C mpass Rose JANUARY 2020
REMEMBERING SERGEANT KAILA SULLIVAN Kaila Sullivan, a sergeant with the Nassau Bay Police Department for almost 16 years, led a professional life in law enforcement for nearly 20 years. Kaila loved helping people and exuded such an innate authenticity for leadership that people intrinsically trusted and followed her. Kaila was known for her sense of humor, passion for police work and leadership qualities that made her a pillar of Nassau Bay's police force. Kaila strived to excel at her job, and she did just that. In 2016, she was named Nassau Bay Police Department Officer of the Year. Kaila was a bike patrol instructor, a telecommunicator, a licensed police instructor, a mental health officer, a field training officer, a crime prevention inspector, and a RAD (Rape Aggression Defense Tactics) instructor. She was also a member of the Galveston County Crisis Incident Stress Management Team. A well loved coworker by all, Kaila also led the City of Nassau Bay Cycling Team in the BP MS150 in 2016. Kaila was larger than life. She was an amazing person, a friend, a wonderful mother to her son Kaden, a loving wife, an entertainer, all on top of being an accomplished officer. Always selfless, Kaila put everyone's needs ahead of her own. She gave her life protecting her family. Kaila was appreciated by all she worked with and for. Kaila also loved her motorcycle and her friends in the Sisters Eternal WMC, the women’s motorcycle club that she rode with. Unbeknownst to most, Kaila was a talented guitar player and singer. Kaila left us on Tuesday, December 10, 2019 doing exactly what she loved to do. She was putting herself out there, to make the world a safer and better place for the rest of us. She leaves a rare legacy of loyalty, honesty, and empathy. Thank you Kaila, for taking care of the community and making the world brighter because you were in it. You will be missed. Kaila's sixteenth anniversary with the Nassau Bay Police Department would have been December 29, 2019. At her funeral service, Mayor Mark Denman proclaimed December 29th as "Sergeant Kaila M. Sullivan Day" in the City of Nassau Bay. We hope you will join in honoring Kaila's legacy on this day too.
How you can help the family of NBPD Sergeant Kaila Sullivan? The Nassau Bay Police Department has received an outpouring amount of support and donations in the wake of Sergeant Kaila Sullivan’s tragic passing. Monetary donations for the family of Sergeant Sullivan may be mailed to or dropped off at Nassau Bay City Hall (1800 Space Park Drive, Suite 200, Nassau Bay, Texas 77058). Upon donating, please provide your name and contact information so officials can log the donation accordingly. Donations in memory of Kaila are also being accepted by the Harris County Sheriff's Office Benevolence Association at www.hcsoba.com. Gift cards for food will also be accepted.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR 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
NASSAU BAY GARDEN CLUB
Fresh Flowers in Tranquility Arbor: The Garden Club members have planted fresh cool-weather flowers in Tranquility Arbor in Howard Ward Park (corner of Upper Bay Road and Martinique) and decorated for the holidays. Please go by and notice, especially at night when the two angels [donated for this season by Christina Jordan and family] are most visible. The Club wishes to thank Public Works employees Raul, Jonathan, and Kevin for their help with the ladders and all the lighting – the Club could not have done it without them!! Christmas Luncheon: The Garden Club's Christmas Luncheon was Wednesday, December 4th, and was made possible by Chairperson Alice Thomas, with help from Mary Grieneeks and Sue Warters. The take-home gifts were tiny fragrant rosemary plants, potted in individual pots by the thoughtful Linda Dunk, daughter of Ann Gay. Garden Club Meeting: The first Garden Club meeting of 2020 will be Tuesday, January 14th. Coffee will be served at 9:30am, with program to begin at 10:00am, followed by a luncheon at 11:00am. For the luncheon, everyone is invited to bring a favorite dish. All are welcome. The guest speaker will be Mary Karish who will talk about landscaping plans for Spring. Happy New Year! Coffee Grounds are BAD for your Garden: In spite of what you’ve always heard, coffee grounds are not plant-friendly! They are highly acidic, and if your soil is already rich in nitrogen, that extra boost from coffee grounds could stunt the growth of fruits and flowers, even when used in composting material. Coffee grounds are also full of Caffeine, which can kill off any plants in the surrounding area. Studies have shown that coffee grounds kill earthworms and also have antibacterial properties, thereby killing off helpful little microbes. So sit in your garden, have your coffee, enjoy the beauty, then throw those bad coffee grounds away!
