[00:00:02] >> VERY GOOD. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. [1 DECLARATION OF A QUORUM AND CALL MEETING TO ORDER] IT IS 9:00 AM, AND IT IS AUGUST 28TH, 2025. I LIKE TO OFFICIALLY CALL THE WORKSHOP FOR THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON TO ORDER. I WANT TO WELCOME EVERYBODY, IN THE AUDIENCE HERE THIS MORNING. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. COUNCIL, NICE TO SEE EVERYBODY. FOR THOSE THAT ARE IN THE COMMUNITY, GLAD TO SEE YOU THIS. I'M GLAD YOU TUNED IN. WE'VE GOT SOME IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS TODAY. SPECIFICALLY, OUR BUDGET. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT DISCUSSION FOR NOT ONLY OUR BUDGET COMING UP NEXT YEAR, BUT ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR YEARS TO COME. GLAD TO HAVE YOU WITH US AND HOPE YOU ENJOY ENJOY THE ACTIVITIES TODAY. WE DO HAVE A MAJORITY OF COUNCIL HERE. JANELLE, GO RIGHT AHEAD OF ROLL CALL. >> MAYOR BROWN. >> PRESENT. >> MAYOR PRO TEM ROBB. >> PRESENT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS IS HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER FINKLEA? >> HERE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN. >> HERE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER PORRETTO IS HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER RAWLINS? >> HERE. >> SHARON IS HERE. I SEE HER BACK [OVERLAPPING]. >> THEY'RE BOTH HERE. >> BOTH SHARON AND COUNCIL MEMBER PORRETTO ARE HERE. VERY GOOD. WE'RE GOING TO START OUT. I WANT TO DO BEFORE WE START OUR INTERVIEWS COUNCIL, I'D LIKE TO DO SOME HOUSEKEEPING CHORES FOR OUR AGENDA COMING UP. GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. >> GOOD MORNING, ALEX. >> I'D LIKE TO DO SOME HOUSEKEEPING CHORES ON OUR AGENDA. FIRST OF ALL, ON ITEM 6A THAT'S ON OUR WORKSHOP, WE WILL NOT BE EVALUATING OUR CITY ATTORNEY, DONALD GLYWASKY. HE WILL BE RETIRING SEPTEMBER 5TH. WE'LL NOT BE PRESENT FOR THE EVALUATIONS THAT WE'LL BE DOING ON ITEM 6A. ALSO, I'D LIKE TO MENTION THAT ON ITEM 5C, WE HAVE A MASTER PLAN FROM THE PORT. THEY'RE GOING TO BE HERE AROUND 11:00-11: 30. WE MAY ADJUST THE SCHEDULE. THEY HAVE SOME COMMITMENTS THEY HAVE TO BE AT. WE MIGHT ADJUST THE SCHEDULE A LITTLE BIT TO WORK THEM IN. IF WE'RE NOT READY FOR THEM, WE'LL SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT IF AS THEY GET HERE. ALSO, ON ITEM 4A, WE HAVE SOME INTERVIEWS WITH OUR INTERIM CITY ATTORNEY APPLICANTS THAT WILL BE HERE. BEVERLY WEST, OUR DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES HAS SENT OUT SOME SAMPLE QUESTIONS THAT COULD BE UTILIZED FOR THESE CANDIDATES. JANELLE, YOU'RE GOING TO DISTRIBUTE THOSE WHEN WE GET TO THAT. >> YES. >> ALSO, MS. WEST HAS ALSO GIVEN US A JOB DESCRIPTION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY AND SHE'LL BE DISTRIBUTING THOSE COMING UP HERE AS WE START OUR INTERVIEWS ON THAT. SAYING ALL THAT, LET'S MOVE NOW TO ITEM 3, PLEASE. [3. BOARD AND COMMISSION INTERVIEWS] >> ITEM 3. BOARD AND COMMISSION INTERVIEWS, 3A1, WHARVES BOARD, RALPH MCMORRIS. >> VERY GOOD. RALPH, COME ON FORWARD IF YOU WOULD. GOOD MORNING TO YOU, RALPH. HOW ARE YOU? >> GOOD MORNING TO ALL. >> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING, RALPH. >> I APPRECIATE ALL GIVING ME A CHANCE TO COME TODAY. MAY I ASK IF ANYBODY WANTS ME TO PUT ONE ON. I GOT A VOTE. >> RALPH, WHAT WE'LL DO, AS YOU KNOW, WE ALLOW YOU TO DO AN INTRODUCTION, MAYBE A COUPLE OF MINUTES, AND THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS. I WANT TO MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT TOO, AND I WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO THE APPLICANTS FOR PLANNING COMMISSION AND WHARVES BOARD. I HAD MENTIONED TO SOME OF THEM THAT WE WOULD MAKE THE APPOINTMENTS AT OUR MEETING TODAY, AUGUST 28TH. THOSE WILL BE MADE AT OUR SEPTEMBER 18TH MEETING WHEN WE DO ALL OF OUR APPOINTMENTS COMING UP FOR THE YEAR FOR THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. RALPH, GO RIGHT AHEAD, SIR. >> THANKS AGAIN, AND I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOUR AGENDA OF WHAT YOU GOT COMING UP. I'VE PRINTED OUT SOME SUMMARIES OF SOME OF MY THOUGHTS I WANT TO PASS ABOUT AND A LETTER TO YOU ALL. CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME WITH A MASK ON? >> YEAH. >> I'M GOING TO [00:05:03] GO AHEAD AND READ MY INTRODUCTION HERE. WE'LL GO A LOT FASTER IF I READ IT [INAUDIBLE]. I'M EAGER TO SERVE ON THE GALVESTON WHARVES BOARD OF TRUSTEES, BRINGING 65 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP TO ADVANCE THE BOARD'S ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY IMPACT. AS A FORMER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, I LED THE PELICAN BRIDGE CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION IN 2015. I'VE ALSO BE ON NUMEROUS MEETINGS WITH DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES IN THE CITY AND THE RESIDENTS TO IMPLEMENT OUR CURRENT DOWNTOWN PARKING PLAN. THAT'S STILL IN PLACE. FORTUNATELY, ON THE PELICAN ISLAND BRIDGE, I LAID DORMANT FOR A FEW YEARS BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S UNDERWAY AGAIN. FORTY YEARS IN RETAIL DEVELOPMENT. FIRST IS DEVELOPMENT BP OF ATLANTA'S TOP NATIONALLY RANKED SHOPPING AND URBAN CENTER, AND LATER AS OWNER AND DEVELOP OF ONE OF THE FIRST NATIONAL HEALTHY FROZEN YOGURT CHAINS EQUIP TO GUIDE VIBER, WATERFRONT, RETAIL AND PEOPLE FRIENDLY AREAS INSPIRED BY PORTS LIKE SAVANNAH AND TAMPA TO NAME A FEW. A NATIONAL PORT DEVELOPER LIKE SIMON COULD PARTNER WITH THE BOARD FOR RETAIL POTENTIAL. THAT INCLUDES BATTLESHIP, TEXAS, AND PIER 25. IN MY BUSINESS, I'VE EXPORTED TO SOUTH KOREA, JAPAN, EUROPE VIA MIAMI, LONG BEACH, AND HOUSTON. I PROPOSE CARGO DIVERSIFICATION TO COUNTER THE TERRORISTS. OTHER OPPORTUNITIES COULD INCLUDE A LAND BRIDGE TO PELICAN ISLAND FOR RAIL. THAT'S CRITICAL FOR FULL INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT OF PELICAN ISLAND. THESE OPPORTUNITIES ALIGN WITH YOUR GOALS OF INFRASTRUCTURE, COLLABORATION, AND TRANSPARENCY. AS A VIETNAM WAR VETERAN, FORMER GAIN PRESIDENT, AND ENTREPRENEUR, I'M COMMITTED TO GALVESTON'S FUTURE, MAKING ME THE IDEAL CANDIDATE TO DRIVE SUSTAINABLE PORT GROWTH. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. >> THANK YOU, RALPH, VERY MUCH. COUNCIL, LET'S OPEN UP TO QUESTIONS FROM MR. MCMORRIS. >> I GOT A QUESTION, RALPH, THE CRUISE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN GROWING RAPIDLY AROUND THE WORLD, ESPECIALLY IN GALVESTON. REVENUES FROM FEES, PASSENGERS, AND PARKING INCREASE EVERY YEAR. MANY PLACES AROUND THE WORLD ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH OVER TOURISM FROM CRUISE. HOW CAN WE BALANCE CRUISE GROWTH AND ITS IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY AND ITS RESIDENTS? DOES GALVESTON ACTUALLY, HAVE A LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF TOURISTS AND CRUISE SHIPS THAT CAN MANAGE ON THE ISLAND? >> WELL, THERE CERTAINLY IS A LIMIT. WE WERE RELATIVELY SMALL COMPARED TO SOME OF THE OTHER PARTS IN THE COUNTRY. PORT LAUDERDALE WHEN I WAS THERE, HAD 14 SHIPS PARKED. I COULDN'T BELIEVE THE SIZE OF THAT. THERE IS A LIMIT. HOWEVER, AS WE LEARNED DURING THE COVID EXPERIENCE, WE CAN'T JUST RELY 100% ON CRUISE LINES. THE DEBT SERVICE GOES ON, AND SO INCOME NEEDS ARE STILL THERE, WHETHER THE CRUISE LINES ARE THERE OR NOT. SO I THINK WE SHOULD BALANCE WHAT WE HAVE, WHAT WE'RE GOOD AT, WHAT POTENTIAL WE HAVE LIKE PELICAN ISLAND IS, A GOOD POTENTIAL IF WE CAN REALLY GET THAT GOING. BUT WE NEED TO REALLY DO A TRAFFIC STUDY OF THE CURRENT IMPACT IS. I WAS WALKING OUT MY DOOR THIS MORNING AND THE SHUTTLE BUSES NOW ROUTING BY MY HOUSE. I'M NOT SURE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO, BUT IT'S A SHORTCUT. I THINK WE'LL SEE A LOT MORE OF THAT AS THE CRUISE LINES EXPAND, THE NEW TERMINALS COME ON PLACE. IT WILL AFFECT THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE RESIDENTS. I'LL SUM UP WITH THAT. >> VERY GOOD. >> GREAT. THANKS, RALPH. >> AUBREY. >> HAVE YOU READ THE PORTS NEW MASTER PLAN? WHAT DO YOU THINK OF IT? >> YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU FOR ASKING. WELL, IT'S A PLAN DEVELOPED BY CRUISE TERMINAL CONSULTANTS. THEIR EXPERTISE, AS I CAN FIND, [00:10:03] IS ONLY CRUISE TERMINALS. IF YOU ASK A CRUISE TERMINAL CONSULTANT TO GIVE YOU A PLAN, HE'S GOING TO GIVE YOU A PLAN FOR CRUISE TERMINALS. I THINK PARTS OF THEIR PLAN THAT THEY RECOMMEND ARE PRETTY WEAK. THEY TALK ABOUT RETAIL OF 600,000 SQUARE FEET, WHICH IS LIKE THREE OR FOUR TIMES LARGER THAN ANY OF THE PORTS THAT ARE FAMOUS FOR PEOPLE CENTRIC AREAS, BALTIMORE, BOSTON, SEATTLE, TAMPA. IT LOOKS THEY THREW IN TO APPEASE FOLKS SOMETHING ABOUT RETAIL HOTELS. I DON'T THINK THAT PART HAS REALLY BEEN THOROUGHLY VETTED. THEY ALSO TOUCH ON OUR CARGO AND ROLL ON ON OFF BUSINESS, BUT THEY INCLUDE IN THE PLAN THE OPTION TO CONVERT SOME OF THAT TO CRUISE LINES. I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT VERY THOROUGHLY FROM THE OTHER SIDE, FROM WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR CITIZENS ON THIS ISLAND, OF BUSINESSES ON THE ISLAND AND WHAT ARE THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES. THE DEVELOPMENT OF PELICAN ISLAND, I THINK IS OUR BIGGEST ASSET. WE REALLY NEED TO GET ACCESS THERE, AND I'VE HEARD LATELY THAT IT'S COME BACK UP AGAIN OF THE LAND BRIDGE TO PELICAN ISLAND, SO WE CAN RUN RAIL OVER THERE. THAT WILL FULLY DEVELOP THAT AREA INDUSTRIALLY INSTEAD OF RELYING ON TRUCK TRAFFIC TO GET OVER THERE. BUT THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY ON PELICAN ISLAND, TOO. >> VERY GOOD, RALPH. >> GOOD MORNING, RALPH. IN READING THIS, WOULD YOU BE OPPOSED TO AN LNG PLANT LOCATED AT PELICAN ISLAND? >> I'M NOT OPPOSED, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT IT. THERE HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTS TO HAVE IT HERE BEFORE. IT'S BEEN OPPOSED AND SHOT DOWN FOR VARIOUS REASONS. TO HAVE A PLANT, IT'S REALLY COMPLICATED. ALL THE REGULATIONS, GETTING THE MONEY, AND FINALLY GETTING THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY. IT REALLY MAKES SENSE FROM AN ECONOMIC STANDPOINT IF YOU COULD PUMP ONE OUT THERE AND RUN LINES TO IT AND START PUMPING OUT. FROM AN INCOME STANDPOINT, IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD. ESPECIALLY, IN LIGHT OF THE CHANGES IN OUR ADMINISTRATION AS FAR AS FUNDING GOING FORWARD, I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK HARD AT THAT, NOT JUST ASSUME WHEN WE LISTED ON THERE, THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO MAKE MONEY. I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY REALIZE WHY IT HAS FAILED BEFORE AND LOOK AT THAT, AND SEE IF THINGS HAVE CHANGED. >> WHAT WOULD YOU VISUALIZE AS BEING THE MOST OPPORTUNISTIC BUSINESSES THERE ON PELICAN ISLAND? >> I THINK WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW AND EXPANDING THAT IS THE OPPORTUNITY. WE'RE GOOD AT CARGO, ROLL ON, ROLL OFF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FROM A INDUSTRIAL STANDPOINT. OF COURSE, IF WE DECIDE LATER THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO ADD MORE SHIPS FROM CRUISE LINES, THEY COULD BE PUT OVER THERE PROVIDED THERE'S GOOD ACCESS. BUT IN ORDER TO DEVELOP IT INDUSTRIALLY, YOU REALLY NEED RAIL. CURRENTLY, IT'S COST PROHIBITIVE TO RUN RAIL ON THE PROPOSED BRIDGE. BUT I LOOKED AT THE BUILDING A LAND BRIDGE AND IN GENERAL, IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE. THERE'S OF COURSE, OPPOSITION FROM PEOPLE THAT LIKE TO CRUISE THROUGH THERE IN FISHING, BUT THERE ARE OTHER PATHS AROUND THE ISLAND THAT FOLKS CAN TAKE, AND THAT'S NOT NEW TO MARITIME INDUSTRY FIGURING OUT HOW TO GET THERE. >> JUDGING THAT THE BRIDGE HAS ALREADY HAD 60% DESIGN AND SOON TO BE AT 90, IT WILL NOT BE A LAM BRIDGE. >> I'M SORRY. >> NO. I'M JUST SAYING THAT THE LIKELIHOOD OF A LAM BRIDGE IS IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. >> I UNDERSTAND. IT'S NOT AN ACTIVE IDEA AT THIS TIME. BUT THE REASON BEHIND IT, I THINK NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED JUST LIKE WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS MASTER PLAN OF CRUISE LINES. IF WE GOT RAIL OUT THERE, IT'D BE OPEN IT UP GREAT. >> UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE SHIP BUILDING IN L&G, WHICH AREN'T RAIL INTENSIVE. >> EXACTLY. IT'S EASIER TO DO AS SUMMING, [00:15:03] WE GET THE QUARTER OF A TRILLION OR 250 BILLION TO BUILD IT. HALF OF THAT MONEY IS COMING FROM THE FEDS. RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A GENERAL IDEA THAT A LOT OF MONEY IS BEING HELD BACK OR RE-ROUTED. TO GET THE MONEY TO BUILD THAT BRIDGE, AND I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING ON THAT, SO YOU'RE THE EXPERT, NOT ME, AND I'D LOVE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT. >> RALPH, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT NOT ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE CURRENT BRIDGE, THE PLANNING, BUT A DIFFERENT NEW LAND BRIDGE. >> IT'S BEEN PROPOSED IN THE PAST. I THINK SULLIVAN WHEN HE WAS ON THE BOARD PROPOSED IT AND IT DIDN'T GO VERY FAR. BUT THERE ARE REASONS THAT PRACTICALLY, IT WOULD MAKE A LOT OF SENSE. YOU COULD GET IT. IT WILL IMPROVE THE DREDGING IN THE PORT. NOW, CUT THAT GREATLY DOWN, GREAT SAVING PORT EXPENSE. IT WOULD ALLOW ACCESS AND IT COULD BE ROUTED IN A WAY THAT WOULDN'T REALLY INTERFERE WITH THE CAMPUSES. JUST A LOT OF REASONS. FOR SOME REASON BACK IN 2017, THEY PUT A $200 MILLION PRICE TAG ON IT, BUT I NEVER SAW WHERE THOSE NUMBERS CAME FROM. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THAT COULD BE LOOKED AT AGAIN. >> VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL. >> RALPH, ONE LAST QUESTION FOR YOU. WE TALK A LOT ABOUT GETTING THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON CRUISES OR THAT WILL BE GOING ON CRUISES, THAT ARE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF HARBORSIDE OVER TO THE SOUTH SIDE, WHERE THE DOWNTOWN AREA IS IN THE SHOPPING DISTRICT. WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS? THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT. WE'VE DISCUSSED A LOT OF AT THE PORT. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? >> WELL, YOU'VE GOT TO GET ACROSS HARBORSIDE AND MAKE THAT CONNECTION STRONGER. I THINK THROUGH RETAIL WALKWAYS, AND YOU CAN HAVE OVERPASS-TYPE RETAIL. I'VE SEEN THAT IN OTHER CITIES, WHERE RETAIL AND IT'S REALLY INTERESTING, YOU CAN BUILD A BRIDGE AND HAVE RETAIL SHOPS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BRIDGE. IT MAKES IT A VERY ATTRACTIVE WAY TO CROSS AN AREA AND IN THIS CASE, IT WAS CROSSING A RIVER BY WALKING. BUT I THINK YOU NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE IT ATTRACTIVE. I THINK A TRAFFIC STUDY DONE FOR THAT AREA THAT WOULD INCLUDE HOW TO MAKE THAT ACCESS WORK. I THINK BUILDING ON THE RETAIL ON THE NORTH SIDE IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY. THAT'S WHAT OTHER COURTS HAVE DONE, AND THE MITCHELL STUDY RECOMMENDED IT. I'M AN EXPERT AT RETAIL SHOPPING CENTER DEVELOPMENT. I WORKED FOR NUMBER 1 CITY IN THE COUNTRY AND WE WERE REALLY GOOD AT IT. BUT I WOULDN'T VOLUNTEER TO BE THE DEVELOPER. I MEAN, THAT'S WAY BEYOND ME, BUT THERE ARE DEVELOPERS IN THIS COUNTRY THAT OUGHT TO BE APPROACHED AND ASKED FOR PROPOSALS TO DO ALL THIS AND TIE ALL THIS TOGETHER. I THINK THAT IT WON'T COST YOU ANYTHING TO ASK PEOPLE TO MAKE PROPOSALS, AND THERE'S TALENT OUT THERE THAT DOES THIS ALL THE TIME. I THINK THAT WOULD BE EARLY STEP ON THIS. >> THANK YOU, RALPH. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING. >> YOU'RE FEELING BETTER. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> OH, YEAH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. WELL, APPRECIATE IT FOR YOUR SERVICE. I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE WHAT ALL Y'ALL GOT TO GO THROUGH TODAY. THE BUDGET THING IS NOT GOING TO BE FUN. >> YOU'VE BEEN THERE. >> BUT AGAIN, I THINK THE PART CAN BE AN ADDITIONAL SOURCE OF INCOME. DOING NOW. >> APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. HAVE A GOOD DAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE TIME. >> VERY GOOD. WE ARE NOW MOVING TO OUR SECOND INTERVIEW. THIS RALPH WAS FOR WARS BOARD. WE'RE MOVING FOR OUR PLANNING COMMISSION INTERVIEW, JANELLE. >> PLANNING COMMISSION, NICK LANKFORD. >> MR. LANKFORD, COME FORWARD, SIR. HOW ARE YOU THIS MORNING? >> GOOD. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. >> OH, GLAD TO HEAR, NICK. >> HEY. SORRY. I WASN'T ABLE TO INTERVIEW LAST TIME, AND I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING ME BACK. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. GLAD TO HAVE YOU. GO RIGHT AHEAD. [00:20:02] WE'LL GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF MINUTES FOR INTRODUCTION AND BOTH TO QUESTIONS. >> I HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS, PLANNING, DEVELOPING FOR 20 YEARS. THROUGHOUT GALVESTON COUNTY. >> WOULD WE START WITH? >> STARTED WITH BO RAWLINS, DID MY INTERNSHIP AFTER GRADUATING FROM TEXAS STATE WITH A CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT DEGREE. LEARNED A LOT FROM BO AND I APPRECIATE THAT OPPORTUNITY. >> HAD TO THROW IT IN THERE. [LAUGHTER] BUT BORN AND RAISED ON THE ISLAND. LOVE GALVESTON ISLAND. DON'T EVER PLAN ON LEAVING. I FEEL LIKE I'M BRINGING A LOT OF EXPERTISE AND KNOWLEDGE TO PLANNING COMMISSION TO BE ABLE TO REALLY BENEFIT THE ISLANDS. THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. >> VERY GOOD. GLAD TO HAVE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION, MARIE. >> WHAT FRUSTRATIONS DO YOU RUN INTO AS A BUILDER WHEN YOU'RE IN THE PROCESS, BECAUSE I KNOW I GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT PERMITTING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. >> I MEAN, THE PERMITTING PART IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST FRUSTRATIONS. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT IS VERY UNORGANIZED. IT TAKES A LOT LONGER THAN I FEEL LIKE IT SHOULD. IT ALSO JUST KIND OF SEEMS LIKE THE CITY'S ALMOST PUSHING AWAY BIG DEVELOPMENTS BY PROLONGING THE PERMITTING PROCESS. THAT'S KIND OF ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY I WANTED TO BE IN HERE AND HOPEFULLY SERVE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO HELP MAKE THIS PROCESS GO MUCH SMOOTHER AND ENCOURAGE MORE DEVELOPMENT ON THE ISLAND. >> I HAVE TO SAY, WHEN NICK CAME IN AND INTERVIEWED FOR THE PARK BOARD, I CALLED HIM RIGHT AFTER THAT MEETING AND SAID YOU WOULD BE AN IDEAL MEMBER OF OUR PLANNING COMMISSION. I SAID, BECAUSE YOU JUST DID THE BEST PLANNING COMMISSION INTERVIEW THAT I'VE EVER SEEN, SO I'M GLAD YOU'RE BACK, AND I THINK YOU WOULD BE AN IDEAL CANDIDATE. >> I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, ALEX? >> THIS COUNSEL, AND I THINK EVERYONE'S PUSHING FOR MORE DEVELOPMENT ON THE ISLAND. HOW AS ON PLANNING COMMISSION, WILL YOU BALANCE THE WANTS OF THE DEVELOPER, THE NEEDS OF THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY? IT WAS A THREE-PART, THE WANTS OF THE DEVELOPER, THE NEEDS OF THE CITY AND THE REGULATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE. HOW DO YOU BALANCE THOSE THREE THINGS AS A PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER? >> WELL, FIRST OFF, I HAVE TO GO TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND SEE HOW THAT PLAYS INTO WHATEVER DEVELOPMENT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, OBVIOUSLY, NEEDS IT'S IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING UPDATED RIGHT NOW CURRENTLY AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING ON PLANNING COMMISSION, SO I COULD REALLY HELP IN THAT SITUATION AND IN THE UPDATING OF IT. IT HASN'T BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2011. OBVIOUSLY, THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS GOING TO PLAY INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF GALVESTON FOR NEXT 20 PLUS YEARS. AS FAR AS THE DEVELOPMENT GOES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AT HAND, I MEAN, WE JUST HAVE TO WEIGH INTO, HEY, WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT, AND HOW DOES IT PLAY INTO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND MAKE SURE THAT IT BENEFITS GALVESTON. >> VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS AT ALL? >> WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON PLANNING FOR DEVELOPMENT ON PARTS OF THE ISLAND THAT ARE ERODING OR VULNERABLE TO STORM OR FLOOD IMPACT? >> I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO A BIG BEACH REPLENISHMENT PROJECT, AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S WAY OVERDUE. I'M EXCITED THAT THERE'S A DOOM RESTORATION IN PLAY THERE ALSO. I MEAN, WE NEED TO PROTECT THE DE-ERODING. WE NEED TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PREVENT IT. BUT IF WE CAN'T DO THAT, THEN OBVIOUSLY, WE NEED TO COME UP WITH SOME LONG-TERM WAY TO GET SAND IN THAT AREA SO THAT WE'RE NOT LOSING HOUSES AND STREETS OVER THE ERODING OVER TIME. >> OKAY. VERY GOOD. [00:25:02] NICK, THE TOPIC OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMES UP ALL THE TIME. IN MY OPINION, IT'S A TOUGH TOPIC TO TRY TO FIND A SOLUTION THAT WOULD BE HAVE A DEMOTIC CHANGE. BUT I'D BE INTERESTED IN YOUR THOUGHTS. WHAT IS YOUR TAKING ON THAT? >> WELL, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THE ISLAND. WE NEED TO BALANCE WHERE AND HOW WE DO THAT. I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A TALK AT ONE POINT ABOUT PUTTING IT BEHIND THE RANDALL'S ON THAT PIECE OF LAND. I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS ON WHAT TRANSPIRED THERE, BUT I FEEL LIKE THAT'S THE BEST LOCATION ON THE ISLAND. IT'S A BIG NICE PIECE OF PROPERTY, GREAT CENTRAL LOCATION. BEHIND THE SEA WALL, I FEEL LIKE WE COULD DEVELOP THAT AND GET A LOT OF HOUSING IN THAT AREA, AND I THINK THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO REALLY DETER FROM NICE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE AREA OR ANYTHING, I THINK IT'S A GREAT SPOT FOR IT. OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S OTHER PLACES IN GALVESTON THAT WE CAN LOOK AT, BUT MY PERSONAL TAKE, I THINK THAT'S THE BEST SPOT. >> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, NICK. WE GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. WE'LL BE MAKING OUR APPOINTMENTS ON SEPTEMBER 18. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> APPRECIATE, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. >> THANK YOU, NICK. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT MY FLIGHT AROUND, AND I WILL BE HERE ON VIRTUAL ON THE NIGHT OF THE 18TH. >> WONDERFUL. >> FROM MY AIRPORT MODE IN LIMA. >> WONDERFUL TO HERE. THAT NOT FOR THE MORNING, MARIE, BUT [OVERLAPPING]. >> NOT FOR THE MORNING. >> OKAY. >> I MAY BE ABLE TO DO SOME OF THE MORNING, BUT DEFINITELY. >> SOUNDS GOOD. >> LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 4, [4. INTERIM CITY ATTORNEY INTERVIEWS] IF WE COULD, PLEASE. I'M GOING TO ASK BEVERLY WEST TO SIT AT THE TABLE HERE WITH THESE INTERVIEWS. NOW, HAVE WE PASSED OUT THE MATERIAL? >> BEVERLY HAS THE SAME INFORMATION IN HER BINDERS, IS THAT RIGHT, BEVERLY? >> YES. >> SHE'S PASSING THAT OUT NOW. >> THIS ONE FOR DOC. >> THAT IS RESUME. >> THANK YOU. >> I DID A NOTEBOOK FOR EVERYBODY OR THE INTERVIEWS THAT HAVE THE QUESTIONS IN THEM. THE NUMBERS ARE TRANSPOSED. DOC IS ACTUALLY NUMBER 2. THEN SHE HAS GIVEN YOU HER RESUME. >> THE QUESTIONS ARE BEHIND THERE AS WELL. >> YOU CAN WRITE ON THEM. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. >> GOOD MORNING, BEVERLY. BEVERLY, LET'S GO AHEAD AND READ THIS TOPIC TO INTRODUCE IT. YOU COULD INTRODUCE YOURSELF ONCE WE READ THAT. CORRECT. >> ITEM 4, INTERIM CITY ATTORNEY INTERVIEWS, ONE DONNA FAIRWEATHER. >> VERY GOOD. >> WEST ON MHR. >> HOW ARE THESE QUESTIONS FORMULATED? >> I JUST DID LIKE I NORMALLY DO, AND I JUST GOOGLED SOME GOOD QUESTIONS FOR CITY ATTORNEY AND USED SOME QUESTIONS WE'VE USED FOR OTHER DIRECTOR OR C-SUITE TYPE POSITIONS. >> STANDARD INTERVIEW QUESTIONS? >> YES. THEY'RE SPECIFIC TO [OVERLAPPING]. >> CITY ATTORNEY. >> CITY ATTORNEY. >> WERE THEY PROVIDED THESE QUESTIONS BEFOREHAND? >> THEY WERE NOT. [LAUGHTER] I DID TALK TO A LITTLE OF THEM ABOUT WHAT TO PLAN FOR AND TO GET RESUMES AND IT WAS GENERALLY WHAT TO EXPECT. >> [INAUDIBLE]. >> OH, ABSOLUTELY. [OVERLAPPING] >> THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT [OVERLAPPING]. >> YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE THEM AT ALL. >> THE INTERVIEW PROCESS. NOW, COUNSEL, BEFORE WE START, LET ME OUTLINE THE PROCESS HERE. WE'LL BE INTERVIEWING DONNA FAIRWEATHER AND TREVOR FANNING POSITION. THEN WE HAVE ON OUR WORKSHOP AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM TO DISCUSS THESE TWO CANDIDATES AND GET OUR THOUGHTS TOGETHER ON THEM. THEN WE HAVE AN ACTION ITEM THIS AFTERNOON AND OUR REGULAR SESSION TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT OF THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER. WE HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO DISCUSS BOTH THESE CANDIDATES AND COME UP WITH A THOUGHT ON MOVING FORWARD AT THAT TIME, SHARON? >> I JUST HAVE A QUESTION. IT MIGHT BE RHETORICAL. [00:30:02] BUT IS IT OPEN FOR THE OTHER TO HEAR THE OTHER INTERVIEW? >> BEVERLY, DO YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT? I DID TO ME, IT DOES NOT MATTER. >> IT DOESN'T MATTER. >> OH, DOESN'T MATTER. THIS IS AN OPEN SESSION, SO THEY CAN BE THERE AND BE PRESENT. >> JUST A CLASH. >> YES, MA'AM. VERY GOOD. WE HAVE DONNA FAIRWEATHER WITH US. TODAY, DONNA HAS GIVEN A RESUME THAT WE HAVE. WHAT I THINK WE'LL DO IS LET DONNA GIVE SOME THOUGHTS ON WHY SHE MIGHT WANT TO SERVE AND SOME OTHER THOUGHTS THAT MIGHT GUIDE COUNSEL IN A DECISION. THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO. GO RIGHT AHEAD, DONNA. >> WONDERFUL. YES. MY NAME IS DONNA FAIRWEATHER. I HAVE BEEN WITH THE CITY OF GALVESTON FOR 15 YEARS, SERVING IN THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT. AFTER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, I'VE SERVED AS THE SENIOR ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY. I HAVE PROVIDED COUNSEL MORE OF A SYNOPSIS RATHER THAN A RESUME. WHEN YOU'VE BEEN WITH THE COMPANY FOR 15 YEARS IS WHAT IS A RESUME GOING TO SHOW? HOWEVER, I DO HAVE INFORMATION OF MY PRIOR EXPERIENCES TO PART TWO COMING TO GALVESTON AS WELL THAT I HAVE AVAILABLE. I HAVE PROVIDED THE SYNOPSIS OF SOME OF MY RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND SOME OF MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT I'M PRETTY PROUD OF. ALONG WITH DOCUMENTATION OF ACCREDITATIONS, AWARDS, CERTIFICATIONS, CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS. I HAD THE QUALIFICATION, THE RELEVANT EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS, AND THE WORK ETHIC TO BE NAMED AS THE INTERIM CITY ATTORNEY. WHEN I STARTED AT THE CITY, IN 2010, I WAS ASKED TO ADDRESS THE HIGH NUMBER OF DILAPIDATED VACANT AND SUBSTANDARD STRUCTURES POST IC. IN RESPONSE, I DEVELOPED THE MUNICIPAL COURT OF RECORD, CREATED THE HOUSING ABATEMENT PROGRAM, IMPROVED HOUSING CODE ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES. THE CITY TRANSITIONED TO A MUNICIPAL COURT OF RECORD, AND THE NUMBER OF DERELICT STRUCTURES DECREASED FASTER AND WAS MET WITH LITTLE, IF NONE, A CHALLENGE OR CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGES. THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM LED TO MY FIRST INVITATION TO SPEAK, AND IT WAS FOR THE CITY OF IRVING, AND IT WAS HOW TO BECOME A MUNICIPAL COURT OF RECORD. >> THEREAFTER, I'VE PRESENTED IN SEVERAL SEMINARS AND CONFERENCES ON MANY ASPECTS OF MUNICIPAL LAW. MY MOST RECENT SPEAK ENGAGEMENT WAS TO THE INTERNATIONAL MUNICIPAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION, AND THE TOPIC WAS SECTION 1983D [NOISE] WHICH ALSO HIGHLIGHTED GALVESTON'S HOUSING ABATEMENT PROGRAM. I WAS HONORED WHEN THE EDITOR OF IMLAS PUBLICATION ASKED TO HIGHLIGHT MY PRESENTATION AND THE WORK THAT I HAD DONE FOR IT, AND I WAS OFFICIALLY PUBLISHED IN THE NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2023 MAGAZINE. IN ADDITION TO THE MULTIPLE EXAMPLES OF MY UNDERSTANDING OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, I POSSESS A HIGH LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE, A PARTICULAR DEGREE OF ATTENTION TO THE CITY AND ALL ITS ELEMENTS TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE, TIMELY, LEGAL ADVICE TO COUNCIL AND TO MANAGEMENT AND TO THE NUMEROUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND OTHER ENTITIES OF THE CITY OR INVOLVED WITH THE CITY. I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE ASPECTS OF THE JOB OF A LEGAL ADVISOR, THE CITY. THE LEGAL ADVISOR, IN MY OPINION, IS TO PROTECT THE CITY, IS TO PROTECT THE CITY FROM NEGATIVE LITIGATION AT ALL COSTS TO PROTECT CITY MANAGEMENT, TO PROTECT THE DEPARTMENTS. AND I TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY. SO I TRY TO BE AS WELL PREPARED AS WELL PRACTICED. I PRACTICE ACTIVE LISTENING. WHAT I MEAN BY ACTIVE LISTENING IS THAT FIRST, YOU DO LISTEN. YOU NEED TO HEAR WHAT THE PERSON IS SAYING BUT SECOND, I TRY TO REPHRASE WHAT I THINK I'VE HEARD. AND MANY TIMES, SOME OF THE COUNSEL PERSONS MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH MY FAVORITE EXPRESSION. I THINK WHAT I HEAR YOU SAYING IS THIS. AND THE REASON WHY I DO THAT IS THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE TELLING ME AND I'M RECEIVING THE INFORMATION THAT YOU WANT ME TO HEAR. AND WHEN I REPHRASE IT BACK TO YOU, IF WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE, THEN I CAN GO FORWARD AND PROCEED AS DIRECTED. SO I LOVE THAT PHRASE, I THINK WHAT I HEAR YOU SAYING IS THIS. I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO EVERYTHING YOU HAVE MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ALL OF SOME OF THE THINGS I'VE HIGHLIGHTED THAT I'VE DONE HERE. I WILL SAY THAT IT'S IMPORTANT [00:35:03] THAT CITY COUNCIL UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME, AND I HAVE LEARNED A LOT. BUT I DO BELIEVE IT'S NOT THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT YOU'VE BEEN IN THAT POSITION, BUT IT'S WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING WHILE YOU HAVE BEEN IN THAT POSITION THAT REALLY MATTERS. AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. >> THANK YOU, DONNA. APPRECIATE IT. COUNSEL, LET'S OPEN IT UP TO FLIT AND STUFF. >> GREAT PRESENTATION. AND JUST YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED IN BEING A FULL-TIME CITY ATTORNEY, YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BEING THE INTERIM? >> I AM INTERESTED IN BEING THE INTERIM CITY ATTORNEY. I DO NOT LIVE IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON, AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS TO BEING CITY ATTORNEY. BUT I AM MOST COMFORTABLE WITH HAVING THAT INTERIM CITY POSITION AND ASSISTING COUNSEL IN FINDING AN APPROPRIATE PERSON TO BE THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT. I DO THINK THAT IT HAS TO BE A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNSEL? >>I GOT A QUESTION I HAD PREPARED THAT'S PRETTY SIMILAR TO THE ONES THAT YOU PREPARED, I THINK, A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BUT WE ULTIMATELY WORK FOR THE RESIDENTS HERE. SO HOW WOULD YOU BALANCE PROTECTING THE WELFARE OF THE RESIDENTS WITH UNCLEAR LEGAL FRAMEWORK ADVISING COUNSEL ON THE COURT DIRECTIONS? >> IT SOUNDS AS IF THAT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU'VE HAD IN THE PAST IN TERMS OF CLARITY OF INFORMATION BEING DISTRIBUTED. AND SO PART OF AGAIN, GOING BACK TO MY ACTIVE LISTENING IS MAKING SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE DIRECTION IS. I AM PRETTY CLEAR WHEN I EITHER DON'T UNDERSTAND SOMETHING. I EITHER SAY I WILL GET BACK TO YOU THE INFORMATION. I WILL DO MY RESEARCH AND COME HOPEFULLY BACK TO YOU WITH AN ANSWER THAT FALLS IN LINE LEGALLY THAT'S THE FIRST THING AND APPROPRIATELY FOR THE BOARD. ONE OF MY ENDEAVORS IS TO INCREASE THAT ACTIVE LISTENING PORTION IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT SO THAT PEOPLE ARE CLEAR AND IT'S NOT THAT THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT DOESN'T WORK FOR THE RESIDENTS, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT COUNSEL HAS THEIR FEET IN MANY DIFFERENT WELLS, SO TO SPEAK AND IT IS A BALANCING ACT. BUT I DO HOPE THAT WHEN I'M GIVEN DIRECTION, I HAVE REPHRASED IT SO THAT WE ALL ARE CLEAR AS TO WHAT THE DIRECTIVE IS AND THAT I'LL BE ABLE TO MEET THOSE DIRECTIVES. BUT I WILL BE HONEST AND SAY THAT IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT AFTER I'VE DONE MY RESEARCH, THAT I DON'T THINK IS ADVISABLE FOR CITY COUNCIL, I WILL SAY THAT. >> THANKS. DAVID. >> SOMETIMES IN PUBLIC MEETINGS, WE REACH OUT TO COUNSEL AND ASK FOR AN OPINION. DURING THE PUBLIC MEETING, SO IN THOSE CASES, FIRST, HOW DO YOU RESPOND? AND THEN HOW DO YOU DETERMINE WHETHER IT'S APPROPRIATE TO PROVIDE WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION TO THAT EFFECT? >> SO WHEN YOU AS A COUNSEL PERSON IS ASKED FROM SOMEBODY FROM THE AUDIENCE, OR YOU TALKING ABOUT THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT IS ASKED OR WHEN STAFF IS ASKED? >> WHEN WE DIRECT LEGAL TO PROVIDE AN OPINION ON AN ISSUE THAT IS IN A PUBLIC MEETING? >> I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PREPARE. SO I FIND THAT IF YOU HAVE REQUESTED THE INFORMATION OR TALKED ABOUT THE INFORMATION BEFOREHAND, THEN THAT INFORMATION CAN BE DISSEMINATED TO YOU BECAUSE THE RESEARCH HAS BACKED. I AM NOT A FAN OF BEING SURPRISED, SO TO SPEAK AND ASK TO REGURGITATE SOME ASPECT OF ISSUE THAT I MAY NOT EVEN HAVE LOOKED AT OR MOST RECENTLY LOOKED AT. AGAIN, WHEN I AM PREPARED, I FEEL THAT I CONVEY THAT INFORMATION BETTER. I FEEL THAT IT'S RECEIVED BETTER, AND IT WOULD ALSO DECREASE THAT CLARITY ISSUE, I THINK THAT SOME PEOPLE SOMETIMES RECEIVE. AND SO I WOULD APPRECIATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, JUST ADVANCE REQUESTS SO THAT THAT INFORMATION CAN BE GATHERED. AND I THINK IT'S HELPFUL TO COUNSEL AS WELL, BECAUSE THEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S IMPARTING THE INFORMATION WHO'S ACTUALLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK INTO IT FOR YOU. >> VERY GOOD. I HAVE A QUESTION. [00:40:04] >> SAY IT ISN'T SO [LAUGHTER] >> MOVING INTO IF YOU ARE SELECTED TO MOVE INTO THE INTERIM POSITION. WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHTS ON YOUR MANAGERIAL STYLE AND HOW YOU WILL HANDLE BEING IN THE INTERIM POSITION AND YOUR REPORT WITH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND CITY STAFF FOR THE NEXT, SAY, JUST FOR SAKE OF DISCUSSION 12 MONTHS. >> ACTUALLY, I DID PREPARE DOCUMENTATION ON MY PRIOR EXPERIENCE, WHICH I WILL HAND OUT TO COUNSEL AS WELL. THIS LEADERSHIP WOULD NOT BE MY FIRST RODEO IN A MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY ROLE. PRIOR TO COMING TO TEXAS, I WAS A SUPERVISOR OR THE LEGAL AID BUREAU. I WAS DOING THAT IN THEIR CHILD AVIS UNIT FOR FOUR YEARS. I WORKED FOR THE BUREAU FOR SEVEN YEARS [OVERLAPPING] I WAS IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. I WAS A BALTIMORE BEFORE I CAME TO TEXAS. THEREAFTER, I ALSO WORKED FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND I WORKED AS THEIR ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY AND SPECIAL ASSISTANT SOLICITOR. WORKING FOR THE LEGAL AID BUREAU, I SUPERVISED APPROXIMATELY 40 EMPLOYEES, STAFF MEMBERS FROM ATTORNEYS, PARALEGALS, OTHER ADMIN STAFF, AND I LOVED IT AND ENJOYED IT. THE MAIN ISSUES WITH BEING A SUPERVISOR OR A LEADER, I SHOULD SAY, IN A SMALL DEPARTMENT HERE, ESPECIALLY A DEPARTMENT THAT YOU'VE BEEN WITH, AND THERE'S LOTS OF LONGEVITY IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT. WILL THERE BE SOME CLASHES. I ACTUALLY DON'T THINK SO. WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING IN THE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE IS I TRY TO MAKE OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE TRAINING TO THE NEW ATTORNEYS WHEN THEY COME ON BOARD TO HAVE AN OPEN DOOR POLICY SO THAT THEY CAN ASK QUESTIONS. I AM ALMOST PROSITY ABOUT REVIEWING ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS AND CONTRACTS AND IF SOMEONE BRINGS SOMETHING TO MY ATTENTION, I WILL REVIEW IT WITH THEM. EVEN MANAGEMENT KNOWS THAT IF YOU GIVE ME SOMETHING TO READ, I'M GOING TO READ IT. I DO THAT WITH GRACE AND I DO THAT WITH RESPECT. I THINK MANY COUNSEL FOLKS KNOW THAT I ALSO LIKE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF HUMOR WHEN I ADDRESS PEOPLE SO I'M NOT HERE TO BEAT ANYONE DOWN, BUT I DO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE COMFORTABLE RECEIVING THE INFORMATION THAT I'M IMPARTING BUT I DO IMPART IT. THERE ARE SOME THOUGHTS AND IDEAS OF HOW I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOME CHANGES FOR THE DEPARTMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO BUILD AGAIN MORE OF THAT CONSISTENCY. