2018 Board of Directors
Steve Paterson President & CEO League City Regional Chamber
Managed Growth Will Bring Balance For the past couple of years , we have heard from our elected officials and city staff in League City about our unbalanced tax model . Currently , somewhere around 80 to 85 percent of the tax revenue for the city is provided by residents of League City .
It is a conundrum that many cities face at some time in their development . It is really “ the chicken or the egg ” question . What comes first ? You need roof tops ( homes ) to bring retail / commercial development and what is that number ? On the other hand , how much commercial development and what kind do you need with available land space to bring a balance to the contributions between both , where a fair share is paid by all .
Some communities in our region like Stafford , TX , Webster , TX and Clear Lake Shores , TX opted for a commercial development approach in balance with residential and have been very successful with this planned approach . So successful that some of these communities ’ residents either pay no ad valorum tax or very little to their cities . They did this through planned and managed growth .
What is planned and managed growth ? It is adopting a comprehensive master plan with a goal and objective in mind and the willingness to support the efforts of the plan in a successive manner as they take years to accomplish . Understanding , that city council ’ s come and go and citizen support and engagement with city leaders is crucial and necessary . Adopting a philosophy , which is committed too and followed by successive councils and city staff to accomplish the goal of building a community , which maintains the feel and amenities that made it attractive in the first place . All the while , providing for a sustainable tax base , which will be able to support the cities infrastructure and future needs .
League City is at a tipping point , as it surpasses 100,000 residents . It has more than enough population to bring retail development . We see that each day all around us . However , we need to ask the question is it that the best use of our land ? In adopting a managed growth business philosophy , the first step is taking the existing city map and mapping all the commercial and residential development as it exists today . Then looking at the 48 percent of undeveloped land left to the city to develop and planning best uses for that land through planning and zoning it appropriately to reach those goals of sustainability and balanced growth . If done properly with patience , so the commercial side of the ledger is participatory on providing taxes relief which is fair for all concerned .
The city fathers have started a strategic operating plan to tackle these and many other pressing issues , like drainage , water and other utilities as well as transportation and mobility . All are significant priorities , which a comprehensive master plan will be of great benefit in prioritizing those needs of the community . We hope that the work done by citizens and business owners the past 18 months as participants in the League City Master Plan Taskforce will be given serious consideration during this process . It is our hope that the taskforce is called on to provide citizen input in the process . Managed growth equals sustainability . We only get one chance at this let ’ s get it done right together .
2018 Board of Directors
Chair , Rebecca Lilley
Memorial Hermann
Treasurer , Bix Rathburn
RPC Consulting
Secretary , Gloria Greene
EliteCare 24 Hour ER
Past Chair , Ray Soto
Soto Financial & Insurance
2019 Incoming Chair , Bill Provenzano
Hometown Bank of League City
Elga Boeker
Houston Methodist St . John Hospital
James Brockway
Brockway Realty / Commercial
Dr . Laura Dupont
CCISD
Matthew Mathias
Clear Lake Regional Medical Center
Dr . Warren Nichols
College of the Mainland
Kalpesh Patel
Hampton Inn & Suites / Candlewood Suites
Chris Premont
Ron Carter Cadillac Hyundai Genesis
Dan Seal
BAHEP
Debbie Simmons
Anchor Point
Becky Trout-Unbehagen
UTMB Health
Rolando Villareal
Hilltop Securities
Peter Wuenschel
CIS - Bay Area
John Baumgartner
Ex-Officio , City of League City
Amanda Fenwick
Ex-Officio , City of Clear Lake Shores
Lisa Howard
Ex-Officio , HOT Tax Board
Peggy Zahler
Ex-Officio , HOA Alliance of League City