8.A. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Creating A Planned Unit Development (PUD) Overlay Zoning District For A Parking Lot, Commercial Surface Parking Area, In A Heavy Industrial (HI) Zoning District To Construct A "Parking Lot, Commercial Surface Parking Area", On Property Commonly Known As 1802, 1902 And 1920 Harborside Drive, And Which Is Legally Described As M.B. Menard Survey, Lots 8-11, Block 738; Lots 12-14 (12-0), Block 739, And Portion Of Adjacent 19th Street; And Lots 11-14, Block 739, In The City And County Of Galveston, Texas; Planning Case Number 25P-014; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject; And Providing For An Effective Date. (T. Tietjens)

[8.A. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Creating A Planned Unit Development (PUD) Overlay Zoning District For A Parking Lot, Commercial Surface Parking Area, In A Heavy Industrial (HI) Zoning District To Construct A "Parking Lot, Commercial Surface Parking Area", On Property Commonly Known As 1802, 1902 And 1920 Harborside Drive, And Which Is Legally Described As M.B. Menard Survey, Lots 8-11, Block 738; Lots 12-14 (12-0), Block 739, And Portion Of Adjacent 19th Street; And Lots 11-14, Block 739, In The City And County Of Galveston, Texas; Planning Case Number 25P-014; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject; And Providing For An Effective Date. (T. Tietjens)]

ITEM 88, PLEASE.

>> ITEM 88. CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AND ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS CREATING A PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY ZONING DISTRICT FOR A PARKING LOT, COMMERCIAL SURFACE PARKING AREA IN A HEAVY INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICT TO CONSTRUCT A PARKING LOT.

COMMERCIAL SURFACE PARKING AREA ON PROPERTY COMMONLY KNOWN AS 1802, 1902 AND 1920 HARBOR SIDE DRIVE AND WHICH IS LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS MB MINARD SURVEY LOTS 8 - 11 BLOCK 738.

LOTS 12 - 14, BLOCK 739, AND PORTION OF ADJACENT 19TH STREET AND LOTS 11 - 14 BLOCK 739 IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS.

PLANNING CASE NUMBER 25P-014 MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS, AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

>> VERY GOOD, TIM. GOOD AFTERNOON.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD EVENING, COUNSEL, TIM TEENS DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.

THIS IS ONE OF A COUPLE OF PROJECTS TONIGHT THAT DEAL WITH LDR.

THIS IS PROJECT 25P-014 AT THE ADDRESS OF 1802, 1902 AND 1920 HARBOR SIDE AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE MAP ON THE SCREEN.

THAT'S THE OLD LIPTON T BUILDING.

THE FRONTS HARBOR SIDE.

THEY ARE PROPOSING TO DO A LONG TERM PARKING LOT THERE AND THE APPLICANT IS SHAY JOB WITH HARBOR PROPERTIES INCORPORATED.

IT'S A HEAVY INDUSTRIAL ZONE.

THEY'RE REQUESTING A PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT TO SUBMIT AN ALTERNATIVE LANDSCAPE PLAN FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT SITE.

IN PARTICULAR, WE HAD 25 COMMENTS.

I'M SORRY, 25 NOTICES THAT WERE SENT OUT DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY COMMENTS BACK.

FROM OUR CITY DEPARTMENT NOTIFICATION, WE DID GET SOME COMMENTS BACK FROM OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ABOUT A COUPLE OF STORM SEWER EASEMENTS THAT NEED TO CONTINUE ON THROUGH THAT PROPERTY.

THIS IS A PLAN UNIT OVERLAY DISTRICT TO ESTABLISH A PARKING LOT, COMMERCIAL SURFACE PARKING AREA, LAND USE IN THE HEAVY INDUSTRIAL ZONING AND THE PURPOSE OF THAT PUD IS TO DEVIATE FROM A COUPLE SECTIONS IN 2.3 AND 9.3 OF THE CITY ORDINANCES LDR, EXCUSE ME, REGARDING PARKING LOT LANDSCAPING.

IT'S 4.255 ACRES.

AGAIN, ON THE LIPTON SITE WHICH OF COURSE, THE BUILDINGS BEEN DEMOLISHED.

[00:35:02]

REALLY WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH THAT PLAN AND I KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT, I THINK THE APPLICANT HAS A MAP THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO DISTRIBUTE SHOWING THE TOTAL LANDSCAPING ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, WHERE IT'S GOING IN THIS PROPOSAL VERSUS WHERE IT IS REQUIRED OTHERWISE BY ORDINANCE.

IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO IS BEEF UP THE PERIMETER OF THE LANDSCAPING AND INSTEAD TAKE OUT THE PARKING ISLANDS THAT ARE OTHERWISE REQUIRED.

IT'S A FLIP FLOP, SO TO SPEAK OF WHERE THIS LANDSCAPING IS GOING ON THE SITE.

IT'S REALLY UP AROUND THE PERIMETER, ALONG HARBOR SIDE DRIVE WHERE IT MAKES QUITE A BIT OF SENSE.

WITH THAT AT THE MAY 6 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, THE PLANNING COMMISSION FAILED TO APPROVE IT BECAUSE THEY HAD FOUR PEOPLE AT THE MEETING, FOUR COMMISSIONERS, AND WE HAD TO HAVE FOUR FULL AFFIRMATIVE VOTES IN ORDER TO GET IT APPROVED BY THEM.

THE VOTE WAS ACTUALLY THREE TO APPROVE ONE NOT TWO, AND SO FOR THAT REASON IT FAILED TO GET THE FOUR VOTES.

STAFF DID NOT MAKE A RECOMMENDATION, BUT SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO APPROVE WE'VE GOT SPECIFIC CONDITIONS ONE AND TWO, AND THEN STANDARD CONDITIONS 3 THROUGH 6 ON ON THE RECOMMENDATION, OTHERWISE.

I GUESS WITH THAT I'LL BE QUIET AND LET THE PUBLIC HEARING CONTINUE.

>> THANK YOU, TIM. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. TEIGEN? THANK YOU, TIM VERY MUCH.

IT IS 5:37 PM.

I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 8A.

WE DO HAVE THE APPLICANT HERE, IS THAT CORRECT TIM? COME FORWARD. STEVE, HOW ARE YOU, SIR?

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M STEVE SHULTZON.

I'M GOING TO PASS OUT THE COLOR MAPS.

THANK YOU. THE STAFF REPORT DID NOT HAVE THE COLORATION ON IT, SO YOU COULDN'T SEE HOW MUCH MORE LANDSCAPING ON THE EXTERIOR WAS GOING TO BE THERE THAN WOULD OTHERWISE BE REQUIRED ON THE EXTERIOR AND THE INTERIOR.

I'LL LET MR. JOB TELL YOU HOW MUCH MORE BY PERCENTAGE THAT IS, BUT I WANT YOU TO HAVE THAT SO THAT YOU COULD SEE A REPRESENTATION OF WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE.

>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, STEVE.

COME FORWARD IF YOU WOULD, SIR.

YOU WOULD STATE YOUR NAME IF YOU WOULD PLEASE, SIR FOR THE RECORD?

>> YES, SIR.

>> MY NAME IS SHAY JOB. I'M WITH HARBOR PROPERTIES.

>> GLAD TO HAVE YOU.

>> THANK YOU. AS WE CAN TELL, WE'RE MOVING A LOT OF LANDSCAPING FROM THE INTERIOR ISLANDS TO THE EXTERIOR, BUT THAT IS NOT ALL.

ACTUALLY, WE'RE INCREASING WHAT WOULD KNOW BE THE SQUARE FOOTAGE FOR THE PROPERTY BY 49%, 09,300 SQUARE FEET TO BE PRECISE IS HOW MUCH WE'RE GOING TO BE INCREASING OUTSIDE THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF THE LDR.

A COUPLE OF REASONS FOR THAT.

FOR LONG TERM PARKING THE BIRDS THAT FREQUENT OUR ISLAND LIKE TO ROOST AND TREES AND IT'S NOT REALLY CONDUCIVE FOR LONG TERM PARKING AS ONE OF THE REASONS WE'VE CITED IN THE PAST FOR THIS AS WELL.

THEN ANOTHER REASON WE HAVE SO MUCH LANDSCAPING THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT ON THE PERIMETER THAT IT'LL MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO EVEN SEE THE SPACES ON THE INSIDE.

BUT THOSE ARE THE BIG REASONS WHY WE'D LIKE TO PURSUE THIS VARIANCE AND PURSUE A PAD.

I GUESS DO YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME?

>> ANY QUESTIONS? YES, BOB.

>> ONE THING I LIKE ABOUT THIS PLAN IS YOU'RE LOCATING THAT 12 FOOT SIDEWALK ON THE NORTH SIDE WHERE ALL THE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO WALK BACK AND FORTH.

>> YES.

>> CREATING THE SHADE THAT IS REALLY NECESSARY OVER THERE FOR THAT.

THAT TO ME LOOKS PRETTY GOOD.

I ALSO UNDERSTAND FROM THE LAST TIME WE WERE HERE TALKING ABOUT THIS THAT THIS IS A LAND BANK SOLUTION, A TEMPORARY SOLUTION THAT ANTICIPATES SOMETHING ELSE IN THE LONG TERM HAPPENING OUT HERE.

IN OTHER WORDS, PUTTING A PARKING LOT HERE SERVES A NEED.

IT PRESERVES THAT LAND AND IT MAKES IT EASIER TO ADAPT IN THE FUTURE.

WHENEVER WE HAVE OTHER PLANS IN THE FUTURE COMING DOWN HERE RATHER THAN BUILDING AND BUILDING OF SOME KIND ON IT, AND IT'S SERVING A NEED AND IT'S LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE, I THINK.

[00:40:04]

>> THAT WOULD BE UP TO MY BOARD TO DECIDE, BUT I THINK RIGHT NOW PROBABLY WE COULD ALL AGREE PROBABLY THAT PARKING IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST AND BEST USES RIGHT NOW OF THAT PROPERTY JUST FROM OCCUPANCY RATES AND THINGS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON.

I THINK THAT PROBABLY IS THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE.

WELL ACTUALLY, THERE ARE LINES THAT DO NOT HAVE EASEMENTS YET ACROSS THE PROPERTY THAT WE WILL GET THAT ALL SORTED OUT.

WE TALKED ABOUT THAT DURING THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS OF PRE-DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS.

WE WILL TRY TO SEE IF WE CAN ACCOMMODATE THOSE EASEMENTS AS WELL OR MAKE EASEMENTS FOR THE LINES THAT ARE ALREADY THERE.

>> DO YOU HAVE A TARGET COMPLETION DATE?

>> ASAP. I GUESS WE'RE GOING TO GO TO PERMITS AFTER THIS.

WHATEVER THE PERMITTING PROCESS IS, BUT THOSE ARE THE ONLY ITEMS WE'RE SEEKING RELIEF ON.

WE'RE PLANNING TO FULLY COMPLY WITH ALL THE EAR REQUIREMENTS ON THE EXTERIOR.

WE WANT TO DO RIGHT BY THE CITY.

WE WANT TO MAKE IT A NICE ENTRY.

I THINK THERE ALONG THE PORT ROAD, GOING TO THE CRUISE TERMINAL WILL BE REALLY NICE TO A LOT OF LANDSCAPING THERE.

LIKE YOU SAID, WALKING ALONG THE SIDEWALK WILL BE NICE.

