MEETING WITH GALVESTON OFFICIALS
Gil Langley – President & CEO Galveston Parks Board
Chuck Coburn – Manager Beach Cleaning
Dianna Puccetti – City Council Member
Jerry Mohn - WGIPOA
Subject: Fiscal Budget Cutback on west end beach cleaning
Dianna and I had a very productive 90 minute meeting on Monday, October 6. Several concerns and issues on reduced beach cleaning were discussed and we all arrived at a better understanding on the problems. As a result of the meeting, the attached memo to City Council outlines changes to be instituted. In addition, also attached is the method how hotel/motel taxes are calculated for beach cleaning. Mr. Langley would like to work with the west end to maintain the cleanliness quality and he has increased the number of people picking up trash to prevent any overflowing receptacles. We will continue to meet and work with the Parks Board to make certain the beaches are clean for the residents and visitors. The following is a report on the meeting.
If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.
Gil Langley reviewed the proposed beach cleaning budget for the entire island for fiscal 2004 year, which is $1.708 million and $480,000 is earmarked for the west end.
The Parks Board will have an overall deficit of $500-600,000 fiscal year 2003 and a balanced budget for fiscal year 2004 is desired, which means cutbacks in areas such as beach cleaning.
For fiscal year 2003, the beach cleaning budget was $1.7 million with $480,000 for the west end . However, $200,000 additional was spent in cleaning up the west end in June 2003 of debris from 2002 tropical storm damage, or $680,000 for the west end. The cost for the debris cleanup from Hurricane Claudette damage is reimbursable from FEMA and was not part of the expense for this year.
Mr. Langley would like to allocate resources to where funds were generated. For example, the west end generates only $846,000 from hotel/motel taxes, which represents only 13.5% of the hotel/motel taxes collected on the island of $6.25 million. We did not believe this a fair assessment because the west end does not have high rise hotels or motels as the Seawall area or has a cash generating income such as paid beach parking at Apfel and Stewart Beaches. In addition, the west end is without lifeguard services and has ceased all seaweed raking activities.
Essentially, the budget for the west end fiscal year 2004 is basically the same as budgeted for fiscal year 2003 of $480,000. Due to higher operating costs, the number of pick ups on the beach for trash barrels and hand pick ups will be reduced from 5 days to 3 days; Saturday, Sunday and Thursday for hand pick up and Saturday, Sunday and Friday for barrel pick ups. In addition, 10 yard solid-waste containers will be placed at high volume trash areas where trash barrels are constantly overflowing, 8 mile road, Pabst Road, 15 mile road, and 2nd street at Bay Harbor. The waste containers would be picked up two times a week and switched to other areas if deemed appropriate. The Parks Board believes the overstuffed trash barrels in these areas are from renters and residents who run out of room with their own house containers and they would like this activity to cease.
We indicated the problem with reduced trash barrel pick up is the overflowing trash at the barrels especially on Mondays after a heavy beach user weekend. If the trash is not picked up, it could become a health hazard since animals and insects invade the barrels. We suggested increasing the number of barrels in each subdivision, to which the Parks Board agreed. There were 800 trash barrels but after Hurricane Claudette, there are only 500 now.
If a subdivision desires more trash barrels on their beaches to please contact Chuck Coburn at: 797-5106 or e-mail: If a subdivision desires more trash barrels on their beaches to please contact Chuck Coburn at: 797-5106 or e-mail: ccoburn@galvestonparkboard.org.
See these documents for further information: