[Landmark Commission on March 16, 2026.]
[00:00:11]
TODAY IS MONDAY, MARCH 16TH AND THE TIME IS 4:00 AND WE WILL START THE MEETING OFF WITH ATTENDANCE.
COMMISSIONER ALLEN IS ABSENT. VICE CHAIRPERSON BOURGEOIS.
HERE. COMMISSIONER CHASTAIN. PRESENT. CHAIRPERSON CLICK.
PRESENT. COMMISSIONER FITZ IS ABSENT. COMMISSIONER LANGDALE.
PRESENT. COMMISSIONER STETZEL-THOMPSON. PRESENT.
COMMISSIONER SVENDSEN IS ABSENT. COMMISSIONER THIERRY IS ABSENT.
EX OFFICIO COUNCIL MEMBER SHARON LEWIS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY CONFLICT OF INTERESTS WITH OUR CASE TODAY? NO. OKAY. THE MINUTES DID EVERYONE HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK OVER THE MINUTES FROM OUR MEETING ON MARCH 2ND? SEE ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED OR ADDED OR ANYTHING? OKAY. WE WILL ACCEPT THOSE AS PRESENTED. IS THERE ANYONE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON ANY NON-AGENDA ITEMS? NO. OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON. WE HAVE 1 CASE, IT'S 26LC-003 A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS REQUESTED, 1815 BROADWAY. THANK YOU. SO AS STATED, THIS IS A COA AT THE SUBJECT ADDRESS.
RESTORE THE ORIGINAL FRONT FACADE USING A SISTER HOUSE AS A TEMPLATE.
MOVE OR RELOCATE WINDOW OPENINGS IN CONJUNCTION WITH INTERIOR FLOOR PLAN CHANGES.
ADD A ROOF DORMER WITH EGRESS WINDOWS ONCE AGAIN ASSOCIATED WITH INTERIOR CHANGES.
REMOVE DETERIORATING BRICK CHIMNEYS AND REPLACING THE FRONT DOOR.
PLEASE NOTE THE DESIGN STANDARDS THAT ARE APPLICABLE IN THE STAFF REPORT.
SO STAFF FINDS THE REQUEST GENERALLY CONFORMS TO THE DESIGN STANDARDS.
WE'LL GO THROUGH EACH OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES POINT BY POINT.
AS FAR AS RESTORING THE ORIGINAL FRONT FACADE THESE MODIFICATIONS ARE IN LOCATION A, WHICH OF COURSE IS A PRIMARY FACADE WHERE PRESERVATION, REPAIR, AND IN PLACE AS A PRIORITY. THE DESIGN STANDARDS STATE THAT ADDITIONAL ADDING ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS NOT COMMON TO A PARTICULAR STYLE WITHOUT EVIDENCE OF SUCH AS INAPPROPRIATE. HOWEVER, THE APPLICANT HAS PROVIDED NARRATIVES THAT SUGGESTS THE HISTORICALLY EXTANT HOUSE AT 1717 POST OFFICE MAY BE A SUITABLE PATTERN HOUSE. THE APPLICANT HAS REFERRED TO THAT AS A SISTER HOUSE.
THE GALVESTON ARCHITECTURAL GUIDEBOOK NOTES THE HOUSE AT 1815 BROADWAY IS A SIMPLIFIED VERSION OF THE 1717 POST OFFICE HOUSE, BUT THERE IS NO DETAIL PROVIDED ABOUT WHAT SIMPLIFY REALLY MEANS.
STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THIS REQUEST TO RESTORE THE FACADE TO THE PRESUMED HISTORIC APPEARANCE.
LIKE 21717 POST OFFICE USING, OF COURSE, WOOD INCOMPATIBLE MATERIALS.
AS FAR AS MOVING AND RELOCATING WINDOW OPENINGS, THESE ARE IN LOCATION C LESS VISIBLE SECONDARY WALL AND D NOT TYPICALLY VISIBLE REAR FACADE AND COMPATIBLE REPLACEMENT MAY BE CONSIDERED BUT GIVEN THAT THE HOUSE TO THE EAST IS VERY CLOSE, THE EAST FACADE WHERE ONE OF THOSE WINDOW CHANGES WOULD BE IS REALLY NOT VISIBLE FROM THE STREET.
SO STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THAT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DESIGN STANDARDS AND AS USUAL, THE OWNER IS ADVISED TO RETAIN ANY HISTORIC WINDOWS THAT ARE AFFECTED ON SITE OR MAKE THEM AVAILABLE FOR USE ELSEWHERE.
LEAVING THE CHIMNEYS IN PLACE MAY THREATEN THE SURROUNDING STRUCTURE, AND THEREFORE STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF REMOVING THOSE 2 CHIMNEYS THAT ARE DEGRADED AND DANGEROUS. FINALLY, THE APPLICANT PROPOSES TO REPLACE THE EXISTING FRONT DOOR WITH AN EXACT REPRODUCTION.
