C mpass Rose MARCH 2021
BICYCLE ETIQUETTE ON SIDEWALKS The subject of riding bikes on sidewalks continues to be a hotly debated topic. Concerns arise from bicyclists riding fast on the sidewalks and forcing pedestrians on to the grass. Although the City of Nassau Bay receives many questions regarding sidewalk ordinances, the City does not prohibit bicycles on our sidewalks. (Please note: The City does prohibit motorized vehicles on our sidewalks. There is also a state law which states that pedestrians have the right-of-way on sidewalks.) To address both the concerns of pedestrians, and those of bicyclists who enjoy the City's sidewalks (especially along Clear Creek), here are the top bicycling etiquette "rules" when riding on the sidewalks. GO SLOW. You should never ride faster than a relaxed jog. Pedaling fast down a sidewalk is a perfect way to get hurt or hurt someone else. GIVE ALERTS WHEN APPROACHING PEDESTRIANS. Consistent with the state law, recognize that pedestrians have the right-ofway. When approaching from the rear, call out “on your left” or ring a bell if you have one. If they don’t move over, yell it again. If they still don’t move or choose to ignore you, slow down to a crawl and ease by them if possible, but only if they give you enough room. However, realize that pedestrians may not be able to hear you for a variety of reasons, including wearing earbuds. This is also a learning opportunity for pedestrians. BE PREPARED TO STOP. People are unpredictable - dogs and kids especially. Anyone can get involved in a conversation or wrapped up in their own thoughts and come to an abrupt halt in front of you, even if they hear you coming. Remember to slow to a walking pace around traffic and keep your hands on your brakes. BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY. In any case, be prepared to ride off the sidewalk to avoid pedestrians or walk your bike around pedestrians. Be sure to take special precautions when pedestrians are walking dogs. Your cooperation is appreciated and we hope that everyone can enjoy the scenic beauty of our City, safely.
NEW SHORT-TERM RENTAL REGULATIONS IN THE CITY
The City of Nassau Bay has enacted new regulations for short-term rentals within the City. Short-term rentals are one- or two-family dwellings that are rented for overnight lodging for less than 30 days at a time. Hotels, bed and breakfasts, apartment unit rentals, or dwellings that are rented for a period longer than 30 days are not considered short-term rentals. Permits and annual life safety inspections are now required for all short-term rental units within the City limits. Any one- or two-family dwelling advertised as a short-term rental on home sharing websites such as AirBnB, VRBO, HomeAway, etc. must be permitted before the advertisement is posted. The following requirements apply to all short-term rental units within City Limits: • A permit must be obtained for all short-term rentals in the City. • Hotel occupancy taxes are required to be paid on a quarterly basis. • Annual life safety inspections are required from the Fire Marshal’s Office. • Maximum occupancy of two (2) adults per sleeping area, plus an additional four (4) adults. • A decal with emergency contact information must be visible at the entry of the short-term rental. This list is not a comprehensive description of all the City's short-term rental regulations. To review all of the regulations for short-term rentals, please view the Short-Term Rental Ordinance O2020-806 found on the City's website. To begin the short-term rental registration process for your home within the City of Nassau Bay, please visit our website at www.nassaubay.com/STR.
NASSAU BAY HOMES ASSOCIATION
PUBLIC NOTICE PROVIDED BY THE NBHA: The annual election for Trustees of the Nassau Bay Homes Association (NBHA) will be held on Saturday, May 1st, 2021 at the NBHA office located at 1322 Space Park Dr, Suite C119, from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Early voting will be held at the NBHA office on Monday, April 26th to Thursday, April 29th from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Three seats are open for the standard term of two years. Any resident property owner who pays into the NBHA maintenance assessment fund is eligible to vote in this election. Any property owner who wishes to run in the election for a trustee position must file an application with the NBHA by March 15, 2021. The applications will be available at the NBHA office by appointment during standard office hours. Any property owner who is unable to cast their vote in person may request that the NBHA office deliver to them an official absentee/proxy ballot to be executed by them, signed and dated and immediately returned with the office staff. As per Texas state law, all ballots must be signed and dated before the ballot becomes eligible to be counted.
