Gulf Coast E-news

Galveston City Council on Monday will consider a 120 day exclusive option to lease agreement and a final ground lease with Galveston Island Water Park, LP for establishment of a Schlitterbahn Waterpark and Resort.

"This is going to be Galveston's Christmas present," said Mayor Roger Quiroga. "We are going to end the year on a high note and just to have the name Schiltterbahn on Galveston Island is going to be a great boost to some economic development that I hope occurs on 61st Street and Avenue S." Listen

The water park will be on the Farmer's Marine property at Scholes International Airport at Galveston near Moody Gardens.

The city council will consider a $2,779,607.96 contract with Texas Sterling Construction for the Trolley Extension Project. Eighty percent of the cost of the extension to the University of Texas Medical Branch will be provided by the Federal Transit Administration; the remaining 20 percent will be provided by Texas Department of Transportation toll credits.

The city council also will consider a resolution requesting the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to reconsider its policy that permits hunting of Sand Hill Cranes on Galveston Island.

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Beaumont City Council

Beaumont City Council will hold a special meeting on Monday to consider the appointment of a city clerk.

The brief agenda also includes consideration of a one-year renewal contract with Carolyn C. Chaney & Associates, Inc. to act as the City of Beaumont's Washington assistant, to consider approving a one year contract for excess workers' compensation insurance and to consider approving a one year contract to administer the city's self-insured Workers' Compensation Program.

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Texas General Land Office

A $756,000 project to renourish Caplen Beach and restore a dune at Caplen Shores will start as early as next week and be completed by mid-March, said Jerry Patterson, Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office.

The Joe Faggard Coastal Erosion Planning and Response Act project is on the Gulf side of Bolivar Peninsula in Galveston County, about a mile west of Rollover Pass. Beach-quality sand will be used to increase beach width and revitalize the beach/dune system there.

"This is a great example of a local community and the state working together to make the coast more enjoyable for everyone," Patterson said.

Plans call for 101,643 cubic yards of beach-quality sand to be placed on a 2,000-feet long by 45-feet wide stretch of Caplen Beach.

The Caplen Shores portion of the project will use 8,497 cubic yards of beach-quality sand to restore a 750-feet long by 6-feet high dune.

Access may be limited at times during construction, but Caplen Beach will remain open throughout the project.

Shiner Moseley and Associates, Inc., of Corpus Christi, is handling engineering for the project, while the construction contractor is W. T. Byler, of Houston.

Galveston County is the Land Office's local partner for the project, contributing $113,400 toward the effort.

The Coastal Erosion Planning and Response Act will provide $3.7 million per year over the next biennium to protect and restore Texas coastal shorelines. An average of 5-6 feet of beach is lost each year along the Texas coast due to erosion.

Visit www.glo.state.tx.us/coastal/erosion.html for additional information.

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Galveston Collective Bargaining

Negotiators for the Galveston Municipal Police Association and International Firefighters Association Local 571 met in collective bargaining talks with City of Galveston officials today, in separate meetings.

"We discussed the health care issue and how officers are paid during a hurricane emergency," said Larry Watts, chief of staff of the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, the chief negotiator for the police officers. "Actually, I don't know that we officially resolved anything, but we moved a little closer to resolution of some of those issues." Listen

Although the talks were separate, police officers and firefighter union members met together in a caucus to discuss health insurance issues between the two meetings.

Photos and recordings of both formal meetings will be posted on The Online News Station.

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Mainland Medical Center

Thousands of employees in the Texas City area with Aetna insurance coverage will be able to receive full, covered benefits at Mainland Medical Center beginning February 1, Dean Alexander, MMC chief executive officer announced on Thursday. News Release

“In my tenure as CEO, I have heard a message from the community loud and clear, people with Aetna coverage want to be able to use our community hospital because we do a great job of providing care for patients," Alexander said. "This will impact employees with BP, Valero, and those enrolled in the Texas Teachers Retirement System currently covered through Aetna.”

The Gulf Coast Division of HCA and Aetna announced earlier this week that they had reached an agreement in principle for a new, three-year contract, expected to become effective February 1. At that time all Aetna commercial health plan members will be able to use Mainland Medical Center and all other HCA Houston hospitals.

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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, December 19
5:45 - 9:00 Moody Gardens Festival of Lights
7:00 Santa’s Kingdom Parade in Santa Fe
8:00 "Gypsy," Strand Theatre, Galveston
8:00 "Greetings!" island etc., 2001 Postoffice, Galveston

Saturday, December 20
9:00 West Galveston Island Property Owners Association, Galveston Country Club. Ian Hause, land development manager for Centex Destination Properties will be guest speaker
5:45 - 9:00 Moody Gardens Festival of Lights
8:00 "Gypsy," Strand Theatre, Galveston
8:00 "Greetings!" island etc., 2001 Postoffice, Galveston

Sunday, December 21
2:30 "Greetings!" island etc., 2001 Postoffice, Galveston
5:45 - 9:00 Moody Gardens Festival of Lights

Monday, December 22
8:30 Galveston City Council Workshop
8:30 Galveston County Commissioners Court
10:00 Beaumont City Council Special Meeting
1:30 Jefferson County Commissioners Court
2:00 Galveston City Council

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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. Carl Guidry covers 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.

We are seeking to hire reporters & marketing agents to expand our coverage in Jefferson & Harris Counties.

Guidry News Service offices at 926 Broadway, Galveston, TX. 77550
(409) 763-NEWS (6397), or email us at News@guidrynews.com

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This electronic newsletter replaced, and expanded on, the mission of the Galveston Fax, established by Jim and Lynda Guidry on Galveston Island in July 1996; and Clear Lake Area E-news, begun on January 2, 2002.

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