[00:05:01]
THE EXISTING DOORS APPEAR TO BE NARROW DOUBLE DOORS WITH WITH ARCHED LIGHTS AND THEN TRANSOMS ABOVE COMMON TO HOUSES OF THE SAME GENERAL STYLE AND PERIOD. WE DO HAVE SOME PHOTOS OF THOSE THAT WE CAN DISTRIBUTE BECAUSE REBUILDING AND RETAINING THIS HISTORIC HARDWARE AND FRONT DOORS IS, IS PREFERABLE STAFF RECOMMENDS DOING THAT IF POSSIBLE.SO HERE WE HAVE THE SUBJECT PROPERTY OF PHOTO ON THE LEFT AND THEN WE HAVE THE APPLICANTS DRAWING OF WHAT THE RESTORED MODIFIED FRONT FACADE MAY BE. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
AND THEN THE TEMPLATE HAS THE SO-CALLED SISTER HOUSE ON THE RIGHT.
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE ARE SOME DETAILS THAT ARE COMMON TO THE 2, YOU CAN ALSO SEE THAT THE FENESTRATION ON THE FRONT FACADE AND THE OVERALL MASSING AND ROOFING FORMS ARE EXTREMELY SIMILAR. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
THANK YOU. DANIEL. DO ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? NO. OKAY. WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR CASE 26LC-003.
MR. GAERTNER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL US ABOUT IT? WELL, THIS IS A FANTASTIC HOUSE BUILT BY MR. SCHOTT.
HE BUILT A NUMBER OF HOUSES, INCLUDING SOME OTHERS ON BROADWAY.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE WHITE HANDRAIL ON THE EXISTING HOUSE, YOU CAN SEE IT'S THE SAME EXACT SAINT ANDREW'S CROSS WHEN THEY TOOK OFF THE BALCONY, THEY KEPT A SECTION OF THE HANDRAIL AND REUSED IT SO IT'S THE SAME.
WE CAN SEE THAT THERE'S, YOU KNOW, SNIPPETS. THE DENTALS ACROSS THE THE TOP, THE CROSS-HATCHING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GABLE, THE SUNBURST PATTERN JUST ABOVE THE CROSS-HATCHING.
THE ONLY THING THAT'S MISSING FROM THE FROM THE GABLE END OR THE CROSS TIMBERS AT THE AT THE TOP.
SO IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT THERE'S A LOT OF THE SAME SORT OF STUFF GOING ON AND HONESTLY, BOTH JAMIE DURHAM AND THE CITY HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER CATHERINE GORMAN .
SORRY, RECOMMENDED THAT WE LOOK INTO THIS AND WHEN I REALLY GOT TO ANALYZING IT, IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THAT HOUSE WAS BUILT ORIGINALLY THE SAME AS THE ONE ON POST OFFICE STREET. SO I DID MAKE A MISTAKE IN MY NARRATIVE, WHICH I APOLOGIZE FOR.
THE EXISTING FRONT DOORS ARE GOING TO BE RETAINED, THEY'LL BE RESTORED AND KEPT IN PLACE AND I'VE GOT TO SAY, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH MICHAEL AND JENNIFER DOUGLAS THEY'RE THE OWNERS OF THE HOUSE, AND THEY HAVE A DEEP COMMITMENT TO RESTORING THE HOUSE AS ACCURATELY AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN. I THINK MICHAEL MAY BE GOING TO A LITTLE BIT OF AN EXTREME, BUT HE'S REALLY TRYING HARD TO GET ALL OF ALL OF THE WINDOWS, AT LEAST IN THE FRONT, TO HAVE THE HISTORIC GLASS.
YOU KNOW HOW IT SETTLES OVER TIME AND HAS A WAVY APPEARANCE.
HE WANTS WAVY GLASS, AT LEAST IN ALL THE FRONT WINDOWS.
SO HE'S WORKING VERY HARD TO TO TRY TO ACCOMPLISH THAT BUT THEY ARE REALLY COMMITTED TO RESTORING THIS HOUSE AND HAVING IT BE A WONDERFUL, HISTORIC CONTRIBUTION TO GALVESTON'S ARCHITECTURE AND THEY'VE BEEN WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH AND SO THAT'S REALLY IT FOR ME. IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER THEM MR. DOUGLAS IS HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HIM.
SO MY NAME IS MICHAEL DOUGLAS. I AM THE OWNER OF THE HOUSE AT 1815 BROADWAY.
MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED IT LATE LAST YEAR AND WITH THE IDEA OF RESTORING IT.
WE ALSO OWN A PROPERTY ON 12TH STREET AT AVENUE K, WHICH IS JUST OUTSIDE OF THE HISTORICAL DISTRICT BUT WE HAVE MADE AND IT'S AN AIRBNB, BUT WE'VE MADE GREAT MODIFICATIONS INTERIORLY TO THAT HOUSE AND DONE REPAIRS ON THE OUTSIDE TO MAKE IT NIGHT AND DAY
[00:10:04]
DIFFERENT AS TO OPPOSE WHEN WE BOUGHT IT. AND SO ANYWAY, I MEAN, MY WIFE WORKS FOR GALVESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT. SHE'S BEEN THE DIRECTOR OF CHILD NUTRITION FOR LIKE 25 YEARS.SO SHE HAS A DEEP, DEEP AFFECTION FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
1 OF THE NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCES ON THE OUTSIDE IS THE HOUSE ON 1717 POST OFFICE IT HAS THE LITTLE KICK OUT ON THE UPSTAIRS AND THE DOWNSTAIRS BUT ON THE HOUSE ON 1815, YOU CAN SEE IT IS ONLY ON THE UP UPPER LEVEL AND THE REASON IT'S NOT ON THE LOWER LEVEL IS THERE'S ABOUT THAT MUCH ROOM BETWEEN THOSE 2 HOUSES AND OUR HOUSE AND THE HOUSE NEXT TO IT BOTH WERE ORIGINALLY BUILT BY J.J.
