© 2003, Guidry News
Service
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
© 2003, Guidry News
Service
|
Story
Links: University of Texas Medical Branch University of Texas Medical Branch University of Texas Medical Branch University of Texas Medical Branch University of Texas Medical Branch University of Texas Medical Branch University of Texas Medical Branch University of Texas Medical Branch University of Texas Medical Branch University of Texas Medical Branch University of Texas Medical Branch University of Texas Medical Branch University of Texas Medical Branch University of Texas Medical Branch University of Texas Medical Branch University of Texas Medical Branch
|
Galveston City Council interviewed candidates for the Board of Trustees of the Galveston Wharves in public, an action praised by Council Member Joe Jaworski as an example of open government. However, there was no public discussion before the city council made its decisions public, immediately after the lengthy interview sessions. The city council voted 4-3, with Jaworski, Dianna Puccetti and Lyda Ann Thomas opposed, to appoint former city council member Bill Clayton to the wharves board; and voted unanimously to name Gerald Sullivan to the second position. Clayton, who said he has kept up with port business since he left the city council a year ago, advocated putting "the wharves land to work," selling it if necessary. He suggested replacing the Pelican Island Causeway with a land bridge, blocking water traffic into Galveston Bay from the western end of the Galveston Ship Channel. Listen Sullivan, who previously operated a private port on property that he still owns, is eager to work to apply his business techniques to the Port of Galveston. Listen "As a businessman, I think that we should pursue any and all leads on what would be best for the Port of Galveston and the City of Galveston," Sullivan, said suggesting that options could include seeking proposals from developers and possible cooperation with the Port of Houston and/or the Port of Texas City. The city council voted to sell $1 million in certificates of obligation to Prudential Securities at an interest rate of 3.412330 percent and $11 million in waterworks and sewer system revenue bonds to William R. Hough & Co. at an interest rate of 4.082846 percent. The city council voted 4-2-1, with Joe Jaworski and Dianna Puccetti opposed and Cornelia Harris Banks abstaining, to grant a specific use permit for a day nursery at 5719 Avenue P 1/2. The city council voted 6-0-1, with Booker Price abstaining, to create "gun shop" as a designated land use which will require a specific use permit in the future. Jaworski said the designation will make it easier to regulate gun shops. The city council voted 6-0-1, with Puccetti abstaining, to approve a $54,100 contract with Klotz Associates for engineering on the Spanish Grant Bay Sanitary Sewer Extension. All other votes were unanimous. The city council voted to place a moratorium on any new development applications within Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone 12, in the area of the Galveston County justice complex, but excluded the area where new mall stores are being developed. The city council voted to defer action on a request to change an alley behind Home Cut Donuts at 68th Street from two-way to one-way. Attorney Stephen Schulz, representing Don Childress, will negotiate with several property owners who oppose the change. The city council voted to abandon a section of 79th Street right-of-way for a wetlands mitigation project by the Falcon Group in conjunction with development of condominiums on East Beach. Richard Anderson explained that the project will include removal of Chinese tallow trees that damage wetlands. The city council approved an agreed settlement with police officer Phillip Morris, who will be given $20,000 and a promotion to sergeant. The city council approved Mayor Roger Quiroga's nomination of Oma Gallaway to the Committee on Unity and Tolerance and Quiroga's nomination of Mary Rudenberg, Linda Ferguson, Lee Weber, Michael Jackson, Mike Shriner, Dan Rodriquez and Dan Cote to the new Intermodal Transportation Committee. The city council approved Quiroga's nomination of Banks as mayor pro tem for a second year, although Puccetti suggested rotating the position on an annual basis in the future. Wade Bettisworth of SlumbergerSema met with the city council concerning an upgrade of the city's downtown parking meters to accommodate credit cards. "The cost to upgrade 105 meters would be approximately $200,000 and would take six to nine weeks to be operational," said City Manager Steve LeBlanc. Today the city council is meeting in retreat at Moody Gardens. Print
Version Kemah
