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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMayor's Newsletter 07/99MAYOR'Snewsletter C I T Y O F E U L E S S Greetings from Your Mayor Dear Citizens, Here we are in summertime again with so many ter- rific activities going on in Euless. The Library, Midway Recreation Center, The Parks at Texas Star, Softball World, and the Amphitheater all are busy with inter- esting programs for our citizens. Do check with each place for more information. We have a new council member, Glenn Porterfield. Glenn Walker resigned early in his term and you have elected Council Member Porterfield. He's a man of many talents and we are happy to have him working with the Council. Additionally read about our Deputy City Manager, Gary McKamie. Many of you know Gary as our police chief and we welcome him in his new position. The State Legislature passed many new laws this term and several will impact our city. Two most notable laws are good ones for Euless in that they allow our citizens to make decisions that will affect our city. Our city police crime tax has a sunset provision that will expire in the year 2000. The new law allows citizens to vote on continuing that tax before the expi- ration date. If we had to wait until the expiration date, we would have lost six months taxes before start up accounting. We have cut crime, added additional police personnel, joined with a large community radio alert system, added a police dog and purchased other items to benefit our police department. If continued, the one-quarter cent tax would provide further police protection along with additional needs for the new police facility. That election will be held in 2000. The second law will enable the citizens to decide on a car rental tax at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. The car rental agency will open in the spring of 2000 and we will have that electio in November so we will be able to get the proper accounting completed for collection of the tax when the facility opens. If adopted, it would gener- ate approximately two mil lion dollars a year for the citizens of Euless! The City of Euless received the Regional Cooperation Award from the North Texas Council of Governments at the annual meeting. This award is given to the cities that cooperate together on a project benefiting the community. We received the very first Regional Cooperation Award three years ago with Bedford and Hurst. This time we received the award for cooperation with Dallas and Fort Worth and the D/FW Airport Board for the joint revenue sharing agreement. Working together truly benefits all com- munities. Do plan to attend some of the games of the Dixie Baseball Championship held in Euless and show a big Texas Welcome to the players and their families. This is a "feather in our caps" to host this and the Collegiate Golf tournament the next week. We are putting Euless on the map and Together we are Building a Better Tomorrow. Mary Lib Saleh Mayor New (ouncil Member P. 2 Nein Deputu (itu Manager P. 2 Special Election P. 3 Dixie Pre -Majors World Series P. 3 Welcome Euless' Newest Council Member The City of Euless is proud to welcome Glenn Porterfield to Place 5 on the Euless City Council. Porterfield was elected to the council on May 1, due to a special election called to replace Council Member Glenn Walker. Walker resigned from Place 5 on the Council because he accepted a new business position in Little Rock, Arkansas. Porterfield first moved to Euless in 1980. "Euless is an Although his residency has not been consistent unknown pearl in the metroplex in Euless, he and his and I'd like it to wife, Diane, have lived in the Arbor Glen sub - receive the division since 1994. recognition and Prior to the election, development Porterfield served as prospects it President of Century deserves," said Leasing Corporation in Glenn Porterfield. Euless. Since the elec- tion, he has assumed the position as President of the Western American National Bank of Bedford. Porterfield has a history of being active in community organizations and has served as President of the HEB Chamber of Commerce; President of the Northeast Tarrant Arts Council; Presiden} of the Board for the Women' Haven of Tarrant County; member of the Rotary Club of Fort Worth North and HEB; and a member of the Euless Development Corporation Board of Directors. "Euless is an unknown pearl in the metroplex and I'd like it to receive the recognition and development prospects it deserves," said Glenn Porterfield. "I believe the Council is already addressing the significant issues that I want to emphasize. The fact that the Council is united on major city issues is a positive for the citizens of Euless." During Porterfield's candidacy, he said he would use his business experience to seek expansion opportunities while maintaining a consistent tax rate. He also said he is keenly interested in developing property within and adjacent to DFW Airport to maximize sales tax income to the City. Porterfield has said he is committed to serving the citizens of Euless and would like to receive input from res- idents. He believes in seeking the advice of local individuals ind that the views of citizens Evill always carry the utmost value when determining the Euless Selects New Deputy Citi Manager he City of Euless is proud to announce the new Deputy City Manager, Gary YMcKamie. Seeking to find someone who recognizes the integral parts of the city, City Manager Joe Hennig knew he already had this leader on his team. Formerly the Chief of Police, McKamie officially joined the City Manager's Office after the Arbor Daze festival in late April. "Gary is such a talented an( natural leader, we knew he woulcn be the perfect balance to this city management team," said Joe Hennig, City Manager. "Being an employee of this city for 25 years, he knows where this city has been and has an excellent vision of how this city will ;row into the next millenni- im.,, McKamie has been with the city since 1973, where he began as a dispatcher. He became Chief of Police in 1993, and has been instru- mental in several accom- plishments including the passage of the crime tax, the establishment of the Citizens Police Academy and the building plans of the new police and courts facility page 2 future of Euless. To contact Glenn Porterfield, call 685- 1434 or write to 201 N. Ector Drive, Euless, 76039. If you would like to email any of the Council Members, they can be reached at euless@airmail.net. McKamie and his "Gary