ISSUE: Who runs the city?
Background: West University Place has a council-manager form of government. In a council-manager government,
an elected, but part-time, mayor and city council serve as the city’s primary legislative body. They have no offices at City Hall, nor do they have any dedicated staff, but they do collectively hire a chief executive officer, called a city manager, to oversee day-to-day municipal operations. The mayor is the presiding officer and a regular voting member at the twice- monthly meeting of the City Council but has little or no legal privileges that may distinguish him or her from other council members.
Notwithstanding all this, some West U residents have vastly different expectations of the duties of the West U Mayor; from some who do not know the position exists, to the other extreme who expect an operational mayor like Houston’s Sylvester Turner.
Task: Write a job description for the mayor of West University Place.
Question: Is it ever appropriate for the mayor or councilmembers to interject themselves in personnel decisions or operating minutia not proscribed in the city charter, such as providing emergency communications to residents via social media? Explain.
Kevin Trautner
Job description: The West U Mayor needs to be at once a listener and a decisive leader. The Mayor needs to advocate for West U’s identity outside our city limits. The Mayor needs to be mindful of our history and how to best preserve our quality of life for the next West U generation. It is not appropriate for the mayor or councilmembers to interject themselves into personnel decisions or operating minutia. In the example of emergency communications, those communications should come directly from the city and neither the mayor or councilmembers should bypass the city manager or council approval requirements to act individually.
Susan Sample
Job description: Council-manager mayors are political leaders/policy developers and are responsible for soliciting citizen views in forming policies. The mayor presides over meetings, is community spokesperson, facilitates communication, and assists council in setting goals/ advocating decisions. The mayor is a key representative in intergovernmental relations. Mayor/council/manager constitute a policy-development and management team.
People want information when it is relevant and current. Timing and content matter. It is imperative that the city communicate with residents utilizing methods they actually see. Most city Mayors/Councilmembers have Twitter/ Instagram/Facebook accounts to keep residents informed in a timely fashion. West U Residents expect no less.
Shannon Carroll
Job description: West University Place seeks a mayor to promote our award-winning city and oversee staff as they engage in day-to-day business operations. Working with council, the mayor will hire a city manager, establish goals, implement policy, approve the annual budget, and work for the advancement and betterment of our city.
Whether by social media, phone, or mail, it is imperative that representatives be available to address residents’ concerns. Though inappropriate regarding personnel decisions, social media has become an indispensable platform through which to communicate. It is to the benefit of West U residents that it be available as one option.
Lauri Lankford
Job description: The Mayor presides at City Council meetings and is the head of City government. The Mayor has the same power to vote on matters as City Council members. The Mayor also has certain powers in the event of emergencies. For example, the Mayor has the power to declare a local disaster.
The Charter must be followed. It is not appropriate for the Mayor or Council Members to interject as set out in the question. For effective communications, there must be consistency of messaging. Emergency alerts should come from the City, as soon as practicable.
John Montgomery
Did not provide a job description
West U belongs to the residents of West U. Their elected government should have complete oversight of this city. If the mayor or council believe that they need to be involved at any level, then they should be involved.
Sam Parikh
Job description: Longtime Boston Mayor Thomas Menino said, “The true privilege of being Mayor is to have the opportunity to be everyone’s neighbor.” Similarly, I think West U’s Mayor should be our chief consensus builder, leading by making sure all community members’ voices are represented in the solutions that we seek.
I have learned the answer to most questions is “it depends.” With our council-manager government, the city manager and staff run day-to-day operations, and they are trained and experienced to do so. However, the council is made up of citizens and neighbors, and sometimes common sense makes the most sense.
Ed Sobash
Job description: From the City Charter: Article II Section 2.06. The Mayor shall preside at all meetings of the Council and shall be the head of the City government. The Mayor shall vote upon all matters voted upon by the Council, but shall have no veto power.
No. The City Council hires a City Manager who is responsible for the efficient administration of all city affairs; including emergency communications.
Mardi Turner
Job description: The Mayor of West University Place serves as a co-equal member of the City Council, with each member having one vote. The mayor does not have veto power. The mayor presides over meetings and workshops of the City Council and he or she acts as a representative of the city.
No. The City Manager, not the Mayor (nor any member of the City Council) is responsible for the day to day operation of the city, including personnel decisions, emergency management and communications. The city’s website should be the focal point for most communications.
John Barnes
Job description: The primary role of our City’s Mayor is as the presiding officer for meetings of the Council. The Mayor also serves informally as the MC at various City events, and, with the City Manager, assists in representing the City in its dealings with other state and local governments and agencies.
