INSIDE Angleton city magazine
Exciting Things Happening Downtown Spring/Summer 2018
Inside...
City Charter Amendment 3 2018 Comprehensive Plan 5 Revitalizing Downtown 13 Calendar of Events 19
CONTENTS
2 Mayor’s Message 3 City Charter Amendment 5 2018 Comprehensive Plan 7 City Council Strategic Planning Workshop 8 Angleton to Benefit from Street Improvements 10 Angleton Area Emergency Medical Services Has Come a Long Way 12 21st Annual Angleton Spring Cleanup 13 Downtown Proves Everything Old Becomes New Again 16 Chamber Partners with the City 18 Turning Bad Water into Good 19 Calendar of Events 20 Service Update 21 What’s New Around the City? 22 Stay in the Know with CTY 23 Know Your Council OUR SPONSORS: 23 Angleton Flower & Gift Shop Angleton ISD (Inside Front Cover) 2 Bob Peltier & Associates 22 Brazoria County Fair Association 22 Custom Solar Screens 9 D’Amico Dance 4 Healing InSPArations 7 LaCasona - Angleton 9 Neal Insurance Agency 11 Palms Funeral Home 7 Pure Energy 11 Raymond James/Derrick Dees Stewart Family Dentistry (Inside Back Cover) UTMB Health Angleton Danbury (Back Cover)
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16 18 City Contact Information: 121 S. Velasco • 979-849-4364 • angleton.tx.us PUBLISHER: BayStar Group EDITOR: Martha Eighme ART DIRECTOR: Kendra Conkle EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS: Dena Cline, Scott Albert, Randy Anderson PHOTOGRAPHERS: Jesse Miller, Jr., Ken Conkle INSIDE ANGLETON is published by BayStar Group, 200 S. Velasco, Angleton, Texas 77515 • 979-848-3070 INSIDE ANGLETON © 2018 by BayStar Group, all rights reserved. All editorial and advertising copy belong solely to INSIDE Angleton. Reproduction in whole or part without express written permission is strictly prohibited.
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If you would like to become a sponsor for INSIDE Angleton, please contact Martha Eighme at 979-849-4364 ext. 2111 or meighme@angleton.tx.us or Kaye Starustka at 979-848-3070 or kaye@baystarprinting.com.
City Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
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MAYOR’SMESSAGE
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INSIDE Angleton, Your City Magazine
am hopeful everyone is aware May 5 is our local election day. On election day, you will see three unopposed candidates on the ballot: Council Position 1 Mike Sillavan, Council Position 3 John Wright, and Council Position 5 Cody Vasut. Only three candidates applied for a place on the ballot by the February 16 deadline. On February 27, council approved a certificate certifying the candidates as unopposed and who will be sworn into office on May 22. Although the city council seats are unopposed, Angleton voters will still consider voting “For or Against” Proposition A, an amendment to the city charter. The amendment on the ballot will read: “Section 8.29 of the City of Angleton Charter currently limits the use of revenues from the city’s 1-cent sales tax to pay for street improvements only. Shall Section 8.29 of the City of Angleton Charter be repealed so that the revenues from the city’s 1-cent sales tax can be used to pay for not only street improvements, but also to pay for other city expenditures?” I encourage everyone to cast their vote on May 5 regarding Proposition A. On May 22, I’m looking forward to welcoming our newest council member, Mr. Sillavan, who will be a great aid in moving the city forward. The future of Angleton is unlimited, and I’m confident that the individuals on council will continue to work in the best interest of the citizens and business owners of Angleton. I also want to take a moment to extend my gratitude to Council Member Hardwick Bieri for his years of service on the city council. Council Member Bieri will complete his term on May 22 and has done an outstanding job as a public servant not only on council but as a volunteer firefighter. We all wish him the best in his future endeavors. Have a safe and wonderful summer! Sincerely,
Jason Perez Mayor, City of Angleton 2
INSIDE Angleton
City Charter Amendment
TAXFACTS
1-Cent Sales Tax
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n May 5, 2018, residents of Angleton will be asked to consider amending the city charter regarding sales tax use. This amendment is not about creating a new tax. The amendment is about how a percentage (1-cent) of the existing sales tax revenues collected should be spent. Below is the proposition you will see on the ballot. PROPOSITION A Section 8.29 of the City of Angleton Charter currently limits the use of revenues from the city’s 1-cent sales tax to pay for street improvements only. Shall Section 8.29 of the City of Angleton Charter be repealed so that the revenues from the city’s one-cent sales tax can be used to pay for not only street improvements, but also to pay for other city expenditures? The maximum sales tax rate that can be levied by a city in the state of Texas is 8.25%. The full 8.25% is levied in the City of Angleton and below is an outline of how the sales tax is distributed to the various political subdivisions:
6.25% goes to the state 1% goes toward city streets .50% goes to the city parks & recreation .50% goes to the county 8.25%
Although, it’s not unusual for cities to dedicate a portion of their sales tax to specific uses, it’s uncommon for a city to dedicate its entire sales tax collections to only two expenditure funds as depicted here. In 1971, the City of Angleton dedicated 1-cent of sales tax to improving streets. The city currently collects approximately $6 million in property taxes and $4 million in sales tax, but, property tax pays for roughly 60% of the city’s expenditures in the general fund which includes administration, planning, fire, police, ambulance service, court, attorney, animal control, and finance. The 1-cent sales tax goes entirely to streets and isn’t used among multiple city expenditures
