[00:00:02]
>> 9:00 AM, I AM OFFICIALLY GOING TO CALL THE WORKSHOP FOR
[1. DECLARATION OF A QUORUM AND CALL MEETING TO ORDER]
THE CITY OF GALVESTON'S CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER FOR THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12.GOOD TO SEE ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE THIS MORNING.
SHARON LEWIS WILL NOT BE WITH US THIS MORNING.
SHE HAS A COMMITMENT SHE CANNOT GET OUT OF, AND SO SHARON WILL BE GONE THE ENTIRE DAY.
ARE WE BROADCASTING ALSO, JANELLE?
>> I WANT TO WELCOME EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT MAY BE WATCHING THIS BROADCAST THIS MORNING.
WE'RE VERY GLAD TO HAVE YOU WITH US.
WE HAVE SOME SPECIAL GUESTS IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY.
WE HAVE THOSE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN THAT MAKE THIS CITY OPERATE.
YOU DON'T HEAR FROM THEM A LOT, THEY'RE SOMETIMES BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT THESE ARE THE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN FROM PUBLIC WORKS.
I THINK MOST OF YOU ARE FROM PUBLIC WORKS, IS THAT CORRECT? FROM PUBLIC WORKS THAT ARE OUT THERE LATE AT NIGHT, DURING THE STORMS, WORKING WEEKENDS, OVERTIME TO MAKE THIS CITY AS SUCCESSFUL AS IT IS, I MENTIONED TO HIM EARLIER, BUT THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING.
I APPRECIATE THAT. SAYING THAT, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM, BUT LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
>> AS THE MAYOR STATED, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS IS ABSENT.
>> VERY GOOD. LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 3A, PLEASE.
[3.A. Discussion of Amendments to Chapter 15 as it Relates to Changes in the Rates of Solid Waste Removal]
>> ITEM 3A: DISCUSSION OF AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 15 AS IT RELATES TO CHANGES IN THE RATES OF SOLID WASTE REMOVAL.
>> THIS ITEM, COUNCIL, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAD DISCUSSED THIS AT OUR LAST MEETING OR MAYBE THE MEETING BEFORE ON THIS.
TODAY, IT IS ITEM 5B ON OUR AGENDA FOR POTENTIAL ACTION ON THIS.
I WOULD MENTION THOUGH THAT WITH COUNCILWOMAN LEWIS OUT AND HER DESIRE TO HAVE INPUT ON THIS, I'M GOING TO PROBABLY BRING FORWARD A MOTION TO DEFER THIS ITEM UNTIL OUR SEPTEMBER 19 MEETING SO THAT WE CAN HAVE ALL OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT AHEAD.
I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND FOR COUNCIL TO CONSIDER DEFERRING THAT ITEM UNTIL OUR SEPTEMBER 19TH MEETING.
SAYING THAT, WE HAVE GUESTS ALSO.
WE HAVE ONE OF OUR CONSULTANTS HERE.
BRANDON, I'M GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO YOU AND LET YOU INTRODUCE EVERYONE AND LEAD US THROUGH THIS.
AS YOU MAY REMEMBER, COUNCIL, THIS WAS DEFERRED.
I KNOW COUNCILWOMAN ROBB WANTED TO DEFER THIS ITEM TO GET MORE INPUT, WORKING WITH STAFF ON THE IMPACT OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS ON SANITATION AND ALL THAT.
MARIE, DID YOU GET ANY INFORMATION ON THAT?
>> WELL, I THOUGHT STAFF WAS GOING TO.
>> IT'S PART OF THIS PRESENTATION.
>> ALSO, THIERRY BOVERI IS ON THE LINE WITH RAFTELIS.
YOU GUYS MET HIM IN JULY AT YOUR WORKSHOP MEETING, WHO'S THE CONSULTANT THAT PERFORMED THE REVENUE SUFFICIENCY ANALYSIS WITH THIS.
JUST IN CASE YOU HAD ANY MORE TECHNICAL QUESTIONS ON THE MODELING THAT WENT INTO IT, AND HE'S AVAILABLE THERE ON THE TELEPHONE.
HE DOES HAVE A HEART STOP AT 10:00 AM OR SLIGHTLY BEFORE THAT AS HE'S IN THE AIRPORT RIGHT NOW TRYING TO CATCH A FLIGHT.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO PRESENT THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR SANITATION HERE THAT'S IN YOUR CURRENT BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025.
ESSENTIALLY WHAT THIS IS SHOWING IS ALMOST A $600,000 DEFICIT THAT'S GOING ON IN THE FUND, WHICH WILL DRAW DOWN YOUR FUND BALANCE TO BELOW $800,000.
NOW, YOUR 90-DAY TARGET IS 2.5, THAT GIVES US ENOUGH CUSHION TO BE ABLE TO PAY BILLS OR WHAT HAVE YOU AND SALARIES AND EVERYTHING ELSE IN CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS BARREL OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
NOW, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THOUGH THAT THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY BARREL PROJECTIONS IN THIS DOLLAR AMOUNT.
I TALKED TO TESSA LAST WEEK AND WE'RE ALREADY SEEING JUST IN THE SANITATION FUND ALONE, ABOUT $1.7 MILLION WORTH OF EXPENSES IN SANITATION FUND ALONE,
[00:05:02]
AND THAT NUMBER KEEPS GOING UP.>> WELL, WE ALL WENT THROUGH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TRAINING.
I KNOW IN ALL OUR TRASH TRUCKS, WE HAVE VIDEOS AND WHATNOT, [NOISE] AND THEY CLEARLY PRESENTED MULTIPLE DIFFERENT AVENUES WHERE WE COULD GET REIMBURSEMENT AT LEAST BY OUR STATE OF EMERGENCY WAS IN EFFECT.
AS LONG AS WE HAD DOCUMENTATION, DOCUMENTATION, DOCUMENTATION, AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND ABOUT OUR TRASH SYSTEM, THAT WE SHOULD HAVE THAT DOCUMENTATION.
>> WE DO, AND THAT'S THE PROCESS THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH.
HOWEVER, FEMA IS NOTORIOUSLY SLOW IN REIMBURSING.
>> GRANTED, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A [OVERLAPPING] BUT THAT'S ALSO WHY WE HAVE ESTABLISHED CREDIT LINES TO MAKE THOSE.
>> YOU REALLY WANT TO PAY INTEREST ON THIS?
>> WE'VE GOT [INAUDIBLE] INTEREST RATE.
>> MAYBE THERE'S SOME OTHER AREAS THAT WE COULD ADDRESS TO SAY [OVERLAPPING].
>> IN SANITATION? COULD YOU BE SPECIFIC? WELL, THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY WOULD COME FROM BECAUSE IT'S A SANITATION [OVERLAPPING].
>> I'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT REVENUE SOURCES THAT WE COULD LOOK AT WITH SHORT-TERM RENTALS, AND [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY FINE WITH ME.
>> I JUST WANTED TO REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT EVEN THOUGH YOUR BUDGET IS PROJECTING $800,000 WORTH OF FUND BALANCE AT THE END OF NEXT FISCAL YEAR, THAT MAY NOT BE THERE AT SOME POINT, AND WE MAY HAVE TO LOOK AT ELIMINATING SOME TYPE OF SERVICES OR AT LEAST FURLOUGHING SERVICES OR WHAT HAVE YOU, MAYBE SOME BULK WAYS PICK UP, THOSE ARE GOING TO NEED TO STOP AT SOME POINT NEXT FISCAL YEAR DEPENDING ON HOW THE REIMBURSEMENTS COME BACK FROM FEMA, UNLESS WE GET CREATIVE WITH FINANCING AND FIND ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE WAY TO GO ABOUT FINANCING SOME OF THE CASH FLOW PROBLEMS THAT WE MAY EXPERIENCE.
IT'S ALL GOING TO BE IN FEMA'S HANDS AT THIS POINT.
>> EVEN IF YOU GET YOUR FEMA REIMBURSEMENT, YOUR FUND IS STILL PRINTING AT A DEFICIT.
>> YOU CAN ONLY CONTINUE THIS FOR SO LONG.
>> AS INDICATED ON THE NEXT SLIDE HERE, THIS ALSO CAME OUT OF THE PRESENTATION FROM JULY, AND THIS SHOWS REALLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
YOU GET THIS DEFICIT THAT STARTS COMPOUNDING OVER TIME, AND THEN PRETTY SOON, YOU'RE OPERATING AS A REALLY LARGE DEFICIT, AND YOU'VE GOT TO COME UP WITH ADDITIONAL REVENUES TO PUMP INTO THE FUND, BE IT GENERAL FUND DOLLARS OR WHAT HAVE YOU, BUT UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE FACED RIGHT NOW AND THE GENERAL FUND, THAT DOESN'T EVEN SEEM TO BE A FEASIBLE OPTION.
BUT THAT'S ONE OF YOUR MOST FLEXIBLE CASH SOURCES AS A MUNICIPALITY.
THEN YOU START GETTING INTO SITUATIONS WHERE YOU CAN'T FUND REPLACEMENT OF VEHICLES, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT VEHICLES THAT ARE DOWN, AND THEN YOU CAN'T PROVIDE SERVICE, AND THEN THE RESIDENTS ARE CALLING AND COMPLAINING BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TRUCKS TO PICK UP TRASH.
THAT'S WHAT THAT SLIDE INDICATES.
WHEN WE WORKSHOPPED THIS LAST TIME WITH THE COUNCIL, ONE OF THE SUGGESTIONS WAS TO LOOK AT THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL MARKET OPTIONS TO SEE IF WE CAN APPLY COMMERCIAL RATES TO THAT IN ORDER TO REDUCE THIS.
I DID TALK TO SOME OF THE STAFF MEMBERS HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
SOME OF THE IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES, IF YOU RECALL, I SAID, WELL, WE'D PROBABLY BE A YEAR AWAY FROM BEING ABLE TO ACTUALLY BILL PEOPLE IN THAT FASHION.
BECAUSE OF A LOT OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
NUMBER 1, THERE'S A LOT OF DISCREPANCIES IN THE ADDRESS DATA THAT SIT IN THE PARK BOARD SOFTWARE, AND EVERYBODY THAT LIVES IN GALVESTON AND HE WORKS IN GALVESTON EVEN KNOWS THIS, HOW WE'VE GOT SEVERAL DIFFERENT NAMES FOR STREETS LIKE 823 ROSENBERG VERSUS 823 25TH STREET.
THEN IF YOU ABBREVIATE THE STREET AND JUST PUT ST IN THERE, THAT'S A THIRD CONFLICT.
HOPE WENT THROUGH THE DATA TO TRY TO JUST DO A SAMPLE ON THE DATA ITSELF, AND THAT THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT POPPED OUT.
NOW, THE PARK BOARD SOFTWARE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE GIS-BASED AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO GEO-CODE IT, SO WHERE YOU COULD DO A SPECIAL ANALYSIS ON THERE, BUT APPARENTLY, THAT LAYER HASN'T BEEN FULLY IMPLEMENTED AT THIS POINT.
EVEN STILL IF IT IS IMPLEMENTED, YOU STILL WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO A REAL SPATIAL ANALYSIS ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS BECAUSE OF THE MULTI-FAMILY TYPE PROPERTIES THAT YOU HAVE OVER THERE,
[00:10:01]
WHERE YOU MAY HAVE A DUPLEX, AND THEN ONE OF THE UNITS OPERATES AS A SHORT-TERM RENTAL AND THE OTHER UNIT IS A LONG-TERM RENTAL, BUT THEY'RE BOTH SITTING ON THE SAME PARCEL OVER THERE, AND SO YOU CAN'T PULL THOSE APART SPATIALLY.>> WITH ONE BILL ONE METER, WHICH LEADS INTO MORE POLICY CONSIDERATIONS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO WORK THROUGH AND DETERMINE, DO WE WANT TO TREAT THE ENTIRE PARCEL AS SHORT-TERM RENTALS EVEN IF IT'S 100 UNITS, AND THERE'S ONE SITTING ON THERE? IS ALL OF THEM GOING TO BE SHORT-TERM RENTALS OR WHAT HAVE YOU? WE'D HAVE TO WORK WITH THE COUNCIL AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO TREAT THAT.
ALSO, YOU RUN INTO OTHER NUANCES IN THIS MARKET WHERE A PERSON MAY JUST RENT OUT A BEDROOM, AND THEN NOW ARE YOU GOING TO TREAT THIS PERSON THAT JUST RENTS OUT THEIR BEDROOM DURING LONE STAR RALLY OR WHAT HAVE YOU? ARE YOU GOING TO APPLY THIS COMMERCIAL RATE TO THEIR PROPERTY FOR THE ENTIRE? THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL WANTS TO DO, I'M NOT CERTAIN.
HOWEVER, THERE IS NO API PLUG-IN OR ANYTHING BETWEEN THE TWO SYSTEMS, SO WE WOULD HAVE TO PROGRAM SOME TYPE OF PLUG-IN EITHER OR WE WOULD HAVE TO HIRE PEOPLE TO KEEP THE DATA UP TO DATE BECAUSE THIS DATA ISN'T STATIC, THE MARKET IS CONSTANTLY SHIFTING.
WE'RE NOW SEEING A DECLINE IN SHORT-TERM RENTALS, SO IT MAY NOT EVEN BE A [OVERLAPPING].
>> SINCE I PULLED THE INFORMATION FROM BRYSON A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.
>> WELL I PULLED THE INFORMATION LAST MONTH AND IT'S BACK UP.
>> CAN YOU FORWARD THAT TO EVERYBODY?
>> I THOUGHT I HAD TO KNOW, I DID THAT ACTUALLY LAST MONTH, BUT I'LL BRIEF FORWARD IT.
>> I WAS SPEAKING ANECDOTALLY WHENEVER I SAID THAT BECAUSE I'VE HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE PULLING OUT OF THE MARKET AND SHIFTING TO LONG-TERM LEASES, SO I REALLY DON'T [OVERLAPPING].
>> WELL, THAT MAY BE THE CASE.
BUT I THINK IN JANUARY IS WHEN THEY ASKED FOR NEW REGISTRATIONS AS WELL, SO WE MAY BE ABLE TO GET UPDATED DATA HERE SOON.
>> IS THIS DATA THAT YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO GEO-LOCATE? IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET THAT DATA IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS, TO RELY ON GIS?
>> I'D HAVE TO WORK WITH THE PARK BOARD ON THAT.
WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THEIR.
>> THEIR REGISTRATION OR APPLICATION PROCESS.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF IT'S DATA THAT THEY INCLUDE IN THEIR APPLICATION.
>> THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING, IF IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AS A REVENUE SOURCE.
LET'S GO TO WHERE WE CAN GET THAT DATA, WHETHER IT'S GIS OR WHETHER IT'S IN THE APPLICATION.
>> THIS IS PART OF THE ONGOING DISCUSSION ABOUT US DOING THE REGISTRATION BECAUSE, IN CONCEPT, IT SOUNDS REALLY GOOD THAT THEY DO IT.
YOU'RE PUTTING IT WHERE THE EXPERTISE IS.
BUT IN REALITY, EVERYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH THAT REGISTRATION IS WHAT THE CITY DEALS WITH, SO REALLY, THE CITY SHOULD BE DOING THE REGISTRATION.
>> I WOULD MENTION TOO ON THIS WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SHORT-TERM RENTALS AROUND ME, SHORT-TERM RENTALS ARE ONE WEEKEND, A SHORT-TERM RENTAL FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, THEY ARE LONG-TERM, THEN THEY MIGHT BE A SHORT TERM FOR THREE OR FOUR DAYS AND THEN THEY ARE LONG-TERM FOR ANOTHER SIX MONTHS, IT MOVES BACK AND FORTH.
>> WE'VE GOT TO GET A HANDLE ON THAT.
THERE'S A WAY TO REGULATE THAT [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT'S EASIER TO PICK THEM OUT IN COUNCIL MEMBER ROBB'S DISTRICT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE.
>> I GUESS, BRANDON, MAYBE YOU'RE GETTING TO THIS, BUT, EVEN IF YOU WERE TO ASSUME 4,800 UNITS OR WHATEVER, WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF A POTENTIAL, EVEN IF YOU ASSUMED 100% COMPLIANCE COMMERCIAL BILLING RATES, WHAT'S THE DOLLAR VALUE ON 4,800 UNITS CHANGING FROM [OVERLAPPING]?
>> WELL, WE WOULD HAVE TO STUDY THAT ADDITIONALLY BECAUSE THE CURRENT STUDY THAT WE DID WAS BASED ON PRIVATE SECTOR MARKET RATES ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE OF THE EQUATION, AND IF WE WERE GOING TO APPLY THAT TO SHORT-TERM RENTALS, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO CHARGE THAT AMOUNT BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE TO DO A COST OF SERVICE ANALYSIS.
TERRY, THIS IS THE PART THAT YOU CAN WEIGH IN ON IF YOU'RE STILL AVAILABLE.
>> FOR THE COMMUNITY ENTITIES AND WHO THAT IS AND WHO HE REPRESENTS?
>> YES. THIS IS THIERRY BOVERI, HE'S WITH RAFTELIS.
HE IS OUR CONSULTANT WITH REGARD TO THE SANITATION RATES AND REVENUES.
>> YES. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
THIERRY BOVERI FOR THE RECORD.
WE HAD DONE A LITTLE BIT OF A WORK PAPER BECAUSE BRANDON HAD FIRST BROUGHT THIS CONCEPT TO US A LITTLE WHILE AGO, AND WE HAD A CONVERSATION.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID IS A HYPOTHETICAL SCENARIO WHERE WE SAID, OKAY, WELL, THE 2025 RATE REVENUE ADJUSTMENT FOR THE SOLID WASTE SYSTEM IS ESTIMATED TO PRODUCE A LITTLE OVER $1 MILLION PER YEAR, AND HOW MANY RESIDENTIAL UNITS WOULD NEED TO FLIP TO THE COMMERCIAL RATE TO OFFSET THAT ADDITIONAL REVENUE.
THE THING THAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT
[00:15:04]
THE COMMERCIAL RATE IS THAT IF THEY'RE ON A SINGLE-FAMILY RATE RIGHT NOW, AND THEY'RE GETTING SOMETHING LIKE $25 A MONTH AS WHAT THEY'RE PAYING, THE LOWEST COMMERCIAL RATE WE HAVE IS A $70.58 RATE BEING PROPOSED, AND THAT HAS TWO CARTS.WE DON'T HAVE A RATE FOR ONE CART COMMERCIAL SERVICE, ALTHOUGH WE COULD CERTAINLY, CREATE AN EQUIVALENCY.
BUT IF YOU CHARGE THE TWO CART RATE, WHETHER THEY HAVE ONE OR TWO CARTS, THEN YOU'D NEED ABOUT A LITTLE UNDER 2,000 UNITS TO FLIP OVER.
IF YOU CHARGE THEM A ONE CART COMMERCIAL RATE, THEN YOU NEED CLOSER TO 3,600, 3,800 UNITS TO OFFSET THE RATE INCREASE.
A GOOD PORTION OF THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS ACTUALLY HAVE UP TO FOUR CARTS.
IT'S VERY RARE FOR A SHORT-TERM RENTAL TO HAVE ONE CART.
WE CHARGE AN ADDITIONAL CART RATE, AND WE ACTUALLY USED TO ALLOW UP TO SIX CARTS, WHICH SOME NEIGHBORHOODS ACTUALLY HAVE IN THEIR DEED RESTRICTIONS, THAT SHORT-TERM RENTALS HAVE TO HAVE SIX CARTS. DID YOU?
I JUST NEED TO CLARIFY SOMETHING THAT THIS IS A HYPOTHETICAL CALCULATION THAT WE ARE DOING.
IF THOSE CUSTOMERS HAD MORE CARS, THEN THE RATE DIFFERENTIAL THAT THEY WOULD BE GOING FROM WOULD BE SMALLER, SO YOU'D NEED EVEN MORE UNITS TO CONVERT TO THE HIGHER RATE.
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT I THINK BRANDON POINTED OUT IS THAT THE COMMERCIAL RATE THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED IS MORE OF A MARKET BASED RATE.
I WAS GENERALLY OKAY WITH THAT RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE IN THEORY, THESE CUSTOMERS THEY HAVE ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE SERVICE PROVIDER OPTION.
FOR THE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS, THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE THAT OPTION.
THEY HAVE TO GO WITH THE CITY SERVICE.
THEREFORE, I HAD MENTIONED TO BRANDON, WE MAY WANT TO SEEK SOME LEGAL COUNSEL INPUT AND IT PROBABLY BE THE SAFEST THING TO DO IS TO LOOK AT IT FROM SERVICE STANDPOINT.
ON A COST OF SERVICE BASIS, WE KNOW THAT THE RATE WOULD BE LESS THAN THE MARKET RATE.
THOSE WERE SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THAT WE SAW, BUT WE ATTEMPTED TO TRY TO EXPLORE THAT CONCEPT FULLY AT A HIGH LEVEL TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE SOME OF THESE THINGS TO YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
>> YEAH. BECAUSE AS A MUNICIPALITY, WE'RE PROHIBITED FROM GENERATING A PROFIT.
THAT'S THE WHOLE COST OF SERVICE BASIS ANALYSIS, AND WHILE WE FUND THESE STUDIES AND EVERYTHING ELSE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT OVERCHARGING OUR CUSTOMERS.
THAT WAS ONE OF THOSE ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE DID IN ADDITION TO POTENTIAL LEGAL CHALLENGES THAT DON MAY WANT TO WEIGH IN WITH RESPECT TO SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND HOW THEY'RE CLASSIFIED AS RESIDENTIAL.
OUR DIRECTOR OF SANITATION DID PERFORM A SAMPLE OF THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS VERSUS OUR ACCOUNTS.
HE SHOWED NO STATISTICAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STR SERVICE LEVELS AND OUR TYPICAL RESIDENTIAL SERVICE LEVELS.
HOWEVER, WE DO BELIEVE THAT SOME OF THE CHARGES THAT COUNSEL IMPLEMENTED LAST YEAR, WITH RESPECT TO THE EXTRA BAGGAGE FEES AND RETURN TRICK FEES OR WHAT HAVE YOU, WE BELIEVE THAT THOSE SHORT-TERM RENTALS THAT ARE NOT PROPERLY MANAGED WILL BE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY THAT AND MAY CONTRIBUTE ADDITIONAL REVENUES TOWARD THE BOTTOM LINE OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
[NOISE] THOSE WERE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE SAW OVER THERE, OBVIOUSLY.
I'D LIKE TO OVERCOME THEM, BUT IT WILL TAKE TIME.
>> I'D LIKE TO STAY ON THE LEGAL CHALLENGE FOR A SECOND.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE AN UPDATE RELATED TO HOW OUR COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR IS MOVING FORWARD WITH USING PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS?
>> THAT IS NOT A DECISION MADE BY THE COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR.
>> DODD, IS YOUR MICROPHONE WORKING THERE? THAT GET YOU MAKE SURE THEY CAN HEAR YOU.
[00:20:02]
>> WHATEVER APPROPRIATE JURISDICTION, MY APOLOGIES.
>> THAT IS NOT A DECISION MADE BY THE COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR.
THAT IS A ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE NOW BEING IMPLEMENTED BY THE GALVESTON COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
THAT IS A RULE AND THAT RULE WOULD OF COURSE BE SUBJECT TO CHALLENGE.
I HAVE NOT HEARD THAT IT HAS BEEN CHALLENGED, BUT THAT COULD ALWAYS HAPPEN.
CONTINUING WITH THE LEGAL CHALLENGES IS SOMETHING ON THIS SHEET THAT YOU SHOULD BE PARTICULARLY AWARE OF THAT AND BRANDON HAS POINTED IT OUT, 5% MARGIN OF ERROR SHOWED NO STATISTICAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RESIDENTIAL VERSUS SHORT-TERM RENTAL RATES.
THERE'S NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT AT THIS TIME, IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMMERCIAL RATE.
NOW, STAFF BELIEVES THE RETURN TRIPS AND EXTRA FEES WILL BE DISPROPORTIONATE.
THAT'S A BELIEF, IT'S A HOPE, IT'S NOT EVIDENCE.
THERE IS A DIVERSITY IN HOW SHORT-TERM RENTALS ARE HANDLED.
CURRENTLY, THE CAD SAYS THEY'RE COMMERCIAL FOR PURPOSES OF INCLUSION OF PERSONAL PROPERTY IN A TAX RATE.
THAT'S FINE. THE SUPREME COURT SAYS THEY ARE A RESIDENTIAL USE.
I SUPPOSE DIFFERENT PEOPLE CAN CATEGORIZE SHORT-TERM RENTALS FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSES.
HOWEVER, YOU CANNOT IMPOSE A TAX UNLESS IT IS AUTHORIZED BY THE STATE.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COLLECTING A FEE OR A RATE IS THE RATE MUST BE CALCULATED CORRESPOND WITH RECOVERY OF THE COST OF SERVICE INCURRED BY THE ENTITY.
OUR CONSULTANT WAS JUST ON THE LINE AND HE HAS SAID, THEY HAVE NO EVIDENCE THAT THEY'VE DONE ON THIS.
MAYBE POTENTIALLY WITH FURTHER STUDY, THIS COULD BE BORNE OUT, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST NOT AT THIS TIME.
HAVE I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION?
>> JUST BECAUSE WE'RE STILL NOT BACK AFTER IN OUR HOME YET.
I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND LOOKING AT CAD AT THE SAME TIME TO SEE IF I MIGHT KNOW SOMEONE THAT OWNS A PROPERTY BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING FOR A LONGER-TERM RENTAL, AND IT IS BEING CHARGED.
>> JUST GIVEN THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED HERE, STAFF, WE'RE STICKING TO OUR CURRENT RECOMMENDATION FOR COUNCIL ON THE FEES THAT WE PROPOSED AT THE LAST MEETING AND THE RATE INCREASE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT ACROSS THE BOARD, WHICH IS LAID OUT THERE.
THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE UNLESS COUNCIL HAS ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
COUNCIL, QUESTIONS. WE'RE GOOD.
THANK YOU, BRANDON. THANK YOU, DON ON THAT. I APPRECIATE IT.
WELL, WE ARE NOW MOVING TO OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
WE'LL TAKE ABOUT A FIVE MINUTE BREAK, AND WE WILL RECONVENE IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS HERE.
IT IS 9:24, SO ABOUT 9:30, WE'LL RECONVENE IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS. THANK YOU.
WE HAVE NOW RECONVENED IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS FOR OUR WORKSHOP FOR SEPTEMBER 12, 2024.
WE ARE NOW GOING INTO OUR ITEMS. WE HAVE AN ACTION ITEM, AND WE HAVE ITEMS CONCERNING THE BUDGET AND OUR TAX RATE.
I WANT TO GO OVER JUST FOR EDUCATION, FOR OUR SAKE AND FOR EVERYONE LISTENING AND FOR THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT WE ARE GETTING READY TO DO NOW CONCERNING OUR BUDGET AND TAX RATE.
WE WILL NOT BE FINALLY APPROVING OUR TAX RATE TODAY, THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
THAT ACCORDING TO STATE LAW, THAT WE WILL HAVE A ITEM TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON OUR PROPOSED BUDGET, AND WE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING TODAY ON OUR PROPOSED TAX RATE.
THEN AFTER WE HAVE THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS, WE THEN CAN TAKE ACTION IF COUNCIL ELECTS TO,
[00:25:06]
TO APPROVE OUR BUDGET, BUT COUNCIL MAY NOT ELECT TO DO THAT AND WE'LL POSSIBLY ELECT TO MOVE THIS TO OUR SEPTEMBER 19TH AGENDA.ON THE RATIFICATION OF THE TAX RATE, THE WAY STATE LAW IS STRUCTURED IS THAT WE HAVE TO RATIFY THE TAX RATE, AND THEN DAYS AFTER THAT, THEN APPROVE A TAX RATE.
IT'S CONFUSING THE WAY THEY'VE SET IT UP.
BUT IN THE FLOW OF THE WAY THIS WORKS, WE HAVE TO APPROVE A BUDGET FIRST, EITHER TODAY OR ON SEPTEMBER 19TH, THEN WE HAVE TO APPROVE A RATIFICATION OF A TAX RATE.
THE IMPORTANT PART OF THAT TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET IS FOR THAT TAX RATE TO SUPPORT THAT BUDGET.
WE WILL THEN EITHER VOTE ON THE RATIFICATION OF THE TAX RATE EITHER TODAY OR SEPTEMBER 19TH.
THE FINAL PROCESS THOUGH IN THE FINAL VOTE ON APPROVING THE TAX RATE IS NOT TO TAKE PLACE TODAY.
IT WILL TAKE PLACE SEPTEMBER 19TH.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL CLEAR ON THAT.
STATE LAW HAS CHANGED RECENTLY ON THAT.
IT HAS ADDED SOME OTHER LITTLE IDIOSYNCRASIES TO THIS THAT MAKES IT A LITTLE MORE COMPLEX.
SAYING ALL THAT, LET'S MOVE TO 4A, PLEASE.
[4.A. Consider for action an ordinance of the City of Galveston, Texas, adopting the annual governmental and proprietary funds budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2024 and ending September 30, 2025; Making appropriations for city operations and capital projects for such fiscal year as reflected in such budget; Authorizing various other transfers; Approving and adopting the FY 2025 Capital Budget; Approving and adopting the FY 2025-2029 Capital Improvement Plan; and making various findings and provisions related to the subject and providing for an effective date. (Csilla Ludanyi)]
>> 4A. CONSIDER FOR ACTION, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, ADOPTING THE ANNUAL GOVERNMENTAL AND PROPRIETARY FUNDS BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2024, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025, MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR CITY OPERATIONS AND CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR SUCH FISCAL YEAR AS REFLECTED IN SUCH BUDGET.
AUTHORIZING VARIOUS OTHER TRANSFERS, APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE FY 2025 CAPITAL BUDGET.
APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE FY 2025 THROUGH 2029 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, AND MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> VERY GOOD. WE HAVE OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, CSILLA LUDANYI WITH US THIS MORNING.
WE HAVE BEEN MEETING COUNCIL WITH CSILLA FOR MANY MEETINGS NOW.
CSILLA, GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE OUR SUBJECT, PLEASE.
>> THERE WE ARE. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? AS COUNCIL KNOWS, WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING THE BUDGET SINCE JUNE 27TH, AND AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, WE'VE HAD LOTS OF MEETINGS AT THIS POINT.
THE TOTAL PROPOSED BUDGET THAT IS BEFORE YOU, INCLUDES $248.6 MILLION FOR CITY OPERATIONS.
IT INCLUDES 2.9 MILLION IN ONE TIME APPROPRIATIONS OF FUND BALANCE, AS WELL AS 264.7 MILLION FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
THE BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES AN AUTHORIZATION FOR 32.9 MILLION FOR SPENDING ON INTERNAL SERVICES, ITEMS LIKE INSURANCE.
FACILITIES, THAT THING, AND THESE ARE BILLED TO THE MAJOR OPERATING FUNDS.
THE ENDING FUND BALANCES OF THE BUDGET THAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED IS 77.7 MILLION.
THIS IS ALSO IDENTIFIED IN THE ORDINANCE AND IT IS CONSIDERED PART OF THE BUDGET.
THE CERTIFIED ROLE THAT THE PROPERTY TAXES BASED ON WAS RECEIVED ON JULY 23RD, AND ALL THE CALCULATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT ARE UPHELD IN STATE LAW FOR THE COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT, AS WELL AS THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR'S OFFICE, AND THEY COMPLETE THAT TRUTH AND TAXATION CALCULATION AND CERTIFY IT FOR THE CITY.
THE BUDGET WAS SUBMITTED TO COUNCIL ON AUGUST 8TH AS REQUIRED BY BOTH THE CITY CHARTER AND STATE LAW.
I'M NOT GOING TO READ YOU THE ENTIRE STAFF REPORT BECAUSE I'M SURE YOU'VE REVIEWED IT, BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AS WELL AS I GUESS, BEGIN THE PUBLIC HEARING WHENEVER THE MAYOR WOULD LIKE.
>> BEFORE WE BEGIN THE PUBLIC HEARING, I'VE REALLY GOT SOMETHING TO SAY.
I'M GLAD ALL THE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES ARE HERE, I'M GLAD THERE'S A BUNCH OF TAXPAYERS HERE AS WELL.
EACH TIME WE'VE GOTTEN SOMETHING BACK FROM OUR BUDGET OFFICER BRIAN, IT'S BEEN TO IMPOSE COSTS ON THE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES AND REMOVE THE COLLAR.
I KNOW THAT'S ALL WHILE THESE YELLOW SHIRTS ARE HERE BECAUSE OF THE COST OF LIVING.
OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, YOUR COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT HAS NOT MET THE PACE OF THE NATIONAL COST OF LIVING.
[00:30:05]
I WAS ONE OF THE ONES THAT PROPOSED AND FOUGHT FOR AND I SENT THE MAYOR AN EMAIL ABOUT IT, A 5% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT BECAUSE I THINK YOU'LL DESERVE IT.IT'S BEEN HARD FOUGHT THIS YEAR.
I ENJOYED THE CITY OF GALVESTON AND I LIKE SEEING YOU GUYS OUT WORKING AND MAKING IT A BETTER PLACE FOR EVERYBODY.
COUNCILWOMAN ROBB, COUNCILMAN ROLLINS, AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING EXTREMELY HARD TO NOT ONLY BALANCE THAT WITH THE NEEDS OF THE TAXPAYERS OF NOT HAVING A TAX RATE INCREASE.
EVERYBODY IS HURTING RIGHT NOW.
I'M A YOUNG GUY, I'M HURTING RIGHT NOW, TOO.
IT'S EXPENSIVE TO LIVE, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE WEIGH EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE ON THE TABLE.
NOW, US THREE HAVE BEEN WORKING IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PORT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN LEVERAGE THE PORT'S REVENUE TO OUR BUDGET.
I CAN'T GET INTO HOW MUCH, BUT THEY HAVE TO APPROVE IT BEFORE WE RATIFY AND ADOPT OUR BUDGET, AND I'M GOING TO DEFER THAT TO DON TO SPEAK TO THE PORTS ATTORNEY.
BUT WE ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY WE KEEP OUR TAXES LOW, BUT THAT WE GIVE YOU GUYS A COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT.
THAT'S SOMETHING I'M FIGHTING VERY HARD FOR AND I'M WORKING MANY SLEEPLESS NIGHTS, MANY PHONE CALLS.
MEETINGS, I'M WORKING VERY HARD TO BALANCE BOTH OF THOSE NEEDS FOR OUR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES AND OUR TAXPAYERS.
>> LET ME SAY WE HAVE COUNCILWOMAN ROBB WANTING TO TALK.
I'M JUST GOING TO MAKE A COMMENT SINCE ALL OF THOSE EMPLOYEES ARE HERE.
EVERY ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR THAT SAME GOAL.
EVERY ONE OF US, AND IF YOU FOLLOW THE MEETINGS THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST, EVERY ONE OF US HAVE BEEN WANTING TO MAINTAIN A COST OF LIVING INCREASE FOR OUR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES.
