MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
The Board of Directors meeting of the West Galveston Island POA was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Jerry Mohn, President. The meeting was held at the Galveston Country Club on February 19, 2005. A quorum was established by attendance of Directors, Al Birdwell - Bermuda Beach; Wanda Greer - Terramar Beach; Sidney McClendon - Pirates Beach/Cove; Bill Moll - Spanish Grant Bay; Tom Booth – Condominiums; and, Jim Stewart - Isla Del Sol. Marty Baker was present as an Advisory Director. Susan Gonzales with CKM Property Management - Recording Secretary was also present.
Jerry Mohn introduced City and County Officials: Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 Judge Jim Schweitzer; Judge Mary Nell Crapitto with County Court No. 1; Judge Roy Quintanilla with County Court No. 2; Mayor Robert Cheek of Santa Fe; and, Brian Lamb, Captain of Galveston County Constables.
Candidates for County Commissioner, Precinct One, were introduced and each spoke briefly. They were Brian Lamb, Robert Cheek, and Eddie Janek, Jr.
The minutes were reviewed. Upon motion duly made by Al Birdwell and seconded by Tom Boothe, the following resolution was unanimously adopted.
RESOLVED THAT, the Board approved the January minutes.
Al Birdwell gave the financial report. The cash balance is $14,372 and expenses were $2,552. WGIPOA will be sending out invoices at the end of February.
Discussion was held concerning changing banks and the Board agreed to change to Frost Bank. Upon motion duly made by Wanda Greer and seconded by Bill Moll, the following resolution was unanimously adopted.
RESOLVED THAT, the Board approved the financial report and move the funds to Frost Bank.
Discussion was held on how to increase the cash standing. It had been decided rather than increase the dues to obtain more corporate sponsors.
Wanda Greer gave the nominating committee report. Wanda Greer stated that the nominating committee nominated Jerry Mohn - individual and Bermuda Beach, whose terms were expiring, to run another term. A request for a vote was made. Upon motion duly made by Tom Boothe and seconded by Bill Moll, the members unanimously adopted the following resolution.
RESOLVED THAT, the Members elect Jerry Mohn and Bermuda Beach to another three year term by acclamation.
Wanda Greer stated that three additional Directors were to be added to the Board. The named positions will be held by Spanish Grant Beach, Acapulco Village and Pointe San Luis. A request for a vote was made. Upon motion duly made by Tom Boothe and seconded by Bill Moll, the members unanimously adopted the following resolution.
RESOLVED THAT, the Members increase the Board of Directors from eight (8) to eleven and the members elect Spanish Grant Beach, Acapulco Village and Pointe San Luis to hold Director positions on the Board. A motion was amended by Marty Baker and seconded to elect by acclamation, the vote was unanimous.
GALVESTON BAY FOUNDATION
Alicia Strogen and Courtney Miller with Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF) made a presentation on invasive species taking over native plants in the Bay. The Galveston Bay Foundation is partnering with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the Galveston Bay Estuary Program (GBEP) to conduct an assessment of terrestrial invasive species and undertake appropriate eradication efforts on Galveston Island. The project was initiated when a TPWD employee found several Brazilian pepper trees - a plant native to Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay - growing along the fence line of GBF’s property on Sweetwater Lake.
Brazilian pepper tree has a shrub-like growth form. It is a perennial with green, glossy, pinnate, and slightly serrated leaves that occur in an odd number of leaflets, usually five or seven. The umbrellas shaped canopy is dense and readily tangles with neighboring pepper trees, forming a thicket that shades out all other plants. The berries resemble those of the black pepper and are similarly hot to taste. However, they contain volatile terpenes that can irritate some people’s mucous membranes and should not be used as a substitute for black pepper.
Non-native, or exotic, species that are introduced to a new ecosystem can, if conditions are right, become established and invade the new ecosystem, preying upon or out competing native species and eventually replacing them. The Chinese tallow tree has already done so in vast areas of Texas’ native wetlands and coastal prairies. As these species invade and replace Texas native wetlands and coastal prairie, ecosystems once rich in diversity and productivity are lost or degraded.
As of January 6, 2005, it is unlawful to sell, distribute, or import any live form of Brazilian pepper tree into the State of Texas (Noxious Plants List, 4 TAC 19.300). Recommended eradication is by cut stump herbicide treatment.
GBF welcomes the involvement of West Galveston Island property owner associations and appreciates your assistance in helping us locate and eradicate these unwanted visitors. Please call either GBF at (281) 332-3381 extension 210 for Courtney Miller or TPWD at (281) 534-1035 for Jamie Schubert if you know of an area where either the Brazilian pepper tree or Chinese tallow are growing or would like assistance with eradication.
GIVE TRASH THE BOOT
Alicia Strogen stated
March 11 and 12 is clean out your garage trash pick up day. It will begin at 7:30 AM in the morning and continue for two days. There will be designated places on the west end where unwanted items, trash, junk, etc, can be brought for disposal.
Information on the campaign was distributed and more is available from the City’s Public Information Coordinator, Janet Cohen. Code enforcement is a serious matter and the City encourages any violators to be reported by contact the Code Enforcement Officer for the West End, William Heer, Tel: 797-3605. Heavy fines will be issued for any violators.