Generally, no. Our staff are the people “on the ground” and will usually have a better knowledge of the facts and available resources than any member of council, including the Mayor, will. However, it is always entirely appropriate for a resident to alert a council member to an issue.
Rich Beck
Job description: The Mayor leads Council but is otherwise equal to the other 4 members. The Mayor does not run the city, the City Manager does. Council’s role is well defined and equivalent to a Board of Directors. The Mayor has a tough role of balancing citizen expectations vs their legal role.
No, individual Council Members should not interject themselves. Council, collectively, can, per Charter, “Inquire into the conduct of any …employee …and make investigations,” Council should establish policies with the City Manager that address emergency communications and the role, if any, of social media and abide by its part in them.
Melanie Bell
From the City Charter: The Mayor shall preside at all meetings of the Council and shall be the head of the City government. The Mayor shall vote upon all matters voted upon by the Council, but shall have no veto power.
During an emergency, it is appropriate for anyone with factual information to share that on social media and other platforms. The city council should share information on outages, warming centers, shelters, etc. as part of the city’s emergency communication plan.
ISSUE: Youth sports subsidy, yes or no?
Background: Whether taxpayers should provide funding to the West University Tri-Sports Association has become an issue in this election.
Tri-Sports is a non-profit charitable organization with three members: West University Little League, West University Softball Association and West University Soccer (a division of Rise Soccer Club). The mission of Tri-Sports is to manage, maintain, and operate the youth sports fields located on publicly owned lands at West University Elementary School, West University Recreation Center, and Pershing Middle School.
In December 2020, the mayor and councilmembers adopted a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with Tri-Sports. The agreement eliminated the city’s annual $125,000 cash subsidy to Tri-Sports. The city did agree to continue certain benefits (primarily utilities), legally referred to as “in-kind” contributions. They also granted Tri-Sports the unfettered use of the playing fields at West University Recreation Center at no charge. According to the season data provided on the Tri-Sports Association website, 1,231 youngsters played in WULL and 513 were West University Place residents (42 percent). For softball, there were 219 West U residents out of 696 total participants, or 31 percent. And 13 percent of Rise Soccer participants were West U residents.
Both mayoral candidates have previously expressed concern that West University Place taxpayers are continuing to subsidize these three youth sports leagues when they are progressively becoming less West U centric (Susan Sample at the regular city council meeting on November 11, 2013 and Kevin Trautner at a council workshop on September 30, 2019).
Question: Should the city use our tax money to subsidize the registration fee of West University Place youngsters for youth sports leagues, and why or why not?
Question: Should West U use our tax revenues to subsidize the registration fee for youngsters living in Houston, Bellaire, Pearland and Katy, and why or why not?
Question: Would you support reinstating all or part of the cash subsidy to the Tri-Sports Association? If so, how much? Explain.
Question: The West University Softball Association website says they have players from River Oaks, Montrose, the Galleria and even Katy. Bellaire shut down its softball league, so Bellaire girls play in WUSA. West U is the only municipality that provides field space. The only other city that has contributed any cash is Southside Place, to the tune of $15,000, but they provide no field space. If we are going to be the only ZIP code that provides a municipal cash subsidy and/or field space, should West University Place and Southside youngsters get a discount?
Susan Sample
Question: Should the city use our tax money to subsidize the registration fee of West University Place youngsters for youth sports leagues, and why or why not?
This question conflates Tri-Sports with the leagues themselves. Tri-Sports only enters leases, maintains, and provides capital improvements to the fields the various leagues play on.
Question: Should West U use our tax revenues to subsidize the registration fee for youngsters living in Houston, Bellaire, Pearland and Katy, and why or why not?
Amounts paid to Tri-Sports are used for maintenance/capital improvements; their prior tax returns show maintenance expenses similar to what WUP pays them for such services.
Question: Would you support reinstating all or part of the cash subsidy to the Tri-Sports Association? If so, how much? Explain.
I support paying Tri-Sports — their maintenance costs approximate city payments for such services. They also spend hundreds of thousands on capital improvements.
Question: The only other city that has contributed any cash is Southside Place, to the tune of $15,000, but they provide no field space. If we are going to be the only ZIP code that provides a municipal cash subsidy and/or field space, should West University Place and Southside youngsters get a discount?
WUSA provides recreation services. WUP does not pay WUSA. Non-resident fees lower everyone’s costs. An “us” vs. “them” attitude is not healthy or economically sensible.
