Bay Area Edition | December 2024

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Bay Area Edition VOLUME 7, ISSUE 5 DEC. 28, 2024JAN. 21, 2025

Legislative priorities School safety among key local concerns in upcoming session

Sheri liaison ocer Megan Dolato patrols the halls of a school in Clear Creek ISD.

COURTESY CLEAR CREEK ISD

some of which relate specically to issues at hand for the Bay Area. Many other bills led ahead of the new legislative session have implications for the entire state, such as those related to reducing or eliminating property taxes.

Meanwhile, local ocials are hoping for funding to come through in some capacity for several key capital projects, such as the Grand Parkway exten- sion to I-45 and the Texas Coastal Barrier Project. Local legislators have already led dozens of bills for consideration in this year’s legislative session,

BY RACHEL LELAND, JAMES T. NORMAN & HALEY VELASCO

With the 89th Texas Legislature kicking o in a few weeks, many in the Bay Area are looking at how the state will address public education funding, namely with school safety, special education and school vouchers.

CONTINUED ON 18

Also in this issue

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Education: Learn about a new bond for Clear Creek ISD that could potentially appear on ballots in May (Page 12)

Nonprofit: Read about the developments Exploration Green ocials are prioritizing in the coming years (Page 21)

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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. About Community Impact

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Impacts

4 Dutch Bros Coffee The chain opened its second location in League City. It serves various types of drinks, like coffee, cocoa, tea and more, according to its website. • Opened Nov. 11 • 6645 South Shore Blvd., League City • www.dutchbros.com 5 Gameday Men’s Health Catering to men’s health and wellness, the business offers concierge testosterone replacement therapy and related services. Specifically, it aims to increase its customer’s testosterone hormone levels. • Opened Nov. 5 • 17625 El Camino Real, Ste. 112, Houston • www.gamedaymenshealth.com/nasa-clear-lake-tx 6 Painted Tree Boutiques The business specializes in gifts, home decor, fashion 7 Prime IV Hydration & Wellness The business offers IV infusions, stating it can help with a number of different challenges related to health, such as aging, weight loss, hydration and energy, among other health-related goals. • Opened Nov. 7 • 144 El Dorado Blvd., Ste. 205, Webster • www.primeivhydration.com 8 Whataburger The Texas-based restaurant chain serves custom burgers, as well as chicken strips, fries and shakes, among other items. • Opened Dec. 3 • 4206 Warpath Ave., Santa Fe • www.whataburger.com 9 Prettyin’ Pottery The business lets you paint pottery at its store. Options include booking a party, events and classes or walking in without a reservation. and other items. • Opened Nov. 24 • 1003 W. Bay Area Blvd., Webster • www.paintedtree.com

ARMAND BAYOU NATURE CENTER

Seabrook

2351

CLEAR LAKE

146

GALVESTON BAY

BAYBROOK MALL DR.

6 10

Nassau Bay

518

528

SOUTH SHORE BLVD.

Webster

646

GRAND OAK BLVD.

League City

W.LEA

517

jeans and western wear, among other items. • Opened Nov. 5 • 19431 Gulf Freeway, Webster • www.bootbarn.com

Now open

1 PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans The coffee chain serves food and several coffee-based drinks, including espresso, tea, iced coffee and energy drinks. • Opened Dec. 11 • 1120 Grand Oak Blvd., League City • www.pjscoffee.com 2 Boot Barn The national retail store sells cowboy and work boots,

3 MINTbody Med Spa The business offers customized facials, skin treatments, anti-aging solutions, body contouring and sculpting, among other services. • Opened Oct. 21 • 3725 E. League City Parkway, Ste. 240, League City • www.mintbodyspa.com

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• Opened Dec. 7 • 20801 Gulf Freeway, Ste. 15, Webster • www.prettyin-pottery.com

Now open

Coming soon

10 Something Fresa The novelty and accessory shop sells jewelry, stationary and other items inspired by Mexican culture. It opened inside Painted Tree Boutique. • Opened Dec. 14 • 1003 W. Bay Area Blvd., Webster • www.somethingfresa.com

Coming soon

11 Planet Fitness The fitness chain’s new operation will have training space, strength training and cardio equipment.

15 Trent’s Pizzeria The restaurant serves garlic bread, cannoli, calzones and pizzas, including bacon cheddar burger pizza, Hawaiian, Margherita and tomato pie, among other menu items. • Opened Nov. 1 • 1602 Clear Lake City Blvd., Houston • www.trentspizzeria.com

