Pearland - Friendswood - Manvel | October 2025

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Pearland Friendswood Manvel Edition VOLUME 11, ISSUE 11 OCT. 11NOV. 7, 2025

A new bond

Friendswood ISD’s bond proposal looks to maintain facilities and technology

home—about $60 per month, or $720 annually, for a home with a taxable value of $450,000. “Every student, every campus,” Roher said. “It’s not just money ... but the impact we’re making today for learners tomorrow.”

The bond—split into four propositions—is aimed at maintaining facilities and technology needs within the district, Superintendent Thad Roher said. If approved, the bond proposal would raise the district’s tax rate by $0.16 per $100 valuation of a

BY HALEY VELASCO

A replacement campus, athletic facility improve- ments and technology upgrades are some of the items included in Friendswood ISD’s $165 million bond package, which will go before voters in November.

CONTINUED ON 20

Students walk through the hall at Westwood Elementary. If the bond passes, Westwood and Bales Intermediate

will consolidate into one campus. (Jamaal Ellis/Community Impact)

Bales Intermediate School

Westwood Elementary School

Also in this issue

Government: Read how the FY 202526 budgets look for local cities (Page 8)

Transportation: Learn about the new road projects Pearland is working on (Page 19)

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PEARLAND - FRIENDSWOOD - MANVEL EDITION

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About Community Impact

Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.

Market leaders & metro team

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Impacts

ELLA ST.

MCHARDRD.

SHADOW CREE

MCHARDRD.

N. GRAND BLVD.

Pearland

521

W. BROA D W A

518

WALNUTST.

Friendswood

7 11

M AGNOLIA PKWY.

288

BAILEY A V E .

MCKEEVER RD.

528

2351

Manvel

MAP NOT TO SCALE

3 Cruz-N-Carz The business opened its second location in Pearland. It offers a variety of services related to vehicles, including auto repair, auto maintenance and wheel alignments, among other services. • Opened Aug. 14 4 Whales Fish & Chicken The restaurant serves seafood, including catfish, tilapia, snapper and shrimp. Chicken products include wings, chicken tenders and chicken nuggets. • Opened Aug. 22 • 11401 Broadway St., Ste. 107, Pearland • www.whalewingsseafood.com • 6700 Ella St., Pearland • www.cruz-n-carz.com

5 Residence Inn by Marriott The hotel offers a variety of amenities, such as complimentary breakfasts, laundry facilities and an outdoor pool. • Opened Aug. 28 • 3250 Business Center Drive, Pearland • www.marriott.com 6 EōS Fitness The fitness center offers free weights, strength equipment, an indoor pool, group classes and personal training, among other amenities. • Opened Sept. 4 • 19801 Gulf Freeway, Ste. 1000, Webster • www.eosfitness.com

Now open

1 Angelina’s Quince Couture The business offers a variety of dresses and gowns, including custom designs and accessories. • Opened Aug. 1 • 11161 Shadow Creek Parkway, Ste. 106, Pearland • www.aqcouture.com 2 Gemini Urgent Care The clinic offers onsite IVs, X-rays, sutures and physical examinations, along with other services. • Opened Aug. 13 • 1111 S. Friendswood Drive, Friendswood • www.geminiurgentcare.com

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

7 Overdress Styles The business sells women’s clothing, as well as Texans and Astros clothing. • Opened Sept. 6 • 11200 Broadway St., Ste. 940, Pearland • www.overdressstyles.com 8 Gyro Republic Diners can customize rice bowls, salads, pita sandwiches, loaded fries or “gyritos”—gyro burritos—with proteins and toppings. • Grand opened Oct. 4 • 10501 Pearland Parkway, Ste. D, Pearland • www.gyrorepublic.com 9 Ali Mini Mart The mini mart sells imported food products like basmati rice, gros lupini beans, Jameedna soup starters, Cafe Najjar and Al Dayaa olive oil. • Opened Sept. 14 • 2525 W. Bay Area Blvd., Ste. F, Friendswood • www.instagram.com/ali.minimart_us 10 Texas Mattress King The business sells mattresses made out of memory foam, hybrid, latex and innerspring. • Opened Sept. 14 • 3631 S. Main St., Ste. 103, Pearland • www.texasmattressking.com 11 Toyzbee The business sells a large variety of toys, including Labubus, PopMart, JoToys, TopToy, ToyZero and Sonny Angels. • Opened Sept. 15 • 11200 Broadway St., Ste. 620, Pearland • Facebook: Toyzbee 12 Aki Sushi and Asian Fusion Customers can choose from a variety of sushi and other entrees. • Opened in September • 17307 Highway 6, Ste. 108, Manvel • www.akitx.com

