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Vol. 4, Issue 03 – 02.17.23
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Dear District F:
Let’s talk about group homes.
I want to address some emerging issues in our district, specifically unregistered group homes. According to the Administration and Regulatory Affairs Department, District F has 24 registered or in-process permits for group homes; however, we can all agree that this number needs to reflect an accurate count. Currently, I am working with various neighborhoods and HOAs to verify the total number so we can contact the owner/operator and either start the process or initiate a citation.
I need your help. If you are a civic leader or property management professional and have concerns, please report to 311, share the service request number with as many details as possible, and send it to my office. I am going to work to schedule this topic for discussion at the next Regulatory Neighborhood Affairs committee meeting, chaired by Councilmember Sallie Alcorn.
Let’s Talk about homeless encampments.
Hopefully, you will read the article about our ongoing efforts to eradicate homelessness in the city. We are leading the way in the nation and, more importantly, setting a standard with the housing first model. Several encampments have been identified in the district, and we have shared a priority list that includes the entire district. The largest is a tent community at 59S/8 in the detention pond. Again, if there is a growing tent community in your neighborhood, please do not approach, but notify the office (photos and exact address helps), and I will add this to the ongoing outreach list.
Let’s talk about street safety on Bissonnet.
Bissonnet is finally getting the attention that it desperately deserves. Two weeks ago, I shared that Districts F, J, and C were recipients of the Safe Street grant funded by the Department of Transportation. This investment will transform safety and mobility in one of the densest areas in District F. On Thursday, I joined Rep. Al Green and leadership from the International Management District to announce an additional $2.5M earmark to improve intersection safety at various locations on Bissonnet and Beechnut. The improved infrastructure will drive economic development, improve public safety, and encourage enhanced quality of life.
Let’s Talk about deed restrictions.
A few weeks ago, I shared with you the demand my office is experiencing with neighborhoods and the challenges with deed restrictions. As promised, please save the date for our first-round table discussions on deed restrictions hosted by the Law Firm of Rice & Rice and my office.
I highly encourage participation. A lot of effort is going into planning this informative session to help educate and protect your neighborhood, such as enforcement, amending documents, collecting fees, architectural guidelines, and more.
Saturday, April 29, 2023 – more details to come.
Let’s Talk about Conservation Districts.
As you know, we are a pro-development city and must always interrogate how we protect existing neighborhoods and heritage while welcoming revitalization and new construction. The Planning Department has introduced Conservation Districts as an alternative to Historic Preservation designations which are more restrictive. The public hearing for this issue is on Tuesday, February 22, at 9 AM at City Hall. I encourage you or someone from your neighborhood to attend to learn more and hear feedback from communities across the city. Visit LetsTalkHouston.org for more details. Let me hear from you.
Alief: Join me and Mayor Sylvester Turner at Harwin Park at 11AM for the playground ribbon cutting.
Briarmeadow: Street lights at Stoney Brook and Meadowvale are out due to a cut line. Centerpoint is scheduled to restore lighting by Monday, February 20.
Westmont: I will join the Westmont Civic Club on Thursday, February 23, at 6 PM, at Los Tios for a discussion on public safety, city hall updates, and issues related to housing. David Northern, president, and chief executive officer of the Houston Housing Authority, will also join. I hope to see you there.
I want to leave you with a District F Black History Fun Fact. Did you know the land where Piney Point Elementary is located was donated to HISD by the descendants of the enslaved people that settled in the area after 1865?
Councilmember Tiffany D. Thomas |
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HOT SPOT TEAM HIGHLIGHT
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 6TH
- Total Work Orders: 18
- Hotspot of the Week: 3400 Baneway
- Total Man Hours Worked: 72
- Tree Waste: 350 lbs.
- Mattresses: 0
- Furniture Waste: 0 piece
- Tires: 13
- Trash Debris: 450 lbs.
- Shopping Carts: 0
- Bandit Signs: 291
- Landscaping: none
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| SOLID WASTE OPERATIONS UPDATE |
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As of February 16, 2023
Recycling and Yard Waste services are experiencing delays in all quadrants of the city. Please continue to leave your containers at the curb until it has been serviced. We understand these collection delays are frustrating and thank you for your continued patience.
Los servicios de Reciclaje y Desechos de Jardín tienen demoras en toda la ciudad. Continúe dejando sus contenedores en la oria de la calle para recolección hasta que se hayan recolectado. Entendemos que estos retrasos en las colecciones son frustrantes y le agradecemos su paciencia.
For more information on the Neighborhood Depository and Recycling Centers, please visit our website https://www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/depositories.html.
We understand these delays in collections are frustrating and we thank you for your continued patience.
