C mpass Rose DECEMBER 2019
IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS IN NASSAU BAY HOLIDAY IN THE PARK
It’s that time of year again to jingle and mingle at the Annual Holiday in the Park event hosted by the City of Nassau Bay Special Events Committee! Get into the holiday spirit as snow descends on Howard Ward Park and becomes a winter wonderland. After frolicking in the snow, warm up with some hot cocoa graciously provided by CANBE. We are excited to announce that Santa has made arrangements in his busy schedule to make an appearance and visit with all the good boys and girls in Nassau Bay – so bring your camera for a few Santa selfies! Join us for holiday cheer and singing loud for all to hear on Saturday, December 14th*, 2:00pm until 4:00pm. Festive attire is encouraged! For more details, visit our website at www.nassaubay.com/specialevents. If you are interested in helping with this event, please contact Stacey Amdur at staceyamdur@gmail.com. *Correction: The November edition of the Compass Rose incorrectedly stated the wrong date for the event.
CHRISTMAS BOAT LANE PARADE
After Holiday in the Park, you can watch or participate in the 58th Annual Clear Lake Christmas Boat Lane Parade. Ring in the holidays with this Clear Lake tradition. More than 100,000 people traditionally enjoy this event from land and from hundreds of boats anchored throughout the lake. The parade features more than 100 brightly decorated power and sailboats that will traverse the Clear Lake channel from the South Shore Harbour Marina and the Nassau Bay Lagoon to Galveston Bay. Fireworks will be launched from the Nassau Bay Peninsula at 6:00pm to signal the start of the parade. You can enjoy this event from land or by boat.
USMC TOYS FOR TOTS The City of Nassau Bay will be an
official USMC Toys for Tots collection site, sponsored by the USMC Reserve Unit of Galveston, Texas. All toys collected in Nassau Bay will be redistributed to needy children throughout our area. Share some love this holiday season by bringing a new, unwrapped toy to City Hall (1800 Space Park Drive, Ste 200). Additionally, toys will be accepted at the Annual Holiday in the Park celebration. Toys for Tots will have toy collection boxes and volunteers on hand to collect toys. We encourage this ideal opportunity for your children to buy a toy for a needy child and donate it this holiday season. There are hundreds of needy kids in Nassau Bay's immediate area, ranging from newborns to age 17. Please consider, while most tend to think about younger children when thoughtfully purchasing gifts, teenagers are the age group most often overlooked. Volunteers typically scramble to find age appropriate gifts for teens, so all have presents for Christmas. Toy collection boxes will be available at Nassau Bay City Hall, CVS, and Dollar General through December 14th. Toy donations of any size are greatly appreciated! Additionally, monetary donations are also needed and can be made payable to the USMC Toys for Tots Foundation. For additional information, contact our local resident volunteer Diana Clark at 281-507-3387.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR December 2019 Coffee with the City Manager............................ Dec 6, 9am City Council Meeting............................................ Dec 9, 7pm Coffee with the City Manager.......................... Dec 13, 9am Holiday in the Park.............................................. Dec 14, 2pm Christmas Boat Lane Parade............................. Dec 14, 6pm Coffee with the City Manager.......................... Dec 20, 9am Christmas......................................................................... Dec 25 City Hall Offices Closed...................................... Dec 24 & 25 Coffee with the City Manager.......................... Dec 27, 9am
January 2020
New Year's Day................................................................... Jan 1 City Hall Offices Closed.................................................... Jan 1 Coffee with the City Manager............................. Jan 3, 9am Coffee with the City Manager........................... Jan 10, 9am City Council Meeting .......................................... Jan 13, 7pm First Day for Candidate Filing for May Election....... Jan 15 Coffee with the City Manager........................... Jan 17, 9am Coffee with the City Manager........................... Jan 24, 9am Coffee with the City Manager........................... Jan 31, 9am
DAVID BRAUN PARK PAVILION CLOSED
The David Braun Park Pavilion will be closed until December 20th. Contractors began mobilizing equipment mid-November, and notification signs have been placed at the entrance of the park and at the pavilion. As a safety precaution, road barricades and orange construction fencing will also secure the pavilion. As part of the construction process, contractors will paint the underside of the roof. Additionally, the Parks Department is planning to re-do the striping of the basketball floor, including the free throw areas and borders. Watch Nassau Bay's social media pages for updates and for the official reopening of the pavilion. Thank you for your patience as crews work as quickly as possible!
