Last month, my office hosted two Capital Improvement Project Town Hall Meetings, one in Kingwood and the other in Clear Lake. Nearly 600 people attended these meetings and heard updates from community leaders and city departments about projects affecting the public in the surrounding area. I want to take a moment to thank all those individuals who participated in these meetings and the Mayor's Citizens Assistance Office for working with my staff to coordinate them. I also want to take a moment to thank Mayor Sylvester Turner for taking an interest in the council district and making it a priority to not only attend both of these meetings, but to address the crowd as well. Mayor Turner spoke about the city finances and recognized the public's priorities and lack of CIP dollars allocated to District E in the past. He has promised to work with myself and council to see our fair share of these dollars returned to the community. I look forward to working with him not only on this, but with balancing the city's budget. Video of the town hall meetings will be posted to the HTV website in the coming weeks. Until then, a sneak peek of what the mayor said at our Kingwood meeting can be found here.

Additionally, this month we will celebrate the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in our city. Over the next few weeks, visitors will travel near and far to experience everything the rodeo has to offer. As an ex-oficio board member, I am proud to say that the rodeo was organized for charitable, educational and scientific purposes and their mission has not changed over the years. In fact, the Rodeo has committed over $400 million to scholarships, research, endowments, calf scramble participants, junior show exhibitors, School Art participants and other educational youth programs. Additionally, the show has a significant impact on the City of Houston every year. According to the Rodeo's website:

Annual aggregate gross sales in the region are increased by $475,403,000.
Annual regional product is increased by $320,221,000.
Annual personal incomes are raised by $290,710,000.
7,265 full-time equivalent jobs are created.
The local population is increased by 16,316 people.

For the fourth year in a row I will be joining several of my council colleagues by participating in rodeo activities such as Armed Forces Appreciation Day, NASA Day and by welcoming delegations of visitors from around the world in the International Committee Room. This is a time of year I always look forward to and encourage all Houstonians to take advantage of visiting this wonderful event that takes place in our back yard once a year.

As always, it is a pleasure to serve you. Please let myself and my staff know if we can assist you in any way. We are available by contacting our council office at districte@houstontx.gov or by calling (832) 393-3008.

Sincerely,

Dave Martin

Super Tuesday Primary Elections

March 1 is Super Tuesday, the day on which Texas voters can vote in primary elections for local, state and national contests, including the presidential race. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. at a number of locations across the City of Houston. For information on Super Tuesday poll locations, and to view a personalized sample ballot, please visit http://harrisvotes.com. Please also note that an approved form of photo identification will be required to vote; for information on voter ID rules, click here. Since Texas operates an open primary system, residents do not need to be affiliated with a party to vote in the March 1 primary elections.

Southeast Houston/Clear Lake Capital Improvement Plan Meeting

On Thursday, February 25 approximately 175 people joined Council Member Martin at Space Center Houston for a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) meeting. Mayor Sylvester Turner presented opening remarks at the meeting, recognizing the priorities of the Clear Lake community and acknowledging the lack of Capital Improvement dollars dedicated to the Southeast Houston/Clear Lake area. He concluded by stating his commitment to those in attendance to work with the council member to try to rectify this issue in the community.

Bob Mitchell, President of Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, additionally spoke about the importance of creating a solution to protect the area against the threat of future storm surges. The Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District has been conducting a study on storm surge suppression and has recently completed its Phase 2 study report. For more information on the study and upcoming public meetings to be held in Houston's Bay Area on this topic, please visit www.gccprd.com. Mr. Mitchell also presented information regarding the development of the Houston Spaceport at Ellington Airport and his organization's involvement with the Houston Airport System to support the project.

Steven David from the Mayor's Office of Economic Development also spoke about the possibility of creating a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) in the Clear Lake area and how the area could benefit from a TIRZ considering the lack of CIP dollars. Representatives from a number of city departments including Public Works and Engineering, Rebuild Houston and Plan Houston also addressed the audience.

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

http://pwecip.houstontx.gov.

Council Member Martin thanks all who attended the Southeast Houston/Clear Lake Capital Improvement Plan meeting, the City of Houston officials who presented as well as the Mayor's Citizens Assistance Office for helping to coordinate the event.

San Jacinto College Center for Industrial Technology Groundbreaking

On Friday, February 19 staff from Council Member Martin's office attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Center for Industrial Technology under construction at San Jacinto College's North Campus. At the ceremony, San Jacinto College Chancellor Dr. Brenda Hellyer offered remarks on the new facility and recognized the stakeholders who made the project possible. United States Congressman Gene Green also spoke to those in attendance and highlighted San Jacinto College's leadership in empowering Houstonians to obtain fulfilling and lucrative careers across a number of local industries.

