Council Member Dave Martin's

District E Newsletter

Issue 24

December 2014 

 

 

Dave Martin

Council Member

District E 

 

 

Contact:

 

900 Bagby

First Floor

Houston, TX 77002

 

17629 El Camino Real

Suite 415

Houston, TX 77058

 

 

Office: (832) 393-3008

Fax: (832) 393-3279

 

[email protected] 

 

 

  

Lauren Laake

Chief of Staff 

 

Evan Austin

South Sector Manager

 

Jessica Beemer
North Sector Manager

 

 


City Contacts

City of Houston 311
(713) 837-0311

Mayor's Citizens Assistance Office
(832) 393-0955

Kingwood 
Community Center
(281) 348-2570

Department of Neighborhoods
General Services

For other City of Houston departments and projects, please visit the city website.

 
District E Community Contacts



 
 


Clear Lake Super Neighborhood


Residents of District E,

 

I hope each of you had a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving with family and friends. As we reflect back on our many blessings, I can't help but be thankful for the opportunity to serve District E. As I enter into the second year of my first official term, I am grateful to have met the people I have, to work on a daily basis with my colleagues around the council table, and to be involved in the many exciting projects and developments underway across the district. From Kingwood to Clear Lake, there are multiple developments in the works that will enhance the quality of life for residents and generate a significant economic impact. We look forward to bringing more news about each of these projects and developments after the first of the new year.

 

I also want to congratulate each of the individuals that were re-elected or newly elected last month that will also serve the constituents of District E. I look forward to working with each of them on many levels. 

 

Lastly, I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. Please note that our council office will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day as well as on New Year's Day for my staff to spend time with their families. We will be anxiously waiting to respond to your calls and emails when we return to the office on January 2.

 

Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year! 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Dave Martin

Kingwood Mobility Study Update

On Tuesday, November 18 the Kingwood Mobility Study Steering Committee, made up of prominent Kingwood business leaders and residents, met at the Kingwood Community Center for their fifth meeting to discuss plans to improve congestion and mobility in the Kingwood area. Over the past year, the committee has convened to evaluate data and identify short, medium and long term traffic mobility improvements that could be implemented in the near future. Based on public feedback, the Steering Committee has narrowed down the top six most feasible options and has identified next steps to take to conclude the study process. 

 

Following the meeting, the Steering Committee worked with Gunda Corporation, LLC to compile an outline for a draft report based on discussions at the meeting. This outline can be found on the Gunda Corporation website at http://gundacorp.com/kingwood-mobility.Comments, questions and suggestions may still be submitted to [email protected].

 

Once the draft report has been completed, the Steering Committee will present the report to the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #10 (TIRZ #10) Board. The board will have time to review the report and the six most feasible options before voting on it early next year. Following the vote, the Steering Committee will host a third and final public Stakeholder Meeting at the Kingwood Community Center where these improvements will be presented. 

 

The timeline for the above mentioned process is roughly four months. Council Member Martin's office will provide notice to the public once the final public Stakeholder Meeting has been scheduled.

 

Should any changes occur in the schedule Council Member Martin's office will keep the public updated. For questions or concerns, please feel free to contact our office at (832) 393-3008. 

Kingwood Area Republican Women Veteran's Luncheon

On Wednesday, November 19 Council Member Martin attended the Kingwood Area Republican Women's Veteran's luncheon and addressed the group as a featured speaker. In his remarks, Council Member Martin highlighted City of Houston programs and events within District E that benefit veterans, including the 9/11 Heroes Run, held annually at Ellington Airport, and the Kingwood Veteran's Running/Walking Club, which meets at 7:00 a.m. each Sunday at the Starbucks on W. Lake Houston Parkway. Information on City of Houston initiatives aimed at serving the needs of the veteran community, in addition to a full calendar of events, can be found by visiting the website for the City of Houston's Office of Veteran Affairs at www.houstontx.gov/vetaffairs.