13 Essential VITALS The business offers services related to nursing, including post-surgical care, infusions and concierge services. • Soft opened in September • 2340 N. Grand Blvd., Ste. 5, Pearland • Facebook: Essential Vitals

Now open

Coming soon

14 Executive Nails & Spa In addition to nail services, the business offers a bar of complimentary drinks and can host events. The salon is family-owned. • Opening Oct. 18 • 2754 Smith Ranch Road, Ste. 102, Pearland • executivenailsandspapearland.com

18 Friendswood Hospital The hospital has a 24/7 emergency room, pediatric emergency care, sports injury emergency care, full-service radiology and lab services. Construction for the $25 million microhospital began in late 2023 in a space formerly occupied by a Walgreens. • Opened Sept. 22

Relocations

15 Brooke’s Boutique The family-owned designer consignment shop offers gently worn and used designer items, such as Louis Vuitton and Prada, to women. • Relocated Sept. 22 • 3129 Kingsley Drive, Ste. 1510, Pearland • www.brookesboutique.com 16 Kahn Law Firm The firm helps with car accidents and personal injury, as well as with other services. • Relocated Sept. 26 • 7930 Broadway St., Ste. 102, Pearland • www.thekahnlawfirm.com

• 3201 FM 528 Road, Friendswood • www.friendswoodhospital.com

19 Challenge Elite Sports The business celebrated its first anniversary in September. The business offers several indoor and

outdoor courts for a variety of sports. • 14150 Beamer Road, Friendswood • www.challengeelite.org

Space City Weather The daily weather news and forecaster is approaching its 10-year anniversary. The website is ran by certified meteorologist Eric Berger, who said he started it as a hobby. The company also launched an app in 2021. • www.spacecityweather.com

In the news

17 Pearland High School Band The school’s band is scheduled to perform at the Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Parade in November.

• 3775 S. Main St., Pearland • www.pearlandband.org

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PEARLAND - FRIENDSWOOD - MANVEL EDITION

Government

BY RACHEL LELAND & JAMES T. NORMAN

Friendswood, Manvel, Pearland approve FY 2025-26 budgets

to help reduce the cost to taxpayers. In Friendswood, city officials made cuts to cer- tain areas in the budget throughout the summer, officials said at City Council’s Aug. 25 meeting. Officials in each city are also projecting an increase in sales tax revenue compared to last year, which in Friendswood’s case helped the city keep its tax rate flat, officials said Aug. 25.

tax rate than the previous year, some cities, such as Manvel, saw a tighter squeeze in the budget. New facilities, a budding population calling for more services and ongoing incentive agreements with developers made this budget cycle more difficult compared to previous years, officials said. Meanwhile, Pearland saw some residents at City Council’s Sept. 22 meeting asking the city to cut additional expenses, such as new staff members,

The cities of Friendswood, Manvel and Pearland each approved their respective budgets in August and September for fiscal year 2025-26, with fiscal years for each beginning on Oct. 1. Each city saw its budget increase in total revenue and expenditures compared to the previous year, but approvals were not without their challenges. With each city opting for either a flat or lower

Friendswood

Manvel

Pearland

Friendswood’s total budget is up by more than $8 million from last year, with public safety being the highest expense in the city’s general fund, documents show. In total, the city is putting $15.9 million into the police department and $6.5 million into emergency services, according to budget docu- ments from the city. Parks are at $6.3 million. Capital improvement funding is the largest expenditure of the entire budget, totaling $45.5 million, according to the budget.

Manvel’s growth was the story of the budget for FY 2025-26. A $2 million injection from the city’s general fund balance will help the city meet several needs. “It seems like the general consensus is that ... we’d rather put that money to good use for the community,” Mayor Dan Davis said. In total, the city will bring on 13 new full-time equivalent staff positions and nearly three dozen additional equipment and programming requests. The city will also keep its tax rate flat.

Pearland opted for a lower tax rate than FY 2024-25. However, the rate was still higher than the no-new-revenue rate. In the city’s general fund, revenue is expected to increase by nearly 3.9% from last year, while expenditures are up by about 2.2%, according to city documents. Some highlights in the new budget include 12.5 full-time equivalent staff positions added. This is down from last year’s total of 30, according to city documents.