similar to the property tax. Designating sales tax revenues strictly to streets increases the demand for property tax revenues. While researching the 1971 1-cent sales tax restriction, staff and financial consultants were unable to locate/think of another city in Texas that collects sales tax and prohibits any of its sales tax from being directly used in the general fund. Angleton is possibly the only city in Texas that restricts the use of its entire sales tax collections. Removing the 1971 restriction on the 1-cent sales tax does not prohibit the city from spending revenues on street improvements. It enhances the city’s ability to spend revenue on other city expenditures such as police, fire, City Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
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sales tax story cont. ambulance, animal control, and street improvements. Under the 1971 restriction, even when the city is spending sales tax on street improvements, the city continues to deposit sales tax revenue at year-end to the street fund balance, which has grown to more than $3.2 million. If the 1971 restriction was not in place, these funds could have been used toward other city expenses instead of relying exclusively on property taxes. Below is a table reflecting how much the street fund balance has increased over the past five years. YEAR FUND BALANCE 2013 $1,707,257 2014 $1,865,428 2015 $2,326,081 2016 $2,939,017 2017 $3,283,070
DIFFERENCE $420,029 $158,171 $460,653 $612,936 $344,053
It’s been almost a half-century since this sales tax restriction was implemented. May 5th, Angleton voters will have an opportunity to reconsider the 1971 sales tax restriction. To the right is the language you will see on the ballot when you cast your vote for or against the proposition.
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PROPOSITION A Section 8.29 of the City of Angleton Charter currently limits the use of revenues from the city’s 1-cent sales tax to pay for street improvements only. Shall Section 8.29 of the City of Angleton Charter be repealed so that the revenue from the city’s 1-cent sales tax can be used to pay for not only street improvements, but also to pay for other city expenditures? If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Scott Albert, city manager at (979) 849-4364 ext. 2112 or email salbert@angleton.tx.us.
2018
BIGPICTURE
Comprehensive Plan
A Citizen’s Guide
44 miles to Houston
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The term “comprehensive” implies that all aspects of the city are reviewed in relation to one another.
use and transportation recommendations directly impact utility, drainage, public services, housing, parks, and quality of life issues. Comprehensive planning prevents any single function from being examined in a vacuum. That’s the reason the comprehensive plan is the basis for each of the city functions listed above and the basis for every simple and complex action of the city, to move toward common visions and goals. For example, if the city desires commercial uses in certain areas of the city, the future land use plan will establish that use recommendation to govern zoning. The thoroughfare plan will identify streets to be improved or constructed to provide access, and the CIP may need to identify capital projects built with city funds to provide utilities or other public services. Those or ch An
any of the functions that cities engage in have their roots in a comprehensive plan. Angleton is no exception. An example is the zoning of property. The State of Texas says that cities can adopt a zoning ordinance only after adopting a comprehensive plan, and that zoning district designations are based on a future land use plan within the comprehensive plan. Other examples include Capital Improvement Planning (CIP), the assessment of impact fees from developers, street planning, annexation, economic development, park planning, and for consideration to apply for most grants. So, what is a comprehensive plan and why is it so important? In short, the comprehensive plan is a statement of community visions, goals, and direction and an expression of the objectives and policies that will be employed by the city to fulfill those visions and goals. The term “comprehensive” implies that all aspects of the city are reviewed in relation to one another. Land
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City Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
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decisions directly affect economic development, business recruitment, and strategic annexation. All of those decisions require coordination with Angleton Drainage District, Angleton ISD, TxDOT, and utility providers. That’s the essence of “comprehensive planning.” The comprehensive plan is often said to be a “living document” that is adjusted as the future begins to unfold and becomes a reality. This is particularly true when a city is located in an area experiencing rapid growth. As a rule of thumb, the comprehensive plan should be rewritten every 10 years and updated every five years. Certain components of the comprehensive plan, such as the future land use plan, thoroughfare plan, and the CIP, are reviewed continually and updated as necessary to capitalize on opportunities, address new issues, or respond to planning assumption changes. The Angleton Comprehensive Plan was last updated in 2007. Since then, the region has experienced explosive residential, commercial, and industrial growth. The area also experienced wild price swings in the energy sector, a severe recession, and several flooding events, but has remained resilient and a destination for families and business. With more than 10 years of use, the city council has recognized that the plan is overdue for a rewrite