 

Council Member Martin thanks the Kingwood Area Republican Women for the opportunity to speak at the event. He also commends all of the veterans in attendance for their brave and selfless service to our nation
Arlington Square Drive Short Segment Water Line Installation Project

Council Member Martin would like to inform residents in the Arlington Heights area about an upcoming City of Houston infrastructure improvement project affecting Arlington Square Drive. The project, which will involve the installation of short segment water lines to replace aging water line infrastructure in the area, is scheduled to commence on December 1 and is targeted for completion by the end of January 2015.

 

Over the course of the project schedule, contractors overseen by the City of Houston's Public Works and Engineering Department will auger a new water line, performing testing, and transfer service connections. Work is expected to occur approximately 10 hours per day Monday-Friday and occasionally on weekends. During construction, one curb lane is permitted to be closed in the work zone from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and will be reopened daily. Due to the width of Arlington Square Drive, traffic is expected to be able to remain open in both directions at all times.  Sidewalk impairment may occur during service connection transfer and/or near bore pit locations; in the event of sidewalk impairment or closure, proper signage will be provided.

 

For questions and concerns about the Arlington Square Drive Short Segment Water Line Installation project, please contact our office at (832) 393-3008 or at [email protected]

Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital's Volunteer Auxiliary Appreciation Banquet

On Wednesday, November 5 staff from Council Member Martin's office attended Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital's (MHSE) Volunteer Auxiliary Appreciation Banquet at the Golfcrest Country Club and presented a city proclamation on behalf of Council Member Martin to Ms. Kiki Weingartner. Ms. Weingartner started volunteering at Memorial Hermann Southeast in 1974 at the hospital's original location near Hobby Airport. When MHSE moved to its current location on Astoria Boulevard in the South Belt Area in 1986, Ms. Weingartner assisted with all opening activities. During her forty years of dedicated service, Ms. Weingartner has worked at the hospital's front information desk and also as a buyer in the gift shop.

 

Council Member Martin congratulates Ms. Weingartner on her much-deserved recognition at the banquet and thanks her for her decades of service to the community. He also commends all of the other dedicated volunteers recognized at the event for their service to Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital. 

Greater Houston Partnership's State of Port Event

On Thursday, November 6 Council Member Martin attended the Greater Houston Partnership's annual State of the Port address held at the Houstonian Hotel where Janiece Longoria, Chairman of the Port of Houston Authority, delivered the 2014 State of the Port address.

 

In her remarks, Chairman Longoria discussed the port's record growth, with total tonnage up 5% this year from 2013's 36 million tons, making the Port of Houston the leading handler of containerized cargo on the Gulf Coast. Chairman Longoria also addressed future challenges facing the port, including the accommodation of increased imports resulting from the expansion of the Panama Canal, and measures being taken to address these challenges, including a $1 billion investment over the next five years to support expansion and infrastructural improvement projects.

 

More information on the Greater Houston Partnership and its upcoming events can be found at www.houston.org. For live tweets of this year's State of the Port address, search #StateofPort on Twitter.

Houston Ship Channel 100 Year Rededication Ceremony

On November 10, 1914 President Woodrow Wilson pushed a button in his Washington, D.C. office that fired a cannon officially opening the Houston Ship Channel for operation. Exactly 100 years later to the day, Council Member Martin joined hundreds of guests to celebrate the ship channel's centennial anniversary during the Houston Ship Channel Rededication ceremony held at Brady's Landing.

 

The event, which marked the culmination of three months of activities recognizing the anniversary, featured a reenacted christening of the ship channel, a cannon salute to mark the beginning of the ship channel's second century, and remarks from a number of distinguished speakers including representatives from the Port of Houston Authority, local and national elected officials, and leaders from industry based in the Houston Ship Channel.

 

For more information on the centennial anniversary of the Houston Ship Channel, and to learn about exciting initiatives planned for the channel's second century, please visit www.portofhouston.com.

