ALIEF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING
Minutes for Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Alief Super Neighborhood # 25 held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, March 27th, 7:00 PM, at the CenterPoint Energy Building, 12330 Bellaire Blvd.
PROGRAM:
Chairperson, 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).
Hospitality: Hospitality was provided by the ASNC.
GUESTS: Veronica Hernandez (COH Mayor’s office); Catherine Le (Congressman Al Green’s office); HPD Capt. Michael Skillern and Lt Mark Lentini; Sergio Martinez (Supervisor, DON); Liz Drake (Houston-Galveston Area Council); Sarah Winkler (AISD Board); Professor Patrick Peters & Prof. Jason Logan (UofH Graduate School of Architecture); Emiliano Herrera (Neighborhood Centers); Eric Weinmann (Councilmember Andrew Burk’s office); Roland Gramajo (Guatemalan Community Center); Honorable Hubert Vo; Josalyn Cano and Guadalupe Musio (Alief Community Garden).
MOTIONS MADE:
1. Brian Burks motioned to approve the February 2012 minutes. Seconded Karen Loper. Council voted, motion passed.
2. Vivien Sugar motioned to adjourn the meeting. Seconded Barbara Quattro. Motion Passed.
COMMITTEE & STANDING REPORTS
CHAIRS REPORT
Barbara Quattro spoke about the Community garden schedule with volunteers building the irrigation system for the tree farm and stating the fence is erected. The Alief Community Garden applied for an Orchard Grant which will include voting on line for the winner. Work has started on the pavilion by UofH (see below).
TREASURER’S REPORT –Monique Pham, Treasurer, was absent
ELECTIONS/NOMINATING COMMITTEE Neeta Sane, Trustee, Houston Community College, has been named to the council as representative for Stakeholder No. 11, Education Associations. Appropriate paperwork was submitted. Kim Montgomery is her alternate.
SECURITY/ INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT DISTRICT (IMD): .Lt. Mark Lentini gave a short report on crime statistics in our area. He said although crime is slightly up recently, the overall trend is down. There were 225 arrests in Alief. Lt. Lentini noted that crime increases when the weather improves. Lt. Lentini is available Monday through Friday at the Westside Command Station 7am-3PM. Brian Burks stated graffiti is up in the area.
ALIEF COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION No input
PROJECTS/SNAP COMMITTEE .Frank Garcia described the response of our City Council representative and the Mayor to our CIP requests as unenthusiastic. CIP requests submitted in 2012 include:
1. Hennington Library expansion to include a multi-purpose center
2. Expansion of Hike and Bike trails to Alief
3. Repair sports fields in Alief Community Park
4. Pave parking lot in Alief Community Park
5. Sound-proof interior rooms of Alief Community Park buildings
6. Reconstruction/resurfacing of Beechnut from City limits to Highway 59
7. Overlay High Star from Wildacres to Belle Park
NEW BUSINESS
GUEST SPEAKER
Liz Drake, Houston- Galveston Area Council –Regional Plan for Sustainable Development Ms. Drake gave an overview of an ambitious and challenging mission to evaluate/predict the needs of the area for the upcoming 25 years. Current populations are expected to increase significantly which will impact education, healthcare, housing, transportation, and infrastructure to name a few. Her organization is charged with collecting data, feedback, surveys, and other input to create an advisory plan for officials to use as a guideline of strategies and policies over the upcoming years. The plan is being paid for with a Federal grant from HUD and includes 13 counties addressing growth. Ms. Drake provided survey forms and also gave the on-line addresses to complete the survey electronically (www.ourregion.org)
Professor Patrick Peters, University of Houston Graduate School of Architecture- Mr. Peters gave an overview of a freestanding pavilion to be built at the Alief Community Garden by graduate students from the School of Architecture over a 16 week schedule. The project started 1-1/2 weeks ago. This fast paced venture will include an industrial sculpture by Eric Ober and solar panels light the pavilion. It will provide shade for workers and serve as a learning center. The parts will be prefabricated at the UofH and be a “green building”. Mr. Peters showed previous projects by his group in a calendar of SPARKSPARKS. These annual projects give students an opportunity to see a project through in the “real” world and provide a positive impact on the selected community.
Sergio Martinez, Department of Neighborhoods (DON) Mr. Martinez is the supervisor for our area and reports to Maya Hippolite. He noted the various code violations his department is charged with following up on, and said he tries to work with the offenders before fining them. He instructed people to call 311 with their violation report, get a service number, and then can follow up with him by email (Sergio.martinez@houstontx.gov) or phone (832-394-0680)-with the service number request.
UPCOMING SPEAKERS; The following speakers are scheduled:
• April Bayou Preservation Association (April is earth day) & Candidates District 137
May Annual Public Safety Forum with law enforcement representatives from HPD, Constables, Sheriff’s Dept and Alief School District
June Houston Community College Representatives
• July Public Works Speakers
PUBLIC SESSION
Public Session and Announcements.
• The Thomas A. Glazer Senior Education Center, 16600 Pine Forest Lane, 77084 (S Clay Rd. at Highway 6) is presenting a number of classes for Harris county residents 55 years and older. Call for additional information or to register 713-274-3250.
• Third Annual Veterans Luncheon: Chapel of Eternal Peace, 2454 S. Dairy Ashford , Houston, TX 77077, Thursday, July 19, 2012 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM (CT)
• Karen Loper, International District, reminded the group of the upcoming semiannual Recycling Days for electronics and paper at Crump Stadium, April 21st 9am-1pm. No TV’s.
• Catherine Lee announced a Free Health Fair at the Chinese Community Center 9800 Town Park Saturday, April 14th 9:30am-1PM
• Texans Together is promoting a Community Built Playground at the Mint, 6700 S Dairy Ashford, and is seeking volunteers for site prep work commencing April 26th 8am-5pm and build on April 28th
• Kevin Kebede of the YMCA noted that the Y is interested in volunteering for various community projects
• There will be a job fair at the HCCS Hayes Campus April 25th
• There will be a mayor’s office and Sharsptown SNC meeting regarding apartment Code violations. Saturday April 28th, 2012 ,10:30 am – 1:30 pm, PlazAmericas, 7500 Bellaire first floor (Sun Room)
• The First Annual Pa’lina Fundraiser will be held Friday, April 20thfrom 7-9PM at the Chinese Community Center on Town Park Drive with a dinner, music, dance and silent auction to benefit children who plan to compete in a hula contest in Orlando, Fl. Contact Pearl Melchor, Chair, at aiea488@yahoo.com
The next ASNC meeting will be held at 7:00 P.M. on the fourth Tuesday, April 23rd, 2012, at the CenterPoint Energy Building, 12330 Bellaire Blvd.
The meeting adjourned at 8:25 PM.
Minutes approved ____________
Compiled, Written and Submitted by
V. M. Sugar, Secretary
