© 2003, Guidry News
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© 2003, Guidry News
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Story Links: Galveston City Council Galveston Independent School District Galveston County Commissioners Court Galveston Island Convention and Visitors Bureau Bay Oaks Benefit Golf Tournament Mardi Gras Texas GulfLiner Passenger Train Galveston Independent School District Galveston County Commissioners Court Galveston Island Convention and Visitors Bureau Bay Oaks Benefit Golf Tournament Mardi Gras Texas GulfLiner Passenger Train Galveston Independent School District Galveston County Commissioners Court Galveston Island Convention and Visitors Bureau Bay Oaks Benefit Golf Tournament Mardi Gras Texas GulfLiner Passenger Train Galveston Independent School District Galveston County Commissioners Court Galveston Island Convention and Visitors Bureau Bay Oaks Benefit Golf Tournament Mardi Gras Texas GulfLiner Passenger Train Galveston Independent School District Galveston County Commissioners Court Galveston Island Convention and Visitors Bureau Bay Oaks Benefit Golf Tournament Mardi Gras Texas GulfLiner Passenger Train Galveston Independent School District Galveston County Commissioners Court Galveston Island Convention and Visitors Bureau Bay Oaks Benefit Golf Tournament Mardi Gras Texas GulfLiner Passenger Train Galveston Independent School District Galveston County Commissioners Court Galveston Island Convention and Visitors Bureau Bay Oaks Benefit Golf Tournament Mardi Gras Texas GulfLiner Passenger Train Galveston Independent School District Galveston County Commissioners Court Galveston Island Convention and Visitors Bureau Bay Oaks Benefit Golf Tournament Mardi Gras Texas GulfLiner Passenger Train Galveston Independent School District Galveston County Commissioners Court Galveston Island Convention and Visitors Bureau Bay Oaks Benefit Golf Tournament Mardi Gras Texas GulfLiner Passenger Train Galveston Independent School District Galveston County Commissioners Court Galveston Island Convention and Visitors Bureau Bay Oaks Benefit Golf Tournament Mardi Gras Texas GulfLiner Passenger Train Galveston Independent School District Galveston County Commissioners Court Galveston Island Convention and Visitors Bureau Bay Oaks Benefit Golf Tournament Mardi Gras Texas GulfLiner Passenger Train Galveston Independent School District Galveston County Commissioners Court Galveston Island Convention and Visitors Bureau Bay Oaks Benefit Golf Tournament Mardi Gras Texas GulfLiner Passenger Train Galveston Independent School District Galveston County Commissioners Court Galveston Island Convention and Visitors Bureau Bay Oaks Benefit Golf Tournament Mardi Gras Texas GulfLiner Passenger Train Galveston Independent School District Galveston County Commissioners Court Galveston Island Convention and Visitors Bureau Bay Oaks Benefit Golf Tournament Mardi Gras Texas GulfLiner Passenger Train
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Galveston City Council met in a special session Monday afternoon to take action to resolve a crisis with the city's employee insurance plan. The three minute public session followed an executive session that lasted about one-half hour. Listen Five members of the city council who attended the meeting, Mayor Roger Quiroga, Mayor Pro Tem Cornelia Harris Banks, Booker Price, Joe Jaworski and Lyda Ann Thomas voted unanimously to change the structure of the "172 Health Insurance Board" and to establish an "advisory" committee on insurance. The reorganized committee will be composed of the city manager, finance director, risk manager, human resource director, city auditor and two members of the Galveston Municipal Police Association. Members of the Galveston Firefighters Union and representatives of civilian employees will not sit on the reorganized committee, but will be on the advisory committee. City Manager Steve Leblanc said the action was taken in response to serious shortfalls in the city's insurance fund that could result in the plan being placed in state receivership. "I am aware of the pending significant crisis with our insurance plan," said Jaworski, explaining his vote. "The fact that this health benefits insurance committee will be re-invigorated by the city manager immediately weighs greatly in my ability to be able to feel better about changing the board structure." LeBlanc said the GMPA will retain its membership on the new board until pending litigation is resolved. He said membership on the advisory committee satisfies a collective bargaining agreement with the firefighters union. Charles Olsen, president of the Galveston firefighters local, does not agree. Listen "My understanding of the collective bargaining was that we would be on a committee that, between us and PD, we would control the board and set the health insurance policies and costs," Olsen said. "Now we feel like all of a sudden he is creating a new committee and changing the board around, and we just don't agree with that." Olsen said the firefighters union will study the new development before deciding what action to take. "I
