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BAY AREA EDITION
VOLUME 5, ISSUE 3 OCT. 21 NOV. 17, 2022
RENDERING THE RESORT Great Wolf Resorts released renderings of the new Webster hotel, indoor water park and conference center set to open in mid- to late 2024.
League City locals make quilts for veterans
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PLANNED AMENITIES
• 27 acres • 532 -room resort
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• 95,000 -square-foot indoor water park • 58,000 -square-foot family entertainment center called Great Wolf Adventure Park
SOURCE: GREAT WOLF RESORTS COMMUNITY IMPACT
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RENDERING COURTESY GREAT WOLF RESORTS
Houston area’s rst Great Wolf Lodge coming to Webster in 2024 National indoor waterpark com- pany Great Wolf Resorts Inc. will open its second Texas resort in 2024 in the city of Webster, mark- ing the rst major construction for the city’s expansive destination development project, Flyway. the city’s ambitions to build a des- tination development. which is estimated to employ more than 600 workers, will take roughly 24 months, and the resort is expected to open in mid- to late 2024. BY DANIEL WEEKS
Major intersection project begins in League City
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“This is the largest and most important project in our city’s his- tory,” Webster Mayor Donna Rogers said. “I am so grateful for the Great Wolf Resorts team and the Webster teams who got us to the nish line to celebrate what will be the only Great Wolf Lodge indoor waterpark resort, hotel and conference center in the entire Houston metropolitan statistical area.” GWR CEO Murray Hennessy said at the lodge’s Sept. 22 groundbreak- ing ceremony that the construction,
Hennessy said the process for determining the location of the 22nd Great Wolf Lodge began in Texas, which is home to one lodge in Grapevine in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. He said the com- pany then narrowed it down to the Houston area based on its demo- graphics and population size and eventually chose Webster due to the details of their partnership. CONTINUED ON 24
Once built, the development east of the Gulf Freeway and south of the NASA Bypass is expected to boost the tourism economy for the Houston Bay Area and bring 500 permanent full- and part-time jobs to the Webster community while also drawing in new businesses for
Nassau Bay threatens demolition of historic house
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VOTER GUIDE 2022
Harris County residents will vote on a $1.2 billion bond during the midterm elections Nov. 8. Voters can approve or reject three separate prop- ositions: $100 million for public safety; $900 million for roads, drainage and multimodal transportation; and $200 million for parks. Historically, the county has proposed road and park bonds every six to eight years, most recently an $848 million bond in 2015. CONTINUED ON 18 Harris County voters to decide fate of $1.2B bond referendum BY RACHEL CARLTON 2 0 2 2 VOTER GUIDE
Bond on the ballot Harris County’s $1.2 billion bond is split into three propositions for public safety facilities, roads and parks. Commissioners Court voted 3-2 to adopt an allocation plan by precinct for the road and park bond funding.
Sample ballot
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OVERALL
$100M: Public safety facilities $200M: Parks and trails $900M: Roads, drainage and transportation
$1.2B Total bond amount
SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION COMMUNITY IMPACT
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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BAY AREA EDITION • OCTOBER 2022
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
ABOUT US Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact Newspaper in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today. We have expanded to include hundreds of team members and have created our own software platform and printing facility. CI delivers 30 localized editions across Texas to more than 2.4 million residential mailboxes. MARKET TEAM GENERAL MANAGER Papar Faircloth SENIOR EDITOR Jake Magee REPORTER Daniel Weeks GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jesus Verastegui ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Adrianne Smith METRO LEADERSHIP PUBLISHER Jason Culpepper MANAGING EDITOR Kelly Schafler COPY EDITOR Kasey Salisbury SENIOR ART PRODUCTION MANAGER Kaitlin Schmidt CONTACT US 16300 Northwest Freeway Jersey Village, TX 77040 • 281-469-6181 CI CAREERS communityimpact.com/careers PRESS RELEASES baynews@communityimpact.com ADVERTISING bayads@communityimpact.com Learn more at communityimpact.com/advertising EMAIL NEWSLETTERS communityimpact.com/newsletter PODCAST communityimpact.com/podcast SUPPORT US Join your neighbors by giving to the CI Patron program. Funds support our journalistic mission to provide trusted, local news in your community. Learn more at communityimpact.com/cipatron
ANNOUNCEMENT: COMMUNITY IMPACT REBRANDING & NEWSROOM COMMITMENT
2005 Total mailboxes 60,000 1 Journalist
2015 Total mailboxes 1,495,000 40 Journalists
2022 Total mailboxes 2,450,000 75 Journalists
The CI Local Pin Incorporated into our main logo, the CI Local Pin symbolizes our focus on local and making an Impact in every community we serve.
