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GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. WELCOME TO THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE LANDMARK COMMISSION.
[Landmark Commission on April 6, 2026.]
TODAY IS MONDAY, APRIL 6TH AND THE TIME IS 4:00 AND WE WILL START OUR MEETING OUT WITH ATTENDANCE.COMMISSIONER ALLEN AND VICE CHAIRPERSON BOURGEOIS ARE ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER CHASTAIN. PRESENT. CHAIRPERSON CLICK.
PRESENT. COMMISSIONER FITZ. PRESENT. COMMISSIONER LANGDALE.
PRESENT. COMMISSIONER STETZEL-THOMPSON. PRESENT.
COMMISSIONER SVENDSEN. PRESENT. COMMISSIONER.
THIERRY. PRESENT. AND SHARON LEWIS IS ABSENT.
THANK YOU. THANKS. OKAY. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST WITH OUR CASE TODAY? NO? OKAY. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES. DID EVERYONE HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK OVER THE MINUTES FROM MARCH 16TH? SEE ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED? NO? OKAY.
WE'LL ACCEPT THOSE AS PRESENTED. PUBLIC COMMENT.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON ANY NON-AGENDA ITEMS. OKAY. WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR NEW BUSINESS. WE HAVE ONE CASE TODAY.
26LC-004. REQUEST DESIGNATION AS A GALVESTON LANDMARK.
THIS IS 1813 24TH STREET. IT'S A REQUEST FOR DESIGNATION AS GALVESTON LANDMARK.
25 NOTICES WERE SENT. ZERO RETURNED. THE JAMES WALTER AND AGNES MAE ZEMPTER HOUSE AT 1813 24TH STREET, IS A RARE EXAMPLE OF A HOUSE THAT HAS REMAINED IN THE SAME FAMILY THAT BUILT IT FOUR GENERATIONS AGO.
DURING THIS TIME, ZEMPTER CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE RECONSTRUCTION AND EXPANSION OF GALVESTON'S BUILT ENVIRONMENT, INCLUDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AND COMMERCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL BUILDINGS.
HIS WORK INCLUDED PROJECTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SEAWALL SYSTEM, EDUCATION FACILITIES AND MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE ESSENTIAL TO THE CITY'S RECOVERY AND GROWTH. OTHER REVIEWS. THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL HEAR THIS REQUEST ON APRIL 7TH.
CITY COUNCIL HAS THE FINAL DECISION REGARDING REQUEST FOR DESIGNATION AS GALVESTON LANDMARK, AND THE REQUEST WILL BE HEARD AT THE REGULAR MEETING OF APRIL 3RD, 23RD, 2026 AND STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL.
WE HAVE A PICTURE OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY AND THAT CONCLUDES STAFF'S REPORT.
THANK YOU. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? NO? OKAY. WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR CASE 26LC-004.
HI, I'M JULIE BAKER. I ASSISTED THE HOMEOWNER IN THEIR APPLICATION.
AND FORMER LANDMARK COMMISSIONER. YES.
AND I'M LYNN EANES. MY HUSBAND AND I OWN THE PROPERTY.
AND THEY'RE THE FOURTH GENERATION LIVING THERE. WE THINK THAT'S SO COOL.
IT IS SO COOL. AND IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, THEY'VE BEEN ON THE HOME TOUR BEFORE.
IF THEY'RE EVER ON IT AGAIN, YOU SHOULD GO SEE THE HOME.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL INSIDE. HAS ALL THE WONDERFUL WOODWORK AND DETAILS.
I JUST THOUGHT THIS WAS A REALLY WORTHY PROJECT, A GREAT HOUSE WITH A GREAT BACKSTORY AND HISTORY, VERY CLOSELY TIED TO GALVESTON'S REBIRTH. AND I THINK IT'S VERY DESERVING OF RECOGNITION.
THANK YOU. HI. HI. WELL, BOTH MY HUSBAND AND I HOPE YOU'LL LOOK FAVORABLY UPON OUR APPLICATION.
WE ARE THE FOURTH GENERATION OWNERS OF THE HOME.
JOHN'S GREAT GRANDFATHER BUILT THE HOUSE IN 1906, AND IT'S REMAINED LARGELY UNCHANGED EXTERIOR WISE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A 1928 RENOVATION WHERE THE UPSTAIRS PORCH WAS TAKEN IN.
BUT IT REMAINS LARGELY WITH ORIGINAL GLASS AND WINDOWS.
MR. ZEMPTER WAS A PROLIFIC BUILDER IN GALVESTON.
HE BUILT SCHOOLS. HE BUILT PUMPING STATIONS. HE BUILT ROADWAYS.
HE BUILT A WEST END EXTENSION. HE BUILT PART OF THE PLEASURE PIER.
HE'S VERY WELL KNOWN. HIS NAME IS ON A MONUMENT AT 61ST STREET.
MOST OF ALL, THIS DOCUMENTATION I INCLUDED IN OUR APPLICATION, IT'S WELL DOCUMENTED.
SO IT WAS EASY TO TRACK IT, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD MUCH OF THIS INFORMATION IN PERSONAL SCRAPBOOKS.
MR. ZEMPTER WAS A 50 YEAR MEMBER OF CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, THE ODDFELLOWS, AND HE WAS AWARDED MANY
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ACCOLADES OVER HIS CAREER. AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE WITH REGARD TO THE HOME OR OUR FAMILY.AND WE'RE QUITE PROUD OF BOTH THE HOME AND OUR FAMILY HISTORY.
SO, THANK YOU. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? NO? OKAY. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? NO? OKAY. I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION FOR A MOTION.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION. I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE CASE 26LC-004 PER STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
I SECOND. OKAY. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? NO? OKAY.
WE'LL HAVE OUR VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. GREAT HOUSE. OKAY, NEXT, WE HAVE THE CONTINUATION OF OUR DISCUSSION ITEM, THE ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS.
WE GOT A GREAT PRESENTATION FROM COMMISSIONER CHASTAIN, SO WE WILL HAND IT OVER TO HIM.
HI, EVERYBODY. YEAH. SO THIS IS A CONTINUED DISCUSSION.
I KNOW NOT EVERYBODY WAS AT THE LAST LANDMARK COMMISSION.
HOPEFULLY YOU GOT A CHANCE TO LISTEN TO IT. BUT I PUT THIS PRESENTATION TOGETHER TO KIND OF TEE UP SOME OPEN DISCUSSION AND MAYBE HEAR FROM ANYBODY THAT MAYBE DID HOMEWORK SINCE MARCH 16TH, AND I UNDERSTAND IF NOT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO CONTINUE THAT AND FEEL FREE TO BRING ANY QUESTIONS.
