Council Member Dave Martin's

District E Newsletter

Issue 27

March 2015 

 

 

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
District E Community Contacts



 
 




Clear Lake Super Neighborhood Council

Residents of District E,

 

Last month we hosted the first of two Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Town Hall Meetings in the council district. On February 19, over 150 people attended the meeting in Kingwood where city representatives presented updates on CIP projects that have been completed and those that are planned for the community over the next five years. We also heard from David McCarble with David Development who gave a presentation about the new master-planned, mixed use and LEED certified development, Kings Creek, which is being built at Highway 59 at Sorters McClellan Road and Kingwood Place Drive.

 

I invite you to attend the second of our meetings on Tuesday, March 3 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Space Center Houston. While the meeting allows an opportunity to hear from the various city departments, more importantly the meetings allow the public to voice their questions, concerns and comments. I am here to listen and welcome all feedback. To view project-specific information before the meeting, please visit www.houstontx.gov/cip. Additionally, our office has been contacted on several occasions to arrange a public meeting where developers of both the Reserve at Clear Lake City and Clear Lake Marketplace could attend and present updates on each of their respective developments. I am happy to announce that Collins Pier from Trendmaker Homes and Mary Jean McArthur from Fidelis Realty Partners will present the status on the progress of the commercial and residential construction occurring at Clear Lake City Boulevard at El Dorado Boulevard. We hope to see you there.

 

Speaking of CIP related projects; it has been a priority of mine during my first term to address the significant traffic mobility issues in the Kingwood area with the help of the public. Over the past year the Kingwood Area Mobility Study Steering Committee has been studying the issues at hand and with the assistance of the hired engineering firm, Gunda Corporation has compiled a report of not only findings but suggested recommendations to mitigate the problems. On April 21, the third and final public stakeholder meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at the Kingwood Community Center where this report will be presented. I highly encourage all of those interested to please attend. To learn more, please visit http://gundacorp.com/kingwood-mobility.

 

Lastly, this month the City of Houston will be welcoming over 2,000,000 individuals from around the world who will convene on the city for the 2015 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. While attendees are attracted to the noteworthy and renowned entertainment, the show offers unparalleled support for youth by supporting educational programs. Our office looks forward to participating in the many activities scheduled over the next few weeks and hope that everyone in Houston will take advantage of having this world wide attraction in our backyard.

 

As always, it is a pleasure and true blessing to serve you. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.


Sincerely,

 

 

Dave Martin

 

South Shaver Road Reconstruction Project Update

Progress remains underway on the $13.5 million South Shaver Road Reconstruction project initiated in summer 2013 by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Concrete paving for all three travel lanes on the north section of South Shaver was completed in late February. Driveways along South Shaver have additionally been completed at this time as well as sidewalks from Highway 3 to North Broadway.

 

Contractors expect to switch traffic on the road in early March, at which time paving on the section south of the center line from 5200 South Shaver to the project's endpoint at Interstate 45 will begin. Both sections of North Broadway will be open at the time traffic is switched. Storm and sanitary sewer installation is nearing completion, with one segment remaining on Almeda Genoa Road.

 

Transitions between South 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.


Substantial completion of the South Shaver Road Reconstruction project is now expected for early June 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.


Save the Date: Super Neighborhood 58 Meeting

Residents, business owners and community stakeholders from the Northshore area of District E are encouraged to attend an upcoming meeting of Super Neighborhood 58, to be held on Tuesday, March 17 at 10:00 a.m. at the Houston Police Department Northeast's East Freeway storefront located at 12001 East Freeway. Northshore residents have worked with city representatives over the past several months to undertake the preliminary steps required for official super neighborhood recognition, which includes gathering stakeholder representation, creating an organizational structure and drafting by-laws. Once recognized, Super Neighborhood 58 will enable members to discuss city-related issues in the Northshore area and apply for funding under the City of Houston's Super Neighborhood Action Plan (SNAP) program. 

 

Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at 10:00 a.m.

