Rice Military Civic Club

Minutes of General Meeting

October 11, 2011

DePelchin Children’s Center

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by President Cindy McCauley.

Guest Speaker: Jeff Weatherford, Deputy Director, Public Works & Engineering, City of Houston

Mr. Weatherford explained that some parts of Houston have narrow streets dating back to 1892.  Ordinance 45-117 allows the City to restrict parking on city streets.  Their policy on enforcement is to only respond to complaints from citizens on a block by block basis or to restrictions involving fire or garbage trucks.  A call earlier this year was elevated to the mayor’s office and will result in a neighborhood wide parking evaluation.  Currently 21% of blocks in the neighborhood have some type of parking restriction.  In order to comply with city standards, it could be that 45-58% of the blocks will have some type of parking restriction as a result.

Prop 1 Renew Houston from the last election potentially could help us.  Some of the money from the drainage fee will be allocated to street and drainage improvement on local streets.  Being located inside the loop with documented poor pavement condition and narrow streets will be in our favor.

Several parking programs are being evaluated for the Washington Corridor – 1) a Parking Management District and 2) a Parking Benefit District.  Nothing has been decided yet.  An Ordinance change would be required for either program.

Answers to Questions:

1. Permit Parking requests are currently on hold until the neighborhood study is complete.

2. Neighborhood traffic management programs are available but they make it inconvenient for everyone.

3. Call 311 for site problems – parking, plantings in ditches, etc.

4. Centerpoint is responsible for power delivery in the City and is regulated by the PUC.

5.  Call 311 to report water pressure problems.  Leave a name and phone number and get a service request number to track.  It sounds like something was installed improperly.

6. Service Requests can also be entered online (this is his preferred method).  Go to www.houstontx.gov.  Click on “Request City Services” at the bottom of the page.

7. A question came up on the Park Memorial Condominiums.  Paul Hesson responded that he has been in touch the new Department of Neighborhoods.

A meeting to specifically discuss the Parking Study will be scheduled likely before Thanksgiving.

Minutes of Past Meeting:  A motion was made, seconded, and passed to approve the minutes from the July meeting as posted.

President’s Report:  President McCauley made the following comments:

Treasurer’s Report:  Marilyn Myers noted that year to date expenditures were $10,672 with income of $8,566.  $3,850 was donated in conjunction with National Night Out.

An update to the By laws, first presented at the July meeting was presented.  A motion was made to approve, seconded, and passed.

Slate of Candidates for the 2012 Board as nominated by the current and two past presidents were presented:

            President – Amaris Wendelburg

            Vice President – Wendy Wilkinson

            Treasurer – Marilyn Myers

            Secretary – Paul Hesson

No candidates were nominated from the floor.  A motion was made to approve the nominated slate of candidates, seconded, and passed.

Committee Reports:

Social Chair Mary Quartaro advised that the social committee has been very busy.  NNO was a great success with over 300 of our neighbors participating.

            10/16 – Happy Hour at Maggie Ritas

            10/29 – Halloween Event at Nellie Keys Park 4-6 PM.

            10/26 – Book Club

            11/16 – Happy Hour at Coppa.

            12/6 – Holiday Party at DePelchin

Additional Calendar Items: 

1. PIP at 1602 State Street on 11/1.

Brian Cwern who is running for City Council in our district introduced himself.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:30.