MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
September 15, 2001
A moment of silent prayer was given to the victims, family and friends of the victims of the September 11 terrorist attack in New York City, Washington D.C., and Southwestern Pennsylvania.
The meeting of the Board of Directors of the West Galveston Island Property Owners' Association was held on September 15, 2001. The meeting was called to order by Jerry Mohn, President at 9:00 A.M. A quorum of was established by the Directors in attendance: Jerry Mohn, Sharon Turnley, Sidney McClendon, Jim Steinbeck, Al Birdwell, Marty Baker, Wanda Greer (designee for Bill Aimone) and Boyd Carr. Absent were Peggy Rapp and Debbie Wright. Susan McKirahan with C.K.M. Property Management, Inc., City Council Member Dianna Puccetti, and Jimmy Tyree with the GLO were also in attendance.
Upon motion duly made by Al Birdwell and seconded by Marty Baker, the following resolution was unanimously adopted.
RESOLVED THAT, the Board approved the Minutes of August 18, 2001, as presented.
Al Birdwell reviewed the financials with the Board. They have brought in $3,592 for the year, one expense of $1,000 to the Galveston EMS. Total assets are $25,000. The tax return is being reviewed.
Upon motion duly made by Marty Baker and seconded by Sharon Turnley, the following resolution was unanimously adopted.
RESOLVED THAT, the Board approved the financial report as presented.
The United Way Campaign began in September. Tia Leslie, Campaign Manager, and Marty Baker, President, of the Galveston United Way, was introduced. Marty Baker stated the needs in Galveston are extensive. Marty asked if the member associations would ask their respective members for their support. Marty Baker volunteered to speak at the Association meetings. The Campaign runs through November.
Upon motion duly made by Jerry Mohn and seconded by Sidney McClendon, the following resolution was unanimously adopted.
RESOLVED THAT, the Board approved a donation of $250 for the American Red Cross and $250 to the Salvation Army to be directed through the United Way of Galveston to the victims of the terrorists attack of September 11.
Upon motion duly made by Sidney McClendon and seconded by Sharon Turnley, the following resolution was unanimously adopted.
RESOLVED THAT, the Board approved to donate $500 to the United Way of Galveston.
Jimmy Tyree of the GLO stated he has received signatures on the final change order for the West Island projects. Sea Isle is to start next week. Bermuda Beach and Spanish Grant to follow immediately thereafter. There are 50 CEPRA II Projects submitted from the Texas Coastal region to the GLO and 18 are from the West End of Galveston.
Discussion was held on the WGIPOA Board of Directors meeting with the City Manager and Police Chief on public safety. The main goal was to get a police substation on the West End. During the interim, a "Neighborhood Crime Watch" program would be developed with the assistance of the Police Department. The volunteers for this program would be trained to take reports, report suspicious actions, maintain a log of license numbers of late night slow driving vehicles, etc, etc. The program is very proactive where it is placing the community on watch as a deterrent to crime. In addition the Police Chief also offered another program where volunteers from a subdivision would go through a special training course at a "Citizens Police Academy". A meeting will be set up by the end of the month with the Police Department.
Jerry Mohn and Marty Baker met with Galveston Alliance of Independent Neighborhoods "GAIN" to discuss and develop mutually beneficial public safety programs. The Police Department is supportive and working on long term goals. Public Safety must be equal on the West End to the rest of the Island.
At the August meeting a Task Force was initiated to study the service the Galveston Area Ambulance Authority (GAAA) provides for the West End. Dr. Terry McNearney spearheaded the project and reported the GAAA has agreed to have two paramedics at Jamaica Beach for 50 percent of the time. In addition, a dedicated transporting MICU Ambulance will be stationed on the West End. The economics of the program is being reviewed. There is a need to examine the problems and how we can fix the problems and then put money in the project. The problem with Ambulance service is that at times when one is called, there may or may not have a driver; therefore, an ambulance from UTMB needs to be called to drive the ambulance to the hospital, which puts two ambulances out at a time. At other times, the Fire Department is called as a first responder and the firemen are CPR trained. Ten percent of 911 phone calls are 20 minutes late because they can not find the house because the house numbers are not easily readable from the street and the ambulance has to search for the correct house. The City and/or the County may have ordinances which require a recommended standardized house numbers.