BUT ALSO BE A GREAT ENTRY TO THAT FACILITY AS YOU WALK IN.

IT'LL BE 20 FOOT BEDS THERE ALONG THAT SIDE.

>> FANTASTIC.

>> IT'LL BE A REALLY GREAT ENTRY GOING INTO THAT SPOT.

>> THAT'S YOU HAVE A 12 FOOT SIDEWALK ON THE NORTHERN BOUNDARY OF THIS PROPERTY?

>> YES, SIR. IT'S NOT OUR SIDEWALK AS THE PORTS, BUT YES.

OUR PROPERTY LINE GOES TO THE BACK OF THAT SIDEWALK.

>> VERY GOOD. ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. JOE?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT.

I LOVE THAT YOU'RE DOING ALL THIS LANDSCAPING ON THE OUTSIDE.

I'LL LIKEN IT TO ANYWHERE IN FLORIDA WHERE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A SUPERMARKET.

YOU KNOW IT'S THERE AND YOU CAN'T SEE IT, BECAUSE OF ALL THE PERIMETER LANDSCAPING.

I HIGHLY SUPPORT THIS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT.

WE MAY HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNSEL.

MAY HAVE A FEW MORE, SIR.

IF WE DO, WE'LL CALL ON YOU.

>> YES, SIR. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANY OTHER INPUT ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM FROM THOSE THAT ARE IN THE AUDIENCE HERE? HEARING NO RESPONSE, IT'S 5:42 PM.

I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

I'M GOING TO BRING THIS BACK FOR A MOTION.

I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF IT.

>> SORRY. I ALREADY BEAT YOU, MAYOR.

>> VERY GOOD.

>> MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MOTION INCLUDES THE TWO SPECIFIC CONDITIONS AS NOTED IN THE PACKAGE FROM STAFF.

>> VERY GOOD. WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND ON THAT. ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES.

UNANIMOUSLY APPROVE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU.

VERY GOOD. ITEM 8.B. PLEASE.

[8.B. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Amending The 2015 Galveston Land Development Regulations, By Amending Article 3: District Yard, Lot And Setback Standards', "Urban Neighborhood (Un) Addendum", To Modify The List Of "Corner Stores — Permitted Structures" In The San Jacinto Neighborhood, By Adding The Property Address Commonly Known As 2102 Ursuline / Avenue N And Legally Described As M B Menard Survey, South Half Of Lot 8 (3008-2), And Southeast Block 18, Galveston Outlots, In The City And County Of Galveston, Texas; Planning Case Number 25ZA-002; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject. (T. Tietjens)]

>> ITEM 8.B. CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AND ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS AMENDING THE 2015 GALVESTON LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS.

BY AMENDING ARTICLE 3 DISTRICT YARD LOT AND SETBACK STANDARDS URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD ADDENDUM TO MODIFY THE LIST OF CORNER STORES PERMITTED STRUCTURES IN THE SAN JACINTO NEIGHBORHOOD.

BY ADDING THE PROPERTY ADDRESS COMMONLY KNOWN AS 2102 ERSLIN AVENUE AND LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS MB MINARD SURVEY, SOUTH HALF OF LOT 8 IN SOUTHEAST BLOCK 18 GALVESTON OUT LOTS IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS PLANNING CASE NUMBER 25ZA-002, MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT.

>> VERY GOOD. TIM.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. AGAIN, 25ZA-002.

THE APPLICANT IS VICTOR TURNER AND DEANNE FORMAN THAT REFERENCED ADDRESS OF 2102 URSIN AVENUE.

THE UN ZONING DISTRICT IS BASICALLY INTENDED TO ACCOMMODATE A RANGE OF PATTERN OF RESIDENTIAL USES FOUND IN THE CITY'S OLDEST ESTABLISHED URBAN CORE NEIGHBORHOODS.

TOGETHER ALSO WITH LIMITED NON RESIDENTIAL USES SUCH AS CORNER STORES THAT BENEFIT THE NEARBY RESIDENTS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD SETTING CONDUCIVE TO WALKING AND BIKING AS MUCH AS VEHICULAR CIRCULATION.

THE UN ZONING DISTRICT ALLOWS FOR COMMERCIAL USES BASICALLY ON THE NORTH SOUTH NUMBERED STREETS.

THE UN ADDENDUM IN ARTICLE 3 INCLUDES SEVERAL GEOGRAPHIC AREAS IN WHICH COMMERCIAL USES ARE ONLY ALLOWED ON IDENTIFIED PARCELS AND THOSE ARE LITERALLY LISTED IN OUR LDRS WHICH ARE TRADITIONALLY CORNER STORE BUILDINGS.

THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING IN THIS CASE THAT ADDRESS IN PARTICULAR BE ADDED TO THE LIST FOR SAN JACINTO.

IT HAS BEEN USED AS A COMMERCIAL STORE SINCE BEING BUILT IN 1878.

WAS UNINTENTIONALLY LEFT OFF THE SAN JACINTO CORNER STORE LIST.

[00:45:02]

NOW WITH THE APPLICANTS HERE, WE'RE PROPOSING IT BE PUT BACK ON.

IN 1889, 1899, 1912, AND 1947 SANDBORN MAPS ALL INDICATE THAT THE SITE WAS USED AS A CORNER STORE AND GROCERY STORE.

BASICALLY, THE PLANNING COMMISSION REVIEWED THIS AT THEIR MAY 6TH MEETING AND VOTED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL.

THAT VOTE WAS UNANIMOUS AND DUE THE FACT THAT THE SUBJECT PROPERTY HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN USED FOR COMMERCIAL USES, STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL TO ADD THAT TO THE LIST.

>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, TIM.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM MR. TAGS? IT IS 5:45 PM.

I'M GOING TO CALL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 8.B.

IS THE APPLICANT HERE? ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM? SEEING NO RESPONSE, I'M GOING TO BRING THIS BACK TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 5:46 PM AND BRING IT BACK TO COUNSEL FOR ACTION.

>> I LIKE A MOTION.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION FROM BOB BROWN TO APPROVE 25ZA-002. VERY GOOD.

>> SECOND THE MOTION

>> THIS HOUSE IS ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF A BLOCK FROM MY HOME.

IT'S A VERY GOOD CHANGE FOR THIS HOUSE.

IT MAKES SENSE AND I THINK THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS ORIGINALLY FOR THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT'S BEEN A CORNER STORE HIS WHOLE LIFE.

[LAUGHTER] VERY GOOD.

ALL THOSE MEMBERS CAST YOUR VOTE, PLEASE? THAT IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TIM.

ITEM 8.C, PLEASE MA'AM.

[8.C. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Designating The Property Located At 1623 Broadway / Avenue J, As A "Galveston Landmark", Property Is Legally Described As M.B. Menard Survey, Lot 2 Block 136, In The City And County Of Galveston, Texas; Requesting The Historic Preservation Officer Record The Property's Landmark Designation In The Official Public Records Of Real Property In Galveston County, The Tax Records Of The City Of Galveston And The Central Appraisal District, And The Official Zoning Maps Of The City Of Galveston, Texas; Planning Case Number 25P-012; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject. (D. Lunsford)]

>> ITEM 8.C. CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AND ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS DESIGNATING THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1623 BROADWAY AVENUE J AS A GALVESTON LANDMARK.

PROPERTY IS LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS MB MINARD SURVEY, LOT 2 BLOCK 136 IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS.

REQUESTING THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER RECORD THE PROPERTIES LANDMARK DESIGNATION IN THE OFFICIAL PUBLIC RECORDS, A REAL PROPERTY IN GALVESTON COUNTY.

THE TAX RECORDS OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON AND THE CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT, AND THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAPS OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS.

PLANNING CASE NUMBER 25P-012 MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE HAVE MR. LUNSFORD, DANIEL.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THIS GULF COAST STYLE COTTAGE WAS BUILT BY REBECCA, OLMSTEAD BERMAN IN 1868.

SHE AND HER HUSBAND, GEORGE IMMIGRATED FROM GERMANY IN 1843.

GEORGE WAS ONE OF THE CITY'S EARLIEST PHARMACISTS.

THE FAMILY USE THE COTTAGE AS RENTAL PROPERTY UNTIL 1912 WHEN IT WAS SOLD.

LATER IT WAS OWNED BY ATTORNEY AND DISTRICT COURT JUDGE ROBERT G STREET, BECAUSE OF ITS ASSOCIATION WITH NOTEWORTHY AND GALVESTON RESIDENTS, AND THE UNCOMMON GULF COAST STYLE OF ARCHITECTURE THAT IT IS.

LANDMARK COMMISSION, PLANNING COMMISSION, AND STAFF RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE REQUEST AS A GALVESTON LANDMARK.

HERE WE HAVE A PHOTO OF THE PROPERTY SEEN FROM BROADWAY, AND THIS INCLUDES STAFF REPORT.

>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, DANIEL.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM MR. LUNSFORD, COUNSEL? IT IS 5:48 PM, I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 8.C.

IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT? HEARING NO RESPONSE, IT'S 5:48 PM.

I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, BRING THAT BACK TO COUNSEL FOR ACTION.

MAKE A MOTION IF I CAN.

MOTION TO APPROVE 25P-012?

>> I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION.

>> I'M TRYING TO MAKE A MOTION.

[LAUGHTER]

>> THERE WE GO. COUNCILMAN BROWN HAS MADE THE MOTION, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN LEWIS.

THERE'S NO DISCUSSION, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES.

THAT IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 9, PLEASE.

[9. PUBLIC COMMENT]

>> ITEM 9, PUBLIC COMMENT.

ITEM 9A AGENDA ITEMS, 9B, NON AGENDA ITEMS.

>> VERY GOOD. WE HAVE OUR PUBLIC COMMENT, AS EVERYONE KNOWS, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO GIVE YOUR TESTIMONY HERE.

UNFORTUNATELY, OR FORTUNATELY, AS THE CASE MAY BE, WE CANNOT RESPOND TO YOU BECAUSE OF THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, BUT WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOUR COMMENTS AND COUNCIL AND STAFF ARE LISTENING DEPENDING ON WHAT YOUR SUBJECT IS.

FIRST, JOSHUA OWENS. JOSHUA.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.

>> GOOD EVENING.

>> I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTS HALLS.

[00:50:03]

INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTS HALLS PROVIDES DORMITORIES FOR J-1 VISA HOLDERS.

J-1 VISA HOLDERS ARE A VITAL COMPONENT OF OUR PEAK SEASON WORKFORCE.

OUR BUSINESSES HERE IN GALVESTON NEED THOSE WORKERS IN ORDER TO TURN BEDS, IN ORDER TO TURN TABLES, AND IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE THEIR PROFITS DURING OUR PEAK SEASON.

INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTS HALLS IS SEEKING TO PURCHASE THE IN AT THE WATER PARK.

I'M ADVOCATING THAT YOU ACCEPT ACTION ITEM 12 B AS WRITTEN, AND YOU ALLOW CITY COUNCIL OR A US CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZE THE TRANSFER OR THE ADOPTION OF THE LEASE BY INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTS HALLS AS THE LEASE CURRENTLY STANDS, AND THAT IT IS A COMPATIBLE LAWFUL USE WITH THE AIRPORT AND SURROUNDING AREAS.

I'M ADVOCATING THAT YOU ALLOW INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTS HALLS TO ASSUME THE LEASE FOR THE IN AT THE WATER PARK AS WRITTEN.

NOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT HAS ABOUT AS MUCH CHANCE OF THE WASHINGTON GENERALS BEATING THE HARLEM GLOBE TROTTERS.

BUT WE STILL NEED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THIS CITY, AND WE STILL NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO IRON OUT THE ISSUES HERE, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTS HALLS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

BECAUSE OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY FRANKLY DEMANDS IT.

WE NEED TO HAVE WORKERS DURING THE PEAK SEASON.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY, SO I'LL WRAP IT UP WITH THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, JOSHUA. LILIAN MCGREW. LILLIAN.

>> GOOD EVENING COUNCIL?

>> GOOD EVENING.

>> I'M STANDING BEFORE YOU TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE OLD CENTRAL CARPER PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

WE HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON TO HAVE A WORLD RENOWNED JUNETEENTH MUSEUM, AND A DOCTOR LA MORGAN FREEDOM PARK AT THE LOCATION OF THE HISTORICAL DOCTOR LA MORGAN SCHOOL.

OLD CENTRAL CARPER PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY ON THE LA MORGAN PROJECT FOR MONTHS.

THE LA MORGAN PROJECT HAS GREAT POTENTIAL TO HELP WITH GALVESTON TOURISM IN WHICH WOULD PUT HEADS IN BEDS.

KEEP A RESTAURANTS FULL AND CREATE A PLACE TO SHARE WITH THE WORLD THE TRUE HISTORY OF JUNETEENTH.

IT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR YEARS.

HOWEVER, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE.

WE ALL KNOW THAT 160 YEARS SHOULD BE LONG ENOUGH.

WE'RE CELEBRATING THE HUNDRED AND 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF JUNETEENTH THIS YEAR.

THE LA MORGAN SITE CAN ACCOMMODATE ALL THE NEEDS FOR THE WELL PLANNED COMMUNITY DRIVEN BLUEPRINT FOR JUNETEENTH MUSEUM AND FREEDOM PARK.

IT COULD EXTEND THE AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE DISTRICT BY TWO CITY BLOCKS AND CREATE A REAL TOURISM DESTINATION THAT WOULD HIGHLIGHT OTHER GALVESTON HIDDEN GEMS TO VISIT WHILE ON THE ISLAND.

I BELIEVE ALONG WITH THE CITY GOVERNMENT, GISD, AND ABUNDANCE OF GENEROUS DONORS THAT ALL THE BRILLIANT PEOPLE WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON, THE LA MORGAN PROJECT COULD DEFINITELY GET DONE.

OLD CENTRAL CARPER PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION HAS STATED FROM THE BEGINNING THAT THIS IS A COMMUNITY PROJECT, AND WE ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH ANYONE THAT WANT TO MAKE THE LA MORGAN PROJECT SUCCESSFUL.

OLD CENTRAL CARPER PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS A NONPROFIT.

WE ARE READY AND ABLE TO RECEIVE CORPORATE DONATIONS.

WE ARE MINDFUL OF THE WAY THE MESSAGES ARE PERCEIVED, SO WE WANT OUR MESSAGE TO BE ONE OF TRUE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND TO DO OUR BEST TO REPRESENT OUR CONSTITUENTS AND THE COMMUNITY AS AMBASSADORS OF THE CITY OF GASTON.

LET'S COME TOGETHER FOR A GREAT CAUSE AND GET IT DONE.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR AS WELL AS THE CITY COUNCILS FOR THE WILLINGNESS TO MEET WITH US ON THIS PROJECT.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE BOARD MEMBERS OF GISD THAT DID THE SAME.

I ASK THAT YOU ALL KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING.

REMEMBER TOGETHER WE CAN WIN.

WE CAN GET IT DONE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, LILIAN [APPLAUSE].

PATRICIA HAZELWOOD.

PATRICIA, AND WE HAVE PASSED OUT YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS THAT YOU HAD GIVEN.

>> MY NAME IS PATRICIA HAZELWOOD.

I LIVE AT 23:11 34TH STREET.

FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS, I'VE HAD TO PICK UP MY GARBAGE CANS EVER SINCE WE GOT OUR NEW GARBAGE TRUCKS.

I'VE ACTUALLY GOTTEN OUT THERE AND MEASURED THE GARBAGE TRUCKS.

THEY'RE 12 FEET TALL, AND THE GARBAGE CANS COME FROM THE TOP,

[00:55:03]

SO YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT, WELL, IT'S 43 " FOR THE GARBAGE CAN ITSELF.

BUT YOU ADD THAT UP THERE AND THE SWING.

WELL, THEY HIT THE TREES IN THE ALLEY.

WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS PERMISSION TO CUT THE TREES IN THE ALLEY ABOVE OUR GARBAGE CANS.

THEY AREN'T ON MY NEIGHBOR'S PROPERTY, THEY AREN'T ON MY PROPERTY, BUT THAT PROPERTY IS OWNED BY THE CITY OF GALVESTON FOR PUBLIC EASEMENT AND FOR UTILITY RIGHT AWAY FOR THE GARBAGE TRUCKS.

THE REASON I'M ASKING YOU IS I'VE GONE TO ALICE AND ADDED RESEARCH HERE LEGALLY.

THERE'S NO LAW AGAINST ANYBODY CUTTING LIMBS IN THE ALLEYS OR IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT AWAY.

BUT THERE'S A PROTOCOL.

THE PROTOCOL IS GOING TO CODE ENFORCEMENT, HAVING THEM NOTIFY THE OWNER, HAVING THE OWNER CUT THE LIMBS THAT MIGHT BE UPSETTING THE GARBAGE CANS.

WELL, THE LADY IS LIKE I AM. I'M 81.

SHE'S PROBABLY ABOUT MY AGE.

SHE LIVES ALONE. SHE DOESN'T HAVE ANYBODY TO HELP HER.

SHE HAS ACTUALLY TRIMMED THEM A LITTLE BIT, BUT NOT VERY MUCH BECAUSE SHE LOVES HER TREES.

BUT HER WHOLE YARD IS SHAMBLES OF DEAD LOGS, TREES, IT'S A MESS.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS GET CITY PERMISSION TO CUT THE BRANCHES SO THEY DON'T CATCH ON THE GARBAGE CANS.

BECAUSE MY HUSBAND HAS HAD A STROKE, AND ALSO HE'S A MAN.

HE DOESN'T WANT TO PICK HIM UP EVERY WEDNESDAY IN THE ALLEY.

GUESS WHO GETS TO VOLUNTEER.

I LIKE YOU JUST TO ALERT THE PEOPLE THAT I NEED TO BE ALERTED SO THAT I WILL GET PERMISSION TO CUT THOSE LIMBS BECAUSE GOD KNOWS YOUR GUYS ARE BUSY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU [APPLAUSE].

COY IRVIN. COREY.

>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL.

>> GOOD EVENING.

>> MY NAME IS COREY IRVING.

>> PUT YOURSELF CLOSE TO THE MIC.

>> FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MAYOR BROWN FOR STEPPING IN TO HELP ME AND MY FAMILY WHEN WE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH OUR CITY, TEXAS, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DID FOR US.

ALSO, I'M NOT HERE TO [INAUDIBLE].

I'M HERE TO TESTIFY.

WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS CITY, WHAT WAS ALLOWED TO HAPPEN WON'T STAY HIDDEN FOREVER.

SOME OF US DON'T SPEAK JUST TO BE HEARD.

WE SPEAK TO MAKE SURE HISTORY DON'T LIE.

I'M HERE TO PLACE SOMETHING ON RECORD.

A BOOK IS COMING OUT AND THE SILENCE IT BREAKS STARTED RIGHT HERE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COREY. APPRECIATE IT.

CLINT FASSETT.

CLINT.

CLINT FASSETT? CLINT FROM HITCHCOCK.

SAMUEL COLLINS. SAM.

>> I MUST BE A HITCHCOCK THEME GOING ON.

>> YOU PUT ALL THE HITCHCOCK PEOPLE TOGETHER.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT THE SUPPORT FOR, OR POSSIBLE SUPPORT FOR JUNETEENTH MUSEUM AND FUNDING FOR THAT JUNETEENTH MUSEUM.

PROBABLY ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO, I BEGAN TALKING TO THE CITY MANAGER.

HE DIRECTED ME TO TALK TO KELLY.

I WENT TO TALK TO KELLY.

KELLY, DIRECTED ME TO TALK BACK TO THE CITY.

HERE I AM BACK TO THE CITY.

ONCE SHE LEFT, WE'VE BEEN BOUNCING BACK AND FORTH FROM THE CITY AND THE PARK BOARD.

THE CAN FOR THE JUNETEENTH MUSEUM CONTINUES TO BE KICKED DOWN THE ROAD AND AT SOME POINT, WE HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE AT LEAST TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WILL HAVE THE COURAGE TO PICK UP THE CAN.

WE STARTED WITH TRYING TO WORK WITH TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY AND THAT TEXAS TARGET COMMUNITIES PROGRAM WITH PRAIRIE VIEW TO DESIGN A BRAND NEW MUSEUM. THEY DESIGNED 15.

WE BROUGHT THOSE DESIGNS, PUT THEM ON DISPLAY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO SELECT THE VERY BEST DESIGN THAT THEY THOUGHT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO BUILD IN THIS COMMUNITY.

WHEN WE DID NOT GET THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO SUPPORT THE DESIGN PROJECT, BOTH UNIVERSITIES THOUGHT IT WAS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PROJECT THAT THEY CONTINUED TO WORK ON IT WITHOUT THE FUNDING.

[01:00:02]

THE PREVIEW STUDENTS ACTUALLY PUT TOGETHER A 30 BLOCK MODEL THAT WAS ON DISPLAY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AT THE NEW CULTURAL CENTER JUNETEENTH LEGACY PROJECT DOWNTOWN ON THE STRAM.

FROM THAT, WE WENT TO THE GALVESTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT HOPING TO BUILD NORTH OF CURVIAL STADIUM.

WE MODIFIED THE PLANS, LIFTED IT UP, MADE SURE THAT WE REPLACED ALMOST 80-85 PERCENT OF THE PARKING.

WE WERE STILL TOLD NO.

THERE WERE OTHER PLACES IDENTIFIED FOR A POSSIBLE JUNETEENTH MUSEUM.

WE WERE STILL TOLD NO.

THEN THE MORGAN PROPERTY CAME AVAILABLE.

I ALWAYS WANTED A STATE OF THE ART MUSEUM, 30, 40 MILLION DOLLAR BUILDING WITH A 25, 30 MILLION DOLLAR ENDOWMENT, AND PEOPLE SAID THAT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE, YOU'LL NEVER GET THAT SUPPORT.

I WAS NOT IN FAVOR OF THE MORGAN LOCATION, BUT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY SAY, SAM, WE NEED TO SAVE THE PROJECT.

WE NEED TO SAVE THE BUILDING, SO I PUT MY SUPPORT BEHIND THEM.

THAT LOCATION ALREADY HAS BUS TRAFFIC OR I DID WHEN THE SCHOOL WAS THERE.

IT ALREADY HAD CAR TRAFFIC.

IT ALREADY HAS A GREEN SPACE FOR A LA MORGAN FREEDOM PARK, WHICH IS LARGER THAN SOME OTHER PROPOSED SPACES FOR A FREEDOM PARK.

JUNETEENTH IS A GALVESTON EVENT THAT BECAME A NATIONAL HOLIDAY AND A WORLDWIDE CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM.

