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GLAD TO HAVE EVERYBODY HERE TODAY.
[1. DECLARATION OF A QUORUM AND CALL MEETING TO ORDER]
I'M GOING TO OFFICIALLY CALL THE WORKSHOP MEETING FOR THE CITY COUNCIL FOR CITY OF GALVESTON TO ORDER FOR OCTOBER 10TH.WE'RE VERY HONORED TO HAVE OUR PARK BOARD OF TRUSTEES WITH US, AND I'LL OPEN OUR MEETING AND THEN OUR CHAIRMAN JASON HARDCASTLE FOR THE PARK BOARD WILL OPEN THEIR MEETING.
JUST A COUPLE OF HOUSEKEEPING CHORES.
IF YOU BE SURE WHEN WE SPEAK, MAKE SURE ALL YOUR MICROPHONES ARE ON.
IF YOU'RE COMING FROM THE AUDIENCE AND YOU WILL BE SPEAKING, WE HAVE A HANDHELD MIC THAT JANELLE WILL HAVE FOR YOU.
WE ARE GETTING READY TO CHANGE OUT OUR ENTIRE AUDIO SYSTEM IN THIS ROOM.
FOR OUR DECEMBER MEETING, WE'LL HAVE A BRAND NEW AUDIO SYSTEM THAT WILL BE PICKING UP EVERYTHING.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE THAT MAY BE HERE AND WATCHING IN THE COMMUNITY CAN HEAR WHAT WE'RE DOING.
I WANT TO WELCOME THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT ARE IN THE COMMUNITY THIS MORNING THAT MIGHT BE WATCHING THIS MEETING.
WE DO HAVE A QUORUM OF OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
>> WE HAVE ALL OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT THIS MORNING.
GOOD. JASON, I'M GOING TO LET YOU GO RIGHT AHEAD, SIR.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR.
I WOULD LIKE TO AT NINE O'CLOCK CALL OUR PARK BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF CITY OF GALVESTON MEETING TO ORDER, AND WE'RE READY FOR A ROLL CALL.
>> SARA GODWIN WILL NOT BE HERE. BOB BROWN?
>> ROBERT QUINTERO WILL NOT BE. BARRY WILLEY?
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO, IF IT MET EVERYONE'S APPROVAL, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH ITEM 3A.
[3.A. City Council/Park Board Of Trustees Joint Meeting (City Council/Park Board Of Trustees And Related Staff - 1 1/2 Hours)]
WE HAVE A DUAL WORKSHOP THIS MORNING.WE'LL BE WORKING WITH ITEM 3A VISITING WITH THE PARK BOARD THIS MORNING, AND THEN AS WE MOVE TO 3B AND 3C, WE'LL BE JUST WITH THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE AND WE'LL TAKE A BREAK OF COURSE AFTER 3A.
ALSO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO BECAUSE THESE SUBJECTS SOMETIMES WITH THE DISCUSSION THIS MORNING MAY OVERLAP WITH EACH OTHER, SO, JANELLE, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, LET'S READ ITEM 3A ALL THE WAY THROUGH 1-4, PLEASE.
>> 3A, CITY COUNCIL PARK BOARD OF TRUSTEES JOINT MEETING.
ONE, DISCUSSION OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE PARK BOARD, ROLES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND AUTHORITY.
TWO, DISCUSSION OF THE STATUS OF THE STEWART BEACH PAVILION AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO A MASTER PLAN FOR THE BEACH PARK.
THREE, DISCUSSION OF A CONSULTANT EMPLOYED BY THE CITY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MASTER PLAN FOR STEWART BEACH PARK.
FOUR, DISCUSSION OF THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF SEAWOLF PARK AND ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> VERY GOOD. TO KICK THESE SUBJECTS OFF, WE'LL START WITH NUMBER 1, AND I'M GOING TO ASK FOR OUR LIAISON FROM COUNCIL TO THE PARK BOARD TO INTRODUCE THIS SUBJECT. COUNCILMAN BROWN.
>> THANKS, MAYOR. I THINK EVERYBODY HAS RECEIVED A LABELED ATTACHMENT A THAT GOES THROUGH AN OUTLINE OF ROLES OF BOTH THE PARK BOARD AND THE CITY COUNCIL THAT DAN DRAFTED FOR US.
BUT I'M NOT GOING TO ADDRESS THAT RIGHT NOW.
I'M JUST GOING TO JUST AT A HIGHER LEVEL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY WE'RE HERE.
SINCE SERVING ON THE PARK BOARD, I'VE LEARNED THAT THERE'S BEEN A HISTORY OF A LACK OF TRUST BETWEEN THE PARK BOARD AND THE CITY, SOMETIMES ENGENDERING CONFUSION, DISTRACTION FROM THE MISSION, RESULTING IN A LESS THAN OPTIMAL WORKING RELATIONSHIP, BUT NEW LEADERSHIP AT THE PARK BOARD AND THE CITY COUNCIL HAS DEMONSTRATED A DESIRE TO CORRECT THIS AND OUR OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO IS NOW.
WE ALL HAVE THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CITY AT HEART, AND WE NEED TO CREATE A SETTING WHERE WE CAN FOCUS ON THAT.
THIS AGENDA ITEM IS MEANT TO REVIEW HOW WE CAN IMPROVE COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE PARK BOARD TO BETTER SERVE OUR RESIDENTS, AND WE START BY ESTABLISHING A SHARED UNDERSTANDING OF OPERATIONAL ROLES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND AUTHORITY AND RESTORE TRUST BETWEEN THE PARK BOARD AND THE CITY COUNCIL.
TO BE CLEAR, AND DAN CAN HELP ME ON THIS THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL STATUTORY DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE A ROLE IN ESTABLISHING AND GUIDING THIS RELATIONSHIP LIKE THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 306,
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CITY CODE, ANNUAL HOT AGREEMENT, OR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX AGREEMENT, THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, TAX CODE TITLE III, NATURAL RESOURCES CODE, AND OF COURSE, THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.TO PROVIDE A STARTING POINT FOR THIS DISCUSSION, JUST THINK AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF OUR RELATIONSHIP AS THAT OF ONE BETWEEN A BUSINESS OWNER WHO NEEDS ASSISTANCE MANAGING HIS PROPERTY AND A CONTRACTOR HIRED TO DO SO.
THE CITY OWNS PROPERTY THAT IT MUST MANAGE, BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO SO AND CONTRACT THIS WORK OUT.
IN THIS CASE, TO THE PARK BOARD.
BUT IN THIS RELATIONSHIP, THE PARK BOARD OPERATES MUCH LIKE A NON-PROFIT.
THAT IS THE CITY PAYS THE PARK BOARD COST TO MANAGE THESE PROPERTIES, AND ANY PROFIT REALIZED GOES BACK TO THE CITY OR IS REINVESTED IN CITY FACILITIES MANAGED BY THE PARK BOARD.
LIKE ANY BUSINESS, YOU HAVE TO RESPOND TO THE MARKET.
YOU NEED TO ADAPT, INNOVATE, AND THE PARK BOARD DOES THIS AS PART OF THEIR SCOPE OF WORK.
WHEN THE PARK BOARD PROPOSES AN INVESTMENT IN A PROGRAM OR A CAPITAL PROJECT, THEY BRING IT TO THE CITY FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL.
THAT'S JUST A VERY HIGH LEVEL NUTSHELL WAY OF BEGINNING THE CONVERSATION.
FROM THERE WE CAN ASK FOR MORE COMMENTS IN DETAIL AND WHERE WE WANT TO GO.
>> YOU HAD REFERENCED THE DOCUMENT FROM DAN?
>> THAT'S FINE AS LONG AS SOMEBODY'S GOT A COPY.
>> JANELLE, COULD WE GET A HARD COPY THIS MORNING FOR THAT?
>> IF SOMEONE CAN SEND IT TO ME, I CAN MAKE SOME COPIES.
>> I THINK I'VE JUST SENT IT. LET ME CHECK IT.
>> SORRY. I THOUGHT YOU ALL HAVE THAT.
>> BOB, CAN YOU GIVE JANELLE YOUR HARD COPY ON THAT, PLEASE.
>> IF WE COULD GET THAT AND DISTRIBUTE IT HERE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO THE PEOPLE AT THE TABLE HERE.
LET'S OPEN THAT UP TO DISCUSSION, JASON, AND YOU'RE THE TRUSTEES.
ANY QUESTIONS ON HOW YOU WANT FOR?
>> SURE. I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT DISTRIBUTING THAT.
I KNOW THAT BOB SEND IT TO ME, BRYSON AND KIMBERLY AND EVERYTHING.
LOOKING AT THE ROLES OF COUNCIL AND THE ROLES OF TRUSTEES, WHICH WILL BE IN FRONT OF US SHORTLY HERE, I THINK THAT IT'S A GREAT START IN A LOT OF AGREEABLE BULLET POINTS ON HERE.
THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I THINK ALSO COULD BE ADDED STARTING WITH THE ROLES OF COUNCIL.
I DO THINK THAT COUNCIL IS THE BEST REPRESENTATION OF THE COMMUNITY AS THE ELECTED INDIVIDUALS.
I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE COMMUNITY'S VOICE WHEN IT COMES TO SAND PLACEMENT.
I DO WANT IT TO ULTIMATELY BE CLEAR THAT IT IS COUNCIL'S DIRECTION ON WHERE THE SAND PLACEMENT GOES FOR OUR BEACH MAINTENANCE AND NOURISHMENT ACTIVITIES AS WELL.
I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AS WELL AS A ROLE OF COUNCIL TO DETERMINE THE BEST SPOTS FOR THE SAND THAT WE DO HAVE FOR NOURISHMENT AND EXERCISES, AND THEN THE PARK BOARD DELIVER ON THOSE DIRECTIVES FROM COUNCIL AS WELL.
ANOTHER THING THAT I THINK THAT IN THE MATTER OF EFFICIENCY, I KNOW THAT SHORT TERM RENTALS, THERE'S AD HOC COMMITTEE IN EVERYTHING WHEN IT COMES TO FEES, REGISTRATION, AND ENFORCEMENT.
I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR COUNCIL TO DECIDE THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY TO DELIVER THOSE SERVICES.
TO ME, SINCE THE ENFORCEMENT ARM OF SHORT TERM RENTALS IS HERE AT CITY HALL, IT WOULD PROBABLY MAKE SENSE FOR REGISTRATION AND FEE COLLECTION TO ALSO BE ONE OF THE ROLES OF COUNCIL WHEN IT COMES THROUGH THEIR CITY STAFF.
OF COURSE, I DON'T EXPECT YOU GUYS TO GO OUT AND DO THAT, BUT TO MAYBE LOOK AT THAT AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE OPERATING AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE WHEN IT RELATES TO SHORT TERM RENTALS TOO.
BECAUSE I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN CONFUSION WITH THE COMMUNICATION GOING BACK AND FORTH AS WELL.
NUMBER 4 AND NUMBER 5 DO HAVE A REFERENCE TO CITY CODE, AND SOMETIMES CITY CODES TURN INTO RESOLUTIONS, TURN INTO ORDINANCES, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I WOULD PREFER TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP THAT IS NEGOTIATED BETWEEN THE TWO BODIES THAT IS DETERMINED BY A CONTRACT AS VALIDATED BY THE AG OPINION AS WELL.
I WOULD LIKE FOR THE ROLES TO ULTIMATELY BE CEMENTED IN A CONTRACTUAL NEGOTIATION, CEMENTING THAT CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CITY COUNCIL AND THE PARK BOARD AS WELL.
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THAT'S SOMETHING THAT GIVES ME A LITTLE BIT A PAUSE READING IN THERE BECAUSE IF THERE IS AN INSTANCE, AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT I FORESEE THIS HAPPENING, ESPECIALLY WITH THESE TWO GROUPS.BUT IF THERE IS AN INSTANCE WHERE WE ARE BEING ASKED BY CITY HALL TO DO SOMETHING THAT WE DO NOT BELIEVE IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PARK BOARD, THAT WE AREN'T COMPELLED TO DO IT BASED ON AN ORDINANCE THAT IS WRITTEN OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I THINK YOU'RE ALSO REFERRING TO THE HOT CONTRACT AND THE INTERLOCAL CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE.
>> I WOULD LIKE FOR THOSE TO BE THE MAIN GUIDING DOCUMENTS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO BODIES.
>> CAN YOU GIVE A REFERENCE BECAUSE I'M IN MY HEAD TRYING TO THINK OF WHAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO. GIVE IT AN EXAMPLE.
>> A RESOLUTION OR ORDINANCE THAT COMPELLED US TO DO SOMETHING THAT WE DID NOT NECESSARILY WANT TO DO, I THINK WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PARK BOARD?
>> LIKE WHAT? YOU MUST HAVE THOUGHT OF AN EXAMPLE.
>> SURE. TRANSFERRING $14 MILLION OF HOT OUT OF PARK BOARD ACCOUNTS TO CITY ACCOUNTS.
THEN FOR THE ROLE OF TRUSTEES, I THINK THAT THESE ALL LOOK GOOD.
I DO WOULD LIKE TO ADD IN THERE A COUPLE OF THINGS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT BE THE ROLE OF THE TRUSTEES AND OUR STAFF TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN THE BEACHES.
ALSO TO KEEP THE BEACHES SAFE THROUGH BEACH PATROL.
THEN ALSO THE COLLECTION OF HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.
I DO BELIEVE THAT WITH OUR ORGANIZATION, THAT IS WHERE THE EXPERTISE LIES.
I DO THINK THAT WE ARE THE PREFERENCE OF THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX COLLECTION AGENCY FROM OUR HOTELIER SHORT TERM RENTALS AND BED AND BREAKFAST.
ALSO IT SERVES TO BE THE LIFEBLOOD OF OUR ORGANIZATION, OUR MAIN SOURCE OF REVENUE, THEREFORE, WE ARE INCENTIVIZED TO DO THE BEST POSSIBLE JOB THAT WE CAN IN ORDER TO COLLECT HOT.
ALSO FROM A HISTORICAL NOTE THAT THERE WAS A HISTORY OF THAT RESPONSIBILITY BEING PASSED TO THE PARK BOARD BECAUSE IT WAS SEEN TO BE THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY TO DO SO.
>> VERY GOOD. I'VE MADE NOTES OF THOSE.
>> WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE POINTS AND I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, JASON.
SOME OF THESE POINTS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AS AN ANNUAL PROCESS LEADING UP TO THE BUDGET WHERE WE NEGOTIATE THE HOT CONTRACT AND THE INTERLOCAL CONTRACT BY, I THINK, MARCH WE SAID EARLIER.
THEN WE HAVE A MEETING LIKE THIS THAT FOCUSES ON ALL OF OUR GOALS, AND THEN WE BEGIN FORMULATING OUR BUDGET.
BY THE TIME WE GET TO OUR BUDGET, WE'VE ALREADY DONE ALL OF THE BACKGROUND WORK TO ALLOW THIS TO.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE HAVE ALL A COMMON UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE WE STAND WITH OUR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO THROUGH THE CONTRACT, AND WE'VE ALREADY GONE THROUGH WHAT OUR GOALS FOR THE YEAR ARE, THEN THAT MAKES DOING OUR BUDGET LESS STRESSFUL, I THINK.
>> I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THE TOPIC, JASON, THAT YOU BROUGHT UP ABOUT THE DEPOSIT OF FUNDS HERE AT THE CITY.
I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE AREAS THAT I THINK YOU'RE MENTIONING THAT POSSIBLY THE PARK BOARD OR YOUR ATTORNEYS HAD A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION ON ON THE DEPOSITS OF THESE FUNDS.
THANK YOU. FROM THE CITY'S STANDPOINT, I'M GOING TO MENTION WHAT AT THE TIME COUNCIL'S FEELING WAS AND WHAT MY FEELINGS ARE AT THIS POINT IS THAT THE HOT TAX IS A CITY TAX.
THE CITY HAS, AND GUIDE ME ON THIS, I'M ANXIOUS TO GET INPUT, IS A [NOISE] CITY TAX LEVIED BY THE CITY.
THE STATE LEGISLATURE GIVES US THE ABILITY TO LEVY THAT TAX ON SHORT TERM RENTALS AND HOTELS AND SO FORTH.
BECAUSE OF THAT, BEING A CITY-ORIENTED TAX, BEING THE HOT TAX, THAT HOT TAX IS DISTRIBUTED TO THE PARK BOARD BASED ON THE CITY CHARTER AND SOME DETAILS IN THE LEGISLATION THAT ESTABLISHED THE PARK BOARD.
BUT BEING A CITY-ORIENTED TAX, EXCESS FUNDS WERE TO BE DEPOSITED WITH THE CITY.
LET'S OPEN THAT DISCUSSION UP.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT I KNOW YOU DISCUSSED THAT A LOT AT ON YOUR END?
>> SURE. THE ONLY REASON THAT I DID BRING THAT UP IS BECAUSE I WAS ASKED FOR A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE.
OUR LEGAL COUNSEL'S INTERPRETATION WAS THAT THESE TAX DOLLARS COULD BE HELD IN ANY ACCOUNT DESIGNATED BY THE CITY.
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IF THE CITY AGREED TO DESIGNATE OUR ACCOUNTS AS AN APPROPRIATE ACCOUNT IN A CONTRACT NEGOTIATION, OF COURSE, THEN THOSE WOULD BE FINE TO HOLD IN THOSE ACCOUNTS.SO FAR THIS SEEMS TO BE OPERATING IN MY OPINION, NOT AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE, BUT WE CAN LIVE WITH IT.
IT'S A VIABLE OPTION FOR US AT THIS TIME, BUT THAT WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING THAT I FELT LIKE THAT WE WERE COMPELLED TO DO BY ORDINANCE THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE OTHERWISE AGREED TO DO.
>> I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU PERSONALLY THAT WE COULD THROUGH [NOISE] ACTUAL AGREEMENT, HAVE THAT DEPOSITED AT THE PARK BOARD, BUT COUNCIL I KNOW FELT, AND I STILL DO THAT THOSE MONIES NEED TO BE DEPOSITED WITH THE ENTITY THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE FUNDS.
BUT ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT? YES.
>> WELL, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE FUNDS SITTING AT THE CITY.
I UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN, BUT THEN I ALSO HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS OF ALL THE CITIZENS IN GALVESTON.
OUR CITIZENS FEEL THAT THEY BEAR THE BURDEN OF TOURISM.
>> TYPICALLY, ANNUALLY, WHAT HAPPENS IS WE RECEIVE A BUDGET, YOU UTILIZE EVERY BIT OF HOT TAX.
A NUMBER OF THOSE FACILITIES ARE CITY FACILITIES.
I THINK, AND YOU WERE GREAT IN WHAT YOU DID LET THIS YEAR WITH SHORT NOTICE, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO BE MORE CREATIVE ON HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO USE HOT TAX TO TAKE THE BURDEN OFF OUR CITIZENS.
SO MANY SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE CLOSED, HEARD OF TWO NEW ONES JUST THIS WEEK, TORTUGA AND A BARBECUE PLACE.
OUR CITIZENS FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING PUSHED OFF THE ISLAND.
ONE, THAT I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THE HOT TAX CITY AT THE CITY BECAUSE IT IS A CITY TAX.
BUT TWO, I THINK THE COUNCIL AND THE PARK BOARD SHOULD BE WORKING TOGETHER TO SEE HOW WE CAN RELIEVE MORE OF THE BURDEN OFF OUR CITIZENS BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE RELATIONSHIP, THE CITY COUNCIL APPOINTS THE PARK BOARD TRUSTEES, THE TRUSTEES OVERSEE THEIR MANAGEMENT.
TO ME, THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE WORKING TOGETHER WITH PARK BOARD, NOT NECESSARILY MANAGEMENT WORKING TO NEGOTIATE SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN ADVERSARIAL ON BOTH SIDES IN THE PAST.
I DON'T THINK WE CAN BLAME EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST ON THE CITY BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE WERE OTHER FACTORS THAT WERE INVOLVED IN IT.
BUT I JUST THINK WE NEED TO SPEND MORE TIME FOCUSING ON WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR CITIZENS AS WELL AS THE WHOLE PROCESS.
>> CHAIRMAN HARDCASTLE, ON THE SUBJECT OF COLLECTION OF HOT, YOU STATED VERY CLEARLY THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY AND FOR THE PARK BOARD TO KEEP THE COLLECTION OF HOT AT THE PARK BOARD, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY ABOUT, BECAUSE YOU MADE MENTION OF THE FACT THAT LONG, LONG TIME AGO, WHATEVER, CITY GAVE THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PARK BOARD? CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE HISTORY AND AS A RECENT HISTORY, MAYBE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, ABOUT DEMONSTRATING WHY THAT'S THE BEST SOLUTION IN TERMS OF EITHER EFFICIENCIES OR COLLECTIONS, ETC.?
>> CORRECT. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, OF COURSE, THIS IS WAY BEFORE I WAS INVOLVED WITH ANY OF THIS, I BELIEVE, 10 YEARS APPROXIMATELY OR SO AGO.
IT WAS DETERMINED BY THE CITY STAFFS AND THE PARK BOARD STAFFS THAT IT WOULD BE BEST FOR WHEN THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX WAS HELD IN ACCOUNTS FOR THE PARK BOARD, THAT IT WOULD BE BEST IF THE PARK BOARD COLLECTED THAT AND THEN GAVE THE ALLOCATION TO THE CITY AND THEN THERE WAS JUST ONE TRANSFER RATHER THAN TRANSFERRING BACK AND FORTH, AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.
THE REASON I STILL THINK IT IS THE BEST, IS ONE,
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IS BECAUSE WE'RE INCENTIVIZED TO DO IT AS BEST AS WE POSSIBLY CAN BECAUSE THIS IS OUR LIFEBLOOD REVENUE AT THE PARK BOARD.NUMBER 2, BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM THE HOSPITALITY SECTOR, AND IT'S NOT 100% UNANIMOUS, BUT THAT BY AND LARGE, THE CONSENSUS IN SUPERMAJORITY PREFER TO WORK WITH US COLLECTING HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.
>> A FOLLOW-UP, SORRY. [INAUDIBLE].
>> AS A FOLLOW-UP TO THAT, THE COLLECTION IS DONE AT THE PARK BOARD, AND THEN THOSE FUNDS ARE TRANSFERRED TO THE CITY, AND THEN WE, AS THE CITY COUNCIL, HAVE BEEN APPROVING A QUARTERLY DISTRIBUTION BACK TO THE PARK BOARD BASED UPON YOUR APPROVED BUDGET, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> WELL, AS A COUPLE OF COMMENTS, I, FIRST OFF, TO WANT TO NOTE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE FOLKS AT THIS TABLE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS RELATIONSHIP FOR 18 MONTHS OR LESS.
YOU'VE GOT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND EXCEPT FOR JASON, I THINK ALL OF US WERE APPOINTED EITHER IN JUNE OF LAST YEAR OR JUNE OF THIS YEAR.
SO I FEEL AND I HOPE THAT YOU AGREE THAT THE RELATIONSHIP IS A PRETTY STRONG ONE, IN WHAT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH NOW IS OVERCOMING THE OBSTACLES THAT ARE THERE AND IMPROVING ON THE PROCESSES AS OPPOSED TO THE RELATIONSHIP.
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ANY THOUGHTS THAT WOULD MAKE THE RELATIONSHIP BETTER OR THE PROCESS BETTER.
IN TERMS OF THE HOT TAX, AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO SPEAK IN GENERAL TERMS BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE THE NOTES TO KNOW THIS WAS GOING TO BE ON THE TOPIC.
HOT TAXES ARE COLLECTED BY THE PARK BOARD AND REMITTED TO THE CITY.
THE PARK BOARD OPERATES OFF OF A BUDGET APPROVED ANNUALLY WITH REGARD TO THE AMOUNT OF HOT TAX REVENUE THAT'S GOING TO BE RECEIVED.
THAT MONEY IS TRANSFERRED OVER.
THEN QUARTERLY, IT'S TRANSFERRED BACK.
THAT, IN SOME WAYS, PRESENTS A CHALLENGE JUST FOR THE NUMBER OF TRANSFERS.
I THINK ALMOST ANY FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THE FEWER TIMES YOU MOVE MONEY AROUND, THE MORE EFFICIENT IT IS AND THE LESS EXPENSIVE TO THE PROCESS.
IN MY VIEW, IT MIGHT BE A BETTER WAY TO MOVE THAT HOT TAX WHICH GOES TO THE CITY OVER TO THE CITY, LEAVE THE HOT TAX THAT'S BUDGETED FOR THE PARK BOARD, AND THEN MAKE THAT ADJUSTMENT.
WE HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS SETTING UP MEASURES FOR THAT BECAUSE OF THE WAY HOT TAX IS COLLECTED.
OUR FISCAL YEAR STARTS AFTER THE TOUR SEASON IS ENDED, AND SO HOT TAX REVENUES ARE GOING TO COME IN AT A SLOWER RATE.
THE PARK BOARD'S BUDGET IN A NUMBER OF CASES DEPENDS ON USING THOSE REVENUES BEFORE THEY'RE RECEIVED.
TO ME, IT MAKES SENSE TO COLLECT THE HOT TAX, DISTRIBUTE THE CITY'S PORTION TO THE CITY, LEAVE THE AMOUNT THAT'S BUDGETED TO THE PARK BOARD AT THE PARK BOARD, AND THEN AS YOU GET THROUGH THE YEAR, VIEW IT, AND IF NECESSARY, MAKE TRANSFERS BACK TO THE CITY.
I DON'T THINK IT WOULD EVER BE NECESSARY TO TRANSFER ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO THE PARK BOARD BECAUSE WITH THIS GROUP OF TRUSTEES, FRANKLY, WE'RE GOING TO MEET OUR BUDGET.
I THINK YOU'LL SEE THE HEADS NODDING AROUND THE TABLE THAT THAT'S THE CASE.
TO CUT DOWN ON THE INTER-AGENCY, IF YOU WILL, TRANSFERS, TO ALLOW MORE EFFICIENCY TO HELP THE STAFF IN TERMS OF THAT, MAKE THE REPORTS, WHATEVER FREQUENCY COUNCIL FEELS THEY'RE NEEDED, MAKE THE TRANSFER OF THE HOT TAX AS IT'S COLLECTED.
IF THE DISTRIBUTION IS 90-10, EVERY MONTH WHEN HOT TAX IS COLLECTED, DISTRIBUTE THE 10% TO THE CITY, KEEP THE 90.
THAT WAS A BAD NUMBER TO USE BECAUSE THAT 90-10 RELATES TO SOMETHING ELSE.
LET'S SAY 75-25 SO THAT WE DON'T CONFUSE THE NUMBERS.
IF IT'S 75% FOR THE PARK BOARD, LEAVE 75% WITH THE PARK BOARD,
[00:25:03]
AND TRANSFER 25% TO THE CITY.THEN IF THERE'S ALLOCATIONS WHERE THE CITY FEELS THAT THEIR PORTION OF THE HOT TAX CAN BE BETTER USED, TRANSFER THAT MONEY BACK.
BUT THIS WILL MINIMIZE THE TRANSFERS, IT'LL MINIMIZE THE LOAD ON BOTH STAFFS, AND ALLOW PARK BOARD TO MANAGE THEIR CASH MORE EFFICIENTLY BY HAVING IT WHEN IT'S NEEDED, RATHER THAN HAVING TO MANAGE RESERVES AND ANTICIPATE THAT NEED AHEAD OF TIME.
>> AS OPPOSED TO THE QUARTERLY PAYMENTS.
>> I WOULD LEAVE IT UP TO THE CITY AS TO HOW FREQUENTLY WE TRANSFER IT.
BUT THE TRANSFER BE MADE IN AMOUNTS EQUAL TO THE SPLIT, BOB. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?
>> IT DOES, TO ME, WE HAVE COUNCILWOMAN ROBB AND RAWLINS, BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, WE HAVE [INAUDIBLE].
IS [INAUDIBLE] IN THE AUDIENCE OUT THERE?
>> WELL, DAN, YOU CAN PROBABLY ANSWER THIS QUESTION FOR ME.
COULD YOU COME UP AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF, PLEASE?
>> WE'LL GET YOU A DAM BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT PICKING UP YOUR SOUND IF YOU STAND THERE, SO THERE WE GO.
>> [OVERLAPPING] NEVER MESS WITH THE GUY WITH THE MICROPHONE.
>> I'VE HEARS A LOT OF PEOPLE CALL YOU A LOT OF NAMES, SO CAN YOU CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOUR? [LAUGHTER]
>> WELL, JUST ENGLISH OR THE MULTIPLE LANGUAGES.
DAN BUCKLEY, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.
>> THANK YOU. WE MAKE INTEREST ON THE MONEY, CORRECT?
>> THAT MONEY CAN BE USED FOR?
>> WE HAVE HOT-RELATED ITEMS. TO ME, THAT'S A GOOD REASON TO KEEP IT.
I KNOW WHEN THE MONEY WAS INITIALLY TRANSFERRED OVER ALL DIFFERENT PEOPLE, THE PARK BOARD WAS NOT MAKING OR THEY WERE MAKING MINIMAL INTEREST ON THAT MONEY.
NOW WE HAVE TROLLEYS THAT ARE PAID FOR OUT OF [INAUDIBLE], WE HAVE OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT, AND THAT'S WHY, TO ME, IT MAKES SENSE TO KEEP IT AT THE CITY.
>> WE HAVE BEAU AND THEN DAVID.
>> MR. JASON YOU PUT ALL THE PRESSURE ON YOURSELF BY NOT SHARING THIS, YOU REALIZE THAT, RIGHT?
>> NO, I'M JUST SAYING, NOW IT'S COMING ALL ON YOU.
GOING WITH WHAT BILL SAID AND ASSOCIATED WITH WHAT YOU'VE SAID, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SAID AS FAR AS MAYBE EVOLVING INTO HAVING OVERSIGHT INSTEAD OF THE CITY HAVING OVERSIGHT [INAUDIBLE] COMPLIANCE OR OVERSIGHT OF THE COLLECTIONS AND FEES WHEN THEY DON'T PAY.
>> CAN IT BE MORE SHORT-TERM RENTAL?
>> YES. FOR THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL FEE COLLECTION REGISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT SINCE THAT'S ALL UNDER THIS ROOF, THE ENFORCEMENT ARM IS, I THINK IT MAKES SENSE FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED TO MOVE IT OVER HERE AND TO TURN THAT OVER TO THE CITY.
THEN THAT WOULD LEAVE THE COMPLIANCE AND EVERYTHING UNDERNEATH THIS UMBRELLA AS WELL.
>> WOULD THAT BE A TRANSFER OF STAFF OR WOULD YOU HAVE TO BASICALLY CREATE A WHOLE WING, I GUESS, YOU'D SAY OF THAT?
>> THE CITY WOULD HAVE CREATED IT.
>> WELL, I'M SAYING YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TRANSFERRING IT UNDER THE PARKS BOARD GUYS, RIGHT?
>> I WOULD ALLOW THE TWO STAFFS TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO.
>> I KNOW WHERE IT IS NOW, BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO PUT IT TOGETHER OF WHERE YOU'D LIKE TO SEE SOME OF THE THINGS TRANSFERRED TO YOU-ALL'S RESPONSIBILITY, WHICH WOULD LEAD TO ASSOCIATE WHAT BILL WAS TALKING ABOUT, LESS TRANSFERS OF FUNDS AND EXPENSES.
>> WITH HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, I AM A FIRM BELIEVER IN WHAT BILL SAID TO, AS IN THE MINIMAL AMOUNT OF TRANSFERS YOU HAVE BACK AND FORTH TO SOMEONE IN THE FINANCIAL SECTOR, THE BETTER IT IS.
>> I AGREE. I GUESS THAT'S WHERE, SINCE WE'RE OPENING THIS UP, MAYBE GETTING IN SPECIFIC AS TO WHAT EXACT AREAS YOU ALL WOULD PROPOSE TO HAVE OVERSIGHT OVER THAT ARE CURRENTLY WITH US?
[00:30:02]
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE HOT TAX THAT'S COLLECTED FROM THAT? YOUR OPINION IS THAT IT SHOULD STAY WITH THE PARK BOARD, BUT THE STR REGISTRATION COLLECTION GOES TO THE CITY?>> THAT'S WHY I WAS CONFUSED ABOUT THAT TOO.
>> WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS REGISTRATION FEE MONEY AND THEN HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.
DAN IS GOING TO MAKE A PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL HERE THIS MORNING ON HIS SUGGESTIONS FOR THE REGISTRATION FEE.
WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT A LITTLE MORE THOROUGHLY.
>> YES. I JUST WANT TO MAKE A POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
PRIOR TO THAT MONEY BEING TRANSFERRED, IT WASN'T CURRENT INTEREST AT THE PARK BOARD.
>> WHAT COUNCILWOMAN ROBB SAID IS CORRECT, IT WAS MINIMAL INTEREST, AND THE REASON WAS IS BECAUSE WE WANTED TO MAINTAIN LIQUIDITY SO THAT WE COULD TRANSFER THAT OVER DUE TO THE PUBLIC DEBATE THAT WAS OCCURRING ON WHERE THOSE FUNDS SHOULD BE HELD.
THEN THE INTEREST RATE ENVIRONMENT AT THAT TIME WAS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN WHAT IT WAS AFTER IT TRANSFERRED OVER TO THE CITY.
I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT THE CITY WAS ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE HIGHER INTEREST RATE ENVIRONMENT, BUT THAT INTEREST RATE ENVIRONMENT SIMPLY DID NOT EXIST WHEN IT WAS HELD AT THE PARK BOARD.
>> YOU JUST ANSWERED ONE QUESTION THAT I WAS GOING TO ASK MR. BUCKLEY ON THAT RELATED TO INTEREST.
THAT WAS THE WHOLE PREMISE BEHIND THE CITY REQUESTING THOSE FUNDS BACK.
BUT I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE QUESTION IN A MATTER OF EFFICIENCY TO MR. CLEMENT'S POINT, ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT THAT PROCESS CHANGE?
>> AS IT RELATES TO HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, I WOULD LIKE TO RETURN TO THE WAY IT WAS.
NOW, THAT IS MY PERSONAL OPINION.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE OTHER TRUSTEES THINK.
I REALIZE I'M ONLY ONE OF NINE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE FEWER TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN THE ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE THE MORE TRANSACTIONS YOU HAVE, THE HARDER IT IS TO KEEP TRACK OF RESTRICTED FUNDS.
>> THOSE ADDITIONAL TRANSACTIONS ARE A RESULT OF THE CURRENT PROCESS, IS THAT CORRECT?
