The District E office is deeply saddened by the news of a Kingwood High School student who recently passed away after being hospitalized with Streptococcus Pneumoniae bacterial meningitis. Our office will keep the student's friends and family in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

In response to the situation, officials from Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services (HCPHES) have been working closely with officials at Kingwood High School. In a letter published on Thursday, January 29, HCPHES notified parents and guardians of Kingwood High School students that it does not consider students to be at an increased risk for pneumococcal meningitis and relayed the following information on the disease.

Pneumococcal meningitis is an illness caused by bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae. Many people commonly carry the bacteria in their nose and throat. It is spread from person to person by way of droplets from the respiratory tract. It is a common cause of ear infections in very young children and may occasionally cause much more severe infection elsewhere in the body. There is no recommendation for persons exposed to someone with pneumococcal meningitis to receive preventive medication.

Symptoms of meningitis may include fever, severe headache, stiff neck, bright lights hurting eyes, drowsiness or confusion, nausea or vomiting. Symptoms in infants may be more difficult to recognize and may include fever, irritability, difficulty awakening the baby or refusal to eat. If you or your child experience these symptoms, please contact your health care provider.

The most effective ways to prevent the spread of any respiratory disease is by staying home from school or work if you are sick; frequent and proper hand washing; and covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough. 

If you have any questions or concerns about pneumococcal meningitis, please contact the HCPHES Epidemiology Section at (713) 439-6000. 

The Lake Houston Family YMCA's 23rd Annual Bridge Fest will take place on Saturday, February 7 from 7:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. at the Lake Houston Family YMCA. With races of three distances for runners, joggers and walkers to chose from, the event is designed to encourage participation from all abilities and ages.

Lake Houston Family YMCA's 23rd Annual Bridge Fest

Saturday, February 7, 2015

2420 West Lake Houston

Kingwood, Texas 77339

7:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

The registration deadline is Friday, February 6. Packets for those who register by the deadline will be available at the Lake Houston Family YMCA on February 6 from 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Late registration will continue up to 30 minutes before the start of each race event. To register for Bridge Fest, click here.

Net proceeds from the event will benefit the annual scholarship campaign of the Lake Houston Family YMCA and East Montgomery County YMCA, which helps everyone, regardless of age, income or background, have the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive at the Y. 

More information on the Lake Houston Family YMCA's 23rd Annual Bridge Fest can be found here.

On Friday, January 23 the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Awards Extravaganza, a celebration of the past year's outstanding volunteer leaders and accomplishments. Council Member Martin joined 300 Chamber guests and business partners at the event, where the 2014 Dr. Haden McKay Citizen of the Year Award was presented to Humble City Council Member Norman Funderburk, who is also Vice-President of Project Services at Koch Special Plant Services and Humble's representative to the Houston-Galveston Area Council. 

In late 2014, the City of Houston's Public Works and Engineering Department began three short segment water line installation projects to replace aging water line infrastructure in the Arlington Heights, Oak Meadows and Meadowcreek Village neighborhoods. All three projects remain underway and are expected to be completed within the next month.

Through the completion of these projects, work is expected to occur approximately 10 hours per day, Monday-Friday, and occasionally on weekends. During construction, one curb lane is permitted for closure in the work zone from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and will be reopened daily. 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, please contact our office at (832) 393-3008 or at districte@houstontx.gov.

Transitions between Shaver and other adjacent streets which intersect it, such as Wald Road, are currently being covered by flexible bases to protect vehicular traffic. Before the project's end, asphalt will be applied to these transitional sections to smooth the transition between the streets.

Storm sewer installation is currently rated as 90% complete for the project, with one section remaining on Almeda Genoa Road. Sanitary sewer installation is estimated to be 95% complete.

Overall completion of the South Shaver Road Reconstruction project is currently targeted for late spring 2015. Please note that all project timelines are subject to change due to inclement weather and/or other unforeseen circumstances. Council Member Martin's office will continue to follow progress on this project and will keep the public apprised of any changes.

