February 18, 2025
A quorum was recognized. The hybrid meeting began at 7:00 PM. On-site snacks were provided by Nick Whitaker and Natalie Matuszcsak. Thanks!
Nick Whitaker, CAFMC president, requested that members sign in on the sheet at the table so we would be able to take a roll call vote if necessary. If your name appears in orange, it means your membership is expiring. You have till March 2, 2025 to maintain voting rights and membership.
Agenda
- Neighborhood and Officer Updates
- Payment of dues
- Election of Historian
- CAFMC Survey Results
- Project Ideas
- Questions and Announcements
Dues can be paid via the community website: www.firstmontrosecommons.org. We are no longer accepting Venmo for payment.
Neighborhood Updates:
Complaints were made about the Monarch dumpster at Branard at last month’s meeting. The Monarch Center has been made aware of the problem and will try and remedy the situation. They believe that others have been taking advantage of having an available dumpster.
A water oak was cut down behind the Monarch Center. The tree was at the end of its normal lifespan and was dangerously dropping branches. As a point of information, CAFMC cannot do anything about trees on private property. We will pursue information about tree removals when possible.
TIRZ 27 has authorized a contractor for Phase I of the Montrose Project between the bayou and Clay Street. The updated plan should be on their website. METRO will handle Phases II & III, working in conjunction with TIRZ 27 to include improved drainage.
A West Alabama project study is underway. We will ask for a presentation.
There was no update on the sidewalk ordinance or the short-term rental ordinance.
The Neartown meeting will be held on February 25.
Anna Smith, the Montrose representative for Abbie Kamin’s office spoke to the group. Warming Centers will be opening starting Wednesday evening, in anticipation of the cold front that is arriving to the area.
You can sign up on the Council C website (www.houstontx.gov/council/c/) for a newsletter from Ms. Kamin’s office. She also sends out daily alerts.
Council C just completed an e-cycling event with over 5000 pounds of electronics collected.
A rain barrel “give-away” is scheduled for April. The cost will be $10 per barrel, a substantially subsidized price. You must sign up for a rain barrel and selections will be made from that list.
An annual report will be published in the next few weeks. Abbie’s office has resolved over 250 constituent cases during the month of January alone and answered thousands of e-mails.
A member asked Nick about the erratic neighborhood recycling schedule. The waste removal priorities are:
- Waste
- Recycling
- Heavy trash
You can file a 311 request if your trash is not picked up appropriately.
Election of Historian
The historian’s responsibility is:
- To maintain historical records of the association
- Chair committees on Historic Preservation
- Attend or appoint a representative to a committee to attend the Houston Archeological Meetings and Historical Commission meetings.
Steve Longmire volunteered for the position. He already has fourteen years of records, attends meetings, and was instrumental in securing our Historic District status.
Bradley Lau seconded the nomination. Voting was tabled until people waiting in the Zoom waiting room could be admitted.
Survey Results
There were 23 responses to the survey; 22 individual and 1 business.
Most people prefer hybrid meetings (56.5%)
Priorities were:
- Advocating for city and council
- Neighborhood projects
- Social events
- Educational events
For the first (working as an advocate), comments included historic preservation, protecting trees on city properties, better public safety (Crime and Traffic), increasing neighborhood patrols, crosswalks across Alabama, and dealing with the unhoused. It was noted that the Freed Montrose Library has moved to its new location. There are no immediate plans for the old structure.
Suggested social events included a fundraiser for the SPARK Park and informal meet-ups of like-minded groups (Dog owners, cyclists, etc.)
Projects included
- Trash pickup in the neighborhood
- Storm drain cleaning
- A community garden around the perimeter of the SPARK Park
- Volunteer Saturdays to help neighbors-in-need.
- Tree planting
- Doggie waste bags and trash cans
Educational events suggested included a presentation by Preservation Houston
People requested that we keep the newsletter going and make the website more mobile-friendly
Eight people signed up as block captains. There are 31 blocks. We need more volunteers.
The Historian election resumed. Elizabeth Smith requested to co-serve with Steven Longmire. The nomination was seconded. The members voted unanimously to the nomination.
Nick Whitaker brought up the possibility of designating our historic district with signage and offered some examples from other neighborhoods. First Montrose Commons will be difficult to put on a street sign topper. We don’t have a common entrance to have a sign at our entrance. Dr. Longmire did say he has several of the concrete corner markers that we rescued in the past decade but they are mostly broken and require a four-foot hole to secure them. Anyone interested in pursuing markers should contact Nick at whitakerns@gmail.com
Robert Williamson announced that he recently became the Deputy Director of Public Works for the city of Houston. He will work as an advocate for CAFMC. He expressed displeasure about the Monarch Center but recognized “the ship had sailed” on that issue.
Andrew Badachhape, director of communications, let us know that he is preparing a new newsletter and will be adding information to Facebook to inform the neighborhood.
The meeting adjourned at 8:05.