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November 1, 2019 Issue 82
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Residents of District E,
This coming Tuesday, November 5, is
Election Day.
I encourage all registered voters who did not vote early to go to the polls on Election Day. To view your Election Day polling location as well as a sample ballot, please click here. Polls will be open on November 5 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m, and this year, voter may vote at any polling location in Harris County on Election Day.
This election, you will have the opportunity to cast your vote for City of Houston Mayor, Controller, District E Council Member, as well as five At-Large City Council Members. It is our right and privilege as Americans to vote in all elections and it is important to make our voice heard. I encourage you to learn about each candidate and vote for who you think will best serve you and the interests of the City.
In addition to the elected official positions, there are ten proposed state amendments to the Texas Constitution, as well as a $3.5 billion
METRONext Bond Referendum to be considered on the ballot
. All of these ballot measures address issues important to the state, county and city; information on each is provided below.
Proposition 1
: The constitutional amendment permitting a person to hold more than one office as a municipal judge at the same time.
Proposition 2: The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of additional general obligation bonds by the Texas Water Development Board in an amount not to exceed $200 million to provide financial assistance for the development of certain projects in economically distressed areas.
Proposition 3: The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for a temporary exemption from ad valorem taxation of a portion of the appraised value of certain property damaged by a disaster.
Proposition 4: The constitutional amendment prohibiting the imposition of an individual income tax, including a tax on an individuals share of partnership and unincorporated association income.
Proposition 5: The constitutional amendment dedicating the revenue received from the existing state sales and use taxes that are imposed on sporting goods to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical Commission to protect Texas' natural areas, water quality, and history by acquiring, managing, and improving state and local parks and historic sites while not increasing the rate of the state sales and use taxes.
Proposition 6: The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to increase by $3 billion the maximum bond amount authorized for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.
Proposition 7: The constitutional amendment allowing increased distributions to the available school fund.
Proposition 8: The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the flood infrastructure fund to assist in the financing of drainage, flood mitigation, and flood control projects.
Proposition 9: The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation precious metal held in a precious metal depository located in this state.
Proposition 10: The constitutional amendment to allow the transfer of a law enforcement animal to a qualified caretaker in certain circumstances.
Additionally, I would like to make you aware the District E office will be closed on November 11 in observance of Veterans Day, and on November 28 and 29 in observance of Thanksgiving.
As always, it is a pleasure serving you.
Sincerely,
Dave Martin
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The District E Office
900 Bagby, First Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Contact Information
Phone: (832) 393-3008
Fax: (832) 393-3279
District E Team
Jessica Beemer
Chief of Staff
Katherine Cunningham
Deputy Chief of Staff
Jordan McGinty
South Sector Manager
Clarissa Perez
North Sector Manager
City of Houston Contacts
(713) 837-0311
Mayor's Citizens
Assistance Office
(832) 393-0955
Kingwood Community Center
(281) 348-2570
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Woodridge Village Action Plan Update 2
Houston City Council Member Dave Martin would like to make residents in the Kingwood community aware that conversations are occurring at the highest level of leadership within Perry Homes, regarding the future of Woodridge Village. The developer is looking to do something over and beyond what they have already committed to in
their memo provided to the City of Houston on October 17. While Council Member Martin was visiting St. Martha's Catholic School and Bear Branch Village, yesterday, October 30, Perry Homes was working on their Detention Pond 2, inspecting their existing silt fencing and installing new silt fencing as well as installing hay bales at their intake, and removing sediment from their outfall structure.
In response to these
most recent actions taken by Perry Homes, Council Member Martin would like to reiterate what he stated at the Kingwood Town Hall meeting held on October 17. As a non-engineer, Council Member Martin believes that it is in the best interest of the Kingwood community that Perry Homes abandon the site and stop all development of Woodridge Village. Once abandoned, the Woodridge Village property would be used solely for the purposes of drainage detention. If abandonment is not an option for Perry Homes, Council Member Martin suggests that Perry Homes agree to sell the property at a discounted rate to interested agencies like the City of Houston and/or Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) to be used a detention facility. This detention facility would be used to protect downstream communities from the drainage of upstream development.
