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SUGAR LAND | MISSOURI CITY EDITION
Volume 2, Issue 8 | April 2-May 6, 2015
Ongoing drought threatens Waterby 2060
Fort Bend Co. water supply
Supply & Demand
6 IMPACTS
Now Open, Coming Soon & more
Fort Bend County
Coalition created to protect lower Brazos River area gains support
79% Increase
The near seven-year drought in Texas has
been drying up major portions of the Brazos
River, which has caused a decline in water
levels and is threatening water supplies in
Fort Bend, Brazoria and Galveston counties.
The Brazos River, which is the longest
river inside Texas, supplies about 6.75 billion gallons of water annually to cities,
schools, counties, agriculture, businesses
and industries as well as for recreational
purposes along its 840-mile span, according to the Brazos River Authority.
“The Brazos is not just the lifeblood of the
cities [throughout its basin],” said Ivan Langford, general manager for the Gulf Coast
Water Authority, a senior water rights holder
on the river. “It’s the lifeblood of agriculture,
business and industry across the state.”
Climatologists project Brazos water levels will continue to diminish in the coming
decades as water demand along the Brazos—especially in the lower region of the
basin—is expected to triple by 2060.
In response to declining water levels, the
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality started work on the Brazos Watermaster
Program in April 2014 to monitor use and
enforce water rights for the rights holders in
the area. Water rights are recognized at the
state level and can be granted to individuals,
cities, utility districts and businesses.
The commission plans to launch its
watermaster program June 1, TCEQ
spokeswoman Lisa Wheeler said. Officials
are in the process of training staff and compiling a database of water rights holders
along the river.
The ongoing drought and rapid population growth throughout the Brazos River
basin has also intensified competition for
river water and fueled tensions between
stakeholders throughout the basin. A number of organizations in the upper and middle
regions of the basin are attempting to limit,
in population
+63%
in water
demand
178,948 acft*
water needed
Missouri City
77% Increase
in population
+67%
in water
demand
17, 481 acft*
water needed
Sugar Land
28% Increase
in population
+25%
in water
demand
3,228 acft*
water needed
*Acre-foot: Volume of water needed to cover one acre to a depth of
one foot. It equals 325,851 gallons.
reduce or restrict the flow of water downstream
to the lower region of the basin. Restricting
river flow downstream would be detrimental
to residents, communities and other interested
parties in areas, such as Fort Bend County.
“Groups in the upper and middle portion of
the basin support limiting water flow downstream,” said Matt Sebesta, Brazoria County
See Drought | 21
Construction begins on Phase 2 of Brazos River Park
BRP, festival site to provide more park amenities, spur future commercial development in Sugar Land
River
2014
Construction of Smart
Financial Centre began
in December
DETAILED MAP
ON PAGE 23
Event Meadows
Mid Lake
Source: city of Sugar Land
BY THE
When the city of Sugar Land broke ground on
Phase 2 of the Brazos River Park development
Feb. 26, it not only marked the expansion of the city’s
parks system but also garnered momentum for future
commercial growth south of University Boulevard
along Hwy. 59.
Phase 2 of the BRP development and the construction of an adjacent outdoor festival site are designed
to provide additional park amenities as well as create
a home for future city and regional events by fall 2016.
“The demand for festival space and functions is here
now, and we are trying to accommodate that, and we
feel like we can accommodate future growth,” said Joe
Chesser, Sugar Land assistant director of parks and
recreation.
2015
Sugar Land breaks
ground on Phase 2
and festival site
8 BUSINESS
Finish Line Sports
9 DINING
7Spice Seafood Kitchen
11 TRANSPORTATION UPDATES
News, data on local projects
13 PUBLIC SAFETY
SLPD, MCPD seek to implement
body camera program
14 AT THE CAPITOL
State legislation hearings begin
Updates from local state legislators
16 VOTE 2015
By Connor Hyde
Down
Source: Texas Water Development Board
By David Pollan and Shawn Arrajj
2016
Completion of
festival site and
Smart Financial Centre
Development of the park began in 2007 with the
construction of two miles of hike and bike trails, a
playground, two picnic pavilions and Sugar Land
Memorial Park along University Boulevard.
Phase 2 is also expected to help the city continue its transformation into a tourism destination due to the park’s proximity to the planned
$84 million Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land,
said Jennifer May, director of economic development for Sugar Land.
“Overall, we think that entire part of the city is
going to become a really big destination activity
center, especially for our residents and our students at the University of Houston-Sugar Land,”
she said.
See Brazos River | 23
2017
Installation of
irrigation and
landscaping
ELECTION
GUIDE
18 CALENDAR
24 REAL ESTATE
S M Williams, 77498
2018
Construction of
Mid Lake expected to
be complete
25 COUPONS
2
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MPR1174_ad_CommFB_ComeOnOver_CIN_Layout 1 12/23/14 11:55 AM Page 1
Sugar Land | Missouri City Edition • April 2015
Come on
over.
Texas Children’s is ranked fourth in the
nation and best in the southwest. Lucky for
you, we’re right here in Fort Bend.
Our Health Centers and Texas Children’s
Pediatrics practices offer convenient access
to expert pediatricians, subspecialists and
therapeutic and diagnostic services. At Texas
Children’s Hospital West Campus, your child
can get emergency services at a hospital 100%
dedicated to pediatric care.
Whenever you need us, remember,
we’re just down the way.
For maps and information, visit
texaschildrens.org/fortbend.
© 2015 Texas Children’s Hospital. All rights reserved. Texas Children’s Hospital is the only children’s hospital in Texas on U.S.News & World Report’s 2014-15 Honor Roll. MPR1174_121814
Texas Children’s Health Center
Sugar Land
15400 Southwest Fwy., Ste. 200
Sugar Land, TX 77478
281-494-7010
Texas Children’s Hospital
West Campus
18200 Katy Freeway
Houston, TX 77094
832-227-1000
3
4
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com
5
Sugar Land | Missouri City Edition • April 2015
FROM THE EDITOR
On May 9 voters will
be asked to head to the
polls to vote. This year’s
general election in May
pertains specifically to
races and issues associated with cities and
school districts.
The city of Sugar Land
canceled its election since
the four incumbents on
City Council running for
re-election were unopposed. On the other hand, Missouri City has contested
races for its City Council District A and B seats. There
are also two contested races in Fort Bend ISD for school
board trustee positions 2 and 6. In this issue we have
included a Q&A with each candidate in the contested
races in our Election Guide that begins on Page 16.
Voter turnout in local elections is often very low.
Races and issues that appear on the ballot in local
PUBLISHERS AND FOUNDERS
John and Jennifer Garrett
PUBLISHER - HOUSTON METRO
Jason Culpepper
GENERAL MANAGER
Christi Love, [email protected]
Editorial
Cathy Kincaid
Shannon Colletti
MANAGING EDITOR Emily Roberts
EDITOR David Pollan
REPORTER Connor Hyde
COPY EDITOR Richard Guerrero
STAFF WRITERS Shawn Arrajj, Leslee Bassman,
Jennifer Curington, Amy Denney, Joe Olivieri,
Lyndsey Taylor, Kelli Weldon
FOUNDING EDITOR
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Advertising
Robyn Vergeldedios
ACCOUNT COORDINATOR Courtney Samok
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
David Pollan
EDITOR
[email protected]
Design
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK
Derek Sullivan
Melenie Yuen
CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER Shawn Epps
ART PRODUCTION MANAGER Jenny Tenbush
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Business
Claire Love
Cody Leitholt
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
CIRCULATION SPECIALIST
elections in odd numbered years are not typically highprofile or exciting, however, that does not diminish the
importance of the election. Whoever is elected to serve
on Missouri City City Council and on the FBISD board
of trustees can play a significant role in determining the
future for either the city or school district.
There is a difference between the rights of a citizen
and the responsibilities of a citizen. When it comes to
voting, it is both a right and a responsibility. In a system
of government where power is derived from the people,
there are few things more valuable than voting. Every
vote counts, and if you have yet to decide on who to vote
for, you can start with the Election Guide in this issue.
I encourage every registered voter to head to the polls
for early voting starting April 27, or on Election Day. If
you are not registered to vote, you have until April 9 to
register. Also, do not forget that proper identification is
now required to cast a vote in Texas.
About us
John and Jennifer Garrett began Community
Impact Newspaper in 2005 in Pflugerville, Texas.
The company’s mission is to build communities of
informed citizens and thriving businesses through the
collaboration of a passionate team. Now, with
19 markets in the Austin, Houston and Dallas/Fort
Worth metro areas, the paper is distributed to more
than 1.4 million homes and businesses.
TAKE THE POLL
LAST MONTH’S POLL RESULTS
The city of Sugar Land broke ground on Phase 2 of the Brazos
River Park development in February. The development will add
to the city’s park system by bringing additional hike and
bike trails, an outdoor festival site and 76 acres of parkland for
residents to utilize.
With the passage of Proposition 1 in November, $1.7 billion was allocated to the State Highway Fund to be used
for transportation projects. Of that amount, about $278
million was distributed to the Houston district to fund road
projects in 2015.
Which Brazos River Park amenity
outlined in Phase 2 will you use most
often?
Which Greater Houston area priority
projects are you most excited to see
funded through Prop. 1 in 2015?
Hwy. 59 widening
Hike and bike trails
27%
Mid Lake
Festival site
Contact us
Hwy. 90 widening
Picnicking areas
10701 Corporate Drive, Ste. 300
Stafford, TX 77477 • 281-469-6181
impactnews.com
27%
Overlook plaza
[email protected]
[email protected]
COMMENTS [email protected]
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©2015 JG MEDIA INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO REPRODUCTION OF ANY PORTION
OF THIS ISSUE IS ALLOWED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE PUBLISHER.
Hwy. 290 widening
19%
Beltway 8 improvements between I-45 and Hwy. 59
17%
FM 2234 widening
10%
Results from an unscientific Web survey, collected 3/5/15-3/24/15
LASER SURGERY • HEEL SPUR SURGERY • HAMMERTOES • BUNIONS • FRACTURES
INGROWN TOE NAILS • SPORTS & ANKLE INJURIES • DIABETIC & NEUROTHERAPHY CARE
Dr. Brian Selbst, D.P.M
Dr. Donald Stran, D.P.M
Dr. Kelli Stevens
American Board of Foot & Ankle Surgery
Fellow of American Colleges of Foot & Ankle Surgeons
American Board of Podiatric Surgeons
Board Eligible*
Board Certified*
Board Eligible*
*Certified By The American Board of Foot & Ankle Surgery
Friendswood
281-992-0006
WWW.DRSTRAN.COM
Missouri City
281-741-3017
6
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com
IMPACTS
5
Fondren Rd.
ey R
16
d.
1464
Rd.
Eldridge Rd.
Bu r n
6
S.Dairy Ashford
W. Airport Blvd.
S. Kirkwood
W. Bellfort Ave.
Cullinan Park
99
14
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18
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59
Lexington Blvd.
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20
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6
15
9
Murphy Rd.
7
Dulles Ave.
90
90
Brooks St.
12
6
19
Aus
21
1
tin P
Commonwealth Blvd.
59
Cartwright Rd.
2234
Missouri City
2
Riverstone Blvd.
University Blvd.
Blvd.
11
kwy.
Sugar Land
ep
Ind
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10
Lake Olympia Pkwy.
3
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Br
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4
Map not to scale
TM; © 2015 COMMUNITY IMPACT LICENSING, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Now Open
1 Spectrum Lashes opened Feb. 6 at
5201 Hwy. 6, Ste. 600, Missouri City. The
salon offers various services, including
eyelash extensions, waxing, facials and
permanent makeup. 281-208-7763.
2 Dr. Shirazi opened a dental practice
Feb. 17 at 4502 Riverstone Blvd., Ste. 501,
Missouri City. The dentistry offers teeth
cleaning and whitening, veneers, tooth
extraction and special procedures.
