Pearland - Friendswood Edition | September 2022

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PEARLAND FRIENDSWOOD EDITION

VOLUME 8, ISSUE 10 SEPT. 10OCT. 6, 2022

ONLINE AT

Drought, extreme heat ease, but eects could linger across counties

HITTING A DRY SPELL Compared to an average year, Brazoria and Galveston counties are both experiencing less rainfall and higher temperatures. Pearland average temperatures (June-August) Precipitation deviation from normal (Jan. 1-Aug. 23)

BY JAKE MAGEE

residents to cities, some of which had to enact drought contingency plans to conserve water. “This drought is extreme,” said Jimmy Fowler, meteorologist for the National Weather Service’s Houston/ Galveston oce. “It’s pretty dry.” While recent rains in August have brought relief, they could bring another problem, such as oods, which tend to be worse after a drought, said John Nielsen-Gammon, Texas state climatologist with Texas A&M University.

2022 2021 2020 2019 2016 2017 2015 2011 2010 2009

Pearland and Friendswood are two of many communities across Texas that have been hit with an intense drought and record-breaking heat this summer. Due to a lack of rain and persistently high temperatures, parts of Brazoria and Galveston counties have been in a D3, or extreme, drought since mid- June, according to standards set by the U.S. Drought Monitor, run by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other groups. This is aecting everyone from

GALVESTON COUNTY

BRAZORIA COUNTY

-16 -12 -8 -6 -4 Inches of rain

85.5

0 84

84.5

-2

Average temperature

SOURCE: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICECOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

CONTINUED ON 16

Pearland ocials hope 32/30 ending puts water issues in past

instead make water customers catch up to the miss- ing payments sooner to end the latency in water billing revenue two months ahead of schedule. “I really like the idea that [32/30 ends] sooner rather than later,” Council Member Jerey Barry said at the July 11 council meeting. “It gives us two months to kind of get our ducks in a row, so to speak, before the beginning of the year so we can monitor a full 365-day cycle.” A Pearland customer’s water cycle, which is determined by address, will set how frequently the customer receives utility bills through CONTINUED ON 18

BY ANDY YANEZ

After nearly four years, the city of Pearland is looking to put the water billing issues that necessi- tated the 32/30 plan in the rearview mirror. Pearland City Council at its July 11 meeting adopted the option to move away from the 32/30 plan—a system by which the city’s water customers are billed every 30 days for 32 days of water use—and

The Pearland Water brand was a response of the Raftelis report recommendations following the billing issues.

ANDY YANEZCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

Pearland Parkway circle needed changes, city says

Pearland’s summer of ethics talk ends in extra regulation

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REPUBLICAN FOR BRAZORIA DRAINAGE DISTRICT NO. 4 COMMISSIONER SERVICE ERVICE · ARTNERSHIP · OMMUNITY · ISION I am humbled with the knowledge the decisions I make as Commissioner greatly impact the reasons BDD4 residents work hard every day! Ensuring taxpayers mon- ies are effectively spent while driving the BDD4 mission of mitigating flood & storm waters. ERVICE · ARTNERSHIP · OMMUNITY · ISION I am humbled with the knowledge the decisions I make as Commissioner greatly impact the reasons BDD4 residents work hard every day! COMMUNITY Passionately representing all voices of the BDD4 community. C PARTNERSHIP with local, county, state and federal entities to maintain and enhance storm water mitigation in the district. V C VISION Provide vision for both BDD4 operational activity and long term capital improvement projects. V S P S P It is humbling to learn and understand the required knowledge and decisions made by a BDD4 Commissioner on behalf of the hard working residents. I provide strong expertise and proven experience in corporate governance, profit and loss management, operations management, and leadership this position requires to protect our families! You have my commitment to serve as a stout defender of the reasons you choose to live here, good steward of taxpayer monies, and strong visionary for flood and storm water mitigation across northern Brazoria County. My background includes a strong expertise and proven experience in corporate governance, profit and loss management, operations management, and the leadership this position requires to protect our families! You have my commitment to serve as a stout defender of the reasons you choose to live here, good steward of taxpayer monies, and strong visionary for flood and storm water mitigation across northern Brazoria County. JW WASHINGTON Political ad paid for by JW Washington for Brazoria Drainage Distrit No4. Commissioner Scan for more info Scan for more information REPUBLICAN FOR BRAZORIA DRAINAGE DISTRICT NO. 4 COMMISSIONER I provide strong expertise and proven experience in corporate governance, profit and loss management, operations management, and leadership this position requires to protect our families! You have my commitment to serve as a stout defender of the reasons you choose to live here, good steward of taxpayer monies, and strong visionary for flood and storm water mitigation across northern Brazoria County. Scan for more information

