ALIEF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING
Minutes for Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Alief Super Neighborhood # 25 held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, June 28th, 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). The planned speakers, House Representatives Hubert Vo (District 149) and Jim Murphy (District 133), were still in Austin due to an extended Legislative session and were unable to attend. Both have agreed to speak at the July meeting.
Hospitality: There was no hospitality provided due to the last minute change in the program.
GUESTS: Veronica Hernandez (COH Mayor’s office); Catherine Le (Congressman Al Green’s office); Sakina Lanig (Senator Rodney Ellis’s office) and ten AISD teachers.
MOTIONS MADE:
1. Karen Loper motioned to approve the minutes for April & May. Seconded by Brian Burks. Council voted. Motion Passed.
2. Barbara read a motion regarding the water trailers and their history. Essentially, it was proposed that the IMD take over direction and control of the trailers and tree planting equipment which will include insuring and maintaining them. There will be no change in availability of the trailers to the Alief community. Frank Garcia seconded the motion. Council voted. Motion passed.
3. Karen Loper motioned to open a separate ASNC account for the proposed Community Garden. Seconded by Brian Burks. Council voted. Motion passed.
4. There was no motion to adjourn the meeting.
COMMITTEE & STANDING REPORTS
CHAIRS REPORT
There being no scheduled speakers, Barbara conducted ASNC business as follows:
• An announcement that Joe Turner, Director of Parks and Recreation, and Council member, Al Hoang, District F, plan an upgrade to the Alief Community Park meeting rooms to be initiated in 2014. This is neither a CIP nor SNAP project.
• A groundbreaking ceremony was held June 25th the walking trail in the Alief Community Park. The money was appropriated by US House of Representatives, Al Green, approximately six years ago. The original Plan was outlined by long time area resident, Helen Poole.
• Council member, Al Hoang, has asked Commissioner, Steve Raddack, to consider replating the Hennington Library on Kirkwood Rd out of the 100-year floodplain so that it will be eligible for Federal grants.
• The proposed community garden (approximately 7 acres), will be renting out plots for $5/month. Most of the plots are already spoken for, but the Alief Community Garden will maintain a waiting list. The ASNC will open a second bank account For use of the Community Garden. A person will be assigned the role of signatory on this account.
• Barbara noted that some council member have been absent for several meetings. She plans to ask these people if they are still committed to being on the council or if they wish to resign so that others may take their place.
• There was a brief discussion regarding trash. Beryl Hogshead noted that Veronica Hernandez has been working with her to arrange major trash cleanup in her subdivision. A suggestion was made to ask the boy scouts or probationers to pick up trash as a project.
• Barbara noted that the old signs used to announce the monthly meetings were missing. Ray Moon thinks he has them in his shop.
TREASURER’S REPORT –Monique Pham, Treasurer, stated the current balance to be $2699.66.
ELECTIONS/NOMINATING COMMITTEE No input.
SECURITY/ INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT DISTRICT (IMD):
Brain Burks noted that the IMD is progressing with beautification on the esplanades along Bellaire and Dairy Ashford south of Bellaire. Irrigation is being installed along major medians, balls with the IMD logo are being installed on the end caps, and soon colorful signs and banners will be added. The current cost for these improvements is $400,000.
ALIEF COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION Marie Lee reminded people that the ACA is sponsoring a Veteran’s Luncheon July 26th from 10:00am to 2:00pm at the Chapel of Eternal Peace on Dairy Ashford. The luncheon will include music and entertainment. She encouraged residents to invite a veteran. She also noted that the ACA utilizes one of the water trailers most weekends for watering Boone Park and the cemetery trees.
PROJECTS/SNAP COMMITTEE .See Chair’s Report, above
NEW BUSINESS
GUEST SPEAKERS: -The planned guest speakers for July will be Representative Vo and Murphy; the August meeting speaker will be H. D. Chambers, Superintendent of AISD; the September speakers will be 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.
• The Houston boy scouts are looking for members and projects to pursue. Contact Mr. Kenny Terrell at 713-259-9982 or Kenny.Terrerll@shac.org
• Veronica Hernandez announced a Summer Day Camp for Youth running June 13th through August 17th from 7am-6:00pm for kids aged 5 to 18 at the Baker-Ripley Neighborhood Center, 6500 Rookin. Enrollment began March 14th. The program includes field trips, arts and crafts, educational games, summer lunch program and fitness and nutrition. For further information call 713-273-3701
• Singles from Memorial Drive United Methodist Church and the City of Houston will be combining forces on Tues., July 12, to clean up a vacant lot on White Cap which is one block north of Beechnut and east of Cook Rd. This lot has been vacant for some time now, so there’s much work to be done hauling out trash, cutting down overgrowth, mowing, and sweeping. Residents of White Cap are invited and encouraged to come join this effort to beautify their neighborhood! Work will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end by 4:00 p.m. Volunteers are encouraged to wear t-shirts, long pants, closed-toe shoes & socks, and caps. They might want to bring masks or bandanas, brooms, and dustpans. Volunteers are also asked to bring sack lunches and personal snacks. Water will be provided. For more information or to sign up, contact Sheri Kelley at sherikelley@mdumc.org or call 713/468-8356, ext. 119
• 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. (at the Alief Community Park). We will need help accepting clothes, sorting and getting them ready for pickup and or distribution. We also need help 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.
• Urban Gardening Meeting Tuesday, June 21, 7:00 pm, Universal Center 11360 Bellaire Boulevard, Suite 880 (plaza with Soldier Statue) If you are interested in learning more about the garden project, or are interested in gardening there, please come. Please spread the word to other interested parties as well
• An Emergency Preparedness Fair will be held Saturday July 9thy, 10 am to 2PM at the Viet Hoa Shopping Center, 8300 W San Houston Parkway and Beechnut. It includes the Boy Scouts, Alief CERT, and several dignitaries
The next ASNC meeting will be held at 7:00 P.M. on the fourth Tuesday, July 26th, 2011, at the CenterPoint Energy Building, 12330 Bellaire Blvd.
The meeting adjourned at 8:00 PM.
Minutes approved on: ___
Compiled, Written and Submitted by V. M. Sugar, Secretary