Brays Oaks Management District Public Safety Committee met Aug. 3

Brays Oaks Management District Public Safety Committee met Aug. 3.

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: Ralph Rieger, Sheri Cortez, Steve Moore, Ronald Plotkin, Marsha Fisk, Sylvia Rivas

Staff members present: Xavier Herrera, Josh Hawes, Cosme Garcia, Victor Beserra, Alan Bernstein Public safety present: Commander Christopher Hassig, Lt. Kirby Fehr – HPD, Sgt. Jose Juarez – HPD, Sgt. C.B. Nickerson – HPD, Officer Khanh Tran – HPD, Mike Laster – HCAO.

Public present: Stephen Polnaszek – Neighborhoods to Trails, Brenda Jackson, Melvin Hopkins – District K, Doug Phillips, Mandy Salinas, Tina DeFiore – HAA, Sylvester L. Reeder III.

Committee Chair Xavier Herrera called the meeting to order at 11:33 AM, and the committee meeting adjourned at 12:41 PM.

THE COMMITTEE CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING:

1. Call to Order

2. Public Comment

a. Executive Director Herrera advised the committee that HPD Chief of Police Finner sent a letter to the district thanking BOMD for their donation to the South Gessner Division. Letter is in committee packet.

3. Minutes of 07/06/22 Public Safety Committee Meeting

a. Committee meeting minutes submitted for reference and review.

4. Consider support funding for HPD S. Gessner Division – Gang Unit training

a. Officer Tran requested support funding for Gang Unit training in an amount of $2,350.68. Supporting documentation is available in committee packet.

b. Mr. Phillips inquired as to Officer Tran’s relationship with Commander Bellemy. Officer Tran advised that his relationship with Commander Bellemy is good. Also, inquired as to who is the sponsor of the conference. Officer Train advised that RIOT is the sponsor.

c. Director Cortez advised that RIOT is a law enforcement conference.

d. Sgt. Juarez advised that some training is not covered by HPD, however these types of trainings are valuable for specialized groups.

e. Director Fisk inquired as to the amount requested. Officer Tran advised that the amount is $2,350.68.

f. Director Moore confirmed that RIOT is a non-profit organization and stated that BOMD should keep track of how much is given to HPD.

g. Director Cortez made a motion to consider support funding for HPD in an amount not to exceed $2,351.00. Motion was seconded by Director Fisk.

5. Report from HPD (S. Gessner & Southwest) for month of July

a. Southwest

i. Commander Hassig reported District 15 crime stats. Detailed report is available in committee packet.

ii. Director Moore advised that he has a three year trend of violent crime statistics to share, however, he wants to normalize the data before he shares it, per capita. Inquired as to who can help him with the data.

iii. Director Plotkin advised that Director Moore should contact the officer that provided him the statistics for assistance.

iv. Executive Director Herrera requested HPD work with Director Moore on normalizing crime statistic data.

v. Officer Train advised that he would reach out to Director Moore regarding his data request.

b. S. Gessner

i. Lt. Fehr reported District 17 crime stats. Detailed report is available in committee packet.

c. Bike & DRT

i. Sgt. Juarez reported DRT activities in July. Detailed report is available in the committee packet.

6. Report from Harris County Attorney

a. Mr. Laster advised that CAO is working with HPD to review potential nuisance cases. Mr. Laster advised that the Harris County contract with BOMD regarding 125 nuisance abatement will expire in October. Three option contacts are included in committee packet. All contract options ensure the cost to the district will not increase.

b. Director Plotkin inquired if Mr. Laster has identified additional ways BOMD may utilize CAO resources outside of Chapter 125 cases. Mr. Laster advised that CAO may be able to provide assistance on other matters on a case by case basis.

c. Director Cortez made a motion to renew the contract. The motion was seconded by Director Moore.

7. Update from the Harris County District Attorney’s Office

a. Director Cortez advised that HCDA is still working on their PSA’s regarding leaving children in hot vehicles and leaving guns in locked cars and also advised that HCDA now has a NextDoor account.

b. Mr. Phillips commented that if people are leaving their children in cars they are most certainly going to leave their guns in their cars.

c. Director Plotkin advised that locked boxes in cars may be a good suggestion. Director Cortez advised that HCDA distributes free gun locks. HCDA is working with law enforcement agencies and Academy to provide free gun safes.

d. Sgt. Juarez advised that HPD will have a backpack giveaway at 6227 SW Freeway starting at 9AM.

8. Discussion & Recommendations

a. July Graffiti & Light Outage Report

i. Executive Director Herrera reported that 24 sites were abated. A detailed report is available in the committee packet.

ii. Light outage report should be provided at the next committee meeting.

9. Receive RCR Report and Possible Action

a. Mr. Herrera provided the report which is available in the committee packet. Reserve at 63 Sixty Three at 6363 W. Airport Blvd. will be dropped from RCR reporting if the property is not acquired by a HAA member.

10. Adjourn

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS:

• Consider support funding for HPD S. Gessner Division – Gang Unit training.

• Consider renewal of Interlocal Agreement between Harris County, on behalf of Office of Harris County Attorney, and Harris County Improvement District #5 (Brays Oaks Management District) for nuisance abatement services.

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