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Dave Martin
Council Member
District E
Contact:
900 Bagby
First Floor
Houston, TX 77002
17629 El Camino Real
Suite 415
Houston, TX 77058
Office: (832) 393-3008
Fax: (832) 393-3279
Lauren Laake
Chief of Staff
Jessica Beemer
North Sector Manager
Jordan McGinty
South Sector Manager
Katherine Cunningham
Administrative Assistant
Tashamee Love
Intern
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City Contacts
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City of Houston 311
(713) 837-0311
Mayor's Citizens Assistance Office
(832) 393-0955
Kingwood
Community Center
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Residents of District E,
On February 5, 2017, Houston will be the host city to Super Bowl LI. The city will be abuzz with many exciting events leading up to the largest broadcasted sporting event in the country. The city cannot wait to host such a publicized sports-event and are doing everything we can to provide an unparalleled experience for not only the visitor, but also for Houstonians right here in our backyard. Fans from near and far will have the opportunity to take part in everything the city has to offer at two special events known as the Touchdown Tour and Super Bowl Live!
Touchdown Tour
Last month, the Super Bowl Host Committee announced a citywide, traveling event known as the Touchdown Tour. The tour kicked off football season at Space Center Houston on August 27th and will continue to travel all over Houston throughout the fall, raising awareness and excitement in the community for the Super Bowl. Each stop of the tour will feature interactive games, exhibits, a Houston Texans mobile locker room, special photo booths, giveaways, appearances, food and fun for people of all ages. Plus, it is all free! At each event, the Host Committee will also engage with the community through a combination of its Touchdown Houston legacy initiatives by focusing on three key areas: education, health, and community enhancement.
On November 19, Lake Houston area residents will have the opportunity to attend the Touchdown Tour from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at Kingwood High School, located at 2701 Kingwood Drive, 77339. I plan on attending and hope to see you there!
Super Bowl Live
Additionally, in the 10 days leading up to the Super Bowl, Houston's Discovery Green Park, located in front of the George R. Brown Convention Center, will change its landscape and be host to what will be known as Super Bowl Live fan festival. The festival, which will be free to the public, will have a variety of attractions for the public to enjoy including live concerts by well-known Houston artists, acclaimed food from Houston area restaurants, games, and more. The festival will tell the story of Houston as a diverse, dynamic and dimensional city of the future; highlight the city as the energy capital of the world, the cultural and culinary capital of the south; and as an awakening giant for research and innovation across a plethora of different industries.
I hope you will be able to take part in this once in a lifetime experience and encourage all fans, near and far, young and old to attend the events.
As always, it is a privilege to serve you at City Hall.
Sincerely,
Dave Martin
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Houston Pension Reform
On October 20 Council Member Martin chaired his second subcommittee meeting on Debt Financing and Pensions. The city's
finance team, Director Kelly Dowe, Jennifer Olenick and City Attorney Ron Lewis gave a presentation about the proposed changes to the Houston Police Officers Pension System, Houston Municipal Employee Pension System and Houston Firefighters Relief Fund.
On Wednesday, October 25, after more than ten months of negotiation and discussion, City Council voted 16-1 to pass a resolution of support for specified reforms of the three pension systems which are established to ensure a dignified, assured, and reasonable retirement for municipal, police, and firefighter employees. For the first time since 2001, each of the three systems agreed to concessions and adjustments that displayed commitment to shared sacrifice for the benefit of our community. These reforms can serve as a national model for other cities facing similar challenges. Mayor Turner and talented members of his Administration accomplished this, and developed pension reforms that will balance Houston's checkbook going forward, and guarantee honorable retirements to police, fire, and municipal employees.
The reforms commit the city to making full annual payments, eliminate the pension debt after 30 years, and observe a more realistic 7% rate of system returns. Council members agreed to the issuance of $1 billion in pension bonds that help make up for years of short payments by the city to police and municipal employees. This is not new debt, these were dollars already owed to the plans. The pension systems agreed to benefit changes that reduce what the city owes by $2.5 billion. This is significant. Retiree's checks won't get smaller, and reforms are structured so thousands of police and firefighters don't immediately take retirement. This new plan takes Houston's pension issue off the table. Finally, the city accomplished this all without increasing sales or ad valorem taxes.
Council Member Martin looks forward to supporting the passage of legislation in Austin next year that will fulfill the terms of these agreements.
