Tuesday              January 6, 2004

Texas A&M University at Quatar

Dr. Michael Kemp, who has served as vice president and CEO of Texas A&M University at Galveston for the past seven years, has been named dean and CEO of Texas A&M’s new branch campus in the State of Qatar, Executive Vice President and Provost David B. Prior announced today.

Prior said Kemp would assume his new duties in early February, succeeding Professor Emeritus Charles H. Bowman, who headed Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ) on an interim basis.

TAMUQ admitted its inaugural class this past summer and formally began classes on September 7, 2003.

Kemp’s appointment “follows an extensive search and recognizes Dr. Kemp’s superlative leadership and service to Texas A&M University at Galveston since 1997,” Prior said in making the announcement.

“I’m honored to have been selected and look forward to the challenge of this new endeavor. Living and working in the Galveston community has been very rewarding and I’ll miss the friends I’ve made here,” Kemp stated.

Under Kemp’s leadership, Texas A&M’s branch campus in Galveston has experienced a 63 percent enrollment gain, up to its current level of 1,620 students, expanded the facilities and curriculum to include graduate degree programs.

The new branch campus in Qatar is the result of a ten-year agreement signed in May by Texas A&M University and the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development.  The Foundation is a non-profit organization, founded in 1995 by the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani to support education reform and provide community development.  

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United States District Court

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas has upheld the redistricting plan approved by a special session of the Texas Legislature.  Opinion

"We hold that the plaintiffs have failed to prove that the state statute prescribing the lines for the 32 congressional seats in Texas violates the United States Constitution or fails to comply with Chapter 2 of the Voting Rights Act," said the opinion.  "We also reject plaintiffs' argument that the Texas Legislature lacked authority to draw new districts after a federal court drew them following the 2000 census."

The opinion says that the court decides only the legality of the plan, not its wisdom.

"Whether the Texas Legislature has acted in the best interest of Texas is a judgment that belongs to the people who elected the officials whose act is challenged in this case."

"I am disappointed, but not surprised by today's court ruling.  Tom Delay was committed to disrupting the Texas Congressional Districts and their communities, and at this point it looks like he has succeeded.  However, this decision will be immediately appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court," said United States Representative Nick Lampson. 

"I will make an announcement regarding my plans prior to the filing deadline on January 16," Lampson concluded.  "In response to the many people who have been asking me if I'm going to run against Tom Delay, I will tell them this - anybody that is going to run in any of these districts is running against Tom Delay."

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Bayport Container Terminal

The US Army permit on the Bayport Terminal has been signed by both the Port of Houston and the US Army Corps of Engineers. Colonel Leonard D. Waterworth, Galveston District's commander and district engineer, finalized the documents when he added his signature on Monday.

"This is the end of a long, expensive application process that balances economic prosperity with environmental sustainability," said a news release.  "Galveston District has worked hard to maintain an open and unbiased process from which the District Commander could reach an informed decision."

The release noted that the Corps "understands that there are impacts, especially to local communities.  The Houston Port Authority took extraordinary steps to lessen those impacts by mitigating over 1100 acres for impacts to only 20 jurisdictional acres. State and federal resource agencies agreed that Bayport is the least environmental damaging and the most practicable."

"The permit action was successfully completed while using the PDT  (project development team) process successfully. The federal application process on the Bayport terminal is now complete."

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Rotary Club of Galveston Island

Harris "Shrub" Kempner, president of Kempner Capital Management and chair of the Galveston Economic Development Partnership, gave his annual economic forecast to the Rotary Club of Galveston Island today.  Listen

"I have some predictions that are in line with what I perceive to be the majority and some that definitely aren't," Kempner said.

He predicted that the nation's economy will grow at a rate of four percent to four and one-half percent during the next year, inflation will remain at or stay below two percent, and longer term interest rates will "pick up some as the economic growth continues."

Kempner said there is a diversity of opinion on employment figures.

"I think that employment is already much stronger than the headlines would have you believe, and even payroll employment will increase substantially during the next year," he added.

Kempner cited a list of positive developments in Galveston and said that he is a "Pollyanna" regarding the island's outlook.

He said there are some factors that could have a negative impact on his positive outlook.  

"A successful terrorist attack on the U.S. Mainland," was one example he listed.  He also expressed concern that Congress might enact protectionist legislation that would have a negative impact.

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Galveston Charter Review Committee

The City of Galveston Charter Review Committee has approved a list of proposed amendments to the City Charter for consideration at the next meeting of the committee in two weeks.  City Attorney Susie Green will develop language for formal consideration by the group.

Among the items that will be considered are: a change in the time the city has to repay emergency loans, from one year to five years; a restriction on interfund loans from enterprise accounts to the general fund; an exclusion of grant proceeds and bond sale revenue from the seven percent limit on increased spending over the prior fiscal year; a change in the election of city council members from plurality to majority vote; amendment of the charter provision prohibiting the privatization of garbage collection without a public vote, to exempt the central business district; a "cleanup" in the charter language on open records, to simply say that the city will follow state law; an amendment to exclude the Planning Commission from development of the city's capital improvement plan; and deletion of a provision that permits the Planning Commission to have a budget to hire consultants.

