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[1. DECLARATION OF A QUORUM AND CALL MEETING TO ORDER]
I WANTED TO INFORM THE PUBLIC THAT MAY BE WATCHING THIS WE HAVE SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH OUR BROADCASTING AND OUR ABILITY TO BROADCAST LIVE CURRENTLY IS NOT FUNCTIONING.WE ARE RECORDING THIS MEETING RIGHT NOW AND AS SOON AS WE GO LIVE, WE'LL GO LIVE WITH THIS MEETING.
BUT DEPENDING ON HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GO LIVE, THE COMMUNITY COULD VIEW THIS FROM THE BEGINNING BECAUSE WE ARE RECORDING THIS AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME.
IT IS, AS I MENTIONED, 8:23 AM NOW.
I'M OFFICIALLY CALLING THE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING FOR THURSDAY, JULY 25TH TO ORDER.
I'M GLAD TO HAVE EVERYONE HERE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND WELCOME EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY TO THE MEETING.
WE DO HAVE A QUORUM. COULD WE HAVE, PLEASE JANELLE, A REAL CALL.
>> VERY GOOD. JUST SOME HOUSEKEEPING CHORES QUICKLY.
COUNCIL, WE HAD SENT OUT AN EMAIL TO COUNCIL THINKING WE WOULD NEED A SPECIAL MEETING FOR THE PARK BOARD ACTIVITIES THAT WERE RECENTLY APPROVED AT THE PARK BOARD ON THEIR ADDITIONAL MARKETING PLAN.
THAT HAS BEEN MOVED AND CONVERSATION WITH OUR LIAISON, COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN HAS BEEN MOVED AUGUST 22TH.
WE WILL PROGRAM BREAKS INTO OUR WORKSHOP TODAY.
IT'LL BE FOLLOWING ITEM 3B AND FOLLOWING ITEM 3E.
BUT WE'LL TAKE A BREAK TO RELAX A LITTLE BIT BEFORE WE CONTINUE.
ITEM 4A ON OUR AGENDA, WHICH IS THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM IN CONSULTATION WITH OUR ATTORNEY.
WE ARE MOVING THAT TO AN OPEN SESSION ITEM, SO WE WILL BE DISCUSSING THAT IN OPEN SESSION.
LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 3A, PLEASE, MA'AM.
[3.A. Discuss Activities Related to Hurricane Beryl and Associated Recommendations (Brown - 40 min)]
>> ITEM 3A, DISCUSSED ACTIVITIES RELATED TO HURRICANE BERYL AND ASSOCIATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS.
>> JANELLE HAS SENT OUT COUNCIL TO YOU.
EACH COUNCIL MEMBER'S THOUGHTS ON WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS IN THIS EVALUATION DISCUSSION CONCERNING HURRICANE BERYL.
WHAT I'VE DONE TO GIVE US SOME ORGANIZATION TO THIS, I WANT TO MAKE SURE FIRST OF ALL, THAT ALL COUNCIL [INAUDIBLE] AND THEN THESE WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE PROPERLY DOCUMENTED HERE FROM OUR DISCUSSION TODAY.
YOU'LL BE GETTING A WRITTEN TRANSCRIPTION OF OUR DISCUSSION HERE COMING UP VERY SHORTLY.
ALSO, WE HAVE 30 MINUTES SCHEDULED FOR THIS ITEM.
IF WE CAN STAY WITHIN THAT TIME FRAME OR CLOSE TO IT, THAT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
IF WE SEE THAT WE NEED A LOT MORE TIME TO CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSIONS ON THIS, THEN WE CAN SCHEDULE THIS AT A FUTURE MEETING TO CONTINUE THESE.
SAYING THAT, I HAVE TAKEN ALL OF THE COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND I HAVE GROUPED THEM INTO A FEW TOPICS TO GET US STARTED SO THAT WE CAN ORGANIZE OUR THOUGHTS ON THIS.
I WOULD SAY THAT YOU GOT IN YOUR BOXES, I THINK, OR IN YOUR LOCKERS, GOT A HARD DRIVE OF THE EMERGENCY MANUAL.
IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THAT, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO AVAIL YOURSELF AND TO REVIEW THAT.
I GOT A LOT OF WONDERFUL COMMENTS.
MANY OF THEM WERE DUPLICATES FROM OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.
COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN GETS THE AWARD FOR THE MOST THROUGH.
I GOT FOUR PAGES FROM BOB ON DIFFERENT RECOMMENDATIONS, WHICH WERE VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, BOB.
>> AS WE GO THROUGH THESE TOPICS, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY GETS THEIR IDEAS ON THAT TOPIC OUT THERE.
JANELLE MENTIONED THROUGH OUR ELECTRONIC SYSTEM WE'LL BE TAKING NOTES AND THEN WE'LL DISTRIBUTE THOSE TO YOU PROBABLY AFTER THE MEETING OR TOMORROW OR THE NEXT DAY.
I'M GOING TO START WITH THE TOPIC OF COMMUNICATION.
I THINK THIS IS ONE THAT A LOT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS HAD INTEREST IN.
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BRIAN, I'M GOING TO START THIS DISCUSSION OFF TO HAVE YOU GIVE US SOME THOUGHTS ON.THROUGH THIS HURRICANE BERYL, WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION?
>> I TOOK IT A STEP FORWARD AND I ASKED SOME MEDIA PEOPLE IN HOUSTON TO REVIEW OUR ENTIRE EVENT TO SEE EXACTLY HOW WE HANDLED IT.
THE CRITIQUES THAT THEY CAME BACK WITH WE WERE FAIRLY GOOD.
THEY SAID THAT WE WERE VERY THOROUGH, THAT WE PROBABLY PUT TOO MUCH INFORMATION OUT.
THEY DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE PUTTING OUT WEATHER INFORMATION, THAT WE SHOULD BE POINTING, WHICH IS A FAIRLY COMMON THING THAT CITIES DO.
WE ALSO BENCHMARKED OURSELVES AGAINST OTHER CITIES.
WE PUT OUT 10 TIMES THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION THAT ANY OTHER CITY OR COUNTY DID.
WE STATED CONSTANT COMMUNICATION THROUGHOUT THE STORM, WHICH MOST OF THE OTHER ENTITIES DID NOT.
I THINK THEY DID A PRETTY YEOMAN'S TASK ON THIS.
IF THERE WAS ANY MISSING INFORMATION, I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT, BUT COMPARED TO WHAT OTHER CITIES PUT OUT, WHAT THE COUNTY PUT OUT, WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE DID, WE PRETTY MUCH NAILED IT.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION, THE FLOW OF COMMUNICATION COMING FROM THE CITY, WAS YOUR COMMENTS ON THAT AND HOW YOU WOULD WANT THAT TO BE STRUCTURED?
>> RECEIVING INFORMATION, SAY FROM CENTER POINT OR OTHER [OVERLAPPING]
>> WELL, THERE WAS SOME ISSUES THERE, AND THERE WAS A BIG AMOUNT OF CONFUSION, AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THE MEDIA CONSULTANT SAID WAS IS THAT WE WERE SENDING OUT A VERY MIXED MESSAGE BECAUSE COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE SENDING OUT INFORMATION ABSENT THE CITY AND THE CITY WAS SENDING OUT INFORMATION THAT WAS DIFFERENT.
OF COURSE, THE CITY DOESN'T SEND ANYTHING OUT UNLESS IT IS VERIFIED.
WE'RE A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY, WE WERE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS ACCURATE.
ONE OF THE MEDIA FOLKS SAYS IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY BE THE POINT OF CONTACT.
WE HAVE SUCH ACTIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THEY THOUGHT THAT WAS WONDERFUL.
THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN MOST CITIES, BUT THEY SHOULD BE POINTING BACK AT THE CITY, NOT PUTTING STUFF OUT WITHOUT THE CITY KNOWING ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY MAY HAVE A LOT OF COMMUNICATION THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE AND THAT'S NOT RIGHT EITHER. WE SHOULD HAVE THAT.
>> EXACTLY. LET'S OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION ON THAT.
THIS WAS A TOPIC THAT COUNCILMAN FINKLEY HAD A LOT OF COMMENTS ON ON THE COMMUNICATION.
I KNOW WE WANT INPUT ON THAT, BUT I WANT TO GET TO THOSE THAT HAD SENT IN THEIR THANKS.
COUNCILMAN FINKLEY, WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?
>> I APPRECIATED THE EMAIL FROM CITY LEGAL ON THE CHARTER AND HOW LINES OF COMMUNICATION ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DONE TO THE PUBLIC.
BRIAN AND I APPRECIATE THE COMMENT THAT THE CITY ONLY PUTS OUT VERIFIED INFORMATION.
ALONG THE LINES, MIXED MESSAGES WERE BEING POINTED OUT THERE.
I HAD OTHER PEOPLE ASKING ME ABOUT OTHER INFORMATION FROM OTHER CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M LIKE, I CAN'T. ALL I CAN DO IS JUST POINT YOU BACK TO THE CITY.
I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THE INFORMATION IS COMMUNICATED TO OUR CONSTITUENTS AND HOW WE CAN COORDINATE THAT EFFORT WITH ALL OF THE CITY.
BECAUSE IN TIMES OF EMERGENCY, IT'S NOT ABOUT DISTRICTS, IT'S ABOUT THE ENTIRE CITY, AND IT'S ABOUT HOW WE RESPOND AS LEADERSHIP TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE TAKEN CARE OF.
THAT'S REALLY MY MAJOR POINT THAT I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS WITH COUNCIL.
>> I DON'T THINK WE HAD GOOD LINES OF COMMUNICATION.
I HAPPENED TO HAVE THE TPC RETREAT LAST FRIDAY UP AT HDAC, WHERE IT WAS INTERESTING.
THERE WAS ONLY, LIKE, 11 TBC MEMBERS SHOWED UP.
BUT IT WAS ALL THE KEY PEOPLE THAT OBVIOUSLY HAD CONCERNS.
I GOT TO TALK TO A LOT OF MAYOR AND COUNCIL PEOPLE AND COUNTY PEOPLE AND HOW THEY HANDLE IT AT THEIR CITIES TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS ON THE SAME PAGE.
THEY WOULD HAVE MORNING BRIEFINGS WITH THEIR COUNCIL MEMBERS SO THAT EVERYONE WAS AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
THEY WOULD RECEIVE COMPREHENSIVE AND I'LL BE GLAD, I'M NOT BACK IN MY HOUSE YET BECAUSE OF DAMAGE, SO I DON'T HAVE A WORKING PRINTER, I WOULD HAVE PRINTED OFF SOME EXAMPLES FOR THIS MEETING, THEY WOULD RECEIVE EXTENSIVE UPDATES FROM THEIR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT THAT WOULD
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COVER EVERYTHING AND I'LL BE GLAD TO HAVE THAT FOR THE NEXT MEETING BECAUSE HOPEFULLY I'LL BE BACK IN MY HOUSE BY THEN.>> CAN YOU TELL US WHAT CITIES BECAUSE WE CAN GET IT BEFORE THEN?
>> I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT MY NOTES.
THERE WAS A LOT OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER THAT WERE TALKING ABOUT IT.
>> I CAN GIVE YOU A LIST OF WHO ATTENDED.
>> I JUST WANT TO LOOK AT THEIR STUFF, ALL PUBLIC INFORMATION.
>> ANYWAY, TO CONTINUE, WITH ALL THEIR COUNCIL, THEY HAD BRIEFINGS EVERY MORNING SO THAT THEY COULD RECEIVE UPDATES.
I MYSELF I COMMUNICATE WITH MY CONSTITUENTS WITH A LOT OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS, WITH ANYONE.
PEOPLE LIKE TO KNOW INFORMATION.
OUR EMERGENCY SYSTEM TEXT WAS NOT WORKING LIKE IT DID PREVIOUSLY AT OTHER STORMS. I'VE LIVED HERE FOR 30 YEARS, AND I THINK THIS IS THE LEAST AMOUNT OF COMMUNICATION THAT WAS PROVIDED TO THE CITIES.
I HAD MULTIPLE PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE CITY ASK ABOUT [OVERLAPPING]
>> WHAT INFORMATION WERE THEY LACKING?
>> WELL, I THINK THERE WAS A TOTAL OF SEVEN TEXTS THAT WENT OUT IN THE LAST THREE DAYS.
>> CORRECT. BECAUSE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES ARE THAT YOU SEND OUT TEXT, YOU DON'T USE THAT FOR WEATHER REPORTS OR WEATHER UPDATES.
>> I NEED SPECIFICS. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT INFORMATION THAT PEOPLE FELT THEY WERE LACKING SO WE CAN IMPROVE ON THAT.
>> COMMENT WAS, WHY WAS THIS STORM HANDLED DIFFERENTLY THAN PREVIOUS STORMS? THE QUESTION THAT I GOT FROM PEOPLE OVER THE CITY AT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF MANAGEMENT, FROM DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS WAS, WHY DID WE RECEIVE LESS INFORMATION FROM THE EMERGENCY SYSTEM THAT WERE SIGNED UP BY?
>> WHAT INFORMATION DID THEY NOT RECEIVE? WE PUT OUT ALL [OVERLAPPING]
>> I DIDN'T SAY THAT THEY WEREN'T RECEIVING ANYTHING, I DID [OVERLAPPING]
>> ALL CRITICAL REPORTS WENT OUT CRITICAL WHAT GOES OUT VIA TEXT AND PHONE.
>> I CAN GET BACK BECAUSE [OVERLAPPING]
>> IF YOU CAN GIVE ME NAMES, I'M HAPPY TO CONTACT.
>> I'LL GO BACK TO PREVIOUS STORMS AND I'LL PRINT OFF THE MESSAGES FROM PREVIOUS STORMS AND WHATNOT, BECAUSE I THINK CRAIG AND I ARE THE ONLY TWO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ON COUNCIL LONG ENOUGH TO HAVE GONE THROUGH OTHER STORMS THAT YOU DON'T KNOW.
>> AS A RULE OF THUMB, YOU USE TEXT FOR CRITICAL INCIDENTS.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING A VOLUNTARY EVACUATION.
TEXTS GO OUT FOR THE VERY CRITICAL THINGS.
WE DON'T SEND OUT UPDATES VIA TEXT AND VIA PHONE BECAUSE PEOPLE LOSE INTEREST IN THEM AND IT BECOMES A NUISANCE TO THEM.
ALSO, WE WERE SENDING OUT UPDATES 24 HOURS A DAY, YOU DON'T START SENDING TEXT AND PHONE CALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
THE STORM CAME IN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, SO YOU DON'T DO THOSE TYPE THINGS.
ACTUALLY, I GATHERED THAT INFORMATION FROM THESE OTHER CITIES AND WE AGAIN, WERE PUTTING OUT THE EXACT SAME INFORMATION THAT THEY ARE.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT IF WE'RE GOING TO BE DIFFERENT AND BE OUTSIDE THE NORM, THAT'S FINE.
COUNCIL NEEDS TO ADOPT THAT POLICY AND WE NEED TO SCOPE THE VENDOR THAT CAN DO THAT.
BUT ACCORDING TO OUR VENDOR AND EVERYBODY ELSE, WE RESPOND ON.
>> TO MENTION SOME THINGS THAT COUNCILWOMAN ROB HAD MENTIONED, I'D LIKE THE IDEA OF A DAILY UPDATE WHERE WE KNOW [OVERLAPPING]
>> THEY'RE SENT YOU ONE EVERY DAY.
>> LET ME JUST FINISH. YOU'RE RIGHT.
WE'VE GOT DAILY UPDATES EVERY DAY.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE THOSE COME OUT AT A ROUTINE TIME THAT WE WOULD KNOW.
NOW, I KNOW THAT YOU CAN'T PREDICT SOMETIMES FROM WHAT'S HAPPENING AND YOUR INFORMATION MAY NOT BE COMPLETE, BUT IF WE HAD A DAILY UPDATE, SAY AT 7:30 AM OR 8:00 AM [OVERLAPPING]
>> PART OF BRIEFING. EVERYONE BRIEFING TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
THAT'S WHAT THE OTHER CITIES DID.
THEY HAD BRIEFINGS WITH THEIR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
>> THE CITY OF GALVESTON HAS NEVER DONE THAT, NEITHER HAS THE COUNTY IN THE 30 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
IF THERE'S A CITY DOING IT, I'D LIKE TO TALK TO THEM TO SEE HOW THEY DID IT.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY CALLED UP MEETINGS BECAUSE YOU'D HAVE TO POST THEM.
>> WELL, THEY HAD BRIEFINGS AND [OVERLAPPING]
>> I TRIED TO GIVE YOU GUYS MULTIPLE UPDATES PER DAY.
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>> YES. YOU DID AND I GOT UPDATES FROM THE CITY AND FROM BRIAN ROUTINELY THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
TO BE HONEST, I GOT MULTIPLE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
>> WE COULD ALL RALLY AROUND A SPECIFIC BRIEFING TIME AND ASK QUESTIONS [OVERLAPPING]
>> IN A HURRICANE, WE SHOULD SCHEDULE THOSE AFTER THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CALL, WHICH IS WHEN I USUALLY SENT YOUR UPDATES.
>> RIGHT, AND WHAT TIME IS THAT, BRIAN?
>> BARRIS BY STORM. [LAUGHTER]
>> THREE HOURS NOT EVERY THREE HOURS.
>> ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, THEY START.
>> WHAT TIME WOULD BE CONVENIENT FOR YOU?
IT DEPENDS ON THE LEVEL OF THE STORM BECAUSE THE COUNTY DIDN'T HAVE THEIR CALLS LIKE THEY NORMALLY DO BECAUSE THIS WAS NOT THAT TYPE OF STORM.
TYPICALLY, THE COUNTY HAS A CALL THAT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWS THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IMMEDIATELY PROCEEDS. IT DEPENDS.
THEY DO IT DIFFERENTLY. DIFFERENT EMERGENCY MANAGERS DO IT DIFFERENTLY.
BUT TYPICALLY, GETTING OUT IN THIS ONE, WE DID BY PRE FROM ALL OUR CALLS WE LEFT CALL.
>> ELEVEN O'CLOCK WHICH IS ODD.
TYPICALLY THEY'RE AT 10:00 BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE HURRICANE CENTER RELEASES IS AT 10:00.
BUT I THINK THEY MOVED IT BACK IN ORDER TO GET THE MORE RECENT UPDATES, BUT I'M HAPPY TO DO IT IN CONJUNCTION WITH WHATEVER THE WEATHER SERVICE IS RELEASING.
>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE GOOD AND TO NOTIFY COUNCIL WHEN THOSE WERE SO WE COULD HAVE A ROUTINE TIME TO [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'M JUST GOING TO TELL YOU IT'S GOING TO VARY BY STORM BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT VERY [OVERLAPPING].
>> I UNDERSTAND AND I WOULD LIKE [OVERLAPPING]
>> PRETTY MUCH I THINK I UPDATED YOU GUYS AFTER EVERY HURRICANE CALL.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT ROUTINE BRIEFING TIME IN INTERACTIVE TIME WHERE COUNCIL MEMBERS NOT ONLY WILL BE PRESENTING WHAT YOU KNOW THE CURRENT INFORMATION, BUT THEY CAN ASK QUESTIONS.
>> IF WE DO THAT VIA CONFERENCE CALL, DOES THAT HAVE TO BE POSTED?
>> BUT THE EMERGENCY POSTINGS THAT CAN BE DONE IN LESS THAN 72 HOURS?
>> ONE HOUR NOTICE OF THE POSTING HAVE TO [OVERLAPPING].
>> ZOOM CALL, CORRECT? TEAMS CALL.
>> WELL, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE MAJORITY BEING PRESENT.
>> DAN, COULD YOU SPEAK INTO YOUR MICROPHONE THERE, PLEASE, SIR?
>> YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A CONFERENCE CALL ONLINE.
WE'LL HAVE TO SQUARE THE ISSUE ABOUT THE MAJORITY OF MEMBERS HAVING TO BE IN-ATTENDANTS OR A QUORUM.
WE'LL LOOK AT THAT. SHIRLEY, YOU'RE NOT CONTEMPLATING HAVING COUNCIL COME TO CITY HALL DURING THE HEIGHT OF HURRICANE.
>> TO BE FAIR, I THOUGHT BRIAN AND STAFF WAS REALLY FORTHCOMING IN A LOT OF INFORMATION AND THEY DID A LOT OF WORK TO THE CITY COUNCIL BOX WAS FULL OF STUFF.
THE ISSUE IS WE NEED TO HAVE A COMMON MESSAGE.
WE NEED TO CLARIFY WHAT THE COMMON COORDINATED PUBLIC MESSAGES FOR CITY STAFF AND THE COUNCIL TO SAY TO THE PUBLIC IN RESPONSE TO ALL THIS.
I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO MEET IN PERSON DURING RECOVERY, NOT NECESSARILY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM, WHILE IT'S HAPPENING.
IF WE NEED TO MEET TOGETHER, WE CAN DO THAT ON ZOOM CALLS, BUT I THINK GETTING FACE TO FACE DURING THE RESPONSE PERIOD AND CLARIFYING WHAT OUR MESSAGE IS NOT ABOUT THE INFORMATION FLOW.
I THINK THE INFORMATION WAS REALLY GOOD.
IT'S ABOUT HOW WE FILTER, DELIVER THAT AND COORDINATE OUR MESSAGE TO GOING OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT IS FACE TO FACE MEETING.
I KNOW THAT BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY WE DID IT ETB FOR IC AND IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.
I DON'T KNOW, DAN, COULD WE POST SEVERAL MEETINGS IN A ROW IN ADVANCE? LET'S JUST SAY IF WHEN THE RECOVERY WAS GOING TO GO ON, SO COULD WE POST FIVE OR SIX MEETINGS AT A CERTAIN TIME?
>> WE CAN CANCEL THEM IF YOU DON'T NEED THEM?
>> THAT'S A VERY GOOD IDEA. COUNCILMAN PERRETTA.
>> I PARROT SOME OF BOB STUFF.
BUT NOTIFIED ME IN ONE CALL, A LOT OF MY RESIDENTS HAD ISSUES, AND IT'S NOT ABOUT THE INFORMATION THAT WASN'T PRESENT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE REACHING OUT TO ME AND SAYING I WASN'T GETTING THAT INFORMATION, AND THEY FELT LIKE I WAS GETTING INFORMATION OUT.
WHEN PEOPLE'S WATER IS WORKING AND THEIR POWER IS NOT, THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT POWER.
I UNDERSTAND CENTERPOINT AND THERE'S SOME COMMUNICATION ISSUES THERE AND I'D LIKE TO FOLLOW UP AND SEE WHAT THE BREAKDOWN WAS, AND IF IT'S CENTERPOINT, THEN CERTAINLY, I'M SURE COUNCIL'S RECOMMENDATION FOR LOBBYING STATE, THE STATE LEGISLATURE FOR OVERSIGHT IS A GOOD IDEA.
BUT LITTLE THINGS LIKE I POINTED THIS OUT, THE NUMBER WAS LISTED WRONG ON FACEBOOK FOR THE EOC NUMBER.
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THAT WAS A BIG ISSUE PEOPLE WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT, THEY WERE GETTING THE HOLD YOUR MESSAGE OR IT WASN'T GOING THROUGH, AND AGAIN, THAT FALLS INTO THAT COHESION, THE MESSAGING.SOME OF THIS IS PREPAREDNESS AND SOME OF THIS IS COMMUNICATION.
ARE WE FREE TO ASK QUESTIONS TO STAFF MEMBERS OR?
>> BY THE WAY, WE'RE LIVE STREAMING NOW.
>> WE'RE STREAMING NOW. WHEN YOU DO POST, DO YOU HAVE LIKE TEMPLATES OR DO YOU JUST YOU HAVE A HOME NUMBER?
I USE SOME TEMPLATES FROM WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, BUT A LOT OF TIMES IT'S JUST WRITING WITH THE INFORMATION THAT COMES UP AS IT IS.
ALSO, WE'RE DOING SOME OF IT ON THE FLY IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.
>> THAT DEPENDS ON THE SITUATION.
>> I THINK IT WAS GOOD TO US BUT SOME PEOPLE FELT LIKE IT WASN'T GETTING TO THEM.
>> I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT INFORMATION THEY WEREN'T GETTING BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT, I'M NOT SAYING THAT [OVERLAPPING]
>> I UNDERSTAND YOU WANT THE SPECIFICS. IT'S HARD.
>> THERE MAY JUST NOT HAVE BEEN ANY INFORMATION.
THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T MISS SOMETHING.
>> I KNOW YOU LIKE TO SAY SIGN UP FOR THE NOTIFY ME IN ONE CALL, BUT PEOPLE ARE STUBBORN.
YOU HAD 90 OLD PEOPLE THAT WERE SAYING, I'M NOT LEAVING MY HOUSE.
I COULDN'T TELL WHEN THEIR POWERS ON, BUT WE COULDN'T EITHER.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WHAT'S IMPORTANT AND THAT WE ALL SAY THE SAME THING.
THAT'S WHAT A COORDINATING MEANING?
>> NO. WE ACTUALLY HAD UTILITY COMPANIES CALLING AND COMPLAINING BECAUSE THEY WERE GETTING CALLS AND THEY WERE UPSET THAT WE WERE PUTTING OUT BAD INFORMATION OR THERE WAS SOMEBODY WAS BEING CRITICAL OF THEM AND TOUGH UP.
THAT'S THE WAY I LOOK AT IT. BUT WE'VE HAD THAT DOWN FROM TWO DIFFERENT UTILITY COMPANIES COMPLAINING ABOUT THAT.
>> LET'S GO BACK TO COUNCILMAN PERRETTA.
>> I'M A BELIEVER OF, TOO MUCH INFORMATION MIGHT BE BAD.
>> THAT WAS A CRITIQUE BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU BURY.
>> YEAH. THAT'S THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I STUDIED THAT AT SCHOOL BUT, AGAIN, IT'S TOO MUCH INFORMATION.
BUT THERE'S TWO SYSTEMS, AND WHY DIDN'T WE USE LIKE AN EMERGENCY? DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO USE LIKE AN EMERGENCY TECH SYSTEM WHERE NOT ONE CALL AND NOTIFY ME, BUT THE EMERGENCY TEXT SYSTEM.
>> YOU MEAN LIKE THE EMERGENCY BROADCAST SYSTEM?
>> IS THERE A WAY THAT WE [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE HAVE ACCESS TO THAT ONE.
>> BYRON COME FORWARD, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE.
>> WHAT'S THE LIMITING FACTOR ON WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T USE IT FOR?
>> EXCUSE ME. BYRON IDENTIFY YOURSELF THROUGH THAT MICROPHONE.
LET'S GET A MICROPHONE TO BYRON, IF WE COULD.
>> THE EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM.
MOST OF THOSE ARE LIKE WE SEE THEM ALL THE TIME FOR MISSING CHILDREN, GRAY ALERTS, AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT HAS TO BE COORDINATED.
FOR US TO PUSH OUT LOCAL WEATHER INFORMATION VERSUS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER OR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, THEY ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE TO PUSH THAT OUT, NOT US.
WE USE IT FOR A CERTAIN SPECIFIC TYPE OF THING.
TO DO THE BROADCAST TO HIT EVERYONE ALL AND ONCE INCAST.
>> FOR EVACUATION PURPOSES AND FOR DEALS LIKE THAT.
WE WOULD NOT PUT POWER UPDATES OUT THERE.
>> I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT, BUT I GUESS, LET'S SAY, HALF THE ISLAND OR WHAT WAS THE EVACUATION.
>> IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE COULD PUT OUT ON EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT THROUGH?
>> YEAH, BUT YOU GOT TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE YOU CAN'T LIMIT IT, AND YOU START PUTTING OUT VOLUNTARY EVACUATION AND YOU DON'T TARGET IT CORRECTLY, THEN EVERYBODY STARTS THINKING YOU'RE CALLING FOR A VOLUNTARY.
IT'S VERY HARD WHEN WE DO THESE PARTIAL EVACUATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WHAT YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IS CREATE PANIC OR HARM, AND THOSE ARE THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT WE TRY NOT TO DO.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THE BIGGEST THING I WANT TO DRIVE HOME IS THAT WE HAVE THESE TWO SYSTEMS AND MAYBE CONSOLIDATING IT TO ONE.
BUT AGAIN, DIFFERENT MODES OF INFORMATION GOING OUT TO, I DON'T KNOW, TWITTER, PEOPLE DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THEY WERE GETTING THE INFORMATION.
>> IF IT'S POWER INFORMATION, I FEEL WE'RE NOT GETTING [OVERLAPPING]
>> I KNOW THAT, BUT [OVERLAPPING] I'M SURE EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER HAS AT LEAST A CALL [OVERLAPPING] AT LEAST ONE COUNCIL MEMBER.
[00:25:04]
I GOT HIM. I'M SURE EVERYBODY GOT HIM THEY FELT LIKE EITHER THE CITY OR SOMEBODY WASN'T GETTING INFORMATION OUT.MY GOAL AND IF IT'S 75 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION IS 25 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION.
THERE'S 10 PERCENT, IT'S NEVER GOING TO BE HAPPY WITH ANYTHING, BUT MY GOAL IS NOT TO BROWBEAT STAFF OR DO ANYTHING, BUT MAKING SURE THAT THAT 75 PERCENT OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT'S NOT GETTING THE INFORMATION GETS IT AND FEELS THAT THEY'RE BEING ADEQUATELY [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT INFORMATION THEY WEREN'T GETTING BECAUSE I THOUGHT WE PUT OUT INFORMATION WE HAD.
>> BUT AGAIN, YOU CAN'T STOP PEOPLE FROM NOT JOINING TO NOTIFY ME ON ONE CALL.
HOW WE CIRCUMVENT THAT IS THAT [OVERLAPPING]
>> I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DO THAT.
>> THAT'S A MANAGEMENT THING THAT [OVERLAPPING]
>> THERE IS A STATEMENT THAT WENT OUT FROM THE CITY SAYING THAT WE SWITCHED TO A NEW SYSTEM AND IT DROPPED A LOT OF PEOPLE.
THEY HAD TO REGISTER [OVERLAPPING].
>> COULD YOU EXPLAIN WHAT FOR THE NOTIFY ME AND ONE CALL.
>> YEAH. I THINK THAT ALEX BRINGS UP A GOOD POINT.
COUNCILMAN ROLLINS, THIS WAS A PRIME TOPIC OF HIS [OVERLAPPING]
>> YEAH. THE ONE CALL SYSTEM IS A SYSTEM THAT YOU SIGN UP FOR, AND THAT IS FOR TEXT MESSAGES, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> NO. ONE CALL IS THE EMERGENCY SYSTEM.
>> BUT THE NUMBER OF SIGN UP FORM THAT IS RELATIVELY SMALL.
WE'RE TALKING 1,000 SOMETHING RESIDENTS WHO ARE SIGNED IN.
>> THE NOTIFY ME GOVERNMENT SYSTEM, THAT IS AN EMAIL SYSTEM.
>> WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS ON NOTIFY ME?
>> I WANT TO SAY IT'S 6,000 BUT I CAN GET THE EXACT NUMBER.
I DON'T RECALL EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS, I THINK.
I THINK BETWEEN SIX AND EIGHT.
>> WELL, I'M GOING TO TURN THE TOPIC OVER TO COUNCILMAN ROBINSON A SECOND, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE SHOULD HAVE ON OUR WEBSITE OR NOTIFY THE PUBLIC THAT IF YOU WANT TO BE CONTACTED FOR EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION, THAT YOU CAN SIGN UP AND YOU CLICK ON EITHER TEXT OR EMAIL AND MAKE IT SIMPLE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO SIGN UP.
I THINK THE COMMUNITY WAS CONFUSED ON THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ONE CALL AND NOTIFY ME.
>> I ALSO HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
LIKE, I HAVE BEEN SIGNED UP FOR THE SYSTEM WHENEVER WE STARTED IT, AND I DID SEE I THINK LIKE I SAID, SIX TEXT TOTAL.
I COULD GO THROUGH AND PULL MY MESSAGES UP OF PEOPLE WHO WERE CALLING ME, I'VE BEEN SIGNED UP AND FOREVER AND I RECEIVED NOTHING.
WHY WAS THIS STORM DIFFERENT THAN THE PAST? I HEARD THAT COMMENT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
>> BECAUSE IF YOU GOT SIX AND THEY DID, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THAT HAPPENED.
>> THAT'S COUNCILMAN ROLLINS, GO RIGHT AHEAD.
>> MISS WHEN WERE YOU GIVEN DIRECTED TO REMOVE THE TEXT COST FROM NOTIFY ME?
>> I DID NOT REMOVE THE TEXT OPTION FROM YOU TO NOTIFY ME.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT OCCURRED.
>> ARE YOU SAYING THAT JUST DISAPPEARED?
>> I ASSUME IT WAS A PART OF AN UPGRADE THROUGH CIVIC PLUS THAT THEY NO LONGER CARRIED THAT ABILITY. I DON'T KNOW.
>> CAN YOU FIND THAT INFORMATION OUT AS TO [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT MAY BE A VENDOR ISSUE.
I THINK IT SWITCHED TO [OVERLAPPING]
>> YEAH. THEY WERE BOUGHT OUT.
>> CIVIC 1, OUR WEBSITE PROVIDER WAS RECENTLY ACQUIRED BY A DIFFERENT COMPANY.
I'M PERSONALLY NOT COMPLETELY FAMILIAR WITH THE NOTIFY ME FUNCTIONALITY, BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY LOOK INTO THAT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THIS IS ONE OF THE ISSUES I HAVE.
IN OTHER WORDS, THERE'S A GRAY AREA.
DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
HERE'S PEOPLE THAT SIGN UP FOR THE TEXTS TO GET THESE ALERTS.
BUT YET HERE WE HAVE A HURRICANE COMING.
I GET DIRECTORS THROUGHOUT BECAUSE I GET DIRECTORS FROM BOTH MY CITY MANAGER AND MY MAYOR TO SAY, PRETTY SIMPLE.
I DON'T WANT TO RECEIVE TEXTS, SEND THEM TO THIS LOCATION, SEND THEM TO THIS NUMBER.
FIRST THING I DO IS I GIVE THEM A NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER OF WHICH THAT WAS INCORRECT.
[00:30:01]
THEN I GET ANOTHER MASS TEXT THAT SAYS THAT NUMBER IS NOT EVEN A RED NUMBER.THEN I GET BACK WITH MAYOR BROWN AND CITY MANAGER AND I SAY, WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP, WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO TO GET THIS INFORMATION OUT THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR? NOTIFY ME.
THEY'RE ABLE TO GET TEXT THROUGH NOTIFY ME.
I SEND THEM TO THAT WEBSITE LINK.
SAME THING. THEY GO TO THE WEBSITE.
I LOOK LIKE A BIG AGAIN BECAUSE THERE'S NO OPTION TO GET A TEXT.
THEN I GO TO THE THIRD LEVEL AFTER TELLING THESE PEOPLE, AND THIS IS A GROUP OF 30 PEOPLE.
I'M SORRY THAT'S NOT AVAILABLE.
I'M GIVING YOU WRONG INFORMATION AGAIN.
I GO BACK TO THE BACK TO THE STRING AND THEN I'M NOT TOLD TO GO TO ONE CALL.
WHEREAS ONE CALL IS JUST LIKE YOU SAID, CHILD DISAPPEARS.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A ROAD CLOSURE TOMORROW BECAUSE OF STREET WORK.
IT'S NOT UTILIZED FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION DURING A HURRICANE.
I USED ONLY THE SCREENSHOTS THAT I COULD GET FROM FACEBOOK.
I DIDN'T CREATE MY OWN THOUGHTS OR WORDS OR OPINIONS ON WHAT WAS GOING ON THAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO AS A CITY AND WE JUST SEND US SCREENSHOTS FROM FACEBOOK BECAUSE NOT ONE OF THEM USED SOCIAL MEDIA.
THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS.
LEADING UP TO A HURRICANE, WHETHER WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO CORPUS, WHETHER WE THOUGHT IT WAS A TROPICAL STORM, WHETHER WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE LEVEL 1 AND COMING STRAIGHT AT US.
WE BASICALLY HAVE A GOOD SEVEN MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR TO PREPARE FOR ANYTHING WE GET.
I WOULD THINK THAT COMMUNICATION WOULD BE THE KEY.
I THINK WE COMPLETELY DROPPED THE BALL ON THIS.
I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY GOOD TO EVALUATE THIS COMPANY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOTIFY ME.
>> THEY HAVE AN OPTION TO TEXT.
IF THEY DON'T WANT TO RECEIVE TEXTS AT MIDNIGHT OR TWO O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, THEN THEY HAVE THE REAL EASY ABILITY OF TURNING NOTIFICATIONS OFF FOR THAT EVENING.
IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE. WHEN THEY WAKE UP THE NEXT MORNING AND WANT TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATIONS, THEY TURN THE LITTLE THING BACK ON.
IF YOU ALL WANT TEXT INFORMATION, WE'LL GET A VENDOR THAT CAN DO THAT.
>> LOOK, I KNOW THAT. BUT WHAT I DON'T LIKE ABOUT IT IS THAT THIS IS NOT EVEN THOUGHT OF GOING INTO A HURRICANE.
>> I APOLOGIZE ABOUT THAT. [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE WERE USING THE ONE CALL SYSTEM.
I THINK THE ISSUE IS THAT WE HAVE RELATIVELY FEW SIGN UPS ON IT.
>> WE HAVE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS.
WE HOSTED DURING THE HURRICANE FAIR, WE HAD SIGN UPS THERE THAT WE COULD HELP PEOPLE SIGN UP.
WE'VE HAD WE'VE PUT OUT NUMBERS THAT PEOPLE COULD CALL IN AND SIGN UP, HAVE ASSISTANCE.
>> I AGREE. BUT WHEN YOU PUT OUT, IN OTHER WORDS, WE HAVE PUT OUT TO PUBLIC, ONE CALL FOR THIS.
THAT'S THE WAY I WANT TO CALL THIS.
IT'S FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.
IT'S NOT WHAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR AS FAR AS PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS LEADING UP TO A HURRICANE.
>> LET'S BENCHMARK SOME OTHER CITIES AND SEE WHAT THEY'RE USING, GUYS, BECAUSE I SIGNED UP FOR SEVERAL OF THESE IN DIFFERENT CITIES JUST TO SEE HOW THEY WORK, AND I DON'T GET THOSE KIND OF TEXTS FROM THEM.
SO THIS MAY BE SOMETHING A LITTLE OUT OF THE ORDINARY THAT WE HAVE TO CUSTOM PROCURE, IF THIS IS WHAT THE COUNCIL WANT.
>> PERSONALLY, I THINK IT'S SIMPLE TO HANDLE, AND I THINK COUNCILMAN RAWLINS BRINGS UP A GOOD IDEA.
WE NEED TO MAKE IT A SIMPLE SYSTEM FOR THE COMMUNITY TO SIGN UP FOR AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE GETTING.
>> JUST A QUICK, WHO BOUGHT WHO BOUGHT CIVICPLUS?
>> THAT'S THE SAME ONE THAT HAS TAGG IT, RIGHT?
>> IF WE ALL GET OUR THOUGHTS TOGETHER, I'D LIKE A PUBLIC CAMPAIGN.
I KNOW WE WE'VE DONE THINGS, BUT MAYBE WE CAN EXPAND THAT TO GET, ONCE WE GET A SYSTEM THAT WE'RE ALL COMFORTABLE WITH.
I THINK A PUBLIC CAMPAIGN, MAILERS, STUFF LIKE THAT TO THE RESIDENTS WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA.
>> PUT IT IN RED ON THE WATER MAIL.
>> THOSE MEMBERS ARE KIND OF ATROCIOUS.
NOW I SEE WHY PEOPLE SAID THAT THEY WEREN'T GETTING IT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT THEY'RE NOT SIGNED UP FOR IT, BUT THAT'S AN US PROBLEM.
THAT'S HOW WE GET INFORMATION.
>> BUT THERE WAS AN E-MAIL THAT CAME OUT FROM MARISSA SAYING THAT WE SWITCHED VENDORS AND A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAD FALLEN OFF AND YOU NEED TO REGISTER AGAIN.
>> NOT THE CASE. YOU CAN REGISTER AGAIN FOR EMAIL, BUT YOU CANNOT REGISTER FOR TEXT, IT'S NOT AN OPTION ANYMORE.
>> WELL, FOR ONE CALL, AND I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO, MRS. ROBB.
[00:35:01]
THERE WERE SOME OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS THAT SAID THAT THEY USED TO RECEIVE THEM AND THEY DIDN'T, AND SO WE SWITCHED OUR VENDOR AND ROBB WAS THAT, I THINK IT WAS LIKE APRIL 2023.>> YEAH, I KNEW IT WAS OVER A YEAR AGO.
>> MY BELIEF WAS THAT MAYBE THAT WAS WHAT HAPPENED, BUT WE WERE TOLD THAT ALL NUMBERS WERE SWITCHED OVER.
BUT IF PEOPLE WERE SIGNED UP AND THEN SUDDENLY THEY'RE NOT GETTING THEM, THEN THAT WAS MY ASSUMPTION ON IT, WAS THAT MAYBE A HANDFUL OF NUMBERS WERE NOT PROPERLY SWITCHED OVER.
NOW WE WERE TOLD BY THE VENDOR THAT ALL NUMBERS WERE SWITCHED OVER, I BELIEVE.
BUT THAT WAS WHY I SAID THAT TO YOUR CONSTITUENT BECAUSE THAT'S MY ONLY GUESS FOR WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF SHE WAS PREVIOUSLY.
I THINK IT WAS MAUREEN WHO SAID SHE WAS PREVIOUSLY SIGNED UP.
>> I THINK STAFF AND MARISSA,I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO.
>> ABSOLUTELY, THIS IS AN EASY FIX.
>> I'M TRYING TO MOVE TO OTHER SUBJECTS.
COUNCIL, I THINK STAFF UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE NEED HERE, AND THIS CAN BE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE PUT INTO PLACE FAIRLY SOON.
>> WELL, WE'LL HAVE TO PROCURE IT.
>> I GUESS WE'LL GET RIGHT ON THAT AND I'LL PROVIDE AN UPDATE ONCE EVERYTHING IS GOOD TO GO.
>> THE CITIES THAT COUNCILMEMBER ROBB MENTIONED TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE USING, I THINK THEY'RE USING THE SAME SYSTEM WE ARE, BUT LET'S FIND OUT.
>> I WILL TELL YOU I LIVE IN A DIFFERENT CITY.
BUT THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION THAT CAME OUT FROM THE CITY I LIVE IN WAS PRETTY MUCH GOOSE EGG.
I GOT MOST OF MY INFORMATION FROM GALVESTON.
>> YEAH. WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I APPRECIATE IT. I'M GOING TO MAKE A COMMENT TOO.
>> IT'S A CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT PROCESS.
>> YEAH. NO, WE DEFINITELY PUT OUT, AND I'M WORRIED WE'RE GOING TO PUT OUT TOO MUCH FOR THE TEXTS.
I THINK WE STILL NEED TEXT, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
>> TOO MUCH FOR THE TEXT, I DON'T THINK IT'S A PROBLEM.
PEOPLE MOVE FROM EAST TO WEST ALL DAY LONG, AND IF THERE'S A CLOSURE OR SOMETHING HAPPENING, I THINK PEOPLE WOULD APPRECIATE.
MISSED THIS. HEY, HIGH WATER AREA.
>> THIS IS DEFINITELY A WORTHY INITIATIVE.
>> ABSOLUTELY, I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING.
>> THAT WE CAN PULL IN ALL THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE HERE AT THE CITY THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VARIOUS ASPECTS AND SEE IF WE CAN'T PULL TOGETHER AND DO BETTER. ABSOLUTELY.
>> BRIAN, WOULD YOU DO THIS, KNOWING WHAT COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO SEE? COULD YOU SEND US A REPORT ON THIS?
>> THEY'RE GOING TO PUT IT TOGETHER AND WE'LL GIVE YOU A TIMELINE. THAT'D BE GREAT.
>> THANK YOU, HOPE. THANK YOU, MARISSA.
I WANT TO SAY TOO, I DON'T INTERFACE WITH HOPE.
BUT I INTERFACED WITH MARISSA THROUGH THIS STORM.
ALMOST SHE AND I WERE TALKING 24/7 ON THINGS.
THEY DID WORK VERY HARD, AND I WANT TO THANK STAFF AND MARISSA FOR WHAT THEY DID.
THEY REALLY WORKED DILIGENTLY.
>> WE ACTUALLY STAFFED THE PIO OFFICE ON SITE DURING THE STORM, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE TYPICALLY DON'T DO.
>> I'M JUST GOING TO MAKE A COMMENT TOO, AND COUNCIL, JUST GIVE ME SOME GUIDANCE ON THIS.
WHEN WE HAVE THESE STORMS APPROACHING, AND I'M GOING TO USE BERYL AS AN EXAMPLE.
