2005 Archives

2004 Archives

2003 Archives

Thursday               January 13, 2005

Keep Galveston Clean

Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas, members of the city council and city staff and representatives of the Galveston Chamber of Commerce, Clean Galveston and the Texas General Land Office held a news conference at Galveston City Hall this morning to announce the "Don't Even Think About It! Give Trash the Boot" campaign. Photos and Audio

"I think that most people in Galveston have heard over the years unfortunate remarks that the city of Galveston is dirty," said Thomas.  "When we ran for office, all of us, we've always talked about cleaning up the city."

Thomas said the current campaign was developed in cooperation with Galveston Chamber of Commerce President Gina Spagnola.

"We are going to be kicking off an "adopt a block" program," Spagnola said.  "Look for good things from your business community."  

"Our participation in this really important campaign is a two-pronged approach," said Alex Strogen, president of Clean Galveston.  "One is going to be to educate, and two is to get that litter out of the city."

City Manager Steve LeBlanc said the city campaign contains four parts.

"We are going to educate you, we are going to help you, we are going to get serious, and then we are going to get tough," LeBlanc said, explaining that two new litter patrol officers have been added to the city staff.  "If we find people littering, we are going to fine them anywhere from $200 to $2,000."

LeBlanc said that two city sponsored cleanup weekends have been scheduled on March 11 and 12 and March 18 and 19.

"I commend y'all," said Renee Tuggle, coordinator of the Texas Adopt-a-Beach program.  "Hats off to you."

Tuggle read a letter of support from Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson.

Ten year old Sydney Verner, who designed the poster for the campaign, and her family, traveled to Galveston from Lufkin for the news conference.  Verner was a participant in the GLO art contest.

On Friday, the news conference will be broadcast in Galveston Island to Cable TV subscribers on Channel 16.  Photos and a recording of the news conference, including a downloadable MP3 file, are currently posted on The Online News Station and are available in the Houston/Southeast Texas Region and worldwide.

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Dickinson City Council

Correction: Dickinson City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to reward City Secretary Misty Nordin with a 4.5 (not 5.4) percent pay raise.

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Harris County Commissioners Court

Harris County Judge Robert Eckels expressed disappointment over the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruling that Harris County and the Star of Hope Mission must remove the Bible from the William Mosher monument.  The county had sought a stay from the court to allow the Bible to remain in the monument, located in front of the Harris County Civil Courts Building, while the case is being appealed.

"To remove the Bible from this monument would be like removing the torch from the hand of the Statue of Liberty", said Judge Eckels.  "The torch symbolizes the fire of liberty and freedom for all who enter the United States.  The Bible, in this monument, represents the motivation of Mr. Mosher for his good works for our community."

Eckels noted that the monument was dedicated over 49 years ago in honor of Mosher, who spent many years helping the homeless in the community.

"He was a man of deep faith who sought inspiration from the Bible," Eckels said.  "This monument is dedicated to a man who did great works and who was also a man of faith.  It by no means suggests a "state" sponsoring of any religion."

Eckels said that Harris County will continue the appeals process all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, if necessary.

Activist Kay Staley sued Harris County last year for allowing the Bible to be prominently displayed on public property.  In her objection, Staley said the display indicated a state sponsorship of a certain religion and asked for the Bible to be removed from the Mosher Monument. The Star of Hope Mission removed the Bible immediately after the Court's ruling.

Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday voted to authorize the Public Infrastructure Department to negotiate with CDM, a consulting, engineering, construction, and operations firm, for engineering services in connection with a comprehensive water and wastewater feasibility study for Precinct 2.

The commissioners court voted to approve an agreement with Montgomery County for a voucher program that allows residents to dispose of household hazardous waste.

The commissioners court deferred action on a proposal concerning implementation of the collection and distribution of a family protection filing fee.   The issue was referred to the budget office for review.

A proposal to file legal action against the Houston Area Urban League and for approval of litigation expenses to enforce the terms and conditions of an agreement under a HOME Investment Partnership Program was withdrawn from the agenda.

A request by the Community Supervision and Corrections Department to obtain five additional parking places was referred to the Facilities and Property Management Department for review.

A request by Justice of the Peace J. Kent Adams for authorization to purchase an identification card system at an approximate cost of $4,985 was referred to Facilities and Property Management.

All other agenda items were approved.

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Pasadena City Council

Pasadena City Council on Tuesday approved the final reading of an ordinance authorizing the $34,440 purchase of five video detection systems and repair components.