YOU KNOW, I TITLED THIS BUILDING A RESILIENT AND BEAUTIFUL GALVESTON, KNOWING THAT THE TWO SOMETIMES CONFLICT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOME ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT THEY'RE BOTH IMPORTANT. I THINK THEY'RE BOTH IMPORTANT TO THIS COMMISSION AND WHAT WE STAND FOR IN THE CITY AS WELL.
AND THEN THE BOTTOM PICTURE THERE IS AVENUE M AND YOU SEE ALL THE TREES THERE.
AND I'VE REALLY NOTICED SOME OF THE BIG HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS WITH BIG, GIANT HISTORIC TREES.
TWO MAIN THINGS STAND OUT TO ME. EITHER THEY WEREN'T DESTROYED IN HURRICANE IKE OR ANOTHER HURRICANE, AND THEY AREN'T CONFLICTING WITH OVERHEAD ELECTRICAL LINES AND UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO YOU CAN GO TO NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO I KIND OF OUTLINED THIS ON THE PAST LANDMARK DISCUSSION SINCE NOT EVERYBODY WAS HERE, THE LAST COMMISSIONERS MEETING. AND THEN JUST CONTINUED DISCUSSION FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION AND THEN OPEN DISCUSSION.
YOU'LL SEE, YOU KNOW, I MAPPED THIS. THIS IS THE LOST BAYOU HISTORIC DISTRICT.
IT'S NOT JUST ELECTRICAL, IT'S ALL KINDS OF UTILITIES, AS WE TALKED ABOUT LAST MEETING, BUT ANYWHERE THERE'S AN ELECTRIC LINE, YOU'RE REALLY NOT GOING TO GET BIG HISTORIC TREES.
AND I'LL TALK ABOUT SOME OTHER PROGRAMS AND DOCUMENTATION AND A LITTLE BIT.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM LAST MEETING.
SO THIS REALLY STEMMED FROM GETTING SOME QUESTIONS FROM PEOPLE THAT I WAS MEETING AROUND TOWN THAT LIVE IN HISTORIC DISTRICTS AND REALLY EVERYWHERE IN GALVESTON ASKING QUESTIONS ON ALL THESE NEW ELECTRICAL UPGRADES AND INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES THAT WE'VE SEEN ALL OVER THE ISLAND.
SO IT'S NOT JUST HISTORIC DISTRICTS. I THINK EVERYBODY'S BEEN SEEING A LOT OF DIFFERENT POLES BEING EITHER REPLACED WITH BIGGER AND DIFFERENT COLORS AND DIFFERENT KINDS OF INFRASTRUCTURE OUT THERE, INCLUDING IN HISTORIC DISTRICTS.
TO MY UNDERSTANDING, AND I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR MORE FROM, YOU KNOW, CITY STAFF AND OTHERS THAT ARE MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE ON THIS. BUT MY OWN RESEARCH ON A BIG PART OF THIS IS BECAUSE CENTERPOINT, AFTER HURRICANE BERYL HAD A BIG PROGRAM THAT THEY ROLLED OUT ITS SYSTEM WIDE RESILIENCY PLAN. YOU'LL SEE THE MAP ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE.
EVERYTHING WITH A COLORED DOT IS SOME KIND OF UPGRADE THAT THEY'RE DOING.
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IT'S FOR THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA, INCLUDING GALVESTON ISLAND.YOU'LL SEE MOSTLY IN THE ISLAND. IT'S KIND OF HARD TO TELL, BUT MOST OF THEM ARE GREEN DOTS, WHICH IS SYSTEM WIDE HARDENING, WHICH I'LL HAVE A SLIDE IN A LITTLE BIT THAT KIND OF TALKS ABOUT WHAT THAT IS BASED OFF OF THEIR FACT SHEET ONLINE.
SO QUESTIONS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ROLE DOES THE CITY OF GALVESTON HAVE IN THESE INVESTMENTS ON THE ISLAND? AND ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO COLLABORATE WITH PEOPLE LIKE CENTERPOINT AND OTHER UTILITIES AND ENHANCE GALVESTON HISTORIC STREETSCAPES? AND THIS WAS JUST AN ONGOING DISCUSSION ITEM.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO I'M NOT GOING TO READ ALL THESE, BUT THIS WAS SOME QUESTIONS THAT I BROUGHT INTO THE COMMISSION.
JUST SOME IDEAS TO FACILITATE SOME OPEN DISCUSSION FOR DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.
ONE ON PROCESS, REALLY WHAT CITY DEPARTMENTS ARE INVOLVED, WHAT'S THE PROCESS THAT THE CITY HAS AS FAR AS ALL THESE UPGRADES ON WHERE THEY'RE GOING, AND WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR REVIEWING THEM, IF THERE IS ONE.
WHAT KIND OF UTILITY COORDINATION DO WE HAVE WITHIN THE CITY? WHAT KIND OF PARTNERSHIPS DO WE HAVE WITH CENTERPOINT AND OTHERS? AND HOW DO WE LOOK AT THAT WHEN THEY'RE WANTING TO UPGRADE INFRASTRUCTURE? AND THEN THE THIRD ONE IS REALLY FOR THIS COMMISSION, HISTORIC DISTRICT CONSIDERATIONS, YOU KNOW, ARE UPGRADES LOOKED AT DIFFERENTLY WHEN THEY'RE PROPOSED OR BEING TAKEN PLACE IN HISTORIC DISTRICTS? ARE VISUAL IMPACTS OF THESE INFRASTRUCTURES CONSIDERED WHEN APPROVING INSTALLATIONS IN HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS? AND ARE THERE ANY GUIDELINES AND DESIGN STANDARDS? I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT LAST MEETING. THERE IS SOME DISCUSSION, BUT IT'S REALLY FROM THE POLES TO THE HOUSE ITSELF OR THE STRUCTURE ITSELF, WHETHER IT'S COMMERCIAL OR RESIDENTIAL.
BUT ARE THERE ANY OTHER GUIDELINES WITHIN THE ACTUAL CITY RIGHT OF WAYS THAT MAYBE THE OWNERS OF THE HOUSES OR BUILDINGS AREN'T A PART OF? AND THEN VISUAL CONSIDERATIONS, OUR STREETSCAPES AND REALLY ESTHETICS AND MAYBE CONFLICTING CITY RIGHT OF WAY USES LOOKED AT DIFFERENTLY WHEN LOOKING AT ALL THESE UPGRADES THAT ARE HAPPENING ON THE ISLAND.
NEXT SLIDE. AND THOSE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS, BUT JUST A COUPLE IDEAS TO FACILITATE OPEN DISCUSSION.
PLEASE ANYBODY, IF YOU HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS OR THOUGHTS THAT COME TO MIND SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT, PLEASE BRING THEM UP. YOU KNOW, I'M A PLANNER FOR MY JOB. SO I THINK OF, YOU KNOW, TO SOLVE A PROBLEM, WE GOT TO THINK OF WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS, WE'VE GOT TO DEFINE THEM. A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT CAME TO MIND.
