OPENING: The regular meeting of the Alief Super Neighborhood Council was held May 22, 2018 at the Alief Community Park. Chairman Barbara Quattro called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM. The first order of business was the Treasurer report from Doug Smith. The ASNC currently has a balance of $3,011.00. The prior months minutes were not read due to needing time for speakers. Minutes will be reviewed at the June meeting.
Chair: Barbara Quattro Vice Chair: Noreen Smith Treasurer: Doug Smith – Secretary: Cynthia Young
Alief Crime Update: Westside Command DRT Sgt.Tavis Parkerson briefed attendees on the current crime rates in Alief. Overall crime rate has significantly decreased. However, crime continues to be prevalent in parking lots due to items left in cars and in apartment complexes. HPD is working with apartment managers to improve their complexes.
SPEAKERS:
Juan Soto, Vice Chair, Super Neighborhood Alliance, introduced himself to the group and spoke briefly about flooding remediation issues the SNA is addressing post-Harvey.
Leslie Cordova, Community Health Homes Coordinator for Hope Clinic. Requested help from ASNC members in completing a short survey that Hope Clinic needs for a proposal being put together. The surveys will be ongoing for the community at large and hoped we would help as needed more data before the following week. The survey was distributed to be worked on while in the meeting.
Rolando Guajardo spoke about his project for the Children’s Defense Fund of Texas. He introduced a film on Alief student Norberto Pineda who had many challenges to overcome in life and was awarded a college scholarship at the annual CDF awards dinner. He was born prematurely at five months and was not expected to live. He was shy, physically not able to compete athletically and was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and dyslexia. Norberto overcame all these challenges and graduated from the Alief Early College program with an associate degree, becoming the first person in his family to go to college.
Dr. Steve Le Councilman for District F spoke on projects funded by Council District Services Funds (CDSF) he has supported during his term. He began with praise for HPD Westside officers on their efforts not only during Hurricane Harvey but also every day out on the street protecting us.
• CM Le has focused on decreasing crime in District F by contributing $100,00.00 for HPD overtime, and another $105,000 to promote a safer community. HPD asked for only $30,000 in 2018 since they are coordinating their efforts with Seal Security in crime prevention.
• CM Le authorized expenditures for a new boat for the Houston Fire Department which can be used during flooding events. The District F office requested removal of 600 trees from local bayous along with grocery carts which were creating dams.
• District Service funds in increments of $30,000 and $5000 were donated to the HPD EIU (Environmental Investigation Unit) which resulted in tickets for illegal dumping and returned $29,000 in fines.
• Traffic Control was another area in which Services Funds have been given in the amounts of $268,000.00 (2016) then (2017 & 2018) $498,00.00 designated for concrete street panels and “street calming devices” aka speed bumps, mainly for Imperial Point subdivision.
• Money went to the Alief Community Center Soccer for Success of $130,000, chairs and tables at $4099, and $4000for additional Part Time staffing.
• Money was given to an S.W.A.T. project initiated by the city after the Tax Day Floods in which each district was given 2 million for two years for a total of 4 million with 1 million remaining. Cm Le is seeking input on how to use these funds from his constituents.
Two questions were taken on Chromium levels and the fact they are elevated in certain zip codes within Alief. Dr. Le said that the EPA’s t acceptable limit is 10 so he belives our water is safe even though the CR6 level is elevated here. Another question was on the City’s commitment to test and report CR6 levels on a quarterly basis. CM Le said he would follow up with Public Works to get the full report. A cluster study on cancer cases was being done with the EPA but no results are available at this time.
The attendees had many more questions but CM Le was late for his next engagement. He will be scheduled for another meeting to continue the discussions and answer questions.
Upcoming Speakers: Lisa Kasianowitz, Outreach Manager for Houston Parks Board.
WRITTEN AND SUBMITTED BY: (Vice Chair) Noreen Smith
