[0:08] Never mind. That's me.

[0:10] Can you hear me? Okay, you can.

[0:13] Okay, it's time to call to order the

[0:16] City Council meeting

[0:18] Thursday, August 27th, 2026.

[0:23] We'll start with the

[0:24] roll call

[0:25] of members. Alderman McDermott.

[0:28] >> Here.

[0:29] >> Alderwoman Hoffman.

[0:31] >> Here.

[0:32] >> And Alderwoman

[0:34] Sherone.

[0:35] >> Here.

[0:41] » No, I think it's okay.

[0:44] And not present this evening are uh

[0:49] Melissa Joseph, Alderwoman Joseph, and

[0:54] Mayor

[0:56] Mary Morris. Thank you.

[0:59] Sorry, I got a little discombobulated

[1:01] there. Uh Pledge of Allegiance, Alderman

[1:04] McDermott, can you please lead us?

[1:06] >> Happy to do so.

[1:09] Pledge allegiance to the flag of the

[1:12] United States of America, and to the

[1:14] republic for which it stands, one nation

[1:17] under God, indivisible, with liberty and

[1:20] justice for all.

[1:23] Honor the Texas flag, I pledge

[1:25] allegiance to thee,

[1:26] Texas, one state under God,

[1:29] one and indivisible.

[1:34] » Okay.

[1:37] And

[1:38] next we have the

[1:41] invocation.

[1:43] Uh Pastor Trey.

[1:44] >> Yes.

[1:45] >> Welcome.

[1:46] >> Yeah, honored to be here. Thank you guys

[1:48] for allowing us to come and pray. Um

[1:52] I always, as a pastor, uh think it's

[1:55] important to pray for governmental

[1:56] leaders. Uh the scriptures declare for

[1:58] us to do that. I'm going to pray

[2:00] according to my own convictions which is

[2:01] in Jesus name. You can pray according to

[2:03] your convictions. So Father, thank you

[2:05] for your great mercy and love.

[2:08] God, in your word it says to pray for

[2:10] our leaders. Pray for them to have

[2:11] wisdom that we may live peaceably.

[2:14] So Father, I pray for all of the city

[2:17] council members here today.

[2:19] Father, I pray for

[2:20] uh

[2:21] Mayor Mary.

[2:22] God, would that you would be with all of

[2:24] them. Give them wisdom.

[2:26] Father, we pray for and lift up the fire

[2:28] department and the police department.

[2:30] All of the social services, God, the

[2:32] and we thank you for being with them as

[2:35] they step into harm's way and be

[2:37] courageous

[2:39] to protect our city.

[2:41] God, I pray for this city. I ask that

[2:44] you would bless it.

[2:46] Bring your blessing to the businesses

[2:48] here.

[2:49] Let homeowners thrive in this community.

[2:53] I thank you for this.

[2:55] I praise you in Jesus name I pray. Amen.

[2:57] >> Amen.

[2:58] >> God bless you guys.

[2:58] >> Thank you.

[2:59] Pastor Trey.

[3:01] Okay. Uh next we have conflicts of

[3:04] interest.

[3:06] Anyone have a conflict of interest?

[3:08] >> No, sir.

[3:11] >> Okay.

[3:12] We're good.

[3:14] And uh next on the agenda is uh public

[3:17] comment.

[3:24] » Sir, Mr. Renick, we have a Mr. James

[3:28] Snowden.

[3:29] 16705 Moby Dick

[3:32] uncut yards.

[3:33] >> Okay.

[3:35] >> I think you should speak in the mic.

[3:37] >> Yes.

[3:38] Good afternoon. As it stated, my name is

[3:41] James Snowden. I reside at 16705

[3:45] Moby Dick.

[3:47] And my concern is that on April of this

[3:50] year

[3:52] I had submitted a um

[3:56] violation to the HOA

[4:00] in reference to uncut yards. I followed

[4:03] that up in June of this year

[4:07] and with the city

[4:10] of Jamaica Beach.

[4:12] Um

[4:13] Mayor Morris did contact me back

[4:16] ensuring me that it would have

[4:18] communications.

[4:20] As of this day,

[4:22] I have not heard anything from anyone

[4:25] and the yards and the channels still

[4:28] remain uncut. So much that it causes a

[4:33] health violation with rodents

[4:35] and reptiles hiding in the areas.

[4:41] So I just trying to get an understand

[4:44] that there's a time and a

[4:47] legal process that it goes through. So I

[4:50] just want some type of updated so I'm

[4:52] informed here.

[4:55] >> Sure.

[4:56] Absolutely. And um Gilbert, do you have

[5:00] any information additional to this? Is

[5:02] that on

[5:04] the list of to-dos?

[5:05] >> Uh yeah, if this is concerning private

[5:08] property and there's a a process to get

[5:10] this done.

[5:11] Um if you're discussing

[5:14] right-of-ways then the city can go and

[5:16] cut some of those and we have a schedule

[5:18] for that. But if it's on public

[5:19] property, there is a process and it's

[5:21] can be time-consuming.

[5:22] >> Right. And you can't go on private

[5:24] property.

[5:25] >> Um are they um are they uh real estate

[5:29] or are they up for sale or are there

[5:31] residents living there?

[5:33] >> The previous residents have actually

[5:36] changed

[5:38] several times within the last year. I

[5:40] don't know what's going on with that,

[5:43] but it's the ownership has changed in

[5:46] the last

[5:48] year and a half a couple of times.

[5:49] >> Yeah, cuz I've had I've had some that um

[5:52] they've been for sale for a while.

[5:54] And nobody's done anything. So, I've

[5:55] contacted the agent and then they came

[5:58] out and cleared them out. So,

[6:00] um that's one of the means that we use,

[6:02] but I'll I'll go to your emails. I'm

[6:05] sure Mary responded then I should be on

[6:07] the email and we'll follow up. And I

[6:09] have your information here. I'll speak

[6:11] with you uh early next week.