SCHOTT. HE OWNED BOTH OF THOSE HOUSES AND THERE'S HISTORY THAT WARRANTS THAT.
HE WAS PART OF THE HOUSE ON 1717 POST OFFICE.
ALSO, 1 THING TO NOTE, THE HOUSE RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO 1717 POST OFFICE, WHICH THE ADDRESS IS 1722, IS ANOTHER SISTER HOUSE. NOW, IF YOU LOOKED AT THAT ONE, IT LOOKS NOTHING LIKE THE 1 AT 1717 POST OFFICE.
I HAD BEEN INFORMED BY SEVERAL PEOPLE, 1 OF THEM BEING WHAT'S HER NAME? THE HISTORICAL JAMIE DURHAM THAT THAT THEY'VE GOT RECORDS AT THAT HOUSE WAS HIT BY A STORM OR HURRICANE AND IT COMPLETELY RIPPED THE PORCH OFF. AND INSTEAD OF GOING BACK WITH ANYTHING LIKE THEY PUT A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PORCH ON THAT HOUSE AND PUT A CRAFTSMAN PORCH AND LIKE MICHAEL SAID, AND I REITERATE, I MEAN, JAMIE BELIEVES THE SAME THING.
YOU KNOW, AT SOME STORM DID DAMAGE TO THE FRONT FACADE OF 1815 BROADWAY BUT YOU KNOW, OUR COMMITMENT TO THIS IS, IS REALLY DEEP. THE HOUSE HAS WHAT IS KNOWN AS A MURPHY SINK.
IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE MURPHY SINK, IT'S LIKE A HIDEAWAY SINK THAT WAS POPULAR BACK IN THE DAY, AND IT WAS IN THE WALL NEXT TO THE BUTLER'S PANTRY.
YOU FIND THEM ON OLD TRAINS? I HAVE PICTURES IF ANY OF Y'ALL CARE TO TO LOOK, BUT I MEAN TO SHOW OUR COMMITMENT TO RESTORING THIS HOUSE AS CLOSELY AS WE CAN. THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING REFINISHED BY A COMPANY ON THE NORTH SIDE OF HOUSTON CALLED MIRACLE METHODS, WHICH THEY'RE GOING TO REDO THE PORCELAIN AND THEN REDO THE CAST IRON ON THE OUTSIDE BUT A MURPHY SINK IS ESSENTIALLY A HIDEAWAY SINK THAT THE LID DROPS DOWN, AND YOU HAVE HOT AND COLD WATER THAT YOU CAN WASH YOUR HANDS AND THEN WHEN YOU TURN THE WATER OFF AND TILT THE SINK BACK UP, THE WATER FLOWS DOWN BEHIND IT AND THERE'S A DRAIN AT THE BOTTOM.
SO, I MEAN, THAT'S JUST 1 OF MANY THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING.
THE SHINGLES THAT WE PICKED OUT WERE A VERY EXPENSIVE SHINGLE.
THEY WERE I THINK $58 A SQUARE AND THEY RESEMBLE THE SAME SHAPE AS THE ORIGINAL SHINGLES THAT WERE ON THE HOUSE, WHICH WAS A DIAMOND PATTERN.
SO INSTEAD OF JUST GOING BACK WITH A REGULAR 3 TAB SHINGLE, I MEAN, WE WENT THAT EXTRA STEP TO TRY TO REPLICATE THE BEST THAT WE COULD THE TYPE OF SHINGLES THAT WERE ON THE HOUSE. SO IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME.
I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON YOUR ACTUAL APPLICATION. I JUST WANT TO SAY I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE. I KNOW I'VE BEEN KEEPING AN EYE ON THIS HOUSE TO JUST LIVE A FEW BLOCKS AWAY AND WATCHING IT WHEN IT WAS FOR SALE BY OWNER AND HOPING SOMEBODY SNAGGED IT UP AND YOU'RE THE PERFECT PURCHASER THAT'S TAKING IT ABOVE AND BEYOND.
SO REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE. I'M EXCITED TO SEE KIND OF WHAT YOU DO WITH IT.
I KNOW THIS IS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO A SMALL FEAT AS FAR AS HOME PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION.
SO APPRECIATE Y'ALL. AND TO PIGGYBACK THAT, WE DO PLAN TO WITH THE APPROVAL FROM YOU ALL IF WE GET THE APPROVAL TO REALLY EXPOSE THIS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THERE IS A FEW FACEBOOK GROUPS, ONE OF THEM IS THE EAST END HISTORICAL DISTRICT ON FACEBOOK, WHICH, YOU KNOW, WE MADE A RECORD THAT WE DID BUY IT AND THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RESTORING THIS HOUSE.
[00:15:02]
SO I MEAN, WE WANT TO CAPTURE GALVESTON, YOU KNOW, WITH THE IDEA AND GET PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT THIS HOUSE AND THE RESTORATION THAT WE ARE DOING, YOU KNOW, TO THE HOUSE. WELL, YOU HAVE AT LEAST ONE FAN HERE.YEAH. THE PASSION YOU CAN SEE A PACKET ALONE.