I THINK A NOTICE NEEDS TO GO TO OUR RESIDENTS THAT IF THE RESIDENTS FEEL THEY CANNOT FUNCTION WITHOUT ELECTRICITY FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, THEY NEED TO EVACUATE THE ISLAND.
I TELL YOU, WE HAD SO MANY RESIDENTS THAT HAD MACHINES AND BREATHING MACHINES AND THINGS LIKE THAT IN THEIR HOMES, AND THEY GOT CAUGHT OFF-GUARD.
IN THESE STORMS, IT SEEMS LIKE ELECTRICITY SEEMS TO BE QUITE A PROBLEM DURING THESE STORMS.
>> THAT WAS A TOP THING ON MY LIST, WAS REALLY REDEFINED EVACUATION PROCESS.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE FOCUSED ON FLOOD AND WIND, BUT IT SHOULD ALSO FOCUS ON EXCESSIVE HEAT BECAUSE OF POWER OUTAGES.
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT THE STATE WOULD ALLOW US TO PULL AN EVACUATION FOR NO POWER.
>> REMEMBER WHAT EVACUATION MEANS IN GALVESTON.
WE CAN CALL AN EVACUATION RIGHT THE SECOND IF WE WANTED TO.
BUT IF YOU WANT THE BUSES TO COME IN HERE AND ROLL THEM OUT, THERE'S CERTAIN CRITERIA WE'VE GOT TO CHECK.
BAD POWER IS NOT GOING TO BE ONE OF THOSE.
>> TO YOUR POINT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS AVAILABLE THROUGH ALL THE UTILITIES, BUT ESPECIALLY THROUGH CENTERPOINT, IS PEOPLE WHO ARE SPECIAL NEEDS CAN REGISTER WITH CENTERPOINT, AND THEY WILL RECEIVE NOTIFICATION BECAUSE THEY CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND IF SOMEBODY'S ON OXYGEN, THEY NEED TO KNOW.
I THINK I'VE TALKED TO BRIAN AT ONE POINT BECAUSE THERE WAS ONE LADY,
[00:40:03]
THEY'RE BOTH ON OXYGEN, AND THEY COULDN'T GET OUT OF THEIR HOUSE.IN THIS CASE, NEIGHBORS HELPED, BUT WE WERE READY TO SEND FIREMEN OVER THERE, IF IT WAS NECESSARY.
BUT PEOPLE CAN REGISTER WITH CENTERPOINT THAT THEY'RE AN EMERGENCY.
>> AGAIN, I THINK I TOLD YOU THIS IN THE LAST MEETING, THE NUMBER ONE RULE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS, WHEN THERE IS SOMETHING APPROACHING HAPPENING OR POST DISASTERS, EVERYBODY STAYS IN THEIR LANE.
PART OF THE REAL PROBLEM I SAW, IF YOU ASKED ME FOR MY CRITIQUE OF THIS, IS THAT WE DID NOT STAY IN OUR LANE.
IT'S OKAY TO SHARE INFORMATION, BUT WE ARE NOT THE POWER COMPANY.
WHEN WE START ANSWERING AND RESPONDING, WHEN PEOPLE AUTOMATICALLY REDIRECT TO US, AND THAT BOGS US DOWN BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE CITY SERVICES, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE'VE BECOME THE DEFACTO INFORMATION SOURCE FOR A POWER COMPANY WHOSE WEBSITE WENT DOWN.
I THINK THAT THAT'S GREAT THAT WE SHARE THAT INFORMATION, AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST PEOPLE WHO ARE IN STRESS AS A RESULT OF NO POWER.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE WERE JUST GETTING A CONSTANT STREAM OF PEOPLE, I NEED MY POWER, I NEED MY POWER, AND I THINK PART OF WHAT NEEDS TO COME ABOUT THIS IS AN EDUCATIONAL PROCESS, IS THAT THE CITY HAS NO, THE STATE REMOVED THAT FROM US A LONG TIME AGO WITH FRANCHISES.
WE USED TO BE ABLE TO DICTATE A WHOLE LOT OF STUFF WITH THE POWER COMPANY.
>> THAT PROBABLY WOULD BE A GOOD TOPIC.
I HAD SO MANY PEOPLE SAY, "WELL, YOU NEED ONE." WHEN THE RENEWAL OF YOUR FRANCHISE COMES UP ON MY. WE DON'T HAVE THAT ANYMORE.
>> IT WAS IN EVERY ANSWER THAT I GAVE TO PEOPLE.
BUT YOU GOT TO REMEMBER, WE HAVE CORE CITY SERVICES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE AND WE WERE TOTALLY SIDETRACKED AND BOGGED DOWN DEALING WITH POWER COMPANY ISSUES AND THAT IT WAS BECAUSE WE WERE SENDING OUT MESSAGES LIKE WE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT, AND OUR MESSAGING SHOULD HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR.
>> AT OUR OFFICES UP AT MCGARDEN.
>> YES, SIR. IS THIS ON COMMUNICATION, BILL?
>> ONE MORE COMMENT BACK TO YOUR POINT THAT WE STARTED WITH WITH EVACUATION.
I WASN'T SUGGESTING THAT WE TAKE ON ANY KIND OF RESPONSIBILITY OR OVERSIGHT OF CENTERPOINT OR POWER.
WHAT I WAS SUGGESTING IS THAT WE MAKE THE MESSAGE OF THE REASON WE CALL FOR EVACUATION IS RISKS OF FLOOD AND WIND.
WELL, THERE IS A RISK OF EXCESSIVE HEAT REGARDLESS OF ITS SOURCE, AND PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW THAT.
THEY SHOULD KNOW THAT THAT'S A RISK.
>> FOR VOLUNTARY, I THINK THAT'S VERY APPROPRIATE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT TOO, CRAIG KNOWS THIS, THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VOLUNTARY AND MANDATORY EVACUATION.
MANDATORY SETS OFF BELLS AND SIRENS WAY DOWN THE ROAD, AND THAT'S WHY WE DO THAT AS AN ABSOLUTE LAST RESORT, BECAUSE WHEN YOU CALL FOR A MANDATORY, THE CITY ASSUMES A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE DIFFERENT THAN A VOLUNTARY.
I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR, OUR MESSAGING NEEDS TO BE VERY CLEAR.
PROLONGED POWER OUTAGES IN EXCESS OF 14 DAYS MAY BE EXPECTED AS A RESULT OF THE STORM, ALTHOUGH I DON'T THINK ANYBODY EXPECTED THAT POWER OUTAGE LENGTH AFTER HURRICANE BERYL, THOUGH IT WAS.
WE NEED TO MESSAGE THAT TO PEOPLE AND REFER THEM TO THE POWER COMPANY FOR MARIE WAS TALKING ABOUT TO SIGN.
>> THEY'RE ALSO SURF SIDE CALLED MANDATORY EVACUATION OF ALL RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, WHICH IS THE MOST UNUSUAL.
THAT'S A PANIC ON THE REST THEN.
WELL, THEY'RE CALLING MANDATORY.
NO, THEY CALLED MANDATORY EVACUATION OF CAMPERS, GOLF CARTS, ATVS.
>> THEY ALSO CLOSED THE HIGHWAY TOO FOR CRAZY REASONS.
TYPICALLY, WHAT WE DO WITH OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, IS WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH GALVESTON COUNTY, AND WE TRY NOT TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY THAN WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN BOLIVAR.
WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS IN THE PAST BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU SEE IT ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE ALL THE TIME.
THEY'RE COMMENTING ABOUT STUFF THAT'S HAPPENING IN CRYSTAL BEACH IN BOLIVAR AND WE'RE THINKING IT'S US.
WE TRY TO MARRY OUR MESSAGES TOGETHER VERY CLOSELY.
>> DO WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE AT THE COUNTY USC?
THEY'VE TOLD US NOT TO DO THAT ANYMORE.
>> VERY GOOD. I KNOW DON WANTED TO SAY A FEW THINGS.
>> WHEN WE USED TO HOUSE PEOPLE WHEN WE WOULD SEND THE MAYOR PRO TEM, AND WE WOULD SEND DAVID SMITH WAS ALWAYS ONE OF THE ONES THAT WENT ALONG WITH THE FINANCE DIRECTOR AND WE WOULD HOUSE THEM AT THE EOC DURING AN EVENT, AND THEY TOLD US THEY DON'T DO THAT ANYMORE.
SOMEBODY AT THE COUNTY TOLD US THAT.
>> WE HAVE COUNCILMAN RAWLINS AND THEN I WANT DON.
[00:45:02]
HE HAS SOMETHING TO SAY. GO AHEAD, BOTH.>> WAS THERE A STATEMENT MADE AT ALL BY CENTERPOINT, A STATEMENT THAT BASICALLY WE ACTUALLY UTILIZED TO PUBLICLY SHOW, HEY, LOOK, THIS IS CENTERPOINT.
THIS WAS THEIR STANCE THROUGHOUT BILL.
THIS IS THIS WILL BE THEIR STANCE IN THE FUTURE.
SITUATIONS LIKE THAT, BECAUSE THERE HAD TO HAVE BEEN A COMMUNICATION THAT BASICALLY SAID, HEY, LET US DO THE POWER AND YOU ALL STAY OUT OF THE WAY.
>> FOR THE YOUNG GUY THAT RUNS THE LOCAL STUFF, WE WOULD HAVE NOTHING.
>> TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, NO.
>> NO. OUR PROPER CHANNEL WAS TO REACH OUT TO THE GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS GUY, AND HE HAD A COMPLETE MELTDOWN ON US.
>> HE HAD A COMPLETE MELTDOWN ON IT.
WE COULD NOT GET ANY OFFICIAL STATEMENTS FROM CENTERPOINT WHATSOEVER.
EVERY BIT OF INFORMATION THAT WE RELEASED CAME FROM, I FORGET HIS TITLE.
IT'S ONE OF THE LOCAL DIRECTORS WHO WAS NICE ENOUGH TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH HIS ON LOCAL STAFF.
>> WHAT ABOUT A POSSIBILITY OF A POST STAFF THAT BASICALLY SAYS THIS IS WHAT WE TRY TO ACCOMPLISH WHENEVER WE HAVE A DISASTER AREA.
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
>> LET ME WEIGH IN ON THAT AND LET'S SEGUE [OVERLAPPING].
>> JUST AS AN EDUCATION BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE JUST TEND TO ASSUME THAT WE HAVE CONTROL OVER THAT.
THERE WERE SO MANY DISCUSSIONS THROUGHOUT THAT WE HAD BASICALLY, I GUESS IT WAS AN OPINION, BUT IT WAS AN UNKNOWN FACT THAT WE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH CENTERPOINT.
WE CAN'T DIRECT, WE CAN'T CONTROL, WE CAN'T ASSUME, WE CAN'T ASSIGN.
I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE A VERY BASIC SHOULD BE UNDERSTOOD THING, BUT IF THERE WAS A STATEMENT THAT BASICALLY SAYS, WE HAVE, AND THIS IS BEFOREHAND.
THIS IS NOT DURING. IT'S HARD TO GET A PUBLIC STATEMENT OUT THAT DURING BECAUSE WE PRETTY SENSITIVE ABOUT THINGS.
>> BY THAT POINT, THEY'RE HOT.
IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD HAVE JUST TO EDUCATE.
>> I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A STRONG EDUCATIONAL PROCESS.
WE COULD COORDINATE OUR MESSAGE ABOUT WHAT WE SAY ABOUT IT.
>> THEIR COMMUNICATION SYSTEM HAS BEEN DOWN SINCE THE TORNADOES IN TAMPA, SO THAT DIDN'T HELP, BECAUSE THE TEXT THEY WERE SENDING OUT WERE MISINFORMATION.
THERE WAS THAT ONE NIGHT WHERE THEY SENT OUT THAT NOBODY WOULD BE ON UNTIL THE 19TH.
>> THAT WAS TRUE FOR SOME PEOPLE.
>> I WILL TELL YOU THE SAME THING WITH COMCAST.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TEXTS I GOT FROM COMCAST THAT GAVE ME A DATE.
A VERY ODD SPECIFIC TIME LIKE 1:55 PM.
THOSE TIMES CAME AND WENT I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES.
>> LET ME INTERJECT, COUNCIL, MOVING TO THE CENTERPOINT DISCUSSION ON THIS AND THE POWER OUTAGES, I SENT TO JANELLE THIS MORNING.
I GOT THE PRESENTATION FROM CENTERPOINT.
AS WE SPEAK, THEY ARE APPEARING BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION RIGHT NOW.
I SENT THEIR PRESENTATION TOO.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GONE OUT YET.
>> THEY GO OVER ALL THE THOUGHTS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.
THEY OUTLINED THEIR SHORTFALLS AND THEY OUTLINED WHAT THEY DID NOT DO PROPERLY IN THE STORM, THEY OUTLINED WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO AND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO CHANGE THIS, AND THEY ARE PUTTING OUT A COMPLETE PLAN TO HAVE A DIFFERENT APPROACH ON THE COMMUNICATION, THE DAILY BRIEFINGS, EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS TO THE PUBLIC, THINGS LIKE THAT.
I WOULD ADVISE YOU TO LOOK AT THAT THAT WAS SENT TO YOU.
ALL THE QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERING CENTERPOINT IS ADDRESSING IN THEIR PRESENTATION TO THE PUC ON THAT.
>> BECAUSE EVEN THEIR OUTAGE MAPS WERE SHOWING LINES WERE ON AND IT MAY HAVE BEEN LINES WERE ON, BUT THE HOUSES WEREN'T.
>> SOME OF THIS INFORMATION TOO THAT WE GOT, THERE WAS ONE INSTANCE WHERE MOST OF MY DISTRICT WENT OUT AT 7:00 IN THE MORNING AND THEY SAID IT WAS BECAUSE OF RAIN AND THUNDER, AND I ASKED MARY AND BRIAN WHAT'S GOING ON.
BRIAN SAID RAIN THUNDER AND I WAS THINKING, IF I TELL MY PEOPLE THIS, I'M GOING TO LOOK LIKE AN IDIOT BECAUSE EVERYONE WAS TEXTING ME AT 7:00 BEFORE IT RAINED.
>> THAT WAS THE ANSWER WE GOT FROM CENTERPOINT.
>> I HATE TO PUT INFORMATION THAT YOU KNOW IS JUST BS.
>> WELL, THEY ARE ADDRESSING THAT.
READ THAT PRESENTATION BECAUSE THESE ITEMS ARE GOING TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE STATE AND THE PUC WITH CENTERPOINT.
>> THAT WAS ONE OF THE ONES THAT WENT OUT ON THAT DAY.
>> DAN, YOU WANTED TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
>> THE NEXT TIME I PRESENT YOU WITH YOUR EMERGENCY DECLARATION,
[00:50:04]
A COUPLE OF DAYS AHEAD, I INCLUDE THE VOLUNTARY EVACUATION NOTICE FOR THE LINE AREAS.I WRITE ONE FOR VOLUNTARY EVACUATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE ELECTRICALLY NEEDY OR SOMETHING ADVISING THEM THEIR SPECIAL NEEDS, ELECTRICAL OUTAGES, AND IF THAT IS AN ISSUE FOR THEM, THEY MAY WISH TO CONSIDER WE RELOCATE THEM.
>> AT RISK OF HEALTH PROBLEMS FROM ACCESS.
>> BECAUSE THE RED CROSS WOULD NOT COME TO GALVESTON AND SET UP A SHELTER IN THAT SITUATION BECAUSE SHELTERS ARE A BIG DEAL.
THEY ARE A BIG LIABILITY AND A BIG DEAL WHEN FEMA COMES IN AND YOU PARTNERING WITH THE RED CROSS.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SET UP A SHELTER UNLESS THERE'S WIDESPREAD DEVASTATION AND THERE'S FEAR.
THAT'S WHAT THEY DO, LIKE AFTER IKE AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> THEY'RE NOT GOING TO COME SET ONE UP WITH AIR CONDITIONING.
>> IF YOU WILL DO THAT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE IT PREPARED FOR MY SIGNATURE, IF NEED BE. THAT WOULD BE GOOD.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THINGS THAT YOU'RE STILL IN EVACUATION.
THIS WEEKEND OR WHATEVER THE STORM WEEKEND BEING COMBINED WOULD BE FOURTH OF JULY.
THAT'S EVEN WORSE BECAUSE WE HAD 2, 300,000 PEOPLE ON THE ISLAND.
WHEN I CALLED BRIAN ABOUT CALLING VOLUNTARY EVACUATION, IT'S LIKE, IF YOU'RE A PERSON WHO LIVES ON THE BAY, YOU KNOW THAT THE WEATHER IS GOING TO COME UP, COVER YOUR DOCK.
YOU CAN'T GET OUT, YOU'RE TRAPPED, BUT YOU KNOW IT'S GOING TO GO OUT.
WELL, IF YOU'RE SUSIE, SMITH, THEN WITH YOUR FAMILY FOR THE WEEKEND, YOU'RE CALLING THE EMERGENCY, YOU'RE CALLING THE POLICE.
WE'RE AFRAID, WE'LL NEVER GET OUT OF HERE.
IT WAS SO INTRIGUING TO WATCH WHEN WE CALLED THAT VOLUNTARY EVACUATION.
WE HAD FOUR RENTALS BEHIND US AND WITHIN TWO HOURS, THEY WERE ALL [OVERLAPPING]
>> CHECKOUT TIME WAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST TRAFFIC FLOWS WE'VE SEEN.
>> THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS THAT WE CALLED FOR THAT.
>> I KNOW. THAT'S WHY I ASKED FOR IT BECAUSE THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND.
>> I GOT ONE MORE COMMUNICATIONS ISSUE. I WON'T DWELL ON IT.
>> THAT HAS TO DO WITH CENTERPOINT.
>> GO RIGHT AHEAD. WE NEED TO IMPROVE THE COMMUNICATIONS AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE PARK BOARD REGARDING THE MESSAGE TO VISITORS AND LOCALS, AGREE ON THE ISSUES, THE GOALS, THE TRIGGERS, THE COST, THE RESPONSIBILITY.
THE CRITERIA FOR CLOSING BEACHES, BEACH ACCESS, AND THE RETURN OF WELCOMING TOURISTS BACK TO TOWN.
DURING RECOVERY, WE NEED TO COORDINATE AS TO BE CLOSED, THE SCHEDULES FOR OPENING AND THE PUBLIC MESSAGING COMES FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PARK BOARD AND THE MAYOR, COORDINATE THOSE MESSAGE AND JUST HAVE A COMMON GOAL, STRATEGY, AND EXPECTATIONS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES, CHAMBERS, AND RESIDENTS ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.
>> TO ADD ON TO THAT BECAUSE I AGREE WITH YOU 100%, WE ALSO NEED TO COORDINATE THAT WITH JAMAICA BEACH.
EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE A DIFFERENT CITY, THEY'RE RIGHT, THE SMOKE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ISLAND, AND WE CALLED THE VOLUNTARY EVACUATION AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL AFTER.
THEN THEY CALLED VOLUNTARY, BUT WE NEED TO COORDINATE WITH THE PART [OVERLAPPING].
>> EXCUSE ME MR. BRICK WAS IN LOCK SYNC WITH US WHEN HE WAS CITY MANAGER OUT THERE.
THEY GOT A NEW GUY. SO WE'LL MAKE SURE WE'RE ON THERE IN THE LOOP ON ALL.
>> ABOUT THE FOLLOW-UP ON THAT, I'VE MADE A NOTE AND I'LL MAKE SURE THAT AS THE MAYOR I'LL GET THE PARK BOARD.
I'LL GET WITH THE ENTITIES THAT YOU MENTIONED JAMAICA BEACH.
I THINK BOWERS IS THE MAYOR THERE.
I'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE COORDINATE THAT FOR ANY FUTURE EVENTS. GOOD POINT.
>> I AGREE WITH BOB ON THAT. I'D LIKE TO SEE.
THIS COULD BE A LEARNING THING FOR I GUESS THE PARK BOARD TOO, WHITTLED DOWN TO 615,000 EXPENDITURES.
NOW YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY WHERE YOU HAVE A TEMPLATE.
DON'T THROW AWAY THE DOCUMENTATION.
KEEP THE TEMPLATE FOR IF WE DO HAVE ANOTHER EVENT LIKE THIS WHERE WE CAN HAVE A EMERGENCY RESPONSE, AND EVERYTHING IS READY.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE MEETING ABOUT IN OUR NEXT MEETING AT WORKSHOP ON THE 22ND, EXACTLY TO TALK THAT.
I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP PUT THAT IN IN YOUR POCKET SO THAT THERE'S NO MISCOMMUNICATION.
>> DEVELOP A PROCESS AROUND THAT. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING.
>> THEN GETTING INVOLVED WITH, CHAMBERS, VISION, THOSE ENTITIES THAT CAN HELP GET THAT INFORMATION OUT FOR BUSINESSES AS WELL.
>> I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA ALSO.
[00:55:02]
COUNCIL, WE'RE COMING UP ON ABOUT FIVE OR 10 MINUTES BEFORE WE NEED TO EXPIRE ON OUR TIME FOR THIS SUBJECT.I'M GOING TO MOVE TO SOME OTHER TOPICS REAL QUICKLY THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER FINKLEA AND I HAD THE SAME THOUGHT.
OFFER TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR TDM AND FEMA TRAINING.
>> NO. I SAW THAT FROM SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND I THINK THAT SHOULD BE A REQUIREMENT THAT EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL MEMBER SHOULD TAKE.
I'D LIKE TO ACTUALLY MAKE THAT POLICY.
>> I'M GOING TO ADD, THIS IS WHERE I HAD ISSUE WITH THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DOCUMENT THAT WE GOT BECAUSE THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE, AND THIS IS WHERE I THINK THIS FALLS INTO THE PREPAREDNESS ASPECT OF IT, I THINK A MANAGEMENT FAILURE.
THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A PART WHERE LOCAL OFFICIALS DO GET THAT TRAINING.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S BEEN FOLLOWED UP ON WHERE WE ALL GET THE TRAINING.
I'M SURE IT SEEM LIKE EVERYONE PART OF THIS.
ONE OF MY FIRST RECOMMENDATIONS WAS THAT EMERGENCY PLAN SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO COUNCIL WHEN WE DO OUR ON-BOARDING PROCESS SO THAT WE KNOW.
I THINK WE NEED TO CLEAN IT UP AND MAKE IT, NOT ONE POLICY BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET TO THE TERRORIST ATTACK PART OF IT, BUT IT WAS MORE STORM, BUT WE NEED TO WE NEED TO HAVE IT REASONABLE.
>> WE NEED TO USE THEIR FORMAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO SUBMIT IT AS.
>> WHEN I WAS ON COUNCIL PREVIOUSLY, WE ACTUALLY WERE BROUGHT TO THE EMERGENCY CENTER, AND WE ACTUALLY WERE TRAINED ENOUGH THAT WE COULD BACK PEOPLE UP.
THERE WAS A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF EDUCATION, AND OF COURSE, WE HAVEN'T REALLY HAD ANY REAL STORMS UNTIL THIS YEAR, AND THEN WE GET HIT WITH TWO IN A ROW.
BUT WE ACTUALLY USED TO GO IN AND HAVE A WHOLE SESSION ON EMERGENCY.
>> ORIENTATION AND ALL THAT, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE GET INVOLVED IN.
SO I WOULD DEFER THAT TO JANELLE.
>> WE MAKE THE TRAINING AVAILABLE TO ALL EMPLOYEES EVERY YEAR, SO Y'ALL ARE WELCOME TO JOIN.
>> BRIAN, COULD YOU LET COUNCIL KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO COMBINE FOR THE TDM TRAINING FOR COUNCIL.
>> IS THIS THE FEMA INCIDENT COMMAND TRAINING COURSE?
>> I LOOK AT THAT ONLINE, THERE'S ABOUT 100 OF DIFFERENT COURSES.
>> BUT ALL OF YOU WOULD JUST TAKE THE PRELIMINARY JUST LIKE THE MOST EMPLOYEES.
>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY USEFUL IF WE'RE HAVING SOME REGULAR DAILY DISASTER RESPONSE MEETINGS, RECOVERY MEETINGS, THAT IS AN INCIDENT COMMAND SITUATION.
THAT'S AN INCIDENT COMMAND CONTEXT.
THOSE COURSES WOULD BE REALLY USEFUL IN GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THOSE INCIDENT COMMAND RESPONSE MEETINGS AFTER DISASTER.
>> I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT MOST FEMA GUIDELINES IN OUR FORM GOVERNMENT, Y'ALLS ROLE AND THAT IS VERY MINIMAL, BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR YOU ALL TO TAKE THE COURSE AND UNDERSTAND IT.
>> AGAIN, MY REASON FOR THOSE MEETINGS IS SIMPLY TO COORDINATE THE MESSAGE.
>> YOU GOT THIS SEGUE INTO A PREPAREDNESS?
COUNCILMAN PORRETTO, HAD PREPAREDNESS.
WE'RE ALL AGREEING THAT WE SHOULD TAKE THIS TRAINING.
BOB HAD MENTIONED, ICE AND TIDE AND GETTING THAT COORDINATED BETTER.
I TALKED WITH COUNCILMAN FINKLEA ABOUT GENERATORS.
ONE OF MY ISSUES I HAD WAS THE NEXT MORNING, I WAS IMMEDIATELY WORRIED ALL THE POWERS OUT.
WHAT ABOUT, MY NEIGHBORS AND THE ELDERLY AND THOSE OTHER GROUPS ABOUT GENERATORS.
I HAD MESSAGE TO MAYOR BROWN AND A COUPLE OF OTHER PEOPLE, WHAT ARE WE DOING TO GET MCGUIRE DENT UP FOR A COOLING CENTER? I WAS TOLD THAT THE POWER WAS BACK ON.
MY IMMEDIATE THOUGHT WAS, WELL, IT'S ABOUT TIME WE GET THESE GENERATORS.
I FOUND OUT THAT WE DO ALREADY HAVE THESE ON GENERATORS.
MY QUESTION WOULD BE, WHY WASN'T IT ACTIVATED SOONER?
>> HAD ROOF DAMAGE. WE GOT IT CLEANED UP AND WE WERE OPEN THE VERY NEXT DAY.
>> BUT THERE AGAIN, WE OPENED ONE ON THE EAST END.
WE HAVE A LOT OF SENIORS, MEDICALLY FRAGILE PEOPLE ON THE WEST END.
>> WHEN WE OPENED UP, NOBODY CAME.
>> WELL, BECAUSE IT WAS FIVE DAYS AFTER, THEY HAD ALL EITHER LEFT OR MADE PLANS.
>> THE THIRD DAY, SECOND OR THIRD DAY.
>> WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFF TO STAFF COOLING CENTERS IN EVERY DISTRICT.
WE CAN'T POLITICIZE A DISASTER, GUYS.
[01:00:02]
>> IT'S NOT POLITICIZING ABOUT DISASTER.
I'M NOT TRYING TO POLITICIZE THEM.
YOU CAN LEAVE THEM OUT OF MY DISTRICT IF YOU DON'T WANT TO POLITICIZE IT AT ALL.
>> I DON'T EVEN HAVE A BUILDING IN YOUR DISTRICT.
>> THIS ISN'T A POLITICAL THING.
THIS IS HEALTH AND SAFETY. I TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.
>> AGAIN, I THINK YOU HAVE TO REALLY LOOK AT THIS, GUYS.
IF THAT'S SOMETHING COUNCIL WANTS TO DO, WE'LL START MARCHING DOWN A PATH TO CREATE THESE FACILITIES.
>> IT'S NOT CREATING A FACILITY.
>> AGAIN I CAN TELL YOU MOST CLIENTS HAVE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE.
>> WE'VE NEVER BEEN FACED WITH SUCH CRITICAL EXCESSIVE HEAT ISSUES AND POWER OUTAGES BEFORE.
WE'VE BEEN HERE. WE'VE DONE THIS.
BUT WE NEED TO HAVE A UNIFIED PLAN, NEEDS TO BE IN THE PLAN, MAYBE UPDATE THE PLAN, WHERE WE HAVE FACILITIES IN AREAS THAT ARE CLOSE TO POPULATION CENTERS THAT WE KNOW WE CAN GET UP WITH A GENERATOR WITH MINIMAL ROOF DAMAGE OR WHAT HAVE YOU, AND GETS PEOPLE SOME RELIEF.
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT IN MASS, BUT THERE'S PROBABLY A COUPLE OF SPOTS WE CAN DO.
MCGUIRE DENT IS ONE, IS A GOOD SPOT.
>> TO BOB'S POINT, BOB MENTIONED IN YOUR BRIEFING THE IDEA OF A DISTRIBUTED NETWORK THAT GOES BEYOND THE CITY, WHICH TALKS ABOUT COLLABORATION WITH NON-GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES, THAT COULD ALSO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE.
I THINK THAT IS A VERY WORTHWHILE DISCUSSION.
WE SHOULD FIND A GROUP MAYBE OUTSIDE THE CITY THAT CAN HELP FACILITATE THAT DISCUSSION AND COME UP WITH THE WAY.
>> THE RED CROSS READY TO SEND A STAFF FROM ROSENBURG ELEMENTARY IN THE EAST END. THEY'RE READY TO GO.
BUT THE GISD REQUIRED THAT THERE SHOULD BE POLICE AT THE SCENE AND ALSO INDEMNIFY THEM.
THOSE ARE THE TWO BIG THINGS WE'VE GOT TO GET ACROSS IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS.
I THINK THE BUILDINGS ARE THERE TO DISTRIBUTE CENTERS EQUITABLY.
BUT THE SAME TWO THINGS WE'VE GOT TO GET ACROSS IS HOW TO STAFF IT WITH POLICE AND HOW TO INDEMNIFY THE CITY.
THOSE TWO THINGS. BUT THERE ARE OTHER GUM AND SOME OTHER INSTITUTIONS CAN HELP STAFF IT TO DISTRIBUTE THE WATER, SHOW PEOPLE AROUND, JUST BE THERE TO HELP PEOPLE.
I THINK THOSE VOLUNTEERS ARE ALL THERE BETWEEN THEM RED CROSS AND MCGUIRE AND SOME OTHER INSTITUTIONS, BUT WE JUST HAVE TO OVERCOME THAT ISSUE OF INDEMNIFICATION AND POLICE.
THEN MAKING AGREEMENTS WITH THE VARIOUS BUILDINGS LIKE GISD, MAYBE UTMB. I DON'T KNOW, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE.
THEY GOT LUCKY THAT THEY HAD POWER. THEY DON'T HAVE A GENERATOR.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF GENERATORS. THEY ASKING, DO WE NEED ANY?
>> THEY HAVE A LITTLE SMALLER, BUT THEY CAN'T POWER THEIR WHOLE.
THEY CAN'T POWER CHILLING PLANT?
>> COUNCIL. WE ARE COMING UP ON OUR TIME HERE.
I DON'T WANT TO DELAY THIS MUCH MORE, BUT I WANT TO BRING UP ONE POINT, COUNCIL MEMBER HAS BROUGHT UP IN HER RESPONSE ON THIS.
SHARON, YOU HAD MENTIONED THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT FOR PEOPLE, BUT TO SIGN UP FOR ASSISTANCE WITH A MANDATORY EVACUATION.
DID YOU WANT TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS ON THAT?
>> WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS.
I THINK AS CITY COUNCIL, WE SHOULD KNOW MORE ABOUT OUR CONSTITUENTS OR RESIDENTS, AND THEIR NEEDS, BUT ON A PERSONAL LEVEL SO AS WE ARE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, THEN WE CAN IDENTIFY THOSE WHO ARE OF A TRUE MEDICAL NEED.
WHAT WE LOOKED AT OR DID IN DISTRICT 1, WE WENT BLOCKS AND IDENTIFIED PEOPLE WITHIN BLOCKS, AND YOU SAY, THIS PERSON OVER HERE IS THE MEDICAL NEED.
AS WE BEGIN TO IDENTIFY OUR DISTRICTS OR EVEN CROSSING THE LINE OF ANOTHER DISTRICT, I THINK AS CITY COUNCIL, WE HAVE GOT TO BE MORE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR RESIDENTS WHO ARE IN THOSE CONDITIONS AND BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THEM.
I KNOW AHEAD OF TIME IF THIS IS COMING BECAUSE A HURRICANE SOMETIMES WE CAN PIN POINT IT, SOMETIMES WE CAN'T.
IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT HAS TO HAPPEN TWO OR THREE DAYS AHEAD OF TIME FOR THEM BECAUSE IT MIGHT TAKE TIME.
>> THAT IS CORRECT. IN OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION ON THIS, HERE IN BY THE STEER SYSTEM, WOULD YOU EXPLAIN TO THAT COMMUNITY WHAT THAT IS?
>> THAT'S A REGISTRATION WHERE IF YOU'RE IN THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT DOESN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO EVACUATE ON YOUR OWN, THE STATE PROVIDES BUSES. WE RALLY.
WE TYPICALLY DO IT AT 4,700 BROADWAY, BUT THAT COULD VARY DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS WITH 4,700 BROADWAY.
THEN THE STATE ESTABLISHES SHELTERS AND WE SHIP THEM OUT TO SHELTERS.
WE HAVE TO START THOSE, AND WE SEND PEOPLE WITH THEM.
[01:05:01]
BARBARA HAS HANDLED THAT FOR US. IS BARBARA IN HERE?>> SHE'S HANDLED FOR US, FOR ALL OF OUR EVENTS, AND WE SHIP THEM OFF.
HOW MANY PEOPLE DO WE HAVE REGISTERED IN STEER RIGHT NOW, BARBARA?
>> BARBARA COME FORWARD, IF YOU WOULD.
>> A HUNDRED AND SOMETHING IS IT? THAT LISTED CHANGES.
>> BUT YES, WE DO LOAD EVERY YEAR.
THE PROBLEM DURING THE PANDEMIC WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE THEY GAVE VOUCHERS FOR HOTELS.
BUT HISTORICALLY, WHEN WE EVACUATED FOR HURRICANE IKE, WE LOADED UP GRAY LINE, GREYHOUND BUSES, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL THEM, CHARTER BUSES, AND SHIPPED PEOPLE OUT WITH THEIR CHILDREN, THEIR ANIMALS, AND ALL THEIR BELONGINGS THAT THEY CAN PACK. YES, SIR.
>> DURING HURRICANE LAURA, WHEN WE HAD OUR LAST MANDATORY EVACUATION, I THINK WE EVACUATED 800, 900 INDIVIDUALS.
>> YEAH IT WAS [INAUDIBLE] BUT PRIOR TO THAT, WE HAD EVACUATED CLOSE TO 3,000 PEOPLE DURING IKE.
BUT BECAUSE ALL THE HOUSING AUTHORITY UNITS WERE NOT OPEN AT THE TIME, WE DIDN'T HAVE AS MANY FOLKS.
>> WELL, IT'S A STATE REGISTRATION SYSTEM.
>> WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO, BARBARA, IN YOUR EDUCATION AND AS WE'RE GETTING THESE THOUGHTS OUT TO THE PUBLIC ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO A ONE SYSTEM FOR TAX AND THINGS, WE NEED TO EDUCATE THEM ON THE STEER SYSTEM TOO.
IF WE COULD GET THAT INFORMATION OUT.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THEY NEED TO REGISTER SO WE KNOW WHO NEEDS THAT TYPE OF ASSISTANCE.
>> [INAUDIBLE] IN COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM [INAUDIBLE] THE RECREATION CENTER AND PUT OUT INFORMATION ONLINE, AND CALLED ME CONTINUOUSLY TO TELL ME WHAT WAS GOING ON.
WE ARE ALREADY LOOKING AT WAYS TO GO VISIT MANY DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS AND TRY TO GET THIS INFORMATION OUT SO THEY UNDERSTAND ON HOW THEY SIGN UP TO GET THESE ONE CALL INFORMATION.
WE'RE ALREADY THINKING AHEAD OF WHAT YOU-ALL ARE THINKING HERE OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN THE FUTURE.
THAT'S WHAT COMMUNITY OUTREACH GROUP, ALONG WITH EMERGENCY MAINTENANCE WHO WE'RE GOING TO PARTNER UP, TO GO THROUGH THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.
EVERYBODY DOESN'T SHOW UP AT THE HURRICANE TOWN MEETING.
>> WE'VE GOT SHARON, AND THEN BOW, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON IF YOU DON'T MIND.
>> ALSO, I FOUND THAT FLYERS WERE MORE EFFICIENT FOR THOSE WHO DON'T DO SOCIAL MEDIA, AND QUICKLY CREATING SOMETHING AND GETTING IT OUT THERE TO THE PUBLIC WITH THE INFORMATION ON THERE.
LET ME BACK UP A QUICK MINUTE.
I FOUND THE INFORMATION TO BE GOOD AND POSITIVE THAT WAS OUT THERE.
I DIDN'T SEND OUT EVERYTHING THAT THE CITY SENT ME.
I READ THROUGH IT AND I PICKED OUT WHAT I FELT PEOPLE WOULD UNDERSTAND AND WAS IMPORTANT, AND LET ME TELL YOU I GOT SOME GOOD COMMENTS ON THAT.
I WAS EVEN IN A RESTAURANT AND THE LADY DIDN'T KNOW, BUT SHE SAID THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION.
I WANT TO GIVE KUDOS TO THE CITY STAFF.
I THINK, AT THIS TIME, IT WAS AN EXCELLENT JOB.
I THINK NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT POST, WHICH IS ALWAYS GOOD.
BECAUSE WE CAN ALWAYS LOOK AND SAY, WE COULD HAVE DONE THIS, OR WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS, OR WHATEVER.
I'M GLAD WE'RE DOING THAT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE STILL NEED TO REMEMBER THAT A HURRICANE IS A HURRICANE.
WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT CENTERPOINT WITH THE STATEMENT MAKING, IT SEEMED LIKE THAT SHOULD BE PART OF THEIR MISSION STATEMENT ANYWAY.
THEY JUST STATED THAT WE SUPPORT OR WE DON'T.
THAT SHOULDN'T BE ANYTHING THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO CREATE.
JUST A LITTLE REMINDER OF WHAT THEY COULD DO TO HELP TO ASSIST TO BRING CLARIFICATION AND TO CALM PEOPLE DOWN.
MOST OF MY EMAILS WILL START OUT WITH: BE PATIENT, IT'S A CHALLENGING TIME, LOOK OUT FOR YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR NEIGHBORS, YOUR LOVED ONES.
BE PATIENT, BECAUSE WE JUST HAVE TO TAKE THINGS AS THEY COME AND HELP EACH OTHER THROUGH THE PROCESS.
BUT I'M GLAD WE'RE DOING SOME POST THINGS.
>> YOU HAVE YOUR FINAL COMMENT.
>> THIS IS MORE OF AN EDUCATION FOR MYSELF AND HOPEFULLY FOR OTHERS.
HOW DO WE WORK WITH GHA? IS THERE ANYBODY HERE FROM GHA? I WOULDN'T THINK SO.
>> I CAN GIVE YOU INPUT BUT GO RIGHT AHEAD.
>> OUR MAYOR ASSIGNS EVERYBODY IN THAT [INAUDIBLE]
[01:10:03]
>> OKAY. AT SOME POINT IN TIME, OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF US REALIZED IT LATE, BUT [INAUDIBLE] ARE IN BAD SHAPE.
TO ME THAT WAS JUST ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I FELT RESPONSIBLE THAT IT GOT DROPPED THROUGH THE CRUX.
THEY HAVEN'T GENERATED [INAUDIBLE] I DON'T THINK IT WAS EVER MAINTAINED.
WE ALL KNOW THE STATE OF WHAT WENT ON WHEN WE GOT THERE AFTER OUR COUNCIL MEETING JUST A WEEK-AND-A-HALF AGO.
I REALIZE THAT THEY'RE THEIR OWN ENTITY.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COLLABORATING AND HAVING A BETTER COMMUNICATION WITH PARK'S BOARD, ESPECIALLY TO REIGNITE OUR ECONOMY WHEN THESE THINGS PASS.
BUT LEADING UP TO THESE SITUATIONS, I WOULD THINK A RETIREMENT HOME LIKE GHA OR [INAUDIBLE] WOULD BE PROBABLY ONE OF OUR BULLSEYES ON OUR, HEY, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE PREPARED BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO PREPARE FOR THEMSELVES.
IF THERE'S ANY KNOWLEDGE, IF THERE'S ANY WAY TO COLLABORATE, IF THERE'S ANY WAY TO SUPPORT, IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO INITIATE THAT, I'D REALLY BE HAPPY.
PEOPLE WERE LITERALLY IN THE DARK WITHOUT ANY FOOD, WITHOUT ANYTHING.
>> COUNSEL, LET ME MENTION TOO, I APPOINT THE MEMBERS OF THAT BOARD.
WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE HOLLAND HOUSE INCIDENT, WHEN I GOT SET UP WITH A CONFERENCE CALL WITH THEIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND SOME OF THEIR BOARD MEMBERS.
I GOT A HOLD OF AND WORKED THROUGH BRIAN WITH CENTERPOINT AND SO FORTH.
THEY ARE AWARE, AND SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE SITUATION ON THERE.
I INTERVIEWED AND THIS AFTERNOON I'M GOING TO BE APPOINTING MS. BELINDA DAVIS TO THE GHA BOARD.
WHEN I INTERVIEWED HER YESTERDAY, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT LENGTH OF THE NEED TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES OVER THERE.
THE BOARD IS AWARE OF IT, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS AWARE OF IT, AND I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND SEE A BETTER RESPONSE OVER THERE.
>> THIS COMES BACK DOWN TO WHAT I KEEP TELLING YOU GUYS, IS THAT WHEN YOU GET INTO THESE SITUATIONS IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT YOU STAY IN YOUR LANE.
IF YOU TRY TO BECOME EVERYTHING TO EVERYBODY, YOU'RE GOING TO FAIL.
THIS IS NOT HOW EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WORKS.
WHEN A CITY GOES INTO AN EMERGENCY OUR ROLE IS TO KEEP UTILITIES ON, TO PROVIDE CITY SERVICES, PUBLIC SAFETY, ALL THOSE THINGS.
IF SOMEBODY IS IN NEED WE'RE IN A RESPONSE MODE, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HELP.
>> I DON'T THINK THIS IS A STAY IN YOUR LANE MOMENT.
>> ARE YOU TELLING ME I SHOULD HAVE STAYED IN MY LANE?
>> NO. WHAT I'M SAYING IS YOU'RE ASKING US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE HAD THEM ON OUR RADAR TO MAKE SURE THEIR GENERATOR WORKED.
>> NO. ALL I'M SAYING IS WE ARE A TEAM. WE'RE A CITY.
WE'RE A COMPLETE COMMUNITY, AND THERE ARE CERTAIN GROUPS OF OUR CITIZENS THAT WE DROPPED THE BALL ON.
ALL I'M TRYING TO SAY IS I WOULD HOPE THERE'S A WAY WE CAN SUPPORT AND COLLABORATE.
WE GOT TO LOOK A LITTLE BIT OF FOLLOW UP, NOT FOUR DAYS LATER.
>> I'M GOING TO STAY IN MY LANE AS THE PERSON THAT GOES AND CHECKS ON PEOPLE AND MAKES SURE THEY'RE OKAY.
>> NO. THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SAYING. WHEN I SAY STAYING IN OUR LANE I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD TAKE ON RESPONSIBILITY OF A FEDERAL AGENCY.
IF THAT FEDERAL AGENCY HAS FAILED, THEN WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT AT THE LEVEL THAT IT FAILED AT.
>> I'M NOT GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO DIE IN THE 110 DEGREES.
>> THAT'S MY POINT BOW, THAT IN A RESPONSE MODE YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
WE DID EXACTLY WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING.
BUT WHAT I'M SAYING THOUGH IS THAT WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT PLANNING FOR THESE DISASTERS WE CAN'T BE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT OTHER AGENCIES ARE DOING.
WE HAVE TO STAY IN OUR LANE, WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON OUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO OUR CITIZENS.
BUT NO MORE SO THAN ANY OTHER CITIZEN THAT LIVES IN ANY OTHER HOUSE IN GALVESTON.
[INAUDIBLE] WE GOT THEM BACK ON PRETTY QUICK.
THAT WAS A BIGGER ISSUE FOR THEM.
THAT'S WHY WE WERE SO ACTIVE IN THAT ONE.
BUT IT'S A MATTER OF THE FACT THAT WHEN YOU HAVE THESE OTHER AGENCIES OUT THERE, WE'RE HERE TO HELP.
ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS REACH OUT TO US.
BUT WE DON'T WANT TO [INAUDIBLE] OUR SCOPE TO THE POINT THAT WE CAN'T SERVE OUR AVERAGE CITIZEN THAT LIVES IN THE MIDDLE OF A BLOCK IN A REGULAR HOUSE BECAUSE WE'RE SUPPORTING OTHER AGENCIES THAT AREN'T DOING THEIR JOB.
>> I'M SORRY, SHARON. DID WE EVER DELIVER ANY ICE AT THE 4700 BLOCK OF BROADWAY TO HOLLAND HOUSE?
[01:15:01]
>> OKAY. [INAUDIBLE] PICKED IT UP [INAUDIBLE]
MY POINT IS THAT WE WERE SET UP IN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY PARKING LOT, ALEX.
