© 2003, Guidry News
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© 2003, Guidry News
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Stories: Harris County Commissioners Court Houston-Galveston Area Council Galveston Park Board of Trustees Committees Clear Creek Independent School District North Galveston County Chamber of Commerce Schedule of Meetings and Events Harris County Commissioners Court Houston-Galveston Area Council Galveston Park Board of Trustees Committees Clear Creek Independent School District North Galveston County Chamber of Commerce Schedule of Meetings and Events
Harris County Commissioners Court Houston-Galveston Area Council Galveston Park Board of Trustees Committees Clear Creek Independent School District North Galveston County Chamber of Commerce Schedule of Meetings and Events
Harris County Commissioners Court Houston-Galveston Area Council Galveston Park Board of Trustees Committees Clear Creek Independent School District North Galveston County Chamber of Commerce Schedule of Meetings and Events
Harris County Commissioners Court Houston-Galveston Area Council Galveston Park Board of Trustees Committees Clear Creek Independent School District North Galveston County Chamber of Commerce Schedule of Meetings and Events
Harris County Commissioners Court Houston-Galveston Area Council Galveston Park Board of Trustees Committees Clear Creek Independent School District North Galveston County Chamber of Commerce Schedule of Meetings and Events
Harris County Commissioners Court Houston-Galveston Area Council Galveston Park Board of Trustees Committees Clear Creek Independent School District North Galveston County Chamber of Commerce Schedule of Meetings and Events
Harris County Commissioners Court Houston-Galveston Area Council Galveston Park Board of Trustees Committees Clear Creek Independent School District North Galveston County Chamber of Commerce Schedule of Meetings and Events
Harris County Commissioners Court Houston-Galveston Area Council Galveston Park Board of Trustees Committees Clear Creek Independent School District North Galveston County Chamber of Commerce Schedule of Meetings and Events
Harris County Commissioners Court Houston-Galveston Area Council Galveston Park Board of Trustees Committees Clear Creek Independent School District North Galveston County Chamber of Commerce Schedule of Meetings and Events
Harris County Commissioners Court Houston-Galveston Area Council Galveston Park Board of Trustees Committees Clear Creek Independent School District North Galveston County Chamber of Commerce Schedule of Meetings and Events
Harris County Commissioners Court Houston-Galveston Area Council Galveston Park Board of Trustees Committees Clear Creek Independent School District North Galveston County Chamber of Commerce Schedule of Meetings and Events
Harris County Commissioners Court Houston-Galveston Area Council Galveston Park Board of Trustees Committees Clear Creek Independent School District North Galveston County Chamber of Commerce Schedule of Meetings and Events
Harris County Commissioners Court Houston-Galveston Area Council Galveston Park Board of Trustees Committees Clear Creek Independent School District North Galveston County Chamber of Commerce Schedule of Meetings and Events
Harris County Commissioners Court Houston-Galveston Area Council Galveston Park Board of Trustees Committees Clear Creek Independent School District North Galveston County Chamber of Commerce Schedule of Meetings and Events
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Harris County Commissioners Court voted to support the Buffalo Bayou Partnership on Tuesday. The partnership is developing a master plan for the bayou. The plan “will promote residential and commercial development and flood control on Buffalo Bayou,” said County Judge Robert Eckels. The resolution approved by the commissioners court directs all county departments in the flood control district to cooperate with the BBP project. Barbara Bund of Tri-County Transit asked commissioners court to consider providing bus services to East Harris County. Tri-County Transit is composed of citizens in Harris, Chambers and Jefferson counties. Commissioner Sylvia Garcia promised to meet with Bund. A recommendation to begin negotiations with McDonough Engineering Corporation for engineering services in Precincts One and Two was withdrawn at the request of the Harris County Toll Road Authority’s Executive Director, Art Storey. A request for an order adopting goals and objectives in the redistricting of Harris County constable and justice of the peace precincts was removed from the agenda by Eckels. The commissioners court referred a request from the Family Division of the District Courts for authorization of a staff attorney to provide