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and requested that a process to rewrite the plan begin later in 2018. For a comprehensive plan to truly reflect the visions of the citizens of Angleton, it’s essential that there be considerable community involvement in the process. Input from a variety of perspectives will reveal where there is widespread community agreement. Likewise, differences of opinion will need to be examined in more detail to attain a consensus on as many issues as possible. The planning process must include all of the stakeholders who make up the community, i.e., neighbors, large and small businesses, people who live in the city and in the Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) of the city, civic leaders, builders, political leaders, parents, and any other person who has a stake in the future of the city. The foundation of the plan must come from the people in the community and reflect their collective visions and aspirations. A plan without a solid foundation is a plan that isn’t used and just sits on a bookshelf. Anyone can participate by simply attending our meetings and listening, or by playing a more active role serving as a stakeholder. If you would like to be considered for more direct involvement in this process, feel free to submit your name and contact information to Randy Anderson at randerson@angleton.tx.us, 979-849-4364, x2136, or contact the mayor or any member of city council. Once this project begins, you’ll be able to follow the progress of the planning process on the City of Angleton web page. Randy Anderson, AICP Assistant City Manager City of Angleton
City Council Strategic Planning Workshop
FOCUSONTHEFUTURE
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n April, city council will conduct a strategic planning workshop with David Eisenlohr from the Azimuth Group. The primary objectives of the workshop are to: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Provide an opportunity to discuss the crucial issues and challenges facing the city Encourage teamwork among council and senior staff Develop a vision and mission for the city Identify values to aid in guiding the city’s operations Complete an assessment of the city’s strengths and weaknesses Identify a set of specific goals for the next three to five years
Shortly after the workshop, the Azimuth Group will provide a report to the city council summarizing the results of the workshop and provide recommendations for activities necessary to further refine the city’s strategic direction, priorities and performance expectations. The city will release results of the strategic planning workshop in the Fall/Winter edition of INSIDE Angleton.
City Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
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IMPROVINGLIFE
Angleton to Benefit from Street Improvements
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treets are vital to the foundation of our economy and quality of life. It is essential for federal, state, county, and local governments to invest in our country’s infrastructure to maintain healthy and vibrant communities. The City of Angleton manages about 98 miles of roadway. Asphalt makes up 52% of the city-owned streets while concrete makes up 47%. Less than 1% of the remaining streets consist of gravel material. For the past 12 months, investing in the City of Angleton’s infrastructure with regards to particular streets has been a priority for the city council. The city has done a good job in previous years coordinating overlay/maintenance projects with Brazoria County. For the upcoming street improvement program, however, the city has switched from the policy of
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maintaining streets to implementing a program based on a complete rebuild of roads. Last spring, council received a report from the city engineer assessing the condition of each street in the city. The study was used as a planning document to determine which roads would take priority for improvements. In April 2017, council formed a Street Improvement Task Force of residents, civic leaders, and emergency services personnel charged with determining the priority in which streets would be repaired/replaced. The task force took into consideration the study along with other factors such as traffic volume, economic impact, utilities, schools, etc. In October 2017, the Street Improvement Task Force released their recommendations for street improvements to council, which included 22 streets for repair/rebuild. After council considered the task force recommendations, a street improvement program was approved in November that includes the following streets: Richmond, Ridgecrest, San Felipe, Robinhood, Chenango,
Chevy Chase, and Southside. The estimated cost of the approved program is $11,195,431. This is the city’s most extensive street improvement program in Angleton’s history. All the streets listed above will be rebuilt with a concrete surface. New street lights, utility lines, drainage, and sidewalks will be part of the improvements. Funding for the improvements will come from two sources; $2.3 million from existing reserves and the remaining will be paid with bond proceeds.
This is the city’s most extensive street improvement program in history. In February, the city received bond proceeds for the street improvement program at a true interest rate of 2.8%.
This new debt was issued at an ideal time. This year, the city will retire an existing debt issuance, allowing the new debt to have minimal impact on the city’s revenue sources. In March, council considered a proposal from HDR (City Engineers) to begin design work on Chenango and Richmond streets. The city’s goal is to start construction on the streets in early 2019. These street improvements are the first of many infrastructure enhancements you can expect to hear about and see over the next 3-5 years. The city is also in the process of requesting grant funds for sidewalk improvements along Pecan St., Hospital Dr., Deborah Dr., W. Miller St., Parrish St., Cedar St., and Downing St. There are also various water, wastewater, and park projects under consideration. All these infrastructure improvements are paramount to enhancing the quality of life, and economy of the community.
City Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
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Jamie Praslicka photo
ALWAYSREADY
“I fell in love with it. It was definitely worth it.” –Lucille Maes
EMS
follow her passion for helping others through the Angleton Area Emergency Medical Corps. “I fell in love with it. It was definitely worth it,” she says about the sacrifice she made by leaving behind a sixfigure salary for $32,000 a year leading the emergency medical group. She’s not the only one making a sacrifice – the staff for the AAEMC spend an extraordinary amount of time at work and away from their families, working either 24 hours on and 48 hours off schedule or 48 hours on and 96 hours off schedule. “That’s a third of their lives they’re spending at work,” Lucille said. “People don’t realize how much we work.” Volunteers and part-time staff also fill in to provide staffing, but they still have to be trained to the same standard as the fulltime employees, she said. “We probably have more volunteers than anyone in the region because that’s where we have our roots, but we also have fulltime and part-time staff.” And good staff – EMS by the numbers whether paid or volunteer • 43 members from EMT basic – are hard to come by, to licensed Paramedic Lucille said. The reason is • Average tenure is 12 years two-fold, she said. There are not many people who • Average 12-15 calls per day; around 4,900 in 2017 meet the qualifications to work; getting paramedic • Around 100 patients are transported by helicopter to certification takes two other hospitals years and can cost up to $9,000. That paired with • A fully stocked ambulance costs AAEMC’s high standards, a bare minimum of $250,000
Angleton Area Emergency Medical Services Has Come a Long Way ..and is Poised for the Future What started as a group of volunteers headquartered in a tin barn with a borrowed ambulance in 1980 has grown and blossomed into the current Angleton Area Emergency Medical Corps (AAEMC), one of the best equipped and staffed services of its size in Texas. The group provides 911 ambulance service and staffs at least three ambulances for its 380-square-mile service area that stretches from the Three Bridges area in the south to the Fort Bend County line to the north, the Danbury city limits to the east and the Bar X neighborhood and the Brazos River to the west. They also staff an extra ambulance during the Brazoria County Fair and Angleton High School home football games. Chief Lucille Maes has been involved with the group since 1988 and held leadership since 1994 when she left the outside sales industry and a great salary to 10
INSIDE Angleton
Lucille Maes
EMS
“...an elite group of highly trained individuals dedicated to the preservation of life...” with protocols more advanced than the Houston Fire Department, make it difficult to find and keep good employees and volunteers, she said. But Lucille has tactics that help. When students from three area colleges come to do their clinical rotations in AAEMC, Lucille and her staff keep an eye out for good students and encourage them to fill out volunteer applications. “Our reputation is really good, so volunteering with us looks good on a resume,” she said. “And many places won’t hire you unless you already have experience.”
Paid staff come from as far away as New Caney, Houston, League City and Sugar Land. Many of the volunteers are local, Lucille said. She is quick to thank the other groups who support the AAEMC, including the Angleton Volunteer Fire Department and Angleton Police Department (which helps provide safety supports for the AAEMC staff) and the UTMB Health Angleton Danbury Campus (“who are just great people and a fabulous hospital”). Lucille says that what most people don’t realize is that the majority of their budget comes from patient insurance payments, but the 501(c)3 non-profit group also receives voluntary donations on water bills from residents in Angleton (around $120,000), funding from the Emergency Service District (around $300,000), and a stipend from the City of Angleton (around $50,000). The group gives back by sponsoring an Angel Tree for local seniors in need. They also visit various groups – from daycares to the Rotary – to give talks on anything from getting comfortable with ambulances and calling 911 to proper medicine storage and disposal.
City Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
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Time for a Little Spring Cleaning? Don’t throw it away, RECYCLE at the
21st Annual Angleton Spring Cleanup! GRE AT AMERIC AN CL E ANUP
Saturday, April 21, 2018 8am - noon
Angleton Junior High Parking Lot • 1201 E. Henderson Road MAIN STATIONS paper shredding • electronics • tires prescription disposal • heavy trash ITEMS ACCEPTED heavy trash large brush & yard waste
“it’s our heart, let’s do our part”
recyclables eyeglasses, cell phones, ink cartridges old US & Texas flags off-rim tires (car & light truck only) -limit 8 per household paper shredding (5 file boxes per car) car batteries (non-leaking lead acid) prescription disposal (no liquids/no needles - please remove labels) ITEMS NOT ACCEPTED household appliances household chemicals & used oil clothing & furniture
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It’s a FREE SERVIC E! ELECTRONICS ACCEPTED televisions desktop personal computers cellphones & telephones printers, fax machines, copiers, monitors, LCDs LED/s laptops servers radio equipment hard drives telecommunication systems DVD/CD/VCR players stereo equipment projectors cables & wires gaming consoles tablets and PDAs GPS equipment plugs & connectors, keyboards, mouse & speakers
For more information: meighme@angleton.tx.us or 979-849-4364 x2111
MAKINGTHINGSNEW Revitalization
Downtown Proves Everything Old Becomes New Again BOWMAN/GAYLE BUILDING GETS ANOTHER CHANCE
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or the past six years, Derrick Dees has been staring out his downtown office window at the Bowman/Gayle building across the street, wishing that someone would fix up the building that has been vacant for more than 20 years . At first, Derrick says he was just as scared of the dilapidated building as others in the community. He became even more concerned when he bought and remodeled the building next door to it. What if the Bowman/Gayle building caught fire and it spread to his project next door? Taking a risk, Derrick recently bought the adjacent building. “We demo’ed the inside to get an idea of what’s wrong with the building,” he said. “It’s scary when you buy a building like that because you don’t know exactly what’s wrong with it.” Or how much it will cost.
