CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE OCTOBER 30, 2020 City Refinances Debt at Unprecedented Rate League City will save close to $7 million over the next 12 years See page 1 City Manager Residents get a 25% savings on flood FEMA John Baumgartner insurance | See page 1 The City Manager’s Update is a Lower Clear Creek and Dickinson Bayou weekly newsletter that provides Public Meeting information about ongoing Watershed Study | See page 2 projects, events, and initiatives Apply for a City board or commission by across League City. Volunteer October 31 | See page 3 CVB Public Safety Animal Shelter Event Celebrate Safely Employee Promotion Health and Wellness Expo Check out Halloween events in Meet League City’s new Animal Come browse and enter a raffle for a League City. See page 6 Services Manager. See page 1 free 50-inch tv! See page 4 PAGE 1 | City Manager’s Update OCTOBER 30 | 2020 City Refinances Debt at Unprecedented Rate League City was recently able to refinance $42 million of City debt at an interest rate of 1.2 percent, saving the City close to $7 million over the next 12 years. Thanks and appreciation go out to staff members of our Finance Department and the City’s team of financial advisors for their efforts to get this unprecedented rate. City’s Floodplain Management Efforts Lead to Ratings Increase from FEMA The Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has increased League City from as Class 6 rating to a Class 5 rating in the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System. This new rating is a result of League City’s continual floodplain management efforts to reduce flooding losses. It will provide League City residents with a 25 percent savings on their flood insurance. “This savings is a tangible result of the flood mitigation activities League City implements to protect lives and reduce property damage,” said William H. Lesser, CRS Coordinator with the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration. League City is only the fourth city in Texas to achieve the Class 5 designation. The other three cities are Houston, Dallas, and Grand Prairie. Texas does not have any cities or counties rated higher than a Class 5 at this time. “I commend the determination and efforts of the City’s Engineering, Floodplain, and Stormwater Management Departments to make this rating increase possible,” said League City Manager John Baumgartner. “Their commitment to make our community more disaster resistant enhances public safety, property protection, and protects the natural functions of our area’s floodplains.” New Animal Services Manager The City of League City would like to introduce Jasmine O’Keefe, who was promoted to Animal Services Manager. Jasmine began her career with the League City Animal Shelter in 2013 as the Volunteer/Community Outreach Coordinator, and she accepted her current position on September 28, 2020. She was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and graduated from LSU in Animal Science and Business. Prior to her arrival in League City, she worked as a veterinarian technician at a low-cost veterinary hospital and at a 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital. At the League City Animal Shelter, she created and managed several volunteer programs such as the Canine Good Citizenship training program, the Dogs Playing for Life canine playgroups program, and expanded the community outreach program to include humane education in schools and senior citizen community events. Congratulations, Jasmine! PAGE 2 | City Manager’s Update OCTOBER 30 | 2020 Lower Clear Creek and Dickinson Bayou Watershed Study The Lower Clear Creek and Dickinson Bayou Watershed What are the goals of the study? Study is hosting a series of virtual public meeting to •Identify the region’s flood vulnerabilities encourage public participation and feedback regarding •Develop data-driven strategies to reduce flood the findings of the first two phases of the study. The next risks along the main channels of Clear Creek and meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 4 at Dickinson Bayou 6:30 p.m. and will focus on Clear Creek. Online access •Develop a comprehensive, regional Flood Mitigation to the meeting can be found here. Plan When will we see flood control results from the study? The final phase of the study involves identifying and prioritizing projects. After projects are chosen, they will move into a variety of approval processes, followed by project launch. League City residents can expect data-driven drainage projects that will provide long-term flood mitigation solutions not only for League City, but for all cities within the study region, providing the most effective regional drainage approach. What is the Lower Clear Creek and Dickinson Bayou Watershed study? A three-phase, 18-month regional study spearheaded by the City of League City to develop a comprehensive flood mitigation plan for the Lower