Projected for completion in the fall of 2016, San Jacinto College's new 111,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art Center for Industrial Technology will house a number of technical programs designed to help students meet the workforce needs of the growing industries in Houston's North Channel area. For more information on San Jacinto College, please visit www.sanjac.edu.

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

Council Member Dave Martin and the City of Houston's Solid Waste Management Department are holding a Batteries, Oil, Paint (latex only) and Antifreeze (B.O.P.A.) recycling collection event on Saturday, March 5. The event will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Ellington Airport Neighborhood Recycling Center located at Highway 3 at Brantly Avenue, Houston, Texas 77034.

The event is free and open to all City of Houston residents and will be held rain or shine. A valid Texas driver's license or other proof of residency, such as a water bill, will be required.

In addition to B.O.P.A. items, residents may 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 subsequently our groundwater. This event provides a free and safe alternative for residents to rid their homes of potentially dangerous materials. Below is a list of acceptable and non-acceptable items for the March 5 collection event:

ACCEPTED ITEMS: rechargeable, Lead Acid, NiCad and Lithium Ion batteries, used motor and cooking oil (15 gallon limit each), antifreeze (15 gallon limit), latex paint (15 gallon limit), appliances and scrap metal including refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners.

ITEMS NOT ACCEPTED: Alkaline batteries, electronic waste, oil-based paint, paint without labels, household hazardous waste/chemicals, business waste, medical waste, radioactive waste, PCB's, Dioxins, ammunition, explosives, compressed gas cylinders, smoke detectors, household trash or tires.

Please also note that there is no need to bring empty latex paint cans or those that have hardened. These can be discarded with household garbage.

Residents may call 3-1-1, the City of Houston's Customer Service Hotline, for additional information or check online at www.houstonsolidwaste.org. More information on the Solid Waste Management Department and its services is also available on Facebook and Twitter.

Middlebrook Homeowners Association Meeting

On Monday, February 1 Council Member Martin had the opportunity to speak to residents at the annual meeting of the Middlebrook Homeowners Association in Clear Lake. In his remarks, Council Member Martin highlighted a number of projects the District E office is currently working on in the area such as the removal of the dilapidated monument signs along Clear Lake City Boulevard in between Highway 3 and I-45, for which he has allocated funds from his Fiscal Year 2016 Council District Service budget. Council Member Martin additionally discussed the proposed formation of a tax increment reinvestment zone (TIRZ) in Clear Lake as well as efforts he has made to partner with Harris County Commissioner Jack Morman to address needs in the Clear Lake community.

Council Member Martin thanks the Middlebrook Homeowners Association for the opportunity to speak to residents at the annual gathering.

H-E-B Clear Lake Marketplace Grand Opening

On Wednesday, February 16 Council Member Martin presented a certificate of special recognition to representatives from HEB at a luncheon marking the grand opening of the new 100,000 square-foot HEB grocery store which opened in the Clear Lake Marketplace last month. Community and business leaders from around the Clear Lake area were also present at the event, and to demonstrate the company's commitment to supporting charitable causes in the community, representatives from HEB presented the Armand Bayou Nature Center with a check for $5,000.

The HEB Clear Lake Marketplace, located at 3501 Clear Lake City Boulevard, is now open daily from 6:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m. and offers shoppers in the Clear Lake area access to the grocery chain's latest amenities, including an in-store flower shop, pharmacy and RediClinic in addition to a variety of specialized culinary offerings.

Houston Spaceport Event

On Thursday, February 18 Council Member Martin attended an event held by the Houston Airport System (HAS) to present information on the Houston Spaceport to the Honorable Jay Williams, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. At the event, Houston Airport System Director Mario Diaz gave an overview of the city's plans for the Houston Spaceport, which was officially licensed last summer by the Federal Aviation Administration for operation at Ellington Airport, and highlighted the economic development the city expects to result from the project. The HAS is currently pursuing a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration, which Assistant Secretary Williams oversees, to fund infrastructure-related projects within the Houston Spaceport's future Ellington campus. After hearing the presentation, Assistant Secretary Williams praised Director Diaz and the HAS for their planning and initiative leading the Houston Spaceport project.

