Welcome to the Knox Report - May 2023 | |
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May 14th is Mother's Day. Of course we all know every day is Mother's Day, but make sure to make your mom feel extra special on this day. Mother's Day celebrates all the hard work and love that moms give every day.
Even if some of our moms aren't with us anymore, we remember them and all the sacrifices they made.
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*SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE*
The Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Workshop Schedule is as follows. Workshops are open to the public and the opportunity for public comment will be available at
each presentation. No action will be taken on any item during workshops.
You may refer any questions to District E:
Phone: 832.393.3008
E-Mail: [email protected]
For updates and information, click here.
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Mental Health Month raises awareness of trauma and the impact it can have on the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of children, families, and communities. Nearly 450 million people worldwide are currently living with a mental illness, yet nearly two thirds of people with a known mental illness never seek treatment.
Mental health is essential for a person's overall health. Prevention works, treatment is effective, and people can recover from mental disorders and live full and productive lives.
For more information on Houston resources, click here.
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Hire Houston Youth serves as the facilitator to connect youth to local jobs where they are empowered with an “earn and learn” opportunity in Houston’s dynamic economy. Youth, age 16–24, are offered eight-week paid summer jobs and internships at the City of Houston, the public, private, and philanthropic sectors.
To be eligible to participate in the program, you must be between the age of 16 and 24 by June 12, 2023 and reside in the city of Houston. Must be available to work 32 hours per week for 8 weeks.
For more information and how to apply, please click here.
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The City of Houston will be hosting its Annual Career Fair at Exhibit Hall E of the George R. Brown Convention Center tomorrow, May 3rd, 2023 from 9 am until 2 pm.
Several City of Houston departments will be conducting on the spot interviews for various positions from entry level to front line management. Interested participants must have work eligibility documents present such as a passport/government issued ID and social security card.
This is a great opportunity for anybody looking for both full-time and part-time jobs. For more information on City of Houston Careers click here.
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Houston just got a bit cooler! Had the pleasure of attending the Galápagos Island Asante Society Preview on April 3rd.
The Zoo is introducing California sea lions who will stand in for Galápagos sealions, seven additional giant Galápagos tortoises, two black-tip reef sharks, two bonnethead sharks, a green sea turtle, and a colony of 14-16 Humboldt penguins will also make the new exhibit their home, standing in for their rare cousins, the Galápagos penguin.
It was a wonderful experience and we cannot wait for you to check out the exhibit.
The Galápagos Island exhibit is now open to the public. For more information, click here.
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The At-Large 1 office was present at the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Luncheon & Business Expo on April 7th.
This annual event is the largest Business Luncheon & Expo in Houston, bringing in approximately 2,000 entrepreneurs, executives, elected & appointed officials, young professionals, and job seekers.
At the event, The Luncheon Program highlighted the Chamber’s work and its impact on our economy and featured remarks from local and national leaders.
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The City of Houston presented Sam Houston State University (SHSU) with a proclamation, followed by a reception on April 12th.
SHSU is the third oldest public university in Texas. It’s College of Criminal Justice is the largest and one of the oldest criminal justice programs in the nation.
Throughout the years, Sam Houston has continually been one of the top schools in Texas, and we were happy to celebrate their accomplishments with them.
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The Kempwood Civic Club asked me to speak regarding a spike in burglaries in their neighborhood on April 11th.
Civic Clubs provide a voice for people and projects in their neighborhoods. For this reason, it is important that we listen to them and keep up with their concerns and the Kempwood Community sure came out. Thank you for having me.
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On April 13th, Council Member Knox and the City of Houston presented AmeriCorps with a proclamation.
AmeriCorps is a network of local, state, and national service programs that connects over 70,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet community needs in education, the environment, public safety, health, and homeland security.
Since their creation in 1993, their work has spanned some of the most challenging times in our country. From volunteering in New York following the 9/11 attacks, volunteering in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina, to helping military families and veterans, we are honored to recognize AmeriCorps o this great occasion.
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Exciting things are happening in Houston! The Houston Parks Board finished construction on the San Jacinto Bayou Greenway and we attended the Ribbon Cutting event on April 15th.
Notable new features of the San Jacinto Bayou Greenway include:
- Trail connection for Kingwood residents at Woodland Hills Drive to access the Bayou Greenway
- Connection at Woodland Hills Drive into the over 75-mile Kingwood Greenbelt trail system
- New off-street trails, as well as the use of existing residential streets for the trail system
- Planting of native trees, meadows, and wildflowers
- 14.5 acres of newly acquired land to be preserved as permanent parkland
- Benches, seating areas, and overlooks
- Interpretive and directional signage
- Trash cans and recycling containers
A great time to take the kids out on a hiking trip!
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I've always been a firm believer that city officials should listen more and talk less. April 15th, I attended the Harris County Precinct 4 Listening Tour organized by Pct. 4 County Commissioner Briones.
