Next WHCA General Meeting

The WHCA’s next general meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 8. We will be discussing important developments with regard to the Constable program, the METRO bus route, and other pressing issues in our neighborhood. We may also have an exciting guest speaker or two, so stay tuned.

Lights in the Heights Update

Calling All Volunteers

Lights in the Heights kicked off early this year with a meeting this past Wednesday night. We were thrilled to have a great turnout at our first meeting, with a mix of new faces and returning committee members. Our next meeting is Sept 2, Wed at 8PM at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services on 11th Street. We have plenty of room for more volunteers, so if you're interested in getting involved with LITH, please join us at the next meeting.

LITH 2015 Logo

It's time to start thinking about this year's LITH logo. We're reaching out to the neighborhood early this year in the hopes of creating a healthy competition and giving our resident artists ample time to participate. Designs will appear on all merchandise, including the newly coveted ornaments. It will be featured on prominent display at the annual Gala. Please submit all designs to Jan Greer at janrynda@gmail.com by Tuesday, October 20.  

Recent Traffic Problems

Last week, the neighborhood experienced a significant traffic spike as a result of TxDOT’s closure of I-10 to do construction on the Houston Avenue Bridge. This included several 18-wheelers streaming up Watson, despite the sign at Usener and Watson that clearly prohibits such traffic. The WHCA is working with State and City officials, including the Mayor’s office, to make sure that they have a plan in place to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself the next time I-10 or I-45 is shut down. But this is also a reminder of the importance to implement traffic calming measures in the neighborhood. If you would like to join the neighborhood committee that is working with the City on this issue, please email us at infrastructure@woodland-heights.org. 

Revisions to Historic Preservation Ordinance

Historic preservation is important to many of our members, so the WHCA believes it is important for its members to be aware that the City’s Planning and Development Department is proposing changes to Chapter 33, Historic Preservation Ordinance. According to the City, the changes were crafted to correct and clarify targeted items and create greater consistency for applicants and for the Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission (HAHC). The proposed changes and the information related to this process can be found on their website.

Comments from the public may be submitted by calling 832-393-6556, via email, or by mail to HPD Review, Planning and Development Department, P.O. Box 1562, Houston, Texas 77251-1562. HAHC will review all comments and consider final action at its August 27, 2015 meeting, so please take the time to read the proposed revisions and to submit your comments before August 27, 2015.

July 14th Meeting Cancelled

The meeting scheduled for July 14th is cancelled. We hope to see you at the next meeting.

Fourth of July Parade

We are all set for the 4th of July Parade at the Norhill Esplanade starting at 9 AM. Please bring your child’s favorite riding toy, bike or scooter to join in the parade. We will have two different snow cone trucks, coffee, tea and children’s activities. Remember that your voluntary membership to the Woodland Heights Civic Association allows for the WHCA to sponsor these events. We will look forward to seeing you all at the Norhill Esplanade on Norhill between Bayland and Euclid at 9 AM on July 4th.

Now Taking Submissions

The WHCA newsletter is now taking submissions from our readers. There's a lot happening in our neighborhood and our small group of volunteers can't be everywhere so we're opening up the newsletter to your submissions. There's no minimum length and submissions are taken on a rolling basis so send them in when they're ready.

• Boy Scout or Girl Scout troop activities in the community.
• Local art shows.
• School theater or musical performances.
• Fundraisers within the Woodland Heights community.
• Special Events.

To submit some news simply visit the News page on the WHCA website. Select the Submit a Story button on the right side of the page and we'll be in touch.

Sponsored Content

We're also now accepting sponsored articles from area businesses. Promote your business. Promote your upcoming sale or event. We're open to ideas. For details please contact Mark Sternfels, VP Communications.

Taking Nominations for VP Beautification

Our beloved VP Beautification, Vicky Bettis, is resigning, so the WHCA is in need of a new VP Beautification and is taking nominations. The VP Beautification is in charge of awarding the Yard of the Month and of heading up various beautification projects in the neighborhood. If you're interested, please send a short explanation of your qualifications and the reasons you'd like to take on this WHCA Board position. Keep in mind that you must be a member of the WHCA to hold this or any other Board position. We look forward to hearing from all interested candidates.