For more information about SWMD and our services, visit us atwww.houstonsolidwaste.org, “LIKE” us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/houstonsolidwaste, and follow us on Twitter @HoustonTrash, or call 3-1-1, the City of Houston’s Customer Service Helpline. Download our app HTX Collects on Google Play or IOS Store to Never Miss an Update again!
Facebook- Updated daily
Link: City of Houston Solid Waste Management – Posts | Facebook
HTX Collects- an app used to update you about your service in real-time. You can also use the link on the website to get an update.
Link: http://www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/htxcollects.html
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NEIGHBORHOOD & PUBLIC SAFETY MEETINGS
There are several opportunities for you to engage with your neighbors and receive accurate information from community partners, elected officials, and public safety leadership regarding District F and the greater Houston area.The District F Office strives to keep our constituency informed on community issues and success. A key way to do this is via community meetings. Please see meeting postings for the month of January below:
Schedule
SN-17 Meeting: Every 2nd Tuesday at 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Location: Eagles Trace, 14703 Eagle Vista Drive in the Austin Square building catering room
SN – 25 (Alief): Every 4th Tuesday at 6:30PM
Location: Alief Neighborhood Center
SN – 20 (Tanglewilde, Westmont, Briarmeadow, and Carver Crest):
Location: TBD
Westside PIP Meeting: Every 3rd Thursday at 6:30PM
Location: Westside Station, 3203 S. Dairy Ashford Street, 3rd floor
Midwest PIP Meeting: Every 3rd Wednesday at 7PM
Location: 7277 Regency Square Boulevard
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FEDERAL FUNDING APPROVED FOR SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS
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| Joined by International Management District board members and other local leaders, U.S. Rep. Al Green announced on February16th at the Alief Community Garden that $2.5 million in federal funding has been set aside for the District to make safety improvements to five intersections within its boundaries.
The funds, part of a national infrastructure bill signed into law by President Biden in December, create the District’s largest ever capital improvements project. Safety upgrades for motorists and their passengers, as well as bicyclists, pedestrian, public transit users and other travelers will take place at:
Bissonnet at Court Glen
Bissonnet at Wilcrest
Bellaire and Metro Blvd.
Kirkwood at Stroud
Beechnut and Wilcrest |
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SPENDING TIME WITH YOUNG MINDS
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| Councilmember Thomas spent an afternoon on February 16, 2023 with The Emerald Club, the girls mentoring program at Petrosky Elementary in Alief ISD. This is the 1st year of the club, which is focused on growing and developing positive and well-rounded young ladies. The club is all about empowering them to believe in themselves and uplift themselves as well as those around them. |
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NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE ANNOUNCES THE UPCOMING CONFERENCE
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| Councilmember Thomas joined the National Urban League the Houston Area Urban League, and Mayor Turner to announce the 2023 National Urban League Conference in Houston July 26-29.
Visit NUL.ORG to register and learn more. |
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DISTRICT F NEW STAFF MEMBER
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| Ken Ulmer has joined the District F team as Director of Communications. He is a communications and public relations professional with a blue-chip client background, executive-level support, digital and media relations, and special events experience.
From annual dinners to White House events, from Hollywood celebrities to government officials–he has drafted speeches for presidents and helped iconic brands reinvent themselves. Ken attended the University of Minnesota on a journalism scholarship and graduated with a degree in mass communications. He is originally from Erie, Pennsylvania. More importantly, he lives in Tanglewilde, a district f neighborhood. |
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COMMUNITY MEMBERS CELEBRATE THE DEDRE AND ELLA JEFFERSON EARLY LEARNING CENTER
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| On February 11, 2023, Councilmember Thomas provided remarks to celebrate the naming of the Dedra and Ella Jefferson Early Learning Center. Former classmates, residents, community leaders, educators and the amazing staff gathered to celebrate the two dynamic individuals. |
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TWO DISTRICT F SCHOOLS JOIN READING WITH A RAPPER
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An exciting program called Reading With A Rapper (RAWR) is coming to Holub Middle in Alief ISD and Piney Point Elementary in Houston ISD funded by $30K of council district funds. This program brings students together to learn important skills over an 8-week period. Piney Point Elementary, an area settled by newly freed slaves in 1865 and later opened a school in 1917, has been chosen as a flagship school.
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ALIEFVOTES ART & ESSAY CONTEST
Calling all students in Alief ISD: Are you an artist or writer? Here’s your chance to showcase your talents while learning about civic engagement and your community!
Write a 500-word essay or make an artwork of any medium for an opportunity to win scholarship funds. Learn more and submit your work at bit.ly/aliefcontest. Submissions are due April 1, 2023, and will be judged by community members, artists, and writers from Alief. |
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The City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department and Houston Independent School District is seeking unique recycling artwork from students to participate in the inaugural partnership truck art contest.
The winning artwork will be featured on the City of Houston Recycling collection trucks promoting sustainability through recycling! The deadline to participate is Feb. 28, 2023, at midnight and this contest is open to all HISD K to 12th-grade students.