Also present at the event, which was held at the former Boeing facility on Space Center Boulevard purchased by the City of Houston to lease as an incubation and innovation space, were United States Congressman Pete Olson, Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership Executive Director for Special Initiatives, Dan Seal, and representatives from the Boeing Company, among others. For more information on the Houston Spaceport, please visit www.fly2houstonspaceport.com/spaceport.

Coastal Protection Panel

Save the date! On Thursday, March 3 the Texas Tribune and ProPublica will host a free, open-to-the-public conversation entitled, "Protecting Houston Before the Next Big Storm." The event, to be held from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the San Jacinto College Maritime Technology and Training Center in La Porte, will address the need to protect the greater Houston region against the threat of hurricanes and will feature a panel of local leaders on the issue including Texas State Senator Larry Taylor, Economic Alliance Houston Port Region President Chad Burke, Colonel Len Waterworth of Texas A&M University at Galveston and others.

For more information, and to register for this event, please click here. For those who cannot attend, a live stream of the conversation will be available online at www.texastribune.org/livestream beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Bay Area Boulevard Overpass Closure

The Texas Department of Transportation began the demolition and reconstruction of the new at-grade intersection at Bay Area Boulevard and I-45 during the weekend of February 26. To facilitate the work, the Bay Area Boulevard overpass will be closed until June 2016.

Motorists traveling southbound who want to access Bay Area Boulevard east will need to exit NASA Parkway and U-turn, stay on the frontage road and turn right onto Bay Area Boulevard.

Motorists traveling northbound who want to access Bay Area Boulevard west will need to exit El Dorado and turn, stay on the frontage road and turn right to access Bay Area Boulevard.

Motorists traveling east on Bay Area Boulevard to I-45 will detour onto the southbound frontage road to NASA Parkway, U-turn, stay on the frontage road and turn right to access Bay Area Boulevard.

Motorists traveling west on Bay Area Boulevard to I-45 will turn right on the I-45 northbound frontage road and turn at El Dorado, stay on the frontage road and turn right to access Bay Area Boulevard.

Officers will be on site at specific locations to assist with traffic.

Once complete, the I-45/Gulf Freeway mainlanes will go over the Bay Area Boulevard intersection, replacing the current overpass structure and improving mobility and enhancing safety for the traveling public.

The Bay Area Boulevard overpass reconstruction is part of the $93 million construction project on I-45 from FM 2351 to Medical Center Boulevard. The project will also widen the existing six mainlanes to ten and replace the Bay Area Boulevard overpass. The entire project is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2018.

For more information on scheduled lane closures in the Houston District, contact the Public Information Office at (713) 802-5076 or follow the office on Twitter.

METRO Park & Ride Route Change

Due to the Texas Department of Transportation's closure of the Bay Area Boulevard overpass at I-45/Gulf Freeway, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) is advising riders of a route change affecting the 246 Bay Area Park & Ride and the 249 Monroe/Fuqua/Bay Area Park & Ride. Starting on Monday, February 29 the outbound route began operating via the Gulf Freeway from El Dorado Boulevard to Highway 3 to Bay Area Boulevard to the Park & Ride lot to the Bay Area Park & Pool. The route will no longer serve Baybrook Mall. Inbound routing will remain the same. For more information, please call (713) 635-4000. A flyer of the route detour with a map of the new outbound route can be accessed here.

Kingwood Capital Improvement Plan Meeting

On Tuesday, February 23 nearly 400 people joined Council Member Martin at the Kingwood Community Center for a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) meeting. Mayor Sylvester Turner presented opening remarks at the meeting, recognizing the priorities of the Kingwood community and acknowledging the looming financial issues in our city. He also stated his dedication to working with Council Member Martin and others to address these important issues. A video of Mayor Turner's remarks can be found online here.

Scott McClelland of HEB was additionally in attendance at the meeting and provided an overview of the new HEB that will serve as the anchor store of the upcoming Lovett development at the northeast corner of West Lake Houston Parkway and Kingwood Drive. The new 99,000 square-foot HEB, which is due to be open to the public by October 2016, will include amenities such as a sit down Asian fusion restaurant, curbside pickup, a gas station and a car wash.

At the meeting, citizens also received updates on projects occurring in the Kingwood area from community representatives Stan Sarman, Chair of Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) 10, and Liz Jacob of Lovett Development. Representatives from a number of city departments including Public Works and Engineering, Rebuild Houston, Parks and Recreation and Plan Houston also addressed the audience.