FIRST OFF, JUST AS A NOTE, I'M TAKING MOST OF MY COMMENTS FROM THE TRUE EXPERT IN THE ROOM BACK THERE, BRYSON.
HE HASN'T WAIVED ANY WHITE FLAGS YET, SO I'M SURE I'M NOT TOO FAR OF BASE.
MY GUESS IS THAT WITH THE CHANGE IN THE INTEREST RATE ENVIRONMENT, IT'S POSSIBLE FOR EITHER GROUP TO EARN AN EFFECTIVE INTEREST RATE.
I KNOW THAT SINCE MY TIME ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, BRYSON HAS VERY EFFICIENTLY INVESTED AND MANAGED OUR FUND, MY BEST GUESS AND MY KNOWLEDGE RIGHT NOW IS THAT HE'S OBTAINING SOMETHING AROUND A 5% RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT.
THAT MONEY WAS ORIGINALLY EARNING INTEREST AT A MINIMAL AMOUNT, AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THAT PARTICULAR SEGMENT WAS VIEWED BECAUSE TO MY RECOLLECTION AND I WAS NOT ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THAT MONEY WAS BEING HELD LIQUID SO THAT IT COULD BE TRANSFERRED.
WE HAD TAKEN THAT AND INVESTED IT IN ANTICIPATION OF MAINTAINING IT IN THAT ACCOUNT, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN INVESTED SOMEWHERE ELSE.
I NOTICE, COUNCILWOMAN ROBB SHAKE HER HEAD.
IT MAY BE WISE TO GET BRYSON UP HERE TO COMMENT ON THAT BECAUSE THE BEST OF MY RECOMMENDATION NOW, IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT IF THE CITY'S GOT THE MONEY AND INVESTED, THEY'RE GOING TO EARN THE INTEREST, IF THE PARK BOARD HAS THE MONEY AND INVESTED, THEY'RE GOING TO EARN THE INTEREST.
THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT AND GET A RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF.
>> OKAY. WE HAD CARLOS, BUT I SAW SHEILA WALK IN.
WOULD YOU MIND COMING FORWARD? I'VE GOT A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS FOR OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR ON THIS.
SHEILA, PULL UP A CHAIR, IF YOU WOULD.
>> COME ON UP, AND WE HAVE AN EXTRA CHAIR HERE FOR YOU.
>> JUST A SECOND. LET'S HAVE CARLOS, GET HIS THOUGHTS OUT, THEN I WANT TO ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS. CARLOS.
>> YOU GUYS KNOW I'M PRETTY NEW INTO THIS SITUATION OF THE PARK BOARD, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TRUST ON APPOINTING ME.
FROM WHAT I'D BE GATHERING FROM THE MEETINGS AT THE PARK BOARD,
[00:35:04]
WE ALL AGREE AND WE UNDERSTAND AND THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT NONE OF THE TRUSTEES UNDERSTAND THAT PARK TAX BELONGS TO THE CITY.IT DOES BELONG TO THE CITY, THE TAXPAYERS PAY IT, AND WE ARE JUST THE FIDUCIARIES THAT MANAGE THAT MONEY.
FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN SEEING SINCE JULY TO HERE, BRYSON HAS BEEN AMAZING ON MANAGING THAT MONEY.
VERY CLEAR, HE UNDERSTANDS IT, HOW TO MANAGE THE MONEY.
I WORK IN THE FINANCE INDUSTRY, BUT HE MAKES IT SO EASY TO UNDERSTAND THAT I CAN EXPLAIN IT TO MY THREE-YEAR-OLD KID THAT HE'LL UNDERSTAND WHAT INTEREST BEARING IS, WHICH IS REALLY INTERESTING OF HOW INTEREST WORK.
I THINK THE MAIN THING ABOUT WHAT THE PARK BOARD ASKING THE CITY IS TO BE MORE EFFICIENT ON HOW WE MANAGE THOSE ASSET.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT, THE MORE TRANSFERS IN BETWEEN, IT OPENS MORE FOR MISTAKES, IT OPENS MORE FOR SCAMS, IT OPENS UP FOR TRANSFER.
I'VE BEEN WORKING IN THE FINANCE INDUSTRY FOR OVER 20 YEARS, SO I'VE SEE ALL TYPE OF SITUATIONS HAPPENING.
THE BIG QUESTION WHEN WE TALK TO TRANSFER WITH THE CLIENT IS, CAN WE MINIMIZE IT TO ONE? ARE YOU GOING TO DO THREE FOR A YEAR? CAN WE JUST DO ONE TRANSFER AND YOU BUDGET OUT OF THAT, AND WE NEED TO MOVE MORE TRANSFER? THAT'S THE MAIN THING.
INTEREST RATES IN THE PAST, WHAT? TWO YEARS, THREE YEARS, IT'S BEEN HIGH, BUT THE OTHER THING QUITE THE BIGGEST QUESTION THAT I CAN SEE APPEAL IS THAT THE SAME THING I WOULD ASK THE CLIENT AS I ASKED THE CITY, IS HOW LIQUID DO YOU NEED THIS MONEY? IS IT GOING TO NEED TO BE USED WITHIN A YEAR, AND THAT'S GOING TO MAXIMIZE OUR INTEREST RATE? YEAH, RIGHT NOW IT'S A FIVE, BUT WE'VE SEEN IT THAT IS COMING DOWN, AND IT WILL GO DOWN, THAT'S THE THING, AND IT'LL CONTINUE GOING DOWN FOR A LITTLE BIT LONGER.
WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB, I THINK.
BRYSON IS DOING AN AMAZING JOB OF MANAGING THE ASSETS AND BEING CAREFUL HOW YOU USE THE ASSETS.
THE TRUSTEES, WE ARE VERY INVOLVED IN TRYING TO SEE WHERE WE ARE NOT WASTING TAX MONEY.
LIKE I TALKED TO FRIENDS AROUND AND SAID, THE BIGGEST THING ABOUT TAXES WHEN YOU'RE PAYING THEM AND HOW HURTS TO PAY TAXES, IS BECAUSE YOU WANT TO GET A GREAT RATE OF RETURN OF WHAT YOU PAY.
THE WAY THAT WE SHOW A RATE OF RETURN IS BEING FULL THE LAST TWO CONCERTS OR EVENTS THAT THEY HAD.
THE BEACH IS BEING CLEANED. THANK GOD, KNOCK ON WOOD.
WE'RE KEEPING THE BEACH SAFE AND GALVESTON IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE AN EYE FOR TOURISM TO COME.
YES, WE KNOW THAT SOME RESTAURANTS OR SOME PLACES HAVE HAD ISSUES.
I'M ADDRESSING THE BURDEN OF THE TOURISM, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED THEM.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP WITH WE HATE THEM, BUT WE LOVE THEM.
I THINK THE MAIN THING IS, LET US SHOW AND LET US PROVE THAT WE ARE DOING A GREAT JOB THAT THE PARK BOARD IS LOOKING TO MAKE GALVESTON A STAR IN THE GULF, BEING THE PRIME PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND VISIT.
LET US MAKE GALVESTON BE THE EUROPEAN TOWN IN THE GULF OF MEXICO BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL OF IT THAT A EUROPEAN TOWN HAS.
YOU WERE MENTIONING YESTERDAY AT THE MEETING, TOURISM IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ECONOMY FACTORS IN THE ISLAND.
FROM WHAT I READ WHEN I WAS APPLYING AND WAS GETTING MYSELF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WHAT THE PARK BOARD, I THINK ONE OF THE MAIN MISSIONS IS TO READ TOURISM, WORK WITH TOURISM.
>> REAL QUICKLY. THIS WHOLE MEETING SEEMS TO BE GOING TOWARDS HOW HARD IS MANAGED BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE PARK BOARD AND APPARENTLY, THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY IT'S DONE RIGHT NOW THAT THEY'RE WANTING TO MODIFY.
[00:40:02]
CAN WE BE VERY CLEAR, MAYBE THAT SHEILA CAN HELP US WITH THIS, VERY CLEAR ABOUT CURRENTLY HOW IT'S DONE IN THE BUDGET AND THE QUARTERLY PAYMENTS AND SO ON? JUST WE CAN BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.>> WELL, THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO GET SHEILA TO DESCRIBE TO US FROM THE CITY STANDPOINT.
BEFORE WE DO THAT, COUNCIL, I WANT TO MAKE SURE TO GO BACK TO OUR AGENDA ITEMS HERE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITIES.
THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY TO GET INTO THE WEEDS TO START WORKING OUT ALL THE PARTICULAR DETAILS.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KIND OF STAY ON A HIGHER LEVEL WITH DIRECTION ON THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITIES.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY DAN BUCKLEY, AS I MENTIONED, IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT OUR REGISTRATION FEES.
I CAN'T SPEAK FOR COUNSEL, BUT I KNOW I FEEL THAT THE BEST METHOD OF MANAGING THE REGISTRATION FEES, AS CHAIRMAN HARDCASTLE HAS MENTIONED, IS BRINGING THE REGISTRATION PROCESS OF THE COLLECTION OF FEES AND ALL OF THAT OVER TO THE CITY SINCE WE MANAGE THE ENFORCEMENT.
I AGREE WITH YOU, 100% ON THAT.
NOW, BACK TO THE TRANSFER OF THE MONIES, TRUSTEE BILL HAD MENTIONED.
RIGHT NOW, HOW IS THAT HANDLED, SHEILA? THERE'S A COMMENT ABOUT THE PARK BOARD IF THEY COLLECT A HOT KEEPING THEIRS AND THEN REMITTING TO THE CITY THE PORTION THAT WE HAVE.
>> AS COUNCIL KNOWS, AND AS THE PARK BOARD KNOWS, THE CITY HAS TWO AGREEMENTS THAT ESTABLISH THIS.
ONE OF THEM IS OBVIOUSLY THE APPROVED BUDGET THAT COUNCIL APPROVES AFTER PARK BOARD HAS APPROVED THEIR BUDGET, AND THE SECOND IS THE HOT CONTRACT.
AND THE HOT CONTRACT, AS IT IS CURRENTLY ADOPTED, SETS FORTH A PROCESS WHERE THE PARK BOARD COLLECTS THE HOT TAX FROM ALL THE HOTELIERS AND SHORT TERM RENTAL ESTABLISHMENTS, AND THEN THEY REMIT IT TO THE CITY ON A BIMONTHLY BASIS.
WE GET A FIRST HOT PAYMENT AND A SECOND HOT PAYMENT.
THAT'S HOW IT IS RECEIPTED AT THE CITY FROM THE PARK BOARD.
IN THE MEANTIME, THE HOT CONTRACT HAS ESTABLISHED A PROCESS BY WHICH ONCE THOSE AGREEMENTS ARE APPROVED AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH QUARTER, THE CITY PROVIDES A QUARTER'S WORTH OF THAT FUNDING TO THE PARK BOARD.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS THE PARK BOARD ACTUALLY HAS THE UTILITY OF THOSE FUNDS IN ADVANCE.
PREVIOUS TO THIS SYSTEM, THE PARK BOARD ONLY HAD USE OF THE FUNDS WHEN THEY WERE COLLECTED, BUT NOW ESSENTIALLY, THE CITY IS FRONTING A QUARTER OF EACH QUARTER.
THAT ALLOWS FOR THE PARK BOARD TO HAVE THAT FULL SUM IN ADVANCE, AND IT'S NOT ON THE FRONT END CONTINGENT ON COLLECTIONS.
THE WAY THE CONTRACT WAS SET UP, WE ARE FUNDING 95%, AND I THINK THIS YEAR IN FACT, HAS PROVED UP THAT THAT APPROACH WAS A GOOD ONE.
I THINK THAT'S ABOUT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO END UP FOR THE YEAR AND SO I THINK OUR TRUE UP PROCESS IS GOING TO BE PRETTY SIMPLE.
BUT FROM THE CITY'S PERSPECTIVE, I THINK WHAT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED IN THE HOT CONTRACT THAT WAS APPROVED LAST YEAR IS WORKING WELL.
WE WORK WELL WITH STEWART AND THE ENTIRE FINANCE TEAM BOTH WITH THE REPORTING, AS WELL AS THAT COMMUNICATION ON WHEN WE CAN BE EXPECTING THOSE FUNDS AND WHEN THEY CAN BE EXPECTING IT.
THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT, AND SO WE'RE ALWAYS OPEN TO FEEDBACK AND QUESTIONS AND TO ADDRESS ANY CONCERNS.
BUT MY SENSE FROM THE CITY'S END IS THAT THE HOT CONTRACT THAT WAS APPROVED LAST YEAR IS WORKING AS DESIGNED, AND WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THE PROCESS.
>> FROM THE THOUGHTS THAT WE HAVE HERE AT COUNCIL THIS MORNING, YOU'LL BE WORKING WITH PRICING.
YOU WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH PRICING ON THIS.
THOSE ARE ISSUES THAT WE COULD LOOK AT AND DISCUSS WITH PRICING AS WE MOVE FORWARD FOR NEXT YEAR ON THAT.
LET'S SEE. MARIE, YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP. GO RIGHT AHEAD, SIR.
>> JULIE, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE COMMENT RELATED TO EITHER INEFFICIENCIES OR I GUESS MR. CLEMENT'S COMMENT ABOUT THAT THE CURRENT PROCESS IS EITHER CUMBERSOME OR PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY FOR EITHER EFFICIENCIES OR ERRORS IN THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS?
>> WELL, I WOULD HOPE THAT AT THIS POINT, WE'VE WORKED OUT MOST OF THE KINGS AND WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD REGULAR PROCESS THAT WE ARE ALL FAMILIAR WITH.
I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE COLLECTION END OF IT.
ANYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING AT THE PARK BOARD PRIOR TO THE CITY RECEIVING THE FUNDS I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH.
HOWEVER, WE RECEIVE MONTHLY REGULAR EMAILS, ACTUALLY BIMONTHLY FOR THOSE TWO QUARTERLY PAYMENTS THAT ARE COMING OVER TO THE CITY.
THAT'S REGULAR COMMUNICATION AND ALL OF OUR ACTIVITIES ARE BASED ON THE RECEIPT OF THAT.
AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE THOSE FUNDS, AND AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE THAT REPORTING, WE SPLIT THE FUNDING OUT WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO,
[00:45:02]
WHETHER IT'S TO LANDRY'S OR THE CITY OR WHATEVER SILO IT'S DEDICATED TO ARTS AND HISTORIC.WE DO THOSE TRANSFERS AT THE TIME.
WE'RE TRACKING THAT ON A REGULAR BASIS.
WHILE I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE PARK BOARD END OF IT, I CAN SAY THAT THE CITY HAS A PROCESS IN PLACE THAT IS VERY REPETITIVE IN NATURE, SO WE'RE COMPLETING THE SAME TASK OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
ON OUR END, I DON'T HAVE CONCERNS THAT THE PROCESS IS CAUSING INEFFICIENCIES OR AN INABILITY FOR US TO TRACK IT.
>> VERY GOOD. WE HAD BILL AND THEN MARIE.
>> BECAUSE I WANTED TO ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT BILL SAID THAT I DON'T THINK WAS AN ACCURATE STATEMENT.
I WOULD EVEN REFER TO DAN THAT THE ONLY REASON THE MONEY WAS TRANSFERRED WAS BECAUSE OF THE INTEREST.
>> HE MADE A STATEMENT THAT HE THOUGHT THE ONLY REASON THE MONEY WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE CITY WAS BECAUSE THE PARK BOARD DIDN'T HAVE A BEARING INTEREST AND THAT'S NOT CORRECT.
>> I DIDN'T PICK THAT UP, BUT OKAY.
>> IT CERTAINLY WASN'T MY INTENT.
MY INTENT WAS TO MENTION THAT ONE OF THE FACTORS WAS THAT IT WAS BEING MAINTAINED IN A VERY LIQUID ACCOUNT IN ANTICIPATION OF TRANSFERRING ALL TO THE CITY.
I CERTAINLY DIDN'T MEAN TO IMPLY THAT THAT WAS THE ONLY ONE.
AS I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE REMARKS I MADE, I DIDN'T COME FULLY PREPARED TO GO INTO THE WEEDS ON THIS ONE BECAUSE I DIDN'T ANTICIPATE THIS SUBJECT AND I DIDN'T ANTICIPATE OUR DESIRE TO GET DOWN INTO THE TRENCHES ON IT, I MERELY WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT I THOUGHT THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY HERE FOR THE TWO FINANCIAL GURUS TO SIT DOWN AND MAKE SURE THAT THE PROCESS WE'RE FOLLOWING IS THE MOST EFFICIENT FOR BOTH ORGANIZATIONS AND PROVIDES THE MOST SECURITY AND THE MOST EFFICIENCY.
I DON'T KNOW THE CITY'S PROCESS.
PLEASE DON'T MAKE ANY ASSUMPTION THAT I WAS COMMENTING ON HOW THE CITY HANDLES THEIR BUSINESS.
I HAVE ENOUGH TROUBLE KEEPING UP WITH THE PARK BOARD AS AN AMATEUR, BUT WHATEVER THEY FEEL IS WHAT I THINK THAT.
MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE THAT WE MAY BE AT A POINT WHERE IT'S BETTER TO ASK THEM TO MEET WITH PERHAPS SOME OF THE TRUSTEES TO DETERMINE IF WE'RE DOING IT THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE, AND IF NOT WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS THE TWO OF THEM, AND ANYBODY INVOLVED IN THE DISCUSSION HAS TO IMPROVE THE PROCESS.
>> I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT AND THE HOT CONTRACT IN OUR WORKSHOP AGENDA.
I COULD AGREE WITH A LOT OF POINTS DAN MADE IN HIS SUMMATION.
I'D LIKE TO GET INTO THE WEEDS AND SOME THINGS, BUT I THINK THE BIGGER AND WHILE WE'RE LIMITED, I THINK, BY THE ITEM IS GOING WAY BACK.
I THINK 2012 IS WHEN THE PARK BOARD FIRST GOT CONTROL OF THE COLLECTION OF HOT TAX.
I THINK IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS BLOWN PUBLIC TRUST IN THE CITY, AND THEN WE GO FOR HOWEVER LONG WE GO, AND WE'RE HERE NOW BECAUSE OF, I'LL SAY IT THE QUIET PART OF LOUD, KELLY DESHAUN THROWING THE WORD OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY AROUND AND TAKING THE ADVERSARIAL POSITION AGAINST THE CITY FOR WHERE THE HOT TAX GOES.
I DON'T WANT TO SAY TRUST BUILDING EXERCISES, BUT THERE'S A SERIOUS COMMUNICATION ISSUE, I THINK BETWEEN THE TWO BOARDS THAT WE ALL NEED TO WORK OUT TOGETHER.
FOR EXAMPLE, SCHEDULING JOINT QUARTERLY MEETINGS WHERE WE CAN DISCUSS THE ACTUAL THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS LIKE THE HOT CONTRACT OR THE HOT TAX FUNDS THAT ARE SENT QUARTERLY.
THAT'S PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE, IN MY OPINION, TO CHANGE THE WAY THAT IS RIGHT NOW.
I THINK WORKING TOWARDS THAT GOAL, I'M SYMPATHETIC TO YOU ALL'S STRONG FEELING AND OPINION THAT DOES NEED TO CHANGE.
I THINK JUST CONTINUING TO REBUILD THE RELATIONSHIP AND FRAMEWORK, AS DAN PUT IN HIS LETTER, AND I'M SORRY, SOMEBODY ALL DIDN'T GET IT, BUT WE TELL BRIAN HOW WE AS COUNCIL WANT HIM TO NEGOTIATE OR DO SOMETHING.
[00:50:02]
I THINK THAT'S ALL RESPONSIBILITY WITH KIMBERLY.THIS IS WHY I WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE INTERLOCAL ON THE HOT CONTRACT BECAUSE THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE CAN COME TOGETHER AND NEGOTIATE AT A POLICY LEVEL AND THEN DISPERSE AND TELL BRIAN AND KIMBERLY HOW WE WANT STAFF TO HANDLE IT AND WHAT WE WOULD ALL BE AMENABLE TO IN A CONTRACT OR AGREEMENT.
I THINK MOVING FORWARD, JUST IMPROVING THAT RELATIONSHIP AND BEING VERY POINTED ABOUT HOW WE WANT TO NEGOTIATE ABOUT CONTRACTS, AND SO TO SPEAK, IS THE DIRECTION THAT WE DO NEED TO GO.
COUNCIL, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT EVEN MOVING THE COLLECTIONS OF HOT BACK TO THE CITY FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IF I'M WRONG, PLEASE TELL ME I'M WRONG WITH SHORT TERM RENTALS, SO TO SPEAK.
I'M JUST SAYING WE SHOULD MAINTAIN A BETTER RELATIONSHIP.
ALL THIS STUFF CHANGES LIKE ROB SAID BECAUSE OF PUBLIC TRUST.
THAT'S USUAL SOMETHING BREAKS, AND THEN WE CHANGE IT AND THEN WE GOT HAVE TO WORK FROM WHERE YOU'RE AT, NOT FROM WHERE YOU WANT TO BE.
I KNOW WHERE WE WANT TO BE, BUT I THINK WORKING FROM WHERE WE'RE AT IS THE RIGHT PERSPECTIVE, AND WE CAN ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS AS THAT COME.
BUT WE OWE IT TO THE TAXPAYERS AND WE OWE IT TO THE BOARD TO MEET QUARTERLY AND DISCUSS THESE THINGS AS THEY COME UP, SO WE'RE PREEMPTIVE.
WE'RE GOING TO BE LOSING THE TRICKLE DOWN FUNDS.
ALL THESE DISCUSSIONS ARE GOING TO BE NEEDED MOVING FORWARD WHEN THE WAY I THINK A LOT OF THINGS ARE GOING TO BE CHANGING, AND WE JUST NEED TO THINK AHEAD.
I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED WE COULDN'T GO INTO CERTAIN SPECIFICS, BUT ULTIMATELY I THINK WE ALL WANT THE SAME GOAL.
WE MIGHT HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS AT THIS MOMENT.
WE JUST HAVE TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD WITH IT.
>> LET ME ASK BEFORE WE SHARE AND MENTION. DAN, WHERE ARE WE? GIVE US THE TIMELINE ON THE HOT AND THE INTERLOCAL? WHERE ARE WE ON BOTH THOSE DOCUMENTS?
>> THE HOT CONTRACT WILL BE ON YOUR OCTOBER AGENDA.
>> WE RECEIVED KIMBERLY'S PARK BOARD'S COMMENTS RECENTLY YESTERDAY.
WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE COMMENTS THEY PROVIDED AND TALK THROUGH THOSE AND THEN PRESENT A CONTRACT TO COUNCIL WITH THE DISCUSSION AT ITS OCTOBER MEETING.
THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WE'RE WORKING ON.
THE OBJECTIVE IS TO HAVE IT DONE HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF THE SECOND QUARTER AND BRING A DOCUMENT TO BOTH THE TRUSTEES AND COUNCIL.
THE INTERLOCAL DEALS WITH MORE OF THE OPERATIONAL AND HOW THE ASPECTS OF THE ASSIGNMENTS OF DUTIES BY THE CITY TO THE PARK BOARD ARE HANDLED.
THAT IS A DOCUMENT THAT GETS DOWN INTO THE WEEDS.
THOSE ARE THE TWO DRIVING CONTRACTS THAT DEAL WITH INTERACTION BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE PARK BOARD.
IT'S THE HOT CONTRACT FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE HOT AND THEN THE INTERLOCAL.
THE INTERLOCAL REALLY DOES GET INTO THE WEEDS MORE SO THAN ANYTHING ELSE BECAUSE IT DISCUSSES HOW EACH INTEGRAL PART OF THE OPERATION IS FUNDED AND HOW IT'S DIRECTED.
>> DAN, OCTOBER IS FOR THE HOT CONTRACT?
>> WE HOPE TO HAVE A NEGOTIATED CONTRACT TO YOU GUYS, PROBABLY THE BEGINNING OF THE THIRD QUARTER.
>> WE'VE SPOKEN ABOUT MARCH BEFORE SEVERAL TIMES.
>> WE'RE GOING TO HOPE TO HAVE FINISHED OUR WORK IN MARCH, THE THIRD QUARTER.
>> VERY GOOD. LET ME JUST MENTION ON BOTH THESE CONTRACTS, COUNCIL, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL THAT MIGHT BE NEW.
WHAT COUNCIL'S PHILOSOPHY HAS BEEN IS TO LET THE TWO STAFF SIT DOWN AND NEGOTIATE THESE CONTRACTS.
BECAUSE THESE CONTRACTS, SO MUCH OF THIS HAS LEGAL BEARING, SO MUCH OF IT IS REPETITIVE FROM THE YEAR BEFORE.
WE LET THEM GO THROUGH THAT CONTRACT AND THEN THOSE ISSUES THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE WORKED OUT AMONG THE STAFFS, THEY WILL COME TO COUNCIL AS WE LOOK AT THE CONTRACTS.
COUNCIL CAN GIVE GUIDANCE ON WHERE WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
IF WE WANT TO CHANGE THAT PROCESS, WE SURELY COULD.
I PERSONALLY DON'T THINK WE NEED TO BE IN THE BEGINNING OF ALL THESE NEGOTIATIONS AND WORKING THROUGH ALL OF THAT.
BUT THERE ARE POINTS IN THOSE CONTRACTS THAT COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO WEIGH IN ON.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE A QUICK POINT.
[00:55:01]
I THINK, DAN, YOU SAID QUARTER 3.ISN'T THAT THE SECOND QUARTER FOR THE INTERLOCAL?
>> WE'RE IN THE FIRST QUARTER RIGHT NOW.
THIS SHOULD BE THE THIRD QUARTER WHEN WE BRING THE CONTRACT.
>> SCHAUN WAS FOR EVERYBODY [LAUGHTER].
>> HELLO. GOOD MORNING. HOW'S EVERYONE?
>> IT IS VERY INTERESTING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS.
BACK IN NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER WHEN WE MET, I PERSONALLY SAT HERE AND ASKED, WHAT WAS THE HISTORY OF THIS PROCESS THAT HAS HAPPENED? HOW DID IT GET BACK TO THE PARK BOARD? I WAS TOLD THAT THE HISTORY WAS NOT IMPORTANT.
IT'S AMAZING THAT WE'RE SITTING HERE BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T BE TALKING ABOUT THIS HAD WE DISCUSSED IT BACK THEN.
WE WOULD KNOW AND WE WOULD UNDERSTAND HOW IT TRANSFERRED, HOW IT GOT TO THE PARK BOARD FROM THE CITY WITHOUT HEARING ALL THIS OTHER STUFF.
THE REASON I ASKED IS BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T REPEAT IT AGAIN.
WE WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
IT APPEARS THAT IT'S SOME THINGS HAVE HAPPENED AND THAT I REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW IT GOT FROM A TO B. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE DON'T KNOW IT AND IT CONFUSES US TODAY.
BECAUSE DID SOMEBODY ARBITRARILY SAY, HEY, SEND IT TO THE PARK BOARD.
WAS IT A VOTE? WAS IT A DECISION BY ONE PERSON? WAS IT THE CITY MANAGER? HOW DID IT HAPPEN? BECAUSE IF SO, IT COULD JUST HAPPEN THE SAME WAY AGAIN TODAY.
WHY ARE WE EVEN SITTING AND DISCUSSING? BECAUSE SOMEONE COULD JUST SAY, PUT IT BACK AT THE PARK BOARD.
I WAS TOLD THAT HISTORY WAS NOT IMPORTANT AND NO ONE HERE WOULD ANSWER.
NUMBER 2, I JUST WANT TO ASK SHEILA QUESTION.
WHEN YOU SAID AT THE BEGINNING OF THE QUARTER, THAT WE UPFRONT 95% OF THAT QUARTER'S BUDGET.
EACH QUARTER, THE PARK BOARD IS GIVEN UPFRONT BEFORE THEY SPEND 95%.
>> YES, NOT JUST BEFORE THEY SPEND BUT BEFORE THE COLLECTIONS OCCUR.
>> WE HAVEN'T SENT OCTOBER BECAUSE THE CONTRACT HASN'T BEEN APPROVED YET.
IT IS CONTINGENT ON THAT CONTRACT.
AS SOON AS THAT CONTRACT IS APPROVED, WE WILL SEND THE FIRST QUARTER.
IN JANUARY, WE WILL BE FRONTING 95% OF THE ANTICIPATED COLLECTIONS FOR JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH.
HISTORICALLY, THAT MARCH MONEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE FOR THE PARK BOARD TO SPEND UNTIL MARCH.
BUT THE WAY WE'RE HANDLING IT, THE CITY IS FRONTING THAT QUARTER AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH QUARTER FOR THE PARK BOARD'S USE?
>> THAT'S BASED ON THE APPROVED BUDGET.
>> APPROVED BUDGET AND HOT CONTRACT, CORRECT?
>> WOULD THERE BE ANY BECAUSE WHAT I'VE HEARD IS THAT TOO MANY TRANSFERS COULD BE AT RISK, HIGH RISK.
IS THERE ANY WAY TO POSSIBLY DO IT ANOTHER WAY INSTEAD OF EVERY QUARTER.
>> I PERSONALLY DON'T BELIEVE THAT RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE DOING IS TOO MANY TRANSFERS AND CREATING A RISK SITUATION.
WE HAVE A PROCESS AND WE'RE FOLLOWING THAT PROCESS VERY DILIGENTLY.
HOWEVER, THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR NEGOTIATION IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO BETTER.
WE'RE HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT IT, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS A BURDEN OR A RISK ON THE CITY'S END RIGHT NOW.
>> THIS IS MY LAST POINT, NUMBER 3.
I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE ALL SITTING HERE BECAUSE COLLABORATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY WORD.
IT WAS IT LAST WHEN WE STARTED.
I'M SO GLAD THAT WE'RE ALL SITTING HERE TALKING AND COMMUNICATING. THAT'S IT.
>> WE HAVE COUNCILMAN RAWLINS AND THEN BROWN.
>> I'M GOING TO PUT THIS SINCE WE'RE TRYING TO STAY CLOSE TO THE AGENDA.
I'M GOING TO PUT THIS UNDER AUTHORITY.
BUT I THINK PHILOSOPHY IS WHAT GOT US IN TROUBLE.
FOLLOWING A CYCLE OF PHILOSOPHY THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST IS WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY.
I THINK A CHANGE OF PHILOSOPHY IS SOMETHING THAT'S NEEDED.
USING COUNCIL LEWIS WORD, COLLABORATION, HAS GOT TO BE OUR POINT OF PHILOSOPHY, FOCUSED ON GALVESTONIANS, NOT ON HOW WE FEEL ABOUT THINGS.
I THINK THAT A LOT OF WHAT HAS GOTTEN US HERE IS COMPETING FOR THIS HOT TAX.
AS A CITY ENTITY OR AS THE PARKS BOARD, I WOULDN'T DOUBT THAT TO KEEP THE MONEY IN MY POT OR TO KEEP THE MONEY IN YOUR POT, THERE'S BEEN DISCRETIONARY WAYS ON HOW TO DENOTE OR TO ITEMIZE EXPENSES AND HOW MUCH THOSE EXPENSES ARE, I THINK THAT DISTRUST IS CREATED.
[01:00:01]
I DON'T REALLY SEE WHY THE TWO BOARDS, BEING THAT THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE THE GROUPS THAT AGREE TO THE INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE COULDN'T HAVE A ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION OVER THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BEFORE IT'S PRESENTED TO US.BECAUSE HERE THE STAFF DOES ALL THIS WORK TO CREATE THINGS THAT MAYBE WE'RE NOT OKAY WITH, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY.
MAYBE WE NEED A CHANGE IN PHILOSOPHY AND THE CHANGE OF THE WAY WE DO THINGS.
I PROPOSE THAT BEFORE THIS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT IS COMPLETELY THAT SO MUCH TIME IS TAKEN TO BASICALLY PRESENT IT TO US WITHOUT OUR INVOLVEMENT AND WE'RE BASICALLY INVOLVED IN THE AFTER EFFECTS.
ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION TO HELP PUT A NEW INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT TO ME TOGETHER IS VERY IMPORTANT.
THEN IT CAN GO TO STAFF INSTEAD OF DOING IT TO ME THE OPPOSITE WAY THAT IT SHOULD BE DONE BECAUSE OF PHILOSOPHY THAT WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING.
>> YES. BOB AND THEN GO RIGHT AHEAD.
>> FIRST OF ALL, I AGREE WITH CRAIG THAT I WOULD TRUST THE STAFF, THAT IS JEAL AND BRYSON TO REVIEW THE PAIN POINT WE'VE IDENTIFIED TODAY AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT AND THEN BRING BACK WHAT THEY FOUND TO US.
WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE TODAY IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS WE'RE IDENTIFYING THOSE AREAS WHERE WE NEED TO WORK MORE CLOSELY TOGETHER AND CODIFY THAT IN OUR AGREEMENT.
IF WE CAN IDENTIFY THOSE PAIN POINTS, I JUST CALL THEM, AND THEN DIRECT THE APPROPRIATE STAFF TO GO ADDRESS THOSE, AND THEN COME BACK.
ONE OTHER QUESTION ABOUT THAT I HAD IS THIS ISSUE THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED TODAY ABOUT THE MOVEMENT OF THIS HOT.
DAN, IS THAT IN THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT OR THE HOT AGREEMENT?
>> THAT ONE'S COMING REALLY SOON.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A RESOLUTION ON THAT ONE AND THEN THE STAFF CAN REPORT BACK ON WHAT THEY FOUND IF THERE'S ANY EFFICIENCIES ONE WAY OR ANOTHER OR WHAT THE RECOMMENDATION IS.
BUT IF WE CAN IDENTIFY THESE, CALL PAIN POINTS AGAIN TODAY IN THIS DISCUSSION, THEN WE CAN DIRECT STAFF TO ADDRESS THEM AND BRING THEM BACK TO US.
I THINK ONE OTHER PAIN POINT THAT I'VE HEARD ABOUT IS PARK BOARD BRINGING PROJECTS TO COUNCIL AND SURPRISING THEM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WELL, IF WE FOLLOW A TIMELINE PROCESS THAT I WAS DESCRIBING EARLIER WHERE WE ALL WORK TOWARDS THE BUDGET, AND WE HAVE OUR CONTRACTS IN PLACE, AND WE IDENTIFY WHAT THOSE CONTRACTS SHOULD SAY AND WHAT OUR AGREEMENT BE AND THEN WE MEET TO REVIEW THE GOALS AND THEN WE APPROVE ALL THOSE SPECIAL PROJECTS IN OUR BUDGET, I THINK WE JUST NEED TO THINK ABOUT THIS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS ON HOW TO WORK TOGETHER AND BUILD THE TRUST SO THAT WE'RE NOT HAVING THESE PAIN POINTS.
