Archives

2003 Archives

Friday              February 20, 2004

Shriners Burns Hospital

Mexican Consul General Eduardo Ibarrola and Congressman Nick Lampson toured the Shriners Burns Hospital in Galveston this morning.  Also on the tour led by Shriners Chief of Staff David Herndon was Frans Gillebaard, president of Amstel Holding Inc. and a member of the UTMB Development Board.

Dr. Herndon said modern telemedicine procedures make it possible to treat burn victims in any location, however  permission of foreign governments, and even other state governments, is required to treat burn victims by telemedicine.

"We need to have some sort of licensure in Mexico," Hernedon explained to Ibarrola.  "We need to have an invitation from the president of Mexico, an invitation from the minister of health to do this, because Mexico is a different jurisdiction."

"I will refer this to the minister of health," Ibarrola said.  "He is very supportive."

Lampson said that he will work with the Mexican government to obtain the permissions needed from the president of Mexico.

Print Version
Photos and Audio

Kemah City Hall

Kemah Mayor William King has expressed concern that Water Control and Improvement District 12 board members may have violated the Texas Open Meetings Act by deliberating in private.  

In a letter to John Scott, president of the WCID board, King cited a letter from Scott to King that Scott said "represents a compilation of the board members' feelings on issues between the District and Kemah."  King said the letter was presented to him at the September 4 board meeting and noted that at that time only Board Member Mark Greeley acknowledged that he had not seen the letter.

"Directors McIntyre, Caruana and Marley all acknowledged that they had read and approved the letter.  The letter obviously dealt with district business," King noted, adding that "Neither the letter nor its contents were posted for consideration or action that night."

King said a review of the minutes of the previous meeting of the water district revealed no mention of the letter or its contents. 

"It seems clear from these circumstances that all of the directors, except Mr. Greeley, had communicated about the contents of the letter and agreed on them in private," King said.  "If there is some alternative explanation, please let me know."

King filed an open records request for any communications about the letter, between the directors and "any person, including the board's attorney," regarding the drafting of the letter.

"I recognize that communications between the board and the attorney would normally be privileged," King said.  "However, I feel that the crime-fraud exception to the privilege would apply to any communications between the board and the attorney regarding the drafting of this letter in violation of the Open Meetings Act."

King also requested documents related to objections to his previous requests for public information; and he requested information related to "significant discussion" between board members that was reported by the Galveston County Daily News regarding the legality of director's fees that Bernard McIntyre received as a board member while also serving as a professor at the University of Houston.

"In none of the minutes produced by the district do I find any reference to any consideration of the legality of these fees," King said.  "I am requesting that the board provide an account of any discussions or deliberations any board members have had regarding Mr. McIntyre's director fees."

Print Version

City of Houston

Mayor Bill White announced today the creation of a Real Estate Strategies Task Force, headed by local developer and civic leader Ed Wulfe, to help the city determine the best and most efficient use of its owned and/or leased properties.

“We want to maximize the city’s assets and ensure Houston is using its real estate in the best, most cost-effective way,” said White.  "This administration will take a businesslike approach to getting the most value for taxpayers. This task force will help us to do that."

Other members of the non-paid task force will be named shortly.

White said the group’s mission will include reviewing and evaluating city-owned properties and making recommendations about their highest and best use, identifying and prioritizing opportunities to minimize real estate operating costs, analyzing existing leases or other agreements regarding the use of city properties by others, and studying terms and conditions related to properties leased by the city and owned by others.

The task force also will work with the city’s departments on such issues as the disposition of city-owned properties and property acquisitions.

Print Version

Galveston Independent School District

The Galveston Independent School District Board of Education on Wednesday voted to issue $69.45 million in unlimited tax schoolhouse bonds which were approved in the December 13 election.

The school board voted to designate Louis Pauls & Company as the financial advisor, Vinson & Elkins LLP as bond counsel and Piper Jaffray & Company, First Southwest Company, William R. Hough & Company and Estrada Hinojosa & Company, Inc. as underwriters in connection with the bond issue.

The school board unanimously approved the district's Improving Teaching and Learning grant application to the Texas Education Agency.  The grant is intended to foster school-wide improvements that cover all aspects of a school's operations through curriculum changes, sustained professional development and enhance involvement of parents, based on an assessment of campus needs.

The school board voted to call an election for trustees on May 15 although it had previously voted to move the election to November.  Wednesday's action was in case the Justice Department does not approve the November date.