On Thursday, February 12 representatives from the Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) and the city's General Services Department (GSD) will attend the regular meeting of the Meadowcreek Village Civic Club to present the final recommendation for the replacement of the damaged basketball pavilion at Meadowcreek Village Park. Council Member Martin has worked with the two departments to develop the final recommendation since the current pavilion was deemed unsafe for public use and closed in August 2014. All Meadowcreek Village residents are invited to attend the presentation, which will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Meadowcreek Village Community Center. 

Meadowcreek Village Basketball Pavilion Presentation

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Meadowcreek Village Community Center

5333 Berry Creek Drive, Houston, Texas 77017

6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

On Thursday, January 22 Council Member Martin attended the quarterly meeting of the Freeway Manor Civic Club which was combined with Congressman Gene Green's Town Hall Meeting. At the event, Council Member Martin was given the opportunity to provide Freeway Manor residents with an update on a tree planting project the District E office has been working on with the Urban Forestry Division of the Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD). The project, initiated by Freeway Manor Civic Club President Nick Crnkovic, seeks to replace over 50 trees which were removed from the neighborhood a number of years ago. HPARD is currently targeting fall 2015 for the tree planting, and the department began grinding leftover tree stumps in the area at the end of January. After the project update, Council Member Martin answered questions and concerns from residents on other city-related topics.

Work remains underway on the Clear Lake City Boulevard Intersection Improvement project, which commenced on January 5 and is being undertaken by contractors overseen by the city's Public Works and Engineering Department. The project involves the replacement of existing traffic signal poles, the revising of intersection signal timing based on current traffic patterns, improvements to intersection sidewalks and wheelchair ramps and the extension of the left turn bay on Clear Lake City Boulevard northbound to accommodate existing traffic. 

The installation of underground conduits for wiring at the intersection has been completed. Traffic pole and appurtenance placement is currently underway and scheduled for completion by mid-February. Concrete replacement was scheduled to commence in late January/early February with completion expected by the end of February. Following concrete replacement, the contractor will complete all striping and turn the new signal on. Overall completion on the Clear Lake City Boulevard Intersection Improvement project is currently scheduled for early March 2015. Please note that all project timelines are subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.

Through project completion, the contractor is scheduled to work Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. to avoid rush hour traffic and possibly on Saturdays to expedite construction. During this time, one lane will be closed. Council Member Martin's office has notified the Houston Police Department's Clear Lake Substation to coordinate traffic prevention efforts and has asked that officers routinely patrol the area during their respective shifts.

Plans for NASA's Commercial Crew program were announced on Monday, January 26 by a panel of program officials and commercial partners which included Johnson Space Center Director Dr. Ellen Ochoa, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, Commercial Crew Program Manager Kathy Lueders, Boeing's John Elbon, SpaceX's Gwynne Shotwell and NASA astronaut Mike Fincke. The panel relayed details about NASA's "Launch America" initiative through which Boeing and SpaceX will take astronauts to the International Space Station from launch sites on American soil in the coming years.

Boeing's schedule for its spacecraft, the CST-100, plans for a pad abort test in February 2017, followed by an uncrewed flight test in April 2017. A flight with a Boeing test pilot and a NASA astronaut will then follow in July 2017.

SpaceX anticipates a pad abort test for its Crew Dragon spacecraft in the next month, then an in-flight abort test later this year as part of its previous development phase. An uncrewed flight test is planned for late 2016 and a crewed flight test in early 2017.

Once in use, these new commercial spacecraft will allow the crew on the International Space Station to expand to seven astronauts and cosmonauts, equating to 80 hours a week of scientific research aboard the station instead of the current 40. The Commercial Crew Program will further permit NASA to focus on the challenges of deep space exploration and the ultimate journey to Mars in the Orion spacecraft power by the Space Launch System rocket.

Though the CST-100 and Crew Dragon spacecraft will be developed and launched out of Kennedy Space Center in Florida, almost half of the 200 NASA employees working on the Commercial Crew program are based at the agency's other headquarters including Houston's Johnson Space Center.

Our office will continue to keep the public updated with developments from NASA's Commercial Crew Program and many other exciting initiatives. For more information on the January 26 announcement, please click here. 

