C mpass Rose JANUARY 2021
WELCOME MAYOR BOB WARTERS Congratulations to Mr. Bob Warters! The newly elected Mayor of the City of Nassau Bay! And congratulations to our Nassau Bay voters, who turned out for this non-November election (normal City Council elections are held in May). Official results of the 2020 Runoff Election show 986 total Nassau Bay voters cast their vote for the December election, with voter participation percentages (almost 30%) surpassing any of the other Harris County runoff elections. The City canvassed the official results from the Harris County Clerk's Office on December 21st, and Mayor Warters will preside over the January 11, 2021 Regular City Council meeting, at which a formal swearing-in and oath of office will occur. To both Mr. Bob Warters and Ms. Ashley Graves, the City of Nassau Bay would like to THANK YOU for investing your time and efforts in this democratic process. We thank you for your dedication to wanting to make Nassau Bay the best City to live, work, and play! Official Results of the December 12th Runoff Election Candidate
Bob Warters
Ashley Graves
CAST VOTES
Absentee
Early
Election Day
Total
Percent
91
196
142
429
43.51%
175
266
275
471
107
249
557
986
56.49%
A MESSAGE FROM MAYOR BOB WARTERS
I am honored to serve as Mayor of Nassau Bay and am extremely grateful for the support that I have received during this campaign. Our City has been well run for many years, and I plan to keep our City an incomparable place to live. Safety of our citizens is at the top of my priority list. This will include continuing to support all of our devoted first responders. I am also committed to upgrading, maintaining, and replacing our aging infrastructure (parks, streets, and water and sewer lines), improving our flood reduction efforts, and finding cost-efficient ways to provide services to keep our property taxes low. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions of how I may best support your needs and ensure our community is growing in a manner that benefits our residents.
THANK YOU MAYOR DENMAN!
The City of Nassau Bay would like to extend our greatest appreciation to Mark Denman for his outstanding leadership as Mayor of the City of Nassau Bay for the last eight years. A 35+ year resident of the City, Mayor Denman's long-time service has positively influenced the City in several ways. In addition to his service as Mayor, Mr. Denman served on City Council as a Councilmember and served on the Economic Development Committee. He was also a member of the TIRZ/RDA, Dredging Sub-Committee, Planning Commission, Fire Department Subcommittee, and Hotel Tax Appropriations Subcommittee. Mr. Denman also represents the City as a Board Member of the Bay Area Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau. Mayor Denman counts one of his greatest accomplishments as the initiation of the annual peninsula cleanup day that he started in 1996. Beginning in 2004, the event was coordinated with Clear Creek Environmental Foundation (CCEF) to annually sponsor a cleanup day for most of the Clear Creek area, including the City's peninsula. While on City Council, Mayor Denman was successful in getting Council to agree to open up the peninsula to visitors, starting with a few days a week, and eventually moving to seven days a week. He was also successful in starting the City’s first curbside recycling program in 2011. It has become one of the most popular programs in Nassau Bay, in regards to citizen participation. Other major accomplishments include leading the City through several crises (Hurricane Harvey, the loss of Sergeant Sullivan, and COVID-19, to name a few); the City's new fire station (opened June 2018); new streets for Harbour, Basilan and San Sebastian; as well as a new David Braun Park parking lot and expanded jogging sidewalk around the park. Mayor Denman, we know you've done countless more for the City, and we greatly thank you for your service as Mayor to the City of Nassau Bay!
NASSAU BAY GARDEN CLUB
The Nassau Bay Garden Club gladly welcomes in the New Year 2021. The Club would like to thank those who have faithfully supported them last year, some financially, and others with words of encouragement and appreciation. We hope you have noticed the refurbishment of Tranquility Arbor in Howard Ward Park, made possible by a generous donation from CANBE. The Christmas decorations were made possible by generous donations from two of the Club's members [you know who you are] and the work of many of Santa’s elves on Tuesday, December 1st! The Garden Club very much appreciates the excellent help from Public Works – Raul Lozoya, Matthew Deering and Emory Bragg – the ‘go-to’ guys! A representative from the Houston Botanic Garden in southeast Houston will be the speaker for the Club meeting on Tuesday, January 12, 2021. Their mission is to enrich life through discovery, education and the conservation of plants and the natural environment. Please visit the Club's website at www.nassaubaygc.org and/or their Facebook page for virtual meeting information (subject to change). It’s not too late to add extra mulch to your flower beds and trees. Poinsettias leftover from Christmas like to be kept indoors in a cool place with lots of humidity, natural light and only an occasional drink. Remember, they are poisonous to cats and dogs!! Wishing everyone a happy, healthy, prosperous 2021.