NASSAU BAY GARDEN CLUB
Christmas Cactus: Residents have probably noticed the beautiful "Christmas Cactus" [Schlumbergera] for sale in grocery stores or garden centers. These are easy-to-grow houseplants that come in several vibrant colors this time of year. However, caution as they are highly toxic – something to consider if one has small children and/or pets. In order to bloom, this cactus will need humidity, welldrained soil, bright indirect morning light, and a constant temperature of 50-70 degrees. The Schlumbergera plant will need long dark nights [11 hours] and short bright days to produce flowers. These cacti can produce flowers that are pink, purple, red, yellow, white, or orange. They are reasonably priced, easy to find, and add to the holiday spirit! Garden Club Christmas Luncheon: The Nassau Bay Garden Club will not have a general meeting in the month of December, however, a Christmas Luncheon is planned for Wednesday, December 4th at the Lakewood Yacht Club. Regular Garden Club meetings will resume Tuesday, January 14th, 2020 at 9:30am. Meetings are held in the Nassau Bay City Hall Council Chambers (1800 Space Park Drive). January's program (at 10:00am) will be about landscaping for Nassau Bay, with designs and plantings to help create sustainable gardens and plants that will last in the City's climate. The speaker will be Mary Karish. After the business meeting (at 11:00am) there will be a pot-luck lunch prepared by members – all are welcome to join any of the Club's meetings and activities.
NASSAU BAY ARBOR DAY CEREMONY Nassau Bay celebrated Arbor Day on November 14th with the Nassau Bay Garden Club and St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal School. Students sang a lovely song and Mayor Mark Denman presented a proclamation in honor of the celebration. The Club's "little Charlie Brown" oak tree, donated by Mayor Mark Denman, was planted in Swan Lagoon Park. This year's ceremony marked the 55th year the Garden Club has planted a tree in the community for Arbor Day.
CORPORAL DONALD LINDER
This past November, Police Chief Tim Cromie announced the promotion of Officer Donald Linder to the position of Corporal. Corporal Linder has been with the Nassau Bay Police Department for five years, with nine years of law enforcement experience. He has proven to be an asset to the department and showed the desire and skills needed to be a leader and supervisor for the NBPD. Corporal Linder will be assigned to the night shift. Congratulations Corporal Linder – we wish you the best in your new role!
CANBE CORNER
Hot chocolate anyone? CANBE will be serving hot chocolate at Holiday in the Park – I ♥ NB hats, Legacy Bricks and Legacy Benches will also be available for purchase! These items are a great way to show your support for Nassau Bay and make the perfect holiday gift. Calling all Juniors in High School! CANBE is looking for a new Junior Board Member. A great addition to any college application and an opportunity for service hours. Contact Gayle Nelson at ghnelson2016@gmail.com or 832419-7987 for an application. As always, check out CANBE's website at www.NassauBayCANBE.org for more information and ways you can support our fabulous community!
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 October 2019
POLICE
Total Service Calls............................ 392 Total Reports Taken........................... 44 Total Patrol Miles.......................... 5,713 Crimes Against Persons...................... 5 Property Crimes.................................. 20 Arrests.................................................... 6 PD Code Enforcement........................ 5 Avg Response Times (minutes)..... 2.59
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Total Calls............................................. 28 Fires......................................................... 2 Rescues................................................... 0 Motor Vehicle Accident....................... 1 Hazardous Conditions..........................9 Fire Alarm ............................................. 4 EMS Assist.............................................. 7 Cancelled in Route/Other.................. 5
EMS
Total Calls............................................. 84 Total Patients in Nassau Bay........... 47
CITY ELECTION NOTICE
The City of Nassau Bay will be holding a General Election on Saturday, May 2, 2020 for the purpose of electing a Mayor and three Councilmembers for Positions 2, 4, and 6. These positions are currently occupied by Mayor Mark Denman, and Councilmembers Ashley Graves, Bryce Klug, and Matt Prior, respectively. The filing period for the General Election will begin on Wednesday, January 15, 2020 and end on Friday, February 14, 2020. Any person wishing to file for candidacy may pick up an application packet from the City Secretary's office beginning Monday, December 16, 2019. Candidates may file for the General Election during the following dates and times: Filing Dates and Times: • Start Date: January 15, 2020 at 8:00am • End Date: February 14, 2020 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 14th.) For periodic updates on the 2020 General Election, including the application and Candidate Packet, visit the City's website at www.nassaubay.com/Election. For more information or for any questions regarding the General Election, please contact City Secretary Sandra Ham at 281-333-4211 or by email at sandra.ham@nassaubay.com.
PACKAGE THEFT PREVENTION TIPS Thieves looking to steal your packages will follow or watch for UPS, Fed Ex, US Mail, and other delivery service trucks so they can target your home after the parcels are delivered. While this type of crime can occur at any time throughout the year, it usually increases around the holidays due to increased shopping practices of residents. Below are some “Package Theft Prevention Tips” for you to use which will help reduce your chances of becoming a victim of this crime. If Possible: • Ask for a tracking number. • Request a specific drop off time and date when you will be home to accept your packages. • Arrange to have your packages held at the shipping service so you can pick them up. • Ask the delivery service to leave your packages at a side or back door. An enclosed porch where packages are out of sight is also a good option. • Have your packages delivered to your workplace. • Have your packages delivered to the home of a relative or neighbor who will be there to accept them. • Ask to have your packages delivered to a retail store so you can pick them up at your convenience. • Ask a trustworthy neighbor to keep a “watchful eye” out for your packages. If they’re willing, ask them to safeguard your packages until you return home. • Leave a note for the carrier instructing them where to leave your packages (ex: backdoor). • If your packages do not arrive as scheduled, contact the sender immediately. Do not rely on security cameras to prevent package thefts. While your security system may very well record thieves stealing your packages, the police department can only file charges if the person or persons are known or identified by someone. It is better to PREVENT the theft rather than trying to track down a thief afterwards. And even if a thief is identified, there is little chance your packages will be recovered. What should you do if you see packages being stolen in your neighborhood? Call 911 immediately! Tell the dispatcher you are reporting a “Crime in Progress”. Then confirm your address and provide an accurate description of the suspect(s) and any vehicles that may be used.
