Monthly Newsletter
January 1, 2018  Issue 60
Residents of District E,
  
As we head into 2018, we look forward to what the new year will bring. It is a priority of the District E office to identify and pursue meaningful storm water drainage and flood mitigation projects. These projects will take careful coordination and participation with multiple levels of government as we work to reduce the impact of flooding to our communities.
 
My office has been hard at work coordinating with the Mayor's Office, Public Works and Engineering, as well as, Harris County Flood Control on projects, small and large. As these projects complete feasibility studies and are awarded funding , we will continue to update the community through press releases as well as our monthly newsletter.
 
The District E office understands that these projects have an impact on day to day lives of residents. The projects currently being investigated include district wide storm sewer investigations, small dredging projects along the San Jacinto River to diminish the effects of choke points, updating surveys of the San Jacinto River and Lake Houston as well as targeted studies within several communities for additional drainage needs.
 
The road to recovery is long and I plan to stay focused on drainage and flood mitigation. We are working with area legislators and local community organizations to make sure that the needs of District E are a priority for the next legislative session to take place in 2019.

I recently accepted a position as the Chair of the newly created City of Houston Committee on the Historic Site Tax Exemption Program. I look forward to working with the Mayor and City Council to shape policy that creates a balance between preserving historic structures as well as maintaining realistic expectations in regards to the financial impact to the City.
 
Lastly, if you or your neighbors have storm debris, please continue to call those reports in to 3-1-1 (713) 837-0311. These reports are key to returning our communities to pre-Harvey conditions. Once you have contacted 3-1-1 with storm debris reports please contact my office  with your service request number so that staff can assist with the tracking your request.
 
Wishing everyone a very Happy 2018 and appreciate the opportunity to continue to serve the communities within District E.

Sincerely,

Dave Martin
The District E Office
900 Bagby, First Floor
Houston, TX 77002
 
Contact Information
  Phone: (832) 393-3008
Fax: (832) 393-3279
 
District E Team

Jessica Beemer
Chief of Staff & North
Sector Manager

Katherine Cunningham
Deputy Chief of Staff

Jordan McGinty
South Sector Manager

City of Houston Contacts
 
City of Houston 3-1-1
(713) 837-0311
 
 
Mayor's Citizens
Assistance Office
(832) 393-0955
 
Kingwood Community Center
(281) 348-2570
 
  Community Contacts
 
   Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce

 South Belt-Ellington Chamber of Commerce
 
 
 
 
Kingwood Super Neighborhood Council
 
   
  
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Plea For Three Campaign
 
The Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce has coordinated a mass letter writing campaign to ask the State of Texas take to immediate action on three items to help the Lake Houston Area recover and prevent future flooding: Remediation, Reduction and Representation.
  
1. Remediation: Full funding to dredge both Lake Houston and the San Jacinto River in order to remove the sand, siltation and debris deposits and stricter enforcement of TCEQ regulations on legal and illegal sand mining operations.

2. Reduction: Decrease the pooling level of Lake Conroe from 201 feet above sea level to 198 feet by pre-releasing water from Lake Conroe in a slow, systematic flow to ensure the dam at Lake Houston can efficiently and safely release the added water to the Gulf of Mexico. This is CRITICAL as the area has experienced three flood events since 2015.

3. Representation: Add three interim board members to the San Jacinto River Authority representing communities downstream impacted by the release of water from Lake Conroe. These appointed board members would serve until legislation can be crafted to best address the issue of downstream representation on their board.

The state has not issued any plans or funding to help with remediation in our communities, It is incumbent upon every citizen and business in the Lake Houston Area to gain the attention of state officials and decision makers and request action. 

The voice of the Lake Houston Area is being heard and has already received some great momentum. In December,  Mayor Sylvester Turner and Council Member Robert Gallegos (District I), sent their own Plea for Three letters to the Governor and other state elected officials in support of this initiative. Chairman Lyle Larson, of the Texas Houston Natural Resources Committee has sent a letter to the Governor as well as a separate letter to the General Manager of the San Jacinto River Authority. The City of Humble has declared a resolution in support of the Plea for Three, which continues to gain momentum through out our community. We must keep pushing forward and asking our community to get involved.
  
For more information about the "Plea For Three Campaign" visit RecoverLakeHouston.com to support in the following ways: 
  • SEND emails to all suggested state officials 
  • SHARE the campaign with your employees, co-workers, friends, neighbors, and customers
  • SPREAD the campaign on social media using #PleaFor3LakeHouston #RecoverLakeHouston. See sample tweets/posts, social media pages/groups at RecoverLakeHouston.com 
  • SIGN UP to get updates on the "Recover Lake Houston" movement (your email will not be shared or used for purposes other than Recover Lake Houston updates)
The Plea For Three Campaign is the initial step in a larger, long-term Recover Lake Houston Plan under the direction of the Lake Houston Area Long Term Recovery Task Force.