NASSAU BAY HOMES ASSOCIATION
The Nassau Bay Homes Association would like to thank residents Pauline Gerken, Cheryl McGee, and Barbara Poche for their invaluable assistance with the mailing of annual assessments. Please note the contact information for the Association: • Website: www.nassaubayhomes.org • Email: nassaubayhomesassociation@gmail.com
GLORIA DEI CHURCH COMMUNITY EVENTS Community Needs Assessment Survey | Jan 10-31 Gloria Dei Lutheran Church is pursuing a new endeavor and could use your assistance. Mental health issues are increasing in our country, and Gloria Dei Church is concerned about the level of unmet need in and around the community. By participating in this confidential survey, you are helping Gloria Dei church leaders become more aware of the mental and emotional needs right here. The results will guide Gloria Dei as they start new ministries and strengthen partnerships in the community to meet those needs. If you are interested in sharing your thoughts, visit gdlc. org from January 10-31 to participate in the survey. MD Anderson Blood Drive | Jan 31 from 8am-12pm Those interested in donating blood at the MD Anderson Blood Drive mobile coach will need to register online in advance at mdandersonbloodbank.org. The number of people on the bus at one time is limited, and there are strict measures to keep the bus clean. There were 14 units donated at the November blood drive, which after processing, impacted up to 42 cancer patients!
2020 EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR
The City of Nassau Bay has outstanding employees. Each year, the employees have the opportunity to vote for co-workers who they feel make a positive impact in the lives of the citizens we serve and their co-workers. Although we have many people who do this on a daily basis, the votes helped us narrow it down for our Employee of the Year, Supervisor of the Year, and Officer of the Year. Employee of the Year: Robert Villanueva Robert Villanueva is the Senior Utility Maintenance Worker in the Public Works Department. He wears multiple hats and is an extremely hard worker. Robert stepped up and assumed the duties and responsibilities of the Park’s Crew Leader for an extended period of time, while also managing his normal duties. Every member of the Public Works Team calls Robert a team player and refer to him as the “go to guy.” He is a great teacher and mentor to the new Public Works employees and is a great example of what a Nassau Bay Employee should be. Supervisor of the Year: Chief Tim Cromie Chief Tim Cromie has been with the Nassau Bay Police Department for a little over two years and has poured his heart and soul into the Police Department and the City. He encourages and pushes the officers to strive for more and helps them accomplish any goal within reach. With the passing of Sergeant Kaila Sullivan, Chief Cromie lead his department through the darkest time of its history. He was a beacon of light and hope throughout 2020 and demonstrated exceptional leadership skills. Chief Cromie is the example of professionalism and has shown a level of knowledge that any officer can achieve with hard work and dedication. Officer of the Year: Clint Brown Officer Clint Brown has been selected as the 2020 Police Officer of the Year for the Nassau Bay Police Department. This award is chosen by the other officers within the Department. Officer Clint Brown was overwhelmingly chosen by his peers to receive the award this year. He was described as “displaying unparalleled dedication to the desire to work hard” and ‘being very knowledgeable when it comes to the law and to serving the public.” Clint is currently in his second year with the Nassau Bay Police Department. Congratulations to Officer Brown and we look forward to many more years of you serving the Nassau Bay community.