Jackie Cole Report
District 6 City Council Member Jackie Cole gave an overview of the City of Galveston’s budget, stating that it is operating in the black. They currently have a $5.5 million reserve and the stated financial goal is $7 to 8 million. The City’s bond rating has improved significantly with the positive financial condition. The City is required to put $200,000 per year into an emergency fund, which currently has $1.5 million. This money can be used in emergency situations such as tropical storms and hurricanes. Although Galveston is experiencing an economic boom, Jackie reported that for a population of 57,000, the per capita income is $17,700 and the median income is $23,500, which is very sad. The City is looking for ways to help low income families and have developed creative transportation ways to get people around the island.
Question was asked on the status of sewers for the west end and rumors that there was a delay. City Council was presented by Pubic Works with the prospects of laying the trunk line sewer pipe in Sea Isle south of FM 3005. Jackie advised Public Works to investigate the cost to move the sewer line north of FM 3005 since it would not make economic sense to place the line in an eroding area and this could be the delay. The City is progressing to complete the sewer projects for Sea Isle and Terramar Beach as soon as possible.
Discussion also involved whether a subdivisions could decide to rake the beach. The Parks Board does not have the funds to rake the beach in the west end and has stopped the practice except raking only in front of the Seawall and in the Pocket Parks. Since in the past there has not been enough money to properly clean the beaches, the City of Galveston has a new system for trash pick up.
Resolution
Jerry Mohn explained what the County and City and other entities are preparing a resolution for the American Shore & Beach Preservation Conference in Washington, DC, March 9-11. The resolution involves certain requests to the Texas Federal Legislators to enact Galveston County’s 2005 Coastal Federal Legislative Agenda consider in any funding programs for beach and bay shoreline restoration projects. A copy of the resolution will be on the WGIPOA website (www.wgipoa.com) for anyone to review. Jerry Mohn and John Lee from the County will hand deliver the resolutions to the legislators in Washington, D.C. during the conference. A synopsis of the resolution was read and a motion duly made by Al Birdwell, and seconded by Sidney McClendon, the Board and members unanimously adopted the following resolution.
RESOLVED THAT, the Board and members unanimously adopt the proposed Galveston County 2005 Coastal Federal Legislative Agenda.
Guidry News
Jim Guidry with Guidry News plans to attend and cover the American Beach & Shore Association meeting and would like to raise $1000 to cover expenses. The Guidry News service will have daily reports and meetings with legislators and have the sponsor’s logo on the website for a year. A request was made to sponsor his attendance.
Upon motion duly made by Sidney McClendon and seconded by Bill Moll, the Board unanimously adopted the following resolution.
RESOLVED THAT, the Board approved the contribution of $500 to Guidry's efforts to attend the conference.
Marty Baker with the Pirates POA stated they would contribute $100.
CITY MANAGER MEETING
A separate report on the February 18 meeting will be on the WGIPOA web site. Two important matters that were brought before the WGIPOA meeting today involved Public Safety and Beach trash cleaning. There are only 8 officers patrolling the west end instead of the 10 that was reported at the November 3, 2004, meeting. The goal is to have 10 but with 21 patrol vacancies open, it is difficult to fulfill the target. Currently, 3 officers are on in the day and evening shifts and 2 officers during the night shift. The Chief of Police reported at the meeting that the west end gets 20% of the available police 4% of the cost of service. A police substation is out of the question. The Chief will add more officers as more officers become available. The response time is still inadequate – there was an incident during Mardi Gras where the party received no response because the mater was not a serious nature and all the resources were patrolling downtown.
The second major concern was for the City to increase funding to the Parks Board for trash pick up on the West End. The Parks Board is not getting sufficient funds from the hotel/motel tax to do a good job during the summer on the West End. The City only contributes $30,000 to the Parks Board for trash pick up on the Seawall and we would like to see in the next fiscal budget more money allocated specifically for the West End.
West Bay Marsh Restoration Program
A meeting initiated by the WGIPOA was held February 16 with State and Federal Agencies to begin a program to build bird islands or mounds when bay subdivisions dredge their canals or channels. The purpose is to have a long term program to involve all the west bay subdivisions. Hopefully, when it is time for a subdivision to dredge their canals/channels, money and grant matches could be available and also possibly Federal funds. The project could involve building islands or sand socks to place in front of eroding marsh areas. The report of the meeting will be available on the WGIPOA website, www.wgipoa.com
Legislation
Sidney McClendon reported on the legislative happenings in the 79th Legislative Session in Austin. The GLO is trying to fund CEPRA with different types of funding mechanisms, some controversial like the fee to impose on cruise ship passengers. Another is possibly a transaction fee on the sale of a residence in Tier 1 Coastal Counties. The GLO would like to raise $25 million for shoreline restoration projects during the next biennium. Another is a fee attached to windstorm insurance policies where a portion would go to CEPRA and another portion for removal of homes on the beach.
The Coastal Coordination Council meeting of 2/10 was a disappointment where the amendments to allow sand socks on accreting beaches and in turtle nesting areas (with specific guidelines) was tabled. The GLO would like these amendments passed.
The Coastal Protection and Improvement Bill was submitted to Senators Kyle Janek and Mike Jackson and Representatives Craig Eiland and Ted Poe to introduce.
Sand Excavation
At the last West End Land Use Policy Committee meeting, amendments were approved to allow specific types of sand harvesting for beach nourishment. The amendments will be reviewed and need approval by City Council to become part of the Excavation ordinance.
Anchor Bay
Bill Moll reported that Anchor Bay development is on hold. Developer may be putting in canals.
Jerry Mohn recognized the new Directors and extended a welcome. There being no further business to come before the Board and Members the meeting was adjourned at 11:10 a.m.