City Council - Regular Meeting

mic check mic check okay

Yeah. Okay. Let's leave it on right now.

You get to turn it around too.

We're behind in rain, although I'm a gardener, so I'm happy it's raining. I can respect that. I know.

He wanted me to talk about something specific. He didn't send it, so. How are you, Mr. Gorey? You're up there now.

We're sitting next to each other. I know.

I lost my lector and traded it in for a deal. Y'all, please don't get distracted. I'm not sponsored by Pink Lemonade.

Not really, no. You sure you're not going to change your mind?

I thought you were talking to me. I was like, I'm in my reserved seat.

Okay, seeing we have a quorum, I will call to order the City of Kemah City Council and Kemah Public Facilities Corporation. The first thing on our agenda are the pledges.

All right.

Next on the agenda is a moment of silence. And next on the agenda is invitation to address council. And the first one on the list is Sylvia Streeter.

May I speak from here?

Yes, ma'am. Just talk loud enough they can hear you.

My teacher voice?

Yes, your teacher voice.

I want to say to each of you serving that I appreciate you being in this place right now. And I have a little bit of advice for you. I would say remain a public servant and do not become a politician that plays games.

And next on the list is Cheryl Gonzalez. And Ms. Gonzalez, just make sure the mic is on.

The green light's on.

Is it green?

It says green. I mean, it's showing green.

Okay, we're good.

Okay, this is something I feel we've needed a long time in Kima, and I've mentioned it before, and that is we need some kind of a siren in view of what happened on the Guadalupe River And just where we sit here at Galveston County, which was the worst flood in the history of our country, a 1900 flood, we need a siren. It's very low tech. I don't know why we don't have it. They've brought them, taken them out. People have said that it's because they test them at noon and it bothers people who are sleeping late on Saturdays. I don't know. But I can't see. Not everybody's cell phone is on or charged up. And so you don't get these. Sometimes you don't get these notifications. Tornado, the same thing. I was watching the tornado as it came up the 45th. And it was headed right over here to Shore Acres, and it veered off, and it went up to Deer Park and did some pretty good damage at Deer Park a couple years ago. But it was headed right here from the 45 between Kima and Shore Acres. Why do we not have a siren? Is it so expensive? I mean, this area, I don't know how many acres Kima is to be covered by a siren. How many acres is it? I don't know. But are they really expensive? What is the reason we don't have one? I'm not sure. I've always wondered. Maybe somebody could take it on. Maybe the fifth graders at Stewart Elementary could take it on as a project or something. Thank you.

Thank you very much. And we're not allowed to speak back. We're not ignoring any of you when you address this during opening comments. Next, we have proclamations, presentations, and awards. And we have a proclamation tonight recognizing National Public Works Week.

So, guys. And whereas these infrastructure facilities and services could not be provided without the dedicated efforts of public workers. in the private sector who are responsible for rebuilding, improving, and protecting our nation's transportation, water supply, water treatment, and solid waste systems, public buildings, and other structures and facilities essential for our citizens. And whereas it is in the public interest for the citizens, civic leaders, and children in the city of Kemah to gain knowledge of and maintain an ongoing interest in understanding of the importance of public works and public works programs in their respective communities, whereas the year 2026 marks the 66th annual National Public Works Week, sponsored by the American Public Works Association. The end now. Therefore, I, Mayor Robin Collins, do hereby proclaim the week of May 17th to 23rd, 2026, as National Public other public works departments to join in celebrating their contributions to our community. In Witnessboro, I have here to set my hand in cause to steal a seat here to be a 6th of 28th day of 1926. Thank you all very much.

And they like cooking.

And they like cooking so much. That is my smile.

