{"id":10078,"date":"2021-06-19T17:41:16","date_gmt":"2021-06-19T22:41:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/?p=10078"},"modified":"2021-06-19T18:28:29","modified_gmt":"2021-06-19T23:28:29","slug":"parks-flooding-update-on-past-and-upcoming-meetings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/?p=10078","title":{"rendered":"Parks, Flooding: Update on Past and Upcoming Meetings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong><em>Corps of Engineers Releases Long-Awaited Regional Watershed Assessment<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>June 19, 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The wonderful thing about this virtual world is that you can go to meetings anywhere, anytime, stay cool and collected, and save time and gas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And we have plenty of meetings of regional and local councils and committees to attend, plus a new federal watershed report to read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Parks Board Public Meeting June 22<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After some prodding, the Houston Parks Board has graciously revealed the time and date of its next public meeting, which is Tuesday, June 22. They\u2019ve even <a href=\"https:\/\/houstonparksboard.org\/events\/houston-parks-board-lgc-june-2021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">announced it on the Intertubes<\/a>! Previously a board spokesperson claimed that notices for its rare public meetings were posted on the bulletin board outside City Hall as required by law. The catch was you sorta had to know there was an upcoming meeting to go downtown to try to find the notice. We never saw one posted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We and many others think <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/?p=8671\" target=\"_blank\">the Houston Parks Board (along with the private conservancies that run some of our major public parks) should be more accountable, more transparent, and more representative of the public<\/a>, which is why we are telling you about this. Also, they\u2019ve done some <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/?p=9113\" target=\"_blank\">damaging things<\/a> to Buffalo Bayou.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Cottonwood-cane-bk-lking-ds-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"10072\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Cottonwood-cane-bk-lking-ds.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/?attachment_id=10072\" class=\"wp-image-10072\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Cottonwood-cane-bk-lking-ds-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Cottonwood-cane-bk-lking-ds-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Cottonwood-cane-bk-lking-ds.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/IMG_8987-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"10073\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/IMG_8987.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/?attachment_id=10073\" class=\"wp-image-10073\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/IMG_8987-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/IMG_8987-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/IMG_8987-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/IMG_8987.jpg 1512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\">The left bank of Buffalo Bayou looking downstream on May 9, 2020, and on March 16, 2021, before and after scraping and bulldozing by the Houston Parks Board for a potential Bayou Greenway concrete path.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Apparently the board also posted a notice online for the last meeting, which was Sept. 22, 2020. But even though we receive regular emails from the very nice people on the parks board staff, we missed the notice about this, which was quietly posted on the <a href=\"https:\/\/houstonparksboard.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Houston Parks Board website<\/a> on Sept. 18, 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No idea what happened at that meeting because there don\u2019t seem to be any minutes available to the public, which would seem to be contrary to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.texasattorneygeneral.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/files\/divisions\/open-government\/openmeetings_hb.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Open Meetings Act<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is all very<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/?p=8671\" target=\"_blank\"> confusing because there are two Houston parks boards<\/a>, a <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/houston.granicus.com\/boards\/w\/b44c131b5903a652\/boards\/14223\" target=\"_blank\">public local government corporation<\/a>, which is subject to the Open Meetings Act (<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/library.municode.com\/tx\/houston\/codes\/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH32PARE_ARTVIIIHOPABOLGIN\" target=\"_blank\">see also here<\/a>), and a <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/pdf.guidestar.org\/PDF_Images\/2019\/741\/860\/2019-741860046-202010789349300511-9.pdf?_gl=1*1ibo4tu*_ga*MTgzOTUwMjQ2Mi4xNTczMDU5ODg3*_ga_0H865XH5JK*MTYyMzk2MDQ3Ny43LjAuMTYyMzk2MDQ3Ny4w*_ga_5W8PXYYGBX*MTYyMzk2MDQ3Ny43LjAuMTYyMzk2MDQ3Ny4w&amp;_ga=2.145618932.1750330838.1623960479-1839502462.1573059887\" target=\"_blank\">private Houston Parks Board foundation<\/a>, which is not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The public face of the parks board is the private foundation, which hires the staff and runs the website and major projects, like <a href=\"https:\/\/houstonparksboard.