MERRY CHRISTMAS !!

Merry Christmas to all !!

To track Santa click here !

Policy, Personal or Political ?

Good morning to all ! I saw this in the daily news today and would like to know what your thoughts are on this subject. In my opinion this is not about the police department. I think Officer Arena did what he thought he needed to do and followed the proper procedure to do it. I am talking about the people who are not personally involved but used the issue to pursue their “objective” . Do you think there is still a small but vocal group dictating what happens in our city ? If so who could they be, how could they be able to do this and why would they? Is this good for our city or is it back to square one with personal political payback?

Thanksgiving Blessings

Here is a little background from History.com on Thanksgiving. Living in the U.S.A. we have plenty to be thankful for. I am thankful for God, Counrty, family and friends.

Thanksgiving at the Mallios house will have about 18 or so family members and will include all the traditional items as well as a few that may not be. Family, football and food, thank you God for blessing our family, city,nation and the Houston Texans.

May you all have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

The Smoking Gun Hidden Was Hidden In Plain Sight All Along.

Interesting new developments as the Glen Cove bridge lawsuit grinds slowly towards trial.

As I'm sure most are aware by now, there are many separate but related issues swirling around the infamous Glen Cove bridge fiasco; wrongful removal of the bridge itself, threats to take away or impede private water front property rights, denial of access to property owned by Glen Cove residents, construction of onerous fences adjacent to Marina del Sol residences, and a few others of varying relative importance to various parties.

As has also been discussed ad nauseam here for the past few years, the focus of the Smith et. al. lawsuit versus League City (the currently active of the various complaints) has been the Seminole road bridge removal due to being the primary issue in common to the Smith plaintiffs and the issue in which the proof of the city's misdeeds has been most readily obtainable from public records.

Many of the other related issues revolve around the old HL&P canal properties that were donated to the city circa 2005. Public Information Requests (PIR's) have revealed the original intent of the city was to accept these 8 sections of property for use in proposed traffic relief projects and construction of public waterways for community enhancement. It has long been shown as a matter of public record that these properties were accepted by the city on behalf of the public in December of 2005, but that at some subsequent time sections 6, 7, and 8 of these 8 canal properties were somehow conveyed into private ownership, which resulted in the various complaints previously mentioned. (For reference, sections 6 & 7 are between Marina del Sol and Cypress Bay and section 8 passes through Glen Cove.)

All of these problems (other than the bridge issues) would have clearly been avoided had the city retained ownership, so the obvious question all along has been how did these publicly accepted properties end up in private ownership. More specifically, was the city responsible for this re-appropriation of what was supposed to be public property? If so, then the city would certainly be culpable in such problems as the Marina del Sol fence and Glen Cove water access issues.

Much effort has been exerted for several years to discover the truth behind this central question. The obvious suspicion was that the city certainly had to have been involved in this redirection of property, but the city has strenuously blocked access to the public records necessary to prove what really happened, including denial or incomplete response to many PIR's and legal questions.

Observant readers may recall publication this past August by the Seabreeze of an article alleging that emails proving the truth of the city's involvement in this property transfer had in fact surfaced in private circulation: http://seabreezenews.com/back%20issues/1108-August_2011/Page_01c.pdf

While it generated some sensation at the time, without the emails themselves becoming public or being released into the hands of persons able to make them public, the actual proof remained elusive. Of course now that it was known that the truth was out there, various interested parties redoubled their efforts drag the proof into the light of day. Since the proof allegedly consisted of emails involving the city attorney, the city has continued to raise legal roadblocks against releasing the evidence (or in the case of one of my PIR's for example, going so far as to simply fail to respond).

The resulting public sensation raised sufficient doubts regarding the propriety of the city's actions that a citizen ethics complaint against the city attorney's actions was ultimately filed, independent of the Smith et. al. or Marina del Sol plaintiffs. This complaint has not been made public and rumors are swirling that city officials have made efforts to block its public release. However, it has apparently been circulating by private channels and having recently received a copy of it, I have now published it here. Word on the street is that the current phase in the ethics process is for an outside attorney to investigate, but that allegedly the attorney chosen has ties to the city attorney who the complaint is against. Can anyone shed light on this rumor? If true, it would certainly erode public confidence in the ethics investigation process.