Council Member Martin thanks all who attended, the representatives who presented as well as the Mayor's Citizens Assistance Office for helping to coordinate the meeting.

West Lake Houston Pedestrian Tunnel

Council Member Martin was made aware of an issue regarding a safety hazard at a pedestrian crossing along West Lake Houston Parkway, just south of Appalachian Trail. The problem exists due to the expansion of West Lake Houston from two lanes to four lanes extending to Mills Branch. The new West Lake Houston southbound lanes have a pedestrian tunnel allowing foot and bicycle traffic to pass underneath the south bound lanes safely, but unfortunately at this time there is not a second pedestrian tunnel underneath the soon to be northbound lanes of West Lake Houston.

Public safety is an immediate concern to Council Member Martin who has been working diligently to make sure that safety measures are put in place as quickly as possible. As of Thursday, February 25 advanced bike crossing and bike crossing signs have been installed on West Lake Houston to increase awareness for drivers heading north and southbound along the roadway. In addition to the bike crossing, stop signs have also been installed on the greenbelt trail to alert walkers and cyclists to stop at West Lake Houston before crossing. Pavement striping of the bicycle crossing was delayed due to inclement weather but is expected to be completed shortly. The city understands that these measures are a temporary fix until the sister pedestrian tunnel along the future northbound lanes of West Lake Houston can be created to eliminate the existing at-grade pedestrian crossing. Council Member Martin will continue to work with the City of Houston and Friendswood Development to ensure that the construction of this tunnel is made a priority.

YMCA Bridge Fest

On Saturday, February 6 the Lake Houston YMCA held their 24th Annual Bridge Fest presented by Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital. The event, which began as a celebration of the opening of the Lake Houston Parkway Bridge, is an important fundraising event in the Lake Houston community. With three distances for runners, joggers and walkers to choose from, the race is designed to encourage participation from all abilities and ages.

This year, Bridge Fest featured an additional run for runners and walkers with special needs and their families.

Council Member Martin congratulates the Lake Houston YMCA for another successful Bridge Fest event, and extends his gratitude to the organization and its staff for all they do for the community.

North Houston Association Welcome Reception

On Tuesday, February 16 Council Member Martin attended a reception held by the North Houston Association to welcome Mayor Sylvester Turner and recently-elected City Council officials. At the event, Mayor Turner addressed the association's members and the other guests in attendance.

The North Houston Association works to promote economic growth and quality of life enhancements in the North Harris and Montgomery County area. For more information, please visit www.north-houston.com.

Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce's Economic Outlook Luncheon

The Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce (LHACC) held its Economic Outlook Luncheon on Tuesday, February 16. At the luncheon, which staff from Council Member Martin's office attended, national economist Dr. Kate Warne and regional economist Pat Jankowski of the Greater Houston Partnership shared their economic projections for 2016 both for the greater Houston region and the country at large. In her remarks, Dr. Warne projected that despite an increase in market volatility, earnings should rebound later this year. Mr. Jankowski noted that the greater Houston region has seen steady job growth even in times when the price of oil has dropped, and that while the recent downturn will slow regional growth it will not necessarily determine the course of Houston's economy. A full video of the remarks given at the event can be viewed here.

Council Member Martin thanks the LHACC for organizing the informative event and for its work continually promoting the prosperity of the Lake Houston area.

Humble ISD Superintendent Search

The Humble Independent School District (HISD) Board of Trustees has begun the process of searching for a new superintendent due to the upcoming retirement of HISD's current superintendent, Dr. Guy Sconzo. Dr. Sconzo has served as Humble ISD's superintendent since 2001, during which time enrollment grew 60 percent. In 2013, Dr. Sconzo was named Region 4 Superintendent of the Year. In 2015, Humble ISD was named the Best Large District in Texas at the HEB Excellence in Education Awards.

The superintendent search process, which began in January, is anticipated to take about six months. Dr. Sconzo will continue to serve as superintendent until his successor's first day on the job. He will then serve as a transition consultant to the Board and to the new superintendent through December 31, 2016.

Council Member Martin congratulates Dr. Sconzo on a long and successful career, and thanks him for his dedication to the education and success of the students in the Humble Independent School District.

Lone Star Book Festival

On Friday, April 8 and Saturday, April 9 Lone Star College-Kingwood will host the Lone Star Book Festival, a diverse, multi-genre literary celebration. Bringing together, writers, books and readers, the festival will feature 32 panels comprised of 150 local and nationally renowned authors. The two-day celebration will additionally feature book sales, signings and other exciting events.

