Winter 2007

BELLAIRE WEST NEWLETTER

BELLAIRE WEST COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION

P.O Box 278 Alief, TX 77411

 

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! MERRY CHRISTMAS! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

We wish you all a joyful holiday season and hope the

New Year is happy, healthy and prosperous for everyone.

 

GENERAL MEETING - ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBERS TO BE HELD JANUARY 10

The next general meeting is scheduled to be held on Thursday, January 10 at 7:30 PM. There will be four (4) openings for board members to be elected. The three (3) incumbent members running for re-election are:

 

Pat Davis – Alief Community Liaison. Pat is very active in the community and provides us with valuable

Information regarding events, meetings and special projects in the Alief Community.

Carol Fikac- Treasurer. Carol serves as liaison with Genesis Management and the brokerage firm who handles our

Investment money.

Ursula Santos – Bilingual, Spanish Communications. Ursula has provided very valuable services interfacing with

Non English speaking residents with concerns, questions or needs.

Joanne Radford who handles neighborhood events will not be seeking re-election.

 

ANY ONE WISHING TO RUN FOR THE BOARD SHOULD PROVIDE THEIR NAMES TO GENESIS MANAGEMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THAT THEIR NAMES MAY BE INCLUDED ON THE BALLOT AND ALSO THE PROXIES THAT ARE MAILED TO ALL HOMEOWNERS ON DECEMBER 7

PERSONS INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR ELECTION SHOULD HAVE THEIR NAMES IN TO GENESIS BY DECEMBER 3. IN ORDER TO RUN FOR THE BOARD, THE INDIVIDUAL MUST HAVE NO UNCURED DEED RESTRICTION VIOLATIONS AND BE PAID UP CURRENT ON MAINTENANCE FEES THROUGH 2007.

 

Te be eligible to vote, the homeowner must be paid current on maintenance fees through 2007, including any late charges.

 

THE BOARD MEETS ONCE A MONTH FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS BE ABLE TO ATTEND THESE MEETINGS. As was implemented last year, each candidate will be allowed five (5) minutes to address the homeowners as to their particular interest in serving on the board before the ballots are cast. Proxies will be mailed out to all homeowners 30 days prior to the meeting. It is preferable that anyone wishing to run for election submit their names in plenty of time to have them included on the proxies. Nominations will, of course, be accepted at the meeting and there will be a space for write-in candidates on the proxy and ballot. Members will be elected by a majority of homeowners present plus proxies received. Those individuals elected to the board will serve a two (2) year term.

 

 

GENERAL MEETING ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBERS (CONTINUED)

There was some confusion last year regarding the proxies. All proxies MUST BE COMPLETED AND SIGNED BY THE HOMEOWNER CASTING THEIR VOTE. They should be mailed in to Genesis, but may be turned in by another homeowner attending the meeting. If you authorize another homeowner to turn in your proxy, be sure you indicate this in the space provided on the proxy in your own handwriting.

For more information, contact Charlie@GenesisCommunity.com or call 713 953-0808

 

HOMEOWNER PARTICIPATION IS NEEDED

Although we had an excellent showing of homeowners at the January 2007 General Meeting, the

attendance at the July General Meeting was very poor. There were only about 9 attendees besides the board.

Most of these were good friends or spouses of board members. We encourage everyone to attend these

two general meetings and offer their input as to what is needed to improve our community. This is also

your opportunity to ask questions of Genesis Community Management. They will distribute annual financial statements at this meeting. The board and management company can only serve the neighborhood as well as they are informed about the interests and concerns of the residents.

 

MAINTENANCE FEE INVOICES TO BE MAILED TO HOMEOWNERS SOON

MAINTENANCE FEES MUST BE PAID EACH YEAR. This is not an optional charge and no homeowner is exempt from paying this fee. If these fees are not paid by the due date shown on your invoice , late charges will be assessed and legal will become involved in collection. The longer you wait to pay your fees, the more costly it will become. Failure to pay maintenance fees could result in a Lien being placed on your home, or even foreclosure. If you need to work out a payment plan to catch up on back fees, Contact Genesis. 713 953-0808

Genesis Website: www.genesiscommunity.com

To access Genesis Website: The homeowner must register on line. The Registration Code shown on your annual maintenance invoice is required to register. Just follow the on line instructions.

 

DEED RESTRICTION VIOLATIONS

Just another reminder, if you receive a deed restriction violation letter, do not ignore it. If you have questions or need longer than 30 days to correct the violation, contact Brent Lazarus or Charlie Floto who are always willing to work out

an extension with you. Failure to correct the violation or to contact Genesis for an extension can become very costly

if the legal department ultimately becomes involved. Genesis is doing a very good job for us. The number of violation letters being issued has greatly reduced. We cannot stress enough how important it is for you to work with them to

resolve problems. Please do not disregard the letters. If you need to report a violation, please contact them either by phone or e-mail. (See phone list on insert for email addresses.)