281-778-8525. www.shirazi-dds.com
3 Welcomemat Services opened in early
March at 4023 Turtle Trails Lane, Sugar
Land. The business is designed as a crossmedia service to help local Sugar Land and
Fort Bend County businesses reach new
customers by introducing new families to
businesses in the area. 832-985-9546.
www.welcomematfranchising.com
4 Starbucks opened a new Missouri
City location in January at 9650 Hwy.
6, Missouri City. The coffeehouse chain
location is one of 12,000 stores in the U.S.
and offers a wide variety of coffee options,
including espressos, Frappuccinos, hot
teas, iced teas and seasonal drinks.
281-431-0157. www.starbucks.com
5 Enchilada Way Mexican Grill opened
in December at 7101 W. Grand Parkway S.,
Ste. 120, Richmond. The authentic
Tex-Mex restaurant features an extensive
menu including soups, salads, enchiladas
and fajitas. The restaurant serves breakfast,
lunch and dinner and also has a fullservice bar. 832-222-2047.
www.enchiladaway.com
6 The Restorative Center opened Feb. 19
at 14015 Hwy. 59, Ste. 6, Sugar Land. The
center houses three different businesses—
an individual and couples counseling
business, a fitness and nutrition business,
A BETTER LIFE IS OUT THERE.
And there’s a location nearby where it can be found.
Want to make a great life even better? Iron Tribe is a community of like-minded athletes who train,
sweat & succeed together. Here, you’ll learn to look, feel and eat better than you ever have. Don’t
take our word for it—read the success stories at IronTribeFitness.com/Testimonials or visit our
Missouri City location and save $150 on our Iron Tribe 101 Introductory Course.
and a yoga therapy business—to help
customers strengthen and improve their
mind and body. 832-987-4334.
www.restorativecentermbs.com
7 The Sycamores at Sugar Land
opened April 1 at 770 Brooks St., Sugar
Land. The assisted living and memory
care facility has 130 apartments, which
include one-and two-bedroom options.
The senior living center offers its residents
a full-service dining room, movie theater,
business center, transportation services
and daily living assistance. 832-500-1827.
www.brookdale.com
SAVE $150 WHEN
YOU JOIN IRON TRIBE.
Start the new year off happier and
healthier, and save big as well. To
claim your $150 discount, just stop by
our Missouri City location.
Missouri City
4729 Highway 6
Missouri City, TX 77459
(844) 330-1166
[email protected]
7
Sugar Land | Missouri City Edition • April 2015
10 Twist N Up Salon is slated to open its
doors at the end of May at 7335 Hwy. 6,
Ste. 202, Missouri City. The hair salon
offers different hair services including
braiding and weaves. 281-898-5131.
www.twistnupsalon.com
11 Kiddie Academy of Missouri City is
opening its doors in June 2016 at
3811 Raoul Wallenberg Lane, Missouri
City. The children’s education academy
offers a diverse selection of classes, such
as sensory-based learning for infants and
school-age programs for children ages
6-12. 800-554-3343.
educationaldaycare.kiddieacademy.com
12 Flix Brewhouse will break ground this
summer on a 40,000-square-foot facility
at the Crossing at Telfair mixed-used
development at the corner of Hwy. 6 and
Hwy. 90 in Sugar Land. The movie theater
is expected to be complete in 2016 and will
house eight screens, a fully operational
brewery and bar area. 512-238-0938.
www.flixbrewhouse.com
13 Texas Fresh Juice is opening its doors
in mid-May at 8790 Hwy. 6, Ste. 160,
Missouri City. The organic juice shop
prepares a variety of in-house organic
15 Mosset Grill & Wine Bar celebrated
its one-year anniversary in March at
14019 Hwy. 59, Sugar Land. The restaurant
serves tapas items as well as lunch and
dinner options and has a wide selection of
wines from around the world.
281-201-8296. www.mossetwinebar.com
16 Regal Seafood Lounge celebrates
its one-year anniversary in April at
12350 Hwy. 59, Stafford. The restaurant
offers a variety of seafood dishes with an
Asian influence in an elegant atmosphere.
The menu features individual plates as well
as dishes that can be shared. 281-494-8888
17 Tierra Del Fuego celebrated its oneyear anniversary at the end of March at
2110 Town Square Place, Sugar Land. The
restaurant offers traditional Argentinian
dishes and offers more than 100 different
brands of wine. This is the restaurant’s first
location to open in the U.S. 832-999-4045.
www.tierradelfuego.com
18 World of Beer celebrated its one-year
anniversary at 16535 Hwy. 59, Ste. 2605,
Sugar Land, at First Colony Mall. The
tavern features beers from around the
globe with more than 500 bottles and a
rotating list of about 50 beers on tap.
281-494-0338. www.wobusa.com
Closings
19 Jus’ Mac closed in December at 16525
Lexington Blvd., Ste. 160, Sugar Land. The
eatery still has two locations in Houston.
In the News
1
The Sugar Land City Council accepted a
$200,000 donation at its March 17 meeting
to be used for the construction of the city’s
first universally accessible playground.
The funds were raised through a
capital campaign launched by the Sugar
Land Legacy Foundation, said Doug
Adolph, assistant director of communications for Sugar Land.
The new playground will replace the
existing playground at First Colony Park.
The playground surface will be made of
a bonded rubber material suitable for
wheelchairs and those in need of a more
even surface to access the equipment.
Platforms on the playground will be
longer and will include ramps to make
the playground accessible to children with
disabilities.
The Legacy Foundation’s donation will
be combined with $200,000 identified by
the Sugar Land 4B Corporation to
construct the $400,000 playground. Construction is expected to begin in April or
May with completion slated for late July,
city officials said.
Fort Bend ISD has named Dawn Carlson
as its new director for the Department
of Student Affairs. The department was
established to ensure student-related
policies are applied consistently across the
district, FBISD officials said.
Carlson has more than 23 years of
experience as an educator. She taught in
Lubbock ISD and Round Rock ISD before
beginning her career as an administrator
in Austin ISD. She joined FBISD in 2005
as an assistant principal at Oyster Creek
Elementary School and then became
principal of Barrington Place Elementary
School in January 2006. In July 2011 she
became director of special education.
Spectrum Lashes opened Feb. 6 and offers
waxing, facials and permanent makeup services.
2
Dr. Shehnaz Shirazi opened her dental practice
Feb. 17 in Missouri City.
6
Amy Bradley, Feel Better with Yoga owner, opened
in The Restorative Center in February.
7
The Sycamores at Sugar Land opened April 1 at
770 Brooks St., Sugar Land.
News or questions about Sugar Land or Missouri City?
E-mail [email protected].
vv
25
SUITE 100 l SUGAR LAND, TX
minimum purchase of
$100 or more
Redeem coupon at register.
25
25
TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS
13425 UNIVERSITY BLVD.,
No cash value, for single purchase only, Expires April 30th, 2015.
TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS
Connor Hyde
14 Johnson Development Corp., at
198 Kempner St., Sugar Land, is
celebrating its 40th anniversary in April.
Johnson Development is the developer of
many Greater Houston area communities,
including Imperial Sugar Land and Sienna
Plantation. 713-960-9977.
www.johnsondevelopment.com
21 Preview Modern Seafood Cuisine
closed March 16 at 4645 Hwy. 6,
Ste. C, Sugar Land. Owner Jason Liao said
the seafood restaurant will relocate to
Midtown in Houston later this year.
Connor Hyde
9 Austin-based restaurant chain
Torchy’s Tacos is opening this summer at
15810 Hwy. 59, Sugar Land. The location
will feature an extensive taco menu,
including vegetarian, pork, beef, chicken
and fish options. The location will
accommodate a bar area as well as outdoor
seating. www.torchystacos.com
Anniversaries
Compiled by David Pollan and Connor Hyde
20 Earl of Sandwich closed in March at
1930 Hwy. 6, Sugar Land.
Robyn Vergeldedios
Coming Soon
vegetable and fruit juices for customers.
The shop will also sell a selection of
immune-boosting shots, such as lemon
and ginger shots. [email protected]
281-201-2091
www.societycycleworks.com
25
Connor Hyde
8 Sweetwater Seafood opened Feb. 9
at 16525 Lexington Blvd., Ste. 160, Sugar
Land. The Cajun and Creole restaurant
offers a menu that boasts a number of
seafood items cooked in a variety of ways,
such as fried, grilled, baked or boiled.
Seafood items include crawfish, shrimp,
oysters, crab and fish. The restaurant
uses Louisiana-inspired recipes and has
created its own seasonings and sauces to
accompany its menu items. 832-999-4339.
8
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com
BUSINESS
Finish Line Sports
Business hosts races to engage community
Andy Stewart has owned and operated Finish Line Sports in Sugar Land for 30 years.
Finish Line Sports sells equipment and accessories
for running and swimming.
The business exclusively carries running shoes
and footwear made by Asics.
Finishing strong
$116,000
Donates to
20
charities
4
has been donated to
local charities in 2014
Operates
local swim clubs
with swimwear
6 clinics
annually
Finish Line Sports
90
59
Sugar Creek Blvd.
13895 Hwy. 59, Sugar Land
281-242-7700
www.slfinishlinesports.com
Hours: Mon.-Thu. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.,
Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
THE 12TH ANNUAL WINE & FOOD AFFAIR
BUY TICKETS ONLINE OR CALL 713-SIP-WINE
FINISH
30th anniversary in November and has
continued to reel in a growing number of
local and regional runners throughout its
existence. The event attracted 300 runners in its first year, and in 2014 about
1,600 runners participated in the annual
race, Stewart said.
“I cannot imagine Thanksgiving without the Turkey Trot because it is fun and
is like a reunion for those who have not
seen each other [in awhile],” he said.
Proceeds raised from each race hosted
by Finish Line Sports directly benefit a
local charity within Sugar Land and Fort
Bend County. Stewart said his store is
associated with 20 local charities, including the Fort Bend Rainbow Room, the
Snow Drop Foundation and Bel Inizio.
As Finish Line Sports has added more
races and events over the last three
decades, Stewart said a growing demand
for training courses and clinics also
arose. Stewart works with Brian Watson,
Finish Line Sports assistant director, to
host six triathlon clinics each year, which
includes training for swimming and running. The clinics also educates participant on race rules and guidelines.
“We try to educate [our clients] ahead
of time so they are more confident and
more prepared,” Stewart said. “Without
educating the folks, there is no telling
what people would do.”
Looking ahead, Stewart said he wants
to continue to attract larger crowds to
each race while continuing to give back
to the community. He has no plans to
retire in the near future and hopes to
keep running Finish Line Sports until he
is 70, he said.
“I am 57 years old so I have friends
who have retired, and they are helping me here,” Stewart said. “One of the
reasons they are helping me is because it
is fun. I feel like it is a part of me. It is a
lifestyle, and it is something enjoyable.”
Oufits
W
hen Andy Stewart opened
Finish Line Sports in 1985 in
Sugar Land, his goal was to
provide more than just running shoes
and equipment to the community.
Stewart said he wanted to engage residents by offering local races they could
participate in as well as find ways to give
back to the community where he was
raised.
After 30 years of owning and running
Finish Line Sports, Stewart has been
successful in expanding beyond the retail
aspect of the business and into community outreach. Stewart hosts five annual
races, coaches and prepares runners for
various races and donates to 20 local and
Houston charities.
“We were ground breaking in a lot
of the stuff we did,” he said. “I thought
it would work because of how fun and
enjoyable the races are and how much
better people feel when they run.”
The idea to open Finish Line Sports
dawned on Stewart in 1981 after he
graduated from Louisiana State University and moved back to Sugar Land. He
said he saw a need for a sports equipment
store in the city and running had long
been a passion for him, so it made sense.
Finish Line Sports sells name-brand
running and swimming clothing and
accessories, such as Speedo, TYR Swimwear and Asics running shoes. The store
began carrying Asics running shoes
exclusively in 2000 as customer demand
and preference for the brand grew,
he said.