$0.514172 tax rate

$0.56 tax rate

$0.63 tax rate

$367,599 median home value

$359,719 median home value

$372,103 median home value

$1,892 average tax bill on median home

$2,014 average tax bill on median home

$2,344 average tax bill on median home

$20 increase from last year

$55 increase from last year

$12 decrease from last year

Budget breakdown

Police: 38.1%

Police: 35%

Public safety: 61.5% Infrastructure: 14%

Development services: 10.5% Other: 8% Public works: 15% Information technology: 4.8% Municipal Court and Fire Marshal: 4.9% Administration: 15.3%

Administration and finance: 15%

Government services: 11.5%

Parks and recreation: 14% Emergency services: 14%

Total $19.3M

Total $45.9M

Community programs, events: 8.5% Economic development: 2.4% Financial management: 2.1%

Total $132.4M

Public works: 7% Information technology: 6% Other: 5% Community development: 4%

Finance: 3.5%

NOTE: THE CHARTS REPRESENT EACH CITY'S GENERAL FUND BREAKDOWN. SOURCE: CITIES OF FRIENDSWOOD, MANVEL AND PEARLAND/COMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY HANNAH NORTON

What to know about Texas’ new congressional districts

Gov. Greg Abbott signed Texas’ new congres- sional map into law Aug. 29, declaring in a video posted to social media that “Texas is now more red in the United States Congress.” Under Texas’ current congressional boundaries, Republicans hold 25 of the state’s 38 congressional seats. State lawmakers have said the new map will help Republicans gain up to ve more seats during the 2026 midterm elections. The details State lawmakers kicked o the redistricting eort this summer, after President Donald Trump asked Texas and other GOP-led states to redraw their congressional maps to help Republicans maintain a narrow majority in the U.S. House. Texas’ new map redraws 37 of the state’s 38 con- gressional districts. Rep. Todd Hunter, a Corpus Christi Republican who led the redistricting plan, said the “primary changes” were focused on ve districts: TX-09, TX-28, TX-32, TX-34 and TX-35. “Each of these newly drawn districts now trend Republican,” Hunter told state House lawmakers Aug. 20. “While there’s no guarantee of electoral success, Republicans will now have an opportu- nity to potentially win these ... new districts.” The debate After Republicans unveiled the map in late July, House Democrats held a two-week walkout that stalled, but did not stop, the map’s passage. Democratic lawmakers have said the new congressional map will “dilute” minorities’ voting power by dividing historically Black and Hispanic communities into multiple congressional districts. “Texans and Americans all across the country are watching,” Rep. Chris Turner, DGrand Prairie, 15

Current Houston district map New district map

Montgomery 8

Montgomery

Harris

Fort Bend 22

Fort Bend

14 N

NOTE: NUMBERS INDICATE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS

SOURCE: TEXAS LEGISLATIVE COUNCILCOMMUNITY IMPACT

GULF OF AMERICA

senators approved the map Aug. 23, the League of United Latin American Citizens and a group of Texas residents led a lawsuit asking that the map be blocked from becoming law. A panel of federal judges scheduled an Oct. 1-10 hearing in El Paso. The same panel is separately considering legal challenges to Texas’ current congressional maps, which were approved in 2021. “We have high condence that the courts will actually nd these maps to be illegal,” Rep. Gene Wu, DHouston, told reporters Aug. 18. “The ques- tion is more about the timing of it and whether or not there’s enough time left.”

said on the House oor Aug. 20. “They know this map before us is a calculated maneuver to diminish the voices of the very communities that power Texas.” Republicans have maintained that the map was drafted to benet GOP congressional candidates and that race was not considered when the new lines were drawn. What’s next Texas’ new congressional map is set to take eect in early December, although it will be discussed in court two months earlier. After state

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PEARLAND FRIENDSWOOD MANVEL EDITION

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Government

BY RACHEL LELAND & HALEY VELASCO

Pearland adopts Old Town revitalization plan Old Town will officially undergo its revitaliza- tion plan after Pearland City Council unanimously approved its adoption at its Sept. 22 meeting. The revitalization plan comes a year after the city launched the project in June 2024, according to city documents. The overview The plan is a collaboration between the Pearland Economic Development Corporation, the city of Pearland and Kansas City-based Olsson Studio, a national planning and urban design firm, accord- ing to the city’s website. The plan, as Community Impact previously reported, includes the following Old Town Pearland additions: • Single-unit, multi-unit and flex residential businesses

Visit Pearland opens annual grant program Visit Pearland is accepting applications from Pearland-based nonprofit arts and cultural organizations for its Cultural Arts Matching Grant Program, which offers funds for up to $6,000, according to a Sept. 8 news release from the city. The details The application period for the fiscal year 2026 program runs through Oct. 20, and grants will be awarded in early December, according to the release. Proposed programming must meet Visit Pearland’s guidelines and occur between Oct. 1 and Sept. 30 of next year to be consid- ered eligible for a matching grant. The grant will go towards projects, such as festivals and productions, according to Visit Pearland’s website.