On Thursday, January 22 Council Member Martin attended the open-house public meeting held by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Houston Airport System (HAS) on the spaceport being proposed for Ellington Airport. Over 50 residents were in attendance at the meeting, which featured displays on the results of the Draft Environmental Assessment conducted by the FAA to evaluate the project's potential impacts. Those in attendance were also provided the opportunity to offer feedback on the project, and numerous FAA and HAS representatives, including Houston Airport System Director Mario Diaz and General Manager of Ellington Airport Arturo Machuca, were present to answer questions and concerns. An electronic copy of the Draft Environmental Assessment is available for review online on the FAA's website or by clicking here.

Following the public meeting, the Federal Aviation Administration is finalizing its consideration of the Houston Airport System's application to obtain a launch site operator license for Ellington Airport. Once obtained, the license will permit HAS to operate a number of commercial spaceflight activities out of Ellington, including sub-orbital commercial flights, zero-gravity scientific and medical research, astronaut training and development, space tourism and more. A decision on the application is expected later this year. 

Council Member Martin thanks the FAA and the HAS for holding the informative public meeting, and thanks all those residents who came out to learn more about the Houston Spaceport proposal and voice their opinions on the project. Our office will continue to keep the public informed as the Houston Spaceport proposal further develops.

The Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership celebrated the organization's 22nd Annual Quasar Award Banquet on Friday, January 16. Council Member Martin attended the event where Dr. Bill Merrell, George P. Mitchell Chair in Marine Sciences at Texas A&M Galveston, accepted the 2015 award in appreciation of his work developing the Ike Dike coastal barrier concept. The Ike Dike aims to protect the residents and economic assets of the greater Houston area from the threat of storm surge resulting from a hurricane.

Council Member Martin congratulates Dr. Merrell on the honor and thanks him for his dedication to developing a solution to this region's pressing storm surge vulnerability. He also commends Bob Mitchell and the staff of the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership for once again putting on a great event. 

Join the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 5 for Epicurean Evening 2015 "A Taste of Space" at Space Center Houston. Ticket holders will experience food samples from over 40 Bay Area Houston food establishments as well as live music and entertainment. The event will additionally feature a silent auction as well as an awards ceremony.

Epicurean Evening 2015 "A Taste of Space"

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Space Center Houston

6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

For more information on Epicurean Evening 2015 and to purchase tickets online, please visit clearlakearea.com/events/epicureanevening.asp. 

Join the Bay Area Alliance for Youth and Families on March 7, 2015 for the 5th Annual CRAZY Krewe 3K Walk/7K Run taking place at Clear View High School at 8:00 a.m.

Bay Area Alliance's 5th Annual CRAZY Krewe Walk/Run

Saturday, March 7, 2015 at 8:00 a.m.

Clear View High School

400 South Walnut Street

Webster, Texas 77598

Bay Area Alliance for Youth and Families

2145 West NASA Boulevard

Webster, Texas 77598

Proceeds from the 5th Annual CRAZY Krewe Walk/Run will benefit the Bay Area Alliance for Youth and Families. The Alliance is a community coalition strengthening collaboration in the Bay Area for the prevention of substance abuse among youth, and over time, adults by addressing the factors that increase the risk of substance use.

Council Member Martin was present as City Council held two meetings of the Ad Hoc Charter Review Committee during the month of January. Formed to review potential revisions to Houston's City Charter throughout early 2015, the committee first met on the evening of Wednesday, January 14 in the Council Chamber.  At the meeting, council members discussed amending the charter to permit council to convene in closed-door executive sessions. After discussion and debate, council members unanimously agreed not to recommend that executive sessions be put up for voter consideration citing the public's desire for full transparency in Houston's city government.

The Ad Hoc Charter Review Committee met again on Thursday, January 29 to discuss amending the length and number of terms which members of city council and the mayor are permitted to serve. At the meeting, representatives from the city's Legal Department gave a brief presentation on the city's current rules regarding terms and offered an overview of term limits and lengths in other major U.S. cities. Following the presentation, Council Member Martin and a number of colleagues on council expressed support for changing the city's term lengths from two years to four years to allow those elected more time to establish effective governance and constituent service between election cycles. Committee members ultimately approved this recommendation by a vote. 

