City Seal
From the Office of Council Member Mike Laster 
The Distric
t Journal
Official Newsletter of Houston City Council District J
 
Monday, October 19, 2015
Mike Laster - Flipped
832.393.3015
City Hall Annex
900 Bagby
Houston, TX 77002

PO Box 1562
Houston, TX 77251-1562

Chief of Staff
  
Agenda & Policy Director

Sharon Shanahan
Administrative Services Director
 
Constituent & Community Affairs Director
  
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Low Crime Initiative Begins
 
I was pleased to join members of HPD and the Southwest Management District for a press conference this past Friday, October 16th. This marked the beginning of the management district's pilot program that will focus on rewarding apartment communities who make strong efforts to lower crime and increase safety on their properties. As an example, the Villa Madrid apartments was honored on Friday for having the lowest crime in the Southwest Management District area.
 
Hopefully with the implementation of this new program, other multifamily communities will begin to take note and see that they truly have an interest in maintaining high standards of living for their residents.

 

Thank You,
 

Mike Laster - signature
- Council Member Mike Laster, District J 
Unusually High Water Bills

High water bills can be very frustrating, and can come without warning. Fortunately, there are options available to address high water bills.

One tool to catch such surprises on your water bill is to sign up for the Consumption Awareness Program (CAP). This program is free and will alert you to changes and potential leaks, allowing you to compare your bill to neighborhood averages.

A single-family residential customer who receives a water bill for any given month that is greater than 200 percent of the average usage, may request an adjustment of the bill. The customer must make an application within six months of receipt of such bill.

Residents are also allowed a leak adjustment if they have suffered an excusable defect. A defect must be hidden, such as in a wall, underground, or in a toilet tank.

Have you signed up for an online account? For easy access, you can receive bills by email, monitor your account, and pay your bill online. Payment plans are also an option if you have a high bill and residents will not have any service interruption while appeals go through. Residents can contact customer service at (713) 371-1400 and as always, please let your District J office help with the process by giving us a call (832-393-3015).

City Offering Pro-Bono Legal Help for Small Businesses
 
Obtaining legal advice for small businesses can be costly and stressful. The City of Houston's Office of Business Opportunity announced a partnership with the Association of Pro Bono Counsel (APBCo), Vinson & Elkins, LLP, and community organizations to establish the "Virtual Legal Lab". The Virtual Legal Lab gives small businesses the opportunity to schedule one-on-one Skype sessions to ask questions with pro-bono attorneys.

The Virtual Legal Lab will be hosted on the following dates:

October 28, 2015
November 18, 2015
December 9, 2015
December 16, 2015

To make an appointment for the Virtual Legal Lab or for more information, please go to www.houstontx.gov/obo and click on Virtual Legal Lab.
SER-Ninos Fall Festival

The SER-Ninos Charter School in the Gulfton community will be holding a fall festival, Friday, Oct. 30, 2015 from 3pm to 8pm. Hope to see everyone there!

Seeds of Sharpstown

Community Events Calendar
Upcoming Events

Please refer to the Community Events Calendar on our website for the time, and other event details. New events are added every week. Be sure to check it often!

 
Monday, October 19
 -Gulfton Super Neighborhood #27 Meeting
 -Sharpstown Civic Assc. Board Meeting
 -Brays Bayou Association Meeting

Tuesday, October 20
 -Sharpstown Rotary Club
 -City Council - Public Session
 -Braeburn PIP Meeting

Wednesday, October 21
 -City Council
 -Midwest PIP Meeting

Thursday, October 22
 -International District Board of Directors Meeting
 -Sharpstown Civic Association Meeting

Monday, October 26
 -Southwest Management District Board Meeting

Tuesday, October 27
 -Sharpstown Rotary Club
 -Gulfton PIP
 -Alief Super Neighborhood Council Meeting
 -Council Break Week

Wednesday, October 28
 -Pro-Bono Virtual Legal Lab for Small Business
       -Council Break Week
 -Seeds of Sharpstown

Friday, October 30
-SER-Ninos Fall Festival

Tuesday, November 3
 -Sharpstown Rotary Club
 -Brays Oaks Super Neighborhood #36 Meeting
 
Wednesday, November 4
 -City Council - Consolidated Session

Thursday, November 5
 -AARP Chapter 4418 Meeting
 -Alief AARP Chapter 3264