MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
The WGIPOA Board of Directors held a Board meeting on September 18, 2010 at the Galveston Country Club. Jerry Mohn, President called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. A quorum of Directors was established by the attendance of Jeff Southard – Dunes of West Beach, Carolyn Farmer – Terramar Beach, Ron Coker – Bermuda Beach, Tom Boothe – Condominiums, Al Galli – Jamaica Beach Improvement Committee, Peggy Zahler – Spanish Grant Beach, Clay Lewis – Sportsman Road, and Marty Baker – Pirates Beach. Susan Gonzalez was present representing Isla del Sol and Pointe San Luis as well as the Recording Secretary.
Jerry Mohn introduced the following officials: Twila Lindblade – Legislative aide for Congressman Ron Paul, Lt Henry Porretto and Lt. Joe Caldwell of the Galveston Police Department, John Gillen and Helen Young from the GLO, and Dianna Puccetti - District 6 Council member.
Jerry Mohn recognized Corporate Sponsors of the WGIPOA: Apollo, Marie Garrett – Coastal Solutions, and Peggy Zahler – Johnson Space Center Credit Union, Sand N Sea, and Prudential Gary Greene Realty.
Jerry Mohn introduced candidates running for office: Phil Roberts – County Probate Court Judge, Barbara Roberts – County Judge Court 2, Kim Sullivan – Judge Probate Court, and Judge Jim Schweitzer.
The minutes were emailed to Directors and were reviewed. Upon motion duly made by Peggy Zahler and seconded by Tom Boothe, the Board approved the minutes for August as presented by unanimous vote.
Jerry Mohn gave the financial report. Upon motion duly made by Peggy Zahler and seconded by Tom Booth, the Board approved the financial report as presented by unanimous vote.
Community Policing and National Nite Out – Lt. Henry Porretto. 409-765-3609
Replaced about 100 lights last week. Call in anything in your neighborhood that you feel is not right. It is important to call in. Due to a call three people were arrested for drugs. Lock your call and your home.
Gordon Morse has turned GARM over to Lt. Joe Caldwell. This will provide more coverage. Call 409-682-3603 on rent house problems.
Please call in homes that need to be condemned. The will make sure they get on the list. Judge Schweitzer and Judge Kurk Sistrunk are two Judges that have really helped in being reactions quickly.
National Nite Out – time for neighborhood to have a block party. October 5, 2010. Please call Lt. Henry Porretto is you are going to have a block party so he or his officers can stop by and say hello. It is a good time to get to know your neighbor.
Master Neighborhood Plan - Jeri Kinnear: The City of Galveston wants to hear from you! We want to know how to make your subdivision or area better. Please attend one of the meetings on September 25: 9:00 AM at the Galveston Country Club and 1:30 PM at the Sea Isle Fire Station.
Dianna Puccetti – District 6 Happenings.
Very excited about the sand nourishment project. Thanked Lt Porretto and Caldwell for the work that they have done. It is important to go to the Neighborhood Nite Out meetings. Please attend.
This past Thursday the City of Galveston budget was passed. It included a tax rate increase of .554, some of the appraised values changed. The tax increase will raise 1.7 million in tax revenue. In the budget there were cuts but were some new programs. New Ordinance against Nuisance, for derelict properties/structures – the goal is to clean up the city. Every curbed street will be cleaned out. Looking at drainage improvements. Street sweepers will be reenacted. Code enforcement will be beefed up to provide a cleaner city. The Patrol division was not cut, so the same number of Officers on the West End will be the same.
Dianna Puccetti emphasized the importance of National Night Out. Be sure to participate in National Night Out.
The City of Galveston will be addressing streets without curbs to clean them out and/or dig out the ditches. This will include ditches on the west end.
Galveston Island State Park Master Plan – A meeting will be held on September 21, 2010, at TAMUG and the purpose is for the public to comment in to obtain comments in what they want to see in the Park.
Galveston Housing Authority is asking for input and to please address City Council Thursday at 4:00 PM.
General Land Office – Sand Nourishment and dune construction project.
Helen Young and John Gillen – Deputy Director of Coastal Resources.
Beach Dune System, Restoration at West Galveston Island.
The project starts at the end of the Seawall ->5.8 miles to 13 Mile Road. It is a beach and dune restoration project. Construction will proceed East to West
Project features, dune height is 5.5’, sand out 60-90ft to water line and, two sand sources South Jetty and Anchorage Basin. A hopper Dredge is used offshore. Sand will be piped onto the beach. The sand will be dark and wet for a while. Dozers will be moving sand to a specific design.
Construction will proceed East to West. It will take up to six months to complete. As work progresses the beach will be will be fenced in half-mile increments for safety.
Construction will be 24 hours 7 days a week. Use of equipment will be bulldozers during day. The sand may include clay and fragments of shell and the sand will initially be darker.
What to expect after construction? The wave action will smooth the beach from the construction template to the design template. The design template is the original design of the sand nourishment project.
As the beach is smoothed by waves, a temporary scarp (step) will form along the waters edge, scarp – a ledge. This is not permanent.
The Dune project will be planted and fenced in segments. The dune width will be 20-30’ for a 5.5’ ht. dune.
Some walkovers will be installed (3) for the project. Communities will need to install their own walkovers. The walkovers installed by communities can be wood or natural using Mobi mats.
The back toe of the dune will need to be filled in as it may hold water. A permit will need to be obtained, it was recommended to build a secondary dune.
The three ADA walkovers will be either turned over to the City of Galveston or the Galveston County Parks Board to provide maintenance and replacement.
Funding sources have come from FEMA from the public assistance and improved project. Funding also comes from 2008 CIAP from Galveston and the GLO. Funds also came from GOMESA and from CEPRA.
The project is on schedule, construction proposals were received in August and September 2010. Sand placement will begin in October and November. The dune planting will be begin in January and February 2011 and expected completion March – April 2011.
The GLO link to the presentation is also available at: http://www.glo.state.tx.us/OC/WestGalveston-Restoration.pdf
Contacts
Texas General Land Office
Ray Newby
512-475-3624
HDR Engineering
Dan Heilman
361-696-3344
Daniel Heilman
Feasibility Study – $4.4 million project, COG, Corp and Jefferson County funded the study. Cost increased to $5.2 million, Ike came and caused problems and further delays.
The Coastal Improvement Plan Bill passed, it did not have a funding source. WGIPOA is looking for a funding source. We looked at transaction fee on sales, environmental fee, etc.
San Luis Pass: Mort Voller – Scientific member of the Laffites Cove Nature Society is working on the San Luis Pass destruction of dunes – situation is that land sand or vegetated. Much can not be developed and viewed as a natural habitat. Found off road vehicles more and more bad use of property, not fisherman, not families. Trucks riding through the wetlands and dunes. Gary Poltarak on the Laffites Cove Nature Society would see this destruction every day started working on the project to protect the land. The newly formed group is working on its protection.
Next meeting will be at Moody Gardens Hotel on October 16, 2010.
Adjourned at 10:45 a.m.
Recording Secretary