Sugar Land - Missouri City Edition | April 2023

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SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION

VOLUME 10, ISSUE 8 APRIL 14MAY 10, 2023

2023 LOCAL VOTER GUIDE

A SHIFTING APPROACH Fort Bend ISD has proposed a $1.26 billion bond to address maintenance, technology and security needs, including a $223 million rebuild of Clements High School, which is facing foundational issues.

Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park opens

PROPOSITION A : Buildings, transportation and security upgrades

$1.18 billion

LOCAL VOTER GUIDE 2023

PROPOSITION B : New computers for students and sta PROPOSITION C : Natatorium

$52.47 million

$22.9 million

SOURCE: FORT BEND ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Sample ballot

RENEE FARMERCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Fort Bend ISD $1.26B bond proposal focuses on facility upgrades Fort Bend ISD will hold a bond election in May in hopes of funding $1.26 billion in improvements to facilities and services across the district. BY RENEE FARMER largest bond in the district’s history. “A lot has happened, and now it’s time,” FBISD Super- intendent Christie Whitbeck said at a March 8 Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce luncheon. “Some things have kind of gotten kicked down the road and need to be addressed.” Among other construction, transportation and security

HIGHER EDUCATION GUIDE 2023

Five years have passed since the district’s last bond in 2018, which directed $992.6 million to similar construc- tion, renovation and technology needs. This would be the

CONTINUED ON 14

UH merges technology, engineering colleges

As federal rental relief fund- ing dwindles closer to depletion, Fort Bend County nonprots have proposed a $53.45 million plan to continue providing resources to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. On Feb. 28, executives of local nonprots asked Fort Bend County Commissioners Court to reallocate $13 million in federal funds given to the county for a multiphase transi- tional housing program. If approved, the program could build multifamily CONTINUED ON 30 Nonprots await county’s decision on housing eort BY ASIA ARMOUR & JACK DOWLING

In February, Fort Bend County nonprots requested the county reallocate $13 million in federal dollars for a transitional housing program. As the COVID-19 relief funds deplete, nonprots said it is vital to invest in homeless prevention. DEPLETED FUNDS

Allocated, spent

Allocated, not spent EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE

Total remaining

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT

HOME AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN

Pull the newest teaser from CC Libraries Missouri City native becomes Miss Universe 2022

$1.22M

$47.45M

$2M

Total $15.36M

Total $157.42M

Total $3.32M

$109.97M

$12.14M

$2M from this budget was allocated toward the transitional housing proposal. The groups vie for $11M more from other federal sources.

SOURCE: FORT BEND COUNTYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION • APRIL 2023

A DEEP DIVE INTO THE SCIENCE OF HOW WATER FLOWS Jan 27–May 14 Everyone’s actions on land affect our ocean. What can YOU do in your watershed to protect our ocean? Find out in Ocean Bound – go deeper and be a Watershed Warrior! Make it rain, spot the polluters and encounter eye-popping aquatic species and ecosystems along the way.

Generously supported by the City of Sugar Land Public Works Department

For tickets and information, visit hmns.org/oceanbound.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

THIS ISSUE

MARKET TEAM GENERAL MANAGER Amy Martinez REPORTER Jack Dowling GRAPHIC DESIGNER La’Toya Smith ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Tracy Drewa METRO LEADERSHIP PUBLISHER Jason Culpepper MANAGING EDITOR Kelly Schafler COPY EDITOR Adrian Gandara SENIOR ART PRODUCTION MANAGER Kaitlin Schmidt CONTACT US 16300 Northwest Freeway Jersey Village, TX 77040 • 281-469-6181 CI CAREERS communityimpact.com/careers PRESS RELEASES slmnews@communityimpact.com ADVERTISING slmads@communityimpact.com Learn more at communityimpact.com/advertising EMAIL NEWSLETTERS communityimpact.com/newsletter SUPPORT US Join your neighbors by giving to the CI Patron program. Funds support our journalistic mission to provide trusted, local news in your community. Learn more at communityimpact.com/cipatron ABOUT US Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today. We have expanded to include hundreds of team members and have created our own software platform and printing facility. CI delivers 35+ localized editions across Texas to more than 2.5 million residential mailboxes.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS MONTH

FROM AMY: As we approach the end of the school year, many students will begin considering what their next step will be. In our community, we are blessed to have several amazing higher education options for students and adults. In this year's Higher Education edition, we’re taking a look at new programs and offerings available right here in Fort Bend County. Amy Martinez, GENERAL MANAGER

FROM KELLY: Our front-page story this month dives into Fort Bend ISD’s $1.2 billion bond proposal, which will be on the May 6 ballot. If the bond is approved, the district plans to target technology upgrades, safety and security projects, and renovations and rebuilds to outdated campuses. In addition to the FBISD bond, we included information on other local elections happening May 6 in our Voter Guide, which begins on Page 12. Kelly Schafler, MANAGING EDITOR

"Our story is just beginning. " - JOHN GARRETT, COMMUNITY IMPACT CEO & FOUNDER, AS QUOTED BY TEXAS MONTHLY

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SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION • APRIL 2023

IMPACTS

Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon, relocating or expanding

W . B E L L F O R T B L V D .

W . A I R P O R T

W. FAIRGROUNDS RD.

Black Rock Coee

COURTESY BLACK ROCK COFFEE

LONE STAR DR.

