The slightly cooler air and changing of colors of the leaves is a welcome sign of Fall. As we do this time of year every year, our office is hosting our round of fall town hall meetings. Nearly 70 people attended the meeting in Clear Lake on September 22 at Space Center Houston. We had productive presentations and discussions regarding infrastructure improvements, updates on local developments and CIP-related topics. Thank you to all who attended. I invite Kingwood residents to attend our next town hall meeting that will take place on Tuesday, October 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Kingwood Community Center. We hope you will join us.

As a final reminder, I also want to encourage each of you to get involved this election season. There are two important local propositions on the ballot this November including the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (Proposition 1) and Length of Terms (Proposition 2) in addition to the open Mayor's seat as well as many contested city council positions. Please note that Monday, October 5 is the last day to register to vote. Early voting will begin on October 19 with the general election to take place on November 3. For more information, please visit votetexas.gov.

Lastly, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for supporting me in my position as the District E council member since being sworn in nearly three years ago. Through your support, I am proud to say that I am running unopposed again this election. It has been a true blessing and privilege to be able to not only represent the residents and businesses of District E, but to work with each of you. I have had many opportunities that I never dreamed I would have and have been exposed to different industries including tourism and hospitality, aerospace, petrochemical, medical, etc. that I have thoroughly enjoyed learning more about. I thank God every day for giving me the opportunity to work on behalf of each of you in the district and will continue to fight for you at City Hall. Please never hesitate to contact my office should you have a question, issue or concern. My door is always open.

Thank you again for the opportunity to serve you.

Sincerely,

Dave Martin

Save the Date: Kingwood Town Hall

Council Member Martin will host his annual Kingwood fall town hall meeting on Tuesday, October 13, 2015 from 6:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Kingwood Community Center located at 4102 Rustic Woods Drive. Members of the public are invited to attend to hear from city and community representatives about ongoing projects, issues and community news related to the Kingwood area.

At the meeting, representatives from the City of Houston's Public Works and Engineering Department, Solid Waste Management Department and Houston Police Department - Kingwood Substation will present updates on city initiatives.

Burdette Huffman with Lovett Development and Stan Sarman, Chair of the Lake Houston Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ 10), will also be present to provide updates on projects in the community.

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

Kingwood Drive and Willow Terrace Repairs

Last month, Council Member Martin identified a needed panel replacement project in Kingwood at the intersection of Willow Terrace and Kingwood Drive. To expedite the repair, Council Member Martin met on site with Eric Dargan, Deputy Director of the city's Public Works and Engineering Department (PWE), and subsequently allocated $12,250 from his Fiscal Year 2016 Council District Service Budget for the effort. Due to the allocation, PWE was able to complete the panel replacement project during the month of September.

HPD Lake Patrol Tour

On Friday, September 26 Council Member Martin and the District E team joined State Representative Dan Huberty (TX-127) and staff on a tour of Lake Houston with the Houston Police Department's (HPD) Lake Patrol Division. During the tour, Lake Patrol officers took the group to different areas around the lake and the West Fork of the San Jacinto River to illustrate their patrol routes, methods and protected assets on the lake.

Council Member Martin has supported HPD's Lake Patrol Division by using surplus office budget funds to assist in the purchase of needed equipment such as new patrol jet skis and jet ski ramps which have enabled officers to respond to water emergencies much more quickly than before. He thanks all of the officers who led the informative tour and commends them for their diligent service patrolling Lake Houston and responding to emergencies on the water.

Lake Houston Wilderness Park Archery Range

On September 30, Houston City Council passed an item to submit a grant application to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to fund the development of an archery range at Lake Houston Wilderness Park. The proposed 20-acre range will feature a variety of outdoor amenities developed for archers of all ages and abilities. Once completed, the addition will be the largest outdoor archery range in the metropolitan area, will offer both training and competition for amateurs and professionals alike and will extend the opportunity to introduce individuals and families to the sport. The anticipated cost for Phase II of the project is $1,000,000.

Third Annual KM4B "Band on the Run" 5K

Save the date! At 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 7 the Kingwood High School Mighty Mustang Military Marching Band (KM4B) will hold its third annual "Band on the Run" 5K fun run through the Kingwood community. This annual fundraising event is held to support the purchase of items for the band not funded through the district budget, including new instruments, equipment and clinicians.

For more on the KM4B's third annual "Band on the Run" 5K fun run, including registration and packet pickup information, please click here. Please note that those interested in sponsorship opportunities must submit a sponsorship form, available at the above-linked website, by Wednesday, October 7 to be included on the event's t-shirt.

