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New Volunteer Partnership: Leaders Make Readers
The City of League City
300 W. Walker
League City, TX 77573
Contact: Kristi Wyatt
281-554-1025
LEAGUE CITY MAYOR PAULISSEN HIGHLIGHTS INFRASTRUCTURE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH IN 2012 STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS
Citing infrastructure, economic development and community engagement as top priorities for 2012, League City Mayor Tim Paulissen also announced a new volunteer partnership with Clear Creek ISD schools Wednesday in his first State of the City speech.
“We have made great progress, but we can do more,” Mayor Paulissen said of League City, noting that 2012 marks 50 years of incorporation for League City, which has grown to become Galveston County’s most affluent and largest community with a population of more than 85,000.
Highlighting the mayor’s speech was the rollout of the “Leaders Make Readers” program, which seeks to pair local mentors with children at League City Elementary School, which includes one of CCISD’s largest populations of underserved students. The City, school district and Chamber are partners in the program, with an initial goal of 50 volunteers. CCISD Board President Dee Scott was present for the announcement, along with Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education Holly Hughes and League City Elementary Principal Kristina Lasserre.
“This project gives all of us a chance to support our local students,” Mayor Paulissen said, asking volunteers to visit the City’s website at leaguecity.com or ccisd.net/leadersmakereaders to volunteer.
“The ability to thrive as part of a productive workforce is based on the fundamental aspect of reading,” added Jason E. Ebey, League City Chamber of Commerce President & CEO. “Whether it is reading their paycheck or an employer’s operational manual, employees must possess reading as a learning cornerstone and the League City Chamber of Commerce is proud to be a partner in assisting students at League City Elementary in obtaining this life necessity.”
“We appreciate the City and Chamber for stepping up to join us in this important program,” assistant superintendent Hughes said. “Our children are our community’s most important resource, and providing them with positive role models while improving their reading skills is one of the greatest gifts we can give our young learners.”
Mayor Paulissen also alluded to new communications plans including outreach to share City Council’s strategic goals and budget plans with residents, along with project signage on City infrastructure improvements.
Infrastructure concerns targeted by the mayor include the City’s water supply, which is only sufficient to address about 10 more years of projected growth. Solutions, he said, include conservation, use of “gray water” for irrigation and non-potable uses, and acquisition of new supply. Mayor Paulissen also cited traffic as an issue of note, pointing out that the City’s retiming of traffic lights on Main Street from west League City through the Historic District has saved commuters about five minutes daily, or more than 20 hours a year of drive time.
On the economic development front, the mayor referred back to interest shown in League City by outlet mall developer Tanger – while that project didn’t materialize, the mayor pointed out that it did demonstrate the development community’s recognition of League City’s assets, including location, a well-educated workforce with significant disposable income, a Council commitment to pursue new retail and office development, and for the “recreational lifestyle” brand being adopted by the City. Public-private partnerships will be a key to establishing the I-45 corridor as an “Entertainment District,” according to the mayor, who also named South Shore Harbour and the Main Street/Historic District area as other key “districts” or destination points.
Through all these efforts, the City must continue taking good care of taxpayers’ dollars, according to Mayor Paulissen, who noted that the average League City homeowner has saved a cumulative $50 in the past two years as a result of two consecutive property tax cuts by City Council. As an example, the mayor pointed to the ongoing renovation of City Hall, which is to be completed at a cost of less than $6 million. A 2008 study estimated renovation costs at $11 million and new construction at $36 million, he said.
Finally, Mayor Paulissen challenged local residents and businesspeople to cooperate for their city’s success. “As our city grows and changes, we’ll continue to face controversial topics,” the mayor said. “There are no winners, no losers, and no sides to what we do – I encourage all of you to keep working together so we can move League City forward.”
