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Memorial Super Neighborhood 16 Council Minutes
September 24, 2012
I. Call to Order/ Establish Quorum
The regular meeting of the Memorial Super Neighborhood (MSN) 16 was
called to order at 6:35 p.m. on September 24, 2012 at Memorial Drive
United Methodist Church – Scout Lodge by MSN16 Council President,
Greg Sergesketter. Ben Crocker, Communications Secretary, confirmed
that a quorum was present.
In Attendance:
President Greg Sergesketter
Vice President Randy Jones
Communications Secretary Ben Crocker
Treasurer Susan Thompson
Not in Attendance
Recording Secretary Suzie Edrington
II. Forwarding MSN 16 E-Mails Procedure – Ben Crocker
Ben Crocker explained that issues have arisen whereby persons that are
receiving our e-mails are being unsubscribed and the e-mails are being
reported as spam due to how the e-mail is forwarded by those persons.
Some recipients forward MSN 16 e-mails on to others by just hitting the
forward button in their e-mail program. Sometimes when then occurs,
persons who receive the forwarded e-mail see the unsubscribe link at the
bottom and hit it. That results in the original recipient being kicked off our
e-mail list, though they do not want to be. To avoid this occurring, MSN 16
has always had a link at the bottom of each e-mail that is to be used to
forward it. If that link is used, then the recipient who receives the
forwarded e-mail will not be able to unsubscribe the original recipient.
III. HPD Update and Quarterly Law Enforcement Award – Captain
Michael Skillern
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HPD Captain Michael Skillern reported that the crime situation in our area
has been pretty good, except for robberies which are up, largely due to
one person (in custody today) targeting fast food restaurants.
He introduced the recipient of our quarterly Law Enforcement Award,
Officer David Helms of the Beechnut station. Officer Helms was working
in our area at Memorial Ashford Townhomes when a burglary was
observed; he followed three burglars, was shot at during the pursuit but
was able to work with the constables to get the burglars captured and
charged with evading arrest and aggravated assault of a police officer.
They were also wanted on previous charges.
IV. Houston City Council Update – District G – Communications
Director, Mark Kirschke
Mark Kirschke provided an update on happenings in District G and at the City:
• Meetings continue on the Memorial Drive reconstruction project
concerning street lights, esplanades and responsibility for paying
for irrigation. Ingress and egress to/from businesses will be
discussed at future meetings.
• Rehabilitation Project of Dairy Ashford Road (Westheimer to
Buffalo Bayou): meetings continue re Dairy Ashford panel
replacement; construction is to begin October 2 on the south end.
• North Eldridge Parkway Paving and Drainage (Memorial Drive to I- 10): more concrete was poured on Eldridge, and work is
scheduled to end towards the end of November.
• Houston Public Works is accessible through Facebook, where
citizens can comment on streets and sidewalks issues.
• A meeting will be held October 23 at 6:30 at Memorial Villa
Townhouses, 901 Memorial Villa Drive, about a building going up
at Gaylord and Bunker Hill.
• The annual review of the Infrastructure Design Manual (IDM)
covers chapters 9 and 13 for the current year. For questions or to
comment, contact Rajiv Arya at 832-394-9131.
• City of Houston’s five November ballot initiatives constitute a bond
package for 1) public safety, 2) parks, 3) health & human services,
4) libraries and 5) affordable housing. The only amounts
specifically proposed for District G in the $410 million bond
package are $187,000 for a new fire station roof and $93,000 for
Jungman and Looscan libraries. Specifics can be found at
www.houstontx.gov/2012bondreferendum.html. CM Pennington
voted against the bond package.
• The Metro proposition on the November ballot was briefly
described: “Yes” means continuing the General Mobility Plan and
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sharing of Metro’s revenue from its sales tax with the cities and the
county in Metro’s service area and, as such, will mean practically
speaking that no additional rail lines will be able to be built for the
foreseeable future. “No” means that Metro will keep all of the
revenue from its sales tax and allocate it as needed for transit.
V. Treasurers Report – Susan Thompson
Susan Thompson reported $1463.75 in the bank account.
VI. President’s Remarks – Greg Sergesketter
The minutes of the August 27, 2012, MSN16 Council Meeting was
unanimously approved.
• The 29th Annual National Night Out will be held October 2nd 2012, 6
p.m. - 9 p.m. If a neighborhood notifies Constables or HPD, they’ll
send representatives to your block parties.
• Demolition of Wisteria Gardens Apartments at Memorial and Dairy
Ashford should commence in March 2013, with 333 units planned.
Developer is Simmons Vedder.
• Simmons Vedder has Princeton Club under contract and will build a
similar, though much larger apartment project featuring flats and
townhome units on its 13 acres.