IF THEY KNEW THEY HAD AN APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT NEEDED ICE, WE HAD A WHOLE 18 WHEELER THERE, WE WOULD HAVE GLADLY ALERTED THEIR TRUCKS AND SENT IT OVER THERE.
BUT, AGAIN, WE DON'T DELIVER ICE DOOR TO DOOR.
>> I'M NOT SAYING DELIVER IT DOOR TO DOOR.
>> I THINK ONE THING WE NEED TO REMEMBER, THIS IS AFTER.
WAS HOLLAND HOUSE ON OUR LIST BEFORE THEN? WE'RE SEEING THINGS NOW.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO BRING IT DOWN.
>> TO BE HONEST WITH YOU WE HAD A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM WITH [INAUDIBLE] THAN WE DID WITH HOLLAND HOUSE.
>> IT'S POST. WE'RE LOOKING AT THINGS NOW.
>> THAT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED WITH GHA.
I HAVE ADDRESSED IT WITH THEM.
I HAVE ADDRESSED IT WITH THEIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THEIR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO ADDRESS.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR THAT, AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS MOVING IN A DIRECTION, AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO ASSIST THEM AND OPEN THE DOOR OF COMMUNICATION WITH GHA.
I UNDERSTAND WE'RE TRYING TO WRAP IT UP.
I THINK THIS IS A HEARTY DISCUSSION.
WE SHOULD PROBABLY BRING THIS UP AT ANOTHER MEETING, BUT IN THE MANAGEMENT PLAN IT TALKS ABOUT DRILLS.
WHEN'S THE LAST TIME THAT WE DID A CITYWIDE DRILL?
>> BRIAN REPEAT WHAT'S BEING SAID BECAUSE WE CAN'T HEAR THAT ON THE BROADCAST.
>> WE DID A CITYWIDE ONE 12,14 MONTHS AGO, MAYBE 16 MONTHS AGO.
>> THEN BEFORE HURRICANE SEASON WE HAD A CORE TEAM DRILL, WHERE WE BROUGHT ALL THE CORE TEAM MEMBERS IN [INAUDIBLE]
>> BRIAN REPEAT WHAT BYRON SAYS.
>> WE DID A CORE TEAM DRILL RIGHT BEFORE HURRICANE SEASON. WE DO IT EVERY YEAR.
>> NO. WE DID IT THIS YEAR. WE DID A CORE TEAM DRILL THIS YEAR.
>> OKAY. I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE INVOLVEMENT WITH COUNCIL, ESPECIALLY WITHIN A DRILL.
I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE FREQUENT DRILLS AND I'D LIKE TO SEE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS.
BASICALLY WAR GAMING, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM.
I WANT TO STRESS TEST OUR EMERGENCY SYSTEM, OR OUR EMERGENCY PLAN AS HARD AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WHEN WE GET INTO THE SPOT AGAIN, LIKE SHARON SAID WE'RE AFTER, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR AFTER WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER EVALUATION MEETING, AND ALL SEVEN OF US CAN SAY, NO PROBLEMS HERE.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT. I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT.
>> NO PROBLEM. WE CAN DO THESE.
[INAUDIBLE] SETS THESE UP FOR US ALL THE TIME.
WE DO JOINT ONES WITH THE COUNTY AND OTHER THINGS.
WE'RE GLAD TO INCLUDE YOU, AS LONG AS WE'RE FOLLOWING THE CHARTER.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO OUR CLARIFICATION IN JUST A SECOND, THEN WE'LL TAKE A BREAK AFTER THE CLARIFICATION TOPICS.
COUNSEL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE INPUT: THE WRITTEN INPUT AND THE VERBAL INPUT ON THIS.
I'M GOING TO SAY THIS AGAIN, AND I SAID IT EARLIER, OUR STAFF RESPONDED ADMIRABLY THROUGHOUT THIS STORM.
I CAN TELL YOU WITHOUT A DOUBT THAT OUR STAFF, AND ALL OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS DID A BRILLIANT JOB DURING THIS STORM.
I WAS UP HERE AND I STAYED AT CITY HALL MOST OF THE TIME BECAUSE I NEVER HAD ANY POWER.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT'S FINE.
I WANT YOU TO EXTEND THAT TO ALL YOUR STAFF MEMBERS THERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR KEEPING THE WATER ON.
THIS IS A GOOD INPUT TO MAKE SOME CHANGES WHERE WE [INAUDIBLE]
>> THIS IS WHAT WE CALL A TWEENER STORM.
PART OF THE PROBLEM WAS, AND THIS IS WHAT CAUSED US PROBLEMS WITH THE COOLING CENTERS AS WELL, IS THAT A DAY AFTER THE STORM, I HAD TO HAVE A PLACE TO PUT ALL THE KIDS THAT WERE NEEDING RECREATION PROGRAMS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY CHILDCARE.
SO I COULDN'T OPEN UP OUR RECRUITING CENTERS THAT WE WERE USING FOR KIDS AND OTHER THINGS.
PEOPLE WERE BACK AT WORK 24 HOURS AFTER THE STORM.
THIS WAS NOT LIKE WHERE THE CITY WAS SHUT DOWN FOR TWO WEEKS AFTER HURRICANE IKE.
>> THIS IS NOT AN IKE STORM [INAUDIBLE] OR EVEN NEAR IT.
LIFE WENT BACK TO NORMAL FOR MOST PEOPLE.
THERE WERE PEOPLE HAVING TO GO TO WORK EVERY DAY THAT WERE GETTING DRESSED IN THE DARK AND GOING TO WORK BECAUSE THEY WERE EXPECTED TO GO TO WORK.
THIS WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT HURRICANE.
THEY'RE ALL GOING TO BE DIFFERENT.
>> EVERY TIME WE HAVE A DIFFERENT ONE WE WRITE THE RULES AGAIN.
>> IT WAS A DIFFERENT HURRICANE.
IT HAD STRONGER WINDS THAN WERE EXPERIENCED ACTUALLY IN IKE.
[01:20:06]
BUT MORE SO, AT LEAST MY DISTRICT, WE WERE STILL RECOVERING FROM ALBERTO.WE GOT PUNCHED, AND WE GOT PUNCHED AGAIN.
>> WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO GET PUNCHED AGAIN. [LAUGHTER]
>> WE'LL GET PUNCHED AGAIN. IT'LL HAPPEN AGAIN.
JANELLE, LET'S GO TO 3B, PLEASE.
[3.B. Clarification of Consent and Regular City Council Agenda Items - This is an opportunity for City Council to ask questions of Staff on Consent and Regular Agenda Items (1 hour)]
>> 3B. CLARIFICATION OF CONSENT, A REGULAR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITY COUNCIL TO ASK QUESTIONS OF STAFF ON CONSENT AND REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS.
>> BEFORE WE GET INTO OUR CLARIFICATION, ALEX, YOU'RE ASKING AGAIN.
>> I'D LIKE THE ABILITY TO SEND OUR RECOMMENDATIONS TO JANELLE.
>> I MENTIONED THIS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING.
SHE IS GOING TO GO THROUGH THE TAPES.
SHE IS GOING TO TRANSCRIBE IT.
>> I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE THAT REALLY HELPS ME GO BACK THROUGH IT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING WHAT YOU-ALL WANT.
>> I TALKED TO JANELLE BEFORE THE MEETING.
SHE WILL GO THROUGH THE TAPES.
SHE WILL GO THROUGH THE TRANSCRIPTION.
SHE WILL PUT OUT ALL THE THINGS THAT WE MENTIONED, AND EACH COUNCIL MEMBER WILL RECEIVE THOSE, GO THROUGH THOSE, AND THEN ANY CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE WE'LL MAKE THOSE AT THAT TIME.
>> OR THINGS THAT WE NEVER GOT TO THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO ADDRESS.
[OVERLAPPING] [INAUDIBLE] WE'RE ON CLARIFICATION ITEMS, BUT LET'S START WITH YOU.
>> NO, I JUST HAD A QUESTION ON ONE OF THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> YES, SIR. WHAT ITEM IS THAT, SIR?
>> IT'S THE INVESTMENT POLICY?
>> AM I ASKING THIS AT THE RIGHT TIME?
>> WE PURCHASED THESE ON JULY 9TH, THE DAY AFTER.
TO ME, IT'S A SHOT IN THE DARK IF THEY WOULD HAVE HAD THEM.
I JUST WANTED TO DISCUSS AND I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THESE IN STOCK AND PREPARED WAY AHEAD OF TIME.
>> WE HAVE BATTERY BACK ON MOST OF OUR SIGNALS, BUT WHEN POWER STAYED OUT MUCH LONGER THAN WAS ANTICIPATED, WE WENT AHEAD AND PUT GENERATORS ON MOST OF THE SIGNALS.
TYPICALLY, AFTER A BIGGER HURRICANE, OUR SIGNALS ARE DAMAGED BEYOND WORKING.
SINCE THIS WAS NOT ONE WHERE THAT WAS THE CASE, WE HAD GENERATORS FOR THEM.
WE HAD GENERATORS FOR MANY OF THEM, BUT WE WENT AHEAD AND GOT THESE WHILE WE COULD UNDER THE EMERGENCY PROCUREMENT.
>> I WANT TO SEE A BUNCH OF THEM UP ON THE SHELVES.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMAN FINKLEA?
>> YES. 11Y. NO, SORRY, 11X, THE SKY WONDER PYROTECHNICS.
THIS IS JUST A GLOBAL DISCUSSION ITEM.
IF WE CAN GO AHEAD AND IF WE'RE GOING TO BE APPROVING FIREWORKS FOR NEXT YEAR FOR JULY 4TH, I'D LIKE TO SEE US GO AHEAD AND TAKE ADVANCED PLANNING AND APPROVE FUNDING FOR JUNETEENTH AS WELL.
MAYBE NOT NECESSARILY PYROTECHNICS, BUT AS SOON AS WE CAN GET THOSE PROGRAMS PUT ON THE AGENDA.
I KNOW THIS IS GOING TO BE COMING UP FOR DISCUSSION IN BUDGET AS WELL, SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT.
>> THERE'S SOME DEBATE AS TO WHAT THE PARK BOARD IS DOING AND WHAT WE'RE DOING.
>> ANTOINETTE IS WORKING THROUGH THAT ONE.
>> LET ME JUST FOLLOW UP ON THAT. THAT WAS WHAT I WAS GOING TO BRING UP, BECAUSE THE PARK BOARD IS PART OF THAT RECOVERY PLAN THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT NEXT ON THE 22ND.
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE SEVERAL FIREWORKS, OR AT LEAST THREE FIREWORKS DISPLAYS.
IT'S PART OF THEIR PLAN AND WE NEED TO COORDINATE WITH THE CITY.
>> WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE FIREWORKS.
>> ALTHOUGH WE'RE OFF TOPIC, MAYOR, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU ALLOWING THAT.
>> I THINK COUNCIL AT SOME POINT IS GOING TO HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT OUR ROLE IS WITH JUNETEENTH.
IF YOU WANT TO DO IT LIKE MARDI GRAS, WHERE WE DO THE WHOLE THING, OR YOU WANT PARK BOARD INVOLVED, OR WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU WANT FOR JUNETEENTH? IF YOU WANT FIREWORKS, IF YOU WANT PARADES.
>> WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE OFF TOPIC.
>> NO, BUT LET ME JUST MENTION, ANTOINETTE LYNCH WAS TASKED ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS AGO TO COME BACK AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL ON HOW THE HOT FUNDS SHOULD BE ALLOCATED FOR EVENTS IN THE CITY.
SHE WAS WORKING WITH THE PARK BOARD TO COME UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
SHORTLY, I THINK BRIAN'S GOING TO MEET WITH HER SOON.
BUT DAVID, WE WILL HAVE SOME FOUNDATION TO WORK FROM,
[01:25:04]
FROM THAT POINT FORWARD.>> I'D JUST LIKE TO SEE THAT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. THANK YOU.
>> REGARDING THE SOUTH SHORE PUMP STATION SERVICES.
>> YOU WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
>> ON 11X. THANK YOU, MR. FINKLEA, FOR BRINGING THAT.
I WAS WONDERING IF MAYBE THERE COULD BE SOME BARGAIN IF THEY DECIDE TO DO TWO OF THOSE INSTEAD OF 40,000 AT ONE, THEN MAYBE THEY CAN GIVE US A SPECIAL DEAL.
>> TWO FOR ONE. I'M SURE IF WE DO MORE WITH THEM, YOU GET A LITTLE BIT BETTER DEAL.
>> RIGHT. I WANTED TO MAKE THAT COMMENT ON HERE.
THAT I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH THAT.
IT IS 160TH YEAR NEXT YEAR, AND WE HAVE GOT TO START TAKING JUNETEENTH AS THAT WHAT IT IS.
WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE PUTTING IT IN WITH JUNE BOARD, AND I THINK IT WAS DICKENS ON THE STRING AND SOME OTHER THINGS AND TREATING IT WITH THAT HONOR AND RESPECT.
>> TYPICALLY, WHEN THE CITY TAKES ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WE BID IT OUT AND HAVE A PROMOTER DO IT BECAUSE WE'RE OBVIOUSLY NOT IN THE PROMOTION BUSINESS HERE.
WE HAVE AN ARM THAT DOES THAT.
EITHER THE PARK BOARD CAN DO IT, OR IF THIS IS [INAUDIBLE], [NOISE], WE'LL PUT OUT AN RFP AND HAVE A PROMOTER HANDLE IT.
>> VERY GOOD. BOB, GO RIGHT AHEAD.
>> THIS IS 11N ON THE SOUTH SHORE PUMP STATION.
IT SAID CONSTRUCTION WAS GOING TO START IN JANUARY 2005.
MY QUESTION IS, THE CITY HAVE, AS PART OF THIS PLAN FOR THAT PROJECT COMMUNITY OUTREACH, TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, WHAT TO EXPECT.
WE'VE GOT PILOTS BEFORE THAT ARE SIMILAR THAT CAUSED A LOT OF CONCERN WITH THE RESIDENTS AFTER THE PROJECT HAD STARTED.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTROL EXPECTATIONS AND INFORM EVERYBODY.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL AND MAYOR.
ROBERT WINIECKE, DIRECTOR OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENGINEERING.
YES, WITH REGARDS TO THE SOUTH SHORE PUMP STATION PROJECT, WE ARE GOING TO BE GOING OUT TO BIDS LATER THIS MONTH, FIRST PART OF NEXT MONTH, TO GET THAT ON THE STREET.
THEN WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF MONTH PERIOD TO HAVE THAT ON THE STREET FOR BIDS TO COME BACK, AND WE'LL BE LOOKING TO AWARD THAT LATER THIS YEAR.
PRIOR TO STARTING CONSTRUCTION AND GETTING THE CONTRACTOR ON BOARD IN THAT WINDOW, WE ANTICIPATE HAVING A LARGER PUBLIC MEETING TO GO AHEAD AND LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THE CONTRACTOR, AS WELL AS WHAT THE SCHEDULE LOOKS LIKE FOR THAT PROJECT.
BUT WE ANTICIPATE TWO YEARS AND STARTING SOMETIME IN JANUARY 2025, JANUARY TO MARCH.
>> I HAD ONE MORE QUESTION, A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION ON THE LOGAN APARTMENT.
>> ARE YOU ABLE TO SPEAK TO THE EASEMENTS FOR THE 12,800?
>> YES, SIR. THE ADDITIONAL MONEY IS TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL COORDINATION TO FINALIZE THOSE EASEMENTS.
WE HAVE DESIGNED THE PROJECT IN TWO WAYS.
ONE IS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EASEMENTS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ACCESS FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT IF WE'RE UNABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY GET THOSE, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND BUILD IT WITHOUT THE EASEMENTS AND STILL PROVIDE ALL THE ACCESS EVERYBODY NEEDS FOR FIRE, EMERGENCY, EVERYTHING ELSE.
>> IS THIS EASEMENT IN PARTICULAR, THE HOOTERS ONE, OR IS THIS THE ONE OFF OF SOLADE?
>> THERE'S ACTUALLY SEVEN OF THEM ALONG THE PROJECT.
MOST OF THEM ARE OUT IN THE WATER TO DO SOME DREDGING, AND THEN RESTORED AFTERWARDS.
>> THESE ARE JUST TO PROVIDE THE ACCESS AND FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION.
>> THIS IS INCREASING THE DESIGN FEE BY 12,800.
THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT WAS 5.2 MILLION.
THE INCREASE OF THE 12,000 TAKES IT TO 5.3 MILLION.
>> WE HAD SOME ADDITIONAL SERVICES ALONG THE WAY THAT WE WENT AHEAD AND AUTHORIZED, WHICH GOT THAT NUMBER HIGHER THAN THE 5.28 MILLION.
IT WAS 168,000 THAT WE AUTHORIZED PREVIOUSLY TO DO SOME ADDITIONAL PHYSICAL MODELING UP IN ALDEN LABORATORIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE CHANGED THE DESIGN, IT DIDN'T GO AHEAD AND IMPACT THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE PUMP STATION.
THAT WAS ALREADY ACCOUNTED FOR. THAT'S BEEN DONE.
WE HAD SOME ADDITIONAL ITEMS THAT WERE IN THERE THAT WE DID AS WELL, WHICH WERE BASICALLY SOME SURVEY COORDINATION, AND THEN I BELIEVE THERE IS THE PLAN FOR THIS ADDITIONAL PUBLIC MEETING.
WE INCLUDED THAT AT THAT TIME.
THIS IS A LITTLE BIT MORE TO DO THAT.
[01:30:01]
WE HAVE SOME AREAS IN THE CONTRACT WHERE WE PROBABLY HAVE SOME SAVINGS, SO I THINK WE'RE TO ACTUALLY HAVE A WASH, BUT RIGHT NOW WE HAVEN'T TAKEN THAT AWAY YET.>> JUST THE MATH NOT MAKING SENSE.
>> REAL QUICK QUESTION ON 11B ABOUT THE 20 GENERATORS.
THOSE WERE BOUGHT SPECIFICALLY TO POWER THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS?
>> LIFT STATIONS. IS THAT EQUIPMENT DEDICATED SIMPLY TO DISASTER RECOVERY OR IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE THE CITY CAN DO WITH THOSE GENERATORS?
>> WE USE THEM FROM TIME TO TIME.
WE LOSE POWER MORE FREQUENTLY THAN WE'D LIKE, SO YOU'LL SEE OUR GENERATORS DEPLOYED.
PART OF THE OTHER REASON TOO IS, DURING THIS LAST CYCLE, SOME OF OUR GENERATORS DIDN'T MAKE THE ENTIRE TIME.
THEY GOT CUT LOOSE FROM CHAINS AND THEY DISAPPEARED BECAUSE PEOPLE NEEDED POWER AND THEY TOOK OUR GENERATORS.
SOME OF THESE WERE REPLACING THOSE ORIGINAL GENERATORS THAT WE HAD OUT ON THE SCENE.
>> ARE YOU ANTICIPATING ANY FEMA RELIEF FROM BUYING THESE THINGS?
I WANT TO EXPRESS MY REALLY SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR THE TREE CONSERVANCY FOR THAT DONATION OF $30,000 AND THE LABOR AND THE WORK TO RESET AND RESTATE 38 TREES.
THAT'S A FABULOUS PUBLIC SERVICE THAT THEY'RE DOING.
>> BECAUSE WE WERE PREPARED TO START PUTTING THEM UP AND THEY CALLED AND SAID THEY WERE GOING TO DO IT.
>> THAT WAS A GREAT. I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP, BOB.
THAT'S WONDERFUL THEY DID THAT.
THEY'VE CERTAINLY GOT ENOUGH WATER. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
>> THAT'S THE ORDINANCE NUMBER 24.
THE FIRST WHEREAS IS THE PEOPLE OF GALVESTON TO SPEAK AND THE SECOND WHEREAS IS CITIZENS, THEY ARE EQUAL, CORRECT? IS THE CITIZEN INCLUSIVE OF PEOPLE FROM GALVESTON AND GALVESTON? BECAUSE I NOTICED IN THE FIRST WHEREAS, WE HAVE PEOPLE OF GALVESTON.
IN THE SECOND WHEREAS, THE CITIZENS?
>> WE GIVE IT TO THE PEOPLE OF GALVESTON, BUT EVERYONE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
>> THEN THE THIRD WHEREAS, SO THAT MEANS SOMEONE FROM TEXAS CITY CAN STAND AND SPEAK.
>> THE THIRD WHEREAS, THAT DIDN'T FLOW WHEN I READ IT.
I'M SURE IT'S RIGHT BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE THE ATTORNEY, BUT I JUST COULDN'T GET THE FLOW OF IT.
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE SECTIONS IS EXPECTED TO FACILITATE PUBLIC RAISING OF MATTERS COMMUNITY CONCERN IN A DISPASSIONATE, INFORMATIVE MANNER.
>> I SHOULD SAY, MATTERS OF COMMUNITY.
WE MAY BE ATTORNEYS, BUT YOU WERE THE ENGLISH TEACHER.
>> THAT'S THE TEACHER IN HER COMING OUT.
>> THANK YOU. THE OTHER ONE WAS 11G.
>> I READ THE REPLACEMENT OF THE DESKTOP AND LAPTOP COMPUTERS.
I WANT TO KNOW IF THOSE LAPTOPS ARE INCLUSIVE OF THE ONES THAT CITY COUNCIL USE.
>> WE'RE ON A CYCLE, AND SO I CAN'T TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT EQUIPMENT DUE UP FOR REPLACEMENT, BUT I CAN DEFINITELY LOOK INTO IT.
>> WE CAN, BUT IT WAS OUTDATED THE ONE I HAD, SO I TURNED IT BACK IN AND GOT AN IPAD.
>> TRADITIONALLY, WE'VE NOT UNLESS SOMEBODY ASKED FOR THEM.
>> I DID, BUT IT WAS NOT UPDATED, SO I GAVE IT BACK.
>> WE DON'T CARRY THEM IN STOCK.
THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE ORDERED AND PURCHASED AT THAT POINT.
WHAT WE HAND OUT TRADITIONALLY HAS BEEN PHONES AND IPADS.
>> THANK YOU. THE OTHER ONE WAS I KNOW IT WAS TRINO, BUT IT HAD TO DO WITH THE ONE AND A TWO.
[01:35:07]
I'LL JUST LET SOMEBODY GO AND THEN MAYBE THEY'LL BRING IT UP TOO, SO I WON'T BE TAKING UP TIME.>> I'M GOING TO PASS AND THEN MAYBE IF SOMEONE ELSE BRING IT UP, I'LL SPEAK ON.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN ROBB?
>> WELL, THAT DIDN'T HELP YOU ANY.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. IT IS 11O, AND I JUST HAVE A NOTE TO EXPLAIN THIS IN LAYMAN'S TERM.
I HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH THE HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE VERSUS THE LOWER LEVEL OF SERVICE.
>> YES, MA'AM. TRINO PEDRAZA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES.
IN THE DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN, THEY OUTLINED PROJECTS THAT ARE LARGE IN SCALE, THESE BIG HOME STATIONS.
FOR EXAMPLE, MAJOR MULTI MILLION DOLLAR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, WHICH ARE ALL CONSIDERED THE HIGH LEVEL PROJECTS.
THEN THERE WERE SMALLER PROJECTS CONSIDERED LOWER LEVEL OF SERVICE PROJECTS.
THESE WERE PROJECTS THAT WERE BELIEVED TO BE THINGS THAT WE CAN PERFORM IN-HOUSE WITH OUR OWN ENGINEERING AND OUR OWN STAFF.
WITHIN THAT, THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE SOMEWHERE INTERMEDIATE.
WHAT THIS IS ADDRESSING IS A PILOT FOR PROJECTS THAT WERE PRIORITIZED BY OUR CONSULTANT, AND THEY WILL BE PERFORMED BY OUR IN-HOUSE STAFF.
ANY ENGINEERING NEEDED WILL BE PERFORMED BY ROBERT WINIECKE AND HIS TEAM.
>> THANK YOU, AND TRINA, I WANT TO TELL YOU, YOU DO LOOK VERY SHARP THIS MORNING.
THIS IS A PILOT RECOMMENDED PROJECTS, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER PROJECTS YOU IDENTIFIED ON THE GIS MAP AS WELL.
WHAT'S YOUR TIMING FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE PILOT PROJECTS DONE BY STAFF?
>> I'M HOPING TO HAVE THE ENTIRETY OF THE LIST HERE COMPLETED WITHIN A TWO-YEAR TIME FRAME.
BEGINNING TODAY, IF YOU APPROVE THIS, WE HAVE A COUPLE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT THAT ARE ALSO ON THE LIST THAT WILL BE NEEDED TO CONSTRUCT THESE PROJECTS.
THEY WILL BE PROCURED IMMEDIATELY.
THEN BEGINNING NEXT MONTH WE'RE GOING TO START ORDERING ALL THE MATERIALS AND GET THEM IN HERE, AND THEN WE'RE JUST GOING TO START HITTING THE LIST.
>> YOU ALL CAN DO ALMOST $11 MILLION WORTH OF YOUR LOW-LEVEL PROJECTS IN TWO YEARS?
I'M TALKING ABOUT THE ONES OUTLINED IN THE PILOT.
>> WHICH IS ONLY ABOUT ONE-AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF PROJECTS.
>> HE'S GOOD, BUT HE'S [INAUDIBLE].
>> TELL ME ABOUT THE OTHER LIST THAT HAD THE RECOMMENDED PROJECTS, LIKE FOR THE TOP 12 AND IN LATERALS AND THE TOP FIVE DITCH MAINTENANCES, AND THEN CONVERSION TO BRIDGE WALKS, TRENCH DRAINS.
>> SURE. I'D BE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT.
OUR CONSULTANT OUTLINED NEARLY 100 PROJECTS THROUGH THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, AND THEN THEY PRIORITIZED IT FOR US.
WHAT WE DID WITHIN THE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT WE THOUGHT WE HAD AVAILABLE, WE PICKED THE TOP PER CATEGORY TO HIT, BUT WE DO HAVE A LIST OF ALL THE FOLLOW-UP PROJECTS READY TO GO, AND I CAN SHARE THAT.
>> THESE ARE ALREADY PAYING PRETTY BIG DIVIDENDS BECAUSE WE'VE TAKEN A LOT OF THESE ON SOME [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT MAY ALREADY BE IN OUR DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN LIST, AND ALSO, ON THE STAFF REPORT, I BELIEVE, I PUT A WEBSITE.
THAT WEBSITE IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, AND IT HAS ALL OF THE LOWER LEVEL AND HIGH-LEVEL PROJECTS IN THERE.
YOU CAN GO IN THERE, AND YOU CAN OPEN AND CLOSE LAYERS AND SEE THE ENTIRETY.
>> THANK YOU, TRINA. APPRECIATE IT.
>> AS YOU DO PROJECTS, WOULD IT CHANGE? NO?
>> I DON'T BELIEVE SO, BUT WE CAN UPDATE IT AS WE GO ALONG. THAT'S AN EASY FIX.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL. I DID NOT HAVE ANY OTHER TOPICS EITHER FROM THIS.
I'M GOING TO MENTION IT IS 10:02 AM.
I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK.
[BACKGROUND] COUNCIL, IT IS 10:14 AM ON JULY 25TH.
WE HAVE NOW RECONVENED OUR WORKSHOP,
[01:40:03]
AND WE ARE MOVING TO ITEM 3C,[3.C. Discuss and receive an update on the Water and Wastewater Master Plan, including current utility rates (B. Cook - 20 min)]
IF WE COULD, PLEASE, JANELLE.>> 3C, DISCUSS AND RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON THE WATER AND WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN, INCLUDING CURRENT UTILITY RATES.
>> I'M GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO BRANDON COOK. BRANDON.
>> BRANDON COOK, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
THE LAST MAJOR UPDATE THAT THE CITY HAD TO ITS WATER AND MASTER PLAN WAS IN 2008.
OBVIOUSLY, A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE THEN.
THE HYDRAULIC MODEL ASSOCIATED WITH IT HAS GROWN A LITTLE STALE.
THE COUNCIL RECOGNIZED THAT AND LAST YEAR ENGAGED FREESE AND NICHOLS TO PERFORM AN UPDATE, OR ACTUALLY, A BRAND NEW WATER AND WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN, AND THE ASSOCIATED HYDRAULIC MODEL WITH THAT.
I HAVE OUR CONSULTANT HERE FROM FREESE AND NICHOLS, RICHARD WEATHERLY, AND KARA IS ALSO IN THE AUDIENCE, AND THEY'LL BE LEADING THE PRESENTATION ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU, BRANDON. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. GOOD MORNING.
>> I'M GOING TO START THIS OFF AND GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE WATER AND WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN ITSELF, AND THEN I'M GOING TO QUICKLY TURN IT OVER TO KARA.
THE MAJORITY OF OUR PRESENTATION IS GOING TO FOCUS ON THE WATER AND SEWER RATE STUDY PART OF THE DISCUSSION.
WE GOT STARTED EARLY FALL LAST YEAR ON THE MASTER PLAN UPDATE.
ALL TASKS AND THE SCHEDULE OF THE PROJECT IS ON SCHEDULE AND GOING WELL.
SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TASKS THAT WE'VE ALREADY COMPLETED OR STILL IN PROGRESS ARE WE'VE DONE CONDITION ASSESSMENTS OF ALL OF YOUR ABOVE-GROUND WATER AND SEWER FACILITIES WITH THE INTENT OF DEVELOPING A REHABILITATION PROGRAM FOR ANY NEEDS WE FOUND ON THOSE FACILITIES.
STILL IN PROGRESS ON THE FIELD DATA COLLECTION, ON THE WATER SIDE, WE HAVE ACTUALLY SET OUT DIGITAL PRESSURE RECORDERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO BE MEASURING PRESSURES THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO SEE WHERE WE MIGHT BE HAVING ANY POTENTIAL ISSUES.
[BACKGROUND] THEN ON THE WASTEWATER SIDE, WE HAVE INSTALLED WASTEWATER FLOW MONITORS IN THE PIPES, SO UNDERGROUND, THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
ONE OF THE KEY THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO DO THERE, WHEN WE HAVE OUR FLOW MONITORS, IS CAPTURE WET WEATHER EVENTS.
TWO WEEKS AGO WE CAUGHT A BARREL, SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE HOW YOUR WASTEWATER SYSTEM RESPONDED DURING THAT EVENT.
LIKE BRANDON MENTIONED, WE'RE GOING TO BE UPDATING THE WATER AND WASTEWATER HYDRAULIC MODELS WITH THIS INFORMATION.
WE ARE ALSO PROJECTING ANY REMAINING GROWTH TO BE HAD ON THE ISLAND, BOTH FROM A DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT, AND ALSO HOW THAT IMPACTS YOUR FUTURE WATER DEMANDS AND WASTEWATER FLOWS WITH THAT GROWTH.
ULTIMATELY, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS PROVIDE A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR BOTH REHABILITATION AND GROWTH-RELATED NEEDS.
AS PART OF THE MASTER PLAN, NOT ONLY GOING TO TELL YOU ALL THE WORK YOU GOT TO HAVE TO DO, BUT ALSO A FUNDING PLAN TO ACCOMPLISH THOSE PROJECTS, BOTH FROM A RATE STANDPOINT, AND ALSO A WATER AND SEWER IMPACT FEE.
WATER AND SEWER IMPACT FEE IS A TOOL FOR CITIES TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW GROWTH TO PAY FOR ITSELF, AND IT'S A FEE ASSESSED TO NEW GROWTH OR REDEVELOPMENT, ANYBODY THAT'S HAVING AN IMPACT ON THE INCREASING SIZE OF ANY FACILITY OR INFRASTRUCTURE IN YOUR SYSTEM.
THAT PROCESS IS GOVERNED BY THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, AND WE'LL HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS AS PART OF THAT PROCESS AND BRINGING THAT TO COUNCIL FOR Y'ALL'S DECISION ON WHETHER YOU WANT TO IMPLEMENT THAT FEE OR NOT.
WHAT OUR JOB IS IS TO TELL YOU WHAT THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE AMOUNT YOU CAN CHARGE BY LAW.
YOU'LL SEE ME AGAIN NEXT SPRING TALKING ABOUT BOTH THE IMPACT FEE AND THEN ALSO THE ULTIMATE RATE STUDY THAT WILL INCORPORATE BOTH THAT IMPACT FEE DECISION AND ALSO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN THAT WILL COME UP AS PART OF THE MASTER PLAN.
WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY IS A BIT OF AN INTERMEDIATE STEP.
AS BRANDON MENTIONED AND AS KARA MENTIONED AS WELL, IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE THE CITIES UPDATED THEIR WATER AND SEWER RATES, AND SO WHAT WE WANTED TO DO IS TAKE A LOOK AT, AT YOUR CURRENT RATES, DOES IT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT REVENUE FOR WHAT YOUR EXPENSES ARE BEFORE WE INCLUDE THIS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN THAT WE'RE GOING TO COME UP WITH AS PART OF THE MASTER PLAN? YOU ALREADY HAVE SOME DEBT OBLIGATIONS.
YOU'LL HAVE O&M EXPENSES ALREADY.
[01:45:05]
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN WITH YOUR CURRENT RATES? COSTS HAVE GONE UP A LOT.WHAT IS THE RATES THAT WOULD BE NEEDED TO BRING YOUR WATER AND WASTEWATER TO MEET THAT EXPENSE AND THE COST OF SERVICE? ALL WHILE MAINTAINING THE OPERATING REVENUES CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY'S FINANCIAL GOALS, WHICH KARA WILL GET INTO.
AS I MENTIONED, YOU'LL SEE ME AGAIN AND US AGAIN IN THE SPRING.
[NOISE] LET'S SEE IF IT STILL WORKS.
EVERYTHING ON THE LEFT IS WHAT WE ARE CALLING RIGHTING THE SHIP.
AGAIN, IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE'VE UPDATED THE RATES.
WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO RIGHT THE SHIP BEFORE LOOKING AT ALL THE FUTURE NEEDS? SO THAT ON THE RIGHT, FOR WHAT WE'LL BE DOING IN THE SPRING IS INCORPORATING THE MASTER PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS, UPDATING THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND ANY BORROWING PLAN CONSISTENT WITH THAT, CONSIDERING THE FUTURE IMPACT FEES AND HOW MUCH REVENUE YOU COULD POTENTIALLY GAIN FROM THOSE, AND THEN EVALUATING THE RATE STRUCTURE AND REVENUE RECOVERY.
THEN THE ULTIMATE RATE STUDY IS GOING TO ATTEMPT TO DEVELOP A MULTI-YEAR RATE REVENUE PROJECTION.
WHAT WILL YOU NEED OVER LIKE A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD ON AN ANNUAL BASIS? I ANTICIPATE Y'ALL MAKING DECISIONS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS BECAUSE THINGS CHANGE, AS WE LEARNED TWO WEEKS AGO.
THINGS HAPPEN, THINGS CHANGE, BUT YOU'LL AT LEAST HAVE A GUIDE AND A PATH ON WHAT WILL NEED TO BE DONE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, AND NOT BE DOING THIS ONE YEAR AT A TIME.
BUT THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HEADED. I'LL TURN OVER TO KARA.
>> I'LL LET YOU FIX THE CLICKER.
I'M KARA SHUROR, AND I'M A FINANCIAL CONSULTANT WITH FREESE AND NICHOLS, AND I'M GOING TO GO OVER BASICALLY THE PROCESS AND RESULTS OF THIS PRELIMINARY RATE STUDY THAT WE CONDUCTED FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
STARTING, BASICALLY, WITH JUST THE PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH FOR ANY COST OF SERVICE STUDY, WE START BY DEVELOPING YOUR REVENUE REQUIREMENTS, AND THIS IS REALLY LOOKING AT WHAT YOUR EXPENSES LOOK LIKE IN THE COMING YEAR AND COMPARING THAT AGAINST THE REVENUE WE EXPECT THAT YOU'LL TAKE IN FROM ESTIMATED CONSUMPTION.
LOOKING AT THE REVENUE AT CURRENT RATES, WE DO LOOK AT THAT COST OF SERVICE IN TERMS OF YOUR ESTABLISHED RATE CLASSES, THE WAY YOU'VE DECIDED TO ATTRIBUTE COSTS ACROSS YOUR SYSTEM, AND THEN LOOK AT YOUR EXISTING RATE DESIGN AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ANY IMPROVEMENTS THAT SEEM APPROPRIATE.
JUST TO TAKE A LITTLE STEP BACK AND TALK A LITTLE MORE GLOBALLY ABOUT WHERE WE'RE SEEING UPWARD PRESSURE ON RATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AWWA HAS A COUPLE OF STATISTICS HERE THAT I WANTED TO SHARE.
THE FIRST THAT THE AVERAGE UTILITY HAS INCREASED RATES 5-6% A YEAR.
THIS IS REALLY BASED ON, THEY DO ANNUAL SURVEYING, AND THEN A STATE OF THE WATER INDUSTRY INFORMATION THAT WAS SHARED, AND THAT 73% OF UTILITIES PLAN TO HAVE A RATE INCREASE IN THE CURRENT YEAR.
LOOKING MORE SPECIFICALLY AT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU FACE HERE IN GALVESTON, LOOKING AT YOUR WATER SUPPLIER, THEIR RATES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS HAVE REALLY STABILIZED, BUT THEY'RE STARTING TO INCREASE AGAIN.
THEY DID PROVIDE A FIVE-YEAR OUTLOOK.
OF COURSE, THAT'S ALWAYS SUBJECT TO CHANGES ON THEIR END.
BUT A FIVE-YEAR OUTLOOK THAT DOES HAVE RATE INCREASES IN EACH YEAR.
THEY ALSO HAD SLOWED ON THE BORROWING FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, BUT THOSE PICK UP AGAIN IN 2027, SO YOU'LL START TO SEE INCREASES THERE AS WELL.
THOSE ARE A DIRECT PASS THROUGH TO YOUR CUSTOMERS.
LOOKING AT THE HISTORY ON YOUR RATES, YOUR WATER RATES ARE SEPARATED INTO A COUPLE DIFFERENT CLASSES.
YOUR RESIDENTIAL AND IRRIGATION CUSTOMERS HAVE THEIR RATES BROKEN INTO TWO PIECES.
THEY HAVE A BASE FEE THAT IS CHARGED MONTHLY AND THAT'S BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE METER, AND THEN A VOLUMETRIC CHARGE BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT'S USED.
ON THE NON-RESIDENTIAL SIDE, THAT'S YOUR COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS, YOU HAVE THAT BASE FEE STILL AND A BASE VOLUMETRIC CHARGE.
THAT DIFFERENCE IS THE TIERED USAGE WHERE THE RATE INCREASES THE MORE YOU USE VERSUS THE FLAT RATE.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE EXISTING WATER RATES WERE ADOPTED IN FEBRUARY OF 2019, SO IT'S BEEN A LITTLE OVER FIVE YEARS SINCE THERE'S BEEN AN ADJUSTMENT ON THE WATER SIDE.
[NOISE] SORRY. FOR SEWER RATES, YOU SEE THAT, AGAIN, WE HAVE THAT BASE FEE.
ALL CLASSES HAVE A FLAT VOLUMETRIC CHARGE, AND WASTEWATER IS BUILD ON THE ACTUAL METERED WATER USE AT THE SURFACE LOCATION.
RATES HAVE NOT BEEN ADJUSTED ON THE SEWER SIDE SINCE OCTOBER OF 2015.
IT'S BEEN ABOUT NINE YEARS SINCE THERE'S BEEN A CHANGE IN THOSE RATES.
ALSO, WHEN WE'RE DOING THIS ANALYSIS, WE LOOK AT THE CITY'S RESERVE POLICY AND EXISTING FUND BALANCE.
THE UTILITY SIDE OF THE OPERATIONS HAS
[01:50:05]
A 90-100 DAY CASH ON HAND GOAL THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH YOUR RESERVE POLICY ON THE GENERAL FUND SIDE.JUST LOOKING AT WHAT HAS HAPPENED FROM AN ADOPTED BUDGET PERSPECTIVE IN GALVESTON OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.
THIS REFLECTS THE BUDGETED REVENUE AGAINST THE BUDGETED EXPENSES FOR EACH YEAR BACK TO 2020.
IN EACH YEAR, FROM A PLANNED PERSPECTIVE, REVENUES LAGGED EXPENSES.
THERE WAS A PLANNED USE OF RESERVES OR FUND BALANCE TO FILL THAT GAP OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.
THIS DOES NOT REFLECT YOUR ACTUALS, WHICH ARE OF COURSE GOING TO VARY BASED ON ACTUAL CONDITIONS AND WEATHER PATTERNS, THOSE THINGS.
BUT THERE'S BEEN A PLAN USED TO DRAW DOWN THAT RESERVE.
MOVING INTO WHAT WE SEE FOR 2025, WE HAVE WHAT YOU HAD ADOPTED IN 2024.
ON THE REVENUE SIDE, YOU HAD JUST OVER 43 MILLION IN ADOPTED REVENUE AND 46.6 IN EXPENSES.
THERE'S WHERE YOU SEE THE PLANNED USE OF $3.5 MILLION OF RESERVES IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
MOVING TO FY25, YOU'RE STILL VERY MUCH IN YOUR BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, SO THESE ARE NOT FINAL NUMBERS, THESE ARE PROJECTIONS.
THE INCREASE YOU SEE TO 45 MILLION ON THE REVENUE SIDE IS REALLY DUE TO NOT ONLY AN INCREASE IN YOUR CUSTOMER BASE, BUT REALLY INCREASED CONSUMPTION THAT YOU'RE SEEING AS A RESULT OF THAT IMPROVED METER ACCURACY FROM YOUR SMART SOLUTIONS INITIATIVE WITHIN YOUR OPERATIONS.
ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, THIS INCLUDES SOME SPECIFIC EXPENDITURES THAT I'LL GO OVER IN JUST A SECOND, BUT MOSTLY IT IS JUST SOME STANDARD INFLATIONARY INCREASES THAT YOU'LL SEE IN THE COMING YEAR.
LOOKING AT SOME OF THE SPECIFIC CHANGES FOR '24-'25, WE'VE GOT THESE BROKEN INTO YOUR OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE COSTS AND YOUR CAPITAL COSTS.
YOU CAN SEE ON OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE THAT ROUGHLY 9% INCREASE THAT YOU CAN EXPECT FOR YOUR WATER SUPPLY.
>> A 3% BASED ON A PAY PLAN FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES AND A LARGER INCREASE IN GROUP HEALTH THAT REFLECTS WHAT YOU'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND THEN JUST SOME MODEST INFLATIONARY GROWTH IN THE OTHER CATEGORIES.
ON THE CAPITAL SIDE, THIS SCENARIO DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY NEW DEBT ISSUANCE.
THERE'S AN INCREASE OF ABOUT A HALF $1,000,000 IN DEBT SERVICE, BUT THAT IS BASED ON DEBT THAT YOU'VE ALREADY ISSUED.
IT'S JUST AN INCREASE IN THE PAYMENTS.
THEN YOU'VE GOT SOME ADDITIONAL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLE COSTS IN THE COMING YEAR.
I WANT TO POINT OUT A COUPLE OF THINGS JUST RELATED TO COST ESCALATIONS OVER THE TIME SINCE YOUR LAST RATE ADJUSTMENT.
WE SEE ON AVERAGE ABOUT A 2.5% INCREASE OVER CPI WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT WATER AND WASTEWATER.
THAT IS ACTUALLY A MORE RECENT TREND, IF IT IS A LONG-TERM TREND OF THAT NUMBER BEING OVER CPI, AS MUCH AS 8-10%.
OVER THE LAST 20, 30 YEARS, WE'VE SEEN COSTS ESCALATE ON THE WATER SEWER SIDE AT A RATE MUCH HIGHER THAN CPI.
THEN WHEN YOU BEGIN TO LOOK AT YOUR CONSTRUCTION COSTS, THOSE ESCALATE BY A FACTOR CALLED AN ENR.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY'VE SEEN ABOUT A 30% INCREASE SINCE WE LAST INCREASED SEWER RATES HERE AND 20% ON THE WATERSIDE.
THEN FINALLY, WE WENT AHEAD AND INCLUDED THE PPI FOR PIPE WHERE YOU'VE SEEN PRETTY SIGNIFICANT INCREASES, 61% IN WASTEWATER AND 50% ON THE WATERSIDE.
ALL THAT TO SAY, COSTS CONTINUE TO ESCALATE IN THIS ENVIRONMENT.
I JUST WANT TO DO A QUICK REFRESHER ON YOUR CURRENT RATES. THESE ARE YOUR WATER RATES.
YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR RESIDENTIAL RATES, YOU'VE GOT A FOUR-TIER VOLUMETRIC CHARGE.
IT IS ALSO TIERED FOR YOUR IRRIGATION RATES, BUT ONLY AT THREE TIERS AND YOUR NON-RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS PAY THAT FLAT RATE.
YOU'VE GOT THE BASE FEE THAT IS CHARGED BY METER SIZE.
YOUR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS ARE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE THAT THREE-QUARTER-INCH METER SIZE.
