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February 7, 2020 Issue 86
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Residents of District E,
2020 has gotten off to a great start and we look forward to the many exciting things taking place in District E like the expansion of El Dorado Boulevard in Clear Lake and Northpark Drive in Kingwood. Thank you to the Lake Houston residents that attended the Northpark Drive Overpass Project Open House last night. For those that were unable to attend the meeting, the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority is still accepting public comments through March 1, 2020. Public comments may be emailed to
NorthparkDrive@elmorepr.com.
This week my staff and I have finalized the dates for two Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Town Hall Meetings for District E.
These meetings encourage residents to participate in the CIP process by contributing questions, comments and suggestions to the respective city departments regarding project planning and delivery in the council district. As we begin planning, I welcome your suggestions and feedback for the district and hope that you will join us at our meetings.
Please save the date for the following two meetings:
Kingwood
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Kingwood Community Center
4102 Rustic Woods Drive
6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Southeast Houston/Clear Lake
Thursday, March 3, 2020
Space Center Houston
1601 NASA Parkway
6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
My office will be sending out additional details in the coming weeks, but until then, I ask that you please mark the dates on your calendar. As always, you can contact my office should you have further questions. We look forward to seeing you there!
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
Clarissa Perez
South Sector Manager
Dustin Hodges
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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Kingwood Storm Water Line Inspections
Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin would like to make Kingwood area residents aware the Kingwood Storm Water Line Inspections are continuing and have been improved. Moving forward, Houston Public Works is taking special care in their method as it pertains to inspecting critical junctures within the systems. Most inspections already conducted have been clear, with only a few spots in need of debris removal. Those areas with debris located within the lines have been addressed, prior to moving on to the next neighborhood, by using specialized equipment and confined-space personnel to remove the debris. To date, nearly 150,000 linear feet, or approximately about 30 miles, of storm water line have been inspected.
The communities that have been completed are as follows: Elm Grove, Hunter's Ridge, North & South Woodland Hills, Bear Branch, Forest Cove, Greentree Village, and Kings Crossing. This week, Houston Public Works has started on Kings Point. Houston Public Works is now projected to complete one community each week. When a community is finished, photos from their storm water line inspection are posted to
Council Member Martin's Facebook Photo Albums.
If you see Houston Public Works crews conducting an inspection, please take the time to say "hi" and see what they are working on.
Houston Public Works is working through villages in Kingwood that were impacted by Imelda based on the number of homes impacted. This project is expected to be completed by June 1, 2020, weather permitting. Prior to Houston Public Works moving in to a new community our office will work directly with the HOA to make them aware of the impending storm water line inspection.
The District E office encourages the community to be a part of the solution through participating in t
he City's Adopt-A-Drain
program. Shout out to those that have already adopted and named their drains in the Kingwood Area that include: Big Bertha, Maleficent, Shrader's Drain, A1 Signs, Lil Bandingo's Drain, Botta Boom Drain and many more! There are lots of drains and plenty of naming opportunities for residents, businesses, and community groups to take advantage of in the area while helping to decrease debris in our drainage system.
Other ways residents can help out are to make sure trash cans don't tip over before they are picked up, ensure that yard clippings and leaves are disposed of properly, gutters are clear before bad weather and never throw trash or other items down drains or inlets.
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Bay Area Republican Women Monthly Breakfast Meeting
On Tuesday, January 28, Mayor Pro Tem Martin had the opportunity to speak at the Bay Area Republic Women's Monthly Breakfast Meeting at the Bay Oaks Country Club. At the meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Martin provided updates on what is happening downtown at City Hall, as well as projects in the Clear Lake community, such as Houston Spaceport and the upcoming El Dorado Widening Project.
Thank you to BARW for inviting me to kick off your 2020 meeting!
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Special Meetings Scheduled: Lake Conroe Temporary Lake Lowering Strategy
Mayor Pro Tem Martin reminds Kingwood and Lake Houston residents t
he next, and final, SJRA Board of Directors special meeting to hear public comment on the temporary flood mitigation strategy of lowering Lake Conroe on a seasonal basis will take place
at 6:00 P.M., Thursday, February 20, 2020, at Lone Star Convention and Expo Center
located at 9055 Airport Road, Conroe, Texas 77303.
