The next general meeting of WGIPOA will take place on Saturday, September 17, beginning at 8:30 AM for breakfast burritos and coffee and 9:00 AM for the meeting at the Galveston Country Club, 14228 Stewart Road.

PROGRAM: Our guest speaker is Galveston County Judge Mark Henry who will talk about the state of Galveston County and other matters. This will be Judge Henry’s first address to the WGIPOA so please come and hear what the Judge has to say what is going on with the County.

In addition, we will hear from other speakers including our District 6 City Council Member Dianna Puccetti.

View the agenda.

The West Galveston Island Property Owners Association was organized in 1999 to promote issues of interest to property owner associations and their members, particularly preserving and protecting the gulf and bay shorelines and the quality of life as the west end continues to develop.

The City of Galveston Long Term Community Recovery Plan is available here.
Warning: This file is over 6 MB.

From the City of Galveston:

Don’t Be Duped! Protect Yourself from Scams & Faulty Work

Not long after Hurricane Ike moved on, contractors began moving in. More than six months and stacks of complaints later, some unfortunate citizens find themselves the victims of scams and faulty work. How can you differentiate a reputable contractor from a fraud? Don’t be duped! Carefully read over the following list of tips to avoid falling prey to schemes and faulty labor:

• Ask to see your remodeler’s license and proof of insurance. All residential and commercial contractors must be registered with the City of Galveston. If the cost of the residential remodeling work amounts to more than $10,000 remodelers must be registered with the Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC) in addition to the city.
• Homeowners should never pay for the entire job up front. Negotiate a payment schedule with your contractor based on performance or task completion. Be suspicious if the remodeler asks for cash payment before starting the job. Always pay by check so you retain a record of your payment.
• Request a list of references and verify that previous clients were satisfied with their work. Don’t hire someone out of desperation; patience will help protect you.
• Talk to more than one company and compare bids. If one contractor returns a noticeably lower bid resist the temptation to immediately hire that business. The lowest price doesn’t always guarantee quality work. Contractors who cut costs on materials to secure their next job could leave the unsuspecting homeowner with costly repairs down the road.
• Ask for a written estimate before signing a contract or making down payments. Never sign a blank contract! Your agreement should outline the job, the process, and costs involved to complete the work.
• Professional contractors will adhere to city building codes and submit a permit application to the Planning and Community Development Department for approval. Be wary if a remodeler tells you city codes and permits have been waived due to the emergency. Call the city or check the city’s website, www.cityofgalveston.org, to verify that information for yourself.

Some fly-by-night operators specifically travel to disaster areas with the intent of swindling homeowners, especially the elderly, out their money. Don’t be their next victim! If you suspect someone of engaging in unscrupulous activities call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 1-866-720-5721. Complaints may also be made to the Galveston Police Department by calling (409) 765-3702 and through the Texas Attorney General Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-621-0508.

Sign Up with the City for Home Repair Assistance

Was your home damaged by Hurricane Ike? Do you need assistance making repairs? If the answer to either question is yes, please contact the City of Galveston’s Grants and Housing Department. You may be eligible for assistance to:

• Complete housing repairs
• Reconstruct your home
• Elevate your home
• Purchase a new home

The City anticipates that funds will be available starting in July 2009. Please note, registering for assistance does not a guarantee that you will meet eligibility requirements or qualify to participate in the program. All applicants must complete a registration and verification process in order to qualify for assistance.

To contact the City’s Grants and Housing Department please call (409) 797-3820 or (409) 797-3821.

City Planning Office Advises Applicants of Processing Delay

Due to reduced staffing levels, the City of Galveston’s Planning and Community Development Department is advising permit applicants of a significant processing delay. Please note the current turnaround time for a permit is estimated to be four to six weeks from submittal. The City apologizes for any inconvenience and appreciates the public’s continued patience.

The Department of Planning and Community Development is located on the fourth floor of Galveston’s City Hall, 823 Rosenberg. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday. To contact the Planning Department, please call (409) 797-3660/3620 or send an email to planningcounter@cityofgalveston.org. Planning staff is available to assist property owners with questions, permit applications, and assessments.

CEPRA VI Update

The GLO had a workshop the week of April 27 on the upcoming Coastal Erosion Planning and Response Act (CEPRA) Cycle VI funding program. The funds have yet to be finalized by the 81st Legislative Session but the GLO is hopeful for $40 million, the largest allocation in the history of the CEPRA program.

The types of projects that will be covered under CEPRA include

• Beach Nourishment – Gulf & Bay Beaches
• Dune Restoration
• Marsh Habitat Restoration
• Beneficial Use of Dredged Material (BUDM)
• Structure Relocation/Demolition and/or Debris Removal
• Data Collection and Studies

A Project Goal Summary (PGS) will be necessary to be completed and submitted by July 1, 2009, to the GLO and can be downloaded at: http://www.glo.state.tx.us/coastal/erosion.html

If you have the match funds, usually 25% for beach and 40% for bay, please do apply for a project. If you can leverage with other funds – Federal or Organizations (NOAA, US Fish, etc), all the better in the scoring process.

Mission statement

The West Galveston Island Property Owners Association was organized in 1999 to promote issues of interest to property owner associations and their members, particularly preserving and protecting the gulf and bay shorelines and the quality of life as the west end continues to develop. We thank all the members for their continued support.

Please read our accomplishment for 2008 and plan of work for 2009.

Jerry Mohn
President

Sea Turtles Donation: The HEART (Help Endangered Animals - Ridley Turtles) organization needs your help to protect the endangered Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle. HEART is a 501C3 charitable organization and donations are tax deductible. Please make a donation and to: HEART, P.O. Box 681231, Houston, Texas 77268-1231.

CORPORATE SPONSORS: The West Galveston Island Property Owners Association is very appreciative of the support from our corporate sponsors.

WGIPOA meets the third Saturday of every month at 9:00 a.m. at the Galveston Country Club. Please watch this page for the program each month.