Focus Friendswood
Focus Friendswood Volume 24 Number 3 www.friendswood.com | Summer 2011 Family Circle Magazine Places This Issue Friendswood in the Top 10 Page 2 low crime rate, affordable homes, quality Emergency Telephone schools, financial stability, access to health Notification System care, green space and volunteerism — and ranked them from top to bottom. Family Page 3 Circle selected the 10 winners from among Officer of the Year the highest-rated towns.
Page 4 According to Family Circle’s survey, the Keep Friendswood Beautiful a 10 Best Towns are: Silver Star Affiliate • St. Charles, Illinois Page 5 • Peachtree City, Georgia Storm Water Management • Liberty, Missouri Critical to our Creeks • Fairhope, Alabama • Friendswood, TX Page 6 riendswood, Texas has been named #5 • Novi, Michigan Friendswood Volunteer Fire Fon the list of 10 best towns for families • Trumbull, Connecticut Department, EMS Earn Award in the United States, according to Family • Germantown, Wisconsin Circle magazine. Friendswood is the only • Oviedo, Florida Page 7 town in Texas to receive this designation. • Maple Valley, Washington Teen Court The results of the comprehensive survey appear in Family Circle’s August 2011 issue, The article describes Friendswood Page 8 on newsstands now. as a community rich with academic 2011 Flood Awareness Update ambition, support for our kids, beautiful With the help of Onboard Informatics, a neighborhoods, and specifically cited Page 10 New York City research firm that provides real Friendswood’s new Veterans Memorial Library Corner estate, demographic and other data, Family adjacent to City Hall as an example of one Circle initially assembled a list of 2,500 cities of our community’s “good deeds”. Page 12 and towns with populations between 15,000 Distinguished Budget and 150,000 and assessed which places best Presentation Award met the family-friendly criteria—including Five Star City of Friendswood’s Emergency Spirit Award Telephone Notification System
he City of Friendswood utilizes the situations. The following represents only TFirstCall Emergency Notification a partial list of situations in which it may System to provide emergency notifications used: concerning weather and other local • Evacuations information over the telephone within • Flood emergencies minutes to all residents of Friendswood. • Severe Weather • Hazardous material spills What is FirstCall? • Major water breaks FirstCall provides a unique 24-hour • Orders to Boil Water telephone notification system to all Friendswood residents. FirstCall will Unlisted telephones and cell phone users provide citizens and businesses with Since unlisted/private and cellular critical information, warnings and telephone numbers are not included in advisories concerning area emergencies commercially available databases, citizens and other critical incidents within the are encouraged to register these numbers. city. By using a series of computers There are several ways to register: and recorded voice messages, FirstCall rapidly and efficiently contacts citizens Kabiri with City Manager Roger Roecker and businesses by telephone to provide emergency information. he Five Star Spirit Award recipient
for the First quarter of 2011 is T Why is FirstCall important to you? Morad Kabiri. Morad is the Director of FirstCall provides a quick method to the Community Development Depart- reach residents with pertinent emergency ment. He began his career with the City information. It allows citizens of in late 2007 as the Deputy Director Friendswood to take immediate positive of Community Development. In July actions to protect themselves in case of 2008, he was named the Interim Director an emergency; and it saves valuable time, of Community of Development and effort, and money. Most importantly, it was promoted to Director of CDD in saves lives. FirstCall also permits emergency September 2009. response agencies to focus on other activities to bring the emergency under control, Morad received numerous nominations anytime during the day or night. Call the FirstCall Network’s registration from residents and developers alike that line at 866-484-3264. This process is very cited the assistance he provides to citizens, How does FirstCall operate? user-friendly. the work he puts in with the Planning and FirstCall provides the operators, Zoning Commission and the Galveston telephone circuits, computers, and other Using the City of Friendswood’s County Consolidated Drainage District, programs to run an emergency notification website, put in the flowing link: www. and his generally courteous nature. He system/service. If an event threatens ci.friendswood.tx.us/FirstCall. There is was also recognized for the attention to Friendswood, police, fire, medical, and an option shown “Click here to register”. detail he provides when working with the other city services will respond to evaluate This option takes you to a screen where development community on a day-to-day the problem. If needed, key personnel you can enter and submit the required basis. can initiate the activation of FirstCall. information. Once contacted, the FirstCall operator We appreciate the service that Morad immediately begins the notification If registering using web registration, Kabiri has provided this community very process to affected areas. This process simply log on to www.firstcall.net click much, and we congratulate him on being takes only minutes to complete. on Unlisted Registration, fill out the form the recipient of the Five Star Spirit Award and click submit. for the first quarter of 2011. When is FirstCall used? FirstCall may be used for different 2 | Focus on Friendswood Officer Kevin Crouch is “Officer of the Year”
