A portion of the $2.3 billion set aside by U.S. Congress for disaster recovery in 2018 has made its way to Harris County.
Harris County Commissioners Court accepted more than $909 million in federal funds at a January 29 meeting to help homeowners repair and rebuild homes that were damaged during Hurricane Harvey in August 2017 and to reimburse homeowners who made repairs out of pocket.
The funds were made available through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and will be distributed over the coming months, according to a statement released by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo.
As of January 29, homeowners can apply for consideration for funding online at www.harrisrecovery.org. Funding will be distributed across six housing programs, including a program to assist with home repairs and rebuilds for homes damaged during Harvey and a home buyout program for low-income homeowners.
Daphne Lemelle, the executive director of the Harris County Community Services Department, said a resource department is also on hand to connect homeowners who do not qualify for funding to nonprofits and charitable organizations.
Residents of District E, Â many of you may have seen my interview last night with FOX 26 reporter Greg Groogan regarding the reprioritization of Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) bond projects. I stand firmly that income should not be used as an equalizing factor for these projects because natural disasters do not strike based on income. Last summer, HCFCD hosted 23 community meetings on the proposed projects to be included in the bond and there was never a mention of adding income-based criteria to the ranking criteria. It was understood and presented to voters in these community meetings that projects would be completed based on hardest hit areas and the number of residents that would benefit from the projects. Â
This item is expected to be discussed at the March 12, 2019 Commissioners Court meeting. Commissioners Court meetings are open to the public, and begin at 10:00 a.m. at 1001 Preston Street, Suite 934, Houston, TX 77002. Commissioners Court meetings are also streamed online here and you can get more meeting information by visiting the Commissioners Court website. Â
Earlier this week, I traveled to Austin to participate in Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Day and Bay Area Economic Partnership’s Space Day at the State Capitol. I joined members from across District E in advocating for legislation related to Sand Mining, Post Disaster Recovery, Taxation, as well as the impact of the aerospace industry in Texas. Â
Representative Dan Huberty has been instrumental in authoring House Bills 907, 908, and 909 which seek to establish best management practices for aggregate production operations, increase penalties related to illegal aggregate production operations, and increase oversight associated with aggregate production operations. All three of Huberty’s bills have been referred to the House Committee on Environmental Regulation. We appreciate Representative Huberty’s hard work on these pieces of legislation that, once passed, will have a tremendous impact on the communities in the Lake Houston Area. Â
Senator Brandon Creighton has authored Senate Bill 1800, which seeks to amend the Texas Constitution for the purpose of creating a Texas Resilience Infrastructure Fund (TRIF), which would assist in the financing of resiliency projects. The TRIF would be a special fund in the state treasury outside of the general revenue fund for the development of flood prevention and mitigation projects. This bill has been referred to the Texas Senate Committee on Water and Rural Affairs, which Senator Creighton is the currently the Vice Chair.
Thank you to Senator Creighton for working hard on this piece of legislation that seeks to better prepare the state of Texas for future natural disasters. Â Thank you to Representative Dennis Paul for authoring House Bill 303 and Senator Larry Taylor for authoring it’s companion bill Senate Bill 1039 which seek to establish a spaceport development corporation in Houston, Texas. Representative Paul will be presenting this bill to the Texas House International Relations and Economic Development Committee this coming Monday, March 4 at 10:00 a.m. More information on Monday’s committee meeting can be found here. Â
The Texas Legislature is hard at work on a myriad of issues and we thank these state representatives for their tireless work for the betterment of our area. If you do not already subscribe to your legislators’ weekly newsletter, I highly recommend getting added to their distribution list for more timely updates.
