Border Security Council Report - Office of the Governor - Rick Perry

Appendix C: Public Hearing and Open Meeting Minutes
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Question from BSC: Is all of Nueces and San Patricio counties part of the jurisdiction? Yes.
Any idea of the total value is of your jurisdiction? No, not even a ball park figure. The Port
of Brownsville is a taxing entity. Would this port entertain the idea of making itself a taxing
entity? Is training important? Yes, we train with local officials in certain areas. In 2008, they
are developing some joint training activities. Do you have a Marine division? No, don’t want
a 24/7 presence on the waterway because the Coast Guard has jurisdiction and we want to
ensure that they do their jobs and don’t rely on us.
Chief Kim – We are enhancing communication to allow the Coast Guard to communicate
with us.
Question from BSC: Does the SWAT team have water borne capabilities? Yes.
Question from BSC: The commissioners of the port authority want to operate in a business
sense and make a profit. Where does the profit go? Back into the port authority to improve
the facilities. There is a need to build a container facility which is a $80 – $100M profit. Could
you provide the Council with a financial statement of the port? Yes. Question from BSC: How
many foreign flag vessels come to the port? 1000/year. How about special interest aliens?
Hasn’t been an issue because of the reporting requirements of vessels to the coast guard. If
the coast guard has any concerns, they will not allow the crew members to leave the ship.
From a container security perspective, do you offload many containers? No, because they
don’t have the facility to handle them. The port has 20 percent of all shipping capability. We
provide 90 percent of all jet fuel that comes in. Most things are imported, and then pipelined
out.
C. Mayor, Henry Garrett, City of Corpus Christi
Thanks to the Council for being here. This kind of council is much overdue, thank you for
being engaged.
Comment from BSC: Thanks to all the members and the staff.
Question from BSC: Do you think the port authority will deepen? Yes, we see a lot in the
future for the port.
D. Chief of Police, Bryan Smith, City of Corpus Christi
800 trunking system radio, part of MetroCom, which combines over a dozen jurisdictions
under the same communication system. Have applied for port security grants, use additional
funding sources to make the system ubiquitous. Soon, the system will put everyone under
the same radio frequency.
Question from BSC: What is the long range plan for communication? Sharing radio systems
and patching together. We have technology where we can patch and share radios; for
example: when drugs come up on the boats, work with DEA and the feds to intercept that.
However, we can’t be all on the same system without a substantial investment.
VI. Hearing adjourned at 9:50 am. (Moved by O’Connor, 2nd by Burton).