2019 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 - CYNDI MARTINEZ
Cyndi Martinez has been with the City for two years, serving as the City’s Receptionist and Utility Billing Coordinator. Serving as a frontline employee, Cyndi has demonstrated outstanding customer service. This year, she took the lead on implementing the smart phone meter reading software. She worked closely with several departments and the Accounting Software provider to complete the implementation. This new software has eliminated five hours of manual processes on the Administrative side and for Public Works it has transitioned meter read capturing to the phone versus paper, reducing the amount of re-reads. Overall, it has significantly improved the whole process!
SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR - RAUL LOZOYA
Raul Lozoya has been with the City for over nineteen years with the Public Works Team, serving as the Parks Maintenance Crew Leader. Raul oversees the maintenance of three parks, pavilion maintenance projects, and over forty median flower beds. Due to Raul’s direct impact on landscaping, Nassau Bay remains in good standing as a Film Friendly City. The freeze of 2017 affected the palm trees along NASA Parkway and bushes around the City. As a cost saving project, Raul will implement “in house fertilization” of palms trees, which will be a huge savings for tax payers. Raul is a big part of what keeps Nassau Bay Beautiful.
OFFICER OF THE YEAR - GINO GALLEGOS
Detective Gino Gallegos started his law enforcement career in 2015 and has been a police officer with Nassau Bay Police Department since 2017. He was assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division in 2018. Gino has put time and effort into auditing and organizing the evidence room, closing cases and assisting patrol when needed. He has proven numerous times that he is reliable and resourceful when his job demands extremely detailed information; Gino continuously follows up on incidents that require further investigation and detailed follow-up. Even though he is not a seasoned patrolman or detective, his willingness to learn the job and be proficient shows the promise and dedication that is needed to be a great officer.
CONGRATS JOSE ROSALES-PATRON ON 20 YEARS! We also want to recognize an employee who recently celebrated their Platinum Anniversary with the City! Congrats to Jose Rosales-Patron for reaching a true milestone serving the City, community, and citizens of Nassau Bay for 20 years!
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 2019
POLICE
Total Service Calls............................ 332 Total Reports Taken........................... 37 Total Patrol Miles......................... 4,995 Crimes Against Persons...................... 6 Property Crimes...................................19 Arrests..................................................... 7 PD Code Enforcement........................ 0 Avg Response Times (minutes)..... 3.45
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Total Calls............................................. 20 Fires......................................................... 0 Rescues................................................... 0 Motor Vehicle Accident...................... 4 Hazardous Conditions.......................... 1 Fire Alarm ............................................. 4 EMS Assist............................................. 3 Cancelled in Route/Other................... 7
EMS
Total Calls............................................. 70 Total Patients in Nassau Bay........... 38
TOM GEORGE FIRE & EMS STATION At the December 9th City Council meeting, City Council unanimously approved the naming of the Fire & EMS Station to the "Tom George Fire & EMS Station." Tom George is Nassau Bay's Fire Administrator / IT Manager and serves as the Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief. He has been with the City since June 2008 and he spent numerous hours ensuring the City’s new Fire & EMS Station was built properly and within budget. Working many times seven days a week, Tom's oversight and leadership on the Fire & EMS Station project led to thousands of dollars in savings. Overall, Tom’s sense of commitment to the City, Fire Department, and his co-workers have made him an invaluable asset to Nassau Bay.
