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Affirmative ActionA fond farewell to Safiyah Abdullah. A warm welcome to Vernon Jeffers Anderson, who transferred from the Health & Human Services Department, Lakesha Runnels, Tisheka Brown, and Timothy Warren. Congrats to Siria Harbour, promoted to contract compliance supervisor. The division completed another successful Government Procurement Connections at the George R. Brown Convention Center April 3-4. Business owners, government agencies, contractors and resource and financial organizations attended. GPC 2006 represented a day of intergovernmental cooperation and one-stop shopping for information regarding contracting opportunities. Thanks to Patsy Jackson and Safiyah Abdullah for assisting with the coordination.– Patsy Jackson AviationTotal passenger traffic at Hobby and Bush Intercontinental airports and Ellington Field increased 8.1 percent for January 2006 compared to January 2005. In 2005, HAS served a record-setting 48 million passengers. Firefighters at Bush participated in emergency-response exercises during two weeks of training in April. Three local chambers of commerce staged the 24th annual Bush Intercontinental Airport Appreciation Festival. The Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce, the Humble Area Chamber of Commerce and the North Houston Greenspoint Chamber of Commerce entertained guests with aircraft displays, live music, Texas-style cuisine, children’s games and display booths. – Juan Alanis Building ServicesNo submission from this office. City CouncilNo submission from this office. City SecretaryNo submission from this office. Controller's OfficeNo submission from this office.Convention & EntertainmentWelcome Amy Brown, David Stephenson, Melisa Gonzales, Joe Cooper and Tim Thomas. – Pete Radowick Finance & Administration
Welcome Laura Marquez, Ronald Kissner, Benjamin Holloman, Douglas Moore, Jason Dorough, Jimmie Locke, Katrina Williams, David Webb, Karen Hudson, and Ophelia Riggans. Goodbye and good luck to Alice Ravin, Elnora Marsh, Soledad Stutz and Mae Smith. Congratulations on your promotion to Miquel Alvarez, Pat Vasquez, Roy Korthals, Tameka Hardison, Andei Mattei, Tom Smyer, Gloria King, Martin King, Marilyn Harper, Tim Crabb and Southivone Truong. – Janie Canino FireOn June 8, the department hosted a grand opening of the newly renovated Val Jahnke Training Facility, 8030 Braniff, for area fire departments. The $2 million renovation included remodeling the burn building and drill tower, which have been used extensively since 1969 to train firefighters. In an effort to prevent apartment fires, deaths and injuries, the Fire Department, Police Department, Councilman Adrian Garcia and the Houston Apartment Association announced a new public safety campaign. There were 36 apartment fire fatalities in 2000-2005, and in the past two years there were 1,664 apartment fires, causing more than $25 million in estimated structural damage. HFD has created a free compact disk with safety tips in English and Spanish for apartment managers and owners to distribute to their residents. The department recognized more than 250 members at the spring promotion ceremony May 25. This ceremony included the first African-American fire marshal, Assistant Chief Tyrone Freeman; the first female senior captain, Julia Higgins; the first female senior inspector, Marion Williams; and the first female African-American captain, Lisa Campbell. The command structure was reorganized into four sections: operations, planning, logistics, and finance. Executive Assistant Chief Hector Trevino is in charge of operations with Assistant Chief Carl E. Matejka in charge of emergency operations and Assistant Chief Adrian Trevino in charge of emergency medical services. Executive Assistant Chief Daniel Snell is in charge of planning and homeland security with Freeman as fire marshal, Assistant Chief Thomas Patterson in charge of staff services and Assistant Chief Bill Barry in charge of administration and special operations. Executive Assistant Chief Rick Flanagan takes over logistics, with Assistant Chief Jack Williams in charge of support areas and Assistant Chief Omero Longoria in charge of services. Lisa Hayes, director of the FireStopper’s Program, helped plan the third Statewide Juvenile FireStoppers conference June 21-23 and made several presentations to other Texas departments. Once again, the Juvenile FireStopper’s Program was recognized by the state fire marshal for its continued support. On March 18, more than 300 family, friends and members of the department attended a service at the Houston Firefighters’ Memorial Garden, 4225 Interwood N. Parkway. Firefighters from across the nation will gather in Houston Oct. 26 for the Houston Firefighters’ Safety and Survival Symposium. The program will include hands-on training in the areas of “Save-Our-Own,” “Truck Operations/Ventilation & Forcible Entry,” “RIT Operations,” “Safety & Efficiently Searching Your Complex Structures,” and “SCBA Awareness/Room Orientation.” For more information, visit