The Guidry News
© 2003, Guidry News
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The Guidry News
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© 2003, Guidry News
Service
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Galveston Park Board of Trustees Galveston Park Board of Trustees Galveston Park Board of Trustees Galveston Park Board of Trustees Galveston Park Board of Trustees Galveston Park Board of Trustees Galveston Park Board of Trustees Galveston Park Board of Trustees Galveston Park Board of Trustees Galveston Park Board of Trustees Galveston Park Board of Trustees |
Houston Mayor William White had a positive report for Houston City Council today. Listen "My colleagues, something great is going on in Houston," White said. "Houston's economy has gotten so much stronger." White said that Houston has added more than 10,000 jobs between December 2003 and May of this year. "We agree with the Greater Houston Partnership's estimate now that Houston will gain more than 30,000 net jobs in 2004," White said. "Sales in the Houston area, a leading indicator, have increased spectacularly. Sales tax receipts have increased by more than 10 percent in Houston during the first six months of 2004, compared with the same period in 2003." "As a result of the progress that the mayor has just mentioned, we have access to another $5.4 million dollars," Police Chief Harold Hurtt told the city council. Hurtt said that he proposes to use the funds for a cadet class to add 70 police officers to the force, to restore 29 family violence and storefront police officer positions and to retain 50 jailer positions. Hurtt also proposed to purchase 3,600 Taser units for $1.37 million. Several members of the city council said that they preferred to use the funds to put officers on the street and to seek private funding for the Taser units. "I am extremely disappointed by the ending of the bike patrol in Kingwood," said Council Member Addie Wiseman, adding that the bicycle officers are "first responders" and should be considered a priority. The city council held a public hearing on the proposed creation of a tax abatement reinvestment zone at Main and MacGregor for a development by the Memorial Herman system that will support continuation of the Level 1 Trauma Center and the Life Flite program. Planning Director Robert M. Litke noted that the property is currently not on the tax rolls, but in the development plan, it will be sold to private enterprise and will eventually put $15 million in value on the tax rolls. Several members of city council spoke in support of the Memorial Hermann Reinvestment Zone, but several people at the public hearing were opposed. "My client does not support this abatement," said Chris Cook, a certified public accountant, representing the owner of three medical office buildings and two hospitals in Harris County. "It creates an un-level playing field and is basically a rent subsidy. Basically, it's going to open Pandora's Box and everyone else is going to apply for abatements as well in the future." Walt Mischer, speaking for the developer, announced the support of Harris County Judge Robert Eckels and Commissioner El Franco Lee for the project. "Its siting is on significantly extensive ground that its competitor buildings," Mischer said, countering the objections that had been raised. "Additionally, it is a high-rise medical office building with a 125 square foot ambulatory care center in it, and the result of that is its life safety codes are higher than the normal medical professional building." No action was taken on the reinvestment zone at today's meeting. Photos and additional audio excerpts from the meeting will be posted on The Online News Station at www.guidrynews.com. Galveston Park Board of Trustees Dianna Puccetti, Betty Massey, Bill Hynek and Edward Walsh III were administered oaths of office in a special meeting following Tuesday's regular meeting of the Galveston Park Board of Trustees. The four were present during the first meeting and participated in discussions. Outgoing trustees Sheila Lidstone and Miguel Aleman, along with Dr. James McCloy, who was out of town, were recognized for their service to the park board. Final actions of the outgoing board included deferring to the new board action on several items. The park board deferred action on items related to the selection of a new executive director, as well as a proposed new policy on seaweed removal on West Galveston Island, a proposed new employee travel and entertainment policy and the purchase of a used garbage truck. The park board voted to ratify the Fourth of July fireworks display at the 37th Street rock groin, and to pay the cost of city services. Park Board Chair Gerry Del Prete reported that the issue was discussed in the morning's Galveston City Council meeting, and said that he is hopeful that the city will be more willing to share the cost of the annual event in the future. "We have a good working relationship with Mr. Weber and I think that there might be some opportunities down the road that we can look at, either some cost-sharing of this event or maybe even full reimbursement as far as city services go," Del Prete said. Danny Weber, the city council ex-officio representative on the park board, said that he believes that the city council should budget funds to support the annual fireworks display, as well as other activities that primarily benefit residents. Trustee Danny Allen urged park board staff to seek corporate sponsorships to support the event. The park board voted to pay $1,500 to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day organization to pay costs incurred at The Grand 1894 Opera House for the MLK Day celebration. Lidstone urged the board to budget for the annual expenditure in the future. All other agenda items were approved. The new park board will meet in a special retreat at 8 a.m. on Thursday at the Moody Mansion. Print
