[00:00:03] GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. WELL WE HAVE A FULL HOUSE TONIGHT SO GLAD TO SEE EVERYBODY HERE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THOSE THAT ARE IN THE AUDIENCE GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE. FOR THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING ON CHANNEL 16 AND WE'RE STREAMING THIS LIVE THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US AND COUNCIL NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN. WE SPENT THE MORNING TOGETHER IN OUR WORKSHOP AND GOT A LOT ACCOMPLISHED TODAY. I AM AND... MY HONOR TO CALL THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 23RD, TO ORDER. AND WE DO HAVE A QUORUM HERE, BUT LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE, NELLIE. MAYOR BROWN. PRESENT. MAYOR PRO TEM RON. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS. COUNCIL MEMBER FINKELY. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER PERETTO. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER ROLLINS. HERE. VERY GOOD. WE HAVE ALL OF OUR COUNSEL PRESENT AND SEATED, SO VERY GOOD. WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION THIS AFTERNOON BY THE REVEREND DR. STEPHEN BRADLEY FROM UTMB PASTORAL CARE DEPARTMENT. REVEREND BRADLEY. GOOD EVENING. LET US PRAY. ALMIGHTY GOD, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, WE COME BEFORE YOU HUMBLY, GIVING THANKS FOR YOUR STEADFAST LOVE AND FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON. THAT YOU HAVE ENTRUSTED TO OUR CARE WE THANK YOU FOR THE BLESSINGS OF COMMUNITY LABOR AND SHARED RESPONSIBILITY AND YOUR FAITHFULNESS IN EVERY SEASON WE ASK THAT YOU GRANT WISDOM FROM ABOVE TO THE MAYOR AND TO THE MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL THAT THEIR DELIBERATIONS MAY BE GUIDED BY TRUTH JUSTICE AND MERCY MAY THEY NOT SEEK THEIR OWN INTERESTS BUT THE WELFARE OF ALL WHOM THEY SERVE GRANT THEM DISCERNMENT IN DIFFICULT DECISIONS PATIENCE AND DISAGREEMENT AND COURAGE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT LORD BLESS THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY OUR FAMILIES OUR NEIGHBORHOODS OUR WORKERS AND VISITORS PROTECT THOSE WHO SERVE IN HARM'S WAY COMFORT THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING AND LEAD US TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE GIFTS THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN WE OFFER THIS PRAYER TRUSTING IN YOUR GUIDANCE AND PROVISION AND WE ASK ALL THESE THINGS IN YOUR NAME AMEN AMEN THANK YOU DR BRADLEY LET'S HAVE OUR PLEDGE PLEASE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE THERE ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST THAT ANY COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO DECLARE? HEARING NO REPLY ONE MIGHT DO SOME HOUSEKEEPING CHORES FOR THE AUDIENCE HERE FOR YOUR KNOWLEDGE FIRST OF ALL, IF YOU ARE HERE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE DISCOVERY SANDS PROJECT THAT THE PUD THAT IS ON THE WEST END THAT HAS BEEN MOVED TO MAY 28TH. IT IS NOT ON OUR AGENDA TONIGHT. NOW YOU'RE WELCOME TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS IF YOU WOULD LIKE, BUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOUR COMMENTS MORE APPROPRIATE FOR THE TIME, IT WOULD BE AT OUR MAY 28TH MEETING COMING UP. ALSO, FOR THOSE THAT ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT AND TO WATCH THE VOTE ON THE CONVEYANCE OF THE ROSENBERG PROPERTY. I'M GOING TO MOVE THIS UP TO FOLLOW OUR PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION. SO IT WILL COME IN RIGHT AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT. THAT ALLOWS YOU TO WATCH THE VOTE, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIT THROUGH THE ENTIRE MEETING TO WATCH THAT. OH, BUT IT'S SO MUCH FUN. GLAD TO HAVE YOU, THOUGH. IF YOU WANT TO STAY, THAT'S WELCOME TO DO THAT. [6. PRESENTATIONS/REPORTS OF COUNCIL, OFFICER BOARDS, AND CITY MANAGER] LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 6, PLEASE. ITEM 6, PRESENTATIONS, REPORTS OF COUNCIL, OFFICER BOARDS, AND CITY MANAGERS. PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.0415, THE CITY COUNCIL MAY REPORT ON ANY OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. I'D LIKE TO START, I HATE TO START THIS OFF ON SOMEWHAT OF A SOMBER NOTE, BUT ON APRIL 8TH, WE HAD A LEADER HERE IN GALVESTON PASS AWAY, VIC FERTITTA. I DIDN'T HAVE THE HONOR TO KNOW VIC WELL. I DID VISIT WITH HIM, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW HIM PERSONALLY AS SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE DID, AND I KNOW THEY WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS. MR. [00:05:02] FERTITTA WAS A FOUNDER OF THE KNIGHTS OF MOMUS. HE SERVED ON THE PARK BOARD, HAD A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES HERE ON THE ISLAND, AND FOR THOSE THAT KNEW HIM, MR. FERTITTA ALSO GAVE HIS ENTIRE SELF TO MAKING THIS ISLAND BETTER IN HIS MANY WAYS THAT HE DID THAT. SO ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, I'D LIKE TO EXTEND MY SYMPATHIES AND MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FERTITTA FAMILY. AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THEM FOR SHARING VICTOR FERTITTA WITH US OVER ALL THESE YEARS. ALEX? I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT MR. FERTITTA. HE WAS A ROLE MODEL OF MINE. I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH MY GRANDMOTHER, WAS REALLY CLOSE WITH MY GRANDFATHER. THEY BOTH SERVED ON THE PARK BOARD TOGETHER. THEY WERE GALVESTON GIANTS. MR. FERTITTA WAS LARGER THAN LIFE. AND IF ANYONE GOT TO KNOW HIM, I DON'T REALLY THINK THERE WAS ANYBODY THAT... HAD ANYTHING BAD TO SAY ABOUT VIC. HE WAS SUCH A HUGE, YOU KNOW, GRACIOUS PERSON AND EXUDED GALVESTON. AND I REALLY APPRECIATED THE WORDS THAT WE SPOKE TODAY. AND IF WE COULD JUST GIVE HIM A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND HE WILL BE MISSED. THANK YOU, ALEX. YES, MA'AM. I, TOO, WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING. MY CONDOLENCES CERTAINLY GO OUT TO THE FAMILY, SUCH A WONDERFUL FAMILY THAT HAVE DONE SO MUCH FOR THIS ISLAND. BUT I'M GOING TO SHARE A QUICK STORY, TOO. BUT I FIRST GOT TO MEET HIM, I GUESS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LATE 2011 OR 12, AND IT WAS A GROUP OF SENIOR. GALVESTONIANS, IT WAS WHEN I WAS RUNNING FOR COUNCIL THE FIRST TIME AND YOU WOULD THEY WOULD INVITE YOU TO A MEETING AT HOME CUT DONUTS TO BE INTERVIEWED OVER COFFEE AND IT WAS JUST SUCH A GREAT EXPERIENCE AND ONCE THEY WERE FINISHED THEY'RE LIKE GO AHEAD, YOU CAN LEAVE NOW. BUT I COULD, I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS EVACUATING FOR HURRICANE IKE, AND I DROVE PAST HOME CUT DONUTS ON STEWART, AND I'M LIKE, WHY ARE THERE ALL THESE CARS THERE? AND MY THOUGHT WAS, WELL, I GUESS THEY'RE GIVING AWAY DONUTS. LITTLE DID I KNOW IT WAS ALL THESE CITY FATHERS THAT WERE PLANNING FOR WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO. AFTER THE HURRICANE. BUT A GREAT MAN, A GREAT LOSS. WE LOST SO MANY GREAT MEN OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS, BUT IT WAS MY HONOR TO KNOW HIM AND HIS WIFE, JOY. AND I WILL SAY MANY PRAYERS FOR THEM TONIGHT. SO THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THAT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL, I'D CALL FOR ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS OR ANY EXPRESSIONS THAT COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO MAKE. YES, BOB. IT SAYS ON THE AGENDA, EXPRESSION OF THANKS AND GRATITUDE. THIS IS THE MAYOR'S LAST REGULAR MEETING, AND IN OUR WORKSHOP TODAY HE SAID THIS IS THE 160TH MEETING, I THINK. AND I SAID, MAN, YOU OUGHT TO WRITE A BOOK. AND HE SAID, NO, THAT WOULD MEAN I'D HAVE TO RELIVE ALL THESE MEETINGS ALL OVER AGAIN. SO HE'S NOT GOING TO DO THAT I DON'T THINK, BUT I WANTED TO THANK HIM. HE SET THE EXAMPLE I THINK FOR WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A MAYOR IN THIS TOWN. HE'S HELPED ME TREMENDOUSLY OVER THESE LAST TWO YEARS. I'VE LOOKED TO HIM FOR ADVICE ON HOW TO DO THIS JOB AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK HIM FOR THE JOB HE'S DONE. THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN A LABOR OF LOVE. I WILL MISS THIS IMMENSELY. MY WIFE HAS A LONG LIST OF THINGS FOR ME TO DO, SO I'LL BE CHECKING THOSE OFF ON THE LIST. I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, ON MAY 13TH, WE'LL HAVE OUR CANVASSING OF THE ELECTION THAT WILL HAPPEN MAY 2ND. THAT'S WHEN WE WILL INSTALL THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THOSE THAT WILL BE TERM LIMITED. IT IS MYSELF IS THE ONLY ONE, I THINK. I'LL BE LEAVING AT THAT POINT. I WOULD WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY HERE. IT'S BEEN A, PEOPLE ASK ME, WHAT IS THE FAVORITE THING THAT YOU HAVE THAT YOU REALLY LIKE ABOUT THE POSITION? AND IT'S VISITING WITH THE COMMUNITY, WORKING WITH THE CITIZENS HERE. EACH ONE OF YOU IS EXHIBITED BY BEING HERE TONIGHT. YOU HAVE AN INTEREST [00:10:02] IN THIS ISLAND. YOU WANT TO SEE IT BETTER. AND I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR. ALL THAT YOUR INPUT OVER THESE LAST TWELVE YEARS THAT HAVE GUIDED ME THANK YOU VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT AND MAYOR I JUST WANTED TO REMIND PEOPLE BECAUSE I MEAN WE HAVE A FREEDOM TO VOTE AND WE SHOULD NEVER TAKE THAT LIGHTLY FOR WHOMEVER YOU'RE VOTING FOR BUT EARLY VOTING RUNS TOMORROW FROM 8 A.M. TO 5 ON SATURDAY FROM 7 A.M. TO 7 P.M. ON SUNDAY FROM 1 P.M. TO 7 P.M. AND THEN 7 TO 7 ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY. AND ELECTION DAY IS THE SECOND, AND IT'S FROM 7 TO 7. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. YES. YES, MA'AM. AT WRIGHT CUNY PARK, HER GOAL, HER MISSION HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO DO SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR THE SEASONED SENIORS. AND SHE STARTED WITH BINGO EACH WEEK, AND THEN SHE MOVED TO BEING ABLE TO SERVE LUNCH. SO IF YOU ARE A SENIOR CITIZEN, YOU CAN GET LUNCH THERE, YOU CAN EVEN PICK IT UP TO GO. BUT HER THIRD MISSION WAS A FIELD TRIP FOR THE SENIORS. SO THEY TOOK THEIR FIRST FIELD TRIP ON YESTERDAY TO THE COUNTY RODEO. SO I'D LIKE TO SAY KUDOS TO SHEILA AND TO THE GROUP. ANY FURTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS, COUNSEL? YES, WE HAVE A PERSON WHO'S TURNED 100 YEARS OLD IN DISTRICT 1. OH MY GOSH. MR. J.D. MONROE. OKAY. AND HE DOES HAVE FAMILY HERE, SO WE'LL... VERY GOOD. I'LL CALL ON YOU WHEN WE DO OUR PROCLAMATIONS THEN, SHARON. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. I HAVE ONE MORE. YES, MA'AM. WEST GALVESTON PROPERTY OWNERS WILL HAVE THEIR MEETING ON SATURDAY AT... THE MARRIOTT COURTYARD AND IT WILL BE THE GENTLEMAN WHO RUNS THE IRWIN, RIGHT? I SAID HIS NAME. I'M BLANKING ON HIS NAME, WILL BE THE SPEAKER AT THE EVENT. VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS, COUNSEL? ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE TO OUR RECOGNITION OF INDIVIDUALS OR ORGANIZATIONS. WE FIRST HAVE THE CEDAR LAWN SUBDIVISION CENTENNIAL YEAR. THAT'S COUNCILMEMBER ALEX BERETTA. AGAIN. ALL RIGHT, I HAVE THIS. CITY OF GALVESTON PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS THE CEDAR LAWN SUBDIVISION IN GALVESTON WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1926 AND HAS BEEN A VALUED RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD FOR 100 YEARS, AND WHEREAS FOR GENERATIONS RESIDENTS OF CEDAR LAWN HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CHARACTER, HISTORY, AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT OF GALVESTON, AND WHEREAS THE YEAR 2026 MARKS THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF CEDAR LAWN, OFFERING AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE ITS HISTORY AND RECOGNIZE THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE HELPED SHAPE THE NEIGHBORHOOD. NOW, THEREFORE, WE THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON DO HEREBY PROCLAIM 2026 AS CEDAR LAWN SUBDIVISION CENTENNIAL YEAR. IN GALVESTON, I ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO JOIN IN CELEBRATING THIS HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD AND ITS LASTING CONTRIBUTORS TO OUR COMMUNITY. IN TESTIMONY, WHEREOF I WITNESSED MY HAND IN THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON THIS 23RD DAY OF APRIL, 2026, DR. CRAIG BROWN, MAYOR, JANELLE WILLIAMS, CITY SECRETARY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IF YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW THINGS, BUT YOU KNOW CEDAR LAWN ALSO HAS PRODUCED A LOT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR FOR GALVESTON THAT HAVE DONE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH MAYOR BROWN AND AND COUNCIL WE IT'S WE HAVE LIVED THERE 48 YEARS AND IT'S BEEN LIKE LIVING IN A PARK AND IT'S JUST BEEN VERY SPECIAL TO US AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO I CAN'T SAY THE NEXT 48, BUT ANYWAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS, [00:15:02] FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, LOUISE. NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK, COUNCILMEMBER ROLLINS. ALL RIGHT, CITY OF GALVESTON PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS ON AVERAGE 650 PEOPLE DIE EACH YEAR IN BOATING-RELATED ACCIDENTS IN THE U.S., 75% OF THESE FATALITIES CAUSED BY DROWNING, AND WHEREAS THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT 2025 STATISTICS INDICATE 178 BOATING INCIDENTS RESULTING IN 127 DEATHS AND OR INJURIES, AND WHEREAS THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE ACCIDENTS ARE CAUSED BY HUMAN ERROR OR POOR JUDGMENT AND NOT BY THE BOAT, EQUIPMENT OR ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AND WHEREAS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF BOATERS WHO LOSE THEIR LIVES BY DROWNING EACH YEAR WOULD BE ALIVE TODAY HAD THEY WORE THEIR LIFE JACKETS THEREFORE WE THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GALLISTON DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 16TH THROUGH MAY 23RD 2026 AS NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK IN THE CITY OF GALLISTON ENCOURAGE VOTERS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS DURING THIS BOATING SEASON TO KEEP NOT ONLY THEMSELVES BUT ALSO OTHER VOTERS SAFE. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, WITNESS MY HAND IN THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON THIS 23RD DAY OF APRIL 2026, SIGNED MAYOR DR. CRAIG BROWN AND JANELLE WILLIAMS, CITY SECRETARY. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR, COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY OF GALVESTON. THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE COAST GUARD AND BEING SUCH A GREAT PARTNER OF THE COAST GUARD AND THE COMMUNITY HERE. YOU KNOW, AS WE HAVE SUCH A BIG YEAR WITH THE INAUGURAL FLEET WEEK, WHICH JUST CONCLUDED YESTERDAY, AND GOING INTO OUR 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR COUNTRY THIS JULY, IT'S A BIG YEAR FOR EVERYONE. AND THANK YOU TO GALVESTON FOR BEING SUCH A BIG PARTNER AND SUPPORTER OF ALL THESE EVENTS. YOU KNOW, BUSY BOATING SEASON IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. WE JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY TO BE SAFE AND ENJOY YOURSELF, BUT BE SAFE. AND, YOU KNOW, DO THINGS LIKE WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKETS AND TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF WHEN YOU'RE OUT ON THE WATER. THE LAST THING I'D LIKE TO SAY IS THANK YOU, MAYOR BROWN. FAIR WINDS AND FOLLOWING SEAS AS YOU, YOU KNOW, SO THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. WE HAVE FAIR HOUSING MONTH, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, AND YOU CAN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO MR. MONROE AT THE SAME TIME, PLEASE? YES, MA'AM. THE CITY OF GALVESTON PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS APRIL MARKS THE 58TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PASSAGE OF THE FAIR HOUSING ACT, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION IN THE FINANCING, RENT, OR SALE OF ANY DWELLING BASED ON RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, DISABILITIES, OR FAMILY STATUS. IS THAT RIGHT? THE CITY OF GALVESTON HAS A GOAL OF PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL WHO DESIRE IT. AND WHEREAS THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE SOLIDIFIED ITS COMMITMENT TO FAIR HOUSING WITH THE TEXAS FAIR HOUSING ACT OF 1889, COMMITTING TO NON-DISCRIMINATION FOR APARTMENT RENTERS AND HOMEOWNERS, SECURE DECENT, SAFE, ACCESSIBLE, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS PART OF THE AMERICAN DREAM. AND WHERE ITS EFFORTS TO HELP CITIZENS AND COMMUNITY EMPLOYEES SECURE AFFORDABLE OWNERSHIP AND RENTAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES ARE LEGITIMATE AND NECESSARY ACTIVITIES OF BOTH GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AS WITNESSED BY MANY CITIZENS OF GALVESTON WHO HAVE BENEFITED [00:20:01] FROM LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS. THEREFORE, WE THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL AS FAIR HOUSING MONTH IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON. IN TESTIMONY WHERE I'VE WITNESSED MY HAND IN THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON THIS 23RD DAY OF APRIL, 2026, DR. CRAIG BROWN, MAYOR, JANELLE WILLIAMS, CITY SECRETARY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE'RE NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU MAYOR, THANK YOU COUNCIL. THANK YOU. ALRIGHTY, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROCLAMATION. VERY EXCITED. I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO LIVE 100 YEARS. MR. J. DEAN MONROE, BORN ON MARCH THE 3RD, 1926 IN MONROE, LOUISIANA, HAS REACHED THE REMARKABLE MILESTONE OF CELEBRATING HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY. THIS IS NOT HIM. ...TO GALVESTON, TEXAS, WHERE HE FEELS A LIFE ROOTED IN RESILIENCE, PURPOSE, AND COMMITMENT TO OTHERS. HIS JOURNEY REFLECTS A FULL CENTURY OF EXPERIENCES THAT PARALLEL THE GROWTH AND HISTORY OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON. MR. MONROE HONORABLY SERVED HIS COUNTRY AS A MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY, DEMONSTRATING COURAGE, DEDICATION, AND A STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO THE FREEDOMS WE ENJOY TODAY. AND FOLLOWING HIS MILITARY SERVICE, HE CONTRIBUTED TO THE RICH CULTURE AND CULINARY HERITAGE OF GALVESTON THROUGH HIS WORK AS A CHEF AT... ANYBODY KNOW? GOD O'S. CITY'S MOST HISTORIC AND BELOVED ESTABLISHMENT. AND WHEREAS MR. MONROE HAS LIVED A LIFE GROUNDED IN FAITH, AS A LIFETIME MEMBER OF THE HISTORIC WESLEY TABERNACLE CHURCH, WHERE HE HAS BEEN A SOURCE OF STRENGTH, FELLOWSHIP, AND SPIRITUAL COMMITMENT. AND IN GALVESTON, HE MARRIED THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE. WITH WHOM HE BUILT A DEVOTED FAMILY LIFE, LEAVING A LASTING LEGACY OF CARE, WISDOM, AND UNITY ACROSS GENERATIONS. THEREFORE, WE THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE MR. J.D. MONROE ON THE OCCASION OF HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY AND EXTEND OUR SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR HIS LIFETIME OF SERVICE, DEDICATION, AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY. IN TESTIMONY, WHERE I'VE WITNESSED MY HAND IN THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON THIS 23RD DAY OF APRIL OF 2026. DR. CRAIG BROWN, MAYOR. JANELLE WILLIAMS, CITY SECRETARY. AND THESE ARE THE CHILDREN OF MY WIFE. I NOW HAVE SAVED THE BEST FOR THE LAST. WE HAVE, I HAVE A PROCLAMATION HONORING MUNICIPAL CLERKS WEEK. AND AS THE CITY MAY KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WORK BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN HERE THAT YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW THAT THEY'RE THERE. AND. AND WORKING AND PUTTING IN EXTRA HOURS AND MAKING THIS CITY THE BEST IT CAN BE. OUR CITY CLERKS HERE MEET THAT NEED, AND THEY ARE AN EXAMPLE OF THOSE TYPES OF INDIVIDUALS. SO I WANT TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION, AND I WANT TO HONOR, FIRST OF ALL, THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE. MY OFFICE AS MAYOR IS IN THEIR AREA, AND I KIND OF, OVER THE YEARS, I FEEL LIKE THEY'RE PART [00:25:01] OF THE FAMILY. SO I WANT TO HONOR THEM AND THEN ALL THE CITY CLERKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY HERE. WE HAVE THEM ALL IN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS HERE THAT WORK DILIGENTLY TO REPRESENT THE BEST THEY CAN REPRESENT THE CITIZENS OF GALVESTON. WHEREAS THE OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL CLERK IS A TIME-HONORED AND ESSENTIAL PART OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, SERVING AS ONE OF THE OLDEST PUBLIC SERVICE ROLES AND A CORNERSTONE OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS. MUNICIPAL CLERKS PROVIDE CONTINUITY AND TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, ENSURING THAT RECORDS, ACTIONS, AND DECISIONS ARE ACCURATELY PRESERVED FOR THE PUBLIC. WHEREAS MUNICIPAL CLERKS SERVE AS THE PROFESSIONAL LINK BETWEEN CITIZENS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND AGENCIES AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. WHEREAS MUNICIPAL CLERKS ARE COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE, THROUGH ONGOING EDUCATION TRAINING AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO ENHANCE THE DEDICATION PROFESSIONALISM IN THE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS THEY MAKE TO THE COMMUNITIES THEREFORE WE THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 3RD THROUGH MAY 9TH AS MUNICIPAL CLERKS WEEK. IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON. CONGRATULATIONS. I HAVE PRESENTS FOR ALL THE MUNICIPAL CLERKS HERE, SO I'LL BE GETTING THOSE TO YOU, JANELLE, IF YOU COULD DISTRIBUTE THOSE. WILL DO, MAYOR. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. BEFORE THEY SAY SOMETHING, I WANT TO THANK THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE FOR Y'ALL'S PROFESSIONALISM, YOUR HONESTY AND INTEGRITY AND TRANSPARENCY, AND WITH ALL THE PEOPLE THAT DO CALL YOUR OFFICE, I'VE HEARD NOTHING BUT GLOWING REVIEWS FROM Y'ALL, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SECOND THAT. WE COULDN'T DO WHAT WE DO WITHOUT Y'ALL. YOU'RE FABULOUS. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. DID YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS, MAJINETTE? THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, FOR THIS THOUGHTFUL RECOGNITION ON BEHALF OF THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE. WE TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE WORK WE DO HERE AT THE CITY TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NELLIE, DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? SHE TOOK CARE OF EVERYTHING. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 6B, PLEASE. ITEM 6B, PRESIDENCY. PRESENT THE INVESTMENT REPORT FOR QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31ST, 2026 AS PART OF THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT. THIS WAS THE INVESTMENT REPORT WAS SENT THIS AFTERNOON BY THE CITY SECRETARY TO EACH COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT WE HAVE OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, SHEILA LADANI. SHEILA? GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THE INVESTMENT REPORT THAT YOU WERE MAILED THIS AFTERNOON, THE STAFF REPORT WAS IN THE AGENDA. IS FOR THE QUARTER ENDING MARCH 31ST AND IT WAS A GOOD QUARTER OF COURSE. IF YOU TURN TO PAGE 5 OF YOUR INVESTMENT REPORT YOU'LL SEE THAT FOR THE QUARTER ENDING MARCH 31ST THE TOTAL MARKET VALUE OF OUR INVESTMENTS TOTALED $243.8 MILLION DOLLARS AND THIS IS UP FROM THE PREVIOUS QUARTER BY ABOUT $32 MILLION DOLLARS THAT IS ALMOST ENTIRELY DUE TO PROPERTY TAX COLLECTIONS AS WE KNOW. MOST OF THOSE PROPERTY TAXES ARE COLLECTED IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY. THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX MAKES UP ABOUT $29 MILLION OF THE $243 MILLION PORTFOLIO. IF YOU TURN TO PAGE 6 OF YOUR REPORT, YOU'LL SEE THAT OF THE PORTFOLIO, ABOUT 70% OF IT IS IN OVERNIGHT INVESTMENTS, WHICH IS THE POOL FUNDS, AND THE REMAINING PORTIONS OF THE PORTFOLIO, ABOUT 30%, IS IN TREASURIES AND AGENCIES. AND OUR MATURITIES ARE LADDERED OUT THROUGH MARCH 2028, SO ABOUT TWO YEARS. YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THE WEIGHTED AVERAGE MATURITY IS ABOUT 3.8%, WHICH IS A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE 3.9% THAT WE WERE AT AT THE END OF THE PREVIOUS QUARTER, AND THAT'S JUST DUE TO WHAT INTEREST RATES ARE DOING RIGHT NOW. FINALLY, WE DID GAIN ABOUT $2.2 MILLION IN INTEREST INCOME IN THE QUARTER. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? ANY QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? SHEILA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE THAT. [00:30:01] LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 7, PLEASE. [7. COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS] ITEM 7, COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS. CLAIMS 26-018 THROUGH 26-22 ARE ON THE SCREEN. VERY GOOD. [8.A. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Designating The Property Located At 1813 24th Street, As A “Galveston Landmark”, Property Is Legally Described As Eanes Subdivision (2013), Lot 5, Acres 0.256, In The City And County Of Galveston, Texas; Requesting The Historic Preservation Officer Record The Property's Landmark Designation In The Official Public Records Of Real Property In Galveston County, The Tax Records Of The City Of Galveston And The Central Appraisal District, And The Official Zoning Maps Of The City Of Galveston, Texas; Planning Case Number 26P-012; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject. (C. Gorman)] LET'S MOVE TO THE ITEMS REQUIRING PUBLIC HEARINGS. ITEM 8A, PLEASE. ITEM 8A. CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AND ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, DESIGNATING THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1813 24TH STREET AS A GALVESTON LANDMARK. PROPERTY IS LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS EAMES SUBDIVISION, LOT 5, ACRE 0.256 IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS. REQUESTING THE HISTORIC... PRESERVATION OFFICER RECORD THE PROPERTY'S LANDMARK DESIGNATION IN THE OFFICIAL PUBLIC RECORDS OF REAL PROPERTY IN GALVESTON COUNTY. THE TAX RECORDS OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON AND THE CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT AND THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAPS OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS. PLANNING CASE NUMBER 26P-012 MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT. WE HAVE MS. CATHERINE GORMAN FROM THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT. CATHERINE. THANK YOU. THIS IS THE JAMES WALTER AND AGNES MAY ZEMPTER HOUSE. IS A RARE EXAMPLE OF A HOUSE THAT HAS REMAINED IN THE SAME FAMILY THAT BUILT IT FOUR GENERATIONS AGO THE PROPERTY DERIVES PRIMARY SIGNIFICANCE FROM ITS DIRECT ASSOCIATION WITH THE REBUILDING OF GALVESTON FOLLOWING THE NINETEEN HUNDRED STORM WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL EVENTS IN THE CITY'S HISTORY THE SEMTER HOUSE CONSTRUCTED BY JAMES SEMTER HIMSELF SERVED AS HIS FAMILY HOME THE RESIDENCE IS STRONGLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE LIFE AND WORK OF JAMES WALTER SEMTER WHO WAS A LOCALLY SIGNIFICANT BUILDER AND WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS TO GALVESTON'S DEVELOPMENT WERE SUBSTANTIAL AND LONG-LASTING LANDMARK COMMISSION, PLANNING COMMISSION, AND STAFF ARE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL. THANK YOU, CATHERINE. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. GORMAN, COUNSEL? IT IS 5.31 P.M. I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 8A. IS THE APPLICANT PRESENT? ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM? HEARING NO RESPONSE, I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 8A AT 5.32 P.M. BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL FOR ACTION. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. I'LL SECOND IT. WE ELECTRONICALLY, OKAY. YOU COULD ELECTRONICALLY MAKE YOUR MOTION, PLEASE, AND SECOND. VERY GOOD. AND WE'VE GOT THE MOTION BY COUNCILMAN FINKLEY. YEAH. THERE IT IS. THERE WE ARE. ALL RIGHT. SECONDED BY... THERE WE GO. SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN BROWN FOR JUST A SECOND. AND... SURE. WE'VE GOT THAT RECORDED. WE HAVE IT. ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS COUNCIL? I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT THAT THE FAMILY DID REACH OUT TO ME ON THIS AND I THINK AS CATHERINE SAID, THIS IS A VERY UNIQUE EXAMPLE OF THE FACT THAT IT HAS REMAINED IN THE FAMILY FOR A SIGNIFICANT PERIOD OF TIME. AND I REALLY APPRECIATED THEM REACHING OUT TO ME AND MAKING THAT COMMENT TO IT BECAUSE BEYOND ITS ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE. THE FACT THAT WE HAVE LONG-STANDING FAMILIES THAT HAVE INVESTED THEIR TIME AND ENERGY IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES THIS COMMUNITY GREAT. SO THANK YOU TO THE FAMILY. VERY GOOD. COUNCIL, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. THAT WAS THE EMAIL THEY SENT. THEY'RE OUT OF TOWN? OKAY. THEY PUT A LOT OF THOROUGHNESS IN THAT EMAIL. THEY DID, YEAH. PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES. THAT IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. [8.B. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Granting A Variance Pursuant To Section 4-1 “Sales Near Schools, Churches Or Hospitals” Of “The Code Of The City Of Galveston, 1982 As Amended” And In Accordance With Section 109.33(E) Of The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code; Regarding The Sale Of Alcoholic Beverages On Property Located At 2525 Jones Drive; Which Is Legally Described As “Abstract 121, 80 Assorted Lots (Airport), Trimble & Lindsey, Section 1, In The City And County Of Galveston Texas And Which Is Located Within Three Hundred Feet Of A School, Church, Or Hospital; Planning Case Number 26 Plm-00115; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject. (C. Gorman)] ITEM 8B, PLEASE. ITEM 8B, CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL AND ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, GRANTING A VARIANCE PURSUANT TO SECTION 4-1, SALES NEAR SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, OR HOSPITALS, OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, 1982 AS AMENDED, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 109.33E OF THE TEXAS ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CODE, REGARDING THE SALE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ON PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2525 JONES DRIVE, WHICH IS LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS ABSTRACT 12180 ASSORTED LOTS. TRIMBLE AND LINDSAY, SECTION 01, IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, AND WHICH IS LOCATED WITHIN 300 FEET OF A SCHOOL, CHURCH, OR HOSPITAL. PLANNING CASE NUMBER 26, PLM-00115, MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT. MS. GORMAN. THANK YOU. THE SUBJECT SITE IS ON THE GROUNDS OF THE INN AT THE WATERPARK HOTEL. THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING A NEW FULL-SERVICE RESTAURANT WITH ALCOHOL SALES. THE REQUESTED VARIANCE IS TO ALLOW THE SALE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES WITHIN 300 FEET OF THE SCHOOL. [00:35:01] THE PROPERTY LINE... THE MEASUREMENT REQUIREMENT SET FORTH BY THE TEXAS ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CODE DESCRIBED IN SECTION 109.33B MEASURES DISTANCE FROM SCHOOLS IN A STRAIGHT LINE FROM PROPERTY LINE TO PROPERTY LINE AND IN A DIRECT LINE ACROSS INTERSECTIONS. THE PROPERTY LINE OF THE SUBJECT SITE AND THE PROPERTY LINE OF THE SCHOOL TRACT DIRECTLY ABOUT EACH OTHER SO THE DISTANCE IS ZERO FEET. MEASURED IN A STRAIGHT LINE, THE BUILDINGS ARE APPROXIMATELY 553 FEET APART. AND MEASURED FROM DOOR TO DOOR, THE DISTANCE IS APPROXIMATELY 01,166 FEET. YOU CAN SEE IN OUR DISPLAYS ON THE SCREEN, THE END OF THE WATER PARK IS ON THE AIRPORT SIDE. THE AIRPORT SIDE IS A VERY LARGE PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT DOES DIRECTLY ABUT THE PROPERTY OF OPPIE SCHOOL, OPPIE ELEMENTARY. THAT CONCLUDES STAFF'S REPORT. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, CATHERINE. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. GORMAN? YES, BOB. CATHERINE, THIS MORNING IN OUR WORKSHOP... I ASKED THE QUESTION, HAD ANY PREVIOUS OPERATORS OF THIS ESTABLISHMENT SERVED BEER AND WINE OR HAD A LICENSE TO DO SO? DIDN'T FIND ANY RECORD OF ANY ALCOHOL VARIANCES AT THIS LOCATION. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MS. GORMAN? OKAY. IT'S 536 P.M. I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 8B. IS THE APPLICANT PRESENT? YES. COME FORWARD, PLEASE, SIR. HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING TODAY? FINE. THANKS FOR THE CONSIDERATION. SO THEN AT THE WATER PARK, I PURCHASED FROM THE MOODY FAMILY IN GALTEX BACK IN JULY OF 2025. IT IS A GROUND LEASE WITH THE CITY AND WE TOOK OVER THAT LEASE AT THE FIRST PART OF JULY OF LAST YEAR. IT HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD A RESTAURANT ON THE PROPERTY, SO IT'S GOT 131 ROOMS AS A HOTEL AND TWO BUILDINGS. AND THEN ON THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE PROPERTY, THERE IS A RESTAURANT ESTABLISHMENT. IT HAS PREVIOUSLY OPERATED AS A RESTAURANT. IT'S BEEN CLOSED FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND HAS BEEN CLOSED SINCE WE HAD PURCHASED THE PROPERTY. WE'VE TRIED TO START MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PROPERTY. WE'VE SPRUCED UP THE LANDSCAPING. WE'RE IMPERMANENT FOR NEW SIGNAGE, FIXING UP THE GOLF COURSE. AND AS PART OF THAT, WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO OPEN UP THE RESTAURANT AND REPLASTER AND REDO THE POOL AREA. MY UNDERSTANDING, AND THE QUESTION WAS JUST ASKED ABOUT PREVIOUS, I'VE SPOKEN WITH ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS. OF GALTEX CORPORATION VIC PEARSON AND JOHN ZENT AND THEY DID SAY THAT WHEN THEY WERE OPERATING THE HOTEL YEARS AGO THERE WAS ALCOHOL SERVED AT THE PROPERTY SO I KNOW I'VE TALKED TO SOME OF YOU GOT SOME OF YOU COUNCILMEN AND HAVE MADE THAT COMMENT THAT WAS I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SUPPORT FROM A CITY VARIANCE PERSPECTIVE BUT THAT'S THE INFORMATION THAT WAS COMMUNICATED FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER CERTAINLY WE'RE HERE TO PROTECT GISD IN THE SCHOOLS MY UNDERSTANDING IS PART OF THE PROCESS I HAVE VERIFIED THROUGH A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER AND DR. NABORS THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DID RECEIVE THE NOTICE. THEY ARE NOT OBJECTING TO THE SALE OF ALCOHOL ON THE PROPERTY, SO THEY'RE NOT OBJECTING TO THIS REQUEST. SO THE ENTITY IN WHICH THIS IS TRYING TO PROTECT IS NOT IN OBJECTION TO THE REQUEST. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PIECE OF PROPERTY, AS MS. GORMAN SAID, IT IS A LARGE TRACT OF PROPERTY. YOU HAVE MULTIPLE ALCOHOL. PERMITS ON THE PREMISE OF THIS PROPERTY BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A LARGE YOU HAD THE 10 CUP BAR WHICH HAD AN ALCOHOL PERMIT SCHLITTERBAHN HAS A BEER AND WINE PERMIT AND MOODY GARDENS HAS MULTIPLE PERMITS AND ALL OF THESE ESTABLISHMENTS ARE LOCATED ON THE SAME PIECE OF PROPERTY AS THE END AT THE WATER PARK AND SO I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE ONGOING BUSINESSES THAT ARE OUT THERE AND ARE OPERATING AT THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY THERE ARE THERE ARE INSTANCES AND THEY'RE CURRENTLY OPERATING WITH LIQUOR PERMITS. SO CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR A VARIANCE. WE APPRECIATE THE CONSIDERATION FOR IT AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. ANY QUESTIONS? YES, BOB. BO, WHAT ARE GOING TO BE THE HOURS OF THIS OPERATION? AND IS THIS JUST BEER AND WINE? YES, SIR. IT IS GOING TO BE BEER AND WINE. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A FULL LIQUOR PERMIT. AND IT'LL BE WE'RE HOPING THAT WE CAN START MID-MORNING WITH COFFEE AND WE'LL BE OUT BY EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE WEEKNIGHTS. NINE O'CLOCK ON THE WEEKEND. SO IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A LATE NIGHT ESTABLISHMENT. WE'RE NOT TRYING TO OPERATE AS A BAR. MY GOAL, I'VE GOT SOME, I HAD FOUR YOUNG GIRLS AND WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THINGS TO DO ON THE WEEKENDS. AND I'M HOPING WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF BRINGING BACK THE POOL AND THE RESTAURANT, THE PUTT-PUTT GOLF, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO TAG ON IN THE AREA THAT BURNED DOWN WHERE THE HOTEL HAD A FIRE SEVERAL YEARS AGO TO DO MOVIE NIGHTS AND S'MORES AND TO TRY TO MAKE IT A FAMILY-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT. VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? YES, MARY. I HAD A QUESTION. YOU SAID YOU PURCHASED IT, BUT YOU REALLY JUST ASSUMED THE EXISTING LEASE, RIGHT? I PAID THE MOODY'S FOR THEIR LEASE, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY. [00:40:02] BUT YOU GOT IT AT? THE OLD RATE, IT WASN'T REAPPRAISED. WE ASSUMED THE LEASE THAT WAS IN PLACE. AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS ANY, THERE WAS NO SPECIAL CONSIDERATION FOR THAT. THE LEASE ALLOWED FOR AN ASSIGNMENT. AND IT ACTUALLY HAS SOME LANGUAGE IN THAT ASSIGNMENT THAT SAYS THE CITY COULD NOT UNREASONABLY WITHHOLD AN ASSIGNMENT. SO WE WERE NOT PART OF THAT NEGOTIATION. WE JUST, I THINK THAT ORIGINAL LEASE WAS NEGOTIATED IN THE 80S OR 90S. I BELIEVE THE MOODY FAMILY EXTENDED IT IN THE EARLY 2000S. UH HELLO COME HERE SORRY ABOUT THAT UH SO YEAH WE WE ASSUME THE LEASE BASED UPON A PREVIOUSLY NEGOTIATED LEASE THAT WAS IN PLACE BUT WE HAVE HONORED THE TERMS THAT THE CITY AGREED TO WELL WAS WITHHELD FROM I WISH I THOUGHT THAT SINCE YOU SAID PURCHASE YEAH VERY GOOD ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YES SHARON IT'S REALLY JUST A COMMENT IF CATHERINE COULD EXPLAIN YOU GAVE ME A GOOD VISUAL PICTURE THIS MORNING WHEN YOU SAID HOW THE PROPERTIES JUST REALLY WOULD BUTT UP AGAINST EACH OTHER BUT THE ACTUAL SCHOOL BUILDING IS 500 FEET IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN THAT SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN HEAR IT SURE SO WHEN IT'S THE ALCOHOL BEVERAGE CODE TELLS CITIES HOW WE MEASURE THE DISTANCE THE 300 FEET FOR SCHOOLS THE MEASUREMENT IS FROM PROPERTY LINE TO PROPERTY LINE. THESE TWO PROPERTY LINES ABUT EACH OTHER, SO THE DISTANCE IS ZERO. THE BUILDINGS THEMSELVES ARE MORE THAN 500 FEET APART, SO THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE BUILDINGS AND A STRAIGHT LINE IS 553 FEET. ANOTHER MEASUREMENT FOR CHURCHES IS THE DOOR-TO-DOOR THAT WE HEAR ABOUT, AND THAT DOOR-TO-DOOR MEASUREMENT IS 01,166 FEET. SO THERE IS SOME DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TWO PROPERTIES. RIGHT, WHICH GAVE ME A GOOD PICTURE. AND THEN THERE ARE ALSO THINGS LIKE SLUTABON, MOODY, TEN CUP. I THOUGHT IT WAS A FOURTH ONE, WHO ALSO SERVE BEER AND ALCOHOL. YES, THERE ARE OTHER EXAMPLES OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE PERMITS ON THE AIRPORT SITE. OKAY. ALL RIGHTY. THANK YOU, SHARON. AND ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT COUNCIL? BO, THANK YOU. WE MAY CALL YOU BACK. YES, SIR. ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM HEARING NO RESPONSE IT IS 542 P.M. I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM I'M GOING TO MOVE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE ITEM 8 B AS OUTLINED IN OUR AGENDA HERE WE HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BOB BROWN. LET'S NOW OPEN DISCUSSION. PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE. THAT IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. VERY GOOD. [9. PUBLIC COMMENT] THANK YOU. LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 9, PUBLIC COMMENT, IF WE COULD, PLEASE. ITEM 9, PUBLIC COMMENT, 9A, AGENDA ITEMS, AND 9B, NON-AGENDA ITEMS. AS YOU KNOW, THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE, THIS IS TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, AND DON'T BE ALARMED IF WE DON'T RESPOND TO YOU ON YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS. ACCORDING TO THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, WE CANNOT RESPOND TO YOU. BUT REST ASSURED, WE ARE TAKING NOTE OF ALL YOUR INPUT AS YOU TALK TO US HERE DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT TIME. I WOULD SAY ALSO I'M... TRY TO DO THIS EVERY TIME, BUT SOMETIMES, MOST OF THE TIME, I'M NOT REAL SUCCESSFUL. THERE ARE, I NOTICE SOME OF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE SAME SUBJECT. IF YOU FELT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE SPEAK FOR YOU, AND THEN YOU COULD STAND ALL THOSE THAT SUPPORT THAT IDEA, FEEL FREE TO DO THAT. IF YOU FELT, THOUGH, THAT YOU WANTED TO MAKE AN INDIVIDUAL COMMENT, YOU HAVE, OF COURSE, THE RIGHT TO DO THAT. SAYING THAT, I'M GOING TO START WITH MS. NANCY HYDE. NANCY? AND I WOULD SAY WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU. NANCY, PLEASE COME FORWARD. HOW ARE YOU? HELLO MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, [00:45:05] CITY STAFF, AND THE GALVESTON COMMUNITY. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT PROJECT ROSENBERG TODAY. I'M A GALVESTON NATIVE AND A PROUD K-12 GISD ALUM. I'M ALSO AN APPLIED POLITICAL ECONOMIST WITH A PHD IN LLM, AND I'VE BEEN RECENTLY APPOINTED AS A SENIOR FELLOW OF TUFTS UNIVERSITY TISCH COLLEGE OF CIVIC LIFE. I'VE SPENT THE LAST TWO DECADES FOCUSED ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND DEMOCRACY, SO I DON'T HAVE TIME TO EXPLAIN THAT. BUT IF I PUT IT DOWN IN ONE WAY, STRONG ECONOMIES AND STABLE SOCIETIES REQUIRE ROBUST DEMOCRACY, RULE OF LAW, AND GOOD GOVERNANCE JOINTLY. SO HOW DO YOU DO THAT? WELL, IT'S HAPPENING HERE TONIGHT. FIRST, DEMOCRACY. PROJECT ROSENBERG'S GRASSROOTS BIPARTISAN COALITION CAME TOGETHER IN 2023 AND FORMALIZED IN 2024. THIS IS A GROUP OF MANY PEOPLE INVESTING THEIR TIME, RESOURCES TO BRING ABOUT A PUBLIC GOOD, A PUBLIC GREEN SPACE. THIS PARK IS EXEMPLARY OF ROBUST LOCAL DEMOCRACY, AND NOT BECAUSE IT'S EASY AND PEOPLE AGREE AND IT COMES OUT FROM A BOARD MEETING OR SOMETHING REALLY STRAIGHTFORWARD. DEMOCRACY IS MESSY. IT'S THE REDISCOVERY OF PUBLIC POWER IN THE CONJUNCTION WITH LOVE. IT REQUIRES CONTESTATION AND IT REQUIRES CIVIC DISCOURSE, PEOPLE DISAGREEING BUT DOING SO CIVILLY. 300 PLUS CITIZEN DONORS AND COUNTLESS VOLUNTEER HOURS, PROJECT ROSENBERG IS EXEMPLARY OF LOCAL DEMOCRACY WORKING. THIS IS PUBLIC SERVICE. COMBINED AT FOUR ACRES, THIS WILL STILL BE THE SMALLEST OPEN NEIGHBORHOOD PARK IN GALVESTON. THIS IS ALSO IN WHAT IS DESIGNATED AS AN URBAN CORE, DENSELY BUILT ENVIRONMENT. THERE IS NOT ENOUGH PERMEABLE LAND IN THIS AREA BECAUSE OF THE DENSITY OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, AND SO IT IS SMART CIVIL ENGINEERING AND HAVE OPEN GREEN SPACE SO THAT FOR HURRICANE AND WATER, YOU KNOW, FLOODING. TRACK 7243 IS THE TRACK AT WHICH THE PARK IS ON. HAS A 2020 CENSUS LOW MEDIAN INCOME RATE OF 66%, NOT THE POOREST TRACK IN GALVESTON, BUT DEFINITELY HUD DESIGNATED AS A PRIORITY AREA. SO NOW, RULE OF LAW. PROJECT ROSENBERG HAS FOLLOWED TEXAS... PUBLIC ADMINISTRATIVE LAW TO THE LETTER. NOW YOU HAVE A ROBUST GROUP ENGAGING IN PUBLIC SERVICE, ACTING TRANSPARENTLY, LEGALLY, AND ACCOUNTABLY. SO I WOULD SAY THAT THE LAST COMPONENT THAT I DESCRIBED THAT STABLE SOCIETIES AND STRONG ECONOMIES NEED, ROBUST DEMOCRACY, RULE OF LAW, AND GOOD GOVERNANCE. SO THE LAST COMPONENT I ASK FOR YOU TONIGHT IS VOTING YES TODAY WITH GOOD GOVERNANCE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. MISS LISA COLLINS. LISA? MISS COLLINS? OH, OKAY. DEBORAH CAREY. DEBORAH? OH, IS THAT YOUR BODYGUARD THERE? THIS IS MY DAUGHTER. THIS IS MY DAUGHTER. AND HERE ON BEHALF OF KEN'S TOYING COMPANY. AND YOU NEED TO SPEAK. YES, SO, HI MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO RENEW MY, OH, SORRY, SHORT. TRYING TO REAPPLY TO GET MY CITY PERMIT BACK THROUGH, FOR THE WRECKER SERVICE. AND THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE IS TELLING ME THAT THEY DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER IF I COULD REAPPLY OR NOT. LET ME SEE. THEY'RE SAYING THAT I WOULDN'T LET THEM INSPECT MY RECORDS, BUT ON THE DAY THAT THEY WANTED TO COME IN AND INSPECT MY FILES, I WAS AT THE ER WITH MY DAUGHTER. SO THEY REVOKED MY TOWING PERMIT. SO I WOULD LIKE TO REAPPLY, BUT THEY'RE NOT GIVING ME AN ANSWER ON ACCEPTING MY APPLICATION. SO I WANTED TO BRING IT IN FRONT OF Y'ALL. AND ALSO I DID AN APPEAL AND THEY DENIED BOTH OF THEM. ON MY SECOND APPEAL, THERE'S CHAPTERS OF THE ORDINANCE THAT, CHAPTERS AND THE SUB-CHAPTERS OF THE ORDINANCE, THEY'RE NOT EVEN IN THE ACTUAL ORDINANCE. IT'S LIKE EVERYTHING WAS JUST [00:50:01] THROWN TOGETHER IN THERE. SO I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS THAT AND SEE IF MAYBE WE COULD WORK ON GETTING MY PERMIT RENEWED OR APPLYING FOR A NEW ONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. AND CAN YOU LEAVE YOUR INFORMATION WITH THE CITY SECRETARY SO WE KNOW HOW TO GET IN CONTACT? NOW, THIS IS BEING CITY MANAGER HAS THAT INFORMATION. THANK YOU. JUSTIN TUCKER, JUSTIN. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS JUSTIN TUCKER. I'M HERE TONIGHT AS A CITIZEN OF GALVESTON. I ALSO HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING ON THE GALVESTON ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES. I WANTED TO SPEAK THIS EVENING BECAUSE IT GENUINELY WARMS MY HEART TO SEE THIS MOMENT BEFORE OUR CITY. TONIGHT REFLECTS WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN PEOPLE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY AND ARE WILLING TO WORK FOR SOMETHING LARGER THAN THEMSELVES. THE MEMBERS OF PROJECT ROSENBERG PRESENTED A VISION, ACCEPTED A DIFFICULT CHALLENGE, AND THEN FOLLOWED THROUGH ON THEIR COMMITMENT. THEY RAISED THE FUNDS NECESSARY TO MATCH THE HIGHEST BID AT $2.2 MILLION, COMPLETED DEMOLITION RESPONSIBILITIES, ADDRESSED ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS, REMOVED DEBRIS, AND COVERED CARRYING COSTS ALONG THE WAY. THAT LEVEL OF COMMITMENT DESERVES SINCERE RECOGNITION AND GRATITUDE. THIS STORY ALSO CARRIES A SPECIAL HISTORICAL MEANING. MORE THAN A CENTURY AGO IN THE 19TH CENTURY, HENRY ROSENBERG HELPED SHAPE GALVESTON THROUGH EXTRAORDINARY GENEROSITY. HIS PHILANTHROPY REACHED ACROSS MANY PARTS OF CIVIC LIFE THAT STRENGTHENED THE FABRIC OF THIS HIGHLAND COMMUNITY. HIS GIVING WAS NOT LIMITED TO ONE CAUSE. IT WAS ROOTED IN A BELIEF THAT A STRONGER COMMUNITY BENEFITS EVERYONE. TONIGHT GIVES OUR CITY AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THAT LEGACY WHAT IS BEING DISCUSSED IS NOT SIMPLY THE ADDITION OF LAND BESIDE AN EXISTING PARK IN MANY WAYS IT IS THE RESTORATION OF A PUBLIC SPACE THAT WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED FOR COMMUNITY USE THERE IS SOMETHING MEANINGFUL ABOUT SEEING LAND THAT SERVED GENERATIONS IN ONE CHAPTER NOW RETURNS TO PUBLIC PURPOSE IN ANOTHER. THIS PROPERTY PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN EDUCATION, BEGINNING AROUND THE TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY, GENERATIONS OF GALVESTON CHILDREN LEARNED THERE, GREW THERE, AND BUILT MEMORIES THERE. THAT HISTORY MATTERS AND SHOULD BE HONORED. AS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP ON THE ISLAND, I KNOW FIRSTHAND THE VALUE OF OUTDOOR SPACES. PARKS AND OPEN PLACES GIVE CHILDREN ROOM TO EXPLORE, FAMILIES PLACES TO GATHER, AND NEIGHBORHOODS PLACES OF PRIDE. THOSE SPACES BECOME PART OF THE MEMORY OF GROWING UP HERE. COMMUNITIES EVOLVE, NEEDS CHANGE, BUT WHEN HISTORY, CIVIC SPIRIT, PHILANTHROPY, EDUCATION, AND PUBLIC BENEFIT CAN ALL MEET IN ONE MOMENT, THAT IS SOMETHING WORTH RECOGNIZING. TONIGHT, I SIMPLY WANT TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE. GRATITUDE TO THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US, GRATITUDE TO THOSE WHO STEP FORWARD NOW, AND GRATITUDE TO THOSE ENTRUSTED TO GUIDE THIS OPPORTUNITY FORWARD. THIS IS A CHANCE FOR ANOTHER GOOD CHAPTER IN THE STORY OF GALVESTON. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LYNN THOMPSON. LYNN, COME FORWARD, LYNN, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE. WE'D LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY. MY TOPIC HAS BEEN DELAYED UNTIL MAY 28TH, I THINK. SO I WAS GOING TO KEEP MY COMMENTS UNTIL THEN. ALL RIGHT. THIS IS ABOUT DISCOVERY SANDS AND WHAT'S HAPPENING NEXT DOOR TO JAMAICA BEACH, PERHAPS. SO I'LL WAIT IF IT'S ALL RIGHT. YES, MA'AM, THAT WOULD BE FINE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JONATHAN TROM. JONATHAN. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, CITY STAFF. I SUPPORT THE PROJECT ROSENBERG, THE CONVEYANCE OF THE FORMER ROSENBERG SCHOOL TO THE CITY. IT WILL REALLY BE A COMMUNITY PARK BY THE COMMUNITY. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE YES. [00:55:02] THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JONATHAN. SHANE MCKINNEY. SHANE? SO I REALIZE THAT THIS TOPIC IS DEFERRED, SO I'LL BE REDUNDANT, BUT I'VE GOT SOME VOICES WITH ME THAT I WON'T HAVE IN THE FUTURE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS SHANE MCKINNEY. I'M A WEST END RESIDENT. TODAY, I'M NOT HERE AS A CANDIDATE. I'M HERE AS A VOICE OF THIS COMMUNITY. A VOICE FOR THE NEIGHBORS WHO FEEL UNHEARD, A VOICE FOR REASONABLE GROWTH, AND A VOICE FOR PRESERVATION OVER IRREVERSIBLE LOSS. THE DISCOVERY SANDS PROPOSAL IS NOT JUST A DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSION. IT IS A DECISION ABOUT IDENTITY, ABOUT WHETHER WE PRIORITIZE SHORT-TERM GAIN OR LONG-TERM STEWARDSHIP. BECAUSE ONCE LAND LIKE THIS IS GONE, IT'S GONE. THIS IS NOT THEORETICAL. THIS AFFECTS REAL ECOSYSTEMS, REAL WILDLIFE, AND SOMETHING TRULY RARE TO OUR ISLAND, THE GHOST WOLVES. THE GHOST WOLVES ARE NOT FOLKLORE. THEY ARE A UNIQUE GENETIC POPULATION WITH TIES NEARLY EXTINCT TO THE RED WOLF. FOUND RIGHT HERE ON THIS ISLAND. THEY ARE PART OF WHAT MAKES THIS PLACE SPECIAL. THEY CANNOT ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES, BUT WE CAN. ACROSS COMMUNITY DISCUSSIONS, SOCIAL PLATFORMS, AND PUBLIC MEETINGS, OPPOSITION TO DISCOVERY SANDS HAS BEEN CONSISTENT AND GROWING. RESIDENTS ARE ASKING FOR BALANCE, FOR TRANSPARENCY, AND FOR PRESERVATION TO BE TREATED AS PRIORITY, NOT AS AN OBSTACLE. THIS IS ABOUT LISTENING. THE WEST END IS NOT ANTI-GROWTH. WE ARE PRO-RESPONSIBLE GROWTH. GROWTH THAT RESPECTS THE INFRASTRUCTURE. GROWTH THAT PROTECTS NATURAL ASSETS. GROWTH THAT DOES NOT ERASE THE VERY CHARACTER PEOPLE COME HERE TO EXPERIENCE. AND THIS IS WHERE IT BECOMES PERSONAL FOR ME. I BROUGHT MY GRANDCHILDREN HERE TODAY, VIOLET AND SAGE, BECAUSE THIS DECISION IS NOT JUST ABOUT US, IT'S ABOUT THEM. SAGE WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS. I'M MORE THAN I WANT MY KIDS TO SEE GIRLS. AND ALSO, PLEASE HELP SO THEY DON'T GET EXTINCT. THAT'S IT. THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT. THIS IS GENERATIONAL. WE ARE TEMPORARY STEWARDS OF THIS ISLAND. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER WE PASS IT TOWARDS FOR THE BETTER OR DIMINISHED. SO TODAY I ASK YOU TO TRULY HEAR THE WEST END, TO WEIGH PRESERVATION AS HEAVILY AS DEVELOPMENT, TO PROTECT WHAT CANNOT BE REPLACED, AND TO ENSURE THESE DECISIONS MADE IN THIS ROOM REFLECT THE WILL OF THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST THE OPPORTUNITY OF THE MOMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, SHANE. SANDRA BERRY, SANDRA. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CONGRATULATIONS MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THOSE OF US WHO HAVE WORKED ON PROJECT ROSENBERG ARE EXCITED TO BE HERE TONIGHT WHEN BOB BROWN OFFICIALLY PRESENTS THE ROSENBERG SCHOOL PROPERTY TRANSFER TO THE CITY. BOB HAS BEEN CLOSELY INVOLVED IN THIS EFFORT FROM THE BEGINNING AND ALONG WITH JOE JAWORSKI IS INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING US TO THIS POINT. POINT TODAY. THIS PROPERTY, ORIGINALLY DONATED TO THE CITY OF GALVESTON BY HENRY ROSENBERG OVER A CENTURY AGO, HAS CONSISTENTLY SERVED THE COMMUNITY AS A PARK OR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND HAS NEVER BEEN PART OF THE TAX ROLLS. THANK YOU, BOB BROWN AND JOE JAWORSKI, FOR YOUR DEDICATION IN HELPING BRING THIS PROJECT TO FRUITION. ALSO, I ATTENDED MY FIRST COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING THIS MORNING. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT FOR RESIDENTS TO BE TRULY INFORMED, IT IS IMPORTANT TO ATTEND CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS. THEY ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. EVERYONE IS INVITED. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR CITY, GO TO THE COUNCIL WORKSHOPS AND COME TO THE MEETINGS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALLISON POSTON. HOW ARE YOU, ALLISON? GREAT, HOW ARE YOU? I'M GOOD. ANOTHER SHORTY HERE. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH, [01:00:01] COUNCIL AND MR. MAYOR. I AM ALLISON POSTON. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE EASTON HISTORICAL DISTRICT ASSOCIATION, AND I'M HERE AGAIN TO DISCUSS THE LAND WHERE THE FORMER ROSENBERG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STOOD, BECAUSE I WANT TO POINT OUT SOMETHING SO REMARKABLE, AND SOME COULD SAY MIRACULOUS, THAT HAS HAPPENED HERE ON OUR ISLAND, BECAUSE AS MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU. YOU ALL SHOULD BE SO PROUD OF YOUR COMMUNITY AND WHAT IT STANDS FOR IN THE VISION OF WHAT THEY WANT GALVESTON TO BECOME. A YEAR AGO A BUNCH OF RAGTAG NEIGHBORS WHO COME FROM ALL SOCIO-ECONOMIC LEVELS ACTUALLY AGREED ON SOMETHING. YES, IN THESE CRAZY TIMES THEY ALL HAD A SHARED PASSION FOR WANTING A LITTLE STRIP OF LAND THAT HOUSED AN OLD SCHOOL TO BECOME A PARK FOR ALL OF GALVESTON. SO DESPITE THE ODDS THEY GOT TOGETHER AND PRINTED FLYERS AND SIGNS AND WROTE OP-EDS IN THE PAPER WALKED THE STREETS, SHARED WITH JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY THEY KNEW HOW IMPORTANT THIS LAND WAS TO THEM AND HOW EVERYBODY COULD BENEFIT FROM THIS BECOMING A PARK. AND THEY DONATED, SOME AS LITTLE AS $5 AND SOME MUCH MORE, BECAUSE THEY KNEW IT WAS IMPORTANT. THEY GOT THEIR FRIENDS, FAMILIES, AND COLLEAGUES FROM ALL OVER THE CITY, COUNTY, STATE, AND COUNTRY TO DONATE, INSPIRED BY WHAT THIS LITTLE STRIP OF LAND COULD BECOME, AND THEY RAISED THE MONEY. WE PULLED IT OFF. DESPITE NAYSAYERS AND FOLKS THAT WANTED TO MAKE THIS A DEBATE ABOUT CLASS WARFARE OR DEVELOPMENT, THEY HELD STEADY AND HANDED A CHECK TO THE SKOLL DISTRICT FOR $2.2 MILLION. AND I DON'T WANT TO DIMINISH THIS AS A LITTLE PATCH OF LAND, THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S A WASTE OR EXCLUSIVE. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A BURDEN FOR THIS CITY. QUITE THE CONTRARY. THIS GREEN SPACE AND PARK COULD BE SOMETHING AMAZING WITH A LITTLE INVESTMENT. IN FACT, I'M GOING TO CHALLENGE ALL OF US IN THE EAST END AS WELL AS THE CITY TO GET CREATIVE. IT COULD BE A PEACEFUL GREEN SPACE THAT FALLS IN LINE WITH UTMB'S BLUE ZONE INITIATIVES. IT COULD BE A SIMPLE GAZEBO WHERE YOU CAN NOW HOST WEDDINGS AND EVENTS AND CONCERTS, WHICH ACTUALLY CAN BE TRUE REVENUE FOR THE CITY. AND SO NOW IT COMES TO YOU, THIS GIFT, A GIFT THAT'S SOMETHING MOST CITY COUNCILS AROUND THE WORLD WOULD BEG FOR, A TOTALLY FREE, NO STRINGS ATTACHED, PIECE OF GREEN SPACE FOR ALL OF YOUR CITIZENS. VOTING TO ACCEPT THIS LAND IS A REALLY SMALL THING YOU CAN DO THAT WILL MEAN SO MUCH. SO MUCH TO SO MANY OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND YOUR VOTERS. AND LET'S BE HONEST, IT'S A STORY WHERE YOU GUYS ARE THE HEROES. IT'S A STORY THAT CAN AND SHOULD BE A MODEL FOR AUSTIN AND EVEN D.C. THAT SHOWS HOW PRIVATE CITIZENS WHO ARE INVESTED IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD CAN CREATE SOMETHING MAGICAL WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. BOBBY KENNEDY. BOBBY. OKAY, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS, AND CITY MANAGER. MY NAME IS BOBBY KENNEDY. I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE ON APRIL 12, 2026, MY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS WERE VIOLATED BY A MEMBER OF THE GALVESTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. ON THAT NIGHT, SERGEANT POMPER RELEASED PROTECTED PERSONAL INFORMATION, SPECIFICALLY MY NAME AS THE IDENTITY OF A COMPLAINING CALLER, DIRECTLY TO AN AGITATED CROWD OF TEENAGE... PROM ATTENDEES AND A FIRST AMENDMENT AUDITOR WHO WAS LIVE STREAMING THE ENTIRE ENCOUNTER. THIS INFORMATION IS NOT LEGALLY RELEASABLE AT THE SCENE. IT REQUIRES A FORMAL FOUR-YEAR REQUEST AND A STATUTORY WAITING PERIOD. INSTEAD, IT WAS HANDED OUT CASUALLY IN PUBLIC IN THE MIDDLE OF A VOLATILE SITUATION. AS A RESULT, THE LIVE STREAMER THEN POINTED OUT MY HOME TO THE CROWD AND TO HIS ONLINE AUDIENCE, EXPOSING ME TO RETALIATION, HARASSMENT, AND ONGOING FEAR FOR MY SAFETY. MY PRIVACY WAS VIOLATED, MY DUE PROCESS RIGHTS UNDER THE 14TH AMENDMENT WERE VIOLATED, AND THE CITY'S OWN POLICIES WERE IGNORED. I WANT TO BE CLEAR. THIS WAS NOT A MISUNDERSTANDING. THIS WAS NOT A MINOR MISTAKE. THIS WAS NEGLIGENT RELEASE OF PROTECTED INFORMATION BY A CITY EMPLOYEE ACTING UNDER THE COLOR OF LAW. I HAVE SUBMITTED A FORMAL LETTER OF INTENT TO SUE TO THE CITY MANAGER. I'M ASKING THE CITY TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO REVIEW ITS POLICIES, TO RETRAIN ITS OFFICERS. AND TO ENSURE THAT NO OTHER RESIDENT HAS THEIR IDENTITY EXPOSED IN THIS RECKLESS MANNER. I'M ALSO REQUESTING FULL TRANSPARENCY. ALL BODY CAM FOOTAGE, DISPATCH LOGS, INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS REPORTS RELATED TO THIS INCIDENT MUST BE PRESERVED AND PRODUCED. I'M NOT HERE TO ATTACK THE POLICE. I'M HERE BECAUSE THE CITY FAILED TO PROTECT ME AND I REFUSE TO LET THIS BE SWEPT ASIDE AS ROUTINE. NO RESIDENT SHOULD FEAR RETALIATION SIMPLY FOR CALLING THE POLICE. TO PROTECT THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. OKAY? I'VE SENT, I'VE SENT, I KNOW YOU'VE SEEN THE EMAILS AND THE VIDEOS. OKAY? IT'S REAL. IT CAN BE, IT'S REAL AS CAN BE. FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE, ANYTIME SOMEBODY WANTS TO JOIN A GANG OR ONE OF THESE, [01:05:01] TAKE THE SYNDICATE OR ONE OF THESE HERE MAJOR CRIME ORGANIZATIONS AND THEY WANT TO BE INITIATED, GUESS WHO THE TARGET WITH THEIR BACK IS THAT'S BRANDED A SNITCH NOW BY YOUR POLICE SERGEANT. SIMPLY BECAUSE I CALLED TO TELL THEM TO BE ON HIGH ALERT BECAUSE THERE WAS A MAJOR PARTY HAPPENING THERE JUST IN CASE. THEY TOOK IT UPON THEMSELVES TO DO THE PROACTIVE POLICING. I DIDN'T ASK FOR A POLICE RESPONSE, BUT THEY HAVE, IN FACT, PLACED ME IN DANGER FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE, AS LONG AS I LIVE WHERE I LIVE. AND WITH THAT, HAVE YOU ALL A GREAT DAY. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE, MR. MAYOR. YOU'RE WELCOME, BOBBY. THANK YOU. JOE JAWORSKI, JOE. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M JOE JAWORSKI, GALVESTON RESIDENT, 1028 WINNIE, REPRESENTING PROJECT ROSENBERG, AND WE ARE RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING YOUR AFFIRMATIVE VOTE FOR ACTION ITEM 12B, ACCEPT CONVEYANCE OF THE SITE KNOWN AS FORMER ROSENBERG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FROM GISD FOR USE AS A CITY PARK. WOULD EVERYONE PRESENT WHO'S ASKING COUNCIL TO ACCEPT THE CONVEYANCE FOR A CITY PARK, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THANK YOU SO MUCH. HERE WE GO. MAYOR, PROJECT ROSENBERG IS A VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION OF CONCERNED GALVESTONIANS WHO BELIEVE IN GREEN PARK SPACE, WHO BELIEVE IN NEIGHBORHOOD RIGHTS, AND WHO BELIEVE IN ACCOUNTABILITY. WE'VE PARTNERED WITH GISD, WITH CITY HALL, BETTER PARKS FOR GALVESTON, AND OVER 300 DONORS, INDIVIDUAL DONORS, TO RAISE $2.2 MILLION PLUS. $50,000 IN CARRYING COSTS TO DONATE TO GISD IN EXCHANGE FOR ITS CONVEYANCE OF SURPLUS LAND TO THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS FOR USE AS A CITY PARK AUTHORIZED BY THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE. WE RESPECT THE CONDITIONS THIS COUNCIL PLACED AND ORDERED LAST YEAR. WE MADE THEM OUR MISSION AND PROJECT ROSENBERG HAS MET OR EXCEEDED THEM. WE HIRED THE ENVIRONMENTAL FIRM RECOMMENDED BY THE CITY TO TEST THE SOIL. WE HIRED GISD-APPROVED CONTRACTORS TO SURVEY AND DEBATE ASBESTOS AT THE ROSENBERG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUILDING. WE HIRED GRANT MCKAY, A RESPECTED DEMOLITION FIRM WHO HAS ALSO WORKED THIS YEAR FOR GISD AND THE BRYAN MUSEUM. AND WE HIRED CONTRACTORS TO REMOVE OVER 700 TRUCKLOADS OF FOUNDATION SAND, INSTALL PERMANENT IRRIGATION COVERING THE TWO-ACRE SITE, APPLY HYDROSEEDING, AND INSTALL SIDEWALK, CURB, AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS. THE TOTAL COST, IN ADDITION TO THE MONEY WE'VE PAID TO GISD, IS OVER $400,000. PROJECT ROSENBERG IS GRATEFUL FOR THE WIDE COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND COOPERATION THAT'S FUNDED, GUIDED, AND CHEERED OUR VISION THROUGH TODAY. AND NOW, THE ACCEPTANCE OF THIS CONVEYANCE IS IN YOUR CAPABLE HANDS. IF THE CITY WANTS OUR HELP ONCE THIS LAND BECOMES GALVESTON'S NEXT OFFICIAL CITY PARK, WE STAND READY TO ASSIST. YOUR AFFIRMATIVE VOTE TODAY RESOLVES ROSENBERG ELEMENTARY'S CLOSURE. YOU'LL CREATE MORE GREEN SPACE IN A DENSE NEIGHBORHOOD OF HOMES, AS RECOMMENDED BY THE CITY'S PARKS AND OPEN SPACES MASTER PLAN. AND YOUR AFFIRMATIVE VOTE IS AN EXAMPLE, ANOTHER GALVESTON FIRST. THAT TEXAS COMMUNITIES WILL ADOPT AS OTHER SCHOOLS CLOSE ELSEWHERE. THIS IS A WIN FOR GISD AND FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, FOR GALVESTON FAMILIES, FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE. OUR COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER TO DEAL WITH THE CLOSING OF A STORIED PUBLIC INSTITUTION, A SAD DAY FOR SURE, BUT WE CREATED SOMETHING POSITIVE AND NATURAL FOR ALL TO ENJOY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU, MAYOR. APPRECIATE IT. ARE THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE? YES, MA'AM. COME FORWARD, PLEASE, AND IDENTIFY YOURSELF IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL. I'M CATHERINE GALINDO, 1114 POST OFFICE, AND IT'S VERY HARD TO FOLLOW THAT UP, BUT I JUST WANTED TO CHIME IN. ONE MORE IN FAVOR OF PROJECT ROSENBERG AND IN GRATITUDE OF IT AS WELL. AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, [01:10:01] I AM MOTHER TO THREE CHILDREN AND WHO ARE CURRENTLY ENJOYING GREEN SPACES AS WE SPEAK. ONE IS AT A BIRTHDAY DINNER AT THE SPOT, WHICH IS KIND OF, IT'S GOT THE GREEN SPACE, GREEN. GREEN SPACE RIGHT ONE IS AT BASEBALL PRACTICE OR GAME AND AND THE OTHER IS PLAYING ON THE PLAYGROUND ADJACENT TO IT ONE OF THE PRIMARY REASONS WE CHOSE OUR HOUSE ON POST OFFICE STREET THIS PAST YEAR WAS BECAUSE OF ITS PROXIMITY TO THE PARK AND THE PROJECT ROSENBERG SITE WE LIVE RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FROM IT OUR CHILDREN ARE YOUNG IT IS ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE PARK AREAS TO VISIT AND SO I, WHEN WE MOVED THERE, THAT WAS. WE WERE LOOKING FOR A HOUSE AND THAT WAS THE SELLING POINT WAS THAT WE WERE RIGHT THERE. THEY LOVE TO RIDE THEIR BIKES. THEY'RE FINALLY GETTING GOOD AT THAT. THEY HAVE ROLLERBLADES, THEY HAVE ROLLER SKATES, THEY HAVE SKATEBOARDS, THEY HAVE ALL THE THINGS. AND AS YOU KNOW, WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE GOOD SIDEWALKS CONNECTING EVERYWHERE. SO IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE COULD GET A CONNECTING SIDEWALK FROM, FROM MY CORNER TO THE PARK'S CORNER, JUST SIDE NOTE THERE, BUT THEN WITH... PROJECT ROSENBERG AND THAT SITE, IT WOULD BE LOVELY THAT THEN THEY COULD CONTINUE THEIR BIKE RIDE IN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL AND SAFE SPACE. AND I APPRECIATE THAT. AND THANK YOU, EVERYBODY WHO SPOKE SUCH ELOQUENCE. MS. GALINDO? YES, SIR. YES. I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM. THANK YOU FOR THAT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. RAYMOND, RAYMOND ARCE. RAYMOND? I TAKE THE ENTIRETY OF THREE MINUTES. A DEAL'S A DEAL. LET'S SEE THIS THROUGH SO DISTRICT 3 CAN FINALLY TAKE A HUGE SIGH OF RELIEF. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. YOU'RE WELCOME. ANY OTHER COMMENTS [12.B. Consider For Approval A Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Galveston To Accept Conveyance Of The Site Known As The Former Rosenberg Elementary School From Galveston Independent School District Pursuant To Texas Local Government Code Section 272.001(L), For Use As A City Park; Directing City Management To Prepare And Execute The Necessary Documents To Perfect The Conveyance; Providing For Findings Of Fact And Providing For An Effective Date. (B. Brown/c. Brown)] ON THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION? VERY GOOD. WE ARE NOW GOING TO MOVE TO 12B, THE CONVEYANCE ITEM. COULD YOU READ THAT, PLEASE? ITEM 12B. CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON. TO ACCEPT CONVEYANCE OF THE SITE KNOWN AS THE FORMER ROSENBERG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FROM GALVESTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, PURSUANT TO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 272.001, FOR USE AS A CITY PARK DIRECTING CITY MANAGEMENT TO PREPARE AND EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS TO PERFECT THE CONVEYANCE, PROVIDING FOR FINDINGS OF FACT AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO APPROVE. VERY GOOD. WE HAVE A MOTION. FOR APPROVAL AND WE HAVE A SECOND FOR THAT. VERY GOOD. I'M GOING TO OPEN THIS UP TO DISCUSSION. BOB, YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR QUITE A WHILE. WELL, I THINK THIS IS A BIG MOMENT FOR A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS AUDIENCE AND I KNOW JOE ALREADY ASKED ONE TIME, BUT COULD EVERYBODY WHO'S HERE IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM PLEASE STAND? THIS IS REMARKABLE. I THINK IT KIND OF SHOWS WHAT A DEDICATED GROUP WE HAVE HERE AND HOW IMPORTANT THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE IS. THANK YOU. WERE WE SUPPOSED TO STAND? WE COULD. WE'LL LET YOU RAISE YOUR HAND IN A LITTLE BIT. I JUST HAVE A FEW WORDS I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING. SO TODAY IS THE CULMINATION OF AN IDEA THAT STARTED ALMOST THREE YEARS AGO. UPON LEARNING THAT GISD PLANNED TO CLOSE ROSENBERG SCHOOL, EAST END NEIGHBORS MOBILIZED AND SHOWED UP AT A MEETING OF THE GALVESTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES, ASKING THEM TO CHANGE THE ZONING OF ROSENBERG FROM U-N TO R-3, SAME AS THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD, OUT OF CONCERN OVER WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN TO THE PROPERTY. GISD AGREED TO DO SO, AND THIS CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THAT CHANGE OF ZONING. AT THE TIME, NOBODY KNEW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE PROPERTY. AND THAT... IS WHAT GALVANIZED THIS EAST END NEIGHBORHOOD TO MOBILIZE, TAKE ACTION, AND GET US TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE HERE TODAY. ROSENBERG SCHOOL AND THE ADJACENT ADDU PARK HAVE BEEN PART OF THE HISTORIC EAST END NEIGHBORHOOD SINCE THE 19TH CENTURY, THANKS TO GENEROUS DONATIONS FROM TWO OF GALVESTON'S MOST WELL-KNOWN PHILANTHROPIC FAMILIES, THE KEMPNERS AND THE ROSENBERGS. ADDU PARK WAS DONATED TO THE CITY BY FANNIE KEMPNER ADDU IN MEMORY OF HER HUSBAND. HENRY ROSENBERG DONATED THE FUNDS TO BUILD, ON CITY PARK LAND, A SCHOOL IN 1889 WHICH STOOD FOR 80 YEARS BEFORE BEING REPLACED BY THE 1960 SCHOOL. THE CITY HAD HELD THIS DEED TO THE PROPERTY SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1836 BY MICHELLE MENARD AND THE GALVESTON CITY COMPANY, WHO ENVISIONED THE PROPERTY AS A PARK. LATER, THE DEED WAS TURNED OVER TO GISD BY THE CITY TO BUILD THE ROSENBERG SCHOOLS, THE ONLY STRUCTURES EVER TO OCCUPY THIS SITE. THE SCHOOLS ARE NOW GONE. [01:15:04] THAT ERA IS OVER. THIS DEED WILL NOW RETURN TO THE CITY AND THE PROPERTY TO ITS ORIGINAL USE AS A PARK AND CONTINUE TO SERVE THE PUBLIC AS IT HAS FOR 190 YEARS. THIS PROPERTY HOLDS DEEP HISTORICAL MEANING FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF A TRADITION OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND PHILANTHROPY ON THE ISLAND. THE PROJECT ROSENBERG EFFORT CLEARLY HAS A RECORD OF SUPPORT FROM BOTH GISD AND THE CITY COUNCIL. IN ADDITION, TO JOINING GISD IN SUPPORTING THE CHANGE IN ZONING TO PROTECT THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD, THIS CITY COUNCIL HAS TWICE APPROVED SUPPORTING A GREEN SPACE PARK AT THE ROSENBERG SCHOOL SITE, ONCE IN A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR PROJECT ROSENBERG'S EFFORT, AND ANOTHER APPROVING TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF CONVEYANCE OF THE PROPERTY TO THE CITY. WE'RE HERE AT CITY COUNCIL TODAY. THE FOURTH AND HOPEFULLY FINAL TIME TO SEAL THIS DEAL. I BELIEVE THAT THE BEST RUN CITIES ARE THOSE WHERE CITIZENS ARE FULLY ENGAGED IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND IN THEIR GOVERNMENT. THIS PROJECT CLEARLY ILLUSTRATES THAT. THE EAST END NEIGHBORHOOD MOBILIZED AND ORGANIZED IN AN EXTRAORDINARY WAY, COMMUNICATING, COLLABORATING, AND ENGAGING TO EFFECT CHANGE. WE'VE SEEN THIS KIND OF DETERMINATION TIME AND AGAIN THROUGHOUT GALVESTON'S HISTORY FROM ITS RESIDENTS, MOSTLY AROUND RESPONSE TO DISASTER, BUT IT'S ALL DRIVEN FROM THE SAME DEEP PLACE, LOVE OF THIS ISLAND. COMING TOGETHER FOR A COMMON CAUSE TO BRING SOMETHING LASTING AND GOOD TO THE ISLAND, AND IN THIS CASE, ALSO PROVIDING WELL OVER $2 MILLION TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO HELP CARRY OUT ITS MISSION. I'M PROUD TO REPRESENT THIS DYNAMIC NEIGHBORHOOD AT CITY HALL, AND I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT PROJECT ROSENBERG THAT HAS RETURNED PROPERTY THAT WAS ONCE A CITY PARK BACKS TO ITS ORIGINAL PURPOSE FOR THE ISLAND. THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY I'VE BEEN OBVIOUSLY SPENDING A LOT OF TIME IN THAT AREA LATELY, AND I JUST SAY IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL TO SEE THE OPEN SPACE, AND IT IS SUCH A PLEASURE. AND ALSO A NUMBER OF YOU HAD EXPRESSED SOME CONCERNS THAT A... FUTURE COUNCIL MAY MAKE A CHANGE. SO I SPOKE WITH OUR ATTORNEY TODAY TO SEE AND HE BELIEVED, I WOULD ASSUME, THAT WE COULD ADD THE WORDS OF HISTORIC BACK IN SO THAT IT COULD NOT BE CHANGED IN THE FUTURE. ALEX? DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING, SIR? I'M WONDERING IF WE SAY, OH, SORRY, LET LYNN GO FIRST. YES, TREVOR. SHE DID COME BY. WE DISCUSSED THAT IT DOES INDICATE IN THE DEED IN WHICH IT WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE SCHOOL THAT IT WAS A PART, AND SO THAT LANGUAGE, WE WILL MAKE SURE IT MAKES IT INTO THE FINAL DEED. THANK YOU. YOU WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A FUTURE COUNCIL REVERSING IT. TREVOR, DON'T GO AWAY. TREVOR, DON'T GO AWAY. JOE AND TREVOR AND I SPOKE ABOUT THIS WHEN WE CRAFTED THIS RESOLUTION AND THIS APPENDIX TO THE RESOLUTION. AND THE FIRST THING WE DISCUSSED WAS THIS HAS TO, THE WORDS CONVEYED FOR CITY PARK HAS TO BE IN THE LANGUAGE OF THIS RESOLUTION. BECAUSE IF THIS IS A CITY PARK, THEN IT CAN NEVER BE ANYTHING ELSE WITHOUT A VOTE OF THE CITIZENS OF GALVESTON. SO REST ASSURED. THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE UP TO ANY CITY COUNCIL TO DO ANYTHING TO THIS PIECE OF LAND. IT'S GOING TO BE UP TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE BECAUSE THE WORDS CONVEY FOR A CITY PARK IS IN THIS RESOLUTION. DID I GET THAT RIGHT, TREVOR? YES, SIR. OKAY, THANKS. THAT IS CORRECT. THAT'S INITIALLY IN THIS DOCUMENT. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS WAS PROTECTED SO IT DOESN'T MOVE FORWARD AND THAT SOMEBODY ELSE COULD UNDO THIS. AT JUST THE WHIM OF THE CITY COUNCIL HERE. SO WE THINK WE ALL ARE ON BOARD WITH THAT. I CAN'T SPEAK FOR COUNCIL, BUT I THINK WE'RE ALL ON BOARD WITH THAT THOUGHT. YES, ALEX. WELL, ON THAT THOUGHT, I THINK IF A COUNCIL EVER PUTS IT OUT TO VOTE, THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE A BUNCH OF RECALLS COMING OUT TOO. AND IF WE VOTE NO TODAY, DO YOU ALL HAVE YOUR PITCHFORKS READY? SO I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR WORKING ON THIS AND THANK YOU TO THE I GUESS EVERYONE INVOLVED, ALL THE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE I PERSONALLY DIDN'T THINK Y'ALL COULD MAKE THE $2.2 MILLION. AND THERE'S ANOTHER ISSUE THAT [01:20:04] I HAVE WITH A COMMUNITY POOL, AND Y'ALL REALLY HAVE SHOWN WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A COMMUNITY, TO PULL RESOURCES TOGETHER AND MAKE IT HAPPEN. SO GIVE YOURSELVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR SHOWING US WHAT GOOD GOVERNANCE MEANS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY MANY TIME AT THAT PARK. ANY OTHER COMMENTS, DISCUSSION? I WANT TO MAKE ONE COMMENT. I WORK WITH A LOT OF GROUPS. THERE'S A LOT OF TIMES THAT TALK COMES OUT AND WE LOOK AT HOW WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT DOING SOMETHING. THIS GROUP STOOD UP, THEY TALKED ABOUT IT, THEY SET A PLAN, AND THEY HAD IT AND MADE IT AND MADE SURE THAT IT WAS SUCCESSFUL. I'M GOING TO SAY THAT I REALLY COMMEND YOU ON YOUR FOCUS ON THIS. THIS IS WHAT GOVERNANCE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS ABOUT, STANDING UP, GUIDING THE CITY, AND THEN YOU STEPPING UP AND MAKING THIS HAPPEN. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. VERY GOOD. PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES, PLEASE. SURPRISE, UNANIMOUSLY. VERY GOOD, LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 10A PLEASE. ITEM 10A. Y'ALL CAN RETURN THE PITCHFORKS. YOU WANT ME TO WAIT FOR THEM TO LEAVE? LET'S LET THEM CLEAR OUT. THAT WHAT? HE'S ALREADY TAUGHT. HE'S ALREADY TAUGHT. OH, OKAY. OH, OKAY. READY? YES, MA'AM. GO AHEAD. [10.A. Consider for Approval renewing an ordinance of the City of Galveston, Texas, Amending Chapter 26 "Parks and Recreation" of "The Code of the City of Galveston 1982, as amended," Article IV "Youth Services Standards of Care" and sections thereunder; adopting the Youth Services Standards of Care for 2026, thereby defining minimum standards of care by which the City of Galveston and its Recreation Department will operate the City's youth recreational programs; providing for an annual review and readoption date thereafter; making various finding and provisions related to the subject. (B. Sanderson)] ITEM 10A, CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL RENEWING AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, AMENDING CHAPTER 26, PARKS AND RECREATION. OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON 1982 AS AMENDED, ARTICLE 4, YOUTH SERVICES STANDARDS OF CARE, AND SECTIONS THEREUNDER, ADOPTING THE YOUTH SERVICES STANDARDS OF CARE FOR 2026, THEREBY DEFINING MINIMUM STANDARDS OF CARE. BY WHICH THE CITY OF GALVESTON AND ITS RECREATION DEPARTMENT WILL OPERATE THE CITY'S YOUTH RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS, PROVIDING FOR AN ANNUAL REVIEW AND RE-ADOPTION DATE THEREAFTER, MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT. VERY GOOD. BARBARA SANDERSON. HI. HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING THIS EVENING? THIS IS OUR YOUTH STANDARDS, YOUTH SERVICE STANDARDS OF CARE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO YEARLY, AND DONNA HELPS US UPDATE IT. AND WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY CHANGES THIS YEAR. THIS IS JUST TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE A RECREATION PROGRAM AND THAT WE HAVE TO PROVIDE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF STANDARD FOR OUR, YOU KNOW, THAT MEETS THE STATE LEVEL. SO THIS IS JUST SOMETHING WE DO. AND DONNA, YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD TO IT? YES. RIGHT. IT'S YEARLY. IT'S A YEARLY THING. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. SANDERSON? I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF 10A. I'M GOING TO SECOND. HE BEAT ME TO IT. PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES ON THIS. [11. CONSENT ITEMS] THAT IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 11, PLEASE. THANK YOU. ITEM 11, CONSENT ITEMS. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS SHALL BE CONSIDERED FOR ACTION AS A WHOLE UNLESS ONE OR MORE COUNCIL MEMBERS OBJECT. THE CITY MANAGER IS AUTHORIZED TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS UPON FINAL APPROVAL BY THE CITY ATTORNEY. CONSENT ITEMS 11A THROUGH 11DD ARE ON THE SCREEN. I'M GOING TO PULL 11K FOR PERSONAL, FOR INDIVIDUAL APPROVAL. IS THERE ANY OTHERS? [01:25:01] I WANT TO PULL 11J AND 11L AND... I THINK IT WAS T, AN 11T. YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE THANK YOUS? YEAH. OKAY. WE REALLY DON'T HAVE TO PULL THEM. WE COULD DO A THANK YOU AND THEN DO THEM ALL. THAT IS CORRECT. WE DON'T HAVE TO PULL THOSE. WE COULD JUST THANK THEM IN THE MOTION. SO DO YOU WANT ME TO START WITH J? WELL, LET'S GET, FIRST OF ALL, THE ITEMS THAT WE WANT INDIVIDUALLY. 11K HAS BEEN MENTIONED. J, K, L. THOSE WON'T BE INDIVIDUAL. IS THAT RIGHT, MARIE? WE'RE JUST, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A MOTION, I THINK. I KNOW, BUT YOU SAID WHICH ONES ARE WE GOING TO THANK? YES, YES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. BUT THIS IS FOR WHAT ITEM WOULD YOU LIKE TO INDIVIDUALLY APPROVE? I'M GOING TO SAY 11K AND ANYTHING ELSE. OKAY. I WOULD LIKE THIS, SO YOU'RE CONFUSING ME. ALL RIGHT. I WANT TO THANK ITEMS. YOU'RE RIGHT. SO I COULD JUST SPEAK ABOUT THAT WITHOUT PULLING THEM OUT. YES, MA'AM, YOU SURELY CAN, BY ALL MEANS. AND SO WE HAVE 11K. I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF 11A THROUGH 11DD EXCLUDING 11K. IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT? SECOND. SECOND, COUNCILMAN BROWN. NOW, MARIE, GO RIGHT AHEAD, PLEASE. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON A FEW OF THESE ITEMS. 11J, THAT WAS THE GENEROUS DONATION OF THE GALVESTON COMMUNITY POLICE FOUNDATION, WHICH I AM A FOUNDING MEMBER AND A BOARD MEMBER OF, AND IT WAS FOR ARMORED SWAT VESTS FOR OUR, THEY NEEDED SEVEN MORE TO HAVE ALL NEW VESTS FOR THE SWAT TEAM, AND THEN 11L, AGAIN PART OF THE GALVESTON POLICE COMMUNITY. POLICE FOUNDATION AND A VERY GENEROUS COUPLE DONATED A NEW HORSE TRAILER THAT WE WERE IN DESPERATE NEED OF. AND THEN 11T, I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO THANK MRS. BARBARA AND DOMINIC SASSER. FOR THEIR DONATION OF A MULE AS WELL AS A THOUSAND A MULE VEHICLE NOT A MULE BUT THE MULE VEHICLE AND A THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE MAINTENANCE SO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THE FOLKS FOR THOSE DONATIONS THANK YOU MARIE APPRECIATE THAT ALL RIGHT UH WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE FOR ITEMS 11A THROUGH 11DD. EXCLUDING 11 K. EXCUSE ME. OKAY. VERY GOOD. AND THAT WAS SECONDED BY BOB BROWN. WE HAD DONE THAT EARLIER. YEAH. YEAH. PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES [11.K. Consider For Approval A Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Approving An Interlocal Agreement With The Texas Department Of Transportation (“TxDOT”) Whereby The City Of Galveston Will Provide Galveston Police Officers For Law Enforcement And Traffic Control Operations On Ferry Road And At The Galveston Ferry Landing; Authorizing The City Manager To Sign The Interlocal Agreement; Directing The City Secretary To Send A Certified Copy Of This Resolution To The Texas Department Of Transportation; Providing For Findings Of Fact And Providing For An Effective Date. (D. Balli)] ON THAT. THAT IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. IF YOU COULD READ 11 K PLEASE MA'AM. 11 K CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS. APPROVING AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, WHEREBY THE CITY OF GALVESTON WILL PROVIDE GALVESTON POLICE OFFICERS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TRAFFIC CONTROL OPERATIONS ON THE FERRY ROAD AND AT THE GALVESTON FERRY LANDING, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, DIRECTING THE CITY SECRETARY TO SEND A CERTIFIED COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, PROVIDING FOR FINDINGS OF FACT AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION ON 11-K FOR APPROVAL WITH THE... FOLLOWING CHANGE IN THE MATERIAL THAT WAS PROVIDED TO COUNCIL IT MENTIONS THAT A VEHICLE UTILIZATION FEE OF $22.91 PER VEHICLE PER DAY AND IT SHOULD BE PER HOUR PER HOUR A VEHICLE UTILIZATION FEE OF $22.91 PER VEHICLE PER HOUR AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION WITH THAT AMENDMENT TO THE PARTICULAR DOCUMENT. I'LL SECOND. THIS WILL HAVE TO BE MANUAL, MANUAL VOTE. VERY GOOD. WE HAVE A MOTION, MAYOR BROWN, SECONDED BY MAYOR PRO TEM ROB, AND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. THAT IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I MEAN, WE GET A SPECIAL PASS TO GO ON THE FERRY NOW. [12.A. Discuss and consider the following appointments to City boards, commissions, and committees: 1. Ethics Commission - Districts 4, 5, and 6 2. Zoning Board of Adjustment 3. Police Pension Fund] VERY GOOD. ITEM 12A, PLEASE. ITEM 12A. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER THE [01:30:01] FOLLOWING APPOINTMENTS TO CITY BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES. VERY GOOD. WE HAVE THE ETHICS COMMISSION POSITIONS, DISTRICT 4. I HAVE SOMEONE WHO HASN'T SENT THEIR APPLICATION IN, BUT NOMINATION FOR CONSTANCE PATTERSON PENDING HER INVESTIGATION. OH, SORRY. THAT'S WHAT THEY DO. PENDING HER APPLICATION. IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY. VERY GOOD. SO WE HAVE CONSTANCE PATTERSON FROM DISTRICT 4, DISTRICT 5, BOTH? OKAY. VERY GOOD. DISTRICT 6. YES, I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE MR. MIKE RILEY, WHO IS HERE WITH US TONIGHT IN THE AUDIENCE. VERY GOOD. SO WE HAVE A NOMINATION FOR DISTRICT 4 CONSTANCE PATTERSON AND DISTRICT 6 MIKE RILEY. IS THAT RIGHT? OH, RILEY, EXCUSE ME. I'M SORRY. VERY GOOD. IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT? SECOND, COUNCILMAN BROWN. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? SORRY, QUESTION. MR. O'REILLY, HAVE YOU SUBMITTED YOUR APPLICATION? OKAY, VERY GOOD. JUST CHECKING. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. OKAY, VERY GOOD. IF YOU'RE APPROVED, MR. O'REILLY, WE NEED TO HAVE YOUR APPLICATION. IT'S ACTUALLY DIFFICULT TO FIND THE APPLICATION FOR THE ETHICS COMMITTEE ON THE WEBSITE, BUT HE ACTUALLY SERVED ON THE POLICE BOARD, SO HE HAS BEEN VETTED IN THE PAST. VERY GOOD. WASN'T A QUESTION ABOUT HIS QUALIFICATIONS, JUST PROCEDURE. VERY GOOD. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT POLICE PENSION FUND, WE HAVE NO APPLICATIONS FOR THESE TWO OPENINGS. DOES ANY COUNCIL MEMBER HAVE A RECOMMENDATION ON THESE? HEARING NO REPLY, I WOULD RECOMMEND WE'LL PUT THOSE ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING. COUNCIL, IF YOU WILL THINK ABOUT THOSE TWO POSITIONS, [12.C. Discuss and consider for action directing the City Manager execute the participation and release form for the Six Remnant Defendants settlement agreement regarding opioid litigation upon approval by the City Attorney. (Legal)] HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE SOME NOMINATIONS NEXT MEETING. LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 12C, PLEASE. ITEM 12C, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER FOR ACTION DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER EXECUTE THE PARTICIPATION AND RELEASE FORM FOR THE SIX REMNANT DEFENDANT SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT REGARDING OPIOID LITIGATION UPON APPROVAL BY THE CITY ATTORNEY. I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THESE DOCUMENTS FOR, WHAT IS THAT? FOR THE MULTIPLE SETTLEMENTS. FOR PARTICIPATION REGARDING THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT AS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. AND I'LL SECOND. THANK YOU, DOCTOR. DR. PETRA'S MOTION. I THINK THAT'S WHAT DONNA WROTE THERE, SO VERY GOOD. THEY CAME WITH IT AND THEY WENT WITH IT. PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. [13. RECEIVE AND FILE (Non-Action Items)] THAT IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. IF YOU WOULD READ ITEM 13, PLEASE. ITEM 13, RECEIVE AND FILE. VERY GOOD. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH ON APRIL 23RD ALL OF OUR ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. AND FOR THE 161ST MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL, I NOW PROCLAIM WE ARE ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.