18 Margarita Jones The restaurant offers daily specials, as well as tacos, soups, enchiladas, seafood and other traditional dishes, among other items. • Coming April 2025

• Opening by end of December • 3503 Gulf Freeway, Dickinson • www.planetfitness.com

• 1818 NASA Parkway, Seabrook • www.margaritajonestexmex.com

12 EoSFitness The fitness center will be open 24 hours and offer several different monthly packages. Services include massage chairs, various classes, a swimming pool and hot tub, and cardio and strength equipment. • Opening 2025 • 19801 Gulf Freeway, Webster • www.eosfitness.com 13 Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists The location will offer a 24-hour emergency department, internal medicine, surgery and sports medicine rehabilitation. • Opening May 25 • 20610 Gulf Freeway, Webster • www.gcvs.com 14 Taco Works The Tex-Mex business originated as Taco Rico out of Florida. The new location will be the first one in the Greater Houston area. • Opening beginning of 2025 • 2456 Marina Bay Drive, Ste. A, League City • www.tacoricotmc.com

19 Axiom Space More than two years after closing on a lease for the building, Axiom Space filed Nov. 13 with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation for a $1.2 million renovation project on the old Fry’s Electronics Building. The timeline calls for work to begin in January and wrap up later in the year in August. • 21300 Gulf Freeway, Webster • www.axiomspace.com 20 Eat Thai The business reopened Nov. 25 after undergoing renovations since September. The restaurant offers stir- fried noodles and fried rice, among other menu items. • 565 W. Bay Area Blvd., Webster • www.eatthaibayarea.com

16 Courtside Fitness The gym will offer a recovery center, cycling studio and

cryotherapy, among other services. • Opening February or March 2025 • 386 S. Egret Bay Blvd., League City • www.courtsidefitness.com

In the news

17 U-Haul Filings from Nov. 6 with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation show a new $5 million project featuring a climate-controlled facility is planned. Work is expected to begin in 2025 and go through mid-2026. • 510 Hobbs Road, League City • www.uhaul.com

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Government

Seabrook police pitch new $15M station new facility roughly 22,000 square feet in size on city-owned property west of Hwy. 146, which could cost up to $15 million , documents show. Sorting out the details

74% increase in employees in last 30 years 28 years at current station 22,200+ square feet $15M potential total cost of station Pitching a new facility

At Seabrook City Council’s Nov. 19 meeting, the city’s police department made the case for why it needs a new building. What happened Seabrook City Manager Gayle Cook stressed the importance of relocating the current station, which was built in 1996, due to the flood risk at the station’s current location. The police department, for example, lost vehicles and equipment, including computers and a 911 dispatch console, and experienced damage to the offices and jail during Hurricane Ike, according to a city staff presentation. Staff were displaced for over a year in temporary offices. “During Hurricane Ike, this building was signifi- cantly impacted,” Cook said. “At that point, it set the current council on a path of looking at getting critical infrastructure out of harm’s way.” City staff proposed relocating the station from its current location in a flood zone and building a

Chief of Police Rolf Nelson said the current sta- tion, which totals around 10,500 square feet , does not have enough holding space for the continual collection of evidence. A presentation from the department showed there was also limited space for breaks, as well as a shortage of facilities such as showers. “It’s difficult ... getting people to sign up to be cops anymore,” Nelson said. “To work in an area where the facility is very old, very tight, very cramped when they can go down the street, earn the same pay and have a newer facility that’s more conducive to a human working environment.” Looking ahead The project would be funded through a 2025

SOURCE: CITY OF SEABROOK/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Current location

Proposed location

HUNTERCREST DR.

bond program that voters would consider on the May 3 ballot, according to a city staff presentation. Prior to that, City Council will have to call for a bond election by February. If the bond is approved, the project could be completed in 2027, officials said.

