Southeast Houston/Clear Lake

Tuesday, March 19

6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Space Center Houston, Special Events Building
1601 NASA Parkway
Houston, Texas 77058
 

Kingwood

Thursday, March 21

6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Kingwood Community Center 
4102 Rustic Woods Drive 
Houston, Texas 77345

Houston City Council Member Dave Martin would like to make Kingwood area residents aware that the Houston Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) is now accepting public comments on the Northpark Drive Expansion Project. Council Member Martin encourages residents to provide comments on the need for this expansion before the February 28, 2019 deadline. 

 

Northpark Drive is one of the most heavily traveled roadways in Kingwood. The goal of the project is to improve traffic flow and safety along Northpark Drive. The Northpark Drive Expansion Project would provide Kingwood residents with an all-weather evacuation route, elevating Northpark Drive above the 500-year flood plain at Ben's Branch. 

 

The project includes flood mitigation and storm water detention improvements. Additionally, a bridge will be built over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks perpendicular to Northpark Drive addressing traffic delays due to passing trains. To see a simulation of the project's design you can visit this website.

 

The Lake Houston TIRZ (TIRZ10) submitted an application for $28,362,932 in federal funding through the TIP process managed by H-GAC. On January 16, 2019, at the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting, H-GAC staff presented a draft ranking of the 2018 project applications under consideration for federal funds available through the TIP process.

 

The City of Houston and TIRZ 10 have collected letters of support from all City of Houston Council Members, City of Houston Mayor Turner, State Representative Dan Huberty, Harris County Commissioner Jack Cagle, Congressman Ted Poe, Montgomery County Judge Craig Doyal, Humble Independent School District, Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce, Bear Branch Trail Association, Fosters Mill Village Community Association, Kings Mill Subdivision, Kingwood Area Super Neighborhood Council #43, Kingwood Service Association, Lone Star College Kingwood, Kingwood Medical Center, Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital, Montgomery County MUD 98, Northpark Place Community Association, Old Vine Northpark Associates, Sand Creek Village Community Association, Green Tree Village Community Association, SMA Solutions, St. Martha's Catholic Church, Woodridge Baptist Church, Woodspring Forest Homeowners Association, Woodstream Community Association, Kingspoint Community Association, Forest Cove Property Owners Association, and Kings Manor Homeowners Association. 

 

The Northpark Expansion Project is currently ranked 29th out of 60 projects. It is  anticipated that approximately 10 projects will be funded. The existing rank for the Northpark Expansion Project as it is today does not meet the ranking requirement for funding. Public comments can greatly impact a project's ranking, which is why the District E Office strongly encourages Lake Houston Area residents to support this project by participating in the public comment period. 

 

The H-GAC is currently accepting public comments on the draft ranking. The comment period will close Thursday, February 28, 2019. To submit public comments digitally on the Northpark Drive Expansion Project click here. To see a complete list of H-GAC projects accepting public comments click here. 

 

Written comments can be mailed to H-GAC, P.O. Box 22777, Houston, TX 77227-2777. Comments from the public are also welcome via telephone calling toll free at 1-855-363-2516. 

Disaster recovery from Hurricane Harvey has started! The City launched its Homeowner Assistance Program (HoAP) on January 14. There are now four Housing Resource Centers (HRCs) open throughout the City, including the Southeast HRC at 11550 Fuqua St., 3rd floor in District E. If you were affected by Hurricane Harvey, the first step to accessing recovery resources is to take the Harvey Recovery Survey. You can take the Survey:  

The Survey doesn't require documentation and takes less than 15 minutes to complete. Intake specialists will be on hand at two upcoming events in the District:

Effective Monday, February 4, 2019, the collection of residential recycling returns to its regular collection day. Residents should place their green cart (Recycling) at the curb along with their black cart (Garbage) on their routine service day, ensuring that they are at least 3 feet apart.

The department appreciates the patience and goodwill of customers as it has had to make schedule modifica tions to deal with personnel and equipment challenges.

At the January 23 City Council meeting, Council Member Martin and his colleagues approved funding for one of Governor Abbott's charges to improve flood resiliency in the San Jacinto Watershed.

 

The study is a first time collaboration of the City of Houston, Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD), Montgomery County, and the San Jacinto River Authority. It is expected to take 12 to 18 months.

