July 15, 2000

The meeting of the Board of Directors of the West Galveston Island Property Owners' Association was held on July 15, 2000. The meeting was called to order by Jerry Mohn, President at 9:00 A.M. A quorum was established by the Directors present, Marty Baker, Sharon Turnley, Jerry Mohn, Sidney McClendon, Jim Steinbeck, Al Birdwell, Susan McKirahan and Dan Daigle. Directors not able to attend were Charles Caldwell, Ronnie Herrington and Peggy Rapp.

Jerry Mohn introduced city and county officials, department heads, special visitors, and the corporate sponsors.

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 17, 2000, as presented.

Jim Steinbeck, Chairperson for Emergency Response Committee, attended an Emergency Response Meeting sponsored by Jamaica Beach with a good turnout of 100 people. He stated they plan to have the next WGIPOA meeting at the new Jamaica Beach Emergency Facility on August 19th.

Sharon Turnley, Chairperson of the Utilities Committee, stated the city may include an emergency medicine service donation on the utility invoices.

Dan Daigle, Chairperson for the Insurance Committee introduced Otie Zapp, President of the Galveston Windstorm Action Committee (GWIAC). The goals are to maintain the Revitalized Texas Coastal Coalition, seek funds to support the efforts at the next upcoming Texas Legislature, and to hire a professional lobbyist to support our effective Representatives: State Representatives Pat Gray and Craig Eiland and State Senator Mike Jackson. Otie Zapp stated that the GWIAC wants to find a common ground and fight for a longer term solution. Jerry Mohn stressed the importance of supporting and contributing to the lobbyist efforts to control the insurance rates.

Jerry Mohn, "Save the Park" Committee stated there will be a meeting on July 20th, 10:00 a.m. at the State Park Building.

Marty Baker, Chairman of the Beach/Bay Committee, gave the FEMA update. They are making changes on flood insurance programs and there are some problems with what can be constructed at ground level. Marty Baker stated that the Galveston County Beach Erosion Task Force (GCBETF) meets regularly and will have a short and long term Project Cooperation Agreement with the GLO.

Sidney McClendon, Chairman of the Legislative Committee, stated there is a CEPRA agreement with Bolivar but legal action is pending to stop the placing of sand on the beach at Bolivar. West Galveston Island are seeking short term CEPRA agreements with the GLO to include a study for potential sand sources to renourish the beaches and a breakwater that begins at the Seawall. The Heinz Center report is complete and they are now working on another study concerning sand sources. Sidney McClendon stated he felt that the WGIPOA should employ a professional lobbyist.

Diana Puccetti, Council Member, stated that City Council passed as resolution to send a letter to Texas U.S. Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and Phil Graham to ask for their support of the CARA (Conservation and Reinvestment Act) Bill, which will bring money from gas and oil leases in the Gulf to coastal states for beach and bay restoration.

Tessa Duffey spoke on the "First Call," an emergency phone system. All listed phone numbers will be put in the system; if unlisted you will need to complete a form to be included. The system can pick out a subdivision and first call that subdivision only.

Monica Franke, Acting Director of Planning, City of Galveston, advised the current density patterns for multi dwelling construction will not change with the new Comprehensive Plan. In addition, the City has requested a CMP grant for $30,000 that would be used partially to develop a beach access plan for the extreme West End of Galveston Island for those subdivisions that desire to cease driving on the beach.

The WGIPOA expressed appreciation to Council Member Dianna Puccetti in her efforts to have City Council approve the City to sponsor the placement of GEOTUBES at the condominiums, West Beach Grand, Riviera I and Riviera II.

Guest speaker Colonel Nichols J. Buechler, Army Corps of Engineers (COE), is the Commander of the Galveston District, which includes 19 surrounding counties. Slides were shown of the various projects including Bird Island, Rollover Pass, and oyster reef restoration. The spoils from the dredged projects are not considered wastes but are identified as beneficial use of dredged material and used as such in restoring marshes and beaches. GEOTUBES are being used to prevent erosion at the Bolivar Marsh and in the Aransas National Park. The COE is investigating using GEOTUBES to a create barrier island at Sundown Island and Halls Lake. In some instances a "concrete articulated mat" is being used for flood control projects with the main purpose of moving water in the most efficient manner. The COE is looking at the use of GEOTUBES and filling them with dredged material at Alligator Head, also called Chocolate Bayou, to prevent erosion. An eight mile granite revetment wall was completed by the COE in 1998 at Sargent Beach to protect the Gulf from beaching the Intercoastal Canal. The COE performs shoreline erosion studies but before implementation of a project, two types of studies are necessary, a reconnaissance study and a feasibility study. A $114,000 reconnaissance study on coastal erosion is currently underway from Sabine Pass to San Luis Pass and this should be completed by March 1, 2001. If the findings justify a project, multimillion dollar feasibility studies with Federal funds will be requested and this will take 3 to 4 years to complete in which the COE expects a variety of solutions and options to consider to control erosion along the shoreline. However, Colonel Buechler cautioned that one in ten requests turn into a feasibility study. All projects are approved by Washington and funded under the Water Resource Development Act (WRDA). There could be more than one feasibility study for a project but the COE prefers only one feasibility study to reduce the costs and time. The COE has a Section 227 demonstration project (possibly a breakwater project), which there are only presently 7 in the U.S., underway in the near future from the Bolivar to Sabine Pass and this will be an opportunity to identify solutions to the erosion problems along the Texas Coast. The COE is always looking at new opportunities but they are limited by location, material availability and quality, and imagination.

The next meeting will be August 19th.

There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 11:42 a.m.

Date: July 15, 2000