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THIS ISSUE

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Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched the rst edition of Community Impact Newspaper in 2005 with three full-time employees covering Round Rock and Pugerville, Texas. Now in 2022, CI is still locally owned. We have expanded to include hundreds of employees, our own software platform and printing facility, and over 30 hyperlocal editions across the state with a circulation more than 2.4 million residential mailboxes.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS MONTH

FROM PAPAR: If you’ve been a resident of Pearland for some time, you know there have been some water billing issues. Since discovering the problem, nding the best resolution for both the city and residents has come with its fair share of frustrations on both sides. City ocials said they believe they found the solution, which we share in our front- page story this month. Papar Faircloth, GENERAL MANAGER

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FROM JAKE: This summer has been particularly hot and dry, forcing cities and counties to implement drought plans. While the summer is normally hurricane season and full of coastal storms, this year has been similar to the drought conditions of 2011. Read our front-page story to learn more about the unusual weather and how local governments have responded. Jake Magee, SENIOR EDITOR

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PEARLAND FRIENDSWOOD EDITION • SEPTEMBER 2022

IMPACTS

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

2 13

MCHARD RD.

SHADOW CREEK PKWY.

PEARLAND

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Friendswood Psychiatry and TMS Clinic

WINDING WAY DR.

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COURTESY FRIENDSWOOD PSYCHIATRY AND TMS CLINIC

PARKWOOD AVE.

8 Taqueria La Norteñita at 14455 Cullen Blvd., Ste. A-104, Houston, opened July 22. The new restaurant offers both breakfast and daytime meals that in- clude breakfast tacos and dishes, chicken and beef tacos, tortas, gorditas, quesadil- las and parrilladas. 281-692-8204. https://bit.ly/3CpCQwK 9 Eye Care Leaders on July 29 cele- brated its grand opening at 1930 Pearland Parkway, Ste. 160, Pearland. Eye Care Leaders is independently owned and oper- ated. The location offers pediatric eye care, eye exams and LASIK consultation. Eye Care Leaders in Pearland is also the first office in the U.S. to feature a Zeiss Vision Experience, which provides a modern twist to the office’s layout, such as an eyeball design on the ceiling of the office and glass panels instead of walls for patients to see the equipment in the office. 713-947-8738. www.eyecareleaders.net 10 Align Boutique at 122 S. Friend- swood Drive, Friendswood, opened July 9. The location offers a variety of clothing products, including athletic and leisure wear for dancers and yoga enthusiasts, and Align Boutique provides options for custom products. 281-992-2166. www.alignboutiquefriendswood.com

BAY AREA BLVD.

BAY BROOK MALL DR.

NOW OPEN 1 Purple opened June 30 at the Bay- brook Mall, 500 Baybrook Mall Drive, Friendswood. The mattress store has locations throughout the U.S. Purple also has pillows, seat cushions, bed frames and bedding. 888-848-0248. www.purple.com 2 Crumbl Cookies at 11041 Shadow Creek Parkway, Ste. 115, Pearland, hosted its grand opening June 24. The national chain is known for its over 170 unique cookie flavors that rotate each week. Flavors range from the traditional choco- late chip cookies to unique ones, such as pineapple upside-down cake and coconut cake cookies. 281-549-1960. www.crumblcookies.com/txpearland 3 Friendswood Psychiatry and TMS Clinic at 1506 Winding Way Drive, Ste. 304, Friendswood, opened July 1.

5 Kami Ramen Pearland located at 15818 Hwy. 288, Ste. 110, Pearland, opened its location in early July. The Japanese restaurant serves ramen noodles; box entrees, including chicken, beef and shrimp teriyaki meals; kids meals; and desserts. 281-506-8910. www.kamiramenpearland.com 6 Broadway Dental of Pearland , located at 11930 Broadway St., Ste. 130, Pearland, began seeing patients Aug. 18. The location offers various services, including cleanings, fillings, invisible braces and root canal work. 281-857-6321. www.broadwaydentalpearland.com 7 7 Eleven , located at 11530 Pearland Parkway, Houston, opened its doors in July. The popular American chain is known for its Slurpees, drinks and snacks and also offers gas at the location. 800-255-0711. www.7-eleven.com