The lowering of Lake Conroe one foot in the spring and two feet in the fall is intended to provide flood mitigation benefits for downstream residents by increasing capacity to catch rainfall and runoff in the lake. The strategy is reviewed annually and is currently authorized by both the SJRA Board of Directors and the City of Houston as the two entities each own water rights in Lake Conroe.
The District E office is in full support of the continued seasonal lowering. Mayor Pro Tem Martin has submitted a
letter of support
to the SJRA on December 11, 2019. We have been happy to have this partnership as it has proven to be helpful during the rainy seasons.
For more information about the Seasonal Lake Lowering plan please visit
www.sjra.net.
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Texas GLO Hosts Texas Back in Business Webinar
On Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020, at 2:00 p.m., Texas Back in Business will host an informational webinar for small businesses damaged by Hurricane Harvey. The new federally funded program is awarding $50,000 up to $250,000 in disaster relief and qualified Texas small business owners have until March 2, 2020, to apply at no cost online at
TexasBackInBusiness.com.
Mayor Pro Tem Martin encourages all District E small businesses impacted by Hurricane Harvey to participate in this webinar.
Funded by Congress, under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and authorized by the Texas General Land Office, Texas Back in Business is the $100 million Hurricane Harvey Relief Program for Texas small businesses. Texas Back in Business is the jobs and economic revitalization program created to help small businesses in Texas that suffered damage from Hurricane Harvey.
This event requires registration. You may register now or the day of the event. After you register, you'll receive a confirmation email message with instructions on how to join the event. For more information, visit
recovery.texas.gov/tbib.
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Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce Awards Extravaganza
On Friday, January 24, the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated 96 years with their Annual Awards Extravaganza where they honored this past year's outstanding volunteer leaders and accomplishments.
Mayor Pro Tem Martin and staff had the opportunity to join guests, as well as business partners at the event, where the 2019 Dr. Haden McKay Citizen of the Year Award was presented to Michael Carr. Also honored at the extravaganza were Dr. Katherine Persson, receiving the Spirit of the Chamber Award; Deborah Rose-Miller, receiving the Rising Star Award; and Chris Johnsen, receiving the Chairman's Award. The Chamber additionally recognized its outgoing board of directors, including outgoing Chair Sam Schrade, and performed the installation of its new board Chair, Terry Vaughn.
Mayor Pro Tem Martin congratulates the Lake Houston Area Chamber on another incredible and successful year.
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BAHEP Quasar Awards
On Friday, January 24, the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership hosted their annual Quasar Award Banquet, this year honoring Dr. Brenda Hellyer, Chancellor of San Jacinto College District.
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.
As the fifth chancellor of San Jacinto College District, Dr. Hellyer's leadership has created transformational change at San Jacinto College. This change included placing student success at the heart of the College's strategic plan and using data to direct the College's goals, strategies, and budget allocations. There has been a 162 percent increase in certificates and degrees awarded to students, and as a result of San Jacinto College's transformation, it has placed twice as a top-10 community college in the country by the Aspen Institute.
Additionally, during her tenure as chancellor, San Jacinto College has constructed or will construct 16 new buildings while completing renovations on many more. These buildings include the Maritime Technology and Training Center, the LyondellBasell Center for Petrochemical, Energy, & Technology, as well as a newly-opened training center, the EDGE Center at the Houston Spaceport.
For these reasons, among many that could be mentioned, Dr. Brenda Hellyer is highly deserving of BAHEP's 2020 Quasar Award.
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Harvey Homeowners Assistance Program
If you have applied for the Harvey Homeowner Assistance Program, Mayor Pro Tem Martin would like to encourage those applicants to utilize the call center at 832-393-0550 if you feel your application is stalled.
By contacting the call center, applicants can speak to a representative that will provide the most up-to-date information, make any necessary corrections, and let the applicant know what to expect moving forward. If you still feel that you aren't progressing through the process, please feel free to reach out to the District E office for further assistance.
