Mayor Pro Tem Martin's June 2023 Newsletter

Monthly Newsletter

June 2, 2023 Issue 125

Dear residents,

Next week, my City Council colleagues and I will vote on the City’s $6.2 billion proposed budget for the 2024 fiscal year, which for the first time includes an Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) trust contribution. The OPEB Contribution will total $10 million with a general fund contribution of $8 million and the remaining funds are a combination of Enterprise and Special Funds. This is a huge step towards increasing financial security for the City of Houston and I could not be prouder to have been the catalyst behind this new strategy for the City. The proposed budget includes pay raises for all City of Houston employee groups: 3% pay raise for municipal workers, 3% pay raise for police, and a 6% pay raise for firefighters. The 6% pay raise for firefighters included in this budget represents the 3^rd year of an 18% cumulative pay raise for Houston firefighters valued at $115 million.

This budget also includes plans to invest in repairing and maintaining our roads, bridges, and drainage systems helping to reduce traffic congestion, improve safety, and increase resiliency for Houstonians. There is a $47 million increase in transfers to the Dedicated Drainage Street and Renewal Fund (DDSRF), or Rebuild Houston, to support streets and drainage projects in the Capital Improvement Plan, coupled with a decrease in debt service of $7 million, for a net increase of $40 million for pay-as-you-go and debt. The City of Houston is investing in parks and recreational facilities, including new parks, playgrounds, and sports facilities. This investment will provide more opportunities for outdoor activities and promote a sense of community and togetherness. Information related to the City’s proposed budget can be found online here.

As we, just kicked off the start of Hurricane Season residents should take note the budget also includes increased funding for emergency management services, improved communication systems, and enhanced infrastructure to mitigate the impact of flooding. The City of Houston Disaster Preparedness Guide is updated every year and helps Houstonians plan for emergencies. The guide is free and can be downloaded in six languages from the City’s Office of Emergency Management’s website here. Additionally, I encourage all residents to sign up for emergency alerts through Alert Houston. Alert Houston delivers critical information to Houston residents regarding current conditions, expected impacts, and protective actions to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.

Wishing everyone a safe summer and a reminder the District E Office will be closed on Monday, June 19 in Observance of Juneteenth.

Sincerely,

The District E Office

Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin

900 Bagby, First Floor

Houston, TX 77002

Email: districte@houstontx.gov

Phone: (832) 393-3008

The District E Team

Jessica Beemer

Chief of Staff

Dustin Hodges

Deputy Chief of Staff

Daria Glasscock

Constituent Outreach Representative and South Sector Manager

Demari Perez

Executive Assistant

Yasmine Perez

Office Manager

City Resources

Kingwood Community Center

(281) 348-2570

Houston 311 (713) 837-0311

City of Houston Solid Waste Department

City of Houston Office of Emergency Management

Community Resources

Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce

South Belt-Ellington Chamber of Commerce

Partnership Lake Houston

Kingwood Service Association

Kingwood Super Neighborhood Council

Lake Houston Spillway Gates to

Receive Crucial State Funding

Last week the State agreed to two requests from our community which were to include funding for the Lake Houston Spillway Dam Improvement Project, sediment capture projects, and both structural and nonstructural improvements for the San Jacinto River and Lake Houston in order to convey future floodwaters. Mayor Pro Tem credits the success of this funding to the hundreds of community members who answered the call to action and called State leaders over the last two weeks.

The Lake Houston area is blessed with many engaged residents and together the "fix" for the Lake Houston Gates is finally on the horizon. This new state funding signals to the federal government the City of Houston is ready to move forward. It is important to note the Lake Houston Spillway Dam Improvement Project has a benefit-to-cost ratio of 3.5, which is the highest-rated project in the state of Texas.

The specific requests included in a rider to the 88th Legislature's Appropriations Bill (page 243/4) are in Sec. 17.38. Appropriation: Texas Water Development Board Water Grants and Lake Houston Accumulated Siltation.

