Thursday              November 6, 2003

Seabrook City Council

Seabrook City Council on Tuesday voted to purchase approximately 65 acres of land from American Acryl, Inc. to use for wetlands conservation.  News Release

"The land purchase is part of the city’s economic development strategy to increase jobs and stimulate the local economy," said Mike Clawson, project director for the City of Seabrook.  "Specifically, the city hopes to preserve the wetlands and promote eco-tourism.  Some of the items planned for the site include trails for hiking, jogging and birding; an information center to provide information on wetlands and conservation efforts and the creation of self supporting nature education programs.  

Clawson said that economic development through eco-tourism will come from increased retail sales, hotel rentals, and entertainment expenditures, as well as capital expenditures for business expansion.  

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Texas City Commission

Fire Chief Gerald Grimm reported to the Texas City Commission on Wednesday on the process to replace Rural Metro as the emergency medical provider for the mainland communities.  Goldstar EMS of Port Arthur is now the sole company under consideration and Grimm said an agreement should be finalized within the next few weeks. 

The city commission authorized the city's intervention in Texas-New Mexico Power Company's "true-up" proceeding before the Public Utility Commission.

The city commission appointed Cheryl Hunter to be the city's records management officer.

The city commission named Georgia Meyer to the Public Facilities Development Corporation.

The city commission named Collier A. "Guss" Campbell and Reverend William Randall to the Texas City Cultural Arts Foundation.

The city commission named Mayor Carlos Garza, Pat Doyle, Anthony W. Hawkins, Dwight Spurlock and Harold Fattig to the Texas City Economic Development Corporation.

The city commission named Randy Dietel, Mayor Garza, C.J. Schmitz, Reverend George Singleton and Dr. Ted Weatherall to the Texas City Harbour Foreign Trade Zone Commission.

The city commission named Robert Florence to the City of Texas City Industrial Development Corporation.

The city commission named William T. Etheredge, III, Gary Meyer, Beverly Delaney Mitchell and Dr. J.T. Weatherall to the Texas City Housing Corporation.

The city commission named William T. Etheredge, III, Gary Meyer, Beverly Delaney Mitchell and Dr. J.T. Weatherall to the Texas City Housing Finance Corporation.

The city commission tabled appointment of members to various city boards, commissions and committees.

The city commission tabled action on a request to rezone property in the 700 block of 34th Street North from Single Family Residential to General Business, to facilitate establishment of a game room.

All other agenda items were approved.

The city commission met in executive session with City Attorney Bobby Gervais to discuss pending litigation.

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Houston City Council

Houston City Council on Wednesday approved an interlocal agreement to facilitate a pilot program that will concentrate on developing affordable housing across several hundred lots, tax-delinquent properties, in two Houston neighborhoods.  Release

“I am excited to see Houston and the participating entities involved in such a positive rebuilding effort,” said Mayor Lee P. Brown. “The pilot program will allow 217 lots in the Third and Fifth Ward to be developed or rebuilt.  That’s great news for families looking for affordable housing and great news for the City as we look for ways to both strengthen tax revenues and create stronger neighborhoods.”  

The city council approved an addition to the City Code of Ordinances that institutionalizes and provides for the continuation of the super neighborhood initiative which is intended to provide avenues for more effective community input into city government policymaking, budgeting, planning, and service delivery systems. News Release

“Through the super neighborhood program, we are giving residents a significant tool to achieve the changes they want in their communities,” Brown said.  “And by institutionalizing this initiative, we are guaranteeing our citizens a more organized and more efficient system of community participation.” 

The city council confirmed the appointment of Francelia Totty and Adam Silverman as full-time municipal court judges and the reappointment of judges Berta Mejia, Maria E. Casanova, John Paul Barnich, Rhoda Cato, Antonia Ingversen, Nancy Bailey, Daniel Perez, Jr., Daniel Simms, W.E. Blackmon, Leigh F. Saint Germain, Elaine Timberlake, Fad Wilson, Jr. and Gordon Marcum to the municipal court bench.

The city council confirmed the reappointment of Margaret Munoz Harkins, Sherry Applewhite, Cheryl A. Smith, Joellen Snow, Joseph Varela, Patrice Barron, Josefina M. Rendon, Lydia Johnson, Ana Otero, William A. Allen, Johnnie Abercia, Walter Schroeder, Don R. Byrnes, Elizabeth Asher, Harlan Coleman, Yvonne Q. Taylor, A. Robert Hinojosa, Victoria C. Dawson, Jay D. Hirsch, Ann C. Ellis, Jack P. Lee, Gary B. Maddox, Oswald J. Scott, Jr., Jo Nelson, Brian Wice, Davod O. Fraga, Nikita Harmon, Thomas M. Whitworth, Timothy K. Seo and Min Lee

as substitute municipal court judges.