Okay, next we have the mayor comments. I just want to welcome our newly appointed council members that were sworn in at a ceremony prior to this meeting today, and we look forward to working with them. Shalia and Rob. Glad you're with us. You'll also notice that we're missing several tonight. Councilman Darren Broadus and our city administrator, Cesar Garcia, are both representing KCDC at a national trade show in an attempt to recruit new restaurants and amusements and retail amenities for KEMA. And Councilman Wallace is out of town, but I do think Cesar was able to log in. So hopefully he'll be able to talk if we need to talk to him tonight. Last week, we celebrated the National Police Week with our Kemah Police Department. We are extremely grateful for the work of Chief Garibay and his team in keeping the community safe. And as you just heard, saw of its national public works week a huge thanks to our public works director rayshard loftus and his team for all the work that goes into keeping everything beautiful the parks the public spaces and everything in keema and also things running smoothly when we have fourth of july parade a lot of preparation goes into that and they do a great job at being organized with that The Kima Boardwalk announced the construction of their newest attraction, the Boardwalk Bay Water Park. That's a lot to put in my mouth. It's set to open 2027. It features new family-friendly attractions, and the construction is not expected to impact any of the existing rides and restaurants that are open at this time while they're putting it together. Also, city staff has started planning for the city's annual 4th of July parade As you all know, that is a huge event, and we anticipate even more visitors this year because 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of our country. And this year's theme for the parade will be Let Freedom Ring, Kima style. Staging for the parade will begin at 10 a.m. this year. I think that's slightly different from years past, and the parade will start at 11 a.m. But you can keep checking the website and social media. They will continue posting more information about the parade as we move forward. Next on the agenda is council member comments. Councilman Thorne, would you like to start?

Yes.

And please indulge me for my first meeting. I'll be a little bit lengthy. But first I want to give honor to God and thanks to the voters of Keenum. I wouldn't be here without you. And I take it very seriously representing you. And you... can get in touch with me anytime. And I'll be putting out that information on how I can be contacted. And as for my fellow council member, I want to just give a few words. You might be working with incomplete information about yourself, about others, and about the community around you. It could be something small, like a habit that isn't working, or something bigger, like a belief that you have had for a long time. So ask yourself, and I ask myself as well, am I open to learning something new? Because growth doesn't require a classroom or a degree. It requires a willingness to listen and to take that step forward when the time comes. I invite you to take that step with me and to listen to the voters. Thank you very much. And again, I'm here to serve the citizens of Kenya.

Councilman Oliver.

I'd just like to welcome Councilman Thorne and Councilman Bork. Welcome to City Council. Looking forward to working with everybody. I know staff is as well. Thank you for volunteering your time and your efforts to the residents and everybody that calls KEMA home and visits. Other than that, I think that's all I got this week. Thank you, Public Works. Good job, Rashard. Keep it up. We're gonna have a lot of mowing to do when the rain's done.

Yeah, really. And Councilman Lark.

I just want to say thank you to the people and the voters of KEMA. I believe in the idea of transparency, and I always will. I also want to say that I'm going to make this as short as possible because I've been told a lot of times that I talk too much. But I just want to say thank you again, and I'll do the best I can.

Well, thank you. Next is a city administrator's report. Cesar, can you hear me? Okay. Next on the agenda is reports from staff. It's quite a lengthy list of them. Do any of the council have questions or comments about the staff report?

Yes, I do. On 9H, on the city secretary's report, I would ask that the information on The public information requests, some of those items are blacked out and I ran on transparency and I would like those numbers put in. If we have an issue, it should be addressed and not put behind a blackout because this mark does not state what the public information requires. It's simply a tally, and a tally should be public information.

Could you please clarify, are you referring to the black marks on this?

Yes. Oh, it's just spaces. That's all it is. No, if you go to the next one or back, right there. It's just for spacing purposes. The report is listed here. So you're saying that it does still have the totals?

Yes.

Okay, thank you. Any other questions or comments on a staff report?

I've got one for 9F for Ms. Nola, for the STR report. Can you, I don't know if everybody knows what this is. I know this is a project that I put on your plate. I apologize then, I'll apologize again. Before the next meeting, can you send out the detail list of STRs that are in the software that had identified this? Just so the new council members and anybody else that hasn't read it when you sent it to me. One, to know how many STRs we have in town and we can keep track of compliance of who's playing by the rules.

