Posted on Sep 30, 2009 | Tagged in: utilities , City of Friendswood
West Ranch residents concerned about water and sewage prices going up can take some comfort in knowing that water prices are expected to go down by 20% in the coming fiscal year.
Friendswood residents recently voiced their concerns regarding growing water bills at the Friendswood City Council Meeting. The growing rates aren't as simple as demand being up in a drought year. The total water consumption in Friendswood is down, showing families are working to conserve water. In June 2009 an average of 4.95 million gallons per day was used compared to 6.2 million for the previous June, and the average for July dropped from 7.2 million in 2008 to 4.65 million in 2009. "More people are conserving water... There have been a lot of water leaks this year due to drought" said Public Works Director Kaz Hamidian.
The city is taking steps to ensure that prices will be cut and that water will continue flowing to all families as communities continue to grow. This is not an easy task as the total of Friendswood and Pearland communities is expected to reach a quarter of a million people by 2020.
With the Water and Sewer Bond Issue passed in 2006 and with last year's budget process, rates were adjusted and raised to provide for future debt service and to minimize additional debt requirements. The rates were increased to be able to fund several water and sewage projects in Friendswood including rehabilitating two of the water wells, purchasing necessary surface water from the City of Houston, constructing a one million gallon concrete storage tank, and extending water and sewer lines along FM 2351 to Beamer Road.
The idea was that an increased expense for Friendswood residents in the short term would pay off in the long run as the city is able to meet demands of growth with less reliance on purchasing more expensive water in spot markets. Thankfully upgrades are in sight with a projected ability to provide 11.8 million gallons per day to residents by 2012. This also means that West Ranch community members can look forward to that long term decrease in their bill and still enjoy fresh water daily.
Posted on Sep 18, 2009 | Tagged in: events , City of Friendswood
The City of Friendswood Community Services Department is hosting
the NFL Punt, Pass and Kick Competition in Centennial Park on
Thursday September 24, 2009 from 5-8 p.m. (2200 S. Friendswood Dr.,
Friendswood, TX).
The competition gives Friendswood and West Ranch community boys
and girls, between the ages of 8 and 15, the opportunity to compete
for distance and accuracy in punting, passing and kicking a
football. Winners from this event will advance to the Gulf Coast
Sectional Competition being held in October. Ribbons will be
awarded to the top three finalists in each age group according to
sex, and certificates will be given to every participant.
This is a free event open to the public and will have good
music, Gatorade and fun for all ages. T-shirts will be given to the
first 20 participants, and registration will take place in
Centennial Park on the day of the event. In order to register
participants will need to have a copy of their birth certificate or
religious document (e.g. baptismal record) for proof of age and
eligibility. Participants must wear tennis shoes and are encouraged
to come early to practice.
For more information please call the City of Friendswood
Community Services Department at 281-996-3220.
Posted on Sep 12, 2009 | Tagged in: utilities , news , City of Friendswood
During the City's annual budget review of Friendswood's city water and sewer rates for the 2009-2010 Fiscal Year, Friendswood created some great news. The City of Friendswood has a new plan to reduce sewer and water rates by 20 percent on the average water and sewer bill for the upcoming fiscal year.
Last year's water and sewer budget process saw a number of significant improvements. Such improvements range from the purchasing of surface water from the City of Houston, to rehabilitating two of Friendswood's water wells, to creating a one million gallon storage tank. The City also extended the water and sewer lines along FM 2351 to Beamer Road.
During the 2009 budget year Friendswood secured $2 million in grant funding for water/sewage improvements. Standard & Poor's gave Friendswood a significant boost by changing its rating of the city from A to AA-. The rating comes from the high quality management of water and sewer utility and means the City will be able to issue debt at a much lower interest rate. Since the bond was delayed, Friendswood was able to sell it in a much more favorable market environment. All this gives more of a reason for Friendswood to be able to decrease rates.
The new rate reduction is currently planned for adoption in the 2010 City budget by the Friendswood City Council later this month. West Ranch residents should enjoy a much lighter water and sewage bill, and heavier wallets!
Source: The Journal of Friendswood
Posted on Sep 4, 2009 | Tagged in: Friendswood ISD , education
Friendswood High School students who want to show their love for
America aren't alone; the Patriot Club was formed at Friendswood
High School this year. The purpose of the club is to provide a
positive outlet for American patriotism and to encourage love of
America without partisan bias.
Membership is open to all Friendswood High School students
regardless of nationality, or political affiliation, in-line with
their mantra of non-partisan bias.
The Patriot Club activities proposed so far are participation
in the Fourth of July parade and festivities, raising money to
distribute small American flags during the Fourth of July parade,
and collecting money to replace worn flags for Friendswood
residents during patriotic holidays. They also plan on
assisting local homeowners and businesses with worn flag
disposal.
The founding president of the Patriot Club is senior Alex
Lovely, with Robert Wise acting as the faculty
sponsor/representative. They will host a minimum of quarterly
meetings of student membership. To learn more about this club
please call 281-992-0150.
West Ranch parents might consider encouraging their children
to look into this positive club. In Friendswood I.S.D., clubs and
extra-curricular activities that promote camaraderie, community
service, and learning are encouraged for all students to
consider!
Posted on Sep 2, 2009 | Tagged in: events , community , City of Friendswood
Looking for a fun event this Halloween?
Join the Friendswood Chamber of Commerce and Amoco Federal Credit Union for a fun pre-halloween event.
Sunday, October 25, 2009 from 6-8:00 p.m. Friendswood residents will join together in Stevenson Park for an evening of ghost, goblins and fun!