Nassau Bay City Hall | 1800 Space Park Drive, Suite 200 | Nassau Bay, TX 77058 | 281.333.4211
JAN 21
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BY THE NUMBERS
Statistics for November 2020
POLICE
Total Service Calls............................ 316 Total Reports Taken........................... 63 Total Patrol Miles.......................... 5,661 Crimes Against Persons...................... 8 Property Crimes...................................15 Arrests......................................................9 Avg Response Times (minutes)..... 2.89
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Total Calls............................................. 24 Fires......................................................... 0 Rescues................................................... 2 Motor Vehicle Accident...................... 4 Hazardous Conditions........................ 2 Fire Alarm ............................................. 2 EMS Assist............................................. 4 Cancelled in Route/Other................. 10
EMS
Total Calls............................................. 65 Total Patients in Nassau Bay........... 40
LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION Saturday, January 9, 2021 is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. Here are some ideas to show support: • Wear blue all day. • Shine blue lights from your home. • Make cards for a local department. • Fly a blue ribbon on your vehicle antenna. • Thank a Police Officer when you see them.
CANBE CORNER
Happy New Year Nassau Bay! All of us at CANBE are wishing you and yours a very prosperous and wonderful 2021! As always, be sure to go online and check out CANBE's website at www.NassauBayCANBE.org for more information on how you can help enhance Nassau Bay...and don't forget to sport your I ♥ NB hat this year!
CHEERS TO A NEW YEAR! This past year was one that shall not be forgotten and has forced so many changes in our daily lives. While the adversity of COVID-19 may have altered patterns and many other aspects of our lives, the City did not lose its spirit and cohesiveness. Our City Council, City Staff, and our wonderful volunteers stayed busy to keep the City shining, thriving, and ready for exploration. A complete list, along with photos and links to projects can be found on the City Manager’s page at www.nassaubay.com/CityManager. Please check it out for more details. Here are a few things that we accomplished this year: Community & Special Events As you may know, 2020 was the 50th Anniversary for the incorporation of the City of Nassau Bay. We were not able to do everything we had planned throughout the year, but our volunteers worked diligently to ensure that we were engaged and celebrating our 50th Anniversary with bingo, flags, stickers, photos, and much more. Thank you for your time and service to the community. Thank you to the Special Events Committee for your continued service to the City of Nassau Bay and engaging our citizens with family friendly entertainment. This year may have been different than the others, but this wonderful group of volunteers still excelled. Thank you for being innovative and finding ways for us to celebrate Easter, Halloween, and Christmas. We also appreciate the COVID Stay at Home Challenge! The City was able to host a few events, but a majority of our normal festivities were cancelled. We successfully participated in the Peninsula Clean Up which resulted in 720 cubic yards of trash being picked up in and around the peninsula. The City and Garden Club also held the annual Arbor Day celebration to observe the history of the large Magnolia on NASA 1. Finally, the year ended with a wonderful firework show and boat parade. Thank you to all those involved to bring these to life. Comprehensive Plan: Citizens, City Council, Planning Commission, and City Staff worked throughout the year to update the City’s comprehensive plan. This plan is the guiding light for the City over the next 10 years. Thank you to all of the citizens, volunteers, and City officials who contributed countless hours to plan for Nassau Bay’s future. Election: Originally planned for May, COVID concerns postponed all election plans until the fall. In conjunction with Harris County, City Staff held two successful elections (November and December Runoff) to provide Nassau Bay residents the opportunity to elect their next Mayor, Mr. Bob Warters. NASA 1 Palm Trees: The City conducted a citizen survey and created a task force to address the decay of the medjool date palm trees on the NASA 1 median. The task force will present a plan to the citizens and City Council in early 2021. ...article continues on page 4
Nassau Bay City Hall | 1800 Space Park Drive, Suite 200 | Nassau Bay, TX 77058 | 281.333.4211
JAN 21 • 3
NASSAU BAY ANIMAL SHELTER
Help find loving forever homes for 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
KAILA M. SULLIVAN MEMORIAL DAY At the December 14th Council meeting, Mayor Mark Denman presented a proclamation naming December 10th as Sergeant Kaila M. Sullivan Memorial Day forever in the City of Nassau Bay. This special proclamation recognizes December 10, 2019 as the date the City of Nassau Bay lost Sergeant Kaila Marie Sullivan, a twenty-year Texas Peace Officer, and sixteen year veteran of the Nassau Bay Police Department. The City of Nassau Bay wishes to honor Sergeant Kaila Sullivan for her distinguished service and unwavering commitment to the Nassau Bay Police Department and citizens of Nassau Bay. As the City remembers Sergeant Sullivan’s ultimate sacrifice in protection of the Nassau Bay community, the proclamation emphasizes the needs to remember Sergeant Sullivan for years to come. Mayor Mark Denman ended his comments at the meeting by proclaiming every December 10th in perpetuity as “KAILA M. SULLIVAN MEMORIAL DAY” in the City of Nassau Bay to serve as a tribute to her legacy in the our community.
