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| President's Message |
| Auggie Campbell, President, West Houston Association |
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 We ended March with a hit: The City Issues Forum featuring Mayor Turner gathered more than 220 attendees. April is loaded with WHA events and activities. Our next hit will be the second annual Sporting Clays event on April 18th. WHA will end the month with its first Technical Forum of 2016 on the Envision Rating System (April 28th). Throughout April, we will host other activities, like a mobility workshop and six committee meetings. read more
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| Event Review: City Issues Forum with Mayor Turner |
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 “We want those people who come to the Super Bowl next February to think that Houston is not just a nice place to visit but a wonderful place to raise their families and open their businesses,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner to a crowd of approximately 220 at WHA’s City Issues Forum.
The developers, engineers, lawyers, consultants, and elected officials that made up the vast majority of the audience were receptive to the Mayor’s message of seeking to share and sacrifice to build on the vision and opportunities that made Houston a great city. The Mayor recognized City of Houston Council Members Jack Christie, Amanda Edwards, David Robinson, and Robert Gallegos, as well as State Representative Armando Walle, Katy Mayor Fabol Hughes, Hedwig Village Mayor Brian Muecke, and many other elected officials. read more |
| Event Preview: Envision Technical Forum with Tarrant Regional Water District |
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 Many developers and engineers know of the Envision® infrastructure rating system but very few have any project experience with the system. In fact, Tarrant Regional Water District, which serves the Fort Worth area, is the only entity in Texas with an Envision rated project. On April 28th, Rachel Ickert and Shelly Hattan of Tarrant Regional Water District will discuss the business case that drove the District’s use of Envision®; and explain why the District is using Envision® again.
Ms. Ickert and Ms. Hatten describe how and why their Line J Section 1 Pipeline project was the first project in Texas to receive an Envision® Project Award. WHA Member Michael Bloom will present an overview of the rating system itself; highlights of the credits available; a description of how project sponsors can seek official recognition; and how individuals can become credentialed to use the system. The group will look at how TRWD will use Envision in the future and what sort of projects in the Houston area would benefit from Envision ratings. The forum will conclude with an audience participation question and answer session.
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| QPD Community Review: Cane Island’s METRO Van Program Attracts The Energy Corridor’s Attention |
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METRO STAR has partnered with Rise Communities, LLC, to develop a vanpool program for current and future resident of Cane Island. Cane Island is Rise’s master-planned community and WHA Quality Planned Development located near IH-10 and the new Cane Island Parkway interchange being built west of Katy’s Pin Oak interchange. Many of the likely residents of 2,000 homes to be built in Cane Island will work in the Energy Corridor. read more
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| Westchase District Engages Local Leaders for Mobility Planning |
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 On March 8th, the Westchase District publicly launched its latest mobility study with the aid of more than 20 community leaders. This Westchase Mobility Steering Committee will meet over the next six months to review mobility conditions in Westchase and recommend future improvements.
Since the West Houston Association helped found the Westchase District, the District has been a leader in developing mobility improvements in west Houston. The Districts first mobility plan was undertaken in 2001. In 2011, the District’s Pedestrian/Transit Access Master Plan added to the wealth of research and planning that has occurred to keep the Westchase area a highly mobile area. read more |
| Committee Updates & Related News |
| Education & Workforce Development: |
| Chair: Chanda Cashen Chacon, Texas Children’s Hospital |
Next meeting: April 18th, 2 pm at Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus
The Education Committee met on February 29th and established Chanda Chacon as the Chair. The committee also developed a mission statement. The committee will focus on building cooperation and joint-programs between our current institutional members (e.g. Katy ISD, HCC, U of H, Texas Childrens’, etc.).
At the April 18th Meeting, committee members will explore how to develop data and resources with the aim of developing educational programs and partnerships that create more opportunities for students at local places of employment.
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Flood Control, Drainage & Wetlands:
Guidelines Completion |
| Chair: Lee Lennard, Brown & Gay Engineers, Inc. |
Next meeting: April 11th, 2 pm at WHA’s Office
On March 29th, Harris County Commissioners’ Court passed the Supplemental Guidelines and Criteria for Developing in the Addicks/Barker Watersheds and the Upper Cypress Creek Watershed Upstream of U.S. 290 (the “Supplemental Guidelines”). HCFCD officials stripped out language relating to Bear Creek and a “minimum” easement width of 500 feet.
The committee recommended that the WHA Board support the Supplemental Guidelines contingent upon the addition of suitable variance language. The committee and HCFCD officials also agreed to meet again to discuss other major drainage policy issues.
The Committee will meet on April 11th to develop policy priorities.
