME THOUGHTS ON THAT, BUT PERSONALLY I DON'T WANT TO DRAG THAT OUT BECAUSE I'D RATHER THIS IS THE WAY MY MIND WORKS.I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS.
THEY'RE GOING THROUGH A PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS ON THIS, AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THEIR INPUT.
AND THEN WE CAN START TO WORK FROM THERE.
I AGREE, BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO DISCUSS.
BUT I'D JUST LIKE TO PUT ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE ON IT IF I COULD.
AND WE COULD SAY THAT I MEAN, YOU COULD SAY THAT THIS IS NOT A LOT SIZE ISSUE.
IT'S A SHORT TERM RENTAL ISSUE, BECAUSE THAT SEEMS TO BE THE PROBLEM WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE HERE.
AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S SO I KNOW IT WORKS IN A LOT OF OTHER PLACES THAT HAVE DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES.
I GUESS THAT BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE SPECIFICALLY THE IMPACT OF SHORT TERM RENTALS ON THE GOALS OF THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE REQUIREMENTS, THE GOAL, THOSE GOALS BEING TO PROVIDE MINIMUM HOUSING, LESS CITY INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIRED.
AND AND SO WE DON'T TRY TO SOLVE ONE PROBLEM BY DOING SOMETHING ELSE, A PROBLEM THAT DOESN'T EXIST.
SO IT'S REALLY THE PROBLEM IS ABOUT THE SHORT TERM RENTALS INCENTIVIZING BY THIS MINIMUM LOT SIZE.
AND AND LIKE WE SAID EARLIER, THERE'S SOME SOME PLACES LIKE HOUSTON WHERE IT HAS BEEN DONE SUCCESSFUL HAVE ALSO PUT OTHER LOT REQUIREMENTS ON LIKE THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE COMPENSATING OPEN SPACE.
AND IN PARTICULAR, THEY KEEP AN OVERALL DENSITY OF 27 UNITS PER ACRE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO WHERE WE DON'T SQUEEZE THESE THINGS ALL THE SQUEEZE, YOU KNOW, TOO MUCH IN A, IN A, IN A BOX.
SO THERE ARE OTHER WAYS OF APPROACHING THIS.
I'VE GOT ONE OTHER COMMENT TO THAT.
THE OTHER CHALLENGE THAT THAT, THAT HE SPEAKS TO, RELATED TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS WHEN YOU DO WHEN YOU HAVE A DEVELOPER THAT JUST GOES, BUYS OPEN LAND AND STARTS TO DEVELOP AND THEN STARTS TO HAVE THE REQUIREMENT OF GIVING BACK OPEN SPACE.
AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT CHANGING LOT SIZES OR GOING DOWN TO THESE MINIMUMS OF 2500 PER SQUARE FEET AND THEY END UP GETTING CONVERTED TO STRS, WE END UP HAVING THE IMPACT OF PARKING BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S DRIVING HERE ON THE ISLAND, AND THOSE PEOPLE ARE BRINGING MORE VEHICLES DOWN HERE AS WELL.
THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE PART OF THE CALCULUS IS INCREASING CONSTRUCTION COSTS.
WE HAVE HURRICANE CODE REQUIREMENTS.
I'LL THROW ONE MORE WRINKLE INTO IT TOO.
WE ARE COUNTED BY DOORS, FRONT DOORS FOR THE AMOUNT OF WATER WE HAVE TO CONTRACT FOR, AND BEING AN ISLAND AND OUR WATER COMES ACROSS THE BRIDGE, WE ARE THAT THAT BECOMES AN ISSUE.
AND IT'S NOT A CAPACITY ISSUE FOR US BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW HALF OF OUR HOUSES HERE AREN'T FILLED MOST OF THE TIME, AND WE'VE NEVER HAD A CAPACITY ISSUE, BUT THE STATE DOESN'T SEE IT THAT WAY.
AND WHAT WOULD BE INTRIGUING TO SEE IS BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN SO MANY ALREADY DONE IN THE URBAN CORE, IT'D BE INTRIGUING TO SEE HOW MANY ARE ACTUALLY HOMESTEADS.
WELL, THAT'S. BUT BUT I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE.
I THINK COUNCILMAN BROWN MAKES A GOOD POINT.
IT'S NOT SO MUCH THE LOT SIZE SITUATION.
IT'S OUR OUR RELATIONSHIP TO SHORT TERM RENTALS.
ONE FINAL POINT ON THIS, THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS ALSO AND THIS RELATES TO THE IMPACT THAT THIS IS HAVING STATE LEGISLATORS ALSO LOOKING AT, I'M GOING TO QUOTE HERE, EVALUATE THE IMPACT ON HOUSING PRICES AND RENT CAUSED BY INSTITUTIONAL BUYERS TO DETERMINE WHETHER POLICY CHANGES ARE NEEDED TO ENSURE FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT UNFAIRLY PRICED OUT OF HOME OWNERSHIP.
SO THAT'S A THAT'S SOMETHING THAT STATE'S LOOKING AT THAT I THINK WE COULD FOLLOW.
AND I HAVE ONE COMMENT AND IT'S KIND OF GOING THAT DIRECTION.
THOSE HOUSES ARE NOT AFFORDABLE AND THEY'RE VERY NARROW, THAT WIDTH THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 600,000 $800,000 A HOUSE.
IT IS NOT THE AFFORDABLE RELATION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING THERE.
IS NO RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LOT SIZE OR A HOUSE SIZE BECAUSE.
[02:00:01]
RIGHT. SO AT THIS POINT, I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT FURTHER DISCUSSION WE CAN HAVE ON THIS AND LOOK AT IT.AND THERE HAS TO BE SOME FLEXIBILITY.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS COME TO COUNCIL HERE THROUGH THE PLANNING COMMISSION VENUE.
AND WE CAN ALSO PUT THIS ON OUR WORKSHOP FOR OUR NEXT MEETING.
IF WE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THIS MORE THOROUGHLY, LET'S WRAP THIS DISCUSSION UP.
IS THAT ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU THANK YOU.
AND YOU KNOW PEOPLE COMMENT OFFLINE DOESN'T MEAN WE DON'T I WILL TELL THEM RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE EACH ONE OF THESE APPLICANTS IN THE ORDER THAT THEY FILED THEIR APPLICATION.
[9. INTERVIEW APPLICANTS (Room 204)]
AND SO JANELLE HAS A LIST OF THOSE.LINDSEY GARZA CONTACTED ME COUNCIL LAST NIGHT.
HER FATHER PASSED AWAY, AND SHE HAS A FUNERAL THAT SHE'LL BE ATTENDING.
WE COULD NOT DO ANOTHER INTERVIEW WITH HER BECAUSE IT'S NOT POSTED.
I EXPLAINED TO LINDSEY SHE'S GOING TO SEND A VIDEO TO JANELLE, AND JANELLE WILL DISTRIBUTE THAT VIDEO FOR LINDSEY GARZA. HAVE YOU RECEIVED THAT? JANELLE IS YET? NOT YET.
OKAY, SO WHEN SHE RECEIVES THAT VIDEO, THEN SHE'LL DISTRIBUTE THAT TO COUNCIL.
ONCE WE FINISH OUR INTERVIEWS, THEN WE'LL ASK JANELLE, WE'LL PROVIDE YOU A FORM AND WE'LL ASK YOU TO RANK THESE INDIVIDUALS. JANELLE THEN WILL GIVE YOU A TIMELINE OF WHEN SHE WANTS THOSE RANKINGS TO HER, AND THEN SHE'LL MAKE THE TOTAL CUMULATIVE CALCULATIONS ON THAT AND PRESENT IT TO US AT OUR 5:00 MEETING TOMORROW.
JANELLE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO OVER THAT PROCESS IN MORE DETAIL? SURE. I GAVE YOU A COPY AT YOUR PLACE OF RESOLUTION NUMBER 21, DASH 19, WHICH OUTLINES THE CITY'S CURRENT POLICY FOR INTERVIEWING CANDIDATES FOR THE POSITIONS OF PARK BOARD, PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE WHARVES BOARD.
THE HIGHLIGHTED SECTIONS ON PAGE TWO OF THE RESOLUTION CONTAIN DETAILS OF THE RANKING SYSTEM.
WITH THE HIGHEST RANKED CANDIDATE BEING NOMINATED FIRST.
THE NOMINATION AND A VOTE WILL BE CONDUCTED.
WELL, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN A SECOND.
AND A VOTE WILL BE CONDUCTED IN THE ORDINARY COURSE OF BUSINESS.
THE MAYOR WILL CONTINUE CONTINUE DOWN THE LINE UNTIL ALL POSITIONS ARE FILLED.
AND I'M JUST SUMMARIZING WHAT'S HERE IN THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS ADOPTED BY COUNCIL BACK IN 2021.
JANELLE, WHEN WE RANK THESE, DO YOU WANT US TO PUT NUMBER ONE AS OUR TOP RANK? NUMBER TWO.
NO, SIR. SECOND HOW DO YOU WANT THAT DONE? YOU SHOULD HAVE A COPY OF THE FORM WITH THE RESOLUTION.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH NUMBER 15.
GOT YOU. YOU SHOULD HAVE A COPY OF THIS.
MAYOR. SO THERE'S FOUR POSITIONS OPEN.
THERE ARE FOUR POSITIONS THAT WE ARE TO ACT UPON.
THREE OF THEM ARE UP FOR REAPPOINTMENT.
THAT'S JASON HARDCASTLE, KIMBERLY GUIDO, AND BILL CLEMENTS.
AND THEN WE HAVE ONE VACANT POSITION THAT'S TERM LIMITED.
COUNCIL USUALLY MAKES THE REAPPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTS THEM, BUT WE DON'T.
IT'S NOT AUTOMATIC, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO.
AND THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES WHERE COUNCIL HAS NOT MADE THOSE REAPPOINTMENTS.
[02:05:03]
REAPPOINTMENT PROBABLY WON'T BE REAPPOINTED AS WE GO DOWN OUR LIST.SO THEN WE HAVE FOUR POSITIONS OPEN.
THAT'S CORRECT. THAT IS CORRECT.
SO AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT YOU SAID.
IF YOU WANT TO HAVE THE REAPPOINTMENTS, IF YOUR CHOICE IS TO REAPPOINT SOMEONE, YOU WOULD WANT TO RANK THEM HIGH TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE CONSIDERED IN THE REAPPOINTMENT PROCESS AND IS IS A NUMBER 15 RANKING WEIGHTED AT ALL AGAINST SO SOMEBODY HAS THE NUMBER 15 AS BEING THEIR FIRST CHOICE, BUT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THAT AT NUMBER 4 OR 5.
IS THERE ANY WEIGHT GIVEN TO THE FIRST CHOICE AGAINST THE SECOND OR THIRD OR FOURTH? NO, NO. SIMPLY AND IT'S JUST AN ADDED NOW COUNCIL DOES NOT AS AS WE GO THROUGH THE NOMINATION PROCESS.
YEAH, WE AS WE GO THROUGH THE NOMINATION PROCESS TOMORROW AFTERNOON AND AS I PRESENT THE FIRST NOMINEE, ONCE WE FINISH THE RANKINGS, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SUPPORT THAT PERSON.
AND SO WE WENT TO THE SECOND RANKED AND THIRD RANKED.
SO THAT'S THAT'S YOUR PREROGATIVE.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? COUNCIL. OUR FIRST CANDIDATE IS DIANA MILLER.
I EXPLAINED TO THE APPLICANTS THAT IF THEY DON'T GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL, WE'LL HAVE SOME CANDIDATES THAT MAY GET NO QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL, AND THEY'RE HERE FOR 30S AND THEY'RE GONE.
HOW ARE YOU, DIANA? I'M GOOD. HAVE A SEAT, IF YOU WOULD.
NOW YOU KNOW WHO FOLLOWS YOU ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
DIANA. WHAT WE'LL DO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE GIVE YOU JUST A VERY BRIEF TIME TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
AND MAYBE IF YOU WOULD LIKE PRESENT WHY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE PARK BOARD.
TRY TO KEEP THAT WITHIN 60S OR A REAL QUICK, IF WE COULD.
AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR QUESTIONS.
OKAY. SO I WAS INTERESTED IN IT BECAUSE I HAVE SERVED ON A LOT OF BOARDS AND COMMITTEES.
I SERVED ON THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS LAND USE COMMITTEE AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION LAND, LAND USE AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEES. BASICALLY, WE MET WITH LEGISLATORS AND REVIEWED ANY UPCOMING LEGISLATION AND HOW THAT IMPACTED COMMUNITIES.
AT THE ORIENTATION, THE TWO BIGGEST GOALS THAT WERE DISCUSSED WERE BUDGETING AND BRINGING IN TOURISTS WHO STAY LONGER. SO I HAVE DONE A LOT OF FEDERAL BUDGETING.
I WAS AN ASSET MANAGER WITH THE RESOLUTION TRUST CORPORATION.
I HAD $1 BILLION PORTFOLIO, HAD TO MEET ALL THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS AND THE MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL RESPONSIBILITY, DISPOSITION OF THOSE ASSETS.
AND AS FAR AS THE TOURISM, I HAVE LIVED HERE FOR SEVEN YEARS, AND I THINK I AM THE TYPE OF SPENDER THAT YOU WANT TO ATTRACT.
RIGHT. WHICH IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IS A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE FROM WHAT I SEE IN A LOT OF THE CURRENT AND APPLICANT BOARD MEMBERS IS LONG TERM RESIDENTS, WHICH THAT'S GREAT.
[02:10:01]
BUT IF YOU WANT TO SEE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT BROUGHT US HERE, WHERE DO WE SPEND OUR MONEY? HOW ARE WE WHAT ENTICED US TO RETIRE HERE? AND THAT'S A VISION THAT I DON'T REALLY SEE.AND ONE EXAMPLE IS THE MARGARITAVILLE.
I MAY BE THE ONLY PROPONENT OF MARGARITAVILLE, EVEN THOUGH I LIVE AT PALISADE PALMS. AND I SENT YOU AN EMAIL DURING THAT TIME SAYING THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE IN OUR BUILDING THAT WERE PROPONENTS OF MARGARITAVILLE, BUT WERE AFRAID TO SPEAK OUT.
WE HAD WE HAVE ABOUT 200 PEOPLE IN OUR WHATSAPP GROUP FOR OUR BUILDING, AND THEY WERE ORGANIZING, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THEY COULD STOP THE PROJECT, HOW THEY COULD FIND PEOPLE WHO WOULD OPPOSE IT.
ENVIRONMENTALISTS WITH THE GHOSTWOLF ISSUE, BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT THE LAND DEVELOPED.
AND THAT WAS WHEN I ASKED FOR YOUR HELP AND SENT HIM A FEW OF THE SCREENSHOTS AND SAID, COULD YOU PUT OUT SOMETHING PUBLICLY THAT EXPLAINS THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO BUILD? BECAUSE I THINK THOSE QUALITY DEVELOPERS ARE SO IMPORTANT AND LIVING ON EAST BEACH, WE NEED SOME REVITALIZATION OVER THERE, RIGHT? IF YOU LOOK AT THE EMERALD PROPERTY AND THE RETAIL IN FRONT OF IT, THAT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT CORNER WITH STEWART BEACH AND THAT RETAIL IS JUST ABOUT EMPTY AND IT LOOKS AWFUL.
SO. WELL THANK YOU I APPRECIATE THAT.
LET'S OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS.
I GOT KIND OF JUST QUESTIONS, LIKE AN INTERVIEW PROCESS.
WHAT IS YOUR VIEW ON THE CURRENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE PARK BOARD? THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WHERE I HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE I DID DO THE GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING, AND WE HAD TO WORK WITH LEGISLATORS.
AND YES, I KNOW THERE'S THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE DIFFERENCES OF OPINIONS, DISAGREEMENTS.
SO IT IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW YOU REACH A COMMON GOAL AND KEEPING THAT COMMON GOAL IN MIND.
IT IS A COLLABORATION, AND IT HAS TO BE A STRONG RELATIONSHIP IN ORDER TO BENEFIT THE CITY.
AND I'M USED TO THAT BECAUSE IF YOU GO TO WASHINGTON, YOU.
AND THEN YOU'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, PROPERTY OWNERS AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS.
THERE'S A LOT OF DISAGREEMENT AND YOU HAVE TO WADE THROUGH THAT.
AND WHAT IS THE COMMON GOAL THAT YOU NEED TO REACH? HOW DO YOU VIEW THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TRUSTEES AND THE CEO OF THE PARK BOARD? WHAT I SEE RIGHT NOW IS FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN IS YOU SEEM TO HAVE A MORE STAGNANT TYPE OF BOARD THAT IS ALL THE SAME BACKGROUNDS, OPINIONS DIRECTION.
AND THAT'S WHY I FELT LIKE MAYBE I COULD BRING SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND A LITTLE NEWER TO.
BECAUSE THE TOURISM TO ME IS SO IMPORTANT.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I REALLY LOVE LIVING HERE IS ALL OF THE EVENTS, ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES.
I AM THE PARTY PERSON, AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT TO OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S LACKING, IS BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE THE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO KEEP THINGS THE SAME AND, AND ARE KIND OF REJECTING THE GROWTH, BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO STOP IT.
IF MARGARITAVILLE COMES IN, SO IS HOW DO YOU BEST MANAGE IT? AND THEN BRIEFLY, WHAT ARE YOUR TOP THREE PRIORITIES AS A TRUSTEE? THE BUDGETING OF COURSE, WAS WHAT WAS MENTIONED IN THE ORIENTATION, AND THAT'S A BIG PART OF MY STRENGTH.
I WAS ASSISTANT CONTROLLER OF ONE OF THE LARGEST PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES IN THE NATION.
SO I HAD LIKE 150 PROPERTIES AND BUDGETS I HAD TO DO EVERY YEAR.
YES. AND SECOND IS TOURISM AND BRINGING IN HELPING TO SUPPORT THOSE QUALITY DEVELOPERS THAT HAVE SOME GREAT IDEAS.
BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY MENTIONED WAS THE HOTEL TAX APPEARS TO BE STAGNANT.
[02:15:03]
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU DO, IN FACT, GET A MARGARITAVILLE, BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO BRING IN MORE DEVELOPMENT AROUND THAT DEVELOPMENT.AND IF NOT, WE COME BACK TO YOU.
ASK ONE. SO WHAT? HOW DO YOU FEEL, OR WHAT'S YOUR OPINION ON THE WAY THE RECENT EMBEZZLEMENT AT THE PARK BOARD WAS HANDLED? WELL, I'VE. I HAVE SEEN MY SHARE OF EMBEZZLEMENT IN COMMERCIAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT.
THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS CASES OF EMBEZZLEMENT.
I SET UP A DUE DILIGENCE TEAM, AND WE DEVELOPED SOME ADDITIONAL POLICIES TO CREATE SOME CHECKS AND BALANCES. BUT, YOU KNOW, IT HAPPENS.
AND THEN WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS FIGURE OUT HOW DID IT HAPPEN, HOW DO WE PREVENT IT IN THE FUTURE? AND THAT IS CREATING THOSE POLICIES.
IN ORDER TO PREVENT THAT, I'M GONNA EXPAND ON ONE OF ALEX'S QUESTIONS, WHICH IS HOW DO YOU INTERPRET THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE PARK BOARD? FROM WHAT I'VE READ, THERE WAS A LOT OF CONTROVERSY IN THE CHANGE AND AND HOW ALL THAT CAME DOWN.
WHEN THINGS CHANGE, THERE IS A FRACTURING OF THE RELATIONSHIP.
BUT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE GOAL OF WHAT YOUR OBJECTIVE IS, YOU HAVE TO WORK THROUGH THAT RELATIONSHIP AND KEEP OPEN DIALOG SO THAT YOU ARE MEETING THAT COMMON GOAL.
OKAY? IT'S ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, ABOUT KEEPING YOUR COMMUNICATION OPEN.
ANY FURTHER? COUNCIL MEMBERS DEFER BACK TO YOU, DAVID.
OH, I'VE GOT STUART BEACH CAN BE COULD BE CONSIDERED THE FLAGSHIP PARK, I GUESS, OF OUR PARKS.
SO WHAT'S YOUR ASSESSMENT OF ITS CURRENT CONDITION AND WHAT'S YOUR VISION OF WHAT STUART BEACH PARK COULD BE? IT'S SO DISAPPOINTING TO SEE HOW LONG THE DEMOLITION OF THAT BUILDING IS TAKING, AND THAT IT HASN'T BEEN DONE ON A FASTER PROCESS.
ALL OF THAT MOVEMENT OF THE SAND AND EVERYTHING OCCURRED.
I BELIEVE IT WAS AROUND THE SPRING.
WAS THAT LAST YEAR? AND YOU COULDN'T EVEN ACCESS THE BEACH BECAUSE I LIVE AT PALISADE PALMS, SO I PASS BY IT EVERY DAY.
SO IT IS DISAPPOINTING THAT IT HAS TAKEN AS LONG AS IT HAS.
BUT I UNDERSTAND GOVERNMENT DOES NOT ALWAYS MOVE QUICKLY, SO I GET THAT.
AND AGAIN, IT'S JUST THERE'S SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY THERE.
AND I THINK THAT WHOLE CORNER NEEDS TO BE MOVED FORWARD WITH A VISION OF IT ALL WORKS TOGETHER.
STUART BEACH, THE EMERALD RETAIL, THE MARGARITAVILLE TO START BRINGING THAT TOGETHER AND MAYBE BRINGING IN THE DEVELOPERS FROM MARGARITAVILLE AND WELCOMING THEM INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, THE BASHING THAT THEY GOT IN ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WELCOMING THEM TO BE A PART OF THAT WHOLE VISION SO THAT YOU'RE NOT DOING ONE COMPONENT AND ONE FOCUSING ON ONE PART OF IT WHEN IT'S A SO MUCH POTENTIAL TO BE A MUCH BIGGER PICTURE.
OKAY. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? LET'S GO BACK TO ALEX.
ALEX. WILL YOU PLEDGE TO FULL OPEN FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL TRANSPARENCY? YES. AND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? DO I HAVE ANY PERSONAL INVESTMENT OR TYPE OF BENEFIT FROM ANY DEVELOPMENT THAT MIGHT BE COMING IN? IS THAT WHAT YOUR QUESTION IS MORE IN TERMS OF WITHIN WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION OF THE PARK BOARD, LIKE IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL TRANSPARENCY.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE'RE WELL, I'M ACCUSTOMED TO THAT, I THINK BECAUSE OF THE BUDGETING THAT I HAVE SO MUCH BUDGETING, WHICH IS, BY THE WAY, ONE OF THE REASONS I LEFT COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE, BECAUSE I WAS I'M NEVER DOING ANOTHER BUDGET AGAIN.
NO, BUT I'VE HAD A FEW YEARS TO RECOVER FROM THAT.
[02:20:03]
SO AND THEN THE LAST ONE I HAVE FOR YOU OR I HAVE TWO HOW DO YOU HOW DO YOUR VIEWS REFLECT THE PARK BOARD'S VISION AND MISSION STATEMENT? I THINK IT IS PROMOTING THE IMMENSE NUMBER OF AMENITIES THAT GALVESTON HAS TO OFFER TO BRING IN THAT HIGHER QUALITY TOURIST.AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, LIVING AT PALISADE PALMS, IT IS KIND OF A MICROCOSM OF WHAT THAT IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE VERY, VERY WEALTHY PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE.
AND WHAT WAS IT THAT BROUGHT THEM TO PURCHASE AT THAT BUILDING? WHAT IS IT THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR, THEIR RELATIVES THAT COME TO VISIT? WHY DO THEY COME? HOW CAN YOU CAPTURE MORE OF THAT? AND ONE OF THE THINGS I CAN TELL YOU IS THE PEOPLE AT PALISADE PALMS WANT TO SPEND MONEY, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE THE PLACES THEY WANT TO SPEND IT ON THE ISLAND.
THEY WANT IT, YOU KNOW, THEY WANT THE PORCH CAFE TO BE OPEN AND IT CLOSED DOWN.
AND THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH CHATTER ABOUT THAT.
IT'LL BE OPEN HERE IN A WEEK OR SO.
YEAH, WELL, THAT'S WHAT THEY KEEP SAYING.
BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, WE'VE WATCHED THEM CHANGE CHEF AFTER CHEF AFTER CHEF.
SO HOW DO YOU CAPTURE THAT WITH YOUR REAL ESTATE EXPERIENCE.
WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON SHORT TERM RENTALS.
WELL YOU KNOW THEY CAN HAVE NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND I THINK GALVESTON HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF MANAGING IT.
YOU KNOW, YOU'VE SET UP A LOT OF POLICIES.
IT'S JUST LIKE THE COEXISTING ON EAST BEACH.
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THE GHOST WOLVES, YOU HAVE THE BIRDS, AND NOW YOU HAVE MARGARITAVILLE.
VERY GOOD. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS AT ALL? DIANA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE WILL MAKE OUR DECISIONS TOMORROW AND WE WILL ANNOUNCE THEM AT OUR MEETING TOMORROW AT 5:00.
OKAY. AND JUST TO SHOW YOU, I WAS IN CHARGE OF OUR BUILDING UMBRELLA PARADE.
SO IF I CAN GET 36 OF MY NEIGHBORS TO DRESS UP LIKE THIS.
AND I CAN GET DAVID JAMES TO DO OUR PHOTOGRAPH UNDER THE MARDI GRAS ARCH FOR FREE.
THANK YOU. SO, ANYWAY, THANK YOU, DIANE.
THANK YOU. WE HAVE MISS JONI TIO AS OUR NEXT TRADE.
SITTING ON YOUR LAP. YOU'RE WHAT? I'M SORRY. I COME DOWN HERE, MOVE DOWN LIKE I'M SITTING ON THEIR LAP.
HOW ARE YOU, JOANIE? I'M GOOD. THANK YOU.
AND WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IF YOU COULD WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU TO KEEP IT SHORT, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND.
JUST INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHY YOU'D LIKE TO SERVE ON THE PARK BOARD.
ABSOLUTELY. JOANIE TEALE BEEN COMING HERE EVER SINCE I WAS ITTY BITTY.
MY PARENTS LOVED THIS DEEP SEA FISH.
MAMA CAUGHT A BLUE MARLIN ONE TIME AND A HEELS RESTAURANT.
THEY BOUGHT IT FROM HER THERE.
AND I'VE BEEN RAISING MY KIDS HERE, BASICALLY COMING HERE VACATION.