Stewart hosted the store’s first community races after opening in 1985 with
the Valentine’s Relay and the Sugar Land
Turkey Trot. While the Valentine’s Relay
was last held in 1995, the annual Turkey
Trot race has become a Thanksgiving
tradition for the Sugar Land community. The five-mile race celebrates its
Photos by Connor Hyde
By Connor Hyde
9
Sugar Land | Missouri City Edition • April 2015
DINING
7Spice Seafood Kitchen
Owner focuses on quality food, fast service
By Connor Hyde
Photos by Connor Hyde
V
The blackened tilapia lunch special is served with dirty rice that is topped with shrimp etouffee. ($7)
Owner recommendations
Chicken po’boy
A fried chicken breast topped with
tomatoes and lettuce is served in a bun.
Each po’boy is served with a plate of
french fries. ($5.99)
Gumbo
The southern Louisiana dish is made
with chicken or shrimp and fresh
vegetables and served with rice, toast or
crackers. Medium ($3.79), large ($5.99)
From left: Miguel Yax, Jaleesa Dawkins and
Owner Vince Thai manage the eatery.
Fried fish and etouffee
Fried fish is served with homemade
etouffee as well as a side of white or
dirty rice and toast. ($8.99-$10.99)
7Spice Seafood Kitchen
7Spice Seafood Kitchen purchases its crawfish
from Louisiana vendors. ($6.99 per pound)
In
The restaurant serves various fried fish and fried
shrimp combination plates. ($7.49-$12.49)
de
p
ce Blvd.
den
n
e
Court Rd.
Texas Pkwy.
ince Thai opened 7Spice Seafood restaurant also serves Louisiana-style
Kitchen in Missouri City in 2012 crawfish, seasoned with butter and garlic
as a new concept with a focus on and served with spiced corn and red
serving quality Cajun seafood to custom- potatoes. However, Thai said his restauers in search of a quick meal.
rant has built its reputation around the
With his restaurant, Thai said he
fried food.
strives to combine the quality of food
“We are known for our gumbo, the
found at a fine dining seafood restaurant
etouffee, the jambalaya and the fried
with the efficiency of a fast-service eatery. food,” Thai said. “That is what we live on.
“In the seafood world there are highThe gumbo is the hardest thing to make,
end restaurants and then you have a
and everybody comes in and they comstep down, but there are no in-betweens
pare it to their family’s recipes.”
like a fast-service, casual restaurant,” he
The eatery cooks and prepares some
said. “That is what we consider ourselves. of its menu items in large batches to
People can come in and have good food
maintain a certain level of consistency,
and [get it] fast.”
Thai said. After each batch is ready, the
Thai said 7Spice Seafood Kitchen
food is sealed and preserved in a freezer
prides itself on the homemade recipes he
to prevent spoiling.
has developed over the last three years.
Thai opened a second 7Spice Seafood
Each menu item is cooked from scratch
Kitchen location in August at 11013
and incorporates traditional Cajun spices Fuqua St., Houston. He said the location
and ingredients, such as onions, bell pep- functions as a second diner as well as a
pers and celery, which is also known as
production site to streamline food prepathe Cajun holy trinity.
ration for the location in Missouri City.
7Spice Seafood Kitchen also imports
The second location is used to prepare
its shrimp from South America due
and bag different cuts of fish and includes
to the larger size and texture of the
a machine that peels and cuts batches of
shrimp, Thai said.
shrimp to the correct
When compared to
“We are known for our portion, he said.
shrimp from the Gulf
“We make [the food]
gumbo, the etouffee,
of Mexico, South
in large batches, but we
American shrimp sizes the jambalaya and the do not take any shortfried food.”
and textures are more
cuts,” Thai said. “The
consistent and provide
–Vince Thai, owner one thing that makes us
additional flavor.
successful, especially as
“The thing about Gulf shrimp is it is
a restaurant, is keeping the food consisinconsistent, and the size and the taste
tent. The No. 1 thing we focus on is the
vary,” he said. “Since we are trying to
quality, and we do the best we can.”
make our food as uniform as possible, we
After opening a second location eight
use Ecuadorian white shrimp. It is farm
months ago, Thai said he is looking
raised, but the texture and the consisforward to opening additional locations
tency is very good.”
of 7Spice Seafood Kitchen as his concept
Customer favorites include the fried
continues to grow.
fish and fried shrimp combos as well
“It is an ongoing process, but it seems
as the gumbo, etouffee and jambalaya.
right now the food we have is good,” Thai
With crawfish season in full swing, the
said. “I feel we could definitely expand.”
2240 Texas Parkway, Missouri City
281-499-7742
www.7spiceseafood.com
Hours: Sun.-Thu. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.,
Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
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Sugar Land | Missouri City Edition • April 2015
TRANSPORTATION UPDATES
Major projects in the area
W. Airport Blvd.
Eldridge Rd.
Burne
6
y Rd.
1464
5
ga
rL
ake
sD
r.
6 Fort Bend Parkway overpass
Lexington Blvd.
lvd.
St
af
fo
8
rd
sh
ire
Cartwright Blvd.
59
.
University Blvd
Trammel-Fresno Rd.
R d
.
Ind e p e n d
e nc
e Blvd.
7
2016
Cost: $30.3 million
Funding sources: FBCTRA
4
Texas Pkwy.
Timeline: February 2015-fourth quarter
2234
Behind schedule
A
Sugar Land
6
Commonwealth Blvd.
Lake Olympia Pkwy.
6
u s tin Pk
wy.
The Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority
started construction in mid-February on the
project to build an overpass that will elevate
the Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road over
Hwy. 6. The contract for the project was
awarded to Williams Brothers Construction in
December. The overpass construction project
will take about 21 months to complete.
90
B
erritory
New T
Sweetwater Blvd.
Cost: $8 million
Funding sources: TxDOT via Prop. 1 funds
llfort St.
W. Be
Murphy Rd.
Brooks St.
99
Su
Dulles Ave.
Sugar Land
Regional Airport
3
S. Dairy Ashford Rd.
Compiled by David Pollan
News or questions about these or
other local transportation projects?
Email us at [email protected]
Missouri City
Lake Olympia Pkwy.
1
2
Aldridge Dr.
521
6
Map not to scale
TM; © 2015 COMMUNITY IMPACT LICENSING, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
a two-lane asphalt roadway to a five-lane
concrete roadway with two lanes in each
direction and a continuous center-turn lane.
Project update
Timeline: April 2015-April 2017
Cost: $24 million
Funding sources: Fort Bend County, Texas
Photos by Connor Hyde
Department of Transportation
1 Vicksburg Boulevard extension
Construction to extend Vicksburg
Boulevard from Aldridge Drive to Lake
Olympia Parkway in Missouri City
is underway and about 15 percent
complete. Work on underground utilities
and drainage continues and workers are
preparing the roadway for future paving.
The scope of the project includes the
construction of a mast arm turn signal
and turn lane improvements at Lake
Olympia Parkway, a four-lane boulevard
roadway, bicycle lanes in both directions,
sidewalks, streetlights and accompanying
drainage structures.
Timeline: January 2015-January 2016
Cost: $3.3 million
Funding sources: Fort Bend County,
Missouri City Development Authority,
Municipal Utility Districts Nos. 47 and 48
2 Trammel-Fresno Road widening
The start of the project to widen TrammelFresno Road from the Fort Bend Parkway to
FM 521 in Missouri City has been delayed.
Construction on the project was originally
slated to begin in March. However, there are
some utilities that still need to be relocated
and two parcels of land that need to be
acquired before construction can begin.
Construction is now expected to begin by
late April and will take two years to complete.
Trammel-Fresno Road will be widened from
3 Sugar Land Business Park
The city of Sugar Land awarded Cedros
Paving Services LLC with the construction
contract for the reconstruction and
rehabilitation of several streets within
the Sugar Land Business Park on March
17. Two areas of Julie Rivers Drive, West
Airport Boulevard, Gillingham Lane and
Jess Pirtle Boulevard, as well as a section
of Industrial Boulevard and Emily Court, will
be reconstructed and repaved as part of the
project. Construction is expected to begin in
April and will take about 120 days
to complete.
Cost: $31.3 million
Funding sources: Texas Mobility Fund
bonds, Prop. 1 funds
5 Hwy. 90 widening
The project to widen Hwy. 90 from just west
of Hwy. 6 to just east of the Grand Parkway
in Fort Bend County is expected to be
available for contractor bidding in July, with
construction expected to begin in September.
The project, which was previously unfunded,
will be paid for with money made available
by Prop. 1. The project will widen Hwy.
90 from four to six lanes and will also
include the construction of two sound
walls. Construction on the roadway will be
completed in five phases.
Timeline: September 2015-fourth quarter
7 Texas Parkway widening
Texas Parkway in Missouri City is being
widened from Cartwright Boulevard to
the Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road. The
1.5-mile project will widen the existing
two-lane, continuous left-turn roadway
to a four-lane divided roadway. The
project, which was originally scheduled
to be complete in November, is behind
schedule as a result of utility issues
and is expected to be complete by
early summer. The remaining work on
the project includes the striping of all
intersections, landscaping, installation
of traffic signals and the building of
sound walls.
Timeline: January 2014-summer 2015
Cost: $8.5 million
Funding sources: TxDOT
2016
Project underway
Timeline: April 2015-August 2015
Cost: $1.26 million
Funding sources: City of Sugar Land
4 FM 2234 widening
The Texas Transportation Commission
approved the allocation of $7.5 million of
Proposition 1 funds to be used to help
pay for the widening of FM 2234 from the
Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road to FM 521
in Missouri City. The 4-mile project will
widen FM 2234 from the existing two-lane
undivided roadway to a four-lane divided
roadway with drainage ditches, a raised
median and 12-foot shoulders. The project
is scheduled to be available for contractor
bidding in May. TxDOT is working to acquire
right of way and relocate utilities. A start
date for construction has not yet been
determined.
Timeline: Construction is expected to take
two years to complete
8 Lexington Boulevard extension
Construction to extend Lexington
Boulevard from Scanlin Road to Texas
Parkway in Missouri City began in August
and is about 75 percent complete. Work
is being done to complete general site
grading for drainage and to install traffic
signals and pavement markings. The
project includes extending Lexington
Boulevard as a two-lane roadway with
medians as well as the addition of bicycle
lanes in both directions.
Timeline: August 2014-May 2015
Cost: $2.96 million
Funding sources: Fort Bend County
12
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com
CONDITIONS WE TREAT:
Headaches
(tension, migraines, cluster)
Dr. Karan Madan
Pain Specialist at
our Sugar Land location
Neck pain
Arm and shoulder pain
Hand/wrist pain
Low back pain
Knee pain
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis pain
Fibromyalgia
Arachnoiditis
Pharmacogenetics
By Karan Madan, MD
One of the most exciting developments in pain medicine is “pharmacogenetics,” or genetic testing
to determine how an individual responds to a particular drug. I am happy to say that physicians today
are able to personalize drug therapies by identifying how efficiently a person metabolizes a drug and
which medications will work best to help alleviate his or her pain (as well as which drugs to avoid).
A person’s genetic makeup can influence both the amount and effectiveness of certain enzymes
present in his or her body that metabolize many commonly used medications. Genetic testing
categorizes a person’s metabolizer “type” for the most important of these enzymes and the data is
then interpreted by the physician to personalize drug therapy for the patient.
So what are these genetic metabolizer types?
• Ultra-rapid metabolizer
Patients in this category have a high gene activity. Ultra-rapid metabolizers break down
medicines rapidly and are likely to need altered doses or different medicines to be effective
• Extensive metabolizer
Patients in this category are considered to have normal gene activity
• Intermediate metabolizer
Patients in this category break down medicines at a rate in between extensive metabolizers
and poor metabolizers
• Poor metabolizer
Patients in this category have little to no gene activity. Poor metabolizers break down certain
medicines slowly and are likely to need altered doses or different medicine to be effective
Knowing this can help a physician adjust a drug dose or type of drug to:
• Ensure that the patient is taking the appropriate medication
• Prescription opioid pain relievers now account for more overdose deaths than heroin and
cocaine combined
• Help avoid negative side effects. According to the FDA, more than 2 billion adverse drug
events occur yearly with more than 100,000 cases resulting in death…and adverse drug
reactions are the sixth leading cause of hospitalization and death in the United States
• Help increase the efficacy of patient medications
• Help improve pain relief by determining variations that affect metabolism of certain drugs
The test involves a simple cheek swab from the patient and sent to a lab for testing. The genetic
testing lab is equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation and a scientist processes the sample
and sends the individualized report to the physician for interpretation. Test results usually are ready in
about 2-3 weeks.
