MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
West Galveston Island Property Owners Association held a Board meeting on December 19, 2009 at the Galveston Country Club. Jerry Mohn, President called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. A quorum was established by the attendance of Boyd K. Carr Isla Del Sol, Carolyn Farmer Terramar, Ron Coker Bermuda Beach, Tom Boothe Condominium, Jeff Southard Dunes of West Beach, Debra Phelps Pointe San Luis, Peggy Zahler Spanish Grant Beach, Sidney McClendon Pirates Beach, and Al Galli Jamaica Beach.
County and City officials were introduced including Bryan Lamb, County Commissioner Precinct 2, Judges Jim Schweitzer, Lonny Cox, Trey Dibrell, and Roy Quintanilla. Brandon Wade, Deputy City Manager was also introduced.
Jerry Mohn introduced the political candidates- Judge Lonny Cox, Judge Roy Quintanilla, Judge Trey Dibrell; and Judge Jim Schweitzer. Also, District Attorney candidates Mark Henry and John Grady were introduced. Galveston Mayoral candidate Betty Massey was introduced.
The minutes of November were emailed. Upon motion duly made by Tom Boothe and seconded by Debra Phelps, the Board approved the minutes of November 2009 as presented by unanimous vote.
Treasurer report. As of December 15, 2009 total cash is $26,650. Total Assets are $34,887 and Net Income is $4555. Upon motion duly made by Sidney McClendon and seconded by Carolyn Farmer, the Board approved the financial report by unanimous vote.
Alice Melott Robertson West End Real Estate Happenings. In November the west end had 20 single-family home sales occurred. Alice recommended that the property you are selling be in top condition.
Brian Lamb County Commissioner. County will be working on the road repairs.
Gordon Morse Police Communication West end email group. Please register so that you are on the email group for notification of crimes.
Report from City of Galveston Council Member Karen Mahoney read by Jerry Mohn - Brandon Wades leaving will be covered by Angelo Grasso taking up the slack until Brandons replacement. Working individually with the Associations on the Buy Out Program. A special Golf Cart Committee has been formed to address the use of Golf Carts on the island.
Keith Gray, Service Area Director with CenterPoint Energy gave an overview of the blackouts experienced in October and November. Keith stated CenterPoint has worked towards correcting the issues.
Jerry Mohn gave Brandon Wade an appreciation plaque from the WGIPOA. Brandon has worked diligently the last ten (10) years with the City of Galveston as Assistant City Manager and. Brandon Wade has been working on the issues on the West End.
Presentation: The Coastal Barrier Protecting the Houston/Galveston Region from Hurricane Storm Surge - Dr. Bill Merrell "The Ike Dike"
The presentation covered what we wish to protect, the nature of the threat, and the present approach. The presentation included the following:
THE HOUSTON/GALVESTON REGION
Galveston coastal region is home to two (2) million people, Galveston Bay provides valuable ecosystem services, supports a vast and largest petrochemical complex in the United States, the Port of Houston alone generates over $117 Billion in economic activity annually, and Perryman Report "Katrina-like" storm would cause aggregate losses to Texas economy of $73 Billion in gross product, $61.3 Billion in income and 863,000 jobs. Houston area Industry/Economy is much more important nationally than New Orleans where $14 Billion is being spent on surge suppression.
Regional Threats and Vulnerabilities:
Affected by major storm about every 15 years, Surges are channeled up the Bay, considerable infrastructure near sea level, large-scale evacuations are increasingly difficult, and evacuations are increasingly difficult for Hurricanes that quickly increase in intensity and/or change direction.
On September 13, Ike passed over Galveston Island, killing over 50 people, with 30 still missing, causing $32 Billion in damage, damaging sensitive ecosystem and wildlife habitats, devastating our most vulnerable (poor, elderly) populations much more than others.
Had it hit further west (more towards San Luis Pass), its impact would have been much more severe, hundreds of lives lost and many more billions in damages... Cat 4 would have surge of 24 ft League City, LaPorte, and 158 in Galveston.
The human settlement near Galveston Bay has reached such a size and importance and hurricane surge is such a significant threat that a comprehensive regional approach to surge suppression makes sense.
But even with a "favorable" path Ike affected 81,000 homes, 205,000 residents, 5,000 businesses, 99,000 jobs, 42 schools, 41 electrical substations, 131 wastewater treatment plants and 13 hospitals received a surge of 10 feet or more.
The human settlement near gal bay has reached such a size and importance and hurricane surge is such a significant threat
Surge suppression strategies used now are local and have significant limitations such as Natural Barriers Dunes & wetlands, Circling Dikes, Hardening of Properties, Raising individual structures and seawalls coastal revetments.
A Better strategy: Protect the entire Houston/Galveston Region including Galveston Bay from hurricane surge using a coastal barrier (the Ike Dike) similar to the Dutch Delta Works.
Components of the Ike Dike:
Coastal Spine protects the entire bay, allows bay shores to be natural, system can be leaky unlike New Orleans, only needs to hold max surge for a few hours, and most hurricane surges much smaller. We are above sea level. Only need to hold for maximum of 2 hrs, major surge is over in a few hours.
Galveston gates will be the costliest component of the Ike Dike and its biggest tourist attraction, it must not impede navigation, and it must allow water circulation into the bay under normal conditions, but close quickly with a 17fit higher-than-sea-level barrier across Bolivar Roads. Rotterdam Flood Gates protect a channel 1181 ft wide and 75ft deep.
Houston Ship Channel Specifications:
Main channel dredged to project depth of 45 feet and width of 530 feet., 35-foot wide transition slopes on either side of the main channel, measuring 45 feet deep at their innermost point, and 12 feet deep at their outermost point, 200-foot wide barge lanes outside of the transition slopes, measuring 12 feet deep, and, width of the entire channel is 1000 feet, will surely increase in depth to accommodate worldwide changes, in particular the Panama Canal upsizing, and Gates must be sized to accommodate future needs.
Combining the different gate designs, the Bolivar Roads portion of the Barrier can: allow navigation in the Ship Channels and allow for circulation in Galveston Bay.
Will the gates when shut combined with the land extensions, "the Ike Dike", suppress massive surges???
The Ike Dike will provide comprehensive protection from storm surge protects people and property and the industrial base for a nationally important region, reduces vulnerability will encourage investment in and commitment to the region.
It costs much less than a single hurricane recovery and probably costs less than individually armoring the entire bay complex. It prevents surge damage to the Bays Natural Resources, is more environmentally sound than armoring the entire bay complex. Best (and Perhaps Only) way to protect our less resilient populations and protects lives-especially during difficult evacuations from hurricanes that quickly change path or intensity.
The Next Step: Governors commission on recovery and renewal, six County Public Corporation (five have agreed so far), begin studies - congressional action and/or recovery monies, needs public outreach and involvement. The Six Counties Galveston, Harris, Brazoria, Chambers, Orange, and Jefferson.
For more information contact: William J. Merrell, George P. Mitchell 40 Chair, Department of Marine Sciences, Texas A&M University at Galveston, merrellw@tamug.edu or www.tamug.edu/ctbs.
Jerry Mohn stated that initially it was thought that it would not happen in our lifetime. We thought enough to move it forward and since Galveston could not afford it we took it to Harris County Houston.
Beach Raking if you are interested in having the Parks Board rake the seaweed, your subdivision must apply for a permit. The seaweed starts coming in April.
The meeting adjourned and the Board went into the Golf Cart Committee report.
A survey was taken of the members attending on the use of Golf Carts.
No further business came before the Board the meeting was adjourned.
Susan Gonzales, Recording Secretary