 

GRAFFITI AND DAMAGED PROPERTY

If you observe graffiti on Bellaire West Community Property, please advise a board member at once so that

it may be removed. or feel free to remove it yourself. (We had an incident in September that was not reported to a board member until a month later in October. By then, the paint had baked into the structure and was very difficult and costly to remove.) Please never paint over something that might be power washed off, if painting would distract from the appearance of the community. If you observe graffiti on personal property, you must have the homeowner’s permission to remove it if you are offering to do so. Any other graffiti observed, including stop signs and other, should be reported to 311 with an address location. If the property owner does not remove the graffiti within 10 days of receiving a notice, the city will charge a substantial fine. It you witness someone painting graffiti on others’ property, please call 911. All graffiti or any other gang activity should be reported to Officer Purl,

phone Number 281 584-4894 with the address. You are not required to give your name or address when reporting any gang activity. You may remain anonymous.

 

We had several incidents of young people cutting the pool fence and swimming late at night. If you observe this, please call 911 immediately. A reward will be offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of these intruders. The cost to repair the fence comes out of the maintenance fees that we all pay.

 

BELLAIRE WEST COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION

2007 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Officers                                  Name Phone            Term to Serve         

President       Jackie Harrison            281-498-7433                         2007 & 2008

Newsletter,                

CC Bldg Committee   

                                                                                                                                 

Vice President           Larry Greer                  281-933-1183                         2007 & 2008

AC/Deed Restrictions

 

Secretary       Lucy Schmotzer           281-933-7652                         2007 & 2008

Park, Pool & Grounds

 

Treasurer      Carol Fikac                   281-495-2490                         2007                           

Directors:

AC/Deed Restrictions,            Charles Lovetro          281-495-3330                         2007 & 2008   

Receive AC forms for            

Processing                              

 

AC/Deed Restrictions            Fernando Alucema      281-495-1452        2007 & 2008

Neighborhood Events            **Joanne Radford     281-561-7043           2007

**CONTACT FOR COMMUNITY CENTER RENTAL

CC Bldg Committee

 

Alief Community Pat Davis                    281-498-7406            2007

Liaison,                                                                                  

CC Bldg Committee

 

Bilingual Spanish                    Ursula Santos              281-568-4312             2007

Communication,                     

CC Bldg Committee

OTHER USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Genesis Community Mgmt          713 953-0808      Truancy (AISD)   281 498-8110

Charlie Floto (email Charlie@GenesisCommunity.com)

Brent Lazarus (Brent@GenesisCommunity.com) Councilman MJ Kahn 713 247-2002

Animal Control             713 229-7300 Mosquito Control 713 440-4800

Gang Activity/Graffiti (Officer Cindy Purl) 281 584-4894 Public Health 713 640-4200

 

HPD Westside Non Emergency Report     281 584-4700 Texas Comptroller 1 800 252-8800

Request an ALERT SLIP (Report more than 2 garage sales/yr)

 

City Emergency Repairs 713 868-8400 Bellaire West Pool 281 988-8798

 

Dept of Aging & Disabled 713 692-1635 Texas United Way 211

Refer you to appropriate agency or

City of Houston Legal Dept 713 247-6769 Department for help or information Email JonathanMichaels@cityofhouston.net City Departments 311

Garbage pick up, neighborhood

Street Light Repair Need Pole No. & Street Protection

Address nearest Pole 713 207-2222

 

Bellaire West & Alief Information is available on-line at http://www.bellairewest.org. The website editor welcomes any input from residents to keep the website current and informative.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS MEETING TIMES & PLACES

ALIEF SUPERNEIGHBORHOOD    -4TH Tuesday at 7PM Center Point Bldg on Bellaire 1st entrance from Cook Rd

Meet city, county and state officials or representatives of these entities who are present to answer questions and take

Suggestions. Hear plans for community improvement. There is usually a HPD representative present.

Supper/Snacks provided before the meeting.

PIP (Positive Interaction Program) 3rd Thursday at 7PM Westside HPD Command Station on

Dairy Ashford 3rd Floor

Meet HPD officers who work in our area, learn crime fighting information, and address specific neighborhood problems.

Supper/Snacks are usually served during the social hour after the meeting.

