OBP004946

From: (b) (6)

To: (b) (6)
Cc: (b) (6)
Subject: RE: More UTB issues
Date: Thursday, February 28, 2008 6:08:22 PM

(b)
(6)
Thank you. This is very helpful. I am working up letters to the City
and UTB to memorialize our discussions (and show how we are consulting
with them).

Thanks again,
(b)
(6)
(b) (6)
Advisor to the Commissioner and State & Local Liaison
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Department of Homeland Security
Phone - (b) (6)

-----Original Message-----
From: (b) (6)
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2008 6:00 PM
To: (b) (6)
Cc: (b) (6)

Subject: RE: More UTB issues

(b) ,
1). To answer your questions regarding the gate by the UTB golf course:
(6)
Border Patrol has stated to UTB that we intend to install a gate on the
road that leads up to the golf course. The Brownsville Border Patrol
Station PAIC has agreed to keep the gate open during the golf course's
hours of operation and close the gate during the night. During special
times of need, based on operational concerns, the gate would be closed.
Under these circumstances, however, Border Patrol would make contact
with UTB and make arrangements to allow the passage of legitimate
traffic in and out of the area. I would like to stress that this would
only happen during special circumstances, in which our threat level is
raised and we need to take extra precautionary measure to adequately
address the threat.

2). To answer your question on the Hope Park issue: As of the Tuesday
meeting and subsequent site visit, it was agreed upon that the P-1
(Aesthetic Fence Design--permanent Wrought Iron) would be converted to a
"floating" design in the area between the Brownsville/Matamoros (B&M)
International Bridge and the Gateway International Bridge. This
decision was reached as a result of the City of Brownsville expressing a
concern for their commercial development project that they currently
have planned. Part of the discussion was that the development would
incorporate a retaining wall concept on the south face of the PUB levee,
which would meet CBP ending requirements (18 ft vertical barrier) and
grant CBP a perpetual easement. Obviously further discussions are
needed, but that was the general concept. A plan would need to be
worked out between CBP and the developer to strategically remove the
OBP004947

"floating" fence so that the developer could proceed with the

construction phase.

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(b)
(6)
Sorry to ask so many questions but I want to get this 100% right. I am
writing a letter back to the City Commissioner and Mayor to memorialize
our discussions; I want to minimize the rumors that get started if I
can.

I got an AAR from Brownsville that captures the discussion with the City
re: installation of floating fence on O-19 in the Hope Park area that we
toured. I need to know if we can say that CBP is also willing to
discuss floating fence for O-19 west of the B&M bridge; I believe that
is where most of the proposed development would be located based on the
slide deck I received from the City. I am not sure it matters much
since we may not be able to work out a way to do the land titles but
want to show that we are "consulting" with them.

Thanks,
(b)
(6)

-----Original Message-----
From: (b) (6)
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2008 3:41 PM
To: (b) (6)
Cc: (b) (6)
Subject: RE: More UTB issues

Can you check with Sector to see what has been communicated in the past
to UTB re: a gate. Per UTB, they had heard there would not be a gate.

Again, I think it's silly to argue it both ways and if I were down there
I would want a gate there now to block night-time access to the course
and river, even if there wasn't a fence.

-----Original Message-----
From: (b) (6)
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2008 3:19 PM
To: (b) (6)
Cc: (b) (6)
Subject: Re: More UTB issues

I do know there will be a gate. The gate will be open during business
hours of the course. I can't imagine why they would want open access
after hours of the course.
(b)
(6)
----- Original Message -----
From: (b) (6)
To: (b) (6)
Cc: (b) (6)
Sent: Thu Feb 28 14:52:15 2008
Subject: RE: More UTB issues
OBP004948

(b)
(6)
Can you also check to see if a gate is planned for the road leading to
the golf course? Per UTB, they had been told there would not be a gate
but one was mentioned on Tuesday.

Just my uninformed opinion, but UTB can't have it both ways -- they
can't complain about funneling traffic through the gap + oppose a gate.

Thanks,
(b)
(6)

-----Original Message-----
From: (b) (6)
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2008 2:06 PM
To: (b) (6)
Cc: (b) (6)
Subject: Re: More UTB issues

(b)
Can you get the specifics for (b)
(6) I don't want to give the wrong #'s?
I know our laydown won't impact
(6) those anymore than the houses along the
levee though.
(b)
(6)
----- Original Message -----
From: (b) (6)
To: (b) (6)
Sent: Thu Feb 28 13:53:23 2008
Subject: More UTB issues

Sorry to take up so much time on this one landowner but...they seem to

be getting a lot of attention.

The UTB website has the following claims; are these accurate? If not,
have we sent them anything to say we won't need 60' and won't take the
ball field and parking lot??

"Plans also include needing access to 60 feet on either side of the

fence. Since the Scorpion Baseball Field is located adjacent to the
levee, this requirement would actually intrude into the outer field. The
60-foot requirement on either side of the fence would also intrude into
the newly constructed parking lot for the Education and Business Complex
located on University Boulevard."