The Ad Hoc Charter Review Committee will continue to convene every other week until the end of March, alternating between daytime and evening meetings. The committee will meet a maximum of six times unless additional meetings are agreed upon by a majority of members. All meetings of the committee will be open to the public, and members of the public are encouraged to attend and provide comment on the charter review process.

The next meeting of the Ad Hoc Charter Review Committee will occur on Tuesday, February 10 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chamber on the Second Floor of City Hall, located at 901 Bagby Street, Houston, Texas 77002. More information on the City of Houston's Ad Hoc Charter Review Committee, including meeting agendas and copies of presentations, can be found online here. Taped versions of the committee's past meetings can also be found online along with all public City of Houston meetings at www.houstontx.gov/htv/index.html.

At its regularly scheduled session on Wednesday, January 28 City Council passed an ordinance appropriating $7.66 million out of Houston Airport System funds for an interlocal agreement between the City of Houston and Lone Star College, Houston Community College and the San Jacinto College District. The agreement established the Houston Area Construction Education Collaborative (HACEC), which will provide for craft workforce education and safety training to construction contractor employees engaged in work to support Houston Airport System (HAS) designated capital projects.

The collaborative is expected to provide a number of benefits to the City of Houston and the Houston Airport System. The craft training offered to construction contractor employees will serve to improve both the availability and capability of the local workforce to support construction contractor needs, thereby simultaneously supporting local community engagement and reducing construction costs. Safety training provided by the HACEC education will also reduce construction contractor lost time work injuries. All construction contractor employees will additionally be required to complete safety and security training prior to engaging in work in support of HAS-designated capital projects, which will significantly reduce insurance costs associated with the projects.

Council Member Martin attended a special joint meeting of Houston City Council and Harris County Commissioners Court on Monday, January 12 held at the Port of Houston Authority. At the joint meeting, Janiece Longoria was confirmed in her reappointment to serve as Chairman of the Port of Houston Authority. Originally appointed chairman in 2013, Ms. Longoria is the first woman to hold the position in the 100-year history of the Port of Houston. 

At its regularly scheduled session on Wednesday, January 21 City Council confirmed Donna Edmundson to serve as the City of Houston's new city attorney, replacing former City Attorney David Feldman who resigned on January 16 to enter private practice. Upon confirmation by City Council, Mrs. Edmundson became the first woman to hold the position.  Prior to being nominated for the role by Mayor Annise Parker, Mrs. Edmundson had served in the city's Legal Department for 30 years.

On Tuesday, January 6 Council Member Martin attended the Transportation Advocacy Group (TAG) Houston's 2015 Legislative Preview Breakfast. At the event, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Commissioner Jeff Moseley provided an update on the disbursement of funds to the Houston region from recently passed Proposition 1. The greater Houston area is expected to receive approximately $275 million for transportation-related projects in 2015 from the ballot measure. The breakfast meeting also featured a panel composed of TxDOT Commissioner Ned Holmes, State Senator Sylvia Garcia, State Representative Jim Murphy and TAG board member Jeff Collins, who collectively discussed transportation-related goals for the 84th Texas legislative session.

Council Member Martin thanks all who spoke for providing insightful updates into the state's transportation agenda and LJA Engineering for inviting him to attend the event. 

On Wednesday, January 7 Council Member Martin attended the Greater Houston Builders Association's (GHBA) 2015 Annual Economic Forecast Luncheon featuring Dr. Mark Dotzour, Chief Economist and Director of Research for the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University. Over 840 guests attended the event and received an update from Dr. Dotzour on the state of Houston's real estate market in the face of falling oil prices. Dr. Dotzour projected that while the Houston area home market may slow down, it will not collapse due to falling oil prices and the resultant layoffs in the oil and gas industry, citing the strength of the building industry and the potential labor boost in housing resulting from the layoffs. 

