ALIEF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING
Minutes for Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Alief Super Neighborhood # 25 held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, July 26th, 7:00 P.M at the CenterPoint Energy Building, 12330 Bellaire Blvd.
PROGRAM:
Chairman, Barbara Quattro, called the meeting to order at 7:05 P.M. Roll Call of council members was done by sign-in sheet. A quorum was met (see attached). Barbara requested that all cell phones be turned off.
Hospitality: The ASNC provided hospitality.
GUESTS: Veronica Hernandez (COH Mayor’s office); Catherine Le (Congressman Al Green’s office); Jay Weatherspoon and Derrick Hopson (COH Neighborhood Protection);Tameka White (Baby Girl, Inc.); Mark Fury (Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Raddack’s office); Catherine Flowers (COH Neighborhood Services); speakers Hubert Vo and Jim Murphy (TX House of Representatives), and candidate for District F, Peter Rene.
MOTIONS MADE:
1. Marie Lee motioned to approve the minutes for June with one addition. Seconded by Frank Garcia. Council voted. Motion Passed..
2. The meeting adjourned without a motion.
COMMITTEE & STANDING REPORTS
CHAIRS REPORT
Barbara Quattro showed the group an artist rendering of the proposed community garden layout. The rendering was provided free by University of Houston architectural students. The garden location was further described as west of the old TX Unemployment office. It consists of seven acres out of a 22 acre area. Forty one people have signed up to date for a plot. Brian Burks noted that preparation of the beds will commence on September 17th at 8AM. Breakfast will be served. Boy Scouts are expected to arrive the evening before and camp out. Barbara hopes to get at-large City Council candidates to attend the September meeting. Barbara also read a few passages from a publication called, Texas on the Brink, (published by the Texas Legislature ranking Texas among the 50 states) illustrating that Texas is ranked number one in air and water pollution.*
• Anthony Le will provide the hospitality for the August meeting.
• Beryl Hogshead brought photos of the cleanup at White Cap and Beach Cove on July 12th and praised Veronica Hernandez for her assistance. Pat Martin also commended Veronica for her diligent efforts in working with the subdivision to accomplish a major cleanup with the solid waste department. An additional trash cleanup took place on the 13th at Sugar Hill.
• Mark Fury said that several county parks in the area have become campgrounds for the homeless. Harris County Commissioners cleaned up one such “hobo haven” under the bridge where Bellaire crosses Brays Bayou which abuts Alfred Story Park.
• Jay Weatherspoon and Derrick Hopson were introduced as representatives for the City of Houston Neighborhood Protection Dept. Mr. Hopson is the new supervisor. Catherine Flowers, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services, was also introduced
• Tameka White, representing Baby Girl, Inc., said her organization performs character building and life skills for teenage girls. Classes are held at the Alief Y. She noted that girls have fewer opportunities to build character like boys do utilizing the sports arena. She encouraged community involvement in her mission.
TREASURER’S REPORT –Monique Pham, Treasurer, stated the current balance to be $2093.66. Barbara stated that the balance was dropping due to the ASNC providing meeting hospitality. She invited homeowner associations, church groups, etc. to provide hospitality at future meetings.
ELECTIONS/NOMINATING COMMITTEE Anthony Le has provided an alternate for his council seat, Jeff Idehan.
SECURITY/ INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT DISTRICT (IMD): See Brian Burks notice regarding the community garden above.
ALIEF COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION Marie Lee announced a clothing drive for AISD August 5th. They will have a drop-off location at the Alief Community Park 8am-5pm. The parade is slated for September 24th and there will be a toy drive in December. The Quarterly networking breakfast will be August 8th
PROJECTS/SNAP COMMITTEE .No input
NEW BUSINESS
GUEST SPEAKERS: Texas House of Representatives, Hubert Vo, District 149 and Jim Murphy, District 133.
• Jim Murphy said that the regular Legislative session is 140 days. This session was extended due to an agreement on the budget not being met, a requirement of Texas law. There is a $27 billion shortfall and Governor Perry refused to dip into the rainy day fund (oil and gas revenues) of approximately $6.5 billion. Although the budget cuts for education took the smallest hit, the budget had a $23 million shortfall for AISD. Higher education was cut 13%. One of the issues that were addressed during the session was TWIA, Texas Windstorm insurance. Other issues addressed were redistricting, rainy day fund, sunset bills, TX DOT and a vote for more stringent Voter ID’s. Drivers’ licenses or several other forms of photo identifications will be required in order to vote. In the event a voter does not have any of the ID’s, the state will provide a free photo ID.
• Hubert Vo provided hand-outs outlining the 2011 house session. He said that 5000 pieces of legislation were raised during the Legislative session, and 1000 pieces were addressed. Four Billion dollars was cut from the budget in 2009. This 2011 cut (for years 2012-2013) means that 43,000- students will not get financing over the next two years, tuition will be increased, people may be turned out of nursing homes, less healthcare will be available, less jobs, as well as cuts for medical school, to mention a few. During the session, one insurance bill (HB 1951) was passed prohibiting insurance companies from recording inquiries about losses that could adversely affect consumer premiums. Textbook affordability was addressed in HB 33. Governor Perry had previously altered the tax rate for small businesses from a property tax rate to a 1% gross revenue tax. Mr. Vo implied that small businesses could end up paying the tax without having the sales revenue since it is paid in advance. Mr. Vo lamented the cuts to education noting that Texas ranks 43rd in dropout rates.
UPCOMING SPEAKERS; the August meeting speaker will be H. D. Chambers, Superintendent of AISD; the September speakers will be At-large and District F candidates for City Council; and the October speaker will be HPD Officer, Mike Prause, who will be providing information for residential security
PUBLIC SESSION
Public Session and Announcements.
• Dorothea Pindell announced that there will be a Civics Class for seniors August 5th at the Thomas Glazer Bldg, 16600 Pine Forest Lane.
• There will be a clothing drive August 5th from 8 AM till 4 PM. Drop-off location is Council Member Al Hoang’s satellite office at 11903 Bellaire Blvd. (Alief Community Park). Help is needed for accepting clothes, sorting and getting them ready for pickup and or distribution. Help is also needed at the AISD pantry August 8th at 8:00 AM to help put clothes on racks and be ready for the opening day of school. The pantry is located on High Star in front of the Tennis Courts in a Temporary Building.
• The SAVE Alief Health Fair will take place Saturday, August 6th from 9-2 at the Hastings Ninth Grade Center on Cook and Dashwood.
* Texas on the Brink pdf publication can be found at: http://texaslsg.org/texasonthebrink/?p=1
(Originally Created by State Senator Eliot Shapleigh)
The next ASNC meeting will be held at 7:00 P.M. on the fourth Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011, at the CenterPoint Energy Building, 12330 Bellaire Blvd.
The meeting adjourned at 8:48 PM.
Minutes approved on: September 27,2011
Compiled, Written and Submitted by
V. M. Sugar, Secretary