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Election Day
Tuesday, November 8 is Election Day, the day to make your voice heard on local as well as national matters. Council Member Martin encourages all registered voters who did not vote early to go to the polls on Election Day. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. To view your polling location as well as a sample ballot, please go to
www.harrisvotes.com.
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Space Center Boulevard Construction Update
On October 3 Public Works & Engineering began work on the Space Center Boulevard concrete panel replacement project. The scope of work includes removal and replacement of several sections of roadway along Space Center Boulevard from Clear Lake City Boulevard to Bay Area Boulevard.
Approximately 250 panels will be replaced, spanning approximately 2 miles of the total 8.8 miles of the boulevard. Existing pavement thickness varies from 6.6 inches to 11.0 inches with sub surface conditions varying from fat clay to lime stabilized base. The new pavement will be 11 inches thick over an 8-inch lime stabilized subgrade, which has a design life of 50 years. Construction is anticipated to be completed by early Spring 2017.
For more information, please contact the District E office at (832) 393-3008 or via email at
districte@houstontx.gov.
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Active Shooter Survival Seminar
On October 4, staff from Council Member Martin's office attended an Active Shooter Survival Seminar at South Shore Harbour Resort. The program was presented by the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership and the Business Development Division of the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by South Shore Harbour Resort and Conference Center and Clear Lake Regional Medical Center. League City Police Officer, Lt. Cliff Woitena educated the audience on the importance of being prepared in an active shooter situation, specifically in an office setting. Remember to RUN, HIDE, FIGHT.
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North Pointe Elementary
On October 6 Council Member Martin paid a visit to Clear Creek ISD school, North Pointe Elementary. Council Member Martin had the opportunity to speak to teachers and PTA members before visiting with 3rd, 4th and 5th graders during an assembly
about
the role of government, qualities of a successful leader, and how to make a difference in the community.
Council Member Martin thanks Janet Clark, North Pointe PTA Legislative Chair, for inviting him to speak and interact with the impressive group of students.
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Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce's Annual Chairman's Ball
On Friday, October 7 Council Member Martin attended the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce's 54
th
Annual Chairman's Ball held at South Shore Harbour Resort. This yearly event serves as an opportunity for attendees to congratulate outgoing members of the chamber's board of directors and welcome new board members and division chairs.
Honored this year was outgoing Chairman Roy Green. Also recognized was the chamber's new Chairman
and City of Kemah Mayor,
Carl Joiner.
Council Member Martin congratulates the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce's outgoing board members and division chairs on a job well done and looks forward to working with M
ayor
Joiner and all of the chamber's incoming officers.
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Clear Lake Town Hall
Council Member Martin hosted approximately 70 community members at his
annual fall town hall meeting for
Southeast Houston
and
Clear
Lake residents
on Thursday, October 13
at
Space Center Houston. Representatives from the City of Houston's Public Works and Engineering Department, Houston Police Department,
and Parks and Recreation Department
all gave updates regarding a variety of different projects as did Dan Seal with the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership and representatives from the Houston Arts Alliance.
Among the top projects discussed was the recommendation released by the Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District (GCCPRD) for storm surge protection. Dan Seal updated the audience on GCCPRD's overall strategy to keep the ocean surge out of Galveston Bay by using a coastal barrier (commonly referred to as the "Ike Dike").
For the Central Region of this study, which focuses on Chambers, Harris and Galveston counties, the GCCPRD has recommended the High Island to San Luis Pass Coastal Spine including the navigation gate at Clear Lake and a modified Galveston ring levee. According to the team, this combination provides "a region-wide reduction in storm surge that extends from the Gulf of Mexico to Houston, providing enhanced protection for communities located along the shoreline of Galveston Bay and industry located along the Houston Ship Channel." To read the
GCCPRD
Phase 3 Report and to learn more about the study process, please visit
www.gccprd.com
.
C
ouncil Member Martin has been in support of this specific project since its inception, believing that it is necessary to take a proactive stance rather than reactive. Mayor Sylvester Turner is also on board, recently submitting his letter of support to Senator Larry Taylor and State Representative Joe Deshotel, chairs of the Texas Joint Interim Committee to Study a Coastal Barrier System. This will be an important topic during the 85
th
legislative session which will begin in January. Council Member Martin looks forward to continuing to be in the conversation as future studies are conducted and funding is secured.
