C mpass Rose
A monthly publication from the City of Nassau Bay
JANUARY 2022
Nassau Bay City Hall | 1800 Space Park Drive, Suite 200 | Nassau Bay, TX 77058 | 281.333.4211
CITY AWARDED FINANCIAL ACCOLADE FROM GFOA Congratulations are in order! The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) recently awarded the City of Nassau Bay a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its annual comprehensive financial report for fiscal year 2019-20.
The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management. Congratulations to the entire Finance Department for the hard work and dedication necessary to attain this award, and to City administration and the City Council for their continuing leadership! Photo: Director of Finance Csilla Ludanyi is recognized during the December 13 City Council meeting by Mayor Bob Warters.
NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY JANUARY 9
SUCCESSFUL HOLIDAY IN THE PARK EVENT!
Each year, we will call our nation’s citizens to action in support of law enforcement. Those citizens who appreciate law enforcement are encouraged to take time on January 9th to show their support.
Our citizens can show their support in a number of ways, from wearing blue clothing in support of law enforcement, sharing a positive law enforcement experience on social media, or organizing an event or rally in support of your law enforcement officers. Most importantly, if you see a police officer, thank a police officer.
Thank you, Nassau Bay Police Department, for protecting and serving our community!
Santa-hats off to the Special Events Committee for hosting another fantastic Holiday in the Park event! Hundreds of residents came out to meet Santa, play in the snow and take family photos.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS, NASSAU BAY!
CITY ELECTION NOTICE - MAY 7, 2022
Participate in our very brief, monthly survey, right from your smartphone!
The City of Nassau Bay will hold a General Election on Saturday, May 7, 2022 for the purpose of electing the Mayor and three Councilmembers for Positions 2, 4, and 6. These positions are currently occupied by Mayor Bob Warters and Councilmembers Phil Johnson, Bryce Klug, and Matt Prior, respectively.
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: Did you know you can elect to make a monthly $2 donation to Nassau Bay Fire and EMS? 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!
The filing period for the General City Officers' Election will begin on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 and end on Friday, February 18, 2022. Any person wishing to file for candidacy may pick up an application packet from the City Secretary's office or visit www.nassaubay.com/Election.
Candidates may file for the General Election during the following dates and times: Candidate Filing Dates and Times:
• Start Date: Wednesday, January 19, 2022 at 8:00am • End Date: Friday, February 18, 2022 at 5:00pm Candidate Filing Office Hours:
• Monday to Thursday: 8:00am to 5:00pm
• Friday: 8:00am to 11:30am (Office hours will be extended to 5:00pm on Friday, February 18th.) Additional Important 2022 Election Dates:
• First Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail: Saturday, January 1, 2022
NEW EMPLOYEE AT CITY HALL - WELCOME!
Please join the City of Nassau Bay in welcoming our newest team member, Robert Underwood! Robert is our new Customer Service and Utility Billing Coordinator - he'll be the new first face our residents and customers meet at City Hall! He brings with him over 20 years of experience with CenterPoint Energy and is a former Nassau Bay resident. Welcome to the team, Robert!
• Last Day to Register to Vote (for 2022 City Officers' Election): Thursday, April 7, 2022 For updates on the 2022 General Election, including the application and Candidate Packet, visit www. nassaubay.com/Election. Additionally, for any questions regarding the 2022 General Election, please contact City Secretary Sandra Ham at 281-336-6281 or at sandra. ham@nassaubay.com.
NASSAU BAY ANIMAL SHELTER INTRODUCES LUNA The City of Nassau Bay Animal Shelter is excited to introduce Luna, an extremely sweet Pit Bull mix who is about nine months old. She is spayed, heartworm negative, current on all of her vaccinations, and weighs only 34 pounds at this time.
Luna has had a hard couple of months – she was abandoned in David Braun Park with only a blanket and leash. After rescuing her, staff quickly realized she had an issue with one of her knees. While the shelter is waiting on a veterinarian appointment in order to treat it, we would feel a lot better if Luna could find a home with older children who will take care of her, and with dogs that are her size or smaller so they can all play nice. Find us on Facebook:
@NassauBayAnimalShelter
FOLLOW OUR PROJECTS ONLINE! The City has created a dedicated webpage to allow residents to stay aware of current Public Works projects.
To access the page, go to our website - www.nassaubay.com - scroll over the "Departments" tab, then click on "Current Projects" under Public Works. The page will be updated periodically.
BY THE NUMBERS Statistics for November 2021
POLICE
Total Service Calls............................ 301 Total Reports Taken........................... 50 Total Patrol Miles......................... 4,335 Crimes Against Persons...................... 4 Property Crimes...................................15 Arrests.................................................... 17 Avg Response Times (minutes)..... 3.86
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Total Calls............................................. 32 Fires......................................................... 0 Rescues.................................................... 1 Motor Vehicle Accident...................... 3 Hazardous Conditions........................ 2 Fire Alarm ............................................. 9 EMS Assist............................................. 9 Cancelled in Route/Other.................. 6
EMS
Total Calls............................................. 68 Total Patients in Nassau Bay........... 39
Help us find a loving forever home for Luna – she is so deserving! Please contact Animal Control Officer Troy Bradfield at 832-574-0877 and schedule a time to meet her. 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.
