Can anyone believe it is already April?
As always, we have at least one survey for you.
Spring is an exciting time here in the East End, and there’s a lot going on in the neighborhoods before it gets too hot to be outside!
Resources from Super Neighborhood Meeting
We covered a lot of information at our March Super Neighborhood meeting. If you missed it, you can see what we talked about here.
- Super Neighborhood Slide Deck
- Information about the HCC Community Partnership Meeting
- Information about HCC Summer Camps (grades 5-12)
Our Next Super Neighborhood Meeting
Our next Super Neighborhood meeting is going to be:
- Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2026
- Time: 6:30 PM
- Location: Magnolia Multiservice Center, 7037 Capitol St., Houston, TX 77011
Our District I Council Member, Joaquin Martinez, will come in to speak about the upcoming budget!
As we prepare for this meeting, we want to hear from you! Take a few minutes to share your feedback on the budget in advance so we can collaborate effectively with our council member.
You can find the budget survey here.
News Around the Neighborhood
Neighbor News: Houston Country Club Place
The HCCP Civic Club has been busy keeping the neighborhood looking great! President Robert Gallegos recently coordinated a refresh of the neighborhood entrance flower beds — cleaned, pruned, and mulched. Congratulations also to this month’s Yard of the Month winners, Ashley Cash and Dustin McMahon!
The club is gearing up for its Annual Spring Garage Sale — date and location to be announced soon. Proceeds go toward neighborhood beautification projects. Questions? Contact civicclub.hccp@gmail.com
Next Country Club Place Meeting:
Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 6:30 PM at 115 Jocelyn St. 77023
Neighbor News: Idylwood Civic Club
Idylwood has a lot going on this spring! The Civic Club’s next meeting will have outside speakers and an update on the neighborhood’s 2026 focus on derelict houses.
Before that, don’t miss the Easter Egg Hunt this Saturday, April 4th, at 10 am at Spurlock Park — with age-group hunts, golden eggs, refreshments, and a photo op with the Easter Bunny!
Looking further ahead, mark your calendars for IdylWine In The Garden on Saturday, May 16th — the 3rd fundraiser for the 2028 Idylwood Centennial. Tickets are expected to sell out quickly, so watch for details.
On the safety front, the Idylwood Citizens’ Patrol is asking neighbors to stay vigilant. There have been recent break-ins and reports of gunfire along the bayou. Keep garages, cars, and homes locked. If you hear shots or see anything suspicious, call HPD at 713-884-3131 or Precinct 6 Constables at 713-274-3400. Questions for the Civic Club? Reach out to president@idylwood.org
Next Idylwood Civic Club Meeting
Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at 7:00 PM at 6720 Sylvan Rd. 77023
Neighbor News: Eastwood Civic Association Easter Egg Hunt
On March 28, Eastwood Civic Association hosted its second annual Easter Egg hunt where our youngest residents hunted eggs, won prizes, hung out with the Easter Bunny, and made their own bunny ears!
Many thanks to Houston Public Library for the Easter Bunny suit, the craft table to make bunny ears, and donating books for prizes. Thanks to Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia’s office for donating so many eggs for our youngest residents to hunt, and to Council Member Joaquin Martinez for donating zoo tickets as a prize!
Next Eastwood Civic Association Event
Spring Fiesta, Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 6:30 PM on Park St. Esplanade
(next meeting is in May)
Neighbor News: Kuhlman Gully Clean Up
Thank you to everyone who came out to Kuhlman Gully on March 28th for our annual Trash Bash cleanup. We had 40 volunteers who got a lot of work done. The gully looks beautiful again! Special thanks to Idylwood Civic Club and DIDU for spearheading this event and keeping our community clean!
Voting Updates
There are ongoing and upcoming elections for our neighborhood to be mindful of. Mark your calendars and don’t forget to make a plan to vote!
District C Special Election: April 4, 2026. This is not our district, but it is worth watching, as it will likely impact citywide votes in the future.