AND WE FINALLY GOT OUR HOME HERE.
TRYING TO GET MY OTHER KIDS TO GET ON OVER HERE AS QUICK AS TO RAISE HER FAMILY HERE.
I THINK IT'D BE I THINK IT'D BE BENEFICIAL FOR FOR FOR THOSE CHILDREN FOR SURE.
VERY GOOD. THANK YOU ALL FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A REALLY DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
[02:25:02]
BUT I FIND IT VERY, VERY INTERESTING.VERY GOOD. WELL, WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU.
WE'RE GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS NOW FOR QUESTIONS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS? YES. ALEX, WHAT IS YOUR VIEW ON THE CURRENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE PARK BOARD? TO BE HONEST, Y'ALL, I REALLY DON'T KNOW A WHOLE LOT ABOUT STUFF THAT'S REALLY GOING ON.
MY OPINION, I DON'T REALLY HAVE ONE, I GUESS.
SORRY, I, I'M JUST I'M REALLY LIKE I SAID, I'M BRAND NEW AT THIS.
AND AFTER LISTENING TO ALL OF THESE OTHER PEOPLE, I'M LIKE, GOOD GRIEF.
IT'S JUST LIKE, GOLLY, THERE'S SO MUCH.
BUT BUT IT'S NOTHING I COULDN'T TAKE.
I'M JUST SAYING, YEAH, IT'S JUST A LOT.
YES. MAYBE, MAYBE GO BACK TO, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE OBVIOUSLY BEEN CALLED TO SERVE IN SOME CAPACITY.
TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT MAKES YOU EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ON THE PARK BOARD.
JUST JUST BEING JUST BEING A PART WITH WITH EVERYBODY.
WAS FOR ALBERTSON'S GROCERY STORE.
ANYBODY HEARD OF THAT? OKAY, WELL, I WAS WITH THEM FOR 20 YEARS.
I WAS THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE RELATION.
I DID ALL THE HIRING, I DID BOOKKEEPING, I DID ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
BUT MY MY BEST THING WAS BEING WITH PEOPLE.
THEY SAY I DID, WHICH I TAKE MUCH PRIDE IN.
I JUST, I LOVE, I LOVE THIS ISLAND AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO.
I MEAN, I GO TO SUNNY BEACH, I PICK UP THE TRASH.
I'M TRYING TO MAKE THIS QUICK. SORRY.
I COULD GO ON FOR AN HOUR, BUT I WON'T, I WON'T.
YES, THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION.
YEAH. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? YEAH. YES. WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON SHORT TERM RENTALS? WHAT'S MY WHAT. I'M SORRY.
YOUR THOUGHTS ON SHORT TERM RENTALS.
WE WHERE WE LIVE, THE HOUSE NEXT TO US WAS AN AIRBNB.
WE LOOKED AT SEA ISLE AS WELL, AND I'M JUST VERY GLAD THAT WE PICKED THE LITTLE LAND THAT WE BOUGHT JUST BECAUSE, I MEAN, I GUESS IT'S GOOD.
AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'LL THEY'LL DO WITH WHAT THEY CAN.
YOU'RE ONE OF MY CONSTITUENTS.
AND IF YOU DON'T MAKE IT TO THIS, THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER BOARDS.
I WAS GOING TO SAY WHATEVER, WHATEVER.
I COULD BENEFIT ANYWHERE FOR GALVESTON.
HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY. THANK YOU AGAIN.
ARE THEY IN A SEPARATE ROOM? NEXT. WE'RE KEEPING THEM IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
OKAY. WE DO THAT SO THAT THEY DON'T HEAR THE QUESTIONS.
THAT WAS. THAT WAS SO THEY CAN PREPARE.
GOTCHA. BUT THESE ARE BEING BROADCAST LIKE GTV AND.
ARE THE INTERVIEWS ON GTV AND YEAH, THEY ARE.
DOTS IN YOUR DISTRICT, TOO? YEAH. IT'S A BEACHSIDE.
AND HE CURRENTLY SERVES ON THE POLICE PENSION BOARD.
HOW ARE YOU? I SEE YOU'VE KIND OF BEEN WARM.
I JUST WONDERED IF IT WAS A HOT SEAT OR NOT.
LIKE A GOOD QUESTION. SO I AM SCOTT GORDON.
I'VE HAD A HOME DOWN HERE SINCE 2011 AND A FULL TIME RESIDENT FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.
[02:30:02]
I'M A RETIRED OIL AND GAS EXECUTIVE.I WORKED IN THE SERVICE SECTOR FOR MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS, AND SO I'VE HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN SERVICING CUSTOMERS NEEDS, BALANCING BUDGETS HIRING, FIRING. UNFORTUNATELY AND ALL THE FACETS THAT IT TOOK TO RUN A SUCCESSFUL OIL AND GAS OPERATION AND, I DON'T KNOW, 350 PEOPLE WORKING FOR ME AT ONE TIME.
AND I MANAGE EVERYTHING FROM OPERATIONS, SAFETY AND EVEN CHASING DOWN LOST PAYCHECKS. SO I KIND OF COVER ALL THE BASES THERE.
MY REASON TO BE ON THE PARK BOARD IS I AM CURRENTLY SERVING ON THE BMAC COMMITTEE AND ON THE POLICE PENSION FUND, AND I SEE THIS AS A GREAT PROGRESSION IN MY SERVICE TO THE CITY.
I LOVE GALVESTON, WE FOUNDED THIS ISLAND FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND I JUST LOOK FORWARD TO IT.
AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE MY SERVICE, NOT ONLY JUST TO THE RESIDENTS BECAUSE I AM ONE.
BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK OUR TOURS DESERVE A STRONG VOICE, TOO, IN THE CITY.
SO THAT'S MY OPENING STATEMENT.
I CAN GO ON FOR ANOTHER 20 MINUTES IF YOU'D LIKE, BUT I THINK YOU ONLY GAVE ME 30S QUESTIONS.
SCOTT. QUESTIONS? SO. YES. MARIE.
SO WHAT? HOW DO YOU WHAT'S YOUR INTERPRETATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE PARK BOARD? SO I STEPPED INTO COMING TO COUNCIL MEETINGS ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, IN WHICH THERE WAS A LOT OF CONTROVERSY.
SO IN A SENSE, THE CITY THE PARK BOARD WORKS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL.
SO I SEE THAT AS A VERY POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP AT THIS POINT.
BOB THIS HAS TO DO ABOUT THE IMPACT OF TOURISM ON LOCAL PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE.
YOU KNOW THE QUESTION IS, HOW WOULD YOU BALANCE THE DOLLARS THAT TOURISM BRINGS IN? AND WE ALL KNOW WE JUST HEARD HOW CRITICAL THAT IS VERSUS THE TOURISM IMPACT ON THE ON THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, BECAUSE OFTEN THEY FEEL LEFT OUT OR DISRESPECTED OR NOT IN THE LOOP.
AND SO HOW WOULD YOU BALANCE THAT THAT SCENARIO? A GREAT QUESTION AND A VERY DIFFICULT QUESTION.
I THINK TOURISM ABSOLUTELY IS VITAL TO THIS ISLAND.
SO YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN A VERY POSITIVE ASPECT TO THAT.
FOR ME PERSONALLY, AS A RESIDENT, I SEE THE BALANCE IN THE IN THE SERVICES THAT I CAN HAVE FROM THE CITY, RESTAURANTS, HOTELS, WHEN MY GUESTS COME AND I CAN'T SUPPORT THEM IN MY HOME.
TO MOST OF THE RESIDENTS THAT I VISIT WITH, INCLUDING THOSE IN MY SMALL COMMUNITY, ARE VERY UPBEAT ABOUT THE TOURISM ON THIS ISLAND, ON THIS ON GALVESTON, AND I DON'T SEE THEM REPRESENTING AN ISSUE FOR THEM REGARDING THAT BALANCE.
ALEX, I'LL GO LAST BECAUSE SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS ARE GETTING, GETTING ANSWERED.
DURING YOUR TIME SERVING ON BMCC WHAT SORT OF INSIGHT HAVE YOU GAINED IN RELATION TO EITHER OPERATIONS OF THE CITY OR RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THAT COMMITTEE AND, AND HOW HOW WE FUNCTION? I MEAN, IT'S KIND OF A NICE LITTLE INTRO, RIGHT? YES, YES. SO SO BE MAX INTERESTING IN THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH JUST MAINTAINING THE BEACHES.
YOU'VE MENTIONED MULTIPLE TIMES THE ISSUES WITH THAT.
I LIVE RIGHT BY SUNNY BEACH AND I LIVE THOSE ISSUES SOME SUNDAYS.
SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT AND MISS LEWIS.
SO B MACK IS INTERESTING IN THAT IT'S A.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAINTAIN GOOD BEACH PATROL BEACH? ITS EFFICACY THE RIGHT WORD TO USE HERE, IN WHICH WE WANT THE PUBLIC TO ENJOY THOSE BEACHES.
SO WE HAVE TO KIND OF COME IN BEHIND AND CLEAN THAT UP.
AND, AND I THINK, I THINK THE PARK BOARD IS DOING A GOOD JOB OF TRYING TO GET MORE INFORMATION TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT BETTER USE OF OUR BEACHES, THE REUSE OF TOYS, THE BOXES THAT THEY'RE BUILDING FOR THAT HAS BEEN A NICE INITIATIVE.
I THINK SIGNAGE IS A BIG, NICE INITIATIVE.
[02:35:07]
I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE WASHED ON SHORE INITIATIVE THAT'S COMING ON WITH THE ARTIST.I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A FUN THING.
SO I THINK BEING ON BMAC HAS BEEN A REALLY INTERESTING PERSPECTIVE ON JUST THE BEACH ITSELF.
I KNOW THE PARK BOARD HAS OTHER INITIATIVES AS WELL.
IF I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IN THAT POSITION, IT WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO BRING ALL THAT INTO A COHESIVE ENVIRONMENT, WHICH I BELIEVE THE PARK BOARD HAS DONE ALREADY. WELL, A VERY GOOD JOB OF.
THERE'S SOME REAL CHALLENGES AHEAD, NOT ONLY FOR THE CITY, BUT FOR THE PARK BOARD AS WELL.
IT LOOKS LIKE TOURISM AS A WHOLE IS KIND OF FLATTENING OUT A LITTLE BIT.
AT LEAST THAT SEEMS TO BE THE PROJECTION GOING FORWARD.
SO THOSE DOLLARS ARE GOING TO FLATTEN OUT.
SO THAT'S GOING TO REALLY PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE ON COST CONTROL AND BUDGET DISCIPLINE.
SO HOW DO YOU VIEW THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TRUSTEES AND THE CEO OF THE PARK COURT? WELL, I THINK IT'S VERY GOOD FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN.
I THINK BRINGING KIMBERLY ON AS A CEO IS A BIG AND POSITIVE MOVE FOR THE PARK BOARD.
SHE'S EXTREMELY KNOWLEDGEABLE.
SHE IS ENTHUSIASTIC AS CAN BE.
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP THREE PRIORITIES IF YOU ARE A TRUSTEE? WELL, I THINK BUDGET DISCIPLINE HAS GOT TO BE ONE OF THE BIG ONES, I THINK SUPPORTING TOURISM.
AND BY THAT I MEAN MARKETING THAT LEVEL OF HOW DO WE MAKE GALVESTON THE DESTINATION PLACE TO BE? AND THEN FINALLY, HOW DO WE KEEP MORE HEADS ON THE BEDS? WE'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME TO THIS ISLAND AND NOT JUST COME FOR THE DAY, SPEND THE NIGHT, STAY A COUPLE OF DAYS.
YOU KNOW, IF IT'S SHORT TERM RENTAL, THAT'S FINE.
LET'S GET THOSE HOTELS AND LET'S GET THEM FILLED AS WELL.
SO THOSE WOULD BE MY THREE PRIORITIES.
WILL YOU PLEDGE TO A FULL OPEN AND OPERATIONAL TRANSPARENCY? ABSOLUTELY. AND WHAT WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? YOU PRETTY WELL SPELLED IT OUT RIGHT THERE.
IT'S GOT TO BE OPEN. IT'S GOT TO BE TRANSPARENT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU MAKE IT ANY CLEARER THAN THAT.
AND THEN WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO YOU AS A TRUSTEE, THE ENVIRONMENT OR TOURISM? I THINK YOU HAVE TO BALANCE BOTH.
WHEN I WAS IN OPERATIONS, I USED TO TELL MY GUYS THERE ARE THREE PILLARS THAT I LIVE BY AND THAT IS OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY, SAFETY AND ECONOMIC IMPACT.
CAN'T STAND UNLESS ALL THREE OF THOSE LEGS CAN SUPPORT THAT.
AND THAT WAS WHAT I PREACHED OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
I THINK FOR THE FOR THE ISLAND, YOU'VE GOT TO PREACH ECONOMIC BENEFIT.
YOU'VE GOT TO PREACH ECOSYSTEMS. IT'S A VERY SENSITIVE AREA FOR SOME OF THE MEMBERS ON MY BACK COMMITTEE THAT ARE VERY DEDICATED TO THAT, CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE THAT.
SO I CAN'T PUT ONE OVER THE OTHER, BUT I THINK THEY'RE BOTH IMPORTANT.
MARIE, YOU HAD SOME QUESTIONS.
YEAH. HOW DO YOU WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE WAY THE RECENT EMBEZZLEMENT WAS HANDLED? I'M REALLY GOING TO DEFER THAT MISS ROBB, BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE ABOUT IT OTHER THAN WHAT I MIGHT HAVE READ IN THE NEWSPAPER OR JUST THE SCUTTLEBUTT THAT I'VE HEARD FROM MY NEIGHBORS. SO I KNOW THERE WAS AN ISSUE, APPARENTLY, WITH THE CREDIT CARD THAT WAS MISUSED.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT. THE OUTCOME WAS, I WOULD MAKE A PRESUMPTION THAT THE EMPLOYEE WAS RELIEVED.
AND THAT'S REALLY THE BEST RECOURSE THAT I CAN THINK OF OUTSIDE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THAT REGARD.
IF THEY'RE GOING TO PRESS CHARGES OR ANY OF THE REST OF THAT STUFF.
MR. ROBB, I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THAT.
I HAVE ONE LAST QUESTION, MAYBE FOR YOU, AND WE'LL SEE.
MINE ARE SIMPLE ONE, 1 OR 2 WORD ANSWERS.
OH, WOW. NO, NO NEED TO GO ANY FURTHER.
[02:40:01]
JUST SIMPLE ONE. IT'S NOT LIKE A DEPOSITION NOW.SO ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE SWELL? THAT IS EAST OF 10TH STREET THAT THAT GOES BEYOND STEWART BEACH, ALMOST TO THE EDGE OF THAT NEW SUBDIVISION THERE ON THE EAST END. I AM NOT.
WELL, THEY HAVE ONE. HE HAS ONE IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD HAS THE BEST ONE.
SO SO I HAVE A VERY BIASED ANSWER.
I'M NOT GOING TO NOT FOR THE GLOW.
I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK FOR THE CITY.
I WILL SPEAK FOR SCOTT GORDON.
YES, BECAUSE I LIVE IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE HAVE A GEO TUBE.
AND I SAW HOW GEO TUBES ARE CONTINUING TO SAVE THAT LITTLE CONDOMINIUM COMPLEX JUST ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE NOW CLOSED THIRD GEO TUBE HAS BEEN SINCE BEFORE IKE. YES, THAT'S TRUE.
AND MARIE, YOU LIVE IN THAT ENVIRONMENT NOW.
SO WITHOUT HAVING ANY STRONG SUPPORT AGAINST WAVES, WAVES WIN EVERY TIME.
SCRAPE THE BEACH OR RAKE THE BEACH.
I THINK YOU CAN RAKE WHERE YOU CAN, BUT IT'S HARD TO DO.
SARGASSUM IS PRETTY TOUGH WHEN IT'S WET TO DEAL WITH.
YOU ALMOST HAVE TO SCRAPE IT IN ORDER TO REMOVE IT.
BECAUSE OF THE DENSITY OF THE MATERIAL.
DON'T NEED IT, JUST THE EASY ANSWERS.
AND THEN LAST THING YOU SAID THAT THE TITLE THAT YOU'VE HELD AND PEOPLE THAT YOU'VE EVER SEEN, LET'S JUST SAY YOU HAD A PROJECT MANAGER OR SOMEONE UNDERNEATH YOU THAT HAD SEVERAL EMPLOYEES UNDERNEATH THEM, AND THAT PROJECT MANAGER WAS MADE AWARE OF ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES UNDER HIM.
HAD MISSPENT, HAD A CREDIT CARD IN THEIR POSSESSION AND MISSPENT THAT MONEY.
AND THEY KNEW ABOUT IT AND DIDN'T TELL YOU ABOUT IT.
BUT YOU HOLD THAT PROJECT MANAGER RESPONSIBLE, OR WOULD YOU ONLY HOLD THAT EMPLOYEE RESPONSIBLE IF THE PROJECT MANAGER KNEW ABOUT IT SIX MONTHS PRIOR? I THINK I WOULD FIRST ASK THE PROJECT MANAGER WHY HE DIDN'T INFORM ME.
WAS THERE A REASON THAT HE WAS DOING HIS OWN INVESTIGATION? WAS HE TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THERE WAS REAL FRAUD OR NOT, OR WAS HE REALLY TRYING TO COVER SOMETHING UP? AND I THINK SO.
I WOULD HAVE TO ASK A LOT MORE QUESTIONS BEFORE I COULD ANSWER THE QUESTION ABOUT HOW I WOULD HANDLE THAT DISCIPLINE, WOULD I DISCIPLINE THEM EVENTUALLY? I THINK I WOULD CERTAINLY BE SOME KIND OF A REPRIMAND.
I CAN GIVE YOU A REAL LIFE EXAMPLE OF THAT.
SO AS A MANAGER ON A DRILLING RIG OPERATIONS, I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR 17 DRILLING RIGS.
EACH DRILLING RIG HAS ABOUT 25 EMPLOYEES.
THOSE RIGS WORK 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
I HAD A SITUATION IN WHICH WE HAD AN INCIDENT ON ONE OF THE RIGS.
AN INCIDENT MEANS THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT.
SOMEONE GOT INJURED. SO I GO OUT AND DO THE INVESTIGATION.
HE FELL AND HE INJURED HIS ARM.
I FOUND OUT THAT THE EMPLOYEE WAS NOT DOING WHAT THEY SAID HE WAS DOING.
HE WAS ACTUALLY DUCKING PAINTBALLS THAT WERE BEING FIRED AT HIM FROM AN ELEVATED PLATFORM, FROM ANOTHER EMPLOYEE THAT HAD GOTTEN A NEW PAINT GUN AND BROUGHT IT OUT TO THE RIG AND THOUGHT IT'D BE FUN TO SHOOT AT PEOPLE.
SO NOW I'M FACED WITH THE REALITY OF WHAT HAPPENED, WHICH THE GUYS KNEW AND TRIED TO COVER UP.
TWO OF THEM WERE ABLE TO BUS UP IMMEDIATELY.
I REPRESENTED BOTH OF THEM BY DEMOTING THEM AND THEN THE MANAGER I LET GO.
VERY GOOD. MAY I SUGGEST TO THIS COUNSEL THAT YOU HAVE THREE MEMBERS ALREADY ON THE PARK BOARD THAT HAVE DONE A SUPERIOR JOB? IN MY OPINION, YOU'LL BE INTERVIEWING THEM IN A MOMENT.
I KNOW THAT AT LEAST ONE OPEN SEAT.
I HOPE THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER ME FOR THAT SEAT, OF COURSE, OR I WOULD NOT BE SITTING HERE.
[02:45:03]
ANYTHING ELSE? ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS I WAS GOING TO ASK? WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON STORCH BEACH? YOU KNOW, I LIKE WHAT THE PARK BOARD HAS STARTED TO DO WITH THE KIND OF MOBILE DEVELOPMENT OF SHADING AND LITTLE RESTROOMS AND ALL OF THAT.OTHER THAN SOME OF THE WORKSHOPS I'VE SAT IN AND SOME OF THE DISCUSSION THAT I'VE HEARD HERE.
BUT IT'S A HUGE ASSET TO THE CITY, AND IT CERTAINLY NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH.
THE BEACH PATROL BUILDING, FOR EXAMPLE.
I FIND THAT QUITE INTERESTING THAT IT'S STILL STANDING.
BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY.
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME VERY MUCH.
ONE MORE QUESTION. GREAT. JUST TWO SHORT ONES.
SURE. SO, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY AND BEING ON BMCC AND EVERYTHING.
THANK YOU. BUT YOU KNOW, TOURISM EXPERIENCE, WOULD YOU? I MEAN, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY TOURISM EXPERIENCE, BUT HOW WOULD YOUR HOW WAS YOUR VIEW AS A RESIDENT RELATED TO, YOU KNOW, TOURISM THAT WE DEAL WITH ON THE ISLAND? SO YOU'RE RIGHT. I DON'T HAVE DIRECT TOURISM EXPERIENCE.
HOWEVER, I WAS VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING FOR A COMPANY FOR THREE YEARS FROM THE US MARKET.
SO I HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN THE MARKETING SCHEME OF THINGS.
I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE PLUS TO DIRECT PEOPLE TO THE DIFFERENT HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR ISLAND.
SO I THINK A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT THE THAT THE PARK BOARD IS DOING NOW TO ENHANCE GALVESTON'S VISIBILITY ARE VERY WELL. AND I'D LOVE TO BE A PART OF TRYING TO ENHANCE THAT AS WELL AND CONTINUE TO SEE GROWTH IN THAT MARKET SPACE.
AND YOU HAD MENTIONED SOMETHING EARLIER ABOUT, YOU KNOW, TRASH AND EDUCATION.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS MORE IMPORTANT, ENFORCEMENT OR EDUCATION ABOUT THE ISSUES? WELL, I THINK UNLESS YOU EDUCATE SOMEONE, IT'S HARD TO BEAT THEM OVER THE HEAD THAT THEY'VE DONE SOMETHING WRONG IF THEY DON'T KNOW THEY'VE DONE SOMETHING WRONG.
SO I THINK EDUCATION IS BY FAR THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF IT.
BUT I THINK THERE'S ALSO YOU HAVE TO HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY.
COULD YOU PLEASE STOP THAT? WHATEVER IT IS.
AND THEY LOOK AT YOU AND GO, I AIN'T DOING THAT.
SO I THINK WE LIVED THAT AT SUNNY BEACH WHERE YOU CAN SEE THEY DON'T.
IT'S OUT OF HAND MOST OF THE TIME.
YOU KNOW, PUT 12 POLICE CARS DOWN THERE.
YEAH. SO YEAH, IT'S THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION.
I HOPE I GET YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR THIS POSITION.
BYE BYE. THANK YOU. WE HAVE OUR CURRENT CHAIRMAN OF THE PARK BOARD, JASON HARDCASTLE COMING IN.
NO, I DON'T THINK I'LL BE MAKING MY 1:00 APPOINTMENT.
I'M GUESSING I'M TRULY 96 WITH YOU.
WE'VE GOT. IF WE CONTINUE ON THIS PACE, WE MAY HAVE ANOTHER HOUR AND A HALF OF THEM.
WE STILL HAVE THE OTHER AGENDA ITEMS. DAVID. DAVID.
WE HAVE THREE BUSINESSES, AND HERE, SPREAD OUT ACROSS THE ISLAND.
[02:50:08]
THINGS LIKE THAT.AND THEN ALSO SERVED ON CITY COUNCIL IN THE PAST AS WELL.
SO IT'S A GALVESTON'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT I HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY PARTICULARLY AS A TRUSTEE AND A VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO UNDER MY CHAIRMANSHIP.
AND REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND SPEAK WITH EACH OF YOU ALL TODAY.
JASON. LET'S OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS.
BOB AND THEN MARIE, I'VE GOT KIND OF A TWO PART QUESTION.
FIRST OF ALL WHAT DO YOU WHAT'S YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE DRAINAGE PROJECT THAT WAS RECENTLY COMPLETED? OUT THERE AT THE PARKING AREA OF STEWART BEACH.
AND THE SECOND PART OF THE QUESTION IS WHAT'S YOUR WHAT'S YOUR VISION OF WHAT STEWART BEACH COULD BECOME? SURE. SO I DO FEEL LIKE I HAVE A PRETTY EXTENSIVE HISTORY AT SPIRIT BEACH, SO I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO DETAILED AND BOGGED DOWN ON IT, BUT THE INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THE THE DRAINAGE PROJECT WAS A RESULT OF A DIRECTIVE THAT I WAS A BIG PART OF ON CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PARK WAS ACCESSIBLE WITHIN TWO WEEKS AFTER A STANDARD RAINFALL EVENT OUT THERE.
SO AT THAT POINT, BECAUSE WE WERE CONCERNED WITH HAVING AMENITIES PRESENT AT STEWART BEACH THAT WERE INACCESSIBLE FOR A LENGTHY PERIOD OF TIME DUE TO THE FLOODING SITUATION THAT PREVIOUSLY EXISTED.
SO AT THAT TIME, THE PARK BOARD WENT WITH AN ENGINEERING FIRM AND GOT PERMISSION AND PARTNERED WITH THE GLOW AND PERMISSION FROM THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS AS WELL TO PROCEED WITH THE CURRENT PROJECT OUT THERE.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PARKING AREA AT THE SAND IS DRAINING CORRECTLY, BUT THERE ARE SOME ISSUES WITH THE DRAINAGE OF THE RUNOFF AS WELL.
I DO KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME THERE'S BEEN SECOND OPINIONS SOUGHT BY THE SAME ENGINEERING FIRM TO COME OUT, AND THERE IS A MAINTENANCE PLAN AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS OPERATING CORRECTLY.
AND I WOULD DEFER TO THE ENGINEERING FIRM AS WELL ON HOW IT IS WORKING.
SO THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY CLOSING THE PARK BECAUSE OF FLOODED PARKING LOTS SINCE THEN.
SINCE THE PROJECT, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THERE HAS BEEN, BUT THERE HAS NOT.
THEY HAVE NOT BEEN AS EXTENSIVE OR AS LENGTHY AS IT HAS IN THE PAST.
AND SO THAT SEGWAYS ME TO WHERE I.
I ENVISION STUART BEACH AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE.
TO ME, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE 30 PLUS MILES OF BEACH.
