WEST GALVESTON ISLAND PROPERTY OWNER'S ASSOCIATION

MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

March 20, 2010

West Galveston Island Property Owners Association Board of Directors Meeting was held on March 20, 2010. The meeting was called to order by Jerry Mohn, President at 9:00 a.m. and was held at the Galveston Country Club. A quorum of Directors was established by the attendance of Jeff Southard – Dunes of the West, Clay Lewis – Sportsman Road, Tom Boothe – Condo, Barbara Piersol – Spanish Grant Bay Side, Ron Coker – Bermuda Beach, Sidney McClendon – Pirates Beach, Peggy Zahler – Spanish Grant Beach, and Al Galli – Jamaica Beach. Susan Gonzales, CKM Property Management was also present as secretary.

Jerry Mohn recognized Mayor Vic Pierson of Jamaica Beach, Judge Jim Schweitzer, City Council Member Karen Mahoney, and former City Council Member Dianna Puccetti, who also is running for District 6 City Council.

Corporate sponsors are Prudential Gary Green, Johnson Space Center Credit Union, and Moody Bank

The minutes were reviewed. Motion by Peggy Zahler and seconded by Sidney McClendon, the Board approved the minutes of February 20, 2010.

The Financial reports were reviewed. Motion by Peggy Zahler and seconded by Jeff Southland, the Board accepted the financial report.

FeatherFest – Gary Anderson, President of the Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council, talked about the 8th annual FeatherFest event from April 8-11 In Old Galveston Square. Check the website for details. www.galveston.featherfest.com.

Lt. Henry Porretto spoke on Community Policing with the Galveston Police Department.

GARM Program – Gordon stated call GARM if there is a problem with a rental home.

Census 2010 – Please complete your census and return as soon as possible.

Golf Cart Ordinance – Kathie Hayes – You can go on-line, registration starts March 31. The Ordinance goes into effect May 1, 2010. The Ordinance was separated into East & West end as East end had more streets and the there were other differences. Easiest to apply on-line. Golf carts are part of our life style but they are vehicles. Open container laws apply here as well. All laws affective cars affect golf carts.

Vic Pierson – election at Jamaica Beach is for three (3) aldermen. Steve Spicer is not running again. Four people are running for the three (3) positions.

Karen Mahoney stated she is not running again for city council. Karen gave a report on the City of Galveston Council District 6 Happenings. There will be 42 closings on the buyouts for the west end this week. Paid parking will start on the Strand. The City of Galveston is working on beach setbacks (Council & Planning). One of the problems in determining a beach setback for construction is there are no natural dunes since Ike wiped them out and there is no point of reference. Karen advised that on March 30 the setback issue is to be decided by Planning Commission.

Golf Cart Ordinance was finalized. Golf carts with green tags can go anywhere as they are to have signal lights and seatbelts. There will be signage clean up on west side of Pirates Beach and the city is working on getting culverts cleaned up.

Jerry Mohn introduced three candidates for Mayor: Joe Jaworski, Betty Massey and Danny Weber. Moderator was Margaret Lloyd, Board of Directors of the Jamaica Beach Improvement Committee. Margaret introduced the three candidates that showed up, Joe Jaworsky, Betty Massey, and Danny Weber. Bill Quiroga was a no show and Greg Roof advised before the meeting he was not coming.

Mayoral Candidates

Joe Jaworski – 48, 20 years married, moved here in 1995, running for Mayor, quality of life brought him to Galveston. Joe has 2 children, ages 5 & 10, Joe is concerned about Galveston and wants to make a difference. Galveston is special and needs to be treated as if it is Special

Danny Weber – Currently Mayor Protem, has an established record and has a voting record. Danny stated it is important to move forward for Galveston. Born and raised on the island. He is committed to the Island.

Betty Massey – A vision for Galveston, wants Galveston to be an American city, a place to visit, a place for a second home but a place for a home too. A place to come home to, raise a family, work and retire.

Five Questions were asked of each candidate:

  1. As Mayor, what are your top 3 priorities for the City and how do you intend to accomplish the successful disposition of these priorities?

    2. Joe Jaworski – 1st to improve the appearance of island, address liter and derelict structures, hire people to clean up. 2nd we need commuter rail to Galveston and need to do it by 2016. 3rd we need to review the City Manager every 6 months make them accountable, and have performance standards. Need to control relationship between City Council and the City Manager.

    Danny Weber – infrastructure needs to be rebuilt, must be top priority, must get money out of Federal government, 2nd diversity of economy, need more than tourism, need to get pro-business and get business and industry on island, and 3rd – City Hall and City Council needs to be more customer and business friendly.

    Betty Massey – 1st rebuild city and infrastructure, we live on a sand bar, 2nd – rebuild our population, address home reconstruction, reestablish neighborhoods and recreation – why do people take their tax money across the bridge, 3rd – need to diversify the economy of the island , there are commercial opportunities, need to partner with those opportunities.

  2. What do you believe are the major issues associated with the West End? Please discuss how you will address these issues.

    3. Danny Weber – infrastructure is major issue, address it by prioritizing the issues. Unity on the west end and work for one common goal. Need to have retention/protection systems that work on this island.

    Betty Massey – infrastructure is a major issue, redo of 1988 land use map for City of Galveston, beach access plan needs to be monitored to assure it is working; we need to develop a bay access plan.

