ALIEF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING
Minutes for Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Alief Super Neighborhood # 25 held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, April 25th, 2006 at 7:00 P.M. at the
CenterPoint Energy Building, 12330 Bellaire Blvd.
Chairman Dan Hrna called the meeting to order at 7:03 P.M. Roll Call of council followed (See attached.). A quorum
was met.
Hospitality: Donated by Ray Moon. Organized and Delivered by Ray Moon. Thanks were expressed for support of the
ASNC and the Alief community.
MOTIONS made:
1. Ray Moon: to accept the minutes as presented. Seconded: Barbara Quattro. Council voted. Motion Passed.
2. Marie Lee: ASNC takes over their own website from Barbara Quattro. Seconded: Chet Machen. Council voted.
Motion Passed Unanimously.
GUEST SPEAKERS:
Sue Lovell, Councilwoman at Large #2, -Ms. Lovell represents all of Houston. She had three issues she chose to address
as councilwoman: Graffiti, Katrina and historic preservation. Ms. Lovell stated that the City’s previous graffiti
abatement efforts were not organized nor financed adequately. This has changed during her tenure and is being treated as
a maintenance issue. There are three types of taggers: the white 20 year old thrill seekers, the gangs, and the middle
school locals, who do the most damage. The sooner it is removed, the more effective the efforts. Crime Stoppers now
rewards people who identify/report taggers. Educational programs have been set up and the Greater Houston Partnership
is supplying trucks to assist in abatement. 311 has been trained to take graffiti complaints. In 2007 there will be a line
item in the City budget to address graffiti. Texas DOT has declined to participate in graffiti abatement ostensibly due to
lack of funds.
Katrina evacuees have no place to return to, and if they do return, there are no operational schools or health services. 20%
have never been in the work force. FEMA is pulling out. The plan is to get this 20% into the work force. She has helped
establish a job training program, childcare & transportation for the 20,000-30,000 evacuees remaining in Houston (which
is also open to all Houstonians) and supports the third ward NOW Academy which is educating 350 displaced students. .
Ms. Lovell also supports historic preservation and complimented ACA/ASNC for its efforts to refurbish the Old Alief
Historic Cemetery. She discussed the role of developers and builders in establishing communities but warned that these
people are buying up a lot of historic property and saving it till it becomes feasible to tear down & develop. They are
even buying brown fields (environmentally damaged land requiring major remediation). If the entire building cannot be
saved, perhaps parts of the buildings can be saved. It is time for the city to set the plan for the next 10-20 years. She
stressed maintaining the character of neighborhoods like Montrose and the Heights.
Ms. Lovell addressed many issues from the floor including: parkland, abandoned vehicles and homes, NPD, fire stations,
recruitment of businesses, traffic, the Sugarhill development, pocket parks, mixed use housing, and saving old trees. She
offered her support on any issue the ASNC is pursuing and offered a variety of City resources such as demographic
studies to utilize/contact. Ms. Lovell stated that the current City Council is a good council to get things done and that the
Greater Houston Partnership is a place to go for community assistance.
COMMITTEE & STANDING REPORTS
CHAIR’S REPORT – Chairman Dan Hrna no report–Dan welcomed Martha Barrera and presented her with a certificate
of membership.
TAX EXEMPT STATUS – Anne Williams confirmed the 501c3, Charity Status, is official
TREASURER’S REPORT – In the absence of Treasurer, Bonnie Sue, Anne Williams stated there was $250 in the bank.
A lady in the audience made a $25 donation, $4 cash was additionally donated bringing the balance to $279. Everyone
was encouraged to donate to the ASNC
BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS:
1. CLEAN-UPS – Barbara Quattro encouraged HOA’s and CIA’s to get a dumpster from the City through Keep
Houston Beautiful and clean up their neighborhoods. She said the lead time is about 3-4 weeks. Call 713-839-
8855
GRAFFITI ABATEMENT – Mike Rippert reported that the NPD of HPD has provided paint and that the City will be
stocking paint at fire stations around the city. Help, as always, is needed. Several groups have been working on graffiti
abatement. Any and all volunteers are needed. Call him at 713-504-2852.
PARKS COMMITTEE – Michael Manning no report – Remarks were made throughout the meeting that parkland is
shutting down in some instances due to lack of funding. There are parks with recreation, then there are parks that are
trees, not to mention pocket parks within subdivisions. Dan reiterated the need in Alief for parks and that Joe Turner is
reluctant to release city property which could be used for parks in Alief. Suggestions were made to find a corporate
sponsor and then provide a plaque honoring the sponsor. Sue Lovell committed to help. Let her know what land Alief is
interested in.