Version Beaumont City Council Tuesday voted unanimously to issue a specific use permit to RCSS Properties, Ltd. for an indoor shooting range and retail store in a General Commercial-Multiple Family Dwelling-2 District near the corner of Major Drive and the Folsom Extension. "The front of the 8,765 square foot building will house the retail area, classroom, office, vault and in-house gunsmith, with "the rear 3,500 square feet of the building housing the shooting range," said staff reports. "The applicant states that the retail area and the shooting range will be separated by a solid masonry wall with one-fourth inch bullet resistant glass to facilitate viewing of the shooting area," said City Manager Kyle Hayes, and "the shooting range will consist of sold masonry walls with heavy gauge steel plating overhead so no bullets can escape to the outside." The city council voted to issue a specific use permit to Gonzalo Estrada for a re-upholstery and furniture repair shop in a Residential Conservation and Revitalization District at 1802 North Street. The city council voted to issue a specific use permit for a rooming house in a Residential Multiple Family Dwelling-Highest Density District at 2135 Victoria. "At a Joint Public Hearing held June 21, 2004, the planning commission voted 7-2 to approve a specific use permit to allow a rooming house in an RM-H District at 2135 Victoria," said Planning Manager Stephen Richardson. The city council voted to reallocate $13,500 from the 2000 Consolidated Block Grant Program to expand swimming pool hours at Alice Keith Park and Magnolia Park from 36 hours per week to 56 hours per week. The city
council voted to authorize the city manager to increase the
Water Treatment Plant 14 Million Gallons per Day Expansion and
Miscellaneous Improvements Project by "The plant expansion project currently underway and the future installation of two filter units will increase the maximum capacity of the plant to 50 MGD," said Water Utilities Manager Joe Majdalani. "The increase in plant capacity to 50 MGD will meet the projected demands of the city for the next twenty years." All other agenda items were approved. All votes were unanimous. Mayor Evelyn Lord was absent. Shoreacres
City Council on Monday voted to spend up to $5,000
to replace the manhole and lines to the manhole at North
Country Club and West Country Club.
The city council voted to approve the financial report as of May 31, 2004. The city council heard a report by the Parks and Recreation Board and voted to place an item on the next meeting's agenda dealing with the replacement of park furniture. All other agenda items were approved. All votes were unanimous. Council Member Dan Blanchard was absent. The 36th annual Kemah Blessing of the Fleet will be Sunday August 1 at the Kemah boardwalk. This year's theme is "We Support the Fleet!" "We are pleased to announce that each shrimp/pleasure boat winner of the Blessing of the Fleet, in addition to other prizes, will also receive an American flag flown over our nation's Capitol in Washington D.C.," said Boat Parade Chairman Ralph Yarborough. "These flags have been "donated by U.S. Representative Ron Paul, a big friend to our shrimpers." Winners will also receive Texas flags flown over the state capitol which have been donated by State Representative Larry Taylor. For an entry form, visit http://www.kemah.net/bof36.mht. Completed entry forms may be turned in, with a $5.00 registration fee, to Kemah Boardwalk Marina (281) 334-2284, Kemah Visitor Center (281) 334-3181 or Kemah City Hall (281) 334-1611. Entries received before July 10 are eligible to win "the early bird prize." For more information call Ralph Yarborough at (281) 334-2303. Several items of community interest have been posted on The Online News Station. There was a large turnout for a workshop meeting of the Galveston Landmark Commission at Rosenberg Library. Photos and Audio San Jacinto College South Student Rachel Moore has put a new meaning into the words “distance learning.” Photo and Details Photos of graduates of the Literacy and ESL class at College of the Mainland have been posted. Photos and Details Galveston Ball High School student Erika Labuzan has been selected for membership in the American Musical Ambassadors Band. Photo and Details Scheduled
Meetings Today, June
30
Thursday, July
1 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. Jim and Lynda Guidry are publishers Gulf Coast E-news and The Online News Station. Jenna Ware is editor of Gulf Coast E-news. Chuck
Lawrence is
Galveston City Correspondent. Carl Guidry covers
events in Jefferson County. Anita Donatto covers the education beat in Galveston. Sonja Faughn
covers Texas City and La Marque. Michael Durisseau
covers the Clear Lake area entities, in addition to special
assignments elsewhere. Ivan
Arceneaux
is a special correspondent.
We
are seeking to hire reporters & marketing agents to
expand our coverage in Jefferson & Harris Counties. |
Print
individual articles: Click the "Print
Version" link below each story, then use your
regular print program. On The Online News Station, if you click on an audio link and the photos stop loading, click on Refresh or Reload and they will resume. |
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