ST. THOMAS CELEBRATES 55 YEARS
On Sunday, December 20, 2020, the feast day of St. Thomas, St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church celebrated 55 years as a church in Nassau Bay and the Clear Lake area. The congregation gathered for morning service, lunch, and musical entertainment. Fr. Mike Stone added to the celebration by burning the mortgage on the renovation of the main hallway. A $540,000 debt was paid off in two years due to a very successful capital campaign. This positions the church to accomplish even more wonderful things in the coming years as they reach out to all people to serve others. Congratulations, St. Thomas! For more information, contact the church at 291-333-2384.
CHEERS TO THE NEW YEAR
...continued from page 3 Code Enforcement Leeward Lane Townhomes: The townhomes were demolished and the property regraded. The City is working with the State for additional funding to complete the bulkhead in the middle of the property. 18722 Prince William: The property was sold to an investor who is currently in the midst of remodeling the home. The value of the home is expected to increase by 300%. 18702 Martinique: The City facilitated the turnover of this property, along with the adjoining property at 18706 Martinique. The bulkheads were repaired and two new homes are planned on the lots. 2522 Baycrest: Multiple liens have been placed on the property to repair the grounds and control the overgrown vegetation. Code enforcement is also working on the sunken sailboat in the canal. 1302 Antigua: The home was deemed uninhabitable and will be demolished in order to build a new home. The permit is currently being reviewed. Victoria Lake Apartments: The complex was cited for façade deterioration and is currently undergoing an exterior remodel. Point Lookout Shopping Center: Activity is ongoing with the center owner and code enforcement led to the new parapet walls, repainting of the building, and new business signs. Frontier Building: The City worked with the business owner to repave the parking lot. This is by no means a comprehensive list of all of the activities completed this year. There are still many highlights on Economic Development, Home Elevations, Infrastructure, Parks, Public Safety, and an overview of the City's recognitions throughout the year. Please visit www.nassaubay.com/CityManager for a full, detailed article on all of the activities of 2020! Happy New Year!
COUNCIL MEETING RECAP -
DECEMBER 14, 2020 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Recognized Sergeant Glenn Sharp for 15 Years of Service. Recognized Outgoing Councilmember Ashley Graves. Issued Certificates of Election and Administered the Oaths of Office to Councilmembers-Elect Phil Johnson, Bryce Klug, and Matt Prior. Approved first reading of an ordinance providing for regulations and the registration for the operation and use of short-term rentals and providing for a penalty and severability. Approved a resolution reappointing John Nugent, Omar Abotteen, Louis Nguyen, and Angela Braun to the Planning Commission for a term to expire January 1, 2023. Approved a resolution adopting a Flood Warning and Response Plan and Emergency Operations Plan for the City of Nassau Bay. Accepted the 2020 Annual Report of the Planning Commission. Approved a resolution appointing Don Matter as Mayor Pro Tem. Join us for next month's Council Meeting on Monday, January 11, 2021. Visit www.nassaubay.com/CityCouncil for more details on the meeting.
Reporting Streetlight Outages: With the new Centerpoint lights, residents can contact Centerpoint directly to report a streetlight that is out or is on all day. Visit www.nassaubay.com/ CenterPoint to find the online Streetlight Outage report link.
Nassau Bay City Hall | 1800 Space Park Drive, Suite 200 | Nassau Bay, TX 77058 | 281.333.4211
JAN 21 • 4
