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Local POTS FOR PLOTS Events Seek to Reduce Landfill and Waterway Waste

Do you have a pile of old plastic plant pots and carrying trays wasting away in your backyard? Give them a second life and cut landfill and waterway waste at the Bayou Preservation Association POTS TO PLOTS events with local plant nurseries Joshua’s Native Plants and Wabash Feed & Garden.

A staggering 500 million plastic plant pots ended up in landfills in 2022, according to Bayou Preservation. But these single-use plastic plant pots — identified as source of waste in landfills and bayous — can find new uses.

Only 1% of the plastic plant pots produced annual are recycled, according to Bayou Preservation. High Density Polyethylene plant pots are typically made from plastic resin and carbon inks, making them non-recyclable.

Plastic pot collection events are slated for Saturday, April 15, 2023 at Joshua’s and Sunday, May 21, 2023 at Wabash.

At the event, Info Talks will provide opportunities to learn about Bayou Preservation’s mission, and how the community, by returning old plastic plant pots, can help local bayous and conservation efforts.

POTS CONDITIONS:

  • Bring your whole plastic plant pots for collection. No cracked or broken pots.

  • Try to remove as much soil as possible. Please stack pots beforehand.

  • Carrying trays, seedlings, and sheet pots accepted.

For more information, visit here.

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Proposed City Redistricting Plan & Public Hearings

Houston City Council will hold three public hearings in the City Council Chamber, City Hall, 2nd Floor, 901 Bagby, to receive comments, suggestions, and alternate plans from the public regarding the Proposed City Council Redistricting Plan, in accordance with the City Charter, Article V, Sec. 3:

Hearings will be held:

Wednesday, July 13, 2022 at 9:00 a.m.

Wednesday, July 13, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, July 20, 2022 at 9:00 a.m.

All persons desiring to be heard at any of the public hearings must reserve a specific amount of time (up to 3 minutes) by contacting the City Secretary’s Office at 832-393-1100. Details for signing up to speak in-person or virtually are posted at https://www.houstontx.gov/council/meetingsinfo.html. Reservations for each hearing will be received up to 3 p.m. the day before each hearing is scheduled to begin.

By the close of business July 7, 2022, the Proposed Redistricting Plan will be available to the public on the City’s website at www.letstalkhouston.org/redistricting.

Read translations of the Public Hearing notice in Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese. 

Learn more by watching this Redistricting video. 

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5th Annual Career Opportunity Fair - July 13, 2022

From City of Houston Housing and Community Development …

The City of Houston Housing and Community Development department is hosting an in-person hiring fair designed to connect Houstonians with employers, second chance job opportunities, and free resources. 

Participants will have the opportunity to interview with hiring managers on-site, receive tips from career experts, and engage in job readiness workshops. 

Join us and get connected on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, from 9 am-3 pm.  

Masks are strongly recommended.  

Register here.

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Free Will Preparation for Low-Income Residents March 17, 2022

Need a will?

Volunteers from Lone Star Legal Aid, the third largest service provider of free legal aid in the United States, and TSU’s Earl Carl Institute will be preparing simple will free of charge for low-income residents from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Thursday, March 17, 2022.

Interested persons must complete an Assessment via Phone or Online. To apply,:

Appointments first come, first served.

Free Will Prep

9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Thursday, March 17, 2022

601 Sawyer Ste. 110 Houston, Tx 77007

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Free Tax Protest Seminar for Homeowners and Business Owners Feb. 16

Kathryn and Sybren van der Pol, owners of Liberty Hoepfl Garage on North Shepherd Drive, are holding a free community seminar “Protest Your Taxes” from 6:30pm - 7:30pm Wednesday, February 16, 2022, at the White Oak Conference Center Community Room.

"Michael Berlanga is going to lead a fact-based educational seminar for homeowners and business owners on how to protest your taxes,” explains Kathryn van der Pol, who also founded the North Shepherd Community Alliance. “He will cover the do's and don'ts of the informal hearing, the formal hearing, and even arbitration and beyond.

“He is going to show you how to do this yourself and why it's usually more successful when you do."

Berlanga is a CPA and commercial real estate broker from San Antonio.

The seminar is free, but registration is required. RSVP by clicking here.

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Community Listening Session for 50/50 Park Partners & Forest West Park - Jan. 26

Join Mayor Sylvester Turner’s 50/50 Park Partners Initiative for a listening session on potential future improvements for Forest Park West in Super Neighborhood 12 at 6 p.m. Wednesday, January 26, 2022.