Officer Crouch has worked to to coordinate directed patrol efforts to implement a number of programs for the reduce speeding in residential areas and to community, including a Rape Aggression address problem houses where nuisances Defense for women, a program designed exist or breaches of the peace occur. to raise the situational awareness of women and to provide women with the capability Officer Crouch is a 12-year veteran of to fight off an attack. Since this program’s law enforcement. He began his career with inception in 2008, Officer Crouch and his the Freeport Police Department in 1999, team have hosted and/or instructed more joined the ranks of the Friendswood Police than 10 four-day classes, including two for Department in 2002 and became the adolescents. Crime Prevention Officer in 2006. Officer Crouch is an Advanced Peace Officer and Officer Crouch is a certified child- a Crime Prevention Inspector. He is also safety seat technician and a lead instructor a veteran of the United States Army and for the National Highway Traffic Safety served During Operation Desert Shield Administration. He routinely educates and Desert Storm as a combat engineer. the public in this subject matter and has He currently serves as president of the coordinated and participated in numerous Friendswood Police Officers Association, Officer Kevin Crouch safety seat events and inspections. He is an and is married to Dijana, his wife of 15 instructor for Safe Kids Greater Houston years. riendswood Police Officer Kevin and also conducts classes and training on FCrouch was awarded the Fifty bicycle safety and safe babysitting. He Congratulations to Kevin Crouch for Club of Galveston County’s Officer of also teaches Internet Cyber Safety to the this well deserved honor. the Year Award at their 40th Annual students attending schools in the City of Luncheon in May, at Moody Gardens Friendswood. in Galveston. Officer Crouch has served with the Friendswood Police Department In addition, Officer Crouch serves since 2002. He is being recognized for as the police department’s liaison to outstanding law enforcement efforts and homeowners’ associations, revitalizing the his extensive accomplishments in Crime Neighborhood Watch program in several Prevention. subdivisions. He has also helped
Focus of Friendswood Summer 2011 Published by the City of Friendswood City Manager’s Office It is the Mission of the Council and Staff of the City of Friendswood to provide the highest level of service to our citi- Mayor David J.H. Smith zens at the greatest value. Mayor Pro Tem Jim Hill Council Position 1 Mike Barker Council Position 2 Billy Enochs Adopted: July 9, 1990 Council Position 4 Patrick J. McGinnis Revised: January 4, 1993 Council Position 5 John Scott Revised: August 18, 1997 Council Position 6 Deirdre Carey Brown Revised: January 12, 2004
Focus on Friendswood | 3 Keep Friendswood Beautiful Recognized as Silver Star Affiliate by Keep Texas Beautiful
a Silver Star Affiliate, a designation conferred on just a handful of Keep Texas Beautiful’s more than 360 affiliates in 2011. Gold Star recognition is the highest status any community affiliate can achieve. Friendswood was recognized during its 44th Annual Conference in downtown Austin, which was held June 20-23, 2011.
Keep Friendswood Beautiful was recognized for successfully implementing programs to prevent litter, reduce waste, beautify community areas and educate local citizens last year. Keep Friendswood Beautiful members this year include Sherry Goen, John T. Merrifield, Kaye Corey, Gail Rodgers, Patricia Steinke, Paul Marx, Martha Cotton, Frank Garza, Loretta Murphy, Mary Stockwell, Susan eep Texas Beautiful, a statewide Delcambre, and Susan Stephens. Susan Stephens, Keep Friendswood Beautiful Kgrassroots environmental and com- For more information on how to board member, Community Services Admini- munity improvement organization, recently volunteer for the City of Friendswood, strative Assistant Kimberly Ramirez, and named Keep Friendswood Beautiful please call 281-996-3270. Sherry Goen, Chair of KFB recently attended the Keep Texas Beautiful conference in Austin.
City Breaks Ground on New Animal Control Facility
The existing Animal Control Facility 1322 Deepwood next to the Public Works was built in 1986. It is approximately Building, off Whispering Pines. 1,000 square feet and holds just ten dog kennels and nine cat cages.
