2005 Archives

2004 Archives

2003 Archives

Tuesday               February 22, 2005

Friendswood City Council

The Friendswood City Council on Monday voted unanimously to ratify an agreement between PNM Resources, Inc., Texas-New Mexico Power Company and the cities it serves.

The agreement provides for a $13 million reduction in electric transmission and distribution rates and will improve quality of service and reliability standards.

The city council voted unanimously to approve the final reading of a zoning ordinance that will change the zoning classification of land in front of the Friendswood Lakes subdivision on FM 520 from single family residential to community shopping center.

The city council voted unanimously to approve an ordinance amending the city’s zoning ordinance to place density and open space requirements on cluster home developments.  Based on the number of homes in a cluster development, the developer must set aside 20 to 40 percent of the development for open space.

The city council voted unanimously to approve a resolution providing for a general election on May 7 to elect 2 council members.

The city council also approved a resolution urging the Texas Congressional Delegation to request and support funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers General Reevaluation Report on Clear Creek for the Fiscal Year 2006.

Mayor Kim Brizendine delayed the vote on an ordinance that would amend the city’s zoning ordinance with regard to regulation of signs within the city.

All other agenda items were unanimously approved.

During a public hearing, several Friendswood residents expressed concern regarding City Manager Ron Cox’s recent comments to the Texas House of Representatives’ Ways and Means Committee. 

Cox argued against lowering the property tax appraisal cap from 10 percent to three percent, telling the committee that lowering the cap would greatly reduce the City of Friendswood’s budget in the future.

Friendswood residents argued that appraisal caps are not the concern of the city council.

“Why in the world did you all get in this fight,” resident Don Beeth asked the council. “We’re getting publicity that I don’t want.”  Listen  Download

Cox stated that as city manager, he is compelled to ensure the welfare of the City of Friendswood and that of its school systems, which depend heavily on property taxes. Listen  Download

“Regarding the issue of appraisal caps, I have done my duty,” Cox said. “I have expressed a concern for possible outcomes with the intention of adding a cautionary note to this deliberation. My concern remains the impact to the city and to our schools.”

Mayor Kim Brizendine defended Cox’s statements to the House Ways and Means Committee.

“Ron Cox did nothing more than any business owner would do,” Brizendine said.

Brizendine also expressed concern regarding the cap reduction.

“I am not going to support any lowering of cap that will bring harm to Friendswood School District or Clear Creek School District,” he said.

Ron Cox announced that the Friendswood Fire Department has received a grant in the amount of $167,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  The city has also received a Homeland Security grant in the amount of $156,000, which will be used for communications equipment for the Friendswood Police Department and Emergency Management Services. 

Friendswood resident Fred Kirk gave a presentation requesting permission to fish on Friendswood Windemere Lake.  Listen  Download

Council Members Shannon Kimmel and J.H. Smith were absent.

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Beaumont City Council

Beaumont City Council today voted to lease a portion of the city's fairgrounds, which previously was home to the Southeast Texas State Fair, to Reed Exposition for an annual Golden Triangle Fair.

"They wish to use the midway area and have rights to rent the buildings each year," said City Manager Kyle Hayes.  "They will open weekdays at 5 p.m. and at 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday."

This year's fair will open on April 29 and run for ten days through May 8.  Reed Exposition will pay the city $4,000 plus parking revenue and revenue from the exhibit space that is sold for the fair.

The city council voted to purchase a diesel powered cab and chassis equipped with a jet rodder sewer vacuum system for use in the Water Utilities Division and a diesel powered cab and chassis for use in the Clean Community Division.

The city council voted to reappoint Kathleen Leaf, Dinah Bernsen and Ann Heidtke-Poynor to the Library Commission. 

The city council voted to reappoint Bessie Chisum to the Community Development Advisory Committee. 

The city council voted to appoint Liz Harris to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission; and to reappoint George Jackson, Lulu Henry, Myra Clay, Herb Spangler and Pam Johnson to the commission. 

The city council voted to reappoint E. J. Sherlock to the Small Business Revolving Loan Fund Board. 

The city council voted to appoint Nelda White Brown to the Drug Free Beaumont Commission; and to reappoint Marilyn Hebert and Terleen Hurst to the commission.