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Parks, Recreation, & Open Space:
West Houston Master Trail Plan |
| Chair: Chris Patterson, RVI, Inc. |
Next Meeting: April 20th, 2pm at Rick Rice Park (Guests: Rick Rice Park Design Team)
On February 24th, Robert Rayburn addressed a meeting of the Parks, Recreation, & Open Space Committee to provide a summary of and update on the West Houston Trails Master Plan. The Committee discussed the steps necessary to develop a WHA list of recommended of park project priorities and also discussed at parties and means necessary to implement these projects.
On April 20th the PRO Committee will meet at Rick Rice Park to see how the Interstate 10 MUD put together a team, built support, and issued recreational bonds to construct a fantastic facility while continuing to lower tax rates.
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Regional Mobility:
Developing Project Priorities |
| Chair: Mark Kilkenny, Mischer Investments |
Next Meeting: May 9th at noon in WHA’s office. The meeting will focus on WHA’s project priorities for 2017.
On March 7th, the Regional Mobility Committee met and discussed how to develop a list of project priorities. Members reviewed a summary of projects from the Greater West Houston Mobility Plan, the Energy Corridor District priority list, and other studies. The committee agreed to continue reviewing various studies and suggestions for potential projects as well as refining criteria for inclusion on WHA’s list. Once the committee has gathered potential projects, the committee will recommend support for three lists of projects: red, yellow, and green. “Red List” projects are immediately necessary and should be included as amendments to the applicable TIP and CIP if possible. “Yellow List” projects should be included in the upcoming, applicable TIP or CIP for construction within ten years, and “Green List” projects should be considered in the Regional Transportation Plan for construction in the next twenty years.
The regular meeting on May 9th will focus on WHA’s mobility project priorities for 2017; the committee will invite engineers from the Harris County Commissioners’ offices.
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Sustainable Infrastructure:
Technical Forum Proposed |
| Chair: Jim Russ, EHRA |
Next meeting: April 12th, 7:30 am at EHRA’s Office
On March 8th, the Sustainable Infrastructure committee met and listened to Michael Bloom’s presentation on the Nuts and Bolts of Envision Rating System. The group also finalized the format and location of its April 28th Technical Forum. The committee explored how to provide recognition for development teams and started to develop criteria in a sustainability award matrix.
On April 12th, the committee will review the sustainability award matrix and ideas on recognition for sustainable development efforts. The committee will also finalize plans for the upcoming Technical Forum.
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Water Resources:
Reviewing Regional Projects |
| Chair: Jack Miller, R.G. Miller |
Next meeting: May 19th, 2 pm at WHA’s Office
The Water Resources Committee met on March 24th, 2016 from 2pm-4pm. The committee also discussed the Draft 2017 Texas Water Plan, the committee’s water policy document, and the upcoming technical forum this summer. The proposed forum (around July 19th) will focus on the challenges and opportunities of Water Reuse Project in Master Planned Developments.
The Water Resource Committee meeting on May 24th will Jeff Benjamin, the City of Houston’s Project Director for the Northeast Water Purification Plant (NEWPP), gave a presentation on the City of Houston’s $1.3B design-build project to expand the NEWPP.
The meeting on May 19th will focus on updating its water policy document, plans for its technical forum, and identifying projects in the Texas Water Plan (and projects that should be in the Plan) that WHA can support.
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| Member News: |
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| On March 22nd, Parkside Capital and Rise Communities celebrated the opening of Cane Island Interchange, which links U.S. Highway 90 with Interstate 10. This interchange will serve West Ten Business Park and Cane Island. |
| WHA on Social Media |
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| The West Houston Association is working to increase our presence on social media via Facebook and Twitter. Please like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to keep up with the endeavors, events, committees and current issues of the West Houston Association. |
2016 Planned WHA Events
Look for more details in 2016 as these event dates and times are confirmed. |
Monday
April 18
1-6 pm |
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WHA Sporting Clays Tournament
American Shooting Centers |
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Thursday
April 28
7:30 am |
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Envision Technical Forum
Westchase Marriot |
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Tuesday
May 24
12-2 pm |
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County Issues Forum
Westin, City Centre |
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Thursday
August 11
6-9 pm |
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WHA Bowling Tournament
Bowl & Barrel, City Centre |
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August 30
5-8 pm |
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West Houston Delegation Reception
Westin, Memorial City |
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Mid-Sept.
7-9 pm |
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State Issues Forum
Westin, Memorial City |
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Monday
October 3
12-6 pm |
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WHA Golf Tournament
Meadowbrook Farms Golf Club |
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Thursday
November 17
12-2 pm |
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Tri-County Forum
Marriot, Westchase |
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Thursday
December 15
6-9 am |
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Holiday Reception
Westin, Memorial City |
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| *Dates and venues are subject to revision based on scheduling and contract considerations. |
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