District K Friends,
It's Back to School time and there are several events in the community to support our students and families. Please find the list of events in the newsletter and feel free to share with other families that may benefit from these community resources.
It has been a busy summer and your District K Team has enjoyed meeting with community members during your monthly meetings and at our district sponsored events. As a reminder, if you want us to attend your meetings, please email the office ahead of time so we can schedule accordingly. My schedule is usually booked 2-3 months out and I want to attend as many of your meetings as possible. Email joe.gatson@houstontx.gov for scheduling of events and meetings.
Our beautification efforts in the district are ongoing. You may have seen the illegal dumping video we produced with the 5 Corners Management Team. Our cameras are making a huge difference in the community. HPD continues to investigate these cases with our camera footage, leading to citations, arrests and jail time based on dumping amounts. Our successful campaign has led to cameras soon to be installed all around the City of Houston to replicate what we are doing in District K. Unfortunately, we still have so much litter being disposed out of cars in our community and are picking up thousands of pounds of cans, beer bottles, fast food items, plastic bags and trash from items purchased at convenience stores. Help us get the word out about our "Clean State of Mind" campaign. Let's use those grabbers and pick up around our homes and nearby esplanades. Thank you to all of the neighborhoods that are proactively keeping their areas litter free. If your neighborhood is planning a clean-up event and you want to schedule the HOT Team to assist please contact Melvin and Melvin.Hopkins@houstontx.gov or DiDi at Perdita.Chavis@houstontx.gov.
This month's Texas Town and City magazine which is the official publication of the Texas Municipal League, highlights some of the great work we are doing in District K. Take some time to read the article that all of the elected officials around the state will see this month. The article is included in this newsletter.
Let's keep working together to make District K better each day!
Martha
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Back 2 School Events - District K |
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Back to School is upon us! Saturday, August 13th, 20th, and 27th there will be several Back to School drives in the community. If you know of families needing supplies, immunizations, groceries and other resources, here are a few scheduled events. Sharing is caring. Let's make this a great school year for our students and families. |
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Managing Students Mental Health as They Go Back to School |
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Vice Mayor Pro Tem Hosted 3 Deed Restriction Round Table Discussions in July |
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Vice Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex-Tatum, the Law Firm of Rice & Rice, and Marshall Management addressed many concerns or issues that Homeowner Associations and Civic Clubs wanted to address. Topics, included deed restriction enforcement, how to run a board meeting, board election issues and collecting assessment fees. Of the 96 Civic Clubs in District K, over 60 were represented. If you were unable to attend one of the 3 round table discussions you can still reach out to the Rice & Rice Law Firm and Marshall Management for assistance.
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Illegal Dumpers Caught in the Act in District K and Five Corners Improvement District Video |
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Vice Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex-Tatum partners with the Five Corners Improvement District and the Houston Police Department (HPD) to combat illegal dumping in District K. Residents were caught in the act and we want to change and deter this behavior.
Thank you to Melvin Hopkins and the District K HOT Team for their consistency and diligence in picking up the illegal dumping around the district. Several of these cases have led to citations and criminal charges.
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Public Hearing on Replat Application, Glen Ellyn Estates, for Development of 7 Single-family Lots and 2 Reserves on August 18, 2022 |
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Reference Number: 2022-1257; Glen Ellyn Estates partial replat no 1; a replat of Glen Ellyn Estates, being Lots 14, -16 of Block 1, as recorded in Vol 50 Page 6 of the Harris County Map Records.
The property is located at the northern intersection of Schurmier Road and Milan Drive, north of E. Anderson Road. The purpose of the replat is to create seven (7) single-family residential lots and two reserves along a shared driveway. The applicant, Josh McGinn, with South Point Surveying, PLLC, on behalf of the developer, can be contacted at 281-489-5656.
The Houston Planning Commission will hold a public meeting to consider this application.
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING INFORMATION: Thursday, August 18th, 2022, beginning at 2:30 p.m. City Hall Annex Building, 900 Bagby Street City Council Chamber, Public Level, Houston, Texas
Members of the public may make comments or express concerns about the proposed project by either attending the meeting at City Council Chamber listed above or attending the meeting via Microsoft Teams at the time listed above. The Microsoft Teams meeting will allow for a two-way video/ audio communication with the Houston Planning Commission. For instruction on how to join the Microsoft Teams meeting, interested persons are advised to check our website 72 hours prior to the Planning Commission meeting: www.houstonplanning.com or Call: 832-393-6624. |
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More Concrete Panel Replacement Projects - Ridgemont Community, Fort Bend Houston |
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The Houston Public Works Department (HPW) has authorized work for concrete panel replacement along Court Rd. (from Bunker Ridge Rd. to South Post Oak Rd.) in the Ridgemont Community in Fort Bend Houston. Work will commence on August 22, 2022 and is expected to be completed December 20, 2022.
The contractor is Tikon Group, Inc; the HPW project manager is Patricia Jennings. Residents in the Ridgemont Community have longed for these improvements of this road and we are happy to see this project coming to fruition. Please drive slowly during construction.
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Update on the Dr. Shannon Walker Neighborhood Library |
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The Dr. Shannon Walker Neighborhood Library at 5505 Belrose Drive is getting closer to the start of construction. Unfortunately construction has been delayed due to supply chain issues and rising costs of materials. The General Services Department (GSD) recently provided this update:
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Design began January 2020. Construction to begin 1st Fiscal Quarter of 2023. Construction Completion is expected by mid-year in 2023.
- Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) has been signed off by Legal and was forwarded to City Engineer for approval.
- Notice to Proceed (NTP) for Construction will be issued by end of August 2022
We are all looking forward to the official ground breaking and of course the ribbon cutting ceremony of this neighborhood library.
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District K Tri-Party Beautification Projects Featured in TML's Texas Town & City! |
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Vice Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex-Tatum, who serves as the President of the Texas Municipal League (TML), was proud to see the District K Tri-Party beautification projects featured in the August 2022 issue of Texas Town & City. Featured are the gateway lighting and painting at intersections along US Highway 90/S. Main St., mini murals, and underpass and sidewalk artwork at Sims Bayou.
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SmartScaping Recognized for Community Youth Outreach Program |
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Bryan Smart, Founder and CEO of SmartScaping Landscaping & Design, was recently recognized for giving back to the community through the "SmartScaping Cares Youth Outreach" co-op program on CW39 Houston Happens show. Congratulations, Bryan Smart and team and thank you for giving back to the District K community!
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Report Large Vehicle Parking on Neighborhood Streets and Large Commercial Vehicle Parking Violations |
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Park Houston released information on large vehicle parking on neighborhood streets and large commercial vehicle parking. District K residents are encouraged to report violations to 311.
Administration and Regulatory Affairs (ARA) presented several items on parking to the Regulatory and Neighborhood Affairs (RNA) Committee July 12, 2022. Find links to all presentations on the RNA web page: RNA Committee. |
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Complete Communities University
Leadership Training Promotes Civic Engagement
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Emerging leaders invited to apply for fall 2022 course. The Department of Neighborhoods (DON) invites Houston residents committed to making a positive impact in their communities to apply for Fall 2022 Complete Communiti1es University (CCU) leadership training. The 8-week course will run September 21 – November 9. The classes will be held online via Microsoft Teams and in person on Wednesday evenings, 6-8:30 p.m. The application deadline is August 31, 2022.
The CCU program educates emerging leaders on how to effectively engage residents in civic activities to vitalize and empower neighborhoods. Course topics include leadership development through civic engagement, volunteerism, voter education, how city and county governments function and impact neighborhoods, and how to effectively navigate City services and local resources. Course participants are challenged to devise civic engagement strategies based on the unique character, interests and needs of their neighborhoods.
CCU classes are conducted by DON staff with extensive experience in civic engagement and knowledge of Houston communities. The classes include presentations by subject experts from City departments and community organizations.
The CCU program is administered by DON’s Office of Neighborhood Engagement. For more information, call 832-393-1061 or email Paul.Green@houstontx.gov.
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Free Snow Cones with the Cops August 16, 2022 |
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METRO Hiram Clarke Curb2Curb Ribbon Cutting August 17, 2022 - Service Begins August 21, 2022 |
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Join us at the ribbon cutting for the launch of the new METRO 314 Hiram Clarke Curb2Curb service!
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WHEN: Wednesday, August 17, 2022, 10:00 AM
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WHERE: The FountainLife Center, 14083 S. Main St., Houston, TX 77035
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National Battle of the Bands Comes to District K |
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The Houston Sports Authority hosts the 2022 Pepsi National Battle of the Bands presented by Toyota, Saturday, August 27, 2022, 6:00 PM, at NRG Stadium. The National Battle of the Bands celebrates, recognizes, and supports the excellence of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
This showcase of HBCU marching bands and is the second largest African American event in Texas. Come out and enjoy this family-friendly event and hear the sounds of eight of the best marching bands:
- Alabama A&M University, Marching Maroon & White Band
- Alcorn State University, The Sounds of Dyn-O-mite Marching Band
- Bethune Cookman University, Marching Wildcats
- Grambling State University, World Famed Tiger Marching Band
- Kentucky State University, Mighty Marching Thorobreds
- North Carolina A&T State University, The Blue and Gold Marching Machine
- Prairie View A&M University, Marching Storm Band
- Southern University, Human Jukebox
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Mayor Turner Launches 10th Annual Liftoff Houston Startup Business Plan Competition |
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Mayor Turner launched the 10th Annual Liftoff Houston Startup Business Plan competition. Business owners who live and who operate their for-profit businesses in the City of Houston can apply to compete for $10,000 in seed money. Applicants must also attend an orientation session. Applications are open through 2:00 PM Friday, August 19, 2022.
For information on eligibility, applying, and orientation sessions, visit: LiftOffHouston.com
The competition is sponsored by Capital One Bank and will be administered by the Houston Public Library and the Office of Business Opportunity.
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Harris County Flood Control District Offers Flood Warning System |
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Get notified when it is flooding!
Sign up to receive rainfall and water level alerts via text message and email.
The Harris County Flood Control District’s Flood Warning System (FWS) relies on a network of gage stations strategically placed throughout Harris County bayous and their tributaries.
The purpose of the FWS website is to provide information collected by the gages in a user-friendly format directly to you. Learn more at harriscountyfws.org.
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Fort Bend County Community Alert System |
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Fort Bend County Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HS&EM) offers FBC Alert. Residents in Fort Bend Houston can sign up to receive alerts on various emergency situations such as severe weather, unexpected road closures, evacuations, and other emergencies.
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Did you know that many of your concerns and questions can be answered by reaching out to 311?
Below are some helpful 311 links:
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