Sep 14, 2022 Commissioners Court - Regular

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:08]

>> AND ASK THAT... ACTUALLY, I SHOULD ASK, DO WE HAVE A PASTOR THIS MORNING? WE DO.

WELCOME. I'M GOING TO ASK ALL TO RISE FOR INVOCATION. AND TO PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND

THE TEXAS FLAG. >> DYLAN THOMAS CALLED IT THE FORCE THAT THROUGH THE GREEN FUSE DRIVES THE FLOWER.

WHATEVER YOUR BELIEFS, MAY MY PRAYER THIS MORNING RING TRUE.

LET US PRAY. IN THIS CENTURY, AND IN ANY CENTURY, OUR DEEPEST HOPE, OUR MOST TENDER PRAYER IS THAT WE LEARN TO LISTEN. MAY WE LISTEN TO ONE ANOTHER IN OPENNESS AND MERCY. MAY WE LISTEN TO PLANTS AND ANIMALS IN WONDER AND RESPECT. MAY WE LISTEN TO OUR OWN HEARTS IN LOVE AND FORGIVENESS. MAY WE LISTEN IN QUIETNESS AND IN AWE. AND IN THIS LISTENING WHICH IS BOUNDLESS IN ITS BEAUTY, MAY WE FIND THE WISDOM TO COOPERATE WITH A HEALING SPIRIT, A DIVINE SPIRIT WHO BECKONS US INTO PEACE AND COMMUNITY AND CREATIVITY. WE DO NOT ASK FOR A PERFECT WORLD, BUT WE DO ASK FOR A BETTER WORLD.

WE ASK FOR DEEP LISTENING. AMEN.

AND AMEN. >> AMEN.

>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND

INDIVISIBLE. >> FOR THE CLERK, THE TIME IS 8:42 A.M. AND I WOULD NOTE AS WELL THAT WE ARE IN THE NUECES COUNTY COURTHOUSE, THIRD FLOOR, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT ROOM. IT IS SEPTEMBER 14, 2022.

AND ALL COMMISSIONERS WILL ACTUALLY... HE JUST WALKED OUT, BUT I KNOW HE IS HERE. ALL COMMISSIONERS ARE PRESENT AS WELL AS, OBVIOUSLY, MYSELF. THEREFORE, I DO CERTIFY AS THE PRESIDING OFFICER HAS A QUORUM HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED.

I'LL MOVE NOW TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT ON DISCLOSURES OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST OR APPEARANCE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST SHALL BE DECLARED AT THIS TIME. MEMBERS WITH CONFLICTS WILL REFRAIN FROM VOTING AND ARE ASKED TO REFRAIN FROM DISCUSSION ON SUCH ITEMS. CONFLICTS DISCOVERED LATER IN THE MEETING SHALL BE DISCLOSED. AT THIS TIME.

ARE THERE ANY CONFLICTS TO REVEAL?

[E. SAFETY BRIEFING]

NOW WE WILL MOVE TO REBECCA RAMIREZ.

WHO WILL GIVE US A SAFETY BRIEFING.

I WOULD ASK THAT YOU GIVE HER YOUR ATTENTION.

>> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING.

>> JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, AND ATTENDEES, OUR SAFETY BRIEFING FOR TODAY, SEPTEMBER 14, IS BEING HELD IN THE NUECES COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURTROOM. THE REST ROOMS ARE LOCATED ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THE THIRD FLOOR ATRIUM, PAST THE HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE. THERE IS A FIRE EXTINGUISHER LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE COURTROOM AND ALSO FIVE ADDITIONAL FIRE EXTINGUISHERS LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE ATRIUM AREA. IN THE EVENT OF A CARDIAC EMERGENCY, ON THE RIGHT WALL NEXT TO HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE.

PARTICIPANTS FOR TODAY WILL BE CONNIE.

IN THE EVENT OF EVACUATION, PROCEED OUT THE DOORS LOCATED ON THE LOPAN STREET SIDE OF THE COURTHOUSE.