For more information on the Lone Star Book Festival, to be held at Lone Star College-Kingwood on April 8 - 9, please click here.

Peach Bowl Celebration

Council Member Martin was proud to celebrate local collegiate athletes from the University of Houston's football program at a rally held on Monday, February 1 in celebration of the Cougars' victory over Florida State at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. At the event, Mayor Sylvester Turner, a UH alum, addressed a crowd of fans along with University of Houston President Renu Khator. Also present at the celebration were Houston Controller Chris Brown, a number of Council Member Martin's colleagues on City Council and State Representatives Dennis Paul and Carol Alvarado, among others.

The Cougars finished the 2015 season ranked eighth in national polls under first-year coach Tom Hermann, achieving the program's highest postseason ranking since 1979. Council Member Martin congratulates Coach Hermann and the University of Houston Cougars on their impressive season and Peach Bowl victory.

Super Bowl 50

Last month, Council Member Martin traveled to Santa Clara to watch Super Bowl 50 and observe the events held in California's Bay Area leading up to the big game. On the trip, which he paid for using personal funds, Council Member Martin met up with Mayor Sylvester Turner, Council Member Dwight Boykins and a delegation from the Houston First Corporation, all of whom made the journey to learn from this year's event in anticipation of Super Bowl LI, which will be held at Houston's NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017. At the City Council meeting held the week after the trip, Council Member Martin shared takeaways such as the need to include all of Houston's residents, especially children, in the upcoming Super Bowl festivities regardless of socioeconomic status.

Super Bowl LI is expected to generate over $500 million of economic activity and bring over 1.1 million visitors to Houston when it is held next year. To support the game and the 10 days of related events leading up to Super Bowl Sunday, Mayor Turner is calling for over 10,000 volunteers to help out. The District E office will continue to provide the public with updates and ways to get involved as Super Bowl LI approaches. For more information, please visit http://housuperbowl.com.

Greater Houston Partnership's State of the County Address

Council Member Martin attended the Greater Houston Partnership's (GHP) State of the County address on Tuesday, February 2 at NRG Center. Harris County Judge Ed Emmett took the opportunity to address those in attendance about the financial state of the county in addition to the positive partnership Harris County has developed with the City of Houston.

Judge Emmett also spoke about the county's focus on the issue of mental health, and the recently-implemented pilot programs aimed at stopping the incarceration of people suffering from mental health issues and instead rerouting those residents towards health care options. This initiative is also reinforced through the new joint processing center which former Houston Mayor Annise Parker broke ground on last year.

Judge Emmett also addressed some issues that Harris County is facing, such as transportation. Because of the county's rapid growth over the years, mobility issues have arisen for travelers, especially commuters and transporters. Judge Emmett stressed that while the county will work to improve the issues with roads, he will also work to improve the usability of railroads and other means of transportation to resolve this issue.

Lastly, Judge Emmett spoke about plans for the iconic Astrodome. He stressed that the county is looking to save and preserve the iconic structure, which he believes is an asset to taxpayers, and to take advantage of using it for such events such as Super Bowl LI next year in addition to using it as storage space for events such as the Rodeo.

Council Member Martin appreciates Judge Emmett's commitment to facing the county's challenges and joins him in his efforts to confront these issues head on.

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Kickoff

It's rodeo season in the City of Houston, and Council Member Martin participated in two events during the last week in February to kick off the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR). On Thursday, February 25 Council Member Martin joined area leaders at the Mayor's Rodeo Houston Kickoff Breakfast. He then rode alongside his colleagues on City Council for the fourth year in a row in the HLSR Parade in downtown Houston on Saturday, February 27.

Council Member Martin looks forward to continuing to participate in this year's Rodeo festivities throughout the month of March. For more information on the 2016 Show, and for a schedule of events, please visit www.rodeohouston.com.

Electronic Recycling is Back

On Wednesday, February 17 Houston City Council voted on and unanimously approved an amendment to the agreement for the purchase of electronic recyclable material between the City of Houston and CompuCycle, Inc. The contract, which has been temporarily suspended since July 2015, will allow the city to expand its scope of services to renew monthly weekend e-waste drop off events in Kingwood and Clear Lake on the first and second Saturdays of each month, respectively. These events will accept electronic waste such as televisions, monitors, VCRs, DVD players, phones, printers and other computer accessories. For more information on electronic recycling in Houston, including a complete list of items accepted by CompuCycle, visit

www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/electronics_recycling.html.