BY RACHEL LELAND

League City’s new fire chief Jeffrey Allen looks to reduce response times As League City has grown in the past decade, so has its fire department. That growth will be some of what new League City Fire Chief Jeffrey Allen, who was appointed Oct. 4, will be focused on. Allen spoke to Community Impact about staffing, response times, fire prevention and new projects in town. This interview has been cut for length, style and clarity. What will your priorities be as fire chief? The main priority I have is ... how do we reduce our response times? That’s a big one and a big goal for the city. ... If we can shave off anything, 30 seconds is huge. And we’ve got a pretty decent response time right now. If we can make it better, that’s just better customer service we can provide for the citizens. The other one is going to be

expanding recruitment efforts. How is the department building up capabilities to respond to challenges with new industries coming into town, such as battery storage facilities? We’ve got a significantly diverse group of individuals that volunteer, who have a huge knowledge base in all sorts of different topics. We’ve got guys that are regularly dealing with battery sites in their full time job. Not only are we going to lean on the developer or business ... but we’ve also got guys in-house that are going to be able to provide training. What’s the status of the two new fire stations being built? Station 7, we’re working on a contract with an architect. Once we get a contract in place we can move forward with the programming and design of the station ... then move into development of it. But something to keep in mind is that we’re planning fire stations right now in areas that don’t have streets yet. ... As far as Station 8, Station 7 will come first, obviously, and then Station 8 will come after that.

COURTESY LEAGUE CITY

Government

BY RACHEL LELAND

League City ups impact fees to help fund projects Developers in League City will now pay updated impact fees, or capital recovery fees, to help the city fund and offset the cost of roadway developments. What happened On Nov. 12, League City City Council voted to update the city’s roadway impact fees. In three of the four service areas, the maximum impact fee is expected to go up, according to city documents. Officials said impact fees help shift costs of improvements and infrastructure from residents onto developers. The details The city’s Roadway Recovery Fee was first adopted in 2018 to help fund system improve- ments and offset building costs to keep up with the city’s pace and growth, according to the report.

Seabrook talks Space Center partnership Seabrook City Council discussed Dec. 3 forming a partnership between the city and Space Center Houston to boost tourism. The full story The hope is a partnership will increase the city’s hotel occupancy tax, or HOT, funds to invest in the city’s tourism sector. Benefits include allowing Seabrook to be listed on the center’s website, along with branding options.

New impact fees

The following dollar amounts are the changes to the maximum amount developers will pay in each service area for every vehicle mile their development produces:

Service Area

146

+$849 in service area 1 -$1,576 in service area 2 +$518 in service area 3 +$722 in service area 4

1.3M annual visitors to Space Center Houston $25K-$100K annually from city for partnership with space center $605K expected HOT funds for Seabrook’s FY 2024-25 budget prior to any partnership

SOURCE: LEAGUE CITY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCES: CITY OF SEABROOK, SPACE CENTER HOUSTON/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Events

BY ASIA ARMOUR

January

Bedlam & Ballads This series takes place on the first Thursday of each month at Union Tavern in Webster. The event features a number of rotating local bands. For January, those bands are Jim Williams, and Grifters & Shills. The bands will each play short sets.

• Jan. 2, 7-9 p.m. • Free (admission) • 435 El Dorado Blvd., Ste. A, Webster • Facebook: Union Tavern

Winter Junior Pickleball Camp Chicken N Pickle in Webster will host children ages 7-13 years old for a two-day pickleball camp. It features games, skills training and lunch each day. • Jan. 2-3, 10 a.m.-noon • $65 • 210 Blue Heron Drive, Webster • www.chickennpickle.com/webster-events Astronomy in the Park League City Parks and Recreation hosts this amateur astronomy event at Rustic Oaks Park every first Saturday of the month. Attendees will be allowed supervised access to telescopes and are strongly encouraged to bring their own binoculars to view the stars and planets. • Jan. 4, 7-9:30 p.m. • Free (admission) • 5101 Orange Blossom Court, League City • www.leaguecitytx.gov/4417/Parks-Recreation Sailing Adventure Adults and children 9 years and older can board the newly refurbished Yankee Clipper at the Blue Dolphin Yachting Center and sail around Seabrook. Attendees are encouraged to bring their favorite beverage and finger foods while having a hands-on experience steering, grinding and assisting with docking and departure of the boat.

New Years Eve Cruise Attendees can sail through Clear Lake and Galveston Bay at this Boardwalk FantaSea cruise, which takes off from the Kemah Boardwalk. The New Year’s Eve cruise features dinner, party favors, two full-service bars, a live DJ and a midnight champagne toast. The fireworks show is subject to change. • Dec. 31-Jan. 1, 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. • $199.99 (per person)

Holiday Skills & Thrills Workshops Premier Martial Arts studio staff will host three seminars at the beginning of January to participants 5 years and older. The workshops will teach sparring and stick fighting, weapons and extreme martial arts. • Jan. 2-4, 12:30-3:30 p.m.

