2005 Archives

2004 Archives

2003 Archives

Friday               January 28, 2005

H-GAC Transportation Policy Council

Barry Goodman, of The Goodman Corporation, was the first speaker to urge the TPC to reconsider recommending funding of the project. He was followed by Ted Deyo of the Historic Downtown Strand Partnership; Galveston City Manager Steve LeBlanc; Doug Matthews, representing the Brown Family Trust; and Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas. Listen  Download

"My sense of the policy council today is they’d be very interested in helping Galveston if we can find a way to bring money to that project," said Alan Clark of the TPC staff. Listen  Download

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Mardi Gras Galveston!

Galveston's Mardi Gras Celebration officially begins this afternoon at 5 p.m. with the opening of the Strand Entertainment District.  The district will be open until midnight tonight, from 10 a.m. to midnight on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

The Mystic Krewe of Aquarius "Stars and Stripes Across America" parade is at noon on Saturday on Seawall Boulevard and the Krewe of Gambrinus "Red, White and Krewe" Parade begins at 6 p.m. on the Seawall on Saturday.

"This year, we will have more bodies, more technology and lower costs to enforce the law during Mardi Gras," said Captain Phillip Morris, Strand Commander of the Galveston Police Department.  "We have better trained officers and new technology for crowd control."

The Galveston Police Department bike patrol and mounted patrol, as well as Houston Police Department Gang Intelligence officers will be on duty.

"At some points during the event, there will be as many as 350 law enforcement and security personnel throughout the city," Morris said.

The City of Galveston has posted a fact sheet with emergency telephone numbers and other information on public safety, traffic control, sanitation and code enforcement on the city's website.  Fact Sheet

Visit www.mardigrasgalveston.com for official information from the Park Board of Trustees.  (Caution: the website has embedded sound)

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Lamar University/UTMB

Lamar University President James Simmons has signed a contract admitting Lamar University into the Center of Excellence Academic Enrichment Program at the University of Texas Medical Branch.  Lamar pre-medical students will receive preferential admission into UTMB’s medical summer enrichment programs after their freshmen, sophomore and junior years. Release

“Summer medical school experiences are prime motivators for pre-medical students who face a rigorous block of prerequisite courses before applying to medical school,” said Jim Westgate, associate dean of Lamar’s College of Arts and Sciences and chair of the university’s medical pre-professional programs.   “Our UTMB agreement offers a unique opportunity for our students to gain first-hand medical school experiences during each summer of their undergraduate work."

Westgate said that the post-freshman year pre-medical enrichment program is especially important because it is offered at the critical point when the college faces the greatest attrition in aspiring pre-medical students. 

“Students attending these programs not only are exposed to medical school, they also get a five-week opportunity to show the medical schools that they have the ability to master the demands of medical school curriculum,” Westgate explained.

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Galveston City Council

Galveston City Council voted unanimously on Thursday to move forward with the Park Board of Trustees and Galveston County for a major Seawall beautification program that would include a transit terminal and other amenities at Menard Park.

The city council voted to approve the project plan for Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone 14 at Scholes International Airport at Galveston, to provide for development of retail and industrial facilities, including a large luxury apartment complex, 60 townhouses, condominiums and 300 to 350 houses.

The city council voted to approve public improvement districts to support infrastructure improvements for Stella Mare Village and the Galveston Bay Club development on West Galveston Island.

The city council confirmed the appointment of Council Member Barbara Roberts to the Houston-Galveston Area Council General Assembly and Council Member Joe Jaworski as alternate.

The city council appointed Michael Worthy of Island Transit to the Houston-Galveston Area Council Technical Advisory Committee and Rick Beverlin of The Goodman Corporation as the alternate member.

The city council appointed Bill Rider to the Finance and Fiscal Affairs Committee, to replace Steve Greenberg who has moved to Houston.

On a motion by Patricia Bolton-Legg, the city council reappointed J. Curtiss Brown, Donna Coleman and Richard Anderson, Arnold Tauch, Jack Moss and Frank Incaprera to the TIRZ 11 Board of Directors; Steve Schulz, Sterling Patrick, Danny Smith, Bobby Enriquez, J. Curtiss Brown, Stephen Holmes and Frank Incapreta to TIRZ 12; and J. Curtiss Brown, Donna Coleman, Tofigh Shirazi, Chad Murphy, George Liberato, Chris Rasco and Frank Incaprera to TIRZ 13. 