THIS IS, YOU KNOW, BY NO MEANS ALL OF THEM. BUT, YOU KNOW, HURRICANES ARE A BIG PROBLEM.
AND WHETHER HURRICANES WREAK HAVOC ON OUR UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUR NATURAL LANDSCAPES.
WE LOST 40,000 TREES DURING HURRICANE IKE. IF Y'ALL WERE HERE DURING THEN.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, POST BERYL IN 2024, YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF THE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE VEGETATION WAS MANAGED RIGHT AFTER THAT STORM CAME THROUGH. AND I HAVE SOME PICTURES OF KIND OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE EVEN TWO YEARS LATER.
CITY RIGHT OF WAY CONFLICTS. HERE'S SOME PROBLEMS HERE OR JUST AREAS OF DISCUSSION.
UTILITY GRIDS VERSUS THE HISTORIC LANDSCAPES AND THE VEGETATION IN THOSE RIGHT OF WAYS.
INCREASED UTILITY RESILIENCY OFTEN MEANS DECREASED NATURAL LANDSCAPES.
AND THEN INCREASED UTILITY DISTRIBUTION GRIDS DOES NOT ALWAYS EQUAL INCREASE IN ENERGY RESILIENCY.
SO ANOTHER ONE CONCERN THAT INFRASTRUCTURE DECISIONS ARE OFTEN MADE ON A PROJECT BY PROJECT BASIS.
LIKE, WHAT IS THE PLAN TO LOOK AT? OR IS THERE A LONG TERM STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK THAT CAN COORDINATE THESE INVESTMENT DECISIONS? SO ARE WE THINKING AHEAD AS THESE COMPANIES ARE COMING INTO OUR ISLAND AND UPGRADING INFRASTRUCTURE? AND CAN WE COLLABORATE ON THAT? NEXT SLIDE. SO LOOKING INTO THE CENTERPOINT SYSTEM WIDE RESILIENCY PLAN.
THAT MAP I WAS SHOWING YOU EARLIER, IT'S IN RESPONSE TO HURRICANE BERYL, $3.2 BILLION INVESTMENT WITHIN THIS WHOLE GIANT PLAN, WHICH INCLUDES GALVESTON. A LOT OF THE ISLAND IS UNDER THE CATEGORY OF HARDENING.
SO YOU'LL SEE BASICALLY REBUILDING AND REPLACING POLES, BRACING POLES.
THERE IS SOME, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE ALL THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING HERE.
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ANOTHER ASPECT IS VEGETATION MANAGEMENT. SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THE TREES AND VEGETATION IN OUR HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS.SO THEY'VE BEEN WORKING SINCE 2024 TO PLAN THIS OUT.
ONE OF MY QUESTIONS IS, WAS THE CITY INVOLVED AND WHAT KIND OF COLLABORATION WAS DONE THERE? I KNOW THEY HAD A LOT OF PUBLIC MEETINGS TALKING ABOUT THIS PLAN AND NOW THEY'RE ACTUALLY BUILDING IT.
SO FOR THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, 2026 TO 2028, THEY'RE GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTING THIS PLAN.
NEXT SLIDE. SO HERE'S JUST SOME PICTURES TO KIND OF FACILITATE SOME DISCUSSION AND THOUGHT.
THERE'S BIGGER ONES. THERE'S DIFFERENT MATERIALS THAT ARE BEING PLANNED ALL OVER THE CITY.
BUT THEN WHEN THEY ACTUALLY INSTALLED THEM AND THEY CAME IN, THE LINE THERE IS ACTUALLY LIKE AT LEAST TEN FEET LOWER THAN WHEN IT WAS THERE PREVIOUSLY. YOU CAN ALMOST TOUCH IT. IT'S AT THE TOP OF THAT SIGN.
SO YOU CAN SEE THE CRAPE MYRTLE THAT'S BELOW THERE.
NEXT SLIDE. SO HERE'S SOME OTHER PICTURES HERE.
SO TOP LEFT IS. IT'S KIND OF HARD TO SEE ON THE BIG SCREEN, BUT THERE ARE LINES LITERALLY GOING EVERYWHERE, I THINK COUNTED LIKE 40 DIFFERENT LINES GOING BETWEEN THESE TWO HOUSES.
YOU CAN SEE THE NOTCHES IN THE BIG OAK TREES THAT THEY CAME THROUGH AND CUT.
THE BOTTOM RIGHT IS A CYPRESS TREE. THEY JUST CHOPPED THE TOP OFF.
AND I KNOW THAT AFTER THE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT, I SAW WHOLE PALM TREES BEING CUT DOWN.
FULL, YOU KNOW, LIVE OAKS BEING CUT DOWN JUST TO, YOU KNOW, MANAGE THAT VEGETATION, SO.
AND THAT WILL CONTINUE, I'M ASSUMING. NEXT SLIDE.
SO MY BIGGEST QUESTION, I GUESS, IS THERE COLLABORATION AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US AS A COMMISSION AND THE REST OF THE CITY STAFF TO THINK ABOUT ALL THIS INFRASTRUCTURE AND BE INVOLVED? BECAUSE WITH THIS BIG INVESTMENT THAT'S COMING TO THE CITY, I CAN SEE. AND THIS IS A RARE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO, YOU KNOW, IMPROVE OUR ELECTRICAL RELIABILITY, ACTUAL COORDINATE ON INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING AND EFFORTS, YOU KNOW, AND REALLY THINK ABOUT IT FROM AN HISTORIC PERSPECTIVE.
IN THE TOP RIGHT, THERE'S A SNIP OF THE ENTRY PAGE TO THE GALVESTON RELIEF PLAN.
FOUND IT INTERESTING AFTER HURRICANE IKE. THE CITY ALONG WITH, YOU KNOW, THE TEXAS FOREST SERVICE AND THE GALVESTON ISLAND TREE CONSERVANCY, WHICH WAS BORN AFTER HURRICANE IKE WROTE THIS WHOLE PLAN, WHICH I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH ALL OF IT, BUT IT REALLY HITS HOME THE IMPORTANCE OF VEGETATION IN GALVESTON.
THERE'S ECONOMIC BENEFITS, NATURAL BENEFITS AND BEAUTIFICATION ALL AROUND THE ISLAND.
SO I LITERALLY TELL ALL THE STAFF AND COMMISSION TO READ THAT IF YOU HAVEN'T.
I WANT TO HEAR WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE THINKING, YOU KNOW, TALK TO THE COMMISSION LAST MEETING TO KIND OF, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING AROUND, THINK ABOUT ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE HERE AND HOW IT MAY IMPACT THE VISUAL ESTHETICS OF OUR HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS. AND WITH THAT, I'LL SEE IF ANYBODY HAS ANY OTHER THOUGHTS OR IF CITY, I DON'T KNOW.
