Community Newsletter
Soccer Nets installed by staff of Council Member Fred Flickinger City of Houston – District E
“Mark and our summer intern, Tom Saunders, installed them just before the July 4th holiday. We’re just doing what we can to make sure Oak Meadows Park as a whole is complete and as it should be. We are more than happy to do whatever it takes to make that happen.”
Best regards,
Dustin Hodges
Chief of Staff
Office of Council Member Fred Flickinger
City of Houston – District E
832.393.3008
Updates from surrounding Plants/Refineries
TCP Group
one reportable event due to a condensate burn
4 permit renewals planned or submitted in 2024 consist of
(3 air permits, 1 water permit) no requested increase in Production
EPA Consent Decree open for public comments until July 1st
Open Positions at Plant
Operator Technician Trainee, Clerk, Shift Operations, Electrical Technician https://www.tcpgrp.com/careers
Community Involvement Teacher Appreciation Week at Rucker Elementary Four Chavez High School Seniors received Mark of Excellence Scholarship
INVISTA
No Safety or Environmental Incidents
Community Involvement
10 local Seniors received Outstanding Student Scholarship awards
East End Chamber luncheon with Mayor Whitmire
Support Women’s Leadership at San Jacinto College
Support Children’s Museum-passes for summer
Job Openings at https://jobs.kochcareers.com
GOODYEAR
1 Osha injury = bicycle accident
No environmental releases
Community
Employees Volunteered at Houston Food Bank JOB Openings = www.goodyear.com/careers
VALERO
Hosted Summer Bash for Manchester
Hosting a book drive and donation for Manchester students = summer project
Awarded scholarships via East End Chamber and Constable Trevino’s office Awarded bikes to all 5th graders at DeZavala and Southmayd Elementary
1 year with no contractor injuries & received AFPM Safety Award
JOB = New basic operator training began on 6/10
valero.com/careers
Explorers Program – Join Today!
The Explorers Program focuses on educational training for youth on the purposes, mission and objectives of law enforcement. Youth between the ages of 14 and 21 are able to participate. Participants will experience career orientation, leadership, and community service opportunities that challenge them to become good citizens of our city and country.
Fred Flickinger Monthly Newsletter
Dear District E Residents, I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as the new Houston City Council Member for District E and represent every community across the district. As I begin my term, I would like to share a few areas of focus that I believe are of utmost importance to our community’s well-being and growth. First and foremost, public safety is a top priority for me. It is crucial that we all feel secure and protected in our homes and neighborhoods. I am committed to working closely with our Houston Police Department Divisions to ensure they have the resources and support they need to keep our community safe. I plan to utilize my Council District Service Funds to supplement the District E HPD Divisions’ efforts to keep us safe. Together, we can foster strong relationships with law enforcement and implement proactive strategies to prevent crime and create a sense of security. Additionally, as many of you are aware, our community has experienced its fair share of challenges when it comes to flooding. Addressing flood mitigation is a critical task that requires immediate attention. I will continue the strong work put forth by Council Member Dave Martin and work diligently with Houston Public Works, Harris County Flood Control District, and Harris County among other experts to implement comprehensive measures that effectively manage and mitigate flooding risks. We must invest in infrastructure and projects that will safeguard our homes and businesses from future flood events. This includes the Lake Houston Spillway Dam Improvement Project, dredging Lake Houston, and continued funding for local drainage projects. Lastly, infrastructure improvements are vital for the growth and prosperity of any community. Our roads, bridges, water systems, and utilities play a crucial role in enhancing our quality of life. I am committed to collaborating with my fellow council members and seeking innovative solutions to improve our community’s infrastructure. By focusing on targeted investments and strategic planning, we can ensure our transportation systems are efficient, our utilities are reliable, and our community remains accessible to all. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to our community’s continued success, and I am committed to representing your interests and concerns. As your council member, I encourage you to reach out to me with any questions, ideas, or suggestions you may have. Together, we can make a significant and lasting impact on the issues that matter most to us. Thank you for placing your trust in me, and I am excited to work with each and every one of you to create a safer, more resilient, and better-connected community. Sincerely, |
Council Member Fred Flickinger
900 Bagby, First Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Email: districte@houstontx.gov
Phone: (832) 393-3008
Dustin Hodges
Chief of Staff
Demari Perez
North Sector Manager
Yasmine Perez
South Sector Manager
REMINDER – OMCC Meeting
Meeting Details: Date: Tuesday, Feb 20th Time: 6:30 – 730 pm
Location: 9045 Howard Dr – Iglesia Church Parking in rear of church
GUEST Speakers:
Councilmember Flickinger & Chief of Staff – Dustin Hodges will be attending.
