WEST GALVESTON ISLAND PROPERTY OWNER'S ASSOCIATION

MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

Peggy Zahler, called the Board of Directors meeting for the West Galveston Island POA to order at 9:05 a.m. Directors making up the quorum were, Louis Conrad – Bermuda Beach; Sidney McClendon – Pirates Beach; Tom Booth – Condominiums; Clay Lewis of the Sportsman Road POA; Mike McCully – Pointe San Luis, and Peggy Zahler – Spanish Grant Beach. Susan Gonzales – CKM Property Management and Recording Secretary. Marty Baker – Pirates Beach and Advisory Committee was also in attendance.

In attendance was District 6 City Council member, Dianna Puccetti; Eddie Janek – former County Commissioner, Vic Pierson – Mayor Jamaica Beach, Jeri Kinnear – Galveston Parks Board of Trustee Chair, and Brandon Wade – Assistant City Manager of Galveston and Tom Linton – President of Friends of Galveston State Park. Also in attendance was State Senator Kyle Janek, and Juan Pena – City of Galveston Council Member.

MINUTES: Minutes of the July meeting were sent by email and reviewed by the Board. Upon motion duly made by Clay Lewis and seconded by Tom Booth, the following resolution was adopted by unanimous vote.

RESOLVED THAT, the minutes of July meeting were approved as presented.

FINANCIAL REPORT Peggy Zahler gave the financial report. Total income as of August 1, 2007 is $26,712.06. Upon motion duly made by Sidney McClendon and seconded by Clay Lewis, the following resolution was adopted by unanimous vote.

RESOLVED THAT, the financial report was approved as presented.

City Council Report: City Council member Dianna Puccetti stated that even though the storm did not hit we have the potential of high tides. Some areas of FM 3005 could be covered with water. GEOC opened; hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., phone number 409-765-3710. The concerns for the west end, due to the heavy rains, trees have come down the beaches from rivers. The Parks Board has been cutting up the trees and moving them to a landfill.

The most flood prone area is 7 1/2 Mile Road to 7 Mile Road. If an evacuation is called and once the deadline is past, water service is cut off by the City of Galveston to prevent back flow. Re-entry to Galveston will be announced on the TV and the radio stations. The sticker system is no longer used. What is required is a Texas Drivers License with a Galveston address, and /or a Galveston water bill that shows you are a Galveston property owner.

Coast Guard and Marine Division of Sheriffs Dept. monitor the water ways to assure limited access. After a storm Monday trash service will occur. Debris contractors will be out to pick storm debris by the City of Galveston. The City will be on location to issue emergency permits for storm repairs.

The Marquette request will not occur on August 23, 2007. The September 13^th Council meeting – part of Marquette request was to come to the City, but this is pending.

Dr. Anderson made a presentation to the City Council. From this potential Ordinance for mitigation by Developers will be enacted.

Real Estate Statistics – Alice Melott stated that single family sales price from 2006 to 2007 increased by 4%. Over the past five years there has been a 14% increase. Alice stated we are in a buyers market.

Galveston Police Department – Dive Team Presentation

• The Galveston police department has had a Dive Team since the 1970’s
• Chief Freddie Poor made the Dive Team official in 1992 after the Team recovered the vehicle and body of a drowned nursing student from the waters behind the U.T.M.B. Hospital.

Training

• In the beginning the Dive Team received no formal training.
• When Chief Freddie Poor made the Team Official we received six training days a year.
• The Team also was able to send Divers to train with the Houston Police Department Dive Team and the Texas Department of Public Safety Dive Team.
• Since that time the Team has received Training from the following Agencies or organizations: Texas Department of Public Safety Dive Team, Houston Police Department Dive Team, Dive Rescue International, Inc., Life Guard Systems, Inc., The U.S. Army 5^th Special Forces Combat Divers, The U.S. Army Military Police School- Special Operations Response Team, and Department of Homeland Security.

Advanced Dive Training from the Texas Department of Public Safety Dive School in Lake Travis.

Equipment

• Initially Team Members were required to furnish their own Dive Gear.
• Thanks to the generous donations from the community the Team has been able to purchase a limited amount of gear. Team Members are still required to furnish most of their own gear.
• The Department has begun supporting the Team with equipment purchases when the budget allows.