legal information services to pro se litigants to the county attorney, on a motion by Commissioner Jerry Eversole. The commissioners court referred a request by the Winchester County Maintenance Association Board of Directors, for alteration in street designations, to the county attorney, on a motion by Eversole. The commissioners court referred to the budget department a request to reclassify a Child Protective Service curfew coordinator position to program specialist. The commissioners court referred two requests by Constable Victor Trevino to the budget department. The commissioners court referred a request by Constable Ken Jones to accept $6,000 for the Tobacco Grant, and a request by Trevino for authorization to submit an application for grant funds for the School Child Safety Awareness Program to the grants review coordinator. The commissioners court approved grant applications to the Texas Historical Commission for courthouse restoration, subject to a review by the grants review coordinator. The commissioners court approved a plan by the Harris County Hospital District to issue identification numbers for the purchase of fuel through the fleet service division. The commissioners court voted to authorize the county judge and the juvenile court coordinator to attend a juvenile law conference in San Antonio, as well as juvenile court judges and their staffs. The commissioners court authorized two employees of the Office of Emergency Management and members of the commissioners court to attend the Houston-Galveston Area Council Regional Homeland Security Conference. The commissioners court met in executive session to discuss the litigation of Kimii Valentine and Robert Casey v. Harris County and Perry Wooten. No action was taken. All
other agenda items were approved unanimously. Houston-Galveston
Area Council The Houston-Galveston Area Council Board of Directors unanimously approved on Tuesday the formation of a new committee to deal with emergency and trauma healthcare policy issues in the 13-county member area. The Emergency/Trauma Care Policy Council will consist of representatives of EMS providers, hospitals, health care professionals, elected and appointed officials and chairs of the region’s two EMS Regional Advisory Council. The council will consist of 33 members. The board will discuss the procedure for appointments to the council at its February meeting. The board unanimously approved a contract with the Texas Division of Emergency Management for regional hazard mitigation planning. The project will not exceed $375,000. H-GAC project spokesman Jeff Taebel said the project accesses vulnerability in dealing with problems such as flooding. H-GAC will assist local governments in adoption of hazard mitigation plans in order to receive Federal Emergency Management Agency approval by November 2004 to be eligible for funding. Taebel said approximately 24 local government organizations that are interested in developing a hazard mitigation plan will be invited to a workshop in February. The board unanimously approved two resolutions dealing with state air quality plans. The resolutions will be forwarded to the Texas Legislature. The board unanimously approved appointments to the Gulf Coast Workforce Development Board including Austin County Judge Carolyn Bilski, Gerald Andrews of Brazoria County; Don Nigbor of Brazoria County, Louis Garvin of Fort Bend County, John Perry of Fort Bend County, Kathy Shingleton of Galveston County, Carol Mitchener of Montgomery County, and Dale Pinson of Wharton County. The board named Bunker Hill Village council member Jill Macdonald to the Transportation Policy Council. The board approved the monthly financial report for December 2002. Highlights include increased cooperative purchasing and an increase in federal grant revenue for HGAC primarily due to increased spending in the Department of Labor Youth Opportunity Grant. All other agenda items were approved. H-GAC
Executive Director Jack Steele reviewed pending legislation
with the board. Issues on his list include firearms,
homeland security, and the number of firemen assigned to
fire trucks. Hitchcock
City Commission Hitchcock City Commissioners discussed establishment of a restricted area for "No Wake Zone" buoys in a workshop Tuesday evening. Kent McGaughy of Chapoton/Ramsey Limited Partnership had appealed in a letter to Mayor Kyle Campbell for help "in the prevention of erosion to property resulting from high wakes from speeding watercraft." The property is on the west side of Highland Bayou south of Highway 6 and north of the railroad tracks. He
said about four acres of the 204-acre property has been lost
to erosion. "The continuing loss of property in
this manner is unacceptable and should be addressed by
Hitchcock immediately."
