Inside District I Newsletter

I have allocated money from the District I Service Fund to conduct a six-month pilot program to pick up shopping carts left in the public right of way - esplanades, streets, sidewalks and ditches. As we all know, abandoned shopping carts are not only unsightly, but they can create road hazards and drainage issues if they end up in our ditches. The pilot program will operate within District I until the end of July.

Key Points about the Pilot Program:

The Solid Waste Department (in a marked City vehicle) will undertake cart collection in District I every other week on a daily basis, Monday through Friday.
We will monitor which retailers have the most carts that leave their properties and are abandoned in the public rights of way.
Collected carts will be temporarily stored at the City's Central Street Neighborhood Depository/Recycling Center located at 2240 Central Street.
The Solid Waste Department will contact cart owners (stores) by phone or email to notify them that their carts have been collected by the City.
Carts not retrieved by the cart owner after 7 days will be considered abandoned and will either be scrapped or disposed.
Carts which don't have an owner's name or a proprietary marking affixed to the cart will be immediately scrapped or disposed.
The City will NOT collect carts abandoned on private property, behind fences or gates. Those carts remain the responsibility of the store owner for reclamation.

In addition, Councilmember Mike Laster and I have formed a task force of area retailers in order to work toward a permanent solution beyond the six-month pilot program. Retailers should be doing more to ensure shopping carts that leave their property are retrieved in a timely manner and not left abandoned in our streets.

I look forward to working with each of you and all our retailers to help make our community cleaner and safer.

Best wishes,

Robert Gallegos

Houston Council Member

District I

District I CIP Meeting - March 2nd

Join the District I Office on Thursday, March 2nd from 6:30 to 8 p.m. for the annual District I CIP community meeting.

The CIP (Capital Improvement Plan) is a forward-looking document outlining infrastructure improvements in District I. Community meetings are held each year to inform residents about upcoming projects and to gather input on future capital needs.

Work to Restore Historic Gus Wortham Begins

The Houston Golf Association (HGA) has broken ground on a $15 million project to restore and enhance Gus Wortham Park Golf Course.

The HGA was awarded operations of the facility through a contract with the City of Houston in December 2015, and commenced management and maintenance responsibility of the golf course in February 2016. Under this structure, the HGA is raising private funds to renovate and upgrade the facilities. No public dollars are being used to restore the golf course.

Phase one of the golf course renovation will overhaul the irrigation system for better water conservation, add a new irrigation lake for storm water retention, and reestablish creek banks while preserving the uniqueness and beauty of the original design. A campaign is currently underway to initiate construction of phase two, which includes a new clubhouse and reception hall, educational space for local youth participating in The First Tee of Greater Houston, as well as maintenance and cart storage facilities.

"Working alongside the Houston Golf Association, we were able to ensure that the community's needs were met and enhanced by this exciting restoration project," said Councilman Robert Gallegos at the groundbreaking ceremony. "Gus Wortham is a jewel in our community that has the potential to offer not only a great golfing experience, but serve as a permanent home for a The First Tee youth development and enrichment program serving children in our area."

The Houston Golf Association worked with Council Member Gallegos to accommodate community amenities, including a trail connector, dog park and space for community gatherings. Phase one is estimated to be completed at the end of 2017.

Workshop on Notary Fraud - March 8th

Council Member Robert Gallegos has partnered with Harris County Attorneys Office and Neighborhood Centers Inc. to provide a FREE workshop to help protect the public from dishonest notaries who commit fraud and cheat people by posing as immigration professionals and attorneys.

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Harbach-Ripley Neighborhood Center

6225 Northdale St, Houston, TX 77087

The County Attorney's Office wants to begin investigating and going after dishonest notaries that are taking advantage of working families and undocumented people in our community.

This is a FREE service regardless of your immigration status. Information will be kept completely confidential. For more information, call 832-393-3011.

Mason Park Master Plan Meeting - March 22nd

The community is invited to participate in a meeting to develop a master plan for Mason Park. The plan will provide a guide for future development, enhancement, facilities and programming needs for this highly utilized regional park. A second community meeting will be held in the summer. Council Member Robert Gallegos allocated $85,000 from the District I Service Fund to develop the master plan.

Mason Park Master Plan Meeting

Wednesday, March 22nd - 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Mason Park Community Room/Club House

541 South 75th St., Houston, TX 77023

For more information, call the District I Office at 832-393-3011.

Councilman Takes Deserving Coach to Super Bowl

Councilman Robert Gallegos had the opportunity to take a little league football coach to the Super Bowl in February. Parents and little league volunteers were encouraged to nominate a deserving coach who had volunteered with either the East End Eagles or Magnolia Park Sharks Little League for a minimum of 5 years.

Dozens of coaches were nominated for the drawing, but in the end East End Eagles Little League Coach Chris Medina was chosen. Chris has volunteered as a coach with the East End Eagles for 11 years and 7 years with the Magnolia Park Sharks. "I was thrilled to take Coach Chris to the Super Bowl with me," said Councilman Gallegos. "He's a great coach and has touched the lives of so many kids in our community. I couldn't think of a better way to say 'thank you.'"

City's Summer Jobs Program Accepting Applications

Know a young person who'll be looking for a job this summer? The City's Summer Jobs Program is accepting applications! City departments will open their doors to provide opportunities for young people to earn while they learn about what it takes to serve the residents of the nation's 4th largest city. Most positions are for 32 hours per week and pay $8 per hour.

Applications will be accepted through Monday, March 20th. For more information visit www.houstontx.gov/summerjobs or call 832-393-6148.

New Greenway Coming Soon to Sims Bayou

As part of the Bayou Greenways 2020 project, construction of a trail along Sims Bayou from Old Galveston Road to Deeda Drive in the Park Place neighborhood, will soon be underway . This segment of trail, expected to be completed in about a year, will give the public access to greenspace along the bayou and 1.3 miles of new hike-and-bike trails.

Also on this timeline for construction is a new trail further east along Sims Bayou within Milby Park which will provide connections to the futsal court and two parking lots. As part of a second phase of the project, a 1.2-mile trail segment from Milby Park along Old Galveston Road is currently being designed.

In addition to the trail, amenities along the greenway will include landscaping with native plants, benches, trash cans and recycling bins. Houston Parks Board will be responsible for maintenance of the completed greenway.

This latest project is just one part of the larger Sims Bayou Greenway, which will stretch nearly 20 miles when completed. The trails will offer walkers and cyclists new connections to neighborhood parks, schools and community centers and opportunities for recreation along the bayou.

Sims Bayou is just one of nine bayous being transformed through Bayou Greenways 2020. A public-private partnership between the nonprofit Houston Parks Board, the City of Houston and the Houston Parks Department, the ambitious parks project aims to connect people, places and greenspaces by creating a 150-mile network of parks and trails along Houston's major waterways.

News at a Glance from City Hall

In February:

City Council approved funding for after school programs at various schools and to offer over 8,000 meals to children during the summer.
Houston Parks Director Joe Turner and Public Works Director Dale Rudick announced their retirements before City Council. Both are expected to retire at the end of March.
The City announced the naming of the Barbara Bush Literacy Plaza at the downtown Central Library.
KBR made a $75,000 donation to the Fire Department towards the purchase of a new and innovative Community Outreach Vehicle that will be staffed five days a week to provide home fire safety surveys and smoke alarm installs in some of Houston's most at-risk neighborhoods.

For a complete list of items considered by City Council each week, visit the online Council Agenda portal.