HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-2016-09 Resolution of the City of La Porte, Texas, Opposing Central Region Alternative #2 (CR#2) of the Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District (GCCPRD)RESOLUTION NO. 2016-09
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF LA POR -TE, TEXAS, OPPOSING CENTRAL REGION ALTERNATIVE 42 (CR 4*2)
OF THE GULF COAST COMMUNITY PROTECTION ANO RECOVERY DISTRICT (GCCPRD) STORM SUPRESSION
STUDY, ANO SUPPORTING CENTRAL REGION ALTERNATIVE #1 (CR #1), ANO PROVIDING FOR THE DELIVERY
OF SUCH RESOLUTION TO THE GCCPRO AS WELL AS REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES ANO
STATE LEGISLATORS THAT REPRESENT LA POR—
UE-WHEREAS, the City of La Porte, Texas is a coastal community with 3.1 miles of sea level frontage on
Galveston Bay and a significant population of residents, schools, churches and businesses
that can be affected by storm surge and sub -tropical coastal rain events, and
WHEREAS, The 2008 landfall of Hurricane IKE produced massive flooding and storm surge damage in
La Porte, particularly east of State Highway 146, and
WHEREAS, The Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District (GCCPRD) has generated
potential alternatives for addressing storm surge in the Harris/Galveston County region
as detailed in the Phase Two Report, and has asked for public input prior to moving into
Phase Three of their study, and
WHEREAS, The GCCPRO Phase Two Report indicates that not only would the storm -surge suppression
alternative called Central Region Alternative No_ 2 (CR #2) fail to protect areas of La Porte
seaward of State Highway 146 similar to the previous Centennial Gate concept to which
the City has voiced its opposition, but also specifically fails to protect the Houston Ship
Channel areas upstream of the northern portion of La Porte, and
WHEREAS, Any unprotected storm surge inundation will not only affect the physical state of
improvements of La Porte residents, businesses and industries contending with such an
event, but will also have severe impacts on the environment and continued employment
at facilities damaged, as well as exacerbating flood insurance costs with increasing depth
of flooding for those unprotected by CR #2_
WHEREAS, The City of La Porte again, does not accept the notion that areas of lower elevation
seaward of CR #2 within any community fronting Galveston Bay should be considered
collateral damage from the impacts of a storm surge,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE, TEXAS THAT=
Section 1. City Council finds that the recitals above are true and correct_
Section 2. City Council hereby agrees that industries along the Houston Ship Channel should be
protected, but opposes the CR 4*2 concept in its current form due to storm surge impacts
that have been represented to disproportionately increase damage for unprotected areas
of the City of La Porte, the Houston Ship Channel and communities that front western
Galveston Bay.
Section 3. City Council fails to recognize now the Benefit Cost figures denoted in the GCCPRD Phase
Two Report can find that an unprotected Houston Ship Channel and an unprotected area
seaward of State Highway 146 can result in the Higher Benefit Cost Ratio with CR #2 when
compared to CR #1_
Section 4. City Council hereby agrees that CR 1#1 is the only proposed alternative that would
effectively and equitably protect both the upper areas of the Houston Ship Channel as
well as mitigating damage and protecting La Porte and the entire Galveston Bay region_
Section 5. City Council hereby directs the City Secretary to send this Resolution to the GCCPRD as
well as area regional economic development agencies and all State of Texas Legislators
that represent La Porte, Texas.
PASSED AND APPROVED, this of — day of `f �� , 2016.
Attest:
City Secretary
CiK Attorney
CAPITOL OFFICE:
P.O. Box 2910
Aus iN, TExAs 78768-2910
(512) 463-0733
(512) 463-1323 FAX
Tou. FREE: 1(866) 423-5987
April 6, 2016
01,
WAYNE SMITH
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
DISTRICT 128
The Honorable Louis Rigby, Mayor
City of La Porte
604 W. Fairmont Parkway
LaPorte, TX 77571
Dear Mayor Rigby,
DISTRICT OFFICE:
909 DECKER DRIVE
BAYTowN, TEXAS 77520
(832) 556-2002
FAX(832)556,0319
Thank you for your recent letter stating the City of La Porte's opposition to the Gulf Coast Community
Protection and Recovery District's (GCCPRD) proposal of Central Region Alternative #2 (CR #2) and
the support for the Central Region Alternative #1 (CR #1). I sincerely appreciate hearing from my local
city on a matter that has been of great concern to my office, our local governmental entities and our
community as a whole.
The citizens in District 128 have endured many setbacks resulting from the devastation that Hurricane Ike
and others have created. I too share your concern with GCCPRD's suggestion of CR #2 as I believe it has
the potential to leave a considerable amount of our citizens unprotected from storm surges. At the state
level, I will do everything in my power to urge the GCCPRD to choose CR #I as I believe it is currently
the best option to effectively and equitably protect the businesses and citizens in our coastal community.
Knowing that you and the city council are in agreement will only further bolster my opposition to CR #2
and support for CR #1. I am certain many more discussions on this issue will take place in the coming
months, and I greatly value your opinion and your willingness to be an integral part of these discussions.
Again, thank you for contacting me with your concerns. I sincerely appreciate all you and the
councilmembers do to keep our communities safe, and I will continue to work alongside you on those
efforts.
Sincerely,
Rep. Wayne ith
*LICENSING AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES, CHAIR*
*CULTURE, RECREATION, AND TOURISM*
Cc: The Honorable Steven DonCarlos, Mayor
City of Baytown
2401 Market St.
Baytown, TX. 77522
The Honorable Jerry Mouton, Jr., Mayor
City of Deer Park
P.O. Box 700
Deer Park, TX 77536-0700
The Honorable Michel Bechtel, Mayor
City of Morgan's Point
1415 E. Main Street
Morgan's Point, TX 77571
The Honorable Johnny isbeil, Mayor
City of Pasadena
1211 Southmore
Pasadena, TX 77502