MYKAWA RD.

GALVESTON AVE.

Old Town

E. BROADWAY ST.

• Business, neighborhood and civic centers • Mixed-use and transitional developments The cost Mayor Kevin Cole said the revitalization will be funded through the PEDC, the city, the Texas Department of Transportation and private entities. “This is a pivotal moment for the Old Townsite, and I think it’s one that with some drive and commitment and moving forward after we do this in subsequent years, we’ll look back as a legacy opportunity,” Cole said at the meeting.

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PEARLAND - FRIENDSWOOD - MANVEL EDITION

Education

Local school districts lower, keep tax rates flat for FY 2025-26

Alvin, Friendswood and Pearland ISD board of trustees each signed off on new tax rates, with all three districts either keeping rates the same or lowering them compared to the last year. In addition, officials estimate the average home value to be down from last year in all three districts. The overview For Alvin ISD, a tax rate of $1.15 per $100 valuation of a home will result in a tax bill of about $2,550 for the average home valued at $365,000, district documents show. This total is down from last year’s tax rate of $1.17. Friendswood ISD’s tax rate of $1.03 per $100 valuation of a home will create a tax bill of around $4,340 for the average home valued at $590,000, according to district documents. FISD’s rate is down from last year’s rate of $1.04. Lastly, Pearland ISD’s tax rate of $1.135 per $100 valuation of a home will create a tax bill of around

$3,073 for the average home valued at nearly $432,000, according to district documents. PISD’s rate will remain the same as last year. According to tax documents from each district, taxes due on an average residence dropped by over $400 for AISD and PISD and by over $200 for FISD compared to FY 2024-25. Some context A tax rate is broken down into two parts—the maintenance and operations rate, or M&O, which funds daily expenses such as teacher salaries and utilities, and an interest and sinking rate, or I&S, which pays off voter-approved bond debt, accord- ing to the Texas Education Agency. A homeowner’s annual school tax bill is cal- culated by taking the home’s taxable value—the appraised value minus any exemptions—dividing by 100, and multiplying by the district’s tax rate, according to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.

Taxes due on average residence

FY 2024-25 FY 2025-26 Average home value

$590K

$5K

$432K

$4K

$365K

$3K

$2K

$1K

Alvin ISD Friendswood ISD Pearland ISD

SOURCE: ALVIN, FRIENDSWOOD, PEARLAND ISDS/COMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY HALEY VELASCO

Alvin ISD celebrates rst 100 years

Looking back

Alvin ISD started as a two-story, white frame building located on House Street, Alvin, and graduated ve students in its rst year. Today, the district serves more than 30,000 students across nearly 40 campuses, with additional schools already in planning to keep pace with growth. The district is celebrating its rst 100 years but is looking to the future to keep up with its growth, as well as continue to recruit sta and personalize learning for students. While the district was ocially formed in 1925 by the state legislature, AISD began in 1894 when Alvin High School opened. The school graduated its rst class in 1897—just three years before a hurricane in 1900 heavily damaged the campus. Over the next several years, the school was eventually rebuilt and would graduate its rst class of students who completed a full four-year term in 1906. In the 1930s, an oil boom provided new funding for the district, in turn allowing the district to construct a new school. By the 1940s, AISD had established its rst three campuses, and the district has continued on its upward growth since then. From there, enrollment steadily increased as more families moved into the area. Over the past ve years, AISD has added over 3,000 students, according to demographic rm Population and Survey Analysts. This growth has marked the district as the eighth-largest growing district in the Greater Houston area.

AHS opens

1894

Hurricane damages AHS

1900

First class of four-year students graduates

1906

Ocials incorporate the district

1925

Voters approve the consolidation of Manvel ISD Ocials build new campuses, including Mark Twain Elementary, Alvin Junior High and Bill Hasse Elementary District expands to west Pearland and builds nine more schools, including Nolan Ryan Junior High School

1940s- 1960s

1973

2000s

Alvin High School building in the 1930s.

COURTESY ALVIN ISD

$70M bond passes to address growth

2009

District builds 12 more schools, including Pomona Elementary and Shadow Creek High School

Going forward

2010s

Looking ahead, the district’s 2023-26 strategic plan focuses on personalized learning, recruiting and retaining sta, and expanding support systems for students, documents show. “It was just amazing to see everyone come together and celebrate Alvin ISD and the last 100 years, and then also looking forward to the next 100 years,” Superintendent Carol Nelson said.