The city council voted to reappoint Frank Messina, Ann Rothkamm, Bonnie Cokinos and Rocky Chase to the Convention and Tourism Advisory Board. 

The city council voted to reappoint Mary Jowers to the Small Business Revolving Loan Fund Board. 

The city council voted to reappoint Joey Hilliard to the Zoning Board of Adjustment. 

The city council voted to appoint Pollie Dean to the Historic Landmark Commission. 

The city council voted to appoint Sam Bethea as chair of the Keep Beaumont Beautiful Commission and to appoint Carolyn Howard as vice chair.

All other agenda items were approved.

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Galveston College

Galveston College President Dr. Elva Concha LeBlanc today reacted to complaints about the college's income tax withholding procedures.

"It was recently brought to our attention that the College had not followed all appropriate Social Security tax regulations for the period of October 2003 until January 2005," LeBlanc said in a memorandum to Galveston College Personnel.  Memo

"We have found a solution that will have minimum disruption to faculty and staff," LeBlanc said.  

"The tax regulations require that the employee and employer pay Social Security taxes on the total contribution to retirement, annuities, and/or deferred compensation plans," she explained.  "Up until October 2003, the College procedures were in compliance with these regulations.  However, the previous director of Human Resources who was over the payroll office, misinterpreted the regulations and recommended changing the procedures."

LeBlanc said that on October 1, 2003, the college stopped withholding and paying Social Security taxes on the contributions to retirement, annuities, and/or deferred compensation plans.  

LeBlanc said that following a review of the regulations the college contacted the Internal Revenue Service, which has provided explicit instructions to resolve the issue "with minimum disruption to College personnel."  

She said that it is not necessary for employees to take any action.

"I will hold meetings on Wednesday, February 23, 2005, at 2:00 p.m. and Friday, February 25, 2005, at 10:00 a.m. to answer any questions that College personnel will have on this issue," her memorandum concluded. 

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Galveston Park Board of Trustees

The Galveston Park Board of Trustees today voted unanimously to contract with Preferred Destinations of Upper Malboro, Maryland to represent Galveston in the Washington, D.C., Chicago and national marketplace; at a fee of $1,000 per month, or $12,000 annually.

The park board voted to appoint Mike Bigelow to th eTourism Advisory Committee.

The park board approved a resolution in support of the Galveston County Coastal Federal Legislative Agenda for 2005.

Dr. Tom Linton of Texas A&M University asked the park board to support an initiative to seek a grant to restore the Big Reef Interpretive Trail. Listen  Download

"We are not here to ask you for money," Linton said, explaining that funds are available from the National Fish and Wildlife Service and other federal sources.  

"We just want y'alls blessing to move forward," agreed TAMU graduate student Michael Lee.  "This is a huge, huge birding area."

Linton said he will work with park board staff to develop the program.

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Coastal Connections

Coastal Connection, the email newsletter published by Washington lobbyist Howard Marlowe, reports that the House Appropriations Committee approved a major reorganization of its structure last week.

"The committee reduced its size from 13 to 10 subcommittees, which will shift jurisdiction for several of the committees handling environmental and energy-related issues," the article said.  "In terms of coastal issues, the reorganization moves the jurisdiction over the budgets for the EPA and White House Council on Environmental Quality from the VA-HUD subcommittee to the House Appropriations Committee."

Coastal Connections also reports that California Representative Ken Calvert has introduced a bill to raise the maximum amount that may be allotted by the Secretary of the Army for the construction of small shore and beach restoration and protection projects. 

"Currently, beach restoration projects are capped at $3 million," the article said.  "This amount does not reflect the 21st century costs of beach restoration and shoreline protection projects."

Calvert's bill would raise the maximum to $10 million.

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Clean Air Task Force

People living in the Houston and Beaumont areas
are among the most at risk of health problems caused by diesel soot, according to an important new study released today by the Clean Air Task Force.  Study

The study says that nationwide more than 20,000 Americans die prematurely each year from breathing deadly diesel fumes.

