City of Galveston, Texas - Government

09/24/2026

Since it was built in 1880, Garten Verein has weathered numerous storms and even a fire in the 1980s. Renovations to the historic building are underway as the city makes makes sure it will continue to stand for years to come.

Garten Verein currently is closed as structural improvements are being made in the first phase of improvements to the builiding. Crews have replaced beams underneath and added new supports next to original joists. During the structural improvements crews have found fragments of old glass bottles, brick and decorative concrete underath the pavilion.

These structural improvements are scheduled to be completed by December. Following that, the next phase will include air conditioning and roof repairs followed by work on the facade and the interior.

09/24/2026

The City of Galveston is preparing for the annual Galveston Island Shrimp Festival this Friday, Sept. 25, through Saturday, Sept. 26, in the heart of the historic downtown district.

The two-day festival is one of Galveston’s fall traditions, featuring an array of shrimp dishes, live music, and family-friendly activities. Highlights include the Shrimp Gumbo Cook-off, Gumbo Tasting, and the Shrimp Scamper 5K Walk/Run. There will also be live music.

The main festival takes place in the 23rd and Strand area, running along The Strand between 22nd and 24th streets and on 23rd Street from Harborside to Mechanic. The Shrimp Scamper 5K will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26, along the Seawall (south sidewalk only) from 28th to 48th streets, with no impact on traffic or paid parking along the seawall.

There will be Temporary Lane & Road Closures

Strand Street (North Parking Lane) from 23rd to 24th streets – No parking beginning at 6 a.m. Friday, Sept. 25, until Saturday, Sept. 26, at 8 p.m.
23rd Street from Harborside to Mechanic (including east and west parking lanes) – No parking beginning Saturday, Sept. 26 at 6 a.m. until 8 p.m.
Strand Street from 22nd to 24th streets (including north and south parking lanes) – No parking beginning Saturday, Sept. 26, at 6 a.m. until 8 p.m.
5K Seawall Route (28th to 48th streets, south sidewalk only) – Confined to sidewalk use on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. with no road or lane closures.

To learn more about the Galveston Island Shrimp Festival, visit galvestonislandshrimpfestival.com

09/23/2026

This week the Galveston Fire Department celebrates its 141st anniversary. The city thanks the men and women who carry on the department's traditions and service to the community.

Happy Anniversary, Galveston Fire Department!

09/23/2026

The second Community Workshop for the Comprehensive Plan update is Thursday, October 15 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Historic Galveston Water & Electric Light Community Center, 715 30th Street.

The Comprehensive Plan update will help guide future decisions about growth, development, infrastructure, housing, transportation and other community investments. A key outcome of the planning process will be the development of a Future Land Use Map, which will help shape where and how growth is prioritized in the coming years.

Participants in the first community workshop identified protecting Galveston’s natural resources as the most important goal for the community’s future. Many of the other second-tier priorities identified focused on quality-of-life issues, including building better infrastructure, maintaining neighborhood character, making housing more affordable, improving transportation options, and balancing the needs of residents and visitors. While the first workshop provided valuable insight, no single meeting can capture the full range of perspectives that exist across Galveston. We’re hoping to get a broad range of residents – old and young across the socioeconomic spectrum – during the next community workshop.

“Galveston is a diverse community with many different experiences, priorities, and ideas about the future,” City Manager Brian Maxwell said. “The workshop gave us an important starting point, but there are many voices we have not yet heard. We want to continue expanding participation and ensure more residents can help shape the plan.”

The City is encouraging anyone who did not attend the workshop to participate in the following ways:

Attend an upcoming workshop

The next public workshop will be held on Thursday, October 15 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 715 30th Street.

Host a meeting-in-a-box

The project team has developed a “meeting-in-a-box” toolkit that allows organizations and residents to host their own discussions and submit feedback to the City. A printed version of the toolkit is available for pick up at City Hall.

Participate online

Residents can complete activities and share feedback at a time convenient for them through the project’s online engagement platform. The deadline for participation is October 2. All participation opportunities are available at: https://engage.asakurarobinson.com/Galveston-Our-Future.

09/23/2026

When family photos from the 1940s were found during the renovations at Garten Verein, the city earlier this month made a social media post asking for help identifying the family and any descendants. Almost immediately residents were able to help and told of the family's rich history on the island.

This week Catherine Gorman, assistant director of Development Services for the city, was able to return the photos to Gary Brown, whose father, Bob, uncle, Bill, and grandmother, Ruth, are pictured in the old photos.

09/22/2026

The Galveston City Council has approved the City’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget and adopted the 2026 property tax rate, establishing the financial framework for the City’s operations, public services and capital investments for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026.

The FY2027 budget was adopted with a no-new-revenue tax rate of $0.416273 per $100 of property valuation. Under Texas law, the no-new-revenue rate is calculated to generate the same revenue from ad valorem taxes as the prior year on properties taxed in both years. The budget represents a continued focus on maintaining essential City services while protecting the City's long-term financial position.

“Our responsibility is to provide the services our residents depend on, invest in the infrastructure and public safety needs of our community, and maintain the financial capacity to respond to challenges in the years ahead, and this budget reflects that approach,” City Manager Brian Maxwell said. “I also want to extend my sincere gratitude to the Finance Department and to staff across the City who spent countless hours working together to develop this budget.”

The budget provides approximately $250.1 million for operating funds, supporting the services residents and visitors rely on every day. Public safety remains a central priority, including funding for police, fire and emergency services. The budget also supports the City's public works and infrastructure responsibilities, including streets, drainage, water and wastewater systems, sanitation, parks and other municipal services.

In addition to annual operations, the City has adopted a five-year Capital Improvement Plan totaling approximately $347.8 million in identified capital projects. These projects represent investments in the City's infrastructure and long-term needs and are funded through a combination of available revenues, dedicated funds, grants, bonds and other sources as applicable.