On a motion by Cornelia Harris Banks, the city council voted to appoint Lloyd Rinderer as an alternate to the Tax Foreclosed Property Resale Committee.

Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas appointed Jill Greenhalhg to the Galveston Housing Authority Board of Commissioners and John Cross to the Galveston Firefighters Pension Board.

The city council voted to defer action on a proposal to change the meeting times of the city council until the February 10 meeting.  The proposal is to begin workshop at 10 a.m. instead of noon and to begin the regular meeting at 4 p.m. instead of 5:30.

The city council voted 6-0-1, with Barbara Roberts abstaining, to reduce the number of members of the West End Land Use Committee by one, to make it easier to make a quorum in the future.  Roberts was concerned that the item had not been properly posted.

All other agenda items were approved with unanimous votes, although Jackie Cole expressed reservations about the resolution authorizing the aerial spraying of mosquitoes.  Listen

Cole said she hopes that methods other than chemical spraying can be developed in the future and told residents who do not want their property sprayed, to advise the Galveston County Mosquito Control District.

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Kemah City Council

Kemah City Council on Thursday held extensive discussion on a proposed resolution that would reduce the Kemah Community Development Corporation Sales Tax from one-half cent to one-fourth cent and would redirect the other one-fourth cent toward the Special Street Fund, but eventually voted to table the item for consideration at a future meeting.

Mayor William King spoke in favor of the resolution, saying that area streets could be repaired over time by redirecting funds from the community development corporation, which will receive $1 million per year within two years. Listen Download

“To spend $1 million a year on parks and economic development doesn’t make any sense to me,” King said.  “If we take half of that money, a half million dollars a year and start spending that on streets, we can make some real significant progress in redoing streets.”

Several residents spoke in opposition to the resolution, saying that the community development funds should be used strictly for community development and suggesting a bond issue to repair local streets.

“I think that the street fund should come directly out of the city budget, and that the KCDC money should be allotted for projects for the benefit of the city,” said former city council member Sylvia Streater.

The city council voted to table action on a proposal to call a general election on May 7.

The city council voted to table action on a proposed employment contract with the chief of police.

All other action items also were tabled, with the exception of approval of the minutes of the previous meeting, payment of bills and the approval of the city's cash position report.

Streater addressed the city council in support of a proposal to add traffic lights to Highway 146 at Bel or Sin Road and on Highway 96 at Andres or Lawrence Road. 

“Having been a citizen of the east side of 146, there is only one light that you can legitimately get into traffic from, and that’s on Sixth Street,” Streater said.

King reported to the city council on Wednesday's regional emergency management meeting in League City, which he said was called by Governor Rick Perry after he read a letter to the Houston Chronicle that King wrote. Listen Download

“The thing that I find encouraging about it is that the state seems to be really serious about trying to come up with some solutions,” King said. “The discouraging thing is that there is not a plan in place right now to evacuate this area.”

Council Member Greg Collins issued a call for volunteers to work a booth during the Houston Travel and Leisure Show, to be held on February 11, 12 and 13. Listen Download

Susan Miller of NASA presented Mayor King with a photograph of the space shuttle in appreciation of a recent presentation, “Gulf Coast Hurricane Preparedness,” at the Johnson Space Center and for proclaiming Total Health Day on October 27, 2004.

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Santa Fe City Council

Santa Fe City Council on Thursday voted to purchase a fully equipped 2004 Dodge Intrepid from former city marshal John Courtney for $16,300, including police equipment installed by Courtney.

The city council voted to reappoint Joe Tambrella, Ronnie Schultz and Daisy Willoughby to the Santa Fe Park and Recreation Board.

The city council voted to call a municipal election on May 7.  The positions of mayor and council positions two and three will be on the ballot.  Mayor Robert Cheek has said that he will not seek reelection and Council Member Ralph Stenzel, who currently is in position two, has indicated that he will seek the mayor's office.  Neal Young is the incumbent in position three.

