Summer officially starts June 21, but the weather is already heating up, which makes it the perfect time to cool off at one of our two municipal pools. Both the Walker pool and Hometown Heroes pool officially open for the summer season over the Memorial Day weekend. The Helen Hall Library also kicks off its annual summer reading program on May 31. The theme for this year’s program is “All Together Now” and offers incentives and prizes for all ages, including adults. For more information visit leaguecity.com/library.
Summer in League City also brings with it a variety of FREE city-sponsored events, including our 2nd annual White Linen Night Artfest on June 10 in the Historic District, our July 3 Fireworks Extravaganza at the Chester L. Davis Sportsplex, and Citizen Appreciation Day at Hometown Heroes on July 4. Be sure to save these dates on your calendar and come out to enjoy some fun with the entire family.
June 1 officially kicks off the start of the Atlantic Hurricane Season and we want to make sure all our residents, particularly our new families, are prepared. That’s why we’re partnering with Galveston County and the surrounding cities in our area to host a Hurricane Preparedness and Safety Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 17 at Hometown Heroes Park. The fair includes an update from the National Weather Service Office, preparedness vendors, door prizes, and activities for children. Perhaps the most important thing you can do to prepare for this year’s hurricane season is to make sure you are signed up for League City’s emergency alert system, which will notify you via text or an automated phone call in the event of an evacuation order, boil water notice, shelter in place, or other imminent danger to the health and safety of you and your family.
You MUST OPT IN to receive these free city alerts. To sign up, visit leaguecity.com/alerts
Finally, while summer may be a time for family, vacations, and time off from school, it’s an extremely busy and important season for myself and my colleagues on City Council. For the past several months, all City departments have been preparing their proposed budgets for Fiscal Year 2024, which runs from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024. City Council will be reviewing these proposed budgets at a series of workshops in July and August that are open to the public. Council’s main responsibility with the City’s budget is to ensure that the tax rate is where it needs to be, that we are investing in the critical infrastructure the city needs for future growth, and that we are putting money into capital improvements projects that need to be completed. One of the most important requirements that we ask of City staff is to bring to council a proposed budget at the “no new revenue rate,” which essentially means there is no increase in the city’s property tax rate when it comes to a dollar amount for residents. Over the past ten years, City Council has decreased the tax rate every year while increasing the money we have put towards infrastructure, all while continuing to maintain the level of service that our residents expect. We look to do the same for the upcoming FY 2024 Budget. I encourage you to get involved in the City’s budget process by attending one of the workshops this summer or by sharing your feedback with me at nick.long@leaguecitytx.gov.
Here’s to a great summer in League City.
Nick Long Mayor of League City
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PRESERVE WHAT YOU LOVE
A glance into League City’s conservation and preservation efforts
NEW SOLID WASTE CONTRACT
More benefits for League City residents
HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS
Q&A with the City’s Office of Emergency Management
HOW TO HAVE AN AMAZING
LEAGUE CITY SUMMER
Explore summer programs and activities
Back in early 2022, the Galveston Bay Area Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists reached out to John Orsag—a 25-year veteran of League City’s Parks Department and head of the City’s conservation efforts—for permission to clear the 44-acre Dick Benoit Prairie Preserve of invasive species and identify plants on the prairie.
Orsag was eager to work with the group, and they planned several workdays to identify plants and clear the invasive Chinese Tallow trees that were threatening to choke out native species. Through their efforts, the prairie—located south of League City Parkway and directly east of Mar Bella Parkway— became a certified Texas Native Prairie in late 2022. The City continues to partner with the Master Naturalists to maintain the health and vitality of the prairie. To-date, there have been more than 200 different plant species identified within this thriving ecosystem.