So far, Derrick has discovered structural problems and a sagging floor that have necessitated a structural engineer to get involved in the project, but that hasn’t fazed him. “I have remodeled a couple old buildings now, and I have experience with these old structures and what their gremlins are,” he said. Why not just construct a new building?
they would say, ‘That building is a lost cause.’ But I believe in lost causes, in the underdog,” Derrick said. The Bowman/Gayle building is just one part of recent economic development and construction in downtown Angleton. Derrick is quick to credit other groups, including the city, Greater Angleton Chamber of Commerce, and the Downtown Revitalization Corporation, for the trend. He said that the recent revitalization effort has come to fruition now because of a concerted effort of many people over several years. “Nothing happens fast,” he said, “the city has embraced it and is being proactive and sharing the vision with those of us investing down here.” Derrick is mum so far on what his plans are for the building. “I have a couple different ideas and plans,” he said. “I’m pretty particular about what it’s going to be. I want it to be something that’s going to draw people into downtown Angleton. I haven’t ruled out doing something on my own. I’m reluctant to dream too much right now until I get the building shored up.” Whatever it becomes, Derrick wants the Bowman/Gayle building to be part of a snowball effect of downtown Angleton investors willing to take risks on economic development. “You build it and hope they come,” he said.
“...that character and history are how you draw people in. It’s a conversation piece.” –Derrick Dees Wouldn’t that be easier and less costly? “That may be true,” he said, “but there’s so much character and history that you can’t put into a new building. You can’t duplicate it. And that character and history are how you draw people in. It’s a conversation piece.” “When I would ask older people,
continued pg. 14
City Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
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Revitalization BRIDES WILL SOON FIND A BIGGER SOMETHING BLUE
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andie Walther, owner of Something Blue, a formal wear and bridal shop in downtown Angleton, is another recent economic development risk-taker. She recently purchased the 10,000 square foot building across the street that had previous lives as an auto dealership, furniture store, and antique mall. She plans to remodel the 1940s-era building, expand her business, and is anticipating opening this summer. The larger building will offer more than twice the square footage and more room for storage, offices, and dressing rooms. “I love the old building,” Sandie said, “even after surprise spending upon surprise spending.” Just fixing the rare, barreled roof has cost her as much as she spent buying the building, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. “We started here in our current location because we love the idea of a real downtown,” she said. “Now, we want to stay in downtown. More and more businesses are popping up.”
“A wedding gown is the most important garment a woman will ever wear.” –Sandie Walther “The city has done everything it can to help us,” Sandie said. While one wouldn’t think of Angleton having a large demand for formal-wear, Sandie says that most of her clients come from the Houston and Galveston areas and are largely drawn by referral from other customers. Online shopping has taken a toll on all brick-and-mortar
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shops, not just the ones in downtown areas, she said. While price is important to modern customers, brides look forward to shopping with friends and family for their wedding gowns. “A wedding gown is the most important garment a woman will ever wear,” Sandie said. “A bride needs to have the opportunity to find the perfect gown and know that she doesn’t have to find someone to do all the behind-the-scenes details. We press and store her gown, advise on alterations, get her gown ready to transport or even deliver it to her venue if it’s in the area. The customer service in a brick-and-mortar store adds value that is difficult to put a price on.” Sandie says seeing growth in her own business and around her in downtown Angleton gives her hope.
DOWNTOWN ANGLETON GETS ARTISTIC FLAIR Just a couple blocks south of Something Blue, you may have noticed the recent murals, including that of Marilyn Monroe on the Brazos Avenue Market building. They were done by one of Angleton’s own – artist Lorenzo Macias. Lorenzo was contacted by the Downtown Angleton revitalization group and invited to the group’s meeting, where he met both Derrick Dees and Brazos Avenue Market owner Pamela Mercer. The trio looked for ways to partner to create a more beautiful, revitalized downtown Angleton. “I felt this was important for our community’s youth, to keep our community local, and I wanted to share my talent with Angleton,” Lorenzo said. But Marilyn may be just the beginning for this Angleton native. “I don’t want to limit my art form to just downtown,” he said. “I believe my art inspires old and young to pursue their passion.
Revitalization My goal is to leave the biggest stamp I can in my hometown where I was born, went to school, and where I’m raising my family.”
ANGLETON TO CONDUCT LIVABLE CENTERS STUDY While downtown Angleton gets more artistic, there will also be a study done to make it more livable. Angleton will soon be taking part in the Livable Centers Program in conjunction with the Houston-Galveston Area Council. The program is a region-wide initiative that funds local plans to create more convenient, safe, and attractive areas where people can live, work, and play with less reliance on vehicles. “Cities that conduct a Livable Centers Study create a vision and implementation strategy that improves walkability, creates a strong sense of place through public art and green space, boosts local businesses and economic development, and increases connectivity within the community,” said Clint McManus, a planner with the Houston-Galveston Area Council. “The City of Angleton and its historic core are well-suited for this type of planning,” he said. “With a Livable Centers Study, Angleton will be able to plan for the thoughtful revitalization of downtown, while also accommodating future growth coming to the community. The study is an opportunity to bring local businesses, residents, and government officials together around a common dream for the city.”