I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE MORE OF A CONCIERGE SERVICE SOMEWHERE ALONG THE BEACH AS WELL, WHERE ONE CAN SHOW UP WITH THEIR FAMILY AND BE ABLE TO PURCHASE ANY OF THE SERVICES, AND ALSO MORE FOOD OPTIONS, DRINK OPTIONS AS WELL, DELIVERED TO YOU.
YOU KNOW, IT WOULD STILL BE A PUBLIC AREA ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC BUT IT WOULD BE PAID FOR SERVICES TO BECAUSE THAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST DETERRENTS THAT I THINK THAT FAMILIES HAVE HERE.
ON GOING TO THE BEACH WHILE WE ALL DO FREQUENT THE BEACH.
IT IS A CHORE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE THREE DAUGHTERS TO PACK, TO LOAD, PACK, UNPACK, UNLOAD, UNLOAD, LOAD, BACK UP, THEN UNLOAD AGAIN AND GO BACK AND FORTH.
SO IT WOULD BE, I THINK IT WOULD BE A PREMIER ATTRACTION AT STUART BEACH TO HAVE SOMEWHERE WHERE YOU CAN GO MORE CARIBBEAN STYLE, MORE 38 STYLE, THINGS LIKE THAT, TO WHERE YOU CAN GO IN AND HAVE PAY FOR SERVICES AS WELL.
OKAY. THANKS. I WAS COUNCILMAN O COUNCILMAN ROBB AND THEN COUNCILMAN ROLLINS.
[02:55:01]
SO I'LL DO A TWO FOLD QUESTION.WHEN DID YOU FIRST LEARN OF THE EMBEZZLEMENT? AND WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO GO TO THE PAPER BEFORE MAKING THE COUNCIL AWARE? SO I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE EMBEZZLEMENT AT GALVESTON LIFEGUARD ASSOCIATION AND WITH THE BEACH PATROL POTENTIAL ISSUES WITH BEACH PATROL CREDIT CARD ON MAY 15TH.
AND I FIRST WENT TO THE MAYOR WITH THAT INFORMATION AS WELL.
THAT WAS. NOW, NORMALLY WHAT WE WOULD HAVE DONE WAS THAT THAT WAS THE I GOT NOTIFIED THE AND WE I DON'T WANT TO GET OFF ON THIS SUBJECT BECAUSE WE'RE HERE TO DO AN INTERVIEW, BUT I GOT NOTIFIED THE NIGHT BEFORE IT WENT INTO THE PAPER LATE THAT NIGHT, AND THAT THE NEXT MORNING IT WAS IN THE PAPER, AND I WAS NOTIFIED THAT NIGHT THERE WOULD BE AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE BEACH SITUATION, POTENTIAL ALLEGED FRAUD IN THE PAPER THE NEXT MORNING. AND TYPICALLY WHAT WE WOULD DO IS YOU'VE IN THE PAST AS CHAIR, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ME WAS TO REESTABLISH THE PROPER CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION.
AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE WITHOUT A LIAISON.
SO INSTEAD I DECIDED TO DELIVER THAT INFORMATION DIRECTLY TO THE MAYOR.
RIGHT. AND WAS YOUR ENTIRE BOARD MADE AWARE OF IT ON THE 15TH? NO, THEY WERE NOT. WE DID NOT HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WE THOUGHT THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE IN ORDER TO CLEARLY RELAY ACCURATE INFORMATION. SO WHAT WAS THE BOARD MADE AWARE SOMETIME BETWEEN THE 15TH AND I WOULD SAY WITHIN A WEEK, PROBABLY THE 22ND.
ANY OTHER? WE HAD COUNCILMAN ROLLINS BACK TO THAT DRAINAGE.
DID YOU HAVE YOU BEEN AWARE OF OF THE I GUESS THAT THEY'VE USED PUMPS SEVERAL TIMES TO PUMP OUT THAT SWELL? NO, I HAVE NOT BEEN AWARE OF THAT.
AND SO JUST WONDERING IF YOU'VE HAD KNOWLEDGE OF THAT TYPICALLY THAT SINCE THAT'S MORE OF THE OPERATIONS SIDE, I HAVEN'T DIDN'T WANT TO MICROMANAGE OR ANYTHING AND GET TOO INVOLVED WITH THAT.
SO I GET HIGH LEVEL REPORTS FROM THAT AREA, BUT HAD NOT WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY PUMPING OF WATER OR ANYTHING THAT HAD GONE ON OR ANY SPECIFICS WITH ANY OF THE MECHANISMS IN PLACE THAT ARE BEING USED.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? WE HAVE COUNCILWOMAN LEWIS, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE COUNCILMAN BARRETO.
AND WHAT ARE YOUR TOP THREE PRIORITIES? SO MY TOP THREE PRIORITIES, AND I'LL START BROAD IS NUMBER ONE.
IT IS TO DEVELOP GALVESTON AS A TOURISM DESTINATION MORE FOR HISTORICAL AND HERITAGE PURPOSES.
I AM VERY WELL AWARE THAT OUR PRIMARY APPEAL AND ATTRACTION IN THE PAST AND WILL ALWAYS BE THE BEACH, THE 32 MILES OF BEACH, WHICH I'M VERY PROUD OF THE THE WAY THE BEACH LOOKS NOW, THE WAY IT IS MAINTAINED AND CARED FOR AS WELL.
BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT WE THE HISTORY HERE IN GALVESTON IS ASTOUNDING.
WHAT WE HAVE WERE THE FIRST IN EVERYTHING IN TEXAS, JUST ABOUT WITH A FEW EXCEPTIONS.
AND I THINK THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE CAPITALIZED ON, BECAUSE THAT IS TRULY WHAT ATTRACTS VISITORS FROM FURTHER DISTANCES TO STAY LONGER AND ULTIMATELY TO SPEND MORE MONEY HERE AS WELL. I IDENTIFY OUR PIERS AS BEING SAVANNAH AS BEING CHARLESTON FROM A HISTORICAL APPEAL AS WELL.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND OUR REACH, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT WOULD APPEAL NOT ONLY TO FURTHER DISTANCES HERE DOMESTICALLY, BUT ALSO ENHANCING OUR HERITAGE TOURISM FOR OUR INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS AS WELL.
I KNOW WHEN I'VE TRAVELED ABROAD, EVERYONE HAS ALWAYS BEEN FASCINATED TO HEAR ABOUT TEXAS AND STORIES ABOUT TEXAS AND THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF TEXAS AS WELL. AND WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON NOW IS PARTNERING MORE WITH SOME OF THE MAJOR DESTINATIONS IN TEXAS, SUCH AS SAN ANTONIO AND SUCH AS
[03:00:05]
HOUSTON, SO THAT WE DO GO AND WE DO APPEAL TO TRAVEL AGENTS FOR THOSE INTERNATIONAL VISITORS AS WELL, AND ALSO TO GET ON THEIR RADAR AS SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO COME AND DISCOVER THE THE TEXAS HISTORY, THE STORIES OF TEXAS AS WELL, THAT THEY DO INCLUDE GALVESTON ON THAT ITINERARY.TO I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON BEAUTIFICATION EFFORTS.
AND I BELIEVE THAT BEAUTIFICATION EFFORTS OF PARKS AND MAJOR CORRIDORS SPECIFICALLY 25TH BROADWAY, 61ST, THINGS LIKE THAT, ARE ELIGIBLE HOT EXPENSES.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MAKING THAT INVESTMENT WITH OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX SO THAT THAT WILL ALSO NOT ONLY MAKE OUR PLACE, OUR COMMUNITY MORE APPEALING FOR TOURISTS, BUT ALSO WILL PROVIDE AN ADDED BENEFIT TO THE RESIDENTS AS WELL WHEN THEY TRAVEL DOWN THOSE BUSY CORRIDORS.
AND HERE IN GALVESTON. WE HAVE A LOT OF THEM.
I MEAN, NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE DIRECTLY CITY COUNCIL, BUT ALSO THE PORT, I'D LIKE TO CONTINUE TO BUILD THAT RELATIONSHIP SO THAT WE CAN HELP THEM WITH THEIR MISSION WHERE THE INTERESTS OVER LINE, PARTICULARLY WITH CRUISES AND THOSE WHO ARE COMING HERE FOR CRUISES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CAPITALIZING ON THE TIME THAT THEY DO SPEND HERE THAT THEY MAY BE NOT DECIDE TO CANCEL THEIR CRUISE AND STAY HERE, BUT MAYBE NEXT TIME THEY'RE CONSIDERING A VACATION, THEY CONSIDER GALVESTON AS THAT DESTINATION, JUST TO GO AND STAY A FEW DAYS, AND ALSO WORKING WITH THE STATE AND ALSO WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS IN DC, PARTICULARLY THROUGH THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS AS WELL.
AND I DO ALSO THINK THAT THERE IS OPPORTUNITY TO ENHANCE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTY AS WELL.
SO I KNOW THAT THAT'S BEEN A DIRECTION FROM CITY COUNCIL.
IT'S BEEN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ME TO REESTABLISH THE INTENDED CHAIN OF COMMAND WITH THE THE THREE MAIN BODIES HERE IN GALVESTON AS WELL. AND I THINK THAT IT IT IS THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HELP OUT AT SAN LUIS PASS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON TO AND SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE OCCURRING NORTH OF THE BRIDGE THERE.
SO THOSE ARE MY THREE MAIN OBJECTIVES.
AND I COULD GO INTO MORE DETAILS ON EACH ONE.
BUT THOSE THOSE ARE THE THREE MAIN ONES.
THANK YOU. ALEX JUST JUST FOR TIME'S SAKE, JUST TRY TO BE BRIEF.
I KNOW YOU'RE BEING THOROUGH, BUT SO WHAT'S YOUR VIEW ON THE CURRENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE PARK BOARD? MY VIEW IS THAT IT IS GREATLY IMPROVED.
AND AGAIN, THERE WAS IT WAS INTENTIONAL WHEN I WAS ELECTED CHAIR, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROPER CHAINS OF COMMAND WERE RESPECTED AND THE PROPER CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION WERE FOLLOWED.
AND I THINK THAT THOSE ARE HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE IN CONSTRUCTIVE MEETING TIMES AS WELL.
HEY, HOW DO YOU VIEW THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TRUSTEES, OR HOW IS THAT RELATIONSHIP SUPPOSED TO WORK BETWEEN THE TRUSTEES AND THE CEO? I ALSO THINK THAT THAT IS A POINT OF IMPROVEMENT THAT I'M PROUD OF, TOO.
THE TRUSTEES AND THE CEO SEEM TO GET ALONG VERY WELL.
PROFESSIONALLY, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT.
AND THERE IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT THE CEO UNDERSTANDS THE ROLE OF THE TRUSTEES AND TAKING DIRECTION NOT ONLY FROM THE TRUSTEES, BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE DIRECTION THAT COMES FROM COUNSEL TO THE TRUSTEES ARE ALSO DELIVERED APPROPRIATELY TO THE CEO.
AND THAT SEEMS TO BE RESPECTED AS WELL.
AND AS CHAIR, HOW DO YOU VIEW THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TRUSTEES AND THE CHAIR? YOU KNOW, I I COULD BE NAIVE, BUT I DO THINK THAT IT IS A VERY STRONG YOU KNOW, THE THE TWO THAT ARE UP FOR REAPPOINTMENT MAY SAY SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WHEN THEY COME IN HERE, BUT I WOULD BE SURPRISED.
[03:05:02]
I THINK THAT THE SLATE OF TRUSTEES THAT WERE SENT TO THE PARK BOARD ARE EXTRAORDINARILY TALENTED AND VERY SINCERE IN WHAT THEY WANT TO DO TO HELP THE COMMUNITY.AND NOW I HAVE VERY STRONG RELATIONSHIPS THAT I FEEL LIKE I COULD TEXT ANY OF THEM AT ANY TIME AND GET THEIR INPUT, WHICH I DO VALUE THEIR INPUT AND THEIR PERSPECTIVE AND AND ASK QUESTIONS FROM THEM AND ASK FOR THEIR ADVICE AND RECOMMENDATIONS AND KNOW THAT THEIR PERSPECTIVES ARE HIGHLY VALUABLE TO THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE CURRENT PARK BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
AND THEN AS A CURRENT TRUSTEE.
LOOKING BACK, WOULD YOU DO ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY DURING YOUR TENURE? THERE. YOU KNOW, I'M NOT ONE WHO EVER THINKS THAT HE BATS A THOUSAND.
SO THERE ARE SOME ITEMS THAT DEFINITELY, LOOKING BACK, WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY.
BUT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THAT'S GOING TO BE ANYONE IN THIS SITUATION, I THINK THAT NO ONE GETS IT.
ALL RIGHT. BUT I AM PROUD THAT EVEN WHEN I, I MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECT ON AN ISSUE OR SOMETHING, THAT EVERYTHING WAS FULLY CONSIDERED, ALL OPTIONS WERE ON THE TABLE AND VALUED EVERYONE'S INPUT AS WELL.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AT THE PARK BOARD.
AND I WOULD SAY THE CHAIRPERSON PROBABLY EVEN FAR MORE THAN THAT.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER THING, JASON.
WE HAVE IN MY OPINION, AND I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL SINCE 2014.
WE HAVE THE BEST RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PARK BOARD HERE AT THE CITY THAT WE'VE EVER HAD.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD DAY.
THANK YOU. WE HAVE BILL CLEMENT PARK, CURRENT PARK BOARD MEMBER.
YOUR LAST QUESTION. GOOD QUESTION.
THANK YOU. BILL, HOW ARE YOU DOING? VERY WELL. THANK YOU.
LET ME SET THIS UP. DOWN ANY OTHER WAY.
THEN WE'LL OPEN UP TO QUESTIONS.
ALRIGHTY. WELL, I'VE TALKED TO MOST OF YOU AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE BEFORE.
I'M BILL CLEMENT, RETIRED AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
IT'S BEEN A FEW YEARS TRAVELING IN MY RV, ALTHOUGH WE MAINTAINED A GALVESTON RESIDENCE.
SO LOTS OF EXPERIENCE WITH TOURISTS AND TOURISM AND THAT SORT OF THING, AND ALSO SERVED AS A CAMPGROUND HOST, WHICH I JUST ENJOYED PROMOTING, IN THIS CASE, THE WASHINGTON STATE PARKS.
I'VE ENJOYED THE YEAR ON THE PARK BOARD AS A TRUSTEE AND JUST STARTING TO LEARN, AS YOU GUYS ARE LEARNING THESE BUDGETS AND THINGS, OR LIKE DRINKING WATER OUT OF A FIRE HOSE. AND I THINK I'M ABOUT CAUGHT UP ON THAT.
I WILL SAY, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME HERE IS THAT I WANT TO WORK TO KEEP THE RESIDENTS, THE TOURISTS AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ALL BENEFITING FROM THE PARK BOARD.
AND ONE OF THE EXCITING THINGS THAT'S HAPPENED IN THE YEAR I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD HAS BEEN THE COHESIVENESS THAT'S DEVELOPED BETWEEN THE BOARD AND COUNCIL.
THE JOINT MEETINGS THAT THE MAYOR AND, AND THE OTHERS HAVE INSTITUTED HAVE BEEN A REAL BENEFIT TO TALK AND UNDERSTANDING EACH OTHER AND WHAT WE WANT. AND I WOULD SAY IN LOOKING BACK, THAT'S BEEN MY BIGGEST CONCERN WITH THE PARK BOARD IN THE PAST WAS THEY DIDN'T ALL THEY WEREN'T ALL ROWING IN THE SAME DIRECTION.
AND I'D HOPE THAT IF I'M REAPPOINTED, WE CAN DO THAT.
I THINK THOSE OF YOU THAT I WORKED WITH FOR THE PAST YEAR WILL WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I AM I WILL BE FAIRLY DIRECT AND OPEN WITH YOU ABOUT WHAT I THINK. AND AS I TOLD SOMEBODY THE OTHER DAY THAT I WAS WHEN I WAS TALKING TO HER, I SAID, WE WE WON'T ALWAYS AGREE.
[03:10:09]
IN THE SAME DIRECTION.SO THAT'S KIND OF MY THOUGHTS ON ON THE THING AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN FOR THE YEAR.
VERY GOOD. TWO YEARS, I GUESS.
THIS TIME I WON'T HAVE TO DO THIS AGAIN AFTER ONE YEAR.
ANY QUESTIONS? PARK BOARD? I MEAN, COUNCIL MEMBER BOB.
THIS HAS TO DO, I THINK, WITH COMMUNICATION STRATEGY AS MUCH AS ANYTHING.
BUT REGARDING THE IMPACT OF TOURISM DEVELOPMENT ON LOCALS HOW WOULD YOU BALANCE THE DOLLARS BROUGHT IN BY TOURISM, WHICH THIS CITY DEPENDS ON GREATLY WITH IMPACT ON THE TOURISTS? I MEAN, ON THE LOCALS THAT LIVE HERE.
AND WHAT I'M REALLY REFERRING TO IS HOW WOULD YOU MAKE THEM PART OF THE PROCESS, FEEL MORE INCLUDED IN IN THE TOURISM AND NOT SO LEFT OUT? WELL, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, ONE OF MY NOTES HERE AND I IGNORED IT WAS TO POINT OUT THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR US TO GO FURTHER WITH DEVELOPING THE COMMUNICATION WITH WITH THE RESIDENTS, TO MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND THE TRUE EFFECT OF TOURISM ON THE BUDGET AND ON THAT SORT OF THING. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN SURPRISED TO SEE AFTER HAVING ATTENDED NUMEROUS CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS IS THAT WE VERY RARELY GET RESIDENTS PARTICIPATING IN PARK BOARD MEETINGS, AND WE'RE UNDER MUCH THE SAME CONSTRAINTS AND RULES.
I THINK ANOTHER THING, AND THIS I'LL GET TO AN INTERESTING SUBJECT, IS I THINK WE NEED TO DO TO CONCENTRATE IN THE NEAR FUTURE ON STUART BEACH AND WHAT WE WANT.
THAT TO ME, I VIEW THAT AS A DE AREA MORE THAN A DESTINATION AREA AND SOME PLACE THAT RESIDENTS LIKE TO GO AND LIKE TO TAKE VISITORS.
I WAS AT A FAMILY REUNION RECENTLY.
WE GOT ALL 19 OF THE PEOPLE BELOW ME AND THE FAMILY CHAINED TOGETHER FOR A REUNION, AND THE KIDS STARTED TALKING ABOUT SUMMERS IN GALVESTON, AND MY SON SAYS, DAD, ARE THEY EVER GOING TO FIX STUART BEACH OR WHAT? SO IT'S LIKE IT WAS WHEN WE WERE THERE.
AS FAR AS THE COMMUNICATION STRATEGY GOES, I DON'T KNOW.
I'M A LITTLE BIT BAFFLED BY THAT.
I HOPE WE COULD INCREASE WHAT WE DO IN THE NEWSPAPER, I THINK KIMBERLY, DENNIS'S.
COLUMN, AND SHE'S COMMITTED TO ME TO INCLUDE OTHERS IN THE IN THE WEEKLY WRITING OF THE COLUMN.
I THINK THAT HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE BENEFITS FOR RESIDENTS, I THINK INVITING THEM TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN, MAKE SURE THEY KNOW ABOUT THE WOMEN IN COASTAL SIGNS AND THEY KNOW ABOUT THE OTHER PROGRAMS. I DON'T KNOW. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? GREAT, THANKS. I'LL LET SOMEBODY ELSE ASK A QUESTION.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES, SIR. I'M GOING TO SAY YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LET ME OFF THAT EASY, ARE YOU? SO HOW DO YOU VIEW THE.
WELL, YOU ALREADY ANSWERED THAT ONE IN YOUR STATEMENT.
WHAT'S THE RELATIONSHIP? HOW'S THE RELATIONSHIP SUPPOSED TO WORK BETWEEN THE CEO AND THE PARK BOARD TRUSTEES? AND THEN HOW IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TRUSTEES AND THE CHAIR SUPPOSED TO WORK FOR YOU? OKAY, THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION.
AS I WAS BROUGHT ON TO THE PARK BOARD, IT WAS AS A TRUSTEE, IT WAS EMPHASIZED TO ME THAT THE CHAIRMAN WAS THE PERSON WHO WAS KIND OF RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OVERALL FUNCTIONING OF THE BOARD, BUT THAT EACH BUT THAT THE, THE, THE CEO, THE CFO WERE, WERE ACTUALLY WORKING FOR EACH TRUSTEE.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE WE DIDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE CHAIRMAN TO ACCOMPLISH THINGS THAT WE COULD WE COULD GO TO THE CEO AND THE CFO. AND SO I THINK THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CEO, CFO AND I KEEP SAYING THAT, BECAUSE THAT'S BEEN ONE OF THE SURPRISES TO ME, IS THAT BRYSON IS A DIRECT REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES.
AND YET, OFTENTIMES, I SEE THE CEO BEING THE ONE WHO'S HIGHLIGHTED.
I'D LIKE TO SEE, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT AN INCREDIBLE TALENT IN BRYSON.
[03:15:06]
YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL THINGS.THE BUDGET LAST YEAR, THOSE OF YOU THAT WERE THERE, I KNOW.
COUNCILWOMAN. LEWIS, WE WE SPENT HOURS ON THAT BUDGET THIS YEAR, DIDN'T WE? AND AND JASON SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT.
SO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BOARD AND THE AND THE CHAIRMAN IN THE WAY I WAS, IT WAS PRESENTED TO ME WAS THAT THE TRUSTEES WERE ALL EQUAL AND THE CHAIRMAN WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE EQUAL, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
AND THEN LOOKING BACK AS A CURRENT TRUSTEE WOULD YOU HAVE DONE ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY DURING YOUR TENURE? NO, ACTUALLY, I THINK I'VE DONE BEEN QUITE ACTIVE IN DURING MY TENURE, I'VE JOINED AND BECOME A WAVE WATCHER.
I GOT A CERTIFIED TOURISM AMBASSADOR.
I PARTICIPATED IN THE WITH THREE OTHER TRUSTEES IN THE SELECT SCREENING AND INITIAL PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES FOR THE CEO POSITION.
SO I GUESS IF ANYTHING, I WOULD HAVE TRIED TO TO FOCUS THE ATTENTION ON STUART BEACH A LITTLE BIT MORE SO THAT WE COULD GET MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
BUT I THINK I'M REALLY QUITE HAPPY WITH WITH THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS SO FAR THIS YEAR, BASED ON WHERE WE STARTED FROM THE BUDGET TALKS THROUGH THE THROUGH THE CEO SELECTION AND THAT SORT OF THING.
COULD WE DO BETTER? CERTAINLY.
BUT I THINK IT'S BEEN A GOOD YEAR.
I SEE YOU'VE TRAVELED A LOT AND OUR RV HAS BEEN KIND OF YOUR MODE OF VACATION.
IT HAS SO YOU KNOW, DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD DO MORE FOR RV PARKS OR OR, YOU KNOW, DO YOU THINK WE'RE GOING IN THE RIGHT PATH? WHAT'S YOUR OPINION ON THAT? I STARTED ALMOST FROM DAY ONE, PROMOTING THE IDEA OF AN RV PARK OVER AT SEAWOLF PARK.
I'VE GOT TONS OF DISPOSABLE INCOME, AND THEY'RE HERE FOR QUITE A WHILE.
SO WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO PROMOTE THOSE WINTER TOURISM FOLKS, I THINK TAKES IT OUT.
AS A SIDE NOTE, FRANKLY, WE'RE WE'RE PRETTY MUCH.
FALL IN THE SUMMER, YOU SHOULD RECOGNIZE THAT AS GOOD OR BETTER THAN ANYBODY.
WE'RE PRETTY FULL IN THE SUMMER IF WE CAN DEVELOP THAT.
SO IN DEVELOPING THE RV, I THINK IT'S A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PULL IN SOME MORE FOLKS.
THOSE, THOSE SLOTS OVER AT BASED ON THE PLAN THAT'S ON ON THE WEBSITE FOR AN RV PARK AT SEA WOLF WOULD GIVE US SOME, SOME MORE VISITORS.
AND I WALKED AND TALKED TO SOME OF THOSE FOLKS A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO WHEN WE WERE CONSIDERING WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALCOHOL SALES AT DE NIRO, AND THEY WERE BRAGGING ABOUT THE PARK AT THAT POINT.
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T STOPPED IN AND TAKEN A LOOK AT WHAT OUR FOLKS DID WITH THE RECREATION ROOM THERE, YOU'LL BE TRULY IMPRESSED WITH WHAT THEY DID WITH ABOUT 5 TO $6000.
CRAIG, IF I MAY, ONE OTHER ONE OTHER COMMENT.
I SEE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF THE 20,000 PEOPLE DAY THAT OR A WEEK THAT PROCESS THROUGH THERE.
AND I, I THINK WE CAN DO MORE THERE TO PROMOTE THEM COMING BACK AND STAYING ON THE ISLAND.
ARE WE GOING TO GET THEM WHEN THEY'RE READY TO GO HOME? QUITE HONESTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO, BUT I THAT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE COMING DOWN.
THEY COME IN THE DAY BEFORE THEY GO.
THEY GO EAT DINNER AND THEY SIT IN THE ROOM AND THINK ABOUT THEIR CRUISE.
BUT IF WE CAN, IF WE CAN AT LEAST PRESENT TO THEM THE BEAUTY AND THE VALUE OF GALVESTON SO THEY'LL
[03:20:02]
COME BACK.BUT ALSO, I MEAN, I RUN INTO TOURISTS WITH CRUISERS THAT MAKE A COMMENT.
YEAH, YEAH, IT REALLY IS BOTH OF THOSE THINGS IN IN THE SHORT ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, WHICH I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE GIVEN INITIALLY, IS THAT, YES, I THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE WE CAN DO FOR OUR VIEWERS AND A LOT MORE WE CAN DO FOR CRUISERS.
AND THAT'S REALLY THE HIGH VALUE TOURISTS THAT I THINK WE SHOULD FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON.
THEY'RE GOING TO COME FROM HOUSTON AND WE WANT THEM.
APPRECIATE IT. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
AND WE HAVE BEEN WE'VE BEEN MUCH BETTER FOR IT.
BILL. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AT THE PARK.
IT'S GRATIFYING TO HEAR AND I, I TRULY HOPE TO BE REAPPOINTED THIS TIME AND TWO TIMES AFTER THAT.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT THAT WE CAN DO FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND MY TRUE COMMITMENT TO YOU IS TO WORK TOGETHER TO ROWE IN THE SAME DIRECTION.
