If you live within the vicinity of Linkwood Park or are just a strong supporter of Houston parks, the "Friends of Linkwood Park" are asking for your participation and is seeking volunteers. Linkwood Park is nestled within the heart of the South Braeswood community. The Friends of Linkwood Park, formerly the Linkwood PAC, are asking for representatives from the various surrounding civic associations to be a part of their community collaborative.

The Friends of Linkwood Park has scheduled a meeting for Tuesday, August 20 at 6:30 p.m. at Linkwood Park Community Center. Come hear the attendees and voice your ideas about into how to make Linkwood Park a more vibrant neighborhood park for the South Braeswood community. 

During the months of May and June, Council Member Green facilitated two (2) District-wide community meetings so personnel from the Planning and Development Department ("Planning") could inform civic leaders about recent amendments to Chapter 42 of the City of Houston Code of Ordinances and new tools which might be available to help protect and preserve their neighborhoods. 

Revisions to Chapter 42 extend the minimum lot size and minimum building line requirements to neighborhoods within the corporate boundaries of the City of Houston that do not have a minimum lot size or minimum building lines established in their deed restrictions. 

As requested, many District K communities submitted copies of their deed restrictions to the District K office.  After a brief cursory review of the restrictions submitted, we believe many District K neighborhoods might benefit from the added protections set forth in Chapter 42. 

Glancing at most of the submitted deed restrictions, we noticed that no specific language addressing the minimum lot size or re-subdivision of lots was written within your submitted deed restrictions OR the language addressing lot size or re-subdivision of lots was very vague. Therefore, we strongly encourage you to apply for this Special Minimum Lot Size application. If you have any doubt, again, we encourage you to consult with a private attorney to further discuss your restrictions.

For those neighborhoods thought to already have language in their restrictions addressing the minimum lot size and/or minimum building line requirements, we strongly encourage you to consult with a private attorney to ensure your restrictions are valid in all respects and provide the protections set forth therein.  It's important to understand the District K office simply reviewed your restrictions for the pertinent language and is making no assurances or representations regarding the actual validity of your deed restrictions. 

The applications and information about this development tool can be found online  click here.

When you make your appointment with Planning, please bring a copy of your most recent deed restrictions. Below is the initial process for the Special Minimum Lot Size and Minimum Building Line Application: 

Step 1: Meet with Staff of the Planning and Development Department

 Step 2: Submit a Complete Application

Once the application is submitted, the Planning Department will confirm its receipt to the applicant in writing and the Planning Director will have thirty (30) days to determine whether the application is Initially Complete. If the application is deemed incomplete, it will be returned with an explanation of what is needed to make it complete.

If the application is complete, the Planning & Development Department will schedule a public meeting (based on the applicant's suggestions) to be held no later than sixty (60) days from that date and will notify property owners by mail no later than fifteen (15) days before the meeting.  

Step 3: Post Notification Signs

The applicant must post the required signs within the area immediately upon being notified that the application is complete.  

Step 4: Attend the public meeting

Following the public meeting, the Department will mail by First Class mail the Property Owner Response Forms to all property within the area. This starts the 30-day voting period.  

Step 5: Return your Response Form

After the 30-day voting period:

• If 55% of the lots within the proposed area support the designation of the proposed area, then the Planning Director forwards the application to Planning Commission.
• If less than 55% of the lots within the proposed area support the designation of the proposed area, then the Planning Director may:

a. modify the boundary to attain the 55% support and forward the application to the Planning Commission, or

b. determine the application fails and take no further action.  

The Department will notify all property owners by First Class mail no less than 15 days prior to the Planning Commission hearing date.  

Step 6: Attend the Houston Planning Commission Public Hearing (optional)

Members of the public may present comments in person or in writing at the public hearing. After the public hearing, the Planning Commission shall consider whether to recommend that the City Council establish the designation. If the Commission decides to recommend that the City Council establish the designation, the Planning Director shall refer the application to the City Council. Should the Commission deny the application, the decision of the Commission shall be final.  