South Shaver Street Ribbon Cutting

On Tuesday, September 22, Council Member Martin hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony marking the much-anticipated completion of the $13.5 million dollar South Shaver Street reconstruction project which was initiated by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the City of Houston in the summer of 2013. Daniel Menendez, Deputy Director of the City of Houston's Public Works and Engineering Department, and Lucio Ortiz, the Texas Department of Transportation's Area Engineering for Southeast Harris County, joined Council Member Martin at the ceremony to address the approximately 50 community members in attendance.

Council Member Martin thanks all who attended the ceremony for coming out to mark the special occasion. He also thanks Pastors Jose and Sofia Del Cid for allowing the city to hold the ceremony in front of their church, Iglesia Cristo de Poder.

Nick Crnkovic Birthday Proclamation

Council Member Martin was proud to request a City of Houston proclamation last month recognizing the 85th birthday of Nick Crnkovic. For many years, Mr. Crnkovic has contributed to the City of Houston in a number of capacities including as a recently reappointed member of the Public Safety Advisory Committee. He has also served for years as the president of the Freeway Manor Civic Club and has worked closely with the District E office to achieve improvements to the community.

Council Member Martin congratulates Mr. Crnkovic on the milestone and thanks him for his continuing leadership within his community and throughout the city as a whole.

Save the Date: Freeway Manor Tree Planting

Council Member Martin will host a tree planting ceremony in the Freeway Manor community at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, October 19 at 1018 Creager Street. All interested Freeway Manor residents are encouraged to attend.

The ceremony will mark the beginning of an effort by the Houston Parks and Recreation Department and the Freeway Manor Civic Club to plant trees throughout the community. To support this beautification effort, the local nonprofit organization Trees for Houston has graciously agreed to donate up to 300 trees. More information on the opportunity to personally request a tree will be made available to Freeway Manor residents later this fall.

For questions about the October 19 Freeway Manor tree planting ceremony, please contact the District E office at (832) 393-3008 or via email at districte@houstontx.gov.

Southeast Houston/Clear Lake Fall Town Hall

Council Member Martin hosted approximately 70 community members at his annual fall town hall meeting for Southeast Houston and Clear Lake residents on Tuesday, September 22 at Space Center Houston. Representatives from the City of Houston's Public Works and Engineering Department, Solid Waste Management Department, Houston Police Department, Parks and Recreation Department and Houston Airport System presented project updates for the area. Collins Pier from Trendmaker Homes also presented the company's progress on the new residential community, The Reserve at Clear Lake City, located at Clear Lake City Boulevard and El Dorado Boulevard. Brian Bacik from General Growth Partners additionally updated the crowd on the status of the expansion of Baybrook Mall. The first phase of the expansion, including a new Lifestyle Center, is scheduled to be completed by the 2015 holiday season with many exciting new shopping options available to the community.

Council Member Martin thanks all who attended the meeting to learn about city projects and community updates affecting the south sector of District E. For more information on any of topics discussed, please contact the District E office at (832) 393-3008 or at districte@houstontx.gov.

Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership's Prospect Review Meeting

On Thursday, September 10 Council Member Martin joined area economic development representatives and business leaders at the quarterly Prospect Review Committee meeting hosted by the Bay Area Houston Partnership (BAHEP). During the meeting, Council Member Martin had the opportunity to give an update on infrastructure and development projects taking place within the Clear Lake area of District E. Representatives from the Texas Department of Transportation were also at the meeting and made a presentation on the major state infrastructure projects that are upcoming or currently underway in Houston's Bay Area.

Council Member Martin thanks Barbara Cutsinger and Dan Seal of BAHEP for leading the insightful and productive meeting.

Winter Day Camps at Space Center Houston

This winter, Space Center Houston will host day camps Monday through Wednesday December 21-23 and December 28-30. For a limited time, customers can receive a 10% discount by using discount code "WINCAMP02" when checking out.

Campers ages 4-11 will experience a fun, exciting and unique educational experience developed using national science standards. Activities at the camp are immersive, hands-on and incorporate space science to inspire students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Camps offered this winter include training like an astronaut, questing for alien life in the galaxy and building a rocket racer.

This special discount ends November 20 and space in the camps is limited, so Space Center Houston encourages interested parents to sign their children up today by clicking here. All day camp purchases help to support the Center's Manned Space Flight Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

"Pray for Police #P4P" Campaign

On Tuesday, September 8 Council Member Martin attended a press conference hosted by the Houston Police Officers Union who announced their "Pray for Police" campaign. More than 20,000 wristbands emblazoned with "Pray for Police #P4P" were distributed to area citizens, local congregations and anyone who wanted to show their support for the courageous work Houston area law enforcement does.