All other agenda items were approved.

The city council agreed to schedule a workshop at 6:30 on February 8.

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Pasadena City Council

Pasadena City Council on Tuesday voted 8-1, with Jack Douglass opposed, to pay $76,111 to Chicago Title Company for the final approval of a transaction for property at 618 Scott Street related to the Strawberry Road Extension Project; and voted 8-1, with Douglass opposed, for a the first reading of a transaction on property at 1304 Scott Street.

All other votes were unanimous.

The city council voted on first reading to approve $150,000 in improvements to Fairmont and Strawberry, Burke and Southmore, Burke and Easthaven, Burke and Crenshaw and Fairmont and Pansy.

The city council voted to accept the donation of a Color Basketball Wheelchair valued at $2,000 from Adrea Barger for use by the Parks and Recreation Department at the Verne Cox Multipurpose Recreational Center.

The city council voted to accept a $2,500 grant from Target Stores for the Pasadena Public Library Youth Summer Reading Program.

All other agenda items were approved.

The city council presented a service award to Fernando Fernandez of the Building and Equipment Department in recognition of 25 years of service with the city. 

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Clear Creek Independent School District

The Clear Creek Independent School District Board of Trustees on Tuesday voted to approve a petition by the City of Kemah to allow the city to annex the Stewart Elementary School campus.

The school board approved the submission of a petition to the City of Pasadena to allow the Clear Lake Water Authority to annex a 26-acre tract of land.

The school board approved Superintendent Dr. Sandra Mossman's recommendation to appoint Marlene Skiba as principal of Westbrook Intermediate School.

The school board voted to appoint Laura Keith as interim principal of Brookside Elementary School.

All other action items on the agenda were approved.

The school board recognized the Clear Lake High School National Honor Society Team, which placed third in the nation at the recent National Scholars' Bowl competition. 

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Galveston College

Galveston College preliminary enrollment figures for the credit classes in Spring Semester 2005 have reached 2,398 compared to 2,214 for last spring.  

The increase represents an increase of 8.3 percent in credit student enrollments.

Galveston College is selling bricks for a walkway at Beacon Square, to raise funds for the the new entry to the college, featring the South Jetty Lighthouse

Funds are needed to create the new front door of Galveston College.  The College’s vision Statement - Galveston College, a beacon of light guiding lifelong learning – has inspired the development of Beacon Square.  Beacon Square will provide a walkway entry featuring the South Jetty Lighthouse cupola at 39^th and Avenue Q. You have an opportunity to be a lasting part of the front entrance of Galveston College, near an important piece of Galveston history.  The South Jetty Lighthouse was located two miles from Galveston Island from 1916 to 2000 when a storm toppled it.  Through a lease with the U.S. Coast Guard, the restored lighthouse cupola will soon be part of the Galveston College Campus.  As part of the College’s expansion project, bricks will be placed around the cupola and at the entrance at 39^th and Avenue Q that will have names inscribed by laser. The bricks may also be used to honor or remember friends and family, businesses or other organizations or corporate sponsors from $100 to $800.  For more information contact Joe Huff at (409) 944-1302 or email jhuff@gc.edu.

The Student Activities Council and African American Club of Galveston College will host a Book Signing and Soul Food Reception for Black History Month on Thursday, February 22, 2005 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.  The event will be held in the Northen Building Room 119 on the main campus of Galveston College at 4015 Avenue Q.  Galveston native Izola Collins will present her book “Island of Color:  Where Juneteenth Started”.  Collins will be available for autographs at the reception following the presentation.  Admission is free, but seating is limited.  Books will be available for purchase at the event.  For more information contact Jameeka W. Grogan at (409) 944-1224 or email  jgrogan@gc.edu.

On Wednesday, February 23, 2005, there will be an open house at Galveston College for all Workforce Education and Continuing Education Programs. Some of the programs represented at the open house will include Culinary Arts, Real Estate Courses, Personal Enrichment Classes, and Health and Medical Training among many others. It will be held in room N-119 and the Atrium from 5:30- 7:30 p.m., located on the Galveston College campus at 4015 Avenue Q. It will be open to the public. For more information call (409) 944-1344. 

