2/21/2020
Residents of District E,
2020 has gotten off to a great start and we look forward to the many exciting things taking place in District E like the expansion of El Dorado Boulevard in Clear Lake and Northpark Drive in Kingwood. Thank you to the Lake Houston residents that attended the Northpark Drive Overpass Project Open House last night. For those that were unable to attend the meeting, the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority is still accepting public comments through March 1, 2020. Public comments may be emailed to NorthparkDrive@elmorepr.com.
This week my staff and I have finalized the dates for two Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Town Hall Meetings for District E. These meetings encourage residents to participate in the CIP process by contributing questions, comments and suggestions to the respective city departments regarding project planning and delivery in the council district. As we begin planning, I welcome your suggestions and feedback for the district and hope that you will join us at our meetings.
Please save the date for the following two meetings:
Kingwood
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Kingwood Community Center
4102 Rustic Woods Drive
6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Southeast Houston/Clear Lake
Thursday, March 3, 2020
Space Center Houston
1601 NASA Parkway
6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
My office will be sending out additional details in the coming weeks, but until then, I ask that you please mark the dates on your calendar. As always, you can contact my office should you have further questions. We look forward to seeing you there!
Sincerely,
Dave Martin
Kingwood Storm Water Line Inspections
Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin would like to make Kingwood area residents aware the Kingwood Storm Water Line Inspections are continuing and have been improved. Moving forward, Houston Public Works is taking special care in their method as it pertains to inspecting critical junctures within the systems. Most inspections already conducted have been clear, with only a few spots in need of debris removal. Those areas with debris located within the lines have been addressed, prior to moving on to the next neighborhood, by using specialized equipment and confined-space personnel to remove the debris. To date, nearly 150,000 linear feet, or approximately about 30 miles, of storm water line have been inspected.
The communities that have been completed are as follows: Elm Grove, Hunter's Ridge, North & South Woodland Hills, Bear Branch, Forest Cove, Greentree Village, and Kings Crossing. This week, Houston Public Works has started on Kings Point. Houston Public Works is now projected to complete one community each week. When a community is finished, photos from their storm water line inspection are posted to Council Member Martin's Facebook Photo Albums. If you see Houston Public Works crews conducting an inspection, please take the time to say "hi" and see what they are working on.
Houston Public Works is working through villages in Kingwood that were impacted by Imelda based on the number of homes impacted. This project is expected to be completed by June 1, 2020, weather permitting. Prior to Houston Public Works moving in to a new community our office will work directly with the HOA to make them aware of the impending storm water line inspection.
The District E office encourages the community to be a part of the solution through participating in the City's Adopt-A-Drain program. Shout out to those that have already adopted and named their drains in the Kingwood Area that include: Big Bertha, Maleficent, Shrader's Drain, A1 Signs, Lil Bandingo's Drain, Botta Boom Drain and many more! There are lots of drains and plenty of naming opportunities for residents, businesses, and community groups to take advantage of in the area while helping to decrease debris in our drainage system.
Other ways residents can help out are to make sure trash cans don't tip over before they are picked up, ensure that yard clippings and leaves are disposed of properly, gutters are clear before bad weather and never throw trash or other items down drains or inlets.
Special Meetings Scheduled: Lake Conroe Temporary Lake Lowering Strategy
Mayor Pro Tem Martin reminds Kingwood and Lake Houston residents the next, and final, SJRA Board of Directors special meeting to hear public comment on the temporary flood mitigation strategy of lowering Lake Conroe on a seasonal basis will take place at 6:00 P.M., Thursday, February 20, 2020, at Lone Star Convention and Expo Center located at 9055 Airport Road, Conroe, Texas 77303.
The lowering of Lake Conroe one foot in the spring and two feet in the fall is intended to provide flood mitigation benefits for downstream residents by increasing capacity to catch rainfall and runoff in the lake. The strategy is reviewed annually and is currently authorized by both the SJRA Board of Directors and the City of Houston as the two entities each own water rights in Lake Conroe.