WE'RE TRYING TO WORK OUT A BUDGET, AS COUNCILMAN PORRETTO MENTIONED, THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE OPERATIONS OF THE CITY, KEEP OUR TAX RATE AS LOW AS POSSIBLE FOR OUR CIVILIANS, BUT MAKE SURE THAT WE GET A COLA INCREASE, A COST OF LIVING INCREASE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
I'VE MENTIONED THAT, EVERY ONE OF THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE HAVE MENTIONED THAT.
THERE'S MANY WAYS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT DOING THAT AND MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT.
A COST OF LIVING INCREASE FOR THESE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, THAT IS BASICALLY THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU GET MORE MONEY IN YOUR SALARY RIGHT NOW, AND WE NEED TO HONOR THAT.
WE CAN'T PUT THIS BUDGET IN MY MIND AND BALANCE THIS BUDGET ON THE BACKS OF OUR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES BY NOT GIVING THEM THE PROPER AMOUNT OF COST OF LIVING INCREASE THAT THEY DESERVE.
>> BUT WITH THAT, AT THE SAME TIME, THEY WANT TO RAISE YOUR PROPERTY TAXES.
YOU WANT TO DO IT COST THE LIVING, BUT YOU WANT TO RAISE PROPERTY TAXES.
I HAVE NEVER, EVER, SINCE I'VE BEEN SITTING IN THIS YEAR, AND THIS IS MY FIFTH YEAR, VOTED FOR A TAX INCREASE.
ONE OF THE THINGS, THE LINES THAT'S MISSING FROM THIS BUDGET IS ALTERNATIVE REVENUE.
>> NOW AS COUNCILMEMBER PORRETTO HAS MENTIONED, HE HAS BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE WHARF'S BOARD.
WELL, I HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PARK BOARD.
WHAT WE KEEP BEING TOLD BY MANAGEMENT IS THAT CAN'T BE ACHIEVED TILL NEXT YEAR.
WELL, I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THAT CAN BE ACHIEVED THIS YEAR.
THE PARK BOARD HAS CALLED A SPECIAL MEETING.
THEY ARE AGREEABLE TO GIVING US REVENUE SHARES, AND I'M NOT GOING TO MENTION EXACT NUMBERS BECAUSE THEIR BOARDS HAVE TO VOTE FOR THAT, WHERE WE WILL BE ABLE TO LOWER YOUR TAXES AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU A COST OF LIVING RAISE.
BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT? MANAGEMENT IS NOT OUR BOSS.
THE PEOPLE WHO ELECTED US ARE OUR BOSS, AND THAT'S WHO WE ANSWER TO.
WE HAVE DONE OR MANAGEMENT HAS ALWAYS TAKEN AN ADVERSARIAL,
[00:35:06]
THEY ALWAYS WANT TO BE IN BATTLE WITH THE OTHER BOARDS, SAYING THAT, WELL, THEY WON'T WORK WITH US.WELL, GUESS WHAT? THEY WILL WORK WITH US BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT THEY ARE, THEY'RE ALL CITIZENS TOO, AND THEY'RE ALL TAXPAYERS TOO.
AND WE DO HAVE TIME BY STATE GUIDELINES TO LOWER OUR TAX RATE.
WE DO NOT HAVE TO BE FORCED INTO COMING DOWN TO A MEETING ON THE 26TH, WHERE, IF THE TAX RATE WASN'T APPROVED, THAT IT WOULD AUTOMATICALLY GO TO A NET NEW REVENUE.
I PERSONALLY WANT TO SEE A NO NET NEW REVENUE, BECAUSE AGAIN, I HAVE NEVER VOTED FOR A TAX INCREASE AND NOR WILL I. I'M A PERSON WHO IS ABOUT SOLUTIONS AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON SOLUTIONS AND OUR BOARDS THAT ARE ALL PEOPLE OF CITIZENS, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO BE A FULL-TIME CITIZEN TO WORK ON THE WHARF'S BOARD OR ON THE PARK BOARD, THEY STAND WITH US, AND THEY AGREE THAT WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE AND WE NEED TO HAVE A TAX RATE THAT'S AGREEABLE.
JUST SO EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS BECAUSE IT CAN BE REALLY CONFUSING, SO EVEN IF WE DO ACHIEVE, WHICH IS WHAT I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR, A NO NET NEW REVENUE TAX RATE, THAT IS THE ONLY WAY THAT YOUR TAXES WON'T GO UP.
IF WE WERE TO STAY WITH LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE, A NO NET NEW REVENUE IS LIKE 39.8 CENTS.
LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE WAS 40 SOME ODD, ANN ACTUALLY COULD TELL US, CENTS.
BUT ALL YOUR APPRAISALS HAVE GONE UP ON YOUR HOMES.
EVEN IF WE KEPT IT AT LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE, YOUR TAXES WILL STILL BE GOING UP, AND THAT'S WHY MY GOAL IS, HOW CAN WE ACHIEVE ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE IN OUR BUDGET AND GIVE YOU THE COST OF LIVING INCREASE THAT YOU DESERVE AND NOT RAISE OUR TAXES.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE BEEN SPENDING OUR EFFORTS WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
>> ONE CORRECTION. COUNCILMEMBER ROBB SAYS THAT STAFF HAS NOT WORKED WITH THE OTHER BOARDS.
WE WERE INSTRUCTED BY THIS COUNCIL TO NOT TALK TO THE OTHER BOARDS.
WE WERE INSTRUCTED THAT WE WOULD WORK WITH STAFF.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH STAFF.
COUNCIL APPOINTS THE OTHER BOARDS.
THOSE ARE POLICY DECISIONS MADE AT THE BOARD AND THE COUNCIL LEVEL, SO I APPLAUD THEM FOR WORKING WITH THOSE BOARDS, BUT TO ACCUSE STAFF OF NOT DOING THAT IS A BIT DISINGENUOUS, ESPECIALLY GIVEN INSTRUCTION TO NOT DO SO.
>> I'M GOING TO SAY THAT'S TRUE, THAT THE FEELING IS THAT CITY STAFF HAS NOT BEEN WORKING WITH THE PARK BOARD OR THE PORT TO GET MORE REVENUE AND TO START LOOKING AT HELPING THEM SUPPORT THIS BUDGET SO WE CAN KEEP OUR TAX RATE AS LOW AS POSSIBLE.
>> EXCUSE ME, I MEANT THE BOARDS AND THEIR ADMINISTRATION.
WE WERE TOLD AT THE LAST MEETING BY THE MANAGER, THERE WAS NO WAY WE COULD ACHIEVE THAT IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, AND WE CAN.
>> ACTUALLY, YOU WERE TOLD THERE WAS NO WAY THAT STAFF COULD ACHIEVE THAT WITHOUT BOARD ACTION AND COUNCIL ACTION. THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE TOLD.
>> THAT IS CORRECT. STAFF IS WORKING WITH THE PARK BOARD.
THE STAFF HAS ALREADY GOT SOME DETAILS STARTING TO WORK OUT ON THE BUDGET TO WORK WITH THE PARK BOARD, PARTICIPATING MORE.
STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S CLEAR TO THE COMMUNITY, AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
THIS IS NOT A FACTION OF THE COMMUNITY OF THE COUNCIL DOING THIS AND ANOTHER FACTION IS NOT.
THIS ENTIRE COUNCIL IS WORKING ON THIS.
EVERY ONE OF THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THEIR OWN WAY IS LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN KEEP THE TAX RATE AS LOW AS POSSIBLE, GIVE COST OF LIVING INCREASES TO OUR EMPLOYEES AND SET UP
[00:40:06]
A SCENARIO SO THAT WE DON'T DIG OURSELVES INTO A HOLE IN THE FUTURE THAT IS GOING TO CAUSE MORE AND MORE PROBLEMS FOR THIS CITY.EVERY ONE OF THESE, AND I CAN SAY THIS, I'M THE MAYOR OF THIS CITY.
I GET A LOT OF INPUT FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS AND FROM RESIDENTS HERE.
EACH ONE OF THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THIS COMMUNITY TO REALIZE.
I AM GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
I'M GOING TO CALL FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT WOULD LIKE TO GIVE PUBLIC INPUT.
YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO GIVE YOUR INPUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE, AND WE DON'T FEEL SLIGHTED IF WE DON'T RESPOND TO YOU.
IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, THIS IS A PUBLIC INPUT TIME AND SO WE WILL BE HAPPY TO GET YOUR INPUT AND WE TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY, BUT WE DO NOT RESPOND DURING THE PUBLIC INPUT TIME.
SAYING THAT, I'M GOING TO START ON THE FRONT ROW ON THE RIGHT HERE.
ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT? ANYONE ON THE FRONT ROW HERE WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? COME FORWARD. YES, SIR.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JOHN RUIZ AND I'M A SENIOR CREW LEADER FOR COLLECTIONS AND DISTRIBUTION.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITY IS THE BACKBONE OF THIS CITY.
DURING HURRICANE BERYL, MYSELF AND MY COWORKERS DROPPED EVERYTHING TO HELP THE CITY IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE.
THIS INCLUDED WORKING THE MAXIMUM HOURS PER DAY, WHICH IS 16 FOR WEEKS TO GET THE CITY UP AND RUNNING.
DURING THIS TIME, MYSELF AND MANY CO-WORKERS WENT HOME AFTER LONG HOT DAYS TO NO POWER AT OUR HOUSES.
I PERSONALLY HAD TO SLEEP IN MY VEHICLE JUST TO GET SOME AC.
WE HAVE BEEN PROMISED BY THE CITY MANAGEMENT THAT IN THE EVENT OF A NATURAL DISASTER, ESSENTIAL WORKERS WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF.
I FEEL COMPLETELY LET DOWN BY CITY MANAGEMENT FOR NOT TAKING CARE OF ITS 200 PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES DURING THIS EVENT.
NOW, WITH THE PROPOSAL OF HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASES AND NO COST OF LIVING INCREASE, I FEEL EVEN MORE LET DOWN.
UNFORTUNATELY, EVERY DAY, ITEMS COST MORE DUE TO OUR ECONOMY.
I'M PROUD TO WORK FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON, BUT IF THE CITY CANNOT TAKE CARE OF ITS EMPLOYEES, I ALONG WITH MANY OTHER EMPLOYEES WILL BE FORCED TO SEEK EMPLOYMENT ELSEWHERE.
WE ARE IN NEED OF A TAX RATE THAT WILL SUPPORT THE COST OF LIVING INCREASE FOR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] ANYONE ELSE ON THE FRONT ROW HERE? YES, MA'AM.
>> NOW, EXCUSE ME, I MIGHT BE A LITTLE NERVOUS.
[LAUGHTER] GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, MY NAME IS MONIQUE BUTLER AND I WORK FOR CITY OF GALVESTON, COLLECTION AND DISTRIBUTION.
I HOPE THIS LETTER FINDS YOU IN GOOD SPIRITS.
I AM WRITING TO YOU TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE HARDWORKING EMPLOYEES OF GALVESTON WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY EVERY DAY.
I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER VOTING FOR THE 5% INCREASE IN OUR INCOMES, A NECESSARY STEP TO HELP US NAVIGATE THE RISING COST OF LIVING, WHILE CONTINUING TO SERVE OUR CITY WITH DEDICATION AND PRIDE.
AS YOU ARE AWARE, THE COST OF ESSENTIAL DAILY LIFE HAS BEEN ON THE RISE.
PRICES FOR HOUSING, GROCERIES, HEALTH CARE, AND TRANSPORTATION HAVE STEADILY INCREASED, PLACING AN ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL BURDEN ON FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS.
MANY OF US ARE FINDING IT INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
THIS STRUGGLE CAN AFFECT NOT JUST OUR FINANCIAL STABILITY, BUT OUR HEALTH AND WELL BEING.
A 5% INCREASE IN INCOME WOULD PROVIDE THE RELIEF NEEDED TO COVER BASIC EXPENSES, ALLOWING US TO LEAD HEALTHIER AND MORE SECURE LIVES.
MOREOVER, IT IS CRUCIAL TO RECOGNIZE THE VITAL ROLES THAT WE PLAY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
MANY OF US ARE UNSPOKEN AND UNSEEN HEROES, WHO KEEP GALVESTON RUNNING SMOOTHLY.
WE WORK IN SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, RESTAURANTS, SHOPS, AND THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, CONTRIBUTING TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY, AND ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERYBODY.
OUR HARD-WORK AND COMMITMENT ARE WHAT MAKE GALVESTON A VIBRANT AND THRIVING PLACE TO LIVE, YET WE OFTEN DO SO WITHOUT THE RECOGNITION OR THE COMPENSATION THAT REFLECTS OUR CONTRIBUTION.
EVERY TIME YOU TURN YOUR FAUCET ON, THINK OF US,
[00:45:02]
EVERY TIME YOU FLUSH YOUR TOILET, THINK OF US, EVERY TIME YOU BATHE OR WASH YOUR CLOTHES, THINK OF US.THE ABILITY TO HAVE A SAFE AND CLEARED STREETS TO DRIVE TO WORK OR PICK UP YOUR KIDS FROM SCHOOL, THINK OF US.
I DON'T STAND JUST WITH COLLECTION AND DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT, BUT FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS IN THE PUBLIC WORKS.
THE THINGS WE DO FOR ALL CITIZENS OF GALVESTON ARE UNMATCHED AND DANGEROUS.
BUT WE DO IT BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THE ESSENTIALS OF DAILY LIFE IN EVERY HOUSEHOLD ON THE ISLAND OF GALVESTON.
BY VOTING FOR THE 5% INCREASE, YOU WOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGING THE ESSENTIAL WORK THAT WE DO AND CHALLENGES WE FACE.
THIS ADJUSTMENT WOULD NOT ONLY HELP ALLEVIATE FINANCIAL STRESS FOR MANY EMPLOYEES, BUT WOULD ALSO DEMONSTRATE THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING ITS WORKFORCE AND FOSTERING A THRIVING COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS PROPOSAL.
BUT I'M HOPEFUL THAT YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ISSUE AND TAKE ACTION TO SUPPORT THE HARDWORKING INDIVIDUALS OF GALVESTON.
TOGETHER, WE CAN BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR THE CITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME. [APPLAUSE] ANYONE ELSE ON THE FIRST ROW? SECOND ROW ON THE RIGHT HERE? ANYONE WANT TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS?
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS BRANT MALATOR.
I'M A RELATIVELY NEW RESIDENT ON THE ISLAND.
MOVED HERE ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, I'M A VETERAN, SERVED SIX YEARS IN NAVY, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE HERE ON THE COUNCIL AND SERVING THE PUBLIC, AND ALL THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES HERE TODAY, IT'S A SACRIFICE OF TIME.
WE ONLY HAVE SO MUCH TIME IN LIFE.
WHEN YOU SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY, THERE ARE A LOT OF HOURS THAT YOU GIVE.
AS A DISABLED VETERAN, BEING ON DISABILITY AND LANDOWNER HERE ON THE ISLAND, I GOT TO WATCH MY PENNIES.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT MY BUDGET EVERY MONTH, I TRY NOT TO GO OVER IT.
WITH A CITY LIKE THIS OF 60,000 PEOPLE, I WOULD HOPE THAT WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY COMING IN FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES THAT WE WOULD HAVE A RAINY DAY FUND.
THAT WAY WHEN THINGS WOULD HAPPEN, WE'D HAVE EXTRA CASH SET ASIDE.
BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE WE HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW, AND WE KEEP DIPPING IN IN THE TAXPAYERS FOR MORE AND MORE AND MORE.
IN THIS YEAR, YOU'RE RIGHT, THE ASSESSMENTS ARE GOING UP, SO THERE SHOULD BE MORE SURPLUS COMING IN.
THERE'S SOMETHING FUNNY WITH THE NUMBERS.
I THINK WE NEED TO GO BACK, POSSIBLY CUT SOME OF THIS BUDGET, SO THAT WE AREN'T EVEN ASKING THE TAXPAYERS FOR MORE, WE'RE STARTING TO SET ASIDE SOME MONEY FOR POSSIBLE PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE.
IF SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT WITH THESE NUMBERS, MAYBE WE NEED TO DO AN OUTSIDE AUDIT AND LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE THE CITY GETS A LOT OF SURPLUS EVERY YEAR OR SHOULD HAVE SURPLUS AND WE SHOULD HAVE EXTRA MONEY SET ASIDE.
SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT. I THINK IT'S TIME FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE ON HAVING AN OUTSIDE AUDIT, LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS, YEAR AFTER YEAR, THERE SHOULD BE MORE MONEY HERE. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] ANYBODY ELSE ON THE ROW 2? ROW 3. COME FORWARD.
>> VERY GOOD. FIRST, I WANT TO MAKE A QUICK PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT TO EVERYONE HERE FIGHTING FOR THEIR 5% COLLAR RAISE.
IF YOU LIVE ON THE ISLAND AND THE TAXES GO UP 11%, THAT'LL ALSO BE AN 11% INCREASE ON EVERYONE'S RENT WHO'S A RENTER HERE.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO MAKE SURE TO DO THE NUMBERS TO MAKE SURE IT ALL WORKS OUT IN THE END.
WE'RE NOW GOING TO GET OF 10% INCREASE BECAUSE THEY LOVE US SO MUCH.
OUT OF PROPERTY TAXES, IT'S USUALLY AROUND 70% OF YOUR RENT IS ACTUALLY JUST PROPERTY TAXES AND INSURANCE.
[00:50:03]
YOU CAN CALCULATE THAT INTO WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE.I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND I KNOW YOU SAID Y'ALL MIGHT NOT ANSWER THEM, AND THEY'RE FAIRLY SPECIFIC, SO I HOPE I CAN GET AN ANSWER FROM MANAGEMENT OR FROM ACCOUNTING HERE.
I AM CURIOUS, WHAT IS THE CAPITAL RESERVE LINE ITEM ON THE ALARM PERMIT FUND? ITS LINE ITEM NUMBER 544125.
IT SHOWS THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WAS SPENT OUT IN 2023, THAT IT HAD AN ALLOCATION OF 71,405 IN 2024, BUT IN THE ACTUAL 2024 BUDGET, AND I DOUBLE CHECKED IT WITH THE QUARTERLY BUDGET REPORT, THERE WAS NO EXPENDITURE OUT TO THIS TO THIS CAPITAL RESERVE AND WE HAVE IT BUDGETED FOR $43,047 IN THE 2025 BUDGET.
I NOTICED THIS IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT FUNDS THROUGHOUT THE CITY BUDGET, AMOUNTING TO A REALLY LARGE NUMBER.
I HAVE IT WRITTEN DOWN, $10,394,738.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE TRANSFERS OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, THERE WAS ONLY $236,621.
>> I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF MANAGEMENT OR ACCOUNTING COULD SPEAK TO WHAT THAT LINE ITEM IS BECAUSE I'M FAIRLY NEW WITH THIS, SO I JUST WANT TO HAVE SOME CLARITY.
>> VERY GOOD. MR. HERNDON, EXCUSE ME.
I'M SORRY. CHILLA, WOULD YOU MAKE NOTE OF THAT?
>> WOULD YOU GET WITH MR. HERNDON? COULD WE GET AFTERWARDS?
>> I'D LIKE IT IF WE COULD DO IT AS A PUBLIC RELEASE AS WELL, THAT WAY THE WHOLE COMMUNITY CAN KNOW.
I'M NOT CONCERNED JUST FOR ME.
I'M CONCERNED FOR PEOPLE IN GENERAL.
I NEED TO GO TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY AND ASK THEM. SORRY.
>> THE CITY CODE SPECIFIES SUCH THAT WE DON'T RESPOND COMMENTS MADE THROUGH PANEL, TECHNICALLY THE CITY COUNCIL ASK THE PERSON, THAT WOULD BE YOU, TO SEND AN EMAIL IN WITH YOUR QUESTIONS AND THEY ARE THEN ANSWERED.
>> IS THERE A WAY WE CAN ANSWER THOSE SO THAT THE COMMUNITY COULD GO TO OUR WEBSITE OR SO FORTH, AND SEE THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS?
>> WE NEED TO MAKE THESE PUBLIC, THE ANSWERS TO THIS, MR. HERNDON, AND SO WE'LL GET WITH Y'ALL.
>> I HAVE A FEW ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, SORRY CAN I HAVE [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME. YES, SIR.
>> WOULD SOMEONE BE WILLING TO YIELD ME THEIR TIME?
>> I THINK SHE'LL YIELD ME AN ADDITIONAL THREE MINUTES.
I HAVE JUST A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS.
>> WELL, WE NEED TO HAVE HER COME UP.
YOU CAN'T GET TIME FROM SOMEBODY OUT THERE AND SPEAK FOR 45 MINUTES. [LAUGHTER]
>> I JUST WANT ANOTHER THREE TO FINISH ASKING, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
>> WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND, DO YOU HAVE THESE QUESTIONS WRITTEN OUT, SIR?
>> YES, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO WRITE THOSE IN.
BUT MY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ARE SEPARATE FROM JUST THE FINANCIALS.
ALTHOUGH I DO HAVE A FEW OTHERS THAT TOUCH ON THE BUDGET.
BUT I DID WANT TO HAVE EVEN THOUGHT IT HAS BEEN HERE I'M VERY CURIOUS [INAUDIBLE].
>> WHY DIDN'T YOU DO A PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF THIS ON THE NEWSPAPER OR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM WITH MORE THAN A THOUSAND PEOPLE AND WHY DIDN'T AT LEAST SETTLE THIS HEARING [OVERLAPPING]
>> MR. HERNDON, YOUR QUESTIONS, WE WILL ANSWER THOSE.
WE HAVE ANSWERS TO ALL OF THOSE QUESTIONS.
IF YOU COULD GIVE YOUR QUESTIONS TO MISS LADONE, AND SHE WILL MAKE SURE THAT THOSE GET ANSWERED, AND THEN WE NEED TO POST THOSE SO THE COMMUNITY WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE ANSWERS TO THESE IN A PUBLIC FORUM, PLEASE, MA'AM.
MR. HERNDON? YOU TIME IS UP. THANK YOU.
>> THAT WE DO IT AT THIS TIME IS MORE REASONABLE.
>> MR. HERNDON, YOUR TIME IS UP.
[00:55:03]
ANYBODY ELSE? [APPLAUSE] GOOD MORNING TO YOU.>> IS THE MICROPHONE ON, IT WASN'T ON FOR THE LAST GUY?
>> IT WAS ON, BUT GO RIGHT AHEAD. YES, MA'AM.
>> I JUST WANT TO COMPLETE HIS THOUGHTS IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS MEETING UNTIL 11:30 LAST NIGHT.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME NOTICE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU ALL PUBLISH THIS IF IT'S IN THE PAPER OR WHATEVER.
BUT I DON'T THINK THIS PUBLIC WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PUBLIC MEETING, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT IN OUR SOCIETY THAT WE'RE ALL AWARE THAT THESE MEETINGS EXIST.
>> ALSO, IT SHOULD BE AT A BETTER TIME OF DAY.
MOST OF US ARE WORKING PEOPLE.
WE CAN'T BE HERE AT NINE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
I THINK A SIX O'CLOCK PM MEETING WOULD BE MORE VIABLE FOR THE PUBLIC TO ATTEND, SO I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT.
THEN I'D ALSO LIKE TO KNOW WHERE DO WE GET TO SEE THE BUDGET? WHERE IS THIS PUBLISHED?
THE BUDGET HAS BEEN ON OUR WEBSITE FOR MANY MONTHS NOW, BUT YES, MA'AM.
BUT WE HAVE AN ANSWER TO ALL THOSE QUESTIONS.
YES, MA'AM, AND WE'LL GET THOSE OUT AND MAKE SURE THAT THOSE GET TO THE PUBLIC ALSO.
>> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. [APPLAUSE] ANYONE ELSE ON THE THIRD ROW THERE? THIRD, FOURTH? ANYONE ON THIS RIGHT SIDE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT? COME FORWARD. YES, SIR.
>> GOOD MORNING. HI, MY NAME IS GILBERT MATA.
>> YOU'RE FAN CLUBS HERE, I SEE.
>> YES. [LAUGHTER] I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY NINE YEARS.
IT'S GETTING BETTER AND BETTER, BUT WHAT WE'RE REALLY HARDEN ON IS THE PROPOSAL FOR THE BUDGET YEAR.
LIKE I SAID, I SPEAK FOR EVERYBODY.
YOU GOT A LOT OF GOOD GUYS HERE THAT PUT THEIR TIME IN. THEY HAVE FAMILIES.
THEY HAVE THINGS THEY HAVE TO DO TOO, LIKE ME, BUT THEY WANT TO DO THEIR JOBS.
THEY HAVE A CHOICE. THEY CAN EITHER COME TO WORK OR NOT.
LIKE I SAID, Y'ALL HAVE A JOB TO DO, SO DO WE, AND ALL WE WANT TO DO IS BALANCE EVERYTHING WHERE WE CAN TO WHERE WE'RE HAPPY, AND YOU'RE HAPPY.
I'M BRIEF, BUT LIKE I SAID, I'M FOLLOWING WHAT MR. JOHN WAS GOING BY.
YOU GOT A LOT OF HARD WORKERS OUT HERE, A LOT OF THEM.
I THINK JUST BY THE PROPOSAL, THE INCREASE OF THE RAISE AND THE DECREASE OF THE INSURANCE WOULD FIT AS JUST FINE.
LIKE I SAID THESE GUYS, WE WORK.
WE DO OUR JOBS, AND WE DO IT TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.
WE CHOOSE TO COME TO WORK FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON AND I'M THROUGH AND JUST FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, I'M THROUGH FOR TODAY.
>> THAT WAS A PUBLIC WORKS WAY OF A MIC DROP RIGHT THERE.
[LAUGHTER] THE RIGHT SIDE, ANYONE ELSE ON THE RIGHT SIDE, WANTS TO MAKE COMMENT? YES, SIR, COME ON FORWARD.
COME ON, IF YOU'D LIKE, GENTLEMEN, YOU COULD STAND BEHIND EACH OTHER AND WE'LL JUST TAKE YOU AS YOU COME FORWARD HERE.
THE GENTLEMAN IN THE BACK THAT HAD HIS HAND UP, COME ON FORWARD, SIR, AND WE'LL TAKE YOU RIGHT IN THE LINE WITH EVERYONE ELSE.
>> GO ON CITY COUNCIL, I'M KENA TUN HAVE BEEN HERE LIKE 10 YEARS.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT YEAR COMING UP 2025 WITH OUR POSITIVITY.
BUT ON BEHALF OF THE STREET DEPARTMENT, WE DO WORK HARD.
WE STAY FOR STORMS. WE DO A LOT OF STUFF THAT'S UNSEEN AND UNHEARD OF.
WE JUST STANDING IN THE GAP FOR PUBLIC WORKS AND ALL THESE GUYS.
WE BLEED THESE COLORS RIGHT HERE.
WE'RE ON THE FRONT LINE, AND WE JUST WANT Y'ALL TO CONSIDER THE 5%.
WE WILL REALLY APPRECIATE IT, AND THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY, BUT APPRECIATE Y'ALL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] COME FORWARD, SIR.
>> I'M RONNIE JONES. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS, EIGHT, GIVE A FEW.
[01:00:04]
I'M TRYING TO LISTEN TO WHAT YOU GUYS ARE SAYING, AND WHAT'S HARD TO GATHER IS, SOME SAY, YOU'RE GOING TO GET A 5% RAISE, OTHERS SAY, WELL, WE'RE WORKING ON 5% RAISE, THEN AT THE SAME TIME, OUR INSURANCE SUPPOSED TO GO UP.WITH ALL THE THINGS THAT'S GOING UP AROUND US, IT DON'T SOUND LIKE WE'RE GETTING A 5% RAISE.
IT NEED TO BE EXPLAINED TO US WHY WE CAN'T GET IT.
BECAUSE WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT.
EVERYBODY UP THERE SEEM TO BE LIVING, I JUST SAY, OKAY, WE BACK HERE STRUGGLING.
WE ARE DEFINITELY TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
WE CAN'T GO ON THE FACT THAT YOU POSSIBLY OR IT MIGHT, WE NEED.
WE CAN'T GO ON WHAT IF OR IT MIGHT.
BECAUSE IF WE MIGHT COME TO WORK THE NEXT DAY, THEN THE CITY OF GALVESTON MIGHT KEEP RUNNING SUFFICIENTLY.
BUT AS IT IS RIGHT NOW, WE ARE HERE, LIKE KENNETH SAID, WE ON FRONT LINE.
WE LEAVING OUR FAMILY MEMBERS AT HOME STRUGGLING TRYING TO KEEP GALVESTON RUNNING.
[BACKGROUND] I WOULD APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO HURT YOU GUYS.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. [APPLAUSE] YES, MA'AM.
>> MY NAME IS JOHNNY KOVACEVIC.
I'M THE METER SERVICE SUPERVISOR.
I HAVE WORKED HERE FOR 17 YEARS, WHICH IS LONGER THAN SOME MARRIAGES.
[LAUGHTER] I GUESS YOU CAN SAY MARRIED TO MY JOB.
I MARRIED A THIRD GENERATION BOI.
GALVESTON IS IN MY BLOOD. THESE GUYS.
THEY WORK FOR YOU EVERY SINGLE DAY.
YOU GET TO GO HOME AND TAKE A SHOWER WITH CLEAN WATER.
IMAGINE A WORLD WHERE YOU HAD TO WAKE UP AND BOIL YOUR WATER EVERY MORNING OR THROW YOUR BEDPAN OUT THE WINDOW AND HOPE IT DIDN'T HIT SOMEBODY ON THE WAY DOWN.
YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THESE PEOPLE RIGHT HERE.
THESE ARE THE GUYS THAT ARE WORKING FOR YOU [APPLAUSE].
THEY MAKE SURE THAT YOUR STREETS ARE CLEAN.
THEY MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE A SAFE INTERSECTION TO PASS THROUGH BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT DODGING OTHER CARS COMING YOUR DIRECTION.
THEY MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN, LIKE MOH SAID, FLUSH YOUR TOILETS.
I UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE TAX THING.
BUT STILL, I THINK IT'S WORTH IT.
I REALLY DO, AND I THINK THEY DESERVE ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN GIVE THEM.
THEY WORK FOR YOU. NOW IT'S YOUR TURN TO WORK FOR THEM.
>> HI. MY NAME IS RICHARD DENSON, AND I'M WITH THE GALVESTON COUNTY APARTMENT ASSOCIATION.
I'VE LIVED HERE SINCE 1996, AND I WILL ADMIT ONE THING, AND THAT IS THAT EVERY TIME I NEEDED, I BOUGHT A PROPERTY OR SOMETHING, I NEEDED THE WATER TURNED ON, THEY HAD IT TURNED ON QUICK.
IF I HAD A BREAK IN THE LINE, IT WAS FIXED.
[APPLAUSE] AMAZINGLY, LIKE MAGIC, WHENEVER I PUT TRASH OUT, IT JUST DISAPPEARS.
[APPLAUSE] I HAVE TO SAY ALSO THAT NO MATTER WHAT IT WAS, AFTER HURRICANE BERYL, WE WOULD CHOP DOWN TREES, WE WOULD PUT THEM OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND I WOULD COME BACK A DAY OR SO LATER, AND IT WAS JUST ALL GONE.
[APPLAUSE] YOU CAN'T SAY ENOUGH NICE THINGS ABOUT WHAT THEY DO, AND WHAT NOT JUST THEY'VE DONE NOW, BUT ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1995.
THE OTHER THING I CAN SAY IS, I KNOW OUR CITY HAS TREMENDOUS DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.
IT'S ONLY BEEN REALLY THE LAST EIGHT YEARS THAT WE HAVE BEEN FIXING OUR ROADS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
THE 45 YEARS BEFORE THAT, THE CITY DID NOTHING.
I MEAN, NOTHING. LOOK AT THE RECORDS.
THEY DIDN'T DO A THING. IT WAS HORRIBLE.
THAT DEFERRED MAINTENANCE REALLY CAUGHT UP WITH US,
[01:05:03]
AND YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW APPRECIATIVE I AM TO SEE ALL THESE ROADS BEING FIXED.IT'S SO NICE. YOU INVITE PEOPLE DOWN AND THE PEOPLE THAT COME TO OUR BALL GAMES NOW, THEY GO DOWN 43RD STREET, AND IT IS A BEAUTIFUL ROAD.
YOU GO DOWN 27TH, IT'S GORGEOUS ALL THE WAY TO OUR STADIUM.
[APPLAUSE] TWENTY SEVENTH IS BEAUTIFUL ALL THE WAY TO OUR STADIUM.
IT MAKES ME TAKE HUGE PRIDE NOW WHEN I SEE ALL OF THAT.
BUT I HAVE TO SAY WHEN I WAS READING THE PAPER NOT TOO LONG AGO, I SAW THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAD PUT A DOLLAR TAX ON ALL THE CRUISE SHIP PEOPLE AND WE HAVE 1.5 MILLION A YEAR.
I TURNED TO MY WIFE AND I SAID, "A DOLLAR, WHY NOT 10?" THAT'S NOT EVEN THE COST OF ONE UMBRELLA DRINK.
THEY CAN AFFORD IT, AND THEY'LL DO IT.
I SAID, "THAT'S $15 MILLION, WHAT'S WRONG?" [APPLAUSE] THAT'S MORE THAN ENOUGH TO HELP NOT ONLY PAY THEIR RAISE, BUT TO ALSO HELP SUPPORT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IN OUR CITY, AND WE'RE NOT HITTING THE TAXPAYERS THERE, WE'RE HITTING THE VISITORS.
OUR HOT TAXES, ALL THOSE HOT TAXES WE HAVE COME IN.
WE NEED TO REALLOCATE THOSE IN SUCH A WAY THAT THOSE FUNDS ARE ACTUALLY SUPPORTING OUR CITY. WE REALLY DO.
AGAIN, THOSE ARE VISITORS PAYING THE TAXES, NOT US.
I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THAT AND 5% RAISE.
HELL, IF YOU'VE SEEN INFLATION, THEY DESERVE 10 [APPLAUSE].
INFLATION HAS BEEN HORRIBLE THE LAST FOUR YEARS, AND WE'RE ALL STRUGGLING, AND YOU'RE GIVING THEM A 5% RAISE.
IT'S ACTUALLY ALMOST EMBARRASSING. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] GOOD MORNING.
>> HI. MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE]. [BACKGROUND] THAT'S REALLY TOUGH TO FOLLOW.
BUT TIGGY BACK OFF OF ALL OF THE WORKERS THAT STOOD HERE BEFORE ME AND SPOKE ON THE WORK THAT THE CITY WORKERS ARE DOING.
I CONSIDER THE CITY WORKERS TO BE THE UNRECOGNIZED FIRST RESPONDERS.
THEY RESPOND JUST AS FAST AS ANY OTHER FIRST RESPONDER, WHEN OTHER PEOPLE GET A CHANCE TO GO HOME, THEY'RE COMING INTO IT.
WHEN THE DISASTER HITS AND EVERYBODY ELSE HAVE TO LEAVE, THEY'RE RUNNING RIGHT INTO IT.