The city council confirmed the reappointment of Richard Rice, James Jard, David Collins, John Chiang, Samir J. Foteh and Jon Strange as members of the Planning Commission.

The city council confirmed the reappointment of Tony Chase, Bettye Lewis and William E. Barnett to the Houston Zoo Development Corporation Board of Directors.

The city council confirmed the appointment of Robert P. Rodriguez, Irma Galvan, Mark Truskey, Dominic Quijano, Paul Meza and Alicia Taylor to the Greater East End Management District Board of Directors, and the reappointment of Margaret Lincoln, Donald Rozum, Grady Walker, D. V. Flores and Ed Wulfe to the board.

The city council confirmed the appointment of Regina Bynote Jones, Marcus Davis, Daniel Barnum and Julie Anne McClure to the Midtown Management District Board of Directors and the reappointment of Gayle Fortson, Doug Williams and Trang Tran to the board.

The city council confirmed the appointment of James Kilpatrick and Donny Darville to the Near Northwest Management District Board of Directors and the reappointment of Viola M. Garcia and Robert R. Burchfield to the board.

The city council confirmed the appointment of Janice Harris to the Board of Directors of Reinvestment Zone 16 and the reappointment of Martin Debrovner and Judson Robinson, III to the board.

The city council confirmed the appointment of Senator Jon Lindsay and Kendall Miller to the Uptown Development Authority Board of Directors and the reappointment of Martin Debrovner as chair of the board.

The city council confirmed the appointment of Martin Wiltshire, John Holland, Doug Elliot, Mark Smith, Philip Schneidau, Lloyd Lauland, Jr., and Andrew Lear to the Westchase Area Management District Board of Directors and the reappointment of Mark D. Taylor, William Senglemann, David Lee and Suzanne Anderson to the board.

The city council approved the payment of $30,000 in membership dues for the city's membership in the Alliance for Interstate 69 Texas.

Several items were tagged, or delayed for one week by individual members of the city council.

A $577,793.85 amendment to a construction contract and a  $732,186 change order in the contract with Texas Sterling, L.P. for construction of an 84-inch water line along West 24th Street from Durham Drive were tagged by Michael Berry and Mark Goldberg.

A $41,313.56 contract with Altivia Corporation for the emergency purchase of Sodium Hypochlorite for the Department of Public Works & Engineering was tagged by Goldberg.

A motion to increase spending authority from $3,220,300 to $4,025,375 for Ford Motor car/light truck replacement parts and service for various departments was tagged by Shelley Sekula-Gibbs.

A $772,651 contract with City Supply Co., Inc. for plumbing supplies for various departments was tagged by Sekula-Gibbs.

A $96,700 contract with Turn Equipment & Supplies, Inc., minus a three percent commission fee, for lawnmower and edger replacement parts and repair for various departments was tagged by Bruce Tatro.

An ordinance authorizing and providing for certain amendments to the City of Houston, Texas, Water and Sewer System Bond Ordinance was tagged by Addie Wiseman, Tatro and Mark Ellis.

Two ordinances related to the adoption of drainage utility service charges were tagged by Wiseman, Tatro and Ellis, and Bruce Keller joined in tagging a third ordinance related to the drainage charges.

An ordinance relating to ground transportation services for the 2004 Super Bowl was tagged by Gabriel Vasquez.

A $213,000 contract with Republic Waste Services of Texas for repairs and modifications at the Southwest Transfer Station was tagged by Goldberg.

Two contract amendments with Child Care Council of Greater Houston were tagged by Tatro.

An amendment to a professional services contract with Watkins Hamilton Ross Architects, Inc. for the Southwest Multi-Service Center was tagged by Keller and Gordon Quan.

A proposed interlocal agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation for the relocation of the city's water main along the IH-10 Corridor was tagged by Vasquez.

A $2,942,500 contract with Lockwood, Andrews & Newman, Inc. for the Accelerated Surface Water Transmission Program was tagged by Vasquez.

A $250,000 contract with Ricondo & Associates, Inc. for a master plan study at William P. Hobby Airport was tagged by Goldberg and Keller.

An amendment to the interlocal cooperation agreement with the Housing Authority of the City of Houston was tagged by Ellis.

