Members of Galveston City Council were the featured speakers at the Galveston Chamber of Commerce's "Visions Into the Future" luncheon on Thursday.   Chamber Chair Fred Raschke was the master of ceremonies. Listen:  RealPlayer  MP3

"This is one of the better councils that I have seen in many, many years," said District 1 Council Member Rusty Legg.  "I think we all have the same vision of moving our island forward."

Legg said the council is united on management.

"We have given the direction to the city manager to do a balanced budget," Legg said.  "I know that's going to happen."

City Manager Steve LeBlanc's proposed FY2011 Budget was a continuing theme during the speeches.

"The preliminary budget that he presented did not provide a very positive financial future, or picture, for the city," said District 2 Council Member Linda Colbert, expressing concern about LeBlanc's proposed cuts in the number of police officers and firefighters.  "I'm concerned about how these cuts will impact the quality of life for our citizens in the future."

"Probably almost everybody in this room has been listening to me for about 10 years about things I thought needed to be done," said District 5 Council Member Steve Greenberg, recalling that he had urged the city council to cut its budget years ago to prepare for the downturn in the economy.  "We probably wouldn't be in this crisis we are in today."

"Without a doubt, the budget process will be the most important activity that this council will undertake during the next 120 days," agreed District 6 Council Member Dianna Puccetti.  "The budget cycle will bring many challenges and difficult decisions, but it will set the pace for the future of this island.  I would like to see the council complete this process with a balanced budget that provides the resources necessary to have a safe and clean city, improved infrastructure, streamlined permitting processes at City Hall that make it easier for both individuals and businesses to move through the steps necessary to make improvements and operate in the city while also reducing the cost of providing that service."

"This is an outstanding city council," said Mayor Joe Jaworski.  "I think it's an incredible responsibility for me to lead this council."

Jaworski said that he and the city council will conduct regular performance reviews of the city manager.

"We resolved as a council that we want our city manager to bring his 'A Game', to be a professional city manager not a political city manager who counts to four," Jaworski said.  "That's just not the way it works. He has got to give us administrative expertise every time he makes a pronouncement; and then it's our job to handle the politics of it."

Jaworski said that LeBlanc must be held accountable by the city council.

"This city won't function well if he isn't held to the highest level of accountability," Jaworski said.  "I think he's ready for it.  You know, it's time for Steve LeBlanc to bring out his 'A Game'; and he wants to.  I mean, who wouldn't want to?  So, he knows that this city council wants him to excel, we want him to raise his level of performance; and the best way to make that happen is for us to review him every six months."

Jaworski said that the city council will approve a balanced budget, then will get to work on a paid parking plan for Seawall Boulevard that will win voter approval in May.

"No more blue ribbon panels, because we've had a number of them and we thank them for their service and their opinions," Jaworski said. "But this time it's going to be 'the' city council - the one you put in office."

District 3 Council Member Elizabeth Beeton and District 4 Council Member Chris Gonzales were unable to attend.