BUT YOU CAN SEE ON THE SIDE PANEL, HOW THAT COST ESCALATES BASED ON THE INCREASING SIZE OF THE METER.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUR REVENUE AT CURRENT RATES, WE CALCULATED $25.4 MILLION WITH A COST OF SERVICE OF 25.7 MILLION.
GIVEN THAT, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A SLIGHT DIFFERENCE SHOWING ON THE SCREEN, THAT IS CONSIDERED SUFFICIENT REVENUE TO COVER YOUR COST OF OPERATIONS AND FUND YOUR CAPITAL COSTS IN THE COMING YEAR.
WE'RE NOT RECOMMENDING THAT YOU MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT TO WATER RATES FOR 2025 AND THAT YOU REVISIT THAT IN YOUR 2026 STUDY.
THESE ARE YOUR WASTEWATER RATES.
AGAIN, YOU HAVE A FLAT RATE REGARDLESS OF CUSTOMER TYPE WITH THE SCALED METER FEE.
[01:55:05]
CURRENTLY, YOUR RATES ARE THE SAME FOR RESIDENTIAL AND NON-RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS.THERE'S NOT REALLY A REASON FOR THAT.
THEY ARE EVALUATED SEPARATELY BASED ON THE WAY THEY USE THE SYSTEM.
THOSE UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS REALLY IMPACT THE WAY YOU SIZE THE SYSTEM AND THAT AFFECTS THE ACTUAL COST OF SERVICE.
ALTHOUGH THEY ARE THE SAME IN THE CURRENT YEAR, THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED TO BE THAT WAY.
THE SEWER SIDE LOOKS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
REVENUE YOUR CURRENT RATES BRINGS IN ABOUT 16.5 MILLION WITH THE COST OF SERVICE OF JUST OVER 21 CREATING A 4.7 MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT.
NOW, REMEMBER WE CAME INTO THIS YEAR ALREADY AT ABOUT A 3.5 MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT FROM 2024.
A LOT OF THAT IS REFLECTED RIGHT HERE.
BUT WE WOULD RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING RATE ADJUSTMENTS TO BE ABLE TO RECOUP THAT ADDITIONAL $4.7 MILLION.
FOR RESIDENTIAL, THAT WOULD MOVE THE VOLUMETRIC RATE 342-422 AND FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL 342-510, WE'RE NOT RECOMMENDING ANY CHANGES TO THE EXISTING BASE FEES.
THIS IS A COMPARISON OF THE TYPICAL BILL IN THE CURRENT YEAR VERSUS PROPOSED.
A TYPICAL RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER IN GALVESTON USES ABOUT 600 FEET OF WATER A MONTH.
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS CALCULATED ON.
THERE IS NO RECOMMENDED CHANGE ON THE WATERSIDE, SO THAT TYPICAL BILL REMAINS AT $24.13.
ON THE SEWER SIDE, YOU SEE THE CONSISTENT BASE FEE, BUT THAT INCREASE IN THE VOLUMETRIC FOR A TOTAL OF $4.80 A MONTH OR JUST UNDER $60 A YEAR.
WE DID GO IN AND LOOK AT WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR COMMERCIAL GIVEN THE CHANGE IN RATE.
YOU HAVE A VERY DIVERSE COMMERCIAL OR NON RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER BASE. LOTS OF INDUSTRIAL.
YOU'VE ALSO GOT SMALL DRY CLEANERS, THOSE KIND OF THINGS.
THIS IS JUST BASED ON THAT SAME 600 CUBIC FEET OF WATER JUST SO YOU CAN SEE THE BASIC DIFFERENCE.
THAT IS $10 A MONTH OR $120 A YEAR.
>> THAT WOULD BE FOR COMMERCIAL.
>> THAT WOULD BE FOR COMMERCIAL.
>> BECAUSE YOU GO BACK TO THAT SLIDE, THE COMER YEAH.
>> THIS WOULD BE A SMALL COMMERCIAL BASED ON THE VOLUME USED HERE BEING CONSISTENT WITH RESIDENTIAL.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS NET SEWER VOLUMETRIC RATE.
WE DID GO THROUGH AND BENCHMARK YOUR TYPICAL BILL AGAINST SOME NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES AS BENCHMARKS.
WE ALSO NOTED THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT DID CURRENTLY USE IMPACT FEES FOR FUNDING SINCE THAT FEE DOES HELP TO DEFRAY SOME OF THE COSTS TO RATEPAYERS.
THOSE ARE NOTED WITH THE STARS.
CURRENT BILL WOULD BE 57 75 FOR GALVESTON, WAY ON THE LOW END.
FOR THE OTHER COMMUNITIES, THIS IS THEIR CURRENT RATES.
WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE RATE CHANGES PROJECTED FOR THE COMING YEAR.
THE REVISED WOULD BE $62.55 STILL ON THE LOWER END OF THE SCALE.
AS RICHARD POINTED OUT EARLIER, THE GOAL OF THIS RATE STUDY WAS REALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BRINGING EVERYTHING TO COST OF SERVICE SINCE A STUDY HAS NOT BEEN CONDUCTED IN A FEW YEARS.
THIS MAINTAINS WATER AT THE CURRENT COST OF SERVICE, AND IT BRINGS SEWER TO THE COST OF SERVICE.
IT ALSO PROVIDES US A BASELINE FOR MOVING FORWARD AND LOOKING MORE DEEPLY INTO RATE DESIGN, THE IMPACT OF OTHER FEES, THOSE KIND OF THINGS MOVING FORWARD.
THEN THOSE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FROM THE MASTER PLANS WILL BE INCORPORATED IN THE 2016 STUDY.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE, SO RICHARD AND I ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
>> YEAH, OBVIOUSLY OPERATE IN SEVERAL MUNICIPALITIES AND I DON'T KNOW THE LEGAL SAY THIS SAY HAS THERE EVER BEEN A DIVISION OR CATEGORY OF LIKE A PRIMARY RESIDENT OR LIKE A PRIMARY RESIDENT THAT HAS THEIR FULL-TIME HOME IN GALVESTON COMPARED TO SHORT TERM RENTALS AND HAS THERE EVER BEEN A DISTINGUISHED? THEY HAVE A CERTAIN RATE COMPARED TO SECONDARY HOMES.
>> SO THAT WOULD BE A CLASS DISTINCTION.
I THINK IF IT'S A SECONDARY HOME AS OPPOSED TO A HOME SO RIGHT.
UNDERSTOOD. I DON'T KNOW THAT I'VE SEEN THAT.
CERTAINLY, IF YOU HAVE, RENTALS THAT COULD BE CLASSIFIED MORE AS A COMMERCIAL TYPE USE, THAT COULD BE A DIFFERENT CLASS WITH A DIFFERENT RATE.
IF IT IS A SNOWBIRD, THEN IT WOULD LIKELY STILL BE CONSIDERED RESIDENTIAL, BUT THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS YOU WOULD LOOK LIKE LOOK AT IN RATE DESIGN.
[02:00:01]
>> WHAT I HEAR YOU SAYING IS THAT OUR WATER RATES WOULD STAY STABLE AS THEY ARE FOR 25.
YOU ARE PROPOSING AN INCREASE.
IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT, WHEN WOULD THAT COME TO COUNSEL, BRAN? BRANDON.
>> APART OF BUDGET IS PART OF THE BUDGET TO TAKE EFFECT OCTOBER 1?
>> THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE HAD DISCUSSED A BUDGET D.
>> I WILL TELL YOU, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH BRANDON WADE AT THE GALVESTON WATER AUTHORITY ON THE WATER SIDE.
WE ARE RENEGOTIATING THE CONTRACT NOW WITH THEM.
I'M GOING TO BRING HIM TO A FUTURE MEETING TO GO THROUGH IT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WITH SO MANY NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS TO UNDERSTAND HOW GULF COAST WATER AUTHORITY GETS WATER, WHERE IT COMES FROM, HOW IT'S ALL BROKEN DOWN, ALL THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.
I'M GOING TO BRING BRANDON IN BECAUSE IF IT'S WATER, IT'S BRANDON.
WE'RE GOING TO BRING ALL THIS IN AND SO YOU GUYS CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND IT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE FACED WITH SOME CAPITAL COST.
SHARING WITH GULF COAST WATER AUTHORITY, WE ALL SHARE IN PLANT COSTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THEY ALLUDED TO THAT IN THEIR RATE STUDY.
THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME FUTURE NUMBERS IN FUTURE YEARS WITH GULF COAST WATER AUTHORITY THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SUCK UP.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF CHOICE.
>> WE HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
ONE MORE QUESTION I HAVE THOUGH.
NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, COUNCIL APPROVED AN IMPACT FEE CITY OF GALVESTON.
>> BUT WE'VE BEEN COLLECTING ALL OF THAT.
>> YES. WE HAVE IN THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND I'M JUST TALKING LOGISTICALLY, AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS OR POSSIBLE IMPACT FEE, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD THEN AMEND OUR FEE THAT WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED.
>> YOU'VE ALREADY GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS OF APPROVING IT IMPACT FEE, YOU JUST HAVE TO SET THAT RATE.
THAT IS YOU KNOW, IMPACT FEES ARE GREAT, BUT WE'RE A PRETTY MATURE SYSTEM.
AT THAT POINT, I WAS ZERO. NOBODY THOUGHT.
IT EXPIRED. IT RELAPSED, SO WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS AGAIN.
>> I WANT TO TELL YOU, ONE OF THE CONSIDERATIONS THAT WHEN WE LOOKED AT IT WAS IS THAT WE JUST DON'T HAVE EXPONENTIALLY.
IMPACT FEES WERE GRADING THESE FAST-GROWING COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY'RE JUST PLOWING CORN FIELDS AND BUILDING ALL THESE NEW HOUSES.
MATTER OF FACT, THIS YEAR, CHELA, I DON'T WANT TO STEAL HER THUNDER, BUT SHE'S GOING TO TELL YOU OUR NEW CONSTRUCTIVE GROWTH WAS DOWN.
IMPACT FEES FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE THE END ALL SOLUTION TO EVERYTHING, AND IT MAY ACTUALLY END UP BEING WE HAVE TO REALLY LOOK AT THAT CLOSELY BECAUSE IT MAY END UP BEING MORE OF A HASSLE FOR PEOPLE IN MORE OF AN IMPEDIMENT THAN JUST CHARGING THE APPROPRIATE RATES.
>> BEING THAT EVERYTHING WE HAVE GONE THROUGH, AND WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT'S TO COME FOR THE REST OF THE HURRICANE SEASON.
MOST ALL OUR BUSINESSES LOST TWO OF THEIR BIGGEST WEEKS OF REVENUE.
BUT YOU WILL HAVE A BUMP IN SALES TAX, WE WILL BECAUSE OF JUST ALL THE CONSTRUCTION THAT'S BEING TO FIX.
>> I KNOW I WAS TALKING TO A CONTRACTOR THE OTHER DAY AT LIKE 8:00 AND THEY HAD GOTTEN IN LINE AT SEVEN AT MCCOY'S AND THEY WERE NUMBER 29.
SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GIVE A BUMP.
BUT IT'S LIKE HORRIBLE TIMING TO HIT OUR BUSINESSES THAT WE'RE GOING TO.
>> IF YOU GO BACK AND REWIND WHEN BRIAN FIRST GOT HERE, I'M A BIG BELIEVER THAT WE SHOULD BE ADJUSTING THESE RATES ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, BUT COUNSELS AND RIGHTLY SO, YOU'RE ALWAYS RELUCTANT TO DO THAT BECAUSE NOBODY LIKES TO DELIVER THAT NEWS.
BUT HAVING SERVED ON PRIVATE SCHOOL BOARDS AND EVERYTHING, THERE'S A HUMAN NATURE THAT TO JUST LEAVE IT ALONE, LEAVE IT ALONE, LEAVE IT ALONE, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AND THESE ARE VERY SMALL ADJUSTMENTS IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF LIFE THAT THESE GUYS ARE PROPOSING.
BUT WE OUGHT TO BE PROPOSING THESE RATE INCREASES, $0.50, $0.40 ALONG THE WAY IN ADJUSTING WITH CPI.
BUT INSTEAD, WHAT WE DO IS, WE DO IT THIS WAY.
SO PEOPLE GET A LITTLE SAVINGS AND THEN THEY JUMP, AND THEN WE GET A LITTLE SAVINGS AND WE JUMP.
THERE'S DIFFERENT SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT ON HOW YOU DO IT.
BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE OPERATE A VERY EXPENSIVE SYSTEM.
WE OPERATE ONE OF THE CHEAPEST SYSTEMS AS THEY SHOWED YOU, THAT THERE IS.
WE'VE ALSO TOTALLY RAMPED UP OUR SERVICE.
WE'RE RUNNING 24 HOURS A DAY SERVICE.
WE ARE RESPONDING 24 HOURS A TRINO HAS MID-SHIFT AND NIGHT SHIFTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
IF WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THOSE LEVELS OF SERVICE, THIS IS A BIG PART OF HOW WE DO IT.
>> WELL, AS A ADD-ON TO WHAT BO HAD SAID, AND ESPECIALLY NOW THAT THE COUNTY IS GOING TO START TAXING RENTALS ON THEIR INSIDE PROPERTY.
[02:05:03]
IT WILL MAKE US A LOT ASIDE FROM OUR REGISTRATION SYSTEM.IT WILL MAKE US A LOT IT WILL BE EASIER TO IDENTIFY RENTALS, AND THEY SHOULD PROBABLY BE ON MORE OF A COMMERCIAL RATE BECAUSE IF YOU'RE PUTTING 18 PEOPLE IN A HOUSE, IT'S A HECK OF A LOT MORE IMPACT THAN TWO PEOPLE IN A HOUSE.
>> THAT WAS MY QUESTION JUST TO CLARIFY, ARE SHORT-TERM RENTALS NOW PAYING COMMERCIAL RATE?
>> RESIDENTIAL BY THE STATE, THEY'RE STILL REGULATED RESIDES.
>> THERE'S A BIPOLAR DISCUSSION OCCURRING AT THE STATE LEVEL AND THAT THEY'RE TAXING THEIR PERSONAL PROPERTY AS COMMERCIAL BUSINESS PROPERTY.
BUT THEY MAINTAINED VEHEMENTLY THAT THESE ARE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES.
>> SO IS THERE A STATE LAW THAT SAYS WE CAN'T DO THAT? COMMERCIAL RATE?
>> WELL, IF I DECIDED TO MAKE MY HOUSE A SHORT-TERM RENTAL, AND I LEASED IT OUT FOR MARDI GRAVE EVERY YEAR, ONLY FOR MADI GRAD EVERY YEAR.
DO I PAY COMMERCIAL RATES ALL YEAR ROUND?
>> YOU GET A REGISTRATION FOR ANNUAL.
AT THAT REGISTRATION, IF YOU REGISTER YOUR PROPERTY AS A SHORT-TERM RENTAL, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THAT SHOULD TRIGGER THE COMMERCIAL RATE RIGHT THERE.
>> WELL, I WOULD PAY COMMERCIAL RATES BECAUSE I'M LEASING MY PROPERTY FOR MADI GRAD ONCE A YEAR.
>> NOT IF IT'S YOUR PRIMARY RESIDENCE.
NO. THAT'S THE DISTINCTION TO HOMESTEAD EXISTED.
>> WE SEE THAT THAT WOULD BE A BIG LEAP BECAUSE WE DON'T TIE THINGS TO HOMESTEAD EXHIBIT.
>> THAT'S A MISNOMER BECAUSE NOW A NUMBER OF RENTALS ARE BEING HOMESTEADED AND IT'S LEGAL BECAUSE YOU CAN HOMESTEAD ONE PROPERTY.
>> THAT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. DOESN'T MEAN THAT MUCH.
THAT'S A MYTH. YOU'RE MOST VALUABLE.
>> I WOULD JUST MY CAVEAT TO THIS IS THAT DOING THINGS LIKE THAT, I DON'T DISAGREE WITH IT AT ALL, BUT I'M JUST SAYING YOU'RE REALLY JUST GAMING THE SYSTEM AT THAT POINT.
THERE'S A COST TO DELIVER SERVICE TO EACH INDIVIDUAL HOUSE, WHETHER IT'S A SHORT-TERM RENTAL OR NOT, AND WE NEED TO ASSESS THE PROPER FEES TO DO THAT.
>> YEAH. I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.
ARE WE CONTEMPLATING ANY REMEDIATION OF LEAD PIPES ACROSS THE ISLAND AND ANY OF THIS? IS THAT EVEN AN ISSUE?
>> THAT WOULD BE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.
I MEAN, WE DON'T HAVE ANY LEAD PIPES I DON'T BELIEVE IN OUR SYSTEM.
WHAT WE ARE DOING AN ANALYSIS RIGHT NOW.
ACTUALLY, FREEZE AND NICHOLS IS SPEARHEADING THAT PART AND IT'S PART OF OUR CAPITAL PLAN GOING FORWARD, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY MAYBE A PILOT THAT WE'VE GOT A GRANT APPLICATION WITH TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT.
>> BUT THAT WAS THAT'S ON THE SUPPLY SIDE, NOT ON THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE.
WELL, IT DEPENDS ON HOW THE RULES COME DOWN FROM THE FEDS TO ON WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO DRAW THAT LINE.
>> AREN'T THERE FEDERAL PROGRAMS TO ASSIST IN REPLACING LEAD PIPES? BUT IT'S TWO Z INCOME LIMIT.
>> ARE WE LOOKING MORE AT LEADERS?
>> PILOTS RIGHT NOW. THE FEDS ARE DOING PILOTS IN MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREAS.
THEN I THINK ONCE THEY GET A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT TYPE OF BREADTH THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT AND THE COST, THEN THEY'RE GOING TO REALLY BE ABLE TO PULL OUT THE WHOLE PROGRAM FOR THE ENTIRE NATION.
>> WOULD THAT ASSIST LEAD PIPES ON THE OWNER'S PROPERTY THAT OUR CITY LOSS?
>> I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE STUDY THAT THE FEDS ARE DOING AND THEY'RE GOING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO DRAW THAT LINE.
I WOULD SAY WE PROBABLY DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH ON OUR SUPPLY SIDE, BUT I WOULD THINK ON THE RESIDENTS.
>> BUT AS PART OF THE AMI PROJECT, WE DID DO AN ASSESSMENT WHENEVER WE WERE GOING OUT AND INSTALLING AND DOING A DETERMINATION TO FIGURE OUT WHAT OUR SCOPE WOULD BE.
>> YOU KNOW WHERE THEY ARE NOW, WHERE THE LEAD PIPES ARE?
>> YES. WE'VE GOT SAMPLE SAMPLE SIZE DATA ON THERE.
>> IS IT MORE LEAD PIPE OR CLASS ASBESTOS FOR SUPPLY LINES? MIXTURE ABOVE.
>> LET'S COME BACK TO THE PRESENTATION.
ANY QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE ON THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC, COUNCIL?
>> YEAH. PART OF THIS TOO IS BEING DRIVEN.
WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST SYSTEM GOING RIGHT NOW.
TRINA IS TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
AND LIKE I SAID, A BIG PART OF THIS IS THE INCREASE IN SERVICE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING TO THE RESIDENTS RIGHT NOW.
AGAIN, IF YOU SEE OUR TRUCKS, WE'RE RUNNING 24/7 RIGHT NOW AS A PUBLIC UTILITY SHOULD.
I THINK WHAT THEY HAVE COME UP WITH, IT DIDN'T SEND OFF HUGE ALARM BELLS WITH ME AS BEING EGREGIOUS OR OUTRAGEOUS.
I THINK IT KEEPS US RIGHT IN THE THICK OF THINGS GOING FORWARD.
BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD PROBABLY LOOK AT IT ON A CPI ADJUSTMENT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS SO YOU DON'T SHOCK THE RESIDENTS LIKE THIS.
[02:10:02]
BUT IT'S HOW WE COUNCIL WANTS.>> THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING WITH THE RATE STUDY.
YOU MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING, A MULTI YEAR TYPE OF APPROACH, LOOK AT FIVE YEARS OUT AND THEN JUST TWEAK THEM EVERY YEAR A LITTLE BIT AND MAKE SURE WE'RE MARCHING ALONG AND JUST GETTING A HABIT OF DOING IT.
>> WHICH IS HOW POWER COMPANIES, EVERYBODY ELSE DOES.
>> ONE QUESTION AND I PROBABLY DIDN'T TAKE THE CORRECT NOTES.
SOMETHING YOU WERE SAYING INCREASING WITH THE SIZE OF THE METER?
>> SURE. YOUR WATER BILL INCLUDES TWO PARTS.
IT INCLUDES A MONTHLY BASE FEE THAT IT APPLIES WHETHER YOU USE ANY WATER OR NOT, AND THEN A VOLUME FEE.
THE MONTHLY BASE FEE IS BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE METER AT THE SERVICE.
A STANDARD RESIDENTIAL WOULD BE A THREE QUARTER INCH METER, BUT SOME OF YOUR LARGER INDUSTRIAL COULD BE EIGHT, 10 INCH METERS.
THEY INCREASE IN VALUE BASED ON SIZE.
>> THE GOOD PART OF THE AMI PROJECT IS WE CORRECTED THAT WE HAD A LOT OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES THAT WERE ON LARGER METERS, AND WE [NOISE] [INAUDIBLE] A LOT OF THAT AS PART OF THE AMI PROJECT.
>> HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION? [LAUGHTER]
>> THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE DID NOT NEED THOSE, BUT THEY HAD THEM.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DID THAT WHEN THEY WERE BUILDING.
I KNOW IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD OLDER HOUSES A LOT OF PEOPLE PUT IN ONES BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD TO HAVE IT BECAUSE THEY HAD A SWIMMING POOL.
IF YOU HAVE A SWIMMING POOL, YOU KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH WATER TO A SWIMMING POOL ONCE YOU FILL IT.
BUT THERE WAS JUST PEOPLE THAT DID THAT IN GALVESTON OVER THE YEARS, I GUESS, WAS THERE TO OBLIGE.
BUT WE'VE PRETTY MUCH STANDARDIZED MOST OF THE RESIDENTIAL STUFF NOW.
>> HOW DID THOSE MEAN AS RELATE TO THE NEWER ONES THAT WE'RE GETTING, IS THERE?
>> ALL RIGHT. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I APPRECIATE IT.
WE'LL CONTINUE THIS DISCUSSION AT OUR BUDGET DISCUSSION.
>> IT DOES BEHOOVE US TO TRY TO GET EVERYBODY STANDARDIZED BECAUSE THEN TRINA DOESN'T HAVE TO KEEP EIGHT DIFFERENT SIZE METERS ON THE SHELF.
WHEN THINGS COME UP, WE STAY PRETTY STANDARDIZED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.
>> APPRECIATE IT. VERY GOOD WORK.
[3.D. Discuss and receive an update on the Revenue Sufficiency Analysis for Sanitation and Recycling (B. Cook - 20 min)]
>> 3D. DISCUSS AND RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON THE REVENUE SUFFICIENCY ANALYSIS FOR SANITATION AND RECYCLING.
>> OH, YEAH. WE GOT A PRESENTATION HERE.
>> IS IT FROM LIQUID WASTE TO SOLID WASTE? WHAT A WASTE.
>> DID YOU TURN IT UP OR DO YOU NEED ME TO?
>> I DID. NOW, I'VE LEARNED HOW TO WORK THIS.
>> BECAUSE I THINK [OVERLAPPING]
>> DOESN'T DO MUCH. [LAUGHTER]
>> SOMEBODY COMES IN HERE ANYTIME BEFORE A MEETING AND THEY PUT IT DOWN TO LIKE 65.
>> WHEN YOU'RE NOT HERE, IT'S A WALK IN COOLER.
>> YEAH AND WE DO HANG MEETING HERE.
>> THIS IS FOR OUR SOLID WASTE OPERATIONS, AND I GOT TO JUST WANTED TO PUT THIS TIMELINE OF EVENTS MOSTLY BECAUSE IT REALLY HELPS ME OUT.
REMEMBER WHAT'S HAPPENED OVER THE PAST DECADE OR SO.
THE LAST COUPLE OF RATE INCREASES WAS 2011, 2012.
FOR SANITATION IN OCTOBER OF 2015, WE ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED A STANDALONE RECYCLING CENTER FEE TO SHOW OUR RESIDENTS EXACTLY WHAT THAT COST WAS.
BEFORE THIS TIME, DRAINAGE WAS ACTUALLY PICKING UP THE COST OF THE RECYCLING CENTER FOR WHATEVER REASON.
IN 2021, COUNCIL DID COME IN AND ADOPT AN INFLATIONARY RATE INCREASE BASED ON CPI, JUST THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX MODEL AT THAT TIME.
THEN IN SEPTEMBER OF 2023, THEY APPROVED A NEW TRANSFER STATION OPERATING AGREEMENT WITH A TIPPING FEE INCREASE AND I REALLY WANT TO GIVE HATS OFF TO DUSTIN AND THAT WAS HIS STRATEGY ON GOING IN AND NEGOTIATING THIS AGREEMENT WITH THEM TO INCREASE THAT AND WE'RE PLANNING TO REALIZE ABOUT MAYBE 450 $500,000 WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING AN ADDITIONAL REVENUES COMING IN.
THE SANITATION DEPARTMENT FOR THAT.
THE NEXT MONTH THERE IN OCTOBER OF 2023, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED A COUPLE OF ORDINANCES THAT PROVIDED SOME COST SAVING MEASURES IN ADDITION TO SOME BEHAVIORAL MODIFICATION ADJUSTMENTS I'D SAY.
WE REDUCED THE LEVEL OF SERVICE IN THE DOWNTOWN FROM SEVEN DAYS TO ONE DAY A WEEK AND INCREASED ADDITIONAL CARTS BY $1.
THEN WE STARTED IMPLEMENTING INCIDENTAL SERVICE COSTS THAT MAYBE TOOK EFFECT IN FEBRUARY OR SO I THINK IS WHEN WE KICKED THOSE OFF, THE CHARGE FOR RETURN TRIPS, LARGE BULKY WASTE AND NON CONTAINERIZED BAGS THAT LAY ON THE GROUND.
[02:15:02]
REALLY TO PROHIBIT WASTE AND WHAT HAVE YOU BLOWN THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD? HAVING SAID THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR CONSULTANT, THIERRY.COUNCIL APPROVED A CONTRACT WITH RAFTELIS.
MADE THE TRACK DOWN HERE TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE'RE AT WITH IT.
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU, EVERYONE. NICE TO MEET, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS THIERRY BOVERI AND FOR THE RECORD, I'M A VICE PRESIDENT WITH RAFTELIS, AND I SPECIALIZE IN PERFORMING COST SERVICE STUDIES FOR SANITATION SYSTEMS. I WORK ALL OVER THE COUNTRY FROM ANCHORAGE TO KEY WEST.
I'M DELIGHTED TO BE HERE TODAY TO PRESENT OUR FINDINGS FROM THE WORK EFFORT THAT WAS PERFORMED WITH YOUR STAFF.
VERY QUICKLY, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF STUDY BACKGROUND.
I'M GOING TO TRY TO AND YOU MIGHT NOTICE THAT SOME OF THE SLIDES, I MIGHT MOVE QUICKLY THROUGH JUST TO KEEP THIS SOMEWHAT CONCISE.
BUT EFFECTIVELY, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, IF YOU LOOK AT THE GRAPHIC OR IMAGE TO THE RIGHT, IS BALANCE OUR REVENUES AGAINST OUR FUNDING REQUIREMENTS, WHICH WE SOMETIMES REFER TO IN THE INDUSTRY AS A REVENUE REQUIREMENT FROM THE RATES.
THOSE PRIMARY THINGS INCLUDE OUR OPERATING EXPENSES, OUR CAPITAL, AND ANY DEPOSITS WE NEED TO MAKE TO RESERVES FOR FINANCIAL POLICIES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, THE REVENUE SOURCES FOR US ARE GOING TO BE PRIMARILY OUR MONTHLY FEES FOR THE SANITATION.
WE DO HAVE SOME OTHER REVENUES, BUT THOSE ARE OFTENTIMES MINOR RELATIVE TO THE MONTHLY FEES THEMSELVES.
THIS IS OPERATED AS AN ENTERPRISE FUND, SO IT OPERATES LIKE A BUSINESS, AND THEREFORE, ALL THE COST OF SERVICE NEEDS TO BE RECOVERED FROM THE FEES THEMSELVES, SIMILAR TO THE LAST PRESENTATION THAT WAS JUST MADE WITH RESPECT TO THE WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM.
THE KEY OBJECTIVES FOR THE STUDY WAS TO EVALUATE THE COSTS AND THE OPERATIONS AND DETERMINE WHAT WOULD BE A FISCALLY SUSTAINABLE PLAN TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO YOU ALL AND INFORM YOU ABOUT HOW WE DEVELOPED THAT PLAN WITH STAFF.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD, AND I HATE TO BRING THIS UP AGAIN, INFLATION HAS BEEN VERY HIGH.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO PRESENT HERE THOUGH A LITTLE BIT MORE UNIQUELY IS TO THE COST OF SERVICE RELATED TO SOLID WASTE.
WE HAVE THREE INDICES THAT WE'RE SHOWING HERE, ONE IS CPI, SO YOU CAN SEE THE RED LINE AT THE BOTTOM, THAT'S JUST GENERAL INFLATION, BUT THAT'S FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A TIC CONSUMER.
THEIR BASKET OF GOODS AND SERVICES AND THE COST TO PROVIDE A UTILITY SERVICE OR SOLID SERVICE VARIES FROM THAT.
THE BLUE LINE REPRESENTS EFFECTIVELY THE SUBCOMPONENT OF THE CPI FOR GARBAGE AND TRASH.
THAT'S THIS BLUE LINE RIGHT HERE.
YOU CAN SEE THAT IT'S GENERALLY BEEN HIGHER THAN INFLATION SIMILAR TO THE PRIOR CONSULTANTS THAT SIMILAR ISSUE ON THE WATER AND SEWER, WHERE WATER AND SEWER COSTS HAVE ALSO BEEN HIGHER THAN GENERAL INFLATION.
THE GREEN LINE REPRESENTS THOUGH THE PRODUCER PRICE INDEX.
THE POINT ABOUT THAT IS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS SINCE COVID, ON THE SANITATION SIDE, IN PARTICULAR, WE'VE SEEN THAT THE COST INPUTS TO THE SERVICE HAVE EXCEEDED REALLY LIKE WHAT THE PASS THROUGH THE COST HAS BEEN TO A LOT OF THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
BECAUSE AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THE GARBAGE AND TRASH INDEX REPRESENTS A SUBCOMPONENT TO THE CPI, AND THAT'S A NATIONAL PICTURE OF WHAT GARBAGE AND TRASH RATES ARE DOING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
BUT WHAT THIS INDICATES IS THAT WE DON'T THINK THAT THEY'RE DONE GOING UP, BECAUSE A LOT OF THE COST PRESSURES HAVE STILL EXCEEDED FASTER THAN WHAT RATES HAVE GONE UP BY.
WE'RE DOING, A LOT OF DIFFERENT RATE STUDIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO HELP DEAL WITH THOSE COST INCREASES.
>> MOSTLY THAT'S FUEL, DIESEL RELATED FUEL EXPENSES.
>> TYPICALLY FUEL IS A SMALLER COMPONENT OF THE OVERALL COST SERVICE, LIKE MAYBE 15% OR LESS.
IT'S AN EXCELLENT OBSERVATION, I THINK IN YOUR POINT, IMPLIED, BUT ACTUALLY, THAT'S NOT THE BIGGEST DRIVER.
MOST OF IT IS GOING TO BE RELATED TO YOUR LABOR COST INCREASES, AS WELL AS YOUR EQUIPMENT, VEHICLE COST.
>> WHAT'S THE TERMINAL, I MEAN, FORGIVE MY IGNORANCE, BUT WAIT IN INDEX DIESEL. WHAT'S THE.
>> OH, I'M SORRY. THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FUELS THAT WE USE ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO PROVIDE COLLECTION SERVICES.
IT CAN BE CNG OR DIESEL IN EMERGING MARKETS.
SOMETIMES NOW WE'RE EXPLORING ZERO EMISSIONS WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF TECHNOLOGIES.
I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS IS A WEIGHTED COST OF LABOR EQUIPMENT AND FUEL WITH THE FUEL ITSELF BEING DIESEL. SORRY, FOR ANY CONFUSION.
>> YEAH. POINT OF THIS CHARGE IS JUST TO IDENTIFY THAT BASICALLY, WE KNOW THAT ACROSS THE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE, THAT COST PRESSURES HAVE BEEN HIGHER THAN WHAT THE PASS THROUGH ON THE RATES AS EXHIBITED THROUGH THE GARBAGE AND TRASH INDEX, AND WE WOULD EXPECT THAT INDEX TO CONTINUE ON.
WE HAVE A LOT OF THE SAME COST PRESSURES AND COST DRIVERS.
ALTHOUGH I DO WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE UNIQUE THINGS ABOUT THE CITY HERE.
[02:20:01]
LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FACT THAT, WE HAVE A VERY LONG STRETCH ON THE ISLAND THAT WE NEED TO RUN OUR TRUCKS DOWN AND THAT WE'RE EXPOSED TO SALTWATER CONDITIONS, WHICH IS MORE CORROSIVE ON THE EQUIPMENT IN THE VEHICLES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.ALSO THAT THE LEVEL OF SERVICE IS VERY HIGH FOR YOUR COMMUNITY, PICKING UP ANYTHING AT THE CURB.
NOW, AS BRANDON MENTIONED, MR. COOK MENTIONED, THERE WERE SOME IMPLEMENTATIONS OF ADDITIONAL FEES TO HELP RECOVER SOME OF THAT ADDITIONAL COST OF THE ADDITIONAL SERVICE LEVELS THAT ARE BEING PROVIDED, BUT THOSE HAVE ONLY JUST BEEN RECENTLY IMPLEMENTED.
>> WE'VE DELAYED THEM BECAUSE OF STORMS.
>> THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THAT LAST CHART.
IT JUST COMPARES, AND SIMILAR TO YOUR LAST PRESENTATION, THIS REPRESENTS A TYPICAL, ABOUT ALMOST 80% OF YOUR CUSTOMERS ARE CHARGED THE RESIDENTIAL ONE CARD RATE.
THIS SHOWS HISTORICALLY WHAT THAT RESIDENTIAL ONE CARD RATE HAS DONE SINCE 2012.
IN 2022, WE HAD QUITE A BIG BUMP, BUT IF WE HAD BEEN APPLYING THAT LOWER INFLATION, THAT GARBAGE AND TRASH INDEX, NOT THE PPI-1 I WAS TALKING ABOUT, TO THE RATES, WHERE WOULD WE HAVE BEEN TODAY, AND THAT DIFFERENTIAL IS ABOUT 15%, AND YOU'D BE CLOSER TO $33.
AGAIN, THIS IS JUST INFORMATIONAL FOR COMPARISON BECAUSE THE GARBAGE AND TRASH INDEX IS MORE OF A NATIONAL COST INCREASE, AND COST HERE IS GOING TO BE UNIQUE BASED ON YOUR OPERATIONS.
I DON'T WANT TO NECESSARILY SAY THAT THAT'S REALLY WHERE THE COST SERVICE IS.
HOWEVER, AS A BIT OF FORESHADOWING, THE RATE RECOMMENDATIONS WE HAVE DO IDENTIFY THE NEED TO RAISE THE RATES IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THAT.
IT'S ACTUALLY NOT THAT FAR OUT OF LINE, BUT THAT DIDN'T INFLUENCE OUR ANALYSIS.
THAT WAS JUST ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR COMPARISON ONLY.
THE OTHER THING I WANT TO MENTION HERE BEFORE I MOVE ON IS JUST THE RATE STRUCTURE ITSELF.
WE CHARGE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF CARTS, AND IT'S PRIMARILY A RESIDENTIAL SERVICE.
THERE ARE A SMALL NUMBER OF COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS.
I HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL DATA FOR YOU THERE.
WE ALSO HAVE SEPARATE FEES FOR CHURCHES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
BUT THE MAIN POINT HERE IS THAT THERE'S THIS RECYCLING FEE THAT'S CHARGED, AND THAT'S CHARGED DIFFERENTLY THAN YOUR OTHER FEES.
THE RECYCLING FEE IS CHARGED FOR ANY CUSTOMER, WHETHER THEY RECEIVE COLLECTION SERVICE IN THE CITY OR NOT, BASED ON IF THEY HAVE A WATER METER.
I JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT.
THAT'S A LARGER GROUP OF CUSTOMERS TECHNICALLY THAT YOU'RE HITTING WITH THIS FEE.
I SHOULDN'T SAY HITTING, BUT THAT ARE CHARGED OR ASSESSED THIS FEE AS OPPOSED TO, THE SUBSET OF CUSTOMERS THAT YOU'RE CHARGING FOR THE MONTHLY COLLECTION FEE.
THAT'S GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT POINT WE'LL BRING UP IN A LITTLE BIT. EXCUSE ME.
I'M NOT GOING TO GO OVER THIS TOO MUCH BECAUSE I THINK BRANDON DID A GOOD JOB TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S CHANGED SINCE THEN.
BUT WHEN WE TALK WITH STAFF, WE TRY TO UNDERSTAND, WELL, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU'RE DOING TO MITIGATE THE RATE INCREASES THAT YOU HAVE? STAFF EXPLAINED TO US SOME OF THE COST SAVING MEASURES THAT HAVE BEEN ENACTED AND ALSO THE ADDITIONAL COST RECOVERY FOR HIGHER LEVELS OF SERVICE.
IF YOU HAD TO DO A RETURN TRIP BECAUSE PEOPLE DIDN'T SET OUT, AND SO YOU MISSED THE PICKUP, BUT THEY STILL WANT THE PICK UP, AND YOU NEED TO DO A RETURN TRIP, THERE'S GOING TO BE A FEE NOW ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
THAT WAY, ALL THE OTHER CUSTOMERS AREN'T HAVING TO COVER THAT COST.
THERE ARE THINGS LIKE THAT ARE BEING DONE.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS A MAJOR CHANGE TO THE TRANSFER STATION AGREEMENT THAT WAS RENEGOTIATED, THAT IT ACTUALLY PROVIDED A REALLY BIG BENEFIT.
I THINK THAT THE RATE INCREASES THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED WOULD HAVE BEEN HIGHER HAD YOU NOT BEEN ABLE TO ENACT THIS PARTICULAR TRANSFER STATION AGREEMENT.
WHAT IT EFFECTIVELY DID WAS INCREASE, I CALL IT A HOST FEE RATE, BUT BASICALLY ANY TON THAT RUNS THROUGH THAT TRANSFER STATION, YOU GET SOME REVENUE BACK.
THAT'S GOING TO BE CHARGED TO BOTH THE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS AS WELL AS THE COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS.
THAT REVENUE HELPS OFFSET SOME OF YOUR COSTS.
>> WHAT IF LET'S SAY IT'S FLOODING AND THE TRASH TRUCK COULDN'T GO DOWN?
>> THE PEOPLE CALLED THEIR TRASH WASN'T PICKED UP.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE CHARGED FOR A RETURN FEE WHEN IT WASN'T THEY HAD LET US STAY HANDLE IT.
>> WE'RE NOT TRYING TO BE DRACONIAN ABOUT THAT.
IF IT'S NOT THE DEPARTMENTS, IF IT'S NOT THE CUSTOMER'S FAULT WE WILL CERTAINLY GO BACK AND GET THE CAR.
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO FIND THAT OUT WITH ROUTE NOTES, PICTURES AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO BE PUNITIVE WITH ANY OF THESE THINGS.
WE'RE JUST ALSO NOT TRYING TO BURDEN THE ENTIRE, SOME PEOPLE'S BEHAVIOR.
>> IT'S NOT A MAJOR SOURCE OF REVENUE.
[02:25:03]
THAT'S THE OTHER IMPORTANT THING.THESE THINGS ARE BEING DONE, BUT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO REALLY OFFSET THE NEED THAT WE HAVE FOR THE OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM, AND HOPEFULLY THAT'LL COME THROUGH IN A FEW OF THE NEXT SLIDES.
BUT THE OTHER POINT TOO WAS CONTAINERIZATION, MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S CONTAINERIZING THEIR WASTE AND INCENTIVIZING THAT THROUGH ADDITIONAL CHARGES IF THEY AREN'T.
THAT HELPS IF THE WASTE IS IN THE CAN ITSELF, THAT HELPS CREATE A MORE EFFICIENT SERVICE LOWER COST OVERALL FOR EVERYONE.
BY SETTING UP SOME FEES TO RECOVER AND TRY TO PUSH THIS, THAT'S ANOTHER EFFICIENCY COST SAVINGS.
MECHANISM AS WELL AS MOVING AWAY FROM AND ELIMINATING THE COMMERCIAL COLLECTION SERVICE DOWNTOWN.
>> CURRENTLY, WE LIMIT OUR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS TO FORECASTS.
I KNOW I GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ABOUT THAT, WHERE ESPECIALLY FOR LARGER RENTALS, THEY FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD HAVE SIX CANS.
>> THEN BRIAN WILL COMMENT, WELL, THEN THEY'RE REALLY COMMERCIAL, BUT YET WE CAN'T CHARGE THEM COMMERCIAL RATES.
WHAT WE END UP WITH IS A LOT OF TRASH AND BAGS GETTING BLOWN ALL OVER THE PLACE.
>> PROBLEM WITH YOU START GETTING ALL THOSE LIFTS ON THESE TRUCKS.
IT STARTS GETTING REALLY EXPENSIVE.
WE NEED TO EXPONENTIALLY THEN RAMP UP.
MAYBE IT'S POSSIBLE THAT YOU RAMP UP MORE THAN TWO CANS AND BY THE THIRD CAN IN THOSE THIRD, FOURTH, FIFTH.
>> MAY GET $20 A CAN OR SOMETHING.
WELL, THE RATE ITSELF WOULD HAVE TO REFLECT IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST THE COST OF THE CAN AT THAT POINT, IT'S THE COST OF TIPPING IT.
>> I THINK THAT'S WHAT HE'S DOING.
>> I WOULD SAY THAT I THOUGHT IT WAS AN INTERESTING COMMENT IN THE LAST PRESENTATION ABOUT HOW YOU HAVE THIS UNIQUE SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE A CLASS THAT DOESN'T QUITE FIT INTO THE TRADITIONAL MOLD OF A RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL CLASS.
PROBABLY THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME ADDITIONAL THOUGHT GIVEN TO DO YOU NEED TO CARVE OUT A NEW RATE STRUCTURE AT SOME POINT? AT THIS TIME IN THIS STUDY, WE HAVEN'T NECESSARILY RECOMMENDED THAT AND I WASN'T REALLY AWARE.
I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S A MAJOR ISSUE FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND.
>> IT'S UNIQUE JUST TO GALVESTON.
>> IT'S PROBABLY NOT UNIQUE JUST TO YOU.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING I COMMONLY HEAR THROUGH THE STUDIES I DO.
I'M ACTUALLY BASED OUT OF ORLANDO, FLORIDA, SO WE HAVE A LOT OF COMMUNITIES ON THE GULF COAST I DO WORK FOR THAT ARE COMPARABLE.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY TYPICALLY RAISE TO ME AS AN ISSUE, BY WAY OF EXAMPLE.
BUT THAT BEING SAID, IT COULD BE SOMETHING FOR FURTHER EVALUATION AND COULD COME UP WITH SOME COMMON SENSE, MAYBE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE SEA LEVEL.
>> I HAVE DROPS THAT HAD TO CHANGE.
THEIR RESTRICTIONS WHERE THEY WERE REQUIRING RENTAL PROPERTIES TO HAVE SIX CANS, AND THEN WE LIMITED IT TO FOUR.
THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO BE ADDRESSED AT THE LOCAL HOA LEVEL AS WELL, AND MOVE THOSE PEOPLE TO COMMERCIAL SERVICE RATHER THAN PUTTING THE BURDEN ON THE CITY.
>> BUT I DON'T THINK WE CAN LEGALLY DO THAT.
>> YOU COULD. YOU COULD REQUIRE THEIR HOA TO PROVIDE A DUMPS OR A DUMPSTER.
>> LET'S KEEP THAT IN MIND FOR FURTHER DISSERVICE.
I WOULD BE PRACTICAL, BUT IT'S POSSIBLE.
>> YEAH. OR WE COULD JUST CHARGE A HIGHER FEE.
>> WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT PASSING THAT COST ON ALL THE OTHER CUSTOMERS.
>> I'M NOT GOING TO SPEND TOO MUCH TIME.
THESE ARE SOME OF THOSE NEW FEES THAT WE'RE CHARGED.
THE MAIN POINT WAS THAT WE'VE NOT REALLY BAKED INTO THE FINANCIAL PLAN, THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE BEYOND A CONSERVATIVE ALLOWANCE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TRACK RECORD ON THESE NEW FEES AND HOW MUCH THEY'RE GOING TO GENERATE SO WE DON'T WANT TO UNDERESTIMATE THE RATE NEEDS IN THE PLAN.
ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS YOU'RE GOING TO FIND AT THAT CONCLUSION OF THIS PRESENTATION IS TO CONSIDER RATES FOR NEXT YEAR, BUT THEN RE EVALUATE ANY FUTURE NEEDS SUBSEQUENT, ONCE YOU HAVE MORE DATA TO EVALUATE TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT YOU COULD POSSIBLY LOWER.
BUT I THINK THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE HAVE FOR YOU TODAY WILL GET YOU IN THE RIGHT POSITION, AND HOPEFULLY YOU'LL HAVE MORE MINIMAL ADJUSTMENTS THEREAFTER IS THE GOAL HERE.
I'M NOT GOING TO SPEND A GREAT DEAL OF TIME ON THIS SIDE.
I THINK PROBABLY Y'ALL AND MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT RECEIVE THE SERVICE ARE AWARE ABOUT THE LEVELS OF SERVICE THAT ARE OFFERED.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO SANITATION, THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE BENCHMARKING TO OTHER COMMUNITIES, THE SERVICE LEVELS CAN REALLY VARY PRETTY WIDELY, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE BULK SERVICE COLLECTION.
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE SOME COMMUNITIES THAT REALLY PROVIDE A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE IN THIS AREA, AND CAN BE PRETTY COSTLY TO THE OPERATIONS AS WELL.
[02:30:01]
THEN YOU HAVE YOUR STANDARD MUNICIPAL COLLECTION, AND THAT CAN VARY BASED ON THE NUMBER OF PICKUPS PER WEEK, AND, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, THE SERVICE LEVEL OF THE NUMBER OF CANS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THAT STOOD OUT TO ME THAT WAS REALLY OUT OF LINE WITH INDUSTRY NORMS OR STANDARDS, SO I DID WANT TO MENTION THAT.
I TOUCHED ON THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A VERY LONG RANGE AND WE'RE DRIVING DOWN, SO IT'S NOT LIKE THESE COMMUNITIES ARE CLUSTERED CLOSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE DOING YOUR COLLECTION, YOU HAVE TO DRIVE FARTHER. YES, SIR.
>> I'M SORRY. I HATE TO GO BACK ON YOU.
>> DO WE HAVE ANY HAZARDOUS WASTE SITES OR OIL, GAS, STUFF LIKE THAT, BAD GAS.
>> DO WE DO THAT TWICE A YEAR?
>> THOSE ARE MORE OF A POP UP EVENT.
WE DON'T HOST A HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE SITE, BUT THEY ARE MORE OF A POP UP EVENT.
I THINK HDAC WILL OFFER THOSE AND THERE'S ANOTHER COMPANY THAT I CAN'T THINK OF.
>> BUT THAT WOULD EXCLUDE OIL, LIKE WE DON'T HAVE OIL OR EVER SITE.
>> WE DON'T COLLECT ANY HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE OR STORE IT OR PROCESS IT.
>> HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION PROGRAMS ARE PRETTY RARE FROM MY EXPERIENCE.
YOU HAVE THEM IN PLACES WHERE THERE ISN'T A DISPOSAL CENTER AVAILABLE AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, AND SO THEY MAY OFFER THAT, PARTICULARLY FOR SOME OF THE RURAL COMMUNITIES IN THE MIDWEST, MOUNTAIN AREAS, THINGS LIKE THAT, I'VE SEEN LIKE THAT, BUT THEY'RE PRETTY EXPENSIVE THOSE PROGRAMS TO DO THAT THING, TOO.
YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE ANCILLARY ISSUES LIKE IF THIS HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE, WHERE DO YOU PUT IT IF YOU PUT IN THE ROAD, PEOPLE RUN OVER THAT STUFF, SO IT CAN BE PROBLEMATIC.
>> I WAS STICKING TO SAND IN IDAHO.
|>> ONE OF THE THINGS I MENTIONED BEFORE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A CHARACTERISTIC OF YOUR CUSTOMER BASE.
THESE REPRESENT YOUR TOTAL NUMBER OF ACCOUNTS ABOUT 23,000, AND WE'VE BROKEN IT DOWN BY THE SHORTHAND RESIDENTIAL FOR RES AND COM FOR COMMERCIAL.
WE HAVE ABOUT 80% OF OUR CUSTOMERS ARE A LITTLE LESS THAN 80% OR ABOUT ONE CAN SERVICE.
THEN THE OTHER LARGE MAJORITY IS GOING TO BE TWO CAN RESIDENTIAL SERVICE.
WE'RE LARGELY JUST AND BY DESIGN TO BE A RESIDENTIAL SERVICE PROVIDER AND NOT A COMMERCIAL SERVICE PROVIDER.
WE SERVICE SOME COMMERCIAL ACCOUNTS.
THAT HAVE SOME LIMITATIONS, AND THEREFORE STILL HAVE SOME CANS, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING A LITTLE ABOUT AT THE END, THE RATE DESIGN, WE'RE RECOMMENDING SOME CHANGES TO GET THEM MORE UP TO MARKET BASED RATE, SO THAT WAY THERE ISN'T AN ECONOMIC INCENTIVE FOR THEM TO BE ON THE CITY SERVICE AS OPPOSED TO THE COMMERCIAL SERVICE THAT'S OUT THERE AND AVAILABLE.
>> JUST REALLY QUICKLY, TO GIVE Y'ALL, IF YOU WEREN'T AWARE, THE NUMBER OF TYPES OF VEHICLES THAT ARE REQUIRED IN THE PROVISION OF THE SERVICE.
I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT EQUIPMENT COSTS HAVE REALLY GONE UP SUBSTANTIALLY.
IF YOU LOOK AT A GARBAGE TRUCK, FIVE YEARS AGO, LET'S SAY AN AUTOMATIC SIDE LOADER, YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROCURE ONE OF THOSE FOR $250,000, LET'S SAY OR 200 IN THAT RANGE.
TODAY, WE'RE LOOKING AT $350,000, AND ONE OF THE OTHER CHALLENGES WE HAVE, IS NATIONALLY, THERE'S REGULATIONS IN PLACES IN OTHER STATES AND COMMUNITIES THAT ARE PUTTING INCREASED DEMAND ON THE PURCHASE FOR DIESEL VEHICLES.
CALIFORNIA HAS A REGULATORY REQUIREMENT THAT'S REQUIRING TO GO TO ZERO EMISSIONS, AND A LOT OF COMMUNITIES, THE TECHNOLOGY IS NOT NECESSARILY THERE JUST YET.
YOU HAD A RUSH TO ORDER IN OCTOBER OF 2023 TO PROVIDERS TO ACQUIRE ALL THESE DIESEL VEHICLES.
THE LEAD LAG TIME NOW TO GET A TRUCK IS OVER A YEAR.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO PROCURE AND IF YOU WANT TO GET SOMETHING EVEN FASTER, SOMETIMES THERE'S A PREMIUM.
RIGHT NOW, THE MARKET PLACE FOR BUYING VEHICLES, IT'S PRETTY EXPENSIVE, AND I'M NOT NECESSARILY SUGGESTING THAT'S GOING TO COME DOWN, BUT I THINK THAT THE LEAD LAG TIMES WILL PROBABLY SHORTEN, BUT RIGHT NOW THEY'RE PRETTY HIGH.
>> JUST FOR THE RECORD, THOSE ARE NOT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT AUTOMATIC SIDLERS, WE HAVE DIFFERENT CLASSES OF THOSE BECAUSE CERTAIN TYPE OF TRUCKS CAN'T SERVICE ALLEYS.
SOMETIMES YOU'LL SEE A SMALLER TRUCK SERVICING YOUR HOUSE AND YOU'RE LIKE, WHY? WELL, THAT'S BECAUSE ONE OF THE BIG TRUCKS IS DOWN AND WE'RE USING AN ALLEY LOADER. OR VICE VERSA.
>> THAT'S AN EXCELLENT POINT. THAT'S WHY THESE COMMUNITIES WHEN I DO THESE STUDIES, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE UNIQUE COST OF SERVICE.
IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF UNIQUE, SMALLER, IT'S ONLY A ONE WAY STREET.
THOSE ARE SAFETY ISSUES IF YOU CAN'T DO A TURNAROUND, YOU DON'T WANT TO BACK DOWN THE STREET, THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SMALLER VEHICLES, AND THAT'S A HIGHER COST TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES.
>> TWO, THIS IS JUST JUST A CRITIQUE, BUT WE PROVIDE A SUPER HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE AND HE'S GOING TO HE'S TOUCHED ON THAT, AND WE'LL TOUCH ON IT AGAIN.
BUT WHEN YOU COMPARE US TO CITIES THAT USE PRIVATE HAULERS OR PRIVATE CONTRACTORS, THEY HAVE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF TRUCKS.
[02:35:02]
A TRUCK BEING DOWN TO THEM IS NOT A BIG DEAL.THEY SHUFFLE AND MOVE FROM ANOTHER AREA.
THEY SPREAD OUT THEIR COST OVER HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS, IF NOT MORE.
WE'VE GOT 22,000 OR 23,000 CUSTOMERS, WE'VE GOT 12 TRUCKS.
WE ARE VERY CONCENTRATED IN WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE PROVIDE A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL OF SERVICE AND THE RESIDENTS SEEM TO APPRECIATE THAT, BUT IT'S ALSO A MORE EXPENSIVE LEVEL OF SERVICE.
>> LET'S GET INTO THE FINANCIAL PLANNING NUMBERS.
THE CHART ON THE TOP IS WHAT I WOULD REFER TO AS A REVENUE REQUIREMENTS OR A CASH FLOW CHART AT EXISTING RATES, AND I'M GOING TO DESCRIBE TO YOU WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
THE BARS REPRESENT OUR REVENUE REQUIREMENTS, OUR EXPENDITURES.
THE DARK BAR REPRESENTS OUR OPERATING EXPENSES.
SO BY VIRTUE OF THIS CHART, YOU CAN SEE PROPORTIONALLY OPERATING EXPENSES BY FAR THE MAJORITY OF THE COST OF SERVICE.
THAT'S ALSO BECAUSE WE DO CONTRACT OUT ON THE DISPOSAL SIDE, BUT ALSO BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR COSTS ARE GOING TO BE TIED UP IN OUR LABOR, OUR FUEL, AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, IN MAINTENANCE COSTS.
THOSE ARE OUR KEY OPERATING COSTS.
THEN WE HAVE SOME DEBT SERVICE THAT WAS ISSUED MORE RECENTLY TO ACQUIRE VEHICLES BECAUSE WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, HISTORICALLY, TO BE ABLE TO FUND THOSE OUT OF POCKET, SO WE HAD ISSUED SOME DEBT TO DO THAT, AND IT WAS A SHORT TERM PAYBACK, ABOUT FIVE YEARS, WHICH IS FAIRLY COMMON IN THE INDUSTRY TO SEE A FIVE YEAR PAYBACK ON VEHICLES SINCE THEY TEND TO LAST, YOU KNOW, 8-10 YEARS OR SO, SO YOU WANT THAT PAYBACK TO BE A LITTLE BIT SHORTER.
WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THIS PLAN, AND THEN THE YELLOW REPRESENTS SOME ADDITIONAL DEPOSITS TO RESERVES TO BUILD OUR FUND BALANCE UP OVER TIME.
THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THOUGH AT THE EXISTING RATES WHICH REPRESENT THE LINE, WE AREN'T GENERATING ENOUGH REVENUE TO COVER BOTH OUR EXPENSES AND OUR DEBT SERVICE AT CURRENT LEVELS.
THAT LINE DOES REPRESENT THE ADDITION OF SOME OF THOSE ANCILLARY REVENUES FROM THE NEW FEES THAT WE BAKED INTO THE PLAN.
GOING FORWARD, WHAT I WANT TO SAY BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS THAT, WHICH YOU CAN SEE IN OUR CASH RESERVES IS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO GET TO A PHASE WHERE WE CAN CASH FUND OUR VEHICLES TO SAVE AND HAVE A LOWER OVERALL COST, NOT INCUR THAT INTEREST COST.
PARTICULARLY BECAUSE, UNLIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE THE WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM, WHERE YOU HAVE A MUCH LARGER AMOUNT OF CAPITAL INVESTMENT, THAT CAPITAL INVESTMENT IS VERY NON LINEAR WHEN IT COMES DUE, AND IT COULD EBB AND FLOW.
DEBT SERVICE IS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT TO FUNDING.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO SOLID WASTE WITH THE VEHICLES, YOU GENERALLY KNOW WHEN THAT'S COMING, AND THEY HAVE MUCH SHORTER LIVES, YOU DON'T HAVE ASSETS THAT GO 30 YEARS ON THE SOLID WASTE OPERATIONS.
BECAUSE THE ASSET LIVES ARE SO SHORT, WE MAKE THESE TRANSFERS TO THE RESERVES, AND THEN THAT WAY WE CAN GET MORE ONTO A CASH FUNDED BASIS.
IF WE DO NOTHING, AS YOU CAN SEE, BASED ON THESE COSTS, OUR FUND BALANCE IS GOING TO DECLINE.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ASSUMPTIONS, AND THERE'S ONE THING I DO KNOW ABOUT THIS FORECAST IS LIKELY GOING TO BE INCORRECT.
I MEAN, WHEN WE DEVELOP THESE FORECASTS, I THINK WE DO THE BEST WE CAN TO REASONABLY FORECAST COSTS, BUT I THINK AS THE OTHER CONSULTANT MENTIONED BEFORE, IT'S ALWAYS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAN RISE.
I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS, AND I THINK THAT THIS IS A VERY REASONABLE PROJECTION TO BASE RECOMMENDATIONS ON.
HOWEVER, THE RATE AT WHICH OUR COSTS ARE GOING TO BE GOING UP IS BASED ON RECENT HISTORICAL TRENDS AND REASONABLE ASSUMPTIONS.
BUT DO WANT TO JUST MAKE THAT DISCLAIMER.
BUT THAT ASIDE, I THINK IT'S CLEAR THAT EVEN IN THE INITIAL YEAR, BECAUSE WE'RE BELOW OUR EXPENSES AND DEBT SERVICE, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.
THIS IS THE PLAN THAT WE'VE DEVELOPED AND ARE RECOMMENDING FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION FEEDBACK INPUT.
WE'VE IDENTIFIED THE NEED TO INCREASE OUR REVENUES BY ABOUT 14%.
AS YOU REMEMBER EARLIER ON THE INFLATION CHART, THE DISPARITY WAS ABOUT 15%, IF WE HAD APPLIED INFLATION TO THE RATES WAY BACK IN 2012.
IT IS IN LINE, BUT THAT'S JUST I THINK PARTLY BY COINCIDENCE A LITTLE BIT.
YOU CAN SEE WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE BROKEN OUT EACH ROW ON THE TABLE ON THE LEFT BY THE MAJOR TYPES OF FEES.
THE RECYCLING FEE, WE'RE RECOMMENDING TO INCREASE THAT BY $0.39.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE COST SERVICE NEXT AND SOME ANALYSIS ON THAT.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO FULLY RECOVER THE COST, AND WE HAVE SOME THOUGHTS, AND WE'VE TALKED WITH STAFF, AND WE WANT TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO DO SOME FURTHER STUDY ON THIS FEE.
BUT BELOW THAT, YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE EFFECTS WOULD BE TO THE TYPICAL RESIDENTIAL SERVICE, SO ABOUT $4.52.
ONE THING I WANT TO MENTION IS THAT AND TALKING WITH STAFF, AND WE DID LOOK AT THE COST SERVICE FOR THE ADDITIONAL CARTS.
THAT FEE IS VERY REASONABLE THAT Y'ALL ARE CHARGING.
EVEN THOUGH THAT WE WEREN'T INVOLVED IN ASSISTING IN THAT COST SERVICE, THE FEE THAT WAS DESIGNED OR RECOMMENDED AND IMPLEMENTED WITH
[02:40:02]
THE ADDITIONAL CARD IS STILL REPRESENTATIVE COST, WE THINK, AND THAT TO ENCOURAGE MORE CONTAINERIZATION, WE'VE DECIDED BASED ON DISCUSSION WITH STAFF A POLICY OBJECTIVE TO NOT INCREASE THAT FEE.FOR WHETHER YOU'RE A ONE CARD OR A TWO CART, YOU'D SEE THE SAME MONTHLY INCREASE IN YOUR BILL IF YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROPOSAL.
YOU CAN SEE THAT WE ALSO HAVE IDENTIFIED COMMERCIAL SERVICE.
THAT'S A MUCH MORE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE ON A DOLLAR AMOUNT BASIS.
THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT IN SURVEYING WHAT AN EQUIVALENT LEVEL OF SERVICE WOULD BE, SO A TWO CUBIC YARD BIN SERVICE, COMMERCIAL BIN SERVICE.
TWO CUBIC YARDS EQUATES TO ABOUT FOUR CARTS, ROUGHLY SPEAKING. IT'S NOT EXACT.
WHEN WE DIVIDED THE MARKET RATE FOR A TWO CUBIC YARD SERVICE, WE GET BACK TO WHAT'S EFFECTIVELY 7058 FOR TWO CARTS.
THAT'S OUR RECOMMENDATION, SO OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR COMMERCIAL SERVICE IS NOT NECESSARILY BASED ON OUR COST OF SERVICE, BUT BASED ON THE MARKET RATES TO TRY TO NOT INCENTIVIZE MORE CUSTOMERS TO WANT TO BEYOND THE CITY SERVICE, BECAUSE, AGAIN, THE MAIN FOCUS IS TO BE A RESIDENTIAL SERVICE PROVIDER.
>> IF YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, WE JUST WANTED TO DEMONSTRATE TO YOU WHAT THE OUTPUTS OF THE FINANCIAL PLANNING WOULD LOOK LIKE, AND WHAT YOU'LL NOTICE IS THAT THE DOTTED GREEN LINE NOW KEEPS PACE WITH THE TOPS OF THE EXPENDITURE REQUIREMENTS, AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE'RE ABLE TO BUILD OUR RESERVES BACKUP, AND I DO WANT TO MAKE A POINT HERE ABOUT YOUR RESERVES.
WE LOOKED AT THE OPERATING FUND, AND EFFECTIVELY, WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE MONEY LEFT IN OUR OPERATING FUND.
WE HAVE A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUND BALANCE, BUT WE REALLY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN THERE.
ALL THE CASH THAT WE HAVE TIED UP WITH THIS FUND IS FROM THE DEBT PROCEEDS TO FUND THE EQUIPMENT PURCHASES FROM BEFORE, AND THAT'S RESTRICTED.
WE CAN'T USE THAT FOR OUR OPERATIONS.
WHILE IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE SOME RESERVES, IT'S REALLY NOT AVAILABLE FOR YOUR OPERATIONS, AND THAT'S WHY THERE'S SOME IMPETUS OR SOME NEED TO HAVE TO FRONT-LOAD MORE OF THE INCREASE, WHICH IS WHY WE CAME TO YOU WITH THAT RECOMMENDATION AS OPPOSED TO TRYING TO DEVELOP A PHASE PLAN FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CUSTOMERS, BECAUSE WE DO TRY TO WEAR OUR RATE PAYER HAT AND HELP PHASE THAT IN, SO IT'S NOT SO MUCH OF A RATE SHOCK TO CUSTOMERS.
BUT THAT EXPLAINS WHY WE AREN'T NECESSARILY RECOMMENDING A MORE CUSTOMER FRIENDLY APPROACH WITH THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH AN ISSUE WITH OUR FUND DEBTS.
>> LET ME JUST CLARIFY SOMETHING.
WE'RE NOT HOLDING THE MONEY FOR THE EQUIPMENT.
WE BOUGHT THE EQUIPMENT, BUT THAT'S OUR DEBT SERVICE, AND WE PLEDGE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF DEBT SERVICE.
THE WAY THAT'S GOING TO INCREASE IS IS IF YOU INCREASE YOUR RATE, YOU'LL START COVERING MORE OF YOUR DEBT SERVICE AT A GENERAL OPS AND THAT DEBT SERVICE SHRINKS DOWN AND MORE OF IT BECOMES RESERVES.
>> THAT'S THE OTHER THING, TOO, IS WE DIDN'T MAKE A RATE RECOMMENDATION THAT FIXES THAT ISSUE OVERNIGHT, SO THAT'S HOW WE PUT ON OUR CUSTOMER HAT THERE, I WOULD SAY, BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE IT'S TAKING SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE WE BUILD THAT BACK UP OVER TIME.
BUT I THINK WE'RE ACCOMPLISHING SEVERAL OBJECTIVES THAT WILL HELP YOU BE MORE FISCALLY SUSTAINABLE.
ONE BEING THE FACT THAT WE'RE GOING TO MOVE AWAY FROM DEBT FUNDING OUR VEHICLES AND GOING MORE TO A PAY GO BASIS, AND THEN THE SECOND BEING THAT WE'RE BUILDING BACK OUR OPERATING RESERVES TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBILITY, IF FOR EXAMPLE, YOU WERE TO HAVE A FINANCIAL SHOCK, LET'S SAY, UNEXPECTED, AND YOU DIDN'T WANT TO NECESSARILY HAVE TO FORCE YOURSELF TO PASS THAT ON TO CUSTOMERS, OR BE DEPEND UPON YOUR GENERAL FUND TO HELP SUBSIDIZE YOUR SANITATION FUND.
>> IS THIS AN ISSUE JUST OF A CASH FLOW OR IS THIS A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH DEBT SERVICE, A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH?
>> I THINK IT'S PROBABLY MORE AN ISSUE OF THIS WHERE WE HAVEN'T REALLY DONE TOO MUCH, AND MEANWHILE, OUR COSTS WERE GOING UP.
>> THAT'S THE BULK OF THE PROBLEM.
>> THAT'S ALL ASSUMING NO NEW DEBT ISSUANCE.
>> CORRECT, IN THE CURRENT PLAN.
THE OTHER THING YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND TOO ABOUT THESE PLANS IS THAT IT'S NOT UNREASONABLE TO NOT RAISE THE RATES FOR A WHILE.
WHY? BECAUSE [NOISE] IF YOU ARE PURCHASING VEHICLES OR YOU ARE FUNDED, AND I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFICS ABOUT THE FINANCIAL CONDITION BACK HERE, I DIDN'T ANALYZE THEM, WE WEREN'T REALLY SCOPED TO, BUT I'M SPECULATING THAT AFTER ABOUT FIVE YEARS, YOU'RE PAYING OFF THAT DEBT SERVICE AND THEN YOU GET THIS GAP IN YOUR CASH FLOW, AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT'S LIKE, WELL, MY OPERATING EXPENSES ARE GOING UP.
I DON'T HAVE ANY EXPENDITURE ON THE CAPITAL SIDE.
YOU COULD LIVE FOR THREE YEARS BEFORE YOU NEED TO PAY BACK YOUR VEHICLES BEFORE YOU'D HAVE TO RAISE YOUR RATES.
YOU COULD GET INTO A SITUATION WHERE YOU REALLY DON'T ADJUST YOUR RATES INCREMENTALLY WHEN YOU SHOULD BE, WELL, I SHOULDN'T SAY YOU SHOULD, BUT IT'S A POLICY OPTION TO EITHER BE MORE PROACTIVE AND START PUTTING MONEY AWAY FOR THAT EVENTUAL REPLACEMENT OF YOUR VEHICLES, OR YOU COULD FOLLOW THE SIMILAR PATTERN WHERE YOU DO STAIR STEP APPROACHES AND HAVE SIGNIFICANT RATE SHOCK IN CERTAIN YEARS.
>> WHAT ARE THESE RATES IN COMPARISON TO OTHER CITIES WITH
[02:45:04]
SIMILAR SERVICE THAT'S NOT MUNICIPAL DRIVEN BUT PRIVATE SOURCES?>> WE TALKED ABOUT THIS WITH STAFF.
WE HAD A COMPARISON THAT WE PUT TOGETHER.
WE DECIDED NOT TO INCLUDE IN THE ACTUAL FORMAL PRESENTATION DECK.
I DO HAVE AN FAQ SLIDE IF I NEEDED TO BRING IT UP, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S ATTACHED TO THIS PRESENTATION.
I HAVE IT ON MY LAPTOP SO WE CAN BRING IT UP.
>> I THINK IT IS ON YOUR LAST PAGE.
>> IS IT? I CAN MOVE FORWARD AND I'LL JUST FLOW THROUGH THIS AND SEE.
WELL, WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY IS WE LOOKED AT LIKE GULFPORT IN MISSISSIPPI.
WE LOOKED AT OTHER GULF BASED COMMUNITIES, AND GENERALLY SPEAKING THEY WERE IN THE HIGH 30S PER MONTH.
I WOULD SAY THAT IT'S WITHIN RANGE.
GENERALLY IN A LOT OF THE STUDIES I DO, THE MONTHLY SERVICE IS GOING TO BE IN THAT RANGE.
SOME COMMUNITIES WHERE COST OF LIVING IS A LOT LOWER, LIKE YOU GO TO OKLAHOMA, THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND LOWER RATES OF SERVICE, BUT YOU GO TO LIKE FLORIDA, WHERE COST OF LIVING IS HIGHER RELATIVE TO OKLAHOMA, LET'S SAY, OR EVEN TEXAS, WHERE IT'S BEEN INCREASING QUITE A BIT WITH A LOT OF INFLUX OF MIGRATION WE'RE SEEING HIGHER RATES.
GENERALLY WITHIN A RANGE FROM $25-35 OR $20-$35 IS THE RANGE I TYPICALLY SEE ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR THE SERVICE FOR COLLECTION IN DISPOSAL.
>> IN COMPARISON TO LIKE A PRIVATE CHARGE.
[OVERLAPPING] THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT'S IN YOUR LIFETIME.
>> IT'S APPLES AND ORANGES BECAUSE OF WHAT BRIAN MENTIONED EARLIER, WHERE THEY HAVE ECONOMIES OF SCALE AND THEN THEY DO A LOT OF CONTRACTORS.
THEY DON'T HAVE EMPLOYEES, SO THEY DON'T PAY HEALTH INSURANCE AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
IT'S APPLES AND ORANGES WHENEVER YOU'RE SELF PERFORMING THIS VERSUS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THEY ALSO REQUIRE ONE SINGLE HAULER FOR COMMERCIAL SO THEY CAPITALIZE ON THAT BIG TIME.
COUNCIL REJECTED THAT HERE A WHILE BACK WHEN IT WAS SUGGESTED.
THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THAT COMES FROM ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE.
MOST CITIES DON'T ALLOW ANYBODY GET WHATEVER DUMPSTER YOU WANT.
>> I BELIEVE HERE THERE'S SPECIAL LOCAL ORDINANCE OR CODE THAT REQUIRES THAT THE CITY PROVIDE.
>> THERE IS. IT'S IN THE CHARTER.
>> IN THE CHARTER THAT PROVIDES THE RESIDENTIAL SERVICE AS WELL SO THAT WOULD NEED TO BE LOOKED AT.
>> THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE PLANNING ON LOOKING AT, BUT THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING.
>> BUT THEN THERE'S BENEFITS OF THIS TOO, JUST BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO MOBILIZE FOR THE DEBRIS PICK UP ON THIS STORM LIKE THAT.
WE'VE GOT OTHER COMMUNITIES RIGHT UP THE ROAD.
>> IS THERE A WAY TO SEPARATE THE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PICKUP FOR SOMETHING PRIVATIZING THE RESIDENTIAL AND KEEPING COMMERCIAL. IS THERE A WAY TO DO THAT?
>> I WOULD TELL YOU THAT MOST COMMERCIAL HAULERS THAT WOULD COME ONTO THE ISLAND TO DO RESIDENTIAL PICK UP [OVERLAPPING]
>> THEY WANT IT ALL. THAT'S WHERE YOU GET YOUR SAVINGS.
OTHERWISE, IT'S NOT GOING TO SAVE ANY MONEY.
BASICALLY, WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IS THE RESIDENTS OF GALVESTON HAVE BEEN SUBSIDIZING THE COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS THAT ARE ON OUR SYSTEM.
>> QUESTION HERE. THE QUALITY OF SERVICE THAT WE OFFER WITH OUR SANITATION DEPARTMENT FOR THE PRICE THAT WE CHARGE, DO YOU SEE THAT THAT'S QUITE AN INCREASED QUALITY OF SERVICE FOR WHAT WE'RE CHARGING?
>> I THINK THAT IN MY EXPERIENCE, GENERALLY, MUNICIPALITIES THAT PROVIDE SERVICE THEMSELVES TEND TO HAVE A HIGHER RATE RELATIVE TO THOSE THAT MIGHT CONTRACT OUT OPERATIONS.
BUT THAT'S ANECDOTAL AND IT PROBABLY WOULD MERIT A SURVEY TIP TO FORMALIZE THAT OPINION ON MY PART.
HOWEVER, I THINK ALONG YOUR LINE OF QUESTION, THE BIG DISPARITY IS THAT TYPICALLY THOSE MUNICIPALITIES HAVE A HIGHER LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING AND THAT THEIR COMMUNITIES ARE VERY SATISFIED WITH THE LEVEL OF SERVICE.
THE OTHER THING TO MENTION, AND MAYBE A BETTER WAY TO THINK ABOUT THIS TOO WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO COMPARE THESE THINGS AS BRANDON MENTIONED, APPLES AND ORANGES, IS HOW DO YOU LOOK FROM AN OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY STANDPOINT? WE WEREN'T NECESSARILY TASKED WITH LOOKING AT THAT, BUT GENERALLY FROM THE PURVIEW I HAD BY LOOKING AT YOUR OPERATING STATISTICS, LIKE HOW MANY HOUSEHOLDS ARE YOU PICKING UP PER ROUTE TRUCK PER DAY? IT'S IN THAT 800-900 OR I THINK 900 HOUSEHOLD RANGE, ROUGHLY SPEAKING.
THAT'S WITHIN NORMS WITHIN THE INDUSTRY.
COULD YOU DO THINGS TO CONTINUE TO DO EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS? I THINK IF YOU WERE TO ASK DUSTIN OR BRANDON, THEY'D PROBABLY TELL YOU, YES, AND WE ARE LOOKING INTO THOSE.
I THINK THAT THEY'RE CONTINUING TO BE EXPLORING,
[02:50:02]
IN ADDITION TO THE THINGS THAT WE MENTIONED EARLIER IN THE PRESENTATION, THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO EXPLORE WAYS TO OPTIMIZE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE OPERATIONS.THAT'S ANOTHER REASON WHY WE'RE ONLY RECOMMENDING ONE YEAR OF RATE ADJUSTMENT TO GIVE THEM TIME TO EXPLORE ALL OF THOSE THINGS, TO TRY TO MITIGATE THE NEED FOR ANY FUTURE RATE INCREASES YOU MIGHT HAVE, BECAUSE IT'D BE AWFULLY NICE IF YOU DID DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROPOSAL THAT PERHAPS NEXT YEAR, YOU MIGHT NOT NEED TO DO AS MUCH OR IN FUTURE YEARS AS WHAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED IN THIS PLAN.
>> PART OF IT IS WE'VE AUTOMATED OUR ROUTE SYSTEMS AND EVERYTHING ELSE WITH COMPUTERS IN THE TRUCKS AND CAMERAS TO TRACK BECAUSE WE GET A LOT OF CALLS EVERY TRASH DAY.
SOME OF THEM WE LEGITIMATELY MISS WITHOUT A PROBLEM, BUT WE GET A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT SAY, HEY, YOU MISS ME AND WE GET ONE OUT.
THAT GOT TO BE A PAST TIME AROUND HERE FOR A LONG NOW.
>> I'M VERY AGNOSTIC ABOUT HOW YOU PROVIDE YOUR SERVICE, BUT I WILL SAY THAT AS A CONSULTANT IN THIS FIELD, I'M DOING TWO ACTIVE STUDIES WHERE I HAVE TWO LARGE MUNICIPALITIES THAT ARE EXPLORING IN HOUSING OPERATIONS BECAUSE THEY HAD LESS CONTROL OVER THE OPERATIONS, AND THEY ENJOYED THE LOWER RATES AND EVERYTHING, BUT THE LEVEL OF SERVICE REQUIREMENTS FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES WAS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT TO THEM IN THAT CASE AND WHY THEY'RE EXPLORING THAT.
NOW, I THINK THAT THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THEIR CONTRACTOR TO RESOLVE THOSE ISSUES AND IMPROVE THAT LEVEL OF SERVICE, AND I THINK THEY MAY BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
BUT I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS THAT YOU MAY WANT TO THINK THROUGH AS YOU CONTEMPLATE SOME OF THESE THINGS AND I THINK BRANDON WAS TOUCHING ON THAT WITH THE LEVEL OF SERVICE PIECE.
>> IT'S LIKE CENTER POINT. YOU'RE GOING TO GET HELD RESPONSIBLE, AND I TELL EVERYBODY, YOU WANT TO HOLD ME RESPONSIBLE, PUT ME IN CHARGE OF IT, OTHERWISE, YOU CAN'T HOLD ME RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR SANITATION.
>> HOW MUCH LONGER DO YOU HAVE ON YOUR PRESENTATION?
I'LL MAKE TWO MORE POINTS AND THEN WE CAN CLOSE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I KNOW THAT WE'VE GONE OVER HERE.
THIS REPRESENTS YOUR EXISTING RECYCLING FEE I MENTIONED EARLIER, THIS REPRESENTS THE COST OF SERVICE.
IT'S SOMETHING IN THE COST OF ABOUT 1.3 MILLION DOLLAR A YEAR FOR THE RECYCLING OF FACILITY, MAINTAINING THAT AND WE GET MAYBE LIKE $800,000 $900,000 A YEAR IN REVENUE FROM THE FEE ITSELF.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE DISCOVERED THROUGH WORKING WITH STAFF WAS THAT BECAUSE WE BILL EVERYBODY ON A PER METER BASIS, WE WERE THINKING ABOUT WHETHER THAT WAS EQUITABLE OR NOT.
THE REASON WHY I SAY THAT IS YOU HAVE A LOT OF, LET'S SAY, MASTER METERED CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS IN YOUR SYSTEM, APARTMENT COMPLEXES, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THEY WOULD ONLY GET THE 279 FEE.
THE QUESTION MIGHT BE, WELL, SHOULD YOU RE-EVALUATE THAT TO SEE IF THERE'S A DIFFERENT BILLING MECHANISM YOU COULD DO TO CAPTURE THAT ON A PER UNIT BASIS? BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, THEN BASICALLY WHAT'S HAPPENING IS YOUR SINGLE FAMILY SUBSIDIZING THAT APARTMENT, LARGER CLASS.
WHAT WE'VE RECOMMENDED IS JUST RAISE THE FEE BY THE PERCENT INCREASE IN THE REVENUE REQUIREMENTS ACROSS THE BOARD.
THAT MAINTAINS THE SAME RELATIONSHIP REVENUE FROM YOUR RECYCLING FEE AS IT IS TODAY TO YOUR EXISTING RATES AS THE PROPOSED RATES WOULD BE TO GIVE YOU TIME TO EXPLORE THAT POTENTIALLY DOWN THE LINE, BECAUSE YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO RESOLVE THAT SUBSIDY.
WE DID SOME BACK CALCULATIONS IF YOU WERE TO JUST CHARGE ALL THOSE ADDITIONAL CUSTOMERS THAT SAME EXACT FEE.
YOU MIGHT NOT NEED TO RAISE THAT FEE ANYMORE, RESOLVE THAT SUBSIDY, AND THEN YOU COULD MAYBE LOWER SOME OF THOSE OTHER INCREASES ON YOUR OTHER RATES GOING FORWARD.
>> OR ACTUALLY MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS AT THE RECYCLING CENTER WHICH YOU EXPLAINED IT.
>> OR THAT. THAT WAS ONE OF THE KEY FINDINGS AND BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RECLAIM.
THIS JUST GIVES YOU A FEEL FOR A BREAKDOWN OF THE COST BY THE SERVICE LEVELS.
WE COULD TRY TO PRESENT THIS IN DIFFERENT WAYS, LIKE, HOW MUCH IS PERSONNEL VERSUS FUEL, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTING SHOW TOO, BUT FOR YOU TODAY, WE JUST HAVE IT BROKEN OUT BASED ON A COST ALLOCATION FOR HOW MUCH IS RELATED TO THE COLLECTION OF OUR TRASH, HOW MUCH IS RELATED TO THE COLLECTION OF OUR BULKY YARD WAYS, WHAT'S OUR DISPOSAL COST, WHICH IS A NET DISPOSAL COST BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GETTING A BENEFIT FROM THAT HOST FEE.
I WOULD SAY THAT YOUR REAL DISPOSAL COST IS PROBABLY MUCH LARGER, BUT BECAUSE OF THAT HOST FEE BENEFIT IN THAT CONTRACT, PROVIDES A BIG BENEFIT TO YOUR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS AND KEEPING THOSE RATES LOWER.
THEN THIS IS THAT RECYCLING SUBSIDY THAT WE WERE IDENTIFYING HERE.
YOU MIGHT NOTICE THAT THE RATES ARE DIFFERENT.
THAT'S NOT A MISTAKE, THAT'S ACTUALLY INTENDED, AND IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE DIVIDING BY A DIFFERENT NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS.
THE 191 SUBSIDY IS IN TERMS OF EVERYBODY WHO GETS CHARGE A RECYCLING FEE, BUT THE 180 IS EVERYBODY WHO'S GETTING A COLLECTION RATE.
THERE'S SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT CALCULATIONS IN CASE ANYONE WAS WONDERING OR PICKED UP ON THAT, BUT THEN THERE'S THE BILLING COST.
THAT GIVES YOU YOUR BREAKDOWN OF YOUR COSTS, AND THIS IS WHERE YOUR EXISTING FEE IS AT, AND IF WE MAKE THE CHANGES, THEN WE'D BE GOING TO THE 29.49, WHICH IS BELOW THE $30 THRESHOLD.
[02:55:01]
THAT'S GENERALLY THE PRESENTATION.THIS GIVES YOU MORE DETAIL ABOUT THE EXISTING FEE STRUCTURE FOR THE DIFFERENT SERVICES VERSUS WHERE IT WOULD BE GOING UNDER THE PROPOSED RATES.
YOU CAN SEE THAT PROPORTIONALLY FROM THE VISUALS HERE, WE'RE GOING TO BE RAISING THE COMMERCIAL RATES MORE TO GET MORE IN LINE WITH MARKET RATE, AND THE RESIDENTIAL RATES A LITTLE BIT LOWER.
THE OTHER THING I'D MENTION IS THAT BECAUSE, [NOISE] BLESS YOU, [LAUGHTER] WE DON'T WANT TO NECESSARILY BANK ON THIS REVENUE.
IF YOU DO GO FORWARD AND IMPLEMENT THESE FEES, AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE MIGHT SWITCH TO A MARKET BASED COMMERCIAL RATE SERVICE, IF THIS MIGHT INCENTIVIZE THEM TO DO THAT PRICEY ELASTICITY OR WHATNOT.
THAT'S ANOTHER REASON WHY WE'RE SAYING, WAIT ANOTHER YEAR, BECAUSE IF YOU DO MOVE FORWARD AND IMPLEMENT THESE RATES, WE MIGHT BE GENERATING SOME ADDITIONAL REVENUE FROM HERE.
IF CUSTOMERS DON'T SWITCH OFF SERVICE, [NOISE] WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO LOWER THOSE FUTURE RATE INCREASES AND POSSIBLY DELAY AN ENTIRE YEAR WORTH OF INCREASE FROM SOME OF MY CALCULATIONS.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT, SIR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> OH, THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE? THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANKS FOR COMING. YOU CAME IN FROM OREGON?
>> YES, SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. ON ALL THESE RATE STUDIES, I DO WANT TO COMMEND STAFF ON IT.
WE'VE BEEN FACED THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS WITH SOME HEFTY INFLATION, AND THESE GUYS HAVE HELD THE LINE, BUT WE JUST CAN'T HOLD IT FOREVER.
COMMON SENSE WOULD BE THAT YOU'RE LINEAR, BUT THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS PLAY WELL, SO WE DO IT THIS WAY.
>> HOW DOES IT EQUATE OUT WITH THE AMOUNT OF DEBRIS THAT WE'RE PICKING UP RIGHT NOW?
>> WE PICKED UP OVER 1,000 TONS OF DEBRIS AS OF YESTERDAY, I BELIEVE, AND THAT DEBRIS IS GOING TO GET HEAVIER TODAY BECAUSE IT'S WET.
BUT MOST OF IT'S VEGETATED SO THE TONNAGE IS NOT NECESSARILY A GOOD INDICATION.
BUT WE'VE DONE A 1,000 TONS OF DEBRIS, WE'LL GET REIMBURSED FOR THAT.
>> WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF DEBRIS OUT THERE.
>> YES, WE DO. WE'VE GOT AT LEAST ANOTHER COUPLE OF PASSES OF THE ISLAND BEFORE WE GO BACK TO MORE NORMAL OPERATIONS.
>> JANELLE, LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 3E.
>> WE WILL BE REIMBURSED BY BIMA.
>> WE WILL CERTAINLY SUBMIT IT.
TESSA IS WORKING ON THAT RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE DONE SO FAR, I'M TRYING TO THINK IF SHE HAS IT ON HERE, WHAT WE'VE SPENT SO FAR ON SANITATION AND STUFF, BUT IT'S QUITE A BIT.
>> JANELLE, ITEM 3E, IF WE COULD, PLEASE.
>> THREE E. DISCUSSION OF THE FY 2025 BUDGET AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
>> DOES ANYONE NEED TO STRETCH THEIR LEGS BEFORE WE HEAD INTO BUDGET? [LAUGHTER]
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE'S AWAKE.
>> JUST A MINUTE, WOULD COUNCIL WANT TO TAKE A BREAK NOW?
>> WE TOOK A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK, BUT IT TOOK US ALMOST 15 MINUTES LAST TIME, SO YOU WANT A FIVE MINUTE BREAK?
>> OKAY. WE GOT A FIVE-MINUTE. [OVERLAPPING]
WE ARE BACK IN SESSION NOW WITH OUR WORKSHOP, AND TO MAKE THIS MORE OFFICIAL, LET'S GO AHEAD.
LET'S READ ITEM 3 AGAIN, PLEASE, MA'AM.
[3.E. Discussion Of The FY 2025 Budget And Capital Improvement Plan. (Csilla Ludanyi - 1 hour)]
>> THREE E. DISCUSSION OF THE FY 2025 BUDGET AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
>> WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE SHEILA LADONA WITH US. SHEILA.
>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I HOPE THAT YOU ALL ARE READY FOR MORE INFORMATION AFTER THE TWO REALLY ROBUST PRESENTATIONS, YOU-ALL.
TO START WITH, I WANT TO GIVE YOU ALL AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT OUR BUDGET AND CIP SCHEDULE LOOKS LIKE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SUMMER AS WE'RE HEADING INTO THE NEW FISCAL YEAR.
TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS BUDGET AND CIP AND TALK ABOUT TAX RATE A BIT.
ON AUGUST 7, WE WILL HAVE THE PRINTED VERSION OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET TO THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE, AND COUNSEL WILL RECEIVE THEIR BINDERS, AND ON AUGUST 8TH, WE WILL PRESENT THE PROPOSED TAX RATE THAT SUPPORTS THAT BUDGET AS WELL AS ALL THE CALCULATIONS FROM THE TAX ASSESSOR, AND CALL ANY PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT WE MAY NEED TO CALL FOR THE BUDGET AND THE TAX RATE.
BUT AUGUST 22ND, WE TYPICALLY DON'T TALK ABOUT ANYTHING, BUT THAT MAY DEPEND ON COUNCIL'S DESIRE TO DISCUSS ANY ISSUES FURTHER.
ON THE 12TH, WE WILL HOPEFULLY HAVE THE BUDGET HEARING AND ADOPTION, AND YOU HAVE TO RATIFY THE TAX RATE AGAIN, AND THEN ON THE 19TH, THERE WILL BE HOPEFULLY POST-CONSIDERING THE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET.
WE WILL HAVE A TAX RATE APPROVAL.
>> EXACTLY. [LAUGHTER] THAT'S WHAT THE CALENDAR LOOKS
[03:00:03]
LIKE AT THIS POINT IN TIME AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN STICK TO THAT.WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT GENERAL FUND FIRST BECAUSE IT IS CLEARLY OUR MAIN OPERATIONAL FUND AND IT'S OF MOST IMPACT TO THE RESIDENTS OF GALVESTON USUALLY.
THE MAJOR ASSUMPTIONS THAT ARE AFFECTING REVENUES ARE, FIRST OF ALL, RELATED TO PROPERTY TAX AS USUAL.
NORMALLY BY NOW, WE RECEIVED THAT CERTIFIED TAX ROLL.
BERYL SLOWED THINGS DOWN AT THE COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT, AND SO THEY WERE UNABLE TO HAVE 95% OF THE PROPERTIES CERTIFIED BY JULY 20TH.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE RECEIVED AN ESTIMATE, AND AS EARLY AS YESTERDAY OR LATE AS YESTERDAY, HALFWAY THROUGH THE DAY, THE COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR STARTED CALCULATING THOSE CALCULATIONS FOR US BASED ON THE ESTIMATE.