HCFCD is currently near the middle of their Kingwood Drainage Study (
F-14), which is a part of the
2018 Harris County Flood Control Bond. As part of the study, HCFCD is reviewing existing level of service of existing ditches and possible alternatives to accommodate 100-year flood events which may include an expansion of the Kingwood Diversion Ditch. HCFCD plans to host a Kingwood Drainage Study progress meeting this December. Once a date has been scheduled, the District E Office will provide that information to the community.
To view the first Woodridge Village Update please visit our site here.
The District E office continues to provide the City of Houston Legal Department with resident accounts and photographs regarding sediment discharge, dust storms, as well as, other related concerns with Woodridge Forest. Council Member Martin and the City of Houston are committed to holding this development accountable for any and all negative impacts to the residents of Kingwood and Lake Houston.
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Disaster Recovery Center Now Open in Huffman
Lake
Houston Area residents, please be aware a joint state/federal Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is now open at the May Community Center, 2100 Wolf Road, Huffman, Texas 77336 to help disaster survivors affected by Tropical Storm Imelda.
Recovery specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), local and state agencies will be at the center to answer questions about disaster assistance and low-interest disaster loans. They can also help survivors apply for federal disaster assistance.
Texas homeowners, renters and business owners in Chambers, Harris, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery and Orange counties that were included in the major disaster declaration for Individual Assistance may apply for uninsured and underinsured damage and losses incurred from September 17 through September 23, 2019.
Individual Assistance for homeowners and renters may be eligible for grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses not met by insurance or other assistance programs.
To register, go online to
DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. Help is available in most languages and phone lines are open 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.
Survivors who plan to register with FEMA at a DRC should have the following information:
- Social Security number
- Address of the damaged primary residence
- Description of the damage
- Information about insurance coverage
- A current contact telephone number
- An address where they can receive mail
- Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds
Low-interest disaster loans from SBA are also available to businesses, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters to cover residential and business losses as a result of the disaster. Applicants can visit the DRC for one-on-one assistance, visit
SBA.gov/disaster, or call SBA's Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955.
Disaster recovery centers are accessible to people with disabilities. American Sign Language interpreters may be available to assist at a DRC.
FEMA Disaster survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585 to register. Those who use 711 or VRS (Video Relay Service) or require accommodations while visiting a center may call 800-621-3362. All disaster recovery centers are accessible and equipped with tools to accommodate disaster survivors who need disability-related communication aids.
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National Night Out 2019
On Tuesday, November 1, Council Member Martin and District E staff participated in 16 National Night Out events throughout District E. The District E office 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.
Thank you to all those throughout District E who participated and hosted neighborhood events.
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Elm Grove Flood Recovery Event
On Wednesday, October 2, Council Member Martin attended the Elm Grove Elementary Flood Recovery Event and met with families who experienced flooding during Tropical Storm Imelda.
Council Member Martin would like to thank Elm Grove Elementary for hosting this event and to those who participated including various Humble ISD staff members, the Family Time Crisis & Counseling Center, Grace Community Church, Humble Area Assistance Ministries, and the Houston Food Bank. It is truly amazing to see everyone come together to support the Elm Grove community and their families during this time.
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Clear Lake City-County Freeman Branch Library Family Place Ribbon Cutting
On Friday, October 4, staff from Council Member Martin's office attending a ribbon cutting honoring Clear Lake City-County Freeman Branch Library joining the Family Place Libraries™ national network, providing a welcoming community environment with resources to help families nurture their children's development and early learning during the critical first years of life. At the ribbon cutting, District E staff provided the Clear Lake City-County Freeman Branch Library with a certificate of special recognition in honor of this exciting partnership.
To help ensure all children enter school ready and able to learn, the new Family Place offers:
- A specially designed space in the children's area for families with young children to relax, play, share books and meet other families.
