Revamped header
July/ August 2014
District K Contact Information

 

 

 

  

 

900 Bagby, First Floor

Houston, TX 77002

  

Phone:

832-393-3016 office

832-393-4203 Satellite 

 

office

 Fax:

832-395-9410

  Email:

DistrictK@houstontx.gov

 

Website:

Click here

  

Archived Newsletters:

Click here

 

Facebook:

Click here 
Hiram Clarke:

Council Member Green Pushes Bees Out of Almeda Plaza Subdivision

Council Member Green partnered with Gotcha Pest Control during the summer to remove two (2) large bee hives from the former Almeda Plaza Civic Club clubhouse at 2803 Knotty Oaks Trail within the Almeda Plaza neighborhood of the Hiram Clarke community.


Promoting public safety and enhancing the quality of life for residents are top priorities for Council Member Green. One way to accomplish this was to eliminate hazardous areas within District K neighborhoods. Council Member Green states, "I'm thrilled the District K council office was able to identify resources and partner with Gotcha Pest Control for the removal of these bees. Over the years, these bees have detrimentally plagued Almeda Plaza. Our office continually works with District K neighborhoods to identify resources in the community to solve the myriad of complex problems that arise in our District.  In this instance, it just so happens to involve bees." 


Due to the hot summer months, vacant buildings and old trees are havens for bees to make their hives.  The former Almeda Plaza clubhouse was such a haven and contained about a million bees inside. According to Gotcha Pest Control, the crew found hundreds of honey combs with 500 to 600 pounds of honey.


 "I really want to thank the local television stations for covering this public safety event and Claude Griffin with Gotcha Pest Control for coordinating this initiative with the District K council office. It was an experience getting suited up and down and dirty to make the bees disappear," said Council Member Green.

  District K Hosts Back-to-School Event - August 16 

 

PACE On Saturday, August 16th, the District K council office partnered with the Professional Athletes, Celebrities and Entertainers (PACE) as well as the South Houston Concerned Citizens Coalition, ABC Dental, the DLW Scholarship & Charitable Foundation, and the Houston Police Department to sponsor a Back-2-School Health and Education Community Celebration at William P. Hobby Elementary School (4021 Woodmont St.) from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.


This back-to-school event  consisted of health information, free food and drinks, games, and celebrity appearances. The event is open to the public and Council Member Green welcomes everyone to attend.


The main organizer, PACE, is a non-profit 501c (3) service organization that consists of mothers of professional athletes, celebrities, and entertainers (current and retirees) that focus on the establishment and implementation of programs that will improve the health, welfare and education of children. The organization's founder, Karen Johnson, is the mother of 4-time NFL pro-bowler and current wide-receiver for the Houston Texans, Andre Johnson. She is responsible for establishing a Houston Chapter of the PACE organization. The District K office wants to thank the Houston Chapter of PACE for choosing District K and Hobby Elementary School for this charitable event.

Council Member Green Advocates for South Main Street to Receive Street Lights

You may have noticed the installation of street lights along the US 90A corridor. (S. Main St.) Council Member Green was a strong advocate and played a major role moving this project forward. The project is being funded by TxDOT from I-610 (South Loop Frwy.) to Beltway 8. The street lights will be installed along the following overpass: West Bellfort Ave., Willowbend Blvd./Stella Link Rd., Holmes Rd., Hiram Clarke Rd., South Post Oak Rd., Chimney Rock Rd., Hillcroft Ave. and Fondren Rd.  Also, additional lights will be installed at the exit/entrance ramp of each overpass but not along the frontage roads at these overpass bridges. According to TxDOT, the estimated completion date for this installation project is during the fourth quarter of 2014.

Angel Lane Community Opening!!!

 

In 2005, Houston welcomed a number of residents into the region due to the aftermath of both Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. While many displaced residents decided to go back home, others decided to stay and make Houston their new home.