I KNOW THE CITY WAS GOING TO THINK ABOUT THIS AS WELL.
SO YOU'RE WONDERING IF THERE IS RESTRICTIONS IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT THAT NEED TO BE FOLLOWED OR IF THERE CAN BE? THAT'S. I DON'T WANT TO RESTRICT ELECTRIC LINES.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR ELECTRICAL LINES? I MEAN, HONESTLY, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LIKE, YOU JUST WANT TO BURY ELECTRICAL LINES.
AND THE BIG. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT LAST MEETING.
AND THE BIG REASON PEOPLE AREN'T DOING THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE COST.
BUT WHAT I WAS WONDERING IS IF LIKE, IS THERE A PROCESS TO LOOK AT WHERE ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS ON THE ISLAND AND MAXIMIZING IN ALLEYWAYS OR NOT PUTTING IN FRONT OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND RESIDENTIAL STREETS?
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AND THOSE ARE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THERE AS FAR THAT I HAD ON LIKE ONE OF THE ENTRY SLIDES HERE IS LIKE, DO WE EVEN HAVE A MAP OF WHERE ALL THE ELECTRICAL LINES? HAVE WE THOUGHT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ARE WE INVOLVED WITH ALL THESE POLES GOING IN AND THINKING ABOUT MAYBE, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO GET THEM TO PUT THEM IN THE ALLEYWAYS.AND WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR THE CITY GOES BY AS FAR AS PARTNERING WITH THESE COMPANIES OR NOT? I WOULD JUST SAY PRIOR TO THIS PRESENTATION, MY BEST GUESS, I'VE LIVED IN LOST BAYOU FOR 23 YEARS AND IT'S JUST HIT OR MISS.
WHATEVER CENTERPOINT WANTS TO DO, WHATEVER TREE IT WANTS TO CHOP DOWN, IT DOES IT.
IF THERE'S A TREE OVERLOOKING A POLE OVERSEEING A LINE IN THE BACK ALLEY, IT WILL CUT IT OR IT WILL DISRUPT IT, OR IT WILL IMPACT THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE WIRES.
I'VE NEVER, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, EVER HEARD A CITY DISCUSSION AS IT RELATES TO INFRASTRUCTURE ON POWER LINES AND THE WIRES THAT ARE CONNECTED AS IT RELATES TO JUST THE BEAUTIFICATION OR JUST THE TREE LINES, THE TREE SCAPE, THE STREETSCAPE.
I'VE NEVER HAD THIS DISCUSSION BEFORE. I'VE NEVER HEARD THIS DISCUSSION BEFORE BY ANYONE.
SO MAYBE THIS IS A GOOD TIME FOR ME TO JUMP IN.
IT'S A LONG STANDING FRANCHISE AGREEMENT. THE LAST TIME THAT IT WAS RENEWED WAS 2006.
FOR THE PERIOD FROM 2008 TO 2038. AND SO PROBABLY A YEAR OR TWO BEFORE 2036, 2037, IT WILL BE REVIEWED AGAIN TO SEE IF THE TERMS ARE STILL GOING TO BE IN PLACE OR IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MET.
AND I WILL SAY THAT, AS COMMISSIONER THIERRY SAID, THERE REALLY ISN'T MUCH THAT THE CITY CAN DO IN TERMS OF BEAUTIFICATION OR EVEN LOCATION OF THESE POLES OR HOW THEY LOOK. AND I HAVE THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT HERE.
I WAS GOING TO READ A PARAGRAPH WHICH I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE IT KIND OF.
SO. AND BEAR WITH ME. ALL POLES ERECTED BY A COMPANY, WHICH IS CENTERPOINT PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY HEREIN GRANTED SHALL BE OF SOUND MATERIAL AND REASONABLY STRAIGHT AND SHALL BE SO SET THAT THEY SHALL NOT INTERFERE WITH THE FLOW OF WATER IN ANY GUTTER OR DRAIN, AND SO THAT THE SAME SHALL INTERFERE AS LITTLE AS PRACTICABLE WITH THE ORDINARY TRAVEL ON THE STREETS, OR OTHER PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY. WITHIN THE STREETS, OR OTHER PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY OF CITY.
THE LOCATION AND ROUTES OF ALL POLES, STUBS, SKIES, ANCHORS, LINES, CONDUITS AND CABLES PLACED AND CONSTRUCTED AND TO BE PLACED AND CONSTRUCTED BY COMPANY AGAINST ENDPOINT IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE COMPANY'S SYSTEM IN THE CITY SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE REASONABLE AND PROPER REGULATION, CONTROL AND DIRECTION OF THE CITY OR OF ANY CITY OFFICIAL WHO HAS THE DUTIES, ETC. AND THEN THE LAST. I'M TRYING TO GET DOWN WHERE IT SAYS.
THIS IS IN TERMS OF RELOCATION AND IMPROVEMENTS SUCH SHALL BE REASONABLY NECESSARY TO ACCOMMODATE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS WITHIN SUCH STREETS OR PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY BY THE CITY DEPARTMENT WITH THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS.
SO PUBLIC WORKS, THEY'RE INVOLVED WITH CENTERPOINT POLLS AND THEIR PLACEMENT AND THINGS LIKE THAT, TYPICALLY ONLY WHEN IT'S IN CONJUNCTION WITH A DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
TO CITY, TELL ME WHAT IS REQUIRED. CITY AND THE CENTERPOINT CONTACT PERSON, THEY WOULD HAVE TO SAY, WELL, THIS IS WHAT'S REQUIRED FOR THE TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE.
IN POINT OF FACT, THE DEVELOPER TYPICALLY WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO GO TO CENTERPOINT FIRST IN SOME SITUATIONS TO SAY, THIS IS WHAT I NEED. HOW AM I GOING TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE WHAT'S NEEDED FOR MY PROJECT?
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IF IT'S A PRIVATE DEVELOPER, I WANT TO SAY THAT THEY PROBABLY HAVE MORE CONTROL OVER WHAT THE POLLS WOULD LOOK LIKE OR WHERE THEY WOULD GO. JUST AS WE TALKED ABOUT VARYING THE POLES WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL COST.I'M SURE IF THE DEVELOPER WANTS TO BEAR THAT COST, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CENTERPOINT WOULD DO.
WE'VE HAD AT LEAST ONE SITUATION WHERE WE ASKED FOR MORE DECORATIVE POLES.
THAT CAME AT THE COST OF THE CITY. THAT WAS NOT CENTERPOINT.