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WORK IS DIVVIED UP MORE EVENLY. THE DEPARTMENT ITSELF AND COUNSEL MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT WE HAVE SPECIALTIES AND SO EACH ATTORNEY KIND OF HAS THEIR OWN LITTLE SPECIALTY. AND SO WHEREAS I MAY NOT BE AS FAMILIAR WITH CIVIL SERVICE, THERE ARE OTHER ATTORNEYS IN THE UNIT THAT ARE. AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THE STRENGTHS OF THOSE FOLKS AND MAKE THEM GO OUT AND DO WHAT THEY CAN DO TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY AND THEN BRING THAT INFORMATION BACK TO THE ENTIRE GROUP. I AM A FIRM BELIEVE OF SHARING THE WEALTH. PART OF WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO START IS HAVING REGULAR STAFF MEETINGS. DISCUSS WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE CITY, DISCUSS WHAT'S ON YOUR PLATE, MAKING SURE THAT ONE PERSON IS NOT BOGGED DOWN IN A CERTAIN SITUATION OR JUST WITH A LOT OF ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS, CONTRACTS, OR WHATEVER THAT HAPPEN TO BE ON THEIR PLATE. WE HAVE A MUNICIPAL COURT PROSECUTOR SO HIS TIME FRAME IS LIMITED BECAUSE HE'S IN THE MUNICIPAL COURT, AND SO YOU HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT OF THAT. THE BOTTOM LINE IS, I THINK I'M A PRETTY NICE PERSON. I THINK I'M A PRETTY NICE PERSON. I CAN ALSO BE FAIR. I AM RESPECTFUL, AND I EXPECT THAT OF OTHERS AND I WILL BE ASKING THEM THEIR THOUGHTS ON HOW THEY WOULD LIKE THE UNIT TO RUN AS WELL AND GET THAT FEEDBACK, AND THEN WE'LL COME TOGETHER AS A GROUP AND FIGURE OUT HOW BEST [00:45:02] THE UNIT WILL WORK FOR THE NEXT 6-12 MONTHS. HOW FAR ABOUT HOW LONG IT TAKES. WE GET ALONG QUITE WELL AS WELL. >> VERY GOOD. DAVID. >> YOU ANSWERED ONE OF MY QUESTIONS WITH THE WHOLE REGULAR STAFF MEETINGS BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT HOW DO YOU AS A MANAGER, MAKE SURE THAT YOU BALANCE WORKLOAD AND THEN ALSO FOLLOW UP ON ALL THE LITANY OF THINGS THAT YOUR GROUP WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR. SO I'LL JUST TAKE THAT AT REGULAR STAFF FEES, ANSWER THAT WAY. >> DOES THAT MEANS [OVERLAPPING] >> THE NEXT QUESTION COMES TO KEEPING US IN CHECK? >> YES. >>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT I FOUND IN A PREVIOUS ROLE IS THAT WE OFTENTIMES TEND TO SWAY OFF OF THE ISSUE AND WE'VE SEEN RECENTLY WITH ANOTHER ENTITY WHERE THAT ACTUALLY GOT THEM IN TROUBLE. AND SO I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT HOW DO YOU DO THAT RESPECTFULLY, BUT ALLOW LEEWAY FOR DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS? >> CORRECT. THE SYNYSIS THAT I PROVIDED, YOU GUYS ARE WELL AWARE THAT I'M THE LEGAL ADVISOR, LANDMARK, PLANNING, ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT, BUILDING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS AND APPEALS, THE HEALTH COURT, ALL THOSE ISSUES THAT YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT COME UP. AND SO ACTIVE LISTENING IS KEY. MAKING SURE THAT WHEN YOU SEE OR HEAR A COMMISSIONER OR A BOARD MEMBER VARYING OFF THE PATH THAT THEY SHOULD BE ON, IS TO JUST RESPECTFULLY SAY, EXCUSE ME, CHAIRMAN, OR I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY IS AND THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA, OR IS AM I IS THERE SOME OTHER WAY THAT THAT CAN BE PHRASED OR THAT IS SIMPLY NOT A TOPIC TO BE DISCUSSED. THE COMMISSIONS WILL PROBABLY TELL YOU THAT I HAVE A LOOK. I HAVE A TELL AND THE TIME I, DONNA IS LOOKING AT ME AND THAT MEANS THAT I'M EITHER THINKING THAT YOU GUYS ARE VARYING OFF A LITTLE BIT, OR I'M GOING TO PUT A STOP OR A REDIRECTION ON WHERE THE ISSUE IS GOING. PUBLIC MEETINGS ARE PUBLIC MEETINGS. FOR THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, I HAVE STARTED LUNCH AND LEARNS, AND PART OF THE LUNCH AND LEARNS WILL CONTINUE TO ADDRESS WHEN THAT ACTIVE LISTENING NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T GO OFF THE RAILS, SO THAT WE DON'T GET INVOLVED IN ANY OPEN MEETING ACT VIOLATIONS OR ANY OTHER VIOLATIONS. AGAIN, MY MAIN FOCUS IS TO PROTECT THE CITY, AND THAT'S WHAT I INTEND TO DO AND THAT'S MAKING SURE THE STAFF IS TRAINED UP, MAKING SURE THAT THE COMMISSIONERS, THE BOARD MEMBERS, IF I KNOW THEY'RE GOING DOWN THE WRONG PATH TO ADDRESS IT, NOT TO HAVE IT CONTINUED, INCLUDING CITY COUNCIL. >> INCLUDING CITY COUNCIL. >> INCLUDING CITY COUNCIL. >> [INAUDIBLE] AND THEN, ALEX. >> I'M GOING TO GET BACK TO YOUR OPENING STATEMENT WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT DIRECT COUNSEL. >> BECAUSE DERELICT TALES ARE A HUGE PAIN IN MY SIDE. BUT THEY REALLY ARE THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND. THERE ARE SOME HOUSES THAT HAVE STILL BEEN THAT WAY SINCE [INAUDIBLE] BEEN THAT WAY SINCE BETA, DELTA THAT ARE CLEAR, PURE HEALTH AND SAFETY HAZARDS AND YET IT SEEMS LIKE NOTHING EVER GETS DONE. WHY IS THAT? >> WELL, I WOULD SAY THAT NOTHING IS A STRONG WORD. I DO NOT DO THE HOUSING ABATEMENT PROGRAM ANYMORE, I'VE ELEVATED TO THE LAND USE ATTORNEY. BUT THIS IS WHAT I WILL SAY. WHEN I CAME HERE POST IC, THE SITUATION OF THE VACANT DILAPIDATED DERELICT HOUSING ISSUE WAS EXTREMELY HIGH. THE PROCEDURES THAT WERE PUT IN PLACE TOOK QUITE A BIT IT WAS A LOT OF RESEARCH. IT WAS A LOT OF COMPARISON TO OTHER CITIES TO HOW THEY DO THEIR PROGRAMS, HOW THEY ADDRESS THEIR HOUSING ENFORCEMENT SITUATIONS, INCLUDING WE HAVE HISTORICAL ISSUES WITH THE CITY THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF ISSUES THAT PERTAIN TO GALVESTON. I TOLD PEOPLE, GALVESTON IS A SMALL CITY WITH BIG CITY ISSUES AND SO THERE IS A PROCESS AND A PROCEDURE TO ADDRESS THOSE. I THINK IF THERE IS A SITUATION, A PROPERTY THAT IS AN ISSUE, [00:50:06] THEN I THINK YOU SHOULD BRING IT TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO DO THAT RESEARCH. THE LAST PRESENTATION THAT I DID WAS DUE PROCESS AND THAT IS IMPORTANT. THERE'S A MECHANISM AND A METHOD OF ALLEVIATING THE ISSUE. WHEN YOU DO HAVE CIRCUMSTANCES DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A VACANT PROPERTY OR WHATEVER, BUT I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT TO INFORM THE CITY SO THAT WE CAN GET THE APPROPRIATE COUNCIL INVOLVED ON [INAUDIBLE] ALL THE TIME. WELL THEN PROBABLY A DISCUSSION AS TO WHERE IS IT IN THIS PROCESS. THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES THAT MAY AFFECT WHY THIS PROPERTY IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED AS YOU'VE SEEN FIT AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME. IT COULD BE A HISTORICAL PROPERTY. IT COULD BE A DECEASED PROPERTY OWNER. IT COULD BE THAT WE JUST CAN'T FIND THE PERSON BECAUSE OF WE SOMETHING LIKE THAT. EVERYBODY HAS A PROPERTY THAT I'M SURE THEY CAN THINK OF RIGHT NOW THAT THEY WOULD LIKE ADDRESSED. WE HAVE AN OPEN DOOR POLICY, AND I KNOW THAT THE DEPARTMENT WORKS VERY HARD TO ADDRESS AS MANY PROPERTIES IN AS APPROPRIATE MANNER AS POSSIBLE. >> THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, ALEX. YES. >> HOW DO YOU CURRENTLY AND HOW WOULD YOU, IF YOU WERE INTERIM CITY ATTORNEY, HANDLE DIFFERENCE OF OPINION OR INTERPRETATION WITH CITY ATTORNEYS AND WITH CITY COUNCIL? >> WITH CITY ATTORNEYS IN MY OFFICE OR OUTSIDE CIVIL ATTORNEYS. >> IN YOUR OFFICE. >> IF YOU ARE GOING TO ADDRESS A SITUATION, YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED WITH THE INFORMATION TO BACK WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME. I'M GOING TO COME WITH THE INFORMATION TO BACK WHAT I'M SAYING. IF I CANNOT DO THAT AT THE TIME, THEN I WILL TELL YOU I NEED TO RESEARCH IT, I NEED TO LOOK INTO IT, AND I WILL GET BACK TO YOU ON IT. I EXPECT THE SAME OF EVERYONE IN MY DEPARTMENT. IT IS DIFFICULT TO HAVE INFORMATION GO OUT THERE THAT EITHER HAS BEEN FULLY VETTED AND THEN TO HAVE TO RECALL THAT BACK. I'D RATHER BE PREPARED RIGHT AT THE OUTSET. I'M NOT SAYING THAT MISTAKES DON'T HAPPEN. I'M NOT SAYING THAT NO ONE WILL EVER BE WRONG. BUT AT LEAST I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO COME TO THIS CONCLUSION AND SHOW IT TO ME AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT. I AM NOT AT THE END OF THE ROAD. STAFF MEETINGS ARE IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHERE PEOPLE'S THOUGHTS ARE COMING FROM OR WHAT INFORMATION THEY HAVE TO BRING TO THE TABLE. WE CAN BE A UNIFIED FRONT BASED ON GOOD KNOWLEDGE. >> IS THAT HAPPENING NOW? >> IN SOME RESPECTS, YES. >> VERY GOOD. ALEX. >> SORRY, I'VE GOT TWO MORE QUESTIONS. >> [INAUDIBLE] LOVE TO INTERRUPT [INAUDIBLE] INSIDE. >> SOMETIMES MATTERS COME UP OUTSIDE OF THE NORMAL BUSINESS WEEK OR AFTER HOURS. WHAT WILL BE YOUR AVAILABILITY TO CITY COUNCIL OR CITY MANAGER SHOULD ISSUES ARISE AND WHAT WOULD BE RESPONSE TIME TO A CITY OFFICIALS? HOW MUCH TIME WOULD YOU PERSONALLY HAVE TO DEVOTE TO THE CITY? >> VERY GOOD QUESTIONS. I'M TRYING TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION NOT KNOWING HOW MUCH OF THAT TIME IS USED ELSEWHERE. THE CITY ATTORNEY NOW DOESN'T NECESSARILY LET US KNOW WHEN COUNCIL HAS ASKED OR NEEDED HIS ATTENTION. THERE ARE CERTAIN SITUATIONS CLEARLY EMERGENCY SITUATIONS WHERE YOU JUST NEED TO BE 24/7. YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS THOSE HURRICANE SEASON. YOU HAVE TO BE ON BOARD AND YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO BE AVAILABLE, AND YOU JUST WORK AROUND THOSE TIMES. WILL I APPRECIATE A PHONE CALL AT 11 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT? PROBABLY NOT. UNLESS IT'S AN EMERGENCY. I ENDEAVORED TO BE RESPECTFUL OF YOUR TIME, AND I THINK THAT COUNCIL AND ANY OF THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS NEED TO BE RESPECTFUL OF LEGALS TIME AS WELL. >> THEN THE LAST QUESTION IS, HOW DO YOU APPROACH BALANCING THE CITY'S INTERESTS WITH THE RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS AND PRIVATE ENTITIES? >> I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S MY DECISION TO MAKE, HONESTLY. CITY COUNCIL IS A LEGISLATIVE BODY OF THE CITY AND IT IS A CITY MANAGER FOR A REASON. [00:55:05] IF I'M GIVEN A TASK ON ISSUE TO LOOK INTO RESEARCH, THAT'S WHAT I'LL DO. I WILL BRING TO THE TABLE THE PROS AND THE CONS TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. ULTIMATELY, YOU ARE THE POLICYMAKERS AS WELL, ALONG WITH DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS HR, AND YOU HAVE WONDERFUL STAFF PEOPLE HERE IN ALL THE DEPARTMENTS. THE BUCK HAS TO STOP WITH YOU GUYS. I'M JUST GOING TO TRY AND BRING YOU THE BEST INFORMATION. >> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? YES. DAVID, AND THEN BURR. >> BURR YOU CAN GO FIRST [INAUDIBLE] >> OFTEN, YOUR ANALYSIS, ADVICE, AND ACTION IS DRIVEN BY THE POTENTIAL FOR A LAWSUIT. WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH TO THE RISK ANALYSIS REGARDING AN UNCLEAR LEGAL PRECEDENT WHERE ISSUES FALL ON BOTH SIDES. I MEAN, OUTCOMES FALL ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE VERSUS THE DESIRED ACTION OR OUTCOME. >> I FEEL LIKE I STOUT TO KEEP FALLING BACK ON PREPARATION AND JUST RESEARCH AND JUST WORKING WHAT THE ISSUES ARE. IT'S A DIFFICULT QUESTION TO ANSWER UNLESS YOU CAN PROVIDE SOME SPECIFICITY. THERE'S TWO SIDES EVERY COIN AND YOU CAN GO INTO A SITUATION THINKING THAT YOU HAVE THE RIGHT OF IT. THEN ANOTHER TURN WILL BE, WELL DA DA DA, AND EVEN THOUGH YOU THINK YOU HAVE THE RIGHT OF IT, ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE JUDGE RULES AGAINST YOU. I THINK I WOULD NEED MORE SPECIFIC. BUT AGAIN, I JUST HAVE TO BE AS WELL PREPARED AS POSSIBLE AND THEN BRING EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE. IF IT NEEDS TO COME TO COUNCIL BECAUSE THERE'S A POSSIBLE LITIGIOUS SITUATION THAT THE CITY MAY BE INVOLVED IN, THEN WE DO THAT. WE FOLLOW ALL THE PROTOCOLS NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY IS PROTECTED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. >> THANKS. >> DAVID. >> ONE OF THE THINGS YOU NOTED WAS A COMPLETE REVIEW OF EVERY CHAPTER? >> YES. >> YOU STATED EARLIER THAT WE ARE THE POLICY MAKING BODY, HOWEVER WE WERE [INAUDIBLE]. >> LEGISLATIVE BODY. >> SORRY, LEGISLATIVE BODY. BUT WE RELY UPON STAFF, SINCE YOU'RE IN THE TRENCHES, EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR 15 YEARS OF HELPING US MAKE SURE THAT WE DO PROTECT THE CITY? >> YES. >> THAT WE HAVE CONTROLS AND PROCESSES IN PLACE THAT PROVIDE THAT PROTECTION. HOW DO YOU BRING FORWARD RECOMMENDATIONS AS YOU FIND THEM APPROPRIATELY AND HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHICH ONES TO BRING FORWARD TO A LEGISLATIVE BODY? HOW DO YOU DO THAT OPENLY AND COMMUNICATE. SOMETIMES I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO ASK YOU. I LOOKED TO ALL AS EXPERTS TO ADVISE US AS HOW TO BEST HAVE THOSE CONTROLS AND PROCESSES IN PLACE. >> THANK YOU. >> YOU SORRY, FOLLOW ME? >> I THINK SO. I'M GOING TO SAY THAT THERE ARE TWO WAYS THAT COUNCIL ADDRESSES ISSUES. THEY CAN EITHER BE PROACTIVE OR THEY CAN BE REACTIVE. WHEN YOU'RE BEING PROACTIVE, THE REVIEW OF EVERY SINGLE CO-CHAPTER WAS A PROACTIVE MEASURE TO UPDATE THE CODE BECAUSE IT HADN'T BEEN UPDATED FOR YEARS. THAT INVOLVED DISCUSSIONS AND MEETINGS WITH THE CITY DEPARTMENT THAT HAD THE REGULATION IN THAT CHAPTER. PLUMBING, ELECTRIC BUILDING. YOU MEET WITH THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND YOU GO THROUGH, WHAT NEEDS TO BE UPDATED HERE, ETC. THINGS THAT WERE MORE NEBULOUS WE HAVE A WHARF SECTION, WE HAVE INFILL. THEN YOU TRY AND FIND THE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL THAT CAN HELP ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS AS WELL. THERE WERE JUST SOME THINGS THAT JUST WERE NOT IN MY WHEELHOUSE, THAT YOU HAVE TO GET THE INFORMATION FROM THE OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS. IT'S IN THE CITY CODE, SO YOU'RE THINKING THAT SOMEBODY IN THE CITY IS GOING TO BE ENFORCING IT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. BUT THAT WAS A PROACTIVE EFFORT TO UPDATE THE CODE CHAPTERS AT THAT TIME. THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME STATUTORY AND SOME AUTOMATIC UPDATES. THE BUILDING CODES, THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODES, THEY'RE UPDATED EVERY SEVERAL YEARS. JOE, OR TIM, OR TRESA, OR WHOEVER WILL BE OVER THAT DEPARTMENT WILL COME AND SAY, HEY, [01:00:02] WE NEED UPDATES BECAUSE OF THIS SITUATION, OR IT'S TIME TO ADOPT THE INTERNATIONAL CODES AND THE NEW CODES. THAT'S JUST A TIMELY TYPE OF UPDATE THAT WOULD NATURALLY OCCUR. THE REACTIVE IS WHEN SITUATIONS SUCH AS THE GOLF CART SITUATION, THAT WAS MORE REACTIVE TO ME. THAT WAS MORE REACTIVE TYPE OF, WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS ORDINANCE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE DYING BECAUSE OF THAT SAFETY ISSUE THERE. THEN YOU WORK AND YOU DO YOUR RESEARCH AND YOU GET THE INFORMATION AS TO HOW TO MAKE THE BEST ORDINANCE TO FIT THE NEED, AND YOU BRING IT TO THE ATTENTION. BUT OPEN DOOR POLICY LEGAL. HEY I HAVE A SITUATION ON THIS, HOW CAN I BRING IT FORTH OR HAVE IT ADDRESSED OR LOOKED INTO? FEEL FREE. >> MARIE AND THEN BURROW. >> YOU CAN DO BOTH FIRST. >> IN MY OPINION, LINES HAVE BEEN BLURRED IN THE PAST AND WHETHER THE CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS TO THE CITY MANAGER OR TO THE COUNCIL. WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO DISTINGUISH THAT CHAIN OF COMMAND OF BACKING THE COUNCIL FIRST? >> I'M SORRY. DID YOU SAY THE CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS TO THE CITY MANAGER? >> IN MY OPINION, LINES HAVE BEEN BLURRED IN THE PAST ON WHETHER THE CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS TO THE CITY MANAGER OR TO THE COUNCIL. WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO DISTINGUISH THAT CHAIN OF COMMAND OF BACKING THE COUNCIL FIRST? >> WELL, THAT'S A LOADED QUESTION HOW YOU SAID IT, BUT BACK IN THE CITY COUNCIL FIRST. YOU WANT THAT ANSWER. THIS IS A CITY COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER, FORM OF GOVERNMENT. THEY JUST HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER. AS AN INTERIM CITY ATTORNEY, IT'S NOT THAT I'M WORKING FOR THE CITY MANAGERS OR WORKING SOLELY FOR THE CITY COUNCIL. I'M WORKING FOR THE CITY. THAT MEANS GIVING YOU THE INFORMATION AS I CAN FIND IT, AS I'VE RESEARCHED IT, AS MY STAFF HAS DONE IT SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS, WORKING WITH CITY MANAGEMENT. THAT'S THIS FORM OF GOVERNMENT. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR CITY COUNCIL TO ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT. YOU'RE THE LEGISLATIVE BODY, POLICYMAKERS, BUT THE CITY MANAGERS, THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE CITY AND SO HE'S GOING TO DO OR SHE IS GOING TO DO THEIR BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY RUNS. IT'S GOT TO BE YOU GOT TO WORK TOGETHER. IT CAN'T BE PULLING AWAY. IF IT'S ULTIMATELY FOR THE CITY, THEN IT'S GOT TO BE WORKING TOGETHER. THE CITY ATTORNEY IS JUST GOING TO BE ABLE TO BRING THE INFORMATION TO YOU SO THAT AGAIN, WE PROTECT THE CITY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. CITY COUNCIL, IF THERE ARE THE SITUATIONS WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL CITY COUNCIL PERSON NEEDS PROTECTION. THAT'S PART OF THE CITY ATTORNEY'S POSITION AS WELL. >> MARIE. >> ARE YOU FINISHED? WHAT WOULD BE THE FIRST THING THAT YOU WOULD CHANGE AS INTERIM CITY ATTORNEY? >> WELL, IF I MAY, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS IN THE DEPARTMENT, BUT I THINK WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS ASK CITY COUNCIL, WHAT WOULD THEY LIKE TO SEE IN THE FIRST 3-6 MONTHS. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE THAT INTERIM CITY ATTORNEY TO DO? WHAT ARE THE GOALS THAT YOU HAVE OF THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT? I THINK I'VE HEARD SOME ALREADY, INCREASING THE CLARITY, INCREASING CONSISTENCY. >> CONSISTENCY. BUT ARE THERE ANY SPECIFICS OF WHAT YOU WOULD WANT THE DEPARTMENT TO DO FOR THE CITY OR CITY COUNCIL? I THINK I'LL GO OFF OF THAT. >> SO WHAT DO YOU THINK THE WEAKNESSES ARE CURRENTLY? >> THE WEAKNESSES ARE ADDRESSING CONSISTENT KNOWLEDGE. ADDRESSING THE BALANCE IN THE DEPARTMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO WORK ON THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO BE ASSURED THAT, WHEN ANY OF THE STAFF GO OUT, THAT THEY ARE FULLY PREPARED. AND SO THAT MEANS, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT THEY'VE DONE THE RESEARCH THAT'S NEEDED, THAT THEY'VE COMMUNICATED TO THE DEPARTMENT AS TO WHAT IS IT THAT IS BEING REQUESTED. IT'S DIFFICULT TO REALLY ANSWER THAT QUESTION BECAUSE I'VE BEEN HERE 15 YEARS, [01:05:01] I'VE BEEN UNDER THREE DIFFERENT CITY ATTORNEYS, AT LEAST SEVEN DIFFERENT CITY COUNCILS. I WILL SAY ONE OF MY STRENGTHS ARE IS THAT I'M ADAPTABLE. SO I THINK TO BUILD ADAPTABILITY IN ACCOUNTABILITY, I WOULD LIKE TO BUILD IN HERE IS WHAT I'LL BE WORKING ON. THANK YOU. >> VERY GOOD. DON, I'M GOING TO KIND OF WRAP UP OUR INTERVIEWS WITH ONE LAST QUESTION, AND THIS IS [OVERLAPPING]. >> IF YOU HAVE THE LAST ONE, CAN I ASK ONE? >> YES, SIR, GO RIGHT AHEAD. >> SORRY, SO 15 YEARS AGO, WHY GALVESTON? >> MY BROTHER MOVED TO TEXAS FIRST, AND THEN MY SISTER AND THEN MYSELF BUT THEN WE JUST MOVED HERE. MY FAMILY LIVES IN THE CLEAR LAKE AREA AS WELL AS MY DAD. EVERYONE IS IN THE CLEAR LAKE AREA, WHICH IS WHY I DON'T LIVE IN GALVESTON. BUT I WILL TELL YOU A FUNNY STORY. SUSIE GREEN WAS THE CITY ATTORNEY THEN. ONCE I GOT RECIPROCITY, WHICH MEANS THAT YOU CAN GET YOUR TEXAS LICENSE HERE FROM MARYLAND, I SENT OUT AN APPLICATION, AND BASED ON MY HOUSING CODE ENFORCEMENT PRACTICE AND WORK THERE, I HAD ONE INTERVIEW WITH SUSIE, AND SHE HIRED ME THAT SAME DAY. LITERALLY SHE SAID, "HEY, YOU WANT TO MEET SOME OF THE STAFF PEOPLE?" I AM LIKE, SURE. AND THEN WENT BACK TO HER OFFICE, SO WHEN CAN YOU START? I'M LIKE, EXCUSE ME, WHAT? I REALLY ENJOYED SUSIE. AND THAT WAS IT. >> YES, MA'AM. >> BEING THAT YOU'RE FROM BALTIMORE AREA. >> I WAS IN BALTIMORE BEFORE HERE. >> I KNOW. BUT WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO GET CRABS? >> OH, MY GOSH. YOU GUYS WANT ME TO SAY THINGS LIKE PHILLIPS, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. YOU HAVE TO KNOW, TO KNOW. IT'S JUST [OVERLAPPING] >> I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO SAY DINARDOS, BUT I GREW UP IN PHILADELPHIA SO [OVERLAPPING] >> YOU HAVE TO KNOW TO KNOW. >> ANYWAY, KENNY. >> DONNA, THANK YOU. THINKING BACK ON MY QUESTION, I WAS THINKING OF YOUR ANSWERS YOU'VE ANSWERED ALREADY. MY QUESTION I WAS GOING TO ASK. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE WILL MAKE A DECISION THIS AFTERNOON, AND HOWEVER THAT WORKS OUT, GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR 16 YEARS HERE. YOU'VE DONE WONDERFUL. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I DO ENJOY WORKING FOR THE CITY. I'VE BEEN HERE THIS LONG. I DO ENJOY TRULY WORKING FOR THE CITY. SO THANK YOU, COUNSEL. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. >> THANK YOU. >> VERY GOOD. JANELLE, LET'S MOVE TO OUR SECOND CANDIDATE, PLEASE. >> OUR SECOND CANDIDATE IS TREVOR FANNING. PUT THIS UNDER TAB ONE AND HIS RESUME IS AT THE BACK. >> HIS RESUME PART IS IN TAB ONE? >> YES, AND IT'S AFTER THE QUESTIONS. >> WELL, GOOD MORNING, TREVOR. GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION ON THIS. >> QUICK REMARK? >> YES, SIR. WE'LL LET YOU MAKE SOME INTRODUCTORY REMARKS AND THEN WE'LL GO TO OTHER QUESTIONS THAT YOU WILL ANSWER. >> THANK YOU. I WAS BORN ON THIS ISLAND. MY FAMILY LIVED IN LA MARQUE WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY MOVED TO COLORADO WHEN I WAS 11. SO I WENT TO JUNIOR HIGH IN HIGH SCHOOL IN COLORADO, BUT I STILL HAVE A LOT OF FAMILY ON THE ISLAND. MY DAD WAS A SHIP CAPTAIN FOR LYKES LINES OUT OF GALVESTON FOR DECADES. AND AS BOYS LOOK UP TO THEIR FATHERS, I ALWAYS WANTED TO GO TO A&M GALVESTON LIKE HE DID. HE WAS THE SECOND CLASS THROUGH. BUT LIVING IN COLORADO I KNEW THAT WE WOULDN'T BE PAYING OUT OF STATE TUITION. SO I JOINED THE NAVY AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, AND I PUT MY AUNT'S HOUSE IN GALVESTON AS MY HOME OF RECORD SO THAT WHEN I GOT OUT, I DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY OUT OF STATE TUITION. SO ULTIMATELY AFTER THE NAVY, IN THE NAVY, I WENT TO THE PERSIAN GULF A COUPLE OF TIMES. DID TWO WEST PACK DEPLOYMENTS. THIS IS IN THE MID-TO-LATE 90S. SO BEFORE 9/11, AND AFTER THAT, IT PAID FOR MY COLLEGE. I APPLIED FOR COLLEGE. I ONLY APPLIED TO A&M GALVESTON AND I DID THAT FROM THE PERSIAN GULF BY MAIL. AND THAT'S WHERE I ENDED UP GOING. I LOVE THIS ISLAND, AND I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO COME BACK HERE. I THINK THAT MY DEVOTION AND LOVE FOR THE ISLAND GUIDES A LOT OF MY DECISIONS. [01:10:02] AFTER THAT, I WENT TO LAW SCHOOL IN RHODE ISLAND, AND I DID THAT BECAUSE THEY OFFERED ME A SCHOLARSHIP. [OVERLAPPING] >> THEY HAVE GOOD SEAFOOD TOO. [LAUGHTER] >> THEY DO. THE BEACHES ARE LONG. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE. THEN AFTER THAT, I WENT TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HERE IN GALVESTON. THERE I STARTED IN MISDEMEANORS. I PROMOTED TO THE JUVENILE SECTION, AND THEN AFTER THAT PROMOTED TO FELONY, I DID A LOT OF JURY TRIALS. I GOT TO KNOW A LOT OF JUDGES AND PROSECUTORS AND DEFENSE ATTORNEYS ON THE ISLAND. AFTER THAT, MY BROTHER AND I STARTED OUR OWN PRACTICE. I DID NOT ULTIMATELY ENJOY CRIMINAL DEFENSE WORK. BUT I DID FIND SEVERAL CASES VERY MEANINGFUL THAT I STILL THINK ABOUT TODAY, AND I CAME TO THE CITY IN 2012 AND WORKED HERE FOR SEVEN YEARS. STARTING OFF DOING MUNICIPAL COURT PROSECUTION, CIVIL SERVICE, POLICE LEGAL ADVISOR, ALL THOSE DUTIES, AND SLOWLY TAKING ON WAR DUTIES WHILE I WAS HERE. AND THEN I TOOK A JOB FOR BAYTOWN WHERE I STARTED DOING MOSTLY THE SAME THINGS. THEY HAVE CIVIL SERVICE AND I WAS DOING THE MUNICIPAL COURT PROSECUTION. AND THAT WAS JUST BEFORE THE COVID PANDEMIC. THEY DO A LOT OF JURY TRIALS THERE. I DID 10 JURY TRIALS THERE BEFORE, THE PANDEMIC STARTED. BUT WHILE THERE, I PROMOTED TO THE NUMBER 2, BECAUSE THE LONG SERVING CITY ATTORNEY RETIRED. SO I WAS THE SENIOR ASSISTANT THERE, AND THEN I BECAME THE INTERIM WHERE I SERVED FOR SIX MONTHS. ULTIMATELY, THEY CHOSE ANOTHER CANDIDATE. BUT DURING THOSE SIX MONTHS, MY MOM DIED HERE IN GALVESTON, AND I SAW DON AT THE FUNERAL AND THEY HAD A SPOT OPENING UP AND I DECIDED TO COME BACK TO GALVESTON. MOSTLY, I ALSO WENT THERE BECAUSE I WANTED TO PASS MY DA'S OFFICE RETIREMENT AND THEY ARE AT TMRS CITY, AND I GOT THAT DONE, AND THEN I GOT BACK TO GALVESTON. I APPRECIATE YOU-ALL'S TIME, AND I THINK THAT I HAVE THE EXPERIENCE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LET'S OPEN UP, DAVID. >> I'VE GOT A COUPLE TO START WITH. SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ULTIMATELY THE CITY ATTORNEY POSITION, NOT JUST THE INTERIM, IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> THEN I'D LIKE TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT YOUR TIME AT BAYTOWN AND I NEED TO EXPLAIN. ONE OF THE REASONS BAY CAME BACK WAS MEETING AT YOUR MOM'S FUNERAL, BUT WHAT DID YOU LEARN AT BAYTOWN THAT IS EITHER DIFFERENT OR BEST PRACTICES OR HOW DOES YOUR EXPERIENCE THERE SHAPE WHAT YOU DO HERE? >> IT GIVES ME A LOT OF PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT ISSUES TEND TO BE UNIVERSAL AND WHAT ISSUES CAN BE VERY UNIQUE TO A CERTAIN LOCATION. A LOT OF THEIR FINANCE STRUCTURE IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. THEY'RE NOT A TOURIST DESTINATION FOR STARTERS, PLUS THEY HAVE ALL THE PLANTS AROUND THEM. THEY HAVE THESE IDAS, DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS THAT WHERE BASICALLY THE PLANT PAYS THE CITY NOT TO ANNEX THEM. THEY GOT OVER HALF THE INCOME OF THAT TOWN IS FROM THEM. SO THEY HAD A LOT OF MONEY THAT WASN'T TAX MONEY, AND THEY WOULD USE IT TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS TO TRY TO GENERATE INTEREST IN THE CITY. >> INTERESTING. THANK YOU. >> VERY GOOD. YOU HAD ANY MORE? YOU SAID YOU HAD A COUPLE OF THEM. >> NO, THOSE ARE MY TWO RIGHT NOW. RESERVE THE RIGHT TO COME BACK. >> VERY GOOD. >> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, BOB? >> HOW DO YOU BALANCE PROTECTING THE WELFARE OF THE RESIDENTS WITH UNLEGAL FRAMEWORK WHEN ADVISING COUNSEL ON THE COURT. >> LEGAL FRAMEWORK? >> WELL, YOUR JOB REQUIRES ANALYSIS OF A LOT OF LEGAL PRECEDENT TO GUIDE YOUR ACTIONS. IF IT'S UNCLEAR, I GUESS, HOW DOES YOUR RISK ANALYSIS GO WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO PROTECT THE WELFARE? >> IT'S AS YOU SAID. IT'S A BALANCING OF INTEREST. THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK THAT YOU DO HAVE, WHATEVER'S MISSING IS MISSING. AND THEN YOU PROVIDE THE VARIOUS PATHS, THE PROS AND CONS OF THOSE PATHS FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE. I'M VERY COGNIZANT OF WHERE THE JOB HAS A VERY BROAD RANGE OF ISSUES LEGALLY THAT COME UP, AND SOME HAVE A LOT OF FRAMEWORK AND SOME DO NOT. WHERE THOSE HOLES ARE THAT DO NOT, WHAT YOU CAN SAY IS, THIS PATH, [01:15:02] I SEE THIS ISSUE, THIS PATH, I SEE THIS ISSUES. THIS PATH IS NOT AN OPTION BECAUSE OF THIS LAW. THAT'S WHERE THE JOB ENDS. PAST THAT. IF WE CAN PROVIDE MORE FRAMEWORK ON A POLICY OR ORDINANCE LEVEL. BUT IF IT'S A BLANK SPACE IN THE STATE LAW, FEDERAL LAW, THE BEST YOU CAN DO IS EXPLAIN WHAT YOU SEE LEGALLY AS THE VARIOUS PROS AND CONS OF THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS, AND THAT'S WHERE THE LEGAL JOB STOPS AND THE ELSE JOB BEGINS. >> YEAH. >> TREVOR, I HAVE A QUESTION. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PERSONALLY I LIKED ABOUT DON WHEN HE IS SERVING AS OUR CITY ATTORNEY IS DON ALWAYS ERRED ON THE SIDE IF IT WAS A DECISION TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION OR OPEN SESSION. HE WAS ALWAYS MOVING OPEN SESSION ON MANY OF THE SUBJECTS. WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHT ON THOSE ITEMS AND HOW WE USE EXECUTIVE SESSION. AND IN YOUR PHILOSOPHY, HOW THAT COMPETES WITH OPEN SESSION. >> I THINK EXECUTIVE SESSION HAS PRETTY CLEAR FRAMEWORK OF WHAT IT'S USED FOR, AND IT SHOULD BE USED FOR THAT AND THAT ALONE. THERE'S PERSONNEL MATTERS. THERE ARE DISCUSSING LEGAL CASES WITH THE CITY, THERE ARE LAND PURCHASES, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONTRACTS, AND IF IT'S OUTSIDE OF THAT, AND IT'S THE GOAL IS ALWAYS TO BE AS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AS POSSIBLE. SO YOU ALWAYS ERR ON THAT SIDE. UNLESS IT'S ONE OF THOSE MATTERS THAT FITS NEATLY IN THE FRAMEWORK, AND THEN YOU DO IT THAT WAY, BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO PROVIDE ENOUGH SPECIFICITY SO THAT THE PUBLIC KNOWS WHAT YOU'RE MEETING ABOUT. >> CORRECT. >> OKAY. MARIE. >> I'M GOING TO GO INTO THE SAME QUESTIONS AS I ASKED DONNA. WHAT WOULD BE THE FIRST THING YOU WOULD DO AS INTERIM, AND WHAT DO YOU THINK IS NOT WORKING IN THE DEPARTMENT NOW? >> ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I WOULD WANT TO DO IS MEET WITH ALL OF YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR CONCERNS ARE. A LOT OF TIMES, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S NOT WORKING IN AN ORGANIZATION, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE PEOPLE WHO USE THAT ORGANIZATION AND FIND OUT WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS NOT WORKING. IT CAN BE HARD ON THE INSIDE TO SAY WHAT IS OR IS NOT WORKING. WHAT WE EXIST FOR IS TO DO THIS, SO THE PEOPLE WHO USE THAT SERVICE, IF THEY SEE SOMETHING IS NOT WORKING, THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO ADDRESS BOTH OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE ORGANIZATION. SO I WOULDN'T SAY I WOULD SAY THIS OR THAT IN PARTICULAR IS NOT WORKING. I WOULD HAVE TO COME TO YOU-ALL FIRST AND SEE WHAT YOU-ALL THINK IS NOT WORKING. >> WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR STRONG POINT IS? >> I BELIEVE MY APPROACH WOULD BE TO BE VERY OPEN WITH EVERYTHING WITH YOU-ALL. TO BE FRANK, I TALK LESS THAN MOST ATTORNEYS WILL EVER MEET. [LAUGHTER] I'D LIKE TO WRITE THINGS DOWN. I'D LIKE TO PROVIDE MY OPINIONS LEGALLY IN WRITING TO ALL. IS REQUIRED BY THE CHARTER ANYWAY, BUT THAT'S MY APPROACH. AND WHEN YOU ASK A QUESTION IN THE MOMENT, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER, I WILL SAY, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER. I WILL GET THAT ANSWER TO YOU. >> I'M FINISHING. LET'S SAY THERE'S A CASE WITH THE DEED OR SOMETHING ALONG THAT LINES, AND YOU SEE THAT WHAT WAS DONE WAS DONE INCORRECTLY. HOW WOULD YOU HANDLE THAT? >> [INAUDIBLE] >> THAT'S THE ONLY WAY. IF THE DEEDS ARE DONE INCORRECTLY, YOU HAVE TO; IF IT'S A RECORDED DEED, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO APPROACH THE OTHER SIDE AND MAKE A DEAL. IF YOU NEED TO RECORD A NEW DEED OR A SUPPLEMENT TO THE EXISTING DEED, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO THE OTHER SIDE FIRST. DAVID? >> YEAH. I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON WHAT YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT, BEING LIKE, BEING OPEN AND FRANK IN COMMUNICATION. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD ASKED PREVIOUSLY WAS, LIKE, IN A PUBLIC MEETING. OFTENTIMES, WE LOOKED TO COUNSEL FOR PROVIDING AN OPINION. THE QUESTION IS, IS THAT IN THAT CASE WHERE WE'RE ASKING FOR YOUR LEGAL OPINION IN A PUBLIC MEETING, WHEN WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE TO RESPOND WITH A WRITTEN OPINION? >> I BELIEVE THAT WOULD ALWAYS BE APPROPRIATE UNLESS IT'S A SMALL MATTER THAT HAS A VERY DIRECT THIS RULE, [01:20:05] YOUR OWN RULE OF DECORUM PROVIDES THIS. IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE ANSWERED IN A MOMENT. IF IT'S AN ISSUE THAT IS COMPLEX, IT NEEDS A WRITTEN ANSWER. >> IF YOU'VE ANSWERED IT VERBALLY IN THE PUBLIC MEETING, YOU FOLLOWED UP WITH A WRITTEN RESPONSE. IS IT HOW DOES THAT WORK? >> I DON'T KNOW. BUT DEPENDS ON HOW IT COMES UP. I WOULD THINK THAT IF IT IS A SMALLER ISSUE THAT COMES UP, JUST A QUESTION OF, DURING THE MEETING, YOU ASK, IS THIS ON TOPIC? THAT QUESTION CAN BE ANSWERED. YOU DON'T NEED YOUR WRITTEN OPINION FOR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. BUT FOR THE MORE COMPLEX MATTERS OR ANYTHING YOU DIRECTLY ASKED ME FOR A WRITTEN OPINION ON, OBVIOUSLY, THAT WOULD BE. >> GOT YOU. BACKUP DOCUMENTATION. >> CORRECT. >> VERY GOOD. BOTH? >> AS WITH DONNA, IN MY OPINION, LINES HAVE BEEN BLURRED IN THE PAST ON WHETHER THE CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS TO THE CITY MANAGER OR THE CITY COUNCIL. WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO DISTINGUISH THAT CHAIN OF COMMAND OF BACKING THE COUNCIL FIRST? >> IN BAYTOWN, THE CITY ATTORNEY DIRECTLY REPORTED TO THE CITY MANAGER. COMING FROM THE MILITARY, I HAVE A STRONG SENSE OF THE CHAIN OF COMMAND. EVERYTHING HAD TO GO THROUGH HIM. I DO THE SAME HERE. ANY OPINION THAT I HAVE FOR ANYONE, I TAKE IT TO DON FIRST. ANYTHING COMING OUT OF OUR OFFICE NEEDS TO SEE HIS EYES BEFORE IT GOES OUT. BUT ONCE YOU ARE DON, YOU REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL. YOU STILL NEED TO KEEP CITY MANAGEMENT INFORMED, BUT YOU ARE THE PRIORITY YOU REPORT TO YOU. >> VERY GOOD. ALEX. >> IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, WHAT IS THE KEY TO MANAGING A GOOD TEAM? WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH TO DELEGATING TASKS? AND WHAT IS YOUR PROCEDURE FOR FOLLOW-UP ON THE DELEGATED TASK AND TIMELY COMPLETION? >> THERE'S A MEETING AS A STAFF TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. THEN THERE'S MAKING SURE YOU ARE HAVING THOSE INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS WITH YOUR STAFF. YOU'RE CHECKING IN ON WHEN I GIVE SOMEONE SOMETHING TO DO, MAKE SURE THAT IT'S IN WRITING. IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT I EXPECT IN WRITING BACK AND CHECKING IN WITH THEM, KNOWING WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT PERSON, GIVING THEM CLEAR EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT I EXPECT FROM THE CHECKING THE PROFITS. NOT A VERY BIG OFFICE, SO A LOT OF THAT CAN BE DONE DIRECTLY BY GOING TO THAT PERSON'S OFFICE AND OR CALLING THEM TO MY OFFICE AND MAKING SURE EVERYTHING ALL THE EXPECTATIONS ARE LAID OUT AND FOLLOWED. >> THEN SOMETIMES MATTERS COME UP OUTSIDE OF NORMAL BUSINESS WEEK OR AFTER HOURS. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR AVAILABILITY TO COUNSEL SHOULD ISSUES ARISE OR THE CITY MANAGER, AND WHAT WOULD YOUR RESPONSE TIME BE TO CITY OFFICIALS AND HOW MUCH TIME WOULD YOU PERSONALLY HAVE TO DEVOTE TO THE CITY? >> I'M VERY REALISTIC ABOUT THE JOB OF CITY ATTORNEY. IT IS A 24/7 JOB. WITH THAT CHAIN OF COMMAND STRUCTURE, I WOULD ANYTIME A CITY ATTORNEY IS NOT GOING TO BE AVAILABLE TO COMMUNICATE TO ALL WHO IS AVAILABLE, NUMBER 2 THAT IS IN CHARGE WHEN THEY ARE NOT AVAILABLE. ALL CAN REACH OUT TO. >> LAST QUESTION. ON THE ISSUE OF OPEN COMMUNICATION, WHAT BEHAVIORS PROMOTE AND WHAT BEHAVIORS HINDER OPEN COMMUNICATION? IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, WHAT ROLE HAVE YOU PLAYED IN FACILITATING COMMUNICATION AND HOW DO YOU AVOID SELECTIVE COMMUNICATION? >> OBVIOUSLY, OPEN COMMUNICATION IS THE EXPECTATION. THAT'S WHAT WOULD BE PROVIDED. ANYTIME A COUNCIL MEMBER ASKED YOU FOR A LEGAL OPINION, THAT OPINION WOULD BE PROVIDED TO THE ENTIRE COUNSEL. WHEN IT COMES TO COMMUNICATION DOWNSTREAM, THE SAME EXPECTATIONS. ANYTHING COMING OUT OF OUR OFFICE, THE CITY ATTORNEY NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT IT.THAT'S SOMETHING IMPORTANT, YOU ALL NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT AS A WHOLE, AS A BODY. IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO TELL ANY ONE OF YOU ALL SOMETHING, IT HAS TO GO TO ALL OF YOU. >> VERY GOOD, DAVID. [01:25:01] >> IN YOUR ROLE OF PROTECTING THE CITY AND REDUCING RISKS TO THE CITY, WE THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY. THROUGH EITHER REVIEWS OR CHANGES OR RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO ORDINANCES, ET CETERA, OR THROUGH CASEWORK. HOW DO YOU NOT KNOWING WHAT QUESTIONS I NEED TO ASK YOU IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE CITY? YOU'RE LEAVING IT EVERY SINGLE DAY. HOW CAN COUNSEL RELY UPON THE CITY ATTORNEY? DO YOU HELP CONTINUOUSLY TRY TO APPROVE PROCESSES OR PROCEDURES OR ORDINANCES THAT WOULD PROVIDE THAT ADDITIONAL LEVEL AND MAKE THE CITY MORE THE CITY BETTER? >> THE QUESTION IS HOW YOU CAN RELY ON THE CITY ATTORNEY TO BE DOING. >> TO ADVISE US ON HOW TO DO THAT. BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT QUESTIONS NECESSARILY ASK. >> I THINK THAT WOULD BE SUCH A BROAD RANGE OF ISSUES THAT [LAUGHTER]. THERE'S WHAT YOUR CONCERNS ARE COMMUNICATED TO ME AND WHAT MY CONCERNS ARE COMMUNICATED TO ALL OF YOU, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE YOUR CONCERNS. ANY ONE OF YOU THAT BRINGS A CONCERN TO LEGAL, ALL OF YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT IT.WITH THE MANY MINDS COMES IT WOULD BE VERY HARD FOR ANY ONE PERSON TO LOOK AT THE RISK EXPOSURE OF EVERYTHING THE CITY DOES AND BOIL THAT DOWN. >> FOLLOW-UP. I LIKE WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE AND MAKING SURE THAT THOSE ARE BROUGHT FORWARD AS WELL, BECAUSE I THINK OFTENTIMES IT'S ONE THING FOR US TO COME TO YOU AND ASK YOU A QUESTION, BUT IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL, I THINK, SINCE YOU'RE IN THERE DAY IN AND DAY OUT ON THE LEGAL SIDE TO BE ABLE TO COME TO US AND PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA TO SAY, HEY, LISTEN, JUST DID A CASE REVIEW ON THIS, OR WE JUST HAD THIS ISSUE COME FORWARD? I THINK THAT MAYBE WE OUGHT TO DISCUSS POSSIBILITIES TO THIS PARTICULAR CHANGE. BASED UPON WHAT WE JUST WENT THROUGH. THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR, IS IF IN WORKING TOGETHER, I DON'T WANT IT TO BE JUST I'M SITTING DOWN IN FRONT OF YOU AND TELLING YOU WHAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT. I'D LIKE IT TO BE THE OTHER WAYS AROUND AS WELL. >> UNDERSTOOD. TRAVER, WHAT ARE SOME POSSIBLE EXAMPLES OF PRO ACTIVITY THAT YOU SERVED IN BAYTOWN? MAYBE IN SUPPORT OR FOLLOW-UP WITH WHAT DAVID JUST ASKED. WERE THERE SOME PROACTIVE THINGS THAT YOU BROUGHT TO THE CITY MANAGER OR PROACTIVE THINGS THAT YOU BROUGHT TO I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE CALLED COMMISSIONERS OR COUNSELORS, BUT DO YOU HAVE ANY EXAMPLE OF THINGS THAT YOU PROACTIVELY BROUGHT TO THEM TO CONSIDER NOT REACTIVELY, BUT PROACTIVELY? >> YES. WELL, IT'S MANY PROBLEMS COME AT YOU, AND THEN ALL YOU CAN DO IS REACT BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T FORESEE THEM. BUT I THINK THIS WOULD BE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A BIT OF BOTH. IN BAYTOWN, WE WERE SUED UNDER THE CLEAN WATER ACT BY A PRIVATE ENTITY THAT SUES A LOT OF PEOPLE UNDER THE CLEAN WATER ACT. BAYTOWN HAS A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS THAT GALVESTON HAS WITH FLOODING AND HEAVY RAIN, IT'S LOW-LYING LAND. DRAINAGE IS NOT THAT FAST. DURING THESE EVENTS, A LOT OF TIMES THE SUERS WOULD OVERFLOW. A PRIVATE ENTITY CAN SUE UNDER THE CLEAN WATER ACT, A MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OR A COUNTY. WHEN THEY BELIEVE THERE'S BEEN TOO MANY OF THESE AND THEY'RE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTING A CERTAIN SEGMENT OF THE CITY INSTEAD OF ANOTHER, THEY WERE SUING US. I RESEARCHED THIS. I WENT THROUGH I LOOKED UP THIS ORGANIZATION AND WENT BACK THROUGH THE OTHER ENTITIES THAT THEY'D SUED, AND THE DIFFERENT THINGS THEY DID, WHAT WORKED, WHAT DIDN'T. ONE OF THE BEST APPROACHES, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS VERY COUNTERINTUITIVE, WAS THAT UNDER THE ACT, IF THE GOVERNMENT STEPS IN AND SUES YOU, THEN THE PRIVATE ENTITY IS NO LONGER IN CHARGE OF THE LITIGATION. THEY CAN REMAIN A PARTY, BUT THEY CAN NO LONGER CALL THE SHOTS. THEY CAN NO LONGER CLAIM WHAT IS OR IS NOT RELIEF IN THE CASE. WE ACTUALLY HAD TO APPROACH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND ASK THEM TO SUE US, WHICH WAS THE MOST COUNTERINTUITIVE THING FOR A CITY ATTORNEY TO DO. IT TOOK A LOT OF TALKING WITH THE COUNSEL TO SAY, THIS DOESN'T SOUND LIKE MY JOB. THIS SOUNDS LIKE THE OPPOSITE OF MY JOB. BUT IF THEY WERE TO SUE US, WHICH THEY HAVE DONE THIS IN THIS COMMUNITY, WE CAN WORK WITH THEM TO COME TO AN OUTCOME [01:30:01] THAT WOULD BE BETTER THAN WE WOULD GET FROM THIS ENTITY. WE DID THAT, AND IT WORKED. >> IT'S VERY INTERESTING. >> THAT COULD EASILY COME HERE, TOO; THEY'RE WORKING THEIR WAY OUT FROM THE HOUSTON AREAS. BUT I THINK THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS HAVE MULTIPLE SOLUTIONS, BUT ALL YOU CAN DO IS, FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT, EXPLORE THE OPTIONS AND THE RISKS, AND CERTAIN OPTIONS CANNOT BE OPTIONS WHEN THEY CONFLICT WITH FEDERAL LAW OR PUT THE CITY AT TOO MUCH RISK. THANK YOU. >> VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> HAVE YOU AND YOUR BROTHER EVER PRETENDED TO BE EACH OTHER? [LAUGHTER] >> I DID. THE HIGH SCHOOL WE WENT TO AND THE FAIR PLAY WAS ONE A, WHICH HAD FEWER THAN 100 KIDS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL. I SWITCHED CLASSES AND WAS IMMEDIATELY CAUGHT. [LAUGHTER] I'M BACK, AND I STILL HAVE PEOPLE CALL ME TRAVIS ALL THE TIME. I JUST ANSWERED IT. [OVERLAPPING] >> GIVE THE BACKGROUND, YOU HAVE A TWIN BROTHER, JUST IN CASE NO ONE IS IN PUBLIC KNEW. >> OH, I DIDN'T KNOW. >> TREVOR, I WANT TO FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION FOR THE INTERIM. POSITION. SECOND OF ALL, I'M VERY EXCITED PERSONALLY TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THE PERMANENT POSITION, ALSO. I THINK THAT'S FANTASTIC. I WOULD SAY WITH OUR INTERVIEWS HERE, I THINK THE COMMUNITY CAN SEE THAT WE HAVE TWO VERY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES THAT REPRESENT THE CITY OF GALVESTON CURRENTLY IN OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT, AND THAT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR YOU? THANK YOU, TREVOR, VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. >> COUNSEL, WE ARE NOW MOVING TO CLARIFICATION OF CONSENT AND REGULAR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS. I WAS THINKING THAT WE MIGHT GET THROUGH THIS FOR THE SAKE OF THE STAFF THAT'S HERE, AND WE COULD TAKE A BREAK BEFORE WE START THE PROPOSED BUDGET. >> THANK YOU, DONNA, FOR PUTTING. [OVERLAPPING] >> ITEM 5. >> [INAUDIBLE] I'M SORRY. >> CLARIFICATION OF CONSENT AND REGULAR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO ASK QUESTIONS OF STAFF ON CONSENT AND REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS. >> BOB, YOU WANT TO LEAD US OFF ON THOSE? >> LET'S SEE. I GOT A QUESTION ON C, AND THIS IS ABOUT THE QUESTION OVERLAY. >> I SHOULD TURN PHONE [INAUDIBLE]. >> JUST FINE. >> GOOD MORNING, BRIAN. >> HEY. GOOD MORNING. >>HEY, HOW ARE YOU DOING? >> VERY GOOD. LET'S READ THAT ITEM 5A ONE MORE TIME, CHANNEL. [5.A Clarification Of Consent And Regular City Council Agenda Items - This Is An Opportunity For City Council To Ask Questions Of Staff On Consent And Regular Agenda Items (1 Hour)] >> COMPUTER. >> ITEM 5A. CLARIFICATION OF CONSENT AND REGULAR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO ASK QUESTIONS OF STAFF ON CONSENT AND REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS. >> WE'RE STARTING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER 5 BROWN. >> YEAH 8C. I HAVE A QUESTION. THIS IS CONCERNING [INAUDIBLE] KATHERINE. >> MORNING. KATHERINE BORMAN, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICE. >> KATHERINE, YOU'RE NOT RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THIS BECAUSE IT IS COUNTER TO THE LDRS AS THEY RELATE TO THE URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD ZONING AND THOSE QUALIFICATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT. IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT IS IT 5:1? >> YES. THEY VOTED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL. THE VOTE WAS 5:1. >> CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT. I DIDN'T SEE THAT MEETING ABOUT WHAT THE CONTEXT OR WHAT THE CRUX OF THEIR DECISION WAS BASED ON? >> THEIR DECISION WAS BASED ON THE FACT THAT THEY FOUND THAT THE LAND USES WERE APPROPRIATE FOR THE AREA. STAFF HAD HAD A REAL STRUGGLE WITH THAT AS WELL BECAUSE THE AREA IS INDUSTRIAL IN NATURE, HAS A LOT OF WAREHOUSING AND OPEN LAND. THEY FOUND THAT ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT ALLOWED IN THE ZONING DISTRICT, IT IS APPROPRIATE BECAUSE OF THE LAND USES IN THE AREA. >> IN 2015, IT WAS REZONED TO [01:35:02] URBAN RESIDENTIAL OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD. BECAUSE THERE WAS A THOUGHT THAT THAT WOULD BE A POTENTIAL FOR HOUSING. WAS THERE ANY PART OF THAT PARCEL OVER THERE AFTER THE REZONED, IT WAS ACTUALLY TRANSFORMED IN HOUSING? >> IN THAT AREA, THERE IS SOME HOUSING. THERE'S SOME HOUSING THAT WAS DONE BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. THERE'S SOME INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTIAL UNITS, BUT THERE'S BEEN NO WIDE SCALE NEW HOUSING IN AREA. >> BUT SOME OF THAT PROPERTY THAT WAS REZONED ACTUALLY RESULTED IN. >> MAYBE ONE OR TWO PARCELS, BUT THE MOST OF THE HOUSING PREDATES 2015. >> WHAT DOES THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SAY ON THIS TYPE OF USE IN THIS TYPE OF ZONING? >> WELL, THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ISN'T GOING TO BE SPECIFIC ABOUT THIS USE. IT'S GOING TO SAY THINGS THAT INDUSTRIAL USES ARE DESIRABLE. THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO SAY THAT RESIDENTIAL USES ARE DESIRABLE. >> IS THIS AN INDUSTRIAL USE OF PARKING LOT OR? >> IT'S NOT AN INDUSTRIAL USE, IT'S COMMERCIAL USE, BUT THE AREA IS MOSTLY INDUSTRIAL USES. >> I GUESS THE QUESTION FOR US IS, WHAT'S THE HIGHER PRIORITY CRUISE PARKING OR POTENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD ONE DAY? >> WELL, I THINK THE PLANNING COMMISSION THEY CERTAINLY CONSIDERED THE IMPACT TO THE POTENTIAL OF RESIDENTIAL USES, ONE OF THEIR POINTS WAS THAT IT HASN'T HAPPENED YET. IT'S BEEN 10 YEARS SINCE THE MDRS WERE ADOPTED. >> EXCEPT FOR ONE, I GUESS, NEIGHBORHOOD THAT YOU MENTIONED. >> MAYBE ONE OR TWO INDIVIDUAL AND NOT NOT ANY NEW SIGNIFICANT RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT. >> WE HAVE A QUESTION ON THAT. >> BOTH BEING IN ATTENDANCE OF THAT PLANNING COMMISSION, ONLY UTILIZING THE TIMELINE OF THE 2011 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. I CONSIDERATION THAT SPACE THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING HAS BEEN THERE SITTING AS IT HAS FOR OVER 40 YEARS IN THAT ENTIRE AREA. ALL OF THAT WAS CONSIDERED AND IT IS ALSO CONSIDERED THAT NOTHING HAS HAPPENED IN 40 YEARS REGARDLESS OF THE 2011 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. THAT'S ALSO BASICALLY OUT OF DATE AND HAS BEEN CHANGED AS FAR AS USES, ESPECIALLY OF THAT AREA. CONSIDERING THAT IT SAT IDLE FOR 40 OR 50 YEARS, IF THAT'S ANY CONSIDERATION, THAT WAS ALL DISCUSSED AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION. THAT IS A BIG REASON AS TO WHY THE RECOMMENDATION HAS COME FORWARD TO SUPPORT THIS. >> VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER THOUGHTS 10D, SEA WARK PARKING LOT. >> THANK YOU, KATHERINE. >> IF YOU WILL INTRODUCE YOURSELF, SIR. >> MORNING, COUNCIL, ROBERT WIN KEY, DIRECTOR OF INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEER. >> SIR, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ADDING FUNDAMENTALLY ONE BLOCK FACE TO PARKING LOT. MY QUESTION WAS WHAT ARE THE EXTENTS OF THAT ENTIRE SEAWALL PARKING ZONE RIGHT NOW? WE'RE JUST ADDING ONE BLOCK BASE? >> WE'RE JUST ADDING ONE BLOCK. IT'S ACTUALLY THE NORTH SIDE OF A FROM 22ND-21ST STREET, IS ALL IT IS? >> I DON'T HAVE THE OVERALL MEMORY, SO I'D HAVE TO LOOK IT UP IN PERMITS. I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT. >> I WILL TELL YOU THIS HAS PROMPTED SOMETHING WITH ME AND I'VE DISCUSSED IT. WE'VE MET WITH ROB ON IT ALREADY. WE'RE BASICALLY MAKING THIS CHANGE AT THE BEHEST OF ONE RESIDENT. I THINK LOOKING AT THE BLOCK, IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY. BUT I THINK WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IS START DOING THIS IN A DIFFERENT MANNER WHERE THERE HAS TO BE 75% OF THE BLOCK THAT AGREES TO IT BECAUSE WE'RE PUTTING A OF RESTRICTIONS ON THE OTHER RESIDENTS ON THAT BLOCK. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET PARKING PERMITS AND GUEST PASSES AND ALL THOSE TYPE OF THINGS. I KNOW IF I LIVED ON THAT BLOCK, I MAY BE ON THE LOSING SIDE OF IT, BUT I WOULD AT LEAST WANT TO HAVE SOME VOTE IN IT. THIS ONE WAS ALREADY PRETTY FAR ALONG IN THE SYSTEM, SO WE'RE LETTING IT GO, BUT I'VE TOLD ROB NO MORE UNTIL WE HAVE A POLICY DEVELOPED ON THIS AND I THINK 75%, THAT'S WHAT WE USE FOR R0 ZONING CHANGES. WE OUGHT TO HAVE TO HAVE 75% OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS ON THE BLOCK THAT AGREE TO IT. PROPERTY OWNERS. >> JUST A THOUGHT THAT BRIAN THAT POLICY NEEDS TO BE IN PLACE. WE FOLLOWED THAT POLICY IN THE PAST. IN DISTRICT 2, THERE'S BEEN APPLICATIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL AND THEY FOLLOWED THAT 75. >> IT'S JUST IT'S NOT WRITTEN ANYWHERE, CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> WE FOLLOWED THIS POLICY, [01:40:03] BUT WE DON'T HAVE THAT WRITTEN POLICY. I'VE TOLD ROB LET'S GET IT REDUCED INTO WRITE AND GET IT APPROVED BY COUNCIL, GET IT ON THE BOOKS AS A POLICY TO FOLLOW AND WE'LL DO THAT. >> THIS DEFINITELY SORRY, BOB, IF YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND FINISH. >> I JUST HAD ONE MORE QUESTION. THIS IS REALLY AT THE BEST OF ONE RESIDENTIAL. BUT IT'S COSTING $155,000? >> NO, IT'S NOT. THAT'S JUST THE 155,000 YOU SEE THERE. THAT'S JUST THE OVERALL BUDGETED NUMBER THAT WE HAVE FOR TRAFFIC TO GO AHEAD AND DO SIGNS AND OTHER THINGS. THIS IS GOING TO COME OUT. IT'S GOING TO BE A SMALL PORTION. >> THIS NUMBER IS FOR THE WHOLE. >> NO, THAT'S FOR THE ENTIRE TRAFFIC. >> IT'S NOTHING LIKE THAT. >> WE HAVE TO SHOW YOU WHERE THE MONEY'S COMING FROM AND HOW MUCH MONEY'S IN THERE. >> WHAT DOES IT COST OF JUST TO ADD ONE BLOCK FACE? [OVERLAPPING] >> I HAD MISINTERPRETED THAT. >> THE EXPENSE IS NOT PUTTING THE SIGNS UP, THE EXPENSES AND ENFORCING IT. >> CORRECT. >> YEAH, AND SHARING. >> THIS CAME TO ME THROUGH A CITIZEN REQUEST. I THEN WALKED THE BLOCK AND THE BLOCK SURROUNDING IT JUST SEE WHAT THE CONDITIONS ARE. I THINK THIS LIKE YOU POINTED TO, IT IS A LARGER ISSUE? >> YEAH. >> THAT DOES NEED TO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL EITHER JUSTIFICATION OR REQUIREMENTS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, BUT I ALSO THINK IT ALSO BRINGS FORWARD THE OPPORTUNITY FOR AN INVESTIGATION RELATED TO WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE ACROSS THE ENTIRE SEA WALL. MAYBE NOT. I KNOW THAT'S A BIG ASK, BUT YOU SEE WHERE THIS GROWS. BECAUSE THE OTHER THING THAT WE WRESTLE WITH IS A WHAT WE HAVE WE WRESTLE WITH SHORT TERM RENTAL PARKERS JUST TAKING UP RESIDENTIAL ON STREET PARKING. WE DON'T HAVE A WAY TO ENFORCE THAT EITHER. I FELT LIKE AFTER WALKING THIS THAT THIS WAS A VIABLE OPTION. >> I THINK IN THIS INSTANCE, BUT IT DID BRING TO MY MIND THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A POLICY. WE ALSO PROBABLY NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING IN THE POLICY TO SUNSET IT AND LOOK AT IT AGAIN BECAUSE WHEN WE FIRST IMPLEMENTED SEAWALL PARKING, WE PUT A WHOLE BUNCH OF THESE ZONES IN. I THINK A SEAWALL PARKING HAS EVOLVED. WE'VE GOT A BLOCK OUT. IT'S IT'S NOT AN ISSUE. WE PROBABLY NEED TO REVISIT THOSE AND LOOK AT THEM AGAIN. >> TAKE DOWN HALF THE SIGNS. I DON'T KNOW WHY WE HAVE A SIGN OF EACH 20 FEET. >> FOR EVERY TIME I'M LIKE I AGREE WITH YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. SIGNS ARE LIGHT TO ME. BUT BUT THEN AGAIN, EVERY TIME WE MINIMIZE SIGNS, WE GET PEOPLE ASKING FOR THEY WANT SIGNS FOR EVERYTHING. >> I'D JUST LIKE TO COMPLIMENT ROB AND BRIAN AND STAFF THAT THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF CITIZENS COME FORWARD WITH CONCERNS AND REQUESTS THAT IT WORKS THROUGH THE SYSTEM. THANK YOU. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. >> SHARE AND GO AHEAD FIRST. >> I FREQUENT THAT AREA, BUT MY CONCERN IS TO SOME POLICY NEEDS TO BE PLACED BECAUSE THERE ARE CERTAIN CITIZENS WHO CAN SAY, I WANT THIS DONE. I WANT THAT DONE. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY SHORT TERM RENTALS OR WHATEVER IN THE AREA, BUT THAT WILL OPEN. >> I AGREE WITH THAT. >> THAT'S WHY WE NEED POLICY. >> THAT'S WHY WE NEED A POLICY. I AGREE WITH YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. [OVERLAPPING] >> BRIAN AND ROB, WOULD YOU BE SURE TO GET JUST BRING BACK TO COUNCIL? LET'S GET THAT POLICY CHANGED. >> I'VE ALREADY TASKED ROB WITH IT, SO HE'S ON IT. >> JUST FOR EVERYBODY WATCHING OUT THERE, WE DO HAVE PARKING ZONES PARKING WHERE PARKING IS CONTROLLED. THAT MEANS, I GUESS THAT YOU NEED A PERMIT TO PARK THERE. HOW MANY ZONES DO WE ACTUALLY HAVE IN GALVESTON AND WHERE ARE THEY? >> TO MANY. EVERYWHERE. [LAUGHTER] >> YOU SIGNED THE GUN FOR THE MOST PART? YOU'VE GOT RESTRICTIONS FOR TWO HOUR PARKING TWO HOUR FROM THIS HOUR TO THIS HOUR AND THEN DIFFERENT SET OF HOURS. >> DOWNTOWN AND THE EAST 10 SEA WALL. >> YOU HAVE THE SEA WALL PARKING DISTRICT, DOWNTOWN, EAST 10, AND THEN WE'VE GOT THEM AROUND GALVES COLLEGE. WE'VE GOT THEM AROUND THE TMB. THEY'RE PROLIFIC. >> TEN DIFFERENT TYPES OF RESTRICTIVE PARKING. >> EACH ONE OF THESE ZONES HAS DIFFERENT TYPES OF RESTRICTIONS THERE. BUT THERE'S REALLY NOTHING ON THE WEST END. >> NO AT ALL. >> STANDARD NO PARKING ZONES. >> WHICH MAKES NO SENSE BECAUSE YOU COULD HAVE SAY SIX SHORT TERM RENTALS ON A BEACH BLOCK. IT'S ALL PUBLIC PARKING, BUT IT DOESN'T COUNT AS BEACH ACCESS PARKING, YOU STILL HAVE TO HAVE MORE PARKING SPOTS FOR BEACH ACCESS. THAT'S LUDICROUS. >> IT IS IN THE BEACH ACCESS, COUNCIL MEMBER, I'VE HEARD ME GO ON ABOUT THIS WITH THE LAND COMMISSIONER. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THEIR METRIC FOR OFF BEACH PARKING. [01:45:01] THERE'S NO WAY WE COULD PUT THAT MANY CARS ON THAT BEACH ON A GOOD DAY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT. >> THIS HAS COME UP A LOT IN THE SHORT TERM RENTAL COMMITTEE ABOUT PARKING. IT'S ONE OF THE MAJOR ISSUES AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE CURRENT REGULATIONS AND THE CURRENT APPROACH TO IT. THIS IS COMPLEX. >> IT'S A FINE LINE TOO, BECAUSE YOU BURDEN THE RESIDENTS TOO. WE'RE DOING THIS TO TRY TO CONTROL IT. BUT THEN WE HAVE FRIENDS THAT LIVE IN THESE DISTRICTS, AND IT'S A PAIN IN THE BUTT TO GO VISIT THEM AND ACTUALLY, WE DON'T GO THERE BECAUSE THEY ALL GO WHERE THERE'S BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GET A GUEST PASS AND YOU HAVE TO PUT IT ON YOUR CAR AND THESE ARE THE ONES THAT FOLLOW THE RULES. >> WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS FROM A HIGHER LEVEL AS WELL AS THE POLICY ABOUT THEM. THE ZONES. AT SOME POINT IT'S NOT PROBLEM IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY UNTIL WE DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT IT. >> NO. WE'RE HEADING TOWARDS, EVERYBODY BEING IN A PARKING ZONE. >> EVERY SINGLE CAR HAD A STICKER. >> PRETTY MUCH, YEAH. >> MARIE, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION ON THIS PARKING RESIDENTIAL? >> NO. I MADE MY POINT. >> GO AHEAD. >> THAT'S ALL I HAD. I'M SORRY. THAT'S ALL I HAD ON THAT ISSUE. I HAVE ANOTHER AGENDA ITEM. >> THANK YOU. >> SURE. >> THANKS, ROB. >> KEVIN. >> BEACH EROSION AND REMEDIATION CREW PILOT KYLE. GOOD MORNING, KYLE. >> MORNING. >> YOU'LL INTRODUCE YOURSELF. >> I'M CLARK, COASTAL RESOURCES MANAGER. >> HELP ME UNDERSTAND THIS. WHAT THIS PILOT PROGRAM, IS IT LIMITED GEOGRAPHICALLY TO A CERTAIN PART OF THE ISLAND OR DOES IT APPLY ANYWHERE? >> IT APPLIES ISLAND WIDE. IT WOULD BE ANYWHERE ON THE ISLAND. >> YES, SIR. THE SOME OF THE DESCRIPTION OF THE SCOPE OF WORK SEEMS TO MAYBE OVERLAP WITH SOME OF THE BEACH MAINTENANCE WORK THAT THE PARK BOARD DOES. IS THIS COORDINATED WITH THEIR WORK SOMEHOW? >> WE WOULD COORDINATE WITH THEM. THEY HANDLE MOST OF THE MAINTENANCE OFF OF THE PAVEMENT. THE CITY HANDLES MOST OF THE WORK ON THE PAVEMENT. IF THIS PILOT PROGRAM GOES INTO EFFECT, THERE MAY BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD COORDINATE WITH THEM. I THINK THE STUFF. I'VE LOOKED AT THE INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT ABOUT POSSIBLY WORKING WITH THEM ON SOMETHING. THERE MAY BE SOMETHING LIKE THIS TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN IT'S REALLY DRY CONDITIONS, AND THEY'RE OUT THERE DOING WORK ON SOME OF OUR BEACH ACCESSES. WE MAY COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT IF THE INTERLOCAL GETS PASSED, WE COME UP WITH SOME TYPE OF AGREEMENT WITH THAT WHERE THEY CAN GO OUT THERE AND ACTUALLY WHERE WE'RE SENDING CREWS OUT TO THE WEST END TO CLEAN OFF SOME OF THOSE BEACH ACCESSES THAT THEY DO SOMETHING AND WE TRACK THEIR TIME AND WE CAN POSSIBLY REIMBURSE THEM FROM. SOME THINGS LIKE THAT. THIS IS JUST STARTING TO GET SOME THINGS MOVING ON WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING ON SOME OF THESE AREAS THAT ARE NEED ATTENTION THAT WE'RE SENDING PUBLIC WORKS CREW OR WE'RE WORKING ON OR JUST DOING MORE WORK ON THE BEACHES. WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH BEACH NURSEMENT PROJECT. >> I WAS JUST CONCERNED WITH NOT DUPLICATING EFFORT ANYWHERE. THIS PILOT PROGRAM, WHAT IS THE OUTCOME GOING TO BE AT THE END OF THE PILOT PROGRAM, WHAT IS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NOW? >> WE WOULD BE EVALUATED AND MAYBE SOMETHING THAT WE GO TO IDC ANNUALLY AND ASK FOR SOME TYPE OF BUDGET TO MOVE FORWARD WITH JUST SEEING HOW IT WORKS. >> IT'S GOING TO VARY PROBABLY YEAR TO YEAR, DEPENDING ON THE IMPACTS OF TIDES AND STORMS AND WHERE WE HAVE ISSUES. >> THIS IS ABOUT MAINTENANCE, EVEN WHEN WE DON'T HAVE A STORM, LIKE, DRY SAND. >> A LOT OF IT IS GOING TO BE HAILINGS. >> DUNES TEND TO ACCUMULATE PLACES. >> WE EVEN GET A LOT OF, THIS TIME OF YEAR EVEN JUST DRY SAND BLOWING UP IN AREAS OR EVEN HIGH TIDE EVENTS CAN DO A LOT OF IMPACT TO THE DUNES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, ESPECIALLY IF WE HAVEN'T REALLY DONE ANYTHING IN CERTAIN AREAS SINCE HURRICANE IKE AND THEY JUST KEEP GETTING HAMMERED AFTER EVENTS. >> IF THIS PROJECT IS DEEMED SUCCESSFUL, I GUESS, IN SOME WAY, THEN THE SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION WOULD BE TO FUND IT WITH IDC. >> THIS IS FUN WITH IDC NET. >> MY QUESTION WAS, WOULD THERE BE A DIFFERENT WAY OF FUNDING IT OTHER THAN IDC? >> LET ME GIVE SOME CLARIFICATION ON THIS. I KNOW MARIE AND DAVID WANT TO VISIT ON THIS. THIS WAS DISCUSSED AT LEAST DURING TWO MEETINGS AT IDC, AND IDC VOTED TO MOVE THIS ON TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL. >> IT WAS PUT TOGETHER BECAUSE RIGHT NOW PUBLIC WORKS IS BEING PULLED AND WAS BEING MOVED DOWN THERE TO TAKE CARE OF THESE ISSUES. THEN THE EASTERN SECTION OF THE ISLAND WAS NOT BEING HANDLED PROPERLY AND HAD PROPER INPUT BY PUBLIC WORKS. [01:50:02] THEY WERE DOWN THERE ON THE WEST END DOING THESE ACTIVITIES. THAT'S WHY IDC MOVED THIS TO SET UP A PILOT PROGRAM TO SEE IF THEY COULD HAVE THIS ADDRESSED ON THE WEST END AND FREE UP PUBLIC WORK ACTIVITIES SO THAT WE CAN HAVE FOLLOW UP. >> THERE THERE IS THOUGH A PIECE OF THAT THAT'S MISSING. THIS MONEY IS BEING TAKEN OUT OF THE BEACH SILO. THIS IS INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT, THIS IS A PROJECT THAT INVOLVES ROADS OR DRAINAGE. THE BEACH SILO, AS THE VOTERS VOTED ON IT, WAS TO BE USED FOR BEACH NOURISHMENT AND BEACH PROJECTS. I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THIS. I DON'T THINK THERE WAS AN UNDERSTANDING IN IDC, AND I REGRET THAT I VOTED FOR IT IN IDC BECAUSE I THINK THIS MONEY SHOULD BE COMING OUT OF INFRASTRUCTURE. WHEN I WAS INVOLVED IN THE ELECTIONS AND THE PROMOTION FOR B SALES TAX AND THE SILOS, AND WHAT THE PEOPLE VOTED FOR WAS FOR THE BEACH SILO TO BE USED ON BEACHES, NOT ON ROAD PROJECTS. I WOULD NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH AGREEING TO A SMALLER AMOUNT THAT COULD BE USED AS A CONSULTANT ENGINEER. WE HAVE ALREADY HAD ONE DE BOGGLE THAT IS ALREADY AFFECTING A LARGE NOURISHMENT GOING IN WHERE CEMENT STRUCTURES WERE PUT ON DRAINAGE PIPES ON THE BEACH, WHICH ARE CAUSING AN ISSUE WITH THE KEPPRA PROJECT. I THINK THIS IS A COMPLETE INAPPROPRIATE USE OF BEACH SILO FUNDS. AGAIN, I WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH IT COMING OUT OF INFRASTRUCTURE. BUT I THINK WE'RE SETTING A BAD PRECEDENT. IT'S LIKE TRYING TO USE HOT TAX FOR SOMETHING THAT ISN'T HOT QUALIFIED. THIS IS THE BEACH SILO THAT THE CITIZENS WHEN THEY VOTED FOR IT, INTENDED IT TO BE USED ON THE BEACH, NOT ON ROADS. >> WE DISCUSSED THIS AT LENGTH AT IDC, I WANT TO CLARIFY, THIS IS NOT FOR STREET REPAIR, THIS IS NOT FOR PAVING. THIS IS NOT DOING ANY OF THAT. >> THERE ARE A FEW AREAS ON THE WEST END THAT FOR US DOING BEACH REMEDIATION, WE'LL GIVE BENEFIT TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE, AND I WILL JUST POWER SPEECH. WE HAVE SEVERAL OF THOSE ROADS. >> INFRASTRUCTURE. KEYWORD. IF SEVERAL WE HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE SILO. >> PLEASE LET HIM FINISH. >> SOME OF THOSE ROADS THAT END IN THE BEACH AND THEY KEEP GETTING DAMAGED. IF WE'RE ABLE TO GO IN FRONT OF THOSE ROADS AND DO SOME OF THIS BEACH NOURISHMENT, AND THAT'S GOING TO PROTECT THE INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT THE FUND IS NOT REALLY TO PROTECT THE INFRASTRUCTURE. WE HAVE AFTER WORKING THERE LAST YEAR, PUBLIC WORKS TOOK SAND OFF OF SEVERAL OF THE STREETS IN POWERS BEACH. WE'VE STORED IT OVER A LOT AT THE AIRPORT. WE JUST HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO GO BACK OUT THERE AND PUT THAT SAND BACK ONTO THE BEACH TO HELP PROTECT IT. THIS IS WHAT THIS MONEY WILL DO IS ALLOW US TO GO BACK IN. WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE GOING INTO THE STREETS OR ANYTHING. ANY WORK THAT WOULD BE ON THE STREET WOULD JUST BE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE BEACH TO JUST TO GET THAT. >> WE HAVE ALREADY TAKEN A LARGE AMOUNT PREVIOUSLY THAT WAS USED TO BUY THAT SAME EQUIPMENT, AND NOW WE'RE REBUYING IT, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVEN'T USED IT ON THE BEACH. >> HOW DO YOU REBUY IT? >> WELL, WE'RE BUYING THE SAME THING OVER AGAIN. >> WHAT WE'RE BUYING. >> WE'RE LEASING EQUIPMENT. >> HOW DO YOU REBUY IT? >> DAVID, THAT WAS A BIG ISSUE OF CONTENTION. THE ORIGINAL ASK WAS $750,000 FOR EQUIPMENT PURCHASE. >> FIVE HUNDRED EVERY YEAR. >> BASICALLY, WHAT ONE OF MY CONCERNS, AND I THINK BOARD MEMBER CULTURES CONCERNS WAS OKAY, YOU HAVE TO BUY THE EQUIPMENT, IS IT USED FOR THIS PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR WE JUST BUYING THIS EQUIPMENT FOR THIS ONE PURPOSE? IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FINANCIALLY. ALSO, ADDING THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSE FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION AND HAVING SOMEBODY THERE, YOU COULD RENT THE EQUIPMENT WITH A LEASE AGREEMENT, AND IT WOULD BE CHEAPER. IF IT IS A ONE OF AS NEEDED PROJECT, THAT WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE. [01:55:03] >> I THINK THAT'S A WISE MOVE BECAUSE EACH EVENT IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN IMPACTS AND CAUSES THIS WORK AND WE MADE DIFFERENT. >> WE DON'T GET AS MUCH SAND IN THE OPEN. I VOICED THAT I'M NOT NECESSARILY OF THE OPINION THAT WE NEED TO GET INTO MORE BEACH REMEDIATION AS OUR COASTAL DIRECTOR, DO APPRECIATE THE WANT TO GO DO THOSE THINGS. I JUST DON'T KNOW IF IT'S COST EFFECTIVE THAT WE DO THAT WITH THE BEACH REMEDIATION SILO. >> AS WE GO ON, THE NOURISHMENTS THAT ARE OUT THERE, WE WILL GET FMA OR WE WILL BE THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS. RIGHT NOW WITH THE BENEFICIAL USE OF DREDGE PROJECT. WE ARE BLESSED BECAUSE THE GLO IS PAYING FOR HALF OF IT. BUT THE PLAN IS TO GET THAT NEXT BENEFICIAL USE THE DREDGE ON THE WEST END, AGAIN, WHERE THE MOST EROSIVE AREAS ARE. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE MATCH. WE'RE USING WHAT WOULD BE MATCH MONEY, WHICH HAS HELPED PUT SO MUCH SAND ON THE SEAWALL. NOW FINALLY SAND ON THE WEST END, AND THAT MONEY IS GOING TO BE GONE BECAUSE WE'RE USING IT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE OR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, WHICH SHOULD COME OUT OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE SILO. >> WELL, WE'VE SPENT A LONG TIME DISCUSSING AT IDC. OUR CITY ATTORNEY SAID THIS CAN COME OUT OF THE BEACH SILO. ALSO THAT THIS IS A PILOT PROGRAM. WE'LL SEE HOW THIS THING MOVES FORWARD. IF WE DON'T HAVE THIS PROGRAM, THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE PUBLIC WORKS AWAY FROM THE REST OF THE ISLAND, GO OUT THERE AND DO DIFFERENT CRAFT. >> THAT'S KIND OF CRAP. >> IT'S NOT. >> WELL, IT IS BECAUSE I'VE REVIEWED THE AMOUNT OF HOURS THAT HAVE BEEN USED IN THE AREAS AND THAT IS REALLY NOT A TRUE STATEMENT. >> THAT IS A TRUE STATEMENT, AND WE'RE HEARING THAT FROM STAFF OVER AND OVER. GO AHEAD, DAVID. SHARON, I'M SORRY. >> THE MEETING WHEN I RECALL WAS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT LEASING THE EQUIPMENT AS OPPOSED TO PURCHASING IT. SECONDLY, WE DISCUSSED SEEING WHAT EQUIPMENT MAYBE THE PARK BOARD HAD SO THAT THAT EQUIPMENT- >> THAT WAS MY QUESTION. >> WE MAY WE HAVE THAT OPTION TOO. I MEAN, WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO BE AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE WITH IT. >> BUT WE'RE STILL UP PLATING. >> BUT JUST REMEMBER, THEY'RE USING THEIR EQUIPMENT A LOT OF TIMES IN OTHER PLACES TOO. BUT IN OUR WHOLE GOAL HERE TOO IS TO TRY TO EXPEDITE OUR SERVICES OUT THERE. OUR RESIDENTS OUT THERE ON THE WEST END, DON'T HAVE TO JUST KEEP WAITING FOR US TO GET OUT THERE TO CLEAR THEIR STREET OF SAND AND TO REBUILD THE ACCESS POINT WHERE THEIR HOUSE IS SO THEY CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR DRIVEWAY TO MAKE SURE THAT VEHICLES CAN GET DOWN BERMUDA BEACH DRIVE AND THOSE THINGS WHEN THEY GET SOFT. BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE A FIXED AMOUNT OF PEOPLE AND EQUIPMENT TO DO THAT WITH. >> I WAS JUST REHASHING WHEN I HEARD THE NUMBER 3 THAT THE PERCENTAGE OF THE BEACH NOURISHMENT OUTWEIGHED THE LITTLE PART OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WOULD HAPPEN ON THAT END. >> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THAT SAND BACK ON THE BEACH. >> I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THOSE THREE THINGS THAT I RECALL. >> MY POINT WAS IS THAT YOU'VE GOT A BURN RATE OF $41,600 A MONTH. THAT'S 12 MONTH PROGRAM $500,000. LARGE PORTION OF THAT IS OBVIOUSLY YOUR LEASE FOR YOUR EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS. BUT MY QUESTION IS, AND I THINK YOU ANSWERED IT IS THAT YOU ONLY HAVE A FIXED NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES. YOU'RE TAKING EMPLOYEES FROM PUBLIC WORKS TO GO DO THIS WORK. WHAT WORK ARE THEY NOT DOING IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THIS PILOT PROGRAM? >> JUST DEPENDS ON THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM WE'RE DEALING WITH USUALLY STREETS. BUT THE BIGGER THING HERE IS A LOT OF THESE ISSUES DOWN THERE CAN BE HANDLED WITH A PIECE OF RENTAL EQUIPMENT, A COUPLE GUYS OFF ONE OF OUR CREWS. THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS PEELING AWAY THE EQUIPMENT AND THE GUYS THAT OPERATE THIS. >> THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS REALLY ON THE EQUIPMENT SIDE, NOT NECESSARILY LABOR SIDE? THE MAJORITY OF THIS IS REALLY GEARED TOWARDS. >> THAT AND HAVING PEOPLE. I WANT TO HAVE SOME PEOPLE WITH SOME REAL EXPERTISE OUT THERE, SO WE CAN MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING THE SAND BACK. KYLE IS GOING TO BE MORE OVER THIS THAN BEFORE, SO HE CAN GET OUT THERE AND COORDINATE, MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT PUTTING THE WRONG THING BACK ON THE BEACH OR THAT EVERYTHING THAT SHOULD GO BACK ON THE BEACH GOES BACK ON THE BEACH AND THAT WE'RE MAINTAINING OUR ACCESS POINTS ACCORDING TO OUR PLAN, THAT OUR SIGNAGE IS ACCORDING TO OUR PLAN. >> WE HAVE PLANS OF WHERE WE WANT TO PUT THE SAND BACK AND WE COORDINATE THAT WITH YELLOW. [02:00:03] WE DO HAVE A PLAN. THE BIGGEST THING IS BOLLARDS, THINGS LIKE THAT. FOLLOW UP QUESTION IS THE LABOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS WOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN IN YOUR OVERALL BUDGET. BUT YOU'RE TAKING MONEY FROM IDC TO COVER THE LABOR COSTS FOR THIS? >> A LITTLE BIT OF LABOR COSTS. >> IT'S A LITTLE BIT, BUT JUST YOU'RE JUST GETTING BACK A LITTLE BIT. >> YEAH. >> IT WAS PROPOSED, BUT WAS CHANGED. THEY WERE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT HIRING FOUR PEOPLE AND PAYING FOR THEM OUT OF IDC FUNDS, WHICH I HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WHEN, AGAIN, WE'RE USING FUNDS THAT THE VOTERS VOTED ON FOR SPECIFIC REASON AND USING IT FOR SOMETHING ELSE THAT FALL UNDER TIME FOR FUN. >> I THINK THE MERIT OF THE PROGRAM IS THERE. COUNCIL MEMBER ROB HAS ISSUE WITH WHERE THE MONEY'S COMING FROM IN THE SOUTH. THAT'S A WORTHY DISCUSSION TO HAVE. BUT I THINK THE MERIT OF THE PROGRAM IS WORTH HAVING. I THINK THE PEOPLE OUT THERE DESERVE IT. >> THE MESSAGE THAT I HEAR THOUGH IS THAT YOU'RE SUPPLEMENTING STAFF TIME WITH IDC DOLLARS. >> WHAT THAT'S GOING TO DO IS IT'LL HELP US BECAUSE THEN WE CAN ULTIMATELY END UP WORKING THESE GUYS OVERTIME ANYWAY, AND THIS WILL HELP JUST TO FRASE SOME OF OUR COSTS SO WE CAN WORK THESE PROJECTS ELSEWHERE. >> I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND. YOU HEAR ME THOUGH. GOT YOU. >> GOOD. >> BOB, ANYTHING ELSE? >> SOME OF THIS $500,000, THIS IS GOING TO GO TO HIRING ENGINEERS, I GUESS, AND OTHER PEOPLE, BUT NOT NECESSARILY CITY STAFF TO DO IT. YOU'RE GOING TO USE EXISTING CITY STAFF. >> WE TRY TO AS BEST WE CAN. UNLESS THERE'S SOME MAJOR EVENT OR BIGGER EVENT, IN WHICH CASE, THAT HELP TRIGGERS A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER THINGS. OUR BIGGEST ISSUE, BOB, HAS BEEN THESE NEAR EVENTS THAT WE GET WHERE WE DON'T GET A TRIGGER TO BRING ANY TYPE OF DISASTER RELIEF IN, AND THEN IT'S ALL ON US. >> DRY TIME OF THE YEAR. >> IT SOUNDS LIKE TO ME MORE OF A SAND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. >> IN SOME AREAS IT IS IN SOME AREAS IT'S NOT. >> I'M SPEAKING TO MARIE'S POINT ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE IT FOR MATCH. BUT NONE OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING WOULD POSSIBLY BE COVERED ANYBODY BY FMA OR INSURANCE OR PARK BOARD AGAIN, I'M JUST TRYING TO. >> THERE ARE SOME PROGRAMS ACTUALLY THROUGH THE STATE, CMP IS ONE AND SOME OTHER PROGRAMS THAT COULD BE USED. >> THAT WAS ANOTHER POINT I WANTED TO MAKE WAS PART OF THIS PILOT PROJECT, IT SEEMS TO ME SHOULD INVOLVE SOME RESEARCH INTO ALTERNATIVE FUNDING SOURCES. IF THERE IS THAT OPPORTUNITY OUT THERE IF WE WANT TO SUSTAIN THIS GOING FORWARD, MAYBE WE CAN DO IT SOME WAY OUTSIDE OF IDC. >> THE IDEA TOO IS TO SEE EXACTLY HOW MUCH LET'S TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT AND SEE. IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM TO SEE HOW IT'S GOING TO WORK AND HOW MUCH WE CAN GET ACCOMPLISHED AND IF IT MOVES THE NEEDLE ANY. >> WE NEED TO HAVE A COASTAL ENGINEERING CONSULTANT. WE NEED TO HAVE A CONSULTANT WITH THE EXPERTISE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE ISSUES THAT ARE BEING CREATED BY THE CEMENT STRUCTURES WITH THE DRAINAGE PROJECT. >> I WANT TO ECHO WHAT SHARON SAID ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR SHARING BEACH MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT BECAUSE THEY DO IT TOO. THERE MAY BE SOME OPPORTUNITIES THERE. JUST ONE FINAL POINT AND THIS RELATES TO LIVE IN EE, ABOUT THE HAZARD MITIGATION. THE PILOTS POWERS BEACH, REBUILD THAT FMA PROJECT, THAT'S I THINK IT'S 11 DD. THAT'S A DIFFERENT THING. THAT'S REBUILDING A ROAD. >> YES. THAT'S THE ROAD. >> WOULD THIS HAVE ANY IMPACT ON THAT PROJECT AT ALL? >> NO. >> I GOT TO ADD TO ONE OF BOB'S POINT, BOB, I SEE IT AS A HOT ELIGIBLE EXPENSE THAT WE COULD WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE PARK BOARD TO DO. >> FOR THE BEACH STAFF. >> FOR THE BEACH STAFF. ALSO FOR THE BEACH STAFF, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE GOOD QUANTIFICATION METHODS OF HOW MUCH SAND WE ARE SHIFTING AND MOVING AND PUTTING BACK ONTO THE BEACH FRONT. >> BEING A PILOT PROJECT, I'M SURE THAT'S PART OF YOUR SCOPE IS TO EVALUATE WHAT EXACTLY ALL THE METRICS YOU CAN. >> THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO JUSTIFY WHAT THEY'VE DONE. >> THEN ONE FINAL QUESTION. HOW HOW DO YOU PROPOSE TO PRIORITIZE? YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISION. IS THIS A PROBLEM I NEED TO GO FIX? IS IT BIGGER THAN THIS PROBLEM OVER HERE I NEED? >> I'LL BE COMPLETE. IF THIS PASSES, THE FIRST PROJECT THAT I'M GOING TO BE WORKING ON IS GETTING THE SAND MOVE THAT WE HAD FROM HURRICANE BERYL BACK OVER TO POWERS BEACH. WE JUST HAVE IT SITTING THERE, THAT WE ALREADY SHOULD HAVE HAD THAT MOVED. THAT'S GOING TO BE MY FIRST PRIORITY IS GETTING THAT BACK OVER TO WHERE IT IS TO HELP PROTECT SOME OF THESE. GOING TO BE SOME PROTECTION OF SOME INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT THAT'S THE FIRST PROJECT AND THEN AS EVALUATE WHAT WE HAVE. [02:05:03] IF WE DON'T HAVE A SLEETING WITH A STORM, THEN WE'LL EVALUATE, OKAY. WE DO WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE? >> THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A COASTAL ENGINEER INVOLVED? >> YEAH. I DON'T DISPUTE THAT. >> WE ARE DONE. >> ANYTHING ELSE? >> ONE MORE ITEM AND THEN I'M DONE, 11 EE. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL. >> THANK YOU. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. IT SAYS 5% WAGE INCREASE ON THE FIRST 4 % PAY PERIOD, JANUARY 2007, 3%. ARE THESE COMPOUNDED ON ONE ANOTHER? >> YES, THEY ARE. >> THAT WAS A QUICK ANSWER TO A SIMPLE QUESTION. THAT'S ALL I NEEDED ON THAT. >> ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO MATCH THE OTHER AREAS? >> I'M SORRY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION. >> WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IT'S GOING TO BE A 5% INCREASE ON WAGE AND TYPICALLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WELL, WE HAVE TO GET THE CIVILIANS AT THE CIVIL SERVICE. >> NOT ASKING FOR THAT. >> THAT WAS MY QUESTION. >> VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER? >> THAT'S ALL I HAD. THANK YOU. >> DAVID. >> NO, I GOT MY QUESTIONS ANSWERED. THANK YOU. PLEASE COME BACK TO ME. >> YES, SIR. MARIE. >> DID A GREAT JOB OF ASKING ON MY QUESTION, SO THANK YOU. >> VERY GOOD. ALEX. >> WHAT WAS IT? 11U. >> BARBARA, COME FORWARD. DID YOU INTRODUCE [OVERLAPPING]. >> BARBARA SANDERSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION COMMUNITY OUTREACH. SORRY, I SAT IN THE WRONG PLACE. >> CAN YOU GIVE JUST A BRIEF OF WHY WOULD THIS BE IMPORTANT? I KNOW DAVID AND I HAD BEEN PUSHING ANTOINETTE WHEN SHE BROUGHT THIS FORWARD MONTHS AGO, PROBABLY GOT A CONTRACT, BUT CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN JUST WHAT THE NECESSITY IS FOR THIS FOR CITY COUNCIL? THANK YOU. >> SURE. I APOLOGIZE THAT THE STAFF REPORT WASN'T ORIGINALLY LINKED TO THE AGENDA. IT WAS SENT. WE DIDN'T NOTICE UNTIL I WENT TO PRINT IT OUT FOR COUNCILS TODAY. ANYWAY, SMU DATAARTS, I'M ANTOINETTE PERRY LYNCH, I'M THE ARTS AND CULTURE COORDINATOR. IT WILL BOTH COLLECT DATA FROM OUR ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE GRANT MONEY TO WHERE YOU CAN MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS BASED ON WHAT WE BRING TO YOU FROM THOSE REPORTS, BUT IT WILL ELIMINATE THE REPORTING THE WAY THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING IT, WHICH IS HARD TO MAKE ANY SENSE OF IN THE WAY THAT WE DO IT CURRENTLY. THERE'S A LOT OF BIAS IN IT. THERE'S A LOT OF JUST GENERAL. >> SUBJECTIVITY? >> YES. I WOULD SAY THAT [OVERLAPPING] >> CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN TO COUNCIL HOW RIGHT NOW WITH THE CURRENT ARTS REPORTING WITH FUNDING OUTSIDE OF JUST THE CITY WITH STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING FOR ARTS, THAT HAS NOT BEEN CUT YET. HOW IT DIFFERENTIATES AND SEPARATES US OUT FROM HOUSTON'S ART SCENE AND OUT HOUSTON'S ART SCENE INCORPORATED INTO GALVESTON? >> CORRECT. CURRENTLY, ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE NEA, THE NEH, TEXAS CULTURAL TRUST, ALL THESE ORGANIZATIONS USE SMU DATAARTS. WHEN WE LOOK AT ANYTHING TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON OUR SECTOR, WE ARE INCLUDED IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA. TEXAS CULTURAL TRUST WAS ADAMANT WHEN WE SPOKE TO THEM, THEY WERE LIKE, WE HAVE A VERY HARD TIME REALLY LOOKING IN GALVESTON BECAUSE THEY'RE INCLUDED IN EVERYTHING IN HOUSTON. WE'RE ACTUALLY INCLUDED IN THEIR DISASTER RELIEF PLANNING FOR THE ARTS, AND WE'RE QUALIFIED FOR FUNDING, BUT I DON'T THINK ANY OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS KNOW THAT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT CURRENTLY MAKING THOSE CONNECTIONS AND DOING THE WORK WHERE WE SHOW OUR VALUE, AND IT'S HARD TO SHOW OUR VALUE WHEN WE'RE NOT USING THE SAME REPORTING SYSTEM THAT'S EQUAL METRICS. >> STAND ALONE VERSUS COMBINED. >> YEAH. >> YEAH. >> HOPEFULLY WE BRING US IN MORE MONEY. >> 100%. >> FOR ORGANIZATIONS TOO. THAT'S THE GOOD THING [OVERLAPPING]. >> THE WHOLE GOAL IS. >> KEEPING PEOPLE NOT RELY SOLELY ON THE CITY'S FUNDING, BUT FOR OTHER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE. >> YEAH. I'M SORRY. IT WILL ALSO ALLOW US TO SEE, TAKE A GOOD GLIMPSE OF WHAT FUNDING OUR ORGANIZATIONS ARE RECEIVING, [02:10:02] WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH THE FUNDING. THE GOAL DOWN THE ROAD IS TO BRING THAT TO COUNCIL AND SAY, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WAY WE FUND? DO YOU WANT TO EMPHASIZE FUNDING TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO ARTS EDUCATION? DO YOU WANT TO EMPHASIZE FUNDING TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT BRING MORE TOURISM? AND THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT BUCKETS OF FUNDING THAT WE COULD USE FOR THOSE THINGS. IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT BOTH OF THEM DON'T NEED TO HAPPEN. IT JUST MEANS THAT OBVIOUSLY HOT TECH WOULD BE IDENTIFIED FOR TOURISM DRIVEN AND EDUCATIONAL MIGHT BE A DIFFERENT BUCKET THAT WE LOOK AT, BUT THERE'S NO WAY TO BRING THOSE PERCENTAGES FORWARD TO YOU AND LET YOU MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS OR EVEN SHOW YOU WHAT OTHER CITIES DO COMPARABLY WITHOUT USING THE SAME REPORTING SYSTEM. >> I HAD A QUESTION. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ORGANIZING OUR VARIOUS ARTS, I GUESS, ADVOCACY. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMITTEES AND THE PARK BOARD DOES IT. IS THIS GOING TO HELP INFORM HOW WE ORGANIZE THAT? WE TALKED ABOUT SOME KIND OF UMBRELLA. CONTROL POINT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. >> WE TALKED ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT. >> A LOT, YEAH. >> A LOT. YES. THE FAIR ANSWER IS THAT THIS IS FOR ORGANIZATIONAL REPORTING. THIS IS FOR GRANT MAKERS. THE CITY WOULD BE THE GRANT MAKER THAT UTILIZES SMU DATAARTS. WE WOULD ASK ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS TO DO THEIR REPORTING THROUGH SMU DATAARTS. BUILT INTO THAT AMOUNT, IS AN EDUCATIONAL PORTION WHERE WE HAVE SMU DATAARTS COME AND EDUCATE OUR ORGANIZATIONS ON HOW TO USE THE REPORTING, WHICH IS A VALUE ITSELF, BECAUSE IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY BEEN REPORTING THROUGH SMU DATAARTS, IT MEANS THAT THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN GRANT OR ANY H GRANT. WE WANT THEM TO SHOOT FOR THOSE THINGS. WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE TWO OUT OF GRASS, AND WE'LL BE BRINGING THAT EDUCATION TO THEM, AND THEY'LL ALREADY BE DOING THE REPORTING THROUGH US. THAT'S VERY EASY FOR THEM TO START DOING THAT THROUGH THEM. >> MARIE. >> I WOULD ASSUME IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT EASIER TO QUANTIFY THE ACTUAL RESULTS. >> YES. >> YEAH, I THINK SO. >> BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DO THAT NOW. >> I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DO IT EITHER. HONESTLY, WE'LL BE ABLE TO BRING A MUCH BETTER DEFINITION OF THE ROI FOR THE ARTS, AND WE'LL BRING EXACT NUMBERS AS TO WHERE THAT MONEY IS GOING, AND THEN THE QUESTION TO COUNCIL IS WHERE DO YOU WANT TO SEE IT GO? WHAT DO YOU WANT TO EMPHASIZE? WE CAN JUST SAY, HERE'S THE STATE. THE GREAT THING ABOUT SMU DATAARTS IS WE'LL BE ABLE TO COMPARE IT TO STATE AND NATIONAL NUMBERS. >> PERFECT. >> WE ACTUALLY HAVE A TRACKING DEVICE. THAT HELPS US. >> BECAUSE I KNOW HAVING BEEN ON COUNCIL FOR SO LONG, WE ALWAYS HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT CERTAIN AGENCIES THAT IT WAS MOST IMPOSSIBLE TO QUANTIFY. >> IT DOES GIVE US A HIGHER DEGREE OF ACCOUNTABILITY. >> YES, SIR. >> THAT'S GREAT. >> IT ALSO HELPED US IDENTIFY TRENDS. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT? YES, SIR. >> WHO IS OVERSEEING IMPLEMENTING THE SOFTWARE FOR THIS? WHO'S ADMINISTERING? >> SMU DATAARTS, IT'S JUST A LINK THAT GOES ON THE WEBSITE. >> SO NO COST TO ALL FOR IT? >> NO. IT IS A LINK THAT GOES ON THE WEBSITE. IF ANYTHING, I WOULD SAY OUTREACH WILL PROBABLY BE HANDLING. WE HANDLE THE WEBSITE BASICALLY. >> THANK YOU. >> I'D SAY NOTHING ADDITIONAL. >> THANK YOU, LADIES. APPRECIATE IT. ANYTHING ELSE, ALEX. SHARON. >> I'M BARBARA. >> YES, MA'AM FOR MY STACK. >> 11N AND EXCITING WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. >> YES. I ACTUALLY HAVE JULIE WALKER HERE FROM THE COUNTY ARTS AND CULTURAL, THE DIRECTOR OVER THERE. YOU'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO THIS HOW MANY YEARS? >> OH, GOSH. >> SEVERAL YEARS. >> SEVERAL YEARS. YES. >> WE HAVE FINALLY GOT TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE READY TO DO IT. AWESOME AND KUDOS. >> SHARON EXCUSE ME, COULD WE INTRODUCE OUR GUEST HERE? >> JULIE INTRODUCE YOURSELF. >> JULIE WALKER DIRECTOR FOR GALVESTON COUNTY PARKS. >> THANK YOU. GO AHEAD. SURE. >> HOW SOON WE'RE GOING TO SPEND? >> WELL, WE'RE SHOOTING FOR THE FIRST, WE DO HAVE TO GO BACK TO COMMISSIONER SPORT JUST FOR THEIR BLESSING. AS YOU SEE, WE HAVEN'T ATTACHED MOU AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE A RESOLUTION, DO WE NOT OR? >> I DON'T KNOW. >> NO, IS JUST MOU. WE'D LIKE APPROVAL TODAY SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, WE'LL BE DOING THIS OVER AT WRIGHT CUNEY RECREATION CENTER. [02:15:02] DURING THE SUMMER, WHEN THE CHILDREN ARE THERE FULL-TIME, WE'LL DO IT OVER AT 30TH STREET. THAT WAY IT'S ALL IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE FOLKS WILL BE ABLE TO WALK UP AND BE ABLE TO GET THIS LUNCH. >> SENIOR CITIZENS. >> SENIOR CITIZENS, YES. IT DOESN'T MATTER YOUR INCOME, ANY OF US THAT ARE OVER THE AGE OF 60, CAN QUALIFY. WE JUST HAVE TO FILL OUT THE PAPERWORK. >> THAT IS AWESOME. >> WILL BE SEEING YOU THERE. >> SURE. >> WE'RE HOPING THAT WE CAN ALSO ADD A LITTLE SOCIALIZATION TO THIS FOR THE SENIORS. MAYBE THERE'S INDIVIDUALS THEIR WIFE OR THEIR HUSBANDS PASSED AWAY AND YOU CAN DO BINGO, OR AT LEAST IT GIVES THEM SOME NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET FOLKS. >> THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME THIS IS BACK ON THE ISLAND. >> THE COUNTY GETS THE GRANT THROUGH HGAC, USING GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL, AND WE WORK WITH CITY OF PRINCEWOOD, CITY OF LAKE CITY, AND CITY OF TEXAS CITY AS SATELLITE FACILITIES AS WELL, INCLUDING OUR FACILITIES FOR OUR SENIOR CENTERS. THEY'RE CALLED CONGREGATE MEALS BECAUSE THE POINT IS TO GET THE SENIORS TOGETHER, TO EAT, SOCIALIZE AND HELP WITH THEIR PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL WELL-BEING. >> WATCH OUT FOR THOSE MAHJONG GROUPS. >> I KNOW. THEY CAN MOVE IN ON US. >> THEY'RE PRETTY DAILY. >> THEN I HAVE 11 P ON THIS LAND ROVER. >> THANKS, JULIE. >> 11 WHAT? >> 11P. >> B. >> YES, MA'AM. >> P AS IN PAUL. >> WONDERFUL DONATION FROM BETTER PARKS FOR GALVESTON. THEY HAVE RAISED SOME FUNDING THIS YEAR, AND THEY WANTED TO SPEND SOME MONEY, SINCE THEY WANT TO SAY IN GOOD GRACES WITH GIVING OUT MONEY. THIS IS A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT WILL SPREAD FERTILIZER AND SAND ON OUR ATHLETIC FIELDS AND OUR CITY PARKS. IT WILL NOT ONLY HELP US WITH THIS NEW SOCCER COMPLEX THAT'S COMING ONLINE, IT WILL ALSO HELP US WITH OUR OTHER FACILITIES ALSO WITH GREEN SPACES. WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. >> WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE BETTER PARKS. >> YES. WE ARE VERY BLESSED. THE LAST ONE, GREAT, IS THE LASKER PARK AGREEMENT PARK POOL. I THINK THAT'S THE 11R. >> YES. >> 11R. >> YES. >> GO AHEAD. >> THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STAFF TO HAVE A BETTER GRIP ON MAINTENANCE WITH THE POOL. SINCE WE HAVE CUT DOWN ON FULL-TIME STAFF MEMBERS OVER THERE. THIS WILL HELP US WITH THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE, AND WILL ALSO IN THE LONG RUN SHOULD SAVE US SOME MONEY. >> I SEE. THERE'S A 24-HOUR? >> YES. >> ON CALL 24 HOURS. >> THAT IS CORRECT. WITH A POOL, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT WHEN YOU'RE SERVING THE PUBLIC. >> THE MAINTENANCE OR THEY COME OUT EIGHT TIMES DURING THE CONTRACT, MECHANICAL AND CHEMICAL? >> YES, MA'AM. >> THAT'S AWESOME. >> YES. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS. >> THAT WAS OUR DEAR POOL, BOY. >> THANK YOU, BARBARA. ANYTHING ELSE? >> ANYTHING ELSE, SHARON? >> NOT FOR MS. SANDERSON, BUT I HAD ONE FOR THE 11 T. >> 11T. >> PRAISE THE LORD, THE SCHOOL ZONE FLASHERS. OH, MY GOD. DO THEY FLASH AT ANY TIME? >> WAS THE CLOCK ISSUE. SO WE'LL GET CLOCKS REPLACEMENT. >> MICHAEL PERKINS, WHO'S TAKEN OVER THE TRAFFIC DIVISION HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB WITH THIS. WOULD YOU AGREE, TYSON? >> ABSOLUTELY. TYSON ALL PUBLIC PARKING UTILITIES. >> AWESOME. SEE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE HANDLED REMOTELY. JUST UPDATE ABOUT YOU A LITTLE. >> THIS WILL BRING ALL OF THE SCHOOL FLASHERS THAT WE HAVE INTO THE DIGITAL AGE, THE AUTOMATIC AGE. HE WON'T BE ABLE TO CONTROL THOSE REMOTELY. THIS WAS JUST REPLACING THE LAST ONES THAT DID NOT [OVERLAPPING] >> SOME OF US STILL HAVE THE OLD MANUAL TIMERS LIKE YOU USED TO SEE ON SWIMMING POOLS YEARS AGO. SOME OF THEM HAD NO TIMERS AT ALL. MICHAEL STEPPED UP AND TOOK CARE OF THAT ON 23RD STREET HERE FOR ME RECENTLY. NOTHING'S MORE FRUSTRATING THAN SEEING THE SCHOOL ZONE FLASHING AT 8:00 AT NIGHT, SO WE'RE HAPPY ABOUT THIS. >> HOW SOON IS THIS PROJECT STARTING OR HAVE YOU ALREADY [OVERLAPPING]. >> AS SOON AS WE GET THE MATERIALS IN. >> FOR ALL SCHOOL ZONES? >> THIS WILL REPLACE ALL THEM, SO THEY ALL HAVE SMART CLOCKS NOW. >> MR. PERKINS DOES NOT LET GRASS GROW BENEATH HIS FEET. IF THE EQUIPMENT GETS HERE, IT'LL GET DONE. >> THANK YOU. >> WE HAVE 15 THAT ARE ALREADY HAVE SMART CLOCKS, AND THESE 13 WILL BE THE REST. >> AWESOME. THANK YOU. THAT WAS IT. [02:20:03] I JUST WANTED TO ALERT EVERYBODY THOSE FLASHES THAT FLASH AT ANY TIME ARE GOING TO BE CORRECT. THE OTHER ONE IS OH, MR. SMITH. 11J. >> 11J. >> HOW ARE YOU TODAY? >> FINE, GOOD MORNING. >> DAVID, COULD YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELVES TO THIS CITY OF GALVESTON? >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> WELL, THIS CONTRACT YOU'RE PRE-DOING THIS CONTRACT. YOU'RE AHEAD FOR NEXT YEAR, RIGHT? >> YES, MA'AM IF YOU DON'T GET ON THE LIST, YOU DON'T GET FIREWORKS. >> SO ARE WE GETTING JUNE 19TH ON THE LIST? >> NOT YET. >> NOT YET. MA'AM, WE DON'T HAVE FUNDING FOR JUNE 19TH THIS YEAR. >> DON'T SAY THAT BRIAN. [LAUGHTER] >> DON'T SAY THAT. BECAUSE WE ARE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR BEING THE BIRTHPLACE OF JUNETEENTH. SO WE CAN WORK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT MAYBE SOMEWHERE. >> YEAH. A BIG BLOW TO US WAS THAT THE TML HAS ISSUED AN OPINION. LEGAL HAS REVIEWED IT THAT SAYS, YOU CANNOT USE HOT TAX TO FUND FIREWORKS ANYMORE. I KNOW THAT'S CRAZY BECAUSE [OVERLAPPING]. >> REALLY IS. >> IT REALLY IS CRAZY. LET ME JUST SAY THAT. >> GET'S RED GLARE, BOMBS BURSTING IN THERE, COME ON. >> WE ALREADY LEARNED WHEN WE DID WANT ON SUNDAY NIGHTS AND INCREASED STAYS. IT WAS REALLY GOOD. BUT [OVERLAPPING] >> I UNDERSTAND BUT MY QUESTION IS, ARE WE GOING TO [OVERLAPPING] >> I WILL SAY THIS. I HAVE AN INSIDE CONNECTION WITH THIS VENDOR. [OVERLAPPING] >> THAT WE CAN DO [OVERLAPPING] >> SOMETHING CAME IN. >> AND THE GOOD NEWS FOR JUNETEENTH IS WE DON'T HAVE TO BOOK OUT AS FAR IN ADVANCE. THE BIGGEST ISSUE ON JULY 4TH IS THAT EVERYBODY WANTS IN. >> I GOT YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. THANKS FOR [INAUDIBLE] >> YES, MA'AM. >> DAVID, I HAVE A QUESTION ON THAT. THE FUNDING COMES FROM THE SPECIAL EVENTS ACCOUNT. >> CORRECT. >> IS THAT A GENERAL FUND ACCOUNT OR ARE WE TAPPING IN TO FUNDS? >> THIS IS THE REVENUE WE RECEIVE FROM OPERATION OF SPECIAL EVENTS? >> PRIMARILY, THIS REVENUE COMES FROM MARDI GRAS. >> OH, FROM MARDI GRAS. THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW. THANK YOU. YES, BOB. >> HOT CAN'T FUND THE FIREWORKS, BUT IT CAN FUND CLEANING UP THE MESS AFTER THE FIREWORKS BECAUSE THOSE FIREWORKS DON'T JUST EVAPORATE. >> SO WE ACTUALLY DEPEND ON THE PARKS BOARD, PART OF THEIR NIGHTLY MAINTENANCE IS CLEAN THAT AREA ANYWAY. WHAT WE DO IS WE REACH OUT TO THEM BEFORE THE EVENT, WE COORDINATE WITH THEM AND THEY JUST PUT A LITTLE EXTRA EFFORT ON THAT. OBVIOUSLY, THAT IS THE USE OF HOT TAX THROUGH THE PARKS BOARD. >> I SAW SOME LOOKS. PREVIOUSLY, WE ALWAYS REDEPOSITED THE MARDI GRAS PROCEED BACK INTO THE TRICKLE DOWN ACCOUNT. BUT IT WAS DETERMINED, I THINK THROUGH SOME OF THE WORK THE PARK BOARD WAS DOING THROUGH THEIR MAGAZINE AND OTHER THINGS THAT ONCE THE HOT IS EXPENDED, IT CAN BE USED FOR OTHER. IF IT COMES BACK TO IN A DIFFERENT FORM, IT COMES BACK TO AS OTHER MUNICIPAL USES. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE USING. WE PAID FOR THIS OUT OF HOT BEFORE WE REALIZED THAT YOU COULDN'T PAY FOR IT OUT OF HOT, SO NOW WE'RE JUST USING THE SAME PROCEEDS. IT'S JUST A LITTLE DIFFERENT STIR ON IT, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH IT, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE [NOISE] HAVE FIREWORKS ON THE 4TH OF JULY AND OTHER EVENTS AS WELL AS NEEDED. >> WHAT ISSUE WITH FIREWORKS AS WELL, IS MOST OF THEM COME FROM CHINA? MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE. WE'VE ALREADY BEEN NOTIFIED BY THE FIREWORKS COMPANIES ABOUT THAT. >> AND THE PRICE HAS ALREADY GONE UP. >> DAVID, THANK YOU, SHARON. ANY OTHER? >> AND BY THE WAY, BOTH SETS OF FIREWORKS THIS YEAR WERE FABULOUS. THE COMPANY DID A GREAT JOB FOR BOTH JUNETEENTH AND THE 4TH OF JULY. THEY WERE REALLY GOOD SHOWS. >> I'LL SAVE THIS ONE, BEFORE WE GET TO THE BUDGET, 8D. >> YES, 8D [NOISE]. >> 8D [INAUDIBLE] >> WE'RE JUST CHANGING THE HEIGHT. >> YES. IT'S JUST CHANGING THE HEIGHT. SO WE HAD A GROUP THAT WAS INTERESTED IN DOING AN ICE MACHINE UP ON THE SEAWALL. THEY COULDN'T MEET THE TEN FOOT LIMIT CURRENTLY IN THE REGULATIONS. SO THEY FILED THIS APPLICATION TO CHANGE IT TO 16. >> QUESTION ON THAT. I'M LOOKING AT THE SITE PLAN. IT'S AT THE END OF A DEAD END PARKING LOT. [OVERLAPPING] >> WELL, THIS IS NOT SPECIFIC TO, THEY'VE SHOWN YOU THAT AS AN EXAMPLE. BUT YOU'RE NOT APPROVING THAT LOCATION. YOU'RE APPROVING THE ABILITY FOR ALL ICE MACHINES TO GO TO 16 FEET RATHER THAN [NOISE]. >> SO THEY WEREN'T SUGGESTING A LOCATION FOR IT. [02:25:02] >> THEY PROVIDED THIS INFORMATION JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION TO SEE WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE AND HOW TALL THEY ARE. >> BECAUSE THEY HAD A SITE PLAN THERE WITH THE [INAUDIBLE] GOING TO GO HERE. SO [OVERLAPPING] THE QUESTION WAS, IS IT ACCESS TO THE DEAD END PARKING LOT OR IN THE ROAD THAT'S ON RIGHT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ACCESS ROAD FOR WALMART? >> I THINK THIS EXAMPLE WOULD BE ACCESS FROM THE INTERNAL, FROM THAT PARKING LOT. >> IS THIS THE ICE MACHINE THAT WAS POSTED ON FACEBOOK? >> YES. >> ON THE EAST END? >> NO. THIS IS. [OVERLAPPING] THIS IS WHERE I FORGET THE NAME OF THE NEW RESTAURANT, BUT THIS IS WHERE THE PIT-STOP USED TO BE. >> THE IRISH PUB. >> THE IRISH PUB. AND INITIALLY, THE PROPOSAL, HIS KIOSK WAS 10' 6". THE CODE SAID IT COULDN'T BE OVER 10 FOOT. HE SPENT ALMOST EIGHT MONTHS TRYING TO GET IT APPROVED AND WAS DENIED EACH TIME FOR 6 INCHES. THERE'S MULTIPLE OTHER ICE KIOSK THAT ARE THE EXACT SAME MANUFACTURER AND THE EXACT SAME DIMENSIONS THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND. >> THAT ARE TALLER. >> YEAH. THAT ARE TALLER AND IN BUSINESS. SO TO BASICALLY GET ALL OF THOSE INTO COMPLIANCE, AS WELL AS THE ONE HE IS PROPOSING IN HIS PRIVATE PARKING LOT, THIS WOULD TAKE CARE OF THAT. >> THIS IS A STANDARD SIZE ICE VENDING MACHINE, I GUESS. >> YES. THAT WAS ONE OF THEIR ARGUMENTS IS THAT THIS IS THE SIZE THAT THEY COME IN, AND SO THE CODE SHOULD REFLECT THAT. >> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER ITEMS, SHARON? >> OH, ANTOINETTE. I'M SORRY. >> WHAT ITEM IS THIS? >> IT IS 11V AS IN VICTOR. >> 11V. >> WELL, WE CAN'T TELL YOU WEREN'T TRAVELING THIS WEEK. [LAUGHTER] WE CAN TELL YOU WEREN'T TRAVELING THIS WEEK. >> MAYBE WE'LL TALK LATER. [INAUDIBLE] I JUST WANT TO KNOW HERE. I SEE, THIS IS A GREAT EVENT. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, BUT IS THERE A BALANCE HERE? >> WHAT ITEM? >> I'M SORRY, [OVERLAPPING] 11B. >> IS THERE A BALANCE LEFT IN THIS FUND FOR OTHER EVENTS? >> THERE IS A BALANCE. WELL, SO THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION PUT CALLS OUT. THEY HAVE SLOWLY BEEN CHANGING HOW THEY DO IT AND TRYING TO FIND THE BEST PROCESS. SO WHAT THEY IDENTIFIED THIS LAST ROUND WAS CITY STAFF. I REACHED OUT TO CITY STAFF AND ASKED FOR LOCATIONS FOR PUBLIC ART, AND STAFF WAS FANTASTIC AND SENT BACK ALL THESE LOCATIONS. THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION WENT THROUGH THOSE LOCATIONS AND PICKED FIVE LOCATIONS, AND THEY PUT OPEN CALLS TO ARTISTS OUT FOR EACH OF THOSE LOCATIONS FOR VARYING AMOUNTS, DEPENDING ON WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE, WHAT THE RECOMMENDATION WAS AT THOSE LOCATIONS BY STAFF. TWO OF THOSE LOCATIONS, LINDALE AND SANDHILL DID NOT GET ANY APPLICATIONS THAT WERE VIABLE. THEY WERE FOR MURALS, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH LINDALE AND SANDHILL, YOU'RE LIKE, WE'RE THERE. SO THEY COLLAPSED THAT FUNDING AND THEY AWARDED TWO GRANTS TO THE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING, AND THEY DECIDED TO PUT ONE MORE CALL OUT SPECIFIC TO PERFORMANCE ART BECAUSE NOTHING THAT WE HAD FUNDED HAD BEEN PERFORMANCE ART. SO THEY PUT OUT A $30,000 GRANT FROM PUBLIC ART. >> PERFORMING ART. >> PERFORMANCE ART. I'M SORRY. THEN OUT OF THOSE, THEY AWARDED SAVE THE LOCALS, AND THEY ONLY ASKED FOR 15,600 OF THE 30. >> RIGHT. SO MY QUESTION IS, CAN SOME OTHER PERFORMING ARTS GROUPS STILL APPLY OR IS THAT CLOSED? >> IT'S CLOSED. >> IT'S CLOSED. >> IT'S CLOSED. SO THAT WE'LL MOVE FORWARD IN THERE. >> THAT'LL JUST GO. >> WE'LL HAVE MORE MONEY NEXT YEAR. >> COOL. >> THAT'S IT. >> THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE, HERE? >> NO. >> THANK YOU. >> I'LL MOVE OUT OF TOWN A LITTLE BIT. [LAUGHTER] >> VERY GOOD. >> JUST NEED SOME CLARIFICATION AND QUESTIONS. 10G. >> 10Z. >> G AS IN GARY. IF WE CAN EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR THERE. >> BASICALLY, WE WERE APPROACHED BY THE WRECKER COMPANIES. [02:30:03] THIS CONCERNS POLICE TOWS AND WE REGULATE THAT COST TO TRY TO KEEP IT FAIR FOR THE CITIZENS AND KEEP IT ACROSS ALL BOARDS. THEY'VE ASKED US FOR AN INCREASE. HEATHER'S DONE THE WORK. >> OFFICER MORRIS, COULD YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF,. >> HEATHER MORRIS AND I'M A CITY MARSHAL HERE IN GALVESTON. >> THEY AS A GROUP OF WRECKER, OR I MEAN, TOWING COMPANIES OR WHO ARE THEY? >> THE TOWING COMPANIES. THE WRECKER TOWING OWNERS HERE IN GALVESTON, SEVEN THAT ARE AUTHORIZED BY ORDINANCE. >> THIS IS A DIFFERENT QUEST OF INCREASE IN WHAT THEY CAN CHARGE? >> YES. SO THEY HAVE NOT HAD AN INCREASE SINCE 2020, AND THEY WERE FAR BELOW WHAT THE STATE ALLOWS. THE COST OF INSURANCE, TRAINING THEIR PEOPLE FOR SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT ON VEHICLES, LABOR COSTS, JUST EVERYTHING IS SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED SINCE 2020. THEY HAD REQUESTED THAT WE GET MORE IN LINE WITH, THE STATE OF TEXAS AND TDLR AND THE MAXIMUM RATES THAT THEY ALLOW? >> JUST NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND. >> ALL RIGHT. >> IT WAS JULIE MOLIS WHO HELPED ORGANIZE ALL THAT. THEY BROUGHT ME THE FORMS THAT I GAVE TO YOU-ALL WITH ALL THE SIGNATURES. THE ONE BLANK SIGNATURE, SHE WAS OUT OF TOWN, BUT THAT COMPANY IS SUPPORTING ASKING FOR A RATE INCREASE. >> I THINK THEY ARE WELL DESERVED. >> I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION. I SEE THE REMOVAL OF MOTOR IN FRONT OF VEHICLE, SO THAT WILL ALLOW ANY? >> SO ESSENTIALLY, THE ORDINANCE HAD DEFINED VEHICLE, HAD A DEFINITION FOR VEHICLE, AND I COULD GO TO THAT. BUT THEN THROUGHOUT THE ORDINANCE, IT KEPT SAYING MOTOR VEHICLE, MOTOR VEHICLE, BUT THERE WASN'T A SPECIFIC DEFINITION TO MOTOR VEHICLE IF THE DEFINITION IN THE ORDINANCE WAS VEHICLE. WE'LL LET SOMEONE ELSE CLEAN THAT UP. >> IS THIS A DIFFERENT ONE? >> IT'S THE SAME. >> IT'S THE SAME ONE. WE JUST STRUCK THE WORD MOTOR QUITE OFTEN THROUGHOUT THE ORDINANCE TO BE IN LINE WITH THE DEFINITION. [OVERLAPPING] >> I'M SORRY. OKAY. >> WITHIN THE ORDINANCE. >> WE WENT IN AND CLEANED UP THE ORDINANCE WHEN WE WERE [OVERLAPPING] >> THAT WAS ALSO DISCUSSED AT OUR MEETING SO THAT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING IN HERE THAT THEY WEREN'T AWARE OF WHAT WAS COMING. [OVERLAPPING] IT DIDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING IN TERMS OF CURRENT PRACTICE OR FORMER PRACTICE. >> GOT IT. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> APPRECIATE IT. >> ELEVEN C AND D. IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT THIS IS WHAT YOU AND DAN BUCKLEY HAD DISCUSSED AS IN DECREASING OUR HEALTH INSURANCE COST OR IS THIS? >> THESE ARE YOUR PROPERTY INSURANCE AND YOUR WORKERS COMP INSURANCE. >> WORKERS COMP IS WHAT I WAS LOOKING AT? NO? >> NO. IT'S TML'S HEALTH INSURANCE. [OVERLAPPING] >> WORKERS COMP. >> GOT IT, 11K. TWO, 28 FOOT TRAILERS? >> DO WE KNOW OUR HIGHLY PROFITABLE FOR THE GARAGE? >> THEY'RE WITHIN CONSIDERATION THAT TRAILERS HAVE KIND OF BEEN A HOT TOPIC. >> YES, THEY HAVE. >> MINIMAL IN THE BUCKET OF THINGS, BUT HAS THERE BEEN ANY COORDINATION WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS OF TRAILERS THAT MAYBE ARE NOT IN USE THAT COULD FILL THIS VOID OR WHAT'S KIND OF THE PURPOSE BEHIND THIS? >> SO WE HAD HIRED A GARAGE MANAGER WHO A FEW MONTHS AGO WENT THROUGH AND RAN AN AUDIT OF ALL THE TRAILERS. HE EARMARKED TRAILERS THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED, AND YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED A COUPLE OF TIMES WE CAME TO COUNSEL TO REPLACE THOSE TRAILERS TO TAKE SOME OF THE OLDER ONES OFFLINE. THESE PARTICULAR TRAILERS ARE HEAVY-DUTY TRAILERS. THESE ARE NEW FOR THESE DEPARTMENTS. LONG STORY SHORT, YES, WE ARE IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO SEE WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE FOR TRAILERS AND WHAT THEY DON'T NEED. >> OKAY. >> YEAH. >> ALL RIGHT. >> YES, SIR. >> I HAD ONE LAST ONE. 11 AA. >> THE ROBOT? >> THIS IS ANOTHER CAMERA TRUCK? >> THIS IS JUST A CAMERA, BASICALLY. THE ROBOT THAT TRANSPORTS THE CAMERA THROUGH THE PIPE. IT'S A SMALLER ONE THAT OPENS UP OUR CAPABILITIES TO GO INTO SMALLER PIPES, [02:35:05] AND ALSO WILL SERVE AS A REDUNDANT CAMERA AS A BACKUP TO OUR OTHER CAMERA. >> MOST OF OUR LINES ARE EIGHT INCHES SMALLER, SO. >> IS THIS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS A SPECIFIC TRAINING OR LICENSE OR CAN ANYBODY USE THIS CAMERA? >> IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN THE CAMERA THAT WE ALREADY HAVE. I MEAN, THE SYSTEM IN GENERAL REQUIRES TRAINING, BUT THERE ARE NO LICENSES ASSOCIATED WITH IT. >> I GUESS I WOULDN'T SAY LICENSE, BUT IS IT TRAINED TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THIS CAMERA? >> YES. >> I'M SAYING THAT AND THE REASON I REQUESTED, THAT'S PART OF THE REASON I REQUESTED, SO WE'RE SPENDING OR LOOKING TO SPEND 78,000 ON THIS CAMERA, AND COMPARING IT TO ANOTHER COUPLE OF UNITS THAT WE'VE SPENT A CAMERA CHECK THAT WE SPENT A 188,000 IN 2022 AND 807,000 FOR A LINER TRUCK AND '24. >> IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, I WAS TOLD AT LEAST IN FEBRUARY THAT THE LINER TRUCK WAS UTILIZED NEAR EVERY WEEK. GETTING REPORTS FROM THE GARAGE, THAT TRUCK HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE YARD UNUSED FOR THE LAST SIX OR SEVEN MONTHS. THEN THE CAMERA TRUCK WASN'T UTILIZED ONCE FROM JANUARY TO AUGUST. I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR MORE CAMERA EQUIPMENT WHEN WE HAVE SIX OR SEVEN MONTHS OF ALMOST $1 MILLION OF EQUIPMENT THAT'S SITTING IN ITS PLACE, NOT BEING UTILIZED AT ALL. I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT WE SPENT ALMOST $1 MILLION ON THIS LINER TRUCK TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO SERVICE OUR ANTIQUATED LINES TO HELP WITH THINGS SUCH AS CLEARING THE LINES BEFORE SEWER TAPS. I'M REALLY NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR ANOTHER PIECE OF A CAMERA EQUIPMENT WHEN WE REALLY DON'T HAVEN'T USED THE ONE THAT WE HAVE, ALMOST $1 MILLION OF EQUIPMENT. >> IT'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PIECES THAT I'VE PUT INTO ALL PART OF THAT PROCESS. WE'VE HAD ISSUES WITH SEVERAL OF OUR CAMERA TRUCKS AND KEEPING THEM OPERATIONAL. BASICALLY, THERE'S A WAY THAT THESE CAMERAS WERE DESIGNED, THEY REQUIRE A GENERATOR TO RUN THE TVS AND THE COMPUTERS AND THE OTHER EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATED WITH PUTTING THE CAMERA INTO THE HOLE AND TRANSPORTING AROUND. THEY HAVE JUST BEEN CRAPPING OUT ON US OVER AND OVER AGAIN. >> WOULDN'T THEY BE UNDER WARRANTY? I MEAN, THE ONE INSTALLED. >> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A $1,500 GENERATOR HOLDING UP $190,000 PIECE OF EQUIPMENT? >> YEAH. >> THAT'S RIDICULOUS. HOW ABOUT THE LINER TRUCK? WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THAT SITTING FOR SIX OR SEVEN MONTHS? WE'VE NOT ONLY THROWN AWAY LINER, WE AGREED AS A COUNCIL TO PURCHASE MORE LINER MATERIAL BACK IN JUNE FOR $24,000, BUT YET THE TRUCK STILL SITTING THERE. >> THIS IS AVA, BY THE WAY. >> GOOD MORNING. >> COULD YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU'RE STILL IN CAMERA. >> YES, AVA CARES, UTILITY MANAGER. >> THANK YOU. >> THE CCTV TRUCK THAT HAS BEEN DOWN SINCE JANUARY. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE GENERATOR ISSUE, AND ESSENTIALLY, THOSE GENERATORS ARE AIR COOLED, BUT SO HOT IN TEXAS THAT IT CAN'T KEEP UP, AND SO IT KEEPS FRYING. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE COMPANY. WE'VE NOW GOTTEN TWO REPLACEMENT GENERATORS UNDER WARRANTY. THAT THIRD ONE HAS ALSO DIED. WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH THE COMPANY TO GET A REFUND SO WE CAN GO AS A DIFFERENT BRAND BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN BACK AND FORTH FOR MONTHS ON THIS OBVIOUSLY. >> WELL, I'M SAYING AT SOME POINT IN TIME I KNOW THAT I'VE PURCHASED A NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF GENERATORS. THEY'RE NOT REAL GOOD IN 100 DEGREE WEATHER, BUT TO LOGISTICALLY HOLD UP SO MANY DIFFERENT MOVING PARTS, SUCH AS SEWER TAPS, SUCH AS DRAINAGE. THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE'RE LITERALLY BASING IT UPON 1,000, $1,500 GENERATOR. >> EACH TRUCK IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR A CERTAIN GENERATOR, AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE CONTINUING TO TRY AND USE THIS GENERATOR WITH THESE TRUCKS. [02:40:05] >> WHAT'S SO SPECIFIC BECAUSE THERE'S ONE OR TWO SUPPLIES OF ENERGY. IT'S A 110 OR 220? WHAT SPECIFIC? >> SPECIFICALLY, THE AIR COOLING SYSTEM. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUR TYPICAL CCTV TRUCKS AND MY CIPP LINING TRUCK IS THE GENERATOR ON THE LINING TRUCK IS ACTUALLY TIED BACK TO THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS TO REMAIN ON THE ENTIRE TIME. WE HAVE HAD WAY MORE LUCK WITH KEEPING THAT RUNNING. WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD NO ISSUES SINCE WE PURCHASED IT. >> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE LINER TRUCK? >> YES. >> WELL, YEAH, WE'VE ONLY PUT 144 MILES ON IT SINCE WE GOT IT, INCLUDING SITTING THERE FOR SEVEN MONTHS, $807,000 TRUCK. CONSIDERING THE AMOUNT OF TIMES THAT HAVE BEEN USED, I WOULD HOPE THE GENERATORS BEEN GOOD. >> IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS WITH ALL OF OUR CAMERA TRUCKS, YOU'D BE SURPRISED HOW QUICKLY THOSE GENERATORS WILL GO OUT ON YOU. IF WE WERE TO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT TRUCK, I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED TO SEE IT BY NOW. >> WE CAN'T USE THE LINER TRUCK WITHOUT THE CAMERA TRUCK, CORRECT? >> CORRECT. THEY WORK IN TANDEM. THE LINER TRUCK ACTUALLY WORKS WITH THE VACUUM TRUCK AS WELL AS THE CAMERA TRUCK, AND ALL THREE OF THEM HAVE TO BE OPERATIONAL. WE'VE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH OUR VACUUM TRUCKS AS WELL. IT'S NOT THE LINING TRUCK THAT'S REALLY LIMITING US. IT'S OUR CCTV TRUCK AND OUR VACUUM TRUCKS THAT ARE LIMITING US. >> WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT WE'RE TELLING THE PUBLIC THAT WE SPENT $1 MILLION OF THEIR TAX DOLLARS. >> YES. >> WE'RE GOING TO NOT UTILIZE THE EQUIPMENT FOR A $1,500 GENERATOR AND THE INABILITY TO KEEP THEM RUNNING, OR HAVE A BACKUP. >> THE REASON WE SPENT THAT MONEY TO BEGIN WITH WAS TO MAKE THINGS MORE EFFICIENT AND TO BE ABLE [OVERLAPPING] >> WELL, THE OTHER THING THAT I GOT A PROBLEM WITH IS I WAS TOLD BACK IN FEBRUARY, I'M GOING TO GO BACK AND GET THE TRANSCRIPTS, THAT I WAS TOLD THAT THAT WAS IN USE WEEKLY. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT WE HAD NUMEROUS OPERATORS FOR THAT LINER TRUCK, CONSIDERING THAT WE DON'T HAVE OPERATIONAL GENERATORS, I GUESS DOES OPERATORS REALLY WOULDN'T MATTER AT THIS POINT. DOES THIS $79,000 CCTV ROBOT, DOES IT REQUIRE A GENERATOR TOO? >> YES. >> HOW ARE WE GOING TO JUSTIFY THAT? WE GOT $1 MILLION OF EQUIPMENT SITTING ON BECAUSE OF GENERATORS AND YOU'RE WANT TO US TO SPEND 79,000 MORE DOLLARS THAT'S ALSO A GENERATOR BACK TO PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. >> EVERYTHING ON THE TRUCK IS A GENERATOR BACK PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. IN FEBRUARY WHEN WE SPOKE, EVERYTHING THAT WE SAID WAS TRUE. THINGS CHANGED. IS THAT WAS SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. WE HAVE [OVERLAPPING]. >> NO TYSON. I LOOKED BACK THROUGH THE DATES THAT YOU'LL ARE REQUIRED TO REFILL EVERYTHING BEFORE YOU PUT IT BACK IN THE YARD WHEN IT'S OF USE. ACCORDING TO YOUR FUEL RECORDS AND YOUR GPS, THAT'S NOT TRUE. >> IT WAS MARCH IS, I THINK WHAT THE RECORDS SHOW IS WHEN IT STOPPED MOVING. >> I WANT TO CHECK THAT, TYSON. >> I CAN DO THAT. BUT THAT IS ABOUT WHEN WE STARTED HAVING ISSUES. EMPLOYEE SIDE, WE HAVE LOST SEVERAL PEOPLE, BUT THAT'S NOT BEEN HOLDING US BACK. WE DO NEED TO RETRAIN SEVERAL PEOPLE AND ADD THEM TO THE CREW. >> THEY WON'T MATTER IF WE DON'T HAVE A GENERATOR. >> WE HAVE IDENTIFIED A FIX THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE. WE'RE STILL INVESTIGATING AND GETTING DOLLARS, BUT IT WOULD TIE THE GENERATORS TO THE ENGINE, HOPEFULLY IT WILL. >> REALIZE WHAT ALL OF THIS ENTAILS. WHEN SOMEONE WANTS TO SPEND IT ONCE THEY PUT A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT THEY'RE PAYING INTEREST ON THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO PUT INTO IN OUR TAX RULES, THEY HAVE TO WAIT ON THE SEWER TAP. BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET A WORKING GENERATOR ON THE LINER TRUCK, WE JUST GO WITH A BACKO AND FOUR GUYS AND DIG UP THE ROADS AND STREETS LIKE WE SAID WE WEREN'T GOING TO DO WHEN WE SPENT THIS MONEY. >> LINER TRUCK DOES NOT PREVENT US FROM HAVING TO DO THAT FOR BRAND NEW TAPS ON A PERFECTLY FINE LINE. LINER TRUCK IS FOR REHABBING EXISTING LINES THAT ARE IN BAD SHAPE. THIS ISN'T HOLDING A NEW TAPS OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S NOT REALLY RELATED TO REPAIR OF EXISTING LINES. >> LET ME ASK YOU THIS. WOULDN'T THAT TRUCK BE UTILIZED, AND THAT'S WHY WE SPENT $1 MILLION ON IT? WOULDN'T THAT TRUCK BE UTILIZED TO REALIGN DRAINAGE LINES THAT ARE SCHEDULED TO BE TAPPED INTO? I'M PRETTY SURE THAT YOU'LL CAMERA EACH SIDE INCOMING AND OUTGOING BEFORE YOU PUT THE TAP IN JUST TO MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR. YES OR NO? [02:45:01] >> WHEN YOU SAY DRAINAGE, DO YOU MEAN A STORM OR DO YOU MEAN SANITARY? >> YOU'RE IN A SANITARY LINE? >> WE DON'T TAP. >> OKAY. >> IT WOULD NOT BE NECESSARY INHERENTLY. IT MAY BE REQUIRED, BUT WE'RE STILL GOING TO EXCAVATE TO PUT IN A NEW TAP. THIS WILL REESTABLISH A TAP THAT'S ALREADY EXISTING. IT WILL NOT CREATE A NEW TAP IF A LATERAL DOES NOT ALREADY EXIST. >> I THINK YOU GET WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS. WE'RE TRYING TO ADOPT A BUDGET TODAY, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EFFICIENCIES. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SKIES FALLING AND ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT INVOLVED. BUT YET, WE HAVE $1 MILLION OF EQUIPMENT TIED UP THAT THE TAXPAYERS WERE EXPECTING TO BE OPERATIONAL. THESE ARE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DISCUSS. I HOPE YOU'RE SEEING THAT IT'S A PORT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. UNDERSTANDING TO SAY THAT WE NEED ANOTHER PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT'S GENERATOR BACK TO PROVE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS JUST NOT ADDING UP TO US. >> GENERATOR PROBLEM ISOLATED TO THE ONE TRUCK THAT GOES WITH THE LINER TRUCK. >> THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT TRUCKS THAT ARE HAVING THAT SAME ISSUE. >> THOSE ARE THE NORMAL CCTV TRUCKS, NOT THE LINING VEHICLE. THE NEW ROBOT IS FOR THE NEW LINING VEHICLE. >> I THINK WE MIGHT WANT TO FIX A GENERATOR PROBLEM, BUT WE SPEND MORE MONEY ON EQUIPMENT THAT'S GENERATOR BACKED. >> DO YOU HAVE QUOTES WITH OUR NEW GENERATOR SOLUTION. WE WERE JUST TRYING TO GO WITH WHAT THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED. THAT'S WHY WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO TROUBLESHOOT EVERYTHING. >> THE BIGGEST HOLD UP IS TRYING TO GET THE WARRANTY TO COVER IT AND TRYING TO GET THE MANUFACTURER TO MAKE IT RIGHT. >> THEN WHY DID WE BUY MORE LINER IF WE CAN'T EVEN USE THE TRUCK? >> WE HAD HOPES WHEN WE REPLACED IT THE LAST TIME OR THE TWO TIMES AGO THAT THE TRUCK WAS GOING TO BE FUNCTIONAL, THE TRUCK KEEPS [OVERLAPPING] >> BECAUSE THE LINER HAD A SHELF LIFE. >> IT DOES. WE HAVEN'T [OVERLAPPING] >> INVENTORY AND WASTING THAT TAXPAYERS DOLLARS. >> NO, WE HAVEN'T. I THINK TYSON ACTUALLY WENT OUT ONE TIME. DID WE HOOK UP WELDING MACHINE UP TO IT TO TRY TO MAKE IT WORK, WHICH IS CONCERNING TO ME BECAUSE THIS IS VERY SENSITIVE EQUIPMENT IN THESE TRUCKS AND IT HAS A SPECIFIED GENERATOR WITH OUTPUTS AND EVERYTHING ON IT, BUT WE'VE TRIED TO MAKE IT WORK AS BEST WE CAN WITH WHAT WE HAVE. >> WE PURCHASED THE LINER AFTER WE DID TWO DIFFERENT TRIAL RUNS ON THAT TRUCK TO ENSURE THAT THE GENERATOR WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING. >> CORRECT. >> YOU ALREADY RECEIVED THIS TRUCK AND PUT IT IN OPERATION OF JANUARY OF 2025. IT HAD 1,800 MILES ON IT. TO SAY THAT WE HAVE TO DO ANYTHING FOR THAT. BELIEVE ME, I DID THE RESEARCH. >> THE TRUCK THAT'S HAVING THE GENERATOR ISSUE IS NOT THE LINING TRUCK. IT IS OUR TELEVISING. >> IT'S THE TV TRUCK [OVERLAPPING] >> THAT IS ALSO USED FOR PLENTY OF OTHER TASKS, BESIDES JUST TASKS RELATED TO THE [OVERLAPPING] >> WELL, IT'S FOR SAT FOR SIX-AND-A-HALF MONTHS. THE CAMERA TRUCK THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SAT FOR SIX-AND-A-HALF MONTHS AS WELL. >> CORRECT. >> NOW WE'RE BUYING ANOTHER ONE. >> NO WE'RE NOT BUYING ANOTHER TRUCK. WE'RE BUYING ANOTHER CAMERA. I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU GUYS ARE SAYING. >> I MEAN, IT LOOKS REALLY BAD. >> IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING, AND IT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM WE HAVE THESE HIGH TECH PIECES OF EQUIPMENT THAT WE'RE BUYING, I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE RUSHED IN AND BUYING THIS EQUIPMENT TOO SOON. BUT WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO GET IT GOING, AND LIKE I SAID, I PUT THE SKIDS ON THE WELDING MACHINE USED BECAUSE I TOLD THEM I DO NOT WANT TO FRY THIS TRUCK. I'M TRYING TO WORK WITH THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE THE TRUCK IS AN $800,000 TRUCK. WE'RE GOING TO FRY IT OVER, AS YOU POINTED OUT, A VERY LOW COST GENERATOR THAT THE MANUFACTURER CAN'T SEEM TO MAKE WORK FOR US. IF WE USE SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE MANUFACTURERS GIVING US TO USE, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE THE WARRANTY ON THIS TRUCK. I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. WE'VE TRIED VERY HARD TO KEEP THE TRUCK OPERATIONAL WITH USING THE MANUFACTURER'S SUGGESTED STUFF. >> HAVE YOU TALKED TO OTHERS? >> YES, WE HAVE AND I'VE EVEN TRIED TOLD TYSON TO GO OUT AND RENT ANOTHER TRUCK. WE CAN'T FIND A TRUCK TO RENT. THAT'S BEEN THE OTHER PROBLEM TOO. WE'RE HOLDING UP. IT'S NOT JUST THE LINING TRUCK THAT'S GETTING HELD UP. I'VE GOT DRAINAGE PROJECTS THAT ARE GETTING HELD UP TOO BECAUSE OF THESE SAME ISSUES. >> TYSON, YOU JUST DISCLOSED THAT WE HAVE FIVE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT. NOT TELLING WHAT THE OTHER THREE ARE VALUED AT. WE HAVE FIVE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT THAT ARE BASICALLY PUTTING A COMPLETE WALL UP TO GETTING THINGS DONE THAT THE TAXPAYERS ARE EXPECTING US TO. >> THE BACK TRUCK HAS BEEN WORKING, OR AS BEST. >> NO, IT'S YOU JUST MENTIONED ANOTHER THREE CAMERA TRUCKS THAT ARE DOWN PRETTY OFTEN. >> YEAH. ONE OF THEM IS ONE THAT WE HELD OVER FOR DRAINAGE. DRAINAGE NEVER EVER HAD A CAMERA TRUCK. I HELD ONE BACK INSTEAD OF AUCTIONING IT OFF OUT OF DISTRIBUTION SO WE COULD HAVE A CAMERA TRUCK. [02:50:01] WE UNDERSTOOD THAT ONE WAS END OF LIFE WHEN WE TOOK IT INTO DRAINAGE. >> 14-YEARS-OLD. >> YEAH. WE KNEW THAT WHEN WE DID THAT. BUT WE'VE NEVER HAD A CAMERA TRUCK IN DRAINAGE. IT HELPS TO HAVE A DEDICATED DRAINAGE CAMERA TRUCK BECAUSE THERE'S A CLEANSING PROCESS THAT GOES ON WITH THESE CAMERAS BEFORE YOU CAN MOVE THEM IN AND OUT OF PIPES. WE KEPT THAT. WHEN WE KNEW THAT ONE WAS GOING TO BE IFFY FROM THE GET GO, BUT WE DID IT TO TRY TO EXPEDITE SOME OF THE DRAINAGE PROJECTS. THE OTHER TWO, ONE OF THEM IS SEVERAL YEARS OLD. THEN WE HAVE THE NEW ONE THAT WE BOUGHT WITH THE, NO LONGER THE CIPP TRUCK. THOSE ARE THE TWO THAT [OVERLAPPING] >> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE BUDGET TALKS HERE IN A LITTLE BIT. BUT ALL OF THIS ENCOMPASSES WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND IT'S EFFICIENCIES AND IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO THE TAXPAYER TO SAY, YEAH, WE CAN DO BETTER. THIS IS OVER $1 MILLION EXAMPLE OF TRYING TO DO BETTER. >> DEFINITELY I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER. YOU CAN'T CONTROL EVERY ASPECT OF IT, AND LIKE WE'VE SAID IT'S NOT [OVERLAPPING] >> NO. BUT IF I WAS TO GO BUY A NEW VEHICLE OFF A SHOW ROOM FLOOR IN JANUARY OF 2025, I WOULDN'T EXPECT TO BE SITTING IN THE YARD FOR SEVEN MONTHS. >> WE DIDN'T EXPECT THAT EITHER. BUT AS YOU KNOW WITH THE NEW VEHICLE, YOU MAY BE AT THE MERCY OF THE DEALERS PARTS FOR YOU AND HANDLING THE ISSUE. >> YOU ARE ALL SOLD TO THE PUBLIC THE RESPONSIBILITY TO SPEND $807,000 ON A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. >> MAYOR. >> LET ME [OVERLAPPING] >> NO, THIS IS NOT, MAYOR. MAYOR, THIS IS PART OF ALL OF IT, BUT I'M DONE. >> LET ME INTERJECT HERE. THIS IS ON OUR AGENDA FOR AN ACTION ITEM. WE CAN EITHER VOTE THIS UP OR WE CAN VOTE THIS DOWN. I'D LIKE TO TAKE IT OUT AND SO WE CAN VOTE ON IT. >> THAT'S FINE. IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO PAUSE BUYING THE CAMERA UNTIL WE GET THE TRUCK 100% OPERATIONAL, THAT'S COMPLETELY UNDERSTANDABLE. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. BUT JUST KNOW WE'RE TRYING TO WORK THIS THROUGH AT NO COST TO THE CITIZENS THROUGH WARRANTY. WE'RE TRYING NOT TO CREATE NEW EXPENSES ON THE TRUCK OR CREATE A VOID WARRANTY ON A [OVERLAPPING] >> FINE, BUT THEN THAT COSTS US MONEY TO. >> I AGREE, BUT [OVERLAPPING] >> WE HAVE THE BLACK AND RED OF NUMBERS. >> A LOT OF THIS NEW EQUIPMENT IS NOT WHAT IT'S UP TO PART. BUT YOU'VE GOTTEN A NEW TRUCK SINCE YOU'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL FOR THE VERY SAME REASON OF FAILURE THAT THEY COULDN'T. >> A 100%, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT'S WHY I HAVE ANOTHER TRUCK THAT REPLACED IT. >> I WISH THE DEALER HAD THESE SITTING AROUND THAT THEY COULD DO THAT BECAUSE WE WOULD BE STANDING ON THEM TO DO THAT. TRUST ME TYSON. THERE'S NOBODY BEEN STANDING ON TYSON AND PROBABLY ADVERSELY 82 TO GET THIS DAMN THING OPERATIONAL BECAUSE I HAD BEEN DOING THAT. I GOT THE SAME PROBLEM WITH GARBAGE TRUCKS THAT ARE STACKED UP AT A DEALERSHIP. I GOT THE SAME PROBLEM WITH FIRE TRUCKS THAT ARE STACKED UP AT DEALERSHIPS. EVERYTHING IS BACKED UP. WE'RE DOING OUR BEST, DAVID. I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, WE SHUT DOWN EVERYTHING IN THE GARAGE TO GET GARBAGE TRUCKS BACK ON THE STREET. >> I'M JUST DEALING WITH TRAILER RIGHT NOW. >> YEAH. WE HAVE BEEN JUST UP TO OUR EYES IN PARTS SUPPLY ISSUES. I AM DISAPPOINTED IN THE PURCHASE OF THIS TRUCK. THESE GUYS DIDN'T INSPECT THIS TRUCK. THESE GUYS DIDN'T BUY THIS TRUCK. THEY'RE DEALING WITH THE TRUCK THAT WE GOT, AND WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP IT OPERATIONAL AS BEST WE CAN. >> BRIAN. THIS IS AN ITEM, COUNCILMAN RAWLINS, PULL THIS, IF YOU WOULD AND LET ME KNOW WHEN WE GET. >> YOU'RE NOT UPSETTING US AT ALL BY DELAYING THE CAMERA PURCHASE. >> I UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT FORWARD. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYTHING ELSE? >> THANK YOU. BRIAN, I HAVE TWO THINGS. ITEM 10A. >> I JUST WANT COUNCIL TO KNOW, DON, THE WAY I UNDERSTAND THIS, ITEM 10A, THE PACKET MATERIAL ORDINANCE IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE REALLY WILL BE VOTING ON. THERE'S A MINOR CHANGE THAT THE PORT OF HOUSTON HAS BROUGHT FORWARD. IS THAT CORRECT? >> YES. THEY PUT IN A MINOR CHANGE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. >> RIGHT. >> THEY HAD CONCERNS ABOUT HGAC FUNDING. I'VE PUT IN SOME ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE TO LESSEN THEIR CONCERNS, AND I HAVE RECEIVED THEIR SIGNATURE PAGE THIS MORNING. >> DON, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THIS RIGHT NOW, I'D LIKE WHEN WE VOTE ON THIS. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE ACTUAL CHANGE OF LANGUAGE IS OR THE INSERTION. >> I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE ADDITIONAL CHANGE LANGUAGE IS THAT THE PORT OF HOUSTON THIS OBLIGATION IS FIXED AT $2 MILLION AND THAT THE TEX DOC CAN USE ANY OF THE CITY'S LOCAL SHARE THAT WE'VE RAISED AS MATCHING FUNDS. [02:55:02] AND IF THE MATCHING FUNDS FALL THROUGH, THE PORT OF HOUSTON WILL NOT BE OBLIGATED TO ANYTHING MORE THAN THE $2 MILLION. THAT'S IT. >> IF YOU DON'T MIND, DON, I NEED TO SEE THAT IN WRITING, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE, SIR. >> OKAY. >> THANK YOU. ALSO, ON 11G AND H, THAT IS OUR IN LOCAL AGREEMENT AND 11G AND H AND OUR HOT CONTRACT, THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE PARK BOARD. IS THAT CORRECT, BOB? >> YES. >> OKAY. SO THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED. I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THAT THAT WAS THE CASE. THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS WE HAVE. COUNCIL, I WANT TO THROW OUT AN IDEA TO YOU HERE. WE'RE GOING TO BE GETTING INTO THE BUDGET HERE IN A SECOND. MY THOUGHT IS THAT'S GOING TO BE A LONG DISCUSSION HERE ON THE BUDGET. WE DO HAVE THE UPDATED MASTER PLAN. THIS IS A SHORTER PRESENTATION FROM THE PORT. COUNCIL, I'M GOING TO SEE IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND IF WE COULD GET THIS BRING UP THE PORT NOW, GET THEIR INPUT, AND BE A SHORTER PRESENTATION. THEN WE CAN MOVE TO THE BUDGET. IS THAT THE COUNCIL'S APPROVAL? WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT. IT'S 11: 56. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK AND WE'LL COME BACK [OVERLAPPING]. VERY GOOD. IT IS 12: 03 FOR THOSE THAT MAY BE WATCHING. WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU BACK. WE'RE BACK IN OPEN SESSION NOW. LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 5C, PLEASE. [5.C Presentation and Discussion of the Updated Master Plan for the Port of Galveston (C Brown/V Pierson/R Rees - 20 min)] >> ITEM 5C, PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF THE UPDATED MASTER PLAN FOR THE PORT OF GALVESTON. >> COUNCIL, THIS WAS PLACED ON THE AGENDA. I THINK FIRST OF ALL, THE DRAFT OF THE MASTER PLAN WAS SENT TO COUNCIL MANY WEEKS AGO. GAVE YOU A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT. SOME OF YOU ATTENDED THE OPEN HOUSE. SOME OF YOU HAVE ALREADY HAD SOME PRETTY SPECIFIC PRESENTATIONS ON THIS. I THINK THE REAL ESTATE COMMITTEE DID OVER THERE AT THE PORT. I WANTED TO PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA TO FORMALLY GIVE COUNCIL, THOSE THAT HADN'T HAD A CHANCE YET TIME TO GIVE INPUT AND TO UNDERSTAND AND GET QUESTIONS ANSWERED ABOUT THE MASTER PLAN AND WHERE WE'RE HEADING WITH THAT. I'M GOING TO TURN THAT OVER TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PORT. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE. WE HAVE VICE CHAIRMAN PATTERSON AND DIRECTOR ROGER REES HERE, AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO ROGER TO WALK THROUGH IT. HOPEFULLY, YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE OPEN HOUSE OR AT THE REAL ESTATE COMMITTEE OR HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW IT AHEAD OF TIME. WE'RE STILL GETTING INPUT. A PUBLIC INPUT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO US, AND WE THINK THE PROCESS THAT WE HAVE IS WORKING WELL AND I'M ANXIOUS TO SEE IT'S COMPLETION. ROGER, IF YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH [OVERLAPPING]. >> WHAT YOU'VE GOT IN FRONT OF AND ON THE SCREEN IS A ANALYSIS AND A RECAP OF THE PUBLIC MEETING THAT WE HAD A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WE HAD 167 PEOPLE ATTEND, AND IT WAS VERY POSITIVE MEETING, I THINK. OBVIOUSLY, EVERYBODY HAS CONCERNS ABOUT TRAFFIC AND ITEMS LIKE THAT, AND I JUST WANT TO REASSURE EVERYBODY, WE'RE NOT OPERATING HERE IN A VACUUM. WE'RE LOOKING FOR INPUT. WE'LL CONTINUE TO ANALYZE THESE PROBLEMS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALL KNOW IS WE LIVE ON AN ISLAND, WE LIVE ON A SMALL ISLAND AND EVERY WEEKEND, OUR ISLAND TRIPLES IN POPULATION. HOW WE HANDLE THAT IS OBVIOUSLY VERY IMPORTANT TO US, AND A TOPIC OF ALMOST DAILY DISCUSSION AT THE PORT. THIS JUST GIVES YOU AN UPDATE ON WHAT WE JUST WENT THROUGH WITH THE MASTER PLANNERS AND THE PUBLIC MEETING AND WE HAVE REALLY NO GUN TO OUR HEAD ON THIS. WE'RE WORKING THE PLAN AS IT WAS PASSED IN 2019. THIS IS JUST AN UPDATE BECAUSE WE DID GET AHEAD OF SCHEDULE ON THE LAST VERSION OF THE PLAN. HOPEFULLY YOU'LL GET A CHANCE TO SEE WHAT BA HAS PUT TOGETHER FOR THE FUTURE. HERE AGAIN, MORE SO NOW THAN PROBABLY EVER, WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO BALANCE THIS PLAN WITH [03:00:01] THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE AS WE GROW UP TO THIS POINT, WE DO HAVE SOME CHOKE POINTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO ANALYZE. BUT THERE'S ALSO BEEN IN MY MIND, A NEW FOCUS ON TRYING TO CONNECT THE PORT TO THE COMMUNITY AND SAFELY, AS WELL AS LOGISTICALLY MAKE THAT HAPPEN FOR BOTH SIDES. YOU CAN SEE WE HAD 167 PEOPLE AT THE OPEN HOUSE. WE HAD CARDS THAT PEOPLE FILLED OUT. WE HAD I THINK 60 SOME RESPONSES TO THOSE CARDS, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THOSE IN JUST A SECOND FROM THE PEOPLE THAT ATTENDED. OVERALL, HERE'S THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT CAME. I DON'T KNOW HOW INTERESTED YOU ARE, BUT WE HAD 167 PEOPLE THAT SHOWED UP, AND YOU CAN SEE THE BREAKDOWN OF WHAT THE RESPONSES WERE, WHO THEY CAME FROM, WHERE THEY WERE WRITTEN. THEN THERE'S ALSO A LITTLE CHART DOWN THAT SAYS, WE SAW BASICALLY FOUR DIFFERENT TYPES OF INDIVIDUALS THAT SHOWED UP, INTERESTED PARTIES AND LOCAL BUSINESSES, AS WELL AS RESIDENTS AND OUR TENANTS. THEN YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBER OF CARDS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THEM AND HAD BROKEN DOWN IN TERMS OF WHO'S REALLY RESPONDING, WHO'S REALLY INTERESTED IN WHAT'S GOING ON? I THINK FROM 167 PEOPLE, CERTAINLY SOME INTEREST. JUST THE GENERAL COMMENTS. EVERYTHING WAS PRETTY POSITIVE. EVERYBODY THINKS WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE PORT IS A POSITIVE THING, IT'S A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE. MAJORITY WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE. JUST A COUPLE OF THEM WERE NOT SUPPORTIVE, BUT CONSIDERING THE SOURCE OF THOSE, THEY'RE NEVER SUPPORTIVE. THEY'RE PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE THAT DON'T SUPPORT ANYTHING OR SUPPORTIVE. EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO OR AGAINST IT. BUT THE VAST MAJORITY WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE, AND I THINK THAT IT WAS GOOD FEEDBACK. WHAT IT SHOWED IS THERE'S A LOT OF COMMUNITY PRIDE, I THINK, AND A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE DOING AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE SITTING HERE TALKING TO YOU GUYS IS GETTING YOUR INPUT, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE WHEN THIS THING FINALLY GETS PASSED. I THINK IT'S A GOOD PROCESS. SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT CAME OUT OF IT, BA IS WORKING ON THOSE RIGHT NOW. I'M NOT GOING TO GO IN DETAIL ON THIS. YOU CAN HAVE ALL THIS TO TAKE THAT'S IN THE WRITTEN PART OF IT. BUT THESE ARE JUST A BREAKDOWN FURTHER ON WHAT THE COMMENTS WERE. YOU CAN READ SOME OF THE COMMENTS ABOUT THE QUOTES BASICALLY FROM CARDS WE RECEIVED IN THESE INDIVIDUAL AREAS. IT WAS A GOOD EXPERIENCE, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. MOST OF THE COMMON ISSUES, NO SURPRISE. OBVIOUSLY, EVERYBODY'S STILL CONCERNED WITH TRAFFIC. IN REALITY, IT'S NOT JUST TRAFFIC AT THE PORT, IT'S TRAFFIC ON THIS ISLAND, PERIOD, OVERALL. WE HAVE THAT EVERYWHERE YOU TURN. HOW YOU SOLVE THAT IS JUST CONTINUE TO LOOK AT IT WEIRD. WE CONTINUE TO ADD PROCESSES TO WHAT WE'RE DOING. I MAY HAVE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE, BUT WE'VE JUST ENGAGED IN THE PURCHASE OF A SOFTWARE PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS US TO TAKE ALL THE DATA FROM WAYS AND QUITE A FEW DATA. A LOT OF DATA COMING INTO THE PORT, OR YOU SEE WHERE THESE PEOPLE CAME FROM, HOW THEY GOT TO THE PORT, AND WHAT IT ALLOWS US TO DO IS KEEP THAT INFORMATION. NOW WE CAN LOOK BACK ON WHAT PEOPLE DID, WHERE THEY WENT, WHERE THE CHOKE HOLES WERE, AND ALL OF THOSE PROBLEMS. WE HAVE THAT AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY. WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER SOME MATRICES FROM THAT INFORMATION THAT WE WILL PUBLISH, WHICH WE CAN GO AND STUDY TRAFFIC UP FRONT ALL YOU WANT. BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT GALVESTON AND YOU LOOK AT HOW OUR STREETS ARE DESIGNED AND HOW EVERYBODY MOVES IN GALVESTON, THE WAY I LOOK AT, THERE'S THREE EAST WEST CORRIDORS. THERE'S THE SEA WALL, THERE'S BROADWAY, AND THEN THERE'S HARBORSIDE. PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO COME IN TO GALVESTON ARE GOING TO COME DOWN ONE OF THESE WAYS ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. [03:05:02] YOU SEE IT GOING TO THE BEACH, YOU SEE IT COMING TO THE PORT. HOW WE SOLVE THAT, IF ANYBODY HAS AN ANSWER TO THAT, THAT'S THE $1,000 QUESTION. HOW DO YOU ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO GO ON ONE ROAD WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT KNOW GALVESTON? YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN TO GALVESTON MANY TIMES, AND WE HAVE SO MANY REPEAT CRUISERS. IT'S THE SAME THING. WE HAVE SO MANY REPEAT PEOPLE TO GO TO THE BEACH, SO THEY KNOW HOW TO GET THERE. IF THEY COME TO 61ST STREET OR THEY COME TO HARBORSIDE DRIVE, AND IT'S BACKED UP, THEY KNOW WHERE TO GO. HOW WE SOLVE THAT. WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS FROM OUR STANDPOINT, I THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUES WE HAVE, AND THAT CAME OUT IN THIS PUBLIC MEETING IS THAT WE HAVE SIDE STREET PROBLEMS. HARBORSIDE DRIVE. WE THINK WE'VE GOT HARBORSIDE SOLVED. IT'S NOT ALWAYS PERFECT, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS PART OF IT IS JUST TWO OR THREE HOURS. DURING THE WEEKENDS, IT REALLY IS BAD TIMES. >> ROGER AND COUNCIL, IT'S NOT JUST THE CARS. IT'S THE PEDESTRIANS AND TRYING TO GET THEM BACK ONTO ACROSS INTO DOWNTOWN. IT'S BOTH THINGS. MOVING PEOPLE, MOVING VEHICLES. IF YOU SAW ON THIS PIT CHART, THE CITY AND PORT INTEGRATION WAS THE NUMBER ONE WITH THE TRAFFIC CONCERNS NUMBER 2. WE'VE GOT TO MOVE PEOPLE AND WE HAVE TO MOVE VEHICLES. >> YEAH. >> SAFELY. >> SAFELY. >> YEAH, VIC'S EXACTLY RIGHT. WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF GRANTS. WE HAVE SAFE STREET GRANTS THAT STUDIED HARBORSIDE DRIVE. YOU GUYS HAVE A SAFE STREET GRANT ALSO. OURS HAS BEEN COMPLETED. WE'VE DONE THE FEASIBILITY ON IT, AND WE HAVE ACTUALLY APPLIED FOR THE MONEY TO DO. IT IS REALLY SUPERFICIAL A LOT OF IT, BUT IT IS MAKING BETTER INTERSECTIONS, BETTER SIGNAGE. I SIT ON THE PORT AUTHORITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH IS A ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION. UNFORTUNATELY THIS YEAR, WE ONLY RECEIVED ABOUT $40 MILLION FOR THE WHOLE PORT SYSTEM, WHERE TWO YEARS AGO, WE RECEIVED 200 MILLION. THAT MONEY ALL WENT WHERE THE PORT GOT 25%. BY THE DOLLARS, WE GOT MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE. THAT WENT TO THREE SEPARATE PROJECTS. THOSE ARE ALL UNDERWAY, ALL THOSE PROJECTS ARE UNDERWAY, BUT WE JUST RECENTLY GOT THE ONLY ROUND. I SHOULD SAY, IN THIS LEGISLATURE, WHICH WAS $1.8 MILLION TO STUDY SIGNAGE WAY FINDING, CREATE A BETTER WAY TO GET THERE; MORE DIGITAL SIGNAGE, MORE SIGNAGE THAT CAN BE DYNAMIC. WHEN THE SYSTEMS POINT TO A PROBLEM, THEN THE SYSTEM WILL PUSH PEOPLE AROUND. IF I DON'T HAVE A BETTER ANSWER, AS I MENTIONED, YOU'VE GOT THREE MAIN CORRIDORS COMING INTO THIS ISLAND, AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TAKE ONE OF THOSE IN MOST CASES. >> YES. MARIE? >> IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT WAYFINDER, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD BE COVERED AS A HOT EXPENSE. IF THERE WAS SOME WAY WE COULD TRANSFER SOME HOT FUNDS FOR THE WAYFINDING, THEN YOU COULD USE IT FOR THE FIX OF MOVING PEOPLE SAFELY. MAYBE YOU COULD EXPLORE THAT MARTY. >> I CAN ADDRESS THAT BECAUSE THE PARK BOARD JUST DID A WAY FINDING PROJECT. >> RIGHT. >> I WILL TELL YOU, YOU WERE INVOLVED. >> YOU WERE NOT INVOLVED UNTIL THE END OF IT. WHEN THE SIGNAGE PACKAGES CAME OUT. >> NOTHING ON THERE ABOUT THE PORT. SERIOUSLY, THERE WAS NOTHING ON THESE SIGNS ABOUT THE PORT. WE WERE ABLE TO INTERCEPT A LITTLE BIT OF IT. I WAS RIGHT AT THE TAIL END, AND THERE WAS A TRANSITION GOING ON, SO I DON'T BLAME ANY ONE INDIVIDUAL. IT WAS A COMMUNICATION THAT THIS ISLAND HAS ALWAYS HAD ISSUES WITH. WE DID GET IT ON THE TAIL END OF IT, AND WE DID GET SOME SIGNAGE, AND THESE SIGNS RELATED TO EVERYTHING BASICALLY SOUTH OF HARBOR, I MEAN, A BROADWAY. ALL THAT SIGNAGE WAS REALLY I MEAN FOR THE BEACH, AND FOR THAT, AND I GAVE ALL THAT. BUT THERE WASN'T ONE SIGN THAT SAID PORT THIS WAY. [03:10:02] >> I KNOW. MAYBE WOULD MARTY NOW BE ON THE INTERIOR. >> MARTY, AND I MET A COUPLE OF TIMES ALREADY. I THINK THERE'S AN OPENING THERE. I WAS KIDDING MARTY THE OTHER DAY. YOU HEARD ME. I WAS KIDDING THE OTHER DAY THAT EVER SINCE MARTY'S BEEN ON THE WATER. >> WATER'S BLUE CLEAR. [LAUGHTER]. >> MAYBE SOMEBODY'S TELLING ME SOMETHING. >> ON THAT TOPIC TOO, I MAY BE WRONG, BUT THE CITY WASN'T INVOLVED TOO MUCH IN THAT WAY FINDING PROCESS, EITHER. >> WELL, SO WE HAVE THE MONEY TO DO IT. OUR IDEA IS IT HAS TO BE MORE DYNAMIC. I MEAN, WE LIKE WHAT THE PARKS BOARD WAS DOING. I MEAN, A NICE LOOK. IT TOLD YOU HOW TO GET TO THE BEACH, AND ALL OF CUSTOM. THE KEY HERE IS MAKING SURE THAT WHEN SOMEBODY LOOKS AT SOMETHING, THEY RECOGNIZE A STYLE. THAT THEY SAY, IF I SEE THAT STYLE, I KNOW THAT I'M GETTING THE DIRECTION. FROM OUR STANDPOINT, BECAUSE WE HAVE DYNAMIC, OUR DIRECTIONS CHANGE VIRTUALLY ALL THE TIME. WE'RE LOOKING MORE AT DIGITAL SIGNAGE MEETING WITH TECHS DOT, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE MAKE HARBOR SIDE DRIVE A BETTER PLACE TO MOVE PEOPLE IN, AND OUT AT A GIVEN TIME. >> WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING I GUESS ENVISION, GOING TO THE AIRPORT WHERE YOU HAVE TERMINAL A, B, AND C, AND THEN ARROWS SAY TERMINAL A? >> IT'S S CHANGEABLE LANE MESSAGE. >> WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT. >> [OVERLAPPING] MOST PEOPLE KNOW WHO ON CRUISE LINE ON, BUT IT'S A SHIFT THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR. >> SOME PEOPLE IF THEY'RE GOING TO THE WORLD TERMINAL, THEY'LL SIT IN THE CARNIVAL LANE EITHER WAY. >> [OVERLAPPING] YOU'RE GOING EAST. THE FIRST LANE ON THE RIGHT, JUST STAY IN THAT LANE BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE OTHER END. THEN IN THE MIDDLE LANE, YOU'RE GOING TO THE NEWS 16. STAY IN THAT LANE. THEN ON THE WEEKENDS, JUST DIRECTIONS CAN CHANGE. YOU'RE COMING BACK OUT. YOU'VE SEEN THEM OR RED ARROWS, GREEN ARROWS, AND I DON'T WANT TO GET OFF ON TANGENT HERE, BUT I MEAN, JUST SO YOU'LL KNOW, TO ME, THIS IS THE MESSAGE THAT I WANT YOU ALL TO COME AWAY WITH IS THERE'S RENEWED COMMUNICATION HERE. WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THIS WORK FOR EVERYBODY, BECAUSE WE WANT CUSTOMERS. WE WANT THE CLIENTS TO COME TO THE PORT. WE WANT TO COME DOWNTOWN, AND SO HOW WE SOLVE THAT ISSUE AND CONTINUE THE GROWTH. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL A LONG WAY AWAY, PROBABLY $100 MILLION AWAY FROM BEING DONE WITH THE WEST END OF THE PORT. THE ONLY WAY THAT WE'RE GETTING MONIES TO COMPLETE THAT WORK IS WHAT WE GENERATE. BECAUSE WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT AND IN THIS, WE JUST RAN INTO THIS IN THE GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS WHERE I WAS LOOKING FOR ANOTHER $30 MILLION FROM THE PORT INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT, WHICH IS THE FEDERAL TEXTILE GRANT, DOT GRANT, AND WE WERE GOING TO DO THE WEST END, THE NUMBERS CAN. WE BELIEVE IN THE INVESTMENT, BECAUSE WE KNOW LONG TERM, THIS IS GOING TO THIS IS WHAT THE PORTS GOING TO NEED AND THE CITY JOBS AND EVERYTHING. BUT THE PROBLEM IS YOU CAN'T GET THE FEDERAL WITHOUT THE RIGHT NUMBERS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT INTERESTED IN INVESTING. THAT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES WE HAVE, SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO END UP CONTINUING, WHICH WE'VE DONE IS HOPEFULLY GETTING MORE MONEY FROM THE STATE, WHICH THE STATE ALLOWED ME ON THE PAC PORT AUTHORITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO CHANGE WHAT THE RECOMMENDED PROJECT WAS. WHEN WE GOT THE 200 MILLION, WHAT WE ENDED UP DOING WAS PUTTING IT ON THE WEST END, BUT THAT WASN'T WHAT THE STATE HAD RECOMMENDED, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RETURN ON INVESTMENT. WHAT WE DID WAS SAID, NO, WE WANT TO DO THIS. WE WERE ABLE TO DO IT. THEY'RE ALL STATE FOLKS ON PELICAN ISLAND AND THIS LITTLE CAP BEFORE THE HORSE AND SOME OF THAT STUFF. BUT WE'RE ALL FOCUSING ON IT. >> ONE OF THE CRITICAL POINTS SO FAR THE DRAFT IS THAT IT INDICATES THAT CARGO IS UP 110%. >> YOU GOT A SLIDE ON THAT. >> YES. WITH THE CREWS UP 143, BUT THE KEY IS YOU CAN DO BOTH. WE DON'T HAVE TO DO ONE. LET'S DO BOTH. LET'S PUT THE REVENUE AND THE NET PROFIT OFF OF CRUISE HELP FUND THE GROWTH IN CARGO. [03:15:06] THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL MASTER PLAN, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING. >> ONLY SAID WE HAD TO LEVERAGE CREWS TO CREATE MONEY TO BUILD CARGO. >> DAVID, DID YOU HAVE? >> ABSOLUTELY, YES. >> WELL, DAVID, SHOULD HAVE TWO MORE SLIDES. LET'S GET THROUGH THOSE AND THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP, DAVID, AND LET HIM. >> THIS IS A LOT OF TEXT. I'M NOT GOING TO READ THROUGH THIS. IT CONTINUES TO GO DEEPER INTO THE IDEAS THAT CAME FROM THE OBSERVATIONS AND STUFF THAT CAME FROM THE PLAN. YOU CAN READ. WE'RE WORKING THIS PLAN AS WE DID ON THE LAST PLAN. DIVERSIFICATION IS THE KEY. WE'VE ALL LEARNED THAT. THE ISSUE IS THAT CARGO IN ITS CURRENT STATE DOESN'T GENERATE A LOT OF REVENUES. CREATES A LOT OF JOBS, A LOT OF ECONOMIC BENEFIT, AND ACTUALLY THE JOBS CREATE MORE DOWN THE LINE THAN THE CAR THE CRUISE JOBS DO. BUT THE CRUISE JOBS ARE IMMEDIATE. I SAID THESE ARE A COUPLE OF QUOTES THAT BA PUT TOGETHER AND BASICALLY HE'S SAYING, IT'S NOT CRUISE VERSUS CARGO. IT'S REALLY A BALANCED APPROACH. BUT YOU HAVE TO BE REALISTIC BECAUSE ALL OF THIS DEPENDS ON MONEY. HERE'S A TIMELINE ON WHERE WE'RE THINKING, WE'LL GO WITH THIS. WE'RE MAKING THIS PRESENTATION TODAY. WE'RE EXPECTING TO SEE REAL SHORTLY THE COMMENTS AND THEIR EFFECT ON THIS MASTER PLAN. THEN WE'LL BE SEEING THE ACTUAL PROJECTS. I'M NOT SURE IF YOU NOTICE IN OUR MEETINGS, EVERY MEETING WE FOCUS ON THESE CAPITAL PROJECTS AND THE CAPITAL PLANS, AND THAT'S HOW WE FORMULATE OUR FUTURE AND OUR FUTURE USE OF OUR CASH FLOW. THIS IS A TIME FRAME HERE. WE'RE LOOKING AT AT SEPTEMBER TO BE A MONTH OF COMING BACK WITH ANOTHER DRAFT PLAN WITH LOOKING AT THE OBSERVATIONS. THE OBSERVATIONS TALK ABOUT MORE PEDESTRIAN. WE DON'T HAVE SIDEWALKS IN CERTAIN PLACES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I'M PRETTY SURE WE'LL BE BACK HERE AGAIN. >> THIS IS OUR GOAL. IT'S NOT WE DON'T HAVE TO ADHERE TO IT, IF WE NEED MORE TIME. THE MAIN THING IS WE WANT TO GET THIS PLAN RIGHT. THAT'S THE MAIN THING. WE WANT AS MUCH CITIZEN, COUNCIL, INPUT AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE GET IT RIGHT FOR THE PORT AND FOR THE GALVESTON COMMUNITY, FOR BUSINESSES, AND EVERYONE. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY, ACTUALLY, TO GET MORE. >> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, ROGER. APPRECIATE IT. LET'S OPEN IT UP, DAVID. >> SURE. I GOT TO SAY THAT I LIKE THE MASTER PLAN IN TERMS OF FLEXIBILITY THAT AFFORDS YOU. I MEAN, WE SAW THAT IN THE 2019 MASTER PLAN. I THINK WHAT I WANTED TO POINT TO IN THE OPED THAT I GAVE TO YOU IS THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THERE'S A NEW PARADIGM THAT NEEDS TO EXIST BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE PORT. THAT IS THE TRAFFIC STUDIES THAT YOU'VE DONE TO DATE HAVE LARGELY BEEN ON THE MANAGED PROPERTY. ON THE PORT SIDE. NOW, YOU DID MENTION THAT YOU DID DO A SAFE STREET PROGRAM ON HARBOR SIDE. AND YOU'RE RIGHT, IT IS MINIMAL. IT'S TALKING ABOUT LITTLE SMALL PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS, ADA SIDEWALKS, SIGN CHURCH AND THAT SORT OF STUFF, WHICH IS GOOD. BUT MY POINT, IT WAS ON PAGE 2 THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTOOD IS THAT BEFORE WE ADD ONE MORE BIRD, BEFORE WE BRING ONE MORE SHIP, WE NEED AN OFF PORT MOBILITY PLAN. WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS IT'S THINK OF IT LIKE A LITTLE MINI COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. THIS IS ME. THIS IS THE URBAN PLANNER, TRAFFIC ENGINEERING ME BECAUSE TO DATE, THE TRAFFIC STUDIES THAT Y'ALL HAVE BEEN DOING HAVE BEEN ADDRESSING SINGLE ISSUES, SIGNAGE, FOR EXAMPLE. IT'S GREAT. I'M GLAD YOU GOT $1.8 MILLION TO DO THAT. BUT THAT'S JUST SIGNAGE. THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT CRUISE LINES HAVE THE BIGGEST TRAFFIC IMPACT OUT OF ALL OF YOUR OFFERS ON THE PORT. WHICH PUTS THE LARGEST BURDEN ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. WE ALREADY SEE THAT. Y'ALL HAVE DONE WHAT YOU NEEDED TO DO ON THE PORT PROPERTY WITH THE BUILDING OF THE INTERNAL ROAD. BUT WE'RE STILL HAVING THOSE ISSUES, WHERE WE GET GRIDLOCK IN DOWNTOWN ON BOARDING DAYS, [03:20:01] WHERE YOU CAN'T MOVE DOWN 23RD, 25TH, 2020, WHATEVER IT IS THAT GETS THEM INTO THE PORT, AND WE'RE STARTING TO SEE BACKUPS ON 14. COMING UP ON WITH TERMINAL 16, I KNOW WE'RE GETTING THE SIGNAL IN, WHICH IS GREAT. I MEAN, IT WAS A LITTLE DELAYED IN THE TRAFFIC STUDY, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO GO BACK THERE. WHAT I WANT TO POINT TO IS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS FROM AN OVERALL CITY STANDPOINT, NOT JUST A PORT MANAGED PROPERTY STANDPOINT. I THINK WE CAN DO THAT. [NOISE] AGAIN, I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT Y'ALL WILL UNDERSTAND, IN MY OPINION, THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT REVENUE GROWTH FOR THE PORT. THIS IS ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT, NOT THE TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT THAT GENERATES THE MOST REVENUE, BUT THE TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT THAT INCREASES THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. HOW WE LEVERAGE THE BENEFIT OF THE PORT TO OUR CITIZENS. THAT'S WHAT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THIS DISCUSSION TO BE ABOUT. I WILL OFFER MYSELF AS A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT TO HELP WHATEVER WAY I CAN IN ORDER TO HELP GET US TO DEFINE A SCOPE OF SERVICES FOR A MOBILITY PLAN, LEVERAGE WHATEVER STATE FEDERAL FUNDS MIGHT BE AVAILABLE IN ORDER TO FUND IT. BUT WE'VE GOT TO DO THAT BEFORE WE START TALKING ABOUT ADDING ANOTHER BIRTH. I DON'T WANT TO BE BACK HERE. LIKE WE DID PREVIOUSLY, WHERE Y'ALL WERE ASKING FOR BONDS WHEN YOU'D ALREADY ISSUED THE CONTRACTS AND YOU'RE ALREADY UNDER CONSTRUCTION, AND YOU'RE ASKING FOR MONEY TO COVER STUFF THAT YOU'RE ALREADY WRITING CHECKS FOR. THAT DOESN'T PUT US IN THE RIGHT POSITIONS PARTNERS TO HELP Y'ALL SUCCEED. I THINK THAT WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AND BY THE WAY, THE GOING AND GETTING THE WAYS INFORMATION I THINK IS A GREAT INPUT INTO THAT MOBILITY PLAN. I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE GETTING THAT DATA BECAUSE THAT WILL SAVE YOUR COSTS ON LAND DOWN TUBES AND DOING TRAFFIC COUNTING. THE SAFE STREET GRANT THAT YOU'RE DOING FOR HARBOR SIDE NEEDS TO BE INPUT INTO THE MOBILITY PLAN, SAYING, LOOK, WE'VE GONE FORWARD AND ALREADY DONE THIS. BUT IT ALSO NEEDS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S MULTI MODAL. LIKE YOU ALREADY MENTIONED, THAT YOU'VE GOT PEDESTRIAN ISSUES THAT YOU'VE GOT TO ADDRESS, AS WELL AS JUST VEHICLES. MAYOR, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE ASKED FOR INPUT INTO THE MOBILITY OR INTO THE MASTER PLAN THAT I PROVIDED THIS AS WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION OF MY POSITION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PLANNING FOR THIS FUTURE GROWTH BECAUSE WITHOUT IT, IF WE DON'T PLAN FOR IT AND WE DON'T TAKE CARE OF THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES AHEAD OF TIME, THEN THE ADDITIONAL CRUISE TRAFFIC THAT YOU'RE PUTTING ON THERE, ABSENT OF THOSE UPGRADES, WILL FURTHER DETERIOR THE LEVEL OF SERVICE ON THOSE ROADWAYS. >> YOU SENT AN EMAIL TO ME OUTLINING THAT I'VE TRANSFER THAT TO STAFF, AND THEY'VE BEEN PUTTING THAT INTO THE MASTER. >> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU DAVID. IF YOU CAN EXPLAIN TO ME A VISION. >> SURE. >> EXPLAIN TO ME A VISION. IN REALITY, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT WHAT I OUTLINED EARLIER, WE'VE GOT CERTAIN WAYS PEOPLE GET ON THIS ISLAND. WHAT IS THE VISION SHORT OF BUILDING NEW ROADS? WE OUR VISION HAS BEEN T GET AS MANY PEOPLE OFF THE ROADS AS WE CAN. WE'VE SPENT $20 MILLION FOR NEW ROADS IN. WE'VE JUST OPENED THE FOUR NEW LANES. WE JUST OPENED UP THREE NEW LANES INSIDE. BUT I'M INTERESTED BECAUSE I DO KNOW THAT ONE OF OUR CRUISE LINES IS INTERESTED NOW IN DEVELOPING AN ADDITION TO THEIR CRUISE TERMINAL. THEY'RE PUTTING IN A $1.5 BILLION INTO THEIR PORTS OF CALL. I'M NOT PUTTING GUN AT ANYBODY HEAD BECAUSE WE KNOW AS A PORT, WE CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR THAT. THEY'RE STEPPING FORWARD IF THE SAME PLAN. THAT'S WHY I WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE VISION THAT CAN BE HAD HERE. I'M ONE OF THE MOST OPEN MINDED PEOPLE THAT YOU'LL EVER MEET. I PROMISE YOU. EVEN IN MY AGE, I'M OPEN MINDED ON HOW TO DO THINGS, BUT WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN IS A VISION OF WHAT THIS PLACE LOOKS LIKE THE NEXT TIME THE CRUISE TERMINALS OPEN, A NEW BIRTH. YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER 15,000-20,000 PEOPLE COMING IN. SAME INFRASTRUCTURE. SAME ROADS. [03:25:04] YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M GOING WITH THIS? I MEAN, I WANT TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE I SEE IT GOING ON. WE STUDY THIS. MAN, YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH STAFF TIME WE SPEND ON SOLVING THESE ISSUES. BUT WHAT I NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS, WHAT AM I MISSING? WHAT AM I AS A PORT DIRECTOR MISSING? THAT IS THE ANSWER. BECAUSE TO ME, AND I GET FRUSTRATED WITH TIME. I GET FRUSTRATED BECAUSE I'M A BUSINESSMAN, AND I'M USED TO WORKING OUT HERE MAKING DECISIONS AND MOVING FORWARD. WE HAVE A LOT MORE CONSTRAINTS IN GOVERNMENT, PORT, CITY, ALL THOSE THINGS, STATE, EVERYTHING. WHAT I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND IS AND I'LL CERTAINLY MAYBE NOT HERE, BUT WE SIT DOWN AGAIN BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO SEE THE VISION. WE DO HAVE TWO MILLION DOLLARS AT HDAC. THEY HAVE A VISION TO BUILD A NEW ROAD FROM INTERSTATE. BUT WHAT DOES THAT DO? [NOISE] >> EVERYBODY BACK IN THE SAME PLACE. >> COUNCILMAN PINKY'S OFFERED HIS SERVICES AND DEVELOPING. [OVERLAPPING]. >> THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING IS. [OVERLAPPING] I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THE VISION BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO CREATE A VISION, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO BE REAL ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE. >> COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND. THERE'S NOT A PANACEA AN ANSWER BECAUSE WHEN YOU ASK FOR YOUR VISION BECAUSE YOU SAID, YOU'RE ALREADY PLANNING ON POTENTIALLY OPENING UP A NEW OR SOMEBODY'S INTERESTED IN DOING ANOTHER BIRTH. THE VISION CAN'T AUTOMATICALLY ASSUME THAT THERE'S ANOTHER BIRTH GOING IN. IT HAS TO GO DOWN TO WHAT'S THE LEVEL OF SERVICE FOR YOUR ROADWAYS FOR THE AMOUNT OF CARS THAT IT CAN HANDLE? IF IT CAN'T HANDLE THAT, THEN HOW ARE YOU GOING TO ADDRESS THAT? IT MAY BE THAT YOU HAVE ALTERNATE PATHS, THAT YOU HAVE DESIGNATED ROUTES FOR PARTICULAR CRUISE SHIPS AND YOU'RE FORCING THEM TO GO DOWN CERTAIN AREAS. >> I CAN GIVE YOU THE ANSWER. THE ANSWER IS, DON'T LET THE CARS COME IN, STOP THEM ALL AT THE WEST END OF HARBORSIDE RIDE AND HAVE A 10,000 PARKING SPACE GARAGE AT THE TUNE OF 500 MILLION. >> NO. I MEAN, NO. >> THAT IS A POTENTIAL SOLUTION. BUT WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO IS TO JUST CARELESSLY OPEN UP ADDITIONAL CREWS TERMINALS BECAUSE OTHERWISE, IT'S GOING TO COLLAPSE YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEM, AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE UNHAPPY GUESTS. >> I WOULD LOVE TO SIT DOWN AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT LOOKS LIKE THAT HELPS TO ENSURE THE QUALITY OF SERVICE BOTH FOR YOUR GUESTS, AS WELL AS FOR OUR RESTS. >> I THINK RHEE HAS A QUESTION. >> I LISTENED TO YOUR MEETING THE OTHER DAY, AND YOU HAD A VERY VALID POINT OF ALL THE TRAFFIC THAT FUNNELS DOWN 61ST STREET AND THE SEAWALL. THE TRAFFIC ISSUE THAT MAY EXIST IS A GLOBAL ONE ACROSS THE ISLAND, CAUSED BY THE FACT THAT WE ARE AN ISLAND AND WE GET 10 MILLION TOURISTS TO THE ISLAND. I REALLY THINK IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT GLOBALLY. I'M THE PERSON THAT GOES OUT ON WEEKENDS AND ACTUALLY DRIVES DOWN HARBOR SIDE BECAUSE EVERYONE LOVES TO COMPLAIN, BUT THEN WHEN YOU GO OUT THERE AND LOOK, IT'S NOT AS BIG OF AN ISSUE. >> DOWNTOWN ON 23RD. >> I HAVE SEEN TRAFFIC BACKED UP TO LEAGUE CITY FROM 61ST STREET AND THE SEAWALL AND A LIGHT MALFUNCTIONING OR JUST THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMING. I THINK THERE ARE ISSUES. TRY TO COME OUT OF HARVEL LA FETE NEIGHBORHOOD. WHEN THE WATER PARK IS CLOSING AND MIGHT TAKE YOU HOURS. I THINK THAT WE REALLY DO NEED TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE GLOBAL PICTURE. I CAN ALSO SAY I HAVE PERSONALLY SPENT MORE TIME BEHIND A WINDMILL BLADE. THEN I HAVE WAITING FOR A CRUISE SHIP. I THINK THE IDEA OF FUNNELING OFF IS A GREAT IDEA, AND I THINK HOW YOU'RE WORKING WITH THE HCAC. BUT I REALLY DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT A GLOBAL STUDY OF TRAFFIC ON THE ENTIRE ISLAND. [03:30:05] >> ALEX SAID HE'S HAND UP, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE AND JEFF GO AHEAD AND FINALIZE YOUR AND THEN WE'LL MOVE THAT TO JEFF. >> JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND. I SPEAK OF A MOBILITY PLAN. THIS IS REALLY FOCUSED ON THE PLAN THAT'S MANAGED BY THE PORT AND DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO TRY TO GO AND DO AN OVERALL CITYWIDE MOBILITY PLAN. THAT'S GOING TO COME OUT OF A PRODUCT OF YOUR COMP PLAN. YOU DO YOUR COMP PLAN FIRST AND THAT'S GOING TO DEFINE HOW YOU'RE GOING TO GO START AND DO YOUR MOBILITY PLAN FOR THE ISLAND. THIS IS JUST FOCUSED ON THE NEEDS OF THE PORT AND THE MASTER PLAN THAT YOU'RE PRODUCING. THIS IS NOT TRAVELING DOWN 61ST OR HARVEL LA FETE OR THE AIRPORT. THIS IS REALLY FOCUSED ON 45 HARBOR SIDE BROADWAY, AND THEN THE NETWORK OF STREETS THAT ARE CONNECTING TO THE PORT. I'LL SIT DOWN. [OVERLAPPING] >> ONE THING, I TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN WHAT WE'RE DOING ABSOLUTELY. I DON'T LIKE THE WORD CARELESSLY. BECAUSE YOU SAID WE CARELESSLY WE'RE GOING TO BE PLANNING FOR THE NEXT TERMINAL, AND THAT'S NOT TRUE. I TOLD YOU. WE DO THIS EVERY DAY. WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS EVERY DAY, I KNOW YOU JUST SAID THAT, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE NOT JUST SAYING, OKAY, EVERYBODY FOR THEMSELVES, WE'RE GOING TO OPEN ANOTHER TERMINAL AND LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY. BECAUSE THAT'S NOT THE TRUTH. THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE DOING. YOU SEE THAT. >> CHEF JEFF AND ALEX JEFF. >> I WAS JUST GOING TO COMMENT. I THINK WE HAD THIS SAME DISCUSSION WE HAD AT THE BOARD MEETING LAST TUESDAY. I THINK THERE'S AN AWARENESS OR RECOGNITION THAT WE REALLY DO NEED TO GET THAT BIG PICTURE. I THINK IT GETS DOWN TO WHAT ROGER AND DAVID WAS TALKING ABOUT. HE GETS DOWN TO. I THINK WE'RE AGREEING THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT BIG HOLISTIC GLOBAL PICTURE. BUT I THINK HELPING US MAYBE DAVID DEFINE THE HOW AND SPECIFICALLY, WHAT DOES THAT REALLY MEAN? WHAT STUDY AND WHAT'S THE RIGHT SCOPE OF IT, BECAUSE WE CAN'T NECESSARILY FIX EVERY ISSUE ON. BUT MAYBE HELPING ROGER AND THE BOARD DEFINE THE SCOPE OF THAT, WHAT WE LOOK AT, I THINK WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL BECAUSE I THINK WE'VE GOT A LOT OF THE SAME THOUGHTS ABOUT DIRECTIONAL. >> I THINK THEY ARE THE SAME THOUGHTS. >> NOW WE DID WHAT SCALE. >> NOW WE NEED TO GET THAT FROM GOOD IDEAS TO A PLAN TO DATA AND IMPLEMENTATIONS. >> I THINK THAT'S CORRECT. >> ONE MORE COMMENT. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE STRUGGLED WITH EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE AND YOU HAVE A COMMUNITY. WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE YEAR ROUND, AND ALMOST EVERY ONE OF US IN THIS ROOM ARE THOSE PEOPLE. WE HAVE MADE THE DECISION THAT TOURISM IS A BIG THING HERE. THIS IS A GENERATOR OF HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY FOR THE CITY. WE DON'T HAVE INDUSTRY. WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT CREATES AS MUCH REVENUES IN DIFFERENT WAYS AS TOURISM DOES. HOW DO YOU BALANCE THAT? HOW DO YOU BALANCE 50,000 PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE ALL THE TIME AND THE 100,000 PEOPLE? IT'S GOING TO BE 100,000 PEOPLE, AT LEAST COMING IN HERE ALL THE TIME. THEY'RE COMING IN HERE ALL THE TIME. WELL, IT'S A GREAT PHILOSOPHICAL DISCUSSION BECAUSE, WE TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY, AND WE TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE TALK ABOUT TAX BASE AND ALL THOSE THINGS, BUT WE HAVE 50,000 PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE, AND WE HAVE A LOT MORE PEOPLE THAT COME HERE. ONE OF THE TIMES I REMEMBER WHEN KELLY SHAWN WAS CHAIRMAN, SHE AND I HAD THIS ONGOING CONVERSATION, I'LL SAY, HOW HOW DO WE DO THIS? >> YOU HAVE TO MANAGE IT. >> HOW DO YOU MANAGE? >> THE IMPETUS FALLS ON THE CITY SHOULDERS, TOO. I WOULD SAY THIS. IF YOU LOOK AT DECISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE PAST THAT DRAWS MORE PEOPLE IN TRAFFIC DOWN HERE, PROBABLY THE PORT PUTS MORE ATTENTION TO THAT THAN WE EVER DO HERE AT THE CITY. WE APPROVE A MARGARITAVILLE. WE DID EXPANSION UP OUT ON THE WEST END AND THE NEW DEVELOPMENT ON THE WEST END. [03:35:08] WE NEVER SAY, MY GOD, THAT'S GOING TO BRING MORE TRAFFIC DOWN HERE. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?BUT THE PORT HAS STEPPED FORWARD. NOW, I DO SEE THOUGH DAVID'S POINT THAT WE NEED TO LOOK CLOSELY AT TRAFFIC BEFORE WE JUST MOVE INTO ANOTHER TERMINAL AND SO FORTH. BUT I THINK THE PORT, AND I WOULD SAY ROGER IS RIGHT, THE PORT PUTS A LOT OF ATTENTION TO THAT THAT WE DON'T PUT ATTENTION TO THOSE TYPES OF THINGS AT THE CITY. >> I'M ANXIOUS ALEX HAS BEEN TRYING TO SAY. YEAH. [OVERLAPPING] >> CAN I JUST BAKE BECAUSE IT IS PERTINENT? I THINK YOU BOTH HEARD ME SAY IT. ONE OF THE EMPHASIS I ALWAYS MAKE AT THE TRANSPORTATION POLICY COMMITTEE IS, UNFORTUNATELY, OUR TRANSPORTATION GRANTS ARE BASED ON POPULATION NOT ACTUAL TRAFFIC. THEY REALLY WORKING ON CHANGING THAT PARADIGM THERE SO THAT WE CAN GET AMPLE MONEY TO PUT WHAT WE NEED INTO TRAFFIC. >> I DON'T NECESSARILY WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH THAT BECAUSE GRANTS ARE ALSO BASED ON VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED. YOU CAN'T JUST BASE IT ON POPULATION. BECAUSE OTHERWISE, IF YOU JUST BASE IT ON POPULATION, WE'D BE DRIVING STRAIGHT THROUGH ALL THESE LITTLE BITTY COMMUNITIES AND NOT HAVE BYPASSES AROUND THE SMALLER COMMUNITIES. IT'S BASED ON NOT JUST POPULATION, BUT A WHOLE VARIETY OF OTHER METRICS. [OVERLAPPING] IT IS BASED ON VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED. [OVERLAPPING] >> ROGER, ALEX, GO RIGHT AHEAD. YOU'VE BEEN VERY PATIENT. >> I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ONE'S DONE I'M BUTTONED UP BEFORE. >> WELL, ALL I WAS SAYING IS ANOTHER DYNAMIC AFTER HAVING GONE AFTER A LOT OF OF GRANTS. ANOTHER DYNAMIC IS ALSO HOW DO YOU DIVERT THE TRAFFIC? IT'S DIESEL MILES, IT'S GAS MILES. THAT'S WHAT THE POINT SYSTEMS ARE BASED ON IS, ESPECIALLY IN THE CARGO BUSINESS, IF I BUILD THIS, HOW MANY VEHICLE DIESEL MILES. THESE ARE TERMS USED. HOW MANY DIESEL MILES AM I SAVING, AND THERE'S WHERE YOUR POINTS COME FROM. THAT'S THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE WITH THE WEST END CARGO COMPLEX IS WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH VOLUME THAT IT SAYS, YOU'RE GOING TO DIVERT THIS MANY 1,000 DIESEL MILES YOU WON'T HAVE. THAT IT CLEANS THE ENVIRONMENT, AND SO THERE'S THAT ASPECT OF IT. >> ALEX. >> THE OTHER TWO POINTS OR THE MOST COMMON ISSUES RAISED OR THE DIVERSIFICATION OF PORT BUSINESS, BUT I WANT TO TOUCH ON THE CITY INTEGRATION AND WATERFRONT FRONT ACCESS, WHICH WAS PROBABLY WHICH WAS NUMBER 1. I THINK ONE OF THE INTERVIEWEES FOR THE WHARF'S BOARD, I THINK PAINTED IT MASTERFULLY WHERE IT IS A SOME OTHER PORTS ARE FRONT FACING TO THE CITY. THEN AND I THINK JUST TOUCHED ON ROGERS POINT OF THE COMMUNICATION ISSUE THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED IN GALVESTON FOR QUITE SOME TIME WHERE IT'S BACK FACING. I REALLY WANT TO SEE STRIDES AND HOW WE AND I KNOW THERE'S THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS HERE FOR THE REAL ESTATE COMMITTEE FOR THE PORT, AND IF THAT INVOLVES MORE CITY INVOLVEMENT OR PARK PORT INVOLVEMENT, HOW WE TURN INWARD AND BASICALLY FEED OFF OF EACH OTHER. I KNOW WE'RE NOT A PORT OF CALL, BUT YOU WANT TO GET THAT PORT OF CALL VIBE SO THAT MOST PEOPLE WILL SAY, HEY, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE DAY, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A LUNCH. TAKE ADVANTAGE AND I KNOW YOU CAN'T STOP THE CRUISE LINES FROM LEAVING IT. [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN SEEING IS HOW WE TURN THE PORT AND THE CITY INWARD TO EACH OTHER INSTEAD OF BEING BACK FACING. I THINK BILL ROSS, I THINK THAT WAS VERY MASTERFULLY HOW HE WORDED IT, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE REALLY. >> YOU WILL SEE THAT ALSO IN THIS NEW UPDATED MASS PLAN. YOU'LL SEE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE AS MUCH OF THE TRAFFIC TOWARDS THE PORT. THEN OPENING UP BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH EVERY ONE OF OUR PARKING LOTS THAT ARE ALL ON THE GROUND, SURFACE PARKING IS ALL THAT HAS BEEN JUST LAND BANKING. NOW AS WE GROW AND WE MOVE AND WE'VE GOT THE FIRST DECK NOW, WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE ANOTHER TWO DECKS AT LEAST. AS WE MOVE THERE, [03:40:01] YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ALL THAT LAND OPEN UP CITY FACING. LOOK AT THE MASTER PLAN ON THE NEW ONE ON THE EAST END, AND IT TALKS ABOUT THAT. IT SHOWS THAT. >> WE HAVE BO AND THEN JEFF AND BOB. >> THEN SO TO THE OTHER POINT, WHICH IS THE DIVERSIFICATION. I KNOW THAT'S REALLY IT'S BEEN A FOCUS, AND I'M NOT SAYING IT'S A TALKING POINT THAT'S BEEN LEFT OUT. BUT ONE OF THE SENTIMENTS AND COMMENTS THAT STUCK OUT TO ME WAS THAT THE CARGO INVESTMENT MAY NOT YIELD RETURN ON INVESTMENT, IS THIS STILL WHERE THE PUBLIC WANTS TO SPEND REVENUE. I REMEMBER DOING RESEARCH. YOU COULD QUANTIFY AN ILA MEMBER WHO HAS 40-60 HOURS ON THE DOCK, WHO LIVES IN GALVESTON, WHAT THAT RETURNS BACK TO THE TAX BASE. IT MAY NOT BE A BIGGER ROI FOR THE PORT IN TERMS OF HARD CASH DOLLARS. I KNOW YOU HAVE TO LEVERAGE WHAT YOU HAVE TO BRING THAT. BUT I THINK THERE'S A HUGE COMPONENT OF THE COMMUNITY ROI THROUGH THOSE GUYS THAT ARE WORKING ON THE DOCKS THAT FEEL LIKE, AND I KNOW IT'S THE CRUISE HOURS, BUT THEY WANT MORE CARGO HOURS, AND I'M SURE YOU HEAR THAT COMPLAINT AS WELL. >> IF YOU LOOK AT THE ECONOMIC STUDY THAT JOHN MARTIN ASSOCIATES DID WITH THE UPDATED MASTER PLAN, IT ADDRESSES THAT, AND YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT. >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU KNOW WELL THAT I DON'T THINK SOME OF THE PUBLIC KNOWS REALLY WELL IS HOW MUCH WHEN YOU START DIGGING DOWN INTO THE WEST IN BURST, HOW OLD AND DECREPIT AND IT. THERE WAS A SURPRISE SHIP I HEARD ABOUT FROM A STAFFER, BUT I COULD IMAGINE WHAT HAPPENED BACK IN THE DAY. THE STEAM LINER BROKE, AND THEY SAID, NO THERE. DON'T PUT IT OVER TO THE SIDE. THOSE THINGS ARE I THINK ARE IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT IN TERMS OF YOUR CHALLENGES THAT YOU GO THROUGH IN TERMS OF IDENTIFYING NEED AS WELL FOR GRANT OPPORTUNITIES. HEY, WE HAVE THIS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT NEEDS TO BE DUG OUT, THAT IS SURPRISE AFTER SURPRISE FOR BEING 200-YEARS-OLD. I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT NOT ONLY FOR PEOPLE TO SEE, BUT THOSE ARE THE OTHER TWO ASPECTS FOR CARGO. >> THAT'S ARGUMENT FOR IT BECAUSE IT DOES IT FROM AN ECONOMIC STANDPOINT, FROM A REGIONAL STANDPOINT, A STATE STANDPOINT, THERE'S MORE RETURN ON THE CARGO BUSINESS THAN THERE IS ON THE CRUISE BUSINESS. THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING. OUR BOARD TAKES EVERY AND ANY WE HAVE AND PUTS IN THE CAR. >> AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'RE INVESTING IN THE WEST END, THERE HAS NOT BEEN THAT AMOUNT SINCE THE EARLY '70S IN OUR ACTUAL DOCKS. >> JUST TO COMMENT TO, ALEX, I THINK THE KEY THAT YOU MENTIONED IS THE ROI AND ILA MEMBERS IF THEY LIVE ON THE ISLAND, MAJORITY DON'T. MAJORITY OF THESE ILA MEMBERS DO NOT, AND THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER ISSUE ABOUT AFFORDABILITY OF HOUSING AND ALL OF THAT. BO, THERE WE GO. >> TO ME, I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO NOTATE TODAY IS THAT WE'RE ALL SITTING AT THE SAME TABLE, JUST NOT TOO MANY YEARS AGO, DAVID, NO OFFENSE, BUT YOUR OPINION WOULDN'T HAVE MATTERED AT ALL. [LAUGHTER] >> IT STILL MATTERS NOW. >> I GUESS THAT WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS AM I WRONG? [LAUGHTER] >> NO, I GET IT. >> I GET IT. BUT TODAY, IT MATTERS. TODAY, IT HAS A SEAT AT THE TABLE. IT'S THE FACT THAT WE ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER, NOT JUST FOR THE GOOD OF THE PORT OR THE GOOD OF THE CITY. WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CITIZENS OF GALVES AND WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR ECONOMIC DRIVERS. WE'RE DOING IT AT THE SAME TABLE. TO ME, THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE'VE GOT GOING ON HERE TODAY. >> THREE QUARTERS OF THAT. >> WE HAVE A VISION AND WE'RE SEEING THAT VISION THROUGH TOGETHER. LIKE I SAID, I'M GLAD I'M A PART OF IT. THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO FOCUS THE AMOUNT OF FEDERAL FUNDING THAT WE'RE GETTING ON DREDGING THE THINGS THAT ARE COMING AROUND BECAUSE OF THE CRUISE INDUSTRY INITIALLY, AND NOW SOME MORE FOCUS ON CARGO, WE WOULD HAVE NEVER HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY OR THAT FOCUS AND THAT ABILITY TO PARTNER BOTH STATE AND FEDERALLY WITH WHAT WE'VE GOT GOING ON. IT ALL JUST COMES TOGETHER, AND I THINK WITHOUT THIS COHESION THAT WE HAD [03:45:01] DEVELOPED WE WOULD HAVE MISSED THE BOAT PER SE. >> I'M GOING TO INTERRUPT ONE MORE TIME. >> AGAIN, IF THERE'S ANY GRANT OPPORTUNITIES OR THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO HELP WITH, I THINK IT WOULD I BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SIGN A LETTER TO HELP YOU GET. >> YOU GUYS DO THAT. >> WE DO. >> JEFF AND THEN BOB. >> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THAT TO ME, THE MOST EXCITING PART OF THIS MASTER PLAN IS THAT INTEGRATION AND THE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND HOW DO WE TURN SOME OF THE SURFACE SPACES WE'VE BEEN MAKING REVENUE OFF OF WITH PARKING? HOW DO WE TURN THOSE INTO GREEN SPACES, THINGS THAT CAN BE USED FOR THE COMMUNITY? I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT LONGER TERM AS WE GO FROM SURFACE PARKING TO PARKING DECKS, THAT THAT OPEN A SPACE, BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE A NUMBER OF YEARS IN THE FUTURE, BUT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK THE REAL ESTATE COMMITTEE IS DOING WITH BOB'S WILLINGNESS TO SPEND SOME TIME ON SKETCHES AND THINGS. BUT YOU KNOW LOOKING FOR THIS, WHAT WE CALL THE TRIANGLE AREA BEHIND PEER 19, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY TURN INTO A PARK, WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR OR SOME REASONABLE TIME FRAME AND ACTUALLY START THAT TRANSITION TO GET LIKE THAT, BACK TO BACK VERSUS THAT WE'RE FACING EACH OTHER AND MAKING IT PRETTY. I THINK FOR ME, AGAIN, THOSE ARE THE MOST EXCITING PARTS OF THIS MASTER PLAN BECAUSE I THINK LAST MASTER PLAN WAS REALLY. WE HAD SOME BASIC BLOCKING AND TACKLING TO DO. WE TALK ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY. WE'VE STILL GOT SOME MORE, GET THE NEXT STEPS IN THE CRUISE, BUT I THINK THIS PLAN REALLY GIVES US THAT WE'VE GOT SOME OF THOSE BASICS DONE. NOW WE CAN REALLY START MOVING TOWARD THE FUTURE AND HOW DO WE DO SOME OF THESE COOL THINGS ABOUT THE BETTER INTEGRATION WITH THE CITY. I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. >> I WAS SURPRISED THAT WAS NUMBER ONE. >> THAT I STATED, I'M NOT TRYING TO BOAST. I'M JUST SAYING THAT JUST AN INDICATION OF WHAT'S HAPPENED WHEN I NOW CASH FLOWING AS MUCH MONEY AS WE HAD GROSS REVENUES WHEN I GOT HERE. THAT'S WHAT'S CAUSED US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS. TO HAVE THAT MONEY THAT WE CAN NOW THINK AHEAD VERSUS LOOKING BEHIND US ALL THE TIME. >> PUT CARGO UP AT THE TABLE OF DISCUSSION THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DISCUSS IN THE PAST. >> I WAS PRETTY IMPRESSED WITH THE TOWN HALL THERE 167 BECAUSE THAT DEMONSTRATED A REAL ROBUST INTEREST IN WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE PARK AND THAT'S NEW WITH THE PORT, THAT'S NEW. BUT YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE BALANCE OF TOURISTS AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR LOCALS IS SOMETHING THAT THIS COUNCIL STRUGGLE WITH EVERY SINGLE DAY. THAT'S A PERPETUAL UNIVERSAL STRUGGLE FOR THIS PLACE RIGHT HERE, AND WE DO IT EVERY DAY. THERE IS NO EASY ANSWER TO ANY OF IT. BUT TO DAVID'S POINT ABOUT ALL THIS ANALYSIS WITH THE TRAFFIC YOU'RE ASKING, WHAT'S THE VISION? WELL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR HISTORY, WE PROBABLY SHOULD ASK. IS THERE A LIMIT TO OUR CAPACITY? SOMEWHERE, WE CAN'T TAKE ANYMORE, WE'RE LIMITED GEOGRAPHICALLY, WE'RE ALONG SKINNY ISLAND, WE'RE LIMITED IN OUR GEOGRAPHY. THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING HERE, WE NEED TO ASK THAT QUESTION. LET'S SAY, FOR INSTANCE, IF DAVID'S ANALYSIS IS THAT WE CAN'T SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. WELL, MAYBE THAT'S WHERE WE SAY THIS IS ENOUGH. LET'S STOP RIGHT HERE WITH MORE PEOPLE. WE FINALLY CAN SAY, INSTEAD OF LET'S TAKE ALL THE PEOPLE WE CAN GET, LET'S JUST SAY WE'LL TAKE THIS MANY PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT'S ALL WE CAN TAKE. THAT'S JUST A WAY OF PERSPECTIVE THAT I'M GOING TO THROW OUT THERE ON THE TABLE. BUT THE THING THAT WAS GRATIFYING TO ME ON THAT TOWN HALL WAS THAT THEIR INTERESTS IN YOUR PIE CHART ARE PRETTY MUCH ALIGNED WITH WHAT WE'RE SAYING AROUND TABLE HERE. I THINK THAT BODES REALLY WELL. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT ALSO TO CAPTURE ALL THIS IN OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, WHICH IS GOING TO DRIVE OUR LDRS AND AND HELP ALIGN WHERE WE NEED TO GO WITH THE CITY WITH WHERE THE PORT NEEDS TO GO. GET ALL THAT ALL ON THE SAME PATH. THE WATERFRONT INTEGRATION, I THINK IS THE THING THAT THE REAL ESTATE COMMITTEE WAS WORKING ON. WE'RE ALL ALIGNED ON THAT TRAFFIC? >> I JUST WANT TO COMPLIMENT THE REAL ESTATE COMMITTEE AND THE WORK, ESPECIALLY THAT YOU DIDN'T PRESENTED TUESDAY WAS VERY [INAUDIBLE]. >> IT WAS FANTASTIC. >> WE'RE REALLY IN A UNIQUE TIME BECAUSE WE HAVE WE HAVE THE ABILITY NOW TO GENERATE THE REVENUES TO FIX WHAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. THEN THEN LOOK NORTH. WITH PELICAN ISLAND THAT'S REALLY WHERE WE SHOULD BE DOING A LOT MORE STUFF. >> IT LOOKS LIKE IN A COUPLE OF YEARS WHEN WE GET DONE WITH THESE MAJOR PROJECTS AND THE ONES THAT ARE WORKING IN PLANNING RIGHT NOW, YOU'LL HAVE A MUCH GREATER SUSTAINABLE CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT OTHER DIFFERENT THINGS THAT INCLUDES PELICAN ISLAND. INCLUDES THIS WATERFRONT ACCESS DEVELOPMENT, I THINK. [03:50:01] BUT I'D LIKE TO JUST TO GO BACK TO COMMENTING ON THE MASTER PLAN ITSELF, THAT A RESULT OF THIS CONVERSATION IS HOPEFULLY WE CAN SEE A LITTLE MORE ATTENTION TO THIS GLOBAL TRAFFIC ANALYSIS LIKE RECALLS THAT DAVID IS TALKING ABOUT. AND THEN THE MORE ON THE WATERFRONT INTEGRATION, I THINK THERE WAS ONLY, LIKE ONE OR TWO PAGES ON THAT, HOW THAT WORKS. ALSO, I THINK ALONG WITH THE TRAFFIC, I GUESS, IS ANALYSIS OF PARKING. HOW MUCH DO WE HAVE RIGHT NOW BETWEEN THE PORT AND THE PRIVATE OPERATORS? HOW MUCH DO WE ARE WE GOING TO NEED GIVEN WHERE WE'RE HEADED? WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? WHAT'S THE PORTS? JUST UNDERSTAND ALL THE PARKING, AND YOU MADE THE POINT, I THINK, VERY GOOD ONE THAT WE CAN CAPTURE THAT PARKING ON THE WEST END OF THE ISLAND BEFORE IT EVEN GETS TO DOWNTOWN OR THE REST OF IT, AND THAT'S A GOOD THING TO DO. BUT THAT ASSUMES A PRETTY ROBUST ANALYSIS OF [INAUDIBLE]. ONE THING I JUST TALKED ABOUT OFF THE CUFF THE OTHER DAY WAS, WHAT IF WE CLOSED DOWN THE STRAND? DURING CRUISE TIME OR FIVE HOURS ON SATURDAYS AND FIVE HOURS ON SUNDAYS, AND YOU TURN IT INTO A PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY. BECAUSE I'VE HEARD, DO YOU KNOW WHAT? WHAT'S HURTING BUSINESSES THERE IS THE TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD. MAYBE A THOUGHT PROCESS AND WE CAN TEST IT. THIS BODY HERE HAS THE ABILITY TO SAY, LET'S SHUT DOWN THE TRAFFIC. NOBODY DRIVES UP THE STRAND, AND YOU'VE GOT PEDESTRIANS. THEY DON'T HAVE TO EVER FEAR TRAFFIC OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I'VE SEEN THAT WORK. I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF PLACES THAT DO THAT SAN FRANCISCO FOR ONE DOES THAT IN THEIR CRUISE. THEY HAVE A CRUISE TERMINAL THAT BASICALLY ON CRUISE DAYS IS A CRUISE TERMINAL. THEN OTHER DAYS OF THE WEEK, THEY TAKE THE FENCES UP, AND IT'S WIDE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AND THERE'S A NICE BIG BUILDING THERE THE PUBLIC USES, AND IT'S ON THE WATER. THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD THINGS. >> ALL OF THE HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LIVE. >> NOW IT'S FULL OF TENSE RIGHT NOW. >> COUNSEL, ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS NOW THAT WITH REPORT. >> WOULD IT BE USEFUL FOR US TO PROVIDE SOME WRITTEN COMMENTS. >> OR MAYBE WE CAN HAVE ALREADY. >> I WAS [INAUDIBLE] SAY THEY'RE STILL TAKING COMMENTS. THIS IS NOT FINALIZED. GET YOUR COMMENTS, YOUR SUGGESTIONS OVER TO SEND THEM TO WHO SHOULD THEY SEND THEM TO? ROGER TO YOU? >> SEND THEM TO ME AND THEN I'LL GET THEM TO BA BECAUSE BA IS SPECIAL. >> GET YOUR COMMENTS TO ROGER. GENTLEMEN, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> COUNSEL, WE NEED TO DO SOME PLANNING HERE ON THIS AGENDA. IT'S ONE O'CLOCK RIGHT NOW. WE'VE GOT THIS BUDGET COMING UP. PERSONALLY, I WAS THINKING THAT WE HAD MOVED THE BUDGET TO NOW AND THEN ONCE WE FINISH, WE WOULD GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. THEN THAT WOULD GIVE US A TIME TO MAYBE GRAB SOMETHING TO EAT DURING THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION. I KNOW ROBERT IS HERE IF WE DO THE BUDGET RIGHT NOW, BUT WHAT ITEM IS ROBERT HERE FOR DON? >> THERE'S SOME LITIGATION PENDING WITH DEPART BOARD. >> CAN WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THAT ONE ITEM? >> AS YOU WISH. >> COUNSEL, WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHTS HERE? >> I SAY WE DO HARNESS. >> SINCE HE'S HERE. >> DO ROBERT? >> THAT HELPS. >> THAT'S FINE. >> WELL, IF THAT'S THE CASE, WE COULD GRAB A BITE DURING THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION. COUNSEL, IT IS 1:01 PM. GELA, I'M SORRY. [LAUGHTER] >> WE'VE BEEN HERE ALL DAY. >> WE TRIED THEM. >> WE ARE GOING TO BE HERE ALL DAY. >> ONE SECOND, COUNSEL. IT IS 1:01 PM. [6. EXECUTIVE SESSION (Part 1 of 2)] WE ARE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR ITEM 6C. THIS IS CONSULT SECTION 551071. CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551.71, CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY, AND EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE CONDUCTED TO DISCUSS AND RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE CONCERNING PENDING LITIGATION OR SETTLEMENT OFFER OR ON [03:55:02] A MATTER IN WHICH THE DUTY OF THE ATTORNEY TO THE GOVERNMENTAL BODY THE TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF STATE BAR OF TEXAS CLEARLY CONFLICTS WITH THIS CHAPTER RELATED TO THE FOLLOWING ONE, NUMBER 25-CV-0913 IN THE 405TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF GALVESTON COUNTY, TEXAS, THE CITY OF GALVESTON BRIAN MAXWELL VERSUS PARK BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF GALVESTON AND JASON CARCASTLE, IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY. IT IS 103. YES. >> I'M GOING TO DECLARE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE I SERVE ON THE PARK BOARD IN THE CITY. >> WE HAVE [INAUDIBLE]. >> PROBABLY A SNACK. [LAUGHTER] >> YES, MA'AM. >> IT IS1:03 PM. WE ARE NOW IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. GOOD AFTERNOON FOR THOSE THAT ARE CONTINUING TO WATCH. IT IS 1:29 PM. WE ARE OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE ONLY HAD ONE ITEM, CURRENTLY IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AS ITEM 6C. [5.B Discussion of the City of Galveston's FY 2026 Proposed Budget, Tax Rate and Capital Improvement Plan, and any alternate proposals (C. Ludanyi - 30 min)] WE ARE NOW MOVING TO ITEM 5B, PLEASE, JANELLE. >> ITEM 5B. DISCUSSION OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON'S FY 2026 PROPOSED BUDGET, TAX RATE, AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, AND ANY ALTERNATE PROPOSALS. >> CHELA, [INAUDIBLE] AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. >> ABSOLUTELY. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT COUNSEL IS ABLE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS. WE CAN HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT ANYTHING COUNSEL IS INTERESTED IN, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER PRESENTATION BASED OFF OF WHAT WAS PRESENTED TWO WEEKS AGO. >> I'D LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT JUST TO LEAVE THIS OFF. I FEEL BEFORE WE FINALIZE OUR THOUGHTS ON THIS COMING YEAR'S BUDGET, YOU NEED TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER OUR FUTURE COMMITMENTS AND THE RAMIFICATIONS OF A NO NEW REVENUE BUDGET. NO NEW REVENUE MEANS JUST THAT. WITH THE INCREASED COST AND COMMITMENTS THAT THE CITY HAS YEAR AFTER YEAR, WE NEED TO THINK IN MY MIND, VERY CAREFULLY ABOUT PLACING SUCH EMPHASIS ON AN ARBITRARY RATE WHEN DUE TO OUR UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES, IT MAY NOT BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR CITIZENS, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, AND OUR FINANCIAL STABILITY IN THE FUTURE. WHEN THE TAX CAP CONCEPT WAS PUT IN PLACE BY THE LEGISLATURE, I WOULD ASSUME THAT THE NO NEW REVENUE NEW RATE WAS HIGHLIGHTED BECAUSE THEY FEEL MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS WERE NOT RUNNING EFFICIENTLY AND THE TIGHTENING A CITY'S OPERATIONAL BELT WILL TAKE CARE OF LOWERING THE TAX RATE. BUT THAT CAN ONLY GO SO FAR. THERE WERE EXEMPTIONS MADE FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION THAT BENEFITS CITIES WITH A DYNAMIC AMOUNT OF NEW DEVELOPMENT, BUT HERE IN GALVESTON, DUE TO OUR LAND CONSTRAINTS, THAT EXEMPTION IS NOT ANYWHERE AS USEFUL. WE ALL WANT TO KEEP OUR TAX RATE AS LOW AS POSSIBLE, BUT THERE COMES A TIME WHEN WE HAVE TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF EXPENDING PUBLIC FUNDS NOW, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY IN THE FUTURE. IN ESTABLISHING A TAX RATE, WE NEED TO ESTABLISH ONE THAT ALLOWS US FLEXIBILITY TO MEET OUR FUTURE COMMITMENTS. WHEN BALANCING A BUDGET WITH ONE TIME SAVINGS AS WE ARE DISCUSSING POSSIBLY, THAT CAN ONLY TAKE YOU SO FAR. THE BEST APPROACH FOR INCREASING REVENUES IS TO ESTABLISH A CONTINUAL FLOW OF REVENUE YEAR AFTER YEAR. WITHOUT THAT, WE ARE SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR FAILURE. IN MY OPINION, IF WE APPROVE A NO NEW REVENUE BASED BUDGET, IN THIS COMING YEAR, WE ARE TURNING A BLIND EYE TO THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY IN THE FUTURE, WITH THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, THE ABILITY TO KEEP 120 DAYS OF FUND BALANCE THAT IS SO IMPORTANT WITH THE PROPOSED CHANGES IN FEMA, AND ADDITIONALLY, THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE EVEN A BARE MINIMUM SALARY INCREASE FOR OUR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, THE ABILITY TO MEET OUR EVER INCREASING HEALTH INSURANCE COMMITMENTS, THE ABILITY OF MEETING OUR OBLIGATIONS TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, AND SETTING A BENCHMARK FOR CALCULATIONS OF TAX RATES IN THE FUTURE WOULD NEGATIVELY BE AFFECTED. [04:00:04] I WOULD SUPPORT A BUDGET AND TAX RATE THAT BRINGS US UP TO 120 DAY UNBALANCE THAT ALLOWS FOR A MINIMUM OF 2% FOR OUR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES WHO ARE ALSO FIRST RESPONDERS FOLLOWING A CATASTROPHE. THAT ALLOWS US BETTER POSITION TO MEET OUR FUTURE FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS. I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN THAT UP FOR DISCUSSION ABOUT MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION WITH OUR BUDGET. >> WHAT WOULD THAT TAX RATE BE TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU JUST SAID THE AVERAGE IMPACT WHAT DID THE IMPACT OF THE AVERAGE HOME IN ADDITION TO PAYING OVER THE [INAUDIBLE]. >> I TALKED TO [INAUDIBLE] ON THAT. THE TAX RATE IF WE WERE TO GIVE A 2% COLLAR TO OUR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES AND BRING OUR FUND BALANCE UP TO 120 DAYS, THAT WOULD MOVE OUR TAX RATE TO 0.4302. >> WHAT DOES THAT REPRESENT IN TERMS OF ADDITIONAL TAXES TO THE AVERAGE HOME OWNER OVER AND ABOVE? [NOISE]. >> I DON'T HAVE THAT EXACT CALCULATION, BUT I WOULD TELL YOU IT'S PROBABLY AT THE RANGE OF 30-$40 ANNUAL. >> PRETTY CLOSE HERE THIS IS 30-$40. >> ADDITIONAL. >> THIRTY TO $40 ADDITIONAL. ANNUALLY. >> ANNUALS. >> WE'RE TALKING A COUPLE OF DOLLAR. >> THAT INCLUDES THE 2% DEAL. NOT JUST A 100. >> THIS IS APPROXIMATELY. >> SIXTY. >> THAT'S WHAT YOU CALL HALFWAY? >> YEAH. >> YES, MA'AM. >> WELL, I HAVE TO SAY I DISAGREE WITH YOU. I SUPPORT A NET NEW REVENUE RATE. I THINK THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT EFFICIENCIES. IN THIS CITY, WE HAD A GREAT EXAMPLE THAT WAS DISCUSSED EARLIER ON EQUIPMENT SITTING. I THINK THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR COST ACROSS BOARD. WE ARE WE CAN KEEP MAKING OUR CITIZENS FLEE WHICH IS FORCING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE OFF THE ISLAND BECAUSE YOU CAN SAY, IT'S ANOTHER 40 AND WAS ANOTHER 70 AND IT WAS ANOTHER 100 LAST YEAR. ABOVE THAT, THERE ARE APPRAISALS AND MORE THAN TRIPLED. I HAVE TO SAY I DISAGREE. I THINK IT'S PRUDENT TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN RUN MORE EFFICIENTLY AT THE CITY. WE ARE CURRENTLY THE ONLY CITY IN THE COUNTY THAT IS NOT AT A NO NEW REVENUE RATE BECAUSE I BELIEVE EVEN TEXAS CITY ADOPTED IT THIS YEAR. WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN GO AWAY FROM THE BARRIERS THAT WE'RE PUTTING ON TO DEVELOPERS THAT IS SLOWING DOWN NEW DEVELOPMENT WHERE NEW DEVELOPMENT IS THE ONE THING THAT IS NOT AFFECTED BY THE TAX CAP AND I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW THE CITY IS MANAGED AND WHERE WE CAN MAKE CUTS. NOT CUTS. I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY EMPLOYEES AFFECTED. I WOULD LIKE US TO ADDRESS COME JANUARY ONCE WE ADOPTED A NOW NET NEW REVENUE. WE LOOK AT THINGS THAT ARE COMING ON BOARD, HOW WE MAY BE ABLE TO DO A 2% COST OF LIVING INCREASE FOR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE UNDER THE DIRECTOR OR MANAGEMENT LEVEL. WE CAN ACHIEVE THAT THROUGH EFFICIENCIES. >> ANY FURTHER COMMENTS, DAVID. >> COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR ROBERT LIKE TO KNOW. I MEAN, THE ISSUE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER RAWLINS WAS BROUGHT UP REALLY HAD TO DO WITH, I THINK, MORE ISSUES WITH EQUIPMENT RATHER THAN EFFICIENCIES. YES, EQUIPMENT WAS SITTING STILL AND WE'VE ALREADY PURCHASED IT, AND IT'S NOT BEING UTILIZED, BUT IT'S A WARRANTY ISSUE. WHAT OTHER IDEAS DO YOU HAVE RELATED TO WHEN YOU SAY, WE NEED TO LOOK AT EFFICIENCIES WITHIN OUR CIVILIAN STAFF? >> WELL, THAT'S OKAY. I'LL BRING A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES. LET'S LOOK AT WHAT [INAUDIBLE] BENTLEY WENT THROUGH WITH HIS DEALERSHIPS. WHERE HE WAS TIED UP IN A DEBOGGLE FOR TWO YEARS, [04:05:05] WHERE HE WAS TRYING TO ENHANCE ALL HIS PROPERTIES. WELL, WE DID FIX IT. >> WE DID IT FIX. >> TWO YEARS THAT HE DEALT WITH THAT. THAT TAX REVENUE COULD ALREADY BE ON BOARD. IF YOU'RE GOING TO ANSWER ME A QUESTION, ALLOW ME THE TIME TO ANSWER IT. WHEN I LOOK AT PEOPLE WAITING FOR WATER AND SEWER TAPS FOR 100 DAYS AND WITH THE RESPONSE OF, WELL, THEY COULD HAVE DONE IT THEIRSELF. WELL, WHEN THEY ASK THE CITY, HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO GET A WATER AND SEWER TAP? AND THEY'RE TOLD SIX WEEKS. SIX WEEKS PAST, THEY'RE TOLD, ANOTHER TWO WEEKS. THEY'RE ALREADY EIGHT WEEKS INTO IT. IF THEY HAD KNOWN FROM THE BEGINNING THAT IT WAS GOING TO TAKE OVER 100 DAYS, THEY WOULD HAVE WENT ANOTHER ROUTE. YOU READ IN BIZ BUZZ THIS PAST WEEK. YOU HEAR THIS FROM BUSINESS AFTER BUSINESS, BUT EVEN JUST BUILDERS OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDERS THAT MILK AND HONEY BAKERY. HER BIGGEST HURDLE WAS TAKING NINE MONTHS TO GET PERMITTED AND THE ISSUES THAT SHE HAD WITH THE CITY, WHEN YOU TALK TO THAT YOUNG COUPLED CORDRAS. I MEAN, I GET JUST NUMEROUS CALLS FROM PEOPLE. OBVIOUSLY, IF WE COULD BE MORE EFFICIENT, YES, WE ARE AN ISLAND, BUT WE DO STILL HAVE A LOT OF LAND THAT IS BEING DEVELOPED. IT'S EFFICIENCIES. WE NEVER LOOK AT EFFICIENCIES. [NOISE] WE JUST ALWAYS LOOK AT HOW WE CAN INCREASE TAXES, WHICH IS DRIVING PEOPLE OFF THE ISLAND. YOU ALL SAY IN ONE BREATH, WE NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THEN IN THE NEXT BREATH, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO RAISE YOUR TAXES EVERY YEAR. I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK INSIDE. WE HAVE IN THE LAST HOW MANY YEARS, WE NEEDED ALTERNATIVE INCOME. WE NOW HAVE THREE MILLION OF ALTERNATIVE INCOME COMING FROM THE PORT. WE ARE NOW TAKING OVER THE PARKS FROM THE PARK BOARD, MORE ALTERNATIVE INCOME. WHEN LOOKING AT THIS THING WITH GARAGED AND WITH IT, YOU ALL SAY IT'S A ONE TIME THING. WELL, THAT IT REALLY ISN'T A ONE TIME THING, BECAUSE IN BOTH THERE'S DEPARTMENTS, THERE ISN'T ANY WAY THAT YOU CAN DEVELOP A, WHAT'S THE WORD TO LOOK FOR THAT THEY WERE MAKING INTEREST ON? CASH RESERVE UNLESS YOU'RE OVERCHARGING DEPARTMENT. WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT EFFICIENCIES CAN BE DONE THERE. IF WE DON'T LOOK AT IT ON THE OTHER SIDE, THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER CASH RESERVE THERE. AS I LOOK THROUGH THIS BUDGET, WHICH I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME, WE HAVE A LOT OF CASH SITTING IN A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS THAT COULD BE TRANSFERRED OVER TO THE GENERAL FUND. THIS IS MY EIGHTH YEAR IN COUNSEL. WE ALWAYS PUT THE BURDEN ON THE CITIZENS. WE NEVER PUT THE BURDEN ON THE CITY ON HOW CAN WE BE MORE EFFICIENT? JUST THE THINGS I MENTIONED, THAT'S JUST A SMALL PIECE OF THE LIST. I THINK THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT THAT WAY. >> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT RESPONSE. LET ME ADDRESS A COUPLE OF THINGS THERE. I ANSWERED THE QUESTION ABOUT EFFICIENCIES, YOU WENT STRAIGHT INTO YOUR OTHER POINT OF ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT IDEAS, WHICH WE HAVE BEEN ADDRESSING. DO YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL IDEAS THAT WOULD HELP ENCOURAGE ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT? I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO REWRITE 380 LANGUAGE TO TRY TO LOOK AT SOME OTHER. >> THEN LOOK AT TRYING TO REWRITE 380 LANGUAGE FOR A YEAR. >> IF YOU WOULD LET ME FINISH, PLEASE. JUST LIKE YOU ASK ME. THANK YOU. WE HAVE BEEN. MICHELLE HAY HAS BROUGHT TO US ON TWO OCCASIONS THAT DRAFT LANGUAGE. IF WE WERE NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF BUDGET SEASON SPENDING ALL OF OUR TIME ON THIS, I'M SURE SHE WOULD BE HERE TO PRESENT US WITH SOME SOLUTIONS THERE. OUTSIDE OF THE 380 AGREEMENTS, OUTSIDE OF THE WORK WE'VE ALREADY DONE, [04:10:01] DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER IDEAS THAT WOULD HELP TO ENCOURAGE ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA? >>THERE'S ALREADY ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMING IN. >> I DIDN'T SAY ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS COMING IN THE AREA TO ENCOURAGE ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT. WHAT YOU SAID [OVERLAPPING]. LOOKING AT CHANGES TO LANGUAGE THAT WOULD ENCOURAGE ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT. I'M ASKING YOU, WHAT CHANGES TO THAT LANGUAGE WOULD YOU LOOK FOR? >> MORE EFFICIENCIES IN OUR PERMITTING DEPARTMENT, MORE EFFICIENCIES IN PUBLIC WORKS WHEN IT COMES TO WORK. >> CORRECT. >> WATER TAPS. >> YOU TALK ABOUT EFFICIENCIES IN THERE, BUT REALLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS A LEVEL OF SERVICE. WE'RE PROVIDING TO OUR CITIZENS. IF WE'RE SEEING DELAYS IN WATER AND SEWER TAPS, MAYBE THEY'RE NOT APPROPRIATELY STAFFED, THAT THEY'RE NOT BEING ABLE TO PROCESS THE AMOUNT AND QUANTITY OF WATER AND SEWER TAP FEES? I MEAN, THERE CAN BE AN ARGUMENT. >> I KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TO AUDIT THAT. LOOK AT WHAT'S CAUSING THAT. THAT'S PART OF OUR LATER DISCUSSION. >> I AGREE WITH YOU THAT WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO HAVE ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF REVENUE. THE MONIES THAT WERE IDENTIFIED THAT WERE TAKEN OUT OF THE INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS AND MOVED OVER TO THE GENERAL FUND, YOUR COMMENT WAS, LET'S TAKE ALL THOSE MONIES OUT AND PUT THEM INTO GENERAL REVENUE FUND. >> THAT WASN'T MY COMMENT. WHAT I SAID IS WE NEED TO LOOK AT RESERVES THAT ARE SITTING IN DEPARTMENTS AND LOOK AT WHAT PORTION OF THAT COULD BE MOVED TO GENERAL FUND. >> I DID NOT HEAR PORTION OF, BUT OKAY. >> BECAUSE WHY SHOULD INDIVIDUALS DEPARTMENTS BE MAKING INTEREST? WHEN IT SHOULD BE SITTING IN OUR GENERAL FUND MAKING INTEREST. >> WHAT LEVELS ARE APPROPRIATE FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENT? >> THAT NEEDS TO BE AUDITED, TOO. I THINK THAT SHOULD BE A PART OF OUR AUDIT PLAN. OUR AUDIT PLAN FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE FOCUSED ON EVERYONE ELSE AND NOT THE CITY. I THINK WE NEED TO GET OUR HOUSE IN ORDER AND LOOK AT WHERE WE GET THESE EFFICIENCIES THAT BENEFIT OUR CITIZENS. >> VERY GOOD. LET'S TALK ABOUT REPUTABLE SOURCES OF REVENUE. WE ARE GETTING THREE MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE PORT, BUT LET'S REMEMBER WHERE THAT MONEY IS COMING FROM, AND THAT IS ENTIRELY BASED UPON TOURISM. IT'S PEOPLE THAT ARE BOARDING THE CRUISE SHIPS, AND IT'S PEOPLE THAT ARE BOARDING THEIR PARKING HERE. THAT IS A POTENTIALLY VOLATILE SOURCE OF REVENUE. I MEAN, SHOULD WE BE PLANNING ON THAT EVERY YEAR? I MEAN, MAYBE WE CAN, BUT ABSENT OF AN EPIDEMIC OR SOME OTHER MARKET CHANGE, THAT REVENUE COULD GO AWAY INSTANTLY. I THINK THAT THE IDEA OF HAVING REPEATABLE SOURCES OF REVENUE IS ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT. I WOULD SAY THAT THE WHOLE IDEA OF MOVING OVER A PORTION OR ALL OF THE RESERVES FROM INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS IS A MANAGEMENT DECISION AND NOT NECESSARILY A POLICY DECISION, BECAUSE THOSE INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS NEED TO BE MANAGED BY THOSE DEPARTMENTS. THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND AND BE ABLE TO ADAPT TO UNFORESEEN CONDITIONS. A WASTE VEHICLE, TAKES OUT A LINE, GETS DAMAGED. THEY NEED TO BE ABLE WITHIN THOSE DEPARTMENTS TO ADDRESS THAT, NOT COME AFTER OUR GENERAL FUND RESERVE, WHICH IS THEREFORE DISASTER RECOVERY AND NOT FOR THE EVERYDAY UNFORESEEN INCIDENCES THAT HAPPEN. THE OTHER THING IS THAT YOU BRING UP A REALLY GOOD POINT WHICH YOU SAY THAT WE PLACE THE BURDEN ON OUR CITIZENS. I WOULD SAY THAT THE TAXES THAT THEY PAY, IT IS A BURDEN ON OUR CITIZENS. BUT THAT HAS TO BE BALANCED WITH THE BURDEN THAT WE PLACE ON VISITORS THAT COME TO THE ISLAND. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT FOR YEARS. BEING ON IT, IS THAT HOW IS IT THAT WE CAN LEVERAGE THE BENEFIT OF THOSE TOURISTS AND TOURIST DOLLARS TO HELP OFFSET THE COST OF LIVING HERE? THAT'S MY POINT. >> BUT I'M GOING TO BEG TO DIFFER IN ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SAID AND YOU SAID THAT'S A MANAGEMENT DECISION, NOT A POLICY. RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE NO POLICY ON RESERVES. I THINK IT ALL STARTS. WE ARE THE POLICY SETTERS, AND THEN MANAGEMENT BRINGS IT FORWARD. I THINK WE DO NEED A POLICY BECAUSE CURRENTLY, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY. >> WE HAVE BOB WHERE YOU NEXT TO SHARON. [INAUDIBLE] >> AS YOU WERE SPEAKING, I WAS JUST MAKING A FEW NOTES. I GUESS WHAT I'M THINKING IS THAT THE SUGGESTIONS, [04:15:03] UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T THINK THEY CAN BE DONE TODAY. I DON'T THINK WE CAN CORRECT WHAT HAPPENS THE PROCESS FOR PEOPLE GETTING PERMITS. THAT'S A PROCESS THAT NEEDS SOME HELP. BUT I DON'T THINK WE CAN DO THAT TODAY FOR THE BUDGET, CAN WE? THE WATER TAPS. [NOISE] AGAIN, THE PROCESS. THE AREAS I THINK THAT WE WOULD NEED TO IMPROVE IN. BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WOULD AFFECT WHAT WE NEED TO DO TODAY. EVEN THE CITY YOU MENTIONED IN AUDIT, THE CITY ITSELF, AUDITING ITSELF. BUT THAT CAN'T BE DONE TODAY. MOVING EXTRA FUNDS FROM THOSE DEPARTMENTS TO THE GENERAL FUND. I THINK SOMEBODY MENTIONED THAT THE LAST TIME. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT. THAT WOULD BE LIKE LEAVING A ZERO BALANCE WITHIN THOSE DEPARTMENTS. I THINK NO. I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE A HEALTHY THING TO DO FOR THOSE DEPARTMENTS. BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO GO TO DO MAYOR WHAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING, WE HAVE TO GO TO A 4.3. IS THAT WHAT I HEARD YOU SAY? >> YES. >> FOR THAT. UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE SITTING HERE TODAY, WHAT ELSE ARE WE GOING TO DO? IF WE KEEP THE NEW REVENUE, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE? >> IF THAT'S A QUESTION, IN MY OPINION, YOU'RE DIGGING A DEEPER HOLE. NOW WE'RE HAVING TO PROBABLY COME UP WITH COMMITMENTS IN THE FUTURE TO SATISFY THOSE COMMITMENTS, WE'D HAVE TO HAVE A MUCH BIGGER TAX RAISE TO EVEN HANDLE THAT. >> EVEN THOUGH THOSE OTHER ISSUES, WE DO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED ARE THE BEST THAT CAN BE DONE, AND WE WOULD HAVE TO START TO WORK ON THAT NOW. BUT WHAT IS IT THAT WE'VE GOT TO DO TODAY FOR THIS BUDGET? I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE TO APPROVE IT UNTIL SEPTEMBER. >> THE BUDGET, IT'S ON THE AGENDA TO APPROVE TODAY AND THE RATIFICATION OF THE TAX RATE THAT WOULD SUPPORT THAT BUDGET. THAT IS NOT AN APPROVAL OF THAT TAX RATE. THAT WOULD BE THEN POSTED TO THE PUBLIC. THEN WE WOULD THEN VOTE ON THAT TO APPROVE THE TAX RATE IN SEPTEMBER 18TH. >> THE EFFICIENCIES WITHIN CERTAIN AREAS. NOW, I'M GOING TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. I WENT TO DAN, AND I REALLY HONESTLY SAID, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? CUT ADMINISTRATIVELY, MOVE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE, COMBINE JOBS DESCRIPTIONS TOGETHER. WHAT WHAT CAN WE REALLY DO? HOW CAN WE FIND THAT MONEY THAT WE NEED? >> I DON'T KNOW. THOSE ARE JUST THOUGHTS. >> JUST SOME COMMENTS ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN MENTIONED TEXAS CITY AND THOSE ARE HOVERING AROUND A NO REVENUE RATE. THEY HAVE A LOT OF NEW CONSTRUCTION GOING ON OVER THERE. WE'RE TALKING THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF CONSTRUCTION THAT IS GOING ON OVER THERE THAT DOESN'T FALL UNDER THIS TAX CAP. IF YOU'VE BEEN KEEPING UP WITH THE SPECIAL SESSION AT THE LEGISLATURE HERE, THEY MAY SADDLE THIS CITY WITH THIS LOW AS A 1% TAX CAP COMING UP IF THAT MAKES IT THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE. THAT PUTS EVEN MORE CONSTRAINTS ON THIS CITY TO BE FINANCIALLY SOLVENT. THE PERMITTING AND LOOKING AT ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND BRINGING IN ALTERNATE REVENUE. IT'S EASY TO SAY, WELL, WE'LL FIND IT SOMEWHERE THERE'S INEFFICIENCIES OUT THERE. BUT YOU DON'T KNOW THAT UNTIL WE GO OUT AND WE DO THESE AUDITS, BUT THAT AUDIT IS NOT GOING TO TAKE PLACE IN A TIME FOR US TO GET THIS BUDGET TAKEN CARE OF. IF WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT POTENTIAL REVENUE SAVE SOURCES DUE TO INEFFICIENCIES, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S OBJECTIVELY DETERMINED. WE CAN'T MAKE DECISIONS BASED UPON THERE'S SOMETHING OUT THERE AND I'M SURE IT COULD BE BETTER. THAT DOESN'T WORK WHEN YOU'RE DOING A BUDGET. I'VE LOOKED AT THIS BUDGET QUITE A BIT AS WE'VE MOVED THROUGH THIS IN LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. I WOULD NEVER RUN OUR PERSONAL FINANCES AT MY HOME OR MY BUSINESSES, I WOULD NEVER RUN IT ON THE TYPE OF CONCEPTS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE WITH A NO NEW REVENUE BUDGET. IF I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT PERSONALLY AND FOR BUSINESSES THAT I MAY OWN, [04:20:02] I'M SURE NOT GOING TO DO IT FOR THESE CITIZENS AND SADDLE THEM FOR THIS. WE HAVE A COMMITMENT TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS THAT'S ON OUR AGENDA TODAY FOR A 5% INCREASE THIS COMING YEAR, A 4% NEXT YEAR. THEN FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS, A 3% INCREASE. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE MADE A COMMITMENT TO THESE FIRST RESPONDERS. WE'VE DONE THE SAME FOR THE POLICE THERE. WE'VE MADE A COMMITMENT. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS TODAY FOR THIS UPCOMING BUDGET, BUT THAT WE CAN HONOR THOSE COMMITMENTS WITHOUT CUTTING SERVICES FOR THESE RESIDENTS HERE IN THE FUTURE. YES, BOB. >> YOU BROUGHT UP THE COMPARISON TO TEXAS CITY. THERE ARE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, THEY'RE ALREADY AT 0.488635, AND YOUR PROPOSAL IS JUST 0.430. >> YES, SIR. >> ALSO, IT'S A LITTLE BIT CRAZY TO COMPARE TEXAS CITY BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU SAID, THEY'RE NOT LIMITED BY GEOGRAPHY LIKE WE ARE, NOR DO THEY HAVE THE BURDEN OF THE COST OF TOURISM THAT GOES UNMITIGATED BY HOT OR SALES TAX THAT PLACES ON OUR BUDGET. IT'S REALLY HARD TO COMPARE GALS AND ANYTHING, BUT IN TERMS OF TAX RATES OUT OF THE 13 CITIES IN THE COUNTY, WE'RE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE. >> IF YOU LOOK AT APPRAISALS, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'D HAVE TO LOOK AT, IF YOU GO TO ONE TO ONE ON THE HOUSES, WE'RE THE HIGHEST APPRAISED LEVELS IN THE COUNTY. THAT DOES, EVEN THOUGH IF YOU STICK WITH THAT, NO NEW. IF YOUR HOUSE IS STILL APPRAISED, HIGHER, YOU'RE STILL GOING TO PAY. WE'RE STILL GOING TO PAY A LITTLE MORE. THAT'S THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT. THAT REALLY HAS TO DO WITH THE TA. THE TEXAS IT HAS TO DO WITH PROPERTY BECAUSE THEY WANT THAT PROPERTY TO BE APPRAISED AT A HIGH RATE, SO THAT CONNECTS TO MONIES FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. >> THE OTHER THING THAT WAS TO POINT I WAS GOING TO MAKE WAS THAT AND YOU TOUCHED ON IS THE LEVEL OF UNCERTAINTY WE HAVE RIGHT NOW. EVERYTHING FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE UNPREDICTABLE NATURE OF WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO WITH OUR TAX CAP TO WHAT CONCERNS ME IS IF WE BEGIN REDUCING OUR RESERVES, WE MAY IMPACT OUR BOND RATING WHEN WHEN WE TRY TO GO OUT FOR A BOND ON THIS FIRE STATION. AS THEY LOOK AT THAT RESERVE CAPACITY, AND I HATE TO GET A BAD RATE BECAUSE OF THAT. BUT ALSO, OUR ABILITY TO DEPEND ON FMA, LIKE WE HAVE IN THE PAST IS LIKELY GOING TO BE REDUCED. NOW, IF THINGS KEEP GOING THE WAY THEY'RE GOING, SO WE CAN'T PREDICT THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF SUPPORT IN A DISASTER FROM FMA, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEPEND ON THAT 120 DATA RESERVE TO SOME DEGREE. BUT THEN, OF COURSE, HEALTH INSURANCE, THINGS OUT OF OUR CONTROL THAT KEEP GOING UP. BUT IT'S JUST A COMBINATION OF UNCERTAINTY AND AND THE RATE IS FAIR, I THINK, COM RELATIVELY SPEAKING, TO THE REST OF THE COUNTY. I THINK I TEND TO AGREE WITH YOUR ASSESSMENT, MAYOR. >> BUT DAVID, SO IN THIS CURRENT BUDGET, IT SAYS THAT THERE'S NO UNDER THIS CURRENT PROPOSED TAX RATE, THERE'S NO CIVILIAN INCREASE. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> NO CIVILIAN COLOR. HOWEVER, FOR OUR CONTRACTS OR POLICE AND FIRE, WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE HERE TODAY 11.11 E. WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE A COST OF LIVING INCREASE FOR THEM FOR THE NEXT TWO, THREE YEARS. >> FIRE CONTRACTORS FOR FOUR YEARS. >> CONTRACTS FOR FOUR YEARS. WE'RE GOING TO SAY WITH A NO NEW REVENUE RATE THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO PROVIDE A COLOR. I DON'T SEE HOW THAT IS REASONABLE. I THINK THAT THE IDEOLOGY OF NO NEW TAX RATE WORKS IN AN AREA WHERE YOU HAVE THOUSANDS OF NEW HOME STARTS THAT ARE COMING ON THE TAX ROLLS, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE ONLY 100 WELL, 2023, WE HAD 124 HOME STARTS. WHEN YOU'RE NOT ADDING THAT LEVEL OF THAT WHOLE VALUE TO YOUR TAX ROLE, THAT THAT IDEOLOGY IS NOT A PLACE TO START. WHAT YOU WANT TO START WITH IS WHAT QUALITY OF SERVICES DO YOU WANT TO PROVIDE TO YOUR RESIDENTS? AND IN THE BUDGET, WE SAW THAT ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ARE DOWN TO 2% OF THE OVERALL BUDGET, WHICH IS LESS THAN WHAT THE WARS BOARD IS, AS WELL AS LESS THAN WHAT THE PARK BOARD IS. CUT WHERE? I DON'T WANT TO CUT ANYMORE. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE OUR CIVILIANS WITH A COST OF LIVING INCREASE. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE. I GOT OUT THERE. >> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? THIS WILL BE ON OUR AGENDA THIS AFTERNOON TO ADDRESS. [5.D Discussion of the City Auditor’s Plan for FY 2025 - 2026 (G Bulgherini - 15 min)] LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 5D, PLEASE. [04:25:03] >> ITEM 5D. DISCUSSION OF THE CITY AUDITOR'S PLAN FOR FY 2025-2026. >> THANK. COUNSEL, TO GIVE YOU SOME THEN COME ON UP, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE, SIR. PULL UP A CHAIR. DID YOU WANT YOUR STAFF TO COME UP ALSO [OVERLAPPING] THEY'RE SITTING THERE ON THE FRONT ROW THERE. COUNSEL, LET ME GIVE YOU SOME DIRECTION ON THIS AND KIND OF GIVE US SOME IDEAS. GLENN HAS SUBMITTED 16 ITEMS TO CHOOSE FROM FOR HIS NEXT YEAR'S AUDITS. HE HAS RELAYED TO ME THAT HE CAN ONLY HIS DEPARTMENT CAN ONLY HANDLE NINE ITEMS. THESE 16 ITEMS ARE GREAT TO SEE, BUT FROM A TIME STANDPOINT AND MANPOWER STANDPOINT, HE CAN ONLY MANAGE NINE ITEMS. HE HAS RELAYED TO ME THAT HE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT ITEM NUMBER 1 AND NUMBER 2 BE INCLUDED IN OUR SELECTIONS. IF COUNSEL SUPPORTS THAT, THEN THAT WOULD LEAVE ON SEVEN ITEMS TO CHOOSE FROM THE REMAINING 14 TO PLACE ON AN AUDIT PLAN FOR HIM FOR THE NEXT YEAR. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO AS WE DISCUSSED THIS, IF THERE ARE ITEMS THAT WE HAVE A CONSENSUS ON THEN WE COULD MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THOSE CONSENSUS ITEMS. LET'S SAY THERE'S SIX ITEMS THAT WE HAVE A CONSENSUS ON THAT WE'D LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, THAT WOULD LEAVE IF WE CONCLUDE THE TOP TWO THAT GLENN HAS REQUESTED. THAT WOULD LEAVE JUST ONE ITEM THEN THAT WE HAVE TO ADD TO TO MAKE IT NINE. WE WOULD GO THROUGH THOSE ITEMS INDIVIDUALLY WHEN WE VOTE TO SEE WHICH ONE OF THOSE WE WANT TO ADD TO HIS AUDIT PLAN. SAYING ALL THAT, GLENN, GO READY. >> WELL, WE'VE THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL YOUR GREAT SUGGESTIONS. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THEM. WE HAVE THE AUDITS NUMBERED IN THE FIRST COLUMN. THEN THE NEXT COLUMN, WE PUT THE INDIVIDUALS MAKING THE RECOMMENDATION. THE THIRD COLUMN IS THE UNIT, WHETHER IT'S THE CITY, THE PARK BOARD OF THE PORT. THEN WE IN THE FOURTH COLUMN, WE HAVE THE SCOPE IN THE DESCRIPTION. THEN NEXT TO ON THE VERY LAST COLUMN, WE HAVE THE ESTIMATED TIME. THEN IT'S GOING TO TAKE US TO PERFORM THESE AUDITS. LIKE DR. BROWN MAYOR BROWN SAID, EXCUSE ME. WE WOULD SUGGEST DOING NUMBER 1 AND NUMBER 2. THOSE ARE THE MONEY MAKERS. I'M SORRY. >> AND NUMBER 11? >> NUMBER 11, SORRY. BUT WE STILL NEED SEVEN MORE SUGGESTIONS. >> SIX OR SEVEN. >> BUT THAT I INCLUDED THAT IN HERE. WE WOULD STILL NEED SEVEN MORE SEVEN. YES, SIR. SORRY ABOUT THAT AND FROM COUNSEL. >> YOU'RE TALKING ON TOTAL OF NINE? >> WELL, BECAUSE WE LABELED, I HAD ORIGINALLY PUT NUMBER 7 AND NUMBER 11 TOGETHER TOGETHER. WE SEPARATED IT. IT'S MY FAULT. I APOLOGIZE. THOSE THREE AUDITS I RECOMMEND HIGHLY BECAUSE THEY'RE REVENUE MONITORING AUDITS AND THEY BRING IN THE DOLLARS. BUT I FEEL LIKE BASED UPON THE AMOUNT OF TIME, THE ONLY OTHER ONE THAT THERE'S TWO THAT TAKE EXCUSE ME THREE. I MAY TAKE SOME MORE TIME. THAT'S NUMBER 8, NUMBER 14, AND NUMBER 16. BUT EVEN WITH THAT, I FEEL LIKE WE CAN ACCOMPLISH SEVEN MORE AUDITS. WHICHEVER ONES YOU CHOOSE. >> THERE I GOT TO COMMENT ON THAT. >> YES, SIR. >> LOOKING AT THIS, AND I ADDED UP ALL THE MONTHS AND YOU HAVE 49 MONTHS [OVERLAPPING] [04:30:01] >> WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE TO THERE. [OVERLAPPING]. >> I STARTED LOOKING AT IT A LITTLE MORE CRITICALLY, AND I SPOTTED SOME PLACES WHERE THAT LOOKED LIKE DUPLICATES TO ME. THEN ALSO SOME OTHER ITEMS THAT MAY NOT BE QUITE MATURE ENOUGH TO AUDIT. THAT IS THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE STILL IN PROCESS OPERATIONS THAT ARE STILL IN PROCESS. I'M TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE NUMBER 4, 5 AND 6. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL THIS TRANSFER OF RESPONSIBILITIES FROM PARK BOARD TO CITY. THAT'S STILL IN PROGRESS, AND MAYBE WE OUGHT TO PUT THAT OFF UNTIL NEXT YEAR. THEN THE OTHER ONES THAT IT LOOKS LIKE NUMBER 8 AND NUMBER 15 ARE VERY SIMILAR IN REGARDS TO THE PORT. TERMINAL 16 IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE THAT'S STILL IN PROGRESS, AND MAYBE WE OUGHT TO WAIT UNTIL IT'S DONE BEFORE WE IT. BUT THE FACT IS, IF WE CAN COMBINE 15 AND EIGHT AND JUST PICK ONE PROJECT, SAY IT'S ALREADY HAPPENED LIKE CRUISE SHIP TERMINAL 25 OR SOMETHING. ONE MAJOR PORT PROJECT THAT'S COMPLETED AND CAN BE AUDITED AND JUST JUST THREW OUT THEIR TERMINAL 25. THEN THAT WOULD COMBINE TWO OF THEM RIGHT THERE INTO ONE, AND STILL, I THINK, DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT? >> THE OBJECTIVE OF PUTTING OUT NUMBER 8 WAS THAT WHEN YOU DO THESE LARGE CAPITAL PROJECTS, THEY ARE WORTHY OF DOING AN AUDIT ON THEMSELVES. THIS IS A HUGE OUTLAY OF CASH. PROJECT AUDITS CAN TYPICALLY EITHER OCCUR DURING THE ENTIRE PROJECT, OR YOU CAN DO THEM AT THE END AS LONG AS YOU'RE WITHIN THE AUDIT PERIOD AFTER CLOSING OUT THE BOOKS. THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OF IS THAT WE HAVE THREE YEARS, FIVE YEARS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR STIPULATIONS ARE, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAPTURE THAT. I WOULD AGREE WITH STARTING WITH OUR OLDEST ONE THAT IS STILL WITHIN OUR AUDITABLE LIMITS. START WITH THAT. THEN LET'S KEEP THOSE ON THE BOOKS REGULARLY SO THAT ONE, ALL BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO DOING PROJECT AUDITS ON THE FINANCIAL SIDE, AND SO CAPITAL PROJECT AUDITS. THEN THAT WAY, YOUR STAFF IS ALREADY ACCUSTOMED TO IT, AND YOU'RE DOING THEM YEAR AFTER YEAR. I'D AGREE WITH BOB'S POINT OF JUST TERMINAL 25. >> THANK YOU. LET'S PUT COMBINATION OF EIGHT AND 15 AND JUST AND SIMPLY DOING CRUISE SHIP TERMINAL 25? >> CORRECT. >> IF ANYTHING COMES OUT OF THAT, WELL, WE'LL DEAL THAT LATER. >> IT WOULD BE NUMBER 15, BUT LIMITED TO CRUISE TERMINAL 25. THAT'S THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION AND THEN I'LL 48. >> BUT JUST TO CLARIFY, TO BE MOST EFFICIENT WITH AUDITS, WE WOULD FOCUS ON THOSE MOST IMPACTFUL THINGS. KNOW THINGS THAT ARE THE HIGHEST DOLLAR, MOST ACTIVITY THINGS. THE SMALL BUDGET THINGS WE CAN USE OUR TIME BETTER THAN THAT. THESE BIG PROJECTS LIKE THIS. I WOULD INCLUDE IN THAT NUMBER 16, THE PARKING AS A HIGH PRIORITY SIMPLY BECAUSE IT IS JUST GENERATES SOME MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF MONEY. IT'S WE'RE GOING NOW TO THE CREDIT CARD OR THE CARD READER PROCESSING. I WOULD THINK THAT ONE WOULD BE A PRIORITY ALSO. >> BUT IS THAT A PRIORITY ACTUALLY FOR THE PORT WHERE IT'S CONTROLLED, OR SHOULD THAT BE FOR PRIVATE ENTITIES THAT ARE PROVIDING PARKING? IT'S LESS CONTROL. >> WELL, I DON'T THINK WE CAN AUDIT A PRIVATE PARKING. CONCERN OR CALLY. >> WELL, PAY FOR GIVING A CITY FEE. >> WELL, THE IDEA IS PARKING OVERALL, WHATEVER IS IN OUR ABILITY TO AUDIT, WE OUGHT TO DO IT. WHETHER IT'S IF WE CAN AUDIT PRIVATE, GREAT. BUT WE DEFINITELY CAN AUDIT THE PORT DEFINITELY. I SPOKE WITH PORT TRUSTEES ABOUT THIS AND IN THE MIND, THAT WAS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY. >> HONESTLY, THE CITY EXCUSE ME, THE PORT, THE HIGHEST REVENUE GENERATOR TO THE PORT IS PARKING. DOING AN AUDIT ON THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CONTROLS ARE IN PLACE AND THAT THE BOOKS ARE GOOD ON THAT SEEMS REASONABLE IF THAT'S YOUR LARGEST SOURCE OF REVENUE. >> LET'S HAVE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS ON THIS? >> SPECIFICALLY, FOR NUMBER 10, THESE ARE INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS. THESE ARE THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE BEING LOOKED AT FOR THEIR FUND BALANCE HELD IN CASH RESERVES. I WANT TO BE VERY SPECIFIC BECAUSE I WENT TO GLENN WITH THIS QUESTION, AND BOB AND MARIE. WE ALL WENT TO GLENN WITH THE QUESTION. IS IT APPROPRIATE FOR INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS TO HAVE CASH RESERVES IN THEIR FUND BALANCE WHERE THERE'S NO POLICY? [04:35:05] THERE WAS NOT A POLICY GUIDING THE USE OF THOSE FUNDS AND HOW MUCH SHOULD BE HELD IN A RESERVE. I THINK GASB 34 IS THE NAME. >> YES, SIR. >> GASB 34 WOULD GIVE A BREAK-EVEN POINT OVER TIME, WHICH MEANS THOSE ACCOUNTS ZERO OUT. WHEN WE'RE TOLD, PREVIOUSLY TO THAT, THAT THE INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS ZERO OUT, THAT ZEROING WAS PUTTING IT INTO THE RESERVE. IT WAS NOT CHARGING IT BACK TO THE DEPARTMENTS. IT WAS PUTTING IT INTO THE RESERVE. I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE SHOULD NOT HAVE A RESERVE IN THOSE ACCOUNTS FOR UNFORESEEN EXPENDITURES. WHAT I'M SUGGESTING IS WE FIND AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF WHAT THAT RESERVE IS. THIS IS NOT DRAINING A RESERVE. THIS IS WHAT I HAD SAID, IS A ONE-TIME CORRECTION. >> IT'S NOT ZEROING. >> IT'S NOT ZEROING. IT'S CREATING A BREAK-EVEN POINT OVER TIME. >> CREATING A [INAUDIBLE] >> BOB'S POINT LAST MEETING, WHEN HE SAID, YOU DID A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, IT FLUCTUATED UP AND DOWN, ABOUT $1.5 MILLION. I FELT IT WAS AN APPROPRIATE AMOUNT. GLENN SAID THAT WAS PROBABLY A LITTLE HIGHER THAN HE WOULD HAVE CHOSEN. >> I HAVE AN AUDIT TO IT. >> JUST A QUICK SCAN BY LOOKING AT THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORTS. >> I THINK [INAUDIBLE] >> I HAD MENTIONED IT'S A GOOD POLICY. IT'S GOOD ACCOUNTING PRACTICES TO DO THAT. >> ALEX, LET ME ASK THIS ON ITEM 10. YOU MENTIONED, DOES THE WAY THIS WORDED SATISFY WHAT YOU FEEL WE SHOULD GET FROM THAT AUDIT? >> IF THAT CAN BE OPEN FOR INTERPRETATION OR FOR CHANGE. BUT WHAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT IS TO DO, WHAT BOB HAD SAID AS A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OVER THE LAST X AMOUNT OF YEARS TO LOOK AT TRANSFERS IN, TRANSFERS OUT, HOW MUCH HAS BEEN SITTING THERE? HOW BIG OF A HIT WILL WE REALLY TAKE? I DON'T REALLY BUY THAT IF WE GET HACKED, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME UNFORESEEN EXPENSE THAT WE NEED IN TERMS OF TECHNOLOGY. BUT IN THOSE FUNDS, LET'S LOOK AT WHAT'S AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL. LET'S DO A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS YEAR OVER YEAR, AND THEN WE KNOW WE HAVE A BREAK-EVEN POINT OVER TIME, WHETHER THAT BE A HIGHER OR LOWER AMOUNT THAN IS IN THE RESERVE RIGHT NOW. ALTHOUGH WE ARE TAKING SOME OF THAT, WHICH, IN MY OPINION, HAVE BEEN DONE BEFORE, BUT WE CAN DO THAT AND ADD IT TOWARDS THE 120-DAY RESERVE THAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO MAINTAIN. OVER THAT, WE CAN HAVE A SET GUIDELINE AND POLICY BECAUSE WE FOUND OUT THAT THE TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENT FUND IS BASICALLY ANY, WHAT DO YOU CALL IT, VACANCY LAPSE OR UNSPENT MONEY THAT GETS ROLLED INTO THE TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENT FUND. SO WE STILL NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW THE CASH RESERVE POSITIVE BALANCE AND THE FUND BALANCES FOR THOSE INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS ARE CREATED. THEN WE NEED TO KNOW, IS THERE AN ACCOUNTING THING THAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT MONEY GOES BACK TO THE DEPARTMENTS, AND MAKE SURE THAT MONEY HAS AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF RESERVE FOR EMERGENCY USE. BUT IT NEEDS A SET POLICY. IT CAN'T JUST BE A POT OF MONEY SITTING THERE TO BE DRAWN FROM AT ANY POINT IN TIME. >> UNDERSTOOD. WHAT I HEAR, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS WITHIN GLENN'S PURVIEW, IS THAT IN ADDITION TO THE AUDIT, HE CAN COME BACK WITH POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO THE FUND TRANSFERS AS WELL AS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CERTAIN RESERVE LEVEL WITHIN THOSE. >> PARAMETERS. >> RIGHT. >> YES, EXACTLY. >> GLENN, IS THAT WITHIN YOUR PURVIEW TO DO? >> YES, SIR. >> GREAT. >> UNDER GASB 34 IS TYPICALLY, WE WANT ENOUGH CASH RESERVES IN THERE TO HANDLE BILLING CYCLES AND PRICE FLUCTUATIONS. BUT WE DON'T WANT TO DOUBLE RESERVE BECAUSE THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF THE 34 IS TO OPERATE EFFICIENTLY. THE BOARD THOUGHT THAT WITH THE CASH DOWN HERE AT THE DEPARTMENTAL LEVELS, THERE'S A MORE LIKELIHOOD THAT IT WOULD BE SPENT ON NON-ESSENTIAL ITEMS. THEY'RE LOOKING AT EFFICIENCY PURPOSES AS WELL WITH THIS GASB. THAT'S THE WHOLE IDEA BEHIND GASB 34 OR FOR PARAGRAPH 68 OF IT. >> THEN MAYOR QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED. >> THAT'S FUND TRANSFERS AND FUND BALANCES? >> TRANSFERS OF FUND BALANCE. >> I SAID, JULIE, THE FUNDS IN AND OUT, AND HOW RESERVE WAS BUILT. THEN LOOK AT WHAT IS AN APPROPRIATE RESERVE LEVEL. [04:40:01] THEN THAT WAY, THE INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS, WHEN IT'S OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT, LET'S SAY THERE IS AN UNFORESEEN EXPENSE AND IT COSTS $250,000. ANY OVERAGES UP TO $250,000 WOULD GO BACK TO REPLENISH THAT RESERVE. IT WOULD DIP DOWN BELOW THE ZERO, WHICH IS 500,000 IN MY MIND. THEN IT WOULD GO BACK AND STABILIZE. IF IT HAD ANY MORE, IT WOULD BE CHARGED BACK TO THE DEPARTMENTS WHERE IT CAME FROM AND FROM THE GENERAL FUND, FROM THE ENTERPRISE FUND, FROM WHICHEVER FUND FUNDED THE INTERNAL SERVICE FUND. I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GETTING INTO. >> CHARGED BACK MEANS WE COLLECTED MORE THAN WE SHOULD HAVE FROM AN INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENT, AND THEN WE CREDIT THAT MONEY BACK. >> SURE. >> LIKE A REFUND OR REBATE TO THAT DEPARTMENT TO THAT FUND. >> HOW DO I WANT TO ASK THIS? IS THERE A SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THAT FUND? WOULD YOU HANDLE THE FUNDS THE SAME? DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? >> TO MY UNDERSTANDING, SOME OF THE FUNDS COME OUT OF, GARAGE IS EVERY DEPARTMENT. IT IS EVERY DEPARTMENT. GARAGE IS UNDER CENTRAL SERVICE. IT IS UNDER CENTRAL SERVICES. JUST STICK TO THE GARAGE. IT WOULD BE AN ENTERPRISE FUND IN COLLECTION. IN THAT FUND, IN THEIR DEPARTMENT, THEY GET BILLED ACCORDING TO WHAT THE CALCULATIONS ARE FOR THE GARAGE. THAT WOULD NOT BE MONEY, THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE GENERAL FUND. HOWEVER, THE INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS ARE AN EXTENSION OF A GENERAL FUND. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? >> I WAS JUST WONDERING, DOES EACH FUND FOLLOW THE SAME RULE? IS THAT WHAT I WANT TO SAY? HOW DO I WANT TO SAY THAT? >> THERE IS NO POLICY FOR THE FUND. >> THERE IS NONE. I GOT YOU. >> [OVERLAPPING] WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THAT FUND? >> THERE IS NONE. >> THE INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS DO NOT FALL UNDER THE SAME RULES AS OTHER FUNDS DO. >> GOT YOU. >> COUNSEL, CURRENTLY, I'VE GOT 1, 2, 10, 11, AND 15 OF CRUISE TERMINAL 25. >> SIXTEEN. >> SIXTEEN ALSO? >> IN COMBINATION OF NUMBERS 8 AND 15. >> THE COMBINATION OF EIGHT AND 15 IS NOW SIMPLY CRUISE SHIP TERMINAL 25. >> THAT'S 1, 2, 3, 04, 5, 6. >> WE GOT FOUR MORE. >> CAN I ASK A QUESTION? >> YES, GO RIGHT AHEAD. >> GLENN, AUDIT NUMBER 3 FOR THE CITY AUDITOR'S OFFICE, CONDUCTED COMPLIANCE AUDIT ON THE PARK BOARD'S FEMA AND GLO CONTRACTS. IS THERE ALREADY A POTENTIAL IDENTIFIED RISK, OR IS THIS JUST A GOOD PRACTICE BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T DONE IT IN A WHILE, THING? >> I SAY IT'S A GOOD PRACTICE BECAUSE YOU HAVE GANGED THE WALL. GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE STATES THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A LIABILITY UNDER FEMA, YOU CANNOT AGGREGATE. YOU CANNOT TAKE YOUR RECEIVABLES AND YOUR LIABILITY, AND MASH THEM TOGETHER. YOU HAVE TO SHOW THEM NET. THE FEMA LIABILITY NEEDS TO BE ON YOUR FINANCIALS. >> CAN I ASK A QUESTION? DO WE KNOW IF THAT CONDITION EXISTS EITHER AT THE CITY AND/OR THE [INAUDIBLE] PORT, AS WELL? >> IT DID AT THE [INAUDIBLE] PORT. WE GOT IT FIXED. >> IT'S BEEN FIXED. GOOD. DOES IT EXIST POTENTIALLY AT THE CITY AS WELL? >> WE HAVE LOOKED AT IT AT THE CITY IN GREAT DETAIL, AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY LIABILITIES AT ALL AT THE CITY. WE GOT ONLY RECEIVABLES AT THE CITY. YOU FEEL LIKE THERE'S A MIX AT THE PARK BORDER. >> IT'S GOOD THAT THE OTHER ONES HAVE BEEN RESOLVED. GIVEN THE FACT THAT OUR AUDITOR BROUGHT IT UP, I WOULD DEFINITELY ADVOCATE FOR ADDING THAT ONE TO THE LIST. >> I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND TO CONSIDER AUDIT 9 ALSO, COMPLIANCE AUDIT ON THE CITY'S PROCUREMENT PROCEDURES. >> BEFORE THE NINE, WAS THIS ONE OF [INAUDIBLE] FOR THE PORT? I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT IT. >> FACTORY ACCEPTANCE TESTING. >> HOW MUCH TIME CONSTRAINT WOULD IT PUT? I KNOW THE PARK PORTS PROCUREMENT IS GOING THROUGH AN OVERHAUL. IF WE LOOK AT THE CITY AND THE PORTS TOGETHER, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY TIME CONSTRAINT-WISE FOR YOU, GLENN? >> ON THE NUMBER 9? >> FOR NUMBER 9, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WAS A PORT WITH PROCUREMENT, BUT THERE IS SOME OVERLAP WITH 8 AND 15 >> IT'S TWO DIFFERENT SYSTEMS, SO YOU'D HAVE TO DO THIS. THAT'S A DIVISION. >> THE REASON I PUT THIS ONE ON HERE WAS A TEST FOR BEST PRACTICES, [04:45:02] MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE PROCEDURES IN PLACE, BECAUSE IT GOES BACK TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT WHEN WE LOOK AT TRYING TO DRIVE EFFICIENCIES WITHIN DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS. THIS WAS GETTING OUR HOUSE RIGHT FIRST THING. >> GOT YOU. >> I 100% AGREE. >> I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD THE BEST PRACTICES IN PLACE AND HAD OUR PROCUREMENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE BEFORE WE START BEING CRITICAL OF OTHERS, OR NOT NECESSARILY CRITICAL. >> WE HAVE LOOKED AT EVERYONE ELSE OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS. EXCEPT OURSELVES. >> WELL. I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME IDEAS BROUGHT UP PREVIOUSLY ABOUT HOW WE CAN BE MORE EFFICIENT WITHIN THE VARIOUS OVERHEAD ENTITIES THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE. WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT SETS OF OVERHEAD. THAT WAS MY REASON FOR BRINGING IT UP. I DON'T THINK IT'S A HUGE LIFT. GLENN, I'M NOT REALLY SURE THAT IT IS. >> ONE MONTH. >> TWO MONTHS? >> ONE MONTH. >> PROBABLY NOT. IT'S ON A GRAVE STRAIN. >> WE SHOULD KEEP THAT ON THERE FOR SURE >> IS THAT NUMBER NINE? >> IT'S NUMBER NINE. >> MAYOR, I'LL RETRACT NUMBER 14, PROBABLY NOT NEEDED, OR PROBABLY A LOW PRIORITY TO TAKE THAT OFF. >> TAKE IT OFF. >> WE'LL RETRACT NUMBER 7, DAVID? >> THAT'S SOMETHING CARRIED OVER. >> THAT WAS CARRIED OVER. IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF AN AUDIT, BUT IT IS REALLY MORE ABOUT THE ENGINEERING PROCESS OF A FACTORY ACCEPTANCE TEST. WHO SHOULD BE WITNESSING THOSE TESTS, AND WHERE SHOULD WE BE SPENDING THE FUNDS TO SEND PEOPLE TO THOSE FACTORY ACCEPTANCE TESTS? I WILL TELL YOU THAT ON ALL MY PROJECTS THAT I DO, YOU SEND A MINIMUM OF TWO PEOPLE. ONE, THE PERSON THAT HAS BEEN THAT TECH-SPECKED MADE THE SPEC FOR THAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT OR THE ENGINEER. THEN ALSO ANY IN-HOUSE PERSON IN THE FUTURE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TRAINED ON THAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN YOU DO A FACTORY ACCEPTANCE TEST, YOU'RE ACCEPTING THAT THAT PRODUCT, THAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN DEFINED BY YOUR ENGINEER, AND THEN ALSO THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE ARE GETTING TRAINED ON THAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. LOOK, THIS IS A LOW-HANGING FRUIT, AND THEY'VE ALREADY DONE ONE GANGWAY. THEY'RE GET READY TO GO DO ANOTHER GANGWAY. >> ONE OTHER THING, DAVID, THE PARKS BOARD HAS CHANGED THEIR POLICIES. >> THEY'VE ALREADY ADDRESSED IT. >> IT'S NOT A BIG TICKET ITEM. >> NO, SIR. >> NO, IT'S NOT. YES, I'LL RETRACT IT. >> THANK YOU, THOUGH. >> THE ONLY ONES LEFT ARE 12 AND 13. I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT 13 BUT 12. I REALLY THINK IF WE HAD TIME, AND I KNOW WE GOT THREE PEOPLE WITH LIMITED TIME, BUT WHEN I WAS MADE AWARE THAT NOT ALL OF THE PROPERTY THAT WE MOWED THAT WE GET REIMBURSEMENT FOR, LOOKING THROUGH BUDGETS AND EVERYTHING, IT'S THE TIME OF THE EMPLOYEES IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE PART OF THE BUDGET. IT'S THE MOST EXPENSIVE PART. >> I THINK IT'S WORTHWHILE TO LOOK AT. >> I THINK IT'S WORTHWHILE TO LOOK AT, BUT MAYBE WE CAN MOVE IT TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST IF WE HAVE TIME, BUT REALLY LOOKING AT MOVING INTO THE FUTURE IF THERE ARE INTER-LOCAL AGREEMENTS OR FUNDS THAT WE CAN BE GETTING, AND FOR OUR SERVICE, IF IT'S ANOTHER TAXING AUTHORITY, I THINK THAT IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF DOUBLE-DIPPING. I UNDERSTAND THE SERVICE OF IT, BUT ALSO, THERE'S A COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT SERVICE. IF WE'RE SUBSIDIZING IT, THEN WE NEED TO SEE IF WE CAN RECUPERATE SOME COST. >> WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON IT, GLENN? >> IN SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE DONE. I WOULD DO 12 AND 13 BOTH. IF WE DO 12 AND 13. >> WHAT DID OVER TIME. >> THAT WOULD BE TWO. >> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN EXACTLY? EVERY DEPARTMENT. >> CAN WE SAY AUDIT OF. >> [OVERLAPPING] GOT IT. >> TIME, EXCLUDING PUBLIC SAFETY? >> WELL, PROBABLY COUNSEL NEEDS TO PROBABLY REIGN IN ON THAT BECAUSE DAN PUT THAT ON THERE AS SUGGESTION. AND I DON'T KNOW WHICH DEPARTMENTS HE WOULD. >> [OVERLAPPING] HE SAID, CITYWIDE. >> CITYWIDE. >> SO ALL DEPARTMENTS. >> SO I DON'T KNOW IF COUNSEL WANTS THAT MUCH COVERAGE OR PARTICULAR. [04:50:05] >> [OVERLAPPING] HOW LONG WOULD THAT THAT TAKE? >> TWO MONTHS. >> THERE IS TWO MONTHS. >> TWO MONTHS? CITYWIDE? >> I THINK SO. >> OKAY. >> SO THAT GIVES US TEN, COUNSEL. >> SO THAT'S IT? >> SO 1, 2, 3, 8, 9. >> [OVERLAPPING] NO EIGHT. >> NO EIGHT. >> NO EIGHT. >> EIGHT AND 15, SAME. >> RIGHT. >> I WAS GOING TO NOT SAY 15, BUT OKAY, 01, 2, 3, 8, 9, AND 15, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. >> IS 10 [INAUDIBLE]? >> THEN 16. >> AND 15 AND 16. >> SIXTEEN. >> SO THERE'S 16, 15? >> SO WE'D HAVE 1, 2, 03, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16. >> RIGHT, THAT'S WHAT I GOT. >> THAT'S WHAT I HAVE. >> CAN YOU DO IT ONE MORE TIME THERE? >> [LAUGHTER]. >> ONE, 2, 3, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16. >> GOT IT. THANK YOU. >> I GOT A QUESTION. WHEN YOU WERE SEARCHING AND YOU FOUND THE GISD PROPERTY THAT WE WERE CUTTING GRASS, ARE THERE OTHER NON CITY PROPERTIES THAT YOU FOUND. AND THE REASON I'M ASKING IS BECAUSE I GUARANTEE THE CITY PROBABLY DOES SOMETHING FOR GISD. >> WELL, THERE'S. >> [OVERLAPPING] THERE'S A BAR LIKE SOMETHING IN BETWEEN. >> THE ANSWER I WAS GIVEN WAS, AND I THINK WE ALL GOT THE EMAIL, IT WAS THEY SHARE SOME, BUT THE THEY DON'T GET REIMBURSEMENT, THERE'S NO INTER LOCAL, BUT THEY SHARE SOME, AND THE GUYS WORK IT OUT IN THE FIELD.. >> NO, I WAS JUST WONDERING, I BET GISD DOES THINGS FOR US, THE CITY. >> THE LAST INTERLOCAL WAS. >> [OVERLAPPING] SO I WAS JUST ASKING. >> IN 95. THAT WAS WHAT JANELLE COULD FIND ON LASERFICHE. SO THERE'S A THERE IS A TRADE OFF OF BASICALLY USING JUST THE TIME I SPENT ON GISD BOARD, RAN THE YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE, AND THERE'S A TRADE OFF OF GIVING BACK TO THE CITIZENS OF GALVESTON AND BASICALLY HAVING THE USE OF THEIR PROPERTIES SUCH AS THE FIELD AT WEISS OR THE FIELD AT BURNET. IT BASICALLY SERVES AS A PARK, IT'S NOT OUR PARK, BUT IT'S UTILIZED MORE THAN MOST OF OUR PARKS. SO THERE IS A TRADE OFF. I THINK IT WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW THE VALUE JUST IN CASE THERE EVER IS A QUESTION. BECAUSE THERE IS AN ACCOUNTABILITY THAT WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF FOR THAT. NOT THAT GISD NEEDS TO PAY US ANYTHING OR WE NEED TO PAY GISD ANYTHING. IT'S JUST THE ACCOUNTABILITY FACTOR OF JUST PUTTING A VALUE OF WHAT THOSE SERVICES ARE. >> AND IN MY. >> [OVERLAPPING] IS THIS RELATED TO THE AUDIT? >> THIS IS. >> YEAH. >> OKAY. >> THIS IS. >> OKAY >> THE NON CITY OWNED MAINTAINED PROPERTY IS GISD. >> WHAT'S DIRECTLY RELATED TO NUMBER 12. >> THE ULTIMATE GOAL I'D LIKE TO SEE IS ENOUGH OF THE HANDSHAKE DEALS, AND WE NEED IT CLEARLY DEFINED IN PAPER AND PRINCIPLES POLICY. >> [OVERLAPPING] IT NEEDS TO BE IN AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH GISD, AND. >> [OVERLAPPING] I DON'T MIND DOING THE SERVICE, BUT IF THERE'S ANY COST SHARING THAT WE CAN DO TO ALLEVIATE, YOUR TAX BILL, MY TAX BILL, MY WIFE'S TAX BILL, YOUR TAX BILL, EVERYBODY'S TAX BILL SAYS GISD AND CITY OF GALVESTON. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL KNOW THAT ALL OF OUR TAX BILLS SAY. >> [OVERLAPPING] AMANDA.. >> [LAUGHTER]. >> WELL, I WAS ASKING TO SEE IF WE COULD GET TO SOME AGREEMENT. THAT'S WHY I WAS TRYING. >> THAT'S MY ULTIMATE GOAL THIS EVENING.. >> COUNSEL, WE HAVE CHOSEN, I'LL GO THROUGH ONE LAST TIME. 01, 2, 3, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16. THANK YOU, COUNSEL. >> THAT WILL FEEL GOOD. >> AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS. LADIES, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS ON THIS. LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 5E, PLEASE, MA'AM. [5.E Discussion of City Auditor Responsibilities (C Brown - 15 min) 1. Request for information outside of Audit Plan topics 2. Request for Audit information prior to completion] >> ITEM 5E. DISCUSSION [INAUDIBLE] RESPONSIBILITIES. ONE, REQUEST FOR INFORMATION OUTSIDE OF AUDIT PLAN TOPICS, AND TO REQUEST FOR AUDIT INFORMATION PRIOR TO COMPLETION. >> COUNSEL, THE REASON THESE ARE ON THE AGENDA IS WE'VE HAD SOME ACTIVITIES THAT BROUGHT UP THE QUESTION OF GLENN'S RESPONSIBILITIES. AND GLENN HAD MENTIONED TO ME THAT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO GET DIRECTION FROM COUNSEL TO GIVE HIM GUIDANCE ON HOW HE SHOULD RESPOND. THE FIRST ONE IS INFORMATION OUTSIDE OF THE AUDIT PLAN TOPICS. SHOULD GLENN BE ALSO OPEN TO BE A RESEARCH FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS IF THEY WANT TO LOOK INTO OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ON THE AUDIT PLAN. [04:55:06] SO LET'S OPEN THAT UP TO DISCUSSION. >> PERSONALLY, I THINK YES. I THINK IT FITS HIS JOB DESCRIPTIONS IN THE CHARTER. IF THERE'S WAYS OF EFFICIENCIES THAT WE CAN FIND OR LOOK AT. AND IF IT'S ACCOUNTING OR FINANCIAL QUESTIONS THAT HE'S GOT THE HARD DATA TO ANSWER, IT'S NOT TIME CONSUMING. WE'RE NOT SAYING, HEY GLENN, GO AHEAD AND DO THIS IN THE AUDIT. AND YOUR AUDIT PLAN THAT'S GOING TO TAKE AN EXTRA MONTH. I THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE, BUT I DON'T THINK COMMANDING HIM TO DO AN AUDIT IS APPROPRIATE. I THINK INFORMATION BASED IS OKAY IN RESOURCE INFORMATION. >> THE WAY I LOOK AT IT, IF GLENN HAD JUST ONE REQUEST AND IT WAS A MINOR REQUEST, BUT WHEN YOU APPROVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS, HE COULD GET SEVEN REQUESTS FROM EACH COUNCIL MEMBER TO START RESEARCHING ITEMS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF HIS AUDIT PLAN. AND THIS COULD BECOME OVERPOWERED ON THIS. THAT'S MY ONLY CONCERN, SHARON. >> I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU BECAUSE I THINK THE WAY WE DID IT TODAY WHERE WE DECIDED AUDITS OR ANYTHING. SO IF HE, AND AT THAT TIME, I WOULD THINK HE COULD COME BEFORE COUNSEL TO SAY I FOUND A, B, C AND D OR WHATEVER. BUT I AGREE WITH THAT. TOO MANY OF US WILL START PICKING AND COMING TO YOU FOR THINGS THAT COULD BE A JUST A PUSH TO FIND OUT SOMETHING ON A PERSONAL LEVEL. I'VE OBSERVED THAT A LOT OF TIMES THAT WE'RE PICKING A LITTLE PETTY THINGS. AND I THINK HE HAS THE AUTHORITY, HE HAS THE KNOWLEDGE TO COME BEFORE US IF HE FINDS SOMETHING THAT HE THINKS THAT CITY COUNCIL NEEDS TO KNOW. >> ANY FURTHER THOUGHTS ON THIS? >> FOR ITEM 12, I DID ASK GLENN AFTER THAT EMAIL ABOUT THE CITY, AND I SAID, WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD DO FAIRLY QUICKLY? AND HE SAID, YOU'D PROBABLY WANT TO PUT THAT ON AN AUDIT PLAN. SO I THINK GLENN IS AN ADULT AND HE CAN DISCERN HIS DISCRETION, WHERE IF WE COME TO HIM WITH A VERY SIMPLE QUESTION, LIKE INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS, HE LOOKED AT OUR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS FOUND IT FAIRLY QUICKLY AND SHOT IT TO ME AND THAT WAS PRETTY STANDARD. IT WAS PRETTY QUICK, BUT IF IT'S SOMETHING LIKE, HEY, HOW LONG WOULD THIS TAKE OR COULD YOU IDENTIFY THAT QUICKLY, HE SAID, NO, I CAN'T. THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT YOU GOT TO PUT ON AN AUDIT PLAN. >> A SOP STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE SORT OF QUESTION IS THAT, WHEN IS IT RIGHT TO GO TO THE CITY AUDITOR WITH A FINANCIAL QUESTION AS OPPOSED TO YOUR CITY MANAGER/CFO? >> I THINK IT UP A DISCRETION TO COUNCIL MEMBERS. BUT THAT'S MY. >> [OVERLAPPING] AND LET THE ADULTS FIGURE IT OUT OR LET THE ADULT FIGURE IT OUT. HE IS AN ADULT. LIKE YOU SAID, I'M JUST ASKING, I JUST [INAUDIBLE] IT OUT THERE TO THE ETHOS. >> WELL, I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT, I THINK GLENN'S PRIORITY WORK IS AUDITS, ABOVE ANYTHING ELSE HE'S GOING TO BE DOING. HE WON'T TO TAKE AWAY FROM THAT ANYWAY. BUT ALSO, I DON'T WANT TO PUT GLENN IN A POSITION OF BEING UNCERTAIN AS TO WHAT HE CAN OR SHOULD AND SHOULDN'T DO. IN OTHER WORDS, YOU'VE GOT TO BE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT WE'RE SAYING. I THINK, I'M NOT SURE HOW TO DO THAT, BUT THOSE ARE MY TWO THOUGHTS IS THAT WE FOCUS ON HIS PRIORITY AND THEN BE SPECIFIC IN OUR DIRECTION TO HIM ABOUT WHAT HE CAN AND CAN'T DO, I GUESS, OR WHETHER HE SHOULD OR SHOULDN'T FOCUS ON IT. >> SO WHY IS THIS A DISCUSSION ITEM? >> WE HAD AN INSTANCE WHERE COUNCILMAN PORRETTO HAD ASKED GLENN SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET, AND WANTED TO GET INPUT FROM HIM ON THE BUDGET. AND GLENN CONTACTED ME, HE SAID, ''MAYOR, I'M NOT SURE HOW TO HANDLE THIS.'' AND I SAID, ''WELL, WHAT'S THE QUESTION?'' HE SAID, ''IT'S BUDGET QUESTIONS.'' AND I SAID, ''WELL, GLENN, YOU COULD BE REFERRING TO THE CITY MANAGER OR THE CFO TO OR DAN TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.'' AND THAT'S HOW IT CAME UP. SO WE NEED TO GIVE GLENN GUIDANCE. I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH GLENN FOR SO MANY YEARS. GLENN TRIES HIS BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT [05:00:04] IF HE'S GIVEN A REQUEST THAT HE DELVES INTO IT AND GETS THE ANSWER CORRECTLY. AND SHOULD WE HAVE A POLICY, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER THAT SAYS, IF A COUNCIL MEMBER COMES AND ASKS QUESTIONS THAT ARE UNRELATED TO HIS AUDIT PLAN, GLENN SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS. PERSONALLY, I THINK HE SHOULD STAY WITH THE AUDIT PLAN, BUT THAT'S JUST ME. >> WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS, GLENN? >> I'VE BEEN DOING GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING FOR OVER 40 YEARS. IT WASN'T A TYPE OF QUESTION, I'M NOT TRYING TO BLOW MY HORN, BUT WHEN HE ASKED ME ABOUT GASP 34, THAT'S A NO BRAINER. EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS, HOW MUCH CASH YOU WANT TO KEEP IN THERE. I WOULD HAVE FELT BAD IF I WOULD HAVE TURNED COUNCILMAN PORRETTO AWAY WITHOUT ANSWERING HIS QUESTION THAT I KNEW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. AND I JUST FEEL LIKE IF I CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION WITHIN. >> [OVERLAPPING] WHEN YOU SHOULD ANSWER. >> FIFTEEN, 20, 30 MINUTES, THEN I SHOULD. >> FIFTEEN, 15 OR 30 MINUTES. >> IF IT TAKES 15, 30 MINUTES OF RESEARCH. THIS ONE DIDN'T TAKE ME ANY TIME. >> WELL, YOU MAY HAVE SEVEN OF THOSE 30 MINUTES. >> [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S FINE. >> OF RESEARCH. >> I'M NOT STRANGER WORKING OVERTIME. >> THAT'S HIS JOB, AND HE WORKS FOR COUNSEL. >> GLENN'S JOB IN THE CHARTER IS TO SYSTEMATICALLY AND CONTINUOUSLY LOOK FOR EFFICIENCIES. AND WHEN I SAT IN MY BUDGET MEETING AND I'M CONSTANTLY TOLD NO, AND IF THEY'RE AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE, AND THOSE THINGS, I'M GOING TO EXHAUST ALL OF MY MEANS TO FIND EFFICIENCIES. AND IF I CAN LEAN ON A TOOL THAT GLENN IS AVAILABLE TO US TO FIND EFFICIENCIES, AND I SAY, HEY, I DON'T THINK THAT I'M BEING TOLD THAT WE ARE AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE. AND THIS IS WHAT I'M LOOKING AT. AND MARIE SAW THE INTEREST PAYMENTS, AND THEN THE QUESTION WAS ASKED, INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS, CAN YOU HAVE AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF CASH RESERVE IN YOUR FUND BALANCE. AND TO ME WHEN YOU FIND THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS, AND YOU GO THROUGH THIS, AND WE WOULDN'T BE TALKING ABOUT THESE PARTICULAR EFFICIENCIES AND LOOKING AT TRUING UP AND BRINGING SOME OF THE MONEY BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND TO FUND THE 120 DAY RESERVE TO BRING IT BACK UP. BECAUSE THAT'S ULTIMATELY WHAT I WANT TO SEE IS OUR 120 DAY RESERVE BOLSTERED BACK UP WITH THOSE FUNDS THAT ORIGINALLY CAME FROM INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS OR GENERAL FUND TO THE INTERNAL SERVICE FUND. IF I WASN'T ABLE TO ASK GLENN THAT QUESTION, WE WOULD NOT BE HERE ANSWERING THAT. WE WOULD NOT BE HERE TALKING ABOUT THE INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS AND THE APPROPRIATE RESERVE AMOUNTS. AND IN MY OPINION, WE WOULDN'T BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH GOVERNMENT WITH GASB 34. SO I JUST THINK HE'S A INVALUABLE RESOURCE TO COUNSEL. IF WE'RE ASKING HIM TO PRINT OFF REAMS OF PAPER FOR RIDICULOUS GOOSE CHASES, I THINK GLENN CAN IDENTIFY THAT. BUT I THINK SOME THINGS. [OVERLAPPING]. I DON'T THINK GLENN SHOULD BE PUT IN THE POSITION OF SAYING, NO, I'M NOT GOING TO FOLLOW YOUR REQUEST, BUT I'M GOING TO FOLLOW YOUR REQUEST. AND IT SOUNDS LIKE BLACK AND WHITE, BUT HIS REQUESTS ARE A LOT OF TIMES GRAY. BUT IF THE MAJORITY OF COUNSEL WANTS GLENN TO RESPOND THAT WAY, I'M FINE. I JUST PERSONALLY FEEL THAT WOULDN'T BE APPROPRIATE. >> WE COULD TAKE THE SAME APPROACH THAT WE DO WITH OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS, THAT WE DO WITH JANELLE. GLENN WANTED TO SHARE A QUESTION THAT WE ALL HAD, AND IF HE COULD SAY, HERE'S MY ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION. I WAS ASKED BY COUNCILMAN BINKLEY ABOUT THIS QUESTION, HERE'S MY SHORT ANSWER. DOES IT GIVE THE FULL PICTURE? NO. YOU WOULD WANT TO PUT THAT ON YOUR NEXT AUDIT PLAN. >> IF WE DECIDED TO GO THIS WAY, I THINK IT WOULD AT LEAST BE APPROPRIATE AND RESPECTFUL TO WHENEVER WE APPROACH GLENN FOR SOMETHING, WE'LL FIRST SAY, GLENN, DO YOU HAVE THE TIME TO DO X, Y, Z OR WHATEVER IT IS? AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT RIGHT NOW, WHEN CAN YOU SCHEDULE THAT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. IN OTHER WORDS, JUST RECOGNIZE WHAT HIS PRIORITY IS, I GUESS. >> I'M FINE WITH THAT. IF THAT'S WHAT THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNSEL WANTS TO DO. [05:05:01] I KNOW GLENN IN HIS OPERATION, I JUST FEEL THAT THIS COUNSEL IS FAIRLY RESPECTFUL OF GLENN'S TIME. I'VE BEEN ON COUNSEL, AND I'M TELLING YOU IF WE HAD THIS POLICY WITH GLENN, HE WOULD SPEND ALL OF HIS TIME ANSWERING QUESTIONS FOR COUNSEL. >> CAN WE TRY IT, AND IF I DO GET BOMBARDED, I CAN PERHAPS MENTION IT TO COUNSEL. >> SURE. YES, [INAUDIBLE]. >> OFTENTIMES WHEN COUNCIL MEMBERS ASK QUESTIONS TO CITY SECRETARY, OR THE OPEN RECORDS, THEY GET THOSE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GET DISTRIBUTED BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. IS THIS SOMETHING TO WHERE ON A TRIAL BASIS, THAT QUESTIONS ASKED TO GLENN GET CIRCULATED BACK AROUND? I DON'T KNOW. >> I THINK YOU THROW IT OUT THERE. >> I THINK THAT. >> WE GO IT ANYWAY. >> YEAH. >> OKAY. >> GLENN IS GOOD ABOUT NOTIFYING ALL THE COUNSEL. >> THANK YOU. >> WELL, THAT'S FINE. WELL, GLENN, YOU'LL BE OPEN FOR QUESTIONS AND RESEARCH, AND ALL THAT OTHER. >> THAT'S WHAT I DO. >> WELL, YOUR AUDIT PLAN IS WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING. THAT'S WHAT HE GETS RIGHT, THAT'S WHAT HIS ROLE IS, BUT ALL RIGHT. THIS MOVED ITEM TWO. THIS WAS A TOPIC THAT CAME UP. IN MY OPINION, AND I THOUGHT I UNDERSTOOD COUNSEL'S DIRECTION ON THIS. WE'VE DISCUSSED IT IN THE PAST. >> WHEN GLENN IS DOING HIS AUDIT, HE SHOULD NOT RELEASE ANY INFORMATION ON THAT AUDIT UNTIL THAT AUDIT IS COMPLETED, HE HAS ALL OF THESE FINDINGS AND SO FORTH AND MAKES A REPORT TO COUNCIL. NOW, HE HAS HAD REQUESTS WANTING INFORMATION FROM AN AUDIT DURING THE AUDIT PROCESS, AND WE NEED TO GIVE GLENN GUIDANCE ON THAT. >> I UNFORTUNATELY READ THE GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS BOOK. WHAT'S IT CALLED? IT'S 200 PAGES LONG. >> THAT IS UNFORTUNATE. >> THERE'S A PROVISION IN THERE DEEP DOWN IN THE RECESSES OF THE BOOK. THAT IF GLENN, LET'S SAY GLENN SAYS, I'M GOING TO START ON THIS AUDIT, AND THEN THE TIMELINE OF THAT AUDIT PASSES. THE AUDIT OR AUDITOR, I GUESS IT WOULD BE THE BODY. WHETHER IT BE ONE OR SOME COULD ASK THE QUESTION, "HEY, WHAT'S THE STATUS, WHAT'S THE INFORMATION?" WHAT'S THE STATUS ON THAT? FULL REVIEW BEFORE PRIOR TO. HOW WE DO THAT AS A BODY? MAYBE THAT'S JUST A STRESS TEST THAT HAPPENED. BUT THAT MAYBE THAT'S OPEN FOR DISCUSSION. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ASK IF WE'RE SAYING, ON WHEN HE BRINGS BACK A PIECE OF INFORMATION, I'M GOING TO FINISH BY APRIL. WELL, APRIL'S PASSED, AND WE'RE IN MAY, AND WE ASKED FOR, WHAT'S THE HOLD UP? >> CAN WE GET AN UPDATE? >> CAN WE GET AN UPDATE? THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK THAT UPDATE PERSONALLY. MAYBE IT COULD BE CLEANER. MAYBE I UNDERSTAND THE PREMISE BEHIND IT, NOT TO BE THROWING BUSINESS AROUND THAT'S NOT COMPLETE YET. BUT MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DISCUSS. >> I THINK I LIKE THE IDEA OF AN UPDATE, BUT I THINK THAT NEEDS TO COME AS COUNCIL. I CAN UPDATE TO COUNCIL, NOT TO RESPONDING TO INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THAT. YES, SIR. >> STATUS UPDATES ON IF YOU IF YOU'VE PASSED AN ANTICIPATED DELIVERY DATE, A STATUS UPDATE IS HERE'S WHAT'S REMAINING. HERE'S WHY I'M DELAYED. NOT NECESSARILY DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION OF THE AUDIT THAT IS YOU ONLY HAVE ONE SIDE OF THE TABLE RESPONDING TO. THIS IS WHY I'M DELAYED AND THIS THE REMAINING INFORMATION I'M LOOKING FOR. THAT'S THE STATUS UPDATE THAT I'D LOOK FOR. >> THAT'S WHAT I POTENTIAL FINDING SO. THAT'S WHERE I'M A LITTLE LOST. POTENTIAL FINDINGS THAT I MIGHT FIND OUT WHERE THE COUNCIL MAY WANT TO KNOW HAVE YOU DISCOVERED ANYTHING SO FAR? >> THAT'S PART OF THE THAT'S WEIRD BECAUSE IT'S IN THAT'S IN THE GOVERNMENT AUDITING SOMETHING. >> POTENTIAL FINDINGS ARE JUST THAT. THEY'RE THEY'RE NOT VALIDATED YET. >> THEY'RE NOT IN CONTEXT YET. >> MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, I DON'T KNOW DON'S LAST TIME. >> I WOULD SUGGEST THAT COUNTS WOULD ALWAYS BE FREE TO PUT AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA. >> SURELY. >> ASKING HIM FOR A STATUS REPORT ON THE COMPLETION OF THE AUDIT. WITHOUT ASKING THE POTENTIAL FINDINGS AND THEREBY EVADING THE APPEARANCE OF ATTEMPTING TO TAINT THE OUTCOME. [05:10:02] >> CORRECT. >> THAT SOUNDS REASONABLE TO ME. >> I'M A REASONABLE GUY. >> I DIDN'T SAY THAT. THE IDEA IS REASONABLE. BECAUSE WE NEED TO WE NEED TO AVOID INFORMATION OUT OF CONTEXT BECAUSE I ALWAYS MEANS SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN THE FINAL OUTCOME, AND IT MAY NOT BE ACCURATE. >> WELL, IF WE WANT TO UPDATE OURSELVES ON AN AUDIT, WE WILL PUT IT ON THE AGENDA FOR COUNCIL TO HAVE AN UPDATE. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> LET'S DO TO ITEM 5F, PLEASE. [5.F Discussion of installation times for water and sewer taps (Robb/Porretto/Rawlins - 10 min)] >> ITEM 5. DISCUSSION OF INSTALLATION TIMES FOR WATER AND SEWER TAPS. >> YES WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER ROB PEREA HOLLINS. BRANDON, ARE YOU ON THE WATER TAB ISSUE? >> YES, SIR. >> BRANDON COOK ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER? >> YES. >> FIRST OF ALL. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO REALLY EXPLAIN TO JOHN Q PUBLIC WHAT ALL GOES INTO, A METER TAP INSTALLATION. IT'S PRETTY BIG COORDINATED EFFORT. THAT TAKES QUITE A BIT OF TIME. FIRST, YOU'VE GOT, YOUR UTILITY LOCATE WINDOWS. YOU'VE GOT TO CALL IN FOR YOUR PRIVATE UTILITY COMPANIES TO GO IN AND MARK THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE IN THERE TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T GET DAMAGED, AS WELL AS THE CITIES. YOU'VE GOT SITE READINESS ISSUES THAT YOU HAVE TO PREPARE THE SITE FOR. YOU'VE GOT TO BATCH ALL YOUR PAVEMENT RESTORATION ON THE BACK END. YOU'VE GOT TO COORDINATE WITH BUILDERS, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT SEASONAL DEMAND FLUCTUATIONS. IT'S NOT NECESSARILY CREW TIME ON SITE, ALTHOUGH SOME JOBS DO REQUIRE MORE CREW TIME. IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU FIND WHEN YOU START DIGGING THE GROUND UP. AS COUNCIL MEMBER RAWLINS KNOWS, ANYTIME YOU OPEN UP THE WALLS IN A HOUSE, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO FIND IN THERE. IT'S EVEN MORE SO WHEN YOU START DIGGING IN GAPS. I DID PULL TOGETHER THE LAST FIVE YEARS OF OUR TAP INSTALLATION DATA. THERE STRAIGHT OUT OF OUR VIEW WORKS PROGRAM AND THEN GRAPH IT FOR EVERYONE. THAT WE COULD SEE HOW HOW EVERYTHING HAS FLUCTUATED THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT HERE IS BROKEN DOWN BY YEAR, AND IT'S REALLY THE MEDIAN LEAD TIME BY YEAR FROM REQUEST LOG UNTIL THE JOB IS CLOSED. THE TOP ROW THERE SHOWS THE NUMBER OF JOBS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT WERE CLOSED DURING THAT PARTICULAR CALENDAR YEAR. THE MIDDLE ROW THERE SHOWS THE MEDIAN TOTAL DAYS, WHICH IS THE 50TH PERCENTILE OF YOUR BELL CURVE ON THE DATA THERE. THEN THE BLUE LINE THERE INDICATES THE 90TH PERCENTILE OF THE TOTAL DAYS. THEN THE BOTTOM GRAPH THERE SHOWS OUR CURRENT OPEN WORK ORDERS AS OF 8, 2025. WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IS THAT THE YEARLY MEDIANS HAVE IMPROVED BY ABOUT 40% FROM 2022, FROM 71 DAYS TO ABOUT 42 DAYS THROUGH 2024 BASED ON THE 2022 VERSUS THE 2024 DATA. REALLY, WE'VE DONE THAT REALLY THROUGH GOOD MANAGEMENT PRACTICES BY INCREASING EFFICIENCIES, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT EFFICIENCIES TODAY. I REALLY THANK COUNCIL FOR HAVING US DIG THIS DATA OUT AND LOOK INTO IT BECAUSE REALLY WE'RE ALWAYS JUMPING FROM ONE PROBLEM TO ANOTHER AND TRYING TO PUT OUT FIRES LEFT AND RIGHT. IT'S REALLY GOOD TO SIT BACK AND LOOK BACK ON THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. LAST MONTH, WE TALKED ABOUT 75% WATER LOSS REDUCTIONS THAT WE'VE HAD IN UTILITIES OVER THERE, SAVING THE RESIDENTS IN THE WHOLE REGION OVER A BILLION GALLONS A YEAR. TO EIGHT BILLION GALLONS RIGHT NOW THAT WE'RE SAVING OF A VERY VALUABLE RESOURCE. NOW, I DO EXPECT THAT 2025 NUMBER TO START INCHING UPWARD BECAUSE WE DO HAVE ABOUT OVER 70 CURRENT TAPS THAT ARE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW. I EXPECT THAT THAT 2025 NUMBER IS GOING TO INCH CLOSER TO ABOUT THAT 2024 NUMBER, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE IN THE 40-50 DAY RANGE AS FAR AS HOW MANY OF THEM GET CLOSED. [05:15:05] THAT 90TH PERCENTILE NUMBER, THAT SHOWS 90% OF YOUR JOBS ARE GETTING COMPLETED BEFORE 99 DAYS. THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE THE OUTLIERS OUT THERE THAT ARE ANOMALIES THAT HAVE LOGISTICAL ISSUES THAT HAVE COORDINATION ISSUES THAT HAVE WATER ISSUES, IF YOU'RE DEALING, IF YOU'RE TRYING TO DIG TOO CLOSE TO THE WATER, THEN THESE ARE THE ISSUES YOU'RE GOING TO RUN INTO. THEY'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE ANOMALIES OUT THERE. BUT THOSE ARE THOSE ARE THE ONE OFFS. THOSE ARE THE EXCEPTIONS RATHER THAN THE RULES AT THIS POINT. >> WELL, MY QUESTION IS, AND WE'LL JUST TAKE THIS ONE PARTICULAR CASE, AND I'VE HAD MORE THAN ONE TO BE. THEY SAID, HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE YOU TO PUT IN A WATER AND SEWER TAP? YOU ALL RESPONDED SIX WEEKS. IT TOOK ABOUT DOUBLE THAT. IF IT'S GOING TO TAKE 12 WEEKS, THEN YOU SAY 12 WEEKS BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING ELSE. INSTEAD, A PERSON IS SITTING 100 DAYS WAITING ON A WATER AND SEWER TAP, WHICH AFFECTS THEIR CONSTRUCTION, WHICH AFFECTS OUR BOTTOM LINE. WHY AREN'T WE JUST HONEST WITH PEOPLE IF IT'S GOING TO TAKE 100 DAYS, THEN TELL HIM BECAUSE HE WOULD HAVE DONE IT. >> IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU GET ON A WAIT LIST FOR A RESTAURANT, THEY GIVE YOU THEIR BEST ESTIMATE. THERE'S OUTLIERS. I THINK ONE OF THE ONES THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS AN OUTLIER ISSUE, BUT I AGREE WITH YOU. WE SHOULD BE QUOTING THE MAXIMUM MAXIMUM TIME. WE'RE NOT LIKE A RESTAURANT THAT WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO WALK OUT AND GO TO ANOTHER RESTAURANT. WE JUST WANT THE TAP DONE. I THINK WE SHOULD QUOTE IN THE MAXIMUM TIME THAT WE'RE RUNNING AT THE TIME THAT THAT HAPPENS, AND IF THEY WISH TO GO TO PRIVATE PERSON TO INSTALL IT, WE WELCOME THAT AS WELL. HELPS US. >> THEY WOULD HAVE DONE IF THEY WERE CONTINUALLY BECAUSE MORE THAN ONCE, THEY WERE TOLD OUT OF EVERY TWO WEEKS, AND THEN FOUR WEEKS GO BY. IT'S A COMMUNICATION. >> IN OUR APPLICATION, IT SAYS TEN WEEKS, BUT IT DOES SOUND LIKE IT'S A COMMUNICATION ISSUE. THERE'S A BREAKDOWN OF COMMUNICATION SOMEWHERE ON THERE, SO MAYBE WE DO NEED IT. >> I'M HEARING THIS FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT IT TAKES FOREVER. THEN THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT IS ONE A CUT IS MADE IN THE ROAD, THEN THAT TAKES EVEN MORE PATCH. >> HAVE YOU BEEN RECEIVING THESE COMPLAINTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN? >> NO. >> YES HE HAS. >> THE GUY MR. WALLA. >> I RECEIVED THAT FROM MR. WALLA SELF. >> I GAVE IT TO BRIAN TO GIVE TO PROCEDURE. >> I WANT TO KNOW, BUT YOU JUST SAID THAT YOU RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. >> I HEAR PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE TIME IT TAKES THINGS FROM PERMITS TO WATER TAPS. WHEN I BECOME AWARE OF THEM, I MAKE MANAGEMENT AWARE OF THEM. MANAGEMENT IS SHOULD BE TELLING THEM. I ASSUME MANAGEMENT IS. >> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD THE VOLUME OF COMPLAINTS THAT YOU REPORTED RELATED TO WATER AND SEWER TAPS. IS HOW MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE YOU RECEIVED FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ROB? >> WELL, THROUGH BRIAN, I HAVE RECEIVED THE ONE. >> LATELY, WE'VE HAD THESE SPORADICALLY. A LOT OF TIMES IT'S TIED TO A SPECIFIC ISSUE IN THAT AREA. WE DO HAVE A CREW THAT WE'RE INSTALLING TAPS EVERY DAY. SOMETIMES WE SCHEDULE THEM FOR A DAY. THEY TAKE A COUPLE OF DAYS. IT'S JUST LIKE PEOPLE TAKE LONGER TO TABLE AT A RESTAURANT, SOMETIMES THE WAIT TIME IS A LITTLE A SKEW. SOMETIMES IT'S QUICKER, SOMETIMES IT'S SMALLER. THAT'S WHY WE GIVE YOU THE MEDIAN NUMBER HERE. I DON'T DISAGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ROB THAT WE NEED TO BE QUOTING THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF TIME. WHICH WE'RE ALL GOING PRIVATE. THAT'S NOT OUT OF ALIGNED WITH WHAT MOTHER CITIES ARE DOING WITH THEIR TAPS. BRANDON SORTED OF HEARING ME SAY THIS, I'D LIKE TO PRIVATIZE THIS WHOLE THING AND ALLOW THEM EVERYBODY TO DO THEIR OWN TAP. BUT WE DO IT SO MUCH CHEAPER IN A LOT OF WAYS THAT PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. AS DOING IT CHEAPER, DOESN'T MEAN THAT I DON'T WANT THAT. >> WHY ARE WE TELLING PEOPLE SIX WEEKS WHEN IT SAYS ON THE APPLICATION ITSELF, ONCE THE WORK ORDER HAS BEEN CREATED, THE NORMAL TIME FOR TAP INSTALLATION IS UP TO TEN WEEKS. >> I DON'T KNOW WHO TOLD THEM. WE CAN'T FIND WHO TOLD THEM SIX WEEKS. THAT'S THE ISSUE. BUT THAT'S OKAY. WE UNDERSTAND AND I DON'T DOUBT THE PERSON THAT COMPLAINED AND WE'LL FIND OUT WE'LL GET TO THE BOTTOM LINE. >> WE'RE PROBABLY SAYING ON AVERAGE BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE MEDIAN DAYS, AND IT'S 41 DAYS ON AVERAGE AS OF LAST YEAR. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT WAS. BUT WE CAN CORRECT THAT ON THE APPLICATION AND TRY TO ELIMINATE SOME. >> I THINK WE PUT MORE HONEST. ALL OUR TAX TAP IS AFFECTED BY NEW CONSTRUCTION, AND WHEN WE'RE DELAYING IT, THEN THAT'S INITIAL. [05:20:02] >> IF SOMEBODY DOES IT, WE GET AN INSPECTOR OUT THERE QUICK AND GET IT DONE QUICK, WE'D PREFER THAT. BECAUSE IT SAVES OUR OTHER WATER PAYERS MONEY BECAUSE WE'RE BASICALLY SUBSIDIZING THIS WITH OTHER RATEPAYERS MONEY TO GET THESE TAPS AND FOR THE MOST PART OF THE SMALLER TAPS, THE BIGGER TAPS VARY. WE DON'T HAVE THE MET BIG ONES. >> BRANDON, WHAT IS IT? I'M NOT GOING TO HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE COMPLETELY AS FAR AS WHAT IS A GENERALIZED BREAKDOWN OF COST TO GET US TO THAT 3750 WATER. >> DEPENDS ON THE SIZE OF THE TAP. >> ON THE SIZE. THREE QUARTERS IS 3750, RIGHT? >> YES. >> WHAT IS THAT GENERAL BREAKDOWN? LET'S SAY JUST FOR WATER, 3750. WHAT DID WE DO TO ESTABLISH THE COST TO THE TAXPAYER FOR THAT? >> WHAT WE DID LAST TIME WAS, WE LOOKED AT THE OUR COST IN VIEW WORKS AND ANALYZED IT WITH THE METER COSTS AS WELL FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THEN WE TOOK AN AVERAGE OF THESE ARE THE CERTAIN WORK ORDERS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT AND WE TOOK THE AVERAGE AND THEN BROUGHT IT TO COUNCIL AND GOT IT APPROVED. >> THAT WAS HOW MANY YEARS AGO? FIVE YEARS AGO YEARS AGO. TRINO DID. I REMEMBER THAT. >> WE WENT UP THAT, I THINK WE RIGHT SIZED IT AFTERWARD. TRINO DID THE INITIAL ANALYSIS, WHENEVER WE STARTED SEEING THIS SPIKE AND DEMAND OVER THERE, AND IT WAS LIKE WE WERE CHARGING THREE OR 400 BUCKS. A THIRD 400 BUCKS FOR TAP AND WE TRIED TO OUTSOURCE IT TO TRY TO GET AHEAD OF THIS DEMAND. THE PRIVATE SECTOR WAS CHARGING THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. >> WELL, ARE WE SUPPLIED WITH THOSE METERS BY THE SAME SUPPLIER FOR THE MOST PART, OR DO WE SHOP THAT OR? >> IT'S A SAME SUPPLIER. >> WE HAVE A NEW BUY BOARD, BUT WE HAVE NEWER METERS. >> NO, THIS IS A BADGER. NO, I'M SAYING IT PROBABLY GOES THROUGH BUY BOARD. WE BID A BADGER. IT WAS PART OF THE MI SYSTEM. EVERYTHING ELSE AS WE'VE ROLLED OUT. WE'VE GOT HARD BIDS. >> I'M FAIRLY SURE THESE SMART METERS ARE PROPRIETARY AND ONCE WE WENT BAD. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN SWITCH OUT. I'M SURE AT SOME POINT THE MARKET MIGHT CATCH UP AND THERE MIGHT BE A KNOCKOFF. >> THAT'S ONE OF OUR THAT WAS ONE OF OUR INCREASES IN COST. WAS THE ACTUAL METER ITSELF? >> ACTUALLY, TYSON'S LOOKING AT IT RIGHT NOW. SOME OF OUR BIG METERS MIGHT HAVE ACTUALLY DROPPED IN COSTS NOW A LITTLE BIT WITH THE NEWER METERS BECAUSE THEY'RE SMALLER LIGHTER. I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT HAPPENED AT THE SMALLER METERS OF RESIDENTIAL METERS, BUT SOME OF THE BIGGER. TYSON'S HE'S GOING NOW AS I PROMISED. HE'S ANALYZING ALL OF THIS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IF WE CAN LOWER IT ON THE HIGH END, I WANT TO DO THAT ALTHOUGH WE DO 28 INCH METERS A YEAR, MAYBE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BUT THE RESIDENTIAL ONES I WANT TO REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT TO SEE IF IT CHANGES WITH OUR METER COST. OF COURSE, THAT'S GOING TO FLUCTUATE YEAR TO YEAR, AND WE KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO HIT IT EXACTLY EVERY YEAR. WE DON'T WANT TO BRING YOU GUYS EVERY TIME THE RATE CHANGES TO CHANGE OUR RATE. WE WANT TO KEEP IT CONSISTENT. >> THAT'S JUST COMING FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF WANTING OUR DOORS OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND FOR RESIDENTS BEFORE THEY EVEN BREAK GROUND THEY'RE THEY'RE DEPENDING ON $7,500 IN COST ADDED TO THAT CONSTRUCTION COST RIGHT OFF THE TOP. MORE THAN ANYTHING, JUST TO PUBLICLY STATED SO WE CAN SUPPORT WHY WE'RE CHARGING WHAT WE CHARGE. >> IF THEY DO THE TAP, THEN IT'S JUST A MATTER OF US DROPPING THE METER. >> THOSE ARE EASY ONES. WE PREFER. >> YEAH. WE PREFER THOSE. MUCH EASIER ON US. >> YEAH. >> WHICH THEY WOULD HAVE DONE, HAD THEY [OVERLAPPING]. >> I'M NOT ARGUING THAT AT ALL. WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO FIND OUT WHO TOLD THEM THAT BECAUSE IT SAYS ON THEIR 10 WEEKS. I DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT WE GET 10 WEEKS THOUGH. >> THERE'S GOING TO BE ANOMALIES. I GUESS I'M MORE TALKING ABOUT. >> PART OF THE PROBLEM TOO IS WE'RE IN OLD CITY, SO HALF OUR STUFF'S UNDER THE STREETS AND HALF THE DAMN TAPS ARE ACROSS THE STREET. IT GETS COMPLEX. MOST OF OUR DEVELOPMENT IS INFILL DEVELOPMENT, WHICH MAKES THE TAPS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT. MOST DEVELOPERS, LIKE THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO THE WEST END, THEY'RE DROPPING ALL THE TAPS. WE'RE JUST DROPPING METERS AT THAT POINT. IT'S REALLY NOT LARGE SCALE NEW CONSTRUCTION. IT'S THE FIELD DEVELOPMENT. OR REALLY, WHAT'S HAPPENING IS WE'VE HAD A LOT OF INSTANCES WHERE THE HOMES JUST SIT VACANT. ONE OF THE THINGS TRINO ANALYZED WAS THAT THESE TAPS GO BAD. THEY'LL COME IN AND WE WERE ACTIVATING FOUR AND FIVE-YEAR-OLD HOUSES THAT HAD HAD WATER FLOWING. NOT FOUR OR FIVE YEAR. HOUSES THAT HADN'T HAD WATER FLOWING FOR FOUR OR FIVE YEARS. WE ENERGIZE THEM AT THE REQUEST. WE DROP A METER AND GO AND THEN THE DAMN TAP FAILS. WELL, THEN THAT'S BEING SPLIT AMONGST EVERYBODY HERE THAT PACE THAT. WHAT WE DID WAS A TRINO DID THE ANALYSIS, I THINK HE SAID THREE YEARS. >> YEAH. >> I DON'T KNOW HOW EXACT THAT IS. BUT ANYTHING THAT HAS BEEN DORMANT FOR MORE THAN THREE YEARS REQUIRES A RENEWED TAB. [05:25:05] >> THAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THAT? >> YES. >> YOU HAD A LOT OF THEM FAIL. A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH GALVESTON TOO, SAND ENVIRONMENT IN THE TRENCH? >> YEAH. TRINO, HE DID A DEEP DIVE ON IT AND THAT'S WHAT WE CAME UP WITH, BECAUSE IT WAS KICKING OUR BUTT. >> THEN PEOPLE WERE MAD. THEY GOT A TAP AND THEN [OVERLAPPING]. >> FOR SOME REASON, IT'S GOTTEN OUT THERE IN THE PUBLIC THAT IT'S SIX MONTHS, SO IT'S GOOD TO HEAR. I'M LIKE, THAT'S HOW FAR HOUSING STOCK IN GALVESTON [OVERLAPPING]. >> IT'S THREE YEARS. THEN WE EVALUATE IT, TOO, WE LOOK AT IT. IF WE CAN ACTUALLY GET EYES ON THE TAP AND SEE EVERYTHING, WE'VE BEEN KNOWN TO WORK WITH PEOPLE ON THAT TOO, IF THE TAP STILL LOOKS GOOD, AND IT MAY HAVE HAD WATER SPORADICALLY IN THE THREE YEARS OR SOMETHING. >> I'M BRINGING THAT UP BECAUSE OF PROTS? >> YES. >> OKAY. >> ABSOLUTELY. WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS WE'RE TRYING TO, THIS WAS PART OF THE EFFORT THAT TRINO UNDERTOOK. I SAID WE'RE NOT GOING TO COUNCIL FOR ANY MORE RATE INCREASES UNTIL WE MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT SUBSIDIZING ANY OTHER WORK. BECAUSE IT'S REALLY LIKE A COOP. OUR WATER SYSTEM IS A COOP AND THERE'S NO TAX MONEY IN OUR WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. IT'S COMPLETELY FUNDED BY THE PEOPLE THAT USE IT. WE DON'T WANT TO START SHIFTING COST. ELDERLY COUPLE THAT LIVES IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN THAT HAS NO ISSUES WITH THEIR WATER, SHOULDN'T HAVE WATER RATES GOING UP BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S BUILDING A BIG NEW HOUSE AND THEY WANT TO HAVE THIS TWO INCH TAP AND THEY WERE SUBSIDIZING IT. THAT'S WHY TRINO BROUGHT THIS FORWARD, AND THAT'S WHY WE DID THAT. I'VE GOT TYSON LOOKING AT IT AGAIN BECAUSE WE SUSPECT THAT IN SOME OF THE BIGGER CASES, THE NUMBER MAY COME DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT. OUR LABOR COSTS AND MACHINERY COSTS, WE HAVE TO WEIGH IT ALL OUT, BUT WE'LL LOOK AT IT AGAIN AND WE'RE GOING TO START EVALUATING IT EVERY 3-4 YEARS BECAUSE IT FLUCTUATES. WE COULD PROBABLY CHANGE IT EVERY YEAR BECAUSE THESE THINGS FLUCTUATE A COST, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S SUFFICIENT. >> I DON'T THINK THAT'S SUFFICIENT OR NECESSARY. MORE THAN ANYTHING, JUST HAVING THE KNOWLEDGE TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE, A, WHEN THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE COSTS BEFORE THEY EVEN BREAK AROUND AND THEN B, THE TIME TO GET THEM DONE BECAUSE IN THE MEANTIME, THEY'RE PAYING [OVERLAPPING]. >> TOTALLY, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBB. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE SIX WEEKS CAME FROM. I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE SIX WEEKS CAME FROM BECAUSE ANYBODY CALLS MY OFFICE, I ALWAYS TOLD THEM 8-10, BUT LET'S TO MAKE SURE WE GET THAT SCRIPT TO EVERYBODY IN THE PERMIT OFFICE. >> YES. NO DOUBT. BUT ALSO WANT TO REALLY EMPHASIZE THAT THE WAY WE BROUGHT THESE AVERAGES DOWN WAS THROUGH ENHANCED COMMUNICATION AMONG STAFF, CROSS TRAINING AND LOOKING FOR EFFICIENCIES AND EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE SAT AROUND AND TALKED AROUND THIS TABLE ABOUT. WE SIT AROUND ACTIVELY AS MANAGEMENT AND TRY TO DO THIS. WE'RE JUST LIMITED ON OUR TIME AND HOW MANY PROBLEMS WE CAN DIVE INTO AND WHICH ONES WE CAN FOCUS ON. BUT WE'VE GOT A REALLY GOOD TEAM AS FAR AS OUR MANAGERS AND WE'VE GOT SOME OTHER UP AND COMING MANAGERS THAT ARE REALLY GOOD. >> OUR CREW LEADERS, AVA. >> TYSON AND EVERYBODY ELSE OVER THERE. THINGS MAY FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS OVER THERE, BUT WE'VE GOT A REALLY GOOD TEAM, AND I REALLY WANT TO GIVE HATS OFF TO THEM. >> YOUNGER MINDS, MY HEAD STARTS HURTING, BUT THEY'RE DOING A MUCH BETTER JOB WITH IT. >> THANK YOU, BRANDON, VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 5G, PLEASE. [5.G Discussion of Joint Meeting Dates with Wharves Board, Park Board and Planning Commission (C Brown - 10 min)] >> ITEM 5G, DISCUSSION OF JOINT MEETING DATES WITH THE WHARVES PARK BOARD AND PLANNING COMMISSION. >> COUNCIL, THIS IS ON THE AGENDA. I GOT DIRECTION FROM COUNSEL AT OUR LAST MEETING THAT WE WOULD GO TO MEETINGS WITH WHARVES BOARD AND PARK BOARD AT SIX MONTH INTERVALS. I NEED TO TALK WITH COUNCIL ABOUT WHEN DO WE WANT TO START SCHEDULING THOSE. WE NEED TO LET THESE TWO ENTITIES KNOW WHAT THOSE WOULD BE WELL IN ADVANCE. MY THOUGHT WOULD BE, NOW, THIS IS JUST ME THAT WE WOULD DO AWAY WITH JOINT MEETINGS FOR THE REST OF THIS YEAR AND PICK UP THEN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR WITH A JOINT MEETING OF PARK BOARD WHARVES BOARDS AND THEN HAVE ONE ABOUT SIX MONTHS LATER. WELL, PARK BOARD'S GETTING THEIR FEET ON THE GROUND STILL, GETTING THEIR BUDGET FINALIZED AND ALL THAT. YES, BOB. >> WHEN WE DID THIS PREVIOUSLY, THE LAST TIME WE DID THIS, OUR STARTING POINT WAS BUDGET BECAUSE WHATEVER WE DID IN OUR COORDINATION WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE BUDGET. IF WE DO TWO MEETINGS A YEAR, YOUR SUGGESTION, ONE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AND THEN ONE SIX MONTHS LATER, WE MIGHT WANT TO BACK THAT ONE SIX MONTHS LATER A LITTLE FURTHER BACK SO WHATEVER BUDGET IMPACT IT HAS CAN BE ACCOUNTED FOR. >> WHAT MUCH WOULD YOU THINK, BOB? >> MAY, JUNE. >> MAY, JUNE. >> MAY, JUNE. THEN THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST MEETING AND WHEN WOULD BE THE SECOND? >> WELL, NO. IF YOUR SUGGESTION WAS DO IT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, WHICH I THOUGHT YOU MEANT JANUARY BY THAT. >> OKAY. THEN HAVE THE SECOND ONE MAY, JUNE? >> YEAH. [05:30:03] >> GOAL SET IN OR BUDGET OBJECTIVES. >> YEAH. FROM THERE ON OUT, WE'RE EITHER DOING BUDGET OR WE'RE IN HOLIDAY SEASON. >> THAT WOULD WORK WELL FOR THE PARK BOARD BECAUSE THEY'RE ON THE SAME FISCAL YEAR WE ARE. >> YEAH. >> NOW, THE PORT IS ON A CALENDAR YEAR. WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THE PORT, THEY GET HOT AND HEAVY ON THEIR BUDGET AROUND NOVEMBER IS WHEN THEY GET REALLY MOVING ON BUDGET ITEMS THERE. >> BY JANUARY, THEY WOULD BE FINISHED. >> THEY WOULD BE FINISHED. >> TO JUST THROW AN IDEA, AND YOU'RE ALL GOING TO LOVE THIS IS WE DO THREE TWO-HOUR MEETINGS ON THE SAME DAY, SO THAT WE'RE ONLY USING TWO DAYS. >> NOW, SAY THAT AGAIN. >> WE'RE GOING TO MEET WITH EACH OF THESE TWO TIMES A YEAR. >> RIGHT. >> WE DO TWO HOURS; WHARVES BOARD TWO HOURS, PARK BOARD TWO HOURS. SO IT'S A SIX HOUR MEETING DAY FOR US, AND MAYBE IT'S NOT TWO HOURS. >> OFF OF A COUNCIL DAY? >> YEAH. WE DO IT ALL TWICE A YEAR, SO YOU'RE ONLY GOING INTO TWO EXTRA MEETINGS VERSUS THREE TIMES NINE EXTRA MEETINGS. >> CORRECT. >> JUST A THOUGHT. >> I LIKE THAT IDEA. YOU'D DO IT ON THE SAME DAY? >> SAME DAY. TWO, TWO, TWO. >> YOU DO PLANNING COMMISSION ALSO? >> YEAH. DO ALL. >> LET'S DO A CHECK AND SEE IF THAT WORKS OUT WITH THE BUDGET. IF WE DO MAY, JUNE BECAUSE THAT ADDRESSES THE PARK BOARD AND ACTUALLY STARTS TO ADDRESS THIS, YOU CAN DO PLANNING COMMISSION AS WELL. >> YEAH. >> THAT MAY JUNE WORKS FOR THE SAME SIDE. >> THE PLANNING MAY NOT ALWAYS NEED TWO HOURS, BUT PROBABLY WITH THE COMP PLAN IT WOULDN'T BE A BAD IDEA. >> JANUARY, MAY OR JUNE FOR PARKS BOARD, ARE WE TOO EARLY FOR A WHARVES BOARD DISCUSSION FOR BUDGETING? >> NO. I THINK THEY CAN WORK ON ALL YEAR LONG. >> NO, THAT WOULD BE A LITTLE EARLY. >> A LITTLE EARLY. YEAH. >> SO WE DO JULY. WOULD WORK BETTER FOR ELECTION YEARS BECAUSE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING. WE DO JANUARY AND JULY. >> THAT'S OKAY FOR BUDGET TOO. >> YEAH. >> YEAH. WE'RE NOT TOO LATE ON BUDGET. WE JUST STARTED THE DISCUSSION IN JULY. >> JULY WOULDN'T BE TOO LATE FOR PARK BOARD? >> WELL, MAYBE NOT. I THINK WE WANT TO COORDINATE WITH THEM ON THAT FIRST. >> BUT JUST IF WE COULD DO IT ON ONE DAY, LIMIT IT TO TWO HOURS A PIECE. >> IT GETS IT OFF OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP. >> WELL, GETS OFF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP, IT GETS IT OFF THERE. >> I LIKE THE IDEA. >> THIS WOULD WORK. YEAH. MAYBE I'M NOT. I'M TRYING TO ASK ALL THE RIGHT QUESTIONS AND I DON'T KNOW IF I AM OR NOT, BUT YEAH, I SEE YOUR LOGIC, THOUGH. >> LET ME GET WITH JANELLE. >> JANELLE LIKES IT. >> JANELLE WILL PICK SOME DATES. [LAUGHTER] WE'LL GET THOSE OUT TO COUNSEL, MAKE SURE THOSE WORK AND THEN WE'LL GET WITH WHARVES BOARD. >> JUST A REMINDER, TWO HOURS IS 120 MINUTES. >> I KNOW. [LAUGHTER] >> WE KEEP IT TO TWO HOURS. PERIOD. >> IF WE SET A DATE A TIME THAT IT WOULD BE THE ENDING TIME, THEN WE CAN'T GO OVER THAT UNLESS IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE COUNCIL. >> RIGHT. >> GREAT. ITEM 5H, PLEASE. [5.H Discussion of Council Workshop Break Procedures (C. Brown - 10 min)] >> ITEM 5H, DISCUSSION OF COUNCIL WORKSHOP BREAK PROCEDURES. >> COUNSEL, I WENT INTO SOME KIND OF ALIEN ZONE. [LAUGHTER] I THOUGHT COUNCIL WAS WANTING TO DO A HOUR AND A HALF LUNCH AND NOW I'VE GOT THE INDIVIDUAL THAT I THOUGHT WAS DRIVING THIS IS THEY NEVER SAID SUCH A THING. >> I'M STILL WITH YOU. I STILL THINK SHE DID SAY IT. >> NO, I MAY HAVE SAID IT WOULD TAKE ME AN HOUR AND A HALF TO GO BACK AND FORTH, BUT I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE THAT. >> I DON'T WANT TO ARGUE THAT POINT. I JUST SWEAR I THOUGHT YOU SAID IT TOO. SORRY. >> I REMEMBER THE DISCUSSION. IT WAS TOSSED AROUND FOR A LITTLE BIT. MAYBE WE JUST DIDN'T CLOSE THE LOOP WITH YOU. WE JUST [OVERLAPPING]. >> WELL, WE HAD IT DOWN. COUNCIL. >> [INAUDIBLE]. >> LET'S JUST KEEP GOING. >> WELL, I HAD IT DOWN AS IN LUNCH TALKING TO JANELLE FOR THIS MEETING AND THEN WE HAD THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. I THOUGHT, THERE'S NO SENSE HAVING LUNCH IF WE HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> WELL, MAYBE THAT'S A WAY TO BALANCE IT IS THAT IF WE HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSIONS ON. >> A LOT OF TIMES WE DON'T GO PAST LUNCH. PREVIOUS COUNCIL, WE DIDN'T GO PAST. >> UNTIL THIS COUNCIL, I'VE NEVER GONE PAST. [05:35:03] >> WE'VE NEVER GONE. I CAN'T REMEMBER EVER. >> LET'S SAY FUTURE WORKSHOP AGENDAS, THAT IF WE SEE THAT IT'S POTENTIALLY GOING TO RUN PAST LUNCH, MAYBE WE CAN DO LIKE THE MAYOR'S PREROGATIVE ON THE AGENDA AND TAKE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM, THEN WE MUST HAVE LUNCH THEN. >> BECAUSE WE NEVER ALL DAY BEFORE. >> OKAY. OH NO. I NEVER DID. >> MAYOR, IT CLEARS THINGS UP. >> IT CLEARS THINGS THROUGH ME. I'M FINE. >> SO YOU'RE SAYING ONLY IF THE AGENDA TAKES US LONGER DO WE STAY LONGER AND THEN WE DO LUNCH DURING THE EXECUTIVE. >> YES, MA'AM. >> BUT IF THE AGENDA IS SHORT AND WE GET FINISHED, WE LEAVE. >> YEAH. >> OKAY. >> IF THEY HAVE LUNCH HERE, WE'VE DONE THAT BEFORE, WE WOULD ALWAYS FINISH BEFORE 12:00 AND EVERYONE WOULD SIT AND HAVE LUNCH TOGETHER. >> RIGHT. THAT'S HARD TO BELIEVE. >> WE HAD NEVER. >> WHAT MAYOR YARBROUGH DID, HE WOULD JUST GO AND WHEN WE REACHED NOON, IT DIDN'T MATTER WHERE WE ARE, WE WERE THROUGH. [LAUGHTER] IF YOUR ITEM DIDN'T GET DISCUSSED BY NOON, IT DIDN'T GET DISCUSSED. >> TYPICALLY, WE WOULD LUNCH LIKE 11: 30 AND EVERYONE WOULD JUST STAY LUNCH TOGETHER. >> YEAH. >> HEY, MAYOR. >> ALL RIGHT. >> MAYOR. >> EXCUSE ME. >> THE CITY ATTORNEY PROVIDED ME WITH SOME SUGGESTED LANGUAGE THAT WE COULD PUT ON THE WORKSHOP AGENDAS FOR THE FUTURE. THAT WAY, IF YOU'D LIKE TO TAKE A LUNCH BREAK AND THERE IS NO EXECUTIVE SESSION, YOU COULD JUST ANNOUNCE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK. >> THAT SOUNDS GOD. >> FINAL WORKSHOP ACT. >> HERE'S THE LANGUAGE. DURING THE MEETING, COUNCIL RESERVES THE OPTION TO TAKE SHORT COMFORT BREAKS AND/OR A LUNCH BREAK AS THEIR SCHEDULE AND WORKLOAD DEMANDS. >> LOVE IT. >> THAT'S WHY [OVERLAPPING]. >> OH, NO, I'VE GOT SO MUCH FOR IT. [LAUGHTER]. >> OKAY. THAT SOUNDS GOOD. LET'S PUT THAT ON EACH AGENDA, IF YOU [INAUDIBLE]. >> WE WILL. >> BEFORE WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR WANTED TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE BUDGET. CSILLA? >> IT'S JUST SUPER FAST. WE FORGOT TO MENTION DURING THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HAVE A SUBSTITUTE EXHIBIT A TO THE ORDINANCE AND THE ONLY THING THAT'S CHANGING IS THE DEBT SERVICE FUND. IT WAS JUST TYPING ERROR ON OUR PART. BUT THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT CHANGES, BUT WE ARE ASKING THAT YOU SUBSTITUTE EXHIBIT A WITH THIS EXHIBIT A WHEN YOU APPROVE THE BUDGET THIS EVENING. YOU GET IN THE UNIVERSE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. VERY GOOD. DO I NEED DON? DO I NEED TO READ EACH ONE OF THESE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS? IT IS 3:11 PM. [6. EXECUTIVE SESSION (Part 2 of 2)] WE ARE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. SESSION 4, ITEM 6A, PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.074, PERSONNEL MATTERS TO DELIBERATE THE APPOINTMENT, EVALUATION, REASSIGNMENT, OR DUTIES OF A PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE. ONE, CITY MANAGER BRIAN MAXWELL, THREE, CITY AUDITOR GLENN BULGHERINI, FOUR CITY SECRETARY JANELLE WILLIAMS. SIX B, PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551.074 RELATED PERSONNEL MATTERS, THE COUNCIL WILL CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBLE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT OR REASSIGNMENT OF ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CITY APPOINTEES, EMPLOYEES TO FILL THE POSITION AND PERFORM THE DUTIES OF THE CITY ATTORNEY AT THE TIME THE POSITION BECOMES VACANT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME TO BE SET BY COUNCIL. THAT'S DONNA FAIRWEATHER AND TREVOR FANNING. ITEM 6D, PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551.087 AND 551.071, ONE TO DISCUSS OR DELIBERATE COMMERCIAL OR FINANCIAL INFORMATION THAT THE GOVERNMENTAL BODY HAS RECEIVED FROM A BUSINESS PROSPECT THAT THE GOVERNMENTAL BODY SEEKS TO HAVE LOCATE STAY OR EXPAND IN OR NEAR THE TERRITORY OF THE GOVERNMENTAL BODY AND WITH WHICH THE GOVERNMENT BODY GOVERNMENTAL BODY IS CONDUCTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS OR TO DELIBERATE THE OFFER OF FINANCIAL OR INCENTIVE TO A BUSINESS PROSPECT DESCRIBED BY SUBDIVISION 1, RELATED TO THE PROJECT BOUNTY DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON. IT IS 312. WE ARE NOW IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. [05:40:02] IT IS 4:55 PM, WE ARE NOW OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION ON AUGUST 28TH, CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH ALL OF OUR ITEMS AND WE ARE ADJOURNED. WE WILL RECONVENE AT 5:00. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.