Sincerely,
Dave Martin
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District E CIP Town Hall Meetings Council Member Martin asks residents to please save the date for the following two meetings:
Southeast Houston/Clear Lake Tuesday, March 19 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Space Center Houston, Special Events Building 1601 NASA Parkway Houston, Texas 77058
Kingwood Thursday, March 21 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Kingwood Community Center 4102 Rustic Woods Drive Kingwood, Texas 77345
Ben’s Branch, a channel within the Kingwood community stretching from Northpark to the West Fork of the San Jacinto River, was completely inundated with water and sediment during Hurricane Harvey. As a result, a considerable buildup of sediment infiltrated the southern bends of the channel south of Kingwood Drive around Town Center and behind the Lake Houston YMCA. This stretch of Ben’s Branch Channel from Kingwood Drive to about 1,800 linear feet downstream of West Lake Houston Parkway, is owned by the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD). Â
As property owners of this channel, HCFCD, has completed their field survey of the reach to remove sediment accumulations within the system and restore channel conveyance capacity. HCFCD has also completed final design of the conveyance restoration project. They are now preparing the project for bid later this month. The next steps for HCFCD once bids have been accepted is to award the project and begin construction for Summer 2019. HCFCD is funding 100% of this conveyance project.Â
Other channels in Kingwood and the Lake Houston communities within the City of Houston are also being evaluated by HCFCD for projects. There is one portion of Ben’s Branch, between Woodland Hills and Rocky Woods Drive, that is currently under final review with City of Houston Legal, HCFCD and the Bens Branch Trail Association. Once that final review is complete HCFCD will be the owner’s of the Bens Branch channel from Northpark Drive to 1,800 linear feet south of the channel’s intersection with West Lake Houston Parkway.Â
Eventually all open and natural channels will be maintained by HCFCD while the City of Houston maintains all closed storm sewer systems and drainage. To monitor progress of this and other Harris County Flood Control projects please visit their website.
HAR Lake Houston First Quarterly Meeting Council Member Martin had the opportunity to be a keynote speaker at the Houston Area Realty First Quarterly Meeting on Friday, February 8.
The presentation included a round table discussion with Council Member Martin, Representative Dan Huberty, and Humble ISD Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Fagen. They each shared their latest updates and discussed the future of the Lake Houston Area. Â
Council Member Martin would like to thank Houston Area Realty for the invitation to speak and the opportunity to provide updates to those who attended.
CASE Grants Photoshoot On Monday, February 11, I had the privilege of meeting with the CASE for Kids, City Connections Grant Recipients from District E. Congratulations to The Village Learning Center, St. Martha’s Catholic School, Communities in Schools, and Fotofest International. Â
CASE for Kids is an after school division of the Harris County Department of Education and annually accepts grant applications from 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations in the City of Houston for the City Connections program. The City Connections initiative, funded by the City of Houston, offers grant support to out-of-school time programs that meet City Council District needs and addresses gaps in services to youths outside the school day.
Humble ISD: 100 Years in the Making District E Staff attended the Humble ISD Centennial Celebration at Turner Stadium on Saturday, February 16.
The program featured speakers, historical information, musical performances, and fireworks. Pastor Joel Osteen, a 1981 Humble High School graduate, was the keynote speaker for the event and shared memories of growing up in Humble ISD. Musical entertainment was provided by Gary Kyle and The Kin. Kyle graduated from Kingwood High School in 1995.
Council Member Martin was happy to provide a City of Houston proclamation commemorating this centennial celebration, and congratulates Humble ISD on 100 successful years!
District E Sidewalk Repairs Completion Council Member Martin is pleased to announce that Houston Public Works crews recently completed the installation of a new safe sidewalk on the west side of Mills Branch Drive, between Riverpoint Village Drive and Clover Valley Drive, in the Kingwood area.
The implementation of this sidewalk became a priority for Council Member Martin after concerned parents contacted our office requesting this sidewalk to increase safety for students attending Shadow Forest Elementary School. Council Member Martin was happy to allocate $129,699 from Council District Service Funds to accommodate this request.
In the south sector of District E, Houston Public Works crews recently completed repairs to an existing sidewalk on the south side of Rodney Street and the east side of Shawnee Street, in the Edgebrook area. The project’s scope of work included removing the existing 4 foot sidewalk and replacing it with a 5 foot sidewalk, and installing the safe sidewalk across driveways.Â
As public safety is very important to Council Member Martin and the District E office, we are happy to see the sidewalk repairs completed and improved pedestrian mobility in the area.
LHACC Economic Outlook Luncheon On Tuesday, February 19, staff from Council Member Martin’s Office attended the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce Economic Outlook Luncheon featuring Congressman Kevin Brady in Texas District 8 and Patrick Jankowski with Greater Houston Partnership. Â
The luncheon was a great opportunity to engage our local business community in a conversation about the present economic forecast and what to expect locally, statewide, and nationally.
CLACC Governmental Affairs Division Luncheon On Thursday, February 21, District E staff attended the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Division Lunch and Learn. The event featured a presentation by Texas Association of Business’ (TAB) President and CEO, Jeff Moseley on TAB’s 2019 key legislative priorities, including economic development, education and workforce, transportation and infrastructure, and more. For more information on those priorities, please visit: https://www.txbiz.org/state-priorities Â
TAB serves as the Texas State Chamber of Commerce and is united to drive public policy issues for Texas businesses. TAB works in a bi-partisan matter to enhance the Texas business climate and make the state’s economy strong. Â Council Member Martin thanks the Clear Lake Area Chamber for organizing this presentation during each Legislative Session to update Clear Lake business owners and elected officials.