THAT WAS THAT WAS AMAZING. I LOVED READING THAT.
ALL THE INFORMATION AND EVERYTHING. YEAH, I HEARD THEM.
YOU KNOW, I LIVE LITERALLY A BLOCK AWAY. AND IT'S NICE SEEING A HOUSE THAT WAS A COOL HOUSE THAT WAS FALLING DOWN, BE SAVED. MY ONLY CONCERN GETTING INTO THIS WAS THE FRONT DOOR, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE SAVING THAT. SO THAT MAKES ME, YOU KNOW, HAPPY.
I DO HAVE A QUESTION. JUST FOR MY OWN CURIOSITY.
I SEE FOR THE CHIMNEYS, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING THE STAINLESS INSERT, I GUESS, IS THAT FOR ALL OF THEM, EVEN THE CHIMNEYS YOU TAKE DOWN, OR JUST THE ONE YOU'RE LEAVING.
THE ONE THAT'S TIED TO THE FIREPLACE. OKAY, COOL.
OH, THAT'S MY QUESTION. YEAH. THAT THAT CHIMNEY FROM THE FIREPLACE IN THE, I GUESS, LIVING ROOM SOMEHOW DIDN'T EVEN GO ALL THE WAY TO THE ROOF.
IT STOPPED IN THE ATTIC. SO AT SOME POINT IT WAS DETERIORATED OR WAS GONE, REMOVED OR WHATEVER AND SO THAT ONE DOESN'T EVEN GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE ROOF, BUT THAT, THAT RESTORING THAT FIREPLACE IN THE FRONT LIVING AREA IS, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER BIG FOCAL POINT OF OURS BECAUSE THAT IS AN ORIGINAL TO THE, TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HOME.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO. THANK YOU.
THIS IS EXCITING. COULD YOU SIGN IN FOR US? THANK YOU.
OKAY. THANK YOU. AND ONE NOTE TO THAT, BECAUSE I KNOW IT WAS IN THERE, AND I MEANT TO MENTION IT.
WERE TAKING THEM OUT AND STRIPPING THEM DOWN, REMOVING THE GLASS, SANDING, PRIMING, REPAINTING.
AND LIKE MICHAEL MENTIONED, I'M TRYING TO PUT ALL WAVY GLASS IN THE FRONT BECAUSE THAT'S PERIOD.
CORRECT. AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, IT'S A CHALLENGE SO FAR.
I'VE BEEN TO GHF BEEN TO SCOTTISH PLACE HERE ON 25TH TRYING TO FIND WAVY GLASS AND IT'S VERY HARD TO FIND, BUT I THINK WE WILL BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THAT AND YOU KNOW, HAVING THE WINDOWS ALL UP PERIOD CORRECT IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT TO US. SO THANK YOU ALL.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY, I'LL JUST SAY WHEN HE SAYS WE'RE RESTORING THE WINDOWS, HE MEANS HIM.
WE AS. WE AS HIM. HE'S RESTORING THE WINDOWS.
I WENT AND LOOKED AT HIM TODAY. HE'S DOING A GREAT JOB.
SO IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO SEE SOMEONE PUT THIS MUCH INTO A TO A HOUSE.
ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS CASE TODAY? NO. OKAY. WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION FOR A MOTION.
I'LL MOTION TO APPROVE CASE 26LC-0003 PER STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.
OKAY. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? BESIDES EXCITEMENT? NO. OKAY. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU GUYS.
WE HAVE A DISCUSSION ITEM ON THE AGENDA TODAY FROM COMMISSIONER CHASTAIN.
YES. HELLO. SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS AND AND I'VE ALSO BEEN APPROACHED FROM DIFFERENT NEIGHBORS AND THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS REGARDING, I THINK WE PROBABLY ALL NOTICED THE INCREASED CONSTRUCTION EFFORTS WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTRICAL UPGRADES AND MANAGEMENT WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOODS ALL OVER GALVESTON, BUT SPECIFICALLY FOR LANDMARK AND HISTORIC DISTRICTS.
AND LOOKING INTO SOME STUFF, YOU KNOW, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT MUCH OF THE NEW INFRASTRUCTURE AS A RESULT OF CENTERPOINT ENERGY'S SYSTEM WIDE RESILIENCY PLAN, WHICH IS FOR THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA IN RESPONSE TO BARREL, BUT THIS INCLUDES WITHIN GALVESTON AND SHOWS UPGRADES GOING THROUGH 2028.
I THINK OVERALL, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO GET SOME ANSWERS OR, YOU KNOW, GET SOME KNOWLEDGE FOR MYSELF TO KIND OF BETTER ANSWER AND TALK TO PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS AND I THINK OVERALL PEOPLE LIKE SEEING THE UPGRADES, BUT YOU KNOW, THE INCREASED SIZE AND DESIGNS OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE WITNESSING, YOU KNOW, EVEN ON MY BLOCK, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE INSTALLED 2 NEW POLES THAT ARE BIGGER AND DIFFERENT COLORS.
