Vol. 3, Issue 1 – 01.07.22

HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT, PARTNER OPENING TWO ADDITIONAL MEGA COVID-19 TESTING SITES

The Houston Health Department and Xpress Covid Testing opened two mega Covid-19 testing sites on Thursday, January 6, further expanding access to meet high demand.

The health department and its partners will operate a total of five mega testing sites by Thursday, in addition to dozens of smaller sites across Houston. At full capacity, the health department’s network of affiliated sites will be able to test approximately 30,000 people each day.

Former Dave & Busters A mega testing site opened on January 6 at the former Dave & Buster’s at 6010 Richmond Ave. in partnership with Xpress Covid Testing. It has a daily capacity of approximately 1,000 tests.The site will operate Mondays through Saturdays in January from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Appointments are not required. Kingwood Community Center The department and Xpress Covid Testing opened a mega testing site at Kingwood Community Center, 4102 Rustic Woods Dr., on January 6. It has a daily capacity of approximately 800 tests. The site will operate Mondays through Saturdays in January from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Appointments are not required. Existing Mega Testing Sites The department partnered with United Memorial Medical Center for a new mega testing site at Butler Stadium, 13755 S Main St. It opened on January 5 with a daily capacity of approximately 1,000 tests. The site operates Mondays through Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments are not required. A mega testing site at Delmar Stadium, 2020 Mangum Rd., opened in partnership with Curative on December 29 with a daily capacity of approximately 1,000 tests. The site requires appointments via Curative.com or 1-888-702-9042. It operates daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. A mega testing site at Minute Maid Park Lot C, 510 St. Emanuel St., opened on December 30 in partnership with DAVACO and increased daily capacity to approximately 1,000 tests this week. Appointments are required at mycovidappoitment.com or by calling 833-213-0643. The site operates from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and noon to 8 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays. Additional Testing Sites The health department offers testing at four multi-service centers and a network of dozens of sites affiliated with Curative, United Memorial Medical Center, and Xpress Covid Testing. Sites, schedules, and appointment information are available at HoustonHealth.org or by calling 832-393-4220. Getting tested or vaccinated at health department-affiliated sites is free, and does not require proof of residency, citizenship, or insurance.

Monday, January 17, 2022 (MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY)
CITY HOLIDAY: No Collection services. All Solid Waste Facilities including the Neighborhood Depositories/Recycling Centers, Westpark Recycling Center, Environmental Service Center and The Reuse Warehouse will be closed. All services may run a day behind through the end of the week.

Tuesday, January 18, 2022
Monday’s garbage, B – Week curbside recycling, 3rd Monday & 3rd Tuesday Tree Waste will be collected. Neighborhood Depositories, Westpark Recycling Center and Reuse Warehouse will re-open.

Wednesday, January 19, 2022
Tuesday’s garbage, B – Week curbside recycling and Yard Waste will be collected.

Thursday, January 20, 2022
Normal schedule resumes.
For more information, visit the Neighborhood Depository/Recycling Center web page or call 3-1-1. You may also use the following resources.
Facebook – Updated daily
Link: City of Houston Solid Waste Management – Posts | Facebook
HTX Collects- an app used to update you about your service in real-time. You can also use the link on the website to get an update.

Link: https://www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/htxcollects.html

January 5, 2022Item #18 
Motion passed to approve an Ordinance (i) de-appropriating the sum of $172,865.00 out of the Parks Consolidated Construction Fund from the Task Order/Job Order (TOC/JOC) Contracting Program for FY15 (previously appropriated by Ordinance No. 2015—318); (ii) appropriating an amount of $694,168.00; and (iii) award a construction contract to Landscape Art, Inc. for the proposal amount of $617,425.00 to provide construction services for Harwin Park for the Houston Parks and Recreation Department.
On April 8, 2015, by Ordinance No. 2015-318, City Council appropriated $450,000.00 out of the Parks Consolidated Construction Fund to the Task Order/Job Order (TOC/JOC) Contracting Program for FY15, for improvements to Alief Park & Community Center Parking Lot. It was determined that the Alief Community Center and parking lot were scheduled for replacement in future years and that the funding would be better used to improve Boone Road Park and Harwin Park playgrounds in District F.  The Boone Road Playground was completed in 2019 in the amount of $277,135.00, therefore, this action will de-appropriate the remaining $172,865.00 out of the TOC/JOC Contracting Program for FY15, and appropriate an equivalent amount to the construction contract with Landscape Art, Inc.
Project location: 11305 Harwin Drive, Houston TX, 77072
Item #23
Motion passed on Municipal Setting Designation Ordinance prohibiting the use of designated groundwater beneath a tract of land containing 145.935 acres commonly known as 12000 Bissonnet Street, Houston, Harris County, Texas; supporting issuance of a Municipal Setting Designation by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality at the request of BISSONNET 136, LLC.
Bissonnet 136, LLC was seeking a Municipal Setting Designation (MSD) for 145.935 acres of land located at 12000 Bissonnet Street, Houston, TX 77099. The contamination consists of arsenic and manganese. The site is comprised of two former landfills, the DSPV Landfill and the Olshan Landfill. Both landfills began operations in the 1970s, with the Olshan Landfill ceasing operations in the late 1980s and the DSPV Landfill ceasing operations in 1999. Circa 2000 the site was developed as the Sugar Hills Golf Course which operated until 2005. The site has been unmaintained since 2005. A licensed Professional Engineer has certified that the area of contamination has been thoroughly investigated, is fully delineated and is stable.
Bissonnet 136, LLC was seeking an MSD for this property to restrict access to groundwater to protect the public against possible exposure to the contaminants. There is a public drinking water supply system that meets state requirements that supplies or is capable of supplying drinking water to the MSD property and all properties within one-half mile of the MSD property. A public meeting was held on August 11, 2021 via Microsoft Teams and a public hearing was held on October 12, 2021 during the Regulatory and Neighborhood Affairs Council Committee. Both meetings are necessary steps prior to City Council’s consideration of support.

Jack Cagle, Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner
Harris County Precinct 4
1001 Preston, Suite 950
Houston, Texas 77002
Phone: 713-755-6444Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher, TX-7
Houston Office5599 San Felipe Road Suite 950
Houston, TX 77056
Phone: (713) 353-8680