Council Member Martin thanks all who attended the meeting to learn about city projects and community updates affecting the south sector of District E. For more information on any of topics discussed, please contact the District E office at (832) 393-3008 or at
districte@houstontx.gov.
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Shrimporee
The Space Center Rotary hosted their annual Shrimporee on Saturday, October 15 at Clear Lake Park. The event had a great turn out, including staff from Council Member Martin's office. The annual event, which is the club's biggest fundraiser, included games and entertainment for kids and families, live and silent auctions, BBQ, and of course, shrimp!
Council Member Martin was proud to sponsor the event again this year, and commends the Space Center Rotary for another successful Shrimporee and for their commitment to the community.
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Dick's Sporting Goods Grand Opening
On Tuesday,
October 18 Council Member Martin attended the grand opening of the DICK's Sporting Goods
, Field & Stream and Golf Galaxy at
the newly expanded Baybrook Mall.
During the festivities, the council member was able to give welcoming remarks and present store management with a certificate of special recognition. Students from the Clear Spring High School Drumline, choir and cheerleading team in addition to the Clear Brook High School ROTC also participated in the celebratory event. Council Member Martin thanks Dick's Sporting Goods, which is bringing 185 new jobs to the area, for already being an active member of the community and welcomes the largest U.S. based sporting goods retailer
to District E.
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Wings Over Houston
On October 22 staff from Council Member Martin's office attended the
32nd Annual Wings Over Houston Airshow.
One of the top air shows in the United States, this premier Houston event is dedicated to showcasing vintage World War II aircraft, along with the thrills of modern aviation, and has supported a variety of local and national charities during its 30-year history.
Council Member Martin commends the Airshow for another successful year and is proud to have this wonderful event in District E.
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Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce General Membership Luncheon
On Wednesday, October 26 the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce hosted their monthly General Membership Luncheon at Hilton Houston NASA Clear Lake - their first with new chairman, Kemah Mayor Carl Joiner. This month's program included a Texas Legislative
update from Senator Larry Taylor, Rep. Dr. Greg Bonnen, and Rep. Dennis Paul. As Senator Taylor serves as the Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, he briefed the Chamber members on the importance o
f education in our state as well as the significance of technology in the classroom. Rep. Dr. Bonnen's presentation updated the members on the future state budget as a reflection of the state's priorities. Rep. Paul tied up the luncheon by speaking on local issues and transportation in our region.
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BAHEP General Membership Meeting
On Wednesday, October 26
the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership hosted their monthly General Membership Meeting at Lakewood Yacht Club. Congressman Brian Babin, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Space, engaged the members in a discussion of "The Reality of Deep Space Exploration - Leadership, Policy, Planning, Resources and Partnerships". During his update, Congressman Babin primarily focused on the space industry and the significant successes and challenges over the past year. These include the status of the NASA Authorization, the establishment of the Texas Space Congressional Caucus, JSC and human space flight programs, international cooperation, commercial space flight and the challenges of deep space exploration with a new administration in 2017.
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Armand Bayou Nature Center Luncheon
On October 27 Council Member Martin and staff attended a special luncheon honoring Emmeline Dodd as this year's Armand Bayou Nature Center's Armand Yramategui Conservation Award winner. The luncheon was held at Bay Oaks Country Club and featured Will Holder, the President of Trendmaker Homes, as the keynote speaker. Dodd is recognized with the award for her tireless dedication to nature as a naturalist, environmentalist, educator, advocate and leader. Her passion to reconnect people with nature exemplifies the mission of the Armand Bayou Nature Center and the vision of Armand Yramategui.
Council Member Martin congratulates Emmeline on this great achievement and looks forward to continuing to work together in the future.
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Space Center Houston METRO Bus Shelter Update
In March, Space Center Houston reached out to the District E office requesting a bus shelter
on their property that would protect public transit riders from outside elements while waiting for the bus.
Working with the Metropolitan Transit Authority, Council Member Martin's office was able to coordinate project logistics over the summer, and is happy to announce the completion of
the project for visitors who will be riding to and from the center.