The SJRA Board of Directors welcomes input regarding the seasonal lake lowering strategy via email as well. To contact the Board please visit: https://www.sjra.net/about/board/ or email floodmanagementdivision@sjra.net.
The District E office is in full support of the continued seasonal lowering. Mayor Pro Tem Martin has submitted a letter of support to the SJRA on December 11, 2019. We have been happy to have this partnership as it has proven to be helpful during the rainy seasons.
For more information about the Seasonal Lake Lowering plan please visit www.sjra.net.
Texas GLO Hosts Texas Back in Business Webinar
On Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020, at 2:00 p.m., Texas Back in Business will host an informational webinar for small businesses damaged by Hurricane Harvey. The new federally funded program is awarding $50,000 up to $250,000 in disaster relief and qualified Texas small business owners have until March 2, 2020, to apply at no cost online at TexasBackInBusiness.com.
Mayor Pro Tem Martin encourages all District E small businesses impacted by Hurricane Harvey to participate in this webinar. Funded by Congress, under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and authorized by the Texas General Land Office, Texas Back in Business is the $100 million Hurricane Harvey Relief Program for Texas small businesses. Texas Back in Business is the jobs and economic revitalization program created to help small businesses in Texas that suffered damage from Hurricane Harvey.
This event requires registration. You may register now or the day of the event. After you register, you'll receive a confirmation email message with instructions on how to join the event. For more information, visit recovery.texas.gov/tbib.
Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce Awards Extravaganza
On Friday, January 24, the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated 96 years with their Annual Awards Extravaganza where they honored this past year's outstanding volunteer leaders and accomplishments.
Mayor Pro Tem Martin and staff had the opportunity to join guests, as well as business partners at the event, where the 2019 Dr. Haden McKay Citizen of the Year Award was presented to Michael Carr. Also honored at the extravaganza were Dr. Katherine Persson, receiving the Spirit of the Chamber Award; Deborah Rose-Miller, receiving the Rising Star Award; and Chris Johnsen, receiving the Chairman's Award. The Chamber additionally recognized its outgoing board of directors, including outgoing Chair Sam Schrade, and performed the installation of its new board Chair, Terry Vaughn.
Mayor Pro Tem Martin congratulates the Lake Houston Area Chamber on another incredible and successful year.
Harvey Homeowners Assistance Program
If you have applied for the Harvey Homeowner Assistance Program, Mayor Pro Tem Martin would like to encourage those applicants to utilize the call center at 832-393-0550 if you feel your application is stalled.
By contacting the call center, applicants can speak to a representative that will provide the most up-to-date information, make any necessary corrections, and let the applicant know what to expect moving forward. If you still feel that you aren't progressing through the process, please feel free to reach out to the District E office for further assistance.
Mouth-Bar Dredging Update
Earlier this month the City of Houston issued a Notice To Proceed (NTP) for debris removal services, specifically large silt deposits, at the confluence of the West Fork of the San Jacinto River and Lake Houston, commonly referred to as the "mouth bar". The City of Houston, through its contractor DRC Emergency Services, LLC (DRC), began mechanical dredging of the mouth bar in January. The total cost for this project is $40 million dollars, which is funded through a combination of City of Houston Harvey Disaster dollars provided by Governor Greg Abbott, grant dollars from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), and funding from the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) Bond Program.
DRC is invoicing the City of Houston in accordance with rates established and approved by the city to include final disposal. DRC must comply with all terms and provisions established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) relative to disaster debris collections, temporary storage, and final disposal. The grant application for this project was submitted to the TWDB by Harris County Engineer, John Blount. Harris County is collaborating closely with HCFCD, the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA), and the City of Houston on this crucial project.
