C mpass Rose JANUARY 2019
CHEERS TO ANOTHER GREAT YEAR IN NASSAU BAY 2018 was an eventful year in Nassau Bay! Here are a few wonderful things City Council and City Staff were able to accomplish: Projects & Grants • Fire & EMS Station • Water & Sewer Rehabilitation Line Kick Off • FEMA Harvey Recovery Funds – $896,231 • Home Elevations (2017 Grant) – $4,225,579 • Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan with Harris County • David Braun Park – Parking Lot • David Braun Park – Park Trail • Keep Nassau Bay Beautiful Strategic Plan • Howard Ward Park – Workout Equipment • CCEF Peninsula Clean Up • Water Well #2 – Update/Rehabilitation • Harris County Flood Control Grant – $125,000 Grant for New Pumps • Rifle Resistant Body Armor Grant – $13,125 • New Animal Shelter – $45,000 Petco Grant • New City Website • City Charter Review Awards • GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award • GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting • Houston’s Best & Brightest Companies to Work For Economic Development • Transitional Learning Center • Domino's Pizza • Office/Warehouse Complex • Kasra Persian Café • Bucky’s Convenience Store • Chick-fil-A
COMMUNITY CALENDAR January 2019 New Year's Day.................................................................. Jan 1 City Hall Offices Closed ................................................. Jan 1 Coffee with the City Manager........................... Jan 4, 9am Garden Club Social / Program.................... Jan 8, 9:30am Coffee with the City Manager......................... Jan 11, 9am City Council Meeting ....................................... Jan 14, 7pm Parks & Rec Meeting (if needed)........................ Jan 16, 7pm Coffee with the City Manager......................... Jan 18, 9am Fire & EMS Station Grand Opening........... Jan 19, 10am Coffee with the City Manager......................... Jan 25, 9am
February 2019
Coffee with the City Manager........................... Feb 1, 9am Planning Commission (if needed)........................ Feb 5, 6pm Coffee with the City Manager........................... Feb 8, 9am City Council Meeting..........................................Feb 11, 7pm Valentine's Day................................................................ Feb 14 Coffee with the City Manager........................ Feb 15, 9am Presidents Day................................................................ Feb 18 City Hall Offices Closed .............................................. Feb 18 Parks & Rec Meeting (if needed)........................ Feb 20, 7pm Coffee with the City Manager........................ Feb 22, 9am For more information about these events and a complete list of community events, please visit: www.nassaubay.com/calendar.
FIRE & EMS STATION GRAND OPENING You’re invited! Please join us for the new Fire and EMS Station Grand Opening! Location: The New Nassau Bay Fire and EMS Station Address: 18295 Upper Bay Road, Nassau Bay, TX Date: Saturday, January 19, 2019 Dedication & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony 10:00am to 11:30am Open House (Lunch provided) 11:30am to 2:00pm The NBVFD and City of Nassau Bay EMS are proud to invite you to our new station Grand Opening! On Saturday, January 19th, please come out with the family and join us for a special event showcasing our new facility. Take part in a special ceremony dedicating the new station, go for a behind-the-scenes tour of the new building, and meet the team. There will be a special appearance by Sparky the Fire Dog for the kids. For questions about the event, please contact 281-3332677 or visit our website at www.nassaubay.com.
NASSAU BAY GARDEN CLUB Happy New Year! After a busy holiday season, it is nice to
find some time to relax. The fall was beautiful and the yards are looking good. If you want to add a little color (perhaps to a pot) then consider cyclamens. Cyclamens come in a wide range of colors: Dusty Miller (gray), calendulas (yellow, orange), pansies, and violas (petite version of pansies). The key to keeping these plants alive is to not overwater. Generally water cyclamens every 5 to 7 days in cool temperatures, and 3 to 5 days if temperatures warm into the 70s. Cyclamens also make a great house plant if they are placed in an east window (morning sun). January Garden Club General Meeting: Nassau Bay Garden Club members will learn more about the new green jewel in our area, Exploration Green. Anna Dikemann will present a program outlining how this wonderful area came about and the work that went into creating this recreation and conservation park. Join the Garden Club on Tuesday, January 8, 2019. The Social begins at 9:30am, with Program at 10:00am. Garden Club meeting to follow. Annual Tasting Luncheon: Guests are invited to stay after the meeting for the not-to-be-missed Tasting Luncheon! Garden Club boasts some awesome cooks so come enjoy the food and get to know your neighbors. No need to bring anything except your smile! The Tasting Luncheon will conclude the morning's activities. Tranquility Arbor is located at the corner of Upper Bay Road & Martinique Drive. The Nassau Bay Garden Club maintains this garden all year, including decorating for the holidays. Pictured in the photo below, from left to right: Rhonda Davis, Richard Armstrong, Nancee Lynn, Betty Armstrong, and Roscoe and Tuie Lee. The Nassau Bay Garden Club would like to send a special thank you to the Public Works Department, including Public Works Director Paul Lopez and the Public Works crew led by Raul, for additional assistance in placing the snow family! Thanks!