This 148-acre nature preserve was created as the result of a land acquisition in 2005, using grant funds from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The purpose of the Nature Center is to protect a variety of important local habitats, including:
51 Acres of Coastal Riparian Forest
24 Acres of Remnant Coastal Prairie
21 Acres of Estuarine Mixed Wetlands
52 Acres of Estuarine Wetlands
League City’s Parks Operations Department partners with local groups and experts— including the Galveston Bay Foundation and the League City Garden Club—to protect and maintain this site. Along with shoreline restoration following severe damage from
Maintaining League City’s natural resources requires planning and partnerships. As we grow in population, we want to ensure our green spaces are nurtured and that we foster a community respectful of these vital habitats. Learn about some of the measures we are taking to care for our local environment.
past hurricanes, efforts are also underway to restore 11 acres of coastal prairie land on the property. In the fall of 2019, work began to remove invasive Chinese Tallow trees. Following the invasive species removal, staff and contractors seeded the entire 11-acre site with coastal prairie plants and wildflowers. In November 2022, the Galveston Bay Foundation donated more than 500 coastal prairie plants to help with the restoration project and will be donating at least 500 more in the fall of 2023. Additionally, The League City Garden Club has been instrumental in cleaning and tending to the on-site butterfly garden, where Monarchs come to lay eggs.
Less than 1% of Texas Coastal Prairie lands remain intact. Coastal prairie ecosystems are essential wildlife habitats and play a vital role in the health of our local ecosystem. They provide flood control, water filtration, carbon storage, and pollinator support.
2Dick Benoit was a Texas Master Naturalist and League City resident until his passing in September 2022 at the age of 86. He was known throughout the community for his love of nature and was a founding member of the Galveston Bay Area Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists. He even coined their motto— Food, Fun, and Friendship! Benoit was one of the first Texas Master Naturalists in the state to serve 10,000 volunteer hours—a testament to his enthusiasm and devotion to
preserving and protecting Texas native habitats and wildlife. The Dick Benoit Prairie Preserve was named in his honor, acknowledging his dedication to our precious coastal prairie habitats.
Watch here for more about Dick Benoit & his legacy.
“No Mow” is a landscaping practice that promotes pollinator habitats, while also reducing our carbon footprint. Rather than regularly mowing large, grassy areas of undeveloped land, the space is seeded with plants and flowers that will attract bees, butterflies, and birds. League City’s Parks Operations Manager, Cameron Parker, introduced the concept to some of the undeveloped spaces around Hometown Heroes Park, including a 12-acre area near the newly opened Bark Park that required significant mowing—up to 48 times per year. In early 2023, Parker seeded the land with native wildflowers, including bluebonnets (the future bluebonnet patch is pictured above). He implemented the same concept beneath a powerline easement at Hometown Heroes, dispersing 2,000 sunflower seeds from 10 different sunflower species. These areas will now only be mowed twice per year—for seed recovery purposes—and flowers should begin blooming in the spring of 2024.
The 3.75-acre Ghirardi Family WaterSmart Park opened to the public in 2014. The creation of the park involved partnerships with several agencies including the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Galveston Bay Estuary Program, and Texas Sea Grant. The park features a rain garden, water cisterns, an outdoor classroom, native plant life, educational signage, a green-roof pavilion, and swales. The historic, century-old Ghirardi Compton Oak Tree is also located on the property.
WaterSmart is a program of the U.S. Department of the Interior focused on water conservation strategies, projects, and best practices. A WaterSmart park features landscapes planted with native and adapted non-invasive plants that are well suited to the climate of the area. Native plants require less watering once they are established and don’t need chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides to thrive. These landscapes can reduce water irrigation volume and polluted runoff from entering storm drains by up to 90%.
Visit the park at 1910 Louisiana Ave.
Migratory Monarch butterfly numbers have experienced a staggering decline in recent years, with some populations decreasing by as much as 99%. Monarchs migrate through our region twice annually—from late February through April and from September through early November. They need native habitats to rest, refuel, and lay eggs for the next generation. As pollinators, they are a vital part of our ecosystem. Sadly, Monarch numbers have declined due to native habitat loss and increased use of pesticides.
