R-2022-13 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

RESOLUTION 2022-13 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE, TEXAS, OPPOSING THE GALVESTON BAY PARK PLAN CONCEPT CURRENTLY PROPOSED BY THE SEVERE STORM PREDICTION, EDUCATION, AND EVACUATION FROM DISASTERS (SSPEED) CENTER AT RICE UNIVERSITY, AND ANY PUBLIC FUNDING TO ASSIST IN FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLAN WHEREAS, the City of La Porte is located on Galveston Bay and is vulnerable to storm -surge flooding caused by hurricanes because of its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico; and WHEREAS, in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, a major initiative was launched by officials along the southeast Texas Gulf Coast to find storm surge suppression that would protect the entire region from major flooding due to the storm surge; and WHEREAS, a storm surge suppression concept called the "Coastal Spine Project", sometimes referred to as the "Ike Dike", was proposed by Texas A & .M University at Galveston. The Coastal Spine Project will protect the entire Houston -Galveston region, including Chambers County. The project has overwhelming support and is the preferred storm surge suppression project for this region; and WHEREAS, the Severe Storm Prediction, Education, and Evacuation from Disasters (SSPEED) Center at Rice University has now developed a storm surge suppression concept called the Galveston Bay Park Plan and is soliciting support for the project throughout Harris and Galveston Counties; and WHEREAS, the stated intent of the Galveston Bay Park Plan is to protect Harris County and a portion of Galveston County from flooding caused by storm surge; the plan offers no protection for the City of Texas City, City of Galveston, or Chambers County; and WHEREAS, the SSPEED Center did not solicit input from entities that will be adversely impacted by the Galveston Bay Park Plan; and WHEREAS, the Galveston Bay Park Plan would be built almost entirely in Chambers County and Chambers County taxpayers would be responsible for operation, maintenance, and policing parks, without receiving any benefit of storm surge suppression; and WHEREAS, the Galveston Bay Park Plan will damage and disrupt the ecosystems of Galveston Bay and Trinity Bay, causing harm to the fish and oyster industries; and WHEREAS, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the Texas General Land Office, and the six county Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District (GCCPRD) have independently evaluated and have each rejected the Galveston Bay Park Plan; and WHEREAS, the Galveston Bay Park Plan is the third storm surge suppression plan presented by the SSPEED Center after Centennial Gate and Mid Bay projects failed to garner support; and