ALIEF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING
Minutes for Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Alief Super Neighborhood # 25 held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 7:00 P.M. at the CenterPoint Energy Building, 12330 Bellaire Blvd.
PROGRAM:
Chairman Michael Manning called the meeting to order at 7:05 P.M. Secretary Henry Williams conducted the Roll Call of council members. At first, he announced a quorum was not present. When another board member arrived later, the problem was resolved. (See attached.)
Hospitality: Donated by board member, Ray Moon of Beechnut Auto. Thanks were expressed for his support of the ASNC and the Alief community.
INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS: Liz Lyles (TX Senator Rodney Ellis’ office); Catherine Le (US Congressman Green’s office), Ernie McGowen (City Council District F, M.J. Khan’s office); Veronica Hernandez (Mayor’s office),
Ms.Leeshan Birney (Chinatown Guide Magazine)
MOTIONS made:
1. Ray Moon: to accept the minutes as presented. Seconded: Chet Machen. Council voted. Motion Passed.
2. Elsie Smith: to adjourn the meeting. Seconded: Ray Moon. Council voted. Motion Passed.
CHAIR’S REPORT – We are changing our web host to Chilipepper. It is up and running. Stacy Clifford, from Chilipepper, was introduced. Alief resident Joey Lippeat, who maintains the Bellaire West Subdivision website, has offered to be the ASNC webmaster. He has suggested setting up a blog. Thanks were expressed to Barbara Quattro and her son, Brad Nelson, who have been maintaining the website for several years now.
TREASURER’S REPORT –Barbara Quattro has been repaid for maintaining the web site for the year 2006.
Ray reported on a car maintenance program for families of deployed personnel in combat areas. Their cars will be maintained at reduced rates.
GUEST SPEAKER:
TRENT RONDOT, of the Houston Parks Board, explained this is a 501C3 non-profit agency, which looks for parkland for the Houston Parks Department. Alief is considered “park poor”. There are some properties they are interested in buying in the southwest area. Unfortunately, if the specific property becomes known, sometimes investors will buy the land and raise the price. Therefore, he did not want to name very many specifics. The board will accept donated land, including subdivision parks and pools. Since pools are expensive to maintain, the city would probably fill in the pool, and make the whole area into a park. They are more interested in large pieces of property, since it is less expensive to operate one fifty-acre park than fifty one-acre parks. Contact: Trent@houstonparksboard.org or 713-942-8505
COMMITTEE & STANDING REPORTS
a. TREES – Barbara Quattro reported that some of the trees we have planted have died because they are not getting enough water. Help is desperately needed! It is time to start the May-Oct watering schedule, and the three volunteers can not do it all. Barbara, Mike Rippert and Carol Scheier are the only members of the volunteer team. It costs $50 per tree annually to hire it done. Esplanades are available for adoption by businesses, groups or individuals. Please call 281-933-2280 for information or to volunteer.
b. S.A.V.E. ALIEF: HEALTH FAIR – Anne Williams reported that the community wide Health & Civic Resources Fair will be Saturday, August 18. All are invited to join the next planning meeting on Monday, May 21, from 5:30-6:30 at the fair site, Alief Middle School, 4415 Cook Rd. The fair brings much needed medical services and civic information to the Alief area. Volunteers and donations are need for the event. Information: 281-498-5018
c. MARKETING ALIEF BUSINESS BREAKFAST – Marie Lee reported that next breakfast will be Tuesday, May 8 at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 11611 Beechnut from 7:30-9:30 AM.
d. ALIEF LIBRARY – Tomika Price distributed information about grant applications.
e. TEXAS LEGISLATURE UPDATES –
Karen Loper, from State Representative Hubert Vo, reported that Rep. Vo’s bill to mandate the utility companies to use the postmark date as the paid by date, was attached to another bill, which was passed. It still must go through the Senate.
A bill requiring voters to show 2 forms of ID will now go the senate.
Catherine Le, from US Congressman Al Green’s office reported on two events: May 12 will be an Immigration Seminar. (UPDATE: It was postponed) May 19, a Health Fair at HCC (on the 610 South Loop) from 10:00-12:00.
BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS:
CLEAN-UPS – Pat Davis (281-498-7406) reported that the C3 Cleanup for District F will be May 19. T-Shirts and Door Prizes are available, so register early. Registration will start at 7 AM. at Alief Community Park (ACP). Major Streets: Bellaire, Beechnut & Bissonnet will be targeted. Several trash dumpsters will be located at ACP before and after so that people can clean up their neighborhoods. Ernie McGowen, Chief of Staff for Council member Khan, requests that all get involved.
CITY REPORTS: Veronica Hernandez, from the Mayors’ Citizens’ Assistance Office announced that the Parks Department is holding a series to public meetings to get citizen input. The District F meeting is at Sharpstown Community Center, Monday April 30 from 6:30-8:30.
Chief Lumpkin will be moved from Neighborhood Protection to a different command, effective June 30.
UPCOMING SPEAKERS – May: Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner, Steve Radack.
PUBLIC SESSION
ALIEF NOON LIONS – Pat Davis reminded us the Alief Noon Lions Club provides free eye glasses to needy Alief students. Please contribute to their recycling project (paper, cardboard, aluminum cans, pie tins or foil). Call: 281-498-7406 All are invited all to the 11:30 AM. meetings on the 1ST & 3RD Thursdays at KIM SON on Bellaire Blvd near Wilcrest.
CHET MACHEN – reported The Asian American Business Council has implemented a security camera program in Chinatown that included installation of security cameras currently monitored by Houston Police.
The next ASNC meeting will be held at 7:00 P.M. on the fourth Tuesday, May 22, 2007, at the CenterPoint Energy Building, 12330 Bellaire Blvd.
The meeting adjourned at 9:00 P.M.
Minutes approved on _____________________
Respectfully Submitted
Henry Williams, Secretary