Neighborhood News

Our community was selected for Honorable Mention Award

October 21, 2013 — Houston Mayor Annise Parker announced the City’s new Mow-Down Program today, created to address the problem of overgrown abandoned lots in Houston neighborhoods.  Sponsored by the Department of Neighborhoods (DON) in partnership with Keep Houston Beautiful (KHB), the pilot program aims to encourage civic groups and nonprofit organizations to make a commitment to maintain abandoned properties in their own neighborhoods.

The mayor made the announcement at a press conference held at the program’s first targeted site, an abandoned lot at 3024 Holman in Third Ward.  Joining the mayor were City Council District D Member Wanda Adams, Greater Third Ward Super Neighborhood spokesman Robert Gilmore, Keep Houston Beautiful director Robin Blut, the Blackshear Elementary School band and pep squad, community supporters and neighborhood residents.

“By working together to mow and maintain abandoned lots in their own neighborhoods, residents can not only rid of these eyesores that bring down property values but also, and more importantly, help resolve public safety concerns often associated with overgrown lots,” said Mayor Parker.  “This is a positive action that citizens can take, working as a team to improve the community ambience, create unity and instill neighborhood pride.  It’s a simple and doable solution to the problem of dangerous weeded lots.”

Participating community groups will be paid a modest fee of $75 for the mowing of City-approved abandoned lots.  The first mowing is carried out by City crews.  Thereafter, the community groups take over the maintenance of the lot, with their work verified and approved in advance by the City.  KHB will provide participating groups with access to tools, equipment and supplies for the projects.

City-approved eligible abandoned properties are located throughout the City.  Participating organizations will be assigned to approved properties of their choice in their neighborhoods.  Any civic association or non-profit organization interested in maintaining City-approved abandoned properties is eligible to participate in the program.

As required by State law, specifically Section 26.06 of the State Tax Code as amended by the 79th Texas Legislature, the City of Houston publishes the following notice:

Notice of Public Hearing on Tax Increase

The City of Houston will hold three public hearings on a proposal to increase total tax revenues from properties on the tax roll in the preceding tax year by 4.08 percent (percentage by which proposed tax rate exceeds lower of rollback tax rate or effective tax calculated under Tax Code, Chapter 26).  Your individual taxes may increase at a greater or lesser rate, or even decrease, depending on the change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in taxable value of all other property and the tax rate that is adopted.

The first public hearing will be held on September 17, 2013 at 6:00 PM at City of Houston, City Hall, Council Chambers, 901 Bagby, Houston, Texas 77002.

The second public hearing will be held on September 24, 2013 at 6:00 PM at City of Houston, City Hall, Council Chambers, 901 Bagby, Houston, Texas 77002.

The third public hearing will be held on October 2, 2013 at 9:00 AM at City of Houston, City Hall, Council Chambers, 901 Bagby, Houston, Texas 77002.

The members of the governing body voted on the proposal to consider the tax increase as follows:

FOR:

Mayor Annise D. Parker
Al Hoang
Melissa Noriega
Larry V. Green
Helena Brown
Stephen Costello
Jerry Davis
C.O. “Brad” Bradford
Oliver Pennington
Jack Christie
Ellen R. Cohen
Edward Gonzalez
James Rodriguez
Wanda Adams
Mike Laster
Andrew C. Burks, Jr.

AGAINST: None

PRESENT and not voting: None

ABSENT: Dave Martin

The average taxable value of a residence homestead in City of Houston last year was $151,021. Based on last year’s tax rate of $0.63875 per $100 of taxable value, the amount of taxes imposed last year on the average home was $964.64.

The average taxable value of a residence homestead in City of Houston this year is $157,118. If the governing body adopts the effective tax rate for this year of $0.613728 per $100 of taxable value, the amount of taxes imposed this year on the average home would be $964.27.

If the governing body adopts the proposed tax rate of $0.63875 per $100 of taxable value, the amount of taxes imposed this year on the average home would be $1,003.59.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend the hearings and express their views.

Houston Public Library Wants to Hear from You!

Houston Public Library (HPL) has kicked off the Strategic Master Plan process to provide vision and direction for library services. To help improve their services, HPL needs your help to learn more about the communities it serves.

Houstonians are invited to participate in this process by completing a brief survey. It will take about five minutes of your time and will provide HPL staff with input for the future of the library. Even if you do not consider yourself a regular library customer, your opinion is valuable.

The survey is available online from Sunday, September 22 through Sunday, October 6, 2013 at www.houstonlibrary.org/survey. The survey may be accessed in Spanish at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DNKZG8K.

Thank you for helping to improve your library. For further information, visit HPL at  http://www.houstonlibrary.org/ or call 832.393.1313.

Houston Public Library presents the Second Annual Houston LibroFEST
Saturday, October 5, 2013

Make plans to attend the Houston Public Library (HPL) book and arts festival on Saturday, October 5, 2013, 1 – 5 p.m. at the HPL Central Library, 500 McKinney Street, Houston 77002. Thisfree festival highlights Hispanic writers and showcases the vibrant culture of the Latino community!

Take in the sights and sounds of bilingual storytelling, poetry recitation, children’s activities, writing workshops, musical and theatrical performances and much more. LibroFest is part of HPL’s month-long celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

For more information visit www.houstonlibrary.org/librofest or call 832.393.1313. To learn more about HPL, visit http://www.houstonlibrary.org/.

2013 Hispanic Heritage Award Recipients

As part of the City of Houston observance of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Mayor, with the help of her Hispanic Advisory Board, recognized five Houstonians with the 2013 Hispanic Heritage Awards in the following categories: Art in the Community: Macario Ramirez, Community Activist: Mario Martinez, Education: Nicolas Kanellos, Ph.D., Lifetime Achievement: Dolores “Lolita” Guerrero and Youth Activist: Nohemi Chavez.

All recipients will be honored at the Mayor’s Hispanic Heritage Award Reception on Wednesday, October 9, 2013, from 5:30 – 7 p.m. at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Caroline Weiss Law Building, 1001 Bissonnet, Houston 77005. The event is free and open to the public. RSVP by Friday, October 5 by calling 832.393.0815.

For more information on Hispanic Heritage Month events at the Houston Public Library, visitwww.houstonlibrary.org/hhm.