I WANT TO READ SOMETHING THAT SOMEONE FROM GHANA WROTE THAT WILL BE PUBLISHED HERE SOON, SAMUEL QUA.

HE SAYS, AS JUNETEENTH REMINDS THE WORLD OF THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY, GHANA EXTENDS A HEARTFELT INVITATION TO THOSE SEEKING TO RECONNECT WITH THEIR ROOTS.

WHETHER YOU ARE VISITING FOR THE FIRST TIME OR RETURNING HOME, LET THIS JUNETEENTH BE YOUR OPPORTUNITY.

WALK THE PATH OF HISTORY, JOIN IN THE CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM AND STAND ON THE VERY SOIL WHERE SO MANY JOURNEYS BEGIN.

GALVESTON, PICK UP THE CAN, AND LET'S MAKE THIS AN INTERNATIONAL CELEBRATION.

THANK YOU, SAM [APPLAUSE].

JOE JAWORSKI.

JOE. GOOD EVENING.

>> WELL, GOOD EVENING.

JOE JAWORSKI, 1028 WINNIE.

I WANTED TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR THE TIME SPENT TODAY WITH STAFF DISCUSSING PROJECT ROSENBERG.

I'D LIKE TO HAND OUT PROOF OF DEPOSIT.

MADAM, IF I COULD HAND YOU TWO COPIES, PERHAPS TO SHARE WITH COUNCIL.

WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS THE BALANCE AT MOODY NATIONAL BANK YESTERDAY MORNING WAS $2,025,000.

YOU'LL RECALL OUR TARGET AMOUNT IS 2.2 MILLION DOLLAR.

NOW, SINCE THAT DEPOSIT, WE HAVE $127,000 IN THE PIPELINE, WHICH WILL GET US TO A TOTAL OF $2,152,000 BY MONDAY OR TUESDAY.

OF COURSE, THAT LEAVES 48,000 TO RAISE IN ORDER TO HIT OUR TARGET.

COUNCIL, RIGHT NOW 98 PERCENT OF OUR TOTAL.

NOW, OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO MAKE 100 ON THIS EXAM.

I'LL TELL YOU THAT I'M STUDYING HARD.

I'D LIKE OUR SUPPORTERS FROM PROJECT ROSENBERG TO STAND OR RAISE THEIR HAND TO LET YOU KNOW WE'RE HERE, WE CARE, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT YOU'RE PUTTING INTO THIS.

THAT GOES FOR COUNCIL AND STAFF.

I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO SAY THAT OUR GOAL IS TO RAISE MORE THAN THAT BECAUSE WE AS YOU KNOW MADE A DEAL WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO PAY CARRYING COSTS, AND THEY'LL BE INCIDENTAL COSTS AS WELL.

I WOULD LIKE THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING ON GTV OR THE CITY STATION TO REMEMBER THAT OUR WEBSITE IS PROJECT ROSENBERG.COM, AND WE HAVE HAD OVER 126 CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE THREE MONTHS WE'VE HAD THE WEBSITE LIVE.

I WANT TO THANK ALISON POSTON, WHO'S HERE TODAY, WHO WENT TO THE TROUBLE TO MAKE IT A BEAUTIFUL WEBSITE.

IT'S VERY POPULAR.

IF YOU WISH TO GIVE AS WE'RE RAISING THE FINAL $48,000 TO HIT OUR TARGET, MAYOR, DONORS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, AS WE HAVE ALREADY HAD, CAN GIVE AT PROJECT ROSENBERG.COM.

THIS ALSO INCLUDES 155 CHECKS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED AND ALSO FIVE WIRES.

THAT MAKES IT SOUND IMPORTANT.

WE GOT A WIRE [LAUGHTER].

[01:05:01]

I ALSO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT JP BRYAN IS VERY ENGAGED, WAITING FOR US TO HIT OUR TARGET, AND HE HAS A DEMOLITION PLAN UNDERWAY A DEMOLITION CONTRACTOR AND A GENERAL CONTRACTOR, AND THEY ARE NEGOTIATING WITH MARK SMITH OF THE SCHOOL FOR THE ACCESS AGREEMENT.

IT'S ALL GUNS AHEAD. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, JOE. APPRECIATE IT [APPLAUSE].

NOW, THAT'S ALL OF THE FORMS I HAVE.

WE HAVE SOME MORE, COME FORWARD.

>> WE HAVE ALISON POSTON. ALLISON.

>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. THANK YOU.

MY NAME IS ALISON POSTON, AND I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE CONVEYANCE OF THE ROSENBERG ELEMENTARY SITE TO BECOME A PARK.

I AM A RESIDENT OF THE EAST END AND I DID BUY MY HOUSE IN JUNE OF 2020 AND SPENT SIX VERY PAINFUL MONTHS REHABBING IT BEFORE I MOVED IN IN DECEMBER OF 2020.

FOR ALL OF YOU WHO LIVE IN A HISTORIC HOME ANYWHERE ON THIS ISLAND, YOU KNOW AS WELL AS I DO THAT JOB IS NEVER DONE.

WE'RE SIMPLY STEWARDS OF THESE HOMES AND WORKING HARD TO KEEP THEM WHOLE.

IN SOME CASES, JUST UPRIGHT.

I WON'T BORE YOU WITH MY LATEST BATTLE WITH TERMITES IN MY GARAGE, BUT BOTH MY SANITY AND POCKETBOOK ARE TAKING A BIG HIT RIGHT NOW.

I DIGRESS. I'VE ALSO HAD THE HONOR OF BEING OUR UNOFFICIAL TECHNOLOGY LEAD WORKING WITH MY NEIGHBORS AS WE RAISE MONEY AND AWARENESS ABOUT WHAT WE CALL PROJECT ROSENBERG.

I GET TO SEE ALL THESE ONLINE DONATIONS THAT JOE MENTIONED AS THEY COME IN.

SOME ARE AS SMALL AS $20 FROM PEOPLE ALL OVER THE ISLAND AND THE COUNTY.

IN FACT, I'VE SEEN THEM EVEN COME FROM OUT OF THE STATE ITSELF, ILLINOIS, GEORGIA, MASSACHUSETTS, AND EVEN DONATIONS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES, FOLKS IN GERMANY AND AUSTRALIA.

I GET TO READ THE NOTES OF SUPPORT FROM FOLKS WHO SAY, THIS IS AMAZING, AND PLEASE PRESERVE THIS NEIGHBORHOOD TREASURE.

THESE ARE LOCAL TOURISTS THAT ARE WALKING BY AND HEAR ABOUT OUR PROJECT.

BUT I ALSO GET TO SEE THE NOTES FROM FOLKS WHO DONATE AND WISH TO STAY ANONYMOUS AND INDICATE HOW SORRY THEY ARE THAT THIS HAS BECOME SO POLITICAL.

THIS IS WHERE I SIGH A LOT BECAUSE IT REALLY BREAKS MY HEART TO READ THAT.

THE HARDEST FEEDBACK, THOUGH, HOWEVER, HAS BEEN FROM MISGUIDED FOLKS WHO ON SOCIAL MEDIA HAVE TOLD ME THAT I SOMEHOW SECRETLY DON'T HAVE TO PAY PROPERTY TAX ON A HISTORIC PROPERTY.

WHERE DO I GET THAT? I MENTIONED THOSE TERMITES.

OR THAT OUR WEBSITE IS UGLY, NO ONE'S EVER ACCUSED ME OF BEING A GRAPHIC DESIGNER.

BUT FROM FOLKS ON THIS ISLAND WHO REALLY SAY THINGS LIKE, I TOTALLY SUPPORT WHAT YOU'RE DOING, BUT IT'S SO MESSED UP THAT YOU HAVE TO DO THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

BECAUSE THESE ARE THE RESIDENTS WHO KNOW THAT THIS LAND WAS GIFTED TO THE CITY FROM HENRY ROSENBERG.

THEY KNOW THAT THIS SPACE IS A NEEDED SPACE IN A HIGHLY CONGESTED AREA, AND THEY KNOW THAT ADDING A MODERN STRUCTURE, WHILE IT MIGHT BE WELL-MEANING AND FOR THINGS LIKE DORMS OR WORKFORCE HOUSING, WILL CHANGE THE CONTINUITY AND THE PRESERVATION OF THE AREA.

I ASK YOU TO PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE MAKE THIS PARK A REALITY.

PLEASE DON'T BE SWAYED BY POLITICALLY-MOTIVATED OPEDS AND PAPERS THAT DON'T PICK A REAL PICTURE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.

LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS FROM ALL OVER THE ISLAND, THE COUNTY, THE STATE WHO WANT THIS, WHO WANT TO SEE YOU TAKE SERIOUSLY YOUR COMMITMENTS.

WHILE WE ARE FULLY AWARE THAT IT COULD BE MONTHS OR EVEN YEARS BEFORE YOU'RE ABLE TO ACTUALLY GET TO THIS PARK, WE'RE WAY AT THE END OF A LINE, EVEN IF WE GET IT BECAUSE YOU'VE MORE IMPORTANT AND PRESSING THINGS TO DO, BUT WE'RE WILLING TO WAIT BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S WORTH IT, AND WE HOPE YOU DO TOO.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[APPLAUSE] ROBERT QUINTERO. ROBERT.

>> MR. MAYOR, HONORABLE CITY COUNCILMAN, DISTINGUISHED FORMER STUDENT MAXWELL.

ROBERT QUINTERO, I'M PRESIDENT OF GALVESTON LULAC COUNCIL 151.

WE ARE HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION FOR THE JUNETEENTH MUSEUM, BUT WE WANT IT TO BE IN LA MORGAN AS WELL.

AS YOU PASS THIS RESOLUTION, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS, BUT WE JUST DON'T WANT YOU TO CONSIDER JUST A RESOLUTION, WE WANT YOU TO PUT SOME TEETH BEHIND IT WITH SOME FINANCES, WHETHER IT BE THROUGH HOT AND/OR THROUGH CDBG FUNDS BECAUSE IT HAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN A DISTRESSED AREA OR WHAT WAS ON SUGGESTED AREA THAT IS COMING BACK.

THIS WOULD BE A CATALYST.

GREAT THINGS TO COME IF YOU PUT THIS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE SUPPORT IT WHOLEHEARTEDLY, BUT WE WANT IT THERE AT LA MORGAN.

TO ECHO SOMETHING THAT SAM SAID A WHILE AGO, THE CAN HAS BEEN KICKED DOWN.

[01:10:01]

IT'S TIME TO STOP KICKING AND START PLACING CREDENCE IN OUR WORDS THAT WE WANT A NATIONAL MUSEUM HERE IN GALVESTON, AND WE WANT IT AT LA MORGAN.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[APPLAUSE] ROSALYN JACKSON. ROSALYN.

>> HELLO EVERYBODY. HOW ARE YOU DOING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, EVERYBODY HERE? MY NAME IS ROSALYN JACKSON, THE OWNER OF CLUB 68, 31ST MARKET, THE ONLY BLACK CLUB IN GALVESTON.

I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT CLUB 68.

I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE LA MORGAN BECAUSE IF IT WOULDN'T BE FOR [INAUDIBLE], REV THOMPSON, MS. HOUSTON, AND MY GODFATHER LEON PHILIP, I WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.

THESE PEOPLE HAVE LED ME TO RUN JUNETEENTH, AS I HAD TO STEP DOWN TO TAKE OVER CLUB 68 AND STEP DOWN.