Houston Police Department Northeast's East Freeway Storefront

12001 East Freeway, Houston, Texas 77029

 

Super Neighborhood 58 encompasses 5,928 acres in Houston City Council Districts E & I and includes seven schools within the Galena Park and Houston Independent School Districts. For more information on Super Neighborhood 58 and a map illustrating its boundaries, please click here. Information on the City of Houston's Super Neighborhood program can be found online at www.houstontx.gov/superneighborhoods.

Save the Date: Super Neighborhood 75 Meeting

Another super neighborhood recently under discussion within District E is Super Neighborhood 75 (Meadowbrook/Allendale). To explore the potential reactivation of Super Neighborhood 75, a meeting will be held on Thursday, March 5 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Meadowcreek Village Community Center. Meadowcreek Village and Oak Meadows residents have recently expressed interest in reactivating the currently inactive super neighborhood, which once active will enable members to convene and discuss city-related concerns in the Meadowbrook/Allendale area and apply for funding related to community projects.

 

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Meadowcreek Village Community Center

5333 Berry Creek Drive, Houston, Texas 77017 

 

Super Neighborhood 75 encompasses 4,483 acres in Houston City Council Districts E & I and includes several schools within the Pasadena and Houston Independent School Districts. For more information on Super Neighborhood 75 and a map illustrating its boundaries, please click here.

Meadowcreek Village Civic Club Meeting

Council Member Martin attended the regularly scheduled meeting of the Meadowcreek Village Civic Club on Thursday, February 12 where representatives from the city's Parks & Recreation Department (HPARD) and General Services Department (GSD) made a presentation on the basketball pavilion at Meadowcreek Village Park. 

 

Since the closure of the current pavilion last August due to structural damages, Council Member Martin has worked with the city and Meadowcreek Village residents to develop a durable and cost-efficient solution which reflects the community's needs. Following the presentation and discussion of repair options for the pavilion, GSD also provided an update on potential repairs to the Meadowcreek Village Community Center.

 

Council Member Martin will continue to keep residents informed and engaged as the design process continues for the new basketball pavilion at Meadowcreek Village park. For questions or concerns, please contact our office at (832) 393-3008 or [email protected].

 

South Belt Ellington Chamber's Installation Banquet

Council Member Martin attended the South Belt-Ellington Chamber of Commerce's annual Installation Banquet the evening of Tuesday, February 24. Serving as the featured speaker at this year's banquet was Tom Herman, the recently named head coach of the University of Houston Football program. At the event, Council Member Martin also had the honor of recognizing a local resident, Mr. Charles Jordan, alongside his colleague Council Member Dwight Boykins. Mr. Jordan helped save a young woman who was being attacked by a group of wild dogs a year ago. Council Member Martin would like to once again commend Mr. Jordan for his bravery and his service to the South Belt-Ellington community, and thanks the South Belt-Ellington Chamber of Commerce for putting on the annual event.

 

Save the Date: Clear Lake/Southeast Houston Joint Capital Improvement and Town Hall Meeting

Council Member Martin invites the public to join him for a joint Capital Improvement Project (CIP) and Town Hall Meeting Tuesday, March 3 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. in the Destiny Theater at Space Center Houston.  Residents of the Southeast Houston and Clear Lake areas are encouraged to attend to learn, voice their concerns and address their respective City of Houston officials regarding project planning and delivery in District E. 

 

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Space Center Houston, Destiny Theater

1601 NASA Parkway, Houston, Texas 77058

6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

 

Additionally, citizens will receive an update on ReBuild Houston, the City of Houston's pay-as-you-go program to rebuild the city's drainage and street infrastructure. For more information and specific details about CIP projects in your area, visit www.houstontx.gov/cip. To view project specific information on street, drainage, water and sewer CIP projects, visit pwecip.houstontx.gov.

 

Representatives from both Trendmaker Homes and Fidelis Realty Partners will also be in attendance to provide the latest updates on the residential and commercial developments being built at the intersection of Clear Lake City Boulevard and El Dorado Boulevard. In addition, a representative from the Houston Airport System will be present to give a presentation and answer questions on the city's proposal to construct a commercial spaceport at Ellington Airport.