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Mouth-Bar Dredging Update
Earlier this month the City of Houston issued a
Notice To Proceed (NTP)
for debris removal services, specifically large silt deposits, at the confluence of the West Fork of the San Jacinto River and Lake Houston, commonly referred to as the "mouth bar". The City of Houston, through its contractor DRC Emergency Services, LLC (DRC), began mechanical dredging of the mouth bar in January. The total cost for this project is $40 million dollars, which is funded through a combination of City of Houston Harvey Disaster dollars provided by Governor Greg Abbott, grant dollars from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), and funding from the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) Bond Program.
DRC is invoicing the City of Houston in accordance with rates established and approved by the city to include final disposal. DRC must comply with all terms and provisions established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) relative to disaster debris collections, temporary storage, and final disposal. The
grant application for this project
was submitted to the TWDB by Harris County Engineer, John Blount. Harris County is collaborating closely with HCFCD, the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA), and the City of Houston on this crucial project.
DRC is completing the scope of work for dredging activities in two distinct phases. The first phase will remove accumulated materials near and at the mouth bar on the West Fork of the San Jacinto River, and the second phase will remove accumulated materials in the East Fork of the San Jacinto River and other locations in Lake Houston. During phase one of this project it is expected that a minimum of 400,000 cubic yards (CY) of material will be removed over twelve months. Phase two of the project will consist of: 1) Harris County completing hydrographic surveys of the West Fork of the San Jacinto River, the East Fork of the San Jacinto River, and Lake Houston to determine dredge material volumes 2) the City of Houston advertising and awarding a dredging contract to the lowest responsive bidder 3) Harris County designating the City of Houston as a sub-recipient for the cost of the dredging contract. Phase two will run simultaneously with Phase One to expedite our activity.
Additionally, during phase two of the project City of Houston, Harris County, HCFCD, SJRA, and Coastal Water Authority (CWA) will develop and execute a plan for the City of Houston or CWA to assume long-term dredging operations on Lake Houston. This work effort will include determining funding for the dredging operations in perpetuity. This phased approach will obligate the full grant funding before the 87th legislative session in 2021. This grant funding was made possible thanks to State Representative Dan Huberty (District 127) through the passage of Senate Bill 500 .
Mayor Pro Tem Martin, again, would like to offer a very special "Thank You" to State Representative Dan Huberty for his commitment to seeing this project through and his dedication to the long-term maintenance activities on Lake Houston. Representative Huberty has been a champion for his residents and a great ally in seeing these additional dredging efforts come to fruition.
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Save the Date: Lake Houston YMCA Bridge Fest
The Lake Houston Family YMCA's 29th Annual Bridge Fest will take place on Saturday, February 22 from 7:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. at the Lake Houston Family YMCA.
With races of three distances for runners, joggers and walkers to choose from, the event is designed to encourage participation from all abilities and ages.
Saturday, February 22, 2020
2420 West Lake Houston
Kingwood, Texas 77339
8:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
To ensure the safety of the community and participants, please be aware of traffic constraints on the West Lake Houston Parkway bridge from 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. the day of the race. For more information or to register for Bridge Fest, click here.
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Upcoming Open House: Coastal Texas Study
Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin would like to make residents aware the Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Feasibility Study (
Coastal Texas Study)
will host a series of public open houses this month to provide the public with updated information about study progress made since previously held public meetings in the Fall of 2018.
The purpose of the Coastal Texas Study is to identify coastal storm risk management and ecosystem restoration measures that would protect the health and safety of Texas coastal communities, reduce the risk of storm damage to industries and businesses critical to the Nation's economy, and address critical coastal ecosystems in need of restoration. The Study team is comprised of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Texas General Land Office (GLO) and their engineering, environmental, and public outreach consultants. To learn more about the study, please visit this
link.
Public open houses will be held on the following dates and locations:
Saturday, February 8, 2020
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
High Island High School
2113 6th Street
High Island, Texas 77623
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Galveston Island Convention Center
5600 Seawall Boulevard
Galveston, Texas 77551
Thursday, February 13, 2020
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Bay Area Community Center
5002 E NASA Parkway
Seabrook, Texas 77586
Materials, presentations, and format will be the same at all three meetings. Informational displays will be available for public viewing, and study team representatives will be available to provide information and answer questions. No formal presentation will be made. Informational materials will be available in English and Spanish.