Once complete, the new shelter will hold some 30 dog kennels, 45 cat cages, and is four times larger than the current facility, allowing for adoption rooms, space for volunteers and quarantine areas. This $1 million dollar project is being funded with the City’s reserve funds for n the morning of May 17, Capital Improvements and is scheduled to OFriendswood’s Mayor, City Council, open late this year. City Staff, and members of Friendswood’s Animal Shelter Advisory Committee The City advertises adoptable animals broke ground on the City’s newest capital on our website, www.friendswood.com, project: a new Animal Control Facility to and as always, residents can visit adoptable serve Friendswood. animals at our current shelter, located at 4 | Focus on Friendswood Storm Water Management Critical to Our Creeks
he Texas Commission on Environ- Friendswood’s City Staff monitors and residents are always encouraged to Tmental Quality (TCEQ) developed a new construction sites throughout the city keep their lawns and driveways as clean as storm water program to significantly reduce on a daily basis in addition to investigating possible. the pollutants discharged from cities and complaints related to pollutants and any urban areas. The City of Friendswood is other situation in which excessive debris Because most storm drain systems do categorized in Phase II of the program, is being discharged into the storm water not provide any treatment to the water being a municipality with less than system. they collect, preventing contamination 100,000 citizens. of storm water is critically important or Runoff from rainstorms picks up polluted runoff will be discharged into the The program is currently underway pollutants like sediment, oil and grease, water bodies we use for swimming, fishing and is designed to reduce the discharge of nitrogen and phosphorus, and other and drinking water. pollutants to the maximum extent practi- chemicals and carries them into storm cable, protect the water quality, effectively drains or directly into water bodies. It For more information on storm prohibit illicit discharges to the system is very important to make sure that water management, contact John Harrist, and to satisfy the appropriate water qual- contaminants like this do not find their Storm Water Coordinator, at the City of ity requirements of the Clean Water Act. way into Friendswood’s storm drains, Friendswood at 281-996-3236. Mosquitoes: Fight the Bite!
osquito prevention can be divided Mosquito protection should remain • Avoid applying repellents to portions of Minto two areas of responsibility: an important awareness when outdoors. children’s hands that are likely to have individual and public. Knowing how to Mosquito repellants can be a safe and contact with eyes or the mouth. eliminate potential breeding grounds can effective way to protect yourself and • Wash repellent-treated skin after coming prevent breeding of mosquitoes in your your loved ones so that you can still indoors. own yard. Mosquitoes lay up to 250 eggs enjoy outdoor activities. When choosing at a time in still water, which will hatch a mosquito repellent, there are a wide Remember that the family pet is just in seven to ten days. If standing water is variety of options to choose from. Many as susceptible to mosquito bites as we are, eliminated, many mosquitoes will be kept repellents contain a chemical, N, and should be protected according to their from breeding in the first place, reducing N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET), which needs. Check with your local veterinarian the need to use pesticides against adult repels the mosquito, making the person for safe and effective repellents for your mosquitoes. This also reduces the number unattractive for feeding. DEET does not pets. Persons who are concerned about of mosquitoes around the house. kill mosquitoes; it just makes them unable using DEET or other products on to locate us. DEET has been tested children may wish to consult their health These are some things you can do to against a variety of biting insects and has care physician. The National Pesticide reduce the mosquito population: been shown to be very effective. The more Information Center (NPIC) can also • Check for items that might hold water, DEET a repellent contains the longer time provide information through a toll-free including wheelbarrows, tires, hubcaps, it can protect you from mosquito bites. A number, 1-800-858-7378. toys, garden equipment, pool covers, higher percentage of DEET in a repellent tarps, plastic sheeting, pipes, drains, does not mean that your protection is Responsibility for handling mosquito boats, recycling bins, and trash. better, just that it will last longer. control in Friendswood is at the County • Remove standing water that may be level. For more information or to report frequently caught when watering Here are some helpful hints to follow a location that needs to be sprayed for plants, and from rainfall. The common when using repellents: mosquitoes, call: areas are: rain gutters, wading pools, • Apply repellent sparingly, only to Galveston County Mosquito flowerpots, plant saucers, puddles, exposed skin or clothing. Control District buckets, jars and cans. • Avoid applying high-concentration 1-800-842-5622 or 281-534-2726 • Stock ornamental ponds with fish that (over 30 percent DEET) products to the Harris County Mosquito Control feed on mosquito larvae. skin, particularly children. 713-440-4800.
