2005 Archives

2004 Archives

2003 Archives

Friday               March 25, 2005

Galveston City Council

Galveston City Council on Thursday voted unanimously to participate in the Mainland Project 2011 Expansion Feasibility Study Financing Agreement with the Gulf Coast Water Authority for the future expansion of the Thomas S. Mackey Water Treatment Plant.

"The GCWA expects the feasibility study to cost approximately $600,000 and as much as $750,000, said Public Works Director Brandon Wade.  "It is expected the City of Galveston's share of the study will be approximately 37.5 percent of the total cost."

The city council voted to reallocate $2,829.87 in Community Development Block Grant funds from the Boys & Girls Club Gang Intervention/Prevention Training Activity to the Boys & Girls Club Building Improvement Activity.

The city council voted to approve a change order in a contract with E-Bus to increase the purchase price for hybrid electric buses from $280,000 per bus to $291,395 per bus.  The city will purchase three buses for a total of $874,185.

The city council voted to support the upcoming visit of the Spanish Navy Training Ship Juan Sebastian De Elanco's visit to Galveston.  The city's contribution will be $1,000 from the city's protocol account and $2,450 from the city's special events account.

The city council voted to appoint Alex Gonzalez to the Galveston Housing Finance Corporation and the Galveston Property Finance Authority.

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

Galveston Economic Development Partnership President Jeff Sjostrom reviewed recent successes in development in Galveston and credited the city council for its support. Listen  Download

"This growth is being led by sound public policy," Sjostrom said.

Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas presented several proclamations.  Listen  Download

Council Member Joe Jaworski said that the explosion at the BP Amoco plant has caused him to reconsider, but not necessarily change, his support for the proposed BP LNG plant on Pelican Island. Listen  Download

“It would be ignorant not to make the connection between what happened yesterday and the proposed LNG site,” Jaworski said.

Several members of STOP, Stop The Terminal on Pelican Island, addressed the city council to object to plans for the LNG plant.  Listen  Download

"We are terribly disappointed that there was no discussion, no meaningful debate," said Tom Curtis, complaining that the plant was approved by the Board of Trustees of the Galveston Wharves without public discussion.  "We feel bringing petrochemical plants into the bosom of Galveston seems to me antithetical to everything that this island has been."

Members of the city council repeatedly said that they could not engage in discussion with the protestors because the item had not been posted for pubic deliberation, but they repeatedly exchanged comments with the protestors anyway.

Thomas and at least three other city council members also engaged in a brief, un-posted, conference in her office before the meeting.  They stressed that they were not discussing city business, only what prayer to deliver at the public meeting meeting.  The result was 30 seconds of silence for the victims of the BP explosion and the victims of the school shooting at Redfeather Lake in Minnesota.  Listen  Download

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Photos and Audio

Kemah City Council

Kemah City Council on Thursday voted 4-1, with Wayne Rast opposed, to move forward on an ordinance proposed by Mayor Bill King to prohibit smoking in many public places, but excluding bars.  Rast, who supports a smoking ban, prefers that it be applied to bars as well.

Houston City Council Member Shelley Sekula-Gibbs and Dr. Mohammad Najam from M.D. Anderson appeared before the city council in support of the smoking ban.

The city attorney will draft an ordinance for final consideration at a future meeting.

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Santa Fe City Council

Santa Fe City Council on Thursday discussed, but took no action, on a proposed smoking ban.  Several members of the audience were supportive of the ban, which will be considered for action at a future meeting.

The city council voted final approval of an amendment to the the City of Santa Fe Unified Development Code, establishing new criteria for all proposed development "within 300 feet of any designated corridor or identified intersection herein, or within 300 feet of the right-of-way south of the Santa Fe railroad tracks, to all properties lying between Hightway 6 and the Santa Fe railroad right-of-way, and within 300 feet of the designated right-of-way north of Highway 6".

"We are concerned about the facades on the buildings," explained Council Member Ralph Stenzel.  "We would like for the buildings to look like they are new for a long period of time."   Listen  Download

The city council voted to proclaim April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

All other agenda items were approved.

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Port of Houston Authority

The Port of Houston Authority Commission on Monday will consider a recommendation to authorize the PHA to advertise and receive proposals for two dockside electric container cranes for the Bayport Container and Cruise Terminal.  Currently, four such cranes have been ordered and are scheduled to be operational for the Bayport terminal's opening on June 1, 2006. 

"To keep up with projected growth, however, the PHA plans to extend the wharf to provide docking space for two vessels," said a report for the agenda.  "If this recommendation is approved, the PHA will seek two additional cranes in order to provide three dockside cranes per ship in accordance with the Bayport master plan."

The commission will consider a recommendation to evaluate and rank CSPs for a potential construction contract award ranging from $800,000 to $1 million for the Phase 1A amenities building at Bayport. 