Single Stream Recycling Collection Notice

A recent fire at a City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) facility seriously damaged two of the City's green recycling trucks.  The fire is under investigation and a determination is being made if the trucks are salvageable.  In the meantime, SWMD will continue to provide recycling collection service for the homes on the routes serviced by these two damaged vehicles, but will have to use blue garbage trucks that are typically assigned to collect household waste.  The trucks will be cleaned out and will not have a negative impact on the quality of the recyclables collected.  Should residents see a blue garbage truck collecting recyclables in their neighborhood they should not be alarmed as the material will be taken to the city's recycling vendor and processed in the usual manner, recyclables will not be taken to the landfill. 

 

The subdivisions within District E that could be impacted by this situation are as follows:

 

Meadowbrook/Allendale
Meadowcreek Village
Oak Meadows

Pineloch East
Pineloch West


For questions, contact Sandra Jackson at [email protected].
Fidelis Town Hall Meeting

Over the past year, Council Member Martin's office has worked with Trendmaker Homes and Fidelis Realty Partners to address constituent questions and concerns relating to the new residential and commercial developments to be located near the intersection of Clear Lake City Boulevard and El Dorado Boulevard. To facilitate further communication on the commercial development managed by Fidelis, Council Member Martin held a public town hall meeting on the evening of Monday, November 17 at Brookwood Elementary School in Clear Lake. Over 300 residents were in attendance at the meeting, which featured a presentation on the commercial development by Alan Hassenflu, Managing Principal and CEO of Fidelis, and Lynn Davis, Principal and Chief Marketing Officer for Fidelis. The presentation was followed by an open question and answer session, during which Council Member Martin,  Mr. Hassenflu, and Ms. Davis responded to questions and listened to concerns voiced about the development. Topics discussed included potential traffic impacts, the layout of the development and the signage associated with its retailers, storm water runoff and detention, and a number of additional considerations.

 

Following the meeting, Council Member Martin's office has worked with Fidelis, various city departments, and other relevant parties to address all questions and concerns expressed. For more information, or to voice additional questions or concerns, please contact Council Member Martin's office at (832) 393-3008 or [email protected].

30th Annual Wings Over Houston Airshow

Record crowds were in attendance for this year's 30th Annual Wings Over Houston Airshow, as approximately 95,000 attendees visited the show which took place at Ellington Airport on November 1 and 2. Headlining this year's event were the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels, a military demonstration team comprised of six supersonic F/A-18 Hornet planes which missed last year's show due to sequestration. Also featured at this year's show was a special Vietnam War demonstration featuring aircraft from a variety of local flight museums, a "Tora! Tora! Tora!" Pearl Harbor Reenactment, and a number of additional air and ground exhibits.

 

Council Member Martin thanks all who visited District E's Ellington Airport to attend Wings Over Houston this year. He also thanks the Commemorative Air Force and Ellington staff for putting on the great event once again.

Save the Date: Space Center Houston's Orion Launch Party

On Thursday, December 4 NASA's Orion spacecraft will embark on its first test flight into space. To celebrate the occasion, Space Center Houston is hosting a launch party featuring special guests and a live link viewing of the test flight.

 

Orion Launch Party

Thursday, December 4, 2014

5:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Space Center Houston

1601 NASA Parkway, Houston, Texas 77058

 

Doors will open at 5:00 a.m. with the launch scheduled to occur at 6:16 a.m. The Orion spacecraft will splash down at 10:30 a.m., and at 11:00 a.m. the event will end promptly to resume regularly scheduling hours at the center. Although the event is free, registration online is required. To register for Space Center Houston's Orion Launch Party, please click here

Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee Meeting

Council Member Martin, vice-chair of the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee (BFA), attended the BFA meeting held on Monday, November 3 in the Council Chamber. On the agenda for the meeting was a vote on the definition of the city's "core services" for use during the ongoing Core Services Workshops which began this fall. With a budget deficit looming in the coming fiscal years, members of City Council initiated the Core Services process to undertake a thorough review of current city operations for the purpose of determining which current services represent the City of Houston's most essential functions, and which may be eliminated, reduced or performed in a more efficient manner. After debate and discussion, the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee voted to define the City of Houston's core services as public safety, water and wastewater, streets and drainage, and solid waste management. The adopted definition serves to guide council members and department directors during the review process in the remaining workshops. More information on the Core Services Workshops, including meeting agendas and presentations, can be found here.