The Corps of Engineers is doing a feasibility study through the Galveston County Beach Erosion Task Force from Sabine Pass to San Luis Pass. It will be conducted over a period of 2 to 4 years at a cost of $3.5 to 4 million and requires a local study match of 50%. They are looking for a practical solution to erosion. The County share is $800,000 per year and it was approved by Commissioner’s Court.
Sidney McClendon reported on the bayside GEOTUBE and marsh restoration projects at Jumbilee Cove, Galveston Island State Park, Pirates Cove, and Lafitte’s Cove. The Jumbilee Cove project is close to being finished in placing GEOTUBES in marsh areas behind Jamaica Beach. Delehide Cove project will be extended it to the East. The Pirates Cove dredge project has been delayed since the dredge material has too much "muck" to place behind the GEOTUBES at Galveston Island State Park. Pirates Cove will be combined with the Delehide Cove project where the sand from Delehide will be used at the State Park and the muck from Pirates Cove will be used in the march restoration at Delehide Cove. They expect completion next Spring to Summer. Final plans by Shiner Mosley will go to the County Engineer for approval in October.
Sidney McClendon stated that a meeting was held with Dr. Bill Seitz, Professor at Texas A&M University in Galveston, to discuss getting a sand source. No one knows where a sand source is and we have wanted for three years to have a sand study done. Dr. Seitz stated that there are two large concentrations of sand, more than we would need that are off shore. He felt it can be economically brought to the beach and a study would cost $20,000. He will be providing a proposal to do the study, which will tell us where the sand is and how to bring the sand to the beach and how much it will cost. The money for the study will be raised privately. Sidney recommended we can obtain the $20,000 from donations from Associations, hotels and businesses.
Upon motion duly made by Sidney McClendon and seconded by Sharon Turnley, the following resolution was unanimously adopted.
RESOLVED THAT, the Board approved to donate $2,500 to help fund the sand source study by Dr. Bill Seitz of TAMUG.
Jimmy Tyree stated the GLO is also searching for offshore sand sources and is meeting with offshore companies to assess costs. The meeting will be in October. Sidney commended Jimmy Tyree for his efforts but for three years we have been looking for a sand source and that attempts at studies by the GLO have not been completed and that we can no longer wait. The Texas Beach and Shore Association has been requested to provide an update on sand sources at the upcoming annual meeting.
The WGIPOA is actively pushing for the elevation of FM 3005 in certain sections of the West End to provide a safe evacuation during major storms. A meeting was held by State Representative Craig Eiland with TEXDOT, City Council Member Dianna Puccetti, and the WGIPOA present. TEXDOT plans a surface overlay of FM 3005 West of Jamaica Beach in 2002. There also would be a study of the flooding and elevation of FM 3005 just West of the Seawall in front of Dellanera RV Park. The elevation of the road will be included in a feasibility study.
Pat Newsome, Executive Director of the Texas Shore and Beach Association announced an annual meeting on October 10 at the Hilton Hobby Airport hotel, 10:00 AM.
The Comprehensive Plan is up for approval on 9/20 but a problem exists with the compromise reached with the land developers in May, which was not fully included in the Plan. City Council will be asked to approve the Plan with the exception of the areas relating to the West End and to have a special Committee comprising of the WGIPOA, land developers, Planning Commission, City Council member, and a facilitator to make the Plan consistent. Expect to have finalized within the next 3 weeks.
The guest speaker, Jerry Patterson, Republican Candidate for the GLO Commissioner position addressed the WGIPOA Board and the members in attendance. Mr. Patterson, native of Houston, Texas, is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corp. Jerry Patterson is a former State Senator and was first elected to the Texas Senate in 1992 and represented Galveston County and others. Jerry Patterson has made coastal management and protection issues a center point of his service in the Senate. In 1993, he established the Center for Texas Beaches and Shores at Texas A&M University, a leading institution in the study and protection of Texas coastal resources. In 1995, Senator Patterson was co-author of the landmark bill that called on the General Land Office to devise a Texas Coastal Management Plan. Mr. Patterson indicated he understands the concerns of West Galveston Island and will work toward that goal.
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 11:20 a.m.
Date Secretary