San Jacinto River Watershed Master Drainage Plan Last month, Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) received a grant from the Texas Division of Emergency Management to provide necessary funding from FEMA to complete a comprehensive San Jacinto Watershed Master Drainage Plan. The local match cost will be shared between the SJRA, Mongomery County, Harris County, and the City of Houston.Â
HCFCD will work along these entities to develop a comprehensive set of models for the entire Upper San Jacinto River watershed. The models will use consistent, cohesive methodology and rainfall rates regardless of the county in which those channels are located. The study is expected to be complete on or before January 2022, which will include community engagement meetings to gather public input and comments to further refine the study results.Â
The results of the San Jacinto Watershed Master Drainage Plan will be used to update the Montgomery County Mitigation Plan and to identify future flood mitigation projects that can be implemented in the near and longterm to reduce flood risk to people and property. Other participating communities may also incorporate the results in updates to their Hazard Mitigation Plans to use for guidance on regulations for future growth within the study area. Information to be developed includes inundation maps for the studied streams that show the extent and depth of riverine flooding for an array of simulated storm events.Â
Additionally, information will be gathered about the number of structures, acres of land, parcels, and miles of roadway that are located within the modeled floodplains. Although results from the study may be utilized in the future, this project is independent of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Flood Insurance Rate Map process.
The project will prioritize flood risk reduction strategies, quantify the mitigation implementation costs, and develop information to help improve public awareness of flood hazards along the major tributaries.
More information about the Regional Watershed Mitigation Plan can be found here.Â
Storm Surge Forum Houston Region Concerned Citizens and AIAA Houston will be hosting the Bay Area Houston Storm Surge Flood Forum on Thursday March 7 at 7 pm at Clear Lake’s Bay Area Community Center.Â
The Flood Forum speakers include experts and thought leaders including a United States Corps of Engineers representative, Rice University’s SPEED Center leader Jim Blackburn, Bob Stokes of Galveston Bay Foundation and additional authorities. Â
Speakers will explain the current storm surge plan, address critical issues and past mistakes, and present proposals to protect the Houston region and Bay Area residents from dangerous, deadly storms like Hurricane Harvey and Ike. The public is invited to attend, ask questions, make statements and help guide this incredibly important decision.
Mayor Turner’s Pothole Initiative Mayor Sylvester Turner announced an impressive 100% success rate in next-day pothole repairs called into 311 for the year 2018 as part of the mayor’s signature pothole initiative.Â
The program, launched in January 2016, promises to assess and address each pothole by the next business day after its reported. Since its inception, the program has filled 165,000 potholes and counting. City repair crews have maintained consistent performance in the aftermath of major disasters such as the Tax Day Flood, Memorial Day Flood and Hurricane Harvey,
Mayor Turner also challenged Houston Public Works Director Carol Haddock and her team to replace more street panels. A street panel removes a severely worn section of the street and replaces it with a new one, This allows the City to extend the life of a street and improve mobility without a complete reconstruction. Houston Public Works currently replaces about 900 concrete street panels per year.Â
The City of Houston recognizes that a pothole patch is only a short-term fix and wants to make sure streets are safe for drivers until long-term solutions can be implemented.Â
Mayor Turner reminds the public that Houston Public Works relies on the community to help identify areas in need. If you see a pothole, call 311 at 713-837-0311 or report it using the City of Houston 311 app. For more information on the City of Houston’s pothole initiative, visit: http://www.houstontx.gov/potholes/.
Humble Area Assistance Ministries Disaster Recovery Program With the help of a grant from the American Red Cross, HAAM is now able to provide Behavioral Health services free of charge including counseling, community presentations, and groups for individuals, families or staff affected by Hurricane Harvey.  HAAM is also able to provide needed case management to those still dealing with long term effects of Hurricane Harvey. HAAM’s Disaster Recovery Program utilizes a team approach offering wraparound services including Case management, Financial Coaching, Needs Assessment, Individual and Family counseling, Community Outreach, Support Groups, and Education presentations. For more information contact HAAM at 281-446-3663 x.100.Â
Water Discoloration in Kingwood The District E Office and Houston Water recently received reports of water discoloration in the Kingwood area. Council Member Martin would like to make residents aware that this temporary discoloration is caused by naturally-occurring minerals such as iron and manganese. These naturally-occurring low-levels of iron and manganese will not impact your health. However, you may notice a change in your water’s taste, clarity and color.