THESE ARE THE POLES YOU GET TO CHOOSE FROM. THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
THIS PARTICULAR HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION, I WANT TO SAY, DECIDED THESE WERE THE POLES THAT THEY WANTED TO PUT IN THE AREA. AND, AGAIN, IT WAS AN ADDITIONAL COST. IT CAME OUT OF, I THINK BACK IN A COUPLE COUNCIL PERSON'S DAYS, THERE WAS A FUNDING SET UP FOR SOME NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAMING.
YOU REMEMBER IT, RIGHT? THAT WASN'T FREE FROM CENTERPOINT AT ALL.
SO, AGAIN, IT WAS AN EXCELLENT PRESENTATION, BUT THERE ISN'T MUCH IN TERMS OF COLLABORATION THAT THE CITY ENGAGES IN WHEN IT COMES TO SOME OF THESE UTILITIES. AND IT'S NOT JUST CENTERPOINT, IT'S ALSO GAS.
AT&T, WE HAVE FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS WITH THOSE ENTITIES AS WELL.
SO, RELOCATION, IF THE CITY NEEDS TO RELOCATE A POLE DUE TO AN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT, A DEVELOPMENT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT, CENTERPOINT WILL RELOCATE POLES.
BUT AGAIN, IT'S TYPICALLY WHAT CENTERPOINT WILL DEEM AS, OKAY, IF YOU'RE PUTTING IN A DEVELOPMENT THAT REQUIRES THIS AREA, WE CAN MOVE THE POLES TEN FEET OVER HERE AND THAT'S GOING TO STILL KEEP WITHIN OUR SYSTEM OF SERVICE TO THE AREA. THE PROCESS OF MAPPING. FOR CENTERPOINT, THE CITY, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING.
AND I SPOKE WITH ROBERT WINNICK ON THIS. WE DON'T MAP WHERE CENTERPOINT POLES ARE.
OBSERVATIONALLY, WE KIND OF KNOW, BUT THERE ISN'T A SYSTEM TO MY UNDERSTANDING WHERE CENTERPOINT WILL SAY, WE HAVE A POLE ON K, WE HAVE A POLE ON B, WE HAVE A POLE HERE AND THERE.
SO THERE ISN'T A SYSTEM LIKE THAT THAT THE CITY DOES.
I DON'T BELIEVE THEY ACTUALLY HAVE THAT TYPE OF MAPPING BECAUSE I ASKED THAT QUESTION WITH ANY OF THE OTHER FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS EITHER. IF IT'S A CITY UTILITY, YEAH.
HOPEFULLY, I'M NOT MISCONSTRUING THE CONVERSATION WITH TEXAS GAS AND CENTERPOINT.
ESTHETICS TYPICALLY IS NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.
AGAIN, THAT WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL COST. AND THAT WOULD BE EITHER THE DEVELOPER OR THE PRIVATE PERSON MAKING THAT REQUEST OF CENTERPOINT. WE CAN MAKE REQUESTS OF CENTERPOINT, BUT, AGAIN, IT'S A CASE BY CASE SITUATION AND IT'S A COST BY COST SITUATION.
AND THAT WILL BE AT THE COST OF CENTERPOINT. IF IT'S ON THE BASIS OF A RELOCATION DEEMED AS A NECESSITY FOR THE CITY, THAT'S IN THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT, THAT CENTERPOINT WILL COVER THOSE COSTS.
BUT IF IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT. AND I DON'T WANT TO DIMINISH THE ISSUE.
IN TERMS OF THE TRIMMING THAT I THINK THE HARDENING PROJECT IS GOING TO COME IN.
AND AGAIN, I HAVE NOT SPOKEN TO CENTERPOINT, BUT WHEN THEY CAME AND TRIMMED MY AREA, BECAUSE I'M A TREE AREA WHERE I LIVE, IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT I WOULD PAY TO HAVE SOMEBODY COME AND TRIM MY TREE TO DO.
IT IS REALLY THAT TOP LOADING TYPE OF SITUATION THAT YOU KIND OF SEE.
AND THEY'RE JUST, YEAH. BECAUSE THEY WANT TO CLEAR THE TREES FROM THE LINES.
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AGAIN, I KNOW IT'S NOT THE INFORMATION THAT YOU WERE HOPING TO GET.BUT THE SHORT ANSWER IS, THERE REALLY ISN'T MUCH THAT THE CITY CAN DO IN TERMS OF POSITIONING, REPOSITIONING, STYLE OF THESE POLES UNLESS IT IS INVOLVED WITH SOME SORT OF DEVELOPMENT.
I HAVE A QUESTION. DOES CENTERPOINT, ARE THEY REQUIRED TO PULL A PERMIT WHEN THEY WORK ON ANY POLE? TYPICALLY NOT. AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING BECAUSE THEY ARE PUC AND WITH THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT ALLOWS THEM TO WORK THERE.
AND IT'S A COURTESY SOMETIMES FOR CENTERPOINT TO SAY, HEY, WE ARE PUTTING IN POLES HERE.
I WOULD SAY IF IT'S IN LINE WITH SOME OTHER UTILITY, OR IF IT COULD DISRUPT MAYBE A BUILDING OR SOMETHING THAT CENTERPOINT WOULD CONTACT AND SAY, HEY, WE NEED TO DO WORK HERE. SO, BUILDING A MAY BE DISRUPTED FOR, YOU KNOW, FOUR HOURS, SIX HOURS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BUT IN TERMS OF PULLING A PERMIT, IT'S NOT THE PERMIT THAT I THINK A PRIVATE DEVELOPER WOULD HAVE TO PULL FOR THE CITY.
IT REALLY IS JUST ALLOWING. AND MAYBE YOU CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THIS, I DON'T KNOW.
I THINK THAT'S. I ASKED ROBERT ABOUT THAT. AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE READ THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT A FEW TIMES OVER THE YEARS, BUT IT REALLY IS JUST LETTING US KNOW, UNLESS THERE'S A SPECIAL ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF, CENTERPOINT CAN TYPICALLY JUST ERECT THE POLES AND WORK IN THE AREAS NOTIFYING US THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING WORK IN A CERTAIN AREA, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S GOING TO IMPACT SOMEONE ELSE.
SO WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT THERE IS NO COLLABORATION OUTSIDE OF OUR FRANCHISE AGREEMENT THAT WE CAME TO AGREEMENT IN 2006? WELL.
RENEWAL. SO WE'VE HAD. I WANT TO SAY 1958. I MEAN, AND IT HASN'T CHANGED MUCH SINCE THEN, BUT I'M SORRY TO CUT YOU OFF. NO. SO ALL OF THE, YOU KNOW, 3.2 BILLION THROUGH LIKE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA, WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT THAT PLAN? WE DIDN'T COLLABORATE ON ANY OF THE MEETINGS? WE DIDN'T TALK TO CENTERPOINT? YOU KNOW, WALKING AROUND TOWN AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH PEOPLE AND I HEAR, YOU KNOW, IN THESE HISTORIC DISTRICTS AND REALLY EVERYWHERE OF LIKE.
