ALIEF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING
Minutes for Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Alief Super Neighborhood # 25 held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, November 29, 2005 at 7:00 P.M. at the
CenterPoint Energy Building, 12330 Bellaire Blvd.
Chairman Dan Hrna called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. and read the list of changes in the meeting format, designed
to shorten the length of ASN meetings. Roll Call of council followed (See attached.)
Hospitality: The ASN participated by bringing Pot-Luck
MOTIONS made:
1. Johnny Tates: to accept the Oct. minutes as presented. Seconded: Karen North. Council voted. Motion Passed.
GUEST SPEAKERS:
HFD CHIEF PHIL BORISKIE, – Reported that 5 years ago Houston’s PPC rating was #3, has improved to a #1
now. That lowers our home fire insurance rate. The national goal is an 8 minutes response, which we beat.
Department is short 100 men, but make it up with overtime. 4 men ride on each truck. More EMS are needed.
HFD covers 620 sq. miles, fires, accidents, airports, HAZ MAT calls. Alief has had 2 stations for several years:
1 on Wilcrest, south of Bissonnet, and 1 on Cook Rd, south of Bellaire Blvd. Recently opened Fire Station #83
is on Breezeway & Richmond; it is close and serves Alief. #86 on Briar Forest, between Highway 6 & Eldridge
(north of Westheimer) will open in January. The Chief therefore believes that Alief is well served.
DIST. F CITY COUNCILMAN, M.J. KHAN. – thanked the ASN for support. Updates: Health care will be
helped by an IBN SINA grant; Smith Elem. will have a SPARK Park. He suggests we invite Mayor White
come to an ASN meeting. MJ shares and supports our concerns for the next term: crime issues; more money
needed for HPD Westside; increased security requirements for apts.; over 150,000 people in Alief, more
services are needed; send people to city council meetings to keep ASN concerns such as subsidence, the Doty
Landfill /Sugar Hill Development in the forefront.
COMMITTEE & STANDING REPORTS
SNAP PROPOSALS – Barbara Quattro distributed a draft copy of our action plan. Final presentation and
discussion will be at the January meeting
CITY PLANNING DEPARTMENT – Donald Perkins reminded everyone to search for applications for Plat
Reports at www.houstonplanning.com. The 4H has available grant money for tree planting.
BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS:
1. TREE PLANTING – Barbara Quattro reported that she represented the ASN and the ACA when she
attended a luncheon to receive the ‘MAYOR’S PROUD PARTNERS AWARD.’
2. 185 volunteers helped to plant 200 trees on Nov. 12. The next planting will continue west on Bellaire
Blvd. Meet on Dec. 10, at 8 AM at Bell Crossing, on the corner of Bellaire and Dairy Ashford. Bring
gloves and tools if you have them. 200 more trees will be planted on Bellaire Blvd.
LIBRARY – Librarian, Rebecca Hubert, reported that Alief Library Story Time for Bunnies (children under 3)
is at 10:30 AM on Wednesdays and for Owls (ages 3 and up) on Mondays 10:15-11:45. There is also a play
Group for children up to 3 years of age. Tutors are available on-Line for grades 4-12. A math tutor is at the
library on Saturdays; tutors for other subjects on Tuesdays.
SOUTH WEST AREA MINISTRY – Ana Garza-Ibarra reported that SWAM has helped 300 families who
evacuated from the Hurricanes. The upcoming Christmas program needs money. Volunteers and donations are
always welcome.
OLD BUSINESS
DOTY LANDFILL/SUGAR HILL DEVELOPMENT – Karen Loper reported: Representative Hubert Vo’s
Town Hall Meeting on the Doty Landfill was very well attended. MJ Khan as well as representatives from the
city attorney’s office, and TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) spoke, listened to concerns,
and answered questions. At the time of the meeting, no application from the builder had been made to TCEQ.
They promised to notify us if an application is made, or if any other activity is noted.
CHAIRMAN DANIEL HRNA: Houston City Planning Department should look into more issues before they
present a subject to the Planning Commission to be voted upon. The Planning Department should study the
environment, traffic, impact on an area, etc. before making a recommendation to the Planning Commission,
which seems to pretty well rubber stamp the department’s recommendations. The city planning department
directive ordinance needs to be changed to include environmental impact, density of population matters, and
capacity of the infrastructure to support the planned additions as well as population projections reflected in the
plat. Now under the current ordinance (Chapter 33) the Planning Commission stated that they can only approve,
disapprove, or table requested variances for a proposed plat that comes before them for consideration, with no
authority over permitting or denying the development. That they have no jurisdiction or authority over
environmental issues or safety or impact on the infrastructure by the new subdivisions on the traffic or
roadways (mobility) is not true. Under Section 33-51(5) it is clear that they have the jurisdiction implement
programs for infrastructure, mobility, land use, etc. Very little research can be done by the planning commission
is what was evident at the hearing. Reading the ordinance under Section 33-51 entitled, “Findings”; the
Planning Commission can have input on the quality of life as is stated in Section 33-51(5) addressing
environmental quality. It is obvious that the city ordinance requires amending to be broader in nature and
address real planning issues and not just variances from the plat.
Alief Marketing Breakfast – Marie Lee reported the next one is Tuesday, February 14, 2006. The attending
businesses appreciate the opportunity to network. A speaker is still needed for this meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
RESIGNATION: KAREN NORTH – Chairman Dan Hrna regretfully accepted Karen’s letter of resignation.
The ASNC and ACA presented her with a Certificate of Appreciation for her years of volunteer work for the
betterment of Alief, and expressed their disappointment that she is moving.
UPCOMING SPEAKERS – JAN: SNAP and council elections- FEB: Mayor White
PUBLIC SESSION
Bob Bohlert – questioned if Synott will be widened. No one had an answer.
Marilyn Pickeree would like to tell people about the dangers of Celebrex, but will wait until next month, since it
is late.
The next ASNC meeting will be held at 7:00 P.M. on the fourth Tuesday, January 24, 2006, at the CenterPoint
Energy Building, 12330 Bellaire Blvd. There will be no meeting in December.
Minutes approved on _____________________
Respectfully Submitted,
Henry Williams, Secretary