ADDRESSING ADDRESSES, LARGER LOTS, BUY IN FOR BOND ELECTION, HOME FOR A HERO, TRASH TALK, BUDGET WORKSHOPS and a WARM WELCOME.
Since the District D runoff election in June, the City of La Marque has had two Council meetings, hosted a meet and greet for Councilwoman McAuliffe and began budget workshops for next fiscal year. Here's a rundown of recent developments in La Marque.
A WARM WELCOME
After her official swearing in ceremony in June, Councilmember McAuliffe was honored with a Meet and Greet in the La Marque Community Room following the July City Council Meeting. Check out the photo album at https://www.facebook.com/cityoflamarque/.
BUDGET WORKSHOPS
La Marque City Council began Budget Workshops for the Proposed Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Departmental Budgets on Monday, July 24, 2017. The meetings are live streamed, and then posted on YouTube. City Council has a break today, Wednesday, July 26, 2017, and will resume Workshops at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 27, 2017. City Council Workshops are held at 1109-B Bayou Road. City of La Marque’s proposed budget can be found at www.cityoflamarque.org by visiting Home>Departments>Finance>Financial Transparency Reporting>City Budgets>2017-18 Proposed Budget.
TRASH TALK
Negotiations for the City of La Marque trash collection contract are ongoing and a decision could come as early as tomorrow, Thursday, July 27. City of La Marque City Council called a Special Meeting to begin at 2:15 p.m. Thursday for the purpose of discussion and possible action regarding award of a Solid Waste Services Contract to Waste Management of Texas, Inc. for solid waste services effective October 1, 2017, through September 30, 2024, including up to two (2) additional three (3) year optional renewal terms.
Waste Management is the largest environmental solutions provider in North America, serving more than 21 million municipal, commercial and industrial customers in the U.S. and Canada. They have invested in developing waste solutions for a changing world, including not just disposal and recycling, but personal counseling to help customers achieve their green goals, including zero waste.
HOME FOR AN AMERICAN HERO
Southeast Texas Finance Corporation offered a $50,000 grant to the City of La Marque, as long as the funds are spent on housing. La Marque City Council voted to put the grant funds toward a new home for a disabled United States military veteran. Friendswood Development Company, which owns the land at Delany Cove subdivision, agreed to provide the residential lot and will ask Lennar Homes to partner with the City for construction of a home. Stay tuned for updates as the City navigates the process of choosing a deserving recipient.
Southeast Texas Housing Finance Corporation (SETH) was organized in 1981 as a “housing finance corporation” under the Texas Housing Finance Corporations Act of 1979. SETH works with cities and counties across Southeast Texas with the purpose of creating and promoting affordable housing opportunities for the citizens, issuing tax-exempt single-family mortgage revenue bonds, providing homebuyer training and administering federal housing programs.
BUY IN FOR BOND ELECTION
The Galveston County Commissioners are considering a bond election that could go before voters in November 2017. Earlier this year, County Judge Mark Henry asked cities to submit projects that could be eligible for county funding. In response, La Marque city staffers prepared a list of road and drainage projects totaling nearly $2 million. At the July meeting, La Marque City Council approved submitting a list, which includes funding an overlay for La Marque’s Downtown District, $1.8 million in road projects and $100,000 in drainage projects for consideration. County Commissioners have until late August to decide on the Bond Election. More coming soon…
LARGER LOTS AT DELANY COVE
La Marque’s housing market is booming. We’ve experienced substantial and steady residential growth and our city offers a variety of affordable housing options. La Marque Planning and Zoning Commission and La Marque City Council recently decided that future developments should allow for 60-foot lots, rather than the traditional 50-foot lots. This will allow for a little more elbow room in our planned neighborhoods and potential for expanded home designs.
Friendswood Development Company owns the Delany Cove subdivision in La Marque. To date, they’re responsible for bringing about 400 Lennar Homes to La Marque. City Council recently gave the go-ahead to begin building the final phase, which will add about 300 more homes. The new section will feature larger, 60-foot lots and a community park featuring a seven-acre lake. Total buildout is expected in 2020.
ADDRESSING ADDRESSES
La Marque Clean City Commission has initiated a new campaign designed to help first responders locate citizens during welfare calls and emergency situations. The Clean City Commission Address Program provides inexpensive, reflective address signs. For $20, the Commission will create a custom address sign. Citizens are encouraged to install them near the road in plain sight. The signs can be ordered by calling Clean City Commission member Katherine Goodwin at 409-256-4645. The Address Program is open to Galveston County. Once ordered, the signs can be picked up at La Marque City Hall. Installation for senior citizens is available.
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About the City of La Marque: The City of La Marque is strategically situated in Galveston County approximately 15 miles from the southern city limit of Houston and four miles north of Galveston Island. La Marque has an estimated population of 16,000 and an area of 14.25 square miles. Citizens enjoy coastal living with the security of a hurricane protection levee system. The city provides a wide range of programs including Bayou Fest, an annual concert series and BBQ Cook Off; Magical Winter Lights, a 52-day holiday lantern festival and Crawfish Bash, an annual crawfish cook off that earned Guinness Book of World Records ranking in 2017. City of La Marque boasts easy access to world-class medical, travel and entertainment options. For business, La Marque offers developmental incentives, an abundance of commercial property and build-to-suit opportunities. La Marque is the Gateway to the Gulf. Discover the possibilities at www.cityoflamarque.org.