The City of League City is dedicated to helping save the Monarchs by restoring and cultivating habitats conducive to their survival. For the past several years, League City’s mayor has signed the National Wildlife Federation’s “Mayor’s Monarch Pledge.” This pledge represents the City of League City’s commitment to sustaining and enhancing habitats for pollinating insects, while educating and encouraging the community to join us in our mission.
In April of this year, the City’s Parks Department staff picked up 120 milkweed plants given to the City by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Monarchs lay their eggs exclusively on milkweed plants. Girl Scout troop 139135 partnered with the City to plant the milkweed in the butterfly garden in front of Helen Hall Library. In addition to the library, there is a Monarch butterfly garden at the Clear Creek Nature Center. These gardens serve as Monarch “nurseries,” where the butterflies lay their eggs, caterpillars hatch, and the remarkable butterfly lifecycle process unfolds.
The Monarch butterfly is the Texas state insect!
1 Egg stage: 3 to 5 days
2 Caterpillar (larval) stage: 2 to 3 weeks
3 Chrysalis (pupal) stage: 1 to 2 weeks
4 Adult butterfly stage: 2 to 5 weeks during summer breeding season, but the butterflies that migrate to Mexico in the fall live 8 to 9 months.
Plant a variety of milkweed species. Note: Tropical milkweed is not recommended, as it can be harmful to Monarchs. Native varieties are best. Plant an assortment of nectarproducing flowers that bloom during the spring, summer, and fall seasons. These provide Monarchs with food sources during the non-winter season.
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Avoid using pesticides and herbicides that can harm Monarchs and other pollinators. Along with native flowers, encourage native habitat restoration by planting native grasses, trees, and shrubs.
Native plants create healthy and thriving habitats for native wildlife, insects, and microorganisms. They help conserve water, and don’t require chemical fertilizers or pesticides because they are already suited to our environment.
Invasive plants can degrade wildlife habitats and water quality, while competing with native species for resources.
Yaupon Holly
Size
Height = 12-25 feet
Spread = 8-12 feet
Exposure
Sun to part-sun
Features
• Female plants produce red berries in winter
• Attracts birds, wildlife
American Beautyberry
Size
Height = 3-6 feet
Spread = 5-7 feet
Exposure
Part-shade to shade
Features
• Grows well under trees
• Pinkish-purple flowers in spring, purple fruit in fall
• Attracts birds, wildlife
Turk’s Cap
Size
Height = 3-5 feet
Spread = 3-5 feet
Exposure
Part-shade to shade
Features
• Cherry red blooms from spring to fall
• Attracts birds, hummingbirds, butterflies
Passionflower Vine
Size
Height/Spread = grows up to 25 feet
Exposure
Sun, part-sun
Features
• Unique purple flower from May to August
• Attracts butterflies
Golden Rain Tree
Chinese Tallow Tree
Height = up to 60 feet
Spread = 30-50 feet
Exposure
Sun, part-shade, shade
• Fast-growing, rapid spreader, adaptable to various growing conditions
• Produces many seeds
Pampas Grass
Size
Height = 12-14 feet
Spread = clumps spread up to 12 feet
Exposure:
Sun
Issues
• Produces many seeds (up to 100,000 per flowerhead)
• Sharp-edged leaves
Elephant Ears
Size
Height = 4-6 feet
Spread = 4-6 feet per plant
Exposure
Sun, part-shade
Issues
• Invasive in wetland areas and edges of lakes, rivers
• Quickly crowds out native vegetation
Size
Height = 30-40 feet
Spread = 20-30 feet
Exposure
Sun, part-shade, shade
Issues
• Produces many seeds with fast germination, pink seed pods
• Drought tolerant
Eastern Redbud
Size
Height = 15-25 feet
Spread = 15-20 feet
Exposure
Part-sun (protect from summer afternoon sun)
Features
Pinkish-purple blooms in early spring before leaves appear (February/March)
Trifoliate Orange
Size
Height = 6-20 feet
Spread = 3-6 feet
Exposure
Sun, part-shade, shade
Issues
• Produces sour oranges
• Invasive in woodland areas
• Forms dense, aggressive thorny hedges
Rest assured, when you go to the sink to pour yourself a glass of water, what comes out of the faucet is clean, safe, and meets strict state drinking water standards for pressure, distribution, and even taste. The responsibility of controlling and monitoring water pressure and quality, maintaining pumps, pipes, and other equipment, and distributing water to over 115,000 residents throughout League City belongs to the Water Production Department. This team of men and women work 365 days a year—including weekends and holidays—to ensure there is never a break in the delivery of clean and safe water to League City homes and businesses.