THEY TAUGHT ME A LOT ABOUT JUNETEENTH, AND IT'S JUST NOT OUR COLOR, IT'S EVERYBODY COLOR.

I HOPE YOU ALL PUT IN YOUR HEART, ALL YOU ALL ON THE BOARD, AS I LOOK AT YOU IN YOUR EYES, AGAIN, SUPPORT US.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] THAT'S WHAT I WAS WAITING FOR, TORRES.

I KNEW IT WAS COMING, TORRES, SO I KEPT WAITING.

>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THE WAIT IS OVER.

I AM HERE.

BUT I WOULD QUICKLY LIKE TO SAY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HAVE SPOKEN, WHO ARE OUT TODAY TO SUPPORT A JUNETEENTH MUSEUM.

IT'S REALLY SCARY COMING BEHIND SOME OF THE GREAT SPEAKERS I HEARD TODAY, SAM COLLINS, ROBERT QUINTERO, WE GO BACK 30, 40 YEARS. BEEN A WHILE.

MAYOR, I NEED TO ADDRESS YOUR RESOLUTION.

BECAUSE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE INSIDE YOUR RESOLUTION, WE HAVE ALREADY ADDRESSED IT BEFORE.

WE HAVE MET WITH YOU, AND MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE MET WITH YOU, WE HAVE DISCUSSED A LOCATION, WE HAVE DISCUSSED A FUNDING SOURCE.

WE HAVE $12 MILLION THAT'S SITTING IN HOT TAX, AND WE CAN USE, ACCORDING TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, THE $3 MILLION THAT, WE MET WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY, YOU GOT TO LOOK AT HIM IF YOU WANT TO, HE'S NOT ASLEEP.

BUT WE MET AND WE HAD PEOPLE HERE THAT WENT TO THE MEETING WITH ME TO MEET WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND WE WERE TOLD BY THE CITY ATTORNEY THAT THE MONEY, HOT TAX, COULD BE USED FOR THE JUNETEENTH MUSEUM.

WHAT REALLY BOTHERS ME ABOUT YOUR RESOLUTION THERE IS THAT OBVIOUSLY, YOU DIDN'T HEAR US.

YOU DIDN'T HEAR US TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR JUNETEENTH MUSEUM, AFTER 160 YEARS THAT THE CELEBRATION BEGAN, AFTER 45 YEARS THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS MADE IT A STATE HOLIDAY, AFTER FOUR YEARS, AFTER BIDEN MADE IT A NATIONAL HOLIDAY.

YOU DIDN'T HEAR US.

THEREFORE, WE HAD TO STEP ON THE DOORSTEPS TO SEE THE HALL FOR SEVERAL DAYS TRYING TO GET YOU TO HEAR US.

I GUESS YOU WANTED ME TO COME HERE TODAY TO SPEAK TO YOU DIRECTLY, I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO TALK ON THE INSIDE.

WHY SHOULD I PROTEST ON THE OUTSIDE IF I HAVE A RIGHT TO COME IN INSIDE? I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO COME IN INSIDE, TO TALK TO YOU, AND YOU KNOW THIS.

THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH YOUR RESOLUTION IS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE, AND YOU HAVE LESS THAN A YEAR TO BE HERE.

WHAT FUTURE IS YOU TALKING ABOUT? SOME PEOPLE WILL CALL YOU A LAME DUCK, AND WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY, WE HAVE MAYOR PRO TEM OVER THERE, MARIE ROBB, SHE HAVE ALREADY SUBMITTED HER NAME TO BE THE NEXT MAYOR OF GALVESTON.

BUT WHAT MARIE ROBB DID THAT SOMEWHAT IRKED ME IS THAT I SENT HER A EMAIL, ASKED HER FOR HER SUPPORT, AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT SHE THREW IT IN TRASH CAN BUT SHE DIDN'T RESPOND TO ME.

I'M A LITTLE PERTURBED BEHIND THAT, MAYOR.

I'M A LITTLE PERTURBED BEHIND THAT BECAUSE THE LEAST THAT SHE COULD HAVE DONE IF SHE'S RUNNING FOR MAYOR WAS TO RESPOND.

THEREFORE, WHAT I'M ASKING YOU TO DO QUICKLY, MAYOR, YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE HERE TODAY THAT CAN CHANGE IT BECAUSE [INAUDIBLE] YOUR RESOLUTION.

[01:15:01]

YOU CAN AMEND YOUR RESOLUTION TO ADD THAT SECTION OF LA MORGAN, WHAT ROBERT QUINTERO WAS TALKING ABOUT.

YOU CAN AMEND THIS TODAY.

YOU DON'T NEED THE [INAUDIBLE] CITY COUNCIL.

YOU CAN AMEND THIS TODAY.

THEN THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE FROM DISTRICT 1, THEY'RE CONSTITUENT OF COUNCILWOMAN LEWIS.

IF YOU DON'T AMEND IT, THEN WE'LL HAVE [INAUDIBLE] BECAUSE WE WANT SHARON LEWIS TO PUT IT ON THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR MAY THE 29TH.

SHARON HAS AN UNDERSTANDING THAT SHE WORK FOR US.

SHE HAVEN'T WORKED FOR THE PEOPLE, AND SHE'S SUPPOSED TO BE REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE AND BRING FORWARD WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT, MAYOR.

SHE CAN DO THAT. YOU CAN SIGN ON WITH HER.

[NOISE] [INAUDIBLE] HERE TODAY.

[INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER]

>> I THINK YOUR TIME IS UP, TORRES.

>> ANYWAY, MAYOR, LISTEN, WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER FOR YEARS.

[INAUDIBLE] BUT THE THING IS THAT WE'RE ASKING SHARON LEWIS, COUNCILWOMAN, IF YOU DECIDE NOT TO DO THIS AND HELP [INAUDIBLE] TODAY, THEN WE HAVE HELPED YOU FOR WHAT? SIX, 12 YEARS NOW.

WE HAVE SUPPORTED YOU IN OFFICE.

WE ASK YOU TO DO THIS ONE THING, AMEND YOUR RESOLUTION TODAY TO INCLUDE LA MORGAN SCHOOL, AND IF YOU DON'T DO IT, THEN SHARON, WE ARE ASKING YOU TO REQUEST A SPECIAL MEETING FOR MAY 29TH, AND PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA SO THIS ENTIRE COMPANY EITHER VOTED UP OR VOTE IT DOWN.

>> TORRES, YOUR TIME IS UP.

[APPLAUSE]

>> [INAUDIBLE].

>> MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT.

>> WELL, WE CAN'T RESPOND.

>> I'M NOT RESPONDING, I'M MAKING A COMMENT.

>> LET ME SAY ONE THING FIRST.

I'VE SERVED WITH TORRES.

THE PROBLEM WITH TORRES, I NEVER KNOW WHERE HE STANDS.

[LAUGHTER]

>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT TO ANYONE I MAY HAVE NOT GOTTEN BACK TO THIS WEEK, BUT I WAS WORKING ON THE RIGHT FOR THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO USE HOT TAX ON A PROJECT LIKE THE JUNETEENTH MUSEUM.

>> WE CAN'T RESPOND BACK. VERY GOOD.

ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO LET THEIR THOUGHTS OUT? I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION.

WE'RE MOVING TO ITEM THAT DO NOT REQUIRE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

THIS IS ITEM 10.A.

[10.A. Consider for approval an Ordinance of the City of Galveston, Texas, amending "The Code of the City of Galveston 1982, as amended", Chapter 19, "Licenses, Permits and Business Regulations", Article VI, "Short Term Rentals" in its entirety to provide clarification of regulations, definitions as applicable, fines and fees as applicable ; making various findings and provisions relating to the subject and providing for an effective date. (Legal)]

>> ITEM 10.A: CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, AMENDING THE CODE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON 1982 AS AMENDED, CHAPTER 19, LICENSES, PERMITS, AND BUSINESS REGULATIONS, ARTICLE 6, SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN ITS ENTIRETY, TO PROVIDE CLARIFICATION OF REGULATIONS, DEFINITIONS, AS APPLICABLE FINES AND FEES, AS APPLICABLE, MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

DON, DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM?

>> NO. WE DISCUSSED IT IN A WORKSHOP, AND BASED ON THAT DISCUSSION AND YOUR DESIRE TO REFER IT TO THE COMMITTEE, I RECOMMEND YOU DEFER IT AT THIS TIME.

>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER IT TO THE JUNE MEETING.

>> SECOND IT.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION FOR DEFERRAL TO THE JUNE MEETING AND IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER BROWN.

MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM ROBB.

VERY GOOD. ANY DISCUSSION? YES, DAVE.

>> DOES THERE NEED TO BE A JUSTIFICATION FOR THE DEFERRAL?

>> NO.

>> GOOD. JUST CHECKING. THANKS.

>> MOTION IN.

>> BRIAN.

>> THERE WE GO.

>> I'M VOTING TO SAY YES TO DEFER.

>> MAYOR, [INAUDIBLE].

>> EXCUSE ME. I'M SORRY.

THAT IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 11, PLEASE?

[11. CONSENT ITEMS]

>> ITEM 11: CONSENT ITEMS. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS SHALL BE CONSIDERED FOR ACTION AS A WHOLE, UNLESS ONE OR MORE COUNCIL MEMBER OBJECTS.

THE CITY MANAGER IS AUTHORIZED TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS UPON FINAL APPROVAL BY THE CITY ATTORNEY.

ITEMS 11.A-11.O ARE ON THE SCREEN.

>> MAYOR?

>> YES, MA'AM.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO PULL ITEM 11.N.

>> 11.N.

ANY OTHER ITEMS COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT INDIVIDUALLY?

>> LET ME CHECK.

[01:20:05]

THIS ONE IS 11. J.

>> 11.J. VERY GOOD.

ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS INDIVIDUALLY? I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT ITEMS ITEM 11.A-11.O, EXCLUDING ITEMS 11.N, AS NANCY, AND 11.J.

IS THERE A SECOND ON THAT?

>> SECOND.

>> SECOND BY COUNCILMAN PORRETTO.

ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

THAT IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

LET'S GO TO ITEM 11N, PLEASE.

[11.N. Consider approval of a contract with Ford Audio-Video Systems, LLC for the purchase and installation of audio- visual equipment in the Public Works Training Room in the amount of $59,326.00 (B Cook)]

>> ITEM 11N.

CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT WITH FORD AUDIO-VIDEO SYSTEMS, LLC FOR THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF AUDIO VISUAL EQUIPMENT IN THE PUBLIC WORKS TRAINING ROOM IN THE AMOUNT OF $59,326.

>> MARIE?

>> I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO NOT APPROVE THIS.

I FEEL VERY STRONGLY WHEN WE ARE IN A HIRING FREEZE, USING 60,000 TO REPLACE AUDIO-VISUAL EQUIPMENT WHEN ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT IS AVAILABLE.

>> VERY GOOD. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR DENIAL. IS THERE A SECOND?

>> I'LL SECOND.

>> I HAVE A SECOND COUNCILMAN PORRETTO ON THAT.

DID WE GET THAT RECORDED?

>> WE DON'T HAVE THIS ONE IN HERE SEPARATELY.

>> WE'RE TAKING THIS. WE'LL VOTE MANUALLY ON THIS.

BRANDON, YOU WANT TO GIVE SOME INPUT ON THIS, SIR.

>> BRANDON COOK, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT, COUNCIL.