Learn more http://bit.ly/3wDNwnj |
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DISTRICT F COUNCIL ITEMS
February 15, 2023
Item #10
RESOLUTION confirming support for the proposed development of certain properties as Affordable Rental Housing, each located in the City of Houston, Texas, and the submittal of applications for Housing Tax Credits for developments in Districts A, C, D, E, G, H, and I.
*District A and G were removed for separate consideration and tagged for February 22 Council meeting.
February 8, 2023
Item #4
Approval of final contract amount of $15,887,142.38 and acceptance of work on contract with SER CONSTRUCTION PARTNERS, LLC for Briarmeadow Area Drainage and Paving Improvements – 4.77% under the revised contract amount.
Item #15
Resolution No. 2022-18 approving and authorizing the nomination of MEN’S WEARHOUSE, LLC to the Texas Economic Development Bank established by the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office within the Office of the Governor for designation as an Enterprise Project
Learn more here. |
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COMMENTS ON AGENDA IN FEBRUARY 15, 2023 COUNCIL SESSION
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CM THOMAS POP OFF COMMENTS FROM FEBRUARY 15, 2023
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CM THOMAS POP OFF COMMENTS FROM FEBRUARY 8, 2023
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PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING
FEBRUARY 16
SHOTSPOTTER SYSTEM REVIEWED
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COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS COMMENTS ON DANGEROUS BUILDINGS AT THE FERBUARY 14 RNA COMMITTEE MEETING
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New City of Houston Animal Regulation Effective February 1, 2023
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| Houston dog and cat owners are now required by city ordinance to microchip their pets. BARC, the City of Houston’s Animal Shelter and Adoption Center, is reminding the public that the year-long grace period for enforcing the City’s new mandatory microchipping requirement ended February 1, 2023. On January 19, 2022, Houston City Council unanimously approved updates to Chapter 6 of the City’s Code of Ordinances related to animal welfare, including mandatory microchipping. This change replaced the previously used license tags for all owned cats and dogs with a microchip, making it easier to return lost pets to their owners. Now, animal enforcement officers can reunite lost pets with their owners in the field, bypassing the need to bring them to the shelter for intake and care.
To avoid fines, all pets must be microchipped, which will assist your pet in finding its way home if ever it becomes lost. Residents may also speak with their veterinarian or utilize BARC’s wellness clinic for more information on how to microchip their pet. Find out more information at HoustonBARC.com. |
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| SUBSCRIBE TO NEIGHBORHOOD UPDATES
Phone messages in English and Spanish
notify residents about city services,
new programs & civic engagement opportunities
Voice/text messages a convenient service
for residents without easy access to internet sources
The Department of Neighborhoods (DON) invites residents to subscribe toNeighborhood Updates to receive brief voice or text messages in Spanish or English about essential services and resources.
The messaging service is for everyone, especially for seniors and others who may not have easy access to online information, persons with disabilities who need information in audio or written format, and residents who prefer notices in Spanish. |
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RTH HARVEY IMPACTED HOME REPAIR PROGRAM
Rebuilding Together Houston will be providing home repairs to a limited number of homes that were impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Below is a list of the repairs and qualifications for the program. To refer homeowners, please send an email to[email protected] or call 713-659-2511.
| Repairs |
Qualifications |
| Roof Restoration |
Single Family Home in Harris County |
| Electrical Systems |
Low-income individuals and families |
| Structural Stabilization |
Proof of Ownership |
| Plumbing Systems |
Full time resident of the home |
| Sealing the Envelope of the home: siding, trim, soffits, fascia |
Current on Property Taxes (or official payment plan |
| Sheetrock |
Do not own more than one property |
| Flooring |
Must confirm intent to stay in the home |
| Assessment for mold and removal of damaged materials |
Meet income level requirements |
Rebuilding Together’s work makes homes safer and more resilient against disaster. We do not return homes to a previous condition (for example, unsafe wood floors are replaced by vinyl plank flooring,
which is much more cost-effective) or provide cosmetic improvements (for example, we do not paint interior walls).
*RTH will evaluate the home through its standard 25-point Health and Safety checklist and provide its Volunteer Home Repair Program if eligible. |
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On Saturday, February 18, at 11 AM, join 50/50 Park Partners at Harwin Park to celebrate the transformative improvements made to Harwin Park through the 50/50 Park Partners initiative. This family-friendly, bilingual celebration includes a speaking program featuring Mayor Sylvester Turner. Free breakfast tacos, coffee, freebies, and more while supplies last. Harwin Park is located at 11305 Harwin Dr., Houston, TX, 77072. Street parking is available along the park’s western side at Harwin/Kenwall Drive.
Questions? Contact [email protected]. |
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