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Galveston County Politics

Albert Choate of Galveston, who currently serves as a commissioner on the board of Galveston County Navigation District 1, has announced his candidacy for Galveston County Commissioners Court Precinct 2 in the November 2006 election.

Choate cited his 14 years experience on the navigation district board and "many years of community involvement," as his qualifications for the office in a brief campaign announcement.

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Harris County

Harris County Judge Robert Eckels will accept a $100,000 check from Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander on behalf of The Children's Assessment Center during halftime ceremonies at tonight's Rockets vs. Sacramento game.  

The grant will be used to fund general operating support for The CAC, which provides services to over 5,000 sexually abused children, their siblings, and non-offending caregivers each year.

"I am very pleased to support this work that gives children who might otherwise not be heard a voice", said Leslie Alexander, owner of the Houston Rockets and Comets.  "This donation can help improve the lives of many children in the Houston community and help the Children's Assessment Center carry out their primary mission."

"Harris County's Children Assessment Center is recognized nationally and internationally for its innovative programs and steadfast commitment to protect our children", Eckels said.  "The support from civic leaders like Les Alexander sends a strong statement that we, in Harris County, will continue to do the right thing for our children.  We thank Mr. Alexander for his very generous gift."

"We are truly grateful for the generous support provided by Mr. Alexander," added Elaine Stolte, executive director of the CAC.  "His contribution will help restore the lives of sexually abused children and their families and it speaks volumes about the integrity of this man."

Visit www.cachouston.org for additional information about the CAC. 

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Texas Transportation Commission

Texas Transportation Commission, meeting in Houston on Thursday, awarded Williams Brothers Construction of Houston the sixth of the nine major construction contracts associated with the reconstruction of the Katy Freeway.   

WB submitted a $204 million bid to perform the work, which consists of total reconstruction of a 2.65 mile long section of I-10 from east of Campbell to east of Beltway 8.  

Work is scheduled to begin on the project in February 2005 and is targeted for completion in December 2008.

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Houston Airport System

The Houston Airport System's passenger and cargo traffic reached record levels in 2004, marking a definite recovery from the aftereffects from the events of September 11, 2001, reported a news release from the HAS.  Release

The 44.8 million combined total passengers for George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport broke the record of 44.3 million passengers served in 2000.  Air freight shipped through Houston reached 782 million pounds., or 355,000 metric tons in 2004, setting a new mark over 2000's 748 million pounds.

At IAH the 2000 record of total passengers (35.3 million) and international passengers (5.6 million), was surpassed by 2004's performance (36.5 million and just under 6.4 million, respectively).  While Hobby's passenger numbers did not set new records in 2004, Houston's original airport reached nearly 8.3 million passengers - about 700,000 shy of its record of 9.1 million. 

"This is one of the best years ever for our airports," said Rick Vacar, HAS director.  "We added new airlines, new destinations and just opened the new International Arrivals Building to welcome the growing numbers of world travelers we expect to see in decades to come."

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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.

Today, January 28
5:00 - 12:00 Galveston Mardi Gras Entertainment District Opens

Saturday, January 29
8:00 - Midnight Galveston Mardi Gras Entertainment District
12:00 Mystic Krewe of Aquarius Annual Parade, Seawall Boulevard, Galveston
6:00 Krewe of Gambrinus Parade, Seawall Boulevard, Galveston
7:30 "Luisa Miller", Opera in the Heights, Lambert Hall, 1703 Heights Boulevard, Houston

Sunday, January 30
10:00 - 6:00 Galveston Mardi Gras Entertainment District
12:00 - 4:00 Mardi Gras Ball for Special People, Moody Gardens Convention Center
6:30 Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Epicurean Evening, Space Center Houston

Monday, January 31
9:00 Galveston County Commissioners Court, Holbrook Building 
10:00 Jefferson County Commissioners Court Workshop
1:30 Jefferson County Commissioners Court
5:00 Galveston Housing Authority, Island Community Center  
6:00 Galveston Redevelopment and Community Enterprize Corporation, Island Community Center

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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.

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