The commission discussed solutions to problems regarding the state inspection of the sewer lines and the wastewater treatment plant. "They gave us until March the 15th to come up with a plan for the overflow," said Commissioner Henry Coger. "Now, that doesn't mean we have to solve the problem by March 15th - we just have to present them with a plan on what we're going to do." Campbell agreed that a "long-term projection plan for attack" is necessary. The commission discussed an amendment to the city code regarding the general prohibition of fireworks in the city. "This is similar to the one adopted by Texas City and Santa Fe," said City Attorney Ellis Ortego. "So no matter where people go, they will need to follow the same law." The commission discussed a complaint about speeding traffic and the request by Napolean Mack that a three-way stop sign be placed at the intersection of MLK and Fairwood. Commissioner Rosie Richmond supported the request. "I am concerned about the traffic and the speeding," Richmond said. Campbell requested that staff "look into it" before bringing it back before the commission for action. The commission discussed appointments and re-appointments for the Tax Reinvestment Zone 1 Board, the Subsidence District, and the Galveston County Health District that will be made at the regular meeting. Dorothy Childress appeared before the commission to request that her culvert permit fee be waived at 5501 Chinaudo Road. "They dug it too deep, and now it has stagnant water in it and green algae," Childress said. "We used to be able to maintain it with the riding mower, but now it's just too deep." Commissioner
Anthony Matranga said that he will recommend that the fee be
waived at the meeting. Beaumont
City Council Beaumont City Council approved a take-over agreement between the City of Beaumont and Bituminous Casualty Corporation and Old Republic Surety Company for the completion of the construction of the 5 million gallon Clearwell Project. The city council voted unanimously to amend the existing food manager certification fees from $60 to $95. City Manager Kyle Hayes explained that the increase is necessary because of increased costs to the city for booklets and mailing. The city council voted unanimously to continue pay and insurance benefits for 21 current city employees who are in the military reserves and have been called to active duty for 180 days. The action will supplement the employees' military pay to equal their current salaries. The city council ordered the demolition of several dilapidated structures, but granted 120-day extensions to four property owners. The city council postponed an executive session discussion of the city clerk, who requested that her case be discussed at a public hearing. The city council presented proclamations to the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce, in recognition of the chamber's 100th birthday, and to name Monday January 27 as Jason Day in recognition of a new program for young people. All other agenda items were approved.
Port
Arthur City Council Port Arthur City Council voted on Tuesday to demolish several buildings considered to be dangerous. The city council awarded a $14, 900 contract to Coastal Demolition, Inc., for the demolition of six residential properties; a $14,700 contract to Coastal Demolition, Inc., for demolition of five properties; a $12,500 contract to Provost Demolition & Construction for the demolition of four properties; and a $6,795 contract to Provost Demolition & Construction for demolition of six properties. The city council voted to abandon an area of city right-of-way on Fourth Avenue and Fifth Avenue between Greenwich Street and Broadway Street in Sabine Pass, at the request of Harvey Hudspeth. The City Council voted 7-0 in opposition to a proposed resolution requiring Gayle W. Botley, the city's independent auditor, to provide his audit opinion on the financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2002, no later than January 28, 2003. All other
agenda items were approved. Pasadena
City Council Pasadena City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved on first reading the purchase and implementation of a new $1,895,213 public safety software program from Tiburon Inc. The program is designed to document, track, and provide crime information for the city police department. Mayor John Manlove noted that the program will make it possible to identify where crime is most prevalent in Pasadena. “We’ll then put appropriate forces there,” said Manlove. “We’ll be able to fight crime more effectively.” Council member Dana Philibert agreed that the software “is an investment in our future safety.” The city council approved on first reading the purchase of several trucks at a cost of $298,299.20. The city council on first reading approved the purchase of several police cars and other vehicles for law enforcement at a cost of $1,243,104.82, through the Houston-Galveston Area Council cooperative purchasing program. The city council accepted a $250 donation from James Dubose with URO-Med for use by the city’s parks and recreation department for the Wheelchair Quad Rugby Tournament and Wheelchair Sports program. The city council authorized a public auction on Saturday, February 22 at 9 a.m. at the Fleet Maintenance Service Garage for the sale of abandoned vehicles seized by the city. The city council approved bid notice publications for a pool resurfacing project; El Jardin parking lot improvements; construction of the Golden Acres Belt Filter Press Building and related improvements; and the city’s annual sidewalk replacement program. All
other agenda items were approved. Webster
City Council Webster City Council Tuesday night adopted an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan, to reflect a change in land use from Mixed to Office in the area along the west side of Texas Avenue North, between NASA Road One and Medical Center Boulevard. The
city council approved the rezoning of lots in the Robert
Wilson League from First Industrial to Second Commercial. The
city council voted to oppose a study that would place a no
left turn sign on Bay Area Boulevard in front of the Best
Western and Red Lobster.
