2005 Archives

2004 Archives

2003 Archives

Monday               March 28, 2005

Board of Trustees of the Galveston Wharves

The Board of Trustees of the Galveston Wharves voted 4-0 to reject the proposal by Gulf Copper and Manufacturing Corporation of Port Arthur to operate a shipyard on Pelican Island in the location that once housed Todd Shipyard.  Listen  Download

"The proposal that they presented is totally unacceptable," said Trustee Andrew Laws, who made a motion that the port director, port attorney and Gerald Sullivan, chair of the port's lease committee, meet with Gulf Copper to negotiate an agreement that will be acceptable to the wharves board.

Port Director Steve Cernak reported that the Port of Galveston made a profit for the second month in a row.  

"Increased grain movements caused switching, regular and lay dockage revenues to be over budget for the month," Cernak said.  However, he added that "a decrease in import break bulk cargo caused wharfage revenues to be down for the period."

Cernak said that passenger charges were on budget for the month but parking revenues were under projection, which shows that passengers continue the extensive use of buses and shuttles to reach the cruise terminals.  

"Increased cotton storage caused rental revenues to be up for the month," Cernak said.  "Operating expenses were under budget in the area of salaries due to unfilled positions.  Contract labor is over budget due to the continued operation of two parking lots and furnishing security at the Pelican Island shipyard location.  M&R expense is under budget due to timing.  Professional services are under budget due to a reduction in consulting fees for the cruise operations."

The wharves board approved a concession agreement with Crew Connection Corporation to provide pay telephones at the cruise facilities for use of the crews of the cruise ships.

All other agenda items were approved.  All votes were unanimous.   Robert Hoskins, John Eckel and Bill Clayton were absent.

Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas appeared before the wharves board to invite them to a joint meeting with the city council at 10 a.m. on April 14.   Listen  Download

Thomas said the agenda will include parking issues related to the cruise ship terminals and the proposed BP LNG plant on Pelican Island.  She said that Frank Cruise of STOP, Stop The Pelican Island Terminal, will make a presentation to the joint meeting, but other members of the public will not be able to participate in the session.

Texas A&M University at Galveston students who will be monitoring the various aspects of the fuel cell that has been installed at the cruise ship terminal appeared before the wharves board to discuss the project.  Listen  Download

Members of the Board of Trustees of the Galveston Wharves Finance Committee, which met before the wharves board meeting, were perturbed to learn that the fuel cell is not saving money for the port.  

"The fuel cell is costing us money," said Gerald Sullivan.

Thus, consultant George King was asked to remain after the TAMUG students left, to discuss reasons why there has been no savings so far.  Listen  Download

King reminded the trustees that the cell had been provided by the federal government as a standby generator for the cruise terminal.  

"No one has a guarantee on what energy costs are going to be," King said.

He said that efficiency may be achieved if excess heat from the operation of the fuel cell can be used to make ice to reduce the cost of cooling the building.

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Port of Houston Authority

Port of Houston Authority Executive Director Tom Kornegay told the PHA Commission today that the port’s total net income for the first two months of 2005 was virtually double that for the first two months of 2004.  Listen Download  Photos

The commission approved 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 news release.  "The PHA will seek proposals for two additional cranes in order to provide three dockside cranes per ship in accordance with the Bayport master plan (estimated cost range: $12 million to $20 million)."

The commission evaluated and ranked competitive sealed proposals for a potential construction contract award ranging from $800,000 to $1 million for the Phase 1A amenities building at Bayport.  Momentum Contractors, Inc. received the commission's top ranking, followed by Meridian Commercial, L.P., and SpawGlass Civil Construction, Inc., respectively. 

The commission approved a recommendation to amend the contract with DMJM Harris/AECOM by an estimated $474,000 for Phase 1A wharf extension at Bayport.  DMJM Harris/AECOM will modify the original 1,660-foot wharf design by adding 330 feet to accommodate the projected cargo volumes at Bayport. DMJM Harris/AECOM also will modify the design of crane tie-downs to accommodate the specific dimensions and loads for the ZPMC cranes now on order. 

The commission approved a recommendation to amend the contract with CH2M Hill, Inc. for Phase 1A management at Bayport.  CH2M Hill will manage the design of a 330-foot wharf extension by DMJM Harris/AECOM at an estimated cost of $61,000.  CH2M Hill is currently performing construction management for numerous Bayport projects. 

The commission awarded a design/build contract to BEI Engineers.  BEI will 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 project is targeted for completion by no later than March 31, 2006. 

The commission evaluated and ranked CSPs for a potential contract award ranging from $750,000 to $950,000 for maintenance dredging of berthing areas at the Barbours Cut Container Terminal.  Mike Hooks, Inc. received the commission's top ranking followed by T.W. LaQuay Dredging, Inc. and King Fisher Marine Service, L.P., respectively. 

The commission evaluated and ranked CSPs for a potential construction contract award ranging from $800,000 to $1.1 million for pavement replacement at Barbours Cut.  AAA Asphalt Paving, Inc. received the commission's top ranking followed by USA Environment, L.P. 