WE'RE STILL REVIEWING THOSE BUT HOPEFULLY WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, WE'LL HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO WORK OFF THOSE ESTIMATES OR WAIT FOR A CERTIFICATION.
>> WHEN DID THEY TELL US WE'D HAVE CERTIFIED ROLE YOU SAID, NEXT WEEK?
>> YEAH, I'M THINKING NEXT WEEK. WE'LL SEE.
>> WE'LL SAY THAT PEOPLE WHO WENT IN DURING THE BERYL TIME, THEY CUT EVERYBODY IN HALF.
IT WAS A GOOD TIME FOR PEOPLE TO GO IN.
>> THEY WERE LIKE, OKAY, GO. [LAUGHTER]
>> THAT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH.
SALES TAX REVENUE FOR THIS CURRENT YEAR IS PROJECTED ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS BELOW WHERE IT WAS BUDGETED, AND WE ARE EXPECTING TO HOLD STEADY, TO PLATEAU AT THAT LEVEL IN FISCAL YEAR '25.
THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF FUNDING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND.
DUE TO THE SUSTAINED HIGH INTEREST RATE ENVIRONMENT, AS WELL AS SOME POST-COVID NORMALIZATION, PEOPLE AREN'T AT HOME AS MUCH ANYMORE.
CONSTRUCTION PERMITTING IS EXPECTED TO DECREASE.
WE ARE SEEING A DECREASE ALREADY THIS YEAR.
OUR ESTIMATES FOR YEAR-END ON ALMOST ALL THE PERMITTING IS DOWN FROM WHERE IT WAS BUDGETED, AND WE DO NOT EXPECT THAT TO REALLY COME BACK NEXT YEAR.
THERE'S SOME DECREASE IN REVENUE THERE TO THE GENERAL FUND.
FINALLY, NON-PROPERTY TAX REVENUE, WE ARE PROJECTING IT CONSERVATIVELY.
THE MAYOR AND I HAVE TALKED A LITTLE.
THE PORTS PROJECTING WE'RE GOING TO BE CLOSER TO THREE MILLION, BUT EVEN THE DISRUPTION RELATED TO HURRICANE BERYL, WE DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS OF THAT SORT OF DISRUPTION ON THESE REVENUE STREAMS YET, AND SO WE ARE BEING CONSERVATIVE.
PROPERTY TAX. CERTIFIED TAXABLE VALUE.
AS I MENTIONED, IT IS NOT CERTIFIED YET.
WHEN I RECEIVED THE ESTIMATE, 93% OF THE PROPERTIES WERE CERTIFIED, AND IT REPRESENTED ABOUT 81% OF THE VALUE.
THE ESTIMATED TAXABLE VALUE THAT WE DID RECEIVE IS INCREASED ABOUT 10.9% FROM LAST YEAR'S TAXABLE VALUE.
YOU'LL SEE LAST YEAR'S TAXABLE VALUE WAS 11.7 BILLION OR THIS CURRENT YEAR, AND THIS COMING YEAR RIGHT NOW, THE ESTIMATE IS SHOWING AT 12.9 BILLION.
OF THAT 12.9 BILLION, YOU WERE VERY CLOSE, BRIAN, 1.6% IS THE CONSTRUCTION.
THE OVERALL LOSS AS A RESULT OF PROTEST SINCE THE INITIAL VALUES WERE ESTABLISHED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR IS ABOUT 9.46%, SO WE'VE LOST ABOUT 935 MILLION IN VALUE AS A RESULT OF PROTESTS.
PROPERTY TAX CONSIDERATION. [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER]
>> THE NO NEW REVENUE. TEXAS HAS TRUTH IN TAXATION WHICH YOU'VE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT BEFORE.
IT SETS THE GUARD RAILS FOR HOW WE CALCULATE THE TAX RATE AND HOW WE MEASURE IT TO PREVIOUS YEARS AND AS IT RELATES TO OUR VALUES.
THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE PROVIDES US THE SAME REVENUE FROM THE SAME PROPERTIES YEAR-OVER-YEAR.
THIS IS WHERE THAT NEW VALUE PIECE COMES IN.
ANY NEW VALUE THIS YEAR IS NOT USED TO CALCULATE THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE PROVIDES US THE REQUIRED ANNUAL DEBT OBLIGATION FUNDING.
IT ABSOLUTELY MEETS THAT THROUGH THE DEBT SERVICE RATE, AND THAT DEBT SERVICE RATE THAT IS CALCULATED APPLIES REGARDLESS OF WHAT RATE YOU CHOOSE, AND THEN IT ALLOWS FOR UP TO A 3.5% INCREASE ON THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION SIDE ON THE RATE, AND THIS IS THE CAP THAT THE STATE HAS PUT IN PLACE.
THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE IS TYPICALLY HIGHER THAN THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, AND WHEN IT IS, YOU CANNOT EXCEED THAT VOTER APPROVAL RATE IN YOUR TAX RATE WITHOUT GOING TO THE VOTERS AND HAVING THEM APPROVE THE TAX RATE.
AUGUST 1ST IS THE DEADLINE TO RECEIVE THAT CERTIFIED APPRAISAL RULE TYPICALLY.
THIS MAY NOT BE ACHIEVED DUE TO HURRICANE BERYL, AND AUGUST 8TH IS WHEN WE WILL PRESENT THIS INFORMATION TO COUNCIL FOR REVIEW AND FOR A PROPOSED TAX RATE TO CONSIDER INTO THE COMING.
WE WANTED TO PROVIDE YOU SOME IDEA OF WHAT OUR TAX RATE COMPARISON IS WITH THE COUNTY OR THE CITIES IN GALVESTON COUNTY SPECIFICALLY.
[03:05:05]
YOU'LL SEE THAT FOR FISCAL YEAR '24, WHICH IS TAX YEAR '23, GALVESTON'S TAX RATE WAS SET AT THE 0.408850, AND IT'S RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK.ON THE BAR GRAPH, WHAT YOU CAN NOTE IS THAT WE HAVE A VERY SMALL DEBT SERVICE PIECE COMPARED TO A LOT OF THE COMMUNITIES.
OUR PERCENT OF DEBT SERVICE IS SMALLER THAN A LOT OF THE GALVESTON COUNTY COMMUNITIES.
BUT ONCE AGAIN, RIGHT NOW, OUR TAX RATE RUN RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK.
>> ALSO, KEEP IN MIND, A LOT OF THE COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE NO OR LOW DEBT SERVICE TYPICALLY HAVE MUDS AND OTHER THINGS THAT THEY FINANCE THEIR UTILITIES AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS OUT OF THAT WE DO NOT.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT ABILITY AT ALL. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I THINK WE NEED TO START LOOKING AT AGAIN, ESPECIALLY AS SOME OF THE PARTS OF THE WEST GET INVOLVED.
>> I'M A BIG FAN OF DOING A NON CONTIGUOUS MUD FOR THE WEST-END IN ORDER TO GET THEM THE UTILITIES THAT THEY WANT.
>> WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT THAT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> CAN WE DO THAT DURING A CHARTER REVIEW?
>> I DON'T EVEN KNOW. [OVERLAPPING]
>> NO, IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT NEEDS [INAUDIBLE]. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE STATE NOW ALLOWS A NON-CONTIGUOUS MUD.
BUT YOU CAN MAKE IT CONTIGUOUS.
YOU JUST HAVE PART OF THE VOTERS FOR FISH, [LAUGHTER] BUT IT WORKS THAT WAY, BECAUSE THE ARGUMENTS ALWAYS BEEN IS THAT MAJOR EXPANSIONS OF YOUR SYSTEMS THAT ARE ALREADY THERE BURDEN EXISTING RESIDENTS, AND BY DOING A NON-CONTIGUOUS MUD, YOU CAN DO THESE THINGS AND SPREAD IT OUT OVER 30, 40 YEARS AND IT SERVES. [OVERLAPPING]
>> A LOT OF IT WOULD BE CONTIGUOUS.
BUT THAT IF YOU COULD ALSO BRING IN THE OUTLIERS THAT WOULD BE IDEAL.
THAT'S WHY NOW I'M PUTTING DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE COMING IN, WHICH I THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE AN INCREASE IN NEW PERMITS NUMBER LARGE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I THINK NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT.
>> I'M PUTTING THE BURDEN ON THE DEVELOPER TO PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SERVE SURROUNDING AREAS BECAUSE IT'S IF YOU'RE ASKING FOR THIS, THEN YOU HAVE TO GIVE US THIS.
>> WELL, WE THOSE ARE DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS, WE CAN DO THAT THINGS, BUT THE NON-CONTIGUOUS MUD IDEA TO ME IS A GREAT IDEA.
>> JUST TO FURTHER BUILD ON THAT, MOST RESIDENTS IN GALVESTON ARE ONLY SEEING THIS TAX RATE.
BUT IF YOU'RE IN SANTA FE OR LEAGUE CITY, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT WATER DISTRICT TAX, AND THE MUD TAX, OR AN EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT TAX ON TOP OF THIS, WHERE THE CITY OF GALVESTON. [OVERLAPPING]
>> PIRATES WAS A MUD. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT WE SOLD IT TO THE CITY WHEN? >. WE DIDN'T. THE CITY ANNEXED IT, AND WE DID THAT, PROBABLY IT WAS BEFORE I GOT HERE IN LATE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WELL, BECAUSE WE WERE STILL PAYING THE MUD TAX ANNUALLY UNTIL LIKE '12 OR '14.
>> YEAH. BUT THE OTHER THING TOO IS TO NOTE IS THAT NOT ONLY ARE THEY NOT PAYING A MUD TAX ALL THOSE THINGS HERE, REMEMBER, AND IT'S TIMELY, THEY JUST BENCH-MARKED OUR RATES.
WE BENCHMARK THOSE SAME CITIES, AND THEY'RE PAYING AS MUCH OR MORE IN RATES THAN WE ARE PLUS THEY'RE PAYING A TAX FOR IT.
WE'RE NOT DOING THAT HERE. THE CITIZENS OF GALVESTON ARE GETTING A PRETTY GOOD DEAL, ALTHOUGH MOST WOULD ARGUE EVERYTHING'S TOO EXPENSIVE. I CAN TELL YOU THAT.
>> WELL, ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU'D HAVE TO LOOK AT AND WOULD BE INTRIGUING IF IT'S NOT A DIFFICULT THING TO PULL UP IS WHAT OUR HOUSES ARE VALUED COMPARED TO LIKE LEAGUE CITY.
>> WE HAVE SOME, WE CAN PROVIDE SOME OF THAT INFORMATION.
THAT COMES AS A PART OF THAT CERTIFIED TAX ROLL. [OVERLAPPING]
>> JUST SO COUNCIL HAS SOME IDEA OF WHAT THE TAX RATE HAS DONE, WHAT WE'VE ADOPTED IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.
IN '21, YOU'LL SEE THE TAX RATE WAS ALMOST 56 CENTS IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME IS WHAT THE TOTAL IS ON THAT, AND IT'S PROGRESSIVELY COME DOWN.
THAT'S IMPACTED BY THE VALUES INCREASING.
IT'S A TEETER TOTTER EFFECT, AS THOSE VALUES GO UP, IT AUTOMATICALLY DEPRESSES THAT TAX RATE, AND RIGHT NOW, THE BUDGET THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING IS MAINTAINING THE SAME TAX RATE WE HAVE HAD IN FISCAL YEAR '24.
I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME IDEA THAT EVERYTHING YOU'RE GOING TO SEE HERE FORWARD IS ASSUMING NO CHANGE IN THAT TAX RATE MOVING FORWARD.
A PENNY ON THE TAX RATE IN FISCAL. [OVERLAPPING]
>> JUST I'M SURE I UNDERSTAND.
YOU'RE PROPOSING IN THE BUDGET WHEN YOU BRING THIS TO US FOR '25 THAT THE TAX RATE WILL STAY AT THE 0.40855?
>> YES. WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THE CALCULATIONS COMPLETED YET, AND SO WHAT I'M WORKING WITH RIGHT NOW IS BASED ON THE ESTIMATED VALUE.
>> WE TOOK OFF WITHOUT THE PLANE.
>> WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING. [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING]
[03:10:01]
>> YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING. [OVERLAPPING]
>> RIGHT NOW, I'M WORKING WITH THE EXACT SAME TAX RATE BASED ON THE ESTIMATED VALUES WE HAVE.
THOSE ARE THE NUMBERS THAT ARE BEING PRESENTED TO YOU TODAY.
THE PENNY ON THE TAX RATE BASED ON THAT LOOSELY IS ABOUT $1.4 MILLION.
EACH PENNY IN GALVESTON IN GENERAL FUND. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WHEN I STARTED HERE AT THE CITY, A PENNY WAS LESS THAN $500,000, AND THAT'S BEEN 14 YEARS AGO NOW.
>> YEARS AGO, IT WAS AROUND 600,000.
>> IN THE GENERAL FUND, THERE ARE SOME MAJOR EXPENDITURE ASSUMPTIONS THAT WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND.
THE FIRST IS WE ADOPTED NEW POLICE AND FIRE CBAS, AND THIS BUDGET REFLECTS THE PROGRAM SALARY INCREASES THAT WILL OCCUR DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR BASED ON THOSE NEGOTIATED AGREEMENTS.
>> SPOILER ALERT, NEXT YEAR, BECAUSE I ALWAYS TRY TO THINK GOING FORWARD, NEXT YEAR, WE RESURVEY FOR BOTH OF THEM, AND DEPENDING ON WHAT OUR SURVEY CITIES DO, HOUSTON BEING ONE OF THEM, ESPECIALLY, SOME OF THE STUFF THEY'RE DOING, LOOK FOR THAT NUMBER TO GO UP A WHOLE LOT MORE IF WE'RE GOING TO STAY COMPETITIVE, A WHOLE LOT MORE.
>> ARE YOU TRYING TO GIVE ME A PANIC ATTACK.
>> EMS, AS WE DISCUSSED, THE COUNTY HAS PROVIDED US WITH A BUDGET THAT REQUIRES AN INCREASE IN THE CONTRIBUTION FROM THE CITY.
THE ORIGINAL BUDGET WE SAW WAS ALMOST A MILLION DOLLARS.
THEY HAVE DECREASED THAT TO $747,000 INCREASE FOR FISCAL YEAR '25, AND THIS IS PRIMARILY DRIVEN BY MARKET ADJUSTMENTS TO SALARIES.
>> THEY'VE HAD TO ADJUST SALARIES PARTIALLY BECAUSE OF US.
WE'VE ADJUSTED OURS IN PUBLIC SAFETY AND WE ROB PETER TO PAY PAUL WITH THESE PEOPLE.
YOU START STEALING PEOPLE. IT'S LIKE BUS DRIVERS.
I ALWAYS USED TO JOKE WITH SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT, I'D CALL HIM AND SAY, HA-HA, I'M FIXING GET ALL YOUR BUS DRIVERS AND THEN HE'D GET MINE AND WE JUST GO BACK AND FORTH.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT 12 MONTHS, WE'RE GOING TO BE EXPLORING A LOT OF DIFFERENT LOOKS AT EMS TO SEE IF THERE'S NOT A BETTER WAY LIKE WITH TRASH, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE MAINTAIN THE SAME LEVEL OR AN INCREASED LEVEL OF SERVICE AND WHETHER WE CAN DO IT MORE EFFICIENTLY IN DIFFERENT WAYS OR NOT.
THE COUNTY PROVIDES THIS EXCELLENT SERVICE RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT MAY NOT BE THE END OF ALL LONG TERM.
>> THIS 747 FOR THE EMS, IS THAT SOMEWHAT MANDATED? [OVERLAPPING]
>> YEAH, IF YOU WANT TO, IT'S OUR CONTRACT.
>> EVERY YEAR WE GET THIS NUMBER.
>> BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE.
[LAUGHTER] THAT'S ESSENTIALLY. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE COULD DUAL PURPOSE THOSE GARBAGE TRUCKS.
>> SOUNDS HORRIBLE. I'M SORRY. IT'S RIGHT THERE.
>> HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS ARE ALSO CURRENTLY PROJECTED TO INCREASE ABOUT 9-10%.
WE ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF FINE TUNING THIS, BUT THE BUDGET YOU SEE ACCOUNTS FOR A 10% INCREASE IN HEALTH INSURANCE ACROSS THE BOARD.
FINALLY, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE BUDGET, YOU SEE IS HOLDING THAT TAX RATE STEADY.
THIS RESULTS IN APPROXIMATELY AN ADDITIONAL 4.2 MILLION REVENUE TO THE GENERAL FUND.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY, BUT NOW WE'RE GOING TO GO LOOK AT THE EXPENDITURES. [LAUGHTER]
>> I WANT TO IMPRESS UPON COUNSEL, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT COMING UP IS NOT CHANGING OUR TAX RATE, SO THIS IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT, SO AS WE GO THROUGH THIS, AS WE GET INTO THAT 3.5% CAP AND WHAT WE ARE MANDATED TO BE, WE NEED TO KEEP THAT IN MIND.
I PROBABLY GOING TO BE LESS THAN THAT.
>> MY INITIAL TESTING OF THE SYSTEM BECAUSE I'M PLUGGING THOSE NUMBERS IN AND SEEING WHAT THE SYSTEM SPITS OUT.
THIS CURRENT TAX RATE THAT WE HAVE THIS YEAR IS IN BETWEEN A NO NEW REVENUE AND A VOTER APPROVAL RATE.
IT IS A REASONABLE RATE TO CONSIDER.
IT IS NOT BELOW THE NO NEW REVENUE, BUT IT IS NOT ABOVE THE VOTER.
>> WE ARE NOT LOWERING TAXES, WE'RE STILL INCREASING TAXES DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF THE APPRAISAL.
>> YES. THIS IS A VERY HIGH LEVEL LOOK AT WHAT THE GENERAL FUND SUMMARY IS AS OF TODAY.
YOU'LL SEE THE '23 NUMBERS, THE '24 AMENDED BUDGET, ARE ESTIMATES FOR '24, AND THEN THE '25 BUDGET.
YOU WILL NOTE THAT ON THE REVENUE SIDE, THERE IS THAT INCREASE THAT IS BEING DRIVEN BY THAT TAX RATE INCREASE, AS I MENTIONED ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, 4.2 MILLION.
THAT IS THE ONLY REVENUE SOURCE WE REALLY HAVE CONTROL OVER, IN ORDER TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE EXPENDITURES.
YOU'LL NOTICE THAT ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, WE ARE INCREASING AS WELL IN THE SAME RANGE.
WITH THE TAX RATE AS I CURRENTLY HAVE IT CALCULATED, WE'RE STILL SLIGHTLY BELOW ON THE REVENUES WHERE WE WOULD BE ON EXPENDITURES.
[03:15:02]
THERE'S SOME ADJUSTMENTS. THIS IS SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE MASTER PLAN THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT.THE ENDING FUND BALANCE WITH THE SCENARIO WE'RE PRESENTING RIGHT NOW IS ABOUT 23.8 MILLION DOLLAR, 128 DAYS IS 26.9 MILLION.
WE ARE BELOW THE 120 DAY GOAL, BY ABOUT 3.1 MILLION, AND THIS IS SOMEWHAT DRIVEN BY THE FACT THAT WE'RE GOING TO END THIS YEAR UNDER BY ABOUT $1 MILLION, AND THAT'S LARGELY DRIVEN BY THAT SALES TAX DEFICIT OF $1 MILLION.
>> WOULD A AUDIT OF SALES TAX PROBABLY OVERCOME THAT OR GET CLOSE TO IT?
>> YOU WOULDN'T PICK UP ALL THAT.
>> GLENN'S DOING THAT, ALTHOUGH HE'S FAIRLY DISTRACTED RIGHT NOW DOING MORE PARK PORT STUFF, BUT, YOU COULD OVERCOME SOME OF THAT A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR OF IT, BUT, UNLESS YOU HIT A WALL BOARD OR YOU'RE NOT GOING TO PICK UP $1 MILLION.
>> ALEX ALONG THOSE LINES, GLENN'S GOING TO BE BRINGING HIS AUDIT PLAN TO US, AND HE'S WORKING ON IT RIGHT NOW, BUT I THINK HE'S GOING TO BRING TO US AN AUDIT PLAN THAT WILL TRIPLE THE AMOUNT OF SALES TAX AUDITS THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING.
>> THAT IS TRULY THE VALUE OF YOUR CITY AUDITOR, AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE ALL OF HIS FOCUS SHOULD BE.
WE'VE DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF DISTRACTING HIM FROM HIS CORE MISSION.
BUT THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF A CITY AUDITOR, AND YOU WERE VERY BLESSED TO HAVE ONE OF THE BEST AT SALES TAX AUDIT.
>> IS THAT GOING TO BE A AUGUST 8TH OR THE 22ND MEETING?
>> THAT'S GOING TO BE, I THINK IT'S THE AUGUST 22ND.
>> HE'LL BRING HIS AUDIT PLAN, BUT THE MORE TIME YOU CAN GIVE GLENN ON SALES TAX AUDITS, THE BETTER OFF YOU'RE GOING TO BE.
I THINK AMOUNT THAT HE'S GOING TO RECORD IT.
>> HE'S GOOD. I MARRIED AN ACCOUNT, AND I'LL TELL YOU GLENN IS ONE OF THE BEST AT THAT.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO TALK ABOUT AS WE LOOK AT, IT'S CLEARLY A BIG JUMP IN PROPERTY TAXES, AND I THINK WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S AVAILABLE FOR COUNSEL TO LOOK AT.
ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, YOU'LL SEE THE PIE CHART THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT AT THE FORECASTING PRESENTATION, WHERE WE SEE THAT PROPERTY TAX IS ABOUT 49% OF OUR REVENUE TO THE GENERAL FUND, SALES TAX IS ABOUT 28%, AND THEN YOU HAVE SOME OF THESE OTHER SMALLER REVENUE SOURCES.
OTHER REVENUES INCLUDES THE NEW REVENUE FROM THE PORT, THE LONG-TERM PARKING, AND THE CRUISE PASSENGER FEES.
ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, INSTEAD OF SHOWING YOU BY DEPARTMENT HOW THE GENERAL FUND OPERATES, I WANTED TO SHOW YOU BY EXPENDITURE CATEGORIES.
PERSONNEL SERVICES, WHICH IS THE PEOPLE, IS 69% OF THE BUDGET, SO 70% OF YOUR BUDGET IS BASICALLY LOCKDOWN, UNLESS YOU CHANGE THE BODIES THAT ARE WORKING HERE.
OPERATING TRANSFERS, THEY'RE 9%, EIGHT OF THOSE 9% IS YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEBT SERVICE FUND TRANSFER.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES, A LARGE PART OF THAT IS LOCKDOWN.
THERE ARE CONTRACTS THAT POTENTIALLY COULD BE RENEGOTIATED, WE HAVE OUT CLAUSES IF WE EVER NEED THEM, BUT FOR EXAMPLE, EMS IS IN THAT CONTRACTUAL SERVICES PORTION.
AND SO AS YOU CAN SEE, [LAUGHTER] THERE'S ABOUT 6% THAT IS A LITTLE SQUISHIER, BUT THERE'S JUST VERY LITTLE LOOM FOR CUTTING IN OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO PAY [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE MAJORITY OF YOUR PERSONNEL SERVICES IN TERMS OF DOLLARS IS PUBLIC SAFETY.
>> THAT'S ALL I WAS GOING TO ASK.
>> DO WE HAVE THAT BROKEN DOWN?
>> PERSONNEL IS FIRE POLICE AND CITY STAFF?
>> WELL, GENERAL FUND CITY STAFF.
MOST OF YOUR CITY STAFF, IN TERMS OF CIVILIAN STAFF IS IN THE MUNICIPAL UTILITIES GROUP, OR DRAINAGE GROUP OR ONE OF THE OTHERS, IT'S NOT FUNDED BY GENERAL FUND.
>> WHICH WOULD BE IN WHICH OTHER ONES?
>> THEY'D BE IN THE OTHER FUNDS.
>> WE'LL GET TO THE OTHER FUNDS AFTER THIS.
>> AS FAR AS A GENERAL, THAT 69% WOULD INCLUDE CITY STAFF BROKEN DOWN IN A DIFFERENT CATEGORY.
>> CITY STAFF, CITY MANAGEMENT.
BASICALLY, BUT THE NON-UTILITY GROUPS, WHICH IS WHERE THE MOST OF THE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES ARE IN THE UTILITY GROUPS.
STREETS WOULD BE THE BIGGEST PART OF THAT.
REMEMBER, 8% OF YOUR GENERAL FUND HAS TO BE BROKEN DOWN INTO STREETS BY CHARTER.
>> FOR THE NEWARK COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU'RE GOING TO RECEIVE A DETAILED BUDGET.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS ALREADY ASKED FOR HERS, AND I'M LIKE, "IT'S NOT READY." BUT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ALL THIS DETAIL, AND YOU'RE GOING TO RECEIVE IT FOR THAT AUGUST 8TH MEETING, AND YOU WILL HAVE TIME TO REVIEW IT AND ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE IT'S ADOPTED SEPTEMBER 12TH.
>> WE'LL MAKE STAFF AVAILABLE TO YOU ONE-ON-ONE AS NEEDED TO ANSWER ANY AND ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET ALL YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
[03:20:01]
AN INCREASE IN THAT GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURE AMOUNT, AND SO WE WANTED TO BREAK DOWN THOSE REALLY BIG TICKET ITEMS FOR YOU SO YOU UNDERSTOOD.THE ANNUALIZED PERSONNEL COSTS, WHAT THAT MEANS IS IF ALL THE POSITIONS ARE FILLED FOR THE WHOLE YEAR, THEN THE INCREASE THIS COMING YEAR, BASED ON THAT, WOULD BE A TOTAL OF $3 MILLION.
>> IS THAT THE COLAS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?
>> FOR THE MOST PART. YES. ON POLICE AND FIRE, IT'S THE COLAS, THAT 1.6 MILLION AND THE 657,000 ARE DRIVEN BY, NO, NOT COLAS, THE CBAS.
>> RIGHT. BUT IT'S MUCH MORE THAN THE COLA.
BUT DO YOU HAVE COLAS PROGRAMMED HERE?
>> WE DO NOT HAVE COLAS FOR THE CIVILIANS PROGRAMMED IN HERE AND I HAVE A SLIDE ON IT, JUST FOR YOU, MAYOR.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A SECOND.
THE CIVILIAN INCREASES THAT YOU SEE HERE ARE MAINLY RELATED TO POSITION CHANGES, THAT SORT OF THING.
WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IS WHAT IS IN THE BUDGET CURRENTLY.
IT DOES NOT INCLUDE CIVILIAN COLAS, BUT IT INCLUDES ALL THE CBA NEGOTIATED ITEMS. EMS, THE INCREASE, AS WE DISCUSSED EARLIER IS A 747,000.
WHEN YOU COMBINE THAT WITH THE 1.6 FOR POLICE OR 660,000 FOR FIRE APPROXIMATELY, YOU'VE GOT $3 MILLION IN PUBLIC SAFETY INCREASES, WHICH I THINK EVERYBODY IS VERY PROUD TO HAVE IN OUR BUDGET, BUT IT'S A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THAT $4.2 MILLION THAT YOUR PROPERTY TAX RATE WOULD BE BRINGING YOU IN REVENUE, A LARGE PART OF IT.
THE HEALTH INSURANCE IS 660,000 IN THE GENERAL FUND.
THE IMPACT OF THAT. WE'RE INCREASING SEPARATION PAY.
IN ANTICIPATION OF RETIREMENTS IN THE COMING YEARS, WE HAVE SOME REALLY EXCELLENT LONG TERM EMPLOYEES WITH THE CITY THAT ARE PROBABLY ALREADY BUYING THEIR HOUSES IN THE CARIBBEAN OR SOMETHING.
>> THEY'RE GETTING BASED ON YOUR CITY PENSION THERE?
>> NO. BUT THEY'RE GETTING READY TO RETIRE, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S ENOUGH MONEY IN THAT SEPARATION RETIREMENT TO DO THAT.
YES. EXACTLY. FINALLY, WHENEVER YOU INCREASE REVENUE, IT INCREASES THE TRANSFER TO THAT INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEBT SERVICE FUND, BECAUSE IT'S BASED ON 8% OF THE REVENUE.
YOU ALSO HAVE A LARGE INCREASE GOING TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEBT SERVICE FUND.
>> BASICALLY, I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT IF PUBLIC SAFETY COSTS GO UP, BECAUSE IT'S 8%, SO DOES YOUR STREETS.
I TALKED TO MR. GREENBERG YESTERDAY.
THIS WAS HIS BRAIN JOB AND IT WAS REALLY A GENIUS MOVE ON HIS PART.
BUT IT WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT, BECAUSE HE RECOGNIZED THAT PUBLIC SAFETY COSTS WERE EVENTUALLY GOING TO CONSUME 100% OF EVERYTHING WE DO, AND SO HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE WAS ALWAYS HELD SYNCHRONIC, SO IF THAT GOES UP, SO DO STREETS.
>> THE MAYOR REQUESTED THAT I PUT THIS IN HERE INFORMATIONALLY SPEAKING, BECAUSE WE DID NOT ADD THE CIVILIAN COLA TO THE BUDGET, SINCE IT IS A LARGE INCREASE AS IT IS ALREADY.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE AWARE OF WHAT A 3% COLA FOR CIVILIANS, WITH THE IMPACT OF THAT WOULD BE IN THE GENERAL FUND, AND SO 3% IS ABOUT $545,000 IN THE GENERAL FUND.
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY ADDITIONAL COSTS IN THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS AS WELL.
BUT IN ORDER TO GET THE CIVILIANS UP TO 3%, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. IT'S ABOUT 181,000/%.
>> I'M GOING TO JUST MAKE A COMMENT.
I ASKED SHEILA TO PUT THIS IN HERE THAT SHE MENTIONED.
WE KNOW, OUR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, THEY RELY UPON THIS COST OF LIVING INCREASE.
WE HAVE I KNOW PUBLIC SAFETY AND I'M ALL FOR THAT AND THEIR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.
HOW MUCH IS THEIR SALARIES GOING UP PERCENTAGE-WISE?
>> $3 MILLION TOTAL IN THIS YEAR.
>> I HAVE TO LOOK AT THE ACTUAL CBAS.
>> WHAT I'M GETTING AT, WE REALLY NEED TO INCLUDE IN THIS BUDGET COST OF LIVING INCREASE FOR OUR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES.
TO BE HONEST, THEY SOMETIMES GET SHORT CHANGE WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE AND I'M GOING TO BE PUSHING FOR MAYBE A 4% COLA IN THIS BUDGET. I THINK SO.
>> QUESTION. SHEILA, EXPLAIN TO ME, IF THIS IS A 3% COLA IN THE GENERAL FUND, THAT IS JUST IMPACTING THE PERSONNEL SERVICES THAT ARE INCLUDED THERE,.
>> THIS IS NOT THIS DOESN'T IMPACT ALL THE OTHER CIVILIANS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE OTHER FUNDS.
>> WELL, NO, IF WE DID A 3% COLA, IT WOULD BE ACROSS THE BOARD, SO ALL OF THEM.
>> IF YOU LOOKED AT YOUR RATE STUDIES, THEY ANTICIPATED THAT IN YOUR RATE STUDIES.
>> SIR, BUT MY QUESTION IS, IS THIS 545,000 AN INCREASE IN THE GENERAL FUND?
>> THIS IS THE PART THAT IMPACTS THE GENERAL FUND.
BECAUSE IT'S PROPERTY TAX RELATED, WE PULL IT OUT SEPARATELY FOR COUNCIL TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION.
[03:25:02]
BUT IF THE CIVILIANS GET IT, THEY GET IT ACROSS THE BOARD AND ALL THAT.>> EVERYBODY'S HURTING. GETTING GAS, GROCERIES, I THINK, FIGURING OUT HOW WE DO IT, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT NUMBER ABOVE THREE OR 4%.
>> I WOULD, TOO. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND SHEILA PROGRAMMING WHAT 4% WOULD BE ON THIS.
>> SINCE PERCENT WOULD BE WHAT AT 1.1. JUST SHY OF?
>> MAYOR, WOULD WE PROPOSE THE SAME? OBVIOUSLY WE PROPOSE THE SAME COLA FOR ALL THE OTHER STAFF AS WELL, AND THE DIFFERENT FUNDS AS WELL.
>> YES. THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT.
>> THE CAPITAL OUTLAY RELATED TO GENERAL REVENUE SOURCES IS THE CONTINUED $1 MILLION IN THE GENERAL FUND, AS HAS BEEN IN PREVIOUS YEARS FOR FLEET-RELATED ITEMS. THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL 1.7 MILLION IN FLEET THAT IS BEING FUNDED OUT OF THE COMBINED UTILITY.
INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEBT SERVICE FUND.
THE CAPITAL OUTLAY PROGRAMMING IS ABOUT 8.2 MILLION.
THAT'S HIGHER THAN WHAT THE ANNUAL TRANSFER IS, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE WE'RE SPENDING DOWN SOME FUND BALANCE THERE, IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THESE PROJECTS, AND SOME OF THEM ARE CARRYOVERS FROM CURRENT YEAR.
[NOISE] IN YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEBT SERVICE FUND, THE ITEMS THAT WE HAVE PROGRAMMED ARE FIRE APPARATUS, A REPLACEMENT TOWER TRUCK THAT WAS ORDERED THIS YEAR, AND WE WILL HOPEFULLY RECEIVE IT NEXT YEAR, WE'LL SEE.
>> THAT ONE MAY GET CARRIED OVER EVEN ANOTHER YEAR.
JUST KEEP IN MIND IN THE INTERIM WHILE WE'RE WAITING ON THIS, I'VE PROBABLY GOT ANOTHER PUMPER THAT'S COMING UP THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING TO YOU ABOUT NEXT YEAR.
THE PUMPERS NOW ARE GETTING CLOSE TO $1 MILLION A PIECE.
>> THE CONSTRUCTION CONTINGENCY THAT YOU'VE INCLUDED HERE, IS THAT FOR CONTINGENCY BASED UPON EFFORTS THAT ARE PROVIDED BY STAFF? IN OTHER WORDS, I MEAN, BECAUSE EVERY PROJECT THAT YOU CONTRACT OUT FOR IS GOING TO HAVE CONSTRUCTION CONTINGENCY?
>> IS THIS JUST STUFF IF YOU'RE SELF PERFORMING?
>> YOU HAVE THE 1.8 MILLION FOR THE STREETS, THE MILL AND OVERLAY.
THAT'S AN ONGOING PROJECT IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEBT SERVICE FUND.
THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT ENGINEERING RELATED TO IN IN-HOUSE STREETS AS WELL AS THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL PROJECTS THAT WE'RE DOING.
THERE ARE TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT GRANT ITEMS AS WELL AS ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION AND INFRASTRUCTURE ITEMS. THERE'S A STORAGE TANK AT THE GARAGE THAT IS LOOKING FOR REPLACEMENT, AND THERE'S A TRANSFER TO THE TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENT FUND.
THESE ARE THE ITEMS THAT ARE CURRENTLY PROGRAMMED FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEBT SERVICE FUND.
>> THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEBT SERVICE, IT'S 8% OF WHAT NUMBER?
>> THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE NUMBER?
>> THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE NUMBER.
>> NOT THE EXPENDITURE NUMBER, BUT THE REVENUE NUMBER.
>> WE'RE GOING TO SHIFT GEARS NOW IF YOU'RE READY TO MOVE ON FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE [OVERLAPPING]
>> DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE GENERAL FUND? [NOISE] WE CAN ALWAYS COME BACK TO HIM.
>> WE CAN'T. IT'S JUST SOMETIMES EASIER TO [OVERLAPPING]
>> FOUR OR FIVE MORE MEETINGS.
>> ON THE WATER SEWER-SIDE, THE AMI METER INSTALLATION PROJECT IS IN ITS FINAL PHASES.
AS YOU HEARD TODAY, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF THAT MASTERPLAN.
IT IS ON TRACK FOR COMPLETION IN EARLY 2025 AND THIS [OVERLAPPING]
>> WHAT PERCENT DO WE HAVE RIGHT NOW?
>> I WAS REALLY CLOSE. I THINK WE HAVE 1,000-1,500 METERS LESS FOR INSTALL.
SOMEWHERE IN THAT RANGE. THERE'S A LOT OF CLEANUP WORK AS FAR AS METER BOXES AND THINGS LIKE THAT [INAUDIBLE] METERS WERE REALLY CLOSE.
>> HOW MUCH OF THAT WAS CONVEYED TO THE CONSUMER? IS THAT A GRANT THAT TOOK CARE OF MOST OF ALL THAT?
>> HOW MANY METERS DO WE HAVE?
>> AS YOU HEARD IN THE PRESENTATION THIS MORNING, CURRENT REVENUE IS INSUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN OPERATIONS OF THE COMBINED UTILITY AT THE CURRENT SERVICE LEVELS OVER TIME.
THE SEWER SIDE REVENUE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL SUSTAINABLY FUND THOSE CURRENT OPERATIONS, ESPECIALLY ON THE SEWER SIDE.
AS YOU HEARD, ANY FUTURE ADJUSTMENTS WOULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE DRIVEN BY THAT MASTER PLAN.
[03:30:01]
THE ONE THING I DIDN'T HEAR THIS MORNING IN THOSE PRESENTATIONS WAS, OUR PLAN IS TO BRING THOSE RATES TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL IN AUGUST.AT THE AUGUST 22ND MEETING, THE REPORTS THAT CAME OUT OF BOTH OF THOSE PRESENTATIONS YOU SAW THIS MORNING WILL COME BEFORE COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
THOSE RATES THAT WERE PROPOSED WILL BE SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL WILL DISCUSS.
>> TO BE WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN OCTOBER.
>> TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN OCTOBER.
THAT WILL BE ON YOUR AUGUST 22ND AGENDA, HOPEFULLY.
ADDITIONALLY, AS YOU HEARD, MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES, TECHNOLOGY, GARAGE AND INSURANCE COSTS ALL IMPACT ALL THE FUNDS.
>> DOES YOUR BUDGET CALCULATIONS, I'M ASSUMING THAT THEY DON'T TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT RATE INCREASE.
>> THEY DO NOT YET. THAT WAS CORRECT.
OUR PLAN IS THAT IF EVERYTHING IS APPROVED IN AUGUST, THAT YOUR SEPTEMBER BUDGET THAT YOU APPROVE ON THE 12TH WILL INCLUDE REVENUE PROJECTIONS RELATED TO THOSE RATE INCREASES IN BOTH SANITATION AND WATER SEWER.
>> I GUESS THE ONE THING I'M LOOKING FOR IS THAT FOR THOSE RATE INCREASES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE ANTICIPATED ADDITIONAL REVENUE IS BASED UPON THOSE RATE INCREASES BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT HOW WE SET OUR TAX RATE.
>> ABSOLUTELY. WELL, IT SHOULDN'T TAX RATE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT MOVING MONEY BETWEEN THE ENTERPRISE [OVERLAPPING] AND THE GENERAL FUND.
>> BUT IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
WHEN YOU'RE SETTING THAT RATE, YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW THAT REVENUE STREAM IS GOING TO CHANGE AND WHETHER HOW THAT RELATES TO YOUR EXPENDITURES.
THE REPORTS THAT BOTH GROUPS ARE PROVIDING TO COUNCIL BECAUSE THERE'S ACTUALLY REPORTS, NOT JUST A POWERPOINT, WILL CONTAIN ALL OF THOSE REVENUE PROJECTIONS, I BELIEVE.
THE REVENUE YOU'LL SEE IN THAT FAR RIGHT COLUMN ON FY 2025 BUDGET.
YOU'LL SEE THE TOTAL REVENUES AT 45.7 MILLION, TOTAL EXPENSES AT 35.8.
THERE'S ABOUT A 10 MILLION DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT REVENUES ARE OVER EXPENDITURES.
HOWEVER, YOUR DEBT SERVICE COSTS ARE THAT 10 POINT ALMOST SIX MILLION, AND SO YOUR DEBT SERVICE IS BEING FUNDED OUT OF RATE REVENUE AS WELL AS FUND BALANCE.
THIS IS WHERE WE START DRAWING DOWN THAT FUND BALANCE EVERY YEAR.
THE CAPITAL OUTLAY, WHICH IS AN OBVIOUS PART OF YOUR OPERATIONS AS WELL IS 2.5 MILLION DOLLAR THIS YEAR.
YOU'RE FURTHER DRAWING DOWN YOUR FUND BALANCE.
IT'S ABOUT THREE MILLION DOLLAR DRAWDOWN AS THE WAY THE BUDGET IS SET UP CURRENTLY.
THIS RESULTS IN A FUND BALANCE OF JUST OVER 96 DAYS.
THE ENDING FUND BALANCE AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS IS PROJECTED AT 12 MILLION DOLLAR.
>> SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, THERE'S BEEN MANY YEARS THAT WE WERE NOT EVEN AT 90, 90 IS OUR CHARTER REQUIREMENT.
WE BY POLICY, TRIED TO DO 120 DAYS IN THE GENERAL FUND.
WE'D LIKE TO DO THAT ACROSS THE OTHER FUNDS IF WE COULD, BUT LESS CRITICAL IN THESE FUNDS THAN IT IS IN THE GENERAL FUND.
>> THE LAST YEAR'S BUDGET AND THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, THEY'RE PROGRAMMED TO FUND ALL OF OUR FUND BALANCES TO 120 DAYS, AREN'T THEY?
>> WHICH ONE IS NOT? I KNOW THE GENERAL FUND IS.
>> I THINK WE'RE PROJECTING A SLIGHT DEFICIT IN THAT WE'RE GOING TO DROP A LITTLE BIT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] NO. I'M TALKING ABOUT IN '23, THE BUDGETS IN '24.
>> WE WERE AT 120 DAYS GOING INTO '24.
>> HOWEVER, WE'RE NOT FINISHING THAT WAY BECAUSE OF THAT SALES TAX.
>> WE TOOK A BIG HIT ON SALES TAX ISSUE AND PROBABLY MORE AS WE NOW KNOW.
>> '23, I THINK WE WERE FUNDING ALL OF OUR FUND BALANCES COMPLETELY AS SEEN.
>> THE 90-DAY OR THE 120-DAY, IS THAT A COUNCIL POLICY THAT WE MADE OR IS THAT [OVERLAPPING]
>> [OVERLAPPING] THE 90 DAYS IS CHARTERED BUT WAS THAT UNDER 20, IS THAT NEW THING OR [OVERLAPPING]
>> [OVERLAPPING] IT WAS JUST A COUNCIL POLICY.
>> YEAH, COUNCIL WEIGHED IN ON A POLICY.
>> WHAT I WOULD ADD TO THAT DISCUSSION IS RIGHT NOW IS WE'RE SPENDING ALL THE RATIFICATION ITEMS THAT ARE ON THIS AGENDA 4 IN RESPONSE TO HURRICANE BARREL.
THE CITY IS FUNDING THOSE OUT OF CURRENT OPERATIONS.
AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, WE ARE GOING TO REACH OUT TO FEMA, AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND RECOUP GET REIMBURSEMENT ON AS MUCH AS THAT AS POSSIBLE.
HOWEVER, NONE OF THAT REIMBURSEMENT IS GUARANTEED.
FIRST THING, AND SECOND THING.
WE'RE STILL TRYING TO CLOSE OUT.
IT COULD BE 15 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.
HOPEFULLY NOT, BUT THERE IS A BIG GAP FROM THE MOMENT WE PAY UNTIL WE RECOUP THAT MONEY.
>> WE DON'T RECOVER 100 PERCENT, WE RECOVER 75 PERCENT, AND THEN DEPENDING ON THE DISASTER CLICKS UP, IT COULD BE AS MUCH AS 90 PERCENT, BUT WE HAVEN'T HIT THAT THRESHOLD YET.
>> WHY THIS FUND BALANCE IS IMPORTANT IS IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT FUND BALANCE, YOU DO NOT HAVE FUNDS FROM WHICH TO PAY.
YOU'RE WAITING FOR THAT FEMA REIMBURSEMENT.
THAT ESPECIALLY HERE IN GALVESTON, I THINK IT'S SIGNIFICANT TO KEEP OUR EYES ON THAT.
>> JUST AS A DEVIL'S ADVOCATE,
[03:35:01]
IF WE WERE TO UTILIZE AND COUNCIL DECIDED IT WAS PRUDENT TO DO SO, THE I GUESS 3.3-ISH AND NOT BREAK THE 90-DAY RESERVE.HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE TO BUILD UP BACK TO UNDER 120 DAY RESERVE?
>> IT ALL DEPENDS ON YOUR SALES TAX PERFORMANCE.
>> WAIT, ARE WE TALKING GENERAL FUND OR WATER SEWER FUND?