LAKE POINTE PKWY.

The new store is located at 9540 Hwy. 6, Missouri City, and oers both packaged roasted coees and made-to-order bev- erages, teas, smoothies and Fuel energy drinks. The Missouri City store oers 2,000 square feet of space and features a large Texas-themed mural, accord- ing to a March 28 news release. 214-463-2721. www.br.coee 5 Wellby Financial , a Houston-based credit union, opened Jan. 25 at 8215 Hwy. 6, Missouri City, in the Sienna neighborhood. The business oers various banking services, including checking, savings, credit cards, loan lending and youth accounts. The branch also includes a locally based Bean Here coee shop, which has two other shops in Missouri City and Arcola. Wellby Financial serves more than 135,000 members in 21 locations across the Houston and Galveston area. 281-488-7070. www.wellbynancial.com COMING SOON 6 Williams Smokehouse BBQ & Blues will open mid-April at 2105 Lone Star Drive, Sugar Land. Located in Sugar Land Town Square, the eatery will oer various barbe- cue fare with a Creole-modern twist as well as pasta, wings, salads and other dishes. Specialty items will include brisket and cheese empana- das, stued turkey legs, armadillo eggs and smoked oxtails on weekends, co-owner Kennis Williams said. Williams will run the business with friend and business partner Furrest Greenwood. www.williamssmokehouse.com

MISSOURI CITY

NBLVD.

1092

99 TOLL

SUGAR LAND

SIENNA PKWY.

COMMONWEALTH BLVD.

K W Y .

KITTY HOLLOW PARK

GREATWOOD PKWY.

2759

SIENNA SPRINGS BLVD.

SIENNA PKWY.

NOW OPEN 1 Tennessee-based retailer Popshelf opened March 13 at

2 Craft cocktail bar The Perfect Round opened its new Sugar Land location March 26 at 18730 University Blvd. The business oers craft cocktails, food items, and three indoor golng simu- lators allowing patrons to access 200 courses and a driving range. The business has two other locations in the Houston area in Fulshear and Conroe. 281-796- 4643. www.theperfectroundgolf.com 3 American-Italian dining chain Olive Garden was set to open its rst Missouri

City location April 10 at 10327 Hwy. 6 as of press time. The restaurant is known for its soups, salads, Italian food and “unlimited breadsticks.” The chain owns more than 800 locations nationwide and employs more than 96,000 employees, according to a news release from Olive Garden. www.olivegarden.com 4 Black Rock Coee , an Oregon-based coee chain with more than 120 locations nationwide, opened its ninth Houston location in Missouri City on March 31.

2581 N. Town Center Blvd., Sugar Land. Customers can purchase most items at $5 or below at the new location. Popshelf has 100 standalone locations and 40 in-store locations nationwide with plans to operate roughly 1,000 total stores by 2026, a Popshelf spokesperson said. 346-347-3995. www.popshelf.com

Rashes, bites and stings are just some of the non-life threatening illnesses and injuries we treat quickly and affordably.

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

COMPILED BY ASIA ARMOUR, JACK DOWLING & KELLY SCHAFLER

Williams Smokehouse BBQ & Blues

Uberrito

COURTESY MICHAEL ANTHONY

COURTESY UBERRITO

IN THE NEWS 10 The city of Sugar Land opened a new pump track March 25 at The Crown Festival Park , 18355 Southwest Freeway. The $500,000, 22,426-square-foot facility was funded by the Sugar Land 4B Corporation, Sugar Land Commu- nications Director Doug Adolph said in a March 15 news release. It includes a beginner track o to one side separat- ed from a larger and more advanced track to accommodate users of all abilities as well as national tourna- ments. The pump track project was approved in December. 281-275-2825. www.sugarlandtx.gov/parks. 11 The Fort Bend County EpiCenter —a multipurpose, 10,000-seat venue at 28505 Southwest Freeway, Rosenberg— has secured a contract with ESPN wres- tling, according to ocials. This contract was announced by development rm Stonehenge Holdings LLC President Kevin Matocha on March 16 at Fort Bend County Judge KP George’s rst quarterly Fort Bend Forward community conversations event. Matocha declined to comment on the details of the contract—such as when it was secured and potential revenue for the county. The $120 million EpiCenter project was initiated through a partner- ship between the county and Stonehenge Holdings LLC in 2021. The venue is on track to complete construction in August. CLOSINGS 12 Mint n Chili , a Halal food chain, closed its Sugar Land location at 11609 Hwy. 6 in February due to low employee interest. Location owner

7 Uberrito , a Houston-based Tex-Mex chain, is expanding to Sugar Land and Cypress by the summer, marking the fourth and fth chain locations for the restaurant. The Sugar Land location at 2735 Town Center Blvd. is set to open by late summer. Uberrito oers customers a choice of more than 20 combinations, including various proteins, tortillas, rice varieties and toppings. www.uberrito.com 8 Houston-based Tex-Mex restaurant Cyclone Anaya’s is coming to Staord by summer 2024, according to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The Staord restaurant at 12619 S. Kirkwood Drive represents a $3 million investment in Staord and will mark the chain’s seventh in the Hous- ton area, serving the chain’s traditional Tex-Mex style scratch cooking that it has served since 1966. www.cycloneanaya.com ANNIVERSARIES 9 The Missouri City farmers market celebrated its fth-year anniversary March 18. Ocially dubbed Farmers Market Partners-Missouri City, the market meets every Saturday rain or shine from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at 5855 Sienna Springs Way to sell fresh produce, preserves such as jams and jellies, and handcrafted items, including jewelry and woodworking. According to a news release from the organization, the farmers market has grown since its inception in 2017 to see- ing approximately 2,500 customers visit around 40 regular vendors every month. www.farmersmarketpartners.com

Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park has various zip line courses to choose from.