Primary Runoff Elections on May 26
Harris County Judge
- Democratic runoff: Annise Parker vs. Letitia Plummer
- Republican runoff: Orlando Sanchez vs. Warren Howell
Congressional District 9 (newly redrawn)
- Republican runoff: Alex Mealer vs. Briscoe Cain.
- Democrat Leticia Gutierrez won the Democratic nomination.
Congressional District 18 (newly redrawn)
- Democratic runoff: Congressman Christian Menefee vs. Congressman Al Green
Solid Waste Holiday Hours
The City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) announces an
adjusted curbside collection schedule in observance of the Spring Holiday. Curbside services and facility operations will follow the schedule outlined below.
Residents with a regular Friday collection day will have their trash and recycling collected on Saturday, April 4.
No other collection days are affected. All other residents should place their containers out on their regularly scheduled collection day.
Friday, April 3rd, 2026 (Spring Holiday)
- No curbside collection. On Friday, customers set out carts on Saturday.
- All facilities and administrative offices are closed, including Residential Drop Off Centers
- Environmental Service Center, Westpark Recycling Center, and Reuse Warehouse.
Saturday, April 4th, 2026
- Friday’s collections serviced
- All facilities reopen, including Residential Drop Off Centers, Environmental Service Center, Westpark Recycling Center, and Reuse Warehouse
Buffalo Bayou News & Updates
From Bayou Preservation Association
🌿 Living Roots: A Guided Walk Through Bayou Natives Sunday, April 12 | 9:30–11:30 AM | Mason Park, 541 S 75th St (77023)
Join a free guided walk through Mason Park exploring the cultural and ecological history of native plants along Houston’s bayous. Led by nature guide Eddie Garcia, this experience invites you to see Houston’s green spaces as living cultural archives. Bring water, sunscreen, and bug spray. Meet at the outdoor exercise area under the small pavilion.
🎓 Empowering Future Watershed Stewards Bayou Preservation recently connected with students at Endeavor High School’s Career Fair, sharing how their no-cost WaterWorks Operation Training Program opens doors to meaningful careers in water and environmental stewardship.
🔬 Citizen Scientists in Action Seven Friendswood-area community members completed Texas Stream Team Standard Core Training, learning to monitor water quality indicators that support the Clear Creek Watershed Protection Plan. No experience needed, just curiosity!
🛒 Support Bayou Preservation When You Shop Link your KrogerPlus Card to Bayou Preservation (org # WT020) and Kroger will donate a portion of your eligible purchases automatically — at no cost to you.
Metro Updates
🚌 New Airport Service — Route 500 Downtown Direct
METRO has expanded its Route 500 Downtown Direct to now include Hobby Airport, in addition to its existing service to Bush Intercontinental Airport. The route now features six northbound and six southbound stops, creating a direct public transit link between Houston’s two major airports through downtown. The one-way fare is $4.50. The expansion is timed ahead of the FIFA World Cup this summer, which is expected to bring a major influx of travelers to the city.
💳 New Fare System — RideMETRO
METRO launched its new RideMETRO fare system, replacing the old METRO Q Fare Card and Q Mobile Ticketing App. Customers can now tap or scan to pay using the RideMETRO Fare Card (physical or virtual), credit/debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or cash. METRO Q Fare Cards cannot be used after April 4.
- Regular fares remain $1.25 for most METRO services, with a discounted fare of 60 cents. Park & Ride commuter express fares range from $2–$4.50 depending on where you board.
For the most up-to-date information, visit www.ridemetro.org.
Houston City Council actions in March
HPD-ICE Coordination Ordinance Proposed
CMs Alejandra Salinas, Abbie Kamin, and Edward Pollard used their Prop A powers to place an ordinance on the agenda that would give HPD officers discretion about whether to call ICE on administrative immigration warrants. The proposal is headed to the city’s legal department before appearing on the April agenda.