Through the generosity of a landowner who donated a large tract of land immediately behind the Glen Iris subdivision for a residential community via the "Oprah's Angel Network", Habitat for Humanity constructed 65 landscaped and furnished homes for families that would become the Angel Lane HOA. As part of this single family community's general plan, four (4) of the original residential lots were not built and set-aside to construct a community center for this small-knit community. The Houston Area Urban League, a United Way agency affiliated with the National Urban League, was charged with this duty. The project had stalled for many years however, the District K office got the project back on track.  Earlier this month, the Angel Lane HOA celebrated the grand opening of their new community center.

 

"I would like to say not only am I extremely excited that this project has finally come to fruition, but I'm overjoyed that the Angel Lane community has their own community center that will be a focal point of their residential community. I was honored to be a part of this momentous occasion," states Council Member Green.

Westbury :

Westbury Community Garden is saved

During the past months, Council Member Green worked behind the scenes with the City's Economic Development Office and the Parks and Recreation Department on a strategy regarding the acquisition of the land that houses the Westbury Community Garden.


 An agreement to create a fund to be used where the Houston Housing Authority and the City of Houston exchange and transfer real property between them was reached. Upon conveyance of the property, the purchase price that would normally be paid at the closing will instead be credited to a separate credit account established at the City. The value of the properties included in this agreement will be subject to the appropriate appraisals.


"This is a triumphant victory for the Westbury community and the District K council office. I was honored to have played a part in this community-driven initiative," states Council Member Green. 

Westbury High School

Last month, Houston ISD sponsored a meet-and-greet event at Westbury High School to introduce the new principal for Westbury High School, Mr. Jason Catchings has been selected to lead the Westbury High School campus during the 2014-2015 school year.

 

Mr. Catchings is the former principal of Scarborough High School where he spent the past three years. In addition, he is a 16-year veteran educator and administrator. While at Scarborough, Mr. Catchings placed a strong emphasis on career and technology education, launching the Futures Academy of Network and Computer Administration and the Wal-Mart E-tail/Retail Internship Program, both of which have flourished under his leadership. He was also named HISD New Principal of the Year for the 2011-2012 school year.

 

Prior to Scarborough High School, Mr. Catchings spent 11 years at Westside High School, where he worked as a tennis coach, school administrator, and business manager. He also spent six months as interim Principal at Revere Middle School.

 

He double majored in history and kinesiology and earned his degree from Texas A&M University and a Master's degree in educational leadership from Prairie View A&M University.

Council Member Green Attends TCEQ Community Meeting

A couple of months ago, Southern Crushed Concrete, located adjacent to the Willow Waterhole Greenspace Reserve, applied for an application permit through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for a proposed Air Quality Standard Permit. The permit would allow concrete crushing at its Gasmer location. State Representative Borris Miles facilitated an informational meeting in late May to address the application permit and its process with TCEQ.  Following that meeting, he coordinated with TCEQ to host a community hearing last month at Westbury High School.


The TCEQ public hearing attracted over 200 residents throughout the surrounding area in which the majority in attendance were in opposition of the TCEQ application permit. Concerns expressed at the public hearing focused on the concrete dust and particulate matter from the crushing plant that will negatively affect the public health of nearby residents. Concerns were also voiced on the possible environmental impacts of dust and water runoff of the plant onto the adjoining Willow Waterhole Conservation Reserve.


Council Member Green, along with State Representative Miles, stood in solidarity with the community at the public hearing to strongly express their opposition to this Air Quality Standard Permit application.


 "In concert with the surrounding community and my fellow elected officials, I too oppose Southern Crushed Concrete permit application. Allowing this permit will not only have a negative environmental impact on the adjacent Willow Waterhole Reserve and surrounding community, but it will be a detriment toward fostering any positive economic development for this area," states Council Member Green.  

Brays Oaks: 

Urban Youth Explosion Back-to-School Event - August 9

The India House sponsored an Urban Youth Explosion as part of its annual back-to-school celebration. The event was FREE of charge and open to the community. The Urban Youth Explosion included outdoor games, keynote speakers, community building and networking, moonwalks, food, breakout sessions, fun, and more.  Backpacks and school supplies were given away to students during the event!