The whole point of the exercise was get the people not in compliance in compliance and doing the right thing.

and also to pay for this program through hot taxes collected from them. So we need to be able to prove that we're actually doing that.

Okay, yeah, I'll change the report for next time. Awesome, thank you. All right, thank you. Thanks, Mel. I went and met with her and Jerry about that program the other day, and what was it, only about five or six that hadn't paid? Yeah.

Yeah, so we're close to being in compliance.

Okay, any other questions or comments? I can do this offline. But for instance, on the PRR, it does not list on that line, for instance, the total and the number completed. And that would tell me it does list just a total amount. For instance, it says 387 for 2026. But I believe if I'm reading the columns correctly, that would show me the total and then what's completed. So it's going to show me what's still open. Oh, I can absolutely add that on there.

Yeah, that's not a problem. Yeah, I can do that.

Any other questions or comments? Okay, we will move along then. Consent agenda, 10A and 10B, clean up signers on the Texas bank accounts for the city and to approve the minutes of the 5-6-26 city council regular meeting. Do I have a motion to approve the considered agenda?

So moved.

Do we have a second? Second. We have a motion by Councilman Dustin Oliver and a second by Councilman Rob Rourke. All those in favor? All those opposed?

Opposed. I wanted to remove an item. Oh, I'm sorry. And I'm probably not familiar with the proper way to do so.

um well i'd like to remove uh the signers so i'd like to remove 10a okay yeah let's uh okay okay opposed okay so that vote uh fails for lack of uh positive votes uh councilman thorne wants to pull off 10a so uh do we do we have a motion to approve 10b motion to approve 10b okay and to remove uh 10a second okay uh we have a motion by councilman thorne to remove 10a and to approve 10b and uh we have a second by councilman dustin oliver all those in favor

any opposed motion carries unanimously we will go back to 10a this is clean up the signers on the texas first bank accounts uh for the city okay um on the research that i did on it um i would ask that we not go the extreme on the on the pendulum i do believe that we do want to have uh a small amount of people signing, but I also believe that they not only look at the number of signers, but the concentration of signers. So I'm making a motion that Lee Wallace not be removed because that gives you a backup, and that's the only one. Feel free to remove the other, but just Lee Wallace not be removed so you have a backup councilman. Whether that person signs or not, you still have a backup.

Well, prior to making a motion, are there any other comments with regard to the 10A? And just for context, the bank contacted us to make the list smaller, and they're basing that on best practices, and that was their recommendation. Any other comments or considerations?

It hurt my feelings.

Sorry, I can't sign your checks anymore. You can still approve the invoices. So, Councilman Thorne, would you like to restate your motion?

Okay. I would ask that the motion as presented, that all of the signers be removed with the exception of Lee Walsh.

Do we have a second?

No, sir.

We have a second. All those in favor?

Those opposed?

Dustin?

Oh, I'm good with it.

Okay. All right. Motion carries unanimously. So all would be removed with the exception of Councilman Wallace.

The removals. What she's talking about. Okay.

I know I'm just looking at, no, just the removals. Right. Yes. It would be four of us. Yes. The four that were listed and they say all this, but then just. Okay. Number 11, a consideration of possible action to approve resolution 202623. This is a resolution of the city council of the city of Pima, Texas, authorizing the submission. an application to the united states department of transportation for funding under the safe streets and roads for all ss4a planning and demonstration grant programs caesar can speak to this this is a grant we applied for last year we went pretty broad in our scope last year and after he followed up with the grant writers they suggested that we um when we when and if we reapply that we

narrow it down a bit and i believe that is his plan with this grant caesar can you hear me as we know the completion of the construction of 146 has caused her to be a little bit less disconnected

Any questions or comments for Cesar? No. Do I have a motion on the floor for 11A?

I'll make a motion to approve Resolution 2026-23.

Do we have a second? I second. So we have a motion by Councilman Dustin Oliver and second by Councilman Shalia Thorne. All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. We do not have an executive closed session tonight. And unless anyone has a comment or a question, I will adjourn the meeting at 421. You know, I didn't see the place either.

I went all the way to the back.