3 bonds pass totaling more than $900M

2013- 2018

District builds eight more schools, including Iowa Colony High School and Barbara Bennett Elementary

2020s

$380.1M bond passes to address growth

2024

SOURCE: ALVIN ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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PEARLAND FRIENDSWOOD MANVEL EDITION

Education

BY HALEY VELASCO

Alvin ISD officials provide update on 2024 bond Vestibule upgrades and the status of a replace- ment campus were some of the updates Alvin ISD officials shared Sept. 9 related to the district’s $380.1 million bond, which was approved in 2024. The overview Completed work includes new security ves- tibules at eight campuses, requiring visitors to check in through a controlled entry. Phase two of vestibule upgrades is slated for summer 2026, with final projects finishing by 2027. A notable highlight is the replacement campus for Walt Disney Elementary and Stevenson Pri- mary. Walt Disney Elementary students have been attending school at the former Alvin Elementary school site since an EF-2 tornado caused damage to the point of demolition in December. Construction is set to begin in 2026, with officials expecting it to open in 2028.

FISD OKs health, safety committees Friendswood ISD’s board of trustees approved the school safety and health advisory committees at its Sept. 8 meeting. What you need to know The school safety advisory committee helps oversee the district’s emergency operations plan, audits FISD’s safety and security, works with local emergency agen- cies, reviews mental health programs, and evaluates major safety proposals and fund- ing. Required by the 86th Texas Legislature under Senate Bill 11, the committee meets once per semester and once in the summer. Trustees also approved members for the school health advisory committee, which ensures local community values are reflected in health education. This commit- tee typically meets four times a year.

AISD bond timeline

2024

Summer: Phase one of security vestibules complete

2025

November: Replacement campus design presentation to trustees

2026

July: Replacement campus construction begins Summer: Security vestibule phase two wraps up

2027

Summer: Security vestibule phase three wraps up

2028

August: New replacement campus opens

SOURCE: ALVIN ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Pearland ISD approves new personnel positions Pearland ISD’s board of trustees approved two new personnel positions at its Sept. 9 meeting to maintain classroom ratios and support students in specialized programs. The gist

Financial impact

One PEARS aide: $32,205

students across two classes—one requiring one- on-one attention. The new role will help provide better coverage of student needs. The other position is a resource or inclusion teacher at Silverlake Elementary. Current case- loads are 1:28, with eight more students awaiting evaluation, which would exceed the recom- mended teacher-to-student ratio.

Total: $107,980

One position will support the Pearland Essential and Academic Readiness Skills, or PEARS, program at Barbara Cockrell Elementary, which serves 16

One resource/ inclusion teacher: $75,775

SOURCE: PEARLAND ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Development

BY JAMES T. NORMAN & HALEY VELASCO

Initial builders, pricing announced for Midline The homebuilder lineup and anticipated pricing for the first phase of the 1,000-acre community Midline have been announced by Harris Coun- ty-based homebuilder Brookfield Residential, according to a Sept. 15 news release from Midline. The gist Builders for the first phase of Midline include the following: • Brookfield Residential • Highland Homes

Pearland approves warehouse expansion Pearland City Council approved at its Sept. 25 meeting a permit to allow for an 18,150-square-foot expansion for a warehouse space at Endress+Hauser USA manufacturing site. What you need to know The area is located at the southeast corner of Kirby Drive and Beltway 8. The city originally platted the site in 2019 with Endress+Hauser launching operations in 2020, according to the business’s website. All told, the business’s campus prior to the expansion is 112,000 square meters and has included $34 million in investment from the business, according to the business’s website. No details on the timeline for the expan- sion were given.

Midline

528

• Perry Homes • Toll Brothers

homesites in six lot sizes with prices ranging from the $300,000s to over $800,000, officials said. What else? Officials are also planning to begin work in the spring on its amenity center, The Midline Club.

Midline is a residential project with multiple parks and more than a dozen miles of trails. The project plans for 2,800 single-family homes, according to the release. The initial phase of Midline will have over 270

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PEARLAND - FRIENDSWOOD - MANVEL EDITION

Transportation

Shadow Creek Ranch to see road work

KIRBY DR.

SHADOW CREEK PKWY.

DISCOVERY BAY DR.

