Department News

Department News

Affirmative Action

Farewell to Phillip Yelder, Pearlie Nobles, George Edwards and Linda Gardner.

Welcome back Gordon Goss.

Congrats to Joseph Kurian, promoted to division manager, and to Yvette Cormier, promoted to administrative associate.

– Patsy Jackson

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Aviation

Kathy Elek and Sara Culbreth, Aviation deputy director, go Texan at the HAS Go Texan Day cook-off.

With service to more than 115 domestic and 73 international destinations, the Houston Airport System served 48 million passengers last year, an increase of about 6.9 percent from 2004.

Perry Miller, the new Ellington Field airport manager, served 15 years in Aviation.

Former Rockets star Clyde Drexler, voted one of the National Basketball Association’s 50 best all-time players, opened a retail store at Bush Intercontinental Airport’s Terminal C. The Clyde Drexler Sports Scene debuted Feb. 17, with Mayor Pro Tem Carol Alvarado and U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee among a crowd of about 100. Houston pro and college team apparel and souvenirs are available at the store.

Bush and Hobby will be the first national airports to use Honeywell International’s Radar Video Surveillance. This perimeter and intrusion-detection system tracks moving targets on the ground and prevents unauthorized access onto the airfields. Installation will be complete this summer.

Trammell Crow Co. will build Bush’s new International Air CargoCentre II, a 60,000-square-foot facility that will offer ramp access for cargo airlines and for importers and distributors of perishable goods such as produce and fresh-cut flowers. Tenants will enjoy the convenience of the adjacent Federal Inspection Services Center, a one-stop area for all federal cargo inspection services.

On Feb. 24, Aviation employees at the administration building and at Hobby celebrated Go Texan Day with chili cook-offs and raffles. At the administration building cook-off, Michelle Spencer won first place, Charles Siverand was second and Sharon Smith took third. At Hobby, Susan Boyte and Fred Hambrick won … Weather permitting, Paul Spada, wellness coordinator, is leading fitness walks over the wooded trail behind the administration building every workday at noon and 1 p.m.

The School of Urban and Public Affairs, affiliated with the University of Texas/Arlington, has a new scholarship sponsored by the Texas chapter of the American Planning Association in honor of former airport planner John Jackson. A 1981 graduate, Jackson, who died in 2004, helped prepare the master plans for all three airports. For more information, visit www.uta.edu/supa/content/view/85/35/ or call (817) 272-3071.

Eric Potts, Aviation deputy director, Councilwoman Carol Alvarado, and Clyde Drexler inaugurate the new Clyde Drexler Sports Scene store at Bush Intercontinental Airport.

– Juan Alanis

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Building Services

Best wishes to William D. Reesby, assistant director of the design and construction division, on his retirement. His 19 years of service in improving the city’s building environment will be long remembered and appreciated.

Congratulations to Wendy Teas Heger on her promotion to chief of the design and construction division.

Welcome to Forest Christy Jr.

The department initiated the first step in holding contractors accountable for poor performance on city projects by prohibiting three contractors from doing business with the city for two years. The contractor debarment ordinance allows the city to prohibit irresponsible contractors from bidding on or receiving city projects as a prime contractor or a subcontractor.

– Jacquelyn Nisby

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City Council

No submission from this office.

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City Secretary

No submission from this office.

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Controller's Office

No submission from this office.

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Convention & Entertainment

Mingling with Olympic champion speed skater Chad Hedrick, third from left, at the Fresh Air Friday rally at Jones Plaza March 31 are Convention & Entertainment Facilities Department employees Gail Benyacine, Gina Guidry, Ted Bowen and Anna Hawley.

Events at the George R. Brown Convention Center associated with the NBA All-Star Game went off without a hitch. Director Dawn Ullrich cited the efforts of Luther Villagomez, Ric Booth, Anna Hawley, Dave Osterhout, Joyce Watson, Veronica McClelland, Joey Granado, Ed King, Rachel Lampe, Marci Montoya, John Gonzalez, John Roschal, Miguel Macias and Tim Smith.

Welcome newcomers: Sharon Adams, Jimmie Cauley, Nikki Cooper, Carmen Solis, Ron Johnson, Phil Scheps, Beverly Peterson, Melonie Curry, Patricia Patrick and Jerry Keeth … City Council agreed to finance and build a 630-car underground parking garage directly across from the GRB, below the future site of an 11.8-acre park. The two-level garage will serve the convention center, the park, and other public parking needs. It will offset the combined capacity of the two surface lots that will be demolished. The garage and park are expected to be completed in late 2007.

