Archives

2003 Archives

Friday              January 23, 2004

United States Senate

Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell, the second highest ranking Republican in the Senate, today tapped Texas Senator John Cornyn to join his team.  Cornyn will now serve as a deputy whip to help gather support for and deliver votes on major issues. In the Senate, the Whip is responsible for mobilizing votes and support on key issues in the party’s agenda.

“From the moment I met John I have been deeply impressed with his intellect and command of the issues facing our country.  As a consequence, I jumped at the first opportunity to add him to my Whip Team,” said McConnell. “John has the respect of his colleagues and I look forward to working with him this year as a member of Senate leadership." Listen

“I appreciate Senator McConnell’s confidence, and am deeply honored by his invitation to serve as a Deputy Whip,” Cornyn said. “This new position will afford me the opportunity to work more closely with Senate leadership and will bolster my efforts with colleagues when legislation critical to Texas moves through the Congress.”

On another matter, Cornyn applauded the Senate’s passage of the bipartisan Conference Report on H.R. 2673, The Omnibus Appropriations Bill Act, which passed by a vote of 65-28 on Thursday.

The legislation includes funding for several important Texas projects, including $7.35 million for the I-69 corridor, a project Cornyn worked closely with Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison to secure; $2.14 million for a key Austin infrastructure upgrade; $1.48 million for improvements in communication interoperability of first responders in Harris County; and $994,000 million for a Hispanic medical research facility in the Valley.

The bill includes $100,000 for Jefferson County law enforcement technology upgrades, an interoperable 800-megahertz regional emergency service/public service communications system; $550,000 SE Texas Regional Planning for transit facility improvements and bus replacement; $1 million for the Gulf Coast Hazardous Substance Research Center at Lamar University; $220,000 in HUD funding for the City of Beaumont's Downtown Improvement Program, including the replacement of the existing sidewalks with brick pavers and the installation of new decorative street lighting to approximately 27 blocks of the downtown area; $400,000 to UTMB Galveston for equipment; $2.5 million for Scholes International Airport at Galveston for taxiway improvements; $400,000 for Texas Statewide Intelligent Transportation System Deployment Integration at the Port of Galveston; $500,000 for the Galveston Causeway railroad bridge replacement;$750,000 Houston/Galveston Regional Congestion Study; $800,000 in Federal Transit Administration funds for Galveston Island Transit maintenance facility rehabilitation $475,000 in Federal Transit Administration funding for the City of Galveston's Job Access and Reverse Commute program; and 600,000 to Galveston County under NOAA's Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation program to protect and restore wetlands and improve water quality of Starvation Cove.

“I’m pleased that the Senate has acted to pass this critical bill that keeps our government operating," Cornyn said.  "In a tight budget year, we addressed critical needs in Texas and maintained clear priorities."

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Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority

Houston Mayor Bill White today announced his appointees to the Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority Board of Directors. 

They are David Wolff, who is designated to be chair, one of the most successful real estate developers in the region;Gerald Smith, founder and principal in Smith, Graham & Company, an institutional fund manager; Carmen Orta, former president of American Tele-Resources, Inc., and current vice president of American Communication Services; George DeMontrond, president of DeMontrond Automotive Group, Inc. and  chair of the Convention and Visitors Bureau; and Reverend James Dixon, pastor of Northwest Community Baptist Church and founder of the Dominion Academy, a charter school emphasizing high achievement and the teaching of business skills.

“All of the board members I’ve appointed are strongly committed to mass transit," White said.  "As a team, they have the organizational and financial skills to provide good oversight of Metro’s financing and operations to make sure that all Metro dollars are spent efficiently."

White asked the new board members to promptly organize a search for a new president of Metro who could be in place at the expiration of the contract of the current president in April.

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Kemah City Council

The Kemah Community Development Corporation presented three proposals to Kemah City Council Thursday night in a joint meeting.

The city council approved all three, including an "Entrance to Kemah" sign, lease of a building and land for restrooms at 603 Bradford, and renovation of the existing property at that site.

"The Mayor and Council did not roll over and play dead on these proposals," said KEDC Vice President Mary Proudy in an email that was distributed to Kemah residents.  "The council, mayor, citizens were involved in much heated debate."

The sign was approved predicated on authorization by the Texas Department of Transportation.  Steve Greenberg said that Landry's is willing to assist with the design of the sign.