DRC is completing the scope of work for dredging activities in two distinct phases. The first phase will remove accumulated materials near and at the mouth bar on the West Fork of the San Jacinto River, and the second phase will remove accumulated materials in the East Fork of the San Jacinto River and other locations in Lake Houston. During phase one of this project it is expected that a minimum of 400,000 cubic yards (CY) of material will be removed over twelve months. Phase two of the project will consist of: 1) Harris County completing hydrographic surveys of the West Fork of the San Jacinto River, the East Fork of the San Jacinto River, and Lake Houston to determine dredge material volumes 2) the City of Houston advertising and awarding a dredging contract to the lowest responsive bidder 3) Harris County designating the City of Houston as a sub-recipient for the cost of the dredging contract. Phase two will run simultaneously with Phase One to expedite our activity.
Additionally, during phase two of the project City of Houston, Harris County, HCFCD, SJRA, and Coastal Water Authority (CWA) will develop and execute a plan for the City of Houston or CWA to assume long-term dredging operations on Lake Houston. This work effort will include determining funding for the dredging operations in perpetuity. This phased approach will obligate the full grant funding before the 87th legislative session in 2021. This grant funding was made possible thanks to State Representative Dan Huberty (District 127) through the passage of Senate Bill 500 .
Mayor Pro Tem Martin, again, would like to offer a very special "Thank You" to State Representative Dan Huberty for his commitment to seeing this project through and his dedication to the long-term maintenance activities on Lake Houston. Representative Huberty has been a champion for his residents and a great ally in seeing these additional dredging efforts come to fruition.
Save the Date: Lake Houston YMCA Bridge Fest
The Lake Houston Family YMCA's 29th Annual Bridge Fest will take place on Saturday, February 22 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.
Saturday, February 22, 2020
2420 West Lake Houston
Kingwood, Texas 77339
8:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
To ensure the safety of the community and participants, please be aware of traffic constraints on the West Lake Houston Parkway bridge from 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. the day of the race. For more information or to register for Bridge Fest, go to https://runsignup.com/Race/TX/Kingwood/LakeHoustonFamilyYMCABridgeFest
Upcoming Open House: Coastal Texas Study
Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin would like to make residents aware the Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Feasibility Study (Coastal Texas Study) will host a series of public open houses this month to provide the public with updated information about study progress made since previously held public meetings in the Fall of 2018.
The purpose of the Coastal Texas Study is to identify coastal storm risk management and ecosystem restoration measures that would protect the health and safety of Texas coastal communities, reduce the risk of storm damage to industries and businesses critical to the Nation's economy, and address critical coastal ecosystems in need of restoration. The Study team is comprised of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Texas General Land Office (GLO) and their engineering, environmental, and public outreach consultants. To learn more about the study, please visit https://www.coastalstudy.texas.gov/overview/why/index.html
Public open houses will be held on the following dates and locations:
Saturday, February 8, 2020
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
High Island High School
2113 6th Street
High Island, Texas 77623
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Galveston Island Convention Center
5600 Seawall Boulevard
Galveston, Texas 77551
Thursday, February 13, 2020
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Bay Area Community Center
5002 E NASA Parkway
Seabrook, Texas 77586
Materials, presentations, and format will be the same at all three meetings. Informational displays will be available for public viewing, and study team representatives will be available to provide information and answer questions. No formal presentation will be made. Informational materials will be available in English and Spanish.
Public feedback and participation are encouraged. Written comments will be accepted during the public open houses and may be mailed to the Coastal Texas Study at 2500 Summer Street, Suite 1130, Houston, Texas 77007 or emailed to coastaltexasstudy@glo.texas.gov.
Comments received during this time will be taken into consideration by the Coastal Texas Study but will not be documented as a part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)-required public comment period anticipated to be held in fall 2020. These public open houses are intended to inform and provide opportunities for the public to participate in the Coastal Texas Study. Please note, these public open houses are not part of the formal NEPA process.
Houston Region Mayors Luncheon
On January 28, Mayor Pro Tem Martin joined Mayor Turner for a lunch with Mayors Pat Hallisey (League City), Mark Denman (Nassau Bay), Mayor Pro Tem Sallie Branson (Friendswood), and BayTran Chairman and former Kemah Mayor Carl Joiner.
