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

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SAMPLE DRAFT City Council Resolution to Support the Dry Berthing of the Battleship Texas at the San Jacinto Battleground Park Whereas the Battleship Texas is the last remaining Dreadnought Class Battleship in the world, and has been berthed at the San Jacinto Battleground since 1948; and, Whereas the Battleship is a nationally dedicated museum; and, Whereas the Battleship Texas has been a local source of pride, history and a tourism attraction for that time; and, Whereas the Battleship Texas is showing signs of corrosion and aging by being berthed in the water; and, Whereas maintenance funding for the Battleship to remain in the water has been dwindling over the years; and, Whereas the Battleship's hull is in need of urgent repair; and, Whereas the Battleship Texas in its current berth presents a potential hazard to itself and the community if confronted with a "Katrina" sized hurricane event; and, Whereas Dry Berthing is deemed the best option to present and preserve this historic national and Texas monument, now therefore, Let it be it resolved that the City of requests the State of Texas Parks and Wildlife Division (TPWD) provide for the permanent Dry Berthing (lifting the ship out of the water) of the Battleship Texas at the Battleground for the following reasons: Dry Berthing is the preferred solution in that it will: · End the need for continual hull repairs · Protect the ship and the public against the effects of a major "Hurricane Katrina" (Hurricane Category V) like scenario. · Provide for an unprecedented presentation and preservation of this last remaining dreadnaught battleship while providing a "unique naval architectural look" at a warship. · Provide an equally unique "tourist magnet" to the San Jacinto Battleground, the birthplace of the Texas Republic. · Provide for a potential "1 945"context setting and a potential multipurpose amphitheater. · Permit less costly maintenance on the ship and permanent utilities to be hooked up to the ship · Provide national attention and recognition for fund raising that other methods, including Graving Dock options cannot provide. · Provide a key component of Project Stars, an innovative historic trail in Southeast Texas and · Provide for the least cost long term solution to the preservation of the Battleship Texas BB35, the sister ship of the Battleship Arizona, BB39, sunk at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1942 Passed and Signed and Attested to: