trymahjong

from Ellen Cohens enewsletter the city's largest community improvement initiative Keep Houston Beautiful Day, which will take place on April 5th, 2014. During this citywide event, hundreds of volunteers come together to complete beautification projects such as de-littering, landscaping, mowing, and graffiti abatement. Registration is still open for many projects throughout Houston. For more information, please contact Keep Houston Beautiful at (713) 839-8855 or contact@houstonbeautiful.org.

from Ellen Cohen enewsetter Bicycle Master Plan in the Works Mayor Parker announced that Houston will develop a Bicycle Management Plan to guide infrastructure policy decisions that make our city safer for bicyclists. The plan aligns with the "Goal: Zero Fatalities" initiative, designed by BikeHouston, which was presented to the Council Committee on Public Safety & Homeland Security this week. In addition to increasing quality cyclist infrastructure, an important component of "Goal: Zero Fatalities" includes the directive for the Houston Police Department to bolster enforcement of existing cycling laws, by cracking down on drivers who hit cyclists or ignore bicycle safety laws.

I'm not sure about all the $$$$$ if you walk the neighborhoods, even the modest neighborhoods, you can find that artsy vibe still there. Like: upscale metal sculptures of parrots in bushes to those big chicken sculptures from Mexico and origami butterflies on the outside wall of a porch or blue bottled -bottles trees in a front yard. maybe it's transforming into cool and artsy with subdued weirdness?

from Stephan Costellos enewsletter Council Member Costello Releases New Draft Financial Policies March 27, 2014 - Council Member Stephen Costello released a comprehensive draft of the city's financial policies at today's Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee. These policies aim to increase reserve funds, instill more discipline and transparency into the budget process, and include best practices as developed by the Government Finance Officers Association. Highlights of the new policies include: Increasing the city's minimum required reserve level to 8% of annual expenditures to further hedge against risk;Renaming the city's Rainy Day Fund the Budget Stabilization Fund, which will now cover all emergencies, and increasing its minimum level;Requiring passage of a balanced budget each year, together with a plan for a "structurally" balanced budget (one that does not rely on non-recurring revenues) for the following year;Financing all post-employment and employee benefit systems in a manner to systematically fully fund all liabilities;Properly funding the maintenance of facilities, fleet and IT in both the operating and capital budgets;Examining city employee compensation and city fees every five years; andDisallowing spending beyond what is adopted in the annual budget without additional City Council approval.These policies, once finalized, will be incorporated into an ordinance to include a directive to complete a cost/benefit analysis on the effects of changing the city's fiscal year start from July 1st to October 1st to better align budgeting with property tax collection. In addition to budgeting and reserve policies, the draft provides greater direction in how the city handles long-term financial planning, debt management, financial reporting, internal controls and local economic development financing. "The way we currently operate financially is short sighted. We have to save more and start tackling tomorrow's problems today. Taxpayers deserve a more transparent and balanced budget, and these are the first steps we need to take to get there," said Council Member Costello. The last revisions to the city's financial policies were in 1989 and 2003.

I wondered over the idea to "not have food" didn't really work well for Boheme till the food trucks came on scene. Still wondering a bit a bit over parking--I notice OTC is doing that double decker parking-- hard to know how many spaces they will be required to provide.

I think you put into words what was bothering me when I viewed the 1SMTX (one square mile Texas) on PBS When they called the episode "Montrose" but actually only showed mostly St Thomas /Menil---It didn't really speak to me about what living in "Montrose" meant.

you could see this forever- this was taken around 1pm 47th floor 1001 Fannin

When this newsletter says "possible locations" how many locations are on the table?

I searched on this topic also. I couldn't find anything. It's funny but Cohen hosts meetings (bi-yearly) of what she calls Ambassadors from the 80 or so civic associations within District C. She encourages residents to bring up subjects that are being talked about within District C; everyone attending has a chance to hear all the hot topics, also she gives a rundown of what council is considering. I attended the meeting in March. Most of the meeting was taken up giving step by step instructions (with powerpoint) of how to navigate the links on the COH website. The most interesting thing was the cars with the pink mustaches, that I posted somewhere else. But nothing about this ant-hoarding. It was a couple of weeks later that it appeared in her enewsletter. I would have preferred hearing about the anti-hoarding --I have all of these visions of that TV series and speculate that some branch of HPD (will be pulled off street patrol ) sent to all those pitiful people to investigate. :/

at the CIP meeting Ellen Cohen put together March 5, The COH pwee guy (public works) stated that no improvements to Richmond would be considered until Metro resolves its plans for the University line.