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE
The City of Nassau Bay is embarking on a process to update our current Comprehensive Plan which will guide the City over the next decade. A Request for Qualifications, which seeks professional planning consultants to work with the residents, business owners and staff, will be released in January 2019. A Comprehensive Plan is a forward-looking document which provides a framework for how the community desires to develop in the future. The plan will include goals to help guide the community for the next 15 to 20 years. The new plan will be used in future decision making by community leaders. This process is an excellent opportunity for citizens to provide input on how Nassau Bay should develop and redevelop over the next decade. The preparation of the new comprehensive plan is expected to be a yearlong process and a special committee of citizens will be appointed to oversee this work. Stay tuned for more information on this very important project.
Nassau Bay City Hall | 1800 Space Park Drive, Suite 200 | Nassau Bay, TX 77058 | 281.333.4211
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BY THE NUMBERS Statistics for November 2018
POLICE
Total Service Calls............................... 271 Total Reports Taken............................. 25 Warning Citations................................ 27 Total Patrol Miles............................ 6,145 Crimes Against Persons........................ 4 Property Crimes....................................... 5 Arrests...................................................... 13 PD Code Enforcement........................... 1 Avg Response Times (minutes)....... 3.59
ELECTION NOTICE
The City of Nassau Bay will be holding a General Election on May 4, 2019 for the purpose of electing three Councilmembers for Positions 1, 3, and 5. These positions are currently occupied by Councilmembers Don Matter, John Mahon, and Jonathan Amdur, respectively. The filing period for the General Election will begin Wednesday, January 16, 2019 and end on Friday, February 15, 2019. Any person wishing to file for candidacy may pick up an application from the City Secretary's office during the following dates and times: Filing Dates and Times: Start Date: January 16, 2019 at 8:00am End Date: February 15, 2019 at 5:00pm Office Hours: Monday to Thursday: 7:30am to 5:30pm Friday: 7:30am to 11:30am (Office hours will be extended to 5:00pm on Friday, February 15th.) For periodic updates on the 2019 General Election, including the application and Candidate Packet, visit www.nassaubay.com/Election. Please contact City Secretary Sandra Ham at 281-333-4211 or by email at sandra.ham@nassaubay.com for any questions or for more information about the May 4, 2019 Election.
EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR The City of Nassau Bay has outstanding employees. Each year at the Annual Holiday Celebration in December, the City recognizes them with the following awards based on Staff nominations and votes. Please help us congratulate the following employees:
EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR - TOM GEORGE
Tom George is Nassau Bay's Fire Administrator / IT Manager and serves as the Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief. Tom has been with the City since June 2008, and continues to go above and beyond for the betterment of his departments. Tom displays selfless service to the City and his team, having spent numerous hours ensuring the Fire Station was built properly and within budget. Working many times seven days a week, Tom's oversight and leadership on the Fire Station project led to thousands of dollars in savings – Tom's hard work has ensured this is a great building the City and Fire Department can be proud of! His sense of committment to the City, Fire Department, and his co-workers have made him an invaluable asset to Nassau Bay.
SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR - JAIME VASQUEZ
Jaime Vasquez has been with the City for eight years, serving as the City's Senior Accountant and Internal Auditor. He handles many of the City’s accounting and reporting functions, in addition to overseeing the Utility Department, Accounts Receivable activities, and coordinating the City-wide annual audit. In 2018, Jaime's committment to his team and profession was evident, as he successfuly covered for several team members, including serving as Interim Finance Director for several months. During this time, Jaime completed his first City budget and was awarded the Government Finance Officers Association’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. Never complaining, and always with a positive attitude, Jaime's varied expertise allowed the City to continue functioning at 100%.
OFFICER OF THE YEAR - MOSES VELASCO
Officer Moses Velasco has been a licensed Peace Officer in the State of Texas for the last twelve years. He has been an officer with Nassau Bay since 2008. In addition to his patrol duties, Officer Velasco coordinates the Marine Operations for the NBPD, including the Christmas and Yachty Gras Boat Parades. He was selected as Officer of the Year by his fellow officers and staff of the Police Department. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Office Velasco for his dedication to NBPD and the Nassau Bay community, as well as congratulate him on his well-deserved recognition. Congratulations to all of the winners! We are proud of you and thankful for the wonderful contributions you make to the City. The City of Nassau Bay is better because of you! Please join us in congratulating these employees!
CONGRATS TO OUR SILVER ANNIVERSARY EMPLOYEES We also want to recognize two employees who recently celebrated their Silver Anniversary with the City of Nassau Bay! Congrats to Chris DeFrancis and Ross Patrick for reaching a true milestone serving the City, community, and citizens of Nassau Bay for 25 years!
