Nassau Bay Compass Rose newsletter - December 2021

C mpass Rose

A monthly publication from the City of Nassau Bay

DECEMBER 2021

Nassau Bay City Hall | 1800 Space Park Drive, Suite 200 | Nassau Bay, TX 77058 | 281.333.4211

HOLIDAY IN THE PARK - SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11 It’s that time of year again to jingle and mingle at the annual Holiday in the Park event, hosted by the Nassau Bay Special Events Committee and the City of Nassau Bay. The event will be held on Saturday, December 11 from 2PM to 4PM.

boys and girls in Nassau Bay – so bring your camera for a few Santa selfies and family photo opportunities!

Festive attire is encouraged!

The Special Events Committee is excited to announce that Santa will be at the event to visit with all the good

For more information, check out our Facebook event page, “Annual Holiday in the Park!”

Get into the holiday spirit as snow descends on Howard Ward Park and creates a winter wonderland. After enjoying a snow slide and play patch, warm up with some hot cocoa graciously provided by CANBE.

The event will also include a carousel, train rides, an ornament craft, a “Letters to Santa” writing station and more. Kids will also have the chance to be “Santa’s Helpers,” putting together goodie bags for local nursing home residents. The event will also be a donation site for Toys for Tots.

DONATE TO TOYS FOR TOTS! The United States Marine Corps Reserve Unit in Galveston, Texas has provided care for local kids for more than 70 years, all while functioning as a top-rated charity with 97% of monetary donations received going toward toys for the kids! They are reaching out to the citizens of Nassau Bay, asking everyone to consider making donations to Toys for Tots this season.

During Holiday in the Park on Saturday, December 11, a donation box for toys will be made available. Cash or checks (please make checks payable to: Marine Toys for Tots Foundation) will also be accepted. This is a great opportunity for families and children to experience the joy of giving to others!

Many thanks to the Nassau Bay Police Department, Public Works, City Hall, the Nassau Bay Volunteer Fire Department and the Nassau Bay Garden Club for their continued support. Toys for Tots also appreciates the Nassau Bay businesses who have placed donation boxes, including CVS, Pomodoro’s, Erma’s Nutrition Center, A Suite Break, and others.

Nassau Bay offers a true sense of community with neighbors who look out for one another and are often more like extended family. Toys for Tots donations of any size are greatly appreciated! Please contact Nassau Bay's local volunteer for pickup: USMC Toys for Tots, Civilian Committee Member, Diana Clark at (281) 507-3387.

60th Anniversary CHRISTMAS BOAT LANE PARADE Kick off the holiday season with the 60th Anniversary Christmas Boat Lane Parade produced by the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.

More than 100,000 people traditionally enjoy this event on land and from hundreds of boats anchored throughout the lake. The parade will feature more than 60 brightly colored power and sailboats that will merrily traverse the channel from the Nassau Bay Lagoon to Galveston Bay. Fireworks will be launched from the Nassau Bay Peninsula at 6PM signaling the start of the parade.

Visit the Facebook event page, "60th Anniversary Christmas Boat Lane Parade" for more information!

A Word from

CITY COUNCIL MEMBER BRYCE KLUG I am honored to serve on the Nassau Bay City Council. All seven members have done a great job this year on the budget, refinancing debt, providing funding for critical infrastructure, cutting interest expense which decreases legacy costs, and supporting our first responders. While accomplishing this, independent, third-party credit rating agencies have taken notice. This year, Nassau Bay’s credit rating is AA++, which is an incredible vote of confidence in the fiscal management of our city.

The 2021-2022 budget, unanimously approved on September 13, is another step forward in our body’s core principles, summed up as: “Water In, Sewage Out, Safety.”

Nassau Bay enjoys cheaper water than the surrounding areas - we have not joined our neighbors in the recent water rationing, and we have dedicated critical funding to maintaining our aging infrastructure. We have our own Volunteer Fire Department, EMS, and PD, and as such, our response times are the envy of the area. Please join me in thanking all those who serve to keep us safe. Please also thank the efforts of city staff, volunteers, and all of Council for their support of this year’s budget.

On October 25, we utilized budgeted funds to expand our play space at David Braun Park. In addition to replacing the existing footprint, we are nearly doubling our play space footprint with the installation of a “Ninja” course.

Children of all ages will be able take advantage of fun, outdoor play equipment. Older children will be able to play adjacent, but separately, from our younger children.