think this might possibly be another attempt by Mr. LeBlanc
to try to split the solidarity that us and the municipal
police association have," Olsen said. "But I
don't see that happening. We stand pretty close on
issues right now." Friendswood City Council Member Kim Brizendine announced at Monday night's meeting of the city council that he will resign his council position to run for mayor. The announcement came after the city council voted to call the May 3 election to elect a new mayor, and fill two city council seats. Brizendine, who was elected to Position 4 on the city council in 1998, still has one year on his term, that will be filled in the May 3 election. “I’m not afraid at all to become mayor," Brizendine said. "It’s the right time for me." Mayor Harold Whitaker, who has served two terms, will not seek re-election. “I plan to take some time off and travel with my wife.” Whitaker previously served 12 years as a board member on the Clear Creek Independent School District and six years as a Friendswood city council member. “It’s time to turn over the reins and bring a new vision and a new excitement to the mayor’s office.” Kim Brizendine's sister-in-law, Kitten Brizendine, who has served in Position 1 on the city council for four terms, will not seek reelection due to term limits. Position 3 Council Member Tracy Goza announced that he will run for reelection. Also at Monday's meeting, Laura Ewing, a former high school government and economics teacher, announced she would seek the Position 1 council seat; and David Smith, a Friendswood real estate agent, announced at the meeting that he will seek the Position 4 council seat. The city council also unanimously approved two contracts with SCL Engineering: for Link Road lift station modifications and Whittier Oaks force main realignments in the Wedgewood Village subdivision; and for water and sewer services in the Longwood Park subdivision. City Manager Ronald Cox reported to the city council that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has cut any flood control work on Clear Creek from its 2003-04 budget due to budget constraints requested at the federal level. “There will be no Clear Creek project," Cox said. "No relief is in sight for Friendswood and Pearland upstream from Clear Creek.” Cox recommended that the city council write letters to its U.S. senators and congressional officials, pass a resolution requesting an adjustment to the local Corps’ office budget, and hold a council workshop to address the situation. Cox
presented the city employee’s quarterly Five-Star Award to
reference librarian Donald LeBlanc; and announced that Roger
Roecke, a city administrative services employee, received a
financial reporting award from the Government Finance
Officers Association. Galveston Independent School District Galveston Independent School District Board President John Ford, who will seek reelection on May 3, said he was neither surprised nor upset that Ed Clack has announced his intention to run for his seat. Listen "He and I have a cordial relationship," Ford said, acknowledging that Clack, who was his opponent in the previous election, told him that he would be a candidate in May. "I'm looking forward to a competitive race based on issues." Ford
said he plans to focus his campaign on the future of the
school district. "My number one goal is to make
Galveston an exemplary school district." Galveston County Commissioners Court The Galveston County Commissioners Court voted 4-1, with Eddie Janek opposed, to award a $783,850 contract to Southern Crushed Concrete for the demolition of cotton warehouses for the Galveston County Jail Justice Center. Kelso-Gilbane will oversee the project. "We are working with Moody Compress, who is a tenant there, to maximize the availability of cotton storage," said County Judge Jim Yarbrough. "We're tearing things down in a sequence that will allow them to keep cotton on the site as long as possible." The commissioners court voted 4-1, with Ken Clark opposed, to enter into a professional services agreement with Carter & Burgess for Galveston County's Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan update to include a senior citizens' program need assessment. The commissioners court approved an amendment to the Dannenbaum Engineering contract for the Stewart/Jones/81st Street project. "Additional scope of work items include design of new roadway and drainage for Jones Road between Lake Madeline Bridge and Hope Boulevard intersection, design of new roadway and drainage for Jones Road between 