Pearland approved a $6.3 million contract for improvements at multiple intersections within the Shadow Creek Ranch area in west Pearland, which officials say will help improve traffic flow and road conditions. The gist The work will include improvements around roughly eight different intersections, including a stretch along Business Center Drive and several along Shadow Creek Parkway, documents show. Officials said the work is meant to mitigate “growing traffic congestion” as the thoroughfares included in the plan are some of the busiest roads in Pearland. The work, according to city documents, will include: • Traffic signals • New left- and right-turn lanes • Sidewalk work

• Road work • Improving approaches and merges

KINGSLEY DR.

Some or all of this type of work is expected to take place at each intersection, documents show. What else? The contract will go to Jerdon Enterprise, which submitted a bid estimating the cost to be around $6.3 million, documents show. While that estimate came in higher than the city engineer’s estimate of $5.7 million, the city budgeted nearly $10.4 million for the project. Initially, the city will front the costs for the project. However, those costs will be reimbursed using the city’s Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, or TIRZ, that is set up in the area, officials said. Looking ahead Work is expected to begin in October and could wrap up in August, according to city documents.

288

BUSINESS CENTER DR.

TRINITY BAY DR.

Work throughout Shadow Creek Ranch

1 Shadow Creek Parkway and Trinity Bay Drive 2 Shadow Creek Parkway and Kingsley Drive 3 Shadow Creek Parkway and Kirby Drive

4 Kirby Drive and Discovery Bay Drive 5 Broadway Street and Kirby Drive 6 Business Center Drive 7 Shadow Creek Parkway stretch 8 Broadway Street and Kingsley Road

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY JAMES T. NORMAN

Friendswood approves $3.8M in intersection upgrades The second project, estimated at $550,000, will include installing dedicated right-turn lanes for traffic on the east and west sides of FM 528 at the intersection of FM 518, documents show. The cost The Houston-Galveston Area Council has FALLING LEAF DR. COWARDS CREEK DR. 1 2 3

Friendswood City Council moved forward with a couple of transportation projects totaling $3.8 million with the help of grants and a fund- ing agreement from the Texas Department of Transportation. The gist The pair of projects was approved at City Council’s Sept. 8 meeting. The first project, which is estimated at $3.25 million, will involve traffic signal improvements at four intersections along Sunset Drive, according to city documents. Intersections along Sunset Drive that will have existing signals rehabilitated include: • West Castlewood Avenue • Falling Leaf Drive • Cowards Creek Drive A new traffic signal will also be installed at the Briarmeadow Avenue intersection, officials said.

518

provided the city with a surface transportation block grant, which the city will match to cover the cost of the projects. However, no city funds will be used for the match, according to city documents. Instead, the city will use transportation development credits, courtesy of TxDOT. Looking ahead The timeline for each of these projects will depend “on several factors,” Director of Communi- cations Glenda Faulkner said in a Sept. 18 email. Officials are looking to have construction start potentially in early 2027, Faulkner said.

BRIARMEADOW AVE.

528

Work along Sunset Drive

Traffic signal upgrades 1 Cowards Creek Drive and Sunset Drive 2 Falling Leaf Drive

Sunset Drive 4 Briarmeadow Avenue and Sunset Drive Turn lanes upgrades 5 FM 528 and FM 518

and Sunset Drive 3 W. Castlewood Avenue and

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Transportation

BY JAMES T. NORMAN

Pearland OKs $1.5M for West Lea subdivision roads Pearland City Council on Sept. 22 approved an interlocal agreement totaling about $1.5 million to help repair roads in the West Lea subdivision. Long story short MEADOW LN.

Hwy. 288 underpass project wraps up An underpass project at Highway 288 connecting Rodeo Palms Parkway and Del Bello Boulevard is expected to wrap up in October, Manvel and state officials confirmed. Long story short The work, which was carried out by TxDOT, began in 2022 and cost $52.7 million, TxDOT spokesperson Danny Perez said in a Sept. 19 email. Mayor Dan Davis highlighted the project as one of many either ongoing or wrapping up.

HUGHES RANCH RD. 3 Dixie Farm Road at Hastings Friend- swood Road intersection improvements Project: includes adding a traffic signal to the Dixie Farm Road and Hastings Friendswood Drive intersection Update: As of Q3 of 2025, design for the project is done and the city is looking to bid the project out. • Timeline: Work could start in November or December. • Cost: $980K • Funding source: bonds and general revenue 4 Smith Ranch Road expansion Project: road widening from two-lane road to four lanes from Hughes Ranch Road to Broadway Street Update: The project has since begun construction as of the first quarter of 2025. • Timeline: Construction began in January and will take around a year. • Cost: $13.7M • Funding sources: H-GAC, city of Pearland 5 Bailey Road expansion Project: i nvolves expanding the two-lane roadway to four lanes from Veterans Drive to Main Street Update: Construction began in 2023 and is progressing. • Timeline: expected to wrap up in April 2026 • Cost: $18.5M • Funding source: city bonds 518 4 89 48 90 SMITH RANCH RD. 288

Ongoing projects

HUGHES RANCH RD.

