MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
The meeting of the Board of Directors of the West Galveston Island Property Owners' Association was held on July 20, 2002. 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, Wanda Greer (Terramar), Sidney McClendon (Pirates Beach), Kathy Hartie (Sea Isle), Dan Daigle (Spanish Grant Bay), Al Birdwell (Bermuda Beach), Jim Steinbeck (Jamaica Beach), and Boyd Carr (Isla del Sol). Susan McKirahan with C.K.M. Property Management was also in attendance. Jerry Mohn recognized John Brick, Jamaica Beach City Administer; Wayne Cook, Director of Traffic in the City of Galveston; and Jimmy Tyree with the GLO.
Corporate sponsors, Johnson Space Center Credit Union and Sand ‘N Sea Realtors.
Peggy Zahler and Julie Hernandez with the Johnson Space Center Credit Union stated that there are now five locations with the new location being in Galveston at 2121 Market. They now have 5200 members and a $418 million operation.
Sallie Waters with Sand ‘N Sea advised they have seven agents with revenue of $30 million for the West End operation and over 175 houses rented. The West End collects 12% of the total hotel/motel tax for Galveston Island
Upon motion duly made by Al Birdwell, and seconded by Dan Daigle, the following resolution was unanimously adopted.
RESOLVED THAT, the Board approved the Minutes of June 15, 2002, as presented.
Al Birdwell, treasurer, gave the financial report. There are no outstanding accounts payable collected. We have received $14,000 with $6,000 still outstanding in receivables. There was a payment made of $3,000 to Clay Pope, a lobbyist utilized by the Galveston County Beach Erosion Task Force.
Upon motion duly made by Sidney McClendon and seconded by Wanda Greer, the following resolution was unanimously adopted.
RESOLVED THAT, the Board approved the financial report as presented.
Jimmy Tyree of the GLO made a presentation on CEPRA II projects. The City has all the Project Cooperation Agreements to sign on August 8. The City Council may not approve without all the match money from the participants in hand. The Corp of Engineer permits have not been submitted and the GLO plans to present one for the entire Island from San Luis Pass to the Seawall rather than one for each individual project. In addition, the GLO would like to submit a general permit to the Corp of Engineers from the Bolivar Peninsula to Freeport, Texas. The goal is to have construction start in February of 2003 and be completed by May 2003. The City of Galveston will sponsor the project, which allows FEMA to reimburse 75% of the costs in the event of a storm related disaster.
The Causeway Bridge will be torn down. There is concern about the debris from the tear down. The WGIPOA is requesting TEXDOT to look at using the debris for shoreline restoration projects including building bird islands.
Upon motion duly made by Sidney McClendon and seconded by Al Birdwell, the following resolution was unanimously adopted.
RESOLVED THAT, the Board approved the certificate of resolution hereto attached as Exhibit "A".
Pat Newsome, Executive Director for the Texas Shore and Beach Association that a Technical Conference will be held at the Hobby Hilton on November 14 & 15. You can get more information from TSBANET@AOL.com. The cost will be $70 and will be from 8:30 to 3:30 each day. The question to be explored is why the TSBA needs a standing technical advisory committee. They will invite the newly elected GLO Commissioner plus other notable speakers from coastal States on beach and bay protection programs. Howard Marlowe, the lobbyist used by Galveston County for Federal programs, will also be a guest speaker.
Kyle Janek, Republican State Senator Candidate, House of Representation, was introduced. He is aware of the Island issues and the frustrations. He agrees that the government needs to give their support. On restoration after a storm, he believes that the State needs to help but should not stand in the way of the property owners to restore damaged property. He stated the State has the obligation to keep the beaches open and clean and they should do everything to mitigate erosion problems. He believes the beaches are a real treasure and the State needs to preserve and maintain it. The $24 Billion we got for education, only half actually gets to the classroom. We do not allow parents to choose their child’s school. He made a comparison to the fact that we can choose our doctor but not our children’s teachers in a school. He would like people to support to consolidate school districts since too much money is being spent on bureaucracy. Representative Kyle was asked his stand on the use of GEOTUBES and he stated yes, he agreed in their use. You can demonstrate that it works but it is State Land and should be maintained by the State.
The Anchor Bay development with 275 bulk headed canal lots that are adjacent to Spanish Grant Bay was discussed by Dan Daigle. The Board approved that the President write to the Corps of Engineers to support the Spanish Grant Bay request for a delay in the approval of the project until additional information on the environment and wetlands is evaluated.
Sidney McClendon spoke about the Coastal Coordination Council (CCC) meetings he attended and participated recently in Austin and their effort in developing legislative items to present to the upcoming 78th Legislative Session. Mr. McClendon advised that at one CCC meeting former Senator Babe Schwartz made a comment that it was a waste of time, money, and effort to nourish the beaches of Galveston. feels that the GLO is studying the effects of the Geo-tube. Mr. McClendon indicated there is a 13 person panel established by the Heinz Center national coastal zone study to determine if shoreline protection is worth the effort. At one CCC meeting, Robert Sherwood of the COE made a presentation for an upcoming feasibility study for the Bolivar peninsula on a half mile of beach that would be divided into segments. Each section would be divided into sections and different applications would be applied in each section to determine how different beach nourishment treatments stand up. The project should start in Fall.
Blackard Development, the developer who bought property from Mitchell, is developing a 12 acre Water Ski Lake and is taking out 250,000 of cubic yards of sand to upgrade the area for the new shopping center at the former Galvez Mall. The Texas A&M research group, consisting of professionals and graduate students, are to create a central research study for beach matter costing $5 Million a year.
There being no further business to come before the Board the meeting was adjourned.
The undersigned, Secretary of West Galveston Island Property Owner’s Association, a Texas non-profit corporation, hereby certifies that the following resolution was adopted by the board of directors of the corporation at its regular meeting held July 20, 2002, a quorum being present.
WHEREAS, the Texas Department of Transportation proposes to cause the existing Galveston Causeway highway bridges to be replaced with new bridges;
WHEREAS, it will be necessary to dispose of the material used to construct the existing bridges; and
WHEREAS, such material can and should be used in ways that in the long run will produce the greatest benefit to the most people and generate the greatest economic benefit to the local and state economies.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT West Galveston Island Property Owners’ Association, respectfully petitions the Texas Department of Transportation and the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department to use all or part of the material from demolition of the Galveston causeway highway bridges in the Galveston Bay system, including the following uses in West Bay:
Secretary
July 20, 2002