THANK YOU BILL. THANK YOU, THANK YOU BILL.
ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE 9 OR 10 MORE APPLICANTS TO GO.
EXCUSE ME. GO AHEAD AND START.
OKAY. I SINCE MY DAD PASSED AWAY AND HE SOLD THE HOUSE, BUT.
YEAH. WOW. IT WAS KIND OF COOL THAT I GOT CONNECTED TO HIM BACK THEN OR NOT.
WELL, THEY WERE TAKING A BATHROOM BREAK.
ARE WE WE TELEVISING? COULD YOU CUT THAT OFF FOR JUST A SECOND? WE ARE NOW. SHANE CANTRELL WILL BE OUR NEXT APPLICANT.
ANY PROMPTS THAT YOU ALL LIKE IF SOMEONE FORGETS TO.
WE'VE GOT TO WORK OUT ANOTHER METHOD OF DOING THIS.
SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE THE SCOPE APART WE'RE ON.
YEAH. BUT AND THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T GET WE SHOULDN'T HAVE WORKSHOP ITEMS, LIKE THE WORKSHOP ITEMS I HAD ON WORK FOR TOMORROW.
COULDN'T GET THEM ON YET. TOMORROW WE'D BE HERE TILL 3 OR 4 IN THE AFTERNOON.
WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THAT ALSO.
NOT A BIG HUNK GUY IS NOT HERE, SO I'M BRINGING MARSHA.
OKAY. I THINK SOME OF THEM PROBABLY WILL JUST LEAVE.
HOW ARE YOU, MARCIA? GOOD. HOW ARE YOU? I AM SO GOOD.
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A MINUTE TO ABOUT 60S.
AFTER THAT, I WROTE FOR THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE.
MY LAST STORY WAS ABOUT THE ISLAND STATE PARK, SO I'VE.
I'VE BEEN INTO ATTRACTIONS A LONG TIME.
AND I SERVED ON THE COMMITTEE WITH MAYOR BROWN.
YES. OR SOME COMMITTEE, WHICH I REALLY ENJOYED.
VERY GOOD. WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP THE QUESTIONS, MARCIA, FROM THE BOARD FOR COUNCIL.
YES, MURRAY. SO I'VE KNOWN YOU FOREVER.
WE WENT THROUGH LEADERSHIP GALVESTON IN 97, ALONG WITH GINA SPAGNOLA.
WE WERE LIKE A ROCKING CLASS, AND MOST PEOPLE ARE STILL INVOLVED.
WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE NOW TO PUT YOUR NAME IN FOR THE PARK BOARD? I, I ACTUALLY CAME TO THE ISLAND PART AS A ARTIST FOR THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON THE ARTS.
THE FANTASY IS THAT I WOULD WRITE BOOKS AND LIVE BY THE SEA AND FISH.
THAT DIDN'T QUITE WORK THE WAY IT SHOULD.
BUT AS OF MAY, I'M NO LONGER WITH THE CHILDREN'S CENTER.
[03:25:02]
AND I WANT TO TEACH AND WRITE AND FISH AND WRITE.SO I WANT TO GO BACK TO MY WORLD, QUITE FRANKLY.
YOU ALL APPROVED MY SEAWALL VIEWER.
I JUST SENT OFF FOR THE SIGNAGE.
IT'S IT'S WHAT I CAME HERE TO DO, AND IT'S WHAT I ENJOY DOING.
VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES. DAVID, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU SEE IN TERMS OF MOVE ADVANCING THE PARK BOARD'S MISSION, YOU SEE, AS THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY OR WHERE ARE WE NOT LOOKING? YOU CAN PHRASE IT EITHER WAY.
RIGHT. ALL RIGHT, SO ONE PLACE I THINK WE'RE WE'RE NOT LOOKING AND LOOK TO MAXIMIZE IS MY AGE GROUP.
PRIOR TO COVID SHOWING UP, I STARTED A BLOG AND A PODCAST ABOUT LIVING JOYFULLY.
AND THE IDEA HERE WAS FOR ME TO GO TO RESTAURANTS, GO TO ATTRACTIONS, GRAB SOMEBODY LIKE SHARON, GRAB YOU AND TALK ABOUT THAT EXPERIENCE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENS WITH SENIOR CITIZENS IS ISOLATION.
YOU DON'T GO OUT AND I'M I'M GUILTY OF THAT NOW AFTER COVID.
I MEAN, I'M, I'M LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
YOU'RE NERVOUS, NERVOUS ABOUT LEAVING THE HOUSE AND EXPLORING DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO THAT.
LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S SOME FREE STUFF YOU CAN DO.
YOU CAN GET ON THE TROLLEY WHEN IT'S NOT 100 DEGREES.
YOU YOU CAN GO GET SOME ICE CREAM, BUT YOU CAN DO SOME THINGS TO MAXIMIZE THE JOY IN YOUR LIFE.
AND THE BABY BOOMER GENERATION.
WE'RE STILL HERE, AND WE HAVE SOME OF THE LARGEST AMOUNTS OF INCOME IN THE COUNTRY STILL, AND THAT I FEEL THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY WE SHOULD MAXIMIZE.
IT SHOULD BE A MECCA FOR TOURISTS IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENS IS IT'S A BEACH, RIGHT? AND WHEN YOU THINK BEACH, YOU THINK YOU GOT TO BRING YOUR GRANDCHILDREN.
WE HAVE FABULOUS FOOD LIKE MY CURRENT HOBBY HORSES.
WHY DON'T WE HAVE A JAMES BEARD AWARD? LOOK AT ALL THE WORK WE'VE DONE TO IMPROVE OUR CULINARY SCENE.
YOU KNOW, WHY DON'T WE HAVE A MICHELIN STAR? SO THAT'S PART OF MY BLOG RIGHT NOW.
IT'S LIKE, LET'S, LET'S GO SEEK OUT THIS FOOD.
AND IF IF YOU HAVE A MICHELIN STAR OR A JAMES BEARD, YOU CAN CHARGE, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST ONE SIGNATURE DISH AND THE WAITERS AND THE WAITSTAFF, ALL THOSE PEOPLE BENEFIT BECAUSE THEY GET TIPS.
AND THAT'S BACK TO MY RECENT EXPERIENCES.
SO WORKING ON THAT AND FINDING WAYS TO MAXIMIZE THAT ATTENTION ALSO LIFTS ALL BOATS.
I KNOW IT'S EXPENSIVE AND I KNOW IT'S EXPENSIVE TO LIVE HERE.
ALL THOSE THINGS. I LIVE HERE AND I'M NOT ONE OF THE RICH PEOPLE, SO I TOTALLY GET IT.
SO THIS IS BEING DONE ALSO FROM A PERSON WHO HAS TO WORK AND AND LIVE HERE AND DEAL WITH THOSE RESTRAINTS, IF THAT MAKES SENSE AT ALL.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? ALEX. ANYBODY ELSE? WELL, MY QUESTION WAS HOW DO YOU ASSESS THE CURRENT STATE OF COMMUNICATIONS AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE PARK BOARD AND THE CITY, OR THE PARK BOARD AND ANY OTHER PARTNERS THEY MAY HAVE? I DID NOT REALIZE THAT THERE WAS UNTIL I.
WAS HERE ABOUT THE SEAWALL VIEW, OR I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT WAS NEGATIVE BETWEEN THE PARK BOARD AND THE CITY SITTING IN THAT HEARING AND THEN FIGHTING OVER WHO GOT THE MONEY FIRST AND ALL THAT WAS KIND OF A SHOCKER.
AND FROM MY STANDPOINT, IT WAS DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE FROM MY STANDPOINT, WE ALL NEED TO PULL TOGETHER BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A FEW LITTLE ISSUES, LIKE LOOKING AT THE TROPICAL TROPICAL WAVES.
RIGHT? WE DON'T NEED A LOT OF INNER CONFLICT.
SO I DON'T I'M NOT I'M JUST KIND OF RUNNING INTO THAT.
THE SEAWALL VIEWERS JUST NOT GETTING SIGNAGE.
AND I WANT IT SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE IT.
SO KIDS CAN GO SEE IT FOR FREE OUT THROUGH IT FOR FREE.
[03:30:01]
CITY PARK LAND.SO I'M ABOUT TO FIND OUT HOW WILL WE WORK TOGETHER TO I DON'T YOU KNOW.
HE TOOK A DEEP BREATH AND I'M LIKE, THIS IS NOT GOOD.
IT'S A SPECTACULAR VIEW OF THE FERRIS WHEEL, AND YOUR MOM DOESN'T HAVE TO PAY $10 TO LET YOU LOOK.
THAT'S HOW I VIEW IT, RIGHT? IT'S FOR FAMILIES.
BUT HE HAS NOT GOTTEN BACK TO ME, AND THAT'S SOMETHING I'M GOING TO HAVE TO ADDRESS.
BUT I'VE RIDDEN FOR YEARS FABULOUS STORIES ABOUT THE CITY AND THE PARK BOARD, SO I FEEL LIKE I'M KIND OF THE CHEERLEADER PERSON, BUT I'M I WAS DISTRESSED BY THAT.
AND I HOPE THAT THAT THAT ENDS BECAUSE I'VE BEEN HERE WHEN APPARENTLY WHEN THE MONEY WAS HANDLED THE WAY IT'S HANDLED NOW. AND THEN SOMEHOW IT SHIFTED.
AND I DON'T REMEMBER WHERE THE MONEY WAS WHEN WE WERE ON THE COMMITTEE.
APPARENTLY THE CITY DOESN'T BENEFIT AT THE LEVEL I THOUGHT YOU WERE BENEFITING.
THAT WAS A SHOCKER TO, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IN MY MIND, YOU KNOW, THE TOURISTS ARE IS IS WHAT KEEPS US GOING AND WE SHOULD ALL GET FULL BENEFIT.
AND I'M NOT SURE HOW TO DO THAT.
I MAKE JOKES ABOUT STOPPING THEM AT THE CAUSEWAY AND TAKING THEIR VISA CARDS.
I GUESS THAT'S MY SHORT VERSION, AND I, I WILL BE HAPPY TO WRITE ANYTHING I HAVE TO WRITE FOR.
WHOEVER HAVE TO WRITE TO, TO MEND THAT OVER.
I MEAN, BECAUSE THAT'S THAT'S NOT A GOOD SPACE IF WE'RE SQUABBLING AMONG OURSELVES AND WE'VE GOT, WHAT NOW? 7 MILLION PEOPLE COMING HERE EVERY YEAR, MORE THAN THAT IS MORE THAN EIGHT.
AND WE'VE GOT CRUISE SHIPS NOW COMING.
I MEAN, WE WE NEED TO KIND OF BE, YOU KNOW, IN A KUMBAYA MODE AND ALL CASH IN.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? I'M IMPRESSED BY YOUR RESUME.
IT SEEMS LIKE IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE IT, YOU'RE YOU'RE YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT.
AND I APPRECIATE SOMEONE THAT LIKES TO LEARN.
SO I HAVE REALLY TWO QUESTIONS FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU KIND OF HIT ALL MY POINTS.
YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED RESTAURANTS, BUT WHAT ARE YOUR TOP THREE PRIORITIES AS A TRUSTEE? AND JUST JUST BRIEF JUST WE'RE WORKING WITH TIME HERE.
SO. AND I APPRECIATE HOW THOROUGH YOU'VE BEEN.
ACTUALLY, HIS QUESTION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE MIGHT BE OVERLOOKING, WHAT THOSE GAPS ARE.
I WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE TO DO THAT.
I MEAN, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT WE'RE MISSING, YOU KNOW, THE DISCUSSIONS OVERALL, EVEN WHEN I WAS ON THE COMMITTEE, YOU HAVE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE DAY TRIPPERS AND THE PEOPLE IN THE HOTELS.
AND I DON'T KNOW, THIS SEEMS LIKE BE SOME CLEVER WAY WE CAN BRING THOSE THAT GAP TOGETHER.
AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT IS, BUT I'M CERTAINLY WANTING TO SIT THERE AND FIGURE IT OUT BECAUSE THERE'S GOT TO BE I MEAN, GETTING PEOPLE TO SPEND MONEY.
I MEAN, IF YOU'RE ON VACATION, YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND MONEY.
BUT IF YOU'RE A DAY TRIPPER, IT SEEMS TO ME, AT THE VERY LEAST, YOU GOT TO EAT, YOU KNOW? AND THAT WAS MY POINT WITH MY, MY PODCAST.
YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT TO SPEND SOME MONEY SOMEWHERE.
PICKLES. THEN MY LAST QUESTION.
SO WITH 34 MILLION IN GRANTS, GOOD JOB.
HOW DO YOU VIEW GRANTS IN RELATION TO OPERATIONAL BUDGETS? I DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL I SAT THROUGH YOUR BUDGET TODAY THAT YOU NEEDED ANY GRANTS.
I MEAN, I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT ONE GRANT, WHICH WAS THE GRANT.
I WAS SURPRISED THAT YOU HAD THE CITY HAD TO MATCH IT BECAUSE MEADOWS MENTAL HEALTH JUST HAD GOTTEN.
JUST WHEN YOU APPLIED FOR THAT GRANT, THEY HAD JUST GOTTEN $10 MILLION FROM I'M I'M BLANKING ON IT RIGHT NOW.
THE GENIUS AWARD PEOPLE, THEY HAD JUST GOTTEN A BIG GRANT THEMSELVES.
AND THAT IS CERTAINLY WHAT THEY IMPLIED IN THE APPLICATION.
I WENT TO THE HEARING WITH MEADOWS MENTAL HEALTH TO MAKE SURE WE COULD I COULD SUPPORT THAT.
I I'M, I'M DOING JUST SOME WORK FOR SOME OTHER GRANTORS GRANTEES RIGHT NOW, AND
[03:35:07]
I NOT AS AN EMPLOYEE, BUT AS, AS A CONTRACTOR.I HAVE A SMALL CONSULTING FIRM, AND CERTAINLY WORKING ON SOME GRANTS IS NOT BENEATH ME.
I MEAN, I HAVE TO PAY MY BILLS, TOO, BUT AND I, I'M CERTAINLY CONCERNED WITH THAT COAST GRANT, AT THE VERY LEAST, THAT WE GET THAT RENEWED BECAUSE IN SOCIAL SERVICES, A LOT OF OUR HOMELESS CLIENTS IN THE CITY, ARE JUST NEED HELP.
AND THAT TEAM, I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THAT TEAM.
VERY IMPRESSED BY THE GRANT AND THE CITY ITSELF.
SO LOOKING FOR MORE WAYS TO SUPPORT THE CITY IS CERTAINLY WITHIN MY PURVIEW.
OKAY. MARCIA, WANTED TO THANK YOU.
AND WE'LL BE MAKING OUR DECISIONS VOTING ON THIS TOMORROW AT 5 P.M..
DO WE DO WE HAVE TO COME HERE IN CASE WE.
YOU. YOU MEAN YOU DO YOU NEED TO BE HERE FOR THAT 5 P.M.? NO, MA'AM. YOU DO NOT.
OF COURSE YOU CAN. BUT COUNCIL WILL BE MAKING THEIR DECISIONS IN VOTING ON THAT.
PROBABLY WON'T GET TO IT TILL THE LATTER PART OF OUR AGENDA.
OKAY. IT'LL BE LATER THAT DAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. ROLLINS. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO TALKING WITH YOU MORE.
IT LOOKS VERY DISAPPROVING, AND I, YOU KNOW, I WASN'T.
NO, I WAS JUST SITTING HERE LISTENING.
I HAD NO IDEA OF THE SOME OF THE BACKGROUND.
I MEAN, I KNEW SOME, BUT NOT ALL.
AND I AM FAR FROM DISAPPROVING, JUST VERY INTRIGUED.
WELL, THIS IS A GOOD TIME. THIS IS A TRANSITION PERIOD FOR ME, AND I HAVE THE TIME FOR CHANGE.
OKAY. DID I LOOK THAT BAD? WAS IT JUST WAS IT WAS I WAS I JUST KIND OF LIKE DAZED OR I, I GOT MAKE SURE I DON'T LOOK VERY, VERY SERIOUS.
OH IT WAS, IT WAS, I WAS, I WAS PERSON.
NO I WAS LITERALLY I WAS VERY ZONED IN ON ALL YOU HAD TO SAY.
MARCIA IS A LADY OF MANY TALENTS.
AND WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HERE IN GALVESTON.
WELL, I'VE ENJOYED LIVING HERE.
I MEAN, THAT WAS 90% OF THE BATTLE.
IS IS JUST LIVING HERE AND BEING ABLE TO FISH.
SO WELL, THANK YOU, MARCIA, AGAIN.
HAVE A GOOD DAY. THANK YOU. NICE SEEING YOU.
THANK YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU AS ALWAYS.
NOTHING FOR THE. AND I JUST HAVE TO SAY MARCIA, MARCIA, MARCIA, WE HAVE BOB JONES NOW COMING.
MURRAY YEAGER. DO WHAT? YEAGER HOME. THEY GOT THE HISTORIC MARKER.
AWESOME. MR. BOB JONES COMING.
WHAT DO WE DO IF THEY HAD TO LEAVE? THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO, RIGHT? IF THE APPLICANT.
WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE OUR CONSIDER THEIR INPUT FROM THEIR APPLICATION.
BOB, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A LONG DAY.
MY FRIEND DOCTOR. IS NOT HERE.
THEN WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP TO QUESTIONS.
SURE. SO MY NAME IS BOB JONES.
I JUST RETIRED AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS FOR GALVESTON ISD.
WE HAD HAD OUR HOME DOWN HERE FOR ABOUT EIGHT YEARS.
THAT JOB OPENED UP, AND MY WIFE'S COMPANY SAID, SURE, YOU CAN WORK FROM HOME.
AND I SAID, OKAY, THAT'S GREAT, HON, WE'LL GO.
WE WE ENJOYED OUR TIME WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT I SAID, HEY, IT'S TIME I'M RETIRED.
SHE GOES, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO FOR YOUR NEXT JOB? AND I GO I DON'T KNOW.
SHE GOES, WELL, WHATEVER IT IS, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE DONE FROM HERE.
SO I HAD TO TO GO OUT AND AND IF YOU HAVEN'T RETIRED, YOUR WIFE'S GOING.
I'M WORKING FROM HOME. YOU GOT TO GO FIND SOMETHING TO KEEP YOURSELF BUSY.
OH, I HAD THAT VERY CONVERSATION.
[03:40:02]
SO I WAS IN A NINE HOUR INTERVIEW YESTERDAY WITH UNITED AIRLINES AND WAS OFFERED A JOB WITH THEM WORKING IN THE HOUSTON AREA.AND SO I'M KIND OF USED TO WAITING, YOU KNOW, SO I, YOU KNOW, TWO DAYS IN A ROW, BUT ULTIMATELY I'M A SERVANT LEADER. THAT'S WHAT I DO.
AND AND I BELIEVE THAT YOUR JOB, THE PARK BOARD'S JOB, ALL OF OUR JOBS IS TO BE SERVANT LEADERS FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND TO BRING A QUALITY OF LIFE THAT EVERYONE WHO LIVES HERE GOES.
GALVESTON HAS PROBLEMS JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE SO MANY PLUSES THAT WE HAVE.
AND I CAN SEE OUR PARK BOARD AND OUR CITY COUNCIL DOING THAT.
DIDN'T ALWAYS SEE THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? 35 YEARS IN EDUCATION DIDN'T ALWAYS SEE THAT.
AND AND I NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY ANYONE WOULD WANT YOUR JOBS.
I NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY ANYBODY WANTS A SCHOOL BOARD'S JOB, BUT YET HERE I AM.
I'M SAYING BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I DO.
SO THANK YOU, BOB, FOR THAT INTRO.
LET'S OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS.
ANYBODY GO AHEAD. OKAY. SO WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITIES AT THE PARK BOARD IN TERMS OF EXECUTING THEIR MISSION? WELL, NUMBER ONE IS IS WE NEED TO BRING BRING THE RIGHT TYPE OF TOURISM TO TOWN.
SO RIGHT NOW I AM YOU KNOW THAT I TOLD YOU MY WIFE SAID I NEEDED TO FIND A JOB.
SO I AM THE HEAD OF SECURITY AT THE MARGARITAVILLE RV AND RESORT ON BOLIVAR ISLAND OVER THERE.
OKAY, WHEN BRAD BALLARD, WHO OWNED IT, ASKED ME TO DO IT, I GO, OKAY, HOW MANY ARE ON MY STAFF? HE GOES, YOU. SO BUT NOW THERE'S MORE.
SO. AND, YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD STILL BE THE HEAD, BUT I'M WORKING OVER THERE, AND WE GOT TO BRING THE RIGHT CREW HERE AND RIGHT NOW OVER THERE, AND I.
AND YOU GUYS KNOW THIS, BUT I HEAR IT EVERY DAY.
WE DON'T WANT THAT MOTORCYCLE RALLY OR THAT TOPLESS.
WE DON'T WANT IT. YOU KNOW WHAT? THEY CAN GO TO GALVESTON.
YEAH, THEY CAN GO TO GALVESTON.
THAT'S THAT'S A THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THAT.
AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER ELEMENT THAT IS NOT SO GREAT.
SO I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK INTO TO BE A LITTLE MORE SELECTIVE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS DOING WITH GALVESTON ISD BEFORE, BEFORE I RETIRED, WAS I WAS TALKING TO THE NATIONAL JUNIOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL COMMITTEE, OKAY, TO BRING THEIR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES, WHICH WOULD BE ABOUT FOUR TO THE ISLAND TO PLAY IT AT KERRVILLE.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THEY SAID IS WE'D LOVE IT.
I GO HERE, HERE'S A PICTURE OF OUR NEW STADIUM.
I GO, HERE'S A PICTURE OF WHAT OUR PRESS BOX IS GOING TO BE.
AND THEY GO, WE'D BE VERY INTERESTED.
NOW THAT GAME HAS BEEN AWARDED TO CANYON, TEXAS.
HOW DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD HAVE EVEN BEEN A OPTION HAD GALVESTON PRESENTED SOMETHING? NOW, RIGHT NOW, I DON'T HAVE A PRESS BOX AT KERRVILLE.
BLAME CAN BE PUT A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES ON THAT.
I CAN TELL YOU EXACTLY WHERE, BUT I WON'T.
AND AND WITHOUT THAT PRESS BOX, THEY YOU CAN'T HOST IT.
OKAY. THE THE THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS OF TEXAS WANTED TO BRING THEIR STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS.
I HOSTED THEM IN BASTROP AND WE PLAYED 12 GAMES OVER FOUR DAYS.
SO ALL THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS CAME AND PLAYED.
OKAY. THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES THAT WE CAN BRING.
YOU KNOW, WE HOSTED THE BIG CROSS COUNTRY MEET ON THE BEACH.
AND THANK YOU FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD THAT HELPED US WITH THAT.
THOSE ARE THE KIND OF EVENTS, SPORTS TOURISM THAT WE COULD REALLY BRING.
OBVIOUSLY I'M, I DON'T UNDERSTAND OUR OUR WHY WE'RE PUTTING NEW GRASS ON A GRASS SOCCER FIELD AND THEN AND YOU KNOW, I SEE WE PUT A JOGGING TRACK AROUND IT, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE THOUGHT PROCESS BEHIND THAT.
[03:45:01]
OBVIOUSLY I WASN'T INVOLVED IN THAT.THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE CAN BRING TO THE ISLAND THAT THAT WOULD REALLY HELP US.
I WAS THE VOICE OF DISNEY CRUISE LINES, ONE OF MY RETIREMENT JOBS.
WELCOME TO DISNEY CRUISE LINE.
AND WAS WAS DENIED A JOB BY OUR OUR UNION.
WORKING ON I WANTED TO DO BAGGAGE DOWN ON THE PORT.
WENT DOWN, FILLED IT OUT, DID MY CARD, DID ALL THAT STUFF.
AND THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS AGO.
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO SEND ME A NUMBER SO I COULD START WORKING DOWN THERE.
SO DID DID A LOT OF THINGS IN THE CITY IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME TO KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHERE WHERE THOSE TYPE OF THINGS GO AND THEN ALSO WORK WITH OUR TOURISM A LITTLE BIT ON, ON BOLIVAR ISLAND.
SO I HAVE SOME UNIQUE SKILLS AND SOME UNIQUE EXPERIENCES THAT I CAN BRING TO THE TABLE FOR YOU.
VERY GOOD. WE'RE GOING TO WIND THIS UP HERE THEN.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT ANYBODY? YES, MA'AM. WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON SHORT TERM RENTALS? SO I WAS A SHORT TERM RENTAL GUY WHEN I FIRST HAD THAT HOUSE.
OKAY. AND I HAD I HAD RING VIDEO DOORBELL.
AND SO IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WHEN I WAS IN SHERMAN, TEXAS, AND THAT WOULD GO OFF AND I WOULD SEE GUYS WHO WERE RENTING MY HOUSE, FISHERMEN THEN URINATING OFF MY DECK WAS NOT I WASN'T EXCITED.
MY WIFE GOES, THAT'S IT. WE'RE NOT GOING TO RENT IT ANYMORE.
I THINK THERE'S A PLACE FOR IT.
BUT AGAIN, I HEARD YOU GUYS TALK ABOUT IT EARLIER.
IT'S GOT A REALLY BE WE GOT TO TIGHTEN DOWN THE SCREWS ON IT.
WE I MEAN, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS Y'ALL DID THAT I THOUGHT WAS REALLY GOOD IS YOU, YOU HAVE THAT NUMBER THAT YOU CAN NOW CALL AND GO, HEY, LISTEN, THIS ADDRESS RIGHT HERE, WHICH IS MANNED 24 HOURS A DAY, WHICH I THINK IS REALLY NEAT AND GO, HEY THESE PEOPLE ARE PARKED ALL OVER THE STREET.
THEY'RE HANGING FROM THE RAFTERS.
THERE'S 25 PEOPLE THERE, AND THERE'S ONLY I.
SO I THINK A LOT OF OUR PEOPLE THAT OWN OUR HOMES HERE DON'T LIVE HERE.
BUT OUR TAX BASE WAS BECAUSE OF ALL THE HOMES THAT WERE OWNED.
SO WHEN WE BOUGHT OUR HOME ORIGINALLY, IT'S KIND OF WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO VACATION, WE'RE GOING TO RENT IT, WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.
