Gulf Coast E-news

The United States House of Representatives on Thursday voted 417 - 9 to approve the $284 billion Transportation Bill that Galveston officials have been closely monitoring.

Congressman Ron Paul told Guidry News Service that the legislation includes funding for the Galveston Downtown Transportation Terminal, Seawall bicycle and pedestrian amenities and a circulation roadway project at the Port of Galveston.

The Senate version of the bill, also expected to cost $284 billion, is expected to be approved next week.

Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson today challenged New Mexico senators to come to Texas and "duke it out" with their Texas counterparts in response to their threats of land-grabbing litigation.

“I say to the New Mexico Senate what proud Texians at Gonzales told Santa Anna in 1835: Come and take it,” Patterson said.

On Tuesday, according to the El Paso Times, the New Mexico Senate voted to sue Texas over a 146-year-old border dispute. Senators likened the threat of a lawsuit to a “slap-fight” between neighbors. New Mexico senators also discussed taking Texas groundwater, as well as the entire West Texas town of El Paso.

The legislation directs the New Mexico attorney general to sue for the return of land, as well as compensation for mineral rights, oil and gas royalties, property taxes and grazing privileges.

“I’ll bet some Yankee attorney convinced them this was a good idea,” said Patterson, who has previously offered to settle the dispute with a duel.

The dispute centers on more than 603,485 acres in West Texas that New Mexico legislators complain about losing in a flawed survey.

"In 1859, a surveyor established the nation's 103rd meridian as the border between Texas and New Mexico," said a GLO news release. "But, to the benefit of Texas, he then set the actual boundary too far west — 2.29 miles in some places, 3.77 miles in others."

Today, the Texas towns of Farwell, Texline, Bledsoe and Bronco lie within the strip, along with a lot of empty oil and grazing land.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Shannon Robinson, told the El Paso Times he also disputes the southern border of Texas. In 1850, he noted, New Mexico lawmakers relied on the memories of sheepherders when it came to setting the boundary. Texas brought in several surveyors and engineers, and a water master relied on the Texans’ data when setting the boundary where the Rio Grande was at the time.

“Since both the Texas and New Mexico Senate are currently in session, I propose they meet in the disputed territory to engage in a free-for-all brawl to resolve this issue," Patterson said. "Lord knows these boys and girls could use the exercise. This would also get them out of town and provide a brief respite for the rest of us. Maybe we could charge admission, with the proceeds going to the few who come out alive.”

The New Mexico Senate is comprised of 42 senators, while the Texas Senate consists of only 31 senators. Regardless, Patterson expressed his confidence in the outnumbered Texans.

Galveston City Council on Thursday voted unanimously to authorize a license and easement agreement between Gulf Sulphur Services Ltd, LLP and Gulf Coast Water Authority to be used for the construction of the replacement water line between Galveston Island and Pelican Island.

The city council voted unanimously to approve an ordinance abandoning approximately 53,400 square feet of property in the 4100 block of Avenue P1/2, the 2000 block of 42^nd Street and adjacent alleyways. All right-of-ways covered by the ordinance are unimproved and will be abandoned in conjunction with the future development of the adjacent properties.

The city council voted unanimously to approve an ordinance abandoning a 9-foot by 81-foot portion of sidewalk within the 19^th Street right-of-way in conjunction with the expansion of Miller's Landing Restaurant.

The expansion will bring Miller's Landing into conformity with Americans with Disabilities Act regulations and will allow for separate smoking and non-smoking sections.

The city council voted unanimously to approve an ordinance amending the Drainage Enterprise Fund operating cash flow budget for the fiscal year ending in September 2005 by utilizing the Drainage Enterprise Fund operating cash to lease a vacuum truck on a three-year lease basis.

Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas commented on her recent trips to Washington, D.C. and to Austin to meet with United States and Texas legislators.

"For the mayor and the mayor pro tem and any other members of council who go to Austin or to Washington to represent this city, it's a good thing," Thomas said.

"It's very positive because our representatives do like to see us, and they like to shake our hands, and they like for us to say what our needs are."

Council Member Jackie Cole commented on the possible consequences of a property tax bill that is currently in the state legislature that could lower the property tax appraisal cap.

Thomas declared March 2005 to be National Professional Social Work Month in the City of Galveston.

Pasadena City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve the first reading of an ordinance that will prohibit pedestrians from crossing a street at a location other than a marked crosswalk or an intersection around a school.