The
council took no action, following a tie vote, to approve a
plat for Lot 65 in Green Acres, situated in Houston Orchard
Company’s Webster Subdivision.
However, the city council approved replat of Lot 56
of Green Acres.
Mayor
Donna Rogers stated she had received official word that the
Kmart in Webster would be closing on March 21, 2003,
affecting approximately 100 employees. City
Manager Frank Simpson reminded the city council that the
Texas Department of Transportation is holding a meeting
concerning the NASA Road Bypass on January 23 at 11:30 in
the League City Civic Center on West Walker Street. The
city council approved an excused absence for Council Member
Sharon Martin. Galveston Park Board of Trustees Committees Three committees of the Galveston Park Board of Trustees met on Tuesday in preparation for next week's regular meeting. Galveston Island Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Christa Buggey reported to the Tourism Development Committee that the first two bookings have been contracted for the new Galveston Island Convention Center at the San Luis. Buggey announced that Melody Smith has joined the staff of the CVB and is working to develop more overnight stays from cruise ship passengers. Johnny Smecca, the city council ex-officio representative on the board, urged Buggey to include promotion of free parking downtown after 5 p.m. and on Sundays in future advertising campaigns. The Mardi Gras/Special Events Committee voted to grant permission for the use of artwork on the park board's Mardi Gras poster on tee shirts and one other item, for sale in the owner's establishments, but to prohibit resale of the items. Craig Bowie asked the committee to consider helping him promote African-American events on a 25-day, 10-state tour. "I want the park board to pay for the gas," Bowie said. "I want to begin this project by March first. The Operations Committee voted to recommend approval of the addition of a rock climbing wall and bungee ride by Robert Day, who operates the human maze at Stewart Beach Park. "This should make us all a lot more money," Day said of the new attractions. "It's a great idea, but I think we should have a complete scale set of drawings," said committee member Al Fichera. The committee voted 2-1 to recommend a $250 increase in the fee charged Carol Yarbrough for a snow cone concession at Stewart Beach. Danny Allen is opposed to the increase. The committee voted to recommend the purchase six vehicles through the Houston-Galveston Area Council cooperative purchasing program, but there was concern that the vehicles are not being purchased from local businesses. "I'd
like to go on record to say that if we are not desperate in
need of these cars tomorrow, I would like to put it out to
bid," said Smecca, who is on the park board but not on
the committee. Galveston
Planning Commission The Galveston Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve a specific use permit in order to operate an auto repair facility in conjunction with a taxi service at 3410 Broadway. Jeffery Moore, owner of Jeff’s Cab Company, explained that the property would be used as a dispatch office and a garage to repair company vehicles. The permit also included a provision allowing for the construction of a 40 ft. radio tower on the property. “We are requesting that the tower is placed on the side of the building to minimize its appearance,” said Planning Director Wendy O'Donohoe. The commission unanimously approved a request for a permanent license to use the city right-of-way in conjunction with the placement of a grease trap at 2519 Market Street. “I plan to open a coffee shop that will serve eastern European baked goods and light cooking,” said property owner Ladislov Klos. The commission agreed to meet with representatives from the Texas General Land Office on February 11 to discuss the Beach Access Plan. The commission voted unanimously to approve a request for a beachfront construction certificate to construct a single-family dwelling at 21107 San Luis Pass Road. The commission deferred a request for a permanent license to use the city right of way in conjunction with the placement of an esplanade at the entrance of the Cedar Lawn Subdivision between 45th Street and Cedar Lawn Circle East. The commission deferred a request for a beachfront construction certificate to construct a