To Keep You Informed, June 5, 2019 Meeting

 Welcome to Officers Collin Rapp and Stephen Dominguez

Museum Park welcomes Officers Collin Rapp (L) and Stephen Dominguez to South Central’s Differential Response Team, a group specially trained to holistically address specific problems.  They join Sgt. Eric Flores’ team, which has worked closely with Museum Park to make our neighborhood a safer place to live.

• Officer Rapp reported that crime in our area is down 9% overall, May 2018 to May 2019. 
• Announced Coffee With A Cop event to be held June 21, 9:00-11:00 a.m. at McDonalds, 4005 Elgin.  Stop by for coffee and a chat with the officers from South Central Command Station.
• Reminded everyone to attend PIP (Positive Interaction Program) the second Tuesday of the month at the South Central Command Station, 2202 St. Emanuel.  The meetings provide an opportunity to hear from different divisions within the department (burglary, theft, etc.) as well as giving citizens a chance to express their own concerns regarding safety in our neighborhood.

MPNA Green Team:  Esplanade Enhancement

• Green Team Member Andrew Gladden presented plans for new end cap plantings along with a pilot pocket prairie project based on the Museum Park Livable Centers Study. See Green Team presentation here.
  
• The Green Team is consulting with Hermann Park Conservancy and Katy Prairie Conservancy to ensure the best possible outcomes for the pilot project.
• Green Team will apply for a Department of Neighborhoods Grant that should be available after July 1.   Overall cost of the project is approximately $7,700, 50% of which could be funded by the DON grant.  Also offsetting the cost of the project is the $1,200 raised at the Green Team Garage Sale held last March as well as the savings to MPNA afforded by volunteers, who maintain our current end caps.
• Look for your opportunity to give input in upcoming electronic poll.

Council Member Dwight Boykins

• CM Boykins expressed his support of neighbors dealing with the negative impacts of the overwhelming success of The Turkey Leg Hut.  He is working with the owners and residents to craft solutions.
• Encouraged residents to note that the walls of the new MacGregor HEB are going up. 
• Encouraged continued patience with homeless issues in our area as HPD and the Mayor’s Office on Homeless Initiatives continue to work toward solutions.

 Caroline Promenade

Sandy Stevens reported that Museum Park Super Neighborhood continues to work with Houston Southeast Management District toward a design for the Caroline Promenade, first envisioned in the MP Livable Centers Study.  SWA, responsible for the LCS, heads up the Caroline Promenade design team.  Funded through a District D Grant matched by the Management District, the design will give Museum Park a plan necessary to seek additional grants for implementation. 

VP Pam Campbell

•  Reminder:  Trespass Affidavits must be filed annually with HPD.  Copies are available here.
• Recent census of Houston homeless is approximately 4,000.
• Neighborhood Task Force, including MPNA representatives Pam Campbell & Barbara McGuffey, is slated to meet with Coalition for the Homeless Interim President Mike Nichols, June 18.
• Turkey Leg Hut owners are scheduled to meet with neighborhood representatives in June.
• MPNA is reaching out to Fiesta management regarding continued feeding of homeless in their parking lot.  Fiesta policy does not allow for such activity.

Treasurer’s Report

Members can access Treasurer’s Report on MPNA Member’s Page.

Green Team Update

• End cap clean-up was held June 2.  Nine volunteers weeded and trimmed end caps throughout the neighborhood.
• The Little Library, recently purchased with Constellation Grant money secured by Jill Miller, will be installed soon at Rosedale near Austin on Covenant Church grounds.  Thanks again to Covenant for continuing to support MPNA.

 Community Engagement

• Meet and Greet after the meeting at Spanish Village
• National Night Out scheduled for October 1.  Volunteers are needed to make this annual event a success.  Please email info@museumparkna.org to offer your time for this import outreach.
• July 3 meeting will include our annual ice cream social.  Enjoy a cool treat after the meeting.

Announcements

• Holocaust Grand Opening is slated for June 22; Black Tie event scheduled for June 15.  Increased traffic in the area is likely on those dates.
• AsiaFest:  Saturday, June 29, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, Asia Society Texas Center. Enjoy free gallery access.  Eat, shop, and play at Asia Society’s annual festival.  Find additional details here.