LEEWARD TOWNHOMES ACQUISITION
The City received a FEMA grant of approximately $1,500,000 that will mitigate future flood hazards by permanently removing designated homes that were built below the base flood elevation on Leeward Lane. The City originally attempted to elevate the homes, but the area below the slab was not stable enough to elevate all of the adjoining townhomes. The homeowners and the City, collectively, decided on a buyout, which has been awarded and the buyout/demolition process is underway. Residents should see the demolition of the homes in the first quarter of 2020. Once the homes are gone, the area will remain a permanent green space.
Nassau Bay City Hall | 1800 Space Park Drive, Suite 200 | Nassau Bay, TX 77058 | 281.333.4211
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JOIN THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT Are you looking for an exciting and gratifying way to serve your community? Want to build comradery in a team of diverse people that represent the best of what our community has to offer? If so, the Nassau Bay Volunteer Fire Department may be the place for you! Since 1967, this group of volunteers has faithfully served the citizens of Nassau Bay and our surrounding communities. The department is comprised of approximately 40 individuals who live in or near Nassau Bay and respond to all types of emergency calls – fires, vehicle accidents, rescues, medical emergencies, etc. Maintaining a volunteer fire department saves the City of Nassau Bay upwards of $2 million each year, while ensuring the City maintains a very high level of emergency response service and short response times. Surprising to learn, most members come to the department with no previous firefighting or EMS experience. All training necessary to contribute as a responding member can be provided after joining the department. The commitment level is very flexible – there are no mandatory on-call periods, and members respond to calls from their home or work as their schedule, and other commitments allow. As a fully volunteer organization, the efforts of those who choose to serve as members are the lifeblood of the department. It is critical for the City of Nassau Bay to continue to have a healthy and active group of responders available to meet the needs of our citizens. If you are interested in joining the department, or are wanting to learn more about the department, please stop by the fire station to meet some of our members and learn more about how you can contribute to this worthy effort. The new fire station is located on the corner of Upper Bay and Space Park. The best time to come by is on a Tuesday evening, as the department holds training from 7:00pm to 9:00pm – there are many members around to answer questions. Thank you for supporting the Nassau Bay Volunteer Fire Department, we hope you'll stop by!
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 Bob Warters, Position 5 281.333.4750 | bob.warters@nassaubay.com Councilmember Matt Prior, Position 6 214.325.0520 | matt.prior@nassaubay.com
NASSAU BAY ANIMAL SHELTER
Hootie is a very sweet 2-year-old male puppy. Hootie is heartworm negative, neutered, and is waiting on a loving home.
Help find loving forever homes for Hootie 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
COUNCIL MEETING RECAP
NOVEMBER 12, 2019 - REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Received a $10,000 Check from the Presented a Proclamation to the first annual CANBE Stellar Soiree. Garden Club in honor of Arbor Day.
Approved the EDC minutes of July 22, 2019 and Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2018-19 as approved by the Corporation at its meeting held on October 28, 2019. Approved second and final reading of an ordinance approving a request by Methodist Clear Lake for current zoning U (Urban) to be approved Presented a $5,000 Check the City's HOT Funds to for PUD (Planned Unit Development) from the Texas Outlaw Challenge. for a 34-acre tract bounded on the north by NASA Road 1, on the east by Houston Methodist Blvd, on the west by Upper Bay Road and on the south by Space Park Drive. Heard discussion of the possible addition of a City ordinance for the enforcement of dilapidated boats/vessels in the City. Approved contractors for RFQ 2019-05 Flood Mitigation Assistance Home Elevation Services. Authorized the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Jeffrey S. Ward & Associates for consulting services for grant project management for RFQ 2019-06. Approved the 2018 Annual Report for the City of Nassau Bay Reinvestment Zone Number One. Approved the First Amendment to Communication Site Lease Agreement (120 Surf Court) between T-Mobile West Tower LLC (Crown Castle T Mobile LLC) and the City of Nassau Bay. Join us for next month's Council Meeting: Monday, December 9, 2019 @ 7:00pm, City Hall Council Chamber
Nassau Bay City Hall | 1800 Space Park Drive, Suite 200 | Nassau Bay, TX 77058 | 281.333.4211
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