The electronic newsletter, “C&E News” made its debut Feb. 24 and joins “GRB newsTrak,” the department’s other monthly e-blast newsletter.

CJ’s at Plaza Bistro, the new eatery at Jones Plaza, is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for breakfast and lunch. For pickup orders, call (281) 236-8973.

Renovations for parking lot C, bounded by Memorial Drive and Houston Avenue, are in the planning stage. Improvements will include a lighted bus shelter for city employees waiting for the shuttle.

The Bagby-to-Sabine section of the Buffalo Bayou Hike & Bike Trail is nearly complete. The beautification project includes lighting upgrades, irrigation, landscaping, and a new bridge that spans the bayou behind Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.

– Pete Radowick

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Finance & Administration

Goodbye to Lucy Broadway, retired after more than 40 years. Also, happy retirement to Mae Smith and Ralph Faulkner.

A warm welcome to Hannah Hoang, who transferred from IT, Barbara Glick, Jennifer Curley, Julie Zhou, Pik Lau, Yun Qiao, Vernita Jones, Sreng Ung, Valerie Barry, Kathy Maldonado, Lynn Duong-Coley and Mike Hall.

Goodbye to Ron Headley, who transferred to ERP.

– Janie Canino

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Fire

Firefighters participate in Shattered Dreams at Kingwood High School. The program, which included a mock drinking and driving accident, raised awareness about the dangers associated with drinking and driving.

The Emergency Medical Squad celebrated 35 years in operation April 10.

HFD joined the Police Department, Hermann Life Flight, and The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to host the Shattered Dreams program March 8-9 at Kingwood High School. The program raises awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving and included a drinking and driving mock accident.

One year after his death in the line of duty, a memorial garden celebrating the life of Capt. Grady Burke was dedicated at Fire Station 46, 3902 Corder.

The Commission on Fire Accreditation International announced HFD will continue to be an accredited agency. The CFAI, a nonprofit corporation that promotes excellence within the fire service, first accredited the department in April 2001. The CFAI accredits fire and emergency service agencies that successfully complete an in-depth self-assessment and on-site evaluation.

The HFD African-American Trailblazer’s Recognition was Feb. 24 at the Marriott Westchase Houston Hotel. This breakfast celebration honored the first black firefighters and the department’s first black officers. The event included entertainment, awards and speeches by Chief Phil Boriskie and Assistant Chief Rick Flanagan. An exhibit honoring the first black HFD firefighters is at the Houston Fire Museum, 2403 Milam.

During a ribbon-cutting ceremony Feb. 21, Councilwoman Pam Holm, Boriskie, and others welcomed firefighters to Station 86, 14300 Briar Forest Dr. The station houses an ambulance, squad and engine.

On Feb. 1, HFD donated used equipment, including hoses, medical supplies, and firefighter gear, to Tampico, Mexico.

– Alicia Whitehead

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Health & Human Services

A warm welcome to Barbara Sudhoff McGill, the department’s new bureau chief of quality assurance.

The Immunization Bureau will recognize 74 medical providers that exceeded an 80 percent rate of up-to-date immunizations among children in their patient caseloads. The bureau, which offers education and evaluation of providers to increase Houston’s immunization rate, is sponsoring the recognition dinner in observance of National Infant Immunization Week April 24-30.

The Bureau of Air Quality Control has an eighth air-monitoring facility in south Houston adjacent to the environmental health services division. The facility monitors ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. Air monitors also measure wind direction, wind speed, wind gusts, solar radiation, ultraviolet radiation, barometric pressure, relative humidity, precipitation and temperature. Measurements become a part of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and EPA databases. BAQC reviews and validates the data.

Housing & Community Development

On Jan. 28, Mayor Bill White and board members from the India House joined more than 1,000 people for the groundbreaking ceremony of India House Community Center, 8880 West Bellfort. The 12,000-square-foot center will offer youth programs including after-school programs, computer literacy and job preparation skills. Other services will include senior programs, education/enrichment classes and recreation. Services will assist low and moderate-income people.

On Feb. 18, Oprah Winfrey, along with the staff from Oprah’s Angel Network, joined Judge Ruben Guerrero, staff from the Homebuyer’s Assistance Program, HUD’s Edward Pringle, and Habitat for Humanity staff for a ceremony at which eight families displaced by Hurricane Katrina received down payments and assistance from HAP. The homes are located on Angel Boulevard in southwest Houston.