When the final product is on the ground, the city will be able to provide much needed additional play space for our young Nassau Bay residents. To make the additional play equipment possible, it is important to thank all of the Parks Committee members, the citizen committee members, and city staff. Getting consensus on the infinite number of possibilities was a seven-month process. Once we identified the piece we wanted, location was another issue that required discussion and compromise. As of this writing, locations are still being evaluated. After all the great effort, I want to thank Councilmembers Johnson, Matter, and Mossman for joining me in approving the purchase of the “Ninja" course. I consider this my proudest achievement on Council. A process that started with a letter campaign initiated by a seven-year-old citizen, finalizing the installation of this equipment has been a two-year process filled with hours of continued debate and discussion. I am convinced Nassau Bay will be proud of this addition to its parks.

As my time on Council is drawing to an end, I am most humbled to have been given the opportunity to serve.

I have a tremendous amount of gratitude to those who have supported me, taught me, and put their trust in me.

PACKAGE THEFT PREVENTION TIPS Thieves are looking to steal packages this time of year. Here are some tips from the Nassau Bay PD to help prevent thieves from stealing your packages:

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS, NASSAU BAY!

1. Ask for a tracking number. This helps you know when they will be delivered.

2. Request a specific drop-off time and date when you will be home to accept your packages.

3. Arrange to have packages held at the shipping service for you to pick up.

4. Ask the delivery service to leave packages at a side or back door. An enclosed porch where packages are out of sight is also a good option.

5. Have your packages delivered to your workplace, if permitted.

6. Have your packages delivered to the home of a relative or neighbor who will be there to accept them.

7. Ask to have your packages delivered to a retail store so you can pick them up at your convenience.

8. If your package does not arrive as scheduled, contact the sender immediately.

9. Check with the shipping company for additional security options, such as parcel lockers, garage door delivery, gate key delivery, etc.

10. Insure your upcoming packages. If a package is lost or stolen, the insurance should cover the replacement costs.

As a rule of thumb, do not rely on security cameras to prevent package thefts.

Each month, the City will be posting a survey question at www.nassaubay. com/survey, and we encourage our residents to take just a few seconds to participate. This month, we ask: Is Nassau Bay a good place to grow old? Is it a good place to raise children?

Use our QR code to go directly to the survey page! Just hold the camera on your smartphone over the QR code and click on the pop-up link.

You won’t have to create an account or fill in any additional information.

Thank you for participating!

NBPD OFFICER RECEIVES MASTER PEACE OFFICER CERTIFICATION Congratulations to Officer Moses Velasco on receiving his Master Peace Officer certification from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). This is the highest level of certification recognition an officer can achieve in the State of Texas.

Officers are awarded different levels of proficiency certification from TCOLE based on the number of years of service combined with their hours of education and in-service training.

Officer Velasco is also working toward his Criminal Justice degree.

Great job Moses and good luck with your degree program!

NASSAU BAY ANIMAL SHELTER INTRODUCES "EYEZIC" The City of Nassau Bay Animal Shelter is excited to introduce Eyezic (pronounced Isaac), an extremely mellow Tabby who we estimate is about two years old. Eyezic has a beautiful orange fur color that really distinguishes him from other felines. He is neutered, has all of his vaccinations and is microchipped.

Help us find a loving forever home for Eyezic! Please contact Animal Control Officer Troy Bradfield at 832-574-0877 and schedule a time to meet one of our dogs or cats ready for adoption. The Shelter is open Monday-Thursday from 7:30AM to 4PM and Friday from 7:30AM-11AM. The Shelter is also open from 8:30AM-10:30AM on weekends and holidays by appointment.

Find us on Facebook:

@NassauBayAnimalShelter

CANBE CORNER Join us for the 2021 Nassau Bay

5K Run /2K Walk for Adults, Kids & Pets Saturday, Dec. 11 • 8 am • David Braun Park

BY THE NUMBERS Statistics for October 2021

POLICE

Total Service Calls............................ 312 Total Reports Taken........................... 48 Total Patrol Miles.......................... 4,175 Crimes Against Persons...................... 4 Property Crimes................................. 116 Arrests.................................................... 17 Avg Response Times (minutes)..... 3.04

FIRE DEPARTMENT

Total Calls............................................. 35 Fires......................................................... 0 Rescues.................................................... 1 Motor Vehicle Accident....................... 1 Hazardous Conditions........................ 0 Fire Alarm ............................................ 13 EMS Assist............................................ 10 Cancelled in Route/Other................. 10

EMS

Total Calls............................................. 65 Total Patients in Nassau Bay........... 34

T-Shirt & Antler Headband for the first 150 who register

Register at NassauBayCANBE.org

Registration is open for the Reindeer Fun Run event! Please visit www.

NassauBayCANBE.org or contact Ashley Graves at 281.330.5413 or AFGravesNB@gmail.com for more information on how to be a part of this year's Reindeer Fun Run!

Sponsorship opportunities are available.

NASSAU BAY HOMES ASSOCIATION The association has moved to an open source website owned in perpetuity by the NBHA. Current information regarding monthly board meetings, pool tags, marina, changes to your home, trustees, deed restrictions, and much more can be found at nassaubayhomesassociation.org.