• $30 per session, $75 all sessions • 2047 W. Main St., League City • www.premiermartialarts.com

• 7 Kemah Boardwalk, Kemah • www.boardwalkfantasea.com

Builds & Boba Boba Mama in League City will host the Houston Japanese car community for an afternoon of boba drinking and viewing Japanese cars. Staff will give out freebies and merchandise, such as imported car keychains, while supplies last. • Jan. 12, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. • Free (admission) • 3311 FM 518 E., Ste. 101, League City • www.jdmgemsimports.com Katrina Cain & Bud Bierhaus with Chile Pequin Folk music lovers can come to Ecclesia Clear Lake church for a night of stories and music with Texas artists Katrina Cain, Bud Bierhaus and Chile Pequin. The event

will feature coffee, tea, water and desserts. The venue is nonsmoking and no alcohol is permitted. Reserve seats by emailing leaguecityfolkassociation@gmail.com. • Jan. 18, 6:30-9:30 p.m. • $20 • 218 Clear Creek Ave., League City • Facebook: League City Folk Association Dingers and Divots The Clear Falls High School baseball team will host this golf tournament fundraiser at South Shore Harbour Country Club. Four-person teams will compete for prizes and receive breakfast, lunch and a raffle ticket. • Jan. 20, 7:30 a.m. (check in)

• Jan. 5, 3-6 p.m. • Free (admission) • 500 Blue Dolphin Drive, Seabrook • www.visitbayareahouston.com/event/ sailing-adventure

• $125 (individual), $500 (for four) • 4300 S. Shore Blvd., League City • Facebook: Clear Falls Baseball

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Education

BY HALEY VELASCO

CCISD discusses 2025 bond election

Looking ahead

Clear Creek ISD’s board of trustees at its Dec. 9 workshop discussed a possible $214 million bond package that could create a potential tax increase. A large portion of the potential bond, which could be on the ballot in May pending board approval, could go toward rebuilding aging campuses. However, some board members were skeptical of certain aspects of the proposal. If the bond is sent to voters in its current form and approved, it could result in a $0.042 tax rate increase per $100 home valuation, which amounts to an estimated $110 increase annually on tax bills for a home valued at $377,000 , officials said. The discussion comes around a year after voters approved a $302 million bond in November 2023, which officials at the time said contained “critical projects.”

Clear Creek ISD’s potential $214M 2025 bond

The last day the board can call for a potential bond ahead of the May election is Feb. 14, CCISD’s Chief Financial Officer Alice Benzaia said. Officials plan to consider the potential bond at the board’s Jan. 27 meeting, according to district documents. Further discussion will be held between the board and district officials leading up to a potential vote in May. The cost of the potential bond package is subject to change prior to any board approvals. Officials also pitched what possible bond packages would look like in 2028, which totaled $493 million and included a rebuild of Clear Lake Intermediate School, and 2033, which totaled $270 million .

Rebuild Seabrook Intermediate: $90.1M Rebuild Armand Bayou Elementary: $54.6M Rebuild Greene Elementary: $52.1M Bus replacements: $19.5M High school restroom safety upgrades: $5.2M Land acquisition on west side for intermediate school: $5M Clear Lake High School culinary arts program: $2.5M

SOURCE: CLEAR CREEK ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT NOTE: THE BOND'S TOTAL OF $229M IS REDUCED USING $15M FROM THE 2023 BOND.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Education

BY HALEY VELASCO

Clear Creek ISD to spend $2.5M building new culinary arts program Clear Creek ISD’s career and technical education program for culinary arts will expand after the board of trustees at its Nov. 18 meeting approved $2.5 million out of its capital project funds to renovate the Learner Support Center. The full story The expanded program will be for Clear Lake High School, according to district documents. CCISD’s culinary arts program is a three-year course that oers jobs training for entry-level culinary and food service jobs, according to the district’s website. The hope is for the upgrades, which will be called “C.C. Bistro,” to meet the demand for the program. Currently, it’s only oered at Clear Springs High School with a capacity for 60 students , ocials said.

$250K behavioral program approved Clear Creek ISD’s board of trustees at its Nov. 18 meeting approved a contract with behavior program Providence Treatment Center, or PTC, for students with signicant behavioral needs. The overview The $250,000 contract will provide services for CCISD’s “most behaviorally involved students,” according to district agenda documents. Diving in deeper District documents note CCISD oers “a continuum of services for students with disabilities.” However, an out-of-district placement is required when the district’s most restrictive setting available to the students can’t meet their behavioral needs.

