GBCA Discussion Forum

https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2018/05/10/eight-bells-julie-goetschius/

Just a reminder -
One more email please!!

There was a proposal that the Commissioners pass a resolution that would prevent some variation of this from showing up in the future, but they were reluctant to commit.  Please send a last email to thank them and asking that a future resolution be considered.
It only takes a minute.

http://ourgalvestonbay.com/take-action/

Thank you so much *everyone* for helping make this happen.

News from HYC:

Recently I wrote you that the Port Commissioners were meeting today to discuss among other things the Permit Application for the Marsh/Island.  I am pleased to report that the Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the recommendation to remove the proposed Marsh/Island from the permit application.  This is the outcome we were looking for!  There is more work to do as we follow the amendment and remaining permitting process through the USACE.  Over the course of the last eight months we have established a productive dialogue with Port Commissioners, Staff and numerous officials at the local, state and federal level.  These relationships will benefit us in the future as we work cooperatively in evaluating future developments. 

This is an extremely important outcome for Houston Yacht Club and it members, as well as, the communities that line upper Galveston Bay and those who cherish the area.  I would like to thank those of you who came to the meeting today and all of you that have been part of the active public awareness campaign.  I would especially like to thank the Committee that worked so hard to ensure that our interests were appropriately represented; V/C Bob Wright, R/C Nancy Edmonson P/C's James Liston and Tony Nunes, Trustee Paul Frances, Larry Wise, Ed Matuzak, Charles and Vivian Griffey.  Thank you so much!       

Patrick Gibson - Commodore
Houston Yacht Club

Some good news!
Big Thanks to everyone who sent letters and emails!

POHA withdraws ?BU Marsh? as a disposal option

The Port Commission, at its August 15, 2012 meeting, direct the withdrawal of DMP Alternative 2, New Beneficial Use Marsh, as a disposal alternative pursuant to United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Permit Application SWG-2011-01183 for Bayport Ship Channel (BSC) improvements, authorize the Executive Director to respond to USACE and public comments to such application consistently with such direction, and further authorize the Executive Director to do any and all things in his opinion reasonable or necessary to give effect to the foregoing.

more details at:  http://ourgalvestonbay.com/2012/08/15/poha-withdraws-bu-marsh-as-a-disposal-option/

Issue 2
The Authority Lacks a Proactive Public Engagement Strategy Necessary to Improve Stakeholder Trust

From the sunset reviews findings on this issue:
Beyond the recent events that have eroded public trust in the Authority and
led to general skepticism about its operations, discussed elsewhere in this
report, specific issues related to the Authority?s relationship with neighboring
communities and other stakeholders were also apparent during the Sunset
review.  This tension is exemplified by the ongoing controversy over the
Authority?s handling of a permit application to dredge the channel near its
Bayport facilities.  Public concern about permitting processes for a project
of this magnitude is not surprising, but issues regarding its Bayport facilities
are one area where the Authority has professed to have learned some lessons
about community involvement from its past experience, which led to palpable
disenchantment in the community.  Ongoing controversy regarding the
Authority?s operations at the Bayport facility indicates relations between the
Authority and these communities are still tense and require attention.

Update from HYC:

Just a quick update on the dredge disposal proposal under consideration by the Port of Houston and the US Army Corps of Engineers. As of July 24th the Port of Houston has not received a complete file of the comments submitted to the Corps by the July 5th deadline. Upon receiving and reviewing the comments the Port Staff will be preparing a recommendation on the path forward to the Port Commission. It is likely that this recommendation will be on the Port Commission agenda at the regular August 28th meeting. As I have previously reported, we are optimistic that the recommendation will be to eliminate the new disposal location out of the permit application and the Port will focus on the existing permit areas. In the meantime the Port Commission continues to receive comments from interested parties. The committee we have in place continues its work in raising awareness with elected officials and other key stakeholders. More information can be found at www.ourgalvestonbay.com.

No news yet on the Port of Houston's decision on the Bayport disposal plans. 

There is a commissioners meeting tomorrow which makes it a good time to remind them that the community is opposed to it.  Whether you sent a letter already or not - send an email to the port commissioners and county commissioners today.

There is a click, sign, and send template at:
http://ourgalvestonbay.com/email-the-port-commissioners/

On the page is also a longer template if you want to copy and paste from it to add more detail.

Thanks!

Update from HYC:


Thanks to everyone who has already written letters and help spread the word on this important issue facing HYC and Galveston Bay. The swell of opposition to dredge spoil disposal in Upper Galveston Bay is growing, and progress is being made with the Port Commission and other officials who can help prevent this travesty on our Bay.

The comment period deadline is approaching and we need to make sure the Corps and the TCEQ understand the magnitude of the opposition. While the comment deadline is July 5, remember the July 4 holiday and get your letters in early.
Please, this week we need each of you to:
Write letters to the Corps and TCEQ expressing your concerns. Please try to personalize your letter as much as possible so that the Corps and TCEQ understand the personal stake each of us has in this project.
Send a copy of your Corps/TCEQ letter to the Port Commissioners or write them a special letter asking them to eliminate dredge spoil disposal in Upper Galveston Bay from the Port of Houston's Bayport dredging project. The Port Commissioners can solve this problem.
Keeping spreading the word to friends, neighbors, fellow boaters, and other concerned citizens about this issue and how they can help.
Sample letters, as well as additional background materials, can be found at houstonyachtclub.com (OurClub/News page) and ourgalvestonbay.com. We'll keep you posted as this issue continues to develop.

Form Letters to the Corps and TCEQ are ready!

They have a couple of sections where you can personalize the letter.  Please add some of your own comments - personalized letters will carry more weight with the Corps than a form letter.

You can find them on the Take Action page: http://ourgalvestonbay.com/take-action/

Happy Letter Writing everyone!

That is great to see it up on Anarchy!  Now if we can get some of those guys to email/write letters too. 


Some new news on http://ourgalvestonbay.com/news/

La Porte and Shore Acres City Councils both come out against the proposed BU Marsh.
Any Seabrook residents available to go to tonight's meeting to urge the same thing?

Bee - Googling the Commissioners names with @poha.com turns up 2 of the commissioners emails.

Leonard D. Waterworth: lwaterworth@poha.com
James T. Edmonds: jedmonds@poha.com

Charles - if you have your email ready, maybe you can try those addresses too?

I found this contact info at http://www.deepeningportofhouston.com/contact.html

Contact:
Port of Houston Authority
Mark Vincent
deepeningportofhouston@poha.com

Also to echo what Dave said above, there isn't an adequate long term plan.  I heard the same thing at the HYC meeting - that if they manage to get this approved, they may try to create more spoil banks down the west side of the channel.

We need to voice a lot of concern now to show the port that the community doesn't want them creating these west of the channel.  And we need to show that it is more than just HYC members that are opposed to it. 

If we can raise a big stink with them now, it may prevent them from proposing this type of thing further south in the bay.

Port Of Houston Authority Commission Expresses Doubt at meeting today
http://www.guidrynews.com/story.aspx?id=1000043920

Looks like maybe we need write letters to the Port Commissioners and show them this is more than just HYC.

bumping to remind everyone about the meeting at HYC this Sunday at 12:30.

The meeting will be informational - about the project, the issues with it, and next steps. 
It is open to everyone who is interested in learning more.