Brays Oaks Management District Infrastructure Committee met Sept. 5

Brays Oaks Management District Infrastructure Committee met Sept. 5.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

The Brays Oaks Management District Infrastructure Committee held a meeting via Zoom video conference on September 05, 2024, at 3:30 PM.

District Board and Committee members present: Etan Mirwis, Ralph Rieger, Cindy Chapman, Jodi Hamilton, Sheri Cortez

Staff members present: Josh Hawes, Cosme Garcia, Andrea Duhon

Public present: Naomi Ostfeld, Bill Burhans – WWGC, Karen Rogers – M2L, Ronnie Plotkin, Stephen Polnaszek – Neighborhood to Trails, Gerda Gomez, Brenda Jackson, Mike Bercu – Houston One Voice, Skip Reeder – Houston One Voice, Eddie Espinosa

Committee Chair Etan Mirwis called the meeting to order at 3:35 PM, and the committee meeting adjourned at 4:40 PM.

THE COMMITTEE CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING:

1. Call to order

2. Public Comment

a. No public comments were received.

3. Minutes of 8/08/2024 Infrastructure Committee Meeting

a. Committee meeting minutes submitted for reference.

4. Updates & Recommendations

a. Fondren Rd. Project

i. Committee Chair Mirwis advised the committee that he had a productive meeting with HPW, Mayor Pro-Tem Martha Castex-Tatum, M2L, and Gauge Engineering, The project is not in jeopardy of losing funding. Mayor Pro-Tem Castex Tatum is supportive of the project and is working to meet with the Director of HPW.

ii. Ms. Rogers advised she will be in contact with the Mayor Pro-Tem’s office. The layout of the intersection is not finalized; the design of the intersection will determine the nature and scope of the district’s requests of the city. Committee Chair Etan requested M2L represent the current enhancement requests to the committee next month.

iii. Ms. Ostfeld advised that the project is on hold because the project contains lane reductions. Additionally, it’s her understanding that the project is still in the first phase.

b. Ruffino Detention Project

i. Mr. Reeder gave an update on the status of the project. His organization (Houston One Voice) asked for support funding to cover their administrative expenses. They are still searching for grant funding for area detention projects. 

ii. Director Cortez inquired if the request should go through the grants committee. 

iii. Committee Chair Mirwis advised that he didn’t believe it was a grant request and since it’s been on the infrastructure agenda he thought it was appropriate for the request to be forward from his committee to the board for consideration.

iv. Executive Director Hawes advised that the city is working on a land swap with Bellaire. He further advised that the district must have an accounting of how the support funding will benefit the district and requested a detailed plan in writing.

v. Director Chapman advised that it may make sense for Houston One Voice to also apply through the grant process.

vi. Ms. Ostfeld advised that HCFCD believes that Ruffino detention will greatly benefit the community. However, the funding is unavailable; Houston One Voice is trying to find the funding.

vii. Director Cortez advised Houston One Voice should have presented the committee with a written proposal for review before submitting it to the board for consideration.

c. Spellman Detention Project

i. No update.

d. Spring Village Apartments Detention Project (11810 Chimney Rock)

i. Director Chapman advised that City Council has allocated funding for demolition and asbestos mitigation last month.

e. Boardwalk Apartments Detention Project (9100 Fondren Rd.)

i. Mr. Plotkin advised that the property is not being kept up.

ii. Executive Director Hawes advised that he would contact District J.

f. West Bellfort Traffic Study

i. Committee Chair Mirwis advised that the study is under review by the city. 

g. Concerns regarding McGee Ln.

i. Committee Chair Mirwis advised that DH Homes has engaged their engineer to design a solution to the flooding and the plan has been presented to the city for consideration.

h. TIRZ 20 Update

i. Executive Director Hawes advised that a special meeting was held; negotiations to purchase property that will have an impact on the drainage in the Chimney Rock area are ongoing.

5. Update on Willow Waterhole Greenway trail project

a. Executive Director Hawes advised that updates will no longer be provided as the project is complete according to Bill Burhans.

b. West of S. Post Oak

c. East of S. Post Oak

6. Adjourn

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS:

• The committee recommended forwarding the Houston One Voice request for support funding to the board for consideration.

https://www.braysoaksmd.org/meeting-schedule/