68th Street and 69th Street, traffic signal design at four intersections, and preparation of a storm water pollution prevention plan," said Wayne Ahrens of Dannenbaum in a letter to County Engineer Mike Fitzgerald. Senior Service America Executive Director Tony Sarmiento presented awards of achievement to county employees for outstanding overall performance, including Julie Penrod-Glenn, Tom Meade, Diane Aymes, Evelyn Markides, and Leonora Mendez. All other agenda items were approved. Representatives of the City of Galveston met in workshop with the commissioners court to discuss the proposal for paid parking on Seawall Boulevard. "The County's posture is that we've always viewed the Seawall as a flood protection levee," said Yarbrough. "We're interested in the integrity of that structure to protect citizens from tide-waters and surges. So our focus is the integrity of the beach as it relates to the Seawall." Clark said revenue from paid parking should contribute to the cost of paving the Seawall, but Galveston Planning Director Wendy O'Donahoe said that would not be permitted under state guidelines. "Where will the cars be parked? The pavement," said Clark. "So I don't understand that." Commissioner Eddie Janek said local residents should be exempt from fees, but the city officials said that would not be permitted by the state. Instead, low cost annual passes will be made available. Mayor Roger Quiroga said the funds, collected from users of the beaches, will support renourishment and beachfront amenities. "Without those beaches, we're nothing," Quiroga said. "The monies are going to be used on an annual basis for renourishment. We need to be creative because funds are hard to come by." "We'll look at the integrity issue to see what impact old lawsuits from the 1940's may have on the city," said Yarbrough. The
commissioners court will vote on the paid parking issue at
next week's regular meeting. Jamaica Beach City Council voted to call the May 3 municipal election Monday night. The positions held by Mayor Vic Pierson and aldermen Rick Kershaw and Bob Poindexter will be on the ballot. The city council named Sharon Parker election judge and Joy Sopp alternate judge. "I think the individuals volunteering will do a great job," Pierson said. The city endorsed the appointment of nine members and the re-appointment of four members to the Galveston County United Board of Health, a slate of officers that has been approved by Galveston County Commissioners Court and several other city councils. The city council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the aerial spraying for mosquitoes by the Galveston County Mosquito Control District. "I think I am officially on record as being anti-mosquito," Pierson said, referring to a previous story in Gulf Coast E-news. Pierson removed the appointment of two additional members to the Park Board from the agenda. City Administrator John Brick reported that the city is actively working on the beach drainage and Jamaica Cove drainage situations. Pierson reported that the 50 Club of Galveston County presented the family of Officer Jerry Roberts, who was shot last week, with a check for $5,000. "My heartfelt prayers go out to the Roberts family, and I hope Jerry has a speedy recovery." Pierson is president of the 50 Club. Alderman Steve Spicer reported that Jamaica Beach will host a Chief’s Retreat for all the fire chiefs in the county. "We did sign a new mutual aid agreement with Galveston," said Spicer, "and we did add a clause, which states that we will respond automatically on structure fires." By adding that clause to the mutual aid agreement, both entities will be able to share equipment, which should help lower Jamaica Beach’s ISO rating. "I think
a lot of credit needs to go to Steve LeBlanc," Pierson
said. The Galveston Landmark Commission voted 4-0-1, with Jami Durham abstaining due to a conflict of interest, to approve a certificate of appropriateness for alterations to a dilapidated house at 1511 Church Street. The building is owned by Galveston Historical Foundation. "This house has been a blight in the neighborhood for a long time," said GHF Executive Director Marsh Davis, explaining that the project was taken on as a demonstration project despite it's deteriorated condition. "I applaud y'all for taking the challenge," said Commissioner Robert Peralez. "It is a definite challenge," said Landmark Commission Chair Bob Brown. Leslie Sommer of GHF said the foundation hopes to have the building in condition to be on the Historic Homes Tour in May, in hopes of selling it so that it can be returned to the tax rolls. The commission voted 4-1, with Brown abstaining because he is the architect on the project, to allow Juliet Staudt to leave supporting structures in place at 2208 - 2218 Strand, until after the Mardi Gras celebration. The