 |
|
A Publication of Guidry News Service |
|
|
|
|
A Publication of Guidry News Service |
Greg Roof, a member of the Galvestonians Against Paid Parking on the Seawall, who has tried two times, unsuccessfully, to force an election on paid parking on the Seawall, has appealed to County Judge Jim Yarbrough and members of Galveston County Commissioners Court to not permit it. Roof cited a provision in the permit previously approved by the commissioners court which, "prohibits the city from transferring or assigning its authority to any other entity," and noted that Galveston City Council transferred authority to the Park Board of Trustees."This non-elected body has a questionable history of adhering to state and local laws regarding beach related matters and of being non-responsive to the citizens of Galveston," Roof said. "The county will find it difficult, at best, to maintain any oversight of the program if it permits multiple governmental units to exercise authority in this area." Roof also notes that the county permit requires that the fees collected from Seawall parking meters and fines collected for failing to pay a meter be spent on the Seawall. "However, plans developed by the city call for parking fines to be used as general revenue," Roof said. "In addition, the city is asserting that funds generated by many parking meters on the north side of the seawall are not beach user fees, but are funds that may be directed to general purposes. It appears that much of the funds generated under this program will not benefit the county-owned Seawall but will go towards funding general city services." Roof also objected to the park board's policy of providing free parking passes during January and the $25 annual pass that is available year round. He contends that the requirement that they be applied for personally at the park board office discriminates against north county residents and others who do not live on Galveston Island. "This scheme clearly has the effect of allowing residents of the City of Galveston costless access to the Seawall for the upcoming tourist season, while forcing the great share of the costs of the program to residents of the northern parts of the county," Roof said. "This could not have been what the commissioners court intended in its treatment of non-island residents who choose to visit the county-owned Seawall." Roof asked that the issue be discussed by the commissioners court before any further county approval is granted on the project. Roof is a member of the City of Galveston Charter Review Committee, but did not bring the issue of paid parking on the Seawall to that committee for deliberation.
|