League City purchases water from two main entities—the Gulf Coast Water Authority (GCWA) and the City of Houston. The water from the GCWA comes from the Brazos River in Galveston County while water from the City of Houston comes from the Trinity River in Harris County. Before arriving in League City, both sources of water go through a series of treatments and tests to make the water potable—meaning safe for human consumption. The potable water is then transported via a series of large pipelines to a variety of League City facilities before being distributed to homes and businesses or stored in elevated tanks.
Operators take daily readings at all the city’s booster pump stations to determine if adjustments need to be made to water
pressure, tank levels, or chlorine and disinfectant levels. They also ensure the quality and reliability of the city’s 544 miles of water pipeline by regularly flushing nearly 5,000 fire hydrants located throughout the city.
Water Production staff maintain 14 facilities— ten booster pump stations and four elevated storage tanks—as well as an extensive system of valves, motors, chemical feed equipment, and automated control components. Technicians perform over 3,500 annual preventive maintenance activities on all equipment.
Over the next 20 to 30 years, League City is predicted to double in population, which will require an increase in raw water supply, surface water treatment capacity, and the conveyance of water to homes and businesses. Ongoing and future projects underway to prepare for this growth include:
Over 1,200 regulatory compliance samples are taken each year and sent to the state to ensure the quality of League City’s drinking water. Staff also take additional samples throughout
Tommy Arredondo—who supervises the Water Production Department—has worked for League City for nearly 20 years, working his way up from a crewman to Public Works Utility Manager.
SOUTH
WALKER PUMP STATION
MEADOW BEND PUMP STATION
CALDER ROAD PUMP STATION
• Upgrading and replacing the nearly 50-year-old Southeast Transmission Line (SETL) which conveys the City’s primary drinking water supply from Houston to the City’s SH 3 Booster Pump Station. The new pipeline—which is currently under design— will increase in diameter from 42 to 54 inches.
• Construction of a 36-inch water line from the City’s SH 3 Booster Pump Station to the South Shore Booster Pump Station. This project will provide a third major water supply to cross Clear Creek, further increasing system redundancy.
• Negotiations and financial support to the City of Houston to expand its Southeast Water Purification Plant (SEWPP). This project will provide the treatment capacity required to deliver a supply of 20 million gallons of potable water per day to League City, which is needed for the city’s population growth.
• Construction of two additional ground water wells for emergency and supplemental supply.
“In my opinion, because of the checks and balances we have, League City’s drinking water is safer for consumption and tastes better than the bottled water you buy at the store.” -Tommy Arredondothe city’s water distribution system for quality assurance and quality control.
1. Slight rate increase
Rates are increasing from $19.66/month to $20.84/month per household.
2 Additional heavy trash collection days
Residential customers can now place heavy trash items out on both of their pickup days. This includes up to six items of yard waste and up to two items of heavy trash—excluding refrigerators, freezers, and microwaves—from each residential unit two times per week.
3. New curbside household hazardous waste events (residential customers only)
Along with our spring and fall household hazardous waste events at Hometown Heroes, there will be two curbside household hazardous waste events, one in summer and one in winter, weather permitting. For the summer 2023 curbside event, residents need to call AmeriWaste at 281-585-3200 between June 1 and June 15 to be added to the pickup list. Curbside pickups will be the third and fourth weeks of June, and AmeriWaste will notify residents by phone of their pickup date.