It was a great opportunity to catch up with these elected officials and continue to create great working relationships with Houston's surrounding region. Thank you to Carl Joiner for coordinating this luncheon!
FamilyTime Women of Achievement
On Saturday, January 25 Mayor Pro Tem Martin had the opportunity to attend the FamilyTime Hearts of Gold Gala. Each year FamilyTime asks for nominations to recognize women in the community who have made a difference. The FamilyTime Women of Achievement honorees are role models to the many women FamilyTime serves.
Women of Achievement awards are given in the following categories: the Arts, Business, Community Activist, Education, Entrepreneur, Homemaker, Human Services, Medical, Women's Advocate, Visionary, Volunteer, and Special Recognition. The FamilyTime Women of Achievement honorees are role models to the many women FamilyTime serves. This year, District E Chief of Staff, Jessica Beemer, was awarded the Woman of Achievement Award in the category of Community Activist. Mayor Pro Tem Martin and District E staff are incredibly proud of Jessica for receiving this award.
Mayor Pro Tem Martin congratulates all of the 2019 Women of Achievement recipients and thanks them for their continued work in our community.
Memorial Park Survey
Visited annually by 4 million Houstonians from 170 zip codes across the greater Houston region, Memorial Park is YOUR Park. Your participation provides the Conservancy, which operates and maintains most of the Park, critical feedback and helps guide Park offerings and programming. Let your voice be heard and take the survey by Saturday, February 29. It can be found at http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07egnqvfhdk1ku79ih/a0211hk5o31gpk/greeting
and on the Conservancy's Facebook page.
Additionally, the Conservancy invites Houstonians to show your love for Memorial Park this Valentine's Day. Memorial Park Conservancy is encouraging Houstonians to share what they love most about Memorial Park in the form of a post card. Selected quotes will be featured in the Park's new Eastern Glades, the 100-acre project opening this Summer. The quotes will be featured around the Central Lawn of the Eastern Glades and will be a lasting symbol for the Park's own voice which echoes in every past, present, and future Park user. Please use this link
https://www.memorialparkconservancy.org/its-your-memorial-park/
to submit your quotes, or on the Conservancy's Facebook page.
City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department Reminder: Electronics Donation and Recycling
Electronic products are made from valuable resources and materials, including metals, plastics, and glass, all of which require energy to mine and manufacture. Donating or recycling consumer electronics conserves our natural resources and avoids air and water pollution, as well as greenhouse gas emissions that are caused by manufacturing virgin materials.
Did you know? Texas has manufacturer take-back laws for both computers and televisions. Many of these offer mail-back programs at no cost to you! This is the easiest way to recycle your old computer or TV. To find out information on each program please visit the links below. Once there, find the manufacturer of the item you want to recycle and follow the link to the business page for recycling. Look for mail back options once there. Most provide a free shipping label that you just put on the box with the item and mail-back. This cost is covered by manufacturer per state law.
Looking to recycle a TV? Go to
https://www.tceq.texas.gov/p2/recycle/electronics/tv_recycling.html#S
or call: 1-855-TV-Recycle
Looking to recycle a computer? Go to
https://www.tceq.texas.gov/p2/recycle/electronics/manufacturer-list.html#A
or call: 512-239-3143
Visit EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency for more information on where to recycle electronics.
Additionally, the City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department hosts monthly Saturday electronics recycling events from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the following locations:
Kingwood Metro Transit Center
1st Saturday of the month
3210 West Lake Houston Parkway
Houston, TX 77345
Ellington/Clear Lake Neighborhood Recycling Center
2nd Saturday of the month
246 Loop Road
Houston, TX 77034
Please email the District E office if you would like us to include your upcoming event in future newsletters!