COURTESY GO APE ZIPLINE & ADVENTURE PARK

FEATURED IMPACT NOW OPEN Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park opened March 11 at 18427 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, in Brazos River Park. The sky-high obstacle park will eventually oer four activities: the three-hour Treetop Adventure course, the one-hour Treetop Journey course, the 90-minute Treetop Discovery course and outdoor axe throwing. On the courses, participants can tackle aerial crossings and obstacles, a Tarzan-type swing, and zip line through the trees. Treetop Discovery, Treetop Journey and Treetop Adventure are all open as of April 1, Becky Oldham, chief marketing ocer for Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park, said in an email. Axe throwing will open in the near future. Go Ape has 15 locations across the U.S. Oldham said the company chose its rst Shahid Paracha said March 30 there “just wasn’t enough interest” from Sug- ar Land residents to work at the restau- rant. Paracha is searching for another location outside of Sugar Land. 13 Sprouts Farmers Market is closing the doors of its Sugar Land loca- tion April 30. The store, located at 13550 University Blvd., Sugar Land, is one of 11 Sprouts locations being shut

Houston-area location to be the 67-acre Brazos River Park due to its existing outdoor amenities, including walking and mountain bike trails, a disc golf course, meadows, and open spaces. Additionally, the new business will provide a percentage of each ticket sale at the park to the city of Sugar Land to reinvest back into the city, Oldham said. 800-971-8271. www.goape.com/location/ texas-houston

FESTIVAL BLVD.

down. The natural grocer has a number of locations around the country, includ- ing seven others in the Greater Houston area. www.sprouts.com 14 Veritas Steak and Seafood closed its doors March 25 after 20 years in the community. The Sugar Land restaurant, located at 6560 Greatwood Parkway, served prime steaks, fresh seafood and a variety of wines.

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SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION • APRIL 2023

TRANSPORTATION UPDATES Sugar Land approves $1.8M for sidewalk concerns

COMPILED BY JACK DOWLING

ONGOING PROJECTS

REPAIR REQUESTS Sugar Land has allocated $2.8 million to target sidewalk improvements throughout the city. The map below shows areas where service requests have not been completed.

With the help of federal COVID-19 relief funding, the city of Sugar Land is aiming to tackle a backlog of sidewalk complaints in the city’s south and southeast territory. “Ideally, our service level for the city of Sugar Land is a 90-day service level,” Assistant Director of Public Works Herc Meier said. “We are currently down to a 14- [to] 20-month service level.” The city previously responded to requests in 18 to 24 months, Meier explained. Annually, the city receives approx- imately 800 service requests, which the city has fallen behind on addressing in recent years due to a slowdown in productivity as well as resources. To address the high number of service requests and chal- lenges with service levels, $2.8 million has been allocated for sidewalk improvements around the city. Of that number, $1.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding was approved at the March 21 City Council meeting, while an additional one-time $400,000 contract and a recurring $625,000 ve-year annual contract were approved prior to the March 21 meeting. The city is working with two contractors to target some 752 sidewalk service requests across the city, although most are located in the New Territory and Greatwood subdivi- sions, Meier said. Both areas were annexed into Sugar Land in 2017.

1092

Incomplete service requests

BURNEY RD.

FM 1092 resurfacing The Texas Department of Transpor- tation’s resurfacing project along FM 1092 between Hwy. 59 and Hwy. 6 is expected to be completed by late spring or early summer, TxDOT Public Information Ocer Kristina Hadley said via email. Guardrail, sidewalk and signal work is still needed to complete the project. Timeline: November 2022-late spring,

1876

1464

early summer 2023 Cost: $4.2 million Funding source: TxDOT

ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF MARCH 28. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT SLMNEWSCOMMUNITYIMPACT.COM.

UNIVERSITY BLVD.

SOURCE: CITY OF SUGAR LANDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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GOVERNMENT Sugar Land Animal Advisory Board approves new policies

Policy changes The Sugar Land Animal Shelter finds itself over dog capacity and understaffed as it approves a new set of policies on euthanization and sterilization. The city’s 2019 bond was set to fund a new animal shelter, but the project has been delayed.

