On Wednesday, May 21st, the District E staff had the privilege of attending the TPC Group Mark of Excellence Scholarship Luncheon where they proudly announced the 2025 recipients of their "Mark of Excellence" Scholarship Program. Since its inception in 2006, the program has awarded over $1.2 million in scholarships to nearly 200 students across Southeast Texas.

The initiative honors students who have successfully completed high school and plan to pursue a two or four-year degree. Five outstanding students from Cesar Chavez High School, located within District E, were recognized for their hard work, dedication, and achievements. The District E office also presented certificates of recognition, making this milestone even more memorable for these promising young scholars.

Council Member Flickinger would like District E residents to know how anyone experiencing an unusually high water bill can have their concern investigated. It is important to understand all water bill issues are handled on a case-by-case basis as no two addresses are the same and water usage changes month to month, which is why it is crucial to report these issues to Houston 3-1-1 by calling (713) 837-0311.

If you believe your water bill is incorrect it is important to contact Houston 3-1-1 (713-837-0311) first. After residents have called Houston 3-1-1 a unique service request number is generated, which triggers an investigation. Once you receive your service request number after calling Houston 3-1-1, please send your service request number along with your most recent water bill to our office at districte@houstontx.gov for the District E office to monitor. Please keep in mind a Houston 3-1-1 report needs to be submitted each time an issue occurs.

The City of Houston has established a “Consumption Awareness Program” for residents to use which alerts homeowners as soon as usage at your address increases. To register for that program, sign up here. You can also estimate your upcoming bills by using this calculator.

It is important for residents to use Houston 3-1-1, as this is the only way for the City of Houston to know a problem exists. Additionally, the District E office compiles information and can identify a trend, based on 3-1-1 reports. Based on historical information most cases investigated show increased usage by customers.

When leaks are investigated and discovered to be on the private side of the meter a one-time leak adjustment can be submitted. If you do find a leak and would like to submit a one-time leak adjustment you may use this form (once a year). Please continue to pay your bill until your form is approved/denied.

If you do experience unexplained usage over 200% of the average usage you may submit an “unusually large bill application” (once a year). It is important in this instance as well, to continue to pay your bill until your form is approved/denied.

Keep in mind, leaks may not always present as gushing water, sometimes it is an area of your yard that appears greener than the rest, or a running toilet in a part of your home you don’t use often. I encourage you to please visit the City of Houston Water website for tips on how to find a leaking toilet, how to test for a leaking toilet, and tips on in-home conservation.

For more information, please contact our office by calling (832) 393-3008 or emailing DistrictE@houstontx.gov.

Blondie is a sweet and expressive pup that is a joy to be around with a gentle, playful, and full of personality. Blondie walks beautifully on a loose leash, showing calm and friendly body language with her ears back and a low, swaying tail. On walks, she circles with excitement and even throws up her front paws in playful bursts, ready to engage with the world around her.

At rest, Blondie is just as charming. Passing by her kennel, you’ll often find her lying belly-up on her cot, completely relaxed and content, a true picture of comfort and trust. Blondie is affectionate, people-friendly, and gets along well with neighboring dogs. Her balanced mix of calmness and playful energy makes her a perfect companion for someone looking for a loyal, loving friend.

Blondie has earned "PURRFURRED" status for her outstanding behavior—plus, her adoption fee is reduced! If you're searching for a loyal, gentle, and loving companion, Blondie is the perfect match.

Click here to learn more about adopting this lovable girl. We're also happy to share that last month's Dog of the Month, Korina, has found her forever home!

On Tuesday, May 13th, Director of Communications and North Sector Manager Demari Perez graduated from Leadership Lake Houston, a distinguished program hosted by the Partnership Lake Houston that cultivates community-minded leaders through education, networking, and service.

Demari’s participation in the program reflects a strong commitment to personal growth and public service, and we are proud to recognize this achievement. Leadership Lake Houston brings together professionals from across the region to explore key issues impacting the community, build collaborative relationships, and develop the tools needed to drive positive change.

Please join us in congratulating Demari on this well-deserved accomplishment and for representing our team with excellence and dedication throughout the program.

Phase II of the Lake Houston Dam Spillway Improvement Project is well underway. This phase focuses on the Lake Houston Dam Spillway Improvement Additional Gates Project, which will add eleven new tainter gates to the dam, increasing its controlled discharge capacity by an additional 79,000 cubic feet per second (cfs).