>> YES. IN THE GENERAL FUND, I THINK [OVERLAPPING]
>> I HATE DIPPING IN. THAT'S THE [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT'S THE RED FLAG IN THE ROOM, AND NORMALLY [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOU'RE ON THE WATER SEWER SIDE, YOU'LL SEE WE'RE USING 2.5 MILLION FOR CAPITAL OUTLAY.
NORMALLY, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DRAW DOWN THE OUT FUND BALANCE, IT'S FOR ONE TIME ITEMS OR CAPITAL ITEMS. IN THE GENERAL FUND, YOU HAVE THREE MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF ONGOING OPERATIONAL COSTS RELATED TO PERSONNEL.
TO FUND THOSE OUT OF FUND BALANCE, WHICH IS A ONE TIME REVENUE SOURCE IS A VERY SLIPPERY SLOPE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT REVENUE EACH YEAR GOING FORWARD TO PAY THOSE PERSONNEL COSTS.
THE ONLY WAY I WOULD RECOMMEND DRAWING DOWN FUND BALANCE FOR SOME DEFICIT LIKE THAT IS FOR ONE TIME COSTS WHERE YOU DON'T KNOW THAT INTO PERPETUITY, YOU'RE GOING TO BE PAID.
>> I'M GOING TO ALSO CAUTION YOU THAT YOUR PUBLIC SAFETY COSTS, PRIMARILY POLICE AND FIRE ARE GOING TO GO UP A BUNCH NEXT YEAR.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE TO KEEP ALL THE POLITICS OUT OF IT IS WE HAVE TIED THEM TO CERTAIN CITIES THAT WE COMPETE AGAINST.
THOSE CITIES MOVE, WE MOVE, AND SO THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE AND THEY'RE GOING TO GO UP A BUNCH. WE ALREADY SEEING THAT.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP OUR GUYS COMPETITIVE.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP THEM WELL PAID.
BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT THAT WE PLAN FOR THAT BECAUSE I'M CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO BE THE ONE THAT GOES BACK AND RENEGS ON OUR AGREEMENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THESE OTHER CITIES. I THINK IT'S A LOT OF WORK.
>> ALEX BACK TO YOUR QUESTION ON THAT.
HOW LONG IF WE WENT TO 90 DAYS? IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO TELL AND DEPENDS ON OUR REVENUE STREAMS. IT DEPENDS ON WHAT OUR TAX RATE IS AND WHAT WE SET FOR THIS YEAR BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, ONCE THAT TAX RATE IS SET, IT'S A BENCHMARK FOR THE NEXT YEAR THAT DRIVES [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE TRY TO ALIGN THE MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITIZED STABLE THINGS WITH PROPERTY TAX, AND YOU USE SALES TAX FOR THE NEXT LEVEL, AND THEN YOU GO ON DOWN WITH YOUR OTHER FEES.
THAT'S WHY WHEN YOU'LL HEAR ME TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, I THINK IS OUR NUMBER 1 THING.
NOBODY IS GOING TO DIE IF WE DON'T PAVE A STREET.
YOU MIGHT CHIP YOUR TEETH AND RUIN YOUR CAR, BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DIE.
BUT IF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY IS NETWORK AND THOSE ARE LIFE SAFETY ISSUES THAT WE'VE GOT TO ENTERTAIN.
I TEND TO ALIGN THOSE MORE WITH PROPERTY TAX.
THEY ALREADY COST US WAY MORE THAN WE COLLECT IN PROPERTY TAX.
YOU'RE ALREADY WELL IN 50, 60 PERCENT OF YOUR SALES TAX ON THAT.
WHEN SALES TAX UNDERPERFORMS, YOU HAVE A VERY THIN MARGIN WITH WHICH TO GO AFTER YOUR GENERAL FUND OPERATIONS TO ACTUALLY RECOUP THAT MONEY.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT WHEN SALES TAX IS DOWN, WE CAN ADJUST SOME, YOU'VE MADE BIG COMMITMENTS OF THAT MONEY ALREADY.
THAT'S WHY I'M A BIG PROPONENT OF TRYING TO STABILIZE THE OTHER REVENUE SOURCES, WHICH I'VE TALKED TO SOME OF YOU ABOUT IN THE FUTURE.
>> NO. I'M TALKING ABOUT HOW LIKE YOUR OTHER REVENUES, A BIG CHUNK IS WHAT YOU GET FROM THE PORT.
I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE A MORE STABLE WAY THAN US SITTING OUT HERE COUNT CARS, AND SO I THINK THAT'S GETTING ON THE HOKEY SIDE OF THINGS.
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RECOUPING SOME OF THE MONEY LIKE THROUGH FM.
LATER ON, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE DCMC.
IS THAT PART OF WHAT WE WERE HIRING THEM FOR TO [OVERLAPPING]
>> NO. WE ACTUALLY HIRED THEM TO DO THE INITIAL ASSESSMENTS FOR US RIGHT AFTER THE STORM, AND THEY WORKED WITH OUR CONTRACTOR.
THERE'S A LOT OF INITIALS HERE, DRC, AND THEN DCMC, AND THEY'RE THE ONES THAT TOLD US THAT BASICALLY SELF PERFORM YOUR DEBRIS, YOU'LL GET AHEAD THAT WAY AND DO IT THOSE THINGS.
THEY WERE THE CONSULTANT WE BROUGHT IN IMMEDIATELY AFTER.
WE HAVE A PREPOSITION CONTRACT.
WE SPENT IT DOWN, THIS IS TO BRING IT BACK UP AGAIN FOR FUTURE DISASTERS.
>> WE ALSO HAVE ESTABLISHED CREDIT LINES THAT COVER THE INITIAL OUTLAY, SO DOES [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE HAVE A $50 MILLION EMERGENCY LINE OF CREDIT.
BUT KEEP IN MIND, THAT WE CAN DRAW DOWN ON THAT, BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THAT UNLESS YOU KNOW YOU'VE GOT DEDICATED MONEY COMING BACK IN TO PAY IT OFF.
TYPICALLY WE USE THAT FOR BIG DEBRIS THINGS.
WE WOULDN'T ACTIVATE IT FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS, WE CAN COVER THIS OURSELVES.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT EVEN IC, WHICH IS NOW 18 YEARS AGO, OR WHATEVER IT IS, 16 YEARS AGO, WAS 72, 76 MILLION DOLLARS.
[03:40:02]
WE WEREN'T GOING TO COVER THAT OUT OF OUR LITTLE SANITATION BUDGET OR ANYTHING ELSE.THAT'S WHEN YOU ACTIVATE THESE TYPE THINGS.
OF COURSE, IC, WE WERE I THINK AT THAT TIME, THE CITY ONLY HAD A FIVE MILLION DOLLAR LINE OF CREDIT, AND THEY'D SUCK UP THE FIVE, THEY GET THE FEE MONEY THEY PAY IT OFF, THEY SUCK UP ANOTHER FIVE.
THAT'S HOW WE WERE DOING THAT THEN.
>> I GUESS IT WAS MORE OF GETTING THE JUMP ON MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE AHEAD OF THE GAME AS FAR AS TO RECOUP THE CONTROL.
WE'RE TESTING ONE OF THE BEST.
>> WE HAVE A WHOLE [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE LEARNED OUR LESSON ON THAT AFTER IC HERE.
>> ON THE WATER SIDE, TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE OVERVIEW OF THE PLAN CIP.
THERE'S ABOUT $60 MILLION IN THE WATER CIP, 24 MILLION OF THAT IS BEING FUNDED OUT OF EXISTING CITY BONDS AND FUNDS, AND 35 MILLION IS BEING FUNDED FROM FEDERAL GRANTS AND EARMARKS.
YOU'LL SEE THE BIG PROJECTS, AND THERE ARE SOME LITTLE PROJECTS IN ALL OF THESE CIPS.
I TRIED TO STICK TO THINGS THAT WERE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.
YOU HAVE THE 30 INCH CAUSEWAY WATER LINE.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, THERE ARE GENTLEMEN IN THE AUDIENCE WHO CAN HELP ANSWER SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS, BUT THE 59TH STREET PUMP STATION WATER STORAGE TANK AT 18.4 MILLION.
THE MASTER PLAN WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE SO FAR HAS ALREADY RESULTED IN SOME REALLY GREAT THINGS FOR THE SYSTEM.
FOR EXAMPLE, THIS 10 MILE ROAD ELEVATED STORAGE TANK.
LAST YEAR, THIS WAS IN YOUR CIP FOR OVER 10 MILLION DOLLARS, I BELIEVE.
IN THE DATA ANALYSIS THEY'VE BEEN DOING, THEY REALIZED THEY DIDN'T NEED THIS.
THEY ONLY NEED TO DO ABOUT 2.8 MILLION DOLLAR WORTH OF WORK, AND THE REMAINDER OF 38 MILLION HAS BEEN REALOCATED TO OTHER PROJECTS.
I BELIEVE DEL SOLA IS ONE OF THE ONES BENEFITING.
BUT SO ALREADY THAT MASTER PLANNING PROCESS HAS ALLOWED US TO SPREAD THE MONEY WE HAVE TO VARIOUS NEEDED AREAS IN THE CITY, AND WE'RE VERY CONFIDENT THAT THE OVERALL MASTER PLAN WILL HAVE [OVERLAPPING]
>> LET ME BRAG ON THAT STEP JUST A LITTLE BIT.
THIS IS NOTHING AGAINST THE FOLKS THAT USED TO WORK HERE, BUT WE WERE NOT OPTIMIZING THE USE OF OUR PUMP STATIONS AND THINGS CORRECTLY.
THIS PAST SUMMER WAS ONE OF THE FIRST SUMMERS AND TRUST ME, IT DID NOT COME WITHOUT GRAY HAIR AND A LOT OF NAIL PING, BUT WE GOT THAT WEST END FINE TUNED BALANCED.
WE GOT GOOD PRESSURE ALL THE WAY TO THE TIPS.
WE WERE RUNNING MULTIPLE PUMP STATIONS AT ONCE. WE USED TO NOT DO THAT.
WE USED TO ONLY RUN ONE OF THE OTHER AND THAT CAUSED ALL KINDS OF BLIPS AND PROBLEMS AND KEEPING THESE TANKS OPERATIONAL, WE'VE GOT A REALLY GOOD OPERATIONAL PLAN, THANKS TO TRINA AND ROB AND BRANDON'S GROUP.
IT'S GOOD STUFF TO ME. IT'S PROBABLY BORING YOU ALL, BUT THIS IS REALLY COOL.
>> YOU GOT OUT HERE UTV WATER STORAGE TANK.
IS THAT MAINTENANCE OR WHAT IS THAT?
>> MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADING THE SYSTEMS ON IT?
>> YEAH. BECAUSE I'VE NOTICED FOR MAYBE 10 MONTHS NOW THERE'S BEEN ATTENTION STRUT JUST HANGING.
THE OTHER THING TOO IS THAT WE'RE DOING IS THAT WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE PUTTING SOME ADDITIONAL INLINE CHLORINATION AT THAT ONE JUST TO KEEP THE CHLORINE LEVELS BECAUSE IT GOES THROUGH THAT HOSPITAL SYSTEM AND PUMPS UP SO MUCH, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE KEEPING [NOISE] ADEQUATE.
AM I SPEAKING OUT OF SCHOOL ON THAT?
>> SOMETIMES I LISTEN. [LAUGHTER]
>> ON THE SEWER SIDE, THE CIP IS PROGRAMMED AT ABOUT ALMOST 36 MILLION DOLLARS, 28 OF THAT IS COMING FROM EXISTING CITY BONDS AND FUNDS, AND 4.4 MILLION IS COMING FROM FEDERAL GRANTS.
YOU'LL SEE THIS INCLUDES THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE PIRATES BEACH WATER TREATMENT PLANT.
THIS BELT PRESS PROJECT IS A NEW ONE THAT WE'VE ADDED THIS YEAR.
THERE'S LIFT STATION AND ELECTRICAL IMPROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT AS WELL AS SANITARY SEWER REHAB AND REPAIR PROGRAMS. OVERALL, THE CIP IS SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU'VE SEEN IN THE PAST, AND SOME OF THESE ARE CARRYOVERS FROM WHERE WE'VE STARTED ENGINEERING, AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING SOME CONSTRUCTION.
THIS IS VERY ROUGH BECAUSE WE ARE STILL WORKING ON THE NUMBERS AND [OVERLAPPING]
>> CAN I GO BACK TO THE SEWER? THE 61ST STREET FLYOVER, I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS CHANGED AT THE CATEGORY AT HDAC AND THAT COST IS BEING PICKED UP 100 PERCENT.
>> THAT HAS NOT TRICKLED DOWN TO US YET.
>> BECAUSE I'VE SEEN IT AND IT WAS [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT'S ACTUALLY THE CITY'S WATER AND SEWER THAT NEED TO BE RELOCATED AS PART OF IT.
>> WE HAVE ASKED IN THE PAST FOR TEXTO TO ASSIST WITH THOSE CASTS.
>> EVEN IF THEY TELL YOU AS WE KNOW FROM THE TRUTH [LAUGHTER] IT DOESN'T QUITE HAPPEN.
>> AS I SAID, THE SANITATION FUND IS IN ROUGH SHAPE RIGHT NOW AND WE'RE STILL WORKING OUT THESE DETAILS BY THE TIME YOU GET YOUR BUDGET NEXT WEEK, SOME OF THIS WILL BE ADJUSTED A LITTLE.
BUT AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, ANY FEE CHANGES THAT ARE ADOPTED IN AUGUST WILL BE INCORPORATED.
[03:45:02]
WHAT YOU'LL SEE HERE IN THAT ENDING FUND BALANCE IS THAT RIGHT NOW THE WAYS BUDGETED, THE ENDING FUND BALANCE IS SCHEDULED TO GO DOWN TO 925,000, WHICH IS WELL BELOW THE 90 DAY RESERVE.THIS SHOULD CONCERN EVERYBODY A LITTLE AND WHEN THAT PRESENTATION COMES THROUGH, TERRY DID A GREAT PRESENTATION, I THINK TODAY ON HOW THAT SANITATION FUND RATE STRUCTURE SHOULD LOOK, I THINK.
>> WE ARE IN TERMS OF THE SANITATION WORLD, WE'RE A SMALL CITY TO BE OPERATING A SANITATION DEPARTMENT. I'M JUST TELLING YOU THAT.
THE NAIL THAT HE HIT DEAD ON IS THE FACT THAT NOT ONLY WE'RE A SMALL CITY TO DO IT, WE'RE A SMALL CITY THAT'S 32 MILES LONG AND TWO MILES WIDE.
TRANSPORTATION THAT GEOGRAPHICALLY IS IN THE MIDDLE, BUT STILL A HELL OF A LONG WAY.
THAT'S WHAT'S KILLING US WITH WEST END DEBRIS RIGHT NOW IS TRUCKING IT FROM THE WEST END, WE LOSE SO MUCH TIME.
>> WE'RE NOT HALFWAY BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAD ISSUES AT THEIR PRIMARY HOME ARE JUST COMING IN.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT. WEST THEY'LL BE THE LATER PEOPLE COMING ONLINE FOR DEBRIS PICK UP, NOT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LATE PICKING IT UP, BUT WE UNDERSTAND THERE'LL BE MORE LATE DEBRIS COMING FROM THAT.
ACTUALLY, I'VE SEEN AT LEAST TWO INCIDENTS WHERE PORCHES HAVE FALLEN OFF AND WHATNOT, FROM JUST THE WEATHER THAT.
>> I CAN TELL YOU FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE SENT ME VIDEOS THANKING ME TODAY, OUR TRUCKS ARE WORKING OUT IN THIS WEATHER TODAY, SO WE HAVE NOT STOPPED.
>> MOVING ON TO THE STREET CIP OVERVIEW, THERE'S ABOUT $12.1 MILLION PROGRAM FOR STREET CIP.
THERE'S MULTIPLE FUNDING SOURCES THAT WE'RE UTILIZING FOR THIS.
ABOUT 2.5 MILLION IS FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEBT SERVICE FUND.
THAT'S YOUR MILLEN OVERLAY AND SOME ADDITIONAL SMALLER PROJECTS.
YOU HAVE 2.7 MILLION COMING FROM EXISTING BOND FUNDS, 1.1 MILLION COMING FROM BEACH USER FEES, 1.8 MILLION COMING FROM THE IDC, 400,000 COMING FROM TEXT AND ADDITIONAL 3.6 COMING FROM OTHER GRANT OPPORTUNITIES.
THESE PROJECTS ALSO SHOULD SOUND PRETTY FAMILIAR AT THIS POINT.
THERE'S A 37TH STREET PROJECT THAT WILL ULTIMATELY, THERE'S TWO PHASES, BUT IT WILL GO FROM BROADWAY TO SEE WHILE THAT'S 11.9 MILLION DOLLAR.
THERE'S THE STREETS MILLEN OVERLAY, WHICH IS WHAT'S FUNDED OUT OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEBT SERVICE.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY WHEN HE MENTIONED THE STREET WOULDN'T KILL YOU, BUT PERHAPS 36.
>> THIRTY-SEVEN WAS DAMN CLOSE.
DAN SAYING MIGHT DROWN ON IT TODAY.
>> THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF WORK BEING DONE BOTH TO PROCURE SOME GRANTS AND ALSO TO DO SOME WORK RELATED TO TRAFFIC SIGNALING AND SAFETY AND PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS ON SEAWALL AND THAT THING.
THERE SHOULD BE SOME SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS IN THOSE AREAS THAT ARE BEING FUNDED THROUGH THESE PROJECTS.
>> SIGNALS HAVE GOTTEN VERY COMPLEX AND VERY DIGITALLY ORIENTED, AND THAT JUST DOES NOT CORRESPOND WELL WITH OUR CLIMATE.
OUR SIGNALS ARE OUR GUYS DO A GREAT JOB OF KEEPING THOSE DM SIGNALS OPERATING.
>> YOUR DRAINAGE CIP OVERVIEW, THIS IS A REALLY BIG ONE.
WE'VE GOT A LOT GOING ON IN DRAINAGE RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE $130 MILLION PROGRAMMED IN DRAINAGE PROJECTS.
NOT ALL OF THAT'S GOING TO BE COMPLETED THIS YEAR, BUT WE'RE CERTAINLY WORKING TOWARDS THE COMPLETION OF ALL OF THESE PROJECTS.
THERE'S 9.8 MILLION COMING FROM CITY FUNDS AND 120 MILLION COMING FROM GRANT FUNDS.
A LOT OF THAT IS COMING FROM THE FEDERAL SIDE AS WELL AS GLO, THAT SORT OF THING.
THE BIG PROJECTS, AS YOU ALL ARE AWARE, ARE THE SOUTH SHORE DRIVE, STORM SEWER PUMP STATION AND THE 14TH STREET PUMP STATION.
THERE'S ALSO DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS PLANNED FOR 18TH STREET, AND THESE 37TH STREET ITEMS ARE IN COORDINATION WITH THE PAVING.
JUST GENERAL DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT.
THIS IS PARTLY THE DIP, I BELIEVE.
>> YEAH, AND THEN SOME DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS AT ROCA BEACH AND GOLF PLAIN.
>> THAT WAS A BIG ONE BECAUSE WE'RE MANUALLY PUMPING THAT ONE.
>> THIS IS OUTSIDE OF WHERE WE'RE AT, BUT WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE'VE ACTUALLY DONE NOT REALLY A STUDY, BUT, YOU KNOW, A PRETTY GOOD CAMERA SURVEY, LIKE, BUDGETED CAMERA SURVEY OF OUR DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
>> WE'RE DOING IT EVERY DAY, SO REALLY.
ACTUALLY, WAS WAS LAST YEAR WHEN WE FIRST.
>> GOT A DEDICATED CAMERA FOR DRAG, YES.
EVERY TIME WE GET AN ISSUE, WE'RE GOING IN THERE.
>> HARD LAST TIME YOU REPORTED, I THOUGHT YOU SAID YOU HAD LIKE 15% OF THEM DONE-
>> YEAH. WE'RE TRUCKING ALONG WITH IT.
>> I WILL SAY FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CALLING, EVERY DITCH IN THE COUNTY IS FULL OF WATER RIGHT NOW.
IF IT CONTINUES TO RAIN, THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE FULL BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS SATURATED.
>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER IN GALVESTON TOO, WE'RE DRAINING GALVESTON THROUGH STRAWS.
WE DON'T HAVE RETENTION PONDS, WE DON'T HAVE CANALS,
[03:50:03]
WE DON'T HAVE VALLEY GUTTERS, WE HAVE STRAWS, WE HAVE PIPES.THESE PIPES ARE SOMEWHAT OCCLUDED BY SEA RISE WATER, SO THERE HAS TO BE HEAD PRESSURE.
THAT'S WHAT THESE PUMPS ARE THESE WHEN THESE PUMPS COME ONLINE, AND I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR, BRANDON KNOWS I SAY THIS ALL THE TIME.
THIS IS NOT GOING TO STOP FLOODING, BUT IT IS GOING TO GREATLY ENHANCE EXPEDITE DRAINAGE.
>> THE NUMBERS CALLS THAT I'VE RECEIVED ON MY DITCH.
>> EVERYBODY'S DITCH IS FULL RIGHT NOW REAL QUICK QUESTION BRIEFLY, THE SCOPE OF WORK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO TRY TO ACCOMPLISH ON THE 14TH STREET AND 18TH STREET PROJECTS THAT COMING HERE.
TRINA, YOU WANT TO SPEAK? I CAN TAKE A SHOT AT QUE BASICALLY THE SCOPE FOR 14TH STREET, THE POMP STATION, BUT 18TH STREET, WHAT YOUR PROJECT IS THERE?
>> AT THE TIME OF ON TENTH STREET, 18TH STREET HAS ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED.
>> THAT WAS THE UPGRADE FROM HARBORSIDE TO BROADWAY OVER THERE AND TO DO A 25 YEAR STORM WAS IN THERE.
IT STILL NEED TO BE CLOSE OUT ON THE PROJECT.
>> THAT'S CLOSE OUT AD THEN 4TH STREET IS JUST THE STATIONS?
>> HOT FUNDS, WE'RE GOING TO TOUCH ON VERY QUICKLY.
YOU WILL HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON THESE FOR AUGUST 8.
WE ARE ASSUMING THAT WE'RE SUSTAINING THE PENNY AT 3.3 MILLION AS WE HAD IT IN FISCAL YEAR 24.
THE PARK BOARD ALSO BUILT THEIR BUDGET BASED ON THAT ASSUMPTION.
CITY COUNCIL HAS TO APPROVE THE PARK BOARD BUDGET, WHICH IS UNDER REVIEW BY THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT RIGHT NOW.
AND SO WHAT WE'LL BE PRESENTING TO COUNSEL WILL BE A REFLECTION OF WHAT PARK BOARD ADOPTED ON TUESDAY AND THE CITY'S REVIEW OF THAT AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNSEL RELATED TO THAT.
SO AT THIS POINT, WE ARE NOT SETTLED ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE YET, BUT JUST TO GIVE EVERYONE SOME IDEA OF WHAT APPROACH WE'RE TAKING WITH ALL OF THAT.
THE 3.3 MILLION PER PENNY WILL ALSO INCLUDE EVERYTHING RELATED TO CONVENTION CENTER ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE, CONVENTION CENTER OPERATIONS, AND THE CONVENTION CENTER SURPLUS.
THIS ALSO INCLUDES THE APPROVED CULTURAL ARTS PAYMENTS THAT IT'S A TWO-YEAR APPROVAL THE WAY THE COMMITTEE DOES IT.
LAST YEAR'S APPROVAL IS FORWARD THIS COME.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY SHEILA, THOSE TWO YEARS IS THE ARTS AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARDS PAYMENTS, NOT THE CULTURAL ARTS.
>> YES. IT'S VERY POSSIBLE BECAUSE I WAS TYPING THIS AT LIKE 1:00 AGO.
>> CULTURAL ARTS GIVES GRANTS OUT ALMOST YEARLY, I THINK.
>> IT'S HISTORICAL PRESERVATION.
I NEED TO CHANGE THE NAME CULTURAL ARTS, BY THE WAY.
>> THAT'S A DIFFERENT NEED TO.
>> THE OTHER THING, SHEILA, YOUR INCREASE IN THE NET REVENUE FROM THE CONVENTION CENTER.
HOW MUCH HAVE YOU INCREASED THAT IN THIS COMING BUDGET?
>> WE'VE KEPT IT FLAT BECAUSE OF 3.3 MILLION DOLLAR ASSUMPTION ON THE PENNY.
IT HAS BEEN FIVE MILLION, A LITTLE OVER FIVE MILLION FOR BOTH THE LANDS, THE CONVENTION CENTER OPERATOR, AND THE CITY.
RIGHT NOW OUR ASSUMPTIONS ARE IT WILL BE FLAT.
>> BOTH REVIEW OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.
WITHIN THIS, CAN WE GET A COMPLETE BREAKDOWN OF EXACTLY A BREAKDOWN OF THE HOT TAX, LIKE AS FAR AS.
>> DISTINGUISHING EXACTNESS AND ALSO, LIKE THE ONES THAT COULD BE DISCUSSED?
>> GET READY TO TALK IN TENTHS OF QUARTERS OF PENNIES AND 68, BUT NOT 34.
>>> BUT WE HAVE PLENTY OF INFORMATION ON THAT AND SO WE BRING SOME OF THAT ON AUGUST 8TH IF THAT'S THE WAY YOU WANT TO PROCEED.
>> I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT MYSELF, AND MAYBE.
>> IT'S AN BOBBLE TAKE BECAUSE HE'S GOING THROUGH HE'S DRINKING WATER THROUGH A FIRE HOSE THESE DAYS, TOO.
UNDERSTANDING HOW THOSE HOT TAXES ARE SPLIT UP AND IT'S IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS IT PROBABLY SHOULD BE.
NOT NOT ONLY BODY'S FAULT, IT'S JUST THE WAY IT'S ALL SPLIT UP AND DIVIDED UP.
IT IT'S CONFUSING, BUT IN THE IT CAN BE SIMPLE.
THEY CHARGE 15%, WE GET 11% COMES BACK TO THE CITY.
BUT NOT ALL 11% IS JUST BASIC HOT.
THEN THERE'S SOME FOR BEACH PATROL, AND THERE'S SOME FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER AND THERE'S SOME FOR THE BRIMER BILL.
THERE'S SOME FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER.
>> I HEAR CIRCLES AND CIRCLES AND I GET OPINIONS FROM EVERYBODY, BUT I'D LOVE TO SEE THEM BLACK AND WHITE, SO WE CAN ALL.
>> WE CAN ABSOLUTELY GET THAT FOR YOU.
>> JUST TO QUICKLY REVIEW THE DEBT THAT THE CITY HAS ON THE GENERAL OBLIGATION SIDE,
[03:55:02]
THE CITY HAS CURRENTLY THREE DEBT OBLIGATIONS THAT WE ARE PAYING ON.AND YOU CAN SEE HOW THAT TRACKS FOR FULL PAYMENT THROUGH ABOUT 20:38.
AS WE DISCUSSED POSSIBLE GO DEBT ISSUANCE IN THE FUTURE, IT WOULD BE ON TOP OF WHAT YOU SEE HERE.
I CAN I CAN FORESEE IN THE FUTURE FUTURE DEBT FOR A FIRE STATION AND PROBABLY FOR SOME ADDITIONAL STREET WORK NEXT STET ISSUE.
>> POTENTIALLY DRAINAGE AS WELL.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE IN THE PROCUREMENT OR THE SCOPING PROJECT FOR THE TRYING TO FIND A LOCATION FOR THAT FIRE STATION.
>> THEN FINALLY, WATER SEWER DEBT IS ALSO ISSUED AND STRUCTURED SUCH THAT IT'S CONSTANTLY BEING PAID OFF.
AND YOU'LL SEE THE TRANCHES AS THEY FALL OFF AND IT ALLOWS FOR ADDITIONAL ISSUANCE AS NEW PROJECTS COME ON.
>> OBVIOUSLY, HISTORICALLY HAS BEEN A VERY CONSERVATIVE CITY IN TERMS OF DEBT, AND WE REMAIN THAT WAY. VERY LITTLE DEBT.
>> DO YOU SEE ANY FUTURE MOVEMENT OR NEED FOR WHAT YOU JUST POINTED OUT ON GO SIDE FOR THAT?
>> WE'LL BE BRINGING THAT TO YOU. SOME OF IT'S GOING TO ACTUALLY COME PROBABLY THROUGH THE GULF COAST WATER AUTHORITY AS WELL.
>> THAT WATER SEWER MASTER PLAN IS GOING TO PROVIDE A WHOLE LIST OF PROJECTS THAT ARE MAPPED OUT OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, AND THERE MIGHT BE DEBT ISSUANCE ASSOCIATED WITH.
WE HAD ALSO IN THE PAST, ISSUED DEBT HAVING TO DO WITH WATER SEWER THAT THE MONEY WENT ELSEWHERE.
>> NOT SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, BUT.
>> HOPEFULLY NOT. WE WON'T DO THAT NOW.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME OR ARE YOU READY FOR LUNCH?
ANY QUESTIONS FOR SHEILA? SHEILA, THANK YOU. YOU PUT IN A LOT OF GOOD WORK ON THIS. VERY NICE.
>> IT'S A TOUGH TIME ON THE BUDGET RIGHT NOW.
COUNSEL, WE HAVE 1, 2, 3 MORE ITEMS TO PURSUE.
DOES COUNSEL WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GO THROUGH ALL THREE OF THESE ITEMS OR DO WE WANT TO PUT ANY OF THESE OFF TO OUR NEXT MEETING?
>> I CAN TAKE THE FLOCK ONE PRETTY QUICK BECAUSE I HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS ON THAT FRONT.
>> ALSO, THERE IS FROM COUNCILMAN WOMAN ROB.
SHE WANTS TO EAT. HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO THIS? DO YOU WANT TO MOVE THROUGH THE ITEM F AND G? PERSONALLY, I HATE TO EAT IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA IN FRONT OF THE PEOPLE HERE, BUT WELL THAT AND STAFF DOESN'T EAT LUNCH OVER THERE, SO YOU JUST STAFF THAT'S INVOLVED WOULD HAVE TO WAIT.
>> LET'S GO AHEAD. LET'S DO IT 3F, PLEASE, MA'AM.
[3.F. Discussion of the use of flock cameras at every entry and exit to Galveston Island and other roads as the Police Department deems necessary (Porretto/Robb - 10 min)]
>> 3F. DISCUSSION OF THE USE OF FLOCK CAMERAS AT EVERY ENTRY AND EXIT TO GALVESTON ISLAND AND OTHER ROADS AS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DEEMS NECESSARY.
>> THIS IS A PRETTY SIMPLE ONE, BRIAN.
THE COUNTY GOT A CATALYTIC THE AUTOCRIMES TASK FORCE, GOT A CATALYTIC CONVERTER GRANT, WHICH IS THEY'RE USING THAT AND THEY'RE GOING TO PUT CAMERAS ON THE CAUSEWAY.
THEY'RE DOING THAT NOW, AND THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO PUT THEM AT THE FERRY LANDING ON BOLIVAR, WHICH YOU DON'T REALLY NEED THEM ON BOTH SIDES OF BOLIVAR BECAUSE ONCE YOU'RE ON THE FERRY, YOU'RE ON THE FERRY.
SAN LOUIS PASS IS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT.
THAT WOULD JUST LEAVE US TO DEAL WITH.
>> DOES THAT MEAN PEOPLE STEALING.
>> YEAH. IT'S PART OF THAT GRANT.
>> THAT JUST LEAVES US TO SAN LU PASS, AND THEN I DEFER TO THE LEGAL ON THAT.
FOR THE RECORD, I'M A BIG SUPPORTER OF THESE FLOW CAMERAS.
I THINK THEY'RE A FORCED MULTIPLIER.
I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO, BUT THERE ARE SOME HURDLES THAT WE HAVE TO OVERCOME TO GET THAT DONE, AND I'D DEFER.
>> WE HAVE TO PUT THESE OUT FOR BID.
>> I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT WE COULD EXPLORE A WAY TO GIVE THE COUNTY GRANTS.
>> THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY POINT. I MEAN, IF THE COUNTY'S PUTTING THEM IN, THAT TAKES A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD BECAUSE THAT'S THE COUNTIES.
>> WE HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THAT DATA.
>> I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT IF THERE'S A WAY FOR US TO DO KIND OF A GRANT TO THE COUNTY THEM JUST TAKE CARE OF IT.
THEN IT'S ALL THE COUNTY SAYS.
>> THAT TAKES THE PERMIT ISSUE OUT OF
>> IT DOES. THE THING THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT COUNSEL UNDERSTANDS IS THAT WE NEED A ROCK SOLID POLICY FOR THE CITY, NOT JUST RELATED TO THE OPERATION OF SOFTWARE IN GENERAL, BUT SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE THREE REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS.
HOW LONG IS WELL, WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DICTATE HOW LONG THE DATA IS MAINTAINED BECAUSE NOW IT'S THE COUNTY SYSTEM.
THEY KEEP IT FOREVER AND DO WHAT WITH.
[04:00:02]
>> CORRECT. UNLESS A PARTICULAR USER HAS SPECIFIC LANGUAGE IN THEIR AGREEMENT THAT IS MORE STRICT THAN THAT.
>> THE LANGUAGE FOR A USER COULD SAY, YOU WILL NOT MAKE AVAILABLE TO US DATA AND IT'S IN EXCESS OF 90 DAYS.
HOWEVER, IT STILL RESIDES ON THE FLAT DATABASE.
>> IN THAT CITY POLICY WOULD CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THE CITY POLICY WOULDN'T MATTER IF IT WAS COUNTY USE ON 45.
>> IT GETS RID OF TWO THINGS SINCE IT'S THE COUNTY.
IT GETS RID OF HOW LONG THE DATA IS RETAINED, THAT'S COUNTY POLICY.
THEN WHO THE DATA IS SHARED WITH.
AGAIN, THAT'S A COUNTY POLICY.
THE ONE THAT I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO FOCUS ON IS HOW THAT DATA IS BEING USED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT HERE.
THE POLICY THAT WE ADOPT NEEDS TO BE VERY CLEAR ON THAT ON WHETHER WE LOOK AT WHEN WE'RE TAKING INFORMATION FROM LICENSE PLATES, THAT THE INFORMATION THAT WE ARE ACCESSING IS HIT DATA RELATED TO INCIDENCES THAT YOU'RE RESPONDING TO, AND THEN ALSO WHO IS ACCESSING THE DATA FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THE CONTROLS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT BEING ABUSED.
>> CHIEF POLICY ON THAT REVIEWED SENT IT TO ME ON TUESDAY FRANKLY.
BUT IF IT'S THE COUNSEL'S DESIRE, I WILL REACH OUT OR I'LL GET THE CHIEF TO REACH OUT TO THE AUTO CRIMES TASK FORCE ABOUT WHAT THEY THINK IT WOULD COST TO DO SAN LOUIS PASS, AND IF WE WANTED TO PURSUE THAT.
>> I MEAN, JUST TO NOTE IF WE HAD FLOCK CAVERNS ON SAN LOUIS PASS.
WE WOULD HAVE OR THEY WOULD HAVE CAUGHT THE KID THAT SHOT THE PERSON AT POINT WEST, WHICH HE'S STILL AT LARGE.
>> CHIEF GRABBED THE MICROPHONE, IF YOU WOULD, SIR?
>> JUST RECEIVED A MESSAGE, SAID THAT THE CAMERAS AT THE FERRY THAT ARE PLANNED TO GO IN WILL CAPTURE EVERYTHING MOVING ONTO THE PENINSULA, NOT COMING BACK TOWARD GALVESTON, BUT I THINK THAT YOU'RE ONTO SOMETHING AND THERE COULD BE A BASIS FOR THE COUNTY HAVING ALL OF THOSE AND CONTRACTING, SO I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD.
>> EVERYONE IS AWARE, THERE ARE ALREADY A NUMBER OF NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE FLOCKED CAMERAS.
THAT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SOLVE CRIMES, THEFTS, POOL PUMPS, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> NO ARGUMENTS FROM ME AT ALL? I THINK IT'S A VERY FOR [OVERLAPPING]
>> I THINK EVERYBODY HERE IS IN FAVOR OF THAT BOTH.
>> CHIEF, WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON THE COUNTY HAVING CONTROL VERSUS US WITH LOCAL CONTROL? IS THERE ANY CONCERN WITH THAT?
>> I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CONCERN.
IT'S THE DATA THAT HELP SOLVE CRIMES, NOT NECESSARILY THE OWNERSHIP OF THE CAMERAS OR WHO'S PLACING THEM.
>> YOU'LL HAVE OPEN ACCESS AS FAR AS I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT.
IF WE HAVE TO HAVE SET UP INDIVIDUAL SETUPS OR IF THERE'S DUAL MONITORS OR HOW THAT WORKS.
>> CORRECT AND WE'RE CURRENTLY MERGING OUR SYSTEMS WITH OUR RMS SYSTEM WITH THE COUNTY.
I THINK THAT EVERYTHING SHOULD WORK FLAWLESSLY WITH US BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL ABSOLUTELY CONTROL WHO HAS ACCESS TO THE SYSTEM ITSELF, AND IT WILL NOT JUST BE GRANTED TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR PERSONNEL, OR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL.
WE'RE GOING TO BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THAT.
>> YES. IN A FUTURE MEETING, I'M GOING TO BE BRINGING FORTH.
DOUG'S GOING TO, AND HOPE, HAVE DONE IT JUST A FANTASTIC JOB SO FAR RMS SYSTEM CONVERSION, AND WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO UPDATE A ON THAT COMING FORWARD TOO.
>> THE PLAN IS TO FOLLOW IN WITH THE COUNTY?
>> WE'RE ALL HOT ON FLOCK RIGHT NOW.
THE PLACEMENT OF THIS, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY FOR FUTURE.
I GUESS EITHER THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR COUNCIL REALLY HAVE NO SAY ABOUT THE COUNTY WHERE THEY PUT IT ON FERRY ROAD OR 45.
[04:05:02]
THIS GOES INTO FUTURE DISCUSSIONS AS WELL IF WE SEE WE LIKE IT, AND IT REALLY DOES A NUMBER FOR GETTING CRIMINALS OFF THE STREETS AND CATCHING THEM FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING.FOR PLACEMENT, DON, SHOULD THAT RELY ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR SHOULD THAT RELY ON COUNCIL OR WE GET RECOMMENDATIONS OR?
>> AT SUCH A TIME IN THE FUTURE, IF CITY COUNCIL DECIDES THAT IT WANTS TO EXPAND THE SYSTEM WITHIN TOWN, CITY COUNCIL WOULD HAVE TO BE THE ONES TO DECIDE WHERE THE PLACEMENT GOES.
THAT IS BASICALLY FOR CIVIL RIGHTS LIABILITY, OUR DEFENSES ARE THAT IN TERMS OF CUSTOM POLICY OR PRACTICES, THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE POLICY MAKER FOR THAT.
I VERIFIED THIS WITH OUR 1983 COUNCIL NORMAN GILES SAID, THE CHIEF CAN MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO BRIAN AND CAN MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL, BUT IT WOULD BE COUNCIL THAT ULTIMATELY DECIDED THEIR ACTUAL PLACEMENT.
>> KEEP IN MIND, THE THREE LOCATIONS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW WOULD ALL BE IN STATE RIGHT AWAY.
>> WE ARE NOT EXPOSED TO ANY RISK THAT WAS OUTLINED IN THIS HANDOUT THAT WE GOT TO THAT FROCK HAS NO LICENSE AS A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR OR LICENSE OR THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS LOOKING AT THIS AND MAY HAVE SOME CONTROLS OVER.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THAT RISK NOW THAT THE COUNTY IS DOING THIS.
I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE STATUS IS ON THE DPS INVESTIGATION I DO KNOW THAT THEY GOT INVESTIGATED BY NORTH CAROLINA AND WERE ORDERED TO GET A LICENSE.
I DO NOT KNOW IF THEY DID THAT.
IN TERMS OF STATE LICENSING, I SUSPECT THEY NEED A LICENSE AND THAT EVENTUALLY THEY'LL GET.
>> IN TERMS OF EXPOSURE, I GUESS, FOR THE SPOTS THAT WE WOULD WANT IT FOR ENTRY AND EXIT.
THAT WOULD BE SAY PASS AT 35 AND THIS IS NOT WITHOUT THE GRANT.
35 AND THEN FERRY ROAD ON OUR SIDE.
>> YEAH. BUT THAT STILL STAY RIGHT AWAY THERE.
>> IF YOU SAID THEY'RE JUST GOING TO CAPTURE WHAT'S GOING ON IN BALEVAR, ARE THEY DOING THE CAUSEWAY THE SAME WAY OR ARE THEY GOING TO HAVE IT BOTH WAYS?
>> OKAY. I'LL BE GOING AND COMING OFF THE SIDES.
>> WHEN YOU SET UP, THEY ONLY CAPTURED IMAGES OF THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE.
>> I UNDERSTAND. [OVERLAPPING] FOR OVER A YEAR.
>> WE ALSO HAVE LICENSE PLATE READERS FOR SEAWALL PARKING.
IS THAT SYSTEM SUBJECT TO ANY OF THE RISK THAT WAS DESCRIBED TO US IN THIS HANDOUT?
>> THAT'S NOT SUBJECT TO ANY OF THIS RISK.
>> WE DON'T RETAIN THE DATA AND THAT'S NOT SHARED WITH ANYBODY.
>> HOW DO YOU THEN FOLLOW UP ON PEOPLE THAT ARE PAYING FINES IF YOU DON'T RETAIN THE DATA?
>> ANY FURTHER THOUGHTS ON THIS FRAME, DO YOU HAVE THE [OVERLAPPING]
>> NO, I JUST WANT TO BRING THIS TO CLOSE AND GET THESE THINGS IN OPERATION BECAUSE THEY'RE IMPORTANT.
I'D LIKE YOU TO REPEAT BACK WHAT YOU HEARD NOW FROM COUNCIL, HOW YOU'RE GOING TO [OVERLAPPING]
>> I HAVE ASKED THE CHIEF TO GET WITH HIS CONTACT OR OUR MEMBER OF THE AUTOCRIMES TASK FORCE TO GET THE ADDITIONAL COSTS TO PUT THE CAMERAS ON OUR SIDE ON FERRY ROAD AND TO INSTALL THE CAMERAS IN AND OUT AT SAN LOUIS PASS, AND TO SEE IF IF THE COUNTY AUTO CRIMES TASK FORCE WOULD BE AMENABLE TO RECEIVING A GRANT FROM THE CITY OF GALVESTON TO COVER THOSE COSTS.
>> COUNCIL, THAT MEETS COUNCIL'S APPROVAL.
>> I SUSPECT THAT GENTLEMAN ON THAT FORCE IS PROBABLY ALREADY WORKING ON IT BECAUSE HE WAS PROBABLY WATCHING THIS ITEM.
>> I JUST WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A THANKS FOR GPDS WORK.
LIKE A MONTH AND A HALF AGO, TWO MONTHS AGO, SOMEONE GOT THEIR CAR STOLEN IN ONE OF MY NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THEY FOUND IT IN THREE HOURS OF USING CLOCK.
>> AUTO CRIMES TASK FORCE, SOMEONE PERFECTED USE.
>> AFTER IT WAS REPORTED, THREE HOURS TO FIND IT.
>> WHAT'S THE REG LINK IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
A NUMBER OF CRIMES HAVE BEEN STOPPED, BUT IN THE ONE PARTICULAR ONE WHERE SOMEONE'S POOL PUMP WAS STOLEN, THAT CAR ACTUALLY ENDED UP BEING A RENTAL CAR.
[04:10:03]
THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO TRACK TO INTERCONTINENTAL AS MOST CRIMINALS ARE VERY SMART.HE LEFT HIS BILL FOLD IN THE CAR.
THEY WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PERSON AS WELL AS AT THAT POINT, WHAT WAS STOLEN WAS ACTUALLY IN THE CAR.
>> CHIEF, WOULD YOU EXTEND OUR THANKS TO GALVESTON COUNTY FOR GOING AHEAD AND TAKING THE INITIATIVE OF IMPLEMENTING THIS? BECAUSE IT REALLY TOOK AWAY A LOT OF THE CONCERNS BECAUSE NOW THAT'S THE COUNTY SYSTEM, AND IT'S NOT OURS.
>> VERY GOOD. LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 3G, PLEASE.
[3.G. Discussion of the enforcement and follow through of ordinances related to construction sites and dilapidated houses (Robb/Brown - 10 min)]
>> ITEM 3G. DISCUSSION OF THE ENFORCEMENT AND FOLLOW THROUGH OF ORDINANCES RELATED TO CONSTRUCTION SITES AND DILAPIDATED HOUSES.
>> THIS WAS COUNCILMAN ROB ONE OF THIS ON THERE.
>> WELL, I HAVE A NUMBER OF PROBLEM PROPERTIES, ESPECIALLY NOW IN PIRATES BEACH, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY ALL OVER.
THIS IS BEING DRIVEN BY TWO THINGS, PROBLEM HOUSES, BUT THEN ALSO CONSTRUCTION SITES THAT ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND A STORM IS APPROACHING AND PEOPLE DON'T SECURE THEIR MATERIALS, WHICH END UP ALL OVER THE PLACE.