The cost of ‘C.C. Bistro’

Mechanical, electrical, plumbing and technology: $860K Kitchen equipment: $775K Interior renovations: $373.8K Design and estimated contingency: $62.3K Premium for building tie-in: $40.7K Tie-in for outdoor walk-in freezer: $26K

120 applied for culinary arts program at Clear Springs

60 slots available for Clear Springs program

NOTE: THE FUNDS REPRESENTED IN THE GRAPHIC ARE JUST FOR CONSTRUCTION AND DON’T INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL $363,000 FOR FEES, FURNITURE AND TECHNOLOGY. SOURCE: CLEAR CREEK ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

In the 2024-25 school year, 120 students applied for the program at Clear Springs. What’s next The board will look to award a contract for the upgrades in February, documents show. The proj- ect should be substantially completed by July 31.

Open enrollment programs, pre-K enrollment opens Applications for Clear Creek ISD’s limited open enrollment program, as well as interest forms for its tuition-based pre-K program, have opened for the 2025-26 school year, according to a Nov. 8 news release from the district. The full story attendance boundaries to attend CCISD schools, the news release reads. The tuition-based pre-K program oers a

What to know Tuition-based Pre-K Opened from Nov. 8-Feb. 3 for: • Families within the district or who qualify for open enrollment with children who turn 4 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2025

Open enrollment Opened from Nov. 11-Feb. 1 for: • Residents who have grandchildren outside CCISD • Nonresidents who live within 10 miles • Military service members who live within 10 miles • Federal employees who live within 10 miles

curriculum that follows the Texas pre-K guide- lines of the Texas Education Agency, according to district documents. Tuition for the pre-K program will be $625 per month . This is a $25 monthly increase from this year’s tuition, per the district’s website.

The limited open enrollment program allows students who reside outside of the district’s

SOURCE: CLEAR CREEK ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT

BAY AREA EDITION

Election

Transportation

BY JAMES T. NORMAN

Galveston County sees slightly lower voter turnout rate compared to 2020

528 • Timeline: project to inish in early spring 2025 but utility relocations and permitting with the TxDOT have delayed completion • Cost: $1.6 million • Funding source: Galveston County’s 2018 bond election 5 West Walker Street improvements 45 the northern part of the city. Update: project expected to wrap up in early 2025 • Timeline: October2024-early 2025 • Cost: $1.9 million • Funding source: from the tax reinvestment fund that is part of the city’s capital improvement budget 4 Hwy. 3 and Hwy. 96 intersection improvements Project: add left- and right-turn lanes throughout the intersection to help with trac ow Update: construction is back on track following CenterPoint Energy relocating gas lines. 2351 Webster BAYBROOK MALL DR. Project: project includes designing and constructing three new trac signals along West Walker Street Update: construction in progress • Timeline: expectedto be completed in spring 2025 • Cost: $3.3 million • Funding source: almost all from tax increment reinvestment zone funding

Upcoming projects

Also of note

1 Hwy. 3 and FM 518 intersection Project: new and extended left- and right-turn lanes to improve trac in the area Update: city ocials said they are waiting for approvals from the Texas Department of Transportation. • Timeline: bidding to come in mid-2025 with completion in 2026-2027 • Cost: $5.3 million • Funding source: League City’s 2019 bond program 2 League City Parkway and Walker Street intersection improvements Project: redesign of the intersection with drainage adjustments Update: TxDOT’s permitting process is nearly complete with bidding expected to start in early 2025. • Timeline: constructionpossibly in summer or fall 2025 • Cost: $2.1 million • Funding source: Galveston County’s 2018 bond

Harris County in the November 2024 election also had a lower voter turnout rate compared to 2020. However, 2024’s rate was similar to other previous years, data shows. Meanwhile, 2020 saw the highest rate since 1992, which eclipsed 70%.

ARMAND BAYOU NATURE CENTER

LAKESIDE DR.

Despite a higher vote total in November’s general election than any race dating back to 1988, Galveston County saw its overall voter turnout rate drop slightly compared to the 2020 presidential election. Ocial election results from Nov. 14 for the November election showed about 160,000 ballots were counted in Galveston County out of around 247,000 registered voters, according to county documents. Both those numbers are the highest totals for Galveston County dating back to at least 1988, according to data from the Texas Secretary of State’s Oce. That total brought the voter turnout rate in 2024 to nearly 65%, while 2020’s rate eclipsed 67%, data shows.