SMITH RANCH RD.

1 Pearland Parkway Project: The project is meant to address concerns over traffic and congestion. Work will include traffic signal replacement and work on turn lanes. Update: The contract and bid for the project were approved in July. • Timeline: Officials received the notice to begin work in September. • Cost: $1.83M • Funding sources: bonds and other sources 2 Sherwood subdivision street reconstruction Project: Originally developed in the 1960s, the subdivision has several roads considered in poor condition. The scope of the project will focus on reconstructing roads identified in the city’s road assessments. Update: The contract for the work will be presented at City Council’s Oct. 13 meeting. If approved, work could begin between November and December. • Timeline: Work is scheduled to wrap up in May 2027, which is nearly 2 years after the start of construction • Cost: $7.88M • Funding source: city bonds

BROADWAY ST.

MCHARD RD.

The agreement came after drainage work was completed in the subdivision, which city docu- ments state “contributed to significant wear on the subdivision’s roadways.” Specifically, the city’s internal processes, includ- ing the pavement condition index, found that the area is in need of having its roads restored. The city is partnering with the city of La Porte to carry out the work, documents show. Diving in deeper The scope of the work will include: • Pulverizing the existing asphalt • Stabilizing the roads with a new base layer using cement • Adding a new asphalt layer

WESTLEA LN.

Friendswood

W. BROADWAY ST.

521

DIXIE FARM RD.

MOCKINGBIRD LN.

WALNUT ST.

M AGNOLIA PKWY.

HERON LN.

B A I L E Y A V E .

HASTINGS FRIENDSWOOD DR.

PEARLAND SITES RD.

BAILEY RD.

288

HASTINGS CANNON RD.

Work is expected to take about six months to carry out, documents show. It is anticipated to begin in October and wrap up in April.

DEL BELLO BLVD.

RODEO PALMS PKWY.

MAP NOT TO SCALE N

MORRIS AVE.

Manvel

SHADOW CREEK 11023 Shadow Creek Pkwy (281) 977-1027

PEARLAND 10555 Pearland Pkwy (713) 987-9205

ALMEDA 11130 Gulf Fwy (713) 910-3941

FRIENDSWOOD 3126 FM 528 (281) 648-5473

A new bond From the cover

In a nutshell

PROP. A

$3.2M FHS practice turf

$154.75M for construction of school facilities.

This bond election is the first the district has called for since 2020. The 2020 bond allocated $127.2 million toward building a new elementary school, expanding and renovating existing campuses and upgrading technology across the district, according to 2020 bond documents. The $165 million bond up for a vote this November was formed by FISD’s Citizens Advisory Committee, or CAC, through a series of meetings from February through April to discuss priorities. The committee was composed of community members, parents, students, teachers and district officials. According to CAC documents, this bond will include some of the following projects: • Westwood Elementary and Bales Intermediate replacement campus • Agricultural center replacement • Tax note refinancing • Safety and security improvements FISD’s Chief Financial Officer Amber Petree said about 83% of FISD’s budget goes toward staff salaries, leaving just 17% for expenses such as utilities and insurance. Petree compared the $165 million bond to the district’s entire maintenance and operations budget this year, which is $67 million. “It’s a very small fraction of the whole ask for a long-term commitment for like a 30-year debt to pay for facilities,” she said.

$18.19M FISD Agricultural Center

• Includes: Westwood and Bales replacement campus, upgrades in safety and security, athletic facilities and career and technical education

$33.53M FHS athletic facilities improvements (Phases 1 and 2) $36.74M General improvements: • Technology and transportation upgrades, including new buses • Windsong Elementary innovation lab addition • Outdoor inclusive playgrounds • Refunding and refinancing of maintenance tax notes $73.34M Westwood & Bales replacement: • New 1,200-student, pre-K through fifth grade, two- story campus • Will eliminate nearly $45M long-term deficiencies at Westwood and Bales

PROP. B

$2M for technology equipment. • Includes: district-wide upgrade of student data and finance management systems, technology equipment refresh

PROP. C

$4.25M for construction of recreational facilities.