Also around the time of the Seabreeze article, enough of the truth leaked out to draw a bit of attention to an obscure item from the June 13, 2006 city council agenda, namely item 10A that stated; "Consider and take action on amending provisions of real property donation to the City of League City by Texas Genco. (City Attorney)" [June 12, 2006 council agenda.]

No details of what this might mean where in the publicly accessible records, so new PIR's were filed. (Note that any public documents associated with this agenda item should have already been provided in response to a number of of previous PIR's filed by a number of different citizens that directly or indirectly referenced this issue.)

Then came the great Halloween Surprise of 2011. Another routine PIR for the public documents related to this agenda obscure agenda item was finally answered responsively.

And there, after all this time, hidden in the plain sight of the council agenda supporting documents of this obscure action over five years ago was the smoking gun:

-The city was openly complicit in the conveyance of the public properties of HL&P cooling canal sections 6, 7, & 8 into private ownership rather than the previously accepted public ownership.

In support of item 10A were the following three attachments:

Attachment 1

Attachment 2

Attachment 3

As was long suspected, but until now unproven by public records, not just the removal of the bridge, but everything else related to this affair that has befallen the residents Glen Cove and Marina del Sol became possible because of actions deliberately taken by the city government.

Actions that were neither legal nor completely truthful. Remember that as of December 2005, these were public properties. The city can not dispose of public property for private benefit in obscure manners such as happened, if it can even do so at all. At a minimum, there should have been a public process of abandonment of property, which obviously never occurred. And as can be seen in attachment 1 above, the city attorney did not even truthfully describe this transaction to city council at the time of their re-decision. It was stated that these properties were to be conveyed to an adjacent property owner (which is necessary for abandonment), yet canal section 8 that runs through Glen Cove was not in fact adjacent to any property owned by the acquiring party and the true adjacent property owners were never given any notice of these actions.

The truth really was out there all along.

Traitors ? Really ?

I received an email that was voicing an opinion about the confederate emblem for the license plates. In this opinion the writer states “Why would the State of Texas honor people who were traitors to the United States of America?” Traitors ? Really ? Traitors ? But, I guess by the true definition of the word what the 13 colonies did was treasonous as well as Sam Houston and the fighters of the Alamo and San Jacinto. So we are all traitors? As you can tell I take exception to the term “Traitors” as so broadly applied to the confederate army. I believe that the Sons of the Confederate Veterans license plate honors those who fought for what they believed in. So why wouldn’t the state of Texas honor it’s war heroes? This is a matter of fact and History……. Of course in my opinion.

Fact is it will become an option because there are presently 18 states that have this option available. In most of those cases the courts appeared to have sided for the option to be available.

Thoughts ?

Liberal or Conservative Chopper or Hugger?

The oak tree on the corner of FM 518 and Louisiana Ave. (61 inches round and over 100 years old) is in the way of the widening of Louisiana Ave. (click here for facebook page) Council will decide what the fate of the Ghirardi oak will be at the council meeting on Tuesday. (Click here to see news article) So what are the options.
Option one: Moving the Compton oak to the Water Smart Park.

Cost: About $292,000 which would come from dedicated park fees.

Option two: Shift the Louisiana Avenue project west and create a pocket park around the Compton oak.

Cost: At least $267,000 and the money would come out of the city’s general fund reserves.

Option three: Cut the Compton oak down and replace it with new oaks according to the city’s tree preservation plan.

Cost: About $27,500 from the city’s general fund reserves.
So are you a liberal if you want to save the tree ? (spending tax payer money that could be used for other projects) or are you a conservative if you want to chop it down? (saving taxpayer money and selling off the wood to make up the amount spent to cut it? ) Is it possible to be both? (according to all the campaign material over the last few years it is not)
Our elected officials use the terms “Liberal” (tree hugger) and “conservative” (tree chopper) in city campaign materials so let us see what they consider the definition of the terms are.
Thoughts?

Changing the form of government again?

In a recommendation to the Charter revision committee, according to information I have received, our mayor has requested the committee to see “If the voters wanted to go back to a strong mayor or full-time mayor” Any thoughts ?

