2004 Archives

2003 Archives

Tuesday                 August 31, 2004

Galveston Police Collective Bargaining

Negotiators for the Galveston Municipal Police Association and the City of Galveston continued a series of collective bargaining negotiations today.

Lowell Denton, the chief negotiator for the city, opened the meeting with a positive statement. Opening Session

"We have been talking about how we can address the compensation structure over this three-year cycle," Denton said.  "The good news continues to be that the fiscal situation currently is good enough that we can make some adjustments, which are obviously needed - based on our joint marketing study."

However, Denton said that the city is concerned about second and third year commitments, based on a new market study, which the police have requested.

Photos and a recording of the entire meeting will be posted on The Online News Station at www.guidrynews.com.

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Galveston Park Board of Trustees

Representatives of Moody Gardens met with the Galveston Park Board of Trustees this afternoon seeking a resolution that "the continued growth and success of Moody Gardens has assisted the Park Board in fulfilling its statutory duty, promoted economic development and increased employment opportunities in this city."

The resolution was prepared to offset Internal Revenue Service concerns that Moody Gardens is not relieving the burden of government, and thus should not receive tax exemptions on some of its operations.

Steve Greenberg, a representative of Tilman Fertitta, addressed the park board to clarify his published remarks that park board members with ties to the Moody Foundation or businesses affiliated with the Moody family should abstain from discussing the resolution.

"When I said it was a conflict of interest, I realized that it is not a legal conflict of interest; it's more ethical," Greenberg said.  "It's also a credibility issue."

Greenberg said that when he was on the park board he abstained from discussion of issues related to George Mitchell, his employer at the time.

Moody Gardens attorney Buddy Herz took issue with Greenberg.

"He talks about ethical credibility, he talks about direct conflict with ANICO and Moody National, Fertitta Hospitality and Landry's," Herz said.  "The state law provides for an objective standard.  What Stevie is proposing is that we go to a subjective standard."

Joe Flores led a delegation of merchants in the 2300 and 2400 blocks of The Strand to request that the Knights of Momus Grand Night Mardi Gras Parade be diverted down those blocks, to disband at 25th Street.

"The 24th Street block of The Strand is the 'Gateway To The Strand'," said a letter from the merchants to the park board, who complain that the current route bypasses their restaurants and bars.  "Please do what you can to make this reasonable request a reality."

Darrell John, who manages the cable television broadcasts of Galveston City Council meetings, appeared before the park board with a plan to televise park board meetings with a multi-camera setup that would require a single operator.  His basic proposal is to televise two meetings a month for $12,000.  Additional meetings would cost extra.  The park board would purchase the equipment for the telecasts.

Photos and audio excerpts from the park board meeting will be posted on The Online News Station at www.guidrynews.com.

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Galveston County Navigation District 1

Mike Rogers, a member of the City of Galveston Intermodal Transportation Committee, has filed to run for election to the Galveston County Navigation District 1 Board of Commissioners in November.  Announcement

"I want to integrate the Nav District into a community of responsible government in Galveston," Rogers said.  "I remember one Nav District meeting that I attended where a resident requested a letter to the State of Texas requesting simple sponsorship of a program to place signage on the eastern shores of Galveston.  All that she needed was a letter, an envelope, and a stamp.  I believe that she would have gladly provided all three, if the commissioners had been willing to take action.  However, the Nav District refused, saying that all it could do was handle the Pelican Island bridge.  Such a lack of responsiveness to our citizens concerns me."

The position is currently held by Dennis Byrd, who is seeking reelection.

John Schreiber has also filed to run for the office.

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La Marque City Council

La Marque City Council on Monday scheduled a public hearing for September 13 on a proposed tax rate of $0.5103 per $100 evaluation, which is the same as the current rate.  Because of increased property values the current rate will increase the city's total tax revenue by 5.58 percent, thus there must be a public hearing.

"Individual taxpayers may see an increase or decrease depending on this year's accessed value of their property," said Finance Director Dan Hernandez.

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Texas Department of Homeland Security

Governor Rick Perry has selected Harris County to host a Bio-terrorism Weapons of Mass Destruction Modified Full-Scale Exercise on September 8 and 9.  The MFSE will test the command and control nodes of the incident itself and the actual response capabilities of the combined Harris County and City of Houston Health Departments in the event of a potential bio-terrorism attack.

"We appreciate the opportunity to conduct this drill," said County Judge Robert Eckels.  "This MFSE will allow us to sharpen our coordination of our response to any potential terrorist event.  We are also grateful to Governor Perry and the Department of Homeland Security for providing the funding that will enable us to ensure that our county is prepared."