February 12
KSA Public Safety Meeting
February 13
Summer Creek BizCom
February 18
Kingwood PIP
February 19
Kingwood Super Neighborhood Council Meeting
February 20
SJRA Special Meeting re: Seasonal Lowering of Lake Conroe
February 25
Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce Economic Outlook Luncheon
2020 has gotten off to a great start and we look forward to the many exciting things taking place in District E like the expansion of El Dorado Boulevard in Clear Lake and Northpark Drive in Kingwood. Thank you to the Lake Houston residents that attended the Northpark Drive Overpass Project Open House last night. For those that were unable to attend the meeting, the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority is still accepting public comments through March 1, 2020. Public comments may be emailed to NorthparkDrive@elmorepr.com.
This week my staff and I have finalized the dates for two Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Town Hall Meetings for District E. These meetings encourage residents to participate in the CIP process by contributing questions, comments and suggestions to the respective city departments regarding project planning and delivery in the council district. As we begin planning, I welcome your suggestions and feedback for the district and hope that you will join us at our meetings.
Please save the date for the following two meetings:
Kingwood
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Kingwood Community Center
4102 Rustic Woods Drive
6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Southeast Houston/Clear Lake
Thursday, March 3, 2020
Space Center Houston
1601 NASA Parkway
6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
My office will be sending out additional details in the coming weeks, but until then, I ask that you please mark the dates on your calendar. As always, you can contact my office should you have further questions. We look forward to seeing you there!
Sincerely,
Dave Martin
Kingwood Storm Water Line Inspections
Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin would like to make Kingwood area residents aware the Kingwood Storm Water Line Inspections are continuing and have been improved. Moving forward, Houston Public Works is taking special care in their method as it pertains to inspecting critical junctures within the systems. Most inspections already conducted have been clear, with only a few spots in need of debris removal. Those areas with debris located within the lines have been addressed, prior to moving on to the next neighborhood, by using specialized equipment and confined-space personnel to remove the debris. To date, nearly 150,000 linear feet, or approximately about 30 miles, of storm water line have been inspected.
The communities that have been completed are as follows: Elm Grove, Hunter's Ridge, North & South Woodland Hills, Bear Branch, Forest Cove, Greentree Village, and Kings Crossing. This week, Houston Public Works has started on Kings Point. Houston Public Works is now projected to complete one community each week. When a community is finished, photos from their storm water line inspection are posted to Council Member Martin's Facebook Photo Albums. If you see Houston Public Works crews conducting an inspection, please take the time to say "hi" and see what they are working on.
Houston Public Works is working through villages in Kingwood that were impacted by Imelda based on the number of homes impacted. This project is expected to be completed by June 1, 2020, weather permitting. Prior to Houston Public Works moving in to a new community our office will work directly with the HOA to make them aware of the impending storm water line inspection.
The District E office encourages the community to be a part of the solution through participating in the City's Adopt-A-Drain program. Shout out to those that have already adopted and named their drains in the Kingwood Area that include: Big Bertha, Maleficent, Shrader's Drain, A1 Signs, Lil Bandingo's Drain, Botta Boom Drain and many more! There are lots of drains and plenty of naming opportunities for residents, businesses, and community groups to take advantage of in the area while helping to decrease debris in our drainage system.
Other ways residents can help out are to make sure trash cans don't tip over before they are picked up, ensure that yard clippings and leaves are disposed of properly, gutters are clear before bad weather and never throw trash or other items down drains or inlets.
Special Meetings Scheduled: Lake Conroe Temporary Lake Lowering Strategy
Mayor Pro Tem Martin reminds Kingwood and Lake Houston residents the next, and final, SJRA Board of Directors special meeting to hear public comment on the temporary flood mitigation strategy of lowering Lake Conroe on a seasonal basis will take place at 6:00 P.M., Thursday, February 20, 2020, at Lone Star Convention and Expo Center located at 9055 Airport Road, Conroe, Texas 77303.
The lowering of Lake Conroe one foot in the spring and two feet in the fall is intended to provide flood mitigation benefits for downstream residents by increasing capacity to catch rainfall and runoff in the lake. The strategy is reviewed annually and is currently authorized by both the SJRA Board of Directors and the City of Houston as the two entities each own water rights in Lake Conroe.