And so The Galveston County Daily News catches up with our city blog. Read this in today's paper.

New League City Drilling ordinance, is it enough to Protect Citizens against the haszards of Urban Drilling?

A new Drilling ordinance in League City was just passed. Council chose to approve a 600 foot minimum buffer for wells to habitable structures, instead of the widely used 1000 foot or more buffer. City of South Lake questions and answers web page about their drilling ordinance and application procedures No matter how you look at it, urban drilling of oil wells in residential communities is incompatible.

Some cities have decided that 500 feet was too close and raised their setback to a 1500 foot buffer between habitable structures and oil wells. Flower mound just raised their oil well setback to 1500 feet.Flower Mound Texas information on Oil Drilling. Why do you suppose League City wants to learn things the hard way?

League City government is not effectively using the tools available to it to maximize the protection to its citizens from invasive industrial uses next to and in residential areas. Therefore our Government and our representatives are failing us as a community. The problem starts with some of our leadership that does not stand up for the best interest of the residential (voting) sector of the population.

I cannot imagine why council would not want approve a more restrictive 1000 foot minimum distance for drilling a well next to homes, churches and schools. As Councilman Phalen said the distance for well drilling could have been adjusted downward when necessary. I certainly don’t understand the comment by a council person that said “A 1,000-foot setback would require a well be in the middle of an approximately 70-acre site — something Becker said would be hard to accomplish” It does not sound that hard to accomplish to me! We are talking about urban drilling here, it is not supposed to be made easy to do. Maybe someone can explain it to me? I would think that if someone is going to drill into the ground and extract minerals for a profit in an urban area, the surrounding property owners should be afforded some reasonable protections.

99% of the residences of League City have surface rights ownership only, with no mineral interests. Without mineral rights, surface owners have a limited ability to restrict drilling. The surface owner's have only have the ordinances of the city such as zoning and the drilling ordinance as the mechanisms to restrict drilling on or near their property. Last Tuesday’s vote fell short of giving the citizens a reasonable measure of protection from chemical and fire hazard, noise, vibration, and intrusion into their quiet enjoyment of their property. I suppose some people want to treat League City, an incorporated residential metro-plex, the same as undeveloped property near Odessa or the Barnett Shale.


Don't get me wrong, I am not against drilling oil wells. I just don't believe that we should allow the drilling of oil wells with the least restrictive conditions allowed under the law right in the middle of the largest city in Galveston County.

This Link is a publication with many good thoughts about best practices for urban drilling.
Best Practices for Oil Well Drilling in Texas


Below, is some interesting reading on the health effects of an oil well fire issued by the Department of Defense.

Oil Well Fires


Southlake Oil and Gas Drilling 411 video

Mr. Campbell's link

Mr. Morgan Campbell listed this link on the last thread. I guess he would like it to be a thread of it's own. It is an interesting story.

http://seabreezenews.com/issue/Page_01c.pdf

Out of water because of drought? It is more like we have over subscribed our supply!

Recently League City government has instituted a stage II of the drought contingency plan which requires that residents reduce their water consumption through a myriad of restrictions. However, I maintain that the recent drought is not the cause of these measures taken by League City to conserve water. League City has grown by 83% in population over the last decade. As the population soared, the amount of water that League City has access to have not kept pace with its growth. Bad management of our water resources has led to daily water usage that comes very close to exceeding our available contracted water supply. The normal demand for water created by the need for irrigation in spring and summer months has pushed League City’s water demand to the limit of our available supply with no relief in sight until demand for irrigation is gone. Without new contracted water supply agreements available to League City, the problem of not enough water will not go away. The key to this issue is the demand for irrigation can no longer be supplied to our residents with the current available water supply.

