* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:05] ALL RIGHT. IT IS NOW [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] 2 0 4. SO LET'S GET STARTED ON TUESDAY, APRIL THE 12TH, 2022. I'M MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER, AND I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO WATER AS A HYBRID MEETING, UH, WITH SOME, UH, IN PERSON AND SOME USING MICROSOFT TEAMS. UH, THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES COUNCILMAN MC GALLEGOS, UH, FOR THE INVOCATION AND THE PLEDGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS. HEAVENLY FATHER, IN TIMES OF TRIAL AND TESTING, SCRIPTURE REMINDS US THAT YOU ARE OUR REFUGE AND OUR STRENGTH AND EVER PRESENT HELP AND TROUBLE. AND TODAY, WE HUMBLY COME TO YOU FOR ENLIGHTENMENT AND STRENGTH. WE ASK THAT YOUR DIVINE LIGHT FILL THE MINDS AND HEARTS OF THIS COUNCIL AND THE LEADERS OF OUR STATE AND NATION. OPEN OUR HEARTS SO THAT WE MAY SEE ALL PEOPLE AS REFLECTIONS OF YOU. OUR CREATOR EQUIP US TO LEAD OUR CITY WITH COMPASSION, HONESTY, AND INTEGRITY. IN THESE CHALLENGING TIMES, WE ALSO CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, AND ALL FRONTLINE WORKERS. GRANT THEM COURAGE, WISDOM, AND STRENGTH. WE ASK FOR YOUR GUIDANCE AND BLESSINGS TODAY AND ALWAYS. AMEN. AMEN. PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE. PLEDGE, ALL PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION, I GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE. STRONG FULL CHAIN. YEAH. ALL RIGHTY. UM, MADAM [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] SECRETARY, UM, IF YOU WILL, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE AND THOSE WHO ARE ONLINE, IF YOU'RE PREPARED TO UNMUTE YOURSELF FOR THE ROLL CALL. MAYOR TURNER. HERE. COUNCIL PECK. HERE. COUNCILOR JACKSON? HERE. COUNCIL CAYMAN. HERE. COUNCILOR EVAN SHABA. HERE. COUNCILMAN MARTIN. PRESENT. COUNCILOR THOMAS. PRESENT. COUNCIL HUFFMAN. COUNCILMAN CISNEROS? HERE. COUNCIL MC GALLEGOS. HERE. COUNCILMAN POLLARD? HERE. COUNCILMAN CASTEX TATUM? HERE. COUNCILMAN KNOX? HERE. COUNCILMAN ROBINSON. HERE. COUNCILMAN OSH? HERE. COUNCIL PLUMMER. HERE. I SEE HER. SHE'S HERE. AND COUNCILMAN ALCORN. I NEED A MOTION TO DELAY THE MINUTES. CASTEX TO MOVE SECOND ROBINSON. AND MOVED. AND SECOND TO DELAY THE MINUTES. ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR? NONE. A MOTION IS GRANTED. UH, JUST A FEW REMINDERS, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO, UM, WHO ARE ONLINE. IF YOU HAVE TO LEAVE THE MEETING SPECIFICALLY REFERRING TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, PLEASE TYPE THAT IN THE CHAT WINDOW AND THEN YOU CAN PROCEED TO HANG UP. UH, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME WHEN MAKING OR SECONDING, UH, AN ITEM FOR THOSE JOINING VIRTUALLY, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE TYPE THAT IN THE CHAT WINDOW AND WE FAIL TO SEE YOU. UH, IF YOU'RE SPEAK UP, WE WILL BE GLAD TO RECOGNIZE YOU FOR THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS FOR TODAY. FOR THOSE WHO WILL BE, UH, SPEAKING BEFORE US, UH, THERE'S A FEW REMINDERS. IN ORDER TO BE RECOGNIZED AS THE PUBLIC SPEAKER, YOU HAVE TO SIGN UP AT THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE BY 3:00 PM ON YESTERDAY, AND WE WILL CALL YOUR NAME AND THE ORDER THAT YOU SIGNED UP, UH, WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED, IF YOU ARE HERE IN PERSON. IF YOU'RE HERE IN PERSON, PLEASE STEP UP TO THE PODIUM. IF YOU ARE CALLING IN, UH, PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME BEING CALLED. AND IF YOU ARE APPEARING ON CAMERA, CLICK ON THE MICROPHONE ICON AND THE CAMERA ICON. UH, YOU'LL THEN BE GIVEN THE ONE, TWO, OR THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK FOR WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED. AND WHEN YOU HEAR THE BELL RINGS, THAT MEANS THAT YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, THEN YOU MUST IMMEDIATELY COME TO A STOP. AND BEAR IN MIND, YOU MAY ONLY SPEAK AND WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME CALL, UH, LET ME RECOGNIZE VICE MAYOR PRO TATUM FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. UM, TODAY WE HAVE VISITING WITH US AT CITY HALL, SOME DYNAMIC STUDENTS FROM DULLES HIGH SCHOOL AND THEIR TEACHER, MS. RUTH LYNN ROBINSON. THEY WERE ACTUALLY HERE TODAY TO TAKE A TOUR OF DOWNTOWN. THESE ARE ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS, AND THEY WANTED TO SEE THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN. THEY'RE WORKING ON A BIG PROJECT. THEY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE TUNNELS, MANY OF THEM FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME, AND MANY OF THEM FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME OR IN THEIR CITY HALL. UM, AND, AND SEEING THEIR GOVERNMENT WORK IN ACTION. SO WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH THEM. AND OF COURSE, WHEN, UM, THEIR TEACHER CALLED ME AND SAID, THEY [00:05:01] ARE ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS, YOU KNOW WHO I CALLED FROM? THE COUNCIL COUNCIL, ROBINSON , GEORGE VAN. UH, SO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON DID HAVE A, AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH THE STUDENTS AS WELL. AND WHAT I LOVED, UM, WHEN I DID ASK THE STUDENTS WHAT WAS THEIR FAVORITE PART OF THEIR VISIT TODAY, THEY SAID, BEING HERE IN CITY HALL, BY FAR HAS BEEN THE BEST PART OF THEIR VISIT TODAY. SO I'M HAPPY THAT THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HOW THEIR GOVERNMENT WORKS, UM, THAT THEY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE DOWNTOWN, AND THAT THEY HAVE A TEACHER THAT REALLY CARES, UM, FOR THEIR, UM, ENGAGEMENT AND FOR THEIR WELLBEING AND FOR THEM TO RECEIVE A STELLAR EDUCATION WITH SOME HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES. SO, MS. ROBINSON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORTS AND TO THE STUDENTS FROM DULLES HIGH SCHOOL. WE ARE SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY, AND WE WISH YOU THE VERY BEST IN YOUR SUCCESS IN YOUR ACADEMIC CAREERS. YEAH. UM, IF YOU REMAIN, IF YOU REMAIN STANDING FOR JUST ONE SECOND, UH, YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU ALL CAN HANDLE IT. UH, COUNCILMAN ROBINSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I WANTED TO JOIN THE VICE MAYOR PRO TEM JUST TO SALUTE THESE YOUNG FOLKS AND, UH, STUDENTS OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE. WE HAD A NICE CHAT MAYOR JUST NOW TALKING ABOUT, UH, WHAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN. THEY ARE, UH, FROM FORT BEND COUNTY AND DULLES HIGH SCHOOL. SO THEY'RE PULLING FROM NOT ONLY HOUSTON, FORT BEND COUNTY, BUT ALSO MISSOURI CITY, ROSENBERG, RICHMOND, STAFFORD, SUGARLAND. DID I FORGET ANY? GOT ALRIGHT, GOOD. AND MAYOR, THEY'RE SO KEEN AND ALERT AND, UH, I THINK, UM, ATTUNED TO WHAT THE VICE MAYOR PRO TEM HAD TO SAY AS WELL. WE WERE JOINED BY, UH, COMMISSIONER DEAN CORGI WITH THE PORT. GOT TO SEE WHAT A, WHAT A PERSON WORKING IN, IN THE ENGINEERING SPACE REALLY DOES FOR A LIVING. AND MAYOR, WE'RE JUST, UH, REALLY PLEASED YOU, YOU FOLKS JOINED US TODAY, SO, UH, THANKS TO YOU AND GOOD LUCK WITH EVERYTHING. GOOD. SO LET ME ASK, HOW, HOW MANY Y'ALL, HOW MANY Y'ALL WIN THE TUNNEL FOR THE FIRST TIME? FOR THE FIRST TIME? . WOW. AND HOW MANY OF YOU ALL, UH, ARE HERE AT CITY HALL FOR THE FIRST TIME? OH, OKAY. AND HOW MANY, HOW MANY FRESHMEN DO WE HAVE IN THE GROUP? ANY FRESHMEN? THEY'RE ALL JUNIORS AND SENIORS. MARRIED, JUNIORS. OKAY. HOW MANY JUNIORS AND HOW MANY SENIORS? UH, OKAY. WELL, WELCOME, WELCOME TO CITY HALL. WELCOME TO DOWNTOWN. AND, UM, MISS, UM, ONE, ONE LAST THING, MAYOR. SURE. I DID A LITTLE SURVEY JUST TO SEE WHAT LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN THERE, AND I ASSURE YOU THAT THIS IS A DIVERSE GROUP THAT REPRESENTS THE BEST OF HOUSTON. WE HAD, I'D SAY SIX OR SEVEN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES SPOKE AMONGST THAT GROUP. SO A TRULY DIVERSE, UH, SECTION OF, UH, THE AREA. SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU. I DID WANNA ADD THAT THERE WAS ONLY ONE FEMALE STUDENT IN THE GROUP, BUT I, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO TELL HER THAT THERE WE DO HAVE A SUPER MAJORITY ON COUNCIL WITH 10 WOMEN, UH, SERVING ON THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. AND ENCOURAGE HER TO ENCOURAGE HER FRIENDS TO ALSO GO INTO, UM, ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE AS WELL. THERE IS SPACE AT THE TABLE FOR, UH, MORE FEMALES AS WELL. OKAY. THERE'S ONE FEMALE IN THE, IN THE WHOLE GROUP, . BUT LOOK, BUT, BUT, BUT YOU ARE HOLDING YOUR OWN , I TELL YOU. SO, UH, OKAY. WELL, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU. I WISH Y'ALL THE VERY, VERY BEST. OKAY. COME AND VISIT US AGAIN. ALL RIGHT. THANK. NOW YOU CAN BE SEATED. . ALL RIGHT. UH, THE CHAIR NOWS. SEE, CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN PROCEDURAL MOTION FOR PROCEDURAL MOTION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES, UH, TO MOVE THE HONORABLE ELLEN COHEN TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE LIST. SECOND ROBINSON AGENDA BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR? NONE. AND THE MOTION IS GRANTED AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE, UH, FORMER MAYOR PRO TIM ELLEN COHEN, UH, HERE. THIS WITH US. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. BUT I CERTAINLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ELLEN COHEN. GOOD TO BE BACK. GOOD TO SEE YOU BACK. THANK YOU. I THINK YOU'VE BEEN IN THIS HOUSE ONE OR TWO TIMES. I THINK YOU'VE BEEN HERE ONE OR TWO TIMES AT CITY HALL. YES. . ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON FOR PROCEDURAL MOTION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD CHARLES NOBLE TO THE SPEAKER'S LIST AFTER PERCY MOCKERY FOR, UM, THREE MINUTES. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. AND ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR STAND. THE MOTION IS GRANTED. OKAY. ANY OTHER, ANY OTHER PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? OKAY, MADAM [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] SECRETARY, YOU PROCEED TO CALL THE, UM, THE ROLE, THE SPEAKER'S LIST, THE FIRST SPEAKER, DEAN CORGI. DEAN CORGI, COMMISSIONER DEAN CORGI OF THE HARRIS HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY. COME ON DOWN. YOU KNOW, WHAT DID I SAY? YOU MUST HAVE GOT THAT INVITATION [00:10:01] TODAY, . NOW I'LL GO ON THE SPORTS AUTHORITY. I GOT NO PROBLEM. NO, I WAIT. AIN'T GONNA PUT YOU IN THE PAPER. I TELL YOU THOUGH. NO, I, I, I PLAYED LAST NIGHT WITH ASTROS AND THIS, I TOOK A RED EYE COMING BACK TODAY. SO, UH, BUT GET RIGHT BEHIND THAT MIC. UH, DEAN, RIGHT HERE. YES. AND, AND TELL US WHAT YOU WANT US TO HEAR THIS AFTERNOON. WELL, I MEAN, I, I, I'D LIKE TO START OFF WITH SAYING THAT THAT IS A GREAT GROUP, A GROUP OF YOUNG FOLKS THERE, AND, UH, I COULDN'T RESIST. I TRIED TO SHIP 'EM ALL OUT. I THINK THEY'RE READY TO GO. BUT, UH, , . BUT, UH, I'M HERE TO, UH, TO, UH, TO SUPPORT THE, UH, PAID PARENTAL LEAVE, UH, UH, LEGISLATION THAT IS BEFORE YOU NOW. AND, UH, I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE, UH, UH, HARRIS COUNTY LABOR ASSEMBLY, A AFL CIO AND THE AREA, UH, LABOR FEDERATION. AND I'M ALSO HERE REPRESENTING THE SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION. AND I, I, I'M JUST HERE TO TELL YOU THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, IN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. AND WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS, UH, A LOT OF FOLKS, I MEAN, WE ALL KNOW THAT IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN QUALIFIED PERSONNEL. AND PEOPLE ARE GOING PULLING THEIR HAIR OUT. THEY'RE GOING, MAN, WE'RE PAYING BIG MONEY. WE'RE GIVING RAISES. PEOPLE DON'T WANNA WORK. WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR IS QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES. AND I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS. AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THE, UH, THE ALMOST, UH, VERBATIM EXACTLY WHAT THIS BILL WILL, UH, ACCOMPLISH IN, UH, COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, UH, UNIT, UH, CONTRACTS WITH OUR UNION, THE SEAFARERS. AND IT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL. AND, UH, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO RECRUIT SOME FOLKS WITH IT. AND NOT ONLY, UH, UH, WOMEN THAT ARE HAVING BABIES, BUT, UH, MEN THAT WANNA BE HOME. BUT LIKE ME, I, WHEN MY SON WAS BORN, I WAS ON A SHIP DOWN IN THE CARIBBEAN, MY TIME RUN OUT. AND, AND IT WAS TOUGH. IT WAS, IT WAS BACK IN THE SEVENTIES THAT THEY HAD, THIS DIDN'T EVEN EXIST. BUT I WANTED TO BE HOME WITH MY FAMILY AND SEE MY, MY SON BORN. SO THIS WILL GIVE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY. AND I, I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING IN THIS COUNTRY, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING, BECAUSE YOU LOOK AT THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE, WHERE DOES IT ALL START WITH THE, THE, THE BREAKDOWN OF FAMILIES? AND THIS WILL BRING FAMILIES BACK TOGETHER, MAKE FAMILIES STRONGER, AND, UH, AND, AND, AND PUT THE FATHERS AND THE MOTHERS BACK WHERE THEY NEED TO BE WITH THEIR KIDS AND, AND ATTENDING TO THEIR NEEDS. AND I STRONGLY SUPPORT IT. I URGE YOU TO PASS THIS, UH, LEGISLATION, AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DEAN. UH, COUNCILMAN MC KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, DEAN, FIRST, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, UH, ON BEHALF OF SEAFARERS AND GULF COAST, A-F-L-C-I-O, UM, LABOR HAS PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN GETTING US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY ON THIS ITEM. UM, AND AS YOU MAY KNOW, SCIU AND HOPE BOTH TESTIFIED, UM, AT THE QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE UNDER CHAIR GALLEGOS LAST WEEK ON THIS. AND WE HAVE, UH, UNDER THE MAYOR'S LEADERSHIP REPRESENTATION ON THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION, UM, THAT HAS BEEN LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE. SO, TO THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING LABOR ON THIS ISSUE, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT THE SEAFARERS ARE DOING. UH, Y'ALL ARE AHEAD OF THE CURVE. LABOR IS ALWAYS AS AHEAD OF THE CURVE, UH, AND WE APPRECIATE THEM. I ALSO, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND TAKING BACK TO YOUR MEMBERS, UM, A SPECIAL THANK YOU FOR, UH, WHAT YOU ALL ARE ALSO DOING, UM, TO ASSIST THOSE IN THE UKRAINE RIGHT NOW. I KNOW SEA FARES HAS BEEN VERY INVOLVED, AND, UH, THAT WORK REMAINS CRITICAL. SO YOU'RE LOOKING OUT FOR FOLKS AT HOME, YOU'RE LOOKING OUT FOR FOLKS ABROAD AND ALL THAT YOU DO. WE APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. AND WE ARE LOADING SHIPS FOR UKRAINE NOW. COUNCILMAN KOSH. YES, DEAN, I, I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE TO OUR, OUR, OUR PORT AND SERVING ON THAT BOARD. YOU KNOW, YOU'VE BEEN ONE OF MY FAVORITES OUT THERE, . AND, UH, I, I APPRECIATE YOU ALWAYS RESPONDING TO EVERY CALL I'VE MADE, AND, AND I CERTAINLY SUPPORT YOU. THANK YOU. UH, I APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND ADDRESSING THIS CRITICAL ISSUE. UH, I KNOW WHEN ONE OF MY GRANDSONS WAS BORN, UH, UH, LAST YEAR OR SO, UH, MY SON'S EMPLOYER GAVE HIM A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF TIME OFF DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME TO HELP, UH, WITH MY GRANDSON. AND, UH, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I WASN'T REALLY AWARE THAT THIS WAS, UH, THIS PREVALENT. BUT, UH, I DO APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND TESTIFYING AND YOUR SERVICE TO OUR, OUR COUNTY AND OUR PORT. UH, AND GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DEAN. APPRECIATE IT. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY. THANK YOU. GOOD TO BE BACK AT THE HORSESHOE. THANK YOU. I'VE BEEN HERE A WHILE, . ALL RIGHT. NEXT SPEAKER, MARK SMITH. MARK SMITH, IF YOU WILL PRESS STAR SIX. MARK SMITH. STAR SIX. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU. OH, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU. OH, THANK YOU, SIR. UH, MY NAME IS MARK SMITH, AND I WORK FOR THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS. I'M JUST CALLING IN REGARDS TO, UH, THE RENEWAL OF THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE COALITION OF, UH, FOR THE HOMELESS AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON [00:15:01] FOR MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF THE HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM. UH, WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT FROM THE CITY AND PROVIDING THIS KEY SERVICE TO THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM, AND HOPE THAT THIS ORDINANCE WILL BE APPROVED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MARK. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER, PERCY MOULTRIE. PERCY MOULTRIE. AND IF YOU WILL, PRESS STAR SIX. PERCY MOULTRIE. PERCY MORAN, M-O-U-L-T-R-Y. PERCY. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER. CHARLES NOBLE. CHARLES NOBLE. IT'S CHARLES CHARLES NOBLE. STARCY. SEE VIRTUAL OR IN PERSON? HE'S ON THE PHONE. HE'S ON THE PHONE. UH, CHARLES, IF YOU PRESSED STAR SIX. CHARLES NOBLE. CHARLES NOBLE. STAR. SIX. YES. CHARLES. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER. CHARLES EMERSON. CHARLES EPSON IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, MY NAME IS CHARLES EMERSON. I AM PRESIDENT OF EMERSON ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP, AND I REPRESENT, UH, I'M THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT FOR THE, UH, MUNICIPAL SETTING DESIGNATION APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY NORTH POINT DEVELOPMENT FOR THE VERY LARGE TRACK, 86 AND A HALF ACRES, UH, JUST EAST OF DOWNTOWN, UM, THAT IS SEEKING AN AN MSD ORDINANCE FROM THE CITY. I JUST WANTED TO, I'LL REAL BRIEFLY STATE THAT, UH, I'VE COMPLETED MANY OF THESE IN, IN THE CITY BEFORE, AND THIS ONE HAS GONE THROUGH A GREAT DEAL OF REVIEW BEYOND WHAT MOST OF THEM ARE. UH, NOT ONLY HAS THE MSD COORDINATOR REVIEWED IT AND PROVIDED THAT IT IS TECHNICALLY ACCEPTABLE, BUT ALSO THE CITY'S HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS DONE AN EXTENSIVE REVIEW AND COME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION. AND, UH, ADDITIONALLY, THE TCEQ, TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY HAS WEIGHED IN AND SAID THAT NO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OR REMEDIATION OF THE GROUNDWATER WOULD BE NECESSARY AT THIS PROJECT AS WELL. SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THE, UH, EXTRA LEVEL OF REVIEW ON THIS PARTICULAR APPLICATION. I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY OTHER QUESTIONS AS WELL. AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, YOU'RE SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THE ITEM. I, I'M SORRY, I'M, YES. I'M KEEPING IN FAVOR. ALL THAT'S IMPORTANT. ALRIGHT. YES. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. ALRIGHT. RIGHT. NEXT SPEAKER AMAKA, AKA AKA AMAKA AKA AMAKA IS HERE. YES. REALLY, WE ONLY ALLOW ONE PERSON AT THE PODIUM AT A TIME. . NOW YOU'RE FINE, YOU'RE FINE. OH, COUNCIL MEMBER, I MAY NEED YOUR EXTRA TIME. I WONDER, I WONDER WHAT YOU'RE HERE TO SPEAK ON . GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR TURNER AND MY CITY OF HOUSTON COUNCIL MEMBERS. WHILE ALL OF YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH ME, I WILL INTRODUCE MYSELF FOR OTHERS. MY NAME IS AMAKA AND I'M THE CHIEF OF STAFF FOR DISTRICT D FOR COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVAN SHABAZZ. THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE. LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT. I AM GLAD AND I AM HOPEFUL BECAUSE TOMORROW EACH OF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THAT YOU VALUE CITY OF HOUSTON PARENTING EMPLOYEES BY VOTING GUESTS TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 17, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE PAID PRENATAL, PARENTAL, AND INFANT WELLNESS. A LITTLE OVER FOUR MONTHS AGO, I GAVE BIRTH TO THAT SWEET LITTLE BABY GIRL RIGHT HERE WITH ME TODAY. AS I LAID THERE LABORING AND WATCHING HER LITTLE HEARTBEAT ON THE NST FETAL MONITOR, I ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE IN AGENDA BRIEFING FOR COUNCIL MEETING. BY THAT EVENING, I HAD ENDURED SEVEN LAYERS OF MY BODY BEING CUT THROUGH TO BRING FORTH MY PERFECT LITTLE BLESSING. MS. MOONER GRACE, THE NEXT MORNING, AS I LAID IN MY HOSPITAL BED FULL OF A RANGE OF EMOTIONS, I [00:20:01] WAS BACK AT IT. I HAD JUST BROUGHT FORTH LIFE INTO THIS WORLD 12 HOURS BEFORE, BUT THERE I WAS SHARING AN UPDATE WITH MY COUNCIL MEMBER ON ONE OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS IN OUR DISTRICT, REVIEWING HER TALKING POINTS FOR A 50 50 PARK PARTNERS INITIATIVE AND DELEGATING TASKS TO OUR DISTRICT D TEAM. IF I TOLD YOU THAT I HAD AN IN-PERSON MEETING IN MY HOSPITAL ROOM THE DAY AFTER I GAVE BIRTH, WOULD YOU BELIEVE ME? WELL, I DID. HOWEVER, THE CITY PERSONNEL WAS KIND ENOUGH TO BRING ME ONE OF MY FAVORITES. THE BREAKFAST CLUB ONE MIGHT WONDER WHY I DIDN'T CLEAR OUT MY PTO WHILE I USED. YOU CONTINUE. SECOND, WHILE I USED SOME OF MY ACCRUED PAID TIME OFF, I WAS EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS NOT TO EXHAUST ALL OF IT. I KEPT REMINDING MYSELF THAT I NEEDED TO SAVE THOSE HOURS FOR REGULAR WELLNESS APPOINTMENTS FOR MY NEWBORN IN CASE I NEEDED TO SEE A LACTATION SPECIALIST. OR IF I HAD A POST-RECOVERY COMPLICATION, OR PERHAPS IF I HAPPEN TO BE EXHAUSTED BEYOND REASON AND NEEDED TO ACTUALLY SLEEP AFTER WAKING UP EVERY COUPLE OF HOURS EVERY NIGHT TO NURSE A NEWBORN WHILE I MADE IT THROUGH THAT PERIOD. I DO NOT WANT THAT EXPERIENCE FOR ANYONE ELSE. AND ALTHOUGH ALL OF YOU MAY NOT HAVE CHILDREN, EACH OF YOU WERE ONCE A CHILD AND HAD A PARENT WHO CARED FOR YOUR EVERY NEED BEFORE YOU COULD CARE FOR YOURSELF. THEREFORE, I ASK THAT EACH OF YOU THINK OF YOUR MOTHER, THINK OF YOUR FATHER, THINK OF THAT PARENT AS YOU TAKE YOUR SEAT AROUND THE HORSESHOE TOMORROW AND ALLOW CITY EMPLOYEES TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BOND AND CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN BY VOTING YES TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 17. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. UM, WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, IF, IF I WASN'T ALREADY PERSUADED, YOU CERTAINLY, UH, I'M VERY PERSUASIVE AND YOUR PERSONAL TESTIMONY SPEAKS, SPEAKS VOLUMES AS TO WHY THIS ISSUE IS, IS BEFORE US, UH, TOMORROW. SO I THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING NOT JUST FOR YOURSELF, BUT FOR SO MANY OTHER MOTHERS AND FATHERS WHO FIND THEMSELVES IN A POSITION WHERE THEY DON'T WANNA UTILIZE ALL OF THEIR TIME AND END UP WITH ZERO TIME TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR PRECIOUS, PRECIOUS LITTLE ONES. SO, UM, UM, WELL SAID. OKAY. THANK YOU SIR. COUNCILMAN EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I CERTAINLY WANNA PUBLICLY THANK AMMA. OF COURSE, I NEVER KNEW SOME OF THIS, BUT I USED TO JOKE IN OUR MEETINGS THAT SHE WAS THE FIRST CHIEF OF STAFF THAT ACTUALLY TOOK A LAPTOP AND PHONE INTO THE DELIVERY ROOM. AND I THOUGHT I WAS JOKING, BUT HEARING SOME OF THESE THINGS. SO I JUST WANNA MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT IT WAS NOTHING THAT I IMPOSED ON HER, BUT CERTAINLY BECAUSE OF HER DO . NO, NO. I, I'M, I'M VERY SERIOUS HERE. I'M, I'M VERY SERIOUS HERE. I I JUST, I, I COMMEND HER FOR WHAT SHE'S DOING. SHE'S GONNA MAKE ME CRY BECAUSE IT'S HER OWN DEDICATION THAT BROUGHT THIS ABOUT AND IT HELPED THE OFFICE TO CONTINUE VERY SMOOTHLY. AND SO I WANNA PUBLICLY THANK YOU AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD BECAUSE NOT ONLY DOES SHE HAVE A NEWBORN, SHE HAS A 5-YEAR-OLD. 5-YEAR-OLD. AND SO SHE HAS BEEN GREATLY CHALLENGED, BUT SHE'S HERE STANDING NOT JUST ON HER OWN BEHALF, BUT ON BEHALF OF ALL THOSE THAT COULD BE IMPACTED BY HAVING TO WORK, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH THESE HOURS BECAUSE YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO NOT GET PAID. SO I WANNA THANK YOU PUBLICLY FOR COMING. I WANT TO THANK MOONA GRACE. I THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE HANDED HER TO ME, BUT IT'S OKAY. I KNOW IT'S A, YOU CAN HAVE HER TOMORROW. I ALREADY TOLD THE MAYOR SHE'LL BE IN ATTENDANCE. WELL, TOMORROW'S TOO LATE. I WON'T TAKE IT. I WON'T TAKE, I WON'T TAKE IT. SORRY MA'AM. LAST, BUT ANYWAY, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE AND CERTAINLY, UH, I WILL SUPPORT THIS. UH, AND I'M SURE THAT WE WILL, UH, BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER WITH GIVING THIS TO OUR PERSONNEL IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU, AMAKA. THANK YOU TOO. LOVE YOU MUCH. THANK YOU. OH, WHO SECOND, WHO'S THE BEST COUNCILMAN ONE? OH, I'M SORRY, ONE SECOND. UH, COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER MC CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I HAVE A FEW COMMENTS AFTERWARDS, UH, BUT I HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU FIRST, UM, BECAUSE [00:25:01] THE PUBLIC MAY NOT KNOW THIS, BUT FOR WHAT WE'LL BE VOTING ON TOMORROW, WOULD YOU EVEN QUALIFY AS A CHIEF OF STAFF FOR FMLA? NO, THANK YOU. AND I, I WANT TO BE, YOU KNOW, CRYSTAL CLEAR TO, UM, OTHERS, OUR CHIEFS OF STAFF THAT GIVE TIME TO THE CITY THAT ARE THAT DEDICATED THROUGH THE STORY THAT YOU'RE HEARING THROUGH AMAKA. BUT IT'S THE VOICE OF EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR CHIEFS OF STAFF, ALL OF OUR STAFF, UM, AND THEIR COMMITMENT WOULD NOT EVEN QUALIFY IF WE DO NOT PASS THIS TOMORROW. AND AMAKA, I WANNA THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE SPEAKING NOT JUST FOR YOU, NOT JUST FOR YOUR DAUGHTERS, NOT JUST FOR YOUR FAMILY, BUT FOR EVERY SINGLE CITY EMPLOYEE. UM, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE FIERCE MOMS AROUND THE HORSESHOE, BUT WE HAVE FIERCE MOMS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND THIS ISN'T JUST FOR MOMS, THIS IS FOR EVERYONE. BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING THAT STAND FOR YOURSELF, FOR YOUR HEALTH, FOR YOUR WELLBEING, AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL FAMILY. THANK YOU. REALLY. YOU'RE WELCOME. VICE MAYOR PRO, MY VICE MAYOR PRO TIM CAST TATUM. MARTHA, THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY. AND OF COURSE, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING MOONA GRACE, UM, FOR TO VISIT CITY HALL. UH, WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TODAY, UM, STANDING FOR MOTHERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND TOMORROW WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE FOR THIS PARENTAL LEAVE. AND, UM, YOU DEFINITELY ARE AN EPITOME OF, UM, PARENTS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT WILL DEPEND ON THIS POLICY CHANGE FOR THEIR FAMILIES. AND SO I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT WE APPRECIATE YOU STANDING FOR OTHERS, AND WE WISH YOU THE VERY BEST IN YOUR PARENTING. MOTHERHOOD HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING THINGS IN MY LIFE, AND I, I KNOW IT IS FOR YOU AS WELL. SO, UM, FOR ALL THE PARENTS AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UM, WE SUPPORT YOU AND WE HOPE THAT THIS PARENTAL LEAVE IS EXEMPLIFYING HOW MUCH WE VALUE THE PARENTS THAT ARE EMPLOYED HERE AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING MOONA GRACE. WELCOME. SHE'S MADE US ALL SMILE TODAY. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU TOO. THANK YOU. SO AGAIN, UH, THANK YOU MARK. AND, UH, AGAIN, UH, YES, COUNCILMAN SCHWA. I WAS JUST GONNA TELL HER NOW YOUR BREAK IS OVER. OKAY. UH, HAVE A GOOD DAY, . THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. HELP US LITTLE BACK TO WORK. OKAY. ALL RIGHT, NEXT, NEXT SPEAKER MA'AM. CHECK SHAHAN LOU. SEAN LOU, UH, IF YOU'RE PRESS STAR SIX. SEAN LOU, LIU SHA LU, SHAN. AND THEN L IU. YES. YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU. YES. THANK YOU, SEAN. I REPRESENT NORTH POINT AGENDA NUMBER 36, OR ITEM NUMBER 36 ON THE AGENDA FOR THE MUNICIPAL SETTING DESIGNATION, UM, THE 86 ACRES THAT NORTH POINT DEVELOPMENT OWNS. SO I JUST WANNA GIVE A QUICK OVERVIEW OF, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE WHAT OUR ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST, CHUCK EPPERSON SAID THAT WE'VE DONE, YOU KNOW, EXTENSIVE TESTING, UM, FOR THE TCEQ. AND WE'VE HAD MEETINGS WITH THE TCEQ AND HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT ABOUT THE GROUNDWATER ON SITE, AND WE'VE SURPASSED ALL OF THEIR GUIDELINES. AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD SOME, UM, REBUTTAL FROM THE PLEASANTVILLE COMMUNITY AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES CONCERNED ABOUT THE GROUNDWATER QUALITY OF OUR SITE LEAKING OVER, UM, INTO THEIR COMMUNITY RIGHT BEFORE. SO THIS BEING AN OLD EXXONMOBIL SITE. AND, UM, WE'VE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE VOLUNTARILY TAKING WATER SAMPLES IN THE COMMUNITY WATER WELLS AS WELL. AND ALL OF THOSE SHOWED NON DETECT, NON DETECT FOR THE CHEMICALS IN QUESTION. SO I JUST HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU ALLOW US TO PROCEED WITH THESE, UH, THIS MUNICIPAL SETTING DESIGNATION FOR THIS SITE AT 82 30 STUDY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER ELLEN, I'M SORRY, MAYOR PRO TEM ELLEN COHEN. . DEION, IT IS NOT FAIR TO FOLLOW THAT ACT . YOU DON'T WANNA FOLLOW BABIES, IT'S TOUGH. MAYOR, MAYOR, PRO TEM, VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS MY VIEWS ON THE PARENTAL LEAVE POLICY AND TO DO SO FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PODIUM. SPECIAL THANKS TO MAYOR TURNER FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT OF THIS ISSUE TO COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND THE NUMEROUS COUNCIL MEMBERS TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS, UH, HUMAN RIGHTS DEPARTMENT, [00:30:02] EXCUSE ME, THE HR DEPARTMENT, THE WOMAN'S COMMISSION, LED BY BETH MURPHY FOR SPEARHEADING AND MOVING THIS ISSUE FORWARD. THE INFORMATION COMING FORWARD ABOUT THE PROPOSED FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ACT POINTS TO THE MANY BENEFITS PARENTS WILL DERIVE BY BEING ABLE TO BE WITH THEIR INFANT WHILE CONTINUING TO RECEIVE THEIR SALARIES, WHICH OF COURSE ALSO MAKES IT A BENEFIT FOR THE CITY THAT IS, AS YOU ALL KNOW, BETTER THAN THE MOST, I'M SORRY, THAT IS, AS YOU ALL KNOW, BETTER THAN MOST, INCREASES THE ABILITY OF THE CITY TO ATTRACT QUALITY STAFF BY OFFERING PARENTAL LEAVE. AS A BENEFIT, I SUPPORT THE ORDINANCE FOR ALL THE REASONS YOU ALREADY KNOW AND HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT AROUND THE HORSESHOE, OVER SOCIAL MEDIA, IN EDITORIALS, ON VARIOUS TALK SHOWS, AND THAT OTHERS HAVE ALREADY ARTICULATED AND WILL ARTICULATE TODAY. MY PURPOSE HERE IS TO HIGHLIGHT THE BABIES. I KNOW ALL OF YOU. I DON'T HAVE A SHOW AND TELL LIKE MY PREDECESSOR DID MY PURPOSE HERE. BUT IF I DO HAVE PICTURES OF MY TWO GREAT GRANDSONS, SO IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM AFTERWARDS, MY PURPOSE HERE IS TO HIGHLIGHT THE BABIES I KNOW ALL OF YOU CARE ABOUT CHILDREN. YOU KNOW, OUR FUTURE, THE FUTURE OF OUR NATION. AND THIS WORLD DEPENDS ON THESE BABIES STARTING LIFE, FEELING LOVED, SECURE, AND NURTURED. EXPERTS TELL US THAT THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF A BABY'S LIFE ARE CRITICAL. THEY HAVE A DRAMATIC EFFECT ON THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE BABY. IF THE PARENT IS NOT THERE, THE BABY SUFFERS. EARLY PARENT RELATIONSHIPS IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE BABY'S DEVELOPMENT. FOR EXAMPLE, JUST TIME HOLDING YOUR BABY CAN HELP YOUR NEWBORN FEEL SAFE, SECURE AND LOVED SPEAKING FREELY AND SIMPLE CONVERSATION LAYS THE GROUNDWORK FOR LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT. RESPONDING TO TEARS HELPS BUILD A STRONG BOND WITH A BABY AND BUILDS THE CONFIDENCE HE OR SHE WILL NEED TO SETTLE DOWN WITH PARENTS ONE OF THESE DAYS AND BE ABLE TO LET THE PARENTS GO OFF WITHOUT ANY TRAUMA. THE FIRST THREE MONTHS ARE CRITICAL. FINALLY, I KNOW BECAUSE I'VE BEEN IN YOUR PLACE AND I'VE HAD TO VOTE NO ON AN ITEM BECAUSE THE CITY COULDN'T AFFORD IT. BUT IN THIS CASE, THE CITY SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD NOT TO VOTE FOR IT. PLEASE VOTE YES ON ITEM 17. BENEFITS TO OUR CITY ARE INCALCULABLE. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME AND FOR TAKING THE TIME IN ALL YOUR SERIOUS DELIBERATIONS. HAPPY EASTER AND HAPPY PASSOVER. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. A THANK YOU FOR, UH, FOR YOUR PRESENCE HERE TODAY AND YOUR WORDS OF WISDOM AND EXPERIENCE. AND YOU ARE QUITE FAMILIAR WITH, UM, THIS CHAMBER, UH, AND THIS HORSESHOE, AND SHOW YOUR WORDS, UH, SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES AND THEY SPEAK VOLUMES. AND IT WAS GOOD TO SEE YOU EVEN LAST WEEK AT THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER LUNCHEON, WHERE YOU'VE BEEN SO INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING THAT ORGANIZATION FORWARD. AND THEN NOW, UH, SPEAKING ON THIS PARTICULARLY ISSUE, UH, MEANS A GREAT DEAL. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HOLD, HOLD ON ONE SECOND. SURE. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I COULDN'T, UH, LET OUR FORMER MAYOR PROTO GO WITHOUT, UH, ACKNOWLEDGING AND THANKING HER FOR HER LEADERSHIP. UH, NOT ONLY SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE CHILDREN THAT THIS WOULD IMPACT, UH, BUT ALSO, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, YOUR LEADERSHIP FOR WOMEN WOMEN'S HEALTH, UM, AND FAMILY HEALTH AND WELLNESS. SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU. UH, IT'S AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU AS MY PREDECESSOR. UM, YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A CHAMPION FOR THIS WORK AND, UH, YOUR LEADERSHIP CONTINUES ON IN, IN MANY, MANY RESPECTS, BUT IT WAS, IT MEANT A LOT TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER , COUNCIL MAG GALLEGOS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST WANNA SAY, COUNCIL MEMBER, IT WAS GREAT TO SEE YOU ONCE AGAIN HERE IN THE CHAMBERS. AND, UM, UH, THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME OUT TO SPEAK ON SUCH AN IMPORTANT ITEM. UH, AND IT WAS A GREAT PHOTO OF, OF, UH, YOUR GRANDKIDS. SO THANK YOU. THAT'S VERY KIND OF YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER . THANKS ELLEN. AND YOU'LL WELCOME ANYTIME. THANK YOU. HAPPY HOLIDAY EVERYONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. LET'S SEE A MOTION. YES, CHAIR, CHAIR RECOGNIZES MAYOR PRO. TEMP FOR A MOTION. YES, MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO TAKE MR. JACOB CLEMENTI. NEXT. HE'S APPEARING ON THE THREE MINUTE NON-AG AGENDA LIST ON PAGE TWO. [00:35:01] YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTIONS THERE. SECOND. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR'S? NONE. MOTION IS GRANTED. MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL CALL, UH, JACOB CLEMENTI. HI GUYS. I HAVE A PHYSICAL AND A MENTAL DISABILITY, AND I, HERE I BEGIN. MY NAME IS JACOB CLEMENTI. AND COME THIS THURSDAY, I WILL TURN 54 YEARS OLD. I WILL WORK AT MEN MAN PARK DURING ALL OF THE HOME GAMES, UH, OF NAS FOR THIS SEASON, WE HAVE THE BEST BANDING, JORDAN. HIS NAME IS JESSE BICKER. WE WILL PROBABLY WIN THE WORLD SERIES BECAUSE WE ARE THE BEST AND FRIENDS OF MINE, SUCH AS MACK, OR HE WILL SAVE YOU MONEY, UH, ON . AND THEN JACK KEGEL OF THE HARRIS COUNTY. COINCIDENCE COURT WILL PROBABLY CONCUR. I'M AN TRUE FRIEND OF MINE NAMED DR. REVEREND, DR. CHAD MARTIN OF THE ST. MARTIN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT WOOD. AND SAGE IS UNFORTUNATELY GOING TO BE, UH, LEAVING THE, THE CHURCH AND HE'S GOING UP TO WASHINGTON, DC MM-HMM . AND MANY PARISHIONERS AND COWORKERS OF HIS CHURCH ARE, UH, DISHEARTENED BECAUSE HE'S SUCH A GOOD MAN. AND THEN WHEN, UH, UM, UH, UH, HE, BUT HE WILL TAKE WITH HIM SOME A*****E GEAR THAT I GAVE HIM COURTESY OF MATTRESS MAC OR HE WILL SAVE YOU MONEY. . AND, UM, UH, UH, OH, MY YOUNGER BROTHER IS A SERGEANT IN THE HPD. HE WORKS IN THE TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT. AND, UH, MY OLDER BROTHER IS A DOCTOR AT UTMB IN GALVESTON. AND MY FATHER PASSED AWAY DUE TO LIVER CANCER EARLY APRIL OF, UH, IN 2002, IN 20 YEARS AGO. TODAY. ANY QUESTION? OH, I HAVE A PLEA. PLEASE, UH, WRITE TO ME ASAP AND TELL ME WHAT, WHAT ALL THINGS Y'ALL WOULD LIKE ME TO ADDRESS THE COMMON COMMISSION COURT ABOUT, BECAUSE I ALSO GO THERE AND I AM A, UH, A PROBLEM TO THEM ALSO, . WELL, JACOB, I THINK YOU, UM, I THINK YOU PRESENTED YOUR CASE QUITE WELL, UH, TODAY, AND THANK YOU. LOOK, THANK YOU FOR GRACING US BY BEING HERE TODAY AND FOR ALL YOUR COMMENTS AND WHAT YOU'VE SAID AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE. AND, UM, WE WILL PASS ALONG OUR THOUGHTS TO YOU. OKAY? YEAH, YEAH. BECAUSE I LOVE GETTING LETTERS FROM ELECTED POLITICIANS. AND THAT'S ALL OF Y'ALL. ALL OF Y'ALL COUNT. AND THE PEOPLE SOMETIMES SAY, YOU DON'T . WELL, LOOK AND LOOK. AND IS THIS, IS THIS, IS TODAY YOUR BIRTHDAY? NO, THURSDAY IS MY BIRTHDAY. THIS COMING THURSDAY. YEAH. AND, AND I GOT, UH, TICKETS FROM MATTRESS BANK FOR MY BIRTHDAY, FOR THE FIRST GAME OF THE, UH, AS TO A SEASON. AND HEY, I'M, I'M GONNA GO THROUGH THE GAME, BUT I'M GONNA BE WORKING THERE. I'M NOT GONNA BE, UH, AND THE SAME TIME I'M GONNA BE WORKING BECAUSE I'M WITH THIS, UH, GROUP CALLED ARAMARK, AND WELL, I'M, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE ME DOING WHATEVER, WHATEVER THEY WANT ME TO DO. AND WHILE I'M, I'M GONNA WORK HER THERE. SO YOU, SO I'M GONNA WORK AT THE GAME. SO YOU'RE GONNA BE AT THE GAME ON MONDAY NIGHT? YES. THAT MONDAY NIGHT? YES, I AM. YES, SIR. IN FACT, UM, I PLAN TO, UH, GIVE TWO TICKETS TO THIS, UH, A FRIEND OF MINE, THERESA LIESEL, WHO WAS THE SECRETARY FOR COMMISSIONER TOM RAMSEY AT, UH, UH, THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT. AND SHE'S TAKEN HER MOTHER AND HERSELF TO THE GAME. AND I'M THE YELLOW MOTHER, WHO'S A GREAT ASTRO FAN. AND THEN I'M ALSO GOING TO GIVE THE, UH, OTHER TICKETS TO, UH, ELISE, UH, SHERMAN, WHO USED TO BE MY DAYCARE MANAGER. WOW. ALRIGHT. WELL LOOK, UH, HAPPY BIRTHDAY THIS COMING THURSDAY. YES. AND THEN, EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE GONNA BE WORKING, ENJOY, ENJOY THE GAME AND BRING US VICTORY. YOU KNOW, HOLD ON ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND JACOB, UH, WE'RE SO PROUD TO HAVE YOU AS A DISTRICT C RESIDENT, BUT ALSO AS I THINK WHAT MAY BE, UM, ONE OF THE BIGGEST ASTROS FANS OUT THERE, WHAT DEDICATION THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE THERE, UH, WORKING ON YOUR BIRTHDAY. I'M WISHING YOU A VERY, VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY. I KNOW THAT, UM, YOUR FAMILY COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF YOU. UH, AND WE, WE THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY. UH, AND HOPEFULLY DON'T WORRY, YOU'LL BE GETTING, I'M SURE A LOT OF NOTES FROM ALL OF US, [00:40:01] BUT I HOPE YOU'RE ABLE TO ENJOY YOUR VERY SPECIAL DAY AND COME BACK ANYTIME YOU WANT TO, COUNSEL, WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY HELLO PERSONALLY TO MARK. NO, BECAUSE HE'S ONE OF THE BEST COUNCIL MEMBERS. WELL, HE'S FUNNY TOO. WELL, I'M, I'M, I'M SURE THAT, UH, HE, HE'S SMILING THAT AND, AND, UH, HE'S, HE'S SMILING FROM ONE END OF HIS MUSTACHE TO THE OTHER. YEAH. , YOU KNOW. THANK YOU, JACOB. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAN. GOOD TO SEE YOU. YEAH, TAKE CARE. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. CO COUNCILMAN KNOX FOR A PROCEDURAL MOTION. WELL, THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. UM, UH, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A PROCEDURAL MOTION TO MOVE A SPEAKER. HANG ON JUST A SECOND. LEMME GET THE WORDS RIGHT. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND ADD MR. ALEX MAHAW TO THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING MARIAN WRIGHT, THERE WAS SOME, UH, ISSUE WITH HIM HAVING THE ABILITY TO CALL IN YESTERDAY. AND I, HE THOUGHT HE CALLED IN, BUT EVIDENTLY THEY DIDN'T RECEIVE THE INFORMATION, UM, FROM THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE. SO IF WE COULD ADD HIM TO THE LIST, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. . SECOND, YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTIONS BEEN SECOND, AND THE OBJECTION CHAIR IS NONE. AND THE MOTION IS GRANTED. ALRIGHT, MADAM SECRETARY, NEXT SPEAKER. KEN GOOD. KEN GOOD. IF YOU PRESS STAR SIX, KEN, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU. KEN, IF YOU PRESS STAR SIX, WE COULD HEAR YOU. HI, MY NAME'S KIM. GOOD. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON, UM, ITEM NUMBER 15 REGARDING THE PROPOSED CITY ORDINANCE, UH, REGULATING WHAT BONDS BONDSMAN CHARGED. I WANT TO THANK Y'ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY. I WANNA MAKE SEVERAL POINTS. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. ALRIGHT. I WANNA MAKE THREE POINTS ABOUT WHY I I THINK THAT THIS IS A, UH, A BAD IDEA. NUMBER ONE, I DO NOT THINK BONDSMAN ARE THE SOURCE OF, OF INCREASING CRIME IN HARRIS COUNTY. UH, WE ALREADY HAVE A REPORT FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SAYING THAT THE REFORMS ON MISDEMEANOR BAIL REFORM IS PART OF THE CAUSE OF INCREASING CRIME. UH, I, I'VE SEEN A ROUGH DRAFT OF A REPORT THAT'S, UH, SHOULD BE COMING OUT IN THE NEXT WEEK THAT'S GONNA SHOW THAT THAT'S, UH, SOME VERY EYE-OPENING NUMBERS REGARDING MISDEMEANOR BONDS, SUCH AS 76% OF ON AVERAGE OF A DOCKET IS NOT SHOWING UP FOR COURT, AND THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE COURTS ARE NOT, UH, DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. YOU CAN SEE A CORRELATION AS SURETY BONDS. THE USE OF BAIL BONDS HAS DECREASED, UH, CRIME HAS INCREASED. AND SO TO SAY THAT THAT INCREASE IN CRIME IS A RESULT OF, OF, UH, THE BAIL INDUSTRY IS JUST CONTRARY TO WHAT'S BEING DONE. I THINK ALSO ON THE FELONY BOND SYSTEM, THE FELONY COURTS HAVE HISTORICALLY DENIED BONDS FOR REALLY DANGEROUS PEOPLE. AND FOR SOME REASON THAT'S CHANGED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. AND CRIME STOPPERS HAS DOCUMENTED THAT. I MEAN, I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY IN HARRIS COUNTY, YOU ALMOST GET ONE FREE MURDER BEFORE YOU'RE GONNA BE DENIED A BOND. AND THAT SOUNDS REALLY CRUEL, BUT THAT SEEMS WHERE WE ARE WHEN WE HAVE 165 PEOPLE DOCUMENTED WHO ARE OUT ON VERY LOW BONDS OR CAPITAL MURDER CHARGES. OKAY. AND THEY'RE ACCUSED OF KILLING SOMEONE ELSE. YES. YES. WE STAY. RIGHT. UH, ALSO I THINK THE CITY ORDINANCE VIOLATES, UH, UM, UH, PRICE FIXING STATUTES. UH, THE BONDING INDUSTRY'S NOT DOING ANYTHING THAT IT HASN'T BEEN DOING FOR DECADES. WHAT'S CHANGED IS CRIMES THAT HISTORICALLY WERE DENIED BAIL ARE SUDDENLY BEING RELEASED ON EITHER LOW BONDS OR, UH, OTHER KINDS OF BONDS. THE ALLEGATION IS THAT THE, UH, BONDING COMMUNITY, UM, IS, UH, CHARGING ONE, TWO OR 3% TO POST A BOND. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, UH, THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE INVESTIGATOR THAT FOUND IT NOT TO BE TRUE. SO WE'VE KIND OF JUST SPENT A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN HARRIS COUNTY TO, TO CREATE A NEW SYSTEM, UH, FOR BAIL THAT JUST DOESN'T CARE WHETHER PEOPLE COME TO COURT. THE LAST TWO YEARS, ACCORDING TO THE STATISTICS REPORTED TO THE OCA, THE UM, UH, 72% OF, OF MISDEMEANOR DISPOSITIONS WERE FROM DISMISSALS. AND SO YOU CAN HAVE A DEFENDANT THAT, UH, GETS ARRESTED, NEVER SEES A JUDGE, GETS A HUNDRED DOLLARS PR BOND, NEVER GOES TO COURT, AND HAS THEIR CASE, A 72% CHANCE THEIR CASE IS GONNA BE DISMISSED. AND THEN THE CYCLE ALL STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN. THE BAIL INDUSTRY IS NOT THE CAUSE OF INCREASING CRIME. THE CITY ORDINANCE WILL NOT IMPACT INCREASING CRIME, AND I THINK IT'S AN IMPROPER CITY ORDINANCE AND VIOLATES THE TEXAS FREE ENTERPRISE AND ANTITRUST ACT OF 1983. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN KNOX. OKAY. UH, THANK YOU MR. GOODE. THIS IS COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX. UM, YOU INDICATED THAT WE MIGHT BE BREAKING THE LAW ON, ON THIS ISSUE. [00:45:01] AS I UNDERSTAND THIS, THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, IT'S LIMITED TO ONLY THOSE DEFENDANTS WHO HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH A VIOLENT OR SEXUALLY ORIENTED CRIME. UM, SO IF YOU WERE A BURGLAR OR A THIEF OR A SHOPLIFTER OR ANYTHING ELSE, THEN THIS LAW WOULD NOT APPLY. IS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING AS WELL? IT IS. OKAY. EXCEPT FOR, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO OTHER CITY IN THE, IN THE STATE THAT HAS A SIMILAR ORDINANCE. RIGHT. THERE'S NO OTHER BAIL BOND BOARD IN THE STATE THAT REGULATES WHAT BONDSMAN CHARGE. SO, SO THIS IS A, A, A FINELY TUNED LAW SPECIFICALLY FOR SPECIFIC OFFENSES. AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN WE PASS LAWS OR ORDINANCES, THEY OUGHT TO APPLY TO EVERYONE IN THE CITY, NOT JUST SELECT FEW PEOPLE. IS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING AS WELL? I THINK SO. BUT YOU KNOW, ALSO UNDER, YOU KNOW, IN THE, IN, IN TEXAS, WE HAVE TWO TYPES OF BONDSMEN. WE HAVE PROPERTY BONDSMEN AND CORPORATE BONDSMEN, AND WE, THE LEGISLATURE HAS REGULATED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE, THE REGULATION OF INSURANCE COMPANIES. AND SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT'S PROPER FOR A CITY, ONE CITY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS TO SET UP WHAT AN INSURANCE COMPANY CAN CHARGE, EVEN IF IT'S RELATED TO A BAIL BOND. RIGHT. AND MY LAST QUESTION FOR YOU IS, YOU KNOW, JUDGES ARE, MAKE A DETERMINATION WHETHER SOMEONE SHOULD BE RELEASED ON BAIL OR, OR BOND OR NOT. THAT'S REALLY NOT UP TO THE BONDSMAN. AND WHEN, WHEN, UH, SOMEONE COMES TO THEIR OFFICE AND THEY HAVE A BOND, THAT'S AN INDICATION FROM THE COURT THAT THE COURT FEELS THE PERSON IS SAFE TO BE RELEASED INTO THE COMMUNITY. ISN'T THAT ACCURATE? YES, IT IS. AND, AND WHAT I THINK AN UNIN UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF THIS CITY ORDINANCE WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT Y'ALL DON'T EVEN KNOW HAPPENS IF WE POST A BOND FOR AN INDIVIDUAL OR THE INDUSTRY POSTS A BOND FOR AN INDIVIDUAL, THEY GO TO COURT AND THE COURT RAISES THE BOND. UM, MOST OF THE TIME THE INDUSTRY WILL GIVE THEM A CREDIT FOR THE FIRST BOND TOWARDS THE SECOND BOND. THIS CITY ORDINANCE WILL PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING, AND THEY'LL HAVE TO CHARGE TWO SEPARATE FULL PREMIUMS FOR THAT. AND THEN I WOULD JUST MENTION CONNECTICUT, WHICH DOES, YOU KNOW, THE LEGISLATURE REGULATES WHAT BONDS BEEN CHARGED. THEY REQUIRE A DOWN PAYMENT OF 3.5%. THIS ONE WOULD REQUIRE A HUNDRED PERCENT DOWN PAYMENT. AND, UH, AND I JUST DON'T, I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER STATE THAT'S EVER DONE THIS. I DON'T, I KNOW. NO, NO CITY'S DONE IT AND NO BAIL BOND BOARD HAS DONE IT. IT'S USUALLY, IT'S USUALLY IT'S A, A LEGISLATURE. BUT WHAT THIS IS PROPOSAL IS SEEKING IS ALSO OUT OF LINE WITH ANYTHING THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING TO SPEAK TO US TODAY. I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS IN HELPING ENLIGHTEN US ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN KUBA. THANK YOU. MR. GOODE. THIS IS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL KOSH. WOULD YOU TELL, UH, THE PUBLIC SINCE, UH, YOU DIDN'T ANNOUNCE EXACTLY WHO YOU ARE AND HOW DO YOU PLAY INTO THIS REPRESENTING, UH, HERE TODAY? WHAT'S YOUR POSITION AND WHO ARE YOU ACTUALLY REPRESENTING AND WHAT YOUR POSITION? UH, MY, UH, I'M AN ATTORNEY. I SPECIALIZE IN BAIL LAW. I'VE WRITTEN ARTICLES ON, UM, UH, MANY ISSUES RELATING TO BAIL REFORM. I'VE WRITTEN ARTICLES ON SB SIX, WHICH IS THE MOST RECENT, UH, REFORMS THAT WERE PASSED BY THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE. UH, I'M A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF THE PROFESSIONAL BONDS OF TEXAS. I, WE PROPOSED A BILL BEFORE THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE AND I TESTIFIED FOR THE LEGISLATURE ON, UH, BAIL RELATED ISSUES. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS, UH, OR THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS STATUTORY AUTHORITY, UH, TO ACTUALLY, UH, GOVERN THE BAIL BOND BUSINESS IN ANY FACET? NO, I DO NOT. I, I, UH, I DON'T BELIEVE THE CITY DOES. I DON'T BELIEVE A BAIL BOND BOARD, UH, HAS THE AUTHORITY TO REGULATE WHAT A BOND'S BEEN CHARGED THAT EITHER HAS TO BE THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE, OR IT HAS TO BE THROUGH THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE. HAVE YOU READ THIS ORDINANCE YOURSELF? I HAVE. IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO THE ONE THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED BY THE BAIL BOND BOARD. I, I WOULD JUST POINT OUT, I HAVE A CONCERN WHY WE'RE PROPOSING A CITY ORDINANCE WHEN, UH, HARRIS COUNTY'S CURRENTLY NOT IN COMPLIANCE TEXAS LAW SIX MOTION BY THE LEGISLATURE SECOND, SECOND ROBINSON. OKAY. OBJECTION. IT'S NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH, IT'S ALSO NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE RULINGS OF THE FIFTH CIRCUIT. SO WE GOT HARRIS COUNTY NOT COMPLYING WITH EITHER THE FIFTH CIRCUIT LAW OR TEXAS LAW. IT'S JUST DOING WHAT IT'S DOING ITS OWN THING, NOT COMING IN, NOT EVEN TRYING TO COMPLY. AND SO NOW WE'RE BLAMING BONDSMAN. I THINK THAT THAT'S MISPLACED. WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH, WITH HARRIS COUNTY'S, UH, MISDEMEANOR SYSTEM GETTING IN COMPLIANCE WITH TEXAS LAW, AND OUR EFFORTS SHOULD BE SPENT FOCUSING ON THAT. PUT ME BACK IN THE QUEUE. MAYOR, YOU STILL, YOU'RE STILL STEAL YOUR TERM. UH, DID, DID [00:50:01] YOU, WHEN YOU READ THIS ORDINANCE, DID YOU SEE ANY ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM AND OR ANY PENALTY IN THIS ORDINANCE FOR, UH, AND HOW THAT, THAT, THAT THIS WOULD BE ENFORCED? NO, I DID NOT. AND AND HERE'S THE BIG CONCERN I HAVE ABOUT THIS TO THE ORDINANCE. I MEAN, IF, IF A PERSON CAN GO TO A BANK AND BORROW MONEY FOR A DOWN PAYMENT SO THAT IT'S IN COMPLIANCE, IF THEY CAN GO TO A CREDIT CARD AND GET A LOAN OR A, AN ADVANCE TO MAKE THIS, TO COMPLY WITH THE STATUTE, THEN WHAT IS GONNA PREVENT THEM FROM JUST GOING TO AN INDIVIDUAL OR WHAT'S, WHAT WOULD PREVENT A BONDING COMPANY FROM LOANING THEM THE MONEY TO COMPLY? THERE'S JUST NO TEETH IN THIS. UH, AND, UH, THERE'S TOO MANY HOLES IN IT. IT DOESN'T SEEK TO DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, AND I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S PROPER. WELL, AND I, I APPRECIATE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE, THE, THE RISE IN CRIME AND THE NUMBER OF, OF, UH, OF MURDERS BY THOSE LET OUT ON BOND. UH, WE READ 156 NAMES AT THE ROSE OF SHARON CHURCH, UH, A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. AND, AND MY, MY COMPLAINT HAS ALWAYS BEEN WITH THIS MATTER THAT THE JUDGES HAVE BEEN RELEASING THESE HABITUAL VIOLENT OFFENDERS ON EITHER VERY LOW BOND OR, OR RELATIVELY NO BOND. I, I FEEL LIKE I HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN FILING THE JUDI, THESE JUDICIAL BAR COMPLAINTS. I'VE POSTED THEM PUBLICLY. I DO KNOW THAT SIX OF THE, OF THE JUDGES, UH, WHO HAD DONE THAT, I HAD FILED COMPLAINTS AGAIN, DID NOT WIN THEIR PRIMARIES. SO I, UH, I'M REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THAT. AND, AND I I WANT TO ASK YOU THIS, DO, DO, DO YOU SEE, UH, THIS ORDINANCE HAVING A, A, UH, AN EFFECT ON REDUCING CRIME? NO, IT WILL NOT HAVE ANY EFFECT ON INCREASE ON IN, IN DECREASING CRIME. IN FACT, I WOULD SEE, I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS HAS MORE OF A POLITICAL, UH, CONCERN BY THAT, THAT YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE OF BECAUSE THESE CRIMES ARE ALL CRIMES THAT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR PR BONDS ANYMORE. AND SO IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME THAT THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO FILL UP THE JAIL B UH, BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR EVEN MORE SO THAN IT ALREADY IS. AND THEN TO GO TO THE LEGISLATURE AND SAY, WELL, WE CAN'T COMPLY WITH SB SIX OR SB SIX NEEDS TO BE CHANGED BECAUSE THIS HAS RESULTED IN, UH, OUR JAILS BEING EVEN MORE, UH, OVERCROWDED. AND THE PROBLEM IS, UH, THE MISDEMEANOR COURTS AREN'T EVEN TRYING TO COMPLY WITH SB SIX. THEY'RE JUST IGNORING IT. AND SO I I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS HAS MORE OF A POLITICAL NATURE AND AND THAN ANYTHING ELSE, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY, AND I HOPE IF YOU EVER TESTIFY HERE AGAIN, YOU'RE IN PUBLIC BECAUSE IN PERSON, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN HARD FOR MANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO HEAR YOU. AND, AND I WANNA MAKE THIS PUBLIC STATEMENT THAT, AND YOU'RE AWARE, WELL AWARE THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE BONDING BUSINESS NOW FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS, EVEN THOUGH I HAD BEEN IN THE BONDING BUSINESS FOR OVER TH RIGHT. AT 26 YEARS. SO I, I, MY CONCERN IS NO LONGER TO PROTECT OR TO HELP THE BONDING INDUSTRY. MY INTEREST IS PUBLIC SAFETY AS A RESULT OF BEING SWORN IN AS A COUNCIL MEMBER. UH, OUR DUTY IS TO PROTECT, UH, THE PUBLIC, JUST LIKE THE JUDGES, UH, IS, IS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC. THANK YOU, MR. MR. GOOD. UM, SINCE YOU, UM, YOU ARE ONLINE AND WE CAN'T SEE YOU, UH, LET ME JUST ASK A FEW QUESTIONS. NOW, YOU AN ATTORNEY REPRESENTING THE BA SIR, YOU ARE AN ATTORNEY REPRESENTING THE BAIL BONDING INDUSTRY, IS THAT CORRECT? I, I AM AN ATTORNEY THAT SPECIALIZES IN THAT AREA OF LAW, YES, SIR. YEAH. AND YOU REP, BUT YOU REPRESENT THE BAIL BONDING INDUSTRY AS AN ATTORNEY, IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR. OKAY. AND, UH, WOULD YOU, WOULD YOU, DO YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE BAIL BONDING COMPANIES THAT INSTEAD OF, UH, CHARGING A FEE OF 10% OF THE, THE BOND AMOUNT THAT'S SET BY A JUDGE, THAT SOME OF THESE BAIL BONDING COMPANIES ARE CHARGING LESS THAN THAT TWO, THREE 4%? NO. YOU'RE, NO, SIR. I, I, I WILL NOT, UH, AGREE THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ANNOUNCED AT THE BAIL BOND BOARD MEETING LAST MONTH THAT THEY HAD INVESTIGATED THOSE ALLEGATIONS AND FOUND THAT THEY WERE NOT FOUND AS, SO MAYBE TAKING A SMALLER DOWN PAYMENT. OKAY. SO, BUT THEY'RE STILL CHARGING, UH, THE FEE. OKAY. THEY, THEY, THEY'RE, THEY'RE STILL CHARGING THE 10%, BUT THEY'RE PUTTING THEM ON A PAYMENT PLAN, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? THEY'RE ON A PAYMENT PLAN, BUT YES, SIR. BUT THE BAIL INDUSTRY'S BACK. ALRIGHT. I UNDERSTAND. I, I, LOOK, I, SO THEY ON A PAYMENT PLAN, AND SO LET, TELL ME HOW THEY'RE PAYING THE PAYMENT PLAN. IF THEY DON'T HAVE A JOB, IF THEY DON'T HAVE A SOURCE OF INCOME, WHERE DO YOU THINK THEY'RE GONNA GET THE MONEY FOR THE PAYMENT TO PAY THE BAIL ABUNDANT COMPANY? WHERE DO YOU THINK THEY'RE GONNA GO? ISN'T IT FAIR TO SAY THAT THEY'RE, WELL, WAIT A MINUTE. ISN'T IT FAIR TO SAY THAT SOME OF THEM ARE GONNA BE COMMITTING CRIMES IN ORDER TO PAY THE BAIL ABUNDANT COMPANY BECAUSE THEY'RE ON A, ON A PAYMENT PLAN? AND THE POINT, THE POINT THAT I'M MAKING, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CONTACTING THE POINT THAT I'M MAKING MR. GOOD, [00:55:01] THE PEOPLE THE POINT. YES, SIR. THE POINT THAT I'M MAKING, SIR, IS THAT WHEN YOU PUT, WHEN THE BAIL BONDING COMPANY IS PUTTING PEOPLE ON A PAYMENT PLAN AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE NECESSARY JOB TO GET THE INCOME, THEY'RE GONNA GO AND FIND THAT INCOME FROM SOMEBODY. OKAY. THEY'RE GONNA GO AND GET IT FROM SOMEBODY. AND THE GOAL OF THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE IS TO REDUCE, TO ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY. AND EVERYBODY HAS A ROLE TO PLAY. JUDGES HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY, BUT BAIL BONDING COMPANIES HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY AS WELL, AND THEY NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE. NOW, YOU HAVE, YOU, YOU ARE FAMILIAR, THE LEGISLATURE DOESN'T MEET UNTIL JANUARY OF 2023, CORRECT? YES, SIR. AND SO I DON'T THINK THAT THE PEOPLE OUT IN OUR CITY CAN WAIT UNTIL JANUARY OF 2023 IN ORDER FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO ACT, WHEN THE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL CAN ACT TOMORROW TO ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHY THIS ORDINANCE IS BEFORE THE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. THIS IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IN TERMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY THAT'S FACING OUR CITY. AND IT'S INCUMBENT UPON CITY COUNCIL TO DO ITS PART, TO MAKING SURE THAT BELL ABUNDANT COMPANIES ARE NOT ADDING TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES THAT ARE IMPACT IMPACTING PEOPLE ON THEIR DAY-TO-DAY EXISTENCE. BUT PUTTING PEOPLE ON A, ON AN INSTALLMENT PLAN WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE A JOB, DON'T HAVE ANY SOURCE OF, OF MEANS TO PAY THIS INSTALLMENT PLAN, BUT TO DEAL WITH OTHER PEOPLE. THAT'S WHY THE ORDINANCE IS BEFORE US. IT DOESN'T WANNA SOLVE ALL OUR PROBLEMS, BUT IT'S AN ADDITIONAL STEP THAT WE CAN TAKE. THE JUDGES HAVE TO DO THEIR PART, THE COURTS HAVE TO DO THEIR PART, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO DO OURS. AND THE BAIL BONDING COMPANIES MUST DO THEIRS AS WELL. BUT IN THE END, PEOPLE CAN VOTE HOWEVER THEY CHOOSE TO VOTE. BUT THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ORDINANCE. UH, MOTION TO EXTEND. MOTION TO EXTEND THEN MOVE. SECOND. SECOND. UH, ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR, HONOR, MAY I, MARTIN? YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, AND MR. GOODE, WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, YOU SAID THERE WASN'T A DRAMATIC EFFECT ON PUBLIC SAFETY. BUT AS WE GO INTO THIS, I PULLED SOME RESEARCH AND, AND WHAT I DID WAS I LOOKED AT THE WORDS FROM OUR CHIEF OF POLICE, MR. TROY NER, AND ON APRIL 6TH IN THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE, HE TALKED ABOUT THIS EXACT ISSUE. HIS QUOTE WAS, THEY SET THE PROPER BAIL, AND THEN YOU GET TO A BAIL BONDING COMPANY AND THEY SAY, I'M GOING TO SET UP A PAYMENT PROGRAM. I'M GOING TO LET YOU OUT WITH ONE OR 2%. SO WHEN I LISTEN TO THAT AND I LISTEN TO THE WORDS OF TROY FINNER, THE CHIEF OF POLICE, UH, I'M ENTITLED TO, OR I AM GOING TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS. AND THEN I ALSO LOOK THAT THIS CAME UP WITH HARRIS COUNTY, AND I THINK IT WILL COME UP AGAIN NEXT WEEK, UH, FOR A VOTE WITH HARRIS COUNTY. AND THEN ONE OF THE LOCAL SENATORS IN THE SAME ARTICLE SAID THAT STATE LAW, HE WILL PUSH IN A STATE LAW TO REQUIRE BAIL BONDSMAN IN TEXAS TO COLLECT A 10% MINIMUM FROM SOME DEFENDANTS. SO WHEN YOU HAVE THE CHIEF OF POLICE, WHEN YOU HAVE THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHEN YOU HAVE HARRIS COUNTY, WHEN YOU HAVE THE STATE OF TEXAS GOING TO DO THIS, AND THE CHIEF OF POLICE SAYS IT WILL HAVE A DRAMATIC EFFECT ON PUBLIC SAFETY, HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH YOUR OPINION THAT IT WILL NOT? WELL, BECAUSE, UM, I THINK WHAT YOU DON'T, Y'ALL DO NOT REALIZE IS THE FAMILIES ARE THE ONES THAT CONTACT THE BAIL COMPANIES. WE DON'T GET, WE DON'T POST BONDS FOR THE DEFENDANTS. YOU KNOW, UH, THERE'S A RECENT ARTICLE THAT CAME OUT SAYING THAT THESE, UM, CHARITABLE BAIL FUNDS ARE NOT REALLY BONDING OUT THE SAME PEOPLE THAT THE BONDING COMMUNITY ARE BONDING OUT BECAUSE THE FAMILIES ARE NOT FOR, THOSE PEOPLE ARE NOT CALLING, UH, THE BONDING COMPANIES BECAUSE THEY HAVE SUBSTANTIAL CRIMINAL HISTORIES. AND SO WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH PEOPLE, WE'RE DEALING WITH THEIR FAMILIES. AND SO WE PULL TOGETHER A NETWORK THAT PUT PRESSURE ON THESE PEOPLE TO GO TO COURT. AND IT'S THE FAMILIES THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH WHO ARE COMING TO US AND SAYING, WE WILL WORK WITH YOU TO MAKE SURE THIS PERSON COMES TO COURT. THAT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SITUATION. YOUR CITY ORDINANCE DOESN'T EVEN EVEN PREVENT A, UH, A, A BAIL FUND FROM COMING IN AND JUST POSTING A BOND FOR EVERY ONE OF THESE PEOPLE FOR FREE. AND SO, I, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE SETTING UP A DOUBLE STANDARD AND SAYING WE HAVE TO PENALIZE CRIMINALS OF WHEN THE COURTS HAVE RULED OR HELD THAT THEY'RE, THEY SHOULD BE LET OUT ON BOND. AND SO I DISAGREE. UH, WE, THIS, THE BAIL INDUSTRY HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR 200 YEARS. TEXAS HAS NEVER REGULATED WHAT BOND. WELL, THAT'S NOT TRUE. THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE USED TO REGULATE WHAT BONDS BEEN CHARGED. AND THE LEGISLATURE REPEALED THAT 20 YEARS AGO. AND THEY DIDN'T GIVE IT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO DO, THEY DIDN'T GIVE IT TO THE BAILON BOARDS. THEY SAID, WE'RE [01:00:01] GONNA LET THE PUB, UH, THE, THE, UH, THE MARKET DECIDE WHAT IS CHARGED. THERE'S NOTHING IN THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT SAYS A BOSMAN IS TO CHARGE 10%. THERE'S NOTHING REQUIRING THEM TO CHARGE 1%. THIS IS JUST AN ARBITRARY THING COME UP WITH IN HARRIS COUNTY TO EXPLAIN WHY CRIME IS INCREASING AND TO DISTRACT THE PUBLIC. WELL, YOU TELL THAT TO PEOPLE WHO ARE VICTIMIZED BY FOLK WHO OWN THE INSTALLMENT PLAN. YOU TELL THAT, YOU TELL THAT TO THEM. I WAS A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE. THE BAIL ABUNDANT INDUSTRY IS ONE OF THE MOST, UH, POWERFUL BAIL BONDING INDUSTRIES IN THIS ENTIRE STATE. OKAY? AND IF THEY WANT TO CONTROL THE LEGISLATURE, AND IF THEY WANT TO PREVENT, UH, US FROM TAKING STEPS THAT WILL ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY, THEN THEY NEED TO RESPOND TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. BUT I THINK AT THIS POINT, THE GENERAL PUBLIC EXPECTS US TO MOVE FORWARD AND TO DO SOMETHING. AND EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. NOT JUST JUDGES, NOT JUST ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUT THE BAIL ABUNDANT INDUSTRY AS WELL. AND THIS IS THE TIME THAT PEOPLE MUST ACT. AND IF THEY DON'T EXPLAIN THAT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC COUNCIL MEMBER. KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH, I THINK IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO HAVE, UH, MR. GOODE COME IN PERSON. I THINK HE HAS AN OFFICE IN HOUSTON, BUT LIVES IN, UH, TYLER, TEXAS. UM, THE QUESTION I HAD MR. GOODE, REALLY QUICKLY, YOU TALKED A LOT ABOUT, UM, COURTS AND BONDS AND, BUT THERE'S A REALLY IMPORTANT, I THINK, AND WE LOSE SOME OF THE NUANCE, AND IT'S, I THINK YOU WOULD AGREE, A, UM, HIGHLY SPECIALIZED FIELD, RIGHT? WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, CRIMINAL LAW AND PROSECUTION, THERE, IT'S A WHOLE SPECIALIZED FIELD, BUT IT ISN'T IT THE PROSECUTORS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO FILE A SPECIAL REQUEST TO WITHHOLD BOND ENTIRELY IN ORDER FOR A JUDGE TO EVEN BE ABLE TO CONSIDER THAT IN MOST CIRCUMSTANCES. WE, I, I, I BELIEVE THAT THAT IS ACTUALLY A VERY HOTLY DEBATED ISSUE RIGHT NOW ABOUT WHO SETS BAIL. IS IT THE COURT'S JOB TO SET BAIL, OR IS IT THE PROSECUTOR'S JOB TO SET BAIL? AND THE JUDGE IS JUST THE ARBITER OF THE EVIDENCE. UH, I THINK, UH, THE WAY TEXAS CURRENT LAW CURRENTLY EXISTS, JUDGE A SECOND SETS BAIL ON AN ABUSIVE, ANY OBJECTION HERE? NONE GRANTED, I'M SORRY. YOU CAN CONTINUE. THE JUDGE SETS BELL ON ABUSIVE A SETS BAIL ON AN ABUSIVE DISCRETION STANDARD, AND THE DA HAS INPUT. I THINK WHERE IT GETS MORE MURKY IS WHEN THE DA FILED A MOTION TO REVOKE THE BOND OR FILED A MOTION TO SET A HIGHER BOND, OR REQUIRE A HIGHER BOND. BUT I THINK CURRENT LAW UNDER TEXAS, IN TEXAS IS THE JUDGE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SETTING BAIL ON AN ABUSIVE DISCRETION STANDARD. RIGHT. BUT I GUESS THE POINT I'M SAYING IS THERE'S A LITTLE BOX THAT YOU CHECK THAT THE DA, UM, WHETHER OR NOT THE PROSECUTOR HAS REQUESTED THIS AND THE DA CAN ACTUALLY PUSH FOR THE WITHHOLDING OF BOND IN MOST OF THESE DANGER, VERY DANGEROUS CIRCUMSTANCES. IS THAT CORRECT? I THINK THAT THEY CAN, YES, I THINK THEY CAN DO THAT, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT RELIEVES THE JUDGE'S RESPONSIBILITY OF SETTING BAIL. I, I UNDERSTAND, BUT AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A VERY NUANCED FIELD. AND I WANNA MAKE SURE, MAYOR, TO YOUR POINT, AS WE TALK ABOUT RESPONSIBILITY, IT'S ON ALL OF US. IT'S NOT, UH, THE COURTS. ABSOLUTELY. WE NEED MORE CAPACITY. THERE NEEDS TO BE, WE NEED TO GET THESE DOCKETS MOVING. UH, THE BONDS, UH, INDUSTRY NEEDS TO STEP UP. BUT EVERYONE, AND WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING INTO A VERY NUANCED FIELD WITH A LOT OF, UH, QUICK SOUND BITES. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MISDEMEANOR, THAT'S VERY DIFFERENT FROM FELONY. AND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN THIS ITEM IS THE MOST SERIOUS AND VIOLENT OFFENSES, AND REQUIRING A THRESHOLD OF BOND OR BAIL BOND BE SET FOR VIOLENT FELONIES, INCLUDING AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, DOMESTIC ABUSE, UM, THE VIOLENT CRIME THAT OUR CITY IS FACING WITH THAT IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO TACKLE RIGHT NOW. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KASH MAYOR, I THINK THAT, UH, IT'S IMPORTANT. I, I I WANT TO ASK MR. GOODE, UH, CONCERNING THE, THE, THE STATEMENTS THAT THE MAYOR SAID ABOUT A BONDSMAN BEING, UH, REQUIRED, I MEAN THE, THE DEFENDANT BEING REQUIRED TO, TO, TO PAY THIS PAYMENT PLAN. I, IS IT EVER A, UH, A REASON THAT THE COURT WOULD, WOULD ISSUE A WARRANT? UH, BECAUSE THE BONDSMAN DIDN'T GET PAID? DOES, DOES, IS THAT GROUNDS FOR A WARRANT BEING ISSUED BY THE JUDGE? UH, NO, SIR. IT'S NOT UNDER 1719 OF THE TEXAS CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. WE HAVE TO SET OUT A REASON TO SURRENDER A BOND, [01:05:01] AND WE CANNOT, UH, SIT OUT. WE CANNOT ASK FOR A WARRANT BECAUSE OF A LACK OF PAYMENT. UM, SO NO. IN FACT, I, I HAVE NEVER SEEN THE JUDGE OVER THE LAST 26 YEARS THAT I WAS IN BUSINESS, UH, EVER EVEN CONSIDER, UH, ISSUING A WARRANT ON A DEFENDANT BECAUSE HE DIDN'T POST, DIDN'T PAY THE BONDSMAN. AND IN FACT, UH, WHEN A DEFENDANT IS IN CUSTODY, THEY DON'T PAY THE BONDSMAN TO GET OUTTA JAIL. IT'S THE FAMILY MEMBER, THE FRIEND, THE MINISTER, THE EMPLOYEE, THE WIFE, SOMEBODY ELSE PAYS HIM. THEY'RE THE ONES THAT SIGN THE PROMISSORY NOTE. THEY'RE THE ONES THAT MAKE THE PAYMENT PLAN, NOT THE DEFENDANT. SO THE DEFENDANT DOESN'T HAVE TO GO OUT AND ROB AND MURDER AND KILL AND STEAL CATALYTIC CONVERTERS TO MAKE HIS PAYMENT PLAN, BECAUSE THE PAYMENT PLAN IS NOT WITH HIM. AM I RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT. AND WHEN PEOPLE FAIL TO APPEAR FOR COURT, THEY HAVE TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THE JUDGES NEED TO BE DENIED THEM A BOND. OR WHEN WE REQUEST A WARRANT, SUDDENLY THE COURT CAN THEN ORDER A CASH BOND. WHAT THE PROBLEM WE HAVE IS THERE'S NO ACCOUNTABILITY RIGHT NOW, IF YOU HAVE AN 80 OR 70 SOMETHING FAILURE TO APPEAR, RATE 70 SOMETHING PERCENT FAILURE TO A PURE RATE ON MISDEMEANOR, JUST ON AVERAGE. I MEAN, THAT ALONE TELLS YOU CRIME'S GONNA INCREASE. 'CAUSE NO ONE'S COMING TO COURT. SAME THING ON FELONIES. IF YOU DON'T COME MR. GOOD, AND YOU'RE NOT HELD ACCOUNTABLE, MR. GOOD. I'M GONNA INTERRUPT YOU. SEE THAT MR. GOOD, MR. GOOD. I WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION. IF, IF A BONDSMAN TAKES MONEY THAT HE KNOWS COME FROM A CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, IS THAT A FELONY? YES, IT IS A FELONY. AND IF AN, IF AN ATTORNEY TAKES MON MONEY FROM A CRIMINAL THAT HE KNEW HE, THAT MONEY CAME FROM A CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, IT'S A FELONY ON, ON THE ATTORNEY AS WELL, ISN'T IT? YES, SIR. OKAY. SO IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT THE, THE, THE DEFENDANT THAT'S BEING BONDED OUT OF JAIL THAT'S REQUIRED TO MAKE THE PAYMENT PLAN. IT'S THE CO SURETY ON THE BOND. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN, COUNCILMAN KNOX. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, MR. GOODE, I, I JUST WANT TO GO BACK TO THE, THIS ISSUE ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS A, A BUSINESS, UH, THE BONDING COMPANY IS A BUSINESS JUST LIKE A CONVENIENCE STORE OR ANY OTHER PROVIDER OF GOODS OR SERVICES, ISN'T THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR. UH, A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESS. OKAY. AS A BUSINESS, IT'S A BUSINESS PERSON'S RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE A DETERMINATION WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE IT'S SAFE TO RELEASE SOMEONE, UH, OUT INTO THE PUBLIC AFTER HAVING BEEN ACCUSED OF A CRIME. YES, SIR. WELL, YES. WE, I MEAN, WE, WE DETERMINE RISK. WHEN WE POST A BOND, WE DECIDE WHAT RISK THE BONDING COMPANY WANTS TO, TO, TO TAKE ON, RIGHT? BUT THAT'S, THAT'S A BUSINESS DECISION. BUT IT'S NOT THE, THE JOB OF THE BAIL BONDSMAN TO DETERMINE WHETHER SOMEONE SHOULD BE OR SHOULD NOT BE RELEASED ON BAIL. DOESN'T THAT LIE SOLELY WITHIN THE DISCRETION OF THE COURT? THAT'S RIGHT. THE BONDSMAN DON'T MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. THE JUDGE SET DETERMINES WHETHER THEY'RE SAFE TO BE RELEASED FROM JAIL. OKAY. SO THE BONDING COMPANY WHO'S A, NOW, LOOK, I'M A FORMER POLICEMAN. I'M A PUT 'EM IN JAIL FOREVER, KIND OF GUY. OKAY? I, I GET THAT PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. BUT THE, THE FACT OF THE MATTER REMAINS THAT IT'S THE JUDGES WHO MAKE A DETERMINATION, OFTEN IN OPPOSITION TO THE ADVICE THAT THEY'RE GETTING FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY CURRENTLY, UH, TO EITHER NO BOND OR HIGH BOND, SOMEBODY ON VARIOUS CRIMES. THE JUDGES ARE MAKING DECISIONS WHETHER OR NOT TO RE, TO ALLOW BAIL OR BOND ON A SUSPECT. ISN'T THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR. AND THE FAMILIES OF THESE PEOPLE THEN COME TO A BONDING COMPANY AND SEEK A BOND FOR THEIR FAMILY MEMBER WHO'S IN JAIL, AND THEY ARE THE ONES WHO, WHO COME UP WITH THE MONEY AND SO FORTH, AND WHATEVER THE, THE PAYMENT PLAN OR WHATEVER THE PAYMENT PLAN ISSUE'S BEEN GOING ON FOR DECADES? UH, AS I, AS I RECALL, YES, SIR. IT WAS GOING ON WHEN I WAS A POLICEMAN BACK IN THE EIGHTIES. OKAY. SO IF A JUDGE SAYS THAT THIS GUY CAN BE, OR THIS PERSON COULD BE RELEASED ON BAIL, WHY SHOULDN'T A BA BONDING COMPANY GO AHEAD AND, AND ISSUE THE BAIL? AND WHY WOULD WE PUNISH ONLY THOSE DEFENDANTS WHO, BY THE WAY, ARE STILL PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY? WHY WOULD WE JUST DEFINE, UH, THE, THE 10% BOND ISSUE FOR ONE TYPE OF CRIME OVER ANOTHER? I CAN MAYBE SEE IT IF IT WAS FOR ALL CRIMINALS EVERYWHERE, BUT, UH, OR ALL DEFENDANTS IN ALL CASES. BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST TARGETING, UH, VIOLENT OFFENDERS AND SEXUAL OFFENDERS. SO THAT, THAT SEEMS TO ME TO BE, UH, NOT THE PURVIEW OF A BUSINESS. I, I AGREE WITH THAT. OKAY. SO THEN, THEN WHAT, WHAT HAPPENS IF A BONDING AGENT, A BONDING COMPANY, HAS A FRIEND WHO GETS, UH, ARRESTED IN JAIL [01:10:01] AND THEY WANNA POST THE BOND FOR FREE? WOULD THAT BE A VIOLATION OF, UH, OF THIS ORDINANCE? YES. AND OR YOU COULDN'T GIVE 'EM A DISCOUNT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THE FAMILY, YOU CAN'T GIVE 'EM A DISCOUNT 'CAUSE YOU KNOW THEIR ATTORNEY, YOU CAN'T GIVE, OR THAT YOU'RE EVEN RELATED TO BECAUSE YOU WANNA WORK WITH THEM. THAT'S RIGHT. OR THAT YOU'RE EVEN RELATED TO THEM FOR SOME REASON. RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT. YOU KNOW, SO THE, THE THIEF, THE BURGLAR CAN GET A LOWER BOND, UH, PERCENTAGE, BUT THE ASSAULT PERSON CANNOT. IS THAT ACCURATE? YES, SIR. OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AGAIN FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR TESTIMONY TODAY. I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. I, I KNOW YOUR JAIL IS ALREADY CROWDED, SO, AND I KNOW THAT THESE ARE DIFFICULT DECISIONS, BUT IT'S NOT THE BELL INDUSTRY'S, UH, UH, FAULT THAT THIS IS HAPPENING. BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, THANK YOU. AND AGAIN, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEP THE VICTIMS OF CRIMES AT THE CENTER OF THIS CONVERSATION. OKAY? BECAUSE IF THE VICTIMS ARE THE ONES WHO ARE LOSING THEIR LIVES, OR FAMILY MEMBERS, OR HAVING PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING, UM, THEN YOU HAVE TO ASK, UH, HOW DO THEY FEEL ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT ON INSTALLMENT PLANS AND VICTIMIZE THE FAMILY? SO LET'S KEEP THE VICTIMS UPFRONT, AND LET'S NOT EXCUSE ANY INDUSTRY AND JUST POINT AT JUDGES. JUDGES HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY. THEY SHOULDN'T BE LETTING PEOPLE OUT REPEATEDLY ON THESE DEALS. BUT NEITHER SHOULD THE BAIL BONDING INDUSTRY BE LET OFF THE HOOK AND LET PUTTING PEOPLE OUT, UH, PAYING TWO, 3% AND THEN, OR FAMILY MEMBERS, AND THEN WHERE THEY'RE GONNA GET THE MONEY. EVERYBODY HAS TO ASSUME SOME RESPONSIBILITY AND BE ACCOUNTABLE. UM, AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE. BUT IN THE END, COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN DECIDE HOW YOU WANNA VOTE ON IT. UH, VICE MAYOR, PORT TEM CASTEK TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO ASK, UM, THE CITY ATTORNEY A QUESTION. AS A HOME RULE CITY, UM, CAN YOU SPEAK TO HOW THIS ORDINANCE IMPACTS, UM, WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IN, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON? IT, IT, IT IN RELATION TO VIOLATING THE STATE LAW OR THE CONSTITUTION? OH, WELL, I, YOU KNOW, I, THAT'S A BROAD QUESTION. I THINK THE, THE SIMPLE WAY TO PUT IT IS I THINK WE DO HAVE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE, OKAY? AND I WOULD SAY IT'S MY HOPE THAT THE OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE STATE WILL FOLLOW HOUSTON'S LEAD. BECAUSE IF OTHER CITIES START DOING THE SAME THING, UH, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A MUCH SAFER ENVIRONMENT. HOUSTON WOULD BE THE FIRST, BUT OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE CON, ACROSS THE STATE NEED TO FOLLOW HOUSTON'S LEAD, AND WE'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON IT. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. MARIO GARZA. MARIO GARZA IS HERE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. UH, MY NAME IS MARIO GARZA. I'M THE, UH, PRESIDENT OF THE PROFESSIONAL BONDSMAN OF HARRIS COUNTY ASSOCIATION. I ALSO SIT ON THE HARRIS COUNTY BAIL BOND BOARD. UM, I FIND IT DISINGENUOUS, UH, THAT PEOPLE WERE THROWING AROUND WORDS LIKE ACCOUNTABILITY. AND, UM, THIS GOES BACK TO 2017 WHEN O'DONNELL, WHICH AIMED TO LET OUT 85% OF CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS ON FREE BONDS OR EXTREMELY LOW BONDS. AND NOW WE'RE HERE AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY. THIS ALL STARTED WITH COMMISSIONER'S COURT. THIS IS WHERE IT SPIRALED TO THE BONDING COMMUNITY, TOLD THEM THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. AND HERE WE ARE, . AND, UH, TO BE HONEST, YOU KNOW, UH, WE TALK ABOUT DUE PROCESS. YOU'RE RUNNING INTO AN EQUAL PROTECTION PROBLEM HERE. YOU WANNA CHARGE 10% FOR CERTAIN CRIMES, BUT NOT OTHERS. THAT'S CLEAR. I MEAN, WE, I'M SURE THERE ARE ATTORNEYS IN THE ROOM. SO YOU KNOW THAT, UH, MAYOR, YOU TALK ABOUT A ONE SAFE, HU SAFE HOUSTON INITIATIVE. HEY, THE ANSWER FOR YOU RIGHT NOW IS SENATE BILL SIX. ALL YOU GOTTA DO IS GET IN COMPLIANCE WITH SENATE BILL SIX. THAT FIXES EVERYTHING. GIVES, I, I'M NOT, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH SENATE BILL SIX, I'M SORRY. IT GIVES THE JUDGES DISCRETION TO REVIEW A, A DEFENDANT'S BACKGROUND BEFORE SETTING BAIL. THAT'S IN EFFECT THIS MONTH, FULL EFFECT THAT CAME OUT. LEGISLATURE. THAT'S ALL YOU NEED, WHICH IS WHAT WAS MISSING THE ACCOUNTABILITY FACTOR. NOT TO MENTION YOU'RE RUNNING INTO PRICE FIXING PROBLEMS, UM, EFFECT IN JURISDICTION AND AFFORD ENFORCEMENT OF YOUR ORDINANCE OTHER THAN TRAFFIC BONDS, WHICH BONDS BEEN ALREADY CHARGED 35% ON. I DON'T SEE HOW YOU CAN, UM, ENFORCE THAT. UM, SO THESE ARE MY POINTS. UM, DUE PROCESS. THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT CONVICTED OF ANY KIND OF CRIME, BUT YET YOU WANT THEM TO PAY 10% AND OTHERS NOT. WHERE'S THE DUE PROCESS IN THAT, THAT'S [01:15:01] WHAT BAIL REFORM WAS DRESSED UP UNDER. AND THE VICTIMS THAT YOU TALK ABOUT, I GO TO PARENTS OF MURDER CHILDREN, I GO TO CRIME STOPPERS EVERY MONTH FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF. AND LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, UH, , YOU KNOW, SITTING IN A ROOM WITH THOSE, WITH PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN THROUGH THAT, YEAH, THEY'RE ARE VICTIMS. AND THIS DIDN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN. 540 MURDERS IN 2021, WE'RE ON, WE'RE ON PAR NOW, 178 MURDERS, AND WE'RE ONLY IN APRIL. THIS DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE. BOND JUDGES USED TO ZERO BOND DEFENDANTS AND BONDSMAN DIDN'T HAVE ANY SAY, WHETHER WE GOT THEM OUT OR NOT. AND TO, UH, RELATE TO KEN'S, UH, STATEMENT THAT, YEAH, NOBODY PARENTS PAY THE PREMIUMS. AND MOST OF THE TIME THE DEFENDANTS WORK. THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO GET THEM OUT. 'CAUSE THEY GO BACK TO WORK TO PAY THAT PAYMENT PLAN. IT'S USUALLY, UH, THE MOTHER, THE FATHER, AND EVERYBODY WORKING TOGETHER TO PAY THEM. SO, UH, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT COMMON FOR PEOPLE TO ROB AND STEAL UNLESS THEY'RE BEING LET OUT WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T BE BY JUDGES. WELL, THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THEM, MR. GAZA, UH, THE POLICE CHIEF DISAGREES WITH YOU BECAUSE HE SAYS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BAIL. LET ME, I LISTEN TO YOU WITH THE BAIL BONDING SYSTEM. UM, AND THEN WHAT ABOUT DUE PROCESS WITH RESPECT TO PEOPLE WHO ARE VICTIMIZED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT AND ON TWO, 3% OF THAT BOND ON A PAYMENT PLAN, WHAT ABOUT THE DUE PROCESS FOR THEM? OKAY, SO NO ONE IS SAYING THAT EVERYBODY THAT'S OUT ON THE BONDING SYSTEM ARE VIOLATING IT OR, OR ABUSING IT. BUT I THINK IF YOU ASK THE, THE PERSON ON THE STREET, THEY ASSUME THAT IF A JUDGE SETS THE BOND AT LET'S SAY, A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, THAT THAT PERSON OR FAMILY IS PAYING 10% OF IT. THAT'S WHAT THEY ASSUME. AND MOST ARE NOT AWARE THAT THEY'RE PAYING TWO 3% ON AN INSTALLMENT PLAN. AND EVERYBODY DOES NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. JUDGES NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. I AGREE WITH YOU. WE NEED TO GET DOWN THE, THE, THE, THE, THE BACKLOG OF CASES, NOT JUST MISDEMEANOR, BUT THERE ARE 40 TO 50,000 FELONY CASES THAT ARE BEHIND. AND THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT ON BOND, ON BAIL, OKAY? ON THAT INSTALLMENT PLAN. SO JUST LIKE WE HAVE TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, WHAT WE DO AT THE CITY POLICE AND EVERYONE ELSE, JUDGES NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THE LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. WHAT HB 1927, PUTTING GUNS EVERYWHERE. OKAY? SO DO SO DOES THE BAIL BONDING INDUSTRY. SO NO ONE IS TRYING TO PUT ANYBODY OUTTA BUSINESS. BUT WE WANT TO KEEP PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT ON BAIL ON THESE INSTALLMENT PLANS FROM COMMITTING ADDITIONAL CRIMES WHILE THEY OUT AT LEAST MITIGATE IT. SO IT'S NOT PICKING ON ANYONE UNDER WAY. ONE SAFE HOUSTON, I'VE CRITICIZED EVERYBODY, OKAY? MAY I RESPOND TO HOW THE BOND COMMUNITY IS ACCOUNTABLE? WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE FACE VALUE OF THE BOND. AND EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM, IN THE COURT SYSTEM, THE JUDGES, THE LAWYERS, EVERYBODY, NOBODY IS MORE ACCOUNTABLE THAN THE BONDSMAN. BECAUSE WHEN THAT PERSON DOESN'T GO TO COURT, I COULD A CHECK FOR A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. IF I DON'T FIND THAT DEFENDANT, I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY IN THE SYSTEM THAT IS HELD MORE ACCOUNTABLE THAN THE BONDSMAN. AND THAT'S WHAT THE PUBLIC FORGETS WHEN A BONDSMAN RISK EVALUATES, HE GOES, DO I REALLY AM GONNA WRITE THAT CHECK FOR A HUNDRED GRAND OR TWO 50 OR HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN SIX MONTHS WHEN I DON'T FIND THIS DEFENDANT? HOW LIKELY IS HE NOT TO GO TO COURT? AND MIND YOU, WE MAKE THOSE DECISIONS IN ABOUT 15 TO 20 MINUTES. SO THAT RISK ASSESSMENT, NOBODY'S HELD MORE ACCOUNTABLE THAN THE BONDSMAN. EVERYBODY ELSE GETS TO PASS POLICIES. WE ACTUALLY GOTTA CUT THE CHECK. THAT'S WHY I'M A VERY RISK ORIENTED PERSON. JUDGES, YOU'RE RIGHT. UH, WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIVE YEARS AGO UNTIL BAIL REFORM CAME ALONG. AND THE CITIES THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT YOU WANNA MODEL THIS AFTER CHICAGO, NEW YORK, CALIFORNIA, BAIL REFORM, WRECKED ALL THEIR CITIES, IT'S ALL THE SAME PROBLEM. YOU'RE GONNA TELL ME, THE CRIMINAL IN CHICAGO AND NEW YORK IS DIFFERENT THAN A CRIMINAL IN TEXAS. NO, SIR. I'VE BEEN IN JAIL FIVE TIMES IN MY LIFE. I, I KNOW WHAT THAT MENTALITY LOOKS LIKE. THIS IS WHY WE SAID IT WOULDN'T WORK. I WAS A PARALEGAL, CRIMINAL, CIVIL AS WELL. SO I'VE BEEN ON EVERY SIDE OF IT. I'VE SLEPT ON THOSE FLOORS. I'VE EATEN THE FOOD WITH THEM. MOTION, MOTION TO EXTEND SECOND, THEN MOVE ANY SECOND. UM, ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR IS NONE. UM, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. I COULD GO WITH BACK AND FORTH, BUT, UM, THERE ARE OTHERS IN THE QUEUE. I'LL COME BACK WITH YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN KOSH, MARIO, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. UH, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE MAYOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. 'CAUSE THIS IS SHINING A STRONG LIGHT ON WHAT WE DID. AND YOU, YOU CAME AS A A AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW YOU WERE GONNA BE THERE AT THE ROSA SHEAN CHURCH, BUT YOU CAME AND YOU EVEN SPOKE. AND, AND, UH, WE BROUGHT UP AND WE READ THOSE 160, UH, 56 NAMES. YOU REMEMBER THAT CRIME STOPPERS. IT HAS SHINED A LIGHT ON THIS. NOW THE MAYOR'S BRINGING THIS ORDINANCE [01:20:01] FORWARD, AND IT'S SHINING MORE LIGHT ON WHAT'S GOING WRONG. AND WE'VE GOT TO STOP THE CRIME. YOU KNOW, THAT MY INTEREST IS NOT THE BAIL INDUSTRY. MY INTEREST, INTEREST IS PUBLIC SAFETY. MY CONCERN WHEN I STARTED FILING THESE JUDICIAL BAR COMPLAINTS, AND I FOUND IN THE RECORDS THAT NEARLY HALF OR MORE THAT THE DA'S RECOMMENDATION TO FILE TO REQUEST A ZERO BOND, IN OTHER WORDS, NOT TO LET 'EM OUT, WAS OVERRIDDEN BY THE JUDGES ON ROSALIE COOK, WHO WAS KILLED ON AT THE WALGREENS PARKING LOT ON BRAESWOOD. HER DEF THAT DEFENDANT HAD BEEN, BEEN CHARGED AND CONVICTED 22 TIMES ON MISDEMEANORS, NINE TIMES ON FELONIES. AND A FORMER REPUBLICAN JUDGE ELLIS LET HIM OUT ON TWO PR BONDS, AND HE WAIVED THE COST OF THE BONDS. HE FOUND ROSALIE COOK 20 DAYS LATER AND HE KILLED HER. THE SON SAID ON NATIONAL TELEVISION, HE COULD HAVE JUST PUSHED MAMA DOWN. SHE COULDN'T HAVE GOT UP. NOW, I'M TELLING YOU THAT THIS WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY, MARIO IS GOOD FOR US ALL. IF I SAT IN YOUR SEAT ON THE HARRIS COUNTY BAIL BOND BOARD. 'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU'RE GONNA VOTE WHEN IT COMES UP, BUT, BUT I, I WOULD'VE PROBABLY VOTED FOR THE 10%. WHY? BECAUSE I WANT PEOPLE TO PAY ME IN FULL. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I'M JUST TELLING YOU, I DON'T WANT ANY PAYMENT PLANS. I WANT IT ALL UPFRONT. YOU'RE ACTUALLY HELPING US. I MEAN, YEAH, BUT THEY SAY I SHOULDN'T SAY THAT. BUT I MEAN, IT'S, YES, BUT THE THING IS, IS IT'S ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. AND I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE A RED HERRING, UH, DISTRACTION FROM THE JUDGES WHO REALLY ARE TO BLAME AF AFTER THEY HAVE NOT FOLLOWED THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S REQUEST. AND, AND THIS IS OVERWHELMING OUR SYSTEM, THE BAIL SYSTEM HAS BEEN A PROVEN SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS, AND IT'S BEEN DISMANTLED. AND NOW THIS IS WHAT WE'VE GOT. AND, AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IT. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE, MARIO, WHAT YOU'VE BEEN A, WHAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO. YOU'RE A GREAT SPOKESMAN. AND, AND I, AND I HAVE TO AGREE WITH YOU, IF THIS PASSES AND IF THEY START COLLECTING THE 10%, IT, IT'LL ONLY HELP YOU BECAUSE THE, YOU KNOW, AND I REALIZE YOU'VE CALLED SOME FOLKS OUT AT COMMISSIONER'S COURT. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN SEE IN THIS ORDINANCE THAT WOULD ACTUALLY STOP PEOPLE FROM CHARGING LESS THAN 10%? MY QUESTION TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS IS ASK YOURSELF THIS. IF, IF PEOPLE ACTUALLY START PAYING 10%, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO? THEN? WHATCHA GONNA DO? YOU RAISE IT FOR 2010, 30%? WHATCHA GONNA DO? YOU'RE GAMBLING THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY NOT GONNA COME UP WITH IT. LIKE A LOT OF JUDGES WHO SET BONDS SO HIGH, THEY THINK THE DEPENDENT CAN'T COME UP WITH IT. OH, VOILA. THEY CAME UP WITH IT AND GOT OUT. SO WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WHEN THEY ACTUALLY START PAYING 10%? 'CAUSE THEY WILL. AND THERE'S, AND THEN MURDER'S STILL GOING UP. WHATCHA GONNA DO, WE'LL BE BACK HERE AND YOU'LL BE ASKING FOR 20%, 30, 40, SO ON AND SO FORTH. NO, THAT'S, THAT'S THE QUESTION. THAT'S JUST LAYING IT OUT THERE. NO, I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE CASE. MR. GAZA, WE ARE NOT EXPECTING TO GO UP TO 20. BUT I THINK IF YOU GO OUT ON THE STREETS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND ASK WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THAT BOND ARE BAIL BONDS BEEN CHARGING FOLKS, AND I THINK NINE OUTTA 10 PEOPLE WOULD PROBABLY SAY 10%. AND I THINK THEY ARE SHOCKED WHEN THEY DISCOVER IT'S NOT 10%, IT'S LESS, OR THAT THEY ARE PUT ON AN INSTALLMENT PLAN. SO NO, EVERYBODY, NO ONE IS TRYING TO PUT IT ON ANYONE. ALL OF US HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY. ALL OF US HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY. AND LEMME JUST ASK, SINCE YOU'RE HERE AND YOU OWN THE HARRIS COUNTY BAIL BOND, DO YOU INTEND TO VOTE FOR IT TOMORROW OR VOTE THOUGH? I, I AM RESERVED. I'LL, I'LL SPEAK ON THAT TOMORROW. . WELL, THIS IS NOT ABOUT TAKING THE FIFTH. YOU, YOU, THIS, YOU GUYS, YOU GUYS KNOW, YOU GUYS, I MEAN, NO, BUT IF YOU COMING HERE AND TELLING US NOT TO VOTE ON THE ORDINANCE, BUT IT, IT'S NOT GONNA STOP ANYTHING. AND, AND YOU'RE SITTING ON THE, ON THE, ON THE HARRIS COUNTY BELL BONDING BOARD. AND QUITE FRANKLY, IF YOU ALL VOTED FOR IT, THAT WE, WE WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE NO NEED FOR THE ORDINANCE. DID YOU KNOW WHAT I VOTED LAST TIME, LAST MONTH? I'M ASKING YOU WHEN IT COMES UP. I VOTED THE SAME AS I AS I VOTED LAST MONTH. I'LL BE VOTING. AND HOW DID YOU VOTE THE LAST TIME? VOTED NO. OKAY. SO I ASSUME YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE NO TOMORROW. BUT AGAIN, THE ONLY THING THAT I'M SAYING, WE ARE SIMPLY ASKING FOR THE BAIL ABUNDANT INDUSTRY TO CHARGE WHAT HAS BEEN THE CUSTOMARY PRACTICE, AND THAT'S THE 10%. OKAY? AND IT'S ALL DRIVEN BY PUBLIC SAFETY. OKAY? AND THE FAMILIES WHO ARE VICTIMIZED, THAT'S THE, AND, BUT AGAIN, COUNCILMAN P*****K, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE. MR. GARZA, THANK YOU, UH, FOR COMING FORWARD. UM, COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR YOU. IS IT CUSTOMARY FOR BAIL BONDS, THE BAIL BOND INDUSTRY TO CHARGE [01:25:01] PEOPLE 10%? IS THAT CUSTOMARY? IT IS. WHETHER IT'S ON A PAYMENT PLAN OR NOT, BUT 10% IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THE PAYMENT. YES. SO THE ANSWER WOULD BE YES. YES, SIR. WHY IS THAT? UM, I'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS 14 YEARS. THAT'S JUST ALWAYS, UH, BEEN THE STANDARD. NOW, OF COURSE, WE CAN CHARGE MORE. LIKE I CAN CHARGE 40%, 50% IF I ASSESS THE RISK, IF THEY'RE NOT A CITIZEN, IF THEY'RE IN THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY. UH, SO I CAN GO OVER 10% IF I WANT, BUT THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION JUST FOR 10%. THAT'S JUST AN ARBITRARY NUMBER. IT'S, IT'S JUST AN UNDER, IT'S, IT'S ALMOST LIKE SOMETHING I CAME IN AND IT WAS THE PRICE THAT THE MARKET BARED MOTION TO EXTEND. SO MOVE SECOND, THOMAS, MOVE A SECOND. AND OBJECTION HERE, CHAIR. NOW GRANTED, OKAY, SO A LOT OF THIS CONVERSATION INITIALLY STARTED WITH JUDGES, UH, GIVING LOW AMOUNT BONDS OR PR BONDS, AND I THINK THE OUTRAGE OF THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE HABITUAL VIOLENT OFFENDERS THAT ARE BACK ON THE STREETS BECAUSE OF LOW AMOUNT BONDS, CORRECT? YES, SIR. WELL, IF WE ARE SETTING A FLOOR ON THE AMOUNT A PERSON OR A FAMILY MEMBER MUST PAY ON BEHALF OF A VIOLENT OFFENDER, DON'T YOU THINK THAT WOULD MITIGATE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT COULD REACH THAT THRESHOLD TO PAY THE BOND? I DON'T BELIEVE SO. NO. SO YOU DON'T BELIE, BUT IT DOES MAKE IT EASIER FOR A FAMILY MEMBER OR A FRIEND TO PAY 2%, 3% AS IT WOULD BE TO PAY 10%? CORRECT? IT WOULD BE EASIER TO, SURE. ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. YES. SO BASICALLY WE WOULD BE GIVING A DISCOUNT OR A COUPON BECAUSE IF IT IS CUSTOMARY AT 10%, YOU JUST SAID INDUSTRY STANDARD, IT'S CUSTOMARY AT 10% GOING BELOW INDUSTRY STANDARD WOULD BE A DISCOUNT OR A COUPON. A COUPON WOULD MEAN YOU'D GET A REDUCTION IN THE PRICE. THEY'RE STILL PAYING 10%, THEY'RE JUST PAYING IT LATER. THEY'RE GIVING ME TWO TO 3% TODAY AND IN PAYMENTS LATER, THEY'RE GONNA PAY. THAT'S THE COUPON YOU GET TO PAY LATER. WHAT TIME YOU GET TO PAY. YOU GET TO PAY LESS NOW AND THEN SATISFY THE BALANCE AT A LATER DATE. BUT YOU GET TO PAY LESS NOW AND THE LESS NOW ALLOWS YOU TO GO FREE. THAT'S MORE LIKE CREDIT, I WOULD ASSUME. OKAY. I'M GIVING 'EM CREDIT. OKAY. WE'LL GIVE 'EM A CREDIT. WE'LL GO WITH YOUR WORD. SO WE'RE GIVING A CREDIT TO HABITUAL VIOLENT OFFENDERS SO THAT IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR THEM TO POST BAIL AND COME BACK TO THE STREETS. CORRECT. EVERY COMPANY HAS A DIFFERENT RISK ASSESSMENT, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT. YES. THANK YOU. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. UM, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THANK YOU, SIR FOR YOUR COMMENT. UM, I JUST WANTED TO BASICALLY REMIND US, YOU KNOW, GO BACK ON HOW WE GOT TO THIS MOMENT. TALKING ABOUT BAIL, BAIL REFORM, UM, THE SUMMER OF 2015, A DEATH OF SANDRA BLAND, THAT WAS THE TURNING POINT FOR BAIL REFORM HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. THE COMMUNITY WAS OUTRAGED. THEY WANTED TO SEE THE SYSTEM CHANGE. THEY GOT OUT AND THEY VOTED ELECTED CANDIDATES THAT SHARED THEIR VISION FOR A SYSTEM THAT WAS FAIR. AND JUST BECAUSE AT THE TIME, HARRIS COUNTY, 75, 75, 70 5% OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE SITTING IN JAIL WAS IN JAIL BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT AFFORD BAIL. RIGHT? AND SO THIS WHAT THIS WAS ABOUT, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAD A FAIR JUSTICE SYSTEM. I DID SOME PARENT BAILOUTS AS PART OF MY CAMPAIGN BECAUSE I'M THE ONE WHO SPEARHEADED THE EFFORT UNDER THE RIGHT TO JUSTICE COALITION. UM, AND WE BAILED OUT MOTHERS DURING MOTHER'S DAY. ONE MOTHER, OUR BAILED OUT HAD FIVE CHILDREN. SHE HAD BEEN IN JAIL FOR NINE MONTHS ON A $15,000 BAIL. AND HER KIDS WAS AT HOME BEING CARED FOR BY HER PARENTS, HER SENIOR PARENTS. SO THAT SYSTEM WAS NOT JUST AND FAIR. SO IT TAKES ALL OF US AS THE MAYOR TALK ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY. IT'S UP TO ALL OF US TO BE JUST AND FAIR. THE BAIL INDUSTRY YOU GOT, I MEAN, YOU'RE GETTING PAID WHEN THE PERSON CASE IS CLOSED. THEY DON'T GET THEIR MONEY BACK. DO THEY GET THEIR MONEY BACK ONCE THEY PAY THEIR 10% DOWN? DO THEY GET ONCE THE CASE IS CLOSED? BECAUSE WE ARE PUTTING UP A HUNDRED PERCENT RIGHT? THAT'S WHY. BUT BUT DO THEY GET THEIR DOWN PAYMENT BACK OR THE MONEY THAT THEY GAVE YOU BACK? IT'S A PREMIUM. SORRY TO WE CAN'T, IT'S A COUNCIL MEMBER, JACKSON. IT'S CALLED A PREMIUM, RIGHT? BUT THAT, THAT'S BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE CASH MONEY TO POST THE BAIL THEMSELVES. SO THEY COME TO YOU, YOU KNOW, THAT MOTHER, YOU SPOKE ABOUT A OPINION PLAN WOULD'VE HELPED HER OPINION PLAN ACTUALLY WOULD'VE HELPED HER. SIR, I'M JUST SAYING IF YOU TAKE THAT AWAY, THERE'S A FEDERAL LAWSUIT, FEDERAL JUDGE, ONE AT A TIME, ONE AT TIME, THE BAIL SYSTEM IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, CAN'T HOLD IT. FIFTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS. WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. . SO WE JUST NEED TO BE FAIR ONE AT A TIME. SO THE, THE SYSTEM WAS UNJUST AND UNFAIR TO PEOPLE IN POVERTY. AND SO NOW WE HAVE A BAIL SYSTEM. THAT'S FAIR. AND SO WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY, WE ALL CAN [01:30:01] COEXIST, BAIL DON'T MAKE US SAFE. PEOPLE ARE INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY. AND WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT. THANK YOU. OKAY, COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER KASH, HOW MANY BAIL BONDSMEN ARE THERE? UH, MARIO. EIGHT OF HOW MANY ATTORNEYS ARE LICENSED TO ALSO POST BAIL? OH, UM, MAN, I WOULDN'T, I WOULDN'T EVEN WANT TO GUESS ON THAT ONE. 46. SO, SO WE HAVE ATTORNEYS POSTING BAIL. UH, MY, I GUESS MY QUESTION'S GONNA BE DOES THIS ORDINANCE AFFECT ATTORNEYS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR CLIENTS? BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE, UH, ON, ON A WHOLE LOT OF THIS STUFF. AND WHAT THEY PAY THE ATTORNEY AND YOU, YOU KNOW, THAT ATTORNEYS POST BAIL AND YOU KNOW THAT IN SOME COUNTIES, LIKE THE COUNTY THAT AUSTIN'S IN, THEY POST MOST OF THE BAIL IN, IN, IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, IN THEIR COUNTY. SO WHAT I'M SAYING TO YOU IS, IS IT MOTION TO EXTEND MOVED SECOND. ANY OBJECTION? GRANTED, THANK YOU, MAYOR. THE, THE BONDING COMPANY REALLY BECOMES, LOOKS LIKE THE LOANING COMPANY, THE LOAN COMPANY AS WELL. SO IF A PERSON COULDN'T COME UP, BUT WITH 3%, LET'S JUST SAY, AND YOU TOLD 'EM, HEY, YOU GOTTA COME UP WITH A FULL AMOUNT SO THEY COULD GO TO A LOAN, A LOAN COMPANY AND BORROW THE MONEY AND THEN COME AND PAY YOU. BUT YOU'D NEVER KNOW THAT, WOULD YOU? NO, BUT YOU'D GET YOUR MONEY. SO YOU'D BE HAPPY IF YOU GOT ALL YOUR MONEY. YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE ON A PAYMENT PLAN. SO, SO REALLY WHAT YOU HAVE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE, WHAT WE'RE ARGUING ABOUT IS, CAN A, CAN A BONDSMAN BE A BONDSMAN AND A LENDER? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DOING. YOU'RE PUTTING PEOPLE ON A NOTE. SO YOU'RE LOANING THEM MONEY. YOU'RE LOANING THEM BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PAY THE, YOU HAVE TO PAY. IF THERE'S A LOSS, YOU HAVE TO PAY IT ALL. SO I, I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, HOW HOW DOES THIS WORK OUT? WHERE THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT YOU'RE, YOU CAN'T LOAN THE MONEY, UH, TO THEM IN A AND GET THEM TO PAY YOU IN A MONTHLY PAYMENT. AND, AND OF COURSE IT'S NOT THE DEFENDANT. ANYWAY, ANYBODY THAT WOULD BOND A DEFENDANT OWN A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS BOND, TAKE $2,000 DOWN FROM A CRIMINAL WHO MAY JUMP BAIL AND THEN EXPECT HIM TO PAY YOU, THAT'S KIND OF DUMB. YOU GOT THE FAMILY, THE HORTY, HIS EMPLOYER, YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE SIGNING PROMISSORY NOTES. DO YOU HAVE A STATEMENT TO MAKE? YES. UH, TO GIVE YOU SOME ECONOMICS SO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW THE MONEY'S, WHEN SHE SPOKE ABOUT GIVING THE MONEY BACK, 'CAUSE I DON'T GET IT BACK. I RUN OFF AN INSURANCE COMPANY, THAT MEANS I PAY POINTS. SO THE MINUTE I WRITE THAT BOND, I PAY 2%. THAT GOES RIGHT OUT THE DOOR. SO FOR INSTANCE, IF I CHARGE A, IF IT'S A $30,000 BOND AND I CHARGE 3002% OF THAT BOND, THAT 30,000 ON THAT PREMIUM GOES TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. SO THAT'S NOT ALL PROFIT. I PAY THEM TO HAVE THAT. SO IF I WERE TO GIVE THE MONEY BACK, I WOULD ACTUALLY BE AT A LOSS. YES. AND, AND LET ME TELL YOU WHERE THE 10% CAME FROM. YOU SEEM TO BE A, A, A LITTLE, UH, YOU DIDN'T, YOU DON'T REALLY REALIZE IT, BUT HAVE, HAVING BEEN IN BUSINESS THIS LONG, YOU KNOW, THAT A, THAT I WAS A SURETY AT NOT JUST AN INSURANCE AGENT, BUT A SURETY. AND FOR, AS A SURETY, I PUT UP A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY TO THE HARRIS COUNTY BAIL BOND BOARD AND PROPERTY, AND I COULD BOND UP TO 10 TIMES THAT BOND UP TO 10. SO I COULD BOND UP TO 10 TIMES THAT AMOUNT, WHATEVER I PUT UP AS COLLATERAL. SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE THIS THING CAME FROM, BECAUSE THERE WASN'T INSURANCE COMPANIES YEARS AGO THAT WERE IN THE BAIL BONDING SURETY BUSINESS. IT WAS PEOPLE LIKE, IT WAS BUSINESS OF PEOPLE THAT OWNED BUSINESS PROPERTY THAT, THAT BECAME A BONDSMAN TO PUT UP COLLATERAL. IN FACT, THIS GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO BIBLE DAYS, UH, ON, ON BAIL BONDING WHENEVER JOSEPH, UH, MADE BENJAMIN BE HELD HIS COLLATERAL AGAINST HIS FATHER COMING. SO, BUT WHAT I'M SAYING TO YOU IS THIS, IS THAT 10% I BELIEVE CAME FROM THAT, THAT I COULD BOND 10 TIMES WHATEVER MY COLLATERAL AMOUNT IS. AND SO WE CAME UP WITH THAT 10%. AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN TOLD. I DO APPRECIATE YOU COMING. I I, UH, YOU MIGHT WANNA RETHINK YOUR VOTE 'CAUSE YOU'D MAKE MORE MONEY IF YOU VOTED YES, . OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. COUNCILMAN MCCAIN. BUT NO, MARY JUST WAS TRYING TO SAY THAT NONE OF US ONLINE COULD HEAR COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. AND I THINK MANY OF US REALLY WANTED TO, I THINK GIVEN HER EXPERIENCE, UM, IN HER ADVOCACY IN THIS REALM, IT WAS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL HEARD WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY. SO COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, WE'LL, WE'LL GET WITH YOU, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOUR MIC HAS BEEN WORKING THIS WHOLE TIME. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER. OH, THE MOTION, THE PROCEDURAL MOTION. OKAY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, FOR A PROCEDURAL MOTION, I MOVE TO MOTION TO SUPE SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD KAN KHAN, UM, TO THE NON GENDER SPEAKERS LIST BEHIND DONNA BRAWLEY SECOND ROBERTS FOR THREE MINUTES MOVED. AND SECOND. ANY OBJECTION, JURORS? NONE. MOTION GRANTED. THANKS. OKAY, NEXT [01:35:01] SPEAKER. ELLE TRINO. TREVINO. IS THAT TR RECIA? IT'S THEREA. THERESA TREVINO. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR ALLOWING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME SPEAK TO YOU ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE. UM, MY NAME, LIKE I SAID, IS THERESA TREVINA, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE ORDINANCE, UM, ESTABLISHING PAID PARENTAL LEAVE. I'M GLAD THAT, UM, THE CITY IS TAKING THIS STEP TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. UM, CURRENTLY, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE WORKERS HAVE TO USE VACATION DAYS TO CARE FOR THEIR NEWBORNS. AND PERSONALLY, I'M A MOTHER OF FOUR CHILDREN. UM, I WAS BLESSED WITH MY FIRST PREGNANCY TO HAVE TWINS, UM, BUT ALSO HAD THE VERY HEAVY TASK OF RAISING THOSE TWINS AND HIS LIFE WOULD HAVE IT ON MY OWN. AND SO MY BABIES, WHEN I TOOK THEM HOME, WERE IN A THREE HOUR SCHEDULE. ONE WOULD WAKE UP, UM, I WOULD CHANGE THEM, FEED THEM, PLAY WITH THEM FOR A FEW MINUTES, AND THEN THAT BABY WOULD GO BACK TO SLEEP. THE NEXT WOULD DO THE SAME, WAKE UP, CHANGE THEM, FEED THEM, PLAY WITH THEM FOR A FEW MINUTES. THEY'D GO BACK TO SLEEP. AND I WOULD SLEEP FOR AN HOUR THAT HAPPENED AROUND THE CLOCK. AND TO SAY I WAS EXHAUSTED WHEN I HAD TO GO BACK TO WORK IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. NOT ONLY WAS THAT, UM, PROBLEMATIC FOR ME, FOR MY HEALTH AND FOR MY WELLBEING, BUT ALSO FOR MY EMPLOYER HAVING AN EXHAUSTED EMPLOYEE BACK ON THE CLOCK. AND SO THIS PAID PARENTAL LEAVE IS SO IMPORTANT FOR NEW PARENTS SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO RETURN SO EARLY TO GIVE THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY TO ENSURE THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE CARED FOR, TO ENSURE FOR THEIR CHILDREN'S WELLBEING, BUT ALSO FOR THEIR OWN. AND SO I'M HERE, UM, JUST ASKING YOU AND, AND CONVEYING THAT NOT ONLY WILL THIS BE GOOD FOR THE MORALE, FOR RETAINING TALENT, BUT ALSO FOR ENSURING THAT WE HAVE THIS POSITIVE IMPACT ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND EMPLOYEES, WHICH IN THE END OF THE DAY IS GOOD FOR ALL OF THE CITY. AND SO I'M HERE JUST TO ASK THAT YOU VOTE YES TO PASS AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 17. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PERSONAL TESTIMONY. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER, A AMY DEN. AMY DEN. IF YOU PRESS STAR SIX, AMY DEN, SHE THINK SHE'S ON CAMERA. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN SEE YOU. MY NAME IS AMY DEN. I'M THE PR UH, THE MANAGING ATTORNEY FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE TEAM FOR LONE STAR LEGAL AID. AND THESE COMMENTS ARE SUBMITTED ON BEHALF OF PLEASANTVILLE AREA SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 57, CONCERNING THE NORTH POINT MSD APPLICATION, WHICH IS AGENDA ITEM 36. FIRST, THE PRIMARY CONTAMINANT OF CONCERN HERE WITH THIS MSD IS ONE FOUR DIOXIDE, WHICH HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED TO BE INCREASING AT THE SITE. NORTH POINT BOUGHT THIS PROPERTY FROM EXXONMOBIL. IT'S THE SITE OF A FORMAL CHEMICAL PLAN. ONE FOUR DIOXANE IS A FOREVER CHEMICAL THAT DOESN'T READILY BIO GRADE IN THE ENVIRONMENT. IT IS ALSO DETERMINED LIKELY TO CAUSE CANCER. THIS CHEMICAL IS WHY THE COMMUNITY IS CONCERNED ABOUT THIS MSD APPLICATION. THE APPLICATION SHOWS THAT ONE FOUR DIOXINE WAS STILL PRESENT ON SITE AND OFFSITE IN QUANTITIES THAT WERE NOT DECREASING IN A MANNER THAT FIT THE CRITERIA REQUIRED BY THE CITY FOR APPROVAL OF AN MSD SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD. 57 HIRED AN EXPERT TO REVIEW THE INFORMATION. SHE HAS STATED HER CONCERNS ABOUT THE APPLICATION IN A FINAL REPORT. WE SUMMARIZE THESE CONCERNS IN A LETTER FOR CITY COUNCIL BEFORE THE HEARING TODAY. AND HER ATTACHED REPORT FOUND THESE CONCENTRATIONS INCREASED AND SOMETIMES 10 TIMES FROM 2018 TO 2029, UH, SORRY, TO 20, 20 19. SECOND, THE COMMUNITY IS CONCERNED ABOUT THIS DOCUMENTED CONTAMINATION BECAUSE THE ONSITE WELLS HAVE BEEN REMOVED. SO THERE'S NO ONE MONITORING THE ONSITE CONTAMINATION SINCE JANUARY OF 2019 IN DEVELOPING THE SITE, NORTH POINT HAS PLUGGED ALL THE WELLS ON THE TRADE POINT SITE. SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 57 BELIEVES THAT NORTH POINT NEEDS TO INSTALL ADDITIONAL ONSITE MONITORING WELLS AND THEN SAMPLE THEM IN ORDER TO PROPERLY DELINEATE THE PLUME AND ESTABLISH THE TREND IN THE CONCENTRATION LEVELS. AFTER WE RAISED OUR CONCERN, NORTH POINT CONDUCTED LIMITED WELL SAMPLING IN 2021, BUT THE WELLS NORTH POINT SAMPLED ARE OFFSITE. THE FINDINGS OF THE SAMPLING SUGGEST THAT THEY'RE RELATIVELY LOW LEVELS OF POLLUTION OFFSITE TODAY, BUT THAT ALONE CANNOT PROVIDE ASSURANCES ABOUT WHETHER THE POLLUTION WILL NOT MIGRATE FROM THE TREEPORT SITE [01:40:01] AND HARM PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE IN THE PLEASANTVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD. THIRD, THIS WATER GRADIENT IN THE COMMUNITY IS VIRTUALLY FLAT, MEANING MIGRATION OF THIS CHEMICAL CAN OCCUR, SHIFTING CONTAMINANTS CLOSER TO THE COMMUNITY. IF THERE CHANGES IN THE WATER TABLE WE FLOOD HERE IN HOUSTON, THE COMMUNITY IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE LEVELS OF CONTAMINATION ON SITE NOT HAVING BEEN FULLY DELINEATED BECAUSE THERE'S NO REASSURANCE THAT THE CONTAMINATION ON SITE WON'T MOVE CLOSER TO THE COMMUNITY. OVER TIME, A FLOODING EVENT COULD RADICALLY CHANGE THE GRADIENT AND SHIFT THIS CONTAMINATION, OR THIS CHEMICAL COULD CONTINUE TO MIGRATE OVER TIME. FOR THESE REASONS, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER, DONNA BRAWLEY. DONNA BRAWLEY. IF YOU PRESS STAR SIX, DONNA BRAWLEY, DONNA BRAWLEY, STAR SIX DONNA. NEXT SPEAKER, EM KAHAN KASEM KAHAN, RESPECTED MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. I'M HERE TODAY TO ADVOCATE AND CHAMPION A BETTER DEMONSTRATION OF JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS TO THE MOTHERS OF THE WORLD. BUT LET'S START HERE IN HOUSTON, THE MOTHERS CARRIED US IN THEIR WOUNDS FOR NINE MONTHS. LORDLY NURSING FEEDING, CHANGING OUR DIRTY DIAPERS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, STRUGGLED THROUGH MY MANY SLEEPLESS NIGHTS WHERE WE FOUGHT FEVER, SICKNESS, NIGHTMARES, COOKED MILLIONS OF MEALS FOR US, TOLERATED OUR PSYCHOLOGICAL CONFUSION AS WE APPROACH AND STUMBLED THROUGH PUBERTY AND ADOLESCENCE, AND EVEN HELPED US WELL INTO ADULTHOOD. THEN THERE ARE GRANDMOTHERS BRAVELY RESCUING THEIR GRANDCHILDREN WHO ARE INNOCENT VICTIMS OF IRRESPONSIBLE RECKLESSNESS. I SAY A FEW HOURS ON ONE SUNDAY AFTERNOON, ONCE A YEAR IS NOT ENOUGH. THIS SHOULD BE A NO BRAINER. I APPEAR TO MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER AND THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO SET A PRECEDENT AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE ENTIRE MONTH OF MAY EACH YEAR AS MOTHER'S MONTH AND PLAN 31 DAYS OF ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS. MOTHERS ARE, ARE GOD'S MOST BLESSED CREATION AND MANY DEMONSTRATING, DEMONSTRATING THE BRILLIANCE IN A RISE OF EXCELLENCE OF HUMAN POTENTIAL. THE BEST LAWYERS OR MOTHERS OF BEST TEACHERS OR MOTHERS, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF US IS A MOTHER. A MOTHER JUST BECAME SUPREME COURT JUSTICE AND ONE OF THE BEST CITY COUNCILS IN AMERICA ARE MOSTLY MOTHERS. THAT'S RIGHT HERE IN HOUSTON. DON'T LET ME DO THIS BY MYSELF. STAND WITH ME AND DEMONSTRATE MORE FAIRNESS, JUSTICE, AND APPRECIATION FOR THE MOTHERS. I THINK THEY DESERVE 31 DAYS. WELL, KASIM KAHN, I, I THINK, UH, I THINK WE ALL AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT THEY ARE, THEY ARE QUITE, QUITE DESERVING AND, UH, UM, WITHOUT THEM WE CERTAINLY WOULDN'T, WE CERTAINLY WOULDN'T BE HERE. SO, UH, I THINK, I THINK YOU, YOU HAVE TOTAL AGREEMENT ON, ON THAT. SO WE STAND, WE STAND WITH YOU ON THAT. COUNCILMAN JACKSON. THANK YOU BROTHER CON FOR YOUR PASSION AND LOVE FOR MOTHERS, WOMEN, UM, AND THE BROTHERS, BUT MOTHERS, I REALLY APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, ALL YOUR COMMITMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND JUST TRYING TO COME UP, ALWAYS COMING UP WITH INNOVATIVE IDEAS, UM, TO SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION FOR, YOU KNOW, JUST THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE THANKS AND THE WORDS, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND LEGISLATIVE AND, AND LEGAL PROCESS. UM, HOW TO ACTUALLY MAKE THIS OFFICIAL. UH, YEAH, YOU ALL HAVE TO WORK THAT OUT. YOU, YOU HAVE PUT IT IN THE ATMOSPHERE AND UH, NOW, UH, YOU KNOW, WE ARE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. THE ADMINISTRATION, WE'RE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION AND THEN WE'LL, WE'LL SEE HOW TO MOVE, HOW TO MOVE FORWARD. AND WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE SOME CONVERSATION WITH YOU AS WELL. I APPRECIATE THAT. AND, AND I'M NOT GONNA COME DOWN HERE AGGRAVATE YOU ALL TOO MUCH. I DON'T WANNA WEAR OUT MY WELCOME. YOU'RE NOT AGGRAVATING US. NO, YOU'RE NOT AGGRAVATING US. IN FACT, I APPRECIATE YOUR INSIGHT AND YOUR SENSITIVITY AND THE IDEAS THAT YOU'RE PROVIDING TO US. THAT'S HOW WE SERVE. THAT'S HOW WE GET DO BETTER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCIL. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER, SECRETARY SONYA ES SONYA ANTE. IF YOU OPPRESS STAR SIX SONYA. ANTE STAR SIX. SONYA ANTE STAR SIX SONYA. NEXT SPEAKER RUBEN LAREDO REEN. LAREDO STAR SIX REUBEN LAREDO. IF YOU PRESSED STAR SIX, YOU CAN PROCEED. REUBEN LAREDO. REUBEN. NEXT SPEAKER. HEARING COUNT. I'M SORRY, IS THIS REEN? [01:45:03] IS THIS REUBEN? THIS IS RUBEN INDEED. THIS IS RUBEN LAREDO. AND YOU CAN HEAR ME? YES. OKAY. YEAH. I'M A RESIDENT ON STREET. WE HAVE A GAS STATION GOING UP, UH, AT THE END OF OUR BLOCK. UM, AND MY CONCERN IS A, AS AN OWNER AND AS AN INVESTOR IS THE, UH, PROSTITUTION THAT'S ACROSS THE WAY AT A HOTEL AS WELL AS THE INCREASE IN TRAFFIC AND LOITERING AT THE LOCATION. AND THAT'S WHAT I CAME TO SPEAK ABOUT. OKAY. THANK YOU. UM, IS THAT IT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YEP. THANK YOU. MM-HMM . OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER. CHERYL TIMS. CHERYL TIMS, IF YOU'RE PRESSED STAR SIX. CHERYL, THAS. CHERYL, TIMS CHERYL, I'M HERE. THIS IS CHERYL. TIM, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. OKAY. AGAIN, I, I AM CHERYL TIMS AND I AM ALSO A RESIDENT ON BUS STREET. AND LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE PROSTITUTION THAT IS CONSISTENTLY, UH, BEING OBSERVED AS A RESIDENT ON THE, THE, IN THE COMMUNITY. IT'S VERY OBVIOUS THAT IT'S PROSTITUTION AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME TYPE OF, UH, MONITORING OF IT. HOPEFULLY MAYBE WE COULD, UH, HAVE IT THAT, YOU KNOW, THE POLICE WERE MORE, MORE VISIBLE AND MAKING ARRESTS. AND THEN I LIKE TO, UH, OPPOSE THE GAS STATION THAT'S COMING UP. THIS IS A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY AND THERE ARE LIKE FOUR OR FIVE OTHER GAS STATIONS RIGHT ON THE SAME STREET, BUT NONE OF THOSE ARE ADJACENT TO HOMES. THIS GAS STATION WOULD BE ADJACENT TO MY HOME. AND I JUST DON'T THINK THAT, THAT, THAT THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. OKAY. COUNCILMAN MR. CISNEROS. UM, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UM, THANK YOU MS. TIMS FOR, FOR SPEAKING TODAY. AND, UM, YES, AND I, WE ARE AWARE OF THE PROSTITUTION THAT'S IN THE AREA AND, AND SO IS HPD. AND, AND THEY'VE BEEN OUT THERE. UM, AND, AND I'VE SPOKEN WITH YOUR HUSBAND LIKE EARLIER THIS WEEK, SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE WORKING THE CASE ON REGARDING THAT. AND THEN, UM, REGARDING THE, THE, THE GAS STATION, UM, IT IS CURRENTLY A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY SO THAT, THAT, UM, THAT MAKES IT MORE COMPLICATED TO WHAT WE CAN, WHAT, WHAT THE CITY HAS JURISDICTION OVER. UM, IF, IF THEY'RE NOT BREAKING RULES, IF THEY'RE COMPLYING WITH EVERYTHING, WE DON'T HAVE, UM, MUCH AS MUCH SAY, UM, AS TO WHAT, WHAT CAN, WHAT CAN GO THERE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ZONING. UM, SO, UH, WE ARE LOOKING TO SEE WHAT ELSE COULD WE COULD DO. BUT, UM, BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE KNOW. SO WE'RE CHECKING ON THAT. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, ADAM REZ. ADAM REZ IS THAT ADAM? ADAM IS HERE. MAYOR, MAYOR, PRO TEM, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I WANNA JUST THANK YOU GUYS AND CITY WORKS FOR A LOT OF THE WORK THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING TO MAKE THE CITY OF HOUSTON A MORE WALKABLE, BIKEABLE, SAFE PLACE TO DRIVE. UM, I LIVE IN THE HEIGHTS IN DISTRICT C AND I JUST WANTED TO SUPPORT THE WORK THAT THE OFFICE, WELL CITY PLANNING HAS BEEN DOING ON THE PROPOSED, UH, RENOVATION TO 11TH STREET. AS SOMEONE WHO'S LIVED IN A FEW DIFFERENT DISTRICTS IN TOWN, OVER MY 20 YEARS HERE, I'VE BEEN IN THE HEIGHTS FOR 10 YEARS. AND ONE OF THE REASONS I LOVE LIVING IN THE LOOP, UH, IS JUST HOW ACCESSIBLE EVERYTHING IS. AND IT'S JUST BEEN WONDERFUL TO WATCH THE PROGRESS THE CITY'S BEEN MAKING ON ROAD DIETS AND THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING ON SHEPHERD AND DURHAM AND IN PARTICULAR ON 11TH. I KNOW NOT EVERYBODY SEEMINGLY LOVES THE IDEA OF MAKING THE HEIGHTS IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS IN HOUSTON, LESS CAR CENTRIC. BUT AS SOMEONE WHO IS CROSSING THAT STREET FIVE TIMES A DAY, SIX TIMES A DAY WITH DOG WALKS, UTES TO WORK, JUST BEING AROUND TOWN, IT'S REALLY A TOUGH PLACE TO TRAVEL. AND I AM ENCOURAGED BY SEEING THE PROGRESS BEING MADE HERE, THE STUDIES THAT ARE GOING ON. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS HAPPENING IN OTHER PARTS OF TOWN AS WELL. AND OTHER MAJOR THOROUGHFARES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I THINK THE PANDEMIC OBVIOUSLY WAS NOT GREAT FOR LOTS OF PARTS OF LIFE, BUT I DO THINK IT GOT MORE HOUSTONIANS OUT OF THEIR HOME. I LOVE SEEING MORE PEOPLE, WHETHER THEY'RE ON SCOOTERS, BIKES, CARS, WHATEVER. I JUST LIKE SEEING PEOPLE OUT AND I DO THINK THE CITY IS TAKING THE FIRST STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION ON THAT. SO I REALLY JUST WANTED TO THANK, UH, ALL THE FOLKS WHO ARE WORKING BELOW YOU GUYS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. SO THAT'S IT. THANK JUST SUPPORT FOR 11TH STREET. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, COUNCILMAN KINGMAN. THANK YOU. UM, ADAM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING AS A DISTRICT C RESIDENT. I APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK. UM, AS YOU KNOW, WITH THE 11TH STREET, A LOT OF SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS ARE COMING, INCLUDING, UH, NICHOLSON AT 11TH STREET, WHICH HAS BEEN A TOP [01:50:01] PRIORITY FOR ME. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR COMING, FOR SPEAKING TO ALL OF OUR AMAZING DEPARTMENTS, UM, THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS. UH, IT'S, IT'S GOING TO BE REVOLUTIONARY FOR OUR AREA. SO AGAIN, REALLY APPRECIATE IT. COUNCILMAN, COUNCILMAN ASH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING. UH, ADAM, WERE, WERE YOU AT THE MEETING THAT WE HAD AT THE, UH, WAS IT BUCHANAN'S? YES, I DROPPED BY BUT COULDN'T STAY FOR ALL OF IT. WELL, YOU KNOW, UH, DAVID FIELDS WITH THE, UH, PLANNING DEPARTMENT WAS THERE. HE DID AN EXCELLENT JOB ON FIELDING THE QUESTIONS THAT HE HAD. UH, UH, A BECAME A STAFF MEMBER, LANCE GILLIAN WAS THERE, UH, A VERY, UH, UH, POLISHED, QUALIFIED PERSON TO BE THERE. MY MY QUESTION BECAME, UH, THAT, THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD A REAL ANSWER ON IS THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S AROUND TOWN WITH A LOT OF THE BIKE LANES. YOU HAVE THESE ARMADILLOS, THESE, THESE, THESE LITTLE ARMADILLO THINGS THAT WERE ON THE ROADS. AND, AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTOOD IN TALKING, UH, TO DAVID FIELDS THAT NIGHT THAT THERE WAS GONNA BE A BARRIER. YOU KNOW, AND, AND I, I DON'T KNOW HOW HIGH THE BARRIER IS. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S, IS THIS, I MEAN, I'M, I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT THAT WAS, AND I'VE HAD LUNCH WITH DAVID AND I, I SHOULD HAVE GOT MORE IN THE WEEDS ABOUT ACTUALLY WHAT THAT'S GONNA BE. AND, AND I, AND HIS WHOLE REASONING WAS THAT IT, IT'S GONNA REDUCE ACCIDENTS AND SLOW THE SPEED OF TRAFFIC DOWN. NOW, WHEN HE SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SAFETY, THAT, THAT, THAT RUNG A BELL WITH ME. BUT, YOU KNOW, AND, BUT I STILL DON'T KNOW HOW THIS IS GONNA, UH, YOU KNOW, HOW WILL IT AFFECT THE TURNS? HOW WILL IT AFFECT THE, THE FIRE TRUCKS EVIDENTLY CAN GET OVER THIS BARRIER THAT THEY'RE GONNA HAVE, BUT THE ARMADILLOS ARE, ARE RELATIVELY EASY TO GET OVER BY A BIG TRUCK. RIGHT. BUT, UH, I'M JUST, I'M JUST KIND OF CURIOUS TO HOW THIS IS GONNA ALL BE IMPLEMENTED AND WILL IT PUSH TRAFFIC INTO OTHER AREAS. NOW, I KNOW THAT GOOGLE MAPS HAS THIS UNIQUE ABILITY TO REROUTE YOU TO AN AREA IF THEY SEE TRAFFIC. AND SO PERHAPS THAT'LL KEEP PEOPLE FROM, FROM ROUTING DOWN 11TH STREET AND GOING 50, 60 MILES AN HOUR, UH, DOWN THE NEIGHBORHOOD STREET. I DON'T KNOW HOW THOSE PEOPLE BACK OUTTA THE DRIVEWAYS WITH ALL THAT GOING ON. BUT NONETHELESS, I I, I REALLY, I DON'T, I DON'T SEE THE CONCEPTUAL CONTRA. I DON'T SEE HOW THEY'RE GONNA DO IT, BUT, UH, IF THEY PUT ARMADILLOS, MAYBE, BUT IF THEY PUT A BARRIER, I DON'T KNOW. SO, UH, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO. AND I HOPE IT DOES REDUCE TRAFFIC, UH, AND, AND, UH, THE, THE DEATHS AND INJURIES, IF THAT'S REALLY THE ULTIMATE GOAL. AND IT APPEARS TO BE FROM TALKING TO DAVID FIELDS, THANK YOU FOR COMING. YOU BET. AND AS SOMEONE WHO PRE PANDEMIC, I WOULD BE RIDING A BIKE DOWNTOWN, TAKING THE, THE, THE TRAIL THAT'S NOW BEING REPAIRED AFTER THAT FIRE THAT BURNED THE BRIDGE OVER THAT. YEAH. NOT RIGHT NOW, BUT BEFORE THE FIRE, IT WAS REALLY WONDERFUL. AND I KNOW IT'S GETTING WORKED ON NOW, BUT I'VE, I'VE BEEN CLIPPED ONCE ON A SCOOTER AND ONCE ON A BIKE DOWNTOWN BY SIDE MIRRORS ON CARS, LIKE RIGHT OVER BY ESON STREET. I WORK IN TOTAL PLAZA PATTERN ENERGY. AND IT'S A REAL, I WILL SAY THE, THE, THE ARMADILLOS ARE NICE. I BELIEVE THE BARRIER, HAVING LOOKED AT RENDERINGS AND NOT, NOT A TECHNICAL EXPERT ON THIS, JUST A RESIDENT. IT SEEMS TO BE MORE OF A, IT'S A LITTLE HIGHER UP AND HAS A MORE LIKE REAL DIVISION BETWEEN YOU AND TRAFFIC. AND EVEN HAVING SOMETHING THAT ALERTS THE DRIVER, LIKE, YOU KNOW, A, A GLORIFIED RUMBLE STRIP IS KIND OF WHAT THE ARMADILLOS ARE, BUT SOMETHING HIGHER THAT WOULD HAVE KEPT ME AND OTHER PEOPLE FROM GETTING CLIPPED AGAIN, NO SERIOUS INJURY, NO DEATH, BUT IT SURE DID, UH, RATTLE ME FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE SECOND TIME GETTING CLIPPED BY SOMEONE'S SIDE MIRROR. AND THAT CAR JUST GUNNED, GUNNED RIGHT OFF, RIGHT DOWN PAST THE ROAD. AND AGAIN, THIS IS ON MY WAY TO WORK AT NINE IN THE MORNING DOWNTOWN HOUSTON DIDN'T EVEN, HE JUST RIDE A RED LIGHT AFTERWARDS. SO I DO THINK HAVING SOME LEVEL OF A PHYSICAL BARRIER IS HELPFUL. I UNDERSTAND THE COMMENT YOU'RE MAKING, BUT MAY, MAY I ASK HIM ONE QUESTION? YEAH. A MOTION TO EXTENDING OBJECTION TO A MOTION. TOAND HERE. NONE HALF. HOW DO YOU GET TO, DID YOU RIDE THE WHITES O OAK BIKE TRAIL? IT DROPS OFF RIGHT BEHIND UNIVERSITY OF DOWNTOWN. OH, I'M VERY WELL WHERE IT'S AT. I'VE WRITTEN RIGHT A LOT, BUT SINCE THEY'VE BLOCKED THAT OFF ON THAT TRESTLE AREA, OH, HOW DO YOU, THIS WAS PRE 20, THIS WAS EITHER FEBRUARY OF 2020 OR JANUARY, 2020. DO YOU DRIVE THERE ANY RIDE THERE ANYMORE? I STILL DO. WELL, I NOW HAVE TO TAKE A BACK. THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I NOW HAVE TO TAKE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE THAT REQUIRES ME GOING UNDERNEATH I 10. WELL, AND HOPPING ON THE TRAIL THAT GOES PAST TAYLOR STREET, THE TARGET OFF TAYLOR STREET. OKAY. 'CAUSE YOU CAN'T USE THAT ANYMORE. WE NEED TO GET THAT FIXED. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH GUYS. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN MC GALLEGOS. ONE, ONE SECOND. ONE SECOND. ONE SECOND. ADAM. YEAH. ND SORRY. COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS. . THANK, THANK YOU ADAM FOR, UH, COMING HERE THIS AFTERNOON. UH, YOU MENTIONED THE ROAD DIET. I KNOW THAT DISTRICT, I, UH, RIGHT NOW PUBLIC WORKS AS WE SPEAK, IS WORKING ON A ROAD DIET ON LAWNDALE. UH, LAWNDALE WAS A FOUR OR FOUR LANE ROAD, UH, AND, AND IT HARDLY [01:55:01] HAD ANY TRAFFIC, SO IT JUST ENCOURAGED PEOPLE TO SPEED ON LAWNDALE. UH, SO THEY ENDED UP, UH, PUTTING, UH, DEDICATED BIKE LANES ON EACH SIDE AND THEY NARROWING IT DOWN TO A THREE LANE ROAD, UH, WHICH WILL IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF LAWNDALE FOR VEHICLES, UH, OR DRIVERS. UH, BUT UH, ALSO IT WILL ALSO HELP, UH, CYCLISTS TO HAVE DEDICATED BIKE LANES COMING FROM TELEPHONE ROAD DOWN LAWNDALE, UH, TO THE BRAYS GREENWAYS, UH, A HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL ALONG BREAKS BY YOU. UH, SO, UH, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT AND LIKE YOU STATED, THERE'S A FEW PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT TOO HAPPY ABOUT IT. UH, BUT OVERALL IT'S GONNA BE A BIG, UH, UH, SAFETY ISSUE AND CONCERN, UH, TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF SAFETY THAT, THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST IN REGARDS TO SPEEDING ON LAWNDALE. AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, AS SOMEONE WHO ALSO DRIVES, 'CAUSE IT'S, WE'RE ALL HOUSTONIANS. WE, WE, WE TAKE LOTS OF DIFFERENT FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION. IT'S NICE JUST TO HAVE THE REMINDERS. I REALLY APPRECIATIVE, UH, CONSTABLE ROSEN'S OFFICE. THEY'VE BEEN PUTTING ON YALE AND OTHER STREETS, KIND OF THE BIG FLASHING ITEMS THAT REMIND YOU OF THE SPEED LIMIT BECAUSE AGAIN, YALE AND SHEPHERD, AND PARTICULARLY BY THE FOLKS WHO DON'T LIVE IN THE LOOP, THE BRIDGE AND TUNNELERS SO TO SPEAK, I THINK THOSE ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST CULPRITS 'CAUSE THEY'RE USING CITY OF HOUSTON RESOURCES AND STREETS TO GUN IT TO GET TO SIX, 10 OR 10 TO BYPASS OTHER BIGGER ISSUES. AND IT'S THE REST OF US THAT KIND OF GET THE SHORTER END OF THAT STICK. SO I DO THINK THAT THERE'S ALWAYS GONNA BE MOMENTS IN TIME WHEN IT'S PEAK TRAFFIC, WHEN WE'RE GONNA SEE SLOWDOWNS, BUT BY JUST SLOWING DOWN THE ROADS IN GENERAL, IT SEEMINGLY MAKES A MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE PLACE TO LIVE. EVEN IF YOU'RE JUST SITTING OUT ON EIGHT ROW FLINT HAVING A COCKTAIL, IT'S NICE TO NOT ALWAYS HEAR THE HEAVY ROAR OF SPEEDING CARS. 30 MILES AN HOUR IS MUCH NICER TO HEAR. COUNCILMAN KNOX? HE'S ON NINE. HE'S OH, COUNCILMAN DUCKS. THANK YOU MAYOR, APPRECIATE THAT. UM, AND, UH, I GUESS MR. UH, RENZ, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS TODAY. UM, YOU, YOU'RE AWARE THAT 11TH STREET IS LIKE ONE OF THE MAJOR CORRIDORS EAST WEST IN THROUGH THE HEIGHTS? YES, SIR. RIGHT? YES, SIR. NOW, AND I APPRECIATE BIKES AND ALL THAT TOO, BUT YOU AND I BOTH AGREE, I THINK FROM WHAT YOUR COMMENTS WERE, THAT THE PHYSICS INVOLVING COMBINING CARS AND BICYCLES, THE BICYCLE'S GONNA COME OUT ON THE BOTTOM END OF THAT STICK EVERY TIME. UM, WOULD YOU BE AVERSE TO A BICYCLE LANE ON AN ADJOIN ADJOINING STREET THAT'S LESS TRAFFIC LIKE 12TH STREET, FOR EXAMPLE? UH, I THINK I'M IN SUPPORT OF BIKE LANES AND IMPROVED WALKING TRAILS EVERYWHERE. UH, WELL, I'M WITH YOU ON THE SENSE THAT YOU'RE RIGHT. IT'S, IT'S DIFFICULT TO DO WHETHER A ROAD DIET, AGAIN, I'M NOT THE TECHNICAL STUDY STUDY ON THIS. I JUST APPRECIATE THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE GOING AND ADDING THESE NEW FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION, WHETHER IT'S FEET OR BICYCLES OR STROLLERS. I DO THINK THERE WAS A PHASE IN LIFE WHERE WE FORGOT THAT THOSE WERE POPULAR IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. I THINK IT, IT REMINDED US HOW NICE IT IS TO ENJOY OUR CITY. YEAH, CERTAINLY. I, I AGREE WITH YOU ON ALL OF THAT, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DO ALSO HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO ALLOW TRANSPORTATION AND BY VEHICULAR TRANSPORTATION. AND WE HAVE THESE EXISTING ARTERIES, THESE MAJOR THOROUGHFARE. UH, WHEN WE DESIGNED THE BIKE PLAN, ONE OF THE THINGS I PRESENTED WAS WHERE YOU HAVE A, UH, A LESS TRAVELED STREET WHERE YOU HAVE LESS OPPORTUNITY FOR VEHICLES TO COME IN CONTACT WITH, WITH BICYCLES, THAT SHOULD BE THE PREFERRED ROUTE FOR A BICYCLE ROUTE. AND, UH, IN THIS CASE, UH, IT LOOKS LIKE 12TH STREET WOULD WOULD FIT THAT BILL. AND SO WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY IS THAT, UH, YOU WOULD BE OKAY WITH A BIKE TRAIL ON 12TH STREET AS OPPOSED TO 11TH STREET. IF THAT, IF THAT CAME, I WOULD BE OKAY WITH THAT. AND I WOULD BE OVER THE MOON FOR A YALE OR A HEIGHTS BOULEVARD CONNECTOR THAT GETS US SAFELY DOWN TO MONTROSE, TO THE HEIGHTS AND RICE. ANY OBJECTION TO A MOTION TOAND? ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY. HEARING NONE. THANK, WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS, MR. RENT. I APPRECIATE YOU COUNCILMAN, COUNCILMAN MCCAIN. OH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KUBOSH, THANK YOU FOR RAISING THE CYCLIST. UH, SAFETY CONCERNS. UM, I'M LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW EVEN IN FRONT OF CITY HALL, AND WE HAVE DIFFERENT, UH, PROTECTED, UH, WAY WAYS TO PROTECT BIKE LANES FROM DRIVERS. AND I, I KNOW THAT, UM, TDO AND DAVID FIELDS AND EVERYONE IS COMING TOGETHER TO USE THE BEST MECHANISMS FOR NOT ONLY TO PROTECT VEHICULAR TRAFFIC AND MAKE SURE THAT RUNS SMOOTHLY, BUT ALSO, UM, OUR BIKE LANES. THIS PROJECT, ADAM, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU KNOW, UM, HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS. UH, AND THE, THE THOUGHT THAT HAS GONE INTO THIS, THE COMMUNITY INPUT, I'M SO HAPPY TO HEAR YOU WERE AT SOME OF THE PUBLIC MEETINGS ON THIS. UM, I KNOW THAT, UH, TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S CONCERNS ABOUT, UH, CARS, 98% OF CITY STREETS ARE FOR [02:00:01] VEHICLES. UM, AS SOMEBODY THAT DRIVES ALL OVER THE CITY AND ALL OVER THE DISTRICT, UM, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THIS, UH, DOES NOT HINDER, UM, VEHICLE ACCESS AT ALL. IN FACT, THERE'S ACTUALLY BEEN COMMUNITY INPUT TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF TURN LANES THAT CAN GO INTO NEIGHBORHOODS SO THAT WE AVOID SOME OF THAT CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC, UM, IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS. BUT I, I WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THAT. ABSOLUTELY. UM, 11TH STREET IS A MAJOR CORRIDOR. IT'S FOR VEHICLES, BUT I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MANY PEDESTRIANS WE CURRENTLY HAVE GOING DOWN 11TH STREET CROSSING 11TH STREET, THESE INTERSECTIONS. WE ARE DOING SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS TO, UM, ARE ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL FOR LIFE SAFETY RIGHT NOW. AND, UH, WE WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR THAT. SO, ADAM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR POSITIVITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT. AND YES, MKT BRIDGE DESPERATELY NEEDS TO BE FINISHED. UH, WE GOTTA GET THAT CONNECTION GOING. I KNOW THE PARK SPORT IS DOING EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAN, UM, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO PUSH. BUT IT, THE WHOLE IDEA, WE'RE GONNA HAVE 11TH STREET, DURHAM SHEPHERD IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER, UM, MAJOR CORRIDOR WITH INCREASED MULTIMODAL ACCESS, AND THEN AGAIN, ALONG HEIGHTS. THERE'S A WHOLE PLAN IN PLACE. AND, UH, I'M GRATEFUL THAT THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR AREA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. HAPPY TURN PASSOVER EVERYONE. THANK YOU. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. MARIAN WRIGHT. MARIAN WRIGHT IS PRESENT. HI, UM, I'M ALSO HERE TO TALK ABOUT 11TH STREET. SO FIRST OF ALL, I LIVE IN THE HEIGHTS. WE LOVE 11TH STREET. WE LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THE HEIGHTS. IT'S A GREAT PLACE AND Y'ALL SHOULD ALL COME AND VISIT. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS PROJECT, THOUGH, IS THAT 11TH STREET IS A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE. IT'S ONE OF THE ARTERIES THAT GOES THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. ORIGINALLY, WE WERE TOLD THAT A STREET DIET WAS NEEDED BECAUSE OF SAFETY CONCERNS AND SPEEDING ON 11TH STREET, A TRADITIONAL SAFETY, UM, ROAD DIET OF JUST PASSED OUT SO THAT Y'ALL CAN LOOK AT WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS. SO ON A FOUR LANE ROAD, WHAT THEY TRADITIONALLY DO IS THEY WOULD TAKE ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION INSTEAD OF TWO LANES, THEN THEY WOULD HAVE A CENTER TURN LANE. THE CENTER TURN LANE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IN THIS DESIGN. THE REASON BEING, IF YOU ONLY HAVE ONE LANE OF TRAFFIC IN EACH DIRECTION AND YOU DON'T HAVE A CENTER TURN LANE, IF A CAR WANTS TO TURN LEFT, THEY'RE GONNA STOP THE TRAFFIC BEHIND THEM. THE WHOLE IDEA BEHIND A STREET DIET IS TO KEEP THE TRAFFIC GOING AT A STEADY PACE. SO YOU DON'T WANT A LOT OF STOPS. IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF STOPS, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE REAR END COLLISIONS. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT YOU WANT THE CENTER TURN LANE ON 11TH STREET, THAT'S NOT WIDE ENOUGH THROUGH THE WHOLE AREA FOR THEM TO HAVE THE TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC AND BIKE LANES AND THE CENTER TURN LANES. SO WHAT THEY'RE DOING FROM HIGHS BOULEVARD TO SHEPHERD IS THEY'RE GONNA GET RID OF THE CENTER TURN LANE. SO WE'RE JUST GONNA HAVE TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC AND BIKE LANES WITHOUT THE CENTER TURN LANE. THAT'S GONNA CAUSE A LOT OF CONGESTION. THE STREET IS ALREADY OVER CAPACITY IF THEY DO THIS. AND THAT WAS IN 2019. IT WAS ALREADY OVER CAPACITY DURING PEAK HOURS. SO THAT'S ONE ISSUE. THE SECOND ISSUE, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BARRIERS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. THEY'RE NOT ARMADILLOS THAT THEY'RE PLANNING ON PUTTING IN, THEY'RE ACTUALLY CONCRETE BARRIERS. THEY HAVE PICTURES OF THEM ONLINE, SO I CAN SEND YOU ONE IF ANYBODY WANTS TO SEE 'EM. AND THEN THEY'RE GONNA HAVE METAL POSTS THAT COME, NOT METAL POSTS, BUT PLASTIC POSTS. THE POSTS CAN BE HIT AND THEY POP BACK UP. Y'ALL SEEN THEM BEFORE, LIKE ON, OKAY, OUR EMERGENCY VEHICLES ARE SUPPOSED TO STRADDLE THESE WHEN THEY NEED TO GET TO AND FROM, WHICH IS KIND OF CRAZY. ANOTHER PROBLEM ANYWHERE ON 11TH STREET THAT HAS PARKING WHERE YOU PULL IN AND YOU PARK AND THEN YOU BACK OUT ONTO 11TH STREET. RIGHT NOW THERE ARE TWO LANES. SO YOU GET TO BACK OUT INTO ONE LANE AND THE TRAFFIC KINDA SHIMMIES. WHEN YOU HAVE THIS GOING ON, THOSE CARS ARE GONNA HAVE TO BACK OUT INTO A BIKE LANE, WHICH IS NOT PROTECTED IN THOSE AREAS. YOU CAN'T PROTECT THE BIKE LANES WHERE YOU HAVE, UM, DRIVEWAYS. OKAY. SO EVERY BUSINESS THAT HAS PARA, I DON'T KNOW, IS THAT CALLED PARALLEL, NOT PARALLEL PARKING, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. RIGHT? WHATEVER THAT'S CALLED. SO ALL OF THOSE THINGS, AND THE CITY IS SAYING THAT THIS IS SAFE FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES. WE'RE GONNA HAVE KIDS WHO'S GONNA, ARE GONNA DO THIS. SO THEY'RE GONNA BE ON A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE. OKAY. ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN KASH. MS. WRIGHT, THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU FOR COMING. YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU JUST MAKE TOO MUCH SENSE. AND THE REASON WHY THEY SAID THEY DON'T WANNA PUT IT ON 12TH STREET, THAT COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX HAS SUGGESTED IS, IS THAT, UH, IT, IT'S NOT GONNA REDUCE THE, THE SPEED OF THE TRAFFIC ON 11TH STREET. AND, AND THEY SAY THE OVERALL GOAL IS TO REDUCE, UH, THE SPEED ON 11TH STREET. I I THINK THAT WELL. AND CRASHES. [02:05:01] AND CRASHES. SO, YEAH. SO, SO THERE'S A LOT THERE TO BE CONSIDERED. UH, YOU KNOW, AND, AND ONCE THESE THINGS GET IN PLAY, AS I SAID IN THAT MEETING THAT NIGHT, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE'S NO TURNING BACK. I MEAN, THE, YOU KNOW, I LEARNED THAT THERE WAS, UH, THREE LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE, UH, THERE, THERE'S EXECUTIVE, THE LEGISLATIVE AND JUDICIAL, BUT THEN AS I'VE BEEN IN COUNCIL OVER THE YEARS, THERE'S ALSO THAT BUREAUCRATIC BRANCH, YOU KNOW, AND ONCE, ONCE THEY GET AHOLD OF IT, YOU KNOW, IT'S PRETTY MUCH OUT OF OUR HANDS. YOU KNOW, WE WE'RE, WHEN WE VOTED FOR THE BIKE PLAN, I THINK ALL THIS WAS INCLUDED IN IT SOMEWHERE. AND, AND THEN THAT'S THE END OF THAT. IT'S BEEN DONE. I DO THINK THAT WHEN I RIDE MY BIKE THROUGH THE HEIGHTS, I TRY TO FIND A STREET THAT'S NOT VERY BUSY TO RIDE ON. AND, UH, WHEN MY BROTHER AND I, WE RIDE ALL THE WAY UP TO SIX 10 LOOP AND, AND WE PICK DIFFERENT STREETS TO GO TO A, AFTER WE GET OFF THE, THE, THE, UH, WHITE OAK BIKE TRAIL, OF COURSE YOU GOTTA REMEMBER THAT, UH, THAT TURNED OUT TO BE A F ONCE THEY BLOCKED THAT, THAT BRIDGE WHEN CAN'T COME FROM OUR PLACE DOWNTOWN. BUT I, I DO HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, AND I, I THINK THOSE QUESTIONS IN MY MIND HAVEN'T BEEN ADDRESSED, BUT, BUT AS SOON AS IT'S DONE, THEY WILL BE ADDRESSED. AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, I DON'T WHY WE ABLE TALK. HOW WERE THEY GONNA ADDRESSED? WE WERE TOLD, BECAUSE WE'VE ASKED HOW ARE YOU GONNA MONITOR THIS PROJECT AFTER IT'S DONE TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON? AND WE WERE TOLD THROUGH 3 1 1 CALLS, THEY HAVE NO PLANS OF MONITORING IT OR SEEING WHAT'S GOING ON OTHER THAN 3 1 1 CALLS. WELL SEE, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU ON MANY OF THESE BIKE TRAILS, YOU CAN'T JUSTIFY IT BY THE, BY, BY THE STUDIES SHOWING HOW MANY BIKES ARE ALREADY ON THAT ROADWAY. SO, SO THAT IT'S NOT JUSTIFIABLE THAT WAY. SO THEY HAVE TO COME UP WITH ANOTHER WAY. AND THAT WAY IS SLOW DOWN THE TRAFFIC FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND, AND I HEARD YOU CRY. COUNCILOR MADMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER CISERO. SHE'S ON THE SCREEN. HI. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, SO, UH, AND I REPRESENT DISTRICT H, WHICH HAS A LITTLE TINY PIECE OF, OF THE 11TH STREET BIKE LANE. IT'S THE PART WHERE THE CROSS IS DUE TO, IT'S DUE TO WOOD, IS THE DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN DISTRICT H AND DISTRICT C. AND I JUST WANTED TO, TO SHARE THE, UM, A LETTER THAT I HAD JUST GOTTEN THE LAST FEW DAYS FROM, UM, THE WOODLAND WOODLANDS, UH, CIVIC ASSOCIATION, UM, URGING THE CITY TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY, THAT THEY SUPPORT THE 11TH STREET PROJECT. AND THEIR, UM, THEIR ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT COMES OUT OF, UM, SAFETY CONCERNS, UM, TO HELP FOR HELPING CHILDREN, MIDDLE SCHOOL CHILDREN CROSS THE STREET TO GET TO HOG MIDDLE SCHOOL. THERE HAVE BEEN MIDDLE SCHOOLERS THAT HAVE BEEN HIT BY CARS TRYING TO CROSS THE STREET AND THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, YOU KNOW, THE ROAD DIET, THE, YOU KNOW, THE BIKE LANES, YOU KNOW, IS, IS, IS HUGELY IMPORTANT TO THE, THE, THE ROUGHLY, UM, 2,500 HOMES THAT, THAT MAKE UP THE WOODLAND HEIGHTS. THANK YOU. UM, WOULD YOU ALSO LIKE TO READ THE COURT ONE, ONE SECOND. EXCUSE ME. I THINK SHE MADE A POINT. COUNCILMAN MINOX. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I APPRECIATE THAT. UM, MS. WRIGHT, SO YOU'RE NOT AVERSE TO THE, TO A BIKE LANE, YOU'RE JUST ADVERSE TO WHERE IT'S CURRENTLY LOCATED. IS THAT ACCURATE? I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE BIKE LANES BEING ON A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE, BUT MY MAIN CONCERN IS, AND MY COLLEAGUE COUNCIL IS GOING AWAY WITH THE CENTER TURN LANES, RIGHT? SO MY COUNCIL, UH, MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER KUBO JUST MADE THE COMMENT THAT, UH, ONE OF THE TOOLS THAT WE'RE USING TO REDUCE TRAFFIC AND GET PEOPLE TO SLOW DOWN ARE BIKE LANES, WHICH EFFECTIVELY MEANS THAT WE'RE USING LIVE HUMAN BEINGS ON BICYCLES TO TRY TO CONTROL TRAFFIC OF, UH, VEHICLES THAT WEIGH UPWARDS OF TWO TONS SOMETIMES, UM, GOING DOWN THE STREET. UM, SO I UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT YOU AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'VE BEEN WORKING WITH HAVE A PETITION FROM BUSINESS OWNERS AND OTHER PEOPLE ALONG THE ROUTE THERE IDENTIFYING THIS AS A DANGEROUS PLACE. WHEN WE PASSED THE BIKE, UH, PLAN, I WAS TOLD THAT IT'S A LIVING DOCUMENT, THAT IT WAS, IT COULD BE ADJUSTED AND IT COULD BE MODIFIED AS THE COMMUNITY DESIRES. UH, THAT APPEARS NOT TO BE THE CASE. IT APPARENTLY THE BIKE PLAN IS LAMINATED. ANY OBJECTION TO MOTION EXTEND GOING? SO, UM, ANY RATE, MY MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, YOU, YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE NOT OPPOSED TO, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER LOCATION, A SAFER LOCATION, A A LOCATION WITH LESS TRAFFIC ON IT. WE COULD STILL PROVIDE THOSE CROSSING OPPORTUNITIES AT CROSSWALKS AND SO FORTH FOR THE PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC, BUT YOUR CONCERN IS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE, UH, TEENAGERS, ADULTS, WHOEVER'S TRAVELING ON 11TH STREET ON A BICYCLE, RUNS THE RISK OF BEING INJURED OR KILLED IN ADDITION TO, [02:10:01] UH, WHAT'S CURRENTLY GOING ON THERE RIGHT NOW WITH THE AUTOMOBILES. IS THAT RIGHT? YES, IT IS. AND I'D LIKE TO ALSO BRING UP ANOTHER POINT. THERE'S SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF CITIES ARE DOING NOW. THEY'RE CALLED BIKE BOULEVARDS. IS ANYONE FAMILIAR WITH A BIKE BOULEVARD OR WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THAT IS? OKAY. A BIKE BOULEVARD IS A STREET THAT'S ADJACENT TO A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE. AND WHAT THEY DO IS THEY GO AHEAD ON THAT STREET, THEY POST THAT IT'S FOR BIKERS. THEY DON'T ACTUALLY PUT LIKE THE PAINT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROADS AND CYCLISTS USE IT. MAINLY THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON THE STREET. OF COURSE, THEY CAN GET TO THEIR HOUSES AND STUFF, BUT THE COMMUNITY KIND OF JUST RESPECTS THE FACT THAT THAT'S A BIKE BOULEVARD. IT'S DEDICATED TO CYCLISTS AND TO PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA WALK. AND IT SEPARATES THE TRAFFIC, THE CARS FROM THE CYCLISTS. IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE. IT'S EXTREMELY INEXPENSIVE TO DO. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PUT UP SOME SIGNS SAYING THAT YOU'RE DOING IT AND GET COMMUNITY BUY-IN. AND I REALLY THINK WE LIVE IN THE KIND OF NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE COULD DO THAT. OKAY. UH, COUNCILWOMAN KNOX, WILL YOU FINISH? UH, YES, MAYOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL AND THANK YOU. COUNCIL KOSH RIGHT FOR COMING. DID YOU FURNISH US WITH THIS DOCUMENT HERE? YES, I DID. IT ACTUALLY CAME FROM THE CITY, I MEAN FROM THE FEDERAL, UM, HIGHWAY. YEAH, I SAW THE MOUNTAIN IN THE BACKGROUND AND I, I THOUGHT, WELL, THAT AIN'T HOUSTON. HOWEVER, ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS THINKING ABOUT, UH, WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT TO PUT A TURN LANE IN THE MIDDLE, UH, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S A BOULEVARD THERE, UH, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN, UM, UH, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN HEIGHTS. HEIGHTS, UH, SEE WHERE SHEPHERD IS ALL THE WAY, UH, DOWN TOWARD TC JESTER, UH, THAT, THAT'S ALL A, THAT, THAT'S ALL A BOULEVARD. SO YOU, THEY'D HAVE TO TEAR UP THEM TREES AND THEY, THAT'S NOT GONNA BE PART OF THIS. IT ENDS AT SHEPHERD. IT DOESN'T GO FROM SHEPHERD TO TC JESTER. IT ENDS RIGHT AT SHEPHERD. IT ENDS AT SHEPHERD. IT ENDS AT SHEPHERD. YES. FORGIVE ME. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M SORRY. COUNCILMAN MALCO. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. I'M, I'M REVIEWING ONE OF THE PRESENTATIONS THAT WAS RECENTLY DONE ON THIS, AND IT DOES LOOK LIKE THERE'S SOME, AT SOME OF THE INTERSECTION, THERE'S LIKE SOME MEDIANS, SAFETY MEDIANS THAT'LL HAVE CROSSINGS IN THEM. SO IT'S NOT CROSSING ISLANDS, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? RIGHT. UHHUH, , LIKE THE ISLANDS THAT WILL SLOW AND, AND I'M LOOKING AT THE AVERAGE SPEED DOWN ARE, ARE YOU NOTICING SPEEDING DOWN THERE? IT LOOKS LIKE THE AVERAGE SPEED IS LIKE CLOSE TO 40 MILES AN HOUR. ACTUALLY, IT'S THE, THAT'S THE TOP SPEEDS, I BELIEVE. I DON'T BELIEVE IF THAT'S THE AVERAGE SPEED, THEN THAT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN CHECK WITH THE CITY ON. BUT THE SPEEDS WOULD REACH UP TO 38 IS HOW IT WAS PRESENTED TO US. NOW, WITHOUT THESE, WITHOUT THE DESIGN CHANGE MM-HMM . AND AGAIN, IF THEY DO THE STREET DIET, THAT SHOULD CONTROL THE SPEEDING. THE STREET DIET IS WHAT'S SUPPOSED TO CONTROL THE SPEEDING, NOT THE BIKE LANES. THE BIKE LANES WERE AN AFTERTHOUGHT BECAUSE THEY WERE GONNA HAVE EXTRA SPACE. RIGHT. BUT I THINK THERE'S ALSO DESIGN FEATURES AT THE, AT THE INTERSECTIONS TO AIMED AT SLOWING CARS DOWN AS WELL. YOU, I'M SORRY, LIKE ONE AT NICHOLSON. THE, THE, THE FEATURES, THE DESIGN FEATURES AT THE INTERSECTION. THEY WERE GONNA HAVE SOME CROSSING ON ONES, BUT HONESTLY, IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE CENTER TURNING LANE, THEY CAN'T PUT THOSE ISLANDS IN. THERE'S NOT A SPOT FOR 'EM. SO I DON'T KNOW. AND THIS DESIGN ISN'T THE FINAL DESIGN, THEY'RE LIKE IN THE 90% PHRASE, BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CENTER TURN LANE, HOW ARE YOU GONNA PUT AN ISLAND IN? YOU KNOW WHAT I'M, I MEAN, IF IT'S JUST YEAH, UNDERSTOOD. IT'S JUST THE, THE DESIGN, I THINK I'M LOOKING AT THE LAST PRESENTATION DONE DOES HAVE THOSE FEATURES AT THE, AT THE INTERSECTIONS. BUT I'LL, I'LL REVIEW IT FURTHER. SURE. THANK YOU. SURE. AND DAVID FIELDS SHOULD BE ABLE TO TELL YOU WHERE THEY'RE PUTTING THOSE IN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER. THANK YOU. MM-HMM . NEXT SPEAKER. A ALEX. MARISOL. ALEX MARISOL. ALEX IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, I'LL BE QUICK. I AM AGAINST 11TH STREET. I AM A BUSINESS OWNER ON, UH, IN THE HEIGHTS. UM, WE'VE LOOKED AT IT AND UM, DAVID FIELDS WAS CORRECT IN SOME OF THE, UH, SOME OF HIS, HIS, UH, THEORIES THAT HE HAS. BUT NOT ALL THE, NOT ALL THE DATA IS CORRECT. SOME OF THE DATA WAS JUST KIND OF THROWN TOGETHER AS I KIND OF FEEL LIKE THE BIKE LANE. WE'RE JUST GONNA PUT IT DOWN, BUT WE CAN'T GO HERE. LET'S JUST THROW IT DOWN THE NEXT LANE, 11TH STREET, WE'LL THROW IT THERE. WHO ON GOD'S EARTH WOULD PUT A BIKE LANE, UH, DOWN THE BUSIEST? IT IS. YOU'VE, YOU'VE GOT BUSINESSES THAT ARE THERE THAT ARE GROWING COVID SHUT A LOT OF US DOWN, AND THERE'S A LOT OF RESTAURANTS. EVERYBODY THAT'S OPENING BACK UP. UM, IT IS A BUSY THROWAWAY FROM THERE ALL THE WAY TO SHEPHERD IT IS. UM, WHAT I'M SUGGESTING IS, AND, AND, AND, UH, MR. KNOX IS THE SAME. WE'RE NOT OPPOSED TO THE BIKE LANES. WE, WE LIVE THERE. MY FEAR IS THAT EVERYONE IS GONNA JUMP OFF 11TH STREET [02:15:01] WITH THE GOOGLE MAPS. YOU'VE GOT THE HIGH SCHOOL OVER THERE. THEIR ESCAPE ROUTE IS 11TH STREET. IT IS A BUSY THROWAWAY. AND THE YOUNG LADY IS RIGHT. YOU HAVE THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT. WHO IS, WHO IS JUST ADAMANT ABOUT SAYING IT IS OVER CAPACITATED. IT IS TRAFFIC. WE KNOW HOUSTON, I'VE BEEN IN HIGH SCHOOL HERE ALL MY LIFE, NOT IN HIGH SCHOOL ALL MY LIFE. I WOULD'VE LIKED TO HAVE BEEN . MY PARENTS WOULD'VE LIKED THAT. I WOULD'VE, BUT I, I'VE SEEN 59 AND SIX 10 SINCE I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. WHEN IS THAT GONNA END? SO 11TH STREET IS JUST, WHY CAN'T WE CHANGE? JUST LIKE YOU DID DOWN YALE. WE WERE GONNA PUT IT DOWN YALE, A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAINED. BUSINESS OWNERS COMPLAINED. AND THERE WERE NOT AS MANY BUSINESS OWNERS AS YOU HAVE ON 11TH STREET. WHY CAN'T WE MOVE THE BIKE LANE SOMEWHERE ELSE? WE HAVE A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT, UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH. WE HAVE TWO ENGINEERS. UH, ONE OF 'EM IS MY, UH, MY IN-LAW. HE, HE DESIGNS BRIDGES. THE OTHER GENTLEMAN DESIGNS, UH, HE'S WORKED WITH THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT. WE'VE GOT AN ADAMANT AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT CAN HELP YOU FIGURE OUT WHERE WE CAN PUT THE BIKE LANES. MY CONCERN IS WHEN THIS TRAFFIC GOES INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, I GOT A FIVE-YEAR-OLD THAT LIKES TO PLAY. WE'VE JUST MOVED THERE. WE'VE JUST BOUGHT A BUSINESS THERE AND WE LIVE THERE. NOW. I GOT A 5-YEAR-OLD. YOU THINK A CAR'S GONNA WORRY ABOUT COMING DOWN THE STREET OR ONE OF THESE KIDS FROM HIGH SCHOOL IS GONNA WORRY ABOUT WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE STREET? NO. THESE GENTLEMEN HERE, A DWI PERSON, SOMEONE DRUNK LEAVING ONE OF THESE RESTAURANTS, YOU THINK, YOU THINK THE BIKE IS, IS GOING TO GO UP AGAINST A CAR? WHO'S GONNA WIN THAT ONE? CERTAINLY NOT THE BIKE. YOU KNOW, THE GUY WILL BE HAULED OFF WITH A DWI MANSLAUGHTER, BUT THAT PERSON'S DEAD. SO I'VE SEEN TWO WHITE BIKES THAT NOW I KNOW WHAT THOSE MEANS. THEY'RE IN THE HEIGHTS. SO LET US HELP YOU FIGURE IT OUT. THE TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCILMAN KOSH. SIR, WHEN YOU STARTED SPEAKING, I, I APOLOGIZE. I DIDN'T HEAR YOUR NAME. ALEX. ALEX WHAT? ALEXANDER MARIELLE. HE WAS AN ADD-ON. HE WAS AN ADD-ON. I, I DIDN'T SEE YOU ON THE LIST. YEAH, I TRIED TO GET ON THE LIST. I CALLED IN YESTERDAY AND WHEN I GOT HERE WITH, UH, UH, THE YOUNG LADY TODAY, I SAW THAT MY NAME WASN'T ON THE LIST. SO I, I PROCEEDED TO THAT. WAS THE MOTION MADE EARLIER BY? YES. YES. OKAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING. AND, UH, I, UH, I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS, BUT I DO HEAR YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, AND BEAR IN MIND, WE ON PAGE TWO NOW, TAWANA BRYANT. TAWANA BRYANT. TIANA BRYANT, IF YOU OPPRESS STAR SIX, TIAWANA BRYANT STAR SIX. TIAWANA BRYANT. NEXT SPEAKER, JOSE ZAMARIN. SUE ZAMARIN. IS HE HERE? JOSE UE HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. RANDY TIMS. REVEREND RANDY TIMS. REVEREND RANDY TIMS. REVEREND RANDY TIMS IS PRESENT. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL. I LOOK FAMILIAR. I WAS, I JUST RETIRED FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN 33 YEARS. UH, LAST 20 YEARS I WAS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF BUDGET AND FINANCE. SOLID WASTE. SO SHOUT OUT TO MY SOLID WASTE PEOPLE. MAYOR, I HAVE A, A CONCERN. UH, WE HAD A FEW CALLERS THAT CALL IN. I LIVE IN, IN INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS ON CROSS TIMBERS IN BUSICK. I LIVE NEXT DOOR TO AN EMPTY LOT. AND I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE ZONING, BUT THEY'RE PROPOSING A BUILDING, A PIT STOP, EXPRESS FILLING STATION, GAS STATION, RIGHT AT THAT CORNER. JUST RECENTLY, A FEW MONTHS AGO, THEY JUST DID THE EXACT SAME, THEY JUST OPENED EXACT SAME, UH, GAS STATION. WE HAVE ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN GAS STATIONS FROM YALE TO AIRLINE. UH, THAT'S NEXT TO MY HOUSE. NOW WE HAVE A HOMELESS PERSON THAT'S ENCAMPED OUT RIGHT THERE. UH, AT THAT VERY SAME CORNER IS A TIMBER INN, UH, MOTEL, WHICH IS RIGHT WITH PROSTITUTION. WHEN I WAS LEAVING OUT TODAY, A YOUNG LADY WAS AT PROPOSITION TO ME AT THE, AT THE STOP SIGN. I DID A SERVICE CALL FROM HPD FOR THE LAST COUPLE YEARS. WE HAVE SO MANY REPORTS OF, UH, ROBBERY, UH, ASSAULTS. THEY EVEN HAD A SUICIDE THERE. AND THE NEIGHBORS, WE CONCERNED THAT THIS PROPOSED GAS STATION IS GOING TO INCREASE IN CRIME AND VIOLENCE. THE PEOPLE COME INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY DON'T PUT ANYTHING BACK INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY TAKE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY DON'T EMPLOY ANY OF US IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS. AND SO WITH THE PROSTITUTION, WITH THIS GAS STATION, I KNOW IT'S ON IT, AT LEAST TRY TO GET THE STAKEHOLDERS, WHOEVER OWNS IT, TO SIT DOWN WITH THE, WITH THE NEIGHBORS. AND I SEND 'EM A LETTER TO SAY, HEY, CAN WE SIT DOWN AND TALK AND SEE SOMETHING BETTER TO BUILD INSTEAD OF A GAS STATION? THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S JUST, IT'S JUST RIGHT WITH CRIME. I KNOW I'VE HAD, UH, CALLS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL [02:20:01] MEMBER'S OFFICE AND HPD, BUT THIS IS A GROWING CONCERN. THIS IS A GROWING CONCERN IN INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS. UM, SO WE HAVE ELDERLYS, WE HAVE KIDS THAT'S THERE. AND SO WITH THIS PROSTITUTION AND WITH THIS PROPOSED GAS STATION, I DON'T SEE WHY THAT'S, THAT'S OUR NEIGHBOR'S MAIN CONCERN. YOU JUST OPEN UP A PIT STOP GAS STATION ABOUT 400 YARDS ON, ON, ON CROSS TIMBERS. WHY DO WE NEED ANOTHER EXACT SAME GAS STATION? SO THAT'S OUR CONCERN. WE NEED SOME, UH, WE NEED MORE HELP. WE NEED MORE HELP. I KNOW THAT THE CITY'S HANDS MAY BE TIED, UH, WITH THE ZONING, BUT, UH, THE ONLY RECOURSE PROBABLY WE CAN HAVE IS IF THE STREET, THE, UH, THE, THE GAS STATION, IF, IF IT'S BUILT, HOPEFULLY GOD WILLING IS NOT BUILT, BUT THEY CANNOT COME OFF BUS STREET BECAUSE IT'S TOO NARROW TO GET RIGHT THERE. AND YOU'RE RIGHT THERE NEXT TO THE HOTEL. SO IF YOU GOT A HOTEL, THERE'S LITERALLY SEVEN STEPS ACROSS THE STREET TO A PROPOSED GAS STATION. WE'RE ALREADY SHOT. YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALWAYS HAVING PROBLEM WITH HPD, UH, UH, PEOPLE COMPLAINING. BUT THIS GOING TO INCREASE HPDS PATROL, IT'S GOING TO INCREASE THE CAUSE. VICE MAYOR FOR TIM, CAST STACK TATUM. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, REVEREND TIMS, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY. THANK YOU. UM, YOUR COMMENTS, UM, ARE VERY FAMILIAR. UM, WE HEAR FROM SO MANY RESIDENTS ABOUT THE NUMBER OF GAS STATIONS THAT ARE GOING IN OUR COMMUNITIES. UM, I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR, OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT. I'VE HAD AN INTERN DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE POSSIBILITY OF MORATORIUMS ON GAS STATIONS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND I WILL TELL YOU, WITH PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS, UM, WE ARE VERY LIMITED IN WHAT WE CAN DO. UM, WE'VE EVEN LOOKED AT, IS IT POSSIBLE TO DO A MORATORIUM IN CERTAIN SECTIONS WHERE WE ARE OVERSATURATED WITH GAS STATIONS AND THERE ARE SECTIONS IN OUR, IN, IN DISTRICT K THAT ON FOUR CORNERS, THERE ARE THREE GAS STATIONS AND A FOURTH ONE IS COMING, AND RESIDENTS ARE SAYING THE EXACT SAME THING THAT YOU ARE SAYING. AND, UM, UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, WE ARE SO LIMITED BECAUSE OF PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS AND NO ZONING. UM, I THINK THAT YOU'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING BY TRYING TO REACH THE OWNER. WE, WE HAVE STARTED TRYING TO HAVE COMMUNITY MEETINGS WITH THE OWNERS AND IF THEY MOVE FORWARD WITH THE GAS STATION, TALK ABOUT EXPECTATIONS. UM, AND HOW CAN WE BE GOOD NEIGHBORS IN A COMMUNITY THAT WE BOTH HAVE TO LIVE IN. UM, SO MY SUGGESTION TO YOU IS TO, YOU KNOW, REACH OUT TO THE OWNER AND SEE IF YOU CAN, UM, TALK ABOUT EXPECTATIONS AND SEE WHAT TYPE OF SECURITY. I MEAN, I, I DO THINK WHEN THE OWNERS KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO, WHO CARE AND WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE BEING GOOD NEIGHBORS. I MEAN, I ALWAYS ASK, DO YOU HAVE TO PUT THAT HERE? CAN WE PUT IT SOMEWHERE ELSE? MOST OF THE TIME THEY SAY, YES, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT HOW CAN WE BE GOOD NEIGHBORS? AND YOU TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING ON YOUR PROPERTY AND NOT LET NEW NUISANCES THAT HAPPEN ON YOUR PROPERTY IMPACT US IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO I WISH YOU THE BEST. IF WE CAN HELP, UM, IN, IN COORDINATING THAT WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER, WE'RE HAPPY TO DO SO BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S A SERIOUS ISSUE, NOT JUST IN THAT AREA, BUT AROUND THE CITY, RIGHT? IT INCREASES THE NEGATIVE STEREOTYPE OF OUR PEOPLE IN THE FIRST PLACE. AND THEN WITH THE REPEAT, I SEE Y'ALL, WE WENT ROUND AND ROUND WITH THE BELL BONDSMAN ISSUE. SO YEAH, THESE REPEAT THAT, KEEP COMING. THEY, THEY, THEY'RE GONNA FLOOD OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, NOT THEIRS. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. REVEREND TEMPS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY. THANK YOU. UM, I'M SURE SOLID WASTE MISS YOU. UM, YOUR COMMENTS, UM, ARE IMPORTANT. BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO SHARE THIS WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION. YOU KNOW, THEY REPLANT THOSE, THOSE THAT LAND. AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP THE, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE COME TO PUBLIC SESSION AND, AND GET BEFORE THE BODY. BUT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS ALSO IN SOME INFLUENCE AROUND THAT. WHEN, UM, DEVELOPERS WANT TO BUILD IN OUR COMMUNITIES, THEY NEED YOUR VOICE, UM, TO SHARE WITH THEM THAT CONTEXT THAT THEY MAY NOT BE CLEAR ABOUT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO, UM, DON'T STOP HERE, RIGHT? THERE'S A, THERE'S ANOTHER STEP, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE THAT'S SIGNED UP TODAY TO SHARE THOSE SAME COMMENTS WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AS WELL. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN CIRO. I'M SORRY. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MAYOR, ISN'T IT TRUE THAT WE REQUIRE CLUBS AND BARS TO HAVE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF SECURITY OR OVERTIME OFFICERS ON LOCATION FOR AFTER HOURS, AFTER HOURS? I BELIEVE SO. [02:25:01] SO I THINK WE SHOULD ENTERTAIN, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO CERTAIN AREAS OF THE CITY THAT HAVE, THAT HAVE ISSUES WITH EITHER CORNER STORES OR GAS STATIONS, THAT THERE'S SOME TYPE OF REQUIREMENT FOR SECURITY AND OVERTIME OFFICERS FOR NIGHTTIME AS WELL. UM, BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS CURB BEHAVIOR, RIGHT? AND A LOCATION HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE A POSSIBLE SITE FOR UNRULY BEHAVIOR OR UN UH, YOU KNOW, SOME CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. SO THE SAME THAT, THE SAME WAY WE LOOK AT CLUBS AND BARS AND WE, UH, ASSESS THOSE LOCATIONS AS A PLACE THAT NEEDS SECURITY OR NEEDS OVERTIME. OFFICERS, MAYBE WE NEED TO DO THE SAME FOR CERTAIN LOCATIONS OF CORNER STORES AND GAS STATIONS AND SEE IF WE HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY THERE THAT DOESN'T TIE OUR HANDS WHERE PEOPLE STILL HAVE THEIR PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS. BUT WE'RE TAKING IT A STEP BEYOND FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURE TO INCREASE, UH, PRESENCE. MY MOTION TO EXTEND ANY OBJECTION. BEEN MOVED A SECOND. ANY OBJECTION? CHAIR IS NONE GRANTED, I THINK THAT'S ONE WAY OF DOING IT. THE OTHER WAY IS, UM, IS GETTING WITH THE OWNERS AND LETTING THEM KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT GONNA PATRONIZE THEM. MM-HMM . PEOPLE DON'T SET UP BUSINESSES TO FAIL FINANCIALLY. SO, UM, THEY CAN SET UP, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE PEOPLE IN THE AREA, UH, HAVE TO PATRONIZE THEM. AND SO I THINK YOU HAVE TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. YOU CAN OPEN IT UP. THE PROBLEM THAT WE ARE FACING IS THAT, UH, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THESE COMMUNITIES JUST WITH GAS STATIONS. AND THERE ARE GAS STATIONS LITERALLY ON EVERY CORNER. UM, YOU WON'T GAS STATION, BUT THAT SHOULD NOT BE THE ONLY FORM OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY IS TOO MANY? BUT WHEN THERE'S ON EVERY CORNER FOUR ON ONE INTERSECTION, YEAH. THEN, UH, BUT, BUT ONE WAY OF TALKING TO THE OWNERS IS TO LET THEM KNOW THAT, HEY, YOU'RE SETTING IT UP HERE, BUT WE DON'T INTEND TO UTILIZE YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CIRO, SHE'S ON THE SCREEN. UM, THANK YOU. THANK YOU REVEREND TANS, UH, I KNOW YOU'RE ALREADY BEEN TALKING WITH MY STAFF TOO. UM, AND, AND, AND I APPRECIATE, UM, MY COLLEAGUE, UM, MY, MY COLLEAGUES ON COUNCIL. UM, THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD ADVICE, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE MAYOR'S SAYING, YOU KNOW, TALKING TO THE OWNERS, UM, AND LETTING THEM KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT GONNA PATRONIZE THEM AND, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, THAT'S, THAT, THAT MAY BE WHAT REALLY WORKS. UM, THE OTHER IDEAS ABOUT TALKING WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION, YOU KNOW, AND THEN, UM, THE, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL, YOU CAN EXPLORE, UM, MORATORIUM, YOU KNOW, SET IT'S SET LIMITS ON THE NUMBER OF GAS STATIONS. THESE ARE THINGS THAT, THAT ARE NOT TOOLS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW, BUT, UM, BUT, BUT I HEAR YOU. AND WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WORKING TO, TO, TO HELP, UM, IN, IN WHATEVER WAY WE CAN. THANK YOU ROOM TEMP. AND WE'LL EXPLORE ALL OPTIONS. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THEY MAY BE ABLE TO SET UP, WE CAN IMPOSE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS, UH, BUT KEEP WORKING. WE LOOK FORWARD. AND THAT HO AND THAT HOTEL TOO, WE TRY TO DECLARE IT AS A NUISANCE IF POSSIBLE BECAUSE, UH, WHEN MAYOR BILL WHITE WAS MAYOR, I CAME AND SPOKE WITH HIM ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. AND NOW IT'S, THAT HOTEL IS NOTHING BUT PROSTITUTION. IT'S RIGHT AT THE CORNER OF MY HOUSE. THAT EMPTY LOT, THEY'RE GONNA BE AT A GAS STATION IS VERY NEXT TO MY HOUSE. I UNDERSTAND. SO I UNDERSTAND. UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN THE CITY VOTED ZONING DOWN TWICE, THEY WERE SAYING GO FOR IT. YEAH. PUT A CAMERA UP, BUT LET'S KEEP WORKING. YEAH. PUT A CAMERA UP AND, UH, GET A SIGN AND KEEP WALKING IN FRONT OF EVERY DAY SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE, WE ARE NOT GONNA STOP. YEAH, I KNOW YOU GOT THAT RAMBLING SHIRT ON, SO I KNOW YOU'RE NOT GONNA STOP . ALRIGHT, THANKS. THANK YOU. TAKE CARE. NEXT SPEAKER. MARY FRAZIER. MARY FRAZIER. IF YOU'RE PRESS STAR SIX MARY FRAZIER. STAR SIX MARY, I'M HERE. YES, MA'AM. YES MA'AM. I PRESSED ON SIX OH, MAY I TURN? THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR THIS CITY. ANYWAY, I TOO WANTED TO SPEAK ON THE GAS STATION THAT'S BEING BUILT. I KNOW IT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED. OKAY. BUT THEN THE, THE OWNERS, WE ARE NOT GOING TO FIND THE OWNERS. YOU GO IN TO TALK TO 'EM AND THE, THE PERSON WHO'S WORKING AT, OH, I, I JUST WORKED HERE. I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHO OWNS IT BECAUSE THE OWNERS LIVE OUT IN RIVER OAKS AND THE WOODLANDS AND AROUND YOU SEE, AND THEN WE HAVE THAT PROSTITUTION, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON. THEY COME DOWN [02:30:01] HERE IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, EVEN GET IN THE CAR WITH THESE JOHNS. AND A LOT OF THEM ARE YOUNG CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE. AND WE HAVE CALLED THE POLICE, CALL THE POLICE. I'VE CALLED EVERYWHERE TRYING TO GET HELP, YOU KNOW, THAT'S FINE IF WE COULD FIND THE OWNER. AND I JUST WISHED OUR, MAYBE OUR COUNCIL MEMBER COULD DO MORE TO HELP US. I HAVE BEEN CALLING HER OFFICE. I TALKED TO HER THIS MORNING FOR THE FIRST, I THINK THE SECOND TIME SINCE SHE'S BEEN ELECTED. AND WE JUST NEED MORE HELP OUT HERE. THERE'S A FIRE STATION, ABANDONED FIRE STATION UP THERE, AND NOW THEY ARE GATHERING UP THERE AND THEY ARE NOT HOMELESS. THEY'RE THE LAZINESS. AND SCHOOL CHILDREN WALK PAST THERE EVERY DAY. AND THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. OKAY, WE'LL HAVE SOME PEOPLE DRIVE OUT THERE. WE'LL WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER, MS. FRASIER, AND WHATEVER WE CAN DO, WE WILL DO. I KNOW YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER'S VERY DEDICATED, UH, TO THAT AREA. SO WE'LL WORK, WE'LL WORK WITH HER AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. OKAY? ALRIGHT. OKAY. I CERTAINLY WILL APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MS. FRAZIER. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. JOCELYN BABIN. JOCELYN BABIN IS HERE EVERYBODY. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. KE KEEPING MY MASK ON BECAUSE I'M HAVING EYE SURGERY IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND I DON'T WANT TO GET SICK. NO, YOU'RE FINE. OKAY. I AM HERE TO BE AGAINST A, AGAINST THE GAS STATION THAT'S COMING UP ON BUS AND CROSS TIMBERS. I AM A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN FROM FIRST HAWAII, TEXAS. NOW I LIVE IN INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS, STUDIO WOOD. MY NANA, I'M A MOTHER OF TWO AND A NANA. AND I'VE BEEN AT THE SAME CHURCH SINCE 1971. YALE STREET BAPTIST CHURCH. AND I AM TOTALLY AGAINST THIS BECAUSE MY KE MY, WHEN MY GRANDKIDS COME DOWN, UM, AND PLAY, COME DOWN TO VISIT ME AND THEY, IF THAT GAS STATION GOES UP THERE, THE PROSTITUTION IS SO BAD AT THAT, UM, MOTEL THAT'S RIGHT THERE. EVEN IF THEY PLAY IN MY BACKYARD, YOU STILL CAN SEE WHATEVER'S GOING ON. I HAVE A CAMERA I HAVE FOUGHT SINCE, UH, 2017 WITH THAT SAME SITUATION. UH, 3 1 1 KNOWS ME. POLICE DEPARTMENT ON WEST MONTGOMERY KNOWS ME. CI KNOWS I CALL AND COMPLAIN, BUT THEY PICK UP PROSTITUTION ON MY STREET FROM 1215 IN THE MORNING ALL THE WAY UP TO 6 37 EVERY DAY. MY CAMERA SHOWS IT. UM, THE TRAFFIC IS SO BAD RIGHT THERE, SO I DON'T EVEN SEE HOW THEY'RE GOING TO PUT THAT GAS STATION THERE BECAUSE IT'S A SMALL STREET. THE MOTEL IS RIGHT ACROSS. YOU'RE GONNA SEE A LOT OF LOT LIZARDS AT THAT GAS STATION. AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY GONNA GET OUT. THE CAR'S GONNA GET OUT YESTERDAY, I VIDEOED GOING, UH, UP DOWN THE STREET AND YOU HAVE TO STAY ON ONE SIDE OF THE STREET, WHICH IS THE RIGHT SIDE FOR WALKING BECAUSE IN THAT AREA, IF YOU WALK ON THE LEFT SIDE, YOU'RE CONSIDERED A PROSTITUTE. WELL, I DON'T WANT THAT. SO I STAY ON MY SIDE AND I VIDEO THE TRAFFIC IS ZOOM, ZOOM, ZOOM, ZOOM. JUST GOING SO FAST. MARCH THE 12TH, MINDING MY BUSINESS, WALKING DOWN CROSS TIMBER AT A DRIVEWAY. I STOP A CAR HIT ME, BACKED OUT HIS DRIVEWAY AND I WAS LIKE, YOU JUST HIT ME. HE BACKED OUT. YEAH. TIME HAS EXPIRED. WE'LL TAKE, UM, WE'LL SEND SOME, WE'LL SEND SOME PEOPLE OUT IN TERMS OF THE, UM, WITH THE GARAGE TO THE PROSTITUTION THAT'S OUT THERE. AND WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, UH, [02:35:01] MS. BABIN. UM, AND THEN AGAIN, WE'LL, WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE IS NO, THERE IS NO ZONING IN THIS CITY. SO IF THERE ARE FOLLOWING ALL THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS, THEN WE ARE LIMITED AS TO WHAT WE CAN DO. BUT WE, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT IT. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND I JUST WANNA SEE MORE OF MY CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE OUT THERE HELPING US. WE NEED IT REALLY, REALLY BAD. OKAY. WE'LL BE WORKING WITH YOUR CITY COUNCIL PERSON. ALRIGHT, THANK, OKAY. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER. JOE TODO. JOE TODO. IF YOU ARE PRESS START SIX. JOE TODO, I'M HERE ON THE VIDEO. MAYOR. MM-HMM . OKAY, WE CAN HEAR YOU. OKAY, GREAT. UM, HI, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, AND YOU GUYS ARE DOING GREAT. I, THE COMMENTS I HEARD, UH, I USED TO LIVE ON THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN AND I SAW ALL THE WORK YOU GUYS HAVE DONE ON THE STREETS. THAT'S GREAT STUFF. UM, I AM A BUSINESS OWNER. I OWN A 51 UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX HERE ON CROSS TIMBERS. AND I GOTTA TELL YOU, UM, I CAN CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT AS A BUSINESS OWNER, I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT PROSTITUTES WORKING ON MY PROPERTY. SO IT IS A BETTER APPROACH TO, UH, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO GET AHOLD OF THE, THE OWNERS AND, AND LET THEM KNOW, BECAUSE I'M SURE MOST OF THEM DON'T WANT THAT EITHER TO WANT PROBLEMS LIKE THAT. UM, I DON'T LIKE PEOPLE INTERFERING WITH MY BUSINESS 'CAUSE MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IT. AND THIS, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, ANYWAY, SO THE TWO THINGS I, I HAVE, AND THIS IS IN THE, IN THE SPIRIT OF CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM, UM, I WAITED THREE YEARS TO GET MY MONEY BACK FROM THE, FOR THE WATER DEPOSIT. AND I TRIED TO PROACTIVELY GET AHEAD OF IT AND SAY, HEY, JUST GIMME THE CHECK AND ONE $11,000 CHUNK. UM, AND GOD BLESS ALL THE PEOPLE. I'M NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT ANY OF THE FRONTLINE PEOPLE A LOT OF THE TIME THIS IS JUST TRAINING AND, AND AWARENESS. BUT I ENDED UP GETTING A CHECK FOR $7,600 WRITTEN OUT TO, UH, NORTHLINE TERRACE, WHICH IS THE NAME OF THE COMPANY THAT OWNS THE PROPERTY. THERE'S NO BANK ACCOUNT ATTACHED TO IT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. AND I WENT BACK AND FORTH WITH THE NICE LADY ABOUT I CAN'T CASH THAT CHECK BECAUSE IT'S NOT WRITTEN OUT WITH MY NAME ON IT. SO AFTER WE'RE GOING BACK AND FORTH AND I, I SAID, NO, YES, YOU CAN DO, GO BACK AND TALK TO MR. WHOEVER SUPERVISOR. AND THEY DID. AND, UH, ENDED UP GOING TO BONNIE. AND I'VE WORKED WITH BONNIE IN THE PAST. I MEAN, EVERYBODY'S GREAT, BUT IT ACTUALLY ENDED UP HAVING TO GO TO BONNIE. AND, YOU KNOW, I, I TRIED TO MAKE THIS, THEY TOLD ME TO SEND THE CHECK. I SEND, I SEND THIS CHECK BACK WITH A LETTER SAYING HOW IT NEEDS TO BE SENT OUT BECAUSE WELLS FARGO WON'T ACCEPT IT AND I STILL HAD TO FOLLOW UP 21 DAYS LATER BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T FIND IT AND NONSENSE, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. SO, UH, THERE'S JUST SOME OPPORTUNITY THERE TO STREAMLINE THIS PROCESS AND MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER. UH, MR. SAL, WHO I'VE, WHO'S SPEAKING WITH, UH, I EXPLAINED THIS TO HIM AS CONCISELY AS I COULD. UH, I KNOW THIS ISN'T, YOU KNOW, WORLD SHAKING STUFF, BUT IT'S A BIT IRRITATING THAT I'M, I'M HAVING TO WAIT THIS, WE'RE IN APRIL AND I'M SUPPOSED TO HAVE THIS MONEY THREE MONTHS AGO. UM, I HAD TO WAIT FOR THREE YEARS AND KEEP MY CREDIT WITH THE CITY. GOOD. UH, THE OTHER THING IS, I GET THESE NOTICES FROM TIME TO TIME. I KNOW YOU, I KNOW THE CITY. THERE HAS TO BE A MECHANISM FOR TENANTS TO COMPLAIN TO THE CITY, BUT I'LL GET TENANTS COMPLAINING TO THE CITY. AND THIS PARTICULAR ONE COMPLAINED 30 MINUTES AFTER WE WORKED IN THEIR APARTMENT ALL DAY ABOUT MOLD BEING IN THE APARTMENT. SO I GOT THIS NEXT DAY. I DON'T LIKE GETTING THESE, I DON'T APPRECIATE GETTING THESE. AND I KNOW I CERTAINLY DON'T APPRECIATE THESE SUBTLE THREATS ABOUT VIOLATIONS WITHIN SEVEN DAYS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, UH, THE LAW WORKS BOTH WAYS. AND I ALSO HAVE THE TEXAS PROPERTY CODE. I THINK THIS COULD BE NOT, UH, EXPRESSED A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY, YOU KNOW, TO CONSCIENTIOUS LANDLORDS LIKE US. YEAH. TOM HAS FIRED. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND NOW PLEASE FOLLOW UP WITH THE WATER DEPARTMENT IF THERE'S A, A REMAINS CONFUSION ON WHO SHOULD, UH, THE CHECK BE MADE. PALABLE TWO. OKAY. YEAH, HE'S, THANK YOU. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. ALEX ROSEN. ALEX ROSEN. IS ALEX HERE? ALEX IS HERE. ONLY ONE PERSON AT THE FRONT. OKAY. YEAH, THESE GUYS JUST CAME INTO THE COUNTRY. I'M WITH AN ORGANIZATION, ACTUALLY. YOU'LL HEAR ME OKAY. YES. COOL. COOL. MY NAME IS ALEX ROSEN. I WORK FOR MIRACLES FOR MIGRANTS. WE ARE AN NGO FUNDED BY MULTIPLE CREDIBLE ORGANIZATIONS AND PEOPLE SUCH AS THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM. GEORGE SOROS IS OPEN BORDER SOCIETY FOUNDATION AND WITH THE REMOVAL OF TITLE 42, WHICH WILL END UP OPENING UP OUR BORDER AND LEAD TO AN INFLUX OF UNDOCUMENTED PERSONS COMING INTO THIS GREAT COUNTRY, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM. MAYOR TURNER, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN ONE OF DONALD TRUMP'S STAUNCHEST DETRACTORS DECLARING THIS PLACE A SANCTUARY CITY, WHICH GIVES AMNESTY AND A HAVEN TO UNDOCUMENTED CITIZENS. LENA HIDALGO, OUR [02:40:01] COUNTY JUDGE, IS ALSO SPONSORED BY DREAM AND ENDORSED BY THEM, WHICH IS AN ORGANIZATION FOR UNDOCUMENTED CHILDREN. HERE WITH ME, I HAVE THREE UNDOCUMENTED PERSONS THAT CAME STRAIGHT FROM THE BORDER APPROXIMATELY ON MARCH 28TH. SINCE GOOD LEADERS ALWAYS STEP UP TO THE PLATE, I WANNA ASK YOU, MAYOR, JUDGE, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS IF YOU'D LIKE TO TAKE THEM INTO YOUR OWN HOMES BECAUSE WE ALL, WE ALL TALK A GOOD GAME ABOUT, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY TAKING CARE OF THEM AND HAVING TAX MONEY GO TO THEM. BUT I'D LIKE YOU GUYS TO TRY TO TAKE THEM INTO THE, TAKE THEM INTO Y'ALL'S OWN HOMES. I HAVE THEM WITH ME RIGHT HERE. THEY'RE VERY GREAT PEOPLE. FIRST I HAVE JUAN FROM GUATEMALA IS OVER HERE. YOU WANNA COME UP JUAN? NO, YOU CANNOT HAVE HIM UP FRONT HERE, HERE. YOU CANNOT BRING THEM UP FRONT, SIR. OKAY. HE HAS A WARRANT FOR ARSON IN GUATEMALA CITY, BUT HE JUST GOT A LITTLE BIT CARRIED AWAY AND WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES. HE'S AN OBVIOUSLY GOOD PERSON AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN HE DOESN'T DESERVE A SECOND CHANCE. HE CAME INTO THIS COUNTRY TO AVOID PROSECUTION AND HE'S A GOOD SOUL. JUST A LITTLE BIT OF A MISGUIDED ONE. HE NEEDS A HOME FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS IN ORDER TO AVOID PROSECUTION AND POTENTIAL DEATH IN GUATEMALA. DO ANY OF THE CITY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WANNA TAKE HIM INTO, INTO Y'ALL'S HOMES? ANYBODY GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE? NO. OKAY. NEXT I HAVE ROBERTO FROM MEXICO. HE'S UNFORTUNATELY BEEN OUT OF A JOB SINCE EL CHAPPO GOT ARRESTED, BUT HE'S VERY PROGRESSIVE. HE'D FIT INTO THE CITY. WELL. WE DO LOVE OUR DIVERSITY HERE. HE IDENTIFIES AS A FURRY, SPECIFICALLY A COYOTE AND HAS COME TO AMERICA LOOKING FOR A BETTER OPPORTUNITY. HE NEEDS A HOME TO STAY IN. HE'S VERY GOOD WITH KIDS AND MAKES AN EXCELLENT CHAPERONE. UM, HE CAN DELIVER GOODS QUICKER THAN YOU CAN STAY AT FENTANYL. DOES ANYBODY WANT TO TAKE HIM INTO Y'ALL'S HOME? ANYBODY HERE WANNA TAKE HIM IN? JUAN LOOKING FOR A HOME. WANNA COME IN? JUAN? ROBERTO. NOBODY WANTS TO TAKE THEM INTO Y'ALL'S HOMES. OKAY. THIS IS VERY WEIRD. OKAY, LASTLY, WE HAVE JOSE FROM EL SALVADOR. HE ACTUALLY HAS COVID, BUT SINCE HE IS UNDOCUMENTED, DOESN'T REALLY MATTER IF HE'S VACCINATED OR NOT. AND HE ACTUALLY HAS FIVE STDS DUE TO SOME ESCAPADES WITH, UH, SOME YOUNG MEN. MAYOR TURNER. DON'T GET TOO JEALOUS ABOUT THAT. UM, HE HAS, HE IS A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER IN SAM. TIME HAS EXPIRED. HOWEVER, THAT DOESN'T MAKE HIM ANY LESS OF A YEAR. TIME. YOUR TIME HAS PAT. I GOT IT. AND GRACIOUS ACCEPTING, PLEASE STEP AWAY. TAKE THEM IN. YOU GUYS WANNA TAKE THEM IN? NOBODY. WHAT IS IT? YOU WANNA TAKE THEM IN? THEY'RE GOOD PEOPLE. WHAT? THIS IS HYPOCRITICAL. THE NEXT SPEAKER. ANDREW ROBERTSON. UH, ANDREW ROBINSON. IS ANDREW HERE? OKAY. YES SIR. YOUR TURN. ACTUALLY, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THIS GENTLEMAN RIGHT HERE ON YOUR PHONE. UH, BEFORE I START, YOU SAID EARLIER SOMETHING ABOUT SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF HOUSTON HAVING A, AN INITIATIVE, SORRY, BRIEFCASE FELL OVER FOR BARS AND CLUBS SAYING THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF SECURITY MORE IN PARTICULAR HPD. IS THAT IN, IS THAT CORRECT OR INCORRECT? OH, IT'S NIGHTTIME. OKAY. BUT, OKAY, JUST MAKING SURE. UM, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. I'M ANDREW ROBERTSON, NOT ROB BEN. 'CAUSE LAST TIME HE PRONOUNCED MY NAME WRONG BECAUSE THE LAST TIME I WAS UP HERE, I WAS SPEAKING ON HPD AND ITS NEED TO BE PROACTIVE VERSUS REACTIVE. AND ON THAT MORNING, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM HPDA SERGEANT WHO INFORMED ME THAT HPD IS IN FACT A REACTIVE POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY ARE UNDERSTAFFED. HMM. AND SINCE MY CASE DOES NOT HAVE A HIGH ENOUGH LETHALITY FACTOR, IT DOES NOT GET PLACED HIGH ON THE TRIAGE LIST. END QUOTE. MEANING THAT I'M NOT BEING HELPED BECAUSE I'M ALIVE. WHEN I HEARD THESE WORDS, I DID NOT THINK IT WOULD BE HPD. WOULD IT BE HPD, THE ONES WHO ALMOST KILL ME AND SUBSEQUENTLY HAVE TO HELP ME? WHEN I MEANT BE PROACTIVE, I DID NOT MEAN TO HURT INNOCENT CIVILIANS. IN RECENT YEARS UNDER MAYOR TURNER, HPD HAS HAD NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF POLICE BRUTALITY AS WELL AS ABUSE OF POWER. IF YOUR ADMINISTRATION DOES NOT SUPPORT HPDS BLATANT DISREGARD OF OF THE LAW, CIVIL RIGHTS, AND THE CONSTITUTION, WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO DO TO FORCE THEM TO RELEASE THE FOOTAGE OF ME BEING ASSAULTED AND NEARLY MURDERED BY HPD TO SHOW THE TRUTH? WHEN FORMER CHIEF ACEVEDO MAKING SURE YOU'RE PAYING ATTENTION HEARD ABOUT THE TRANS, I HEARD ABOUT WHAT TRANSPIRED WITH THE ASSAULT AS WELL AS THE VIOLATIONS OF MY BASIC HUMAN AND CIVIL AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. HE WAS SPEECHLESS. IF THE FORMER CHIEF OF POLICE CAN SEE THE ATROCIOUS ACTS OF THE, OF POLICE BRUTALITY, SH SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED. WHY ISN'T ANYTHING BEING DONE TO BRING JUSTICE [02:45:01] AS WELL AS SAFETY TO THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY? MAYOR TURNER, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO FIX THE STATUS PRO QUO OF HPD AND THE MANY CASES OF ABUSE, OF POWER AND POLICE BRUTALITY UNDER YOUR ADMINISTRATION? DO WE IN FACT, AND I QUOTE YOU IN PARTICULAR, NEED TO FOLLOW HOUSTON'S EXAMPLE? IT'S YOUR TIME. OH, I'M, I'M FINISHED. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OH, I DIDN'T THINK YOU WOULD HAVE A COMMENT. THE NEXT SPEAKER, ANEZ SIEGEL ANEZ SIEGEL IS ANEZ SIEGEL. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS INA SIEGEL AND I CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR LINK HOUSTON. WE ADVOCATE FOR EQUITY AND TRANSPORTATION AND I'M HERE TODAY, UH, WITH OUR PARTNERS TO CHALLENGE YOU ALL TO GO CAR FREE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. LEADING UP TO EARTH DAY ON APRIL 22ND, I REALIZE I'M PREACHING TO THE CHOIR WHEN I SAY THAT OUR CURRENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, ONE THAT PRIMARILY FOCUSES ON CARS, IS INEQUITABLE AND CONTRIBUTES TO CLIMATE CHANGE SHOCKS IN OUR REGION AS WELL AS NEGATIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES. THE BURDENS OF OUR CURRENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM ARE PARTICULARLY FELT IN LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES AND PREDOMINANTLY BLACK AND HISPANIC NEIGHBORHOODS. THESE BURDENS INCLUDE CHALLENGES GETTING TO AND FROM WORK BECAUSE OF LACK OF FREQUENT AND LATE NIGHT BUS SERVICE. PEOPLE ALSO FACE CHALLENGES REACHING THE ACTUAL BUS STOPS DUE TO POOR, UNSAFE AND INACCESSIBLE SIDEWALKS. OUR ROADS ARE DESIGNED FOR SPEED AND MANY OF OUR FELLOW HOUSTONIANS SUFFER SERIOUS INJURIES OR DIE IN CRASHES. WE EXPERIENCE INCREASED LEVELS OF POLLUTION DUE TO EMISSIONS, AND THOSE IMPACTS DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT BLACK AND HISPANIC PEOPLE AND LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES. THE CITY RECENTLY RELEASED A STATUS REPORT ON THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN AND THE RESILIENCE STRATEGY. WHILE SOME OF THE METRICS ARE CERTAINLY WORTH CELEBRATING, THE ONES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ARE LAGGING, WE'RE TRENDING AWAY FROM ACHIEVING VISION ZERO. WE'RE NOT ON TRACK TO REDUCE VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED. BUILDING HOUSING ACROSS EVERY INCOME LEVEL IS ADMIRABLE, BUT THE PRIORITY SHOULD BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHOULD BE BUILT NEAR, FREQUENT, SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE AFFORDABLE TRANSPORTATION. WE ARE GLAD TO SEE THAT THE TARGET FOR 500 MILES OF TRAILS AND BIKE LANES IS AT 87% AND WE'RE GLAD TO SEE THAT PROVIDING HOUSTONIANS ACCESS TO HIGH FREQUENCY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WITHIN A HALF MILE IS AT 54%. THE CITY HAS A LOT OF GREAT PLANS AND MANY DEDICATED STAFF WHO ARE EAGER TO IMPLEMENT THESE PLANS. WE'RE CHALLENGING YOU TODAY TO GET OUT OF YOUR CARS BECAUSE WE NEED YOUR HELP IN MAKING THESE CHANGES A REALITY. FREQUENT TRANSIT IS IMPORTANT, BUT IF I CAN'T SAFELY WALK TO THAT TRANSIT, STOP AND WAIT WITH DIGNITY AND COMFORT OF A SHELTER AND SHADE, IT IS REALLY HARD TO USE IT. WE'RE CHALLENGING YOU TO GET OUT OF YOUR CARS SO THAT YOU CAN REALLY EXPERIENCE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO NAVIGATE HOUSTON ON FOOT BIKE OR BY BUS TO GET TO WORK YOUR MEETINGS, GROCERY STORES AND OTHER APPOINTMENTS. WE NEED YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CONS, COUNCILMAN ROBINSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND AS AND AS I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE TODAY FOR WAITING TO SPEAK AND FOR THE MISSION AND THE, THE MESSAGE THAT YOU BRING, LINK HOUSTON IS THE LEADER OF THIS AND YOUR LEADING LINK HOUSTON NOW. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU CHAIR OF THE TTI COMMITTEE AND THE TRANSPORTATION POLICY COUNCIL. YOU, YOU NAILED IT. WE'VE GOT LOTS OF ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. UM, THERE ARE SOME DIRECTIONS WE'RE GOING THAT I KNOW YOU AND I BELIEVE IN AND I KNOW THIS MAYOR BELIEVES IN WITH HIS COMMITMENT. AND, UM, OF COURSE, UM, WITH RECENT EVIDENCE LIKE, UH, THE COMMITMENT OF A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS TO THE TOUR OF, TO HOUSTON. AND I KNOW I'M GONNA BE RIDING THIS WEEK. UM, UH, WE'VE GOT A WONDERFUL EVENT ON FRIDAY WITH THE STATIONS OF THE HOOD, UH, IN THIRD WARD THAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO. AND, UH, HOPEFULLY I CAN RIDE TO RIDE TO WORK TOMORROW MORNING AS WELL. BUT, UM, WONDER WHAT YOU'RE DOING PERSONALLY. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SAY THAT YOUR PERSONAL COMMITMENT, WELL, THANK YOU. I I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. IT HAS BEEN A VERY LONG AFTERNOON, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, I, I DO WANNA SHARE THAT, YOU KNOW, I USE TRANSIT REGULARLY. I DON'T HAVE A BICYCLE, SO I I'M NOT A FREQUENT, UH, BIKE RIDER. UM, AND I WALK A LOT. I ALSO HAVE A CAR. UM, I DO WANNA TO ALSO SAY, [02:50:01] YOU KNOW, I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY AS A REFUGEE. I DID NOT SPEAK ANY ENGLISH, NEITHER DID MY FAMILY. WE COULD NOT AFFORD A CAR FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, BUT WE STILL HAD TO GET TO SCHOOL. WE STILL HAD TO LEARN ENGLISH. MY PARENTS HAD TO GO TO WORK. UM, AND HAVING RELIABLE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, BEING ABLE TO SAFELY WALK, UM, ON SIDEWALKS, UH, TO REACH THOSE BUS STOPS, THAT'S WHAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE. AND THROUGH MY WORK WITH LINK HOUSTON, I MEET A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THOSE SAME POSITIONS. THEY CANNOT DRIVE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT OR THEY MAY HAVE A DISABILITY. AND SO BEING ABLE TO WALK, BEING ABLE TO USE A WHEELCHAIR, UM, THAT IN A SAFE WAY AND BEING ABLE TO RIDE A BICYCLE, UH, BECAUSE THAT'S YOUR ONLY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT SAFELY AND AND WITH DIGNITY. UM, AND SO THIS IS WHY WE'RE CHALLENGING YOU TO GET OUT OF YOUR CARS TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE. AND I KNOW THE CITY IS DOING A LOT OF GREAT WORK, UH, BUT WE JUST, WE JUST WANNA SEE MORE OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS SO THAT EVERYONE CAN ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN AND VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. CHRISTINA ROTENBERG. CHRISTINA, WHERE IS THAT? CHRISTINA ROTENBERG IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE TODAY. UM, I AM THE POLICY AND ADVOCACY DIRECTOR OF VI HOUSTON, ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS PARTNERING WITH LINK HOUSTON TO ISSUE THIS CHALLENGE. HOWEVER, BEFORE I BEGIN MY REMARKS ABOUT EARTH DAY, I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND MISINFORMATION THAT CAME UP ABOUT THE 11TH STREET REDESIGN. SO FIRST, THIS IS IMPORTANT JUST IN TERMS OF WHAT THE SCHEMATIC IS ACTUALLY GOING TO LOOK LIKE. ALL THE WAY FROM SHEPHERD DOWN TO STU WOOD. THAT IS ALL BUT ONE BLOCK OF THE PROJECT. THERE IS GOING TO BE A CENTRAL TURNING LANE. SO THAT WAS ONE OF MS. WRIGHT'S MAIN ISSUES THAT SHE RAISED. UM, WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF CONCERNS SUCH AS WHAT CAME UP FROM COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT THOROUGHFARE NOT BEING ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE AS MUCH VEHICLE TRAFFIC. UM, ALL OF THE TRAFFIC VOLUME STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED BY THE CITY HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A 30 MINUTE WINDOW DURING AFTERNOON COMMUTE TIME AT THE INTERSECTION OF YALE AND THE HEIGHT, THE UM, REDESIGN WILL BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THE SAME TRAFFIC VOLUME AS BEFORE. AND IN FACT, THE CORRIDOR WILL NOW BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE MUCH MORE TRAFFIC WITH BIKERS AND WALKERS. ADDITIONALLY, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO REMEMBER THAT IN ADDITION FOR THIS BEING A TRAVEL, UH, THOROUGHFARE, IT IS ALSO CORE AS A BUSINESS DISTRICT. I WALK TO 11, I'M A HEIGHTS RESIDENT. I WALK TO 11TH STREET FREQUENTLY. I BIKE THEIR FREQUENTLY AND I FREQUENT THEIR BUSINESSES. AND THAT'S WHY PEOPLE WANNA GO. THEY WANT TO BIKE AND THEY WANNA WALK AND THEY WANNA TAKE, THEY WANNA DRIVE, THEY WANNA GET TO THOSE BUSINESSES AS HOWEVER THEY CAN, WHICH IS WHY 11TH STREET IS AN IMPORTANT DESTINATION. WE CANNOT ONLY CONSIDER IT AS A TRAFFIC CORRIDOR REGARDING EARTH DAY. SO I'M GONNA ECHO WHAT INEZ JUST SAID IS WE ARE CHALLENGING YOU FOR EARTH DAY, WHICH IS APRIL 22ND TO, UM, TO GIVE. SO FOLLOWING COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN'S LEAD OF NO CAR FRIDAYS ADOPT NO CAR EARTH DAYS. SO THIS IS REALLY IN STAR. INSTEAD CHOOSE BIKING, WALKING, OR TAKING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. AND I'M MAKING THIS APPEAL TO YOU WHILE WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A CLIMATE CRISIS, UM, HOUSTON KNOWS BETTER THAN MOST THAT THE CLIMATE CRISIS IS REAL. WE ARE VERY SUBJECT TO FLOODING, TO HEAT EVENTS, AND, UM, AND TRANSPORTATION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ONE THIRD OF ALL EMISSIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. IT IS THE SINGLE GREATEST CONTRIBUTOR IN THE UNITED STATES. IN TEXAS, THE AVERAGE, UM, TEXAN USES 500 GALLONS OF GASOLINE A YEAR. THAT RESULTS FOR EACH PERSON IN FIVE TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS. IF EACH PERSON WAS GOING TO TRY TO, UM, UM, TO OFFSET THAT, IT WOULD REQUIRE THEM TO PLANT 73 TREES A YEAR. BUT INSTEAD, WE'RE ASKING YOU INSTEAD JUST TO START, TAKE SOME SMALL STEPS, FOR INSTANCE, SWITCH OUT COUNCILMAN MALCO. THANK YOU MS. BERG AND, AND MS. SIEGEL SEGEL FOR COMING. UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THIS YEAR'S EARTH DAY DOES FALL ON A NO CAR FRIDAY, SO I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. AND IT IS REALLY INTERESTING, UM, SINCE I'VE TA DONE THIS TO SEE WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, TO SEE WHAT YOU GUYS ARE BOTH TALKING ABOUT, THE SIDEWALKS THAT ARE BROKEN, WALKING TO THE BUS STOPS, THE PLA, THE BUSY STREETS YOU HAVE TO CROSS IN ORDER TO MAKE THE BUS BECAUSE IT'S TOO [02:55:01] FAR TO THE LIGHTS ON EITHER SIDE WHERE YOU'RE, WHERE YOU'RE GOING, THE BIKE LANES GOING UNDER FREEWAYS. IT'S, IT'S VERY ENLIGHTENING TO, TO DO, TO DO THIS. SO IT IT, IT'S BEEN GREAT FOR ME TO, TO BETTER UNDERSTAND PUBLIC TRANSIT AND BETTER UNDERSTAND WALKING AND BIKING. SO I'M EXCITED THAT EARTH DAY FALLS ON A FRIDAY. THAT JUST REALLY WORKED OUT FOR ME THIS YEAR. SO I'LL BE JOINING YOU AND ANYBODY ELSE WHO WANTS TO BIKE OR WALK OR RIDE THE BUS WITH ME, COME ON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. MICHELLE HARRIS, CHAIR HARRIS, IF YOU HAVE PRESSED STAR SIX. MICHELLE HARRIS, STAR SIX. MICHELLE HARRIS, STAR SIX, HAVE YOU OPPRESSED STAR SIX MICHELLE. NEXT SPEAKER. YVONNE SILVER. YVONNE SILVER. HAVE YOU OPPRESSED STAR SIX. YVONNE SILVER STAR SIX. YVONNE SILVER STAR SIX, MAYOR AND CITY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. AND CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, AS YOU WELL KNOW. UM, IT'S THE SAME COMPLAINT AND IT HAS TO DO WITH NO ONE REGULATING HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS. I RECENTLY CONTACTED HUD AND THEY TOLD ME TO GO TO THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE. I'VE BEEN GOING TO THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE SINCE GEORGE W. BUSH AND GREG ABBOTT, WHO REALLY TOOK AWAY OUR PROPERTY RIGHTS WITH PROPERTY CODE 51. UM, HUD I CANNOT DO THIS ALONE. UH, MAYOR, I HAVE BROUGHT IT UP TO TWO HISPANIC HUD SECRETARIES. AND WHAT IS HAPPENING TO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN BARELY AFFORD TO GET BY AND THIS HOA STUFF HAS GOT TO BE CONTROLLED. THE DEAN OF THE SENATE GETS COMPLAINTS AND, UH, DOES NOTHING WITH THEM. AND, AND, AND WE STILL HAVE NO REPRESENTATION TO A BUNCH OF BULLIES, WHICH WE'VE HAD TO HEAR ALL AFTERNOON. SO PLEASE, CITY COUNCIL, AND I'VE SPOKEN WITH EVERYONE AS YOU WELL KNOW. PLEASE HELP BEFORE YOU LEAVE OFFICE. THANK, THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH. UH, NEXT SPEAKER, MARIE CORTEZ. MARIE CORTEZ IS PRESENT. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME. UH, THERE'S MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN ME IN FESTIVALS, ART FESTIVALS, OR WORKSHOPS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I'VE DONE MANY PROJECTS WITH DIFFERENT, UH, REGIONS HERE IN HOUSTON, BUT, UH, MY PROFESSION AND MY LOVE AND MY PASSION HAS BEEN TEACHING. I'VE BEEN AN EDUCATOR FOR 26 YEARS, AND IT IS MY MISSION AND MY DUTY TO SHARE MY LIGHT WITH THE STUDENTS ACROSS MY PATH. UM, TODAY I AM ASKING YOU TO PLEASE LISTEN TO THE STORY BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY THIS YEAR I JOINED A SCHOOL THAT HAS BEEN NEGLECTED AND THAT NEEDS, UH, US TO SHINE OUR LIGHT. I'M HERE TODAY TO, UM, SHARE WITH YOU MY STORY OF WHAT HAPPENED DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR, 2021. I WAS ATTACKED BY A WOMAN WHO CAME INTO OUR PLAYGROUND DURING RECESS, APPROXIMATELY 1220, I WAS MONITORING MY STUDENTS AND PLAYING WITH THEM WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD SECOND GRADERS SCREAMING. WHEN I TURNED AROUND, I SAW THE PRE THE, UM, PERPETRATOR GRABBING A SECOND GRADER. I IMMEDIATELY RAN TO THIS LADY, UM, AND PUT MY HAND BETWEEN HER AND I SAID, EXCUSE ME MA'AM. UM, IS THIS YOUR CHILD? AND SHE SAID, YES, I'M HERE TO PICK HER UP. BUT I TOLD HER THAT SHE NEEDED TO GO TO THE FRONT OFFICE IF THAT WAS HER CHILD, UH, BECAUSE SHE CANNOT JUST COME AND TAKE HER. AND I DIDN'T LIKE THE WAY SHE WAS ACTING SO AGGRESSIVE TO THE STUDENT. UM, I COULD TELL THAT SHE WASN'T A HUNDRED PERCENT THERE AND MAYBE SHE WAS NOT BEING HONEST. SO I PANICKED. IN THE 26 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN TEACHING, I'VE NEVER HAD TO ENCOUNTER ANYTHING LIKE THIS. I'VE ALWAYS HAD AMAZING LEADERS AND AMAZING SUPPORT FROM THE DISTRICTS I WORK FOR, UH, INCLUDING HISD AMIGOS, PITA AND BAKER RIPLEY. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE, I DIDN'T FEEL SAFE. I WAS SCARED. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. WHAT DID, THIS LADY HAD A WEAPON. WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO US? I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, BUT PROTECT THE STUDENT THAT WAS BEING ATTACKED BY THIS LADY. THE LADY GRABBED MY HAND, HIT ME, AND AS I TOLD HER TO PLEASE STOP AND TO GO TO THE FRONT OFFICE. 'CAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO TELL HER. SHE THEN HIT MY OTHER ARM WHERE I WAS GRABBING MY PHONE AND I DROPPED IT AND IT CRASHED ON THE CONCRETE. THANK GOD. THE SECOND GRADE TEACHER FROM THE OTHER SIDE, EVERYBODY WAS [03:00:01] ALREADY INSIDE. THEY CAME IN AND HELPED AND OPENED THE DOOR, AND WE RUSHED INTO THE BUILDING. WHEN I WAS IN THE BUILDING, ALL OF A SUDDEN I REALIZED I WAS MISSING ONE STUDENT THAT HAD GONE TO THE RESTROOM. I COUNTED MY, MY KIDS AGAIN AND I WAS LIKE, OKAY, I'M MISSING SOMEONE. CAN SOMEBODY HELP ME? AND I OPENED THE DOOR AND I WAS GETTING READY TO GO OUTSIDE AND LOOK FOR MY STUDENT. AND THANK GOD SOMEBODY SAID, NO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO. THEY FOUND HER, SHE'S IN THE FRONT. UM, BUT THE LADY HAD ALREADY GRABBED HER AND PULLED HER. UM, FROM THAT DAY ON, MY, MY LIFE CHANGED COMPLETELY. AND I'M HERE TO GET HELP. I WOULD LIKE TO BUILD A FENCE. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. I'M SORRY? WHERE YOU SAID THIS HAPPENED IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR? YES. AND I WENT TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. WHICH AND WHICH SCHOOL DISTRICT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? IT'S A LEAF. ISD THE SCHOOL IS BEST ELEMENTARY. UM, I'VE ASKED HELP OR I'VE GONE TO THE PRINCIPAL, I'VE GONE TO THE SUPERINTENDENT. I'VE GONE TO GET HELP TO HELP US BUILD A FENCE. THE WHOLE PLAYGROUND IS OPEN. THERE'S NO FENCE. IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. WHAT'S REALLY SAD IS I'VE BEEN TEACHING THIS WHOLE TIME IN FRONT OF PROSTITUTES, WALKING IN OUR PLAYGROUND, UH, DRUG EXCHANGE. OKAY. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. I'M SORRY. ALL KINDS OF OTHER ISSUES. ONE SECOND. ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN POLL. THANK YOU, MA'AM FOR COMING. AND UH, THANK YOU. I'M SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH YOU. YOU SAID THIS HAPPENED AT BEST ELEMENTARY? YES, SIR. ON THE PROPERTY OF BEST ELEMENTARY? YES. ON THE, ON OUR PLAYGROUND DURING RECESS. AND SO THE FENCE WOULD BE ON THE PROPERTY AT THE SCHOOL. THEY HAVE TWO FENCES, ONE ON THE BACK AND ONE ON THE, ON, ON THE FRONT. BUT THE FRONT, IT'S OPEN BECAUSE IT'S CONSIDERED A PUBLIC PARK. BUT THAT'S WHERE WE, THAT'S WHERE WE PLAY ON THE SIDE, ON THE BACK OF THE SCHOOL. BUT THE BUT THE FENCE WOULD BE ON THE SCHOOL'S PROPERTY? YES. SO THE PLAYGROUND IS ON THE SCHOOL'S PROPERTY? YES. OKAY. SO THIS SEEMS LIKE A ALE ISD ISSUE, UM, THAT MY OFFICE WILL LOOK INTO WORKING WITH YOU TO, UH, COORDINATE WITH THEM. OKAY. THANK YOU. THE ATTENTION THAT THIS DESERVES SO THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY, UM, SEE WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO REPLACE THE FENCE OR PUT UP A FENCE. YES, THANK YOU. BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY HAD, THEY HAD, THEY COULDN'T DO IT BECAUSE IT WAS CD IT'S PART WAS PART OF THE CITY, BUT THEN OUR AREA IS JUST NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED, JUST AT LEAST OUR AREA, WHERE WE PLACE. SO THESE PEOPLE DON'T GO IN AND ATTACK ANYMORE. I WAS FORCED TO RESIGN BECAUSE I WAS SCARED. I WAS, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I HAD ASKED FOR HELP AND NOBODY WAS HELPING ME. AND I, MY STUDENTS TOLD ME, I PROMISED THEM WHEN MY PHONE BROKE, I SAID, I WILL NOT FIX MY PHONE INTO THIS. WHAT DID THIS, WILL YOU FINISH? COUNCILMAN POLL? THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU. AND I'M, I'M ONLY COMMENTING 'CAUSE I'M A FORMER TRUSTEE FOR ALEY FIVES D AND, UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO GET IN FRONT OF THE TRUSTEES THAT ARE DULY ELECTED AS WELL. BUT YOU KNOW, THAT'S A SPARK PARK AT BETTY BEST ELEMENTARY. SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE CITY SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP. UM, BUT SAFETY AND SECURITY IS ONE OF THE FIRST PRIORITIES OF THAT DISTRICT. AND THERE'S AN ALE POLICE OFFICER ON SITE AT EVERY ELEMENTARY ON CAMPUS, NOT OUT OUR SCHOOL. I'VE NEVER SEEN ONE ON, THERE'S A, A ALE POLICE OFFICER THAT SHOULD BE AT EVERY ELEMENTARY, UM, AFTER THE SCHOOL SHOOTINGS THAT HAPPEN AT, UH, UP NORTH. SO I THINK THAT YOUR, UM, I THINK YOUR ASK IS BEYOND REASONABLE TO HAVE THAT PARK PARK, BUT, UM, TO HAVE THAT FENCE. UM, BUT DO KNOW IN THAT AREA, THERE'S JUST A LOT, THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES. AND THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THERE'S BEEN AN ISSUE, UM, WITH THE ENVIRONMENT AND IMPACTING THOSE KIDS. AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO CONTINUE TO SOUND THE ALARM, BUT AGAIN, TO GET IN FRONT OF THOSE ELECTED TRUSTEES, UM, THAT HAVE, UM, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY PRIORITIES AS WELL. THEY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THOSE BABIES ARE JUST AS PROTECTED AND THE TEACHERS, RIGHT. SO NO ONE'S EVER IN A POSITION TO RESIGN BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE. SO WHAT DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD DO? BECAUSE I'VE HEARD THAT THEY'VE DONE IT BEFORE AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS, WELL, I THINK THE FIRST ASKED THE CITY TO FIX IT, BUT THEN THE CITY'S SAYING TO SAY, LEAVE. SO I'M, I'M KIND OF LIKE ASKING CAN EV BOTH UNITE AND MAKE THIS HAPPEN AS AS POSSIBLE? AND IT'S, IT'S, WE'VE UNITED BEFORE AND, AND BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLETT WOULD DEFINITELY HELP FACILITATE THAT. BUT I THINK ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS IS GETTING IN FRONT OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ACTUALLY HAVE JURISDICTION OVER THAT PROPERTY, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT. AND TO SHARE THAT STORY, UH, AND TO, TO SHARE YOUR CONCERNS. BECAUSE IF YOU, IF YOU'RE SHARING THIS CONCERN, I'M SURE THERE'S OTHER PARAPROFESSIONALS OR TEACHERS THAT HAVE SIMILAR AND I BROUGHT THE LETTERS. I WOULD LIKE, IF I, SOMEBODY WOULD LIKE TO, TO I UNDERSTAND. UNDERSTOOD THIS. WHY DON'T YOU WORK WITH COUNCILMAN P*****K. YES. AND IF THERE'S ANY ISSUES, THEN GIVE, THEN LET ME KNOW. GET BACK WITH ME, AND I THINK WE CAN WORK THIS OUT. THANK YOU. IN TERMS OF THE BEST. THANK YOU. PLEASURE. I APPRECIATE EVERY, EVERYONE, BUT DO WORK WITH COUNCILMAN POLLOCK'S OFFICE. YES. OKAY. SO I CAN GET YOUR INFORMATION BEFORE I LEAVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. OKAY. ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER. MICHELLE WILSON. MICHELLE WILSON IS HERE. [03:05:02] HELLO. THANK YOU. AND, UM, I APOLOGIZE. I HAVE TO BRING THIS TYPE OF INFORMATION TO THIS FORM. UH, BUT MY LIFE HAS BEEN TURNED UPSIDE DOWN. UH, I'M 54 YEARS OLD. I CAME TO TEXAS IN 2001. I PURCHASED MY HOME IN SPRING, TEXAS, UM, 2002. UH, I'M A REGISTERED NURSE, NURSE PRACTITIONER. UH, I'VE DONE EVERYTHING I'M SUPPOSED TO DO IN LIFE. PAY MY TAXES, PAY MY BILLS, UH, HARDWORKING. UM, I OBTAINED A, UM, AN MBA AT PRAIRIE VIEW AND ALSO A NURSE PRACTITIONER AT, UH, UT MB MAY OF 2018. UH, I WALKED OUT OF THE, UH, GAS STATION AND, UM, THIS CAR DROVE, DROVE PAST AND THREW ABU THERE WAS A BUNCH OF RED STUFF ON MY CAR. AND, UH, AT THE TIME I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF IT. I DID NOT SEE THE GENTLEMAN SPECIFICALLY, HOWEVER, I SAW THE VEHICLE, SO I COULD NOT ACCUSE THIS PERSON. UM, SO, UH, I DID REC, I DID REMEMBER THE VEHICLE. SO IN SEVEN MONTHS LATER, THIS IS GONNA SOUND CHOPPY BECAUSE I REALIZE I ONLY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME. UH, BUT MY, THERE'S SO MUCH, SO MUCH, UH, THAT HAS, HAS TRANSPIRED. ANYWAY, SEVEN MONTHS LATER, AS I'M DRIVING DOWN CYPRESSWOOD, UH, THIS, I SEE THIS VEHICLE, I SAID, IT LOOKS LIKE THE VEHICLE AS I'M GOING TRYING TO CATCH UP WITH THE VEHICLE, I HAVE THEM ON CAMERA AND WE PASS UP THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A POLICEMAN SITTING RIGHT THERE FROM PRECINCT FOUR. THIS, UH, GUY THREW THIS STUFF ON MY VEHICLE AGAIN. SO AT THIS TIME I HAD A LICENSE PLATE THAT I TOOK DOWN AND, AND I TOOK PICTURES OF IT, THE PERSON. AND SO WHEN I GOT HOME, I LOOKED UP THE PERSON BY THE PLATE'S NAME WAS FREDERICK COMER. SOMEBODY I DID NOT KNOW IT WAS A WHITE MALE, UH, THAT AT THAT TIME HE WAS LIKE 69, 70. I MADE A POLICE REPORT. UM, I'M A SINGLE WOMAN, BLACK WOMAN. I HAVE NO CHILDREN. I HAVE NO FAMILY HERE. I'VE ALWAYS DONE THE RIGHT THING IN MY LIFE. UH, THE ONLY THING I CAN MAKE OF MAYBE SOMETHING I SAID ONLINE, UM, UH, BECAUSE I AM ONE OF THESE PEOPLE THEY CALL PULL BLACK. HOWEVER, I DO NOT THREATEN ANYONE. I'VE NEVER PERSONALIZED ANY INFORMATION ONLINE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. UH, FIRST I WENT TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, PRECINCT FOUR. I DROVE MY VEHICLE WITH ALL THIS, UH, SUBSTANCE ON IT. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO GO HOME AND FILE A POLICE REPORT AND OR TO CALL THE POLICE. TWO, UH, FEMALE CAME TO MY HOME AND THEY TOOK DOWN THE, THE INFORMATION. AND LEMME JUST, LEMME JUST SAY MS. WILSON, FROM WHAT I'M HEARING THIS HAPPENED, UH, OFF CYPRESSWOOD. IT HAPPENED OFF OF CYPRESSWOOD, WHICH IS, I IT IS OUTSIDE THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT I ALSO HAVE A CONDO, WHICH IS WHERE I'VE BEEN SPENDING YOU NOW, RIGHT HERE, UM, WITHIN 10 MINUTES FROM THE MEDICAL CENTER. RIGHT? BUT, BUT THIS, BUT THIS HAPPENED OUTSIDE THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THAT PARTICULAR INCIDENT. BUT THIS IS ONGOING. THIS IS, I'VE BEEN, I AM BEING GANG STOPPED. UH, MY, UH, INCOME HAS BEEN AFFECTED. RIGHT NOW I HAVE RESIGNED FROM MD ANDERSON. UH, DUE TO THIS, I'VE BEEN HARASSED, INTIMIDATE, THREATENED. MY HOUSE HAS BEEN BROKEN INTO. I CONTACTED THE LBI WHEN I FOUND SOME ENCRYPTED, UH, STUFF ON MY COMPUTER. OKAY, MS. WILSON, I THINK WE GOT A LOT GOING ON RIGHT HERE. THERE'S A LOT GOING ON. THAT'S GREAT. YEAH. SO LET ME, UM, UH, RHONDA IS EX IS, IS EXCEPTIONAL WITH, UM, ASSISTING. AND SO, UM, THIS LADY RIGHT HERE, IF YOU WILL, GIVE HER YOUR INFORMATION AND SHE'LL MAKE SURE THAT, UM, SHE GETS IT TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE SO WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH YOU. BUT SHE'S THE EXCEPTIONAL ON THE WORKING ON SITUATION WHERE THERE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING, UH, FAR BETTER THAN, THAN WE ARE OURSELVES. SO SHE'S, IF THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, I'LL APOLOGIZE. I'VE HAD TO COME TO THIS FORM. NO, NO, NO. THERE'S, THERE'S NO REASON TO APOLOGIZE. MY PHONE IS HACKED ON MY COMPUTER. SO, NO, WE, WE ARE HERE. AND, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE, APPRECIATE. AND I THINK YOUR DISTRICT IS CLOSE TO COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON TOO. SO, WE'LL RHONDA, IF YOU THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME. NEXT SPEAKER. STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS, STAR SIX STEVE WILLIAMS, STAR SIX, STEVE WILLIAMS, SIX. NEXT SPEAKER. LY MONTIA. SS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. [03:10:01] I'M SORRY, I SAID GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, THE REASON WHY I'M HERE TODAY IS TO SPEAK ABOUT THE TEXAS CHILDREN HOSPITAL. UH, IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION WHEN I WENT TO TAKE MY DAUGHTER TO DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT. SHE HAS HAD BAD CONDITION SINCE SHE WAS A CHILD. NEUROFIBROMATOSIS, UH, CA THAT ANOTHER LADY WAS USING MY IDENTITY, IDENTIFYING HERSELF AS BEING ME. UH, MY EX-MOTHER-IN-LAW, SYLVIA, UH, LETA ENA, UH, WAS BASICALLY TAKEN ANDREA DEANNE CARDENA TO DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS WITHOUT MY CONSENT. UH, LEGALLY I HAVE, UH, WE HAVE HALF AND HALF, UH, CUSTODY. WE DIDN'T SIGN ANY MEDICAL POWER OF ATTORNEY. SO I'M HERE BEFORE, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, UH, MAYOR TURNER TO PLEASE ASK, UH, THE TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL TO CHECK IDS AND TO VALIDATE THAT, UH, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO SIGN ANY, UH, AND MAKE MEDICAL DECISIONS BECAUSE, UH, IF I WANNA HAVE, UH, BEEN AWARE OF THIS, UH, MY DAUGHTER WAS GONNA BE INDUCED. OKAY. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, LET ME, UH, LET ME GET WITH THE VICE MAIL PRO TEAM AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY, THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. ROBERT CHO IS NOT PRESENT. THAT COMPETES TO LIST OF SPEAKERS. SON OF A B***H. OH, SORRY. WE WAIT. I THINK HE WAS ON. WE STAND IN RECESS. OH, IS HE? OH, YOU ON THE LINE? IS HE IN PERSON? I THOUGHT HE WAS IN PERSON. I THINK HE'S ON THE LINE. OKAY. OKAY. MR. CHOKE, WE CAN, HELLO? YOU GONNA TAKE THAT ONE THERE? HEY, PARENTAL LEAVE. I'D LIKE TO OFFER, UH, SHARE SOME RESULTS OF SOME OF MY RESEARCH OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS. HARRIS COUNTY AND THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT IMPLEMENTED SUCH A POLICY LAST YEAR. THIS POLICY ALLOWS EIGHT WEEKS OF LEAVE. OTHER TEXAS CITIES, DALLAS, FORT WORTH, SAN ANTONIO, AND THE PROGRESSIVE HAVEN OF AUSTIN ALL ALLOW ONLY SIX WEEKS. SO I HAVE TO ASK, WHAT IS HOUSTON'S BIG HURRY TO OFFER? 13 WEEKS. IF THIS CITY WAS YOUR OWN BUSINESS, WOULD YOU DO SOMETHING? DO NOT DO SOMETHING MORE COMMON SENSE. LET ME SUGGEST THESE COMMON SENSE STEPS. TAKE A FEW WEEKS TO CONDUCT DEEPER RESEARCH WITH THE LEARNINGS AND THE RESEARCH. DEVELOP A POLICY MORE RESPECTFUL OF THE TAXPAYER. EXAMPLE. CONSIDER A PHASE IN OF A 12 WEEK POLICY OVER THREE TO FOUR YEARS, AND OFFER THIS BENEFIT WITH THE START OF THE 2023 FISCAL YEAR. WITH MY LAST FEW SECONDS, I WANNA SAY THE 11TH STREET PROJECT IS A REAL CLUSTER CIRCUS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE THAT INSIGHT. UM, WE STAND, WE STAND IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM DEPARTMENT. ITEM 11, HOPEWELL DESIGNS INK FOR PURCHASE AND DELIVERY OF A PANORAMIC DO SUMTER I RADIATOR IRRADIATOR SYSTEM FOR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY DIVISION. ITEM 12, VEGA AMERICA'S INC. FOR PURCHASE OF RADAR SENSORS FOR LIQUID LEVEL DETECTION AND WASTEWATER OPERATIONS FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS. ITEM 13, PIN CODE INC. FOR HYDROFLUORIC ACID CHEMICALS FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS. ITEM 14, KINETIC MOTOR WORKS LLC TO PROVIDE AND INSTALL VARIOUS CHEMICAL TANKS AND RECIRCULATING PUMPS FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS. ITEM 15, ORDINANCE ADDING ARTICLE 20, CHAPTER 28 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCE OF HOUSTON, TEXAS ESTABLISHING A MINIMUM BAIL BOND PREMIUM OR PAYMENT FOR SERIOUS VIOLENT OR SEXUAL OFFENSES DECLARING CERTAIN CONDUCT TO BE UNLAWFUL AND PROVIDING A PENALTY. THEREFORE, ITEM 16, ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 28 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCE TO HOUSTON, TEXAS TO ADD AN AMEND SECTIONS RELATING TO EXTERIOR SECURITY CAMERAS AND LIGHTING TO INCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY. ITEM 17, ORDINANCE SUBMITTING CHAPTERS 14 AND 34 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, HOUSTON, TEXAS RELATED TO THE ADOPTION OF PAID LEAVE FOR PRENATAL, PARENTAL AND INFANT WELLNESS. LEAVE SUPERSEDING OR REPEALING CERTAIN ORDINANCES CONTAINING FINDINGS AND OTHER PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE FOREGO SUBJECT. ITEM 18, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND CONOS ENERGY, L-L-C-D-B-A CONOS ENERGY CORPORATION FOR THE SUPPLY OF NATURAL GAS AND RELATED SERVICES. ITEM 19, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THIRD AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON SRO HOUSING CORPORATION. ITEM 20 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THIRD AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON HEALTH, INC. ITEM 21 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THIRD AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND AIDS FOUNDATION HOUSTON INC. ITEM 22, [03:15:01] ORDINANCE OF AUTHORIZING THIRD AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS OF HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY. ITEM 23 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND INSTITUTE OF SPIRITUALITY AND HEALTH ITEM 24 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA OF GREATER HOUSTON INC. ITEM 25, ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 16 2 5 9 IS AMENDED TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND CONDUIT PUBLIC HEALTH SOLUTIONS, INC. FORMERLY KNOWN AS CONSILIENCE SOFTWARE INC. ITEM 26, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND IMAGE STRAND INC. I'M 27 OR APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND SCO PUBLISHING INC. ITEM 28 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $3,515,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF PARKS AND RECREATION, DEDICATION, FUND, APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO ENTER A LOCAL AGREEMENT BUYING BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND HOUSTON PARKS BOARD LGC INC. ITEM 29 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION FOR GRANT ASSISTANCE TO THE STATE OF TEXAS THROUGH THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION. ITEM 30 ORDINANCE AWARDING I PROVING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE HARRIS CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH. AND IDD FOR THE CRISIS INTERVENTION RESPONSE TEAM PROGRAM ITEM 31, ORDINANCE AWARDING AND APPROVING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE HARRIS CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND IDD FOR CREATION AND OPERATION OF A CRISIS CALLED DIVERSION AND MOBILE CRISIS OUTREACH TEAM. RAPID RESPONSE PROGRAM. ITEM 32, ORDINANCE AWARDING AND APPROVING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE HARRIS CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH. AND IDD FOR THE CLINICIAN OFFICER REMOTE EVALUATION PROGRAM. ITEM 33 ORDERS. FINDING AND DETERMINING THAT PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY NO LONGER REQUIRE THE CONTINUED USE OF A MORE OR LESS 10 FOOT WIDE UTILITY EASEMENT OUT OF THE NORTH SIDE BUFFALO BIO SUBDIVISION SITUATED THE JOHN AUSTIN AUSTIN SURVEY. ABSTRACT ONE ITEM 34 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 61.0439 ACRES OF LAND TO EMERALD FOREST UTILITY DISTRICT. ITEM 35 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 5.505 ACRES OF LAND TO HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER FIVE, ITEM 36, MUNICIPAL SETTING DESIGNATION ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE USE OF DESIGNATED GROUNDWATER BENEATH A ATTRACTIVE LAND CONTAINING 86.658 ACRES, COMMONLY KNOWN AS 82 30 STEADMAN STREET, HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS ITEM 37 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PURCHASE AND SELL AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS SELLER AND FIFTH WARD REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY PURCHASER. ITEM 38, ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT OF LAWSUIT AND ASSOCIATED AMENDMENT TO THE INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT RELATING TO ALLENS CREEK RESERVOIR PROJECT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND BRAS RIVER AUTHORITY. ITEM 39 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THIRD AMENDMENT TO WATER SUPPLY CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND CITY OF AMBU. ITEM 40 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $498,750 AND NO CENTS OUT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND BROWN AND GAY ENGINEERS INC. THIS IS THE END OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF APRIL 12TH AND 13TH, 2022. STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM IN THE WORDS ALL FORMER CITY SECRETARY MS. ANNA RUSSELL. SHE ALWAYS SAID, DRIVE SAFE, DRIVE FRIENDLY, AND HAVE A NICE DAY. IN THE WORDS OF OUR CURRENT CITY SECRETARY, PAT JEFFERSON DANIEL, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED. HAVE A BLESSED AND FANTABULOUS DAY. LET'S GET STARTED. [RECONVENE] OKAY, SINCE WE ARE ALL BACK, UH, IN PERSON, UH, A LITTLE REDESIGN, UH, WE ARE GONNA GET STARTED AND THERE'S NO REASON FOR A ROLL CALL THIS MORNING. , YOU KNOW, , WE MUST ALL BE HERE, RIGHT? YEAH, WE ARE. WE ALL HERE PRESENT AND, AND ACCOUNTED FOR. SO, GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. AND, UH, JUST [MAYOR'S REPORT] A FEW COMMENTS BEFORE WE GET STARTED. UM, YOU KNOW, REDISTRICTING CONVERSATIONS WILL START VERY SOON, AND THE REDISTRICTING MEETING, THE REDISTRICTING MEETINGS, UH, ARE SCHEDULED, ARE BEING SCHEDULED, BUT I THINK [03:20:01] MOST OF THEM ARE SCHEDULED. SO STARTING NEXT WEEK, THE CITY OF HOUSTON WILL HOST A SERIES OF TOWN HALLS IN EACH CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT TO EXPLAIN THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS AND ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO GIVE INPUT TO THE CITY AND HOW THEY WANT THEIR DISTRICTS TO LOOK IN THE FUTURE. UH, THESE MEETINGS WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PERSON, UH, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT MEETINGS WILL FOLLOW THE REDISTRICTING AND DISCUSSION. SO WE ARE COMBINING THE TWO INSTEAD OF HAVING, YOU KNOW, TWO AND THREE TYPE OF MEETINGS. SO IT WILL BE REDISTRICTING AND CIP, UH, COMBINED. UM, UH, SO, AND IF THERE ARE SPECIFIC TOPICS THAT YOU ALL WOULD WANT US TO DISCUSS AT YOUR MEETINGS. 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, THE CIP IS PRETTY MUCH FOLLOWING THROUGH ON PROJECTS THAT ARE ALREADY ON THE BOOKS. IT'S NOT LIKE A LOT OF NEW PROJECTS. BUT IF THERE ARE SPECIFIC THINGS IN YOUR DISTRICT THAT YOU MIGHT WANT US TO DISCUSS, UH, WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS AT THESE MEETINGS, YOU KNOW, LET US KNOW AND THEN WE CAN COME PREPARED TO DISCUSS THOSE SPECIFIC ITEMS. OKAY? BUT IT'S GONNA BE DISTRICT IN FIRST AND THEN THE CIP MEETINGS AFTERWARDS, OKAY? IN THOSE SAME, IN THAT SAME MEETINGS. UH, BUT I WILL TELL YOU, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE, UM, MANY OF THE KEY DEPARTMENTS SETTING UP BOOTHS AT THE MEETINGS. SO POLICE, FIRE, DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, PARKS, LIBRARIES, UM, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC WORKS. THEY'LL, THEY'LL ALL BE THERE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AS IT RELATES. SO, AGAIN, IF THERE'S SPECIFIC THINGS THAT YOU WANT US TO COVER, THERE MAY BE SPECIFIC AREAS OF CONCERN IN THAT IN YOUR DISTRICT, AND WE WANT TO ADDRESS THOSE. SO JUST LET US KNOW AND WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL COME PREPARED FOR YOUR PARTICULAR DISTRICT. UM, LET'S SEE. I AM GOING TO BE, UM, UH, ATTENDING THE FUNERAL TODAY, UH, FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT SEVEN, UH, DEPUTY JENNIFER CHAVEZ, UH, WHO WAS KILLED WHILE TRYING TO STOP A SUSPECTED DRUNK DRIVER IN HARRIS COUNTY TOW ROAD LAST WEEK. UM, SO THAT FUNERAL IS TODAY, UNFORTUNATELY. LAST FRIDAY, THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE LAID TO ARREST DEPUTY DARREN AMEZ, UH, WHO WAS SHOT AND KILLED AFTER CONFRONTING THE GROUP THOUGHT TO BE STEALING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FROM HIS OWN TRUCK. WE WANNA CONTINUE TO LIFT UP, UH, HIS FAMILY, HIS WIFE, HIS CHILDREN, UM, AND WE WANT TO LIFT UP THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF, UM, OF CONSTABLE, UH, DE UM, DEPUTY JENNIFER CHAVEZ AS WELL. UH, SO PLEASE KEEP THEM IN YOUR PRAYERS. AND THEN ON A GENERAL NOTE, KEEP ALL OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, OFFICERS, WHETHER THEY'RE FOR WITH THE CITY, THE SHERIFF, THE COUNTIES, YOU NAME IT. UH, KEEP THEM ALL IN YOUR, IN IN YOUR PRAYER AS WELL AS THEIR COWORKERS. UM, NOW THIS IS NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELE TELECOMS WEEK. UH, THIS IS ALSO NATIONAL. UH, I KNOW CHIEF FINNER HAS BEEN OUT THANKING THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ANSWER THE CALLS, UH, FOR HELP WHEN PEOPLE CALL 9 1 1. UH, THEY ARE THE CALM VOICES AMIDST ALL THE CHAOS. SO WE CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE, UH, CALLERS. I MEAN THE, UH, THOSE WHO ARE, UM, MANNING OR, UH, STAFFING OUR 9 1 1 CENTERS. AND THEN, UH, THIS IS NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK AS WELL. HOUSTON'S 14 DAY, 14 DAY AVERAGE COVID-19 POSITIVITY RATE IS 3.5%. UH, LET ME ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY OF YOUR SHOTS, UH, TO PLEASE DO SO. PEOPLE WHO HAVE GOTTEN THE FIRST AND THE SECOND. APPRECIATE THAT. GET YOUR THIRD. SO, UM, YOU KNOW, GET YOUR FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD SHOT. SO LET ME ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO DO THAT. UM, THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON COS DID NOT MAKE IT TO THE FINAL FOUR, UM, THIS TIME, BUT NEXT YEAR I THINK THEY JUST WANTED TO SAVE THE GLORY FOR NEXT YEAR BECAUSE THE FINAL FOUR WILL BE HELD IN HOUSTON NEXT YEAR, 2023. YEAH. SO, UM, WHO KNOWS, WE COULD HAVE A UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS SOUTHERN SHOWDOWN, UH, IN THE, IN THE IN THE, IN THE FINAL FOUR NEXT YEAR, UM, THE, THIS FRIDAY, THE HOUSTON LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE WILL HOST THE FAN JAM TRUCK, AN INTERACTIVE POP POP-UP TRUCK AS IT ARRIVES IN HOUSTON TO PASS THE MEN'S FINAL FOUR HOST CITY TORCH FROM NEW ORLEANS TO HOUSTON FOR THE 2023 NCAA MEN'S FINAL FOUR DIVISION ONE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT. UH, SO THERE WILL BE ENTERTAINMENT GIVEAWAYS AND MORE. ALL THIS IS TAKING PLACE ON FRIDAY, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE GOOD FRIDAY. UM, WITH REGARDS TO THE HOUSTON ASTROS, YOU KNOW, THEY WON LAST NIGHT. UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WAS, WHAT, 42? FOUR AND ONE FOUR? WELL, THEY'RE FOUR AND ONE, BUT THEY WON LAST TWO TO ONE IS WHEN THEY WON LAST NIGHT. SO, YOU KNOW, I GOT MY LITTLE, UH, ASTRO CAP AND, UH, AND I LOVE THESE NEW JERSEYS. [03:25:02] I MEAN, I, I LOVE THESE JERSEYS. YOU KNOW, THE SPACE CITY? MM-HMM . NICE WITH YOUR NAME ON THE BACK SINCE I PLAY NUMBER 22, BUT THE 22 IS SIGNIFICANT ASTROS WORLD SERIES 2022, YOU KNOW, NOW THAT'S MY INTERPRETATION. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THEIR INTERPRETATION, BUT THAT'S MY INTERPRETATION. BUT THE SPACE CITY JERSEYS, I MEAN, THESE ARE VERY, VERY NICE JERSEYS. SO HATS OFF TO THE HOUSTON ASTROS, AND THEY ARE OFF TO A BLAZING START. UH, SO WHERE'S THE YOURS IS COMING, YOU KNOW, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WANTED THIS HAT. NO, NO. YOU CAN KEEP THE HAT. I JUST WANT . I GOT A HAT, YOU KNOW, BUT WE GOTTA, WE GOTTA MAKE A, A COWBOY HAT TO SET SPACE CITY, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW. SO, UH, EXCITED FOR THE ASTROS AND, UH, EVERY SINGLE YEAR, YOU KNOW, THEY SIMPLY COME TO COME THROUGH. SO I KNOW OPENING GAME WILL BE, UH, MONDAY, MONDAY NIGHT. MM-HMM . WILL BE THEIR OPENING GAME, UH, HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO LET'S, UM, UM, WANNA ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO GO OUT AND SUPPORT THE HOUSTON, THE HOUSTON ASTROS. AND THEN, UH, UM, OF COURSE THIS COMING FRIDAY, UH, IS GOOD FRIDAY, UH, FOR THOSE, FOR CHRISTIANS AND, UM, THOSE WHO WILL BE OBSERVING THAT. AND OF COURSE, UH, SUNDAY IS EASTER. UM, AND, UH, I OBSERVED GOOD FRIDAY. SO, UM, UH, THAT ON THAT DAY, YOU KNOW, I'M OUT WITH THE KIDDOS AND, AND, UH, CHASING THE EAST EGGS AND, AND ALL OF THAT GOOD STUFF. SO ENJOY, ENJOY YOUR, YOUR WEEKEND FOR THIS, UH, FOR THIS, THIS WEEKEND COMING. ALRIGHT. THAT DOES IT, THAT DOES IT FOR ME, UH, ON THE, UH, UM, MAYOR'S REPORT. UH, HAVING SAID THAT, IF WE'LL GET PREPARED TO TURN, TO TURN TO THE AGENDA. OH, YEAH, SHE WAS TALKING TO ME. [CONSENT AGENDA] ALL RIGHT, MADAM SECRETARY, LET'S TURN TO THE AGENDA UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY. ITEMS ONE THROUGH FOUR NEED A MOTION. CASTEX TAYLOR, MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON MOVED AND SECONDED ON ITEMS ONE THROUGH FOUR. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSE, AND GRANTED ON NUMBER ONE. UM, THIS IS A CONFIRMATION OF TRACY LATSON TO POSITION TWO OF THE HOUSTON ETHICS COMMISSION. UH, LEMME CONGRATULATE HER AND THANK HER FOR WILLING TO SERVE. TRACY, YOU'RE HERE. OKAY. IF YOU'LL COME UP AND KIND OF WAVE AT US, UH, THIS IS TRACY LATSON AND SHE'LL BE JOINING THE HOUSTON ETHICS COMMISSION. THANK YOU, TRACY, AND REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. OKAY. ON POSITION TWO, THESE ARE APPOINTMENTS TO THE HOUSTON ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL COMMISSION, UH, POSITION. AND IF YOU'RE HERE, IF YOU'LL STAND UP AND JUST COME FORWARD VERY BRIEFLY. POSITION TWO IS TANYA DEBO. POSITION FOUR IS RHONDA ELDA. SIX IS ELIZABETH, UH, WARD JACKSON. AND EIGHT IS, UH, STEVEN K. MCNEIL, IF YOU'RE HERE. ALRIGHT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH, UH, EACH ONE OF THEM ON POSITION THREE. UH, THIS IS, UH, LIBBY VIRA BLAND TO POSITION FIVE OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION APPEALS BOARD OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH, UH, LIBBY VIRA BLAND. AND THEN FINALLY ON POSITION FOUR, UH, THESE ARE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE REINVESTMENT ZONE, NUMBER 27, WHICH IS THE MONTROSE ZONE. AND IF YOU ARE HERE, YOU CAN STAND AND COME FORWARD. BRIEFLY. POSITION ONE WILL BE LISA W. HUNT. POSITION THREE IS JOE DOUGLAS. WELL, POSITION FOUR IS EUREKA GILKEY, AND POSITION SEVEN IS RAYMOND L. VALDEZ. OKAY. UH, COUNCILMAN KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING. UM, I JUST WANTED TO THANK ALL THAT SERVE ON THE MONTROSE TOURS, UH, FOR THEIR SERVICE. WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP, UH, WITH OUR TOURS. UH, THEY INVEST HEAVILY SIDEWALKS. WE HAVE A LOT OF JOINT PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING ON. I ALSO WANTED TO, UH, POINT OUT MANY OF THESE MAYOR REAPPOINTMENTS, BUT WE HAVE ONE NEW MEMBER, WHICH IS EUREKA GILKEY. UH, SO WE WELCOME HER TO THE TURS AND ARE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE HER SERVE. THANK YOU. GOOD DEAL. UH, VICE MAYOR PROTE, KASH TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO, UM, ADDRESS, UH, AND SAY THANK YOU TO TRACY LATSON, WHO IS, UM, BEING APPOINTED TO THE HOUSTON ETHICS COMMISSION, UM, FOR A TERM TO EXPIRE IN DECEMBER 31ST, 2023. IF WE CAN BE OF ANY [03:30:01] ASSISTANCE TO YOU IN THE DISTRICT K OFFICE, WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE. UM, PLEASE LET US KNOW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE AND COUNCILMAN VIN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK, UH, THOSE THAT ARE APPOINTED, UH, AND REAPPOINTED. AND I WANNA HIGHLIGHT EUREKA GILKEY, WHO'S DOING A FANTASTIC JOB AT PROJECT ROW HOUSES. SO I KNOW THAT SHE WILL BRING A LOT TO THIS, UH, PARTICULAR, UH, INVESTMENT ZONE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND THEN I FORGOT TO MAKE A NOTE 'CAUSE UM, ONE OF THE SPEAKERS CAME UP YESTERDAY IN REFERENCE TO, I THINK CONSTRUCTING A, BUILDING A FENCE AROUND BEST ELEMENTARY, UH, SCHOOL ON YESTERDAY, KIND OF LOOKING AT THAT. UM, I MEAN THAT IT DOES BELONG TO THE SCHOOL. SO IF A LEAF WANTS TO BUILD A FENCE, YOU KNOW, CITY HOUSTON IS NOT OBJECTING. THEY CAN, THEY CAN BUILD A, I LOOKED, IT DIDN'T, THE STORY DIDN'T QUITE MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME. BUT IF THEY WANT TO, IF BEST ELEMENTARY, LEMME JUST BE VERY CLEAR. IF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WANTS TO BUILD DEFENSE, THEY HAVE OUR PERMISSION. WE, WE RAISED, WE HAVE NO OBJECTIONS. BUILD DEFENSE. I JUST CAN'T LOCK IT BECAUSE I, I, I JUST WANT UNDERSTANDING THE STORY. UM, COUNCILMAN DIEGOS. YEAH, I, I, I THINK THE O THE OTHER ISSUE, MAYOR, IS THAT THEY WANTED IT TO BE A SECURED PLAYGROUND, BUT IT'S A SPARK PARK. AND BECAUSE IT'S A SPARK PARK, THE GATE OR THE, YEAH, THE GATE'S SUPPOSED TO REMAIN OPEN AFTER SCHOOL HOURS, RIGHT? UH, SO THAT WAY KIDS IN THE COMMUNITY CAN ACTUALLY GO AND ENJOY THE PARK ITSELF. SO I THINK THAT WAS ANOTHER ISSUE, IS THAT THEY JUST WANT IT SECURED. UH, BUT IF IT'S A SPARK PARK, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO LEAVE THE GATE OPEN AFTER HOURS. SO, AND, AND ON THE WEEKENDS, BUT PLAYGROUND FOR FOR THE KIDS? YEAH, FOR THE KIDS. SO THAT MIGHT BE ANOTHER ISSUE THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE CONCERNS ON. OKAY. WELL, I WAS JUST WONDERING 'CAUSE I, WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO. I MEAN, THE CITY DOES NOT OBJECT. OKAY. LEMME JUST PUT IT THAT WAY. THE CITY DOES NOT OBJECT. OKAY. ALRIGHT. I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT. UH, UM, MADAM SECRETARY, YOU CAN PROCEED UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY. ITEM FIVE HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED A MOTION FOR ITEM SIX, CAST CASTEX TATUM, MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON MOVED. AND SECOND ON ITEM SIX. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSING GRANTED UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS CATEGORY. ITEM 13 HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE. UM, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED, GRANTED. NEED A MOTION? I'M SORRY TO MOVE. SECOND ROBINSON. MOVE. AND SECOND IT. DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED UNDER THE ORDINANCES. CATEGORY ITEMS. MOVE FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ARE 15 THROUGH 17, 27 THROUGH 29. 31, 34, 36 AND 40. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 38. ADD. I NEED TO ADD 38. OH NO, 39, 39, 39, 39, 39, 38, 38 AND 39. NO, JUST 39. I'M GONNA READ 'EM AGAIN. LET TAKE IT OUT BEFORE WE VOTE ON THAT. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN. ARE HE NUMBERS REMOVED? 15, 16, 17, 27, 28, 29, 31, 34, 36, 38, 39, AND 40. OKAY, WE ALL HAVE IT? YEP. BECAUSE I KNOW WE NEED, WE MADE A FEW CHANGES HERE. WE ALL HAVE IT. OKAY. JUST NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE. DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSING GROUND [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] [03:35:02] ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEM FIVE NEEDS A MOTION CAST. MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON MOVED IN. SECONDED ON ITEM FIVE. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? AND GRANTED, ITEM 15 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. WE ON ITEM. UH, 15. UH, 13. 13. I'M 13. 