 

Even though the Urban Youth Explosion is over, the India House is still taking donations. If anyone is interested in donating to the "Backpack Drive", please drop off school supplies to the India House (8888 West Bellfort, 77071) between 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about this event, contact the India House. at 713-929-1905 or e-mail Michael Miller at Michael@indiahouseinc.org. 

The Brays Oaks District Confirms New Members to Its Board of Directors

Last month, City Council approved the slate of six members to the Brays Oaks District's Board of Directors.  All were confirmed by city Council with a June 1st, 2017 expiration term date.

 

Congratulations to the following:

  • Position One - Starla K. Turnbo, reappointment
  • Position Two - Steve C, Moore, reappointment
  • Position Three - C. Fred Meyer, reappointment
  • Position Four - Mehmet Okumus, reappointment
  • Position Five - Cindy Peden Chapman, appointment
  • Position Six - Ira B. Scott, Jr., appointment
Braeswood:
Residential Pavement Overlay Project Planned Knollwood Village 

Last year, the City of Houston Public Works and Engineering Dept. (PWE) completed the neighborhood street reconstruction project -- NSR 451, collectively encompasses the neighborhoods of Knollwood Village and the southern portion of Braeswood Place (south of Brays Bayou). The City of Houston PWE Street and Drainage Division has begun to resurface the remaining residential streets within the Knollwood Village subdivision that were not part of the NSR 451 project. 


 Prior to the start of this overlay project, the District K office facilitated an informational meeting at Linkwood Park Community Center. Overall, the turnout was great and the meeting was very informative. The purpose of this informational meeting was to allow the PWE Street and Drainage Division staff to fully address the upcoming overlay project and allow attendees to respond and ask questions about this project.


 The only street not included in the overlay project is Linkwood Dr. between Buffalo Speedway andTimberside. This segment of Linkwood Dr. has already been included as part of the overall Westridge Storm Drainage Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) project currently programmed for 2019 and will be completely reconstructed.


 For more information about this residential pavement overlay project, access the District K webpage (click here). The web-link will have a PDF of the frequently asked questions (FAQs) and outline map of the project.   

City of Houston Creates Stadium Park Redevelopment Authority

Earlier this month, City Council established the Stadium Park Redevelopment Authority, which is a Local Government Corporation (LGC).  The purpose of the Authority will be to enhance the various corridors around the NRG Reliant complex park with general improvements in the form of landscaping and street improvement such as lighting, signage, and way-finding graphics. Private funds will be actively sought and interlocal agreements entered into with other governmental agencies as needed.  The Authority will serve as a catalyst to encourage adjacent property owners and/or institutions to improve their properties.

 

"I feel this initiative will bring long standing improvements to the surrounding community and will further foster economic development for the NRG Reliant area," states Council Member Green.

 

The Authority will initially focus on enhancements in conjunction with the upcoming Super Bowl scheduled for February 2017. The LGC will continue to operate after the 2017 Super Bowl to allow for the organization to promote fundraising efforts to accomplish ongoing longer term improvements, including maintenance.

Fort Bend Houston:
Council Member Green Provides Transportation for Fort Bend Houston Seniors

 


 

Council Member Green provided bus transportation for District K seniors from Fort Bend Houston to attend the Texas Black Expo at the George R. Brown Convention Center on June 21st. Over 25 District K seniors departed from The Pinnacle Center to attend the Expo and Council Member Green greeted seniors when they arrived. District K seniors, along with thousands of other citizens, attended the annual Texas Black Expo at the George R. Brown Convention Center for the Juneteenth celebration weekend. 

 

The Expo is one of the largest African-American empowerment festivals, stimulating growth and development within urban communities. Founded in 2003, the Expo has successfully touched hundreds of thousands of lives with business development programs, youth initiatives, health and wellness expositions, and community and entertainment events. District K seniors all said they had a great time and thanked Council Member Green for the opportunity to attend the event.