The city council voted unanimously to approve a joint resolution with the City of La Porte to authorize further investigation of a joint venture between the cities for a youth sports complex and for a connecting north-south roadway between Genoa-Red Bluff in Pasadena and Canada Road in La Porte.

The city council voted unanimously to approve a resolution authorizing the Pasadena Parks and Recreation Department to attempt to secure grant funding from Harris County Protective Services for Children and Adults and from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. The grant will be used for community youth development programs in the 77506 zip code.

The city council voted unanimously to accept a donation of $1,000 from The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research to be used for the Wheelchair Sports Program at the Parks and Recreation Multipurpose Center.

The city council voted unanimously to approve an ordinance authorizing an agreement with Sarah's House to allow for disbursement of emergency shelter grant funds in connection with a public service program to provide shelter and services to homeless families and rehabilitation of a facility for extremely low-income families.

The city council voted unanimously to authorize a $220,000 agreement with Southeast Texas Housing Finance Corporation for the disbursement of Home Investment Partnership Program funds in connection with a housing program to provide down payment and closing cost assistance to first-time home buyers in Pasadena.

The city council voted unanimously to approve the first reading of an ordinance approving a contract in the amount of approximately $1.6 million to Texas and Beyer Construction, LLP for the Allendale Phase II Project.

Mayor John Manlove announced that he received an award on behalf of the City of Pasadena from the HOST Program.

"I am very pleased that Pasadena was honored for outstanding contribution to the welfare of the education of our children," Manlove said.

Manlove presented a proclamation of appreciation to Texas Healthspring for continued generosity to Pasadena seniors.

Wendy Wetzel, a member of Texas Healthspring, presented a $9,500 check on behalf of the organization to the City of Pasadena to assist with senior citizen programs.

Wanda Goyer, program manager for Pasadena's Office on Aging, also recognized Texas Healthspring for its support.

Jerry Mohn, the president of the newly created Texas Chapter of the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association, presided over a meeting of delegates to the ASBPA with legislative aides in the United States Capitol. Listen Download

Mohn said the new chapter is organizing a meeting of the Brazoria County Beach Erosion Task Force, the Galveston County Beach Erosion Task Force, and a recently formed Louisiana group called PACE, Parishes Against Coastal Erosion.

"It's a group that is organized out of Louisiana, the various coastal parishes," Mohn said. "It's a very powerful group."

The meeting will be held in Galveston in June. Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu told Mohn that she and the governor of Louisiana hope to attend the meeting.

Texas Chapter Vice President John Lee, who is on the staff of the Galveston County Office of Emergency Management, reported on an initiative by Galveston County Judge Jim Yarbrough.

"Judge Yarbrough knows the value, and has taken a pretty strong position on coastal issues and the protection of the coast for Galveston County," Lee said. "He has sent a letter to all the county judges up and down the coast, asking them to consider signing off and ratifying a resolution that would support a federal legislative agenda."

Lee said he has been presenting the resolutions to Members of Congress during the past few days.

Mohn cited the support of Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson and the Texas General Land Office's Coastal Texas 2020 program.

"He has been a big proponent of the problems that we have along the coast and the types of economic benefits that we receive out of the coast," Mohn said. "We need to help support his efforts and what he is trying to do with the legislative agenda.

Sam Webb of the GLO reported that new state legislation for additional funding for the Coastal Erosion Planning & Response Act has been introduced in Austin.

"We are trying for $25 million for CEPRA and $7.5 million, roughly, for coastal resources," Webb said, adding that fees associated with the legislation have not been finalized.

"We do have a lot going on as far as the grants are concerned," added Debbie Danford of the GLO. "I have been talking with NOAA since last week about keeping the funding and keeping our program going."

Paul Ordal of Marlowe & Associates reported that it is unlikely that the Water Resources Development Act will be approved this year, but that legislative sources tell him that some projects in the bill may be funded elsewhere.

"There are projects in Texas, New Jersey and California that are being held up," Ordal said.

Ordal said that the Office of Management and Budget, which is a part of the Bush Administration, has opposed coastal projects during the past two administrations.

Mohn noted that President Bush was supportive of coastal projects when he was governor of Texas, but that has not impacted the position of the OMB.

"In Texas, we have the largest coastline and we get nothing," said Lois Decker, a property owner on the Bolivar Peninsula. "We absolutely get nothing, which is why I came."