Sheltered animals

Shelter capacity

DOGS

CATS

BY JACK DOWLING

shelter capacity. “It is the policy of the city of Sugar Land that an animal shall not be euthanized because the city’s animal shelter has insufficient capacity to care for the animal or because the animal has been a resident of the animal shel- ter for an extended period of time,” the new euthanization policy states. Under the new policy, there are two instances of permissible euth- anization. Those are that an animal must suffer mentally, emotionally or physically with a poor prognosis for recovery, or with anticipated pro- tracted painful recovery from injury or illness; or if it is deemed to pose an unacceptable danger to other animals, itself or humans. These are categorized as “medical” and “behavioral” euthanizations, Dawn Steph, Sugar Land’s director of environmental and neighborhood services, said to the board. During the March 8 meeting, Steph acted as a staff liaison to the animal advisory board. Final decisions for euthanizations rest with the animal shelter manage- ment team and are to be carried out by a licensed veterinarian, according to the policy. The policy also added guidance about how soon after shelter admis- sion sterilization should take place as well as allowing terminal spays, or abortions carried out on pregnant animals, up to and until the animal is in active labor. Staff also clarified that animals are checked three times prior to initiating a terminal spay. Not approved during the meeting

Six months after Sugar Land officials announced an investigation into the unauthorized euthanization of 38 dogs and cats at the city’s animal shelter, the Sugar Land Animal Advisory Board approved a set of new policies on euthanization and sterilization. The policies offer a step toward clarifying the shelter’s stance on euthanization and sterilization but are not a foolproof solution, city staff said. “You can have all the policies in the world, and you can have all these things that try to guide—but if you hire unethical people ... these policies aren’t going to mean anything,” interim Shelter Manager Danny Cornelius said at the March 8 animal advisory board meeting. Cornelius and interim co-Manager Cindy King have worked to run the shelter after the September firing of five shelter employees and former Shelter Manager Don Specks following an investigation by the city, Sugar Land Communications Director Doug Adolph said. Cornelius is employed by the Sugar Land Police Department, and King is employed by the Sugar Land Fire Department. Updated policy With the 40 animals euthanized without authorization, employees said the animals were killed due to “aggres- sive behavior” or medical diagnoses, according to the city’s report. One key difference in the new euthanization policy is the shelter will not consider euthanization based on

0 10 2030 4050 60 0 10 20304050 60

EUTHANIZATION

STERILIZATION

were a new round of standard oper- ating procedures. These procedures outline appropriate courses of action during various specific scenarios, city officials said. Steph said the city is still complet- ing standard operating procedure documents for both sterilization and euthanization. No estimated or definite completion date was provided at the meeting. Capacity, staffing issues Despite these new policies, the animal shelter remains understaffed and well over capacity for dogs. The Sugar Land Animal Shelter, called “Barksburg,” has 23 cats and 45 dogs, according to the latest city reports presented at the March 8 meeting. A recent roundup led to the intake of 10 dogs in one day, Steph said. The shelter’s latest expansion in 2017 raised the maximum capacity to 56 cats and 31 dogs, according to the • ” Capacity care ” clauses have been removed from the shelter’s euthanization policy, meaning animals will not be killed if the shelter is over capacity or an animal has been in the shelter a long time. • The new policy also lays out grounds for euthanization, including the standards for mental and behavioral euthanizations. SOURCE: CITY OF SUGAR LAND/COMMUNITY IMPACT

shelter’s website. No strategy was presented at the March 8 meeting for addressing capac- ity issues, except to continue market- ing for both volunteers and adoptions, but Adolph provided a statement on the city’s $90.76 million 2019 bond program, which included $6.6 million for a new animal shelter. “Due to financial constraints caused by the COVID[-19] pandemic, the schedule for the delivery of the projects was expanded from three to five years,” Adolph said. Construction on the shelter is set to begin in 2025 but depends on City Council approving a higher tax rate to fund the project as well as community fundraising contributions, Adolph said. He also said the city is consider- ing regionalizing the shelter. As of the March 8 meeting, shelter officials were searching for three posi- tions: an administrative coordinator and two kennel technicians. • Animals taken into the shelter will now always be sterilized “as soon as possible” after a three-business-day stray hold for animals not microchipped and a five-business-day stray hold for microchipped animals. • ” Terminal spays ,” which are abortions carried out during a spay or neuter, are also provided for and approved in the new policy.

Parents know their child’s education is more than just one high- stakes test on one day. Let’s prepare our students for the future, expand public school accountability, and Measure What Matters.

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SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION • APRIL 2023

Comparable Learning Spaces and Tools Fort Bend ISD is committed to training and equipping all students to reach their full potential and achieve their highest goals - now and in the future. This mission includes high-quality teaching and learning at every campus and closing the gaps between old and new facilities.

Projects in the 2023 Bond would include: •New Campuses 2 schools •Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing 61 schools •Roofing Repairs/ Improvements 20 schools •Fine Arts 6 schools •Sound Systems and

•Renovated, Repurposed Campus 1 school •Campus Rebuilds 3 schools •Renovations and Additions 4 schools •Flooring Replacements 34 schools • Interior/Exterior Painting 18 schools •Playgrounds and Outdoor Recreation 16 Schools •Classroom Furniture 13 schools •Cafeteria Renovations 5 schools •Exterior LED Lighting Upgrades 7 schools •Clinic Renovations 7 schools • New Walking Trails 5 schools •CTE Lab Renovations 2 schools •Traffic Control Improvements 7 schools •Fieldhouse Renovations 3 schools

General Total Proposed $1.18B

Proposition A allocates funds for repairs and upgrades to outdated systems and structures to make them more energy efficient and able to support 21st century teaching and learning. New Schools to Accommodate Growth The district is growing and some of its schools are at or near 100% capacity, which means every seat in every classroom on those campuses is full. In addition to the rebuilds at Briargate Elementary, Mission Bend Elementary and Clements High School, Proposition A constructs a middle school, an elementary school and converts an existing facility into a new elementary school. The schools would be built to the district’s new standards for energy efficiency, safety and security and modern learning spaces.