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Galveston City Council

Galveston City Council discussed the problem of pet owners allowing their dogs to defecate on private property without picking up after them. Listen

Mayor Roger Quiroga said the city has an ordinance in place; it just needs to be enforced.

"I guess that it's hard to enforce," said Council Member Lyda Ann Thomas. "I don't know how you can tell which dog did it."

Planning Director Wendy O'Donohoe said staff followed carriages to identify horses that left droppings on the pavement, but she admitted that it is hard to identify dogs.

Council Member Joe Jaworski suggested that pet store owners be asked to display "pooper scoopers" more prominently in their stores to encourage their use by dog owners.

"There are some people that do follow the law," Jaworski said.  "I think we can do a little help by calling the pet stores."

Audio excerpts from the city council workshop and regular meeting are being posted on The Online News Station.

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Houston City Council

Houston City Council on Wednesday voted to support the efforts of the Ellington Field Task Force "to emphasize the strategic and tactical mission of the 147th Fighter Wing as it relates to Homeland Security and prevent the inclusion of the 147th Fighter Wing of the Texas Air National Guard at Ellington Field on the Base Realignment and Closure Act list of Military Units to be relocated or closed".

The city council voted to designate the Roy and Margaret Farrar House at 511 Lovett Boulevard as a Historic Landmark.

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

Award of a $155,200 contract for Audio and Video Packaging and Supply for Library Department was tagged by Addie Wiseman and Mark Goldberg.

A proposed resolution approving the action of the City of Houston Health Facilities Development Corporation regarding its Retirement Facility Revenue Bonds for the Buckingham Senior Living Community, Inc. Project was tagged by Mark Ellis, Ada Edwards, and Pam Holm.

An ordinance authorizing a $40,000 interim loan from the Street and Bridges Construction Fund was tagged by Wiseman.

An amendment to the communication equipment license with Cellular Telephone Company was tagged by Ellis.

A $210,000 agreement with Local Initiatives Support Corporation for technical assistance to Community Housing Development organizations was tagged by Edwards.

All other agenda items were approved.

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Port of Houston Authority

The Port of Houston Authority Commission on Monday will consider recommendations to issue purchase orders totaling $385,000 to Motorola, Inc., Dictaphone Corporation, and SBC, respectively, for radio system equipment, voice recorder equipment, and telephone lines that will be installed in the PHA’s Emergency Command Center. 

The commission will consider approval of an interlocal agreement with the Harris County Central Technology Regional Radio Center to install equipment and provide personnel training for the radio system at the command center. The system is expected to be a vital link between PHA and other governmental and law enforcement agencies throughout Harris and the surrounding counties.  The estimated cost of the agreement is not expected to exceed $30,000. 

The commission will consider a recommendation to evaluate and rank the top three competitive sealed proposals that were submitted for the potential negotiation and awarding of a contract for the construction of Phase 1A of the Bayport Container and Cruise Terminal. As an alternative, the commissioners may reject all competitive sealed proposals that have been received, determine that obtaining new proposals will provide the best value the port and vote to re-advertise the project for new bids.

The commission will consider a recommendation to authorize a compliance agreement with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Border and Transportation Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agricultural Inspection, and a memorandum of agreement with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to permanently implement a program for recycling disposable wooden material generated by PHA operations. 

TDCJ will use the disposable wooden material to create products at its facilities.  PHA expects the recycling program to enhance its ongoing environmental management system and reduce costs associated with landfill disposal fees.

The commission will meet at 2 p.m. on Monday, January 26 in the 4th floor board room at PHA executive office, located at 111 East Loop North in Houston.

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Southeast Texas Weather

The first intrusion of Arctic air will arrive in the Texas Panhandle by Monday and then spread southward across North Texas by Tuesday.  

Jim O'Donnel of the Jamaica Beach Weather Observatory warns that two progressively colder "Blue Northers" will be followed by a major freeze during the Super Bowl weekend. Report

"By Friday, this second blast of Arctic air has the potential to bring the coldest weather so far this winter to the Houston/Galveston area with freezing temperatures areawide including Galveston Island which has so far not had a freeze this winter," O'Donnel reports.

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La Marque Independent School District

Update: The time for the La Marque Independent School District 2003 State Championship Victory Parade on January 31st has been changed from 10 a.m. to 8 a.m. to make it possible for the High School Band to participate in UIL competition in Brazosport at 1 p.m.