www.houstonfire.org. More than $2,000 was raised at the second annual Houston Firefighters Charity Golf Classic April 10 at the Westwood Golf Club. Proceeds benefit the Houston Firefighters Protection Fund. Firefighters raised more than $120,000 during the 2006 Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Fill The Boot campaign. – Alicia Whitehead Health & Human ServicesThe Houston/Harris County Immunization Registry won the 2006 American Immunization Registry Association PROW Center of Excellence Award. The registry won for overcoming the challenges faced after Hurricane Katrina. Julie Boom, director of Texas Children’s Hospital Immunization Project, and the Immunization Bureau staff were honored with AIRA’s Special Recognition Award for their efforts on behalf of the families evacuated to Houston after Hurricane Katrina. A warm welcome to new Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care employees Kent Robertson and Dr. Gil Costas. Robertson, who took over as BARC chief in June, has more than 30 years experience directing animal welfare agencies. Costas is veterinary chief of staff. A grand opening ceremony at La Nueva Casa de Amigos Health Center in May recognized the launch of new health services under a partnership between the department and the Harris County Hospital District. The hospital district provides pediatric and prenatal services, health education, and enrolls patients for its services at La Nueva Casa. The partnership seeks to facilitate continuity of care and eliminate duplicate health care resources. La Nueva Casa and the hospital district’s La Casa De Amigos Health Center are located next to each other just north of downtown on Main Street. The department’s health centers provide preventive health services while hospital district clinics offer primary care services. Inspectors with the Bureau of Air Quality will soon have two hi-tech thermography cameras to detect large leaks and plumes of volatile organic compounds. The $199,500 cameras will help locate sources of VOCs undetectable by the human eye. Ground-level ozone forms when VOCs and other pollutants containing nitrogen oxides react chemically with sunlight. Ozone can cause or aggravate several respiratory health problems. – Porfirio Villarreal Housing & Community Development
The single-family home repair program section hosted a seminar for new contractors March 30. Stephen Skeete, assistant director, gave opening remarks. The SFHRP staff presented the scope of work, new contractor participation application process, housing inspection process, bid process, and a question-and-answer session. The city celebrated National Community Development Week, April 17-21, to promote awareness of the community development block grant and how it improves the quality of life for low- and moderate-income Houstonians. Homebuyer Assistance Program staff gave a presentation on getting down-payment assistance to 250 members of the Asian American Real Estate Association. During a luncheon June 7, HAP staff gave a presentation on homeownership to city employees at 611 Walker. On May 18 at City Hall Annex, HCDD hosted the year’s second public hearing on the 2006 consolidated plan, which describes how nearly $60 million will be used to benefit income-eligible residents. For additional information, visit www.houstonhousing.org. On April 26, the city passed a revised fair housing ordinance that will allow the city to be designated a “substantially equivalent” entity by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The city’s existing ordinance had not been updated since 1975 and did not contain the 1988 amendments to the Federal Fair Housing Act. The new ordinance incorporates both familial status and disability and provides substantially the same rights and remedies as one might find if they filed a discrimination complaint with HUD or any other substantially equivalent entity. The new designation will lead to an expanded Fair Housing Office presence in the city. The office handles a variety of landlord and tenant complaints. To assist with the city’s new obligations, HUD’s Fair Housing Assistance Program will provide additional funding. For more information, visit www.houstonhousing.org or call (713) 868-8300. – Lester Whiteing Houston Emergency CenterNo submission from this office. Human Resources