The city council gave final approval to an agreement with Harry P. Taylor for tennis concession services at the Strawberry Park Tennis Center.

The city council confirmed Mayor John Manlove's appointment of Suzanne Sims to the Library Advisory Board.

The city council approved, on first reading, a $15,720  agreement with l.e.a.d.s.online, Inc. for the use of an electronic database to identify stolen merchandise and persons suspected of property crimes.

All other agenda items were approved.  All votes were unanimous.

Police officer Kenneth R. Adams introduced several new police cadets to the city council after an ordinance approving personnel changes related to their hiring was approved.

Council Member J. J. Isbell noted that the cadets represented a "diverse group".

Council Member Bill Welch added that it was a "good looking group".

Council Member Jack Douglass thanked the cadets for "dedicating their lives" to the citizens.

Manlove also welcomed the cadets and said that he is looking forward to seeing them at graduation and added that they are "in for an adventure in this class."

David Turner addressed the city council on behalf of the Pasadena Teenage Baseball Association to present a $300 donation to the Parks and Recreation Department and to extend thanks for the city's assistance during a power failure last summer.  Turner said the city "saved" the day for the teams by providing an emergency generator.

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Houston City Council

Houston City Council on Wednesday approved a $5,219,419 contract with Bombardier Transportation USA for automated people mover operations and maintenance services at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

A proposal to pay Vinson and Elkins LLP up to $250,000 to represent the city in litigation related to the passage of Proposition 1 and Proposition 2 in the recent election was tagged, or delayed for one week, at the request of several city council members.  M.J. Kahn, Ada Edwards, Toni Lawrence, Shelley Sekula-Gibbs, Gordon Quan, Pam Holm and Mark Ellis asked that the issue be tagged.

Several other items were tagged by individual members of the city council.

A proposed ordinance relating to the removal, demotion and suspension of employees and an ordinance relating to the term "department director" were tagged by Carol Mims Galloway.

A proposed $332,162 agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation for construction on Loop 610 from North Braeswood Boulevard to Kirby Drive was tagged by Edwards.

An ordinance appropriating funds for the construction of water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer lines for the Almeda Meadows Subdivision was tagged by Edwards.

An ordinance appropriating funds for the construction of water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer lines for Section Two of the Pierce Junction Village Subdivision was tagged by Edwards.

The text of a proposed ordinance relating to the sale of alcohol within the city was not received during the meeting and will be considered at a future meeting.

All other agenda items were approved.

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Galveston College Board of Regents

Information and Technology Director Chhaya Gala reported to the Galveston College Board of Regents Wednesday night on improvements to the computer system since the last board meeting.  Gala described the concept “Catch the Wave to the Future,” the new student portal on the college's website at www.gc.edu, where students can access their grades, schedules, and financial aid. 

The board tabled consideration of a proposal for IT consultant services for matters related to product implementation, strategic planning, and other issues related to information technology.  

“I am very please that we’re going to delay any decision at this current time to give Ms. Gala and her staff time to really see what they can do with this system,” said Regent George Black.

Director of Human Resources Mary Jane Lantz reported to the board on updates to college wage scales, including four percent increases in faculty wages and 9.7 percent for classified employees.  She said that professional/technical, and administrative scales, which are currently at fair market value, are being maintained.

“I would like to also thank you for giving me the opportunity to work at Galveston College," Lantz said.  "I’ve been here a few months and I’ve enjoyed it.” 

Galveston College President Dr. Elva Concha LeBlanc, in her revenue report for December 2004, noted that the college is at 40.91 percent of the budget. 

“That’s very, very good," LeBlanc said.  "It’s about where we were last year at this time." 

All other agenda items were approved with unanimous votes. Regent John Sullivan was absent.

Anita Donatto covered the meeting.  Listen

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Galveston County Mayors and Councilmembers

Galveston Park Board of Trustees Chair Dianna Puccetti Wednesday night, in a meeting at the Moody Gardens Hotel, reported to the Galveston County Mayors and Councilmembers Association on plans for Mardi Gras and other issues related to the park board.  Listen

"The current postscript for the state of the Park Board of Trustees could take a line from the opening of Charles Dickens' noted work, A Tale of Two Cities," Puccetti said.  "It was the best of times.  It was the worst of times."

Puccetti noted that the city council in June appointed four new trustees, plus a new city council ex-offico representative to correct problems that developed over the past year.

"The current state of the organization as we found it was a park board that had lost fiscal accountability and public trust, a board beginning to pick up the pieces from the reign of an aggressive president and CEO who resigned the first of May in 2004 after 11 months on the job and amidst growing public controversy," Puccetti said, noting that the park board had a $300,000 budget deficit.