Whitmire vs. Pollard CDSF Conversations
Ongoing discussions over council district service funds came to a head when Pollard allocated CDSF dollars toward HPD overtime for nonemergency matters in District J. Mayor Whitmire and Police Chief Noe Diaz subsequently declined to approve the funding. On March 18, the council voted separately on a grant application to the State of Texas for HPD overtime funding related to a violent gang suppression program.
Houston-Bellaire 100-Year Wastewater Agreement
Council approved a landmark agreement on March 25 to provide sanitary sewer services to Bellaire for the next 100 years, in exchange for the Ruffino Hills tract — land that will assist with flood mitigation. The deal also gives Bellaire a $5.4 million credit toward wastewater impact fees.
District C Special Election Underway
District C Councilmember Abbie Kamin resigned to run for Harris County Attorney, triggering a special election. Early voting runs through March 31, with Election Day on April 4. Seven candidates are competing for the seat, which covers The Heights, Montrose, Rice Village, and Meyerland, with no clear frontrunner.
HPD Gang Suppression Grant Vote
On March 18, At-Large 1 Councilmember Julian Ramirez highlighted the “existential” water crisis in Corpus Christi to underscore the importance of local elections, while the council also took up the State of Texas grant application for HPD overtime at the Northeast and Westside divisions for a violent gang suppression program.
Helpful resources from committee meetings in March
Quality of Life Committee
The Quality of Life Committee met on March 2, 2026, to authorize over $1.7 million in additional ESG and CDBG funding for Catholic Charities, the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinated Council, and the Salvation Army to support homelessness prevention and domestic violence services. Key updates included the nearing completion of repairs at the 419 Emancipation Navigation Center and a clarification on city-county fundraising efforts, which have secured $6 million to date.
Budget And Fiscal Affairs Committee
March 3, 2026 Meeting
- Upcoming Financial Transactions
- Parks and Private Parks
- East Water Purification Plant Enhancement Project
- Understanding Houston’s Electricity Exposure
- Houston Parks Investment Report
- Open Space Ordinance
- Park Sector Acquisition Report
March 31, 2026 Meeting
Economic Development Committee (Special called meeting with Housing and Affordability Committee)
- Overview of Apartment Inspection Ordinance
- Apartment Compliance Program Inspection Health Overview
- Apartment Ordinance Feedback
- Chapter 10 Apartment Inspection Draft
- Apartment Inspection Ordinance (Legal)
Resilience Committee
The City Council’s Resilience Committee recently met with the Greater Houston Partnership (GHP) to discuss making Houston the most resilient coastal city in the world. GHP is focused on strengthening six critical systems, such as flood mitigation, healthcare, transportation, power, telecommunications, and water, and has already secured HUD funding for backup power generation across the region.
Service Delivery Committee
The Service Delivery Committee recently received an update on the $46.4 million Trinity River Water Conveyance System capital improvement projects, which focus on modernizing infrastructure that delivers up to 1.5 billion gallons of raw water daily. Key initiatives include SCADA system modernization to enhance cybersecurity and critical facility improvements at the Trinity River and Lynchburg pump stations to ensure regional water security and resilience.
Arts & Culture Committee
The Houston City Council Arts and Culture Committee recently introduced a new interactive Civic Art Map featuring 873 artworks across the city, designed to improve accessibility for residents and tourists alike. Additionally, the Mayor’s Office of the Arts announced that the “Let Creativity Happen” and “Cities Initiative” grant cycles are currently open, with an application deadline of April 21, 2026.
Ethics and Governance Committee – no meeting this month
Housing and Affordability Committee joined with the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee
Public Safety Committee
The Public Safety Committee recently reviewed the transition to the new Policing Analytics and Transparency Hub (PATH), which replaces legacy maps with interactive Power BI dashboards for better community data access. Additionally, the Records Management System (RMS) replacement remains on track for an October 2026 go-live, with a pending $0 amendment to include the Houston Arson Bureau and community reporting features.