- Parent-Child Workshops- a five week series of fun, play-based activities for toddlers and their parents and caregivers. Rich with toys, books and art activities, the Workshops provide an opportunity for families to spend time together, make friends and talk one-on-one with specialists on various aspects of child development and early literacy.
- Collections of books, toys, music and multimedia materials for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, parents and caregivers.
- Librarians specially trained in child development and family support.
The Family Place Libraries™ model is now in over 400 libraries in 29 states serving thousands of young children and their parents/caregivers. Clear Lake City-County Freeman Branch Library is proud to be among them. In the library, this expanded public library role is made possible with funding from the
Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation and support from the
Friends of Freeman Library.
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Lake Houston YMCA's Dancing with the Lake Houston Stars
On October 3 Council Member Martin and staff attended the Lake Houston Family YMCA's 2019 Dancing with the Lake Houston Stars fundraising event. The annual event included dinner, an auction and performances by dancers from the Lake Houston community. Proceeds support the YMCA Annual Campaign, which ensures that all community members have the opportunity to learn, thrive and grow at the Y.
Council Member Martin thanks the Lake Houston Family YMCA for hosting the annual event, and for its important role providing valuable support and programming to families in the Lake Houston community.
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Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce's Annual Chairman's Ball
On Friday, October 4, Council Member Martin attended the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce's 57
th
Annual Chairman's Ball held at Space Center Houston. 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 Brian Babin. Also recognized was the chamber's new Chairman of the Board, Shawn Bailey of AMOCO Federal Credit Union
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 the new Chairman and all of the chamber's incoming officers.
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Council Member Martin Speaks to the Lake Houston Community
This month, Council Member Martin was invited to speak to several groups in the Lake Houston Area including the Kingwood Area Democrats, Humble Rotary Club, and South Woodland Hills Community.
At these meetings, Council Member Martin provided updates on the Northpark Drive Expansion Project, dredging in the West Fork of the San Jacinto River and Mouth-Bar, and shared information on the various drainage initiatives that are happening in the Lake Houston Area.
Council Member Martin thanks those who invited him to attend and looks forward to working with these communities in the future.
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UH-Clear Lake State of the University Address
October 8, staff from the District E office celebrated the University of Houston-Clear Lake's (UH-CL) 45th year at the University of Houston-Clear Lake State of the University.
President Dr. Ira K. Blake provided updates on the University's latest achievements and their vision for the future at UH-CL. Dr. Blake's presentation highlighted the university's growth in the past fiscal year, notably new buildings at both UH-Clear Lake and UH-CL Pearland, as well as new additions to the university leadership, awards and honors, and the strength of alumni who continue to better the community through their work and commitment. The University continues to focus on setting up students for success in the workplace and beyond. Congratulation's UH-CL on your latest accomplishments and future endeavors!
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FamilyTime Crisis & Counseling Center's 8th Annual Purple Ribbon Luncheon
On Friday, October 11, staff from Council Member Martin's office attended the Family Time Crisis and Counseling Center's 8th Annual Purple Ribbon Luncheon. The Purple Ribbon Luncheon is held each year in October in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and in honor of FamilyTime's Women of Achievement.
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. A huge thank you to Family Time for bringing awareness to this important issue and congratulations on another successful event!
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Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Lunch and Learn
Council Member Martin had the opportunity to speak to the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Division on Wednesday, October 22, to provide an update on projects and other happenings around District E as well as at City Hall. Council Member Martin discussed with the group how the City of Houston functions, as well as provided updates on the El Dorado Widening project, the removal of the Dynamic Messaging Signs, and more.
Council Member Martin thanks the Chamber for the productive conversation and for the invitation to speak at the event.
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Northeast Hospital Foundation In the Pink of Health Luncheon
On Friday, October 18, Council Member Martin and staff had the honor of attending the annual In the Pink of Health Luncheon at the Houston Airport Marriott Grand Ballroom.
This year marks the 12th anniversary of the luncheon which is held by the Northeast Hospital Foundation. In the Pink has been the premiere breast cancer luncheon in the Lake Houston area allocating funds toward Project Mammogram, the Memorial Hermann Cancer Center Northeast, and other programs of the foundation.