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Space Commerce Conference & Exposition
Save the Date! The 2016 SpaceCom will take place November 15-17 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. SpaceCom 2016 will spotlight space technology and access to space-based assets that drive game-changing advancements in terrestrial industries, including advanced manufacturing, agribusiness, energy, maritime and medicine. SpaceCom's exposition will be packed with content, interactive exhibits and products from more than 200 exhibitors. The new SpaceVR Theater will offer SpaceCom attendees the opportunity to experience the space travel in the world's first immersive virtual reality setting. Additionally, there will be a panel of astronauts from the past, present and future, a robotics showcase and NASA's Robonaut 2 (R2).
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KIPP Climb Academy Play Scape Ribbon Cutting
Currently, KIPP Climb and KIPP Prime College Prep serve approximately 230 students from the Southeast Houston and Pasadena communities. This year, the two schools serve both kindergarten and 5
th
grade and will add grade levels each year until the campuses serves students in Pre-Kindergarten through 8
th
grade. In addition to the new grade levels being added to this campus, KIPP Houston, KaBOOM! and Morgan Stanley built a new play scape at KIPP Climb, transforming a once empty space into a vibrant neighborhood-gathering and kid and family friendly place. Council Member Martin's staff attended the ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, October 28.
The mission of KIPP Houston is to develop in underserved students the academic skills, intellectual habits and qualities of character necessary to succeed at all levels of Pre K-12 education, college, and the competitive world.
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South Belt-Ellington Chamber of Commerce's Evening of Cuisine
Council Member Martin had the opportunity to participate as a judge at the South Belt-Ellington Chamber of Commerce's 19th annual Evening of Cuisine. The all-you-can-eat event gave attendees a chance to sample food from a wide variety of restaurants and other vendors within the area. The event also featured a live and silent auction as well as door prizes. The chamber of commerce works to enhance the economic welfare, growth and success of the communities in and around the South Belt-Ellington area. Council Member Martin applauds the chamber on such a great event.
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Scheduled Work at Meadowcreek Village Park
After monitoring the cracks in the Meadowcreek Community Center building, HPARD determined that the building has been damaged due to leaks and tree roots. Construction to repair these damages began the week of October 17,
and include
s repairing the plumbing and drain lines, installation of gutters, downspouts and splash blocks.
Crews will then root and prune the trees near the building foundation. Meadowcreek Village residents can expect this work to last 4-6 weeks.
Park goers can also expect to see construction on the pavilion to start this coming month. In November, the work will include the structural steel, decking and standing seam room. This will be followed by the installation of the basketball goals, court striping and lighting. Residents can expect the pavilion to be completed and open to the public by early 2017.
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Lone Star College Breaks Ground at Generation Park
On October 4 staff from Council Member Martin's office attended Lone Star College Kingwood's ground breaking event for the Process Technology Center at Generation Park.
This brand new, state of the art, 40,000-square-foot facility will be home to Lone Star College's first process technology program, utilizing simulation equipment, hands-on training with a fully functional pilot plant, applied technology and general academic coursework to train students. The Process Technology program will begin in January 2017 at Lone Star College's Atascocita Center and move to the Generation Park campus when doors open in the fall of 2017.
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Royal Brook Ribbon Cutting
On October 6 staff from Council Member Martin's office attended the ribbon cutting event for Kingwood's newest residential development, Royal Brook. During the event, staff was able to tour six of the newly furnished model homes and experience the different amenities available in the community including trails and playgrounds built to allow families many opportunities to enjoy all that Kingwood has to offer. Royal Brook has currently sold 52 homes. For more information please visit
www.kingwoodonline.com/homes.
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Kingwood Town Hall
On Tuesday, October 11 Council Member Martin held District E's annual fall town hall meeting for Kingwood residents at the Kingwood Community Center, where nearly 150
residents were in attendance. Residents were provided updates from a variety of different city departments including Public Works and Engineering, Houston Police Department - Kingwood Substation, Houston Super Bowl Host Committee and the City's Chief Resiliency Officer, Stephen Costello.
Ralph de Leon, a consultant for the Lake Houston Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ 10) also provided information about the Northpark Mobility Project and other intersection improvements currently in design for the Kingwood area. Future intersection improvements coming to the Kingwood area include: additional right hand turn lane from southbound West Lake Houston Parkway to westbound Northpark Drive; additional right hand turn lane from eastbound Northpark to southbound West Lake Houston Parkway; designated right turn lane from northbound West Lake Houston to eastbound Kings Crossing; and finally a designated left hand turn lane from eastbound Hamblen Road to northbound Forest Cove. Those improvements can be found on the District E website.