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bayou Greenways<\/a>. All <a href=\"https:\/\/houston.granicus.com\/boards\/w\/b44c131b5903a652\/boards\/14223\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">twenty appointed members of the public parks board<\/a>, nominated by the mayor and approved by city council, are also on the <a href=\"https:\/\/houstonparksboard.org\/about\/board-of-directors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">private foundation board<\/a>, which has an additional fifteen members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The public Houston Parks Board meets virtually on June 22 at 10 a.m. <a href=\"https:\/\/houstonparksboard.org\/events\/houston-parks-board-lgc-june-2021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Here is information<\/a> about how to register for the meeting and make comments. Note that you must register before noon on Monday, June 21.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Note that the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uptown-houston.com\/about\/page\/uptown-tirz-uda\" target=\"_blank\">Uptown Development Authority<\/a>, which is now co-managing and providing funding for <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/?page_id=8906\" target=\"_blank\">development of Memorial Park<\/a> along with the private <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.memorialparkconservancy.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Memorial Park Conservancy<\/a>, is also a local government corporation. The authority has regular meetings open to public comment. <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uptown-houston.com\/about\/page\/tirz-uda-meetings\" target=\"_blank\">Notices and agendas are posted<\/a> on the Uptown website. The meetings, which are now both virtual and in-person, are scheduled for the fourth Wednesday of the month at 3:30 p.m., though the last meeting was on the third Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/?p=9744\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Shocking Plan to Bulldoze, Reroute Buffalo Bayou.<\/em> <em>Historic Banks of Memorial Park to Be Radically Altered<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Planning for Flooding<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some of the upcoming meetings and events:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>San Jacinto Region, June 23 and 25<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The executive committee of the recently formed <a href=\"http:\/\/www.twdb.texas.gov\/flood\/planning\/regions\/6\/index.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">San Jacinto Regional Flood Planning Group<\/a> will meet virtually Wednesday, June 23, at 9 a.m. to vote on two new voting members of the group. These two positions represent the Upper Watershed and Environmental Interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here is <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/350bsnh\" target=\"_blank\">how to register<\/a> for that meeting, which also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Executive-Meeting-Agenda-June-23-2021.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">allows public and written comments.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The executive committee will meet again on June 25. Here is <a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3vhKS3G\">how to register<\/a> for that meeting. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Executive-Meeting-Agenda-June-25-2021.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Public notice here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are fifteen regional flood planning groups in the state of Texas. They are charged by the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.twdb.texas.gov\/flood\/planning\/index.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Texas Water Development Board<\/a> with developing regional plans to reduce flood risk. The draft plans are to be delivered to the state board by Aug. 1, 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the full meeting of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/SJRFPG-Pre-Planning-Meeting-Presentation.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the group<\/a> on June 10, Chair Russ Poppe announced that there were twelve applications for the two positions, out of which the committee selected five candidates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The group, which represents Region 6, may now have to find another member and new chair since <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.houstonchronicle.com\/news\/houston-texas\/houston\/article\/With-disaster-recovery-funding-in-turmoil-Harris-16243604.php?utm_campaign=CMS%20Sharing%20Tools%20(Premium)&amp;utm_source=t.co&amp;utm_medium=referral%20via%20@houstonchron\" target=\"_blank\">Russ Poppe resigned<\/a> as executive director of the Harris County Flood Control District effective July 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/?page_id=10045\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"10045\">Read the rest of this post<\/a> to find out about other flood planning meetings and reports.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Corps of Engineers Releases Long-Awaited Regional Watershed Assessment June 19, 2021 The wonderful thing about this virtual world is that you can go to meetings anywhere, anytime, stay cool and collected, and save time and gas. And we have plenty of meetings of regional and local councils and committees to&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10078","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10078","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10078"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10078\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10089,"href":"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10078\/revisions\/10089"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10078"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10078"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10078"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}