General Meeting Notice – February 2011

The Downtown Super Neighborhood Council general meeting is set for Thursday, February 10, from 6:30pm – 8:30pm, at the downtown YMCA (808 Pease Street, Houston, Texas 77002).

Agenda:

6:30pm – Houston Police Department / Positive Interaction Program

7:15pm – By-Laws Recommendation

7:45pm – Organizational Framework Recommendation

8:15pm – Officer Nominations

8:30pm – Meeting Adjourned

Important Notice!

Downtown Super Neighborhood Council (DSNC)

The DNSC subcommittee is finalizing a draft of the by-laws and organizational framework. If you are a resident and/or stakeholder and wish to be recognized by the DSNC, please send me the name of your representative along with the name of your home owners association (HOA), property owner association (POA), civic club, development, business, faith-based organization, or educational institute by 5pm, Monday, January 31, 2011.

Examples:
-Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart – Representative: Deacon Johnny Salinas
-METRO – Representative: Jane Smith
-University of Houston / Downtown - Representative: John Smith
-Dowling Street HOA – Representative: Seth Hopkins
-Polk Avenue POA – Representative: James Dinkins
-Harris County Precinct 1 – Representative: Jeremy Ratcliff
-Downtown Civic Club – Representative: Susi Knight

Contact Information:
James Dinkins
Dinkins.james@sbcglobal.net
(713) 823-0350

Announcements - Downtown Super Neighborhood Council (DSNC)

I'm pleased to announce the Luther Villagomez, General Manager - George R.
Brown, is joining the DSNC as a stakeholder.

I'm in communication with Dr. Flores, President - University of Houston /
Downtown, to have a member of his staff join the DSNC as a stakeholder.

Katherine McElroy, Officer - Houston Police Department, is our Positive
Interaction Program (PIP) representative.

The DSNC subcommittee met this week to draft the by-laws and organizational framework. This information will be shared at the general meeting on February 10, 2011.

I will keep you up to date, and please contact me in the interim with questions.

Meeting Minutes - January 2011

Super Neighborhood Council 61 (SNC 61)
Meeting Minutes
January 13, 2011
6:30 – 8:30pm

Location
Tellepsen Family Downtown YMCA
808 Pease, Houston, Texas 77002
(713) 659-8501

Proceedings

Downtown Resident and SNC 61 Organizer, James Dinkins
 Meeting called to order at 6:40pm
 Overview of revised agenda

At-Large Council Member, Sue Lovell
Representative: Ken Olive
 Self introduction
 Importance of a Super Neighborhood Council
 High-level overview of At-Large Council Member services to SNC 61

District I Council Member, James Rodriguez
 Self introduction
 High-level overview of Council Member services to SNC 61
 Extended invitation to the District I Capitol Improvement Plan (CIP) meeting. This session is open to the public. James Dinkins: The meeting information is posted to the SNC 61 blog.
 Question and answer session

City of Houston – Planning Department
Planning Leader, Donald Perkins
 Super Neighborhood Council high-level overview
 Rebuild Houston (Proposition 1) meeting announcement. James Dinkins: The meeting information is posted to the SNC 61 blog.
 City of Houston Redistricting – City maps that define districts are being erased and redrawn with the help of all City Council members and an external consulting firm. The projected completion date is June 30, 2011. Redistricting will lend itself to 2 additional City Council seats; the number of At-Large City Council seats will remain at 5.
 High-level overview of the City of Houston’s CitizensNet; e-mail alert relative to important city issues of interest to the neighborhood.
 Stakeholder participation and outreach. Stakeholders include groups like civic clubs, non-profit associations, community development corporations, business associations, the faith community, school districts, institutions, etc. Action Item: In progress.
 Create an organizational framework. There are different types of organizational frameworks. We have the option of adopting "Articles of Incorporation" with the approval of all participating entities. In a more structured approach, stakeholders may agree to form a tax-exempt 501(c) (3) non-profit corporation or similar entity. Action Item: A subcommittee was formed to draft the organizational framework and by-laws. The draft will be presented for approval at the general meeting in February 2011.
 Adopt by-laws. After agreeing on an organizational framework, stakeholders will formulate and adopt by-laws. By-laws address fundamental issues on conducting business and making decisions. Action Item: A subcommittee was formed to draft the organizational framework and by-laws. The draft will be presented for approval at the general meeting in February 2011.

Next Meeting Date: February 10, 2011, from 6:30 – 8:30pm, and the downtown YMCA.


Meeting adjourned at 7:45pm

Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)

The City of Houston will conduct combined public meetings on the City’s FY2011 Annual Operating Budget Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and the 2011 Annual Consolidated Plan. Since 1984, the City has held public meetings to obtain input before preparation of the operating budget and capital improvement plan. These meetings provide citizens the opportunity to participate in the budget process by contributing comments and suggestions about needed services and improvements.

District I – Council Member James Rodriguez
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
E.B. Cape Center – 4501 Leland St.
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

CIP Citizen Request Forms are now available online at www.houstontx.gov by clicking the 311 icon, or you may simply call 311 and make a CIP request. For more information and specific details of the CIP projects in your area, please visit: http://www.houstontx.gov/cip/index.html.

The City of Houston will provide reasonable accommodations to citizens with disabilities/special needs upon request one week in advance of the meeting. Citizens are encouraged to call the Mayor’s Citizens Assistance Office at 832-393-0955 for arrangements.