THEY ARE RIGHT THERE ON THE LINE, THE FIRST ONES TO BE THERE TO BE IN ARMS WAY OF ALL OF THE DANGER AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
TO BE A PART OF THE GROUP, I'M VERY PROUD OF IT.
I JUST WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE FACT THAT THEY DESERVE WHATEVER IT IS THAT SHOULD BE COMING THEIR WAY.
THEY'RE VERY PROUD OF WHAT THEY DO, AND I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF IT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] ANYONE ELSE IN THE ROOM HERE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT? YES, COME FORWARD, PLEASE.
>> MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS TIM BAKER.
I AM PART OF THE DRAINAGE DIVISION WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION.
I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE ON EVERYBODY SPOKE.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PRESSURE ON US TO ACHIEVE WHAT WE NEED TO GET DONE, ESPECIALLY FOLLOWING THE HURRICANE.
I KNOW, A GENTLEMAN, I'D LIKE TO STAND, REGGIE, WOULD YOU STAND UP FOR A MINUTE.
THIS GENTLEMAN SUFFERED A HOME LOSS.
TWO TREES FELL ON HIS HOME, AND HE WORKED FOR ABOUT 12 DAYS WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING AT HOME FOR THE CITY.
AS DEDICATION, ALL THE OTHER GENTLEMEN, LADIES IN HERE [APPLAUSE] DID THE SAME THING.
MY BACK YARD WAS TORE UP AS 11 DAYS BEFORE I COULD EVEN TOUCH A LAWN CHAIR BECAUSE WE WERE HERE 12, 16 HOURS EVERY DAY, ALL DAY LONG, BUT I ALSO LIKE TO MENTION AS FAR AS THE RAISES, WE ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER SOME EQUIPMENT.
PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AND MAYBE INCREASE THAT BUDGET FOR EQUIPMENT SO WE CAN DO THE JOBS THAT WE'RE DOING. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] GOOD MORNING, TO YOU, SIR.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE], AND I WORK FOR THE STREET DEPARTMENT.
IT'S KIND OF HARD TO COME BEHIND ALL THESE PEOPLE TODAY, BUT THEY SPOKE ON SOME VERY KEY POINTS, EVERYTHING, I JUST HOPEFULLY YOU ALL ABLE TO BALANCE EVERYTHING OUT, TO FIND IT EQUAL FOR ALL OF US TO MAKE EVERYTHING WORK.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MICHAEL PERKINS.
I'M THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
I HAVE BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR OVER FIVE YEARS, AND SOMETHING THAT I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO WAS GIVE BACK TO MY COMMUNITY BEING BOI.
[01:10:07]
I'VE LIVED ON THIS ISLAND MY ENTIRE LIFE.WE AS PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES UNDERSTAND THAT THE NEEDS OF PUBLIC SAFETY COME BEFORE OUR OWN NEEDS AND WANT SOMETIMES.
DURING HURRICANE BERYL, I THINK THAT WE MORE THAN DEMONSTRATED THAT WE ARE WILLING TO PAY THAT SACRIFICE AND PAY THAT PRICE.
OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, WE HAVE AVERAGED A 2.2% COST OF LIVING INCREASE RAISE IN PUBLIC WORKS.
WHILE POLICE AND FIRE, WHO I'M NOT SAYING, ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE CITY, BUT I BELIEVE WE ARE IMPORTANT TOO HAVE AVERAGED OVER A 6% COST OF LIVING INCREASE EVERY YEAR.
I BELIEVE THAT THEY STAND TO MAKE A 10% PD COST OF INCREASE LIVING THIS YEAR WHILE WE ARE IN DISCUSSIONS FOR GETTING ZERO.
I THINK I'M IN A UNIQUE POSITION BECAUSE I'M ALSO A HOMEOWNER ON THIS ISLAND AND A PROPERTY OWNER AND STAND TO INHERIT ANOTHER HOME HERE ON THE ISLAND WITHIN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THE PRICE AND THE BURDEN OF PAYING TAXES AND PROPERTY TAXES ON THIS ISLAND BECAUSE I DO IT EVERY YEAR, BUT I'M WILLING TO PAY EXTRA ON MY TAXES TO ENSURE THAT THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON GETS WHAT THEY DESERVE.
[APPLAUSE] A FEW YEARS AGO AT THE CITY, WE HAD A COMP STUDY.
I BELIEVE SOME OF US GOT UP TO A 5% INCREASE OR MORE, BUT THE COST OF LIVING INCREASE WAS SUPPOSED TO KEEP UP WITH THE CURRENT, YOU KNOW, CONDITION INFLATION IS 2.5% CURRENTLY, BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT RECENTLY.
I JUST THINK THAT AS JENNY SAID, WE WORKED SO HARD FOR YOU ALL.
I THINK IT'S TIME THAT THE CITY AND THE CITIZENS PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE, AND THAT'S INCLUDING ME TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL WORK FOR US AS WELL. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS DUANE ALBERT, I'VE BEEN WORKING FOR DRAINAGE FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS. GO SHOW UP.
ONLY THING I WANT TO DO IS ECHO WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO, YOU ALREADY HEARD WHAT WE BRING TO THE CITY AS A TEAM.
NOT WATER, NOT DRAINAGE, NOT SANITATION.
WE AS A WHOLE CITY BRING TO THE TABLE BECAUSE WE GIVE YOU OUR ALL.
I BOUGHT SOME PROMPTS, I'M NOT GOING TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME REGURGITATING WHAT'S BEEN ALREADY TALKED ABOUT.
THIS IS MY WALLET THAT I CARRY, IF YOU NOTICE IT'S WRAPPED IN CELLPHONE BECAUSE WHEN I'M WORKING, IF IT'S RAINING, I DON'T HAVE AN OPTION TO GO GET OUT THE RAIN.
I WORKS IN THE RAIN AND I KEEP MY WALLET DRY.
THAT'S MY COMMITMENT TO THIS CITY.
WHAT WE BRING TO THE TABLE, WE BRING TO THE TABLE, AND THE ONLY THING WE ASK IN WHEN WE COME TO THE TABLE, PLEASE GIVE US SOMETHING TO TAKE BACK THAT WE CAN EAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS RECOGNIZE THIS. YOU'LL REMEMBER THIS?
>> WE WORKED THE FREEZE ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO AROUND CHRISTMAS TIME WHERE EVERYBODY ELSE WAS PUTTING TOYS TOGETHER FOR THEIR KIDS.
WE WAS OUT CUTTING WATER OFF, TURNING IT ON AND I DON'T WORK FOR THE WATER DEPARTMENT, BUT I WAS OUT TURNING WATER OFF AND TURNING IT ON.
THIS IS A FIRST RESPONDERS CALL A TOKEN, RIGHT HERE, AND IT SAYS, AND I'M GOING TO READ IT ON THE BACK.
IT SAYS, SAFETY, SERVICE, COMMITMENT, AND TEAMWORK.
RIGHT ABOVE THESE THREE GUYS HEAD, IT SAY FIRST RESPONDERS AND MIKE ALREADY TOLD YOU WHAT THE DISCREPANCIES ARE BETWEEN US AND WHAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE PARAMEDICS HAVE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> MY NAME IS MATHEWS FRANKLIN, CREW LEADER OF THE STREET DEPARTMENT.
[APPLAUSE] AS YOU BE HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN,
[01:15:05]
WE GOT A LOT OF GOOD FAITHFUL EMPLOYEES HERE.I'VE BEEN AT 20 YEARS, I'VE SEEN IT ALL, BEEN THROUGH IT ALL SEEN IT ALL, BUT THIS FIRST TIME EVER SEEN PEOPLE WORK CHRISTMAS DURING THE SNOW, DURING THE COLD.
WE DIDN'T HAVE NO HOTEL ROOMS. WE JUST WORKED OUT ON OUR TRUCKS.
I THINK THE GUYS AND THIS MORNING, A LOT OF OUR MORALE WAS DOWN BECAUSE WE'RE HERE THAT THEY NOT ONLY WASN'T GIVING US A RAISE, THAT THEY WAS TAKEN FROM US, JUST GOING TO CHARGE ON ASSURANCE, AND THAT WAS A MORALE KILLER.
I JUST WANT YOU KEEP IN MIND, WE ARE SOME HARD WORKING PEOPLE.
SOON WE PUNCH OUT AND THEY CALL PUTTING IN UNIFORM, PUTTING UNIFORMS NO THE JOBS.
WE LOSE SOME JOBS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO WORK HERE MANDATORY.
TELL YOU THE JOB, CITY'S A TOP PRIORITY.
WE GIVE IT ALL HERE. WE JUST WANT A FAIR SHARE.
WE WANT TO RAISE, WE WANT OUR MONEY, PLEASE, DON'T TAKE IT AWAY WITH INSURANCE. I HAVE NO MORE TO SAY.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] MARISSA, WOULD YOU CHECK IN 204, PLEASE, MA'AM, MAKE SURE THERE'S NOT ANYONE IN THERE LISTENING THAT MAY WANT TO SAY SOME THINGS TO COUNCIL.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU THAT SPOKE TODAY.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR CITY COUNCIL TO HEAR YOUR INPUT.
YES, SIR COME FORWARD IF YOU WOULD.
>> MY NAME IS CLARICE CHRISTOPHER ROBERT IV, I WORK FOR THE TRAFFIC DIVISION OF THE CITY.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS LIKE YOUR STAGNATED WAGES.
IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY INITIATIVE TO COME TO WORK EVERY DAY FOR THE FULL YEAR, KNOWING, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET ANY ADJUSTMENT, ANY EXTRA MONEY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HEAR 20 YEAR EMPLOYEES ANYMORE.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HEAR 18 YEAR EMPLOYEES ANYMORE.
YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR THAT ONE YEAR EMPLOYEE.
HE'S GOING TO GET IN, HE'S GOING TO WORK, GET SOME EXPERIENCE AND HE'S GOING TO GO OUT BECAUSE HE HAS NO INITIATIVE TO STAY HERE FOR THE CITY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES ME PROUD IS ALL THESE 20 YEAR GUYS.
THESE DUDES, THEY COME IN EVERY DAY, BURST THEIR BUTT WE WORK HARD AND ALL THAT FUN STUFF.
YOU'LL BEND OVER BACKWARDS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY GOT THE NICEST, THE BEST.
WE HAVE SHOVELS THAT ARE 18-YEARS-OLD.
WE GOT TRUCKS THAT STAY ON THESE ISLANDS.
ISLANDS ONLY 23 MILES LONG BY HOW WIDE, SEVEN MILES WIDE, IT'S WIDEST.
WE GOT TRUCKS WITH 100,000 MILES ON THEM.
A LOT OF MY GUYS WORK TWO JOBS.
I WORK ON THE WATERFRONT AND FOR THE CITY.
I GO SEVEN DAYS A WEEK TRYING TO STAY ON THIS ISLAND.
IN 36, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MORE YEARS I CAN GO SEVEN DAYS A YEAR OR SEVEN DAYS A WEEK WORKING, JUST LOOK AT US, YOUR STOP SIGN FALLS, IT'S NOT A COP FIXING IT.
WHEN THERE'S A POTHOLE, IT AIN'T A COP GOING, HEY, DON'T DRIVE HERE.
YOU GET A TREE DOWN OR SOMETHING.
IT'S NOT A COP, IT'S NOT A PARAMEDIC OR ANYBODY PICKING IT UP.
IT'S US. WITHOUT US, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TREES ON THE STREETS, STOP SIGNS DOWN, RED LIGHTS NOT WORKING, AND YOU AIN'T GOT ENOUGH COPS TO COVER WHAT WE DO.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] GOOD MORNING, SIR.
>> GOOD MORNING, TO THE COUNCIL, EVERYONE HERE.
MY NAME IS FLOYD FERGUSON AND I WORK FOR THE STREET DEPARTMENT, BUT WE HERE AS A GROUP, A FAMILY FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
WE COME TO WORK IN THE MORNING TRYING TO BEAUTIFY THE CITY.
KEEP IT RIGHT FOR YOU TO RIDE ON, GO TO THE BEACHES TO MAKE MONEY FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO THE CITY OF GALVESTON, AS YOU READ THE SIGNS OF 1839, THAT'S BEEN GOING ON A LONG TIME AND TOO MANY CITIES WAS THEN.
WE COME ENJOYING OURSELVES AS WORKING TOGETHER, TRYING TO MAKE THE STREETS BETTER, MORE SMOOTH AND FOR THE VISITORS TO RIDE ON AND FOR US TO RIDE ON.
TO COME IN THE MORNING TIME, WE LOVE TO COME IN TO WORK AND BE ABLE TO ENJOY ONE ANOTHER AND HAVE FUN.
IT'S A BLESSING WHEN YOU CAN COME TO WORK AND HAVE FUN BECAUSE WHEN YOU RISE UP, YOU SAY, WELL, I'M GOING ON MY JOB.
I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING FOR SOMEBODY ELSE BESIDES MYSELF.
A LOT OF TIMES I BE AT HOME AND I STAY IN TEXAS CITY, BUT I LOVE TO COME TO WORK IN GALVESTON.
I WAS BORN IN GALVESTON, MY FAMILY WAS BORN HIM.
WHEN I GO AND I WEAR THE CITY OF GALVESTON OUTFITS, AND WHEN I GO HOME, THEY SAY, OH, YOU WORK FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
[01:20:01]
YEAH, I LOVE TO WORK FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON.WHEN I CAME HERE, I LOVED TO WORK.
THEY SAY, YOU LIKE NO, I SAY, I LOVE TO WORK FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
HERE'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIKING WHAT YOU DO AND LOVING WHAT YOU DO.
WHEN YOU LOVE SOMETHING, YOU'RE GOING TO STAY WITH IT.
[APPLAUSE] WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT, LIKE THEY SAID, THROUGH THE COLD, THROUGH THE RAIN, WE HAVE DISAGREEMENTS, LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE DO, LIKE ALL DO IN THE MEETINGS.
WE HAVE DISAGREEMENTS AT OUR MEETINGS, BUT YOU HAVE TO LET IT GO AND MOVE ON AND PRESS ON BECAUSE LIFE MOVES ON.
WE TRY TO DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO MAKE THE CITY OF GALVESTON BETTER.
NOT JUST FOR ALL, BUT FOR US ALSO BECAUSE WHEN WE COME TO WORK A LOT OF TIME, WE HAVE PROBLEMS AT HOME, LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, SITUATIONS, BUT WE DON'T LOOK AT THAT.
WE COME TO DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO MAKE US A LITTLE MONEY TO MAKE OUR HOME BETTER, AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS ENJOYING.
WE JUST COME TO WANT TO DEVOICE OUR OPINIONS TILL THE DAY TO LET THEM KNOW.
WE HAVE GOOD COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE KNOW, AND WE EVEN WE DON'T KNOW YOUR NAME.
WE KNOW GOOD GOODNESS COMES FROM INSIDE OUT, WE ALL HAVE SOME GOODNESS.
[APPLAUSE] YOU JUST HAVE TO LET IT GO SOMETIME.
WE COME THIS MORNING AS YOU SEE, TO STAND UP FOR OURSELVES, AND NOT JUST AS, THIS FOR PUBLIC WORKS, WE WORK ALL TOGETHER. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. COME FORWARD, SIR.
>> MY NAME IS BRUCE. I'M ONE OF UTILITY SUPERVISORS.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT EVERYBODY THINKS IT'S JUST A LITTLE PEON COMPANY.
IT'S NOT A PEON COMPANY, AND WE TREAT EVERYBODY I DON'T MATTER WHO IT IS, EQUALLY.
I'VE HAD CALLS OUT TO YOUR HOUSE, TO YOUR MAMA'S HOUSE.
GUESS WHAT? I TREAT YOU'LL JUST LIKE I TREAT EVERYBODY OUT HERE IN THE CITY.
THERE'S NOBODY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN A CITIZEN.
I HAD BEEN ASKED ONE TIME, COULD I FIX A CAVE IN AT THE BEGINNING OF COVID, WHEN EVERYBODY'S AFRAID TO TOUCH ANYTHING.
EVERYBODY'S MASKED UP, WEARING RUBBER GLOVES, WEARING SOCKS ON THEIR HEAD.
I SAID, NOT ONLY DID I FIX THE CAVE IN, I REPLACED THE WHOLE SAW MAIN AND THE RESIDENTS COMING OUTSIDE LIKE, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU EVEN DOING THIS.
WHO'S GOT YOU OUT HERE DOING THIS FOR ME? I SAID, YOU NEED THIS JUST LIKE WE NEED A 5%.
>> THANK YOU VERY. GOOD MORNING, SIR.
>> GOOD MORNING. CAN I LIFT THIS UP REAL QUICK?
>> I'M A LITTLE TALLER THAN THE OTHER GUY.
I'M FROM SOUTH CENTRAL, CALIFORNIA.
I PURCHASED A HOME DOWN IN TEXAS CITY IN 2021.
I GOT A JOB WITH THE CITY OF GALVESTON TO WORK WITH THESE FINE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN AND THIS SINCE THE ARMY IS THE FIRST JOB THAT I HAD WHERE I FEEL LIKE I'M MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
LIKE HE SAID, I WANT TO BE A 20 YEAR GUY.
I WANTED TO DO 20 YEARS IN THE MILITARY, BUT GETTING BLOWN UP, DON'T WORK FOR EVERYBODY.
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAPPENS TWICE, BUT THE MILITARY GAVE ME A SENSE OF PURPOSE IN SERVING AND SO DID THIS JOB.
WITH A 5% INCREASE, IT'LL HELP MY FAMILY A LITTLE BIT MORE.
I HAVE THREE KIDS AND YOU'LL KNOW YOU'LL HAVE KIDS, GRANDKIDS, THEY EAT, AND THEY EAT, AND THEY EAT.
FIVE PERCENT WOULD DEFINITELY HELP JUST LIKE THE ONE GENTLEMAN YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO TAKE IT FROM THE CITIZENS.
YOU CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO TAKE IT FROM THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO SPEND $5,000 ON A CRUISE TO GET DRUNK AND POSSIBLY FALL OFF THE, DARN BOAT.
[LAUGHTER] WITH THAT 5%, IT WOULD BE A MORALE BOOSTER, LIKE HE SAID,
[01:25:03]
TO GET GUYS TO END UP 17 YEARS, 20 YEARS, 30 YEARS.WE JUST RETIRED A GUY FOR WHAT EDDIE DID 30 YEARS ALMOST OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I WANT TO BE NOT QUITE EDDIE, BUT I WOULDN'T MIND GIVING THE CITY 20 YEARS AND WITH A CONSISTENT, NOT JUST THIS YEAR, THE YEAR AFTER THAT AND THE YEAR AFTER THAT, BECAUSE GUESS WHAT, THE UNITED STATES IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO COST MORE AND MORE AND MORE, SO WHY SHOULDN'T THE GUY WHO HAS TO WAKE UP OUT HIS BED AT 2:00 AM TO COME FIX THAT WATER MAIN THAT WHEN I DON'T EVEN LIVE HERE, I GOT TO DRIVE 30 MINUTES TO COME FIX A WATER MAIN.
THAT AIN'T AFFECTING MY HOUSE, BUT IT'S AFFECTING SOMEBODY'S KID, IT'S AFFECTING SOMEBODY'S PETS, IT'S AFFECTING THEM, AND I'LL DO IT, PROBABLY, 2:00 AM, 1:00 AM, 4:00 AM I'LL DO IT, BUT I NEED SOME INCENTIVE TO DO IT.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNSEL. MY NAME IS ALA MORNING.
I'VE BEEN HERE 2, 3 YEARS, AND LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE SAYING, ALL THESE GUYS HERE ARE WONDERFUL GUYS AND LADIES.
THEY WORK HARD. WE ALL WORK HARD TO PLEASE YOU ALL, TO MAKE YOU ALL HAPPY.
SOME DAYS, LIKE THEY SAY, WE DON'T WANT TO COME TO WORK BECAUSE THE PAY IS NOT RIGHT.
WE HAPPEN TO HAVE FAMILIES MOVE IN WITH EACH OTHER TO HELP PAY BILLS AND TO EAT.
IMAGINE YOU GOING HOME AND YOUR KIDS ASKING YOU HOW YOU'RE GOING TO EAT.
THAT'S VERY MENTAL MIND THING, AND YOU'RE COMING HERE AND PEOPLE TELLING YOU YOU DON'T DESERVE THIS.
WE'RE UNDERPAID, ASHLEY, AND I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK LONG.
ONE DAY WE WERE IN THE ALLEY WORKING.
NO AIR IN A TRUCK, IT WAS HOT, WE WERE SWEATING LIKE SLAVES, AND ONE GENTLEMAN WALKED UP TO ME AND SAY, "WHAT'S GOING ON? I SAY, "NOTHING, SIR." HE SAID, "I NOTICED YOU ALL HERE WORKING HARD. YOU SWEAT LIKE THAT." I SAY, WELL, THERE'S NO AIR IN OUR TRUCK, AND HE SAID, "TELL BRIAN, MAXWELL SAID TO FIX THAT AIR." THAT SAME DAY, WE PUT THAT TRUCK IN THE SHOP AND THAT AIR GOT FIXED, BUT WE TRIED SO MANY WEEKS OR MONTHS TO PUT THAT TRUCK IN THE SHOP AND GET AIR AND WAS TOLD, OH, YOU DON'T NEED AIR." WHY DON'T WE NEED AIR? EVERYBODY ELSE GOT AIR IN THEIR TRUCKS." PLEASE, FIND IT IN YOUR HEARTS.
WE APPRECIATE EACH EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL.
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP HAVING MONEY TAKEN OUT OF OUR INSURANCE AND OUT OF OUR ACCOUNTS.
I'M NOW TRYING TO GO FOUND MY SECOND JOB.
THE COST OF LIVING IS GOING UP, EVERYTHING GOING UP.
PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY A NEW CAR.
CAR STARTED BREAKING DOWN, GOT TO CALL IN BECAUSE YOUR CALL SIDE OF THE ROAD.
WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL. [APPLAUSE]
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS RAYMOND VASE.
I'VE BEEN WORKING FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON FOR 6.5 YEARS.
MAN, I TELL YOU WHAT, BARREL HIT ME WORSE IN THE STORM OVER HERE, BUT I HAD OVER 40 FOOT TREE TO THE UP ROOT AT MY HOUSE.
ON TOP OF THAT, MY SHED BLEW OFF THE WOOF, THE SHINGLES AND EVERYTHING.
THESE GUYS HERE, IT WAS TWO GUYS THAT HELPED ME THAT WORKED HERE, FIXED THAT, BUT IT TOOK US, WE HAD TO FIX THE CITY OF GALVESTON FIRST.
ONCE WE GOT TO FIX THE CITY OF GALVESTON FIX, THE COUPLE OF GUYS HELPED ME CUT THE TREE DOWN AND FIX MY ROOF.
LIKE I SAID, MY NEIGHBOR'S FENCE, I AIN'T GOT IT FIXED YET.
WE CAN'T EVEN AFFORD PEOPLE TO COME DO OUR JOB.
WE HAVE TO DO THEM OURSELVES, AND WE NEED TO RAISE IN ORDER TO MAKE IT IN THIS WORLD.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] ANY MORE PUBLIC INPUT THAT WE'D LIKE? YES, MA'AM. COME FORWARD.
>> CITY COUNCIL, THE MAYOR, EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE.
[01:30:01]
MRS. SANDERS, I COME BEFORE YOU SAY THESE MEN WORK THE BUTT OFF.I SEE THEM EVERY TIME I'M OUTSIDE MY CLUB.
I SEE THEM GOING OFF AND COMING IN AND COMING OUT.
I MEAN, IF I ASK THEM TO DO SOMETHING, FIRST, I GOT TO GO GET PERMISSION.
BUT THEY'LL COME BACK AND THEY'LL DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN FOR GALVESTON COUNTY.
I THINK YOU ALL SHOULD GET THEM A RAISE.
IF THEY NEED MORE RAISE, THEY JUST LIKE THE POLICE OFFICERS.
THEY DO SO MUCH AND RECEIVE A LITTLE PAY.
PLEASE PUT THAT IN YOUR MIND TO GET THEM A RAISE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ROSA. [APPLAUSE] ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT? I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THOSE THAT SPOKE.
ONE IS, IT'S NICE TO PUT A FACE WITH THE INDIVIDUALS THAT REALLY ARE WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE THIS COMMUNITY AS BEST AS IT CAN BE.
IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE EACH ONE OF YOU AND LOOK IN YOUR FACE AND KNOW THERE'S A PERSON OUT THERE WHEN WE HAVE WATER, WHEN WE HAVE STREETS REPAIRED, WHEN WE HAVE ALL THESE TYPES OF THINGS THAT HAPPEN.
WE NEED TO REMEMBER THOSE INDIVIDUALS AS YOU ARE TODAY SITTING OUT THERE WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHO'S REALLY DOING THE WORK OUT THERE.
[APPLAUSE] THE OTHER THING, THERE WAS A COMMENT MADE BY ONE OF THE FIRST SPEAKERS THAT SAID, WELL, I'M NOT REALLY GOOD AT SPEAKING OR REALLY ELOQUENT ON SPEAKING.
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU EACH ONE OF YOU GOT YOUR MESSAGE CROSSED TO US, AND YOU DID IT IN A WONDERFUL PROFESSIONAL WAY.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. APPRECIATE IT.
>> I GET TO GO OUT AND VISIT WITH THESE GUYS.
I TRY TO STOP EVERY TIME I SEE YOU WORKING, PROBABLY GETTING IN YOUR WAY.
BUT I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO.
BUT I'VE TOLD YOU GUYS 1,000 TIMES THE CITY OWNS A LOT OF ASSETS, BUT THE BIGGEST ASSET THE CITY OF GALVESTON HAS ARE THESE GUYS AND THESE LADIES.
THIS IS THE BACKBONE OF YOUR CITY.
ALL OF US UP HERE CAN GO AWAY.
THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP RUNNING THE CITY. THEY RUN THE CITY.
THEY ARE THE PEOPLE THAT KEEP IT GOING, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM POLICE AND FIRE, BUT THEY'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
I SUPPORT WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE IT.
I SAW YOU GUYS ALL NIGHT THAT NIGHT OF THE STORM OUT THERE WORKING UNBELIEVABLE TO ME.
JUST TREMENDOUS WORK, THE BACKBONE OF THE CITY.
MOST OF YOU LIVE HERE, AND THE ONES THAT DON'T ALL HAVE FAMILY HERE, AND WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]
>> COUNCILMAN ROLLINS AND COUNCILWOMAN ROD.
>> I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY COMING TODAY.
ALL ARE FROM A WORKING CLASS FROM JUST LIKE THE FAMILY THAT I GREW UP WITH HERE IN GALVESTON.
THIS IS THREE OF US HAVE BEEN UP HERE NOW JUST UNDER FOUR MONTHS.
YOU KNOW, I CONSIDER THIS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE YEARS AGO WHENEVER THE CRUISE INDUSTRY STARTED INCREASING THEIR VOLUME HERE.
WHENEVER WE HAD THE AMOUNT OF TOURISM THAT WE HAD COME INTO THE ISLAND EACH YEAR.
IT'S GREAT THAT THEY FIND US AS A PLACE AS THEIR, THEIR BACKYARD PLAYGROUND, BUT WE'RE THE ONES THAT BASICALLY FOOT THE BILL AS CITIZENS OF GALVESTON.
WE'RE THE ONES THAT PICK UP THEIR TRASH.
WE'RE THE ONES THAT CLEAN UP THEIR MESS AND PROVIDE THEIR FUN.
WE'RE THE ONE THAT PUT THEM IN THE PARKING LOT AND CHARGE THEM FEES FOR FOUR DAYS TO GET ON THAT CRUISE LINE TO SPEND ALL THE MONEY ACROSS THE GULF.
BUT YET, WE HAVE THE PARKS BOARD THAT RUNS ONE POOL OF MONEY, AND WE HAVE THE WARS BOARD THAT RUNS THE OTHER POOL OF MONEY.
IT IS SET OUT BY THE CHARTER LONG, LONG, LONG BEFORE I WAS BORN.
WE ARE NOW DEALING WITH THIS FOUR MONTHS IN AND MAKING DECISIONS AND WE ARE BASICALLY PUT UP AGAINST THE WALL TO SAY, WELL, IT'S THOSE GUYS THAT DON'T SUPPORT A TAX INCREASE BECAUSE WE WANT OUR GOVERNMENT TO RUN MORE EFFICIENTLY TO BLAME FOR YOU ALL NOT GETTING A COLA, WHICH IS COMPLETE BS.
WE ARE DOING OUR BEST AS A COMMUNITY TO NOT RAISE TAXES ACROSS THE BOARD BECAUSE WE WANT OUR CITY MANAGEMENT TO BE ABLE TO RUN MORE EFFICIENTLY.
TO LOOK AT THEIR BUDGET IN A WAY THAT CAN CUT SOME THINGS AND LOOK AT EXTERNAL REVENUE,
[01:35:07]
SUCH AS WHENEVER WE HAVE A NEGOTIATING AND WE ONLY ASK FOR $1 FOR EACH CRUISE PASSENGER, THAT'S NOTHING ANY OF US HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH.WE SHOULD HAVE ASKED FOR A LOT MORE.
I WAS ABLE TO HAVE DINNER WITH ONE OF THE ADMINISTRATORS FOR MSC CRUISE LINES.
HE'S LIKE, WELL, WE WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE PARTICIPATED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY.
WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY FROM THE CITY OF GALVESTON REACH OUT TO US.
WE HAD NO IDEA HOW TO PARTNER WITH THEM.
BUT YET IT'S PUT ON OUR BACKS TODAY IF WE DON'T WANT TO INCREASE THE TAX RATE FOR CITIZENS OF GALVESTON WHILE THEIR TAXES HAVE BEEN GONE THROUGH THE ROOF OVER THE LAST EIGHT OR 10 YEARS BECAUSE OF VALUES SET OUT BY THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, WHEN IS THE BLEEDING STOP? WHEN IS IT THAT WE TELL OUR MANAGEMENT, HEY, DO A BETTER JOB, BECOME MORE EFFICIENT SO THAT GUYS LIKE US THAT ARE IN THE FRONT LINES LIKE YOU, GUYS, ARE ABLE TO GET WHAT YOU DESERVE? WHEN IT SAID THAT WE ARE WORKING HARD, WE'RE WORKING HARD AND WE'RE WORKING HARD TO BALANCE EVERYTHING AND MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY.
WE GET A COLA INCREASE STATEMENT ON THE SEVERAL DIFFERENT BUDGETS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED.
BUT THEN I'LL LOOK AT THE BOTTOM LINE AND SAY, OKAY, WELL, NOW THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR CO PAYS.
NOW THEY HAVE TO GO UP ON THEIR MONTHLY PRESCRIPTION COSTS.
YEAH, THEY'RE GETTING THEIR COST OF LIVING INCREASE, BUT WE'RE SCREWING THEM ON THE OTHER END.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS IS GOING TO LAY OUT, BUT I KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO START DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY, AND WE HAVE TO START ASKING FOR THE TOURISTS AND OUR VISITORS TO FOOT THIS BILL, INSTEAD OF US AS CITIZENS.
I KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME PATIENCE.
I WILL PERSONALLY PUT MY NAME ON A PROMISE WHEN I SAY WE'RE WORKING FOR OUTSIDE REVENUE AND FINDING OTHER WAYS TO PARTICIPATE WITH THE WARS BOARD AND WITH THE PARKS BOARD.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING.
LIKE I SAID, MY FAMILY GREW UP ON 17TH AND I'VE BEEN HERE MY ENTIRE LIFE.
I WORKED MY WAY TO THE WEST END.
I SAY THAT THAT'S NOT WHERE I CAME FROM, THOUGH. I'M AN EASTON BOY.
AS ASKED HIM ABOUT BOT RON HE SAID HE'S PUTTING HIS WORD ON WORKING HARD TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAKE THIS WORK AND NOT INCREASE TAXES.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'M DOING.
GETTING HELP FROM MARIE ROB AND I'M GETTING HELP FROM ALEX FERETO AND THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, I HOPE THAT THEY BAND IN AND JOIN TOGETHER SO WE CAN FIND WAYS TO MAKE THIS WORK FOR EVERYBODY.
>> TO ADD ON WELL, ONE, I WANT TO ECHO WHAT THE MAYOR SAID.
YOU ARE ALL AMAZINGLY WELL SPOKEN.
I THINK THE WAY THAT YOU'RE HERE AND PRESENTING WHAT WE'RE FIGHTING FOR IS JUST TRULY AMAZING.
I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT PUBLIC WORKS IS THE BACKBONE OF THIS COMMUNITY.
I THINK YOUR STATEMENT THAT YOU MADE, EVERY TIME YOU TURN THE WATER ON, EVERY TIME YOU TURN YOUR SHOWER ON EVERY TIME YOU FLUSH YOUR TOILET AND TO THE GENTLEMAN THAT SPOKE ABOUT SHUTTING OFF WATER.
I MEAN, I REPRESENT DISTRICT 6.
I WAS OUT THERE SHUTTING OFF WATER.
I HAD 85-YEAR-OLD LADIES WALK AROUND NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT TAKES A TEAM AND WE ALL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.
BY NO MEANS, WAS I INSULTING ANY COUNCIL PERSON SAYING THEY WEREN'T WORKING TOWARDS ACHIEVING EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO ACHIEVE IN THIS BUDGET.
BUT YOU SHOULD BE AWARE IT WAS THE MANAGEMENT WHO TOLD US THAT THE ONLY WAY THAT WE COULD LOWER TAXES WAS BY ELIMINATING THE COLA, RAISING THE HEALTH INSURANCE, AND WE SAY NO TO THAT.
AND WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER, AND WE ARE LOOKING AT ALTERNATIVES.
THE OTHER GROUPS ON THE ISLAND, THE WHARFS BOARD, AND THE PORT STAFF, THE PARK BOARD AND THE PARK BOARD STAFF, THEY'RE CITIZENS TOO, AND THEY AGREE, AND EVERYBODY KNOWS IT'S TIME FOR US TO BAND TOGETHER AND TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION THAT GETS YOU YOUR COST OF LIVING RAISE,
[01:40:02]
THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO RAISE HEALTH CARE.BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO RAISE TAXES EITHER.
IT IS TIME THAT WE TAKE THE BURDEN OF THE TOURISTS OFF THE CITIZENS BACKS.
I MEAN, IT'S TIME THAT WE ACHIEVE THAT.
HE'LL SAY, OH, WE PRESENTED THE BUDGET MONTHS AGO.
WELL, WE'VE BEEN ARGUING THE SAME POINT OVER AND OVER.
WE DIDN'T SEE THEM TAKING AS MUCH AGGRESSIVE ACTION AS WE WANTED TO ACHIEVE IT.
WE STARTED TALKING TO PEOPLE AS WELL, AND WE GOT THE OTHER GROUPS TO COMMIT IN SOME FORM OR FASHION, AND WE HAVE THE TIME TO ACHIEVE THAT IN THIS BUDGET.
WE CAN DO IT, AND WE CAN DO IT WORKING TOGETHER. [APPLAUSE]
>> JUST A COUPLE OF POINTS SINCE IT GOT BROUGHT UP.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROLLINS SAYS HE WANTS MANAGEMENT TO LOOK MORE EFFICIENCY.
