During the Texas Water Development Board's December 7th meeting, the Board voted to approve the conveyance of the $50 million appropriated by the Legislature during the last session. This was a procedural step in conveying the appropriated state funds to the City of Houston for the Lake Houston Dam Spillway Improvement Project. On Wednesday, December 6th Texas Water Development Board Member, George Peyton, joined Mayor Pro Tem Martin, State Representative Charles Cunningham, State Representative Armando Walle, Former State Representative Dan Huberty, Chief Recovery Officer Stephen Costello among other partners for a tour of the Lake Houston Dam structure and update on next steps. The Lake Houston Dam Spillway Improvement Project is the only project in the area that involves partners at all four levels of government; federal, state, Harris County, and City of Houston.

This new state funding signals to the federal government the City of Houston is ready to move forward. It is important to note the Lake Houston Spillway Dam Improvement Project has a benefit-to-cost ratio of 3.5, which is the highest-rated project in the state of Texas. The revised BCR was completed by Atkins, a City of Houston consultant, and is for an eleven-gate structure. The eleven gates will be built into the existing embankment on the east side of the Lake Houston Spillway Dam. Building the new gate structure in the east embankment removes the high-construction risk of modifying the existing gate structure, allows the continued use of the existing gate structure during construction, and eliminates the need for a cofferdam in the lake. Each gate will be 20 ft x 20 ft and will each be capable of releasing 79,000 cubic feet of water per second. The expected timeline is to have the final design and construction plans completed by late 2024, bid and award the contract for construction in Q1/Q2 of 2025, and begin construction by late 2025/early 2026.

A project of this magnitude would not be possible without so many of our wonderful partners. Thank you to U.S. Congressman Dan Crenshaw, U.S. Congressman Dan Crenshaw's District Director Kaaren Cambio, Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, State Senator Brandon Creighton, State Senator/Chairwoman Joan Huffman, Speaker Dade Phelan, State Representative Charles Cunningham, State Representative/House Appropriations Chair Greg Bonnen, State Representative Armando Walle, Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough, Montgomery County Commissioner Matt Gray, Harris County Commissioner Tom Ramsey, City of Humble Mayor Norman Funderburk, Humble City Manager Jason Stuebe, City of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, City of Houston Chief Recovery Officer Stephen Costello, City of Houston Government Relations Team led by Bill Kelly and consultants Dan Huberty, Ben Melson. Additional thanks to our communities of support including Humble Independent School District, San Jacinto River Authority, Kingwood Super Neighborhood, Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority, Kingwood Service Association, Greater East Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, Greater Houston Partnership, Lake Conroe Association, Partnership Lake Houston, North Houston Association, and Kingwood resident Bob Rehak. None of this would have been possible without these amazing representatives and partners.

Southeast Houston residents, representatives of the Houston Health Department, local environmental organizations, and approximately 100 volunteers will use Texas Arbor Day to kick off new community monitoring of hazardous air pollutants in high-risk neighborhoods. A new three-year EPA grant of nearly $500,000 awarded to the Houston Health Department will fund the community air monitoring in the Park Place, Meadowbrook/Allendale, and Pecan Park neighborhoods and the adjacent zip codes 77012 and 77017.

The communities have become overburdened with industrial pollution in recent years due to the expansion of nearby petrochemical plants into their neighborhoods. The project will also help inform residents about the dangers of toxic air emissions.

Representatives with the Houston Health Department and Air Alliance Houston, Environmental Integrity Project, Houston Botanic Garden, Houston Wilderness, and Environmental Defense Fund will detail how they will team up to obtain data on hazardous air pollutants such as 1,3-butadiene, benzene, formaldehyde, and ethylene oxide in the communities. They will also highlight the need to improve air monitoring data for the neighborhoods moving forward.

Construction on the drainage components of the Northpark Drive Overpass Project continues to move along. Utility conflicts preventing the final box culverts to be installed will soon be completed. Once the water and gas line conflicts are resolved the contractor will be able to finish the installation of the box culverts in the median. Over the last few weeks, the contractor, Harper Bros., has started to build the new outfall and clear and grub the drainage ditch behind Public Storage. In order to remove extra stormwater that builds up in the detention basins near the Hwy 59/69 Northpark Drive entry, the ditch will serve as an alternate route. The drainage ditch runs parallel to Northpark Drive behind the businesses on the north side of the street.

Harper Bros. will also continue the excavation of the detention basins. Once the excavation is completed, Landscape architects will finish relocating the remaining trees on the right/south side of Northpark to create a backdrop for the new ponds. While some trees will remain in front of the pond.