These state funds in the amount of $50 million dollars will be utilized in the final design and construction of eleven new flood control gates to be added on the east embankment of the Lake Houston Spillway Dam. The City of Houston has spent $4.375 million on the preliminary design for the Lake Houston Spillway Dam Improvement Project securing $48 million dollars from the federal government along with $30 million dollars in local funds. U.S. Congressman Dan Crenshaw has also been instrumental in securing an $8 million dollar earmark and $38 million dollars in additional money for dredging in the San Jacinto River and Lake Houston.

Over the last several months, Mayor Pro Tem has visited Austin multiple times diligently meeting with representatives, legislative committee staff members, collecting over twenty letters of support from elected officials, and kicking off a grassroots campaign to accomplish the goal to fund much needed post-Harvey improvements in the San Jacinto River Watershed. The District E office plans to host a Fall community meeting in Kingwood to present the design concept and details related to the Lake Houston Spillway Dam Improvement Project, future dredging and sediment capture, as well as, progress on the expansion of Northpark Drive.

Thank you to U.S. Congressman Dan Crenshaw, U.S. Congressman Dan Crenshaw's District Director Kaaren Cambio, Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, State Senator Brandon Creighton, State Senator/Chairwoman Joan Huffman, Speaker Dade Phelan, State Representative Charles Cunningham, State Representative/House Appropriations Chair Greg Bonnen, State Representative Armando Walle, Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough, Montgomery County Commissioner Matt Gray, Harris County Commissioner Tom Ramsey, City of Humble Mayor Norman Funderburk, Humble City Manager Jason Stuebe, City of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, City of Houston Chief Recovery Officer Stephen Costello, City of Houston Government Relations Team led by Bill Kelly and consultants Dan Huberty, Ben Melson. Additional thanks to our communities of support including Humble Independent School District, San Jacinto River Authority, Kingwood Super Neighborhood, Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority, Kingwood Service Association, Greater East Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, Greater Houston Partnership, Lake Conroe Association, Partnership Lake Houston, North Houston Association, and Kingwood resident Bob Rehak. None of this would have been possible without these amazing representatives and partners.

Tree Planting Event in District E

On Saturday, May 20 District E staff participated in the El Dorado Tree Planting Event which was a huge success. This event was hosted by Trees For Houston who partnered with the City and Harris County. Community members of all ages showed up eager and ready to help plant over 250 trees to help replace the ones that were removed during the El Dorado Blvd road expansion project.

Mayor Pro Tem Martin would like to thank everyone who participated and helped make this event happen. The next tree planting event will be held later this Fall to finish planting and additional 250 new trees along El Dorado Blvd. Once that tree planting is completed Mayor Pro Tem will have replaced 500 trees along this stretch of El Dorado Blvd.

DELAYED: Traffic Safety Improvements for

Kingwood Drive Near H-E-B

The District E office regrets to inform the Kingwood community the anticipated traffic safety improvements to the Kingwood Drive median between West Lake Houston and Kings Crossing have been delayed by two weeks. The contractor assigned to the project was pulled away for emergency repairs, which is what has caused the delay. The District E office understands the importance of this project and apologizes for any inconvenience this delay has created.

The contractor is working to ensure the project will commence within two weeks, and our team will continue to monitor the progress closely to ensure that the project is completed as soon as possible. Mayor Pro Tem Martin remains committed to improving the safety of our community and appreciates your patience and understanding during this time.

Freeway Manor Park Construction Update

Freeway Manor Park construction began back in January of this year and is on track to conclude by June 2023. The park is still closed for construction, and demolition has not yet started but will begin soon according to the Houston Parks Board.

The improvements at Freeway Manor Park will include resurfacing the parking lot, repairing the walking trail, replacing park benches, regarding the baseball field, updating the picnic areas, repurposing the existing tennis court to a soccer mini-pitch, and improving park lighting.

Construction activities will occur Monday through Friday, with occasional Saturdays, between 7:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Earlier starts might be required for any concrete pouring in case of high temperatures.

Residents should be mindful of the active construction site and not enter areas surrounded by orange construction fencing.