 

For more information on the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee, please visit www.houstontx.gov/council/1/Budget-Committee. A full-length version of the November 3 meeting can also be viewed at www.houstontx.gov/htv/index.html by clicking on the yellow "HTV" box and selecting "Budget and Fiscal Affairs, Nov 03, 2014" in the "Committees & Commissions" tab. 

Core Services Workshops Update

Throughout the month of November, the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee continued its review of the city's essential services by holding a number of Core Services workshops with representatives from various city departments. Over the course of the month, workshops were held for the Department of Neighborhoods, Parks & Recreation Department, Administration & Regulatory Affairs Department, Houston Airport System, and Housing & Community Development Department.

 

As vice-chair of the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee, Council Member Martin chaired an additional workshop for the Solid Waste Management Department on November 19. At the workshop, Harry Hayes, Director of the Solid Waste Management Department, provided an overview of the department's functions and budgetary allocations and responded to questions from those in attendance.

 

All Core Services Workshops are open to the public and will be held in the Mayor's Basement Conference Room, City Hall, 901 Bagby, Houston, TX 77002. There are seven remaining workshops scheduled for the months of December and January; a complete schedule of the workshops can be found here

Houston First Corporation's Budget Workshop and Board of Directors Meeting

In his role as an ex-officio member on the Houston First Corporation's Board of Directors, Council Member Martin attended Houston First's Board of Directors Budget Workshop held last month. At the meeting, board members discussed the corporation's operating and capital budgets for calendar year 2015.

 

Council Member Martin additionally attended the regularly scheduled meeting of the Houston First Corporation's Board of Directors on November 17. At the meeting, Council Member Martin was appointed to Houston First's Marketing Committee. Also on the agenda at the meeting was the consideration of an increase in the Convention District Project Budget, the consideration of an agreement with the Houston Arts Alliance for the installation of public art along the Avenida de las Americas, and a number of additional items.  

 

As a local government corporation, Houston First's meetings are open to the public and include time for public comment. A list of agendas from all of the corporation's committee and board meetings can be found here.

 

Council Member Martin was appointed to the ex officio position on the Houston First Board of Directors by Mayor Annise Parker in August of this year. He looks forward to continuing to serve in the advisory role and provide his colleagues on council with updates on Houston First's efforts to promote economic growth, tourism and capital investment in the City of Houston.  

Nau Center for Cultural Heritage Groundbreaking

On Wednesday, November 12 Council Member Martin attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the Nau Center for Texas Cultural Heritage, a new destination visitor center and gateway for cultural heritage tourism coming to the City of Houston. At the ceremony, remarks were offered by Houston Mayor Annise Parker and John Nau, III, Chairman of the Nau Center's Board of Directors.

 

Located downtown between the George R. Brown Convention Center and Minute Maid Park, the Nau Center is scheduled to open in 2016 and will feature immersive galleries and interactive thematic exhibits highlighting Texas history and culture. The center will serve both as a gateway connecting tourists to the region's many historic sites and attractions and as an experiential learning facility providing technologically innovative educational opportunities for students across the greater Houston area. 

 

For more information, please visit www.naucenter.org

New Theater District CEO

Located just blocks from City Hall on the northeast side of downtown, the Houston Theater District is home to nine world-class performing arts organizations which provide Houstonians with a variety of concerts and performances in the district's four major venues. On Tuesday, November 11 Council Member Martin joined Houston Mayor Annise Parker in welcoming the Houston Theater District's new CEO, Kathryn McNiel, at an event hosted by the Houston Downtown Alliance.

 

Council Member Martin congratulates Ms. McNiel and looks forward to working with her as a member of the Houston First Corporation's Board of Directors. To learn more about the Houston Theater District, including information on its resident art organizations, historic venues and upcoming performances, please visit www.houstontheaterdistrict.org.

Save the Date: Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District Public Scoping Meetings

In December, the Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District (GCCPRD) will be hosting a series of public scoping meetings to encourage public participation and feedback in the Storm Surge Suppression Study, a technical, scientific-based effort to investigate opportunities to alleviate the vulnerability of the upper Texas coast to storm surge and flooding.