 

**ALIEF COALITION COMMITTEE 4th Tuesday

Deals with ISD matters

 

** ALIEF NOON LIONS CLUB 1ST & 3RD Thursday at 12 NOON Kim Son Restaurant (buffet) 10603 Bellaire

Provides free eye exams and glasses for Alief students that can’t afford them.

 

**ALIEF COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION Meets every 4th Month. Next Meeting to be Announced

Deals with community issues. Now handling the Alief cemetery beautification project.

Free breakfast for community interested in getting involved. For business wishing to have table with info

To hand out, cost is $25.

 

**For information on these organizations, what they do and how to join, contact Pat Davis 281 498-7406

 

There is a Mobil Pet Vet that comes to 12600 Bissonnet every 2nd Sunday from 11AM until 3PM. Rabies shots to cats and dogs are given for $8. Other vaccinations are available very cheap. Website www.countrysidemobilevet.com

Phone 936-399-6017 or 713 492-8045

.

 

 

 

COMMUNITY CENTER RENOVATION PLANS

We have received plans to renovate the community center from the architect. The next step will be to go out for bids to contractors. We are on our way to beginning the renovation. The renovated building will serve the needs of the community much better than the present building, as well as be much more attractive. Hopefully, we will all be able to enjoy the new center once it is completed. The kitchen will be larger and more functional. It will be an excellent place to host parties, showers, reunions, etc. REMINDER: Rentals should be arranged through Joanne Radford.

 

BELLAIRE WEST CONSTABLE PATROL

The constable, Deputy Crouch, patrols at random times of the day and night on random days. The constable is an off duty deputy. He is not dispatched by precinct 5. For obvious reasons, he does not want his cell phone number published to all 1416 residents of Bellaire West.

 

Deputy Crouch is doing an outstanding job and is to be commended for the fine work he is accomplishing in our neighborhood. He has successfully helped to have illegal vehicles ticketed and removed from the subdivision. He has also issued several tickets and made arrests. If you see him patrolling, you are welcome to flag him down and visit with him. He welcomes contact with residents. To report issues he should be alerted about, contact Jackie Harrison or Larry Greer so that this information may be relayed to him. He is also in frequent contact with HPD patrolling officers, both day and night shifts, and has worked together with them in the subdivision on a number of occasions.

 

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROJECT MAKING PROGRESS

More and more residents are becoming aware of what is happening in our neighborhood. We have received several reports of attempted car theft/burglaries being interrupted, as well as other incidents, by observant neighbors. We understand more residents are reporting crime or potential crime to HPD. We continue to encourage all residents to participate in the Neighbors on Watch Program. REMINDER: It has been suggested that each of us make sure a neighbor has an emergency phone number as well as our cell or work number in case of Fire or Other Emergencies at our home when we are not there. Let’s really be NEIGHBORS LOOKING OUT FOR NEIGHBORS!!! The West Side Station Non Emergency Number is 281 584-4700. Be sure to request an alert slip be issued when reporting a non emergency that should be investigated. This will assure a response as soon as there is a police officer available to respond. This is also the number to call when reporting repeated speeding, running of stop signs, etc. WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY Houston Police Department THAT NO MATTER HOW MINOR THE THEFT, CRIME, SUSPICIOUS SOLICITORS OR OTHER PERSONS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD MIGHT BE, IT SHOULD ALWAYS BE REPORTED. This is the only way the police have to know when, where and what sorts of crimes are being committed in the neighborhood. If you observe drug or other illegal activity, call 911 while it is occurring. You may ask to remain anonymous. Also report gang related incidents to Officer Cindy Purl 281 584-4894 if you are unable to report while the incident is occurring. The Gang Task force will follow up. Many of the persons committing crimes in our neighborhood expect us to “look the other way”.

Surprise them! Call 911!

We cannot prevent crime if we do not report it immediately.

                          

 

                       

 

 

 

 

PLEASE HELP KEEP BELLAIRE WEST NEAT AND CLEAN !!!

 

Entrances from Bellaire on to Belle Glen and Belle Park with the center esplanades have the brick Bellaire West signs. There are galvanized posts in place to protect the signs from car accident damages. These are not to be used for taping garage sale or other signs. Unfortunately, when the signs are removed, often the tape remains, which becomes unsightly. Please post any garage sale signs in the neighborhood on your own stakes that can be put

into the ground. All signs should be removed immediately when the garage sale ends.

 

Your help in keeping our entrances, common areas, and streets free of litter will be appreciated. If you notice

trash, drink bottles or cans being discarded in the neighborhood, your help in removing it will also be appreciated.

Of course we ask you to remind your family and friends not to contribute to the littering. We all need to work together to keep our neighborhood looking nice and keep our property values up.