>> WE'VE HAD SOME JOINT MEETINGS SCHEDULED, I THINK EARLIER FOR THE SUMMER THAT ENDED UP GETTING CANCELED THAT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE ADDRESSED HOPEFULLY SOME OF THESE ISSUES WITH THE HOT.
PUTTING THE HOT CONTRACT ON HOLD TO HAVE ANOTHER JOINT MEETING IS REALLY NOT A GOOD IDEA RIGHT NOW BECAUSE Y'ALL AREN'T FUNDING US WHILE WE HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS.
>> I WAS TALKING MORE ABOUT THE INTERLOCAL, NOT HOT.
>> I'M TALKING ABOUT THE THING THAT WAS PROPOSED IN MARCH.
IS IT THE INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT ON THE SECOND BOARD.
MY POINT TO THAT WAS AT THE LAST MEETING WHEN WE APPROVED THE BUDGET AND THE HOT CONTRACT WAS GIVEN, THERE WERE SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WAS A POINT THAT THEY STUCK TO ABOUT THE PARK BOARD WASN'T AWARE OF THE HOT CONTRACT UNTIL THAT DAY OR THE DAY BEFORE. WHATEVER IT WAS.
>> WELL, AND THEN IT'S LIKE WE HAD TIME TO DISCUSS IT.
>> I AGREE. I THINK EVERYBODY ON THE PARK BOARD IS WILLING TO HAVE THESE JOINT MEETINGS.
I THINK THEY'RE GREAT IDEA BECAUSE I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS I THINK THERE WERE PROBLEMS IN THE PAST IS THERE WASN'T MUCH COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND THE BOARDS AND THEY GOT CROSSWISE ON STUFF.
I THINK THE TRUSTEES THAT ARE IN OUR LEADERSHIP AT THE PARK BOARD NOW IS WILLING TO WORK WITH CITY COUNCIL.
I THINK WE'VE BEEN AGREEABLE ON MOST STUFF.
WE HAVE DISAGREEMENTS WHERE WE THINK IT INTERFERES WITH OUR OPERATIONS AND HOW WE FUNDED AND THOSE ARE A LOT OF OUR CONCERNS.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I THINK WE'RE ALL READY TO MEET WHENEVER YOU GUYS HAVE TIME.
>> I THINK IT WAS THE HURRICANE THIS SUMMER.
>> I KNOW THERE WAS ONE THAT WE HAD SOMEWHAT SCHEDULED FOR THE MEETING, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT.
[01:05:01]
IT SAID THAT WE HAD SCHEDULING, BUT I WAS AVAILABLE FOR THAT MEETING.WAS ANYBODY ELSE NOT AVAILABLE?
>> I'D LIKE TO FOLLOW UP ON COUNCIL MEMBER RAWLINS' COMMENT.
FIRST OFF, THE IDEA OF A WORKSHOP ON THE INTERLOCAL I THINK IS A VERY GOOD IDEA.
I THINK WHAT WE SHOULD TELL STAFF AND PUT ON THE NEXT JOINT MEETING, HAVE STAFF OUTLINED AND PROVIDE THE HIGH LEVEL POINTS OF THE INTERLOCAL SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THOSE AHEAD OF TIME SO THAT WE CAN BE PREPARED FOR DISCUSSION, NOT JUST THE WHOLE NARRATIVE.
ONE THING THAT I SEE THAT WE GET OFTEN IS, WE GET REALLY WORDY LONG DOCUMENTS.
WHAT YOU'RE ASKING US TO DO IS TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT THE KEY POINTS AND THEN HAVE DISCUSSION ON THOSE POLICY ISSUES.
MAYOR, ON OUR NEXT MEETING, I'D LIKE TO PUT THAT ON THE AGENDA TO HAVE STAFF PROVIDE US AN OUTLINE FOR THE INTERLOCAL.
JUST FOR COUNCIL'S KNOWLEDGE, I'VE BEEN MAKING NOTES OF COUNCIL'S REQUESTS.
WE HAVE ABOUT A SIX HOUR WORKSHOP NOW SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 24TH.
YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN MAKING NOTES, SO WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING.
>> YEAH. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO GO ON OCTOBER.
>> MY WORKSHOP'S JUST BEFORE THEY GET REALLY IN THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.
TO ME IT'S PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE.
IF THE COUNCIL AND PARKS WERE DRILLING TO WORK AT IT TO CHANGE THAT PHILOSOPHY AND THAT COLLABORATION, THEN WE SHOULDN'T HAVE STAFF SPEND ALL THE TIME TO CREATE AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO DISSECT AND TEAR UP.
WHY DON'T WE DO IT THE WAY OF US GETTING THINGS OUT ON THE TABLE SO THAT WE CAN DIRECT STAFF OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO AGREE ON WITHOUT ANY STICKING POINTS AND THEN ASK LEGAL TO PUT IT TOGETHER TO THE POINT THAT IT'S ON THE RIGHT WAY.
>> THAT GOES BACK TO MY ORIGINAL COMMENT.
>> DON'T TAKE MY THUNDER. [LAUGHTER]
>> I'M STEALING IT. AGAIN, THE CITY COUNCIL POINTS THE PARK BOARD, AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE WORKING TOGETHER ON THE POINTS OF THE INTERLOCAL.
>> I THINK IT'S VERY GOOD TO GET THE INTERLOCAL OUT ON THE TABLE.
I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE MY TWO CENTS ON IT, 90% OF THIS INTERLOCAL IS THINGS THAT STAFF THEY COME TOGETHER ON.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS A MAJOR ISSUE.
THESE ARE ISSUES THAT ARE TRANSFERRED EVERY YEAR THROUGH THE DOCUMENT, AND STAFF WORKS WITH PARK BOARD STAFF, AND THEY COME TOGETHER ON AN AGREEMENT ON THOSE.
THERE'S SOME ITEMS ON THERE THAT THERE ARE SALIENT POINTS OF THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT THAT I AGREE THAT HAVING A WORKSHOP ON AND WORKING, BUT TO GO BACK THROUGH EVERY POINT OF THE INTERLOCAL.
WHAT INTERLOCAL ARE WE WORKING FROM?
>> I BELIEVE IT'S THE 2019 INTERLOCAL.
>> BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON AN INTERLOCAL? > NO, THAT'S NOT COMPLETELY TRUE.
DAN CAN TELL YOU THAT'S NOT TRUE, IS IT DAN?
>> HEARING WHAT COUNCILMEMBER RAWLINS SAID AND SUGGESTED, I THINK THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT COUNCIL NEEDS TO LOOK AT AND IT GETS BACK TO THE ORDINANCES.
THE ORDINANCES ASSIGN THE PARKS THAT ARE UNDER THE PARK BOARD'S GUIDANCE.
THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSION BY VARIOUS COUNCILS THAT, WELL MAYBE THIS PARK DOESN'T NEED TO BE UNDER THE PARK BOARD OR MAYBE THIS ONE DOES.
IF YOU DON'T START THERE, AND WORK THROUGH THE ORDINANCES THAT ASSIGN THE DUTIES TO THE PARK BOARD, THEN THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT DRIVE THE INTERLOCAL.
WHEN I TALKED ABOUT THE INTERLOCAL ARE THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF HOW WE ACCOMPLISH THINGS, WELL, THE START IS IN THE ORDINANCES.
THE ORDINANCES DECIDE WHAT TO ASSIGN TO THE PARK BOARD, WHAT DUTIES ARE ASSIGNED TO THE PARK BOARD, WHAT THEY DO.
THEN THE INTERLOCAL PULLS TOGETHER HOW IT'S ACCOMPLISHED.
I WOULD RECOMMEND TO YOU THAT YOU GO BACK TO THE ORDINANCES AND START YOUR DISCUSSIONS THERE AND AS THE MAYOR PUT IT, THE SALIENT POINTS ARE, WHAT DOES A PARK BOARD DO FOR US? THAT ALL STARTS IN THE ORDINANCES, NOT THE INTERLOCAL.
EXCUSE ME, JASON, JUST ONE LAST THOUGHT.
I WILL PUT THAT DOWN FOR WORKING WITH AN INTERLOCAL DISCUSSION ON THIS.
WE HAVE THE HOT COMING UP IN OCTOBER 24TH, AND WE'LL BE DEALING WITH THAT.
I HAVE GOOD NEWS FOR COUNCIL, THE COMMUNITY AND EVERYTHING.
I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY THE TRUSTEES UNANIMOUSLY WANT TO DO
[01:10:04]
WHAT IS BEST FOR THIS COMMUNITY IN ALL OF THE DIRECTIVES THAT WE CARRY OUT.WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN A SERIES OF DIRECTIVES BY CITY COUNCIL.
THIS IS OUR FIRST MEETING WITH THIS CURRENT CITY COUNCIL, BUT IN PAST CITY COUNCILS, WHICH DO REPRESENT SOME OF THOSE WHO ARE STILL HERE WITH US.
WE DO HAVE RESULTS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SHOW THAT HELPS BUILD THAT CREDIBILITY THAT THERE IS A NEW SUNRISE ON THIS RELATIONSHIP AS WELL.
COUNCIL WOMAN, WEBB INCLUDING COMING BACK WITH BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE CAN USE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FOR THAT YES, WILL BENEFIT TOURISTS, BUT BY AND LARGE, IT IS GOING TO BE A COMMUNITY BENEFIT AS WELL.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT ON THE 24TH SOME OF US WILL BE HERE TO PRESENT THOSE RESULTS FROM THE PAST DIRECTIVES ON CITY COUNCIL.
HOPEFULLY, THAT CAN HELP BUILD OUR CREDIBILITY WITH EACH OF YOU, SO MOVING FORWARD YOU CAN BE CONFIDENT TELLING US THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS TRIED OR THIS LOOKED INTO, AND YOU CAN BE CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL COME BACK WITH RESULTS TO SHOW YOU.
>> VERY GOOD. LET'S GO AHEAD AND PUT A BOW ON THIS.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO.
I APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMENTS TODAY AND EVERYBODY TAKING THE TIME TO GO INTO THIS BECAUSE THIS IS CRITICAL TO GET ESTABLISHED BEFORE WE DO ALL THE OPERATIONAL STUFF SO WE CAN BUILD THE LEVEL OF TRUST.
FIRST WHAT I HEARD TODAY WAS THAT WE'RE GOING TO WORKSHOP THE LOCAL IN AGREEMENT AND REVIEW THE ORDINANCES.
BECAUSE IN ORDER TO GET TO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO BY DAN'S RECOMMENDATION, WE NEED TO DO THAT.
THE OTHER THING WAS THE HOT CONTRACT COME IN ON IN OCTOBER, BUT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HAVING SHEILA AND BRYSON REVIEW THAT ONE LAST TIME AND BLESS THE WAY IT'S DONE OR NOT DONE, AND JUST BRING THAT TO US.
I DON'T THINK IT'S TOO LATE FOR THAT.
I DON'T MEAN WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE IT OR ANYTHING.
>> I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT.
>> WHERE WE'RE AT. THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS I TOOK FROM THE MEETING AND I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT.
>> JUST TO PUT THE MAYOR'S TWO CENTS, I AGREE WITH IT, SO LET'S MOVE FORWARD.
IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE A WHOLE RESTRUCTURE OF THE ENTIRE INTERLOCAL.
IT'S CARRY OVER FROM STUFF THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST.
I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THAT, BUT I DON'T WANT IT TO TURN INTO STAFF GOES AND TELLS.
IT ALL NEEDS TO BE COHESIVE, IT NEEDS TO GROW A RELATIONSHIP THAT PREVIOUSLY HAS BEEN DAMAGED THAT I THINK WE ALL WANT.
I MEAN, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY SOME POINTS THAT WE MAY DISAGREE ON, BUT I THINK OVERALL WE WANT OUR STAFFS AND THE BOARDS TO WORK COLLECTIVELY BETTER TOGETHER.
>> I WOULD AGREE. I'M DATING MYSELF.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS SUBJECT FOR 15 YEARS AS CHAIRMAN OF THE PARK BOARD AND THEN ON CITY COUNCIL AND NOW AS MAYOR.
EVERY YEAR WE TALK ABOUT COLLABORATION.
IT'S ALWAYS THE SAME TOPIC EVERY YEAR THAT WE TALK ABOUT COLLABORATION.
I WOULD SAY, WE HAVE EVOLVED TO PROBABLY THE BEST RELATIONSHIP IN MY MIND, WITH THE PARK BOARD CURRENTLY THAN WE'VE HAD IN THE LAST 15 YEARS.
THIS HAS GOTTEN MUCH BETTER, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE INPUT FROM ALL OF US HERE AND THE PERSONALITIES THAT ARE NOW ON THE PARK BOARD AND AT COUNCIL, IT REALLY HAS BEEN A GOOD RELATIONSHIP.
FOR THOSE THAT ARE NEW, IT MAY NOT SEEM LIKE THE IDEAL RELATIONSHIP, BUT IT IS MUCH BETTER THAN IT'S EVER BEEN IN THE PAST.
LET'S MOVE NOW TO THE DISCUSSION THE STATUS OF STEWART BEACH PAVILION.
>> IT'S RELATIONSHIP. THANK YOU, CHILE.
BOB, YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT, SIR?
>> I'M JUST GOING TO GO BY MY NOTES HERE AND JUST BEAR WITH ME IF YOU WOULD, JUST TO START THIS THING.
I'VE LEARNED A LOT IN THE 4.5 MONTHS ON MY ROLE AT CITY COUNCIL AND PARK BOARD.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE LEARNED IS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS A REALLY TIGHT BUDGET.
THE OTHER THING I'VE LEARNED IS THAT THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES REALLY TO FUND THE CURRENT VERSION OF THE BEACH PATROL HEADQUARTER PROJECT, ESPECIALLY IN THE LIGHT OF THE RECENT BUDGET COMPROMISE ON TAX RATE THAT WILL RESULT IN CERTAIN BUDGET CUTS.
BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE A BEACH PATROL FACILITY, BUT WE HAVE TO MODIFY THE PROCESS.
I THINK WHAT'S GOTTEN US HERE TODAY IS A FAILURE OF THE PROCESS.
COUNCIL DID PASS RESOLUTION 23-011 TO DEMOLISH THE EXISTING PAVILION, DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO PLAN A NEW BEACH PATROL PAVILION AND UNDERTAKE A STEWART BEACH MASTER PLAN.
THE BEACH PATROL HEADQUARTERS HAS GONE THROUGH PROGRAMMING,
[01:15:04]
SCHEMATIC DESIGN, AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT PHASES AND GENERATED A PRELIMINARY BUDGET.THIS WORK AND WHAT I'M PROPOSING IS NOT TO DISCARD THIS WORK AND START ALL OVER, BUT USE IT AS A STARTING PLACE.
I'M NOT REALLY HERE TODAY TO SLING ANY ARROWS OR THROW ANYBODY UNDER THE BUS, BUT I'M SUGGESTING AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH.
A PROCESS IS COMMON AND TIME TESTED IN THE REAL WORLD.
I'VE BEEN AN ARCHITECT FOR 34 YEARS, WORKING ON PROJECTS FROM A SIMPLE HOME REMODEL WITH A SINGLE CLIENT TO HOSPITALS, COURTHOUSES, AND SCHOOLS WITH HUGE TEAMS OF ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, CONSULTANTS, USER GROUPS, AND OWNERS.
IN EVERY SINGLE PROJECT, THE FIRST QUESTION OF THE TEAM WAS, WHAT'S THE BUDGET? THE BUDGET IS NOT SIMPLY WHAT IT COSTS TO BUILD THE PROJECT.
TO UNDERSTAND THE TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP, YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE LIFE CYCLE COST OF A BUILDING.
THE 30 YEAR LIFE OF A BUILDING CONSTRUCTION COSTS CAN BE AS LITTLE AS 2-3% OF THE TOTAL LIFE CYCLE COST OF A BUILDING IN 30 YEARS.
IN ADDITION TO CONSTRUCTION IT INCLUDES MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION, UTILITIES, STAFFING, PERIODIC BUILDING, AND SUPPORT SYSTEM RENOVATION, AND THE ULTIMATE DISPOSAL OR REPURPOSING OF THE BUILDING.
ALL OF THIS MUST BE ADDRESSED EARLY IN THE PROCESS BECAUSE A LOT OF THE SYSTEMS YOU SELECT AND A LOT OF THE WAY IT'S CONSTRUCTED HAS AN IMPACT ON ENERGY COST, RESILIENCE, AND THEN OF COURSE LIFE CYCLE COST.
IN MY EXPERIENCE, THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PROJECT WAS ALWAYS THE ONE THAT HAD THE MOST COLLABORATIVE TEAM.
THERE'S THAT WORD AGAIN, CORRECT? FOLLOW THE PRESCRIBED PROCESS.
THE ONE THAT INCLUDES ALL STAKEHOLDERS, ESTABLISHED PROJECT PARAMETERS AND EXPECTATIONS AT THE BEGINNING AND FOLLOWED A DESIGN PROCESS THAT IS ONE OF FEEDBACK AND APPROVAL, DESIGN REVISION LOOP.
KEEP ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS AND THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS.
THE PROCESS STARTS INTERNALLY WITH GATHERING INFORMATION AND ESTABLISHING PRELIMINARY PROJECT PARAMETERS SUCH AS THE BUDGET, THE PROJECT LOCATION, THE BUILDING TYPE AND THE USE.
IT'S NOT EASY. YOU CAN'T JUST THROW A NUMBER AT A PROJECT. YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK.
FIND OTHER SIMILAR PROJECT TYPES, PROGRAMS, LOCATION, SIZE, CONSTRUCTION COST PER SQUARE FOOT, AND PROJECT BUDGETS TO KNOW WHAT YOUR INITIAL TARGET SHOULD BE.
CITY STAFF, OF COURSE, HAS TO BRING A BUDGET AND A FUNDING SOURCE THAT DOESN'T OVERLY BURDEN CITY OPERATIONS OR THE RESIDENTS.
YOU WON'T FIND AN EXACT PROJECT MATCH GO BY, BUT YOU COULD CLOSE.
THIS IS NOT DONE IN A VACUUM, THIS EXERCISE.
IN THIS CASE, IT WOULD BE THE BEACH PATROL, THE PARK BOARD, AND THE CITY TO AGREE ON THIS INFORMATION AND THEN COUNCIL APPROVE IT.
IT'S CRITICAL TO PROVIDE CLEAR AND AGREED UPON INSTRUCTIONS TO AN EXPERIENCED ARCHITECTURAL CONSULTANTS TEAM, SO THEY HAVE A GOAL TO WORK WITH.
THE PROJECT TEAM AS THAT PROCESS GOES ALONG WOULD INCLUDE OF COURSE, THIS EXPERIENCED ARCHITECTURAL FIRM AND HIS TEAM OF ENGINEERS ALONG WITH THE BEACH PATROL, THE PARK BOARD, AND CITY STAFF.
THIS GROUP IS RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING THE PROJECT ON TASK AND REPORTING BACK TO CITY COUNCIL.
AS THIS PROCESS GOES ALONG YOU GET MORE AND MORE INFORMATION.
FIRST OF ALL, YOU'RE THROWING DARTS AND THEN YOU'RE GETTING MORE SPECIFIC.
AS IT PROGRESSES, MORE DETAILED INFORMATION IS GENERATED, AND THE BUDGET WILL BE UPDATED AND REPORTED TO COUNCIL ACCORDINGLY, TYPICALLY AT 30%, 60%, AND 90% OF A PROJECT COMPLETION, AND ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE BUDGET OR SCHEDULE HAS TO BE APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL.
IN THIS WAY, THERE'S NO ONE INTEREST CONTROLS THE PROJECT.
IT'S A TEAM EFFORT WITH CHECKS AND BALANCES FOCUSED ON AGREED UPON PROJECT PARAMETERS LIKE SCOPE AND BUDGET.
BECAUSE ALL STAKEHOLDERS ARE PARTICIPATING, THERE'S FEW SURPRISES.
STEWART BEACH IS GROUND ZERO OF TOURISM.
IT FOLLOWS THAT THE BEACH PATROL HEADQUARTERS SHOULD HAVE A SIGNIFICANT PRESENCE THERE.
THERE'S ALREADY BEEN REPRESENTED IN THE CURRENT PLAN.
A PROJECT OF THIS SIGNIFICANCE CAN DRIVE SUBSEQUENT DEVELOPMENT OF THE ENTIRE STEWART BEACH SITE, BUT SHOULD IT? EVEN THOUGH STEWART BEACH IS OUR FLAGSHIP PARK, IT'S LANGUISHED FOR TOO LONG WITHOUT AN OVERALL VISION SHARED BY THE CITY PARK BOARD AND RESIDENTS OF WHAT IT COULD BE AND A PLAN TO IMPLEMENT THAT VISION.
NOW TO BE CLEAR, THE PARK BOARD COMMISSION, BEACH PARK'S MASTER PLAN IN 2015, ALMOST 10 YEARS AGO, AND THAT'S OUT OF DATE.
BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY USE THAT AS A STARTING PLACE TO GET BACK TO IT.
BUT REALLY, WE NEED TO HAVE A UNIFIED, UPDATED AND CLEAR PLAN FOR ALL SIX PARKS MANAGED BY THE PARK BOARD WITH A PRIORITY FOCUS ON STEWART BEACH THAT CAN INFORM ITS DEVELOPMENT ACROSS DIFFERENT CITY COUNCILS AND DIFFERENT CITY STAFF TENURES.
FOR THE BEST OUTCOME, CREATION OF A PLAN MUST INCLUDE THE COLLABORATION OF ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING THE PARK BOARD, THE BEACH PATROL, CITY STAFF, COUNCIL, AND RESIDENTS, AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE TOURISM COMMUNITY, AND IT HAS TO BE FACILITATED BY AN OUTSIDE CONSULTANT EXPERIENCED IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, AS WELL AS PLANNING AND DESIGN.
MASTER PLAN OF THIS MAGNITUDE WON'T BE BUILT OUT IN ONE OR TWO YEARS.
[01:20:04]
IT'S AN IMPLEMENTATION WILL BE PHASED OVER SEVERAL YEARS.IF WE CAN GENERATE A PLAN BY TODAY'S STAKEHOLDERS, YOU'LL HAVE THE BEST CHANCE OF BEING SUPPORTED AND STAY ON TRACK BY SUBSEQUENT CITY COUNCILS, STAFF, RESIDENTS, AND TOURISTS.
WHAT I'M SUGGESTING HERE IS THAT STAFF GENERATE A PRELIMINARY BUDGET, FUNDING SOURCE, AND SCHEDULE FOR AN UPDATED PARK'S MASTER PLAN WITH A FOCUS ON STEWART BEACH AND A PROPOSAL TO REVISIT THE BEACH PATROL HEADQUARTER PROJECT, ESTABLISHING GUIDELINES, BUDGET, AND PROGRAMMING AS THE FIRST STEP AND THAT PROCESS I DISCUSSED EARLIER.
>> YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATION AS YOU JUST MENTIONED.
I'M GOING TO CHUNK DOWN ON THIS A LITTLE BIT.
I'M GOING TO PULL IN AND YOU REALLY WENT THROUGH ITEM TWO AND THREE.
>> YES. I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT A WAY TO SEPARATE THEM.
BRIAN, I'M GOING TO CALL YOU FORWARD.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT OTHER STAFF INVOLVED.
I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO MAKE COMMENTS ABOUT THE CURRENT THINKING ON THE PAVILION AND HOW IT MAY INFLUENCE THE BEACH PATROL HEADQUARTERS.
>> WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH, WE'VE BEEN PARALLELING.
WE'VE GOT A DESIGN FIRM WORKING ON THE CURRENT BEACH PATROL HEADQUARTERS REPLACEMENT, AND THAT ONE'S TRUCKING ALONG.
WE'VE GOT SOME PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES ON IT, BUT THEY ARE VERY PRELIMINARY.
IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE TO BUILD ON THE BEACH.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THE EXISTING PAVILION AND DETERMINING IF IT TRULY END OF LIFE, OR COULD IT BE REPURPOSED AND REED IN OTHER WAYS.
WE'VE LOOKED AT ALL THOSE OPTIONS AND WE'VE GOTTEN SOME FEEDBACK FROM THE CITIZENRY AS I'M SURE THE PARK BOARD HAS TO ABOUT POSSIBLY SALVAGING THAT.
THEY DID IT AT KERMIT CURVILL STADIUM.
THEY'VE DONE IT AT THE FLAGSHIP, WHICH WAS IN FAR WORSE CONDITION THAN THE PAVILION OR PLEASURE PIER, DATING MYSELF.
BUT WE'VE GOT SEVERAL CONCURRENT PLANS WORKING TO GIVE YOU GUYS ALL THE OPTIONS THAT YOU CAN POSSIBLY HAVE TO DETERMINE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO OUT THERE.
BEACH PATROL HEADQUARTERS IS GOING TO BE VERY EXPENSIVE WHEN YOU BUILD ON THE BEACH AND TO BUILD IT RESILIENT TO BUILD IT MAINTAINABLE, AND IT'S QUITE A LARGE BUILDING, I THINK AS IT TURNS OUT, DUDLEY CAN GIVE YOU MORE INPUTS ON THAT.
>> COULD YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR US.
>> DUDLEY ANDERSON, I'M THE CITY'S ARCHITECTURAL PROJECT MANAGER.
RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING THIS DESIGN EFFORT UNDERWAY.
WE HAVE THREE THINGS GOING ON AT THE MOMENT.
JUST GIVE YOU A QUICK SUMMARY OF WHAT WE ARE TODAY, AND THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT POSSIBLE CHANGES IN DIRECTION.
WE HAVE A DEMOLITION CONTRACT IN HAND, HAVE HAD FOR SIX MONTHS TO TEAR DOWN THE EXISTING PAVILION.
WE WERE ASKED TO DELAY THAT UNTIL AFTER THE TOURIST SEASON AND THEN STORM SEASON GOT IN THE WAY.
AND SO WE HAVEN'T STARTED THAT AT THE MOMENT.
WE HAVE GONE THROUGH MOST OF DESIGN DEVELOPMENT ON A BEACH PATROL FACILITY.
YOU MENTIONED THAT. WE JUST REDUCED THE SIZE OF IT A LITTLE BIT TWO WEEKS AGO, SO WE HAVE SOME UPDATED COSTS ON THAT.
WE'VE LOOKED AT THE EXISTING PAVILION AND WHAT THE POSSIBILITIES ARE FOR KEEPING THAT TOGETHER.
REALLY LIKE TO GET THOSE QUESTIONS ALL ANSWERED, SO WE ACTUALLY KNOW WHERE IF WE'RE GOING TO PUT THE BEACH PATROL HEADQUARTERS, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT IN RELATION TO THE PAVILION.
WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT DEMOLITION SOME MONTHS BACK, YOU ASK THE COUNCIL HAD ASKED US TO BEGIN TO LOOK AT OPTIONS FOR A PAVILION.
DIDN'T TAKE THAT OVERLY SERIOUSLY BECAUSE THERE WAS NO MONEY, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT THE EXISTING PAVILION AND SEEING IF THAT CAN BE RETAINED. GET OFF PATH.
>> NO, I THINK THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ON.
KEEP IN MIND, COUNSEL HAS DIRECTED US, AND WE'RE STILL UNDER THE DIRECTION TO TEAR DOWN THE EXISTING PAVILION.
>> WE ARE READY AT ANY TIME TO TEAR IT DOWN?
>> BUT WE'VE HAD TO GET WE'VE BEEN SLOWED A LITTLE BIT GETTING BEACH PATROL INTO THEIR TEMPORARY HEADQUARTERS, SO WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO JUST GO IN THERE AND START TEARING IT DOWN.
BUT IT'S ALSO GIVEN US AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT IT, SO NOT ALL BAD IN THAT FRAME.
>> LET ME SUMMARIZE THIS WAY I UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE ON THIS SO THAT WE OPEN THIS DISCUSSION UP.
COUNSEL HAD IN THE PAST, GIVEN DIRECTIONS FOR THE DEMOLITION OF THE PAVILION.
THAT HAS MOVED SLOWER THAN WE WERE THINKING AND MAINLY BECAUSE ONE OF THE REASONS WAS THAT WE WANTED TO WAIT TILL THE SEASON WAS OVER THE SUMMER,
[01:25:02]
AND SO WE PUT THE EXTERNAL DEMOLITION OFF A LITTLE BIT AT THE REQUEST OF THE PARK BOARD, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS A VERY GOOD IDEA ON THAT.I IN THE MEANTIME, THERE WERE PLANS WORKING WITH, I THINK THE BEACH PATROL INDIVIDUALS TO PUT TOGETHER A PLAN FOR HAVING THE BEACH PATROL HEADQUARTERS ON THE SAND DOWN THERE.
THEY WENT THROUGH, THEY DID SOME RENDERINGS, DID SOME PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS, AND I THINK SOME THOUGHTS ON ENGINEERING AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND REACHED A POINT.
I'M SURE IF YOU PUT IT OUT THERE ON THE SAND IS GOING TO BE EXTREMELY COSTLY.
SUMS OF 14 MILLION DOLLARS OR MORE TO DO THIS BEACH PATROL HEADQUARTERS.
THEN IT BECAME AS BRIAN SAID AND DUDLEY SAID, IT BECAME APPARENT THAT MAYBE WE DON'T WANT TO DO DEMOLITION OF THE PAVILION.
MAYBE THAT CAN BE REPURPOSED IN A WAY TO BE APPROPRIATE FOR USE BY THE PUBLIC, BUT ALSO POSSIBLY FOR THE BEACH PATROL HEADQUARTERS.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO THROW OUT AND WE NEED TO DISCUSS.
I'M GOING TO THROW OUT A SUBJECT THAT I'VE BEEN KIND OF VOICING FOR A LONG TIME.
I'M STILL NOT CONVINCED WHY WE HAVE TO HAVE THE BEACH PATROL HEADQUARTERS ON THE SAND.
WE'RE IN HARM'S WAY DOWN THERE.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS RUNNING UP THE COST OF THIS BEACH PATROL DESIGN, BUILDING DESIGN OF A NEW BUILDING DOWN THERE WAS PUTTING IT OUT ON THE SAND AND THAT'S SUBJECT TO ALL OF THE STORMS THAT ARE COMING THROUGH.
YOU CAN'T EVEN GET TO IT IF YOU HAVE HEAVY STORMS BECAUSE OF THE FLOODING AND SO FORTH DOWN THERE.
I'D LIKE TO OPEN THAT TOPIC UP.
DO WE EVEN HAVE TO CONSIDER THE BEACH PATROL ADMINISTRATIVE PORTION OF THE BEACH PATROL ACTUALLY ON THE SAND, BUT I'M GOING TO THROW THAT OPEN FOR A DISCUSSION.
>> I AM OF THE OPINION THAT THERE SHOULD BE AT LEAST A PRESENCE OF BEACH PATROL ON THE BEACH.
I THINK WE'VE BEAT THE PAVILION DOWN ITSELF SHORT OF TEARING IT DOWN.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED A STANDALONE STRUCTURE, AND THE RENDERINGS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR PACKET ARE I MEAN, THAT LOOKS LIKE A NICE BUILDING THAT COULD BE A BRAND NEW PAVILION FOR ALL SORTS OF OTHER REASONS.
BUT I THINK THAT WE DON'T NEED SOMETHING LIKE THIS, STANDALONE, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING A MASTER PARK OR MASTER PLAN OF THE PARK AND NO OFFENSE TO THE CONSULTANT IDEA, BUT I MEAN, WE HAVE EVERYTHING FROM BRIAN'S NAPKIN, RENDERING TO KELLY'S GLASS HOUSE, MENAGERIE, IDEA OF THE KAJ MAHAL.
AND A CONSULTANT WOULD JUST TELL US THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED A PLACE WITH RESTAURANT SHOPS, FUN THINGS TO DO.
I THINK THE DISCUSSION SHOULD BE WELL, SPECIFICALLY WITH THE PAVILION, I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT ENOUGH AND WE SEE IT'S GOING TO COST RE-IMAGINE IT AS AN ATTRACTION ABOUT $12 MILLION, AND WHAT'S THE CONTRACT COST TO TEAR IT DOWN COMPLETELY?
>> RIGHT NOW, IT'S 150 BAGS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY EIGHT.
YES. I MEAN, IF WE'RE GOING TO SPEND $12 MILLION, I THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER PURPOSE TO SPEND IT ON THE PARK AND OVERALL RATHER THAN THE PARK ALREADY SPENT THE MONEY ON THE TRAILERS FOR TEMPORARY.
THAT'S GOING TO BE PART OF THE PART OF THE PROCESS OF US TOGETHER NEEDING TO CREATE A BETTER STEWART BEACH.
BUT I THINK WE'VE TALKED THIS BLUE IN THE FACE, AND I THINK I'M JUST OF THE OPINION THAT JUST START FRESH, AND TEAR THE PAVILION DOWN.
>> WE HAD CARLOS AND THEN MARIE AND THEN BOB AND JASON.
>> YEAH. THE QUESTION WHY IS THIS BEACH PATROL NEEDS TO BE IN THE SAND.
I THINK WELL, THE NAME SAKES OF BEACH PATROL FROM THERE, HAS TO BE IN THE BEACH.
PROBABLY INITIATIVE SITES, YOU KNOW, THE INITIATIVE PART, NO, BUT THE OPERATIONAL, YES.
TO THIS DAY, EVEN THOUGH THE BUILDING SAYS CLOSED, WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING UP TO THE BUILDING AND TRYING TO GET IN THERE FOR FIRST DAY OR ASKING QUESTIONS OR REQUESTING HELP FROM BEACH PATROL.
NOT HAVING A PRESENCE OF BEACH PATROL IN THE SAND OR RIGHT THERE, IT SHOULD BE COMPLETELY DETERMENTAL BECAUSE IT'LL
[01:30:01]
BE A WED SPEECH PATROL TO, THEY'LL LOOK FOR THAT.WE HAVE THE LIGHT, WE SAW IT ON THE DURING THE SANDCASTLE SITUATION.
WE WERE HELPING OUT AND BECAUSE THE TENT THAT SAID THAT IT WAS FOR FIRST DATE, THE FLAG WAS NO WAY UP AND IT COULDN'T SEE IT.
