Friendswood City Council vs. Friendswood Voters

In 1997, the City of Friendswood made a change in their city charter which prohibited any debt being issued without voter approval (except in an emergency).

Fast forward to today: the Friendswood leaders put a $9.6 million bond proposal on the ballot. It failed.

Voters rejected Prop. 1 — $3.1 million for unspecified parks improvements — by 1,115 votes, or about 61% Against, and 705 (about 39%) For, according to complete, but unofficial returns.

So the city leaders have decided to bypass the voters and issue $11 million in certificates of obligation to purchase land for a ball park. First of all, the land is outside the city’s jurisdictional limits. Second, the city asserts that the ball park is an emergency or urgent public necessity.

Without public pronouncements, the city petitions the District Court of Travis County (419th District Court, 178 miles from Friendswood):

1) to allow the City to override its own charter by incurring debt not approved by voters; and

2) to purchase land outside its city limits.

The hearing was set for Monday, June 15. Some Friendswood citizens showed up to protest the city action, and the judge postponed the hearing until 9 am July 13.

On Friday, June 12, the Texas Attorney General issues a answer to #2: as to whether the City of Friendswood may issue certificates of obligation to purchase park land not only outside its corporate limits, but outside the county in which the city is situated. If the city charter grants authority to purchase outside the county, it can. (the city charter is silent on this matter). Friendswood citizens who showed up in court on Monday, June 15, and the judge said she would postpone the hearing (until July 13) to give them time to intervene.

City Council: “We sue the citizens”

Friendswood City leader says to citizen: “What does it matter who we sue and what we sue?” We’ve had 131 (public) information requests in City Hall.

YouTube of Friendswood’s Barker Rant

Friendswood Council Member Mike Barker admits involvement in purchasing property outside the Friendswood city limits and from a friend of 30-years, David Wight. But he reserves his right to do business with Wight in the future. No matter the City doesn't have jurisdiction to purchase land outside their jurisdiction. He spends more than six minutes railing on those "ruthless" citizen watchdogs who dare challenge the city leaders' right to ignore the city charter. You can't make this stuff up!

Mayor says they are not suing the citizens

“City officials believe it is legal, in this case, to issue certificates of obligation because Friendswood plans to pay that debt back using current revenue streams. The city does not plan to raise taxes, Smith said.”

(The city charter says they cannot issue debt which cannot be paid by current revenue streams – citizens assert the money isn’t there to pay this debt from current revenue, and the current council members will be gone when the bills come due.)

Bottom line:

Friendswood voters are against the action by the city leaders and want the city charter upheld. Citizens are willing to fight this!