I HAD A DISCUSSION THE OTHER DAY WITH BUCKLEY TALKING ABOUT, TO ME, IT'S LIKE WE SHOULD BE FINDING THESE PEOPLE EVERYDAY.
WHAT'S GOING TO DRIVE THEM? SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN SITTING THERE FOR 14 YEARS, 16 YEARS.
OTHER ONES HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE YEARS.
I'LL DO A REQUEST AND I'LL ASK FOR EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON IN THE HOUSE FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.
I'LL FIND OUT THAT LIKE THERE'S VIDEO THAT NOTHING'S BEEN DONE OR THEY'VE BEEN TOLD TO DO XYZ, AND THEY HAVEN'T EVER DONE IT, BUT YET WE'RE NOT FINDING THEM FOR THAT.
THINGS LIKE FENCING AROUND OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
DON HAD SAID, WELL, IT'S THE WAY THE ORDINANCE IS STRUCTURED.
WELL, IF OUR ORDINANCE NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED, THAT WE CAN ACT FASTER ON THESE THINGS.
>> I WOULD LIKE US TO ADDRESS THAT.
BECAUSE IF YOU'RE FINDING SOMEONE EVERYDAY, THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE ACTION ON IT VERSUS IF THEY GET ONE FINE FOR A YEAR, THEY GO TO COURT, THEY PAY THAT SMALL AMOUNT.
SOME OF THESE HOUSES NOW ARE EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE, SUCH AS THE KNOLLS HOUSE, WHICH IN ALBERTO LOST ONE PILING, AND NOW IN BURL, THEY'VE LOST THREE MORE PILINGS.
THEIR PORCH, THEIR DECK UNDERNEATH, THEY ACTUALLY DID WITH PILINGS, WHICH ALL CAME LOOSE IN THIS STORM.
NOW WE HAVE LARGE PILINGS WITH FIVE INCH NAILS STICKING OUT OF THEM ON THE BEACH.
IT'S SPEWED ALL OVER PIRATES BEACH, LIKE TRAVELED SUBCASES, THREE BLOCKS, FOUR BLOCKS AND SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET HURT.
>> MARIE, YOU'RE REQUESTING WHAT? YOU WANT TO [OVERLAPPING]
>> TO REVIEW THE ORDINANCE AND THEN THE SECOND PIECE OF THAT.
IT'S IN ONE CASE, I KNOW WE HAVE TO FIND THE CONTRACTOR.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT SAYS, IF YOU'RE CONSTRUCTING A HOUSE ON THE BAY SIDE OR ANYWHERE AND A STORM IS COMING, YOU MUST SECURE YOUR MATERIALS.
>> I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO GET IN PLACE BECAUSE WE HAD ONE HOUSE IN SEATTLE AND THIS WAS IN ALBERTO.
THIS WASN'T EVEN IN BURL WHERE THEY HAD A BUNCH OF TWO BY FOURS AND WHATNOT.
THAT TOOK OFF IN THE BAY WITH SMACKING INTO PEOPLE'S HOUSES.
IT'S TRASH IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> WE WERE LUCKY. ANTEDOTALLY, I HAVE A NEIGHBOR THAT'S DOING EXTENSIVE REMODELING ON THE HOUSE, AND THEY HAD A TRAILER FULL OF MATERIALS BEFORE BARREL.
I JUST CALLED HER AND SHE GOES, I'LL GET THE CONTRACTOR AND THEY TOOK CARE OF IT.
BUT THERE WAS NOTHING COMPELLING IN THE CITY RULES TO DO THAT.
[04:15:02]
>> SAME THING WITH LARGE DUMPSTERS.
>> LARGE FULL DUMPSTERS OR EVEN SMALL UNFILLED DUMPSTERS GOING TO END UP IN SOMEBODY'S HOUSES.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE NOTHING TO COVER.
I HAVE ANOTHER ONE THAT IS OFF OF THE AREA OF MARINA DRIVE ACROSS FROM WATERMAN'S.
SOMEBODY WAS GOING TO CONSTRUCT A PHONE HOUSE.
THE PROJECT HAS BEEN ABANDONED.
IT WAS FLYING EVERYWHERE IN ALBERTO, BUT NOW WITH THIS STORM, IF YOU BOAT, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE FOAM FLOATING, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE [OVERLAPPING] PIECES.
WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT ALLOWS US TO TAKE MORE AGGRESSIVE ACTIONS.
I UNDERSTAND AS DON WILL SAY, IT'S A PROPERTY RIGHT STATE.
BUT THIS PROBLEM IS ACTUALLY COMING FROM OUR ORDINANCES DON'T COVER THAT, AND WE NEED TO GET THAT IN PLACE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
>> I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR COUNCIL.
I THINK COUNCIL, WE WOULD SUPPORT THAT 100 PERCENT.
>> I'M PARROTING, BUT I HAVE SIMILAR INTERESTS IN THAT.
IN A COUPLE INSTANCES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, PEOPLE HAVE HAD ISSUE WITH DILAPIDATED STRUCTURES WHERE YOU CAN'T REALLY FIND THE HOMEOWNER, VAGRANTS AND HOMELESS ARE LIVING IN IT, AND IT BECOMES A BLIGHT.
I'M VERY SYMPATHETIC TO OUR OLDER RESIDENTS WHO THEIR HOME PROBABLY ISN'T UP TO SNUFF FOR SOME OF IT, BUT TRYING NOT TO THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATHWATER, BUT WE GOT TO IDENTIFY AND USING AN ORDINANCE TO HELP OR BEEFING UP WHAT WE DO HAVE.
I'M A PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS GUY, JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE BEING MORE TARGETED IN THE DILAPIDATED, THE CONTRACTORS RESPONSIBILITY.
IF IT'S JUST SITTING THERE FALLING APART, I THINK WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE IT'S A RESIDENCE QUALITY OF LIVING ISSUE.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE A BAD CONTRACTOR NEXT DOOR THAT LEAVES STUFF AROUND, IT'S JUST A QUALITY OF LIVING ISSUE.
IN A COUPLE OF HOUSES DOWN, THERE WAS VAGRANTS LIVING IN ON SOUTH SHORE.
I THINK YOU REMEMBER THAT. IT WAS BEFORE MY TIME, BUT I THINK THE SITTING UP TEARING THE HOUSE DOWN OR BECAUSE IT WAS JUST SAID SO.
>> THAT WAS AN ACT OF CONGRESS LITERALLY.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THIS, AND THIS COMES BACK TO HIGH WEEDS AND GRASS.
I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THAT ORDINANCE REALLY CLOSE.
I KNOW DON IS GOING TO CRINGE WHEN I SAY THIS, BUT I KEEP SAYING IT.
IF I MOW IT ONCE, IT COSTS YOU THIS MUCH.
IF I HAVE TO MOW IT AGAIN, IT COST YOU THIS MUCH.
IF I MOW IT THAT MUCH, IT COSTS YOU THIS MUCH BECAUSE WE ARE BECOMING THE DEFACTO MAINTENANCE GROUP, AND IT TAKES US TOO LONG TO DO THIS BECAUSE ORDINANCES REFLECT THAT IF I'VE ALREADY GOTTEN A RULING WHERE I CAN COME ON AND FILE LIEN ON YOUR PROPERTY AND IN 30 DAYS, IT'S BAD AGAIN.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT WHOLE PROCESS AGAIN BECAUSE THEY HAVE A CURATIVE PERIOD AND THEN THEY HAVE A RESPONSE PERIOD, THEN THEY DON'T SHOW UP.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING, AND WE ARE, BUT WE'RE SITTING IN COURT OR WE'RE SITTING IN THESE LONG TIME FRAMES THAT SOME OF THEM ARE STATE LAW, BUT SOME OF THEM, I'D LIKE TO PUSH THAT ENVELOPE TO SEE IF WE COULDN'T DO THAT.
I KNOW WE'RE LIMITED ON FINES, DON.
WE CAN'T BUT I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE IT REALLY HARD BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S SEVERAL PROPERTIES IN GALVESTON THAT IF WE DIDN'T MOW IT, THEY WOULD NEVER GET MOWED.
>> ANOTHER THING, IT'S ABOUT GETTING SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES THAT ARE DILAPIDATED INTO THAT.
EVENTUALLY, LET'S SAY YOUR GRANDFATHER DIES AND THERE'S 20 SIBLINGS FIGHTING OVER THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY AND NOTHING'S DONE WITH IT.
GETTING THAT PROPERTY NEGOTIATED TO EITHER SELL IT OR, HEY, YOU NEED TO FIGURE OUT SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT, AND GETTING THAT PROPERTY BACK ON THE TAX REPORTS.
I THINK THAT'S WHERE I'M LOOKING AT IT, IS GETTING THESE DILAPIDATED PROPERTIES BACK ON THE TAX ROLLS, BUT THAT'S IT [OVERLAPPING].
>> THE SAD PART IS, A LOT OF THESE ARE ON THE TAX ROLLS AND THEY'RE PAYING THE TAXES AND A LOT OF THEM, WE GO OUT AND WE BOARD THEM UP AND WE MOW THEM, AND THEY QUICKLY PAY THE LEANS TO AVOID THE P&I.
THEY JUST KNOW WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.
ONE, WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM DOWNTOWN, AND THAT 1011 STORY BUILDING IT'S ALL SCAFFOLDED UP.
AFTER THE STORM, THEY FOUND SCAFFOLD BOARDS ACROSS THE STREET.
THAT WOULD HAVE KILLED SOMEBODY.
THAT'S A LIFE SAFETY ISSUE RIGHT THERE.
[04:20:02]
BUT AGAIN, THAT COULD USE SOME ENFORCEMENT TEETH ON IT.>> I THINK WE'VE BEEN ENFORCING ON THAT ONE, BUT THE ISSUE THERE IS THE NEXT STEP OF ENFORCEMENT WOULD BE CONDEMNATION, AND I'M NOT SURE WE WANT TO SADDLE THE TAXPAYERS OF GALVESTON WITH THAT EXPENSE.
>> BUT THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME WAY OF KEEPING THAT SITE SAFE DURING DISASTERS BECAUSE THAT'S A BIG PROJECT.
THE OTHER THING WAS, IN RELATION TO WHAT ALEX WAS SAYING [OVERLAPPING].
>> WHAT ALEX WAS SAYING ABOUT DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS.
WE HAVE A DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT ORDINANCE, AND I CAN TELL YOU FROM EXPERIENCE ON BEING ON A LANDMARK COMMISSION, REALLY IT DIDN'T WORK BECAUSE OF PROPERTY RIGHTS AND BECAUSE OF HOW THOSE THINGS GO FOR THE COURTS AND BECAUSE OF HARDSHIP CLAIMS. BY THE TIME YOU'RE ACTUALLY ABLE TO DO ANYTHING, THE BUILDING HAS ALREADY GONE.
I SAW THAT HAPPEN WHEN THE BUILDING FELL ON HARBORSIDE DRIVE.
AFTER A BIG TRUCK WENT BY, THEY ALREADY BEEN CHARGED WITH DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT, BUT THE BUILDING WENT AHEAD AND FELL DOWN AND THEN THAT WAS IT.
THAT ORDINANCE DOESN'T REALLY SERVE ITS INTENDED PURPOSE, I DON'T THINK.
>> FINES ARE FOR HONEST PEOPLE.
>> YEAH, THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
>> WHAT WE WILL DO FROM TIME TO TIME, AND I'VE DONE THIS HALF A DOZEN TIMES, IS WHEN WE HAVE A BUILDING, WE PUT TOGETHER A LITTLE TEAM, WE GET AN ADMINISTRATIVE SEARCH WARRANT, WE GO IN, AND THEN WE'LL FILE A CASE PRETTY MUCH IN COUNTY COURT.
NOW, THE FIRST TIME WE DID THIS, MICHAEL GRAY WAS IN IT, AND WE DIDN'T HAVE TO FILE BECAUSE WE HAD WEEKLY MEETINGS WITH THE OWNER, AND IT RESULTED IN THE BUICK BUILDING ACROSS FROM O'CONNELL NOW BECOMING A CHURCH.
WE JUST DID AN ADMINISTRATIVE SEARCH WARRANT ON A PROPERTY.
IT MIGHT BE IN YOUR DISTRICT. GIANA, WHERE'S THAT?
>> THAT'S IN SHARON'S DISTRICT. WAREHOUSE.
>> DON, YOU'RE HEARING THOUGH WHAT WE WANT TO APPROACH HERE?
>> YEAH. WE'LL LOOK AT THE ORDINANCES, THAT'S FINE.
BUT SOMETIMES UNICOURT AIN'T ENOUGH.
>> SOMETIMES, I NEED TO GO TO A COURT THAT CAN ISSUE AN INJUNCTION.
>> THEN LET'S START DOING THAT. LET'S DO IT.
>> OKAY. NOW, FOR THE HOUSE THAT YOU MENTIONED, WE'VE JUST HIRED A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO WALK IN AND DEMOLISH A FOUR MILLION DOLLAR HOUSE BASED ON BUILDING INSPECTIONS.
>> NO, IT'S NOT A FOUR MILLION DOLLAR HOUSE.
>> WHEN I DO IT IF THE CITY COUNCIL SAYS, THAT ONE, GO AHEAD.
>> BUT IF WE HAVE A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER COMING, CAN WE LOOK ALSO AT THE OTHER HOUSES?
>> HE'S HIRED JUST FOR THIS ONE.
>> BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A BAKED WITH FIRST ALBERTA AND THEN NOW BURL.
THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF HOUSES THAT HAVE GOTTEN A LOT WORSE.
>> WELL, SEE, TO ME, WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS MAYBE THE ORDINANCE IS PERHAPS WE'RE BEING A LITTLE MISGUIDED.
TO ME, WE OUGHT TO HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT IF YOUR FOUNDATION WAS ERODED IN A TITLE EVENT, WE REQUIRE THE HOMEOWNER TO PROVIDE US A STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING ANALYSIS WITHIN SO MANY DAYS OR FACE.
>> WELL, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT.
>> THERE'S ONE HOUSE WHERE THE WAVES ARE WASHING UP UNDER THE HOUSE, AND THE GLO SAYS, THAT HOUSE ISN'T ON THE BEACH.
>> BUT THEY SURVEYED IT BEFORE A STORM.
>> THEY AIN'T CHANGING THEIR MINDS.
>> BUT AGAIN, IF WE DID THIS, IT'S NOT A GLO ISSUE AT THIS POINT. IT'S A STRUCTURAL ISSUE.
>> BUT THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING WHY DO WE NEED TO BEEF UP OUR ORDINANCES.
I LIKE WHAT DON WAS SAYING ABOUT COUNCIL BEING INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS OF WHEN IT GETS TO THAT.
>> I DON'T WANT TO FILE A CASE TO DESTROY A FOUR MILLION DOLLAR HOUSE UNLESS YOU TELL ME, "GO AHEAD."
>> IF IT'S A LITTLE SHACK, YEAH, I'LL DO THAT.
>> NO. WELL, I UNDERSTAND HIS DIFFERENCE.
IF THAT GETS REVERSED AT A COURT, WE'RE OUT $50,000, $60,000, NOT FOUR MILLION DOLLARS.
>> IT'S NOT A FOUR MILLION DOLLAR HOUSE.
>> THEY INCREASE IN VALUE ONCE YOU TEAR THEM DOWN.
>> I LIKE THAT IDEA, THAT WAY WE'RE ALL AWARE OF THE RISK, AND WE'RE ALL AWARE OF ANY LEGAL ACTION UP TO THAT POINT, AND THEN WE CAN DECIDE AS A COUNCIL WHETHER THAT WAY WE'RE BEING, I THINK WE HAVE SEVEN FAIR MINDS IN THE ROOM,
[04:25:02]
AND WE'RE NOT BEING UNFAIR AND ARBITRARY.>> THERE WAS A HOUSE ON WEST 12TH THAT WAS DISGUSTING, IT WAS FALLING APART, AND WE GOT A DEMOLITION ORDER.
ACTUALLY, WE GOT THAT ONE FROM UNICOURT BECAUSE THIS HOUSE WAS DISGUSTING.
THERE WAS GARBAGE SPILLING OUT ONTO THE STREET.
WHEN WE GOT THE DEMOLITION ORDER, THE LANDMARK COMMISSION WENT CRAZY.
>> EVENTUALLY, A FORMER CITY COUNCIL PERSON BOUGHT IT AND UNDERTOOK TO REBUILD IT.
>> I KNOW SHARON WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING.
BUT WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND, COUNCIL, WE HAVE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE, MAYBE MORE, BUT WE HAVE COUNCILWOMAN ROBB THAT BROUGHT THIS SUBJECT FORWARD AND WE HAVE COUNCILMAN PORRETTO THAT HAS A KEEN INTEREST IN THIS.
COULD YOU AND WHOMEVER, BUT LET'S GIVE INPUT TO DON.
LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME ORDINANCES BROUGHT IN SOME CHANGES BACK TO US SO WE CAN DISCUSS THOSE.
>> LET'S GIVE IT TO TIM TOO, BECAUSE HIS WHOLE CREW OF BUILDING INSPECTORS AND EVERYTHING IS THE ONES THAT DEAL WITH THIS.
>> OKAY. SHARON, GO RIGHT AHEAD.
>> I JUST HAD A QUICK QUESTION. I DON'T THINK I UNDERSTOOD WHAT YOU WERE SAYING WHEN YOU WERE SAYING YOU BROUGHT TOGETHER A TEAM.
>> MICHAEL GRAY, SOME BUILDING INSPECTORS, FIRE MARSHAL.
>> SEE, THAT WAS HE WAS THINKING.
>> WELL, NO, YOU MENTIONED IT, AND SO I THINK IT WOULD BE PRUDENT THAT WAY, WE CAN I THINK OF SEVEN MINDS TOGETHER LOOK AT STAFF REPORT AND SAY, OKAY, HAVE WE EXHAUSTED ALL MEANS? YES, LET'S MOVE FORWARD ON IT RATHER THAN HAVE IT ARBITRARY, LOSE A CASE, THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER.
>> I THINK THAT'S IMPERATIVE BECAUSE IF WE GET STRUMMED ON THE DEAL, YOU GUYS MADE THE DECISION, WE'RE HAPPY TO PAY IT AND MOVE ON.
>> I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT FOR WEEDS AND GRASSES.
>> WHEN IT COME TO TEARING DOWN A HOME?
>> I THINK THE DECISION IS VERY HEAVY.
LIKE I SAID, I'M A PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS PERSON, BUT IF WE HAVE DILAPIDATED FALLING APART STRUCTURES THAT ARE A PUBLIC NUISANCE FOR RESIDENTS OR SAFETY ISSUES AS WELL, I THINK WE SHOULD ALL BE KEYED IN, AND THAT WOULD BE A GOOD THING THAT COUNCIL COULD DO TO EXHAUST ALL MEANS BEFORE IT GETS TO THAT POINT.
>> THE OTHER THING ALONG THE LINES OF ORDINANCES, WHICH WE ALREADY HAVE AN ORDINANCE ON THE BOOK SECURING YOUR PORTA POTTIES WHEN YOU'RE DOING CONSTRUCTION, THAT AIN'T HAPPENING.
>> I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.
>> WELL, WE DID THAT ORDINANCE.
>> THAT'S JUST A MATTER OF FINDING THEM AND CITING THEM.
WE CITE THE CONTRACTOR, BUT HELL, HALF THE TIME WE FIND THESE THINGS ON UNPERMITTED JOBS, AND YOU KNOW WHO THE CONTRACTOR IS.
WE'RE CHASING OUR TAIL ON A LOT OF THAT.
AGAIN, THESE ORDINANCES ARE FOR HONEST PEOPLE.
>> YOU CAN TELL HE'S LOOKING FOR THE PORTA-POTTY JOKE.
>> ON THIS SUBJECT, BOB, GO AHEAD.
>> I WAS JUST WONDERING IF WE COULD GET THE STAFF TO SEND US THE LINKS TO THE DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT ORDINANCE AND ANY OTHER ORDINANCE THAT'S APPLICABLE TO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW, SO WE'LL HAVE THE BASIS OF IT.
>> YEAH. YOU COULD DO THAT, PLEASE, DON.
BUT I THINK YOU GET THE GIST OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
I THINK ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS.
>> I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO LOOK AT WHAT CASES NEED TO GO TO MUNICIPAL COURT AND MAYBE THOSE REPEAT OFFENDERS OR WHATEVER GO TO CIVIL COURT. WE NEED TO SEE HOW [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT'S ONE OF THE TESTS, IS WE LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF THE PROPERTY, AND IF WE'VE TAKEN THEM TO MUNICIPAL COURT 38,000 TIMES, WELL, OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S NOT REALLY A GOOD THING.
>> I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE TWO TIMES.
>> BUT THERE ALSO HAS TO BE MORE INTER COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS LIKE MY OTHER FAVORITE HOUSE, THE BLUE ONE.
THEIR COASTAL CONSTRUCTION PERMIT HAD BEEN EXPIRED, YET THEY WERE STILL DOING CONSTRUCTION, WHICH WAS APPROVED BY THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT,
[04:30:01]
BUT YET THEIR PERMIT WAS EXPIRED.WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR INTERNAL SYSTEM TO SEE HOW WE ALLEVIATE THAT PROBLEM.
>> THAT'S ALL OF ONE DEPARTMENT.
>> THIS WOULD BE A SUBJECT THAT WHEN YOU GET SOME THOUGHTS TOGETHER ON ORDINANCES, LET'S GET IT BACK ON THE AGENDA AND MORE DISCUSSION ON THIS.
>> UPCOMING, SOONER THAN LATER, AND I'D BE GLAD TO BRING THE SLIDESHOW.
>> SOUNDS GOOD. DON, ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT?
>> WHAT'S ASTOUNDING, JUST ESPECIALLY THE SAFETY ISSUE IN THE YELLOW HOUSE.
LAST WEEK, PEOPLE LIKE LARGE FAMILIES WITH TENTS WERE SETTING UP THEIR DEAL 10 FEET FROM THAT HOUSE.
I'M LIKE, OH MY GOD, A KID IS GOING TO DIE IN A HOUSE THIS BAD.
>> I REALLY LIKE THE IDEA OF REQUIRING ANY HOUSE IMPACTED BY TIDAL FLOW TO HAVE STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS.
THEN IF IT PASSES THE FIRST TIME, WE OUGHT TO MAKE THEM HAVE TO DO IT ANNUALLY.
>> I CAN TELL YOU, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME PEOPLE UPSET WITH THAT. BUT I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT.
>> I HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE UPSET WITH THE FACT THAT THESE HOUSES JUST SIT THERE.
>> BECAUSE OTHERWISE, WITH THESE STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS ARE GOING TO GET VERY EXPENSIVE ON THE CITY.
I THINK WE OUGHT TO BE PASSING THAT ONTO THEM.
>> THEY'RE VERY WEALTHY PEOPLE, A LOT OF THEM.
IT'S SHOCKING THAT SUCH WEALTHY PEOPLE WOULD HAVE DISREGARD FOR THEIR NEIGHBORS.
>> COUNCIL, WE HAVE ONE MORE ITEM TO MOVE FORWARD WITH,
[4. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
AND THAT IS THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM.JANELLE, IF YOU WOULD READ THAT, 4-A1.
WE DON'T NEED TO GO THROUGH THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
>> OKAY. 4-A1, DISCUSSION OF THE STATUS OF THE NEW PELICAN ISLAND BRIDGE.
>> THIS ITEM, DON SENT OUT A MEMORANDUM I THINK YESTERDAY TO COUNCIL OUTLINING THE STATUS OF THE PELICAN ISLAND BRIDGE.
I'VE GOT SOME THINGS TO SAY ON THIS, BUT I KNOW MARIE WANTS TO SAY SOME THINGS TOO.
>> BECAUSE I HEAR IT FROM ALL SIDES BEING A TRANSPORTATION POLICY PERSON.
I KNOW YOU SENT OUT AN OVERVIEW.
THE QUESTION OF RIGHT OF WAY IS, TXDOT IS SAYING THAT THEY HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS THEY'VE PUT IN THERE IN THE BUDGET FOR RIGHT OF WAYS.
THE BIGGEST FEAR I HAVE WITH THE PELICAN ISLAND BRIDGE IS THE MONEY'S GOING TO GO AWAY.
IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS NOW THAT IT'S BEEN IN TALKING AND IT'S GONE FROM 75 MILLION TO 175 MILLION, AND THAT'S JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE.
I KNOW THERE'S A QUESTION OF THE ONGOING MAINTENANCE, OF WHICH TXDOT, THE MEETING I SAT IN HERE, TALKED ABOUT THE MPO, WHICH IS THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION, WOULD ASSIST IN WITH THAT.
BUT UNLESS WE GET SOME KIND OF AGREEMENT IN PLACE, WE REALLY DO STAND TO LOSE THE FUNDS, AND THAT WOULD BE THE WORST THING THAT COULD EVER HAPPEN BECAUSE THEN THERE IS NO BRIDGE.
>> DO WE HAVE BEEN WRITING FROM THE MPO THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO COVER THE ONGOING MAINTENANCE FUNDS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT?
>> NO, BUT I THINK WE COULD GET IT.
>> LET ME BRING YOU UP TO DATE AND SO WE KNOW.
DON IS WORKING WITH TXDOT ON THE AFA LANGUAGE.
BUT WE HAVE HGAC AND TXDOT BOTH WILL BE HAVING A MEETING ON THIS, AUGUST 6TH AT 1:00 P.M.
IF YOU'LL PUT THAT DOWN ON YOUR AGENDA PLEASE, MARIE.
THAT'S AUGUST 6TH AT 1:00 P.M. TXDOT AND HGAC WILL BE HERE.
HGAC UNDERSTANDS THAT THAT MONEY IS STILL THERE.
THEY'VE GOT THAT MONEY SET ASIDE.
THEY WANT TO KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING.
WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS AND WE'LL REPORT BACK TO YOU ONCE THAT HGAC TXDOT MEETING TAKES PLACE.
>> TXDOT HAS NOT COMMITTED TO COVERING THE COST OF THE RIGHT OF WAY UNDER THE WATER.
[04:35:06]
>> I'M GLAD WE HAVE A MEETING SO EVERYONE COULD SIT DOWN.
THE GOOD THING THAT CAME OF GOING UP TO THAT RETREAT LAST FRIDAY, THAT I FELT LIKE DOING AS MUCH AS I FELT LIKE CUTTING ONE OF MY FINGERS OFF, THAT ALL THE KEY PEOPLE FROM THE TPC WERE THERE, AND I WAS ABLE TO BRING THIS UP.
THE GOOD THING NOW IS WE KNOW WE'LL GET THE SUPPORT FROM THE TPC BECAUSE EVERYONE IS MOTIVATED TO SEE THIS PROJECT MOVE FORWARD.
>> YES, WE ALL. HOWEVER, FOR MONTHS, YEARS, TXDOT TOLD US THEY WOULD COVER THE COST FOR THAT UNDERWATER RIGHT OF WAY, AND WE HAD A MEETING IN JUNE AND YOU WERE THERE, THEIR BIG BOSS SAID, NO.
BRIAN EXPRESSED HIS DISMAY AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT.
THEY HAVEN'T HAD ANY CHANGE OF POSITION.
>> TXDOT IS THE LEAST OF OUR PROBLEMS. WE'RE GETTING TWO BRIDGES FOR THE PRICE OF ONE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THIS WHOLE DEAL IS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WELL, BUT AGAIN, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DISCUSS WITH H-GAC THERE AND GET SOME COMMITMENT FROM THEM ON THE SECOND BRIDGE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] IS DEFINITELY OUR FRIEND IN THIS.
THE ISSUE IS IS THAT YOU'VE GOT A TXDOT HIGHWAY INTERSECTING IN AN ELEVATED LEVEL WITH A PRIVATELY-OWNED BRIDGE OWNED BY THE NAVIGATION DISTRICT.
>> WE'RE GOING TO INHERIT. THAT BRIDGE IS SUBSTANDARD.
>> IT ACQUIRED IN '58, I THINK IT WAS.
>> I DON'T THINK THERE'S BEEN A WHOLE LOT OF INSPECTION ON THAT BRIDGE BECAUSE IT'S A PRIVATELY-DONE BRIDGE.
WE WANT TO GET THIS THING DONE, BUT YOU'RE ASKING THE TAXPAYERS OF GALVESTON TO ABSORB HUGE LIABILITIES HERE.
>> IN ADDITION TO THIS, THE NAVIGATION DISTRICT HAS TO HAVE THE MONEY FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO US, AND THEY'RE HAVING A SHORTFALL.
WE HAVE OUR MONEY. A&M HAS THEIR MONEY.
>> THE OTHER ENTITIES HAVE BEEN VERBALLY LOCKED DOWN, SO WE'RE ALL GOOD.
>> BUT THE NAVIGATION MONIES ARE FOR THE DEMOLITION OF THE OLD.
[LAUGHTER] DEMOLITION IS PART OF THE PROJECT COST.
IT IS A FUNGIBLE ITEM, THE MONEY.
ONCE THEY GET IT, TXDOT USES IT.
BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SAY WE CAN'T SPEND THIS NAVIGATION DOLLAR UNTIL WE GET DEMOLITION. NO.
>> WE NEED NAVIGATION DISTRICT MONEY IN OUR HANDS IN TOTAL BEFORE WE SIGN THE AFA.
>> WELL, AND THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, AND I'M GLAD YOU CHOSE TO DO THIS MEETING IN PUBLIC BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I HAD ASKED INITIALLY BECAUSE OUR CITIZENS NEED TO UNDERSTAND ALL PARTS OF THIS, AND WE'VE BEEN DOING EVERYTHING IN CLOSED SESSION THAT I THINK EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
>> I THINK IT WILL HELP US IN THE LONG RUN.
>> I AGREE. WE HAD IT IN CLOSED SESSION BEFORE WE WERE IN NEGOTIATIONS ON A CONTRACT THAT WAS NOT DECIDED AND IT WAS [OVERLAPPING].
THAT WAS VERY APPROPRIATE TO HAVE IT IN CLOSED SESSION.
[NOISE] BUT THE MATTER OF THE FACT IS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.
THERE'S A LOT OF PIECES THAT ARE PART OF THIS HERE.
AT THE H-GAC MEETING AND THE TXDOT MEETING WILL BE A VERY GIANT STEP FORWARD ON THAT COMING UP HERE.
BUT MORE THAN THAT, THE NAVIGATION DISTRICT IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THIS.
WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE AND WE HAVE TALKED WITH THEM AND WE WORKED OUT VERBALLY SOMEWHAT OF AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM ON HOW THEY CAN ASSIST WITH THIS FUNDING.
>> THEY SAID THEY'D LOOK AT IT.
>> YES. THEY CONTACTED ME AND SAID WE'RE READY TO SEE IT IN WRITING AND WE'RE READY TO MOVE FORWARD.
>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THEY HAVE THE MONEY?
>> THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO PUT IT IN WRITING, AND THEN WE'LL GET WITH THEM AND SEE WHAT THEY SAY.
>> YOU'RE REFERRING TO THEM BORROWING THE MONEY SO WE COULD HAVE IT UP FRONT WHEN WE'RE NEEDED.
>> WE NEED THE MONEY [OVERLAPPING] BEFORE WE SIGN THE AFA.
>> THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING. WHAT I READ IN THIS SUMMARY WAS THAT THE NAVIGATION DISTRICT DOESN'T HAVE THAT MONEY RIGHT NOW. [OVERLAPPING].
>> THEY'RE NEVER GOING TO GO OUT AND BORROW IT.
WE COULD GET IT UP FRONT FOR THE AFA LIKE YOU DESCRIBED.
>> LET ME MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND AT LEAST FROM MY UNDERSTANDING,
[04:40:05]
NAVIGATION DISTRICT HAS A COMMITMENT OF $10 MILLION.TXDOT IS TELLING THEM THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THAT MONEY UNTIL THEY LEFT THIS PROJECT.
>> THAT WOULD BE LIKE 2031, SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE, OR 2029 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT IF WE SIGN THE AFA, THE ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT, THEN THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THESE PARTICIPANTS' MONEY.
WHEN WE SIGN THAT NOTE, WE FEEL THAT WE NEED TO HAVE THEIR MONEY TO US.
WE CAN'T SIGN THAT AND THEN THREE YEARS LATER [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE HAVE TO HAVE THEIR MONEY.
>> TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THE NAVIGATION DISTRICT, BASED ON OUR REQUIREMENTS, IF WE SIGN THE AFA, HAS TO HAVE THAT MONEY COME UP SHORTLY.
THEY DON'T HAVE IT. THEY HAVE ABOUT SEVEN MILLION OF THE 10 MILLION.
LET'S SAY THEY COME UP WITH THAT MONEY BY BORROWING IT OR WHATEVER.
BUT IN ORDER FOR THEM TO PAY THAT BACK, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REMAIN IN EXISTENCE AS A TAXING ENTITY FOR I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS IT'S GOING TO TAKE.
>> WELL, THAT IS CORRECT. YES, SIR.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THE DETAILS BECAUSE WE'RE NEGOTIATING WITH NAVIGATION DISTRICT, AND THIS IS REALLY A TOUCHY SUBJECT RIGHT NOW.
BUT LET'S JUST SAY I THINK WE WORK SOMETHING OUT WITH THEM THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR BOTH PARTIES.
>> JUST BECAUSE WE SIGN AN AFA DOESN'T MEAN THERE'S A NEW BRIDGE THERE TOMORROW.
IT'S UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE NAVIGATION DISTRICT.
I THINK IT'LL TAKE THREE YEARS TO GET THIS BRIDGE BUILT AND PROMULGATING.
>> THE MOST FRUSTRATING TO ME IS I'VE BEEN TELLING TXDOT SINCE I WAS AT THE COUNTY THAT THE PELICAN ISLAND BRIDGE ENDS AT 51ST AND POSTOFFICE.
IT DOES NOT END AT THE FOOT OF THE BRIDGE NEXT TO SYLVAN.
I HAVE BEEN GOING ROUND AND ROUND WITH THEM WITH THIS FOR 20 YEARS ABOUT THIS DAMN BRIDGE.
NOW, ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT'S BECOME APPARENT THAT OH-OH, AND WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS 1,000 TIMES WITH THEM.
>> TXDOT SAID THEY ONLY HAVE ONE BRIDGE.
THEY NEVER WOULD ACCEPT THE NAVIGATION DISTRICT [OVERLAPPING] HAS TWO BRIDGES.
>> I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE NAVIGATION DISTRICT HAS GIVEN US ONLY TWO CHOICES.
THAT IS, ONE, TO DISSOLVE, AND TWO, TO EXTEND THEIR TAXABLE BASE TO DO THIS.
CAN'T THE NAVIGATION DISTRICT REMAIN AS IT IS AS A CONTRIBUTOR TO THIS WHOLE PROJECT IN PERPETUITY AS IT IS?
>> YOU'RE BEING ALL REASONABLE. [LAUGHTER].
>> WE HAVE ASKED THAT WE HAVE BROACHED THAT SUBJECT.
THE SITUATION IS THE NAVIGATION DISTRICT HAS TO MAKE A DECISION ON THAT.
THAT BOARD HAS THEIR OWN VOTE ON THAT.
I DON'T WANT TO GET OUT, BUT THEY HAD MENTIONED TO THE CITY THAT ONCE THEY SATISFY THEIR DEMOLITION TO THAT BRIDGE AND GET THOSE COSTS TOGETHER, THEY WILL DISSOLVE THE NAVIGATION DISTRICT.
>> WELL, THEN THE QUESTION BECOMES, FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS ABOUT HOW YOU CREATE A TAXING DISTRICT LIKE THAT.
>> WELL, COULD WE GET A NEW TAXING DISTRICT THAT GETS TO REPLACE THE OLD ONE BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT THAT?
>> THAT WOULDN'T [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT GOES AGAINST EVERY FIBER IN OUR REPUBLICAN-LED STATE LEGISLATURES BEING.
>> OR DOES LEGISLATURE REQUIRE THAT THE NAVIGATION DISTRICT OR IN SOME FORM REMAINS AS IT IS?
>> I'D GET ON MY HANDS AND KNEES AND BEG THEM TO STAY ON FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME TO CONTRIBUTE TO ANYTHING EXTRA AND THEN DISSOLVE.
>> I DIDN'T WANT TO GET INTO IT, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WHERE WE'RE HEADING, YES, SIR.
>> I WOULD OBSERVE THAT SENATOR TAYLOR YEARS AGO SAID NAVIGATION DISTRICT JUST NEEDS TO GO AWAY.
>> THERE'S A SENTIMENT OUT THERE.
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT THE NAVIGATION DISTRICT NECESSARILY DISAGREES WITH THAT.
>> IN THE NAVIGATION DISTRICT, WE MET WITH THEIR OFFICERS.
THEY'RE VERY OPEN TO WORK WITH US AS MUCH AS THEY CAN ON THIS.
I DON'T WANT TO LEAD THE PUBLIC TO HAVE A FEELING THE NAVIGATION DISTRICT IS A PROBLEM HERE.
THEY ARE NOT. WE JUST NEED [OVERLAPPING].
>> HAVE A VERY CORDIAL RELATIONSHIP.
[04:45:01]
>> WE DO. THEY WERE VERY OPEN TO WORK WITH US AND FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE COMMUNITY.
WE JUST NEED TO WORK ALL THOSE DETAILS OUT.
>> FOR THIS MEETING ON AUGUST 6 WITH H-GAC AND TXDOT, AND BRIAN, I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING THAT H-GAC IS OUR FRIEND, I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE THAT WE DO NOT SADDLE THE CITIZENS OF GALVESTON WITH THE ONGOING MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF THAT BRIDGE.
>> BUT WE WILL. THIS BRIDGE IS GOING TO BE AROUND FOR 50 YEARS.
>> BUT I CAN TELL YOU WHEN I DISCUSSED A PAST FRIDAY WITH THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE TPC THAT THEY'RE WANTING A CITY OF 53,000 TO ASSUME AN OFF-SYSTEM BRIDGE THAT THEY ALL AGREED THAT IT WAS NOT A GOOD IDEA.
LIKE I SAID, IT WAS A MEETING I DIDN'T WANT TO GO TO, AND I WAS JUST SO DAMN HAPPY THAT I WENT BECAUSE [OVERLAPPING].
>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE'S A FOUR-CENT TAX RATE OUT THERE SUPPORTING THE CURRENT BRIDGE, AND THEY'RE ASKING US TO ABSORB IT.
YOU JUST WENT THROUGH YOUR BUDGET.
>> IT'S MORE THAN [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT MONEY IS GOING TO GO AWAY WHEN THE NAVIGATION DISTRICT GOES AWAY.
>> I BEAT THIS DRUM LAST TIME AND I TALKED WITH DON ABOUT IT AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE TOUCHED ON IN THE MEETING EARLIER WHERE [NOISE] TO MAKE THE FUNDING FROM THE PORT LESS VOLATILE AND COUNTING CARS SORT OF THING.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE USING THIS BRIDGE ONCE WE GET TO PELICAN ISLAND OR PRIOR TO.
I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IN A CHARTER AMENDMENT WE COULD BEGIN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PORT ON IS DOING SOMETHING LIKE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE DEBT SERVICE FUND WHERE WE ESCALATE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.
THAT WAY WE'RE NOT DIPPING INTO THE PORT'S POCKETS AND GETTING INTO THAT, WELL, YOU'RE HURTING OUR LIABILITIES AND THIS THING.
BUT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, AFTER THE BRIDGE IS BUILT, AND THAT WAY WE HAVE A CLEAR STRUCTURE FOR REVENUE SO WE'RE NOT ISSUING DEBT AND NOT CROSSING THAT STATE LAW BOUNDARY.
JUST SOMETHING THAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT AND WE CAN GET, LIKE I SAID, CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PORT WHEN WE HAVE OUR JOINT MEETINGS.
THAT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE ALL COULD BE AMENABLE TO AND THAT WAY IT SOLVES A FUTURE PROBLEM NOW WHERE WE CAN BEGIN THE CONVERSATION OF YOU'RE GOING TO BE UTILIZING IT EVERY LET'S LOOK AT BECAUSE THE VIADUCT IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM, AND IT IS.
>> THAT IS A BIG SERVICE ROAD ENTRY INTO THE PORT.
>> IT'S ALSO GOING TO BE A CONSTRAINT.
>> IT WILL. SO IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY WHERE WE CAN COST SHARE THAT WITH THE INDUSTRY.
>> I THINK IT'S A CONVERSATION WORTH HAVING.
AS YOU KNOW, THE PORT FOR SO MANY YEARS KICKED THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD ON INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS FOR 40, 50 YEARS.
WE JUST BROKE GROUND TWO DAYS AGO FOR A $90 MILLION IMPROVEMENT ON THE CARGO AREA THERE.
WE PROBABLY NEED ABOUT $400 MILLION IMPROVEMENTS OVER THERE.
>> BUT THE OTHER POINT THAT I DON'T THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET ACROSS IS AND IT WAS IDEAL TO USE THE PARKING SITUATION AT THE PORT BECAUSE IT GAVE A QUANTIFIER.
BECAUSE WE MAY BE A CITY OF 53,000, BUT IF WE'RE NOW GENERATING THREE MILLION DOLLARS PER DOLLAR PER CAR, WE HAVE A LOT MORE CARS AND TRUCKS, THAT DOESN'T EVEN COUNT TOURISM.
WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING AT GIVING US MONEY FOR ROADS, THEY HAVE TO USE A QUANTIFIED NUMBER, NOT THE POPULATION [OVERLAPPING] BECAUSE THAT'S A MAJOR FALL IN THE SYSTEM.
>> VERY MUCH SO. WELL, VERY GOOD.
>> SENATOR BARGE SHOULD HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB, I GUESS.
>> I'M GLAD YOU SAID IT. [LAUGHTER].
>> SPEAKING OF SENATORS, CAN WE GET OUR CURRENT CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE STATE TO HELP US WITH SOME OF THIS?
>> WE HAVE BEEN VISITING WITH THEM CONSTANTLY, YES, SIR.
SENATOR MIDDLETON HAS TALKED WITH US ABOUT THIS.
HE WAS NOT PRESENT BECAUSE HE COULDN'T BE HERE.
BUT [OVERLAPPING] HIS REPRESENTATIVES WERE HERE WHEN WE'VE BEEN MEETING,
[04:50:01]
AND SO IS TERRI LEO-WILSON'S REPRESENTATIVES ALSO. YES, SIR, WE HAVE.>> THEY GOT TO UNDERSTAND OUR SITUATION WITH MAKING THIS A LOCAL BRIDGE.
I WONDER IF THERE'S ANY OTHER PLACES IN THE STATE THAT ARE SUFFERING THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCE AS A SMALL TOWN WITH A BIG BRIDGE THAT THE STATE WON'T TAKE.
>> NOT QUITE IN THIS SITUATION THOUGH.
>> I AT ONE POINT TRIED TO SEE IF WE COULD GET THEM TO MAKE THIS AN ON-SYSTEM BRIDGE.
SOMEBODY AT TXDOT TOLD ME, YOU KNOW HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITIES OR BRIDGES THAT ARE OUT THERE TRYING TO GET ON-SYSTEM BRIDGES? WE DON'T WANT TO OPEN UP THAT GATE. WE DON'T WANT [OVERLAPPING].
>> BUT CONNECTING TO A STATE HIGHWAY [OVERLAPPING] FEET IN THE AIR.
>> WELL, I UNDERSTAND. [OVERLAPPING]
>> CONNECTING A MAJOR STATE UNIVERSITY.
>> THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING CONGRESSIONAL PEOPLE CAN HELP US, I THINK, WITH THAT DETAIL ATTACHED TO IT.
>> WELL, [OVERLAPPING] LET'S JUST FINISH IT.
>> WELL, I CAN ALSO SAY ONE THING THEY HAVE HELPED US WITH IS TXDOT HAS COMMITTED TO ALL OVERRIDES, WHICH NEVER HAPPENS, AND THEY HAVE HELPED US WITH THAT.
>> YES. TXDOT IS GOING TO COVER THE COST OVERRUN.
>> IF IT WAS AN ON-SYSTEM BRIDGE, WE'D HAVE OUR PROBLEM SETTLED ANYWAY.
>> IF IT'S ON-SYSTEM BRIDGE [OVERLAPPING].
>> JUST PUT A DAMN TOLL ON IT AND EXEMPT THE UNIVERSITY.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THEN WHO WOULD PAY FOR THE BRIDGE? [LAUGHTER].
>> WE'LL PUT THIS BACK ON OUR AGENDA TO HAVE A DIFFERENT REPORT BACK TO COUNCIL ONCE WE HAVE THESE MANY MEETINGS AND FINISH UP WITH THIS, SO GOOD.
COUNCIL, IF IT MET YOUR APPROVAL, IT'S 1:32 PM.
>> YES, MA'AM. WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, GUYS, APPRECIATE IT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.