[6:13] >> Is the yard you're talking about also 1

[6:14] mobile

[6:15] >> Yes, it is.

[6:16] >> Okay.

[6:17] >> It's 1670

[6:19] um

[6:20] 16700

[6:24] It's actually a yard of vacant lot

[6:28] townhome next to it which has the old

[6:30] mobile home.

[6:32] >> Okay.

[6:33] All right. Thank you.

[6:34] >> Thank you.

[6:35] >> We'll follow up.

[6:45] » Is that the only one?

[6:46] >> That's it, sir.

[6:46] >> Okay.

[6:50] No special presentation tonight,

[6:52] correct?

[6:54] >> No, sir.

[6:55] >> Wonderful.

[6:57] Okay. Now, uh we're moving on the agenda

[7:00] to reports from directors, uh police and

[7:03] fire.

[7:06] Mr. Administrator.

[7:11] » So,

[7:12] um uh

[7:13] it's off.

[7:14] I'll be brief. Um

[7:16] we did have a couple of those ADA

[7:18] required um updates to our website have

[7:21] been launched. Those are working.

[7:24] Um and we also have a nice little

[7:26] chatbot there. So, for anybody that has

[7:29] any questions or needs information or

[7:31] needs to go

[7:33] uh how do I fill out a permit, what

[7:35] website do I go to, you can click on the

[7:36] little chatbot at the bottom left of the

[7:38] city's website. It has a city's logo.

[7:41] And um it'll type in your question and

[7:44] it'll give you the answers you need. So,

[7:46] it provides links, the whole nine yards.

[7:48] So, that should help. Um if anybody

[7:51] needs help, go there first. If you can't

[7:52] figure it out or you still need more

[7:54] help, then contact the city. Um also, uh

[7:57] we've worked on

[7:59] a few um

[8:01] what is it? The agenda management

[8:03] software as well. So, that's going to

[8:05] allow

[8:06] what we spoke of earlier. That's going

[8:07] to allow us to better

[8:09] um organize our agendas, our meetings

[8:12] for the whole year, as far forward as we

[8:14] want. Like when we know the dates of tax

[8:17] rate budget or anything, we can apply

[8:19] those. Um that's being implemented as

[8:21] well, along with a couple others.

[8:24] Um the wastewater treatment plant

[8:26] project right now, they're waiting on

[8:28] additional parts, the MCC, which is a

[8:30] large portion of it. That's about two

[8:31] months out. But in the meantime, they're

[8:34] still running wire, doing some concrete

[8:35] work, and and building uh I believe

[8:37] they're building the platform for the

[8:38] generator. Um I purchased a generator

[8:41] last year to get ahead of it. So, the

[8:43] generator and the ATS are already ready,

[8:45] but we can't hook it up until the MTS is

[8:47] or MCC is in there. So, we're about two

[8:50] months out for that right now. But

[8:52] there's still progress going.

[8:54] >> Is that the same building as the uh

[8:56] blower uh controls?

[8:58] >> Uh no. There There was There's two sets

[9:01] of controls. There's one in the blower

[9:03] building, there's one in the main

[9:04] building, and I don't recall which one

[9:05] it was which right now. So,

[9:08] um

[9:09] and then uh

[9:11] let's see.

[9:12] We had a EEOC claim

[9:15] uh that we had, and they just closed

[9:17] that out. So, we're not liable.

[9:20] >> All right.

[9:20] >> So, um

[9:21] >> Thank you.

[9:22] >> and that is about it. That's everything.

[9:26] >> Thank you.

[9:28] And then

[9:31] uh Chief of Police Seretan has an

[9:33] attached report.

[9:36] So, that's available for the public.

[9:39] I don't think that he has anything

[9:40] verbally today.

[9:42] >> Chief? No.

[9:43] >> Okay.

[9:45] All right, moving on. Uh the consent

[9:47] agenda and approval of minutes for the

[9:50] last session.

[9:52] Um

[9:54] So, this is for the approval of the

[9:56] minutes from regular council meeting on

[9:58] 8 13 2026.

[10:01] Do I have a motion to a motion to

[10:04] approve the minutes from the regular

[10:06] council meeting on 8 13?

[10:10] >> I'll make a motion to approve the

[10:11] minutes from 8 13.

[10:13] >> Second.

[10:14] >> I'll second.

[10:15] >> Thank you.

[10:18] And

[10:19] all approved or all in favor, sorry.

[10:23] It's unanimous.

[10:29] Okay, next is comments from

[10:31] and or reports from members of council.

[10:34] We'll go in reverse order this week.

[10:38] And that's all right. Mix it up a little

[10:40] bit.

[10:41] Uh Alderwoman Sheran.

[10:44] >> Uh I actually don't have anything this

[10:45] week. Um oh, wait. One one thing real

[10:47] quick. Sunday Sunday is a deadline for

[10:50] the first group of packages that are

[10:52] going to be returned to sender in the

[10:53] mail room.

[10:54] So,

[10:55] if you've got anything that you're

[10:57] waiting in there that's been there for 6

[10:59] months, a year, longer, 30 longer 30

[11:01] days, go get it.

[11:03] So, and then we'll be every week after

[11:05] that will be 30 days out. And again,

[11:09] they if they've come from the US Postal

[11:11] Service, cuz this question has come up.

[11:14] We are not taking them, opening them,

[11:16] doing anything with them. We're

[11:17] returning them to the post office. We

[11:19] have no claim on those.

[11:21] Um the confusion I think came is if it

[11:24] came from UPS, FedEx, whatever, they

[11:27] don't want them back. You know, they

[11:29] said they don't want the packages back.

[11:31] So, we've got several options. Um we're

[11:34] still discussing that. One is

[11:36] uh actually an an idea that Alderman

[11:39] McDermott um brought up is like putting

[11:41] them in a big thing, $10 apiece. Pick

[11:44] out a mystery box. Maybe you get

[11:46] something cool. Maybe you get a plumbing

[11:48] part.