Intercoms 33 schools •Auditorium Renovations 4 schools •Child Nutrition Kitchen Renovations 13 schools •Drinking Fountains 66 schools •Fire Alarm System Replacements/Upgrades 10 schools •Interior LED Lighting Upgrades 9 schools •Parking Lot Improvements 13 schools •Restroom Renovations 4 schools •New Gymnasiums 3 schools • Synthetic Turf 10 schools

Address Aging Buildings $591,345,291 Current Condition Details

Nearly half of the district’s schools are more than 30 years old. Some schools were originally built in the 1960s and ‘70s when the district first started to grow. With 13 million square feet of school and facility space district wide, addressing building deficiencies to ensure proper functioning is key. Maintenance and replacement of critical building components such as HVAC, roofing, plumbing, windows, electrical gear, etc. is a priority and necessary for health and safety as we deliver instruction to our students.

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

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Saturday

APRIL 24 EARLY VOTING 7:00am - 7:00pm

APRIL 25 EARLY VOTING 7:00am - 7:00pm

APRIL 26 EARLY VOTING 7:00am - 7:00pm

APRIL 27 EARLY VOTING 7:00am - 7:00pm

APRIL 28 EARLY VOTING 7:00am - 7:00pm

APRIL 29 EARLY VOTING 8:00am - 5:00pm

APRIL 23

APRIL 30 EARLY VOTING 12:00pm - 6:00pm

MAY 1 EARLY VOTING 7:00am - 7:00pm

MAY 2 EARLY VOTING 7:00am - 7:00pm

MAY 6 ELECTION DAY 7:00am - 7:00pm

MAY 3

MAY 4

MAY 5

For polling times and locations: fortbendisd.com/2023bond

Did You Know… By law, funds generated by voter-approved bond elections cannot be used for teacher and staff pay raises.

$2.50 PER MONTH ESTIMATED IMPACT PROPS A + B + C AVERAGE HOME VALUE OF $300,000

Technology Total Proposed $52.47M

Natatorium Total Proposed $22.9M

Thousands of the district's computers for students and staff are approaching the end of their life cycles. The industry life cycle for desktop computers is four or five years and it’s even shorter for laptops. The 2023 Bond includes updates to the district’s classroom computers used by students and devices used by teachers and staff. This item is listed as its own proposition because state law requires that computer devices be listed separately on the ballot from technology infrastructure items. •$48,113,000 – FOR CLASSROOM COMPUTERS/ TOOLSETS •$4,355,000 – FOR STAFF COMPUTER REFRESH

Fort Bend ISD currently has one natatorium and one practice facility to serve all students across the district. There is no swim facility in the southeast region. Students in that area spend a significant amount of time and mileage traveling to the existing swim centers. Proposition C of the bond will provide students and staff with access to an indoor swim center in the southeast area.

AGES 65 & Older

Early Voting April 24 - May 2 Election Day May 6 For more information, please visit fortbendisd.com/2023bond

Ballot Language Since 2019, Texas law has required all school district bond propositions to include OVER FROZEN DOLLAR AMOUNT “THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.” Due to this requirement, all voters will see that statement on the official ballot, even those whose property taxes are frozen and will not exceed the tax ceiling.

Content provided by Fort Bend ISD

2023

LOCAL VOTER GUIDE GUIDE Candidates and information for local elections LOCAL VOTER GUIDE

COMPILED BY KELLY SCHAFLER

DATES TO KNOW April 24 First day of early voting

POLLING LOCATIONS

May 6 Election day May 6 Last day to receive ballot by mail (or May 8 if carrier envelope is postmarked by 7 p.m. at location of election)

April 25 Last day to apply for ballot by mail (received, not postmarked) May 2 Last day of early voting

9 Sugar Land Branch Library 550 Eldridge Road 10 Sugar Land City Hall 2700 Town Center Blvd. MISSOURI CITY 11 Chasewood Clubhouse 7622 Chasewood Drive 12 Hightower High School 3333 Hurricane Lane 13 Missouri City Community Center 1522 Texas Parkway 14 Quail Valley Fund Oce 3603 Glenn Lakes

SUGAR LAND 1 Clyde & Nancy Jacks Conference Center 3232 Austin Parkway 2 Commonwealth Clubhouse 4330 Knightsbridge Blvd. 3 Fort Bend ISD Administration Building, lobby 16431 Lexington Blvd. 4 Four Corners Community Center

Polling locations vary between early voting and election day. Early voting times may vary, but election day voting hours are from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. statewide. SOURCE: FORT BEND ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT WHERE TO VOTE

SAMPLE BALLOT

15700 Old Richmond Road 5 James Reese CT Center 12300 University Blvd. 6 Lost Creek Park 3703 Lost Creek Blvd. 7 Ridge Point High School 500 Waters Lake Blvd. 8 Sartartia Middle School 8125 Homeward Way

*Incumbent

FORT BEND ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES

15 Sienna Branch Library 8411 Sienna Springs Blvd.

Place 5 Rolando DeMeza Allison Drew Angel Hicks Sonya Jones Denetta Williams*

Place 1 Angela “Angie” Hanan* Oscar Saenz Jr. Place 4 Cheryl Buford Shirley Rose-Gilliam*

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CANDIDATE INFO

Get to know the candidates running in the election

2023 LOCAL VOTER GUIDE

Incumbent

COMPILED BY JACK DOWLING

Candidates were asked to keep responses under 75 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.