Kevin Trautner
Question: Should the city use our tax money to subsidize the registration fee of West University Place youngsters for youth sports leagues, and why or why not?
As I offered in city negotiations, West U parents should receive a discount since no other city gives Tri-Sports cash along with land and utilities.
Question: Should West U use our tax revenues to subsidize the registration fee for youngsters living in Houston, Bellaire, Pearland and Katy, and why or why not?
No, as good stewards of your taxpayer money it is not prudent to allow tax dollars to be used outside the city for this purpose.
Question: Would you support reinstating all or part of the cash subsidy to the Tri-Sports Association? If so, how much? Explain.
Max $50,000 with notable accountability and discount for West U kids/parents; a significant portion of the prior cash was construction costs repaid by West U.
Question: If we are going to be the only ZIP code that provides a municipal cash subsidy and/or field space, should West University Place and Southside youngsters get a discount?
Yes, West U kids should get a discount for the cash West U taxpayers/families would provide Tri-Sports as the only zip code providing such cash.
Lauri Lankford
Questions: Should the city use our tax money to subsidize the registration fee of West University Place youngsters for youth sports leagues, and why or why not? Should West U use our tax revenues to subsidize the registration fee for youngsters living in Houston, Bellaire, Pearland and Katy, and why or why not?
It doesn’t make sense. Subsidizing registration fees for persons residing outside West U doesn’t serve a public benefit for the West U community and isn’t a proper use of your tax dollars. If restructured so that the leagues primarily benefit West U kids and families, I would support a subsidy.
Question: Would you support reinstating all or part of the cash subsidy to the Tri-Sports Association? If so, how much? Explain.
Under the current structure, I cannot support the cash subsidy.
Question: If we are going to be the only ZIP code that provides a municipal cash subsidy and/or field space, should West University Place and Southside youngsters get a discount?
West U’s strong support for youth sports and current 5-year contract for services and priority field access should be recognized by the youth sports leagues.
John Montgomery
Questions: Should the city use our tax money to subsidize the registration fee of West University Place youngsters for youth sports leagues, and why or why not?
How many of us have walked by the sports fields on a Saturday, smiling to the sounds of children playing and parents cheering? We should thank Tri-Sports for this experience. Tri-Sports are solely responsible for the maintenance, operation, and improvement of the fields and greenspace on this property; property not even owned by the city.
Question: Would you support reinstating all or part of the cash subsidy to the Tri-Sports Association? If so, how much? Explain.
I strongly support the reinstatement of city funding for Tri-Sports. I am surprised that the current council could not find agreement on such a sensitive issue to our kids. Was there no alternative to zero? Our kids and our property values enjoy the benefits, so we should find a way to support Tri-Sports.
Question: If we are going to be the only ZIP code that provides a municipal cash subsidy and/or field space, should West University Place and Southside youngsters get a discount?
The West University Softball Association is the premier league of its kind in South Texas. We are lucky that our city’s name is prominently associated with this league, and there are tangible benefits of that association. Any West U realtor will tell you that this league is part of the unique image of our city.
Sam Parikh
Provided one general answer for all four specific questions
After listening to our neighborhood first, I know youth sports are part of what makes our community special. As seen in the questions, this issue has multiple layers. All these options are on the table, and I look forward to getting further community input to find the most valuable compromise.
Ed Sobash
Question: Should the city use our tax money to subsidize the registration fee of West University Place youngsters for youth sports leagues, and why or why not?
Yes. The city should provide available field space and in-kind support services (water, trash, electricity) to promote and encourage vibrant youth sports programs in our city.
Question: Should West U use our tax revenues to subsidize the registration fee for youngsters living in Houston, Bellaire, Pearland and Katy, and why or why not?
No. I don’t believe this satisfies the Texas Office of Attorney General 3-part test on donation of tax money to private organizations.
Question: Would you support reinstating all or part of the cash subsidy to the Tri-Sports Association? If so, how much? Explain.
It depends. If Tri-Sports provides evidence affirming the Texas Office of Attorney General 3-part test on donation of tax money to private organizations, I believe there could be a new agreement of support.
Question: If we are going to be the only ZIP code that provides a municipal cash subsidy and/or field space, should West University Place and Southside youngsters get a discount?
I’m not sure how a discount would work. We should explore this as an option.
Mardi Turner
Questions: Should the city use our tax money to subsidize the registration fee of West University Place youngsters for youth sports leagues, and why or why not? Should West U use our tax revenues to subsidize the registration fee for youngsters living in Houston, Bellaire, Pearland and Katy, and why or why not?