Defining Moment for Mayor Paulissen and Council Part 1

Over the last so many years in League City, we have all heard the typical campaign slogans during campaign season. " I am for Business" "I am for Economic development" "I am going to fix traffic" "I am for smaller government" "I am for fiscal responsibility". These campaign promises are in Juxtaposition to the statement "I am for smaller Government. History has shown us that no matter how truly sincere the politicians are at the time they make these campaign promises, something happens once they are elected that stymies their ability to deliver on their words and pursue their office with their original credo intact. I say the cause of their inability to fulfil their campaign ideals and be effective community leaders is they are conflicted by the promise of delivering smaller government. The elected officials are beholden to a vocal and involved minority of citizens who want smaller and less government interference in their lives. This same group is a majority of the voters. Only 4-5% of the citizenry votes in municipal elections. If we ever hope to solve our issues, we will need to come to terms with the fact that to solve the communities real problems it will take money and more govenrnment. Let's look at some of the issues and promises.

"I am for business and economic development" of course a candidate should be for economic development. Most candidates do not win if they say "I don't want economic development" However, the application of economic development is not like fixing a road. You can not just throw money at it and yield results. We learned this painful 24 million dollar lesson at Big League Dreams. While in its own right BLD dreams is a successfully business, without the city footing the bill for its fixed assets, it could not make it. As citizens we still are waiting for the economic development that was hoped to surround that development that has not quite come at the levels that a citizen would hope $24,000,000.00 would yield them. Economic Development has to be wisely planned. To build an economic engine for a community, it requires that each piece of the economic machine has to mot only provide economic growth for the intended recipients, but it has to build value for the community as a whole as well. For economic development to be successful, in most cases, there is the need for more government offices and employees to oversee how the government can "assist" with economic development. Here lies confliction #1, how do I meet the challenge as a leader of a small town like League City to provide economic development without promoting larger government and spending more tax dollars? Answer, You Can't

Rumor sez it’s Chief Jez

I keep hearing that the new interim city manager will be Chief Jez. Anyone hear anything else? Or do you think the council will employ that firm they used before?

Welcome to Lago

This was on the front page of today's daily news. Thoughts?

Then there was this on 6-16-11. any other thoughts ?

Clear Creek ISD to Hold Budget Meetings

The Clear Creek Independent School District will hold two Town Hall Meetings to get further feedback from the community regarding the Citizens Finance Advisory Committee budget recommendations on:
Monday, June 6, 2011 ~ 6 p.m.
Clear Lake High School (Commons)
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 ~ 6 p.m.
Clear Springs High School (Cafeteria)

If you are unable to attend a Town Hall Meeting, you may send comments on the Citizen Finance Advisory Committee recommendations to
information@ccisd.net.

View the Citizens Finance Advisory Committee Budget Recommendations

The Board of Trustees is expected to take action on the recommendations during the June 27, 2011 General Board Meeting.
For more information, contact the Clear Creek Independent School District at 281-284-0020.

Drought Contingency Plan Stage 1

You probably already received the call that League City is now under drought contingency plan stage 1. We should all do our part to make sure to conserve water. Here is some water wise information and also some water conservation tips. I am not sure if the city is giving out rewards for turning in your neighbors yet. But rumor has it that if you tell on more than 10 of your neighbors you get a “I’m a League City big brother "Watchdog" and I’m watching you” t shirt.

The people have spoken

Congratulations to our new Mayor Tim Paulissen as well as or new council members Dan Becker, Dennis O’Keefe and Andy Mann. A big thank you to Mr. Anderson and Mr. Maldonado for getting involved in the process. A special thanks to Mayor Toni Randall for leading League City out of the Abyss that previous administration put us in. God Bless League City !

For final unofficial totals click here

Election Day !

HAVE YOU VOTED TODAY ? IF YOU DON'T VOTE THEN DO NOT GRIPE ABOUT THE RESULTS !! It is put up or shut up time.

Anonymous Author Outed ?

Saw this in today's Daily News. Thoughts anyone?

Now this is in today's (May 4, 2011) Daily News. Any thoughts on this situation ?

GET OUT AND VOTE !!!

For the most part all the talk and hoopla is done. (of course there could be a surprise or two still left to be open like who is behind League city votes 2011) It is time for the voters to speak.

Early voting will be at the Johnny Arolfo civic center, 400 West Walker Street, Monday -Thursday (May 2-5) from 8 AM till 6 PM, Friday May 6th 8 AM-Noon, Saturday May 7th from 8 AM till 5 PM, Monday and Tuesday (May 9 & 10) from 7 AM till 7PM.

