Inside District I
June 2018 Newsletter

 

Friday, June 1 marked the official start of the 2018 hurricane season.  I want to remind and urge all residents to prepare in the event that a tropical storm or hurricane threatens our coast. Below are a few tips the city's Office of Emergency Management encourages residents to consider:

Make a Plan
Have a plan for what you and your family will do in an emergency. Consider how you will communicate with each other, where you will meet, and who you can leave messages with out-of-state if you can't reach people locally. If you or a loved one has special needs, be sure to account for that as well.

Build a Kit
If you plan on riding out the storm in your home, make sure you have a "stay at home kit" with enough supplies to last 5-7 days. This includes sufficient food, water, medications and first aid kit, batteries, flashlights and sturdy work gear and gloves in case you have to remove debris following the storm. If you have pets, don't forget to prepare a pet disaster supply kit. 
For a full list of supplies to have in your kit, download a copy of the city's Disaster Preparedness Guide at www.HoustonOEM.org or call 3-1-1 to request a printed version in English or other languages.

Stay Informed
If you stay informed, you'll know when disasters are going to strike. Be sure to keep up with information from your local government leaders and media. If the Emergency Alert System is activated, tune to 740 AM or 88.7 FM to receive emergency messages. Many jurisdictions also offer text message or email notifications. But don't just rely on one source - stay informed by using multiple sources of information. 
Visit www.hurricanes.gov for the latest information from the National Hurricane Center, and www.HoustonEmergency.org for updates from the City of Houston.

Know your Neighbors
When disasters strike, communities rally together to help each other recover. Meet your neighbors, and take an inventory of who has certain supplies and skills, and make a plan to work together if a hurricane hits.

Finally, ensure that the most vulnerable in our community, those who may have a medical need or disability, or who may need extra assistance in a storm are looked after. You may also help them register for the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR) which provides emergency agencies with information about their unique needs. Call 2-1-1 or visit www.TexasSTEAR.org to register.


    Respectfully,
 
    Robert Gallegos
    Houston Council Member
    District I

Forest Hill Bridge Pre-Construction Public Meeting

The Greater East End Management District (GEEMD) will host a community meeting to discuss the upcoming replacement of the  Forest Hill bridge at Brays Bayou. The construction project is being led by the Harris County Flood Control District in partnership with the City of Houston and the Army Corps of Engineers. Enhancements will be completed by the GEEMD.

Forest Hill Bridge Pre-Construction Public Meeting
Monday, June 11, 2018
6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Greater East End Management District Office
3211 Harrisburg Blvd.

This project is part of an overall plan that includes  retrofitting or replacing more than 30 bridges along the bayou that could hamper the flow of stormwater.  The replacement of and an extension of these bridges is intended to increase the storm water conveyance capacity, mitigate flood risks, and help address water quality in the Brays Bayou watershed, according to county officials.

Construction of the Forest Hill bridge is expected to begin this summer.
Over 400 Senior Residents Attend Annual Senior Prom
Councilman Robert Gallegos hosted over 400 senior citizens from senior centers located across District I at his fourth annual Senior Citizens Prom. The event was held in the ballroom at the Marriott South at Hobby Airport Hotel.

"Our guests had a wonderful time catching up with friends, enjoying brunch and dancing. We even crowned a Prom Queen, Ms. Marilou Gonzalez, and King, Mr. Charles Brown," said Councilman Gallegos. "These seniors are our parents and grandparents, have helped build and advance the community we all love, and this is just a fun way to celebrate and say 'thank you'."

The event has grown each year since the first prom dance was held in 2014, when approximately 200 seniors attended. The District I Office wishes to thank sponsors: United Airlines, Comcast, Union Pacific, TexanPlus, Goya, CenterPoint and others for their contribution and ensuring that guests had a fun and memorable prom dance.
On-the-Spot Hiring for Summer Jobs

Know of a young person who will be looking for a job this summer? The City of Houston has partnered with several organizations and companies to offer summer jobs to thousands in our community. There are two upcoming hiring events open to all youth ages 16 to 24. Many of these events include employers who can hire young people for summer jobs on the spot!

June 9, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
George R. Brown Convention Center | 1001 Avenida De Las Americas

June 16, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Southwest Multi-Service Center | 6400 High Star Dr.

The Hire Houston Youth program will provide young people ages 16 to 24 with a 7 week summer job, earning at least $8 an hour. Most jobs will begin June 11, 2018, and end in August.
New Trail Coming to Mason Park

Attention joggers and cyclists: a new 8-foot-wide trail connector is being built at Mason Park using District I Service Dollars Councilman Gallegos allocated earlier this year. The new concrete trail will replace the old 4-foot-wide sidewalk along Tipps and 75th Street, and will connect to the Brays Bayou greenway hike and bike trail.

The District I Office and BikeHouston also installed a Fix It bike repair stand that is located off the trail near the main parking lot entrance on 75th Street. 

