© 2003, Guidry News
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© 2003, Guidry News
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Story Links: Port Arthur City Council Harris County Commissioners Court Clear Lake Shores City Council Houston-Galveston Area Council Clear Lake Area Economic Development Foundation Texas A&M University at Galveston Harris County Commissioners Court Clear Lake Shores City Council Houston-Galveston Area Council Clear Lake Area Economic Development Foundation Texas A&M University at Galveston Harris County Commissioners Court Clear Lake Shores City Council Houston-Galveston Area Council Clear Lake Area Economic Development Foundation Texas A&M University at Galveston Harris County Commissioners Court Clear Lake Shores City Council Houston-Galveston Area Council Clear Lake Area Economic Development Foundation Texas A&M University at Galveston Harris County Commissioners Court Clear Lake Shores City Council Houston-Galveston Area Council Clear Lake Area Economic Development Foundation Texas A&M University at Galveston Harris County Commissioners Court Clear Lake Shores City Council Houston-Galveston Area Council Clear Lake Area Economic Development Foundation Texas A&M University at Galveston Harris County Commissioners Court Clear Lake Shores City Council Houston-Galveston Area Council Clear Lake Area Economic Development Foundation Texas A&M University at Galveston Harris County Commissioners Court Clear Lake Shores City Council Houston-Galveston Area Council Clear Lake Area Economic Development Foundation Texas A&M University at Galveston Harris County Commissioners Court Clear Lake Shores City Council Houston-Galveston Area Council Clear Lake Area Economic Development Foundation Texas A&M University at Galveston Harris County Commissioners Court Clear Lake Shores City Council Houston-Galveston Area Council Clear Lake Area Economic Development Foundation Texas A&M University at GalvestonScheduled Meetings Harris County Commissioners Court Clear Lake Shores City Council Houston-Galveston Area Council Clear Lake Area Economic Development Foundation Texas A&M University at Galveston Harris County Commissioners Court Clear Lake Shores City Council Houston-Galveston Area Council Clear Lake Area Economic Development Foundation Texas A&M University at Galveston
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Port
Arthur City Council Port Arthur City Council Tuesday night voted to cancel the city's Mardi Gras celebration if war with Iraq begins before the event. "It's not right for us to be partying while our boys and girls are fighting our war," said Mayor Oscar Ortiz, who also noted that police will be assigned to protection of the city's refineries if war breaks out. Port Arthur's celebration is a four day party that begins on February 27 and concludes on March 2. Also at Tuesday's meeting the city council approved a memorandum of agreement with the FBI's Houston Joint Terrorism Task Force. The city council approved a resolution establishing a service award program for city council members and other Port Arthur citizens who serve on the various boards, committees and commissions appointed and/or confirmed by the city council. The city council approved a contract with Aquila Golf, Inc., of Beaumont for operation and maintenance of the Babe Didrickson Zaharias Memorial Golf Course. The city council tabled action on a rate increase proposed by Southern Union Gas and on an ordinance dealing with regulatory authorities by public utilities. All
other agenda items were approved. Correction:
Friendswood Mayor Harold Whitaker served on the
Friendswood Independent School District Board of Trustees,
not the Clear Creek ISD Board. The Galveston Planning Commission unanimously approved a general land use plan in conjunction with the development of Beachside Village, a 50-plus acre resort community on the Gulf of Mexico between 8 Mile Road and 9 Mile Road, about two miles west of the Seawall. The project, with 154 homesites, including 24 on beachfront lots, is a development of Bruce and Debbie Reinhart, owners of Kahala Development. Beachside Village will include a town center, featuring shops, a grocery store, causal and fine dining, as well as parks, greenbelts, dune walkovers, and a swimming pool. There may also be a wedding chapel. George and Rhondell Liberato plan to open Beachside Village Realty in the community to market the village. "This is a walking community," said Bruce Reinhart to the planning commission Tuesday night. He hopes to break ground this summer. The planning commission voted 6-1, with Pat Lawson opposed, to recommend approval of a change of zoning to Neighborhood Service for a vacant building at 3028 Avenue Q, despite opposition from neighbors who fear that drug traffic will be attracted to a grocery store planned for the building. "The concept of a neighborhood store is outdated," said police officer Dana Williams, who is a neighbor. Dave Johnson, who owns the property, said security will be provided to discourage drug dealers, and assured the commission that there will not be a pay telephone outside the store. The city council will consider the zoning change on March 13. The commission voted 5-2, with Pat Lawson and David Miller opposed, to recommend a specific use permit to allow a Kwik Lube at 3115 Broadway, despite a recommendation from planning staff to deny the request because it does