03-27-06 Regular Called Meeting of La Porte Development Corporation Minutes

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Battleship Texas Alert - April 19, 2006 Econot~Alliance MQuna" Port R.gion Background from 2005 3 Options Alliance Perspective and 2005 Actions Something we have just learned What you can do The Battleship Texas is in need of millions of dollars worth of hull repair if it is to remain floating at the San Jacinto Battleground. There are three options available to repair the ship. Dry Dock - · This is similar to what was done in 1988 at a cost of $15 million (1988 dollars). · Problem - there is no viable dry dock in Galveston and no assurances that the ship will endure a long expensive tow to a floating dry dock facility in Port Arthur or Pascagoula, Mississippi. Dry Berth Option - In a cradle in hole in the around · Option requires pulling the ship out of the slip for two years, creating a hole with cradle that can be dewatered. · Problem - 2003 - Estimated cost to create graving dock is $24 million. This does not include hull repairs and the ship will need to float for future renovations. · This option could expose the ship to sinking. The hole in which the ship rests could flood in even the smallest of hurricanes, and afterward would require high cost maintenance. It is, in effect, digging a 40 foot hole less than 100 feet from the ship channel. Dry Berth Option - In a cradle at around level · This option will lift the ship out of the water, place it on a cradle, should provide an awesome sight, eliminate the need for hull repairs, make it "Hurricane Surge Proof' and should still be an attraction during construction. · The cost has been estimated within the money allocated by TxDOT. Alliance member Ed Matuszak has volunteered to provide more engineering estimates to validate this assumption. · The Alliance communities, in concert with our federal and state delegation, the San Jacinto Museum, our Project Stars team, and Precinct 2, gave muscle to the Battleship Foundation to strongly advocate for a dry berth option in a cradle at ground level solution. Our city mayors wrote letters, and our executive members spent many hours in Austin sharing our concerns with legislators. We responded stronGlv. especiallv when we learned that a sUGGestion to move the Battleship awav from our reGion had been introduced to Texas Parks and Wildlife. · Besides saving our hard-earned tax dollars through a permanent solution, a dry berthed ship above ground would allow utilities to be provided to the ship. It will ultimately enhance the grand ship as a tourist attraction that should fit nicely in the overall Project Stars Master Plan for the area. · It was our understanding at the end of 2005 through personal conversations that the Infrastructure Division of TPWD also supported dry berthing the ship. · There are indications that in spite of the advantages of dry berthing the ship in a cradle at ground level, the Infrastructure Division of Texas Park and Wildlife Division (TPWD) may be proposing the other dry berthing option. · We will have the opportunity to question their approach at an upcoming public meeting to be held in La Porte - see next paragraph. · The local Alliance communities, when united, carry political clout. We support the Dry Berth Option - In a cradle at around level, unless this approach is found "not feasible" from an engineering standpoint. We contend that dry berthing the ship on top of the ground (as opposed to being placed in a hole) appears to be the most protective solution with the most tourist attraction benefits. Please attend the public meeting to share our voice on Tuesday, April 25 at 6:00 p.m. at the Lou Lawler Seafarers' Center in Morgan's Point. (on Barbours Cut Boulevard, directly across from the Barbours Cut Port of Houston Terminal) · Don't hesitate to invite scouts, teachers and others from your community who love the ship. '-1 ) .; t- ! ,,' j,.'