Council Member Martin has advocated for the renewal of this contract and has led the effort on behalf of District E constituents to ensure that this potential hazardous waste is disposed of safely and responsibly. He would specifically like to thank Keep Kingwood Green for not only being the voice of the recycling community in Kingwood, but also for their ongoing support and advocacy of the e-waste recycling efforts.

The first weekend drop off event that is scheduled for Kingwood is Saturday, March 5 from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the METRO Park and Ride located at 3210 W. Lake Houston Parkway.

Clear Lake residents can expect the first drop off event to take place on Saturday, March 12 from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Ellington/Clear Lake Neighborhood Recycling Center located at Highway 3 and Brantly Avenue.

Zika Virus Information

Mayor Sylvester Turner advised residents in February that the City of Houston is taking the Zika Virus very seriously. The Houston Health Department held a planning meeting on Friday, January 29 with Harris County and regional partners including blood banks, healthcare providers, petrochemical companies, mosquito control specialists and others to begin developing plans for preemptively preparing for and preventing the transmission of Zika Virus in the Houston area. In the coming months, the city will continue to coordinate with regional, state and federal partners to prevent the virus.

Zika Virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. The infection is usually mild, lasts from several days to a week and includes fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis (red eyes).

Severe illness requiring hospitalization is uncommon, but there may be serious complications for pregnant women.

In early February, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Zika Virus an international emergency and public health officials are considering barring patients who have traveled to affected areas from donating blood for up to 28 days.

To stop the spread of the virus, residents should:

Remove ALL mosquito breeding opportunities around your home by eliminating all standing water, or items that may hold water; and

Use air conditioning or window/door screens to keep mosquitos out.

For residents traveling to Central or South America or the Caribbean, it's important to prevent mosquito bites. Residents are advised to:

Use insect repellent that contains DEET;
Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants; and
When returning home, continue using DEET containing insect repellent for two weeks.

For more information on the Zika Virus in our community, pregnancy tips, and travel alerts, please click here.

A document containing frequently asked questions and answers about the Zika Virus can additionally be found at

www.houstontx.gov/citizensnet/zikavirus-qanda.pdf.

Chief McClelland Retirement

After 39 years of dedicated service, Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland announced his retirement from the Houston Police Department (HPD) on Tuesday, February 2. Sworn in as an HPD officer in September 1977, McClelland worked his way up the ranks before being appointed the city's police chief by Mayor Annise Parker in 2010. As Houston's "top cop" Chief McClelland managed the nation's fifth largest police force, overseeing a budget of $825 million and a staff of 5,200 sworn officers and 1,200 civilians. During his six-year tenure as chief, Houston's crime rate fell and citizen complaints against officers reached an all-time low.

Council Member Martin thanks Chief McClelland for his admirable service to the City of Houston and his leadership within the Houston Police Department. To view a video message from Chief McClelland to the citizens of Houston, please click here.

On Thursday, February 18 Mayor Sylvester Turner announced that Assistant Chief Martha Montalvo would serve as Houston's interim Chief of Police. During her 35 years of service with HPD, Chief Montalvo progressed through the Department's ranks, coordinating the development and implementation of major departmental technology upgrades, serving as incident commander for several major special events, and most recently serving as Chief McClelland's Chief of Staff. Chief Montalvo is the City of Houston's second female police chief and the first Hispanic to ever hold the position. The District E office will keep residents updated as the city now begins a nationwide search for Chief McClelland's permanent replacement.

City of Houston 2016 Summer Jobs Program

The City of Houston is now accepting applications for the 2016 Summer Jobs Program, a yearly city initiative offering paid summer internships in a variety of city departments to Houstonian youths. Over 450 positions are available for this year's session, which will run from June 13 - August 5. Most positions will be 32 hours per week at $7.25 per hour; all will offer valuable insight into what's required to serve the residents of the nation's fourth largest city.

The online application for the 2016 Summer Jobs Program can be accessed here. To be eligible to take part in the program, applicants must be between the ages of 16 and 21 (by June 13, 2016) and reside within the City of Houston. Applications for the program will be accepted until March 18.

To learn more about the City of Houston's 2016 Summer Jobs Program, including a list of additional application requirements, please visit http://houstontx.gov/summerjobs or email summerjobs@serhouston.org.