Goodbye Lonnie Vara! After 32 years with the city, including 11 as HR director, Vara will retire July 31. Vara first worked for the city as a lifeguard in 1968, then started full-time as a personnel specialist I on July 15, 1974, writing exams for the Civil Service Department, a forerunner to the HR department. Over the years, Vara negotiated tough labor agreements, served as a member of the Houston Municipal Employees Pension System board and as a member of the board overseeing the 457 deferred compensation funds, and led, with PWE, the initiative to turn E.B. Cape into a corporate university to train city employees. During his tenure as director, he revised the grievance procedure, helped implement new ventures with other city departments, including the jointly staffed safety programs in the Police, Fire and Health departments. City employees benefited from the department’s aggressive management of health insurance costs, which allowed only modest increases in employee costs during an era of skyrocketing premium and copayment increases elsewhere. He championed an improved vacation plan for employees, was a member of the SAP governance committee, and was the driving force behind the city’s acquisition and implementation of the Performance Impact and NeoGov programs. Under his leadership, the CMC was cited as one of the best employee charity drives in the nation. He continues to provide employees with wise counsel and unwavering support. At 11 years he is the city’s longest-serving HR director. Tom Morley joins the E.B. Cape as assistant director and executive learning officer. Welcome new faces Carlos Valenzuela, Gracie Mendiola, and Shantel Atkins. Carl Nagy was promoted to supervisor, and Leticia Ruiz was promoted to HR technician. Goodbye the following employees who transferred to other departments: Veronica Rodriguez, Public Works; Jenny Luna, Police; Lois McAdams, Solid Waste; and Tameka Hardison-Santa Cruz, F&A. More than 200 employees will receive a $50 gift certificate from Academy Sports for completing the HRA. Complete yours at www.bcbstx.com. EAP manager Rich Barrett went to New Orleans to train mental health professionals to deal with large-scale disaster counseling demands. – Dave Schafer and John Perry Information TechnologyIn its third season, the City Slickers, a team of city employees led by IT’s Wil Chavez, finished in second place in a Kicks Indoor soccer league. The team scored 105 goals in 10 games, 30 goals more than the first place team, which was the only team to beat the City Slickers. The City Slickers women’s team debuted with a 13-0 victory. Marvette Limon from the IT help desk is a member of the team. Geraldine Taylor and Jo West’s retirements represent close to 60 years service to the city. Taylor’s career began Jan. 23, 1974, 10 days after Houston hosted Super Bowl VIII. West started working for the city Jan. 8, 1979. Good luck to our dear friends and colleagues in their retirement. – Bob Nowak LegalCongratulations to the following employees, who received public service recognition awards: Annette Jackson, Susan Taylor, Horace Teague, 25 years; Jim Gallay, Ed Schorr, Kees Velzeboer, Doug Herrera, Norma Thibodeaux, 20 years; Alesia Brister, Adana Elliott, Carolyn Lacye, Anthony Rodriguez, Julie Sage, Jo Wiginton, Lois Dorsey, Paul Groben, Randy Rivin, Roland Rodriguez, Jim West, 15 years; Florencio Godin, Hope Hammill-Reh, Casandria Jones, Keith Starks, Jo Griffin, Vachel Henry, Mary Sharp, Rudy Velasquez, 10 years; Robert Allen, Malinda Crouch, Laura Gil, John Helms, Lynna Shuffield, Harelda Brown, Katy Farley, Altanette Guidry, Fabian Izaguirre, and Albert Tijerina, 5 years. Congratulations to Alesia Brister, winner of the third quarter Eagle Award for going the extra mile in her job. Congratulations to Donald Fleming on being elected to the Houston Bar Association’s Labor & Employment Law Council. Kudos to Maria Sanchez from Clarice Edwards for her excellent support during Edwards’ case; to Tim Higley from attorney David Holman for his efforts in the city of Houston vs. Robert Jackson case before the Texas Supreme Court; and to Lloyd Segal from Gary Clark for his professionalism in handling cases in municipal court. Welcome summer interns JoAnne L. Jordan, Adam S. Block, Paige E. Bryant, Justin C. Stewart, Rodney Brown, James E. Dallas, Erin N. Kupcunas, Kimberly M. Player, and Jason Shayan. – Vachel Henry LibraryWelcome Denise L. Carter. Congratulations on promotions to Karen Williams, Darcy Casavant, Simon Holcroft, Darrell Blevins, and Steve Strom. Happy retirement to Terence R. Lynch, Margaret Harris, and Bhavana Mistry. – Blanca Quezada Mayor's OfficeNo submission from this office. Municipal Courts AdministrationNo submission from this office. Municipal Courts JudicialNo submission from this office. Parks & RecreationNo submission from this office. Planning & DevelopmentCongratulations to Patricia Cotton and Paul Voltz, who completed the first section of the Toastmasters International Communication and Leadership Program. The program is designed to improve speaking and leadership skills as well as build self-confidence and better understanding of others. – Suzy Hartgrove PoliceAlong with the U.S. Marshals Service and local, state, and federal agencies, the department participated in the FALCON II initiative to apprehend violent, wanted offenders in the Houston metropolitan area. HPD participation is a continuation of the Houston Men Against Family Violence Campaign. At Sam Houston High School April 27-28, the department and the Trauma Services Department at Ben Taub Hospital spearheaded “Shattered Dreams,” a scared-straight program for juniors and seniors. During the program, several students were “killed” or “injured” in a horrific car wreck. Some of the students were