[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6604915,"mediaKeyId","3032442-5265fb303f06827353e9bdf1c4b0dc3f","parentId",3032442,"title","Council and trustees debate transferring Seawolf and Dela Nera management and HOT collection to city","audioSeconds",675,"startMs",7179000,"endMs",7854000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3032442-5265fb303f06827353e9bdf1c4b0dc3f&start=7179&end=7854","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3032442-5265fb303f06827353e9bdf1c4b0dc3f/thumbnail_7179000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6604915/Galveston/Galveston-County/Texas/Council-and-trustees-debate-transferring-Seawolf-and-Dela-Nera-management-and-HOT-collection-to-city","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6604915-3a5e8e9c4ca6a4d1d6bf031ed765d54e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445684&Signature=nEk10KGgna5IEB9CyXaodI8uEHjOxQVgWy9bgk9dcgb5IeKMVvGWWFJ0z7iNlWqBWBSnU~WAEUQv0iNCN1s7ZpjrrvA4hf0r2ETv1gMVJVqzG7cZhlc0HiPX2mN6iGAhr~Gn9bS7xeo~S9lekqeaYWOn~KFnygBGB6e9KUflJny8Owp8WvKIzDaFW3B-aUCP6lHhMNo22qbzJrNus15MEXCNqaCHGc3XXqgCI8J~xuZXL0kOmCvQAVqa4mofnXz8eXmwKZR6E111HWEuAa0pmQVL2QnOiNlUnM~fF39CPOkeqi4jzMU8dbGSWKLx9qgK-ReOYoObGA0TSWKDetbLsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Galveston","date","2025-04-16T00:00:00Z","article","Council and Park Board trustees discussed whether the City of Galveston should assume management of Seawolf Park and Dela Nera Park, and whether the city should collect hotel‑occupancy tax (HOT) directly, at a joint meeting April 16.

Councilmember Perreta advocated transferring management of both parks to the city, saying municipal management would be more efficient for pocket parks and larger operations alike. Several trustees responded that both Seawolf Park and Dela Nera were operating efficiently under current management and asked for an apples‑to‑apples business case comparing costs, staffing and revenue under each option.

Trustees provided performance figures for the parks and said they had seen improvements in operations and revenue. \"If you look at Seawolf Park, it's right at about 47% [payroll to revenue], which is a 53% return on investment,\" a trustee said. Trustees requested the city provide a detailed plan showing staffing, pension impacts and transition costs before any transfer.

On HOT administration, councilmembers proposed moving HOT collection to the city to reduce multiple transfers and improve enforcement, particularly for short‑term rentals and STR registration. Proponents argued a single transfer would reduce overhead and let city tax staff manage audits and cross‑checks. Trustees said they have historically collected HOT and said the function is a core Park Board responsibility; some trustees said the board’s tax collections are the organization’s lifeblood.

Both sides agreed to gather more data. Council asked Park Board staff for detailed payroll, revenue and account balances for Seawolf and Dela Nera and for information about how any transfer would affect existing employees, including pension/benefit implications. Trustees asked the city to outline transition costs and legal liabilities if the city took over operations of the two parks.

Ending: Staff agreed to exchange detailed operational financials and to place the issue on a future agenda after both sides review a business case and impacts. Council and trustees said they remained open to transfer if analysis showed it would improve service or cost outcomes but insisted that staff and employees’ interests be protected in any transfer.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Galveston - Joint Meeting of the Parks Board of Trustees and the City Council - Apr 16, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Trustees and councilmembers discussed proposals to transfer management of Seawolf Park and Dela Nera Park to the city and to shift hotel‑occupancy tax collection to city finance. Speakers requested business‑case comparisons, payroll and pension implications and clearer financial data before decisions.","taxTitle","Galveston , Galveston County, Texas","taxId",5145,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6604920,"City and trustees outline Stewart Beach master‑plan process; drainage dispute remains in litigation",569,6075000,6644000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3032442-5265fb303f06827353e9bdf1c4b0dc3f&start=6075&end=6644","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3032442-5265fb303f06827353e9bdf1c4b0dc3f/thumbnail_6075000.jpg","/articles/6604920/Galveston/Galveston-County/Texas/City-and-trustees-outline-Stewart-Beach-masterplan-process-drainage-dispute-remains-in-litigation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6604920-b37c01905065415fc9bf8c4a68791c20/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445684&Signature=h6QKyqry6Fd0S24cOyabGp5Na1DiqHkjwPVtEr-1u0orUew6IjNeUXoggj0valR6MWsqOstc4d5FCP6qNG8r3j98TBCXPNhuYP2ZAXnsf7M8vf1TjKk-WAHra4ScUtaGlgkPyHPgAeVIa9Hef86hCBz4MVJAVodSKvxrUPOUQQDFmuVHCUU6xqp~ivyziCQhaeOTgmdOH~ZMlMIemDXsyGbOjP4KDY3uVGEqRLCTDmkTibcF5HdDySPQyvo3UCeAV8CDNlg00tn-9in-izEefFKy7AbHa6n0dQCAfUk8tMi15cd70vFAEyguppZMMgXM01lJ0~DH0mURN7tuXjVZPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City architectural project manager Dudley Anderson briefed the joint meeting April 16 on the Stewart Beach planning effort, which staff said will update the 2020 Rogers master plan, produce an investor prospectus and seek a development partner through a public‑private procurement process.