HOW EFFICIENT IS YOUR 18-YEAR-OLD SHOVEL THAT YOU'RE USING, GUYS? HOW EFFICIENT IS YOUR TRUCK WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING, HOW EFFICIENT IS ALL THAT? WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND ALL THE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES IS THAT THEY GET WHAT THE BIRD LEFT ON THE FENCE POST BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A UNION, THEY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE WITH YOU.
THEY DON'T GET TO ENDORSE CANDIDATES FOR CAMPAIGNS, THEY DON'T GET TO CONTRIBUTE TO CAMPAIGNS, THEY DON'T HAVE AN OLD FIRE TRUCK TO PARK AND PUT YOUR SIGNS ON, THEY'RE OUT WORKING.
THOSE GUYS GET WHAT'S COMING FIRST.
THEN YOU COME TO US AND YOU WANT TO BLAME MANAGEMENT FOR THEM NOT GETTING AN INCREASE.
>> I DO. I HAVE PUT IT, AND WE DID PRESENT IT TO YOU.
THEN TO SAY THAT THAT STAFF IS NOT OUT THERE PUSHING FOR MORE REVENUE, WE HAVE I DROWN BIKE BLOODY NUBS TRYING TO GET MONEY OUT OF THE PARK BOARD FOR THE PAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS AND HAVE GOTTEN NO TRACTION WITH COUNSEL.
YOU GUYS WEREN'T ON HERE, AND WE, TWO OF YOU WEREN'T ON HERE, AND I AM SO THANKFUL TO HEAR YOU SAY THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO DO THAT.
STAFF RAISED TONS OF RED FLAGS WITH THE CONTRACTS WITH THE CRUISE LINES WHEN THAT CAME UP AND WE WERE TOLD TO SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP, AND THAT HAS HAPPENED TIME AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
TO SAY THAT STAFF IS THE ONE THAT'S HOLDING THESE GUYS BACK, IT'S NOT JUST THESE GUYS.
CHELA HAS GOT A WHOLE FLOOR OF PEOPLE UP THERE THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING NIGHT AND DAY ON THIS BUDGET.
THEY'RE PART OF THE SAME GROUP, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT GIVE THEM THE MONEY THAT OPERATES.
I'M JUST FED UP WITH THE POLITICAL RHETORIC.
WE GOT TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT, YOU GOT TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT BY THE PEOPLE.
THERE'S ONLY CERTAIN WAYS YOU CAN PAY FOR IT.
I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT THESE OTHER WAYS THAT ARE GOING TO HAPPEN.
I PAY TAXES HERE TOO, BUT WE OWN A BUSINESS HERE IN TOWN.
THAT'S ALL VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
IT'S IMPORTANT, I WANT MY KIDS TO LIVE HERE TOO.
BUT, I KNOW YOUR KIDS WANT TO BE HERE. THEY WANT TO BE HERE.
ON YOUR SON'S HERE, HE'S VERY ACTIVE.
HE'S DOING A GREAT JOB FOR GALVESTON, BUT WE'RE NEVER GOING TO GET THERE IF WE DON'T SUPPORT THESE GUYS.
ONE MORE THING, I UNDERSTAND COSTS WENT UP FOR EVERYBODY. IT WENT UP FOR THESE GUYS.
THEY ARE ALL TELLING YOU THAT. BUT HOW MANY TRUCKS DOES THE CITY OWN? HOW MUCH GAS DO WE BUY? TWO WENT UP? HOW MANY BUILDINGS DO WE INSURE? WHEN YOU SAY, FIX IT, ABSORB IT, WHERE DOES IT GET ABSORBED? EIGHTY PERCENT OF YOUR BUDGET IS PEOPLE, AND THESE GUYS ARE KILLING IT.
TO SAY THAT TO BE MORE EFFICIENT, GUYS, HOW MUCH MORE EFFICIENT YOU WANT TO BE? YOU'RE 80% OF THE BUDGET, HOW MUCH MORE EFFICIENT YOU WANT TO BE? ALL GOT ENOUGH GUYS? I REST MY CASE.
>> COUNCIL, LET'S WRAP THIS UP.
>> WE'LL WRAP IT UP WHENEVER WE GET EVERYTHING OUT WE NEED TO SAY.
>> WHEN I TALK ABOUT EFFICIENCY, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT AN 18-YEAR-OLD SHOVEL.
I MAKE AS MUCH MONEY AS I GO OUT AND HASSLE FOR.
I DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE.
WHATEVER I BRING IN, IT'S UP TO ME TO MAKE MORE.
AS FAR AS EFFICIENCY OF A SHOVEL, THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
I'M TALKING ABOUT UPPER LEVEL STAFF AND TAKING A LOOK AT OUR BUDGET.
I HAVE A I HAVE A CITY MANAGER THAT MAKES UPWARDS OF 340,000 A YEAR.
>> UNDERSTAND. HEY, AGAIN, I'VE BEEN HERE THREE-AND-A-HALF MONTHS, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POLITICAL RHETORIC.
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT POLITICAL RHETORIC.
[01:45:02]
I'M TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S ON BLACK AND WHITE IN OUR BUDGET.WE HAVE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER THAT MAKES HOW MUCH? TWO HUNDRED AND SOMETHING THOUSAND.
WE HAVE ANOTHER ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER THAT MAKES NEAR 200,000.
AM I SAYING IT MIGHT BE DROPS IN THE BUCKET? MAYBE. BUT I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT AN 18-YEAR-OLD SHOVEL, AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT YOU AS A GROUP BEING INEFFICIENT.
I'M TALKING ABOUT US AS A CITY GOVERNMENT, TAKING A LOOK AT EVERY LINE ITEM WE HAVE, AND FINDING A WAY TO SCALE BACK, BE MORE EFFICIENT AS FAR AS MONEY GOES, NOT AS FAR AS EQUIPMENT AND 18-YEAR-OLD SHOVELS.
THERE'S A LOT OF 18-YEAR-OLD CRAP I HAVE TO USE AS WELL.
BUT WHEN I CAN'T BUY A NEW ONE, I MAKE IT WORK JUST LIKE Y'ALL HAVE.
I APPRECIATE YOU'RE ALSO HANGING IN THERE AS YOU HAVE WITH A 2% AVERAGE COST OF LIVING INCREASE EACH YEAR.
I'M SORRY THAT YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO DO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND HOLD HOSTAGE AS FAR AS UNIONIZED WAY, BUT I JUST THINK THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT IN UPPER MANAGEMENT ACROSS THE BOARD AND STAFF, AND DIFFERENT ITEMS THROUGH OUR BUDGET.
IT MIGHT TAKE SOME WORK, AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME WORK FROM ALL OF US.
I MIGHT BE THE STUPIDEST COUNCILMAN ALL HAVE, BUT I DON'T THINK SO.
I'LL KEEP TRYING, AS ALL THESE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE TRYING, JUST AS OUR CITY MANAGER WILL KEEP TRYING, AND JUST AS EVERYBODY IN THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY WILL WORK TO MAKE IT WORK.
THANK Y'ALL. [BACKGROUND] [APPLAUSE]
>> LET ME SAY THIS. BOB, DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING?
>> I'M NEW AT THIS. I JUST GOT ELECTED TO THE LAST ELECTION AND I DIDN'T REALLY REALIZE HOW OUTSTANDING OF A CREW THAT WE HAVE HERE.
IT'S ONE OF THE BEST PARTS ABOUT THIS JOB IS BEING ABLE TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU.
I'LL TELL YOU THAT EVERYBODY ON THIS DIAS HERE, COUNCIL AND STAFF THAT'S ALL IN SUPPORT OF GETTING YOU PAID WHAT YOU DESERVE.
I THINK WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT AND WE'RE ALL DOING AS THE BEST THAT WE CAN.
GALVESTON, AS WE ALL KNOW THIS, IS A DIFFERENT PLACE.
IT'S NOT LIKE ANYTHING ELSE IN THE COUNTY.
THERE'S NO OTHER CITY IN THE COUNTY LIKE GALVESTON.
A CITY THAT CAN QUADRUPLE THEIR POPULATION IN TWO DAYS, GO 55,000-255,000 IN TWO DAYS AND WE HAVE TO HAVE THE SERVICES TO DO THAT.
YOU GUYS ARE THE ONES THAT HELP US DO THAT.
I THINK WE'RE ALL UNIFIED UP HERE THAT WE NEED TO FIND MORE MONEY BEFORE WE RAISE ANY TAXES ON ANYBODY.
WE ALL UNIFIED HERE THAT THE REASON THAT Y'ALL HAVE TO WORK SO HARD AND THE REASON THAT ALL OF OUR PROPERTY TAX DOESN'T EVEN PAY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
IT'S PUBLIC SAFETY, FIRE, EMS, AND POLICE OR 61%, AND PROPERTY TAX BRINGS IN 40 SOMETHING PERCENT.
I DON'T THINK TEXAS CITY HAS THAT PROBLEM BECAUSE THEIR POPULATION STAYS THE SAME.
WE ARE A DIFFERENT PLACE, AND WE HAVE TO DO THINGS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.
BECAUSE OF THAT BURDEN THAT OUR TOURISM INDUSTRY PUTS ON US, WE'RE ALL LOOKING FOR WAYS TO GET THAT GROUP TO PAY FOR WHAT WE NEED TO SPEND IN THE CITY, SO JUST BE REST ASSURED THAT ALL OF US UP HERE ARE UNIFIED AND OUR APPROACH TO THIS.
HOW WE RAISE MONEY, WHERE IT SHOULD COME FROM, AND IT SHOULD COME FROM THOSE WHO ARE PUTTING THE BURDEN ON OUR CITY AND OUR CITY WORKERS.
WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT TO THIS, AND WE'RE ALL TRYING TO DO OUR BEST BEST WE CAN FOR YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YES, MA'AM.
>> THERE WAS ANOTHER COMMENT THAT WAS MADE, AND IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE IT'S A COMMENT THAT I HAVE ALSO HEARD FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS, AND IT IS AN AREA THAT I BROUGHT UP AT THE LAST MEETING AGAIN.
SOMEONE MENTIONED WITH HURRICANE BERYL AND FOLLOWING EMERGENCY PROTOCOL.
WITH HURRICANE BERYL, EMERGENCY PROTOCOL WASN'T FILED. WE DID.
WE HAD EMPLOYEES WHOSE HOUSES WERE DESTROYED OR NEAR DESTROYED, AND YET YOU WEREN'T GIVEN A PLACE THIS DAY, AND YET YOU WERE ASKED TO WORK 16 HOURS, BUT EITHER THE POLICE WERE IN THE SAME SITUATION, AND THEY WEREN'T GIVEN A PLACE THIS DAY.
[01:50:01]
THERE WAS SOMETHING, AND PEOPLE COULD SAY, " WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW BIG THE STORM WAS, WE DIDN'T KNOW." WELL, ANYBODY WHO READ THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER REPORT ON SATURDAY, KNEW IT WAS COMING TO US AND IT WAS GOING TO BE BIG.HOW WE MISSED THAT AS A CITY, I'M NOT SURE.
BUT EVEN IF THEY DIDN'T KNOW, AND EVEN IF IT WENT FURTHER FASTER THAN EXPECTED, WE SHOULD HAVE MADE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR YOU.
IT IS NOT RIGHT TO ASK OUR EMPLOYEES BECAUSE IT WASN'T JUST YOU.
LIKE I SAY, IT WAS POLICE, FIRES KIND ON 24 ANYWAY.
BUT, THERE WERE ANY ACCOMMODATIONS MADE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
WHEN YOU WENT HOME, YOU HAD NO POWER.
LIKE THE ONE GENTLEMAN SAID, HE HAD ASLEEP IN HIS CAR.
I THINK WE HAVE ISSUES IN THE AREA OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AT THAT CITY.
AGAIN, WE HAVE MULTIPLE EMPLOYEES MAKING REALLY HIGH SALARIES, AND WHEN IT CAME TO HURRICANE BERYL, WE FAILED.
THAT REALLY SCARES ME IF WE'D HAVE BEEN A BIGGER STORM, WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED THEN? I'M GLAD Y'ALL BROUGHT ATTENTION TO THAT AS WELL, BECAUSE ACCOMMODATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE FOR YOU.
YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO WORK MANDATORY WHILE YOUR HOUSES WERE DESTROYED AS WELL.
I JUST WANT TO SAY, I RECOGNIZE THAT, AND I PERSONALLY WILL BE WORKING ON THAT.
HOWEVER, WE ALL CAN WORK TOGETHER TO RECTIFY THAT.
>> WE DIDN'T ISSUE AN EVACUATION, GUYS.
[APPLAUSE] THAT'S THE ISSUE, AND THAT'S THE TRIGGER IF YOU LISTENED IN THE CLASS THAT WAS SAID.
I KNOW YOU HAVE THINGS TO DO AND WE'RE MOVING ALONG.
I WOULD SAY I WANT TO RE-ENFORCE THOUGH THE THOUGHT, THAT NOT ONE COUNCIL MEMBER, NOT TWO, OR NOT THREE ARE ONLY WORKING ON THIS.
EACH ONE OF THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS IS WORKING DAY AND NIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HONOR THE COST OF LIVING INCREASE FOR YOU GENTLEMEN AND LADIES OUT THERE, MAINTAIN A GOOD SOLID BUDGET NOW AND FOR THE FUTURE FOR THIS CITY.
IT'S NOT JUST 1, 2 OR THREE, IT'S EVERY ONE OF US HERE IS WORKING ON THIS.
THIS IS GOING TO BE AN IMPETUS FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD AND MOVE FORWARD AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND IT IS NOW 10:59 AM.
I'M CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 4A THIS MORNING.
COUNCIL, I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER THE ACTION ITEM ON THE BUDGET 4A TO OUR SEPTEMBER 19TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
[BACKGROUND] NO, IT'S A DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ALSO.
>> I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION FOR ITEM 4A FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET FOR THIS '25 YEAR TO BE MOVED TO OUR SEPTEMBER 19TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
THE REASON FOR THAT IS A NUMBER OF REASONS.
ONE IS, SHARON LEWIS, WHO IS A VITAL PART OF THIS COUNCIL IS NOT HERE TODAY.
IT WAS UNFORTUNATELY NOT AT HER CHOOSING, BUT IT WORKED OUT THAT WAY, AND SO WE NEED TO HAVE ALL OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS REPRESENTED WHEN WE MAKE THESE VOTES IN MY OPINION.
NUMBER 2, IT GIVES US TIME TO DO OUR HOMEWORK, AND GIVE US GET MORE INPUT AND DELVE INTO EACH ONE OF US INTO THIS BUDGET, TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND IT AND HAVE THE DETAILS WORKED OUT TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY ON THAT.
ALSO, IT GIVES US THE TIME WHEN WE COME BACK ON THE 19TH.
WE WILL HAVE A WORKSHOP IN THE MORNING, AND WE WILL HAVE AN AFTERNOON MEETING ON THIS FOR ANY OTHER CITIZENS TO COME FORWARD ON THIS.
I MAKE A MOTION FOR DEFERRAL OF SEPTEMBER TILL SEPTEMBER 19TH.
IS THERE A SECOND? HAVE A SECOND FOR COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN. ANY DISCUSSION?
>> I DO. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, IT'S JANELLE OR DON.
[01:55:05]
AND IF WE WANT TO LOWER THE TAX RATE, WHAT IS THE LEGAL TIMELINE FOR DOING A NEW POSTING AND [NOISE] HAVING A MEETING?>> PUBLIC HEARING AND DO AN ADOPTION.
YOU WILL THEN REVERT TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE AS A MATTER OF LAW, AS SET OUT IN CHAPTER 26 OF THE TAX CODE.
>> DON, LET ME MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR ON THIS.
COUNCILMAN ROBB, GUIDE ME ON THIS, BECAUSE WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS ON THIS.
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS MOVING OUR APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET TO THE 19TH.
>> COMING UP HERE, I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND TO DEFER THE RATIFICATION OF THE TAX RATE UNTIL THE 19TH.
>> WE, ON THE 19TH, CAN THEN APPROVE OUR BUDGET, RATIFY THE TAX RATE AND APPROVE THE TAX RATE WITHOUT ANY DIFFERENT POSTINGS ON THAT.
>> MY QUESTION IS, IF WE WANT TO LOWER THE TAX RATE, AND JANE OR DON, WHEN WOULD WE HAVE TO DO THAT BY FOR POSTINGS?
>> IF YOU WANT TO LOWER THE TAX RATE, NO ADDITIONAL POSTING IS REQUIRED [OVERLAPPING] IF YOU APPROVE IT ON THE 19TH.
>> IF YOU THE 19TH, IF WE CAN DO WHAT WE WANT ON THE BUDGET, THE TAX RATE AND ALL OF THAT, WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL POSTINGS.
>> WE CANNOT GO UP, YOU CAN'T GO DOWN.
>> WE COULD MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE BUDGET WITHOUT ADDITIONAL POSTINGS?
>> QUESTION. WHEN YOU SAY YOU CAN'T GO UP, YOU CAN'T GO UP FROM THE PROPOSED TAX RATE OF THE 0.428 LEVELS.
>> THAT IS CORRECT. I WANT TO BE CLEAR WITH COUNCIL THOUGH SO THAT WE ALL UNDERSTAND.
DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, MARIE?
>> JUST SO I'M GOING TO CLARIFY.
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE COULD GO DOWN IN OUR TAX RATE.
>> WE CAN MAKE CHANGES TO THE BUDGET TO ACCOMMODATE A LOWER TAX RATE WITH ACHIEVING THE GOAL OF WHAT WE NEED FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, AND WE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DO ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL POSTING.
>> IF WE DO THAT ON THE 19TH, THAT IS CORRECT.
>> YES, MA'AM. NOW, I WANT TO CLARIFY THOUGH SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT, OF MAKING ADJUSTMENTS TO THE BUDGET.
IF COUNCIL WANTS TO LOWER THIS TAX RATE, MAKING ADJUSTMENTS TO THE BUDGET, WHAT IS COUNCIL'S ABILITY TO DO THAT, DON?
IT IS UP TO THE MANAGER TO DETERMINE HOW TO DISPERSE THAT LOWERING OR POLICY.
>> I WANT TO BE SURE WE'RE CLEAR ON THIS NOW.
>> WELL, WE CAN GIVE SUGGESTIONS TO THE MANAGER [BACKGROUND] ON WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE, AS WE'VE ALL DISCUSSED, MULTIPLE TIMES WITH THE MANAGEMENT.
ALTERNATIVE REVENUE SOURCES WHERE WE COULD LOWER THE TAX RATE AND ACHIEVE EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO ACHIEVE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, AND FURTHER DISCUSSION.
IF NEED BE, WE COULD EVEN HAVE A SECOND MEETING ON THE 26TH.
>> WE CAN ALWAYS RECOGNIZE NEW REVENUE, AND AMEND THE BUDGET WHEN THE REVENUE COMES IN.
THAT'S NOT AN ISSUE. THAT'S THE EASY PART.
>> I WANT TO BE CLEAR THOUGH, THAT, TECHNICALLY, THE WAY THE CHARTER IS STRUCTURED HERE IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON, THAT WE CAN MAKE SUGGESTIONS, WE CAN OFFER ALTERNATE REVENUES.
I PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT DILIGENTLY, AND HAVE COME UP WITH ALTERNATE REVENUES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN PROPOSED, I'VE ALREADY MENTIONED IT AND SENT THAT OVER TO STAFF, SO THAT WE HAVE MORE REVENUE COMING IN FOR THIS BUDGET, AND EACH ONE OF US ARE WORKING ON THAT.
BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR, THAT, THAT IS UP TO THE CITY MANAGER, THOUGH, TO MAKE THE DECISIONS TO MAKE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE BUDGET.
>> WELL, WE COULD ALSO GIVE STRONG SUGGESTIONS,
[02:00:04]
AND WE HAVE TO VOTE TO APPROVE THE BUDGET, THEREFORE, WE DO HAVE AN INPUT IN IT, EVEN IF HE IS THE BUDGET OFFICER.>> OF COURSE, WE DO, BUT, WE CAN'T SIT DOWN AND INSTRUCT AND FORCE THE CITY MANAGER TO MAKE CUTS OR TO MAKE CHANGES IN REVENUE OR WHATEVER IN THESE PARTICULAR AREAS.
THE ULTIMATE DECISION COMES FROM THE CITY MANAGER.
>> WELL, YOU GIVE ME THE PARAMETERS, I'LL MAKE IT WORK.
>> MAYOR, AS YOU SAID, ALL OF US HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY EITHER ON THE REVENUE SIDE OR IN THE EXPENDITURE SIDE.
WE'VE THROWN OUT THINGS THERE BEFORE TWO MONTHS AGO, I THREW OUT A COUPLE OF THINGS IN COUNCIL AND WAS TOLD WHY WE COULDN'T DO IT.
I'M LIKE, "WELL, WE GOT TO GET AROUND THOSE TYPES OF BARRIERS." WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, IS THAT, PRIOR TO OUR NEXT MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 19TH, I'D APPRECIATE IT IF ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS COULD PROVIDE THEIR COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS TO JANELLE TO SUMMARIZE, SO THAT WE'RE NOT HIT WITH A LAUNDRY LIST OF IDEAS ON THE 19TH THAT HAVEN'T BEEN EITHER FERRETED OUT BY INDIVIDUALS OR BY THE STAFF.
>> I THINK WE CAN ALL ACHIEVE DISTRIBUTING THAT [INAUDIBLE] NOW.
>> I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD BE ACHIEVED.
>> WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR THAT.
WE'VE GOT TO GET AWAY FROM THIS ITEM.
>> WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS FOR HOW LONG?
>> I'D FORGOT TO PUT A TIMELINE ON THAT.
I'D LIKE A MINIMUM OF TWO DAYS BEFORE THE MEETING, PLEASE, SO SEPTEMBER 10TH, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT.
[APPLAUSE] I WAS GOING TO TELL YOU GUYS THAT IF YOU GIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS, YOU GOT TO STAY THE WHOLE MEETING, BUT I WAS WONDERING WHO'S DOING THEIR JOB WHILE THEY'RE HERE.
>> WE HAVEN'T COMPLETED OUR VOTE YET.
>> NO, WE'RE GOING TO LET THEM.
WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR HERE AND IT'S BEEN SECONDED TO DEFER THIS BUDGET ITEM TO SEPTEMBER 19TH, COUNCILMAN FINKLEA, LET'S FINISH YOUR THOUGHTS, SIR, WHAT YOU WOULD.
>> SURE, WHAT I WOULD ASK IS GIVEN THAT ALL OF US HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY ON VARIOUS IDEAS, EITHER ON REDUCING EXPENSES OR INCREASING REVENUE, THAT EACH COUNCIL MEMBER PUT TOGETHER A SUMMARY OF THOSE IDEAS, EITHER WITH JUSTIFICATION, BARRIERS, RISKS, WHATEVER ANALYSIS THAT YOU HAVE, INCLUDING POTENTIAL REVENUE OR CUTS, PROVIDE THAT TO JANELLE BY SEPTEMBER 17TH, SO THAT THAT CAN BE DISTRIBUTED TO COUNCIL MEMBERS PRIOR TO US COMING BACK IN WORKSHOP AND TO THE PUBLIC ON THE 19TH.
>> VERY GOOD. I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY APPROPRIATE TO DO.
WE'VE GOT TO GET AWAY FROM THIS IDEA, WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK WITH THIS BUDGET.
WE HAVE GOT TO BE SPECIFIC ON WHAT WE'RE GOING TO APPROACH EITHER ON REVENUE FLOW OR FOR EXPENSES.
THAT HAS TO BE VERY SPECIFIC SO WE CAN WORK ON THAT.
>> IN TERMS OF EXPENSES, I ASK YOU TO BE PROGRAMMATIC AND TO THINK OF THE BEST WORD SERVICE TYPE ISSUES, IT'S AGAINST THE CHARTER TO GET INTO EMPLOYEES OR THINGS LIKE THAT, TALK ABOUT SERVICE LEVELS, TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE THAT, AND I'M HAPPY TO CARRY OUT THOSE AND I WILL MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET INTO TALKING ABOUT WHETHER BARBARA HAS TOO MANY RAKES OR WHETHER HER TRUCKS ARE RUNNING TOO LONG OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
[02:05:01]
IF YOU TELL ME THAT YOU WANT TO INCREASE SERVICES IN MCGUIRE DENT, THEN I WILL MAKE THAT HAPPEN.IF YOU TELL ME YOU WOULD LIKE TO REDUCE SERVICES IN ORDER TO DO THINGS OR WE'RE OVERSERVING IN SOME AREAS, OR YOU WOULD LIKE A CHANGE IN THOSE LEVELS, WE WILL MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
THAT'S MY JOB TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
I TOOK AN OATH TO FOLLOW THE CHARTER AND I'M GOING TO GO TO MY DEATH FOLLOWING THE CHARTER, WE'RE NOT GOING TO JUST WIPE OURSELVES WITH IT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU LOOK AT ALL SIDES OF THE CHARTER, READ IT CAREFULLY.
>> IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT IN THIS BUDGET FOR THE SAKE OF THE STABILITY OF THIS CITY NOW AND IN THE FUTURE, THAT WE GET AWAY FROM ANECDOTAL TYPE FEELINGS ON THIS AND WE'VE GOT TO GET INTO OBJECTIVE AREAS AND REALLY LOOK AT THE SPECIFICS OF THIS.
THAT INFORMATION TO YOU, BROWN, ON THE 17TH, DOES THAT GIVE YOU TIME TO COME BACK WITH THOUGHTS ON THE 19TH?
>> I LOOK TO CSILLA ON THAT BECAUSE SHE'S THE ONE THAT'S GOT TO DIG THROUGH THE NUMBER.
>> SHE HAS BEEN WORKING NIGHT AND DAY ON THIS.
>> IT DEPENDS ON IF I GET 25 PAGES WORTH OR TWO PAGES WORTH, OBVIOUSLY.
WE'LL GO THROUGH WHATEVER INFORMATION IS PROVIDED AND PROVIDE YOU WITH THE BEST INFORMATION POSSIBLE ON THE 19TH BASED ON THE INFORMATION WE RECEIVE.
AS A REMINDER, THE BUDGET HAS TO BE APPROVED BEFORE THE TAX RATE CAN BE CONSIDERED.
>> GETTING THEM AT FIVE O'CLOCK ON THE 17TH, PROBABLY.
>> OH, NO. GET THEM THERE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WORKDAY IF WE COULD.
VERY GOOD. WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
WE HAVE SOME THOUGHTS FROM OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE HAVE A SECOND. PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
THAT IS APPROVED BY ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE, BUT FOR CHAIRWOMAN SHARON LEWIS, WHO IS ABSENT.
[4.B. Public Hearing only: An ordinance of the City of Galveston, Texas levying ad valorem taxes for tax year 2024 in the amount of 42 cents and 8.382 mills ($0.428382) upon each one hundred dollars ($100.00) of property valuation for the tax year 2024; Making various findings and provisions related to the subject.]
>> FOUR B. PUBLIC HEARING ONLY.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, LEVYING AVALORM TAXES FOR THE TAX YEAR 2024 IN THE AMOUNT OF 42 CENTS AND 8.382 MILLS UPON EACH $100 OF PROPERTY VALUATION FOR THE TAX YEAR 2024, MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT.
>> VERY GOOD. CSILLA, DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ON THIS?
>> THE TAX RATE THAT THE PUBLIC HEARING IS ON IS THE TAX RATE THAT SUPPORTS THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE PROPOSED.
I BELIEVE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT ALREADY TODAY, BUT THIS JUST AFFORDS THAT NOTICED OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO CONTRIBUTE INFORMATION ON THE TAX RATE THAT WILL BE BEFORE YOU AT THE MEETING ON THE 19TH.
THERE'S NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM TODAY.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS LUDANYI ON THIS, COUNCIL?
>> CAN YOU CLARIFY FOR THE PUBLIC, PLEASE, BECAUSE I KNOW WE PUT THIS NOTIFICATION IN THE PAPER SINCE PEOPLE WERE QUESTIONING.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT ALL THE AVENUES WHERE THIS NOTICE WAS PUBLISHED?
>> THE NOTICE IS LEGALLY REQUIRED TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE NEWSPAPER, OR IF YOU DON'T HAVE A NEWSPAPER, YOU COULD MAIL IT TO EVERYONE, BUT THAT'S A VERY EXPENSIVE WAY TO DO IT.
WE PUBLISHED IN THE NEWSPAPER.
IT'S ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE WEBSITE AS WELL AS ON THE FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY PAGE.
IT WAS PUBLISHED, I BELIEVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA INCLUDING NEXT DOOR.
I'VE HEARD THIS QUESTIONS FROM EVEN PEOPLE ON COUNCIL, LIKE WHEN YOU GO TO TRY TO FIND THE CURRENT YEAR'S BUDGET, IT IS NOT A SIMPLE TASK.
I THINK THE CURRENT YEAR'S BUDGET, AS WELL AS MAYBE THE LAST THREE YEARS BUDGETS SHOULD BE ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE WEBSITE.
I'D EVEN LIST ABOVE, SO PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO SCROLL ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM.
I KNOW I'VE HAD TO SEND THE LINK OUT PROBABLY TO 100 DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO HAVE REQUESTED IT.
I PROBABLY HAD TO GO TO JANELLE AND SAY, SEND ME THE DANG LINK, I CAN'T FIND IT.
YOU DON'T ALWAYS WANT TO BE TOTING THAT BAG WITH YOU THOUGH I HAVE TRAVELED BY AIRPLANE WITH THAT DARN LITTLE BINDER.
I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR OUR CITIZENS TO SEE IT.
WHEN YOU'RE POSTING THE 2024, WE'RE WORKING FROM THE AMENDED BUDGET.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO PUT THAT DOWN.
[02:10:02]
>> VERY GOOD. [NOISE] IT IS 11:16 AM, I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 4B.
IS THERE ANYONE WHO MAKES TO COMMENT ON THIS? HEARING NO REPLY, I'M CLOSING THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 4B.
WE ARE NOW MOVING TO ITEM 5A, PLEASE, MA'AM.
[5.A. Consider for action a motion ratifying the property tax increase reflected in the FY 2025 Budget.]
>> FIVE A. CONSIDER FOR ACTION, A MOTION RATIFYING THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE REFLECTED IN THE FY 2025 BUDGET.
>> I AM GOING TO MAKE A MOTION FOR DEFERRAL OF ITEM 5A UNTIL THE SEPTEMBER 19TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WITH THE BUDGET AND THE APPROVAL OF THE TAX RATE. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> I HAVE A SECOND, BUT COUNCILMAN FINKLEA ON THAT.
ANY DISCUSSION, COUNCIL? PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER FINKLEA, CAN YOU PICTURE?
>> THAT IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE.
WE HAVE GONE THROUGH ALL THE ITEMS ON OUR BUDGET THAT REQUIRES US.
[5.B. Consider for approval an ordinance of the City of Galveston, Texas, amending the code of the City of Galveston, as amended, Chapter 15, “Garbage and Trash”, Article II. “Rates and Charges”, regarding the rates of solid waste removal charged for garbage and trash collection: providing for the rate change to go into effect on October 1, 2024: making various findings and provisions related to the subject; providing for an effective date. (B Cook)]
WE HAVE 5B. EXCUSE ME, JANELLE, GO RIGHT AHEAD.>> FIVE B. CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, AMENDING THE CODE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON AS AMENDED, CHAPTER 15, GARBAGE AND TRASH, ARTICLE 2, RATES AND CHARGES REGARDING THE RATES OF SOLID WASTE REMOVAL CHARGED FOR GARBAGE AND TRASH COLLECTION.
PROVIDING FOR THE RATE CHANGE TO GO INTO EFFECT ON OCTOBER 1ST, 2024.
MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> VERY GOOD. WE HAD A WORKSHOP ON THIS ITEM.
WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING IT FOR TWO MEETINGS NOW.
I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION FOR DEFERRAL OF ITEM 5B TO OUR SEPTEMBER 19TH MEETING FOR THE SAME REASONS THAT I HAD MENTIONED ON THE OTHER DEFERRAL ITEMS. IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT?
>> COUNCILMAN BROWN SECONDS THAT.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
>> THAT IS APPROVED BY COUNCILMAN FINKLEA, MAYOR BROWN, COUNCILMAN PORRETTO, AND COUNCILMAN ROLLINS AND ROBB HAS VOTED NO.
WE DO HAVE FOUR AFFIRMATIVE, SO THAT HAS BEEN DEFERRED.
VERY GOOD. WE ARE NOW MOVING OUT OF OUR COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
WE'RE GOING TO ROOM 204 TO BEGIN OUR WARDS BOARD AND PLANNING COMMISSION INTERVIEWS.
WE'LL TAKE A BREAK TAKE A BREAK HERE.
>> DO WE WANT 30? 11:30. WE WILL RECONVENE IN THE ROOM 204.
>> THEY'RE SNEAKING THAT TIME IN THERE.
>> [BACKGROUND] IT IS 11:33 AM.
WE ARE NOW BACK IN ROOM 204, CONTINUING WITH OUR MEETING FOR SEPTEMBER 12 FOR THE CITY COUNCIL.
[6. Wharves Board and Planning Commission Interviews]
WE ARE NOW GOING INTO OUR INTERVIEWS FOR OUR WARDS BOARD AND PLANNING COMMISSION INDIVIDUALS.COUNCIL, I WOULD MENTION TO YOU THAT WE WANT TO DO OUR INTERVIEWS.
ONCE THEY'RE FINISHED, WE WILL RANK THESE CANDIDATES.
I WANT TO DRAW TO COUNCIL'S ATTENTION, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE A RESOLUTION OR A POLICY THAT WAS PASSED BY COUNCIL THAT WE ARE FUNCTIONING UNDER.
AN ITEM 7 SAYS AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE INTERVIEWS, EACH COUNCIL MEMBER WILL RANK EACH CANDIDATE.
WE HAVE TO RANK ALL THE CANDIDATES.
THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE FOLLOW THAT, STAY IN LINE WITH WHAT WE HAVE.
THE POLICY THAT IS GUIDING US ON THIS.
VERY GOOD. JANELLE, WHEN WOULD YOU LIKE THOSE RANKINGS TO YOU BY WHAT TIME?
[02:15:06]
>> HOW ABOUT NOON ON THE 19TH?
>> ON THE 19TH? > YES. THE 19TH.
>> ON SEPTEMBER 19TH, THESE WILL COME TO JANELLE.
>> MAYOR, IF COUNCIL COULD WEIGH IN ON HOW YOU'D LIKE TO RANK THE CANDIDATES?
>> WHAT JANELLE MEANS BY THAT, DO YOU WANT THE TOP CANDIDATE NUMBER 1 OR THE TOP CANDIDATE IF WE HAVE FOUR CANDIDATES NUMBER 4?
JUST LIKE A GOLF SCORE, LOW SCORE WINS.
YOU RANK THEM 1-5 WITH ONE BEING YOUR PREFERENCE?
>> ON TO HOWEVER MANY, BUT NUMBER 1 IS YOUR NUMBER 1 CANDIDATE?