On Friday, January 25, the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership hosted their annual Quasar Award Banquet, this year honoring Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush.   

The Quasar Award is presented annually to an outstanding elected official or business leader who has demonstrated a strong and continual effort to support the business foundations of the greater Bay Area Houston communities. George P. Bush is that outstanding elected official who places the protection of Texas at the forefront of his agenda. Due to his forward vision grounded in basic economics, he has been named the 2019 recipient of Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership's Quasar Award.

 

Commissioner Bush wrote a letter to the current administration urging the president to include in his national infrastructure plans a coastal barrier system for the Houston/Galveston bay area. He declared, "Building the proposed coastal barrier system is an historic opportunity to safeguard our nation's economy, our national security, and millions of citizen's lives and livelihood."

 

He is steadfast in his opinion that the expense of doing nothing far outweighs the investment to protect and enhance the Texas coast. For his unique leadership and his willingness to promote what was once called an unrealistic plan to what is today considered a critical project for Texas and the nation, Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush is highly deserving of the 2019 Quasar Award.    

Earlier this month Council Member Martin along with staff from the District E office attended a private tour along with the Army Corps of Engineers to more closely observe the dredging operations happening on the West Fork of the San Jacinto River.

 

There are two dredges currently operating in the West Fork of the San Jacinto River. Dredge 1 operated by Great Lakes Dredge and Dock is located downstream of the West Lake Houston Parkway Bridge and Dredge 2 operated by Callan Marine, Ltd is near River Grove Park. Dredging is occurring 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In addition to the two dredges there are also six booster stations supplying electricity to the dredges along the river between the two disposal sites.

 

There is over twelve miles of pipe on the bottom of the San Jacinto River that is delivery dredge material to two disposal sites that are outside of the floodplain. Once the dredged material reaches those sites the contractors are taking the material offsite for further processing. The dredge material is suitable for cement and other uses which is being determined by the contractors. On average the two dredges remove about 9,000 cubic yards of debris combined each day.

 

To date the existing project is currently about 40% completed and has removed nearly 750,000 cubic yards of sediment debris from the West Fork of the San Jacinto River since September 20, 2018. Between now and the end of May 2019, there is an estimated 1.6 million cubic yards of sediment and estimated 300 tons of general debris that will be removed from the West Fork of the San Jacinto River before this initial dredging project is completed.

 

Due to the nature of these dredging activities it is important for residents to be aware of major safety concerns that exist on the San Jacinto River while dredging is taking place. Orange, yellow and white marker buoys located throughout the river are connected to pipelines carrying high pressure sand slurry, and should be avoided.

 

All recreational boat traffic should pass by all working vessels at a "No Wake" speed. Extreme caution and idle speed should be exercised when passing on either side of the Dredges as there are submerged cables coming off both sides of the dredges to anchors. There is also a closure of the San Jacinto River's North Fork just to the west of US Highway 59 extending north approximately 1.5 miles to the Eagle Sorters sand quarry. This stretch of the river is closed to all recreational vessel traffic for the remainder of the dredging project.

Harris County has recently has provided an update to our office regarding the El Dorado Boulevard widening project. Previously, the power poles were to be relocated between the sidewalk and the curb on the west side of the roadway. After several conversations with CenterPoint, the power poles will now be relocated and installed on the west side of the sidewalk to avoid another power pole relocation if the roadway is ever widened again. Please see the most recent illustration below.

 

The design potion of this project is on track to be completed Spring 2019. The project construction is anticipated to begin in the third quarter of 2019, and will conclude 18 months later. 

With questions on this update, please contact the District E office at [email protected], and we will be happy to coordinate with Harris County.

Houston Public Works crews will be performing an asphalt overlay along Pizzitola Street, from Koenig Street to Debbielou Gardens Drive, and on Rhea Street, from the eastern dead end to Koenig Street. Construction is scheduled to begin the week of February 11, 2019 and be is expected to be complete by the end of March 2019 , weather permitting. 

 

The project will start in two locations. Crews will start on Pizzitola Street at Koenig Street and progress toward Debbielou Gardens Drive. Construction on Rhea Street is anticipated to begin at the eastern dead end and work toward Koenig Street. 

 

The project's scope of work includes resurfacing the asphalt street. This process includes milling off an approximate 2 inch layer of old asphalt, repairing the base as needed, spraying tack coat and overlaying 2 inches of new asphalt surface pavement.  Crew staging activities are anticipated to occur between 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., with work occurring between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.,  Monday through Friday. 