• Place yard waste curbside, leaving at least four feet from other objects.
Yard waste shall not include items that cannot be safely lifted and placed on a truck by two people.
• Yard trimmings (leaves, grass, clippings, yard/garden debris) and woody material items must be securely bagged. If they are not bagged, they will not be picked up. Bags must weigh less than 50 pounds.
Branches, brush, and similar woody material must be bundled and tied. Bundles must be less than five feet long, with a diameter under 18 inches, and weighing less than 50 pounds. This does not include tree trunks or root balls that exceed six inches in diameter. No more than six yard waste items will be picked up.
• The aggregate weight of tree limbs must not exceed 300 pounds.
• Place heavy trash items curbside, at least four feet from other objects.
• Shall not include items or materials which cannot be safely lifted and placed on a truck by two people.
Set your heavy trash items out by 7 a.m. on your collection day, but no earlier than 6 p.m. the evening before.
• Construction waste will not be picked up.
On May 1, 2023, the City of League City began a new contract with AmeriWaste. This new contract includes a slight rate increase and will provide some extra benefits to League City residential customers.
Following basic recycling guidelines ensures our recyclable waste isn’t contaminated. If a recycling truck load contains more than 25% contaminated waste material, the entire load is required to go to the landfill.
Why recycling matters
League City’s recycling is taken to FCC Environmental Services to be sorted and processed. The more we recycle, the less waste material ends up in landfills. Landfills are finite spaces. It’s imperative to the health and longevity of our natural resources to “lighten the load” of waste in our local landfills. Help us keep League City’s outdoor spaces clean by following these basic recycling guidelines.
Loose paper, newspaper, junk mail, and magazines
Flattened cardboard boxes
Emptied and rinsed aluminum and steel cans
Emptied and rinsed glass bottles and jars
Emptied and rinsed plastic water and soda bottles
Plastic bags of any kind
Unbroken-down boxes
Recyclable items with food waste on/in them
Styrofoam
Metal items (car parts, pots/pans, and clothes hangers)
During a Saturday night this past April, over a hundred teens and young adults gathered inside the gym at Hometown Heroes Park for League City’s first-ever Adaptive Prom. It was a night to get dressed up, dance, and make memories.
Renee Bennett and Kenny Walsh, Assistant Director of Parks and Cultural Services.
For Kenny Walsh, Assistant Director of Parks and Cultural Services, it was a night for him and his staff to celebrate their years of work to expand the services and programs League City provides to individuals in our community with special needs.
Walsh saw firsthand the benefits of a successful city-led adaptive programming effort while working for the City of Allen’s Parks and Recreation Department. When he was hired by League City, he saw an opportunity to start something similar to the program in Allen, but on a smaller scale. In 2017, Walsh reached out to the Verne Cox Adaptive Recreation Center in Pasadena to ask for advice on how to get started and to seek training for himself and the City’s entire recreation team.
The result was the creation of a successful “Family Fun Day” for individuals with disabilities and their families later in 2017. The day included
a variety of adaptive recreational activities, and also provided an opportunity for Walsh and his staff to gather feedback from parents regarding their needs and the needs of their children. Fast forward to today, Walsh and his team have built a robust adaptive recreational program that offers special events and services including dances, cooking classes, gardening, and even an adaptive Easter egg hunt featuring beeping eggs for the visually impaired.
Shortly after Walsh and his team began the City’s adaptive programming efforts, the Clear Creek Independent School District approached the City about hosting a weekly adaptive physical education program for their students. At first, CCISD provided the staff. Now, League City has its own instructor, and the program is open to anyone on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10 to 11 a.m. at the League City Community Center.
In addition, the Hometown Heroes Recreation Center hosts a variety of adaptive recreational programs for residents of all ages every Wednesday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. From April to October participants can enjoy adaptive water aerobics, and throughout the rest of the year programming varies from Zumba to pickleball and tennis.
