Tis the Season . . .

As your District J Office prepares to close out 2014, this will be our last newsletter of the year - so while I am at it - Happy New Year! Starting in January, delivery of the District J Journal will shift from Fridays to the beginning of the week on an every other week basis. 2015 is shaping up to be a busy year. We look forward to sharing some exciting news about our neighborhoods.

In observance of the holidays, your District J office will be closed from Wednesday, December 24th through Friday, December 26th. We will be back in business bright and early Monday, December 29th. We will also be out on Thursday, January 1st for the New Year holiday.

So here is wishing you and yours a Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!

Blessings,

-Mike Laster, Council Member - District J

This Week at City Hall . . .

City Council has been meeting to discuss several changes to Houston's City Charter, which outlines the basic set of rules for our City government. Proposed changes include:

• Allowing Council to meet in executive sessions;
• Changing City elected official term limits from three two-year terms to two four-year terms;
• Authorizing the City to keep and invest excess revenue above the Revenue Cap Spending Limit;
• Authorizing council members to place legislative items on the council agenda for a vote.

The Ad Hoc Charter Review Committee will continue to meet to discuss these and other potential changes to the City Charter on a bi-weekly basis over the next several months. Some Charter changes may appear on the November 2015 ballot. To see the video of the most recent committee meeting, click here.

New budgetary fiscal policies were also adopted by Council, which will promote fiscal responsibility and transparency. The policies address topics ranging from debt management to internal financial controls to evaluation of proposals for City investment in economic development. For videos of City Council meetings, click here.

The new policies include the following:

• An increase in the City's minimum financial reserves to hedge against risk;
• Clearer communication to Council Members and the public regarding decisions on budgeting and spending public funds;
• Greater emphasis on long-term planning and forecasting to identify and anticipate budgetary challenges before they become unwieldy. 

Please see below for the modified trash schedule this holiday season.

Rebuilding Together Houston 

Rebuilding Together Houston is bringing volunteers and communities together to improve the homes and lives of low-income homeowners. If you know a low-income and/or disabled Texas veteran who owns and lives in a home, is current on their taxes, and lives in Harris County, they are eligible for free home repairs through this non-profit! Please e-mail Rebuilding Together Houston by clicking here, or calling 713-659-2511, for more information.