City Council - Regular Meeting

I understand that it's standard across many municipalities to have the two city council person approval for agenda items, is that correct?

The process that's described under that section as well is, what's the word I'm looking for? It's just a lot of work, a lot of extra work. If I want to put an agenda item on, I can no longer email that. It needs to be in person. I have to hunt down the second person for approval. That's a lot more to do.

on a council meeting day, which I'm fervorously preparing for, typically, because it has to be turned in on that same day. And usually what's happened in the times that I've put an agenda item on here is I have to wait an entire month. So I'm preparing that ahead of time, and then I'm putting that on, asking to put it on the next agenda, or two weeks, sorry.

Well, yeah, we've done that. That's the way we've done it.

Well, thank you. I'm not pointing a finger at anyone. I am merely stating that when I do prepare agenda items, I am under the understanding that if I can't do everything in one day, then I'm waiting two weeks to put it then on the next agenda.

it's it's in that paragraph we've we've actually edited this like ten times well I know I was just going through my notes seeing that okay just making sure that it's still in there because I've looked at so many different copies I've written I don't know how many emails about this but it seems like there's not very many other council members that have questions about this but I think if our constituents have questions and we're still debating it, then why rush this decision? It's a policy-making decision that probably could be workshopped a little bit more so that we are making sure that

I didn't read anything about it. So we have to pick up a form.

And we're getting signatures on it by emailing it to another council member or tracking somebody down? How does that work?

Does anybody else? Can we just make it one then? That's okay with me. I'm fine with that.

How can we regulate the speech of an official outside of their official capacity?

But as long as your individual opinions don't have to do with city business or city employee or city official.

can definitely happen I mean I I know that you know what that feels like because you spoke as the mayor at a planning and zoning meeting to about the Bubba Gump's scenario so and you made sure to clarify that you were not speaking in your official capacity when you were there right because I know you know what yeah and it's tough because you're talking about your you know related items and we have that and so there's this whole

It's a moot point. I mean, it was done. It was perceived. It's the same thing. Exactly. Great example, though.

Yes. Okay, I'll second. Go ahead. I have a question about 13.7, personal political advocacy. A city council member shall not use city letterheads, logos, vehicles, staff, and any type of city resources or city titles for personal or campaign purposes or to promote or endorse a candidate for city office. Does that include a slide and presentations that were developed by city staff? that has letterhead on it, that has logos on it?

Yes, that's. That wasn't my question. My question was pretty specific. So if there was a presentation that was made and sure it was given to the public, can that presentation then be used for campaign purposes?

Well, if it's used in relation to a campaign post, as council member, this is what we've done, and the presentation that I'm using to represent what it is that we've done is something that I'm advocating in my political campaign, is that using city resources, because it sounds like it to me.

Yeah, but the city staff created those presentations and slides. And it has logos, and it is city resources.

Then that would be OK. OK, well. Right? I mean. But then the candidate is using city logos on a presentation that they've created to then use in their candidacy. So for instance, okay. Where are we having the conversation? Yes, wait, wait, but I'm trying to.

It's very confusing. This is very specific because it has nothing to do with something that is not logoed South Padre Island. It doesn't have anything to do with the monster can. It has everything to do with using city letterheads, logos, vehicles, staff, and any type of city resources for it. That's the point, and that's my question. So we can discuss this question. Sure.

Okay, let's say Wendy and Nikki got together and created a beautiful slideshow about the accomplishments of South Padre Island. Okay, can I use that slideshow or presentation on my candidacy page?

That's not considering using city resources or anything?

Yeah, that's why I'm like, yes. And then what's that, I mean, because it was presented publicly, because if, how does that work?

Hey, that happened and nothing happened to that council member.

Where does that leave our general fund after the $155,000?

Before you do, Mayor, point of privilege, just want to request that all council members and people that come up to the podium to please speak into the microphone as people are listening at home. Thank you.

Greedy, is this a development or change since the last time? Were we going to redo the entire roof as of the last time?

Okay, yeah, so that was the conversation, is that that part of the exhibit hall that has the new roof, we are not touching.

And that was already in the numbers and everything. Great, thank you.

Can I ask you a question quickly? Yes, ma'am. We passed a, I think, resolution to say that the 50 million was gonna be our max budget for this. When we add in a bond and the interest, how do we stay under that 50 million budget?

No, we definitely want to save as we go, if possible and when possible. My point is that with the interest, that's maybe $22 million more. We're not under a $50 million budget on this project.

Did it take out any of the discussion about the... Weren't the sharks and the whales and the dolphins and all of these considered signage? So they were coming in and asking for variances for their sign to be that art?

So just to be clear, there won't be any more people coming to the planning and zoning to ask for a variance for that type of art installation under the signage code?

discussion from business owners or like constituents that had any concerns about this I mean obviously anybody that would that has a monument sign at six feet would be fine because it's up to 16 feet yes who has a 16 foot sign everybody okay so most of most of them are okay most of the comments were that they wanted 16 feet Okay, so those are actually.

I'll make a motion to approve. I'll second.