I WANT TO OFFER A LITTLE CONTEXT ABOUT THE AV UPGRADE PROPOSAL FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS TRAINING ROOM AND RESPOND TO SOME OF THE CONCERNS RAISED THIS MORNING'S WORKSHOP.

FIRST, I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN ABOUT SPENDING DURING A HIRING FREEZE.

THAT'S A VALID POINT. FISCAL DISCIPLINE IS VERY IMPORTANT.

BUT ALSO BELIEVE THIS IS A SMART, NECESSARY INVESTMENT, NOT A LUXURY.

HERE'S THE REALITY OF THAT TRAINING ROOM TODAY.

IT'S A LARGE SPACE, BUT WE ONLY HAVE A LAPTOP MICROPHONE AND IT DOESN'T WORK FOR HYBRID MEETINGS.

NUMBER 2, ANYONE ATTENDING REMOTELY CAN'T HEAR THE DISCUSSION IN THE ROOM.

WE'VE EXPERIENCED THAT FIRSTHAND.

THREE, ONE OF THE MAIN TVS IS BROKEN, WHICH LIMITS IN-PERSON VISIBILITY TOO.

THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT BETTER TECH, IT'S ABOUT FUNCTION AND COMMUNICATION.

THIS ROOM IS USED FOR CROSS-DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION, CONSULTANT MEETINGS, STAFF TRAINING, PUBLIC WORKS BRIEFINGS, AND MORE AND MORE OF THAT HAPPENS IN A HYBRID FORMAT.

THE PROPOSAL BEFORE YOU CURRENTLY GIVES US A CEILING MOUNTED MICROPHONE THAT CAPTURES VOICES FROM ANYWHERE IN THE ROOM, A FIXED PTZ CAMERA FOR REMOTE PARTICIPANTS.

TWO, NEW LARGE DISPLAYS, A SIMPLE TOUCH PANEL SO STAFF CAN RUN MEETINGS WITHOUT IT SUPPORT.

I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT THIS IS A CAPITAL INVESTMENT.

IT'S NOT A STAFFING EXPENSE, AND IT DOESN'T TOUCH THE GENERAL FUND.

IN FACT, IT HELPS US MAXIMIZE THE TEAM WE ALREADY HAVE BY IMPROVING HOW WE SHARE KNOWLEDGE AND TRAIN INTERNALLY.

IT ALSO HELPS US REDUCE TRAVEL COSTS BY ALLOWING BETTER REMOTE PARTICIPATION FROM OUTSIDE TRAINERS, CONSULTANTS, OR STAFF IN THE FIELD.

WHILE $60,000 IS NOT INSIGNIFICANT, IT'S A ONE TIME INVESTMENT THAT GIVES US LONG TERM FUNCTIONALITY, RELIABILITY, AND SAVINGS.

I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.

>> VERY GOOD. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. COOK? VERY GOOD. WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR AND A SECOND.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT? NOW, LET'S BE CLEAR, COUNCIL, THIS IS A MOTION FOR DENIAL.

THAT MEANS IF YOU VOTE, YES, WE ARE DENYING THIS MOTION.

IF YOU VOTE NO, YOU ARE NOT SUPPORTING THE DENIAL ON THIS MOTION.

DO WE NEED TO COME BACK AND THEN HAVE A MOTION OF COURSE FOR APPROVAL ON THAT DONE?

>> YES. YOU REQUIRE AFFIRMATIVE VOTES.

>> VERY GOOD. PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES.

>> MANUAL.

>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE DENIAL? THAT'S THREE. ALL THOSE AGAINST? THAT IS FOUR.

THAT FAILS FOR NEEDING A FOUR APPROVAL VOTES ON THAT.

I DO ENTERTAIN A MOTION NOW FOR APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM.

>> MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ITEM.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION, COUNCILWOMAN LEWIS FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 11N, IS THERE A SECOND?

>> I WILL SECOND.

>> COUNCILMAN FINKLEA FOR A SECOND.

[01:25:02]

ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE MOTION DOES CARRY FOR FOUR FAVORABLE VOTES. THANK YOU, BRANDON.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THEY WERE FIVE. YEAH.

>> YEAH FIVE.

>> FIVE, OKAY.

I'M SORRY. VERY GOOD.

[11.J. Consider for approval establishing Beach User Fees (BUF) at Access Point (AP) 13 - Pocket Park 3, AP 14-11 Mile Road, and AP 41 - Pointe San Luis 4 (toll bridge area) in accordance with City of Galveston's certified Dune Protection and Beach Access Plan §S(6)(e) (Plan) and City of Galveston ordinance §29-2(0)(7)(5) (B. Sanderson)]

LET'S MOVE TO ITEM, THE OTHER ONE WAS 11J, PLEASE.

>> ITEM 11J. CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL, ESTABLISHING BEACH USER FEES AT ACCESS 0.13 POCKET PARK 3, AP 14-11 MILE ROAD AND AP 41 POINT ST. LOUIS 4 AND ACCORDING TO THE CITY OF GALVESTON CERTIFIED DUNE PROTECTION AND BEACH ACCESS PLAN, AND THE CITY OF GALVESTON ORDINANCE 29-2.

>> VERY GOOD. THIS WAS ASKED TO PUT ON HERE BY COUNCILMAN PORRETTO, I THINK.

>> I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER THIS ITEM TO THE NEXT AGENDA.

>> I'LL SECOND

>> VERY GOOD. THERE'S A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER PORRETTO FOR DEFERRAL SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN, ROBB. VERY GOOD.

>> DISCUSSION?

>> DISCUSSION ON THAT.

>> I THINK I'D LIKE TO HAVE A LITTLE MORE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH STAFF ABOUT THIS.

SAN LUIS PASS IS A BIG AREA.

>> WOULD YOU CONSIDER TAKING OUT THE SAN LUIS PASS AND PASSING FOR POCKET PARK 3 SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH BEACH USER FEES?

>> I WOULD DEFER THAT TOMORROW.

>> I WAS TOLD WHEN THIS WAS BEING DONE THAT FREE PARKING SPOTS WILL BE AVAILABLE.

WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE PARKING ISSUES IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO PUSH ALL THE CARS INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I WOULD LIKE FURTHER DISCUSSION SO WE CAN LOOK AT WHAT WAS TOLD TO ME ORIGINALLY WHERE THERE WOULD BE FREE PARKING AVAILABLE AS WELL AS PAID PARKING SO THAT THE BURDEN DOESN'T FALL ON THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> IF THIS PASSES OR NOT, THE PARKING IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE STILL GOING TO BE THERE.

WE STILL HAVE TO MAINTAIN ALL THE PARKING FOR BEACH ACCESSES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ADDING HUNDREDS OF CARS COULD BE INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THAT SIMPLY ISN'T APPROPRIATE.

I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WOULD BE FREE PARKING AS WELL AS PAID PARKING, AND THEN THIS AGENDA COMES OUT AND THAT CHANGES.

I WOULD LIKE TO DEFER THIS FOR 30 DAYS SO THAT WE CAN LOOK AT WHAT WAS TOLD TO ME WAS GOING TO HAPPEN VERSUS WHAT IS HAPPENING.

>> I CAN ASSURE YOU THERE'S NO MORE VEHICLES GOING TO BE IN ANY OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS THAN IS WHAT IS OUTLINED IN OUR PLAN.

WHAT'S OUTLINED IN OUR PLAN, WE'RE NOT ADDING ANY AREAS.

>> GOING TO STAND AT THE ENTRANCE OF EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE PEOPLE WHO NOW HAVE TO PARK PAY TO GO INTO THIS PARK.

YOU'RE GOING TO STAND AND WHEN THEY GO INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND STUFF, THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN DO THAT.

>> THEY CAN GO INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS NOW AND PARK.

THEY CAN GO INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WHAT I'M SAYING IS THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY ADDITIONAL PARKING SPOTS ADDED TO THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.

THESE PEOPLE CAN GO INTO THESE NEIGHBORHOODS NOW.

>> THESE NEIGHBORHOODS CURRENTLY CAN'T GET EVEN AN AMBULANCE DOWN THE STREET NOW BECAUSE OF THE BEACH PARKING, AND YOU'RE CLOSING OFF ANOTHER PUBLIC ACCESS POINT, AND YOU'RE MAKING A CHARGE.

IT WILL MOVE PEOPLE INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> BARBARA?

>> YES, SIR. I'M HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, EXCUSE ME, AND WE CAN COME UP WITH A PLAN AND SEE WHAT WE CAN WORK OUT FOR POCKET PARK 3.

BUT I WILL BE REMOVING THE PORT-A-LETS OUT THERE BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE A FUNDING SOURCE IF WE DON'T HAVE USER FEES, JUST SO Y'ALL KNOW. THANK YOU.

>> I GOT A QUESTION.

>> BEFORE WE GET TO QUESTIONS, I NEED TO PROCEDURALLY MAKE SURE THIS IS CORRECT.

WE HAVE A MOTION FOR A DEFERRAL NOW THAT YOUR SECOND HAS NOW PUT ON THAT THEY WANT THAT DEFERRED BACK TO, I GUESS, OUR NEXT MEETING, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> I SAID THE NEXT MEETING TOO.

>> NOT THE SPECIAL MEETING.

>> IS THAT AGREEMENT WITH YOU?

>> I THINK WITH THE CONCERNS RAISED THAT WE SHOULD.

[01:30:02]

AGAIN, THIS IS A PERSONAL CONCERN OF MINE WITH SAN LUIS PASS.

I THINK ALSO JUST FOR CONTEXT SAKE, THIS WAS DON REMEMBERS FLETCHER HARRIS AND HE WAS PARKING AND CHARGING FOR PARKING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BIT OF AN ISSUE, AND WHEN WE STARTED CHARGING, IT ALWAYS PUTS PEOPLE INTO NEIGHBORHOODS.

I AM COGNIZANT OF THAT FACT, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE SOME TIME AND GO OVER SOME THINGS.

>> ALSO I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY HISTORICALLY, THIS IS A COUNTY PARK, AND THEY USED TO CHARGE TO PARK THERE.

>> WHEN IT WAS A PAVILION, WHEN IT HAD A SNACK BAR, WHEN IT HAD BATHROOMS. BUT I'D LIKE TO SAY, I'VE SEEN SOMEONE DIE OF A HEART ATTACK BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT AN AMBULANCE COULDN'T GET THROUGH.

>> I WANT TO CLARIFY THOUGH, THE MOTION IS TO DEFER THIS TO OUR NEXT MEETING?

>> YES. THAT'S CORRECT.

>> OKAY. I WANT TO BE CLEAR ON THAT. VERY GOOD.

THAT'S FOR TO DEFER TO OUR NEXT MEETING, PLEASE, JANELLE.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS ON THIS?

>> I JUST WANT TO ASK THE QUESTION.

IS THERE ANY CONSEQUENCES TO DEFERRING IT? THAT IS, IS THERE AN URGENCY TO DO IT NOW?

>> YEAH.

>> THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

WE HAVE A MOTION FOR DEFERRAL OF ITEM 11J TO OUR NEXT MEETING ON JUNE 26.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THAT IS UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU.

LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 12A, PLEASE.