Focus on Friendswood | 5 Friendswood Volunteer Fire Neighborhood Department, EMS Earn Award Watch Groups Friendswood Police Department Encour- ages “Neighborhood Watch” Groups
ne of the best ways to ensure that a Oburglar does not target residential properties is to make the entire block a highly secure area. This involves working with neighbors so that everyone watches out for each other. Think of the block as a mini community, where you can rely on your neighbors to keep you safe just as much as they can rely on you. Meet the people who live nearby, and get to know their names, the types of cars they drive and exchange phone numbers. Keep a list of this contact information near a phone so you can call anyone on your block should the need arise. Consider starting an official Neighborhood Watch Group.
t a ceremony held in May at Congratulations to the Friendswood Once everyone gets to know the AFriendswood’s Fire Station 1, the Volunteer Fire Department for receiving people around them, all will be better Congressional Fire Service Institute and this honor. Residents can donate to the prepared to notice strangers who seem to the MedicAlert Foundation Honored the Friendswood Volunteer Fire Department be suspicious. Seeing someone unknown Friendswood Volunteer Fire Department on their Friendswood water bills or by walking down the street once is not at all with the First Annual National Excellence visiting www.friendswoodvfd.com. unusual. However, if that same person is in Fire Service-Based EMS Award. lingering and going back and forth on a block frequently, they may be casing the This award, presented to EMS Chief neighborhood and looking to burglarize a Lisa Camp and Fire Chief Marc Faber home. recognizes Friendswood for championing unique practices to enhance the quality of Similarly, if you note an unfamiliar emergency medical care to our community. car that is spending a lot of time driving on your street, it could be an indication that criminals are looking for potential targets. Warn a neighbor if you see some- Financial Transparency Award one looking at their home, and don’t be afraid to call the police to report suspi- or the second year in a row, the City down for more information. This year, cious behavior. As it is often said, the best Fof Friendswood received the State Friendswood scored 17 of 20 possible way to avoid being victimized by crime is Comptroller’s Gold Leadership Circle points on our ratings criteria. to prevent it from happening. Award, recognizing us for implementing financial transparency. The Texas Comptroller’s Office has The Friendswood Police Department can applauded Friendswood for stepping up be reached 24 hours a day on the non- Specifically, the State of Texas is efforts to give taxpayers a transparent emergency dispatch line at 281-996-3300. recognizing Friendswood for opening look at where their money goes. A list our books to the public, providing clear, of all Leadership Circle award winners consistent pictures of spending, and can be found at the State Comptroller’s sharing information in a user-friendly Texas Transparency website, www. format that lets taxpayers easily drill texastransparency.org. 6 | Focus on Friendswood City Projects Teen Court City of Friendswood Introduces ‘Teen Court’ Crews are also cleaning storm sewer Addition to Municipal Court inlets with the City’s new vacuum trailer to decrease the amount of debris that accumulate in the inlets throughout the city.