[11:50] Who knows? But, it would be fun and it

[11:52] would be a fundraiser that we could um

[11:55] we've had several options that have been

[11:57] brought forward. So, uh I think that

[12:00] would be a a a good thing to do. So,

[12:02] anyway, Sunday, 10:30, I'll be there

[12:05] supervising the removal of the packages.

[12:08] So, if you think you want to come over, you

[12:11] know, you can come see. So, and that's

[12:14] really all I've got today. Thank you.

[12:17] >> Thank you very much and Alderwoman

[12:20] Hoffman.

[12:20] >> I actually don't have anything either. I

[12:23] don't have any updates from fire cuz we

[12:24] haven't had the monthly meeting yet and

[12:27] I don't have anything personally.

[12:28] >> All righty, thank you. And Alderman

[12:30] McDermott, last but not least.

[12:33] >> Um

[12:34] I just wanted to

[12:36] uh bring up the entrance to the beach.

[12:38] It's pretty rough to get down there. I

[12:40] know even golf carts are getting stuck

[12:42] now. I don't know if

[12:43] there's much we can do about it outside

[12:45] of spraying it down and

[12:47] clearing it occasionally, but um

[12:50] anyway, just making sure we're aware of

[12:51] that. And then uh is this the last

[12:53] weekend for the pool? No, this isn't

[12:55] Labor Day weekend, right? Okay. So, we

[12:57] only have two more weekends at the pool.

[12:58] Let's everyone go get your swimming on.

[13:04] That's all I have.

[13:05] >> Okay, thank you.

[13:07] Uh moving on to uh new business. Tonight

[13:11] uh the first agenda item for under new

[13:14] business is discussing the fiscal year

[13:16] 2027 proposed budget.

[13:28] » Um so, I know that the tax rate was

[13:30] proposed last meeting, um but there is a

[13:33] correction to that.

[13:36] Uh but the amount of revenue reflected

[13:38] here is the actual

[13:41] calculations with the correct number of

[13:43] revenue that we're going to propose

[13:44] next.

[13:44] >> Okay.

[13:45] >> So

[13:46] um it's basically just a copy of what we

[13:49] did last year as well.

[13:51] Um we just really made a bunch of

[13:53] adjustments based on the expenditures

[13:55] that we actually made this year and kind

[13:57] of arranging where we needed it to go,

[13:58] so we have a better idea of what we're looking at. Um

[14:03] but I don't really have any big significant

[14:07] changes. Gilbert, do you remember us

[14:09] having any

[14:12] additional projects or anything that we

[14:13] put in here? I don't remember.

[14:15] >> No, um as far as the the major major

[14:18] things that are on this budget is we

[14:20] were looking at the budgeting for the

[14:22] covers for the park playground area.

[14:25] >> Mhm.

[14:26] >> Um the uh two 230,000

[14:31] dollars that we need to get for the uh

[14:33] wastewater treatment plant for

[14:35] uh completion of that project. Now, the

[14:37] original funding for that, the 600,000,

[14:40] was pulled from reserve

[14:42] in past years. Now, we have some We have

[14:45] money in the bank right now that we're

[14:48] um I've gotten clearance, but I'm going

[14:51] to need additional clearance to spend

[14:53] uh for funds that we received and uh

[14:57] that uh

[14:59] that's from the

[15:00] uh the state of Texas, the TEL. There's

[15:03] a file that I need to fill out.

[15:04] >> Mhm.

[15:05] >> And um so if we could spend that, great.

[15:07] If not, we might have to pull from the

[15:09] reserves. And again, our reserves are

[15:11] significantly more than 6 months

[15:15] for us to operate. Um

[15:17] and uh the wastewater treatment plant,

[15:20] obviously for the health and safety of

[15:21] the public, it's imperative that we get

[15:23] that. So,

[15:23] >> Yes. I'll have an answer for that as

[15:25] soon as I get an answer back from the

[15:27] state. Um, it's kind of difficult

[15:30] because when you're going in the website

[15:32] and you're filling everything out,

[15:33] there's no phone number, there's no

[15:35] there's nothing. There's no way to get a

[15:36] hold of anything. You have to do

[15:37] everything through the site.

[15:39] So, it's it's pretty difficult.

[15:42] Um

[15:43] So, we're working on that.

[15:44] Um, when I talked to the state on the

[15:46] other end where we received the the

[15:48] funds from, not who we have to report

[15:50] to,

[15:51] um, everything was cleared on that part.

[15:53] I just would hate to use it and say,

[15:56] "Hey, you know, where's it at? Or what's

[15:58] y'all use it for? Or was it used for the

[15:59] correct, um,

[16:01] items?" Which, again, I'm pretty sure

[16:04] they were because it was the COVID funds

[16:06] and all the relief that we got from

[16:07] that. Um, we've already spent that.

[16:10] We've sent the information to them. So,

[16:12] but again, just being super cautious.

[16:14] Um

[16:15] Other other items that we looked at, um,

[16:18] as far as major

[16:20] Um, there was the

[16:26] There was a wastewater treatment plant.

[16:28] There was the playground equipment. Oh,

[16:30] um,

[16:31] also putting funds aside for the

[16:33] completion of the project at the

[16:34] wastewater treatment plant. Um, so when

[16:37] the park board comes together, then

[16:39] we'll start throwing ideas on what we're

[16:40] going to do and come up with a concept

[16:42] and bring that to council. And

[16:45] what we'll do with that is, um, we're

[16:47] going to set aside

[16:49] What was it? 60 60,000 for that? Roughly

[16:52] 60,000 and that's hot funds,

[16:55] um, to complete that park there. But, I

[16:57] want to bring the park board in to, like

[17:00] I said, discuss design and bring it to

[17:01] council.