Donated Equipment

• Members of the Citizen’s Police Academy have donated a topside Communications system, two dry suits, two Buoyancy Compensators, an AGA full face mask with U/W Communications and assorted other gear.
• Anderwald’s wrecker service donated a vehicle recovery system.

Addition of the Marine Unit

• In 2001 Chief Robert Pierce increased the Dive Team’s responsibilities to include a Marine Unit.
• Chief Pierce added five Officers to the Dive Team to accomplish this added duty. This brought the authorized strength of the Team to twenty Officers.
• Sergeant. Tim Galvan, who was instrumental in forming the Marine Unit, was appointed the Marine Sergeant by Chief Pierce.
• The name of the Team was changed to the Galveston Police Department Marine/Dive Team.

Team Organization

• Due to Department Manpower issues the Team was down sized 15 member and performs as both the Marine Unit and Dive Team
• The Dive Team is commanded by Lt. Walter Braun

Dive

• To safely conduct dive operations we must have the following personnel on site.
• A Dive Site Commander, a Dive Master, a Recorder, a Primary diver, a Safety Diver, a 90% Diver, and a Tender.

Mission of the Dive Team

• The primary mission of the Dive Team is the location, documentation, and recovery of evidence located underwater.
• The Dive Team has also trained to perform waterborne insertions/extractions for surveillance purposes necessary for Narcotics and SWAT operations.
• The Marine/Dive Team has also assumed a Homeland Security Mission by performing Hull searches on ships for Explosives or Narcotics. As well as searching piers and docks for explosives or terrorist.
• The Marine/Dive Team also provides water side security for U. S. Naval vessels when their in our port.

The Galveston Police Department Dive Team has preformed missions for the following agencies: Galveston Police Department, United States Customs Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, The United States Coast Guard, The United States Navy, The Texas City Police Department, The Galveston County Auto-Crimes Task Force, The Lamarque Police Department, The Dickinson Police, and NASA

Dive Team Operations include assisting the Galveston County Auto-Crimes Task Force in the 2004 @ Hall’s Bayou, the Submerged Vehicle Flagship Pier, the Pier Clearing for USS Carter Hall, the Pier Clearing for the USS Trenton, Submerged Vehicle Recovery -99^th Street, Submerged Vehicle Recovery - Ferry Landing, and Vehicle Recovery 89^th Street

What happens when your vehicle drives in to the water - Three Easy Steps to Survive - Common Myths and the Truth

Air Pocket

• Myth: There is a pocket of trapped air in a submerged vehicle that the occupants can breathe while they plan their escape.
• Truth: Once a vehicle is completely submerged all air is forced out of the vehicle. The air is forced through the rear seat and out the trunk.

Wait for the vehicle to sink to the bottom then escape

• Myth: If you wait for the vehicle to sink to the bottom the external/ internal pressures will equalize and you can open the door to escape.
• Truth: Vehicles that sink in water deeper than the length of the vehicle turn upside down. With today’s vehicle design this would render most doors inoperative.

Wait for the vehicle to sink to the bottom then escape

• Damage to the vehicle may prevent you from opening the door, sitting on the bottom holding your breath is not the time or place to get this bit of news.
• You could be injured, scared even panicked, your passengers as well. This is not the time to try an escape.
• Damage to the vehicle may prevent you from opening the door, sitting on the bottom holding your breath is not the time or place to get this bit of news.
• You could be injured, scared even panicked, your passengers as well. This is not the time to try an escape.
• Mud on the bottom blocking the door.

Wait for the vehicle to sink to the bottom then escape

• How long can you really hold your breath?
• Run about fifty yards as hard as you can, then see how long you can hold your breath!
• Holding your breath adds to the panic, which decreases you though processing and motor skills.

How to Survive!

The three steps to survival

Vehicle Float Time

• Most vehicles float form One to Four MINUTES!
• This is when you escape. While the vehicle is still on the surface.

First- Un-buckle your seat belt.

• How does your seat belt buckle work?
• The releases on seat belt buckles vary from manufacture to manufacture. How many times have you had to fumble with the buckle? Pay attention to how yours un-buckles.
• This is true even if you’re not in your own vehicle.