Additionally, work was completed on sidewalks that link Kingwood and Lone Star College-Kingwood. Contractors are currently cleaning up around the completed sidewalks and performing site restoration where needed. Both the north and south sides of Northpark Drive will have sidewalks that stretch westward toward Rock Creek Drive.

Planning for Phase II of the project (east of the Kingwood Diversion Ditch) has begun. Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10 will hold two public meetings. The first is scheduled for January 11, 2024, at the Kingwood Community Center to discuss Phase II and solicit input from other groups and residents.

As a reminder, the next TIRZ Board meeting will be held on Thursday, December 7th at 8:00 AM at the Kingwood Community Center. Every TIRZ Board meeting is open to the public. Visit the LHRA website for more information on the Northpark Drive Overpass Project and view the 2023 Board of Directors Calendar.

Mayor Pro Tem Martin is pleased to announce that the panel replacement project along El Dorado Blvd from Torry Pines Rd to Seahorse Dr has been successfully completed as of December 8, 2023. This project was undertaken with the aim of enhancing the safety of all those who travel along this important stretch of road while also improving the roadway conditions. Mayor Pro Tem wants to express his gratitude to the residents and businesses in the area for their patience and cooperation during the project. We hope that this initiative will contribute to a safer and more efficient transportation system in the community.

For additional information or questions please contact Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin's office at (832) 393-3008 or districte@houstontx.gov.

Mayor Pro Tem Martin is thrilled that the City's contractor for dredging, DRC, will begin dredging the area south of the West Fork-Mouth Bar this month. DRC is estimated to remove approximately 800,000 cubic yards of silt and sediment. The removal will take two years and DRC will use both mechanical and hydraulic dredging.

The additional dredging in this area is funded by FEMA and is the result of Mayor Pro Tem Martin and Chief Recovery Officer Stephen Costello's tireless efforts in protesting the initial amount put forth by FEMA back in 2019. In August 2020, FEMA, through their technical consultant at the USACE, concurred with the City's ninety-four-page technical report. Mayor Pro Tem Martin strongly disagreed with the USACE's four-page tabletop study and continued to appeal and push forward to get the project he knew the Lake Houston Area deserved.

Mayor Pro Tem Martin has been consistent in the fight to get more for District E residents since Hurricane Harvey and has continued to push for meaningful projects that will reduce the risk of future flooding in District E. Mayor Pro Tem Martin looks forward to the completion of the planned projects and continued collaboration with local representatives.

On November 17, 2023, Mayor Pro Tem Martin attended the City Lights Downtown Holiday Magic Event, which was hosted by Houston First Corporation and Downtown Houston. The aim of the event was to inaugurate the holiday season, and Mayor Pro Tem was thrilled to be a part of it. The event was a huge success, and it brought together members of the community to celebrate the start of the holiday season.

Mayor Pro Tem expressed his gratitude to the organizers for putting together such a fantastic event. Mayor Pro Tem was impressed with the turnout and the festive atmosphere and was honored to be apart of this special event.

Houston Parks Board and Houston Parks and Recreation Department are excited to share an update on Mayor Turner’s 50/50 Park Partners initiative and the park improvements slated for Oak Meadow Park.

Construction on Oak Meadow Park started in February 2023 and has commenced on elements that were identified by the community. The improvements at Oak Meadow Park include replacing the playground, resurfacing the walking trail, adding benches, renovating the basketball court, improving the multi-purpose field and site drainage, adding a picnic pavilion, updating and adding site lighting, and enhancing the volleyball court. Houston Parks Board has confirmed the parks grand opening will be held December 19, 2023, at 10:00 A.M. at 500 Ahrens St.

Mayor Pro Tem has also allocated his Council District Service Funds to provide additional ADA compliant access to the park. This ensures that all members of the community have full access to enjoy the park and all its new amenities. We look forward to the completion of the project and the increased accessibility it will bring to our community.

The District E office will continue to keep the community updated on the parks grand opening day to come. For more information, please contact Houston Parks Board.

Operation Stocking Stuffer is the Houston Fire Department’s annual holiday toy drive which has become one of the largest community outreach programs of its type anywhere. It all started over 30 years ago when a Houston area teacher, Ms. Lorugene Young (1943-2017), wanted to help her students and other disadvantaged children with Christmas gifts for the holiday. She collected used toys and began to distribute them in her area out of the trunk of her car. A few years later, after seeing the need in the community, Ms. Young approached the Houston Fire Department with the idea of using fire stations as toy collection locations for her program. The partnership with HFD began modestly but once the word got around, more and more community and business leaders came on board to make Operation Stocking Stuffer what it has become today, a massive community-driven effort helping thousands of families every year.

The toys collected will be distributed Saturday, December 16, 2023. There is no registration required, and it will operate on a first come first serve format. The drive-thru event will begin at 9:00 a.m. at 2400 Reed Road Houston, TX 77051.

