Colleyville, Texas May 8, 2016
An Editorial by Nelson Thibodeaux
The voters of Colleyville have spoken in a landslide to bring new leadership to City Government. While I know there will be the “true believers” that will grunt and holler that their guys were unfairly treated, etc., there will be some that will continue to carry the Torch of Division; now is the time to come together and simply take care of the business of governing Colleyville.
If you don’t live in Colleyville you have to be impressed with the number of voters that get engaged in Colleyville, about twice the number in Keller with twice the population. If you live in Colleyville, regardless of how you voted, you are congratulated for remaining informed, involved and taking the time to vote to advance what you feel is best for the city.
The following are 10 of the top issues LNO believes should be the priority of our new Council:
1.) Reviewing the contract for acquisition on properties on Glade Road that calls for Eminent Domain tactics.
2.) Change the City Attorney Firm that has morphed into a political ally of the previous incumbents and City Manager, versus providing unbiased decisions that the Council and Citizens should be able to rely.
3.) Examine the inane nonsense known as “Pre-Council” meetings that have been used to make decisions without actual recorded votes of council members and the suppression of citizen input. Every decision should a.) have a record of the vote and b.) be held in a traditional City Council forum and c.) not suppress the input and voices of citizens.
4.) Immediately order City Staff to look for reasons to be able to provide open records to requests versus spending thousands of dollars trying to cover over and withhold information.
5.) Immediately take an official vote to throw out the previous mandate of the Mayor that restricts speech in Citizens Comments.
6.) Examine the roll of the City Manager and every staff member that has been involved with political aspects of Colleyville, take action where necessary and make it clear that City Staff does not consort with ANY one on City Council who is attempting to enhance their personal political agenda.
7.) Put an Ethics Clause BACK into City Government that not only requires elected officials to disclose financial interest held in Colleyville, but also the City Manager provides open information on the same.
8.) Initiate a Charter Committee to review and make suggested changes including a BRIGHT LINE between City Staff and City Council in the area of political influence or assistance, Ethics,
and TERM LIMITS. With terms limited to two consecutive three year terms. If a elected official wants to return to council, they must sit out for three years and come back to the voters to ask to be put back on council.
9.) Review and change any comprehensive plan that does not explicitly define the terms of Density goals.
10.) No more contract awards WITHOUT bids over a certain dollar limit.
8 Comments
Sam van Bever
This is exactly what we voted for and what we need. Woven together these proposals are necessary to prevent a return to government of the back room, by the back room and for the back room.
Dan
Somewhere in their 90-day plan they need to also include the noose around their own necks to show the city how serious there were about their campaign promises – I don’t know how it would happen, (council or an uncertain citywide vote), but that noose would be TERM LIMITS.
Bob
Your points should be included as the baseline of good governance as we unite. I’ll be looking forward to see how the new Mayor and council transparent actions move forward for the traditional betterment of the citizens of Colleyville.
Bruce
Excellent summation Nelson.
George Dodson
Removing the tiered water rates and planning to reduce the city tax rate to keep tax receipts at the inflation rate, not the 10% plus that’s expected due to the TAD appraisal rates.
Frank Genco
Property tax relief thru Homestead Exemption.
Ray Allee
On item 9, the comprehensive plan does not need to be rewritten. The City of Colleyville, Texas, Land Development Code specifies in great detail the density goals you all want for the City of Colleyville. The Comprehensive Plan is just that a plan with no enforcement authority, it just gives general guidelines. The Land Development code contains regulations on land development in Colleyville that are enforceable. Enforcing the land Development code will give you the lot density you require. Enforce the Land Development Code regulations that are already in place. If the Land Development Code does not contain what you require, then it is the Land Development code that should be changed, not the comprehensive plan.
Jim Nadeau
Good summary of items that need to be re addressed by the newly elected team and, remember there may still be a few City Council members who need to be ousted in the next election or be subjected to term limits.