Positive Interaction Program (PIP) / Houston Police Department

Meeting Minutes - Unofficial
January 11, 2011
1602 State Street, Houston, Texas 77007

Proceedings
 Meeting called to order at 7:00pm by PIP Chair, Joan Buscher
 January 2011 PIP meeting dedicated to Robert Curl and Joe Maruska
o BBQ fundraiser for Curl family
 84% growth in PIP participation in last 4 years
 New attendee introductions

Prayer: Larry Rose

Chief of Police Report
Charles McClelland
 The Houston Police Department has been affected by the downturn in the economy and 2011 will be another challenging. HPD leadership will work diligently to keep the City of Houston safe, while managing the budget.
 The Houston Police Department received the 2010 Community Policing Award from the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).
 Red light enforcement is in affect.
 Drunk driving is a serious problem for Houston, Texas. There will be more No Refusals.

Houston Police Foundation (HPF)
Assistant Chief of Police, Vicky King
 The private sector has a real stake in the success of the Houston Police Department and the safety of our City. The Houston Police Foundation serves a vital role - connecting private investment dollars with effective public safety solutions. The Foundation is engaged in an effort to leverage private resources to fund high priority law enforcement needs.
 96% of the HPD budget accounts for personnel expenses.
 HPF Chairman of the Board, Tilman J. Fertita.
 $25,000 to sit on the HPF Board
 Annual Fundraisers:
o Moonlight Bike Ride
o Gala (Home of Tilman J. Fertita)
 1/3 of the contributions to the HPF come from citizens donations for officer appreciation, and another 1/3 comes from grassroots efforts (e.g., Super Neighborhood Council sponsors a membership drive)
 2011 Project Requests:
o $45,000 – Level III A Ballistic Vests
o $30,500 – Tactical Vest Covers
o $5,300 – Robbery Technology Enhancements
o $10,000 – Mounted Patrol: Crown Control Helmets
o $5,000 – Marine Unit: Underwater Metal Detectors
o $6,000 – Marine Unit: Scuba Mask Communicators
o $10,000 – Narcotics: Noise Diversions
o $2,000 – SWAT Team: Training Exercise Simunitions
Grand Total: $113,800
 Volunteers needed for the gift shop located at: 1200 Travis, Houston, Texas 77002
 HPF Website: houstonpolicefoundation.com

• Meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.

Proposition 1 – Rebuild Houston

Mayor Parker met with the Super Neighborhood Alliance on Monday, January 10, 2011, to discuss Rebuild Houston, redistricting, and budgets/capitol improvement projects.

In November 2010, supporters passed Proposition 1; a fee to help pay for improvements to the city's drainage system. Proposition 1 now becomes, “Rebuild Houston.”

Please feel free to attend the public Rebuild Houston meeting on February 9, 2011, from 6:00 - 8:00pm, at:

Southwest Multi-Service Center
6400 High Star
Houston, Texas, 77074
(713) 778-6500

The meeting will be led by Council Member, Stephen Costello, Chair of the Flooding and Drainage Council Committee.

Information about Rebuild Houston is posted to the City of Houston website: houstontx.gov > City Headlines > Rebuild Houston Implementation Discussion Guide

Houston Police Department - Positive Interaction Program

The Houston Police Department has had a Community Service Division since the Seventies. When a group of citizens requested a presentation on a crime prevention topic, they would send one of their officers to the group and advise them what they could do to keep from becoming crime victims again. This is proactive policing. In 1982, out of the patrol division came the idea that citizens also need to know more about their police department before a crime occurred in their neighborhood. From this idea came the concept of the Positive Interaction Program, "PIP."

A police agency can be very confusing to most citizens. The Positive Interaction Program holds monthly PIP meetings featuring speakers from different divisions (Burglary and Theft, Homicide, K-9, Helicopters, etc.) explaining how their division operates. This is done so citizens will know what to expect, should they ever need the police. The department was not sure how citizens would react to coming to a police station once a month for a presentation on a different division. So, the Positive Interaction Program was started as a pilot project in only one police station to begin with. The Program has proven to be an overwhelming success.

For more information, please visit the City of Houston website:

Houstontx.gov > Departments > Police > Service > Positive Interaction Program

Super Neighborhood Council 61 (Downtown) - Formation Meeting

Thanks for your continued interest in Super Neighborhood Council 61 - Downtown.

The formation meeting is Thursday, January 13, 2011, from 6:30 - 8:30pm, at the downtown YMCA / Chevron Teen Room. The YMCA will discount our parking at $3 (I will give you a discounted ticket upon conclusion of the meeting), or you can park on the street; I understand parking is free after 6:00pm.

Agenda:
-Open Remarks & Introductions - James Dinkins / 5 Minutes
-Council Member, James Rodriguez / 10 Minutes
-At-Large Council Member, Sue Lovell - Tentative / 10 Minutes
-HISD Trustee 8 - Juliet Stipeche / 5 Minutes
-City of Houston Planning Department - Donald Perkins / 1 Hour, 15 Minutes
-Closing Remarks & Vote for Next Meeting - James Dinkins / 15 Minutes

Tellepsen Family Downtown YMCA
808 Pease
Houston, Texas 77002
(713) 659-8501

Please RSVP to me by Friday, January 7, 2011: dinkins.james@sbcglobal.net.