ALIEF COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION (ACA): : – Mike Kreinsen stated work is ongoing at the Old Alief Cemetery and
that the scouts have been removing old bushes and soil has been brought in. The Chronicle ran an article on the project
which has inspired volunteers to come forward. Marie Lee said the gates alone would run about $30k so donations are
needed. Community involvement is needed. Mike also mentioned recognizing donations through a plaque or brick.
LIBRARY – Librarian, Rebecca Hubert, reported a Book Sale May 5,6 &7 at the George Brown Convention Center. This
Thursday April 27, at 4 PM George Kellerman will be at the Alief branch promoting science fundamentals. Library
activities include: Mon. 10:30 AM Playgroup and story time; Thursday, Spanish story time; after school tutoring; movie
times.
OLD BUSINESS
DOTY LANDFILL/ SUGARHILL DEVELOPMENT: – Karen Loper, Representative Hubert Vo’s assistant, reported that
this week the developers applied to the TX COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (TCEQ) for “post
closure” status, and soil samples were taken. The state legislature has left TCEQ with very little power. Our mayor, Bill
White is very pro-environment and concerned about this proposed 740 home development being built over the dump.
That may be the only way to prevent it from being built.
CITY PLANNING DEPARTMENT – Donald Perkins announced that this was his last meeting with us. He introduced
Veronica Hernandez of the Mayor’s Citizen’s Assistance office, who will be helping us. Donald expressed his enthusiasm
for the planning department website (houstonplanning.com), gave the Alief map to the organization, and recommended
the ASNC review the City Subcommittee roster. He also suggested getting the city attorney, Arturo Michel, as speaker as
well as Peter Brown, Councilman-at-Large.
YMCA There is an upcoming fund raiser
ALIEF MARKETING BREAKFAST will be held 7:30 to 9:30 AM May 9, at the Knights of Columbus. This quarter’s
breakfast is sponsored by US Congressman Al Green. The speaker is Dan Parsons of the Better Business Bureau.
S.A.V.E. ALIEF – Anne Williams reported that the annual Health Fair will be held August 5th at the Alief Middle School.
Committee members, participants and volunteers are welcome and needed. The next planning meeting will be held May
1st at Alief Middle School at 6 PM.
NEW BUSINESS
BROCHURE – The ASNC brochure has been translated into Spanish through the efforts of Laura Klubert of AISD. Chet
Machen would like to have it in Vietnamese also. The committee needs to meet to update it before there are any more
translations. Dan Hrna said having the brochure in other languages is a plus.
CITIZENS CONGRESS II,- Sponsored by Blueprint Houston, at the George R. Brown Convention Center, Open to the
public, free. And the public may set up tables. 8 AM -Noon on Saturday, May 6, in Exhibit Hall B
WEBSITE – Barbara Quattro has funded the ASNC website since its inception. It is time to turn it over to someone else.
The motion was made and approved for ASNC to take over the domain name and pay the monthly website maintenance
cost of $21. Dan Hrna praised the website
PUBLICITY – Mike Rippert reported that Kinko’s is providing a newsletter format for organizations that is supported by
a page of ads. This newsletter format is available to HOA’s also. There is a nominal cost for bulk mail or it can be hand
delivered. Dan asked Johnny Tates if an ASNC newsletter could be included with the AISD newsletter. Mr. Tates
thought an ASNC newsletter insert would not be possible, but a small ad or paragraph might be possible. A suggestion
was made to send it out on email. A newsletter could be put on the website. Dan said we need to get paper in people’s
hands first to let them know of the existence of the ASNC.
STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION – It was suggested that: Alternates attend meetings; Need stakeholders to attend and
then speak to CIA’s and HOA’s. Spread the word through banks, churches etc. (respective groups). Need additional
stakeholder membership in stakeholder groups. Encourage youth participation. (Come to meetings and witness how it’s
done). Put signs at the library or schools announcing upcoming meetings and speakers. Get parents involved by kids.
Work with Susan Castro at AISD. Kids need service hours for resumes for college entrance and civic service experience.
UPCOMING SPEAKERS – May speaker will be Harris Co Sheriff officer, Linda Harry, on Identity Theft.
*UPDATE: Officer Harry will be unable to attend, a different officer will present the topic.
PUBLIC SESSION
KRISTI THIBAUT – introduced herself as running for TX State Rep District 133, against Jim Murphy. It is currently
represented by Joe Nixon. She discussed: the Alief ‘International Management District’, an issue that Nixon did not
support last session; money for parkland, .shutting down parks, FEMA pulling out and no money/resources for evacuees
after June 1.
The next ASNC meeting will be held at 7:00 P.M. on the fourth Tuesday, May-23, 2006, at the CenterPoint Energy
Building, 12330 Bellaire Blvd.
The meeting adjourned at 9:15 P.M.
Minutes approved on _____________________
Respectfully Submitted
Henry Williams, Secretary
