I have very exciting news to share! Houston City Council last month unanimously approved a contract with Emancipet, a nationally recognized non-profit animal welfare organization, as part of a major initiative to reduce and prevent animal overpopulation in our city.

Emancipet will provide low-cost spay/neuter and preventive veterinary services from their 48-foot semi-permanent trailer clinic, which will be located at Neighborhood Centers' Ripley House facility in the East End. The clinic will be able to spay/neuter approximately 7,000 to 8,000 animals per year, and provide approximately 10,000 preventive care visits.

We have had a stray animal problem in our community for decades in part due to a lack of comprehensive spay/neuter strategy, and limited educational initiatives on responsible pet ownership. But over the past year, we have focused on a multi-pronged approach to address the issue; we increased funding for BARC enforcement operations, launched more proactive educational campaigns on responsible pet ownership, and made affordable spay/neuter services, like those Emancipet will provide, more accessible to pet owners who need them.

Our partnership with Emancipet will further complement the city's own efforts to reduce the number of strays. In fact, BARC modeled its spay/neuter strategy on Emancipet's model and pricing system, which has been successfully implemented in Austin, Killeen, and Pflugerville. Those cities have had substantial success lowering their stray population and increasing live release rates through partnerships with low-cost spay/neuter organizations.

Emancipet expects that after six to nine months of operation, it will move into a brick-and-mortar space in the East End, and move the trailer clinic to a new location. By 2017, they hope to have three permanent locations in underserved areas of Houston.

As many of you know, I have worked hard over the last year to bring this group to Houston to help support our efforts to reduce and prevent animal overpopulation in the city. I would like to thank Mayor Annise Parker, Council Members Ed Gonzalez, Oliver Pennington, and the many animal welfare and rescue organizations in our area for their support.

For more information, visit www.emancipet.org/houston.

Best wishes,

Robert Gallegos

Houston Council Member

District I

Hobby Area Stakeholder Meeting - March 9

REMINDER: Council Member Robert Gallegos and the Hobby Area Management District will host a stakeholder meeting Monday, March 9 (tonight) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Residents and business owners in the Hobby area are encouraged to attend to learn more about the many initiatives and improvements taking place in the area, including the Broadway Blvd. revitalization project, Gulfgate reinvestment zone expansion, botanic garden proposal, and the Sims Bayou hike and bike trail project.

The meeting will take place at the DoubleTree Hobby Airport Hotel, 8181 Airport Blvd. For more information, contact the District I office at 832-393-3011.

Curbside Recycling Available to all Houstonians

Mayor Annise Parker and Council Member Robert Gallegos personally delivered 96-gal recycling carts to District I residents in the Pecan Park neighborhood, fulfilling the goal of city-wide automated curbside recycling for all residents with City of Houston solid waste collection.

The Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) is currently undertaking the final expansion of the city's Automated Recycling Program. Once this final expansion is complete, everyone with city collection will be able to recycle using the large 96-gallon cart.

Under the program, recyclables will be collected using automated collection vehicles. Homes will receive a 96-gallon green cart similar to the black automated garbage can. Although the cart is much bigger than the 18-gallon green bin currently used in the Curbside Recycling Program, it has wheels, making it much easier to move the recyclables to the curb. Also, the cart has a lid which contains the recyclables and keeps them from getting wet. Printed on the lid is a list of the items that can go in the cart. This program allows participants to recycle glass, which is not collected in the Curbside Recycling Program.

What items can go in the cart?

Newspaper

Plastic Containers #1 - 5 and 7 (rinsed & drained)

Magazines

Aluminum and Tin Cans (rinsed & drained)

Catalogs

Cardboard (flattened)

Phone Books

Glass Bottles and Jars (rinsed & drained)

For information on service days in your neighborhood, visit http://www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/2015_Recycle_Cal.pdf

Tour de Houston - March 15

Join thousands of cyclists Sunday, March 15, 2015 at City Hall, 901 Bagby, Houston 77002, for Tour de Houston Presented by Apache Corporation. This is the 10th anniversary of Houston's premier urban bike ride that starts in beautiful downtown Houston. Your registration fee will benefit the RE-Plant Houston Program managed by the Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD).

With three distance options, there's something for everyone! Distance options include a 60-mile route starting at 7:30 a.m., a 40-mile route that begins at 8:00 a.m. and a 20-mile route that starts at 8:30 a.m. For those riding in the BP MS150, this is a recommended training ride. Volunteers and cyclists will enjoy a free post-ride party back at City Hall with a live band, complimentary food, snacks and drinks.

Registration is open online until March 13, 2015. The day of the event, there will be an opportunity to register in person by cash and check only. The registration fee is $40 for adults and $20 for children, 12 and under. For more details on the bike ride, including registration and packet pick-up locations, visit www.tourdehouston.org.

Bayou Greenway Day - April 4

We hope you will join us at an exciting new community event from the Houston Parks Board: Bayou Greenway Day 2015 presented by Noble Energy! Saturday, April 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This free, day-long event will offer families the chance to walk, bike, run, stroll, play and paddle between park sites along Brays Bayou in the East End.

Event "hubs" in Mason Park, Spurlock Park, Gragg Park and Fonde Park - and the Brays Bayou trail that connects the four parks - will host fun activities for all ages. You will be able to start at any of these locations, enjoying activities and exploring the trails that connect the parks.

Activities will include 5K fun run/walk; bike rides, rentals and decorating; Zumba classes and dance performances; an interactive campsite; kayaking; giveaways and more!

Come experience the transformation happening along Houston's bayous as part of Bayou Greenways 2020! Visit www.bayougreenwayday.org for additional information and an event map.

Bayou Greenway Day 2015 is a project of the Houston Parks Board in collaboration with the Mayor's Office of Special Events, the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, and Council Member Robert Gallegos.

Save the Date: Cine at the Park - April 10