ALIEF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING
Minutes for Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Alief Super Neighborhood # 25 held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, 23, 2006 at 7:00 P.M. at the CenterPoint
Energy Building, 12330 Bellaire Blvd.
Chairman Dan Hrna called the meeting to order at 7:08 P.M. Roll Call of council followed (See attached.)
Hospitality: Donated by Beechnut Manor; Organized and Delivered by Ray Moon. Thanks were expressed for their
support of the ASNC and the Alief community.
MOTIONS made:
1. Elsie Smith: to accept the minutes as presented. Seconded: Ray Moon. Council voted. Motion Passed.
2. Marie Lee: to reimburse Barbara Quattro for purchasing the Alief Domain name for 3 years, equaling $108.00.
Seconded: Chet Machen. Council voted. Motion Passed.
3. Barbara Quattro: that the ASNC write a letter to the TX Dept. Of Housing & Community Affairs relating our
opposition to the proposed additional multi-family low-income housing planned for the Parkwest Apt. Homes.
Seconded: Marie Lee. Council voted. Motion Passed.
4. Chet Machen: based on proposal, the council submit letter of recommendation for Senior Housing Project.
Seconded: Marie Lee. Council voted. Motion Passed. One Abstained.
GUEST SPEAKERS:
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, MJ KHAN, DISTRICT F – reported that the city budget is specifying 67% for Public
Safety. There will be 6 new HPD classes. He expects the Red Light Cameras to be approved soon. There is a Mobile
Response Unit Pilot program to combat the surge in area violence, especially at apartment complexes.
DEPUTY EVANS, HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT-Discussed Identity theft and handed out brochures
to all attendees. He recommended everyone use a paper shredder.
MICHAEL NGUYEN, PRES. VN TEAMWORK, and DAN NIP, from RAINBOW VILLAGE Senior
Apartment Complex. They requested that the ASNC write a letter of endorsement for their application for a new
$3.6 million, independent living, 3-story, 50-unit, 450 sq ft, one-bedroom project on Dashwood (Cook near
Bellaire). They compared it to the existing (5-year old) Corporate Drive HUD RAINBOW VILLAGE Senior
Apartment Complex. All units are available to low income seniors of any cultural background who qualify.
Fundraising and loans are required. A discussion followed. Henry Williams noted that such projects do not
increase traffic in the area putting a strain on current infrastructure nor do they adversely affect school
overcrowding. Henry and Anne both visited the older project a week ago. Deadline is June 2nd for the
endorsement letter.
COMMITTEE & STANDING REPORTS
CHAIR’S REPORT – Chairman Dan Hrna read a report from Clara Yates of BluePrint Houston. Issues included parks,
bike trails, transportation, Deed Restrictions, town centers, Metro plans (corridors), toll roads, HOV lanes and the inequity
suffered by Alief from competing needs.
BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS:
1. TREE PLANTING – Barbara Quattro discussed the need for volunteers to water the many new trees planted:
they need trucks to pull water trailers and bucket brigade. The need is greatest on the 37 esplanades planted on
Bellaire. The city only waters trees that they contracted for such as the median on Kirkwood (which are dying
anyway). Barbara warned that volunteers need to be older than 16 to be on the medians which excludes certain
younger volunteers such as the scouts. Ray Moon asked about getting the Chronicle to write about it. Anne
Williams remarked that the ASNC has not had much if any Chronicle exposure lately. Chet Machen reported that
probationer support is being wound down.
2. BANDIT SIGNS – Ray Moon stated many have disappeared except for some hot spots. He has reported some
people he has caught installing them. He noted the wood stakes seem to be all but gone.
LIBRARY – Librarian, Rebecca Hubert, reported library hours are: Mon-Thursday 9-9; Friday and Saturday 9-6; Sunday
1-5. There are reading & story times. Several special programs such as origami are upcoming for various ages. A
calendar is available. She will check to see if the calendar can be emailed. Summer reading program sign up is now on
web site. New library cards are coming out in July.
OLD BUSINESS
MAYOR’S CITIZENS’ ASSISTANCE OFFICE – VERONICA HERNANDEZ distributed information regarding the
Electric Choice web site (www.HoustonConsumerChoice.com) and about Hurricane Preparedness.
YMCA –ELSIE SMITH reported that the fund raiser raised $68,000 for after school/summer school programs, Bible
study, senior programs, sports programs in a safe environment. All money stays in Alief.
ALIEF MARKETING BREAKFAST- MARIE LEE reported the next breakfast will be Tuesday, August 9, 2006. Central
Bank will sponsor it and Chief Lumpkin will be the speaker.
S.A.V.E. ALIEF HEALTH FAIR – ANNE WILLIAMS reported it is Saturday, August 5th, at Alief Middle School.
Volunteers/donations still needed. Flyers are in four languages. Anne is emailing them out. School supplies will be
handed out again this year. Ernest McGowan noted that smoke alarms will be available for homeowners from the Fire
Dept. Looking for sponsors.
ALIEF COMMUNITY COALITION -DIANE DANG discussed relationship with Mayors Office, gang graffiti, policies,
annual health fair, training teachers, lunch menu, snack machines, tobacco, educating parents, and other wellness issues.
NEW BUSINESS
• SUBSIDIZED HOUSING MEETING – Parkwest Apartment Homes. The AISD wrote a letter explaining
the existing overcrowding in Alief schools and that AISD cannot absorb more high needs students who
would result from apartment projects. Plenty of housing is already available and vacant. Copies of the
letter were offered. A public meeting with state officials is at Elsik High School, at 6:00 PM on May 31st.
A request was made to attend. Remarks were made by Dan Hrna that since 2002, there have been 8 new
complexes. These complexes provide about 1500 units, 4 people per unit, plus 1600 new cars that the
Alief infrastructure cannot handle, not including the school overcrowding. Alief has the highest
population density in Houston. The local hospitals, ERs, EMS, fire and police departments are all stressed
in their attempts to care for the increased population.
• SUGAR HILL/DOTY LANDFILL- Ernest McGowen, from our city council district F office, reported that
Channel 26 had a recent report on it, and showed the escaping methane gas emissions. It is monitored
monthly; an environmental review is required which has never passed an inspection. An application has
been submitted but the State is not in favor of it. Henry Williams noted that many city officials are
maintaining vigilance on the progress of the project.
PUBLIC SESSION
Since it was quite late, no public session was held.
The next ASNC meeting will be held at 7:00 P.M. on the fourth Tuesday, June -27, 2006, at the CenterPoint Energy
Building, 12330 Bellaire Blvd.
The meeting adjourned at 9:45 P.M.
Minutes approved on _____________________
Respectfully Submitted
Henry Williams, Secretary