Discolored water can usually be corrected by Houston Water flushing the water system through a fire hydrant, followed by flushing the water from the pipes of your home or business.
To facilitate removal of sediment from your household plumbing:
Turn on the COLD water in your household tub and allow it to run for up to 10 minutes (or until it is clear). Please note that running the hot water BEFORE your system has been flushed with cold water may allow the sediment to build up in your home’s water heater.
To flush automatic ice makers, make three batches of ice and discard.
Run water softeners through a regeneration cycle.
Council Member Martin encourages residents to contact the City of Houston’s 3-1-1 system by calling (713) 837-0311 to report each individual instance of discoloration. A service request will be created, and your water will be assessed and addressed. Â
It is important for every resident to report their own discoloration issues as the City uses this information to map the occurrences throughout the affected area. Information on the City of Houston’s water quality, including water quality reports for the past 21 years are available here.Â
Loop 494 Widening Project Staff from Council Member Martin’s Office attended the monthly Super Neighborhood Council #43 Meeting on Wednesday, February 20, and received an update on the proposed Loop 494 Widening Project from the Texas Department of Transportation. Â The project plans include:
Widening 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
Sidewalks adjacent to developed areas
The Texas Department of Transportation has finalized a contract and will provide a timeline on the project once those details have been finalized. The summary of the Public Meeting that occurred on March 29, 2017 can be found at this link. You can also find a summary of the Public Hearing that occurred on November 9, 2010 by visiting this link.
Kingwood Traffic Signals Update Council Member Dave Martin is pleased to announce the intersection improvements on West Lake Houston are nearing completion. Â
The traffic signal light at Kings Crossing and West Lake Houston has been turned on. The scheduled turn on for the traffic signal at Northpark and West Lake Houston has been postponed until May 2019, due to equipment delays. Â
The District E Office will continue providing updates to residents on the progress of these intersections as they become available.
District E BOPA Dates Council Member Dave Martin and the City of Houston’s Solid Waste Management Department are holding their spring Batteries, Oil, Paint (latex only) and Antifreeze (B.O.P.A.) recycling collection events in the coming months. Council Member Martin invites District E residents to save the following dates:Â
Southeast/Clear Lake Saturday, March 30, 2019 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Ellington Airport Neighborhood Recycling Center Highway 3 at Brantly Avenue Houston, Texas 77034
Kingwood Saturday, April 27, 2019 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Kingwood Metro Park & Ride 3210 W Lake Houston Parkway Kingwood, Texas 77339
The events are free and open to all City of Houston residents and will be held rain or shine. A valid Texas driver’s license or other proof of residency, such as a water bill, will be required.
HPD Safety Tips Council Member Martin and HPD would like to remind residents of important safety tips to keep in mind while in the community:
Always stay alert to your surroundings and avoid locations/situations that make you more vulnerable to crime such as alleys or dark parking lots.
Avoid distractions that decrease your awareness level, i.e.. talking on a cell phone or wearing headphones.
Walk with a purpose to communicate a message of confidence. Make eye contact with people, however do not engage in conversation with strangers on the street.
Travel with family and friends. Walking in a group decreases your chances of becoming a victim.
Stay in well-lighted areas and avoid short-cuts through deserted areas.
Avoid displaying large amounts of cash or other tempting items, such as expensive jewelry and clothing.
Always trust your instincts. If a person or place makes you uneasy, leave.
Try not to walk alone. It’s a lot safer if you walk with at least one other person.
Be alert, walk with your head up and do not let your mind wander. Frequently scan your surroundings, that includes behind you.
When walking at night, consider a taxi cab even for short trips.
Trust your instincts, avoid uncomfortable situations. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Be observant for groups of males/females driving or just hanging around.
Do not take shortcuts through unlit, sparsely traveled paths such as trails, stairwells or alleys.
In the case of an emergency, please dial 9-1-1. For non-emergency related police services, please call (713)884-3131.