The new mission statement is: “Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets,” which speaks to both the editorial content and business ads that our communities love and use. The vision statement was created by all Impacters and speaks to what we hope to accomplish with each day of our work: ”Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team.” There are no changes to the company’s purpose and values, and Community Impact is committed to living those out every day. CI’s purpose is: “To be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other.” The company’s values , or stones that are physically awarded internally for a job well done each month are Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity. The company’s updated logo features the signature CI red and gray, but lighter, brighter and bolder. CI also incorporated a new design element—the CI Local Pin , a simple recognizable icon—into the new logo to further solidify its focus on local news and making an impact in every community it serves. The design of the new logo more accurately reflects CI’s design philosophy, Creative Director Derek Sullivan said. “Less is more—we always aim to keep it clear, clean and concise,” he said. “In addition, the new CI Local Pin helps us visually connect the main brand with our other internal and external initiatives. For example, the pin is part of our IRG logos (Impacter Resource Groups promoting equity, diversity and inclusion), and the pin is shifted upside down to become an ink drop in our new CI Printing logo." Vice President of Sales and Marketing Tess Coverman said CI’s updated name speaks to the company’s robust product line and allows for continued innovation in the future. “As new ideas come up, as long as they filter through our updated mission statement and core values, we can more easily introduce them to the Community Impact audience,” she said. “For example, hosting events is a recent request by some CI Patrons as a benefit to the community and a new revenue stream, which we might consider in 2023.” With this brand update and newsroom expansion, CI prides itself on being the largest community journalism newsroom in the state, covering local businesses, transportation and road projects, development, health care and government.
No longer just a newspaper company, Community Impact is rebranding to better align with one of its core values: innovation.
Although many readers may know CI for its monthly, full-color print newspapers, the company is much more than just a printed newspaper. Since its inception in 2005 in the gameroom of John and Jennifer Garrett’s home in Pflugerville, Texas, the company lived up to its entrepreneurial roots, creating its own in-house customer relationship management software, building a printing plant, launching email newsletters and podcasts, and expanding its reach to four Texas metros and more than 2.4 million homes. To reflect its entire product line and continue to allow for future growth, the media company has changed its name from Community Impact Newspaper to Community Impact. This process began in early 2022 when leadership at CI completed a workshop with Jeff Hahn of Hahn Public to strategize their next innovative move. Following the workshop, CI made the decision to update its entire brand schematic, including the logo, colors, tagline, mission statement and vision statement. "Since 2005, Community Impact has been a trusted source for local news as we have built the largest community journalism news organization in Texas,” CEO and founder John Garrett said. “Our award-winning monthly newspaper and our innovative daily digital products will be the focus of the investment Jennifer and I are making in local news for—God willing—years to come. Our team is committed to helping all Texans we serve, regardless of your socioeconomic status or political affiliation, to get news you can trust to help you connect to your community." In an effort to produce even more local journalism, CI has already promoted 10 editorial team members since January and will add more newsroom positions in the coming months to maintain its status as the leading newsroom in the state. A portion of this growth is attributed to local CI advertisers along with CI’s reader-funded Patron program that launched in 2020. The company plans to expand with a corporate Patron program in 2023 based on similar demand. As part of the rebrand, the company’s new tagline , News Everyone Gets, was shortened from Local. Useful. Everyone Gets It. to mirror what CI does best—simplify complex information into various news formats in a delivery method and tone accessible to anyone. Plus, CI created a new mission statement and updated its vision statement to reflect both present-day and future goals.
Owners and founders John and Jennifer Garrett
communityimpact.com
@impactnewsHTXmetro
General manager Papar Faircloth
@impactnews_bay
linkedin.com/company/communityimpact
@communityimpacthouston
We've teamed up to bring you more of the stories you care about.
Proudly printed by
© 2022 Community Impact Co. All rights reserved. No reproduction of any portion of this issue is allowed without written permission from the publisher.