AND ASSEMBLE IN THE PARKING LOT ACROSS THE STREET.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO STAY TOGETHER.

SHOULD THERE BE A NEED TO SHELTER IN PLACE, DEPENDING UPON THE SEVERITY OF THE SHELTER IN PLACE, THE COURTROOM DOUBLE DOORS WILL BE SECUREDDED A AND REMAIN SECURE UNTIL GIVEN FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE OR OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. AND THAT IS OUR SAFETY.

>> OKAY. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. AT THIS TIME, I'LL MOVE THE

[F. PUBLIC COMMENT: This section provides the public the opportunity to address the Commissioners Court on any issues within its jurisdiction. The Commissioners Court may not take formal action on any requests made during the Public Comment period which are not on the Agenda, but can refer such requests to County staff for review if appropriate.]

[00:05:05]

AND ASK THAT YOU TAKE THE PODIUM WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME.

THERE IS A THREE-MINUTE DIGITAL CLOCK.

JUST TO HELP YOU KEEP TIME. IT WILL BE IN FRONT OF YOU.

THAT IS THE POLICY THAT WE HAVE HERE.

IN COURT. TRY NEVER TO CUT ANYBODY OFF.

JUST KEEP THOUGHTFUL REMINDER ABOUT THE RESPECTFULNESS TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAS A CHANCE TO MAKE THEIR COMMENTARY.

AND WITH THAT, I'LL ALSO REMIND YOU THAT THIS IS THE TIME WHERE WE DON'T ENGAGE BACK, BUT I PROMISE YOU WE ARE LISTENING VERY CLOSELY IN THAT BEAUTIFUL WORDS BY OUR PASTOR, LISTENING.

WE WILL LISTEN VERY CLOSELY. IF THERE IS AN AGENDA ITEM THAT RELATES TO YOUR COMMENT, REST ASSURED, WE WILL BE, YOU KNOW, ADDRESSING IT AT THAT TIME. SO WITH THAT, WE WILL BEGIN, AND THE FIRST PERSON I HAVE IS... I'M GOING TO TRY.

IS IT EGNATOWSKI. GREG, WELCOME.

YES, SIR. >> CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME ALL

RIGHT? >> I'M GOING TO ASK...S IF A FUNNY MICROPHONE. SEE IF YOU CAN MOVE IT UP.

>> IS THAT BETTER? >> MUCH BETTER, SIR.

>> OKAY. AWESOME.

WELL, GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. AND COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU. >> I WOULD ASK AND INFORM THE COURT... PLEASE KEEP THE COMMENTS VERY GENERAL AND NOTHING SPECIFIC ABOUT ANY BIDDING PROCESS THAT SHOULD BE

DISCLOSESSED DURING THIS TIME. >> OKAY.

>> YES. >> A GOOD PRECAUTION.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LY MAKE SURE I DO THAT.

AGAIN, I APPRECIATE YOU FOR LETTING ME SAY A FEW WORDS.

LY KEEP IT BRIEF. MY NAME IS GREG.

I'M FROM WORK DAY. I LIVE NEAR TEXAS.

MY ADDRESS IS 2704 GRIMES RANCH ROAD.

A LITTLE BIT NORTH OF THE COUNTY.

NEAR AUSTIN, BUT I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ON THE ERP MODERNIZATION PROJECT THAT IS ON THE AGENDA TODAY FOR QUITE SOME TIME. AND I WANT TO SHARE A FEW IMPORTANT TOPICS THAT I THINK SHOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR THE COURT'S CONSIDERATION. FIRST, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE AND SAY THANK YOU IN PERSON FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS IMPORTANT AND STRATEGIC PROJECT.