City Council has approved two agreements between the City of Houston and Houston Parks Board that underscored the commitment to this public/private partnership by appropriating almost $6.2 million from the City of Houston’s Parks and Recreation Dedication Fund and General Fund for this work to begin on the first 11 parks of the 50/50 Park Partners initiative.

The Houston Parks and Recreation Department is responsible for the continuous operation and upkeep of the parks, examining and approving plans, and delivering the public funding commitment. Houston Parks Board is serving as the project manager and overseeing the private fundraising for the 50/50 Park Partners initiative in coordination with Greater Houston Partnership.

HCFCD Flood Insurance

Harris County Flood Control District recommends that all Harris County residents become informed about their flood risk and have flood insurance no matter where they reside in Harris County. The devastating effects of flooding do not end when the stormwater recedes after a flood event. Flood insurance accelerates the rebuilding and replacement of personal property and fosters community resiliency as a whole. Flood insurance does take 30 days to become active, so keep that in mind as hurricane season nears.

Click here to learn more about why you should get flood insurance and learn about how to get it. Note that you cannot buy flood insurance directly from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). If you’re interested in purchasing flood insurance, your homeowners, renters, or business insurance agent may be able to help you. You can also contact the NFIP Help Center at 800-427-4661.

Kingwood Varsity Girls Day

Mayor Sylvester Turner and Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin provided proclamations from the City of Houston and District E on Wednesday, May 24 to recognize the Kingwood Girls Varsity Golf Team for their outstanding season.

Bella Flores, Morgan Ankenbrandt, Kate Hartnett, Khloe Jones, and Mariana Hernandez, constitute the excellent Kingwood Varsity Girls Golf team, who finished second at the 6A State Championship. It is worth noting, Coach Susan Willis was named 2023 HAGCA Girls Coach of the Year.

Overall, the team won back-to-back Region 3 championships and set a Region 3 scoring record of 595 points at Eagle Pointe. In recognition of their amazing accomplishments, May 24th is designated as Kingwood Girls Varsity Golf Team Day. Congratulations ladies, the City of Houston, especially District E are super proud!

Willow Creek Way Panel Replacements

Houston Public Works is currently replacing concrete panels along Willow Creek Way from Possum Creek to Flagstone Terrace which began Monday, April 24, 2023. The repairs are expected to be completed by Monday, June 5, 2023, and construction activities are expected to take place Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

As a result of the construction activities, please be aware of flagmen and orange traffic cones that will be put in place on-site to help with traffic flow through the construction zone as the project will require a one-lane closure. Two-way traffic will be maintained at all times. Businesses and residents will have access to driveways and sidewalks at all times and may experience an increase in noise levels due to trucks and equipment in the area.

Construction starting soon on Oak Meadow Park

Houston Parks Board and Houston Parks and Recreation Department are excited to share an update on Mayor Turner’s 50/50 Park Partners initiative and the park improvements slated for Oak Meadow Park.

Construction will begin in the next several weeks on elements that were identified by the community. The improvements at Oak Meadow Park will include replacing the playground, resurfacing the walking trail, adding benches, renovating the basketball court, improving the multi-purpose field and site drainage, adding a picnic pavilion, updating and adding site lighting, and enhancing the volleyball court. Construction is expected to be complete towards the end of 2023. For more information, please contact Houston Parks Board.

Crenshaw Road Project Update

The Crenshaw Road Reconstruction Project is set to begin construction June 12, 2023, and end July 3, 2023, if weather permits. The purpose of this project is to preserve and prolong the life of the road base and provide for a smoother riding surface.

This project will mill and overlay the existing roadway from South Shaver to Allen Genoa, approximately 4,300 linear feet, (LF) including base and subgrade repair. Install 500 LF of new 6-ft wide sidewalk between the driveways YES Prep School. The project also includes pavement markings, ditch regrading, and the reconstruction of 9 driveways.

For more information on the Crenshaw Road project, click here.

Lake Houston Dredging Update

During the May 10 Houston City Council meeting, Council unanimously approved an additional $29,000,000 in state grant funds for the continued dredging around the canals and channels of Lake Houston. The additional funding will allow dredging activities to start on the east side of Lake Houston in the various canals/channels. The funding will also go towards the implementation of a pilot program testing the efficacy of sand traps upstream of Lake Houston. Building sand traps is a proactive approach to capturing much of the silt and sediment coming down the various tributaries feeding into Lake Houston well before it ever reaches.

Tremendous progress has been made since Hurricane Harvey through the completion of FEMA, Texas Water Development Board, Harris County, and City of Houston projects. Since 2018, the total combined efforts of these entities have resulted in approximately 4,004,008 cubic yards of silt and sediment dredged from Lake Houston and its tributaries at a total cost of $222 million that is spread across federal, state, and local funding sources.

Additional dredging in the area of the West Fork Mouth Bar funded by FEMA is still in the works. The additional funding would support the removal of approximately 1,000,000 cubic yards from the West Fork of the San Jacinto River. The project is currently going through the procurement process and is expected to begin later this year.

I would like to offer a very special "Thank You" to Congressman Dan Crenshaw, former State Representative Dan Huberty and Senator Brandon Creighton for their commitment to seeing this project through and dedication to the long-term maintenance activities on Lake Houston. Harris County Commissioner Precinct 3, Tom Ramsey, and Harris County Flood Control District have been terrific partners. I also want to thank my colleagues on City Council, Mayor Sylvester Turner for his unwavering support for Lake Houston, and Chief Recovery Officer Stephen Costello for his continued diligence on flood mitigation efforts.

Lockheed Martin Presentation of the

Rigel Award to MRI Technologies

On May 16, MRI Technologies was selected as the 2022 Lockheed Martin Rigel Award winner for their support of NASA’s Orion Multipurpose Crew Vehicle. The Rigel Award is presented to a business that performs above and beyond its contractual commitments. Although it is designated the Beta star of the Orion constellation, Rigel (pronounced Rye-jul) is brighter than the Alpha star, Betelgeuse. Thus, the Rigel award is given to those subcontractors who shine above and beyond the call of duty for the Prime (or Alpha) contractor.

MRI Technologies is based in Houston, TX and has a location in Denver, CO. They are a government contracting company that supports NASA, NASA contractors, the Department of Defense, and commercial companies by providing engineering, project management, information technology, configuration and data management.

Hurricane Hunter Event at Ellington Airport

On May 1, District E Staff attended the Hurricane Hunter Event which was held at the Ellington Airport. This event gave people the opportunity to come tour NOAA-P3 and the USAF C130 Hurricane Hunter aircraft and speak to the pilots and air crews.

With Hurricane season coming up, it is important to have all the resources and information you need to be prepared. This event gave everyone the chance to meet experts from the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center. There were also numerous static displays including other aircraft disaster response vehicles, and many information booths that were passing out hurricane preparedness related materials.

For more information on how to prepare for hurricane season, click here to learn more.

TxDOT Loop 494 Expansion Project Update

Due to delays with the railroad, gas lines, impacts to waterlines, and a joint detention pond, TxDOT has experienced numerous delays with the Loop 494 Expansion Project. The project is currently estimated to be completed in Summer 2023.

TxDOT’s contractor spent the first few months of 2023 finishing the paving of the northbound main lanes on the southern end of the project and placing driveways. The last major piece to this project is the Kingwood Drive & Loop 494 intersection improvements. TxDOT’s contractor is currently working on a plan to complete the intersection improvements with as little impact as possible on residents. Again, TxDOT estimates completing the project early this summer.The Loop 494 Expansion Project is a multijurisdictional project involving Montgomery County and the Texas Department of Transportation.

The scope of work includes:

Widening a 1.7-mile facility to a 4-lane divided highway
Continuous left-turn lane from Kingwood Drive to Crescent Springs Drive
Raised median from Crescent Springs Drive to Sorters-McClellan Road
Reconstruction of the Kingwood Intersection and elevate intersection to remove dip at RR
Sidewalk installation along the west side of Loop 494 will allow pedestrians to cross Kingwood Drive at the signal

More information on the project can be found by reading the Public Meeting Summary that occurred on March 29, 2017, and the Public Hearing Summary that occurred on November 9, 2010. For more information, contact Emily Black at 713-802-5000. Follow the TxDOT Houston District on Twitter @TxDOTHouston.