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6640 South Shore Blvd., Suite 100 League City, TX 77573 713.852.6700 TexasBayCU.org
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BAY AREA EDITION • OCTOBER 2022
IMPACTS
Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon, relocating or expanding
according to the city of League City web- site. Tiff’s Treats offers a variety of des- serts from warm cookies to brownies and ice cream, including bundles for birthdays and other special occasions. The franchise also has a location at 593 Bay Area Blvd., Webster. www.cookiedelivery.com 8 Zane’s Original Craft Burgers & BBQ plans to open at 3300 Bayport Blvd., Ste. 60, Seabrook, in the coming months. An opening date was not revealed. The restaurant will serve burgers, barbecue and chicken wings as a tenant at Shops at the Commons. Zane’s has been in the ca- tering business for over two years, serv- ing from north Houston to La Marque. This will be its first brick-and-mortar store. www.zanesoriginal.com 9 Kelsey-Seybold on Sept. 26 broke ground on its new South Shore Harbour Clinic at 3625 E. League City Parkway, League City. The 15,000-square-foot, one-story clinic will replace Kelsey-Sey- bold Clinic – South Shore at 201 Enter- prise Ave., Ste. 900, League City, which is at capacity. Kelsey-Seybold acquired the property, formerly known as the South Shore Medical Center, in February. The new facility, which will open in January, will have room for seven providers of family, internal and pediatric medicine and also will include a lab and imaging services. www.kelsey-seybold.com RELOCATIONS 10 Wingstop in Clear Lake relocated in September a short distance away. Pre- viously at the northeast corner of Bay Area and Space Center boulevards, the restaurant is now in a bigger location on the northwest corner of the two streets at 2403 Bay Area Blvd., Ste. B, Hous- ton, near the Goodwill. Wingstop sells bone-in and boneless wings in a variety of flavors along with chicken sandwich- es, tenders and sides. 281-280-9464. www.wingstop.com ANNIVERSARIES 11 Kolache Factory celebrated its 40th anniversary Sept. 13 with a deal offering six fruit or cream cheese kolaches for $0.40 all day. The national bakery and cafe franchise offers a variety of fruit,
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NOW OPEN 1 The new Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers at 2473 Bay Area Blvd., Houston, celebrated a grand opening Sept. 20. The fast-food chain has locations in League City, Friendswood, Pearland and Pasadena. 281-716-9892. www.raisingcanes.com 2 Hap’s Cajun Meats & Market had a ribbon-cutting for its opening Sept. 6. The business at 902 E. Main St., League City, sells authentic Cajun meats, including bou- din, andouille sausage and gumbo along with Cajun spices and Louisiana-based art and decor. The owners have family roots tracing back to when the French immi- grated to Louisiana in the 17th century. 281-525-6167. www.hapscajun.com 3 Urban Bricks Kitchen opened a store in League City Aug. 5 at 2456 Marina Bay Drive. The pizza, pasta and salad
restaurant offers build-your-own pizzas with unlimited toppings and dough made in-house. The new location is the second based in the Houston area, the first being in The Woodlands area. 832-905-5106. www.urbanbrickskitchen.com 4 Fogo De Chão opened Sept. 29 at the Baybrook Mall, 700 Baybrook Mall Drive, Ste. G-100, Friendswood, overlooking The Lawn at the mall. The Brazilian restaurant features an open-air churrasco grill in its dining room where guests can watch chefs butcher and grill a variety of meats. The location also includes an expansive patio, wine cases, lounge seating and meat lockers for in-house aging. This location is the third in the Greater Houston area. 281-982-1116. www.fogodechao.com 5 Flawless Diamonds on Oct. 1 hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new League City location at 201 S. Egret Bay
Blvd., located next to the Frost Bank and Fajita Pete’s. The jewelry store offers engagement rings as well as other jewelry such as bracelets, anklets, necklaces and earrings. 713-703-0044. www.flawlessdiamondstx.com 6 Sunny Seafood held its soft opening in July at 2320 NASA Parkway in Seabrook. The restaurant offers Cajun-style dishes, such as gumbo and po’boys, as well as a variety of seafood, including live crawfish, king crab and oysters. Visit the restau- rant’s Facebook page for information on monthly specials. 281-916-9888. www.sunnyseafoodtx.com COMING SOON 7 Tiff’s Treats , a popular Austin-based cookie delivery shop, is estimated to open at 201 S. FM 270, League City, in the fall,
VODKA - GIN - BOURBON | TASTING & TOURS
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
COMPILED BY JAKE MAGEE & DANIEL WEEKS
meat and breakfast kolaches. Stores are located at A 528 Bay Area Blvd. and B 306 N. Gulf Freeway. 281-557-2253. www.kolachefactory.com 12 Tee Box , the virtual golf experi- ence at 3202 Marina Bay Drive, Kemah, celebrated a year since its opening Sept. 1, 2021. The indoor golf simulator and gaming facility offers over 100 different virtual golf courses from around the world as well as other games, including dodgeball, bowling and disc golf. Visit the Tee Box Facebook page for infor- mation on events and tournaments. 281-339-7041. www.teeboxtexas.com 13 The Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce , 1201 E. NASA Parkway, Houston, celebrated its 60th anniversary at its annual Chairman’s Ball on Oct. 7. The ball, themed “Here Comes the Sun” after The Beatles, recognized the departing and incoming chairs of the chamber’s board. The Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce opened in August 1962, advocates for local businesses and aims to improve the quality of life for everyone in the community. 281-488-7676. www.clearlakearea.com RENOVATIONS 14 Lobit Park at 1901 E. FM 646 had opened with new renovations as of Oct. 10. According to a League City press release, League City City Council earlier this year approved acquiring the park from Galveston County, adding 28 acres to the city’s total parkland. League City has made several improvements to the park, including its parking spaces, road- ways, drainage, seating and lighting. 281-554-1080. www.leaguecitytx.gov IN THE NEWS 15 The space exploration company Intuitive Machines , 3700 Bay Area Blvd., Ste. 600, Houston, will become public after a merger with Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. Intuitive Ma- chines is forecasting approximately $102 million in revenue in 2022. The company develops various advanced space tech- nologies, including propulsion systems, lunar mobility vehicles, power plants and human systems. 281-520-3703. www.intuitivemachines.com
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Fogo de Chão
COURTESY KONNECT AGENCY
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Mitzi Leatherman is working to collect and donate quilts to area veterans.