THEY WERE WALKING UP TO THE TRUCK, SO THE SAME THING.
IF YOU'RE IN A BIG AREA AND YOU HAVE CHILD LOSS OR YOU NEED SOME FIRST DAY, YOU LOOK FOR THE BIG BUILDING THAT SAYS DIGITAL.
EVEN THOUGH THE TOWERS ARE THERE, BUT THEY WILL STILL TO THIS DAY, THAT BUILDING IS CLOSED, THEY COME UP AND THEY WALK UP TO THE BUILDING.
I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE PUT IT WHY WE SHOULD HAVE BEACH PATROL AND SAND.
OTHER THAN IF YOU HAVEN'T WALKED OUT THERE, IT'S A LONG WALK FROM THE WATER EVEN RIGHT NOW TO THE TO THAT BUILDING.
IT WOULD BE A LONGER WALK FOR SOMEBODY THAT'S BEING STUNG BY THE SOMETHING OR CAUGHT THEIR FEET OR SOMETHING ACROSS THE STREET INTO A BEACH PATROL FACILITY.
>> YOU COULD HAVE BEACH PATROL PRESENCES, COUNCILMAN PRESENCE.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN ALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE HAS TO BE.
>> I'M NOT SAYING I STATION BY OPERATIONAL SHE HAVE.
>> YES, MA'AM AND THEN BOB AND JASON.
>> TYPICALLY, IN MY EXPERIENCE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, HAVING DEALT WITH MANY COASTAL COMMUNITIES, IT'S RARE TO HAVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE LIFE GUARD BUILDING ON THE BEACH.
I THINK YOU HAVE A PRESENCE, OBVIOUSLY, LIKE WE DO TODAY WITH ALL THE MULTIPLE STANDS.
BUT DUE TO THE COST, TYPICALLY THERE AND I ACTUALLY WHEN WE DISCUSSED THIS BEFORE, WENT AND LOOKED UP WHERE MOST BEACH PATROL OFFICES ARE.
IN SOME CITIES, WELL, I GREW UP AT THE JERSEY SHORE, AND THEY'RE TYPICALLY IN A HOUSE ON THE LAMDWARD SIDE OF THE BEACH BEHIND A DOOM PROTECTED.
ON THE WEST COAST, YOU FIND THEM ON PIERS, SO THAT AGAIN, THEY'RE PROTECTED BECAUSE AS WE ALL KNOW, LIVING ON AN ISLAND, THERE IS A LOT OF COST TO BUILDING ON THE BEACH.
I DON'T THINK THAT THE MAIN BUILDING NEEDS TO BE ON THE BEACH.
SECOND, TO HIRE ANOTHER CONSULTANT, I THINK WHEN I FIRST GOT INVOLVED WITH THE CHAMBER AND THE PARK BOARD IN 1997 SINCE THEN.
THERE PROBABLY HAS BEEN 10 DIFFERENT PLANS, MASTER PLANS.
LIKE WE CAN PROBABLY TAKE THEM ALL IN HERE FOR PROBABLY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
>> YEAH. HUNDRED, BUT I REMEMBER THE ONE WHERE IT WAS GOING TO BE ALL I MEAN, THERE ARE SO MANY PLANS THAT I THINK THE LAST THING WE NEED TO DO IS TO HIRE A CONSULTANT.
>> I KNOW AT THE BEGINNING HAD SAID WE'RE GOING TO MAYBE JUMP AROUND, BUT CAN WE GET POINT JUST FOR THE PAVILION BE POINTED FOR JUST MOVING FORWARD IN CONVERSATION.
>> YEAH. WE'RE COVERING ALL OF THAT.
BOB, LET ME JUST BE A LITTLE BIT CLEAR HERE.
I GUESS MAYBE I WASN'T, BUT WE ALREADY HAVE A CONSULTANT.
AND HE'S ON BEING PAID RIGHT NOW.
I'M NOT SUGGESTING HIRE ANOTHER CONSULTANT FOR THE BEACH PATROL.
BUT WHAT I AM SUGGESTING IS A LOOK FROM THE BIGGER PICTURE.
ANY MASTER PLAN THAT'S DONE IS USUALLY REQUIRED TO BE RENEWED AFTER FIVE YEARS.
THAT'S THE WAY IT IS THE UTMB, IT'S WAY IT IS WITH THE CITY.
A LOT OF PLACES DON'T ALWAYS GET TO IT BECAUSE THINGS CHANGE.
WE HAVE STORMS, FOR INSTANCE, THINGS CHANGE AND SO IT'S AND I THINK THAT ONE WAS 2015, THE ONE I SAW THE LAST MASTER PARKS MASTER PLAN WAS 2015.
THAT'S WHY I'M SUGGESTING WE HIRE A CONSULTANT TO UPDATE A MASTER PLAN BECAUSE THE D ONE REALLY DOESN'T APPLY ANYMORE. THAT'S ONE THING.
THE OTHER THING IS, I THINK EVEN SPENDING 12 BILLION IS TOO MUCH FOR A BEACH PAVILION.
I LOOKED AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT OTHER BEACH FRONT LIFEGUARD HEADQUARTERED PAVILIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND THERE'S REALLY NONE OF THEM THAT COME CLOSE TO THIS COST.
THAT'S WHY I'M SUGGESTING THAT PART OF THIS PROCESS NEEDS TO BE LOOKING AROUND AT OTHER PLACES THAT HAVE BEACH PATROL HEADQUARTERS AND LOOKING TO SEE WHAT THEIR COST PER SQUARE FOOT WAS, HOW BIG THEY ARE, ACCORDING TO WHAT THEIR JOB IS, WHAT GROUND THEY HAVE TO COVER HOW MANY PEOPLE THEY HAVE.
LOOKING AT ALL OF THAT FIRST AND GETTING A BENCHMARK THAT WE CAN USE AS A STARTING PLACE BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BENCHMARK,
[01:35:02]
YOU'RE GOING TO WIND UP RIGHT NOW, THAT'S THE OTHER THING.WE'RE NOT GOING TO B TO SOLVE ALL THESE PROBLEMS RIGHT HERE ABOUT WHAT SHOULD BE IN IT OR WHERE IT SHOULD GO OR ANY OF THAT.
BUT WE CAN GIVE DIRECTION TO STAFF TO SOLVE IT, SO THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I HAD.
>> WE HAVE JASON AND COUNCILMAN ROBINS.
>> SURE. SAVION, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS MAYBE COUNCILMAN PERETO, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A BIGGER ADVOCATE OTHER THAN US TO THAT WANT TO SEE THAT PAVILION DEMOLISHED.
IF YOU GO BACK IN TIME, 2018, THERE WAS QUOTE IN THE MEDIA THAT HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT.
IN THAT TIME, I'VE HEARD IT REFERRED TO ACCURATELY AS A COLD WAR AS GALVESTON ASTERN.
KNOWING THAT IT'S IN I THINK THAT DESCRIPTIONS.
KNOWING THAT THIS STRUCTURE WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT AS A NIGHT CLUB AND REC CENTER.
IT'S IN THE HARSH ENVIRONMENT, THE HARSHEST ENVIRONMENT ON THE ISLAND THAT YOU MENTIONED, MAYOR.
THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS ON THAT STRUCTURE ARE UNNECESSARY BURDENS ON TAXPAYERS, AND WE NEED A CLEAN SLATE OUT THERE TO START OVER SO THAT DEVELOP A MASTER DEVELOPER CAN COME AND NOT HAVE TO WORK AROUND SOMETHING THAT IS COMPLETELY ANTIQUATED AND ORDER LINE UNUSABLE.
I ALSO AGREE WITH WHAT I HEARD ABOUT HAVING SO MUCH ADMINISTRATIVE MEETING SPACE WORKSPACE OUT ON THE SAND.
TO ME, THAT'S COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY.
IN MANY OF THESE DISCUSSIONS THAT I'VE HAD WITH THE BEACH PATROL PUBLICLY.
ONE OF THEM, I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER THE THREE FUNCTIONS THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO BE ON THE SAND IS ONE AN OBSERVATION TOWER.
TO A STORAGE FACILITY FOR THE EQUIPMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE USED ON THE BEACH, AND THREE, A SHELTER IN THE EVENT THAT A COASTAL STORM BLOWS UP.
OTHER THAN THAT, I THINK THAT IT'S A COMPLETELY FAIR APPROACH TO TAKE TO LOOK AND SEE WHERE THIS ADDITIONAL SPACE CAN BE PUT ON THE ISLAND FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE FOR THE OFFICES FOR THE MEETING ROOMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> SORRY, IF THIS IS A LITTLE LENGTHY, SO I'M GOING TO START WITH HISTORY.
HOW MANY AT THE TABLE HAS WORKED ON THE BEACH PATROL? THAT WAS A BEACH PATROL, LIKE LITERALLY WORKED AS.
>> IT WAS A WAVE [INAUDIBLE] BUT NONE OF THE BEACH.
>> I WAS THE BEACH PATROL FOR GALVESTON, I WAS GALVESTON BEACH PATROL.
>> I DON'T KNOW. I'M TALKING ABOUT ACTUAL ON THE BEACH PATROL.
>> WE WORK WITH THEM AS STRAINERS AND WITH MAYOR WATCHING THE TRAINING AND WORKING WITH THEM FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
>> YOU'LL BE ABLE TO HELP. MY VERY FIRST JOB WAS RENTING ROLLER SKATES LIFEGUARD AT THE WATER SLIDE.
THEN I WORKED A SKATE PARK THAT WAS IN BETWEEN THE WATER SLIDE AND THE BEACH PAVILION.
THEN I EVOLVED INTO WORKING AT THE NIGHT CLUB THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF AT THE DOOR THAT WAS LOCATED ON THE THIRD LEVEL OF THE PAVILION.
IT WAS CALLED THE BEACH CLUB, ACTUALLY.
I SAW THE EVOLUTION FROM THE TIME IT WAS BUILT IN EAST BEACH AND ALL THAT AREA WAS THE COMMON PLACE THAT ALL OF OUR TOURISTS PRETTY MUCH FOCUSED IN FROM ALL OF THE 80S.
THEN I WILL SAY, SO TO START WITH WHY I THINK IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE HAVE, THERE'S A PRESENCE OF THE BEACH PATROL ON THE SAND.
THAT'S WHERE ALL THEIR TRAINING IS CONDUCTED OUT OF.
MULTIPLE MORNINGS, WE WOKE UP AND DID RUN SWIMS STRAIGHT OUT OF THE PAVILION.
IT'S IMPERATIVE FOR THINGS THAT JASON, YOU'VE MENTIONED AS FAR AS OBSERVATION.
THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT AS PART OF THE TRAINING.
IT WAS PART OF THE TRAINING AND HOW TIDES REACTED, RIP CURRENTS, THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE WERE TAUGHT THROUGH TRAINING.
I WAS RAISED IN THE HUB CLUB BECAUSE MY DAD MANAGED THAT, THAT WAS JUST A LITTLE BIT WEST OF THAT.
ALL OF THAT AREA ON THE BEACH WAS EXTREMELY THE CENTER POINT OF GALVESTON AT THAT TIME.
I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT IT FROM 25TH STREET TO EAST, WE'RE DEAD COMPARED TO WHAT IT WAS THEN.
IT'S DEAD. I HAD A BUSINESS THERE.
IT WAS PUTTING MY HEAD UP AGAINST THE WALL TO GET PEOPLE EAST OF 25TH.
[01:40:01]
I THINK THERE'S THERE'S OTHER REASONS THAN JUST BEAST RETRIAL FOR THIS PAVILION.I THINK WE OWE IT TO THE INVESTMENT OF THE ISLAND AS PART OF THAT PAVILION, NOT JUST FOR THE BEACH PATROL.
I THINK THEY NEED TO HAVE A PRESENCE IN THE CENTER THERE.
BUT IT'S A WAY TO ME TO TO RE-ENERGIZE THE EAST END OF GALVESTON.
AT THE TIME IN THE 80S, THAT WAS THE FOCUS.
THAT WAS OUR SHINING STAR AND IT DOES LOOK LIKE A COMMUNIST BUILDING AT THIS TIME.
[LAUGHTER] LIKE I SAID, I THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE THINGS AND JUST BEACH PATROL TO FOCUS ON THE PAVILION.
I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN LONG BEFORE WE START TO DEVELOP OTHER PLANS.
THAT'S PRETTY ANTIQUATED ITSELF AS WELL, WHICH IS OVERSIGHT OF EVERYTHING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
I FORGET HOW MANY YEARS OLD THAT IS NOW, QUITE OLD.
I GUESS IN SUMMARY, THAT'S PART OF THIS COLLABORATION AND THIS DISCUSSION IS, I THINK WE NEED TO BROADEN OUR VISION AS TO THE PURPOSE OF THIS PAVILION, AND IT'S NOT JUST SPEECH PATROL.
IT IS TO ME, A REINVESTMENT ON THIS ISLAND AND THE BELIEF OF WHAT WE CAN DO AT THAT END OF THE ISLAND WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT THAT OFFERS A LOT MORE AND A LOT OF THINGS CAN BE BUILT AROUND IT TO SUPPORT IT.
>> WE HAVE CARLOS AND DAVID. CARLOS?
>> LIKE WHAT WE SAID, IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO START THE MORNING WITH THE KIDS THAT WORK TO BEACH PATROL AND EVERY SUMMER, WE ARE THERE.
MY WIFE IS THERE AT SIX O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING SOMETIMES RECEIVING THEM.
IT IS THE FIRST PLACE WHERE THEY TAKE A LOOK AT THE WATER, THE FIRST MAKE SURE THE CURRENTS ARE MOVING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
THAT'S IMPERATIVE ABOUT HAVING PROBABLY NOT LIKE I SAID, ADMINISTRATIVE AREA, BUT YES, OPERATIONALS AND DISPATCH.
IF YOU EVER BEEN THERE, I RECOMMEND YOU TO BE THERE BETWEEN 11 IN THE MORNING AND THE SUMMER, AND THAT'S BUZZING AND MOVING WITH ALL THE LIVE GUARDS THAT WALKING AROUND AND TAKING THE CARTS AND MOVING BEING DEPLOYED TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE DEPLOYED.
AMONG EACH OTHER, THEY TALK ABOUT HAZARDS THAT THEY'VE SEEN.
IT'S IMPORTANT AND LIKE I SAID, THEY WALK OUTSIDE, THEY DO A QUICK [LAUGHTER] RUN SWIM RUN AND COME BACK, TAKE A QUICK SHOWER AND HEAD TO THEIR TO THEIR TOWERS.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I TOTALLY AGREE WITH COUNCILMEN.
I THINK, YOU GUYS INTERVIEWED ME WHEN I WAS APPLYING TO BECOME A COUNSEL, TRUSTEE, AND YOU ASKED ME WHAT I THOUGHT ABOUT STEWART.
I THINK STEWART SHOULD BE THE ANCHOR.
AMOR, YOUR CITY, THEY'LL HAVE AN ANCHOR, SEE AN ANCHOR STORE, AN ANCHOR SOMETHING BIG THAT ATTRACTS MORE PEOPLE.
THEN THE REST OF THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE AROUND BENEFIT FROM THERE.WE DON'T HAVE THAT ON THE EAST SIDE.
I SEE THE RESTAURANTS GO BANKRUPT CONSTANTLY.
WE HAVE THE RESTAURANT ON THE EAST TOWN THAT CONSTANTLY CHANGES [LAUGHTER] MANAGEMENT BECAUSE THEY GO BANKRUPT.
I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER WHAT'S THE NAME OF THAT WAS, ALL THE WAY BEACH.
>> NO. THERE'S ANOTHER ONE, THE ONE ALL THE WAY TO THE BEACH TOWN IN THERE THAT HARDLY EVER PEOPLE GOES.
THE REASON IS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE AN ANCHOR.
WE NEED TO HAVE NOT BEACH PATROL.
WE NEED TO HAVE THAT IN A BIGGER PICTURE WHERE THAT SHOULD BE THE ANCHOR FOR THE EAST END, WHICH WILL IMMEDIATELY OR HELP SEND CUSTOMERS TO ALL THOSE BUSINESSES AROUND.
>> VERY GOOD. WE HAVE DAVID AND ALEX.
>> IT'S A REALLY GOOD DISCUSSION.
FIRST OFF, I'D LIKE TO SAY AND JUST PUT IT OUT THERE.
CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE DEMO OF THE STRUCTURE, SO LET'S GO DEMO IT AND NOT CHANGE THAT THOUGH, IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
STEWART PARK IS ABSOLUTELY THE ANCHOR AND THE SHINING STAR THAT CITY AUTHORIZES THE PARK BOARD TO MANAGE.
I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THAT FOR A MINUTE.
THIS HAS BEEN BOUNCED AROUND FOR HOW MANY YEARS AND WHAT THAT TELLS ME IS THAT THE MODEL IS BROKEN.
THE MODEL OF DELIVERY OF THE IMPROVEMENTS AT STEWART BEACH IS BROKEN.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE YOU BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PORT.
PORT GOES FORWARD. THEY MANAGE THAT LAND FOR US.
THEY GO FORWARD AND THEY START DO. PARDON.
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DISCUSSION OF A CONSULTANT EMPLOYED BY THE CITY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT MASTER PLAN FOR STEWART BEACH PARK, AND THIS IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THAT IN THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF STAR.
>> MY MODEL IS IS THAT THE PORT HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN DELIVERING PROJECTS RELATED TO DOING DEVELOPER LED LEASES FOR THEIR PROPERTY.
[01:45:01]
CHAIRMAN HARDCASTLE, YOU SAID IT SLIPPED OUT AND I WANT TO BRING THAT BACK UP.YOU SAID, WRITE THE SLATE CLEAN AND GET READY SO THAT WE CAN HAVE YOUR WORDS WERE HOLD ON.
YOU SAID A MASTER DEVELOPER COME AND DEVELOP THE PARK.
I'D LIKE FOR THE PARK BOARD AND FOR US TO DISCUSS THAT, RATHER THAN US TRYING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND TO SAY WHAT THE MARKET NEEDS IN THAT PROPERTY, WE REALLY NEEDS TO TAKE THE IDEAS THAT YOU HAVE IN THAT BINDER FROM ALL THESE YEARS, BE PUT OUT TO AN RFP FOR A MASTER DEVELOPER TO COME AND DO THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO HELP DEVELOP A MODEL FOR WHAT THAT NEEDS TO BE, AND THEN GO THAT DIRECTION.
THAT IS GOING TO BE THE QUICKEST WAY THAT WE CAN PUT SOMETHING DOWN AND GET SOMETHING TO FUNCTION ON THAT LAND.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SOLVED HERE BY THOSE.
>> I THINK THAT'S THE WHERE THE CONVERSATION NEEDS TO GO BETWEEN COUNSEL AND THE PARK BOARD IS, DO WE WANT TO GO FORWARD? ALL THIS IS GOING TO COST A LOT OF MONEY TO DEVELOP IT.
DO WE WANT TO BE IN THE BUSINESS OF BUSINESS AS THE PARK BOARD OR THE CITY? I DON'T I WOULDN'T AGREE WITH THAT.
DO WE NEED TO GO OUT AND GET A MASTER OF A MASTER DEVELOPER OR PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP, SO TO SPEAK, WHERE THE PARK BOARD'S ROLE AT STEWART BEACH IS LIMITED BECAUSE OF THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP.
I THINK WIPING THE SLATE CLEAN AND STARTING A NEW, IF YOU DO A PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP, ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS COULD BE TO HAVE A BEACH PATROL FACILITY THAT COULD BE USED, AND THAT WAS MY ISSUE WITH ANY STANDALONE STRUCTURE.
WHEN MY GREAT GRANDFATHER WAS ON THE STEWART BEACH PARK BOARD, THEY HAD A SHOOTING RANGE AND GOLF GO CARTS AND, ALL THINGS WE KNOW WHAT IT NEEDS TO BE DONE DOWN THERE, A WAVE GENERATOR WHERE KIDS CAN RIDE STUFF ON IT.
I THINK WE CAN TALK ABOUT EVERY IDEA THAT COULD BE DOWN IN THERE TILL WE'RE BLUE IN THE FACE.
BUT DO WE WANT TO GO WITH A, PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP OR DO WE WANT TO TAKE BITE THAT OURSELVES OR HAVE THE PARK?
>> DON'T DISAGREE WITH ANYTHING YOU'RE SAYING.
MY ONLY CAUTION TO COUNSEL IS THAT WE PULL THE TRIGGER, WE TEAR DOWN THAT PAVILION, YOU'RE PERMANENTLY PUTTING BEACH PATROL IN A BUNCH OF TRAILERS, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE A MINUTE BEFORE THEY GET OUT IF YOU GUYS ARE RETHINKING WHAT WE'RE DOING OUT THERE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE OF THAT.
>> ACTUALLY, TRAILERS ARE GOING TO FLOOD.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO THINGS HERE.
ONE OF THEM IS A BEACH PATROL PAVILION AND THE OTHER ONE IS A MASTER PLAN.
IT SOUNDS LIKE, I THINK WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO AGREE THAT THE BEACH PATROL HAS TO HAVE A PRESENCE ON THE BEACH THAT SERVES THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING THERE.
THAT'S A FLAGSHIP PLACE AND JASON RATTLED OFF.
A FEW THINGS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE THE BEACH PATROL HAS TO HAVE ON THE BEACH.
THAT IS A SHELTER FOR QUICK STORM, STORAGE, AND OBSERVATION TOWER, AND JUST A GENERAL PLACE TO GATHER.
TO ME, THE QUESTION IS, THE ONLY REASON WE'RE BRINGING UP THIS BUILDING THAT WE'VE ALREADY DECIDED TO DEMOLISH IS, IF WE CAN AGREE ON SEPARATING THE ADMINISTRATION WITH THOSE FUNCTIONS THAT ARE REALLY REQUIRED ON THE BEACH AND START THERE.
TO ME, THE QUESTION OF THAT KEEPING THAT EXISTING FACILITY IS REALLY ONE OF ECONOMICS.
IT'S WHAT IS GOING TO WORK BETTER FOR THE TAXPAYERS IN THE END TO DEMOLISH THAT BUILDING, BUILD A NEW ONE OR REPURPOSE THAT CONCRETE STRUCTURE AS THE BEACH PART OF THIS IDEA.
TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THAT MIGHT MEAN IS, WHAT YOU DO IS YOU WOULD TAKE IT DOWN BASICALLY TO THE CONCRETE FRAME.
CONCRETE IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE WAY MORE NOW THAN IT EVER HAS BEEN.
WE TAKE THAT DOWN TO THE FRAME AND THEN BUILD OUT EVERYTHING ELSE TO SUIT WHAT THOSE FUNCTIONS WE JUST TALKED ABOUT.
NONE OF THOSE FUNCTIONS REQUIRE AIR CONDITIONERS OR A LOT OF ELECTRICITY OR ANY OF THOSE SYSTEMS THAT TEND TO FALL APART QUICKLY IN AN ENVIRONMENT LIKE THAT.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO BUILD A NEW ONE ON THAT BEACH UNLESS YOU BUILD IT OUT OF CONCRETE BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT WILL GET BLOWN AWAY.
THERE IS SOME, AND TO ME, IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE EITHER ONE, WHICHEVER ONE WINDS UP BEING THE MOST EFFICIENT COST WISE.
IF I WOULD RECOMMEND JUST DIRECTING STEP TO DO THAT ANALYSIS AND BRING THAT BACK.
ANOTHER THING IS, I JUST WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MASTER PLANS.
I'VE DONE A WHOLE BUNCH OF THEM IN MY LIFE, AND A LOT OF THEM SIT ON THE SHELF.
THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY SAYS, WHEN YOU SAY MASTER PLAN, I WAS JUST GOING TO SIT ON THE SHELF. NOBODY GOING TO DO ANYTHING.
BUT THE REASON THEY FAIL, IS BECAUSE THEY DON'T INVOLVE ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE CITY WAS INVOLVED IN THAT ONE IN 2015 OR NOT.
BUT THAT'S THE REASON THEY FAIL.
IN THIS CASE, THE STAKEHOLDERS ARE JUST OFF TOP OF MY HEAD, THE PARK BOARD, THE CITY VISIT GALVESTON,
[01:50:01]
THE TOURISM INDUSTRY, AND THE RESIDENTS.THEY ALL HAVE TO HAVE A SAY ON WHAT GOES INTO THIS MASTER PLAN.
THEN IF YOU HAVE THAT SUPPORT GOING INTO IT, IT'S MUCH MORE LIKELY TO NOT SIT ON THE SHELF AND BE IMPLEMENTED BY FUTURE COUNCIL AND STAFF THAT COMES AFTER US.
YOU DON'T JUST TAKE AND THROW AWAY A MASTER PLAN.
THE PROCESS IS THEY'RE MEANT TO BE BUILT ON, REVISED, NOT THROWN AWAY AND START OVER AGAIN.
WHAT REALLY CHANGES TO MAKE THEM WORK IS THE PROCESS OF STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT AND COLLABORATION IN ORDER TO BUILD SUPPORT FOR IT.
THAT WAS MY TWO CENTS ON THOSE TWO THINGS AT THIS POINT.
>> WE HAD BILL, WE HAD MARIE, WE HAD BOB, AND CARLOS AGAIN.
>> JUST TO GO BACK TO WHAT JASON SAID ABOUT THE THREE FUNCTIONS AND CARLOS SACCO ON THE BEACH.
ONE OF THOSE, I WANT TO POINT OUT AND IN PARTICULAR IS THE ABILITY OF THE PARK BOARD TO BE THERE.
FOR THOSE, THOUGH MAY BE THE ONLY ONE THAT REALIZE THAT THE PARK BOARD FROM ITS CURRENT FACILITY CAN REACH ANYWHERE ON THE BEACH FROM 81ST TO THE JETTIES, ON THE SAND, AND THAT'S PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT WHEN YOU HAVE THESE LARGE GATHERINGS ON THE BEACH.
IF IT'S NECESSARY, IT'S NOT ADVISABLE.
BUT I HAVE RIDDEN THE ENTIRE BEACH WITH CHIEF DAVIS FROM 83RD TO NOW THERE'S ONE AREA THERE AROUND FORT CROCKETT WHERE YOU WANT A LOW TIDE, BUT THE POINT IS THAT BEING ON THE BEACH GIVES THEM ACCESSIBILITY IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY TO THE ENTIRE BEACH.
IT'S ESPECIALLY ACCESSIBLE FROM 25TH ALL THE WAY TO THE JETTY, AND THOSE ARE THE AREAS OF CONCENTRATION.
I THINK AS WE TALK ABOUT THIS, THE IDEA OF THE THREE FUNCTIONS THAT DEFINITELY NEED TO BE ON THE BEACH.
I WOULD DISAGREE WITH ONE COMMENT, BOB, I THINK IT IS BECAUSE THE DISPATCHERS AND SOME OF THE SENIOR STAFF SUPERVISORY STAFF NEED TO BE THERE.
ELECTRICITY AND AIR CONDITIONING IS IMPORTANT FOR THOSE GUYS.
THAT BUILDING WILL GET AWFULLY HOT ON THESE JULY AND AUGUST DAYS.
I DO THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME FACILITIES THERE, SHOWER, RESTROOM, COOLING AND THAT THING.
NOW I WANT TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING THAT I TOLD EACH OF YOU AS COUNCIL MEMBERS WHEN I TALKED TO YOU, SOME OF YOU ON THE PHONE AND SOME OF YOU IN PERSON, THAT THIS WAS A PRIORITY AREA FOR ME.
I WAS ON PARKS AND AMENITIES AT THE TIME AND I SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING TO RESIDENTS AND OTHERS ABOUT WHAT THEY WANTED.
THE PRIMARY REQUEST FROM RESIDENTS AND PEOPLE I MEET ON THE BEACH AS A WAVEWATCHER, IS THAT WE GET STEWART BEACH BACK TO WHERE IT WAS, NOT IN TERMS OF THE PAVILION, BUT IN TERMS OF THE SERVICES IT OFFERS TO THE RESIDENT AND THE DAY TRIPPER.
BOB MENTIONED SOME OF THE PLACES HE WORKED, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT THEY WERE TELLING ME WERE DESIRABLE FOR THEM.
I HOPE THAT AS WE LOOK AT THIS, AND WE DEVELOP THIS MASTER PLAN, WHICH WE DO EVERY TWO YEARS.
IT'LL HAPPEN AGAIN IN 18 MONTHS WHEN WE RE-ELECT THE ENTIRE COUNCIL AND OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME, WE'LL REAPPOINT A NUMBER OF OUR PARK BOARD TRUSTEES.
IF WE CAN'T GET SOMETHING SOLID TO WORK TOWARDS, AND I THINK START SOME MOVEMENT TOWARD THAT MASTER PLAN IN THE NEXT 18 MONTHS, AND SOME OF YOU ARE GOING TO BE BLESSED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO CAMPAIGN DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
>> IF WE CAN'T GET MOVEMENT IN THE NEXT 18 MONTHS, TOWARDS THE MASTER PLAN AND THE GOAL, THEN WE'RE GOING TO START THIS CYCLE AGAIN.
THE NEXT COUNSEL IN JULY AND AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT STEWART BEACH AND COLLABORATION.
I DON'T DISAGREE WITH ANY OF IT.
BUT LET'S PRESS THE PEDAL TO THE METAL ON THIS COLLABORATION AND GET SOME MOVEMENT SO THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED AS A GROUP WORKING TOGETHER FOR STEWART BEACH BEFORE OUR TIME EXPIRES IN 18 MONTHS.
>> THEY HAVE MARIE AND THEN BOB AND CARLOS.
>> WASN'T THE PLAN THE CONSULTANT AND THE PLAN THAT WAS SENT OUT, WASN'T THE LAST ONE LIKE 2022, OR I MEAN, THIS JUST SEEMS LIKE DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN.
[01:55:01]
>> TO GO BACK TO BOB'S POINT ABOUT HOW A MASTER PLAN HAS TO EVOLVE AND ANYTHING OLDER THAN FIVE YEARS IS PROBABLY ANTIQUATED AT BEST, IT WOULD BE A WAY TO DESCRIBE IT.
YES, THIS HERE REPRESENTS ABOUT OVER A HALF DOZEN PLANS THAT WERE CONCEIVED OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS. AS WELL.
>> I REMEMBER WE HAD THE COMMITTEE.
>> YES. IN 2021, THE STEWART BEACH DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE GOT TOGETHER.
THEY WERE MEMBERS OF COUNSEL AND TRUSTEES AS WELL AND PUT THESE TOGETHER.
WORKED WITH JLL GLOBAL REAL ESTATE FIRM TO PUT TOGETHER AN RFQ TO ISSUE OUT.
WE GOT THREE HIGH QUALITY AND QUALIFIED RESPONSES AS WELL.
EACH ONE DEMONSTRATED PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.
HISTORY AS WELL AS EXPERIENCE ON COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS, AND ALL DEMONSTRATED A WILLINGNESS TO DELIVER THE COUNCIL VISION THAT WAS RELAYED TO THEM WHILE WORKING WITH THEM AS WELL.
THEY ALL CENTERED AROUND A HOTEL AND THERE ARE LIMITATIONS OF WHAT CAN BE DONE AT THAT BEACH BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THE BEACH WAS DONATED TO THE CITY.
BUT I'M ALSO GOING TO SAY TO THE MAYOR THAT WE HAD THIS DOWN FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF A DISCUSSION OR NOW ON TWO HOURS AND WE HAVEN'T DONE THE LAST ONE.
WE KEEP SAYING THE SAME THING.
I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH THE PAVILION AND I VOTED FOR THE DEMOLITION.
I MEAN WE CAN LOOK AT IT AN EYESORE.
WE ALL REMEMBER WHAT STEWART BEACH USED TO BE WHEN IT OFFERED SO MANY THINGS FOR BOTH OUR TOURISTS AND OUR CITIZENS.
I JUST FIND IT FRUSTRATING THAT WE JUST IT'S LIKE THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY IS DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN WITH THE SAME OUTCOME.
THAT'S WHAT WE SEEM TO BE DOING RIGHT NOW.
>> WE HAVE BOB. WE HAVE CARLOS.
>> I'LL BE QUICK AS I AGREE WITH COUNCILWOMAN I NEED TO WRAP THE SUBJECT UP AT.
I WANTED TO AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN FINKLEY HAS SAID ABOUT BUILDING A STRUCTURE SPECIFICALLY FOR THE BEACH PATROL OPERATIONS.
I'LL ECHO WHAT CHAIRMAN HARDCASTLE SAID ABOUT THE NEEDS A TOWER, IT NEEDS A STORAGE FACILITY, IT NEEDS A PLACE FOR SHELTER, BUT I WOULD JUST ADD SPECIFICALLY, IT NEEDS A FIRST AID STATION AND THAT PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE AIR CONDITIONED FOR SURE.
I ALSO WOULD SAY THAT THE DESIGNS THAT WE SEE HERE ARE VERY NICE, BUT I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE MORE OF A BUNKER LIFE FACILITY FOR THE OPERATIONS OF THE BEACH PATROL.
IF YOU WANT TO BUILD ADDITIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING CLOSER TO THE ROAD, I THINK THAT'S A CONCEPT THAT CAN BE THROWN OUT THERE.
THEN I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN PERETO THAT WE SHOULD PROBABLY LOOK AT PRIVATIZING ANY OF THE AMENITIES THAT WE WANT TO CONSTRUCT.
BRING THE MONEY IN FROM THIRD PARTIES TO BUILD THAT FACILITY.
I PERSONALLY THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF SMALL AMPHITHEATER IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER AMENITIES, WHETHER IT BE RESTAURANTS OR ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES, RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.
>> REALLY QUICK. I DON'T KNOW IF WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GET THE MEMO FROM BRIAN MAXWELL FROM DAN BUCKLEY.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I JUST READING THROUGH IT THAT CATCH MY EYE.
THE FIRST, AND IT'S TIED UP TO THE LAST FOUR POINTS.
FIRST THAT THERE WAS MISDIRECTION AND MISCOMMUNICATION IN THE PLANNING OF STEWART BEACH.
EVERYTHING STARTED WITH A FALSE PREMISE THAT THE EXISTING PAVILION WAS BEYOND REPAIR AND IT COULD NOT BE REPURPOSED.
IT HAS BEEN EVIDENT THAT THIS ASSUMPTION MAY HAVE BEEN DRIVEN BY DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND THE DESIRE TO BUILD TO ONCE NO NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S A FAIR REPRESENTATION AT ALL.