The community is invited to learn more about the Mayor’s 50/50 Park Partners Initiative, while offering suggestions on the future of this Near Northwest Houston park.

The 50/50 Park Partners challenged 50 companies to join a citywide coalition driving improvements to neighborhood parks. Public and private investment in the development and improvement of Houston parks, greenways and public spaces has provided transformative changes to many Houston parks.

Community members can share their visions for revitalizing Forest Park West during this Zoom meeting.

Houston Parks Board members will be on hand to answer questions and facilitate discussion.

  • Forest West Park 50/50 Community Listening Session

  • 6 p.m. Wednesday, January 26, 2022

  • REGISTER TO ATTEND via Zoom by clicking HERE.

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FIsher Street Affordable Apartments Informational Meeting 3-4-21

Join your neighbors for an informational webinar on a proposed Affordable Apartment Development in Super Neighborhood 12 from 6-7:30pm Thursday, March 4, 2021, co-hosted by SN 12 and the Garden Oaks Civic Club.

Fisher Street Affordable Apartments Info Session Agenda

This Zoom session is designed to provide details on the proposed 60-unit residential development, as well as information on local affordable housing efforts. Your civic club may find this informational session useful as other affordable housing proposals arise in our area.

Panelists will also review the process affordable housing developers follow to garner a 9% housing tax credit from the State of Texas that makes these developments possible. In addition, the City of Houston Housing and Community Development will participate. City Council last week voiced approval for a package of affordable housing developments that included 909 Fisher Street. The State has final approval on all tax abatement proposals.

Featured Panelists:

  • SBP, the nonprofit developer for 909 Fisher Street

  • Texas State Rep. Penny Shaw Morales

  • Information about the 9% tax abatement program run by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA)

  • Julie Retta, Chief of Staff for Council Member Abbie Kamin, District C

  • Ray Miller, Assistant Director Multifamily & Public Facilities, City of Houston

  • Overview of affordable housing in the Houston region from the Kinder Institute

The 60-unit development slated for 909 Fisher Street off Alba Road is being proposed by the SBP, a non-for-profit organization that specializes in providing affordable housing and economic resiliency solutions in Houston and New Orleans, their homebase.

From SBP:

The Fisher Street Apartments will be a mixed-income building with 60 units, 45 one-bedrooms and 15 two-bedrooms, of which half the units set aside for veterans. There will be a mix of market-rate and affordable apartment units and the building will include a community center, leasing office, ample gated off-street parking and a stormwater management system. We plan to make the community center available to neighborhood residents to rent for events, and we plan to invite neighborhood residents to workshops and trainings we will hold, including on disaster preparedness and energy efficiency in the home.

Questions can be submitted via the Zoom Q+A function during this moderated session. If time runs out, we hope to compile unanswered questions for responses later by panelists.

We will also attempt to "simulcast" this webinar as a Facebook Live event. Zoom and Facebook links are below.

This should be an informative session, and we hope you and your neighbors can join us.

FACEBOOK LIVE (note questions/comments posted via Facebook will not be addressed) https://fb.me/e/cHLZJK1lz

ZOOM INVITATION
You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
When: Mar 4, 2021 06:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Topic: 909 Fisher St. Apartments Information Session

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82250086458?pwd=ZEExdUNVYzFnUDJDSnEzVDNPSi80Zz09

Passcode: 141021

Or iPhone one-tap :
US: +13462487799,,82250086458#,,,,*141021# or +12532158782,,82250086458#,,,,*141021#
Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 346 248 7799 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 929 205 6099

Webinar ID: 822 5008 6458
Passcode: 141021

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Heavy Trash Code Enforcement Moratorium in Effect Through March 12, 2021

HOUSTON ANNOUNCES MORATORIUM
ON HEAVY TRASH CODE ENFORCEMENT

IN AFTERMATH OF WINTER STORM

Heavy trash code enforcement suspended February 23 to March 12, 2021
No citations will be issued during this time

HOUSTON - Due to widespread damage to many homes during last week’s winter storm, the Department of Neighborhoods (DON) Inspections and Public Service (IPS) division will suspend heavy trash code enforcement, effective immediately through Friday, March 12, 2021 to allow residents adequate time to clear debris from their properties. The department will resume heavy trash code enforcement on March 15, 2021.
 
