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The "Natural" Line of Vegetation
Seaward of
ALL Bermuda Beach Homes
Historically speaking, the "natural line of vegetation"
has been the demarcation line between private property and public
beach. A natural line of vegetation is now growing far seaward
of ALL homes in. "Living" proof that when the beach
is left alone during the cycle of seasons and seaweed it can and
will replenish itself. The cycle has begun. The new grass will
collect blowing sand as it continues to grow taller. As the vegetation
grows so do the dunes. These natural dunes are the beneficial
to the beach because plant roots go all the way to the bottom
adding structure and stabilization.
Photographs by Bill McFarland
This photograph shows the birth of a new dune. Will the two year moratorium be long enough to naturally rebuild our beach? Will the State of Texas recognize this as THE "natural" vegetation line? Will we be lucky enough to withstand the 2004 Hurricane season without additional damage?
Raking the beach will no longer be an option. The City no longer has funds to scrape and the State and the majority of board members believe the seaweed does benefit the beach.
Please send New Business agenda topics to BBICBoard@aol.com
or telephone Kathy Love 281-438-0804
by September 15, 2004
A complete meeting agenda will be mailed to you on October 1.
The Annual Barbecue will begin shortly after the meeting and
will again be hosted by Ron and Mildred Coker.
13114 Bermuda Beach Drive.
Drinks and barbecue will be provided by BBIC. Please bring a covered
dish.
In case of rain, the luncheon will be held in the meeting room at the Best Western.
The need is critical today for our community leadership to be able to interact constructively with city, county, state and federal officials in order for us to qualify for grant money and for expertise to apply to lessening, or better yet, eliminating the ravages of beach erosion which will, if left unchecked, destroy the entire neighborhood, whether front row or back row. Our financial and emotional investments in our beach homes are in serious jeopardy. This forces us to focus on improving the way we select our community leadership.
This year, we would like to initiate a Director nominating process with the following objectives:
To seek out and interview well in advance of the Annual Meeting
members of the community who are willing to serve the
Community as Directors; who have business or civic experience
or other attributes which can be assets to the Board; and who
have enough leadership sparks to take the helm in behalf of all
of us.
Once we find these people, we cannot hog tie them for the rest of their lives so another PURPOSE; is to continually build a larger and larger reservoir of wisdom and leadership from which Director service may be recruited and rotated so that a few are not the only ones carrying the ball. Each person who has served shall remain an active part of the underpinning (like the pilings supporting our homes) of a broad base of responsible members of the community.
The Nominating Committee Chairman shall be appointed each year at the Annual Meeting by the outgoing President and charged with the duty of seeking out over the course of the ensuing year responsible candidates for election at the next Annual Meeting. The Chairman does not need to be a board member. The Chairman will interview those interested and will go over the candidate list with the current board. At each Annual Meeting the Committee Chair shall nominate a slate of candidates for directorship which it considers qualified and in the best interest of the community.
Even though this process has obvious advantages, nominations from the floor, and statement in support of those nominations, will continue to be received by the Chair.
Shoreline Protection
At the 2002 Annual Meeting a majority vote of those attending requested the BBIC to "look into" the feasibility of some kind of shoreline protection for Bermuda Beach. A report was given at the 2003 Annual Meeting as to the possible costs and how Bermuda Beach could afford such a structure. Jerry Mohn, President of the West Galveston Island Property Owners Assoc. reported that the WGIPOA and City officials were investigating the possibility of formation of a Public Improvement District (PID). This would include all areas of West Galveston Island that were interested in shoreline protection. The City is voting on their budget this week. Jerry Mohn has asked them to include $50,000 to be used as seed money to start the legal and engineering process. Bermuda Beach is at this time, forming a Shoreline Protection Committee to attend meetings and coordinate all aspects of the possible PID and make sure that whatever the shoreline protection device suggested by the engineers is in the best interest of Bermuda Beach. What works for one may not be appropriate for us. Al Birdwell will Chair the Shoreline Protection Committee. Glenna Landry will serve as an Advisory Director representing Bermuda Beach and act as the liaison between the Spanish Grant and Bermuda Beach subdivisions. Glenna has done her homework and is well versed in all forms of shore protection and has been in on the ground floor during the development of the possible PID. Advisory Directors, Carroll Cobb and Hal Shivers, will also serve on the committee. Both have served on the BBIC board and are well informed as to the needs of the community. We greatly appreciate Carroll, Glenna and Hal coming on board for the project.
Shoreline Protection will be discussed at length at the Annual Meeting. There are two sides to this coin. Both need to be investigated at length. There are numerous legal ramifications that must be reviewed, as well as engineering to see if we are even eligible. And to see where the structure could be deployed. Nothing will be done without a vote from the entire subdivision. If and when it goes to a vote it will have to pass by 51% of all property owners. One vote per property in good standing.* Spanish Grant, our neighbor to the east is also in the process of investigating the necessity and feasibility of some kind of shore protection and a means to fund the project.
One structure being considered is called a ProTecTube. Information
about this can be found at:
www.advancedcoastaltechnology.com
This device would be colored to match our sand and is deployed
in a wedge.
In the past when we have talked about shoreline protection we receive a few negative comments. We want to hear your views; however, this is a heated topic so we would appreciate it if your suggestions or objections are made in a business like and constructive way. Please remember, we are volunteers that are doing our best for the majority. Nothing can or will be done without a vote.
*Good Standing - All maintenance fees and late fees paid up to date.
WGIPOA The next meeting of the West Galveston Island Property Owners Assoc. is Saturday, August 21, 2004, at the Galveston Country Club, 14228 Stewart Road.
WGIPOA is an open meeting that meets the third Saturday of every month at 9:00 a.m. at the Galveston Country Club. For meeting agenda and past meeting minutes see www.wgipoa.com
BBIC Bermuda Beach issues and current events see: www.bermudabeachgalveston.org
BBICBoard@aol.com