What's on the Council agenda this week, and how it affects you.
Council Members confirmed the appointment of Michelle Mantor and the reappointment of Deborah A. Gebhardt to the Board of Directors for the Animal Advisory committee. Continue Reading »
Council Members received reports from the City Controller, Ronald Green, and the City Finance Director, Kelly Dowe, relating in part to encumbrances, expenditures, and revenues for the General Fund, enterprise funds, and special revenue funds as well as the Quarterly Investment Report. Continue Reading »
Council Member Noriega tagged (a delay by one week action) the Fiscal Year 2012- 2017 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) in an effort to receive more information from the administration. Continue Reading »
City Council confirmed the one-year term appointments of Jerry M. Sutton and Ryan Winkelmann to the Automotive Board. Board members consider automotive dealer license applications, hold hearings to consider license revocations and suspensions, and application approvals and denials for salesmen.
Kim Tutcher was confirmed by City Council as a member of the Houston Center for Literacy. The Houston Center for Literacy consists of twenty-four members who among their duties, solicit funds for literacy activities and providers, maintain and receive property to use for educational, charitable and literary purposes, advise Mayor Parker and City Council on literacy projects, and encourage and promote new avenues to advance literacy.
The following individuals were confirmed to the Houston Zoo Development Corporation by Council: Sylvia Ann Mayer, Tony Chase, Stephen M. Kaufman, and Suzanne Nimocks. A few of the Corporation’s duties include construction, developmental, re-developmental, enhancements, renovations, and promotion of the Houston Zoo.
Robert D. Sellingsloh, Pamela Nog Tranpark, Derrick M. Mitchell, Abe. S. Goren, and Billy J. Briscoe were confirmed by City Council to the Board of Directors of the Midtown Redevelopment Authority.
Council Members authorized the creation of Houston Forensic Science LGC, Inc. to be known as the “Center”. The formal legal formation of the LGC, Local Government Corporation, allows for independence of any definite or perceived influence from elected officials, law enforcement, prosecutors, and special interest groups as the Center works to provide truthful and timely analysis of forensic evidence and any related services.
With Council’s approval of an ordinance to award a contract, the Information Technology Department will receive maintenance and repair services for communication towers in the ITD Radio Communications Division from Quality Tower Services, Inc. and allows for tower service life and safety assurance.
City Council Members approved an ordinance allowing the Public Works and Engineering department the ability to standardize control systems, monitoring systems and equipment at forty wastewater treatment plants, twenty-six chemical feed systems, three hundred ninety-one lift stations, four sludge transfer systems, thirteen underwater pump stations, and three wet weather facilities throughout the City of Houston. As part of the contract, GE Intelligent Platforms Inc. will provide software licenses, training, twenty-four hour maintenance support services, updates, and modifications for five years.
The Office of Council Member Melissa Noriega would like you to know about the upcoming meetings and events:
METRO hosts US90A/Southwest Rail Public Meetings
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, METRO, is hosting public meetings to continue work on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the US90A/Southwest Rail Corridor project.
The proposed project includes the area of the METRO Rail Fannin South Station merging with the existing METRO Rail Red Line to Wheeler Station and Beltway 8 in Missouri City. Reliant Park, the Texas Medical Center (TMC), Rice University, the Houston Zoo, Hermann Park, and the Museum District will be directly served by this proposed line. For more details, please visit: http://www.ridemetro.org
Please consider attending and participating in one of the two remaining meetings:
Thursday, June 7, 2012, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Missouri City Community Center
1522 Texas Parkway, Missouri City, Texas 77489
Tuesday, June 12, 2012, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m
The Power Center, Southeast Ballroom, 12401 South Post Oak Road, Houston, Texas 77045
University of Houston-Downtown Presents Thursday Concerts at Discovery Green
The University of Houston-Downtown is the new sponsor for the June Thursday Concert series at Discovery Green. These free family-friendly concerts begin at 6:30 p.m. and provide an excellent opportunity for the community to hear talented musicians as they perform on the Anheuser-Busch Stage and Fondren Performance Space.
Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, picnics and come enjoy these free musical concerts.
All concerts are at Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney, Houston, Texas 77010 and for more information, please visit: http://www.discoverygreen.com
June 7, 2012, 6:30 p.m.
George Porter Jr. and Runnin Pardners, Paul Ramirez Band
June 14, 2012, 6:30 p.m.
The Gourds, Mary McBride
June 21, 2012, 6:30 p.m.
The Niceguys, Kydd, Zin
June 28, 2012, 6:30 p.m.
Los Skarnales, Wild Moccasins, Discovery Green
2012 Houston/Galveston Hurricane Workshop – George R. Brown Convention Center
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration serves as hosts for a FREE Family Hurrican Preparedness workshop this Saturday, June 9, 2012 partnering with the City of Houston, Harris County Office of Emeregency Management, CenterPoint Energy, the John C. Freeman Weather Museum, Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston and the National Weather Service to provide hurricane and tropical storm preparedness information to the public.
The FREE workshop includes interactive activities, Hurricane experts and appearances by local meteorologists, a Kids Zone activity center, a special appearance of the “Ready Super Hero” team, free giveaways, a photo booth, a special CenterPoint Energy Electric Safety Demostration at 9:00 a.m. For more workshop information, please visit: http://hurricaneworkshop.com
Saturday, June 9, 2012 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
George R. Brown Convention Center, Hall B
1001 Avenida De Las Americas, Houston, Texas, 77010
Wednesday’s historic vote on a Memorandum of Agreement between the City of Houston and Southwest Airlines allows for the creation of five new international gates, a Federal Inspection Service facility (FIS), and related hydrant fueling and ramp enhancements, apron and drainage work, and security checkpoint improvements at William P. Hobby Airport. Continue Reading »
Council Members approved a resolution to create Houston Recovery Center, LGC (Local Government Corporation) to manage the Houston Center of Sobriety as an alternative to jail. Individuals incarcerated in an inebriated state divert health, medical, police and safety resources away from life-threatening and serious crimes. By creating the Houston Recovery Center, inebriated individuals will be redirected from jail to the center where HPD’s Mental Health Unit and community agencies can provide services and intervention programs to assist in the road to recovery. Continue Reading »
Council Members approved and authorized final payment for the completion of Segment 3 and Segment 5 to the north and south sections of West White Oak Bayou Trail Extension project. The West White Oak Bayou Trail Extension project is part of the 300 mile Houston Bikeway program and includes bicycle and signed shared lanes, bike routes, shared-use trails and other urban multi-use paths throughout the city. Continue Reading »
During today’s council session, Council Members approved final payment to Teal Construction Company for the renovation and expansion of the Oak Forest Library. Renovation efforts include electrical, lighting, masonry, sidewalk, and structural upgrades. The newly remodeled gold-certified LEED library includes adult, teen, children and toddler reading areas, a circulation desk, administrative offices, a meeting room, three new security cameras, new gutters and ornamental fencing. Continue Reading »
City Council approved a $3.2 million ordinance to purchase equipment for the Houston Fire Department to replace existing trucks. The new equipment includes one fire cascade truck, one fire pumper truck and three fire aerial ladder trucks and will be stationed in Districts B, H, and D. Continue Reading »
City Council approved an ordinance to purchase grounds maintenance equipment through the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) and Texas Local Government Purchasing Cooperative. By participating in The Texas Local Government Purchasing Cooperative, an administrative agency, the City of Houston increases its purchasing power of commodities, goods and services and has a simplified purchasing process. Continue Reading »