City Council Kemah Mayor William King announced Thursday night that sales tax revenues were down $30,000 for the month of April. This brings the deficit in total sales taxes collected to around $330,000 for the budget year. King said that the deficit will result in the city “cutting some services rather dramatically or raising property taxes.” Currently, Kemah has the lowest property tax in the area at $0.0712 per $100 valuation. The city council voted to meet at 6:30 p.m. on May 22 to discuss the removal of the barricade along Sixth Street. The city erected the barricade last year to alleviate heavy traffic headed toward the construction site of a boat storage terminal in Clear Lake Shores. King said now that the site is almost complete he wants to invite the citizens of Clear Lake Shores, the Lazy Bend subdivision and West Kemah to discuss whether or not to reopen the street. King said the closure of the street was a good move by the city council at the time, evidenced by the fact that the road past the barricades is completely demolished but Kemah’s side is still in good condition. “I think we saved ourselves some money there,” King said. City Manager Bill Kerber asked the city council to raise the rates for mowing charges by city employees. Kerber said the city’s fees are so low now that property owners are ignoring warnings from the city to cut their overgrown lawns and instead let the city do it for the small fee. “A lot of people have gotten a good deal on getting their property mowed,” said Kerber. At the city council’s request, Kerber said he will look into various plans to ease the burden on city crews. Council Member Kelly Williams was absent. The San Jacinto College Board of Regents has announced that it will enter into negotiations to make Dr. Bill Lindemann the fourth chancellor in the college's 42-year history. The appointment is scheduled for the next meeting of the regents on Monday, June 2. Lindemann has been serving as interim chancellor since January 1. Previously, he was executive vice chancellor in charge of instructional programs and services. "Bill was tested under fire and showed grace under pressure," said Dr. Ruede Wheeler, chair of the board of regents, noting that Lindemann has had to deal with state mandated budget cuts. "After working with him through the budget trimming processes, we realized his ability in the area of fiscal responsibility and his respect for taxpayer dollars. The regents decided he was the best person to lead the faculty, administrators, staff, students and the community." "I am honored that the board has expressed their intentions to select me to permanently fill the office of chancellor," said Lindemann. "Although the budget cutting process has been troublesome, it has been made easier thanks to the quality of personnel we have throughout the district. Working with our team at San Jac is one of the positive aspects of this job. I look forward to working with them in an ongoing effort to bring quality education to this community. The House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee held a hearing on Thursday on NASA's proposed Integrated Space Transportation Plan and the Orbital Space Plane. It was the first opportunity for focused Congressional review of the OSP proposal since NASA first submitted its plan last November. "NASA's proposed Orbital Space Plane program won't deliver a Space Station crew return vehicle until four years after we need it, and it will cost billions of dollars more than the X-38/CRV program that was canceled by the Administration," said Congressman Nick Lampson. "I think that's both shortsighted and wasteful. We can do better." Witnesses included NASA Deputy Administrator Fred Gregory, former NASA deputy administrator Dale Myers, Dr. Jerry Grey, director of science and technology policy for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and Dr. Michael Griffin, former NASA chief engineer and associate administrator for exploration. While NASA defended its Orbital Space Plane plan as a program that will provide "multiple benefits", the non-NASA witnesses all expressed varying degrees of skepticism and concern about NASA's approach. "It scarcely needs to be said that it will be extremely hard to justify the development of such a vehicle, at a cost of several billions of dollars, for such a limited purpose as OSP will have, given the requirements envisioned for it today," Griffin said "One troubling fact is the current OSP development cost estimate, which, although admittedly premature, ranges from $9 billion to $13 billion," Grey added. "Whatever happened to the $1.2 billion Crew Return Vehicle?" "Unless we decide to stop flying the Space Shuttle and the Space Station, our highest priorities should be to build a crew escape system for the Shuttle and a simple, robust crew return vehicle for the Space Station as soon as possible," agreed Representative Ralph Hall, ranking Democratic member on the Science Committee. University of Texas Medical Branch Dr.