The commission also will consider a recommendation to amend the contract with DMJM Harris/AECOM by an estimated $474,000 for Phase 1A wharf extension at Bayport.  

The commission will consider a recommendation to amend the contract with CH2M Hill, Inc. for Phase 1A management at Bayport. 

The commission will consider a recommendation to award a design/build contract to BEI Engineers  to relocate the PHA's main gate, install an additional lane for inspection, and install fencing, lighting, access control, and closed-circuit TV systems with connectivity to the Port Coordination Center at a cost not to exceed $2.041 million. 

The commission will consider a recommendation to evaluate and rank competitive sealed proposals for a potential contract award ranging from $750,000 to $950,000 for maintenance dredging of berthing areas at the Barbours Cut Container Terminal. 

The commission will consider a recommendation to evaluate and rank CSPs for a potential construction contract award ranging from $800,000 to $1.1 million for pavement replacement at Barbours Cut. 

The meeting will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Port of Houston Board Room.

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Board of Trustees of the Galveston Wharves

The Board of Trustees of Galveston Wharves Finance Committee, the Galveston Port Facilities Corporation and the full Board of Trustees of the Galveston Wharves will meet Monday morning.

The finance committee and the GPFC will discuss issues that will be considered for action by the full wharves board.

The wharves board will discuss and consider an agreement with Gulf Copper and Manufacturing Corporation of Port Arthur for operation of the Pelican Island property that once housed Todd Shipyard.

The wharves board will consider a feasibility study license with Port Power, Inc.

The wharves board will consider an amendment to a promissory note and development agreement with Carnival Corporation and additional loan and construction documents relating to increasing the primary loan amount by $1.5 million to facilitate improvements to the front of the cruise terminal complex, relocate the Mallory Yard rail tracks, and expand circulation roadways and staging areas.

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University of Texas Medical Branch/TLC

Internationally renowned experts in brain trauma will convene at Moody Gardens Hotel March 31 through April 2 for the Fifth Galveston Brain Injury Conference.  The invitational event is co-sponsored by the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and Galveston’s Transitional Learning Center, which provides rehabilitation for those who have suffered acute brain injuries. 

About 60 of the nation’s top educators and physicians will attend the conference, said Charles Christiansen, Ed.D., dean of the UTMB School of Allied Health Sciences. 

“This year’s conference will continue last year’s focus on the use of theory to peer into the ‘black box’ of rehabilitation,” Christiansen said.  “The interventions used in rehabilitation remain largely uncharacterized, and there are no standard definitions even for those treatments that are better known.”

Information from the conference will be useful for both researchers and practicing physicians, said Brent Masel, M.D., president of the Transitional Learning Center. 

“We lack data as to the efficacy and effectiveness of specific treatments for specific patient groups, including persons with TBI,” Masel said.  “This is the primary purpose of this year’s conference—for us to be a catalyst to get this process moving.” 

During the conference, Marilyn Price Spivack of Boston, Massachusetts, will receive the Robert L. Moody Prize for Distinguished Initiatives in Brain Injury Research and Rehabilitation. 

Spivack's involvement in traumatic brain injury began after the injury of her daughter, Deborah Lee Price, in 1975.  Resources, support and expertise in the treatment and rehabilitation of TBI survivors were virtually non-existent at that time.  In 1980, along with her husband Marty and a group of similarly affected families and professionals, Spivack founded the National Head Injury Foundation, now known as the Brain Injury Association.

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Gulf Coast Big Brothers Big Sisters

Gulf Coast Big Brothers Big Sisters 20th Annual Bowl for Kids' Sake will take place at noon on April 3 at the AMF Star Lanes, 2404 Palmer Highway in Texas City, and again at noon on April 10 at Island Bowl, 3424 Seawall Boulevard in Galveston. 

"It's as easy as 1-2-3," said Mitzi Nevelow Levy, executive director of BBBS.  "Form a team of four to five bowlers, get pledges of $75 or more per bowler and schedule a date and time to bowl."

Each bowler receives two free games, free shoe rental and a Bowl for Kids' Sake T-shirt. If you're not a bowler, that's OK because it's not about bowling, it's about kids.

For more information call (409) 763-4638.

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Armand Bayou Nature Center

Armand Bayou Nature Center will celebrate Earth Day on April 16.  From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., guided tours of the 2,500-acre wildlife preserve will be given, as well as mini classes in birding, WaterSmart gardening and photography. 

There will be numerous environmental exhibits and wildlife demonstrations as well as activities of interest to children and adults.      

The North American Flute Circle will play from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This group plays "Native American" flute music.  From 3 to 5 p.m., Sugar Bayou will play a mixture of vocals and instrumentals infused with folk, swing, Celtic, bluegrass, Cajun and South American traditions.      