[17:02] >> Okay.

[17:04] >> But, uh, the wastewater, there's a plant

[17:06] there's the water projects. So, the

[17:09] water projects as well. Um We're running on, um

[17:17] on normal funds. In other words, we we

[17:18] don't have a lot of extra other than our

[17:21] regular maintenance for that. So, we'd

[17:24] have to

[17:25] we have to get a little creative, but we

[17:27] can use the 150,000, I believe, that we

[17:29] have there to do small projects.

[17:31] >> Okay.

[17:32] >> Um to do some upgrades on the like we've

[17:34] been doing the upgrades on the valves

[17:36] and and sections of pipe as we go along.

[17:39] Um

[17:40] but we'll need to really get a uh 5-year

[17:43] plan together in the future on what we

[17:46] can do and how we can set money aside

[17:47] for that.

[17:48] >> Do you have cost estimates for that

[17:50] already? For the water, I mean, is it

[17:52] something that can be measured by linear

[17:54] feet or what um

[17:56] No.

[17:57] >> How do we do that?

[17:57] >> We went by the amount that we have

[17:59] without having to raise water rates.

[18:01] >> Okay.

[18:01] >> So, we use that and then as we go, we'll

[18:03] go and replace the valves or, you know,

[18:06] but as far as water main and major

[18:08] projects, we have the one that still needs to be

[18:11] engineered to cross the canal. And that

[18:14] engineering for that that that project

[18:16] is going to be close to a million

[18:17] dollars.

[18:17] >> Sure.

[18:18] >> So, we got to figure out a way to do

[18:20] that as well. And again, um we have to

[18:22] take in consideration too um

[18:25] what the rates are going to look like

[18:26] with Galveston. They're raising their

[18:28] rates as well. So, we might that might

[18:29] have to come over to us. We might have

[18:31] to raise the rates also to match that so

[18:33] the city's not out of uh pocket. Doesn't

[18:36] mean we're getting extra revenue. We're

[18:37] just

[18:38] filling the gap that with the amount

[18:40] they increased.

[18:42] So,

[18:43] um

[18:44] but yeah, that's why we said everything

[18:45] stayed pretty much

[18:47] >> But we

[18:47] >> the same, but we did move money around.

[18:50] We're using less hot taxes um for

[18:53] infrastructure and things like like was

[18:55] done before. You know, we're we're

[18:57] trying to get everything back organized

[18:59] to be used where it should be used. A

[19:01] big chunk of change is also coming out.

[19:02] What was it? 50

[19:04] >> We did we had a budget for the right

[19:06] there for the EMS, the 40,000.

[19:07] >> Yeah, we budgeted for yeah, 40,000 for

[19:09] the EMS stairs.

[19:12] For the replacing the stairs over there.

[19:14] Oh, thank god we put it there.

[19:15] >> Yeah.

[19:15] So, we budgeted that and that's

[19:17] going off of the cost. We already got an

[19:19] estimate for that. We're going to need

[19:20] engineer drawings for that as well.

[19:22] >> Fire department stairs. Fire department,

[19:23] yeah.

[19:23] >> Yeah.

[19:24] we already did EMS, yeah.

[19:26] >> Yeah. So, the

[19:26] >> And they but it's the same

[19:28] >> Yeah.

[19:29] >> It doesn't matter for your budget.

[19:30] >> Yeah, as long as it's line out of 20,

[19:32] we're good. I mean, department 20, we're

[19:34] good.

[19:34] >> Yeah, so the overall cost was was around

[19:37] 36 or 32,000 last year. We put 40 just

[19:40] to

[19:41] you know, give us some cushion in case

[19:43] there's any any additional items needed.

[19:46] Um

[19:49] » Yeah, cuz they're roughly the same

[19:51] set up, right? Same

[19:53] >> I think the only difference is they

[19:54] don't have ACs on that side.

[19:56] >> Okay.

[19:56] >> And this side did, so.

[19:59] Yeah, hopefully.

[20:07] Like I always said, if there's a bad

[20:08] storm here, I'm chaining myself to those

[20:10] poles over there cuz

[20:12] they ain't going anywhere. Um

[20:15] But yeah,

[20:16] like we were discussing, a lot of our

[20:28] Anything you want to speak to, Chief?

[20:31] PD?

[20:33] All right.

[20:38] Then we're on

[20:39] >> And then public works

[20:40] um

[20:41] We again, we we budgeted based off of

[20:44] what we were actually expenditures for

[20:46] this past year. So, their budget's

[20:48] higher than it was last year, but

[20:50] >> Okay.

[20:50] >> it it so it's lower in like you said, in

[20:52] the hot area where we had for before for

[20:54] the previous contractor.

[20:55] >> Right.

[20:56] >> So, public works

[20:57] for the at for the general side

[21:00] >> And we're actually we're actually

[21:01] spending significantly less than we

[21:03] were. I mean, significantly less.

[21:05] >> Okay.

[21:06] >> On on materials and and

[21:08] equipment. In some areas, three times

[21:10] less.

[21:11] Really?

[21:14] Wow, okay.

[21:16] >> I have a question in general. Did we

[21:19] take anything from our strategic

[21:21] planning that we needed budget money for

[21:22] and plug it in here yet? I did not do my

[21:25] research and look back through our

[21:26] strategic strategic plan, but I do

[21:28] recall do we didn't we talk about ditch

[21:31] cleaning out ditches and stuff? Do we

[21:33] need to find a place to get on the

[21:34] budget?

[21:37] >> On the budget on the cleaning our

[21:40] ditches

[21:41] that's going to be an additional cost to

[21:43] our drainage to our our general fund.

