Archives

2003 Archives

Tuesday              January 13, 2004

Rotary Clubs of Galveston County

Galveston County Judge Jim Yarbrough made his annual address to the Rotary Clubs of Galveston County at the Charles Doyle Convention Center in Texas City today.

"I am very optimistic about what is going on in Galveston County," Yarbrough said.  "We have economic development going on in every corner." Listen

Yarbrough listed projects underway throughout the county.

"In League City, Friendswood, Kemah and Clear Lake Shores, the residential boom is just continuing," Yarbrough said, noting also that business development is booming in League City and Dickinson is experiencing growth.

He cited residential and commercial development in the Highway 6 area of Santa Fe and Hitchcock.

"You've got Texas City doing well," Yarbrough said, citing development of the megaport project.

"Galveston has got tourism that is moving, the port that's moving, some residential activity that is moving on the west end," Yarbrough noted.  "Clearly in every corner of the county, things are going well."

Yarbrough had kudos for County Right-of-Way Agent Paul Selman for his part in road improvement projects.

"How many of you have been to Brazoria County, Fort Bend County, Montgomery County and Jefferson County in the last year or two?" Yarbrough asked.  "I guarantee you that the public road infrastructure in Galveston County is second to none; and is certainly ahead of those counties that are of similar size in this region." 

Photos and additional audio will be posted on The Online News Station.

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La Marque City Council

La Marque City Council voted to request rate information from Texas New Mexico Power Company and to authorize an intervention in an analysis of rates as well as an intervention in the power company's "true-up" proceeding.

The city council approved preliminary plats for subdivision of property at I-45 and FM 204 and on Yupon.

The city council discussed establishing one-way traffic on Newman Road near a school building.  A traffic study will be conducted before action is taken.

All other action items were approved.

The city council recognized Jinelle and Lucky Boyd, winners of the Clean City Commission Christmas Lighting Contest in the residential category.  Eddie Chatman, whose home won second place; and Mr. and Mrs. Albert Lee, who won third place, also were recognized.

In the business category, Pathway to Recovery won first place honors.  Dean's Flowers finished second and the City Hall complex came in third.

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Friendswood City Council

Friendswood City Council approved a resolution adopting the city's mission statement, strategic goals, council committee relationship and council liaison role for the city.

"It is the mission of the council and staff of the City of Friendswood to provide the highest level of service to our citizens at the greatest value," is the mission statement.

The strategic goals includes a list of six areas: Communication, Economic Development, Preservation, Partnerships, Public Safety and Organizational Development.

City council members who serve in a liaison capacity with city committees were urged to maintain focus on the committees' charge.

"Liaisons may prompt the committee to 'go back' to Council if they are moving beyond their scope-of-work or unsure of their next step," the document reads.  "Liaisons should not interpret the position of Council for the committee without bringing it back to the council." 

The city council met in a work session with Friendswood Volunteer Fire Department President Rick McFee to discuss the department's contract with the city.  The city council also discussed the Sunmeadow Subdivision Drainage Contract in work session.

The city council approved a specific use permit to facilitate development of a facility offering professional, medical, dental and optometry services at 402 E. Edgewood.

All other agenda items were approved.  All votes were unanimous.

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Beaumont City Council

Beaumont City Council approved a $36,549.84 one-year support agreement with Motorola, Inc. for the 800 MHz Trunked Communication System.

City Manager Kyle Hayes noted that the system was purchased in 2000 to support the city's communication network and more than 400 mobile and portable radios for the police department.

"Since the initial purchase, the city has increased the number of subscriber units to 267 mobiles, 364 portables and 14 control stations," Hayes said.  "The Clean Community Department, along with the water utilities, fleet management, animal control divisions and some fire department personnel have been added to the communications system."

Hayes also reminded the city council that the system has been expanded to facilitate a countywide communication network with Jefferson County.  "The city's share of the expansion cost is $250,000."

The city council approved a zoning change from Residential Multiple Family Dwelling-Highest 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.  The item was tabled at the previous meeting of the city council.

The city council approved the $366,151 purchase of a Lance 1,500 per minute pumper truck for the fire department from Martin Apparatus, Inc. through the Houston-Galveston Area Council.

The city council voted to reappoint Contessa Dickson to the Community Development Advisory Committee.

All other agenda items were approved.

The city council met in executive session to discuss litigation.

The city council voted to award a contract for temporary employees to Staffing Specialists Services and Cooper Group Staffing, Inc.