As light is not only a known deterrent to crime, and adds a sense of security to the neighborhood, a front yard light is required for each home in the NBHA deed restrictions as well. The quarterly survey is currently underway with reminders being sent to homes in violation.

Thanks to amazing volunteers Pauline Gerken, Barbara Poche, and Cheryl McGee, the annual homes assessment mailing was just completed. As a reminder, it is due by 12/31 with late fees incurred after 2/1.

Mark your calendar for the monthly board meeting on the third Thursday of each month at 6pm in the boardroom at 1322 Space Park Drive-refreshments served courtesy of local City of Nassau Bay businesses.

ST. THOMAS FOOD DISTRIBUTION On Saturday, December 4, 2021, St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church in Nassau Bay will welcome the Galveston Food Bank to its parking lot for the December Food Distribution. This partnership will offer their monthly fresh food distribution to neighbors in need throughout Nassau Bay, Webster, and Pasadena.

This event will begin in the St. Thomas parking lot (18300 Upper Bay Rd., Nassau Bay) from 8AM-10AM for bags and boxes of fresh fruits, vegetables, and sometimes, meat and hygiene items. Distribution begins almost immediately after volunteers arrive at 7:45AM to package the items available.

If you are interested in serving or leading in this effort, please email Mike Stone at rector@sttaec.org. Nonparishioners are always invited to serve with St. Thomas.

We can do more together!

GLORIA DEI EVENTS Festival of Lessons and Carols Concert Sunday, December 5 | 5pm

Christmas at Gloria Dei begins with a concert featuring the GDLC Chorale, Jubellation Bell Choir, and special guests Clear Lake HS Full Orchestra. This evening of worship will include traditional scripture readings and singing favorite Christmas carols!

Blue Christmas

Wednesday, December 15 | 7pm

For some, the Christmas season is not "the most wonderful time of the year." The Blue Christmas service will recognize this perspective for those hurting and direct people’s hearts and minds to Jesus - the true Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love of the season.

COUNCIL MEETING RECAP

NOVEMBER 8, 2021 - REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

During the meeting, Council presented a $10,000 check to Keels & Wheels and a $2,500 check to HLSR - Go Texan Committee from the City's HOT Funds.

• Approved a SUP for a multi-family condo development at 3002 NASA Pkwy.

• Approved an Order for the repair, removal, or demolition of 1302 Antigua.

• Approved the 2020 TIRZ Annual Report.

• Approved a resolution casting a ballot for the election of Mike Sullivan to the HCAD Board of Directors.

• Received the City’s Social Media Policy, a document which addresses the management of, and content moderation for, Nassau Bay’s social media outlets.

• Approved a resolution acknowledging the valid public purpose of the FEMA Community Assistance Visit and affirming the City’s intent to continue participating in the NFIP Community Rating System (CRS).

• Awarded Bid 2021-09 Water and Wastewater Improvements Project to Lopez Utilities Contractor, LLC in the amount of $2,598,582.00.

• Approved a request from Dish Wireless to co-locate with the Crown Castle cell tower located at 120 Surf Court.

• Tabled a discussion regarding the removal of the NASA Parkway art monument.

Join us for next month's Council Meeting on Monday, December 13, 2021.

Visit www.nassaubay.com/CityCouncil for more details on the meeting.

MINDFUL MEDITATION MONDAYS ARE HERE!

CONTACT YOUR CITY OFFICIALS

Mayor Bob Warters 713.962.6366 | bob.warters@nassaubay.com Mayor Pro Tem Don Matter, Position 1 832.260.4626 | don.matter@nassaubay.com Councilmember Phil Johnson, Position 2 281.734.1074 | phil.johnson@nassaubay.com Councilmember Ashley Graves, Position 3 281.330.5413 | ashley.graves@nassaubay.com Councilmember Bryce Klug, Position 4 832.474.5462 | bryce.klug@nassaubay.com Councilmember Sandra Mossman, Position 5 281.333.2194 | sandra.mossman@nassaubay.com Councilmember Matt Prior, Position 6 214.325.0520 | matt.prior@nassaubay.com

Join us on the first Monday of each month at 9AM for a 30-minute guided group meditation next to the pavilion in David Braun Park.

Questions? Contact Kat Sanford: Kat@KatSanford.com or Ashley Graves: AFGravesNB@gmail.com

KNOW YOUR FLOOD HAZARD, INSURE YOUR PROPERTY

All properties in Nassau Bay are susceptible to flooding from both heavy rains and hurricane storm surge. Your basic homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover flood damage, so contact your agent for more information about a flood policy. To learn more about your flood risk and the National Flood Insurance Program, visit floodsmart.gov.