The SJRA Board of Directors welcomes input regarding the seasonal lake lowering strategy via email as well. To contact the Board please visit: https://www.sjra.net/about/board/ or email floodmanagementdivision@sjra.net.
The District E office is in full support of the continued seasonal lowering. Mayor Pro Tem Martin has submitted a letter of support to the SJRA on December 11, 2019. We have been happy to have this partnership as it has proven to be helpful during the rainy seasons.
For more information about the Seasonal Lake Lowering plan please visit www.sjra.net.
Texas GLO Hosts Texas Back in Business Webinar
On Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020, at 2:00 p.m., Texas Back in Business will host an informational webinar for small businesses damaged by Hurricane Harvey. The new federally funded program is awarding $50,000 up to $250,000 in disaster relief and qualified Texas small business owners have until March 2, 2020, to apply at no cost online at TexasBackInBusiness.com.
Mayor Pro Tem Martin encourages all District E small businesses impacted by Hurricane Harvey to participate in this webinar. Funded by Congress, under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and authorized by the Texas General Land Office, Texas Back in Business is the $100 million Hurricane Harvey Relief Program for Texas small businesses. Texas Back in Business is the jobs and economic revitalization program created to help small businesses in Texas that suffered damage from Hurricane Harvey.
This event requires registration. You may register now or the day of the event. After you register, you'll receive a confirmation email message with instructions on how to join the event. For more information, visit recovery.texas.gov/tbib.
Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce Awards Extravaganza
On Friday, January 24, the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated 96 years with their Annual Awards Extravaganza where they honored this past year's outstanding volunteer leaders and accomplishments.
Mayor Pro Tem Martin and staff had the opportunity to join guests, as well as business partners at the event, where the 2019 Dr. Haden McKay Citizen of the Year Award was presented to Michael Carr. Also honored at the extravaganza were Dr. Katherine Persson, receiving the Spirit of the Chamber Award; Deborah Rose-Miller, receiving the Rising Star Award; and Chris Johnsen, receiving the Chairman's Award. The Chamber additionally recognized its outgoing board of directors, including outgoing Chair Sam Schrade, and performed the installation of its new board Chair, Terry Vaughn.
Mayor Pro Tem Martin congratulates the Lake Houston Area Chamber on another incredible and successful year.
Harvey Homeowners Assistance Program
If you have applied for the Harvey Homeowner Assistance Program, Mayor Pro Tem Martin would like to encourage those applicants to utilize the call center at 832-393-0550 if you feel your application is stalled.
By contacting the call center, applicants can speak to a representative that will provide the most up-to-date information, make any necessary corrections, and let the applicant know what to expect moving forward. If you still feel that you aren't progressing through the process, please feel free to reach out to the District E office for further assistance.
Mouth-Bar Dredging Update
Earlier this month the City of Houston issued a Notice To Proceed (NTP) for debris removal services, specifically large silt deposits, at the confluence of the West Fork of the San Jacinto River and Lake Houston, commonly referred to as the "mouth bar". The City of Houston, through its contractor DRC Emergency Services, LLC (DRC), began mechanical dredging of the mouth bar in January. The total cost for this project is $40 million dollars, which is funded through a combination of City of Houston Harvey Disaster dollars provided by Governor Greg Abbott, grant dollars from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), and funding from the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) Bond Program.
DRC is invoicing the City of Houston in accordance with rates established and approved by the city to include final disposal. DRC must comply with all terms and provisions established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) relative to disaster debris collections, temporary storage, and final disposal. The grant application for this project was submitted to the TWDB by Harris County Engineer, John Blount. Harris County is collaborating closely with HCFCD, the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA), and the City of Houston on this crucial project.