AND ALSO WHEN THEY'RE DOING IT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE WIRES ARE LOWER, WHICH ARE IMPACTING, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE'S TREES THAT ARE ALREADY THERE, THEY'RE GETTING CUT DOWN. SO YOU KNOW, I REALLY REQUESTED THIS DISCUSSION ITEM TO BOOST MY UNDERSTANDING AND MAYBE,
[00:20:07]
YOU KNOW, THIS COMMISSION'S UNDERSTANDING ON, YOU KNOW, THE CITY PROCESSES AND THE LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT WITH UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS WITHIN GALVESTON, INCLUDING WITHIN HISTORIC DISTRICTS.I WANT TO BETTER, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO RELAY THAT TO PEOPLE AND ALSO SEE IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE UTILITY COMPANIES TO BRING, YOU KNOW, 1, BRING A MORE RESILIENCY ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE ISLAND, WHICH I'M A BIG PROPONENT FOR ENERGY AND ELECTRICITY, OBVIOUSLY, BUT SEE IF WE CAN STILL KEEP IN MIND, OR IF THE CITY IS ALREADY KEEPING IN MIND THE VISUAL IMPACTS OF THAT AN ELECTRICAL GRID CAN HAVE WITHIN HISTORIC DISTRICTS, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, WHEN OUR ELECTRICAL GRIDS CAN BE, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES VERY CLUTTERED. I KNOW, YOU KNOW, IN MY HOUSE, THERE WAS LOTS OF LINES THAT WEREN'T EVEN BEING USED ANYMORE AND THEN ALSO BEING PLACED IN THE LINE OF SIGHT OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS THAT WE ARE WORKING TO KIND OF, YOU KNOW, PRESERVE AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE DESIGNED AND ALSO OVERALL, I THINK THAT ELECTRICAL GRIDS HAVE AN IMPACT, WHETHER WE NOTICE THEM OR NOT ON OUR DAY TO DAY, BUT WITH LOCALS AND THEN ALSO WITH TOURISTS KIND OF HAVING AN EXPERIENCE OF THE BEAUTIFUL GALVESTON ISLAND THAT WE HAVE, WHICH I THINK THAT EXPERIENCE, THERE'S DATA THAT SUGGESTS AND CAN PROVE THAT THAT HAS ECONOMIC VALUE RETURNED TO HAVE A PRETTY PLACE TO COME TO. THEY WILL COME MORE OFTEN.
SO I'VE DEVELOPED A LIST OF QUESTIONS KIND OF INITIALLY KIND OF HAVE THE DISCUSSION HERE, I DON'T, I DOUBT WE HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE FROM THE CITY IN THE ROOM HERE.
I CAN SUBMIT THESE, BUT I DID KIND OF DEVELOP, YOU KNOW, 4 DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF QUESTIONS THAT I WOULD LIKE US TO KIND OF AT LEAST START WITH AND THEN I WOULD, YOU KNOW, PROPOSE THAT WE WOULD CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION AT THE NEXT MEETING OR, YOU KNOW, AS MANY MEETINGS AS WE NEED AND WE HAVE TIME FOR, TO KIND OF SEE WHERE THIS COMMISSION LANDS, SEE KIND OF WHERE THERE'S OVERLAP BETWEEN OTHER CITY STAFF AND BOARDS AND KIND OF SEE WHERE WE CAN GO FROM HERE TO AT LEAST BOOST OUR UNDERSTANDING OR SEE IF THERE'S ANY IMPROVEMENTS THAT CAN BE DONE. SO THE FOUR CATEGORIES I DEVELOPED IS 1 WITH PROCESS.
YOU KNOW, EXAMPLE QUESTIONS ARE, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE CURRENT PROCESS FOR REVIEWING AND APPROVING ELECTRICAL AND UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN CITY RIGHT OF WAYS, YOU KNOW, WHAT DEPARTMENTS ARE INVOLVED? WHAT BOARDS ARE INVOLVED? YOU KNOW, DO WE HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE MAP OR INVENTORY? DOES THE CITY HOLD ONE OF THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ARE IN THE RIGHT OF WAYS.
GOING INTO THE NEXT CATEGORY OF COORDINATION WITH UTILITY COMPANIES.
YOU KNOW, HOW DOES THE CITY COORDINATE WITH CENTER POINT WHEN WE'RE WORKING ON ALL THESE UPGRADES THROUGHOUT THE CITY? ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THIS BOARD OR, YOU KNOW, THE CITY TO REVIEW THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES AND HOW THEY'RE PLACED IN THE CITY, RIGHT OF WAYS? AND THEN, YOU KNOW, SPECIFIC TO HISTORIC CONSIDERATIONS, OUR UTILITY INSTALLATIONS WITHIN HISTORIC DISTRICTS REVIEWED DIFFERENTLY THAN THOSE OUTSIDE OF HISTORIC DISTRICTS.
ARE THE VISUAL IMPACTS OF INFRASTRUCTURE CONSIDERED WHEN APPROVING INSTALLATION IN HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS? AND ARE THERE SPECIFIC GUIDELINES AND DESIGN STANDARDS FOR, YOU KNOW, UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND HISTORIC SENSITIVE AREAS? LIKE SOMETHING I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT OF LIKE MINIMIZING OR MAXIMIZING THEM IN THE ALLEYWAYS VERSUS PUTTING THEM IN FRONT OF HOUSES OR SIDES OF HOUSES AND THEN VISUAL CONSIDERATIONS, I THINK THROUGHOUT THE CITY, BUT, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THIS PURVIEW AND LANDMARK, YOU KNOW, HISTORIC DISTRICTS OR OTHER AREAS THAT WE'RE WORKING TO PRESERVE. YOU KNOW, HOW DOES THE CITY EVALUATE THE VISUAL IMPACTS OF THE NEW INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAYS? ARE ESTHETICS EVEN CONSIDERED WHEN APPROVING INFRASTRUCTURE AND INSTALLATION WITH THE CITY? I DO THINK THAT THERE'S OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE COMING IN BROWN AND DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, COLORS HERE.