poles, which had not been properly permitted, were deemed necessary to support a canopy that is being installed in a previously approved project. "I apologize," said Staudt about the failure to obtain proper prior approval. "I'm very sorry." She will return to the commission after Mardi Gras with plans for completion of the project. The commission approved a certificate of appropriateness for construction of a two-story garage apartment behind a historic home at 1527 Broadway, owned by Dwight and Sandra Perrio. The commission approved a certificate of appropriateness for plans by Jason Sheaffer to complete the connection of houses at 2006 and 2008 Avenue M 1/2. "It is one residence," Sheaffer explained. "We have made a lot of progress in turning this property around. The
commission discussed several items in workshop following the
action agenda. Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson has announced that the formal transfer of Fort Hood land selected for a Texas State Veterans Cemetery site will take place at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. Fort Hood is transferring the land to the Texas Veterans Land Board, which will own and operate the cemetery to be constructed there. Patterson,
who is a Vietnam veteran and U.S. Marine Corps aviator,
authored the law creating Texas State Veterans Homes when he
served as a state senator. Galveston Island Convention & Visitors Bureau Meetings and Conventions Magazine has presented its Gold Service Award to the Galveston Island Convention and Visitors Bureau, honoring "superior professionalism and dedication, providing outstanding service to meeting professionals nationwide." The award was among 80 similar honors presented to domestic and international CVBs. A news release said selections were based on key criteria including: professionalism of staff, support on hotels and site inspections, assistance with ground transportation planning, guidance on local attractions and acting as liaison between local venders and services. “All of our Gold Service winning CVBs know the value of creating a lasting impression and that can never be understated,” said M&C Group Publisher Bernard W. Schraer. “The 2002 Gold Service winners continually excel in many valuable areas of service, impressing not only their clients but also the demanding readers of M&C.” The
winners received their awards during M&C’s Gold Awards
gala ceremony recently held in New York City. Bay Oaks Country Club Benefit Golf Tourney Bay Oaks Country Club will host a golf tournament to raise money for the children of the seven fallen astronauts of Mission STS-107 aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. Entitled
"Drive Beyond the Stars," the Columbia STS-107
Memorial Golf Tournament will take place Monday, March 3
beginning at 10:30 a.m. The
minimum donation for an individual player is $125, and $500
for a team of four. The donation provides for greens
fees, cart fee, practice range balls, lunch provided by
Outback Steakhouse and dinner provided by Carrabba's Italian
Grill. The Nature Center at Galveston Island State Park is now open every weekend from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Jennifer Ellis, of friends of Galveston Island State Park, credits the work of volunteers for the weekend openings. "Many changes have taken place at the Nature Center and it is constantly in the process of being upgraded," Ellis said. "Currently, a group led by Assistant Park Manager Donna Garde is articulating a 10-1/2 foot alligator skeleton, which can be seen as a work-in-progress in all of its stages of completion at the Nature Center." For
additional information call (409) 737-1222. Mardi Gras Texas GulfLiner Train Tickets to ride the Texas GulfLiner to Mardi Gras February 22 and 23 and March 1 and 2 are still available. "We are going to have super liner double-decker cars, that have not been seen in this part of the country," said Marie Janke of The Goodman Corporation. Listen The train will depart from League Park in League City at 10 a.m. on Saturday to transport passengers to Galveston's Railroad Museum. There will be several trips throughout the day, with the final return to League City at 10 p.m. after the parade. Free parking, with shuttle service to the train, will be provided at the Bay Area Park and Ride lot at Bay Area Boulevard and Feathercraft Avenue. The same schedule will be followed on the final Mardi Gras weekend. Tickets are $16 for adults, and half-price for children ages 2 to 15 and seniors over 65. To
purchase a ticket visit www.texasgulfliner.com
or call (877) GALRAIL. Today's
Meetings 10:00 Harris County Commissioners Court |
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. Terry Arnold and Barbara Ward 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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