Voter turnout for Galveston County Voter turnout Voters who didn't cast ballots

A R

Seabrook

CLEAR LAKE

2004 105,981

57.01%

146

GALVESTON BAY

Harris County voter turnout rate

2008 105,004

55.45%

A Y

Nassau Bay

518

2012 109,252

58.93%

80% 60% 40% 20% 0 100%

64.57%

58.84%

2016 124,547

59.81%

2020 153,843

67.33%

KESSLERS CROSSING

W. WALKER ST.

2024

159,853

64.72%

Ongoing projects

SOUTH SHORE BLVD.

646

W. WALKER ST.

646

0 50K 100K 150K 200K 250K

SOURCES: HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATECOMMUNITY IMPACT

3 Package 7 asphalt projects Project: asphalt overlays and base repairs on roads in

SOURCES: GALVESTON COUNTY, TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATECOMMUNITY IMPACT

MAP NOT TO SCALE

517

BAY AREA 1033 Bay Area Blvd (281) 486-9558 LEAGUE CITY

KEMAH 243 FM 2094 (281) 538-9095 SEABROOK 3126 Nasa Pkwy (281) 326-5127

196 Gulf Fwy S (281) 316-2140

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Real estate

More homes were sold overall in November 2024 compared to the same month last year. Prices remained mostly consistent. Residential market data

Number of homes sold

November 2023

November 2024

+500%

+8.33%

+11.11%

-8.33%

+49.46%

77059

77058

77059

77062

77565

77573

146

77062

77058

GALVESTON BAY

Median home sales price

77565

518

November

2023

2024

$322,500 $468,700 $334,500 $380,750 $358,000

$332,168 $320,660 $318,520 $305,170 $387,200

77058

77573

77059

Homes sold by price point

77062

77565

November 2024

77573

$800,000+

$600,000-$799,999

Average days on market +1600%

$400,000-$599,999

-7.41%

+15%

+223.33%

-16.13%

103

$200,000-$399,999

<$199,999

MARKET DATA PROVIDED BY ALINA ROGERS SPARROW REALTY • 281-961-2944 WWW.SPARROW-REALTY.COM

77058

77059

77062

77565

77573

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Legislative priorities From the cover

Breaking it down

Also of note

The overview

School districts are looking at the Legislature to fund several items in the 2025 session. Officials from CCISD and other Galveston County-based districts said at a Dec. 2 meeting with state representatives they want the state to pass legislation that will increase the stu- dent safety allotment, which the Legislature increased by $0.28 per student in 2023, and gave an additional $15,000 per campus, Community Impact previously reported. Other changes include adjusting state code to give teachers more support in dealing with disruptive students and grant funding opportu- nities for behavioral placement programs, per CCISD documents. CCISD saw an uptick in funding for security and monitoring in fiscal year 2023-24 due in part to an additional $1 million from the state that fiscal year, budget documents show. However, those numbers don’t include possible projects funded by bonds over that time.

In broader funding efforts, several school districts across the state are seeking an increase to the state’s per-student allotment, which has sat at $6,160 since 2019, according to the Texas Education Agency. Bills in 2023 that would have increased the allotment or provided funding for public schools failed in most instances, Community Impact previously reported. However, CCISD officials said the district generally does not have funding issues and none of its current programming is dependent on what the state opts to fund. Despite this, officials are still eying funding in a number of key areas, including special education, teacher and employee pay, and help with insurance premiums for districts at higher risk along the state’s coastline. For special education, which has turned into a growing need for school districts, CCISD Superin- tendent Karen Engle said in a meeting with other districts and representatives on Dec. 2 that she anticipates the district to spend an additional $9 million on special education compared to what the state provides. State Rep. Greg Bonnen, R-Friendswood, said at the Dec. 2 meeting that funding of safety, teacher pay and special education will provide schools with more money but wouldn’t address the basic allotment specifically. “Everybody wants the basic allotment to go up, but then you want funding for all these other items, so how do we do that?” Bonnen said. “By definition, [that funding] is not going into the basic allotment. You’re still getting it, but you’re not getting it through that avenue of employment.”

