Dear Residents,
This week, my council colleagues and I unanimously approved a minimum 18% pay raise for Houston firefighters over three years using a portion of the city’s federal stimulus relief. The raise went into effect July 1, which was the start of the next fiscal year. This pay increase is long overdue but this is a small step in the right direction.
For those of you who will be spending their Independence Day weekend on the water, it is important to prioritize safety as well. Remember, it is illegal to operate a boat while under the influence (BUI), life jackets should be worn by everyone on the water, and please be mindful and pay attention to your surroundings such as stumps, boaters, and kayakers.
This weekend is the perfect time to make sure Lake Houston residents and visitors are aware of the Lake Houston Safety Plan. This plan 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. The Lake Houston Safety Plan provides both Lake Houston residents and visiting recreational users with information that will prepare them to better identify their location on the lake and how to best report a lake incident to 9-1-1 dispatchers. Keep a look out before you head out on the water to #KnowYourZone in the event of an emergency. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact HPD Lake Patrol at 832-394-9854.
I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable 4th of July weekend. The District E office will be closed Monday, July 5th in observance of Independence Day.
Sincerely,
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Mayor Pro Dave Martin
900 Bagby, First Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 393-3008
The District E Team
Jessica Beemer
Chief of Staff
Katherine Cunningham
Deputy Chief of Staff
Dustin Hodges
North Sector Manager
Mark Mitchell
South Sector Manager
Allie Cerling
Intern
City Resources
Kingwood Community Center
(281) 348-2570
Community Resources
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SWMD Independence Day Holiday
Collection Schedule
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Monday, July 5, 2021 CITY HOLIDAY: NO COLLECTION SERVICES. All Solid Waste Management facilities including Neighborhood Depositories, Recycling Centers, Westpark Recycling Center, Environmental Service Center and The Reuse Warehouse are closed.
Tuesday, July 6, 2021 – Monday’s garbage, B-Week curbside recycling, yard waste collection and 1st Monday tree waste and 1st Tuesday tree waste will be collected. Neighborhood Depositories, Recycling Centers, Westpark Recycling Center, Environmental Service Center and Reuse Warehouse re-open.
Wednesday, July 7, 2021 – Tuesday’s garbage, B-Week curbside recycling, yard waste collection and 1st Wednesday tree waste will be collected.
Thursday, July 8, 2021 – Normal schedule resumes today.
About the City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department
The Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) provides solid waste services to the citizens of Houston through the collection, disposal and recycling of discarded material in a manner that is safe, efficient, environmentally sound and cost-effective.
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The District E team is happy to welcome Allie Cerling as our Hire Houston Youth Summer Intern.
Allie grew up in Northern Indiana and moved to Atascocita in 2017. Currently, she is a Sociology major and Neuroscience minor at Texas A&M University and plans on graduating May 2023. In her free time, she likes to cook for her family, and play violin. In the future she hopes to serve communities by working in the public sector.
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Lake Houston Spillway (Flood Gates)
Project Community Meeting
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A community meeting will be held on Thursday, July 8, 2021, at the Kingwood Community Center (4102 Rustic Woods) to provide updates on the Lake Houston Spillway Improvement Project. The program to discuss the Lake Houston Dam Spillway Improvement Project will start at 6:00 p.m. and the event will conclude at 7:45 p.m. This project is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. There will be a very brief update on Lake Houston Dredging operations provided by Chief Recovery Officer, Stephen Costello, at 5:45 p.m. before the Spillway Improvement Project program begins.
The Lake Houston Dam Spillway project, located on Lake Houston along the San Jacinto River, will increase the outflow capacity of the Lake Houston Dam. The project proposes installing new crest gates in the existing uncontrolled spillway. This will allow for a rapid decrease of water levels in Lake Houston in advance of storm events to prevent or reduce upstream flooding, protecting about 35,000 residents and 5,000 structures. The FEMA grant provides $4.3 million for the initial phase and positions the city to receive $42.7 million for construction.
Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin, Houston Public Works, and Coastal Water Authority have been working together under the direction of Chief Recovery Officer Stephen Costello to plan this public forum to discuss the progress of the project. A brief presentation will be made by Chief Recovery Officer Costello on Lake Houston Dredging Operations followed by the main presentation by Black and Veatch, the project engineers for the Lake Houston Dam Spillway improvement Project. The main presentation will be followed by a short time for questions and answers, which will then transition into a breakout session. The breakout session will allow the community to engage with project management staff and engineers in small groups to ask more detailed questions. The tables will include the following project groups: Engineering, Drainage Analysis, Water Supply, Environmental, Hydrologic & Hydraulic Modeling, and Schedule Delivery.
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Collins Aerospace Joins Houston Spaceport
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On June 7 Mayor Pro Tem Martin participated in the groundbreaking ceremony at the Lonestar Flight Museum for the new Collins Aerospace campus located at the Houston Spaceport.
The campus is expected to be 120,000 sqft and will bring many jobs to the community, including a 10,000 sqft section dedicated to housing Houston’s first-ever incubator devoted to advancements in spaceflight. For more information on the Collins Aerospace and their new campus, please visit https://www.collinsaerospace.com/ .