SO YOU KNOW, DOES THE CITY HAVE ANY POLICIES THAT ADDRESS MINIMIZING VISUAL CLUTTER FROM MULTIPLE POLES OR OVERHEAD WIRES, EXCESS WIRES, THAT KIND OF THING? AND ARE THERE STRATEGIES THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT OR WORK WITH THESE UTILITY COMPANIES TO CONSOLIDATE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND REDUCE THE REDUNDANT INSTALLATIONS, WHICH I WOULD THINK REDUNDANCY? YOU KNOW, I LIVE IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT. I THINK WE A LOT OF US DO.
I HAVE ELECTRICAL LINES ON THE FRONT AND SIDES.
SO THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU JUST KIND OF MY THOUGHTS AND SOMETHING I'M HERE HEARING FROM OTHER CITY PEOPLE, LOCALS ON, YOU KNOW, THEIR CONCERNS WITH ALL THESE UPGRADES, WHAT IS THE CITY DOING AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAINTAIN THE VISUAL APPEAL AND ESTHETICS OF OUR HISTORIC DISTRICTS? AND I DIDN'T REALLY GO INTO IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, 1 OF THE BIG THINGS THAT COMES UP AS WELL IS, YOU KNOW, HURRICANE IKE KILLED A LOT OF TREES.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO MAKE HISTORIC TREES COME BACK TO LIFE AND PLANT THEM.
[00:25:06]
AND I WOULD THINK THE AMOUNT OF ELECTRIC LINES THAT WE HAVE ALL AROUND HERE ARE REALLY LIMITING THE ABILITY TO ESTABLISH BIG, MATURE TREES THAT WE LOST AFTER BIG, BIG HURRICANE.I DON'T KNOW THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION BUT. THE DESIGN STANDARDS HAVE LIKE FOR HISTORIC DISTRICTS, THERE'S RESTRICTIONS, RIGHT? BUT YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY TELL CENTER POINT WHERE THEY CAN PUT STUFF AS LONG AS THERE'S A RIGHT OF WAY, AREN'T THEY ABLE TO USE IT? SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS BY STATE LAW, UTILITY COMPANIES HAVE A FAIR AMOUNT OF, OF. YOU KNOW, BROAD POWERS TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.
NOW, WE DO HAVE DESIGN STANDARDS THAT TALK ABOUT MINIMIZING THE APPEARANCE OF EQUIPMENT THAT TYPICALLY IS, YOU KNOW, THE CUSTOMER SIDE, NOT NECESSARILY CENTER POINT SIDE.
TO THE ACTUAL HOUSE. YEAH. SO WHAT I'LL SAY IS THIS TURN THIS THIS WAY.
FIRST OF ALL, EXCELLENT QUESTIONS. I WOULD LOVE THAT CHEAT SHEET THAT YOU WERE READING FROM.
AND THE CITY HAS A FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WITH CENTER POINT AND IT DOES ALLOW FOR CENTER POINT TO HAVE A LOT OF I HATE TO USE INDEPENDENCE, BUT THEY DO HAVE A LOT OF INDEPENDENCE, BUT THERE ARE SITUATIONS WHERE THE CITY HAS MADE REQUESTS OR RECOMMENDATIONS TO CENTER POINT AND THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH THE CITY AND SO I REALLY LOVE THE QUESTIONS AND THE ASPECTS AROUND IT.
YOU CAN ALSO PROVIDE. YEAH. AND I WILL HELP WITH THE CONVERSATION.
YEAH. I HAVE SOME PICTURES. I HAVE I ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, JUST ON A GOLF CART WEEKEND AND WENT AROUND THE LOST BAYOU AND KIND OF MAPPED OUT, YOU KNOW, MY OWN OVERVIEW OF LIKE WHERE ELECTRIC LINES ARE WITHIN THAT DISTRICT.
AND THEN AT THE SAME TIME, Y'ALL KIND OF TALKING WITH, YOU KNOW, CITY STAFF AND I'LL SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, WHEN WE WERE MOVING HERE, I GUESS NINE YEARS AGO, WE LOOKED AT STREETS OF BIG TREES AND WE FOUND ONE LOST BAYOU.
WE ALL LIKE BIG TREES AND I AGREE THAT WE'RE POSSIBLE.
BUT YEAH, I SEE THE BENEFIT OF TRYING TO KEEP HIM OUT OF THE WAY.
YEAH. AND I THINK IT'S WORTH THE DISCUSSION. I GALVESTON'S VERY INTERESTING AS OBVIOUSLY FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS, BUT YOU KNOW , GOING EAST TO WEST, TYPICALLY IT'S IT'S HOUSES, YOU KNOW, HAVE A WHOLE LOT.
SO I KIND OF UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO GET INFRASTRUCTURE THERE BUT DRIVING AROUND, YOU CAN REALLY SEE NOW THAT I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT AND GETTING THESE QUESTIONS FROM PEOPLE, ALL THE LINES EVERYWHERE, ALL OVER THE PLACE.