While pharmacogenetics can offer extremely valuable insights into a person’s ability to metabolize
medications, it is important to note that there are many other factors (such as lifestyle and
environment) that can also affect how someone reacts to medications. Genetic testing is only one
piece of a patient’s health information profile that a physician can use (in conjunction with other
factors) to determine the best mode of action for your health regime.
ONE HELICOPTER. LOTS OF EGGS. ENDLESS FUN.
Sat, Apr 4
Free event for kids through 5th grade! Registration opens at 9a along
with food trucks and carnival games, and the Egg Drop happens at 10a!
It all takes place at the Sienna Campus of Houston’s First Baptist Church
(4309 Sienna Parkway).
Houston’s First
Baptist Church
invites you to connect with our
sienna campus
SUNDAYS
EASTER SUNDAY
Life Bible Studies @ 9:30a & 11a
Worship Service @ 9:30a & 11a
Sun, Apr 5
Worship Services @ 8a, 9:30a* & 11a*
* Childcare provided
15591 Creek Bend Drive, Suite 100
Sugar Land, TX 77478;
Phone: (713) 973-PAIN (7246)
4309 Sienna Parkway
Missouri City, TX 77459
HoustonsFirst.org/Sienna
13
Sugar Land | Missouri City Edition • April 2015
PUBLIC SAFETY
SLPD, MCPD take steps to implement departmentwide body camera programs
By Connor Hyde
Following the 2014 fatal shooting of
an unarmed teenager by a police officer
in Ferguson, Missouri, a critical eye on
law enforcement has police departments
across the U.S. researching different
technologies to improve transparency
and safety.
In an effort to strengthen communication with residents and to ensure officer
safety, the Sugar Land and Missouri City
police departments are taking steps to
implement departmentwide body
camera programs.
SLPD is adding an additional 30 body
cameras to its force, while MCPD is in the
middle of its 90-day pilot program to test
five different body camera vendors.
Doug Adolph, assistant communications director for the city of Sugar Land,
said as the city grows, body-worn cameras
are becoming tools to assist officers in the
field as well as in court.
“[SLPD] takes a proactive approach
to utilizing technology to assist police
officers and ensure Sugar Land remains
among the nation’s safest cities,” he
said. “We believe this tool could be
beneficial for our department, and we’re
currently evaluating its effectiveness.”
MCPD Chief Michael Berezin said a
departmentwide body camera program
would also help provide a third perspective for officers during encounters with
the public.
“While officers are out there watching
people’s hands, watching traffic and making sure nobody is walking up on them,
there are a lot of things for the officer to
process, and it would be nice if he or she
has the camera on,” he said.
SLPD
SLPD began fitting officers with Axon
body-worn cameras in November after
purchasing 30 cameras through general
funds. To move forward with a departmentwide program, SLPD applied for
$34,452 of grant funds through the
Criminal Justice Division of the Texas
Governor’s office in February for an
additional 30 cameras.
SLPD Capt. Michelle Allen said a
departmentwide body camera program
will help with the review process when
dealing with specific cases. Allen said
the goal of the department is to have 114
body-worn cameras to fit every patrol
officer and patrol sergeant who regularly
interacts with the public.
“It is so much easier to access the body
camera video that will be available should
there be citizen complaints or other
things we want to review,” she said.
Adolph said fitting officers with bodyworn cameras will help reduce resident
complaints and assist in criminal cases.
“Cameras provide additional video
footage that can aid in prosecution of
criminal cases and can reduce overtime
by not requiring officers to appear in
court as much,” he said.
MCPD
With two months remaining before
MCPD’s 90-day pilot program wraps
up, MCPD Compliance Officer Michael
Curry said a departmentwide body camera program is projected to total between
$600,000 and $700,000 for a five year contract, with each camera totaling between
$300 and $1,000.
However, Curry said the department’s
highest priority, and the largest bulk of
the program’s cost, is the storage of data
and videos.
“Obtaining the cameras is not necessarily the biggest issue because you can go
out and get a cheap camera and slap them
on each officer,” he said. “The biggest issue
WHEN WILL BODY CAMERAS BE RECORDING?
To ensure officer and public safety, the Sugar Land and Missouri City police departments have
detailed situations officers equipped with body-worn cameras are required to record. Video and
data captured during each recording is then kept for a minimum of 90 days, unless involved
with an investigation, to be in compliance with the Texas Code of Criminal Procedures.
SUGAR LAND POLICE DEPARTMENT
Glasses
Neck
Shoulder
Chest
TYPES OF BODY CAMERAS
TRAFFIC
STOPS
DOMESTIC
DISPUTES
INVESTIGATIONS
involving the public
CONSENT
SEARCHES
PURSUITS
by vehicle and on foot
911
CALLS involving mentally
distressed individuals
MISSOURI CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
and the [primary] component to this project is keeping the integrity of the data.”
The department has estimated a need of
six terabytes of annual storage. However,
Curry said having a limited amount of
storage puts the department at risk of
going over its set storage limit.
“If you box yourself into estimating
how much storage you would need, you
would likely go over that,” he said. “If you
do not have the right storage component
and the right back office element, then
you have a bunch of cameras out there
collecting data you may or may not have
when you need it.”
A vendor will not be determined until
later in the year, and Curry said he has
met with each vendor to analyze their
respective back office capabilities. Because
maintaining the integrity of each video
is a priority, Curry said the department
is proceeding with caution to guarantee
reliable storage and video maintenance.
“When you look at having to put cameras on 100 officers, you do not know how
much data each one of them is going to
use,” he said. “If you do not have a back
office, something that I can manage on
a regular basis, then there is really not
much you can do with the product.”
INTRODUCED STATE LEGISLATION
SENATE BILL 158: FILED BY STATE SEN. ROYCE WEST, D-DALLAS
• Would provide grants for Texas law-enforcement agencies to purchase body-worn cameras
(an estimated $50 to $70 million would be needed to purchase the cameras statewide)
• Policies must be in place to determine when an officer should activate a camera while
considering privacy needs, provisions for data retention and storage, training for officers and
other related matters.
HOUSE BILL 455: FILED BY STATE REP. ERIC JOHNSON , D-DALLAS
• Would provide grants for Texas law-enforcement agencies to purchase body-worn cameras
• Policies must be in place to determine when an officer should activate a camera while
considering privacy needs, provisions for data retention and storage, training for officers and
other related matters
HOUSE BILL 474: FILED BY STATE REP. RON REYNOLDS, D-MISSOURI CITY
MCPD Chief Michael Berezin said officers equipped with body-worn cameras
ARE REQUIRED TO RECORD DURING ANY CONTACT WITH THE PUBLIC.
• Would require certain law enforcement offers to wear body-worn cameras
• Adds specific guidelines about an officer giving verbal notice to the person being recorded.
Sources: Sugar Land Police Department, Missouri City Police Department
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14
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com
AT THE CAPITOL
News from the 84th Texas Legislature
During this legislative session, Community Impact Newspaper is reporting on bills and funding
for the state on budget, economy and small business, transportation, public education, higher
education, health care and more. All information on this page is as of March 26, 2015.
Full House, Senate begin hearing legislation
Texas lawmakers filed more than 6,300
bills for the 84th Legislature before the
March 13 bill-filing deadline, according to
the Legislative Reference Library of Texas.
That March 13 deadline represented
the first 60 calendar days of the session in
which the Senate and House could file any
number of bills but only take action on
HEALTH CARE
emergency items declared by Gov. Greg
Abbott. The governor made those declarations Feb. 17 on early education, higher
education, border security, transportation
and ethics.
With the 60-day deadline passed, the
full House and Senate may take action on
any bill.
TRANSPORTATION
By Amy Denney
On March 4 the Texas Senate approved SB 5 that would dedicate
the first $2.5 billion of motor vehicle sales tax revenue from that fiscal
year to the state’s general revenue fund and the second $2.5 billion
to the Texas Department of Transportation. On Feb. 25 the Senate
Committee on Transportation passed the bill, which is making its way
Sen. Robert Nichols through the House of Representatives. Committee Chairman Sen.
Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, said the purpose of the bill would be
to help bridge the annual shortfall in the State Highway Fund and help
TxDOT plan 10 years out.
“We need something to dedicate to transportation whether it be new or existing revenue,”
Nichols said. “What this does is it dedicates an existing, known, very predictable revenue
source. Not all of it. We’re trying to protect general revenue, too.”
Opponents of the bill—including Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, who was the lone no vote
in the Senate committee—are leery about constitutionally dedicating money that went to
support other purposes, such as education.
On March 26 the House approved HB 80 on final reading with a vote of 104-39 to
ban texting while driving statewide. Members approved several amendments, such as
exempting texting while driving when completely stopped and exempting law enforcement
during an emergency.
“The main thing is we need to say it is a safety issue in the state,” said Rep. Tom
Craddick, R-Midland, who authored the bill. “Driving is a privilege, not a right.”
By Jennifer Curington
As of the March 13 filing deadline, health care committees made up of Texas House of
Representatives and Senate members have filed several hundred bills related to topics
including mental health, care for disabled persons, vaping and cigarette regulations, child
protective services and Medicaid reimbursements.
The filing deadline excludes local bills, emergency appropriations and bills declared an
emergency by the governor.
State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, hosted a news conference March 2 to
discuss Medicaid management in Texas, one of the key topics in this legislative session.
Schwertner is the chairman of the Health and Human Services committee.
Medicaid, which primarily serves the underinsured and uninsured population, including
pregnant women, children, disabled persons and seniors, is a “strain on the state’s budget”
under its current regulations, Schwertner said.
The Medicaid program has “drifted away” from serving the population it is intended to
serve because of federal mandates, he said, and if Texas could tailor the program to its unique
needs in the state, it could be more efficient for Texans. Schwertner said in 1989 Medicaid
represented 12 percent of the state’s budget. This year Medicaid is projected to take up 29
percent of Texas’ budget, and expanding Medicaid services is “not worth discussing” until
mandates are more flexible, he said.
On March 24 the Public Health Committee, chaired by Rep. Myra Crownover, R-Denton, met
to discuss bills including:
• HB 2321, which relates to vapor product regulation, such as distribution, sale, possession
and advertising of vapor products. The committee first read the bill March 16.
• HB 646, which is also related to the regulation of vapor products and cigarettes, which
includes creating offenses and authorizing fees.
• HB 21, which is related to the authorization of patients with certain terminal illnesses to
access certain investigational drugs, biological products and devices that are in clinical trials.
By Leslee Bassman
Kelli Weldon
By Kelli Weldon
HIGHER EDUCATION
By Lyndsey Taylor
BUDGET
PUBLIC EDUCATION
Numerous bills related to public
education have been filed. SB 6, which
directs the Texas Education Agency
commissioner to give individual schools
A-F performance ratings, is awaiting
a Senate vote. Senate Education
Committee Chairman Sen. Larry Taylor,
R-Friendswood, filed SB 6.
In the House, Rep. Dan Huberty,
R-Houston, proposed HB 4—pending
The Senate Committee on Education meets March 26.
in committee—outlining a “high quality”
statewide pre-kindergarten program.
“We have got some heavy lifting to do this session,” Huberty said at the House Public
Education Committee meeting Feb. 17. “I think we’re going to hear more about pre-K than
we want to hear, but it’s important, and the governor has made that [a priority].”
