Galveston City Council Report
By District 5 Council Member Danny Weber
January 27, 2005

In response to some questions I have received lately:

What is happening with the Convention Center Neighborhood problems?

Some progress is being made and I can assure you the issues are not forgotten. Money was earmarked in the 04-05 budget convention center budget for the revisions to the HVAC unit noise problem and the parking exhaust problem. This week City crews have began the process of reviewing other problems cited by the neighbors so as to effect solution to the issues. 

To the neighbors I can only apologize for the delinquency of resolve and ask you to keep me informed and I will keep you informed as to progress (or lack thereof) but the issues are not forgotten.

Streets, pot holes, sink holes etc.. These issues also are alive and well, and I continue to report them to the Public Works Director and the City Manager as I drive on them. 77^th Street, 61^st to 59^th @ Ave. S ½, areas of 47^th and 48^th between Ave. S and U, are just a few of the specific locations that are still in need of attention and I intend to keep them on the burner until they are fixed.

I’ve been asked repeatedly, what is that building going up between 59^th and 61^st just north of the Best Western, the answer is this is a new Quality Inn, it is not an addition to the Best Western, it is a stand alone Quality Inn and the entrance will be from Seawall Blvd. just west of the Best Western entrance in the same parking lot. Not sure of a opening date but stay tuned. Another new business freshly open in district 5 is the Dawn Donut Shop on Steward Road at about 64^th Street. Good luck on the venture.

What is going on with the orange fencing around holes in the sidewalks on Seawall Blvd.? I’m told this is much needed repair and improvement work to the traffic signals and lights. So please bear us during the construction phase it is necessary to effect the improvement and please pay heed to the orange fencing and stay away from it.

Those are a few of the most recently asked questions. 

Now on to a couple of other issues: Just today this council is acting to create the TIRZ 14 reinvestment zone. 

Today council is taking action to approve the plan of operation for the zone. Today is a term of significance in this sentence because two days ago the Daily News report would have you believe that this council was giving away $44 million tax dollars that is simply not the case. There is a significant difference between “foregoing” and “reinvesting”. By title,  definition and in practical operation a Tax Reinvestment Zone does exactly that, it reinvests tax dollars in a defined geographical area for the purpose of developing that area to produce significantly greater tax revenue in the future. Point in fact is TIRZ 14, the geographical area of TIRZ 14 had a certified taxable value of 65.8 million dollars prior to creation of the TIRZ. This generates about 3,559,780 annually in City Tax Revenue. The City will continue to receive this amount. The additional Tax Revenue that will be generated by the development in the TIRZ will be put back into the TIRZ zone to encourage more development and to accommodate the development that is taking place. Of importance is the fact that over 90% of the additional revenues will be spent making infrastructure improvements to the entire area and these are improvements that quite frankly the City cannot afford to make without the TIRZ.

As stated a TIRZ is a Reinvestment Zone it is not a Give Away of tax dollars. IN this case TIRZ 14 is projected to increase the taxable value in the TIRZ area from the 65.8 million to 513 million by the end of the life of the TIRZ. In dollars and cents to the city that means the revenue to the City would increase from about 3,559,780 that it is now, to about 27,753,300 that it will be at the end of the life of the zone. I’m not an investor but that sounds like a pretty good return to me. This is not a give away or to quote a “foregoing” of tax revenue, rather it is the reinvestment of tax revenue to create more tax revenue in the future and it is important to understand that the City continues to get what it is getting now and stands to get considerable more over the life of the zone.

Regarding today’s article. Again this was written in a manner which would indicate that this council went behind closed doors and negotiated a deal. That is not the case and that is not what happened. The fact is this council discussed specific terms of a specific lease in executive session and that was done in totally compliance with the open records law. In fact by law that is the way lease agreements are to be handled. This council did not, has not and will not discuss policy in executive session that is a violation of the open meetings act. I can only speak for myself but I resent the implication that this council has somehow violated the public trust by going behind closed doors to negotiate a deal. I can only hope that the implication is due to lack of understanding as to exactly what did occur and that confusion of the facts prompted the author.

The Park Board as I have reported has indeed lost money for the last 3 years and last year is the least loss. When the new board took over the Park Board was attempting to rebound from a downward spiral. There are many issues at the Park Board, we are facing and dealing with them one at a time. We began by writing the first balanced budget in 3 years. Now as I have stated we must pray for good weather in order for all to go as expected and we all know that no one has control of the weather but if the weather holds out we have written a very tight budget that should balance. We are in the process of reviewing and tighting up board travel and entertainment policies and in the future we will be reviewing all policies but this will take time. Many changes have already taken place and there are more to come.

Tomorrow begins Mardi Gras 05. I have been asked repeatedly about the seawall parking rules. I did confirm this week that parking is allowed on Seawall Blvd. for the parades on Saturday and yes you may safely park your vehicle up on the seawall beginning Friday. However, those of you who have in the past attempted to “reserve” spots on the seawall by “roping off” or blocking spaces, be advised you will be ticketed and your blockades removed by the authorities. You may park your vehicle but you may not block spaces for others.

Another Mardi Gras question, what ever happened to the Munchikins Parade. The Parade is alive and well. It is no longer called the Munchakins because that is a owned name. The Parade is now the Childrens Parade, the Galveston Firefighters Local has taken over as organizers and the Parade is set for 2 P.M. Sunday Febuary 6. The route will be the same as always straight down 25^th street beginning at avenue N and ending at Santa Fe Place. If you or your organization are interested in participating or contributing to the cause please contact Charles Olsen at 789-1265.

Once again Thanks to the residents of district 5 for making me your representative, you keep me informed and I will keep you informed.  Remember Shop Local Hire Local