[12.A. Consider for approval a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Galveston, expressing support for the creation of a Juneteenth Museum in the City of Galveston, expressing support for a not-for-profit corporation to come forward to act as the lead agency to conduct site investigations for the best placement of a museum; to explore funding opportunities from various federal, state and philanthropic entities; and to present a proposal for any available matching funds from the City at some time in the future; providing for findings of fact and providing for an effective date. (C. Brown)]

>> ITEM 12A. CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL OR RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE CREATION OF A JUNETEENTH MUSEUM IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON, EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR A NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION TO COME FORWARD TO ACT AS THE LEAD AGENCY TO CONDUCT SITE INVESTIGATIONS FOR THE BEST PLACEMENT OF A MUSEUM.

TO EXPLORE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FROM VARIOUS FEDERAL, STATE, AND PHILANTHROPIC ENTITIES, AND TO PRESENT A PROPOSAL FOR ANY AVAILABLE MATCHING FUNDS FROM THE CITY AT SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE.

PROVIDING FOR FINDINGS OF FACT AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

>> VERY GOOD. THIS IS AN ITEM THAT I'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH COUNCILWOMAN LEWIS ON. YES, MA'AM.

>> MAYOR, I'M GOING TO MOVE THAT WE DEFER ITEM 12A.

I HAVE THREE REASONS DOWN HERE.

>> YES, MA'AM.

>> WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT SOME MAJOR FUNDING, A STATE OF THE ART MUSEUM.

ONE OF THE REASONS IS FOR MAJOR FUNDING OPPORTUNITY.

RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A TIMELY AND SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE SOME MAJOR FUNDING THAT COULD GREATLY ENHANCE THE SCOPE AND IMPACT OF THIS RESOLUTION.

NUMBER 2, SOME STRATEGIC COLLABORATION.

STAKEHOLDERS AND POTENTIAL PARTNERS, INCLUDED THE PHILANTHROPISTS AND FEDERAL ENTITIES ARE CURRENTLY ENGAGING IN DISCUSSIONS THAT COULD ALSO INFLUENCE THIS OUTCOME.

THIRDLY, MAXIMIZE IMPACT.

A DEFERRAL WILL ALLOW US TO DEVELOP A MORE COMPREHENSIVE, WELL SUPPORTED PLAN, ENSURING THAT THE RESOLUTION IS FULLY RESOURCED AND POSITIONED FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS BECAUSE WE WILL NEED PERPETUAL FUNDING.

>> I WILL SECOND THAT MOTION.

CAN WE USE THE ELECTRONIC?

>> YES.

>> I WILL SECOND THAT.

>> ONLY FOR YOUR MOTION.

>> DID IT COME UP?

>> YEAH.

>> I WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT TOO ON THIS.

I WANT TO SUPPORT WHAT COUNCILWOMAN LEWIS HAS SAID VERY ELOQUENTLY HERE.

SINCE THIS SUBJECT HAS BEEN VERY, I THINK NEAR AND DEAR TO ALL OF OUR HEARTS HERE, ESPECIALLY THIS COMMUNITY, AND SINCE OUR DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN ONGOING HERE, I HAVE HAD NEW CONTACTS THAT HAVE CONTACTED ME AS THE MAYOR, LOOKING AT OTHER FUNDING SOURCES, AND THESE ARE VERY SERIOUS FUNDING SOURCES.

I THINK THAT REFERRING THIS ALLOWS US TO BE MORE EXACT ON WHERE WE'RE MOVING WITH THIS.

I WANT TO SAY THIS TOO.

IT WAS MENTIONED THAT WE ARE NOT LISTENING TO THE GROUP.

I THINK WE ARE.

I WOULD SAY THIS THAT THE GROUP MAY NOT BE LISTENING TO US EITHER.

[01:35:05]

I'M GOING TO TELL YOU MY PERSONAL GOAL, IS YOU'RE RIGHT.

I HAVE ONE YEAR TO GO.

I'M GOING TO WORK DILIGENTLY TO MAKE SURE THIS JUNETEENTH MUSEUM IS A REALITY.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS ON THE HORIZON HERE THAT ARE VERY PROMISING THAT HAVE NOT HAPPENED HERE IN A LONG TIME.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE DEFER THIS, AND THAT IS THE VOTE HERE, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT DOES NOT MEAN WE'RE NOT SUPPORTING A MUSEUM.

WE'RE GETTING OUR THOUGHTS TOGETHER TO COME BACK WITH THE MORE APPROPRIATE RESOLUTION THAT WOULD POSSIBLY GUARANTEE SOME LONG-TERM AND SHORT-TERM FUNDING FOR THIS. YES, SIR.

>> MAYOR, QUESTION.

ARE WE DEFERRING THIS TO THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING?

>> COUNCILWOMAN LEWIS? YES. THAT IS TO THAT. YES, SIR.

>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU.

>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? YES, MA'AM.

>> I JUST WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT, HAVING SAT THROUGH A NUMBER OF HEARINGS IN AUSTIN THAT ASIDE FROM THE ISSUES WE'RE ADDRESSING, YOU GET TO HEAR WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING.

HOT TAX AND A MUSEUM, IT WOULD BE A ALLOWABLE USE OF HOT TAX.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.

>> I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO FOLLOW-UP WHAT COUNCILWOMAN ROBB IS SAYING.

THERE'S OTHER WAYS OF FUNDING THIS VIA HOT TAX OTHER THAN USING THE HOT TAX THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY ON DEPOSIT HERE.

THAT'S STILL UP IN THE AIR AND WHAT THAT HOT TAX AND HOW IT'S GOING TO BE HANDLED.

WE'RE WAITING FOR THESE BILLS TO GO THROUGH.

BUT THERE'S ALSO OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN APPLY WITH THE STATE LEGISLATURE FOR A RETURNING STATE-ORIENTED HOT TAX FOR THIS MUSEUM.

NOW, THAT'S NOT MY CONTACT THAT HAS CONTACTED ME, BUT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS OF DOING THIS THAT WE NEED TO BE VERY INNOVATIVE AND MOVE AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE DEFERRAL?

>> ELECTRONIC?

>> OH, ELECTRONICALLY. NO VOTING.

>> I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.

>> YES.

>> THE ONLY THING THAT THE ONLY THING THAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT WE PUT THIS GROUP IN A BAD POSITION WITH WHAT HAS BEEN PROMISED OR NOT REALLY PROMISED, BUT DISCUSSED WITH GISD, AND I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.

I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT I TOO WAS WITH MARIE AND OVERHEARD IN FACT, IT WAS A GROUP OUT OF CORPUS CHRISTI THAT WAS LOOKING AT GETTING A MUSEUM PAID BY HOT TAX, AND BASICALLY, THERE WERE LOBBYISTS THERE THAT WERE LOBBYING FOR THIS MUSEUM TO BE PAID BY HOT TAX.

NOW, AS THE MAYOR HAS SAID, THERE ARE SOME THINGS OR WHEELS IN MOTION THAT ARE OUT OF OUR CONTROL AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE AT THE MOMENT, THAT A BUNCH OF US, SEVERAL OF US HERE ON COUNCIL HAVE BEEN FIGHTING AGAINST AND HAVE FALLEN ON DEAF EARS SO FAR.

I DON'T WANT TO BE THE PERSON THAT LOCKS Y'ALL INTO A LOCATION WHEN FUNDING CAN BE UTILIZED IN OTHER OPPORTUNE LOCATIONS, BUT THEN AGAIN, I DON'T WANT Y'ALL TO LOSE YOUR POSITIONING WITH GISD, SO I'M TORN AT THE MOMENT AS TO WHAT WOULD BE BEST FOR THE GROUP.

JUST KNOW THAT I WILL PUT MY MONEY WHERE MY MOUTH IS WHEN IT COMES TIME.

>> YES.

>> I WILL SAY THAT THE STORY CONTINUES.

WE AIN'T KICKING THE CAN THOUGH, SAM.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT. WE PLAN ON HAVING SOME ACTION.

>> ALEX.

>> WHEN WE SAY SKINNING THE GAME, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MEAN PUTTING FINANCES TOWARDS SOMETHING, WHETHER IT BE AT LA MORGAN OR NOT.

I THINK WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS TOO LONG.

WE'VE BEEN DOING OVERTURES.

I SAID I WANTED TO SEE A LETTER THAT COUNCIL CAN WRITE TO ALL THE LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS AT DC, AND I WANT TO SEE THAT.

I WANT TO SEE SOMETHING BEYOND OVERTURES HAPPEN,

[01:40:01]

I WANT TO SEE MONEY IN THE BANK, AND I WANT TO SEE SOMETHING HAPPEN FOR A JUNETEENTH MUSEUM.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT TOO LONG, AND I'M VOTING NO ON DEFERRAL BECAUSE I THINK, I DON'T KNOW, I WANT TO SEE IT DONE.

I'M TIRED OF TALKING ABOUT IT.

I WANT TO SEE IT DONE. [APPLAUSE]

>> PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES, BEAU.

THAT IS FIVE IN FAVOR OF DEFERRAL.

[12.B. Consider for approval a request authorizing the City Manager to execute an Assignment of Lease Agreement assigning a Lease commending on March 1, 1991, between the City of Galveston and 1859 Historic Hotels Ltd., formerly known as Airport Hospitality Ltd. to IRH Galveston, LLC to continue to operate as a motel, restaurant, and club that will add to the well-being and enjoyment of the guests at the motel and any other lawful use compatible with the airport and surrounding area upon final approval of the City Attorney (M. Shahan).]

MOVING TO ITEM 12 B, IF WE COULD, PLEASE, MA'AM.

>> ITEM 12 B. CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL OR REQUEST AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN ASSIGNMENT OF LEASE AGREEMENT, ASSIGNING A LEASE COMMENDING ON MARCH 1ST, 1991, BETWEEN THE CITY OF GALVESTON AND 1859 HISTORIC HOTELS, LTD, FORMERLY KNOWN AS AIRPORT HOSPITALITY, LTD TO IRH GALVESTON, LLC, TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE AS A MOTEL, RESTAURANT, AND A CLUB, THAT WILL ADD TO THE WELL-BEING AND ENJOYMENT OF THE GUEST AT THE MOTEL AND ANY OTHER LAWFUL USE COMPATIBLE WITH AIRPORT AND SURROUNDING AREA UPON FINAL APPROVAL OF THE CITY ATTORNEY.

>> MIKE, GOOD AFTERNOON.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M MIKE SHAHAN. I'M THE AIRPORT DIRECTOR.

THE CURRENT LEASE HAS APPROXIMATELY 23 YEARS AND FOUR MONTHS REMAINING ON THE LEASE.

THE ASSIGNEE AGREES TO THIS ASSIGNMENT, THEY AGREE TO JUST ASSUME TAKING OVER THE EXISTING LEASE AND OPERATING IT AS A HOTEL OR MOTEL, A CLUB, I THINK I'D KNOW THIS.

IT'S A HOTEL, CLUB, AND RESTAURANT.

BASED ON OUR CONVERSATIONS, IRH GALVESTON INTENDS TO ASK FOR A NEW 40-YEAR GROUND LEASE.

THEY ALSO WANT TO CHANGE IT FROM ITS CURRENT USE TO A MULTIFAMILY USE, SO THEY CAN BOARD INDIVIDUALS UNDER THE J1 SUMMER PROGRAM.

THE CURRENT LEASE WHEN IT EXPIRES, IT'LL BE A TOTAL OF 57 YEARS, SEVEN MONTHS, AND 14 DAYS.

IT'S VERY CRUCIAL IF THIS ASSIGNMENT HAPPENS, AND THERE'S A REQUEST FOR A 40 YEAR LEASE, LIKE WE'VE BEEN TOLD, THAT WE GET A NEW GROUND LEASE.

