April 21, 2001

The meeting of the Board of Directors of the West Galveston Island Property Owners' Association was held on April 21, 2001, at the Galveston Country Club. Jerry Mohn, President, called the meeting to order at 9:00 A.M. Those in attendance and the proxies received established a quorum of members.

The financial report was given and it was stated that there is $_____ in the checking account.

Upon motion duly made by Jerry Mohn and seconded by Marty Baker the following resolution was unanimously accepted:

RESOLVED THAT, the board approved the financial report as presented.

Upon motion duly made by Al Birdwell and seconded by Jerry Mohn the following resolution was unanimously adopted:

RESOLVED THAT, the board approved the Minutes of March 17, 2001, as presented.

David Murphy, representing Reliant Energy, reported that the new underground utility containing a 135,000-volt electrical line from Tiki Island to 8 Mile Road should be completed by July if all rights of way are mot on time. This should eliminate a lot of the power problems on the West End.

Friends of Galveston Island State Park president John Gray announced an outreach plan for children, through the school and summer programs, to get them involved with education and execution of dune and wetland vegetation protection and restoration.

Marty baker updated on the events related to coastal concerns with the 77th Legislature.

If common language regarding West Galveston Island Conservation District and the Seawall District bill could be used, State Representative Patricia Gray could still file them as a local bill. If they are included with the Coastal Conservation Bill, which WGIPOA proposed, all four could possibly get through.

Regarding the request to amend Property Code Section 204 to allow Galveston County to have the same restrictions as Houston, Sharon Turnley of Sea Isle Property Owners and Susan McKirahan of CKM Management suggested a subdivision composed to 13 individual subdivisions but would function as one entity. All restriction could be amended by 75% of the owners. This is now going through both committees and should make it through the session.

John Gray proposed a bill to reduce the funding match for CEPRA-funded projects from 25% to 15%. Craig Eiland made a well-received presentation and filed the bill.

Including the wetlands in Bill 2794 pertaining to beach usage and dredging was also submitted. Clay Pope, our lobbyist, told Sidney he thought this legislative session was so overloaded Craig Eiland would have to choose which bill to push thorough. John seed to think both had made it out of the House and were on their way to the Senate.

Patricia Gray has been working with the county to get a 1% increase in county sales tax for senior citizens and the homeless.

Four other measures from Bolivar are to prevent driving on the dunes, mass gatherings, glass containers, and fireworks. The fireworks lobby opposed the inclusion of fireworks in the restrictions.

We await the outcome of all.

Al Birdwell suggested we get a busload of subdivision representatives to attend the session to support the coastal measures. With such a short time left in this session, it may be a non-executed good idea.

The major opponents of coastal preservation, especially use of GEOTUBE® containment systems, are the surf riders. Their spokesperson, Ellis Picket, fells the coast should be left inviolate.

The Coastal Coordination Council established a committee to develop thoughts and ideas concerning containment system projects. They have held two hearings. Marty Baker, former senator Schwartz, John Gray, the surf riders, and Bolivar residents attended the Galveston meeting. Jerry Mohn attended the other hearing in Houston. The third one will be in Austin. The council is not favorable concerning containment systems but is interested.

Galveston County and the GLO agree to pave the way for FEMA to payy for the reimbursement for the containment system projects they have promised to fund in Pirates Beach, Palm Beach, Pirates Beach West, and Bolivar, which the GLO has prevented up to this point. They have also agreed to allow Galveston County to continue its containment system project on Bolivar with the green light from the GLO.

Pirates Beach has extended the MUD 1 agreement with the City of Galveston for another 3 years.

The Delehide Cove containment system project, similar to the one along the state park, has been approved. The $1.6 million project will include the wetlands along Dlehide Cove, east to and along the western shore of Starvation Cove. The Texas Parks and Wildlife, GLO, and Texas Fish and Wildlife will make a presentation in the Outdoor Theater dining room. The design phase and project are to start in the spring of 2002.

Jerry Mohn's letter to the editor referring to the port merger was recognized and applauded. He proposed that a tariff from the City of Houston would pay for sand replenishment. The jetty system displaces 200 million tons of sand per year. At 1/2 cent per ton, it would generate $1 million a year for Galveston.

The Steering Committee was to present its comprehensive plan at this meeting. It will not be ready until next week. There were two meetings with the major landowners ont he West End to address conservation, evacuation, and erosion before any development occurs. A village plan similar to Seaside in Florida was presented by the owner/developers - a cluster with green space an dcommercial area integrated within. The concern was with density. Some were 19-20 per acre sites, whch does not fit within the comprehensive West End plan. The deadline for the Steering Committee to receive the plan is May 16th. A public forum will be held on June 6th to discuss the West End Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Committee will review it June 19th and the City Council will receive it for approval on July 26th. We have requested a moratorium on construction on anything larger than a house until the erosion and infrastructure issues are addressed. All board members and subdivision representative should receive a copy of the completed Comprehensive Plan by the end of May.

The CEPRA beach restoration project went out for bid the first week in May. Each bachfront landowner must sign a dune easement form. Construction will begin the end of May and be completed by September. Shiner Moseley would liek to meeti with all participating subdivisions toward the end of April to finalize all requiured easements and dredging permits.

New CEPRA funding will start September 1, 2001. The GLO would like any interested parties to notify them by June. The new reduction in mathcing funds to 15% should be in effect by this time. Gulf or Bay areas are qualified as long as it is not within the canal bulkhead area of a subdivision and is a shore protection concept. Walkovers, fences, frasses, or anything other than sand and containment system expenses will not be covered. The Galveston County Task Force approved a sand source study in the Gulf to find sand barrows to be tapped. Phase I of the CEPRA funding will be electronic and probing studies to locate the sand sources. Phase II would be to calculate an accurate amount of sand to be removed. The total CEPRA fund for this is $800,000.

There is grant money available for various projects. Coastal Coordination Council has leftover grant money. This is a possible source of money for walkover construction. Pathways 2000 in Jamaica Beach includes funding from many sources for their bicycle path. Al Galley is workng in Austin for grant monies. If you need information about obtaining grant money, Jamaica Beach may have suggestions on how to get started.