Robert Gallegos

    Houston Council Member

    District I

The City of Houston is considering revisions to Chapter 19 to ensure new dwellings are built high enough to save lives and property in the event of flooding. The proposed changes could require elevation of new development or additions to existing structures located within the 500-year floodplain, not just 100-year floodplain.

APPROACH

The City of Houston will reduce the risk of flood loss for future development and redevelopment by ordinance revisions, new regulations, building codes and design guidelines. Existing development will be improved through Capital Improvement Projects, buyouts, home elevations and demo-rebuilds.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Houston's current code only applies to property in the 100-year floodplain and protects 1 foot above 100-year flood elevation. The proposed revisions would include property in the 500-year floodplain and protect X feet of 500-year flood elevation. It would also include no net fill in the 500-year floodplain.

The 100-year floodplain is land that is predicted to flood during a 100-year storm, which has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year. The 500-year floodplain has a 0.2% chance of occurring.

* "X feet" in the proposed revisions is still to be determined.

• through this survey (closes Monday, February 19 @ 5 p.m.)
• [email protected], or
• by contacting the Mayor or Council Members

Houston Public Works will be conducting a traffic study at the signalized intersections of McKinney at Milby, McKinney at Cullen, and McKinney at Telephone. The purpose of the study will be to analyze the intersections' conditions and determine the most adequate traffic control for them. This may include the permanent removal of the traffic signals at the conclusion of the study.

During the study period, the existing traffic signals will not be operational and instead, stop signs will be placed on selected approaches. Proper warning and regulatory signage will be in place at the intersections to properly inform roadway users of these temporary modifications.

Traffic data and patterns will be collected and analyzed during the test period beginning Friday, February 9, 2018 and lasting approximately 3-6 months. In case of any immediate negative findings, normal signalized control will be restored if determined that it is necessary.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss more in detail the scope of this study, please feel free to forward your comments to the Traffic Hotline at 832-395-3000 or [email protected].

The Solid Waste Management Department resumed normal scheduled collections for Garbage, Curbside Recycling, and Yard Waste effective Monday, January 22, 2018.

• "B Week" collection began the week of Monday, January 22
• "A Week" collection began the week of Monday, January 29

Place GREEN CART at the curb
etween 6 p.m. the day before and 7 a.m. on the scheduled collection day.

As curbside recycling collection reboots, customers are encouraged to place only the following items in their green recycling carts: paper, cardboard, clean food cartons, plastic containers #1-5 and #7, aluminum cans and bimetal cans. Glass is not accepted.

In addition, the City Junk Waste/Tree Waste crews will resume the regularly scheduled Tree Waste and Junk Waste collections:

• March 2018: Regular Tree Waste Schedule
• April 2018: Regular Junk Waste Schedule 

Last February, Councilman Gallegos launched a pilot initiative to pick up shopping carts abandoned on public property in District I. The office partnered with the Solid Waste Department to conduct the collections Monday through Friday on a twice monthly basis. The pilot program was funded with District I Service dollars.

Abandoned shopping carts are not only unsightly, but they can create road hazards and even lead to drainage issues if they end up in ditches. While the final numbers of the pilot have not yet been calculated, in just 8 months of collection (February - October) 1,628 shopping carts were retrieved from roadways, sidewalks, esplanades, ditches, and parks in District I. This is in addition to the number of shopping carts picked up by retailers such as Fiesta Mart, Walmart, and others during the same time period.

carts pulled from the clogged drainage box

Despite efforts by some retailers to collect their abandoned carts, significant numbers of carts remain within the public domain. While most of the larger retailers have measures to keep carts from leaving their property, such as through the use of electronic perimeter barricades, or regularly scheduled collection, many smaller and mid-size retailers do not.

That is why during the budget discussion last May, Councilman Laster offered an amendment to create a citywide collection program that would require retailers to come up with better solutions to this problem. Unfortunately, the administration did not support the amendment and it was defeated.

This continues to be a priority for me and many in our community. I'll continue working with my colleagues over the coming months to develop sustainable solutions to eliminate this blight from our neighborhoods.

This fiscal year, Councilman Gallegos allocated District I Service Dollars to the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP) to help fund several community requests that had been pending for years. 

Tropicana Village and Houston Country Club Place will be completed in early 2018. 

The Festival Grant program provides support for arts festivals or the arts components of cultural festivals, which celebrate Houston's diversity and promote the city's creative identity as a unique arts and cultural destination. Interested organizations are encouraged to apply.

• Max Award: $10,000
• Deadline: April 9, 2018 at 5:30 pm
• Grant term: July 1, 2018 - December 31, 2018

Festivals are defined as special events that are periodical (often annual) occurring within a limited time period, and should be inclusive and accessible to the general public. Festivals can present various performing, visual, and folk arts, or could be specific to a particular artistic discipline. Collaborative efforts utilizing the strength and knowledge base of more than one organization are highly encouraged.

Apply online by visiting www.houstonartsalliance.com/new-grant-opportunities

The east extension of the Lamar Street Cycle Track from Discovery Green (along Crawford and Polk) to EaDo is complete and open to cyclists. 

In 2015, Houston introduced the city's first two-way physically separated bicycle facility in downtown along Lamar Street. Painted bright green, the cycle track originally spanned from Discovery Green to historic Sam Houston Park, offering cyclists a safer way to get across downtown.

At the beginning of 2017, the track was extended west from Sam Houston Park to the trail system along Buffalo Bayou Park. In October 2017, the City began the east extension. The track will be further extended eastward along Polk to Emancipation Avenue in the coming months.

Tour de Houston is a fundraising bike ride that benefits Houston's Parks and Recreation Department. The ride will take place Sunday, March 18, 2018. This annual event offers Houstonians and visitors a unique way to view the city with bike routes winding through Houston's historic neighborhoods, scenic districts and parks.  The route this year  will bring thousands of cyclists through parts of District I. 

With three ride length options, the Tour de Houston is the perfect event for leisure riders or cycling enthusiasts. In addition, it is a BP MS 150 recommended training ride.

The ride begins and ends in Hermann Square at City Hall located at 901 Bagby. Riders and volunteers will enjoy a post-ride party that includes live music, free food and beverages. Registration is $35 for adults through February 16, and $40 through March 17. 

To register visit www.houstontx.gov/tourdehouston.

The Houston Permitting Center would like to offer homeowners a few safety and repair tips for storm recovery (Repair Brochure: English | Español).

AVOID SCAMS

Consumers should be on alert for potential scams. For any repair work, it is recommended to get three bids and review each bid carefully.

LICENSED VS. UNLICENSED CONTRACTORS

General contractors are not required to be licensed. Check with the Better Business Bureau or other similar sites for reported scams and complaints.

Electrical, mechanical and plumbing contractors must be registered with the City of Houston and licensed by the State of Texas. Out of state licenses are not accepted except for those under the State of Texas' reciprocity agreement.

Visit the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to verify licenses or to view complaints against Master Electricians and HVAC technicians and/or Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners to verify licenses or to view complaints against Master Plumbers.

REPAIR PERMITS

Electrical, mechanical and plumbing contractors making repairs must purchase a permit. Visit the Sold Permit Search to check if a permit has been purchased.

All electrical work must be completed by a licensed electrician.

Permits are NOT required for:

Property located within the floodplain (i.e. Special Hazard Area,100-year floodplain or floodway) may require a Floodplain Development Permit. Contact the Floodplain Management Office prior to starting any repairs at [email protected] or 832-394-8854.