COURTESY CITY OF LEAGUE CITY
FEATURED IMPACT IN THE NEWS League City is partnering with area residents to bring awareness to wounded veterans. Sheryl Hayslip-Bahena from Teo’s Treasures Quilt Shop at 1837 E. FM 517, Dickinson, and Mitzi Leatherman are working to collect 500 handmade quilts to distribute on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, to local veterans and their families, according to a League City news release. “We have so many veterans out there that need to be acknowledged,” Leatherman said in a video about the project. The quilts will be distributed at a luncheon Nov. 11 at Hometown Heroes Park, 1001 E. League City Parkway, League City. The residents hope to raise awareness about post-traumatic stress disorder, which many veterans are diagnosed with, and the family members of veterans who have lost their lives to PTSD or while serving, the release reads. The project started when Leatherman realized due to COVID-19, there have not been many veteran- focused events in recent years. Leatherman approached Hayslip- Bahena, who was already making quilts for women who had been
abused, about the project, and they decided to partner on the project, Hayslip-Bahena said in the video. Veterans or their surviving family members can request a quilt at www.leaguecity.com/quilt. Those who want to donate quilts can email mitzileatherman03@gmail.com or call Teo’s Treasures Quilt Shop at 281-532-6248. Quilts do not need to have a patriotic theme or colors and can instead be traditional quilts, according to the release. “We want to be able to reach a wide audience with this,” Leatherman said. “If you have a quilt that’s a patriotic quilt and would like to donate it to us, come to Teo’s Treasures. If you have a traditional quilt that you would like to donate, bring it to Teo’s Treasures.” 281-532-6248. www.teostreasures.com
Ti 's Treats
COURTESY TIFF’S TREATS
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COURTESY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
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COURTESY CITY OF LEAGUE CITY
Find one in your neighborhood.
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BAY AREA EDITION • OCTOBER 2022
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
TRANSPORTATION UPDATES Major intersection project begins in League City
COMPILED BY JAKE MAGEE
ONGOING PROJECTS
Y .
BIG CHANGES Once construction is complete, FM 518 will have more lanes to accommodate tra c.
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A major project at I-45 and FM 518 began Sept. 16, a ecting tra c until the end of the year. The Texas Department of Trans- portation’s project will add double left- and right-turn lanes to east- and westbound FM 518 at I-45. Additionally, TxDOT will increase the number of lanes on the north- and southbound I-45 frontage roads to six, including double left- and right-turn lanes and dedicated U-turn lanes, according to a League City news release. When complete, FM 518 will have 10 total lanes running under the I-45 overpass, including two dedicated left-turn lanes in each direction and three through lanes in each direction, the release reads. The work is part of the $100 million TxDOT project to widen I-45 from south of NASA Parkway to north of Hwy. 96. “The important aspect of this proj- ect—as with many of our other [I-]45 projects from this one all the way down to the project before the Galves- ton Causeway—is to not only address the tra c ow on the main lanes of 45, but to also address congestion on the intersecting roadways,” TxDOT Public Information O cer Danny Perez wrote in an email to Community Impact. The work will provide “much- needed tra c relief” at the intersec- tion, but the construction will cause increased congestion, according to TxDOT and League City. “Additional through lanes will provide additional capacity to allow for more vehicles to move through the intersection,” Perez wrote. Work started on the north side of
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About 1,800 feet of Turner Street from Hobbs to Butler roads and about 4,300 feet of Butler from Turner to about 400 feet south of Sedona Drive will be reconstructed with concrete curb and gutters. An additional 1,800 linear feet of an 8-inch water line will be added along Butler between Tempe Street and Sedona as part of the project. Timeline: October-TBD Cost: $7.31 million Funding source: League City
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FM 518 will have double left- and right-turn lanes.
FM 518 between Lafayette Lane and North Wesley Drive. Tra c lanes on this section of FM 518 transition to one lane in each direction with additional lanes open at the I-45 intersection, the release reads. To help keep tra c owing at the intersection of FM 518 and Lafayette Lane and Hobbs Road, left turns are prohibited in all directions. The tra c signal at the intersection will be o ine during this part of construction. “We have coordinated with ... League City on signal timing to optimize the functionality of the intersection, and ... messaging has encouraged motorists to seek alterna- tive routes, [which] has reduced the ... congestion,” Perez wrote.