The future of the Lake Houston Area depends largely on the ability to rally the community and demand action to prevent flooding of this magnitude from occurring again.

Council Member Martin appreciates the Lake Houston Area Chamber spearheading this effort and encourages all residents to participate in this much needed call to action. Keep in mind these items are things that can happen immediately. Council Member Martin is sensitive to the long range plans the community needs in the form of infrastructure and improvement of drainage from the River to the Lake. Council Member Martin is dedicated to seeing through all efforts possible to make sure that flooding impacts to the Lake Houston area are reduced in the future and will continue to work diligently with local representatives to achieve this goal. 
City of Houston Yard/Tree Waste Resumes

Per the Solid Waste Department, the Yard/Tree Waste Collection Program resumed, Tuesday, January 2, 2018.  Yard/Tree Waste will be collected on residents' normal collection day, alternating months. Yard waste should be properly placed at the curb in city-approved recycling bags.  Yard/Tree Waste Collections will occur in odd number months (January, March, May, July, September, and November).
 
Tree/branch trimmings should be bundled and/or tied in lengths not greater than 36 inches. Material not properly prepared  will be tagged and left at the curb for the customer's proper preparation. Please make not that Junk Waste services have NOT resumed at this time, as soon as they do we will make sure to notify the community. We appreciate your patience.
 
For further instructions on how to prepare yard waste, visit the Solid Waste Management website at www.houstonsolidwaste.org.
 
What is Tree Waste?
"Clean" wood waste such as tree limbs, branches, and stumps. Lumber, furniture, and treated wood will NOT be accepted.
 
What is Yard Trimmings?
Yard Trimmings, grass clippings, small branches and leaves. They must be in city-approved compostable bags.

Kingwood B.O.P.A.

On Saturday, December 16 Council Member Martin and the Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) hosted the Kingwood Batteries, Oil, Paint and Anti-Freeze (B.O.P.A.) collection event at the Kingwood METRO Park and Ride.  Approximately 18,843 pounds of recyclable materials were collected from residents over the course of the event including 643 pounds of batteries, 3,650 pounds of used motor oil, 9,500 pounds of latex paint, 450 pounds of antifreeze and 4,600 pounds of scrap metal. 
  
Council Member Martin thanks Keep Kingwood Green for volunteering to help with the event and who made the Kingwood B.O.P.A. possible, as well as the staff of the city's Solid Waste Management Department for its leadership on the event and the Houston Police Department's Kingwood substation for its additional support. 
Greater Houston Flood Mitigation Consortium

Born in the weeks following Hurricane Harvey, the Greater Houston Flood  Mitigation  Consortium has joined Houston's leading research institutions and generous philanthropic organizations together with the notion that collaboration and sharing of knowledge will lead to the kind of breakthroughs needed to combat flooding in Houston and to rebuild and develop the city in such a way as to make Houston all the more resilient and remarkable.  

To facilitate the conversation within the community, the Consortium has created an  e-newsletter. More information can be found at their website,  www.houstonconsortium.org. 
Save the Date: Lake Houston YMCA Bridgefest

The Lake Houston Family YMCA's 26th Annual Bridge Fest will take place on Saturday, February 17 from 7:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. at the Lake Houston Family YMCA. With races of three distances for runners, joggers and walkers to choose from, the event is designed to encourage participation from all abilities and ages.

Lake Houston Family YMCA's 26th Annual Bridge Fest
Saturday, February 17, 2017
2420 West Lake Houston
Kingwood, Texas 77339
8:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
 
For more information or to register for Bridge Fest, click  here
The Reserve at Clear Lake Annual Homeowners Association Meeting

On Wednesday, December 13 Council Member Martin had the opportunity to speak at the Reserve at Clear Lake's Annual Homeowner's Association Meeting. At the meeting, Council Member Martin provided updates on what is happening downtown at City Hall as well as in the Clear Lake community. Council Member Martin updated the attendees on projects and improvements they can expect to see in the New Year such as the widening of El Dorado Boulevard.
Martinville Drive Roadway Replacement Project

Repairs are scheduled to begin along Martinville Drive, from Richey Street to Kolb Street, on January 8, 2018. The scope of work includes the replacement of existing pavement with new asphalt concrete pavement as well as ditch regrading. Construction is anticipated to be completed by early Spring 2019.
 
regrading. Construction is anticipated to be completed by early Spring 2019.
 
