ALIEF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING
Minutes for Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Alief Super Neighborhood # 25 held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, March 24th 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. He requested that cell phones ringers be turned off. Henry Williams conducted the Roll Call of council members. He announced a quorum was present. (See attached.)
Hospitality: Donated by Unity Youth Ministries (www.youthnunity.org). Thanks were expressed for their support of the ASNC and the Alief community. A thank you certificate was presented.
INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS: City Councilman, Peter Brown; Catherine Le (U. S. Congressman Al Green’s office); Bryan Burks (International Management District); Michael Laster (Sharpstown Management District and Candidate for City Council); Sakina Lanig (TX Senator Rodney Ellis’ office), Melissa Jarvis (Manager, Alief Henington Library), Ernest McGowan (Councilman MJ Khan’s office); and; Lewis Cook (Candidate for Houston City Council);
MOTIONS MADE:
1. Barbara Quattro: to accept the February minutes. Seconded: Karen Loper. Council voted. Motion Passed.
2. Marie Lee: to seat Brian Burks as a Councilmember in the new Association of Security, Public Safety or Emergency Management Organizations position. Seconded: Karen Loper. Council voted. Motion Passed
3. Karen Loper to adjourn the meeting. Seconded: Kim Mathes. Council voted. Motion passed.
COMMITTEE & STANDING REPORTS –
CHAIRS REPORT – .Michael stated that he and several other council members attended the opening ceremonies for Hackberry Park. The buildings located on the property would work well for children’s after school activities. He handed out membership certificates to those council members who had not yet received one. At Alief Community Park the new Barriers Free Playground, serving children with Special Needs and Physical Disabilities (ADA), which Marie Lee was instrumental in obtaining, has been completed and is a great asset to the community.
TREASURER’S REPORT – Barbara Quattro noted that the current balance was $3948.85; however, a check written for $500 as a refund has not yet cleared.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE: – Brian Burks was seated as a Councilmember for the Security Organizations position.
ALIEF COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION. – Mike Kreinsen reported: The next Historic Alief Cemetery meeting will be April 13th; meet to work at the cemetery on Sat. morning, April 18th at the SW corner of Dairy Ashford and Bellaire. . Cemetery Dedication, as an historical site, will be April 25th at 10 AM. Mike displayed the marker provided by the State. An anonymous donor is supplying grave markers.
The next planning meeting for the (September 26th) Alief Parade will be at 11:30 AM on Wed. Apr. 8 at the ITC (lunch meeting). The next quarterly Business Networking Breakfast will be May 5th from 7:30– 9:30 AM at the Southern News Building (both of these are on the north side of Bellaire at Boone).
TREE PLANTING – Michael presented a check to buy Hydrogel (from the Council inventory) to be used for a private unassociated tree planting elsewhere (in Waller County).
GUEST SPEAKERS: –
Mr. Brian Burks, Security Director, International Management District. Mr. Burks gave a brief review of his background in security and law enforcement and the role of the Management District. The district budget will be approximately $1.2MM, (paid for by a management district fee on businesses). Mr. Burks is cognizant of the area crime and noted that the District has hired one Supervisor/Sergeant and four Constable Deputies to patrol (in target enforcement working together). They officially start April 1st. He envisions a zero tolerance task force. There will also be security personnel checking on businesses and apartments at night. He said he can dispel rumors, take notes about suspicious activities etc. but to call 911 in an emergency. He also noted that the management district can pay for abatement of graffiti. Mr. Burks answered questions from the floor and handed out business cards (cell 832-851-9406; office 832-448-0527; email bburks@hhcllp.com). .
Peter Brown, City of Houston, At Large Councilman and Candidate for Mayor – Mr. Brown is an architect and urban planner, who also participated in the 2008 first revival of the Alief Parade. Mr. Brown stated he has the skills to weather the current financial storm and challenges. Mr. Brown envisions a plan for the city’s future which sets priorities in a four-part platform: (1) tough on crime by establishing a decentralized, community based “smart” policing program as NY and Los Angeles have done; (2) expand city economy and establish office of economic development, noting that the Greater Houston Partnership (Chamber of Commerce) promotes the whole region, not just the city; ergo (a) proactive business plan and (b) improvement of environmental issues such as air and recycling; (3) protect, revitalize and improve neighborhoods which will lead to a healthy city (empowered neighborhoods) by creating a new city department of neighborhood and community services (emphasis on decentralizing city government with multiservice centers); (4) Cut Houston electric bills (we have the highest); Mayor White is establishing an electrical- reliability taskforce or “smart grid”. He noted some cities are creating their own electric subsidiary and going out for bids on buying electrical power wholesale. Mr. Brown answered questions from the floor. Email him atlarge1@cityofhouston.net.
NEW BUSINESS
CHRONICLE REPORTER (ASSIGNED TO ALIEF) Susan Castro announced Betty Martin was laid off from the Chronicle. Betty reported on the community efforts and issues for 6 years in Alief. No information was forthcoming on who would replace her, but there was a suggestion that freelance reporters would be assigned to the beat.
UPCOMING SPEAKERS -.There will be a session organized by Sam Perlin on senior citizen issues at the April meeting. The slots for May and June are open but Michael hopes to get the Captain of the Westside Command Station and then the solid waste department. Kim Mathes will be doing a session on Health Care in July. Veronica Hernandez offered to help contact our new HPD Captain.
PUBLIC SESSION and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Louis Cook introduced himself as a Candidate for City Council
Catherine Le announced a Tax Health Day –date to be determined, hosted by Congressman Al Green’s office.
Ernest McGowan announced that the District F area Cleanup is scheduled for May 23rd. Volunteers will be needed.
Anne Williams asked that anyone wanting to be placed on the mailing list needs to go to the website at www.aliefsuperneighborhood.org. She asked for a volunteer to make entries into the website of events/meetings and Susan Castro volunteered. She also asked for a volunteer to make entries to the website calendar. Razi Asaduddin and Barbara Quattro both agreed to do it.
Smart Kid essay contest
Barbara Quattro announced a ‘Butts Clean-up’ for intersections and left turn lanes continues. This time: Sunday, April 5th from 8-9 AM at Bellaire and Boone. Bring a shovel or broom.
A Green Meeting at Reliant Park
There is a health fair at Sharpstown Mall this Sunday, March 29.
The Alief Health & Civic Resources Fair is scheduled for August 15. Tiffany Dao is heading it up this year.
Dorothea Pindell announced a Job Fair from 10-3 tomorrow, March 25th, at TX Work Source on Bissonnet.
The Houston Police Department will have a Community Outreach Meeting on useful health and safety information for seniors April 16th, 10-12 at the multi-service center at 6400 High Star,
An organization called, APAHA, is having a mixer at a restaurant at 6:00pm on Shepherd and 610 tomorrow, March 25th. See their website at www.apaha.org
Anne Williams announced that an email that has been making the rounds the last couple of years regarding voting on property tax exclusion for seniors is moot. The issue was approved of in the 2007 election.
Michael Manning noted that the ASNC meetings should have a recycling container for plastic water bottles.
Anne Williams noted that the ASNC brochure needs possible updating and printing, Susie Molina offered to have the printing done.
The next ASNC meeting will be held at 7:00 P.M. on the fourth Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at the Centerpoint building
The meeting adjourned at 8:55 PM.
Minutes approved on _____________________
Compiled by V. M. Sugar
Respectfully Edited and Submitted
Henry Williams, Secretary