SOURCES: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, LEAGUE CITY COMMUNITY IMPACT
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ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF SEPT. 29. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT BAYNEWS COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM. Hobbs Road extension to FM 517 Hobbs Road will be extended to the south to connect with FM 517. The new road will be about 1,880 feet long and four lanes wide. League City will con- struct only two of the four lanes, and the remaining two will be constructed later. The nal design is underway. Timeline: fall 2023-TBD Cost: $3.93 million Funding source: League City
Work on the intersection of FM 518 and I 45 began Sept. 16 and will conclude by the end of the year.
COURTESY CITY OF LEAGUE CITY
Over 20 years of Dedication. Integrity. Passion. Service. Consistency. Whether you are buying or selling, we look forward to assisting you with every step of the process.
Kimberly Harding, Broker/Owner 281-554-7653 Kimberly@KimberlyHarding.com
2490 Calder Dr, League City, TX 77573 | www.TheKimberlyHardingGroup.com
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BAY AREA EDITION • OCTOBER 2022
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
GOVERNMENT
Nassau Bay calls for repairs or demolition of dilapidated house
NOTABLE HOMEOWNERS
Some important gures have owned the Nassau Bay house throughout the years. Nassau Bay has historically been home to astronauts working with NASA.
BY DANIEL WEEKS
following conditions: a dilapidated and insecure structure, standing water in di erent areas of the house, a roof in need of replacement, settled foundation by almost 2 inches, no drywall on most walls and ceilings, no ooring, high grass and debris, and 10 other conditions that resulted in the public nuisance declaration. Nassau Bay Mayor Phil Johnson said the city led for a public hearing in November with Jemison to resolve the property’s con ict with city code, which Johnson said has been uninhab- itable since 2007. He said if a resolu- tion is not met that is a “win-win” for both parties’ intentions, including the city’s minimum repair standards, the city will then move to legally demolish the property. “There’s a minimum standard that we are not going to go under, and I’m pretty insistent on that,” Johnson said. After the city’s and Jemison’s legal
A property previously owned by an astronaut who walked on the moon is being threatened with demolition if the home is not repaired to Nassau Bay’s occupancy code. The property was previously owned and lived in by James Irwin, an astro- naut and the eighth person to walk on the moon, and is currently owned by Mae Jemison, an engineer and astronaut who became the rst Black woman to travel to space, according to city o cials. The property, located 18410 Kingstown Court, underwent an inspection conducted by the city in agreement with Jemison. According to a posting from the city dated Aug. 23, the inspection resulted in the city declaring the property a “public nuisance” subject to demolition. According to the posting, the city’s inspection of the property found the
JAMES IRWIN Walked on the moon Aug. 7, 1971
Bought the house in 1972 Paid $45,000 for the house, according to o cial documents from the city
The property is dilapidated to the point of being declared a “public nuisance” by the city of Nassau Bay.
MAE JEMISON First Black woman in space on shuttle ight in 1992
DANIEL WEEKS COMMUNITY IMPACT
counsels met for a closed-doors in-person discussion on the issue Oct. 6, city o cials said at an Oct. 10 meeting Jemison’s legal counsel intends to provide a document that details the scope of work planned for the property by the end of October or early November. Johnson said he is optimistic about the progress being made between both parties, saying the resolution to this issue has been 15 years in the making. “A lot of the public does not know
Bought the house Nov. 4, 1987 Paid $99,000 for the house, according to city agreement
SOURCES: NASA, NASSAU BAY COMMUNITY IMPACT
the depth of the issues with the house and the burden the surrounding citizens have had,” Johnson said. Jemison could not be reached for comment by press time.
COMMITTED TO TAXPAYERS, JOBS, FAMILY VALUES AND SAFETY!! TOMMY HAS DEDICATED A LIFETIME TO PUBLIC SERVICE
GROUP EXERCISE & PERSONAL TRAINING
BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL CARE
SOCIAL EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
NOT A GYM. A COMMUNITY. Achieve, Belong and Connect this Fall at the Y.
9 Years League City Council and Mayor Pro-Tem 42 Years as a professional Firefighter Former member of the ‘Terrorism Strike Team’ 7 Years as League City Assistant Fire Chief Former assistant to City Manager Nassau Bay Community volunteer for over 40 Years Experience. Experience. Experience.
The Y is where individuals thrive, communities come together and whole-person health is achieved - for all. With flexible and affordable membership options, a supportive community and personalized options to fit your needs, there is no better time than NOW to try the YMCA!
