CLS Citizens and Business Owners, 

I hope everyone had an excellent holiday and spent some relaxing time with friends and family.

Not much to report on over the last two months as it has been pretty quiet, and my last report covered a significant number of projects that were completed and updated status with hardly any change to update you with now.  One thing new for this month is I’m delighted to report that on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, and with the assistance of EDC member Ronnie Richards, I presented a request at the City of League City Council meeting to consider making amendment to include partnering with all involved entities on item #3 of the League City Resolution 23-001. This proposed resolution authorizes the submission of Grant Applications to the TxDOT Transportation Alternatives Set-aside (TA) Program that would extend this Bicyclist and Pedestrian pathway to Lawrence Road.  Our request was to join in a partnership to include all the way to Hwy 146 and on both sides of the roadway. This includes The City of Clear Lake Shores, Galveston County and the City of Kemah. We are now creating a resolution recognizing this partnership and commitment of CLS to The City of League City as well in the application of the Grant. Then CLS is also applying for another TA Grant consisting of adding a Pedestrian bridge across Jarboe just east to the existing Clear Lake Rd and associated pathways joining to existing sidewalks. This will greatly increase the safety of our people versus using the heavily travelled existing vehicular bridge.

Here are a few project updates; On the Daniel Dror Avenue project by Galveston County, they have agreed to pave the roadway further into the ROW for the new Hanson and Daniel Dror Ave intersection to accommodate the larger vehicles and a right-hand turn lane as well. There still is no power at FM518 warning light due to a wrong transformer installed and will be R/R by CenterPoint here shortly. Once corrected the power meter can be installed, and power connected by TxDOT. When lights are working, Galveston County will then open the road. WCID #12 has started the refurbishment of the elevated water storage tower. It will be getting sandblasted and a new layer of blue paint along with a new CLS EDC logo on it to showcase our city. This project is slated to take 2-3 months to complete. 

In regards to the short term rentals, at the December 06, 2022 City Council meeting Ordinance 2022-08 amending Article VII, Short-Term Rentals, of Chapter 18 consisting of; Permit required to limit the number of Short-term Rentals to Twenty (20); prohibiting space below base flood elevation from being eligible; Amended permit registration fee from $75 to a fee schedule of 1-4 person occupancy: $250.00, 5-6 person occupancy: $500.00, 7-10 person occupancy: $750.00, and 10 and above: $1,000.00.; Requiring additional information in permit application including parking diagram with significant parking, Noise and conduct complaints to be directed to the police department and placing a maximum of four (4) violations per owner or operator and revoking of said permit with 4^th conviction of a violation of this ordinance; Providing a penalty in an amount not to exceed $2,000 for any violation of this ordinance, with each day constituting a separate violation was approved with a vote of 4 Yea (Chronister, Ledet, Scanlon and Wirtes) for to 1 Nay (Fisher) against the updates. December 20, 2022, City Council meeting approved Waterfront Transfer B-051B: William and Katherine Chalfant to Ezra and Alex Lyon. January 03, 2023, City Council meeting had some questions regarding a $50,000 check that was written from General Fund to purchase property at 914 FM2094 as approved by the EDC and City Council.  The verbiage on the motion for approval of the purchase of the land from council was not as descript as it should have been regarding the actual funds for the purchase coming from EDC. In the best interest of clarity, an amendment was made to the EDC budget including an agreement to pay such funds from the EDC through the City since the property was Titled under the City Name. This was set for City Council meeting January 17, at this writing of this letter. 

By the reading of this, we hope to have selected a new City Administrator as our Interim CA Brant Gary’s was leaving us at the end of January to take a job in another city.  We all wish him well in his next endeavor and thank him for all his work while being Interim CA at CLS as he was a huge help.

 Where every sunset is celebrated, and we look forward to every sunrise!  

Island Life & Golf Cart Rides 

May God Bless CLS.

Mayor Kurt