AND IT IS A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT THAT COUNTY IS LOOKING AT MAKING , AND IT IS TYPICALLY, ONLY EVALUATED EVERY 10-15 YEARS. IT TOUCHES EVERYBODY, INCLUDING LEADERSHIP, EMPLOYEES, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE CONSTITUENTS OF THIS GREAT COUNTY. CHOOSING THE RIGHT PARTNER IS CRITICAL FOR SUCCESS. LAST WEEK, I DID MAKE A FEW PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE FOUR AREAS THAT WE TYPICALLY SEE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE... FOCUS ON IN THESE TYPE OF EVALUATIONS. FIRST IS THE FUNCTIONAL AND TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS WHICH I WON'T GO TOO DEEP INTO.

I THINK THEY SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

THE VALUE OR RETURN ON INVESTMENT, REFERENCES, REFERENCES ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AS THEIR EXPERIENCE WILL BE YOUR EXPERIENCE. I HOPE THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION AS YOU CONTINUE TO EVALUATE THIS PROJECT. AND YOU KNOW, WE ARE REALLY PROUD OF WHAT WE PROVIDE AND WHAT WE OFFER AND WHAT WE HAVE SEEN WITH OTHER CITIES, STATES, AND COUNTIES ACROSS THE U.S.

PROUD OF OUR 97% CUSTOMER SATISFACTION RATE, AND WE HOPE THAT, AGAIN, AS YOU EVALUATE THIS CRITICAL PROJECT FOR THE COUNTY, YOU THINK ABOUT FUNCTIONALITY, TECHNICAL SECURITY REQUIREMENTS, REFERENCES, THE VALUE THAT THE COUNTY WILL GET, AND ULTIMATELY, THE COST.

I HOPE YOU FIND THIS USEFUL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

WE WISH THE COUNTY THE BEST. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT WE HAVE... IS IT TED

MOFFIT? >> MORRIS.

>> MORRIS. THANK YOU.

I TRY MY BEST TO READ THE WRITING.

I APOLOGIZE. WELCOME, MR. MORRIS.

>> THANK YOU. YES.

MY NAME IS TED MORRIS. SORRY.

MY MOTHER TOLD ME I SHOULD HAVE BEEN A DOCTOR WITH MY WRITING.

I LIVE ON THE ISLAND. 15869.

ABOUT A MILE FROM THE PIER. THAT IS WHAT BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS TODAY. SOME THOUGHTS ON.

THAT I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN SOME BACK-AND-FORTH AND INVESTIGATION OF THE BEST WAY TO GO ABOUT THIS FOR OUR COUNTY.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME OF MY OPINIONS WITH YOU.

I HAVE ATTENDED SOME OF THE PARKS BOARDS MEETINGS.

[00:10:05]

THEY HAVE COME OUT WITH A UNANIMOUS DECISION ON MY SIDE.

HERE ARE SOME OF MY THOUGHTS ON THIS.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THE FOUNDATION IS OF THE EXISTING STRUCTURE IS ENGINEERED IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT WILL SUPPORT A SECOND FLOOR.

I AM PRO-SECOND FLOOR. THAT IS MY STANCE.

FOR MANY DIFFERENT REASONS. IN ADDITION, NO ADDITIONAL FOOTPRINT IS NEEDED WHICH WOULD DELAY THE CONSTRUCTION DUE TO RED TAPE PERMITTING. THERE WOULD BE INITIAL PERMITTING. I'M GOING TO SPEED THROUGH SOME OF. THIS MY TIME IS TWINDLING.

THERE ARE MANY VIABLE REASONS FOR APPROVING THE BILL TO THE SECOND STORY. SECOND STORY WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO THE ISLAND BECAUSE THERE ARE LIMITED VENUES WITH THE CLOSING OF THE BOND FACILITY. THIS WILL ALSO, BY HAVING A SECOND BUILD, WILL ALSO PROMOTE AND BOLSTER TOURISM FOR EVENTS SUCH AS MUSIC EVENTS, DESTINATION WEDDINGS, CHARITABLE FUND-RAISING EVENTS, COMMUNITY CLUB MEETINGS, AND A LIST GOES ON. IT WILL ALSO BECOME A LANDMARK LIKE NO OTHER ALONG THE AREA OF THE GULF COAST.

