The Spring and Fall season is the time of year a significant

number of civic associations host their annual civic association meetings. Since coming into office last year, Council Member Green has made a commitment to visit every civic association within the District. The task is almost complete; howeve r, if you are receiving this e-newsletter and Council Member Green has yet to attend your civic association meeting, please contact the District K office at 832-393-3016 or districtK@houstontx.gov to schedule an appointment.

Update your civic association contacts with the District K council office. 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 news and City of Houston topics of information relating to your neighborhood and neighborhood association. To ensure you and your civic association receive this information, we need you to update your contact info. Thank you for your help and your interest in District K.

Keep up with development and construction projects in your neighborhood. Sign up for the City's E-Plat summary report and the E-Permit report 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 locational, 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.

The Houston Public Library (HPL) announced the MY Link Library Card Sign-Up campaign last  month and will continue through the following year. This is an opportunity for Houstonians to renew their existing library card accounts or sign up for a new account. This MY Link Library Card campaign is in partnership with HEB. The campaign goal is to convert all existing cardholders to the new MY Link Library Card and to increase total cardholders to 1,000,000 children, teens, and adults. H-E-B will provide funding to support this innovative way to capitalize on the vast resources of the library and ensure production of the one million cards.

"The MY Link Library Card links you to more than six million books, e-books and audiobooks, CDs and DVDs, magazines, databases, and downloadable and streaming media, all for free," said Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson, Houston Public Library director. "Thanks to the generosity and great support provided by our partner, HEB, we will be able to get a new MY Link Library Card into the hands of every student and thousands of Houstonians of all ages."

We are at the end of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the Houston Police Department (HPD) knows first-hand the effects domestic violence has on suspects, victims and children. It crosses all racial and economic boundaries and although the victims are predominately female, they (and their abusers) can be male or female. During the month of October, HPD has been educating the public on this important issue.

What is Domestic Abuse? 

Domestic abuse can take many forms and is one of the most serious of crimes. Aside from the commonly recognized physical abuse, domestic violence can take other non-violent forms. It becomes illegal when the abuser follows up his or her actions with threats of violence. Even when there isn't physical violence, threats can result in charges.  

What are the Signs of Domestic Abuse? 

 Friends and co-workers should be alert for signs of domestic abuse, which can include changes in someone's personality. If someone was outgoing, but now appears withdrawn; used to socialize with others, but don't anymore; or if they are avoiding society, or staying inside the house all the time, ask what has changed. Talking with someone will help get their confidence back and open up the possibility of telling what's going on and further help them realize there's a way out of this situation.     

According to HPD, the physical signs of abuse can come in unexplained injuries or bruising, especially on the arms where someone may be grabbing the victim. In general, police officers also have to be aware of the signs. Victims tend to be scared and won't tell an officer, but the signs are there. If the victim doesn't make a report, and the officer leaves, then the abuser has been empowered. 

What can be Done? 

The public can be of assistance. Many times, these cases are reported by a neighbor who said they heard it, or a relative suspected it, and then got the police involved. This can lead an officer to investigate the matter. HPD wants the public to get involve if they suspect anything and try to stop it.  It's not going to stop on its own.

Resources 

HPD says the first call a victim or witness makes should be to law enforcement - it's a 9-1-1 call. The officer can talk with the suspected victim and provide information on the programs available. By law, every victim gets a blue form that lists all the resources available. The form identifies resources and agencies that can help provide shelter for a parent and child, and even provide child care while the parent gets schooling or goes to work.  It helps someone become self-sufficient. In addition, there is access to legal aid that can help obtain child support, divorces, and protective orders. The bottom line: Get help, get out of an abusive relationship, and document everything, whether by filing a report, taking photographs, or talking to police or witnesses. For more information on domestic violence, visit the HPD website at http://www.houstontx.gov/police/fvu/index.htm.

With almost 10,000 bus stops throughout the METRO service area that include 2,200 locations with passenger shelters, keeping each location clean is a difficult task. METRO provides maintenance service to bus stops with passenger shelters and trash cans three times a week. However, if you observe a bus stop location that needs extra attention, METRO encourages you to contact them at (713) 615-6195 or email facilities.maintenance@ridemetro.org.   Remember to include the direction and cross street.