Election day is on Saturday May 14th from 7 AM to 7 PM voting locations are:

City Precinct # 1 Fire Station #4, 175 West Bay Area Blvd.
City Precinct #2 Old Fire Station #2, 411 Newport Blvd.
City Precinct #3 League City Civic Center, 400 West Walker Street
City Precinct #4 Fire Station #1, 601 Second Street
City Precinct #5 Ferguson Elem., 1910 South Compass Rose Blvd.

For a map of the voting precincts click here.

There is NO REASON for you not to get off your rear end and VOTE !!!

Forum tonight

The League City Chamber will host a candidate forum tonight from 6-8 PM. Click here for more details. I believe it will be on the League City station.

West Side Forum

CCV West Side Candidate Forum is scheduled for April 25, 2011, 7 P M at Christus Victor Lutheran Church located at 2098 West Main. (on FM 518 in front of Clear Creek Village and across from Newport.)

This is your opportunity to ask questions of all the candidates as well as meet each one personally. Take this oppertunity and let your voice be heard.

Show your interest in our community and the issues of the west side and let the candidates know that we, as citizens, care about our city.

Political or not ?

This article was in today's Galveston County Daily news. What are your thoughts?

Fourth Annual League City Candidates Forum In Glen Cove Park

The fourth annual Glen Cove candidates forum for the League City mayor and council races will be held Sunday, April 3rd, 2011 from 3:00 to 4:30. (Rain out day is April 10th.)

As usual, the forum will be held in Glen Cove's park at the north end of Glen Cove Blvd.

All are welcome, so please come and ask lots of questions.

Map:

http://www.mapquest.com/mq/1-3Bb7ebjMQhYZ

Link to down loadable flyer:

http://web.me.com/jeffhagen/Jeffs_League_City_info/Jeffs_LC_Blog/Entries/2011/3/27_Glen_Cove_candidate_forum_for_League_City_2011_City_Council_election.html

Jeff Hagen

You got to know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em

Must be some Browns fans in League City

By Heber Taylor

The Daily News

Published March 25, 2011

There is an election coming up, so you can expect some hyperbole. But the notion that something has gone fundamentally wrong with government in League City in the past two years — that things are getting worse at city hall, rather than better — is a view that has lost touch with reality.

Today, people in La Marque are in the same position that people in League City were in two years ago. There have been so many miscues in the handling of its public affairs that it’s hard to keep track.

It’s that way in Galveston County because it’s that way in life. In any classroom, some kid gets the highest grades and some kid gets the lowest. On the athletic field, one team ends up in first place and someone must finish last.

The idea that municipal government in League City was somehow a model before some fundamental changes in the past two years is astonishing — in the same way that a claim that the St. Louis Browns were the most successful baseball franchise of all time would be astonishing.

In early 2008, League City was, without a doubt, the most colorful, most outrageous source of political entertainment in the county. It wasn’t a close call.

An editorial in The Daily News, published April 30, 2008, put it this way:

“The workings of city government in League City often have been bewildering.

“For years, people pointed to Galveston’s city hall as an endless source of amusement. But League City’s decision to oust one garbage contractor in favor of another — and the way it awarded the bid — could only have happened in League City.

“That action would have failed the smell test in Galveston. It would have been unthinkable in Texas City.

“If that were the only example, voters could write it off as an unusual lapse in judgment. But League City’s list of examples of questionable dealings is long. Of the major cities in Galveston County, it has the shakiest administration at the top.”

Since then, municipal government in League City hasn’t reached perfection but it has come a long way.

Of course, it’s an election year. People are going to peddle nonsense. It doesn’t mean you have to buy it.

Toni Randall campaign rally, March 23, 2011

Here is a link to video of the campaign speeches made this evening (Thursday, March 23) at Toni Randall's campaign rally. According to Toni, all candidates for office in 2011 were invited to speak, but not all were there.

Tim Paulissen obviously couldn't be there with his mother's funeral tomorrow morning. (Please accept my conolences for your loss, should you be reading this Mr. Paulissen.)

Dan Becker and Andy Mann were not there, but are each running unopposed.

Forrest Anderson was not there, but Dennis O'Keeffe and Danny Maldonado were there and spoke.

Video Link

It really was a bridge too far...