 

Save the Date: Clear Lake B.O.P.A. and Electronic Recycling Collection Event

Council Member Martin and the city's Solid Waste Management Department are hosting a Batteries, Oil, Paint, Antifreeze (B.O.P.A.) and Electronic Recycling Collection event on Saturday, March  28 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Ellington Airport Neighborhood Recycling Center located at Highway 3 at Brantley Avenue, Houston, Texas 77034. The event will occur rain or shine and is free and open to all City of Houston residents. A valid Texas driver's license or other proof of residency will be required. Business waste will not be accepted.

 

 

 

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Ellington Airport Neighborhood Recycling Center

Highway 3 at Brantley Avenue, Houston, Texas 77034

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

 

In addition to B.O.P.A. products, the city is pleased to announce that electronic scrap such as computers, monitors, keyboards, cell phones, microwaves, VCRs and TVs will be collected.  Residents may also drop off scrap metal and large appliances. Large appliances include stoves, refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners.

 

Many common household materials are considered hazardous and need special disposal. When Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) is disposed of in the trash, it can contaminate landfills and groundwater as a result. This event provides a free and safe alternative for residents to rid their homes of potentially dangerous chemicals. For a list of acceptable and non-acceptable items for the March 28 event, please click here.

 

Council Member Martin's office is looking for about 30-35 volunteers to work four-hour shifts during the event. Responsibilities would include stacking gallons of paint in cardboard containers and pouring used motor oil into a container as well as greeting individuals in attendance. If you or someone you know might be interested in volunteering, please contact our office at office at (832) 393-3008 or at [email protected].

 

District E Office Mourns the loss of David Braun

Council Member Martin and the District E team mourn the loss of David Braun, who passed away in February after bravely battling liver cancer over the past three years. Mr. Braun, who was a friend of the office and a staff member specializing in space exploration at the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership (BAHEP) as well as the former Nassua Bay Mayor Pro Tem, dedicated himself to the service of others and made an invaluable contribution to his community in Houston's Bay Area. The District E team will greatly miss David's friendship, and our office will continue to keep David's family and BAHEP in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

 

Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce's Epicurean Evening 2015

Council Member Martin attended the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce's Epicurean Evening 2015 "A Taste of Space" at Space Center Houston on Thursday, February 5 where he and District E staff had the opportunity to experience showcases from a number of Bay Area restaurants, businesses and organizations as guest judges for the third straight year. The annual event, which allows representatives from Clear Lake area establishments to present their food, goods and services to members of the public, also featured a silent auction as well as an awards ceremony.

 

Leadership Clear Lake's Elected Officials Day

On Wednesday, February 11 Council Member Martin addressed members of the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Clear Lake class during the program's Elected Officials Day which featured presentations from a number of area leaders. In his remarks, Council Member Martin gave an overview of Houston's city government, discussed his background in public leadership and reviewed some of the projects currently underway in the Clear Lake area before taking questions from Leadership Clear Lake participants.

 

Designed to educate and equip future leaders in Houston's Bay Area, the Leadership Clear Lake program offers participants the opportunity to learn about personal and professional development and engage in community study and involvement. For  more information on this year's Leadership Clear Lake class, please click here

 

Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce/Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership's State Legislative Trip

On Wednesday, February 18 South Sector Manager Evan Austin traveled to the Texas State Capitol in Austin with members and staff from the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership. Almost 100 representatives from Clear Lake area businesses, non-profit organizations and school districts were present on the trip, which seeks to educate state legislators about legislative agenda items and areas of public policy important to Houston's Bay Area. Topics covered by teams on this year's trip included education and workforce development, maritime jobs preservation, transportation, aerospace and technology outreach programs and storm surge protection.


Kingwood Joint Capital Improvement Project and Town Hall Meeting

On Thursday, February 19 approximately 150 people joined Council Member Martin at the Kingwood Community Center for a joint Capital Improvement Project (CIP) and Town Hall meeting. At the meeting, citizens received updates from representatives from a number of city departments including Solid Waste Management, Parks & Recreation, Finance, Planning and the Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs. 

