HOUSTON, Oct. 22, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Port of Houston Authority (PHA) commission will consider several recommendations involving contract awards, bids and proposals, professional services and general administrative and operational matters during its public meeting at 1 p.m. on Monday, October 25, 2004 in the 4th floor board room at 111 East Loop North (exit 29 off Loop 610). This is a change from the usual 2 p.m. start time. Chairman Jim Edmonds will preside over the meeting to be attended by Vice Chairman Kase Lawal, Commissioner Steve Phelps, Commissioner Jim Fonteno, Commissioner Jimmy Burke, Commissioner Cheryl Thompson-Draper, and Commissioner Janiece Longoria.
BAYPORT MATTERS
(Agenda item L2) The commission also will consider a recommendation to evaluate and rank qualifications for professional services to monitor and maintain particulate samplers at the Bayport terminal construction project to comply with the federal permit granted earlier this year by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The PHA's staff is recommending a selection of three companies - Eco-Systems, Inc., Merit Environmental, and TRC Environmental Corporation - as the most qualified for consideration to provide the required services.
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
(Agenda item G1) The commission will consider a recommendation to award two-year professional services contracts to e-Lab Analytical and Xenco Laboratories at an estimated cost not to exceed $300,000. If approved, the two companies would be expected to provide all services, labor, supervision, installed and consumable materials, equipment, tools, and other items necessary for performing environmental analyses for PHA.
FINANCIAL MATTERS
(Agenda item M1) The commission will consider a recommendation to adopt a resolution finding the necessity for the issuance of up to $9 million in PHA Unlimited Tax Refunding Bonds, Series 2004A (AMT). If approved, the resolution would provide certification to the Harris County Commissioner's Court and allow the PHA to appoint professionals to provide services related to the issuance of the bonds. The present value of the savings in interest expense over the remaining life of the bonds will be approximately $1.4 million.
(Agenda item G19) The commission will consider a recommendation to award a contract for professional bond counsel for the issuance of up to $9 million in PHA Unlimited Tax Refunding Bonds, Series 2004A (AMT). If approved, Andrews Kurth, L.L.P. would be retained as bond counsel and would be paid $35,000 for services.
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 sixth 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