A five-year $2,875,000 contract with Ebsco Industries for subscription services for the Houston Public Library was tagged by Wiseman.

A proposed compromise and settlement agreement arising out of the award of a contract was tagged by Vasquez and Goldberg.

Contracts totaling $3,406,105 for various vendor, support and nutrition services for the elderly also were tagged.

 
Action on a $264,323 contract with STOA International Architects, Inc. for professional architectural/engineering services at George Bush Intercontinental Airport was delayed for one week on a motion by Goldberg.

A $285,142 contract with Prozign, Inc. for design improvements and renovations to Jesse H. Jones Library, Carnegie Branch Library, Library Resource Center, and Julia Ideson Building was delayed for one week on a motion by Keller.

A resolution approving the Harris County Appraisal District's proposal to acquire property at 13013 Northwest Freeway for administrative offices was referred back to the administration.

A proposed $53,460 contract to American Plant Products & Services to furnish a greenhouse for the Houston Airport System was referred back to the administration.

An ordinance related to fire alarm system fees was delayed for one week on a motion by Sekula-Gibbs.

A recommendation from the director of the Department of Solid Waste Management to transfer $279,000 from the Solid Waste Special Revenue Fund to the General Fund was pulled from the agenda.

All other agenda items were approved.

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Taylor Lake Village

Taylor Lake Mayor Natalie O'Neill reported to the city council on Wednesday on improvements in drainage in the Kirby Boulevard renovation project. Listen

"Right now, Kirby Boulevard doesn't drain in any kind of rain event," O'Neill said.  "We only have two lanes rather than four because half of the road is under water."

Currently the street and drainage system can drain only 30 feet per second on the average.  The improvements will increase the capacity to 60 feet per second.

The improvement came when a 26-acre tract in neighboring Pasadena was added to the county's drainage plan by Harris County officials.  The developer of the project is picking up a portion of the cost for improved drainage.  

However, O'Neill said the development could include construction of high rise condominiums, which would complicate the sanitary sewerage in the area. 

The city council awarded a $31,659.30 construction contract to Browning Paving and Construction for park drainage.

The city council cast its votes for Walter J. Kronzer, III for election to the Harris County Appraisal District Board of Directors.

All other agenda items were approved.

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Galveston Politics

A service named Opinion Polling is conducting telephone surveys of Galveston voters concerning the 2004 mayoral election.  Listen

An apparently random call to Guidry News Service asked just two questions.

"If the election for mayor were held today would you vote for Johnny Smecca or Lyda Ann Thomas?" and "What is the most important issue facing Galveston?"

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Galveston Zoning Board of Adjustment

The Galveston Zoning Board of Adjustment on Wednesday denied an appeal by Shareefi Enterprises, Inc. for a certificate of occupancy in order to re-open the gasoline station at 602 Broadway, which had been denied by the Department of Planning and Community Development.

"The former Shell station that was located on this site closed on January 10, 2003," noted Urban Planner Andrea Madison.  "Approximately four months later, the current owner purchased the property."

Madison said that the new owner was advised that the service station was a non-conforming use for that location which was “grandfathered”, but would lose its grandfather protection if the station remained closed for more than six months.

"It is staff’s determination that the gasoline service station has been closed for more than six months, therefore the land use is no longer “grandfathered” and a certificate of occupancy cannot be issued.

Thus the service station will not reopen at that location.

A request for a variance regarding front yard and side yard setback requirements for a carport that was built without a permit was withdrawn from the agenda.  The Landmark Commission had recommended against the variance on Monday.

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Galveston Independent School District

Ball High School in the Galveston Independent School District will host an Open Forum for parents and students in the lecture hall on Wednesday, November 12 at 7 p.m.  The purpose of the forum is to provide parents/guardians and students an opportunity to ask questions and provide comments to Ball High School Principal Diana Reaume and Galveston Independent School District Superintendent Lynn Hale. 

 
During the forum, staff will present results of a student and staff survey.  The public is invited to attend.  For more information, call (409) 766-5700.

The Ball High School All Sports Booster Club Silent Auction
is slated for Thursday, November 13, at Mario's Seawall Italian Restaurant, 628 Seawall.  The event is from 5:30 to 9 p.m.  

Each athletic team has compiled a variety of auction items including sports memorabilia, dinner packages, golf packages and hotel packages.  In addition, there will be themed gift baskets focusing on Ball High, fishing, camping, music,
entertainment and more.

 
All proceeds from the auction will be used to purchase equipment for the Ball High School athletics program and to honor student athletes at the annual sports banquet.

For information call (409) 795-2410.  