Roll Down your Window

• Roll your window down as soon as you get your seat belt un-buckled.
• Yes your electric windows will work! Unless the battery was destroyed in the crash.

Climb out of the window

• Get out of the vehicle.
• Swim to safety

Simple as 1,2,3!

Homeland Security and Duties

• The Search of ship’s Hulls for Explosives
• The Search of ship’s hulls for narcotics
• The Clearing (searching) Piers/Docks for terrorist and or explosives.
• Waterborne surveillance- insertion/extraction
• Waterborne Ship Security

Underwater Search of Ships Hulls for Explosives/Narcotics

• Since 1990’s the Galveston police Department Dive Team has conducted ship’s hull searches on ships entering the Galveston Wharves.
• These searches were at the request of U.S. Customs, Drug Enforcement Administration or the U.S. Coast Guard. Theses searches concentrated on Drug interdiction.

Ships Hull Searches

• Most ships that the Galveston Police Department Dive Team has preformed hull searches on have been cargo/banana ships from Central and South America.
• The Galveston Police Department Dive Team has also conducted hull searches on ocean going commercial shrimping/fishing vessels.

Ship’s Hull searches for explosives

• The Galveston Police Department Dive Team received training for conducting hull searches from the U.S. Army 5^th Special Forces Combat Divers.
• The Combat Diver’s crest has been added to our logo to show our appreciation & respect to the Combat Divers and to show our commitment to our mission.

Waterborne Surveillance

• The Galveston Police Department Dive Team can conduct surveillance via waterborne insertion/extraction for the purpose of narcotics investigation, SWAT situations and Home Land Security.

Waterborne surveillance

• The Dive Team received training in theses techniques from the U.S. Army 5^th Special Forces Combat Divers and the U.S. Army Military Police School (SRT School)

Sterling Chemical Security Evaluation

The Request

• Shortly after 9-11 the United States took a closer look at internal security. Sterling Chemical did more that just look they took action!
• Sterling asked the Dive Team to attempt to infiltrate their Texas City facility.
• Chief Robert Pierce granted the Team permission and of course all Law Enforcement agencies in the area (State, Local and Federal) were advised.

The Plan

• The Dive Team was to infiltrate the Plant, place simulated explosives, and extract undetected.
• The Dive Team was divided into three Teams. Two would infiltrate, over land, and the third would infiltrate via water.
• The Teams carried a total of 25 pounds of C-4 explosive, several hand grenades and 300 yards of det-cord, all simulated of course!!

The Plan

• Of course Sterling Security and all employees were notified of the date and approximate time of the evaluation.
• The Team used only information that was available to the public in the planning of the mission.
• Maps and satellite photographs of the plant were obtained from the internet ( Map Quest)

Results

The Team infiltrated the Plant, undetected and inflected the following damage: Destroyed the following objects using the simulated C-4 and Det Cord, Benzene tank (1000,000+ gallons), Styrene tank (100,000 + gallons), Hydrogen Tank (100,000+ gallons) and Ammonia Tank (2,000,000 gallons).

• Electrical feeds
• Water feeds to fire fighting equipment
• Electrical Control Panels
• Booby traps two bridges (inside the Plant) that fight fighters would use to get to the burning tanks. These booby traps would destroy the bridge when the Fire Trucks were on it.
• "Stole" a company pick up truck.
• "captured" an operator
• "Stole" uniforms, hard hats etc from the locker room
• All of this in approximately one hour and completely undetected!

Sterling’s response

• Sterling dramatically increased plant security to include state of the art surveillance and detection equipment.

Space Shuttle Columbia Recovery Operation - Toledo Bend, Texas - February 1,2003- March 22,2003

The Mission

• Search the waters of Toledo Bend Reservoir for debris of the Space Shuttle Columbia

Galveston Police Department Dive Team

• Conducted over 300 dives
• Water depths to 75 feet
• Conducted sonar operation for Approximately 10 Days prior to commencing dive Operations.
• Recovered one of the two pieces of Shuttle debris located in Toledo Bend.

Others they have handled: Luke’s Aggravated Robbery/Capital Murder, Missing Duck Hunter - North Trinity Bay

There being no further business to come before the Board the meeting was adjourned at 11:45 AM.

Susan Gonzales

Acting Secretary