Topics of discussion:
1) Handicap Entries to OM Park -they are waiting on Public works who already has all the permits to do the work – but they are still in the design of entryway.
2) Tables at OM Park – still in discussion with Parks Dept & legal over replacement issues
3) Lights at OM Park – Don’t know if they have been repaired/replaced with LED fixtures to work dust to dawn and whether the lights have been turned to light up park instead of outside area
4) Replacement of the two BBQ pits that were stolen from OM Park – Parks dept advised that they would come after renovation was completed.
5) No Left Turn Sign – discussion still ongoing on removal of NO Left Turn signs and possible traffic light on Allen Genoa
HPD – Officer Angel Silva & Constable Jerry Garcia Discussing – Crime in Area
Please mark your calendar so you can attend. Look forward to seeing you.
Respectively,
Rita Snow
MARK YOUR CALENDAR – HERE IS THE DATE
OAK MEADOWS CIVIC CLUB MEETING – TUESDAY FEB. 20TH
9045 Howard – IGLESIA CHURCH – Parking in fenced lot behind church
BEGIN TIME – 630PM
GUESTS – Yasmin Perez with CM Flickinger’s office
Officer Angel Silva – Houston Police Dept.
Constable Jerry Garcia
Agenda:
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Minutes Reading
3. Nomination and ELECTION of Officers – Civic Club
4. Comments from City official and Law enforcement
5. Question and Answer session, suggestions, etc
6. Closing
***Oak Meadows Residents and Neighbors***
Please Join us at our next Civic Club meeting. If you would like to become an officer of the Civic Club, this is your opportunity.
Our CM representative will advise update on handicap entrance to our newly renovated OM Park and the replacement of our 4 picnic tables that were removed.
Officer Silva will be giving updates on CRIME and other activities.
Constable Garcia will also give his announcements.
Want to be added to the distribution list? Sign up and leave your email address to receive “Notification and Updates” at the meeting!
Meeting details :
Date: Tuesday, February 20, 2024.
Time: 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm.
Venue: Iglesia Church, 9045 Howard Dr., Houston TX 77017.
Scenario – Oak Meadow Park Ribbon Cutting
Oak Meadow Park Ribbon Cutting SCENARIO
Date / Time: Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023 / 3 p.m.