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Galveston College

The Galveston College Culinary Arts program will celebrate the Chinese New Year with a public feast on on January 29 from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. 

"This event will start with dim sum plates, progress on to Sichuan–Roasted Suckling Pig and wind up with Green Tea Ice Cream with Fortune Cookies," said Joe Huff.  "Of course, there will be many delectable dishes in-between."

The complete menu includes:  Pork and Shrimp Egg Rolls with Dipping Sauce, Mahogany Wings, Shanghai Street Dumplings, Pearl Balls with Scallion Oil, Happy Moon Sushi, Smoked Tea Duck with Pancakes and Garnishes, Sichuan-Roasted Suckling Pig (hot & sweet), Fried Rice with Barbequed Chicken, Fried Noodles with Peanut Sauce and Fried Onions, Eggplant and Tofu in Spicy Hunan Sauce, Stir-fried Broccoli with Almonds, and Green Tea Ice Cream with Fortune Cookies.  

The event is open to the public at a cost of $15 each on a first come, first served basis.  Call Leslie Bartosh at (409) 944-1304.

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San Jacinto College North

San Jacinto College North has been recognized  as a finalist for two national awards.

The Community College Futures Assembly, sponsored by the University of Florida, has selected SJCN's presentation "A Road Map for Success: Turning a College Around through Planning, Governance and Finance" as a finalist for its Bellwether Award.

Also, the college has been named as one of seven finalists for the MetLife Foundation Community College Excellence Award. Eighty-eight colleges submitted applications. This award is given to two community colleges that exhibit effectiveness in helping students from underserved populations succeed in postsecondary learning.   

"Our consistency in being nationally recognized demonstrates our ability to achieve excellence on many different levels," said Dr. Charles Grant, SJCN president. "We have a great team of people here who are dedicated, performance-driven and up to any challenge. Their input makes the college successful for all concerned."

San Jacinto College North will open its doors to the community for an evening of fellowship and opportunities during its annual open house at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, February 5 in Wheeler Auditorium, 5800 Uvalde, Houston.

The North Campus financial aid office is hosting the Ninth Annual FAFSA Teleconference from 6:45 to 8:30 p.m. in the same location. The conference covers different aspects of financial aid such as applications, eligibility and procedures.

Registration for the open house event is recommended. Call Rosie Flores at (281) 998-6191 or email rosie.flores@sjcd.edu. For information about the teleconference call (281) 459-7121.

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Galveston Independent School District

A training meeting of the Board of Trustees of Galveston Independent School District will be held January 28, 2004, beginning at 6:00 PM in the Lovenberg Administration Building Library at 3904 Avenue T.

The meeting is a "board team-building and continuing session," required by the Texas Education Code.  Dr. William Kirby will conduct the session.

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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 23
6:30 Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership Quasar Awards Dinner, South Shore Harbour Resort and Conference Center
8:00 Agatha Christie's "Black Coffee," Clear Creek Country Theatre, 18091 Upper Bay Road in Nassau Bay, across from the Johnson Space Center. 

Saturday, January 24
10:00 - 3:30 Galveston Historical Foundation Sacred Places Tour
10:00 - 2:00 Galveston Neighborhood Housing Initiative Homebuyer Fair, Austin Middle School
2:00 "Mancini at the Movies," The Grand 1894 Opera House
8:00 "Mancini at the Movies," The Grand 1894 Opera House
8:00 Agatha Christie's "Black Coffee," Clear Creek Country Theatre, 18091 Upper Bay Road in Nassau Bay, across from the Johnson Space Center. 

Sunday, January 25
2:30 Agatha Christie's "Black Coffee," Clear Creek Country Theatre, 18091 Upper Bay Road in Nassau Bay, across from the Johnson Space Center. 

Monday, January 26
7:30 Board of Trustees of the Galveston Wharves Finance Committee
8:30 Galveston Port Facilities Corporation
8:45 Board of Trustees of the Galveston Wharves Regular Meeting
10:00 Galveston County Commissioners Court
11:30 Reception for House Majority Leader Tom Delay, New Beginnings Conference Center, 322 Laurel in La Marque.
12:00 Galveston Parks and Recreation Board
1:30 Jefferson County Commissioners Court
5:00 Galveston Housing Authority Board of Commissioners
6:00 La Marque City Council
6:30 Hitchcock City Commission
7:00 Shoreacres 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.  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.