Hello Everyone,
Council was called to order at 6pm, with Councilman Barber absent.
Pastor Jerry Clarkson of League City Friends Church gave the invocation, to a packed chamber.
Cub Scout Pack 76 led the U. S. and Texas Pledges of Allegiance, and presented a short skit. Thanks to all of you!
There was a PUBLIC HEARING regarding the operation of golf carts on public roadways within the City of League City. Almost 20 citizens spoke in favor of the use of the carts, but all agreed that the drivers must be licensed, and favored a citywide registration program. You will be hearing more about this in a future meeting when it is placed on the agenda.
In CITIZENS REQUEST FOR HEARING BEFORE COUNCIL, Teresa Otten of the League City Barricudas has offered for them to pay half of the cost of a 40x15 shade cover by the pool, which amounts to a sharing of $3676.42. Representatives of MUD 6, asked the City to be placed on the November ballot for their annual election. This MUD has 873 homes and is in the Landing.
In COUNCIL MEMBERS COMMENTS, it was announced that the Friends of the Library will have their annual meeting on March 9th at 7pm, and the public is invited to hear local author, Cindy Price. Refreshments will be served.
The Hurricane season is fast approaching, and the City will soon begin preparations. In the meantime, citizens can look at www.ready.org
In REPORTS FROM STAFF MEMBERS, Finance Director Mike Loftin presented the First Quarter Budget Report, which showed that our Sales Tax Revenues are down, but that the numbers are misleading because last years Sales Tax was inflated by Ike-related business. Aside from that we are financially very strong. We are beginning to make initial preparation of the budget process.
THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS were passed 6-0. These items included the Ordinance No. 2010-07 amending Chapter 42, Article II entitled "Noise" in order to allow for reasonable and effective enforcement of noise violations over a wide array of circumstances.
In NEW BUSINESS, Council voted to reschedule the combined workshop of P&Z, ZBA and the Historic District Commission because of Spring Break. A new date will be announced.
Council passed a resolution to support the Dickinson Bayou Watershed Steering Committee's proposed drainage project entitled "Alternate Pond C" and directed the City Administrator to identify a funding source for an amount not to exceed $200,000. The was 6-0. This is extremely important for us to participate because at least 28% of League City is in the Dickinson Watershed. By working with this entity and the Galveston County Drainage District, the City is working toward regional improvements. we are always open to great partnerships like these, which allows our funds to go further for everyone.
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The item regarding the dissolution of the City of League City Industrial Development was tabled until the March 8th meeting.
ACTION ITEM FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION. Council voted to initiate a title search for the property subject to the 99-year lease and the land where the old Glen Cove Bridge was, voting 6-0.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9 pm.
Things are really looking good for us in League City, with work being initiated and ongoing on flooding issues, water issues, monetary issues, etc. Channel 16 and the city website are looking very professional and helpful these days.
With May elections coming up, there are Council-approved changes to our City Charter on the ballot, for the citizens to approve. To read about this, please go to the City website, www.leaguecity.com
Spring Break is just around the corner, so a cool, breezy winter is fading out, so the outdoors are beckening!
Toni Randall
Mayor
City of League City
3 comments:
To follow up on the executive session discussion in the mayor's report, an excellent summary of the Glen Cove situation just appeared in the latest issue of the Seabreeze.
Getting a true and indepenedent title opinion on the properties in question is exactly the point we (the Glen Cove residents) have been making to the city since we first discovered in 2006-2007 what the city was doing and the fact that the city's actions were based on incorrect and incomplete determinations of the title issues.
Unfortunately the past city government was too determined to proceed with their bridge dealing regardless of the true title facts and it took three years of election cycles to flush out enough of city hall to even get positive consideration of this issue.
Over the many months since the last election, it has remained difficult to get the city to take productive action due to the inertia of the poor quality (and dubiously authorized) legal advice that was forced on the city by the past administration instead of conducting a simple and effective investigation. It is tragic that the city wasted well in excess of $100,000 (probably closer to $200,000) and years of time on ineffective legal advice that focused from day one on how to avoid dealing with our complaints & questions instead of simply spending a few hundred dollars and a few weeks for a title opinion to get to the heart of the matter. Of course it is reasonable to presume that they did so because they knew they would not like the answer that they would find. A classic lesson in how the ultimate price of dishonesty and deception is far higher than just admitting to a painful truth in the first place.
Congratulations and thanks to the current mayor, council, and staff for finally doing the right thing. Once they get these title questions thoroughly investigated and resolved on all of the various properties involved in the Glen Cove bridge 'train wreck', then (and only then) might it be possible to begin discussions of how to ultimately resolve this mess. Hopefully staff will be directed to at long last move expeditiously on this matter and get the necessary title opinions in the few days or weeks that it normally takes.
Jeff Hagen
My previous post about the Ameriwaste article in the GDN today has been moved to the following thread where it fits better.
Jeff
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