City Council

MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON SPECIAL MEETING - JULY 12, 2024 7/12/2024 - Minutes 1. DECLARATION OF A QUORUM AND CALL MEETING TO ORDER With a quorum present, the meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. 2. ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Craig Brown. Mayor Pro Tem Marie Robb, Council Member Sharon Lewis, Council Member David Finklea, Council Member Bob Brown, Council Member Alex Porretto, and Council Member Beau Rawlins. 3. CITY MANAGER'S AND MAYOR'S REPORT CONCERNING HURRICANE BERYL City Manager Brian Maxwell reported the following updates: The City maintained 100% of services during the hurricane, with crews working continuously throughout the event. Recovery has begun, though power outages are limiting progress. Debris pickup has started, and add-on sanitation rates are waived for 60 to 90 days. The Traffic Department will complete their assessment of losses per FEMA regulations today. Some traffic signals are currently powered by generators; damaged intersections should be treated as four-way stops. Temporary signs are placed at major intersections. Weather is slowing cleanup efforts. Several lift stations and sewer systems are running on generators and are monitored remotely. Residents should report any sewer issues. The City received and is distributing ice, with a second truck arriving at Fire Station #7 on the West End. Stores are well-stocked with ice. CenterPoint is working on power restoration at Holland House, but the City has limited influence. Residents are asked not to interrupt linemen. The City is functioning normally and has no movement restrictions. Emergency beachfront construction permits are being issued for West End repairs. Building permits for damages are required but the fees are waived. Many West End beach access points are closed due to damage. Cooling centers are open but not widely utilized. Mayor Brown expressed gratitude to City staff and field workers for their round-the-clock efforts during and after the storm. He mentioned that Council Members will receive a copy of the emergency operations and policies manual as requested. He also thanked Council Members for their contributions and the residents of Galveston for their patience during the power outage. Brown noted challenges in obtaining specific information from CenterPoint and acknowledged the Council Members' efforts in communicating with their constituents. He plans to schedule a meeting to review the City's and CenterPoint's responses to Hurricane Beryl and assess the overall response in Galveston. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS Michael Niebuhr - power issues and messaging about Galveston being open; Unknown name - lack of information from Council and the City is not currently open. 5. ORDINANCES (NOT REQUIRING PUBLIC HEARINGS) 5.A. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Declaring A State Of Disaster And Emergency In The City Of Galveston Because Of The Impact Of Hurricane Beryl; Confirming And Ratifying Any Emergency Proclamations And Regulations Issued By The Mayor In Response To The Damage, Injury, Or Loss Of Life And Property Resulting From Said Hurricane; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject And Providing For An Effective Date. Ordinance No. 24-044 was read by caption. Motion was made by Mayor Brown, second by CM Rawlins, to approve the Ordinance and bring back to Council on July 25th. Unanimously approved.  Damage, Injury, Or Loss Of Life And Property Resulting From Said Hurricane; Making Various Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject And Providing For An Effective Date. Ordinance No. 24-044 was read by caption. Motion was made by Mayor Brown, second by CM Rawlins, to approve the Ordinance and bring back to Council on July 25th. Unanimously approved. 5.B. Consider For Approval An Ordinance Of The City Of Galveston, Texas, Designating A Presiding Councilmember Who Will Act In The Event Of Unavailability Of The Mayor And Mayor Pro Tem; Providing For That Designation To Continue Until May 2025 Or Until A New Presiding Councilmember Is Selected; Providing For A Method To Determine Unavailability Of The Mayor And Mayor Pro Tem; Providing For A Severability Clause; Providing An Open Meetings Clause; Providing A Savings Clause; Declaring Findings Of Fact; And Providing For An Effective Date. Ordinance No. 24-045 was read by caption. Motion was made by Mayor Brown, second by CM Finklea, to approve the ordinance appointing CM Lewis as presiding Councilmember who will act in the event of unavailability of the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem. Unanimously approved. 6. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 11:15 a.m. Janelle Williams, City Secretary Date Approved: August 22, 2024