"This study demonstrates even more compelling reasons to respond forcefully to Houston's air pollution woes," said Jane Laping, executive director of Mothers for Clean Air.  "The report estimated 356 deaths per year due to just this one form of air pollution, as well as counting the many heart attacks, asthma attacks, cases of chronic bronchitis and other health consequences from breathing our terrible air pollution."

The study found the Houston area to have the fifteenth worst risk of death from diesel pollution for a metro area in the United States.  

"Not surprisingly, residents of urban areas are particularly vulnerable to the health impacts of diesel pollution and, as such, residents of the Gulf Coast region are among the most affected in the country," said a news release.  "In Beaumont, residents suffer the greatest cancer risk from diesel pollution for any metro area in the country with levels 865 times what the EPA considers to be acceptable. "

"The efforts being made by our environmental agencies are not yet up to the challenge," said John D. Wilson, executive director of the Galveston-Houston Association for Smog Prevention. "Affordable solutions exist today that can reduce diesel engine particulate emissions by 90 percent or more. GHASP advocates eliminating diesel idling at major truck stops and service centers by installing equipment to provide needed power to trucks." 

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University Area Association

Galveston’s University Area Association and the League of Women Voters of the Galveston Area hosted a presentation by British Petroleum America personnel on Monday.   

Bob Boyce, project director for the proposed Bay Crossing Project explained the technology used in the site selection, construction and operation of liquefied natural gas facilities owned by BP.  Boyce explained that the primary reason for the energy giant’s proposed development of a regasification plant on Pelican Island is that “domestic gas production simply cannot keep up with the U.S.’s demand”, so sources of gas must be found outside the USA and LNG is a good solution”. 

Approximately one hundred people attended the meeting and asked questions about the project, including representatives of organized labor, environmental advocates and citizens concerned about the safety of the technology and methods of operation.

Boyce announced that a Galveston office will soon be open to offer opportunities to the public to gain more information about the project which is estimated to take five years from studies to start up. 

UAA President Robert Mihovil announced that the April meeting will be an excursion chartered on Galveston Historical Foundation’s Seagull II to see the proposed BP site on Pelican Island from the ship channel.

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Lamar University

Lamar University will host James Crumley, author of The Last Good Kiss, for a reading and discussion of his work this evening.

Crumley will participate in a question-and-answer session at 5:30 p.m. in Room 108 of the Maes Building.  He will read from his work at 7 p.m. in the Spindletop Room on the eighth floor of the Mary and John Gray Library.

Crumley is author of the classic Milo Milodragovitch and C.W. Sugrue series. In addition to The Last Good Kiss, his novels include The Wrong Case, The Mexican Tree Duck, The Final Country and Bordersnakes.

“The Last Good Kiss and The Wrong Case are on virtually everybody’s list of best detective fiction,” said Jim Sanderson, professor of English and coordinator of Crumley’s visit.  “He really changed the nature of the PI here, from a tough guy to a gonzo, dangerous outlaw.”

Both the discussion and the reading are open to the public without charge.

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Save R Hood

SAVE R HOOD will celebrate its 10th Anniversary with an annual dinner on Saturday, February 26 at 7 p.m. at the Austin Ballroom, 2002 Winnie in Galveston.

The dinner will celebrate the works of SAVE R HOOD and those who have helped SAVE R HOOD during the past 10 years.

Attendees will learn about the organization and why it honors friends who have helped the community as "elders." Friends of the honorees are encouraged to attend and celebrate with them. Honorees include: Douglas Matthews, Genevieve McGarvey, Martin Bellow, Milton James, Marty Mitchell, Sue Johnson and Maureen Patton.

Tickets are $25 and may be purchased by sending a check to SAVE R HOOD, care of Anthony P. Griffin, 1115 Moody, Galveston, Texas, 77550. For information call 409-763-0386.

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City of Webster

Floyd H. Myers, Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Webster, has received the Association of Mayors, Councilmembers and Commissioners Certificate of Outstanding Accomplishment from the Texas Municipal League Institute.

The award, presented at the AMCC opening general session on February 12 in Austin, is in recognition of those individuals who completed 72 TMLI continuing education unit credits in the past year.  Only 15 of these awards were earned statewide. 