School finance bills include HB 654, filed by Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen. HB 654
would establish school finance districts. Other bills include HB 456, filed by Rep. Roland
Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, to ban e-cigarettes on public campuses.
WANT MORE TEXAS LEGISLATURE COVERAGE?
Follow us on Twitter @impactnews_slm and search for
#CITxLege or visit impactnews.com
CAMPUS CARRY RULES
• Concealed handguns would be
allowed on the grounds and in
buildings owned by a college or
university.
Campus safety and funding are two priorities for most
university and college campuses in Texas for this session.
The Senate passed SB 11 to allow a person with a
• Rules can be established in
concealed handgun license to carry his or her firearm
regard to storing the handguns
on university and college campuses throughout the
on grounds but cannot prevent
state. Proponents of the bill say it will increase safety on
licensed individuals from carrycampuses, but opponents say it could open the door for
ing a concealed weapon.
more violence. Many university and college administration
members, including those at The University of Texas at
Austin, have voiced concern and asked the measure not be put into law.
The House version of the bill did not make it out of its assigned committees, and the
House will vote instead on the Senate version.
Different bills in the Senate and House pertaining to research funding are waiting to
be heard in front of the full floor of their respective chambers after making it through the
committee process. SB 44 would allow grants or gifted funding to be used for undergraduate
research and undergraduate financial aid instead of only graduate programs. HB 495
continues a current funding program that assists nursing research programs with grant
money until 2019.
House Appropriations Chairman Rep. John
Otto, R-Dayton, was appointed Jan. 13 to lead
the committee that develops the state’s budget
and sets its fiscal policy.
Otto sponsored general appropriations bill
HB 1 to be considered by the House on
Sen. Jane Nelson
Rep. John Otto
March 31. The bill provides for $209.8 billion
in funding, with the state’s health and human
services sector receiving the largest share of the budget—about $79 billion—followed by the
education sector.
“While keeping spending in check, the budget prioritizes the needs and demands of a
state growing twice as fast as the rest of the country and experiencing strain on roads and
classrooms,” Otto said March 24.
Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, was appointed Jan. 23 as chairwoman of the Senate
Committee on Finance, a counterpart to the House Appropriations Committee.
Nelson sponsored SB 20 that focuses on reforming state contracting practices. The bill
passed out of the Finance committee March 19 and will be set for debate by the Senate.
“We need to get a firm handle on contracting [practices] across state government, not
only because they involve taxpayer dollars but because the delivery of services depends on
it,” she said. “I see this as a critical component to produce a responsible budget.”
ECONOMY AND SMALL BUSINESS
By Joe Olivieri
As of March 25 the House Committee on Economic & Small Business Development has
met seven times to discuss proposed legislation. It has formed a subcommittee, chaired by
Rep. Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, to tackle small-business topics.
A key topic so far this session has been the Major Events Trust Fund, which uses state
and local tax funds to pay for the cost of hosting special events such as Super Bowls and
basketball championships. Following testimony, HB 900—a bill that would clarify the eligibility
of events to receive funding from the events fund—left the committee March 13. The bill was
placed on the general state calendar and was scheduled for discussion March 26.
The committee also discussed HB 589, which proposes a person would be disqualified
to receive unemployment benefits if he or she refused to take or failed a pre-employment
drug test. The bill left left the House committee March 23 and awaits action by the House of
Representatives.
Also related to unemployment benefits is HB 934, which concerns the disqualification
for people who are terminated after giving notice of resignation. HB 934 left the committee
March 23 and awaits House action.
As of March 25 the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce has met three times to
discuss proposed legislation.
SB 641 would attach a civil penalty of up to $1,000 per violation to anyone who violates
a section of the Finance Code related to debit and stored-value card surcharges. Following
testimony, the bill left the committee March 23 and awaits action by the full Senate.
On March 24 the committee discussed 16 bills, including:
• SB 670, which pertains to the Texas Identification Number system,
• SB 875 concerning the regulation of state trust companies,
• SB 880, which concerns committees and programs to develop Texas’ wine industry, and
• SB 1386, which is related to the sale of beer and ale for off-premises consumption.
15
Sugar Land | Missouri City Edition • April 2015
AT THE CAPITOL
UPDATES FROM YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS FOR SUGAR LAND AND MISSOURI CITY
News from the 84th Texas Legislature
SEN. RODNEY ELLIS • DISTRICT 13
Jersey
Village
610
59
Missouri
City 288
SEN. JOAN HUFFMAN • DISTRICT 17
D-Houston
Elected: 1990
512-463-0113
[email protected]
R-Houston
Elected: 2008
512-463-0117
[email protected]
R-Brenham
Elected: 2014
512-463-0118
[email protected]
Top bills filed:
Top bills filed:
Top bills filed:
• Ellis filed Senate Bill 255, which caps
tuition and forces the Legislature to
adequately fund higher education. Ellis
said tuition deregulation has failed and
caused costs to more than double since
2003. SB 255 is pending in the Higher
Education committee.
• Huffman filed SB 183, which would
impose a criminal penalty on those who
violate the civil rights of imprisoned
individuals by engaging in forced sexual
activity.
• Co-authored SB 438 to prohibit public
funds from being used to enforce some
federal or international laws regulating
firearms, accessories and ammunition
within Texas. The bill was referred to the
State Affairs Committee on Feb. 10.
• Ellis also filed SB 67, which raises the
minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10. The
bill is pending in the Natural Resources &
Economic Development committee.
REP. RICK MILLER • DISTRICT 26
Top bills filed:
R-Sugar Land
Elected: 2012
512-463-0710
rick.miller@house.
state.tx.us
610
Pearland
288
6
Bay
City
• Huffman also filed SB 173, which
would criminalize the use of synthetic
cannabinoids and other designer drugs.
SB 173 was approved by the Texas
Senate March 24 and is awaiting action
in the Texas House of Representatives.
REP. RON REYNOLDS • DISTRICT 27
99
59
• Authored
House Joint
Resolution
Sugar
77 to call for
Land
Rosenberg
a convention
of states to
propose constitutional amendments
regarding fiscal restraint and limiting
the power of the federal government.
The resolution has been pending in
committee since March 12.
• Authored HB 782, which would issue
revenue bonds to fund an academic
building at the University of Houston.
The bill was referred Feb. 23 to the
House Higher Education Committee.
45
10
59
Bay
City
59
90A
Houston
Sugar
Land
6
• Reynolds filed HB 474, which would
require police departments with adequate
funding to equip officers with body-worn
cameras. The bill was referred to the
Criminal Jurisprudence committee, but
no hearing has been set.
• Reynolds also filed HB 1840, which
requires the appointment of a special
prosecutor when police kill or seriously
hurt someone. The bill was referred to the
Select Committee on Emerging Issues in
Law Enforcement.
REP. ALMA A. ALLEN • DISTRICT 131
Top bills filed:
• Stephenson
Hallettsville 59
filed HB
292, which
36
would allow
Bay
City
development
35
corporations
to invest a
portion of sales taxes to support jobtraining programs. The bill was referred
to the Economic & Small Business
Development Committee on Feb. 11
610
•Filed HB 567,
which addresses
corporal
Missouri
Pearland
punishment in
City
288
schools. The bill
was referred to
the Public Education Committee on Feb. 18.
D-Houston
Elected: Year
2004
512-463-0744
alma.allen@
house.state.tx.us
• Co-authored Senate Joint Resolution 28
to reduce the amount of taxes that can
be imposed on the elderly or disabled as
part of the homestead exemption. The
bill went to the Finance Committee.
REP. JOHN ZERWAS • DISTRICT 28
Top bills filed:
• Stephenson also filed HB 472, which
would mandate an audit report of assets
seized by law enforcement. The bill
was referred to the Economic & Small
Business Development Committee.
Round
Rock
D-Missouri City
Elected: 2010
512-463-0494
[email protected]
Top bills filed:
6
REP. PHIL STEPHENSON • DISTRICT 85
R-Wharton
Elected: 2012
512-463-0604
phil.stephenson@
house.state.tx.us
SEN. LOIS KOLKHORST • DISTRICT 18
59
•Filed HB 570, which addresses
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
eligibility. The bill was referred to the Human
Services Committee on Feb. 18.
• Filed HB 568 to call for a review of
student discipline by the commissioner
of education. The bill was referred to the
Public Education Committee on Feb. 18.
Top bills filed:
10
• Authored
Austin
99
HB 1992
to increase
acceptance
Wharton
59
of Advanced
Placement
credits at
public universities and colleges.
R-Simonton
Elected: 2006
512-463-0657
john.zerwas@
house.state.tx.us
• Co-authored HB 658 to create a Texas
State Technical College System campus
in Fort Bend County. The committee
report was sent to Calendars March 17.
• Co-authored HB 1874 to create a
Palliative Care Interdisciplinary Advisory
Council. The bill went to the Public
Health committee on March 11.
WANT MORE TEXAS
LEGISLATURE COVERAGE?
Follow us on Twitter—@impactnews_slm—for Sugar Land
and Missouri City news, and throughout the legislative
session search for #CITxLege for coverage that matters
to you.
Higher education
Public education
Health care
Budget
Transportation
Small business
and economy
More legislative coverage at #TxLege and impactnews.com
16
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com
ELECTION GUIDE
2015
Compiled by David Pollan | *Incumbent
MISSOURI CITY CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT A
YOLANDA FORD*
FORT BEND ISD SCHOOL BOARD, POSITION 2
BOBBY MARSHALL
Incumbent Yolanda Ford has served
on City Council since she was elected
in 2013. Ford is an urban planner and
land development professional who
has been a resident of Missouri City
for 37 years. For more information visit
www.yolandaford.com
GRAYLE JAMES*
Bobby Marshall is a local business
owner who has resided in Missouri
City for 23 years. Marshall is seeking
election to his former City Council
seat, which he held from 2009-13. He
also served on the city’s Planning and
Zoning Commission for four years.
Why are you seeking election to represent District A?
I am seeking re-election to advocate for safe communities,
sustainable development and transparency and integrity
in municipal government. I am also a product of this
community, and it is important that I give back to the
community that has afforded me many opportunities.
There are great opportunities ahead for the city to thrive
and prosper. I want to contribute to that future when I
am elected to City Council. I believe my experience and
record of service to the community will be invaluable to
my continued service to the citizens of Missouri City.
My top priorities would be improving public safety in
the city, developing sound economic development
practices, properly funding city services, ensuring fiscal
responsibility and addressing critical infrastructure needs,
such as improving mobility and drainage in the city.
MISSOURI CITY CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT B
JAPAULA KEMP
DON SMITH*
JaPaula Kemp is an attorney and
nine-year resident and homeowner
in Missouri City. Kemp serves on the
homeowners association for Olympia
Estates. For more information visit
www.kempforcitycouncil.com
Incumbent Don Smith was first elected
to City Council District B in 2001
where he served until 2007. He was
then appointed to the seat in 2010 to
fill a vacancy and was re-elected in
2013. For more information visit
www.donsmithdistrictb.com
Why are you seeking election to represent District B?
I am particularly concerned about equality in development
in certain areas of the city. I am capable of making
competent and strategic decisions with regard to growth
and development in the city. I will also remain committed
to being an advocate for the constituents of District B.
Incumbent Grayle James was elected to
the Fort Bend ISD board of trustees in
2012 and serves as its president. She
also served as assistant secretary on
the board. James is an 18-year resident
of Sugar Land. For more information
visit www.votegraylejames.com
Yu Kathy Li has lived in Sugar Land
since 2006. In 2013, Li opened a
preschool, The Goddard School
Sugar Land. Li has a background in
engineering, finance and education.
For more information visit
www.kathylifbisd.com
What would your top priorities be as a member of the FBISD board?
If elected, what would your top priorities be?
I will continue focusing on engaging my community in the
municipal process, advocating for my constituent needs,
assessing feasible ways to mitigate city expenses and
continuing to build a consortium for entrepreneurs and
small-business owners in Missouri City.