At a Jan. 19 press conference, Wilson, HUD’s Pringle and secretary Alphonso Jackson, and other dignitaries announced a national campaign to fight hurricane evacuee housing discrimination. The campaign teaches evacuees about housing laws and increases recognition of fair housing rights and reports of housing discrimination.

The department formed a committee to help assess housing and community development needs of low- and moderate-income residents, particularly the homeless, elderly and HIV positive. The Advisory Task Force Committee is comprised of representatives from corporations, nonprofits, public and quasi-public agencies, neighborhood-based organizations and community leaders.

Houston Emergency Center

Welcome Erica Avie, Arlexza Aviles, Stephen Bissell, Felicia Buckner, Gemar Burnom, Fred Cagle, Rolanda Carter, Charlotte Caston, Amanda Cinco, Martha Dias, Juanesa Epps, Shanna Ezidore, Jonathan Kobe, Tonya Lawson, Jose Limon, Kevin Martin, Kobi Martin, Christina Martinez, Christopher Maxie, Tenesia McAnally, Yolanda Mohamoud, Sedonia Murray, James Myrick, Annette Petty, Andres Pradia, Brittny Sanford, Stephanie Scott, Jonathan Titus, Lupe Torres, Johnnie Warner, Fernanya Winston, Jennifer Wyrick and Hilda Yarn.

Congratulations to David Killebrew, Janie Lozano and Donna Paul for well-deserved promotions.

Human Resources

Department employees can read words of praise about them and their co-workers at HR’s Kudos intranet site. The site includes e-mails and letters received from other city employees, retirees and outside vendors. Visit www.choice.net, and click on HR. Under Events, click on Kudos.

John Perry was recognized by Mayor Bill White and City Council for his achievements in journalism in city publications.

The risk management division has four new faces in the worker’s comp section: Leslie Merriman, Betsy Ramos, Jillian McKenzie and Andrea Arenas. Also, Dana Doan comes from Parks.

At the Mayor’s Service Awards April 3, Mayor Bill White and the HR department honored 301 employees with 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 years with the city. Johnny Raia, Planning & Development, and Eddie Meschwitz, Fire, were recognized for 50 years of service.

Information Technology

Legal

The following employees won special recognition: Leslie Davis, outstanding staff member; Alice Wilson, outstanding legal assistant; Rachel Suarez, outstanding attorney; Bonita Tolbert, mentor; Don Fleming, team player; Eric Sarrafian, most innovative; and Nicole Montgomery, Edward A. Cazares Award for outstanding work in public law.

Congratulations to Mark Simpson, winner of the 4th Quarter Eagle Award for going the extra mile in his job.

HPD Capt. Bruce Williams commended Nirja Aiyer, Veena Krishnan, Tara Long, and Vanessa Bell for their help closing Breakers Pool Hall.

Recognition to Tonya Bradley, who became qualified to provide certified legal assistant services.

Kudos to Don Cheatham, chief of the general counsel division, for his presentation on ethics to more than 1,000 city department managers, members of city commissions, architects, engineers and contractors; and to Mia Settle-Vinson, assistant city attorney, who assisted with the presentation.

Kudos to Andrea Chan, who has participated in two dozen statewide triathlons, most recently the Seabrook Luck Trails competition. She also will be competing this June in the Danskin Women’s Triathlon, which entails a half-mile swim, 12-mile bike ride, and 3-mile run.

Celebrating milestones are Bonnie Ashcroff and Belinda Villarreal, 15 years; and Richard Gonzales and Kuruvilla Oommen, 5 years.

Welcome Rachel Hygh, Willis Ray, Leonard Rubin, Erica Schwam, Marilyn Gonzalez, Carolyn Lacye, Winnett Knox, Elizabeth Jennings, Stephanie Lake and Antonio Martinez.

Library

Welcome new employees: Linda Nguyen; Lois Kraft; Justin Ewald; Sean Harrell; Ana Santana; Timothy Siegel; Lidia Ortiz; Amy Wegner; Daniel Morgan; and Jason Stephen.

Congratulations on well-deserved promotions to: Dionne McLaughlin; Nicholas Garafalo; Tiffany Johnson; Sarah Ortiz; Robert Ha; and JoAnn Jenkins.

Best wishes and happy retirement to: William Howard; Kenneth Clebourn; and Elvia Pillado.

The library connects students in the fourth through 12th grade with tutors in math, science, social studies and English via the Internet. This free service is available at all library locations and from home or schools for students with library cards. Live Homework Help is available everyday, 3 p.m. - 10 p.m. Spanish tutoring is available from Sunday through Thursday, 3 p.m. - 9 p.m. For more information, call (832) 393-1313 or go to www.houstonlibrary.org.