NASSAU BAY GARDEN CLUB
The Nassau Bay Garden Club had a wonderful meeting in February, and would like to thank City Manager Jason Reynolds, City Secretary Sandra Ham, and Courtyard Marriott Director of Sales and Marketing Donia Blossom for their collaboration in making it possible for the Club to meet at the Marriott. The Club's March and April meetings will also be at the Marriott. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, March 9th from 9:30am to 12:00pm, and will feature a program by Julie Brown, Director of the Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council. Ms. Brown will discuss educational and recreational activities and the value of natural habitats. Please remember to wear your mask! Social distancing will be in effect. March will bring out blossoms from bulbs and plants that were able to survive the February freeze. Trim your trees, bushes and roses as soon as possible. Plant veggies and herbs, using organic compost sparingly. Remember that there is a need for pollinating insects and bees to do their work, so think about them before buying pesticide and insecticide sprays that will kill them, causing citrus trees to have little or no crop of fruit.
SPRING FORWARD MARCH 14TH The Nassau Bay Fire Marshal's Office and the Volunteer
Fire Department want to remind you to check and change the batteries in your smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarms when you reset your clocks one hour forward on March 14th. It is recommended to replace the batteries at least twice a year, so doing this at the start and end of Daylight Savings Time is a good homeowner habit! This is a quick and inexpensive thing you can do to keep your family safe. Do you have questions about smoke detectors or carbon monoxide alarms? Contact Nassau Bay Fire Marshal Tony Russo by email at tony.russo@nassaubay.com.
MAY 1, 2021 CITY ELECTION
Ballot Information: On Saturday, May 1st, 2021, Nassau Bay residents will be asked to vote for Council Positions 1, 3, and 5. These positions are currently occupied by Mayor Pro Tem Don Matter, Councilmember John Mahon, and Councilmember Sandra Mossman, respectively. The following individuals have completed an application for the May ballot (candidates are listed in ballot order):
• Tyler Gregory, Council Position 1 • Don Hollowell, Council Position 1 • Donald C. Matter, Council Position 1 (incumbent) • Ashley Graves, Council Position 3 • Sandra S. Mossman, Council Position 5 (incumbent) Individual candidate biographies can be found online on the City's website at www.nassaubay.com/ election (for those candidates who submitted one). After the February 12th filing deadline, candidates Ashley Graves and Sandra Mossman remain unopposed. Both candidates are considered dulyelected and will be sworn in to City Council for their respective positions in May. Register to Vote & Voting by Mail: The last day to register to vote for the May Election is April 1st. Voter registration cards are available at the Harris County Clerk's Office. The last day to apply for a ballot by mail is April 20th (application received, not postmarked). Election Day: Election Day is Saturday, May 1st. Voting will be held in the City Hall Council Chamber from 7:00am to 7:00pm. Unofficial tabulation of results will be publicized as soon as possible after 7:00pm on May 1st. Voters need to be sure to bring an accepted form of identification, such as a Texas Driver License issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Election Identification Certificate, or United States Passport (book or card), to name a few. If a voter does not possess and cannot reasonably obtain a photo ID, they may still cast a regular ballot by presenting a supporting form of ID and executing a Reasonable Impediment Declaration, noting the voter’s reasonable impediment to obtaining an acceptable form of photo identification. Just an FYI: When you go vote, you can bring a marked sample ballot or a Voters Guide into the voting booth with you. Message from City Secretary Sandra Ham: As the Chief Elections Officer of the City of Nassau Bay, I strongly encourage all citizens to exercise their right to vote. If you are not registered, get registered. It is a painless process and allows your voice to be heard. Contact the City Secretary’s Office at 281.336.6281 or visit the City’s website at www.nassaubay.com/ Election for more information.
