January 27, 2003

Galveston Park Board of Trustees
by Jim Guidry

Galveston Park Board of Trustees Controller Mike Moser told the park board on Tuesday that hotel occupancy tax receipts are down more than 11 percent in the last three months.  He said the decline is part of a nationwide trend.

However, Christa Buggey, director of the Galveston Island Convention and Visitors Bureau, reported that three Galveston Island properties are bucking the trend.  

"The Moody Gardens hotel, the San Luis and the Hilton have had an incredible year," Buggey said.

Acting Executive Director Lou Muller reported that "terrible weather" has caused a decline in revenue at Seawolf Park.

"We didn't have a single fisherman out there," Muller said about a recent rainy day.

"We're not crying wolf at this point," said Park Board Chair Danny Allen.

The park board approved the interlocal agreement with the City of Galveston for Mardi Gras 2003.

The park board voted to permit Tom Vaughn to sell products with the Mardi Gras artwork for a one-time fee of $5,000.

The park board voted to sponsor the Hoopla Streetball Tour, an outdoor basketball tournament that will be held on a downtown street, in April.

The park board voted 4-3 to reject purchase of several vehicles through the Houston-Galveston Area Council cooperative purchasing agreement, and to re-advertise the purchase.  Chair Danny Allen, Miguel Alleman and Gerry Del Prete were in favor of the H-GAC purchase.  Johnny Smecca, Mike Pistone, Al Fichera and Meyer Reiswerg were in favor of seeking new bids in hopes of awarding the contract to a Galveston County dealership.

The park board deferred action on several agenda items:
  - an agreement with Kevin O'Brien to manage beverage sales at Mardi Gras, because of a disagreement over "net" and "gross" income
  - a proposal to establish an activity area on 22nd Street during the Mardi Gras festival
  - a request from Simpson's Gallery to move the Mardi Gras fencing back to 25th and Strand
  - vendor packages for Mardi Gras 2004
  - a request from Robert Day to add a rock climbing wall and bungee ride to the human maze at Stewart Beach

Before the meeting, members of the park board participated in a news conference at the new Rainforest Cafe on Seawall Boulevard to announce plans for the 2003 Mardi Gras Celebration.

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