The budget was developed with an emphasis on financial stability and responsible use of taxpayer resources. The budget projects approximately $84.7 million in ending fund balances across all City funds. Within the General Fund, the budget projects approximately 115.9 days of fund balance at year-end.

These balances provide the City with financial capacity to manage seasonal cash-flow fluctuations, respond to emergencies and disasters, and maintain the financial strength necessary to support the City's credit standing and future borrowing. Galveston's finances are subject to significant seasonal fluctuations. Maintaining adequate fund balance allows the City to manage those fluctuations without disrupting essential services.

The City's fiscal year begins October 1 and ends September 30. The City makes its budget, tax-rate documents and other financial information available online.

Financial Transparency is the guiding principle behind the city’s financial planning and implementation efforts. This page provides the major financial documents produced during each fiscal year (October 1 through September 30) in service towards that principle:

09/22/2026

🚧 SOUTH SHORE DRAINAGE PROJECT – ROAD CLOSURE UPDATE

Please be advised of the following updated and new road closures related to ongoing construction:

UPDATED CLOSURES:

• Heards Lane from 59th St to Saladia St
Full closure, 24 hours/day (open to local traffic in and out)
📅 Sept. 21–Oct. 12
Contractor will install the new sanitary sewer main and complete road restoration. No street parking will be allowed within each work zone.

• 59th St from Heards Lane to Ave Q
Full closure during working hours (open to local traffic in and out)
📅 Sept. 21–Oct. 12
Sanitary sewer installation and road restoration. No street parking within each work zone.

• 59th St from Ave Q 1/2 to Ave R
Partial closure during working hours (open to local traffic in and out)
📅 Sept. 21–Sept. 30
Sanitary sewer installation and road restoration. No street parking within each work zone.

NEW CLOSURE:

• Intersection of 59th St and Ave R
Full closure during working hours (open to local traffic in and out)
📅 Sept. 23 only
Sanitary sewer installation and road restoration. No street parking within the work zone.

Please plan accordingly and use caution when traveling through the construction area. Thank you for your patience while this work is completed.

09/21/2026

The South Shore project's FAQ page was updated today with new questions and answers, including:

Question: What happens when the GLO grant ends on January 31, 2027? Will the City still complete the South Shore Drainage Project?

Answer: The City’s objective remains the same: to complete the South Shore drainage system in accordance with the planned project design so that the new and existing drainage infrastructure work together to move stormwater more efficiently, increase drainage capacity, reduce the duration and impacts of street flooding, and improve the community’s resilience to future rainfall and high-tide events. The grant closeout changes how a portion of the remaining work is funded and administered. It does not change the City’s responsibility to complete the project or the level of oversight applied to that work.

The grant closure date is an administrative marker and it will not interrupt continued construction operations. January 31, 2027 is the end of the current GLO CDBG-MIT grant term, but it is not the end of the City’s commitment to the South Shore Drainage Project. The City is working with GLO to define the portion of the project that will be completed and closed under the federal grant by that date. Construction necessary to complete the full planned project that occurs after grant closeout will continue as a City-funded capital improvement project.

The change in funding source will not change how the City manages the work. The same engineering standards, construction plans, inspection requirements, quality controls, safety requirements, schedule management, and contractor oversight will continue after the grant closes. City staff, the Engineer of Record, the construction management team, and the Owner’s Representative will continue monitoring the work through final completion of construction and acceptance of work by the City.

Question: Will the City continue to perform vibration monitoring after the grant period ends?

Answer: Yes. Vibration testing and monitoring is part of the scope of the full project. The City will continue these activities even after the grant term ends.

Question: How will the construction activities address known flooding issues?

Answer: The 12-inch pump (at the existing 6' X 6' Triple-Run RCB's at the corner of Saladia and Heards) discharge and intake areas will be inspected regularly and maintained free of debris or other obstructions to ensure uninterrupted operation. A minimum of two (2) personnel will be assigned to the project site during forecasted rainfall events to monitor water levels and actively manage pumping operations.

One 6-inch pump will be relocated to the intersection of Heards Lane and Saladia Street to facilitate dewatering of the newly constructed 8' X 8' Double-Run RCB's beneath Heards Lane.

One 6-inch pump will be relocated to the intersection of 59th Street and Avenue Q, as needed, to remove surface water that accumulates.

Temporary surface drainage paths will be created throughout the project site. As indicated on the plan, portions of the roadway will be graded to direct stormwater runoff toward the existing drainage inlet.

Question: Is the success of water drainage activities during construction solely relying on pumps?

Answer: No, there remains a gravity-based outfall regardless of pump operations. This redundancy is intended to help keep the flooding instances under control.

Question: What is the City doing to mitigate flooding during rain events along 59th Street and Avenue Q since a portion of the existing storm sewer has been removed?

Answer: The project required the removal of approximately 500 to 600 linear feet of existing storm sewer along 59th Street to accommodate installation of the redesigned 18-inch sanitary sewer on the east side of 59th Street. To account for the drainage in this area, one 6-inch pump will be relocated to the intersection of 59th Street and Avenue Q to remove accumulated surface water from the area where the existing storm sewer infrastructure has been removed.

The full list is available on the website:

In 2021, Texas General Land Office (GLO) awarded funding to the City of Galveston for this project allocated from the Community Development Block Grant Mitigation (CDBGMIT) .funds allocated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). 

09/18/2026

September 18th at 3:37 p.m.

The HVAC system is not working at Galveston City Hall. Non-essential staff are being released at 3:30 p.m., essential staff will remain to provide services until 5 p.m. This may result in a longer wait times, and delays in phone calls being answered. City Hall normal operations will resume Monday morning, September 21st.