Nassau Bay City Hall | 1800 Space Park Drive, Suite 200 | Nassau Bay, TX 77058 | 281.333.4211
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NASSAU BAY ANIMAL SHELTER WATSON
Watson is a very sweet male pitbull and walks wonderfully on a leash. Watson is ready for a new home and is excited to meet his forever fur-parents. Help find loving forever homes for Watson, and all of the dogs and cats at the shelter. Please call the Nassau Bay Animal Shelter at 281.333.2944 and schedule a time to meet one of our dogs or cats ready for adoption.
www.nassaubay.com/animalshelter Hours: Mon-Thurs 7:30am-5:30pm Fri 7:30am-11:30am
Find us on Facebook @NassauBayAnimalPound
CANBE CORNER
CANBE would like to wish all of Nassau Bay joy and prosperity in 2019! CANBE is currently looking for NEW MEMBERS! If you are interested in joining CANBE (Community Association for Nassau Bay Enhancement), please contact Gayle Nelson at ghnelson2016@gmail.com or 832-419-7987. We are hoping to gain many new members and bring in exciting ideas on enhancing our fabulous community. Most recently CANBE donated the landscaping funds for the new fire station! As always, Legacy Bricks and Legacy Benches are available through CANBE's website at www.NassauBayCANBE.org.
CITY OFFICIALS
Mayor Mark A. Denman 281.333.9633 | mayor@nassaubay.com Mayor Pro Tem Don Matter, Position 1 832.260.4626 | don.matter@nassaubay.com Councilmember Ashley Graves, Position 2 281.330.5413 | ashley.graves@nassaubay.com Councilmember John Mahon, Position 3 713.702.1185 | john.mahon@nassaubay.com Councilmember Bryce Klug, Position 4 832.474.5461 | bryce.klug@nassaubay.com Councilmember Jonathan Amdur, Position 5 281.333.3424 | jonathan.amdur@nassaubay.com Councilmember Matt Prior, Position 6 214.325.0520 | matt.prior@nassaubay.com
ST. THOMAS CELEBRATES SCOUT SUNDAY On Sunday, February 3rd, St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church will honor all those involved in scouting, past or present, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and more. Join us as St. Thomas will particularly highlight Cub Scout Pack 1965, as it is the resident pack of St. Thomas. Pack 1965 is made up of approximately 80 scouts, with 20 girl scouts. Recently, Pack 1965 wrapped up 2018 with a Christmas Party, where scouts completed a service project and filled Blessings in a Bag. Scouts also made Christmas cards for members of St. Thomas and the community who are infirm or shut-in. The New Year brings several exciting activities planned for the spring, such as a campout, the big Pinewood Derby and Rain Gutter Regatta races, as well as boating and water safety courses. Pack 1965's big annual service project – Scouting for Food – will be held in February. For those interested in learning more about Pack 1965, please contact Zac Whirley at 832-385-0318.
JANUARY 2019 CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Mayor, Council, and the City of Nassau Bay are excited about the Grand Opening of the new Nassau Bay Fire and EMS Station! Please join us in celebration, as City Council hosts their regular January 14, 2019 City Council meeting at the new Fire & EMS Station. The address for the Fire & EMS Station is 18295 Upper Bay Road, Nassau Bay, TX. The City Council meeting will begin at 7:00pm. Please note, the January 2019 meeting is the only regular Council meeting to be held at this new location. Remaining Council meetings will continue to be held at City Hall, 1800 Space Park Drive, Suite 200, Nassau Bay, TX. View the latest Nassau Bay City Council agendas and minutes at www.nassaubay.com/CityCouncil.
COUNCIL MEETING RECAP
DECEMBER 10, 2018 - REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING Approved a resolution reappointing John Nugent, Ian Young, Louis Nguyen, and Angela Braun to the Planning Commission for two-year terms to expire January 1, 2021. Authorized the Mayor to sign an Interlocal Agreement with Harris County to house, support, maintain, and confine or detain City prisoners in any of the Harris County Jails. Approved a resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into a joint agreement with CCISD to share the City’s polling place on May 4, 2019. Approved a resolution to express opposition to legislative interference with local services, local revenue, and local control. Awarded bid to E.J. Chris Contracting for the Rehabilitation of 750,000 Gallon Ground Storage Tank
Presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Park Place Commandery #106 for leading the Pledges
Recognized Nassau Bay Police Officer Stephen Snook for his recent promotion to Corporal
Join us for next month's Council Meeting: Monday, January 14, 2019 @ 7:00pm at the New Fire & EMS Station (18295 Upper Bay Road)
Nassau Bay City Hall | 1800 Space Park Drive, Suite 200 | Nassau Bay, TX 77058 | 281.333.4211
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