It's important that Houstonians rally around local officers and offer them support as a community. If you see an officer in the community, please take the time to thank him or her for their service to the city and let them know that you are praying for them and their safety as they selflessly devote their career to protecting the residents of the City of Houston.

Deputy Darren Goforth

On the night of Friday, August 28 Harris County Deputy Darren Goforth tragically lost his life in the line of duty in an unfathomable and heinous crime. Council Member Martin and the entire District E team's thoughts and prayers are with the Goforth family, the Harris County Sheriff's Office and local law enforcement as they continue to grieve the loss of a family member, friend and colleague.

9/11 Heroes Run 2015

On Saturday, September 12 Council Member Martin joined over 2,000 participants at Ellington Airport for the 5th annual 9/11 Heroes Run. Each year, the 9/11 Heroes Run honors the individuals who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 in addition to veterans, active military men and women and first responders who risk their lives every day in the service of others. Council Member Martin thanks all of the runners and volunteers for showing up to make this event a huge success.

9/11 Heroes Run Proclamation

At the Public Session meeting of City Council on Tuesday, September 29, Council Member Martin recognized HPD Captains Greg Fremin and Brian Bennett for their roles in planning and coordinating the annual 9/11 Heroes Run that takes place at Ellington Airport. For the past five years the two men have volunteered their time to make this event a huge success and one of the largest in the nation. Council Member Martin thanks them for making the public aware about this significant run and for bringing to light the sacrifices made by those who protect our citizens and country on a daily basis.

Coastal Flooding and Storm Surge Protection

Last month, Texas made a major stride toward protecting our coast from the damage caused by storms and flooding. Land Commissioner George P. Bush announced that the state would begin working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to study the feasibility of projects to limit flood and storm surge damage.

Council Member Martin supports this action to protect the Texas coast and Houston residents and assets. He has worked hard since coming into office to build political will among city, county and state officials to explore and collaborate on possible proactive solutions.

Council Member Martin will continue to remain engaged in efforts to support the study of the storm surge threat to Houston's Bay Area. He looks forward to observing the evolving design process for a coastal barrier concept, and hopes to aid in the implementation of such a regional solution in the near future.

Joint Processing Center

On Wednesday, September 23 the Houston City Council unanimously approved a contract with Harris County for the construction of a new joint processing center to replace the city's jail. The facility, to be located next to the Harris County Jail on Baker Street in downtown Houston, will house city jail bookings, bonding and municipal court activities. As per the approved contract, the city will pay $30 million for the design and construction of the processing center while Harris County will contribute $70 million. By facilitating coordination with Harris County to eliminate redundant bookings and streamline the intake process, the new center is expected to save the city $4 million per year long-term.

Plan Houston

For over a decade, the greater Houston community has advocated the City of Houston for the adoption of a general plan to guide the city's future. Since August 2014, the city has facilitated a community-led process which ultimately led to the development of such a document: Plan Houston, which was presented by the city's Planning and Development Department last month to City Council for adoption. After several weeks of discussion and debate, Plan Houston was approved on Wednesday, September 30.

A framework for sound planning and policy making, Plan Houston will, once implemented:

Encourage coordination and collaboration among city departments and other agencies;

Improve effectiveness by enabling a proactive approach to solving problems;

Accelerate quality policy making;

Enhance transparency and citizen engagement, and;

Foster consistency across changes in city leadership.

For more information and to view the plan, please visit planhouston.org.

Greater Houston Partnership's State of the Medical Center

Last month, Council Member Martin had the opportunity to attend the Greater Houston Partnership's State of Texas Medical Center, an event highlighting the innovation in healthcare research and biotech commercialization occurring at the Center. President and CEO of the Texas Medical Center, Bobby Robbins, M.D., spoke at the event and conducted a panel discussion featuring Giuseppe Colasurdo, M.D., President of UTHealth, Ron DePinho, M.D., President of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Adam Kuspa, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Dean for Research at Baylor College of Medicine.

Houston First HOT Tax Meeting

On September 23, Council Member Martin attended the Hotel Occupancy Tax Stakeholders Meeting presented by the Houston First Corporation (HFC). At the meeting, a regional economic forecast was presented as well as a projection for the HFC 2016 budget. As an ex-oficio Houston First Board Member, Council Member Martin was interested to hear about the projected numbers and economic trends for the next year and looks forward to learning more as he continues to serve on the board.

