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CALENDAR:  Meetings and events that you might want to attend...  Click here for more...

07-24-2010:  Though the service does not officially start until August, the Lewisville Police department is now posting crimes in Lewisville online with a National Crime Map service that citizens can start viewing now. It gets updated twice a day. See it... Read more about it.. Check it out at www.crimereports.com

07-19-2010:

• Lewisville City Council Meeting 07-19-2010:
  • 06:00 PM, Workshop Session.  As Usual, this is an open meeting and I encourage you to attend.  Discussion of Unfunded Super Bowl and Arts Center Events
  • 07:00 PM, Regular Council Meeting.  Please look over the Agenda - Short Version or the Long version with backup material.  Please look over the long version which has some backup material that might peak your interest.
    • PUBLIC HEARING: Consideration of a Resolution Authorizing the Adoption of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) 2010 Annual Action Plan; and Authorization for the City Manager to Submit the Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.  (pages 24 to 75 of the Long Version of Agenda).

      After Meeting Comments:  Here is a basic summary of my comments in the meeting which can be viewed on the City website. “The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is a flexible program that provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs.”

      • We received from HUD $635,106
      • Left over from last year at $134,743
      • For a total of CDBG money at $769,849
      • PLUS another $170,000 from the general fund for Social Services.  This is separate from the CDBG money but added to the CDBG budget.
      • Total of $939,849 (CDBG and General Fund)

           Our limitations for CDBG portion of the money (which is $769,849) are basically the following but there is a large amount of regulations, etc...:

      • Low/ mod income areas
      • Category I:  Infrastructure (we can spend 100% in this category)
      • 0 to 15 % CAP on Category II: Public Service Activities, which is $95,265
      • 0 to 20% Cap on Category III:  Planning and Program Management, which is $127,021.

           I Voted NO on this because I object to how the money is being spent in 'Category I:  Infrastructure', which is also called the “Bricks & Mortar” part of CDBG.  I do not think that Tax dollars should go to private transactions like the $150,000 that is being allocated to the private sale of 13 homes in the First Time Home Buyers Program.  And another $185,000 to make 'weatherizing' improvements to 5 homes.  That is a total of $335,000 to private transactions and private property improvements.  My solution?  I think we should spend the money on tax payer funded infrastructure projects and fix the streets/curbs/etc in these neighborhoods so that people will want to move into the neighborhood and invest in a home.  (I was the only council member that voted No and the Item passed.)
            A comment about Category II: Public Service Activities.  THESE ARE ALL GOOD PROGRAMS AND they ALL serve the community.  I encourage citizens to donate privately to the charity and non-profit organization of their choice.  I am not complaining about this category at all.  I did suggest that NEXT YEAR we look at the programs a little closer (our fiduciary responsibility).  Do we need to have some of these programs on a yearly stipend?  Especially when they have a sufficient revenue stream?  Maybe we do and maybe we don't - I really do not know.  Every organization will use the money if they receive it.  We should always be there to help in times of crises as they do serve the community.  They are independent companies, most (or all) are non-profits, and the services are contracted as stipulated per CDBG requirements.
           As mentioned above, we also took $170,000 from the general fund too.  Though I did not know it at the time, the City Manager wrote in the Preliminary Budget for 2010-2011 on page 16 that his intention "is to gradually reduce this further each year, if possible. When funding was first started by the City in the early 80’s, it was never intended to be permanent, and was supposed to be 'seed' money. In an environment of service cutbacks, this line will be among those that may have to be scrutinized more closely."
           Some of these programs are extremely vital and save the city money because of their multi-jurisdictional operation.  Without these organizations, each city would have to hire full time employees and create departments to provide these services.  Several high profile examples are:

      • CACDC - Chidren’s Advocacy Center for Denton County
      • CASA - Court Appointed Special Advocates
      • Denton County Friends of the Family Victim Services
      • and others..

           Though I do not really have any companies in mind that we should wean off the tax payer yearly stipends, the CDBG committee did not allocate any funds this year to:

      • Boys and Girls Club - After School & Summer Care Program
      • Knight Light Charities-Financial Crises Center

           And finally, I want to say that I do appreciate the time and effort of the citizens on the CDBG board.  It is a tough board to be on and I do appreciate their time and service.
           An Article about the meeting in the Lewisville Leader, Click Here to View.
          

    • ITEM 2 & 3: LISD Variances for those of you that are concerned about LISD. (Pages 79 to 103)

      After Meeting Comments:  Complaints about what LISD is doing should be directed to the LISD board.  After all, they get about 70% of your property tax money and they are their own governing agency. 
           I voted YES to both and both items passed.
           Item 2 was for a temporary building for one year at the South campus for showers for the tennis courts.  LISD is moving the tennis program for Lewisville to the 9 & 10 grade campus in South Lewisville.  Those in tennis at the other two campuses will have to go to the south campus for that activity.
           Item 3 was for three variances that had been approved and because they were approved together, they needed to be voted on for a change in the third variance which increased the number of parking spaces from 1117 to 1458 (the ordinance requirement would about 2147 spaces).

