WEST GALVESTON ISLAND PROPERTY OWNER'S ASSOCIATION

MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

West Galveston Island Property Owners Association held a Board meeting on January 16, 2010 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 Clay Lewis, Sportsman Road

County and City officials were introduced including Bryan Lamb, County Commissioner Precinct 2, Judge Jim Schweitzer, Chief Deputy Joe Giusti, City Council Member Karen Mahoney, Police Officers Lt. Henry Poretto and Gordon Morse, and Parks Board Chair Jeri Kinnear. Corporate sponsor JSC Credit Union was also recognized.

Jerry Mohn introduced the political candidates- Judge Jim Schweitzer, Probate Judge Kim Sullivan, District Attorney candidates Barbara Roberts and John Grady were introduced. District 6 City Council candidates Karen Mahoney and Dianna Puccetti were introduced. Candidates for County Commissioner Precinct 2, Joe Giusti and Brian Lamb were recognized. Dwight Sullivan for County Clerk was introduced. Juliann Karenko spoke for Suzanne Radcliffe, who is seeking County Court Judge.

The minutes of the December 12, 2009, meeting was emailed. Upon motion duly made by Sidney McClendon and seconded by Tom Boothe, the Board approved the minutes of December 2009 as presented by unanimous vote.

Treasurer report. As of December 31, 2009 total cash is $25,605. Total Assets are $33,842 and Net Income is $3,510. Upon motion duly made by Peggy Zahler and seconded by Tom Boothe, the Board approved the financial report by unanimous vote.

Brian Lamb – County Commissioner. County will be working on the road repairs.

Lt. Henry Porretto – Police Communication – West end email group. Please register so that you are on the email group for notification of crimes. They are having a difficult time inputting the data but they are managing and will be able to do it. Lt. Porretto invited everyone to the open house and Community Policing Kick-off today at the 54th Street police station. Also, he stressed the need for west end property owners to report any crime activity. For non-emergency, call 409-765-3702 or you can call his cell phone at 409-765-3609.

Report from City of Galveston Council Member – Karen Mahoney. She suggested for people to contribute for the Haiti earthquake victims to the Salvation Army and/or Red Cross. Setbacks will be discussed at Planning Commission Workshop this coming Tuesday. It looks like the Planning Commission will recommend a 75 foot setback.

For the Buy Out program, the City is requiring a release from the home owner association. The City does not want to encounter any dues assessment, etc, from the HOA. So far, of the 65 properties in the Buy Out program, only 23 have signed a release. The property will remain open space in perpetuity except that the City reserved the right to use the property for unpaved and undeveloped parking and turnaround for emergency vehicles.

Other topics presented by Karen:

• For the wetlands ordinance, information is being obtained fro the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
• For the Golf Cart Committee, the west end portion is finished and the east end is still formulating. The Committee is recommending allowing golf carts on the beach.
• Tree recycling is progressing and free mulch is available at the 51^st center. So far 945 cubic yards have been shipped to Orange, TX, and 270 cubic yards to Mystic Seaport, CT.
• Housing Authority – contentious and difficult.
• Skate Board Park – it is open again from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Presentation: John Machol, Project Manager with the U.S, Army Corps of Engineers. "The improvements and reconstruction of the Seawall and the rehab of the Texas City Dike since Hurricane Ike."

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers rehabilitates Federal projects under public law for the Flood Control & Coastal Emergencies (FCCE) section. The Corps:

• Identifies projects
• Prepare a project information report
• Coordinate with Division and headquarters
• Conduct detailed damage surveys
• Repair Federal Projects

The Seawall fits this category since it was built with Federal funds after the 1900 Great Storm. The west end of the Seawall was heavily damaged by Ike where the ramps were torn up. In addition, there were several damage areas along the Seawall, especially the rock groins. They had to look at the 100 year old wood pilings to see if they were compromised in any way by the storm. After drilling cores in the wood pilings, they found them well preserved and no problem.

For the damaged areas of the Seawall, the Corps mimicked what they did in 1900. In 1900 they used wooden forms but today they used steel forms. They repaired and replaced some of the old materials. In addition, a new drainage system was installed to remove water from the Seawall.

Several areas of the Seawall road were damaged badly by Hurricane Ike. All the cracks and lost asphalt will be repaired and replaced by the next hurricane season. The Corps of Engineers designs the life of any project for 50 years. The Seawall has lasted over 100 years and they believe it will last another 100 years.

The rock groins were damaged and repairs are almost complete. There will be a cement walkway down the center for emergency vehicles and fisherman. The new rocks are coming from the rock quarries in Marble Falls.

The Texas City Dike held well during the storm but the rip rap was torn all apart. The Texas City Dike is closed until the repairs are complete. A reconnaissance study is being conducted with the thoughts of raising the Dike another 2 to 3 feet.

Annual Meeting: February meeting will be the WGIPOA Annual meeting and new Board members will be voted upon. Jerry Mohn advised if any property owner association member would like to be on the Board of Directors to make a request.

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.

Golf Carts: The Chair of the Golf Cart Committee, Kathie Hayes, was present and gave a report: The Golf Cart Committee has been meeting weekly since early December and has made the following recommendations:

• Golf carts will be allowed on all public roads with a posted speed limit of 35 mph or less and no more than 2 lanes of traffic in one direction.
• Golf Carts are able to cross intersections with higher posted speeds than 35 mph, but they cannot drive down them.
• Golf Carts cannot pull trailers, boats, jet skis or the like on public streets. Also, no pulling skaters, skateboards, etc.
• Golf carts must be registered with the City of Galveston and display the permit/sticker on the rear of the golf cart in plain sight.  The registration fee will be $25 per year.
• Golf Carts must have headlights, tail lamps, side reflectors, parking brake and rearview mirror(s).  You must also display a slow moving vehicle sign.
• Proof of liability insurance on the golf cart will be required at registration.
• Passengers are limited to the seating capacity of the cart.  (Nobody can hang off the sides, stand on back or ride on roof)
• Golf carts can only be driven by licensed drivers. A stiff penalty and/or possible confiscating of cart if violated. 
• The Committee will recommend that Council consider allowing all golf carts to be driven on the beach and to amend the Beach Access Plan.

Register and Vote: Jerry Mohn stressed the need for members to register and vote here in Galveston. Weekend property owners can have one spouse vote here and the other can vote where they permanently reside.

Susan Gonzales, Recording Secretary