I FINALLY JUST PUMPED THE PRICE UP SO HIGH AND NOBODY WOULD RENT IT, YOU KNOW? AND SO I THINK THERE'S A PLACE FOR IT, BUT I THINK THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY GOT TO TIGHTEN THE SCREWS DOWN ON.
I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR FOR PEOPLE TO, TO, YOU KNOW, PUT MONEY INTO A HOME AND, AND WANT TO REALLY BE INVOLVED AND PAY TAXES HERE AND NOT BE ABLE TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO WITH THEIR HOME.
BUT THEY GOT TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.
GOTCHA. ALEX, ANYBODY ELSE QUESTIONS? NO, I THINK DO YOU THINK WE'VE FALLEN SHORT ON SPORTS TOURISM? ABSOLUTELY. YEAH.
SO I'M A FOOTBALL GUY AS A COACH.
YOU KNOW, YOU DEAL WITH A LOT OF KNUCKLEHEADS.
I DEAL WITH A LOT OF KIDS WITH, YOU KNOW, YOU DEAL WITH A LOT.
A LOT OF KIDS WITH DIFFERENT, MORE PARENTS, AND.
SO HOW DO YOU TRANSFER THAT LEADERSHIP INTO, YOU KNOW, LIKE A GOVERNMENT APPOINTED POSITION WHERE YOU'RE WORKING WITH, YOU KNOW, MAYBE SOME KNUCKLEHEADS, BUT, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU TRANSFER THAT KIND OF LEADERSHIP INTO A ROLE, LIKE AS A TRUSTEE ON THE PARK BOARD? WELL, SO IF YOU LOOK AT 35 YEARS AND I'VE HAD GREAT MENTORS AND HAD SOME, SOME REALLY OUTSTANDING, SOME SUCCESSFUL SEASONS, THAT WASN'T BECAUSE I HAD, HAD ALWAYS HAD PEOPLE THAT FELL IN LINE.
AND, YOU KNOW, SO MANY TIMES NOW WE, WE TRY TO GET THINGS DONE WITH A SLEDGEHAMMER.
AND THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I DID FOR 35 YEARS.
I MADE KIDS WHO? FORT WORTH, DUNBAR THE GREATEST KIDS I'VE EVER COACHED IN MY LIFE.
WELL, I WAS THERE SEVEN YEARS AND WE WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL.
AND SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS ARE MY EX-PLAYERS FROM THERE.
[03:50:07]
AND SO I THINK IF AS I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, IF I'M A SERVANT LEADER AND IF I, IF I'M DOWN AT THE BEACH AND I'M HELPING CLEAN THE BEACH AND I'M DOING WHATEVER I CAN TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO, HEY, LISTEN, HE HE'S A PAIN IN OUR DERRIERE, BUT HE, HE REALLY DOES GET THINGS DONE.AND AND SO I THINK THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT, THAT SOMETIMES YOU COME WITH THE VELVET HAMMER AND YOU GO, HEY, LISTEN, LET'S WORK AT THIS.
AND, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THIS DAY AND AGE, THE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T GET TO PADDLE THEM ANYMORE.
YOU KNOW, BACK IN THE DAY, WE ALL SIT THERE, RIGHT? A LOT A LOT OF KIDS FELL IN LINE WITH THAT AVERSION THERAPY.
BAD EXPERIENCE WITH A BAD BEHAVIOR.
WE DON'T GET TO DO THAT ANYMORE.
AND YOU KNOW, I, I'M EXCITED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I WILL JUST SAY THIS, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR CAME IN AND HE GOES, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY ONLY GOT ONE SPOT AND GO, WELL, YOU KNOW, ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT IS, I WANT TO GO MAYOR. YOU KNOW, IF NICK SABAN WALKED INTO MY OFFICE AT GALVESTON AND HE GOES, BOB, I WANT TO BE THE HEAD FOOTBALL COACH, I'D TELL SHELDON BENNETT I REALLY LIKED HIM AND I LOVED HIM WHEN NICK SABAN WAS TAKEN OVER.
AND SO SO IF THAT IF I'M YOUR NICK SABAN AND YOU GOT TO REPLACE SOMEBODY, I'M RIGHT THERE FOR YOU.
THIS IS VERY PERTINENT TO THE PARKS BOARD.
WHO DO YOU SEND THE TCU OUT OF RED OAK? I'M SORRY, WHO DID YOU SEND THE TCU OUT OF? BOB MURRAY? A CLOSE FRIEND OF MINE.
BILLY SOUTH AMERICA? NO. TOBY MURRAY WAS THE FASTEST DUDE OFF RETURNER.
SO I COACHED HIM IN COLLEGE, TOO.
YEAH. YOU KNOW, HE WENT TO SOUTHWEST BAPTIST UNIVERSITY, SO I WAS HE WAS A TRANSFER.
THAT'S WHERE HE WENT FIRST. AND SO I COACHED HIM.
HE CAME WITH ME TO SOUTHWEST BAPTIST.
I WAS THE DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR.
WHEN I LEFT TO GO TO PLEASANTON.
HAD A GREAT YEAR. HE RUNS OUR HE RUNS OUR LETTERMAN FACEBOOK PAGE.
SO WILL YOU MAKE SURE YOU GO, WELL, DO YOU REMEMBER COACH BOB JONES? ALL RIGHT, BOB, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I WAS IN TROUBLE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU GET A COACH IN HERE.
AND THANK YOU. WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY TODAY, BOB.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN HELP IT EVEN IF I'M NOT INVOLVED.
THANKS, GUYS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
COUNCIL, WE'VE GOT TWO ITEMS. ONE ON THE COMMUNICATION, ONE ON THE CHARTER.
DO YOU WANT TO HAVE THOSE AFTER WE FINISH UP HERE, OR WOULD YOU RATHER PUT THOSE OFF TO ANOTHER MEETING? IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN MOVE THEM TO TOMORROW, EVEN? WELL, I NEED TO ASK JEANETTE.
WE CAN'T. WE HAVE NOT POSTED THEM, SO WE CAN'T DO THAT FOR TOMORROW.
TWO MEETINGS IN JULY, DON'T WE, JANELLE? ONE JUST. ON.
SO IT WOULD BE WE COULD CALL A SPECIAL MEETING AND ROUND ALL THESE UP FOR JULY IF YOU LIKE.
INDICATION ONE IS VERY MUCH A CONCERN BECAUSE, WELL, THIS JUST NEED TO GET YOUR GUIDANCE.
IF WE CAN DO IT, NOT WE NEED TO RELEASE BRIAN.
AND THEY'VE BEEN WAITING OVER THERE TILL WE FINISH UP.
AND. BUT SOME OF THESE ITEMS ON THERE, I MEAN, MINE'S GOING TO BE VERY BRIEF.
IT'S JUST IT'S IT'S NOT TO DELVE INTO, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING THAT WE WANT TO DO.
WHAT? I MEAN, WHAT DOES COUNCIL SAY THAT AGAIN THOUGH, IT STOPPED THE BRIEFNESS.
I MEAN OF COURSE I RESPECT THAT.
I UNDERSTAND WE'RE STILL AN HOUR AND A HALF AWAY HOUR MAYBE.
SO OKAY, LET'S TALK ABOUT PROCESS.
AND WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE I'VE GOT A LOT OF I'VE GOT A LOT TO SAY, BUT I'VE GOT A LOT TO SAY ABOUT THE CHARTER REVIEW THAT WE COULD DISCUSS. CHARTERS SHOULD BE LIKE AT LEAST AN HOUR.
[03:55:04]
SO THAT SORT OF PROCESS AND ALL THAT.I JUST I NEED TO RELEASE BRIAN, THOUGH.
IF WE WERE NOT GOING TO DO THIS HE SAID OVER THERE COULD DO A MEETING THE.
BECAUSE OUR REGULAR MEETING WOULDN'T BE TILL THE 25TH 25TH.
PROBABLY BE BETTER TO DO IT ON THE THE SECOND WEEK IN JULY.
I WON'T I WILL NOT BE IN TOWN.
OKAY. WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO FINISH THESE UP.
WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH TELL BRIAN WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH WITH THEM.
AND WE DO WE'RE GOING TO DO THEM TODAY.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND BRING THOSE IN.
WE GOT MR. MARK CARROLL COMING UP.
SEE. AND THIS IS WHY WE ALWAYS SUPPORT INTERVIEWS.
BECAUSE YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THAT MAN JUST FROM READING HIS RESUME.
MARK, HOW ARE YOU, SIR? FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE TODAY.
THEN WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP TO QUESTIONS.
SO, MARK CARROLL, I AM AN IT PROJECT MANAGER WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
I MOVED TO GALVESTON THREE YEARS AGO.
OUR JOBS, ALL WITH 100% REMOTE IN MY DEPARTMENT, AND I SAID, THAT'S IT.
I'M DONE WITH AUSTIN. I'M GOING TO THE BEACH.
SO HERE I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING THIS.
I WANT TO NOW SETTLE KIND OF KIND OF GET.
WANT TO GIVE BACK TO MY COMMUNITY? WANT TO DO, YOU KNOW, MORE STUFF? I'VE GOT TIME ON MY HANDS. I FIND AND I'M A REGULAR USER OF THE BEACH.
MY MORNING BIKE ROUTE TAKES ME ALONG SEAWALL FOR 4 TO 5 MILES EACH WAY.
SO I'M OUT THERE WITH A FEW OTHER DIEHARDS AT 5 A.M.
AND THE TRASH GUYS AND THE PEOPLE CLEANING UP THE BEACH.
AND I THINK I HAVE SOME SKILLS I CAN BRING TO THE TABLE.
AND SO I APPLIED AND HERE I AM.
LET'S OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS.
BOB. WHAT WHAT QUALITIES OR EXPERIENCE OR TRAINING DO YOU BRING? WOULD YOU BRING TO THE PARKS BOARD TO HELP IT BE SUCCESSFUL? SO I'VE WORKED IN A VARIETY OF GOVERNMENT INDUSTRIES.
LIKE I SAID, RIGHT NOW, I WORK FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
I DID WORK FOR TRAVIS COUNTY IN AUSTIN FOR MANY YEARS.
I DID A STINT WITH THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY.
SO I'VE WORKED THROUGH, YOU KNOW, THE VARIOUS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.
I UNDERSTAND YOU KNOW, COLOR OF MONEY, BUDGETS AND THOSE PIECES I, YOU KNOW, HAVE USED PARKS A LOT WOULD BE MY, YOU KNOW, BIG THING. I'M A USER OF THEM.
I INTERESTED IN THEM, BUT I FIND THE GOVERNANCE OF IT INTERESTING.
AND THAT'S NOW A LOT OF WHAT I DO IS, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF GOVERNANCE OF OTHER THINGS.
YOU KNOW, AS A PROJECT MANAGER, I HAVE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT TEAMS, I HAVE HARDWARE TEAMS, I HAVE SUPPORT TEAMS. AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, MANAGING AND GOVERNING OVER THAT.
AND, YOU KNOW, KIND OF MAKING SURE EVERYONE GETS THEIR HOMEWORK DONE SORT OF STUFF.
SO THOSE ARE THE SKILLS THAT I HAVE NOW IN USE AND WOULD BRING TO THIS SORT OF POSITION.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? YES. DAVID. SURE.
WHAT ARE THE WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY OR WHERE ARE WE NOT LOOKING OVER AT THE PARK? SPORT IS RELATED TO ACCOMPLISHING ITS MISSION.
IT FEELS LIKE IT'S A BUNCH OF LITTLE THINGS.
SO. AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT IT THIS MORNING WHEN I DID MY BIKE RIDE.
IF IT WAS ON A STREET, THEY WOULD BE POTHOLES, RIGHT? THEY'RE JUST LITTLE CRACKS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT BIG, BUT ON A BIKE FEEL AND SO THERE'S LITTLE AND THEN THERE'S, YOU KNOW, LITTLE MAINTENANCE THINGS THOSE, YOU KNOW, THE SORT OF THINGS THAT I, YOU KNOW, FEEL LIKE IT TAKES AWAY.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE TOURISTS DON'T SEE THEM.
MAYBE THEY DO YOU KNOW, BUT YOU PICK UP, YOU KNOW, YOU GO A LOT AND YOU PICK UP, OH, HERE AND HERE AND HERE SO THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT MAINTENANCE, THE CARE AND FEEDING THAT GOES INTO ALL OF THAT IS, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, A BUNCH OF LITTLE THINGS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T I'M NOT SITTING THERE GOING, OH, NO, THIS IS ALL WRONG.
NO, I THINK THERE'S JUST, YOU KNOW, THE GLARING, YOU KNOW, NO BIG GLARING THINGS ABOUT THOSE LITTLE PIECES HERE AND THERE THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE COULD BE ADDRESSED AND MAYBE COULD MAKE THINGS JUST A BIT BETTER, OKAY.
SORT OF INCREASING THE QUALITY OF OUR PARKS AND OF OUR ATTRACTIONS.
VERY GOOD. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? ALEX. SO WITH YOUR IT BACKGROUND, DO WE NEED TO INTEGRATE TECHNOLOGY BETTER AT THE PARK BOARD? AND JUST BRIEFLY, HOW COULD WE DO THAT? OKAY, SO I NOTICED I WAS DOING MY RESEARCH AND POKING AROUND THE PARK BOARD WEBSITE.
IT'S LIKE, HEY, CURRENT PROJECTS.
I'M LIKE, OKAY, COOL, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
[04:00:01]
AND ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATES OF 2017 2018.OKAY. ALL RIGHT. YOU GO TO THE CURRENT PROJECTS AND IT'S SIX YEARS OLD.
THAT'S THAT'S NOT A GOOD LOOK.
AND I THINK NOW, ESPECIALLY WITH THE TEXTING AND THE SOCIAL MEDIA AND ALL THESE THINGS.
ARE OUT THERE NOW THAT DIDN'T, YOU KNOW, EVEN TEN YEARS AGO, FIVE YEARS AGO, WHEN IT'S PREVALENT, THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO BE MORE COMMUNICATIVE AND TO GET YOUR MESSAGE OUT THERE. HEY, THESE THINGS ARE GREAT.
AWESOME. SHOW THEM, PUT THEM ON.
YOU KNOW, GET A DRONE FLYING OVER POSTED ON YOUTUBE.
THEY'RE NOT READING THE NEWSPAPER, THEY'RE WATCHING TIKTOK.
THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, PLAYING ON YOUTUBE.
THEY'RE WATCHING ON THEIR PHONES.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HOW THE PARKING THING WORKS.
I'M JUST LIKE, IS THAT REALLY THE.
IT'S CLUNKY. AND MAYBE IT'S THAT.
AND THAT COULD BE ME. YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO OTHER PEOPLE SAY? AND I SO I'M NOT GOING TO SIT THERE AND SAY, OH, IT'S CLUNKY, GET RID OF IT.
BUT THERE'S THAT YOU KNOW, AND THEN THE, THE WARNING SYSTEMS, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE TEXT IS GREAT.
AND IF 90,000 PEOPLE AREN'T HERE, THEN WHY KEEP SENDING IT THAT I COMPLETELY GET.
ARE THEY WORKING? ARE THEY EFFECTIVE? AND THEN IMPROVE THEM? I WOULD, YOU KNOW, I'M A BIG ON CHANGE.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU JUST.
OH NO. WE GOT TO COMPLETELY DO A DIFFERENT.
NO. IS IT EFFECTIVE? DOES IT CHANGE DRIVE SOMETHING TO MAKE IT BETTER.
AND THAT'S HOW I WOULD LOOK AT THAT AND EVALUATE IT.
VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM MISTER ROWE? MARK, I WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE'RE SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOUR APPLICATION HERE.
WE'LL MAKE OUR APPOINTMENTS TOMORROW AT OUR 5:00 COUNCIL MEETING.
AND IF FOR SOME REASON YOU'RE NOT CHOSEN FOR THE PARK BOARD, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER COMMISSIONS AND BOARDS AVAILABLE, AND WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU PARTICIPATE IF POSSIBLE. OKAY, I'D BE INTERESTED.
THANK YOU, MARK, VERY MUCH, VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. BUT I WOULD DEFER MY ITEM TO THE NEXT MEETING.
I MEAN, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WOULD COVER CHARTER IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
WE HAVE CARLOS GUERRA COMING IN.
I MEAN, I'LL TAKE THE TEMPERATURE OF THE ROOM HERE.
WE JUST GOT TO FIND A PLACE FOR THAT CHARTER DISCUSSION.
SAY THAT AGAIN, BOB. SO WHAT MARIE JUST SUGGESTED IS FINE WITH ME.
BUT. YEAH, EXCEPT YOU BE JULY 25TH.
CAN WE CAN WE DEFER THE CHARTER? JULY 25TH.
HOW ARE YOU, MR. GREER? I KNOW WE'RE TRYING TO FIT IT IN BETWEEN.
HI. HOW ARE YOU? I'M JUST FINE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE TODAY.
THIS HAS BEEN A LONG DAY FOR YOU, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU STAYING AROUND.
THEN WE'RE GOING TO OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS, SIR.
OKAY. MY NAME IS CARLOS GUERRA.
I MOVED TO THE ISLAND ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO.
I STARTED COMING TO THE ISLAND WHEN MY SON WAS EIGHT.
NINE. WE USED TO LIVE IN KATY.
I'M ORIGINALLY FROM MEXICO CITY, MOVED TO HOUSTON AND LIVE IN KATY.
WE WERE COMING. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HIM THREE TIMES A DAY A WEEK, BECAUSE HE STARTED DOING THE JUNIOR GUARDS PROGRAM WITH BEACH PATROL, AND WE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE ISLAND. SO BY THE TIME HE WAS A JUNIOR SOPHOMORE IN HIGH SCHOOL, WE DECIDED TO SELL OUR HOUSE IN KATY.
MOVED COMPLETELY HERE TO TO THE ISLAND.
SO WE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE AMENITIES AND EVERYTHING THAT HAS THE ISLAND TO OFFER.
AND WE KNOW THAT HE LIKED HE ALWAYS LOVED THE OCEAN.
AND THE REASON I WANT TO PARTICIPATE WITH THE WITH THE PARK, WITH THE PARK BOARD IS BECAUSE I LOVE THE ISLAND, LITERALLY, I THAT'S WHY I MOVE HERE, I THINK HAS A LOT OF POTENTIAL. IT'S A GEM, A HIDDEN GEM.
[04:05:03]
DON'T WANT TO GO THERE, I TAKE IT PERSONALLY.I AND I, SOMETIMES I TELL THEM, WELL, DON'T COME, BUT BUT AND THAT'S WHY I WANTED, I WANTED TO TO SHOW THEM THAT THAT THE ISLAND IS, IS BEYOND THE CRUISE SHIPS.
IT HAS A LOT OF THINGS TO OFFER.
PLEASANT WAY TO TO PARTICIPATE.
SO. AND THEN I STARTED VOLUNTEERING WITH WEIGHT WATCHERS.
ALWAYS I VOLUNTEER WITH JESSE TREE SURVIVOR SUPPORT, SO.
SO I ALWAYS VOLUNTEER WITH THE DEPARTMENT WITH WITH SOMETHING, GIVE SOMETHING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
IT GIVES ME A CHANCE TO TALK TO PEOPLE.
IT GIVES ME A CHANCE TO WALK THE SAND AND SEE WHAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SPENDING TIME AND SPENDING THEIR MONEY IN THE ISLAND TALKS ABOUT AND WHAT THEY LIKE AND WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR AND WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE, AND INFORMING THEM ABOUT THE ISLAND, TELLING THEM WHAT IT IS ABOUT ALSO GIVES ME A CHANCE.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT GIVES ME A CHANCE TO SEE THEM IN THEIR GOOD TIMES WHEN THEY'RE HAVING FUN, PREVENTING THE BAD TIMES, BUT ALSO WORKING WITH THEM WHEN THE DROWNINGS HAPPEN.
YOU KNOW, WE WERE VERY INVOLVED WITH THE EVERY DROWNING THAT WE THAT THAT HAPPENS IN THE ISLAND.
WE HAVE TO GO AND TALK TO LIFEGUARDS TO SO THEY CAN DEBRIEF.
WE HELP THE THE FAMILIES THAT ARE IN THE WAITING FOR THE RESCUES.
AND WHAT? AND I STILL SEE THEM COMING BACK AFTER BECAUSE OF THAT SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE, THAT WE ARE THE ONLY ISLAND, ONLY PLACE IN THE, IN THE UNITED STATES THAT PROVIDES THAT SERVICE OF SURVIVOR SUPPORT.
SO I SEE A LOT OF PLACES, AND THAT'S WHY I WANT TO BE PART OF THE WONDERFUL.
SOUNDS GOOD. ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCIL. MEMBERS COUNCILWOMAN ROBB.
SINCE I KNOW YOU LOOK AT IT BECAUSE YOU LIVE IN PALISADES PALMS. WHAT'S YOUR VISION FOR STORED BEACH? OH, MY. MY VISION FOR STORAGE IS IT'S A IT'S A IT'S AN AREA HAS TO BE MORE DIVERSE.
IT RECEIVES IT'S THE KIND OF THE ENTRY POINT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT COME TO THE ISLAND AND VISIT, IT SHOULD BE THE THE GATE TO THE TO THE ISLAND, THE GOLDEN GATE TO THE ISLAND, THE PRESENTATION CARD TO ALL THESE VISITORS. I THAT'S WHAT I WOULD WISH IT IS.
I WOULD APPRECIATE A PLACE THAT IS AFFORDABLE FOR THE FAMILIES.
AND AND IT HAS ALL THE AMENITIES THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR TO SPEND A GOOD DAY IN THE ISLAND.
AND I SEE IT ALL THE TIME. YES.
AND WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME THERE EVERY DAY.
AND I ALSO THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK ABOUT STEWARD IS THAT TO THE EAST AND TO THE WEST OF THE STEWARD, THERE ARE OTHER PLACES AND I THINK THEY NEED TO WORK AS ECOSYSTEM.
SO WITH EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THE BEACH PATROL, WHAT ELSE COULD YOU ADD? TO THE PARK BOARD IN TERMS OF BEACH PATROL? I THINK BEACH PATROL IT'S IT'S AN AMAZING THING.
IT NEEDS TO BE ASKED QUESTIONS.
I THINK WE NEED TO ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS.
LISTEN TO THE TO THE LIFEGUARDS.
LISTEN TO OPEN OUR EARS TO THE TO TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE GROUND, THAT ARE EVERY DAY ARE SPENDING EIGHT HOURS ON THE ON A TOWER THAT IS HARD THAT THERE ARE THERE WHAT ARE THEIR NEEDS, WHAT THEY ARE EXPECTING, WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR, AND WHAT DO THEY EXPECT FROM THEIR LEADERSHIP? I THINK THAT'S WHAT I WOULD I WOULD DO ASK THE QUESTIONS AND LOOK FOR THE ANSWERS WITHIN THE, THE LOWER THE, THE ACTUAL PEOPLE THAT WORKS IN THIS
[04:10:07]
THAT ARE NOT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WORK, BUT THEY ARE INTERACTING WITH THE PUBLIC CONSTANTLY AND THEY SPEND.IF YOU EVER SPEND EIGHT HOURS ON THE SAND WHEN YOU CANNOT LISTEN TO A RADIO, YOU CANNOT LISTEN TO PHONE AND YOU'RE LOOKING AND IF IT'S A BUSY DAY, IT PROBABLY GOES FAST. BUT IF IT'S NOT, AND IF IT'S SANDY DAY OR IF IT'S SANDY.
IS BLOWING ONE WAY AND BLOWING THE OTHER WAY.
IT'S COLD OR SOMETHING, AND YOU'RE JUST SITTING THERE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO.
THAT'S THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WE NEED TO LISTEN AND TO ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS.
AND JUST BRIEFLY, WHAT ARE YOUR TOP THREE PRIORITIES AS A TRUSTEE? FIRST MY TOP THREE PRIORITIES AS A TRUSTEE QUESTION.
THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS.
THE THIRD PRIORITY IS HAVE A BIG PAIR OF EARS TO LISTEN, BECAUSE WE HEAR WHAT I THINK A TRUSTEE HAS TO LISTEN.
TRUSTEE AND I, MY JOB IS A FINANCIAL ADVISOR AND A FIDUCIARY FOR MANY PEOPLE'S MONEY.
A FIDUCIARY AND A TRUSTEE ARE MOSTLY THE SAME, RIGHT? IT'S WHAT ACT ON THE BEST INTERESTS OF OTHER.
AND THE ONLY WAY TO DO IT IS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WANT.
AND THE ONLY WAY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WANT IS TO ASK THE QUESTIONS AND THEN LISTEN TO THEM.
JUST ASKING THE QUESTION AND JUST NOT LISTEN TO THEM.
YOU HAVE TO ASK THE QUESTIONS, THE RIGHT QUESTIONS, BUT THEN REALLY, REALLY, REALLY LISTENED.
VERY GOOD. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS COUNCIL.
VERY GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH CARLOS FOR BEING HERE.
YOU'RE WELCOME. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
NO, NO. SO WILL YOU DEFER? YEAH. DEFER WHAT? EVERYBODY BE WARM TO COMING UP WITH A DATE THAT WE COULD DO.
RIGHT. AND I THINK THAT PERSONALLY WHAT PERSONALLY AS YOU MENTIONED, ALEX, YOU HAVE WANT TO JUST GET A QUICK THOUGHT OUT THERE TO, TO ACQUAINT COUNCIL WITH YOUR THOUGHT.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND FINISH THESE.
I'M RUNNING TO THE RESTROOM AGAIN.
VERY GOOD. NOT NOT READY FOR KIMBERLY? YES, MA'AM. KIMBERLY GATTO.
AND THEN THAT WAY, WE'LL KIND OF DELVE INTO THE CHARTER REVIEW MORE THOROUGHLY ONCE WE SEE WHAT YOUR GUIDANCE AND THOUGHTS ON THAT SOUNDS GOOD. IT'S OUR VICE CHAIR.
HOW ARE YOU OF THE PARK BOARD? KIMBERLY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A LONG DAY FOR YOU.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME COME IN AND WAIT THIS LONG TO SEE ME.
YEAH. YOU ALL HAVE THE TOUGH JOB.
WE DO IT FOR THE PAY, KIMBERLY.
SO KIMBERLY, WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL GIVE YOU ABOUT A MINUTE TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
AND TO TELL US WHY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE REAPPOINTED TO THE PARK BOARD.
OKAY. WELL, MY NAME IS KIMBERLY GUIDO, AND I'VE LIVED IN GALVESTON MOST OF MY 57 YEARS.