In 2022, Operation Stocking Stuffer provided toys and gifts for more than 30,000! Working with over 100 small, local businesses and iconic, global corporations, the members of the Houston Fire Department collect hundreds of thousands of toys, bikes and gifts at HFD fire stations, offices and businesses all around the Houston area. With the help of hundreds of volunteers, these toys are then sorted and distributed just in time for the holiday.

Mayor Pro Tem’s collaboration with the Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) and the Center for Afterschool, Summer, and Enrichment for Kids (CASE for Kids) has actively supported the funding of three out-of-school programs through the City Connections grant program. With a focus on providing engaging academic and enrichment activities in a safe and inclusive learning environment, the City Connections program ensured that 214 students, ranging from kindergarten to twelfth grade, had access to valuable opportunities.

These activities included literacy and reading skill building, STEM activities, physical fitness, fine art programming, and social skills training. The collaborations between EZ Kids Creativity Shell, Diaz Music Institute, Fellowship of Purpose Early Childhood Learning Center, Elm Grove Elementary School, and Woodcreek Middle School have increased accessibility to enrichment programs for the students of District E.

To read the FY23 report, please click here to learn more about all the ways CASE for Kids is helping better the future of the next generation.

The Lift Station Renewal and Replacement Project - East Ten Park, Maxey Road, Mesa Drive, Westmont, North Shore is part of the City's Lift Station Renewal and Replacement Improvements program which is required to replace/upgrade lift station facilities.

The work to be performed under this contract award is necessary to maintain compliance with Houston's wastewater consent decree with EPA and TCEQ.

This project is expected to be completed by Winter, 2024, weather permitting. For more information on this project, please visit the Engage Houston website.

Mayor Pro Tem Martin and BARC Houston have teamed up to host a series of free microchipping events in District E. The last event was held on November 11, 2023, in Clear Lake and was a huge success. The next event will take place on Saturday, December 16, at the Kingwood METRO Park & Ride from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. This event is open to all and does not require pre-registration. BARC will be using microchip numbers for licensing, making it easier for Animal Enforcement Officers to reunite lost pets with their owners.

Additionally, the Houston Humane Society will be present to help attendees secure one of the 75 free spay/neuter surgery appointments. Mayor Pro Tem Martin has allocated $6,000 from Council District Service Funds to cover the costs of these events.

Pre-registration for this event is not required, and microchipping services will be available from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on a first-come, first-serve basis, and as supplies for the chipping last. No vaccination documentation is required to be shown at the event. All animals do need to have a collar and a leash, but do not need to be brought in a carrier. It is recommended, however, that if a pet owner has a carrier, they bring their pet in one.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the District E office at (832) 393-3008 or districte@houstontx.gov.

On November 28, 2023, Mayor Pro Tem Martin attended Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership's (BAHEP) monthly General Membership Meeting. The meeting was highlighted by a special guest speaker, John Sharp, Chancellor of Texas A&M, who shared exciting news about a new $200 million space institute being planned by Texas A&M officials.

This institute will be the first of its kind in the U.S. and will work in collaboration with NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Mayor Pro Tem Martin expressed enthusiasm for this new development and its potential to bring economic growth and innovation to the Bay Area.

For more information on new and exciting economic development in the Bay Area, please visit the BAHEP website to learn more.

Residents may act as extra eyes and ears on the streets, and soon you'll be able to report a pothole, a malfunctioning traffic light, or a drainage problem while you're out and about. Houston 311 has launched a new smartphone app that makes reporting issues like these easier than ever. The app uses GPS to identify your location and also allows you to snap a photo to add to your service request. The new app allows for reports to be automatically routed to city departments for resolutions.

You can still alert the City of Houston of issues by dialing 3-1-1 or 713-837-0311 of potential problems in your community. Houstonians can also access this helpful service via an e-mail to 311@HoustonTX.gov. A self Service Request (SR) form is available online at www.houston311.org. Once you've reported a problem please follow up with the District E office by emailing your case number and information on the issue to the District E office at districte@houstontx.gov to help make sure the problem is addressed in a timely manner.

District E Upcoming Monthly Events

Email the District E office (districte@houstontx.gov) if you would like us to include your upcoming event in future newsletters!

December 05 – Budget & Fiscal Affairs Committee Meeting

December 09 – Freeway Manor Park Grand Opening

December 13 – KSA Public Safety Committee Meeting

December 16 – Kingwood Free Microchipping Event

December 19 – Clear Lake PIP Meeting

December 19 – Oak Meadow Park Grand Opening

December 22 – Office Closed: City Holiday

December 25 – Office Closed: Christmas

January 01 – Office Closed: New Years Day