All other agenda items were approved.

GISD is updating information on current transfer students and requesting applications for new transfer students in preparation for next year's schedule. The district will not accept transfer requests after March 31 unless approved by the superintendent.

Current transfer students' parents or guardians must reapply to transfer their student no later than Friday, February 27. Transfer applications are available in the school office and should be turned in to the school that the student is currently attending. Parents should also notify the district if they are not applying for a transfer for next year.

Students in the Two-Way Immersion program at L.A. Morgan Elementary School and special education students in the Life Skills programs at Alamo Elementary School and Austin Middle School do not need to apply for a transfer. These transfer applications will be completed by the schools where these programs are located.

GISD is allowing parents to apply for new transfers for their children during March, so that they may attend schools outside their attendance zone.  

Also, the district is allowing students who live outside of GISD to request a transfer into the district. These inter-district transfers require a non-refundable $35 processing fee. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, March 31.

Transfer applications are available at any GISD school office or at the GISD Administration Building at 3904 Avenue T. For additional information contact Dr. Kenneth Booth, assistant superintendent for administration, at (409) 766-5127.

Print Version

Port of Houston Authority

The Port of Houston Authority Commission will consider a recommendation to amend the contract with Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. involving program management for Phase 1 of the Bayport Container and Cruise Terminal Complex at Monday's regular meeting.  If approved, LAN would be expected to manage the completion of designs for Port Road and an entry gate at the Bayport facility, which includes management of master planning and additional technical studies, at an estimated cost of $1.3 million.

The commission will consider a recommendation to authorize the reallocation of funds to Black & Veatch Special Projects Corp. for additional construction phase services for building renovation work on PHA’s Emergency Command Center.  The funds are available for reallocation because the scope of work for computer and communication system integration at the facility has been reduced. If approved, the reallocation of funds is not expected to affect the overall $390,208 cost of the Black & Veatch contract.

The commission will consider a recommendation to award a five-year, estimated $750,000 contract to Cleanup Oversight Partners for environmental and professional engineering services related to project oversight of remediation activities along Haden Road. 

The commission will consider a recommendation to evaluate and rank competitive sealed proposals and authorize negotiation of a construction contract for C1-C4 Return Road and the Barbours Cut Container Terminal.  After the project was advertised in the Houston Chronicle, on the port’s website, and through the PHA’s Vendor Information System, seven companies submitted CSPs. PHA’s Engineering Department has selected Forde Construction Co., Inc., Infrastructure Services, Inc., and Texas Sterling Construction Co., L.L.P. as the top three contenders for the contract, which is expected to range between $2.3 million and $2.9 million. 

In a separate matter, the commission also will consider a recommendation to authorize PHA to advertise and receive CSPs for installation of a sound wall for Phase 1 development of the entry/exit pre-check and inspection facilities at Barbours Cut. 

The commission will consider a recommendation to award a contract to West Gulf Maritime Association for payroll services, safety training and other related services for International Longshoremen’s Association workers at PHA. 

The meeting is at 2 p.m. on Monday at the Port of Houston Board Room.

Print Version

Niigata Sister City Delegation

Members of the Niigata, Japan Sister City Committee are visiting Galveston for the Mardi Gras celebration.  On Thursday, the visitors were honored at a reception at Galveston's Ashton Villa.

Guidry News Service Galveston City Correspondent Chuck Lawrence said the group honored the late Don Hubbell, who was a longtime chair of the Galveston Sister City Committee. Listen

"This is one of the closest sister city programs that we have here in Galveston," said Mayor Roger Quiroga, praising Hubbell's work with the committee until his recent untimely death.  "We are deeply indebted to him.  He made such close friends with the people of Niigata, Japan; they really looked forward to seeing Don every year."

Print Version

Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority

Houston METRO will host an open house on the next phase of light rail expansion - Downtown to Northline Mall - from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 28, at Davis High School, Commons Area, 1101 Quitman.

METRO staff and consultants will be on hand to describe the proposed alignment of the 5.4-mile light rail expansion of METRO's "Red Line," now operating from the University of Houston-Downtown to south of Reliant Park. METRO representatives also will discuss the environmental study process currently under way on the project.

The Downtown to Northline Mall segment is the first project in Phase II of METRO's light rail expansion, which was approved by voters under the METRO Solutions Transit System Plan in November 2003. Construction of the Downtown to Northline Mall light rail segment is expected to begin in mid-2006 and be completed in 2008.