 

General District K News

Council Member Sponsores 2 Day Grant Opportunity Workshop

Last month, Council Member Green sponsored a full 2-day grant opportunity workshop at the South Gessner HPD Substation, 8506 Westplace Dr. The 2-day workshop was part of the District K Neighborhood 101 symposium series. Overall, 50 non-profit attendees from across the District attended this interactive workshop.

 

The workshop presenters, Annetra Piper and C. Jay Smith, facilitated an informative and interactive workshop. Below are some testimonial excerpts from the attendees about the 2-day workshop:

 

Dear Larry,

 

What an excellent workshop!  I thought Annetra was excellent ...a presenter who knew her field and how to present the material. It was an intense 15 hours of information.

 

I was equally impressed by the people in the room representing the non-profits of District K.  I am so happy to be in this district of caring committed individuals.  I'm sure each council district has the same things, but your bringing everybody together really makes a difference.  When I looked around and saw the faith based groups like Fountain of Praise; Kingdom Builders; Bethels Place and Braes Inter faith; the schools like Madison and Dowling; and I think ALL the neighborhoods (Westbury, Braeswood, SE Concerned Citizens, Brentwood)...both management districts; the YMCA;  the HIV people; India  and Turquoise house; and even a group for grandparents.  We are a diverse district, but at the core we are a people of faith; of families concerned about our children and education; of people working together for a better quality of life for everyone.

 

Thanks for the workshop and for bringing us together!

 

Best regards,

Becky Edmondson

Westbury Area Improvement Corporation (WAIC)

 

Hi Councilman Green!

 

"Wow" is all I can say about the Grant Writing Workshop held on July 25 & 26, 2014.

It was truly a valuable resource for Georgetta Scott and me.

 

Ms. Annetra Piper was an excellent presenter and an expert in her field. I am so glad we attended.

 

Thanks so much for hosting this in our District.

 

Warmly,

Tandelyn Atkinson Weaver,
Executive Director
The Kingdom Builders' Center 

District K Resident Reappointed to METRO Board of Directors

Last month, City Council reappointed Diann Lewter to the Harris County Metropolitan Transit Authority (METRO) Board of Directors, Position Four.

 

Diann Lewter is a long-time resident and active member of the Townhouse Manor Homeowners Association. Diann Lewter was confirmed by Council with an April 7, 2016 expiration term date.

Houston Police Department Positive Interaction Program (PIP) meetings 

District K has three active PIP meetings administered by the Houston Police Department. All PIP meetings are open to the public; regardless of where you live.


 

Southwest PIP Meeting (every 4th Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m.)
Aramco Building  

9009 West Loop South Freeway
Houston, TX 77096


 

For more information, please contact the HPD Westbury Storefront at 713-726-7126. The Westbury HPD Storefront hours are 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.


 

Hiram Clarke PIP Meeting (every 2nd Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m.)

Hiram Clarke HPD Storefront  

4363 West Fuqua St.
Houston, TX 77053


 

For more information, please contact the HPD Hiram Clarke Storefront at 713-433-2720. The Hiram Clarke HPD Storefront hours are 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.


 

Braeburn PIP Meeting (every 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m.)

Braeburn HPD Storefront
7576 West Bellfort Ave.
Houston, TX 77071


 

For more information, please contact the HPD Braeburn Storefront at 713-773-7550. The Braeburn HPD Storefront hours are 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

2014 National Night Out - Tuesday, October 7th - Save the Date

Now is the time to start planning your block parties! National Night Out is the first Tuesday in October and is a great community event to celebrate the positive initiatives of your civic association, 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.  Contact the District K office at 832-393-3016.

Any Annual Civic Association Meetings Planned on the Horizon?

The Spring and Fall season is the time of year that a significant number of civic associations host their annual meetings. Since coming into office, Council Member Green has continued to make a commitment to visit every civic association within the District. If you are receiving this e-newsletter and Council Member Green not attended your annual civic association meeting, please contact the District K office at 832-393-3016 or districtK@houstontx.gov to schedule an appointment. 

Has Your Civic Association Been Updated with the District K Council Office?