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The Lake Houston Safety Plan provides Lake Houston residents and visiting recreational users with information that will prepare 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, and on the FM 1960 Bridge. HPW is still working to install signs that have been requested by community groups and private boat dock owners.
Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin is proud this safety plan is already making a positive impact, in early April 2021 a caller reported a kayaker in trouble on the Lake and knew they were located in the Orange Zone. First responders reached the kayaker in trouble, wearing a life jacket, and pulled them and their boat out of the lake within twenty minutes.
To learn more about the plan visit www.houstontx.gov/knowyourzones. There you can print your own maps, share with neighbors, post on social media and #knowyourzone.
Should you like 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.
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Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD)
Projects Status Updates
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Erosion Repairs on Channel G03-53-00
Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin wants to make Lake Houston residents aware of a Harris County Flood Control District Project. The project is located just south of Lakewood Pines Blvd off of W Lake Houston Pkwy.
Construction is scheduled to begin in the coming weeks and is expected to be completed in Spring 2022, weather permitting. Crews will be operating between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Construction equipment will access the work area via West Lake Houston Parkway. Motorists are urged to be alert of truck traffic when passing near construction access points and along truck routes. The Flood Control District appreciates your patience throughout the duration of this project. More information may be available on the Flood Control District’s website, www.hcfcd.org/maintenance. Should you have any questions or comments, please visit www.hcfcd.org/contact-us.
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Intuitive Machines announced their plans to expand their footprint at the Houston Spaceport with the construction of a 125,000 square foot Lunar Operations Center. From here they will continue to build and develop technology dedicated to Lunar landing, exploration, and habitation.
Intuitive Machines plans to land on the Moon in the first quarter of 2022. This will be the beginning of an annual launch cadence that will be delivering payloads to the Moon’s surface and into lunar orbit. For more information on the emerging technology from Intuitive Machines, please visit their website.
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Outfall Repair Scheduled on Appalachian Trail
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Houston Public Works will be performing an outfall repair at 3331 Appalachian Trail. The cost of the project is $89,562.68 and is being funded through the Local Drainage Program.
Construction is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, July 6 and is expected to be completed by Friday, September 3, weather permitting. Crews will be operating between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
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 may impact traffic. Two-way traffic will be maintained at all times. Residents will have access to driveways at all times, and may experience an increase in noise levels due to trucks and equipment in the area.
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Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership
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On June 9th, Mayor Pro Tem Martin had the privilege to speak with the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Clear Lake class on visionary leadership. He shared his personal story and some of his experiences throughout his life that testify to what makes a strong leader.
Mayor Pro Tem Martin always enjoys speaking to these engaged groups and appreciates the opportunity to share his story.
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$50 million for Lake Houston Dredging
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During the 87th Legislative Session, Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin worked to pass House Bill 2525, which would have created a Lake Houston Dredging & Maintenance District to implement the comprehensive long-range plan and serve as an essential safeguard necessary for protecting the integrity of the lake as a vital drinking water source. While the bill passed the House, it was stalled in the Senate. The most important part of the legislation was for the ability to continue ongoing dredging while planning for future maintenance.
Adding to the urgency, Mayor Pro Tem Martin, along with every member of Houston City Council, signed a support letter in favor of HB 2525. However, the bill was not granted a hearing in the Senate.
State Representatives Dan Huberty and Armando Walle worked together with Senator Brandon Creighton to insert the following provision into Article IX of the State Budget:
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“Sec. 17.42. Accumulated Siltation at Lake Houston. In addition to amounts appropriated elsewhere in this Act, $50,000,000 in General Revenue is appropriated to the Water Development Board in Strategy B.1.1, State and Federal Assistance Programs, in fiscal year 2022 for the purposes of removing accumulated siltation and sediment deposits throughout the San Jacinto River and Lake Houston, with particular attention to the many inlets, coves and tributaries around the reservoir, in order to prevent future flooding and preserve the capacity of this vital asset. Any unexpended balances remaining as of August 31, 2022, are appropriated for the same purposes in the fiscal year beginning September 1, 2022.”
This funding will allow for the ongoing dredging as well as the implementation of a long-range study.
The City of Houston again thanks Senator Creighton, Representative Huberty, and Representative Walle for their work in securing these funds.
Resource Documents:
Dave Martin testimony before House Natural Resources Committee
04.13.2021
Houston City Council letter of support
05.05.2021
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The Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) is experiencing service delays in all quadrants of the City due to the increased amount of debris placed out for collection and driver shortages in our critical classifications.
As a result, SWMD is adjusting operations and updating collection schedules to serve Houston residents. Operation updates can be found here.
The department is also hiring Commercial Truck Drivers and offering a signing incentive pay for these critical classifications.
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COVID-19 Testing and Vaccine Information
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Residents should continue frequent hand washing, social distancing, and wearing masks. Find free, fast, and safe testing sites here.
As of Monday, March 29, 2021, everyone age 16 and older is now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Texas. The state’s Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel recommended opening vaccination to everyone who falls under the current Food and Drug Administration emergency use authorizations. All vaccines are authorized for people age 18 and older. The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for people 16 and older.
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See a pothole, report it by calling (713) 837-0311 or use a Smartphone App.
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Get the latest on COVID-19 including locations of active testing sites can be found here.
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Tune in to HTV Houston to watch live and recorded City Council and Committee Meetings.
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