APRIL NEWS2003
Latest Information on Packery Channel Issue
OUR NEXT SIERRA CLUB MEETING: Monday, May 12, 2003
Time: 6PM. Social at 5:30 pm
Place: Texas A&M University
Topic: Joint Meeting with the Bays Foundation
SIERRA CLUB APRIL 2003 MINUTESThis was the last meeting for Mr. and Mrs. Berryhill, who are moving to Marietta Georgia.
Henry has been Conservation Chair and Randy Membership Chair of CB Sierra. Retired
from the U.S. Geological Survey service, Henry has been very active in environmental
causes, where both his scientific knowledge and bureaucratic savvy have been invaluable.
Both will be missed.Judy Tor, Treasuer, reported $11,723.89 on hand. Pat Suter, Chair, gave details on two
upcoming meetings and summarized CB Sierra’s written response to the Packery Channel
Final EIS.Friday, May 9 -- 1st Coastal Bend Environmental and Conservation Awards Banquet
honoring individuals, businesses, educators, and other entities. Starts at 6:30. For
information call Teresa Carrillo (361-882-3439).. Pat said that the cost is $35, and that
she has tickets. Call her for details.Monday, May 12 – Joint meeting of the Coastal Bend Bays Foundation and Sierra on
Fair Trade and the Environment at TAMU-CC NRC Building Room 1003. Snacks and
visitation at 5:30, program @ 6 p.m.Pat gave an overview of CB Sierra‘s response to the Packery Channel DEIS. In summary,
Pat pointed out substantial changes that had been made from original agreements. The City
has not lived up to the TIF, the Tax Increment Finance scheme to pay for the City’s part of the
project; for one thing the City has deleted most of the "amenities" along the channel that the
TIF promised. Because the cost of the Packery Channel project has risen (as our groups had
forecast) the U.S. Corps of Engineers has cut 30 percent off cost of the original plans (cheapen
the product?). Placement of the channel is in controversy and a Texas General Land Office grant
will be null and void if the project does not start on time.Henry said it’s all a waste of money anyway: the shallow channel will shoal up quickly and the
cost of maintenance will cause the channel to be abandoned, as has happened all along the
coast. He also said that putting sand in front of a seawall (which this project is all about)
"guarantees the eventual destruction of the seawall."Ken Jobe, a member of the City’s Solid Waste Advisory Committee, stated that the new
Solid Waste Director has not called a meeting in three months; Ken said it appears that the
new director may not wish to work with the Committee… The remainder of the meeting was
given over to a review/critique of the Earth Day-Bay Day 2003 at Hazel Bazemore ParkFrank Hankins, Secretary
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See The Observer on-lineWATCH THE COASTAL BEND SIERRA CLUB ON CABLE CHANNEL 10 on
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS AT 8:30PM. Galaxie Video does an excellent job of
producing the show.
Important Articles and News
KEMPS RIDLEY TURTLE UPDATE by Mina Williams &Venice Scheurich
he Corpus Christi Experiment VX Nerve Agent Disposal by Bill Alling
Should This City Be the Waste Dump
for Chemical Weapons Residue??
Bill Alling's Letter to The Caller-Times
GLOBAL WARMING - WHAT MUST BE DONE by Pat Suter - see Feb. 2001 News
Environmentalists are Worried -by Pat Suter
CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI DOUBLE STANDARD READY TO UNFOLD by Pat Suter - see November News
EMAIL SENATOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON TO EXPRESS YOUR UNFAVORABLE OPINION
ON HER BILL TO DO BEACH RESTORATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCEMENT BY DREDGING PACKERY CHANNEL
COASTAL BEND GROUP
- EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
* Pat Suter 852-7938 Chairman
PHSUTER@aol.com * Randy Berryhill 883-0586 Vice Chairman * Judy Tor 630 -241-2605 Treasurer * Frank Hankins 991-4637 Secretary
COMMITTEE CHAIRS
* Henry Berryhill 883-0586 Conservation
* Kathy Griffith, 578-5291 Field Trips
Teresa Carrillo 882-4349
* Randy Berryhill 883-0586 Membership
* Ken Jobe 993-3737 Recycling
* Bill Alling 289-9090 Air Pollution
* Frank Hankins 991-4637 Coastal
Cheryl McGrath Web Master
csmcgrath@earthlink.net
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