YU KATHY LI
I am seeking re-election because I have unfinished
business. I want to see Texas Parkway return to its
former state of acceptance. I want to see a [veterans]
memorial erected in the city. I would like to bring cultural
activity to the city and build a venue for these events.
My top priorities include the development of new
opportunities for students, such as the creation of
new courses, determining House Bill 5 pathways
and endorsements, and improving the Career and
Technology Education [Program]. Another priority is
the development of a robust technology plan that has
curriculum and instruction imbedded. My final priority
is exploring the development of an impactful and
intentional strategic plan based on the school district’s
goals and priorities.
My priorities are making sure teachers have the tools they
need to be effective and ensuring that we investigate and
evaluate what each child needs in order to be successful.
I would like to see the district expand the career and
technology programs so students who do not wish to attend
[a] university, or cannot afford to immediately go, have skills
that let them graduate and find employment that allows them
to live above the poverty level. I am also concerned about
what I have been hearing about discipline problems in the
classroom and the way that FBISD handles these children.
What are the main issues facing FBISD, and how would you address them?
The main issue facing our school district is the need for
continuous improvement in all areas of curriculum and
instruction. This includes addressing areas, such as
special education, [gifted and talented program] services,
bilingual education, career and technology education as
well as all grade levels of regular education. The school
district needs to upgrade its technology infrastructure, be
intentional in its professional development program and
develop leaders throughout FBISD.
The school district is facing many issues, such as
discipline, fiscal responsibility, transparency, campus
overcrowding and more. My family is very happy with
FBISD and we love the school district, but it might take
providing more quality training to teachers and staff
members, or it might mean spending more time talking
with and listening to the community. I am willing to work
with other board members and the administration closely
to formulate a plan and address these issues accordingly.
CITY OF SUGAR LAND, DISTRICTS 1,2,3,4
The city of Sugar Land’s City Council voted to cancel
the May 9 local election since the four positions up for
election—single-member districts 1, 2, 3 and 4—were
all uncontested.
At its March 17 meeting, City Council voted unanimously
to cancel the local election and declared the election for the
four incumbents who occupy the single-member districts.
By canceling the election, the city is saving an estimated
$32,000, Deputy City Secretary Robin Hicks said.
Steve Porter, Bridget Yeung, Amy Mitchell and Harish
Jajoo will retain their seats as City Council members for
Districts 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively.
Under the Sugar Land Charter, the mayor and council
members can serve up to four consecutive two-year
terms. The mayor and at-large positions are elected in
even-numbered years, and district positions are elected
in odd-numbered years. City Council consists of a mayor
and six council members.
REGISTERING TO VOTE, FORT BEND COUNTY
If elected, what would your top priorities be?
75
121
289
FRONTIER PKWY.
The city must improve its public safety compensation
package. The Police Department deserves competitive
salaries and incentives. This is a high priority for me.
Also, I will continue to work toward bringing commerce
to the city and increase the well-being of the citizens.
Find a registration form online at: www.fortbendcountytx.gov
Voter registration applications are available at all post offices, city halls and libraries within Fort Bend County. The
form must be returned in person to the Elections Administration Department at 4520 Reading Road, Ste. A-400,
Rosenberg, or by mail to 301 Jackson St., Richmond 77469. Completed applications must be returned or postmarked
by the 30th day before the election in which you desire to vote.
McKinney
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My top priorities include creating transparency and
accountability in city government, creating equality
in future development, finding ways to cut costs that
would benefit all residents and to be accessible and
available to all my constituents.
PRESIDENT G
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17
Sugar Land | Missouri City Edition • April 2015
DESIGNED BY SHAWN EPPS
IMPORTANT DATES
Voter registration deadline: April 9
First day of in-person early voting: April 27
Last day to apply for ballot by mail (received, not postmarked): April 30
Last day of in-person early voting: May 5
COMPLETE COVERAGE AT IMPACTNEWS.COM/VOTE-HOUSTON-METRO
ELECTION DAY: MAY 9, 2015
Compiled by David Pollan | *Incumbent
POLLING LOCATIONS
FORT BEND ISD SCHOOL BOARD, POSITION 6
JENNY BAILEY*
JJ CLEMENCE
Incumbent Jenny Bailey is completing her first term as a trustee
for the Fort Bend ISD school board after being elected in 2012.
Bailey has lived in Fort Bend County for 16 years as a resident of
First Colony. Her professional experience includes 14 years in the
financial industry, in which she specialized in retirement planning
services that included teacher retirement annuities. For more
information visit www.jennybaileyfbisd.com
JJ Clemence has lived in FBISD for eight years. Clemence is
a financial analyst, reporting account manager and business
development manager at Spectra Energy. She has more than
10 years of financial, operational and fraud auditing experience
for various industries, which includes oil and gas and financial
services. She is also a certified auditor. For more information visit
www.jjclemence.com
If elected, what would your top priorities be as a member of the FBISD school board?
My top priorities are to ensure that all FBISD graduates have the skills they need to be
workforce or college-ready and to help expand career and technical course offerings.
My other priorities include the proper implementation of House Bill 5 and to provide
curriculum and course offerings that are consistent at each grade level for all schools
across the district.
As a certified financial auditor with more than 10 years of experience, I will make sure
that all taxpayer dollars are used in the most effective and efficient manner. I will
provide sufficient resources to attract and retain high-quality teachers and ensure
that our students are prepared for global competition. I will ensure that all parents,
teachers and students have a voice and that their voice is heard. You can depend on
me to listen and to make decisions that will benefit all FBISD students.
What are the main issues facing the district, and how would you address them if elected?
Education bills and school funding plans being proposed during the 84th Legislative
session are issues that I am closely following. Other major issues facing the district
include the execution of the $484 million bond and increasing the academic
achievement in our underperforming schools. I will continue to closely follow the
activities of the Bond Oversight Committee. I will also review ongoing efforts by the
administration to implement effective management at our underperforming schools.
ADDIE HEYLIGER
Some of the main issues facing the district are to ensure the academic success of
all students and to effectively manage the significant population growth the district
is experiencing. As for academic success I would like our long-term planning to
focus on closing the achievement gap while also increasing academic rigor. To
manage the growth it is important that we develop and review a solid long-term
facilities plan for the district.
STUART JACKSON
Addie Heyliger has been a resident of Fort Bend County for the
past 13 years. Heyliger is a technology operations project manager
for CenterPoint Energy and is an adjunct professor at Houston
Community College. She is also a certified project management
professional. Heyliger has previously served as a board member
for the Gulf Coast Warriors organization. For more information visit
www.advocateaddie.com
Stuart Jackson has been a resident of Fort Bend County for more
than 20 years. He has served as vice president of his municipal
utility district and is involved in an academic thinktank, which was
initiated by the FBISD administration. Jackson has experience
working for large companies and small consulting and software
ventures. He started his own software company in 2002. For more
information visit www.votestuartjackson.com
If elected, what would your top priorities be as a member of the FBISD school board?
My top priorities will be the implementation of House Bill 5, instituting career pathways
equitably across all schools and the implementation of the new school zoning. I will
work to understand the current Department of Justice investigation and how we as a
school district can improve and find alternate methods to deal with the disciplining of
our students. It is also my priority to craft procedures for due process in changing the
location of academy programs and for the closing of academy programs.
My top priorities are to recognize and embrace the cultural diversity of FBISD, and to
empower parents, teachers and administrators through predictable policies and local
decision-making. I will promote policies that empower administrators and teachers to
engage parents and students when determining curriculum and programs. This would
result in a challenging environment where every student can pursue their dreams, leading
to a more fiscally sound, responsive and safe learning environment for all students.
What are the main issues facing the district, and how would you address them if elected?
One issue facing the district is the need to implement due process policies for the
changing and removal of the district’s academy programs. There needs to be equal
disciplinary actions for all students who commit similar offenses. There also needs to
be equitable distribution of resources to all schools across the district. I will work to
increase technology use in our schools to foster a 21st-century environment and work
to promote the creation of a learning environment at all the schools.
The primary issue facing FBISD is the provision of a fiscally responsible, challenging
and predictable educational experience that embraces the qualities and aspirations of
all students. We need to set up a system that would allow each school to optimize their
curriculum and programming. Technology is also integral, and FBISD needs to develop
a long-term vision that embeds technology into every aspect of the educational
process so that students are ready to more effectively compete.
Registered voters in Fort Bend County can cast their
ballot at any vote center within the county during
early voting. On Election Day*, however, voters may
only cast a ballot in their precinct’s assigned polling
location. For a complete list of Fort Bend County
polling locations and to view early voting hours at
each location, visit www.fortbendcountytx.gov.
EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS
Beasley City Hall
319 S. Third St., Beasley
First Colony Conference Center
3232 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land
Fort Bend County Road and Bridge-Needville
3743 School St., Needville
Fort Bend County Rosenberg Annex Building
4520 Reading Road, Rosenberg
Fort Bend ISD Administration Building
16431 Lexington Blvd., Sugar Land
Four Corners Community Center
15700 Old Richmond Road, Sugar Land
Hightower High School
3333 Hurricane Lane, Missouri City
Irene Stern Community Center
6920 Katy Fulshear Road, Fulshear
James Bowie Middle School
700 Plantation Drive, Richmond
Lost Creek Park
3703 Lost Creek Blvd., Sugar Land
Meadows Place City Hall
1 Troyan Drive, Meadows Place
Missouri City Community Center
1522 Texas Parkway, Missouri City
Quail Valley Fund Office
3603 Glen Lakes, Missouri City
Randalls-New Territory
5800 New Territory Blvd., Sugar Land
Richmond Water Maintenance Facility
110 N. Eighth St., Richmond
Sienna Branch Library
8411 Sienna Springs Blvd., Missouri City
Stafford City Hall
2610 Main St., Stafford
Stafford MSD Administration Building
1625 Staffordshire Road, Stafford
Sugar Land Branch Library
550 Eldridge Road, Sugar Land
Willowridge High School
16301 Chimney Rock Road, Houston
*As of press time the county had not released
precinct polling locations for Election Day.
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Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com
CALENDAR
18
April
04
The LockTite Difference
Cooled, Heated & Dehumidified Units to provide the best environment for
your belongings.
Dog lovers are invited to bring their
four-legged friends to Sienna Plantation
to enjoy a day of performances, including
frisbee and dance acts by the Houston
Disc Dogs. Local food vendors, carnival
games and face painting are available for
families and attendees. Families also have
an opportunity to adopt a vaccinated and
spayed or neutered dog benefiting Hunting 4
Love Pet Project and SAVE Rescue Coalition.
As a part of the carnival, Sienna Plantation
is displaying art from award-winning metal
sculptor Dale Rogers. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free.
Sienna Plantation Amphitheater,
9600 Scanlan Trace, Missouri City.
281-778-7777. www.siennaplantation.com
Old Fashion Easter and
Historical Lunch
The George Ranch Historical Park invites
families to celebrate Easter with different
games and egg-painting events. Families
and attendees have a chance to participate
in an old-fashioned egg roll, Victorian egg
decorating and the annual Easter egg hunt.
A Victorian Easter brunch is provided and
requires registration before the event. 9 a.m.
$15 (adults age 13 and older), $12 (children
ages 5-12), $4 (children age 4 and younger).
George Ranch Historical Park, 10215 FM 762,
Richmond. 281-343-0218.
www.georgeranch.org
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Wine and Food Affair
More than 10,000 food and wine lovers
attend the annual event hosted by the
Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce and
the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel
and Restaurant Management at the
University of Houston. Chefs showcase
their culinary dishes while participants
can sample a wide selection of wine
and spirits. Times vary. $5 (shuttle), $50
(bistro brunch), $65 (sip and stroll), $150
(grand tasting), $225 (VIP admission to all
events). Locations vary. 281-491-0800.
www.sugarlandwineandfoodaffair.com
18
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
& Rock
The city of Sugar Land celebrates Earth Day
with an annual event that features different
recycling services, live entertainment and
environmental education exhibits. Keep
Sugar Land Beautiful, an organization that
promotes protection of the Sugar Land
environment, is accepting cell phones
to recycle and eyeglasses for reuse by
Recycle for Sight. Attendees can stop by
different information booths, including water
conservation, waste reduction and tree care.