“The City of Angleton and its historic core are well-suited for this type of planning.” –Clint McManus
City Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
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GREATERANGLETONCHAMBER Community Asset
CHAMBER PARTNERS WITH THE CITY
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or 18 years, Beth Journeay has led the Greater Angleton Chamber of Commerce. Through that time, she has seen the Angleton area change and grow. Beth says the growth Angleton is seeing now is because of steps taken with the help of the chamber eight or more years ago, including the inception of the Angleton Revitalization Corporation in 2013. The impetus for downtown revitalization came from a chamber strategic planning session and a concern of Beth’s about downtown Angleton.
“We are connectors between businesses and potential clients and the community.” –Beth Journeay “I thought something’s going to have to be done because eventually, it’s going to get to the point of downtown being unsafe,” she said. That planning session led to a workshop with the city where those concerns were shared by several people. “And here we are eight years later,” Beth said. “It was a great effort and partnership. I have to believe that the growth that’s occurring now is because of what we did. The chamber has always stood ready to be whoever we needed to 16
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be to whoever wanted to bring economic development to Angleton,” Beth said. The purpose of the chamber is to “help chamber members grow and prosper, and to help bring in new businesses to the area,” she said. “We want to show we are a unified community and we want them to be here.” “We are connectors between businesses and potential clients and the community,” Beth said. “That’s what we do best. No one else does what we do with the community.” “When there are issues, people call us and want to know what’s going on,” she said. “Like when there’s an upcoming election, we know who’s running. We can pull together the community leaders as an audience for the candidates.” It might seem unusual for a church to be a chamber member, but Holy Comforter Episcopal Church’s rector the Rev. Travis Smith says it makes perfect sense for his congregation. “Being involved with the chamber allows the church to be involved in community happenings in ways it wouldn’t normally,” Rev. Travis said. “The culture of the chamber is more than a gathering of
successful people in the area. It’s an outlet for business people and entrepreneurs to ground themselves and their businesses to their community, giving back in meaningful ways.” He said that the chamber is a reminder to a highly-competitive world that working together can yield much more than going it alone. “Holy Comforter strives to celebrate the best of Angleton and encourage her growth in meaningful ways,” Fr. Travis said. “This makes for a comfortable pairing, having a non-profit like the church learning from so many businesspeople who are so eager for their community to thrive and be beautiful. The connections and mentoring have been invaluable.”
Community Asset
Besides offering connections and mentoring, the chamber also helps get the message out through publications, including their map of the area – printing 6,000 a year. The Greater Angleton Chamber also has a magazine, much like other chambers of commerce. But unlike other chambers, who only send to members or requestors and place in their lobby, the Greater Angleton Chamber sends 16,000 copies of their magazine to every home and business in the community. Every member of the chamber gets an individual page on the chamber’s website that the business has complete control of. Membership starts at $250 per year (less than a can of soda a day). “Plus, we’re fun!” Beth said. “We have several events that are just fun. Our thought is if you’re going to spend extra time with the chamber, shouldn’t it be fun?” Networking is another benefit, and a crucial one in a small community, Beth said. “We view our members as partners,” she said. “If we don’t have a tool you need for your business, let us know, and we will try to get it.”
Leadership Angleton is another chamber benefit. The two-year program identifies and motivates leaders, including emerging leaders, and helps develop their potential for community leadership. “We expose them to the realities, opportunities, and challenges of our
“...we’re excited about this new opportunity to strengthen our partnership with the city.” –Beth Journeay community,” Beth said. “The effectiveness of personal involvement in the future development of the Angleton area can be enhanced through increased knowledge about the community’s history, citizens, and social and economic makeup. Past graduates of Leadership Angleton include leaders at the city, county, and school district levels, as well as numerous business and community organization leaders. The chamber is currently taking applications for the Leadership Angleton Class of 2019 that will begin August 2018. The future looks bright for the chamber, which recently gained 103 new
members. Beth and her staff will meet with each to find out exactly who they are and what they do as a business or organization. The chamber is also revamping its membership structure, with a tiered-level based on benefits. Beth says this is not an increase, but rather a way for members to pay for just the benefit options they want. Also on the agenda is a new strategic plan with the help of a renown expert on the topic. Surveys will be sent to board members and representatives from the city, county, school district, hospital, and economic development alliance to get input on how the chamber is helping to meet the needs of the community. “I want fresh eyes to see this,” Beth said. In addition to the new strategic plan, the chamber is restarting its “lunch and learn” series, including a session partnering with the city on how to do business with governmental entities. “As a chamber and as its director, we’re excited about this new opportunity to strengthen our partnership with the city,” Beth said. As for the upcoming city charter amendment, Beth said the chamber is supportive of it. “We definitely shouldn’t tie people’s hands who are creative and have intelligence in their field and know the best way to spend the money,” she said. City Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