>> JUST BE SURE TO RANK EACH CANDIDATE.
>> VERY GOOD. VICTOR PEARSON HAS REQUESTED THAT HE GO AS THE FIRST FOR THE WARDS BOARD.
>> CAN WE ANNOUNCE WE HAVE TWO POSITIONS OPEN FOR THE WARDS BOARD AND HOW MANY FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION?
>> YES, SIR. THREE. THANK YOU, ROBB.
>> WE HAVE TWO REAPPOINTMENTS, AND ONE OPENING.
>> FOR THE WARDS BOARD, THERE ARE TWO POSITIONS TO CONSIDER.
THEY'RE BOTH UP FOR REAPPOINTMENT, THAT'S SHEILA LISTON AND VICTOR PEARSON.
ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THREE POSITIONS TO CONSIDER.
STAN HUMPHREY AND JOHN LIGHTFOOT ARE UP FOR REAPPOINTMENT.
STEVEN PENA, WHO WAS UP FOR REAPPOINTMENT, HAS ELECTED NOT TO PURSUE REAPPOINTMENT.
WE HAVE TWO POSSIBLE REAPPOINTMENTS AND ONE OPEN SPOT ON PLANNING COMMISSION.
>> VERY SORRY ABOUT THE DELAY.
>> AS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, YOU KNOW HOW THESE THINGS RUN SOMETIMES.
WE'LL GIVE YOU ABOUT A MINUTE OR TWO TO SAY SOME THINGS YOU WANT TO SAY AND WE'LL OPEN UP TO QUESTIONS.
>> GREAT. MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING ABLE TO SERVE ON THE WHARF'S BOARD THE PAST THREE YEARS.
AFTER BEING AT THE PUBLIC HEARING, I'M GOING TO CHANGE MY REMARKS A LITTLE BIT.
THE CITY OF GALVESTON ACQUIRED THE WHARF'S AND THE PORT IN 1940 AND FOR THE LONGEST TIME, THE CITY GOT A PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAX IS PRIMARILY THE ONLY RETURN ON THAT INVESTMENT OF $198,124.
THAT'S STILL THE PAYMENTS TODAY.
SUBSEQUENT TO THAT, THEY GET A LITTLE INCREMENTAL SALES TAX, AND THEY GET 4% OF THE REVENUE OF THE TRANSIT TERMINAL, WHICH IN TODAY'S DOLLARS IS 36,000.
IN 2021, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT CAME TO THE CITY WAS 272,000.
WHEN I SAY THAT, THE PORT IS ON THE CALENDAR YEAR.
THE NUMBERS MIGHT NOT BE JOB UP EXACTLY WITH THE CITY, WHICH IS ON A FISCAL YEAR THAT ENDS ON SEPTEMBER 30TH.
IN 2022, WE ADDED PASSENGER TAX.
IN 2023, WE ADDED THE LONG-TERM PARKING FEE, AND WE'RE ESTIMATING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S COMING INTO THE CITY FOR 2024 TO BE TWO MILLION, EIGHT HUNDRED AND SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS.
BIG JUMP FROM 272, THREE YEARS AGO TO 2.8 MILLION.
AFTER THE DISCUSSION TODAY, THE PORT DIRECTOR AND I HAVE TALKED.
HE'S GOT SOME IDEAS ON SOME ADDITIONAL REVENUE FOR THE CITY, AND IF I'M REAPPOINTED, I LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSING THAT WITH THE BOARD.
IT TAKES FOUR VOTES TO GET ANYTHING DONE, JUST AS IT DOES HERE, BUT I THINK WE WANT TO BE GOOD CITIZENS AND WE WANT TO GET A SUBSEQUENT DECENT RETURN BACK.
IT'S LIKE A DIVIDEND TO THE CITY.
THE PORT IS DOING EXCEPTIONAL.
IN JUNE, OUR BOND RATING BY STANDARD AND PORTS WAS INCREASED FROM AN A MINUS TO AN A AND ONE OF THE THINGS I'M MOST PROUD OF IS THE PROCESS OF GETTING OUR BOND APPROVED THIS YEAR.
THE COMMUNICATION THAT WE WORKED WITH THE CITY WITH WAS MUCH BETTER THIS TIME THAN THE CRUISE TERMINAL 25 BOND ISSUE SO I'M PROUD OF THAT.
I'M EXTREMELY PROUD OF WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE $90 MILLION TO BULKHEAD IMPROVEMENTS, THE CARGO IMPROVEMENTS, THE DOCK IMPROVEMENTS.
THERE HADN'T BEEN AN INVESTMENT MADE LIKE THAT IN THE CITY'S DOCK SINCE 1972.
THAT'S OVER 50 YEARS AGO SO I'M PROUD OF THAT.
I THINK WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT AND IF YOU SEE SO FIT,
[02:20:01]
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING MOVING FORWARD AND BUILDING A BETTER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PORT BECAUSE WE KNOW Y'ALL OWN US IN THE CITY.APPRECIATE THAT. I'M GOING TO OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS, COUNCIL.
>> EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T MENTION, 72 WAS 50 YEARS AGO, WHICH MAKES ME FEEL REALLY OLD BUT.
>> I CALL IT THE PILOT THE PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES OVER THE PORT, THE 198, A PORTION OF THAT GOES TO GISD.
>> YEAH. ABOUT 20 SOMETHING THAT GOES TO GISD. THAT WAS SET UP.
>> IN THE CHARTER. WHAT HAPPENED BACK IN THOSE DAYS, I'M NOT SURE. DAVID?
>> MR. PEARSON, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICES.
>> I WOULD ECHO YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT HOW WE HAVE DEFINITELY IMPROVED IN TERMS OF OUR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN COUNCIL AND THE WHARF'S BOARD OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
THE BOND ISSUANCE THIS TIME AROUND WAS BETTER.
STILL NEEDS TO BE A LITTLE IMPROVEMENT ON PROCESS RELATED TO YOUR PROCUREMENT POLICIES RELATED TO ALL YOUR CONTRACTS AND HOW YOU'RE AWARDING THE CONTRACTS BEFORE YOU'RE ACTUALLY SECURING THE DEBT.
IT'S A LITTLE A LITTLE BEFORE THE HORSE.
I UNDERSTAND, HOWEVER, IT'S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY BECAUSE YOU'RE RESPONDING TO THE MARKET AND YOU'RE RESPONDING TO THE CRUISE MARKET.
IT'S VERY EVIDENT FROM THE INCREASE IN TOURISM AND INCREASE IN CRUISE TRAFFIC THAT WE'VE SEEN.
I AM ENCOURAGED BY YOUR COMMENTS THAT YOU SAID THAT YOU AND THE PORT DIRECTOR ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO INCREASE REVENUE.
YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS AS WELL.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE SOMETHING THAT MAKES IT AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE BETWEEN THE TWO OF US RATHER THAN TRYING TO GET INTO YOUR BUSINESS, WHICH IS WHAT WE DID PREVIOUSLY WITH BOTH THE TARIFF ON BOARDINGS AS WELL AS PARKING.
THAT'S JUST GETTING DIRECTLY INTO WHAT IT IS.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO TRY TO TAKE A MORE HOLISTIC VIEW RELATED TO YOUR REVENUES, RELATED TO THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT THAT WE SEE TO THE CITY AND THEN I WOULD REALLY ENCOURAGE ALL TO MAXIMIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY WITH RESPECT TO WHAT YOUR CURRENT DEBT SERVICE IS.
WELL, I DO NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING THAT WOULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE STATUS OF THOSE BONDS OR REQUIRE AMENDMENTS TO THOSE BONDS.
I WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR BECAUSE ONE, THAT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD TO THE BOND MARKET SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT.
>> WELL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS WELL.
I THINK YOU'VE DONE TREMENDOUS JOB IN THE LEADERSHIP OF THE WHARF'S BOARD AND ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D CARE TO SHARE BECAUSE?
>> WELL, WE'VE HAD SUCCESS, BUT WE'VE HAD SOME NOT SUCCESS.
TWO OF MY DISAPPOINTMENTS ARE THE REAL ESTATE COMMITTEE THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE US GET THAT GOING AND [OVERLAPPING] I GOT TO CLEAR IT WITH MY THREE MEMBERS, BUT I WOULD HAVE LIKED THAT TO HAVE HAPPENED QUICKER BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
THEN WE HAD A LITTLE ISSUE WITH SOME TRAVEL THAT WE'VE TIGHTENED UP THINGS.
I'M A LITTLE BIT DISAPPOINTED IN THAT, BUT WE BECAME AWARE OF IT AND WE FIXED IT AND I APPRECIATE THE STRUGGLES THAT WE HAD TO GO THROUGH, BUT IT'S NOT ALWAYS GREAT NEWS, BUT OVER AND ALL, THE PORT IS RECORD REVENUES, RECORD EARNINGS, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HELP SUPPORT THE CITY.
>> I THINK EVERY CAN RECOGNIZE THIS COUNCIL DOESN'T WANT TO HURT OUR ECONOMIC, CORPORATE CITIZENS AND WE ALL WANT TO WORK THROUGH IT TOGETHER IN A POSITIVE MANNER TO GET THESE THINGS NEGOTIATED.
YOU MENTIONED IMPROVING THAT RELATIONSHIP.
WHAT'S YOUR OPINION ON JOINT QUARTERLY MEETINGS THAT ARE SCHEDULED BETWEEN THE PORT AND CITY COUNCIL?
>> I'VE BEEN IN FAVOR OF ANYTHING TO HELP WITH COMMUNICATION.
AT THE BANK WHERE I WORK, THAT IS ONE OF MY DIRECTIVES TO HAVE AN EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SO I WOULD HAVE NO ISSUE WITH THAT.
>> I WOULD AGREE, WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN MY MIND IS, WE NEED TO SET UP SPECIFIC DATES FOR THE WHOLE YEAR.
NOW, IF WE NEED TO CHANGE THOSE, WE COULD BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHAT'S HAPPENS THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITY AT THE COURT THAT THEY MAY SAY WE'RE SUPPOSED TO MEET IN OCTOBER AND COULD WE MOVE THAT UP TO SEPTEMBER BECAUSE WE'VE GOT BUT I WOULD AGREE AND IF WE COULD LOOK AT VI MAYBE FOR THE NEXT YEAR,
SETTING THOSE DATES SO IT GETS ON OUR SCHEDULE FOR IT. >> ABSOLUTELY.
ALSO, I THINK HAVING THIS REAL ESTATE COMMITTEE SHOULD HELP WITH THAT AS WELL.
[02:25:03]
THAT'S GOING TO BE MORE REGULAR.I'M ANTICIPATING ONCE A MONTH, SO AGAIN, ANOTHER WAY OF COMMUNICATING BETWEEN THE PORT AND THE CITY.
>> I'M SO PROUD OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE AND WHAT YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED AND I SEE NOT ONLY WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO PUSH FOR THE CRUISE BUSINESS, IT'S IT'S BEEN VERY IMPORTANT TO ME TO SEE HOW YOU'VE ALSO WORKED WITH THE ILA AND THAT YOU HAVE KEPT THINGS IN MIND OF NOT PUTTING ALL OF YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET.
FOR ME, THAT'S JUST MAKES ME VERY HAPPY AND VERY PROUD THAT THAT'S AN OUTLOOK OF 20 OR 30 YEARS INSTEAD OF JUST THE NEXT FIVE.
I LOVE WHAT ALL ARE DOING AND APPRECIATE HOW WELL YOU ALL BEEN OPENED UP TO WORKING WITH US AND LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE YEARS.
>> THE GROUP THAT IN DECEMBER 2019, THAT ADOPTED THE 20 YEAR MASTER PLAN HAD A VISION AND I BELIEVE OUR STAFF IS DOING A GOOD JOB OF EXECUTING, IN FACT, WE'RE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE ON IT BUT YOU'RE RIGHT.
IT'S AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE $90 MILLION WE'RE INVESTING IN THE DOCKS AND WE'RE LEVERAGING OUR REVENUE FROM THE CRUISE SHIP AND REINVESTING IT, WHICH I'VE BEEN THE BANKER FOR THE PORT FOR 37 YEARS AND THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THEY COULDN'T MAKE PAYROLL.
THAT WAS 1998, AND THEY HAD BANKRUPTCY PAPERS.
THEY NEVER WERE OVERDRAWN BUT I THINK WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE 1998 AND IN THAT 25 YEAR PERIOD IS AMAZING.
>> I JUST HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION.
I WOULD ASK THAT YOU AND THE WHARF'S BOARD CONSIDER THAT WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM COUNCIL, BE EX OFFICIO OR OTHERWISE PRESENT DURING DISCUSSIONS FOR CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS, PARTICULARLY WITH CRUISE LINES.
I KNOW THAT THE WHARF'S BOARD HAS ASKED FOR A TABLE OF THE TERMS OF THE VARIOUS CONTRACTS THAT YOU HAVE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S BEEN PROVIDED YET, BUT TO UNDERSTAND FROM A TRANSPARENCY PERSPECTIVE ABOUT HOW WE'RE TREATING THOSE DIFFERENT CRUISE LINES AND THE BENEFIT THAT WE'RE SEEING FROM THEM IN TERMS OF RIDERSHIP OR WHATEVER PASSENGERS AND REVENUE WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL AND I THINK THAT HAVING REPRESENTATION FROM COUNSEL DURING THOSE WOULD PROVIDE GREATER TRANSPARENCY FOR US AS WELL.
>> I WOULD SAY THAT WE COULD IMPROVE THAT AREA.
THE EFFECTIVE WAY OF DOING THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE CONSTANTLY NEGOTIATION BY PHONES AND THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS IN PERSON.
WE'LL FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAKE IT WORK.
>> FINDING THINGS ON YOUR WEBSITE IS MUCH EASIER THAN FINDING THINGS ON OUR WEBSITE AND EVERY SINGLE CONTRACT AND MINUTES FROM EVERY MEETING.
>> EVEN THE MINUTES FROM THE MEETINGS ARE UP THERE.
>> THE TRANSPARENCY, TO ME, I WISH IT WAS AS EASY TO FIND THINGS ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE AS IT IS TO FIND THINGS ON YOURS.
>> YEAH. I THINK WE CAN MAKE IMPROVEMENTS.
>> YEAH. VI. I'VE BEEN REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE SUCCESS OF THE PORT AND ESPECIALLY IN REGARDS TO THE CRUISE SHIP INDUSTRY.
THAT'S WHAT YOU HIRED ROGER TO DO AND HE'S DONE IT, AND IT'S REALLY BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
AS YOU SAID, IT'S ALLOWED YOU TO LEVERAGE THOSE DOLLARS TO HELP IMPROVE THE CARGO PART.
YOUR MASTER PLAN IT'S CALLED FOR CARGO WEST OF 29TH, AND THEN CRUISE SHIPS 25, CRUISE SHIPS AT 16, CRUISE SHIPS AT 10.
MY QUESTION IS, HOW DO YOU PLAN TO DEVELOP THE REST OF WHAT'S THERE, THAT PART THAT GOES FROM CRUISE SHIP 25 OVER TO WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE CRUISE SHIP 16.
FROM THE END OF CRUISE SHIP 16 OVER TO HERE SO YOU'VE GOT TWO SLIPS HERE IN OPEN SPACE AND THEN YOU'VE GOT ALL THIS.
MY QUESTION WAS, HOW DO YOU PROPOSE TO DEVELOP THAT AND HOW WOULD YOU PROPOSE TO LEVERAGE SOME OF THE SUCCESS OF THE CRUISE SHIP BUSINESS TO HELP GET THAT GOING.
I GUESS ONE OTHER PART OF THAT IS SHOULD WE HAVE MORE CRUISE SHIPS OR TERMINALS OR NOT IN THE FUTURE.
DEVELOPING THIS AREA RIGHT HERE, I'M JUST WONDERING HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.
I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER THEM ALL,
[02:30:02]
BUT I THINK THE SAME REASON WAY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GET THE LOCAL MATCH TO DEMOLISH THE GRAIN ELEVATORS, THAT WAS LEVERAGING THE CRUISE SHIP REVENUES IS WE CAN HELP WITH THAT.NOW, THAT'S GOING TO BE CARGO AND I THINK THE AREA YOU'RE MENTIONING IS EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT THE REAL ESTATE COMMITTEE TO WORK TOGETHER ON.
I'M TRYING TO THINK OF THE REST OF YOUR QUESTION.
>> WELL, IT WAS DO YOU THINK IN YOUR MASTER PLAN, WE NEED MORE CRUISE SHIP TERMINAL?
>> I THINK WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE IN OUR MASTER PLAN.
I THINK THESE FOUR WILL PROBABLY DO IT.
NOW, WE MAY BE ABLE TO DO SOME THINGS.
WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO NEED TO DO AN UPGRADE TO CRUISE TERMINAL THAT'S I CALL IT TWO, BUT IT'S 29.
THAT'S GOING TO NEED AN UPGRADE AND THERE MAY BE SOMETHING WE CAN DO TO ENHANCE THE AREA BETWEEN CRUISE TERMINAL 10 AND 16 WITHOUT A NEW CRUISE TERMINAL.
WE MAY BE ABLE TO WORK SOMETHING OUT.
>> YES. BUT IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN ANOTHER TERMINAL.
>> YES. IN TERMS OF DIVERSITY OF DEVELOPMENT, YOU GOT CARGO AND YOU GOT CRUISE SHIPS, AND NOW YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A THIRD TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT TO ADD TO THAT DIVERSITY AND SALES TAX OR GETTING MORE MONEY FOR THE.
>> CORRECT AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE I THINK WHAT I WANT THE REAL ESTATE COMMITTEE TO REALLY WORK ON IS THAT AREA BETWEEN 10 AND 25.
>> WELL, AND THIS OTHER AREA THAT BETWEEN 25 AND 16, RIGHT?
>> YEAH. BETWEEN THOSE TWO AREAS.
>> YEAH. TO CONNECT THOSE TWO AREAS AND TRY TO DEVELOP THAT A AS A THIRD PART OF THE DIVERSITY OF THE PORTFOLIO OF THE PORT.
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF PRIVATE LEASES IN BETWEEN THEIR TWO THAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH.
>> THAT'S GOING TO BE HARD AND COLLABORATION IS HARD.
GOING TO BE HARD WORK AND ALSO YOU HAVE TO BE CREATIVE AND WELL, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THE PORT IS USED TO DOING.
THEY HAVEN'T DONE THIS BEFORE SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE OUTREACH AND CREATIVITY.
>> ONE THING THOUGH THAT YOU DO HAVE TO BE AWARE OF AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE ON COUNCIL WHEN ROGER CAME AND TALKED ABOUT THIS.
BUT THERE ALSO IS HOMELAND SECURITY INVOLVEMENT AND THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IN REGARDS TO THAT YOU CAN BE AWARE OF.
>> CERTAINLY. THAT'S JUST PART OF THE PACKAGE.
>> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAD?
>> WELL, I HAVE ONE, BUT I'LL GO AHEAD AND GET TO IT.
YOU MENTIONED IT A LITTLE BIT AND, I THINK WE'VE BEEN SAYING IT IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S YOUR ASSESSMENT OF HOW THE CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE WARS BOARD IS DEFINED IN THE CHARTER.
WHAT'S YOUR ASSESSMENT OF HOW THEY WORK TOGETHER THAT IS PORT IN THE CITY TO COLLABORATE SET GOALS OF STRATEGIZE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE RESIDENTS?
>> I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT I WAS HERE FOR THE ENTIRE PUBLIC HEARING TODAY.
IT GIVES ME A GREAT INSIGHT TO BRING TO THE WARS BOARD.
NOW THAT THE WARS BOARD IS DOING WELL FINANCIALLY, I THINK WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO HELP THE CITIZENS.
I HEARD THE COMMENTS IN THERE.
THE WARS BOARD IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIP CONTRACTUALLY WITH THE CITY THAN THE PARK BOARD IS BY THE CHARTER, BUT WE ARE AN ASSET OF THE CITY.
TO ME, YOU ALL ARE OUR STOCKHOLDERS, AND IF WE CAN PAY YOU A DIVIDEND OR DO SOMETHING WHEN THE TIMES ARE GOOD, THEN I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD PROBABLY DO.
>> DO YOU THINK WE NEED TO AMEND THE CHARTER IN ANY WAY IN TERMS OF OUR RELATIONSHIP BECAUSE IT DATES BACK TO 1940?
>> I WILL LEAVE THAT UP TO THE CITY.
RIGHT NOW I'M JUST AN APPOINTEE AND I WILL NOT BE POLITICAL ON THAT, BUT IF THAT'S SOMETHING THE CITIZENS WANT, YOU ALL ARE HERE TO SERVE THE CITIZENS, I'M HERE TO SERVE THE CITIZENS.
>> I WOULD SAY, VICK, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO.
I SERVE ON AS THE LIAISON AND VICK RUNS A GOOD MEETING.
I THINK THE BOARD IS MOVING IN A VERY POSITIVE DIRECTION.
COMMENT ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP WE CAN AUDIT THE PORT.
WE APPOINT MEMBERS OVER AT THE PORT.
BUT THE WAY THE CHARTER WAS SET UP FOR WHATEVER REASON, WE REALLY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE WARS BOARD.
AS AN EXAMPLE, IF COUNCIL WANTED TO PUT $2 A DAY ON PARKING INSTEAD OF ONE OR FIVE, OR 10.
>> THE $10 PER I CAN A LITTLE SHUDDER.
>> WELL AND NOT ONLY THAT, THERE'S ALSO PRIVATE PARKING TODAY.
[02:35:02]
>> BUT MY POINT IS THIS, IF WE WANT TO DO THAT, WHEN WE PUT THE DOLLAR ON THERE, WE CANNOT, AS WE DID, THE PRIVATE OWNERS, WE PASSED AN ORDINANCE, THEY HAD TO DO IT.
THE PORT HAS TO APPROVE ANYTHING IF THEY APPROVE NOT TO DO IT, THEY DON'T DO IT.
THAT'S WHY I LIKE VICK BECAUSE VICK IS WANTING TO WORK AND SUPPORT THE CITY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
THAT REALLY PAVES THAT OVER SO THAT WE CAN MOVE QUICKLY WITH THOSE THING.
>> THAT GOES TO THE HEART OF MY ENTIRE QUESTION ANYWAY.
>> THAT GOES TO THE HEART OF MY QUESTION.
>> THAT'S WHAT I FIGURED IT DID.
WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE PORT OTHER THAN WE CAN AUDIT THEM AND WE CAN APPOINT MEMBERS. YES, SIR.
I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE IN THE NEXT STREAM JUST NOW AND WHAT YOU HEARD IN YOUR RESPONSE.
IF YOU HAVE SOME IDEAS ABOUT HOW WE CAN GET MORE REVENUE, I HOPE YOU'LL GIVE THEM TO CRAIG, OR GIVE THEM TO JANELLE BY THE 17TH, JUST LIKE WE'RE ALL DOING. [LAUGHTER]
>> IF YOU HAVE SEND THEM TO ME AND I'LL MAKE SURE THEY GET ALL OF THEM.
>> THE PORT DIRECTOR HAS APPROACHED ME WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT IDEAS.
THE TROUBLE IS, I HAVE TO HAVE A MEETING ON THE 24TH TO GET ANYTHING DONE AND I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO FAR AHEAD OF THE COURT BEFORE THE HORSE BECAUSE IT'S NOT FAIR TO MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS.
THE TIMING IS VERY DELICATE, BUT I SUSPECT THERE IS GOING TO BE A SIGNIFICANT, I'LL CALL IT A DIVIDEND.
>> ALL THESE THINGS WE'RE DOING AMOUNT TO RISK YOU'RE WILLING TO TAKE.
HOW DONE OF A DEAL, ARE THESE IDEAS ANYWAY? HOW SOLID ARE THESE IDEAS? ALL OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE [OVERLAPPING]
>> I HAVEN'T TALKED IT OVER WITH ANY TRUSTEE, SO I'VE GOT TO GET FOUR VOTES.
>> I WOULD SAY, VICK, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, IT HAS TO BE A REVENUE STREAM THAT SOMEWHAT REPEATING THIS.
IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT GOES ON EVERY YEAR.
THAT IS SOMETHING I KNOW THAT THE BOARDS WILL DISCUSS.
I THINK THEY'LL DISCUSS IT AS VICK MENTIONED WITH A VERY OPEN MIND.
>> BUT ALSO WE WON'T GET THAT TILL AFTER THE 24TH.
IT'S LITTLE BIT TOO LATE FOR OUR PURPOSES.
WE'RE GOING TO INTERVIEW. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'RE INTERVIEWING OUR CANDIDATE.
IT'S NOT DISCUSSING THE BUDGET.
VICK, ONE LAST THING I WANT TO MENTION, AND I'LL LET YOU GO.
THE PORT IS DOING SOME GREAT THINGS WITH THEIR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PORT OF HOUSTON ON PELICAN ISLAND.
>> AND WE ARE DISCUSSING WITH THE PORT OF HOUSTON ALSO ON PELICAN ISLAND.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS SET UP A MEETING SO THAT WE CAN GET THESE STAFFS TOGETHER WITH ROGER WITH BRIAN AND THE STAFF SO THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS WHERE WE ARE AND COORDINATE OUR EFFORTS.
>> I THINK THAT'S GREAT, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE PORT OF HOUSTON HAS A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.
>> I'LL SEND YOU SOME INFORMATION ON THAT.
VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
>> I'M GOING TO RUN AND GET THIS DONE.
MISS LIDSTONE IS THE FINANCE DIRECTOR FOR THE WARD'S PORT, I SHOULD SAY.
IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, I SHOULD SAY, FOR THE PORT.
MR. LEIPZIG, I HEAR HAS LEFT, SO COUNCIL, YOU MIGHT REVIEW WHAT JANELLE SENTIA IS HIS RESUME TO GIVE YOUR EVALUATION FOR MR. LEIPZIG.
SHEILA SORRY TO KEEP YOU WAITING.
>> I WAS HERE. I WATCHED ALL OF IT.
>> I SEE ALL THE PEOPLE WHO CAME TO SPEAK.
>> I AM TOO. IT WAS JUST WONDERFUL TO SEE EVERYBODY HERE.
I WAS JUST TELLING THE COUNCIL MISS LIDSTONE IS THE CHAIRPERSON OF OUR FINANCE COMMITTEE AND SHE HAS DONE IN MY OPINION A WONDERFUL JOB WITH THE PORT.
I THINK SHE REPRESENTS NOT ONLY THE PORT, BUT THE COMMUNITY AND THE CITY VERY WELL OVER THERE.
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO JUST MENTION SOMETHING TO THE COUNCIL AND THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS.
[02:40:08]
>> OF COURSE, BEING ME, I MADE SOME NOTES AND YOU'LL INTERRUPT ME OR WHATEVER YOU NEED TO DO.
FIRST WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU ALL WHO WERE ON THIS BOARD, WHO PUT ME ON THE WARMS BOARD.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I HAD TO CONTRIBUTE.
BUT IT SEEMS THAT I HAD SOME THINGS TO CONTRIBUTE.
ONE THAT WAS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART WAS THE RESURRECTION OF THE WORKING PART OF THE PORT.
I FELT LIKE WE WERE GOING DOWN THE PATH OF BECOMING EXCLUSIVELY A CRUISE PORT.
WHILE THE CRUISE REVENUES ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND CERTAINLY HAVE MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN WHAT WE CAN DO IN THE CITY.
I ALSO FELT THAT THE WORKING PORT DESERVED OUR ATTENTION, AND SO THAT IS HAPPENING.
I THINK THAT THE STAFF AND THE LEADERSHIP AT THE PORT IS EXCELLENT.
I THINK THAT WE HAVE GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIPS.
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON COMMUNICATION.
THE SITUATION THAT JUST HAPPENED WITH THE $86,000 IN PEOPLE GOING TO SPAIN, I FELT WAS VERY UNNECESSARY.
I THINK WE COULD HAVE RELEASED THE RECORDS IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THEM HERE IN GALVESTON COULD HAVE CALLED SPAIN.
WE ALL HAVE CELL PHONES AND RELEASED THE RECORDS, THEN LET'S MOVE ON DOWN THE ROAD.
IF WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO HIDE.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WE HAVE PUT SOME MEASURES IN PLACE SO THAT HOPEFULLY NOTHING LIKE THAT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.
REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING IN CRUISE, THE FACT THAT WE'VE HAD THAT WE'LL HAVE 2.2 MILLION VISITORS THIS YEAR, AND THAT WE'RE THE FOURTH LARGEST CRUISE SHIP INDUSTRY IN AMERICA FOR LITTLE OLD GALVESTON, TEXAS.
I JUST THINK THAT IS PRETTY DARN PHENOMENAL.
I THINK OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH ALL OF THE CRUISE LINES ARE STRONG.
THEY'RE VERY AGGRESSIVE WHEN THEY COME TO NEGOTIATE WITH US.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT WITH CARNIVAL AND THEN ALSO MSC OFFICIALS, THEY'RE VERY AGGRESSIVE.
BUT THEY ALSO ARE WILLING THEY SAY, SO WE'LL SEE TO BE A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND DO THINGS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING THAT TO THE TEST PRETTY SOON.
THINGS THAT I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO.
THE FOURTH CRUISE SHIP TERMINAL AND MSC AND THE OTHER CRUISE LINES THAT ARE COMING IN.
BUT I WILL SAY THIS AND IT MAY NOT BE POPULAR, BUT I THINK YOU DESERVE TO KNOW.
I THINK AFTER THIS FOURTH TERMINAL IS BUILT, WE NEED A HARD STOP.
WE NEED A HARD STOP FOR 5-7 YEARS TO CATCH OUR BREATH, TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN TERMS OF TRAFFIC AND PLANNING AND LADRIS AND BATTLESHIP TEXAS, AND JUST TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT GROWTH OF THE CRUISE INDUSTRY.
TO ME, WE NEED TO TAKE A PAUSE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT MY OTHER TRUSTEES FEEL THAT WAY.
HONESTLY, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU FEEL THAT WAY, BUT I THOUGHT I SHOULD SHARE THAT WITH YOU.
WE'RE BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL CARGO BUSINESS.
IT IS MY HOPE THAT WE HAVE A PEACEFUL AND SUCCESSFUL RESOLUTION OF BRINGING THE BATTLESHIP, TEXAS TO THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE PORT.
STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.
I THINK LADRIS WILL BE AN EXCELLENT OPERATOR.
I WISH THERE WERE SOME GIVE ON THE LOCATION, AND SO I VOTED AGAINST THAT MEASURE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THAT OR NOT, BUT THAT WAS THE SINGLE REASON WAS THAT.
AM I TALKING TOO MUCH? I JUST HAVE A FEW MORE NOTES. I CAN STOP.
>> LET'S OPEN IT UP. [LAUGHTER].
>> THEY'LL PROBABLY GET INTO THE PRIMES THAT YOU HAVE HERE. ALEX.
>> COMMUNICATION WAS SOMETHING THAT YOU BROUGHT UP.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE'VE ALL PITCHED AND WANTED IN CAMPAIGNS ARE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD ON.
WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON QUARTERLY JOINT MEETINGS BETWEEN CITY COUNCIL AND THE COURT?
>> I THINK THEY'RE AN ABSOLUTE MUST.
WE CAN'T OPERATE ON 25TH STREET, ONE END, AND YOU ALL OPERATE AT THE OTHER END, IT DOESN'T WORK.
WE HAVE TO KNOW WHAT THE CITY IS DOING, WHERE THE CITY IS HEADING, WHAT THE CITY'S EXPECTATIONS OF THE PORT ARE.
I THINK THAT ADDING THOSE MEETINGS WAS JUST BRILLIANT. I LOOK FORWARD TO THEM.
I LEARN A LOT, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE THOSE.
[02:45:04]
I HOPE THAT YOU'LL HAVE SET A PRECEDENT FOR THAT TO GO FORWARD FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.>> WHAT WOULD THE GOAL OF THESE MEETINGS BE FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE?
>> WELL, PROBABLY THEY WOULD START SOMEWHAT AS A UPDATE FROM THE PORT.
HERE'S WHERE WE ARE WITH CRUISE TERMINAL 4.
HERE'S WHERE WE ARE WITH SELLING BONDS.
HERE'S WHERE WE ARE WITH TRAFFIC, PLANNING, THAT THING.
BUT I HOPE THAT IT WOULD BECOME DISCUSSION AFTER THAT BECAUSE WE MUST WORK TOGETHER AND IT DOES NO GOOD FOR US TO COME AND MAKE A REPORT TO YOU IF YOU DON'T HAVE INPUT ON WHAT THAT REPORT IS.
I HOPE THAT THERE WOULD ALWAYS BE TIME FOR DISCUSSION.
>> MISS LIDSTONE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TODAY ON PORTS.
I THINK YOU BRING A NICE BALANCE OF QUESTIONING AND REASON TO THE BOARD.
YOU SAT IN TODAY AND YOU HEARD FROM OUR STAFF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE FRONT LINES FOR THE CITY.
YOU HEARD ALSO ABOUT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE FACING RELATED TO THE BUDGET, WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO CONSIDER INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT COMES FROM THE PORT BACK TO THE CITY? AS A PART OF AN ECONOMIC ENGINE TO THE CITY, YOU ALL OBVIOUSLY HAVE CERTAIN REVENUE GOALS, ETC THAT YOU HAVE CERTAIN EXPENDITURES.
BUT IN THE INTEREST OF PARTNERING AND UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BALANCE BETWEEN TOURISM, WHICH YOU ARE A VERY LARGE PORTION OF, AND BALANCING THE COST OF LIVING HERE AND THEN SHARING THOSE EXPENSES WITH THE TOURISTS, WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO CONSIDER MAXIMIZING THE CONTRIBUTION FROM THE PORT BACK TO THE CITY?
>> ABSOLUTELY. I FEEL THAT CITY SERVICES ARE REALLY BEING TAXED BY THE CRUISE INDUSTRY, AND SO WE NEED TO PAY OUR FAIR SHARE.
BUT AGAIN, THIS MAY NOT BE POPULAR, BUT I WILL SAY THIS, 13 BUDGETS AT UTMB, 19 BUDGETS AT GISD.
YOU CAN'T TAX YOUR WAY OUT OF IT AND YOU ALSO CAN'T CUT YOUR WAY OUT OF IT.
IT HAS TO BE A COMBINATION OF MAKING THOSE TWO THINGS WORK TOGETHER.
ONE OF THE MOST BRILLIANT THINGS THAT I SAW WORKING AT UTMB WAS DAVID CALENDAR, AFTER MANY OF THESE WORKSHOP SESSIONS, FINALLY SAID, WE'RE GOING TO CUT OUR BUDGET 5%.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO LAY ANYBODY OFF.
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE A COOL RAISE. GO FIGURED IT OUT.
YOU CAN'T GO IN AND SAY, THIS DEPARTMENT DOESN'T DESERVE AND THIS DEPARTMENT DOES OR WHATEVER, THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE LEADERS IN YOUR ORGANIZATIONS.
YOU WILL BE SURPRISED HOW PEOPLE STEPPED UP.
NOT ONE PERSON LOST THEIR JOB.
WE WERE REALLY PROUD OF THAT HERE.