Posted on Aug 28, 2009 | Tagged in: City of Friendswood
Last Monday Friendswood City Hall staff member Roger Roecker was sworn in as the City of Friendswood's new City Manager. Larry Taylor, State Representative performed the honors for Roecker, 56. For 20 years Roecker was on the City Hall staff, 3 of those years during this run as interim city manager. While he loves the low profile work he has done, he feels it is time to step up and embrace a new challenge.
During an interview at City Hall Roecker stated, "God really puts you where He wants you to be," and adding "Sometimes you agree with where He puts you and you like being there. Other times, you don't. My belief is you're better off going willingly. This is not a commentary on the city manager's job. It never was on my list, quite frankly, but it's what I feel God wants."
He was sworn in with open arms as a unanimous decision was made by City Council to officially make Roger Roecker its new Friendswood City Manager. All this after his 17 month interim capacity served prior to this. Council members praise him, and even gave him a standing ovation as he was sworn in last monday.
"I've known Roger Roecker for probably 25-plus years," State Representative Taylor said. "Leadership? He's great. His professionalism is of the highest quality. He's also a great man of character, very serious-minded about his work (and he's) hard working. The one thing Roger Roecker is not, is an actor, so I'm glad he's losing that ‘acting’ city manager title because he's the real deal."
"I've known Roger for quite a while and we know what we're getting with Roger,” Councilman Jim Hill added. “This is not an unknown quantity. I don't think at this time we could find a better person to be city manager of Friendswood."
Posted on Aug 21, 2009 | Tagged in: healthcare , Friendswood ISD , education
Texas kids are getting ready to go back to schools, and for many children, preparation includes getting a few more immunizations. This year, big changes have been made in immunization requirements which will impact incoming kindergarten and seventh grade students.
The changes to the requirements were made to bring Texas into line more closely with what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Advisory committee on Immunization Practices recommend. These changes started on August 01 and include:
- Hepatitis A Vaccine: All students entering kindergarten will be required to have two doses of Hepatitis A vaccine.
- Measles, Mumps, Rubelle (MMR) Vaccine: All students entering kindergarten will be required to have two doses of the MMR vaccine.
- Varicella (chickenpox) Vaccine: All students entering kindergarten and 7th grade will be required to have two doses of the Varicella vaccine. However, a written statement from the parent/guardian, school nurse or physician attesting to the child already having had chickenpox may replace the vaccine.
- Tetanus, Diptheria and acellular pertussis-containing Vaccine (Tdap): All students entering 7th grade will be required to have one dose of Tdap vaccine. Students in the 7th grade are required to have a booster shot of Tdap only if it has been five years since their last dose. Students in grades 8-12 are required to have a booster shot of Tdap if it has been ten years or more since their previous dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine.
- Meningococcal Vaccine: All students entering 7th grade will be required to have one dose of meningococcal vaccine.
For more information on immunization requirements for Texas kids:
West Ranch residents visiting and attending Friendswood High School this Fall semester should be aware of potential traffic congestion in the area. Friendswood I.S.D and the City of Friendswood have issued the following warnings as a convenience to the community:
Traffic around FHS at the start and end of the school day will be congested. Parent drop-off is the same as last year and will be done on the right side of the building (senior parking lot). Students will enter the school through the first set of double doors. Parents will not be allowed to drop-off at any time in the bus drop-off and new teacher lot (left side of building). Seniors who will park in the front senior lot will still need to enter off Greenbriar Avenue. We are encouraging our juniors and seniors who will park in the football stadium lot to enter and exit on the new drive off Falling Leaf, next to the Natatorium construction.
We will still have overflow parking for juniors on Mustang Road and for seniors in the field next to the new teacher lot.
Please allow extra time in the mornings to get to school. Please be patient with our traffic challenges as we kick-off another great year at FHS!
City Construction Alert: As of Wednesday, August 19, 2009, Falling Leaf is closed between Sunset Drive and Greenbriar Avenue. Please contact the city for a re-open date and please plan accordingly.
West Ranch also wishes FHS students and teachers and excellent school year; have a great one and stay safe on those roads!
Posted on Aug 17, 2009 | Tagged in: Friendswood ISD , City of Friendswood
They said it couldn't be done. Friendswood school district reps were told it was too expensive, and that the trees would never survive the move. However, they were all wrong. In an effort to save mature trees on the campus of Friendswood High School, Davey Large Tree Moving successfully moved 10 trees to another part of the campus. Originally, many of the trees were thought to be lost causes. Thankfully, that is when Curt Smith of the Davey Company stepped in.
The crew at Davey Company carefully moved bare cypress, oaks, and river birch trees from the soccer field to other ends of the campus. Five trees were also moved along side the tennis court, and more was done to give a more landscaped, green look. "We are hoping to make that area nice and landscaped," said Trish Hanks, FISD Superintendent. "We really kind of like the idea of the high school being sort of a green fit in the neighborhood."
Posted on Aug 11, 2009 | Tagged in: travel , Friendswood ISD , community
West Ranch residents should be wary when driving through Friendswood I.S.D.'s and other schools' school zones, as a new state law will prohibit the use of wireless communication devices while operating a vehicle in a school zone. Violators must pay a fine of up to $200 per violation.
House Bill 55 is set to take effect on September 1, and is intended to promote the safety of students. While the law has not taken effect in all areas of Texas yet, it is in effect in the Friendswood area.
A few facts about the law:
- Provisions under the law will allow drivers to use cell phones in school zones with a hands-free device or when their vehicle is stopped.
- School bus drivers will be affected, too.
- The law is an amendment of the Texas Transportation Code, section 545.425.
- An additional exception is provided in emergency situations, when a driver needs to use a cell phone in a school zone to contact police, fire, or emergency medical personnel.
We beg West Ranch residents to heed this new law, as it is designed with the safety of you and your children in mind!