The Listening Tour event was an opportunity to greet the constituents in Precinct 4 and understand the strengths and weaknesses of each area. The event was highly informative and highlighted the importance of constituent participation in local politics.
Thank you to all who attended and voiced their concerns.
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It is always an honor to present a proclamation to an organization that truly deserves it. April 18th, I presented Miracles R Real Outreach with their proclamation during Public Session.
Miracles R Real Outreach is a Nonprofit Organization that helps underprivileged families by providing financial assistance and basic care essentials.
Past events by the organizations include Empowered You, that teaches children the importance of knowing their worth as human beings. The Heal The Soul event, where a nutritionist provides helpful insight on healthier eating habits. The organization also holds blanket drives, back to school events and more.
Keep up the good work and congratulations. If you would like to know more about Miracles R Real, please click here.
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Earth Day HTX sure came to Houston on Wednesday, April 19th! The event promised to be the largest Earth Day celebration ever by the City of Houston and it delivered.
Demonstrations, hands-on activities, displays, food, information, and interactive booths took place in front of City Hall.
A great time for Houstonians.
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As an Air Force Veteran, I know a thing or two about the complexity of an aircraft. April 21st, I had the honor of attending the Induction Ceremony for the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame at the Lone Star Flight Museum.
The class of 2023 has some truly remarkable airmen and airwomen. Four new inductees, Daniel Baker, Major General Joe H. Engle (ret), Rod Lewis, and Edna Gardner Whyte have been named to the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame Class of 2023.
The Texas Aviation Hall of Fame was established in 1995 through a resolution by the 74th Texas Legislature and signed by then Gov. George W. Bush to honor and recognize Texans and Texas companies or organizations that have made significant and lasting contributions to the advancement of aviation. There are currently 84 individuals and groups in the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame, in four categories which include trailblazers and explorers, wartime aviators, leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators.
The Lone Star Flight Museum features fascinating aircraft that ranges from war planes and bombers to NASA aircraft to historic commercial aircraft. The museum also features simulation stations for kids and much more.
For more information on Texas Aviation Hall of Fame, click here.
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April 26th, was a bittersweet day in the office. We bid farewell to Esma Kurtlu, our UH intern from the Civic Houston Internship Program (CHIP).
Esma started interning with us in February. Throughout her time here, she attended many City Council Sessions and helped the office with everyday matters.
She always showed up to the office with a great attitude and mindset. We hope that she learned a lot from her time here, and we wish her the best in her future ventures.
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Meetings Information
- City Council meetings are conducted each week on Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m. and Wednesdays beginning at 9:00 a.m. Any citizen may speak before Council on a Tuesday beginning at 2:00 p.m. To reserve time to address City Council (up to three minutes), contact the City Secretary's Office (832.393.1100) before 5:00 p.m. Monday prior. All Council meetings are open to the public.
Agenda Information
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In accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, the agenda is posted for public information, at all times, for at least 72 hours preceding the scheduled time of the meeting on the bulletin board located at the rear entrance of the City Hall Annex, 900 Bagby. Copies of the agenda are available at no charge in the Office of the City Secretary in the City Hall Annex, Public Level. The Council Agenda is also available online.
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Residents may dispose of their Tree Waste and Junk Waste at their curbside. Tree Waste is collected during ODD numbered months and Junk Waste is collected during EVEN numbered months. This method of collecting large waste comes with the benefits of diverting materials that can be recycled from landfills, saving landfill space and valuable tax dollars.
- Tree Waste months are January, March, May, July, September, and November.
- Junk Waste months are February, April, June, August, October and December.
Residents who wish to dispose of Tree Waste or Junk Waste before their scheduled once-per-month collection may use one of six Neighborhood Depository/Recycling Centers.
For more information and details, please click here.
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The best way to address an issue is to always report it to 311 first and receive a service request number. 311 is the City of Houston’s non-emergency department directory and self-service city request line. The 311 website allows the citizens of Houston to access information, request city services and report problems at anytime of the day or night.
Remember to follow up with your District and/or At Large Council Office to ensure your concern doesn't fall through the cracks.
To file an Online Service Request, you must provide the address of the corresponding location of which the service need or problem is being reported. In most cases, you must also provide a valid email address for follow up purposes.
You can access 311 services below:
http://www.houstontx.gov/311/
or Call
Phone: 3-1-1 or 713.837.0311
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City of Houston HROne
The City of Houston can’t function without great employees. The City is always on the lookout for talented, passionate people to hire. Employment with the City of Houston represents more than just a job – it’s an opportunity to make a difference and improve our community.
For more information click the City logo
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April 5:
Council approved payment of $7 million for work performed throughout the city to resolve various drainage problems. The contract included work performed to clean out drainage ditches and repair/reconstruct storm water drainage assets. This two-year contract performed work in twenty-three locations throughout the city. The city has similar ongoing contracts to perform this type of work around the city to mitigate flooding.
Council approved spending $630,667 to purchase five Ford Police Interceptors for the police department and airport system and six Ford F-150 Lightning electric trucks for the public works department. With the current economic climate of vehicle manufacturing, the city has faced challenges in replacing their aging vehicle fleet.