Public feedback and participation are encouraged. Written comments will be accepted during the public open houses and may be mailed to the Coastal Texas Study at 2500 Summer Street, Suite 1130, Houston, Texas 77007 or emailed to
coastaltexasstudy@glo.texas.gov.
Comments received during this time will be taken into consideration by the Coastal Texas Study but will not be documented as a part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)-required public comment period anticipated to be held in fall 2020. These public open houses are intended to inform and provide opportunities for the public to participate in the Coastal Texas Study. Please note, these public open houses are not part of the formal NEPA process.
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Houston Region Mayors Luncheon
On January 28, Mayor Pro Tem Martin joined Mayor Turner for a lunch with Mayors Pat Hallisey (League City), Mark Denman (Nassau Bay), Mayor Pro Tem Sallie Branson (Friendswood), and BayTran Chairman and former Kemah Mayor Carl Joiner.
It was a great opportunity to catch up with these elected officials and continue to create great working relationships with Houston's surrounding region. Thank you to Carl Joiner for coordinating this luncheon!
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FamilyTime Women of Achievement
On Saturday, January 25 Mayor Pro Tem Martin had the opportunity to attend the FamilyTime Hearts of Gold Gala. Each year FamilyTime asks for nominations to recognize women in the community who have made a difference. The FamilyTime Women of Achievement honorees are role models to the many women FamilyTime serves.
Women of Achievement awards are given in the following categories: the Arts, Business, Community Activist, Education, Entrepreneur, Homemaker, Human Services, Medical, Women's Advocate, Visionary, Volunteer, and Special Recognition.
The FamilyTime Women of Achievement honorees are role models to the many women FamilyTime serves. This
year, District E Chief of Staff, Jessica Beemer, was awarded the Woman of Achievement Award in the category of Community Activist. Mayor Pro Tem Martin and District E staff are incredibly proud of Jessica for receiving this award.
Mayor Pro Tem Martin congratulates all of the 2019 Women of Achievement recipients and thanks them for their continued work in our community.
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Memorial Park Survey
Visited annually by 4 million Houstonians from 170 zip codes across the greater Houston region, Memorial Park is YOUR Park. Your participation provides the Conservancy, which operates and maintains most of the Park, critical feedback and helps guide Park offerings and programming. Let your voice be heard and take the survey by Saturday, February 29. It can be found
here
and on the Conservancy's
Facebook
page.
Additionally, the Conservancy invites Houstonians to s
how your love for Memorial Park this Valentine's Day. Memorial Park Conservancy is encouraging Houstonians to share what they love most about Memorial Park in the form of a post card. Selected quotes will be featured in the Park's new Eastern Glades, the 100-acre project opening this Summer. The quotes will be featured around the Central Lawn of the Eastern Glades and will be a lasting symbol for the Park's own voice which echoes in every past, present, and future Park user. Please use this link to submit your quotes here,
or on the Conservancy's
Facebook
page.
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City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department Reminder: Electronics Donation and Recycling
Electronic products are made from valuable resources and materials, including metals, plastics, and glass, all of which require energy to mine and manufacture. Donating or recycling consumer electronics conserves our natural resources and avoids air and water pollution, as well as greenhouse gas emissions that are caused by manufacturing virgin materials.
Did you know? Texas has manufacturer take-back laws for both computers and televisions. Many of these offer mail-back programs at no cost to you! This is the easiest way to recycle your old computer or TV. To find out information on each program please visit the links below. Once there, find the manufacturer of the item you want to recycle and follow the link to the business page for recycling. Look for mail back options once there. Most provide a free shipping label that you just put on the box with the item and mail-back. This cost is covered by manufacturer per state law.