Step 7: Attend the Council Meeting (optional)

The City Council's action to approve or deny the designation is final. Persons wanting to address City Council during the Public Speaking portion of the meeting should contact the City Secretary at (832) 393-1100 or citysecretary@houstontx.gov.  

Please contact the District K office if you have any questions about your submitted deed restrictions.

The summer jazz education workshop was founded by the musically talented jazz artist, Bubbha Thomas in 1970. Since its founding, Mr. Thomas has incorporated the Mayor's Jazz Scholarship Brunch, starting with then-Mayor Bob Lanier in 1994 to our current-Mayor Annise Parker, to further raise awareness of this summer enrichment program and help raise scholarship funds for worthy students at attend college.

The highlight of the Mayor's Jazz Scholarship Brunch centered around the recognition of two (2) rewarding musicians that were awarded scholarships for their outstanding hard work and excellence to be used to further their educational pursuits. The two students honored were Adam Charles Dewalt and Matthew Maldonado. Adam will attend Loyola University in New Orleans where he will major in Fine Arts with a major in Music. Matthew will attend Texas Southern University where he will major in Music Education.

Congrats to both gentlemen for their remarkable achievements.

Houston Police Department Positive Interaction Program (PIP) Meetings

National Night Out 2012

National Night Out will be here soon so SAVE THE DATE - Tuesday, October 1, 2013.

Now is the time to start planning your block parties! National Night Out is the first Tuesday in October (for the state of Texas) and this is a great community event to celebrate the positive initiatives of your civic association, an opportunity to mingle with your neighbors, and a venue to provide important information about public safety and security concerns. The District K office encourages you to organize block parties or other events and get to know your neighbors.

If you want an HPD officer to attend your event, contact the HPD Public Affairs office at 713-308-3200. If your civic association is planning a National Night Out event, let the District K council office know so we can arrange Council Member Green or a District K council staffer to attend as we may our community rounds that evening.  Contact the council office at 832-393-3016.

The Houston Police Department is now accepting applications for the Citizen Police Academy. The Houston Citizens' Police Academy (CPA) was organized in 1989 and offers citizens the opportunity to learn about the internal operations of the Houston Police Department. The Citizens' Police Academy speakers, (mostly Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice experts in their fields), provide lectures, demonstrations, tours, and hands-on activities for Academy participants. The overall objective of the Academy is to provide citizens with sound and accurate information about HPD and the criminal justice process so citizens are able to make informed decisions regarding issues / matters involving the police department and/or police activity. Participants will be able to share their experiences and learned information with family, friends, co-workers, and their community to further improve and strengthen community.

Please share the attached information with members of your community.  If you or any of your community members are interested in attending the next class, please contact Stephanie Watson-Owens, Senior Police Officer, HPD Public Affairs Office at 713-308-3200 or via e-mail at Stephanie.Watson-Owens@houstonpolice.org.

The Harris County Attorney's Office offers speakers who are experts on a wide range of topics that you and your organization might find interesting and educational.  The "Community Speakers Series" is designed to benefit the people of the greater Houston and Harris County area by providing information about our Office and the areas of law in which we practice.  These programs are intended to help individuals and suggest ways the Attorney's Office can work together to improve neighborhoods and quality of life in Harris County. 

Upon request, the Attorney's Office will provide staff attorneys who can speak on a wide range of topics such as "Using Civil Law to Combat Crime", "Environmental Enforcement", and "Wills and Probate".  The Attorney's Office trust that your organization will take advantage of this public service initiative and look forward to your participation.  

Please contact Debbie Dillard, Community Outreach Director, and she will be pleased to assist with scheduling or answering any questions you may have.  Ms. Dillard may be reached by phone at 713.274.5109 or via email at debbie.dillard@cao.hctx.net.