Clear Creek and Dickinson Bayou watersheds. It began in early 2020 and will be complete by early summer 2021. Who is part of the study? The City of League City leads the study in partnership with the cities of Friendswood, Webster, Dickinson, Pearland, and Nassau Bay; Galveston County; Brazoria County; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; the Harris County Flood Control District; and the Galveston County Consolidated Drainage District. PAGE 3 | City Manager’s Update OCTOBER 30 | 2020 Last Call To Sign Up For a City Board, Commission, Or Committee League City is currently seeking volunteers for positions on City boards, commissions, and committees to fill current vacancies and those positions expiring this year. Applications must be submitted NO later than Saturday, October 31. Residents interested in volunteering are encouraged to apply through the online application form. Applications are also available from the City Secretary’s Office at City Hall, 300 West Walker. Information regarding a list of openings, descriptions of the boards and commissions, and eligibility requirements can be found here. Contact the City Secretary’s Office at 281-554-1030 for more information. Halloween in League City Halloween at Helen Hall Library Trick or Treat at the League City Animal Shelter October 31 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. October 31 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Stop by the Helen Hall Library and see the collection of October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. To close out cleverly decorated pumpkins lining the sidewalks out front the month, the League City Animal Shelter is inviting (all designed by library staff) and vote for your favorite. people, and their pets, to stop by and trick-or-treat. The At the end of the pumpkin line, children can trick-or-treat shelter will have treats for humans and their furry friends. and choose either a candy or craft bag. (The bags are A photographer will also be available to take photos of assembled by staff wearing a mask and gloves.) Visit you and your pet in costume from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a Helen Hall Library at 100 W. Walker St. in League City. donation. If you wear a costume, you can also adopt a pet for $10. For a full list of Halloween happenings around League City, click here. PAGE 4 | City Manager’s Update OCTOBER 30 | 2020 League City Employees Celebrate Halloween In true Halloween spirit, League City employees showed off their creativity and participated in a costume and pumpkin carving contest this week. Costumes and pumpkins were shared virtually amongst employees through a virtual meeting, and winners were selected amongst the participants. Check out some of the fun and creative entries! Health and Wellness Expo Residents are encouraged to attend the upcoming Health and Wellness Expo on Thursday, November 5 at the Johnnie Arolfo Civic Center. Browse from a variety of vendors and get information about how to lead a healthy lifestyle. Participants can enter a raffle for a free 50-inch tv! PAGE 5 | City Manager’s Update OCTOBER 30 | 2020 Upcoming Webinars RESPONSE . RECOVERY . RESILIENCE JOB SERIES Readiness NOVEMBER 5, 2020 • 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM • How to keep a job in the midst of a pandemic? • How to deal with the mental health effects of job loss? • How to find a position in a COVID-19 economy? • How to interview post COVID-19? CHARLES PULLIAM CEO & Senior Partner • How to prove job readiness via virtual interviews? Solushiens During times of economic uncertainty, many League City residents will find themselves with a need to seek employment. If you are interested in making yourself more employable during times of economic uncertainty, join subject matter experts and the League City Regional Chamber of Commerce for a job readiness series. FREE SERIES For League City residents and businesses negatively impacted by COVID REGISTER ONLINE at http://bit.ly/JobReadiness2 To Receive the ZOOM Link Public Safety Updates Animals Rescued From Structure Fire On Saturday, October 24, the League City Fire Department received a reported residential structure fire located on Lazy Hollow Drive. Reports from the dispatcher indicated that four animals and possibly two small children could be inside the residence. Engine 4 forced entry into the front door and extinguished the fire located in the kitchen. A primary search was conducted and all four animals were found and rescued to the exterior of the structure. Three of the animals were treated for smoke inhalation and minor burns by firefighters and paramedics on the scene. The animals were immediately taken to a Veterinarian Clinic in League City by the fire department. One small feline succumbed to the smoke and fire and could not be saved. First responders made valiant efforts to save all the trapped animals that were found inside the residence.