Anderson said council gave consensus direction on updating the plan and that staff would bring a methodology for the master‑developer approach to the next council meeting. He estimated that the full effort to select a developer could take roughly 12 to 13 months after approvals. \"We're hoping that we can get the entire effort done to get a developer on board within 12 to 13 months,\" Anderson said.

Council members emphasized the need to accelerate work on a replacement facility for the beach patrol headquarters and urged staff to prioritize that component. \"I urge council to move as expeditiously as possible on that beach patrol portion because I was in the trailer several times, and I don't want any fried or or broiled lifeguards down there,\" one council member said.

Trustees and council members also discussed public engagement and asked that prior public‑input materials from the 2019 planned master‑planning process be revalidated; staff said older outreach exists but will be updated before the developer solicitation. Trustees asked for a standing update from a park board liaison to the council on Stewart Beach procurement and vendor issues, and council agreed to add a recurring agenda item.

Several council members raised ongoing drainage problems at Stewart Beach and asked what immediate measures would be taken. Park Board legal counsel said a lawsuit is active concerning drainage, and counsel advised trustees and council to avoid discussing the details in open session. Both sides said they would seek a negotiated settlement through trial counsel and set a target to \"button up\" the issue by September, while cautioning that the outcome depends on litigation and negotiations.

Ending: Staff will bring a methodology and public‑engagement plan to the next council meeting for approval, develop a timeline for the beach‑patrol headquarters element, and coordinate legal counsel talks to pursue settlement on drainage matters. Both bodies agreed to include a Stewart Beach status item on future agendas.","City staff and park board trustees discussed an updated Stewart Beach master plan and a planned public‑private procurement timeline. Trustees and city attorneys said drainage issues affecting the beach are the subject of active litigation and will be handled through counsel and negotiated settlement talks.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6604924,"Council and trustees spar over hotel-occupancy tax, legislative outreach and trust",1583,2422000,4005000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3032442-5265fb303f06827353e9bdf1c4b0dc3f&start=2422&end=4005","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3032442-5265fb303f06827353e9bdf1c4b0dc3f/thumbnail_2422000.jpg","/articles/6604924/Galveston/Galveston-County/Texas/Council-and-trustees-spar-over-hotel-occupancy-tax-legislative-outreach-and-trust","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6604924-7674fd4d6ce72d2ca654049711ec0718/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445684&Signature=EpYlml5-mA8fKXR9BoFtOuJVH4mxaWICllnlTBK0rmoeZt~4JCZHBVjbQESRudnX9m4YuFfkfo-SZnUAjUxoPGY7ZGdFivIkfHZLyvLpyn4JSY-BD-H8qNN4uTcwXUaBDzi2Lc3I-nYmDH76rkN1KdnZbl-KXzawebxoZIzAbyR5DAQ1ZfuzAVUcgfcm1eOjkmmbuZY8A2VbOBCn8zA8hBuIfrdlLpMBsqmDlr-F5NGG~8Gv3begzG5O2iBne5BN3W2AFNMkPBLdRLEdooSocWkmzYg14FN1cz3k9FgHRpy9Zg5voq1ebGYWjbW0phf4UJAgCFIusFpTqwcfBjWDcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Council members and Park Board trustees used substantial meeting time April 16 to debate several bills pending in the Texas Legislature and the Park Board’s contacts with state lawmakers over hotel‑occupancy tax (HOT) policy and administration.

Council members said they first learned of the legislative bills through media coverage and expressed frustration that the Park Board had not briefed the city council in advance. \"I feel like you should have knowledge of it because you have a solid relationship with our senator,\" Councilmember Alex (last name not specified) told trustees. Trustees and Park Board volunteers said they had participated in Capitol hearings and written letters of support; several park trustees said they attended the Austin hearings to support bills they believed would place \"guardrails\" on HOT and protect taxpayers.

Trustees described meetings with legislative offices, including repeated contacts with Senator Brian Birdwell’s staff, and said most testimony they encountered supported the bills. \"We were all in Austin supporting these bills,\" a trustee said. Several council members said they felt blindsided and urged closer coordination.