not conform to the Comprehensive Plan. "The Comprehensive Plan is a guideline, not a must," said John Dreiss, who moved to endorse the permit. "It will enhance Broadway," insisted Larry Stanley who will own the establishment. The city council will consider the request on March 13. The commission approved a temporary license to use city right-of-way in conjunction with a construction fence at the site of the Galveston Island Convention Center at the San Luis. The commission deferred action on a request to use city right-of-way for an esplanade at the entrance to Cedar Lawn Subdivision; on a request for a specific use permit for development excavation in conjunction with lakes, site improvement and collection of water runoff at 14228 Stewart Road; on a request for a permanent license to use city right-of-way for Galveston Waterfront Ventures parking lot at 3301 Harborside Drive; and on a general land use plan in conjunction with a multi-family dwelling at 3501-3625 Cove View Boulevard. Those requests will be considered on March 4. All
other requests were approved. Photos and audio will be posted on The Online News Station. Harris
County Commissioners Court Harris County Commissioners Court approved the 2003-2004 budgets for the Harris County Hospital District and the Harris County Flood Control District after public hearings were held on the items on Tuesday. Rich Elwood, project director of the county’s downtown building program reported that six major projects would be going on around the county administration building during the next two years. “We believe that all these projects can be done while life in the county building goes on, but it will be unusual,” Elwood said. Six requests from three justices of the peace, including funds for travel expenses, training and cell phones, were referred back to the budget committee. Commissioner Steve Radack questioned whether some of the items should be paid out of existing funds in the JPs' budgets. A request for an employee to attend a conference of the Texas Associated Public-Safety Communications Officers March in Wichita Falls was held on a motion by Commissioner El Franco Lee. A request for an agreement with Coastal Securities for financial advisory services was held on a motion by Commissioner Sylvia Garcia. Four authorizations to amend toll road project contracts were withdrawn from the agenda: a $1,300,000 increase on a contract with Washington Infrastructure Services, Inc.; a $414,387 increase on a contract with Claunch & Miller, Inc.; a $393,200 increase on a contract with S&B Infrastructure, and a $781,900 increase on a contract with Kellogg Brown and Root, Inc. A recommendation that the county judge be allowed to execute an agreement with Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America for the Clay Road project was withdrawn. All
other agenda items were approved. Beaumont
City Council Beaumont City Council voted to issue $9 million in certificates of obligation to fund various street, drainage, building and park improvement projects. The city council approved an annual contract with Beaumont Products and Services, Inc. for furnishing litter removal services on arterial street rights-of-way and other specific areas at a rate of $11.85 per hour, per person worked. The city council appointed Joey Hilliard to the Zoning Board of Adjustment. The city council approved a resolution acknowledging Ryan Sheffler as a candidate in the 2003 Presidential Scholars Program. The city council appointed Charlotte Wills, Harriott Babineaux, Terleen Hurst, Martha Simien, Karen Neild, Emma Brown, Marie Easley and Lillie Green to the Drug Free Beaumont Commission. All other agenda items were approved. The city
council held a work session with Tom Bell about preservation of the Bessie Heights
Marsh. the city council also discussed the possible
sale of several park properties in work session. Tiki
Island Board of Aldermen The Village of Tiki Island Board of Aldermen approved the appointments of election personnel Tuesday evening. The election judge is Sue Ellen Johnson, the alternate election judge is Helen Mabe, the election clerk is Gayle Brown, and the Early Ballot Board will be comprised of residents Jackie Booth, Sandy Morgan, and Linda Treadway. The aldermen approved a pay rate of $8.00 per hour for all election personnel. All other agenda items were approved. In his report, Alderman Theo Blue stressed the need for Tiki Island representation on the Hitchcock Independent School District Board of Trustees. "I've been corresponding with the Texas Education Agency about the need for a monitor to supervise the school district," Blue said. "I've received a letter back from them and they have forwarded our request to the proper agency within their organization." "We pay 30 percent of HISD's tax revenues, and we have less than five children attending," added Alderman Betsy Tobey. Mayor Charles Everts noted that the late Harold Ingram is being recognized by the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. "Eugene Cernan, astronaut, sent a letter to Bette informing her that Harold was going to be honored in the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, as well as on NASA's Wall of Honor," Ingram was an integral part of the Apollo space program in the 1960's, working in design, problem solving, and temperature control. "I
am just so happy for Harold," Bette Ingram told Guidry
News Service.
