The Port of Houston Authority Commission today voted 5-0 to implement a defined contribution retirement benefit plan for eligible port authority employees who were hired on our after August 1, 2012; and then voted 5-0 to maintain the defined benefit pension plan for eligible port authority employees hired on or after August 1, 2007 through July 31, 2012. Listen
The votes on the two items were held after an executive session and public hearings on the items. Commissioner Janeice Longoria who participated in the executive session left before the vote.
The port commission voted unanimously to negotiate with Jerdon Enterprises, L.P. for a construction contract for a dockside office and restroom buildings at various wharves at Turning Basin Terminal.
The commission voted unanimously to negotiate with Forde Construction Company, Inc. for a construction contract to install cleats at Wharf Nos. 47 and 48 at Turning Basin Terminal.
The commission voted 5-0-1 with Commissioner Jim Fonteno recusing himself, to negotiate with Walter P. Moore for material testing and inspection services contract to repair the decks of Wharf Nos. 24 and 25 at Turning Basin Terminal.
The commission voted 5-0-1, with Commissioner Elyse Lanier recusing herself, from an amendment to a marine construction permit to Kinder Morgan Petcoke, L.P. to add an 11, 480 square foot dock extension, one conveyor structure and two mooring dolphins to its facility located adjacent to the Houston Ship Channel at 4207 Pasadena Freeway.
All other agenda items were approved unanimously, with Commissioner Kase Lawal absent. Agenda
PHA Executive Director Colonel Leonard Waterworth reported that the port’s financial performance in June was good, with operating revenues increased over the same month in 2011, and he said tonnage continues to be up significantly for the year. Listen
“We’re having a great year,” Waterworth said. “We continue to have a great year.”
Waterworth reported on the port authority’s permit application to deepen and widen the Bayport Ship Channel; and members of the commission complimented the staff on working to garner public input on the project. Listen
PHA Real Estate Director R.D. Tanner presented a real estate operational overview to the port commission. Listen
PHA Foreign Trade Zone Manager Shane Williams updated the commission on FTZ issues. Listen
Waterworth reported that the port has received a Gold Circle Award from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts for “striving to meet high standards for financial transparency online”.
“We have good staff,” Waterworth said. “Every challenge that I have asked them to do, they’ve aggressively gone after; so I’m very tickled about being able to present that to them today.”
For the Port of Houston News Release about the meeting Click Here