then taken to the hospital, to jail or to a funeral home. Organizers hoped the event would dissuade students from drinking and driving. HPD established a new mobile command post in three southwest districts that have experienced the largest rise in violent crime. U-Net, which stands for Unified Neighborhood Enhancement Team, lets HPD and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Federal Bureau of Investigations, U.S. Marshal’s office and others share communications with officers working in the field and in the mobile command unit. Capt. John Treviño was appointed assistant chief and assigned to the South Patrol Command overseeing the Clear Lake, Eastside, Fondren, South Central, Southeast, Southwest and Westside divisions. On May 16, the department held its annual memorial service at the Houston Police Officer’s Memorial, 2400 Memorial Drive, to honor those officers who have died in the line of duty. The observance was part of National Police Week. For the 16th consecutive year, HPD and area ministers teamed up to provide a ministerial and law enforcement presence in and around 74 schools in the Houston, Spring Branch, Fort Bend and North Forest Independent School districts during the last days of school . Chief Harold Hurtt revived a tradition of the Old West by unveiling wanted posters with a twist. The posters are super-sized billboards to catch suspect wanted for murder, robbery and other serious crimes. Rewards for information leading to their capture may be offered. For more information, call (713) 222-TIPS. The following personnel were recognized at the Police Week Awards Ceremony May 18: Captain R.A. Montgomery, auto theft division, manager of the year; Irma Rios, assistant director, crime lab division, civilian manager of the year; Lt. Murray Smith, homicide division, mid-manager of the year; Teresa Clark, senior contract administrator, budget and finance division, civilian mid-manager of the year; Sgt. Brian Harris, homicide division, supervisor of the year; Doreen Trevino, office supervisor, burglary and theft division, civilian supervisor of the year; Officer Guadalupe Duron, northeast division, officer of the year; and Alma Gonzalez, counselor, homicide division, civilian employee of the year. – Alvin Wright Public Works & EngineeringPWE’s Resource Management/3300 Main IT Support Group was included in the Smithsonian Institution’s Permanent Research Collection. Each year, the Computerworld Honors Program recognizes organizations that are using information technology to improve society. The city of Houston will become part of a collection of the year’s most innovative applications of technology from 24 countries. RM/3300 Main IT Support Group utilized WebFOCUS to develop a new reporting system to support the planning and development services division, building inspections, the fire marshal, sign administration, and others. Users can create their own reports, drilling down into the data as required. With more than 30,000 permits and 100,000 inspections per year, internal users and private contractors can get information through a Web browser anytime. – Gary Norman Solid Waste ManagementThe city placed in four categories at the Texas Solid Waste Association of North America’s road-e-o competition in Dallas: Ruben Cervantes took first place in roll-off; Leslie Porter won first place in tractor trailer; Ronnie Chappel took third place in tractor trailer; and James Bennett earned third place in automated. Cervantes and Porter will advance to the international competition. Connie Fuentes and Brett Sykes won awards for being “top enforcers” of the Stop Trashing Houston Program in 2005. Congratulations to Michael Ward, supervisor, Dameta Fields, office services, Jose’ Basio, skilled craft, and Anthony Senegal, general services class B, for being selected Employees of the Third Quarter. Marina Joseph joined Chris Buckner of Dewberry and Davis Consulting, J.P. Pritchard of Clear Channel, and Denise Davis of KTRK-TV for the Houston-Galveston Area Council’s workshop on storm debris community relations. Houston has 162,000 homes in its Curbside Recycling Program, which is provided biweekly to many neighborhoods. To increase recycled material, the city is implementing a three-pronged approach: an aggressive communications blitz to educate residents and encourage community participation; improved efforts to quantify the amount of recycling materials collected from neighborhoods; and rewarding those neighborhoods with the highest participation and those with the most improved participation. For more information, call 311 or visit www.houstonsolidwaste.org. The department has a new five-year contract with Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. to process commingled recycled materials, complementing a 20-year partnership. Both newspaper and commingled recyclables can be delivered to the same sorting facility. This one-stop operation will help reduce transportation costs, time, maintenance and air emissions. – Marina Joseph | 
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