E-Mail Open Letter Reply Sent to Mr. Tolson - 3/2/05

Dear Mr. Tolson,

Thank you for your inquiry and for your interest in our city.  You have raised some good questions.  Since you addressed your query to all four candidates, we decided to respond with one open letter that we all agree with. 

NRHCG is simply a group of citizens that came together, originally, to protect themselves from over-reaching and costly new ordinances enacted by the city.  The ordinances were passed by the current majority on the City Council which includes the incumbents in this year’s election.  Some of the issues that formed the group have been addressed.  However, the group remains active in monitoring the city’s actions.  You are more than welcome to attend any of the meetings.  All residents are welcome.  Please note - we do not speak for NRHCG.  We speak only for ourselves as candidates for City Council.

We would be happy to meet with you and any of your neighbors who might like to discuss the issues that face our city or simply have questions about what we stand for.  A face to face meeting would be a better way for us to fully address your questions and concerns than a conversation by email. 

To make sure we understand your perspective and concerns, we have mixed in some questions for you with our responses. 

We are unfamiliar with the A-B-C suburb classifications you mentioned.  Perhaps you could point us to a reference that provides the definitions for these classifications.  

We are all very much in favor of retaining existing businesses as well as attracting new businesses to NRH.  Unfortunately, many of our local businesses are suffering because they do not receive the support they deserve from our city.  Many have been cited for violations of ordinances that don’t exist and/or which are in violation of state laws.  This obviously does not create an environment that is attractive to business owners that may be considering a move to our area.  The other cities you mentioned also have significantly lower tax rates than does NRH which could play a role (see www.tad.org/WebPages/2004_tax_rates.htm).  There are certainly things we can do to promote business in NRH and that will attract new business owners to our city.  We are open to any suggestions you might have in this regard.

Regarding Hometown, we are glad you are realizing the benefits you anticipated when you purchased your home there.  Hometown is unique and a fine addition to our city.  NRH has many fine neighborhoods, each with its own character and amenities.  Most people like their own neighborhoods, as you do yours.  However, most people probably wouldn’t describe their neighborhoods as visionary or courageous.  Why do you feel this way about Hometown?   Why do you think neighborhoods like it are the key to revitalizing NRH?  How do you feel about neighborhoods like Diamond Loch, Meadow Lakes, Thornbridge or Kingswood Estates, to name only a few?  Do you think additional developments like these are good for our city?

What specifically do you find embarrassing about Rufe Snow and South Grapevine Highway?  We think these areas could be improved but we would not characterize them as embarrassing unless perhaps you are referring to the endless road construction project that is languishing on the north end of Rufe Snow.  One of the potential problems with a redevelopment effort is the fact that there are often residents and businesses who have occupied the space for many years and that are “in the way” of something new.  We are certainly open to good ideas about revitalizing areas of our city and partnering with current occupants in that effort.  However, we believe we need to balance the desire for revitalization with genuine concern for the citizens that could be adversely affected.  We would oppose any plan that requires coercion of our citizens to bring about redevelopment.  How do you feel about this?  Should the city push existing land owners out of the way in order to satisfy a desire to redevelop?  Do you think Eminent Domain is an acceptable way to go about such redevelopment? 

Regarding TIF2, it exists and we expect it will continue to exist and fulfill its stated purpose.  Hometown could have been developed without the use of a TIF so we view the two entities separately.  The question is, should TIF2 have been formed in the first place.  We do not believe that it should have.  TIF2 does not conform to state law which stipulates the conditions that must exist in order for a TIF to be formed (see www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/proptax/registry04/zone.html).  Our view is that the city should always abide by the law.  Additionally, TIF2 effectively consumes all but a tiny fraction of the tax revenue produced by the Hometown development for decades to come and uses it for purposes other than for paying for the city services, and the salaries of the associated personnel, used by Hometown.  Is this a fair trade for the new facilities that will be built?That’s a question that residents of NRH as a whole will have to answer.  We believe all of the stated goals of the TIF could have been achieved without employing a TIF and doing so would have better served all of our city’s residents.

Our understanding is that the new Recreation Center and Library are to be funded by TIF2 and the current plan appears to be to locate these facilities in Hometown.  We would not seek to change the plans already in place.  We realize many of the residents in Hometown bought their homes based on the assumption the development would be completed as promised.  We would feel the same way and think they have a right to expect nothing less.  Our primary concern at this point is that the new facilities be easily accessible to all residents and offer adequate parking.  We assume these concerns will be addressed by city staff and the council as plans for the new facilities mature. 

Thanks again for contacting us.  We look forward to your reply and/or the opportunity to meet with you and other residents of Hometown.

Best regards,

Suzette Christopher                                                            John Martin

Candidate for NRH City Council, Place 1                                  Candidate for NRH City Council, Place 3

 

Maury Siskel, Jr.                                                                Kerry L. West

Candidate for NRH City Council, Place 5                                  Candidate for NRH City Council, Place 7