[21:45] So, what I'm planning to do is reaching

[21:47] out to the county and seeing aside from

[21:49] this project that we're waiting on is

[21:51] there any routine maintenance that we

[21:53] can do. So,

[21:55] because again we pay everybody here pays

[21:57] county taxes. So, if we can get them to

[21:58] come in and help with routine

[21:59] maintenance, then that's the area we're

[22:02] going to go if if if we add additional

[22:05] maintenance to this,

[22:07] we'd have to find a way to generate

[22:08] revenue

[22:10] for the city.

[22:21] » Has there been any update to that county

[22:23] bond work that we have portion of?

[22:25] >> Uh no, sir. They're working their way

[22:27] down this way. So, they're they're doing

[22:29] every project as

[22:34] So, and and another another thing with that when we look at the general

[22:39] fund regarding public works, that's

[22:41] going to take up your signs, your

[22:44] streets, your ditch, your curbs, your

[22:46] sidewalk. That's all general fund. So,

[22:49] we have got to kind of balance those

[22:51] things out. What I'd like to do is I'm

[22:53] debating right now whether or not we do

[22:55] a we have a company come in and rate our

[22:57] streets. I know we've done that some

[22:59] years

[23:00] back, but they also have products where

[23:03] we put them on our trucks. And our truck

[23:05] drives the street, but again, you got to

[23:08] go 20 miles an hour and you go through

[23:09] every single street, so

[23:11] we'll we'll have to

[23:13] see what that brings, but again, all

[23:15] that comes from general fund.

[23:16] >> What about the issue on John Silver? Do

[23:18] we have any

[23:20] funds for

[23:22] doing any sort of mitigation for that?

[23:24] >> That's the one that floods really bad.

[23:25] >> Mhm.

[23:27] Yeah, um John Silver, there's a

[23:32] we'd have to I think we need to get an

[23:33] engineer involved to do that correctly.

[23:36] Now, we can raise driveways up, but that

[23:40] still doesn't alleviate the street and

[23:42] the flooding there, so

[23:44] that's a tricky one

[23:46] because of the way the flow of the water

[23:48] is and how it fills up. Um

[23:50] so there's some temporary things we can

[23:53] do, but either way, one driveway is

[23:54] going to be 15,000, you know, um so we

[23:57] got to be

[23:58] cautious with that.

[24:00] So.

[24:02] But yeah, definitely we are looking at

[24:03] John Silver to see what we can do.

[24:05] >> Good thing it's a short street.

[24:07] >> Yeah.

[24:08] >> Is it really?

[24:09] >> Yeah.

[24:10] >> Well, and and the challenge, too, of

[24:12] course, y'all know we're we're in the

[24:13] flood zone, so whatever we do one place,

[24:16] you know, we got to displace the water

[24:17] somewhere else, and that's where it gets

[24:19] kind of janky.

[24:20] >> Okay.

[24:23] Yeah.

[24:24] >> Um and then next we have the hot revenue

[24:28] um

[24:30] based off of what we got, I I we updated

[24:32] just a little bit.

[24:33] So, but but again, there was not many

[24:35] changes, and we

[24:38] moved some funds around again to cover for our

[24:41] public works and stuff, so that's the

[24:43] admin portion, and we don't really have

[24:45] anything big, no projects again.

[24:48] Uh you can keep going, Gilbert.

[24:52] And then that's the public works section

[24:53] of the hot.

[24:56] Um we do have

[24:59] I think we added a little bit more to

[25:00] beach maintenance.

[25:02] So, we'll look into I guess the

[25:05] entrance.

[25:06] >> Yeah, and

[25:08] as far as beach maintenance as well, GLO

[25:11] is going to help us with renting vehicle

[25:13] equipment.

[25:14] >> Okay.

[25:14] >> So, we'll get rentals up to I believe it

[25:17] was at $11,000 a year to rent

[25:20] equipment to smooth out the beach and

[25:23] work on some of this cuz our our little front end little tractor

[25:27] I I think it's had enough.

[25:31] So, our guys worked on it, mechanics

[25:33] worked on it. One of our one of our

[25:35] residents here, you know, he volunteered

[25:37] his time, Mr. King, and you know, we're

[25:38] very grateful for that, but it was that thing's just had it.

[25:42] >> Okay.

[25:43] Mhm.

[25:44] >> But that's a that's another good thing.

[25:46] That's $11,000 we don't have to spend.

[25:48] But

[25:49] >> That's good.

[25:52] » Um

[25:53] >> How much do those things usually rent

[25:54] for?

[25:56] >> Uh

[26:00] Oh, close to $60,000. Maybe Maybe it's

[26:03] 40.

[26:04] >> Yeah.

[26:05] 40 grand. Um no, for a year to to

[26:08] rent, but there's an agreement, so

[26:11] >> We probably only need it 3 months a

[26:12] year, if that.

[26:15] Just depends

[26:15] >> Depends on the rain and stuff we get.

[26:17] >> Yeah.

[26:18] Um

[26:20] >> Those pieces of equipment, they're

[26:22] always anywhere between 80 to 100,000.

[26:24] That's

[26:25] >> small.

[26:25] >> I would rather get a front end or a skid

[26:28] steer.

[26:29] >> Yeah.

[26:29] >> Um which is usually around 120

[26:32] for the type of work that we need to do.

[26:34] So

[26:37] » Need a big sale.

[26:38] >> I know. We need more packages.

[26:40] >> Hey, more packages.

[26:43] >> Yeah.

[26:48] Um you can keep scrolling over.

[26:50] >> I said we can get a dump truck and you

[26:52] can pay $20 and dump it to the city

[26:54] administrator.

[26:56] >> All right.

[26:56] >> Right on.

[26:58] >> All day.

[26:59] >> Um so I'm just going through we have um

[27:02] the community

[27:03] relations, nothing's really changed.

[27:06] Uh parks again,

[27:08] we we

[27:10] moved a lot of

[27:11] expenses to the public works because

[27:13] they were the ones who were taking care

[27:14] of it so it's actually tracked

[27:15] correctly.