The luncheon program was emceed by Julia Morales, the Houston Astros Field Reporter. The program included a touching story shared by Keynote Speaker, Natalie Gaskamp, who is a financial advisor, active member of the Kingwood community, mother of 5, and most notably - a fearless breast cancer survivor.
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Freeway Manor Civic Club October Meeting
On Thursday, October 24, Council Member Martin was invited to speak to the Freeway Manor Civic Club at their quarterly meeting. Council Member Martin provided updates on Solid Waste Services as well as updates on their upcoming Capital Improvement Plan Paving and Drainage Projects, expected to begin in Fiscal Year 2022 in both Freeway Manor North and South.
Thank you to the Freeway Manor Civic Club Officers for inviting Council Member Martin to speak to the community members.
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West Lake Houston Bridge Repairs
Houston Public Works (HPW)
has begun conducting a bridge repair project on the West Lake Houston Parkway Bridge. HPW completed an assessment earlier this week after the District E office received reports from Lake Houston residents.
The project consists of the replacement of three inch bearing pads on the West Lake Houston Bridge over the San Jacinto River which have slipped out from three concrete beams. The slipped bearing pads are the reason for the difference in elevation between the seams of the bridge. This work is similar to the work that was done in 2015, which included the replacement of deformed or slipped bearing pads.
HPW is currently fabricating the needed parts for replacement, and the project is expected to be complete by mid-November, weather permitting.
It is important to note the bridge is still structurally sound.
To improve the driving surface while the bearing pads are being fabricated within the next week, HPW crews have temporarily placed a steel plate over the seam and covered it with asphalt.
Thank you to Houston Public Works and the Houston Police Department Kingwood Division for their quick response to this matter.
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Ellington/Clear Lake Recycling Center Pavement Replacement Ribbon Cutting
On Saturday, October 26, Mayor Turner, city staff, and City of Houston residents celebrated the completion of the pavement replacement project at the Ellington/Clear Lake Recycling Center.
Over the last couple of years, the District E office has provided patching of potholes within the recycling center. Understanding these asphalt patches are often short term solutions, Council Member Martin continued to push for a more substantial long-term project, which was secured and quickly completed. The scope of work included replacing all existing asphalt with concrete to improve driving conditions and to preserve and prolong the life of the road base.
Thank you to Mayor Sylvester Turner, the City of Houston Solid Waste Management, Houston Public Works, and the Houston Airport System for their partnership and work to quickly complete this project in the Clear Lake/South Belt area.
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Save the Date: Kingwood B.O.P.A. Recycling Event
Many common household materials are considered hazardous and need disposal. When Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) is disposed in the trash, it can contaminate landfills and subsequently ground water. This event provides a free and safe alternative for residents to rid their homes of potentially dangerous materials. Below is a list of acceptable and non-acceptable items for the November 16 collection event:
- ACCEPTED ITEMS: rechargeable household and automobile batteries, motor oil and filters, LATEX paint, antifreeze, small appliances and scrap metal. Used motor oil will be limited to 15 gallon. All liquids are required to be in sealed, non-leaking containers that are labeled as to their contents.
- ITEMS NOT ACCEPTED: business, medical and agricultural waste; oil-based paints, solvents, flammables, pesticides, herbicides and other similar hazardous materials, and electronic waste.
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Upcoming Events
Please email the District E office if you would like us to include your upcoming event in future newsletters!
City Wides
November 5
Election Day
November 11
Veterans Day - District E Office Closed
November 28-29
Thanksgiving Holiday - District E Office Closed
Southeast Houston/Clear Lake
Clear Lake Electronic Waste Recycling
November 12
Arlington Heights Civic Club
Kingwood
November 2
Kingwood Electronic Waste Recycling
November 13
Kingwood Service Association Public Safety Committee
November 16
B.O.P.A. Recycling Event
Kingwood PIP
November 20
Kingwood Super Neighborhood Meeting
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