Archives

2003 Archives

Friday              February 13, 2004

Galveston City Council

Tonight begins Galveston's Mardi Gras Celebration.  Gil Langley, president and CEO of the Park Board of Trustees visited Thursday's meeting of Galveston City Council to distribute beads and to invite the city council to the party.  Listen

Mayor Roger Quiroga announced that he has been contacted by the Sequin Descendants Historical Preservation organization with a request that the new causeway be named either Seguin-Menard Causeway or the Menard-Seguin Causeway after Texas heroes Juan Seguin and Michael B. Menard.  Quiroga said he forwarded the request to the Texas Department of Transportation. Listen

In a review of the FY 2003 Audit of the city by Null Lairson, Chris Breaux reported that the city's financial situation continues to improve. Listen

"The total assets of the city exceeded its liabilities at the close of the most recent fiscal year by $95.6 million," Breaux said.  "Of this amount, $14.4 million may be used to meet the government's ongoing obligations to citizens and creditors."

Quiroga had kudos for Finance Director Rick Glassett and his staff.  

"You have turned that finance department around tremendously," Quiroga said.  "Everything is clicking and we appreciate all the hard work that everybody in the finance department has done."

Glassett reported on payments from FEMA on remaining claims related to Tropical Storm Claudette, and City Attorney Susie Green reported that the city has been successful in collecting delinquent hotel occupancy taxes, thanks to the finance department. Listen  

"Everybody is current on HOTax," Green said, crediting the work of Susan Cutchin in the finance department.  "We have recovered 20 some thousand dollars that has been past due at the Stacia Leigh and the Brentwood Inn, the old HoJo (Howard Johnson Hotel) out at the airport."

Although the city council took no action on a proposal to move forward on a master plan and feasibility study for the Galveston Aquatic Center, there was a workshop discussion of possible sites for the park.  Listen

The city council also discussed the work of the Charter Review Committee with Chair Steve Greenberg.  Listen  Council members agreed to consider including a charter election on the May15 ballot at the next regular meeting of the city council.

Attorney Steve Schulz led a discussion of the proposed creation of a public improvement district on the west end of Galveston Island.  Listen

The city council appointed John Thorn to the Intermodal Transportation Committee on a motion by Dianna Puccetti.

Additional audio excerpts and photos are posted on The Online News Station.  

Print Version

Santa Fe City Council

Santa Fe City Council voted Thursday night to continue the city's curfew ordinance, but revised the language in the ordinance to make it consistent that the curfew applies to persons under 17 years old.

The city council tabled action on a proposed new ordinance to regulate the use and operation of motor assisted scooters.  Members of the city council wanted time to review the ordinance before acting on it.

The city council reappointed Jerry Cross, Joanne Woolsey, Roy Johnson and Helen Kilroy to the Santa Fe Park and Recreation Board.

The city council appointed Gary W. Smith to fill an unexpired term on the Planning and Zoning Commission.

The city council voted to call an election on May 15 for seats on the city council currently held by Pat McCrary, Ted Gillis and Joe Tambrella.

The city council met in executive session to discuss pending legislation filed by the Santa Fe Police Officers Association. 

The city council agreed to consider a tax freeze on elderly and disabled residents at the February 26 meeting.

Print Version

Kemah City Council

Kemah City Council on Thursday discussed but took no action on a request from the Bayview Municipal Utility District Thursday night that the city annex the remainder of the property within the MUD's boundaries.  Because portions of the property are in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of League City and Texas City, as well as Kemah, that topic will be reviewed further before action is taken.

The city council approved off-premise sign permit applications at Anders and FM 518 for Unity Church and Performance Upholstery.

The city council voted to call an election on May 15 for the city council seats currently held by Kelly Williams, John Conrad and Mary Anne Holcomb.

The city council tabled action on requests for hotel occupancy tax funds for a proposed ad in Texas Town and City Magazine and a second request by Gannett Advertising.

All other agenda items were approved.

Four members of the newly created Historical Society of Kemah visited the city council meeting to report that they will be interviewing older residents in a project to preserve the city's history.

Print Version

Harris County

Harris County Judge Robert Eckels presented his annual State of the County speech to a crowd of over 900 people at a luncheon sponsored by the Greater Houston Partnership and the League of Women Voters on February 9.  Full Text

"We have come back from Tropical Storm Allison; we are healing from the Columbia Shuttle tragedy; and today I believe we are ready to break through and run to daylight, Eckels said.  "And so, ladies and gentlemen, I submit to you that the state of our County is strong."

Espousing the virtues of teamwork, Eckels reached out to Houston Mayor Bill White and other Houston officials to work with the county. He presented a full agenda for continued
and increasing cooperation between the City and the County: transportation, public safety, health care and storm water drainage. 