CHEERS TO ANOTHER YEAR IN NASSAU BAY 2019 was an eventful year in Nassau Bay! Here are a few wonderful things City Council and City Staff were able to accomplish: Economic Development • McDonald’s – Next to Bucky’s • Houston Methodist campus expansion plan approved • Houston Methodist medical office building construction kickoff • Erma’s Nutrition Center – Moved to new location on NASA Parkway • Office warehouse on Space Park Drive • Community Development Survey – Housing & Retail Potential Projects & Grants • 2016 FMA Home Elevation – Closed out the grant with the elevation of 14 homes • 2017 FMA Buyout – Seven (7) homes purchased; entire lot will be greenspace • 2018 FMA Home Elevation – Awarded $3,592,990 by FEMA to mitigate 12 homes • Body Armor Grant – Outfitted our NBPD officers with tactical vests • Reestablished Nassau Bay Television • Water Tank Rehabilitation – Repaired and painted groundwater storage tank • David Braun Park Pavilion Repairs – Upgrade bracing, new floors, new ceiling, and added the City logo • Sand Filter – FEMA Harvey repair • Street Sealing – Completed the FEMA Harvey repair • Finished the dog park and playground sidewalk, connecting it to the parking lot • New Flood Control Pump Systems – Harbour Dr., West Indies, and Upper Bay • NASA 1 Parkway Illuminated Street Signs – New signs at Nassau Bay Dr, Pt Lookout Dr, Saturn Ln, Upper Bay Rd, and Methodist Dr. • Engineering and design of the City’s main water transmission line from Houston to Nassau Bay • 2020 Comprehensive Plan kick-off • Regional flood study of the lower Clear Creek watershed • Leader In Me Partnership with CCISD and CCEF – Primary school focus is Space Center Intermediate Code Enforcement • 18226 Nassau Bay – Demolished in partnership with homeowner • 18502 Capetown – Rehabilitation in partnership with homeowner • 18522 Cape Bahamas - Demolished • 18706 Martinique - Demolished • 18722 Prince William – Rehabilitation in partnership with homeowner • 18 Leeward – Buyout of property in conjunction with the 2017 FMA program • CVS and Fuddruckers containers removed Awards • Best & Brightest 2019 – Eight consecutive years • GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award • GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Special Events • Apollo 50th Weekend Celebration
Nassau Bay City Hall | 1800 Space Park Drive, Suite 200 | Nassau Bay, TX 77058 | 281.333.4211
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OAKS, MAGNOLIAS, & PALMS, OH MY! You can help! Please take the survey. The City has lost over a dozen date palms on NASA 1 and City Council requests your input on a solution. The City is considering replacing some of the palms on our NASA 1 corridor with more resilient trees, while being sensitive to the appeal of the palms. The goal is to create a long-term solution that remains aesthetically pleasant, financially sustainable, and maintenance friendly. Please go to www.nassaubay. com/palmtrees for more details and to assist in creating a solution.
CANBE CORNER
Happy New Year from CANBE!! Thanks to all those who stopped by and purchased an I ♥ NB hat at Holiday in the Park. If you wish to purchase your own I ♥ NB hat please contact Sheila Self at 713-829-2039. Calling all juniors in High School! CANBE is looking for a new Junior Member. This is a great way to become more familiar with Nassau Bay community enhancement and a great addition to any college application. For an application please email Ashley Graves at AFGravesNB@gmail.com.
GO PAPERLESS
Are you still receiving a printed water bill? Did you know that you can go paperless? The City of Nassau Bay Water Department offers several paperless options. You can save paper and even save time by setting up automatic payments. 1. Go Online: www.nassaubay.com/paperless 2. Register: Use your account number and pin located in the top right corner of your bill. Select “register for additional services” to create your own login for future use. 3. Choose a Paperless Option: • Make a One-Time Credit Card Payment • Credit Card Auto-Draft • E-Bill • Bank Draft
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 WINTER
Winter is a young female between 8 months to one year old. She will soon be spayed and has all her vaccinations. Winter gets along with all of the dogs at the shelter and loves people! Help find loving forever homes for Winter 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
DECEMBER 9, 2019- REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Recognized Officer Donald Recognized the Finance Presented a $1,000 Check Linder for his recent Department for receiving to the Houston Symphony League Bay Area. promotion to Corporal. the CAFR award.
Approved a resolution reappointing Roscoe Lee, Arlene Phillips, and Jeff Horton to the Planning Commission to two-year terms to expire January 1, 2022. Approved action to name the City of Nassau Bay Fire & EMS Station in honor of Fire Chief Tom George. Discussed a policy update to the City of Presented a $15,000 Check Nassau Bay’s current Park Master Plan. to the ASE XXXII Planetary Approved a resolution authorizing the Congress. City Manager to sign any necessary closing documents required for the purchase of repetitive loss properties located within Nassau Bay, Texas 77058, to include 16 Leeward Lane, 20 Leeward Lane 22 Leeward Lane, 24 Leeward Lane, 26 Leeward Lane, 28 Leeward Lane, utilizing grant funds for that purpose. Approved a resolution authorizing the City Manager to sign any necessary closing documents required for the purchase of a property located at 18 Leeward Lane, Nassau Bay, Texas 77058. Approved action authorizing the City Manager to sign a contract with Kendig Keast Collaborative to update the Nassau Bay Comprehensive Plan. Join us for next month's Council Meeting: Monday, January 13, 2020 @ 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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