Lake Houston Safety Plan #KnowYourZone

Do you know your zones? The Lake Houston Safety Plan provides Lake Houston residents and visiting recreational users with information preparing them to better identify their location on the lake and how to best report a lake incident to 9-1-1 dispatchers.

The "Know Your Zone" map was created by District E in collaboration with the Houston Fire Department, Houston Police Department, Houston Planning Department, Houston Office of Emergency Management, Houston Emergency Center, and the Houston Public Works Department. To date, signs have been installed at Deussen Park, East End Park, River Grove Park, Kings Harbor, W Lake Houston Parkway Bridge, and on the FM 1960 Bridge. Houston Public Works has been hampered by the weather but is still working to install signs that have been requested by community groups and private community boat dock owners.

To learn more about the Lake Houston Safety Plan visit the Know Your Zone website, here. There you can print your own maps, share with neighbors, post on social media, and #knowyourzone. To request a presentation for your group (HOA, Civic Club etc.) or receive resources directly, please email the District E Office at districte@houstontx.gov.

Mayor Pro Tem Martin Visits Arlington Heights Civics Club

On May 9, Mayor Pro Tem Martin attended Arlington Heights monthly Civics Club Meeting and spoke to residents about the upcoming projects that will be taking place in the area.

Mayor Pro Tem Martin discussed the purpose of these projects and answered any questions community members had. The purpose of these projects is to construct storm drainage improvements that address and reduce the risk of structural flooding in the area by improving street conveyance and sheet flow and providing detention, as needed, for mitigation.

Arlington Heights subproject 1 will begin construction Fall 2023 and will end Spring 2025. Arlington Heights subproject 2 will commence Fall 2025 and end Spring 2027. Arlington Heights Civics Club meetings meet the second Tuesday of every month and are held at Baker Ripley Pasadena Campus; 720 Fairmont Parkway Pasadena, TX 77504.

Report a Streetlight Outage

CenterPoint Energy maintains streetlights throughout District E and the City of Houston. If you notice a streetlight out in your area please click on the link below to report a streetlight outage.

You will be asked to provide:

a pole number (or nearby address) for the non-functioning lights you want to report
contact information (in case more information is needed to locate a streetlight)
an e-mail address (if you want feedback regarding your repair request)
the number of streetlights you would like to report

The system will guide you through the remaining steps. To repo rt a streetlight outage using the interactive map, click here.

Report general power outages by calling 713-207-2222 or toll-free 800-332-7143.

S.A.M.E Resiliency Workshop Event

District E staff attended the Society of American Military Engineers Resiliency Workshop on May 24. This workshop included special guest speakers from Harris County Flood Control District, General Land Office, METRO, Harris County Engineers, and the City of Houston. The purpose of this event was to discuss how we can all come together and build and sustain a resilient community with the region’s public agencies.

The event concluded with a round table discussion where everyone got the chance to have an open conversation and explain the various efforts each public agency is doing to improve the resiliency of our community such as upcoming projects, plans to receive funding for certain programs and much more. To learn more about the City of Houston's resiliency plan, click here.

Utilizing 3-1-1 to Report Issues

Residents may act as extra eyes and ears on the streets, and soon you'll be able to report a pothole, a malfunctioning traffic light, or a drainage problem while you're out and about. Houston 311 is in the process of launching a new smartphone app that makes reporting issues like these easier than ever. The app will use GPS to identify your location and also allow you to snap a photo to add to your service request. The new app will allow for reports are automatically sent to the City’s 311 system and routed to city departments for resolutions.

You can still alert the City of Houston of issues by dialing 3-1-1 or 713-837-0311 of potential problems in your community. Houstonians can also access this helpful service via an e-mail to 311@HoustonTX.gov. A self Service Request (SR) form is available online at www.houston311.org. Once you've reported a problem please follow up with the District E office by emailing your case number and information on the issue to the District E office at districte@houstontx.gov so that we can help make sure the problem is addressed in a timely manner.