Michael Malloy, professor in the Division of Neonatology at
the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston,
reported to the annual meeting of Pediatric Academic
Societies in During
that eight-year period, the average rate of SIDS deaths
decreased by more than five percent annually for newborns
(birth through 28 days) and by nearly ten percent annually
for infants one through six months of age. The rate did not,
however, decrease for infants seven to eleven months of age,
the study found. The Rosenberg Library has announced a community-wide effort to "get all the citizens on the same page". Following the lead of cities such as Seattle, Houston, Chicago and Victoria a group of Galveston citizens are banding together to promote the cause of reading. "Realizing that reading does make a difference and that by sharing literature we can create or find some commonality among ourselves, the committee selected the book Tortilla Curtain by T. Coraghessan Boyle as the first title for Galvestonians to read," said Jan Coggeshall, Chair of the Galveston Reads project. "All citizens, high school reading level and above, are encouraged to participate and can start reading the book immediately," Coggeshall said, emphasizing that it is a community happening. “We want the whole community involved and we hope to communicate with organizations, churches, book groups, students, employees, retired residents to read, enjoy and discuss the book with others. Galveston has never lacked for conversation, and here is something fresh to talk about during the next year.” The Galveston Reads committee includes representatives from Galveston County Daily News, UTMB, Texas A&M, Galveston College, Galveston Independent School District, Midsummer Books, Rosenberg Library and independent citizens. The group selected Tortilla Curtain "as a fitting tribute to Henry Rosenberg, benefactor of the Rosenberg Library". The library celebrates its 100th Anniversary this coming year. Copies of the book are available at local bookstores, Moody Methodist Library and a limited number at Rosenberg Library. Midsummer Books, located at 2309 Mechanic in Galveston, has offered to make copies of the book available at cost in support of the venture. For
more information contact coordinators Karen Stanley of the
Rosenberg Library at (409) 763-8854 extension 119 or Joan Hyatt at
(409) 744-1657. Galveston's
First Annual Youth Summit will be held on Saturday, May 10
from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Island Community Center at 4700
Broadway. Arnold Williams, with the Texas Workforce Commission will be the keynote speaker during the opening session. "Our goal is to begin to help youth share in leadership positions with adults and community organizations," said a City of Galveston News Release. Participants will receive a free T-shirt and will be included in a Galveston Youth Participation photo for public release. There will be a dance from 9 p.m. to 12 midnight. Participants must attend the summit in order to attend the dance. For
information call Carol Chairez, community youth development
coordinator at the Galveston Independent School District at
(409) 766-5164. The Texas Crab Festival begins at 6 p.m. today with Weiner Dog races at Gregory Park at Crystal Beach on the Bolivar Peninsula. The
festival, sponsored by the Bolivar Peninsula Chamber of
Commerce, features over
50 food and craft booths, a carnival and petting zoo, a climbing
wall, mechanical bull and other attractions. The
annual Crab Legs Contest will be held on Saturday. Admission
is $5, and children 12 and under are free. Parking is free. Al Mainwaring Cartoon Today's Al Mainwaring Cartoon provides a view of the impact of state budget problems on those in need of services. Scheduled
Meetings Today, May
9
Saturday, May 10
Sunday, May
11
Monday, May
12 |
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 and Clear Lake area reporters include Jinelle Boyd, Dedra Black, Jared Denniston, Jo Ann Gowing, and Renee' Webster. 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. Gulf Coast E-news also covers regional organizations in the Gulf Coast area. Drew Gilbert, who covered the Galveston City Beat, was recently reactivated into the Coast Guard for the Iraq war. We are seeking additional reporters to expand our coverage in Jefferson County. Robert John Mihovil is a special photographic correspondent for Guidry News Service 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.
Guidry News Service has
offices at 926 Broadway |
|||||