February 11, 2003

City of Galveston Committee Upgrades

Galveston City Council on Thursday will consider proposals concerning two city council-appointed committees, the Galveston Finance Committee and the Seawall Future Enhancement Ad Hoc Committee.

The name of the finance committee, created by the city council in 2000, would be changed to Finance and Fiscal Affairs Committee.  New qualifications for membership require that committee members "have at least five years of sophisticated experience in the budget process of governmental entities or other substantial organizations, as well as experience in analysis of the accounting, reporting and other information utilized in the financial management of such entities."

The charge of the new committee would be "to review and evaluate for the purpose of making recommendations to council, all aspects of the city's fiscal affairs, including its financial statements and reports, audit, budget and budget performance, fund accounting and fund balances, and financial management policies, as well as the fiscal impact of revenue/expense trends and operational efficiencies".

The Seawall Future Enhancement Ad Hoc Committee, appointed by Mayor Roger Quiroga a few months ago, would be upgraded to a full city council committee, to "make recommendations to the city council and planning commission pertaining to pay and display meters or alternative paid parking plans, related capital improvements, adjacent neighborhood parking, and funding sources in accordance with local state and federal laws and regulations."

Quiroga announced at Monday's meeting of the seawall committee that he would submit the nominations of four new members on Thursday: Gordon Robinson, Brenda Donaloio, David Colombo and David Brown.

The committee heard a presentation by Wade Bettisworth of Schlumberger Parking Systems, who predicted that the city could raise as much as $1.1 million per year for beachfront enhancements, and another $311,832 in revenue from fines, in the first year.

"The program will pay for itself in less than a year," Bettisworth predicted.

The group discussed the concerns of representatives of the San Jacinto Neighborhood Association.

"I don't want people's way of life to change," said Council Member Johnny Smecca, pledging to address residents concerns in the plan that is developed.

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