Armand Bayou Nature Center is located at 8500 Bay Area Boulevard. The event is being sponsored by SSCI Environmental and Consulting Services.   

Earth Day admission is $3 for adults and $1 for children. Members are admitted free. For more information call (281) 474-2551.

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Galveston Island Arts Academy

Norwegian-born violinist and concertmaster Trond Sæverud will perform at 3 p.m., Sunday, April 3 at Galveston Island Arts Academy, 2627 Avenue O. Photo and Release

"Sæverud frequently solos with orchestras in Scandinavia and has recorded orchestral performances in Norway and Denmark, with his live CD 'Ghosts' winning a Norwegian equivalent of a Grammy Award in 1998," said a news release.  "He has also performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London and toured extensively in Europe, Japan and the United States, in solo performances and as part of his 20-year association with pianist Einar Røttingen."

Concert tickets are $14. To reserve tickets call (409) 771-4438 or email galvestonislandartsacademy@yahoo.com; or visit www.academicplanet.com/webs/giaa.

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College of the Mainland

The College of the Mainland Community Theatre in Texas City will hold open auditions for the Southwest Premiere of Flight, a new play about Charles Lindbergh, by New York playwright Garth Wingfield. 

Auditions will be held on Sunday, April 3 at 1:30 p.m. and Monday, April 4 at 7:00 p.m. in the Fine Arts Building on the COM campus.  Director Mark Adams is looking for five men, ages 24 through 70, and two women, ages 18 through 38, for the production that will begin rehearsing April 18.  Performances will run from May 26 to June 19. 

For more information call (888) 258-8859, extension 544 or (409) 938-1211, extension 544.

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Galveston College

Galveston College, The WorkSource, and the Rotary Club of Galveston will host the annual Career Fair on Wednesday, April 20 from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on the Galveston College campus in the Hermes Fitness Center at 4015 Avenue Q.  

The Career Fair will host over 50 regional employers who will provide information to the students, alumni, and community members.  There also will be representatives for the Vocational Technical Programs to provide information about their programs. 

"This is the perfect opportunity to meet potential employers, fill out applications and provide them with resumes," said a news release.  "To prepare students as well as alumni and community members for the Career Fair, Galveston College will also have a resume writing and interview skills workshop on April 13 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and on April 19 the college will host a Dress for Success Spring Fashion Extravaganza at 12:30 p.m. in room N119.  

For information call Jocelyn Ealim at (409) 944-1222.

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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, March 25 
Good Friday 
8:00 Shakespeare’s Measure For Measure, Bay Area Harbour Playhouse located at 3803 Highway 3 in Dickinson
8:00 Morning Star, Main Street Theater in Rice Village, 2540 Times Boulevard in Houston
8:00 Red White and Tuna, The Grand 1894 Opera House, Galveston 

Saturday, March 26
2:00 Red White and Tuna, The Grand 1894 Opera House, Galveston (Captioned Performance)
8:00 Shakespeare’s Measure For Measure, Bay Area Harbour Playhouse located at 3803 Highway 3 in Dickinson
8:00 Morning Star, Main Street Theater in Rice Village, 2540 Times Boulevard in Houston
8:00 Red White and Tuna, The Grand 1894 Opera House, Galveston 

Sunday, March 27
Easter Sunday
11:00 - 3:00 Moody Gardens Free Easter Events Details
2:00 Red White and Tuna, The Grand 1894 Opera House, Galveston
2:30 Shakespeare’s Measure For Measure, Bay Area Harbour Playhouse located at 3803 Highway 3 in Dickinson
7:00 Red White and Tuna, The Grand 1894 Opera House, Galveston

Monday, March 28
7:30 Board of Trustees of the Galveston Wharves Finance Committee
8:50 Galveston Port Facilities Corporation, Wharves Board Meeting Room
9:00 Galveston County Commissioners Court, Holbrook Building
9:00 Board of Trustees of the Galveston Wharves Regular Meeting
10:00 Jefferson County Commissioners Court Workshop
10:00 Galveston Safety Study Advisory Group, City Hall
12:30 College of the Mainland Board of Trustees
1:30 Jefferson County Commissioners Court
4:30 Galveston Redevelopment and Community Enterprise Corporation, Island Community Center
5:00 Galveston Housing Authority, 2810 61st Street
5:15 Cornerstone Place II Opening and Tour, 32nd Street Cul-de-Sac between Ball and Winnie
5:30 Galveston Visionaries in Preservation, City Hall Room 100
6:00 La Marque City Council
7:00 Shoreacres City Council 
7:00 League City City Council Special Meeting 
7:00 Kemah Historical Society, Kemah 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.

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.  

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