 

Dale Ruddick, Director of the Public Works & Engineering Department (PWE), was also present and was joined by other PWE officials to provide residents with an update on the city's ReBuild Houston program as well as several Capital Improvement Projects underway or planned for the Kingwood and Lake Houston areas including the upcoming replacement of the Hueni Road Bridge at Mills Branch and the Magnolia Point sanitary sewer installation project for which construction is scheduled to commence in FY 2017. Also discussed was the potential Kingwood Drive paving and expansion project which has been delayed by the Public Works and Engineering Department to allow the organizers of the Kingwood Mobility Study to gather public feedback on potential solutions.

 

For more information and specific details about CIP projects in your area visit www.houstontx.gov/cip. To view project specific information on street, drainage, water and sewer CIP projects, visit http://pwecip.houstontx.gov

 

David McCarble of David Development was additionally in attendance at the town hall and provided an overview of the new master-planned mixed-use development known as Kings Creek which will be located at Highway 59 and Sorters McClellan Road. The new LEED certified development is scheduled to break ground later this year and is anticipated to bring a mixture of retail, office and residential space along with a sustainable park for recreational uses. 

 

Council Member Martin further provided those in attendance with an update on the Kingwood Mobility Study alongside TIRZ 10 Chairman Stan Sarman before taking questions and comments from members of the public. 

 

Save the Date: Final Kingwood Mobility Study Stakeholder Meeting

Council Member Martin, Gunda Corporation, LLC and the Kingwood Area Mobility Study Steering Committee will be hosting the final Kingwood Area Mobility Study Public Stakeholder Meeting on Tuesday, April 21 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at the Kingwood Community Center.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Kingwood Community Center
4102 Rustic Woods Drive, Kingwood, Texas 77345
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

The meeting has been scheduled to discuss the final outcomes and recommendations of the mobility study conducted by Gunda Corporation, LLC. over the past year. A brief synopsis of the study as well as the final report will be presented by members of the Kingwood Area Mobility Study Steering Commitee and Gunda Corporation, followed by an opportunity for public comments and questions. 

The report will be finalized and posted to the Gunda Corporation's website by the end of March, well in advance of the April 21st public meeting date to give residents the opportunity to review the information before attending the final public meeting. Please visit http://gundacorp.com/kingwood-mobility to read it in its entirety. 

For more information, please contact Council Member Martin's office at (832) 393-3008 or [email protected].
 
Save the Date: Kingwood B.O.P.A. Recycling Event

Council Member Martin and the city's Solid Waste Management Department are hosting a Batteries, Oil, Paint, Antifreeze (B.O.P.A.) recycling event on Saturday, April 25 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Kingwood Metro Park & Ride located at 3210 West Lake Houston Parkway. The event will occur rain or shine and is free and open to all City of Houston residents. A valid Texas driver's license or other proof of residency will be required. Business waste will not be accepted.

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Kingwood Metro Park & Ride

3210 West Lake Houston Parkway

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

 

In addition to B.O.P.A. products, the city is pleased to announce that residents may also drop off scrap metal and large appliances. Large appliances include stoves, refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners.

 

Many common household materials are considered hazardous and need special disposal. When Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) is disposed of in the trash, it can contaminate landfills and groundwater as a result. This event provides a free and safe alternative for residents to rid their homes of potentially dangerous chemicals. For more information on the City of Houston's B.O.P.A. recycling events, including a list of accepted and not-accepted items, please click here.


For more information, please contact Council Member Martin's office at (832) 393-3008 or at [email protected].


Lake Houston Family YMCA's 23rd Annual Bridge Fest 

On the morning of Saturday, February 7 Council Member Martin gave the opening prayer at the Lake Houston Family YMCA's 23rd Annual Bridge Fest, where he was joined by State Representative Dan Huberty, Humble Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Guy Sconzo, Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital CEO Heath Rushing and Bridge Fest Chairman Ken Marshall. Participants of all ages and abilities turned out for this year's event, which featured races of three distances for runners, joggers and walkers to choose from.