The commission evaluated and ranked one CSP for a potential two-year contract award ranging from $1.2 million to $1.8 million for the purchase of diesel fuel and unleaded gasoline. Petroleum Traders Corporation received the commission's top ranking. 

The commission awarded a contract to J.A.M. Distributing Co., for the purchase of Purinox diesel emulsion fuel for Barbours Cut Terminal.  The PHA is expected to use approximately 1.2 million gallons of Purinox over the next year at a cost not to exceed $1.8 million.  

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

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Galveston County Commissioners Court

Galveston County Commissioners Court this morning voted 4-1, with Eddie Janek opposed, to abandon about nine acres of county right-of-way in High Island on the Bolivar Peninsula to The Houston Audubon Society, which owns adjacent property which it operates as a bird sanctuary.  Listen  Download

The commissioners court voted 4-1, with Ken Clark opposed, to lease a portion of the county's emergency management facility for a National Weather Service Office.

The commissioners court approved the 2004 Tobacco Settlement Report, which was submitted by Community Services Director Curtiss Brown.

"This year, Galveston County will split a pot of money worth approximately $22,700,000," Brown said, estimating "this years' recovery for expenses to be approximately $150,000."

All other agenda items were approved with unanimous votes.

County Clerk Mary Ann Daigle brought a $1,433,507 check to the commissioners court meeting.

"The secretary of state brought this in to us Thursday for compliance with the HAVA, Help Americans Vote Act," Daigle said.  "This is to help us to be aligned with at least one electronic voting device in each precinct."  Listen  Download

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Jefferson County Commissioners Court

Jefferson County Commissioners Court today approved a Preliminary Issues Docket regarding the Management and Performance Review Study by MGT of America.  The action came after a workshop session on the study this morning.

The commissioners court received a "clean audit" for 2004 from Edwards, Tate & Fontenot, which reports a larger fund balance than expected.

However, the auditors' management letter suggested some improvements.

"The airport budget fund was not prepared on the basis consistent with generally accepted accounting principals," the letter said.  "Fuel cells were budgeted on a 'net' basis and are accounted for on a 'gross' basis."

The auditors also recommended that the county should strive to have more independent members on the Risk Management Pool, "to obtain objective viewpoints."

The letter stresses that "these matters are not considered to be material at this time, but are opportunities for strengthening internal controls and operating efficiency."

The commissioners court voted to reappoint Sam O. Smith, Joshua W. Allen, Sr., William F. Miranda, James D. McNicholas and Samuel Laday to the board of directors for Drainage District 6.

The commissioners court voted to permit the Port Arthur Beautification Commission to use the Sub-Courthouse in Port Arthur for the Keep Texas Beautiful Great Texas Trash Off on Saturday, April 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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

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Clear Creek Independent School District

The Clear Creek Independent School District has issued a news release expressing appreciation to the League City City Council for voting to improve and expand Palomino Lane to a four-lane road with a median during the March 7 council meeting. 

“We thank the League City Council for investing in providing the necessary infrastructure needed for the fourth high school and appreciate their support and initiative to act quickly since time is of the essence to open this school," said Dr. Sandra Mossman, superintendent of schools.

Prior to the city council meeting on March 7 several meetings between city council members and CCISD Board of Trustees had taken place.  Both entities agreed to hold more frequent meetings/workshops in the future to build a stronger partnership. 

Mossman said that immediately following the May elections CCISD will begin an open-dialogue between the new city council and the district. 

“The success of any school district is not only based upon providing an excellent education, but the quality of the district’s partnerships,” Mossman said, “We look forward to strengthening the relationship between CCISD and League City Council."

"CCISD’s fourth high school, located on Palomino Lane, will provide relief for Clear Creek High School that is expected to have 5,000 students enrolled in August 2007," said the news release.  "Because of the city council’s unanimous support in expanding the road, the fourth high school will open in August 2007."

Construction is slated to begin in June.

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Galveston College

Galveston College will host its Spring Carnival on Thursday, April 14 from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Student Center on the Galveston campus, located next to Beacon Square at 4015 Avenue Q. 

Refreshments include free drinks, pizza, hot dogs and popcorn and twenty-five cent snow cones, candy and cotton candy.  Activities include carnival games, human bowling, caricatures and balloon animals.

The purpose of the Carnival is to provide an opportunity for area residents and current or potential students to learn about Galveston College programs in an informal setting.  Galveston College educational program representatives will be on hand with summer and fall class schedules.  

The event is being coordinated by the Student Activities Council. Donations have been made by Dominos Pizza, Coca Cola and The Spot Restaurant.  Proceeds from the event will benefit the Galveston Shriners Burns Hospital.

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San Jacinto College

San Jacinto College South will play host to singers from several community colleges in the Gulf Coast Intercollegiate Conference for the 30th Annual Choral Festival on Friday, April 8.

Dr. Dennis Shrock, from the University of Oklahoma at Norman, will direct choir rehearsals during the all day festival.