Houston Zoo CEO Welcome Reception

Council Member Martin joined his City Council colleagues at an event held on Tuesday, September 29 to welcome the new president and CEO of the Houston Zoo, Lee Ehmke. Mr. Ehmke assumed the role in early September after former CEO Deborah Cannon retired in August. Mr. Ehmke comes to the Houston Zoo with much relevant experience, having served as the CEO of the Minnesota Zoological Garden and the president of the Minnesota Zoo Foundation prior to the move.

First Annual Houston Tourism Summit

On Thursday, September 10 the Houston First Corporation hosted the first annual Houston Tourism Summit to provide opportunities for local tourism professionals to come together and brainstorm ideas on how to generate more tourism to the city. In addition to providing exciting possibilities to increase the visibility of Houston and its standing as a preferred tourist destination, attendees were able to hear from CBS News Travel Editor Peter Greenberg, participate in panel discussions and learn from experts on topics related to leisure tourism.

As an ex-oficio Houston First Board Member, Council Member Martin thanks all those involved with coordinating a successful tourism networking event and looks forward to learning more about the ideas generated at the summit.

Municipal Court Annex Locations

On behalf of the City of Houston Municipal Courts Department, Council Member Martin would like to make the residents of the Kingwood and Clear Lake communities aware of a convenient and cost effective alternative to driving downtown to handle their traffic tickets at both the Kingwood and Clear Lake Annex Courts.

In addition to the court services that are offered, the two Annex Courts now have user-friendly payment kiosks that are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.The kiosks will remain available at all times to accept most payments, but may not be used on jail or juvenile cases. The kiosks will not accept partial payments.

Kingwood Annex Court

Houston Police Department Kingwood Substation

3915 Rustic Woods Drive

Office Hours: Wednesdays, 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (closed noon - 1:00 p.m.)

Clear Lake Annex Court

Houston Police Department Clear Lake Substation

2855 Bay Area Bouleveard

Office Hours: Thursdays, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (closed noon - 1:00 p.m.)

For more information about the services offered by the City of Houston Municipal Courts, visit their website at www.houstontx.gov/courts. Should you have additional questions please contact Council Member Martin's Office (832) 393-3008 or districte@houstontx.gov.

National Night Out 2015

Save the date! On the evening of Tuesday, October 6 communities across the city will participate in National Night Out, a national crime-prevention initiative which fosters police-community partnerships, neighborhood camaraderie and deters criminal activity. Originally founded in 1984, National Night Out has grown to include over 38.1 million people and 16,540 communities from all fifty states, U.S. Territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. Activities to be expected on National Night Out include community block parties, cookouts, parades and visits from emergency personnel.

As in years past, Council Member Martin will be making his rounds across the council district during National Night Out and encourages residents to contact their local HOA to find out about activities planned for the evening in their neighborhood this year.

HPD Crime Prevention Tips

At Council Member Martin's town hall hosted on September 22, Captain Jerome Stevens of the Houston Police Department's Clear Lake Division presented several informative crime prevention tips that are always important to keep in mind. Captain Stevens reminded residents to:

Make sure all windows and doors are locked whether you are home or away;

Activate your alarm system regardless of how long you anticipate being away from home;

Never leave jewelry or valuables in plain view;

Take photos of valuables and their identification numbers and keep these images on a zip drive;

Set interior home lights on a timer;

Maintain adequate exterior lighting and keep bushes and shrubs trimmed;

Always keep your vehicle car doors locked and windows closed;

While out shopping, do not move items from inside your vehicle into the trunk in public view;

Finally, get to know your neighbors, be aware of your surroundings at all time and report all suspicious activity to the police immediately.

HPD Open Carry Meeting

With the new Texas Open Carry law going into effect on January 1, 2016, the Houston Police Department (HPD) is hosting an informational meeting to answer citizen questions on what to do if they see individuals displaying weapons in public places.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 4, 2015 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Learning Development Center at 4501 Leeland Street, Houston, Texas 77023. Free parking will be available on site.

HPD Chief Charles A. McClelland, Jr. will be joined by City Attorney Donna Edmundson and Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson in a panel discussion about the new law and the challenges police officers will have in responding to citizen calls involving an individual publicly displaying a weapon.

The Open Carry law will allow a license holder to "open carry" a holstered handgun.

HPD will live-stream the meeting on the HPD YouTube channel and live-blog the questions and answers during the meeting.

For more information, contact the HPD Public Affairs Office at (713) 308-3200 or go to the HPD website to view and print a flyer on the meeting at www.houstontx.gov/police/pdfs/Open-Carry-Info-Flyer.pdf.