I WENT AWAY TO COLLEGE AND THEN WENT TO CULINARY SCHOOL AFTER THAT, AND CAME BACK TO GALVESTON AND WORKED FOR MY FAMILY THAT HAS BEEN IN THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS SINCE 1911 HERE ON THE ISLAND.
WE GOT INTO THE HOTEL BUSINESS IN THE 1960S, AND I'VE PUT IN MY FAIR SHARE OF TIME FAIR BY MY STANDARDS, PROBABLY NOT BY MY PARENTS STANDARDS, THAT THEY'D LIKE TO STILL HAVE A LOT MORE HOURS THERE, BUT WORKED IN THE IN THE TOURIST INDUSTRY OR THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY FOR MOST OF MY LIFE.
AND NOW I'M CURRENTLY SELLING REAL ESTATE FOR SAND AND SEA PROPERTIES.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT SAN JOSE HAS GIVEN ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH A LOT OF FOLKS THAT HAVE COME AND ARE BUYING ON THE ISLAND, OR LEAVING TO MOVE OTHER PLACES, BUT MOSTLY TO COME TO THE ISLAND.
[04:15:04]
AND I REALLY SEEN AN INCREASE OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO RETIRE HERE, PEOPLE THAT JUST WANT TO MOVE HERE BECAUSE THEY CAME HERE MOST OF THEIR LIFE AS KIDS AND NOW WANT TO RETIRE HERE ON THE ISLAND OR SPEND MORE TIME ON THE ISLAND, WHICH IS GREAT.SO IT KIND OF GIVES ME AN IDEA OF KEEPING MY FINGER ON THE PULSE OF WHO'S COMING AND GOING.
AND I DECIDED THAT I WANTED TO JOIN THE PARK BOARD.
AND I'VE SPENT THE LAST TWO YEARS ON THE PARK BOARD IN GALVESTON.
AND THAT'S THAT'S REALLY MY STORY.
I'M ASKING FOR REAPPOINTMENT TO THE PARK BOARD.
AND I THINK BECAUSE NOT JUST MY HEART, BUT YOUR HEARTS ARE IN IT TOO, THAT WE CAN DO GOOD THINGS FOR THE ISLAND, NOT ONLY FOR THE BUSINESS THAT GENERATES OR IS THE ENGINE THAT, YOU KNOW, MOVES THE CITY ECONOMICALLY, BUT ALSO FOR FOR THE ISLANDERS AND THE PEOPLE THAT THAT CALL THIS PLACE HOME.
LET'S OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS.
BOB. I'M JUST GOING TO FOLLOW UP ON WHAT YOU JUST SAID RIGHT THERE AT THE END.
MY QUESTION IS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF TOURISM DEVELOPMENT ON LOCALS.
YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE BALANCE THE AMOUNT OF DOLLARS THAT COME IN WHICH WE DEPEND ON DEARLY WITH AGAINST THE IMPACT ON LOCAL PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE? YOU KNOW, OFTEN THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY'VE BEEN PARTICIPATING OR ARE CONSIDERED OR SOMEHOW INCLUDED IN ALL OF THIS.
AND HOW WOULD YOU PROPOSE TO HELP, HELP FIGURE THAT OUT? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
IN MY TRAVELS IN THE CITY AND TALKING TO OTHER PEOPLE AND EVEN CONVERSATIONS THAT WE WERE HAVING OUT HERE IN THE FOYER, WHAT I GATHERED FROM JUST HEARING PEOPLE TALK ABOUT NOT KNOWING WHAT THE PARK BOARD DOES OR NOT KNOWING WHERE THE CITY IS OR THEIR IMPROVEMENTS, IS BASED ON COMMUNICATION.
I THINK WE ALL NEED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE LOCAL RESIDENTS MORE.
I KNOW THAT'S A DIFFICULT NOT EVERYBODY READS THE PAPER.
NOT EVERYBODY IS IN SOCIAL MEDIA, NOT EVERYBODY HAS A MAILBOX.
BUT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO FIND BETTER AVENUES TO EDUCATE THE PEOPLE IN GALVESTON ON WHAT THE CITY IS SPENDING THEIR DOLLARS ON, WHAT THE PARK BOARD IS SPENDING TO HOT TAX DOLLARS ON, YOU KNOW, WHERE IS THAT MONEY GOING AND HOW IS IT CONTRIBUTING TO MAKING THEIR LIVES BETTER HERE? AS RESIDENTS, THEY SEE OR HEAR OR HEAR RUMORS OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH TAX DOLLARS AND HOT TAX DOLLARS FOR THE TOURISM SIDE OF IT. BUT I THINK WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF COMMUNICATING.
IS THAT DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? I MEAN, SOMEBODY ELSE.
MARIE, SINCE YOU BROUGHT UP COMMUNICATION WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE WAY THAT THE RECENT EMBEZZLEMENT WAS HANDLED IN THE FACT THAT THE BOARD CHOSE TO GO TO THE NEWSPAPER BEFORE THE COUNCIL? I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I CAN SPEAK TO THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE OUR COUNCIL HAS ADVISED US THAT ANYTHING THAT'S TALKED ABOUT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION CANNOT BE, YOU KNOW, TALKED ABOUT OUT IN PUBLIC.
I CAN SPEAK TO WHAT WAS SAID IN THE PAPER.
I KNOW THAT THAT JASON DID TALK TO THE MAYOR PRIOR TO, YOU KNOW, BEING ANNOUNCED TO THE PAPER, AND THAT'S ALL I CAN.
WERE YOU AWARE HE WAS GOING TO PUT THE ARTICLE IN THE PAPER? AS I STATED EARLIER, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THOSE THINGS.
I MEAN, I'VE BEEN ASKED NOT TO TALK ABOUT IT, AND SINCE IT'S AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION.
WELL, NO, MY QUESTION WAS JUST LIKE, WAS IT ABOUT NOT INFORMING INFORMING THE NEWSPAPER BEFORE THE COUNCIL? SO I'M NOT ASKING ANYTHING ABOUT LITIGATION OR I THINK JASON, AS CHAIRMAN DID WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO BY INCLUDING THE MAYOR ON HIS DECISION TO GO TO THE NEWSPAPER THAT I DO SUPPORT.
YOU KNOW WHAT, IF THAT TIME FRAME I, I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT THE TIME FRAME OR I JUST, I CAN'T TELL YOU ANY MORE THAN THAT, BUT THAT I SUPPORTED HIS DECISION. YEAH.
[04:20:01]
AND WHEN JASON CONTACTED ME, IT WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE IT WENT IN THE PAPER AND I WAS INFORMED IT WOULD BE IN THE PAPER THAT NEXT MORNING.BUT IT HIT THAT NIGHT ACTUALLY AT 10:00.
EXCUSE ME. IT ACTUALLY HIT THE PAPER AT 10:00.
I DON'T I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT HIT THE PAPER, BUT I WAS TOLD THE NEXT MORNING WE WOULD HAVE AN ARTICLE IN THE, IN THE, THERE WOULD BE AN ARTICLE IN THERE, YOU KNOW, THE I KNOW NOT THAT I WANT TO ELABORATE ON THIS ANY ANY MORE, BUT TO SAY I KNOW THAT THAT THOSE, YOU KNOW, JASON AND KIMBERLY AND EVERYONE IN THOSE POSITIONS AND ANYONE IN THE PARK BOARD IS DOING THEIR BEST TO TO BE UP FRONT AND TRANSPARENT AND COMMUNICATIVE ON ANYTHING.
YOU KNOW, NO ONE'S GOING TO KEEP ANYTHING A SECRET.
AND I KNOW THAT THEY ARE REALLY MAKING SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS.
ANY FOLLOW UP ON THAT? WELL, DIFFERENT QUESTION.
WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON STORED BEACH? WHAT ARE MY THOUGHTS ON STUART BEACH IN DEVELOPMENT OF IT.
DEVELOPMENTAL. WELL, I THINK THAT STUART BEACH HAS SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR DEVELOPMENT.
AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE TOSSED AROUND A LOT OF IDEAS FOR MANY PARTS OF STUART BEACH.
YOU KNOW, IT'S A IT IS A FOCAL POINT THAT OUR TOURISTS LOOK AT AND OUR LOCALS LOOK AT EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND I THINK IT NEEDS TO START WITH, WITH, YOU KNOW, GIVING OUR WHETHER IT GOES THERE OR NOT, GIVING OUR BEACH PATROL A HEADQUARTERS, YOU KNOW, WE MANAGE OR WE SAVE LIVES ON 33 MILES OF BEACH.
AND I FEEL THAT OUR BEACH PATROL NEEDS A HEADQUARTERS TO CALL HOME.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT'S A STARTING POINT OR A FOCAL POINT.
BUT THEN TO START TO DEVELOP STUART BEACH, I THINK IS A GREAT IDEA.
YOU KNOW, WE JUST NEED TO COME UP WITH A PLAN.
I KNOW, ACTUALLY, I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST TWO YEARS AGO.
SO YOU TALKED ABOUT FOR 14, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A WHOLE ROOM FULL OF AND IN THAT SAME RESPECT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN FOR CERTAIN PARTS OF STUART BEACH AND ON DOWN ALL THE WAY DOWN TO RAFFLE PARK, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S I THINK WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL.
I'M ALL ABOUT GROWTH AND I'M ALL ABOUT BUILDING NEW STRUCTURE.
BUT I THINK WE NEED TO TALK TO THE PEOPLE AND THE ENGINEERS THAT KNOW IF THINGS ARE THE PLANNING COMMISSION, WHAT'S ALLOWABLE. YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE DEAL WITH THE CONCERNS WITH THE COYOTES.
WE HAVE THE CONCERNS ABOUT THE TURTLES.
WE WANT MORE TAX BASE, WE WANT THINGS TO GROW.
IF THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE UP PART OF OUR SPACE, THEY NEED TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK TO THE ISLAND THAT'S GOING TO BENEFIT US BESIDES A STRUCTURE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE MONEY OFF OF. YEAH. YOU KNOW, I FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT THAT.
BUT I THINK IF WE HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN PLACE AND THAT WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN AND EVERYBODY WOULD BE HAPPY, YOU KNOW, INCLUDING THE COYOTES. BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S.
THAT'S IT. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCIL. YES.
SHARON. SO YOU'VE SAID A LOT OF THINGS.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR FIRST PRIORITY IF YOU WERE PLACED BACK ON THE PARK BOARD? WHAT WOULD YOUR FIRST PRIORITY? COULD YOU REPEAT THAT QUESTION? YES. I ASKED HER WHAT WOULD BE HER FIRST PRIORITY.
THANK YOU. PLACE BACK ON THE PARK BOARD.
WELL, IT'S PROBABLY THE SAME PRIORITY THAT I'VE HAD THIS LAST YEAR, AND I THINK IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITY THAT I CAN THINK OF RIGHT OFF THE BAT, BUT IS CONTINUING TO NURTURE THE RELATIONSHIP THAT THE PARK BOARD HAS WITH THE CITY COUNCIL.
AND I THINK THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BECAUSE I THINK WE BOTH NEED EACH OTHER.
AND I THINK THAT WE CAN HELP EACH OTHER GET THOSE THINGS DONE.
AND I KNOW MANY OF YOU FEEL IT AND PROBABLY ALL FEEL IT, BUT THINGS HAVE ARE IMPROVING ALL THE TIME.
[04:25:04]
I THINK THINGS ARE GETTING STRONGER AND STRONGER BETWEEN US, AND I THINK WE'RE JUST ONLY TO THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG OF WHAT, WHAT COULD REALLY HAPPEN BETWEEN US.BUT THAT WOULD BE MY CONTINUED FIRST PRIORITY.
ALEX. SO HOW DO YOU VIEW THE WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CEO AND THE PARK BOARD? LIKE, HOW IS THAT HOW IS THAT RELATIONSHIP WORK TO YOU? I THINK IT'S WORKING REALLY WELL.
KIMBERLY HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB COMING IN AS AN INTERIM CEO AND NOW AS A FULL TIME CEO.
I THINK SHE'S SHE'S REALLY SHE'S VERY SMART AND HER DELIVERY IS VERY GOOD.
AND WE'RE ALL WORKING WELL WITH THEM.
SHE KEEPS US ALL VERY INFORMED AND IN THE LOOP ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
THERE'S NO HIDDEN SECRETS, 100% TRANSPARENCY WITH HER, AND I THINK SHE MANAGES THE STAFF WELL.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOUR QUESTION WAS ABOUT HOW IT WAS WITH THE TRUSTEES.
I THINK IT'S IT'S WORKED BEAUTIFULLY.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE I WAS ON THE COMMITTEE TO INTERVIEW FOLKS FOR THE, FOR THE CEO POSITION, AND WE INTERVIEWED A LOT OF REALLY BRIGHT FOLKS. AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, SHE'S A SHINING STAR, AND I'M HAPPY TO GET TO WORK WITH HER.
AND THEN LOOKING BACK, WOULD YOU HAVE DONE ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY DURING YOUR TENURE? SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME BACK.
WOULD YOU HAVE DONE ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY DURING YOUR TENURE? THE NOT THAT I CAN THINK OF RIGHT OFF THE BAT THE THE IN.
I WISH THAT MAYBE WE COULD DEVELOP MORE OF A LONG TERM PLAN.
I FEEL LIKE AS THE PARK BOARD, WE HAVE A LOT OF SHORT TERM PLANS AND WE HAVE A LOT OF COMMITTEES AND WE HAVE A LOT OF SHORT TERM PLANS, AND I THINK WE GET A LOT OF SHORT TERM THINGS DONE.
BUT MOVING FORWARD, MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE DONE.
VERY GOOD. KIMBERLY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I APPRECIATE JUST GETTING ROLLING.
I WANT TO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
YOU'VE THE PARK BOARD REQUIRES A LOT OF TIME, AND YOU'VE DONE A STELLAR JOB WITH THE PARK BOARD.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WHAT YOU'VE DONE OVER THERE.
THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE.
Y'ALL HANG IN THERE. ONLY A FEW MORE.
DOES ANYBODY WANT ANYTHING? I'M FINE. COFFEE? ARE YOU BLACK? CAN YOU BRING ME A HAMBURGER? NO. WE COULD EAT.
NO, NO, I DON'T WANT TO EAT IN FRONT OF THESE.
HOW ARE YOU, SIR? I SAY GOOD MORNING, BUT I THINK WE BLEW BY THAT.
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, ALMOST COULD SAY GOOD NIGHT.
WE WON'T MISS. WELL, I WON'T MISS TOO MUCH OF THE ASTROS GAME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE TODAY.
I KNOW IT'S WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION.
HERE WE HAVE A COUPLE OF MEMBERS PARK.
COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL BE BACK RIGHT IN HERE, BUT I THINK THEY BOTH KNOW YOU.
WELL, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND LET YOU START YOUR INTRODUCTION.
WELL, LIKE I SAID, I THINK MOST OF YOU DO KNOW ME, BUT I AM BORN AND RAISED ON THE ISLAND.
CURRENTLY I WORK FOR TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE.
MY ROLE WITH THE AGRILIFE IS AS THE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE COORDINATOR.
AND THAT'S GIVEN ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH BOTH STAFF AND ELECTED OFFICIALS UP AND DOWN THE TEXAS COAST ON MOSTLY FOR FLOOD MITIGATION NEEDS. THE QUESTION OF WHY I WANT TO DO THIS IS REALLY BECAUSE I HAD ENOUGH PEOPLE ASK ME TO I THINK PEOPLE HAVE APPROACHED ME. THEY'VE SEEN THE BACKGROUND THAT I CAN BRING.
AND MAYBE SOMETHING THAT'S MISSING FROM THE PARKS BOARD THAT OTHERS HAVE SEEN THAT I CAN PROVIDE.
AND SO I AGREE WITH HIM THAT I THINK I CAN PROVIDE SOMETHING.
VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT, LET'S OPEN UP TO QUESTIONS.
[04:30:01]
BOB I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO EXPAND ON THAT A LITTLE BIT.SO WHAT QUALITIES OR EXPERIENCE OR TRAINING OR VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES THAT YOU HAVE OR ARE PARTICIPATING IN THAT YOU COULD BRING TO THE PARK BOARD TO MAKE IT MORE SUCCESSFUL? SURE.
I THINK WE CAN GO BACK TO MOST OF MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER HAS BEEN IN HABITAT RESTORATION WORK.
I WAS A MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN SHORES AND BEACH ASSOCIATION FOR YEARS.
I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR BEACHES AND OUR DUNE SYSTEMS BOTH FROM A PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND AS WELL AS ON MY VOLUNTEER WORK, WORK WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE SURFRIDER, WHO WE UNDERSTAND THE VALUE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR BEACHES FOR TEXANS WHO WANT TO COME BE A PART OF IT.
I, I FEEL THAT MY VOLUNTEER WORK WITHIN THE CITY.
HAS BROUGHT ME TO THE COMMUNITY.
CAN FIND ME OUT IN THE PUBLIC.
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN WILLING TO ASK ME OR TO ASK ME QUESTIONS.
AND I THINK THAT'S, OF COURSE, WHAT BROUGHT ME HERE BEFORE YOU GUYS IS ENOUGH.
PEOPLE HAVE SEEN MY INTERACTIONS ON THE ISLAND AND AND HOW MY EXPERTISE CAN CAN BE OF VALUE.
MARIE, WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON SHORT TERM RENTALS? THAT'S A THAT'S A THAT'S AN OPEN ENDED STATEMENT.
WE MIGHT NOT MAKE THE END OF THE ASTROS GAME.
BUT REALLY, I THINK SHORT TERM RENTALS IS A IS A IS A BUSINESS IN GALVESTON.
JUST LIKE THE COUNTLESS OTHER BUSINESSES WE HAVE.
I THINK THEY HAVE A PLACE ON THE ISLAND.
SOME COULD SAY THE TRENDS ARE KIND OF MOVING TOWARDS HOTELS AGAIN.
I THINK SHORT TERM RENTALS THAT ARE BAD ACTORS ARE, ARE REALLY DRAWING A NEGATIVE TO THE ISLAND.
I THINK THAT'S SEEN IN THE REVIEWS.
I THINK THAT COULD BE WHY A LOT OF PEOPLE LATELY HAVE BEEN TRENDING TOWARDS HOTELS.
BECAUSE OF THOSE BAD REVIEWS, I THINK WELL, RUN SHORT TERM RENTALS ARE A BENEFIT TO THE ISLAND.
I THINK AT SOME POINT THERE COULD BE A POTENTIAL OF TOO MANY SHORT TERM RENTALS.
AND I THINK AT SOME POINT, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T PUT ALL OUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET OF SHORT TERM RENTALS IS KIND OF THE WAY TO BRING IN REVENUE TO THE CITY.
IN YOUR VIEW, HOW IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TRUSTEES AND THE CEO SUPPOSED TO WORK? I THINK IT SHOULD BE JUST LIKE MOST ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE SOME SORT OF GOVERNING BODY.
I THINK THE TRUSTEES PROVIDE INSIGHT TO WHAT THE CEO AND THE STAFF BRINGS AS FAR AS PROJECTS AND PLANS AND IMPLEMENTATION.
I THINK THE TRUSTEES ARE THERE TO.
TO PROVIDE OVERSIGHT AND HELP MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON WHAT I BELIEVE IS THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WOULD BE THE PARK BOARD STAFF UNDER THE, I GUESS, THE DIRECTION OF THE CEO.
AND SO THEY CAN INTERJECT WHERE THEY SEE IS A PRIORITY.
AND BE THERE FOR A SOUNDING BOARD FOR THE CEO AND ULTIMATELY THE STAFF AS WELL.
DAVID AND DAVID AND THEN SHARON.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY IN FACING THE PARK BOARD AND CARRYING OUT ITS MISSION? STATED ANOTHER WAY.
WHAT ARE WE NOT LOOKING AT? I THINK ONE AREA THAT CAN BE A PRIORITY THAT MAYBE WE'RE LACKING IS RESIDENT AWARENESS OF WHAT THE PARKS BOARD IS DOING. PARKS BOARD DOING IS DOING A LOT OF REALLY GOOD THINGS.
AND I THINK THE RESIDENTS SOMETIMES DON'T SEE ALL THAT.
THERE'S SO MUCH EFFORT IN, INTO WE'RE PROMOTING TOURISM OR TOURISM AND THAT'S WHAT RESIDENTS SEE.
AND THAT CAN BE PERCEIVED AS POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE.
AND I THINK ALL TOO OFTEN WE SEE TOURISTS THINK OF THAT AS NEGATIVE.
I MEAN, RESIDENTS THINK THAT NEGATIVELY OF ALL THEY CARE ABOUT IS TOURISTS.
AND THAT'S CERTAINLY NOT THE CASE.
THERE IS A LOT THAT THE PARKS BOARD CAN DO IN COOPERATION WITH THE CITY THAT BENEFITS RESIDENTS.
AND I JUST THINK RESIDENTS ARE MISSING OUT ON THAT.
OF THE BENEFITS OF OF TOURISM FOR THE RESIDENTS.
[04:35:07]
A FEEL OF, HEY, WE'RE NOT FORGOTTEN.MICHAEL. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.
WHAT'S YOUR VISION FOR SEAWOLF PARK? SEAWOLF PARK? WELL, I THINK SEAWOLF PARK HAS OPPORTUNITY TO GROW PHYSICALLY.
OBVIOUSLY. NOT VERY MUCH. IT IS A FINITE SPACE.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF GREAT PARKS.
IT WOULD BE NICE TO BE ABLE TO SPREAD SOME OF THOSE.
AND I THINK THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET PEOPLE THERE.
ANYBODY WHO'S DRIVEN THAT BRIDGE.
I KNOW ALEX WENT TO SCHOOL OVER THERE.
YOU KNOW, THERE ARE DAYS YOU'RE GOING TO MISS A TEST BECAUSE THAT BRIDGE DECIDES TO GO UP.
IF YOU KNOW, THEIR TRIP IS CUT SHORT BECAUSE OF OF A DRAWBRIDGE.
SO OBVIOUSLY THAT'S GOING TO BE CHANGED.
GO RIGHT AHEAD. YOU KNOW, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT ATTRACTING A HIGHER QUALITY OF TOURISTS, WHICH I THINK I GUESS REALLY MEANS SOMEBODY THAT STAYS HERE LONGER AND SPENDS MORE MONEY, GOES IN MORE DIFFERENT PLACES.
SO HOW WOULD YOU PROPOSE TO ATTRACT A HIGHER QUALITY TOURISTS AS OPPOSED TO ATTRACTING MORE TOURISTS? BECAUSE THAT'S THE OTHER PART OF THAT ANALYSIS IS WE DON'T WE DON'T HAVE SPACE AND WE DON'T NEED MORE.
WE JUST NEED BETTER. SO HOW WOULD YOU HOW WOULD YOU ACHIEVE A BALANCE THAT MADE US LESS DEPENDENT ON THE DAY TRIPPER? SURE. I THINK ONE OTHER ASPECT OF THAT IS WHEN ARE TOURISTS COMING? I THINK EXPANDING OUR TOURISM SEASON, WHICH YOU KNOW, NOW GOES WELL BEYOND, YOU KNOW, MEMORIAL DAY TO LABOR DAY, BUT WE CAN REALLY EXPAND EVEN MORE AND REALLY GET TOURISTS TO COME IN ALMOST YEAR ROUND.
THE AMOUNT OF DOLLARS THAT COME IN ON ECO TOURISM AROUND THE WORLD IS IS OFF THE CHARTS.
BECAUSE THESE TOURISTS TYPICALLY WILL TRAVEL FROM FARTHER AWAY TO COME TO A CERTAIN AREA.
SO YOU'RE EXPANDING THEIR STAYS OUT.
THEY'RE STAYING ON THE ISLAND LONGER.
ANYBODY WHO'S. BEEN INVOLVED WITH FATHER FEST OR ANY OF THE OTHER BIRDING OPPORTUNITIES.
ALEX. TOP THREE PRIORITIES AS A TRUSTEE.
I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT AT OUR PARKS.
AS A WHOLE, I THINK WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO BUILD ON THOSE? WHETHER IT'S OPPORTUNITIES AT SEAWOLF PARK, WHETHER IT'S OPPORTUNITY AT STEWART BEACH.
BUT WE'RE CLEARLY NOWHERE READY TO START DOING THINGS.
I THINK THAT'S A PRIORITY THAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND.
WHAT'S THE BEST OPTION FOR ALL OF OUR PARKS? HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE TO THEM? AND WHAT ARE THOSE TOURISTS AND RESIDENTS WANT AT THOSE PARKS? I THINK WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND OUR BEACH MAINTENANCE AND OUR DUNES.
OUR DUNES ON EITHER END OF THE SEAWALL ARE OUR PROTECTION.
AND AS SUCH, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS OF THOSE DUNE SYSTEMS. AND WHAT THE PARKS BOARD, IN COORDINATION WITH THE CITY CAN DO TO TO KIND OF ESTABLISH THAT PROTECTION.
AND LASTLY, I THINK THE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TRUSTEES AND THE CITIES AND OTHER ENTITIES.
HAS A LOT OF ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
ALL TOO OFTEN PEOPLE FORGET THAT THIS IS ALL CITY ENTITIES.
[04:40:03]
AND KIND OF BACK AND FORTH OR NOT COLLABORATION OR OR OR ANY OF THAT IS JUST MISSED OPPORTUNITIES TO REALLY THRIVE IN WHAT, WHAT SEE, THE PARKS BOARD IS DOING BECAUSE WHEN THE PARKS BOARD IS DOING SOMETHING, IT'S NOT THE THE CITY IS ALSO DOING SOMETHING BECAUSE IT'S A PART OF IT.AND I THINK ALL TOO OFTEN PEOPLE FORGET THAT.
ANN MARIE. I'LL DO THIS AS A YES.
NO QUESTION. I'M STILL IN YOUR QUESTION.
GEOTUBES OR NO? GEOTUBES. YEAH.
IS IF IT'S A YES OR NO? NO. OKAY.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCIL. MICHAEL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I CAN'T FIX THAT A LOT, BUT WE HAVE ROBERT QUINTERO COMING IN.
THE LEFT SIDE. MY BACK IS KILLING ME.
THANK YOU. AND THEN WE'LL HAVE STACEY BLAKE, AND THAT'LL FINISH US UP FOR THE DAY.
I DON'T THINK WE CAN PULL A FEW MORE OUT.
WELL, THERE MAY BE SOME OUT THERE.