The discussion turned to specific financial questions raised during testimony in Austin. Council members asked for a meeting between Park Board and city finance staff to review accounting for HOT receipts, the so‑called 2023 shortfall and how over‑collections are handled. Mayor Brown urged a local resolution before further escalation: \"If we have a concern with the park board, we're not gonna go up to the state legislature ... without the park board's knowledge and start passing bills on this thing,\" the mayor said, calling for a sit-down among staffs and elected trustees and council.

Park Board and city leaders agreed to arrange a joint meeting of staff—finance and legal—with trustees and council to work through the disputed items; staff said funding for East End Lagoon is in the U.S. Treasury awaiting approval. Legal counsel for the board and the city cautioned against discussing pending litigation or privileged legal matters in open session.

Ending: Officials agreed that better coordination of an annual legislative agenda and more frequent staff‑to‑staff communications are needed. Council asked staff to locate financial documentation cited in testimony and to report back; trustees asked that any follow‑up happen in open session unless legal privilege applies.

","A prolonged April 16 exchange between Galveston council members and Park Board trustees focused on recent state legislative activity about hotel-occupancy tax (HOT) administration, allegations of insufficient transparency and calls for a city–park board meeting to resolve accounting and governance concerns.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6604929,"Park board unveils local Washed Ashore sculpture project and tourism wayfinding plan",192,1832000,2024000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3032442-5265fb303f06827353e9bdf1c4b0dc3f&start=1832&end=2024","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3032442-5265fb303f06827353e9bdf1c4b0dc3f/thumbnail_1832000.jpg","/articles/6604929/Galveston/Galveston-County/Texas/Park-board-unveils-local-Washed-Ashore-sculpture-project-and-tourism-wayfinding-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6604929-496e918ed1672ea8f818f883ef3a0e01/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445684&Signature=cFp3ogh9iY~ML4wuHv9kSid-hDrskzFk4xF5QRnl--OcaYex-cezFNE0EdhOmMgijMTUJzWoFDZBbfUref0L1nH9XbnAYhd8TGQm1MkVDyWMYwTRHdleiMNHhh4YR0qHbTORVHXv4ntyy7YvnXWzDPlQ5mb4tYhBl-VxWV-ZEvZ7du6iCx5zfK5jzHIOeACfFUFODPQqQJS1XiNpuR5VIvxepfuFfAWcCzEoiIuJhgvW3QRAfkScecCcxIp1fPEhGBGOqE8lWVymrIIibWj9Pk2V1J52JR7hzSMGLogoy~YSqVjtohW967GAjVyNda-t3P1mkswOaX-yItjKBZ8IJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Park Board senior marketing director Melody Smith updated the council and trustees April 16 on a community-driven iteration of the Washed Ashore art project and a multi-year tourism wayfinding program.

Smith said the first Washed Ashore exhibit on the island, which ran beginning December 2022, reached an estimated 5.2 million people through media, social channels and on-site engagement. The board has partnered with the organization to create a second phase: a locally built sculpture made from plastics collected on Galveston beaches. \"The Galveston sculpture will be a reddish egret,\" Smith said, recounting that local environmental organizations selected the bird by poll.

Smith said staff trained a local artist-in-residence and will host community build events starting at the upcoming FeatherFest; volunteers will collect, sort and attach recovered plastics to iron frames. She noted durability requirements for island weather: frames will be iron and constructed to withstand strong north winds.

Separately, Smith described near-final designs for tourism wayfinding. The program divides the island into districts—Port, Downtown, East End, Seawall and West End—and combines pedestrian kiosks, directional signs and map panels. \"We wanted something that promoted a historic beach town,\" Smith said. Designs incorporate nautical motifs, Victorian architectural elements and local marine life icons; some kiosk backs will include QR codes and short interpretive text such as walking minutes between points.

Smith said engineers have been engaged to ensure signs meet Texas Department of Transportation, Army Corps of Engineers and other permitting requirements, and staff expects fabrication to begin once outstanding approvals are resolved. The wayfinding program is intended to direct visitors to district hubs rather than individual businesses, Smith said, and to make the island easier to navigate when GPS is unreliable.