The TMLI program agenda is designed to enhance the leadership and problem-solving capabilities of Texas’ elected city officials.  Participants are offered educational sessions regarding legal issues, budgeting, governance, personnel, open meetings, and more.

Elected officials from all over the state attended the educational events, which were sponsored by both AMCC and TML, a voluntary association of over 1,100 of a possible 1,200, Texas cities.  The City of Webster is a member of the Texas Municipal League. 

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Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership

The Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, San Jacinto College and Aerospace Academy for Engineering and Teacher Education will sponsor "The Aerospace Workforce: Aerospace Industry/K-18/Government Collaboration" to celebrate collaborative successes and recent grants on Wednesday, February 23 in the Space Center Houston Club Room. 

The event will begin with a reception at 4 p.m., followed by a panel presentation at 5 p.m.

Keynote speakers will be United States Congressman Tom DeLay; Emily DeRocco, U.S. Department of Labor; General Jefferson D. Howell, NASA - Johnson Space Center; Sandy Johnson, president of Barrios Technology and Dr. William Lindemann, San Jacinto College District.

Enter the main entrance of Space Center Houston on Nasa Parkway. A guard will direct you to the Club Room. You will not have to pay the admission fee to Space Center Houston to attend this event.
For information call Tina Laningham at (281) 486-5535.  

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Clear Creek Independent School District

The Office of Public Information for Clear Creek Independent School District recently won numerous awards for excellence in public school communication at the Texas School Public Relations Association Star Awards Banquet during its annual conference in Austin on February 15.  List of Winners

In addition to 13 gold stars and 11 silver stars received by the office, Joe Perez, electronic media specialist, earned two best of categories for the district’s news program “Get Connected” and the Clear Creek Education Foundation Prize Patrol celebration video. 

Carrie Ann Taylor, public information coordinator, was named Rookie of the Year by the association. Under the leadership of Public Information Director Karen Permetti, the District’s Office of Public Information has recently revamped its efforts to improve communication outreach to the District’s community.

Each year TSPRA, with more than 700 members, recognizes school communicators for outstanding work in both print and electronic media. 

Based in Austin , TSPRA is a professional organization whose members are dedicated to improving public education in Texas by promoting effective public relations practices, providing professional development for its members and improving communication between Texans and their pubic schools.  

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Saint Patrick's Church Festival

Saint Patrick's Church will celebrate Saint Patrick's Day early with its Annual Saint Patrick's Church Festival on Sunday, March 13 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Festivities will include Irish music, a silent auction, games for all ages including Kiddie Train Rides and food such as Irish Stew, barbecue and meatball sandwiches, tacos, nachos, snow cones and even green beer.

The First Prize of the raffle will be a 2005 PT Cruiser convertible.

For information call Saint Patrick's Church at (409) 762-9646.

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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, February 22
4:00 Galveston County Emergency Communications District Board of Managers, 1718 Amburn Suite B, Texas City
4:00 Galveston Planning Commission
5:00 Galveston Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting for Gideon Math and Reading Center, 6511 Stewart Road, Suite 5
6:00 Texas Department of Transportation Public Meeting on Priority Boarding of Bolivar Ferry, Ball High School, Galveston
6:30 League City City Council
7:00 Dickinson City Council
7:00 Clear Creek Independent School District Board of Trustees  

Wednesday, February 23
9:00 Houston City Council
5:30 Galveston Visionaries in Preservation, City Hall Room 100  
6:30 Rotary Clubs of Galveston County Joint Meeting, Galveston Island Convention Center at the San Luis

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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 Houston City Correspondent.  Dana Patricia Burke is the Bay Area Houston Correspondent. Chuck Lawrence is Galveston City Correspondent.  Carl Guidry covers events in Jefferson County.  Anita Donatto covers the education beat in Galveston.  

Patty Mayeux is editor of Gulf Coast E-news.

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

We are seeking to hire reporters & marketing agents to expand our coverage in Jefferson & Harris Counties. 

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This electronic  newsletter replaced, and expanded on, the mission of the Galveston Fax, established by Jim and Lynda Guidry on Galveston Island in  July 1996; and Clear Lake Area E-news, begun on January 2, 2002.