THIS IS SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS DISCUSSION ON CITY COUNCIL AS WELL AS A PARK BOARD TRUSTEE? I WOULD TAKE ISSUE WITH THAT.
>> THERE WAS A LOT OF ISSUE WITH MAINTENANCE.
[02:00:01]
THERE WAS, WHAT WAS IT A FEW YEARS AGO, TUIA.TUIA SAID THAT THEY WOULDN'T IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH. THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T INSURE THE BUILDING.
>> ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE HAD TO OCCUR FOR THEM TO INSURE THE BUILDING? YES.
>> YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE WAS DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, BUT MAINTENANCE THAT WAS NOT DONE ANY DEVELOPER WORTH OF SALT IS GOING TO SEE CONCRETE ON THE BEACH AND SAY, YOU NEED TO TREAT IT, IT'S AN ANNUAL THING, AND THE STUFF JUST WENT BY THE WAYSIDE.
THIS PAVILION HAS BEEN A HOT TOPIC TOO FOR A WHILE.
I THINK IT'S GOING AROUND THE TABLE AND MAKING A DECISION AND SAYING, DO WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH.
YOU WANTED TO SAY A FEW WORDS, AND THEN I'M GOING TO MAKE A COMMENT OF BRINGING US BACK ON WHERE WE NEED TO HEAD. BERRY.
>> DISCUSSIONS RANGE IS PRETTY FAR AND WIDE, BUT I WANT TO CHECK WITH BRIAN, WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR THE DEMOLITION TO GO FORWARD BECAUSE THAT WAS THE LAST VOTE WE'VE HAD ON ANYTHING AND I KNOW IT WAS DELAYED.
>> THE BIGGEST THING IS WE HAD [OVERLAPPING].
>> I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE DELAYING AGAIN, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, SPRING BREAKS HERE, WE DON'T WANT TO DE.
>> THE BIGGEST THING THAT'S DELAYED THE DEMOLITION IS THE PEOPLE BEING STILL IN THE BUILDING.
WE TRY TO NOT DEMOLISH BUILDINGS WHEN PEOPLE ARE STILL IN THEM.
BUT I BELIEVE THE TRAILERS 100% NOW DUDLEY ARE.
>> THOSE TRAILERS THAT TRAIL PORTIONS.
>> ONCE THAT HAPPENS, MY ONLY CONCERN THAT I'M HEARING OUT OF ALL THIS, I DON'T DISAGREE WITH ANYTHING.
WE'LL DO ANYTHING YOU WANT TO DO.
THERE ARE CONCRETE STRUCTURES ALL OVER THIS BEACH THAT ARE WAY OLDER THAN THE BEACH, THAN THE PAVILION, AND THEY'VE BEEN MAINTAINED AND THEY'RE STILL THERE AND THEY'RE STILL FUNCTIONING AND THEY STILL SURVIVE HURRICANES.
YOU HAVE TO RE IMAGINE THAT PAVILION.
YOU DON'T IMAGINE IT AS THE BOX THAT IT IS.
IT'S BEEN A BOX, AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO PUT A BUNKER LIKE BUILDING OUT THERE, THAT'S FINE.
BUT JUST REMEMBER, IF YOU WANT THAT TO BE YOUR FLAGSHIP PARK AND YOU'VE GOT A BUNKER SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF IT, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF DISCUSSION THAT NEEDS TO HAVE, NEEDS TO BE HAD AS TO WHERE WE GO NEXT.
ALL THE WHILE YOU'RE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION NOW, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE YOUR BEACH PATROL OPERATING OUT OF TRAILERS.
OUR GOAL WAS TO GET THEM OUT OF THOSE TRAILERS WITHIN TWO YEARS, I BELIEVE.
SOUNDS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE LONGER IN TWO YEARS, AND THAT'S A CONCERN THAT I WOULD HAVE FOR YOUR BEACH PATROL.
THAT'S JUST WHERE I LEAVE THAT RIGHT.
>> I UNDERSTAND. BUT I THINK THAT DISCUSSION WAS MADE AT ONE TIME TO DO THE DEMOLITION.
COUNSEL VOTED TO DO A DEMOLITION OF THAT BUILDING.
>> THERE WERE SOME GOOD ARGUMENTS MADE TO BE REHABBING THAT ONE, BUT THE DECISION WAS MADE.
WE NEED TO JUST GO FORWARD WITH THAT.
>> BOB, WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO MAKE A FINAL STATEMENT.
>> AGAIN, THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO TRY TO DO.
THE WHOLE REASON WE'RE HERE IS BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO BUILD A BEACH BAILING LIKE IT IS.
IT WOULD TOTALLY WIPE OUT OUR WHOLE RESERVE.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WANTS TO DO THAT.
BUT WE'RE ALSO NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SEPARATING FUNCTIONS, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WHAT NEWS GO WERE AND ALL THAT.
THOSE ARE GOOD IDEAS, BUT WE SHOULDN'T LET THE PROJECT DRIVE THE BUDGET.
WE SHOULD LET THE BUDGET DRIVE THE PROJECT.
WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS THE CITY STAFF HAS TO COME UP WITH THIS BUDGET.
AGAIN, THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN DO THAT IS BY RESEARCHING OTHER SIMILAR FACILITIES AND GETTING A BENCHMARK COST PER SQUARE FOOT.
THEN NOW, YOU HAVE TO ALSO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S A REASONABLE COST PER SQUARE FOOT FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
WE KNOW WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS WAY TOO MUCH.
WHAT IS IT FOR ALMOST 47,000 SQUARE FEET? THAT'S TOO MUCH. WE NEED COUNSEL, WE NEED THE BUDGET TO DRIVE THE PROJECT, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
OTHERWISE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET THERE.
>> I WANT TO BRING THIS BACK TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
THE SALIENT POINT HERE IN MY MIND IS, DO WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A RFP FOR A MASTER DEVELOPER OR A MASTER PLAN FOR THIS FOR NOT ONLY STEWART BEACH PARK, BUT ALL THE OTHER PARKS MANAGED BY THE PARK BOARD? IF WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT, THEN THAT WILL BRING A LOT OF INFORMATION BACK TO US TO DETERMINE WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH THIS PART.
>> MAYOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YOU ARTICULATED MY POINT VERY CLEARLY.
I'M GLAD THAT CHAIRMAN HARDCASTLE BROUGHT UP THE DEVELOPMENT RFP THAT HAD GONE OUT.
YES, I DID HAVE A COMPONENT IN THERE THAT WAS IN CONFLICT WITH OTHER ORDINANCES FROM THE HOTEL.
[02:05:02]
BUT THERE'S NO REASON WHY THAT MODEL IN TERMS OF DEVELOPMENT, AND THEN THE LEASE BACK OF THE LAND, SIMILAR TO WHAT THE PORT DOES COULD BE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DELIVERED MUCH MORE QUICKLY THAN, I THINK QUARTERLY MEETINGS WITH THIS GROUP AND THEN MOVING FORWARD.DOES IT NEED TO BE MASTER PLAN? YES, IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE MASTER PLAN.
THAT'S THE BOB'S POINT AS WELL.
THOSE SALIENT CONCEPTS AND IDEAS, WHETHER WAVES, WHETHER IT BE A ROLLER RING, WHATEVER THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO BE CAN BE DELIVERED IN A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP MODEL.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE, WITH THE CONCERN ABOUT BEACH PATROL, THOSE TRAILERS DO HAVE A LIFE OF FIVE YEARS.
I KNOW THAT BEACH PATROL, IT'S NOT IDEAL TO BE IN THE TRAILERS, BUT THEY ARE PREPARED TO OPERATE OUT OF THOSE TRAILERS ONCE THEY HAVE UTILITIES, WHICH ULTIMATELY IS WHAT WE'RE WAITING ON TO MOVE THE TRAILERS OUT.
THE TRAILERS HAVE WHEELS, THEY CAN BE MOVED IN THE EVENT THAT THEY NEED TO GET OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN.
ADDITIONALLY, JUST AS A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, THE RESULT OF THESE RESPONSES TO THE RFQ THAT WAS ISSUED IN 2021 WITH JOL.
EACH ONE DID COME BACK WITH A RESORT SLASH HOTEL COMPONENT.
YES. EACH ONE DID DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO MODIFY IT.
THEY JUST CAME WITH THE HIGHEST POTENTIAL REVENUE SOURCE OUT THERE AS WELL.
THE ISSUE IS THE CONVENTION CENTER CONTRACT, AND THERE CANNOT BE ANY COMPETITION WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER ATTRACTIONS. NONE OF THEM.
>> WILL ALSO HAD TO DO. [OVERLAPPING]
>> SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THEIR MEETING SPACE.
>> WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER AND THE LANDRY'S CONTRACT.
EACH THAT LANDRY'S ALSO DEMONSTRATED THAT THAT WAS NEGOTIABLE.
>> BUT IT WAS THE DONATION OF THE PARK THAT PROHIBITS IT.
>> IT WAS THE CONTRACT MEETING SPACE?
>> NO. IT WAS ALSO THE WAY HAD TO DO WITH THE DONATION OF STEWART BEACH TO THE CITY AND WHAT COULD BE ON THAT LOCATION, WAS THE BIGGER STOPPING BLOCK THAN THE OTHER?
>> THIS IS WHERE IF WE MOVE IN ORDER TO MOVE ON.
WITH A MASTER PLANNING TYPE COMPONENT OF THIS, THAT THAT WOULD ALL BE SEARCHED OUT IN. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IN NEGOTIABLE. YES. THEN WE DID ALSO COME BACK WITH THE RFQ, COUNCILWOMAN ROBB AND COUNCILMAN FINKLEY, MAYOR BROWN, YOU WERE ALL HERE FOR THIS.
WE DID PUT TOGETHER YOUR REQUESTS AND DO HAVE RESULTS, BUT THE AGENDA WAS WRITTEN SO THAT WE CAN PRESENT THOSE?
>> LET'S GET MORE THOUGHTS ON THIS MASTER DEVELOPER CONCEPT.
>> ONE OF THE REASONS I GUESS THAT 2021 RP FOR A DEVELOPER HAD PROBLEMS WAS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GIVE HIM THE DIRECTION.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE ASKING A DEVELOPER TO TELL US WHAT'S GOING TO BE BUILT THERE.
I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A PLAN TO GIVE THE DEVELOPER A DIRECTION OF WHAT WE WANT, WHAT THE CITY WANTS.
>> HE DIDN'T DO IT. THAT WAS DONE BY THE PARK BOARD.
>> WELL, I SAY WE, I'M COLLECTIVELY WE.
I MEAN THE CITY, THE PARK BOARD, THE RESIDENTS, TOURISM INDUSTRY, EVERYBODY IS WE.
THAT'S THE POINT OF THE MASTER PLAN IS TO GET THAT AND HAVE THE WE DRIVE WHAT GOES THERE, NOT THE DEVELOPER, BUT IF IT'S A GOOD DEVELOPER AND THAT'S WHY YOU DO ACCUSE RFPS FOR DEVELOPERS TO FIND THE RIGHT ONE.
THE RIGHT ONE IS GOING TO BE THE ONE THAT ONCE WHAT WE HAVE SAID, WE WANT TO SEE AT STEWART BEACH PARK. IT'S GREAT.
YEAH, DO A REQUEST FOR A DEVELOPER, BUT HAVE THE INFORMATION AHEAD OF TIME TO GIVE TO HIM TO GIVE HIM THE INSTRUCTIONS, AND THAT'S WHAT A MASTER PLAN CAN DO.
MAYBE YOU CAN DO THOSE THINGS SIMULTANEOUSLY.
MAYBE YOU CAN DO THAT. I DON'T KNOW.
BUT JUST ONE MORE POINT, JUST SO WE DON'T LOSE THE BEACH PATROL HEADQUARTERS, I HOPE WE CAN FIND A WAY TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT SIMULTANEOUSLY TO DOING MASTER PLAN AND DEVELOPERS.
LIKE I SAID EARLIER, I THINK THE VERY FIRST STEP IS TO DEVELOP A BUDGET BASED ON FACILITIES, SQUARE FOOT COST AND HAVE THE CITY STAFF BRING THAT BACK TO US.
>> IT'S SO HARD. IF YOU DO A BUDGET FROM 21 OR 23.
THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION CAN BE MANIPULATED IN A MATTER OF SIX MONTHS.
>> YOU DO A SCHEDULE LOOKING OUT TO THE FUTURE FOR ALL INFLATION IS ALWAYS PART OF A BUDGET.
>> I UNDERSTAND BUT THEY'VE BEEN DOING THAT SCHEDULE SINCE 2018.
>> BUT THEY HAVEN'T HAD A BUDGET FOR THIS FACILITY.
>> WELL, THE BUDGET MEANS WHERE ARE THE FUNDING SOURCES FOR THIS? WE NEED TO EXPLORE THE FUNDING SOURCE.
THE FUNDING SOURCES ARE NOT ONLY THE AMOUNT OF MONEY 12 MILLION OR WHATEVER IS DEPOSITED HERE AT THE PARK OR AT THE CITY.
[02:10:02]
WE HAVE OTHER AVENUES OF POSSIBLE FUNDING FOR THIS.THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE THE IDC POSSIBLY MIGHT FIT INTO THIS.
WE HAVE THE ABILITY FOR BONDS AND THINGS ON THIS.
THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER FUNDING SOURCES THAT COULD BE.
PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP THAT PLAYS A BIG ROLE IN THIS FUNDING.
>> YES, SIR. I AGREE WITH BOB.
LIKE, THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING.
THIS IS THE THING THAT IF IN MY OPINION, THE NORTH SIDE OF THE PARK LOOKED LIKE, THAT'S REALLY ATTRACTIVE.
IT GIVES TO THAT GALVESTON BEACH TOWN, OLD, NEW FEEL.
WITH WHAT BOB SAYING WE NEED TO BE POINTED.
PERSONALLY, I THINK THAT LAST RFQ WITH THE HOTELS AND RESORT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A MATCH BETWEEN WHEN WOULD LANDRY STEP IN AND WHEN WOULD THE PARK BOARD AT TIME, WHAT THEY COULD GET AWAY WITH AND THEY WASTED A LOT OF MONEY AND TIME.
AGAIN, WITH ALL THOSE PLANS, WASTED MONEY AND TIME.
COMING UP WITH, WE ALL KNOW WHAT WE WANT.
I THINK MAYBE JANELLE, OR THE MAYOR OR SOMEBODY CAN COLLECTIVELY, WE CAN PUT TOGETHER A COMBINATION OF THE THINGS WE WANT AT THE PARK SO WE CAN SEND IT OFF TO LOOK AT BIDS FOR MASTER DEVELOPER WHEN WE GET THE CONSULTANT.
THE MASTER PLAN, WHEN'S THAT TIMELINE MOVING ON MASTER PLAN? I KNOW WE'RE FOR THE GRANT FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
>> OH, GOODNESS. THAT'S A YEAR AWAY.
>> WE GOT TO SELECT SOME THAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING AWARDING TO OBVIOUSLY THROUGH YOU GUYS AT THE TIME WE GET FUNDED BY THE GLO FOR THE PROGRAM.
THE GLO ISN'T REALLY COMPLETELY FORTHCOMING ABOUT WHEN THEY ANTICIPATE FUNDING IT, BUT THEY'RE MOVING FORWARD WE'VE BEEN TOLD PERHAPS AT THE END OF THE YEAR OR EARLY NEXT YEAR.
>> WE CAN START ESTABLISHING FRAMEWORKS OF THINGS THAT WE WANT TO SEE IT.
>> I THINK COUNCILMEMBER PORRETTO'S THOUGHTS ARE GOOD.
THE IDEAL SCENE IS WE HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THAT HELPED GUIDES US ON A LOT OF THESE DECISIONS.
PROBLEM WITH THIS SITUATION RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE BEACH PATROL HEADQUARTERS.
WE NEED TO MAKE DECISIONS ON THE PAVILION DEMOLITION.
ALSO, THEN IT JUST TAKES TIME.
THIS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, IT'S PROBABLY 12-18 MONTHS AWAY IN MY MIND BEFORE WE WRAP IT ALL UP AND FINISH THE PROCESS BY THE TIME WE GET THROUGH IT.
IT'S A PROCESS THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE SOME TIME AND REALLY SPEND ON IT.
>> I'M GOING TO ASK JASON OR WHOMEVER, KIMBERLY, TO PROVIDE TO COUNCIL THE MASTER PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE SINCE LATE '90S, BECAUSE YOU SAID YOU HAD 10 YEARS.
[OVERLAPPING] BECAUSE I REMEMBER ONE THAT WAS DONE WHEN JERRY [INAUDIBLE] WAS THE HEAD OF THE PARK BOARD, THAT HAD THREE BUILDINGS THAT LOOKED JUST LIKE THIS.
I THINK IT'D BE A GREAT WALK IN HISTORY FOR EVERYONE TO LOOK AT ALL THE MANY MASTER PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE PROBABLY FOR A COLLECTIVE CLAUSE WELL IN EXCESS OF ONE MILLION, MAYBE TWO AND JUST SEE THAT.
I AGREE WITH BOB THAT MASTER PLANS CAN BECOME OBSOLETE.
EXCEPT FOR WHEN I LOOK AT THIS AND IT LOOKS JUST LIKE THAT ONE PLAN THAT WAS DONE, I THINK IT WAS EITHER LATE '90S OR EARLY 2000.
YOU SAID THAT JANELLE AND JANELLE CAN GET IT OUT THE COUNCIL.
>> SOUNDS GOOD. BOB, I THINK I'M HEARING MORE OF AN OPINION ABOUT LOOKING AT MOVING FORWARD POSSIBLY WITH A MASTER DEVELOPER TYPE APPROACH ON HOW THAT IS GOING TO BE WORKED OUT.
>> I THINK COUNCIL NEEDS TO DECIDE THAT.
>> CORRECT. COUNCIL NEEDS TO GIVE INPUT ON SOME OF THE DIRECTION ON HOW WE NEED TO SEE THAT.
THAT CAN BE DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH PARK BOARD'S INPUT, OF COURSE, BUT WE NEED TO GIVE INJECTION.
IF YOU COULD LOOK AT SEE THE LOGISTICS OF THAT, IF YOU WOULD, SIR, BEING REALLY NICE.
>> HOW DO WE GET THE RESIDENTS' INPUT ON THIS PROCESS?
>> WELL, THAT WOULD GO THROUGH WITH THE MASTER PLANNING PROCESS.
>> WE'RE GETTING AHEAD OF OURSELVES. IF WE DO
[02:15:01]
A MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN RRIP BEFORE WE HAVE A MASTER PLAN, WE'RE DOING IT BACKWARDS.>> WE GO TO GET THE ORDER RIGHT.
>> I THINK IF WE SEPARATELY COME UP WITH OUR OWN BULLET POINT IDEAS OF WHAT WE THINK SHOULD HAPPEN OR SHOULD BE IF WE WERE TO SEND OUT A BID TO A DEVELOPER, WE COULD LOOK AT IT COLLECTIVELY AND SEPARATE, PUT IT ALL TOGETHER AND PICK APART WHAT WE WANT TO KEEP ON AND WANT TO TAKE OFF BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S LIKE WE'RE TALKING IN CIRCLE SO I THINK MAYBE WE BE POINTED ABOUT DIRECTION TO BOTH BOARD AND COUNCIL, PUT WHAT WE WANT TO SEE DOWN AND THEN START CHOPPING AWAY OR ADDING TO IT TOGETHER.
>> IT COULD BE THAT THE MASTER DEVELOPMENT AND MASTER PLAN PROCESS IS SIMULTANEOUS BY ONE DEVELOPER.
DEVELOPERS DO MASTER PLANS ALL THE TIME AND THEY ALSO DEVELOP, SO WE COULD COMBINE THAT.
MY WHOLE POINT FOR THIS IS I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO IT AGAIN, AND THIS WON'T BE SUCCESSFUL UNLESS WE HAVE SUPPORT ALL ACROSS THE BOARD.
THE ONLY WAY TO GET SUPPORT IS STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT.
WE HAVE TO BE CERTAIN THAT WE DO THAT RIGHT UP FRONT.
>> THAT'S WHY I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD EXERCISE FOR EVERYONE TO LOOK AT THE LAST 25 SO YEARS BECAUSE THERE WAS STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT IN ALL THOSE PLANS.
IT WOULD GIVE YOU A GOOD IDEA.
>> MARY, IT APPEARS TO ME THAT WE'RE ENDING THIS DISCUSSION JUST LIKE WE STARTED IT.
BE IT QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK THE ONLY THING I SEE THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH IS THE DECISION TO DEMOLISH A PAVILION.
WE ARE DOWN ON I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MASTER PLANS AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE TAKING THIS DISCUSSION INTO THE SAME DIRECTION OF ANOTHER MASTER PLAN.
AT WHAT POINT AS APPOINTED TRUSTEES AND ELECTED OFFICIALS, DO WE SAY [OVERLAPPING] LET'S DO IT? LET'S COLLECTIVELY COME TOGETHER, LOOK AT WHAT WE KNOW, GET THE CITIZENS' INPUT, THE TOURISTS' INPUT, AND TO COME TO A DECISION THAT THIS IS WHAT WE KNOW IS GOING TO BE BEST FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
WE HAVE A PROPERTY THAT'S SITTING AT THE END OF GALVESTON, 60,000 SQUARE FEET, THAT QUITE FRANKLY COULD BE THE LARGEST, HIGHEST REVENUE GENERATOR FOR THE CITY THAT HAS NOT BEEN USED SINCE 2021.
THAT HAS ACTUALLY CROSSED A FEW ELECTED OFFICIALS SITTING AROUND THIS TABLE AND EVEN A FEW APPOINTED TRUSTEES.
I WOULD HATE THAT ALL THOSE THAT ARE TUNED IN ARE SEEING THIS DISCUSSION AND REWINDING THIS DISCUSSION ALL OVER AGAIN.
AT WHAT POINT DOES THE NEXT DISCUSSION BE THE DISCUSSION THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH A PLAN TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT STEWART BEACH AND THAT NOT BE ANOTHER TALKING POINT IN THE NEXT 18 MONTHS?
>> WELL, I THINK I AGREE WITH YOU, GERALD.
I THINK THE KEY IS, HOW DO WE DO THAT? THAT'S THE QUESTION.
I THINK WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT ON WHAT YOU'VE MENTIONED.
BUT HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD? DO WE DO IT WITH THE MASTER PLAN TYPE PROCESS? DO WE DO IT WHERE WE ALL SIT AROUND THIS TABLE AS WE'RE DOING TODAY AND GO BACK THROUGH THE STEWART BEACH.
>> I LIKE [OVERLAPPING] IDEA OF DOING IT SIMULTANEOUSLY.
>> BUT ONE THING THAT IS A PROBLEM, SO IT HAS ALREADY BEEN VOTED ON BY COUNCIL TO DEMOLISH THE PAVILION.
>> NOW, ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE WANT TO CHANGE PAST COUNCILS.
WE COULD SPEND OUR WHOLE LIFE'S REWRITING ORDINANCE OF WHICH HALF OF THEM NEVER GET BALLED ANYWAY OR ENFORCED, OR WE COULD ACTUALLY JUST DO IT.
>> JUST I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP THAT I ACTUALLY SAID ABOUT, I SAY COMBINATION MASTER-DEVELOPER-MASTER-PLAN DOCUMENT.
WE COULD PUT IT IN THE SCOPE OF THE WORK OF THE MASTER DEVELOPER TO DO PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND BRING THAT BACK.
I GUESS THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
IN TERMS OF THE DEMOLITION OF THE BUILDING, I WASN'T HERE WHEN IT WAS VOTED ON TO DO THAT.
BUT TO ME, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE BUILDING.
I COULD CARE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
IT'S ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO BE MORE EFFICIENT AND BETTER USE OF TAXPAYER'S DOLLAR TO GUT IT AND REPURPOSE IT WITH THESE CERTAIN FUNCTIONS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, AND THEN PUT ADMINISTRATION OR OTHER MORE, I GUESS, SUPPORT SYSTEM INTENSIVE PARTS OF THE PROGRAM ELSEWHERE.
OR IS IT GOING TO BE TO TEAR IT DOWN AND BUILD A NEW CONCRETE STRUCTURE SOMEWHERE ELSE? WHAT COSTS MORE? IT WOULD BE THE SAME PROGRAM IN EITHER ONE.
ONE WOULD INVOLVE THE REPURPOSING A BUILDING, ONE WOULD INVOLVE DEMOLISHING IT AND BUILDING A NEW ONE. TO ME, IT'S JUST ECONOMIC.
[02:20:03]
THAT'S IF WE WANT TO DO THAT ANALYSIS, I GUESS STAFF COULD DO IT PRETTY QUICKLY.OR IF WE DON'T, YOU WANT TO JUST GO AHEAD AND DEMOLISH IT, IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ME, BUT I'M JUST APPROACHING IT FROM AN ECONOMICS PERSPECTIVE.
>> PERSONALLY, I THINK THAT KEEPING THE PAVILION OR NOT HAS TO DO WITH THE WHOLE MASTER PLAN AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO OUT THERE AND THAT'S A GOOD POINT, MARK.
I THINK GERALD HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD HERE.
WE NEED TO DETERMINE HOW WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.
WE NEED TO GET INTO THE NUTS AND BOLTS.
DO WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD? TASK, WHEN YOU STARTED, BOB, THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION, WOULD YOU READ YOUR RECOMMENDATION?
>> AGAIN, AT THE VERY END OF THAT I'M SUGGESTING THAT STAFF GENERATE A PRELIMINARY BUDGET FUNDING SOURCE AND SCHEDULE FOR AN UPDATED PARKS MASTER PLAN WITH A FOCUS ON STEWART BEACH PARK, ONE.
TWO, A PROPOSAL TO I SAID, REVISIT THE BEACH PATROL HEADQUARTER PROJECT, ESTABLISHING GUIDELINES, BUDGET, AND PROGRAMMING AS THE VERY FIRST STEP.
THAT CAN BE BROUGHT BACK TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
I GO BACK TO CREATING THIS BUDGET.
THE CITY STAFF HAS TO DO THAT SO WE DON'T HAVE THE PROJECT DRIVING THE BUDGET, WE HAVE THE BUDGET DRIVING THE PROJECT.
>> WHAT DOES COUNCIL FEEL ABOUT THAT RECOMMENDATION THAT WE HAD ABOUT AN HOUR AND 15 MINUTES AGO? [LAUGHTER] PERSONALLY, I LIKE THAT APPROACH.
THAT'S WHY I THINK THAT WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT THEN LET'S GET COUNCIL'S THOUGHTS ON THAT. YES, SIR.
>> I WOULD DEFINITELY SUPPORT THAT, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT WITHOUT AN ATTACHMENT OF ENGAGING AND INITIATING.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE HAS ENGAGED OUR CITIZENS AND WE'RE GOING TO GO OUT AND DO IT AGAIN.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE FROM US, TALKING TO PEOPLE WHEN WE'RE OUT AND ABOUT TO BILL WALKING THE SANDS AND TALKING TO PEOPLE THAT ARE BOTH TOURISTS AND LOCALS, TO THE ACTUAL PROFESSIONAL QUALIFIED REPORTS THAT HAVE ALL ENGAGED OUR CITIZENS OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS.
I THINK WE'RE PAST THAT POINT.
FOR THE BUDGET TO DRIVE THE PROJECT, I THINK THAT IS KEY.
OF COURSE, WE GOT TO KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT AND HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO BE.
BUT AS FAR AS CONTINUING TO DEVELOP MASTER PLANS AND DESIGNS, WHAT IS IT THAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER AND SAY THIS IS WHAT WE WANT, THIS IS WHAT THE COST IS GOING TO BE, LET'S PUT IT INTO ACTION? AS FAR AS 18 MONTHS OF PLANNING, WE'VE BEEN THERE, DONE THAT 10 TIMES.
>> NO, BECAUSE I HAD THESE SAME DISCUSSIONS WHEN I WAS ON COUNCIL.
>> I'M SECURING AND SUPPORTING WHAT YOU SAID.
>> IT'S PROBABLY MORE THAN THAT EXACTLY.
>> IT'S THE PUBLIC AND WHEN WE SAY WE, WHENEVER WE SAY WE, I'M ALWAYS COUNTING THE CITY COUNCIL, THE PARK BOARD, AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE AS WE.
REALLY LISTEN, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS IS NOT SIMPLY ABOUT GETTING INPUT, IT'S ABOUT TRANSPARENCY.
IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THEY FEEL LIKE WHEN WE'RE DONE THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE SOMETHING TO THEM, WE'VE DONE SOMETHING WITH THEM.
>> BOB, AND THIS IS STAFF, BRIAN, IF WE MOVE FORWARD IN THE DIRECTION THAT BOB ORIGINALLY RECOMMENDED AND WHAT HE MENTIONED HERE, HOW LONG DOES THAT PROCESS TAKE TO GET THIS BACK TO COUNCIL?
>> I HAVE NO IDEA OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD THERE.
>> IT'S A COLLECTIVE DECISION.
>> I WILL TELL YOU FIRST OFF, YOU WANT A BUDGET.
Y'ALL HAVE TO TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT TO SPEND.
RIGHT NOW, I HAVE ZERO DOLLARS FOR IT THAT I HAVE ACCESS TO.
YOU HAVE TO TELL ME YOU GIVE ME A BUDGET, WE'LL BRING YOU A PROJECT AND THE BUDGET, BUT YOU GOT TO TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT TO SPEND.
>> BRIAN, WHAT I WAS SUGGESTING WAS THAT STAFF, I COULD GIVE YOU A BUNCH OF BEACH PATROL HEADQUARTERS PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.
BUT WHAT I'M SUGGESTING IS THAT STAFF DOES THE RESEARCH TO FIND COMPARABLES, FIND OTHER BEACH PATROL HEADQUARTERS PLACES AND PLACES THAT MAY BE CLOSE TO OUR POPULATION OR CLOSE TO A PARTICULAR SERVICE AREA AND NEED LIKE THAT AND THEN FIND OUT WHAT THEY COST.
>> NO, I AGREE. A BIG CHUNK OF WHAT'S DRIVING THE COST OF THIS BEACH PATROL HEADQUARTERS IS YOUR SUMMER CAMP, WHICH MOST OF THE OTHER BEACH PATROLS DON'T OPERATE.
AM I CORRECT ON THAT, DUDLEY? THAT'S WHAT'S DRIVING MOST OF THE SQUARE FOOTAGE.
TO BUILD ON THE BEACH IS 5-$600 A SQUARE FOOT AND SO JUST MULTIPLY THAT OUT AND THAT'S WHAT THE COST IS GOING TO BE.
THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN JUST SETTING THE BUDGET.
THERE'S ALSO ABOUT SETTING PROGRAM PARAMETERS AND EVERYTHING ELSE AROUND THIS.
DO YOU WANT TO DO THE LIFEGUARD PROGRAM WITH THE KIDS SOMEPLACE ELSE?
[02:25:04]
DO YOU WANT IT INCORPORATE IT IN THE HEADQUARTERS? THERE'S A WHOLE LOT THAT GOES INTO THIS.DUDLEY HAD A WHOLE PRESENTATION THAT WE NEVER EVEN GOT TO OVER THIS.
IT WOULD HAVE EXPLAINED 99% OF THIS.
>> THE COMPARABLES NOT ONLY DRIVE THE BUDGET, THEY DRIVE THE PROGRAM.
DO THESE COMPARABLES REALLY NEED A GIANT CONFERENCE ROOM OR WHATEVER WE'RE SAYING WE NEED? IT'S NOT JUST THE BUDGET. IT'S JUST GETTING AN IDEA OF HOW WE CAN APPROACH ESTABLISHING BENCHMARKS SO WE CAN GO FORWARD.
IT MAY WOBBLE A BIT THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, BUT AT LEAST WE HAVE A BENCHMARK BASED ON OTHER COMPARABLES TO START WITH.
>> COUNCIL, I'M TELLING YOU, I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE WE'RE GOING ON THIS RIGHT NOW.
I DO LIKE BOB'S DECISION ON THAT. I AGREE WITH GERALD.
WE'VE GOT TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS THOUGH AND WE NEED TO DO IT IN A REALLY STRUCTURED WAY.
>> CAN WE GIVE PARAMETERS OF WHAT WE WANT TO SEE AT STEWART BEACH AND DRIVE IT FORWARD AND PUT IT OUT FOR RFP, RFQ FOR PRIVATE-PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP? I THINK THAT'S THE NEXT STEP.
I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT NOW BECAUSE THAT'S ANOTHER THREE HOURS, BUT I THINK THIS IS TIME FOR US TO GO BACK INTO OUR CORNERS, PUT WHAT WE WANT TO SEE AT THE PARK, AND THEN MOVE FORWARD.
IF THAT'S INCLUDING THEIR PART, WE'RE GOING TO PULL STEWART BEACH OUT FOR THE STEWART BEACH MASTER PLAN FOR THAT DEVELOPER TO PUT TOGETHER IN THE RFQ AND THAT'S PART OF THE PROCESS.
I WOULD BE OKAY WITH PULLING THAT PART OUT OF OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND JUST HAVE A MASTER PLAN FOR STEWART BEACH.
IT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME IF WE WANT THIS TO BE AN OUTLIER TO TIE IT WITH EAST BEACH OR POCKET PARKS OR SEAWOLF.
IT SHOULD BE A STANDALONE DEAL.
I THINK MAYBE GO BACK INTO OUR CORNERS, PUT TOGETHER THE LIST.
>> I CAN CREATE A STEWART BEACH OVERLAY ZONE.
>> IF I COULD. AFTER LISTENING TO ALL OF THE DISCUSSION, I'M GOING TO SUGGEST THAT I'M VERY RELUCTANT TO DEMOLISH THE PAVILION UNLESS WE KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING.
IT'S AN EXPENSIVE FRAME TO BUILD.
IF WE KNEW WHERE WE WERE GOING, I'D SAY, TAKE IT DOWN TOMORROW.
BUT I'M NOT GOING TO RECOMMEND TO YOU TO TAKE IT DOWN TODAY UNTIL WE KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING.
IT'S SAT OUT THERE IN THE SHAPE IT'S IN FOR SEVERAL YEARS, ANOTHER YEAR WON'T HURT IT A BIT.
>> MY QUESTION WOULD BE, COUNCIL ALREADY VOTED TO DEMOLISH THE PAVILION, SO THAT'S ALREADY FINISHED.
>> WE ARE READY TO DO IT AT YOUR WILL.
I'M GIVING YOU MY RECOMMENDATION AND I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING ELSE.