>> I'M JUST GOING TO TRY TO ASK THE SAME QUESTIONS OF EVERYBODY JUST TO GET A FEEL.
ACCORDING TO THE MORRIS BOARD MASTER PLAN, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE CARGO FROM CRUISE SHIP TERMINAL 27 AND 25 ALL THE WAY TO THE WEST. THAT'S ALL CARGO.
THEN YOU HAVE THE CRUISE SHIP TERMINALS 25 AND THEN YOU HAVE THE NEW CRUISE SHIP TERMINAL 16 AND THEN A CRUISE SHIP 10 AND THEN 16 AND 10.
THEN BETWEEN ALL THAT, YOU HAVE ALL THIS AREA 25-16 AND 16-10.
ALL OF THAT'S NOT CARGO, AND IT'S NOT CRUISE, AND YOU'VE SAID THAT WE'RE DONE WITH CRUISES FOR A WHILE.
THAT REPRESENTS A NEW THING FOR THE PORT TO DO THAT THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE DOING, EVEN THOUGH OTHER PLACES AROUND THE WORLD HAVE DONE THIS.
WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR HOW THAT AREA WOULD DEVELOP? NOT ONLY WHAT IT WOULD BE, BUT HOW WE WOULD GET IT THERE.
CAN WE LEVERAGE SOME OF THE SUCCESS OF THE PORT TO HELP MAKE THAT HAPPEN?
>> THE ANSWER IS YES. THAT WAS ONE OF MY NOTES WAS CERTAINLY WHERE PROSPEROUS.
>> WE'RE GROWING. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE NOT SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON IS THE LOOK AND FEEL OF THE PORT.
I THINK THAT IT CAN BE PRETTY.
I THINK THAT IT CAN BE INVITING, I THINK THAT IT CAN BE ATTRACTIVE.
WE HAD THE MITCHELL GROUP COME FORWARD, CONTACTED US ABOUT WANTING TO DO SOME WORK DOWN THERE.
[02:50:01]
THE PROPOSALS THAT CAME BACK WERE PROBABLY AMBITIOUS AND PROBABLY TOO WIDESPREAD.BUT I BELIEVE WE HAVE THE COMMITMENT FROM THE MITCHELL FOUNDATION TO START SOMEWHERE.
IF THAT'S ALONG HARBORSIDE DRIVE, GREAT.
IF THAT IS INSIDE THE FENCE, GREAT.
WE HAVE SO MANY RESOURCES HERE AND THAT CAN JUST BE ANOTHER ONE.
NOW, I SAY THAT, AND I WORRY TREMENDOUSLY ABOUT PARKING AND TRAFFIC.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING TO PUT ALL THOSE PEOPLE.
WE DON'T HAVE A CLEAR IDEA FROM LANDRY'S AS TO WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD IN THE AREA OF THE BATTLESHIP.
BUT MY EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH LANDRY'S IN THE PAST ON THE PARK BOARD TELLS ME THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BLOW IT UP AND DO SOMETHING FABULOUS.
WONDERFUL. WONDERFUL FOR GALVESTON, WHERE WILL WE PUT ALL THOSE PEOPLE.
I THINK EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DOING, IT HAS TO BE INTEGRATED AND IT HAS TO BE US TALKING TO THE CITY AND US TALKING TO LANDRY'S AND US TALKING TO THE FOUNDATION AND US TALKING TO THE PILOTS, AND IT CAN'T BE THE WHARVES SAYING, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
>> I HOPE WE HAVEN'T BEEN THAT WAY.
BUT I WILL DO MY BEST TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T BEHAVE THAT WAY.
>> THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE, BRIAN?
>> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, MISS LISTON?
>> THANK YOU. [OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> YOU WORKED REALLY HARD AND I KNOW THAT WAS A LONG TIME TO SIT, BUT IT WAS AN IMPORTANT TIME TO SIT.
>> THANK YOU FOR SITTING THROUGH IT.
>> OKAY, GUYS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> RALPH MCMORRIS, CAN WE HAVE.
>> I'M JUST GOING TO WASH MY HANDS REALLY FAST.
>> NOT AS EXCITED ABOUT MY SOCKS TODAY.
>> WHAT DO WE GOT GOING ON HERE?
>> I COULD HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB THERE.
>> IT'S PRETTY GOOD. COME BACK. I'M COLOR BLIND.
[LAUGHTER] DEEPLY COLOR BLIND.
>> MAN, I'VE HOPED SO MANY TIMES IN MY LIFE.
THE THINGS JUST LOOK ALL RIGHT TOGETHER.
>> HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY. [LAUGHTER]
>> WERE YOU THINKING PUTTING THAT TOGETHER? [LAUGHTER]
>> COME ALL HERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> MY WIFE CALLS IT THE GRAN ANIMALS.
>> GRAB A SHIRT, GRAB THE PANTS, GRAB THE JACKET.
SEE IF IT LOOKS OKAY, AND THEN YOU'RE OUT THE DOOR.
>> I JOINED THE CITY EMPLOYEE VISIT.
>> WELL, IT WAS GOOD TO SEE THEM HERE.
WE WERE VERY, VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THEM COME UP AND FELT COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO VISIT WITH US.
>> THERE'S REALLY GOOD SPOKESMAN FOR THAT GROUP AND MUCH BETTER THAN I AM, SO I HOPE YOU ALL PUT UP WITH MY OLD SLOW VOICE.
WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT MY IDEAS ABOUT GETTING ON THE WHARVES BOARD.
>> YOU CAN SIT, RALPH, IF YOU'D LIKE.
>> USUALLY RALPH IS STANDING WHEN HE PRESENTS.
I'LL SURELY SIT OR WHATEVER YOU ALL LIKE.
BUT I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU ALL A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY BACKGROUND AND HOW IT APPLIES TO THIS POSITION.
I MIGHT BORE YOU WITH EVERYTHING I'VE DONE, THERE IS A LOT.
THEN GOT A FEW SUGGESTIONS FOR YOU ALL AND MAYBE IDEAS FOR THE PORT I'D LIKE TO WRAP UP WITH.
MY FIRST ITEM, FIRST THING I EVER DID WHEN I WAS 13-YEARS-OLD, I HAD MY FIRST BUSINESS.
I SOLD POPCORN IN KARACHI, PAKISTAN, TO THE MILITARY PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE WATCHING THE MOVIES.
THAT'S WHERE I GOT THE BAG TO BE GOING TO BUSINESS.
OF COURSE, LATER, I CAME BACK TO THE US, WENT THROUGH SCHOOLS, AND ENDED UP REALLY LIKE TO BUILD THINGS.
[02:55:03]
I WENT TO GEORGIA TECH, GOT AN ENGINEERING DEGREE THERE.I VOLUNTEERED FOR VIETNAM, WHICH VERY FEW PEOPLE DID IN THOSE DAYS.
BUT I VOLUNTEERED AND JOINED THE 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION AS AN OFFICER.
FORTUNATELY FOR ME, I DIDN'T KNOW AT THE TIME, THEY DIDN'T SEND ME TO VIETNAM.
THEY SENT ME TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, WHICH WE HAD A SMALL REGIME CHANGE GOING ON DOWN THERE.
THE AMERICAN SUGAR COMPANIES WERE BEING CUT OFF FROM THEIR SUGAR SUPPLY, SUGARCANES.
THEY WERE HAVING A DIFFICULTY GETTING SUGAR, SO PRESIDENT JOHNSON SENT THE 82ND AND THE MARINES IN TO QUELL, TO SEPARATE THEM AND KEEP THEM FROM FIGHTING EACH OTHER.
I ENDED UP GETTING SENT DOWN THERE FOR ABOUT A YEAR, AND WE WERE SUCCESSFUL.
YOU WON'T READ ABOUT A LOT IN THE HISTORY BOOKS BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY INVADED.
BUT WE WERE SUCCESSFUL, SETTLED THEM DOWN, AND THEY'VE GOTTEN ALONG EVER SINCE.
I GOT MY NICKNAME, LIEUTENANT BLENDER AT THAT TIME, WHICH I LATER NOW USED ON MY PRODUCTS, ON MY MARGARITAS AND PRODUCTS THAT WE DO, BECAUSE I HAD THE ONLY BLENDER ON THE ISLAND AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE DID AFTER HOURS.
I THEN CAME BACK, GOT MARRIED TO MY WONDERFUL WIFE FOR THE LAST 57 YEARS, LYNN, FOUR CHILDREN.
BUT RIGHT AFTER I GOT MARRIED, WENT TO HONEYMOON IN BOSTON AND GOT MY MBA IN HARVARD.
HARVARD IS REALLY GOOD GENERAL MANAGEMENT TRAINING.
THAT TEACHES YOU HOW TO COORDINATE WORK WITH ALL ASPECTS OF BUSINESS.
IT'S NOT JUST ACCOUNTING OR FINANCE OR WHATEVER DISCIPLINE YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE.
I CAME BACK TO ATLANTA AND WENT TO WORK FOR THE NUMBER ONE SHOPPING CENTER AT THAT TIME IN THE UNITED STATES, LENOX SQUARE.
THEY HIRED ME TO MANAGE THE EXPANSION OF THE SHOPPING CENTER.
I ENDED UP BEING ABOUT A QUARTER OF A BILLION-DOLLAR PROJECT.
INTERESTINGLY, IT'S ABOUT THE SIZE OF WHAT THE WHARVES BOARD GETTING READY TO DO AND IT IS DOING.
THAT WAS MY CHALLENGE AND WE SUCCEEDED AT THAT, DID SO WELL THAT THE OWNER SOLD IT AND I GOT FIRED.
I DECIDED, WELL, MAYBE I BETTER GO INTO BUSINESS FOR MYSELF.
I CAN FIRE ME OR TWO. THAT'S WHAT I DID.
STARTED FROZEN YOGURT CHAIN, ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE UNITED STATES.
OPENED IN THE GALLERIA FOR ONE OF THE PLACES, THE HOUSTON GALLERY, DALLAS GALLERIA TOO, AND OPENED TO OTHER LOCATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY.
AGAIN, THIS IS PROJECT MANAGEMENT AT A FAR, PLACES FROM CANADA TO COLORADO, FLORIDA, THE REST OF THE PLACES.
I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT BUILDING THINGS.
FROM THAT BUSINESS, I GOT ASKED BY THE LANDRY'S PEOPLE TO COME UP WITH COCKTAIL MIX, BECAUSE THEY SAID, IF YOU CAN MAKE FROZEN YOGURT IN A POWDERED FORM, WHICH IS WHAT I WAS DOING, IT'S GOT TO BE EASIER TO MAKE COCKTAILS.
WE DID THAT AND THEY PREFERRED OUR MIX.
WE SOLD THEM FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS.
THAT'S WHAT GOT ME IN THE COCKTAIL MIX.
I HAD MOVED TO HOUSTON DURING THE RECESSION THAT WE HAD IN THE 80S.
FIRST, THE GALLERIA BECAME OUR MAIN OPERATION.
BUT TO GET THE KIDS TO MOVE TO TEXAS, WE SAID, LET'S GO LIVE ON THE BEACH.
WE RENTED A BEACH HOUSE ON THE WEST END, AND YOU PROBABLY KNOW THE PLACE IN SEATTLE, FROM THE SOUTHERN C AND LOVED IT.
KIDS WENT TO SCHOOL, BALL IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
[03:00:04]
BUT DRIVING BACK AND FORTH FROM SEATTLE TO THE GALLERIA EVERY DAY WAS TAKING UP TOO MUCH OF MY LIFE ON THAT EXPRESSWAY.WE LOOKED BACK TO GALVESTON AND FOUND THE OLD PURITY ICE CREAM FACTORY, WHICH WAS PERFECT, BECAUSE AT THAT TIME I WAS MAKING COCKTAIL MIX IN THE BACK OF A RESTAURANT, ONE OF OUR RESTAURANTS IN HOUSTON.
WE CAME DOWN HERE AND THE CORNER STORE BECAME OUR HOME, AND THE OLD ICE CREAM FACTORY BECAME WHERE WE MADE THE MARGARITAS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
LOVED THE EAST END, GOT ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY MEMBER OF THE EAST END HISTORICAL GROUP.
THEN FROM THAT BECAME PRESIDENT OF THE GAIN, GALVESTON ALLIANCE OF ISLAND NEIGHBORHOODS, WHICH HAD ABOUT 25 MEMBERS BACK THEN, AND ENJOYED THAT.
WENT FROM THAT TO CITY COUNCIL, GOT TO WORK FULL TIME FOR THE CITY FOR TWO YEARS, AS YOU ALL KNOW, AND REALLY ENJOYED THAT.
I'VE DONE COMMUNITY WORK IN OTHER CITIES.
I BROUGHT THAT KNOWLEDGE TO WHAT I WAS DOING HERE IN GALVESTON.
THAT BRINGS ME HERE TO TELL YOU ALL THAT MY BASICALLY HIGH-LEVEL PROJECT MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE, MY EXPERIENCE FROM GENERAL MANAGEMENT, FROM MY ARBOR TRAINING, HOW THE PARTS WORK TOGETHER AND HOW TO HELP THEM WORK BETTER TOGETHER.
THEN I LIKE TO SAY MY CREATIVITY OF BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR.
YOU CAN'T BE AN ENTREPRENEUR UNLESS YOU'RE CREATIVE, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW YOU GROW YOUR BUSINESS BY BEING ADDING SOMETHING NEW THAT PEOPLE HAVEN'T HAD BEFORE, THEN THEY'RE GOING TO SHIFT THEIR PURCHASING OVER TO YOU.
THAT'S WHO I AM AND WHAT I'VE DONE.
I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR YOU ALL TO ASK QUESTIONS.
>> JUST OPEN IT UP SOME QUESTION.
>> I HAVE ONE MORE. I DO WANT TO THROW OUT A COUPLE OF THINGS.
>> BECAUSE I KNOW SOMETIMES WE RUN OUT OF TIME.
I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU ALL CONSIDER, BECAUSE I'VE SPENT TWO MONTHS STUDYING THE WHARVES BOARD.
I THINK THERE'S SOME BASIC SEPARATION, AND IT'S DEFINED THAT WAY, BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE WHARVES BOARD.
BUT I FEEL LIKE WE REALLY ARE ALL TOGETHER.
THE MOST QUALIFIED PERSON, I THINK, HERE ON THE ISLAND TO BE ON THE WHARVES BOARD IS BRIAN MAXWELL, THE CITY MANAGER.
I RESEARCHED IT AND YOU CAN'T REALLY PUT HIM ON AS EX OFFICIO.
I DON'T THINK, UNLESS YOU MAKE A CHANGE IN THE REGULATIONS.
BUT I BELIEVE BRIAN WOULD BE IDEAL TO BE THERE TO COORDINATE AND REPRESENT THE CITY'S INTEREST, AND IN A LONG GOING FASHION, NOT JUST A COUNSEL PERSON.
I THINK YOU ALL DO A GREAT JOB WHEN YOU ALL ARE ON THERE, BUT I THINK GREG IS FIRST TIMER.
I THINK GOING FORWARD, HE IS A FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY WHO CAN INVEST THE TIME AND COMMUNICATE AND COORDINATE THE NEEDS OF THE CITY.
IF YOU ALL APPOINT ME TO THE BOARD, THEN I'D BE WILLING TO STEP DOWN IN A YEAR OR SO IF HE WAS READY TO GET ON AND YOU COULD APPOINT HIM TO TAKE MY PLACE WHICH IS LEGAL, OR UNDER OUR CURRENT RULES.
I THINK IT'S MOST IMPORTANT THAT WE DO THAT.
THEN FINALLY, LISTENING TO YOU ALL TODAY, AND IT WAS VERY TIMELY AND APPROPRIATE, WHAT YOU WERE SAYING ABOUT, I THINK THE PORT IS A TREMENDOUS SOURCE OF INCOME, NOT JUST A FEW MORE BUCKS.
WHEN I WAS AT LENOX SQUARE SHOPPING CENTER RUNNING THE LEASING, WE WERE THE NUMBER ONE SHOPPING CENTER IN THE UNITED STATES.
I MAINTAIN, OUR PORT HAS THAT SAME KIND OF CATBIRD SEAT THAT I HAD WHEN I WAS IN LENOX.
I COULD LEASE TO ANYBODY IN THE COUNTRY.
[03:05:01]
THEY WERE GLAD TO BE THERE, AND I MADE THE DEALS I WANTED TO MAKE.BECAUSE IT WAS THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO COME THERE AND DO BUSINESS.
I THINK THE PORT HAS BEEN THE SAME WAY, EVEN MORE SO BECAUSE THERE'S A VERY LIMITED AMOUNT OF SPACE.
WHEN YOU HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF SPACE TO PUT OUT, YOU THEN HAVE MORE PEOPLE BIDDING FOR THAT SPACE AND SO DEALS YOU CAN MAKE IN THE FUTURE IF YOU NEED TO DO ANY MORE CRUISE LINES.
YOU REALLY NEED TO LEVERAGE THAT AND I PERSONALLY FEEL LIKE WE DIDN'T REALIZE WE WERE IN THAT POSITION THIS LAST GO ROUND WITH MSC AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AS MUCH AS WE COULD HAVE.
WE USED TO HAVE LIKE NEIMAN MARCUS AND COMPANIES LIKE THAT BUILD THEIR OWN BUILDINGS AND THEN PAY US FOR BEING THERE.
ANYWAY, I HAVE THAT PERSPECTIVE OF HOW YOU MAKE MONEY WITH REAL ESTATE.
I THINK AS I'VE SUGGESTED TO SOME OF YOU ALL, YOU'VE GOT FEES COMING FROM THE PORT; PARKING FEES, PASSENGER FEES, AND GETTING A SHARE, LIKE WE USED TO DO PERCENTAGE OF SALES.
I WOULD THINK IN THE NEXT TWO OR THREE YEARS IF YOU REALLY WERE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS, WANTED TO DO THIS AND IN COORDINATION WITH THE WHARVES BOARD, PROBABLY WE CAN GENERATE ANOTHER SEVEN OR EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS IN THE NEXT TWO OR THREE YEARS.
IT'S ALL A FUNCTION OF HOW FAST YOU IMPLEMENT IT, BECAUSE THE MONEY IS THERE.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MONEY AND YOU LOOK AT HOW IT'S DOING AND WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO, I THINK THAT OPPORTUNITY IS THERE AND I BELIEVE WOULD CERTAINLY TAKE CARE OF THE SHORTFALL AT THIS TIME WITHOUT RAISING TAXES.
>> OKAY. WE HAVE QUESTIONS, SIR.
>> I'LL ASK MY QUESTION. I'M ASKING EVERYBODY.
GETTING TIRED OF HEARING IT BY NOW, I GUESS.
THE WHARVES BOARD, ACCORDING TO THE MASTER PLAN, HAS SAID, WE'RE GOING TO CARGO WEST OF 29TH, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THESE FOUR CRUISE SHIP TERMINALS.
WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF SPACE IN BETWEEN ALL THAT.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE CARGO AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE CRUISE SHIPS.
I'M INTERESTED IN HEARING HOW YOU WOULD PROPOSE TO DEVELOP THAT AND HOW WE WOULD GET IT DONE? WHAT WOULD BE THE GOALS OF THAT AREA.
JUST TO BE CLEAR I'M TALKING ABOUT THIS AREA RIGHT HERE BETWEEN CRUISE SHIP 25 AND THIS 16 AND THEN CRUISE SHIP ABOUT 16 AND 10.
THESE TWO SLIPS AND ALL OF THIS ATTRACTIONS AREA, IT'S A NEW WAY FOR THE PORT TO THINK ABOUT DEVELOPMENT.
THEY'VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
I WAS WONDERING HOW CAN WE LEVERAGE THE SUCCESS OF THE PORT TO HELP DEVELOP THAT AND HOW WOULD YOU GET THAT DONE? WHAT WOULD BE THE GOALS OF A DEVELOPMENT LIKE THAT? JUST ONE MORE LITTLE TAG ON THERE, DO WE NEED MORE CRUISE SHIP TERMINALS? I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE MORE CRUISE SHIP TERMINALS.
WE CERTAINLY DO HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND ON PELICAN ISLAND.
AGAIN, NOT INTO ALL THE DETAILS OF HOW SOON WE CAN GET ACCESS AND ACQUIRE LAND AND DO THINGS OVER THERE.
TO ME, A CRUISE LYING ON OVER ACROSS THE WAY ON PELICAN ISLAND DOESN'T TAKE AWAY.
I MEAN, IT'S PUTTING A ONE DAY FACILITY THAT'S GOT PEOPLE COMING IN AND OUT.
YOU COULD STILL HAVE PASSENGERS HAVE BUS ACCESS OR TRANSIT ACCESS BACK TO THE MAIN PART OF THE CITY.
BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I LOOKED AT THE MITCHELL STUDY WHEN I FIRST SAW IT AND I SAID, THIS BECAUSE I WAS ON THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE TO ENCOURAGE AND BRING THE BATTLESHIP TO GALVESTON LONG BEFORE IT CAME TO GALVESTON.
IT WAS A GROUP OF ABOUT 10 PEOPLE MET AT MY HOUSE, AND WE KICKED AROUND IDEAS OF WHERE WE CAN PUT IT.
WE STUDIED EVERY THE SLIPS OVER THERE ON THE PIER 29 OR GOING THAT WAY.
THESE SLIPS, ACTUALLY EVEN LOOKING AT PUTTING IT NEXT TO PLEASURE PIER OUT THERE, BUT OF COURSE, THAT DIDN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE FROM A HURRICANE OR WINDSTORM STANDPOINT.
BUT WE CONSIDER THE WHOLE ISLAND AND SEAWOLF PARK.
WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE MITCHELL STUDY OF ONE OF THE OPTIONS WAS TO PUT THE BATTLESHIP IN AT PIER 15,
[03:10:08]
I STARTED THINKING, WELL, THAT'S LIKE A SHOPPING CENTER.IN SHOPPING CENTERS, YOU HAVE ANCHORS AT BOTH ENDS.
YOU HAVE A BIG APARTMENT STORE LIKE IF YOU GO UP TO GALLERIA OR GO TO BAYBROOK, YOU'LL SEE THE ANCHORS AT THE ENDS, AND THEN THE RETAILERS AND RESTAURANTS OR EVERYTHING, THEY'RE IN BETWEEN BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC IS GENERATED BY THOSE ANCHORS.
THEN YOU MAKE YOUR MOST OF YOUR MONEY OFF OF THE TRAFFIC IN BETWEEN.
WITHOUT GETTING INTO ALL THE DETAILS OF WHERE TO PUT THE RETAIL, I DO THINK THAT THE PARKING DECK THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED MIGHT BE IN THE WAY, BUT YOU'VE GOT THINGS GOING ON.
IT'S NOT A CLEAN SLATE, BUT YOU CAN A LOT OF TIMES PARKING DECK FIRST LEVEL CAN BE RETAIL.
THE REASON I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS RETAIL TYPE APPROACH.
IT'S A THIRD WAY FOR A PORT TO MAKE MONEY.
YOU'RE MAKING MONEY NOW ON CRUISE LINES, YOU MAKE MONEY ON OFFLOADING OF DRY GOODS.
YOU'LL SEE SOME OF THE BEST PORTS IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN THE WORLD HAVE BIG RETAIL PEOPLE AREAS, RESTAURANTS, BOARDWALKS, AND THAT JUST ROUNDS OUT A PORT TO ME.
I THINK LIKE SEATTLE IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.
THEN YOU REALLY HAVE SOMETHING THAT BENEFITS EVERYBODY, NOT JUST THE INCOME THAT'S GENERATED TO THE CRUISE RIDES AND EVEN THE MONEY THAT'S COMING TO THE CITY, YOU WOULD GET MORE MONEY FROM RENTING ALL THIS AND ALL THIS ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC AND EVERYTHING.
BUT YOU WOULD ALSO BE SUCH A WONDERFUL AMENITY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE.
I KNOW A LOT OF US STILL WE GO OVER TO THE PORT FOR THE FISHERMAN WHARF AND THOSE PLACES.
BUT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MAGNIFYING THIS 10-20 TIMES.
THE BEAUTY OF RETAIL, THEY'RE NOT BIG, BUT THEY MAKE A LOT OF MONEY.
YOU PUT THEM HOWEVER, THE CONFIGURATION WORKS OUT BEST.
YOU EFFECTIVELY CAN DEVELOP THAT WHOLE AREA FROM 29, LIKE I THINK YOU SAID, ALL THE WAY TO 10 AND THAT THEN TAKES LAND.
ONE OF THE PARKING IS NOT A GREAT USE OF LAND.
THAT'S WHY PEOPLE GO HIGH RISE WITH PARKING DECKS.
BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH A LOT OF THAT LAND NOW.
I KNOW WHEN I WENT TO FORT LAUDERDALE TO DO A CRUISE, WE PARKED LIKE A MILE FROM THE PORT, AND WE DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT.
WE HAVE LAND THAT'S OUT HARBORSIDE GOING WEST, AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE LOTS OUT THERE NOW, SOME OF THEM NOT BEING UNDER UTILIZED.
BUT YOU DON'T REALLY NEED TO HAVE A DECK RIGHT NEXT SO YOU CAN PARK YOUR CAR AND GET OUT AND WALK INTO THE TERMINAL.
THAT'S NICE, BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARY.
IS THAT THE BEST USE OF THE LAND? PARKING DECK FROM MY EXPERIENCE AT LINUX, WE BUILT PARKING DECK BECAUSE WE RAN OUT OF LAND. THEY'RE EXPENSIVE.
THAT'S AN EXPENSIVE WAY TO GO TO PARK CARS.
I THINK THAT IS A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY AND I KNOW THE CITY AND THE WHARVES BOARD HAS CREATED A REAL ESTATE COMMITTEE TO GET INTO HOW TO USE THE LAND AND EVERYTHING, AND I THINK YOU CAN TAKE THAT VEHICLE AND EVEN INVOLVE MORE CITIZENS ON IN THE PROCESS.
THANK YOU, RALPH. I APPRECIATE THAT.
WE'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT YOU, AND I LIKE YOUR THOUGHTS THAT YOU'VE GIVEN OUT THERE.
YOU ALWAYS THINK THESE OUT WELL.
I SERVED WITH RALPHS ON AS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, AND THE TIME THAT HE PUTS IN AND THE THOUGHT AND WORKING OUT THE DETAILS OF THESE ISSUES HE DID AS A COUNCIL MEMBER.
IT IS A PLEASURE SERVING WITH YOU TOO, RALPH.
I'LL END BY SAYING I PROMISE NOT TO SELL MARGARITAS TO THE PORT.
WHAT ABOUT TO THE COUNCIL? SIR? WHAT ABOUT MARGARITAS TO THE COUNCIL? I CAN GIVE THEM.
I'M GOING TO RUN TO THE RESTROOM.
[03:15:09]
ARE THOSE SCONES GOOD? THEY'RE VERY MOIST. THEY'RE NOT DRY.PERSONALLY, I LIKE THAT IDEA ABOUT THOSE PARKING GARAGE.
PARKING GARAGES DON'T HAVE TO BE SITTING NEXT TO THOSE TERMS. NO AIRPORT I'VE EVER GONE TO, DO I PARK AND JUST GET OUT AND WALK.
THEY'VE GOT LAND FOR THE, ROBERT, HOW ARE YOU, SIR? I'M VERY WELL SIR. YOURSELF? I AM GREAT. COME ON IN AND HAVE A SEAT.
I WANTED TO FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE TODAY.
WE HAD SOME PERSONAL COMMENTS.
THEY WENT TO THE REST ROOM, SO LET ME GET THEM BACK.
WELL, THANK YOU. IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE.
IT'S AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION YOU ALL HAD THIS MORNING.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE TODAY.
AS YOU SAW, WE HAD SOME GREAT COMMENT FROM OUR PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES AND WAS WELL RECEIVED.
THANK YOU FOR APPLYING TO THE WHARVES BOARD.
ROBERT, WE HAVE TWO POSITIONS THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING BOTH OF THESE COULD BE REAPPOINTMENTS, BUT IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE REAPPOINTMENTS ON THESE.
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A COUPLE MINUTES TO MAKE SOME THOUGHTS KNOWN TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE AND WE WILL OPEN IT UP TO THE QUESTION. GO AHEAD.
WELL, MY NAME IS ROBERT MCCLAUGHLIN.
I'VE LIVED HERE IN GALVESTON SINCE 2012.
WASN'T BORN HERE ON THE ISLAND.
MY MOTHER WAS. I HAVE A FAMILY THAT'S LIVED HERE FOR DECADES.
I AM A HUSBAND, A FATHER, A VETERAN.
I WORK MOSTLY RIGHT NOW AS AN ATTORNEY, BUT I HAVE TRAINING AS A PHYSICIAN AND AN ENGINEER.
I THINK THAT THE PORT OF GALVESTON AND THE WHARVES BOARD IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO THE ECONOMIC LIFE OF GALVESTON.
I READ THROUGH THE 2019 STRATEGIC PLAN FOR IT.
I HAVEN'T SEEN AN UPDATE ON HOW THEY'RE DOING WITH RESPECT TO THE STATUS OF THAT 2019 PLAN.
I MEAN, I'VE SEEN SOME THINGS THAT HAVE, OF COURSE, TAKEN PLACE, THE NEW ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE LINE TERMINAL, THAT THE OTHER CRUISE TERMINAL THAT'S GOING TO BE GOING IN.
THERE WERE A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS THIS MORNING ABOUT CHARGING PASSENGERS AN EXTRA DOLLAR.
I THINK IN THE TARIFF OF THE WHARVES BOARD, THERE IS ALREADY A PROVISION FOR A CHARGE OF AT LEAST $12.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT CAN BE INCREASED OR NOT.
I ALSO SAW FROM SOME OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES, IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WERE SEVERAL LEGAL ISSUES GOING ON.
THERE WERE SOME EEOC ISSUES, AND PERSONAL INJURY ISSUES.
BUT I THINK MY EXPERIENCE AS AN ATTORNEY, MY TRAINING AS A PHYSICIAN, CERTAINLY WITH RESPECT TO THE OPERATIONS OF THE WHARVES.
AS AN ENGINEER, I WAS IN THE NAVY AND THERE'S A LOT OF UPKEEP THAT HAS TO BE DONE TO MAINTAIN A PORT.
I THINK I BRING A UNIQUE SET OF EXPERIENCES AND CAN MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE WHARVES BOARD AND IN GALVESTON AS A WHOLE.
WELL, GOOD. IT'S IMPRESSIVE YOUR RESUME.
COUNSEL, LET'S OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS FROM MR. MCCLAUGLIN.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, WHAT DID YOU DO IN THE NAVY? I WAS A SUBMARINE OFFICER AND NUCLEAR ENGINEER.
I WAS ON A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT.
I WAS ON AN ATTACK BOAT, IN A MISSILE BOAT.
I ALSO TAUGHT AT SUBMARINE SCHOOL, CRUISE MISSILE EMPLOYMENT AND BATTLE GROUP OPERATIONS, AND I ALSO HELPED TRAIN NEW NUCLEAR ENGINEERS IN THE NAVY.
WELL, HOW ARE YOU SO YOUNG WITH THAT MUCH EDUCATION? I'M BUMPING UP ON 60. I'M 58.
[03:20:03]
YOU DON'T LOOK IT.DAVID, YOU WANT TO ASK ANYTHING ELSE.
I'VE GOT A COUPLE FOR YOU AS WELL.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS IMPROVED OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS THE LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE WHARVES BOARD.
WE HAVE ASKED OTHER APPLICANTS IF THEY WOULD SUPPORT REGULARLY SCHEDULED QUARTERLY MEETINGS BETWEEN THE WHARVES BOARD AND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE PURPOSES OF MAKING SURE THAT WE AS CITY COUNCIL AND POLICYMAKERS UNDERSTAND ONE WAY, HOW THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORT IS DOING, MEETING THEIR OBJECTIVES.
THEN TWO, MAKING SURE THAT WE COMMUNICATE OUR GOALS EFFECTIVELY TO THE PORT, WOULD YOU BE IN SUPPORT OF THOSE REGULAR QUARTER MEETINGS? MOST DEFINITELY. I THINK THAT THAT SHOULD NOT ONLY APPLY TO THE WHARVES BOARD, BUT I THINK IT SHOULD APPLY TO THE PARKS BOARD.
THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES THAT GOOD COMMUNICATION WERE ALLOWED TO BE PROACTIVELY ADDRESSED.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I WAS TALKING ABOUT, THERE IS A TARIFF THAT SAYS THAT THE WHARVES BOARD IS COLLECTING $12 A PERSON.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE CITY COUNCIL IS 100 PERCENT AWARE OF THAT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MONEY IS GOING TOWARDS.
BUT THAT IS AND THE COMMUNICATION I THINK IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE IN THE LONG RUN FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
WE'VE SEEN THAT THE PASSENGER THROUGHPUT IS GREATLY INCREASING WITH THE TWO TERMINALS.
BUT WE'VE ALSO SEEN A DECLINE IN THE LIQUID CARGO AND THE BULK CARGO.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW THAT IS GOING TO CHANGE IN THE FUTURE.
BUT WITH RESPECT TO THE PASSENGER EXPERIENCE, WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT AND HAVE REAL COMMUNICATION, NOT JUST WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, BUT PERHAPS ALSO THE PARKS BOARD AS WELL SO THAT WE IMPROVE THE PASSENGER EXPERIENCE HERE SUCH THAT WE LOOK AT PARKING, WE LOOK AT ACCOMMODATIONS, WE LOOK AT EXPANDING ATTRACTIONS OR SOMETHING.
IT REALLY DOESN'T GO THAT DEEP.
BUT WE NEED TO MAKE IT A BETTER EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYBODY THAT COMES DOWN HERE AND WE'LL REAP THE BENEFIT ECONOMICALLY.
I APPRECIATE YOUR ANSWER, PARTICULARLY THE LAST ONE IN THE PARK BOARD BUDGET, JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION.
THERE'S $100,000 IN THERE FOR VISIT GALVESTON TO EXPEND IN DEVELOPING STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS, REPORTING, ET CETERA WITH THE PORT AND THE CRUISE INDUSTRY AND SPECIFICALLY.
I'M ENCOURAGED TO SEE THAT YOU SEE THAT VERY CLEARLY AS WELL.
NEXT QUESTION. YOU HEARD THIS MORNING SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE RELATED TO THE BUDGET.
DESIRE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN STAFF BECAUSE THEY ARE THE CORE OF THE CITY'S FUNCTIONS.
THEN AT THE SAME TIME, THE DESIRE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP TAXES AS LOW AS POSSIBLE FOR OUR CITIZENS.
WHILE MAXIMIZING CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE TOURISM INDUSTRY, WHICH PLACE A BURDEN ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUR SERVICES.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE ASKED THE PREVIOUS ONES IS THAT OUR PREVIOUS APPLICANTS IS THAT WOULD YOU CONSIDER INCREASING OR MAXIMIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE PORT TO THE CITY IN SUPPORT OF THOSE SERVICES WITHIN THE LIMITS OF ITS DEBT SERVICE.
I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO IMPACTING OUR DEBT SERVICE COVERAGE, BUT INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT WE HAVE FROM THE PORT COMING TO THE CITY TO HELP OFFSET THOSE SERVICES.
I THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE TRANSPARENCY ON THE BUDGET ON BOTH SIDES AND WHAT THE LIMITATIONS ON THOSE MONIES THAT THE WHARVES BOARD HAS ACCESS TO CERTAINLY TO EXPAND THEM VIA FEES, VIA CARGO, PASSENGERS, ET CETERA.
LOOKING AT OTHER THINGS THAT CAN BE EXPANDED, YOU LOOK AND YOU SEE THAT THE WHARVES BOARD, IT HAS ABOUT 300 ACRES ON THIS SIDE.
IT HAS ABOUT 400 ACRES ON PELICAN ISLAND.
THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT I WOULD HAVE BETWEEN THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, THE PORT OF HOUSTON, AND THE GALVESTON WHARVES BOARD ON THE PLAN TO INCREASE THAT.
THEN YOU ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT THE PELICAN ISLAND BRIDGE, WHICH WOULD HAVE TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED TO SUPPORT THAT.
BUT ALL THAT SHOULD BE TRANSPARENT AND THE DISCUSSION OF THOSE BUDGETS BETWEEN
[03:25:02]
THOSE DIFFERENT ENTITIES SHOULD BE TRANSPARENT AS WELL.VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, BOB'S SECTION.
WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO PUT YOUR APPLICATION? I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR GALVESTON.
I LOVE THE FACT THAT I MOVED BACK HERE.
I WANT TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON IT.
SO THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT CAN POSITIVELY IMPACT GALVESTON.
THE PORT, WHICH THE WHARVES BOARD AND THE GALVESTON PORT AND THE TEXAS CITY PORT ARE ALL TIED TOGETHER THERE.
ALSO, UTMB AND TEXAS A&M, THEY HAVE SIGNIFICANT BASES HERE, BUT THOSE CAN BE ECONOMICALLY EXPANDED AS WELL TO CONTRIBUTE MORE TO GALVESTON.
AND THIS IS JUST AN AREA WHERE I THOUGHT THAT I COULD MAKE THE MOST IMPACT.
I DID SOME WORK WITH DR. RAMER WHEN HE WAS IN LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS OVER AT UTMB.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS I DIDN'T LEARN WHILE I WAS PRACTICING LAW, BUT I DID LEARN FROM HIM WAS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO REACH OUT FOR MONEY FROM THE LEGISLATURE, WHETHER IT BE THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE OR CONGRESS TO HELP IMPROVE THINGS.
AND TO SEE WHAT HE HAD DONE AFTER I TO KEEP THE MEDICAL SCHOOL HERE, WHEN THERE WERE TIMES THAT IT WASN'T THAT THEY WERE REALLY SERIOUSLY THINKING OF CLOSING IT DOWN.
THAT FIRST TUESDAY REACH OUT TO THE LEGISLATURE ON EVERY SESSION.
THEN HE TAUGHT ME A LOT ABOUT REACHING OUT TO THE LEGISLATURE AND MAKING YOUR NEEDS KNOWN SO THAT YOU CAN GET THE BEST HELP.
YOU GOT TO ASK FOR HELP TO GET HELP.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, COUNSEL? BOB.
GOT MINE. BEEN ASKING EVERYBODY.
THIS GOES TO THE FUTURE OF THE POOR OPERATIONS.
IN THE PORT MASTER PLAN RIGHT NOW SAYS I'M GOING TO GO UP HERE FOR THE [INAUDIBLE].
IT SAYS THAT EVERYTHING FROM HERE ABOUT 29TH STREET HERE, WHAT IS GOING TO BE CARGO.
THEN THIS IS ALL CRUISE SHIP RIGHT HERE FOR 20 MINUTES.
WE'VE GOT CRUISE SHIP 16 THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE GOT CRUISE SHIP 10 THAT'S OVER HERE.
RIGHT. SO THAT LEAVES ALL OF THIS AREA RIGHT HERE 25-16 AND THIS AREA RIGHT HERE BETWEEN 16-10, THESE TWO SLIPS AND THEN ALL OF THE SPACING AND ALL OF THIS HERE IS REALLY THE FINAL FRONTIER FOR THE FUTURE OF THE PORT.
THE PORTS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL SO FAR IN THE CRUISE SHIP INDUSTRY.
SO THAT'S THAT'S THE NEXT HORIZON FOR THE PORT TO DEVELOP.
HOW WOULD YOU HOW WOULD YOU PROPOSE TO DEVELOP THAT? WHAT WOULD BE YOUR GOAL FOR THAT AREA? HOW WOULD YOU MAKE THAT HAPPEN? HOW CAN WE LEVERAGE THE CURRENT SUCCESS OF THE PORT TO HELP SUPPORT THAT? AND DO WE NEED MORE CRUISE SHIP TERMINAL OR NOT? WELL, WE'RE LOOKING AT FOUR CRUISE SHIP TERMINALS RIGHT NOW.
I THINK IT'S THE SPILLAGE AREA THAT'S IN BETWEEN THE TWO NEWEST CRUISE SHIP AREAS.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PROPOSALS I'VE SEEN IN THE MASTER PLAN.
ONE WAS FOR MEGA YACHTS, ONE WAS FOR MARINA.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WERE OTHER THINGS.
MY FIRST IMPRESSION WAS THAT THE MARINA WOULD BENEFIT MORE PEOPLE THAN THE MEGA YACHT.
WHETHER OR NOT WE NEED ADDITIONAL CRUISE SHIP TERMINALS? I DON'T KNOW.
I WOULD HOPE THAT THE WARDS BOARD WOULD REACH OUT TO THE DIFFERENT CRUISE SHIP COMPANIES AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THEIR LONG TERM NEEDS ARE.
BECAUSE, NOT ONLY IF WE WERE TO HAVE THAT, WE WOULD NEED ADDITIONAL PARKING AND ACCOMMODATIONS AND PEDESTRIAN AND ATTRACTIONS AND EVERYTHING ELSE TO IMPROVE THAT EXPERIENCE.
WITH RESPECT TO THE CARGO, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING UP TO THE CURRENT PELICAN ISLAND BRIDGE, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH SILT, NOT THAT LONG AGO, WHERE THEY WERE LOSING A LOT OF ACCESS OVER THERE.
I THINK THEY'VE ADDRESSED THAT SIGNIFICANTLY.
[03:30:01]
THERE'S STILL ISSUES? THAT'S COMING.THAT'S RIGHT. WE NEED TO WORK WITH THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.
ALSO WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE, BOTH THE TEXAS AND CONGRESS FOR FUNDING FOR THAT, AS WELL AS PRIVATE AND PUBLIC INVESTMENT AS WELL BECAUSE WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE DEEPER DRAFT SHIPS.
WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT CREATING ANY BLOCKAGES BECAUSE THAT IS NARROW.
THERE'S ALSO SOMETHING I'VE SEEN IN THE PLANS FOR THE PORT OF HOUSTON, PERHAPS PUTTING A LARGE INTER MODAL CONTAINER FACILITY ON THEIR LAND ON THE PELICAN ISLAND.
BUT THEN AGAIN, THAT YOU REALLY SHOULD FOCUS AS WELL ON THE EXPANSION OF THE PELICAN ISLAND BRIDGE, NOT JUST VEHICULAR TRAFFIC, BUT RAIL TRAFFIC AS WELL.
THEN WHAT WE HAVE OVER THERE ON PELICAN ISLAND WITH THE I FORGET THE NAME OF THE COPPER.
THERE'S 92 ACRES THAT'S PRETTY MUCH TOTALLY UNDEVELOPED RIGHT HERE.
AND THEN THERE'S QUESTIONABLE USE RIGHT HERE THAT THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
BUT CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, WE DO NEED TO EXPAND OUR CARGO.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE DON'T YOU CAN ALMOST SEE SOME OF THE SILTING ISSUES OVER THERE IN THAT PICTURE FROM THE WAY THE WATER LOOKS.
THEN ENSURING THAT ALL OF THESE, A LOT OF IT IT'S OLD.
IT NEEDS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND THAT THE CHANNEL IS PROPERLY DREDGED TO AT LEAST 45 FEET TO SUPPORT THE SHIPPING THAT'S COMING IN.
WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT NEW TECHNOLOGIES ARE TO HELP THE TRACKING NOT ONLY OF THE SHIPS THEMSELVES, BUT OF THEIR CARGO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, [INAUDIBLE]. APPRECIATE THAT.
THE WAY WE WILL FINISH OUR INTERVIEWS, YOUR LAST INTERVIEW FOR THE WARS BOARD.
THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL RANK THEIR PRIORITY OF THEIR CANDIDATES.
THEN WE WILL MAKE OUR SELECTIONS ON THE AFTERNOON MEETING AT 5:00 P.M. OF SEPTEMBER 19.
SO I APPRECIATE YOUR APPLYING TO THE WHARVES BOARD, AND I'M VERY IMPRESSED WITH YOUR CREDENTIALS AND YOUR THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU, ROBERT. I'LL TAKE CARE.
ALL RIGHT. DOCTOR [INAUDIBLE].
WE HAVE STAN HUMPHREYS COMING IN.
HE IS A POTENTIAL REAPPOINTMENT FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
MARY, WHEN WE DO THESE RAIDS WE DON'T DO THEM TODAY.
WE DO IT PRIOR TO THE OTHER MEETING.
YES, SIR. HAVE THEM TO JANELLE.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE IF THEY DON'T GET APPOINTED HERE, WE REALLY NEED TO CONSIDER THEM IN OTHER PLACES.
THESE ARE OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUALS.
STAN, HOW ARE YOU, SIR? GREAT. GOOD AFTERNOON.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
WE AS YOU KNOW, WE HAD A BUSY MORNING WITH PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM OUR PUBLIC WORKS STAFF.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION IN SERVING ALREADY ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO MAKE SOME THOUGHTS KNOWN TO COUNSEL.
AND WE ANSWER ASK QUESTIONS THERE.
OKAY. VERY GOOD. WELL, THE PRETTY MUCH MY THOUGHTS ON PLANNING COMMISSION AFTER MY FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS.
WHEN I WAS ASKED TO DO THIS, I THOUGHT, OKAY, WELL, THIS COULD BE INTERESTING, BUT THERE WAS A JOHN IRVING, I THINK I QUOTED THIS BEFORE.
JOHN IRVING IN HIS BOOK ONE TIME, SAID, I NEED TO SERVE.
IT'S BETTER TO SERVE. SO BE OF USE.
THAT'S WHAT I TRY TO DO IS BE OF USE.
I THINK I CAME INTO THIS WITH THE MAIN PERCEPTION OF TRYING TO BALANCE OUT SOME LOGIC IN THE AESTHETICS OF OUR CITY AND IN THE GROWTH OF OUR CITY.
I'VE SEEN THAT IS A VERY COMPLEX INTEGRATED THING THAT IS NEEDED IN A PLANNING COMMISSION TO GIVE YOU FOLKS THE INFORMATION YOU NEED.
[03:35:02]
TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THAT AND STUDY IT AND MAKE SURE THAT I GIVE MY OPINION AND DECISION FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO CAPTURE AND EVALUATE WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING.SO WHETHER I GET ASKED TO BE BACK AGAIN OR NOT, IT HAS BEEN ENJOYABLE, VERY INFORMATIVE, AND I'VE COME AWAY WITH A LOT MORE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR CITY AND HOW IT WORKS.
I THINK THAT'S A WONDERFUL ASPECT TO HAVE.
BE BRIEF, DON'T OVERHEAD WITH THE EXPLANATION, BUT.
ONE OF THE ISSUES I'VE SEEN IN THE PAST IS THAT PLANNING COMMISSION GIVES A RECOMMENDATION AND COUNSEL EITHER GOES THE OPPOSITE WAY OR HAD THEIR OWN VIEWS OR THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS.
IN THAT PROCESS, HOW WOULD THE PLANNING COMMISSION ANY RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNSEL TO MAKE BE BETTER IN GUIDING GUIDING THAT DECISION TO WHERE BOTH PLANNING COMMISSION AND COUNSEL HAVE A CONSENSUS RATHER THAN A TWO SEPARATE VIEWS OF PUDS OR OTHER THINGS TO BE APPROVED? WELL, I THINK THAT'S JUST THE INTEGRAL PART OF HAVING PUBLIC COMMENT AND HAVING PEOPLE NOT QUITE INVOLVED WITHIN THE CITY MANAGEMENT, BECAUSE YOUR GOALS PROBABLY VARY A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY THAN FROM THE GOALS OF THE NORMAL PERSON SITTING OUT IN THE AUDIENCE THAT COMES IN AND MAKES THE COMMENTS.
THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S GOOD TO HAVE A COMMISSION EVALUATE THESE THINGS AHEAD OF TIME.
IF WE GIVE YOU A RECOMMENDATION AND YOU GUYS DON'T ADHERE TO THAT RECOMMENDATION, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE FAILED.
THAT MEANS THAT WE'VE LET YOU SEE OBJECTIVELY AS SUBJECTIVELY AS WE CAN PRESENT TO YOU THE ISSUES SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE A BETTER INFORMED DECISION.
THE GOAL IS TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION FOR THE CITY.
SO THE OBJECTIVE HAS TO BE IN LIGHT OF THAT GOAL.
SECOND PART. SO WHEN WE DO THESE WEST END DEVELOPMENTS ON ERODING AREAS ON THE BEACH, WHEN WE DO THE PUDS, WHAT DO YOU SUPPORT ASKING FOR OR PROMOTING EROSION RESPONSE FUNDING OR STRUCTURES TO BE SET ASIDE, I GUESS AT IDC, AS AN EXCHANGE FOR THESE DEVELOPMENTS ON THE WEST END? WELL, DEVELOPMENTS ARE VERY CONCERNING BECAUSE WE DO HAVE EROSION ISSUES ON THERE, AND WE'VE HAD PEOPLE THAT HAVE PLACED THEIR REQUEST RIGHT DIRECTLY IN LINE WITH THAT.
IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT REALLY BOTHERED ME.
IF WE COULD GET SOME FUNDING THAT WOULD BE SO YOU'RE SAYING AS FUNDING AS AN EXCHANGE FROM THE DEVELOPER OF FUNDING TO GO TO THE IDC OR SOMEWHERE, DEFINITELY, I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF THAT.
I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE SOME KIND OF BALANCE.
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU'RE GOING TO GET A BALANCE OUT OF OUT OF SOME OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS WHICH ARE SOMETIMES TO ME, KIND OF OVERARCHING THE SIZE AND ABILITY OF WHAT THE LAND CAN HOLD.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? LET ME JUST BUILD ON ALEX'S POINT AT A LITTLE HIGHER LEVEL, I GUESS.
I ASK YOU, DOES THE PUD PROCESS EFFECTIVELY GRANTING VARIANCES TO THE LDR, IS WHAT IT EFFECTIVELY DOES WORK AS INTENDED, OR IF NOT, HOW WOULD YOU PROPOSE TO MODIFY IT? AND THAT PUD PROCESS GOES FROM THE DEVELOPER TO THE STAFF TO PLANNING TO COUNSEL.
SO IT'S IT'S IT'S WEIGHED IN ALL ACROSS.
BUT SO AS ALEX WAS SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD SOME I GOT SOME ISSUES WITH IT IN THE PAST. I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT YOU'RE THINKING? WELL, WHEN YOU WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT DOING THE PUD AND THEN ALL THE VARIOUS VARIANCES, I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE SEE A SNOWBALL WE'VE SEEN A SNOWBALL EFFECT ON REQUESTS FOR VARIANCES.
IS THE MODEL SUFFICIENT OR DO WE NEED TO ADJUST THE MODEL, OR IS IT JUST THE NORMAL THING OF HUMAN BEINGS WANTING TO MAYBE ACHIEVE MORE THAN THEY HAD ANY CAPABILITY OF ON THE PLOT OF LAND THAT WE'RE GIVEN.
I'VE GOT TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT ONE.
GO AHEAD AND FOLLOW UP. I'LL SAVE MY.
STAN, ON THAT SUBJECT, I MEAN, SAYING ON THE SUBJECT OF PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENTS.
I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH YOU THAT DEVELOPERS WILL ALWAYS GO AND ASK FOR THE ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM THEY'RE GOING TO.
YOU MEAN I CAN HAVE THAT VARIANCE? I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND ASK FOR IT.
BUT AS A PART OF THAT, THE CITY HAS ONE TIME AND ONE TIME ONLY AS A PART OF THE PUD TO ASK FOR
[03:40:01]
CONCESSIONS THAT PROVIDE BENEFIT TO THE CITIZENS OF GALVESTON.WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS BOTH THE PROLIFERATION OF PUDS, BUT THEN ALSO NOT REALLY AN AGGRESSIVE STANCE ON ASKING FOR CONCESSIONS.
AND THAT COMES BOTH FROM THE STAFF LEVEL AS PART OF THAT.
BUT YOU ASKED THEM, THEY'RE LIKE, WELL, WE'RE HERE TO REPRESENT THE APPLICANT.
WELL, NO, I MEAN, YOU'RE ALMOST ALSO HERE TO REPRESENT THE CITIZENS OF GALVESTON AS A PART OF THAT.
THEY LEAVE THE BURDEN OF ASKING FOR CONCESSIONS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
DO YOU SUPPORT ASKING FOR GREATER CONCESSIONS AS A PART THAT WOULD BE COMMISERATE WITH THE LEVEL OF VARIANCES THAT ARE BEING ASKED FOR IN PUDS? WELL, I THINK, COMMENSURATE WITH THE LEVEL OF VARIANCES ASKED.
THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE STRETCH.
BUT I THINK WE SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR SOME CONCESSIONS WHEN THEY START DOING THESE DEVELOPMENTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY WILL BE IMPACTFUL FOR THE ASSOCIATED NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE'VE SEEN THEM OUT THERE ON THE WEST END WHERE ASSOCIATED NEIGHBORHOODS FEEL THE IMPACT OF THESE PUDS, AND THEY DON'T REALLY RECEIVE ANYTHING BENEFICIAL.
SO THAT WOULD BE DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE ON THE TABLE. OKAY. THANK YOU.
SO I'M GOING TO SWITCH TO THE URBAN CORE.
I KNOW CURRENTLY THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE AND THE URBAN CORE IS 2,500 SQUARE FEET.
SO THEREFORE, WHEN SOMEONE COMES IN TO SUBSIDIZE WHAT WAS 11 LOT, YOU HAVE A HEARING, BUT YOU CAN'T MAKE ANY, WOULD YOU BE OPEN TO AS A PLANNING BECAUSE WE GO THROUGH PLANNING FIRST, TO INCREASING THAT MINIMUM LOT SIZE FOR THE URBAN TOUR.
SO WE DON'T END UP WITH TAKING AWAY THE FABRIC OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
I THINK THE FABRIC IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS IMPORTANT.
I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN DENSITY ISSUES BOTH PRO AND CON, BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE SAY, WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH HOUSING, THIS WOULD PROVIDE MORE HOUSING.
THE CON OF THAT IS YOU'RE INCREASING DENSITY ON THE ROADS AND STREETS AND UTILITIES, AND DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE THAT AND HELP IT TO BE A VIABLE PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE.
I THINK THAT'S A REAL TOUCHY QUESTION.
I HAVEN'T REALLY POSED IT REAL I'M NOT GOING TO THROW SOMETHING OFF MY SHOULDER AND SPEAK GLIBLY ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU PROBABLY NEED TO LOOK AT.
YEAH. WE'RE GOING TO SEE WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT DIRECTION NEXT. YES.
YEAH, MUCH. STAN QUESTION I HAVE.
>> WE HAD A POLICY HERE, WE FOLLOWED HERE AT THE CITY WHERE BEACH ACCESS PLAN AMENDMENTS CAME TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION FIRST, AND THEN THEY MOVED TO CITY COUNCIL DUE TO A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT REASONS THAT CHANGED HERE AT THE CITY.
TO MY CHAGRIN, IT DID, BUT IT CHANGED AND NOW WE'VE MOVED IT BACK WHERE THEY COME TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION FIRST.
YOU HAVE A THOUGHT ON THAT ON WHAT DO YOU FEEL THAT CHANGE BACK TO HAVING THE PLANNING COMMISSION EVALUATE THESE FIRST AND HAVE PUBLIC INPUT BEFORE IT COMES TO COUNCIL IS GOOD OR BAD THING.
AGAIN, YOU'RE GETTING PUBLIC INPUT. YOU'RE GETTING PEOPLE.
THE COMMISSION WILL LOOK AT ALL THE FACTORS OF IT AND GIVE AN OBJECTIVE INPUT ON IT.
IF ALL CAN MAKE A MORE RELEVANT DECISION TO THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, I THINK WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE ABILITY FOR OUR PUBLIC TO GET DOWN TO THE BEACHES.
THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH BEACH WE HAVE, AND THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH IDEAL BEACH WE HAVE, SO YOU CERTAINLY ARE GOING TO HAVE THESE ISSUES COME UP.
I THINK IT'D BE GOOD AS YOU HAVE MENTIONED, TO HAVE PUBLIC INPUT AND SO WE COULD HAVE THE VOICES OF PEOPLE COME UP BEFORE US AND MAKE THEIR THOUGHTS KNOWN AND THEN CONVEY THEM ON TO YOU ALL.
BOB, YOU HAD ANOTHER QUESTION.
>>ONE MORE. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT JOBS COMING BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION, PROBABLY EARLY NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO BE THE REVISION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
AFTER 14 YEARS, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.
MY QUESTION IS, I'D JUST LIKE YOU TO DESCRIBE WHAT YOU THINK THE ROLE OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS IN THE OPERATIONS OF THE CITY, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON AFTER 14 YEARS, WHAT THINGS YOU MIGHT WANT TO SEE CHANGE?
>> WELL, MAYBE THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO CHANGE IS NOT WAITING 14 YEARS.
[03:45:01]
>> I THINK THAT'S FIRST THING WE NEED TO, REVISE THAT.
SECONDLY, I THINK THAT YOU'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF INPUT FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES.
WE HAVE DIFFERENT PEOPLE NOW, THE VISION GALVESTON AND EVERYBODY.
THEY'RE GIVEN INPUT AND WHAT WE COULD USE TO MAKE THE PLAN A LITTLE BIT MORE, WOULD I SAY USER FRIENDLY OR MORE LIKE TO BE MORE SOMETHING WHERE WE CAN ACHIEVE A GOAL OF HAVING A BEAUTIFUL CITY? BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO LOSE THE AESTHETICS OF THE CITY, AND I CAN SEE WHY, WELL, YOU ALL ARE WORKING ON THE BUDGET.
YOU CAN SEE WHY WE NEED TO HAVE SOME GROWTH.
WE'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO BLEND THESE TWO THINGS TOGETHER SO THAT WE'RE NOT DAMAGING THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE OR DAMAGING THE HISTORY OF WHAT WE HAVE.
JUST CONCISELY, THAT'S ABOUT ALL I GOT ON THAT RIGHT NOW.
I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE SOMETHING COME ABOUT NEXT YEAR. IT'S GOING TO BE FUN.
>> VERY GOOD. ALEX, DID YOU HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION?
>> STAN, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
WE'LL MAKE OUR DECISIONS AT OUR SEPTEMBER 19TH MEETING.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR RUNNING TO SERVE.
YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB, STAN. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WELL, YOU GUYS IT'S RARE THAT I WATCH A WHOLE COMMISSION OR A WHOLE COUNCIL MEETING, AND IT'S RARE THAT I SIT THROUGH ALL THESE BUT HAVING DONE THIS WITH SOME OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION WHERE THEY GO FOR FOUR HOURS, YOU GUYS ARE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED, AND THERE WILL BE NO WAY I WILL ASK FOR YOUR JOB.
>> I HAVE AN EMERGENCY AT MY HOUSE.
>> JOHN DO YOU HAVE QUESTION TO ASK THE PUD HOW WE IMPROVE? [INAUDIBLE]
>> YOUR PUD TOPIC WILL BE CARRIED ON.
>> GOOD BYE. WE HAVE RANDALL TANIK AND HE'S MISSING, I THINK, ABOUT THERE, BUT AS NEL TELLS ME THAT'S THE WAY IT'S SPELLED.
>> WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT, DON'T WE HAVE GREAT CITY?
>> DO YOU KNOW OTHER CITIES ARE ENVIOUS OF US?
>> RANDALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE TODAY ON STICKING AROUND.
>> WE ARE HUNGRY TOO [LAUGHTER].
>> THERE IS CAKE RIGHT THERE, HELP YOURSELF.
>> RANDALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND STICKING AROUND AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION FOR THE COMMISSION.
>> WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WE'LL GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO MAKE SOME INTRODUCTORY STATEMENTS, AND THEN WE'LL OPEN TO QUESTIONS.
I'M A FAIRLY NEW RESIDENT TO GALVESTON.
MY PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND IS IN LAND DEVELOPMENT AND HOME BUILDING AND ALL THINGS REAL ESTATE.
I NOTICED A FEW WEEKS BACK THAT THERE WAS A OPENING FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I HAVE AN INTEREST IN PARTICIPATING IN.
MY WIFE WANTS ME TO VOLUNTEER MORE NOW THAT I'M A RESIDENT.
I'VE TRIED THREE DIFFERENT THINGS AND GAVE UP ON ONE OF THEM AND STILL ACTED IN TWO OF THEM.
I'M LOOKING FOR ANOTHER SPOT AND I HAVE THE TIME.
I HAVE BACKGROUND EXPERTISE AND MANY THINGS TO DO WITH CITY PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENTS I HAVE THE OVERSIGHTED OVER.
I'M JUST LOOKING TO PARTICIPATE AS A VOLUNTEER ON AN EXTENDED BASIS AND CITY PLANNING.
I THOUGHT MAYBE I COULD BE OF SOME ASSISTANCE IN THAT REGARD.
I DIDN'T PREPARE A WHOLE LOT AND WINGING IT.
>> HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE YOUR LAST THING?
>> WHERE DID YOU COME FROM PRIOR TO GALVESTON?
>> REALLY QUICKLY, I WAS BORN IN HOUSTON.
[03:50:03]
I WAS RAISED IN SUGAR LAND IN FORT BEND COUNTY, WHERE I LIVED FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS IN MY LIFE.I HAD TO SPEND A LITTLE TIME IN THE US ARMY.
AFTER A YEAR OR SO, THEY SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT ME, WHICH WAS FORTUNATE FOR ME.
THEN WE MOVED TO AUSTIN, I ENROLLED IN GRADUATE SCHOOL, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, AND TOOK ME A LITTLE LONGER TO COMPLETE AN MBA UP THERE, BUT I DID.
UPON GRADUATION, I WOUND UP BACK IN HOUSTON IN THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS AND HAVE LIVED IN WEST HOUSTON.
OH, GOODNESS, PRIOR TO FOUR YEARS AGO FOR 40 PLUS YEARS.
DID MOST OF MY BUSINESS IN HARRIS, FORT BEND BRAZORIA AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES.
NONE IN GALVESTON COUNTY, ALTHOUGH I AM ON A WATER BOARD IN GALVESTON COUNTY MOD 68.
I'M A BOARD MEMBER OF THAT PARTICULAR WATER DISTRICT, CLEARLY WITHIN THE CITY OF LA MARQUE.
WE JUST RECENTLY ANNEXED A PIECE IN THE ETJ OF HITCHCOCK, WHICH IS A NEW PARCEL THAT WE HAVE AND BEEN INVOLVED IN CREATION OF AND MANAGING SPECIAL DISTRICTS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AS WELL.
>> ARE YOU AWARE OF HOW MUCH TIME IT TAKES ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION?
>> WE HAVE TWO CHAIRPERSONS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION SITTING ON COUNCIL, BOB BROWN AND DAVID FINKLEY, YOU MIGHT EDUCATE MR. TRENCHEK, IF YOU WOULD.
>> WELL, YOU MEET TWICE A MONTH, AND THERE'S A VERY STEEP LEARNING CURVE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE LDRS, LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS INSIDE AND OUT, AND A WHOLE LOT OF WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE SEEING HAS GOT TO DO WITH BEACH DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION, AND THE LDR, REGULATORY THINGS WHEN THEY COME.
IT'S A BIG TIME COMMIT, NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF MEETING, BUT PREPARING FOR THE MEETINGS BECAUSE THE ISSUES ARE VERY COMPLEX, AND IT GOES EVEN BEYOND THE LDRS DOWN TO THE GLO AND A LOT OF OTHER AUTHORITIES THAT HAVE JURISDICTION WHEN IT COMES TO BEACH DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S A LOT OF HOMEWORK AND IT'S A LOT OF TIME INVOLVE COMMITMENT.
ALSO THAT LEADS ME TO ONE OF MY QUESTIONS.
[OVERLAPPING] DID DAVID SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE TIME?
>> A LITTLE BIT ON THE TIME COMMITMENT.
BOB AND I WERE BOTH PREVIOUS CHAIRMAN OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND WHAT I FOUND DURING THAT TIME IS THAT WE HAD DIFFERENT COMMISSIONERS ON THERE THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO TO FOCUS IN SPECIFIC AREAS.
WE HAD SOME THAT WOULD FOCUS ON BEACH ACCESS, SOME THAT WOULD FOCUS ON BEACH FRONT CONSTRUCTION, OTHERS THAT WOULD TAKE UP PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENTS AND THE PROCESS BY WHICH DEVELOPERS ASKED FOR VARIANCES, AND THEN THEREBY ASK FOR THE CITY ASKED FOR CONCESSIONS AS A PART OF THAT.
YOU END UP WITH A LOT OF DETAILED TOPICS, SOME OF WHICH I'M SURE YOU RUN INTO DURING YOUR CAREER.
THE HOMEWORK IS, I WILL TELL YOU THAT STAFF IS EXTREMELY RESPONSIVE TO QUESTIONS AND HELPING YOU GET UP TO SPEED, AND THAT WAS WHAT I FOUND WAS VERY REWARDING AS A PART OF THAT.
>> BUT THERE ARE ALSO WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS.
>> YES. THE OTHER THING THAT WE DIDN'T SAY.
PLANNING COMMISSION WILL OFTEN TAKE UP SPECIAL TOPICS THAT COUNCIL MAY ASK THEM TO LOOK INTO ON OCCASION AND SOME OF THOSE CAN BE ADDITIONAL WORKSHOPS IN ADDITION TO THE TWICE A MONTH REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS.
>>THE PLANNING COMMISSION, RANDALL IS GETTING READY TO OPEN UP AND START LOOKING AT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THEY'LL BE MEETING A LOT ON THAT.
>> WELL, I DO HAVE ONE POTENTIAL CONFLICT.
I'M GOING TO TRY TO WORK THROUGH THAT TIME-WISE.
IN TERMS OF MEETING TWICE A MONTH ON TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS, I BELIEVE, I READ SOMEPLACE, THE THIRD WEEK OF THE MONTH, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> BUT IT'S TWO TUESDAYS A MONTH.
>> FIRST AND THIRD OR SECOND, FOURTH, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> TUESDAY AFTERNOONS AT 3:30.
>> 3:30. I'VE GOT A CONFLICT AT THIS POINT WITH GC MUD NUMBER 68, AS A MATTER OF FACT.
BUT I'VE BEEN ASKED TO STAY ON BECAUSE WE'RE ABOUT READY TO SELL A BIG BOND ISSUE.
THEY ASKED ME TO CONTINUE THAT ON FOR THIS MONTH.
WE'RE MEETING TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK AND I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GOING TO BE ASKED TO STAY ON FOR ONE MORE MONTH IN OCTOBER.
[03:55:01]
BUT I'LL RESOLVE THAT, AND I'LL KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT ON NEXT TUESDAY, AS A MATTER OF FACT.>> WE MAKE OUR APPOINTMENTS ON SEPTEMBER 19TH COMING UP A WEEK FROM TODAY, AND YOUR TERM WHICH START WITH THE OCTOBER MEETING.
THAT MIGHT WORK OUT OKAY. THAT'S GOOD.
>> IN YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A DEVELOPER OR EITHER SINGLE FAMILY OR MULTI-FAMILY, ETC, DID YOU RUN ACROSS THE PROCESSES IN DIFFERENT CITIES WHERE WE REFER TO HIM AS PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS BY WHICH DEVELOPERS COME FORWARD AND ASK FOR A BULK ACTION ON VARIANCES ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT, AND THAT'S THE ONE TIME WE AS A CITY GET TO SAY, IF WE'RE GOING TO GRANT YOU THESE VARIANCES, THEN THIS IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR A COMMUNITY BENEFIT OR A CONCESSION ON BEHALF OF THE DEVELOPER.
HAVE YOU HAD EXPERIENCE WITH THAT PREVIOUSLY, AND DO YOU HAVE ANY GLOBAL THOUGHTS ABOUT?
>> THE BULK OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT WORK I HAVE DONE HAS BEEN IN SOME COUNTY.
BUT THE EXPERIENCE I'VE HAD WITHIN CITY LIMITS HAS BEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHICH IS AN EXTREMELY SLOW PROCESS.
CITY OF POLAND, WHICH IS A WHOLE OTHER INTERESTING PROCESS.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED THERE, THE CITY OF SUGAR LAND.
GIVEN YOU APPROVAL, AND THEN ONCE YOU GET UNDERWAY, DECIDE THAT THEY OVERLOOK SOMETHING AND THE RULES GET CHANGED.
I'VE EXPERIENCED MY SET OF FRUSTRATIONS, YES, WITH CITY GOVERNMENTS AND PULL ALL THE PIPE OUT OF THE GROUND, PUT A DIFFERENT PIPE IN OR WILL YOU JUST PUT A BIG STICKER ON YOUR PROJECT.
>> WE'RE GOING TO PULL IT ALL OUT AND SHIP IT BACK AND BUY SOME MORE PIPES.
BUT MOST LAND DEVELOPERS WHO ARE ALWAYS IN A BIG HURRY AND ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS I WAS AFFILIATED WITH WERE IN A BIG HURRY.
WE DIDN'T TRY TO AVOID CITIES.
BUT IT'S SIMPLER TO OPERATE IN THE COUNTY.
ALTHOUGH COUNTIES HAVE GOTTEN MUCH TIGHTER IN THEIR OVERSIGHT THAN THEY WERE YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST STARTED IN THE INDUSTRY.
I'VE HAD SOME EXPERIENCE OF THE FRUSTRATIONS OF WORKING WITH CITIES AND IN FACT, I WAS ON A LITTLE SIDE BAR IT DOESN'T MATTER, BUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON YEARS AGO, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY EVEN HAVE IT ANYMORE, BUT THEY CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA OF A DEVELOPER PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT.
WHEREBY YOU COULD GET SOME FUNDS BACK IF YOU MET CERTAIN EVALUATION CRITERIA, AND I SLUG THROUGH THAT WITH THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND PULL OUT ORDINANCES AND STUDIED THAT, AND WE DECIDED WE WERE GOING TO DO IT, SO WE WENT AHEAD AND DID THAT.
BUT ONCE YOU MAKE A FINANCIAL COMMITMENT, YOU GOT TO DO WHAT YOU GOT TO DO, BUT FORTUNATELY, I DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT ANYMORE.
I MIGHT BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE IN THE FUTURE.