"I only wish he could be here." Hitchcock
City Commission The Hitchcock City Commission approved a request from Hassie Hunt Exploration Company for a drilling permit for four proposed wells, after the company offered an additional $25,000 cash bond. "With them offering the extra bond, that makes $50,000 in cash bonds that we're holding," said Mayor Kyle Campbell. "When their work is completed, if their repairs on that one section of road do not meet city standards, the bonds will cover that. But believe me, they're going to leave that road in much better shape than what it was originally." The city commission discussed several items in workshop, including a proposed time-line for renewing employee health and dental insurance for city employees through The Childress Group. Gilbert Gustafson expressed concerns about the Little League using a portion of his property on Robinson Road. "If a child fell off those bleachers onto my property, I just don't want the liability," Gustafson said. City attorney Ellis Ortego will look into the matter. Webster
City Council Webster City Council voted Tuesday night to prohibit U-turns for eastbound traffic at 889 West Bay Area Boulevard. The city council approved the first reading of an ordinance allowing pharmaceutical and medical manufacturing in Office, Commercial, and Industrial Districts. The ordinance is designed to cater to the rapidly expanding medical community in the City of Webster. “My only problem is your definition of pharmaceutical and medical manufacturing," said Council Member Floyd Myers. "I don’t see anything there that would restrict anthrax, radiology, or storing of radioactive materials. I would like to see some definition.” The city council authorized staff to purge over $57,000 in outstanding, uncollected, non-capias arrest warrants. Police Chief Michael Jez reported on his department’s compliance with the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure on racial profiling. “We have not had a single complaint, through the last calendar year, of racial profiling filed by a citizen against a police officer,” Jez said. The city council voted to reject and re-advertise for bids for a screening wall on Linda Lane from bids opened January 29, 2003. All
other agenda items were approved. Clear
Lake Shores City Council Clear Lake Shores City Council voted 3-2, with Mayor Ted Guthrie, Katherine McIntyre and Vaness Hamilton in favor; and Brian Chernecke and Lowell Brown opposed, to terminate the split pay option for ad valorem taxes. Gutherie, who normally does not vote, broke the 2-2 tie. "This was a request from the Galveston County tax assessor," said Guthrie. "I don't have any idea of what I'm voting on with the information they have given us," complained Brown. "The letter states the tax office does accept partial payments of the current year's taxes," Hamilton explained. The city council voted unanimously to table action on the final invoice for the West Side Grant Drainage Project due to mathematical errors. "I don't feel comfortable paying a bill when I don't have the correct invoice," Chernecke said. "The next time this is before council I would like to have the previous invoices and a representative from LAN here." The city council voted 3-1, with Brown opposed, to approve a master drainage plan. "We need a master drainage plan, but we don't need all the bells and whistles you all have included," complained Guthrie. "I am having a difficult time understanding why it would cost us forty to fifty thousand dollars to figure out which way the water runs off a hill," Brown said. All
other agenda items were approved. Council Member Jim Moncur
was absent. Pasadena
City Council Pasadena City Council voted 6-2, with J.J. Isbell and Jerri Neely opposed, to uphold a city appeals board recommendation that Kerry S. Baurax, an employee in the city library, be indefinitely suspended. “I didn’t get facts on the case to make an informed decision,” said Isbell, who had tried unsuccessfully to delay action. “I had asked for some information earlier this week but got it only minutes before this council meeting," agreed Neely. "My vote is a way for me to make an attempt to do the right thing." The city council unanimously approved on first reading a proposal to provide $451,000 for the preliminary engineering, final design and reconstruction of various intersections. The intersection redesigns are for Burke/Burkeshire, Burke/Fairmont Parkway, Burke/Red Bluff, Burke/Southmore, Center/Fairmont Parkway, 1600 Crenshaw (Fire Station No. 7), Fairmont Parkway/Lowe’s-Home Depot, Fairmont Parkway/ Yuma, and Line/Red Bluff. The city council approved on first reading the purchase of 22 Chevrolet trucks, SUVs, and cars through the Houston-Galveston Area Council cooperative purchasing program. All other agenda items were approved. Mayor John Manlove presented a proclamation to Pasadena Interfaith Manor in recognition of “Brotherhood Week.” Council
Member Dana Philibert attended her first council meeting
since giving birth earlier this year. Houston-Galveston
Area Council The Board of Directors of the Houston-Galveston Area Council unanimously approved a list of 33 candidate nominations received for the Emergency/Trauma Care Policy Council. League City Council Member Hamid Kantara moved to expand the board to 35 members, to include a Galveston County emergency medical services representative and a Texas Department of Health official, but action was deferred until next month. Karen Sexton, Chief Operating Officer for UTMB-Galveston and Dr. Kira Bacal, a projects physician at NASA Johnson Space Center, currently represents Galveston County on the council. The H-GAC Board appointed 23 members to the Gulf Coast Workforce Development Board. Steve Howard, director of program operations, said most of the positions are reappointments. The board approved the creation of the Corporation for Regional Excellence, a tax-exempt corporation, to seek financial contributions to H-GAC from the private sector. The board
approved proposals to provide mortgage insurance for both