 METRO also has an Adopt-a-Stop and Adopt-a-Shelter program. This joint effort between METRO Police and community volunteers is designed to help fight vandalism and suspicious or criminal activity within the community. Individuals, civic groups and local businesses are encouraged to do their part by "adopting" a bus stop or passenger shelter within their

community.

By keeping neighborhood bus stops and passenger shelters clean, the chance for criminal activity in your area is greatly reduced.   Learn more about this program at METRO Adopt-A-Stop/Adopt-A-Shelter and remember, if you See Something, Say Something!

City Council approved $550,000 in funding to be invested in afterschool programs and out-of-school time activities as a youth crime-prevention and child safety strategy. The Center for

Afterschool, Summer and Expanded Learning (CASE for Kids) will administer the City Connections program with oversight from the City of Houston Parks and Recreation Program. The collaboration between CASE for Kids, a division of Harris County Department of Education, and the City of Houston allows school districts, charter schools, faith-based organizations or civic groups to apply for funding available within each of the 11 City Council districts. Proposed programming for youth in grades K-12 can be held before and after the school day, on weekends and during the summer. Applications and details are available at www.afterschoolzone.org. The first application deadline is Nov. 10, 2014. Call 713-696-1331 for more information.

The Housing and Community Development Department (HCDD) is developing plans to spend a projected $200 million in federal grants by carrying out community development, quality of life, and affordable housing projects over the next five years. Help the City understand your neighborhood by completing the Community Needs Survey. In 3 easy ways:

 1.    Complete the Comm unity Needs Survey online at:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HoustonCommunityNeedsSurvey (English)

https://es.surveymonkey.com/s/XYZ8THW (Spanish)

www.surveymonkey.com/s/BX9LKY3 (Vietnamese)

www.surveymonkey.com/s/BXMLXKH (Chinese)

2.    Download and print paper copies of the Community Needs Survey in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Chinese at http://www.houstonhousing.org/. Mail completed surveys to 601 Sawyer, 4th Floor, Houston, TX 77007, Attn: Andrea Jones

3.    Invite a Housing and Community Development Department (HCDD) staff person to facilitate a Community Needs Survey meeting with your group by e-mailing andrea.jones@houstontx.gov.

The City's five year plan will be detailed in the 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan (Con Plan) that will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in May of 2015. Public input is an essential part of the City's planning process and crucial to our ability to address the unique needs of Houston's many communities. Complete the survey by December 15, 2014 so your voice is heard.

Neighborhoods, USA (NUSA) is proud to host the 40th anniversary conference from May 20 - 23, 2015 in Houston, Texas.  The annual NUSA conference is the organization's premier event that we anticipate will draw 1,200 participants in 2015.

The NUSA 2015 Neighborhood Tour Committee is seeking proposals from Houston community members to host a neighborhood tour  showcasing Houston's dynamic and diverse places, people and neighborhoods.

Neighborhood tours are one of the key components of a successful NUSA conference. The neighborhood tours provide an opportunity for local organizations and neighborhood groups to showcase neighborhood based programs and places to a national audience. Conference participants have an opportunity to interact with local community members and learn from programs occurring in the unique places that make Houston the vibrant city that it is. The tours are intended to be fun while providing useful information to anyone who is committed to community improvement. 

Proposals are due by Monday, December 1, 2014, 5:00 pm. Proposals must include both neighborhood tour and contact information. Preference is given to proposals that address the conference theme, Passion into Action, in one of this year's conference tracks. 

To download a copy of The NUSA 2015 Neighborhood Tour Information & Criteria, please visit www.houstontx.gov/nusa2015/.

