August, 2011
Newsletter
Bermuda Beach Improvement Committee, Inc.
www.bermudabeach.org
bbicboard@aol.com

ANNUAL MEETING

This is the official announcement of the 2011 Annual Meeting.
The meeting is scheduled for October 15, 2011 at 10:00 AM
The venue for the meeting will be announced in September once the location has been finalized.
Please let us know of topics you would like addressed. Beach Restoration, Sand Fencing, Security, Seaweed, Sewers, and Roads are already on the agenda. If you would like to add your name to the ballot or if you have another topic you would like to have discussed at the meeting, please email to the information to: bbicboard@aol.com by September 1, 2011.

WATER RESTRICTIONS

Mandatory Stage 2 Water Restrictions Continue for Island
Please refer to www.cityofgalveston.org for a detailed explanation of all restrictions
And copy of their Stage 2 Drought Contingency Plan
The following is an excerpt from that web site.

If you are renting your home you need to let the renters know of this restriction. They are not exempt and can be fined.

Areas east of 103rd Street can water on Mondays and Thursdays; areas west of 103rd Street Wednesdays and Saturdays in accordance with Stage 2 restrictions.

Stage Two restrictions allow property owners to use automatic sprinkler systems on landscaped areas on designated days and times. All watering must be completed before 10AM or after 8PM on designated days. Hand-watering is now permissible at any time of day on the designated watering days as long as a handheld hose, faucet-filled bucket, water can, or drip irrigation system is used. These restrictions will continue until further notice.

Private use of water to wash any motor vehicle, motorbike, boat, trailer, airplane or other vehicle is prohibited except on designated watering days before 10AM or after 8PM. Such washing, when allowed, shall be done with a hand-held bucket or a hand-held hose equipped with a positive shutoff nozzle for quick rinses.

Use of water to fill, refill, or add to any indoor or outdoor swimming pools, wading pools or Jacuzzi-type pools is prohibited except on designated watering days before 10AM or after 8PM.

OUTDOOR SHOWERS

There have been several instances of people helping themselves to showers under unoccupied homes. It is wise to put a padlock on your water or turn it off when you leave.

RENTING YOUR PROPERTY/HOME

Renting your home should not cause a disturbance of any kind to your neighbors.
The BBIC feels that our obligation is to the property owner and neighbors first.

If there are parking or noise problems with someone renting your home, neighbors have been instructed to contact GARM or the police. Take a picture and text it to the owner!

If maintenance is an issue we will be contacting the owner. Please understand that there is no way that we can keep track of all the rental managers owners use, therefore, any issues will be directed to you and you are expected to resolve the issue with whomever you have under contract as your rental manager.

We expect all homes being rented to respect the Code of Conduct and Renters' Agreement that was diligently drawn up by Galveston Island Vacation Rental Managers Association (GIVRMA).
Contact your rental agent for a copy.

Issues that you need to discuss with the people handling your home.

PARKING: Too many cars for the driveway.
TRASH: All rental homes that sleep over 4 people should two of the 96 gal. containers.
NOISE: NO outside speakers or loud noise. All outside music/noise turned off by 10:00 PM. This is a City Ordinance, not our regulation.
PETS: Must be kept on a leash. This is a City Ordinance, not our regulation.

We know that you rely on the rental associations to handle these matters for you but there is a breakdown and it hasn't been getting done. This is truly your responsibility.

If you truly want to know what is happening at your house ask a neighbor. If they see a problem and do take a photo this gives your neighbor proof to take to that agency. Offer them the emergency number your rental association gave you. If we "bother" them enough, maybe they will police their properties more often or make their rules more clear when renting your house. It seems that issues are downplayed, to an extreme, by the rental agencies in an effort to keep your business and put your mind at ease. Your neighbors respect your right to rent your property, respect their rights by checking with them to see if there is an ongoing problem that you may not be aware of and let them know you will address it or change agencies.

Hurricane season is upon us. Be sure they lock your property securely, not just during a hurricane alert but whenever it is not in use. During hurricane Ike, one company that handles the homes on my block simply did not bother to come around and shut the hurricane shutters. Those homes could easily have been protected.

MOWING

Because of the drought and high cost of Galveston water, plus water rationing, our yards aren't looking their best but mowing still needs to be maintained at least every other week.

TV BANDITS

Apparently there were two separate groups breaking in homes stealing flat screen TV's. Both have been apprehended. One was arrested while stuck in the sand with a backseat full of flat screen TV's. Further investigation produced a computer with a map from Google Earth marking the homes they hit and what they got from those homes so that they wouldn't duplicate their efforts. Or who knows, maybe they were planning on going back for the replacements at some other time. Nonetheless, thank you very much for the evidence.
SPEEDING ON BERMUDA BEACH DR

This has become a big issue. The board has been working on various ways to get the public and residents to reduce their speed. We want to remind you this is a City street and is governed by City laws. It is illegal to put anything in the street to make people slow down. You do not want to risk that liability. If you see someone speeding, call the police. We have been assured that the officer will talk with them.

BBIC DUNE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

With the untimely withdrawal of the sand renourishment project by the State, the board has taken on the task of trying to help our beach heal itself. As you will remember at the last annual meeting, only 7 property owners voted to rake the beach. We believe that your decision not to rake the beach has been very beneficial this year. Board members have been watching the Spanish Grant beach carefully. Property owners on the front row of Spanish Grant have reported a 2' deep loss in beach. And, they still have seaweed every week. Needless to say, there is an unlimited supply and it is proving to be a never ending job. We are very pleased that we are finally getting a growth of natural vegetation that is starting to build dunes.

To aid this process, the board voted to go to the GLO and the City to obtain Beach Construction Permits that would allow us to install sand fencing. Each section of fence is about 12 feet long, placed at a 35 degree angle, and spaced 10 feet apart from the next section. There are approximately 240 separate sections; about 3,000 total lineal feet. If you drive between San Louis Pass and Surfside, you will see how successful their sand fence project is. We hope to sit back and watch Bermuda Beach dunes "grow".