On-site paper shredding is provided by
Proshred of Houston. 1-5 p.m. Free.
2711 Town Center Blvd. N., Sugar Land.
281-275-2700.
www.sugarlandtownsquare.com
18
Superhero Run
The Missouri City Department of
Parks and Recreation hosts its first
Superhero 5K Run. Proceeds raised during
the race benefit Stand Up 2 Cancer, a
foundation dedicated to cancer research.
The course begins at the Missouri City Civic
Center Complex and finishes at Hunter’s Trail
Park. The event closes with a post-race party
that includes breakfast and entertainment.
8:30 a.m. $15 (children ages 10-17), $25
(adults). Missouri City Civic Center Complex,
1522 Texas Parkway, Missouri City.
281-403-8500. www.active.com
Canine carnival
18
Lone Star Stomp
18
through 19
‘Coppelia!’
19
Walk of Hope
26
Strike Out Autism
The Fort Bend County Museum
Association hosts its 26th annual fundraising
gala to raise money for the education
programs and historical preservation efforts
of the museum. Attendees enjoy live music
and dancing as well as live, silent and
quick draw auctions. 6:30-11:30 p.m. $75
(single ticket), $250 (two VIP admission
tickets), $500 (four tickets including two
VIP admission), $800 (full-reserved tables
including two VIP admission). George Ranch
Historical Park, 10215 FM 762, Richmond.
281-342-1256. www.fortbendmuseum.org
The Missouri City Ballet performs ‘Coppelia!,’
a comedic ballet originally choreographed by
Arthur Saint Leon. The production surrounds
the antics of a doll created by a toymaker.
The Missouri City Ballet production is
directed by Artistic Director Sharon Teague.
The ballet also hosts “Cookies with Coppelia”
which allows audience members to take
photos and eat cookies with the company
before the final show. 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
(April 18), 2 p.m. (April 19). $17 (adult
admission to show and “Cookies with
Coppelia”), $15 (children age 12 and under to
show and “Cookies with Coppelia’),
$12 (adult), $10 (children age 12 and under).
Stafford Civic Center, 1415 Constitution Ave.,
Stafford. 888-718-4253.
www.missouricityballet.org
Hosted by RESOLVE: The National
Infertility Association, an organization
promoting reproductive health for men
and women, the one-mile event invites the
Sugar Land community to raise awareness
of infertility and how it affects families.
Donations raised during the event benefit
different support groups and education
resources. 8 a.m.-noon. Free. Sugar Land
Town Square, 2700 Town Center Blvd. N.,
Sugar Land. 713-556-7172. www.resolve.org
Hope For Three, a local nonprofit
promoting Autism awareness, hosts its
third annual event to commemorate Autism
Awareness Month in partnership with the
Sugar Land Skeeters, Fort Bend County
Judge Robert Hebert and various Fort Bend
County mayors and elected officials. The
event is a part of the organization’s family
resources program dedicated to help fund
100 families living with autism to spend
19
Sugar Land | Missouri City Edition • April 2015
Compiled by Connor Hyde
Worth the TRIP
ns Music
Sessio
May
01
Courtesy Pearland Convention and Visitor’s Bureau
Fort Bend Cares invites golfers to participate
in a competitive four-ball, stroke-play
tournament in an effort to raise funds for the
charity. Golfers are paired with partners with
similar handicaps and play their own ball.
However, each team records the best shots
of each hole throughout the tournament.
Food and drinks are provided as well as
prizes. An awards ceremony takes place
following the final round. 10 a.m. (May 1),
8 a.m. (May 2). $5,000 (registration sponsor),
$4,000 (lunch sponsor), $3,000 (welcome
sponsor), $2,000 (gift sponsor), $1,500
(hospitality sponsor), $400 (teams of two).
Fort Bend County Country Club,
2627 FM 762, Richmond. 832-819-2005.
www.fortbendcares.org
02
APR
10
Courtesy Sugar Land Heritage Foundation
The Sugar Land Garden Club
presents its 16th annual garden tour. The
event showcases eight distinctive lawns and
gardens picked from select areas in Venetian
Estates. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $15. Venetian Estates,
Sugar Land. 281-242-1773.
www.sugarlandgardenclub.org
03
The Sugar Land Heritage Foundation
hosts the historical competition in which
teams follow clues on a tour of the city’s
historical and iconic landmarks. Each
team receives a list of clues and is given
three hours to solve the scavenger hunt
with the winning team receiving a brick
recovered from the former Imperial Sugar
Factory as well as having its team name
displayed in the Sugar Land Heritage
Foundation Museum. An after-party
follows the event with food and drinks
provided. 1:30-6:30 p.m. $30 (individual),
$1,000 (team). Fort Bend Toyota, 20465
Hwy. 59, Sugar Land. 281-494-0261.
www.slheritage.org
04
Hands and Hearts 2015 Golf
Tournament
Community members are invited to
participate in the 14th annual tournament
and fundraiser. An awards ceremony, a silent
auction and dinner takes place after the
tournament. 11 a.m. $150-$175 (per player).
Sugar Creek Country Club, 420 Sugar Creek
Blvd., Sugar Land. 713-304-3247.
www.handsandheartsfoundation.org
through 12
Pearland Crawfish
Festival
’S BRA
I
FACT #1
FACT #2
Music stimulates the brain
regions involved in rewards
and emotions. Music is a
fun, awesome exercise
that helps improve your self
esteem.
Kids who study music are
better at picking up foreign
languages and detecting
speech in noise, even if they
have only studied briefly.
Music rewards the brain.
Learn to actually listen.
The city of Pearland invites families to
enjoy a day of Cajun seafood, carnival
rides and live music. Special events
include a crawfish eating contest
between the Pearland fire and police
departments. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
(Fri.-Sat.), 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (Sun.).
$21 (three-day pass), $16 (pre-order
three-day pass), $8 (pre-order adult),
$6 (adult), Free (children age 12
and younger). Pearland Parks and
Recreation Grounds, 4141 Bailey Road,
Pearland. 281-802-2625.
www.pearlandcrawfishfestival.com
Spring garden tour
Discovery Sugar Land
Scavenger Hunt
ID
K
and 2
Open Championship Golf
Tournament
MUSIC
AND YOUR
N
a day at Constellation Field before the
Skeeters take the field against the Lancaster
Barnstormers. 11 a.m. $12. Constellation
Field, 1 Stadium Drive, Sugar Land.
281-245-0642. www.hopeforthree.com
Featured EVENTS
FACT #3
Sugar Land Town Square
2700 Town Center Blvd. N.
Sugar Land • 281-276-6000
www.sugarlandtownsquare.com
Do better in school.
Studies show that children
involved in music education
demonstrate
improved
reading skills, math abilities,
and overall stronger cognitive
development. SAT takers
who studied music scored 47
and 43 points higher on their
verbal math tests than their
non-musical counterparts
April
03 Magic in the Plaza, 7 p.m.
04 Movie under the Moon, 8 p.m.
09 Sugar Land JR Star Auditions, 5:30 p.m.
10 Giving Spirits concert series, 7:30 p.m.
11 Annual Corvette car show, 10 a.m.
17 Dancing under the Stars, 7:30 p.m.
24 Live Music in the Plaza, 7:30 p.m.
25 Rhythm and blues, 7:30 p.m.
May
01 Giving Spirits concert series, 7:30 p.m.
02 Sugar Land JR Superstar Finale, 7 p.m.
NURTURE YOUR KIDS
BRAIN AT SESSIONS MUSIC!
$25 MUSIC LESSON TRIALS!
Online Calendar
Sugar Land
2115 Lone Star Dr
Find more or submit Sugar Land/
Missouri City events at
impactnews.com/slm-calendar
To have Sugar Land/Missouri City
events considered for the print edition,
they must be submitted online by the
second Friday of the month.
281-240-1129
www.sessionsmusic.com/sugar-land
SOURCES:
http://www.wannaplaymusic.com/why-play-music/kids-teens
http://www.nature.com/neuro/journal/v10/n4/abs/nn1872.html
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090316075843.htm
http://pss.sagepub.com/content/15/8/511.short
20
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com
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21
Sugar Land | Missouri City Edition • April 2015
Keeping the Brazos flowing
The 840-mile Brazos River is the longest river in Texas and
stretches from Llano Estacado to the Gulf of Mexico. The river
and its tributaries, which make up the Brazos River basin, provide
6.75 billion gallons of water each year for cities, agriculture,
industry, mining and recreational activities. The Brazos has 19
major reservoirs and is dammed in three places. Communities
downstream in Galveston, Brazoria and Fort Bend counties
have seen water shortages because of an ongoing drought that
began in 2008, which has caused low water levels in the Brazos.
Texas Water
Morris sheppard dam
AT POSSUM KINGDOM LAKE
Organizations
dallas
Lower Brazos River
Coalition
de cordova bend dam
Courtesy Texas Parks and Wildlife
rec
Upstream
re at i
o n a l wat e r us
what it is
waco
AT LAKE GRANBURY
The grass-roots organization was
created to protect water interests for
users along the lower Brazos.
sterling c.robertson dam
AT LAKE LIMESTONE
goals
Examine policies that hold water
upstream for recreational interests
houston
ers
Encourage water conservation and
drought management
freeport
Support the watermaster program
Upstream dams and reservoirs, including
Possum Kingdom Lake, control river flow.
Upstream advocates want to protect
the recreational use of water at lakefront
properties in their area.
Drought
Continued from | 1
judge and chair of the Lower Brazos River
Coalition. “We want to make sure the river’s limited resources can be used for the
benefits of all.”
Local activists formed the LRBC in late
January in an attempt to combat such
restrictions, advocate for the fair allocation
of river water and represent water users in
the lower Brazos region, as water resources
are expected to become even scarcer.
“For the last two years, our agriculture
producers have not received water unless
they were senior holders,” Sebesta said.
“Some of the water set aside for recreational use upstream would be more beneficial downstream.”
Local drought effects
About 60 percent of the water used in
Fort Bend County, mainly by the county’s
cities and municipalities, comes from
groundwater sources via the Gulf Coast
Aquifer. The Brazos River provides most
of the alternative sources of water to Fort
Bend County, which is water used for
manufacturing, mining, irrigation, steamelectric and livestock purposes.
However, the county’s reliance on
groundwater is expected to decrease due
to mandatory restrictions implemented by
the Fort Bend Subsidence District, which
will in turn increase the county’s need for
surface water from the Brazos, according to
the Texas Water Development Board.
The FBSD mandate was approved in September 2003 and required areas of the county
to convert to 30 percent surface water by
2014 and 60 percent by 2025. The mandate
was based on the legislature’s requirement
to reduce groundwater pumping that causes
Courtesy Lower Brazos River Coalition
possum kingdom lake
Downstream
sen
ior water holders
major water rights holders
Several major water users exist downstream
of the Brazos River near the Gulf Coast,
including the Gulf Coast Water Authority and
the 73-year-old Dow Chemical Co. Plant in
Freeport, which is the largest water user on
the Brazos. As the two oldest water rights
holders on the Brazos, their water needs
are considered a priority.
subsidence, the lowering of the land-surface
elevation, which can lead to flooding and
damage to infrastructure, FBSD General
Manager Mike Turco said.
The ongoing drought paired with future
increased water demands due to expected
population increase by 2060, has compounded the issue of increasing surface
water uses for the county.
“The drought has really exposed the Brazos River as maybe not being as reliable
as we had hoped it would be as a future
supply for surface water,” Turco said. “The
river has been hit very hard by the drought.
There’s still a water shortage there, and the
drought is still an issue with the Brazos that
we are dealing with every day.”
A gauge measuring river height in Richmond for the BRA showed record-low levels in 2013 and 2014, with levels generally
hovering around 10-12 feet.
Despite being limited by the low water
levels in the Brazos, Turco said the county
is seeking alternate options to find additional water supplies while also reducing
its reliance on groundwater.
