ALIEF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING
Minutes for Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Alief Super Neighborhood # 25 held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 at 7:00 P.M. at the
CenterPoint Energy Building, 12330 Bellaire Blvd.
Chairman Dan Hrna called the meeting to order at 7:07 P.M.
Roll Call of council followed (See attached)
A Thank You to Ray Moon, Alan Rees, and Sam Yousef for providing food from Sally Jo’s Bar-B-Que.
MOTIONS made:
1. MaryHelen Horn: to accept the minutes as presented. Seconded: Ray Gibb. Council voted. Motion Passed.
2. Henry Williams: There should be no more high density residential developments without responsible open
consultation with the community. Seconded: Ana Garza-Ibarra. Council voted. Motion Passed as the formal
position of the ASNC.
GUEST SPEAKERS:
DIST. F CITY COUNCILMAN, M.J. KHAN, Representatives from the City of Houston & Members of the Public Works
Dept. explained the proposed High Star Rd. Project and the completion of the Kirkwood Rd. Project. Highstar will begin
soon and after it is completed Kirkwood north of Bellaire will be widened (2006). The part of Highstar in front of
Hastings & Elsik High Schools will be constructed next summer when school is out. Many residents expressed concerns
because there will be no north to east right turn lane for elementary school parent pickup at Highstar and Cook, and
because the grade elevation will be 6” lower. The recently widened part of Kirkwood experiences severe street flooding
during heavy rains. The project managers stated that the streets are designed to carry the water, so it will not flood houses.
Residents complained that the water now rises to higher levels in their yards than it used to, and that now traffic can not
progress since cars stall in the flooded roads. These problems have arisen since the new street widening.
MS. HEIDI SWEETNAM & MR. ROBERT PAGE from BLUE PRINT HOUSTON, are concerned with the quality of
life in Houston. Often the discussions and input of the type which we just heard (re: Kirkwood & Highstar, above) are
missing from the planning of proposed projects. Houston Blue Print believes that citizen’s input is extremely important
and they are trying to advocate more citizen input in planning. A 2002 Grant from Houston Endowment commissioned six
studies the results of which will be announced at a Nov. 20th BluePrint Houston meeting.
MR. SONNY DAVILA, of METRO announced the start of bus service to the Alief HCC campus.
OTHER GUESTS: Mr. Xavier Herrera from Mayor White’s office.
COMMITTEE REPORTS Due to the lateness of the hour, most were tabled until next month.
PARKS COMMITTEE – Michael Manning asked for volunteers to inventory esplanades in Alief for needed trees.
OLD BUSINESS
CITY PLANNING DEPARTMENT – Donald Perkins distributed the planning dept. newsletter; announced a
NEIGHBORHOODS Conference,, entitled “Directions & Connections” on September 11; requested information to
update the HOA information list.
NEW BUSINESS
A.I.S.D. – HCCS MEETING –Dan Hrna reported that citizen turnout was large and the meeting was a success,
at least temporarily. The HCCS board decided to allow each district to vote upon its own annexation into the
HCCS system. There will be meetings announced to discuss the issue. ASN will have one in August.
SUBSIDIZED HOUSING MEETING- Dan Hrna reported that this meeting was also well attended. Over 100
signed in as opposed to the new subsidized housing apt complex being built at Renn and Eldridge. It is less
than one mile from another one, Matthew Ridge (that is legally too close), and will add to the already over
crowded schools that it would feed into. Those schools are currently serving students from three existing local
subsidized housing complexes. West Houston Med. Center reported that it is also overcrowded with uninsured
patients. Southwest Area Ministries (Ana Garza-Ibarra) reported that they currently serve 28 thousand families
a year, and find it difficult to assist more. Additionally, this complex would be located in the county, beyond
the city limits, and residents would not be eligible for “city only” financial aide.
The council adopted a resolution stating that the formal position of the ASNC is that there should be no further
high density residential developments without responsible open consultation with the community.
It is very important that citizens write letters to the commission before the September hearing.
Letters may be sent to : Ms. Robbye Meyer
Multifamily Bond Administrator
Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
507 Sabine St. Suite 400
Austin, TX 78711-3941
Or email: robbye.meyer@tdhca.state.tx.us.
311 REPORTING PROBLEMS- Dan Hrna reported that lately it has been difficult to report signal problems on
Beechnut.
STREET LIGHTS- Marie Lee reported that 12 new lights will be installed in Harwin Park (located on Harwin
Rd. just east of Wilcrest).
UPCOMING SPEAKERS –August: AISD & HCC: Sept: Anise Parker, City of Houston Controller; Oct: At
Large Council member, Shelley Sekula-Gibbs
PUBLIC SESSION-
The next ASNC meeting will be held at 7:00 P.M. on the fourth Tuesday, August 24, 2004, at the CenterPoint Energy
Building, 12330 Bellaire Blvd.
Minutes approved on _____________________
Respectfully Submitted
Henry Williams, Secretary