Walsh and the Parks and Recreation Department have also formed partnerships with local groups and organizations that serve individuals with special needs. Shortly after the first Family Fun Day, Renee Bennett and her husband Doug, a League City volunteer firefighter, approached Walsh about collaborating with Hewitt’s Heroes—a program named after longtime League City Fire Chief Art Hewitt. The Bennett’ s started the program to provide an opportunity for their specialneeds son, Christian, and other young adults with disabilities to volunteer once a month at a League City fire station. Since Walsh took over managing the program, Christian and fellow members of Hewitt’s Heroes now volunteer at nearly every adaptive event the City hosts, as
“Our work to grow our adaptive programming efforts is extremely rewarding and reminds me of why I originally pursued a career in parks and recreation. It’s about engaging and listening to our citizens so we can expand and evolve our programming to better serve their needs .”
-Kenny Walshwell as other Parks and Recreation events. The program is so successful that it was recently honored with the “Innovative Program of the Year” award from the East Region of the Texas Recreation and Parks Society.
The Parks and Recreation Department also collaborates with the Christina Sullivan Foundation, a non-profit that encourages a healthy and active lifestyle for children and adults with intellectual and physical challenges. In the last year, the Foundation and League City have partnered to host adaptive bocce ball and beep baseball—a version of America’s favorite pastime adapted for the blind and visually impaired.
What’s next for Walsh and the Parks and Recreation team? Growing League City’s adaptive program offerings and creating more events to serve special needs children and adults throughout League City and surrounding cities in the Bay Area. Have an idea or want to help League City’s efforts? Email Walsh at kenny.walsh@leaguecitytx.gov
During an event—planned or unplanned— League City’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) coordinates information both internally and externally, ensures adequate resources are available for responders, and keeps everyone on the same page while working towards common goals and objectives. The OEM works with multiple departments and agencies to coordinate all four phases of emergency management: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.
Meet Ryan Edghill, League City’s Emergency Management Coordinator, and Kristin Gauthier, Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator. We sat down with them for a short Q & A to get their advice on how residents can best prepare for hurricanes as we enter the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season.
Q: Is 2023 predicted to be an active year for hurricanes in our area?
A: While some forecasters are predicting an average or below-average season, we want to stress that the number of total storms during a season is irrelevant. It only takes one storm to impact your area.
Q: What do you wish every resident understood about hurricane preparation?
A: Storm preparation is something that needs to happen long before a storm forms. Over the years, we’ve seen storm after storm develop and rapidly intensify. If residents wait until that storm is in the Gulf to prepare, it is likely too late to get the supplies you need and prepare yourself, family, and home for potential impacts. The best time to prepare is now, while there are plenty of available supplies.
Q: What is your best tip for being prepared?
A: Have a plan! Don’t be casual about your planning. It shouldn’t just be a discussion you have with your family. Have a formal plan that is written down and includes checklists. Things are easy to forget in a stressful situation.
Q: What would you like to say to newcomers who have never experienced a hurricane season?
A: You’ve chosen a wonderful place to live, and hurricane season is nothing to be feared. Make sure you have reviewed your plan, prepare with appropriate supplies for your household, plug into League City’s various communication channels, and evaluate your insurance prior to the season. Flood insurance may not be required where you live, but it’s something we strongly encourage you to have.
Q: How can residents stay informed about their risk when a tropical system is headed our way?
A:
For information about what actions the City is taking or recommending, you can follow our social media, visit our website, and sign up for the City’s emergency alert system at leaguecity.com/alerts For weather information, we always recommend going straight to the source. Use weather.gov/hgx for our local National Weather Service office and hurricanes.gov for NOAA’s hurricane page.
League City is susceptible to both riverine and coastal flooding, which means many of the homes in our community are at risk of flooding during heavy rainfall events. Here are some ways you can protect yourself and your property in future flood events.
New discoveries await inside a library! Stop by the Helen Hall Library and sign up for your free library card. Gain access to tons of library materials including books, e-books, learning kits, games, puzzles, coloring books, music, movies, and more!
