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Home My WebLink About2021 04 07 - Certifications of Resolution Nos 2021-09 & 2021-10f._ F� 1, 910 S . Friendswood Drive Friendswood, Texas 77546 (281) 996-3270 Fax: (281) 482-1634 April 7, 2021 . _ � � .� � _ . �_ . � The Honorable Dennis Paul 17225 E1 Camino Real, Suite 415 Houston, TX 7705 8 Re: Opposition of 87- Senate Bill (SB) 234 an Support of 87- House Bill (HB) 3029 Dear Representative Paul: d House Bill (HB) 749 .� u� � • � � • Mayor Pro Tem TRISH HANKS Councilmembers STEVE ROCKEY SALLY BRANSON ROBERT J. GRIFFON JOHN SCOTT BRENT ERENWERT City Manager MORAD KABIRI City Secretary LETICIA BRYSCH Enclosed please find certified copies of the following resolutions passed by the City Council of the City of Friendswood, Texas, on April 5, 2021, and they are: ➢ Resolution No. R2021-09 opposing 87 — SB 234 and HB 749, relating to the use by a political subdivision of public funds .for lobbyist activities; and ➢ Resolution No. R2021-10 supporting 87- HB 3 029 regarding the Creation of the Gulf Coast Protection District. The City of Friendswood kindly requests that your office communicate its expressed stance on the above noted bills to the appropriate persons, committees and/or agencies. Thank you for your continued support of our community and let me know if you have any questions or concerns regarding this item. S ecre Enclosure 910 S . Friendswood Drive Friendswood, Texas 77546 (281) 996-3270 Fax: (281) 482-1634 April 7, 2021 The Honorable Larry Taylor P. O. Box 12068 Austin, TX 78711 Re: Opposition of 87- Senate Bill (SB) 234 an Support of 87- House Bill (HB) 3029 Dear Senator Taylor: d House Bill (HB) 749 Mayor MIKE FOREMAN Mayor Pro Tem TRISH HANKS Councilmembers STEVE ROCKEY SALLY BRANSON ROBERT J. GRIFFON JOHN SCOTT BRENT ERENWERT City Manager MORAD KAB IRI City Secretary LETICIA BRYSCH Enclosed please find certified copies of the following resolutions passed by the City Council of the City of Friendswood, Texas, on April 5, 2021, and they are: Resolution No. R2021-09 opposing 87 — SB 234 and HB 749, relating to the use by a political subdivision of public funds for lobbyist activities; and Resolution No. R20214 0 supporting 87- HB 3029 regarding the Creation of the Gulf Coast Protection District. The City of Friendswood kindly requests that your office communicate its expressed stance on the above noted bills to the appropriate persons, committees and/or agencies. Thank you for your continued support of our community and let me regarding this item. Re ectfully, Secre Enclosure know if you have any questions or concerns • o glendswo® 910 S. Friendswood Drive Friendswood, Texas 77546 (281) 996-3270 Fax: (281) 4824634 April 7, 2021 The Honorable Greg Bonnen 174 Calder Road, Suite 116 League City, TX 77573 Re: Opposition of 87- Senate Bill (SB) 234 and House Bill (HB) 749 Support of 87- House Bill (HB) 3029 Dear Dr. Bonnen: Enclosed please Mayor MIKE FOREMAN Mayor Pro Tem TRISH HANKS Councilmembers STEVE ROCKEY SALLY BRANSON ROBERT J. GRIFFON JOHN SCOTT BRENT ERENWERT City Manager MORA.D KABIRI City Secretary LETICIA BRYSCH find certified copies of the following resolutions passed by the City Council of the City of Friendswood, Texas, on Apri15, 2021, and they are: ➢ Resolution No. R2021-09 opposing 87 — SB 234 and HB 749, relating to the use by a political subdivision of public funds for lobbyist activities; and ➢ Resolution No. R2021.10 supporting 87- HB 3029 regarding the Creation of the Gulf Coast Protection District. ity ikincommunicate its expressed The Cof Frendswood dly requests that your office stance on the above noted bills to the appropriate persons, committees and/or agencies. Thank you for your continued support of our community and let me know if you have any questions or concerns rgg is i eardinthtem. Secre sure Enclo gy ojI/ logcmdgwood 910 S. Friendswood Drive Friendswood, Texas 77546 (281) 996-3270 Fax: (281) 482-1634 STATE OF TEXAS )( CITY OF FRIENDSWOOD )( GALVESTON/HARRIS COUNTIES )( Mayor MIKE FOREMAN Mayor Pro Tem TRISH HANKS Councilmembers SIEVE ROCKEY SALLY BRANSON ROBERT J. GRIFFON JOHN SCOTT BRENT ERENVUERT City Manager MORAD KABIRI City Secretary LETICIA BRYSCH ��. W, HE ORIGINAL OF RECORD WITH THE CITY SECRETARYS OF O1 ' AND R202140. LETICIA BRYS CI -I CITY SECRETARY CITY OF FRIEND S wO OD APRIL 06, 2021. X K x x x x wHE AS, the Texas State Legislature values the lives and welfare of its citizens, the state's economy, and the overall quality -of --life that distinguishes Texas from all other states; and wI��l?.E��, the Texas State Legislature routinely considers hundreds of bills each session that directly affect local governments and impact all Texans; and I constituents to assure effective local governance, judicious spending of taxpayer dollars, and the delivery services in a timely, effective manner; and w�IEl�.��, Texans expect their locally elected officials to be available to them and to not be wasting taxpayer money in Austin influencing legislation that may be detrimental to the interests of a community or county nor spending time considering the thousands of bills and their potential impact on the citizens; and wk�E�.A.