 

Net proceeds from the 23rd Annual Bridge Fest benefitted 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, including pictures from the event, can be found on the organization's Facebook page here.


Humble Area Assistance Ministries' "Raise the Roof" 25th Anniversary Celebration

On Sunday, February 15 Council Member Martin attended the Humble Area Assistance Ministries' (HAAM) "Raise the Roof" 25th Anniversary Celebration where he delivered the opening prayer and presented a City of Houston proclamation recognizing the organization's contribution to the greater Humble area over the past 25 years. The celebration, which also served as HAAM's 9th annual chili cook-off, also featured remarks from Texas State Represenative Dan Huberty.

 

HAAM is a faith-based organization that helps Humble area residents in crisis by providing essential resources such as rental, utility and clothing assistance; life skills and financial literacy courses; job search assistance; and many other services. HAAM additionally focuses on eradicating hunger in its service area, serving 9,600 individuals through its Food Fairs and Mobile Food programs in 2013 alone. For more information on Humble Area Assistance Ministries, click here.

 

Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce's State Legislative Trip

North Sector Manager Jessica Beemer traveled to the Texas State Capitol on February 17-18 with the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce to meet with state officials and advocate to state legislators on issues of importance to the Lake Houston region. Delegates on this year's trip received updates from Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams, President & CEO of the Texas Economic Development Council Carlton Schwab, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Glenn Hegar and Texas Transportation Commission member Jeff Austin III. Travelers additionally met with State Representative Dan Huberty and State Senator Brandon Creighton who both represent residents of District E in the Lake Houston area. 


District E Team Mourns Fallen Houston Firefighter Dwight Bazile 

Council Member Martin and the District E team attended a public memorial service on Friday, February 27 honoring the memory of Houston Firefighter Captain Dwight Bazile, who passed away after collapsing while battling a house fire in Southeast Houston on February 19. Captain Bazile had been with the Houston Fire Department since 1977 and served most of his career at Fire Station 46 in Southeast Houston. The District E office sends its deepest condolences to the family of Captain Bazile and to members of the Houston Fire Department, who courageously risk their lives in the service of others every day. 

 

Core Services Recommendations

Over the past several months, Council Member Martin and his colleagues on City Council have participated in Core Services workshops aimed at defining the City of Houston's most essential services and identifying budgetary efficiencies among the city's various departments to address the estimated $62 million budget deficit facing Houston in FY 2016. To conclude the Core Services process, council members met for two special-called meetings of the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee (BFA) in February. At the meetings, a majority of council members present voted in favor of a number of budget recommendations which were subsequently sent to Mayor Annise Parker for consideration.

 

The approved recommendations include:

  • Reassigning the Office of Business Opportunity's core service functions to other city departments and to the city's Chief Compliance, Chief Procurement and Strategic Purchasing Officers;
  • Exploring employee health benefit plan changes which would result in up to $11 million in health care savings; 
  • Reducing up to 25% of the Public Works and Engineering Department's Engineering and Construction/Planning and Development Project Cost Recovery Workforce; 
  • Transferring full-time employees from the Neighborhood Protection Division of the Department of Neighborhoods to the Houston Police Department; 
  • Requiring additional funds from TIRZ budgets to be added to the Houston Police Department and Houston Fire Department for public safety activities.
The Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee plans to hold one additional meeting to consider further budgetary recommendations. Council Member Martin's office will continue to keep residents informed on the recommendations made by the committee to conclude the Core Services Workshops process.
Ad Hoc Charter Review Committee Meeting

On Thursday, February 26 City Council held an additional meeting of the Ad Hoc Charter Review Committee, formed to review potential revisions to Houston's City Charter throughout early 2015. At the meeting, council members discussed introducing a ballot amendment to alter or lift the city's property tax revenue cap. Houston voters approved the cap in 2004, which limits the growth of property tax revenue to the combined rates of inflation and population growth, or 4.5 percent, whichever is lower. In 2006, voters amended the revenue cap by allowing the city to raise an additional $90 million to fund public safety services. After debate and discussion, committee members present voted unanimously to leave changes to the revenue cap off of the ballot.