Council Member Martin thanks all who attended the meeting to learn about city projects and community updates affecting the north sector of District E. For more information on any of topics discussed, please contact the District E office at (832) 393-3008 or at
districte@houstontx.gov.
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Northpark Mobility Workshop
The Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority (TIRZ 10) held a Mobility Workshop that was open to the public on October 13 at the Kingwood Community Center. At the meeting, the TIRZ gave progress reports about the current Northpark Drive Mobility Improvement Project and showed graphics of three different drainage options that are being considered for the project. This project is currently still in the predesign phase and more opportunities to learn the details of this project will be provided in the future.
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Family Time Crisis & Counseling Center's 6th Annual Purple Ribbon Luncheon
On Friday, October 14 staff from Council Member Martin's office attended the Family Time Crisis and Counseling Center's 6th annual Purple Ribbon Luncheon. Family Time Crisis and Counseling Center is one of only four domestic violence shelters in Harris County
and the City of Houston to serve over
one million women
, which are most likely to be victims of domestic violence. Those signs are intensity, jealousy, control, isolation, criticism, sabotage, blame, and anger in a relationship. Remember that domestic violence isn't just physical abuse there is emotional abuse too.
If you see the signs of domestic abuse in a relationship call 1-800-799-SAFE to make a report. It's always better to be safe.
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Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce's Teacher of the Year Luncheon
On October 18 staff from Council Member Martin's office attended the Lake Houston Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year Luncheon
, which was a wonderful tribute to those dedicated to educating the youth of the Lake Houston community.
Congratulations to all of the award recipients for the 2016-2017 school year!
Council Member Martin's staff w
as
honored to be able to present the teachers with certificates commending their service to their students and communities on behalf of the council member.
Council Member Martin extends his gratitude to Dr. Watson of Spring ISD, Dr. Fagen of Humble ISD, and Dr. Persson of Lonestar College Kingwood for their recognition of outstanding service within
their respective districts.
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Kingwood Post Office
After receiving numerous complaints about landscaping issues at the Kingwood Post Office, District E office has coordinated with
Congressman Ted Poe. Congressman Poe's office communicated with the U.S. Postal Service to resolve the landscaping issues. A crew was sent out to do maintenance on the lawn and landscaping of the property. New lawn equipment was ordered and a lawn service was hired for weekly maintenance until that new equipment arrives. The Humble Management staff continues to work diligently to ensure that the Kingwood Post Office meets the standard of the community of Kingwood.
Thank you to Congressman Poe and his staff for working to coordinate the new maintenance schedule.
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H-E-B Kingwood Ribbon Cutting
On October 25 Council Member Martin had the opportunity to participate in the grand opening of the new 106,000 square foot H-E-B located at the northeast corner of West Lake Houston Parkway and Kingwood Drive. This new store is triple the size of its predecessor and home to over 100,000 unique products that have been tailored for the Kingwood shopper. This new H-E-B brings curbside grocery pick up and a drive through pharmacy, along with more healthy living options in addition to a traveling nutritionist.
The brand new H-E-B is officially open to the public! Council Member Martin wishes H-E-B luck and congratulates them on this new location.
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Kingwood B.O.P.A.
On Saturday, October 29 Council Member Martin and the Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) hosted the Kingwood Batteries, Oil, Paint and Anti-Freeze (B.O.P.A.) collection event at the Kingwood METRO Park and Ride.
Council Member Martin thanks
Keep Kingwood Green and the student volunteers who made the Kingwood B.O.P.A. possible, as well as the staff of the city's Solid Waste Management Department for its leadership on the event and the Houston Police Department's Kingwood substation for its additional support.
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National Night Out
On Tuesday, October 4, Council Member Martin's office participated in
18
National Night Out events throughout District E. Staff visited a number of neighborhoods in the north and south sectors
of the district
to build on community relationships and discuss city-related projects and concerns with local residents. Representatives from the Houston Police and Fire Departments also visited many communities throughout the city to promote public safety partnerships and awareness.
Since its founding in 1984, National Night Out has served as a national crime-prevention initiative aimed at furthering police-community partnerships, fostering neighborhood camaraderie and deterring criminal activity.
Council Member Martin thanks all those throughout District E who participated and hosted neighborhood events.