I had posted (from Ellen Cohens enewsletter) this under City government but then noticed that the Quality of life committee will hear presentation on a botanical garden-- I couldn't find any other details on the internet. March Quality of Life Committee Meeting Council Member Cohen will chair the March meeting of the Quality of Life Committee on Wednesday, March 26th at 2:00PM. The committee expects to view presentations on a proposed anti-hoarding ordinance; the Houston Department of Health and Human Services; and possible locations for a Houston Botanical Garden. The Committee meeting will be held in Council Chambers at City Hall (901 Bagby St, 2nd floor) and is open to the public. Citizens will have the opportunity to address the committee and may sign up to do so the day-of in Council Chambers.

from Ellen Cohen enewsletter March Quality of Life Committee Meeting Council Member Cohen will chair,(David Robinson co-chair) the March meeting of the Quality of Life Committee on Wednesday, March 26th at 2:00PM. The committee expects to view presentations on a proposed anti-hoarding ordinance; the Houston Department of Health and Human Services; and possible locations for a Houston Botanical Garden. The Committee meeting will be held in Council Chambers at City Hall (901 Bagby St, 2nd floor) and is open to the public. Citizens will have the opportunity to address the committee and may sign up to do so the day-of in Council Chambers.

Of course this is correct but I wonder if this notion is also flawed-- The cost to repair or replace sidewalks is high (perhaps because the city picks the contractor-there is the upswing of newly discussed "reduced cost" the council was talking about) when COH was laying those water lines in Avondale and tearing up sidewalks in the process one home owner asked COH to replace double wide driveway entrance (not full driveway) from street to sidewalk--$7000. incentive to fix seems low-(in my own neighborhood it seems off site owner could care less about sidewalk conditions. Many of the new businesses that go in don't necessarily install new sidewalks--again the incentive doesn't seem to be there. How crazy is it that Montrose makes a list of "most walkable neighborhoods" but lots and lots of sidewalks in Montrose are unwalkable.

from Ellen Cohen's enewsletter Council approved an interlocal agreement between the City of Houston and Harris County for the purpose of designing a new joint law enforcement central processing center. While the Houston Police Department and the County Sheriff's office each currently operate separate processing centers, the new central facility will allow both entities to reduce costs and increase efficiency by reducing unnecessary duplication of functions. As part of the agreement, the City will be responsible for 30% of the cost of each phase, and the County will be responsible for 70%. The proposal for a joint law enforcement processing center was approved by voters in a November 2013 bond referendum. I wanted a little more info and found this after surfing internet:http://www.chron.com/opinion/outlook/article/Parker-Emmett-Joint-Processing-Center-would-4909749.php

Final Public Meeting Heights-Northside Mobility Study The City of Houston invites you to the final public meeting for the Heights-Northside Sub-regional Mobility Study. The purpose of this meeting is to review study results and highlight key recommendations. Provided recommendations are intended to increase the City's multimodal planning approach as it pertains to the vehicle, bicycle, pedestrian, bus and any other users of the greater transportation network. Recommendations also include near-term and long-term solutions to improve mobility in the area. We appreciate your feedback and would like to invite you to provide comments on the study before the Report is finalized. After the meeting, the Report will be made available for public review and comment until Friday, May 2, 2014. For a full understanding of recommendations before they are posted, however, please stop by! Tuesday, April 1, 2014Moody Park Community Center 3725 Fulton Houston, TX 77009 6 pm - 8 pm Open House 6:30 pm Presentation RSVP This meeting is in partnership with the City of Houston Planning and Development Department, Public Works and Engineering Department and Houston-Galveston Area Council. Visit http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/mobility/Heights_Northside.html for more information or contact Amar Mohite at mobility.planning@houstontx.gov or 713.837.7950.