Nassau Bay City Hall | 1800 Space Park Drive, Suite 200 | Nassau Bay, TX 77058 | 281.333.4211
MAR 21
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BY THE NUMBERS Statistics for January 2020
POLICE
Total Service Calls............................ 313 Total Reports Taken............................ 61 Total Patrol Miles.......................... 5,197 Crimes Against Persons..................... 10 Property Crimes...................................21 Arrests......................................................4 Avg Response Times (minutes)..... 2.67
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Total Calls............................................. 25 Fires.......................................................... 1 Rescues.................................................... 1 Motor Vehicle Accident...................... 2 Hazardous Conditions........................ 2 Fire Alarm ............................................. 4 EMS Assist............................................. 9 Cancelled in Route/Other.................. 6
EMS
Total Calls............................................. 78 Total Patients in Nassau Bay........... 42
OFFICER HENDERSON
Congratulations to Officer Perry Henderson on his one year anniversary with the NBPD, which also marks the completion of his first year probationary officer program. Officer Henderson has a total of three and half years of police experience. The City looks forward to his future with the NBPD and his commitment to the Nassau Bay community.
CANBE CORNER
SPRING SALE! Through March and April purchase two (2) Legacy Bricks and get a 3rd Brick for FREE. This is the perfect gift for graduation, Mother's Day, Father's Day or just to honor that special someone. Legacy Bricks can be purchased online at www.NassauBayCANBE.org. Those interested can also contact Ashley Graves at AFGravesNB@gmail.com. Want to be more involved in the community? CANBE is looking for NEW MEMBERS! Please contact Angela Braun at (832) 452-7393 to learn more about joining the Board that keeps enhancing Nassau Bay.
DRIVER LICENSE EXPIRATION WAIVER ENDS The waiver on expiration dates for driver licenses (DLs) and identification cards (IDs) — granted by Governor Greg Abbott in March of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic — ends on April 14, 2021. Anyone who needs to renew are urged to make an appointment or renew online today. Customers can also renew by phone at 1-866-DL-RENEW (1-866-357-3639). Services at driver license offices are now conducted by appointment only. To schedule an appointment or check availability, visit the online appointment scheduler. For more information visit www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense.
WAIVER OF VEHICLE TITLE & REGISTRATION ENDS
The temporary waiver of certain vehicle title and registration requirements — announced by Governor Greg Abbott on March 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic — will end on April 14, 2021. If you have not renewed your expired vehicle registration, you should make plans to renew by that date. It is not necessary to wait until the deadline to complete any overdue transactions as motorists have several renewal options. Here are three ways to renew your vehicle registration: 1. Visit www.TxDMV.gov/register or www.Texas.gov. This is the quickest and least expensive way to renew. Save $1 if you renew online. Online renewal is available up to nine months past your registration expiration date. 2. Mail: Return the bottom portion of your registration renewal form, payment and other required information to your county tax assessor-collector. 3. In Person: Visit the office of your county tax assessor-collector. In many counties, in-person renewal is also available at other locations, such as certain grocery stores. Contact your county tax office to check hours and locations. Before renewing registration, Texans will need to obtain a passing vehicle inspection at the state vehicle inspection station of their choice, unless their vehicle is exempt from inspection requirements.
BEST & BRIGHTEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR The City of Nassau Bay has been named one of Houston's Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® for the TENTH consecutive year! This award identifies and honors organizations that display a commitment to excellence in their human resource practices and employee enrichment. An independent research firm evaluates a variety of factors as well as surveying employees to select the award recipients. This award is also a reflection of the quality of staff employed with the City. Our employees take pride in their work and enjoy working together to make Nassau Bay the best it can be. Want to join our team? You can view current job openings and apply online at www.nassaubay.com/jobs.