Site: Oak Meadow Park, 500 Ahrens St., Houston, TX 77017
Point of Contact: Oneika Peters, Sr. Community Liaison, HPARD, 832-755-0293(cell) Chanelle
Frazier, Outreach Manager, Houston Parks Board, 832- 713-1277 (cell)
Parking: Speaking program participants and VIPs will park along Ahrens Street near the
playground; general public parking will be around the park
Weather Provisions: Event will be outdoors; umbrellas will be provided in case of light rain; in
case of moderate rain, speaking program will be under the park’s picnic pavilion
Language Provision: This is a bilingual speaking program through interpretation headsets provided
to people who prefer to listen in Spanish
Confirmed Speaking Program Participants (in order of appearance):
Kenneth Allen, Director, Houston
Parks and Recreation Department The Honorable Mayor Sylvester Turner, Mayor, City of Houston
Mayor Pro-Tem and Council Member Dave Martin, District E Beth White, President and CEO, Houston
Parks Board
Dean Corgey, Commissioner, Port Houston
Michelle Garcia, Vice President, Oak Meadows Civic Club
Confirmed Elected Officials, Partners, and Guests
Sara Cronin, Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs; Gwendolyn Kimble, Communications
Coordinator; Nick Gill, Houston Operations Plant Manager; Jason Sanders, Environmental Manager, TPC
Group
Sara Montelongo-Oyervidez, Manager, Refinery Public Affairs, Valero Energy Foundation Grant
Hopkins, Asset Management Leader; Lacey LeMoine, Public Affairs Coordinator,
INVISTA
Katie Shelton, Public Affairs Liaison, on behalf of At-Large Council Member Sallie Alcorn Eileen
Puente, Principal, Rucker Elementary School, HISD
Fred Flickinger, Council Member-elect, District E (tentative)
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: All Program Participants gather at the ribbon-cutting location
Oak Meadow Park Improvements Description and Background
- This event celebrates the grand opening of improvements at Oak Meadow Park, located in the Oak
Meadows Neighborhood. - Improvements made by the Houston Parks Board and the Houston Parks and Recreation Department
include:
o Replaced the playground’s equipment for ages 2-5 and 5-12 and the adjacent concrete plaza
o Replaced swing set and added adjacent site lighting
o Upgraded asphalt walking trail to new concrete and installed two new benches along the trail
o Renovated basketball area with resurfaced court, repainted lines, new backboards and posts, and
installation of new seatless benches for players to lean on
o Converted the baseball field into a soccer field and established new turf
o Added picnic pavilion area with lighting and four new picnic tables
o Enhanced volleyball court with new sod, posts, and corner markers
o Refreshed and reconfigured site furnishings, such as benches, picnic tables, and grills
o Repaired park water fountain
o Addition of bollards around the park perimeter
o Detention area for improved drainage for the park - Houston Parks Board served as the project manager, with Times Construction as the construction
firm. The landscape architect was Clark Condon Associates, Inc. The overall total project cost is
$1,095,000. - Upgrades to this neighborhood park were made possible by 50/50 Park Partners, a Mayor
Sylvester Turner initiative led by the City of Houston, Houston Parks and Recreation Department,
Houston Parks Board, and Greater Houston Partnership. - The 50/50 Park Partners framework provides an opportunity for corporations to play a
leadership role in supporting neighborhood parks and their surrounding communities, catalyzing the
process of reinvigorating an under-resourced park. - In addition to a City of Houston public investment of $14 million to the 50/50 Park Partners
Initiative, we would like to acknowledge over 30 philanthropic partners who together invested over
$10 million, including Houston Endowment, Port Houston – the official Park Partner for this park. - Houston Endowment has played a leadership role in parks across the city through its history of
investments and recognizes the value of smaller neighborhood parks. - Port Houston played a pivotal role in this park’s transformation by pledging $1 million to the
50/50 Park Partners program, partnering with both Oak Meadow Park and Hidalgo Park, and inspiring
the maritime-themed playground. - In addition, three companies contributed funding towards improvements at Oak Meadow Park:
INVISTA, TPC Group, and the Valero Energy Foundation – collectively contributed over $30,000 to the
project. - The initiative included a coordinated process for determining park improvements focused on
collaboration with the Oak Meadows Neighborhood and the District E Office. - For this park, an initial community listening session was held on December 8, 2021, during
which residents provided their ideas and feedback on key aspects of the park. - An in-person pop-up on December 14, 2021, and additional meetings were held with the community
to refine the park’s improvements and design further. - A survey was also distributed to the neighborhood via email and yard signs.
Event Location
RESERVED PARKING PASS
Event at Oak Meadow Park
500 AHRENS ST., HOUSTON, TX 77017
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 20, 2023, AT 3 PM
Oak Meadows Park – Ribbon Cutting Event.
The link includes photos Before, Construction, Park design and Ribbon cutting event: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/62e04cdd/-4mQw_UHKUmYHYFsrU1q-Q?u=https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/16L-1XrIYF-DHexF2NOWG9_FHykcVNwHa?usp=sharing (photos will be in the sub-folder called “Ribbon Cutting”)
When using the photos, we kindly ask that this caption be used: “Photos Courtesy of Houston Parks Board, Anthony Rathbun Photographer”