GOOD. HOW ARE YOU, ROBERT? THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
I WANT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE TODAY.
THERE ARE NO FINGERNAILS LEFT.
THAT WAS. AND THAT WAS A MEAL.
OKAY. I WANT TO WE'LL GIVE YOU A MINUTE TO ABOUT A MINUTE TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
A LOT OF YEARS EDUCATED THROUGH THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
I COME FROM A FAMILY OF SERVITUDE.
MY FATHER WAS THE FIRST HISPANIC EVER ELECTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL HERE IN GALVESTON.
I ALSO AM A FORMER TRUSTEE ON THE PARK BOARD, BUT I DIDN'T START THERE AT THE PARK BOARD.
I STARTED AT MY DAD WHEN I GOT HOME FROM COLLEGE.
HE TOLD ME, YOU PLAN ON BEING ANYTHING IN THE CITY, DO SOMETHING FOR THE CITY.
SO I STARTED ON THE VERY LOWEST RUNG OF ANY BOARD OR COMMITTEE.
AND I SERVED ON THE GALVESTON HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
AND THEN THE MAYOR AT THAT TIME ASKED ME THAT THERE WAS A COMMITTEE THAT HUD NEEDED AND AT THE TIME, STERLING PATRICK WAS THE GRANTS DIRECTOR. HE THEY NEED TO PUT THIS COMMITTEE TOGETHER.
IT WAS CALLED THE CHA, WHICH IS THE THE GALVESTON HOUSING COMMUNITY HOUSING RESOURCE BOARD.
AND THEY SELECTED ME AS THE CHAIRPERSON OF THAT COMMITTEE.
PLEASE BE THINK ABOUT FILLING HIS UNEXPIRED TERM.
I WAS APPOINTED TO BE A TRUSTEE.
JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO MAYOR YARBROUGH NEEDED SOMEBODY TO HEAD UP.
WELL, HE JUST HE NEEDED A HISPANIC ON THE CENSUS COMMITTEE.
AND THAT THAT COMMITTEE SELECTED ME TO BE THEIR CHAIRPERSON.
AND THROUGH THAT UNFORTUNATELY, COVID CAME AROUND, BUT WE MET AS OFTEN AS WE COULD UNTIL THEN.
AND THEN WE UNTIL WE COULDN'T MEET.
I CAUGHT COVID AND THAT WAS THAT.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE DIDN'T MEET ANY FURTHER.
I BRING SOME EXPERTISE TO THE IF SELECTED, I AM ON A DAILY, WEEKLY MEETING, WEEKLY MEETINGS WITH THE GLOW FROM MY POSITION WITH WE'RE IN IN JAMAICA BEACH, AS WELL AS TATUM.
I KNOW ABOUT SARGASSUM AND, AND BEACH NOURISHMENT AND DUNE REPLENISHMENT AS WELL AS TOURISM.
I BRING EVENTS TO THE CITY, SO I BRING A LOT TO THE TABLE.
IF I SERVED ON THE COMMITTEE ON THE, ON ON THE PARK BOARD.
SO I'M OPEN TO ANYTHING THAT YOU MAY WANT TO ASK ME, BUT I BRING A LOT OF QUALIFICATIONS TO, TO.
AND I DON'T HAVE TO I DON'T, I DON'T I CAN HIT THE HIT THE ROAD RUNNING RIGHT NOW.
I DON'T HAVE TO BE EDUCATED OR TRAINED.
THAT'S YOUR QUALIFICATIONS ARE STELLAR.
[04:45:01]
WE HAD PEOPLE TRAPPED IN HOUSES.HE HAD PEOPLE TRAPPED IN HOUSES.
OUR DUNES WERE COMPLETELY WASHED AWAY THERE IN JAMAICA BEACH.
SO WE'LL HAVE TO GO THROUGH ANOTHER WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE SAND BACK OUT THERE, AND IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE ACCOMPLISHED BY THIS WEEKEND, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO GO THROUGH ANOTHER DUNE RENOURISHMENT ALONG WITH WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE I MEAN, DO REPLENISHMENT.
AND WE ARE ALREADY GOING SLATED FOR OVER THERE FOR BEACH NOURISHMENT PROJECT.
THE SLATED FOR THE FOR THE FALL.
SO I, I KNOW YOUR ANSWER TO SO MANY THINGS BECAUSE I COULD SAY, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT SHORT TERM RENTALS? AND WE KNOW ABOUT THAT BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE ISSUES, LIKE I HAVE THE ISSUES AND SO FORTH.
BUT SO HOW DO YOU SEE THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE PARK BOARD AND THE COUNCIL? I THINK AS A PASSIVE MEMBER, I'M GONNA SAY WE WORK COHESIVELY TOGETHER AS A AS A ONE UNIT.
PART OF THAT HOT TAIL HOT TAX I BELIEVE THE WHAT NEEDS TO BE THE, THE FUNDS THAT ARE COLLECTED FOR THE THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PARK BOARD.
BUT WHATEVER REVENUES AFTER THAT SHOULD COME TO THE CITY.
AND BUT MY MY, MY MY QUESTION IS, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS, LIKE, THE MAJOR OPPORTUNITY IN CARRYING OUT THE PARK BOARD'S MISSION? I LOOKED AT ANOTHER WAY.
WHAT ARE WE MISSING? WHAT ARE WE NOT LOOKING AT THAT WE CAN TAKE AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTROL? YOU KNOW, WE DON'T, YOU HEAR? AND I'M SURE YOU HEAR THIS.
YOU DO EVERYTHING FOR TOURISM, AND YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING FOR THE CITY.
I HAVE OUTREACH INTO THE INTO THE COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY THE MINORITY COMMUNITIES.
AND I THINK THAT I CAN HELP BRIDGE THAT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE PARK BOARD.
AND ACTUALLY, I DON'T THINK I KNOW I COULD DO THIS VERY GOOD.
SO GIVEN YOUR PERSPECTIVE FROM BEING FROM THE ISLAND OVER, OVER JUST THE YEARS, WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN AS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE THAT THE, THE CITY AND THE PARK BOARD HAVE FACED IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, JUST JUST OPERATIONAL, YOU KNOW, MANAGING TOURISM AND, YOU KNOW, ALL JUST EVERYTHING KIND OF ENCOMPASSED JUST AS A RESIDENT, THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS, IS MORE OF TRAFFIC CONCERNS.
IF YOU WERE TO, YOU KNOW, UTILIZE THE MARSHALS FOR TRAFFICKING JUST TO MAKE NOT TO MAKE ARREST OR FORGIVE TICKETS, JUST TO MAKE SURE IT'S IT'S CONSISTENTLY FLOWING.
I THINK THAT COULD WORK WELL WITH WITH THE CITIZENS AND THE PARK BOARD AND THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
THE ARE BEING CLEANED UP AS FAST AS POSSIBLE, BUT THERE'S STILL AN OVERFLOW OF GARBAGE.
THAT, AND IT FLIES INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO IF WE CAN HAVE SOMEWHERE WHERE WE CAN WORK WITH THE.
THE REFUGE PICKUP ON THE BEACH AND IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT WOULD BE ESPECIALLY THE FIRST NEIGHBORHOOD ROLE OF NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCKS ON THE SEAWALL.
YOU KNOW IT FROM THE BEACH, YOUR BEACH THERE.
IT FLOWS INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
BEING HERE 62 YEARS, THAT'S MY GOAL HERE.
HOW DO YOU VIEW THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE THE WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CEO AND THE PARK BOARD AND THE TRUSTEES OF THE PARK BOARD? RIGHT NOW IT'S A THEY JUST HIRED HER.
SO I BELIEVE THAT WAS THE PERSON THEY WANTED.
SO I THINK IT'S A NICE RELATIONSHIP.
BUT HOW HOW IS IT SUPPOSED TO WORK BETWEEN THE TWO? THE TWO? I GUESS THE.
[04:50:05]
AND THAT'S THE WAY I SEE IT.I DON'T SEE ANY MICROMANAGING GOING TO, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE CFO, WHO IS DIRECTLY HIRED BY BY THE PARK BOARD AND, AND THE CITY ATTORNEY THE LAW FIRM THAT THE PARK BOARD HIRES.
I SHOULDN'T CALL I SHOULD NOT CALL STUART BEACH AND SAY, HEY, I HEAR THERE'S A PROBLEM OVER THERE.
I DON'T BELIEVE THE MICROMANAGING PART.
IT'S MANDATED WE HAVE TO HAVE THEM.
WE I, I VIEWED THE CITY OF GAUTIER.
I VIEWED THE CITY OF GALVESTON PARK AT THE NEW PLAN THAT JUST CAME OUT.
I HAVEN'T READ IT ALL, PROBABLY WILL NEVER READ IT ALL, BUT I THINK IT'S WE HAVE TO LIVE BY THOSE THOSE GLOW AND THE FEDERAL AND STATE STATE AND FEDERAL GUIDELINES IN THE CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS.
SO WHAT'S YOUR ASSESSMENT OF ITS CURRENT CONDITION AND WHAT'S YOUR VISION OF WHAT IT COULD BECOME? WELL, I WAS HERE WHEN THEY BUILT THAT PAVILION AND OKAY, SO AND I FREQUENTED IT BACK, YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE THAT IT'S IT'S SEEN ITS TIME.
IT IS THE SHOWCASE OF OUR BEACHES.
OKAY WE'VE PUT FACELIFTS AND WE KEEP ON PUTTING BAND-AIDS ON IT, AND IT'S STILL GOING TO BE THE SAME WAY IT NEEDS, YOU KNOW, THIS THAT WAS BUILT IN THE 70S, FOLKS. OKAY, THAT'S.
IT'S TIME FOR TIME FOR SOMETHING NEW.
WE HAVE WE HAVE NEW WE HAVE NEW FIRE STATIONS.
AND THEN THAT'S FOR THE CITY PROTECTION.
YES, BUT A LOT OF OUR REVENUE COMES FROM THE TOURISM, AND MAYBE WE DON'T COLLECT A LOT.
I SAW SOME OF THE BUDGET AND HOW MUCH WE COLLECT AND HOT TAX.
AND, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD JUST LIMIT IT ON WHAT YOU COULD DO WITH HOT TAX.
BUT TOURISM IS THE BIGGEST INDUSTRY HERE.
AND PEOPLE WANT TO THANK THE MEDICAL FIELD IS BUT IT'S NOT IT'S IT'S TOURISM.
AND THAT EMPLOYS A LOT OF FOLKS.
OKAY. THEY MAY NOT BE IN THE HOTELS, BUT THERE'S RESTAURANTS AND THE SPIN OFF THE THE BUTCHER, THE BAKER, THE CANDLESTICK MAKER THAT GETS THAT DOLLAR AND IT COMES INTO OUR ECONOMY. SO WE NEED TO START LOOKING AT IT TO BETTER OUR BEACHES.
AND A PRIME EXAMPLE IS THE PAVILION THERE.
YOU KNOW, IF WE WERE GOING TO SET UP A SET UP, A WEB PAGE TO, TO HIGHLIGHT ALL THAT, WE THE PHILOSOPHY THAT WE HAVE HERE PRETTY WELL OUTLINED EVERY BIT OF IT.
GOOD JOB. IN CLOSING, LET ME JUST TELL YOU ONE MORE THING.
MAYBE I DON'T OVERKILL, BUT I SIT ON A COUPLE OF COMMITTEES.
LIKE I SAID, I SIT ON THE GMAT COMMITTEE.
AND, AND ALEX THOMAS, I'M SURE YOU ALL REMEMBER ALEX THAT USED TO WORK FOR THE PARK BOARD.
HE AND I HAD A DREAM OF HAVING THE BARRY WHITE DAY IN GALVESTON.
WELL, IT'S ON THE AGENDA FOR OUR GMAT COMMITTEE IN SEPTEMBER.
SO WE'RE WE'RE GETTING CLOSER TO.
AND OF COURSE, WE DON'T KNOW WHO BARRY WHITE IS.
HE WAS BORN HERE IN GALVESTON.
BUT I IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, I'M OPEN FOR IT.
KEEP YOUR HAND UP. DID YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP? OH, I DIDN'T SEE IT.
NO. I'M JUST I'M LISTENING INTENTLY.
THANK YOU ROBERT. APPRECIATE IT THIS AFTERNOON.
AND LET ME KNOW ON THE OUTCOME.
WHEN WILL YOU KNOW? I WILL KNOW SATURDAY EVENING.
I'M UP FOR NATIONAL MAN OF THE YEAR.
OKAY. OH, AND IF THAT IF THAT HAPPENS, I'LL BE THE ONLY PERSON EVER TO WIN IT TWICE.
AND THEN VICKI GOMEZ IS UP FOR WOMAN OF THE YEAR.
AND OF COURSE, OUR WHOLE COUNCIL, WE JUST CELEBRATED OUR 75TH ANNIVERSARY.
IT'S IT'S UP FOR IT IS UP FOR NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE YEAR.
FANTASTIC CONTRIBUTION FOR OUR 75TH YEAR.
WELCOME. I'M SORRY I COULDN'T BE THERE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT THANK YOU ALL.
YOU. HAVE A BLESSED AFTERNOON.
AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO CALL BRIAN IN AFTER THAT.
AND WE'LL GET OUR TWO ITEMS UP AND THEN CALL THEM.
IS LINDSAY GARZA NOT GOING TO BE AN INTERVIEW? NO, SIR. WE ANNOUNCED THAT AT THE BEGINNING.
[04:55:02]
HER FATHER PASSED AWAY.HOW ARE YOU? HOW ARE YOU ALL? STACEY, YOU MUST HAVE GOT YOUR APPLICATION IN REAL LATE BECAUSE YOU'RE THE FINAL APPLICANT.
AND WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR PATIENCE.
I ACCIDENTALLY, WELL, NOT ACCIDENTALLY.
I CALLED ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND SAID AND WHEN IS THE DEADLINE? AND SHE SAID, WELL, 5:00.
SO I SAID, OKAY IS YOUR IS YOU'RE THE ONE THAT CAME IN AT ABOUT TEN BEFORE MIDNIGHT.
OH, OKAY. BUT THERE WAS ONE THAT CAME IN I THINK THAT WAS LINDSAY'S CAME IN AT TEN TO MIDNIGHT, AND JANELLE CALLED ME AND SAID, WE ACCEPTING THIS? I SAID, SURELY IT'S BEFORE MIDNIGHT.
SO I KNEW APPLICATIONS WERE OPEN, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE DEADLINE.
SO, STACEY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.
OKAY. WELL FIRST OF ALL, HELLO, MAYOR BROWN AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
HELLO. I MY NAME IS STACEY BLAKE.
SO GALVESTON'S IN MY HEART AND MOVED BACK HERE AS SOON AS I RETIRED.
JUST IN TIME TO SEE TOURISM TAKE OFF.
AND IT'S BEEN A LOT OF TIME OUTSIDE AND HAVE HAD LOTS OF THOUGHTS ABOUT PARK BOARD AND TOURISM AND MY EXPERIENCE HERE AS A RESIDENT, AND OVER TIME BEGAN TO VOLUNTEER WITH SOME GROUPS THAT MADE ME THINK MORE AND MORE ABOUT ENVIRONMENT AND HOW ALL THE PIECES OF TOURISM, TOURISM AND RESIDENTS AND ENVIRONMENT CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT CAN COEXIST.
LET'S OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS YOU WANT TO LEAD OFF ALEX.
SO YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE ISSUES I HAVE WITH ENVIRONMENT IS THE TRASH.
AND I THINK IF, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WALK THE BEACH, YOU SEE IT.
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE THE WHAT DO YOU THINK IS A BETTER APPROACH, ENFORCEMENT OR EDUCATION? WELL, DEFINITELY EDUCATION, BECAUSE I THINK EDUCATION LEADS TO MORE EDUCATION.
THE THING THAT CONCERNS ME MUCH MORE THAN THAT IS THE LACK OF PROGRAM FOR RECYCLING ON THE BEACH.
WE DO HAVE RECYCLING CONTAINERS ON THE SEAWALL.
BUT PEOPLE DON'T CARRY THEIR WATER BOTTLES FROM THE BEACH UP TO THE SEAWALL.
SO WE ARE PUTTING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PLASTIC IN THE TRASH.
AND WHILE THAT DOESN'T HURT GALVESTON DAY TO DAY, IT HURTS THE ENVIRONMENT AT LARGE BECAUSE A LOT OF THE PLASTIC DOESN'T GET RECYCLED, FIRST OF ALL. AND I JUST THINK THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT OUR CONNECTION TO THE THE GREATER ENVIRONMENT AND THE HARM THAT PLASTICS DO.
SO IF WE COULD AT LEAST KEEP THEM OUT OF THE TRASH, AT LEAST SOME OF THEM WOULD BE RECYCLED.
AND SO. WELL, I AGREE WITH YOU THAT THERE IS THERE IS TRASH THAT SHOULDN'T BE THERE.
VERY GOOD. BOB WHAT DO YOU THINK IS IS THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU SEE FOR TOURISM DEVELOPMENT THAT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO IMPACT IF YOU WERE ON THE PARK BOARD? AND WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE BIGGEST THREAT TO IT? WELL, I'LL HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE THREAT PART, BUT THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY FOR ME IS THE IDEA OF EMBRACING ECO TOURISM.
YOU KNOW, THERE THERE ARE ACTUALLY FOUR PARTS OF ECO TOURISM.
ONE IS SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL TO THE DESTINATION.
ANOTHER ONE IS THE CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
ANOTHER ONE IS THE EXPERIENCE OF THE RESIDENTS.
AND THE LAST ONE IS EDUCATION AND INTERPRETATION.
FOR ME, GALVESTON HAS AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO JUMP AHEAD IN THIS FIELD.
IT COULD EVEN BE A NEW BRANCH OF THE FOCUS OF THE PARK BOARD, BECAUSE, I MEAN, I CAN SEE HAVING SOMETHING LIKE A SMALL LIKE LIKE IT WOULD BE FOR THE SCIENCE MUSEUM OR HEALTH MUSEUM WHERE PEOPLE AND FAMILIES COULD GO AND LEARN ABOUT ALL THE ISSUES THAT ARE AT PLAY.
I MEAN, MICROPLASTICS AND FISHING NETS.
[05:00:04]
AND MAYBE WE COULD TEACH PEOPLE ABOUT WHY OUR WATER MIGHT BE BROWN SOMETIMES.MAYBE WE COULD TEACH PEOPLE HAVE A CHOICE.
WHAT? LAKE CHARLES? EXACTLY. WELL, IT WAS IT WAS IN TEXAS MONTHLY RECENTLY, TOO.
OH, THAT'S. YEAH, THAT LOVELY ARTICLE.
YEAH, THAT WAS REALLY SOMETHING, WASN'T IT? IT WAS A LOT OF UGLY FLUFF, IF YOU ASK ME.
BUT YOU KNOW, MAYBE EVEN A RIPTIDE YOU KNOW PRESENTATION THAT HELPED PEOPLE REALLY UNDERSTAND. I MEAN, WE HAVE SIGNS ABOUT RIPTIDES.
I THINK THEY REGULARLY GET IGNORED, OR AT LEAST ARE NOT UNDERSTOOD.
BUT SOMEHOW I THINK THIS IS A SEPARATE ISSUE.
BUT CLEARLY IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, ALWAYS BEING FOLLOWED.
SAME GOES FOR RULES FOR BEACH GOING.
BUT SO I THINK ECO TOURISM IS IS DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, THE, THE TOP WOULD BE THE TOP PRIORITY FOR ME IF I WERE RULING THE WORLD. I THINK IT COULD PUT GALVESTON AT THE FOREFRONT.
NOW, THE SECOND PART OF THE QUESTION WAS, WHAT IS THE BIGGEST THREAT? WELL, I'M NOT SURE WHAT TIME FRAME YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT I'D SAY IN MY MIND, CLIMATE CHANGE.
YOU KNOW, WE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE AT RISK OF NOT HAVING BEACHES AND, YOU KNOW, DECADES.
AND BOTH HERE AND, YOU KNOW, AROUND THE WORLD VERY MUCH SO.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? WELL, STACY QUICK, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO TELL US? YEAH. WELL, I DID WANT TO JUST SAY THAT IN MY VIEW.
I MEAN, I'M I'M NOT AN INSIDER.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE INNER WORKINGS OF PARK BOARD OR BUT.
BUT THE WAY I SEE IT IS THAT THERE ARE THREE PRONGS TO IT.
ALL THREE OF THOSE THINGS ARE IN THE, YOU KNOW, THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE PARK BOARD.
I THINK THE THE DESTINATION STEWARDSHIP, AS THEY PUT IT IS, HAS NOT BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT.
AND I THINK ABOUT IT SORT OF IF YOU'VE EVER SEEN ONE OF THOSE REALLY BIG ONE OF THOSE CONTRAPTIONS THAT MAKES REALLY BIG BALLOONS, HAVE YOU ALL SEEN THOSE WHEN THEY WHEN IT COMES OFF THE STRING, THEY'RE KIND OF THERE, YOU KNOW, THEY BULGE IN ONE SIDE AND GO IN IN ANOTHER.
AND IT TAKES A WHILE FOR THE SPHERE TO BECOME A PERFECT SPHERE.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE GROWING PAINS.
YOU KNOW, TOURISM HAD A STEEP INCLINE AND THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE SOME PROBLEMS. BUT WE ALSO THEN NEED TO THINK ABOUT RESIDENTS.
AND SO I THINK, OF COURSE, AS A RESIDENT I'M CONCERNED TOO.
BUT AND I GALVESTON IS A TOURIST TOWN, SO WE NEED TO DO THAT TOO.
BUT I JUST THINK MAYBE IT'S TIME TO THINK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE STEWARDSHIP OF OUR CITY.
YES, MA'AM. I HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT A LOT OF THE ECO TOURISM, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL ME THIS, BUT IN YOUR MIND, DO YOU HAVE A PLAN HOW THIS CAN BE IMPLEMENTED AS PART OF TOURISM FOR THE ISLAND? WELL, I DO THINK THE FIRST STEP WOULD BE RECYCLING ON THE BEACH.
OKAY. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, BEYOND THAT, I'M JUST SORT OF NOT SURE HOW TO GET FROM THERE TO MY BIG IDEA, WHICH IS THAT IT WOULD BE A DESTINATION THAT THAT IS PARTIALLY FOR THE EDUCATIONAL PIECE, YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN IT RAINS OR THE, THE THE WATER IS BROWN AND, YOU KNOW, WAVES ARE HIGH. FAMILIES CAN GO LEARN ABOUT THIS AND THAT.
THAT'S EXCITING TO ME BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AS KIDS LEARN AND FAMILIES LEARN, THEN IT SNOWBALLS.
YOU KNOW, THEY TEACH PEOPLE ABOUT IT.
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I WAS THINKING.
RIGHT, RIGHT. AND, YOU KNOW, THE STEPS IN BETWEEN ARE A LITTLE BIT HAZY.
BUT, YOU KNOW I THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR GALVESTON, I REALLY DO.
OKAY. WELL, I IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY FOR YOU GUYS.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TO ME.
I WAS JUST WAITING. Y'ALL WERE.
THANK YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.
OKAY. THANKS SO MUCH. THANK YOU STACY.
VERY GOOD. IS BRIAN HEADING OVER? WE'LL DO H.C., AND THEN WE'LL DO EIGHT F, AND THEN WE WILL BE THROUGH FOR THE AFTERNOON.
[05:05:08]
DO WE HAVE TO COME TOMORROW? OH. I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL.YOU GUYS THIS HAS BEEN A LONG AFTERNOON, AND YOU'RE IN YOUR CONCENTRATION AND FOCUS WITH EACH ONE OF THESE CANDIDATES WAS SUPERB.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN EASY TO JUST MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME OF THESE, BUT IT WAS SO, SO GOOD TO SEE HOW FOCUSED AND YOU TOOK THIS SO SERIOUSLY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE USED TO DO INTERVIEWS OVER TWO DAYS AND THAT MADE IT LESS TEDIOUS.
IT LEFT PEOPLE NOT WAITING AROUND.
I THINK THAT'S A VERY GOOD POINT, MARIE.
YEAH, I THINK IN THE FUTURE WE MAY WANT TO IF WE GET HIT EIGHT EIGHT AND EIGHT EIGHT USUALLY SEEMED LIKE THAT'S WHAT WE USED TO DO. YEAH.
DEPENDING OF IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN 22.
EXCUSE ME. WE NEED TO KNOW, SIR.
JANELLE, WHEN DO YOU WANT YOUR FORMS TURNED IN ON THE RANKINGS? BY NOON, 3 P.M..
IS BRIAN COMING OVER? HERE WE GO. DON.
OH! HEY, DON. DID YOU SEE THAT? WE ARE NOW JUST FOR THE COMMUNITY'S SAKE.
WE ARE FINISHED OUR PARK BOARD OF TRUSTEE APPLICANT INTERVIEWS.
AND WE ARE GOING TO FINISH OUR WORKSHOP ITEMS. WE HAVE TWO ITEMS THAT WE WILL BE FINISHING WITH.
WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A THREE MINUTE BREAK IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
THANK YOU. CAN WE TAKE A BREAK? EXCUSE ME. ARE WE TAKING A BREAK? WE'RE TAKING A BREAK.
YES, MA'AM. OKAY AND IT IS 2:28 P.M..
WE ARE NOW BACK IN SESSION ON OUR WORKSHOP TO FINISH UP TWO ITEMS.
[8.C. Discussion Concerning Review Of The Charter And Proposed Changes (Porretto/Brown - 15 Min)]
LET'S READ ITEM EIGHT C, PLEASE.JANELLE. ITEM EIGHT C DISCUSSION CONCERNING REVIEW OF THE CHARTER AND PROPOSED CHANGES.
YOU REALLY WANT MY ANSWER TO THAT? HE WAS PAYING ATTENTION. ACTUALLY, I KNOW WE HAVE THIS ITEM THAT JANELLE JUST READ.
THIS WAS BROUGHT FORWARD BY COUNCILMAN PERRETTA.
AND IT HAD BEEN A REOCCURRING TOPIC AND A TON OF CAMPAIGNS.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S JUST A NEED AND, YOU KNOW, VOTER TURNOUTS LOW.
I THINK THERE'S A NEED AND FOR CHARTER AMENDMENTS.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD REALLY TAKE THAT UP AND, YOU KNOW, LOOK FORWARD.
WE'RE DOING A THE COUNTY IS DOING A BOND IN 25.