    Joe Jaworski – Top priority is a retention plan – no 1 priority for city council is to have a retention plan we are investing in sand we need to protect it. Infrastructure, if City of Galveston cleaned streets, cleaned out culverts, and sewer we will have more population. Need to politically upgrade council need better representation of the west end. Need at large representation.

  3. What are the major distinctions between you and the other candidates, which would make you the best Mayor for Galveston? Please explain in detail.

    4. Betty Massey – Not running against the other candidates, but am running for mayor. I am a women, motivation, have never run for an office before, nothing to prove, running for the good of Galveston, have a multifaceted background, unity I can bring unity to the island.

    Joe Jaworski – 6 years on the City Council 2000-2006, got things done and did not embarrass the city. Mayor needs to have a good energy level to represent the City, State or nationally. I am an attorney and represent a diverse cliental.

    Danny Weber – Not running against, each on our own platform. Have been on the City Council for the last 6 years. Totally committed to the Island. Danny@DannyWeber.com

  4. Do you favor gambling on Galveston Island or West Galveston Island? Please explain your position.

    5. Joe Jaworski – Doesn’t believe we need gambling to survive, he would vote no, but believes it will pass. If the islands vote for it we will need to zone it properly. Keep it in town.

    Danny Weber – Gambling is enviable, I favor it and foresee it coming to Galveston. Need to take our heads out of the sand and face it. We see billions going to other States.

    Betty Massey – Galveston has not had an educated communication since the 80’s. 1st we need to know is it healthy for our needs, we need to be educated. It is coming. Educate ourselves before its here, if we chose for it where would it be locate it.

  5. Question from the attending Members: If the Marquette requests for re-zoning; High Rise construction and the entire Marquette Plan were to come to City Council again after you take office, knowing what we now know about the project, would you vote yes or no?

    6. Danny Weber – Yes – they need a level playing field, they did what was asked of them.

    Betty Massey – I am not as educated on this, but if faced with vote, I would vote yes, as long as it met framework of comprehensive plan of 2001.

    Joe Jaworski – would have voted against it, need to let developers know where they stand before they start the program. Need to focus east. Hi-rise is too much, needs to be in relationship to the land.

  6. Question from the attending members: After Ike do you favor or oppose a levee project that protects Galveston from storm surge

    7. Betty Massey – three island protection projects (levee for east, Ike dike, use natural defense system) the levee system is being studies, Ike dike taken on by 6 County Commissioners, not enough information whether for protection at this time. Betty agrees with studying these first and stands behind a protection system.

    Joe Jaworski – Yes, tell me more, a levee would be less than the Ike dike, yes I would like to see something that stops the water from flooding the island. Now is the time to act and city council needs to be an active part is some type of system. We need to be an active player.

    Danny Weber – absolutely yes, we need something a levee, Ike dike, sand bags, etc. We have got to do something to protect this island. Which ever which one is affordable and less evasive is what we need to do. We study, study, study and never get anything done.

  7. Question from the attending members: What is your position on the function and the need to follow the comprehensive plan?

    8. Joe Jaworski – I was on the City Council when the Comprehensive Plan was passed. The plan is up for renewal, but the current number is strong and has been so for 10 years. Density – comfortable for 8 stories but not higher for the west end.

    Danny Weber – favors many of them, agrees with the need to check the density, 4 houses per acre, need to look at density for the areas that it applies to. Height – Galvestonians should be telling us what they want.

    Betty Massey – west end is part of the plan, it took 2 years to write, and revisions are being drafted. The principles respecting natural resources are standing and not changing. Supports keeping plan in place.

  8. Question from the attending members: Vision of Metro rail for Galveston

    9. Danny Weber – rail from Houston to Galveston is critical it will come down to cost, All the players need to be at the table with a check book along with the federal government. The rail is going to have 9 stops and go through two counties. We need to make this a reality.

    Betty Massey – commuter rail has the strongest argument, 7 day a week with island visitors and workers. We need to take an active and aggressive role.

    Joe Jaworski – make commuter rail Houston to Galveston a reality by 2016. Galveston is the place people want to go. We need to make this a reality.

  9. Restatement of question: What is your vision for metro rail on the island?

Joe Jaworski – not needed, it is a walkable island, putting rails on the island is not his priority.

Betty Massey – not needed, need a transit system not a rail system on the island. But yes to on and off the island.

Danny Weber – agrees putting a rail system across the island not a priority of his. Need an improved transportation system but not an intra-city rail system. System guided by rider ship, and it has not been supported.

Closing statements by Candidates:

Betty Massey – Heard a lot of good issues discussed to day, to critical leadership and changing the cultural of how the city does business. Need to elect a Mayor who puts Galveston first, who is unified, determined and focused. I have worked on projects that are open and behind the scenes. Leadership and change in culture is key in this campaign.

Danny Weber – election is not about us, the election is about you, which of us do you want to take into the city. My future is here. It is time for Galvestonians to take Galveston into the future; we need to embrace it and move forward.

Joe Jaworski – I was born in Houston, but my children were born here. Galveston is my home, where my business is, where I pay property taxes, buy my food, drive the streets, where I get upset when I see liter. My ambition is to do something about it, the island is gorgeous our problems are man made. Galveston needs a Mayor who can fix these issues.

Please vote on May 8th.

The meeting adjourned at 10:44 a.m.

Susan Gonzales, Recording Secretary