“The plan is to move water from other
basins into Fort Bend County,” he said.
“The county is also looking at a lot of other
options like wastewater reuse and doing
whatever it can to maximize the amount of
water it has because the Brazos River does
have some limitations.”
Brazos Watermaster
brazos river basin
Brazos watermaster area
Upper region
Central region
Lower region
Major reservoir
Dam
Watermaster program
After establishing the Brazos Watermaster Program in response to record-low
river levels, the TCEQ appointed Molly
Mohler to serve as watermaster in January. Mohler formerly served as a water
specialist with the Concho River Watermaster Program.
A 15-person Brazos Watermaster Advisory Committee was appointed by TCEQ
in March and will take effect May 10,
Wheeler said. Members include representatives from the GCWA and the BRA.
The watermaster’s coverage area starts
at Possum Kingdom Lake in Palo Pinto
County and extends south along the Brazos
River until it reaches the Gulf of Mexico.
In June, Mohler and her team will begin
monitoring and enforcing water rights
for the 900 rights holders along this tract.
The watermaster will also monitor surface
water use on a day-to-day basis.
“With the system we have in place,
there is just no way to monitor who is
taking water and how much,” said Amy
Settemeyer, TCEQ’s watermaster sections
manager. “The watermaster program will
require all users to purchase instruments to
measure the water they use, which our staff
will check through regular patrols.”
Water rights will be enforced on the
basis of seniority, TCEQ officials said. As
the oldest water rights holder on the Brazos, the GCWA—the agency that represents water users in Fort Bend, Brazoria
and Galveston counties—will have priority in times of scarcity. Water rights for
junior holders could be suspended, except
for municipalities and power plants,
which are exempt.
Program
900
water rights
holders
in watermaster
coverage area
42
counties
under the
watermaster
program
–$800,000
$500,000
estimated annual cost
of the watermaster program
Other Organizations
Brazos River Authority develops and
manages the water resources for the entire
Brazos River basin.
Gulf Coast Water Authority provides
water for industry, agriculture and
municipalities in Brazoria, Fort Bend and
Galveston counties.
Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality is the environmental agency for
the state of Texas.
Sources: BRA, LBRC, TCEQ
Grass-roots effort
The LBRC has seen growing support
since it formed in January, including from
the BRA and the GCWA.
Coalition members have communicated
concerns to legislators in Austin with regard
to keeping the river flowing downstream.
The coalition officially opposes legislation
that cuts funding for the watermaster program, holds more water upstream or reclassifies recreational water use to give it equal
priority. Several bills were filed that took
aim at the BRA, but no bills have made it
through the committee process as of March.
“It’s not a cure-all, but it will help manage the water and help people fully understand the amount being pulled from the
river,” Sebesta said. “We’ve just been going
on the honor system in the past. We’re
here to explain the widespread use of that
river water for municipalities, agriculture,
industry and for habitats of birds and fish.”
For more information visit impactnews.com
22
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com
Sunday, April 26, 2015-
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Overlook plaza
Smart Financial
Centre at Sugar Land
PHASE 2
BY THE
NUMBERS
FESTIVAL SITE
Future UH campus
expansion
Festival site parking
$2.65 million
ACRES
lvd.
H
52
University of Houston
Sugar Land
9
5
Y
W
yB
Universit
Brazos
River
Park
23
LEGEND
Overflow parking
17 acres
PHASE 2
$7.50 million
Festival site
52 acres
76
ACRES
Parking lot
Restrooms
Canoe/kayak
Bike trail
Pavilion
Picnic area
Phase 2 limits
Proposed road
Walking trails/bike trails
MID LAKE
25 acres
Source: city of Sugar Land
$20.6 million
FROM PROP. 2 FUNDS
APPROVED IN
NOVEMBER 2013
2 miles
Event meadows
Mid Lake
OF EXTRA
HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS
Existing Sugar Land
Memorial Park
PHASE 1
Brazos River
PHASE 2
Map not to scale
Continued from | 1
Brazos River Park
Phase 2 is part of the city’s $31.5 million
parks bond package voters approved in
November 2013. The $12.3 million project
is slated to develop 76 acres of park land
adjacent to the University of Houston-Sugar
Land campus over the next three years, city
officials said.
Headed
by
Harpers
Brothers
Construction, Phase 2 will be delivered in
three parts and will include two miles of
hike and bike trails, 800 parking spaces
and an overlook plaza.
Chesser said the park land off Hwy. 59 is
also designed to provide various points for
residents to access the festival site and surrounding forest leading to the Brazos River.
“The good thing about the location off
Hwy. 59 is it has good access, it is not the
pristine type forest and it has been cleared,”
Chesser said. “It is an open and grassy area.
It lends itself to being developed.”
Phase 2 of the BRP development will also
include a variety of sport and recreational
water activities.
Fort Bend Green, a local nonprofit that
developed the BRP master plan, is working
with the Sugar Land Parks and Recreation
Department to identify different areas along
the Brazos River to build launch areas for
kayaking and canoeing.
“We are looking to have a launch site
every 12 to 15 miles, minimum,” said Kim
Icenhower, community liaison for Fort
Bend Green. “We would like to have shorter
legs in there. A lot of it right now is finding
sites we have permission to access and are
safe [for users] to get in and out of the river.”
Icenhower said canoeing and kayaking
along the river is not recommended for
beginners. However, the city of Sugar Land
is developing a 25-acre lake—Mid Lake—to
accommodate additional recreational and
leisure water activities as a part of Phase 2.
Mid Lake is partially excavated and is not
expected to be ready until 2018, Chesser
said. Once complete, the man-made lake
will provide a location for canoeing and kayaking beginners as well as an area for fishing. Mid Lake will also accommodate the
city’s annual dragon boat races in the future.
Festival site
The 52-acre adjacent outdoor festival site,
which is also funded through the Sugar Land
parks bond package, is being constructed
alongside Phase 2 of the BRP development.
The site is expected to host large city events,
such as the Fourth of July celebration and
other regional events.
“A lot of it is addressing the existing needs
we have now in terms of growth of the
community and activities,” Chesser said. “It
will allow more private groups to come to
the city and hold events here. It is a diverse
community that has interest in doing functions.”
Due to substantial growth of Sugar Land
events, the festival site will relieve overcrowding at other city parks and venues.
Chesser said the inclusion of the festival site in Phase 2 of the BRP development
provides a cushion between large events and
residential areas that will minimally affect
surrounding neighborhoods, such as Telfair
and Greatwood.
“This provides a location that is far
enough away from neighborhoods for large
crowds to not impact the area neighborhoods,” Chesser said.
Future development
With Phase 2 of the BRP development
and the festival site within proximity of
the future performing arts center—Smart
Financial Centre at Sugar Land—future
commercial and office development is projected to bring additional capital investment to the city, May said.
Although the city has not determined the
economic effects the festival site and the
BRP development would have, May said
the Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land,
which is being constructed through a partnership between the city and ACE Theatrical Group, could bring an estimated $26
million annually to the city and an estimated
$572 million over the next 20 years through
sales tax generated at live events and money
spent at surrounding retail locations.
“I think anytime you have a city that can
offer its residents and visitors the highest
quality of amenities, that is a really good
thing for us to do,” she said.
May said the city envisions development of another commercial center along
Hwy. 59 due to the regional events the
outdoor festival site and the Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land are projected
to attract.
The city is engaging in feasibility studies
to determine the types of commercial development and activities that would be ideal for
the area off Hwy. 59, including a potential
hotel and conference center, May said.
“We want to make sure the site is used in
a way that fully maximizes the site and is in
line with what our community wants it to
be,” she said.
Take the poll online at impactnews.com/slm-poll
Which Brazos River Park amenity outlined in Phase 2 will
you use most often?
24
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com
REAL ESTATE
FEATURED NEIGHBORHOOD
Nestled in the heart of Sugar Land, the historic
S M Williams neighborhood is located near
Hwy. 6, Hwy. 90, Hwy. 59, the site of the
Imperial redevelopment and Constellation Field.
S M Williams, 77498
Recent listings
Build-out year: 1920s
611 Main St. $190,000
2 Bedroom / 1 Bath 1,151 sq. ft.
Agent: Suzette Peoples
281-980-3322
Peoples Properties
146 Fourth St. $254,000
2 Bedroom / 2 Bath 1,410 sq. ft.
Agent: Annamaria Wise 832-863-4344
Wise Choice Realty Group
107 Sixth St. $259,000
2 Bedroom / 2 Bath
980 sq. ft.
Agent: Beth Hathorn 281-380-8784
Prestige Properties
719 Burney Road
$450,000
3 Bedroom / 3 Bath 1,465 sq. ft.
Agent: Matt Dietz
281-635-6081
Sugar Land Homes
The neighborhood features mature trees,
historic buildings and bodies of water. The
neighborhood is close to the city’s skate park
and a public swimming pool.
Students residing in the neighborhood attend
schools in Fort Bend ISD.
Square footage: 1,100-2,600 sq. ft.
Home values: $150,000-$450,00
HOA dues (estimated): none
69
99
90
Schools: Lakeview Elementary School,
Sugar Land Middle School, Kempner High School
Property taxes (in dollars):
Sugar Land
6
59
Missouri City
City of Sugar Land
Fort Bend Drainage
Fort Bend ISD
Fort Bend County General Fund
0.3159
0.0150
1.3400
0.4847
Total (per $100 value)
$2.16
Neighborhood data provided by
Cathy Stubbs
The Cathy Stubbs Team
281-340-4120
www.cathystubbs.com
Median
home value
$259,234
Median price
per square foot
Median annual
property taxes
$180
$5,573
Homes on
the market*
4
Homes under
contract*
Average days
on the market*
1
90
*As of 03/21/15
Although every effort has been made to ensure the timeliness and accuracy of this listing, Community Impact Newspaper assumes no liability for errors or omissions. Contact the property’s agent or seller for the most current information.
Market Data
On the market (March 2015)
Median price of homes sold
Price
Number of homes for sale/Average days on the market
Price Range
77459
77478
77479
77489
77498
$500,000
Less than $149,999
3/107
–
–
24/75
15/29
$450,000
$150,000–$199,999
17/30
2/23
4/36
7/44
12/39
$400,000
$200,000–$299,999
51/60
4/40
31/32
–
16/43
$300,000–$399,999
43/64
8/42
27/60
–
10/77
$400,000–$499,999
27/72
6/100
64/85
–
3/104
$500,000–$599,999
19/146
12/78
39/70
–
2/57
$150,000
$600,000–$799,999
43/137
10/62
32/54
–
2/110
$100,000
$800,000–$999,999
9/187
2/239
9/67
–
–
$50,000
$1 million +
6/83
3/113
27/97
–
–
77459
77478
March 2014 vs.
77479
March 2015
77489
77498
$350,000
$300,000
$250,000
$200,000
–
YOUR FORT BEND REAL ESTATE SOURCE
Helping clients reach their real estate goals
| Proven track record
SPECIALIZED SERVICE TEAM
Listing Specialists, Buyer Specialists, Transaction Coordinator, Marketing
Established in the community for 20 years
CONTACT US TODAY
281-340-4120
www.cathystubbs.com
Member of the distinguished KW Institute for Luxury Home International division
25
Sugar Land | Missouri City Edition • April 2015
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5.15.15
CELEBRATE
Pink in the Park
Celebrating Breast Cancer Survivors
Friday, May 15
6:15 p.m. – Pregame Survivor Ceremony
7:05 p.m. – First Pitch, Constellation Field
Join Memorial Hermann and the Sugar Land Skeeters for this
year’s Pink Out game in support of breast cancer awareness.
Early registrants will receive complimentary tickets,
and some 2,000 fans will receive a complimentary gift.
Wear your pink proudly and come support Sugar Land’s
favorite team – and a great cause.
For more information or to register, visit
memorialhermann.org/sugar-land-pink-in-the-park.
SUGAR LAND / MISSOURI CITY EDITION