Brays Oaks Management District Public Safety Committee met Feb. 2

Brays Oaks Management District Public Safety Committee met Feb. 2.

Here are the minutes provided by the Committee:

The Brays Oaks Management District Public Safety Committee held a meeting via Zoom video conference at 11:30 am.

District Board and Committee members present: Starla Turnbo, Sheri Cortez, Cindy Chapman, Steve Moore, Ronnie Plotkin, Etan Mirwis

Staff members present: Xavier Herrera, Cosme Garcia, Alan Bernstein

Public safety present: Commander Christopher Hassig – HPD, Lt. Kirby Fehr – HPD, Sgt. Jose Juarez – HPD, Mike Laster - HCAO

Public present: Tina DeFiore – HAA, Stephen Polnaszek – Neighborhoods to Trails, Brenda Jackson, Barbara Hite – District K

Committee Chair Starla Turnbo called the meeting to order at 11:31 AM, and the committee meeting adjourned at 12:53 PM.

THE COMMITTEE CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING:

1. Call to Order

2. Public Comment

a. Director Mirwis shared some of his analysis of crime stats in BOMD. Wants to see the district do a better job of advertising low crime rate.

b. Director Cortez wants the public to report graffiti to BOMD so that cases can be forward to Sgt. Juarez for action and has suggested Director Mirwis get in touch with crime analysis at HPD headquarters on Travis to get more accurate statistics.

c. Tina DeFiore gave RCR report. Numbers have not changed; however, two complexes have dropped HAA membership: St. James Place on 9109 Fondren and Westbury Park at 12111 Burdine. Recommended presenting the stats to local top producing realtors in the area.

d. Mr. Laster recommended presenting positive data to Houston Association of Realtors.

3. Minutes of 02/02/22 Public Safety Committee Meeting

a. Committee meeting minutes submitted for reference and review.

4. Report from HPD (S. Gessner & Southwest) for month of February

a. Southwest

i. Commander Hassig reported, YTD violent crimes 13.7% decrease. February Violent Crime Stats: Murder – 1, Sexual Assault – 0, Robbery – 11, Aggravated Assault – 3. YTD Non-violent crimes down 13.4%. February Non-Violent Crime Stats: Burglary Habitation – 7, Burglary Building – 3, Burglary Motor Vehicle – 40, Theft (Except BMV / Auto) – 33, Auto Theft – 9. Comparing January to February 2022: Auto Theft decreased by 40%, Burglary of Habitation decreased by 22.2%, Burglary of Building decreased by 40%%. District 15 crime heat map of 15E10 and 15E20 stays the same month to month with activity in the following areas and is available in the backup materials.

ii. Director Moore inquired about friends and family crime and if more stats can be included in reports (Age, Sex, and if the assailant knew the victim). Commander Hassig reports HPD is meeting with some apartment communities such as The Life at Jackson Square (formerly Nob Hill) in the area to talk about violent crime. Overtime resources are also being deployed in the area to help curb crime.

iii. Committee Chair Turnbo inquired as to stat regarding domestic violence – BOMD vs. COH.

iv. Director Cortez reported that HCDA is working with HISD and other school districts on PSA campaign to reach students / children.

b. S. Gessner

i. Lt. Fehr reported, YTD violent crimes down 7.3%. February Violent Crime Stats: Murder – 0, Sexual Assault – 3, Robbery – 20 , Aggravated Assault – 53. YTD Non-violent crimes down 23.9%. February Non-Violent Crime Stats: Burglary Habitation – 14, Burglary Building – 13, Burglary Motor Vehicle – 72, Theft (Except BMV / Auto) – 43, Auto Theft – 21. Comparing January to February 2022: Auto Theft decreased by 46.2%, Burglary of Habitations decreased by 30%, Burglary of Building increased by 44.4%. Presented District 17 crime heat map of 17E20, 17E30, and 17E40 available in backup materials. YTD 47.7% decrease in burglary of buildings with a 48% decrease in February. YTD 1% increase in aggravated assaults with a 17.8% increase in February. YTD 14.1% decrease in robberies with a 25.9% decrease in February. Presented February crime stats BOMD vs. Citywide. Reviewed February cases: murders – 2, DWI offenses – 6.

ii. Director Cortez inquired as to whether BMV stats were opportunistic, Lt. Fehr responded that according to anecdotal evidence, yes – however – he didn’t have the specifics on the stats presented. Director Cortez mentioned the issue of at least 3,600 guns stolen from cars and used in violent crimes in 2021.

iii. Sgt. Juarez reported that DRT officers are doing random inspections of vehicles and have noticed several cars with unsecured items or that are unlocked – and are getting the word out to secure vehicles and valuables.

iv. Director Plotkin inquired as to whether BMVs are in commercial or residential parking lots. Lt. Fehr believes it’s a combination of both commercial and residential.

v. Director Moore has requested that BOMD vs. Citywide stats be provided by relative population – per capita.

vi. Director Turnbo inquired as to why HPD thought robberies were down. Lt. Fehr speculated it was due to more officer visibility.

c. Bike & DRT

i. Sgt. Juarez reported on Bike & DRT activity. Homeless individual at 10600 Fondren has been cited for having carts and trash and COVID clean-up team was contacted. Individual was arrested for trespassing at nearby gas station. METRO has been notified that individual is camping in bus shelter. Working to identify resources for individual and is monitoring the situation. Property at 10300 S. Gessner Rd. had a homeless encampment, COVID clean-up crew came out and cleaned the area. 10600 Bob White and 8500-8600 block of South Breeze at Northern – parking complaints and response.

ii. Director Plotkin noted that at 9106 Hillcroft there’s an individual also camping in the METO bus shelter.

iii. Director Cortez noted that bus shelters on W. Belfort are being replaced and that the district should create a protocol to contact METRO in these cases.

iv. Steven Polnaszek suggested changing the bench style seats to discreet individual seating to deter sleeping.

v. Director Mirwis mentioned the property at 10300 S. Gessner is for sale and the district should help get the property sold or leased. Additionally, S. and N. Breeze parking issue should be studied to determine if both sides of the street should still be designated as no parking zones. Barbara Hite with District K will investigate the matter.

5. Report from Harris County Attorney

a. Michael Laster reports HCAO

i. Carwash ownership information has been given to ED Herrera. Finalized review of 8900 Braeswood property and forwarded advisory demand letter to ED Herrera for review and approval. In the 2nd Quarter HCAO will be working to provide security officer training on Chapter 125 nuisances with management districts under contract.

6. Discussion & Recommendations

a. February Graffiti & Light Outage Report

i. Herrera reported a total of 21 graffiti abatements for the month of February – 2 (private property) 19 (public property), total of 42 for the year of 2022.

ii. Herrera reported SMC notified CenterPoint of 52 streetlight outages.

7. Adjourn

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS:

The committee had no recommendations for BOMD Board consideration.

https://www.braysoaksmd.org/who-we-are/board-materials/