Fort Bend ISD board of trustees, Position 1

Fort Bend ISD board of trustees, Position 5

ANGIE HANAN

ROLLY U. DEMEZA

Occupation: educational consultant Experience: 28 months as FBISD trustee, Position 1 (as of March 2023); active school and community volunteer; mom of a high school junior who has attended FBISD since kindergarten; master of education in curriculum and instruction; career-educator; Texas certications for principal, elementary English and self-contained for grades 1-8, reading specialist, legacy master reading teacher, gifted and talented, and English as a second language 281-460-0330

Candidate did not respond to questionnaire by press time.

ALLISON DREW

OSCAR SAENZ

Occupation: enterprise data architect, psychiatric nurse Experience: experienced former trustee; former FBISD Leader- ship-Texas Association of School Boards; Wall Street Quant well- versed in markets, nancial expenditure and recapture; enterprise data architect that provides plans for detection of ineciencies and growth at the whole system level; 30 years FBISD community: read- ing buddy/multilingual (ve languages), athletics, CTE and ne arts 832-376-7768 • www.vote5allison.com

Occupation: principal for engineering rm Experience: For 23 years, I’ve helped Texas ISDs adjust policies, set up operations, and manage $2.6 billion in bond programs; set up teams and systems that ensured proper management of over 300 contracts and 400 school facilities; ensured the community was informed by acting as the day-to-day interface with the school district, Oversight Committee, board of trustees and community. As a member of the Texas State Guard, we collaborated with school districts to set up emergency shelters for the community.

832-377-6565 • www.oscar4isd.com

ANGEL HICKS

Occupation: master teacher Experience: nine years as FBISD educator with experience in growing students in two low-performing schools in the district; parent of three with two children that still attend FBISD schools and one that graduated from high school last year in spring 2022; business background with a BBA in accounting and currently pursuing masters of education in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in learning, technology and design 281-875-9857

Fort Bend ISD board of trustees, Position 4

CHERYL BUFORD

Occupation: president, Signature Impact Consulting (career advis- ing and team building) Experience: teacher for 10 years; U.S. Department of Education associate director of program analysis and evaluation; policy advisor and advocate, advocate for STEM; education policy committee member for Governor Youngkin’s campaign; Rice Center associate, evaluated university career development public programs; Social Capital Valuations vice president, advising nonprots on ROI of their e orts

SONYA JONES

713-303-4888 • www.cherylbuford.com

Occupation: educator Experience: For 14 years, I’ve worked in higher education as an academic advisor and public school teacher. Leveraged the use of multiple teaching/training delivery methods. Facilitated student aairs programs/activities with higher education institutions. Addi- tionally, as a member of the board of directors for Fort Bend County [Municipal Utility District No. 131], I’ve collaborated with residents to ensure public health and nancial stability of the district. 281-915-8984 • www.sonya4kids.com

SHIRLEY ROSEGILLIAM

Candidate did not respond to questionnaire by press time.

DENETTA R. WILLIAMS

Candidate did not respond to questionnaire by press time.

SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION • APRIL 2023

CONTINUED FROM 1

Fort Bend ISD’s proposed bond includes facility and operational needs across the district. PROPOSING THE PROJECTS

Fort Bend ISD has had several bond elections over the years to address its enrollment growth, with minimal impact on its tax rate. GROWING WITH THE GROWTH

TAXES ACROSS TIME

FBISD’s tax rate has fallen in the past ve years, most recently after voters rejected a voter-approval tax rate election in November 2022 that would have maintained the $1.21 rate.

YEARLY TAX RATE

TAX RATE WITH BOND

$1.5

$1.14

Design & construction (major projects) $486.36 million Design & construction (deciencies) $591.35 million

If passed, the 2023 bond would increase the rate by one cent, for a yearly tax increase of $30

$1.26 billion

$0.5

on the average home value of $300,000.

Transportation $28.97 million Technology $119.38 million Safety & security $30.15 million

SOURCES: FORT BEND ISD SPRING 2023 DEMOGRAPHICS STUDYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCE: FORT BEND ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT

TAX YEARS

PROPOSITION A

$1.18 BILLION

Design & construction (life cycle deciencies) Briargate Elementary rebuild Clements High School Rebuild Elementary School No. 55 Ferndell Henry renovations/additions Middle School No. 16 Mission Bend Elementary rebuild Emergency notication system Fire safety Floor-mounted door locks Police vehicles Safety and security contingency Security cameras Standardized weapons and response kits 35 buses

$591.35M $47.26M $222.85M $46.08M $18M $82M $47.26M $175K $24.5M $200K $1.02M $1M $3.05M $200K $4.67M $4.06M $19.24M $1M $1.51M $62.63M $2.77M

Board Certified Gastroenterologist Gregory L. Shannon, MD The district expects to enroll nearly 85,000 stu- dents by 2027-28, up from its 2022-23 enrollment of more than 80,000 students, according to a spring 2023 demographic report from Population and Survey projects, the bond addresses maintenance issues across the district’s facilities, including roong; oor- ing; and heating, ventilation and air conditioning. FBISD’s board of trustees voted to call an election for the $1.26 billion bond during a Feb. 16 special meeting. “We believe condently that this bond will pass at a high rating,” FBISD board President Kristen Davison Malone said. “Our administrative team has done their homework, as have we, to really propel it forward.” Breaking down the bond The bond will be split into three dierent proposi- tions on the ballot due to laws that require the district to separate options for computer upgrades as well as athletic facilities. The $1.18 billion Proposition A encompasses con- struction, security, transportation and technology upgrades. Of that sum, $463 million is set aside for major projects, including facility rebuilds, a new ele- mentary school and a new middle school.