Update your civic association contacts with the District K council office today! If your civic association has recently elected new officers, changed the primary contact person, new e-mail address, new contact number and/or new or changed meeting location, time, and date please take a moment to update your contact info with the District K council office.

 

Periodically, the District K office sends pertinent information about District K and City of Houston relating to your neighborhood. To ensure you and your civic association receives this information, we need you to update your contact info. Thank you for your help and your interest in District K. 

Council Member Green Neighborhood Sightings  (late June - Mid August)

Over the past few months, Council Member Green has made the rounds to discuss District K initiatives. Listed below are community meetings Council Member Green and the District K staff have attended during late June through mid-August.

  • June 18 - Westbury SNC/WAIC meeting 
  • June 19 - South Houston Concerned Citizens Coalition meeting
  • June 24 - Southwest HPD Substation Project Scope meeting 
  • June 25 - IBGO Catholic Church/Braeburn Valley HOA Community meeting
  • June 26 - Heathercrest/Post Oak Village Civic Club meeting
  • July 10 -  Central Southwest SNC meeting
  • July 15 -  TxDOT sound wall community meeting (Village of Fondren Condo community)
  • July 17 - South Houston Concerned Citizens Coalition meeting
  • July 24 - Hiram Clarke Bridging the Community Divide
  • July 25-26 - 2-Day Grant Opportunity Workshop
  • July 29 - Southern Crushed Concrete Public Hearing
  • July 29 - Precinct 287 Civic Association meeting
  • July 30 - Knollwood Village Residential Pavement Overlay project meeting
  • Aug. 5 - Brays Oaks SNC meeting
  • Aug. 7 - TIRZ #25 Board meeting
  • Aug. 9 - Angel Lane Community Center Grand Opening
  • Aug. 9 -  India House Urban Youth Explosion
  • Aug. 13 - UniverSoul Circus Presentation
General City of Houston News
Announcement of Upcoming Houston Citizen Police Academy (HCPA)

Have you ever wondered what kind of training a police officer must undergo to do his or her job?  Do you think you could do it just as well or better?  Now is your chance to find out.  The Houston Citizens' Police Academy (HCPA) is currently accepting applications for the Fall class.

 

The Houston Citizens' Police Academy (HCPA) 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 involving the police department and/or police activity. Participants will be able to share what they've learned with family, friends, co-workers, and their neighbors to further improve and strengthen community.

 

The 10-week academy classes are FREE and offered every Thursday, beginning September 11th through November 13th, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  The Citizens Police Academy is a 33-hour block of instruction with the first day of class being orientation and the last day is graduation. The academy classes will be held at 17000 Aldine Westfield Rd., 77070 (some sessions are held at various HPD locations such as Hobby Airport and Mounted Patrol).

 

Please share this 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.

Be Prepared for Hurricane Season

Hurricane Season is here and lasts until November 30th. The City of Houston Office of Emergency Management urges Houstonians to prepare for hurricanes, tropical storms, and other emergencies by following a few key steps.

  • Build a Kit - Have a disaster supply kit with enough supplies to last you and your family for 5-7 days. The kit should include food, medications, water and other basic necessities
  • Make a Plan - Have an emergency plan for your family and check to make sure that your workplace, children's school and other places you frequent have emergency plans in place. Be sure to practice your family's emergency plan before disasters happen
  • Be Informed - Remember, during and after a hurricane, electricity and internet connections may be unavailable, so have a way to stay informed! Be sure you can access NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Weather Alert radio or a hand-crank or battery-powered radio.
  • Know Your Neighbor - Neighbors can be a great source of help before and after a disaster, so get to know your neighbors particularly those who are elderly or who may not be able to prepare for disasters by themselves. Houstonians know how to work together to be ready for disasters
For more information, visit www.houstonoem.net. To learn more  click here.  If an evacuation is necessary, it is key to have a plan for how to get out of harm's way. If you are unable to evacuate by yourself or with the help of family and friends, register for the Transportation Assistance Registry by calling 2-1-1 from any phone in Texas or by visiting www.houstonoem.net.  
Receive Plat and Permit Reports by E-Mail

Keep up with development and construction projects in your neighborhood. Sign up for the City's E-Plat summary and E-Permit reports to find out about plat and permit applications.