Friendswood Psychiatry and TMS Clinic is a psychiatry private practice with board-certified doctors treating adult, adolescent and child patients. Services include diagnostic psychiatric evalua- tions; psychiatric medication manage- ment; and transcranial magnetic stimu- lation therapy, a noninvasive, Food and Drug Administration-approved treat- ment for obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression. 713-487-5481. www.friendswoodpsychiatryclinic.com 4 Pelican Breakfast and Lunch opened its doors June 15 at 802 S. Friendswood Drive, Ste. 112, Friendswood. The orig- inal location is at 3142 E. NASA Park- way, Seabrook, and another one is also coming to Pasadena. Pelican Breakfast and Lunch serves signature omelets, breakfast sandwiches and burgers. 281-993-4584. www.pelicanbreakfast.com

11555 Magnolia Pkwy., Suite 170 Pearland, TX 77584 713.852.6700 TexasBayCU.org

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COMPILED BY JAKE MAGEE, ILANA WILLIAMS & ANDY YANEZ

Broadway Dental of Pearland

Eye Care Leaders

COURTESY BROADWAY DENTAL OF PEARLAND

ANDY YANEZ/COMMUNITY IMAPCT NEWSPAPER

Jacolby Mayberry with teammates in tow runs to the stage at Independence Park.

ANDY YANEZ/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

FEATURED IMPACT IN THE NEWS After an August run for the ages, Pearland Little League was honored Sept. 1 at Independence Park. The big American ag was soaring through the air as Pearland Mayor Kevin Cole declared Sept. 1 Pearland Little League Day in the city. “They showed us how to unify our community east to west,” Cole said. The All Stars nished as the third-best team in the United States, falling one game short of advancing to the U.S. championship game, and fth in the world in the Little League World Series. Pearland’s celebration was a culmination of an undefeated regular season that ended with ve Little League World Series games, three wins and countless memories. When the All Stars arrived in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, the entire team ran down to the fence, Assistant Coach Robb Zurek said. It was one of the most beautiful things he had seen, he said. “It was magical,” Zurek said. Once in Pennsylvania, the All Stars showed out with noteworthy plays and moments such as overcoming an early decit in game one and hitting

numerous home runs. Pearland’s journey started May 15 with tryouts, Assistant Coach Andrew Solomon said. Even then, he told the kids they had a chance to be special. After several trips to the Little League World Series in the past, the city had faced a small drought in success, Solomon said. As the 2022 season progressed, the All Stars began to make that goal of putting the city back on the map a reality. Now with the journey in the rearview mirror, Solomon hopes one of the things the kids take is the new connections and bonds they were able to make, he said. “It’s more about what they get to experience through that process,” Solomon said. www.pearlandlittleleague.com

7 Eleven

Pearland Arts League

ANDY YANEZ/COMMUNITY IMAPCT NEWSPAPER

COURTESY PEARLAND ARTS LEAGUE

COMING SOON 11 Gym Iron 24 is aiming to open in Oc- tober a location at 5070 W. Broadway St., Pearland. Iron 24 provides free weights and cardio machines and does not offer long-term contracts for memberships, according to its website. 844-476-6247. www.iron24.com ANNIVERSARIES 12 SpaceCenter Systems on Aug. 25 celebrated its 20-year anniversary at 2423 S. Houston Ave., Pearland. The Pearland staple offers myriad services, including computer repairs, information technology and cabling services, and website development. 281-482-2031. www.spacecentersystems.com 13 Nothing Bundt Cakes locations across the country, including the location at 11041 Shadow Creek Parkway, Ste. 131, Pearland, are celebrating the company’s 25th anniversary throughout September. The franchise is known for its handcrafted bundt cakes. Nothing Bundt Cakes is holding an online contest with a top prize of a $25,000 birthday party planned by a celebrity party planning company. The contest will be open until Sept. 25, and fans will need to submit a photo from

their favorite birthday memory, describe what they enjoyed about it and share what winning the party would mean to them. 713-340-2220. www.nothingbundtcakes.com 14 Pearland Arts League in September is celebrating the one-year anniversary of the gallery opening at the Pearland Town Center at 11200 Broadway St., Pearland, near the Great American Cookies and Pearland Convention & Visitors Bureau. To celebrate the occasion, Teir Allender, Pearland Town Center Mall senior manager, was presented with an original painting, “Pearland Crossroads” by artist Margo Green, who is also exhibit chair of the Pearland Arts League. 713-304-0672. www.pearlandartleague.com IN THE NEWS 15 In July, Memorial Hermann an- nounced 10 urgent care centers—including one at 1505 E. Winding Way, Ste. 112, Friendswood—reopened under a new partnership with GoHealth. The Memorial Hermann-GoHealth Urgent Care centers are staffed and led by Memorial Hermann clinicians who can provide in-person and virtual care for the whole family, including X-rays and sports physicals. 281-947-0017. www.memorialhermann.org/services/ specialties/urgent-care