the City Park South Apartments, Ltd. and Windsor Cypress
Apartments construction projects in Houston. State Representative Craig Eiland reported on Tuesday that the budget crisis that the state is facing is worse than originally estimated. "The first thing that people have to understand is that this is not what I call a "federal budget deficit," Eiland said. "I call a "federal budget deficit" a situation where your increase in revenue is less than your increase in expenses. What we have here in Texas is actually 1.8 billion less dollars to spend this year than the comptroller estimated and that we budgeted, and we have less money for the next two years than we did for the last two years. Therefore, we have to cut this year's budget and cut the next two years' budget." Eiland says the state's current budget is based upon $61 billion in state dollars and $53 billion in federal funds for a total budget of $114 billion for the two years ending on September 1, 2003. The comptroller has calculated that the state will have $54 billion in state revenue over the next two years.Although it has not yet been calculated, the state will also lose several billion (possibly as high as $10 billion) in federal dollars over the next two years as well. "An
example of the surprises included in this situation is that
we found out last week that our prisons are almost full, and
are projected to be full in five weeks. Unless
something changes, we will be back to where we were in the
early 1990s," Eiland said. "The prison
system has been asked to cut seven percent or $172 million
from this year's budget. The prison system has
proposed cutting the substance abuse and sex offender
rehabilitation programs. Our state experts show us
undisputed evidence that individuals that complete these
programs, that we are about to cut, have an 18.5 percent
re-arrest rate and a five percent re-incarceration rate,
while those who do not under go any treatment had a 40
percent re-arrest rate and a 29.9 percent re-incarceration
rate. To me it is not a very intelligent decision to
cut effective programs like that." Port
of Houston Authority The Transportation Security Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation held a press conference at the Port of Houston Authority’s headquarters on Tuesday to announce new grants and procedures for increased security at the port. Port officials had met earlier with members of TSA, U.S. Customs Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Coast Guard and congressional representatives. U.S. Representative Kevin Brady said the port is “the single most important infrastructure to protect in Texas.” Rep. Brady spoke with Guidry News Service about terrorist threats the port faces, and what he’s doing about it in Congress. Listen TSA’s Regional Public Affair’s Director Ed Martelle said that many of the new anti-terrorism methods being employed in and around the port could not be revealed, “because then we’ll be telling them to terrorists.” Martelee announced that the port had been awarded a $300,000 grant for risk assessment, and that a $1.5 million grant had been awarded to the port for a new command center. The
command center will be used to coordinate law enforcement
agencies in the event of hurricanes, terrorist attacks or
other emergencies. The new center is being modeled after
NASA’s command center; and NASA and the port will be able
to utilize each other’s command centers should one or the
other be disabled. A Galveston County Grand Jury on Tuesday issued a true bill indictment of Harris County Deputy Constable Dale A. Haag on the charge of official oppression in connection with an incident on December 23 in the Bacliff area. Haag "subjected four individuals to an illegal arrest, search and/or detention after a verbal altercation with one of the subjects," said Assistant Criminal District Attorney Joel H. Bennett, in a news release. "Mr. Haag was not in uniform and had just left a gentleman's club prior to the incident," Bennett said. "Mr. Haag identified himself as a peace officer with his badge and stated he worked for Harris County Constable's Office Precinct 6 and was part of the Narcotics Task Force. Bennett said the constable's office says it has no such unit. Official
oppression is a Class A misdemeanor and carries a punishment
of up to one year in the county jail and a fine of up to
$4,000. CLAEDF General Membership Meeting Harris County Precinct Two Commissioner Sylvia Garcia will provide the keynote address at the Clear Lake Area Economic Development Foundation general membership this afternoon at the Lakewood Yacht Club in Seabrook. The event begins at 4:00 p.m. Garcia will discuss her "Vision for Precinct 2" as well as topics of interest to the Clear Lake Area. For more information,
contact Tina Laningham at (281) 486-5535. All three incumbents are seeking re-election to the San Jacinto College Board of Regents in the May 3 election. They are Dr. Parker Williams of Pasadena, Dan Mims of Channelview and Wayne Slovacek of Deer Park. Prospective
candidates for the three positions may file at the SJC
District administration building, 4624 Fairmont Parkway,
Suite 200, in Pasadena. Hours for filing are weekdays,
8 a.m.- noon and 1-5 p.m. in the office of the chancellor. Texas A&M University at Galveston Texas A&M University at Galveston's spring lecture series on The Texas Revolution continues tonight. Dr. Paul D. Lack, a noted author and expert on the history of slavery, will speak on “Slavery and the Texas Revolution.” The
lecture will be held at the Rosenberg Library located at
2310 Sealy in Galveston, Texas at 7:00 p.m.
This lecture series is supported by grants from the
Texas Council for the Humanities, a state program of the
National Endowment for the Humanities, the Trube Foundation,
the Galveston Historical Foundation, and the Friends of the
Rosenberg Library. Today's
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. 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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