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Political Ad Paid for by Tommy Cones for League City City Council
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BAY AREA EDITION • OCTOBER 2022
EDUCATION BRIEFS
News from Clear Creek ISD
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS CLEAR CREEK ISD While renovating an old League City school building, contract worker Armando Rodriguez found an unintentional time capsule: a purse thought to be from 1959. The city of League City converted CCISD’s oldest school building into a new community center. During construction, the purse and its contents, including notes and photos, were found beneath rotting floorboards. Based on the photos and journal entries found in the purse, League City officials determined the owner is a person named Andrea “Beverly” Williams who lost the purse in 1959, according to a news release. While Williams died years ago living in Washington state, three of her daughters—including Deborah Hicks, wife of League City City Council Member Justin Hicks— still live in the Houston area, and were able to gather to view the purse and its contents. Williams previously attended Clear Creek Intermediate and Clear Creek High School. Clear Creek ISD will meet at 6 p.m. Oct. 24 and 4:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at 2425 E. Main St., League City. Meetings are streamed at www.youtube.com/ user/ccisdtv. MEETINGS WE COVER
Clear Creek ISD reduces property tax rate again
REDUCING RATES Clear Creek ISD tax rates have decreased each year for four years as property values increase.
$0.80 $1 $1.20 $1.40 $1.60
$1.1146
BY DANIEL WEEKS
CLEAR CREEK ISD On Sept. 19, the Clear Creek ISD board of trustees approved the district’s 2022-23 tax rate at $1.1146 per $100 of valuation, continuing its streak of lowering the annual rate. Under the new rate adopted at a Sept. 19 board meet- ing, the owner of a $300,000 home would pay $3,343 in property taxes to CCISD, a reduction of $195 from the previous year, assuming no change in property value. According to a presentation from Chief Financial Offi- cer Alice Benzaia, the new rate is a reduction of $0.0651 from the previous year’s tax rate of $1.1797. She said in the new rate, $0.8446 will be allocated toward the general service fund, and $0.27 will be for the debt service fund. The rate the board approved Sept. 21 is a further decrease in the proposed rate from the previous board meeting on the topic. Benzaia said the total 2022 taxable property values were certified at $32 billion, a 10% increase over the 2021 taxable property values. She said the average taxable value of residences rose from $255,603 last year to $268,961 this year, causing taxes on average residences to decrease from $3,015 to $2,997 with the new rate, a change of about $18.
0
Fiscal year
*PER $100 VALUATION
SOURCE: CLEAR CREEK ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Benzaia previously said property tax rates, the dis- trict’s main source of funding, decrease with every 2.5% increase in property values. “Property value growth that we’ve seen has allowed us to bring the rate down,” Benzaia said. “We’ve also had savings from refinancing some of our debt over the years, so our debt payments we’ve been able to reduce from our initial expectations.” The new rate was adopted amid budget shortfalls the district continues to face due to the COVID-19 pandemic. School district funding from the state is directly tied to overall enrollment and average daily attendance, both of which dropped in the 2020-21 school year.
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CITY & COUNTY
News from League City, Houston & Harris County
QUOTE OF NOTE
League City City Council approves employee raises
“I DON’T THINK WE CAN AFFORD TO LOSE ANY MORE EMS, AND I DON’T THINK WE CAN AFFORD TO LOSE ANYMORE TELECOMMUNICATORS.”
BY JAKE MAGEE
FUNDING RAISES Raises for League City employees will cost $1.26 million in fiscal year 2022-23.
LEAGUE CITY After a debate about how to fund it, League City City Council on Sept. 27 granted raises to 347 city employees. The raises will cost the city $1.13 million plus approxi- mately $134,000 after City Council approved further raises of $3 per hour for emergency medical services and telecom- munication employees. Under City Council’s direction, City Manager John Baumgartner will have to cut $134,000 from the fiscal year 2022-23 budget, which City Council approved Sept. 13, to fund the additional raises. The raises come after a salary survey that concluded after the FY 2022-23 budgeting process wrapped up Sept. 27. Ever- green Solutions surveyed comparable cities to obtain pay benchmark data, and city staff accepted most of Evergreen’s recommended pay raises to bring League City in line with comparable cities, according to a memo to City Council. “These recommendations led to an 8.5% increase to the midpoints of the majority of pay grades, tapering down as the pay grades increased past the $82,000 midpoint,” the memo reads. Additionally, the city’s starting pay grade was brought up to $15 an hour. Evergreen advised a starting rate of $21.82 per hour for EMS. City staff used that to reform the EMS pay grade chart, resulting in a $3.43 increase to hourly minimums, according to the memo. Telecommunication staff resigned significantly after the salary survey began. The starting pay for
Initial proposed raises: $1.13M Extra raise for EMS and telecommunication employees approved by League City City Council: $134,000
PAT HALLISEY, LEAGUE CITY MAYOR, ON GRANTING EXTRA RAISES TO DEPARTMENTS SEEING HIGHER TURNOVER
$1.26 million
League City City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Oct. 25 and Nov. 8 at 200 W. Walker St., League City. Meetings are streamed at www.facebook.com/ leaguecitytexas. Harris County Commissioners Court will meet at 10 a.m. Oct. 25 and Nov. 3 and 15 at 1001 Preston St., Ste. 934, Houston. Meetings are streamed at www.harriscountytx.gov. Houston City Council will meet at 9 a.m. Oct. 26 and Nov. 2, 9 and 16 at 901 Bagby St., Houston. Meetings are streamed at www.houstontx.gov/htv. CORRECTION: Volume 5, Issue 2 On Page 15, the eliminated Clear Creek ISD teaching positions were due to teachers retiring. MEETINGS WE COVER NUMBER TO KNOW fiscal year 2022-23 is allocated toward capital projects, compared to $87.03 million for FY 2021-22. $148M OTHER HIGHLIGHTS HOUSTON On ballots this is how much of League City’s November, Houston voters will be given the chance to vote on seven bond propositions that would help fund city needs, including police department maintenance projects and the expansion of a city-run animal shelter. If all seven bonds pass, it would give the city the ability to sell roughly $478 million in bonds to investors, which would be paid back with interest over a longer term. The bonds would not require an increase in property taxes, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said. Voters have the ability to choose which of the seven bonds to support. The largest bond, which will show up on ballots as Proposition A, would provide $277 million toward public safety, including for renovations of police and fire stations as well as new vehicles. Other referendums would support parks, animal care, public health, libraries, the city’s solid waste department and general improvements to city facilities.
SOURCE: LEAGUE CITY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
telecommunication staff was raised to $23 an hour, and an additional $0.50 per hour will be added when telecommunication staff obtains certifications and completes their probationary period. Council Member Hank Dugie recommended increasing the hourly pay for EMS and telecommunication employees an additional $3 beyond the recommendations at an addi- tional $134,000 cost. These departments have seen signifi- cant turnover and been slightly below average in pay, and if League City leadership wants to have the best employees, increasing their pay is a way to get that, Dugie said. “I don’t think we can afford to lose any more EMS, and I don’t think we can afford to lose anymore telecommunica- tors,” Mayor Pat Hallisey said in support of Dugie’s idea. Eventually, City Council voted to approve the raises and for City Manager John Baumgartner to find money in the budget to trim to afford the additional $134,000 cost.
Commissioners approve help for renters facing eviction
City Council approves FY 2022-23 budget
BY JAKE MAGEE
DROPPING THE RATE Despite protest from a couple members, League City City Council approved a tax rate slightly lower than the fiscal year 2021-22 rate.
LEAGUE CITY With League City City Council’s approval Sept. 12, fiscal year 2022-23 will include the largest investment in capital projects the city has seen. During City Council’s meeting Sept. 12, members voted 6-2 to approve the budget. Mayor Pat Hallisey and Council Member Larry Millican were opposed, stating they did not favor dropping the tax rate so low. The budget-supporting tax rate, which City Council approved Sept. 27 at $0.415526 per $100 valuation, is $0.05 lower than the FY 2021-22 rate of $0.465526. Other council members, including Chad Tressler, said the rate decrease will be negligible for residents and the city. Council Member Nick Long pointed out small changes can make a big difference. Additionally, the budget includes increasing the cap- ital projects budget by $61 million
BY RACHEL CARLTON
HARRIS COUNTY On Sept. 27, Harris County commissioners voted 3-0 to approve $4 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to provide renters facing eviction with legal services. Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey and Precinct 4 Commis- sioner Jack Cagle were not in attendance for the vote. The $4 million will be split into $2 million of funding in 2023 and $2 million in 2024, and applicants will be able to apply for funding for an initial two-year period. The funding will augment the county’s $1 million housing and legal services initiative, which was approved by commissioners in August 2021 in anticipation of rising numbers of evictions following the end of the moratorium on evictions.
$0.50
$0.415526
$0.45
$0.40 0
over FY 2021-22. In total, the capital budget is almost $150 million for FY 2022-23, he said. “We are reinvesting to the tune of more than we ever have,” Long said. The budget totals $318.63 million and funds 11 new positions. The budget also includes $74.41 million on new street projects and $24.29 million on drainage projects. SOURCE: LEAGUE CITY/COMMUNITY IMPACT *PER $100 PROPERTY VALUATION Fiscal year 2021-22 2022-23
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BAY AREA EDITION • OCTOBER 2022
2022
VOTER GUIDE GUIDE
Candidates and information for general elections
COMPILED BY JAKE MAGEE
DATES TO KNOW Oct. 24 First day of early voting
WHERE TO VOTE
Nov. 8 Election Day Nov. 8 Last day to receive ballot by mail (or Nov. 9 if carrier envelope is postmarked by 7 p.m. at location of election on Election Day)
Registered voters in Galveston and Harris counties can vote at any polling center during early voting and on Election Day.
