GALVESTON — Island residents have not been shy about sharing their ideas for post-Ike changes.
At eight open house meetings hosted by the Community Recovery Committee, people covered posters with sticky notes filled with suggestions for how Galveston could improve as it recovers from Hurricane Ike, which caused widespread damage when it made landfall Sept. 13.
Some suggestions were expected, committee Chairwoman Betty Massey said.
But others were a surprise, she said.
Several people mentioned changing the form of government from a strong city manager system to a strong mayor system. People also mentioned zoning, taxes and the responsibility of government as things they wanted the committee to address.
All of the feedback was grouped into five broad categories — transportation, housing, human services, economic development and environmental issues — which will form the basis for the committee’s working groups.
Massey estimated the 330-member committee likely will be divided into about 30 sub-groups.
Each group will come up with a list of projects to include in a plan the committee will submit to the city council in April. With help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the city will seek governmental and private grants to fund the projects.
Under transportation, people consistently called for the creation of a commuter rail link between Houston and Galveston, for which city leaders already are working to find funding.
But people also said they wanted the city to provide a better, broader public transit system on the island. Bus rides to the mainland and bike trails useful to commuters also have been mentioned, Massey said.
Under housing, most people noted a need to address housing for low-income families, Massey said.
The final open house meeting will be held Saturday at Ball High School.
Spanish-speaking facilitators will be available.
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At A Glance
WHAT: The final community open house, hosted by the Community Recovery Committee