After weeks of discussion, Council approved the creation of Conservation Districts by a vote of 13-4. I was one of the four opposing votes. This ordinance allows the creation of these Districts in six neighborhoods in Houston. Supporters contend that these Districts are needed to protect the character of neighborhoods. I opposed these Conservation Districts for a variety of reasons, mainly the low threshold of support to create these Districts. This ordinance only requires 51% support of property owners to initiate the creation of a proposed District. The approval of deed restrictions requires 100% support of property owners, and amending deed restrictions requires 75% support. I argued that only requiring 51% support basically means half of the property owners oppose these Districts. Pitting neighbor versus neighbor is not the way to bring Houstonians together. In fact, some persons contend that in neighborhoods with deed restrictions, these proposed Conservation Districts can act as an end-around to amend deed restrictions with 51% support versus 75% support as required by state law. Once again, dividing neighbor versus neighbor is not the way to govern. The Mayor and the majority of my council colleagues opposed increasing the threshold from 51%.
April 12:
Council approved spending $494,280 for Spay and Neutering Services for the city’s BARC Animal Shelter. This funding is expected to provide these services for the remainder of calendar year 2023.
Council approved spending $190,854 to purchase 106 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations. The resources to purchase these items is obtained from the city’s vehicle salvage fund. These stations will be installed at various city facilities throughout Houston to charge city-owned vehicles.
Council approved spending $100,000 of federal grant funds to provide Respite Out-of-Home (Adult Daycare) Services for senior citizens. This program is operated by the Harris County Agency on Aging. These funds provide for continuity of care for consumers who are currently utilizing adult day care services. The older recipients of these services are unable to perform a minimum of two activities of daily living on their own and require substantial supervision.
April 19:
Council authorized spending an additional $975,000 with an outside vendor for staff augmentation services for the permitting department. This additional spending authority will enable Public Works to maintain reasonable turnaround times on plan reviews.
Council approved paying the final contract amount of $5,784,194 to a contractor for asphalt overlays at ten locations throughout the city. This contract is similar to other contracts with local contractors to improve road surfaces around the city. The funds to pay for this overlay work were provided by METRO.
Council approved spending $283,964 to purchase 11 Ambulance Cots and 20 Stair Chairs. This equipment will replace older gear in ambulances as required by the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule. The vendor is the only approved manufacturer and distributor of these products.
Council approved the final payment of $10,038,710 for the Woodshire Drainage and Paving Improvements Project. This project consisted of constructing storm drainage improvements, concrete roadways, sidewalks, streetlights, and underground utilities. The project area is generally bound by South Breaswood Boulevard on the north, 610 Loop on the south, Stella Link on the east, and Basson Street on the west. The project took 500 days to complete. Approximately 85% of the funds for this project were provided by the drainage utility charge which appears on your monthly water bills.
April 26:
Council approved payment of $11,724,296 for work performed at the city’s 69th Street Wastewater Treatment Plant. The work, performed over 710 days, consisted of the replacement of the wastewater filtration system, electrical equipment, piping, concrete structure, sensors, and valves. This project is part of the city’s ongoing program to replace inefficient components of the wastewater treatment plant.
Council approved spending $45,580 for the purchase of fire hoses for the fire department. This purchase contract consisted of 210 fire hoses. HFD keeps in its warehouse stock, seven types of fire hoses. This purchase covers two hose types that are currently very low in stock.
Council approved spending $50,001 of federal grant funds to purchase rescue equipment for the fire department. The purchase consisted of airbags, safety relief and control valves, air lifting bag regulators, hoses, and foam carrying cases. This equipment will assist firefighters in responding to structural collapse and heavy lifting incidents.
Council approved the purchase of 100 traffic signal pole kits for $34,500. These signal pole kits will replace damaged traffic poles across the city. These poles are designed to break away regardless of the vehicle’s angle of impact, thus saving lives and reducing property damage. The funds to purchase these kits were provided by METRO.
Council awarded a five-year $7,408,260 contract to a vendor for the after-school child and adult care food service program. State and federal dollars are being utilized for this contract. The contract requires the vendor to provide supper and supplement to approximately 1,500 persons daily at 65 sites in Houston and the surrounding counties.
Council approved a $5.2 million contract with a vendor to provide pre-construction and construction phase services for the African American Library Restoration project. The library sustained significant damage during Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The library is located in the Fourth Ward/Freedman’s Town Historic District and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The project will repair or replace the building envelope components including roofing and windows, upgrade the HVAC system, and restore various interior and exterior elements.
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Important Contact Information | |
(832) 393-3014
311 or (713) 837-0311
Emergency
911
HPD Non-Emergency
(713) 884-3131
(832) 393-0955
(832) 393-1100
City of Houston
P.O. Box 1562
Houston, TX 77251
311 or (713) 837-0311
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At Large 1 Contact Information | | | | |