The festival will conclude with a free concert at 7:30 p.m. in the Proscenium Theatre of the Marie Spence Flickinger Fine Arts Center, 13735 Beamer Road, Houston.

“After many years participating in the festival, I’m very pleased that we can finally host the event here in the new fine arts center on South Campus,” said David Sloat, San Jacinto College South music professor.  “Our students have always been strong leaders in the event, and we now have an opportunity to show how hospitable we are.”

Other participating colleges are: Alvin College, College of the Mainland, Kingwood College, Lee College, North Harris Montgomery College and Tomball College.  Singers from San Jacinto College Central are also participating.

For information call or email Sloat at (281) 484-1900 ext. 3563 or david.sloat@sjcd.edu.  

The combined Credit and Continuing Education Guide for both Summer and Fall 2005 is available at the 4015 Avenue Q Main Campus.  Students, parents and businesses may check out both the course catalog and the Summer/Fall Schedules at www.gc.edu.  Galveston College will offer early registration for Summer 2005 at the 4015 Avenue Q campus on Wednesday, April 6 and Thursday April 7 from 8:30 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.

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Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority

The Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority will provide free shuttle service for the Heights Trolley Tour from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 2 and for the Heights Home and Garden Tour, from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3.

The 45-minute trolley tours are part of the monthly "First Saturday" events, sponsored by the Houston Heights Association. The tours begin at Hickory Hollow, 101 Heights Boulevard. Other stops include:  Buchanan's Native Plants, 611 East 11th Street at Oxford; Harold's in the Heights, 350 West 19th Street; Kaplan's-Ben Hur, 2125 Yale at 21st Street and Spanish Flower at North Main and Airline.

Tickets for the Home and Garden Tour are $13 in advance and $15 on the days of the tour.  Attendees are encouraged to park at the Heights Fire Station at 12th and Yale Streets.  Shuttle service is free.

Home and Garden Tour stops include: the Bomar Childs Home, 838 Cortlandt; the Schmid Home, 741 Beverly; the Eyles Home, 748 Arlington; the Gregory Home, 801 Arlington; the Kirksey Home, 1133 Arlington; and the Denoyer Home, 1402 Allston.

For more information on both tours, call the Houston Heights Association at 713-861-4002 or visit www.houstonheights.org.

For more information on METRO’s special event services, call METROLine at 713-635-4000 or visit www.ridemetro.org.

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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 28
4:30 Galveston Ethics Commission, City Hall Room Room 204
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. 

Tuesday, March 29
12:00 Rotary Club of Galveston Island, San Luis Hotel. Major Frank Stanley will present an Intelligence Report from Iraq
1:30 Beaumont City Council
1:30 Houston City Council
5:30 Intermodal Transportation Committee Hike and Bike Subcommittee, City Hall Room 204
6:30 Hitchcock Independent School District Board of Trustees 
6:30 Clear Creek Independent School District Board of Trustees Special Meeting 
7:30 Pasadena City Council 
8:00 Red White and Tuna, The Grand 1894 Opera House, Galveston

Wednesday, March 30
9:00 Houston City Council
12:00 Rotary Club of Galveston, Fisherman's Wharf.  The program is Build The Fort Today with Jim Kern
2:00 Texas A&M University at Galveston Engineering Building Dedication
4:00 Galveston West End Land Use Policy Committee, City Hall Room 204
4:00 Galveston Arts and Historic Preservation Advisory Board, Council Chambers 
5:00 Galveston Chamber of Commerce After-5 Business Mixer, Hotel Galvez
6:00 Galveston Independent School District Board of Directors 
7:00 La Marque Independent School District Board Workshop 
8:00 Red White and Tuna, The Grand 1894 Opera House, Galveston

Thursday, March  31
9:30 North Galveston County Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting for O'Reilly's Auto Parts, 4001 HWY 3, Dickinson
12:00 FeatherFest Begins in Galveston Details
7:30 Morning Star, Main Street Theater in Rice Village, 2540 Times Boulevard in Houston
8:00 Shakespeare’s Measure For Measure, Bay Area Harbour Playhouse located at 3803 Highway 3 in Dickinson
8:00 Bus Stop, College of the Mainland Community Theatre

Friday, April 1
8:00 Daddy's Dying, Who's Got the Will, Strand Theatre, Galveston
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 Bus Stop, College of the Mainland Community Theatre 

Saturday, April 2
10:00 - 5:00 The Grand Kids Festival, Postoffice Street in Galveston
8:00 Daddy's Dying, Who's Got the Will, Strand Theatre, Galveston
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 Bus Stop, College of the Mainland Community Theatre
 
Sunday, April 3 
2:30 Daddy's Dying, Who's Got the Will, Strand Theatre, Galveston
2:30 Shakespeare’s Measure For Measure, Bay Area Harbour Playhouse located at 3803 Highway 3 in Dickinson
2:30 Bus Stop, College of the Mainland Community Theatre
3:00 Morning Star, Main Street Theater in Rice Village, 2540 Times Boulevard in Houston

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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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