WEST GALVESTON ISLAND PROPERTY OWNER'S ASSOCIATION

MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

Jerry Mohn, President, called the Board of Directors meeting of the West Galveston Island POA to order at 9:00 a.m. The meeting was held at the Galveston Country Club on March 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; Peggy Zahler – Spanish Grant Beach; Joe Goeters – Acapulco Village; Rich Heilberg – Pointe San Luis; and, James 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 the Mayor of Jamaica Beach, Vic Pierson, and Bill Hyneck, Parks Board Trustee. Also, introduced were Corporate Sponsors Vic Pierson of Moody National Bank and Bert Fein of Sand ‘N Sea Realtors.

The minutes were reviewed. Upon motion duly made by Wanda Greer and seconded by Peggy Zahler, the following resolution was unanimously adopted.

RESOLVED THAT, the Board approved the February minutes.

Al Birdwell gave the financial report. The cash balance is $13,000 and expenses for the month were for American Shore & Beach and Insurance. The annual statements for 2005 dues were mailed. Upon motion duly made by Bill Moll and seconded by Wanda Greer, the following resolution was unanimously adopted.

RESOLVED THAT, the Board approved the financial report.

Program: Trust for Public Land “Starvation Cove and Other West End Projects”

Jerry Mohn introduced Linda Shead who manages the Trust for Public Land (“TPL”) in Southeast Texas.

The Trust for Public Land was formed in 1972 in San Francisco. The Trust for Public Land conserves land for people to enjoy parks, gardens, and other natural places, ensuring livable communities for generations to come.

Land Protection – Why does the TPL care about land protection? Because:

• Open Space Promotes Community Health
• Supports healthy lifestyles
• Offers recreational opportunities
• Preserves our cultural and historic heritage
• Prevents youth crime
• Safeguards the environment
• Prevents flood damage

Open Space Promotes Economic Development

•    Attracts investment – biggest amount of business growth comes from small business owners
•    Draws businesses & retirees
•    Enhances real estate values
•    Revitalizes cities
•    Boosts tourism

Open Space Promotes Nature Tourism

•    Tourism is the world’s largest industry, 3^rd in Texas
• Nature Tourism -- Second fastest growing sector in tourism. To be successful, Attractions should have six (6) hours of entertainment with no more than twenty minute intervals – this causes overnight stays.
  
  Makeup
  • 50/50 male/female with 45 years age and older
  • 82% are college graduates
  • Travel in packs
  • 50% are families and 50% are couples
  • Spend $1000 to $1500 per trip

Lower Galveston Bay Watershed – 600 square miles

• Hub of the Southeast Texas universe
• Largest bay system in Texas – 600 square miles
• Largest metropolitan area in Texas
• Wealth of natural resources
• Dearth of public access

Southeast Texas’s Ecological Hub – Galveston Bay provides

• 1/2 of the recreational fishing effort
• 2/3 of state’s oyster harvest
• 1/3 of state’s shrimp harvest
• 1/4 of the crab catch
• 3/4 of the nation’s bird species during the year

Southeast Texas’s Economic Hub

• One of nation’s largest recreational boating fleets
• One-half of chemical production
• One-third of oil refining capacity
• Second largest U.S. port (first in foreign tonnage)
• Nation’s largest medical center
• Major space center

Galveston Bay -

• Texas loses one (1) million acres in five years to development; the size of Harris County
• Houston is the fourth largest metropolitan area around the Bay
• Average park acreage in 25 Texas bay cities is less than 10 acres per 1,000 population
• Less than 1% of historic prairies remaining
• 20% of emergent wetlands lost and 90% of sea grasses gone

Galveston Bay Land Conservation Initiative - a program to assist local governments around Galveston Bay in providing public enjoyment and access to the Bay and its tributaries, while conserving wetlands and other special habitats for water quality protection and wildlife.

How Does the TPL do their work

STEP 1. A. Defining the Vision - Concepts

• Communicate the value of open space
• Set conservation program goals
• Identify land protection targets
• Build public support
• Make program recommendations

B. Defining the Vision - Practice

• Conduct workshops & trainings
• Hold stakeholder meetings in sub-watersheds
• Create open space agendas
• Develop formal green printing

STEP 2. Securing the Funds – Concepts and Practice

• Federal funding sources – CWPPRA, NAWCA, CELCP
• State funding sources – TPWD, CMP
• Local – local incentive – bond issues, sales tax
• Private – foundations and individuals
  
  $2.8 million were obtained for Starvation Cove through the above sources.