 

Following Hurricane Ike, the Governor's Commission for Disaster Recovery and Renewal recommended that a study be conducted on how coastal communities in Texas can reduce the damage impact of future storms. In conjunction with that recommendation, Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, Harris, Jefferson, and Orange Counties joined to form the Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District to undertake the comprehensive study. Funded by a $3.9 million Community Development Block Grant awarded in September 2013, the Storm Surge Suppression Study aims to yield a system of alternatives that may consist of a variety of natural, structural, and nonstructural methods. Using these findings, the GCCPRD will recommend a cost-effective and efficient system of flood damage reduction and surge suppression measures to help protect the six-county region.

 

Public feedback and participation will be encouraged throughout the duration of the study. Public scoping meetings will be held on the following dates at the following locations:

 

  Thursday, December 4, 2014                  Thursday, December 9, 2014    

       6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.                             6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

     League City Civic Center                         Harris County Precinct 2  

     400 West Walker Street                    J.D. Walker Community Center    

    League City, Texas 77573                             7613 Wade Road

                                                                    Baytown, Texas 77521

 

  Thursday, December 11, 2014

       6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

  Jefferson County Courthouse

      Jury Impaneling Room

        1001 Pearl Street

    Beaumont, Texas 77701

 

Comments will be accepted at the public scoping meetings and throughout the duration of the study. Written comments may be mailed to the Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District in the care of Col. Christopher Sallese at 3100 West Alabama Street, Houston, Texas 77098 or emailed to [email protected].

 

For more information about GCCPRD and this study, visit www.gccprd.com

Coastal Resiliency Panel and Community Dialogue

On Monday, November 10 Council Member Martin attended a panel discussion and community dialogue on storm surge protection and coastal resiliency hosted by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Houston Urban Design Committee and the Houston-Galveston Area Council (HGAC). The panel of presenters included Colonel Len Waterworth from Texas A&M University at Galveston, Professor Jim Blackburn from the SSPEED Center at Rice University, and Colonel Christopher Sallese from the Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District (GCCPRD). Tom Colbert of the AIA and Chuck Wemple of the HGAC moderated the panel.

 

The event, which was co-sponsored by Council Member Martin and Council Member David Robinson, featured opening remarks by Houston Mayor Annise Parker and Harris County Judge Ed Emmett. Following the introductory remarks, Col. Waterworth and Professor Blackburn presented their respective research and proposed solutions for storm surge protection in the region. Col. Sallese additionally discussed the GCCPRD's Storm Surge Suppression Study, which will present various storm surge protection alternatives and make recommendations based on independent technical modeling and cost-benefit analysis.

 

The event also featured a collaborative community dialogue which included a question & answer session between the panelists and members of the public in attendance. Topics discussed included regions protected by the various proposals, the potential effects of global warming on coastal barrier systems, plans for future collaboration between the two research teams, and the remaining process for research, funding, and implementation.

 

For more information on Texas A&M at Galveston's Ike Dike proposal, please visit www.tamug.edu/ikedike. More on the Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District, including information on upcoming public meetings, can be found at www.gccprd.com.

22nd Annual TXU Houston Turkey Trot

On Thanksgiving morning, before running in the 22nd Annual TXU Energy Houston Turkey Trot, Council Member Martin gave opening remarks in the VIP tent. In his remarks, Council Member Martin welcomed runners and discussed the positive impact the annual event has on communities throughout the City of Houston by raising funds for Neighborhood Centers, Inc. Fellow Houston City Council Member Dwight Boykins also attended and offered remarks.

 

In the past five years, the TXU Houston Turkey Trot has more than doubled in participation and revenue generated, making it the second largest foot-race in Houston. This year's event included competitive and non-competitive 10K and 5K runs, 10K and 5K wheelchair races, and a kids run/walk. For more information on the 22nd Annual TXU Energy Houston Turkey Trot, please visit https://turkeytrot.shelteringarms.org.