 The Plat Summary E-Report contains information about the plats, replats, variances, and special exceptions to plats that will be considered at the upcoming Planning Commission meeting. The report provides location, plat, and applicant information for each application in an Excel format that can be easily scrolled through or sorted based on particular data, such as council district.

 

The Houston Planning Commission meets every other Thursday at 2:30 p.m. in City Hall Annex Chambers, 900 Bagby St. unless otherwise posted.

 

The Plat Summary E-Report is usually sent out approximately a week before Planning Commission meets while the Planning Commission Agenda is posted three days in advance of Planning Commission meetings on the Planning & Development Department website ( www.houstonplanning.com ).

 

The Permit E-Report provides information regarding any new construction, remodeling, or change-of-use permits by zip code in an effort to inform citizens of activity in their neighborhoods. This E-Report is e-mailed every Monday.

 

To sign up, click here
Trees for Houston Offers Trees for School Program

Trees for Houston is sponsoring its Trees For Schools Program to provide and plant much needed trees on Houston area school campuses. Providing far more than shadier sidewalks, this program fosters a sense of pride and cooperation both in the students and in their surrounding communities. Participating schools are identified and selected based on recommendations from parents, teachers, principals, and district administrators. 

  

Once the candidate school has been selected, the campus grounds are surveyed in order to determine both the adequate number and appropriate species of trees that should be installed. As with all Trees For Houston
plantings, the trees are maintained and monitored by Trees for Houston for two years to ensure survival.  

 

Averaging about 25 campuses a year, Trees for Houston have planted nearly 40,000 trees at Houston area schools. These trees foster pride and cooperation in the students and their community.

 

To request trees at a school email katherine@treesforhouston.org.

Receive Plat and Permit Reports by E-Mail

Coordinated by Harris County Department of Education (HCDE), the CASE for Kids Division (The Center for After-School, Summer and Expanded Learning) is to strengthen, support and sustain after-school programs and out-of-school time activities. CASE believes a quality out-of-school time program provides avenues for opportunities for youth to excel, explore, and expand their horizons before school, after school, on weekends, and during the summer.


 CASE for Kids City Connections, is a new initiative funded directly by the City of Houston to support organizations that address the need for youth services outside the school day. Projects will take place in a variety of locations including schools, community centers, and churches. Grants are designed to 1) meet individual City Council district need's and 2) provide prevention-based programming that addresses gaps in services to youth.  Proposed projects must serve youth in grades K-12 before school, after school, on weekends or during summer hours.  Some examples of out-of-school time activities that could possibly be funded through this new youth initiative include robotics camps, homework assistance, cheerleading/dance groups, and team sports.

 

To be eligible for funding, applicants are required to be a nonprofit organization designated by the IRS as having 501(c) 3 status for at least one year prior to August 2014.  Applications will also be accepted from school districts, established charter schools, faith-based organizations, or civic groups.  All applicants must serve youth located in the city of Houston.

 

To apply for funding, interested organizations will submit two documents for review, a formal application to CASE for Kids and a one-page letter summarizing the project directly to the City Council Member.  Applications will be accepted on a monthly basis.  CASE for Kids will review applications by city council district and will consult with each Houston City Council Member to make final selections for funding.  Grant awards will range from $5,000-$15,000.   Application forms and guidelines can be downloaded on the CASE for Kids website: www.afterschoolzone.org.   For more information on City Connections, please contact CASE for Kids at 713-696-1331. 


 


 

Houston Bar Association LegalLine Program - Free Legal Hotline
hammer The Houston Bar Association offers a FREE legal hotline called LegalLine on the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  The LegalLine Program has been available to Houston area residents since 1985. This hotline service allows constituents to access an attorney free of charge. For more information about the LegalLine Program, contact Lucy Fraga Fisher Cain with the Houston Bar Association at 713-759-1133 or via e-mail at lucyf@hba.org. 