THAT'LL KEEP US OUT OF TROUBLE WITH THE FAA.

PART OF THAT, IT MUST BE AT FAIR MARKET VALUE, AND WE ALSO HAVE ABOUT 60% EQUITY IN THE EXISTING LEASE RIGHT NOW, AND THERE SHOULD BE SOME CONSIDERATION FOR THAT.

>> VERY GOOD.

>> IS THE APPLICANT HERE, MIKE?

>> NO. I DON'T BELIEVE SO.

>> I WAS THINKING THE APPLICANT WOULD BE HERE THIS AFTERNOON.

>> SENT AN EMAIL TO US, THE LETTER.

>> I DID NOT SEE IT. I HADN'T CHECKED MY EMAILS. I'VE BEEN SO BUSY.

VERY GOOD. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. SHAHAN? YES, SIR.

>> HAVE YOU MET THE APPLICANTS?

>> I DON'T BELIEVE SO.

>> LET'S SEE. THEY APPLIED FOR THEIR LLC THREE MONTHS AGO IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

BRAND NEW, OUT OF WISCONSIN.

WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT THEY'VE ALREADY HAD A GRAND OPENING, THEY'VE ALREADY HAD DOCUMENTATION ON THEIR WEBSITE FOR EARLY REGISTRATION.

IRH GALVESTON, $200 SECURITY DEPOSIT, $100 ADMIN FEE, $50 LAUNDRY FEE, AND $125 WEEKLY RENT.

WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT THIS WAS ACTUALLY STARTED IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE TRAIN'S ALREADY DOWN THE TRACK, AND THEY HAVE ALREADY ANNOUNCED NOT ONLY ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM, BUT ONLINE THAT THEY HAD THEIR GRAND OPENING THE 1ST OF APRIL.

THEY WERE TAKING EARLY REGISTRATION.

DISCOUNTED RENT OF 125 MUST REGISTER BY JUNE 1ST, AND IT'S ALL OVER THE INTERNET THAT IRH GALVESTON HAS ALREADY OPENED IN THAT LOCATION WITH PICTURES.

>> I WASN'T EVEN AWARE THEY HAD CLOSED YET UNTIL CITY COUNCIL APPROVES THE ASSIGNMENT IF YOU APPROVE THE ASSIGNMENT.

>> THEY'VE ALREADY ANNOUNCED THAT THEY'VE PURCHASED THE PROPERTY.

NOW, MIKE, NOT YOUR FAULT,

[01:45:03]

NOT OUR FAULT, BUT NOT DONE THE RIGHT WAY.

>> I AGREE.

>> GO AHEAD, MARIE.

>> I WAS GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO DENY UNTIL WE ARE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE NEW LEASE.

>> I WOULD SAY, MIKE, YOU DO SUCH AN EXCELLENT JOB OUT THERE.

YOU RUN A TIP TOP.

I'D HATE THIS, WITHOUT KNOWING WHO THEY ARE, WHAT THEY'RE ABOUT, AND THE WAY THEY'VE ALREADY INITIATED BUSINESS HERE IN GALVESTON, AND THE WAY THEY'VE GONE ABOUT THIS IS PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT PROBABLY MIGHT CONCERN YOU TOO.

I WOULD SUPPORT THAT DENIAL.

>> YOU'RE SECONDING?

>> I'LL SECOND IT.

>> I WANT TO BE CLEAR ON THIS MOTION.

THIS IS A MOTION TO DENY TO GIVE MIKE TIME TO VISIT.

>> MIKE AND CITY MANAGEMENT TIME TO NEGOTIATE A NEW LEASE.

>> I THINK WHAT COUNCIL-MEMBER ROBB IS SAYING THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO FIT A SQUARE PEG IN A ROUND HOLE WITH THE ASSIGNMENT OF THE CURRENT LEASE, THERE NEEDS TO BE A NEGOTIATED NEW LEASE.

>> WELL, NO, I DON'T DENY THAT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT AND I SUPPORT THAT.

WHAT I'M SAYING IS THE MOTION FOR DEFERRAL, WOULD IT BE BETTER TO DEFER THIS TO GIVE YOU TIME TO DO THIS?

>> MAYOR I DON'T THINK YOU'RE DEFERRING IT BECAUSE YOUR ACTUAL ITEM IS TO ASSIGN THE LEASE, AND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS DENY THE ASSIGNMENT AND INSTRUCT STAFF TO NEGOTIATE A NEW LEASE WITH IRH.

>> MAYOR, IF I MAY, I'D LIKE TO READ ALTERNATIVE 2 FROM THE STAFF REPORT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THAT WILL CLARIFY MAYOR PRO TEM ROBB'S POSITION.

ALTERNATIVE 2, DO NOT APPROVE THE TRANSFER OF THE LEASE AGREEMENT TO IRH GALVESTON, LLC, UNTIL A NEW LEASE AGREEMENT CAN BE REACHED THAT INCLUDES THE APPROVED USE OF THE PROPERTY FOR MULTI-FAMILY USE AND SETS THE LEASE RATE AT FAIR MARKET VALUE.

THAT IS THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION FROM THE REPORT.

>> CORRECT.

>> IT'S WHAT MY MOTION SAYS.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I DO APOLOGIZE FOR NOT READING THAT A WHILE AGO.

THAT WAS [INAUDIBLE]. [OVERLAPPING]

>> WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FOR NOT APPROVING THIS ITEM AND DIRECTING STAFF TO WORK ON NEGOTIATION OF A BRAND NEW LEASE.

>> WE CAN DO THAT AS QUICKLY AS THEY WANT TO GET WITH IS ON THAT, MAYOR.

>> YES, BOB.

>> MIKE, COULD YOU EXPLAIN THE LEGAL CONSTRAINTS THAT WE'RE UNDER IN TERMS OF THE AIRPORT REQUIREMENTS, AND LEASE REQUIREMENTS, AND THAT KIND OF THING?

>> SINCE WE'RE CONTROLLED BY THE FAA WITH OUR GRANTS, EVERY TIME WE SIGN A GRANT FOR MONEY, WE SIGN THE GRANT ASSURANCES.

GRANT ASSURANCE NUMBER 5 SAYS WE WILL NOT BASICALLY HAVE A LEASE LONGER THAN 50 YEARS, OTHERWISE, IT'S CONSIDERED A TAKING.

THIS ONE IS, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, 57 YEARS, SEVEN MONTHS AND 14 DAYS LONG ONCE IT EXPIRES.

I THINK WE'RE OKAY, BUT THEY WERE VERY SPECIFIC, WE CANNOT EXTEND THIS LEASE.

WE'LL DEFINITELY BE IN VIOLATION OF THAT GRANT ASSURANCES.

THERE'S ANOTHER GRANT INSURANCE THAT SAYS IT HAS TO BE AT FAIR MARKET VALUE.

IT CAN'T BE THE EXISTING LEASE RATE ON A NEW LEASE.

IT HAS TO BE AT CURRENT FAIR MARKET VALUE, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN WHAT IT IS RIGHT NOW.

>> TORMENTED SIGNIFICANT EQUITY THAT WE HAVE THAT NEED TO BE CALCULATED IN AS WELL.

>> RIGHT NOW. BECAUSE AT THE EXISTING LEASE IN 23 YEARS AND FOUR MONTHS, WE ARE THE OWNER OF THAT PROPERTY.

SO THAT'S ABOUT 60% EQUITY IN THE PROPERTY RIGHT NOW WHICH HAS VALUE.

>> WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF I GUESS VIOLATING THAT, WHATEVER THOSE RULES?

>> WELL, THERE'S TWO THINGS. THE FIRST, AND WHICH IS MORE LIKELY, THEY WOULD JUST STOP FUNDING ANY GRANTS UNTIL WE COME IN COMPLIANCE.

THE SECOND ONE AND PROBABLY LESS LIKELY, WE HAVE TO START PAYING BACK GRANTS THAT WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED.

>> YES, SIR.

>> THIS IS NOT A QUESTION FOR YOU, MIKE, IT'S JUST A COMMENT.

IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE UP AGAINST THE WALL ON THIS IN TERMS OF WHAT CAN BE DONE LEGALLY TO THIS PROPERTY.

HOWEVER, I STILL SUPPORT SUPPORTING J1 VISAS WHEREVER WE CAN.

RIGHT NOW, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE STATE CONSIDERS GALVESTON

[01:50:03]

NOT A GOOD PLACE TO SEND J1 VISAS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE PROPER HOUSING.

I THINK WE STILL NEED TO BE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES IN GALVESTON TO BE ABLE TO CORRECT THAT, TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME HOUSING FOR J1 VISAS SOMEWHERE FOR THESE SEASONAL WORKERS BECAUSE THEY SUPPORT OUR HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY AND A LOT OF OTHER INDUSTRIES AROUND, AND WE STILL NEED TO BE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO SUPPORT THAT SOMEHOW.

THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, THOUGH, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOT TOO MANY BRICK WALLS IN FRONT OF IT TO DO AT THIS TIME.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION FOR DENIAL AND DIRECTION OF STAFF TO RENEGOTIATE A NEW LEASE ON THIS.

>> IS THIS THE SAME THING AS ALTERNATIVE 2?

>> YES.

>> DAVID READ WHAT I THINK MARIE WAS WANTING TO SAY. YES.

>> THANK YOU.

>> IN EFFECT, WE'RE APPROVING STAFF RECOMMENDATION TOO.

>> WHO'S ON FIRST. CAN YOU READ THAT AGAIN, PLEASE?

>> YES. NO. DO NOT APPROVE THE TRANSFER OF LEASE AGREEMENT TO IRH GALVESTON, LLC, UNTIL A NEW LEASE AGREEMENT CAN BE REACHED THAT INCLUDES THE APPROVED USE OF THE PROPERTY FOR MULTIFAMILY USE AND SETS THE LEASE AT FAIR MARKET VALUE.

>> I SECOND THAT MOTION.

THAT'S ELECTRONICALLY THERE. NOW WE CAN VOTE.

>> YES, SIR. PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

>> HERE THEY ARE. NEVER MIND.

>> WAIT A MINUTE, NOW. THAT'S THE MOTION.

WHAT'S WRITTEN UP THERE IS NOT THE VOTE.

>> THAT IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

VERY GOOD. LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 12 C, PLEASE.

[12.C. Discuss and consider actions on the violations of the Open Meetings Act and Public Information Act by the Galveston Park Board of Trustees (Porretto/C. Brown - 15 min)]

>> ITEM 12 C. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ACTIONS ON THE VIOLATIONS OF THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT AND PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT BY THE GALVESTON PARK BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

>> VERY GOOD. ALEX, DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ON THAT?

>> MOTION TO DIRECT CITY LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO IDENTIFY ANY INJUNCTIVE RELIEF FOR THE POTENTIAL SPECIAL MEETING.

>> SAY THAT AGAIN.

>> DIRECT CITY LEGAL.

>> DIRECT CITY LEGAL TO IDENTIFY ANY INJUNCTIVE RELIEF FOR THE VIOLATIONS OF THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT.

>> MEAN ANY VIOLATIONS WHICH MIGHT JUSTIFY INJUNCTIVE RELIEF?

>> YES.

>> THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT YOU SAID.

>> VIOLATION [INAUDIBLE].

>> IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY.

>> LET'S REPEAT THIS MOTION AGAIN, PLEASE.