Mayor's Office

The Mayor’s correspondence office is new and improved. All Mayor’s Office postal and e-mails will be electronically monitored via 311. Response to citizens’ and employees’ requests will be made within 72 hours, and the electronic system is more environmentally friendly. The office is staffed by Gwen Goins, Esmeralda Torres, Tamara Middleton and Arturo Pedraza.

Municipal Courts Administration

Municipal Courts Judicial

Parks & Recreation

As part of the Jan. 20 Arbor Day celebration at Diez Park, the Texas Forest Service awarded the department a $30,000 grant. The grant will help fund the Houston Tree Count program, which provides funding for forestry personnel to inventory Houston’s trees and develop a canopy-management plan.

The second annual Health and Wellness Town Hall Meeting for People with Disabilities, sponsored by the department, the Houston Commission on Disabilities, and Get Moving Houston, is April 27, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Metropolitan Multi-Service Center. Mayor Bill White will be special guest and keynote speaker.

The Playgrounds Without Limits Campaign kicked off March 6 on KHOU-TV Channel 11. The goal of this private fundraising campaign is to build three inclusive playgrounds in Houston. For information, visit www.hpbinc.org.

Fonde Recreation Center received a facelift and dedication during the Fonde Rec Center Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony during NBA All-Star Weekend. Basketball greats and fans packed the center to celebrate and honor recent inductees. This year’s inductees included Moses Malone, Major Jones, Calvin Murphy, John Lucas, Robert Reid, Clyde Drexler, Hakeem Olajuwon, Rodney McCray, Kenny Smith, Allen Leavell, McCoy McLemore, Otto Moore, Dwight Jones, David Lattin and Kim Perrott

Planning & Development

The department recognized a new super neighborhood council, the Greater OST/South Union Super Neighborhood. There are now 43 super neighborhood councils representing 49 super neighborhoods.

Police

Chief Harold Hurtt formed a review committee to investigate car chases that end in accidents causing serious injury or death. The committee will look for trends that indicate whether the department needs to make adjustments in its training, equipment or policy. In 2005, there were 676 pursuits of felony evading suspects resulting in 79 injuries. Of those, 24 were officers, 41 were fleeing suspects, 12 were citizens in other vehicles and two were pedestrians. There were also four deaths, three suspects and one citizen in a vehicle.

On Feb. 16, the department hosted an international delegation of print journalists and editors from Nigeria, Pakistan, and Singapore. The journalists are traveling to U.S. cities as guests of the U.S. Department of State to examine the standards, practices, and institutions of print journalism in America. They visited HPD’s media relations unit to discuss relations between reporters and local law enforcement.

On Feb. 27, YMCA officials presented the department with thousands of teddy bears for traumatized children. Local radio station KSBJ, 89.3 FM, teamed up with Houston-area YMCAs to collect the bears.

For the 22nd year, the department observed “March On Crime/ Lucha Contra El Crimen 2006” to heighten awareness of crime and encourage citizens to help reduce crime. The focus is to educate the public on crime in their neighborhoods and offer crime-prevention strategies. The first week looked at domestic violence, the second week focused on personal safety, the third week examined child and cyber safety, and the last week dealt with identity theft and fraud.

Public Works & Engineering

The E. B. Cape Center welcomes Pat Evans, Eadie Regenburgh, Carlos De Hoyos, Jennifer Hamrick and Barbara Felder.

Kenneth Brown, John Coots and Ricci Harrison earned A Level certifications in water production from the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality. This is the highest level of certification awarded by the state.

Solid Waste Management

John Bell was recognized by Mayor Bill White at the Service Award luncheon for 30 years of service.

Congratulations to the employees of the quarter. First quarter winners were Demarcus Glass, Debra Blackshear, Ralph Sanchez, Debra Leassear, and Demetria Reed. Second quarter winners were Todd Johnson, Diverna Dickey, Clifford Nash, Kenneth Moshay, and Fidel Arias. Keep up the good work!

Katherine Wade completed the CAPS I and II classes. Wade was selected by her classmates to serve as class speaker at the CAPS graduation March 16 at the E.B. Cape Center.

The department and Keep Houston Beautiful will be hosting an environmental summit June 1. Registration and additional information can be found at www.houstonsolidwaste.org.

Best wishes to retirees Genaro Cooley, Valerie Johnson, Gracie Paley, Frank C. Lopez, Charles Ross, Quinton T. Jones, and William Sierra. We appreciate your contributions to our department and to the Houston community.