[27:17] Um I believe this is what the project

[27:19] for the park

[27:20] >> pickleball court?

[27:21] >> Yes.

[27:21] >> And

[27:24] why this page

[27:25] printed wrong. Can you scroll down to

[27:27] the pool area?

[27:31] I think everything was good with the

[27:32] pool. There wasn't really anything

[27:35] They did the already remodel of the

[27:37] outside and then they did the

[27:38] countertops and and they really

[27:40] fixed it up nice over there.

[27:42] >> Yep.

[27:43] >> And then beaches and fees and we don't

[27:47] haven't revisited that yet.

[27:52] » Yeah, 30 keeps messing me up every time

[27:54] I see it I'm like cool.

[27:56] >> It's just there.

[27:58] And then

[28:00] um on the utility side

[28:03] nothing much has changed. Now the

[28:05] service fees

[28:07] not the service fees. Uh the water

[28:08] purchases, I think that is going to go

[28:10] up a little bit more. We did

[28:12] budget a little bit higher but

[28:14] we're we're not sure exactly where

[28:16] that's going to Keep going over. I'm

[28:18] sorry.

[28:20] » I'm on the wrong one.

[28:24] >> All right, good.

[28:27] The 440

[28:29] is um a little higher based off of what

[28:30] we've spent so far but again I'm not

[28:33] exactly sure what those rates are going

[28:34] to look like so we might have to make

[28:36] some adjustments later.

[28:37] >> Okay.

[28:38] >> Um cuz I didn't want to shoot too high.

[28:40] >> Right.

[28:41] >> Um

[28:45] I don't have anything else honestly that

[28:47] I can think of.

[28:48] Gilbert?

[28:49] >> It's expensive water.

[28:50] >> Just regular general maintenance. I

[28:52] mean, we got We are looking into doing

[28:54] meters,

[28:55] um newer meters, cuz the ones that we

[28:57] have were just

[28:59] I feel like we're replacing them

[29:00] regularly.

[29:01] >> Mhm, still.

[29:03] Really?

[29:03] >> Yeah.

[29:04] so we have a new vendor in that um

[29:07] a new meter that we're going to try out.

[29:09] And we already did a pre-run of it.

[29:11] >> Mhm.

[29:11] >> And uh they have

[29:12] >> a warranty on any of these things? I

[29:14] mean, that's

[29:15] >> There's some warranties there

[29:16] >> old meters.

[29:17] >> Yeah, so

[29:19] >> Well, they're

[29:21] The new meters, the ones that we're

[29:22] trying to get right now, we probably

[29:24] will. They are a little bit more

[29:25] expensive, but they do more. They paint

[29:27] a picture. They have um a front end um

[29:31] a front end option where it uses

[29:33] cellular service, so residents can see

[29:35] how much they're using.

[29:36] >> Mhm.

[29:37] >> And that'll go We actually checked with

[29:39] FundView, I think, and they they talk to

[29:41] each other, too. So, our new software

[29:43] for utility billing will talk to these

[29:45] new meters.

[29:45] >> Okay.

[29:46] >> Um

[29:46] but they're um it's one piece, also. So, we

[29:50] can track one number, not uh not the

[29:53] antenna and the body of the meter.

[29:56] >> Right.

[29:56] >> Cuz the other thing that I I didn't

[29:58] never really was too fond of is the

[30:00] parts on the inside of the meter. They

[30:01] all wear down, so if you're just just keep changing the top, you're still

[30:05] not getting an accurate reading. These

[30:07] have the um what is it? The sonar that

[30:09] it uses on the inside that'll uh keep an

[30:12] accurate reading throughout the life of

[30:14] the meter, which is roughly 20 years.

[30:16] >> So No moving parts.

[30:17] >> No moving parts. And um it also

[30:21] >> What powers the sonar? Just a battery?

[30:23] >> Yeah, yeah.

[30:24] >> 20-year battery? Wow.

[30:26] >> They have um and they have they have uh

[30:28] warranties, too. So, if the battery goes

[30:30] out or the screen display goes out, then

[30:33] you take it back to them and they'll

[30:34] swap it out. Usually, the way that works

[30:36] is you'll you'll pay for the new meter,

[30:38] you'll send them the old one, and

[30:39] they'll see that it's broken, and

[30:40] they'll give you credit towards your

[30:41] account. That's usually how that works.

[30:43] But some of these meters also have the

[30:45] capability to give you

[30:47] hydraulic information in your system. So

[30:50] the more of these meters that you have,

[30:51] you can get pressure tests and

[30:54] readings throughout so you can get the

[30:56] hydraulics of your system and kind of

[30:58] have a better understanding of the flow

[31:00] of water and volume.

[31:01] Some of these have

[31:03] There's also components that you can add

[31:05] to fire hydrants as well and even valves

[31:07] that that run that. So

[31:10] >> Okay.

[31:10] >> Um we can continually get numbers. We're

[31:12] also looking at

[31:14] on the wastewater side of getting the antennas

[31:19] and the sonars that it's a sonar that

[31:21] you drop in the manhole and you drop it

[31:23] about halfway. So as the water levels

[31:26] rise, you'll get alerts and it'll map

[31:29] out where your most the most amount of

[31:32] infiltration is coming into your system

[31:34] on the wastewater side. So

[31:37] it it'll it'll give you

[31:39] like hey, most of your infiltration is

[31:41] on this section. So we're planning on

[31:43] putting them in front on the on the

[31:45] inlet side of each lift station here so

[31:48] we can tell and that'll do a reading on

[31:50] the wastewater side.

[31:52] >> Okay.

[31:53] >> I've had those before. I've used them. I

[31:55] had all of San Antonio on my phone and

[31:57] it's just not fun when it rains but it

[31:59] tells a story so

[32:00] >> Sure.

