This was in today’s guest column Of the Galveston County Daily News. Many thanks to former Mayor Frankovich who tells it the way it is. The title “Baron’s law can’t rob mayor of charter job” says it all. Once again thank you former Mayor Frankovich for doing what is correct and in the best interest of our city.
Below is the Mayor's recap of the last council meeting.
Hello everyone,
I promised you my State of our Community Address, which I made to the League City Chamber of Commerce luncheon meeting this past Friday.
Thank you for inviting me to report the State of League City to you!
In the few months since becoming your Mayor, two major events have happened. Hurricane Ike slammed into the Texas coast and caused a lot of damage in League City and the communities around us. Our Emergency Management, Fire, Police, Public Works and the entire staff worked around the clock to get services back online, and they helped neighboring communities get their own services back up and running.
The 2009 Budget was reduced by 9.3 million dollars but not at the expense of good service to our residents. I requested freezing 13 positions in City government and Council agreed to all but two of those. The tax rate had to be increased, but only for capital improvement projects.
We are continuing with the improvements at the Dallas Salmon wastewater treatment facility, expanding our animal shelter, and helping residents dispose of materials like anti-freeze and used motor oil.
Our finance and accounting processes are receiving awards for excellence.
Then the national economy took one of the largest drops since World War II. This hit every business and citizen of League City! Fortunately League City's economy is better than most of America.
As we rebuild after two of the biggest storms in decades, we are moving ahead and growing as a city. Our police vehicles are becoming more fuel efficient. Some are hybrids, and others use only part of the motor when idling. All are more brightly lighted for safety.
We are working more closely with the Houston-Galveston Area Council. I have just been appointed to the Technical Advisory Committee at H-GAC. This will enhance our position for federal funds and at the perfect time, with the stimulus package being discussed in congress.
Last week I was in Washington and met with Senators Cornyn, Hutchison, and Congressmen Paul, Olson, Lee, and others. This trip was to make our presence known in the national Capitol. Senator Hutchison is especially interested in commuter rail and will help with legislation for 10 million dollars to fund the engineering phase which is the next step toward putting the rail line into operation.
Another transportation problem is the highway 518-270 area, sometimes called the '5-points nightmare.' We are working to design and build the best possible solution for this intersection. I wish it could be done quickly, but it takes time to correct a traffic problem that has been there for years and getting worse.
Next is the I-45/Hwy 518 intersection. When the Nasa Road Bypass is completed, we hope it will relieve some of our congestion! The Hwy 96/I-45 interchange and the widening of 646 will also help improve traffic, but we still need to work on improving the traffic flow through League City and onto I-45. Unfortunately when you correct a highway problem, it means construction and more traffic delays.
These connectors with I-45 are vital to League City and to Galveston County. We are the Gateway to Galveston County.
H-GAC and TxDot estimate that commuter rail between Houston and Galveston will be equal to one additional lane on interstate 45. We need to stop trying to pave over the entire country! Trees just don't grow well on asphalt!
Traffic delays are another reason I advocate more commercial business being encouraged to locate in League City. Then League City residents won't have to travel as far to work or shop and their sales tax dollars stay here!Residential growth is not good for League City if we must go outside the City to purchase what we need and take sales tax dollars to those other cities. We need more centers of commercial growth providing services for League City residents.
These are happening! Ask the Chamber of Commerce where these new developments are being built or look at the League City website or just drive around League City. The developments at 646 are still growing and this is especially good because one of our long-term problems has been the lack of sales tax income to offset property taxes. As we increase sales tax, the load is lightened on property tax.
UTMB is another tremendous asset to League City, and as much as it helps us to have them here, it also gives UTMB the protection they need from future hurricane damage.
Target, Walmart, Home Depot, HEB, Lowes and the restaurants and shops that make up the 646 intersection are all contributing to the positive growth of the city and the services that League City residents want. On the other side of the equation, League City residents are spending more of their disposable income here at home, not in other cities!
In addition to streets, we need to improve utilities. This is an expensive item-the wastewater system must be improved and water services need expanding. Our utilities were stretched before Hurricane Ike, and now with the additional residents moving here from the island and other storm impacted communities, these utilties are even more stressed.
While in Washington last week, this was one of my most important issues and with the economic stimulus package working it's way through Congress, timing was just right to put League City's needs before our national leaders.
It's NOT impossible to keep our streets in good repair and the utilities working while providing for new and expanding growth, but the businesses of League City require the constant attention of you, me, and all the citizens of our city.
We must all remember: we are "one of the best 100 cities in America" We have a rich historical heritage. We have some of the brightest children in Texas-and our schools are some of the best in America! We have parks, lakes, and creeks, and the beautiful oaks on Main Street. These trees will become the backdrop for a new downtown redevelopment district that is in its early stages.
Our library, parks, schools, and government are watched over by volunteers, employees, and elected officials, who help make us a city with open government, involved citizens, and natural assets unrivaled by any city in America.
Let me finish by saying "We have many opportunities for improvements, and many challenges. But we live and work in the largest city in Galveston County and one of the greatest cities in America, with more possibilities than problems.
League City will grow and prosper and all of us will make it happen!
Thank you.
Mayor Toni Randall