Each of those items had the support of at least eight members of the committee.  Several other proposed amendments fell short of the eight vote requirement.  Those items include abolition of the Ethics Commission, a provision for "instant runoff" voting, removal of the tax cap, and changes in the mayor's power during emergencies.

"This is not final," assured City Attorney Susie Green, who is drafting language for the proposed amendments.  "This is simply a starting point for them to consider these amendments and refine the wording."

Twelve of the 14 members of the committee participated in Monday's meeting.  Debbie Cano and Eddie Walsh III were absent.

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Photos and Audio

Galveston City Council

Galveston City Council will consider a resolution expressing the city council's "intent to submit to the qualified voters of the City of Galveston a proposed beach user fee and method of collecting such fee for the area known as the Seawall Beach Urban Park, in accordance with state law."

The issue was put on the agenda at the request of council members Joe Jaworski and Dianna Puccetti, with the support of Lyda Ann Thomas.  Thomas 

Meanwhile, the Park Board of Trustees has been issuing free parking passes in preparation for initiating a paid parking system on the Seawall.  The city has prepared a PowerPoint presentation to explain the process.  Click Here

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El Lago City Council

El Lago City Council voted to support the Clear Creek Independent School District Bond Election at Monday's regular meeting.

The city council voted to install speed control buttons in the pavement on Lakeshore Drive at the McNair Park curve, rather than to place street signs at that location.

The city council voted to purchase a basketball goal at McNair Park.  Two goals had been requested, but the city council decided to install only one because the arrangement is temporary.

The city council tabled action on a proposed mission statement for the city and also tabled action on a proposed contract for cell phones for the maintenance department. 

All other action items on the agenda were approved.

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Beaumont City Council

Beaumont City Council voted to defer action on a requested zoning change from Residential Multiple Family Dwelling-Highest Density to General Commercial Multiple Family Dwelling 2 for property extending from the south side of Phelan to south of Calder and from west of Mathews and Pinchback to the east side of the Amelia Cutoff Ditch.

"Randall Creel, who is representing the property owners in this request, states that previous attempts to sell these properties with the RM-H zoning have been futile," said City Manager Kyle Hayes.

The request will be considered for action at next week's meeting.

Also on a short agenda, the city council approved the renewal of a management agreement with the Beaumont Council of Garden Clubs and approved a grounds maintenance contract for Tyrrell Park.

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Galveston Landmark Commission

The Galveston Landmark Commission voted 4-0 to approve a certificate of appropriateness for alterations to a building at 1503 Church Street.

The commission voted 4-0 to approve a permanent license to use city right-of-way for placement of a staircase at 514 17th Street.

There were not four affirmative votes for a specific use permit in conjunction with development of a "Studio, photographer, artist, music, drama, dance and educational facility, private" at 1208 Ball, so the request was effectively denied.

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United States Congress

This week, United States Representative Nick Lampson launched a faith-based program for the Ninth District of Texas.  Included in this program is information on grants for faith-based organizations, outreach to the leaders of these groups, and upcoming grant workshops.  

Lampson is the first Member of Congress to post federal grant information for faith-based organizations on his website.  Click Here 

"Many faith-based and community organizations in the 9th Congressional District have inquired about opportunities for federal government grants," Lampson said.  "I want to make sure that those organizations had access to the information they need to apply for grants.  I want to make sure that grassroots leaders can compete on an equal footing for federal dollars, receive greater private support, and face fewer bureaucratic barriers." 

Dorothea Wynn-Lewis, of Lampson's Galveston office, will be heading up the program.  

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Galveston Politics

Tom Brown, who is running for election to Galveston City Council District 6, has registered his wife Lorraine Brown as his campaign treasurer.  Listen

On The Webio

Brenda Beust Smith answers gardening questions from "northerners" who have moved south, in the current edition of Brenda's Garden on The Online News Station. Click Here

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

Today, January 6
4:00 Galveston Planning Commission
4:00 Galveston County Navigation District 1, 2121 Market
6:00 Clear Lake Shores City Council Workshop
6:30 League City Zoning Board of Adjustment
7:00 Clear Lake Shores City Council
7:00 Bayou Vista Board of Aldermen
7:00 Seabrook City Council 
7:00 Webster City Council
7:30 Pasadena City Council
8:00 "A Tuna Christmas," The Grand 1894 Opera House, Galveston

Wednesday, January 7
8:00 - 9:15 Galveston Families, Children and Youth Board Renaissance Zone 1000 Cottage Subcommittee, Merrill Lynch Library, 306 22nd Street
9:00 Houston City Council
10:00 Region H Water Planning Group, San Jacinto River Authority Office, Lake Conroe Dam
4:00 Galveston Zoning Board of Adjustment
4:00 Galveston Arts and Historic Preservation Advisory Board, City Hall Room 204
5:00 Texas City City Commission
5:00 Galveston County Drainage District 1, 3714 Avenue J, Santa Fe
6:30 Clear Creek Independent School District Board of Trustees Special Meeting
7:30 Taylor Lake Village City Council
8:00 "A Tuna Christmas," The Grand 1894 Opera House, Galveston

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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.