>> WELL, I'M JUST SAYING COUNCIL ALREADY VOTED TO DEMOLISH THE PAVILION.
IT'S ALWAYS THROWN BACK AT US, YOU DO THE POLICY, WE DO THE MANAGEMENT.
WELL, WE SET THE POLICY, DEMOLISH THE PAVILION.
JASON JUST SAID THAT THEY'RE OPEN TO SPENDING FIVE YEARS OR THEY HAVE A LIFE OF FIVE YEARS.
HOPEFULLY, THE UTILITIES WILL BE PUT IN.
>> IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR THE HURRICANE, IT ALREADY WOULD BE DEMOLISHED, CORRECT?
>> WE HAD PLANNED ON DEMOLISHING IT BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY. IT'S BEEN HELD UP.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT YOU HAVE AN ASSET ON THE BEACH AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE BEACH.
IT MIGHT BE GOOD TO RECONSIDER IT.
>> I THINK WE KNOW WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH THE BEACH.
WE KNOW WE WANT IT DEVELOPED, AND I DON'T THINK WE THE CITY COULD AFFORD IT TO DEVELOP IT.
I DON'T THINK THE PARK BOARD COULD AFFORD IT TO DEVELOP IT.
WE GAVE BRIAN HELL ON LAST BUDGET, AND WE CAN'T AFFORD IT.
TO MAKE IT WHAT WE WANT IT TO BE.
>> LET ME JUST SAY THIS, ABSENT A VOTE IN OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
>> IT'S GOING DOWN. BUT SOMEBODY NEEDS TO TELL PETER HE MIGHT WANT TO LEAVE.
>> WHAT IS EXACTLY THE COST THAT IT WOULD COST THE CITY TO PUT IT OUT FOR SEVERAL PEOPLE TO LOOK AND SPEND PRIVATE DOLLARS.
I DON'T THINK IT WOULD COST THE CITY MUCH IN A BUDGET IF WE GAVE THE PARAMETERS.
>> THEY WANT TO RECONSIDER TEARING IT DOWN OR.
>> NO. I'M TALKING ABOUT MOVING FORWARD WITH THE MASTER PLAN AND DEVELOPING STEWART BEACH.
>> I DON'T THINK IT WOULD COST THE CITY ANYTHING FOR A PRIVATE DEVELOPER TO GIVE US BIDS AND SAY THIS IS WHAT WE SEE.
[02:30:03]
>> I WAS GOING TO AT LEAST PUT IT OUT.
IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A TASK FORCE TO COME TOGETHER A GROUP OF COUNCIL MEMBERS, A GROUP OF TRUSTEES THAT'S MORE NIMBLE, THAT HAS ALL OF THE INPUT FROM THE REST OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE REST OF THE PARK BOARD.
>> HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THAT FOR, JASON, TWO-AND-HALF YEARS, THREE YEARS?
>> THERE WERE TWO ITERATIONS OF THE STEWART BEACH AD HOC COMMITTEE THAT I THINK EXTENDED TO.
>> WHAT'S THE TIMELINE THAT YOU WOULD LOOK FOR IF.
>> WELL, I JUST WANT TO MOVE THIS THING FORWARD.
BUT IF WE DID A TASK FORCE, IF WE'RE GOING TO BE PREPARED FOR ANOTHER TWO HOUR DISCUSSION.
>> I UNDERSTAND. WELL, IF WE DID A TASK FORCE, WHAT'S THE TIMELINE THAT WE COME BACK WITH RECORD?
>> THAT WOULD BE BUT IF THAT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WAS ALREADY. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THIS WAS MY POINT TO CHAIRMAN HARDCASTLE.
YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH THE PROCESS ONCE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT RQ AND RFP.
TO COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN'S POINT ABOUT WRAPPING IN THE FRONT END OF THAT WITH SCOPE OF SERVICES RELATED TO DOING A MASTER PLAN AND THEN COMING BACK WITH THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
YOU'VE GOT THE SCOPE ALREADY WRITTEN PREVIOUSLY.
I WOULD THINK THAT SHORT ORDER THAT YOU COULD GET TOGETHER AND WRITE ANOTHER SCOPE, THAT WOULD BE THE DIRECTIVE OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HERE.
WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER BOTH A MASTER PLAN AND THEN A DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
SURE. I'M VERY CONFIDENT IF WE GET WITH THE COMMITTEE ROUTE, HAVE RESULTS, THAT IF WE WENT DIRECTLY FROM COUNCIL, THAT WE WOULD HAVE RESULTS.
>> I JUST THINK THAT IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR YOUR QUICKEST WAY THERE, YOU'VE ALREADY GOT THE RESOURCES.
YOU'VE ALREADY GOT THE DATA, YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH THE PROCESS BEFORE TO BE ABLE TO UPDATE THAT RFP AND THEN SEND BACK OUT TO EITHER THOSE THREE PEOPLE OR OPEN IT UP FOR MORE.
>> I THINK COUNCIL NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT RFP.
>> BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW, WE WEREN'T INVOLVED IN THE LAST ONE.
>> WE GOT CARLOS AND THEN BOB.
COUNCIL, WE'VE GOT TO COME TOGETHER AND TRUSTEES ANXIOUS TO GET YOUR INPUT.
WE'VE GOT TO COME TOGETHER ON THIS.
THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS THIS HAS BEEN KICKED DOWN THE ROAD.
SOMETIMES IN MY MIND, WE HAVE A TENDENCY TO GET FRUSTRATED WITH THE EFFORTS THAT IT TAKES TO MOVE US FORWARD, AND SO WE PULL BACK FROM IT AND LET IT JUST MOVE ON ITS OWN VOLITION.
THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR THIS.
WE'VE BEEN TWO, 2.5 HOURS ON THIS.
IT IS FRUSTRATING, BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN, IT'S PRODUCTIVE BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO LET GO OF THIS, AND I KNOW YOU GENTLEMEN AND LADIES AT THIS TABLE ARE NOT GOING TO LET GO OF THIS TILL WE GET IT DONE.
>> LIKE YOU SAID, MIKE MAYOR, EVERYBODY, WE HAVE A LOT OF PLAN, A LOT OF IDEAS.
TOMORROW, THEY TEAR DOWN THE PAVILION.
THEN FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, WE STILL HAVE A PIECE OF LAND EMPTY THERE, AND NOTHING DONE BECAUSE WE'RE STILL DISCUSSING WHAT WOULD BE THE MASTER PLAN AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO FUND IT AND EVERYTHING.
ALSO WITHOUT ALL OF THAT LIKE POREO WAS SAYING WE NEED A TIME FRAME. WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS.
IN 10 YEARS, HAVE THE MASTER PLAN DONE OR WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO DO IT IN FIVE YEARS, AND THAT PUT FIRE ON OUR BEHIND, SO EVERYBODY TO TRY TO GET STICK TO THE TIMELINES.
I THINK ONE OF MY PROPOSITION IS TO WE NEED TO SAY, WE NEED TO GET THIS DONE AND HAVE A PLAN APPROVED BY EVERYBODY.
I KNOW IT'S NOT SET IN STONE, BUT AT LEAST GIVES US A GUIDELINE TO, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET THINGS DONE LIKE JUST MENTION IT.
>> TO GERALD'S POINT, 90 DAYS IN 30 DAYS, WE MEET AGAIN NOT PARK BOARD AND CITY, BUT CITY COUNCIL MEETS, PARK BOARD MEETS, DISCUSS ON WHAT THE PROPOSAL TO A DEVELOPER OR OUT FOR BID WOULD LOOK LIKE.
THEN THE NEXT 30 DAYS, WE CAN CHOP IT UP AND COMBINE THE TWO.
THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE SIMILAR IDEAS, AND THEN IN 90 DAYS WE PUT IT OUT.
>> CAN YOU GET THAT SHARED TO THE COUNCIL, THOSE THREE?
>> IS ANYTHING THAT YOU'LL REQUEST, WE'RE HAPPY TO SHARE.
>> THAT'LL BE HELPFUL AS FAR AS THAT 90 DAY WINDOW OF CREATING IDEAS AND CREATING A THINK BOX AS TO WHAT WE CAN BRING BACK TO YOU.
I THINK IT HELPS TO SUFFICE WHAT BOB YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
MAYBE IF WE'RE ABLE TO REVIEW THAT, SOME OF WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, WHICH IS PRODUCTIVE IS ALREADY HERE.
MAYBE YOU CAN ASSESS THAT TO SAY, A LOT OF WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IS HERE.
THEN THAT'LL GIVE US SOME INSIGHT AS WELL.
[02:35:01]
WITH YOUR EXPERTISE, AS TO SOMETHING THAT'LL FIT INTO THE BOX WE'RE LOOKING TO FINISH UP.>> WE AGREE ON A 90 DAY WINDOW HERE FOR THE FINAL RFP TO A DEVELOPER. WE AGREE ON THAT?
>> HOW WE GET THERE IS THE OTHER QUESTION AND WHETHER IT'S A TASK FORCE OR WE ALL SEND JASON AND CRAIG AND JANELLE OUR IDEA.
>> HE NEEDS TO SEND THIS THE MANY.
THEN THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT CAN BE DONE ON THAT PROPERTY.
>> SOME OF THOSE COVENANTS ARE VERY OLD, AND THERE'S ACTUALLY A COVENANTS ON THERE THAT YOU'RE NOT EVEN ALLOWED TO CHARGE FOR PARKING ON STEWART BEACH.
>> THAT WOULD BE A DEVELOPERS, THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE DEVELOPERS SCOPE OF WORKING.
>> ON THE RFP, YOU CANNOT VIOLATE STATE LAW.
>> BUT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF WHAT THAT IS.
>> I DO. I LIKE THAT IDEA OF GETTING ALL ALL THE PAST DOCUMENTATION OUT TO THE CITY COUNCIL, THEY REVIEW IT.
THEN CITY COUNCIL COMING UP WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT THEY THINK SHOULD BE IN A MASTER DEVELOPER'S PROPOSAL, AND THEN GETTING THAT ISSUED IN 90 DAYS.
>> THAT THAT SOUNDS GOOD, SHARON.
>> I HEARD YOU SAY THAT THEY CANNOT BREAK STATE LAW.
WHAT YOU WERE SAYING IS THAT A STATE LAW OR PART OF THE COVENANTS OF THE DONATION OF THOSE.
>> BUT AT WHAT POINT YOU SAID THAT THE LEVER WOULD DO THE OUR REQUEST FOR OUR FEET WOULD RESEARCH THAT?
>> YES. IT'S PART OF THE PROGRAMMING.
PROGRAMMING INVOLVES DELIVERING TO THE DEVELOPER WHAT THE OWNER WANTS.
>> IT'S NOT A SECRET. THAT'S MY BOTTOM LINE.
IT'S NOT A SECRET. YOU KNOW IT.
>> SHARON, I AIN'T SEEN IT, BUT I'M GOING TO KNOW IT.
>> CAN YOU TELL ME WHERE TO FIND IT?
>> THERE'S SOME SUPREME COURT LAW TO THAT COVENANT IS OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PERIODS.
>> THAT LAND WAS DONATED BY THE STEWART FAMILY DOWN THERE.
WHEN IT WAS DONATED TO CITY, THERE ARE COVENANTS THAT WOULD BE THERE OR NOT THERE.
>> WELL, THAT'S WHY THE ONE THING WE ALL AGREE IS ALL THIS INFORMATION IS GOING TO BE SENT AND COUNCIL'S GO TO MEET PARKFORDS GO TO MEET.
WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK TOGETHER IN 60 DAYS AND HAVE A JOINT MEETING.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR ON THE LOGISTICS HERE.
>> BECAUSE WE'LL BE AWARE THAT ROOM THAT HOLDS ALL THE MASTER PLANS IS WHAT ANCHORS THE PAVILIONS.
>> WE'RE GOING TO REVIEW ALL THE PAST DOCUMENTS AND THE RFP AND THE MASTER PLANS.
YOU'LL GET THOSE TO EVERYBODY.
JANELLE, WE'LL BE DISTRIBUTING THOSE TO COUNCIL.
THEN YOU WANT TO GIVE YOUR INPUT ON WHAT YOU FEEL SHOULD BE THERE AT STEWART BEACH.
WE WILL SEND THOSE HERE AT THE CITY.
LET'S SEND THOSE TO JANELLE AND JANELLE YOU'LL RECEIVE ALL OF THOSE FROM COUNCIL.
YOU WANT A MEETING IN 60 DAYS TO DISCUSS THIS, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> I THINK A JOINT MEETING IN 60 DAYS, AND THEN WE CAN SEND IT OUT TO EVERYBODY RESPECTIVELY AT 90 DAYS FOR A FINAL PRODUCT.
IF THERE'S FURTHER DISCUSSION, BUT I THINK WE CAN DISCUSS IT TILL IT'S DEAD, BUT LET'S NOT AND GET IT DONE.
>> JANELLE, WHEN YOU RECEIVE ALL THE INPUT ON THIS, WE NEED TO HAVE A TIMELINE SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT TO JANELLE SO SHE CAN DISTRIBUTE ALL OF THE COMMENTS BACK TO COUNCIL. YES, SIR.
>> ONE MORE THING, MAYOR THAT YOU HAD MENTIONED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THIS, IT IS IF WE CAN START TO RESEARCH WHAT YOU HAD MENTIONED WITH IDC AND DIFFERENT AVENUES OF FORMS OF PARTICIPATION WITH FUNDING?
>> THAT WOULD BE GOOD THAT WE KNOCKED THAT OUT AT THE SAME TIME.
YOU ALREADY, OBVIOUSLY, WITH YOUR BACKGROUND, KNOW WHERE WE MIGHT BE ALL TO GET.
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT CITY WILL COME INTO PLAY.
>> WELL, WE NEED TO LOOK. I'M NOT SURE.
>> BUT THE EXPENSE OF YOUR CITY PARK.
>> EXACTLY. IT'LL BE IN THE PARK PACKAGE.
>> BUT THE HOT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
>> WE'RE LOOKING AT POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES.
BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS SUBJECT HERE,
[02:40:03]
WE'RE GOING TO GET THE INPUT FROM THE PARK BOARD.WE'LL GET OUR COMMENTS BACK TO JANELLE.
JANELLE, WE NEED TO HAVE THOSE COMMENTS BACK BY 45 DAYS.
WOULD YOU NOTIFY COUNCIL WHEN THE DEADLINE IS TO HAVE THOSE COMMENTS BACK?
>> THEN JANELLE WILL DISTRIBUTE ALL OF THOSE COMMENTS TO COUNCIL MEMBERS SO THAT YOU SEE ALL THE COMMENTS COMING IN.
JASON, WE'LL TALK ABOUT HAVING A JOINT MEETING IN APPROXIMATELY 60 DAYS.
>> THAT'S DECEMBER 12TH, THAT'S THE NEXT MEETING THAT WE HAVE SCHEDULED. I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN PUT IT ON.
>> WE HAVE ABOUT 15 OTHER ITEMS [LAUGHTER] BEFORE THEN, BUT YES, SIR, WE WILL TRY TO DO THAT THEN.
>> WE'LL WORK ON THAT ON TIME.
IT'LL PROBABLY BE A SPECIAL MEETING.
THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PUT IN THERE.
WE ARE OTHER MEETINGS ARE JUST PACKED WITH THE ITEMS. IS EVERYBODY COMFORTABLE WITH THIS?
>> I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT BY NOT GIVING ANY DIRECTION THAT PAVILION WILL COME DOWN NEXT MONTH, IS THAT PLAN RIGHT?
>> I DIDN'T NOTICE TO PROCEED THIS AFTERNOON. CORRECT.
>> THAT'S ONE THING AND THE OTHER THING IS, I STILL WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THE BEACH PATROL FACILITY PROJECT HEADING IN SOME DIRECTION.
THEN THE FIRST STEPS THAT I WAS JUST SUGGESTING IS FOR THE STAFF TO DEVELOP A BUDGET BASED ON COMPARABLES.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE PERFECT, BUT YOU GOT TO DO THE RESEARCH FIRST.
WE FINISHED WITH THIS SUBJECT.
>> NOW ACTUALLY YOU HAVE SEAWOLF.
DAN, YOU WANTED TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS OR DID BRIAN OR DID ANY OF YOU WANT TO. [OVERLAPPING]
>> AT THIS POINT, CAN WE PUSH THAT OFF TO A FUTURE? I THINK EVERYBODY [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'M PERFECTLY FINE WITH THAT.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE ONE POINT ABOUT SEAWOLF PARK, AND THAT IS THAT WE'VE GOT AN ASSET OVER THERE.
YOU APPROVED A BUDGET WITH BUDGETING FOR AN RV PARK, WHICH WILL PROVIDE REVENUE, AND WE COULD DO THAT.
>> WE DID NOT APPROVE THE RV PARK AS YET, BILL.
>> NO. I'M SORRY. I APOLOGIZE.
>> I APOLOGIZE. I THOUGHT THE BUDGET WAS APPROVED.
>> IT WAS, BUT THE RV PARK WAS PART OF THOSE SPECIAL PROJECTS.
WE ONLY APPROVED, I THINK THREE SPECIAL PROJECTS.
OTHER RV PARK WAS NOT APPROVED.
>> I MERELY WANTED TO MAKE SURE VINCE HAD HIS DIRECTION ON THAT SO THAT IF WE HAD APPROVED IT, HE KNEW WHERE TO GO WITH IT.
I WANT TO THANK THE PARK BOARD.
THANK YOU FOR SITTING THROUGH THIS AND IT'S VERY VALUABLE.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE NOT MOVING IN A DIRECTION, BUT I CAN SENSE THAT WE ARE, AND I THINK WE'RE MOVING IN POSITIVE DIRECTION.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE. THANK YOU, PARK BOARD.
>> LET'S TAKE ABOUT 10 MINUTES BREAK.
WE ARE RECONVENING OUR WORKSHOP.
WE HAD A JOINT WORKSHOP WITH THE PARK BOARD EARLIER.
LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS ON A NUMBER OF ITEMS AND MAINLY AROUND STEWART BEACH AND THE AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES BETWEEN THE CITY AND PARK BOARD.
GOOD DISCUSSIONS. WE'RE NOW MOVING TO ITEM 3B WITH OUR CITY COUNCIL.
[3.B. Discussion Of The Use Of Short Term Rental Registration Fees (D. Buckley - 30 Min)]
PLEASE, JANELLE.>>THREE B. DISCUSSION OF THE USE OF SHORT TERM RENTAL REGISTRATION FEES.
ONE, RECOMMENDED EXPENDITURES TO CITY MANAGEMENT OF REGISTRATION PROCESS, CALL CENTER, AND DATA COLLECTION, THREE ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL, AND FOUR, RECOMMENDATIONS ON FEE STRUCTURING.
>> VERY GOOD. THIS IS SOMETHING YOU MAY REMEMBER, COUNCIL, THIS IS IN OUR NOTES THAT STAFF HAD BEEN TASKED WITH THE IDEA OF COMING BACK AND GIVING A PLAN ON THE USE OF THE REGISTRATION FEES, ANY OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WAS CENTERED AROUND THE REGISTRATION FEES AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THOSE.
WE HAD PUT THAT OFF AND WE'RE NOW BRINGING THAT BACK, AND I THINK OUR DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, DAN BUCKLEY IS GOING TO MAKE A PRESENTATION, DAN.
AFTER LISTENING TO THE LAST DISCUSSION, I KNOW YOU ALL GOT INTO THE REGISTRATION FEES TO SOME EXTENT, AND THE PARK BOARD HAS AGREED THAT THE FEE SHOULD BE COLLECTED BY THE ADVERSITY.
THAT WAS TRULY THE FIRST PART OF MY PRESENTATION.
BUT BECAUSE THERE'S NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'LL JUST GIVE YOU A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF THE HISTORY AT CITY CODE, THE REGISTRATION FEES WERE ASSIGNED TO THE PARK BOARD.
[02:45:03]
THEY WERE DIRECTED TO BE $250 ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEE COLLECTED BY THE PARK BOARD WHO IS GOOD JANUARY 1 THROUGH DECEMBER 31 EVERY YEAR WITH A REGISTRATION PROCESS OPENED IN DECEMBER.>> TO NO ONE'S SURPRISE, THERE IS GOING TO BE A RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF THAT THE CITY REASSUME THE REGISTRATION PROCESS WITH CENTRALIZED DATA COLLECTION, SO IT'S MORE EFFICIENT AND THE DATA IS MORE CONSISTENT AND EASIER TO ANALYZE AND COMPARE.
AGAIN, I'M PROBABLY PREACHING TO THE CHOIR NOW, BUT THE CITY RECOMMENDS UTILIZING CITY'S CALL CENTER FOR CONSISTENCY.
STAFF RECOMMENDS WORKING WITH THE PARK BOARD TO FACILITATE A TRANSITION FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION FOR THE DECEMBER COLLECTION 2025.
WE'RE ALREADY GEARED UP AND READY TO COLLECT FOR THIS YEAR, SO WE DIDN'T SEE ANY REASON TO CHANGE THE PROCESS THIS YEAR.
WE FIGURED THAT WE'LL WORK THROUGH AND MAKE THE PROCESS BETTER FOR NEXT YEAR HERE AT THE CITY.
RELATED TO THE DATA, THE DATA RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY, SANITATION SERVICES, CODE VIOLATIONS, AND OTHER ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS ARE ALREADY COLLECTED BY THE CITY.
IF THERE'S TO BE AN EFFECTIVE DATA COLLECTION EFFORT, IS ESSENTIAL THAT ALL SOURCES OF DATA HAVE A LEVEL OF COMPATIBILITY THROUGH WHICH THE AGGREGATION OF DATA IS POSSIBLE.
I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS NUMBER OF TIMES WITH COUNCIL, SAYING THAT WE'VE GOT DATA IN MULTIPLE PLACES, THEY USE DIFFERENT FIELDS, THEY USE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS WITHIN THOSE FIELDS, AND THERE'S NO ABILITY TO JUST EASILY GO IN AND GRAB ONE FIELD AND GET ALL THE INFORMATION, SO WE'RE CHANGING OUR RMS SYSTEM, WE'RE CHANGING THE CITY'S ENTERPRISE SYSTEM, THE COLLECTION SYSTEM IS GOING TO CHANGE, ALL THOSE THINGS, WE HAVE TO HAVE A MISSION TO TRY TO AT LEAST WITHIN ALL OF THEM HAVE ONE FIELD THAT WE CAN USE TO AGGREGATE THE DATA AND GO IN AND GET THE INFORMATION FOR SHORT TERM RENTALS.
UNTIL DATA IS RELIABLE AND ANALYZED, NO ONE CAN REALLY SPEAK TO THE TRUE IMPACT ON THE CITY.
I'VE MADE THAT ARGUMENT OR MADE THAT I GUESS, SPEECH A COUPLE DIFFERENT TIMES BECAUSE THE CONSENSUS AMONG COUNCIL WAS TO HAVE A $250 FEE THAT WAS, I USE THIS TERM LOOSELY, I SAY ARBITRARY BECAUSE THERE WAS NO BASIS IN FACT OF HOW THAT FEE WAS ARRIVED AT, IT WASN'T BASED ON THE COST OF THIS SERVICE OR THE COST OF THAT SERVICE.
I WAS JUST A FEE PLACED BY COUNCIL, AND NOW YOU'VE ASKED STAFF TO COME BACK WITH SOME PRESENTATION ABOUT HOW TO DO IT.
CALL CENTER, AGAIN, I'M BLOWING THROUGH THE SLIDES THAT I DID PREPARE EARLIER BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO BUILD A CASE TO MOVE IT BACK TO THE CITY, BUT SINCE ALL'S IN AGREEMENT TO DO THAT NOW, I REALLY DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S THE CASE.
TRANSITION, AGAIN, JUST WORK WITH THE PARK BOARD, HAVE IT COMPLETED AND READY FOR THE NEXT CYCLE SO WE CAN DO IT.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO BUDGET FOR THE STAFF.
THERE ARE OUR STAFF THAT DEAL WITH THE SHORT TERM REGISTRATION.
COUNCILMEMBER RAWLINS ASKED A QUESTION DURING THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL PRESENTATION, AND OUR EXPECTATION WILL BE JUST HIRE THAT PERSON WITH THE CITY AS AN EMPLOYEE IF THEY WANTED TO COME TO THE CITY OR WE JUST FILL IT INTERNALLY.
BUT YEAH, THAT WOULD BE THE EXPECTATION.
THEY HAVE ONE FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME HELP TO DO THIS PROCESS.
IT ISN'T, BUT IT WOULD BE PROBABLY INAPPROPRIATE AND PROBABLY A LITTLE RUSH IN TIME TO TRY TO DO IT FOR THIS YEAR, SO NEXT YEAR WILL GIVE US PLENTY OF TIME TO DO IT.
>> NEXT YEAR, YOU TALKING JANUARY?
>> NO, THE COLLECTIONS ARE DONE IN DECEMBER, SO THEY'RE ALREADY GEARED UP AND READY.
THEY'VE GOT STAFF IN PLACE AND ALREADY HIRED.
WE LET THEM DO IT THIS YEAR AND THEN THEY'LL DO IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR.
>> BOB, CAN I HAVE ONE MINUTE?
>> WE'LL START IN DECEMBER NEXT YEAR, COULD WE ACTIVATE THE CALL LINE BEFORE THAT?
>> SURE. WE'RE GOING TO TRANSITION THE WHOLE THING OVER THE NEXT YEAR AS YOU CAN WITH THE PARK BOARD.
I DON'T KNOW LOGISTICALLY HOW THEY DO THINGS.
WE ALREADY HAVE A CALL CENTER, SO YEAH, THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE EASIER THINGS TO DO.
>> THAT SEEMS TO BE WHERE THE BIGGEST DISCONNECTED AND TO HAVE TO WAIT A YEAR?
>> I DON'T KNOW. I THINK THAT PROBABLY THE BIGGEST DISCONNECT IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE APPROPRIATE FEE IS.
I THINK THAT'S THE MOST DIFFICULT THING FOR US TO DO, AS STAFF RECOMMENDING TO ALL IS WHAT THAT FEE OUGHT TO BE.
>> WE'RE BACKING INTO A FEE THAT WAS SET BY COUNCIL, SO THAT'S VERY TASK ORIENTED DIFFICULT FOR US TO DO.
THE COLLECTION SOFTWARE AND THE REGISTRATION SOFTWARE THEY USE MAY OR MAY NOT BE SOMETHING WE DO, SO THAT'S GOING TO BE A THING THAT'S MORE CRITICAL AS WE MOVE INTO THE TRANSITION, BUT WE CAN TRANSITION INCREMENTALLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, BUT THE FIRST THING I HAD TO DO WAS GET FROM DIRECTION TO COUNCIL THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT, AND THEN WE'LL START IN EARNEST DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PARK BOARD AND HOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN QUICKLY.
[02:50:01]
>> THE CALL CENTER, DAN, YOU'RE GOING TO USE THE DISPATCH CENTER AND THEN THEY'LL ROUTE?
>> WE HAVE OUR NON-EMERGENCY PUBLIC WORKS CALL CENTER THAT STILL NOW IS 24/7, AND THAT'S WHERE IT'LL RESIDE, AND IT'S NOT CONNECTED TO, BUT RIGHT THERE NEXT TO OUR DISPATCH CENTER.
>> THEY'RE GOING TO HANDLE THE REFERRAL?
>> THIS IS THIS ISN'T PUBLIC SAFETY DISPATCH.
IT'S A CALL CENTER SEPARATE, AND THEY WILL TAKE A CALL AND THEY SAY, THAT IS A CALL FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND THEY CAN TRANSFER TO PUBLIC SAFETY, THAT'S A CALL FOR SANITATION, THEY CAN TAKE IT A SANITATION, THAT'S A CALL TO COLLECT ON MONDAY, TAKE THE INFORMATION, CREATE THE CALL SLIP AND THE WORK ORDER AND THEN DO IT FOR MONDAY.
>> THAT'S GREAT. THAT'S GOING TO BE, AS YOU MENTIONED, DAN, A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THIS.
THEY WILL DO THE DATA COLLECTION, ALSO, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THE CITY WILL DO THE DATA COLLECTION, RIGHT.
>> BUT WILL THAT COME THROUGH THE CALL CENTER?
>> PORTIONS OF THE DATA COME THROUGH THE CALL CENTER, YEAH.
>> THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE THE CALLS, MAYOR, BUT THE FACT THAT THERE'S A PUBLIC SAFETY CALL, THEY DON'T KNOW THAT.
THAT HAS TO COME OUT OF THE MS SYSTEM AND IMPORT IT INTO AN AGGREGATION, AND RIGHT NOW, THE TOOL TO AGGREGATE ALL THIS VARIOUS INFORMATION DOESN'T EXIST.
THAT'S A KEY TO HAVING GOOD DATA IS THE ABILITY TO AGGREGATE IT, AND THE TOOL TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW DOES NOT EXIST.
>> BUT YOU HAVE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY AND THAT THESE SYSTEMS ARE ALL INTO LIFE, AND WE'RE REPLACING THEM ALL SO NOW WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GET IT ALL DONE.
DID THEY PURCHASE? DIDN'T WE APPROVE FOR THEM TO PURCHASE SOFTWARE?
>> YES, THEY DID PURCHASE SOFTWARE.
>> THAT WON'T CROSS OVER AT ALL.
BRYSON SAYS HE BELIEVES IT'S GOOD.
HE'S BEEN BACK, HE BELIEVES IT'S GOOD FOR THE REGISTRATION PROCESS.
HE DOESN'T THINK IT'S EFFECTIVE COLLECTION PROCESS, SO IF IT'S GOOD AND IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN USE, THEN WE'LL DO THAT.
IF IT'S NOT, THEN WE'LL DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
>> VERY GOOD. BOB, I GUESS I'M LOOKING AT YOUR NEXT SLIDE, THE COST OF REMAIN RELATIVELY FLAT TO THE IMPLEMENTATION.
THAT INCLUDES ANOTHER STAFF TO MANAGE IT.
>> THAT'S JUST MOVING THAT STAFF MEMBER TO THE CITY.
>> NO, AND THAT'S NOT PAID BY HOT.
ITS'S PAID BY THE REGISTRATION FEE.
WE'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT REGISTRATION FEES.
>> ONLY REGISTRATION FEE COVERS ALL THAT.
THE REGISTRATION FEE, AND WE'LL GET INTO THAT A COUPLE OF SLIDES DOWN.
>> WHICH IS NOT HOT, OF COURSE?
>> CURRENT USE TO FEES, AGAIN, THE CURRENT FEES, $250 PER REGISTRANT, COLLECTIONS IN '24 SO FAR, 592,712.
I GOT THESE FROM BRYSON JUST THE OTHER DAY.
EXPECTATION IS 1.2 MILLION BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
'23 WAS 1,166,000, THAT'S RELATIVELY FLAT.
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF REGISTERED UNITS WAS IN '24 IS 4,825, AND '23 WAS 4,974, 3% DIFFERENCE.
I'D ALSO CONSIDER THAT FLAT STATISTICALLY.
>> ON THIS FEE, DAN, WE HAD DISCUSSED IT AT EARLIER TIME ABOUT THERE HAD BEEN COMMENTS ABOUT CONDOMINIUMS THAT ARE NOT USING SANITATION AND THINGS HAVING A DIFFERENT FEE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE LOOKED AT, I ASSUME, ONCE YOU GET MORE DATA OR WHERE DO WE STAND WITH THAT?
>> THAT'S A COUNCIL PREFERENCE, MAYOR. QUITE HONESTLY.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO CHARGE ONE AGGREGATE OR ONE AGGREGATOR OF A NUMBER OF UNITS A DIFFERENT FEE THAN YOU CHARGE EVERYBODY ELSE, THAT'S GOING TO BE [INAUDIBLE].
>> THAT WOULD DEFINITELY DRIVE THE ABILITY FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
>> ACTUALLY, THERE'S NO SANITATION DISCUSSIONS IN THIS, SO I DON'T KNOW THAT SANITATION HAS A WHOLE LOT TO DO WITH IT.
>> THIS IS JUST THE FEE THAT YOU'RE GETTING AND FURTHER DOWN IN THE PRESENTATION, NOT VERY FAR FROM HERE, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS AND USE THE FEES THAT WE HAVE NOW.
>> MAYOR, YOU MIGHT HEAR THAT BE BROUGHT UP IN OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
>> ON THE RECOMMENDATION FOR A COUNCIL APPOINTED TASK FORCE FOR SURE.
>> FOR A DIFFERENT FEE FOR CONDOMINIUMS.
>> WELL, THAT MAYBE YOU MIGHT HEAR THAT IN OUR NEXT DISCUSSION.
>> WHAT THIS SLIDE PORTRAYS, THIS IS JUST THE '23 ACTUAL NUMBERS, THE '24 BUDGETED NUMBERS FOR THE PARK BOARD.
THE ESTIMATION STILL IS ABOUT THERE'S $800,000 IN ADDITIONAL, THAT'S WHAT'S BEING SPENT RIGHT NOW IN THE BUDGET OF THE PARK BOARD, AND THEN 800,000 PLUS OR MINUS WOULD BE WHAT CAME TO THE CITY TO SIT IN CAPITAL RESERVES.
HERE BEFORE I'LL START THE VARIOUS THINGS THAT STAFF BELIEVES, COUNCIL CAN USE THE FEES CURRENTLY RECEIVED FOR ON THE CITY SIDE.
THIS ENTIRE PRESENTATION IS BASED ON THE COLLECTION AND
[02:55:03]
THE USE OF THE FEES COMING BACK TO THE CITY AND NOT SHARING ANYTHING WITH THE PARK BOARD.THE MOST COMPLAINTS WE GET ARE NOISE, PARKING, UNREGISTERED OPERATIONS, AND TRASH.
THAT'S THE COMPLAINTS WE GET ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
RIGHT NOW, THOSE CALLS GO VARIOUS PLACES.
MOST OF THEM GO TO THE POLICE.
POLICE EMERGENCY AND THE POLICE NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER RECEIVE CALLS, IT'S TOO LOUD A NOISE ORDINANCE VIOLATION.
I WILL TELL YOU WHEN POLICE DISPATCH GETS BUSY, NOISE ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS ARE DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST.
THEY'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH PUBLIC SAFETY WHEN PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE IN DANGER.
THERE'S SAFETY ISSUES THAT HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED.
IT'S NOT AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO DEAL WITH THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.
BUT AGAIN, THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY NOISE ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS WE GET.
WE GET THEM FROM BARS AND OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS.