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William Temple Episcopal Center

The 40th anniversary of The William Temple Episcopal Center will be celebrated in a program entitled “Rejoice With Us” at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 16 at the Grand 1894 Opera House.  

The highlight of the event will be the performance by Conspirare, a dynamic ensemble of professional singers from around the country. Press Release and Photos

“We are excited to be able to give a little back to those in the community who have been so supportive over the past 40 years, through this magnificent presentation,” said the Reverend Posy Jackson, executive director of William Temple Center.

Two former directors of the William Temple Center, the Reverend Robert (Bob) L. Wells, and the late Reverend John Caskey will be honored at the ceremony. Both will be named “2003 William Temple Fellows.”  Mrs. Nita Caskey will be accepting the award for her late husband. Also recognized will be all past “William Temple Fellows.”

Tickets priced from $5 to $50, and $250 for the box seats, are now on sale at the Grand 1894 Opera House.  Call (409) 765-1894. 

For more information about the anniversary celebration or choir call William Temple Center at (409) 762-8641.

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Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority

METRO and Kellogg Brown & Root are co-sponsoring a free METRO Opportunities University course from 8 to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 18. News Release

“Job Order Contract Bidding Process & Contract Management” will be the topic of the workshop, which will be held at the Business & Technology Center, 5330 Griggs, formerly Palm Center. 

The MOU workshop offers small businesses the opportunity to meet with representatives from METRO and Kellogg Brown & Root, as well as learn about the Authority’s JOC payment procedures and processes, JOC project management techniques, and JOC opportunities available in Fiscal Year 2004.  

The course is open to construction, general services and equipment-supply contractors that have received their small business certification by November 7. The workshop is free, but space is limited.  Registration deadline is Friday, November 14.  

For more information call Paralee Shivers at (713) 739-4858 or apply online at www.ridemetro.org. 

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Clear Creek Independent School District

The Clear Creek Independent School District is hosting an open house workshop on "Doing Business with CCISD" from 6 - 8 p.m. on Thursday, November 13  at the CCISD
Education Support Center. The program begins at 6:30 p.m.

The presentation will cover bid award standards, guidelines, tips, techniques, policies, procedures; how to get on the bidders list; and commonly purchased goods and services by CCISD.  For more information see the attached flyer or email mperrico@ccisd.net.

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San Jacinto College

San Jacinto College is offering online registration for its winter-mini semester for the first time in its 42-year history.

Academic courses such as math, history, English and government are available during the winter-mini semester. The winter-mini also offers courses such as business office technology, philosophy, geography, psychology, and criminal justice. 

Registration begins November 17 and ends December 11. Winter-mini classes start on December 15 and end January 2, 2004. To register via the Web, log on to www.sos.sjcd.edu. Telephone and on-campus registration are still available.  Call (281) 998-7600.

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The Grand 1894 Opera House

Tickets are still available for the Grand 1894 Opera House's bus to Houston for the Broadway National Tour of The Full Monty at 2 p.m. on Sunday November 9 at Houston's Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.

The chartered bus trip includes a performance ticket, boxed lunch and round-trip transportation from The Grand to the Hobby Center.  The bus leaves the Grand at noon.

For tickets or additional information call (800) 821-1894

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Scheduled Meetings
Meetings will be held in the regular meeting place of the city council or other governmental body, unless otherwise specified.

Today, November 6
5:00 John Ford for Galveston County Commissioner Precinct One Political Reception, Knights of Columbus Hall, 1912 Winnie Street, Galveston
5:30 Texas General Land Office Public Hearing on Proposed Revisions to Beach/Dune Rules, Jury Assembly Room, Galveston County Court House, 722 Moody, Galveston.

Friday, November 7
11:45 Rosenberg Renaissance Zone Kickoff Ceremony, Rosenberg School Gymnasium, 710 10th Street, Galveston
7:00 Galveston Ballet, The Grand 1894 Opera House

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Gulf Coast E-news, published by Guidry News Service, provides comprehensive coverage of posted public meetings in Galveston, Harris and Jefferson Counties as well as regional news impacting the Upper Texas Gulf Coast.

Chuck Lawrence is Galveston City Correspondent.  Dedra Black covers northern Galveston County and southern Harris County.  Jennifer Robinett and Carl Guidry cover Jefferson County.

Robert John Mihovil is a special photographic correspondent for Guidry News Service

Ivan Arceneaux is a special correspondent. 

Drew Gilbert, who covered the Galveston City Beat, was recently reactivated into the Coast Guard for the Iraq war.