Analysts. This 6.25% growth is slightly more than the 5.79% increase the district has seen the last ve years. To accommodate this anticipated growth, FBISD would add a new middle school in the southeast por- tion of the district near the Sienna development and another elementary school near the 1,300-acre Har- vest Green development in Richmond. Additionally, to address a projected 380% resident student increase over the capacity of Heritage Rose Elementary School, the district would convert the Ferndell Henry Center for Learning in Rosharon to an elementary school. Current students would be relocated to another district building. “We’re asking for what we need,” FBISD Deputy Superintendent Steven Bassett said at the luncheon. “We’ve scrubbed this and scrubbed it, and our board has asked us a lot of hard questions—good questions. They’ve done their due diligence.” Nearly half of the bond—$591 million—is allocated to address facility deciencies and life cycle needs, including improvements to roofs, air conditioning, ooring and windows. “We also have to take care of these schools that are older to keep them up to the level that we want for all

Districtwide white eet Transportation facility Transportation Smart Tag Infrastructure

Network Systems

PROPOSITION B

$52.47 MILLION

Classroom toolset Sta computer refresh

$48.11M $4.36M

PROPOSITION C

$22.9 MILLION

Natatorium

$22.9M

DON’T WASTE ANOTHER YEAR WITH GI DISCOMFORT. SCHEDULE RELIEF TODAY. Call 281-201-1338 Today to Schedule an Appointment

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2023 LOCAL VOTER GUIDE

46-year-old Briargate Elementary and 42-year-old Mission Bend Elementary schools. Briargate will con- solidate with Blue Ridge, and Mission Bend will con- solidate with Mission Glen for the 2023-24 school year, regardless of bond passage, due to low enrollment. Construction would be nished in two years. Funding the bond The district has to call a bond to cover the cost of these types of projects because of how its nancial system operates, Bassett said. Revenue from property tax can be used for the dis- trict’s maintenance and operations expenses, such as utilities, fuel and employee salaries. Revenue from a bond, on the other hand, funds the budget for projects such as construction, renovations and other facility upgrades. State funding cannot be used for new con- struction and renovation, Bassett said. “We must have a bond in order to build buildings, in order to make a dierence in terms of structures,” Whitbeck said. The district’s 2022-23 tax rate is $1.13 per $100 prop- erty valuation. If the bond passes, the district projects the tax rate would increase to $1.14 per $100 property valuation for the 2023-24 tax year. Residents with a $300,000 home would see a $30 increase to their annual tax bill, Bassett said. Rachelle Kanak, executive vice president of mar- keting and operations for the Fort Bend County Economic Development Council, emphasized the importance of having high-quality schools in keeping property values high. “Schools are magnets, and good schools attract,” Kanak said at the March 8 luncheon. “Fort Bend County has attracted businesses and people because of education. They’re a big part of this success story.” Residents will have the chance to decide on this during the bond election, which will be held during the May 6 election. “We have a lot of work to do in Fort Bend ISD. This bond is one piece of that, but more than anything, it’s trying to meet the needs of each and every child,” Whitbeck said at the luncheon.

RALLYING ENROLLMENT

FORT BEND ISD BOND HISTORY

Although the district’s growth stagnated during the pandemic, the district’s enrollment projections show an anticipated 6.25% growth in ve years.

FBISD has passed four bonds in the past 20 years. The May 2023 proposed bond is the largest yet.

ACTUAL

PROJECTED

100K

$1.5B

$1.26B

$1.2B

$992M

90K

84,956

$900M

$484M

79,637

76,735

$428M

$600M

76,122

80K

$299M

$300M

77,545

77,756

YEARS

SCHOOL YEARS

children,” Superintendent Whitbeck said. Proposition B would cover nearly $52.5 million for computer upgrades districtwide, and the $22.9 mil- lion Proposition C would fund a new district natato- rium in the southeast portion of the district. FBISD has one natatorium and a practice swimming facility, located in the north and central parts of the district. Fixing aging facilities Addressing its aging facilities is a signicant goal of FBISD for this bond, Whitbeck said, as the district’s average facility age is 45 years old. The bond’s most nancially signicant project, a nearly $223 million rebuild of 40-year-old Clements High School, would address these kinds of needs. The school has the worst Facility Condition Index rating—a benchmark used by the district to evaluate a building’s repair needs—of all the district’s facili- ties, according to Carolina Fuzetti, FBISD’s executive director of design and construction. This is primarily due to foundation issues causing cracks in the walls and oors. It also lacks a re sprinkler system, win- dows in classrooms, a cafeteria that ts all students and a voice evacuation system for emergencies.