The City of Houston's Public Works and Engineering Department (PWE) is scheduled to start repairs in the northbound lane, between 2618 and 3000 Martinville Drive. During construction, one lane will be closed. The open lane will accommodate two-way traffic with flagmen directing traffic between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. There will be one-way traffic between 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. with a detour affecting traffic. 
 
Since being sworn into office, Council Member Martin has been contacted by the community about the condition of this road and has worked with PWE to implement long-term effective repairs. The goal of this effort is to preserve as well as prolong the life of the road base while providing a smoother riding surface. 
 
During the project drivers should expect reduced traffic speed through the channelized areas. There will be access to driveways at all times during the project. To ensure driver and worker safety, traffic control measures will be in place at all times. The District E office has contacted the Houston Police Department's Eastside Division to ask that officers can monitor the location and provide assistance with traffic control as needed.
 
For more information on the upcoming Martinville Drive repairs, please contact the District E office at (832) 393-3008 or via email at  districte@houstontx.gov .
Amber Knoll Panel Replacement

Council Member Martin had the opportunity to speak at the Bay Pointe Home Owners Association Annual Meeting on Wednesday, December 6, 2016. At the meeting, residents brought to Council Member Martin's attention several failing panels throughout the community, resulting in street ponding.
 
In an effort to make replace these panels in a timely manner, Council Member Martin is able to coordinate repairs on the 1400 block of Amber Knoll with the Public Works and Engineering Department utilizing Council District Service Funds.
 
The scope of work will include the removal and replacement of concrete panels, curbing, driveway, and sidewalk. As soon as a timeline is available from PWE, we will work with the Bay Pointe HOA to make that information available to the community.  
Lake Houston Area Chamber Elected Officials Breakfast

On Tuesday, December 12, Council Member Martin attended the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce's fifth annual Elected Officials Reception honoring local, state and national elected officials from the Lake Houston Area. Joining Council Member Martin at the event were members of the Humble ISD school board, Mayor of Humble Merle Aaron,  Humble City Council Member Norman Funderbuck, Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart, Harris County District Clerk Chris Daniel, Harris County  Judge Laryssa Korduba, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, Constable Hermann,  Senator Brandon Creighton and a number of additional public officials and staff representing the area.
  
Council Member Martin thanks the Lake Houston Area Chamber for putting on the annual event and for its dedicated work promoting economic development and an enhanced quality of life in the Lake Houston Area.
Leadership Lake Houston Government Day

On Tuesday, December 12 Council Member Martin had the privilege of addressing the Leadership Lake Houston Class of 2018. In his remarks, Council Member Martin discussed the process of becoming an elected official and why it was important to him to have a say in his own community.
 
Other topics of discussion was the recent historic flooding and what the next steps are in recovering and mitigating. 
 
Council Member Martin appreciates the opportunity to address the Leadership Lake Houston class, and thanks Mayor Turner for taking the time to speak to the group as well.
LHA Back to Business

More than 300 businesses in the Lake Houston area were devastated by the effects of Hurricane Harvey. The Lake Houston Area Chamber started the LHA Back to Biz program to help these businesses recover and reopen. As of December 18, 104 businesses have re-opened in the Kingwood/Lake Houston area, including Chuys, Va Va Bloom Flowers, Mud Pie, Randall's, Alspaugh's Ace Hardware Store, Costco, Starbucks, Raising Canes, Orange Theory Fitness, Torchy's Tacos, Salata, Mama Fu's Asian House, and many more. 

To follow the #LHABack2Biz program, go to their  website or follow them on  Instagram
Houston 3-1-1

Council Member Martin reminds all District E residents to continue to report storm debris by calling 311 or (713) 837-0311. Residents can also use 3-1-1 to report traffic signal problems, potholes, missed trash pickups and any other city-related concerns one may have. 

Please be aware that the City has still suspended junk waste collections. Once the Mayor announces when this will resume, our office will provide that information to residents. 

Once reported, individual requests can be tracked through the city's 311 website, accessible  here,  or through the city's 311 mobile application available on smart phones. As always, should further follow up be needed, the public is encouraged to contact Council Member Martin's office as well. 
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 

January 1
City Offices Closed for New Year's Holiday

January 3
Consolidated City Council Meeting

January 15
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - City Holiday (DISTRICT E OFFICE CLOSED)


Kingwood 

January 6
Kingwood Electronic Waste Recycling 

January 10
Kingwood Service Assocation's Public Safety Committee 

January 16
Kingwood PIP

January 17
Kingwood Super Neighborhood Meeting

January 19
Lake Houston Area Chamber Awards Extravaganza Luncheon


Southeast Houston/Clear Lake 

January 13
Clear Lake Electronic Waste Recycling 

January 16
Clear Lake PIP

January 26
BAHEP Quasar Awards

January 31
Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce's General Membership Luncheon