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Houston Consular Ball
On October 15 Council Member Martin had the opportunity to attend the 2016 Houston Consular Ball, the third-largest consular corps in the nation. The event celebrates the rich diversity that makes Houston such a unique and powerful city. This year's event, in consideration of the Final Four, Copa America Centenario, the 51st Super Bowl and other major sporting events taking place in Houston, exemplified the unifying power of sports as a symbol of Houston's dedication to cooperation and international growth.
Council Member Martin thanks Houston First for inviting him to join their table at the Ball, and looks forward to attending again next year.
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2nd Annual CMC Basketball Throw Down
Every fall, employees from each of the City of Houston's different departments participate in the Combined Municipal Campaign (CMC), a month-long effort to raise money for charitable causes in the greater Houston region and beyond. Council Member Martin took place in the 2
nd
Annual Combined Municipal Campaign Basketball Throw Down on October 20
th
at the city's historic Fonde Recreation Center.
Initiated by Council Member Martin in 2015 as a way to raise funds
for charity,
the throw down event featured a friendly basketball game pitting a team of council members and staff against Mayor
Turner and his staff
. This year Council made a comeback and beat the Mayor's team.
Council Member Martin commends Council Member Travis, this year's CMC Chair, for continuing this great event and raising over $500 for his charity of choice, Friends of BARC.
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Drug Take Back Day
October 22 was National Prescription Drug Take-Back day, and the United States Drug Enforcement Agency in cooperation with the City of
Houston Mayor's Citizens' Assistance Office organized various drop-off sites throughout the city where individuals could properly dispose of left-over or expired medication. Participating Kingwood residents traveled to the Kingwood Metro Park & Ride, while participants in Clear Lake went to Clear Lake's Houston Police Department Substation to dispose of their unused medication. Law enforcement and pharmacy personnel staffing the sites took over the prescription and over-the-counter drugs, including pet meds, which residents dropped off while driving through.
The Houston area collected over 12,000 pounds of unwanted or expired medication. Of that total, 267 pounds were collected at the Clear Lake site, and 222 pounds were collected at the Kingwood site.
Council Member Martin thanks all who participated in this important annual public health event and all the law enforcement and pharmaceutical personnel who ensured its proper execution this year.
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Mayor's Youth Council Inauguration Ceremony
On October 25 Council Member Martin attended the 2016-2017 Mayor's Youth Council Inauguration Ceremony. The Mayor's Youth Council (MYC), an initiative of the city's Department of Neighborhoods, provides Houston high school students with opportunities to learn about city government, gain leadership skills and serve as a voice for Houston's youth. They are selected based on written applications, interviews and an interest in civic engagement. Structured like the Houston City Council, MYC positions include a chair, vice chair, secretary, aides, and 11 district and 5 at-large council members with their terms of office running from October through May.
This year the MYC member for District E was Madison Romo, a junior at Duchesne Academy, and the Aide was Niara Pelton, a sophomore at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Also from District E were Adarsh Suresh, the Aide for At-Large Position 1 and Aliya Khan, the Aide for At-Large Position 5. Adarsh is a sophomore at Clear Brook High School and Aliya is a junior at Kingwood High School.
Council Member Martin congratulates this year's Council!
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Partnership Tower Open House
On October 26 Council Member Martin had the opportunity attend the Houston First Corporation and Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau Open House at the brand new Partnership Tower. Directly north of the GRB, Partnership Tower will house the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Greater Houston Partnership, Harris County Houston Sports Authority, the Hotel Lodging Association of Greater Houston and Houston First Corporation, bringing the primary entities marketing and selling the city together under one roof. The site also houses two transit centers, one on the ground floor of Hilton Americas-Houston, and the other on the ground floor of the Partnership Tower. The event also provided an opportunity to thank Ric Campo for his service as Chair of Houston First Corporation.
Council Member Martin thanks Houston First for putting together a great event.
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Crime Stoppers Gala
On Thursday, October 27 Council Member Martin attended the Crime Stoppers of Houston 2016 Gala at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
This year's featured guest was
Mr. Michael Rezendes, the internationally acclaimed investigative journalist whose work was the basis behind the Oscar winning Film for Best Picture of the Year (2015) -
Spotlight.
Over the past 35 years, Crime Stoppers of Houston has partnered with citizens, media and the criminal justice system in their commitment to solving and preventing serious crime in the Greater Houston Area. They have also provided free crime prevention education programs to protect children, law enforcement, schools, businesses and homes.