 

The Ad Hoc Charter Review Committee will meet two final times in March, convening next on Tuesday, March 10 at 6:30 p.m. and then again on Tuesday, March 31 at 9:00 a.m. Both meetings will be held in the City Council Chamber on the Second Floor of City Hall, located at 901 Bagby Street, Houston, Texas 77002. All meetings of the committee are open to the public, and members of the public are encouraged to attend and provide comment on the charter review process.

 

More information on the City of Houston's Ad Hoc Charter Review Committee, including meeting agendas and copies of presentations, can be found online hereTaped 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.

 

Public Works and Engineering Department's Community Outreach Initiatives

Recently, the City of Houston's Public Works and Engineering Department (PWE) announced a number of initiatives meant to increase community outreach and engagement in the ReBuild Houston program which identifies and delivers Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) across the city. One such initiative is the department's new CIP Map Viewer, which uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to display the location and information for hundreds of CIP projects that have been recently completed, are under construction or are planned for future construction over the next five years. The City of Houston's new CIP Map Viewer can be viewed here.

 

An additional measure introduced by the Public Works and Engineering Department to increase public input is the ReBuild Houston 2015 Survey. The survey, which can be filled out online here, allows residents to report flooding history and street conditions in their Houston neighborhood.

 

Also under development by PWE is a new public meeting process enabling residents to provide feedback for Capital Improvement Projects coming to their neighborhoods. Under the revised process, community members and stakeholders will have the opportunity to participate in three public meetings prior to project commencement: pre-engineering, pre-design and pre-construction. 


Council Member Martin's office will continue to keep the public updated as the Public Works and Engineering Department implements additional opportunities for residents to engage in the ReBuild Houston program. For questions, please contact our office at 
(832) 393-3008 or 

 

Constituent Request Form

To promote convenient, timely and effective constituent service to the residents of District E, Council Member Martin recently launched a new Constituent Request Form on the District E webpage. The form, which is located in the "District E Links" section of the official District E site, allows residents to report city-related issues such as drainage problems, missed trash pick-ups, weeded lots and other concerns directly. Residents can also describe their concerns in depth in an open comment box featured on the form.

 

The Constituent Request Form will enable Council Member Martin and the District E team to respond to constituent concerns as quickly and effectively as possible. To access the new form directly, please click here

 

City of Houston's 2015 Summer Jobs Program

Returning in the summer of 2015 is the City of Houston's Summer Jobs Program, a city initiative offering paid internships in a variety of city departments to youths aged 16-21. Applications for the program will be made available this spring, with interview dates preliminarily scheduled for the second and third weeks in May. To improve the internship experience and application process this year, those interested in participating in the program will now be able to apply for specific opportunities, e.g. Pool Gate Attendant, Library Intern or Park Manager Aide, or opportunities within a certain category, such as General Office Intern. 

 

Council Member Martin's office will continue to keep the public updated on the program as summer 2015 approaches. For a recent press release about the City of Houston's Summer Jobs Program, click here.

 

HPD's 2015 March on Crime Campaign

Each spring during the month of March, the Houston Police Department (HPD) engages in the "March on Crime" campaign to disseminate information on different types of crime and educate Houston citizens on proactive crime prevention techniques. For the campaign's 31st year in 2015, HPD's Public Affairs and Patrol divisions will focus on Traffic Safety and the Reduction of Violent Crimes.

 

HPD's March on Crime campaign began in 1984 and promoted six major programs to effectively fight crime: Drug Awareness, Crime Stoppers, Neighborhood Watch, Personal Safety, Burglary Prevention and Crimes Against the Elderly and Juveniles. Since its inception, the program has expanded to utilize various forms of media to educate Houstonians on trends in crime across the city. 


More information on HPD's 2015 March on Crime campaign, including crime prevention tips, will be published during the month of March online at www.houstonpolice.org and on the department's Facebook page accessible here.