• Alliance Residential has purchased 5.5 acres at Memorial
and Eldridge Parkway that formerly held a pair of multi-story office
buildings. Those have been torn down, and the developer will start
on a 315-unit, four-story “brownstone” apartment project that will
wrap around a seven-story parking garage –“Texas doughnut.”
• Grayco litigation has been settled with Skanska and will probably
result in around 350 units built on the back half of the property
located at 15375 Memorial.
• Jeff Weatherford, the Deputy Director for the City of Houston’s
Traffic Operations Division (TOD), will be our speaker next month.
The TOD is responsible for overseeing the transportation
infrastructure that spans Houston's 640 square miles and 6,000
center lane miles of streets. Responsibility includes the installation,
operation and maintenance of 1,100,000 traffic signs, 2,450
signalized intersections, 1,600 school zone flashers, 180,000
streetlights and 1,800 freeway lights.
• Public hearings on City bonds: September 26, 2012, 6 pm and
October 3, 2012, 6 pm in City Council Chambers, 901 Bagby,
2
ndfloor.
• A letter to Mayor Parker supporting the Memorial Drive Project is
being prepared and will be put on our website.
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• The members agreed to move the December meeting to December
17th (third Monday). The November meeting will stay as scheduled
on November 26th
.
VII. Committee Reports
By-Laws – Susan Thompson
• Susan Thompson introduced delegate Keith Little of new member
Memorial Glen. Motion was made and seconded that member be
accepted. Motion passed.
Memorial Drive Task Force – Randy Jones
• Randy Jones reported on discussions with Center Point and City
of Houston regarding street lights and payment issues if non- standard poles are wanted. MSN 16 can’t act directly to collect or
disburse money. Rob Benz said there will be an Access
Management study in the next three or four months. There will be
meetings with all businesses and neighborhoods regarding access
issues. Bays and median cuts will be established; then City
of Houston will want commitment from the HOA’s to put in meters
and agree on a plan to maintain an esplanade. City will pay for
water, but HOA will handle plantings and maintenance. City will
notify HOA’s through individual letters.
Beautification – Jackie Halliburton
• Jackie Halliburton talked about landscaping: each HOA will hire a
landscape architect, and then services will be gifted back to the city
with respect to the Memorial Drive project. They’ll coordinate with
the other HOA’s. If no input is received, City of Houston will plant a
tree every 30 feet. Businesses need to be organized, possibly
through Public Improvement District or Management District.
Infrastructure – Rob Benz
• Rob Benz said HOA’s need to start writing up SNAP’s, such as
street improvements or park improvements. They are due in
January. MSN16 will vote in December. Last year’s SNAP’s are on
our website for reference. If it’s a 311 request, it’s probably taken
care of. Rob will send a link to City of Houston to Ben, who will
forward the information.
Drainage –
• There was discussion as to submitting comments on Chapters 9 &
13 of the City’s Infrastructure Drainage Manual, which are due by
September 29th. (Bill Hopkins was not present during this
discussion as he had to leave the meeting before it started and
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didn’t return until approximately 7:45 pm). Due to the proposed
comments only being distributed at the beginning of the meeting, it
was determined that was insufficient time for the members to make
a well-informed decision. If comments are submitted individually or
via an HOA, the drainage committee is welcome to bring those
comments to the membership with their analysis in a timely manner
so that the membership can determine whether to support those
comments.
VIII. Save Lake Thicket Coalition – Phil Richardson
• Phil Richardson gave a status update on Lake Thicket located at
15375 Memorial. He had previously made a presentation in May
about the proposed project and wanted to update MSN16 with
additional information including potential flooding because of the
loss of detention capability, which is calculated at being able to hold
10 million gallons of water in a rain event such as April 2009. He
also discussed the potential for increased congestion on Memorial
Drive with 600,000 square feet of office space and 350-400
residential rental units proposed to be constructed on the property.
He requested letters from other HOA’s, directed to Skanska, US
Corps of Engineers, Harris County Flood Control District, the City of
Houston and elected officials. He is also willing to provide a
presentation to any HOA or other civic group about this project and
its potential impact. Further information can be found at
www.savelakethicket.org .
IX. Speaker Louis Aulbach, author of Buffalo Bayou: An Echo of
Houston’s Wilderness Beginnings
• Mr. Aulbach is the author of five best-selling guides to the rivers of
West Texas, including three guides to the Rio Grande, a guide to
the Pecos River, and a guide to the Devil’s River. A native
Houstonian, he is a graduate of St. Thomas High School, Rice
University, and the University of Chicago. He retired in 2008 after
over 17 years as the Records Management Officer for the City of
Houston. He served on the 2009-2010 Harris County Historical
Commission. In addition to his research and writing, Louis Aulbach
continues to work with Buffalo Bayou Partnership, leading their
history boat tours.
• Mr. Aulbach’s notes on the history of our Memorial neighborhoods
are now on our website www.memorialsn.org.
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