METRO Buses on Bayland & Watson

UPDATE 1: Original post was missing the link to the METRO bus route petition. Now added.
UPDATE 2: Added link to petition in favor of keeping current METRO bus routes. Modified text to accommodate new link. Removed infographic.

As was discussed at our last General Meeting, METRO has decided to maintain the current bus route on Bayland and Watson. A large number of residents on Bayland (and elsewhere along the route in the neighborhood) have expressed their desire to have this route moved to the perimeter of the neighborhood. In prior meetings with METRO, some of those residents were left with the impression that METRO would do just that. However, METRO has now confirmed that its plan is to leave the route as it currently exists. So, those residents are starting a petition to bring to METRO before METRO finalizes its route decisions, which will be in early June.

Please review both petitions and make your voice heard.

Petition in favor of keeping current bus routes.
Petition in favor of changing bus routes.

URGENT: I-45 Expansion

Message from WHCA President

One of the most important issues facing our neighborhood right now is the possible expansion of I-45. TxDOT is accepting comments until May 31 regarding its new, proposed plan. The WHCA is supporting the positions outlined by neighborhood resident Jim Weston and his I-45 Coalition and will be providing comments to I-45 along those lines. I encourage all of our residents to do the same. Please visit the I-45 Coalition's website for more information, and please get your comments in by May 31.  Thank you.

Constable Patrol Updates

Subscriptions

We are at 418 subscribers, which is a bit above where we were at this time last year. Including our reserve, at this level of participation we can continue with two patrols through at least March 2017 – possibly longer. To sustain two patrols indefinitely, we need to get long-term participation at or above 465. As has always been the case, we will continue to add subscribers throughout the year so we may get there yet. We continue to consider other ways to reach out and increase participation. If you haven’t joined, please consider doing so. If you are already a member, please don’t hesitate to talk up the program with neighbors who aren’t members.

Activity Report

With two 40 hour shifts, we have a significant law enforcement presence in our neighborhood. Our deputies drive to our neighborhood from home, and essentially spend their 40-hour shift in our neighborhood, generally leaving only when called to respond to a specific incident elsewhere. That works both ways, as we often have deputies from the Heights and Garden Oaks contracts responding to calls in our neighborhood. Here are some stats on April Constable Patrol activity in Woodland Heights:

• Responded to: 13 house alarms, 5 calls about solicitors, 1 stranded motor vehicle, 22 reports of suspicious people, 21 reports of suspicious vehicles, 1 welfare check
• 50 traffic stops (speeding in school zones is a problem – our Constables have radar!); investigated 5 traffic hazards (mostly on Watson)
• 1 criminal mischief, 1 disturbance loud noise, 1 disturbance other, 2 drug possession
• Approximately 218 times they stopped to investigate something unusual or suspicious; 88 stops in our parks – predominately along White Oak, and 130 throughout the neighborhood
• 58 times they stopped and talked to folks in the neighborhood not in relation to any particular call or problem, more in the nature of meet and greet.

Crime Statistics

If you can't see the bar graph above view it here http://www.woodland-heights.org/news/2015/5/30/constable-patrol-updates

Explanation

Numbers reflect total area covered by police beat #2A30 which includes Houston Heights, North Norhill/Proctor Plaza, Sunset Heights, and more. In April the most thefts occurred in streets (parked cars) and restaurant parking lots. There was only one theft from a residence. All three burglaries were of residences. Because the city takes several months to post this data cumulatively for an entire month, to stay more current we go in and extract this data manually, on a weekly basis. We're still perfecting our capture methodology and hope to offer meaningful comparisons of the data in the coming months.