IT'S LIKE KIND OF PART OF OUR CULTURE. AND, YOU KNOW, IT IS WHAT IT IS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE POLLS, I CAN'T HELP BUT NOTICE, LIKE SOMETIMES LIKE CABLE AND INTERNET, THERE'S SOMETIMES 20 DIFFERENT LINES GOING ON THE ACTUAL POLLS, ALL HANGING DOWN ALL OVER THE PLACE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE RENEGOTIATE A FRANCHISE AGREEMENT.
AND I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO SEE IF THAT'S NORMAL WITHIN OTHER CITIES OR IF THERE'S ANOTHER MECHANISM, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A FRANCHISE AGREEMENT. BUT, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO GET, YOU KNOW, THESE UTILITY COMPANIES IN HERE TO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE WE NEGOTIATED AN AGREEMENT DOESN'T MEAN WE, WE DON'T TALK AND, YOU KNOW, TALK AND SEE IF THERE IS AN EFFORT FOR COLLABORATION AS WE'RE JUST UPGRADING POLES THROUGH IN HISTORIC DISTRICTS AND OBVIOUSLY NOT EVEN CLEANING IT UP OR MAKING SURE THE LINES ARE TAUT, YOU KNOW.
SO I DON'T WANT TO DIMINISH WHAT THE CITY DOES IN TERMS OF MONITORING SERVICES, UTILITIES IN THE CITY. THERE ARE. WHEN YOU MENTION THINGS LIKE.
WE CALL THAT CO-LOCATING, WHEN CABLE HAS CO-LOCATED ON THE AT&T OR OTHER DOS OR WHATEVER TYPE OF UTILITY WIRE, WHATEVER.
COMPANIES WHEN THEY WANT TO CO-LOCATE ON AN AT&T, SORRY, CENTERPOINT POLE, UNDERSTAND THAT THESE ARE CENTERPOINT POLES. THEY'RE NOT CITY POLES. AND. IN A CITY RIGHT OF WAY.
SO ANY MAINTENANCE, ANY DAMAGE, LOW LYING LINES, THAT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CENTERPOINT.
[00:35:03]
THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE CITY CAN'T SAY, HEY, YOU HAVE A DAMAGED POLE HERE, OR YOU NEED TO CHECK THESE LINES, BUT UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE CENTERPOINT POLES WHO BEAR THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THAT.AND SO WHETHER A PERSON CAN DIRECTLY CONTACT CENTERPOINT AND MAKE THEIR REQUEST KNOWN OR SHARE THEIR ISSUE WITH THEM, THAT IS REALLY BETWEEN THAT PERSON AND CENTERPOINT.
IN TERMS OF THE PROGRAM, THE HARDENING PROGRAM, SOMETIMES I MAKE THIS JOKE THAT IT'S ABOVE MY PAY GRADE, BUT WHAT I REALLY THINK IS IT'S BESIDE SOMEBODY'S PAY GRADE HERE.
WHAT CENTERPOINT'S MAIN GOAL IS, AND I HATE TO SPEAK FOR CENTERPOINT, BUT WHAT I BELIEVE THEIR MAIN GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT SERVICES THAT WENT DOWN IN THE PAST DON'T GO DOWN IN THE FUTURE.
AND THAT MAY NOT LOOK SO PRETTY BECAUSE THEIR MAJOR CONCERN IS MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE CONTINUOUS SERVICE. IS THERE A BRANCH OF CENTERPOINT? AND I'LL TRY TO MAKE A CALL TO CENTERPOINT TO SPEAK WITH THEIR PERSONNEL.
MAYBE THEIR SPOKESPERSON OR I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHO WOULD EVEN BE INVOLVED OVER THERE TO SAY, HEY, WE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE LOOK, WE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT IS COMING INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
GIVE SOME INSIGHT. CAN YOU COME TALK TO OUR LANDMARK COMMISSION AND JUST SHARE? BUT I SUSPECT THAT THE MAIN ISSUE IS MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE GET SERVICE.
AND I'M NOT QUITE SURE IF BEAUTIFICATION IS UPPERMOST ON THE LIST.
I'M JUST GOING TO SAY IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS AND TO USE YOUR TERM, ATTORNEY FAIRWEATHER, IN A TREE AREA WHERE I LIVE, SMALL TREES SPAWNED FROM BIG TREES AND THEY CAN A LITTLE SEEDLING OR START MAYBE THIS BIG, IT LOOKS LIKE A BUSH. AND THREE YEARS LATER IT'S 25FT TALL.
AND THIS HAPPENS ANYWHERE. IN THE BACK ALLEY, IN YOUR FRONT YARD, IN YOUR BACKYARD.
AND I HAD TO CONSULT WITH THE GALVESTON TREE CONSERVANCY MRS. FILES, AND THERE WAS A INVASIVE TREE THAT JUST LANDED IN MY COURTYARD.
AND THREE YEARS LATER IT WAS OVER 20FT TALL. AND SHE JUST SAID, CHOP IT DOWN.
THERE'S NOTHING ELSE YOU CAN DO. JUST CHOP IT DOWN.
AND I DID FOR VARIOUS REASONS, BUT THAT HAPPENS IN THE TREE AREAS ALL THE TIME.
AND UNLESS SOMEONE IS ASTUTE ENOUGH TO SAY, OKAY, I SEE THIS SMALL SEEDLING.
YEAR THREE, YEAR FOUR. LOOK HOW BIG IT IS. WHAT DO WE DO? THERE'S NO THOUGHT PROCESS OTHER THAN THE PERSON THEMSELVES TAKING IT UPON THEMSELVES TO DEAL WITH IT, BECAUSE I DON'T. I MEAN, IT MIGHT GROW IN FRONT OF A POWER LINE, NEXT TO A POWER LINE AND BEFORE IT GETS OUT OF HAND.
I MEAN, I'M IN THE BACK ALLEY. I'VE CHOPPED DOWN SEEDLINGS LIKE THAT AT LEAST THREE TIMES.
DID YOU GO THROUGH AND LOOK AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY OTHER.
LIKE HOW OTHER CITIES HANDLE THIS? BECAUSE I DID, AND I WISH I WOULD HAVE PRINTED IT OUT.
I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER WHAT CITY IT WAS, BUT IT'S WRITTEN INTO THEIR AGREEMENT THAT IF IT'S POSSIBLE WITHOUT TOO MUCH, YOU KNOW, ALTERATIONS TO THEIR PLAN, THAT THEIR HISTORIC DISTRICT LIKE HAS TO BE PROTECTED FROM THE POLES.