DRC is completing the scope of work for dredging activities in two distinct phases. The first phase will remove accumulated materials near and at the mouth bar on the West Fork of the San Jacinto River, and the second phase will remove accumulated materials in the East Fork of the San Jacinto River and other locations in Lake Houston. During phase one of this project it is expected that a minimum of 400,000 cubic yards (CY) of material will be removed over twelve months. Phase two of the project will consist of: 1) Harris County completing hydrographic surveys of the West Fork of the San Jacinto River, the East Fork of the San Jacinto River, and Lake Houston to determine dredge material volumes 2) the City of Houston advertising and awarding a dredging contract to the lowest responsive bidder 3) Harris County designating the City of Houston as a sub-recipient for the cost of the dredging contract. Phase two will run simultaneously with Phase One to expedite our activity.
Additionally, during phase two of the project City of Houston, Harris County, HCFCD, SJRA, and Coastal Water Authority (CWA) will develop and execute a plan for the City of Houston or CWA to assume long-term dredging operations on Lake Houston. This work effort will include determining funding for the dredging operations in perpetuity. This phased approach will obligate the full grant funding before the 87th legislative session in 2021. This grant funding was made possible thanks to State Representative Dan Huberty (District 127) through the passage of Senate Bill 500 .
Mayor Pro Tem Martin, again, would like to offer a very special "Thank You" to State Representative Dan Huberty for his commitment to seeing this project through and his dedication to the long-term maintenance activities on Lake Houston. Representative Huberty has been a champion for his residents and a great ally in seeing these additional dredging efforts come to fruition.
Save the Date: Lake Houston YMCA Bridge Fest
The Lake Houston Family YMCA's 29th Annual Bridge Fest will take place on Saturday, February 22 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.
Saturday, February 22, 2020
2420 West Lake Houston
Kingwood, Texas 77339
8:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
To ensure the safety of the community and participants, please be aware of traffic constraints on the West Lake Houston Parkway bridge from 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. the day of the race. For more information or to register for Bridge Fest, go to https://runsignup.com/Race/TX/Kingwood/LakeHoustonFamilyYMCABridgeFest
Upcoming Open House: Coastal Texas Study
Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin would like to make residents aware the Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Feasibility Study (Coastal Texas Study) will host a series of public open houses this month to provide the public with updated information about study progress made since previously held public meetings in the Fall of 2018.
The purpose of the Coastal Texas Study is to identify coastal storm risk management and ecosystem restoration measures that would protect the health and safety of Texas coastal communities, reduce the risk of storm damage to industries and businesses critical to the Nation's economy, and address critical coastal ecosystems in need of restoration. The Study team is comprised of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Texas General Land Office (GLO) and their engineering, environmental, and public outreach consultants. To learn more about the study, please visit https://www.coastalstudy.texas.gov/overview/why/index.html
Public open houses will be held on the following dates and locations:
Saturday, February 8, 2020
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
High Island High School
2113 6th Street
High Island, Texas 77623
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Galveston Island Convention Center
5600 Seawall Boulevard
Galveston, Texas 77551
Thursday, February 13, 2020
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Bay Area Community Center
5002 E NASA Parkway
Seabrook, Texas 77586
Materials, presentations, and format will be the same at all three meetings. Informational displays will be available for public viewing, and study team representatives will be available to provide information and answer questions. No formal presentation will be made. Informational materials will be available in English and Spanish.
Public feedback and participation are encouraged. Written comments will be accepted during the public open houses and may be mailed to the Coastal Texas Study at 2500 Summer Street, Suite 1130, Houston, Texas 77007 or emailed to coastaltexasstudy@glo.texas.gov.
Comments received during this time will be taken into consideration by the Coastal Texas Study but will not be documented as a part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)-required public comment period anticipated to be held in fall 2020. These public open houses are intended to inform and provide opportunities for the public to participate in the Coastal Texas Study. Please note, these public open houses are not part of the formal NEPA process.
Houston Region Mayors Luncheon
On January 28, Mayor Pro Tem Martin joined Mayor Turner for a lunch with Mayors Pat Hallisey (League City), Mark Denman (Nassau Bay), Mayor Pro Tem Sallie Branson (Friendswood), and BayTran Chairman and former Kemah Mayor Carl Joiner.