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Nassau Bay City Council

Nassau Bay City Council voted to support the Clear Creek Independent School District Bond Election Monday night.  The action came after a presentation by CCISD Superintendent Sandra Mossman.

The city council presented a $5,000 check to the NASA/Clear Creek/Friendswood Go Texan Subcommittee of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Scholarship Fund.

The city council reviewed the recommendations of the city's Charter Review Commission, and agreed to not include a charter election on the May 15 ballot.

"The commission’s general observation is that there are several areas of the current city charter that could benefit from modest revisions," said Ron Swofford, chair of the commission in his report to the city council.  "This is particularly the case as a means of improving the clarity and accuracy of the charter.  However, it is also the commission’s consensus, based upon available information, that there does not appear to be any area of such a compelling nature as to recommend the authorization of a charter election."

The city council approved a resolution in support of the retention and expansion of military units at Ellington Field.

The city council reappointed Roscoe Lee, Don Holick and J.B. Fox to the Planning Commission.  Lee is the current chair of the commission.

The city council met in executive session to evaluate City Manager John Kennedy, then voted to give him a pay increase.

All other agenda items were approved.

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Clear Creek Independent School District

Clear Creek Independent School District students in the Seabrook Intermediate School Science Magnet Program participated in a live video feed from the NASA International Space Station this morning.  

Commander Mike Foale and Flight Engineer Alexander Kaleri discussed experiments being conducted at the station and compared the work to research the students are conducting back on Earth.  Foale's wife and children were present at the event.

“We want these children to know that there is a constant human presence in space and that they can be a part of this one day,” said Sandy Peck, CCISD Science Magnet Program liaison.  “They got a personal, up-close feeling that they will remember all of their lives.” 

There also was a brief concert by the school orchestra, of which Foale's daughter is a member.

CCISD officials recently announced that the district received a rating of “Superior Achievement” under Texas’ new Schools FIRST (Financial Accountability Rating System of Texas) program. The Superior Achievement rating is the state’s highest, demonstrating the quality of CCISD’s financial management and reporting system.

“We are very pleased with Clear Creek ISD’s School FIRST rating because it shows that our district is making the most of our taxpayers’ dollars,” said Clear Creek ISD Superintendent Dr. Sandra Mossman. “This rating shows that Clear Creek ISD’s schools are accountable not only for student learning, but also for achieving these results in the most cost effective and efficient manner.”

Developed by the Texas Education Agency in response to Senate Bill 875 of the 76^th Texas Legislature in 1999, this is the first year the program has awarded ratings to the school districts. The primary goal of Schools FIRST is to achieve quality performance in the management of school districts’ financial resources, a goal made more significant due to the complexity of accounting associated with Texas’ school finance system.

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Port of Galveston

For the third year in a row, Carnival Cruise Lines’ Galveston embarkation team earned top honors in the company’s annual guest comment card survey, edging out embarkation teams in the line’s six other year-round U.S. homeports by mere percentage points. 

“The Galveston team is certainly deserving of this honor," said Vicky D’Amico, Vice President of Reservations Administration, who oversees embarkation teams in Carnival’s various homeports.  "While all of Carnival’s embarkation personnel endeavor to provide superior service, the Galveston team continually goes ‛above and beyond’ in assisting our guests,”

The award, which will  be “officially” presented at a reception in Galveston later in the year, was based on guest comment card feedback, which ranked embarkation teams in a variety of service-related areas, including professionalism, efficiency and friendliness. 

“We are very fortunate to be associated with Carnival’s embarkation team here in Galveston,” stated Steven M. Cernak, port director.  “Since the commencement of cruise operations in September 2000, our working relationship with Carnival staff continues to strengthen and grow.  The embarkation team is a major reason that Carnival’s operations in Galveston have been so successful and that the Port has been able to attract hundreds of thousands of new visitors to Galveston Island each year.”  

Wallenius Wilhelmsen has announced a new, direct service to the Middle East from the U.S. East and Gulf coasts, commencing in early March 2004.  The new service will have an impact on the Port of Galveston

The U.S. ports of load will be Baltimore, Savannah, Galveston and Jacksonville, and the discharge ports will be Jeddah, Dubai, Dammam and Kuwait. The discharge ports in the Far East are Singapore and Shanghai. Additional ports of call will be serviced via transshipment and/or inducement.  The new Middle East service will have very competitive transit times. 

Utilizing Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s global network, cargo destined for the Middle East or Far East from South and Central America can be transferred to the new direct service in Galveston. 

