Inside District I

March 2014 Newsletter

We had a very informative and productive District I Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) meeting on Feb. 19th. City departments provided updates on ongoing and upcoming improvement projects. We also received CIP and maintenance requests from several residents.

Some project highlights:

We expect to begin reconstruction of Broadway, between I-45 and Airport Blvd., at the end of April
Sewer system improvements are underway in the Riverview and Eastwood neighborhoods
Waterline improvements are ongoing in Garden Villas and wrapping up in the Park Place neighborhood
Lawndale, between Brays Bayou and Santa Rosa, received extensive repairs (concrete panel replacement)
Lighting and amenity improvements are being made at Milby and Gragg parks

We are also in the process of improving mobility/walkability in the EaDo area by eliminating major gaps on primary off-street bicycle/pedestrian transportation routes and in the city's bike grid.

My office has submitted CIP requests we received before and during the meeting to the appropriate departments for review. If you have any additional questions about the CIP process, please contact the District I office at 832-393-3011.

Thank you,

Robert Gallegos

Houston Council Member

District I

Hobby Airport Master Plan Meeting Tomorrow

Council Strengthens Game Room Ordinance

Last month, Houston City Council approved changes that will strengthen the city's game room ordinance. The stricter ordinance is identical to regulations Harris County enacted for game rooms in unincorporated areas of the county, which will allow for uniform regulations and enforcement.

Under the revised ordinance, game rooms are required to obtain permits and can only operate between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Establishments must display a "Game Room" sign, maintain uncovered windows and cannot require membership for entry. In addition, new game rooms will be restricted from opening within 1,500 feet from schools, places of religious worship and residential neighborhoods.

Penalties were also increased. Violators will be charged with Class A misdemeanors and face fines of up to $10,000 and possible jail time.

Mayor Proclaims Spay/Neuter Day

Mayor Annise Parker joined Council Member Robert Gallegos in recognizing and proclaiming February 25th as Spay and Neuter Awareness Day in the City of Houston.

Animal welfare and rescue groups around the world recognize the month of February as Spay/Neuter Awareness Month, and February 25th as world spay day. Mayor Parker and Councilman Gallegos recognized the Houston Humane Society, SNAP, Barrio Dogs and BARC, along with many other groups, for providing shelter, promoting and facilitating adoption, and stressing the importance of responsible pet ownership among Houstonians.

The four organizations were also commended for participating in Spay/Neuter Awareness Month and offering Houstonians free and low-cost spay and neuter services.

Annual Texas Warrant Round-up Begins

The City of Houston's Municipal Courts Department and Houston Police Department (HPD) will be among 300 law enforcement jurisdictions across Texas that will participate in the 2014 Great Texas Warrant Round-Up. For the 3rd year in a row, HPD will be assisted by the Texas Attorney General's Fugitive Apprehension Unit to search for individuals with outstanding warrants beginning Saturday, March 1, 2014.

HPD and other law enforcement agencies will aggressively target those defendants on the warrant list. Authorities warn that arrests can take place at any location, including the defendant's home, school or workplace. Additionally, a special task force will focus solely on locating defendants with outstanding warrants through a license plate recognition program and whose parked vehicle has been documented multiple times at specific locations.

As the regional coordinator of this effort for the past eight years, the Municipal Courts Department has thousands of active warrants it is seeking to clear. Municipal Courts officials are encouraging defendants to take advantage of the options available to resolve outstanding warrants. There will be no amnesty offered during the Warrant Round-Up effort.

For more information about warrants or citations visit www.houstontx.gov/courts or contact the City's Helpline at 3-1-1 or 713-837-0311.

Free Income Tax Preparation

Neighborhood Centers Inc. is providing free income tax preparation for individuals earning up to $30,000 and families with incomes up to $50,000.

The service will be provided at 15 locations throughout the Houston area. For more information on the free Neighborhood Tax Center locations, hours of operation and languages available, call 2-1-1 or visit www.freetaxcenters.org.

The Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) will also partner with Neighborhood Centers Inc. and United Way of Greater Houston to provide free tax preparation assistance, specifically catering to eligible citizens with disabilities. The services will be offered during March on Fridays, 1 - 4 p.m., and Saturdays, 1 - 3 p.m., at Neighborhood Centers, Baker-Ripley, 6500 Rookin Street 77074.

Federal income tax returns for the 2013 calendar year are due by April 15, 2014.

Tour de Houston - March 16

Registration is now open for the 2014 Tour de Houston Presented by Apache Corporation. The ride will take place on Sunday, March 16, at City Hall, 901 Bagby, Houston 77002. Funds benefit the RE-Plant Houston Program managed by the Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD).

With three distance options, the Tour de Houston is the perfect outdoor event for all cyclist levels, from the leisure rider to cycling competitors and is a recommended BP MS150 training ride. The distance options include a 60-mile route starting at 7:30 a.m., a 40-mile route at 8 a.m. and a 20-mile route at 8:30 a.m.

The online registration fee is $35 for adults and $20 for children 12 and under. Deadline to register online is Wednesday, March 12, 2014, at 5 p.m. Registrants for the bike ride will automatically be entered for a chance to win a Sun and Ski bicycle and two Southwest Airlines tickets. If you are already registered, pick up your packet early and go directly to your lineup position on the day of the event.

For more details on the bike ride, including registration and packet pick-up locations, visit www.tourdehouston.org. For more information about HPARD, visit www.houstontx.gov/parks.