    • ITEM 5: removing term limits from the TIRZ1 board. (pages 111 to 124)
      After Meeting Comments:  I voted NO because I believe in term limits.  (I was the only council member that voted No and the Item passed.)  Members of boards/committees are assigned by those on the City Council.  I do appreciate the time and effort from the members of these boards.  I also stated in the meeting that I think term limits are good for the city council too as I have stated in the past.
           Because of a comment made by one of the council in the meeting about, if I may paraphrase, a council member could not run again if they thought they served long enough...  I was asked if I would resign after two terms because of my recommendation for term limits.  My answer is, I will stay on the Council as long as the voters want me to be there or until I can get enough support for term limits to be on the ballot in order for the voters to vote on this issue.  Who knows, I might not run again as it is pretty tough to be the only person wanting to do these things... We will see...  The rest is up to the voters at our yearly city elections in May.
    • ITEM 9: PUT THIS IN YOUR CALENDARS:  Lewisville Budget workshop is scheduled for August 7, 2010 at 8:30 a.m. THIS IS AN ALL DAY MEETING AND IT IS AN OPEN MEETING.   Should be over by mid afternoon if it goes smoothly. The Lewisville Budget Workshop will take place in the Community Room of the Lewisville Municipal Annex (Library Building). 
      • WHAT TO EXPECT: We will hear reports from departments all day about the budget, then a public comment section, followed by the council discussions on what to fund and not fund.  There will be a 30 minute lunch break.
      • WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO ATTEND? Because there will be public hearings on August 16 & 23, 2010 And there may not be any Minutes or a recording for your viewing before that time. Last year the minutes did not get voted for approval until after the public hearings and there was no video online either... YOU MUST ATTEND IF YOU CAN!
      • WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO?  Download and SAVE the Preliminary Budget for 2010-2010 that will be discussed at the Budget Workshop.  This will also help you if you plan to speak in the open forum section of the day.  Save it to your computer and view it when you get time.
• Please see the City Manager's Weekly Update about upcoming events.

07-12-2010: 

• City Council Meeting 07-12-2010:
  • 05:45PM, Workshop Session.  As Usual, this is an open meeting and I encourage you to attend.
  • 07:00 PM, Regular Council Meeting.  Please look over the Agenda - Short Version or the Long version with backup material.  Please look over the long version which has some backup material that might peak your interest.
  • After Meeting Comments: Concerning Item 10 (amended to the Agenda) at the Lewisville City Council Meeting Monday, July 12, 2010, “Consideration of the Moratorium on Gas Drilling in Lewisville”.  If you did not get a chance to watch the Meeting online or attend, I wanted you to know why I voted against the moratorium.
         When I first heard about this on Friday, I started making calls trying to get information of any credible data for concerns. I did not see any real evidence of any danger. No one could give me any proof.
         The vote was for a moratorium (a waiting period set by an authority) on drilling. The item for consideration was to postpone drilling for 120 days to 180 days. As stated, I voted against the moratorium because I did not see any reason for it. The reasons they (those in favor of the moratorium) stated was that they wanted to stop the drilling for Health and Safety reasons ... but there are not any facts to support that there is a problem. They cited Benzene concerns but the opposite is true and the data graphs show that the levels do not coincide with gas drilling. Benzene is basically mostly found in liquid (moisture too) and not gas – although there are traces of benzene all the time (especially at gas stations, in cigarette smoke, etc…).
         I would have voted for the moratorium if there was a strong reason for concern for safety. Our ordinance was just updated about 7 months ago and we had input from citizens, city staff, and experts. AND on this night, we also voted to review it again – please review it too.  A few months back, we also had voted to hire a professional consultant to keep tabs on the drill sites - basically our drilling cop.
         With all the regulations and standards placed on drilling companies, we need to CHECK & VERIFY that they are following the rules. After all, not following the rules is why there are problems like the BP oil spill and the problems in Dish, Texas. These examples are not the norm and are in reality very rare when compared to the thousands of thousands of wells that are out there. A Moratorium would not have made a difference but to add an unnecessary delay if any.
         If there is a problem that arises then we must respond effectively (not react to fabricated threats). We must watch and verify to make sure that there are no violations and make sure that no pollution occurs to our land, air, and water.
         I also believe that our country needs to be energy independent and not rely on foreign oil.  If the Ordinance needs to be changed then let’s change it but I think it is a good ordinance as written. I will not be in favor for making the ordinance easier, that is, I will not be in favor of variances that want to shorten the distance, etc... The Ordinance is quite thorough and you can read the ordinance online. Visit the City of Lewisville website at http://www.cityoflewisville.com to watch the meeting online or see the ordinance. You can also see the last posted version Municode online at http://www.municode.com which gets updated at least yearly. The Dallas Morning News had an article  ....
         FYI, I got about 10 calls about this topic. More than half were NOT in favor of a moratorium but that was not the reason for my vote which I have stated above. Of the 3 or 4 people that called that supported the moratorium, not one could cite a single verifiable true fact. They cited the fabricated bullet points that they were told about cancer and benzene but none of them could provide any documentation to really support it. One person cited the newspaper article but I pointed out that the DMN just repeated the concerns of people. One also mentioned that they have not sold their house yet. The real crime here is the fabrication of which I had first believed to be true until I started doing more research on the issue. Is there a chance of something happening? Yes. Is it a big chance? I do not think so. I think there is more of a chance of being in a deadly car accident but I do not stop driving because of it. I want you to know, that if I could have found any real evidence to be concerned about, then I would have championed for a complete shutdown of the drilling.
         Let’s keep an eye on it and watch it closely - CHECK & VERIFY.
    - John Gorena, Lewisville City Council, Place 4