Sunnyview/Skyview Improvements Both of these roadways, funded through a Galveston County bond project, are well he City of Friendswood is excited to underway as the old asphalt roadway is Tannounce a new Teen Court division being replaced with concrete. Drainage to the City’s Municipal Court. improvements are being made along the roadways as well. These roads are Teen Court is designed to allow teen estimated to be complete by the end of offenders to assume responsibility for their this year. own actions by becoming involved in the judicial process and community services. Melody Lane Improvements Teen offenders must be between the ages Drought Conditions Like Sunnyview and Skyview, this of 10-17 or over 17 if currently enrolled The City of Friendswood’s Utilities roadway is being converted from asphalt full time in a secondary school. The Department is in the process of making to concrete, while drainage improvements offending teen must request participation repairs to numerous water leaks caused by are also being made along the road. It will in the program from the Friendswood the drought conditions. The water leaks also be widened from two lanes to three Municipal Judge. The teen offenders’ cases that we have been experiencing are due to (two lanes and one center turn lane) from are then presented to a jury of their peers, the ground drying out and shifting during FM 2351 to Woodland Park Trail. This and the jury has the option to assign a these types of conditions. The City has project is estimated to be complete by community service sentence according to been working day and night making mid-Spring 2012. a discipline grid as well as any additional repairs to preserve water. In an effort sanction that they deem appropriate. to help the City crews and the City of Water Plants #5 and 6 Friendswood conserve water, residents are Two aging water plants in Friendswood Bringing juvenile offenders to a jury encouraged to call Public Works as soon are currently being replaced. Water Plant of their peers and to the community for as possible when they observe a possible number 5, or the elevated water tower constructive punishment is designed to water leak. located behind Friendswood High School, provide our youth with an understanding is being replaced with a new 1 million of the judicial system and a realization of Public Works may be contacted at gallon tank and should be complete in their roles in the community. 281-996-3380 or 281-996-3382 during Spring of 2012. In addition, a new 500 normal business hours Monday thru thousand gallon ground storage tank is At this time, teen and adult volunteers Thursday 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and being replaced right next to the water tower. are asked to spend time helping with this Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. If a water leak Water Plant #6, located off of Blackhawk program. Teens ages 14 to 17 can serve is observed after these hours, the City is also being replaced with a new 500 as Teen Court staff as the jurors, court of Friendswood has on-call personnel thousand gallon ground storage tank, and clerks, bailiffs, prosecuting counsels, and that can be reached through the Police this should be complete in the Fall. defense counsels. Students must live in the Department at 281-996-3300. Please help City of Friendswood and may be enrolled the City of Friendswood preserve the water Fire Station #3 in Friendswood, Clear Brook, or Clear by watching for and reporting water leaks. This Fire Station, located in the Forest Springs High Schools. Adult assistance, Bend subdivision, will soon be revamped such as jury monitoring, clerical work, Streets and Drainage with three expanded Fire Truck bays, a and training is also needed. The City’s Street Department is working new pitched roof and hardened walls to to raise the elevation of a great number help this building withstand Hurricane- For more information on the program of sidewalks throughout the City due to force winds. This project is expected to be or to volunteer, please contact the sidewalks sinking as a result of drought complete by Spring 2012. Friendswood Teen Court coordinator at conditions. The City is also performing 281-996-3378, mailbox # 8336 or e-mail: street raising throughout Friendswood. [email protected] Focus on Friendswood | 7 2011 Flood Awareness Update for Friendswood
1. LOCAL FLOOD HAZARD - The • Keep children away from flood waters, In our creeks in Friendswood, they also purpose of this notification is to inform ditches, culverts and storm drains. provide for breeding, nursery, and feeding you of flood hazards associated with grounds for fish and wildlife, as well as a our local drainage-ways (Mary’s Creek, 3. FLOOD INSURANCE - Your home- source of nutrients for nearby wetlands. Chigger Creek, Cowards Creek and Clear owner’s insurance policy will not cover losses Creek) and suggest possible actions you due to flooding. Friendswood participates 6. LOCAL FLOOD HAZARD MAP can take to protect yourself. in the National Flood Insurance Program, The Flood Insurance Rate Map which makes flood insurance available to (FIRM) shows the 100-year floodplain Friendswood has a long history of everyone in the City. For many people, (AE), the 500-year floodplain (Shaded flooding. In addition to our normal their home and its contents represent their X), and areas outside of the designated rainfall, we are often inundated by rain greatest investment. We strongly urge you to floodplain (Unshaded X). It is available from Tropical Depressions, Storms, and buy flood insurance to help protect yourself for viewing on the City’s website at www. Hurricanes. Some of the