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PEARLAND - FRIENDSWOOD EDITION • SEPTEMBER 2022

Stay connected to the information you want and need via text, email, and phone call. You’ll receive critical information in a variety of situations. Scan the QR code or visit pearlandtx.gov/alerts

Pearland E-Alerts

When you’re injured, you want to recover and get off the sidelines as quickly as possible. UTMB Health offers same- day appointments Monday through Friday and a Saturday sports injury clinic with our orthopedic specialists to treat sports injuries. Walk-ins only, no appointment needed. Saturday Sports Injury Clinic

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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

TRANSPORTATION UPDATES Pearland Parkway circle needed changes, city says

COMPILED BY ANDY YANEZ

ONGOING PROJECTS

The Pearland Parkway trac circle is now dierent for drivers, but city ocials say it was needed ahead of an increase in anticipated trac. The new $3.2 million Pearland Parkway roundabout was fully completed Aug. 12, providing drivers with a smaller circle designed to slow down incoming trac. Under the old style, every driver, regard- less of where they were going, had to get on the circle, according to project documents. “The existing trac circle [was] 25-ish years old, so it’s not exactly new,” Pearland Director of Commu- nications Joshua Lee said. Under the new conguration, Pearland Parkway drivers coming from Beltway 8 going to McHard Road, drivers on McHard Road going to Pearland Parkway towards FM 518, and Pearland Parkway drivers coming from FM 518 going to Beltway 8 do not need to enter the trac circle and instead have outside turning lanes, according to

PLAN FOR THE FUTURE

The city of Pearland anticipates trac at the Pearland Parkway trac circle will increase once the McHard Road extension is complete, which is one of the reasons for having trac slow down at the intersection.

288

ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF AUG. 24. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT PLFNEWSCOMMUNITYIMPACT.COM. CR 59 widening and reconstruction Brazoria County is working on wid- ening CR 59 in Pearland from Kirby Drive to CR 48. The two-lane road with no sidewalks will be widened to four lanes with raised medians, curb and gutter, and a 10-foot shared-use path for pedestrians, according to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The thoroughfare from Hwy. 288 to Kirby Drive is already a four-lane road, according to Brazoria County. Timeline: June 2022-mid-2024 Cost: $14 million Funding source: 80% federal dollars, 20% local dollars

SOURCE: CITY OF PEARLANDCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

city designs. Only Pearland Parkway drivers going to FM 518, McHard Road driv- ers going to Pearland Parkway toward Beltway 8 and Pearland Parkway drivers heading west to McHard Road need to get on the circle, according to city designs. Lee said the circle needed to be updated because of the anticipated

trac increase from the McHard Road extension, which will connect Pearland Parkway to Hwy. 288; the old circle’s age; and design improvements. “It is really meant to help that specically,” Lee said. “Slow that trac down appropriately to prevent accidents but to also keep trac moving in all directions.”

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PEARLAND FRIENDSWOOD EDITION • SEPTEMBER 2022

GOVERNMENT

Pearland’s summer of ethics talk ends in extra regulation, disclosure webpage

BY ANDY YANEZ

LEAGUE CITY

FRIENDSWOOD

the restrictions and allowed deals if a council member disclosed their business stake and abstained from voting on the deal, Coker said. In 2002, Pearland voters opted to follow the new state guidelines, which the city followed until the passing of the ethics ordinance in July. The new ordinance, which was adopted by Pearland City Council in a 4-2 vote, added two additional measures to state requirements: City Council needs to make an armative nding the contract is in the nancial best interest of the city, and the contract needs to be approved by at least a three-fourths vote. Council Members Hernandez and Layni Cade voted against the ordi- nance. Cade said she felt it was not needed. Hernandez voted against it because he felt it was too similar to the code Pearland already followed, he told Community Impact Newspaper . Hernandez at the July 11 meeting called for enhanced disclosures, which was unanimously passed by council at the Aug. 22 meeting. The enhanced disclosures take information—such as council member nance reports, agreements with the city and gifts received—and display them on a public disclosure page, Coker said. “These are things that I believe the government should be doing regardless,” Hernandez said. “It is an opportunity for us to improve, and not in an eort to regain condence, but rather to improve that condence. That is how I look at it.”

Pearland City Council members who own or have a substantial interest in certain businesses now have to abide by slightly stricter rules when it comes to deals with the city. Pearland City Council at its July 11 meeting passed the second reading of an ordinance that adopted new guide- lines for council members to enter into deals with the city. On Aug. 22, City Council adopted a resolution reinforc- ing the goal of nancial transparency. “What we have is a little bit stricter now than state law with those additional state provisions,” Pearland City Attorney Darrin Coker told Community Impact Newspaper . However, the approved ordinance is less strict than initially proposed when it called for an absolute restric- tion on deals with council member connections. Additionally, the approved ordinance did away with a separate ordinance adopted May 23 that barred former council members from entering into deals with the city for at least 12 months once they left oce, Council Member Adrian Hernandez said. Restrictions on council member businesses with local governments go back to the 1990s, Coker said. Prior to the adoption of Chapter 171 of the Texas Local Government Code, restrictions were strict on council members with direct or indirect connections to a business. Deals were outlawed, Coker said. Chapter 171 of the code loosened

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Contract caveats

In order for a Pearland City Council member- owned business to enter into a deal with the city, the member and council must follow certain rules.

By state law, the council member must:

Disclose the business interest in an adavit to the Pearland city secretary

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Abstain from voting on the contract

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By city ordinance, City Council must:

Find the contract is in nancial best interest of the city

Approve the contract by a vote of no less than three-fourths approval

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SOURCE: CITY OF PEARLANDCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

EDUCATION Alvin ISD, Pearland ISD updating COVID-19 protocols, working with Brazoria County on monkeypox procedures

NEW HEALTH PLAYBOOK

Alvin and Pearland ISDs updated their COVID-19 protocols for the new school year in coordination with Brazoria County, state and federal health guidelines. Both are working closely with the county in the event monkeypox cases rise.

BY ANDY YANEZ

will continue to report confirmed COVID-19 cases to Brazoria County. At PISD, COVID-19-positive students and staff are required to isolate for a minimum of five days, PISD Health Services Coordinator Monica Reynolds said in a written statement. A negative test is not needed to return to campus at either district, and one must be fever free for at least 24 hours, district officials said. Classroom notification letters will still be sent out when a COVID-19 case is reported at PISD only. In AISD, teachers are required to maintain a Google Classroom so absent students can access assignments, and teachers will work with quarantined students, said Loree Bruton, AISD associate superintendent of federal and special programs. PISD students will be able to complete classroom assignments on Canvas for secondary students

or SeeSaw for elementary students, according to the district. Both districts also upgraded their heating, ventilation and air condition- ing systems by equipping them with virus-killing technology, officials at both districts said. With the concern of monkeypox across the nation and locally, Brazoria County gave each district information on monkeypox prior to the new school year and has committed to field calls from schools to assist with concerns or specific issues, Sbrusch said. If a student or staff member tests positive for monkeypox at either district, the district will notify the county health department and follow its guidance, officials said. “We have increased our surveillance efforts and are performing contact tracing ... so we can educate them on prevention efforts,” Sbrusch said.

The new school year is underway, and Alvin and Pearland ISDs continue to stay in communication with Brazoria County regarding COVID-19 and monkeypox, which, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, is a viral disease with symptoms similar to smallpox. Both districts released their updated health protocol guidelines prior to the new school year, which include continuing to report COVID-19 cases to the county, quarantining after a positive test and cleaning practices. “We hosted another call with the school districts to go over disease reporting requirements, including information on monkeypox and to provide contact information for our department staff,” said Cathy Sbrusch, Brazoria County director of public health services. Both school districts said they

COVID-19 plan

Parents and staff are still required to report positive tests to the districts. The districts report all cases to the Brazoria County Health Department. Students and staff are required to isolate for a minimum of five days. A student or staff member must go at least 24 hours with no fever or other symptoms to return to school.

SOURCES: ALVIN ISD, PEARLAND ISD/ COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

NOT JUST A PLACE TO GO, A PLACE TO LEARN AND EXPLORE.

Get back to your routines and reconnect with your community this fall through a variety of engaging activities and programs for all ages. Achieve, Belong and Connect this Fall at the Y.

• Before and After School Care • Fall Youth Sports • Y Teen L.I.F.E. • Swim Lessons and Swim Team • Group Exercise Classes

LEARN MORE: ymcahouston.org

YMCA Mission: To put Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. Everyone is welcome.