Also on Thursday, a coalition of water and environmental infrastructure groups, led by the ASBPA, held a Washington news conference to call for support for coastal projects.

“Rather than continuing to fight these battles alone as 'beach supporters' or 'waterway interests,' coalitions must be established between all those who are impacted by the deteriorating state of our nation’s infrastructure," said Harry Simmons, president of the ASBPA. " I am proud to work together with other stakeholders on this worthy cause,”

“Sadly, I think the average American is clueless when it comes to understanding the impact of the interconnectiveness of water resources on their daily lives," said Worth Hager of the National Waterways Conference. " We just can't afford to be penny-wise and pound-foolish with our nation's infrastructure.”

Some members of the coalition underscored the negative economic impacts if the pattern of neglect continues.

"The nation's crucial infrastructure is a vast network of interconnected and interdependent systems upon which the U.S. economy, and the quality of life for many Americans, rests," said Casey Dinges of the American Society of Civil Engineers. "For example, a single barge traveling the nation's waterways can move the same amount of cargo as 58 semi-trucks at one-tenth the cost."

“Each year that new dredging projects are delayed and existing projects go unfinished, it puts our nation at a competitive disadvantage to export its products overseas and causes the cost of waterborne imports to go up,” said Kurt Nagle, President, American Association of Port Authorities.

"With a water infrastructure funding gap exceeding $300 billion over the next 20 years, it is untenable for the federal government to cut support for clean water in America," said Ken Kirk, executive director of the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies, citing the long-term need to invest in capital improvements.

The coalition members pledged to work with other stakeholders at the federal, state, and local levels, along with Congress and the Administration," to craft sustainable solutions to the water resource needs of the 21st Century".

Thursday evening, awards were presented. Recognized for Top Restored Beaches were the Long Beach, California, Peninsula Beach Project; the Sunrise Beach Park Restoration Project, Lake Bluff, Illinois; the Bogue Banks, North Carolina, Section 933 Project; and Ocean City, Maryland, Beach Restoration Project.

“These four projects exemplify the breadth of beach restoration in this country today,” said ASBPA president Harry Simmons. “Ocean City shows us the scope and complexity of the process, while Sunrise Beach reminds us that the battle to save our shorelines must be fought on the lakes and rivers as well as the coastal sandy beaches. “Beach restoration can become almost routine – as in Long Beach – or precedent-setting – as in Bogue Banks – but both of those projects underscore that each project faces unique challenges that demand an equally unique solution."

Four Members of Congress were recognized as Friends of the ASBPA, including Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton, Bill Nelson and Jon Corzine, and Representative Jack Kingston.

Congressional Staffers Awards were presented to Tammy Cameron and Roger Cockrell, who "were instrumental in rejecting the changes to beach nourishment policy outlined in the president's FY2005 budget."

Corps of Engineers Awards were presented to Charles Chesnutt, who "has been a vital part of the shore protection program for this country," and Richard Bonner, who "played a key role in the federal government’s response to coastal devastation caused by the 2004 hurricane season."

A Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Thomas F. Caver, Jr., the deputy director of Civil Works for the Corps of Engineers, who "has been a vital person to the shore protection program for this country."

Also at the awards ceremony, the official charter for the new Texas Chapter was presented to Jerry Mohn.

Texas State Representative Joe Moreno filed a new bill on Thursday to address the public health concerns the East End communities in Houston face due to their proximity to many of the area's chemical plants and refineries.

The legislation, House Bill 2792, would require the state to adopt screening levels for air contaminants where there are currently only unenforceable guidelines in place. Under the new bill, polluters who exceed the standards would be subject to fines and injunctions as the state would be given the power to force companies to lower air pollutants emissions.

"This is the first time someone has taken such a positive step," said John D. Wilson, executive director of the Galveston-Houston Association for Smog Prevention.

"We commend and support Representative Moreno
in his effort to protect the public's health from harmful pollutants."

Under the new bill, larger plants that are major sources of emissions would have to install daily fence-line monitoring and report the obtained data to the state. The bill also would require companies to monitor their actual pollution rather than just assume low emissions.

"Many will classify this as an environmental issue, (but) I see it as more of a public health and economic development issue," Moreno told the Houston Chronicle.

Moreno's district includes many communities bordering plants along the Houston Ship Channel.

The Houston Police Department Neighborhood Protection Division, Houston City Council Member Toni Lawrence and the Keep Houston Beautiful organization will work together for the District A - Spring Branch Clean Sweep on Saturday, March 19.