 

Charitable proceeds from the event went to Neighborhood Centers, Inc. a regional nonprofit organization working with residents of emerging communities in 71 service locations to help them discover the strengths and skills necessary to become productive, prosperous and self-sufficient. More information on Neighborhood Centers can be found at http://iamforgood.org/home

Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's 2014 Annual Awards Gala

Council Member Martin attended  the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's 2014 Annual Awards Gala at the Hobby Center on November 1. Over 1,000 people were in attendance at the event, which honored local entrepreneurs, executives and business leaders for their leadership in Houston's Hispanic business community. Dr. Laura Murillo, president & CEO of the Houston Hispanic Chamber, welcomed guests to the event and KHOU 11 news anchor Ron Trevino served as emcee. Those honored with awards at this year's gala included Dr. Stephen Klineberg of Rice University; Benny Agosto Jr. of Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & Friend of Houston; Evelyn Fletcher of Electronic Assembly Services, Inc.; Maximo A. Tejeda of Tejas Tubular Products, Inc.; Regina Garcia of Events.

 

Council Member Martin congratulates all those recognized at the event and thanks the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for its leadership within the City of Houston's business community. 

Shell Houston Open's Celebration of Giving Luncheon

On Monday, November 3 Council Member Martin attended the Shell Houston Open's Celebration of Giving Luncheon at the Rice Hotel. During the luncheon, officials from Shell and the HGA announced that the 2014 Shell Houston Open raised $2.2 million for Houston-based charities, marking the 20th consecutive year the tournament has generated more than $1 million for local causes.

 

The 2015 Shell Houston Open is scheduled to be played the week of March 30 - April 5, 2015 at the Golf Club of Houston in Humble. For more information on the tournament, please visit www.shellhoustonopen.com.  

Houston Military Affairs Committee Veteran's Breakfast

Council Member Martin attended the Houston Military Affairs Committee's Veterans Breakfast on Tuesday, November 11 held in observance of Veterans Day. Founded in 1931, the Houston Military Affairs Committee serves all military personnel in the Greater Houston Area by providing a forum for appropriate speakers, participating in special events, supporting the activities of both Active and Reserve Forces, and providing professional and social opportunities for its members.

 

Council Member Martin thanks Eugene Tulich, Chairman of the Houston Military Affairs Committee and retired Commander in the U.S. Coast Guard, for the invitation to attend the event. He also thanks all veterans and active duty members of the military for their brave and honorable service to the United States of America. 

30th Annual Perth Sister City Agreement Event

On Thursday, November 6 Council Member Martin joined Houston Mayor Annise Parker at an event commemorating the 30th anniversary of the signing of the sister city agreement between Houston and Perth, Australia. The city's Office of Protocol and International Affairs serves as the liaison to Houston's sister city associations, which promote diplomacy and encourage the development of mutual trust and understanding among citizens through commercial, cultural, educational, and humanitarian exchanges.

 

For more information on the City of Houston's sister city relationships, please visit www.houstontx.gov/abouthouston/Sister-Cities

Save the Date: Mayor's Holiday Celebration

Council Member Martin invites you to ring in the season with the Mayor's Holiday Celebration and Tree Lighting Presented by Reliant on Friday, December 5, 2014 in the heart of downtown Houston.

 

Mayor's Holiday Celebration

Friday, December 5, 2014

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

901 Bagby Street, Houston, Texas 77002

 

The event is a holiday tradition of music, Santa, and family fun. A towering Holiday Tree, glowing with energy efficient LED lights, shimmering ornaments and a stunning star topper will light up the streets of downtown Houston this holiday season. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, go to www.houstontx.gov/mayorsholiday.

Houston Public Library's "Season's Readings" and Holiday Closings

This year, celebrate the holidays at the Houston Public Library's (HPL) Fourth Annual "Season's Readings" program series to be held at the Central Library and HPL neighborhood libraries across the city. The series, which will feature family-friendly literary-inspired programs throughout the holiday season, will kick off with a presentation by Divya Srinivasan, author and animator of the books "Little Owl's Night" and "Little Owl's Day." Enjoy a storytime as Srinivasan reads from her latest book "Little Owl's Day," screens video book trailers, and holds a book signing on Saturday, December 6 at 2:00 p.m. at the Julia Ideson Building, 550 McKinney St., 77002.  