[32:02] Now it's it's good to alert to and I

[32:04] like the water meters you can get that

[32:07] data cuz you always want to be able to

[32:09] reconcile that with the amount that

[32:11] we're being charged from the city and

[32:13] the meter that's at the front.

[32:15] That way we can determine if there's

[32:16] leaks,

[32:17] you know, internally that's you know,

[32:20] we're using more if more is coming in

[32:22] and not going through those meters then

[32:24] you've got a problem, right?

[32:26] And and if they talk to each other you

[32:29] kind of get a fix on where that position

[32:30] is maybe

[32:32] and catch it before it becomes, you

[32:34] know,

[32:35] a big issue.

[32:36] >> Right cuz then it's it's real time. So,

[32:38] like right now we're looking at what we

[32:40] the data we collected from the month

[32:41] before.

[32:42] >> Right.

[32:42] >> you got to wait for the close out and

[32:44] the two year review, so

[32:45] it's going to be beneficial that way,

[32:46] too.

[32:47] >> So, after after we finish everything

[32:49] with our wonderful audit, which is

[32:51] moving pretty good, by the way. Um we're

[32:55] Huh?

[32:56] >> Andrew's awesome.

[32:56] >> Yeah, and Andrew's knocking it out.

[32:59] >> Right.

[32:59] >> Um but after we get some of that

[33:01] information, we can apply for grants to

[33:03] replace all the meters in the city at

[33:04] once. So, we'll be pursuing that. We had

[33:06] a a meeting as well with a a grant

[33:10] company that has a software that we

[33:12] don't have to pay for. They give it to

[33:14] us for free, but we can use that. We're

[33:16] going to revisit discussions with them

[33:18] in

[33:18] >> Sorry, did you say free?

[33:19] >> January. Yeah.

[33:20] >> Yeah. Nice.

[33:21] >> Let's say it's a donation, right?

[33:23] >> Okay.

[33:24] >> Um but yeah, and and our budget, I mean

[33:26] there's

[33:28] The again, these are the reset years

[33:31] that we have to get our history and

[33:33] everything in order, so

[33:34] >> Mhm.

[33:35] >> don't want to shoot with too many big

[33:36] things right now.

[33:38] >> Mhm.

[33:38] >> Um

[33:40] >> Yeah, but we have a better picture of

[33:41] what we're doing, so

[33:42] >> Yeah. We need to be more conservative.

[33:44] >> Right. We just have to stay on top of

[33:46] the critical ones.

[33:47] You know,

[33:49] like the generator.

[33:51] One down, one to go.

[33:53] >> Yeah.

[33:56] You know what? I did order the year

[33:58] early.

[33:58] >> Yeah.

[34:00] >> Right, before the tariffs and

[34:02] everything.

[34:03] Pretty good.

[34:04] >> But um yeah, I think that's pretty much it.

[34:08] >> This is a

[34:10] That's still the water system.

[34:11] >> and then it's but then we're going into

[34:13] the waste water, which

[34:14] we don't have to pay taxes on that,

[34:16] either.

[34:16] >> Uh

[34:17] we've had a kind of

[34:20] We have our contract services, and then

[34:22] the general maintenance on the water

[34:23] side that's 145,000.

[34:25] Um

[34:27] If I'm not mistaken, we we have some

[34:29] left over, right? Like we haven't spent

[34:31] the entire amount.

[34:32] >> For this year?

[34:32] >> Yeah.

[34:33] >> Well, that's where we're going to do the

[34:34] meters, so

[34:34] >> Yeah.

[34:34] So, we can use this as the And

[34:37] what we did this year, too, is we used

[34:39] this for some upgrades in the city.

[34:41] Again, valves and things like that. So,

[34:43] we'll keep doing that. And as we come

[34:45] across

[34:46] identify some areas where we need to

[34:48] replace pipe, then we'll start moving

[34:50] forward towards that.

[34:51] >> Okay. So, you do have some encumbered

[34:53] funds.

[34:57] » Long as

[34:59] these leaks stay down, cuz we're having

[35:01] less now than we were before.

[35:03] >> even say it out loud.

[35:06] Okay. Great.

[35:08] >> Any questions?

[35:10] >> Nope.

[35:12] Anyone else?

[35:14] No, we're good.

[35:15] >> And I'll get with you

[35:16] or everybody

[35:18] to look at that.

[35:19] >> Okay.

[35:19] >> for the ditch waiting.

[35:21] >> Thank you.

[35:21] >> Yeah, that was the only thing off the

[35:22] top of my head. There might have been

[35:24] more in

[35:24] >> Okay.

[35:25] >> We've slept since then.

[35:27] A whole night.

[35:30] » Awesome.

[35:31] Thank you.

[35:34] » Okay, then. That ends that topic. And

[35:38] next is the discussion and possible

[35:40] action to propose a property tax rate

[35:43] for fiscal year 2026 to 2027.

[35:48] Um

[35:49] I think I need a

[35:52] motion to discuss.

[35:56] » I'll make a motion to discuss.

[35:58] >> I'll second.

[36:00] >> Okay.

[36:02] Let's chat.

[36:06] » Last

[36:08] um council meeting, I made a mistake and

[36:10] I read y'all the wrong number. So,

[36:12] that's totally on me. Um we have to

[36:14] revisit this. This doesn't change

[36:15] anything. It's still no new revenue. We

[36:18] just got to pro- propose the correct

[36:20] number,

[36:21] which is

[36:22] Write it down.

[36:24] I got it.

[36:25] It's a point zero one six two

[36:29] Nope.

[36:30] >> Zero.

[36:30] >> Oh.

[36:31] >> Point.

[36:31] >> There's a point in front.

[36:32] >> It's 0.162326.

[36:36] » There you go.

[36:37] >> I lost me.

[36:39] >> You know what? You just say cuz I keep

[36:40] messing that number up.

[36:41] >> It's okay.

[36:42] 0.1

[36:43] >> It's 0.162326.