• Includes: upgrades for softball, baseball and practice fields at FHS

PROP. D

$4M for refunding and refinancing of maintenance tax notes. This will be used to free up money in district’s operational budget.

SOURCE: FRIENDSWOOD ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Friendswood ISD's tax rates through the years

Maintenance & operations

Interest & sinking

What residents should know

$1.5

$1.2594 $1.2594 $1.2394 $1.2094

The $165 million bond package includes a total tax rate increase of $0.16 per $100 valuation of a home, based on projected 2025 taxable values, Petree said. An increase would occur due to the interest and sinking rate rising as a result of the district taking on more debt through the bond. School tax rates consist of a combined total rate of the maintenance and operation and I&S rates, according to the Texas Education Agency. I&S rates are used for debt payments that finance district facilities, such as bonds, according to the TEA While an increase is imposed, the tax rate could vary depending on property value growth and interest rates, Petree said. “If we have more growth next year, maybe we get a really low interest rate, which is what happened to us with the last bond. Then that

$1.19

$1.2

$1.08

$1.04

$1.03

$0.9

$0.6

$0.3

2019-20 2020-21

2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 2026-27* Fiscal year

SOURCE: FRIENDSWOOD ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

*PROJECTED IF BOND IS APPROVED

taxable value, officials said. If approved, the increase would not go into effect until the next fiscal year, which would be FY 2026-27, documents show. FISD approved a lower tax rate for FY 2025-26 compared to FY 2024-25.

$0.16 will vary,” she said. “It’s not solidified until the day of.” The exact increase will vary by home value, meaning some homeowners will see higher or lower monthly costs depending on their property’s

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY HALEY VELASCO

Put in perspective

The bottom line

Laura Hartlieb, a CAC member and FISD parent, supports the bond. She said the projects in it aim to prioritize the district’s needs. She pointed to aging campuses, such as Westwood Elementary, which opened in 1967, and Bales Intermediate, which opened in 1994. Hartlieb said the projects will provide safer, more functional schools and that the tax impact for most homeowners would be similar to a routine monthly expense. “[For a] $450,000 home, it’s $48 a month,” she said. “It’s literally one dinner out to provide tons of opportunities for our kids.” Opponents, meanwhile, acknowledge the district’s facility needs but question how officials have managed taxpayer money in the past. FISD resident John Scott said he opposes the bond, pointing to the district’s rising adminis- trative costs and a lack of accountability in fund management. Scott ran for a position on the FISD school board in 2024 and was unsuccessful in his bid.

Though no timeline is set, Petree said projects could begin “right away” if the bond passes. Early voting runs from Oct. 20- 31, ahead of the Nov. 4 election, according to the Texas Secretary of State’s website. If the bond fails, Roher said the district will continue to face challenges with aging facilities, as improvements would be delayed. He also noted FISD would most likely need to revisit the issue by bringing a similar funding proposal in the future. “Nothing’s changed. It’s just five years older,” Roher said. “We want equitable facilities for all our kids, and this helps make that possible.”

“It’s a no-brainer, because we’re

Those in favor:

going to need to do [these projects] eventually anyway. We’re not asking for more than what other districts are doing. As a matter of fact, it’s extremely conservative compared to what other districts have done.” LAURA HARTLIEB, CAC MEMBER AND FISD PARENT

“I’m not suggesting that they shouldn’t

Those opposed:

build a new school, or that they shouldn’t renovate or make modifications … [but] I don’t think that we should be giving an ... increase in taxes to a governing body that can’t manage the funds that it has.” JOHN SCOTT, FISD RESIDENT

If approved

• Work on approved projects begins right away • Funding provided for facilities for at least 10 years • Bond oversight committee formed to oversee bond projects

Cost to the district

If it fails

Tax-supported debt per average daily attendance

• FISD may return to voters in future with similar bond proposal • FISD will review which facility and technology needs are most urgent • Possible continued challenges with aging facilities, limited capacity in student programs

Officials said the $165 million bond builds on years of planning, including a 2019 plan that produced the $127.2 million bond in 2020. According to unofficial data from the Texas Bond Review Board, FISD carries about $187 million in debt, equal to over $32,000 per average daily attendance, which reflects the student population. That level is similar to nearby districts.

Alvin ISD

$33,209

Friendswood ISD

$32,133

Pearland ISD

$19,778

SOURCE: FRIENDSWOOD ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

NOTE: THE TEXAS BOND REVIEW BOARD IS NOT COMPREHENSIVE AND DOES NOT GUARANTEE FULL ACCURACY OF DATA. SOURCE: TEXAS BOND REVIEW BOARD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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