The engineering firm Black & Veatch has completed the 30% design plans, and field activities are progressing. Ongoing efforts include ground and bathymetric surveys, with geotechnical soil borings and environmental investigations—such as wetlands assessments, endangered species studies, and archaeological site evaluations—scheduled to begin next week.

In parallel, the design team is actively engaging with regulatory agencies, including the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE-Galveston), and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), to discuss project details and streamline permitting review schedules. The Coastal Water Authority (CWA) met with TCEQ in December and continues to work closely with USACE-Galveston and TPWD to explore options for expediting the approval process.

Future Planning: Lake Houston Dam Replacement Study

Recognizing the long-term needs of the region, planning is also underway for a larger project to replace the existing 75-year-old Lake Houston Dam. CWA has engaged Black & Veatch to initiate a high-level Lake Houston Dam Replacement Study in 2025 to assess potential replacement strategies.



Lake Houston Dam Repair Project – Immediate Action

In addition to expansion and long-term replacement planning, immediate repairs are being implemented through the $10 million Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Project, made possible with the support of Congressman Dan Crenshaw. This project includes:

• Grouting voids below and around the dam structure
• Repairing spalled concrete on spillway buttress walls

CWA, in coordination with Freese and Nichols, Inc., is finalizing the scope and fee for additional field investigations and engineering design work. These efforts will define the exact repair locations and methodologies for construction. The engineering phase is expected to take six to eight months, with construction anticipated to last another six to nine months.

The District E office remains actively involved in this project, participating in bi-weekly coordination meetings to ensure progress continues efficiently and transparently.

Thanks to the Department of Neighborhoods Matching Grant Program FY2025, the Bear Branch Trail Association (BBTA) led a transformative project to enhance the Kingwood Drive esplanade at the intersection of Woodland Hills Drive. Previously overgrown with brush, vines, and debris, the 200-foot stretch will be cleared, leveled, and revitalized with fresh grass, additional trees, and ornamental shrubs, creating an attractive and welcoming gateway for the community.

This collaborative effort involved extensive neighborhood engagement, including coordination with the Bear Branch Trails Association and community organizations, as well as outreach through social media platforms like Facebook and Nextdoor. Volunteers from these groups actively participated in the cleanup and planting efforts, while the BBTA managed funding, contracted professional landscaping services, and will handle ongoing maintenance. To support the long-term health of the new landscaping, a sprinkler system was also installed.

The project not only improves the visual appeal of a highly visible area but also strengthens community pride and involvement. While the project is not yet fully complete, we’re excited to share the progress made and celebrate this successful partnership and shared commitment to enhancing Kingwood’s quality of life.

On Tuesday, May 13th, Council Member Flickinger and staff were proud to attend the Consulate General of Israel to the Southwest heartfelt celebration at the House of Blues in Houston to commemorate Israel’s 77th Independence Day. The event brought together elected officials, diplomats, community leaders, and distinguished guests in a powerful show of unity and support.

Council Member Flickinger was proud to attend alongside fellow City of Houston officials, including Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex-Tatum and Council Members Abbie Kamin, Mario Castillo, and Julian Ramirez. The evening featured the presentation of the Voice for Israel award to internationally renowned musician Matisyahu by Consul General Livia Link-Raviv and Deputy Consul General Elad Shoshan, recognizing his artistic courage and unwavering support for Israel and the Jewish community.

The celebration also welcomed representatives from the Consular Corps and congressional delegations, highlighting the strong and diverse support for the Israeli-American partnership.

TIRZ 10/Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority (LHRA) is progressing on Phases 1 and 2 of the Northpark Drive Project. Phase 2, which will expand Northpark Drive from four to six lanes, replace bridges, and add a 90-acre-foot detention basin, is moving forward with land surveys, right-of-way acquisitions, and easement preparations.

Beginning June 10th at 9:00 pm, LHRA’s contractor, Harper Brothers Construction, will be progressing with the NorthPark Drive Reconstruction. This phase of work will shift westbound North Park Drive traffic to the newly constructed westbound lanes. The shift of westbound traffic will occur between Loop 494 and the US 59 frontage road. No new changes to the eastbound traffic will occur during this phase. During this phase of work, the contractor will install new storm sewer pipes and construct a new concrete roadway between the eastbound and westbound lanes of NorthPark Drive. This shift is planned to last approximately 6 months.

As a reminder, the next TIRZ Board meeting will be held on Thursday, June 12th at 8:00 AM at the Kingwood Community Center. Every TIRZ Board meeting is open to the public. Visit the LHRA website (www.lakehoustonra.com) for more information on the Northpark Drive Overpass Project and view the 2025 Board of Directors Calendar.