Looking to recycle a TV? Check
here
or call: 1-855-TV-Recycle
Looking to recycle a computer? Check
here
or call: 512-239-3143
Additionally, the City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department hosts monthly Saturday electronics recycling events from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the following locations:
1st Saturday of the month
3210 West Lake Houston Parkway
Houston, TX 77345
2nd Saturday of the month
246 Loop Road
Houston, TX 77034
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Upcoming Public Meetings: Lower Clear Creek & Dickinson Bayou Watershed Study
The Lower Clear Creek and Dickinson Bayou Watershed Study will host a series of public meetings in February and March 2020 to encourage public participation and feedback regarding the first of three phases in the Study.
Residents are invited to attend any of the four public meetings below to provide input, engage in one-on-one discussion, and ask questions regarding the first of three phases of the Study. Public meetings will be held on the following dates:
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Walter Hall Park
807 State Highway 3 North
League City, Texas 77573
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Bay Area Community Center
5002 Nasa Parkway
Seabrook, Texas 77586
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Friendswood High School
702 Greenbriar Drive
Friendswood, Texas 77546
Thursday, March 5, 2020
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
League City Civic Center
400 West Walker Street
League City, Texas 77573
In August 2017, Hurricane Harvey struck the Texas coast, bringing a historic amount of rainfall to the Houston region. The storm produced never-before-seen precipitation depths to Galveston, Harris, and Brazoria Counties. As was the case with most of the watersheds in the region, Clear Creek and Dickinson Bayous experienced widespread flooding, which resulted in significant flood damages.
The purpose of the Lower Clear Creek and Dickinson Bayou Watershed Study is to develop a comprehensive flood mitigation plan for the Lower Clear Creek and Dickinson Bayou watersheds, including identification of vulnerabilities in the watersheds and development and refinement of concepts to reduce flood risks.
During each meeting, Study team representatives will present study updates, the history of the Clear Creek and Dickinson Bayou watersheds, and study information. The public is invited to participate and further discuss the impact the Study will have on them and their communities.
The meeting materials and format will be the same at all four meetings. Informational displays will be available for viewing, and Study Team representatives will provide information and answer questions.
No formal presentations will be made.
Comments will be accepted at the public meetings and throughout the duration of the Study. All comments regarding Phase 1 Study findings should be submitted or postmarked by March 20, 2020, to be considered in Phase 2 of the Study. Written comments may be mailed to the Lower Clear Creek and Dickinson Bayou Watershed Study Community Engagement Team at 2500 Summer Street, Suite 1130, Houston, Texas 77007 or emailed to
LCCDB@Leaguecitytx.gov.
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Upcoming Family Events for Harris County Precinct 2
Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia would like to invite residents to two upcoming family friendly events in Precinct 2:
Father and Daughter Dance: Friday, February 7, 2020
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Bay Area Community Center
5002 E Nasa Pkwy
Seabrook, TX 77586
Dads are invited to come out and enjoy a free fun-filled evening with their daughters at the Father and Daughter Dance on Friday, February 7 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Bay Area Community Center. Light refreshments will be served, followed by dancing and fun. Be sure to dress to impress and don't forget your cameras! This event is limited to the first 50 couples. To register, please visit this
link.
For more information, please contact the Harris County Precinct 2 Parks and Recreation Department by calling (713)-274-2068.
Family Movie Night in the Park: Saturday, February 15, 2020
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (6:00 p.m. Showtime)
Bay Area Park
7500 Bay Area Blvd
Houston, TX 77058
Enjoy this fun and free family activity close to home! Harris County Precinct 2 will be showing the live-action remake of Disney's Aladdin (2019 film). Blankets, lawn chairs, and picnics are welcome! Free popcorn and snowcones will be provided.
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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
Kingwood
February 12
KSA Public Safety Meeting
February 13
Summer Creek BizCom
February 18
Kingwood PIP
February 19
Kingwood Super Neighborhood Council Meeting
February 20
SJRA Special Meeting re: Seasonal Lowering of Lake Conroe
February 25
Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce Economic Outlook Luncheon
Southeast Houston/Clear Lake
Clear Lake Electronic Waste Recycling
February 13
Coastal Texas Study Open House
February 13
Meadowcreek Civic Club Meeting
February 18
Clear Lake PIP
February 26
Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce General Membership Luncheon
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