For Bay Area legislators, priorities for the 89th legislative session include immigration, additional restrictions on lobbying and campaign-related funds, and penalties related to sexually explicit material created with articial intelligence, according to bills led in the Texas Legislature. Statewide, legislators are focused on a number of issues, including property tax reduction, school voucher programs and funding for various educational topics, including student safety, according to lings. Ocials with Clear Creek ISD are looking for allotment increases for school safety and special education, Chief Communications Ocer Elaina Polsen said. Other items such as insurance for storms and teacher salaries are also on the district’s agenda. Meanwhile, League City ocials are hoping to make progress on the timeline and funding for the Grand Parkway extension, which will go through the city’s west side. However, no bills led as of Dec. 19 deal directly with the extension.

Clear Creek ISD security and monitoring funding over time

A new legislative session $20B in surplus revenue for state 1,500+ bills led in rst month 140 days for regular session

$8M

$5.42M

$6M

$6.33M

$4M

$2M

1,296 of 13,090 bills led in 2023 regular session became law

9.9% of bills

SOURCES: TEXAS COMPTROLLER’S OFFICE, TEXAS LEGISLATURE, TEXAS LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE LIBRARYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

NOTE: FUNDING GOES TOWARD DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS, SUCH AS STAFF, MONITORS AND SOFTWARE, AMONG OTHER ITEMS. SOURCE: CLEAR CREEK ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

What residents should know

see progress on the timeline and funding allocation. He called it the most “impactful” item and believes it will be a key factor in the city’s development of the southwest side of town. The city is expected to use $6 million from its 2019 bond to help pay for the extension, according to the city’s website. Long also said the city is supporting a bill authored in part by Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, to end taxpayer-funded lobbying.

League City, which is the largest city in the Bay Area with more than 120,000 residents , has two main priorities this session, Mayor Nick Long said. Long said the “absolute, biggest priority” is push- ing for more diligence and progress on the Grand Parkway extension through League City, which is currently slated to begin around 2027 and be done around 2030, according to documents from the Texas Department of Transportation. Long said the project has “languished” for years and he wants to

“[The Grand Parkway project] is probably where 95% of our energy goes at the state

level. We’ll certainly be looking at other stu, but that one is by far the biggest.” NICK LONG, LEAGUE CITY MAYOR

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY RACHEL LELAND, JAMES T. NORMAN & HALEY VELASCO CONTRIBUTIONS BY HANNAH NORTON

Sorting out details

Stay tuned

Notable bills filed across the state of Texas

Bay Area legislators have voiced some of their top priorities for education, including school vouchers. State Rep. Terri Leo Wilson, R-Galveston, at the Dec. 2 superintendent meeting said she believes the lack of support for school vouchers in 2023 caused some public school funding to be lost. In many cases, additional funding was tied to such bills. Leo Wilson as of Dec. 19 has filed 38 bills , which include topics dealing with immigration; diversity, equity and inclusion; and lobbying and campaign finance restrictions, among other topics. State Rep. Dennis Paul, R-Clear Lake, has filed four bills as of Dec. 19, according to bill filings. One such bill relates to the Gulf Coast funding account, which would set aside money for various Gulf Coast protection projects. Middleton is author of or party to 69 separate bills as of Dec. 19, dealing with topics including school allotments, various civil and criminal penalties, and observing daylight savings time year-round, according to filings.

The legislative session for 2025 begins Jan. 14 and runs through June 2, according to the Legislative Reference Library of Texas. However, Gov. Greg Abbott has the ability to call for a special session following the 140-day period, according to state documents. Those sessions would focus on specific topics and can last for up to 30 days . The governor can call for multiple special sessions. There were four special sessions called in 2023 following the regular period. Those ran from May to December, state documents show. Community Impact previously reported those special sessions in 2023 were called to tackle legislative priorities Abbott felt weren’t addressed in the regular session.

House Bill 351: Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin To increase the basic per-student allotment HB 165: Cody Vasut, R-Angleton Creating a committee and finding a way to eliminate property taxes in Texas House Concurrent Resolution 35: Claudia Ordaz, D-El Paso Pushing U.S. Congress to make spacesports eligible for tax-exempt private bonds HB 212: Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park Reimburses families for private school tuition costs through public school funding HB 1009: Mike Olcott, R-Aledo Requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in classrooms HB 183: Jared Patterson, R-Frisco Allows parents to ask the State Board of Education to review books they find inappropriate House Joint Resolution 80: Ana-María Ramos, D-Dallas Allows patients and doctors to decide if abortion is necessary

SOURCE: TEXAS LEGISLATURE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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BY ASIA ARMOUR

Exploration Green sta host youth groups on topics covering maintenance and utilization of the nature park.