Nassau Bay City Hall | 1800 Space Park Drive, Suite 200 | Nassau Bay, TX 77058 | 281.333.4211
MAR 21 • 3
NASSAU BAY ANIMAL SHELTER
Suga is a neutered male dog, who does well with other dogs (but not cats). Suga loves to play fetch! Help find loving forever homes for Suga 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
PET TAGS AVAILABLE ONLINE
Pet tags are now available on the City website for purchase. Due to COVID safety practices, in-person pet registrations have been temporarily suspended. The City of Nassau Bay requires all pets over four months of age to be registered and wear a pet tag issued by the City. One pet tag is required for each animal owned over four months of age. Each pet tag is to be renewed when the pet’s rabies certificate expires. Pet tag prices are as follows: • Non-neutered / spayed: $10 per tag • Neutered / spayed: $5 per tag Residents can visit www.nassaubay.com/110/Pet-Permit to be directed to the Pet Tag Registration Form. Please follow the online registration instructions, which include uploading a current rabies certificate. After review by the Public Works Department, residents will receive a follow-up email prompting payment. Once information and payment are received, the pet tags will be mailed to the pet owner.
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 John Mahon, Position 3 713.702.1185 | john.mahon@nassaubay.com Councilmember Bryce Klug, Position 4 832.474.5461 | 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
EASTER AT GLORIA DEI LUTHERAN CHURCH
Holy Week is coming up, and Gloria Dei Lutheran Church wants to invite the Nassau Bay community to join them for worship in person or online as they celebrate the Easter holiday. Take a look at the schedule below: • Palm Sunday | March 28th at 8:30am & 11:00am • Maundy Thursday | April 1st at 7:00pm • Good Friday | April 2nd at 7:00pm • Easter Sunday | April 4th at 6:30am (outdoor sunrise inperson only), 8:30am & 11:00am, with an egg hunt at 9:45am Gloria Dei Lutheran Church would love for your family to join them! More details can be found online at gdlc.org/easter.
ST. THOMAS ASSISTS WITH FOOD INSECURITY
St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church, in partnership with the Galveston Food Bank, will host their next food distribution on March 6th. St. Thomas will offer their monthly fresh food distribution to neighbors in need throughout the area. This distribution will begin in the St. Thomas parking lot at 7:45am for volunteers to help package boxes and bags of food into serviceable quantities of fresh fruits, vegetables and (sometimes) meat and hygiene items. Distribution begins almost immediately. Last month St. Thomas served over 530 people in 120 cars with $13,000 worth of food! If you are interested in serving, please email Mike Stone at rector@sttaec.org. Non-parishioners are always invited to serve with St. Thomas. The next food distribution will be on Saturday, April 3rd.
COUNCIL MEETING RECAP FEBRUARY 8, 2021 - REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Heard a Presentation by the Clear Creek Environmental Foundation on the annual Nassau Bay Peninsula Cleanup. Heard an Update on the Palm Tree Landscaping Task Force. Approved the second and final reading of Ordinance O2021-807 amending the Nassau Bay Municipal Code Section 19-28 dealing with areas where parking is limited or prohibited by adding additional streets or places to the designated areas where parking is to be limited or prohibited; and providing a penalty; and for severability; and providing for codification. Approved the second and final reading of Ordinance O2021-808 calling the May 1, 2021 City General Election for the purpose of electing three Councilmembers, Positions 1, 3 and 5; said election to be held jointly with Clear Creek ISD. Approved Resolution R2021-2217 designating Sandra Mossman as the Alternate to the Houston-Galveston Area Council (HGAC) 2021 General Assembly. Approved Resolution R2021-2218 in support of Greater Harris County 9-1-1 wireless fee legislation. Authorized the City Manager to execute the Leeward Lane Demolition and Removal Project Site Stabilization agreement, an amendment to the Bid No. 2020-04 Leeward Lane Demolition contract. Join us for next month's Council Meeting on Monday, March 8, 2021. Visit www.nassaubay.com/CityCouncil for more details on the meeting.
Nassau Bay City Hall | 1800 Space Park Drive, Suite 200 | Nassau Bay, TX 77058 | 281.333.4211
MAR 21 • 4