Fourth of July Parade & Party

The Woodland Heights Civic Association will be organizing and sponsoring the annual Fourth of July Parade at the Norhill Esplanade beginning at 9 AM on July 4th. We will have kids activities, events, snow cones and the kids parade around the esplanade. Please make sure and bring your child’s toy car, scooter, wagon or bike for the parade. We will be handing out prizes for most creative, best decorated and most patriotic. Please contact William Getschow if you would like to help with organizing, set up or cleanup or if you have any ideas for the event. The Woodland Heights Civic Association Membership dues go toward sponsoring events like this so please don’t forget to sign up for your membership if you have not already signed up.

Meeting Recap — Friends of Woodland Park, METRO, WHCA Updates

Thanks to all who came to last night’s WHCA General Meeting. For those of you who couldn’t make it, here’s a brief recap: 
 
- We updated the neighborhood on the WHCA’s efforts to fund two Constable shifts. We have fully funded one shift, but are still approximately 75 subscribers shy of being able to fully fund the second shift without dipping into our reserve account. It's never too late to subscribe.
 
- The Friends of Woodland Park did a wonderful presentation to update the neighborhood on the beautification efforts in Woodland Park. They also unveiled a model of a beautiful new sculpture installation called Firefly Field by Houston artist and fourth generation Heights resident, Dylan Conner. Approval from the City of Houston is pending with a fundraising campaign to follow. Visit the FWP website for more details, and please support this great organization. 
 
- We heard reports from METRO regarding the bus route on Bayland and Woodland. More details coming in another post.
                                                                                                                                                                                          
- We also received updates from the offices of Representative Alvarado and Council Member Gonzales. 
 
- Finally, we reminded the neighborhood that we’re now transitioning away from a paper newsletter to an e-newsletter. If you haven’t already signed up to receive the e-newsletter, please do so at our website.
 
Thanks again to those who came out.  We’ll see you in July!
 
Tim McConn
President, WHCA

HPD Central Division Meeting for May 2015

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Neighborhood Traffic Study Underway

Did you notice the traffic monitoring devices recently installed throughout the neighborhood? These devices, which measure both traffic volume and vehicle speeds, are for the initial traffic study for the Woodland Heights Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP). The NTMP is a program administered by the city aimed at reducing cut-through traffic and increasing pedestrian safety on residential streets. The NTMP for Woodland Heights will be a multi-year project and no traffic-calming measures will be implemented without extensive feedback from, and with the approval of, the residents of Woodland Heights. 

You’ve probably also noticed the city has recently begun repaving White Oak Dr. between Studemont and Houston Ave. This project is scheduled to be completed by June 30. 

Spring Security Tips

Our annual Constable Patrol renewal campaign is in the second month, and we are still short of the participation needed to continue to support two patrol shifts. We are reaching out to the neighborhood in various ways to obtain your support for the Constable Patrol.

Even when our deputies are not on patrol, we get coverage from nearby contracts. Your new VP of Security's cat set off the house alarm last week shortly after one of our shifts had ended. Within 6 minutes of the alarm, deputies showed up from both the Heights and Garden Oaks contracts. The cat was let off with a warning.

Spring is a time where we see more property theft involving yard-care equipment, and things like porch furniture. When working in the yard, don’t leave tools and equipment unattended if they are in sight of the street. Have electric garage doors but sometimes forget to close them? Check into something like the Garage Butler – an easy to install device that will automatically close your garage doors.

You can sign up to receive email or text crime alerts for the area by going to the Precinct One Constable’s website and going to Crime Alerts under the Sign Up drop-down menu. Let's all watch out for our neighbors, and keep our neighborhood safe.

Norhill Esplanade Improvements

Several weeks ago work was completed at Norhill Esplanade to improve the green space. As more events are held at this neighborhood gem, it is important that it be properly maintained. A landscape company aerated and added organic fertilizer and compost to the grassy areas.

The improvement to our green space was provided by Woodland Heights Civic Association and is a direct result of your membership dollars at work and WHCA’s commitment to keep Woodland Heights green.

Questions or comments? Contact the Beautification Committee.