ASIA ARMOURCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Exploration Green completed construction in fall 2023 and will plant its remaining native trees by spring 2026.

COURTESY JOE BIBBY

Exploration Green Conservancy looks toward future What started out as a golf course in the middle of the Oakbrook subdivision in Clear Lake has been transformed over the past decade into Exploration Green Conservancy, a multi-purpose nature park. By the numbers The Clear Lake City Water Authority purchased Why it matters Exploration Green is changing the demographics of the historic neighborhood, Sharp said. Rich Sommer, vice chairman for the conser- vancy and a Texas Master Naturalist, often hosts

Conservancy board members said they will focus on community programming over the next ten years.

ASIA ARMOURCOMMUNITY IMPACT

nature-themed events for youth in the area. “[Exploration Green] provides a place where [children and adults] can volunteer, get their hands dirty, plant a tree, plant a shrub,” he said. What’s coming next? The conservancy’s long term vision includes an educational building with classrooms, a commu- nity pavilion and a music venue to focus more on the community in the next ten years, said Sharp.

the land for Exploration Green in 2011 and a groundbreaking ceremony was held in 2014, Exploration Green Conservancy chairman David Sharp said. The group was founded by the water authority to enhance and protect the park, he said. In total, the park’s amenities once completed in the coming years will include 200 acres, 4,000 trees, 60,000 wetland plants and 215 bird species.

16205 Diana Lane, Houston www.explorationgreen.org

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Peripheral Neuropathy Breakthrough!

They’re struggling with balance and living in fear that they might fall. Their doctors have told them to “just live with the pain,” and they’re taking medications that aren’t working or have uncomfortable side effects. Fortunately, four months ago, Sherry found our clinic, Return To Wellness, LLC, and the work that Deb Bilak, DAOM (Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine), is doing to treat those suffering from Peripheral Neuropathy without invasive surgeries or medications. Using the time-tested science of acupuncture and a technology originally developed by NASA to assist in increasing blood flow and expediting recovery and healing, Dr. Deb and her team are creating a breakthrough treatment for this debilitating disease. “Now when I go to bed at night, I don’t have those shooting pains. I don’t have that burning sensation. I don’t have pain coming up my legs,” Esther explains, enthusiastically describing life after receiving a series of treatments. “I can wear socks and shoes!” Esther and her sister now operate a successful dog walking business, sometimes covering up to 5 miles a day. “It’s life altering. As far as I’m concerned, she saved my life.” Dr. Deb and her team have been helping the senior community for over a decade using the most cutting-edge and innovative integrative medicine.

Return To Wellness, LLC Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine Deb Bilak, DAOM, LAc 17629 El Camino Real #160 Houston,TX 77058 Call (713) 725-7858 today to schedule your consultation or visit www.ReturnToWellnessTX.com to take advantage of our New Patient Offer! Specializing in chronic pain cases, specifically those that have been deemed ‘hopeless’ or ‘untreatable,’ she consistently generates unparalleled results. What was once a missing link in senior healthcare is now easily accessible to the residents of the Clear Lake Area/Bay Area. If you’ve missed too many tee times because of pain, or you’ve passed on two-stepping because you’re afraid of falling, it’s time to call Return To Wellness. It’s time you let your golden years become truly golden.

“She saved my life!” League City resident Esther S. had been experiencing the painful side effects of Peripheral Neuropathy for years. “My feet and legs were extremely painful, and my doctor told me there was nothing they could do. He said I would have to take Gabapentin for the rest of my life.” Peripheral Neuropathy is the pain, discomfort, and numbness caused by nerve damage in the peripheral nervous system. Esther explained that daily tasks, like opening doors and using the bathroom, were overwhelmingly painful. “How can you live for the next 30 years when you don’t even want to get out of bed to do simple things?” She was experiencing the burning, numbness, tingling, and sharp pains that those suffering from neuropathy often describe. “The way I would describe it... it’s equivalent to walking on glass.” Esther hadn’t worn socks in five years and was wearing shoes two sizes too big so that nothing would “touch” her feet. Unfortunately, Esther’s story is all too familiar for the over 3 million people in the U.S. suffering from Peripheral Neuropathy. While each of our patients is unique, they all come to the clinic with similar stories: they aren’t sleeping at night because of the burning in their feet. They have difficulty walking, shopping, or doing any activity for more than 30 minutes because of the pain.

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