 

Door hangers with project and contact information have been placed at homes and businesses impacted by this project. As a result of the construction activities, please be aware of flagmen and orange traffic cones that will be put in place on site to help with traffic flow through the construction zone as temporary lane closures are expected . Residents and businesses may experience temporary delays accessing both Rhea and Pizzitola Street, as well as individual driveways, and may experience an increase in noise levels because of equipment. 

In 2017, the District E office was made aware of an issue with erosion and improper drainage in the Huffman area, between the Commons and Magnolia Point neighborhoods. This project was identified and included as part of Houston Public Works' Pilot Program that will allow for drainage problems to be addressed in smaller phases, while reducing costs and providing quicker results.

 

The first phase of the Carriage View Lane Drainage Project is expected to be complete by early March. Once the first phase of this pilot program is complete, it will be evaluated and determined what additional phasing is necessary. The District E office will continue to update the community on the progress of this drainage project. 

On Tuesday, January 22, staff from Council Member Martin's Office attended the Northeast Water Purification Plant Expansion Project Public Meeting.

 

Staff from the project provided an update and addressed residential concerns such as noise, dust, project hours, etc. Dust fences have been put up around the perimeter of the site to provide a safe barrier and reduce dust in residential areas. Project hours will no longer take place on Sunday's and residents should not experience noise in the evening or night, as crews will not be operating equipment. Additionally, current noise levels meet current City and Harris County requirements.

 

NEWPP's main goal is to be a good neighbor and keep residents informed of upcoming work in the area. The District E Office encourages residents to address questions or concerns by calling 281-520-3777 or visiting www.greaterhoustonwater.com for further information or updates. 

On Friday, January 25, the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated 95 years with their Annual Awards Extravaganza where they honored this past year's outstanding volunteer leaders and accomplishments.

 

Council Member Martin and staff had the opportunity to join guests, as well as business partners at the event, where the 2018 Dr. Haden McKay Citizen of the Year Award was presented to Jess Fields. Also honored at the extravaganza were Jerry Martin, receiving the Spirit of the Chamber Award; Lynn Cheney and Amanda Petree, receiving the Rising Star Award; and Mark Micheletti, receiving the Chairman's Award. The Chamber additionally recognized its outgoing board of directors, including outgoing Chair Corinn Price, and performed the installation of its new board Chair, Sam Schrade.

 

Council Member Martin congratulates the Lake Houston Area Chamber on another incredible and successful year.

On Tuesday, January 29, District E staff attended the METRONext Public Meeting at the Kingwood Community Center.

 

METRO's Board of Directors is developing a new plan for transit services in the Houston

 and Harris County region. METRONext will identify major capital inve stments and other improvements needed for METRO to meet the  mobility challenges of the next 20 years. It will serve as both a vision for transit through 2040, as well as an implementable roadmap to achieve that vision.

Council Member Martin encourages you to join in developing a plan for a transit system that best serves the Houston area's residents, businesses and visitors by viewing the plan and submitting comments.

Council Member Dave Martin is pleased to announce that the intersection improvements on West Lake Houston are nearing completion.  The traffic signal lights at Kings Crossing and Northpark Drive are projected to be turned on by the end of February, weather permitting.

 

The District E Office will continue providing updates to residents on the progress of these intersections as they become available.

Council Member Dave Martin and the City of Houston's Solid Waste Management Department are holding their spring Batteries, Oil, Paint (latex only) and Antifreeze (B.O.P.A.) recycling collection events in the coming months. Council Member Martin invites District E residents to save the following dates: 

Southeast/Clear Lake

Saturday, March 30, 2019

9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 

Ellington Airport Neighborhood Recycling Center 

Highway 3 at Brantly Avenue

Houston, Texas 77034

Kingwood

Saturday, April 27, 2019

9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Kingwood Metro Park & Ride

3210 W Lake Houston Parkway

Houston, Texas 77339

The events are free and open to all City of Houston residents and will be held rain or shine. A valid Texas driver's license or other proof of residency, such as a water bill, will be required.

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

February 5

Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee

Kingwood 

Kingwood Electronic Waste Recycling

Southeast Houston/Clear Lake 

February 9

Clear Lake Electronic Waste Recycling