Eckels said that the exercise will be a valuable lesson for the city and county departments to learn how to better work together in the event of any disaster, whether natural or manmade.  

"We can never be too prepared," Eckels said.

The drill will be a "worst case, realistic scenario intended to demonstrate and test consequence-management ability".  

A tabletop exercise will be conducted to emphasize coordinated strategic responses from the federal, state and local decision makers.  A decontamination site and the dispensing of pharmaceuticals to the public will also be tested.

The Emergency Operations Center located at Houston Transtar and the City of Houston's Emergency Operations Center will both be activated.  Reliant Center, Hall "A", will be the staging site for the tabletop exercise, as well as the decontamination and dispensing activities.

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Rosenberg Renaissance Zone

The Rosenberg Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization in Galveston is hosting an Old Fashioned Watermelon and Games Party in the school cafeteria tonight to mark the first anniversary of the Rosenberg Renaissance Zone.

"We will have a report on our progress and recognition of those organizations and individuals who have enthusiastically supported this creative initiative," said B.J. Herz.

Following the ceremony the group will adjourn to the adjacent Adoue Park for the Old Fashioned Watermelon and Games Party.   The program will include the dedication of a plaque honoring the neighborhood surrounding Rosenberg Elementary School as the first Renaissance Zone Project and the unveiling of new neighborhood street signs recognizing work accomplished within the zone.

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Ball High School Tor Football Highlights

Galveston Independent School District's GISD-TV, Channel 17 on Time Warner Cable, is now televising a Ball High School Tor Football Highlights Show.  The show will air Monday through Friday at 7:30 p.m.  

The program includes highlights of each game as well as half-time performances by the Ball High School Marching Band and Tornette Drill Team.  Ball High School cheerleaders and members of Tor Watch are also included.  

The district plans also to incorporate footage from other athletic events, such as varsity volleyball games, into the program.

Local businesses serve as underwriters for the show.  Interested business representatives should contact Richard Presley at Instant Replay Video Productions at (409)
945-8568.  

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Bellaire Recycling Committee

The Bellaire Recycling Committee will hold an electronic waste recycling event on September 11 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bellaire Department of Public Works, 4337 Edith - One block North of Beechnut just off Newcastle Street.

A recycling fee of $5, that includes the recycling of one computer or television set and all other electronics, will be charged.  There is a charge of $5 for each additional computer monitor or TV that is 19-inches or smaller.  Larger CRTs and TVs will have an additional $5 surcharge for each unit. 

No business or commercial electronics will be accepted.

"Please use cash for the recycling fee; no checks or credit cards," said a news release.  "Any resident of the greater Houston area can attend since this was made possible in part by a grant from the Houston-Galveston Area Council and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality."

For more information call (713) 662-8138 or visit www.bellairerecycles.org.

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On The Webio

Several items of interest to Southeast Texas are posted on The Online News Station.

Congressman Nick Lampson met the media at his Beaumont Campaign Headquarters on Monday   Photos and Audio

Galveston County Treasurer Kevin Walsh and Darlene Anene report from Madison Square Garden where the Republican National Convention is underway  Listen

Galveston residents and visitors from other areas turned out Saturday night for Artwalk in Downtown Galveston. Photos and Interviews

Visit The Online News Station at www.guidrynews.com. 

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

Today, August 31
5:00 Galveston College Board of Regents Special Meeting
5:30 Port Arthur City Council
6:00 Galveston Families, Children and Youth Board "Old Fashioned Games and Watermelon Party," Rosenberg Elementary School
7:00 Beaumont City Council

Wednesday, September 1 
9:00 Houston City Council
9:00 Seabrook Hotel Tax Advisory Committee
10:00 Galveston Firefighters Collective Bargaining Negotiations, City Hall Room 204
12:00 Rotary Club of Galveston, Brothers Petronella Top Gallant Room.  The program is The Rotary Club of Galveston Foundation with Fred Raschke.  
4:00 Texas City City Commission Budget Workshop
4:00 Galveston Ethics Commission, City Council Chambers
5:00 Texas City City Commission Regular Meeting
5:30 Hitchcock Industrial Development Corporation
6:00 Galveston Independent School District Special Meeting
Cancelled 7:30 Taylor Lake Village 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.

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.   Michael Durisseau covers the Clear Lake area entities, in addition to special assignments elsewhere.

Robert John Mihovil is a special photographic correspondent for Guidry News Service

Ivan Arceneaux is a special correspondent.   

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