I PROBABLY HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED ONE OF EVERYTHING, BUT I EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF MANY THINGS IN MY CAREER.
>> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL?
>> I HAVE ONE THAT DOESN'T REALLY HAVE TO SAY IF PER CHANCE YOU DON'T GET CHOSEN FOR PLANNING, CAN I CALL ON YOU FOR YOUR EXPERTISE IN MUDS?
>> WELL, INCIDENTALLY, JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW, I'M ALREADY DOING THINGS FOR YOU AND THERE'S NO CHARGE.
WE HAD LIVED HERE MAYBE THE FIRST YEAR WE WERE HERE.
MY WIFE AND I WERE GOING HOME ONE NIGHT.
WE LIVE OUT OFF OF 99TH STREET.
WE WERE GOING HOME ONE NIGHT ON STEWART ROAD, AND I HAD NOTICED THIS BEFORE, BUT I HADN'T CONSCIOUSLY NOTICED IT WE'RE NOT NIGHT OUT.
BUT WE WERE COMING HOME THAT NIGHT AND WE WERE SOMEWHERE ALONG ABOUT ONE OF THE RUNWAYS ON THE AIRPORT.
MY BRIDE SAID TO ME, SHE SAID, YOU KNOW HOW DARK IT IS OUT HERE? AND I SAID, IT IS.
[04:00:02]
I RIDE A BICYCLE FOR EXERCISE.I PUT IN 10-11 MILES EVERY DAY, YOU ARE CUTTING INTO MY TIME INCIDENTALLY.
I NEED TO GET ON THE ROAD. IT'S GETTING HOT OUT THERE.
I TOOK OFF ON MY BICYCLE, WENT DOWN STEWART ROAD, AND BEHOLD, THERE'S FOUR STREET LIGHTS THERE.
I COPIED DOWN ALL THE POLES NUMBERS ON MY COMPUTER.
AT THE CENTERPOINT, PUT IN THE POLE NUMBERS ADDRESS, APPROXIMATELY.
IN THREE DAYS, I GOT AN EMAIL BACK FROM CENTERPOINT.
I SAID, YEAH, Y'ALL ARE LYING, Y'ALL NOT TELLING THE TRUTH.
WELL, THAT NIGHT, AFTER DARK, I GOT MY FAMILY AUTOMOBILE AND I WENT DOWN STEWART ROAD AND ALL MY STREET LIGHTS WERE BACK.
>> I DO THAT EVERYWHERE THAT I RIDE ON MY BICYCLE?
>> THAT'S SO GOOD IN STATE LAWS.
>> AWAY, WHO DO I SEND THE INVOICE TO? THERE LIKE I'LL SEND IT TO YOU GET IT.
>> I'M GOING TO ASK FOR MORE FREE HELP.
THEY HAVE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF DAYS.
THAT'S WHY THEY RESPOND SO FAST.
IT'S LEGAL. THEY GOT TO BE IN THERE.
>> I DID IT WHEN I LIVED OUT IN WEST HOUSTON, MY SUBDIVISION WAS NEVER DARK.
UP AND DOWN MEMORIAL DRIVE WAS NEVER DARK.
UP AND DOWN ELDRIDGE WAS NEVER DARK, AND THEY ALWAYS IT'S INTERESTING.
THEY GET ON IT PRETTY QUICKLY.
THEN USUALLY IN LESS THAN A WEEK, I GET AN EMAIL BACK.
>> THAT THEY HAVE 10 DAYS OR SOMETHING.
>> YEAH IT'S SURPRISINGLY QUICK.
I'M LIKE DEPUTY DOG ON STREET LIGHTS, AND I CONTINUE THAT IN GALVESTON.
S YOU GO TO HELP WITH THE STREET LIGHTS, JUST SEND THEM TO ME.
>> I'LL GET THE NUMBER. I GET THE NUMBER. I KNOW HOW TO HANDLE IT.
>> THANK YOU, RANDALL VERY MUCH.
>> COUNSEL, WE HAVE TOM SINGLETON COMING.
MR. SINGLETON, I THINK, HAS VISITED WITH ALMOST ALL OF THIS BEFORE.
>> RANDALL NEEDS TO BE A SECRET SHOPPER AT OUR BUILDING DEPARTMENT.
>> NO BUT HE ALSO NEEDS TO BE A ADVISOR BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING [INAUDIBLE]
>> I JUST LOOKED HIM UP ON MY I JUST LICKED HIM UP ON MY PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.
>> HIS SON IN LAW AND I SERVED THE SCOUTMASTERS.
WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR TIME.
RAND. THANK YOU SO MUCH. QUEST.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU ALL SHARING YOUR TIME WITH ME TODAY.
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF MINUTES.
TO MAKE ANY INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT YOU'D LIKE.
ARE? YOU DON'T HAVE TO, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.
>> WELL PERFECT. I DID WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I HAD A SMALL PROCEDURE ON MY VOCAL CORD, SO I MAY GET A LITTLE HORSE, BUT I'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF WATER TO HELP WITH THAT.
I APOLOGIZE IF THAT HAPPENS, BUT I'LL TRY TO SPEAK CLEARLY.
TOM SINGLETON, I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN GALVESTON, GRADUATED FROM BALL IN 2010, AND RIGHT IN THE WAKE TO IKE, WHICH WAS AN INTERESTING EXPERIENCE.
SO I WENT TO COLLEGE UP THERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, LIVED IN HOUSTON FOR A WHILE, FOR COLLEGE AND THEN WORKED THERE.
AND THEN WE MOVED BACK TO THE ISLAND JUST AS QUICK AS WE COULD A COUPLE A FEW YEARS AGO, I GUESS, NOW, 3.5 YEARS AGO, I THINK.
YEAH, WE'VE BEEN BACK HERE FOR A WHILE AND I'VE REALLY TRIED TO GET INVOLVED WITH EVERYTHING I CAN BECAUSE TO ME, THIS COMMUNITY IS EVERYTHING.
I TOLD MY WIFE, WHEN WE MET, I WANT TO LIVE IN GALVESTON.
I WOULD COME BACK EVERY WEEKEND FROM HOUSTON JUST TO SEE MY FRIENDS AND BE IN THE CITY, AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON HERE IT'S REALLY UNIQUE.
HOUSTON'S COOL, BUT GALVESTON IS WHERE IT'S AT.
AND SO ANYTHING I CAN DO TO GIVE BACK TO THE CITY, I TRY TO DO.
AND TO ME, THERE'S NO HIGHER CALLING.
I STUDIED POLITICAL SCIENCE AND COLLEGE AS WELL AS ENGLISH, AND IT'S REALLY A LABOR OF LOVE, TO BE ABLE TO VOLUNTEER FOR THINGS AND TO GIVE BACK.
SO EVERYTHING I DO IS TOWARDS THAT.
AND YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, I JUST WANT TO GIVE MY KIDS THE SAME COMMUNITY THAT I GREW UP.
THIS WAS AN INCREDIBLE PLACE TO GROW UP, AND SO, I WANT TO BE SURE THAT THAT CONTINUES FOR ANOTHER 100 YEARS, AT LEAST.
>> THANK YOU TOM, AND WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU APPLYING FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION HERE.
COUNSEL, ANY QUESTIONS, MISS SINGLETON.
[04:05:01]
>> BOB. I HAVE A COUPLE, BUT I'LL JUST START WITH ONE.
DO YOU THINK THE PUD PROCESS, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A VARIANCE FROM THE LDRS? DO YOU THINK IT WORKS AS IT'S INTENDED? AND IF NOT, HOW WOULD YOU PROPOSE TO MODIFY IT?
>> YEAH. YOU KNOW, I THINK THE PUD PROCESS IS REALLY INTERESTING.
YOU KNOW, IT GIVES US AS A COMMUNITY AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY WORK WITH DEVELOPERS TO BE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING YOU KNOW WHAT WE NEED.
I THINK AS A PROCESS, IT WORKS PRETTY WELL.
WE CAN PROBABLY MAKE SOME CHANGES HERE AND THERE, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO PRIORITIZING WHAT THOSE CHANGES TO PROJECTS MIGHT BE, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO EACH DISTRICT.
OBVIOUSLY, DISTRICT 6 IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN DISTRICT 1 WHERE I LIVE, DISTRICT 3.
I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY SET OUT INITIALLY AND I'M HOPING WITH THE COMP PLAN.
MAYBE WE CAN DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
THIS IS THE LEVEL OF EACH PRIORITY AND THEN BE ABLE TO SAY, HEY, WHEN WE GO WITH THESE DEVELOPERS AND TALK ABOUT, THESE ARE THE CHANGES WE WANT AND THEY SAY, HEY, THESE THE CHANGES WE CAN MAKE, WE CAN MEET IN THE MIDDLE.
>> VERY GOOD. GO AHEAD, DAVID.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, YOU JUST LET INTO THE NEXT TOPIC, WHICH WAS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THE CITY IS GOING TO START DOING PUBLIC OUTREACH ON THAT NEXT YEAR.
PLANNING COMMISSION WILL BE DEEP IN THE HEART OF THAT.
YEAH AND BE VERY ACTIVE AND CRUCIAL ROLE OF BOTH THE OUTREACH AND RECEIVING INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S GOING TO BE CITIZENS. IT'S GOING TO BE ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL WHO HAVE STUDIED IT AND WHO HAVE PROVIDED DATA.
PREVIOUSLY, AND MAYBE WE CAN LEARN FROM THAT DATA COLLECTION PROCESS.
IN ADDITION TO THE TWO TIMES A WEEK, I'D WATCH IT THAT YOU PROBABLY ARE GOING TO BE CHALLENGED ON A REGULAR BASIS NOW WITH SOME ADDITIONAL TIME COMMITMENTS AS WELL.
>> ABSOLUTELY. I'M BLESSED THAT I HAVE A JOB THAT REALLY YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES I WORK AT NIGHT, SOMETIMES I WORK EARLY IN THE MORNING.
I'VE GOT TWO YOUNG KIDS AND FAMILY AND ALL THAT.
SO MY DAY DOESN'T END UNTIL SOMETIMES TWO IN THE MORNING.
SO IF THAT MEANS THAT I'VE GOT TO COMMIT SOME TIME DURING THE DAY AND THEN DO TAKE CARE OF MY OTHER DUTIES IN OTHER TIME PARTS OF THE DAY.
AND ADDITIONALLY, I'VE GOT SOME FAMILY HERE.
SO AS IT RELATES TO THE FAMILY MY KIDS AND WHATNOT IT'S REALLY NOT A PROBLEM.
>> FOLLOW UP ON DAVID'S QUESTION THERE.
JUST DESCRIBE IN YOUR TERMS, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE ROLE OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS AND THE OPERATIONS OF THE CITY?
>> THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS OBVIOUSLY KIND OF THE CITY'S VISION FOR MOVING FORWARD.
SO THIS LAST ONE TOOK 14 YEARS, FROM ITS INCEPTION TODAY.
AND SO IT'S REALLY OUR OPPORTUNITY, NOT ONLY AS CITIZENS, AND Y'ALL KNOWS ROLE ON CITY COUNCIL AND IN THE INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONS AND BOARDS OF THE CITY TO BE ABLE OF LAY OUT, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE MOVING FORWARD, AND THEN CREATE THAT WORK TO CREATE THAT VISION, SEE IT OUT.
>> THANKS. TOM, IF YOU WERE APPOINTED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, DO YOU HAVE ANY PARTICULAR GOALS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH OR CHANGES YOU FEEL NEED TO BE MADE WITH OUR LDRS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?
>> VERY BROADLY, ONE OF MY GOALS WOULD BE TO JUST SERVE THE CITY.
BUT TO BE MORE SPECIFIC, ESPECIALLY IN RELATION TO LDRS.
I THINK THAT THERE'S SOME CHANGES WE COULD MAKE, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO ENSURING THAT FOLKS CAN INVEST IN THEIR CITY.
WERE YOU ALL WENT THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS, PART OF IT THIS MORNING AND IT WAS TOUGH.
I LOVE WATCHING THAT STUFF, BUT I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T WANT TO BE IN A SEATS IN AN ENVIRONMENT LIKE THAT.
AND I THINK THE MORE THAT WE CAN DO TO ENCOURAGE SUSTAINABLE AND DIVERSE GROWTH IN THIS COMMUNITY, THE MORE WE CAN TAKE SOME OF THAT PRESSURE OFF OF Y'ALL AND ENSURE THAT THE FOLKS ON THE CITY LEVEL, THE STAFF, WHO WE HEARD FROM TODAY GET WHAT THEY NEED AND THAT THE CITIZENS GET WHAT THEY NEED AND THAT EVERYBODY'S TAKEN CARE OF.
>> SO ME HIS QUESTIONS BECAUSE HE HAD AN [INAUDIBLE].
SO IS ONE QUESTION IS WHEN IT COMES TO PUDS OR EVEN DEVELOPMENTS, DO YOU THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE ASKING MORE OF DEVELOPERS?
>> I THINK IT VARIES CASE BY CASE.
I THINK THERE'S OBVIOUSLY, LIKE I SAID, THE REALLY DIVERSITY.
DISTRICT 6 IS CERTAINLY NOT DISTRICT 1.
AND YOU KNOW NOBODY ELSE DISTRICTS ARE THE SAME BY ANY STRETCH.
AND SO I THINK IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS YOU HAVE TO TAKE CASE BY CASE.
I THINK MOST GENERALLY I'D LIKE TO ASK A LOT AND THEN BE ABLE TO WHITTLE IT DOWN A BIT IN A NEGOTIATION.
SO I THINK YOU'VE GOT TO WORK WITH THE DEVELOPER TO KIND OF IDENTIFY WHAT'S POSSIBLE,
[04:10:05]
WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH AND I THINK AS INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL PEOPLE, THAT'S SOMETHING IF I WERE ON PLANNING, I WOULD LOOK TO Y'ALL TO PROVIDE THAT SORT OF DIRECTION SO THAT WHEN WE'RE IN THAT PROCESS AND THEN BEFORE IT EVER GETS TO ALL, HOPEFULLY WE'VE KIND OF SETTLED SOME OF THOSE THINGS.>> I'M GOING TO ASK THIS OTHER QUESTION, BUT IN A DIFFERENT FASHION.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH SOME OF THE BEACH FRED DEVELOPMENT THAT IS GOING ON ASKING DEVELOPERS OR AS WE GET NOURISHMENT IN PLACE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THAT OR ON FORTIFIED DUNES.
>> YEAH, I WORKED WITH THE PARK BOARD FOR A LITTLE WHILE DOING GRANTS MANAGEMENT.
I GOT TO WORK WITH CHERYL ROSIER REALLY CLOSELY, ESPECIALLY ON THE BEACH NOURISHMENT AND THE PROJECTS.
AND SO I THINK THE MORE THAT WE CAN BRING IN FUNDING FROM NON PUBLIC SOURCES TO PURSUE THOSE PROJECTS, I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT GRANTS OUT THERE, BUT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH AND THEN THE SOURCES OF THE FUNDING, LIKE GOMESA, FOR INSTANCE, IT'S NOT GOING TO LAST FOREVER.
AND SO ESPECIALLY AS FOLKS SAY, HEY, THAT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ME AS A PRIVATE DEVELOPER.
I THINK WE HAVE TO BALANCE THOSE REQUIREMENTS, BUT IF ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS, ESPECIALLY DOWN THERE IN DISTRICT 6, I KNOW BEACH NOURISHMENT IS A BIG BIG ISSUE FOR YOU ALL, AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE REALLY NEED TO BE LOOKING AT.
I WAS PRETTY HAPPY WITH THIS LAST GOMESA PROJECT.
I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD PIECE OF THAT PUZZLE.
YEAH, I THINK THAT'S A REALLY STRONG PRIORITY.
IT WOULD BE FOR ME BECAUSE I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, RIGHT, WE'RE AN ISLAND.
IF WE DON'T HAVE A BEACH, WE DON'T HAVE AN ISLAND.
THE MORE THOSE WASH AWAY, THE LESS THAT WE HAVE.
IT'S ONE OF OUR GREATEST NATURAL RESOURCES AND ECONOMIC RESOURCES, AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO STRIKE THAT BALANCE, BUT YEAH, AS FAR AS ASKING DEVELOPERS TO HELP WITH THOSE PROJECTS, I THINK THAT'S A BIG WIN.
>> WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON FORTIFIED DUNES?
>> I THINK ONCE AGAIN, PROJECT BY PROJECT, I THINK IN SOME AREAS, IT WORKS REALLY WELL AND OTHERS, IT PROBABLY DOESN'T.
ADMITTEDLY, FORTIFIED DUNES IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I'M AS FAMILIAR WITH.
I KNOW THAT DOWN ON THE WEST END, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH SOME OF OUR DUNE PROJECTS, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO BUILDING UP.
WE HAD A LOT OF THE DUNES WASH AWAY, BUT THEY PROTECTED A LOT OF HOMES, TOWN.
>> BUT LOOK AT THE FORTIFIED ONES, THEY STAYED IN PLACE AND PROTECTED BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE?
>> THEN NOW FOR FLIP SIDE OF THE MY OWN QUESTION.
SO CURRENTLY IN THE URBAN CORE, THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE IS 2,500.
SO IF SOMEONE IS COMING IN AND SAYING BY TWO LOTS, THEY CAN SUBDIVIDE IT IN FOUR OR FIVE.
>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD, RIGHT?
SO WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHTS ON INCREASING THAT MINIMUM SIZE?
>> YEAH, I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER TOUGH QUESTION BECAUSE IN THE LAST COMP PLAN, THAT WAS SOMETHING WE PUT FORWARD, AND I THINK THERE'S BEEN SUCCESS, BUT AS YOU'VE POINTED OUT, THERE'S ALSO CHALLENGES THERE WHERE STRS COME IN AND BUY UP LAND THAT SHOULD OTHERWISE MAYBE BE GOING TO RESIDENTS AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOUSING THAT ARE GOING TO STRS.
ONCE AGAIN, STRS, THAT'S A BALANCE TOO.
I THINK THERE'S ECONOMIC BENEFITS AND ECONOMIC CHALLENGES, BUT AS IT RELATES TO LOT SIZE, MY GUT WOULD TELL ME, I WOULD PREFER TO FIND A WAY TO ALLOW DEVELOPERS OR HOMEBUILDERS, WHOEVER TO BUILD HOUSES ON SMALLER LOTS, BUT I THINK TOO, YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER THE STR PROBLEM, AND MAYBE NOT A PROBLEM.
THAT MIGHT BE THE WRONG WORD PER DAM.
>> I THINK THAT IT'S SOMETHING WE OUGHT TO REALLY LOOK AT THE DATA AND SEE HOW THIS IS PROGRESSING, ESPECIALLY IN THESE THESE DENSER AREAS WHERE THERE'S A HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT PATTERN THAT FAVORS THAT DENSER NEIGHBORHOOD.
IF THE DATA SHOWS THAT, HEY, THIS IS PREDOMINANTLY HOW THESE SMALLER LOTS ARE BEING USED, I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO RECONSIDER THAT POLICY.
BUT THERE ARE ALSO SOME INTERESTING POLICIES OUT THERE THAT OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE DOING, BONUS OWNING PROGRAMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WHERE IF YOU TELL A DEVELOPER, HEY, THESE ARE THE REQUIREMENTS, IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A DENSER DEVELOPMENT, WHETHER THAT'S MULTIPLE HOMES OR ONE OR WHATEVER.
>> YOU CAN REALLY WORK WITH THEM TO SAY, HEY, WE DON'T WANT TO SEE MULTIFAMILY COMPLEX OR SOMETHING.
WE WANT TO SEE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
IF YOU MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE PUT FORWARD, THEN WE'LL ALLOW YOU TO HAVE A SMALLER LOT SIZE OR SOMETHING.
I THINK IT'S A TRICKY QUESTION,
[04:15:02]
BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE REALLY NEED TO DIVE INTO.>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU TOM AND APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
THAT'S BEEN SO NICE OF YOU TO BE HERE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU.
TOM, AS YOU KNOW, WE'LL MAKE OUR SELECTIONS SEPTEMBER 19TH.
>> AWESOME. THANKS SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOUR STAND. ALL THE GOOD REST OF YOU DAY.
>> WE NEED TO TAKE TWO MINUTE BREAK.
>> I'M SORRY, A TWO MINUTE BREAK.
>> WE GOT ONE CANDIDATE, AND THAT'S IT.
>> I KNOW. BUT LATTER IS A COLLATERAL MIND.
>> WELL, WE DON'T HAVE A QUORUM, SO WE'RE DEAD ANYWAY RIGHT NOW.
>> AS FAR AS A WE WAITING THE BONUS ZONING PROGRAM [INAUDIBLE] AS WELL. IT'S REALLY INTERESTING.
>> THE PITFALL THERE IS WHAT THE STATE WILL ALLOW YOU TO DO ONCE THEY FIND OUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING?
>> THEY'RE SO HOSTILE TO LOCAL ZONING CONTROL.
BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF PLACES AROUND THE STATE THAT HAVE TRIED THIS.
WE'RE NOT OFFICIALLY IN SESSION.
I HAVE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WENT TO THE RESTROOM.
WE NEED TO GET THEM BACK FOR A QUORUM.
BUT WE'LL START HERE AND WE'RE NOT TELECASTING RIGHT NOW. ARE WE? VERY GOOD. WE HAVE A QUORUM NOW, SO WE'RE BACK IN SESSION. JANELL LOOK GOOD.
MR. LIGHTFOOT, IS OUR LAST INTERVIEW THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THIS DAY, JOHN.
WE GREATLY APPRECIATE WE'VE BEEN REMARKING WHAT QUALITY PEOPLE WE HAVE ON THESE COMMITTEES, AND I CAN INCLUDE YOU.
I THINK ALL THE COUNCIL INCLUDE YOU IN THAT LIST OF QUALITY INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE VOLUNTEERED YOUR TIME TO MAKE THIS COMMUNITY BETTER.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A COUPLE MINUTES, SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT, AND THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS, SIR.
>> GREAT. WELL, I RETIRED TO THE FAR WEST END OF GALVESTON ISLAND SIX YEARS AGO.
I SHOULD SAY SEMI RETIRED BECAUSE SINCE THEN, I HAVE BUILT TWO HOMES DOWN HERE, ONE FOR MYSELF AND ONE FOR MY SISTER.
THAT WAS A BEACH FRONT HOUSE JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
I LET HER HAVE THE BEACH FRONT AND I STAYED 100 FEET BACK.
BECAUSE OF THE LESSON THAT I LEARNED WHEN WE PURCHASED A HOME IN BERMUDA BEACH BACK IN 1999.
WE WERE FRONT ROW IN THE WATER, ACTUALLY.
I HAD TO PICK THE HOUSE UP AND MOVE IT BACK TO THE THIRD ROW.
THEN AFTER IC, WE WERE FRONT ROW AGAIN.
THIS TIME I STAYED BACK A LITTLE DISTANCE, BUT I'VE BEEN A REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER SINCE 1992.
I DEVELOPED ABOUT A DOZEN SUBDIVISIONS RANGING FROM SMALL AS 81.5 ACRE LOTS UP TO 224 LOTS.
MOSTLY CUSTOM HOME COMMUNITIES, A NICHE PRODUCT OF MINE WAS THE SMALLER GATED COMMUNITIES.
IN 2008, WHEN THE DEVELOPMENT LOANS PRETTY MUCH DRIED UP IN THE HOUSTON AREA, I PROGRESSED MORE INTO RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION, AND I BUILT ABOUT 250 HOMES.
MOSTLY CUSTOM HOMES. IN FACT, I HAVE ONE CUSTOM HOME GOING FOR A FORMER CLIENT WHO TALKED ME INTO TAKING THIS JOB UP IN THE WOODLANDS.
THE ONLY REASON I ACCEPTED THAT WAS BECAUSE HE'S IN COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION, SO WE WORKED OUT A DEAL WHERE HE'S GOING TO BE REALLY MY EYES ON THE SITE, SO I HAVE TO GO UP THERE EVERY DAY, BUT THAT'S A VERY LARGE $5.5 MILLION HOME.
I'M STILL I SAY SEMI RETIRED BECAUSE FOR THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITY,
[04:20:01]
I WOULD STILL PUT THE BOOTS ON AND GET BACK OUT THERE, BUT I HAVEN'T FOUND THAT IN THIS AREA YET.I BRING A LOT OF EXPERIENCE TO THE TABLE.
I LISTEN TO THE APPLICANTS WHO COME BEFORE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH.
I HOPE TO ADD SOME VALUE TO THE DISCUSSION IN THE COMMISSION AND MAYBE SHED SOME LIGHT ON SOME OF THE MORE DIFFICULT COMPLEX PROBLEMS THAT WE AND DECISIONS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE.
>> VERY GOOD. QUESTIONS, COUNCIL MEMBERS. DAVID.
>> JOHN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AS A FORMER COMMISSIONER.
I REALLY VALUE YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A DEVELOPER, WHETHER IT BE IN UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY OR HOPEFULLY, OPPORTUNITIES HERE IN OUR OWN BACKYARD.
YOU ARE CONSTANTLY FACED WITH A SET OF CRITERIA BY WHICH YOU CAN DEVELOP TO.
MY QUESTION RELATES TO THAT BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THE CURRENT FORM THAT WE HAVE IN ORDER TO OBTAIN VARIANCES IN ORDER TO MEET SOME CERTAIN ROI DEVELOPMENTS IS THE PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT.
I'M SURE THAT YOU HAVE SEEN OVER THE YEARS THE PROLIFERATION OF THOSE HERE IN GALVESTON.
THEN MY QUESTION IS THAT; IS THE PROCESS WORKING OR SHOULD WE BE MORE FORCEFUL IN ASKING FOR CONCESSIONS FOR COMMUNITY BENEFIT AS A RESULT OF ASKING THE DEVELOPER ASKING FOR VARIANCES?
>> WELL, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
I THINK IT'S A COMPLEX QUESTION AND ANSWER.
I'VE SEEN A NUMBER OF THOSE IN THE ONE YEAR THAT I'VE BEEN ON THE COMMISSION, AND I'VE BEEN GETTING MY FEET WET AND LEARNING HOW THINGS WORK, LISTENING TO THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS WHO HAD MORE TIME IN THAT POSITION.
BUT I HAVE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS POP INTO MY HEAD ABOUT, YOU HAVE A VERY COMPLETE SET OF REGULATIONS, THE LDR.
BUT THERE'S THIS ONE CHAPTER IN THERE THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE PUD.
IT APPEARS TO ME THAT YOU CAN TAKE A PUD AND DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING YOU WANT TO DO.
I MEAN, THAT'S A VERY DEVELOPER FRIENDLY SITUATION THAT ON THE OTHER SIDE, I WOULD LOVE THAT ALL DAY LONG.
BUT I'M LOOKING OUT, I'M TRYING TO ACHIEVE A BALANCE, BUT I'M LOOKING OUT FOR THE INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY IS MY NUMBER 1 OBJECTIVE.
THAT'S THE COMMUNITY, GALVESTON AS A WHOLE.
THEN SECOND TO THAT WOULD BE THE PEOPLE IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S BEING PROPOSED.
I LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, WELL, THEY'RE THEY'RE UNDOING EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN BEEN SET UP IN PLACE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S NECESSARILY A GOOD THING.
>> I'M NOT SURE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.
>> TO ADD ON TO HIS QUESTION, WHICH WOULD BE HIS QUESTION, BUT HE HAD AN EMERGENCY.
DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD REQUIRE MORE FOR WHEN A PUD IS REQUESTING WHETHER BE STREETS OR WHATNOT, MAKE THEM DO MORE FOR THE SURROUNDING AREA OR WHERE IT HAS TO DO WITH BEACHES AND SO FORTH?
>> I THINK DEFINITELY THERE COULD BE A NEGOTIATION THERE.
BUT I THINK FIRST, THE MAIN FACTOR IN MY DECISION IS, AGAIN, IS THIS REALLY GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY? IS IT GOING TO BE A GOOD PROJECT OR IS IT GOING TO BE A PROJECT THAT'S GOING TO CREATE MORE ISSUES? THE OBVIOUS ONES ARE THE ONES THAT WE SEE ON A REGULAR BASIS, THAT PARKING PROBLEMS, THE DENSITY IS NOT REALLY WHAT IT SHOULD BE FOR THAT AREA.
YOU HAD THE PARKING PROBLEMS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T PLAN IT PROPERLY.
THEY TRY TO MAXIMIZE A PROFIT.
LET'S SEE HOW MANY LOTS THAT WE CAN GET OUT OF THIS.
THAT'S JUST GOING TO BE HEADACHES FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY DOWN THE ROAD.
I MEAN POLICE GETS CALLED OUT ON A REGULAR BASIS WHEN THEY THEY HAVE SITUATIONS LIKE THAT.
BUT FAR AS THE ASPECT OF NEGOTIATING, ABSOLUTELY.
I MEAN, IF THE DEVELOPER IS SITTING OVER THERE TRYING TO MAXIMIZE HIS PROFIT, AND HE'S GETTING ALL THOSE EXCEPTIONS THAT HE'S REQUESTING, THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING IN RETURN.
I THINK WE POSSIBLY HAVE MISSED OPPORTUNITIES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
>> MY SECOND QUESTION WOULD BE, WHEN IT COMES TO THE URBAN CORE, WHERE THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE IS 2,500.
[04:25:04]
I KNOW WE ESPECIALLY HAVE SEEN SOME VERY ODD SUB DIVIDING OF LOTS BECAUSE OF THAT, AND WHERE NEITHER OF US HAVE A SAY IN IT BECAUSE OF STATE LAWS.WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON INCREASING THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE IN THE URBAN CORE?
>> I DON'T HAVE AN OVERALL OPINION ON THAT.
I MEAN, WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT IT ON AN INDIVIDUAL CASE BY CASE BASIS.
I THINK IN SOME SITUATIONS, IT WOULD BE OKAY IN OTHERS, POSSIBLY NOT.
YOU JUST HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES INVOLVED.
>> BECAUSE A LOT OF THE WORK THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION DOES HAS TO DO WITH BEACHFRONT DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION PERMITS AND THAT KIND OF THING.
THERE'S A LOT TO BE DONE THERE.
HOW COULD WE BE DOING MORE TO PROTECT THE ERODING PART OF THE ISLAND WEST END OF THE ISLAND TO MAKE IT MORE RESILIENT TO RISING SEA LEVEL EROSION AND EROSION WHILE ACCOMMODATING NEW DEVELOPMENT?
>> WELL, THAT'S ANOTHER TOUGH QUESTION.
I'VE SEEN SOME CASES COME THROUGH THAT, PERSONALLY HAD A REAL ISSUE WITH BECAUSE AT SOME POINT, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE THE REAL HARD DECISION AND TELL SOMEBODY THAT THEY CAN'T BUILD ON THEIR LOT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
I MEAN, AT THE RATE OF EROSION, AND THEY'RE RIGHT THERE ON THE EDGE.
IN FACT, THE EDGE ISN'T EVEN THERE.
THEY'VE GOT TO GO BACK AND PUT IT IN PLACE BEFORE THEY CAN BUILD.
THE REALITY IS THAT THAT HOUSE IS GOING TO BE UNDERMINED. WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY TAKE A MAJOR EVENT 4.5, 5 FOOT TIDE IS GOING TO UNDERMINE THAT HOUSE.
IT MAY STILL BE OKAY FROM PILINGS.
BUT HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU WANT TO KEEP COMING BACK, PUTTING THAT DIRT BACK IN PLACE? I MEAN, WE WE'RE KIDDING OURSELVES.
I JUST THINK THAT SOONER OR LATER, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DRAW THAT LINE IN THE SAND AND SAY, YOU CAN'T DO THIS IN THIS SITUATION AND PEOPLE THERE MAY BE AVENUES THAT THEY CAN TAKE TO TRY TO RECOUP THE LOSSES IF THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO DEVELOP THE LOTS, BUT IT'S A TOUGH CALL.
>> I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU AN EASY QUESTION, I HOPE.
QUESTION IS YOU'VE BEEN ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH HERE IN THE SAY NEXT TERM IF YOU'RE REAPPOINTED?
>> TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT THE PUD WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS ON MY MIND AND REALLY TRYING TO SEE, HOW THAT BENEFITS THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
IS THAT REALLY A GOOD VEHICLE? ARE WE HANDLING THAT THING IN THE RIGHT FASHION? THAT WAS ONE AREA.
THEN IN A LESSER SITUATION, THE LICENSE TO USE I'VE SEEN SOME STRANGE CASES COME THROUGH AND LICENSE TO USE WHERE A BUSINESS OWNER IS ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT TO EXPAND HIS BUSINESS LIKE SAY A RESTAURANT AND THEY CAN ACHIEVE OR THEY CAN CREATE OUTSIDE SEATING AREA, WHICH IS GOING TO MEAN MORE REVENUES FOR THEM, AND THEY PAY IT'S PER FOOT LIKE $10 PER FOOT, SO THEY'RE PAYING $50 A YEAR, AND YET THEY MAY BE GENERATING $5,000 MORE INCOME A WEEK.
YOU TAKE THAT AND COMPARE IT WITH A NEIGHBORHOOD WHO HAS AN ENTRY MONUMENT IN AN ESPLANADE AND BECAUSE OF THE LENGTH OF THE ESPLANADE, THEY'RE PAYING BY THE FOOT, THEY PAY 500 A YEAR.
THEY DON'T GET ANYTHING FOR THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE LICENSE TO USE IS REALLY WORKING THE WAY THAT IT SHOULD.
>> THOSE ARE TWO GOOD TOPICS, ESPECIALLY I LIKE THE PUD SITUATION IN THE LTU, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT.
IT'S A GOOD TWO GOOD AREAS TO LOOK AT.
>> THE SECOND PART TO HIS QUESTION, WHICH I THINK I FORGOT TO ASK THE OTHER PEOPLE IS ON THE PUD GOING BACK TO THE PUD.
WHEN WE'RE ASKING MORE OF DEVELOPERS, HIS THOUGHT, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON IN EXCHANGE THEM MAKING A FINANCIAL COMMITMENT TO THE IDC, WHICH THOSE SILOS ARE PROTECTED FOR THE FOUR AREAS THAT THEY'RE DEDICATED.
[04:30:01]
>> I THINK, ANYTHING SHOULD BE ON THE TABLE FOR NEGOTIATION.
I MEAN, THAT BOILS DOWN TO PRETTY MUCH THE ECONOMICS OF THE DEAL.
IF IT'S SUFFICIENTLY BENEFICIAL TO HIM, THEN THERE SHOULD BE A TRADE OFF WHERE THE CITY CAN GET SOMETHING IN RETURN.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR PATIENCE TODAY.
WE'LL MAKE OUR APPOINTMENTS ON SEPTEMBER 19TH.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TODAY ON THIS, SIR.
>> FOR THE RECORD, FOR THOSE THAT MAY BE HANGING IN THERE TO WATCH THIS MEETING IN THE COMMUNITY, WE HAVE GONE THROUGH ALL OF THE ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA.
THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY, WE WILL SEE OUR SMILING FACES ON SEPTEMBER 19TH.
WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.