BUT AGAIN, THESE ARE THE ONES DEALING WITH SHORT TERM RENTALS, THESE ARE WHAT WE GET MOST FREQUENTLY.
RECOMMENDATION OF STAFF IS YOU ALLOCATE SOME OF THE MONEY.
>> CAN I ADD TO SOMETHING YOU JUST SAID.
IF IT'S NOISE AND A PARTY OUT OF CONTROL, IT WOULD STILL BE LOW ON THE LIST WHEN WE KNOW THAT COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE?
>> THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS, COUNCIL-MEMBER, A NOISE ORDINANCE AND A PARTY OUT OF CONTROL MIGHT BE LIFE AND LIBERTY TYPE ISSUES, SOMEBODY GETTING HURT, THAT WOULD CERTAINLY BE PUBLIC SAFETY AND POLICE WOULD PROBABLY RESPOND TO THAT QUICKER THAN SOMEBODY SAYING, THE MUSIC'S TOO LOUD.
I CAN HEAR A BAND PLAYING SOMEWHERE, AND WE GET CALLS LIKE THAT FREQUENTLY.
THE BASS OF THE MUSIC THAT'S HAPPENING.
I LIVE ON WHAT CONSIDERED THE WEST END OF THE ISLAND, AND WHEN THERE'S THINGS HAPPENING, WAY OVER ON PELICAN ISLAND OR ON THE HARBOR, THE NOISE TRAVELS RIGHT ACROSS THE WATER YOU CAN HEAR AND YOU'RE TRYING TO WONDER WHERE IT'S COMING FROM.
THE WAY NOISE TRAVELS IS SORT OF INTERESTING.
>> HOW WOULD YOU ENHANCE ENFORCEMENT OF THAT IF YOU HAD MORE FUNDS, I GUESS FROM THIS, AND HOW I GUESS THAT GOES TO HOW IS IT ENFORCE THAT?
>> YOU DEDICATE A MARSHALL TO IT.
>> NIGHTS. YEAH. THAT'S WHAT YOU DEDICATE THEM ON.
>> YOU GO OUT THERE WITH A DECIBEL METER, HOW YOU DO THAT?
>> ACTUALLY, THEY DO HAVE THEM, AND PD HAS THOSE TOO.
IT'S AT THE PROPERTY LINE, AND IT'S GOT TO BE VERY LOUD TO VIOLATE OUR COURT CURRENT NOISE ORDINANCES.
>> WAS AT THE POINT OF COMPLAINT?
>> WELL, BUT IF THEY'RE NOT VIOLATING IT AT THE PROPERTY LINE.
>> I THINK DURING THE DAY, IT'S WHAT 75 AND AT NIGHT.
>> THE WEDDING MIGHT GET ROWDY, SO YOU GOT TO STOP.
WE'LL HAVE PLENTY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT READY FOR THAT.
>> WE'RE RECOMMENDING AGAIN, I'LL GO THROUGH THIS LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS, AND I'LL AGGREGATE THAT FOR YOU ON ANOTHER SLIDE.
>> BEFORE YOU DO THIS, ONE-AND-A-HALF FTE FOR CITY MARSHALS, PRACTICALLY, WHAT IS THAT?
>> THAT'S ONE REALLY TALL ONE AND ONE SHORT.
>> IT'S JUST FULL TIME EQUIVALENT, MAYOR.
>> 2,080 HOURS, AND SO IT'S 2,080 HOURS AND 1,040 HOURS.
>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, PRACTICALLY, ON THE WEEKEND, WE HAVE ONE MARSHAL?
>> NO. THAT MEANS THAT ON SOME WEEKENDS, WE MAY HAVE TWO, WE MAY HAVE OTHERS.
>> YOU HAVE THREE. YOU MAY HAVE ONE.
>> YOU MAY HAVE ONE, YOU MAY HAVE THREE, DEPENDS.
IF IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE A RAINY WEEKEND, WE'LL THROTTLE BACK TO ONE.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO BE FILLED UP AND HAVE A BIG PARTY WEEKEND, WE'LL HAVE THREE OR FOUR.
BUT WE'LL HAVE THAT NUMBER OF HOURS PROGRAMMED INTO THE BUDGET TO PAY THEM THERE.
>> THAT IS HAS MENTIONED THAT'S 24/7.
>> NO. THAT'S BASED ON WE'LL SCHEDULE AS NEEDED.
TYPICALLY, THESE COMPLAINTS TEND TO COME IN THE AFTERNOON, AND EVENINGS, AND LATE EVENINGS, AND USUALLY FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY, MIDDLE OF THE WEEK, WE'RE NOT HEARING TOO MUCH OF THAT.
>> BUT ON THE WEEKEND, IF YOU GET A CALL AT 2:00 A.M.
>> BASED ON THE NATURE OF THE CALL, MAYOR.
>> BUT THERE'S A MARSHAL THAT WILL BE?
>> DEPENDING. WE'RE NOT GOING TO KEEP A MARSHAL AROUND AND PAY A MARSHAL JUST TO BE ON THE ODD CHANCE WE GET ONE CALL AT 3:00 A.M. PD MAY HAVE TO HANDLE THAT.
AS DATA COLLECTION, WE'LL HONE IN ON IT [INAUDIBLE] AS WE CAN.
>> THAT'S THE SAME WAY WHAT PD DOES WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT ARRANGING THEIR DISTRICTS, MAYOR.
THEY LOOK AT THE CALL VOLUME, TYPES OF CALL, THE NATURE OF THE CALL, THE TIMING OF THE CALL, AND THEY STAFF ACCORDINGLY.
>> DOUG HAS PEOPLE THAT COME IN AT THREE O'CLOCK NOW.
>> NOT THAT I'M AGAINST PEOPLE DRINKING AT 6:00 A.M.
BUT HE DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HE NEEDS TO HAVE A DWI TASK FORCE UP AT 6:00 A.M.
>> ONE COMPLAINT I'VE HEARD OFFICERS IS WRITING TICKETS AS TWO IN THE MORNING ON SEAWALL?
[03:00:03]
>> IS THERE A WAY WE CAN FLEX ON MARSHALL IF WE'RE GOING TO BE PAYING THE TIME TO WRITE THOSE TICKETS?
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT PD'S ISSUE IS WITH THAT.
THE CHIEF TELLS ME THERE'S NO ISSUE WITH IT.
>> JUST SEVERAL OFFICERS SAID.
>> IT'S TIME CONSUMING AND DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE THEY'RE DOING 3:00-6:00.
IF THEY'RE BUSY, THEY SHOULDN'T BE OUT THERE [INAUDIBLE]. [LAUGHTER] YEAH.
I GOT A HIGH CALL VOLUME, I WOULDN'T EXPECT THEM TO BE THERE, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THE EXPECTATION IS THAT THEY'RE OUT THERE BECAUSE IT'S NO PARKING.
THE IDEA IS THAT'S FOR THE RIGHT NOW, THE PARK BOARD CLEANS THAT FOR US AND THEY HAVE TO GET TRUCKS UP AND DOWN AND SO THERE'S NO PARKING IN THOSE TIME FRAMES, AND SO IF THEY'RE THERE, THEY SHOULD BE TICKETED.
>> I'D EVENTUALLY LIKE TO BE TO RUN A SWEEPER DOWN THERE TOO,.
>> JUST IF WE CAN RESOURCE SHARE IF WE'RE PAYING A MARSHAL.
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'LL HAVE A MARSHAL AT 3:00 A.M. THAT'S THE THING.
>> I'M NOT SURE THAT, AGAIN, IT'S BASED ON THE CALL VOLUME.
IF PD DOESN'T HAVE A HEAVY CALL VOLUME, THEY CAN DRIVE DOWN THE SEAWALL.
IT'S NOT A BIG TASK BECAUSE THERE AREN'T THAT MANY, BUT YOU CAN TELL WHEN THERE'S NO ENFORCEMENT.
>> BUT IF YOU'VE GOT TO TOW ONE, IT TAKES SOME TIME AND I GET THAT PART.
THAT'S I THINK WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.
>> WELL, WITH RESOURCE SHARING WE CAN ALL.
>> I HAVEN'T MADE IT THERE YET.
YOU'RE AHEAD OF ME. [LAUGHTER]
>> HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT [INAUDIBLE]. [LAUGHTER] PLEASE, [INAUDIBLE].
AS I UNDERSTAND, PLATFORMS LIKE AIRBNB AND VRBO DO NOT SUBMIT HOT TAX.
THEY SUBMIT HOT TAX AND AN AGGREGATE, NOT PER STR.
>> IS THERE ANY WAY THIS AUDIT COULD SOMEHOW DO THAT?
>> WE'RE THE HOSTAGE OF THE PEOPLE WHO SUBMIT HOT PAYMENTS TO US, AIRBNB AND VRBO, SUBMIT AN AGGREGATE PAYMENT TO US.
NOW WE CAN CERTAINLY GO BACK AND REQUEST INFORMATION.
WE'RE TRYING TO CATCH THE NON-COMPLIANT OPERATORS MOSTLY THROUGH THE AUDITS AND SEE WHAT THEY'VE DONE, AND THEN YOU CAN EXTRAPOLATE AND GO BACK.
>> WE JUST HAVE TO TAKE THEIR WORD WHEN THEY SUBMIT THAT HOT THAT THAT IS THE NUMBER OF STRS THAT THEY ACTUALLY HAVE.
>> ALL WE TAKE FROM IS THAT IS WHAT THEY COLLECTED.
>> THE AIRBNBS REFUSED TO GIVE GLENN A BREAKDOWN OF THE TAXES THEY COLLECT.
BUT A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN THIS CONCEPT WAS BEING ENTERTAINED, THE EAGLE CITY ATTORNEY WROTE THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A PLATFORM COLLECTOR HOT DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE UP THE HOOK FOR IT.
MR. JONES IS HAVING AIRBNB AND PAY HIS TAXES.
WE STILL GO TO MR. JONES AND SAY, WE'RE GOING TO AUDIT YOU.
THEN MR. JONES SAYS, WELL, AIRBNB PAYS MY TAXES.
GO FIND OUT WHAT THEY PAID AND WE'LL AUDIT THOSE.
HOLD ON, BRENT. WE DO NOT WANT TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE WE GO TO COLLECT FROM THE TAXPAYER AND THEY SAY, OH, NO, YOU HAVE TO GO TALK TO THEM.
>> THIS IS YOU'RE GETTING BACK TO YOUR STRATEGY OF OWNER RESPONSIBILITY, I GUESS, RIGHT?
>> THIS IS TAXPAYER RESPONSIBILITY.
>> VERY MUCH LIKE YOUR ESCROW ACCOUNT ON YOUR HOUSE.
YET FOR SOME REASON, ABC MORTGAGE DIDN'T MAKE YOUR TAX PAYMENT? THE TAX LIABILITY IS ON YOU, THE HOMEOWNER.
THAT'S A CIVIL ISSUE BETWEEN YOU AND THEM.
BUT YOU NEVER RELIEVE THE TAXPAYERS. THAT'S WHAT THEY WANTED.
>> REMEMBER, THESE OPERATORS AREN'T TAXPAYERS.
THEY'RE COLLECTING A FEE A TAX THAT THE CITY IS ASSESSED.
THEY'RE PASSING IT THROUGH TO US.
THE AUDIT IS TO TEST TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE BEING TRUTHFUL AND HONEST IN THERE.
>> TO ANSWER MY QUESTION, IT SOUNDS LIKE IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAT WE ARE AUDITING THOSE AIRBNBS BUT WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE OWNER.
>> WHEN HAS A CERTAIN NUMBER THAT HE AUDITS EVERY YEAR.
I WAS AT A MEETING A FEW YEARS AGO.
CLAIRE WAS THERE AND WE FOUND OUT THAT THE PARK BOARD HAD SOME 700 FILES THAT THEY NEEDED AUDITED.
I SUPPOSE THEY'VE CALLED THEM DOWN A WHILE, BUT I KNOW WE'RE UP AGAINST LIMITATIONS.
>> BUT THE OTHER SIDE YOU COULD LOOK AT, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG BRYSON, IF YOU LOOK AT THE AIRBNB AND WHATNOT, WHEN WE AGREED TO GO AT THE STATE LEVEL, OUR COLLECTIONS REFLECT MORE OR WAY UNDER WHERE WE DID THAT.
>> EXCEPT WHAT THE STATE DID WAS SAID, WE TAKE YOUR MONEY FROM AIRBNB, AND YOU THE OWNER HAVE NO FURTHER RESPONSIBILITY.
[03:05:03]
>> ANYWAY, SO MOVING THROUGH MY LIST.
WE'RE ALLOCATING FUNDING AGAINST FOR MARSHALS.
THERE'S AN ANNUAL VEHICLE COST TO DO THAT ENFORCEMENT.
I'M RECOMMENDING INCREASING THE AUDITS WITH GLENN.
I DID TALK WITH GLENN ABOUT THIS AND TALKED ABOUT A 20% INCREASE.
>> AGAIN WAS IN HIS AUDIT PLAN.
>> WE ADDED THAT IN THE AUDIT.
>> YES. THE CONTINUED USE, BUT EXPAND AND CUSTOMIZE THE CURRENT SYSTEM THEY USE NOW, AGAIN, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT CALL UNTIL WE GOT INTO IT TO SEE IF IT REALLY MEETS OUR NEEDS, BUT THE EXPECTATION WOULD BE THAT IT'D BE ABOUT PLUS OR MINUS THE SAME MONEY.
THE DEDICATED EMPLOYEE IS A NUMBER I GOT FROM BRYSON.
I ROUNDED UP A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS TO INCORPORATE THE 5% PAY RAISE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GETTING IN THEIR STAFF, BUT THEIR SALARY WAS ABOUT $75,000 IN '24.
I HAVE $75,000 ALLOCATED TO THE CALL CENTER.
WE'RE RECOMMENDING AN ALLOCATION OF $75,000 TO THE CLEAN TEAM.
AGAIN, THESE ARE ALLOCATIONS OF THE EXISTING HOT WE'RE GETTING NOW.
>> I'M SORRY. I'M THINKING HOT I MEAN STR.
I SAW EVERYBODY'S LOOKING AT ME AND I SWITCHED TO SPANISH.
>> THAT'S THE CITY LITTER TEAM THAT GOES OUT AND DOES HOT SHOT PICKUPS OF COMPLAINTS WITH ONE OF ALL CALLS THAT, HEY, THERE'S SOME TRASH DUMPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THAT'S THE TEAM THAT GETS THAT.
>> THEY DUMP SIX BAGS NEXT TO THE TRASH CAN.
WE SEND THIS TEAM OUT, THEY CLEAN IT UP, AND THEN THEY ALSO WILL RECORD IT AND ISSUE THE FINES AS ACCORDING TO OUR SANITATION.
>> YOU FIGURED THAT 75,000 OF THE CLEAN TEAM'S TIME WOULD BE SPENT WITH STR?
>> NO. I THINK WE SAYING THIS IS AN ALLOCATION OF THAT FUNDING, MAYOR? THIS IS UP TO COUNCIL'S DISCRETION ON HOW YOU USE THE FUNDING.
THEN WE'RE SAYING, WELL, AGAIN, 75,000 A CALL CENTER, 75,000 A CLEAN TEAM.
HERE'S A NUMBER THAT BARBER AND I CAME UP WITH.
I THINK IT'S AN IDEA AND ALLOCATION.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THE SHORT TERM RENTALS WILL DO IT, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS ALLOCATING OUT OF THE MONEY THAT THEY PAY NOW, THE $250,000.
WE ALLOCATE 386,000, WHICH IS $80 PER REGISTERED UNIT, AND WITH THAT, WE'RE TOURING WITH PROBABLY FOUR PASSES THAT THEY CAN HAVE FOR THEIR USERS TO ACCESS THE POOL AND THE FITNESS CENTERS.
THEY'RE GETTING SOME BENEFIT FROM THE FEE THEY'RE PAYING FOR THEIR GUESTS, AND THEY CAN USE A CITY FACILITY AND IT BENEFITS THE CITY FROM THE FACT THAT IT PROVIDES FUNDING INTO THE FACILITY TO HELP OPERATE IT.
>> THAT'S LEVERAGING OUR EXISTING FACILITIES.
>> YEAH. IT IS LEVERAGING, ABSOLUTELY.
>> IT HAS A BENEFIT BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE ALL SITTING OUT THERE SAYING, WHAT AM I GETTING FOR THIS MONEY? WHAT AM I GETTING? AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT IT.
BUT THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE RECOMMENDING YOU GUYS BECAUSE WE FIGURED THAT IT'S A PLUS FOR THE CITY.
IT HELPS FUND THOSE FACILITIES AND IT'S A PLUS FOR THE TOURISTS.
IT GETS THEM INTO THOSE FACILITIES THAT LETS THEM SEE WHAT THE CITY HAS TO OFFER.
WE HAVE A COMMUNITY POOL, WE HAVE COMMUNITY FITNESS CENTERS, AND THEY CAN USE THOSE WHILE THEY'RE HERE VISITING.
>> THESE ARE SOME OF OUR NICEST FACILITIES IN A WORLD WHERE WE'RE WE WANT PEOPLE TO MOVE TO GALVESTON AND LIVE IN GALVESTON, NOT JUST VISIT.
THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO LET THEM SEE SOME OF OUR STUFF FIRSTHAND THAT THE RESIDENTS GET TO USE, AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD PLAN.
OBVIOUSLY, IF IT GETS SO POPULAR THAT WE HAVE TO EXPAND, WELL, THEN WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
>> IT'S SUFFICIENT PATH AS WELL.
>> THERE'S ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT THINGS YOU COULD LOOK AT FOR THIS.
BUT AGAIN, I WANTED TO SHOW THAT THEY'RE RECEIVING SOME BENEFIT FOR THE FEE THEY'RE PAYING THAT IS OUTSIDE OF JUST PAYING A FEE AND THE CITY USING IT FOR FRIVOLOUS EXPENSES, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE.
THEN WE USE THE CITY'S 3.14% FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE.
THE NEXT SLIDE, ALL IT DOES IS IT BREAKS IT DOWN IN THE TABLE FOR YOU.
IT SHOWS THAT WITH THOSE ALLOCATIONS AGAINST $1.2 MILLION, THERE'S ABOUT $29,000 LEFT.
THOSE ALLOCATIONS COULD CHANGE.
COUNCIL HAS OTHER PREFERENCES.
WE COULD CERTAINLY DO ALL THAT.
THIS IS JUST RECOMMENDATIONS FROM STAFF OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW WITH THE FUNDING TO SHOW THAT THIS IS A BENEFIT AND THIS IS HOW WE WOULD UTILIZE IT.
IT'S NOT SITTING THERE, NOT BEING USED.
THE BIGGIE, THE 800 POUND GORILLA IN THE ROOM IS AVAILABLE FUND BALANCE.
THERE'S ABOUT 1,500,000 THAT'S BEEN RECEIVED UNDER THE REGISTRATION FEES THAT WE ARE SITTING ON THAT CAN BE ALLOCATED TO COUNCIL FOR ONE-TIME EXPENSES.
THAT IS A BALANCE, SO SITTING IN THE FUND RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T BEEN USING IT FOR THESE FRIVOLOUS THINGS.
[03:10:03]
IF THIS WAS TO BE ADOPTED, AND COUNCIL WAS TO DO THAT OR A MODIFIED LIST OF SOME NATURE LIKE THIS.RECOMMENDATION IS TO BE ALLOCATED $1.2 MILLION ALLOCATED OUT SO YOU'RE NOT BUILDING UP BIG FUND BALANCES IS ACTUALLY BEING USED.
>> YOU WOULDN'T JUST SPEND ALL THAT 1.5 MILLION OVERNIGHT IN IMPLEMENTING THIS THING, RIGHT?
>> WE WOULDN'T SPEND ANY OF THAT 1.5 MILLION IN IMPLEMENTING THIS THING.
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FUTURE RECURRING REVENUE ON THE BUDGET.
THIS IS MONEY THAT YOU'VE ALREADY COLLECTED THAT'S SITTING THERE.
>> TO IMPLEMENT THIS, YOU WOULD JUST USE REVENUE AS IT COMES IN?
>> WE'D USE THAT. IF YOU HAVE TO BUY ADDITIONAL SOFTWARE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU'D USE THAT.
ALL THOSE THINGS WOULD COME BACK TO COUNCIL.
UNLESS THERE WAS LESS THAN $15,000 AND THERE'S VERY LITTLE WE CAN BUY FOR LESS THAN $15,000, WE WOULD COME BACK TO COUNCIL SAYING, WE WANT TO DO THIS, WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.
IF WE SPENT $100,000 ON SOFTWARE, THAT'S $100,000 IN THE RECURRING THAT YOU WOULDN'T NEED TO HAVE TO SPEND, SO THAT WOULD BUILD BACK UP INTO FUND BALANCE.
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CREATING FUND BALANCE OBVIOUSLY.
>> YOU WOULD NOT BE ADDING TO IT IF YOU ALLOCATED THE DOLLARS.
>> RIGHT NOW THERE'S $30,000 LEFT.
>> THAT ANTICIPATES USING THAT TO GET STARTED.
>> I WOULD SURE JUST PERSONALLY WANT TO HOLD OFF ON MAKING COMMITMENTS TO THAT FUND BALANCE UNTIL WE GET THE PROGRAM UP AND RUNNING.
>> BECAUSE YOU USE IT FOR SMOOTHING TOO BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE A REDUCTION IN SHORT TERM RENTALS, DO YOU HAVE AN INCREASE AND YOU HAVE TO STEP UP OR IF WE REALIZE MID YEAR THAT HEY, WE REALLY NEED TO DEDICATE A COUPLE MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS TO THIS OR SOME OTHER SCHEME, YOU'D HAVE THAT TO START IT UP AND THEN YOU COULD DO THAT WHILE YOU DETERMINE IF YOU NEED TO ADJUST YOUR SHORT TERM RENTAL FEE?
>> WE JUST DON'T BELIEVE AT THIS POINT THAT THERE'S EVIDENCE OR DATA THAT SUGGEST INCREASING THE FEE.
WE THINK THAT THE FEE, LEAVE IT ALONE.
WE WANT TO SHOW THAT THERE'S SOME BENEFIT TO THE STRS DOING IT THIS WAY.
THAT'S WHY WE BROUGHT THIS RECOMMENDATION FORWARD.
>> WE STILL CONTINUE TO BENCHMARK.
WE FEEL WE'RE VERY REASONABLE ON OUR FEE COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES. ACTUALLY, QUITE REASONABLE.
>> ADMINISTRATIVELY, THIS 80,000 FOR THE DEDICATED EMPLOYEE.
IS THAT IN FINANCE OR IS IT IN PLANNING? WHERE IS THAT?
>> IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE SOMEONE THAT RESIDES.
WE ALREADY HAVE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE.
THIS IS AN ACCOUNTS PAYABLE FUNCTION.
THEIR ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE FUNCTION IS WHAT IT IS.
WE ALREADY HAVE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE STAFF SO THAT'S THERE.
THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMEBODY THAT AGGREGATES DATA FOR US AND IT'S PROBABLY FAR MORE THAN WHAT THE PARK BOARD HAS.
THE 80S AND ESTIMATE, IT MAY BE SLIGHTLY MORE THAN THAT DEPEND ON WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THE TALENT.
BUT THIS IS SOMEBODY THAT WE SEE IS GOING TO GO IN AND TAKE THE DATA, GIVE US INFORMATION WE CAN BRING BACK TO COUNCIL SO YOU KNOW HOW THE MONEY IS BEING USED, WHERE OUR REAL EXPENSES ARE.
IF SHORT TERM RENTALS ARE A DRAIN ON OUR COMMUNITY, HOW ARE THEY A DRAIN ON OUR COMMUNITY? THERE'S A LOT OF ANECDOTAL DISCUSSION OUT THERE ABOUT, SHORT TERM RENTALS FOR THE EVIL.
WITHOUT DATA AND GOOD SOUND DATA, YOU REALLY CAN'T MAKE THE STATEMENT.
>> I'M SORRY. I'LL LET YOU FINISH YOUR PRESENCE.
>> WELL, I'M PRETTY WELL FINISHED.
I DO WANT TO SAY THAT THIS IS THE FIRST OF SEVERAL ITEMS WE'RE GOING TO BE BRINGING TO YOU GUYS ON THE REGISTRATION FEES.
AS WE WORK TOWARD THE INTERLOCAL, WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, THERE'S THE DISCUSSION OF WHO COLLECTS HOT, I WOULD TELL YOU, THE MOST EFFICIENT IS ONE SOURCE, THE PERSON THAT CHARGES THE HOT, THAT'D BE THE CITY OF GALVESTON AND THEN THERE'S ONE TRANSFER TO THE PARK BOARD.
THAT'S JUST SOMETHING I WANTED TO ADD.
I DIDN'T WANT TO INTERRUPT THE DISCUSSIONS EARLIER, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE BRINGING THINGS LIKE THAT BACK TO YOU TOO AS WE ADVANCE.
>> THE PRODUCTIVITY THAT WAS GOING ON EARLIER.
>> DAVID WANT TO SAY SOMETHING, BUT I WANT TO FIRST OF ALL, DAN, I WANT TO THANK YOU.
WELL THOUGHT OUT, COVERED ALL THE AREAS THAT I THINK COUNCIL WAS LOOKING TO COVER AT THIS.
GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT. GOOD REPORT.
>> I'D LIKE TO ASK BRYSON TO COME UP.
BRYSON, CAN YOU COME UP FOR A SECOND.
>> AS BRYSON RETHINKS HIS THOUGHTS ABOUT STAYING FOR THE MEETING.
>> BRYSON, IF YOU WOULD INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO THE CAMERA POLICE?
>> YES. BRYSON PETER, CFO FOR THE PARK BOARD.
>> BRYSON, MY QUESTION IS, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TAKING OVER THESE FEES, WHICH I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE.
THIS IS THE RIGHT PLACE FOR IT TO BE DONE IN TERMS OF DATA COLLECTION AND ENFORCEMENT AND SIMPLIFYING THAT PROCESS RELATED TO TAKING CALLS AND AND THEN ADDRESSING THEM APPROPRIATELY.
BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TAKING THAT REVENUE FROM THE PARK BOARD, I JUST WANTED TO ASK, HOW DID YOU ALL BREAK THAT DOWN ON YOUR END IN TERMS OF WHAT DID YOU USE THAT REGISTRATION FEE FOR OR?
[03:15:02]
>> ANY REVENUE ON THERE AND YOU SPENT IT?
>> THERE WAS NO FUND BALANCE BUILT OFF OR ANYTHING.
PART OF THE AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE WITH THE CITY IS I TURN OVER ALL OF OUR EXPENSES, AND WE GET FUNDED ESSENTIALLY TO COVER THOSE EXPENSES.
IT'S ACTUALLY CAPPED TO AT A CERTAIN AMOUNT PER REGISTRATION.
>> THERE'S NO LOSS OF SERVICE ON YOUR END BY THIS TRANSFER OF THE COLLECTION?
>> NO. THE FINANCIAL CHALLENGE FOR US WOULD BE IF ESPECIALLY IF HOT COLLECTION STAYED WITH US, HOW WE WOULD FUND THAT FUNCTION, BUT WE FUNDED IT BEFORE OR OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND WITHOUT SHORT TERM RENTAL FEES, I'M SURE WE COULD FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT AGAIN. THANK YOU.
>> I JUST WANT TO ECHO CRAIG'S COMMENT THAT THIS WHOLE ANALYSIS HERE IS REALLY RESPONSIVE TO WHAT COUNCIL WAS ASKING FOR.
IN TURN, WHAT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE COUNCIL'S DISTRICTS WERE ASKING FOR IN TERMS OF HOW DO WE MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF STRS ON THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE WITH THEM?
YOU'LL MOVE THIS OVER ON THE DECEMBER OF '25, COUNCIL DON, DO WE NEED COUNCIL'S VOTE ON ANYTHING ON THIS OR ANY TYPE OF MOTION OR WHATEVER?
>> NO. NOT TODAY, BUT IN THE FUTURE TO MAKE THIS.
>> WE'D HAVE TO ADVISE THE ORDINANCE THERE, WHICH ASSIGNS IT TO THEM.
I THINK WITH Y'ALL'S GUIDANCE, WE WOULD START THE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PARK BOARD TO HAVE IT TRANSITION THIS OVER.
AS SOON AS WE WERE READY TO DO THAT, THEN WE'D COME BACK WITH TO COUNCIL ADVISE ORDINANCE TO DO THAT.
>> CERTAINLY SOME ORDINANCES, PROBABLY SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO THE INCH OF LOCAL, SO IT'S A MIXED BAG.
>> I DON'T THINK ANY ADDITIONAL COUNCIL ACTION.
I THINK THE PARK BOARD CHAIRMAN AND YOU'VE HEARD BRYSON TALK ABOUT IT, THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THEM WOULD BE ZERO, HOPEFULLY, OR MINIMAL.
EVERYBODY'S IN AGREEMENT IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NOW WE JUST NEED TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
>> I JUST THINK THIS PARTICULAR MOVE, ESPECIALLY TRANSFERRING EVERYTHING OVER HERE, THAT'S GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL, I THINK TO THE PARK BOARD, TO THE CITY, AND TO THE CITIZENS AND THOSE THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH SHORT TERM RENTALS.
>> ARE YOU COMFORTABLE OR IS COUNCIL WANT TO HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS ON SOME OF THE WAYS WE'RE ALLOCATING THE FUNDING IN THIS RECOMMENDATION?
>> PERSONALLY, I'VE GOT TO PUT SOME THOUGHT TO THE CLEAN TEAM AND I GOT TO PUT SOME THOUGHT TO THE ALLOCATION FOR THE FOR THE LASCAR POOL.
I'M NOT SAYING I'M AGAINST THAT.
I JUST NEED TO THINK THIS OUT A LITTLE BIT.
>> THOSE ARE TWO AND I THINK IT IS THE FIRST PASS.
I THINK IT'S A REALLY GREAT IDEA.
I REALLY LIKE THE IDEA OF PROVIDING BENEFIT TO THE VISITORS AS A PART OF THE REGISTRATION FEE OR BENEFIT TO THE OWNERS AND OPERATORS AS WELL.
THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO. I'VE GOT TWO, MAYOR, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW THOSE ARE AS WE REFINE THE PROCESS.
>> HONESTLY, IF YOU USE THAT TO EXTRAPOLATE THE USE OF HOT TO THE BENEFIT OF THE CITIZENS IS, SOME OF THE FACILITIES WE HAVE, THEY'RE TOURIST ORIENTED, YET THEY DON'T RECEIVE THE TOURIST DOLLAR.
QUITE POSSIBLY YOU UTILIZE HOT TO SUBSIDIZE TOURISTS USING OUR FACILITIES.
THAT AGAIN, MAKES A TOURIST PAY.
THAT THE HOT DOLLARS ARE PAYING FOR THE TOURIST USE OF OUR FACILITIES.
>> GALE, BARBARA SAYS THAT WE GET PEOPLE WHO ARE RENTERS HERE THAT USE OUR FACILITIES LIKE THAT.
>> WELL, WE DON'T CHARGE TO FEES TO PICKLEBALL COURTS, BUT WE GET PEOPLE UP AT THE GYM.
>> THE PICKLEBALL COURTS INSIDE MCGUIRE.
>> YEAH, THAT'S TRUE TOO. THAT COULD BE PART OF IT.
>> THAT'S KIND OF INFORMATION I'D LIKE TO GET MORE OF.
>> FREE ADMISSION TO COUNCIL MEETINGS IS ALSO INCLUDED..
>> VERY GOOD. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS TO DON ON THIS? GOOD PRESENTATION, DON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 3C, PLEASE, MA'AM.
[3.C. Discussion Of The Establishment Of A Short Term Rental Ad Hoc Committee (B. Brown/D. Finklea - 30 Min)]
>> ITEM 3C, DISCUSSION ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SHORT TERM RIDDLE AD HOC COMMITTEE.
ONE, STRUCTURE, TWO, MISSION STATEMENT, THREE, GOALS, AND FOUR, TIMELINE.
>> THIS IS A TOPIC THAT COUNCILMAN BROWN AND COUNCILMAN FINKLEY, IS I THINK THIS IS A TOPIC THAT'S VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO THEIR HEART.
THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS BEHIND THE SCENES, ESPECIALLY COUNCILMAN FINKLEY, EARLIER WITH HIS COMMITTEE.
THE ELECTION WITH COUNCILMAN BROWN BROUGHT TO FORWARD ALSO.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO YOU, GENTLEMEN. GO RIGHT AHEAD.
>> I'LL START. WE'RE GOING TO TAG TEAM WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.
I GUESS, FOR THE RECORD, EVERYBODY HAS SEEN THIS PROPOSAL AND COUNSEL.
[03:20:01]
BUT FOR THE RECORD, I WANT TO READ IT OUT SO EVERYBODY IN THE PUBLIC KNOWS WHAT WE'RE DOING, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.THIS IS A PROPOSAL DAVID AND I DRAFTED A WHILE BACK FOR SHORT TERM RENTAL RESIDENT AND STAKEHOLDER COMMITTEE.
THE IDEA BROADLY SPEAKING WAS THAT WE'VE HAD A LOT OF SHORT TERM RENTAL COMMITTEES AND WE HAD A LOT OF EXPERT SUBJECT MATTERS ON THEM, BUT THERE'S NEVER BEEN REALLY A COMMITTEE THAT FOCUSES ON THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE PROBABLY THE MOST IMPACTED BY THE SHORT TERM RENTALS, THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE NEAR THEM.
THAT'S WHAT THIS COMMITTEE IS BEING CREATED TO DO.
IT SAYS THE CITY AND THE PARK BOARD DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO GET THE DATA TO MEASURE, TRACK, AND MAXIMIZE HALT AND EFFECTIVELY REGULATE SHORT TERM RENTALS.
WITH DON'S REPORT NOTWITHSTANDING, AND THERE'S A LOT THERE THAT THEY STILL NEED TO GET.
TO EFFECTIVELY REGULATE STRS, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE FULL IMPACT ON THE COST OF STRS TO THE CITY GOVERNMENT AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND RESIDENTS WHO LIVE WITH THEM.
STRS BRING IN ABOUT 50% OF HALT ON THE ISLAND, BUT BY OPERATING IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS, THEY CAN HAVE AN ADVERSE IMPACT THAT COMES WITH OPERATING A BUSINESS AND A RESIDENTIALLY ZONED NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE CITY MUST ACHIEVE A BALANCE BETWEEN THE MONEY STRS GENERATE BY HALT AND THEIR IMPACT ON RESIDENTS WHO LIVE WITH THEM.