Protecting the Land - Concepts

• Determine acquisition and protection methods
• Acquire the lands or easements on the lands
• Transfer land to public agency partners for long-term stewardship and public enjoyment

Protecting the Land – Practice. (Projects to date)

• Buffalo Bayou – 10 acre project
• Sims Bayou
• Spring Gully – 300 acre Project (part detention & part to save woodlands)
• Armand Bayou
• Clear Creek –City of Webster – Greenbelt Park
• Hitchcock Prairie – 2500 – 3000 acres of coastal prairie
• Galveston Island – part in Starvation Cove and other areas on Galveston Island

 Austin Legislative

State Representative Craig Eiland submitted HB 2128, the CEPRA Bill that seeks 16 funding sources for $32 million per biennium.

HB 1117 filed by Craig Eiland, amends CEPRA to allow use of innovative technology in shore protection projects designed or engineered to reduce beach scour and also demonstration projects. This would involve a “ProTecTube” project.

SB 740 filed by Kyle Janek. This Bill is designed to deal primarily with Treasure Island and establishes the line of vegetation for a particular shore protection structure that interrupts the natural line of vegetation.

SB 1044 filed by Kyle Janek and HB 2946 filed by Craig Eiland is the Coastal Protection & Improvement Bill, which will provide funds for shoreline restoration projects out of the State’s share of hotel/motel taxes collected in the first tier of Texas coastal counties. These funds can be used as the local match for major Federally approved projects.

HB 1640 filed by Craig Eiland involves a 10% surcharge on Windstorm insurance policies to pay for removal of structures on the beach and private attorney’s can be used.

HB 592 filed by State Senator Mike Jackson. This Bill creates a Gulf Coast Legislative Working Group and a Multi-state Gulf Coast Legislative Working Group.

Motion duly made by Sidney McClendon and seconded by Al Birdwell, the following resolution was unanimously adopted.

RESOLVED THAT, the Board approved to support Bills HB1117, SB740, SB1044, HB1640 and HB592.

Parks Board

Jerry Mohn stated that there is a Parks Board position open and that Jeri Kinnear has applied for that position. The WGIPOA would like to see a West Ender on the Parks Board since we make up 37% of the City tax base and Jeri Kinnear is very well qualified. Motion duly made by Sidney McClendon and seconded by Joe Goeters, the Board adopted the following resolution.

RESOLVED THAT, the Board agrees that Jeri Kinnear be recommended as a candidate for the Parks Board position.

Trash

More trash pick up is needed on the beach. The Board will lobby the City to get more money for the Parks Board.

American Shore & Beach Preservation Association

(“ASBPA”) meeting was held March 9-11 in Washington DC and was a great success. The resolution adopted at the February 19 meeting plus similar ones from the City, County, Jamaica Beach, Parks Board, B9olivar, Brazoria County, MUD Boards, and Cameron and Nueces Counties, were given and discussed with various legislative aides and legislators during the conference.

The OMB (Office of Management and Budget) of the President’s budget office recommends recreational shoreline restoration projects be removed from WRDA. The ASBPA advises to ignore the OMB and to contact the Congress representatives to include shoreline restoration projects, $150 million under the WRDA Bill. The WGIPOA was a sponsor for the conference and sponsored a portion of the Guidry News Service coverage of the conference. Notes of the meeting will be available on the WGIPOA website.

The ASBPA approved during the conference the formation of the Texas Chapter of the ASBPA with Jerry Mohn as the President. The Texas Chapter Board will consist of all 12 Texas coastal counties as well as 6 indirect coastal counties that border Gulf Bays and estuaries such as Harris County. The purpose of the Texas Chapter of the American Shore & Beach Preservation Association is to preserve, restore, and protect the shorelines of the Texas Coast for future generations to enjoy by bringing together individuals, coastal professionals and academics, property owners, government entities, and groups in finding solutions. The goals of the Texas Chapter of the American Shore & Beach Preservation Association will be to encourage and educate the public and various levels of government on the importance of the Texas shoreline in terms of economic, environmental, social, and aesthetic values. In addition, the Texas Chapter will actively support the ASBPA’s legislative efforts with the Federal Government and will work with other State associations in searching for solutions and funds for shoreline restoration projects.

The Texas ASBPA Chapter along with the Galveston County Beach Erosion Task Force, the Brazoria County Task Force, and a group from Louisiana called PACE (Parishes Against Coastal Erosion) would hold a one day conference in June in Galveston with Federal and State Legislators from Texas and Louisiana.

The Board gave appreciation to Jerry Mohn for his many efforts, hard work and for going to Washington for the WGIPOA.

“Earthbond”

Discussion was held on the “Earthbond” project. website: www.earth-bond.com. A test was attempted on the beach of the product but was stopped by the City of Galveston. The product could be used on the dunes to hold the sand, on hike and bike trails, and road beds. The product is biodegradable under ultraviolet light. The product has been used on a runner trail in Memorial park in Houston. Cost is $1.04 per square meter for containers and less than $.80 per square meter for bulk shipments. Cost for a demonstration project would be approximately $300 which would include an area of 2 meters wide by 6 meters long.

There being no further business to come before the Board and Members the meeting was adjourned at 11:10 a.m.