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IMPROVINGLIFE Public Works
Turning Bad Water into Good
W
hat Olga Flores does with water in the course of 24 to 48 hours is nothing short of miraculous. Every day, the chief operator of the City of Angleton’s Wastewater Treatment Plant and her small, dedicated staff turn about 1.5 million gallons of wastewater from sewers and drains into usable water that will be put into Oyster Creek. When the wastewater comes in, it does have an unpleasant smell. Olga says she tells people who complain about the smell of her workplace: “That’s not my plant that smells – it’s your water you’ve sent me.” First, the water undergoes a screening process to get out any inorganic products, items that humans add to the water that can’t be broken down. Those products create a sludge that is later dried and sent to the landfill. 18
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Next, the water is exposed to microbes, or “good” bacteria, that have been aerated to help them grow. “They are like the human body,” Olga said. “They eat, rest, waste and start over.” The water is sent to a settlement tank, where the mass of the water is separated from the added microbes. Chlorine is added to disinfect the water, and then the chlorine is removed from the water so that it won’t hurt fish and other aquatic life when the water is put back into Oyster Creek. Testing is done on the water for pH, chlorine, and ammonia to make sure the finished product water is safe for both humans and other animals who may use the water further downstream. While basic
tests are done at the plant, much of the critical testing is done offsite at more sophisticated lab facilities. Olga and her staff have the wastewater treatment process working like a well-oiled machine, so much that “nobody thinks about us until they can’t flush their toilets,” she said. That doesn’t mean that things don’t get unusual or stressful for the plant. Unusually heavy rainfalls can really throw off the process, Olga said, because rainwater mixes with sewage and increases the flow into the plant. During Hurricane Harvey floods, Olga and her staff slept at the plant, making sure everyone in the city had uninterrupted sewage flow. While most people thought of first responders like police and firefighters, Olga said they normally don’t think of the Wastewater Treatment Plant employees in a disaster. She says they don’t mind being the invisible heroes during disasters. Olga says she and her colleagues must receive training and certifications to safely and effectively run the wastewater plant. Angleton’s outflow requires the staff to get very stringent training, which has to be renewed every three years. The plant is inspected by both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, which also require reports to be submitted to them by the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Olga says the plant, which was built in 1984 for a capacity of 3.6 million gallons
“...nobody thinks about us until they can’t flush their toilets.” –Olga Flores
Calendar of Events per day has plenty of capacity for growth in Angleton. That doesn’t mean the plant doesn’t need some TLC. The plant is aging, and the salty, moist air of the Angleton area is rough on the metal surfaces of the plant, she said. The plant could really use more staff, who are hard to recruit in the aggressive employment environment surrounding the chemical industry, Olga said. Even with all the needs that the plant has, what would Olga ask from the community? “Don’t put grease down the drain,” she said. “It causes problems in our pipes. Don’t flush wipes, even if it says they are flushable. They pose huge problems and clog up our pumps.”
What: Early Voting When: April 23-27, 8am – 5pm
WHAT’SHAPPENING?
April 28, 7am – 7pm April 30-May 1, 7am – 7pm Where: East Annex, 1524 E. Mulberry
What: Independence Day city offices
What: Health & Fitness Expo When: Tuesday, May 1, 6 – 8pm Where: Angleton Recreation Center
What: Postponed Trash Service due to
What: Summer Jamboree
registration starts When: Tuesday, May 1 starting at 8am Where: Angleton Recreation Center (Limited space. Must be 5 – 12 years old)
What: Special Election When: Saturday, May 5, 7am – 7pm Where: East Annex, 1524 E. Mulberry What: Mother-Son Dance When: Saturday, May 12, 6 – 8:30pm Where: Angleton Recreation Center (Must pre-register for this event. Limited space available)
What: Memorial Day city offices closed When: Monday, May 28
What: Light Up Angleton 5K When: Saturday, June 23, 6:45 – 1 0pm
Where: Freedom Park in Angleton What: Freedom Fireworks When: Saturday, June 30, starting
closed
When: Wednesday, July 4
4th of July holiday If your trash and recycling service falls on a holiday, you can expect your trash and recycling to be picked up on the next regularly scheduled service day.
What: Movie Under the Stars –
“The Lego Batman Movie”
When: Saturday, July 21, 8:30 – 1 0pm
Where: Angleton Recreation Center’s front lawn (FREE EVENT)
What: Senior Birthday Party When: Wednesday, July 25 Where: Angleton Recreation Center (Must pre-register. Limited space available)
What: Labor Day city offices closed When: Monday, September 3 What: Movie Under the Stars –
“Space Jam”
When: Saturday, September 22,
8 – 10pm
Where: Angleton Recreation Center’s
front lawn (FREE EVENT)
about 9:20pm Where: Brazoria County Fairgrounds parking lot
City Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
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UPDATES
WASTE CONNECTIONS OF TEXAS Connect with the Future®
If any of the holidays listed above fall on your scheduled time for trash/recycling service, your service will be postponed until the next regular scheduled service day.
INCLEMENT WEATHER
SERVICE UPDATE
O
n occasion Waste Connections garbage & recycling service will be suspended due to specific holidays or severe weather. So, what happens when Waste Connections stops service and when will service continue? Below is a brief explanation regarding Waste Connections service interruptions. But, we encourage you to always check on the City of Angleton and Waste Connection websites regarding service interruptions.