most devastating from devastating losses due to flooding. friendswood.com under GIS Interactive events include: Information about flood insurance can Mapping. The 100-year floodplain is the • 1961 Hurricane Carla damaged 46 be obtained from your insurance agent. area that is prone to flooding and has a 1% homes in the City of Friendswood You do not have to live in the floodplain chance of being flooded in any given year. • 1979 Tropical Storm Claudette flooded to qualify for flood insurance. Property The 500-year floodplain is the area that is over 75% of the homes in Friendswood owners have the opportunity to insure prone to flooding with a 0.2% chance of with 26 inches of rain their buildings and contents, and renters being flooded in any given year. Smaller • 2001 Tropical Storm Allison produced have the opportunity to insure their floods have a greater chance of occurring 27 inches of rain and damaged over 530 possessions. Be advised that just because in any year and can still create a significant homes in the City your house hasn’t flooded in the past, does flood hazard to people and property close not mean it will not in the future. Please to the creeks. The City of Friendswood has NFIP be cautioned that there is normally a 30-day FIRM maps that designate flood zones waiting period before a flood insurance policy 7. FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM - The within the city. The maps are available takes effect, so you should call your insurance City of Friendswood has the following for viewing on our website at www. agent now to find out more. programs in operation in the event of friendswood.com under GIS Interactive a major flooding event: (1) A call down Mapping, or from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in 4. PROPERTY PROTECTION - Methods system (First-Call) automatically contacts the Community Development offices on are available for retrofitting flood prone each listed telephone number within the the second floor of City Hall at 910 S. property. Some examples of these methods City of Friendswood (residential and Friendswood Drive. Additionally, if you are flood protection levees, elevating commercial). (2) The City provides news would like a flood zone determination, existing structures, and protection barriers. through its local PEG Cable TV Channel, one can be requested by coming by Literature from FEMA regarding these its local AM radio station 1650 WPMZ, Community Development or contacting methods of retrofitting is available at the and a link to the City of Friendswood’s us at 281-996-3201. City of Friendswood Public Library for Emergency Operation Center’s Weather your added reference. Emergency measures Station accessed through the City’s website 2. FLOOD SAFETY - Flooding can occur that can be taken to minimize damage at www.friendswood.com. (3) The Police with little warning. In order to mitigate are also explained, which include moving and Fire Departments utilize a mobile the hazards of flooding: furniture and sand bagging. address system along with activating seven • Know the flood warning procedures. sirens throughout the City to provide flood • Plan escape routes to high ground. 5. NATURAL AND BENEFICIAL warnings. Additionally, please be advised • During heavy rainfall, monitor the level FUNCTIONS - The term “floodplain” that KTRH and KPRC provide current of water in the drainage-way. Stay tuned often carries a negative connotation weather information for the Friendswood to radio or TV for flood warnings. because of past experiences with flooding; Area. • Evacuate the flood hazard area in times however, the natural characteristics of a of impending flood or when advised to floodplain provide beneficial functions as 8. FLOODPLAIN DEVELOPMENT do so by the police or fire departments. well. Floodplains serve to protect the value PERMITS - The City of Friendswood has • Do not attempt to cross a flooding of our water resources, living resources, and a Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance stream on foot or by car. cultural resources. They protect natural that requires a Development Permit for • Stay away from power lines and electrical flood storage and conveyance, water quality building, excavation, filling, paving, wires. maintenance, and groundwater recharge. grading, or otherwise developing in the 8 | Focus on Friendswood floodplain. A Development Permit sub- 11. OTHER INFORMATION residents. Friendswood has demonstrated mittal must contain a Grading Plan. The Federal Emergency Management Agency: that it is implementing floodplain manage- Grading Plan must show existing topographic www.fema.gov ment and public information activities far information, all proposed development Texas Department of exceeding the minimum requirements of work, and be signed and sealed by a Emergency Management: the NFIP. If you carry flood insurance, registered Professional Engineer. Contact www.txdps.state.tx.us check with your agent for the lower Community Development or visit our Galveston County premium cost (it could be reduced as much website at www.friendswood.com prior to Consolidated Drainage District: as 25 percent with our new ranking). If any such development to obtain permits www.gccdd.dst.tx.us you don’t participate in flood insurance, and information. Citizens should also Harris County Flood Control: now is a great time to start. report any illegal floodplain development www.hcfcd.org This information has been compiled to our office at 281-996-3201. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for citizens and property owners within Clear Creek Project: the city limits of Friendswood as a part of 9. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, www.clearcreekproject.com this application process. The purpose of SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT this article is to inform you of the flood Per the City’s Flood Damage Prevention City of Friendswood hazards associated with flooding and Ordinance: Community Development Division suggest possible actions you can take to Substantial Damage means damage 910 S. Friendswood Drive protect yourself. of any origin sustained by a structure Friendswood, TX 77546-4856 whereby the cost of restoring the structure NOTES: to its before damaged condition would Community Rating System (CRS) equal or exceed 50% of the market value The Community Rating System 1. The community numbers listed of the structure before damage occurred. (CRS) program was created by the Federal below is the National Flood Insurance Substantial Improvement means any Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Program Community Numbers for the repair, reconstruction, or improvement to provide further incentives for additional Harris and Galveston Counties within the of a structure, the cost of which equals or activities by communities that reduce City of Friendswood. With these numbers exceeds 50% of the market value of the flood losses and support the sale of flood referenced on your flood insurance policy, structure either before the improvement insurance. Any community participating you are assured of getting the discount or repair is started, or if the structure in the National Flood Insurance Program earned by the City’s participation in the has been damaged and is being restored, (NFIP) may apply for CRS classification Community Rating System. Please be before the damage occurred. in order to obtain flood insurance sure your required community number is New construction and Substantial premium rate credits for its residents. The referenced on your flood insurance policy: Improvements shall be constructed in community must demonstrate that it is compliance with the City’s Flood Damage implementing floodplain management and Galveston County Community Prevention Ordinance or be subject to public information activities that exceed Number: 485468005E a fine not exceeding $2,000 per day per the minimum requirements of the NFIP. violation. Today, there are almost 20,000 Harris County Community Number’s: communities in the NFIP and 1,049 of 48201C1055L, 48201C1060L, 10. DRAINAGE SYSTEM those communities participate actively 48201C1065L, 48201C1070L MAINTENANCE - The City of Friends- in the CRS Program. Of the 1,049 wood, Galveston County Consolidated communities that participate in the CRS 2. If a home is in the special flood hazard Drainage District (GCCDD), and Program, 53 exist in Texas. The City of area and an elevation certificate for the Harris County Flood Control (HCFC) Friendswood began participating in the home has been provided to the City in the all have jurisdiction within the City CRS Program in 1991 and began with a past, it can be requested through the City’s of Friendswood and provide regular classification of an 8. However, effective Open Record Process. maintenance to all of the drainage ways. October 1, 2003, the City of Friendswood Citizens should report any debris or achieved an unprecedented rating of This notice is a public awareness project blockages to the appropriate agency for 5, and is now ranked in the top 3% of as a part of the National Flood Insurance removal. Keeping the drainage-ways clear all communities participating in the Program Community Rating System. For in the event of a flood can help minimize NFIP. There are currently only 3 other more information, call 281-996-3201. potential damage. communities within the CRS Program in For issues in Galveston County, contact Texas that are rated at a Class 5 rating. GCCDD at: (281) 482-0404 Communities may apply for CRS For issues in Harris County, contact classification in order to obtain flood HCFC at: (713) 684-4000 insurance premium rate credits for their Focus on Friendswood | 9 Adult Programs Children’s Programs Friends of the Library Book Club Storytimes - (August 23 - December 2))
Book Club meets the 2nd Tuesday Wednesday, August 24 at 7 p.m. Toddlertime (for babies from birth to each month at 7 p.m. Refreshments are David LeFevre Crawford’s Civil War: 3 years): 10:10 a.m. on Tuesdays, Wednes- provided. The library has several copies of Just after Fort Sumter fell, enlisted as days, and Fridays. the book. Book Titles & Group Discussion Private in 13th Pennsylvania, wounded as Preschool Storytime (for ages 3-6): August 9: Adjutant 139th Pennsylvania, 6th Corps 10:45 a.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Cutting for Stone just before Appomattox. and Fridays. by Abraham Verghese. W N Crawford will talk about the 6th September 13: Corps in two decisive battles, Gettysburg E-books for kids with Tumblebooks The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and Cedar Creek, and will recount the TumbleBookLibrary is an online by Rebecca Skloot. life and events of this Civil War soldier collection of TumbleBooks – animated; October 11: Room through story, images, and song. talking picture books which teach kids the by Emma Donoghue. joy of reading. TumbleBooks are created Wednesday, September 14 at 7 p.m. by adding animation, sound, music and Beginner Computer Classes Poetry Reading with featured poet narration to existing picture books in order Sybil Estess and Laura’s Poetry Group. to produce an electronic picture book Sybil Pittman Estess, Ph.D., was one of which you can read, or have read to you. Computer class is offered every other eight finalists for Poet Laureate of the State