PEARLAND - FRIENDSWOOD EDITION • SEPTEMBER 2022

CITY & COUNTY

News from Pearland & Friendswood

Pearland awards contract for installation of surface at all-inclusive park

Friendswood will hold meetings on Stevenson Park project

BY RENEE FARMER

COLLECTING INPUT The city of Friendswood will hold three public town hall meetings to allow residents to give input on what should be added to the Stevenson Park parking lot.

FRIENDSWOOD Residents in Friendswood can make their opinions heard on changes to Stevenson Park’s parking lot during town hall meetings this fall. City Manager Morad Kabiri announced during an Aug. 1 Friendswood City Council meeting that Friendswood will hold three town hall meetings for the public to give input on potential lot renovations. In 2021, Keep Friendswood Beautiful received the $250,000 Governor’s Community Achievement Award, part of which it will use for a sign over Stevenson Park’s entryway, KFB member Kelly Browning said. KFB then turned its attention to the uneven parking lot behind the sign, occupied by the now-demolished Fire Station No. 1’s foundation. “We wanted to see what else we could do to serve the community,” Browning said at a June 14 meeting of the Friendswood Downtown Economic Develop- ment Corp. The FDEDC approved KFB’s request for city funding to create a conceptual plan for the lot. “I looked at it as a joint effort because we have the responsibility to improve downtown, and KFB brought to us an opportunity to improve downtown,” FDEDC member Rebecca Hillenburg said at a July 11 council meeting. The FDEDC asked City Council July 11 to authorize

BY ANDY YANEZ

PEARLAND At its Aug. 8 meeting, Pearland City Council passed a resolution awarding a $574,457 construction services contract to Lonestar Recreation of Texas for the installation of the park’s surface and safety equipment at the Ed Thompson all-inclusive playground in west Pearland. The total cost of the all-inclusive park is estimated at $1.36 million, which includes $787,082 for equipment and $574,457 for con- struction, according to agenda documents. The city has about $1.43 million, $256,540 of which came from city sources and the remainder from grants. An inclusive playground allows children of all abilities to play in the same space with fea- tures including a wheelchair swing, a sensory tunnel and a music area. The park will be located at 13050 Shadow Creek Parkway, Pearland. Construction is expected to begin in November, according to city agenda documents.

What could come to the Stevenson Park parking lot: • Covered stage • Water fountain • Event lawns • Garden structure

WHISPERING PINES AVE.

SHADEWELL LN.

SOURCE: CITY OF FRIENDSWOOD/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

funding for a $13,500 contract to create a conceptual plan, which it did with a 4-3 vote. However, citizens expressed concern during public comment about the lack of community input gathered by the city before taking this step. “I’m not opposed to making plans for future improvements; I just think it deserves discussion,” resident Connie Ratisseau said. The city will host town hall meetings at the Friendswood Library Sept. 20, Oct. 25 and Nov. 29, according to a city news release. An online survey is also available.

Pearland City Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 12 and 26 at 3519 Liberty Drive, Pearland. Meetings are streamed and available at www.pearlandtx.gov. Friendswood City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Sept. 12 at 910 S. Friendswood Drive, Friendswood. A time for the meeting will be determined a week before the meeting. Meeting recordings are posted to the city’s YouTube channel. MEETINGS WE COVER QUOTE OF NOTE “WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO IMPROVE DOWNTOWN, AND [KEEP FRIENDSWOOD BEAUTIFUL] BROUGHT TO US AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE DOWNTOWN.” REBECCA HILLENBURG, FRIENDSWOOD DOWNTOWN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP. MEMBER

Pearland City Council sets proposed tax rate for new fiscal year

BY ANDY YANEZ

for FY 2022-23. MARKET TAX

Pearland City Council adopted the proposed tax rate of $0.628765 per $100 valuation, meaning it is the maximum rate that taxpayers could see

PEARLAND With the next fiscal year approaching for the city of Pearland—the first day of fiscal year 2022-23 being Oct. 1—Pearland City Council set the proposed tax rate. City Council at its Aug. 8 meeting unanimously passed a resolution that sets the proposed tax rate at $0.628765 per $100 valuation. The proposed tax rate is lower than the rate adopted for FY 2021-22, which was $0.701416 per $100 valuation. The proposed tax rate is higher than the no-new revenue tax rate but lower than a rate that would require voter approval, also known as the voter-approval tax rate, City Manager Clay Pearson said. For FY 2022-23, the no-new- revenue tax rate, or the rate by which the city would collect the same taxes in the upcoming fiscal year as it did in FY 2021-22, is $0.543044 per $100 valuation, according to the city’s proposed budget documents.