HOLIDAYS If your trash or recycling service falls on a holiday. You can expect your trash & recycling to be picked up on your next regular scheduled service day. For example, Christmas Day is on Tuesday this year (2018). If your trash/recycling is typically serviced on this day (Dec 25), your service will be deferred until your next regular scheduled service day which would be December 28 Friday. For the following holidays, Waste Connections will postpone service: New Year’s Day Fourth of July Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day
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Recently Waste Connections postponed service on 1/17/18 due to unsafe icy road conditions. If you were scheduled to have your trash/recycling picked up on 01/17/18, your service was pushed one day out from your original service date. The graphic below depicts a change in service days due to the unsafe icy road conditions on 01/17/18. Regular Service Date for that week January 17 January 18 January 19
New Service Date for that week January 18 January 19 January 20
The following week everyone’s back on their regular scheduled service dates.
PUBLIC NOTICE REGARDING GARBAGE OR RECYCLING SERVICE BEING POSTPONED If you have questions about garbage service being canceled on a holiday or due to severe weather the city will post a notice on the city Facebook, website and send out a public notice by phone or text to those who have signed up on city connect.
WHAT’SNEW?
WHAT’S NEW AROUND THE CITY? SIDEWALKS AND BUS SHELTERS
I
n March, city council approved two interlocal agreements with Gulf Coast Center (GCC) for construction of bus shelters and sidewalks in Angleton. The first interlocal agreement includes building bus shelters at the Social Security office and H-E-B in addition to constructing a sidewalk along Pecan Street. The Federal Transit Administration will fund 80% of the project, and the city will fund the rest. Construction is estimated to begin this summer on the shelters and sidewalk along Pecan. The second interlocal agreement involves the City of Angleton and GCC working jointly to submit a proposal to the HoustonGalveston Area Council (H-GAC) requesting federal mobility infrastructure funds for sidewalks. The following corridors in Angleton will be designated for sidewalk improvements through this grant; Hospital Dr., Deborah Dr., Miller St., Parrish St., Cedar St., and Downing St. The projected cost for the proposed sidewalk improvements is estimated at $3,580,568 with $2,864,454 coming from the federal grant and the city contributing $716,144. Grant awards will be announced in December. Keep your fingers crossed that we receive the grant!
SHANKS ROAD EXTENSION In April, construction started on the extension of Shanks Road to CR 220. This new connection to CR 220 will provide many commuters with an alternative to access 288-B. However, with a change in travel patterns, commuters need to be aware of new crossroad/intersections. Please inform your neighbors, friends, and family about the new crossroad/intersection along CR 220. Refer to the exhibit depicting the new connection of Shanks Road to CR 220.
FREEDOM PARK SCOREBOARDS Freedom Park has new scoreboards thanks to the Angleton Rotary Club. The City of Angleton paid for the installation of the scoreboards, which were activated in February. The city will be evaluating further enhancements to Freedom, Bates, Dickey, Brushy Bayou, Southside, Masterson, and B.G. Peck parks.
City Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
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STAY CONNECTED with
STAYINFORMED Connect - CTY Notification System
Stay in the Know with CTY What is the Connect-CTY® service? Connect-CTY is a city-to-resident notification system. With this service, the city can send personalized voice, email or text messages to residents and businesses about time-sensitive or common-interest issues such as emergencies and local community matters.
What types of messages will be sent using the service? Any message regarding the safety or welfare of our community would be disseminated using the Connect-CTY service. Examples would include severe weather warnings and updates, evacuation notices, hazardous traffic or road conditions inside the city or affecting local routes, and any other situation that could impact the safety, property, or welfare of our citizens. This service can also be used for special events that might be of public interest.
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Do I have to sign up to receive these notices? Yes, you must sign up to receive the notifications. You can either call city hall at 979-849-4364 or sign up through the city’s website: angleton.tx.us.
What precautions are being taken to protect personal information?
Angleton’s
CONNECT - CTY
Go to angleton.tx.us Connect-CTY is a service of click on “Connect-CTY” Blackboard Connect Inc. (BCI). BCI takes security and privacy concerns very seriously and does not sell, trade, lease or loan any data about their clients to any third party.
YOURCOUNCIL
Know Your Council
City Council
WHEN? Council meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 6pm. WHERE? Council chambers – 120 S. Chenango St. HOW CAN YOU FIND OUT WHAT COUNCIL WILL ACT ON? Council agendas are posted outside city hall (121 S. Velasco) and online at angleton.tx.us/AgendaCenter.
Jason Perez Mayor
Hardwick Bieri Position 1
Williams Tigner Position 2
John Wright Position 3
Bonnie McDaniel Mayor Pro-Tem, Position 4
Cody Vasut Position 5
HOW CAN YOU SPEAK AT COUNCIL? The public is welcome to address the council. It is not necessary to notify the council in advance. Just sign in with the city secretary prior to the start of the meeting. HOW CAN YOU CONTACT YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS? Use the council’s website: angleton.tx.us/166/city-council. WHAT IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT COUNCIL? Contact the city secretary’s office at 979-849-4364.
City Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
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PRSRT STANDARD
121 S. Velasco St Angleton, TX 77515
U.S. POSTAGE PA I D Angleton, TX Permit #27 BayStar Printing
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