Upcoming Events Please refer to Council Martin’s District E website for location, time and more event details. Email the District E office if you would like us to include your upcoming event in future newsletters!Â
City Wides March 5Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee Kingwood March 2 Kingwood Electronic Waste Recycling March 13 Kingwood Service Association Public Safety Committee March 19 Kingwood PIP March 20 Kingwood Super Neighborhood March 21 Kingwood CIP Town Hall
Southeast Houston/Clear LakeÂ
March 9 Clear Lake Electronic Waste Recycling March 12 Arlington Heights Civic Club Meeting March 14 Meadowcreek Civic Club Meeting March 19 Clear Lake/SE Houston CIP Town Hall March 30 BOPA Recycling Event
By Kaila Contreras, Staff writer Updated 4:11 pm CST, Wednesday, February 6, 2019
Houston launches Homeowner Assistance Program for residents affected by Hurricane Harvey
Houston City Councilman Dave Martin recently announced the City of Houston has launched is Homeowner Assistance Program to help residents rebuild and repair their homes after Hurricane Harvey.
The City of Houston received the $1.17 billion for housing recovery through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the State of Texas General Land Office.
The recovery funds include the Homeowner Assistance Program, which offers five options including reimbursement for completed repairs, homeowner-managed rehabilitation, city-managed rehabilitation and reconstruction, buyouts and interim mortgage assistance.
There will be several meetings held this month for those interested for more information.
Residents that are interested in applying for this program are encouraged to take the Harvey Recovery Survey. The survey can also be taken through the phone at 832-393-0550 from Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or in person at any of the four new Housing Recovery Centers.
City officials urge residents to take the survey before attending one of the public meetings.
The survey a tool to direct residents to the appropriate recovery program and to help the city prioritize those with urgent needs. No documentation is required to take the survey, and it takes less than 15 minutes to complete, city officials said.
While priority will be given to low and moderate income homeowners, assistance is available to homeowners of all income levels. An intake specialist will contact applicants after they have completed the survey regarding the next steps.
As a service to our residents, below is the contact information that was provided on the first bill from Best Trash. If you should need it in the future, you may always do a search on this website on the NEWS page. You may need to scroll down a bit. Enter either “Best Trash” or ‘trash’, press enter and any article that has been published about Best Trash or trash will be listed.
Best Trash www.best-trash.com Email: customerservice@besttrashtexas.com 281-313-2378
The City of Houston is offering an electronic recycling drop-off day once a month at the Kingwood Neighborhood Recycling Center to residents. On the 1st (first) Saturday of each month residents, no businesses please, are invited to recycle their unwanted televisions, computers, monitors, printers, hard drives and other electronic devices. There is NO COST to the resident to drop-off their electronics for recycling.
When: 1st (first) Saturday of each month
Where: Kingwood Metro Park-n-Ride Transit Center
Time: 9:00 am till 3:00 pm.
City Council Member Dave Martin will host a town hall meeting on Tuesday, October 9 at 6:30 p.m., at the Kingwood Community Center, 4102 Rustic Woods, Kingwood, TX 77345. The community is invited to attend and hear from city and community representatives about ongoing projects, issues and community news related to the Kingwood and Lake Houston ar
eas of District E.
This fall’s town hall meeting will include a presentation from Mayor Sylvester Turner who will speak on the Rebuild Houston and fire salary referendums that will appear on the November 6 ballot. All registered voters within the boundaries of the City are urged to attend.
Residents will also hear from Stephen Costello, City of Houston Chief Resiliency Officer and Marvin Odum, Chief Recovery Officer, on the progress made to rebuild the City post-Harvey. Harris County Flood Control Chief Operations Officer, Matt Zeve, will provide a post-Harris County Flood Control Bond update.
Stan Sarman, the Chair of the TIRZ 10 board will provide information on a variety of projects including the Northpark Drive Mobility Improvement Project, and the status of area intersection improvements.
There will be an update on the Lake Houston Debris Removal Project provided by a member of the City of Houston Solid Waste Department Team. State Representative Dan Huberty is confirmed to provide insight on the upcoming legislative session.
For those that arrive to the Kingwood town hall early, there will be information tables available starting at 5:30 p.m. from Harris County Precinct 4 to discuss their upcoming projects in Forest Cove, from the Texas Department of Transportation to educate residents on the expansion of TX Loop 494, and from the Houston Parks Board to provide information on the upcoming San Jacinto Greenway Project. The Houston Department of Neighborhoods and the Houston Police Department’s Kingwood Division will also be on site with information available to residents before and after the town hall meeting.
For more information, please contact
Council Member Martin’s office at (832) 393-3008 or via email at
districte@houstontx.gov.
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