$0.7092

$0.80 $0.75 $0.70 $0.65 $0.60 $0.55 0

$0.628765

2018-19

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23**

Fiscal year

*PER $100 VALUATION **TAX RATE NOT YET FINAL

SOURCE: CITY OF PEARLAND/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

“It puts a ceiling on [the tax rate]; it doesn’t put the floor,” Pearland Mayor Kevin Cole said. Pearland City Council cannot pass a tax rate higher than the proposed rate passed on Aug. 8, Pearson said. City Council can reduce the rate once it is officially adopted prior to FY 2022-23, Pearson said. The property tax rate is for the city of Pearland only.

Under the proposed tax rate, a Pearland homeowner with a house valued at $300,000 would pay roughly $1,886 in city property taxes. The calculation does not account for any possible tax exemptions. The city is planning to pass the first reading of the budget and tax rate Sept. 12. The second reading will be Sept. 26 prior to the new fiscal year, which will start Oct. 1.

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

EDUCATION BRIEFS

News from Pearland ISD, Friendswood ISD & Alvin ISD

Friendswood ISD will meet at 5:45 p.m. Sept. 12 at 402 Laurel Drive, Friendswood. Pearland ISD will meet at 5 p.m. Sept. 13 at 1928 N. Main St., Pearland. Meetings are streamed at www.youtube.com/user/ thepearlandisd. Alvin ISD will meet at 7 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Tommy King Administration Building at 301 E. House St., Alvin. MEETINGS WE COVER development and a children’s social media use class. For information on timeframe and the delivery methods for each class, visit the parent workshops schedule available on the Alvin ISD website. DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTS ALVIN ISD Throughout the 2022-23 school year, Alvin ISD will host free workshops for helping parents with raising children through the new Parent University Program. The program consists of a variety of virtual and in-person workshops all offered in both English and Spanish, including English as a second language classes and an international book club. All topics will be taught by a relevant expert in the district, said Renae Rives, executive director of communications. Upcoming English classes include: navigating the school system Sept. 13, getting help when your child is struggling at school Sept. 27, and getting help with elementary child behavior Oct. 11. The Spanish versions of these classes take place Sept. 15, Oct. 4 and Oct. 13, respectively. These classes will be held virtually and will be found on the Alvin ISD virtual workshops webpage under the Parent University tab. The first face- to-face workshop is a tobacco and vaping awareness and prevention class Nov. 8 in English and Spanish. Workshops will continue throughout the Spring semester in 2023. Future workshops include understanding dyslexia, adolescent emotional

Friendswood ISD will launch evidence-based reporting pilot for junior high, high school

BOOK REVIEW COMMITTEE

The Pearland ISD board of trustees at its Aug. 9 meeting defined what each committee tasked with evaluating disputed books will consist of: a district-level representative two parents

BY RENEE FARMER

High School and Junior High teach- ers have opted to use the system. Every nine weeks, teachers will evaluate student growth in communication, perseverance and responsibility and assign a 10%-weighed Success Standards grade. “Meets” will be considered 100%, “Approaches” an 80-90% and “Developing” a 70%. RATING CRITERIA The Texas Education Agency factors various indicators when rating a district’s accountability rating. School Progress • The number of students who grew or are on track by at least one year academically Student Achievement • STAAR scores • College, career and military readiness indicators • Graduation rates

FRIENDSWOOD ISD A grading system weighing behavior at 10% of students’ overall grades is being tested this year in FISD. Kim Cole, assistant superinten- dent of secondary teaching and learning, presented the plans to the board of trustees during its Aug. 8 meeting. Forty-three Friendswood Local district officials react to new TEA accountability ratings ALVIN, FRIENDSWOOD AND PEARLAND ISDS Pearland and Friendswood ISDs received an A rating, the highest possible out- come in the Texas Accountability reports; Alvin ISD received a B. The accountability system grades school districts in three areas: Stu- dent Achievement, School Progress and Closing the Gaps. PISD’s composite scores increased in four of the five indi- cators available from its 2020-21 numbers. FISD garnered a 92 or higher scaled score in four of five indicators graded by the TEA. While AISD received a B rating, the district increased its com- ponent scores in every indicator compared to its 2020-21 ratings. TEA accountability ratings can be found at www.tea.texas.gov. BY RENEE FARMER & ANDY YANEZ

