News

#1 What is your vision for Baytown’s future?

Brandon Capetillo:  My future vision for Baytown is to develop our community that is one of dynamic growth, where a robust economy thrives through innovation and diversification of employment opportunities. A Baytown that has quality housing and amenities for all residents to enjoy a better quality of life. A Baytown that has a sustainable financial future that can address many of the infrastructure needs of a growing and flourishing community. Additionally, a Baytown that attracts and becomes a destination for sports tourism, shopping and entertainment for all age groups.

Charles Johnson:  My Vision is to support positive economic development and higher end residential while continuing to support fire and police in their goal of making Baytown one of the safest cities in Harris County.  When I'm elected as Mayor bringing in retail wanted and needed along with restaurants and entertainment will be a priority. Baytown is a city where people come to work.  This is evident by our population growing by 20,000- 25,000 during the work week.  Baytown can be the city in which residents live,work and play.  

Mercedes Renteria:  No response

Mike Wolfe:  No Response

#2 The City Council has decreased taxes by 1 cent/year for the past few years, and this year lowered three cents.   Do you favor continuing this effort? Would you prioritize increasing the homestead exemption over tax decreases, or vice versa?

Brandon Capetillo:  I believe our tax rate is now at an acceptable rate and competitive with similar size cities that offer full city services, however my focus moving forward is to continue to increase the exemption for our 65+ and disabled citizens.

Charles Johnson:  I would favor doing both. . I would continue lowering the tax rate as low as possible as long as the level of city services staff provides to our citizens is not affected in a negative way.  The 1 cent tax decrease started at the recommendation of the finance committee which I served on while on council.  We started these discussions in 2017 before Harvey and asked the finance director to determine the feasibility of doing so.   Fast forward to 2018 after studying the budget it was determined we could lower the rate by 1 cent and keep providing a high level of city services.  

We must remember homestead exemptions are limited.  State law says any taxing unit can exempt up to 20 percent of the value of each qualified homestead. No matter what percentage of value the taxing unit adopts, the dollar value of the exemption must be at least $5,000.  We have used the age and disability exemptions,  Partial exemption for disabled veterans and a local option exemption based on a percentage of a home's appraised value. Any taxing unit can exempt up to 20 percent of the value of each qualified homestead.  I would like to explore using the other exemptions allowed which are Surviving Spouses of First Responders Killed in the Line of Duty getting a 100 percent property exemption, Surviving Spouses of Members of the U.S. Armed Services Killed in the Lined of Duty, 100 Percent Residence Homestead Exemption for Disabled Veterans.

Mercedes Renteria:  No response

Mike Wolfe:  No Response

#3 With the major growth in our area, we are experiencing a number of issues in the area of transportation.  What do you believe the city should be doing to resolve these issues?  

Brandon Capetillo:  
* I-10 at the San Jacinto River Bridge (TxDOT has a design for a new bridge but it is five years out)
* I-10 at the San Jacinto River Bridge (TxDOT has a design for a new bridge but it is five years out)
* Highway 146 Corridor
* Garth Road widening to 1942
* John Martin Road widening south to CB Lynchburg and north to Wallisville
* Wallisville widening

These are just a few but may be some of the most important in the near future.

Certainly, as we grow so does the need for expanded roadways to allow for the capacity of vehicular traffic while increasing the safety aspects and design criteria. Long term, Garth Road will be expanded from Baker to FM1942. John Martin needs to also be addressed to allow for the new developments that will be occurring in the Northern areas of the Baytown area. This will take a partnership with the county commissioners since a majority of Wallisville Rd. is in the county and not part of Baytown city limits. I have great relationships with our county commissioners and I know they are active in addressing these types of needed roadway projects.  

We are currently working with TXDOT on options to allow for a safer 146 North corridor to allow for a safer roadway for our residents and an acceptable route for commercial traffic.

Charles Johnson:  
With the major growth in our area, we are experiencing a number of issues in the area of
transportation. What do you believe the city should be doing to resolve these issues?  
• I-10 at the San Jacinto River Bridge (TxDOT has a design for a new bridge but it is five years out)
• Highway 146 Corridor
• Garth Road widening to 1942
• John Martin Road widening south to CB Lynchburg and north to Wallisville
• Wallisville widening
These are just a few but may be some of the most important in the near future.

With the growth we have north of I-10, each project north of I10 should take priority.  That being said,  Wallisville, and 1942 are projects that should be discussed with the county.  They are all County Rds.  The San Jacinto at I-10 bridge is in the design phase. I would be sure to keep in contact with the State to be sure progress is made.  We should continue having discussions and push for progress with 146 for safety reasons in getting 18-wheeler traffic diverted away from there.  I would recommend planning each as to not having multiple projects happening simultaneously.

