On August 23, 2007, prompthly at 5 PM, forty-eight (48) area stakeholders and community leaders convened at the Texas Reperatroy Theatre to hear reports from the committees and to begin the process.  We appreciate the use of the Texas Reps theatre. The agenda with bulleted notes is below.

I.    Welcome

II.    Organizational Update on Renaissance 1960

• The applicatin to the Secretary of State has been submitted for a non-profit corporation.

III.    Committee Updates
    1.    Green Medians Committee – Barbara Schlattman, Barbara Schlattman Interiors

• This long-standing effort and committee continues to meeting with TxDOT.
• Pursuit of a landscape architect with TxDOT experience is nearing conclusion;
• Fund raising is about to begin to pay for the architect and to prepare for the community share of the installation and long-term future maintenance.
• Barbara stressed that the committee is not addressing the issues still raised by many related to the medians. She reported that TxDOT has conducted local public meetings and found the medians are necessary and has begun the median design. Her group wants the medians to be green with landscaping and not be concrete grey.

    2.    Tree Preservation  - Lynell Brooks was not able to attend. Mary said that this group is passionate that clear cutting of trees for new develpment is not good for the area and they intend to work with county officials to enforce ordinances and businesses to encourage better planning.

    3.    Crime Prevention Awareness - Marinell Mendoza, Texas Repertory Theatre   

• This committee will continue working with local law enforcement organizations and other groups to get the word out that everyone is responsible to help prevent crime by reporting it
• Panhandling is a crime and if it is reported the county sheriff's department and constables will address the indivuduals.
• She encourage everyone to report suspicious activity to the constables' office as soon as they observe something.

   4.    Model Block/Urban Blight – Kim Walsh. Houston Northwest Medical Center

• Given the large number of vacant retail builidings in the area between Kuykendahl and I-45 this group wants to select an area, make improvements anticipating that it becomes a model for the area enticing other poperty owners to make similar improvements.
• The improvements will follow the guidelines established in the Urban Master Plan once it has been prepared and endorsed by the community.

    5.    Urban Planning – Regional Planning –Infrastructure – Tom Davis, Davis Alliance Corporation

• Requests for Proposals were issued to four companies with urban planning experience in the Houston area. Due to the very busy current business climate only two responded that they could prepare a plan in the time frame required. Those proposals have been evaluated and the results of that evaluation have been distributed to the Board of Directors. We anticipate Board authorization of a contract and preparation of the plan will commence soon.
• Tom said that for all the tremendous, dedicated effort by many over the past years improvements have been hard to achieve. He pointed out that other areas that have enjoyed tremendous improvements began with a plan.

IV.    Projects Discussion

• The flip chart pages prepared in the July 24 meeting were reviewed [see the notes from that meeting at this web site] and the following was added.
• Address branding of the area.
• Address the day-laborer issue - Enrique Lima related a newly formed interfaith group that will energize the local churches to help.
• The high-school drop out rate is increasing and that puts more young potential workers on the street, not adequately educated and looking for a job.
• Address the growing number of massage parlors that offer sexually oriented services.
• Address the growing number of panhandlers.  The group was reminded by representatives of the Crime Prevention Awareness Committee that this is an illegal activity and that people should report such activity to the constables' office.  Attendees were encouraged to NOT give these people money.
• Information regarding Affordable Housing Projects will be posted to the website with as many facts as we can obtain.  This is being provided so that individuals and groups can make informed decisions during the publilc comment periods.

V.    Fundraising

• Funds must be raised for the urban planning effort as the current funds of the corporation are not sufficient;
• The list of projects will be prioritized and a funding plan developed.

VI.    Expanding Participation

• Mary encourage everyone to refer people to the web site, www.Renaissance1960.org
• Regina informed the group about an upcoming between Spring ISD , Klein ISD and Renaissance 1960 to develop a plan for participation by both districts at the highschool level in this community effort. 
  
• Renaissance 1960 will be the focus of the annual meeting of the CCUCA.
• Larry Lipton introduced pastors from Fallbrook Church who were attending and encouraged diversity within our organization.  Larry stressed that our group must be as diverse as our community.
• Enrique Lima discussed the inclusion of the Houston Northwest Chamber's Neighborhood Revitalization Committee into Renaissance 1960.  He encouraged participation in developing a community awards program whereby community improvement actions, both large and small, are rewarded.
• Barbara Thomason encouraged people to participate in the Chamber's upcoming clean-up blitz which will happen as the new laws for bandit signs goes into affect September 1, 2007. (Watch for specific information about this effort to be posted soon.)

VII.    Review of any action items

• Encourage others to join our effort.  We need an army of folks to make all these projects happen successfully.