Puccetti urged the municipal officials to pay special attention to the current session of the Texas Legislature.

"I think it promises to be one that is going to be a very important one for municipalities and counties and one that we are going to have to work together to stand our ground on," Puccetti said.  "I hope that all of you have planned to take advantage of TML's Legislative Days and that you are going to be following that session very closely."

Although members of Galveston City Council seldom participate in the Galveston County Mayor and Councilmembers Association, Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas and Council Member Jackie Cole attended the first part of Wednesday's meeting.

Thomas introduced Puccetti and stayed for her speech, but she and Cole did not remain to hear reports from the officials from other cities in the county.

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Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District

The Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District Board of Directors voted to continue a hardship exemption to permit continued pumping of well water for Ralston Acres subdivision in northeast Harris County.  Listen

"There is no surface water available at this location," said General Counsel Jace Houston.

The board approved several recommendations by Hearing Examiner Helen Truscott granting, denying and amending water well permits that were heard in December.

District Chair James Box reported that he was requested by Houston Mayor Bill White to attend an ethics briefing on Friday.  However, Executive Director Ron Neighbors said that the invitation was apparently issued by mistake. Listen

"We are not an entity of the City of Houston," Neighbors said.  "They can't tell us what our ethics are; the state can and does.  That's again the City of Houston getting mixed up.  They have so many boards and commissions."

Box agreed that the subsidence district is not an entity of the city, but asked that a staff representative attend the meeting at Houston City Hall.

"We do regulate the City of Houston," Neighbors stressed.  "But we are not their puppet."

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West Galveston Island Property Owners

The West Galveston Island Property Owners Association will meet at 9 a.m. on Saturday at the Galveston Country Club.  

Dr. Tim Dellepena from Texas A&M in Galveston will discuss the sand beach profile monitoring program that was conducted for the West Galveston Island beaches.

Galveston City Council Member Jackie Cole will provide updates on the Galveston Comprehensive Plan, the new excavation ordinance, and other West End activities.  

The agenda also includes updates on Judge Sam Kent's decision regarding Lafitte's Cove, the Anchor Bay development, the current session of the Texas Legislature and the Galveston Island Vacation Realtor Management Association.

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University of Texas Medical Branch

The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston will celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a luncheon and evening reception and awards ceremony on Friday.  Both events are free and open to the public.

David Scurry, dean of student affairs and activities at La Marque Middle School, will speak at the buffet-style luncheon in UTMB’s Levin Hall Dining Room.  Charles A. Jackson, founder and managing director of Artists Unlimited Theatre Company, and company will perform a reenactment of “The Meeting” of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X.

Dr. Bruce Bridges, professor, North Carolina State University, will speak at the evening reception at the Central Cultural Center Gymnasium, 2627 Avenue M.  Bridges is the author of “The Ghetto Mind” and “The Roots of Geography.” 

Following Bridges’ speech, the UTMB 2005 Martin Luther King Jr. Service Awards will be presented.  The recipients this year are UTMB employees Dr. Patricia Rogers, associate professor of pediatrics, and Dr. Cecilia Romero, professor, department of family medicine.

The reception will begin that evening at 6 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres will be served.  Music and dancing will begin at 9 p.m. Attendance at the dance is limited to those 21 and older.

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Texas City-La Marque Chamber of Commerce

Tickets are still available for the Texas City – La Marque Chamber of Commerce 35th Annual Membership Banquet and Reception.  It  will be held Thursday, January 20, 2005 at the Charles T. Doyle Convention Center .  Photo and Details

Tickets are $45 per person or reserved corporate tables that seat eight are $450.

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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.

Thursday, January 13
5:30 Galveston City Council
7:00 Kemah City Council
7:00 Santa Fe City Council
7:00 La Marque Independent School District Board of Trustees
7:00 Clear Creek Independent School District Public Hearing on School Boundary Changes, Clear Brook High School Auditorium
7:00 Seabrook Charter Review Committee

Friday, January 14
11:00 Board of Trustees of the Galveston Wharves Special Meeting
12:00 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Luncheon, Levin Hall Dining Room
6:00 Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration and Awards Program, Old Central Cultural Center
6:30 North Galveston County Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet, Landry's, Kemah Boardwalk
7:30 Oak Ridge Boys, The Grand 1894 Opera Houses

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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 of Gulf Coast E-news and The Online News Station.

Jim Young is senior editor of Gulf Coast E-news.

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