Oct. 28 Last day to apply for ballot by mail (received, not postmarked) Nov. 4 Last day of early voting
SOURCES: TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE, HARRIS COUNTY, GALVESTON COUNTY COMMUNITY IMPACT
SAMPLE BALLOT SAMPLE BALLOT
R Republican R Republican
D Democrat D Democrat
L Libertarian L Libertarian
G Green G Green
I Independent I Independent
STATE Governor *Incumbent
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 5 R Scott Walker* D Dana Hu man Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 6 R Jesse F. McClure, III* D Robert Johnson State Board of Education, District 7 R Julie Pickren D Dan Hochman L Alan Pyeatt State Board of Education, District 8 R Audrey Young* L Rhett Rosenquest Smith Texas House, District 23 D Keith Henry R Terri Leo-Wilson Texas House, District 24 R Greg Bonnen* D Michael Creedon L Ryan McCamy
Texas House, District 129 R Dennis Paul* D Kat Marvel FEDERAL U.S. House of Representatives, District 14 R Randy Weber* D Mikal Williams U.S. House of Representatives, District 22 R Troy Nehls* D Jamie Jordan L Joseph LeBlanc U.S. House of Representatives, District 36 R Brian Babin* D Jon Haire LOCAL Galveston County judge R Mark Henry* D William H. King III
Harris County judge R Alexandra del Moral Mealer D Lina Hidalgo* Harris County Precinct 2 commissioner
G Alfred Molison, Jr. Commissioner of agriculture R Sid Miller* D Susan Hays Railroad commissioner R Wayne Christian* D Luke Warford L Jaime Andres Diez G Hunter Crow Justice, Supreme Court, Place 3 R Debra Lehrmann* D Erin A. Nowell L Thomas Edward Oxford Justice, Supreme Court, Place 5 R Rebeca Huddle* D Amanda Reichek Justice, Supreme Court, Place 9 R Evan Young* D Julia Maldonado
R Greg Abbott* D Beto O’Rourke L Mark Tippetts G Delilah Barrios Lieutenant governor
R Jack Morman D Adrian Garcia* League City City Council, Position 2 Tommy Cones Billy Fregia League City City Council, Chris Dodson Brian Hanby League City City Council, Position 7 Position 3 Tom Crews
R Dan Patrick* D Mike Collier L Shanna Steele Attorney general R Ken Paxton* D Rochelle Mercedes Garza L Mark Ash Comptroller of public accounts R Glenn Hegar* D Janet T. Dudding L V. Alonzo Echevarria-Garza Commissioner of the General Land O ce R Dawn Buckingham D Jay Kleberg
Larissa Ramirez Sean Saunders Ange Mertens
Only candidates in contested elections are included. Go to county election websites for information on uncontested races.
For more election coverage and to read full Q&As, go to communityimpact.com.
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CANDIDATE Q&A
Get to know candidates running in November’s midterm elections
2022 VOTER GUIDE
League City City Council Position 2
What projects should be included in a new potential bond?
If elected, what would be your priorities?
What makes you the best can- didate for the job?
Occupation: retired assistant re chief/ re marshal Relevant experience: former League City City Council member, 42 years in government 281-924-8686 www.tommycones.com TOMMY CONES
If bonds are needed, I would suggest the City Council continue to focus on drainage and tra c projects that would eliminate ooding and tra c congestions. Due to the rapid growth on the west side of League City, rst responders’ facilities including re, police, and EMS stations will be required ... to provide adequate service. I would support bonds that could decrease the tax burden on property owners.
To maintain the lowest property taxes. To keep our police, re and EMS departments the best in Texas by providing proper fund- ing, equipment and support. Continuing funding and be proactive on tra c im- provements and drainage projects. Recruit commercial development that bene ts the taxpayers by providing sustainable sales tax to the city’s budget. Support our local busi- nesses and to provide great local economic strength for their success.
I have 42 years of municipal and gov- ernmental experience. My experience includes nine years as a former League City council member and mayor pro tem for one year. I recently retired as a Houston re ghter with 32 years. I have also served the League City Fire Department as the assistant re chief, re marshal and deputy re marshal for 20 years. Most impor- tantly, I have served the community as a dedicated volunteer for the city.
Questionnaire not returned by deadline. BILLY FREGIA
Questionnaire not returned by deadline.
Questionnaire not returned by deadline.
Questionnaire not returned by deadline.
Candidates were asked to keep responses under 75 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.
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