“It’s a real challenge to go into an old building and upgrade as best you can, and the end result is you have an old building that has been upgraded,” PBK Architects partner Ron Bailey said during a March 22 public tour of the school. The new building would use a structural slab, designed to allow soil to move without the slab crack- ing, Bailey said. It would hold up to 3,000 students, an increase from the current building’s 2,639 design capacity. The $113 million price tag to rehabilitate the existing building is over half of the $223 million cost to rebuild. “This is really when you start evaluating all the components that are wrong, that are failing or not up to code, and compare that cost with a rebuild and make a decision if it is worth continuing to invest and infuse money into this building,” Fuzetti said. The district would build the new building on the athletic elds, relocate students to the new building by 2027, then rebuild the elds where the current building sits. While construction is underway, stu- dents would use Mercer Stadium or other facilities in the district. Over $94.5 million would also be used to rebuild

For more information, visit communityimpact.com .

SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION • APRIL 2023

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CITY & COUNTY

News from Sugar Land, Missouri City & Fort Bend County

Sugar Land City Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. April 18 and 25, and May 2 at 2700 Town Center Blvd. N., Sugar Land. Meetings are livestreamed and in person. 281-275-2900. www.sugarlandtx.gov Missouri City City Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. April 17 and May 1 at 1522 Texas Parkway, Missouri City. Meetings are livestreamed and in person. 281-403-8500. www.missouricitytx.gov Fort Bend County Commissioners Court will meet at 1 p.m. April 25 and May 9 at 401 Jackson St., Richmond. Meetings are livestreamed. 281-342-3411. www.fortbendcountytx.gov MEETINGS WE COVER HIGHLIGHTS MISSOURI CITY Three new positions were approved at Missouri City City Council’s March 20 meeting that leadership said will increase the efficiency of running Missouri City. Former Chief Information Officer Sedrick Cole will become the new deputy city manager, while former Parks and Recreation Director Jason Mangum and former Chief Financial Officer Allena Portis will become assistant city managers. The decision to adjust Missouri City’s organizational structure was approved by the City Council unanimously. MISSOURI CITY City Council approved a capacity expansion to water and wastewater projects within Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 2, located in the southeast part of the city. The capacity expansion, which was approved at the March 6 meeting, increases the total allocatable funding and project capacity within the TIRZ from $9.5 million to $39.5 million for water and wastewater projects. The city also approved a request to allocate $7.5 million from TIRZ 2 for water and wastewater improvements, making up half of the $15 million needed for eight projects that will be completed by 2024.

Missouri City facing 17% police officer shortage

BY JACK DOWLING

POLICE PAY COMPARISONS

MISSOURI CITY A police officer shortage in Missouri City is unlikely to be resolved by the end of the year without emergency action. Residents and Missouri City Police Officers Association members spoke during the March 20 City Council meeting to ask why nearly 20% of the city’s police force is missing. Jay McClellan, vice president of the Missouri City Police Officers Association and one of seven sergeants in the Missouri City Police Department, said the city has reached a “crisis level” for vacant positions due to salaries that are “20% below” the regional market. The police department is budgeted for 110 officers, according to the city’s public information archive, and is short 19 police officers and 2.5 telecommunications officers, according to Allena Portis, an assistant city manager and chief financial officer for Missouri City. The city sits $10,000- $18,000 below comparative police departments in terms of starting salaries, according to the Missouri City Police Officers Association. “We’re not just losing people to other agencies—we’re losing people to other fields,” Portis said.

The city of Missouri City is missing nearly 20% of its total police force. Some residents and the Missouri City Police Officers Association blame this on noncompetitive pay.

STARTING PAY

*PLUS $10,000 SIGN-ON BONUS

Missouri City

$55,970*

Sugar Land

$64,314

Friendswood

$64,500

Pearland

$64,866

The city is preparing to hear the results of a competitive salary survey set to be completed April 15, Portis said. If completed by April 15, the survey will be presented to City Council and the community by May 1. SOURCES: MISSOURI CITY POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, CITY OF SUGAR LAND/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

Fort Bend County talks 2023 bond

Smart Financial Centre business bounces back

CENTRE SNAPSHOT The number of shows planned for Sugar Land’s Smart Financial Centre in 2023 is exceeding prepandemic numbers.

BY JACK DOWLING

SUGAR LAND After two rocky years due to the COVID-19 pan- demic, the Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land is back, the venue’s general manager said. “It finally feels like we’re normal again,” General Manager Elyse Scally said at Sugar Land’s March 21 City Council meeting. The Centre returned to live programming in 2021. Scally said it has brought back 100% of its full-time employees since before the pandemic and is set to host a similar number of events as 2019.

BY ASIA ARMOUR

FORT BEND COUNTY Officials are collecting a list of projects to inform a potential November mobility and parks bond in Fort Bend County. Commissioners approved this in a 4-1 vote March 7. County Auditor Ed Sturdivant said he would propose the bond be priced at $600 million or less. Commissioners said they would work to prioritize projects and identify funding before the deadline to vote on the approval of a bond election in August.

100 120

60 80 20 40

0 2021 2020 2022 2023* 2019

SOURCE: SMART FINANCIAL CENTRE/

*PROJECTED

COMMUNITY IMPACT

HEALTH CARE EDITION COMMUNITY IMPACT’S COMING SOON

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