Council Member Martin thanks Crime Stoppers for the diligent work they do to keep our community safe.
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New Program Aims to Increase 3-1-1 Responsiveness
To increase responsiveness to constituents, Houston 311 Help and Information is implementing an escalation path for service requests. Escalated Service Requests will be utilized to resolve cases where citizens are unsatisfied with the City's initial response.
To be eligible for an Escalated Service Request, citizens must call 311 with a prior or outstanding service request for the same issue and that request must meet one of the following criteria:
* An open service request that is overdue for response
* An issue that poses an imminent threat to health and safety such as a tree limb hanging over a busy hike and bike trail or a missing stop sign
* A recurring issue for which there has been at least one previous request within the last six months
* A prior service request that was closed without action and the customer remain unsatisfied with the response
Departments will have three business days to make actual contact with the complainant.
This is the latest in Mayor Turner's continuous improvements that started with a promise to fill potholes faster. Since January, more than 4,000 potholes have been filled in response to 311 calls and 96% of them were repaired by the next business day. During the same time frame, the City has proactively filled approximately 45,000 potholes.
Service requests may be made by calling 311, online at
www.houstontx.gov/311
or via the 311 app available for iPhone and Samsung Android smart phones.
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Plan Houston
In 2015, Houston's City Council took the groundbreaking step of adopting the city's first general plan, Plan Houston. The
plan describes a vision and goals for Houston communities and identifies twelve core strategies that represent the City's approach for achieving the vision.
The City of Houston is now actively working towards achieving the community goals laid out in Plan Houston. The next step is to understand the community's interests so that policy makers can consider them as they develop City priorities for the next budget year. The City's next fiscal year begins July 1, 2017. Residents can share their thoughts on what the City should be focusing on by responding to a brief survey at
www.planhouston.org
.
Community input, coupled with Plan Houston's strategic guidance, ensures that the City will use its limited resources in the most effective means possible to improve the community. The survey is open from
October 14, 2016 through November 25, 2016
. For more information or to receive paper copies of the survey please call 832-393-6600. Please visit
www.planhouston.org
to learn more about the Plan Houston goals and strategies.
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TXU Energy Turkey Trot
Save the Date! The 2016 TXU Energy Turkey Trot will take place Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 24 at 7:00 a.m. More than 15,000 people will be at the starting line to support Neighborhood Centers, including Council Member Martin and his family.
Neighborhood Centers, Inc. is
a local nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening underserved communities and providing opportunities for all Houstonians to succeed. For more information and to register for this year's event, go to https://turkeytrot.neighborhood-centers.org.
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67th Annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade
Join the City of Houston this year as it embraces the holiday spirit on Thursday, November 24, 2016 with the 67th Annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade - a stunning showcase of sensational floats, high-flying balloons, marching bands and live entertainment. The parade will wind through 20 blocks of downtown Houston, entertaining parade-goers lining the streets. For more information, please visit
www.houstonthanksgivingparade.org.
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Upcoming Events
Please refer to Council Martin's District E website for location, time and more event details. Email the District E office if you would like us to include your upcoming event in future newsletters!
City Wides
November 1-2
Council Break Week
November 8
Election Day
November 9
Consolidated City Council Meeting
November 11
City Offices Closed for Veteran's Day
November 11
Annual "Houston Salutes American Heroes" Veterans Day Celebration
November 15-17
Space Commerce Conference and Exposition (SpaceCom)
November 22-23
Council Break Week
November 24
66th Annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade
November 24
2015 TXU Energy Houston Turkey Trot
November 24-25
City Offices Closed for Thanksgiving
Kingwood
November 3
Kingwood Service Association's Parks Committee Meeting
November 9
Kingwood Service Association's Public Safety Committee Meeting
November 11
Humble ISD Education Foundation 2016 Golf Tournament
November 15
Kingwood PIP
November 16
Kingwood Super Neighborhood Meeting
November 19
Super Bowl Touchdown Tour at Kingwood High School
Southeast Houston/Clear Lake
November 5
Clear Creek Education Foundation's 2015 Annual Gala and Awards Presentation
November 16
Bay Area Houston Transportation Partnership's Monthly Luncheon
November 15
Clear Lake PIP
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