Mercedes Renteria:  No response

Mike Wolfe:  No Response

#4 With the many businesses wanting to invest in our area (retail, commercial, logistics, industrial, etc.), what are your thoughts on enhancing growth while controlling the mixture with residential communities?

Brandon Capetillo:  The free market will determine how retail and mixed-use develop to meet the needs of Baytown and support a strong economy for area businesses. Mixed-use communities are what attracts and financially sustains the type of commercial centers due to having the combination of retail, entertainment, restaurants, office, hotel and residential developments. It is imperative that we approach our land uses in the smartest manner possible, it is a difficult balance due to our industrial growth, logistical presence, and location to sought after inter-modal resources. However, I do believe we can find an acceptable balance of supporting our job base and offering an improved quality of life for our residents.

Charles Johnson:  Enhancing growth should happen for the benefit of lowering the tax rate.  The more business (retail, commercial, logistics, industrial, etc.) here,  the more revenue the city can bring in through sales tax and IDAs.  Which would in turn allow for taxes to be lowered with citizens quality of life being diminished.  As I stated in a previous answer, I would like to see higher end residential communities constructed here.  With the help of council and staff we should make sure that industry/business does not encroach on residential.

Mercedes Renteria:  No response

Mike Wolfe:  No Response

#5 What are your thoughts on how to bring a higher level and higher quality of residential development to the Baytown area?

Brandon Capetillo:  For higher level housing (ie 400k+) to occur it will take quality home builders within a master planned development, a strong academically recognized school district, higher and more expanded paying job opportunities beyond the petrochemical marketplace, improved shopping and family entertainment options.

Charles Johnson:  My thoughts are we should continue to move the needle.  As developments come in as we started 6 years ago.  We should require certain materials be used along with raising the standard for lot sizes and home design.

#6 What are your thoughts on how to bring more shopping opportunities into our community?

Brandon Capetillo:  Most of the highly sought-after retailers and businesses require financial incentives to invest in a city. We have a great economic development team and a very good understanding how to structure agreements that are acceptable to these types of retailers, while remaining within financially acceptable boundaries on return of invest to our citizens.

Charles Johnson:  In Order to bring more shopping opportunities to Baytown we should give incentives to the retail residents want.   Similar to what was done for Buc-ees.  These stores can go anywhere.  They go where they receive the best deal.

Mercedes Renteria:  No response

Mike Wolfe:  No Response

#7 What would be your list of major issues facing our community now and in the near future.

Brandon Capetillo:  The issues that I believe need to be addressed or explored are as follows in no particular order of importance:

An alternative raw water source for Baytown to not be solely dependent on the City of Houston as our raw water source.
Working with port authorities regarding the future development of a deep-water terminal at the mouth of Cedar Bayou and the impacts that will have in the area.
Developing a solution regarding the intrusion of ground water into the private residential sewer lines of our citizens and causing overflows to or sanitary system.

Charles Johnson:  Major issues would be building and improving infrastructure for growth.  The next issue is bring desired retail to our city.   Lastly lowering the city's tax rate and not cutting services.

Mercedes Renteria:  No response

Mike Wolfe:  No Response

#8  What is your position on State mandated revenue caps for cities, including tax rate caps?

Brandon Capetillo:  The revenue caps should only apply to cities that have not demonstrated financial responsibility or the inability to manage resources. Each Texas city is different and has different needs, inflation of goods and services, increased personnel costs and many other expenses have far exceeded the 3.5% revenue cap and will force many cities to cut or reduce needed services to their citizens. Since I became mayor, we have reduced the tax rate 6 times to our taxpayers every budget and have increased the 65+ and disabled exemption from 50k to 120k.

Charles Johnson:  no response

Mercedes Renteria:  No response

Mike Wolfe:  No Response

#9  What would be your strategies for dealing with the Wastewater Overflow issue?

Brandon Capetillo:  The addition of a $25 per month penalty to a water bill has not resulted in the needed outcome to improve our wastewater overflow issues. We have repaired and/or replaced many of our city collector lines. The only idea I can think of is to partner with private contractors that could offer financing to our identified households since the city is not legally capable to perform the work ourselves. If we were able to be successful in these citizen repairs/replacements it would provide a significant relief to the overflows that occur.

Charles Johnson:  I like what the city of Houston has done in reaching out to the State for assistance with funds to repair their system.  Our Wastewater system is old.  The overflows are a result of the age and stress on the system.  I would ask staff to seek grants and funding from the federal and state government to supplement the cost.  

Mercedes Renteria:  No response

Mike Wolfe:  No Response