For more information, call METROLine at (713) 635-4000 or visit www.ridemetro.org.

Print Version

College of the Mainland

Early Beatle's pop culture memorabilia is on display at the College of the Mainland Library in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the Beatle's appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show.  The display was made possible by two Beatle collectors who are on staff at COM. 

Among the photographs, Beatle cards, early magazines, books and toys, is a certified square of bed sheet from Ringo Starr's Houston hotel room, a ticket to the Beatles' only Houston concert, and a 1973 photograph of a now-COM employee crossing Abbey Road with Paul McCartney. 

The exhibit, which also includes a continuous playing of the first Beatle film, A Hard Day's Night, is open to the public Mondays through Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Print Version

Galveston College

Galveston College’s Continuing Education Division will be offering Real Estate classes through the Virtual College of Texas.  Spring and summer classes to be offered include Property Management, Real Estate Marketing, Real Estate Finance, Real Estate Investment, Real Estate Principles I and II, Real Estate Contracts, Law of Agency and Fundamentals of Environmental Issues.

For more information, contact Jeff Gordon in the Continuing Education Division at (409) 944-1346 or jgordon@gc.edu. 

The Continuing Education Division will offer Defensive Driving classes on February 28, March 27, April 24, and May 15.  The classes will be held from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at the Fort Crockett Campus, 5001 Avenue U.  The cost is $30.  

This defensive driving class satisfies the Department of Public Safety’s requirement for ticket dismissal and insurance discount purposes.  To register, call (409) 944-1344.

Print Version

Oleander Festival 2004

Oleander Festival 2004 will be held on Galveston Island over the weekends of May 14-16 and May 22-23 to honor the flower that has become one of Galveston’s long-lasting symbols.

The event opens May 14 with a kick-off luncheon at Moody Gardens Hotel, and continues May 15-16 at Moody Gardens Visitors Center. The Moody Gardens events include gardening lectures by master gardener experts, a floral design contest and display, floral art show, craft workshops, children’s activities and a sale of oleanders and other tropical plant varieties, plus exhibits by environmental organizations, gardening societies and gardening-related vendors.

The Oleander Patio Sale at Sealy Pavilion (behind Ashton Villa, 24th Street at Broadway) is May 22-23, when the bulk of the hard-to-find oleander plants go on sale to the public.  Free guided walking tours will visit historic garden sites in that area of Galveston.

The theme for this year’s festival and floral design contest is “Galveston – The Beautiful Island,” celebrating the flowers, birds and sky and seascape that contribute to the island’s warm ambience. The annual floral/botanical photo contest open to the public will include “Flowers” and “Feathers” categories and is held in conjunction with the festival.

All Oleander Festival 2004 events have free admission, except the May 14 luncheon. For more information about the festival call toll free (866) 220-1691, email cvmccoggins@aol.com or visit www.oleander.org.

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 20
6:00 Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas  Schedule
6:30 - 12:00 Mardi Gras Galveston!  Schedule
8:00 Terrence McNally’s "Master Class," College of the Mainland Community Theatre 

Saturday, February 21
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 midnight Mardi Gras Galveston! Schedule
9:00 West Galveston Island Property Owners Association Annual Meeting, Galveston Country Club
12:00 Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas  Schedule
12:00 Bolivar Peninsula Mardi Gras Parade
8:00 Terrence McNally’s "Master Class," College of the Mainland Community Theatre 

Sunday, February 22
10:00 - 6:00 Mardi Gras Galveston! Schedule
12:00 Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas  Schedule
2:00 Kemah Mardi Gras Truck Parade and Party
2:30 Terrence McNally’s "Master Class," College of the Mainland Community Theatre
5:00 Robin Foundation Sock Hop, Balinese Room

Monday, February 23
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
9:00 Galveston County Commissioners Court, Holbrook Building
10:00 College of the Mainland Board of Trustees Finance Committee
11:00 College of the Mainland Board of Trustees Buildings and Grounds Committee
12:00 Gathering of Older Americans and a Listening, Island Community Center, 4700 Broadway, Galveston
12:30 College of the Mainland Board of Trustees Regular Meeting
1:30 Jefferson County Commissioners Court
2:00 Port of Houston Authority Commission 
5:00 Galveston Housing Authority, Oleander Homes Community Center, 5228 Broadway
6:00 La Marque City Council
6:30 Hitchcock City Commission
7:00 Shoreacres City Council

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.