“The enhancement of the services offered by Wallenius Wilhelmsen from the Port of Galveston continues to demonstrate their commitment to make Galveston a hub for roll-on, roll-off cargoes,” said Cernak.  “Wallenius Wilhelmsen commenced operations at the Port almost ten years ago with one service to North Europe.  Their business continues to strengthen and grow and, in addition to their North Europe service, they offer service to the East Coast of South America, which includes port visits in the Dominican Republic, Panama and Mexico.” 

The vessels deployed in the new service will be Pure Car/Truck Carriers and Roll-On, Roll-Off (Ro-Ro), capable of handling automobiles, Ro-Ro and non-container/breakbulk cargo. 

“The enhancement of our Middle East service is in response to the needs of our customers, and part of the ongoing expansion of our global network,” said Ray Fitzgerald, Executive Vice President of Commercial for Wallenius Wilhelmsen.

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United States Senate

United States Senator John Cornyn, a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, delivered the keynote address at the mid-winter policy meeting of the Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association today in Fort Worth. He called for a national energy policy, saying it is in the best interest of Texas, our economy and a secure nation.

“I strongly believe that we need a comprehensive national energy policy in this country," Cornyn said.  "The energy industry creates jobs so people can provide for their families, and it improves our quality of life as a key component of growth in our economy and our prosperity."

Cornyn said that the United States is a country that loves and cherishes the environment, "whether it is clean water or clean air. We know that while we consume energy, we need to also take necessary steps to protect our air and our water and our environment at the same time.

“The energy bill brought up last year in the Senate provides an answer to many of the problems that cause us to squander our strength in terms of our natural resources. For the first time in at least 10 years, it means America has the hope for a national energy policy that not only serves our economic interests but serves our national security and environmental interests as well."

Cornyn contends that the legislation is good for Texas and good for the entire nation and urged the Senate to take up the bill again and pass it, so it can be sent to the President’s desk without further delay.

“A debate like the one we’re having over oil and gas exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) clearly shows the problems of a nonexistent energy policy. I also believe that we should end the moratorium on offshore drilling in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico," Cornyn said.  "Over the years, as we have consumed more and more energy, we have also become far too dependent on imported energy from other parts of the world."

Cornyn said that the energy bill will encourage innovation and increase productivity in America "so we are less dependent on imported energy. It will encourage energy self-sufficiency and create jobs. I will fight for it, because I believe it is the best answer to the problems we face in Texas and throughout America.” 

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Moody Gardens

Moody Gardens has announced that the second annual Moody
Gardens Festival of Lights was a huge success.  More than 60,000 guests viewed the lights, more than doubling the attendance of last year. 

"More light displays, more entertainment and the addition of an outdoor Ice Rink drew in people from around the state and beyond as Moody Gardens kicked off the holiday season in November," said a news release.  "A variety of activities at the
Rainforest, IMAX® and Ridefilm theaters were available to be enjoyed by families."

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Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority

METRORail will temporarily turn back service Sunday, January 18, at the Downtown Transit Center to avoid conflict with the Houston Marathon.  There will be no trains between the Transit Center and the University of Houston Downtown during the race.  

The limited service will begin at 6:30 a.m.  METRO expects to resume full service by 1 p.m.

METRO is working with marathon officials to develop a race route for future years that will not interfere with METRORail Service.

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Houston Traffic

Drivers should expect delays in the vicinity of the I-10/I-610 Interchange Thursday night, January 15, when the I-10 eastbound ramps to I-610 northbound and southbound will be closed from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Friday, January 16.  Traffic will be detoured east to Washington Avenue, to U-turn onto I-10 westbound, then to I-610 northbound or southbound. 

For more information on the Katy Freeway Reconstruction Program, including up to date information regarding other lane closures along the I-10 corridor, visit the Katy Freeway website at www.katyfreeway.org  or contact the Katy Freeway Public Information Office at (281) 589-5924.

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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, January 13
5:30 Friendswood Independent School District Board of Trustees
6:30 League City City Council
7:00 Dickinson City Council
7:00 Morgan's Point City Council

Wednesday, January 14
8:00 - 9:45 Galveston Families, Children and Youth Board Renaissance Zone 1000 Cottage Subcommittee, Galveston Historical Foundation Courtroom, 502 20th Street
9:00 Houston City Council
10:00 Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District 
5:00 Galveston College Board of Regents
6:00 Galveston Independent School District Board of Education Board Training Session
7:00 Seabrook Economic Development Corporation I and II  

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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.  Carl Guidry covers events in 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.