[36:47] Um

[36:47] I believe what was read last time was

[36:49] just the new the no new revenue revenue

[36:51] rate from the year before. So, I didn't highlight that.

[37:00] And again, this with this tax rate the

[37:02] no new revenue is what is reflected for

[37:05] the revenue on the budget.

[37:06] >> On the budget, okay. Good.

[37:08] >> So, we did have the conversations and

[37:09] then trust up to the county and told

[37:11] them

[37:11] >> Hey, I made a mistake. I'm sorry. Is

[37:13] everything okay? What do we need to do?

[37:14] They said, "No, just go ahead and

[37:15] propose it and and then get everybody's

[37:18] vote." And

[37:19] Okay.

[37:20] >> I'll be one to merit.

[37:24] » So,

[37:26] We need a motion.

[37:29] >> Oh, that's right. Okay.

[37:31] So,

[37:32] we next we need to take a vote

[37:36] on the

[37:39] property tax rate for fiscal year 2026

[37:42] through 2027.

[37:46] And

[37:50] uh no new revenue rate, which is point

[37:54] one six zero two six.

[37:56] >> No.

[37:59] >> What?

[37:59] >> 0.162326.

[38:02] » Try it again. One person, please.

[38:05] >> 0.162326.

[38:10] » All right.

[38:12] Let's try that again.

[38:14] We're going to Yeah.

[38:15] >> to merit.

[38:16] >> Well, yeah. I know exactly.

[38:18] I'll get five by the time I'm done.

[38:20] Uh we're proposing a property tax rate

[38:23] for fiscal year 2026 through 2027 at a

[38:26] rate of 0.162326.

[38:33] May I have a motion? Do I need to make a

[38:37] motion to vote first or just a vote? And

[38:39] from each individual. Okay. Alderman

[38:41] McDermott, how do you vote?

[38:43] >> I.

[38:45] >> Alderman Hoffman, Alderwoman Hoffman,

[38:47] how do you vote?

[38:48] >> I.

[38:49] >> Say it in deep voice. Alderwoman Sharon.

[38:53] >> I.

[38:54] >> Okay, three eyes and that is a

[38:56] consensus.

[39:00] I can't vote.

[39:01] I'm in the wrong seat for that.

[39:05] Mhm.

[39:07] Three is all you need.

[39:10] Okay, it has passed.

[39:14] Now moving on to old business.

[39:17] Uh, first is the discussion

[39:19] consideration and possible action to

[39:21] approve planning and zoning ordinance

[39:23] 2026-06.

[39:26] Do I have a motion to discuss?

[39:31] >> Make a motion to discuss.

[39:33] >> And a second?

[39:35] >> I'll second.

[39:37] >> Okay.

[39:39] So, where are we at with this? Has

[39:41] everyone read it? We good?

[39:43] >> Second reading, yeah, I think so.

[39:45] >> All right.

[39:47] So, any questions? Any

[39:51] comments?

[39:53] Push back?

[39:54] Okay.

[39:55] >> Looks good.

[39:56] >> Okay.

[39:58] Uh, so now a

[40:00] um, has anyone Oh, no. Is it uh,

[40:03] proposed to vote?

[40:08] Okay. So, next we make a motion to vote.

[40:12] Um,

[40:13] >> To approve.

[40:17] planning and zoning ordinance 2026-06.

[40:22] >> I'll make a motion to approve planning

[40:23] and zoning ordinance 2026-06.

[40:26] >> Do we have a second?

[40:30] » I'll second.

[40:31] >> Okay.

[40:33] And

[40:36] vote at will.

[40:38] >> Aye.

[40:40] >> Perfect. It is passed.

[40:48] Okay, next on the agenda of old business

[40:50] is discussion consideration of possible

[40:52] action to approve park advisory board,

[40:55] which is ordinance 2026-07.

[41:02] Would anyone care to make a motion to

[41:04] discuss?

[41:06] >> I'll make a motion to discuss park

[41:07] advisors park advisory board ordinance

[41:10] 2026-07.

[41:12] >> I'll second.

[41:14] >> Okay.

[41:17] >> Nothing changed. Didn't seem like,

[41:18] right?

[41:21] » Just as full-time now.

[41:24] Full-time resident or

[41:25] >> Oh, yeah, right.

[41:26] >> Oh, yeah, we did change the language.

[41:32] » Looks good to me.

[41:33] >> Yes.

[41:34] section 3A.

[41:41] » Have we had applicants?

[41:45] » Yeah, we have one so far, but we'll have

[41:47] for sure a couple more.

[41:49] We've been having conversations.

[41:51] >> Okay.

[41:53] All right, good.

[41:55] Okay, so

[41:58] now we move on to

[42:01] >> I'll make a motion to approve

[42:02] >> Motion to approve

[42:05] a vote to

[42:08] approve park advisory board ordinance

[42:10] 2026-07.

[42:13] » I'll make a motion to approve Park Board

[42:15] Advisory Board Ordinance 2026-07.

[42:18] >> Do we have a second?

[42:19] >> I second.

[42:20] >> Okay, and the vote is

[42:23] three to approve.

[42:35] And last but not least, the mayor's

[42:38] report.

[42:40] And not much to report on other than we

[42:44] wish

[42:45] Mary Morse, uh, our lovely mayor, a

[42:48] speedy recovery.

[42:49] Uh, she's suffering again, and so

[42:53] uh, she couldn't make it to the meeting

[42:55] tonight, obviously.

[42:57] So, um, put her in your prayers, please.

[43:02] And your thoughts, and if you get a

[43:04] chance to say hi to her, please do so.

[43:07] Um, and that will conclude my report.

[43:11] And now we will be pausing the regular

[43:14] meeting to go into executive session.

[43:19] At

[43:21] 6:45 on the nose.

[43:23] Thank you all for joining us tonight.

City Council Meeting 8-27-2026 Part 1

Transcript