 

2015 Great Texas Warrant Round-Up

Last month, the City of Houston's Municipal Courts Department and Houston Police Department (HPD) announced their participation in the 2015 Great Texas Warrant Round-Up (WRU). They will be among 300 jurisdictions across the state that will engage in this annual law enforcement campaign that begins Saturday, March 7, 2015. Neighboring jurisdictions joining this statewide initiative as regional participants include Harris, Galveston, Fort Bend, and Waller Counties.

HPD will be assisted by the Texas Attorney General's Fugitive Apprehension Unit to search for individuals with outstanding warrants. Once the Warrant Round-up period begins on March 7, 2015, HPD and other law enforcement agencies will aggressively target those defendants on the warrant list. Authorities warn that arrests can take place at any location, including the defendant's home, school or workplace.

Additionally, a special task force will focus solely on locating defendants with outstanding warrants through a License Plate Recognition program whose parked vehicle has been documented multiple times at specific locations. 

 

Notices are being mailed to all Houston Municipal Court defendants with active warrants. Individuals with warrants in jurisdictions other than the City of Houston should contact those jurisdictions for information about how to clear outstanding warrants. A complete list of participating regional partners can be found at www.houstontx.gov/courts.

 

For more information about warrants or citations, visit the Court's website at www.houstontx.gov/courts or contact the Houston Helpline at 3-1-1 or (713) 837-0311, if outside the City of Houston. 

BARC's Finding Rover Mobile Pet Application

At a news conference on Tuesday, February 24 Mayor Annise Parker announced the Houston launch of Finding Rover, a new mobile application presented by the city's Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care (BARC) in partnership with Friends for Life. Finding Rover is a free service for identifying lost and found dogs in real-time with facial recognition technology accessible through the smartphone application and website. Finding Rover's state of the art facial recognition technology helps reunite more dogs with their owners by enabling anyone to instantly identify a missing dog simply by taking a photo of the dog. The facial recognition technology makes the app's photo matching capability 98% accurate.


Finding Rover is currently available on iOS, Android and online at

www.findingrover.com. Registration is accessible through Facebook and email - all registrants need is a picture of their dog and zip code. Users' contact information will be published only when creating a lost or found dog poster. 


For information on additional services and initiatives offered by BARC, please visit 
www.houstontx.gov/barc/BARC-Home-Page.

State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry

To give local emergency responders access to critical information to assist when disasters strike, citizens can sign up with the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR). Those recommended to register for STEAR include people with a medical or access need which makes evacuating difficult; people who do not have a way to evacuate themselves in an emergency; and individuals who use a medical device that needs electricity. 

To register for STEAR, residents can call 211 or (877) 541-7905. Alternatively, registration for STEAR can be completed online at texasstear.org.

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

March 3-22
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

March 3-10
HLSR's International Days 

March 4
HLSR's Armed Forces Day

March 6-8
Azalea Trail Garden Tour

March 7
Annual Houston Firefighters' Memorial Ceremony

March 9
4th Memorial Park Master Plan Update Meeting

March 10
Ad Hoc Charter Review Committee

March 10-14
2015 SWAC Basketball Tournament

March 15
Tour de Houston

March 17-18
Council Break Week

March 27-29
Bayou City Art Festival

March 28-29
McDonald's Houston Children's Festival

March 31
Ad Hoc Charter Review Committee Meeting

Kingwood
March 5
Kingwood Service Assocation's Parks Committee Meeting

March 11
Kingwood Service Association's Public Safety Committee Meeting

March 17
Kingwood PIP

March 18
Kingwood Super Neighborhood Meeting

Southeast Houston/Clear Lake    

March 3

Southeast Houston/Clear Lake CIP & Town Hall Meeting

 

March 5

Super Neighborhood 75 (Meadowbrook/Allendale) Meeting

 

March 7

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

 

March 12

South Channel Regions State of the County Luncheon

 

March 17

Super Neighborhood 58 (Northshore) Meeting

 

March 17

Clear Lake PIP

 

March 28

Clear Lake B.O.P.A. Recycling Event

 

March 30

Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce's Spring Fever Golf Classic 2015