In addition, new decorative light poles will be installed along the pathway around the gazebo.The contractor installed temporary poles in order to complete electrical work last month, but will install the permanent decorative poles in the coming weeks. 
Houston Botanic Garden is Taking Root!
The Houston Botanic Garden held its first community tree planting event in May in partnership with Trees For Houston. The planting was part of its plan to grow a tree farm on the garden site.

"It was great to see so many volunteers from the neighborhood, especially families with young children, participating in the tree planting," noted Councilman Gallegos  "The volunteers helped plant approximation 300 trees."

Interested in other volunteer opportunities or have programming ideas? The Botanic Garden encourages you to take this short survey to share your ideas: www.surveymonkey.com/r/HBGprogramming18
Long-Term Recovery from Harvey Community Meetings


With more than $1 billion in housing recovery allocated to Houston, the City is seeking community input on priorities for long-term recovery efforts from the devastation of Hurricane Harvey. 

The Houston Housing Department is partnering with community groups on a series of upcoming meetings. These events will be a chance for residents to receive information about short-term recovery programs, learn about the process for long-term recovery, and give input about what types of housing recovery activities they want to see in their communities.

For more information visit www.houstontx.gov/housing.
2018 Flood Control District Bond Programs and Meetings
Harris County has begun scheduling a series of 23 community engagement meetings  to solicit public input on an expected $2.5 billion bond issue that would help prevent flooding. The public meetings will take place June through July and will conclude Aug. 1, allowing time for county officials to finalize the bond package for voters.

Officials with the Harris County Flood Control District are scheduling public meetings in each of the county's 23 watersheds to describe some of the projects the county is proposing and to solicit residents' input on which projects should be included. Flood Control officials also have created an interactive map detailing the status of more than 150 proposed and current projects throughout the county.
Harris County Commissioners Court is expected to vote June 12 to place a $2.5 billion flood bond issue on the Aug. 25 ballot. If approved, issuance of the bonds would be spread over 15 years, limiting the expected Flood Control tax increase to an eventual 1.2 percent of the current bill. For more information, visit www.HCFCD.org 
Students Can Ride METRO For Free This  Summer

METRO is offering FREE rides for students this summer with METRO's Summer of Fun Program, which runs June 1 through Sept. 1, 2018.  Students can ride free anywhere METRO goes with a Student METRO Q Fare Card.  Students can apply by visiting www.RideMetro.org
  • Apply online
  • Apply through the mail by downloading a form & mailing it back
  • Apply in person at the METRO RideStores: 1900 Main St. or 1001Travis St.
K-12 Students - Provide only one of the following:
  • Current school ID
  • Report card
  • Class schedule
College & University Students - Provide one of the following:
  • Current class schedule and a fee receipt
  • Letter from the college verifying your a current student
  • Student METRO Q® Fare Card registration form signed and stamped by school registrar
New Restroom Building Installed at HFD's Training Academy
Councilman Robert Gallegos worked with the Houston Fire Department (HFD) command staff to identify and secure funding to complete the purchase and installation of a pre-fabricated, stand-alone permanent restroom facility at the fire department's Val Jahnke Training Academy. Councilman Gallegos allocated $140,000 toward the $250,000 restroom building project.

"I'm proud to have provided District I Service Dollars to help complete the new restrooms at HFD's Val Jahnke Academy," said Councilman Gallegos. "The new restrooms are conveniently located in close proximity to the simulated training course on the academy campus where our cadets and firefighters train."

Several years ago the fire department had identified a need for a stand-alone permanent restroom building in close proximity to the obstacle course on the academy campus. The restroom building includes multiple stalls for men and women, as well as wash stations were cadets and firefighters can clean up  after fire drills that sometimes include exposure to hazardous chemicals. 

The new restrooms will provide the HFD training academy something essential to the training operations for years to come.
Summer Food Program

City Pools and Spraygrounds are Open for Summer!
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The Houston Parks Department's 37 outdoor swimming pools and 29  spraygrounds are open during the summer months (June 2 - Aug. 12). All pools are FREE and open to all ages, but  children under 8 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian . The pool s are open Tuesday through Sunday, from 1 to 8 p.m. All pools are closed on Monday for regular maintenance.

What to Wear: Appropriate swim-wear is required - No cut-offs, shorts, T-shirts, or thongs. The City of Houston's policy prohibits the wearing of T-shirts in swimming pools unless an exemption letter has been accepted and filed in our Aquatics Office. Exemptions are granted based on medical and/or religious reasons, for the wearing of plain white T-shirts only.

For the Kids: Children under 8 must be accompanied in the pool by a parent or an adult. Swim diapers are required for infants and babies. No flotation devices, such as floaties and inflatables, are permitted.

What Not to Do: No smoking is allowed. No eating and drinking is allowed, except in designated areas. No beverages or alcohol in glass containers are permitted. No excessively loud music is permitted.

The department also operates a heated indoor natatorium for citizens with disabilities at the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center, 1475 West Gray.

To find a pool near you visit www.houstontx.gov/parks/pools
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