For information about heavy trash codes and guidelines, visit www.houstonsolidwaste.org
 
For questions about notices and citations issued by DON, call the IPS Call Center at 832-394-0600.

Contacts:
Evangelina Vigil
Departments of Neighborhoods
Office: 832.393.0832
Mobile: 281.904.3015

Tyra Wilkins
Solid Waste Management Department
Office: 832.393.0448
Mobile: 713.542.0160

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Want Free WiFi in Houston Parks? Take the Brief Survey by Dec. 23

Content Repurposed from a City of Houston announcement …

Free WiFi in Houston City Parks? Take our brief survey. 

The City of Houston Mayor's Office, Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD), Houston Information and Technology Services (HITS), other city departments and organizations are working together to improve #DigitalConnectivity inside city parks as part of #Houston's Resilience Plan and 50/50 Parks Partners Initiative.

Let us hear your thoughts on whether #FreeWiFi should be provided in some city parks. Take the survey at http://bit.ly/houstonwifi by December23rd.

Background and Purpose:

The City of Houston continues to strive to be a leader in technology and solutions to meet the needs of its citizens and strengthen its national reputation as a green space leader. In response to the Covid pandemic and continued natural disaster emergencies, there is more need than ever for a Digital Connectivity Master Plan for Houston's parks to provide reliable, consistent digital connectivity services, such as free WiFi.  This effort also supports the City of Houston's Resilience Plan, 50/50 Parks Partners Initiative, and complements Comcast’s initiative to equip nine City of Houston Community Centers with WiFi-connected “Lift Zones” before the end of 2020.

The City's Mayor's Office, Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD), Houston Information and Technology Services (HITS), and other city departments and organizations are working together and they want to hear from the Citizens of Houston.  This survey provides a way to find out more about how the new service will be used as well as an opportunity to gather general feedback from Houston park visitors.  The information received will feed into the overall plan.  

The deadline to take the survey is December 23rd.  bit.ly/houstonwifi

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Reconstruction Begins on White Oak Bayou Greenway Trail in T.C. Jester Park

Houston Parks Board is replacing 1.1 miles of existing trail on the White Oak Bayou Greenway in T.C. Jester Park with new asphalt to repair cracks.

Work is expected to take one to two weeks, weather cooperating, according to  Lisa Kasianowitz, outreach manager for Houston Parks Board.

Trail users will be guided to an alternate route on the existing crushed granite trail in T.C. Jester Park. Users can plan their route by visiting an interactive map here.

Eventually, Houston Parks Board plans to replace this portion of the greenway trail with a new 10-foot wide concrete path designed to accommodate a variety of users, though an estimated timeframe is unknown at this time.

For more about Houston Parks Board, visit here.

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Take the Survey: How Should Houston Responsibly Develop to Help Your Home & Community

Shared from the City of Houston, CitizenNet email Nov. 5, 2020…

Make your community what you want it to be. Share the survey with your neighbors, family, and friends.

Why share the survey? 

We all deserve a comfortable place to live. 

This is your opportunity to tell Harris County and the City of Houston on how to responsibly develop improvements for economic, environmental, and social balance in the most valuable space of all, your home and community. 

Harris County received $10 billion to implement the results of the survey, and your responses show your local government how to spend those funds on real estate in your neighborhood like determining where homes need to be built or repaired, types of dwelling options that are needed, and maintaining affordable costs for hardworking Houstonians. 

This is your opportunity to tell Harris County and the City of Houston on how to responsibly develop improvements for economic, environmental, and social balance in the most valuable space of all, your home and community. 

Make your community what you want it to be. Share the survey with your neighbors, family, and friends. 

About the Study 

Home is more than a word. It’s where your life happens. The Harris County Housing Survey is commissioned by Harris County and the City of Houston. The survey, conducted by The Kinder Institute for Urban Research, will provide a picture of real estate needs in the Houston area. 

Why is the survey important? 

Severe weather and a growing population present new social needs for the five million residents who call Harris County home. 

The results of the Harris County Housing Survey will inform decisions that impact safe and affordable homes and apartments in your community.

We are asking all area residents ages 18+ to please take the survey at MyHomeIsHere.org.

Community organizations can also schedule a My Home Is Here field researcher to join your organization’s next virtual meeting to engage, inform and activate your community in just 20 minutes. Contact Tiffany Nelson at 713.966.6937, ext. 902 or email pm@thefordmomentum.com

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