Friendswood city staff recently met with members of the Bond Ad Hoc Committee to discuss a potential 2026 bond, which could include funding for a new recreational center.

The details: Friendswood city staff met with the committee Jan. 21 to identify bond items that could be presented to City Council at an upcoming meeting to decide whether to send the bond to voters for consideration.

The cost: The cost of a potential bond package was not discussed. However, committee members said they hoped to design a fiscally conservative bond package that voters would support, wary of Friendswood ISD’s $165 million bond that failed in 2025, as previously reported by Community Impact.

Friendswood ISD's board of trustees is scheduled to further review plans for a potential bond election at its Jan. 28 workshop session, according to district documents. 

The details: The board will consider bond propositions by its Feb. 9 meeting to call for a potential bond election in May.

At its Jan. 22 workshop, the board reviewed preliminary drafts for a potential bond package totaling $85 million:

• Proposition A: Westwood Elementary replacement, critical infrastructure replacements, safety and security, buses and land
• Proposition B: New agricultural science center
• Proposition C: Technology

88 Dumpling House, a restaurant serving both Americanized and authentic Chinese dishes, opened a second location in Pearland, staff said. 

The details: 88 Dumpling House, which opened its first location near NRG Stadium in January 2025, celebrated the grand opening of its Pearland location on Jan. 24, according to a social media post from the restaurant.

What else: The restaurant will offer 20% off its menu during the first month, according to the social media post.

• 11011 Shadow Creek Parkway, Ste. 107, Pearland

Chuck Wemple, Houston-Galveston Area Council executive director, announced Jan. 23 that he will retire in August following nearly 24 years with the agency.

The impact: During Wemple's time as executive director, H-GAC's operating budget nearly doubled, reaching $600 million, and the organization's team grew to almost 500 members, according to a news release. H-GAC consists of local governments representing 13 different counties in the region, which collaborate to prevent and solve shared issues, per its website. 

What's next? The board of directors will conduct a national search for Wemple's replacement, per the release. His retirement is effective Aug. 20.

Quote of note: "After working alongside Chuck for over a decade, I can say there's been a lot to be proud of and even more to be thankful for," Jay Knight, Liberty County judge and chair of the H-GAC board of directors, said in a statement. "Chuck's steady vision, can-do spirit and willingness to try new things have truly set this organization apart. Thanks to his leadership, we've become the benchmark for councils across the country."