"We understand better than most that there is more that unites us than divides us - and together, we can do more than any of us could do on our own," Eckels said using the success of Super Bowl 38 as an example.  

Eckels also talked about the need to improve transportation with commuter rail, better communications between public safety officials and agencies, and improved health care services.

"Nowhere in America are there greater resources, yet nowhere are there greater needs,"  Eckels said of the health care system.

"Storm water drainage problems still plague the City and County,", said Eckels added, noting that Harris County maintains over 3,000 miles of primary drainage channels through the bayous, creeks and drainage facilities.

"Generation after generation, we see how the only things holding Houston and Harris County back are our ability to dream - and our willingness to work together," concluded Judge Eckels. "Speaking for my colleagues at the County, we stand ready to continue reaching out. We stand ready to work with Mayor White and the City, and all of our partners in the region, for sustained progress with a purpose."

Print Version

United States Senate

The United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will host panels regarding President Bush’s future plans for NASA at 9:30 a.m. on February 18 at Nassau Bay City Hall.   There will be two panels: the first consisting of two witnesses from NASA, the second panel consisting of five witnesses from private industry.   

Senator John Cornyn, who chairs the committee and Senator Sam Brownback, who chairs the Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space will host the panel.   

Print Version

Harris County Citizen Corps

The Harris County Citizen Corps signed a statement of affiliation with Harris County Amateur Radio Emergency Services last week in an effort to improve the county's disaster response initiatives

"The affiliation agreement between the Harris County Citizen Corps and the Harris County Amateur Radio Service will help ensure that our communities are better prepared to meet communications demands when disaster strikes," said County Judge Robert Eckels. "Radios are essential tools for keeping people informed when normal lines of communication are
disrupted. This affiliation does the right thing for Harris County and its residents."

Among other goals, the statement of affiliation calls on Harris County Citizen Corps and ARES to raise public awareness about the use of amateur radio in emergencies, provide organizational and resource development, promote the formation of new Citizens Emergency Response Teams and coordinate their respective efforts to support the mission of the Citizen Corps.

Print Version

San Jacinto College

About 500 area high school students received encouragement to continue their education at a higher level during a recent San Jacinto College High Trek event.  The event was split among the college's Central, North and South campuses earlier this month. Photo

Juniors and seniors from 14 area high schools including South Houston, Deer Park, Pasadena, Sam Rayburn, Clear Brook, Pearland, Friendswood, Galena Park, Channelview, and CE King high schools participated. The event also included students from Tegeler, DeWalt, Ace and Wolters alternative schools.

Keynote speaker John Alston delivered a presentation centered on having a purpose in life and how success is directly related to having a solid plan.

Students also took a career assessment questionnaire called CHOICES which assisted them in assessing their career direction.  Nine $500 scholarships were awarded at each campus event, which helps to pay for tuition and fees at any San Jac campus.

Print Version

North Galveston County Chamber of Commerce

Awards were presented at the 56th annual meeting of the North Galveston County Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet last week.

Outstanding Citizen of the Year – Dean Smith of Clear Lake Shores

Community Service Award – Dickinson Historical Society

Small Business of the Year – Mackey Mechanical

Good Neighbor Corporate Award – First Choice Power

Dickinson Independent School District Student Community Volunteer Award - Muhummad Bushrah Ali 

Clear Creek Independent School District Student Community Volunteer Award - Aaron Matthew Lutz  

Directors of the Year - Laura Baumgartner, Texas New Mexico Power Company and Diane Mackey, Mackey Mechanical

Red Coats Ambassadors of the Year - J.L. Restivo of Wadell & Reed and Bret and Jean Trotta. 

“This is a special award, we are calling the ‘Trotta’ Red Coat Ambassadors Award,” said Sheriff Gean Leonard, who presented the awards.  “The Trottas have been involved in the Chamber since about 1968 and have been involved almost every aspect of Chamber activities.”  

Print Version

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

Today, February 13
5:00 Mardi Gras Galveston Schedule
8:00 Terrence McNally’s "Master Class," College of the Mainland Community Theatre

Saturday, February 14
8:00 Mardi Gras Galveston Schedule
8:00 Terrence McNally’s "Master Class," College of the Mainland Community Theatre

Sunday, February 15
10:00 Mardi Gras Galveston Schedule
2:30 Terrence McNally’s "Master Class," College of the Mainland Community Theatre

Monday, February 16
Presidents Day
12:00 Galveston Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
4:00 Galveston Landmark Commission
4:00 Galveston County Emergency Communications District Board of Managers
6:00 Jamaica Beach City Council
7:00 Friendswood City Council
7:30 Taylor Lake Village Planning and Zoning Commission Special Meeting

Print Version

back to the top

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.