�, the implied and expressed intent of SB234 and HB749 is to prohibit city and county funds from being expended to join or support nonprofit organizations that provide many necessary services, including, but not limited to, training, best practices, and economic development as well as information about state governmental action and provide a means to communicate effectively with state legislators and other state officials, thus saving citizens money by avoiding the potential costs often associated with corporate and other special interest legislation; and i actively employ large numbers of taxpayer funded lobbyists to help develop, analyze, influence, and monitor the aforementioned thousands of bills and also to advocate for Texas' interests in Washington, DC, SB234, HB749, and any lil�e them, seek to deny local governmental agencies the same ability while continuing taxpayer support for state agency lobbying; and w�IE1�EAS, local governmental expenses for both direct and indirect lobbying account for only 10% of the total lobbying activity in Austin, with corporate and other special interest lobbying accounting for 90%; and wI�[E1�EAS, preventing Texas cities and counties from employing competent representation before state and federal Legislative entities deprives local governments from presenting a unified voice on key constituent issues and saves additional funds through cost - sharing; and wI�E1�AS, false, misleading, and anti -democratic claims of misuse of taxpayer funds are the opposite of what actually occurs as t11e Legislature continues to pass unfunded mandates and other costly legislation, thereby forcing local governments to divert their resources or to raise taxes to pay for said laws and regulations the State imposes on its citizens, thereby allowing legislators to avoid the consequences of their actions and thereby undermining local governmental entities; and R2021-09 2 ' /MER.E.A 3S SB234 and HB749 violate the basic American tenets of open and fair legislative deliberation as well as representation in government while allowing corporate and other special interests to dominate government, leaving Texans without a voice in matters that affect their quality of life and livelihoods. Section 1. That the Mayor and City Council strongly oppose SB234 and HB749and any attempt to silence the voices of local governments and the citizens they directly and daily represent. Section 2. That all resolutions and agreements and parts of resolutions and agreements in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of conflict only. Section 3. That it is hereby found and determined that the meeting at which this resolution was passed was open to the public and that advance public notice of the time, place and purpose of said meeting was given as required bylaw. Section 4. That this resolution is effective upon adoption by the City Council of the City of Friendswood, Texas. ayor o ATTEST: R2021-09 3 �. RELATING �' i 1. `ti: i j �'� THE j�r i 1` t i �, ~`� {,' i THE GULF r 'AST PROTECTION DISTRICT. X :C X X Y state's economy, and the overall quality -of --life that distinguishes Texas from all other states; and w..�IIERE.A.�, the Upper Texas Gulf Coast is historically vulnerable to hurricanes, and their attendant storm surges; and w�IERE.A.�, Hurricane Ike in 2008 cost Texas approximately 120 lives and $40 billion, Hu�Ticane Rita in 2005 cost Texas approximately 115 storm -related deaths plus another 150 evacuation -related deaths and about $20 billion in recovery costs; and wI�E1�EAS, the Upper Gulf Coast's strategic and economic importance is undeniable, given the U. S . economy's reliance on the Texas' oil and gas industry, Texas' specialty and petrochemical industry, and the region's ports; and w�EREAS, the scientific community has warned that the prospect of future hurricanes landing on the Upper Texas Gulf Coast is a virtual certainty, with the effects of storm surge affecting the lives of Texans, the economy of the State and the nation in addition to the potentially devastating impacts of rain, as witnessed in Hu and Harvey In 2017, and high winds, accompanying most hurricanes and tropical storms; and institutions have demonstrated the efficacy of a coastal 'barrier alollg tiie uTpper TexaRim s vulf oast, Li d the implementation of coastal barriers in numerous countries has proven the economic and practical viability of coastal barriers; and i�HE1�.�S, a partnership among federal, state, and local agencies has been demonstrated to be the most efficient and cost-effective means to complete a regional coastal ba�Tier. Section 10 That the Mayor and City Council strongly suppo�t the passage of �7-HB 3029 to create an entity to oversee and manage the regional implementation and development of the critical coastal barrier to protect Texas and the nation. Section 2. That all resolutions and agreements and pans of resolutions and agreements in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of conflict only. Section-1 That it is hereby found and determined that the meeting at which this resolution was passed was open to the public and that advance public notice of the time, place and purpose of said meeting was given as required bylaw. Section 4. That this resolution is effective upon adoption by the City Council of the City of Friendsvvood, Texas. IViayor R2021-10 2