ALIEF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING
Minutes for Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Alief Super Neighborhood # 25 held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 at 7:00 P.M. at the
CenterPoint Energy Building, 12330 Bellaire Blvd.
Vice Chairman, Michael Manning, called the meeting to order at 7:02 P.M. Roll Call of council followed (See
attached.) A quorum was met.
Hospitality: Donated by Ford Doctors; Organized and Delivered by Ray Moon. Thanks were expressed for support of
the ASNC and the Alief community.
Guests Present included MJ Khan, City Councilman, District F; Talmedge Heflin, Candidate District 149 State
Representative; Kim Mathes, West Houston Medical Center; Jennifer Friedberg, Houston Chronicle Neighborhoods
reporter; Rodney Ellis, Texas State Senator District 17, Liz Lyle and Karen Domino, his assistants; Karen North,
former ASNC board member (HISD).
MOTIONS made:
1. Ray Moon: to accept the minutes as presented. Seconded: Paul Fikac. Council voted. Motion Passed.
2. Barbara Quattro: to adjourn the meeting. Seconded: Marie Lee. Council voted. Motion Passed.
GUEST SPEAKERS:
Rodney Ellis, State Senator:-Remarked that he began his political career with City of Houston. He noted he is on the
current ballot, running unchallenged. Senator Ellis said that after the many bills are fought for, often the results are
overlooked. He said his office has followed up on many bills submitted. Issues mentioned were Health care, METRO,
bicycle trails, town hall meetings, and the Senator answered questions from the floor including school taxes, tax cuts,
tax holiday, business tax increases, State Board of Education, governor appointments and accountability in school
districts, manufacturing overseas (labor vs materials), competing in a global economy, and social services. He noted
that running a government is not like running a charity: government takes money from the people without choice, and
all the government officials can only do their best, often necessitating tough choices under trying circumstances. He
asserted the need to invest in our future. Taxes accomplish this end. The senator thanked the ASNC for their
invitation.
Wanda Adams, City of Houston Recycling Department; Ms. Adams thanked the ASNC for inviting her to speak. The
new program was kicked off June 1st to promote the Mayor’s recycling plan exhibiting his concern for the
environment. A competition has been implemented to increase the public’s participation in curbside recycling which
is currently low at 20%. There are some communities that have no participation and others that currently do not have
the service but want it. There will be $20,000 available to reward communities that increase participation (measured
by weight). The most improved communities will get a reward: each category will get $5000 for additional City
Services. Those with the least participation may loose curbside recycling, because it may become economically
infeasible. She mentioned that oil recycling should be placed next to the box, not commingled in the box. Any plastic
will have a recycling logo on the bottom and the number 1 or 2 will be accepted, along with paper and phone books.
She suggested either marking personal information off letters with magic marker or shredding it. Ms. Adams also
suggested that if homeowners recycle, it will reduce the amount of material in trash cans, thus relieving the need for an
additional can or bags (which cost money). She mentioned overflowing trash cans cannot be deposited in the trucks
properly thus leaving trash on the sidewalk. She also cited the Westpark Recycling center. Grocery store bags can be
returned to the store. Her mantra was “Reduce, reuse and recycle”. She answered questions from the floor and
provided containers to anyone who wanted one. Scavenging from the recycling bins is against city ordinance and may
be reported. She encouraged HOA’s and civic associations to put the contest in their newsletters. Contact information
is: www.go__houston.org or, wanda.adams@cityofHouston.net or 713-837-9133.
Dist. F City Councilman, M.J. Khan; Thanked all the volunteers who came out to help for the District F cleanup. Alief
again had the largest number of volunteers. He mentioned and applauded the National Night Out program. He
introduced several issues to come before city council: youth curfew, public smoking ban, as well as a possible $500 –
$775 million bond issue to restart the exhausted CIP plans /funds.
COMMITTEE & STANDING REPORTS
A. ALIEF CEMETERY – Marie Lee; trash pickup and a dumpster is needed and a truck would be helpful; the rain
has slowed down activity
B. ALIEF BUSINESS BREAKFAST- Marie Lee reported it will be August 8th at 7:30 AM at the Knights of
Columbus Hall, 11611 Beechnut. The speaker is HPD Chief Lumpkin.
C. GRAFFITI ABATEMENT – Mike Rippert asked people to call 311 and his group will follow up on it. He expects
any reports already received will be abated by August 1st. He asked for volunteers.
D. BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS:
• CLEAN-UPS – Pat Davis and Mike Rippert led the Alief area cleanup. Pat noted 81 people came, many of
whom just showed up without registering. 2 ½ dumpsters were filled. Areas Cleaned were: Harwin Park and
Alief Community Park, Sharpview and Cook area, main roads from the Beltway 8 to Highway 6, Harwin to
Bissonnet. More clean up work will be done by August 1st. City of Houston workers also contributed.
• TREE PLANTING – Barbara Quattro. Watering volunteers are still needed. There is an ongoing
investigation and an article was in the Chronicle regarding the cutting down of trees on Bellaire at Wilcrest.
• PARK – Michael Manning Needs a Certificate of Thank you to Southern Crushed concrete for supplying sand
for the park’s soccer fields
E LIBRARY – Librarian, Rebecca Hubert, reported continuing with extended hours; summer reading program is
winding up by August 1st; Wednesday afternoons is a Spanish story time; School tour groups on Tuesdays;
Tuesday English classes 1-3 PM.
F LANDFILL & HOUSING DEVELOPMENT – Karen Loper stated the low cost housing project has been defeated
based on the high density housing vs schools available to absorb more children
G S.A.V.E. ALIEF HEALTH FAIR – All are invited Saturday August 5th, from 9-2 at Alief Middle School. Anne
Williams stated there are flyers available in four different languages; everything is FREE. There are 110 providers
registered, volunteers are needed. Set up is Thursday the 3rd. Food donations are needed for the workers.
NEW BUSINESS
1. BROCHURE COMMITTEE: Volunteers: Marie Lee, Barbara Quattro, Anne Williams and Ray Moon will meet
to update the current one. ALL ARE WELCOME TO VOLUNTEER FOR ANY COMMITTEE.
2. GRANT WRITING COMMITTEE– Volunteered: Chet Machen, Karen North, Clara Young, Anne Williams &
Bonnie Su
3 NATIONAL NIGHT OUT Westside police mentioned they will attend. NNO is Tuesday, August 1st.
5 WEST HOUSTON SECURITY COALITION – WestChase Management District is working to form it. Elsie
Smith is attending an initial meeting tonight and will report next month.
6 BIRD ROOKERY: Chet Machen stated one exists on Kirkwood could be used for a park (?). Youth
participation should be encouraged to improve our neighborhoods. Houston Astros may offer tickets or other
incentives that could be auctioned off to volunteers.
UPCOMING SPEAKERS – August: Jay Aiyer, Houston Community College
PUBLIC SESSION – No business was suggested.
The next ASNC meeting will be held at 7:00 P.M. on the fourth Tuesday, August 22, 2006, at the CenterPoint Energy
Building, 12330 Bellaire Blvd.
The meeting adjourned at 9:05 P.M.
Minutes approved on _____________________
Respectfully Submitted,
Henry Williams, Secretary