Brays Oaks Management District Beautification and Urban Design Committee met April 7

Brays Oaks Management District Beautification and Urban Design Committee met April 7.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

The Brays Oaks Management District Beautification and Urban Design Committee held a meeting via Zoom video conference at 1:30 PM.

District Board and Committee members present: Cindy Chapman, Ralph Rieger, Sheri Cortez, Ronald Plotkin, Sylvia Rivas

Staff members present: Xavier Herrera, Josh Hawes, Cosme Garcia, Danny Benavides Public present: Erin Lewandowski – Price Wagener, Sonia Chavez – SMC Logistics, Stephen Polnaszek – Neighborhoods to Trails, Brenda Jackson, Sylvester L. Reeder III, Barbara Hite – District K, Kate Brusegaard, Russell Schexnayder, Angelee Rhyne, Edidiong Obot – Harris County Pct. 1, Marcy Williams, Naomi Ostfeld, Elia Quiles – UPArt, Melvin Hopkins

Committee Chair Cindy Chapman called the meeting to order at 1:33 PM, and the committee meeting adjourned at 2:53 PM.

THE COMMITTEE CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING:

1. Call to order

2. Public Comment

a. Director Rivas stated that cleanup needs to happen under the bridges, possible action to coordinate with City of Houston or Harris County Flood Control District.

i. Committee Chair Chapman advised to send specific locations so that BOMD staff can address the issue.

ii. Ms. Obot with Harris County Pct. 1 advised that HCFCD allows the public to submit service requests online.

3. Minutes of 03/03/22 B&UD Committee Meeting

a. Committee meeting minutes were submitted for reference and review.

4. Receive a report on landscaping and porter services from Price Wagener and SMC Logistics for the month of March, and proposals for recommendation to BOMD Board for consideration.

a. Landscaping - Price Wagener

i. Ms. Lewandowski presented the report for Price Wagener. Full report available in committee packet. Report included proposal for tree removal and proposal for esplanade plan replacement. There is some concern of more dead trees in esplanades, however, it’s hard to determine given that some trees have not started to leaf out. Price Wagener will investigate. Committee agreed to allow for up to 6 trees to be considered for removal at quoted rate, pending further information from Price Wagener.

1. Motion made by Board Chair Ralph Rieger to recommend consideration of Price Wagener task order regarding tree removal and seconded by Director Plotkin; motion passed with all in favor.

2. Motion made by Director Plotkin to recommend consideration of Price Wagner task order for esplanade plant replacement and seconded by Board Chair Ralph Rieger; motion passed with all in favor.

b. Porter Services - SMC Logistics

i. Ms. Chavez presented the report for SMC Logistics. Full report available in committee packet. Director Plotkin inquired as to whether bandit sign information was being forwarded to city council for investigation. Ms. Chavez to follow-up with Xavier on the matter.

5. Field Service Operator Report

a. Mr. Benavides presented FSO report. Full report available in committee packet.

i. Director Plotkin inquired as to whether SWC graffiti was being reported to HPD. Mr. Benavides to investigate the matter and will follow up with BOMD staff.

6. Discussion, Updates and Recommendations

a. Houston Public Library

i. No update.

b. Gasmer Road (Shell) Property Master Plan Contract Status

i. Announcement of upcoming presentation of draft master plan in infrastructure meeting, which immediately follows Beautification and UD Committee Mtg. at 3PM.

c. Park & Facilities in BOMD

i. Ms. Rhyne reported that Council Member Pollard, VMPT Castex-Tatum, and AT&T worked to outfit Marian Park Computer lab and to provide the community hotspots.

d. BOMD Trails

i. No update.

e. Public Art

i. Elia Quiles with UPArt provided update on current task order. Work to be completed soon. Recommending box with Brays Oaks logo be replaced.

Recommended box with racoons at Creekbend and S. Gessner be replaced as it’s cracking. Stated new clear coat is more UV resistant, boxes with new clear coat still look good after 3 to 4 years. Elia to send the mini mural list to BOMD staff. Ms. Quiles also gave a short presentation on the Big Walls Big Dreams festival. Sponsorships for murals start at $10,000. Murals are not commissioned, however, sponsor may give parameters regarding theme.

ii. Director Rivas mentioned properties in the district that may be good locations for a mural.

iii. Ms. Rhyne nominated Marian Park as a location for a mural.

iv. Committee Chair thanked Ms. Quiles for the presentation.

f. Streetscape / Esplanade Improvements

i. Update was given as part of Price Wagener proposal regarding replanting esplanades.

7. Budget Discussions and Possible Actions

a. Committee Chair Chapman recommended the following amendments to the approved budget:

i. Line 3101 – Other Landscape and Porter Projects, amount amended from $10,000 to $15,000.

ii. Line 3003 – Landscape Maintenance, amount amended from $200,000 to $160,000.

iii. Line 3104 – Non-Contracted Irrigation and Plants, amount amended from $10,000 to $40,000.

iv. Line 3102 – Porter Services, amount amended from $152,000 to $155,000.

v. Line 2014 – Community Art Projects, amount amended from $10,000 to $12,000.

1. A motion for BOMD board to receive and consider amendments to these budget items was made by Director Plotkin and seconded by Director Cortez.

The motioned passed with all in favor.

8. Adjourn

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