On the morning of Wednesday, January 7 the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) held a coffee and ribbon cutting event to introduce its six newest fleet members, the first of 39 new CAF rail cars to be delivered and put into service before the opening of METRO's new East End and Southeast light-rail lines. Council Member Martin attended the event and was joined by Houston Mayor Annise Parker, METRO President and CEO Tom Lambert, METRO Chairman Gilbert Garcia and a number of other community and local government representatives. All in attendance had the opportunity to ride in one of the new light-rail cars. 

The additional six cars will allow METRO to run double cars all-day Monday-Friday along its recently expanded Red Line. Once all 39 new units are delivered, METRO will possess a fleet of 79 light-rail cars in addition to its fleet of buses. For more information on the coming expansion of Houston's METRORail system, please click here. 

On Thursday, January 15 Council Member Martin joined leaders from Houston's business community at the Greater Houston Partnership's (GHP) 2015 Annual Meeting. The event, which served to communicate the Partnership's vision for the year ahead, featured remarks from outgoing GHP Chairman Paul Hobby, incoming GHP Chairman Gina Luna and GHP President and CEO Bob Harvey. In his address, Mr. Harvey highlighted a number of key goals the partnership plans to focus on going forward, including promoting quality of life in Houston, advocating for effective local government and investing in improvements to Houston's street, transit and water infrastructure. Mr. Harvey also discussed in his remarks more specific policy items the GHP will focus on for the betterment of the region, including early education, middle-skill job training and pension reform. 

The City of Houston's Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) is currently undertaking the final expansion of the city's Single Stream Recycling Program, which has been providing all homes within the department's service area new 96 gallon green recycling carts.

Approximately 104,000 homes are being added during this final expansion, which will contribute to a total of 380,000 homes receiving service through the Single Stream Recycling Program. Of the 104,000 homes included in the expansion, 87,000 previously did not have curbside recycling. The remaining 18,000 homes are being converted from Dual Stream Recycling to Single Stream.

Cart delivery began Monday, January 26 to homes in the Kingwood area. Total cart delivery will take 5-6 weeks.  First collection for Week "A" homes is scheduled for Monday, March 2, while first collection for Week "B" homes is scheduled for Monday, March 9. Residents who receive their cart prior to their first collection date will not receive service until this date.

About 69,000 homes will be experiencing a change in service week (from Week "A" to Week "B", or Week "B" to Week "A"). All carts delivered to residents have a plastic bag attached that includes a color brochure and a letter designating collection service day/week. New homes being added to the Single Stream Program, as well as homes experiencing a change in service week, will additionally receive a letter in the mail designating their collection service day/week.

For questions or concerns about the final expansion of the city's Single Stream Recycling Program, please contact our office at (832) 393-3008 or at districte@houstontx.gov. 

Houston Police Chief Charles A. McClelland, Jr. is asking Houstonians to mark their calendars for an HPD Citywide Town Hall Meeting on Saturday, February 7 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Granville M. Sawyer Auditorium, Texas Southern University Campus, 3100 Cleburne Street.  

3100 Cleburne Street, Houston, Texas 77004

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
 

Free parking will be provided on the TSU campus, as will accommodations for hearing-impaired citizens.

Chief McClelland and his commanders will take questions one-on-one and in group settings to find out what issues are of most importance to you and your neighbors.  Everyone is encouraged to attend and to voice concerns and ask questions.  The event will also be live-streamed on the HPD YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/houstonpolicedept and live-blogged at www.hpdtownhallmeeting.blogspot.com.

Following Chief McClelland's address and a question-and-answer period, those in attendance will have the opportunity to break into smaller groups to meet with HPD patrol captains who oversee their neighborhoods throughout the city.  Members of various HPD divisions including Internal Affairs, Homicide and Juvenile will also be present.

The Houston Police Department is looking to hire dozens of men and women within the City of Houston and is offering a $5,000 hiring incentive to new police recruits in the February, May, and June 2015 academy classes.

Each cadet will receive $2,500 within 30 days after starting the academy and $2,500 upon graduation from the academy.

Since the hiring process could take up to 90 days, the application process starts as soon as possible.

If you or someone you know is interested in serving and protecting the City of Houston, please go to www.hpdcareer.com or contact the HPD Recruiting Division at (713) 308-1300 for more information.