WE LIVE ON THE LONGEST BARRIER ISLAND IN THE U.S., POSSIBLY THE WORLD, AND WHAT BETTER BEAUTIFUL BUILDING TO HAVE RIGHT THERE FOR ALL THE VISITORS AND AS WELL AS THE NUECES COUNTY CITIZENS TO APPRECIATE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PIER WAS APPROVED FOR A $9 MILLION BUILDOUT.

I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE SECOND FLOOR CAN BE BUILT FOR AN ADDITIONAL $2 MILLION. THE DOLLARS ARE THERE.

THE OPTIONS IS TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL SINGLE-FLOOR, STAY ON THE SINGLE FLOOR FOR THE $2 MILLION FOR ABOUT A LITTLE OVER 2,000 SQUARE FOOT. THAT SAME $2 MILLION TO GO UP WITH A SECOND FLOOR WOULD GIVE DOUBLE THAT.

I BELIEVE THE NUMBER IS, LIKE, 5250.

A LITTLE OVER 5,000 SQUARE FOOT. ON THE FLIP SIDE, I CAN'TTHY THINK OF A REASON NOT TO BUILD THE SECOND FLOOR.

SECOND STORE. PLEASE, AS A COMMISSIONERS COURT, I'M ASKING YOU TO LISTEN TO THE PARKS BOARD, THEIR RESEARCH AND RECOMMENDATION ON THIS.

AND GO WITH THE SECOND FLOOR. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MR. MORRIS. NEXT WE WILL HAVE MISSANDY GRAVES. ... MISS SANDY GRAVES.

>> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

AT THE RISK OF REPEATING WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID, AGAIN, MY NAME IS SANDY GRAVES. I LIVE ON THE ISLAND.

5 15802 GYPSY. I'M A HALF A MILE STRAIGHT SHOT TO THE BEACH. AND I CAN HEAR THE SEA EVERY MORNING. IT IS WONDERFUL.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK FOR THE PIER AND THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE RESTAURANT. AS MR. MORRIS ALREADY SAID, THE $2 MILLION, WE WOULD GET DOUBLE THE SPACE GOING UP AS A POSED TO EXPANDING. YOU KNOW, FOR THE LIFE OF ME, I CAN'T IMAGINE WHY ANYBODY WOULD WANT TO SPEND THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR LESS SPACE. JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

THE ISLAND NEEDS A VENUE, A PLACE WHERE WE CAN HAVE OUR EVENTS, BAREFOOD MARDI... GRAS, ET CETERA.

WE WOULD BE A DESTINATION FOR WEDDINGS, PRIVATE PARTIES: PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER WOULD COME. LET ME SEE.

WHAT ELSE... >> THIS WOULDN'T BE JUST TOURIST SEASON. IT WOULD BE YEAR-ROUND.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON BY HALF OF MS. NARDOM.

SHE HAS PROVEN HERSELF. SHE HAS TURNED MICHAEL MAIZE INTO A SUCCESS INTO A... IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

IF SHE SAYS SHE CAN MAKE THE SECOND FLOOR A SUCCESS, SHE CAN DO THAT. AND THAT IS PRETTY MUCH ABOUT

IT. >> THANK YOU.

>> I WOULD ASK THAT YOU GUYS PUT THIS ON THE NEXT AGENDA SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT. AND PLEASE CONSIDER FOLLOWING THE PARKS BOARD'S DECISION. AND OH, ONE MORE THING.

RETURN ON INVESTMENT. I KNOW THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO EVERYONE. I BELIEVE THAT IS THAT THE SECOND FLOOR WOULD BE MORE OF A RETURN OF INVESTMENT THAN THE FEE YOU CHARGE GOING ON TO THE PIER.

SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> I'M GOING TO... I LIKE TO DO THIS WHERE I GO ON-LINE AND THEN

[00:15:01]

I'LL CALL ON MR. STEVE BONNER AT THIS T