BUT IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE COULD TELL THE CITY HAS TO BE PUT INTO THE NEXT AGREEMENT? OH, ACTUALLY, YEAH, MAYBE JUST AS EVEN LIKE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, BECAUSE EVEN IF THEY CAN'T CHANGE THE PLAN, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT CAN'T STILL BE PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC FOR COMMENT.
YEAH. YEAH. I MEAN, I WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE THIS PRESENTATION, ESPECIALLY WITH THE HARDENING PROGRAM TO SEE IF I CAN DRILL DOWN ON SOMEBODY WHO COULD EXPLAIN IF THERE'S A PROCESS, DO THEY HAVE SOME SORT OF.
DO THEY TAKE IN THE AMENITIES OF THE AREAS THAT THEY'RE GOING INTO? SO I WOULD LOVE TO. WELL, AND THAT'S WHERE. I MEAN, A $3.2 BILLION PLAN FOR THE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA DOESN'T JUST GET CREATED IN A VACUUM. SO THEY PLANNED AND HAD MEETINGS FOR LIKE THREE YEARS AND TALKED TO ALL THESE COMMUNITIES AND IT SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE WE DIDN'T TALK TO THEM OR US IN THE ROOM DIDN'T TALK TO HIM OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
[00:40:07]
ABOUT IT, EVEN THOUGH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A 2006 FRANCHISE AGREEMENT AND THEY'RE CENTERPOINT POLES AND WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW WHERE TO ME, THAT'S A MISSED OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE OPEN DISCUSSION BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE PRETTIEST PART OUTSIDE OF THE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS AND HISTORIC, YOU KNOW, STUFF THAT WE'RE WORKING TO, YOU KNOW, PRESERVE AND REVIEW EVERY TIME. THE SECOND MOST BEAUTIFUL THING TO ME AND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE IS THE BIG TREES THAT WE HAVE THERE.AGAIN, I WOULD LOVE FOR EVERYBODY TO KIND OF LOOK AT THAT AND I CAN PRINT OUT SOME MORE STUFF IF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN THAT OR EMAIL IT TO THE COMMISSION, BUT I FIND IT HARD TO SWALLOW TO SAY THAT WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT IN 2006 AND WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
BECAUSE JUST WALKING AROUND OUR HISTORIC DISTRICTS AND THERE'S WIRES HANGING EVERYWHERE.
YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T CALL THEM AND SAY YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS POLE, BUT IS THAT IN THE AGREEMENT? IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THAT PROCESS? DO WE DO THAT AS A CITY? I GUESS THE BEST WAY FOR ME TO ANSWER THAT IS, THE CITY GETS COMPLAINTS ON POLES QUITE A BIT.
I MEAN, EVEN I GET COMPLAINTS ON POLES BECAUSE THEY'RE BLOCKING OR THE TREES OVERHANGING AND YOU CAN'T SEE OR THEY CUT MY TREE, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT MY PERMISSION. BUT THE TRUTH IS IN THE RIGHT OF WAY.
YOU KNOW, THE SIDEWALK AREA. SO THE CITY GETS COMPLAINTS ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND THEN WE TRY TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE PERSON THAT WE NEED TO MAKE CONTACT WITH.
I'VE NEVER. I WON'T SAY NEVER. I HAVEN'T RECENTLY DEALT WITH CENTERPOINT ON ISSUES WITH POLES OR ANYTHING, BUT AS I ALREADY SAID, I THINK JUST HAVING SOME OF THE INFORMATION FROM YOUR PRESENTATION WILL ALLOW ME TO HOPEFULLY DRILL DOWN ON SOMEBODY TO SAY, HEY, THIS IS A REAL CONCERN.
TALK TO US ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND, YOU KNOW, WHERE DOES GALVESTON FIT IN? I LIVE IN HOUSTON. SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT'S BEING DONE WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE POLES IN HOUSTON.
AND I'VE NEVER BEEN INVITED TO A MEETING. I'LL TELL YOU THAT RIGHT NOW.
AND I'M NOT QUITE SURE IF THE CITY HAS EVER BEEN INVITED TO A MEETING FOR THE PRESENTATION, BUT I WILL SAY THAT IT'S SERVICE ORIENTED AND WHEN I MEAN SERVICE ORIENTED, IT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT PERSONS IN THE AREA DON'T LOSE SERVICE, ARE PROVIDED WITH THE UTMOST IN SERVICE IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE THEIR ELECTRICITY, THEIR PHONE, THEIR WATER. BUT I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE THERE IS A PROGRAM THAT ALSO DEALS WITH, HEY, IF WE HAVE A HISTORIC DISTRICT, LIKE I WOULD LOVE IF YOU CAN FIND THAT.
I CAN FIND IT. PLEASE EMAIL IT TO ME AND I'LL SEE HOW THEY DID IT.
SAY, HEY, CAN WE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE GET A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING? HOW ARE WE GOING TO GO FORWARD WITH SOME OF THESE THINGS? AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PLANNING. I AGREE WITH YOU. IT IS A RESILIENCY PLAN. MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAVE ELECTRICAL, YOU KNOW, ELECTRICITY AND UTILITIES DURING BIG WEATHER AND HURRICANES, WHICH I THINK IT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT AND I APPRECIATE CENTERPOINT AND ALL THE OTHERS TRYING TO TO DO IT. BUT GALVESTON, AS WE ALL KNOW, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, US THERE HERE THAT, YOU KNOW, FIND HISTORIC DISTRICTS AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THESE BUILDINGS.
IT'S UNIQUE. GALVESTON IS A UNIQUE GEM THAT I WOULD LOVE FOR US TO HAVE A FUTURE VISION.
I KNOW WE ALL TALK ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR OWN LIGHTS ON OUR ONE BLOCK, BUT I'M TRYING TO THINK STRATEGICALLY FOR AN ISLAND THAT'S SO UNIQUE, HOW ARE WE NOT INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS? AND THIS DISCUSSION IS WIDER THAN THE LANDMARK COMMISSION, OBVIOUSLY. BUT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS. OBVIOUSLY, I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THIS DISCUSSION ANY LONGER, BUT I THINK IT'S WORTHY OF A DISCUSSION THROUGHOUT THE CITY ON HOW ARE WE NOT INVOLVED IN THE DISCUSSION, IF WE'RE NOT. WITH THIS PLAN AND TRYING TO BEAUTIFY OUR ISLAND AND GET 40 WIRES FROM DIAL PHONES THAT NOBODY HAS IN THEIR HOUSE ANYMORE OFF OF OUR POLES.
[00:45:03]
BECAUSE I THINK MORE STUFF ON THE POLES MAKE THEM HEAVIER AND THEY'RE GOING TO FALL OVER MORE DURING BAD WEATHER EVENTS.BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S NOT JUST.
