HOUSTON, July 21, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Port Commission of The Port of Houston Authority will consider an increase in the port cargo security fees and several other matters at its public meeting on Monday, July 24, beginning at 1 p.m. in the board room of the PHA Executive Building, 111 East Loop North (Exit 29 off Loop 610) in Houston. Chairman Jim Edmonds will preside over the meeting with Commissioner Steve Phelps, Commissioner Jim Fonteno, Commissioner Kase Lawal, Commissioner Jimmy Burke, Commissioner Janiece Longoria and Commissioner Elyse Lanier.
SECURITY FEES
(Agenda item M5) Commissioners are being asked to approve the first increases in port cargo security fees since they were first adopted on April 1, 2005. If approved, the requested increases will go into effect on October 1, 2006, in accordance with the rates adopted by the Gulf Seaports Marine Terminal Conference on May 4, 2006. The fee increases will go toward offsetting some of the costs associated with ensuring a safe and secure port.
BAYPORT MATTERS
(Agenda items G13, G14, G15, G17) The staff is seeking commission approval for $247,217 in construction contract credits, and $88,681 in contract increases, for the Bayport Cruise Terminal building, Port Road, marine terminal gate and container yard projects. The requested amendments will facilitate the planned opening of the Phase IA container terminal.
(Agenda item K4) The staff is seeking commission approval to advertise and receive competitive sealed proposals (CSPs) for construction of the permanent amenities building at the Bayport Container Terminal. If approved, vendors would be invited to submit CSPs for consideration of a potential $1 million to $1.3 million contract to build a two-story industrial facility near the container wharf. The building will provide break areas and leased office space for longshoreman and stevedore operations.
(Agenda item L1) The staff is asking commissioners to consider a request to evaluate and rank qualifications of three companies for a potential engineering services contract for materials testing of the Bayport Phase 1 container yard. The three companies being considered are ATSER, Aviles Engineering Corp. and Paradigm Consultants Inc.
(Agenda items K6, K7, K8) Commissioners are being asked by staff to authorize advertising and receipt of CSPs for graphic design and creative support services (estimated costs of $600,000 to $1.2 million, over 24 months), printing services (estimated costs of $450,000 to $700,000, over 24 months) and photography services (estimated costs of $85,000 to $120,000, over 24 months). The expenditures, if approved, will aid the PHA's effort to keep stakeholders informed about its activities, upcoming projects and contributions to the community.
To view the complete agenda, please visit: http://portofhouston.com/publicrelations/meetings.html
The Port of Houston Authority owns and operates the public facilities located along the Port of Houston, the 25-mile long complex of diversified public and private facilities designed for handling general cargo, containers, grain and other dry bulk materials, project and heavy lift cargo, and other types of cargo. Each year, more than 6,600 vessels call at the port, which ranks first in the U.S. in foreign waterborne tonnage, second in overall total tonnage, and 10th largest in the world. The Port Authority plays a vital role in ensuring navigational safety along the Houston Ship Channel, which has been instrumental in Houston's development as a center of international trade. The Barbours Cut Container Terminal and Central Maintenance Facility are the first of any U.S. port facilities to develop and implement an innovative Environmental Management System that meets the rigorous standards of ISO 14001. Additionally, the port is an approved delivery point for Coffee "C" futures contracts traded on the New York Board of Trade's Coffee, Sugar & Cocoa Exchange.
For more information, please visit www.portofhouston.com.
To access the port's web site photo gallery, please visit http://www.portofhouston.com/publicrelations/publicrelations.html and click the link for PHA Photo Gallery.
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