HPD Message on Synthetic Drugs

The Houston Police Department (HPD) is asking citizens to "Help Us, Help You" educate the community on the emerging dangerous threat of chemically enhanced (synthetic) drugs being falsely advertised as safe alternatives to marijuana.

To watch a YouTube message on this issue for Houston parents and youth from Captain M.D. Brown of the HPD Narcotics Division, please click here.

Additional information on these drugs and instructions on how to report illegal drug activity in your neighborhood is available online at https://stopdrugshouston.org.

CASE for Kids Grant Recipients

Last month, several organizations in District E were awarded funding through the city's CASE for Kids City Connections program: Young Audiences, The Village Learning Center and the Lake Houston Family YMCA. The City Connections program offers monetary support to nonprofit organizations within the City of Houston offering services to youths outside of the school day.

Applications for the second term of the CASE for Kids City Connections grant program are set to become available on December 1, 2015. For more information, please click here.

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Meeting

On Wednesday, October 7 the City of Houston will be holding an informational meeting to inform homeowners whose homes flooded in the May and June flooding events on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). The city, in partnership with the Texas Department of Emergency Management, is applying for a grant through the program to assist qualified homeowners with the cost of mitigating flood prone properties. Homeowners may choose to request funding for home elevation or demolition-reconstruction. HMGP is a statewide competitive program and funding is not guaranteed.

The October 7 meeting will take place from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center located at 5601 South Braeswood Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77096. At this meeting, an update on the status of the FEMA grant application will be provided.

Please note that interested homeowners must submit all required documents before 5:00 p.m. on November 6, 2015 to be considered for inclusion in the HMGP grant application.

31st Annual Wings Over Houston Airshow

Council Member Martin invites all Houstonians to Ellington Airport on Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18 for the 31st Annual Wings Over Houston Airshow. Headlining this year's show are the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds represent nearly 700,000 active duty, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard and civilian Airmen across America and deployed around the world. The Breitling Jet Team, VFA-122 Super Hornet Demonstration Team, a WWII Airpower Demo and a rescue demonstration by the U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter Dolphin MH65D are also scheduled for this year's show.

Gates will open at 8:00 a.m. on both October 17 and 18. For more on the 31st Annual Wings Over Houston airshow, including ticket information, please visit www.wingsoverhouston.com.

Hobby International Terminal Opening

Construction on the new international terminal at William P. Hobby Airport is expected to conclude next month. Once completed, the terminal will feature five new gates for international flights, four of which will be dedicated to Southwest Airlines. There will also be expanded Southwest Airlines ticket counters and increased security checkpoints.

The new international air service will create competition within the international market, leading to lower airfare and more travel options for the public. Southwest will be offering flights from Hobby Airport to Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica and Jamaica by the end of 2015.

Houston City Council approved the deal for the terminal with Southwest Airlines in May 2012 by a 16-1 vote. The $156 million construction project was fully funded by Southwest Airlines and began in 2013.

Rollout! Mobile Application

Last month, the City of Houston's Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) launched the new Rollout! mobile application. The winner of this year's 3rd annual Citywide Hackathon, the Rollout! app offers residents useful information and reminders about SWMD schedules for trash, junk and tree waste collection and recycling. Rollout! will even send push notifications to remind residents to roll their waste bins to the curb for collection. Interested residents can download the Rollout! mobile application in the iTunes and Android app stores.

Residents can also find information on their solid waste collection schedules as well as SWMD service maps by visiting www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/service_schedules.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

October 6

National Night Out

October 7

Public Hearing on 2015 Proposed Property Tax Rate

October 7

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Meeting

October 15

Hobby International Terminal Celebration

October 17 - 18

31st Annual Wings Over Houston Airshow

October 19 - 30

Early Voting Period

October 22
Mobility Matters Symposium

October 26

31st Annual Mayor's Proud Partners Award Luncheon

October 27 - 28

Council Break Week

Kingwood

October 1

Kingwood Service Association's Parks Committee Meeting

October 13

Kingwood Fall Town Hall Meeting

October 14

Kingwood Service Association's Public Safety Committee Meeting

October 17

Lake Houston Family YMCA's Miracle League Special Needs Baseball Game

October 20

Kingwood PIP

October 21

Kingwood Super Neighborhood Meeting

Southeast Houston/Clear Lake

October 2

Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce's Chairman's Ball

October 9

San Jacinto College's State of the College Event

October 19

Freeway Manor Tree Planting Ceremony

October 20

Clear Lake PIP

October 24

Rotary Club of Space Center's 42nd Annual Shrimporee