AND I UNDERSTAND CENTER POINT, YOU KNOW, FOR THE ENERGY COMPANY.
BUT YOU KNOW, IF THE CITY, IF WE HAVE SOME SOME FORUMS THAT WE CAN HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM, I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO, TO BRING SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS TO THEM TO SEE IF WE CAN, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST MAKE THEM A LITTLE PRETTIER AND CLEANER. ALL OUR LINES ARE IN THE ALLEY ON I THINK MAYBE THE WHOLE EAST END BECAUSE THEY ARE FOR ME TOO.
BUT SORT OF WHAT DISTURBS ME NOW IS ON THE NUMBERED STREETS AND THESE HUGE FIBERGLASS POLES THAT THEY'RE PUTTING IN BECAUSE THEY'RE REALLY BIG AND THEY HAVE THESE HUGE ELECTRICAL THINGS ON TOP OF THEM THAT THE OLD ONES DID NOT HAVE.
I DON'T FROM 12TH STREET. SO THE POLES ARE GOING UP OUR ALLEY, BUT THEN WE HAVE ALL OF THESE GOING DOWN 12TH, 13TH. AND SO I, YOU KNOW, AS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS DIALOG, I WOULD ASK MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS TO BE LOOKING ON YOUR STREET, BUT ALSO OTHER AREAS THAT YOU'RE DRIVING AROUND AND THINKING ABOUT, HEY, YOU KNOW, THAT LOOKS A LITTLE WEIRD.
SO I JUST DROVE THE FRONT LINE AND I DROVE IT ALL THE WAY THIS MORNING TO TRY AND PREPARE FOR THIS MEETING AND IT, IT GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN AN L AND IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT GOES TO ANY HOUSES, BUT IT IS DOES LOOK LIKE IT GOES TO UT&B ALL THE WAY FROM AT LEAST 20TH OVER TO 9TH OVER ON L AND THEN ALL THE WAY UP TO UT&B.
[00:30:02]
SO MY QUESTION IS, IS LIKE THAT THE CLOSEST PLACE FOR YOU UT&B TO GET ELECTRICITY.I CAN'T I CAN'T ASK THAT. OR COULD WE ROUTE THAT INTO AN ALLEY.
THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE. SO I'D ASK THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS TO KIND OF THINK ABOUT THINGS LIKE AS THEY'RE LOOKING AT ELECTRICAL LINES, NOT ONLY THE NEW STUFF BUT THE EXISTING STUFF ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE? AND LIKE, SEE WHERE THAT KIND OF GETS US IN THE DIALOG? AND THEN, YOU KNOW, TALKING TO CITY STAFF ON OUR PROCESSES HERE TOO.
THEY'RE PUTTING ALL THOSE ON THE GROUND. YEAH.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW INVOLVED WE WERE OR IF WE WERE AT ALL IN THAT PROCESS BUT THEY HAVE THEY ARE DOING UPGRADES ALL THROUGHOUT HOUSTON AND GALVESTON, AND THEY ARE BURYING SOME LINES. AND I WAS TRYING TO LOOK IN GALVESTON TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY THAT WERE GETTING BURIED, AND IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE IT. SO I WISH WE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN IN FRONT OF THIS AND MAYBE WE DID.
AND THERE'S DISCUSSION TO BE HAD THERE, BUT I WISH WE COULD HAVE COLLABORATED.
I COLLABORATED DURING THAT TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BECAUSE FROM MY UNDERSTANDING AND JUST A LITTLE RESEARCH, IT'S THE COST THAT GETS PEOPLE TO NOT BURY THE LINES.
I DON'T I DON'T KNOW THAT. I THINK THAT'S A BIGGER QUESTION WITH THE CITY. BUT IN YOUR RESEARCH, DID THIS PROJECT COME ABOUT AFTER THAT FREEZE THAT WE HAD, WHAT, 5 UNEXPECTED FREEZE THAT WE HAD ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO? OR. THAT I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS THE FREEZE OR IF IT WAS BARREL.
IT WAS THEY STARTED REPLACING THOSE POSTS. RIGHT. BIG WOODEN BECAUSE I SERVE ON THE TREE COMMITTEE AND I KNOW WE WALKED BALL STREET AND YOU CANNOT PUT ANY TREES ON THE NORTH SIDE OF. IT'S ALL LINES ALL THE WAY OUT.
HELEN'S HOUSE AT 14TH AND BALL HAS ONE OF THE BIG OLD LIVE OAKS.
YEAH, BUT I MEAN, STARTING AT 30 O. SEE IT CHANGES.
THE ISLAND CHANGES ONCE YOU CROSS 25TH STREET AND CONTINUE DOWN.
IT'S NOTHING BUT LINES ALL THE WAY. AND EVEN ON THE SOUTH SIDE, WE HAD TO PUT MAYBE AZALEA INSTEAD OF AN OAK TREE BECAUSE SHORT. OH, IT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. AND I THINK, UNFORTUNATELY, OUR PURVIEW IS ONLY A SHORT DISTRICT, BUT I THINK THE ENTIRE ISLAND SHOULD BE THAT WAY. WE NEED TREES EVERYWHERE, IN MY OPINION. ESPECIALLY BIG TREES. YEAH, A LOT OF TREES. YEAH, SO. AND AND AFTER I, YOU KNOW, GALVESTON HAS A RELEAF PLAN THAT HAS A LOT OF GOOD DATA RE L E A F THAT I'VE BEEN READING A LITTLE BIT TOO ABOUT IS LIKE NOVEMBER OF 2010.
IT WAS FINALIZED AND HAS A LOT OF GOOD DATA ON, YOU KNOW, TREE LOSSES AND CANOPY HEIGHT.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD STUFF THAT WAS THERE.
AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S A TREE COMMITTEE AND PEOPLE WORKING ON IT, BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE'S AN AVENUE FOR COLLABORATION ACROSS ALL OF THESE, YOU KNOW, STAKEHOLDERS IN THIS PROBLEM OR, AND BENEFIT.
YEAH. SO AGAIN, THAT'S OUTSIDE OF SHORT DISTRICT FOR NOW. BUT IS THAT COMING OR CAN WE I DON'T AGAIN, YOU'RE RIGHT. IS IT I'M HAPPY YOU BROUGHT THIS UP BECAUSE IT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO TALK ABOUT I THINK. DOES THE CITY MEET WITH CENTER POINT MONTHLY? I DON'T KNOW IF THEY MEET WITH THEM MONTHLY. USUALLY WHEN THERE'S A PROJECT INVOLVED THAT CENTER POINT IS INVOLVED WITH, THEN. YEAH, CLEARLY. BUT YEAH, I THINK WE'LL JUST HAVE TO GET WITH PUBLIC WORKS TO SEE WHAT THE PROCESS IS.
AGAIN, THIS MAY BE A PRODUCT OF COMMUNICATION AND LETTING THEM KNOW, HEY, WE'RE SEEING THIS KIND OF ISSUE. WHAT CAN BE DONE? USUALLY THOUGH, I WILL SAY THAT IF THERE IS. IF THERE IS RELOCATION INVOLVED WITH POLES, THAT WOULD BE A CITY COST.
AND WOULD IT BE PUBLIC OR IS PLANNING INVOLVED? LIKE, IS THERE ANY OTHER GROUPS OR IS IT JUST PUBLIC WORKS REALLY? WELL, I SAY PUBLIC WORKS BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE WORKING WITH PROJECTS THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH.
[00:35:05]
YOU'VE SEEN THEM? DO YOU HAVE ANY ISSUE WITH THIS PROJECT? OKAY. AND THEY'LL RESPOND OR NOT RESPOND DEPENDING UPON, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE SITUATION IS, RIGHT? GREAT. AND ALSO, LET'S NOT FORGET IT'S NOT JUST CENTER POINT, IT'S AT&T, COMCAST.I KNOW WE HAVE 2 LINES IN OUR ALLEY, ONE ON NORTH, ONE ON SOUTH SIDE, AND THE 1 ON THE SOUTH SIDE IS AT&T AND DURING BERYL WE LOST A LINE AND THEN WE CALLED THEM. NO ONE CAME. MY NEIGHBORS CALLED THEM. SO WE LITERALLY JUST TIED IT UP ON THE THING WITH A BOW IN THERE AND IT'S STILL SITTING THERE JUST SO NO ONE WOULD HIT IT GOING DOWN THE THING. SO AGAIN, CENTER POINT IS A BIG CULPRIT, ESPECIALLY NEW STUFF, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF ABANDONED THINGS OWNED BY DIFFERENT UTILITIES.
AND I SHOULD CLARIFY ACTUALLY THAT WHEN I SAY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, THAT INCLUDES PUBLIC WORKS.
I JUST REALIZED THAT IT'S THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT, ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS.
YEAH. WITH PLANNING AS WELL. OKAY. SO WE CAN PUT LIKE MORE OF THIS DISCUSSION ON THE NEXT AGENDA.
WHEN WILL BE THE NEXT AGENDA? THE NEXT MEETING.
APRIL 6TH. APRIL 6TH. WE CAN SEE, WE CAN SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME CONTACT THAT GIVES US ABOUT A LITTLE LESS THAN A MONTH. BUT YOU KNOW, WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME COMMUNICATION AND SOME INFORMATION BACK.
IF NOT, THE DISCUSSION WILL BE. I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY COMMUNICATION THAT WORKS.
WHEN I CAN WORK AT LEAST, I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT AS A DISCUSSION ITEM BECAUSE I THINK I CAN, WE CAN ALL WORK. IF ANYBODY HAS PICTURES THEY WANT TO SEND AND I CAN SEND TO THE CITY, OR I CAN PUT IT IN MY PRESENTATION.
SURE. SOMETIMES YOU DON'T KNOW UNTIL YOU KNOW.
YEAH. RIGHT. OKAY. YEAH. THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT IS A GREAT DISCUSSION ITEM.
EVERY TIME I SEE A PICTURE OF GALVESTON, THERE'S A POWER LINE RUNNING THROUGH IT THAT I'M THINKING, MAN, I WISH THAT WASN'T THERE THAT'D BE A BEAUTIFUL SUNSET PICTURE. BUT YEAH, THEY'RE EVERYWHERE.
IT COULD BE A HUGE OAK TREE. OR IT COULD BE. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING THAT THEY WOULD
LIKE TO PUT ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING? APRIL 6TH? NO. OKAY, THEN THE TIME IS 4:37 AND THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.