I'D SPOKEN WITH BRIAN AND HE'S LOOKING AT SOME PROJECTS POTENTIALLY IT'S A MATCH BOND.
SO YOU KNOW WE SPEND A MILLION THEY SPEND A MILLION.
AND I'M THINKING YOU KNOW A GOOD TIME TO PUT IT ON.
YOU KNOW WHETHER COUNCIL WANTS TO DO A CHARTER REVIEW BOARD? I'M OF THE OPINION.
NO, I THINK WE SHOULD GO TO OUR RESPECTIVE CONSTITUENCY, MAYBE HAVE A COUPLE TOWN HALLS AND GET KIND OF SOME OPINIONS ON WHAT WE CAN DO, MAYBE COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF, YOU KNOW, PRIVATIZING TRASH, WHICH IS REQUIRED BY THE CHARTER TO DO A CHARTER AMENDMENT AND SEND IT TO THE VOTERS.
YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE WANT TO ADD TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE TWO DISTRICT SEATS AWAY AND DO TWO AT LARGE, YOU KNOW, JUST SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ALL DISCUSS AMONGST OURSELVES AND OUR CONSTITUENTS TO REALLY KIND OF SHOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE MOVING IN A DIRECTION YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN SOME TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, RESTRUCTURING HOW THE PORT DOES THEIR, YOU KNOW, THEIR FINANCING AND, YOU KNOW, NOT HAMSTRINGING THE PORT, BUT, YOU KNOW, GETTING, GETTING
[05:10:06]
MAYBE THE PARK BOARD, MAYBE THE PORT INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS AS WELL TO WHERE WE CAN ALL WORK COHESIVELY TOGETHER AND, YOU KNOW, HAVE A BETTER BENEFIT OF CHANGING SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY. AND THIS ISN'T TO DO TEN THINGS ON THE, ON ON A VOTE, BUT, YOU KNOW, PICK THE TOP 5 OR 4 THINGS THAT REALLY, REALLY RESONATE WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE ISLAND AND THAT THAT WE COULD ALL, YOU KNOW, PUSH FORWARD TOGETHER.AND I KNOW WE HAVE SOME COMMENTS.
I WOULD 110% SUPPORT THAT IDEA.
COUNCILMAN ADDS IT IN KIND OF RESEARCHING THAT IN 2016, WE APPOINTED A CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE, AND THEY THEY MET DILIGENTLY TO COME UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COUNCIL TO TO BRING BEFORE THE VOTERS.
I DON'T KNOW, I GOT A LIST OF THEM.
THERE WERE 20 SOMETHING OF THEM.
IS THAT RIGHT, JANELLE, THAT WE PRESENTED TO THE VOTERS 20 ITEMS? YES, SIR. TOO MANY.
AND SO THAT'LL GIVE US MAYBE SOME IDEA.
AND WE COULD SEND THAT OUT, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, JANELLE TO COUNCIL OF THAT, THE PAST CHARTER AMENDMENTS THAT CAME ON THE FOR THE VOTERS IN 2016.
I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING COUNCIL CAN HANDLE AND WE CAN BRING FORWARD THESE.
AND I DO AGREE ALSO THAT IF WE COULD CALL THIS DOWN TO 4 OR 5 ITEMS THAT WE COULD BRING FORWARD IF WE WANTED TO REALLY DO IT IN A TIMELY MANNER, BUT ALSO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE TIMING ON THIS, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE MAY OF 25 WOULD BE OUR FIRST TIME TO BRING THESE FORWARD, AT LEAST IN MY MIND, AND WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION AND FINALIZE OUR THOUGHTS ON THAT BY FEBRUARY OF 25.
SO THAT GIVES US TIME TO WORK ON THIS.
MARY. WELL, I'M I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU BOTH SAID THAT WE DO NOT NEED TO.
HAVE ANOTHER CHARTER COMMITTEE.
BUT COULDN'T WE LOOK AT NOVEMBER? WE CAN LOOK AT.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN YOU CERTAINLY HAVE A LOT MORE PEOPLE VOTING VERSUS, YOU KNOW, IT'S SAD THAT WE HAVE SUCH APATHY IN LOCAL ELECTIONS.
BUT WE COULD LOOK AT THIS NOVEMBER.
OKAY. AND THAT REALLY PUSHES US HERE.
SO I THINK THAT'S A VERY BIG TIME.
AND THAT IN THE NEXT NOVEMBER ELECTION WOULD NOT BE ONE OF HIGH TURNOUT.
RIGHT? YEAH. SO IS THE MAY 25TH TO MAY.
WELL YEAH, I THINK IT'S I THINK AT THAT ONE YOU JUST.
THEY USUALLY PUT THEIR BONDS ON IN NOVEMBER I THINK REALLY SO BE NOVEMBER 20TH.
WELL I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT IN MAY.
WE MIGHT END UP GETTING A LITTLE BETTER TURNOUT.
SO SPLIT THE COST OF THE ELECTION TOO.
WELL, THERE YOU GO. SCHOOL DISTRICTS UP IN MAY 2ND.
YOU'LL HAVE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A MAY BALLOT REGARDLESS.
I THINK THAT WE CAN STILL GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND COME UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS BY FEBRUARY.
A COUPLE TOWN HALL, I THINK TWO.
I'D SAY THREE. BUT, YOU KNOW, TIME CONSTRAINTS, I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
EVERYBODY'S GOT, YOU KNOW, THEIR LIVES TO LIVE TO, BUT, YOU KNOW, 2 OR 3 TOWN HALLS WHERE WE CAN GET EVERYBODY TOGETHER AND KIND OF, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT WE DID, YOU KNOW, IN 16 AND THIS IS WHAT WE THINK, YOU KNOW, CAN NARROW IT DOWN.
WHAT, WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE SOME THOSE WOULD BE BEST, BEST ELECTED LEAD NOT STAFF LEAD.
WE CAN'T GET OUT THERE AND STAFF CAN'T FOR SURE.
I DON'T KNOW IF ELECTED OFFICIALS CAN FOR SURE EITHER.
THAT'S A DON QUESTION, BUT I THINK YOU CAN IF YOU'RE SOLICITING INPUT.
BUT I YOU KNOW, IF IF STAFFS BRING FORTH QUESTIONS, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE TRYING TO GUIDE.
I DON'T WANT THAT TO BE THE CASE I DON'T YEAH.
[05:15:01]
BECAUSE STAFF'S NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING.THAT'S CORRECT. SAY THAT AGAIN.
CAN'T SPEND ANY CITY RESOURCES SO THEY CAN HAVE TO BE POLITICAL EXPENDITURES.
NO, NOT NECESSARILY THAT I MEAN THAT JUST CAN'T BE CITY.
WELL, LET'S I MEAN, WE CAN DELVE INTO THAT BECAUSE I THINK OUR LAST TIME WE TOOK THIS TO THE PUBLIC, WE WERE REAL INTENT THAT THE COUNCIL DIDN'T GET REAL INVOLVED TRYING TO PUSH ANY OF THIS STUFF.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN BRING UP IN THE NEXT MEETING.
YEAH, YEAH, WE CAN. MAYBE A DEAL WHERE WHERE WE WE PUNT IT TO EACH.
YOU GUYS ALL HAVE EXCELLENT FOLLOWINGS.
AND IT MAY BE THAT EACH OF YOU HOLD YOUR OWN PUBLIC INPUT AND YOU BRING THAT BACK TO THE TABLE.
I MEAN, BOB, YOURS IS PRETTY EASY.
YOU KIND OF HAVE LIKE 2 OR 3, JUST LITTLE ORGANIZATIONS.
YOU COULD HAVE MEETINGS AT ALL.
THREE OF THEM YOU'D HAVE AT DAVID.
YOU'VE GOT WILLIAM'S BOARD AND YOU'VE GOT YOURS.
YOU GOT FOR BO, YOU'VE GOT YOU'RE ALL OVER THE BOARD WITH YOURS.
WE COULD DO A COUPLE FOR YOU OR NOT.
WE BUT YOU COULD CALL A COUPLE OF THEM, AND AND WHAT YOU WOULD DO IS YOU WOULD ASK DAVID AND I.
YEAH. WE KIND OF TOUCH THAT WOULD WORK.
THAT WOULD WORK IT IF IT MEANT IF IT MEANT COUNCIL'S APPROVAL, I WOULD PERSONALLY LIKE TO MAYBE START THIS DIALOG, GIVE US TIME TO GET OUR THOUGHTS TOGETHER.
LET'S GET THROUGH THIS BUDGET HERE.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION FLOWING IN.
WE'LL SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THIS BUDGET, BUT PROBABLY IN SEPTEMBER WE COULD PROBABLY START EXPENDING RESOURCES.
WE DON'T WANT TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY PAYING STAFF AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT IF YOU NEEDED A CITY FACILITY TO HOST A PUBLIC MEETING.
VERY GOOD COMMENT ON THE TRASH PART.
SO WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO THE ISLAND IN THE LATE 90S, I RENTED A PLACE IN PIRATES AND IT WAS ACTUALLY UNINCORPORATED COUNTY AT THE TIME.
SO OUR TRASH SERVICE WAS WASTE MANAGEMENT, AND WE HAD TWO TIMES A WEEK COLLECTION, AND IT WAS ACTUALLY LESS EXPENSIVE. OF COURSE, IT WAS MANY MOONS AGO, BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT AS LONG AS OUR EMPLOYEES ARE PROTECTED BECAUSE WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT SANITATION, IF ANYTHING THEY'RE AT FAULT FOR IS THEY'RE TOO DARN GOOD.
BECAUSE THEY PICK UP THINGS THEY SHOULD NEVER PICK UP.
AND I THINK THE NEW GENTLEMAN IN CHARGE IS DOING AN AMAZING JOB.
BUT THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS WE WERE LOOKING AT TODAY AND SO FORTH THAT CERTAINLY WOULD BE ONE AS WELL AS YOUR OTHER SUGGESTIONS. RIGHT? AND WE'VE SEEN SOME HISTORY RELATED TO SOME NUMBERS THAT THEY'RE NOW STARTING TO GET IN ON SANITATION RELATED TO THE COST OF COMMERCIAL, COMMERCIAL COLLECTION VERSUS RESIDENTIAL COLLECTION AS WELL. WELL, WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME INTERESTING REFLECTION AFTER THIS STORM THAT PRODUCED A QUITE A LOT OF DEBRIS. THAT HAS THAT SHOULD BE TO BE PICKED UP THE CONTRACT AS WELL.
AND IT WILL BE IT'S THAT TOPIC HAS A LOT OF RAMIFICATIONS TO IT.
SO WE WOULD IT WOULD THAT BE A GREAT TOPIC TO DISCUSS.
BUT THERE'S A LOT INVOLVED WITH THAT.
WE SEE THE COUNTY FINALLY TAXING, WHICH WE HAD ASKED THEM TO DO MANY MOONS AGO, THE THE PERSONAL PROPERTY OF RENTALS, WHICH IS PRETTY STANDARD ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
BUT A LOT OF OUR TRASH ISSUES IN NEIGHBORHOODS ARE CAUSED BY SHORT TERM RENTALS AND THE FACT THAT THEY DON'T SPEND AS MUCH.
BUT I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE CAN ADDRESS AS WELL.
STAYING WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, MAYOR.
I IS IT DID I HEAR THAT THE FIRST BIG DISCUSSION WE WANTED TO DO WAS SEPTEMBER 2025.
OKAY. SO WE ALL GET WITH OUR, OUR PEOPLE.
AND JUST REMEMBER, SANITATION IS NOT AN ALL OR NOTHING THING.
[05:20:02]
TO THE CHARTER. WE WANT A CERTAIN NUMBER X OR WHATEVER IT IS, YOU KNOW, AND SO STARTING OUT LIMITING TO THAT NUMBER WILL FORCE US TO MAKE PRIORITIES, I THINK.AND ALSO I DON'T FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD, I'M NOT SURE IF IT WHEN IN ORDER TO HELP PRIORITIZE THINGS, I'D LIKE TO HEAR MORE FROM STAFF ABOUT WHAT THEIR OBSERVATIONS ON THE ON THE CURRENT CHARTER ARE AND WHAT WHAT WHAT THEY SEE AS BUMPS IN THE ROADS OR SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, I MEAN I STAFF WALKS A REAL FINE LINE.
BUT I DON'T CARE ABOUT BRINGING THAT UP AGAIN.
WE'VE LEARNED TO WORK WITH THE SYSTEM AND WE'RE FINE.
THAT'S WHAT I MEAN. EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN, RIGHT THERE.
THE NEXT GUY IN THIS CHAIR, HE MAY HE'S PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE A REAL PROBLEM.
IT'S GOING TO BE A REAL RECRUITMENT PROBLEM FOR YOU, BUT IT'S NOT FOR ME.
I LIVE HERE, I DON'T CARE ABOUT IT.
I'M EASY. SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE BROUGHT UP LAST TIME.
DON WAS WAY MORE INVOLVED IN IT BECAUSE AS A STAFF, I TOLD MY PEOPLE TO STAY THE HELL OUT OF IT.
NO. AND THE COMMITTEE WAS CHAOTIC AND AT TIMES BIZARRE.
BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT SACRED COWS THAT ARE IN THE CHARTER THAT ARE VERY, VERY SENSITIVE.
WELL HOW MUCH DO THEY GET? $0.05. WELL WE'VE ADDRESSED THE LIBRARY BUT WE COULD ADDRESS IT AGAIN SURELY.
YOU ONLY GET TO DO A CHARTER CHANGE ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS.
SO IF YOU GO IN MAY OF 25 THAT'S YOUR SHOT UNTIL 27.
WELL, I THINK, I MEAN, SORRY, WE'RE GETTING INTO THE LIBRARY.
I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO GET INTO THIS, BUT THEY OPENED UP FOR, LET'S JUST SAY FOR LIKE YOU KNOW, COULD WE DIRECT STAFF TO DO A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF, OF SOME ISSUE IF WE DID CHANGE? YOU CAN ALWAYS DIRECT STAFF TO DO ANYTHING YOU GUYS NEED.
OKAY. WHY DON'T WE DO THIS THEN LET'S LET'S GET OUR THOUGHTS.
LET'S HEAR HIS NEXT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, DON, UNDER THE CHARTER, YOU SEND THE FIRST 3% OF HOT TO THE PARK BOARD THAT HAS BEEN ECLIPSED BY STATUTE.
BUT YOU TRY TO TAKE IT OUT IN A CHARTER ELECTION, I THINK PEOPLE WILL GO BANANAS.
WELL, THE OTHER ITEM IN THE CHARTER YOU'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED IS THE SANITATION.
SANITATION IS A VERY HOT TOPIC, A SACRED COW.
AND TO BE CLEAR, THE ISSUE OF SANITATION IS A COST ISSUE.
SANITATION DOES A FANTASTIC JOB FOR US.
BUT BUT I WOULD YEAH, LET'S DO THIS.
WE'LL HAVE IT ON THE SEPTEMBER AGENDA.
COUNCILMAN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND START OUR DISCUSSIONS AT THAT TIME.
GET YOUR THOUGHTS TOGETHER ON THE CHARTER.
JANELLE, IF YOU WOULD SEND OUT THAT DOCUMENT OF WHAT WAS INCLUDED IN OUR 16 ELECTION SO COUNCIL COULD SEE ON THAT, AND THEN LET'S LET'S START OUR DIALOG, WE COULD KEEP IT ON OUR AGENDAS ROUTINELY UNTIL WE CAME UP WITH THOSE ITEMS WE WANT TO PUT FOR THE VOTERS THERE.
NOW, IF YOU WANT TO ADOPT THE MEASURE IN FEBRUARY, IT WILL HAVE TO BE VIRTUALLY COMPLETE, A JANUARY JANUARY. CORRECT.
SO YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, TINKER WITH IT.
MAYOR BROWN CAN YOU REVIEW QUICKLY WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO ACTUALLY GET AN ITEM ON THE CHARTER ELECTION, A VOTE FROM THE COUNCIL HERE, LIKE MAJORITY OR.
YES, SIR, A SIMPLE MAJORITY, SIMPLE FOUR VOTES OF GETTING THAT ON.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE MIGHT GET THAT.
[8.F. Discussion Of Communication During Emergency Events (Robb/Brown - 10 Min)]
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.LET'S MOVE TO ITEM EIGHT F PLEASE.
ITEM EIGHT F DISCUSSION OF COMMUNICATION DURING EMERGENCY EVENTS.
MARIE. WELL, THERE WAS A LACK OF INFORMATION, AND I KNOW WE HAD A NATIONAL HOLIDAY IN THE MIDDLE OF IT, BUT WE WENT BASICALLY ON THAT DAY WITHOUT ANY UPDATES ON WEATHER.
[05:25:04]
AND I KEPT LOOKING TO EVERY RESOURCE, CALLING PEOPLE WE JUST REALLY HAD A LACK OF INFORMATION OUT THERE. WE PUBLISH WHENEVER THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RELEASES, AND IT WAS A HOLIDAY, SO THAT MAY HAVE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE WEATHER SERVICE, BUT I DON'T PUBLISH THINGS FROM INTERNET SOURCES.WE ONLY PUBLISH THINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
IF COUNCIL WOULD LIKE US TO TAKE A SEPARATE DIRECTION ON THAT, I'M HAPPY TO DO SO.
BUT WHETHER THE COUNTY WAS POSTING, WHETHER NATIONAL WEATHER AND WE WEREN'T.
OKAY AND I AM VERY BIG ABOUT GETTING INFORMATION ON HIM.
WE HAD PEOPLE STRANDED IN HOUSES FROM HIGH WATER.
I MEAN, IT MAY HAVE BEEN A SMALL STORM, BUT IT WAS THE LARGEST WIND FIELD THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED IN TROPICAL COUNCIL WANTS TO, I WOULD CAUTION, I WOULD TELL EVERYBODY LISTENING, DO NOT RELY ON MUNICIPALITIES OR COUNTIES FOR YOUR WEATHER INFORMATION.
RELY ON THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
WE'RE HAPPY TO PARROT WHAT THEY PUT OUT.
BUT YOU MUST RELY ON THE OFFICIAL SOURCE, NOT US.
BUT WE SHOULD NEVER LEAVE OUR PEOPLE WITHOUT IT.
AND IT MAY HAVE BEEN GOING OUT THE STAFF, BUT IT WASN'T GOING OUT TO COUNCIL.
SO THEN WE COULDN'T RELAY IT TO OUR PEOPLE, YOU KNOW.
AND WE HAD AN UNUSUAL BETWEEN HIGH TIDES AND LOW TIDES, THE WATER NEVER RECEDED.
AND THEN HIGH TIDE CAME AGAIN AND THINGS GOT WORSE.
BUT THAT'S OKAY. YOU KNOW, AND I THINK ON THE NOTIFICATION TOO.
AND BRIAN IS, IS IS VERY GOOD ABOUT THIS.
IN MY OPINION, IT'S NOT SO MUCH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, BUT JUST LOCALLY AND PROCEDURALLY AND OPERATIONALLY WITH THE CITY'S DOING, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR CITIZENS PUTTING BARRICADES AND WE'VE CLOSED THE STREETS DOWNTOWN AND SO FORTH AND SO ON.
WE DID NOT HAVE THAT AT BEACH ACCESS POINTS.
WE HAD PEOPLE BLOCKING DRIVEWAYS BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE STILL COMING OUT TO SEE THE WEATHER.
AND I MEAN, GRANTED, IT WAS A FEDERAL HOLIDAY, BUT WE HAD STAFF HERE, WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY MANAGER, AND WE HAD A LACK OF COMMUNICATION.
I MEAN, WE JUST CAN WE PRY INTO SOME OF THOSE POLICIES AND SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO WITH.
I MEAN, WE'RE I MEAN, TO ME, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF OF COURSE, ONCE WE DECLARE AN EMERGENCY, IF WE HAVE A REAL EMERGENCY, IT GOES UNDER THE MAYOR, NOT UNDER ME, BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO PUT OUT WHATEVER INFORMATION YOU GUYS WANT TO PUT OUT.
WE TYPICALLY WE NEVER OFFICIALLY CLOSED ANY STREETS.
WE ONLY WE ONLY PUT WARNINGS UP AND PUT BARRICADES UP WARNING PEOPLE OF SALT WATER.
AND WE NEVER CLOSED ANY STREETS, SO WE DON'T.
BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO, YOU KNOW, WE DID.
WE DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY.
WE DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY.
IT WAS THE NEXT DAY I GOT A NOTICE FROM THE GOVERNOR.
AND AS SOON AS I RECEIVE THAT, I CONTACTED THE CITY AND WE DECLARED IT HERE AT THE CITY.
SO THURSDAY, THIS THURSDAY WILL BE ON OUR AGENDA IF WE NEED TO EXTEND THAT.
I'M GETTING INPUT FROM STAFF AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS.
SO WE'LL DISCUSS THAT TOMORROW AT OUR COUNCIL.
WE POSTED THEM SO BUT NOT ON WEDNESDAY.
THERE WAS NOTHING POSTED ON THE WEBSITE.
I LOST TRACK OF DAYS. I WENT BACK AND LOOKED BECAUSE IT'S EVERYBODY KNOWS I AM NOT.
I THINK OF HAVING TWO PHONES, BUT I'M LIKE, MAYBE I'M MISSING SOMETHING.
I KEPT SEARCHING, BUT IF COUNCIL WANTS US TO RELEASE WEATHER INFORMATION, I'M A LITTLE SKEPTICAL.
THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT PIECE OF INFORMATION RIGHT THERE IN ITSELF.
I GET THAT. YEAH, I KNOW, SO FOR WHEN YOU'RE TRAPPED IN YOUR HOME BECAUSE OF HIGH TIDES TO SAY, WELL, GO LOOK AT YOUR OWN WEATHER SOURCE, THAT I MEAN, WE HAD A LACK OF INFORMATION AND WE NEED WE'RE NOT A WEATHER SOURCE.
THAT'S THE ISSUE. BUT I'M HAPPY TO PUT OUT.
WE COULD DO MAYBE SOME WELL, MAYBE WE CAN DO SOME.
YOU KNOW, I'M ONE OF ONE OF MY PEOPLE.
THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, HIGH TIDE WAS BLOCKING THEM IN.
AND, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE THEY CALLED TO GET BARRICADES PUT.
IT UP AND EVENTUALLY IT DID HAPPEN.
BUT IS THERE, YOU KNOW, IS THERE A WAY MAYBE WE CAN HAVE AN INTEROFFICE LIKE YOU KNOW, LITTLE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN, YOU KNOW OUR OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND YOU KNOW, LIKE A WORK ORDER OR SOMETHING AT PUBLIC WORKS TO GET KIND OF A NOTICE.
[05:30:07]
HEY, YOU KNOW, SENDING OUT HERE.HEY, SENDING OUT HERE TYPICALLY PRE WE, WE WERE PRE DEPLOYING BARRICADES ALL WEEK.
THE TIDES CAME UP MUCH SOONER THAN WHAT WAS ANTICIPATED.
SO BUT WE WERE PUTTING BARRICADES OUT PRETTY MUCH THE WHOLE WEEK.
SO I'M DURING LIKE DURING I MEAN I WHAT I SAW WAS IT WAS KIND OF LIKE I'M ALMOST JUST SAYING LIKE TRIAGE, YOU KNOW, YOU PUT IT AT, YOU KNOW Q AND SALACIA, WELL, WE SET SOMEWHAT Q WE SET SOME ON SALACIA.
AND THEN WHEN THE AS THE TIDE WENT, WE KEPT HAVING TO MOVE THEM BACK.
YEAH. YEAH. SO SOMETHING SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S I GO AHEAD.
AND THE OTHER AREA WAS WHAT PEOPLE WERE TO DO WITH THEIR DEBRIS.
BECAUSE I MEAN, THEY'RE CALLING THEY'RE CALLING THE CITY.
THEY'RE CALLING HERE. WHAT DO WE DO WITH IT? IS TRASH GOING TO PICK IT UP? ARE WE GOING TO BE CHARGED BECAUSE OF THE NEW TRASH LAWS? BUT, YOU KNOW, AND I HAD A CALL MULTIPLE TIMES TO GET THE ANSWERS TO THAT.
AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN A BIG ONSLAUGHT OF DEBRIS SO FAR.
BUT IF THERE'S AN ISSUE, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT.
I'VE HAD A FEW PEOPLE CONTACT ME ON THAT.
I'VE REFERRED THEM TO STAFF AND DUSTIN ENTER.
THEY'VE HANDLED IT, EACH ONE OF THEM BEAUTIFULLY.
BUT. AND WE'RE NOT CHARGING FOR THAT ANY KIND OF SPECIAL.
OR IF IT'S A RESPONSIBILITY OF A CONTRACTOR, THERE MAY BE DEBRIS.
SO WE GOT TO MAKE SURE THERE WILL BE.
BRIAN, I THINK I THINK YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE WHERE.
MAURICE. THOUGHTS TO COUNCIL I WILL SAY THIS.
I SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH YOU GUYS.
WE CAN ONLY SHOW WHAT THE WEATHER SERVICE PUTS OUT BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS TOPIC.
I JUST WANT TO LET COUNCIL KNOW IF WE HAVE TO HAVE A DECLARATION OF A DISASTER OR EMERGENCY HERE, AND IT THE THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY FALLS UNDER THE MAYOR'S POSITION.
I'VE TALKED TO JANELLE ALREADY.
I'VE TALKED TO MARISSA AND STAFF ABOUT SETTING UP A LINE OF COMMUNICATION WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS TO KEEP YOU UPDATED AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN OF ANY THINGS GOING ON IN THE CITY, SO YOU CAN DISSEMINATE THAT INFORMATION.
SO WE'LL HAVE THOSE LINES OF COMMUNICATION SET UP.
BEFORE WE CLOSE THE MEETING, I'D LIKE TO WISH MY HUSBAND HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY.
IT'S OUR 14TH ANNIVERSARY TODAY I WHAT WHAT YEAR, WHAT YEAR IS IT? 14 OH 14 OKAY, CONGRATULATIONS.
HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY, CHRIS.
ONE MORE YEAR, HE GETS CANONIZED.
IT IS ON THAT NOTE, MY FIRSTBORN WAS BORN TODAY.
OH, CONGRATULATE BIRTHDAY GANNON.
THANK YOU. WELL, WITH THOSE SALUTATIONS, IT IS TWO.
WE HAVE GONE THROUGH ALL OF OUR AGENDA ITEMS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL.
OH.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.