Ending: Trustees and council members praised the public-art and signage concepts. Council members asked staff to share the wayfinding schedule and the logistics for volunteer events building the sculpture. Staff committed to bringing more detailed fabrication and installation timelines to future meetings.","Park board staff described a community-built Washed Ashore sculpture project and near-final tourism wayfinding designs intended to improve visitor navigation and highlight Galveston’s historic and maritime character.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6604933,"Park board highlights new VisitGalveston website, trade outreach, cruise and sports tourism push",1507,228000,1735000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3032442-5265fb303f06827353e9bdf1c4b0dc3f&start=228&end=1735","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3032442-5265fb303f06827353e9bdf1c4b0dc3f/thumbnail_228000.jpg","/articles/6604933/Galveston/Galveston-County/Texas/Park-board-highlights-new-VisitGalveston-website-trade-outreach-cruise-and-sports-tourism-push","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6604933-06ef3a834749989df7f913a499c367c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445684&Signature=arC~PzKk2H5XjY38-UECq1OHeMPwqHR03DQcIQ2HMfTb7AO2VIvc1xC9faD2Y41RYrnloMdQGqELPjazbjX6amT2WVjhU8p-B1xyGPbrnpTWYjQEGRVetTEvcvRS4docwaSIIv3HL5lheggmAneN8LC2T3sYuw4Ncbb-xfORbsGlWUTWYvLlQkp5EW2LMDSsviC7S1fpllroxcX23KpqfKGripMzYqa1zp26c16YkNZZbCpKj7PJ~bkJCDCVTvgioT4d3pvuinS9wfM9imkJxcPuDigesmCH4tKZES5af9SF4KQdDFmOv9g2ibCWw6pOy7ee0A61QTmVCvUV2PPHwA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Park Board of Trustees and Galveston City Council heard a presentation April 16 on VisitGalveston’s marketing work, including a March website refresh, new analytics tools and outreach to travel trade, cruise lines and sports-event organizers.

Park Board tourism director Tony Lyle described the updated site as the organization’s most valuable marketing asset and said team added a 3D drone \"canvas\" and a multilingual AI concierge to help visitors research trips and convert visits into bookings. \"It's our most valuable marketing asset,\" Lyle said. He also said the board offers free partner listings to tourism-related businesses and maintains webcams that are the site’s most-viewed pages.

The presentation included a new tourism economic-impact dashboard that staff said will display lodging occupancy, ADR (average daily rate), RevPAR and cruise calendars. \"If you wanna look at that dashboard, it's changed to blue. It's in the about us section of the website, and it's called tourism economic impact,\" Lyle said. He said 2024 metrics should be added in four to six weeks.

Brian (director of sales and services) described expanded travel-trade outreach begun in earnest in 2024 and a new full-time travel-trade position. \"We have thousands of [travel-trade] contacts in our pipeline that we're just hammering, on a daily basis to inform them about Galveston,\" he said. He described recent site visits by Brand USA, U.K. product managers and efforts to bid to host the Go West Summit in Galveston in 2027.

On cruise, staff said they have hosted Carnival and MSC representatives, participated in Cruise360 and SeaTrade industry events and performed ship inspections. Those efforts aim to increase pre‑ and post‑cruise stays in Galveston.

Park Board staff also reported growth in sports tourism after creating a full‑time sales position for the sector. Staff said hotel room nights tied to sports groups grew from about 5,700 in 2016 to more than 29,000 last fiscal year, and that since January the sports sales lead has logged over 400 prospecting activities. Staff reported six bookings since January representing about 8,000 room nights and an estimated 25,000 visitors generating roughly $6,000,000 in indirect spending.

Trustees and council members asked for more detail on the new data tools, frequency of reports and how the marketing work aligns with residents' needs. Mayor Brown and council members emphasized that projects should demonstrate benefits for people who live and work on Galveston Island, not only visitors.

Staff said many of the dashboard metrics are available online and that officials can produce more frequent summaries for council and business partners. \"We do track those and I do like to present on those,\" Kimberly (park board CEO) said of the economic indicators. The board said it will continue to refine reporting and work with city staff to present capital and special-project plans in advance of budget votes.

Looking ahead, staff listed priorities including continued travel-trade development, cruise partnership work with the Port of Galveston and further sports-market growth. Council members asked staff to ensure the marketing work is coordinated with broader city priorities and to provide advance notice of major data or campaign findings so local businesses can prepare for weekend demand surges.

Ending: Park board and city officials agreed to continue coordination. Staff said updated 2024 dashboard metrics would be published within weeks and that VisitGalveston would make its partner newsletter and data products available to council and local businesses.

","Park board staff told the Galveston City Council and Park Board trustees April 16 that a refreshed VisitGalveston website, expanded travel-trade outreach, cruise partnerships and renewed focus on sports tourism are central to goals for fiscal 2025–26.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council and trustees debate transferring Seawolf and Dela Nera management and HOT collection to city

City and trustees outline Stewart Beach master‑plan process; drainage dispute remains in litigation

Council and trustees spar over hotel-occupancy tax, legislative outreach and trust

Park board unveils local Washed Ashore sculpture project and tourism wayfinding plan

Park board highlights new VisitGalveston website, trade outreach, cruise and sports tourism push