Make a splash at our local city pools located at Hometown Heroes Park and the Municipal Complex on Walker Street. Summer swim passes are available for both pools. For a Walker Street pool pass only, it is $15 for residents. For a combined Walker and Hometown Heroes pool pass, it is $25 for residents ($45 for non-residents). Summer passes are valid from May 27 to September 4, 2023.
Go treasure hunting and view the hidden gems of the city with League City’s GeoTour. Hunt for caches and prizes along the waterfront, beyond the trees and trails, and through some of our most-beloved scenic spots. Start your treasure hunt at visitleaguecity.com/geotour
Discover the Historic District, with its quaint shops, boutiques, restaurants, and the One Room Schoolhouse Museum. The League City Historical Society frequently offers educational WALKabout tours through the Historic District along with monthly live-music nights. Learn more at leaguecityhistory.org or on their Facebook page at facebook.com/leaguecityhistory
Take a shelter dog on a field trip with League City Animal Care’s “Dog Day Getaways.” Have a picnic, go on a hike, take a trip to the beach, have a sleepover at home, or share a nice dinner at a petfriendly restaurant. These outings help shelter dogs manage kennel stress, burn off energy, and get more exposure for potential adoption. For more information, visit leaguecity.com/animalfoster
Come out to the Historic District on Saturday, June 10 from 4 to 8 p.m. for an evening of art and entertainment. More than 100 artists will line the streets and have items for sale and for show amongst the backdrop of historic homes and sprawling oaks. Wear your white to beat the heat and enjoy live music, artists at work, food trucks, drinks, and more. Learn more at leaguecity.com/whitelinennight
Spanning over 5.5 miles of waterway, the Clear Creek Paddle Trail invites you to explore the scenic views and wildlife that live in and around the creek. Take your kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes out on the water. If you need a rental, check out Clear Creek Kayaks. There are three kayak launches in League City, with several more under construction. Existing launch sites are at Lynn Gripon Park at Countryside, Walter Hall Park, and Heritage Park.
League City offers two family-friendly Independence Day celebrations. On July 3, come out to the Chester L. Davis Sportsplex from 6 to 9 p.m. for live music, bounce houses, food trucks, entertainment, and more. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m. On July 4, stop by Hometown Heroes Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for Citizen Appreciation Day. This free event features a petting zoo, face painting, bounce houses, and other family-friendly entertainment. The Mayor, Council, and City staff will serve complimentary hot dogs.
Reading challenges, programs, prizes, and more are in store for you at Helen Hall Library this summer. Their summer program, “All Together Now,” is all about bringing the community together with an assortment of activities and educational fun for all ages. Learn more at leaguecity.com/library
Make planning a day trip easier with the Visit League City app. Find information about things to do, restaurants, shops, trails, and more inside the app, and create your own trip itineraries.
Explore League City’s scenic parks and trail systems. Visit Heritage Park and spend the day basking in the sun with the turtles at the turtle pond, or stop by Lynn Gripon Park at Countryside to walk the hike and bike trails along Clear Creek. Spot birds and wildlife at Clear Creek Nature Center, a perfect place for birding and naturewatching. Find more ways to play outside at leaguecitynature.com
Dozens of charming boutiques and specialty shops are sprinkled throughout League City. Discover unique treasures and gifts, gourmet food, locally crafted jewelry, and high-end fashion.
Check out a local shopping guide at visitleaguecity.com/shopping
The budget for the City presents a complete financial plan for the next fiscal year, as well as reflecting the prior year’s actual expenses and the year-end estimate for the current fiscal year. League City’s fiscal year starts October 1 and ends September 30.
• The operating budget sets forth funding for all proposed expenditures for administration, operation, and maintenance of every City department.
• The capital budget is comprised of all capital projects to be undertaken or executed during the next fiscal year.
• In addition, the budget projects the anticipated income and other means of financing the total proposed expenditures of the City government for the fiscal year.