This begs the question of the disposition of those funds. Part of the $125,000 was repayment of expenses for capital improvements to the fields. Perhaps there should be a forensic accounting review of the books of all four organizations (Tri Sports, WUSA, WULL and RISE).
Question: Would you support reinstating all or part of the cash subsidy to the Tri-Sports Association? If so, how much? Explain.
The City should assist with capital improvements to fields within the City. Any other cash funding must be subject to review as part of the budget process.
Question: If we are going to be the only ZIP code that provides a municipal cash subsidy and/or field space, should West University Place and Southside youngsters get a discount?
Absolutely.
John Barnes
Question: Should the city use our tax money to subsidize the registration fee of West University Place youngsters for youth sports leagues, and why or why not?
No. Such a subsidy would effectively be an unfair wealth transfer from non-participating to participating West U households, without corresponding benefit to non- participants.
Question: Should West U use our tax revenues to subsidize the registration fee for youngsters living in Houston, Bellaire, Pearland and Katy, and why or why not?
No. Cities cannot make outright gifts of taxpayer funds, however laudable the goal. Unfortunately, this precludes subsidizing participants from other jurisdictions.
Question: Would you support reinstating all or part of the cash subsidy to the Tri-Sports Association? If so, how much? Explain.
No. Tri-Sports’ demonstrated lack of financial transparency and accountability precludes handing them taxpayers’ money, though I fully endorse exploring other options for supporting youth sports.
Question: If we are going to be the only ZIP code that provides a municipal cash subsidy and/or field space, should West University Place and Southside youngsters get a discount?
If West U provides a unique level of support, monetary or otherwise, then our taxpayers should receive a unique benefit of roughly equal value.
Rich Beck
Question: Should the city use our tax money to subsidize the registration fee of West University Place youngsters for youth sports leagues, and why or why not?
No. Residents are financially capable of paying their own way and West U does not subsidize fees for music, fencing, golf, languages, etc.
Question: Should West U use our tax revenues to subsidize the registration fee for youngsters living in Houston, Bellaire, Pearland and Katy, and why or why not?
No. Each city makes decisions on how to spend their tax money. West U should not subsidize other cities’ taxpayers.
Question: Would you support reinstating all or part of the cash subsidy to the Tri-Sports Association? If so, how much? Explain.
I coached softball and soccer for 23 years. I strongly support youth sports. If citizens agree and there is proper transparency, I will support funding.
Question: If we are going to be the only ZIP code that provides a municipal cash subsidy and/or field space, should West University Place and Southside youngsters get a discount?
A non-resident field use fee remitted to WU could offset the WU tax-funded contributions and be a win-win for all West U residents.
Melanie Bell
Question: Should the city use our tax money to subsidize the registration fee of West University Place youngsters for youth sports leagues, and why or why not?
Our city tax money should be used to maintain sports fields in the city. Tri-Sports currently maintains the fields.
Question: Should West U use our tax revenues to subsidize the registration fee for youngsters living in Houston, Bellaire, Pearland and Katy, and why or why not?
Field maintenance and providing quality green space is not subsidizing registration fees. Our green spaces should be open to all to use. Inclusion is good.
Question: Would you support reinstating all or part of the cash subsidy to the Tri-Sports Association? If so, how much? Explain.
Yes, I support reinstating funding to Tri-Sports within city budget constraints and with annual review of Tri-Sports incurred costs.
Question: If we are going to be the only ZIP code that provides a municipal cash subsidy and/or field space, should West University Place and Southside youngsters get a discount?
No, the management of this would be onerous on the leagues.
Shannon Carroll
Question: Should the city use our tax money to subsidize the registration fee of West University Place youngsters for youth sports leagues, and why or why not?
This question confuses West U sports with TriSports. We do not subsidize TriSports. TriSports maintains and provides access to fields and capital not otherwise available.
Question: Should West U use our tax revenues to subsidize the registration fee for youngsters living in Houston, Bellaire, Pearland and Katy, and why or why not?
West U residents are subsidized by registration fees and team sponsorship money from non-residents. Players pay for the honor of wearing a West U jersey.
Question: Would you support reinstating all or part of the cash subsidy to the Tri-Sports Association? If so, how much? Explain.
Yes. West U benefits from the use and maintenance of fields by supporting TriSports. Our leagues are well known and attract families to our neighborhood.
Question: If we are going to be the only ZIP code that provides a municipal cash subsidy and/or field space, should West University Place and Southside youngsters get a discount?
West U is the only municipality with its name on uniforms. Non-residents generate money via registrations and sponsorships and help fund fields used by residents.
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