WE'VE JUST BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT.
THE STR OPERATOR COMMUNITY IS HIGHLY ORGANIZED WITH STROKE AND GAREM'S SHORT TERM RENTALS OWNERS ASSOCIATION AND GALVESTON ASSOCIATION OF REAL ESTATE MANAGERS, AIRBNB AND OTHER PLATFORMS, AND THROUGH ADVOCACY, HAVE HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON FORMULATING THE CURRENT REGULATING ENVIRONMENT AROUND SHORT TERM RENTALS.
RESIDENTS WHO LIVE NEAR WHERE STRS OPERATE AND ARE MOST IMPACTED BY THE OPERATION OF STRS ARE NOT NATURALLY ORGANIZED AND HAVE HAD NO SUCH OPPORTUNITY TO A ADVOCATE OR VOICE THEIR CONCERNS.
TO HELP ACHIEVE A BALANCE BETWEEN THE HALT THAT STRS GENERATE AND THEIR IMPACT ON NEIGHBORHOOD, WE'RE PROPOSING TO ESTABLISH A FORUM THAT FOSTERS COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN RESIDENTS IMPACTED BY THEM AND STR OPERATORS.
THIS PROPOSAL ESTABLISHES A CITY SPONSORED COMMITTEE OF RESIDENTS, OPERATORS, SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, STAKEHOLDERS, AND CITY STAFF TO ACHIEVE A MORE COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF THE RESIDENTS CONCERNS, STR OPERATIONS AND THE HALT THEY GENERATE, TO INFORM A MORE EFFECTIVE AND EQUITABLE REGULATION OF STRS.
THIS COMMITTEE, WHILE FOCUSED ON NEIGHBORHOODS AND RESIDENTS, WILL BUILD ON FINDINGS AND INFORMATION FROM PAST SHORT TERM RENTAL COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES.
MANY CITIES THROUGHOUT GALVESTON STRUGGLE WITH THE SAME ISSUES, AND THROUGH VARIOUS ATTEMPTS TO REGULATE STRS, A BODY OF LEGAL PRECEDENT AND BEST PRACTICES HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED THAT OUR CITY CAN LEARN FROM TO CREATE THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND LEGAL REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT, AND DON KNOWS ALL ABOUT THAT.
IN TEXAS, I WAS JUST LOOKING THIS UP, WE HAVE FOUR TIMES THE NATIONAL STATE AVERAGE OF NUMBER OF STRS, THE ONLY STATE THAT HAS MORE STRS THAN US IS FLORIDA SO THERE'S A HUGE BODY.
>> HUGE BODY OF PRECEDENCE OUT THERE TO LEARN FROM.
THE COMMITTEE'S WORK PRODUCT WILL BE IN THE FORM OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR REGULATION OF STRS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ORDINANCES, ZONING, FEES, CODES, MONITORING, AND ENFORCEMENT REQUIREMENTS, AND RESOURCES REQUIRED.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE REVIEWED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR THEIR RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR ACTION.
THE COMMITTEE WILL BE APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL SOMETIME AROUND OCTOBER AND WE'LL MEET SHORTLY AFTER.
THE COMMITTEE WILL MEET TWICE A MONTH OR AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMITTEE ITSELF AND COMPLETE THEIR WORK WITH RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY FOR ACTION WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THE FIRST MEETING, AND THE COMMITTEE WILL SUNSET AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THEIR WORK OR RECOMMENDED ALTERNATIVE ACTION.
I'LL GO THROUGH THE RECOMMENDED 12-MEMBER COMMITTEE MAKEUP AND THE CHAIR WILL BE SELECTED BY THIS COMMITTEE AFTER THAT MEETING.
THERE WOULD BE ONE RESIDENT FROM EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT AND MAYOR WHO LIVES NEAR A SHORT TERM RENTAL BECAUSE THAT'S THE POINT OF THIS IS TO GET THE RESIDENTS.
>> EACH COUNCIL MEMBER AND THE MAYOR WILL APPOINT ONE PERSON FROM THEIR DISTRICT WHO LIVES NEAR A SHORT TERM RENTAL, SOMEBODY WHO'S REALLY INTERESTED IN THIS.
>> BUT IT COULD BE A SHORT TERM RENTAL OWNER.
>>WELL, I THINK THAT'S NOT THE POINT HERE.
WE'LL COVER THAT IN ANOTHER PART OF THIS MEMBERSHIP.
THE POINT IS THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO INTEREST, NO STAKE, THE PEOPLE WHO WHOSE STAKE IS PURELY IN LIVING IN GALVESTON.
THEN SHORT TERM RENTALS OWNERS ASSOCIATION OF GALVESTON WOULD HAVE A POSITION ON THIS COMMITTEE.
GALVESTON ASSOCIATION OF REAL ESTATE MANAGERS, GAREM, WOULD HAVE A POSITION.
AT LARGE, STR OWNER OCCUPIED OPERATOR WOULD HAVE A SPECIFIC POSITION.
VISION GALVESTON, WHO IS A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT WHO HAS A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS, AND THEN A CITY STAFF OF SOME KIND.
[03:25:03]
THEN AN EX OFFICIO CITY COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD BE ON THERE.WE WOULD START WITH A LIBRARY OF RESOURCES BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH INFORMATION OUT THERE AND THERE'S A LOT OF FIRST OF ALL, A MAP OR A LOCATION OF THE DENSITY OF ALL THE SHORT TERM RENTALS IN THE CITY.
THEN ANY INFORMATION THAT PARK BOARD HAS ON SHORT TERM RENTALS AND HALT, AND THEN ANY DATA THAT, AND I KNOW GAREM AND STROKE HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK ON THIS AND HAVE SOME REALLY EXCELLENT GUIDELINES THAT WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT.
THEN VISION GALVESTON HAS A LOT OF DATA BACKGROUND ON THIS.
LEGAL PRECEDENT THAT DON WILL, I'M SURE PROVIDE FOR US THAT KEEPS US WITHIN OUR BOUNDARIES, SO WE DON'T TRY TO DO SOMETHING THAT WILL NEVER BE LEGAL.
THE CITY BUDGET HOT GENERATED BY SHORT TERM RENTALS AND IMPACT ON THE CITY BUDGET.
THEY ALL KNOW THAT. THEN THE STRATEGIES TO INCREASE REVENUE.
WHAT I'M ALLUDING TO THERE IS JUST WHAT WE JUST HEARD ABOUT THIS SHORT TERM REAL REGISTRATION FEES, THIS COMMITTEE WOULD NEED TO KNOW WHAT THAT IS.
IF THEY HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS, DIRECTIONS, WE COULD LEARN FROM THAT.
OF COURSE, THE CURRENT CITY ORDINANCES, CODES, REGULATIONS, AND LEGAL DOCUMENTS.
WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS NOT A NOVEL IDEA.
IT'S BEEN DONE ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
>> CITIES TRYING TO REGULATE THE STRS.
I'M TALKING ABOUT WELL, SAN ANTONIO WAS VERY WELL ORGANIZED IN THEIR COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO ESTABLISH EQUITABLE SHORT TERM RENTAL OPERATION.
THE COMMITTEE HAD A REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH OF THEIR 10 DISTRICTS.
I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER HAD A COMMITTEE LIKE THAT.
PLUS, THEY HAD SHORT TERM OPERATORS TOTALING ABOUT 24 PEOPLE ON THEIR COMMITTEE AND THE CITY PROVIDED EIGHT SUPPORT STAFF.
I'M GOING TO PASS THIS AROUND.
THIS IS WHAT SAN ANTONIO'S SHORT TERM RENTAL ANNUAL REPORT LOOKS LIKE.
THEY PUBLISH A REPORT EVERY YEAR ON A STATUS REPORT.
OF COURSE, SAN ANTONIO IS WAY BIGGER THAN GALVESTON, YOU COULD SAY, WE CAN'T COMPARE.
BUT THE NUMBER OF OUR SHORT TERM RENTALS ARE PRETTY CLOSE.
THEY HAVE ABOUT 5,533 SHORT TERM RENTALS.
WE KNOW WE HAD AS MANY AS 5,221.
IT'S REALLY THE PROCESS THAT THEY GO THROUGH THAT I WAS TRYING TO LEARN SOMETHING FROM BECAUSE IT REALLY WAS ALIGNED WITH WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE, AND IT HASN'T BEEN DONE YET BEFORE.
I THINK WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO DAVID.
>> WHEN WE AS COUNSEL LAST YEAR SAID, HEY, THIS IS SOMETHING WE WANTED TO GET INFORMATION BACK FROM NVON, AND WE TASKED STAFF TO WORK TOWARDS CERTAIN GOALS AND ORDINANCES AND JUST LIKE WE SAW TODAY WITH THE BRINGING BACK THE SHORT TERM RENTAL REGISTRATION FEES TO THE CITY, THAT WAS JUST THE FIRST START OF WHAT SOME OF THE OTHER TOPICS HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT.
WHAT I DID WAS PUT TOGETHER IN JUST A LITTLE WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL A GROUP THAT WAS NOT OFFICIAL FROM THE CITY.
IT JUST HAD STROKE, HAD SOME OTHER PEOPLE ON THERE, COUNCIL MEMBER ROB, ATTENDED DON AND BRIAN ATTENDED ON OCCASION TO PROVIDE INPUT.
WE CAME UP WITH ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT IDEAS, SOME OF WHICH WERE PRESENTED IN THE DRAFT ORDINANCE CHANGE THAT DON GAVE US LAST TIME.
BUT AGAIN, IT WAS PRESENTED TO COUNSEL, AND THEN WE WERE TASKED WITH THE IDEA OF SAYING, WE NEEDED TO GO GET EVIDENCE THAT THESE CHANGES WERE NECESSARY.
THAT'S WHAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE TASKED WITH BRINGING BACK ON OCTOBER 25TH.
THE IDEA HERE IS THAT ONCE WE HAVE EVIDENCE OR OF THESE POTENTIAL PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS OR CHANGES, THAT THIS FORMAL COMMITTEE, WHICH HAS SOME MAKEUP THAT WAS SIMILAR TO THE AD HOC GROUP PREVIOUSLY, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY HAD REPRESENTATION FROM THE CITIZENS THAT WERE BEING IMPACTED BY SHORT TERM RENTALS, AND THAT THEY HAVE A VOICE AS APPOINTED BY EACH MEMBER OF COUNCIL, THAT THEY HAVE A VOICE IN THE COMMITTEE AND TAKE THESE IDEAS THAT HAD BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD THAT WERE CONSIDERED IN THE DRAFT ORDINANCE CHANGES THAT DON GAVE, AND THEN BE ABLE TO DO FURTHER RESEARCH ON THEM AND COLLECT EVIDENCE OF THE NEED FOR THE CHANGE AND THEN BRING THAT BACK TO COUNCIL.
THAT WAS REALLY THE OVERARCHING IDEA BEHIND THIS.
WE ALSO IN DISCUSSIONS, BOB AND I HAD DISCUSSIONS OF THAT WE DIDN'T WANT THIS TO BE INITIALLY, WE DIDN'T WANT IT TO BE JUST AN INDEFINITE COMMITTEE.
THE PROCESS OF SHORT TERM RENTAL REGISTRATIONS, THE MANAGEMENT OF IT AT THE CITY LEVEL, THE ENFORCEMENT OF COMPLIANCE,
[03:30:02]
I THINK WARRANTS FURTHER DISCUSSION IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A VERY EQUITABLE AND FAIR AND EFFICIENT PROCESS FOR MANAGING THE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON OUR CITY.IT HAS HUGE ECONOMIC BENEFITS.
THERE ARE A MYRIAD OF THINGS THAT CAN BE LOOKED AT IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT IT'S EFFICIENT, MAKING SURE THAT IT'S EASY FOR OPERATORS, AND AND ALSO FOR OUR VISITORS AS WELL.
THAT'S WHY WE PROPOSED A SIX-MONTH, TAKE A LOOK AT IT QUICKLY, ANALYZE THE INFORMATION THAT WE ALREADY HAVE BEEN GIVEN, HAVE GATHERED, AND THEN THE ORDINANCE CHANGES FROM DON AND THEN COME BACK AND REPORT BACK TO COUNCIL.
EITHER ONE AT A TIME, LIKE WHAT DON WAS SUGGESTING, HEY, THIS IS THE FIRST OF SEVERAL THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE, BUT PROVIDE GREATER DETAIL AND PROVIDE A FORUM FOR THE COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN.
>> VERY GOOD. LET'S OPEN DISCUSSION, MARIE.
>> WELL, WE USE 5,000 RENTALS THAT ARE ON THE ISLAND.
HALF OF THEM SIT IN MY DISTRICT.
MY DISTRICT IS 20 SOME MILES LONG AND THERE'S DIFFERENT SHORT TERM RENTALS.
ONE, I DON'T KNOW I'M IN FAVOR OF ANOTHER AD HOC COMMITTEE, BUT TWO, I WOULD CERTAINLY WANT MORE REPRESENTATION BECAUSE OF THE DIFFERENT AREAS THAT HAVE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SHORT TERM RENTALS, WHEN WE HAVE HALF OF THEM.
>> A COUNTER TO THAT WOULD BE THAT ALSO, IF YOU ADD DISTRICTS 1, 2, AND 3, THAT'S ALSO THE LARGEST MAJORITY OF IT WELL.
>> WE ARE PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO APPOINT DIRECTLY, AND THEN ALSO ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE AREA.
THAT'S FINE, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE GAREM, WHICH IS SPECIFIC TO YOUR DISTRICT AS WELL.
>> I REALIZE THAT BUT THEY OPERATE DIFFERENTLY THAN INDEPENDENT RENTALS, WHICH IS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
>> WHICH IS THAT IS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT THE COMMITTEE NEEDS TO TAKE A LOOK AT BECAUSE THAT ALSO AFFECTS DATA COLLECTION AS WELL.
>> TO BE CLEAR, ANY COUNCILMEMBER CAN ATTEND THESE MEETINGS AND PARTICIPATE AT ANY TIME.
I THINK WE DID THAT, CRAFTED IT THAT WAY IN ORDER TO TO BE FAIR TO ALL THE DISTRICTS, I GUESS.
IF IT COMES UP IN THIS COMMITTEE THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD BE WAITING WEST END IN SOME WAY, A LITTLE BIT MORE, WELL, THEN THAT'S WHAT WE WILL DO.
BUT JUST TO KEEP THE COMMITTEES ALREADY AT WHAT? THIRTEEN PEOPLE. I'VE BEEN TOLD TWO OR THREE TIMES THAT'S TOO MANY, BUT NOTHING'S EASY.
>> JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ON THE STRUCTURE THAT YOU HAVE 12 MEMBERS AND A LIAISON FROM COUNCIL, IS THAT RIGHT?
>> SEVEN OF THOSE MEMBERS WILL BE APPOINTED BY COUNCIL.
I ASSUME YOU'RE NOT TRYING TO STACK THIS WITH PEOPLE THAT DON'T LIKE SHORT TERM RENTALS.
>> NO. I'M NOT APPOINTING THEM, BUT I AM GOING TO APPOINT ONE FROM MY DISTRICT.
>> EVERYBODY WILL POINT FROM THEIR DISTRICT.
I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT WE'RE NOT TRYING TO GET EVERYBODY THAT'S AGAINST SHORT TERM RENTALS ON THIS COMMITTEE.
>> IN THE BEST OF ALL WORLDS, IMPARTIALITY IS ALWAYS A GOAL.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO YOU APPOINT.
SOMEBODY'S GOING TO COME WITH SOME KIND OF NOTION.
BUT THE REASON THAT THIS COMMITTEE IS SO LARGE IS BECAUSE IF YOU GET ALL ALL THOSE NOTIONS, YOU MIGHT SHAKE IT OUT, SOMETHING GOOD WILL COME OUT OF IT.
>> WELL, THE COMMITTEE WILL ELECT THE CHAIR PROBABLY FIRST.
>> BOB, THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE REPRESENTING THE DIFFERENT INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES, THEY HAVE A VOTE AND THEY CAN VOTE?
>> YEAH. EVERYBODY VOTES THE CITY STAFF.
>> THE CITY COUNCILMEMBER IS THE ONLY PERSON DOESN'T HAVE A VOTE?
>> CITY STAFF AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
>> I WOULD DISAGREE OF HAVING THEY ENVISION [INAUDIBLE].
>> THEY HAVE A WEALTH OF DATA AND THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED WITH THIS ISSUE TOO BECAUSE THEIR OMISSION IS CONCERNED WITH THE WELFARE OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF EVERYBODY WHO LIVES HERE ACROSS THE ISLAND.
THEY JUST HAVE A WEALTH OF DATA. THEY'RE NOT BIASED IN MY OPINION. THEY'RE DATA COLLECTORS.
>> THE OTHER THOUGHT I HAVE TOO, I PERSONALLY THINK THAT THIS COMMITTEE REALLY NEEDS TO LOOK AT THE DATA THAT MAY BE ACCUMULATED.
MY SENSE IS THAT WE HAVE TWO CONCERNS WITH SHORT-TERM RENTALS THAT I HEAR.
[03:35:02]
ONE ARE NUISANCE, ORIENTED CONCERNS, SANITATION, ALL THE OTHER.I'M NOT SURE TO BE HONEST THAT THE CONCERNS ARE OUT THERE AS WE THINK THEY ARE.
I COULD BE WRONG ON THAT, BUT I HAVE A FEELING THAT IT MAY BE THAT WE HEAR FROM THOSE THAT ARE REAL BAD ACTORS AND THE MAJORITY OF THOSE DO PRETTY GOOD JOB, AT LEAST THEY DO AROUND MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE I LIVE.
THE OTHER IS, I HEAR THAT THEY UNDERMINE THE CULTURAL FABRIC OF A NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M NOT SURE HOW YOU'LL EVER FIGURE THAT OUT.
THAT'S A HARD THING TO DETERMINE ON THAT.
BUT GETTING THE DATA TO KNOW WHERE WE STAND, THAT MAY GUIDE THIS COMMITTEE MORE THAN WE THINK.
>> THAT WAS ONE OF THE KEY DISCUSSIONS WHEN WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO SET GOALS BECAUSE THE ISSUES LIKE IN COUNCIL MEMBER ROB'S DISTRICT ARE MOST LIKELY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN THE URBAN CORE.
WHERE YOU MIGHT HAVE NOISE AND WELL, YOU TRASH.
THAT MAY NOT BE THE SAME BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT LARGER HOUSES AND THAT ARE HOUSING A LOT MORE PEOPLE.
THAT'S NOT REALLY THE ISSUE THAT WE'RE HAVING, BUT BEING ABLE TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF THE ISLAND AND THEN TO WORK COLLECTIVELY TOWARDS PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS AND ORDINANCE CHANGES AND ENFORCEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAN HELP MAKE THIS A MORE EFFICIENT PROCESS, BETTER ENFORCEMENT, AND MAKE IT BETTER FOR OUR CITIZENS HERE.
>> CRAIG, REGARDLESS OF THE COMPLAINTS WE'RE HEARING FROM THE RESIDENTS ABOUT STRS, THEY ALL AGREE THAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY OF THIS YET.
THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT THIS IS ABOUT IS AT LEAST GIVING THEM A CHANCE TO CHIME IN ON WHAT WE'RE DOING AND IF WE DO, WE'RE GOING TO GET MORE SUPPORT FROM THEM IN THE END BECAUSE THEY WILL HAVE PARTICIPATED.
HOPEFULLY, MAYBE FEWER COMPLAINTS.
THAT'S ANOTHER REASON WE'RE DOING THIS.
WHEN WE MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE FROM OUR DISTRICT, THOUGH.
>> IT HAS TO BE FROM YOUR DISTRICT, MAYOR.
>> YOU'RE SAYING IT HAS TO BE.
>> NO, YOUR DISTRICT. [LAUGHTER] YOU'RE AT LARGE.
>> IN AN IDEAL WORLD, I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE SINCE WE RECEIVE INFORMATION FROM RESIDENTS THAT LIVE IN OUR DISTRICT, BUT MAYOR, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE PUT A RESTRICTION ON THAT.
>> WELL, THE REASON I ASK ALL OF OUR OTHER AD HOC COMMITTEES THAT FUNCTION THIS WAY, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS COULD APPOINT WHO THEY WANT AND THEY DID.
BUT I'M JUST ASKING WHAT YOUR RECOMMENDATION.
>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY FINE.
>> BUT THE POINT WAS WE'RE TRYING TO BE EQUITABLE AND IF THERE'S ANOTHER WAY TO DO THAT.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE ALL OF PEOPLE ON A COMMITTEE FROM ONE NEIGHBORHOOD, FOR INSTANCE.
>> ARE WE SELECTING THE AT LARGE OWNER OPERATOR? IS THAT ONE AT LARGE OR FOR THAT WE ALL PICK THROUGH AND WE COULD DO THAT?
>> IT WOULD BE IT WOULD BE A CONSENSUS APPOINTMENT.
>> BRING UP A PERSON [OVERLAPPING]
>> YEAH, FOR DISCUSSION. THE PREMISE BESIDES THAT WAS [OVERLAPPING] THE IDEA BEHIND ACTUAL OWNER OPERATOR, CAN YOU READ THE DESCRIPTION ON WHAT IT SAID.
IT SAID OWNER OCCUPIED. THIS WAS GETTING [OVERLAPPING]
>> A SECOND HOME OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] SOMEBODY THAT HELP SOMEBODY IN THEIR MORTGAGE WITH AN STR.
>> IT'S NOT SOMEBODY LIVES IN THIS ON SITE.
>> THEY LIVE OCCUPIED THE GARAGE APARTMENT.
>> AS A OCCUPIED STR FRIENDS THAT DO THAT.
>> THE REASON FOR THAT IS JUST ANECDOTALLY, WE'VE HAD [OVERLAPPING]
>> IN THE SAN ANTONIO REPORT, THERE'S TYPE 1 AND TYPE 2 OPERATORS.
>> YOU'RE GETTING DOWN TO THE POINT THAT I MENTIONED TO DON EARLIER WAS ABOUT THE FEE STRUCTURE OR TO DAM.
BUT DON AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS AS WELL IS THE REGISTRATION FEE STRUCTURE.
SEVERAL CITIES DELINEATE BETWEEN THE TYPE OF RENTAL PROPERTY THAT IT IS, WHETHER IT'S OWNER OCCUPIED, WHETHER IT'S A CONDO.
OVER TIME, WE COULD HAVE EVIDENCE THAT SAYS, OUR REGISTRATION FEE STRUCTURE COULD CHANGE.
>> THE IDEA BEHIND THAT WAS THERE ARE FEWER PROBLEMS COMING FROM STRS THAT ARE OWNER-OCCUPIED BECAUSE THE OWNER HAS A STAKE IN THE ISLAND IN GALVES,
[03:40:02]
DO YOU SEE HIM IN A GROCERY STORE, YOU SEE HIM ON THE STREETS AND THEY HAVE A STAKE IN GALVESTON, WHEREAS THE OUT OF TOWN OWNERS OR THE CONGLOMERATES THAT OWN FIVE OR SIX OR 70 HAVE NO STAKE IN THE ISLAND.THEY'RE GOING TO BE REPRESENTED I THINK THROUGH STROKE AND GALVE BECAUSE THEY DEAL WITH ALL OF THOSE GUYS.
BUT I JUST THINK BECAUSE THIS IS A RESIDENT-CENTERED OR RESIDENT-PUROSED COMMITTEE, WE SHOULD HAVE A RESIDENT WHO ACTUALLY OPERATES AN STR.
THE OTHER ONES ARE ALREADY REPRESENTED.
>> NO, THERE'S PROBABLY NOT THAT MANY THAT ARE OWNER-OCCUPIED STR.
>> WE NEED TO KNOW THAT. THAT'S THAT'S A PIECE OF DATA.
>> YEAH, I AGREE. THEY'RE MAINLY THOSE AROUND MY AREA AND DAVID'S DISTRICT.
WE HAVE A FAIR NUMBER THAT ARE OWNED BY GALVESTON RESIDENTS THAT ARE SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
I THINK MARIE HAS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE OWNING SHORT-TERM RENTALS THAT ARE OFF THE ISLAND.
>> I HAVE A LOT THAT [OVERLAPPING] THE SECOND HOME AND THEY LIVED THERE PART-TIME AND SO I'D SAY THAT'S THE MAJORITY. RIGHT, CLAIRE?
>> I CAN TELL YOU WHEN WE BOUGHT OUR HOUSE, THEY RENTED OUT PART OF IT AS A SHORT-TERM RENTAL.
>> BECAUSE YOU HAVE [OVERLAPPING] OWNER-OCCUPIED GARAGE APARTMENTS THAT ARE SHORT-TERM RENTERS.
>> VERY GOOD. THIS WOULD BE BROUGHT BACK TO OUR OCTOBER AGENDA FOR BODING FOR COUNCIL AND MAKING APPOINTMENTS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] IT WOULD IT BE JUST THE APPROVAL OF THE NEXT MEETING APPOINTMENT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE HAVE TO CREATE THE COMMITTEE AND THEN WE'D HAVE TO DO THE APPOINTMENTS.
>> I'M WITH ME, SO WE'D HAVE TWO SEPARATE MEETINGS?
>> I WOULD NEED SEPARATE MEETINGS.
>> BUT THE NEXT ONE, WE CAN HASH OUT IF YOU CAN CIRCULATE JANELLE EVERYTHING YOU GAVE US AND WE CAN HASH IT OUT.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO HASH OUT AT WORKSHOP.
>> I THINK IT'S ALWAYS BETTER TO HASH IN THE MORNING.
>> HASH IN THE MORNING VOTE AT NIGHT.
>> I KNOW. THIS SEEMS TO BE GOING THROUGH EVE.
>> WELL, IF WHATEVER GETS US TO HAPPY HOUR.
[LAUGHTER] IF YOU BRING IT DOWN ACTION ON OCTOBER 24, THEN COUNCIL MEMBERS, THAT WILL BE ON OUR AGENDA TO APPROVE THE STRUCTURE AND ALL OF THAT.
THEN WE COULD BRING THAT UP IN A CLARIFICATION ITEM IF WE WANTED TO DISCUSS IT AND GET INTO DETAILS OF IT.
>> YOU WANTED ME TO SEND OUT THIS THING THAT I'M PASSING AROUND HERE.
>> SEND OUT THAT AND THEN I GUESS THE FRAMEWORK OF THE COMMITTEE.
>> I READ THAT THEY ONLY HAVE 3,200 IN OPERATION.
WHO'S THAT SAN ANTONIO? ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, IS THAT RIGHT?
>> IF THAT'S THE CASE, WE HAVE WAY MORE THAN THEY DO.
>> WE'RE ONE OF THE LARGEST WHEN I WAS ON THOSE CALLS WITH THE OTHER CITY SENATORS.
I NEVER FOUND ANYBODY AS MANY AS WE DID.
>> IF YOU LOOK A PER JAMAICA BEACH LINE.
THEY'VE TAKEN SOME INTERESTING WAYS OF CONTROLLING OCCUPANCY.
THEY'RE USING SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE HOUSE.
[OVERLAPPING] TRASH-WISE, IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING OUTSIDE OF YOUR TRASH CAN IT HAS TO BE IN THAT DOUBLE BLACK FORTIFIED AND IF IT ISN'T, THEY'RE CHARGING $250 FINE.
>> ANOTHER GREAT GOAL IS TO LOOK AT OTHER TYPES OF CONTROLS LIKE THAT IN OCCUPANCY, WHICH WE'VE WRESTLED WITH.
>> WHICH I THINK IS ALSO BEING DONE BY FREDERICKSBURG AND [OVERLAPPING]
>> THERE ARE OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE DONE ALL THESE.
>> IN EARLY DISCUSSIONS, WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH DATA OR ENOUGH RESEARCH TO DIG DOWN INTO THAT TO BRING THAT BACK TO COUNCIL.
>> JOHN, YOU'VE COME TO THE TABLE YOURSELF.
>> IF THERE IS THE DESIRE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO VOTE ON BY THE 24TH, WE NEED THE STRUCTURE SENT TO [OVERLAPPING]
WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON [OVERLAPPING]
>> WELL, HE'S TALKING ABOUT THIS.
>> ACTION OF THE COMMITTEE TO VOTE ON OCTOBER 24TH, WHICH MEANS IT HAS TO HIT THE AGENDA ON THE 16TH.
[OVERLAPPING] TO VOTE ON THREE DAYS.
>> NO. I THINK IT WAS TO VOTE ON IN NOVEMBER.
>> YEAH. I THINK NOVEMBER, DECEMBER IS WHAT.
>> I THOUGHT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT CREATE THE COMMITTEE IN OCTOBER.
>> YOU WOULD CREATE THE STRUCTURE THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD VOTE ON AND WE COULD WORKSHOP IT AGAIN IN AND OCTOBER.
I REALLY DOESN'T HOWEVER YOU WANT TO.
>> OUR MEETING IN [OVERLAPPING]
[03:45:02]
>> WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE AN ORDINANCE CREATING THIS ON THE AGENDA ON OCTOBER 24.
>> BECAUSE WE'RE STILL FINALIZING WHAT IT WILL BE.
>> JUST ONE SECOND. DO YOU WANT TO WORKSHOP THIS AND NOT HAVE ANY ACTION ITEM ON THE STRUCTURE, I WAS THINKING NO, BUT THAT'S JUST I THOUGHT WE WOULD SINCE WE'VE BEEN PRESENTED THERE.
>> I WOULD THINK THAT SINCE COUNCIL HAS BEEN BRIEFED ON IT IN NOVEMBER, IF YOU WANTED TO WORKSHOP IT IN THE MORNING AND VOTE ON IT IN THE EVENING, I THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE.
I THINK WORKSHOPPING IN OCTOBER WERE SO CLOSE. I DON'T KNOW.
>> I WAS THINKING THAT THE STRUCTURE WOULD GO ON AS AN ACTION ITEM IN OCTOBER.
WE CAN WORKSHOP IT, OF COURSE, ALSO, AND THEN WE WOULD MAKE OUR APPOINTMENTS IN NOVEMBER.
>> RODGERS TOLD YOU HE DIDN'T HAVE TIME.
>> WE GOING TO SAY IT'S A TIME CRUNCH.
>> WE'RE NOT ASKING TO BRING AN ORDINANCE.
>> WE STILL HAVE THOSE HOURS WHEN WE SLEEP.
>> WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU TO BRING AN ORDINANCE AT THE OCTOBER MEETING.
ALL WE'RE SAYING IS THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THIS IDEA AND DIRECT STAFF TO BRING AN ORDINANCE, I GUESS AT THE NOVEMBER MEETING.
>> WHAT YOU'RE WANTING IS AN OCTOBER WORKSHOP ON THIS ITEM.
>> AND APPROVAL TO GO FORWARD.
WE COULD WORKSHOP IN THE MORNING [OVERLAPPING]
>> PERSONALLY I THINK WE ALREADY GOT THAT.
>> TELL ME IF I'M WRONG ABOUT THIS, BUT WHAT I WAS SUGGESTING IS THAT THE NEXT MEETING, WE APPROVE THE CREATION OF THE COMMITTEE AND DIRECT STAFF TO CREATE AN ORDINANCE THAT WE VOTE ON CREATING THE COMMITTEE NEXT NOVEMBER.
>> LET ME JUST SPEAK FOR STAFF ON IT.
NO, I DON'T DISAGREE WITH YOUR THOUGHT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO NEED GUIDANCE AS TO HOW YOU WANT THIS COMMITTEE CREATED.
I THINK THERE'S STILL DISCUSSION ABOUT MEMBERSHIP AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I THINK IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE WORKSHOP THAT AND STAFF GETS JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE. WE GET CLEAR GUIDANCE.
THEN WE CAN CRAFT IT, THEN YOU CAN VOTE ON IT.
THAT'S WHY I THINK WORKSHOP AT NOVEMBER, VOTE ON IT DECEMBER, AT THE GROUND RUNNING FIRST OF THE YEAR, YOU'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.
>> WELL, YOU WANT TO WORKSHOP IT IN NOVEMBER, OCTOBER.
NO VOTING, JUST WORKSHOP IT AGAIN IN OCTOBER, NOVEMBER.
>> YOU'RE JUST SAYING WE HAD A TON OF STUFF ON OUR.
>> I THINK IF WE GO A FEW MORE MINUTES, WE'RE IN NOVEMBER. [LAUGHTER]
>> WORKSHOP IN NOVEMBER AND VOTE IN DECEMBER AND THEN APPOINT IN JANUARY?
WE WORKSHOP IT AND THEN CREATE AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CODE.
IN DECEMBER, YOU APPOINT AND THEN JANUARY YOU START. DOES THAT WORK?
>> [OVERLAPPING] NOVEMBER WORKSHOP, NOVEMBER.
>> YOU CAN'T HAVE A WORKSHOP AND HAVE ME WRITE AN ORDINANCE FOR ADOPTION BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING]
>> I JUST DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TIME ON YOUR OCTOBER TO JANUARY.
>> LET'S GO NOVEMBER WORKSHOP.
>> ESPECIALLY SINCE JANUARY IS WHEN STAFF WILL BE LOOKING AT THE THINGS THAT TRANSITION.
>> THAT'S NOT A DISMAYED THOUGH.
>> IN THE MEANTIME, I'LL SEND WHAT DOCUMENTS I HAVE TO JANELLE AND SHE CAN SEND THEM OUT TO YOU.
WE'RE GOING TO WORKSHOP IT IN NOVEMBER.
WE'LL PROVE THE STRUCTURE IN DECEMBER AND MAKE APPOINTMENTS IN JANUARY. VERY GOOD.
>> THEY BROUGHT SO MUCH CLARITY.
>> ANY OTHER THOUGHTS ON THIS? VERY GOOD.
COUNCIL, JUST REAL QUICKLY, IN 60 DAYS APPROXIMATELY, WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER JOINT MEETING WITH THE PARK BOARD TO TALK ABOUT STEWART BEACH AND ON NOVEMBER 5, WE HAVE A JOINT WORKSHOP WITH THE WHARF'S BOARD.
>> THIS IS IN KEEPING WITH THE MAYOR'S QUEST TO HAVE A MEETING EVERY 36 HOURS.
[03:50:03]
>> I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THIS AS AN EDITORIAL COMMENT AND FOR BRIAN'S SAKE, THE MORE ME THIS TIES UP STAFF, I BELIEVE.
I FIND THAT WE NEED TO GET THESE MEETINGS DONE.
WE. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.