a district representative campus representative

SOURCE: PEARLAND ISD/ COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

Pearland ISD updates library book policy

BY ANDY YANEZ

PEARLAND ISD At its Aug. 9 meeting, the Pearland ISD board of trustees made policy revisions based on the Texas Association of School Boards’ Update 119 that include splitting instructional resources into two categories: instructional materi- als and library materials. The split of instructional materials and library materials comes off a request made by Gov. Greg Abbott to the TASB. Instructional materials are adopted by the state board of education while library materials are not, according to district documents. In an instance where a parent or PISD community member is concerned about a specific book, a committee dedicated to reviewing the book will be formed. The PISD board included language that states each committee will include a district-level representative, who will be the committee; two parents; a district representative; and a campus representative.

Closing the Gaps • Differences among racial and ethnic groups • Differences between socioeconomic backgrounds • Students’ performance relative to districts with similar economically disadvantaged percentages

SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/ COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

TWU Houston Open House Sept. 17, 10 a.m.-noon Texas Medical Center

MBA • Health Care Administration • Nursing • Nutrition & Food Science • Occupational Therapy • Physical Therapy

COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

DINING FEATURE Hometown Sports Bar & Grill Former Mexican restaurant serves comfort food M exico Bar & Grill opened in 2013, but the eatery did not grow as fast as owner

BY ILANA WILLIAMS

as a chili dog and a Cuban dog. To make its burgers, Hometown Sports Bar & Grill gets ground beef twice a week and uses a local bakery for its buns. The restaurant also hand presses its patties. “One of the most frequent com- pliments we get is, ‘I didn’t know your food was so good,’” Aguilera said. “Everybody always thinks of a sports bar [as] just having burgers and wings.” Although it makes burgers and wings, the restaurant also makes pasta, salad and atbreads. During the fall and winter, it has served pork chops and chicken fried steak, Aguilera said. “If everybody in your family likes something dierent, this is probably the place to go,” Aguilera said. During the pandemic, the restau- rant took advantage of various loans, but it had the opportunity to step back and focus on the com- munity, Aguilera said. It did family meals to-go and oered free chicken soup for those who needed it. “What I’ve learned is the more you give to the Pearland community, the more you get,” Aguilera said. “If we’re able to take care of the com- munity around us, they usually take care of us whenever we need it.” Aguilera said he would like to open another restaurant in 2022 before thinking about more long- term goals. “We’re all Texas, but Pearland is our hometown,” Aguilera said. “Things like that sets us apart from any other local competition.”

Ram Aguilera would have liked. He later opened Stadia Sports Grill in 2015 at the same location as well as in The Woodlands, Katy and Sugar Land. The restaurant served a mix of Mexican food and comfort food, but many locations did not renew their leases and closed. Finally, in October 2021, Aguilera turned the Pearland spot into Hometown Sports Bar & Grill, which focuses on comfort foods such as wings and pasta. The restaurant works with the community, Aguilera said. It caters high school sport games, works with clubs and sponsors meals. “[We’re] like home,” he said of the restaurant. “It’s comfortable. We’re a big community partner.” Hometown Sports Bar & Grill also works with the Pearland Convention & Visitors Bureau to make incoming tournament teams feel welcomed by oering free or discounted meals if they come to the restaurant during their tournaments. This is also Hometown’s second year to feature live music. From Feb- ruary through March, the restaurant held a rodeo-themed event during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo with live music. “I’ve always considered myself a great host of a party,” Aguilera said. “The more thank you’s I get, the more fun [the job is].” During the summer, Hometown is doing a line of specialty hot dogs, such

This meal includes shrimp, chicken and sausage in Cajun sauce.

ILANA WILLIAMSCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

THREE DISHES TO TRY

Spicy Cajun pasta ($16)

Cobb salad ($13)

Chicken wings ($10-$30)

Cobb salad has turkey, ham and bacon.

ILANA WILLIAMSCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

Owner Ram Aguilera changed Mexico Bar & Grill to Hometown Sports Bar & Grill.

Customers can pick from 13 sauces for their wings.

ILANA WILLIAMSCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

COURTESY RAM AGUILERA

Hometown Sports Bar & Grill 1853 Pearland Parkway, Ste. 135, Pearland 832-486-9611 www.hometownsbg.com Hours: 11 a.m.-midnight daily

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PEARLAND FRIENDSWOOD EDITION • SEPTEMBER 2022

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