It was a great opportunity to catch up with these elected officials and continue to create great working relationships with Houston's surrounding region. Thank you to Carl Joiner for coordinating this luncheon!
FamilyTime Women of Achievement
On Saturday, January 25 Mayor Pro Tem Martin had the opportunity to attend the FamilyTime Hearts of Gold Gala. Each year FamilyTime asks for nominations to recognize women in the community who have made a difference. The FamilyTime Women of Achievement honorees are role models to the many women FamilyTime serves.
Women of Achievement awards are given in the following categories: the Arts, Business, Community Activist, Education, Entrepreneur, Homemaker, Human Services, Medical, Women's Advocate, Visionary, Volunteer, and Special Recognition. The FamilyTime Women of Achievement honorees are role models to the many women FamilyTime serves. This year, District E Chief of Staff, Jessica Beemer, was awarded the Woman of Achievement Award in the category of Community Activist. Mayor Pro Tem Martin and District E staff are incredibly proud of Jessica for receiving this award.
Mayor Pro Tem Martin congratulates all of the 2019 Women of Achievement recipients and thanks them for their continued work in our community.
Memorial Park Survey
Visited annually by 4 million Houstonians from 170 zip codes across the greater Houston region, Memorial Park is YOUR Park. Your participation provides the Conservancy, which operates and maintains most of the Park, critical feedback and helps guide Park offerings and programming. Let your voice be heard and take the survey by Saturday, February 29. It can be found at http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07egnqvfhdk1ku79ih/a0211hk5o31gpk/greeting
and on the Conservancy's Facebook page.
Additionally, the Conservancy invites Houstonians to show your love for Memorial Park this Valentine's Day. Memorial Park Conservancy is encouraging Houstonians to share what they love most about Memorial Park in the form of a post card. Selected quotes will be featured in the Park's new Eastern Glades, the 100-acre project opening this Summer. The quotes will be featured around the Central Lawn of the Eastern Glades and will be a lasting symbol for the Park's own voice which echoes in every past, present, and future Park user. Please use this link
https://www.memorialparkconservancy.org/its-your-memorial-park/
to submit your quotes, or on the Conservancy's Facebook page.
City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department Reminder: Electronics Donation and Recycling
Electronic products are made from valuable resources and materials, including metals, plastics, and glass, all of which require energy to mine and manufacture. Donating or recycling consumer electronics conserves our natural resources and avoids air and water pollution, as well as greenhouse gas emissions that are caused by manufacturing virgin materials.
Did you know? Texas has manufacturer take-back laws for both computers and televisions. Many of these offer mail-back programs at no cost to you! This is the easiest way to recycle your old computer or TV. To find out information on each program please visit the links below. Once there, find the manufacturer of the item you want to recycle and follow the link to the business page for recycling. Look for mail back options once there. Most provide a free shipping label that you just put on the box with the item and mail-back. This cost is covered by manufacturer per state law.
Looking to recycle a TV? Go to
https://www.tceq.texas.gov/p2/recycle/electronics/tv_recycling.html#S
or call: 1-855-TV-Recycle
Looking to recycle a computer? Go to
https://www.tceq.texas.gov/p2/recycle/electronics/manufacturer-list.html#A
or call: 512-239-3143
Visit EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency for more information on where to recycle electronics.
Additionally, the City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department hosts monthly Saturday electronics recycling events from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the following locations:
Kingwood Metro Transit Center
1st Saturday of the month
3210 West Lake Houston Parkway
Houston, TX 77345
Ellington/Clear Lake Neighborhood Recycling Center
2nd Saturday of the month
246 Loop Road
Houston, TX 77034
Please email the District E office if you would like us to include your upcoming event in future newsletters!
February 12
KSA Public Safety Meeting
February 13
Summer Creek BizCom
February 18
Kingwood PIP
February 19
Kingwood Super Neighborhood Council Meeting
February 20
SJRA Special Meeting re: Seasonal Lowering of Lake Conroe
February 25
Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce Economic Outlook Luncheon