Northwest Mobility Study The City of Houston invites you to the final public meeting for the Northwest Sub-regional Mobility Study. The purpose of this meeting is to review study results and highlight key recommendations. Provided recommendations are intended to increase the City's multimodal planning approach as it pertains to the vehicle, bicycle, pedestrian, bus and any other users of the greater transportation network. Recommendations also include near-term and long-term solutions to improve mobility in the area. We appreciate your feedback and would like to invite you to provide comments on the study before the Report is finalized. After the meeting, the Report will be made available for public review and comment until Friday, May 2, 2014. For a full understanding of recommendations before they are posted, however, please stop by! Wednesday, April 2, 2014 Candlelight Community Center1520 Candlelight Houston, TX 77018 6pm - 8 pm Open House 6:30 pm Presentation RSVP This meeting is in partnership with the City of Houston Planning and Development Department, Public Works and Engineering Department and Houston-Galveston Area Council.Visit http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/mobility/Northwest.html for more information or contact Amar Mohite at mobility.planning@houstontx.gov or 713.837.7950.

wasn't he on the early morning news this morning?

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/Pearland-gets-a-heads-up-on-development-project-5319706.php#/0 The article goes on to relate from David Addicks: . . . . the 6 busts are back at his studio. . . . he didn't know if they would be used in the new development. . . . .

I would say that the lines for the Empire State building are indeed LONG! Try Doing the Observation floor at Rockefeller Center. I really adored going to St John the Devine I think it's on 112th and Amsterdam? There is a great Ethiopian place on 103 & Amsterdam.

I did see one of those cars a couple of weeks ago but didn't have a clue what it meant. www.lyft.me/help?article But I attended Ellen Cohens CAP meeting and found out lyft is being talked about in City council just as Uber is. Cohen's office is sending out a few random inquiries to civic associations to get a feel for how citizens might react to lyft and uber -- The pink mustached cars are being used now but there is no money collected as there are no Houston ordinances set up yet. Depending on how she words the inquiry she might be feedback on the Taxi issue also.

KPFT is suppose to be interviewing David Bush with Preservation Houston concerning this --

Thought this was interesting. I don't know how to find the article on line, but I read in Saturday's The Facts newspaper (covers Brazoria County. ) Brazosport Water Authority unanimously approved the plan for the plant. "The plant will provide water to seven municipalities and industrial partners through a process of converting Brackish water. . . into fresh water." "The project will be funded through money the water authority has set aside from refinancing bonds and at a rate increase that will be passed on to the entities involved in the project.

In this mornings Chronicle. http://www.chron.com/opinion/outlook/article/Pappas-Seale-Houston-s-iconic-structures-deserve-5300068.php As someone living in this area, I can testify how very difficult it is to get Historic Designation---for a myriad of reasons.So perhaps giving some sort of financial incentive to developers to "think outside the box" and preserve the structure but also add on into it with their townhomes etc. Might be a more palable solution? I've seen something sort of similar in England, where the old "Manor is reconfigured for apartments and the townhomes attached and the outside architecture is similar so it all looks like a "village". It would be nice if this could happen.

Memorial Park Use Survey The Memorial Park Conservancy, TIRZ #16, and the Houston Parks and Recreation Department will soon begin long-term planning for the park. Prior to planning, the team is taking public input. Memorial Park is going through a major planning process, and we want you to have your say. How do you envision the future of Memorial Park? Take less than 10 minutes to visit http://memorialparkmasterplan.mindmixer.com/ and let the planning team know what you think. Take the Memorial Park Use Survey and the Demographic Survey by Tuesday, March 11. Thanks for your input, and please share the link! For more information on the survey and on the Memorial Park Conservancy, visit www.memorialparkconservancy.org or contact Suzanne Landau at 713.863.8403 extension 2 or info@memorialparkconservancy.org. For more information on Memorial Park and the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, visit www.houstonparks.org or write to Askparks@houstontx.gov.

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/City-to-collect-again-when-Midtown-building-sells-5298648.php Maybe this is part of the overall MATCH complex? I'm not sure what the status of MATCH but I know Trinity Episcopal is now taking steps to build a walkway from the Center north of their building to the small parking spaces (accessed from Francis street) next to The Bering House to allow staff access to building when the parking lot on Holman in under construction. So maybe things will start happening soon.