is such a talented wife, Paula, have lived and natural leader, we in Euless for 25 years. knew he would be the They have three sons, perfect balance to this Brant, Blake and city management Blane, who keep them team," said Joe iiennig, active in choral and ON Manager. church activities. As McKamie transitions into his new role as Deputy City Manager, Bob Freeman will be the acting Chief of Police. Freeman has been with the Euless Police Department for 18 years and was made Captain in 1997 He will be the act- ing Chief of Police for the next six months so the staff can properly review all available options for a replacement. Special Election Vehicle Tdx for Short Term Motor he City of Euless will be holding an election for the passage of a motor vehicle tax that would be placed on every car rental within the City of Euless. Euless City Officials negotiated with Airport Officials to locate the new Consolidated Rent A Car Facility, one of the nation's most comprehensive rental car facilities, in Euless city limits, therefore economically benefiting the citizens of Euless. By locating this facility in Euless, it provides several financial opportunities for the city. House Bill 92, passed in 1997, has provided Texas cities the ability to levy a Short Term Motor Vehicle Tax on car rentals, through a city election. With citizen approval of the Short Term Motor Vehicle Tax, any individual who rents a car from the Airport will pay a tax. The projected revenue from the motor vehicle tax is an estimated $6 million dollars. This revenue would be divided among the three cities of Euless, Dallas and Fort Worth in accordance with the Revenue Sharing Agreement. "This tax would not cost our residents any additional tax money, unless they rent a car in the City of Euless," said Joe Hennig, City Manager. "This is an opportunity for Euless to realize almost $2 million dollars through this Short Term Motor Vehicle Tax that can be used for vari- ous city operations including streets, drainage and park development." The original design for the Consolidated Rent A Car Facility has been expanded to Continued on page 4... Dixie Pre-Adjors World Series The City of Euless is proud to host the Community Services. "Euless is fortunate Dixie Pre -Majors World Series from to host such a premier event as the July 31 -August 5, 1999. - Dixie Pre -Majors World Series Representatives from the because it continues to Dixie Boys Baseball, 1 7 ® ► \ build Euless into the Inc., selected the Parks ► amateur sports capital at Texas Star as the site of Texas. " for this year's Dixie Pre- 113.4 Majors World Series _ and have been looking forward to being the first major baseball event held at the Athletic Center in Euless. The event will host teams from across the south including Alabama, Florida, Virginia, Tennessee, Louisiana, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Arkan- sas, Mississippi, Texas and a host team from Euless. "This is the pinnacle of boys baseball being held at the Parks at Texas Star," said Rick Herold, Director of Parks and Dixie Pre -Majors is a division of Dixie Majors Baseball for boys ages 15 and 16. Dixie Majors Baseball Continued on page 4... 3 Tax, cont. from page 3 serve the millions of individuals who rent cars from DFW Airport. The facility will have a two-story, 129,500 square foot customer service building and a two-story, 1.3 million square foot parking structure with a capacity for 4,300 cars. It has been sized to accommo- date the four on -Airport companies (Avis, Budget, Hertz and National), the six off - Airport companies (Advantage, Alamo, Dollar, Enterprise, Payless, Thrifty) and space for future companies. The Rent A Car Facility will be located outside the limits of the Airport's parking control system, which will eliminate more than two million rent a car transactions a year from the parking plaza operation, significantly reducing the conges- tion at the parking plazas and on International Parkway. DFW Airport Consolidated Rent A Car Facility is projected to open in March 2000. City Officials are calling for the Short Term Motor Vehicle Tax Election for Tuesday, November 2, 1999. Euless residents will receive additional information about this pro- posed sales tax in their water bills and through Neighborhood Associations and CrimeWatch Groups. For additional information about the Short Term Motor Vehicle Tax Election, call 685-1821. TTH HMMC C I T Yc O F l J J ... World Series, cont from page 3 was developed by the Directors of Dixie Boys Baseball (ages 13-14) because of the growing need for a program for Dixie Boys Baseball graduates. After playing on a medium sized field in the Dixie Boys Baseball program, they graduate to a regulation - sized field in the Dixie Majors and Dixie Pre - Majors Baseball. The objective in developing Dixie Baseball was to make available an organized baseball program for boys Pipeline. There will be a parade of the teams onto the field with an exciting fireworks presentation. Opening ceremony tickets are $10.00 and can be purchased at Midway Recreation Center. 300 graduating from other youth baseball groups. It permits these boys to continue in a super- vised athletic program competing with boys of their own age and ability. The opening ceremonies for the World Series will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 30, at the Parks at Texas Star, 1501 S. Magor Mary Lib Saleh (ouncilpersons Carl Tyson Leon HoSS Bobby Baker Charlie Miller Mayor ProTem Glenn Porterfield Katie Edwards W. Midway. The World Series will begin on Saturday, July 31, and will be held at both the Parks at Texas Star and Trinity High School (for the first two days; Parks at Texas Star for final tourna- ments). Daily admission for adults is $4.00 and Senior Citizen/Children (under 6) admission is $2.00. Admission tour- nament passes can be purchased for the entire event with adult passes being $12.00 and Senior Citizen/Children passes being $6.00. For additional information about the Dixie Pre -Majors World Series, call 685-1666. City Manager Joe HenniS Deputy city Manager Gary McKamie (ommunications/ Marketing Manager/ ledture Article Editor Jenny Kratz The Mayor'sNewsletteris a quarterly publication of the City of Euless. If you have any comments or sugSestions, please call 685-1821 or write to: 201 North Ector Drive Euless, Texas, 76039. POSTAL CUSTOMER Is Mayor's Newsletter is 201 North Ector Drive, Euless, Texas 76039 817/685-1821 Wprinted on recycled paper. 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