 

All programs are free and open to the public. To see all of the Season's Reading programs scheduled at Houston's public neighborhood libraries, please visit www.houstonlibrary.org or call (832) 393-1313.

 

The Houston Public Library system will also be closed for the holidays on the following occasions this holiday season:

 

Christmas Holiday
Wednesday, December 24, 2014  - Thursday, December 25, 2014

New Years Holiday

Wednesday, December 31, 2014 (close at 6:00 p.m.) - Thursday, January 1, 2015

 

*Please note that the Central Library & the Julia Ideson Buidling will be additionally closed for HVAC maintenance December 26-28, 2014.

HPD's Comida Food Drive

Be a part of helping the Houston Police Department, the Houston Police Foundation and the Houston Citizen's Police Academy Alumni Association reach out and feed the less fortunate this holiday season.  The "Comida" food drive is entering its 29th year of serving Houston communities and would like this to be the biggest year ever.  For the past 29 years HPD has partnered with Fiesta Mart, Inc. and The Pepsi Bottling group to collect, package and distribute boxes of food to Houston's underprivileged families.

 

This annual food drive helps HPD feed more than 3,500 families with individual boxes of food.

 

To make your donation as effortless as possible please go to www.houstonpolice.org and click on the "Comida" food drive link.   You will be redirected to the Houston Police Foundation's site that will allow you to give a donation.  All donations go directly to buy food for distribution and are tax deductible.

 

For more information contact the Houston Police Department, Public Affairs at (713) 308-3200 or visit www.houstonpolice.org.

BARC's Monthly "At-a-Glance" Performance Report

In response to resident requests for more information on its shelter initiatives, the City of Houston's Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care (BARC) has added a monthly "At-a-Glance" performance report to its website.  The goal of the report is to enable citizens to easily view, understand and track the performance of all BARC initiatives-including live release, Animal Control, pet licensing, spay/neuter, outreach and more-on a monthly basis.

 

To view BARC's first monthly "At-a-Glance" report, which provides a snapshot of the performance measures and results for each of the bureau's initiatives, please visit www.houstontx.gov/barc/our-numbers-glance.  

Environmental Service Centers

For those with hazardous waste not disposed of during the City of Houston's mobile B.O.P.A. recycling events in District E, the city's Solid Waste Management Department maintains two Environmental Service Center locations which provide a drive through, drop-off site where residents can drop off Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) items. Currently, a north and south center are open at the following locations and hours:

 

Environmental Service Center - North

Open the second Thursday of each month

9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

5614 Neches Street

Houston, Texas 77026


Environmental Service Center - South

Open Tuesdays and Wednesdays

9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Open the second Saturday each month

9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

11500 South Post Oak Road

Houston, Texas 77035

 

More information on the City of Houston's North and South Environmental Service Centers, including a list of accepted items as well as tips on safe waste transport and disposal, can be found online at www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/esc.html.  

Upcoming Events 

 
Please refer to Council Martin's District E website for location, time and more event details. Email the District E office if you would like us to include your upcoming event in future newsletters! 

 

City Wides

December 5
Mayor's Holiday Celebration

December 24-25
Council Break Week

December 24-25
City Offices Closed for Christmas

December 30-31
Council Break Week

January 1
City Offices Closed for New Year's Day

January 18
Chevron Houston Marathon 

Kingwood

December 4

Kingwood Service Association's Parks Committee Meeting

December 9
Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce's Elected Officials Reception 

 

December 12
Kingwood Service Association's Public Safety Committee Meeting

December 16
Kingwood PIP

December 19
Kingwood Super Neighborhood Council Monthly Meeting 

Southeast Houston/Clear Lake    

December 4

Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District Public Scoping Meeting (League City)

December 13

Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce's Christmas Boat Lane Parade

 

December 17

Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce's General Membership Luncheon
 

January 22

Houston Spaceport Public Meeting