The budget process starts many months before the adoption of the annual budget. It begins with City Council setting the goals for the year and continues with updating the Long-Range Financial Forecast. The purpose of the forecast is to provide long-term context for annual decisions that will be made with the next year’s budget and Capital Improvement Plan. The forecast advises City Council of prevailing economic conditions, the effect of our economic and operating environments on revenues and expenses, and options available for allocating funds in accordance with City Council goals and priorities. These steps help us to determine what our current resources will be for the coming year so that we may appropriately allocate those resources to the various departments and/or Capital Improvement Projects.
In April of each year, City departments submit estimates of their budgetary requirements to the City Manager. Guided by the budget team, department submissions are reviewed and discussed with each department head, department director, the Assistant City Manager–CFO, and the City Manager from late April through May. These meetings focus on maintaining service levels, but also include discussions on current year-end estimates and new requests. After the department meetings are concluded, the City Manager prepares a proposed budget document to present to City Council in mid-July. The document is also posted on the City’s website for public inspection and a printed copy is available at the Helen Hall Library.
The proposed budget document is reviewed and discussed with City Council during a series of workshops in mid-July to early August. These meetings are open to the public, and include time designated on each agenda for public comment (see dates below). During the workshops, City Council may revise, alter, increase, or decrease the items of the budget. City Council’s changes are included in the budget ordinance for approval in late August, with a second reading in early September.
July 17 CIP Capital Projects and Overview of FY2024 Proposed Budget
July 24 Council Budget Work Session: Utilities, Engineering, Streets, Planning, Building, Neighborhood Services, Economic Development, Project Management, Information Technology & Facilities
July 31 Council Budget Work Session: Administration, Public Safety, Parks & Library, Communications, Finance, Budget & Human Resources
Aug. 1 Council Budget Work Session: Outstanding items and wrap-up
Aug. 8 Public Hearing on FY2024 Budget
Aug. 22 Public Hearing on FY2024 Budget; First reading on FY2024 Budget Ordinance
Sept. 12 Second & Final reading of FY2024 Budget Ordinance
Sept. 20 Deadline to adopt FY2024 Budget per City Charter
• Review the proposed budget document either through the City’s website or in person at the Helen Hall Library.
• Budget or CIP questions can be submitted to the Assistant City Manager–CFO, Angie Steelman, at angie.steelman@leaguecitytx.gov or 281-338-4186.
• Attend a Council Workshop (schedule of dates and agenda to the left).
• Attend a public hearing on the Budget (proposed for August 8 and 22) and sign up before the meeting to speak during the public hearing time.
• Attend any Council meeting and sign up before the meeting to speak during the Citizen Comments time.
League City’s annual
process is a months-long collaboration between department heads, executive staff members, and City Council. It also includes public workshops that residents are welcome to attend. Planning kicks off in the spring and culminates with the adoption of the fiscal year budget in mid-September.
Nick Long Mayor 409-927-0856 nick.long@leaguecitytx.gov
Andy Mann Mayor Pro Tem 281-554-1221 andy.mann@leaguecitytx.gov
Tommy Cones Position 2 409-927-0855 tommy.cones@leaguecitytx.gov
Tom Crews Position 3 409-440-5900 tom.crews@leaguecitytx.gov
John Bowen Position 4 409-204-8974 john.bowen@leaguecitytx.gov
Justin Hicks Position 5 409-204-8944 justin.hicks@leaguecitytx.gov
Chad Tressler Position 6 409-218-2916 chad.tressler@leaguecityx.gov
Sean Saunders Position 7 713-419-8710 sean.saunders@leaguecitytx.gov
Have a question, concern or need assistance related to a City service?
Call 311 from your mobile or landline phone.
Monday-Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Friday: 7:30 a.m. to noon.
For police or fire emergency, call 911
Is there a pothole on your street that needs to be fixed? An overgrown drainage ditch that needs to be mowed? Request a service from City staff and track its progress by signing up for leaguecity.com/tracker.