WATER AND SEWER LINE REHABILITATION Major effort to address 15 miles of water lines, 7 miles of sewer lines
Since 2018, City Council has worked closely with staff to plan and secure funding for a Water and Sewer Line Rehabilitation Project. Construction on the first phase of this project is anticipated to begin in the first quarter of 2022. This large-scale effort will address more than 15 miles of water lines and 7 miles of sewer lines over the next 15 years. The water line project consists of replacement and upsizing of 22,090 feet of water lines, to include new water valves and fire hydrants throughout the city.
“I am very excited to begin this project,” Public Works Director Paul Lopez said. “Replacing this aging infrastructure will greatly decrease the time and resources spent on repairing breaks and also decrease water service disruptions to our residents.” The sewer project will include 12,710 linear feet of sanitary sewer line and manhole rehabilitation throughout the city.
Additional information about each portion of the project is available on the City’s website at www.nassaubay.com/672/Current-Projects. Project Funding
The City issued $3 million in debt during fiscal year 2020-21, and this amount will pay for the first portion of the multi-phase project.
To pay off the debt issued for the project, new water and sewer rates were adopted on June 11, 2018. During each of the following four fiscal years, beginning in Fiscal Year 2019 and ending in Fiscal Year 2022, rates were increased for both residential and commercial customers. Rates are based off usage and calculated to incentivize water conservation for residential and commercial properties. The full rate schedule can be found online at www.nassaubay.com/93/Taxes-Fees. The newest water and sewer rate changes went into effect during the December 2021 utility billing cycle for all homes, businesses, and users in Nassau Bay.
This was the final planned increase to support the project, and with this change, the average residential utility bill in Nassau Bay increased by approximately $3.00 per month. The City’s Water and Sewer rates remain at or below average when compared to neighboring cities.
Did you know the Compass Rose newsletter is online? You can view the digital newsletter on our website at www.nassaubay.com/news.
ST. THOMAS FOOD DISTRIBUTION
Due to the New Year’s holiday, food distribution at St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church will be moved for January to Saturday, January 29, 2022, with the distribution for February happening the very next Saturday, February 5. The partnership of St. Thomas and the Galveston Food Bank will offer their monthly fresh food to neighbors throughout Nassau Bay, Webster, and Pasadena. Volunteers will gather at 7:45AM to begin packaging bags and boxes of fresh fruits, vegetables, and sometimes meat and hygiene items for distribution. Distribution will run from 8AM until 10AM, or until all the items have been distributed. If you are interested in serving or leading in this effort, please email Mike Stone at rector@sttace. org. Non-parishioners are always invited to serve with St. Thomas. We can do more together!
GLORIA DEI EVENTS 5th Sunday Food Drive at Gloria Dei
Help us replenish the Lighthouse Christian Ministries food pantry. Drop-off your non-perishable food items on Sunday, January 30 from 8AM-11AM.
NASSAU BAY GARDEN CLUB
Garden Club update from Becky Kadel, President of the Nassau Bay Garden Club: The Garden Club hopes everyone had a great holiday season and looks forward to a wonderful new year. The Club’s January 11 meeting will be given by Jim Stevenson, who will acquaint attendees with the birds that live in this area as well as those that pass through during migration. This meeting is followed by the Club’s tasting luncheon, where participants bring a dish to share with fellow members. As usual, the social portion of the meeting will begin at 9:30AM in the City Hall Council Chambers.
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
COUNCIL MEETING RECAP
DECEMBER 13, 2021 - REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING • Approved the cancellation of the Monday, December 27, 2021 City Council Workshop.
• Received the City of Nassau Bay, Texas Communications Plan, a document which addresses internal, emergency, external and tourism-related communications, and associated goals for the coming year. • Authorized the execution a Sponsorship Agreement between the Manned Space Flight Education Foundation, City of Nassau Bay, Hilton Houston NASA Clear Lake and Courtyard Houston NASA / Clearlake.
• Received an update from City Attorney Chris Gregg on the legal code enforcement process and affirmation of the City’s position regarding 1302 Antigua Lane, Nassau Bay, Texas 77058. • Denied approval of the live and on-demand broadcast of City Council meetings on the City’s social media channels, rebroadcast on Nassau Bay’s Public Access Channel 16, and any other media avenues deemed appropriate. • Approved Ordinance O2021-818 requiring a Public Hearing and formatting in City Ordinance Form for any amendment to the International Residential Code and the International Building Code (first of two readings).
• Tabled Ordinance O2021-819 amending the Fiscal Year 2022 Budget (first and only reading).
• Approved the creation of an Interim City Manager Committee, appointing members Mayor Bob Warters, Mayor Pro Tem Don Matter, and Councilmember Matt Prior to negotiate a contract with Police Chief Tim Cromie for the Interim City Manager position, as discussed in executive session.
• Approved the creation of a City Manager Search Committee for the selection and search process for a City Manager for the City of Nassau Bay, appointing members Mayor Bob Warters, Mayor Pro Tem Don Matter, Councilmember Sandra Mossman, Harv Hartman, and George Dempsey, as discussed in executive session. Join us for next month's Council Meeting on Monday, January 10, 2022. Visit www.nassaubay.com/CityCouncil for more details on the meeting.
CANBE CORNER Reindeer Fun Run was a HUGE success with over 240 participants & 14 pets registered! Big thanks to our sponsors: Methodist, Dickey's, Erma's, Nassau Bay Realty, Yoga Institute, Niche Catering, Bullritos, Java Owl, Arlan's, Chick-fil-A, Magnan Marketing, and Pirate's Brand!