single-family dwelling at 21103 San Luis Pass Road. All other requests were unanimously approved. Patricia Bolton-Legg, Terrilyn Tarlton and Cornelia Harris-Banks were absent.Print Version Photos, Audio and PowerPoint University of Texas Medical Branch University of Texas Medical Branch students today are hosting the first Student Honor Pledge Day, to announce their commitment to professionalism. The event is part of a national movement among medical school campuses. A group of student leaders, with representatives from all four UTMB schools, took the initiative to write a "simple pledge that summarizes the ideals that health care professionals everywhere should strive to embody - ideals that have long been essential to the UTMB curriculum." "On my honor, as a member of the UTMB community, I pledge to act with integrity, compassion and respect in all my academic and professional endeavors," is the pledge. UTMB
President Dr. John D. Stobo will participate in a public
reading of the pledge at 1 p.m. today at Moody Medical
Library Plaza. Clear Creek Independent School District The
Clear Creek Independent School District Facilities Needs
Committee has two more public hearings. Following receipt of input from the public hearings, the committee will present its recommendations to the Clear Creek ISD Board of Trustees for consideration. Comments
and suggestions can be submitted through e-mail at FNC2003@ccisd.net
or by facsimile at (281) 338-5928, or by phone to Elaine
Stoermer in the Clear Creek ISD Office of Public Information
at (281) 338-5803. North Galveston County Chamber and SBDC North Galveston County’s ‘Work Smarter and Produce More’ brown-bag lunch video series kicks off with Brian Tracy’s "The 10 Keys to Personal Power" on Tuesday, February 11, 2003 at 11:30 a.m. To register for this free video presentation, hosted by the North Galveston County Chamber of Commerce, the Galveston County Small Business Development Center, and MaximBank, held at MaxinBank’s Dickinson branch at 2401 Termini Street, call (888) 743-7380 or (409) 762-7380. Scheduled
Meetings 8:30 Board of
Trustees of the Galveston Wharves Finance Committee |
Story Links, on the left side of this page, is composed of "bookmarks" to the stories in the newsletter. Click on the link to go directly to the article. Print individual articles by first clicking on the "Print Version" link, then using your regular print program. On The Online News Station, if you click on an audio cut and the photos stop loading, click on Refresh or Reload and they will resume. Gulf Coast E-news, published by Guidry News Service, provides comprehensive coverage of posted public meetings in Galveston, Harris and Jefferson Counties.
This electronic newsletter replaces, and expands on, the mission
of Galveston Fax, established by Jim and Lynda Guidry on
Galveston Island in Galveston County reporters, covering the city council meetings of all 13 municipal governments plus several school boards and special utility districts, include Jinelle Boyd, Drew Gilbert, Shannon Hall, Kristina Weaver, Tom Foster, Jo Ann Gowing and Dedra Kratts. Weaver, Foster, Gowing and Kratts also cover the Harris County entities surrounding Clear Lake. Scott Nowell covers Harris County Commissioners Court, Houston City Council, and meetings of organizations in downtown Houston. Carl Guidry, representing Guidry News Service in Jefferson County, covers Jefferson County Commissioners Court, Beaumont City Council and Port Arthur City Council. We are seeking additional reporters to expand our coverage in Jefferson County. Gulf Coast E-news also will continue coverage of regional organizations in the Gulf Coast area. Gulf Coast E-news is interactive with The Guidry News Service Online News Station, providing coverage of special events and public meetings with photos and audio. Johnna Johnston and Terry Arnold are marketing representatives for The Online News Station. Marketing representatives are being recruited in Harris and Jefferson counties. Subscriptions to Gulf Coast E-news are $300 per year, or $75 per quarter, plus sales and use tax. A fax-only version of the newsletter is available for $350 per year or $87.50 per quarter, plus tax. Current subscribers to Galveston Fax or Clear Lake Area E-news will automatically receive Gulf Coast E-news.
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