The City will collect tree waste exclusively on odd months on the resident's current tree waste /junk waste collection day. "Tree waste" is defined as "clean wood waste", which consists of tree limbs, branches or stumps. Lumber, furniture and treated wood will not be accepted. On even months residents may set out their junk waste at the curb for city collection. "Junk waste" is used to describe items such as furniture, appliances and other bulky materials. These items should be placed adjacent to the front curb in a location eas­ily accessible to the collection vehicle between the hours of 6:00 p.m. the Friday before, and 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled col­lection day. No more than eight cubic yards per residence will be collected on the scheduled tree waste/junk waste collection day. Of this amount, only a maximum of four cubic yards of building material (not to include roofing shingles, brick, plaster or con­crete) generated by the resident in connection with the mainte­nance of the residential property may be colle cted by department personnel. A maximum of four (4) tires per month, per house­hold may be placed curbside for collection. Sheet rock must be bagged. Appliances con­taining refrigerant must have a tag attached to them certifying that a qualified technician has removed the refrigerant. Ma­terials should not be stacked under low overhead cabling, signs, or mailboxes; next to fences or posts; or on top of water meters, gas meters, fire hydrants, or other exposed utility components. Also, materials should not be placed in the street, on the sidewalk, or other right-of-way, or in any manner that would interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic. Tree waste and junk waste col­lection is limited to resi­dential units and vacant residential lots only if the waste generated is in con­nection with the main­tenance of the property.

 The  Solid Waste Department is not allowed to collect any material that was generated by contractors who were retained by a resident to per­form work on his or her residential property. It is the responsi­bility of the contractor to re­move, or cause to be removed, all debris that may arise from the course of his or her activi­ties. These contractor-related activities include, but are not limited to, trim­ming and removal of trees, remodeling, new construction and roof­ing. If authorized items placed for collection are mixed with unau­thorized items, depart­ment personnel shall not be obligated to sort the materials and may refuse the entire load. Solid waste collection services are not available to multi-residential structures of more than eight units.

Below is the tree waste and junk waste collection schedule:

January -- Tree Waste

February -- Junk Waste

March -- Tree Waste

April -- Junk Waste

May -- Tree Waste

June -- Junk Waste

July -- Tree Waste

August -- Junk Waste

September -- Tree Waste

October -- Junk Waste

November -- Tree Waste

December -- Junk Waste

Below are PDFs of District K neighborhoods illustrating their respective heavy trash day(s):

• http://www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/junk_tree_2014/77025.pdf -- 3rd week of the month - zip code 77025
• http://www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/junk_tree_2014/77031.pdf -- 2nd week of the month - zip code 77031
• http://www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/junk_tree_2014/77035.pdf -- 2nd and 3rd week of the month - zip code 77035
• http://www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/junk_tree_2014/77045.pdf -- 4th week of the month - zip code 77045
• http://www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/junk_tree_2014/77053.pdf --  4th week of the month - zip code 77053
• http://www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/junk_tree_2014/77054.pdf -- 3rd week of the month - zip code 77054
• http://www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/junk_tree_2014/77071.pdf -- 2nd and 3rd week of the month - zip code 77071
• http://www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/junk_tree_2014/77085.pdf -- 3rd week of the month - zip code 77085
• http://www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/junk_tree_2014/77096.pdf -- 2nd week of the month - zip code 77096
• http://www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/junk_tree_2014/77489.pdf -- 3rd/4th week of the month - zip code 77489

For information about the City's Solid Waste Dept., visit their website at www.houstonsolidwaste.org or call 3-1-1.

The Prohibited Yard Parking Program is intended to protect neighborhood property values, prevent damage to the City of Houston's underground infrastructure, and to stop the degradation of the aesthetic appearance of single-family residential areas. Parking of vehicles on any unimproved surface in the front or side yard within single-family residential areas will be prohibited where a Prohibited Yard Parking Requirement Area has been established.

Active homeowner's associations or civic clubs may apply for a Prohibited Yard Parking Requirement Area or a homeowner may gather 60% support from single-family residential property owners within the proposed Prohibited Yard Parking Requirement Area and file a petition with the City of Houston's Planning and Development Department.

 Once City Council approves the Prohibited Yard Parking Requirement Area, it is recorded and in effect for twenty (20) years. Any person who violates the Prohibited Yard Parking Requirement Area shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined up to $150.00 each day a violation occurs.

The Planning and Development Department accepts applications for the Prohibited Yard Parking Program on the first two business days of each month before 5:00 p.m. For more information, contact the Planning and Development Dept. at 713-837-7931.