Theater District Open House- August 24th

If you are a lover of the fine arts, visit the Alley Theatre, Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, Jones Hall, and the Wortham Theater Center at this year's annual Theater District Open House! Grab an event program when you arrive and check out what's happening throughout the day. Performances will be offered on stage at several of the Theater District's venues, downtown restaurants will offer bites to eat and backstage tours from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 24th.


 There will also be an opportunity to purchase season subscriptions to member performing arts organizations. To view the various theaters and performance schedules, click here. 

Online Appointment  Service Expanding to Plan Review
Last month, the Houston Permitting Center (HPC) expanded appointments to be scheduled online for Code Enforcement's Plan Review section. Scheduled appointments will be available for the discussion of plan review project comments only. A phone number and email address is required to use the online scheduler. If you do not have either of these items, appointments may still be scheduled in person at the HPC or over the phone by calling 832-394-9000 directly. Please note that the design professional responsible for the respective plans must attend the scheduled appointment, otherwise the appointment is subject to cancellation.

 

All other Plan Review services will continue to be walk-in services on a first-come-first-serve basis.  

 

For questions regarding this expansion of services, please contact us at 832-394-9000 or

houston.permittingcenter@houstontx.gov.

Municipal Courts Offers Alcohol Education Program for Minors

The City of Houston Municipal Courts Dept. is now offering Alcohol Education Program for Minors (AEPM) and the Texas Tobacco Awareness Program (TYTAP) education to minors via the Juvenile Case Manager Program.  This program was developed in order to increase compliance and ensure successful satisfaction of judgment requirements by offering state mandated education for youth adjudicated of Minor in Possession of Alcohol, Tobacco or Public Intoxication as per the state statutes 106.071 of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code and 161.252 of the Texas Health and Safety Code. 

 

The AEPM and TYTAP courses are administered by the Municipal Courts Dept. Juvenile Case Manager Program (JCMP) court based operations staff.  JCMP staff have been approved and certified to teach the courses by the Texas Department of State Health Services.

 

The classes are offered at the Herbert W. Gee Municipal Court House located in Downtown Houston at 1400 Lubbock.  The cost to those who are required to attend and complete these state mandated courses will be $40 for a two-day three hour AEPM class and $50 for a two-day four hour TYTAP class.  Both courses are offered in English and Spanish. To register for the classes please visit the City of Houston Municipal Courts Department website at: http://www.houstontx.gov/courts/index.html. 

City to Expand Smoking Ban to All City Parks and Libraries

Last month, the City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) and the Houston Public Library (HPL) announced plans to ban smoking and tobacco products at all of their locations across the City. The new policy is an expansion of Ordinance #2006-1054 Sec. 21-243, which was passed on October 18, 2006, and will apply to both interior and exterior spaces. This action is similar to what the Health and Human Services Department did years ago relative to their managed locations.

 

Existing City law bans smoking within 25 feet of a public facility, places of employment, bars and restaurants and at outdoor sports arenas and stadiums. The ordinance grants owners, operators and managers the authority to extend the existing regulations to any area of their properties. In addition, most of the City's parks systems are currently smoke-free. However, the Houston Public Library is believed to be among the first large library systems in the country to implement this type of policy.

 

The Houston Public Library serves a diverse population with a large percentage of their daily programs targeted to children or families with children. "We want the residents of our city to think of each library location as a safe, healthy, family-friendly and welcoming environment. These "No Smoking Zones" will help us meet this goal," states Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson, Houston Public Library Director

 

The new policy took effect at the downtown library location. All other libraries and parks facilities will become smoke and tobacco product-free the day after September 1st.  There will be sign posted at each property notifying users of the ban. Enforcement will be administered by staff and, if needed, the Houston Police Department. The goal is to obtain compliance through education and warnings. Customers who refuse to comply will be asked to leave and, ultimately, may face the possibility of a municipal citation with a fine not to exceed $2,000.
New District... New Council Member... New Beginnings!