The event will begin at 8 a.m. at the Spring Branch Family Development Center at 8575 Pitner in Houston.

Mayor Bill White, Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jerry Eversole and Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Steve Radack have been invited to help civic groups, church groups and other organizations pick up trash, mow abandoned lawns and paint over graffiti.

For additional information, contact Robert Quarles in the District A City Council Office at (713) 247-2010.

The Greater Houston Partnership's Environmental Advisory Committee on Tuesday, March 15, will hold the "Clearing the Air About Clean Air" breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency Houston at 1200 Louisiana.

The committee will unveil its new booklet highlighting the success of the Houston region with regard to air quality. The booklet also discusses some of the steps local businesses and government officials have taken to improve air quality.

"Many measures and controls have been implemented to improve the quality of Houston's air, and to date, great progress has been achieved," said a news release.

The University of Texas Medical Branch Division of Cardiology will hold a scientific conference entitled "Sex and the Heart" on April 23 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The conference, sponsored by UTMB's continuing medical education office, is the first of its kind in the United States. Internationally renowned authors, scientists and television personalities will present late-breaking scientific data regarding sexual function and dysfunction in patients with cardiovascular problems.

UTMB expects several hundred physicians and health care professionals and citizens from the Houston area to attend the conference, giving local professionals a chance to showcase their products or services.

For additional information about presenting products or services, contact Deanna Tessenyi at (409) 772-9305 or at Deanna.Tessenyi@utmb.edu.

Harris County Judge Robert Eckels today announced the first Teen School Emergency Response Training program in Harris County.

The Harris County Department of Education's Center for Safe and Secure Schools and the Cooperative for After School Enrichment will partner with Smiley High School in the Forest Brook Independent School District to implement Teen CERT.

CERT educates people about disaster preparedness and trains them in basic disaster response skills. Using their training, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an emergency.

"Often when disaster strikes, ordinary citizens are the first responders because they are there", Eckels said. "CERT teaches ordinary people how to aid their fellow citizens until the real first responders arrive on the scene. These students at Smiley High School will be trained on how to help their fellow students in the event of an emergency. They can also use their training in their homes, neighborhoods, and workplace."

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

Today, March 11
8:00 Daddy's Dying, Who's Got the Will, Strand Theatre, Galveston
8:00 Nunsense, The east-end theatre company, etc., Galveston
8:00 Don't Drink The Water, Clear Creek Country Theatre, 18091 Upper Bay Road, Nassau Bay
8:00 Same Time, Next Year, Bay Area Harbour Playhouse,3803 Highway3, Dickinson

Saturday, March 12
8:30 2005 River, Lakes, Bays N' Bayous Trash Bash, various locations. Locations
8:00 Daddy's Dying, Who's Got the Will, Strand Theatre, Galveston
8:00 Nunsense, The east-end theatre company, etc., Galveston
8:00 Don't Drink The Water, Clear Creek Country Theatre, 18091 Upper Bay Road, Nassau Bay
8:00 Same Time, Next Year, Bay Area Harbour Playhouse,3803 Highway3, Dickinson

Sunday, March 13
11:00 - 6:00 St. Patrick Church Festival, Galveston
2:00 The New Zealand Experience, featuring Travel Lecturer Grant Foster. The Grand 1894 Opera House
2:30 Daddy's Dying, Who's Got the Will, Strand Theatre, Galveston
2:30 Nunsense, The east-end theatre company, etc., Galveston
2:30 Don't Drink The Water, Clear Creek Country Theatre, 18091 Upper Bay Road, Nassau Bay
2:30 Same Time, Next Year, Bay Area Harbour Playhouse,3803 Highway3, Dickinson

Monday, March 14
9:00 Galveston County Commissioners Court, Holbrook Building
1:30 Jefferson County Commissioners Court
6:00 La Marque City Council
7:00 Nassau Bay City Council
7:00 Shoreacres City Council
7:00 Galveston County Water Control and Improvement District 12

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.

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.

Guidry News Service offices at 1818 Church Street, Suite 4, Galveston, TX. 77550 / P.O. Box 2130, Galveston, TX 77553
(409) 763-NEWS (6397), or email us at News@guidrynews.com

Subscriptions to Gulf Coast E-news are $300 per year, or $75 per quarter, plus sales and use tax.

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.


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