Waste Placement Advisory

The City of Houston's Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) would like to remind residents who receive city waste removal services about the proper placement of tree and junk waste. Tree and/or junk waste should be placed adjacent to residents' front curb in a location easily accessible to the collection vehicle between the hours of 6:00 p.m. the Friday before and 7:00 a.m. on your scheduled collection day. Residents are also encouraged to be courteous to their neighbors by placing waste for pickup only at the curb and not across the street or in any other location not authorized by city ordinance. Please note that no more than eight cubic yards per residence will be collected on scheduled collection days.

SWMD further reminds residents that accumulated trash attracts rats and other animals and is unsanitary. The Department therefore urges residents who have missed their monthly junk waste or tree waste collection to take immediate advantage of the city's Neighborhood Depository and Recycling Centers provided to residents with proper identification free of charge.

When a violation of proper waste placement practices, such as illegal dumping, is observed, please contact the city's 3-1-1 hotline at (713) 837-0311 or the District E office at (832) 393-3008.

The Solid Waste Management Department is grateful of its environmentally responsible customers in the City of Houston. For more information, please visit www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste to learn about all of the Department's programs and services.

An electronic copy of the full letter drafted by the Solid Waste Management Department on proper waste placement, in both English and Spanish, is available here.

Houston Bike Plan

Mayor Sylvester Turner has released the draft of the Houston Bike Plan, the next step in the city's efforts to help make Houston a safer, healthier and more bicycle-friendly city. The Bike Plan integrates with the ongoing Bayou Greenways 2020 project and identifies additional bike facilities needed to achieve safe access to these attractive bikeway corridors from more neighborhoods.

Once fully implemented, the Plan will triple the existing bikeway miles and provide six times more high-comfort bikeways miles than exist now.

The Plan recommends:

Creating 328 miles of high-comfort bikeways through modest investments in short-term projects such as street restriping and wayfinding signage on low-volume, low-speed streets.

Adding 86 miles of high-comfort bikeways through Key Connection Projects to help connect neighborhoods and activity centers to a city-wide network.

Establishing a long-term vision to add 861 miles in high-comfort bikeway facilities, including nearly 600 miles that will be developed over time as streets are reconstructed.

Creating a Bicycle Toolbox that contains comprehensive approaches and recommendations for the design of bikeway projects, a policy framework, and programs that will educate and encourage more people to bike.

With the draft plan complete, the city is seeking feedback from Houstonians. Visit the website at HoustonBikePlan.org for more information and to let the city know what you think. The public comment period closes April 11, 2016. The City will then modify the draft Plan based on the feedback received from the community.

Funding partners for the project include BikeHouston, Houston Parks Board, Houston-Galveston Area Council, Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

For questions or comments, please email bikeways@houstontx.gov.

HFD Immunization Clinics

The Houston Fire Department (HFD) and the Care Van program are teaming up once again to provide free immunizations to children from birth through 18 years of age. This program, which runs from March through December, is only available for uninsured children or those qualifying for Medicaid. The program is unable to service children with CHIP or private insurance. Parents must accompany their children and provide their most current immunization records.

For more information about schedules and locations for the HFD immunization clinics, please click here.

NCAA Final Four 4 Miler

As part of the NCAA Final Four festivities coming to Houston this April, fans and families are invited to participate in the Houston Final Four 4 Miler, a four mile run/walk through downtown Houston scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 2 at 8:30 a.m. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Lone Star Veterans Association, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization supporting Texan veterans who bravely served the nation following September 11, 2001, and their families.

To register online now, please click here. Registration for general participants costs $25 prior to April 1 and includes participation in the four mile chip-timed run/walk beginning and ending in Hermann Square at Houston City Hall, as well as a Final Four 4 Miler race shirt, a Finishers Medal and a complimentary ticket to the Final Four Fan Fest.

For more information on the NCAA's Houston Final Four 4 Miler charity run/walk, please visit www.ncaa.com/final-four/4-miler.

NCAA Final Four Youth Clinics

During the NCAA Final Four Fan Fest next month, City of Houston students will have the opportunity to jump-start their basketball skills at the free Powerade NCAA Youth Clinics. To be held from 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 2 the clinics will teach conditioning and life skills from NCAA coaches and student athletes. Each participant will receive a free t-shirt and other promotional items. Kids will learn fun drills and healthy, active lifestyle tips. The Youth Clinics are open to boys and girls grades three through eight. The event will also feature a session for parents and guardians with information on recruiting, academic and eligibility issues.