Appeals court sends bridge case back to trial

Pipeline Company has Major Explosion

MONT BELVIEU, Enterprise Products is one of the biggest players in the plastics and natural gas business in the world and is a previous applicant in League City to build a pipeline pressurization station on their natural gasoline pipeline near Tuscan Lakes.

In an effort to push more natural gasoline through their pipeline that traverses league city the company claimed they needed a pumping station located near Tuscan Lakes. Their application and request to rezone the proposed site from residential zoning to industrial zoning classification for the pressurization plant was previously denied by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Their Mont Belvieu plant was the site of today's explosion. That plant was the focus of a major expansion four years ago, when the company increased the volume of propylene piped from facilities in Texas City and Beaumont. Large upgrades were effected to the Mont Belvieu plant to increase how much of the chemical it could process for use in plastics manufacturing, detergents and pharmaceuticals. However, Enterprise’s far-reaching and expanding pipeline operations have not been free of serious safety problems. On a Monday afternoon in June of 2010, a utility crew was drilling a hole for an electrical tower in a field southwest of Dallas when, unbeknownst to them, they struck a three-foot-wide gas pipeline buried underground and operated by Enterprise Products. The rupture caused a massive explosion, killing one worker and injuring eight. State investigators faulted Enterprise for allegedly failing to put safety markings to warn of the underground pipeline. At the time, Enterprise Products was quoted as saying it had a "comprehensive training program" and an "ongoing commitment to safety." The company said they would consider making improvements in the wake of the fatal accident. A $120,000 fine is pending against Enterprise.

Candidates for Positition One and Two Throw Hats into the Ring

Dan Becker has announced his candidacy for the City of League City Council Position No. 1. Dan Becker is vying for the seat currently held by Neil G. Baron. Both candidates reside on the same street and are neighbors.

Dennis OKeeffe has announced his candidacy for the City of League City Council Position No. 2. Mr. Okeeffe is filing for the seat currently occupied by Mike Barber.

Councilman Tim Paulissen Announces Candidacy for Mayor

Timothy (Tim) Paulissen, longtime League City resident and business owner has announced his candidacy for Mayor of League City in the May election. Having lived in the Oaks of Clear Creek since 1994, Tim has been on City Council for 5 years this May.Tim has also served on his subdivision's Homeowners Association Board for twelve years, serving as President for nine years. “I have really enjoyed working for the Citizens of League City and the residents of the Oaks of Clear Creek." "I have learned a lot about working with the City. I’ve learned what the priorities of League City Citizens are.” Said Paulissen.

Tim's recent mailer that I received today reports;

* he voted against drilling oil wells in neighborhoods.
* Voted against the AmeriWaste trash contract 3 times.
* Voted against taxes increases

For more information you can visit Tim's website www.timpaulissen.com

Winter comes to League City !

It appears that an arctic cold front will arrive in League City around noon. (wind shift) Temperatures are expected to fall into the 40 to 50 range with lows Below freezing after midnight on Weds. (2-2-11) The temp. is expected to remain below freezing for at least eight hours. So wrap your pipes, turn on the heater for the pets, cover the plants and turn on the fire place. And don’t forget to make some soup or some stew.

Rolling "Black outs" this morning should be over by now (4:30 2-2) Possible Icy conditions tomorrow starting around 2 pm. Check out school closures for CCISD here.

On the right track

While a few individuals take exception to the way the city is being run. It is great to see that the average citizens understand that our city government and the employees are doing a great job. Our mayor, as well as our council has done a excellent job putting our city on track after the “Shults shuffle”. It takes a Mayor, like Toni Randall, who represents the people (and not a political party as Jerry Shults did) to bring us together and work for the best interests of our city and the citizens. Maybe that is why city elections are non partisan. Check out the citizen’s survey and find out what the citizens think of our great city employees.

The City Christmas Party, much to do about nothing, or government largess?

Today the Galveston Daily News reported that the City's Christmas party cost twenty eight thousand dollars. Is this an appropriate amount for an employee Christmas party for an organization as large as League City? Is it appropriate to have it outside League City? Many citizens think this is an appropriate expenditure, many think it is "largess". What are your thoughts?