SO, BUT I WILL DEFINITELY CHECK WITH PUBLIC WORKS TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE INVOLVEMENT IS IN TERMS OF ESPECIALLY THAT HARDENING PROJECT. IS PUBLIC WORKS. IS THAT A PART OF CITY ENGINEERING TOO? BECAUSE YOU DID ASK A LOT OF GOOD QUESTIONS. SO MAYBE THERE'S ANOTHER CITY OFFICE THOSE COULD BE DIRECTED TOWARDS, IF YOU WANTED SOME MORE ANSWERS TO. SOME OF THE QUESTIONS WE TALKED AT THE LAST MEETING OF LIKE, WHO IS INVOLVED? WHAT DEPARTMENTS, LIKE WHAT CITY STAFF EXACTLY ON, ON THIS INFRASTRUCTURE.
WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW.
NO. THAT THEY. I MEAN, I GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND I FULLY UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERNS, BUT BY NO MEANS DON'T DIMINISH I GUESS WHAT THE CITY DOES IN TERMS OF THE SERVICE PROVIDERS AND HOW THEY INTERACT WITH THEM.
THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES ON. AND I KNOW THAT IT'S EASY TO SAY WE SEE ALL THESE THINGS, BUT THE CITY DOES NOT OPERATE IN A BUBBLE. AND I NEED THE COMMISSIONERS TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
OH. THERE'S A LOT OF INTERCONNECTION. BUT GETTING BACK TO THE QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S AN ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, WHICH IS MR. WINIECKE, HE'S ACTUALLY ALSO OUR ENGINEER.
DID YOU WANT TO. IT'S ALL UNDER DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, RIGHT? YEAH. PUBLIC WORKS IS OWN SEPARATE THING, RIGHT? AND SO THAT WOULD BE ROBERT. YEAH. WE CAN FOLLOW UP ON THESE ON GETTING RESPONSES TO ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS.
I DO HAVE A CONTACT AT CENTERPOINT. SHE WAS IN CHARGE OF COMMUNICATIONS.
I THINK SHE'S GOVERNMENTAL LIAISON NOW. AND SO I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH HER, SHARE YOUR POWERPOINT AND WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH GETTING SOME RESPONSES FROM CENTERPOINT ON HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER BETTER.
AND IF ANYONE ON THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM AND IT'S A LARGE GROUP WERE ALL OFF OF MARKET STREET, MUNICIPAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC WORKS AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, AND SEE IF THERE WAS ANYONE ELSE THAT WORKED WITH CENTERPOINT, YOU KNOW, IN THESE DISCUSSIONS. SO. YEAH. CERTAINLY WE WILL.
I DON'T THINK WE'VE. I HAVEN'T SEEN THIS DISCUSSION BEFORE, BUT IT'S SOMETHING WE ALL SEE WHEN WE'RE OUT AND ABOUT WITH THE TREES CHOPPED OFF, AND IT'S VERY UNATTRACTIVE. AND IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO TO MAYBE WORK ON THAT.
SURE. I THINK THAT'S CERTAINLY A WORTHY GOAL OBJECTIVE.
I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE WRITTEN IN SOMEWHERE THAT SOMEBODY FROM THE CITY NEEDS TO STAND UP AND SAY, HEY, WE NEED TO BE CONSCIOUS OF THIS, LIKE BEFORE WE SIGN ANY AGREEMENTS.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE HARD TO DO AT ALL, LIKE FOR THE FUTURE.
WELL, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT TOPIC FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
SO WE'LL BE KICKING THAT OFF HERE IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO, WE'LL HAVE A SERIES OF PUBLIC MEETINGS THAT YOU ALL CAN ATTEND AS INDIVIDUALS AND THEN ALSO AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE LANDMARK COMMISSION. 2036 SOUNDS LIKE A LONG TIME FROM NOW, BUT IT'S NOT. SO 2016 WASN'T THAT LONG AGO IN MY MIND.
AND THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS THE GUIDING DOCUMENT FOR THE CITY.
AND IT IS WHAT ALL OF OUR POLICY DECISIONS SHOULD BE BASED ON.
SO IF THERE'S INFORMATION IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT ADDRESSES THESE SPECIFIC TOPICS, THEN THAT WOULD BE GOOD SUPPORT FOR THE NEGOTIATIONS THAT WOULD COME UP AT THE TIME FOR THE NEXT FRANCHISE AGREEMENT.
I KNOW THAT CITY STAFF DOES A LOT. I'M NOT TRYING TO DIMINISH ANYTHING AS WELL.
SO I'LL RESPECT TO EVERYBODY. I JUST WANTED TO FACILITATE AN OPEN DISCUSSION.
SO. LIKE I SAID, IT WAS AN EXCELLENT PRESENTATION.
SO YEAH. YEAH, I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA. I STILL THINK IT NEEDS TO BE WRITTEN DOWN SOMEWHERE.
HOW DO WE DO THAT? LIKE MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO SOMETHING? I THINK THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WOULD BE THE BEST PLACE TO KEEP IT BECAUSE THAT'S, LIKE I SAID,
[00:50:03]
IS THE BASIS FOR ALL POLICY DECISIONS. SO NO MATTER WHO'S IN THE MEETING OR WHATEVER DOING THE AGREEMENT, THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW WHAT'S IN THAT BOOK. YES.AND ARE HISTORIC DISTRICTS SPECIFICALLY CALLED OUT IN A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TYPICALLY? THERE IS AN ELEMENT THAT IS SPECIFIC TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
AND THEN ONE OF THE OVERARCHING TOPICS OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS GOING TO BE RESILIENCY.
AND SO THAT TIES IN REALLY WELL WITH THE PRESENTATION THAT YOU'VE GIVEN. OKAY.
WELL, THAT WAS FUN. NO, I THINK IT'S GREAT. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE A DISCUSSION.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN PLUGGING AWAY AT OUR WORK FOR A LONG TIME. WE HAVEN'T HAD A SPECIAL PROJECT. SO I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY GOOD TO AND ENERGIZING FOR THE COMMISSION TO THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS. AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE WANT TO WORD IT.
YOU KNOW, LIKE WHAT ALL YOU WERE GOING TO REQUIRE FOR THEM TO LOOK INTO OR DISCUSS WITH CENTERPOINT WHENEVER THEY'RE MAKING AGREEMENTS? YEAH. NOT JUST CENTERPOINT. ANYBODY. AND EXAMPLES FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE ALWAYS REALLY HELPFUL.
OKAY, I'M ON IT. I DON'T KNOW WHY I DIDN'T PRINT THAT OR ANYTHING.
IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? NO? OKAY. OUR NEXT MEETING IS APRIL 20TH.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING THEY'D LIKE TO PUT ON THE AGENDA? OKAY. TIME IS 4:51. THE MEETING'S ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.