The NCAA Youth Clinics will be held at the following four locations across Houston on the morning of April 2:

Jack Yates High School

3703 Sampson Street

Houston, Texas 77004

The Zone

10371 Stella Link Road

Houston, Texas 77025

J. Frank Dobie High School

10220 Blackhawk Boulevard

Houston, Texas 77089

Strake Jesuit High School

8900 Bellaire Boulevard

Houston, Texas 77036

For more information, and to register for the April 2 NCAA Final Four Youth Clinics, please visit www.ncaa.com/final-four/youth-clinics.

IRS Scam Information

The District E office has been advised of an "IRS" scam that has been occurring regularly across the city and particularly in the Kingwood community.

In the "IRS" scam, an individual will receive a telephone call from someone who states that they are from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or even the SSA (Social Security Administration). The initial caller will leave a name and will not hesitate to leave a voicemail. The message often times asks the recipient to "call the SSA immediately for a legal matter and do NOT ignore this message." The message may also say, "This is regarding a legal allegation. Do not disregard."

The suspect will use many intimidation tactics to keep the victim on the phone and to agree to send money. The suspect will even threaten that a warrant for victim's arrest will be issued. If the call is terminated for whatever reason, the suspects will call back and try to intimidate the victim by identifying themselves as the police. Caller ID will even identify the suspect's number as the local police department telephone number.

To avoid becoming a victim of this scam, be aware of the following:

If you do not recognize the incoming telephone number, don't answer the call.

Remember that the IRS or the SSA will not contact you initially by telephone. If they need to contact you they will make attempts by mail.

Any call where the caller is instructing you to go to the bank and withdraw money is almost certainly a scam.

Scammers may be able to recite the last four digits of a victim's Social Security Number.

Scammers sometimes send bogus IRS emails to some victims to support their bogus calls.

After threatening victims with jail time or driver's license revocation, scammers hang up and others soon call back pretending to be from the local police or DMV, and the caller ID supports their claim.

Residents receiving such calls should do the following:

If there is any doubt in your mind that it is a scam, call the police.

If you know you owe taxes or you think you might owe taxes, call the IRS at (1800) 829-1040. The IRS employees at that line can help you with a payment issue - if there really is such an issue.

If you know you don't owe taxes or have no reason to think that you owe any taxes (for example, you've never received a bill or the caller made some bogus threats as described above), then call and report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at (1800) 366-4484.

You can file a complaint using the FTC Complaint Assistant; choose "Other" and then "Imposter Scams." If the complaint involves someone impersonating the IRS, include the words "IRS Telephone Scam" in the notes.

The IRS encourages taxpayers to be vigilant against phone and email scams. The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request personal or financial information. This includes any type of electronic communication, such as text messages and social media channels. The IRS also does not ask for PINs, passwords or similar confidential access information for credit card, bank or other financial accounts. Recipients should not open any attachments or click on any links contained in the message. Instead, forward the e-mail to phishing@irs.gov

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 1

Super Tuesday Primary Election Day

March 1 - 20

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

March 2

Armed Forces Appreciation Day at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

March 10

100th Anniversary of the Houston Parks and Recreation Department

March 11

NASA Night at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

March 14 - 18

District E School Spring Breaks (Huffman ISD, Humble ISD, Houston ISD, Galena Park ISD, Pasadena ISD, Clear Creek ISD)

March 15 - 16

Council Break Week

April 2 - 4

NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four Tournament

Kingwood

March 3

Kingwood Service Association's Parks Committee Meeting

March 5

Kingwood Electronic Recycling Drop-Off Event

March 9

Kingwood Service Association's Public Safety Committee Meeting

March 15

Kingwood PIP

March 16

Kingwood Super Neighborhood Meeting

March 29

Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce's Peace Officers and Firefighters of the Year Luncheon

April 8 - 9

Lone Star Book Festival

Southeast Houston/Clear Lake

March 3

Texas Tribune Coastal Protection Panel

March 5

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

March 5

6th Annual Bay Area Alliance CRAZY Krewe 7K Run/3K Walk

March 8

Grand Opening of San Jacinto College's Maritime Technology and Training Center

March 10

Bay Area Houston Transportation Partnership's Monthly Luncheon

March 10

Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership's General Membership Meeting

March 10

Dedication Event for Clear Creek ISD Challenger Columbia Stadium

March 12

Clear Lake Electronic Recycling Drop-Off Event

March 15

Clear Lake PIP

March 24

South Channel Region Chambers of Commerce Luncheon

March 28

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

March 30

Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce's General Membership Luncheon

March 30

South Belt-Ellington Chamber of Commerce's Annual Banquet