The TumbleBookLibrary provides Thursday at 6:30 p.m. and some Mon- of Texas in 2009. She is the author of her enrichment to students who are reading days at 2 p.m. The topics rotate and in- new fourth poetry release: Maneuvers, independently with high interest material. clude Internet searching, Microsoft Word, 2010, by Inleaf Press. Estess has taught at It also provides support to students who Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, the University of Houston, the University require skill building with exercises that Files and Folders, E-mail, and free library of St. Thomas, Rice University, Houston can be matched the curriculum. database resources. Some computers are Community College, and Blinn Colleges The TumbleBookLibrary has a selec- available to first arrivals on a first come, in Brenham and College Station, Texas. tion of favorite story books. Old time first serve basis. Contact the Friendswood She has served as a literature panelist for favorites such as “The Paper Bag Princess” Public Library at 281-482-7135 for more both the Texas Commission on the Arts by Robert Munsch, as well as fairy tales information. and the Cultural Arts Council of Houston such as “Jack and the Beanstalk” and “Old as well as on the Adult Education Council Mother Hubbard” come to life in an Classic Movie Night of Christ Church Episcopal Cathedral. educational and interactive way. Sybil Pittman Estess was a founding Now older students or more Classic movie is shown every organizer of the Houston Poetry Fest. accomplished readers can read our other Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Film is collection of read-along chapter books. free and shown on an 8x10 ft. projection Wednesday, October 12 at 7 p.m. Read-along titles feature narration, sentence screen. Refreshments provided. Contact Meet new author Rosanne Givens- highlighting, and automatic page turning. the library at 281-482-7135 for movie Scott and learn about alternative The non-fiction section allows young read- details. publishing options: New author ers the opportunity to explore stories about Rosanne Givens-Scott will talk about real animals, people or places. A collection of Special Topic Programs her first novel, Fawn Forest ISD, and puzzles and games accompany each book and will share her experience with alternative reinforce concepts from the books. The Language Learning Section includes Wednesday, August 10 at 7 p.m. publishing methods. Rosanne is a former a growing selection of books in Spanish and Who Are the Chickasaw Indians? public school teacher and counselor. Her French. Many are bilingual titles allowing Come hear Chickasaw Nation citizen experience allows her to bring a realistic the user to read the book in two languages. Rebecca Hatcher Travis tell stories about her feel to some imaginative drama in one To access Tumblebooks, go to www. American Indian heritage and read from her school. She lives in Friendswood, Texas. friendswood.lib.tx.us and click on the award winning book, Picked Apart the Bones. Tumblebooks icon. For more information, call 281-482-7135.
10 | Focus on Friendswood Zumba is the hottest way to stay fit and feel young! Love to dance or want to learn how to shake your groove thing? Well this is the workout for you! Latin dance genres like the Salsa, Meringue, Bollywood, African & Tango mixed into a fusion of cardio fun filled tempos for everyone!
Zumba is held on Tuesdays & Thursdays at the Leavesley Park Hangar @ 901 Buckingham in Friendswood and taught by the fabulous Lisa Miller.
Tuesdays - Beginners & Advanced 6-7pm Thursdays - Beginners & Advanced 6-7pm
Resident Rate Non- Resident Rate $80 - 16 class Punch Card $110 - 16 class Punch Card or $7 per class or $10 per class PUNCH CARDS NEVER EXPIRE!
For more information contact Parks & Recreation: 281-996-3220 www.friendswood.com [email protected]
Focus on Friendswood | 11 City of Friendswood City Manager’s Office Presorted Standard 910 S. Friendswood Drive U.S. Postage Paid Friendswood, Texas 77546 Permit No. 122 Friendswood, TX
City of Friendswood Receives Distinguished Budget Presentation Award guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity’s budget serves as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide, and a communications device.
This year, a Certificate of Recognition for Budget Presentation is presented to Director of Administrative Services Cindy Edge, and Deputy Director of Administrative Services Katina Hampton and Budget Manager Jennifer Walker. According to the GFOA, the City of Friendswood has “pioneered efforts to improve the quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other governments throughout North America”.
This award marks the eighth Budget Manager Jennifer Walker, Deputy Director Katina Hampton and Director consecutive year that the City has received Cindy Edge. this award. The GFOA is a nonprofit professional organization serving over he Government Finance Officers The award, which is presented annually 17,600 government finance professionals TAssociation of the United States and to cities throughout North America, throughout North America. The GFOA’s Canada (GFOA) recently announced that reflects the commitment of the governing Distinguished Budget Presentation the City of Friendswood has received body and staff to meeting the highest Awards Program is designed to encourage the GFOA’s Distinguished Budget principles of governmental budgeting. governments to prepare budget documents Presentation Award for the 2009-10 fiscal In order to receive the budget award, the of the highest quality to meet the needs of year. entity must satisfy nationally recognized decision-makers and citizens.