13. OH, 13, SORRY. ITEM 13. NEEDS, NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX TATUM, MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON. IT'S MOVED IN. SECOND ITEM, ITEM 13. DISCUSSION. ITEM 13 HAS BEEN TAGGED BY COUNCILMAN KOSH. WOULD YOU SEND SOME, UH, ONE TO ME FROM PUBLIC WORKS TO TALK ABOUT THIS? SURE. FLOOR RIDE IN THE WATER? SURE. NOT A PROBLEM. SOMEONE FROM PUBLIC WORKS WILL VISIT WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THIR, UH, COUNCILMAN KU ON ITEM 13, ITEM 15 IS AN ORDINANCE TO SEE THE VOTE. WE ON ITEM 15, DISCUSSION ON 15, DISCUSSION ON 15. ITEM 15 IS BEING TAGGED BY MAYOR PROTE TAGGED AND BY, UH, COUNCILMAN KOSH MARTIN KASH. YES. YES. AND EVEN THOUGH THIS ITEM IS BEING TAGGED, LET ME JUST SAY THAT I'VE INSTRUCTED THE CITY'S REPRESENTATIVE AT THE HARRIS COUNTY MAYOR BOARD MEETING TODAY TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM. SO, UH, TO THE EXTENT THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN TODAY, THIS ITEM WILL BE VOTED ON, UH, NEXT WEEK. OKAY. AND LET ME ALSO SAY THAT THIS IS A PART OF THE ONE STRATEGY, UM, ONE SAFE HOUSTON STRATEGY. I KNOW OTHER PEOPLE MAY BE JUMPING ON IT, UH, BUT THIS IS A PART OF THE ONE SAFE HOUSTON STRATEGY, UH, THAT HAS BEEN PUT FORTH. SO, UM, THE ISSUE WILL BE DISCUSSED TODAY WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY, WHAT YOU CALL IT, BELL ADVISORY GROUP, BAIL BOND GROUP, OR WHATEVER IT IS, UM, UM, CITY'S REPRESENTATIVE WILL VOTE FOR. UM, AND THEN TO THE EXTENT IT DOES NOT PASS, UH, WE WILL BE DEALING WITH THIS NEXT WEEK. OKAY? UH, COUNCILMAN KU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY BAIL BOND BOARD IS THE, IS THE GOVERNMENT A BODY ESTABLISHED BY THE STATUTE TO, TO OVERSEE THESE BAIL MATTERS? AND, AND THAT'S THE PROPER PLACE AND VENUE BECAUSE THEY HAVE AN ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM AS WELL. SO WE, I DIDN'T SEE WHERE WE REALLY HAD ONE MAYOR, BUT IF IT'S GONNA PASS, IT NEEDS TO PASS THERE. IF THERE'S ANY RULING ON, ON THAT INDUSTRY, I JUST THINK WE WERE OUT OF ORDER BY DOING IT. BUT I AGREE. I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT IT UP BECAUSE IT, IT, IT GAVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO VENT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANKS. AND THAT, AND, AND THAT IS THE INTENT, INTENT, THE PROPER JURISDICTION FOR IT, OR THE PRIMARY JURISDICTION, LEMME JUST SAY IT IS FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY BAIL ADVISE BOARD. UH, BUT TO THE, IT DOES NEED TO HAPPEN. TO THE EXTENT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN, UH, THEN WE WILL DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE NEXT WEEK. SO IT WAS INTENTIONALLY PUT ON THIS AGENDA FOR TODAY, KNOWING THAT, THAT THE, THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY BILLBOARD WAS GONNA MEET TODAY. WE'LL SEE WHAT THEY DO. UH, AND MY HOPE IS THAT THEY WILL MOVE FORWARD. UH, BUT IF WE DON'T, I THINK VICTIMS ARE DEMANDING THAT WE DO. SO THAT'S, WE'LL WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS TODAY. OKAY. ALRIGHT, THEN NEXT ITEM. ITEM 16 ISN'T ORDINANCE, JUST NEED A VOTE TAG. WE ON ITEM 16, UM, THIS ITEM IS BEING TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. TAG CAY AND TAG. NO, I'M SORRY. CAN THEY, CAN THEY REMOVE THE TAG FOR DISCUSSION? YES. UM, I HEARD SEVERAL TAGS. COUNCIL CAINS, MOVING TAGS. WHO ELSE? THOMAS, ALCON, THOMAS AND ALCON. YOU ALL, ALL REMOVING YOUR TAGS? YES. YES, SIR. OKAY. VICE, UM, MAYOR PRO TEM, CAST TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO, UM, JUST KIND OF SPEND A, A LITTLE TIME TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND GIVING THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SOME CONTEXT OF, UM, THE CONVENIENCE STORE ORDINANCE AND THE CONVENIENCE STORE SECTION OF WHAT, WHAT WE ARE DISCUSSING IN ITEM 16. UM, BACK IN OCTOBER, UM, I STARTED WORKING WITH A RA, UM, AND, UH, HPD AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS ON THE CONVENIENT UPDATING THE CONVENIENCE STORE ORDINANCE. UM, WE WERE LOOKING AT THE BIG CONCERNS THAT RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAD WITH CONVENIENCE STORES IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND, YOU KNOW, WE COLLECTED A LIST FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE CONVENIENCE STORES IN THEIR DISTRICTS THAT WERE REAL NUISANCES, WHERE WE FIND THAT, UM, PEOPLE ARE LOITERING. UM, OUR STATISTICS, UH, FROM HPD SHOW THAT THERE WERE OVER 7,000 CRIMES AT CONVENIENCE STORES IN, UH, 2021. UM, AND [03:40:01] WHAT WE, UM, NAILED DOWN AS A, A STUDY AND FOCUS GROUP, UM, TO UPDATE OUR CONVENIENCE STORE ORDINANCE, UM, IS IN COMPARING OUR CONVENIENCE STORE ORDINANCES TO OTHER CITIES, CONVENIENCE STORE ORDINANCE, YOU KNOW, WE COULD DO SOME OUTSIDE LIGHTING. UM, WE COULD DO, UM, SOME ADDITIONAL CAMERAS ON THE OUTSIDE. OUR CURRENT CONVENIENCE STORE ORDINANCE DOES NOT REQUIRE CAMERAS ON THE OUTSIDE. UM, AND WE WANTED TO LOOK AT THE ISSUE OF LOITERING AND, AND CRIMES AND SUSPECTED DRUG DEALING THAT IS HAPPENING AT OUR CONVENIENCE STORES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND I KNOW THAT CAMERAS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THESE CONVENIENCE STORES COULD POTENTIALLY ALLEVIATE THAT TYPE OF NUISANCE IN OUR, IN OUR OUR CITY. UM, AND SO, UH, I KNOW WHEN THE ONE SAFE HOUSTON PLAN CAME OUT, UM, THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED, UM, FOR THE CONVENIENCE STORE ORDINANCE WAS BROUGHT IN AS PART OF THE, UM, SECURITY LIGHTING ORDINANCE. BUT I DON'T WANT US TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE WORK THAT WAS DONE. UM, PRIOR TO THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE THAT WE DISCUSSED, RESIDENTS WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE EXCESSIVE LOITERING AND CRIMES THAT WE HAVE AT OUR CONVENIENCE STORES. AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP SOLVE SOME CRIMES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I THINK THESE CAMERAS, UM, PLAY A VITAL PART IN, UM, IDENTIFYING PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN OUR CITIES. UM, WITH OVER 7,000 CRIMES HAPPENING AT OUR CONVENIENCE STORES, I THINK IF WE HAVE THIS TYPE OF FOOTAGE, IT COULD REALLY HELP US SOLVE THESE CRIMES. I DON'T KNOW ANY CRIMINAL THAT WANTS TO BE ON CAMERA OUTSIDE LOITERING AND POSSIBLY SELLING DRUGS AT A CONVENIENCE STORE AND CAMERAS HELP US SOLVE THESE CRIMES. UM, WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE GREATER RETAILERS ASSOCIATION. UM, WE HAD UNDERWRITERS IN OUR, IN OUR MEETINGS, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF LOWERING INSURANCE COSTS. UM, IF CONVENIENCE STORES HAVE CAMERAS, UM, IF THEY HAVE GOOD LIGHTING, IF THEY HAVE THEIR ATMS BOLTED DOWN, UM, THE COST FOR THEIR INSURANCE, THEY ARE GOING TO GET A BETTER RATE ON THEIR INSURANCE IN MOST CASES. AND SO, I DON'T WANT US TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE WORK THAT IS HAPPENING TO SOLVE CRIMES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE GREATER RETAIL ASSOCIATIONS. I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY FEEDBACK FROM THEM THAT THEY DON'T WANT THIS BECAUSE THIS HELPS THEIR BUSINESSES TO BE SAFE AND IT HELPS THEIR CUSTOMERS TO REMAIN SAFE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO I APPRECIATE THIS BEING A PART OF THE ONE SAFE HOUSTON PLAN. UM, BUT I, I DON'T WANT US TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD IN REFERENCE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS WHO CONSTANTLY COMPLAIN ABOUT THE CONVENIENCE STORES AND THE LAUTERING AT THE CONVENIENCE STORES. I MEAN, I'VE GOT A LIST FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE STORES IN THEIR DISTRICTS THAT PEOPLE CONSTANTLY CALL ABOUT AND COMPLAIN AT THE CONVENIENCE STORES. SO I HOPE THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF, UM, HAVING THESE CAMERAS, ADDITIONAL LIGHTING, UM, AND, AND WHAT WE'RE ASKING TO DO TO HELP SOLVE SOME OF THESE CRIMES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 7,000 CRIMES AT CONVENIENCE STORES IS A LOT, THAT IS A LOT FOR HPD TO HANDLE. UM, IT IS A LOT OF TIME THAT THEY ARE SPENDING TO TRY TO SOLVE THESE ISSUES. AND, UM, WE CAN HELP BY REQUIRING THIS. THE COST OF CAMERAS HAVE COME DOWN. UM, MAYOR, I HOPE THAT WE WOULD LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES FOR, UM, SOME FEDERAL FUNDING FOR SOME GRANTS. UM, BUT I DO THINK THAT THE COST OF CAMERAS HAVE COME DOWN SO IT WOULD NOT BE COST PROHIBITIVE, UM, FOR THESE BUSINESSES. AND I THINK THE SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS AND, UM, THEIR EMPLOYEES WOULD BE WORTH PUTTING THESE CAMERAS IN THIS ADDITIONAL LIGHTING IN THESE AREAS. WELL, AND I THANK YOU. AND BASED ON THE WORK THAT YOU AND OTHERS HAVE DONE, THAT'S WHY IT'S INCLUDED IN THE ONE SAFE HOUSTON. THE REALITY IS, IS THAT WE HAVE HAD SHOOTINGS AND PEOPLE KILLED IN AND AROUND, NOT JUST THE CONVENIENCE STORES, GAS STATIONS, BARS, AND OTHERS IN THE PARKING LOT OUTSIDE. THESE CAMERAS ARE NOT TO BE LOOKING INSIDE. IT'S PUBLIC FACING. IT'S PUBLIC FACING. AND THEN EVERY TIME AN INCIDENT HAPPENS, THEY'RE CALLING THE POLICE AND IT'S AFTER THE FACT. BUT EVEN THEN, WHEN YOU CALL THE POLICE AND WE ARE TRYING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS, THE FOOTAGE OF THE PUBLIC FACING WOULD BE HELPFUL IN SOME OF THE PROBLEMS. AND I'VE HEARD FROM PEOPLE REPEATEDLY [03:45:01] AND EVEN FROM HPD AND POLICE CHIEF ABOUT PEOPLE LAING AROUND THESE STORES AND OTHER LOCATIONS SUCH THAT PEOPLE DON'T, THE THE PEOPLE WHO WANT, WHO NEED THE SERVICES OF THE, OF THE BUSINESSES, THEY DON'T EVEN WANNA GO INSIDE. THEY DON'T WANNA GO INSIDE. AND SO, UM, UM, WE'VE TAKEN ALL OF THAT INTO ACCOUNT. IT IS PUBLIC FACING AND THE COST OF THIS TECHNOLOGY IS NOT EXPENSIVE. IT'S NOT EXPENSIVE ANYMORE. BUT LEMME TELL YOU WHAT IS EXPENSIVE, WHEN PEOPLE GET VICTIMIZED AND SOMETIMES KILLED, AND IF WE SAY WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT ADDRESSING CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY, THEN THERE NEEDS TO BE A HOLISTIC STRATEGY. AND IT NEEDS TO BE PREVENTIVE AND NOT JUST REACTING TO IT. AND IF CRIMINALS KNOW THAT THESE CAMERAS ARE UP AND, AND AROUND, I HOPE IT WILL SERVE AS A DETERRENT, UH, TO THAT. SO WHAT WE HAVE TRIED TO DO IS NOT JUST DEAL WITH JUST ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE, BAIL BONDS, FOR EXAMPLE, BUT THE ATTEMPT IS TO PUT FORTH A HOLISTIC APPROACH. AND AGAIN, WE WERE VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT SAYING PUBLIC FACING BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE CRIMES ARE HAPPENING IN THE PARKING LOT. AND THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO BE ON CAMERA ARE THE PEOPLE WHO COMMITTING THE CRIMES ARE THINKING ABOUT THE COMMITTING THE CRIMES. NOW, I, I HAVEN'T HEARD NOW THEN PEOPLE MAY HAVE CONTACTED MY STAFF, BUT NO ONE HAS CONTACTED ME AND SAID, NO, I'M NOT HEARD FROM ONE SINGLE BUSINESS THAT HAS CALLED ME AND SAID, MAYOR, NO, NOT ONE. NOW MAYBE THEY CHOSE NOT TO COME TO ME. MAYBE THEY'RE TALKING TO OTHER PEOPLE, , , THEY DON'T WANNA COME HERE. THEY DON'T. MAYBE THEY, MAYBE THEY'RE TALKING TO OTHER PEOPLE, BUT I'M OUT AND ABOUT AND NO ONE HAS COME UP TO ME AND SAID, MAYOR, THIS WOULD BE TOO EXPENSIVE. AND I WILL TELL YOU THE FEEDBACK FROM THE GREATER RETAILERS ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN, UH, THANK YOU BECAUSE THIS HELPS OUR BUSINESS. UM, SO I, I HAVEN'T HAD ANY NE NEGATIVE FEEDBACK FROM THE, UM, CONVENIENCE STORE OR, OR, UM, OWNERS IN THIS AREA ABOUT HAVING THIS ADDITIONAL CAMERA AND LIGHTING BECAUSE THEY WANT THEIR BUSINESSES TO BE SAFE AS WELL. SO, UM, IF, IF WE CAN PROVIDE THEM WITH SOME POTENTIAL COST SHARING FOR CAMERAS, WHICH I DON'T THINK ARE GONNA BE COST PROHIBITIVE. UM, AND I KNOW THAT FOR A FACT BECAUSE WE'VE PUT CAMERAS UP IN THE DISTRICT, UM, FOR ILLEGAL DUMPING. BUT I THINK THAT WE CAN ALSO, UM, LOOK AT SOME POTENTIAL COST SHARING IF NEEDED, IF IT IS A HARDSHIP. BUT I DON'T WANT US TO GET AWAY FROM THE INTENT, WHICH WAS TO HELP SOLVE CRIMES. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. AND I'M, AND IT ALSO INCLUDES BARS AND CLUBS BECAUSE A LOT OF THIS STUFF IS TAKING PLACE IN THE PARK AND LOTS NOT OKAY. BUT AGAIN, PUBLIC FACING IS, PUBLIC FACING IS, UM, THAT'S THE, UM, THAT'S WHAT IT'S CALLED FOR COUNCIL MAYOR. I DON'T KNOW WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO HAVE A CAMERA, UH, FOOTAGE AFTER AN ACT, AFTER A SERIOUS CRIME. UH, SO I I I CERTAINLY FAVOR THAT. I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE ULTRA VIRUS IN THE SENSE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE OUTSIDE OF OUR SCOPE AND ENFORCING HOW WE'RE GONNA ENFORCE THIS. MAY I ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY WHAT ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM IS AVAILABLE? SURE. WHAT, WHAT, HOW ARE WE GONNA ENFORCE THIS ON THESE, UH, CONVENIENCE STORES AND SEXUAL ORIENTATED BUSINESSES? WELL, THAT, THAT'S REALLY GONNA BE UP TO VARIOUS WAYS THAT HPD CAN DO IT. BUT ONE OBVIOUS WAY IS THAT IF THERE IS A CRIME OR REPORT AND, UH, THERE IS NO CAMERA THERE, THEN THEY'RE IN VIOLATION OF THE ORDER. AND IT WOULD BE A, A CITATION TO MUNICIPAL COURTS. SO, SO THEY'D WRITE EM A CITATION? YES. WOULD WOULD THIS ALSO BE A REQUIREMENT FOR THEIR OCCUPATIONAL, UH, YOU KNOW, TO TO TO TO BE OCCUPATION? THE OCCUPATIONAL, UH, PERMIT? NO. AT, AT THIS TIME IT ISN'T. AND THAT MAY DEPEND ON WHAT, WHAT WE'RE PERMITTED TO DO UNDER THE OCCUPATION CODE. UM, I, I'D ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT SINCE 2008 WE HAVE HAD A, UH, SECURITY CAMERA ORDINANCE INSIDE FOR CONVENIENCE STORES THAT HAS BEEN ACCEPTED AND WAS SUPPORTED, UM, BY THE CONVENIENCE STORES WITH A LOT OF UNANIMITY. OKAY. AND, UM, UH, HAVE, HAVE WE TALKED ABOUT PERHAPS, UH, HOW WE MIGHT DO THESE PEOPLE, WILL, WILL THEY GET POSSIBLY A, A REDUCTION ON THEIR CITY TAXES IF THEY DO IT? OR IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP THEM IF THEY CAN'T [03:50:01] AFFORD IT? YOU, I MEAN, I, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT, UH, SOME OF THESE BUSINESSES, I, I KNOW A CONVENIENCE STORE. MY AUNT USED TO OWN ONE AND, AND, UH, EVERYBODY THOUGHT SHE WAS RICH, BUT SHE REALLY WASN'T . SO, I MEAN, IS, IS THERE, AND I JUST HEARD, I, OUR VICE MAYOR PRO TEM SAY IT'S NOT COST PROHIBITIVE. I BOUGHT CAMERAS AND I KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT VERY EXPENSIVE. SO, BUT, UH, BUT MAYBE MAINTAINING, YOU KNOW, HAVING SOME KIND OF A, A MAINTENANCE, UH, PRO PROBLEM WITH KEEPING ALL THE, THE TAPES OR THE BACKUP ON THIS. UH, WE DON'T HAVE AN ADOPTED PLAN AT THIS TIME THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WILL CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THINGS SUCH AS FEDERAL GRANTS. YOU KNOW, OFTEN THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNDS. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, AND I WOULD, UM, UH, I I'D LIKE TO TO KNOW IF, IF, IF THAT THE, UH, THE OWNERS OF THESE BUSINESSES, UH, WILL THEY HAVE A TIME SCHEDULE THAT THEY HAVE TO INSTALL THEM 90 DAYS, DAYS? IS THEIR GRANDFATHER, IS THERE A GRANDFATHER CLAUSE? 90 DAYS, 90 DAYS FROM THE UNITED, WILL ANY OF 'EM BE GRANDFATHERED IN BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY A BUSINESS? NO. OKAY. SO HOW WILL WE NOTIFY THEM? UM, WHEN WE PASS THIS ORDINANCE? THE MEDIA'S ALL HERE . I DON'T WANNA HAVE TO SEND ALL THOSE LETTERS. RIGHT. AND, UH, FROM TIME TO TIME, UM, YOU KNOW, MAYOR WILL BE SHOWING UP SAYING THAT, LEMME TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR CAMERAS. AND IS IT, AND THE CAMERAS MUST WORK. YEP. OKAY. LEMME JUST PUT IT UP. THEY HAVE TO BE WORK, UH, HAVE TO WORK AND THEY HAVE TO PUT FORTH A, A, UM, WHAT YOU CALL IT, UM, UM, IT HAS TO BE CLEAR, CAN BE FUZZY, UM, UM, UH, FOOTAGE, SO TO SPEAK. WELL, YOU KNOW, MAYOR, THE, THE, THE GREAT IMPORTANCE OF OF THIS WAS REALIZED ON CULLEN STREET, RIGHT AFTER YOU BECAME MAYOR, WHEN THERE WAS A SHOOTING THERE. AND, AND WE ACTUALLY GOT TO SEE THE SHOOTINGS A PART OF IT, RIGHT? FROM, FROM THE, THE CAMERAS FROM THAT, UH, SERVICE STATION OR CONVENIENCE STORE. SO, WELL, LEMME TELL YOU THE, THE SIMPLE, THE SIMPLE MESSAGE IS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING, HARDWORKING, NEEDING TO GO TO THE STORE, WANTING TO GO TO A CLUB, AND BOY ENJOY THEMSELVES, NO PROBLEMS. BUT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE A CRIMINAL INTENT, THE MESSAGE THAT WE ARE, WE ARE SENDING IS THAT WE ARE NUMBER ONE, WE WANNA PREVENT YOU FROM DOING IT. AND NUMBER TWO, WE'RE COMING AFTER YOU. IT'S JUST A SIMPLE MESSAGE. WE'RE NOT PLAYING WITH YOU ANYMORE. WE'RE NOT PLAYING WITH YOU. AND WE ARE NOT JUST GOING TO RELY ON POLICE. 'CAUSE SEE, UP TO THIS POINT, WE ARE RELYING ON POLICE TO DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN'T COVER, UH, 640 SQUARE MILES. SO IF THEY NEED ADDITIONAL EYES AND EASE, AND THAT'S THE TECHNOLOGY, THEY CAN'T BE EVERYWHERE. NOW, I DO GET CALLS FROM, UM, STORES AND, AND OTHER BUSINESSES SAYING, MAYOR, CAN YOU SEND POLICE OUT? UH, BECAUSE WE ARE HAVING THESE PEOPLE HERE, OUT HERE AND THEY'RE ING OUR CUSTOMERS, THEY WANT US TO SEND THE POLICE OUT, BUT WE CAN'T SEND THEM OUT TO EVERY SINGLE PLACE. BUT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN A CRIMINAL INTENT, THE MESSAGE FROM THE CITY IS VERY CLEAR. WE'VE HAD ENOUGH AND WE ARE GONNA UTILIZE EVERY AVAILABLE RESOURCE IN ORDER TO PREVENT CRIMES AND TO SOLVE THEM. BUT WE DON'T WANT YOU COMMITTING CRIMES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. UH, I'M SORRY. UM, CO COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILMAN KNOX, SORRY. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND NO ONE KNOWS THE VALUE OF VIDEO SURVEILLANCE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT THAN ME. NO ONE KNOWS MORE ABOUT THAT THAN ME. UH, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA THAT WE HAVE SURVEILLANCE EVERYWHERE. BUT MY CONCERN IS THAT WE'RE LIMITING THIS REQUIREMENT TO FIVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF BUSINESSES. THE ARGUMENTS THAT YOU MAKE, WHY WE WANT TO DO THE VIDEO SURVEILLANCE ON THIS BUSINESS ALSO APPLIES TO APARTMENT COMPLEXES, GROCERY STORES, AND ANY OTHER BUSINESS. AND I THINK IF OUR INTENT HERE IS TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON CRIME, THIS ORDINANCE IS LIMITING. AND WE PROBABLY SHOULD MAKE IT A REQUIREMENT FOR EVERY BUSINESS IN HOUSTON TO DO THIS NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF BUSINESS YOU ARE. AND SO I THINK THIS IS BASICALLY PICKING OUT BUSINESSES THAT SOME WOULD CONSIDER DISTASTEFUL OR UNWANTED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT IF OUR REAL PURPOSE IS TO FIGHT CRIME AND, AND CONDUCT THE SURVEILLANCE AND PROVIDE THESE TOOLS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, THIS ORDINANCE DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH. I WOULD BE, I WOULD MORE LIKELY VOTE FOR SOMETHING THAT APPLIED TO EVERY SINGLE BUSINESS IN HOUSTON. AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY. WE HAVE, WE HAVE OCCUPANCY PERMITS THAT ARE REQUIRED OF EVERY STRUCTURE IN HOUSTON. AND THE REASON WE HAVE THOSE OCCUPANCY [03:55:01] PERMITS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE, WHEN THEY ENTER A BUILDING, KNOW THAT THAT BUILDING IS SAFE ENOUGH TO OCCUPY. WELL, WE'RE TALKING PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES HERE. THIS NEEDS TO BE CHANGED TO INCLUDE EVERY BUSINESS EVERYWHERE IN HOUSTON. UM, AND UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, I, I, I'M, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME, SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT. IT JUST LOOKS LIKE SOME REWORDING, UH, IS NECESSARY. SO IF I'D, IF THAT'S OUR GOAL IS TO ENLIST OR REQUIRE BUSINESSES TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY, THEN I THINK THAT SHOULD APPLY TO APARTMENT COMPLEXES, GROCERY STORES, NAIL SALONS, STRIP CENTERS, EVERYBODY. 'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF CRIME, NOT JUST THAT OCCURS IN THESE LOCATIONS, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF CRIME OCCURRING IN APARTMENT COMPLEXES. BELIEVE IT. PUBLIC AREAS OF APARTMENT COMPLEXES. WE HAVE PEOPLE GETTING MUGGED AT GROCERY STORES, ROBBED AT GROCERY STORES. UM, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER OTHER THING THAT HAVE DIFFICULTY WITH IS, SO YOU HAVE A BAR AT THE END OF A STRIP CENTER THAT'S REQUIRED TO HAVE A CAMERA, AND THEN TWO OR THREE DOORS DOWN, YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, BRENDA'S NAIL SALON OR WHATEVER, THEY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A CAMERA. BUT LET ME PROMISE YOU THIS, IF THERE'S A CRIME THAT OCCURS IN FRONT OF BRENDA'S NAIL SALON, THE POLICE ARE GONNA BE OVER AT THE BAR TRYING TO SEE IF THAT CAMERA GOT ANYTHING. THAT'S RIGHT. SO THAT MEANS THE BAR OWNER HAS TO, TO CARRY THE EXPENSE OF PROVIDING SECURITY FOR THE ENTIRE STRIP CENTER. WHY DON'T WE REQUIRE THE STRIP CENTER OWNER TO PROVIDE CAMERAS FOR EVERYBODY IN THAT, IN THAT PARKING LOT? SO THERE'S, I THINK WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE. AND, UM, IT'S A GREAT IDEA. I'M ALL FOR THE SURVEILLANCE OF, UH, BAD GUYS AROUND PEOPLE'S BUSINESSES AND PROPERTIES. BUT, UH, I THINK IF WE'RE GONNA BE BOLD AND MAKE THIS KIND OF STAND, WE SHOULD GO STEP ON OUT THERE AND DO THE WHOLE THING. AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THIS CHANGED TO INCLUDE ALL BUSINESSES IN HOUSTON. THANK YOU. AND I APPRECIATE THAT COUNCILMAN KNOX. BUT LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IN MY 30 YEARS OF BEING A PUBLIC SERVANT IN THE LEGISLATION. AS MAYOR, IF YOU SAY NO, IF YOU SEEK THE PERFECT AT THE EXPENSE OF DOING SOMETHING GOOD, YOU WILL END UP WITH NOTHING. OKAY? AND THE POINT IS, THERE ARE SOME WHO MAY SAY, WE'VE GONE TOO FAR, AND THERE ARE SOME WHO SAY, WE HAVEN'T GONE FAR ENOUGH. AND THEN YOU END UP VOTING FOR NOTHING AND YOU HAVE NOTHING. I'LL NEVER FORGET WHEN WE WERE IN THE LEGISLATURE VOTING ON THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM, THERE WERE SOME ON ONE SIDE SAID WE WERE GOING TOO FAR. THERE WERE SOME ON THE OTHER SIDE, SAID WE DIDN'T GO FAR ENOUGH. SO WHAT A GROUP OF LEGISLATORS DECIDED, THIS IS GOOD. WILL EVERYBODY AT LEAST AGREE THAT THIS IS GOOD? AND TO THE EXTENT WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT THIS IS GOOD, IT'S NOT PERFECT, BUT IF WE WAIT ON THE PERFECT, WE WON'T DO ANY GOOD. SO LEMME JUST SAY THIS, THIS IS NOT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT, THIS IS NOT BEING PRESENTED AS THE PERFECT ORDINANCE. IT IS BEING PRESENTED AS A GOOD ORDINANCE, AND IT'S STRATEGICALLY IDENTIFYING WHERE MUCH OF THE CRIME IS BEING COMMITTED. IT DOESN'T COVER EVERY, EVERY AREA, BUT IT DOES COVER STRATEGICALLY WHERE MUCH OF THE CRIME IS BEING COMMITTED. SO LET'S NOT, LET'S NOT DELAY THE GOOD, SEEKING THE PERFECT AND END UP WITH NOTHING BECAUSE IN THAT CASE, THE PEOPLE LOSE. COUNCIL MEMBER MCMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I, I THINK SOME OF THE FEEDBACK FROM COLLEAGUES IS HELPFUL, BUT WOULD'VE ALSO BEEN HELPFUL AT THE START OF THE CONVERSATION WHEN VICE MAYOR PROTO CASTEX TATUM HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR SO LONG, SHE HAS REACHED OUT TO EVERY OFFICE ASKING FOR LOCATIONS FOR CONVENIENCE STORES. THERE IS NO SECRET THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS. AND MAYOR, YOU LAID OUT THE PLAN IN YOUR ONE SAFE HOUSTON PLAN. IT WAS DISCUSSED AT PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE LAST WEEK. THERE WERE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT INPUT. SO I WANT TO JUST PAUSE. I KNOW THE ITEM'S BEEN TAGGED, BUT I WANTED TO PERSONALLY THANK VICE MAYOR PRO TEM FOR HER COLLABORATION, HER DILIGENCE, HER THOUGHTFULNESS, AND HER RESPONSIVENESS. AND MAY ARE YOU INCORPORATING THAT INTO ONE SAFE HOUSTON? UM, I'M, I'M SIMPLY TAGGING THIS FOR CLARIFICATION OR JOINING THE TAG BECAUSE, UM, PER PER LEGAL, THERE WAS ONE MORE ASSOCIATION THAT THEY NEEDED TO MEET WITH, AND THAT MEETING GOT BUMPED TO TODAY. SO WE SIMPLY WANT TO PROVIDE, UM, THAT ADDITIONAL TIME TO GET THAT LAST ASSOCIATION IN TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS ON BOARD. BUT I THINK THAT THIS IS A TERRIFIC ITEM. UH, AND AGAIN, I THINK FEEDBACK IS VERY HELPFUL AND COLLABORATION IS VERY HELPFUL. BUT AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER P. THANK [04:00:01] YOU, MAYOR. UM, AS THE VICE MAYOR PRO TEM SAID, IF THERE'S GRANTS AVAILABLE, UM, THAT WE CAN OFFER TO BUSINESSES, BECAUSE A LOT OF BUSINESSES ARE STILL STRUGGLING. AND I KNOW THE COST FOR CAMERAS ISN'T MUCH, BUT IT'S A LOT TO A BUSINESS THAT'S STRUGGLING. SO ANY GRANTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE OR IF WE CAN WORK WITH OUR MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS, MAYBE TO HELP WITH SHARE COSTS. I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL FOR THE BUSINESSES. UM, AND ANOTHER CONCERN I HAVE TOO IS OFTENTIMES WHEN OUR HOMEOWNERS HAVE RING CAMERAS OR RING DOORBELLS, UM, AND THERE'S A CRIME COMMITTED, A LOT OF TIMES HPD ISN'T EVEN TAKING THAT VIDEO EVIDENCE. AND SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE IF WE'RE DOING THIS AND THERE'S A CRIME COMMITTED AT A CONVENIENCE STORE SOMEWHERE THAT'S SUPPOSED TO HAVE A CAMERA, THAT HPD IS ACTUALLY GOING TO TAKE THIS EVIDENCE AND USE IT. OTHERWISE, THERE'S NO POINT TO DO ANY OF THIS. SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE THAT ADDED STEP OF ACTUALLY TAKING THAT INFORMATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU. JUST TO MENTION, UH, MY POINT ABOUT THE TAG, IT'S NOT IN TOTAL SUPPORT OF CONVENIENCE STORES, AND I CAN LIST THEM BY HAND, BUT IN MY DISTRICT, I HAVE AFTER HOURS GAME ROOMS, STRIP CLUBS, I GOT IT ALL. AND MANY OF THEM ARE NOT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ENGLISH AS A FIRST LANGUAGE. AND SO I NEED A HEAD, I NEED A HEAD START TO GET OUT TO THE COMMUNITY TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING AND WHAT THE EXPECTATION IS. I THINK IT DEFINITELY WOULD BE HELPFUL, AND THEY'LL DEFINITELY HAVE SOME SUPPORT, BUT THERE'S DEFINITELY SOME QUESTIONS THAT I WANNA BE ABLE TO BRING BACK, UM, BEFORE THIS COMES BACK ON THE AGENDA AGAIN, TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS, ALL OF THOSE BUSINESSES THAT ARE THERE, THAT THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TECHNOLOGY WHEN WE SWITCHED TO, UM, ONLINE FOR FOOD, SOME OF THOSE RESTAURANTS AND BARS. SO JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE READY AND PREPARED TO, UM, FOR THE 90 DAYS. SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE POINT OF MY TAG. THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILMAN MAYOR, MS. SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND CERTAINLY WE HAVE A LOT OF CONVENIENCE STORES IN DISTRICT D, AND I HAD AN OCCASION JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. UH, I'M NOT ONE THAT'S, UH, AFRAID TO, TO MOVE AROUND MUCH, BUT I WAS COMING FROM THE MEDICAL CENTER MAYBE ABOUT NINE OR 10 IN THE EVENING. AND I HAD A FRIEND WHO USED TO LIVE IN HOUSTON, UH, WHO RECALLS DAYS WHEN WE COULD WALK INTO THE U TOTEM AND THE DIFFERENT STORES. UH, I KNOW I DATED MYSELF ON THAT, BUT, UM, SHE WANTED TO STOP AT A CONVENIENCE STORE TO GET SOME ICE. AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT I REALLY HAD TO GIVE IT SOME THOUGHT. UH, IT WAS, UH, NOT WELL LIT. AND, UH, IT JUST REALLY GAVE ME PAUSE. AND I ACTUALLY WATCHED AND LOOKED, UH, WITH DILIGENCE WHILE I WAS THERE. I ALSO HAVE A CONSTITUENT WHO CONTACTS ME REGULARLY BECAUSE HIS SISTER WAS MURDERED AT A CONVENIENCE STORE. AND SO I'M VERY WELCOME FOR ANY SECURITY ME MEASURES. BUT I'M ALSO GONNA HAVE TO EX EXPAND ON, UH, WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX SAID SOME YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A, A GENTLEMAN, ATTORNEY PERRY OL, WHO REALLY HAD A STRONG PUSH FOR CAMERAS IN APARTMENT COMPLEXES. AT THE TIME, I WAS THE EDUCATION CHAIR OF THE HOUSTON BRANCH OF THE NAACP, AND WE RELATED THAT TO CHILDREN AND THE ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY ARE BEING RAISED IN, IN THESE, UH, PLAGUED CRIME PLAGUE COMMUNITIES IN THESE APARTMENT COMPLEXES. SO, A AGAIN, I DO AGREE WE HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE, AND WE KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT PERFECT, BUT I WOULD ALSO LIKE FOR US TO LOOK AT, UH, APARTMENT COMPLEXES, UH, BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN ARE BEING RAISED IN THESE AREAS WHERE THEY'RE SHOOTING, THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT YET WE EXPECT THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL WHEN THEY'RE HAVING TO LOOK AT AND LISTEN, I'M HOPING THAT THIS WILL DETER, UH, AND THAT THEY'RE NOT SMILING FOR THE CAMERA. UH, BUT CERTAINLY, UH, I, I DO SEE THE REASON TO LOOK AT EXPANDING THAT AT SOME POINT. AND SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND JUST WANNA JOIN COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND THOMAS IN THAT THIS, WE, WE WORKED VERY HEAVILY IN THE NOISE ORDINANCE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD BEER GARDEN AND BAR ASSOCIATION. UM, THEY'VE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF OUR EFFORTS THAT WE'RE GETTING THROUGH ON NOISE, BELIEVE ME, THE NIGHTCLUBS AND BARS. I'M, I'M WITH YOU. WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO GET THE CAMERAS OUT. I APPLAUD THE VICE MAYOR PRO TEM ON HER WORK WITH THE CONVENIENCE STORE, BUT THEY, THEY'VE HAD SOME TIME. SO THERE'S A MEETING THIS AFTERNOON IS MY UNDERSTANDING. AND, UM, ON THE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY POINT, UH, I UNDERSTAND THAT WE, MAYBE DUE TO THE CODE, WE CAN'T INCORPORATE THAT, BUT WHEN I'M LOOKING AT CERTIFICATE OF , WE'VE BEEN KIND OF HAVING SOME MEETINGS ABOUT WHAT ALL'S ENTAILED IN THAT. AND THERE ARE A LOT OF BUSINESSES IN HOUSTON WITH EITHER AN EXPIRED OR, UH, THEY'VE CHANGED USE, AND THERE'S A LOT OF BUSINESSES THAT CONCERNS THE FIRE CHIEF BECAUSE HE, WITHOUT A CORRECT AND, AND CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY, HE DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT CAPACITY RULES. SO THAT'S JUST SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING INTO. UM, IF THERE WAS A WAY TO [04:05:01] INCORPORATE THIS INTO CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD ENTAIL, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD BE INTERESTED INTO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I KNOW THAT OVER THERE ON BROADWAY, THERE'S TWO OR THREE APARTMENT COMPLEXES OWNED BY AN INDIVIDUAL. AND, UM, SOUTHEAST HPD AND THE, UH, HOBBY AREA MANAGEMENT DISTRICT HAS ASKED THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BLUE STAR PROGRAM. UH, THEY, THEY REFUSED TO DO SO. UH, A FEW MONTHS AGO, THERE WAS, UM, YOU KNOW, KILL, UH, MURDER, BASICALLY ON TWO OF THE COMPLEXES. UM, IF THERE'S ANY WAY IN REGARDS TO THIS ORDINANCE FOR THOSE LANDLORDS, THE PROPERTY OWNERS THAT REFUSE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BLUE STAR PROGRAM, REFUSE TO PUT SECURITY LIGHTS, REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING TO MAKE THEIR PROPERTY SAFER, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A WAY WHERE THE CITY CAN THEN JUST SAY, OKAY, NOW YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE CAMERAS IN YOUR COMPLEX. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IF IF THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO DO IT, THEN I THINK THE CITY NEEDS TO DO IT, UH, BECAUSE YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE JUST SCARED TO LIVE IN THOSE APARTMENT COMPLEXES, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THEY JUST CAN'T MOVE. UH, SO I THINK US AS A CITY SHOULD REQUIRE THOSE APARTMENT COMPLEXES. IF YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BLUE STAR PROGRAM, YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO PARTICIPATE WITH HPD TRYING TO HELP YOU IN REGARDS YOUR SECURITY LIGHTS AND WHAT HAVE YOU, THEN YOU HAVE TO DO THIS, ADD SECURITY CAMERAS TO YOUR COMPLEX. UM, AND THEN I AGREE WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX, IN REGARDS TO THE RETAIL STRIPS, UH, THE OWNERS OF THE RETAIL STRIPS SHOULD HAVE CAMERAS ON THE RETAIL STRIPS. UH, UH, WHY, WHY ARE YOU, THERE'S A CONVENIENCE STORE ON THAT RETAIL STRIP. WHY IS A CONVENIENCE STORE HAVING TO BE TOW TO PUT A CAMERA WHEN I, IN MY OPINION, IT SHOULD BE THE OWNER OF THE RETAIL STRIP TO PUT THE CAMERA SO THAT WAY IT'LL BE SECURED FOR ALL THE, UH, PROPERTIES ON THAT RETAIL STRIP. SO, UM, BUT AGAIN, I MEAN, TH TH TH THIS, THIS IS A, THIS STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT I THINK WE JUST NEED TO TWEAK IT SOME. YEAH. THANK YOU. I, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, I CAN NEVER LOSE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING BACK MY APARTMENT INSPECTION REFORM. I'M SORRY, BUT WE TALK ABOUT APARTMENTS, WE TALK ABOUT THE CRIME THAT HAPPENS THERE. WE WAITED ALMOST A YEAR TO MAKE THIS THING HAPPEN. WE'RE STILL HAVING CONVERSATIONS. THIS IS SOMETHING WE COULD ABSOLUTELY INCLUDE. UM, IF WE CREATE APARTMENT COMPLEXES ARE HABITABLE AND CLEAN AND WELL LIT, AND THE BLUE STAR PIECE IS OUR STANDARD OF, OF CARE, IN MY MIND, OUR STANDARDS, UM, I THINK THAT OUR CRIME IS GONNA DECREASE. WE'RE HAVING A ROUGH TIME, MAYOR TURNER, AND I REALLY WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS, BUT THIS LINES UP WITH EVERYTHING THAT OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE SAYING. I MEAN, KE YOU KNOW, CREATING SAFE ENVIRONMENTS WHERE PEOPLE LIVE IS CRUCIAL. AND, UM, AND OUR, OUR CHILDREN ARE THE ONES AT RISK MOST OF THE TIME. AND SO, UM, IN A LOT OF OUR DISTRICTS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT OVER 50% OF OUR APARTMENT COMPLEXES ARE NOT HABITABLE AND HAVE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS. AND I THINK IF WE COULD JUST INCREASE THE STANDARDS, YOU KNOW, HOLD THESE LANDLORDS THAT MOST OF THEM DON'T EVEN LIVE IN THE CITY, UM, AND, UM, HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE AND PUT SOME CAMERAS OUT THERE, AT A MINIMUM, IT WILL, IT WILL HELP US WITH CRIME. I I HOPE THIS CAN BE A PART OF OUR, OUR ONE SAFE HOUSTON PLAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KASH, UM, MAYOR, I HATE TO SEE THIS BEING DELAYED AS, AS, UH, AS IMPORTANT AS IT REALLY IS. I, I LIKE WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX AND OTHERS HAVE SAID ABOUT, UH, APARTMENTS AND OTHER BUSINESSES. I, I, UM, I THINK YOU HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE, MAYOR, AND, AND IF YOU'LL SAY, HEY, I'M I'LL, I'LL BRING BACK, I'LL BRING THIS BACK AND, AND WE'LL, WE'LL TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT SOME OTHER, OTHER BUSINESSES ONCE IT PASSES. UH, CERTAINLY, UH, DOWN BEL AIR BOULEVARD, BEACH NUT, SOMEWHERE WHERE THE CRIME IS JUST UNBELIEVABLE. THEY GOT BIG RED SIGNS. HAVE YOU SEEN THOSE SIGNS, MAYOR, THAT SAYS IT'S A FELONY TO DO CERTAIN THINGS. UH, BINETTE, THANK YOU. AND, AND, UH, I, I JUST, WHY CAN'T, WHY CAN'T WE SAY THOSE BUSINESSES ALONG THIS STRIP NEED TO PUT A, PUT CAMERAS UP? I MEAN, SOMETHING'S GOTTA BE DONE. AND IT, UH, UH, I, I'VE SEEN COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD OUT THERE WITH, UH, WITH COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, AND, AND THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN BECAUSE THERE'S A SCHOOL OVER THERE. AND, UH, MY BROTHER AND I, WE DROVE DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY DOWN THERE, AND WE, WE LOOKED, AND I DON'T SEE WHERE THE SIGNS ARE HAVING ANY EFFECT, MAYOR. I MEAN, JUST AS ME, I MEAN, I DON'T UNDERSTAND. MAYBE IF WE HAD CAMERAS TO SUPPORT THE POLICE, UH, BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THESE THINGS, UH, RIGHT AROUND OUR KIDS, IT'S GOT TO STOP. AND SO, UH, ANYWAY, I, I SUPPORT THIS, AND I, I, I WOULD HOPE EVERYBODY RELEASE THEIR TAG SO WE CAN VOTE ON IT TODAY, AND THEN HAVE THE MAYOR BRING SOMETHING BACK AT ANOTHER TIME TO INCREASE IT. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. [04:10:02] THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I WANTED TO, UM, THANK VICE MAYOR PRO TIM FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON THIS. UM, THE, THE CONVENIENCE STORES IS A BIG ISSUE IN DISTRICT B. I MEAN, I GET THE POLICE REPORTS DAILY, AND IT'S NORMALLY THE SAME CONVENIENCE STORE THAT SHOOTINGS ARE HAPPENING OR FIGHTING ARE, ARE HAPPENING. AND SO I'VE HAD OPPORTUNITY TO TOUR, UM, SEVERAL OF THE STORES AND, UM, COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE PART OF MY, THE DISTRICT B, UM, UM, PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT OCCUPYING THE STORES OURSELF, YOU KNOW, GOING TO, YOU KNOW, JUST WHAT COMMUNITY GO OUT AND JUST TAKE, OCCUPY THE SPACE AND TRY TO RUN THOSE CRIMINALS OR PEOPLE JUST DOING WRONG, SELLING DRUGS OR WHATEVER ON THE CONVENIENCE STORES. SO, THANK YOU, UM, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, YOU KNOW, THIS MOVING FORWARD. AND I WILL VOTE ON IT. THANKS. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN KNOX. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I DON'T THINK THIS IS A QUESTION OF GOOD VERSUS PERFECT. I MEAN, WE CAN DO WHATEVER WE WANT ON THIS ORDINANCE. SO THAT ARGUMENT, I'M NOT SURE FLIES WITH ME, BUT I, I CAN TELL YOU WHAT I AM A VERSE TO. I'M AVERSE TO PASSING REGULATION OR LAW THAT APPLY TO SOME, BUT NOT TO ALL, UNLESS THERE'S A SPECIFIC REASON. FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE CASE OF A RESTAURANT, IT'S UNNECESSARY FOR A CLOTHING STORE TO HAVE A HEALTH DEPARTMENT PERMIT TO PREPARE FOOD IF THEY'RE NOT PREPARING FOOD. AND SO WE HAVE A SPECIFIC ORDINANCE FOR RESTAURANTS TO MEET THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS. CRIME IS A, IS A UNIVERSAL PROBLEM. CRIME IS A, IS A UNIVERSAL PROBLEM, LIKE THE SAFETY OF BUILDINGS IS A, IS A PROBLEM. AND SO, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING, LET'S DO IT. AND, AND WHAT WE'RE SAYING HERE IS CRIME IS OUT OF CONTROL. THIS IS A MECHANISM TO CURE, UH, TO FIX CRIME OR TO REDUCE CRIME IN THE AREAS. AND THERE'S NO REASON WHY THE ARGUMENTS BEING MADE FOR THESE FIVE TYPES OF BUSINESSES DO NOT ALSO APPLY TO EVERY OTHER BUSINESS. AND, UM, IF WE ARE GOING TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS, THIS IS NOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET ONE OVER THE OTHER. WE SIMPLY HAVE TO CHANGE THE VERBIAGE AND BOOM, IT'S DONE. UH, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IRRESPECTIVE OF WHAT THESE FIVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF BUSINESSES WANT, WE'RE GONNA DO IT ANYWAY. AND WE COULD DO IT ANYWAY WITH EVERY BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND THEREBY PROVIDE TOOLS FOR THE POLICE TO CATCH CRIMINALS AND ALL OF THAT. SO, UM, EVEN IN THIS, UH, THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN, IN THIS MORNING'S CHRONICLE THAT SAYS, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT PROVIDE DATA ON THE PREVALENCE OF CRIME AT THOSE TYPES OF ESTABLISHMENTS ON TUESDAY. SO WE'RE ACTING INSTINCTIVELY HERE. AND INSTINCTIVELY WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT CRIME OCCURS EVERYWHERE, AT ALL TIMES OF THE DAY AND NIGHT. VIDEO SURVEILLANCE OF PUBLIC PLACES IS AN EFFECTIVE TOOL TO EITHER REDUCE CRIME OR HELP CATCH THOSE WHO COMMIT IT. AND IF WE'RE, IF THAT'S OUR POSITION, WHY ARE WE TARGETING JUST FIVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF BUSINESSES? WE NEED TO BE TARGETING THE ENTIRE CITY. AND THE ENTIRE CITY INCLUDES EVERY BUSINESS OWNER, UH, EVERYWHERE. AND WHO'S GONNA ARGUE WITH THAT? WELL, IF THEY CAN ARGUE WITH IT IF THEY WANT TO, BUT WE'RE IN CHARGE. WE GET TO, WE'RE THE ONES WHO GET TO, TO PASS THE REGULATION. WE DO IT REGULARLY. UH, AND I'M JUST REALLY HAVE A HARD TIME WHEN WE PASS REGULATION THAT'S UNIVERSALLY APPLICABLE, BUT WE TARGET ONLY A FEW BUSINESSES OR A FEW TYPES OF BUSINESSES. UM, SO ANYWAY, I, IF THIS DOESN'T CHANGE, I WILL VOTE NO ON THIS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S, IT'S A GOOD IDEA. BUT WE NEED TO, THIS ISN'T AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PERFECT, BECAUSE WE CAN PASS THAT ORDINANCE TODAY. WE COULD CHANGE THE, WE COULD MAKE AN AMENDMENT CHANGE THE WORDING ON THE ORDINANCE TODAY. WE COULD VOTE ON IT TODAY. IT WOULD BE PART OF THE CITY ORDINANCES TODAY. UH, AND WHETHER, YOU KNOW, OTHER BUSINESSES LIKED IT OR NOT, IF WE THINK IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE, THE SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY, THERE'S NO REASON WHY WE SHOULDN'T UNLESS WE ARE INTENTIONALLY TARGETING CERTAIN TYPES OF BUSINESSES THAT WE FIND, OR SOME OF US MAY FIND, UH, TO BE OFFENSIVE OR, UH, PROBLEMATIC. SO THAT'S MY COMMENT. THANK YOU. CAN YOU, BUT BEAR IN MIND WE DO IT ALL THE TIME. SEXUAL ORIENTED BUSINESSES CAN'T BE SEXUAL ORIENTED. BUSINESSES CANNOT BE CLOSE TO SCHOOLS OR, UM, CHURCHES. OKAY, WELL, WHAT ABOUT LIQUOR STORES AND ALL THESE OTHER PLACES? WE DO IT ALL THE TIME. CHURCHES SPECIAL. OKAY, SO WHY? SOME WOULD SAY WHY, WHY CHURCHES, OKAY, WE DO IT ALL THE TIME. IT'S NOT, COME ON NOW. THERE ARE NO ABSOLUTES. NOW, COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH, I THINK YOU RAISED A GOOD POINT. I THINK WE TAKE THIS STEP AND THEN IF IT, IF IT, UM, UM, UH, COMES FORTH THAT WE NEED TO TAKE ANOTHER STEP, THEN I THINK WE TAKE ANOTHER STEP. THIS IS NOT THE FIR PLEASE [04:15:01] DON'T LOOK AT THIS AS THE FIRST AND THE LAST, THE FINAL. BUT I DO THINK WE, WE, WE, WE NEED TO TAKE SOME STEPS. LET'S NOT, I THINK IF WE TRY TO EAT THE WHOLE LOAF AT ONE TIME, I WILL SIMPLY THINK WE'RE JUST SIMPLY TRYING TO BE PRUDENT AND METHODICAL AND OUR APPROACH. AND BASED ON, AND I WILL GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO VICE MAYOR, UH, PRO TEM CAST TATUM BASED ON THE WORK THAT SHE AND HER STAFF HAD PRE HAS PREVIOUSLY DONE. BECAUSE WHEN I PUT FORTH THE ONE SAFE HOUSTON PROGRAM, WE REACHED OUT AND VICE MAYOR PRO TEM TOLD ME ABOUT THE HER WORK. SO IT, IT HAD ALREADY, THE WORK HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE, AND THAT'S WHY WE PUT IT IN ONE SAFE HOUSTON. THIS IS BASED ON THE WORK THAT SHANNON STAFF HAD DONE WHEN SHE TALKED ABOUT THE 7,000 CRIMES, FOR EXAMPLE, THE CONVENIENCE STORES, ALL THE CRIMES THAT WERE COMMITTED, FOR EXAMPLE, IN, LEMME SAY, IN AKER'S HOME, PEOPLE THAT WERE KILLED. SO I'M NOT SAYING IT'S, IT'S THE FINAL STEP. WE CAN COME BACK AGAIN, BUT THIS IS JUST ONE STEP. JUST ONE STEP. SO ANYWAY, UM, VICE MAYOR PROTE, CAST TATUM, AND THEN I KNOW THAT I MISS BEING TAGGED. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I JUST WANT TO ADD FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HPD STATISTICS SHOW THAT THESE ARE PLACES THAT THEY WANT TO SEE CAMERAS. THESE ARE PLACES WHERE WE NEED TO CATCH CRIMINALS. UM, GRANTED CRIME IS, UH, EVERYWHERE, OR CRIME CAN BE EVERYWHERE, BUT THESE ARE SPECIFIC AREAS THAT WE ARE TARGETING BECAUSE CRIME IS AND HAS BEEN PROVEN TO BE IN THESE AREAS. AND I THINK IF WE HAD A RASH OF CRIMES AT NAIL SHOPS, WE WOULD'VE INCLUDED THAT. BUT WE DON'T. WHAT WE HAVE ARE A RASH OF CRIMES AT CONVENIENCE STORES AND SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES AND CLUBS. AND I THINK THAT IT IS PRUDENT UPON US TO, UM, TAKE THESE STATISTICS FROM HPD AND PUT POLICY IN PLACE TO HELP THEM SOLVE THESE CRIMES. IF WE ARE GONNA BE SERIOUS ABOUT FIGHTING CRIME IN HOUSTON, WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THE RESOURCES AND WHAT'S NEEDED TO HELP HPD SOLVE THESE CRIMES. SO I DON'T, I DON'T WANT US TO GET CAUGHT UP IN, UH, THE MINUTIAE OF EVERYONE WHEN WE ARE SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT WHERE THE MAJORITY OF CRIME IS HAPPENING IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, THIS ITEM, UNLESS PEOPLE ARE PULLING THEIR TAG, THIS ITEM IS BEING PULLED. I MEAN, BEING TAGGED. , THIS ITEM IS BEING TAGGED BY COUNCILMAN ALCO, CAMAN, AND THOMAS. OKAY. ALRIGHT. NEXT ITEM. ITEM 17 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. UM, THIS IS I, UH, ITEM 17 7 17. UM, COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. ALRIGHT, UM, THIS ITEM, COLLEAGUES, AS THE CULMINATION OF YEARS OF ADVOCACY AND HARD WORK BY SO MANY, UH, MAYOR TURNER, THIS ITEM WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP. UH, IT'S ALSO AN ITEM THAT'S IMPORTANT TO EVERYONE, INCLUDING MEN AND NON-BINARY INDIVIDUALS. UH, I'M GONNA TALK REALLY QUICKLY ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS ITEM, THOUGH FOR WOMEN, BECAUSE HISTORICALLY, AND EVEN TODAY, AS MAYOR, YOU'VE SO APTLY, UH, CONTINUE TO POINT TO THE IMPORTANCE OF ADDRESSING DISPARITIES FOR WOMEN, ESPECIALLY IN THE WAKE OF THE PANDEMIC. DURING THE PANDEMIC, WOMEN ACCOUNTED FOR 63% OF ALL JOBS LOST, AND 1.8 MILLION WOMEN STILL HAVE NOT REJOINED THE WORKFORCE DUE TO COVID. THE PERCENTAGES ARE EVEN MORE DAUNTING WHEN WE LOOK AT THE IMPACT ON BLACK AND HISPANIC WOMEN. WOMEN HAVE BEEN FORCED BACK INTO HOMES FROM JOB LOSS, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF THE ROLE WOMEN CONTINUE TO FILL THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME AS CAREGIVERS. AND WHILE THE PLAYING FIELD WAS NEVER EVEN, THE PANDEMIC HAS STEEPENED THE HILL FOR SO MANY, AND IT HAS EXACERBATED DISPARITIES FOR WOMEN IN HEALTHCARE AS WELL. BUT THANKS TO ALL OF YOU, I REMAIN INSPIRED AND HOPEFUL, AND I DON'T HAVE TIME TO SPEAK OF EACH COUNCIL MEMBER AROUND THE HORSESHOE, BUT WE HAVE SINGLE MOTHERS WHO ARE MY HEROES, BECAUSE TO THIS DAY, I DO NOT KNOW HOW YOU DID IT. WE HAVE FATHERS WHO HAVE RAISED STRONG INDEPENDENT WOMEN AND GRANDFATHERS FIGHTING FOR WHAT THEY WISHED THEIR OWN SONS AND DAUGHTERS WOULD'VE HAD. WOMEN HAVE RIGHTS AND NEEDS AND SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID TO SEEK ACCOMMODATIONS. THERE'S A STIGMA THAT FOR FAR TOO LONG HAS BEEN ACCEPTED, AND THAT'S WHY WE MUST TALK ABOUT IT AND NORMALIZE IT. WHETHER [04:20:01] WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUMPING AT WORK IN THE MIDDLE OF MEETINGS, OR THE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF PREGNANCY, AGAIN, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DISCUSS IT. I WANTED TO VERY BRIEFLY THANK THE CITY EMPLOYEES WHO SHARED THEIR STORIES WITH ME. FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR WHO SHOWED UP AT WORK FOR WEEKS SO SICK, SHE HAD TO LEAVE, BUT DID EVERYTHING SHE COULD TO EARN ENOUGH HOURS BECAUSE THE COST OF LOSING SIX DAYS WAS A BIG, WAS TOO BIG A FACTOR FOR HER, REGARDLESS OF HOW SICK SHE WAS. OR THE EMPLOYEE WHO HAD TO FIND A DOCTOR NEAR WORK TO GO FOR CARE ON LUNCH BREAKS WHILE SHE WAS PREGNANT, RATHER THAN EATING FOR THE HOUSTON WATER EMPLOYEE WHO HAD TO TAKE TIME OFF EVERY SINGLE WEEK FOR CHECKUPS AFTER CATCHING COVID WHILE SHE WAS PREGNANT. OR THE EMPLOYEE WHO TOOK NINE WEEKS UNPAID BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T ACCRUE ENOUGH TIME AND STRUGGLED WHEN SHE RETURNED TO WORK BECAUSE OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL TOLL THAT IT TOOK FOR THE EMPLOYEES. WORKING LITERALLY UP UNTIL YOUR WATERS BREAK SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOSE ANY VACATION OR SICK DAYS BEFORE GIVING BIRTH. FOR EVERY SINGLE MOM WHO HAS STRUGGLED WITH DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY, OR THE FATHER OR PARTNER WHO WANTED TO BE HOME TO HELP SHOULDER SOME OF THE BURDEN, BUT COULDN'T BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO A POLICY LIKE THIS FOR PARENTS FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN A PAYCHECK OR RECOVERING FROM AN APP EPISIOTOMY, A C-SECTION, POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION, SEPSIS, EXCESSIVE BLEEDING, SLEEP DEPRIVATION, MIGRAINES FROM EPIDURALS, AND THE LIST GOES ON. AND WE'RE NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT GO WITH BREASTFEEDING. PARENTAL LEAVE IS NOT A VACATION. IT'S BEAUTIFUL, BUT WE CANNOT DIMINISH HOW BRUTAL IT CAN BE. THE EMOTIONAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND PHYSICAL BURDENS OF CARING AND DELIVERING A BABY CONTINUE BEYOND THE DELIVERY ROOM. YET IN THE UNITED STATES, WE'RE THE ONLY INDUSTRIALIZED NATION WITHOUT PAID LEAVE IS THE LAW OF THE LAND. THIS IS ABOUT DOING WHAT IS RIGHT, AND WE CANNOT AFFORD NOT TO DO THIS. MAYOR, I SINCERELY WANNA THANK YOU NOT ONLY FOR CHAMPIONING THIS ITEM, BUT ALSO FOR THE PERSONAL SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE SHOWN ME THROUGHOUT MY PREGNANCY AND BEYOND MY FAMILY. THANKS YOU. I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE DIRECTOR CHEEKS AND ELISA FRANKLIN BROCKS FOR THEIR INSTRUMENTAL WORK IN ALL THAT THEY DID TO GET THIS THROUGH, AS WELL AS DIRECTOR EMO, CHIEF HUNTER, THE DRES, DEIDRE SULLIVAN, AND DEIDRA PENNEY, THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION AND CHAIR BETH MAUSS MURCH, AND OUR LABOR LEADERS, HOPE, SCIU, SEA FARES WAS HERE YESTERDAY, A-F-L-C-I-O AND MORE FOR VO, THEIR VOCAL SUPPORT IN SHARING THEIR STORIES. I ALSO WANNA THANK OUR COUNCIL STAFFERS. MANY OF YOU BROUGHT YOUR KIDS TODAY AS A SYMBOL OF HOW MUCH THIS MEANS TO EACH OF YOU. AND I THANK YOU ESPECIALLY AM MAKA, FOR SHARING YOUR STORY. WE HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM ALL OF YOU, INCLUDING EVERY SINGLE CITY EMPLOYEE WHO SERVES HOUSTON WITH DEDICATION AND A COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE. I LASTLY, UH, WANNA THANK MY SON SLADE, WHO EVEN BEFORE HE WAS BORN, TAUGHT ME SO MUCH ABOUT IT MEAN WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MOTHER. AND I KNOW THAT FOR EACH OF YOU, THIS ITEM MEANS JUST AS MUCH, IF NOT MORE. AND THANK YOU FOR, I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCILMAN P THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION AND DIRECTOR CHEEKS FOR TAKING THIS ON. UM, I CAREFULLY CONSIDERED THIS ITEM BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT THERE WILL BE A SMALL COST TO THE CITY FOR THIS, MAYBE UNFORESEEN AT THE MOMENT, BUT DEFINITELY A COST. AND SO WHILE IT'S A GOOD THING TO DO FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, I WAS ALSO WEIGHING, IS IT A GOOD THING TO DO WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS BECAUSE IT'S NOT OUR MONEY. UM, ULTIMATELY I THINK THAT THIS IS A GOOD THING. WE CAN'T COMPETE WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR ON SO MANY THINGS. UM, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING AT A MINIMAL COST THAT WE CAN COMPETE WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR ON. SO WE HAVE TO, UM, RETAIN AND ATTRACT NEW EMPLOYEES. SO I THINK THAT THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO DO THAT. AND ON A PERSONAL NOTE, UM, I DID GO THROUGH THIS TWICE AS A CITY EMPLOYEE. UM, I HAVE A 2-YEAR-OLD AND A 4-YEAR-OLD AND HAD THEM WHEN I WAS A CHIEF OF STAFF. SO I DO KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO HAVE TO USE ALL OF YOUR VACATION TIME AND DO LEAVE WITHOUT PAY AND ALL THAT STUFF. SO, UM, I ALSO KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO HAVE TO RETURN TO WORK IMMEDIATELY, BECAUSE WITH MY SECOND CHILD, I WAS RUNNING MY CAMPAIGN FROM MY HOSPITAL BED, SO I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO HAVE TO RETURN TO WORK. AND I, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A HARD THING TO DO. SO AT A MINIMAL COST, IF WE CAN HELP OUR EMPLOYEES TO NOT HAVE TO DO THAT, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, COUNCILMAN EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I CERTAINLY CAN'T BE MORE PASSIONATE AND ELOQUENT THAN MY CHIEF OF STAFF WAS ON YESTERDAY, AND I STILL DENY THAT I KNEW THAT SHE WAS DOING ALL OF THAT, EVEN THOUGH I KNOW THAT SHE DID MUCH. AND I THANK GOD FOR VIRTUAL BECAUSE, UH, I WOULD'VE NOT ONLY LOST A VALUABLE STAFF MEMBER, BUT SHE WOULD'VE LOST VALUABLE TIME. [04:25:01] BUT CERTAINLY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS LONG OVERDUE AND I, I CERTAINLY SUPPORT IT. AND I STILL WANNA KNOW WHO, WHO HAD THE NERVE TO HAVE A FACE-TO-FACE MEETING WITH MY CHIEF OF STAFF IN THE HOSPITAL THE DAY AFTER SHE GAVE BIRTH. SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR THIS AND I INTEND TO SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, VICE MAYOR, PRO COUNCIL TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE HAVE ALL, UM, SHARED OUR THANKS. AND TO DIRECTOR CHEEKS, TO THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION TO COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON THIS, TO THE MAYOR, TO ALL OF OUR, OUR COLLEAGUES WHO ACTUALLY WORKED ON THIS. AND, UM, IN THE, UH, COMMITTEE MEETING, WE ALL HAD A CHANCE TO HEAR ADDITIONAL STORIES AND SHARE OUR STORIES. AND, UM, THIS MEANS A LOT TO SO MANY PEOPLE. AND, UM, HEARING ABOUT THE STORIES OF THE WOMEN AND THE PARENTS WHO ARE, UM, EXCITED ABOUT THIS PARENTAL LEAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, IT BROUGHT ME BACK 24 YEARS WHEN I WAS PREGNANT WITH MY SON. AND I WORKED UNTIL THE FRIDAY BEFORE I GAVE BIRTH THAT SUNDAY BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE TIME OFF BEFORE THE BIRTH. I WANTED ALL OF MY TIME AFTER, UM, TO SPEND WITH MY SON. SO I WANT TO SAY HOW IMPORTANT AND IMPACTFUL THIS IS FOR FAMILIES. AND I'M SO PROUD TO BE A PART OF THE COUNCIL THAT WILL IMPLEMENT THIS PAID LEAVE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, IF WE TAKE CARE OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES, THEY WILL WORK ALONGSIDE US TO MAKE SURE WE ARE TAKING CARE OF HOUSTONIANS. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS TODAY. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU. UM, I THINK I'M ONE OF THE ONLY WOMEN ON COUNCIL WITHOUT CHILDREN. AND SO, UM, UM, MY VOTED I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE ITEM. UM, AND MY VOTE IS IN HONOR OF MY MOTHER. 'CAUSE I REMEMBER WHEN SHE HAD MY BROTHER AND I, SHE HAD TO STAY HOME. SHE DIDN'T HAVE THE OPTION OF RETURNING BACK, BACK TO WORK. 'CAUSE FINANCIALLY SHE COULD NOT DO THAT. UM, SO I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE ITEM. THANK EVERYONE, UM, FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THIS, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DIRECTION THE CITY'S GOING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO, THANK YOU. I, I MADE COMMENTS AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING, BUT JUST WANNA REALLY THANK COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS. COUNCILMAN MR. CISNEROS, YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR A LONG TIME TOO. THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION. I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THIS, THIS WEEK'S MEETING AND BETH MURPHY AND ALL THE GOOD WORK SHE DID ON THIS, THIS IS A REALLY GOOD THING FOR OUR CITY EMPLOYEES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I TOO WANNA, UM, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS ON THIS. UM, AS I LISTENED TO, UM, MS, UM, AMMA'S TESTIMONY YESTERDAY, IT JUST BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES. I, YOU KNOW, I REFLECT BACK ON WHEN I WAS HAVING MY CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, 30 YEARS AGO, EVEN THOUGH I WORKED AT A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT, I STILL HAD TO GO BACK TO WORK. AND SO I KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF JUST HAVING THESE BENEFITS, UM, SO THAT YOU CAN BE, YOU KNOW, WITH YOUR KID IS, IS VITAL TO, UM, THE FAMILY. I'M WORKING FOR NONPROFITS. THEY ACTUALLY ADOPT TOP ADOPTED THIS SIMILAR POLICY, UM, BACK IN 2017. AND SO I SAW WHAT IT DID TO THE NONPROFIT STAFF, HOW IT HELPED THEM TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK OF WORKING FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FIGHTING FOR POLICY CHANGES. AND SO I THANK THE CITY, YOU KNOW, FOR CATCHING UP. AND THIS IS, THIS IS A GREAT, THIS IS A GREAT WIN FOR, FOR WOMEN. THANK YOU. AND COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, COMMEND TO COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN FOR THIS AS WELL. AND COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS. YOU KNOW, I, I HAVE CHARTS AT MY OFFICE THAT HAVE MY CHILDREN'S BIRTH DATES ON THEM BECAUSE MY LAST TWO KIDS, I WENT INTO LABOR AT MY OFFICE. I HAD TO WORK TO THAT MOMENT AND HAD TO HAVE MAJOR SURGERY FOUR YEARS AFTERWARDS FOR AN ADOMINOPLASTY BECAUSE I DID NOT REST MY BODY. UM, AND SO THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. THIS SEEMS TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY, UM, TO MOMS. SO, UM, IT'S CRI IT'S CRITICAL. IT DOES ALLOW US TO BE COMPETITIVE. I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. I MEAN, UM, SOMETIMES THERE ARE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE TO JUST FIND, UH, TO DO THE RIGHT THING. AND, UM, AND THIS IS A, UM, A VERY, UM, IT'S NECESSARY. IT'S NECESSARY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THIS IS GREAT. UM, A GREAT DAY TO VOTE ON THIS. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MC, KASH MAYOR, I WAS IMPRESSED WHEN I SAW IN THE ORDINANCE THAT IT DEALT WITH, UM, UH, FOSTER, FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION. AND, UH, SO IT WOULD'VE, UH, HELPED ME, WOULDN'T IT? SO IT COVERS DADS AS WELL, SO, UH, IT'S NOT JUST A MOM, IT'S A DAD TOO. ABSOLUTELY. AND, UH, MY, UH, MY SON, UH, WHEN HIS, UH, LAST, UH, LITTLE BOY WAS BORN, ANDREW, HE, HE, UH, HE WAS OFF WORK FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, HELPING HIS WIFE TAKE CARE OF THE BABY UP IN MICHIGAN. AND, UM, I, I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED BY THAT MAYOR. [04:30:01] I THINK THIS IS A HISTORICAL MOMENT THAT I'M ACTUALLY ON COUNCIL WHEN THIS PASSES, SO Y'ALL DON'T GET TOO EXCITED IF I STAND UP AND APPLAUD. ALL RIGHT. YES. THANK YOU. UM, MAYOR PRO TIMM MARTIN. YES, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, THIS IS A HISTORICAL MOMENT AND, UH, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. MM-HMM . UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR PRO TEM ELLEN COHEN SPENT SOME TIME WITH US YESTERDAY TALKING ABOUT OUR INITIATIVES WAY BACK WHEN, WHEN WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS SUBJECT. AND I VIVIDLY REMEMBER COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS AND HER FAMILY COMMITTEE AND TALKING ABOUT THIS LEAVE THAT WE NEEDED TO DO IT. AND IT FINALLY HERE. SO, UH, I DO THIS IN HONOR OF AMA AND PAUL SITTING OVER TO MY RIGHT. I DO THIS IN HONOR OF ALLIE SMART AND LAUREN LOCKEY, MY TWO CHIEFS OF STAFF, ALONG WITH MS. AMY PECK, WHO WAS A CHIEF OF STAFF WAY BACK WHEN, WHO MY TWO CHIEFS OF STAFFS HAD TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO THEY DELIVER A CHILD? AND THEN BALANCE THE IDEA AND THE CONCEPT OF RUNNING A CITY COUNCIL OFFICE WHERE YOU GET PHONE CALLS EVERY DAY FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO GET THINGS FIXED. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO THE ADMINISTRATION WHO FINALLY TOOK UP THIS, UM, IT, IT'S, IT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN DIALOGUING ABOUT FOR MANY YEARS, AND TODAY'S THE DAY THAT WE PUT IT INTO FRUITION. AND FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW ME, I AM THE WIFE OF 38 YEARS TO A REGISTERED NURSE. I DO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A C-SECTION AND A HYSTERECTOMY. BUT IF THAT WAS A, A SLOW DAY IN THE NEWS WORLD, I'M GLAD, I'M GLAD PEOPLE COULD HAVE SOME LAUGHTER, BECAUSE I AM THE FIRST ONE TO LAUGH AT MYSELF. AND I DID LAUGH AT MYSELF, AND MY SON IS AN MD AND HE LAUGHED HARDER THAN I DID. SO I DO THIS. BUT WHAT IT DID TEACH ME IS I HAVE A LOT OF REALLY GOOD FRIENDS AROUND COUNCIL THAT CAME TO MY DEFENSE, TIFF, MY SISTER FROM ANOTHER MOTHER, MARTHA, CARLA, CAROLYN, AND ALL THE OTHER LADIES OF COUNCIL WHO TOOK UP FOR ME AND KNEW THAT IT WAS A GAFF. IT WAS MY GAFF, AND IT'S ON ME. AND I LAUGHED HYSTERICALLY ABOUT IT. BUT THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT DAY, NOT ONLY FOR THE MOMS, BUT THE DADS LIKE PAUL, THAT HAVE THE ABILITY TO NOW BOND WITH THEIR CHILD. AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR GENTLEMEN LIKE MATT, WHO IS THE FATHER OF SLADE, WAS ABBY'S HUSBAND THAT NOW HAVE THE ABILITY, IF HE WORKED FOR THE CITY AND NOT FOR THAT EGREGIOUS LAW FIRM, HE WORKS FOR , SORRY, BUT TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF LEAVE. SO KUDOS TO MAYOR TURNER, THE ADMINISTRATION. YES, ALL THE LADIES OF COUNCIL, UH, THAT MADE SURE WE BROUGHT THIS IDEA AND CONCEPT THAT WE TALKED ABOUT 11 YEARS AGO, 10 YEARS AGO, TO FRUITION. AND CONGRATULATIONS. IT'S A HUGE MOMENT FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IT'S A HUGE MOMENT FOR WHETHER YOU'RE MARRIED, WHETHER YOU'RE NOT MARRIED, WHETHER YOU'RE GAY, WHETHER YOU'RE STRAIGHT, WHETHER YOU'RE MALE OR FEMALE. YOU ALL IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAVE THE ABILITY TO BOND NOT ONLY WITH YOUR CHILD, BUT WITH YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS. SO, UH, KUDOS TO US, AND, UH, I'LL MAKE ANOTHER GAFF SOMEWHERE THERE ON THE ROAD. AND, UH, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CHRONICLE PICKING IT UP ON THE FIRST PAGE OF THE SECOND SECTION, , THAT I NOW HAVE PRINTED AND FRAMED IN MY OFFICE. SO, GOD BLESS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTA. AND, BUT THANK YOU TO, TO YOUR SENSITIVITY TO, OF THIS ISSUE. UH, AS WE GET PREPARED TO VOTE. UH, LET ME, LET ME JUST SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY, UH, WHO'S HELPED TO BRING US TO THIS POINT. I WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO MENTION, UH, MY OWN CHIEF OF STAFF WHO REALLY WAS THE ONE WHO BROUGHT THIS ISSUE TO ME. IT WAS MARETTE HUNTER WHO SAID, MAYOR, WE HAVE NOT DONE THIS. AND THEN I WANT TO THANK JANE CHEEKS. MM-HMM . FROM HR. UH, JANE, WHY DON'T YOU JUST COME, COME AROUND BECAUSE I WANT TO, I WANT TO GIVE NO, NO, NO, NO. JANE. YEAH, SHE'LL, SHE'S GO, YEAH, BECAUSE I WANT TO, I WANT TO GIVE, UH, SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO, UM, TO JANE CHEEKS WORKING WITH MAMA LYNN HUNTER AND HER TEAM, AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KUBA, YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE FOSTER KIDS AND, UM, MEN AND WOMEN AND PEOPLE BEING COVERED. IT WAS THE WORK, UM, THAT JANE CHEEKS AND HER TEAM DID IN HELPING TO PULL THIS WHOLE CONCEPT TOGETHER AND MAKING IT HAPPEN. AND THEN OF COURSE, THE WOMEN COMMISSION CAME IN AND GAVE ADDED ENERGY TO IT. BUT, UH, BUT JANE, I WANT, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM, UH, BECAUSE YOU ALL REALLY, REALLY, UH, TOOK THIS AND BUILT IT OUT SO THAT IT COULD BE PRESENTED, UH, TODAY. SO, [04:35:01] UH, ON BEHALF OF, UH, THE ADMINISTRATION, THE CITY, UM, 'CAUSE OFTENTIMES WE DON'T GIVE ENOUGH CREDIT TO WHOM CREDIT IS DUE. AND I WANT TO GIVE CREDIT TO HR AND TO YOU AND YOUR LEADERSHIP, UH, TO MAR CHIEF OF STAFF, UM, AND OF COURSE WITH THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION AND COUNCILMAN CAYMAN, WHO FEELS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS ISSUE, AND I DO TOO, WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCIL MEMBER MCC CISNEROS, UH, BECAUSE SHE HAS FROM DAY ONE CHILDREN AND PROTECTING CHILDREN, CREATING THAT QUALITY ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN HAS BEEN HER PASSION FROM DAY ONE. SO I, I WANT, AND, AND YEAH. AND CAME TO ME AND, AND WANTED A COMMITTEE SET UP TO DEAL SPECIFICALLY WITH CHILDREN ISSUES. UH, AND EVEN NOW, IT'S STILL PUSHING FOR ADDITIONAL THINGS. AND OH YEAH, SHE'S YOUNG, SHE'S ALREADY HERE. SO, BUT I MEAN, IT'S BEEN A COLLECTIVE EFFORT. I COULD NOT BE MORE, MORE PROUD OF EVERYONE WHO'S WORKED ON THIS INITIATIVE. UH, BUT THE TRUE IMPETUS AS, AS THE MAYOR PRO TIM HAS SAID, AND OTHERS HAVE SAID, OH, OUR OWN CITY EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE HAD TO GIVE UP THEIR VACATION TIME AND LEAVE TIME IN ORDER TO, UM, ATTEND TO THEIR KIDS. SO TO THESE TWO WHO ARE STANDING HERE WITH THESE FOR THEIR KIDS, TO MONICA AND TO PAUL AND AM TOLD ME LAST WEEK, UH, MAYOR, WHEN Y'ALL GET READY TO VOTE ON THIS, I'M GOING TO BE STANDING IN BACK OF MY COUNCIL MEMBER WITH MY KID, UH, AS A REMINDER OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS, OF THIS ISSUE. SO, UM, THANK ALL OF THE CITY EMPLOYEES YES. WHO HAVE HAD TO, UH, UM, UH, HAVE THEIR KIDS WITHOUT THIS BEING IN PLACE. AND SO FOR, FOR FUTURE EMPLOYEES AS WE GO FORWARD, I THINK THIS WILL BE CRITICAL. I THINK SHE'S TELLING ME THAT'S ENOUGH. SO I'M, I'M THROUGH. OKAY. HAVING SAID, HAVING SAID, HAVING SAID THAT. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? UM, IN FACT, I'M GONNA DO THIS. MADAM SECRETARY CALLED THE ROLE MAYOR TURNER. AYE. COUNCILMAN PECK? YES. COUNCILMAN JACKSON? YES. COUNCILMAN KAMAN? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA. YES. COUNCILMAN MARTIN? YES. COUNCILMAN THOMAS? YES. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN? YES. COUNCILMAN CISNEROS? YES. COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS? YES. COUNCILMAN POLLARD? YES. CONSTABLE CASTEX TATUM? YES. COUNCILMAN KNOX? YES. COUNCILMAN ROBINSON? YES. COUNCILMAN KUBOSH? YES. CONSTABLE PLUMMER? YES. CONSTABLE ALCORN? YES. THANK YOU. THE UNANIMOUS VOTE IN FAVOR OF PARENTAL LEAVE. THANK YOU, SIR, VERY MUCH COUNCILMAN CISNEROS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AS AMMA SAID YESTERDAY, LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD HER. HER TESTIMONY YESTERDAY ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE AS A COMMITTED, DEDICATED EMPLOYEE WAS SO POWERFUL, BUT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT EMPLOYEES. FAMILIES ARE HUGELY IMPACTED AS WELL. FOUR YEARS AGO, MY DAUGHTER WAS THE, THE MOTHER OF A 23 MONTH OLD WHEN SHE GAVE BIRTH TO TWINS. AND HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE FACT THAT HER HUSBAND WAS A, UM, AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND HAD PAID PARENTAL LEAVE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR FAMILY WOULD'VE DONE, BECAUSE I CERTAINLY WAS NOT ABLE TO BE THE KIND OF GRANDMOTHER I WANTED TO BE AND DROP EVERYTHING TO GO AND BE WITH HER FOR SIX WEEKS. YOU KNOW, HE WAS ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE THEY HAD PARENTAL LEAVE. SO, I'M, I'M SO HAPPY THAT, THAT WE ARE HERE. UM, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF US ON THAT BIG, UM, THIS BIG VOTE TODAY. THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, PAID LEAVE FOR PRENATAL, PARENTAL, AND INFANT WELLNESS IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN SUPPORTING THE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN. AND I'D LIKE TO ASK EVERYONE TO, TO PLEASE NOTE THAT, UM, THE ACTUAL DRIVER ON THIS WONDERFUL, UM, UH, ITEM TODAY TO OFFER THIS PAID LEAVE IS ON RETAINING AND ATTRACTING EMPLOYEES. BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE FOCUS OF THESE EMPLOYEES, THESE PARENTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN, IS ON THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF THEIR CHILD. THE TESTIMONIES WE HEARD YESTERDAY AT PUBLIC SESSION BACKS THIS UP. SO DO THE COMMENTS THAT I'VE RECEIVED, AND I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE RECEIVED TOO IN EMAILS FROM THE PUBLIC. MY HOPE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS THAT OUR CITY WILL EMBRACE THE BIGGER PICTURE HERE AND MAKE A MORE DIRECT CONNECTION UPFRONT AND INTENTIONALLY GIVE FOCUS TO POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT SUPPORT [04:40:01] THE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY'S CHILDREN. IT'S AS SMART INVEST ECONOMIC INVESTMENT, UM, IN THE PROSPERITY OF OUR CITY. PAID LEAVE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES FOR PRENATAL, PATERNAL, AND INFANT WELLNESS IS A VERY GOOD INVESTMENT. THE EXACT SAME ARGUMENTS CAN BE MADE IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY'S INVESTMENT IN PROVING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE. ON A SIDE NOTE, MARY, YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT I AM VERY HOPEFUL THAT THE CITY WILL CHOOSE TO INVEST ARPA DOLLARS TO HELP FIX OUR BROKEN, DYSFUNCTIONAL CHILDCARE SYSTEM THAT WILL BE GOOD, NOT JUST FOR CHILDREN, BUT ALSO THEIR PARENTS, MANY OF WHOM ARE CITY EMPLOYEES. AND THAT WOULD ULTIMATELY BE A HUGE WIN FOR OUR CITY TOO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCIL. MR. SEZ? UH, MAYOR, I PORTEL MARTIN? YEAH. REAL QUICKLY, MAYOR, I FORGOT TO POINT OUT MR. DUSTIN HODGINS, WHO IS MY SOUTH SAN NORTH SECTOR MANAGER WHO HA IS A FATHER OF TWO CHILDREN THAT WERE BORN WITHOUT PER PARENTAL LEAVE. AND IN THIS CASE, UM, UH, FOR HIM, IF HE CHOOSES TO ACCEPT HIS NEXT MISSION OF A THIRD CHILD, HE WILL HAVE THAT PAID FOR. SO, DUSTIN, I HOPE YOU'RE LISTENING. THANK YOU. AND COUNCILMAN MCO REAL QUICKLY, MAYOR, I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE WITH HER PERMISSION MY GOOD FRIEND KATIE OSBORNE, WHO, OR KATIE SHELTON, NOW CHIEF OF STAFF TO COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, WHO IS DUE JULY 13TH AND WILL BE THE BEN BENEFICIARY OF THIS POLICY. ALSO, IN, IN ADDITION TO ATTRACTING GOOD EMPLOYEES, WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO RETAIN GOOD EMPLOYEES. UM, A LITTLE ENCOURAGEMENT TO JORDAN MCGINTY FRAZIER. IF , IF YOU SO CHOOSE TO GO DOWN THIS PATH, YOU WILL HAVE, UH, PAID LEAVE. THANK YOU, . THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MANY. ALRIGHT. ALRIGHT, MADAM SECRETARY, NEXT ITEM. ITEM 27 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. WE ON ITEM 27, DISCUSSION ON 27. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION ON 27 IN FAVOR OF THOSE GRANTED ON 27. ITEM 28 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. WE ON ITEM 28, DISCUSSION ON 28. DISCUSSION ON 28. VICE VICE MEMBER TEM CAST TATUM ON 28. THANK. THANK YOU MAYOR. JUST WANTED TO AMPLIFY HOW EXCITED WE ARE ABOUT, UH, SIMON MENTIONED PARK, THIS PARK. UM, I WILL TELL YOU WHEN WE FIRST PICKED IT AS, UM, ONE OF THE 50 50 PARKS, I WAS VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE IT IS NEAR ONE OF THOSE CONVENIENCE STORES THAT, UM, TRADITIONALLY HAD PEOPLE LOITERING AND ON KUSH AND ALL OVER THE PLACE, AND SUCH A NUISANCE THAT NOT MANY PEOPLE EVEN WENT TO THIS PARK. WELL, I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT CONVENIENCE STORE HAS CLOSED. UM, SO HAVING MENTIONED PARK AS A 50 50 PARK IS GOING TO BE TREMENDOUS. THE, UM, AMOUNT OF DOLLARS THAT WE ARE, ARE PUTTING INTO THIS PARK IS GOING TO BE A GREAT BENEFIT FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE THERE. AND WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THIS, UM, AREA THRIVE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON. MAYOR, LEMME HOLD OFF ON THAT, PLEASE. OKAY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS. THANK YOU, MAYOR F FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU IN REGARDS TO THE 50 50 PARK INITIATIVE. UM, AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S MANY PARKS IN THE INNER CITY THAT HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED FOR DECADES. UH, I KNOW THAT, UH, ONE OF THESE PARKS, UH, NOW WILL BE A HIDALGO PARK, UH, WHERE, WHERE WE HAD AN EVENT RIGHT, JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO. UH, AND I WANT TO THANK THE, UH, PORT AUTHORITY, THE PORT PORT OF HOUSTON, UH, FOR STEPPING UP, UH, AND BEING THE PARTNER ON HIAL PARK AND GIVING MONIES. UH, AGAIN, UH, IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT THEY GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITIES IMPACTED ALONG THE PORT OF HOUSTON. SO I WANNA THANK THE, UH, PORT AUTHORITY FOR, UH, UH, JOINING THE, UH, 50 50 PARKS, UH, PROGRAM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. UM, THANK YOU MAYOR AND I TOO WANT TO THANK YOU AND THE 50 50, UM, PARK PARTNERS AND FOR THIS EFFORT. UM, I KNOW OVER THE PAST, YOU KNOW, FEW WEEKS WE'VE BEEN DOING TOUR TOURS WITH, AT THE, UM, TOURS OF THE PARKS WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY HAVE OUTLINED THE THINGS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE, UM, MOVING FORWARD ON THESE PARKS. AND THEN ALSO WE WERE ABLE TO CHANGE A PARK. AND SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THE PARK IS ON THIS LIST. HOWEVER, I'M JUST LITTLE, UM, ABOUT THE EQUITY, THE DOLLAR AMOUNT. SO I'M JUST CURIOUS TO KNOW HOW DO WE COME UP WITH THAT AMOUNT, UM, FOR THE VARIOUS PARK, BECAUSE I WAS, I KNOW THERE WAS MORE REQUESTED, UM, FROM THE COMMUNITY AND SO I'M GONNA SUPPORT THIS, BUT I JUST WANT US TO LOOK AT THE EQUITY OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE DOING. JUST GET WITH ME, SIR. JUST GET WITH ME. OKAY. JUST GET WITH ME. UH, AND THIS IS A PART OF THE 50 BY 50 INITIATIVE. UH, THERE'S A PARK IN EACH ONE OF YOUR DISTRICTS THAT'S INCLUDED WITHIN THIS ITEM. UM, THERE WILL BE, UH, 22, WHEN YOU INCLUDE THESE 11, THEN WE'VE ALREADY VOTED ON THE FIRST 11. THERE ARE 22 PARKS THAT WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCED, [04:45:01] UM, BETWEEN NOW AND DECEMBER 31ST, 2023. SO, UH, AND THAT'S, AND THAT'S NOT COUNTING THE LOVE YOUR PARKS INITIATIVE AND THE OTHER ITEMS THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON. SO THERE ARE, THE 22 OF THESE 50 WILL BE COMPLETED, UM, UH, BEFORE THE END OF NEXT YEAR. UH, BUT IF THERE'S ANY ISSUE WITH RESPECT TO IT, JUST GET WITH ME ON IT. OKAY. AND WE'LL WORK IT OUT. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. ALSO, ROBINSON, I'M SORRY, COUNCILMAN ROBINSON MAYOR. YEAH, I, I THINK WITH COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON'S COMMENT, I THINK THAT'S WHERE I HAD CHIMED IN EARLIER. I'D, I'D LOVE TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU OBVIOUSLY WANNA SUPPORT THIS WITH MY COLLEAGUES. I THINK THERE'S BEEN A BIG FOCUS ON THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, AND WITH THE TTI COMMITTEE THAT MET LAST WEEK, WE HAD A GREAT DISCUSSION ABOUT, UH, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ALONG WITH PARKS DOING SOME FLOOD MITIGATION THINGS. AND I'D JUST LIKE TO FOLLOW UP WITH THOSE WHO'VE, UH, BROUGHT THIS FORWARD WITH SOME OF THE LATE CHANGING PARKS AND WITH ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT YOUR TEAM HAS DONE, LIKE TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT. SO, UH, REQUEST FOR THAT. OKAY. UH, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 28? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 28, ITEM 29 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. WE ON ITEM 29, DISCU COUNCILMAN CAMAN ON 29. THANK YOU, MAYOR. VERY QUICKLY, UM, THIS ITEM'S A GRANT, UM, APPLICATION TO THE STATE FOR 1.1 MILLION WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON MATCH, UM, FOR BODY-WORN CAMERAS. I ALSO WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT ITEMS 30 THROUGH 32 THAT WE WILL ALSO TAKE UP IS THE EXPANSION OF OUR CRISIS INTERVENTION RESPONSE TEAM WITH THE ADDITION OF 18 OFFICERS AND 18 CLINICIANS, UH, THE EXPANSION OF OUR MOBILE CRISIS OUTREACH TEAM AND CRISIS CALL DIVERSION, ADDING 36 ADDITIONAL STAFF FROM THE HARRIS CENTER AND THE EXPANSION OF THE CORE PROGRAM, WHICH IS OUR CLINICIAN OFFICER REMOTE EVALUATION PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES TELEHEALTH ACCESS AND TECHNOLOGY FOR 80 HPD PATROL OFFICERS TRAINED IN CRISIS INTERVENTION SO THAT HOUSTONIANS IN CRISIS CAN HAVE IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO, UH, CLINICIANS. SO I JUST WANTED TO FLAG THIS AS A PACKAGE THAT, YES, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BODY-WORN CAMERAS, BUT ALSO MAYOR, UM, PER YOUR DIRECTIVE, UH, EXPANDING ALL OF THESE CRISIS DIVERSION AND CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAMS AS WELL, UM, THAT WE HEARD AT PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. OKAY? OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 29 29? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED ON 29? ITEM 31 IS AN ORDINANCE SUSTAIN A VOTE. OKAY. AND LET ME JUST SAY, UM, UM, UH, TO AMPLIFY ON ITEMS 31, UM, THIS IS TO OUR, UH, OC TEAMS. THESE ARE THE MOBILE CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAMS THEMSELVES. UH, AND LET ME SAY COUNCILMAN PLUM, I KNOW DURING THE AMENDMENT DURING THE APPROPRIATION PROCESS LAST YEAR, UM, WE AGREED TO INCREASE, UH, THE MCAP TEAMS FROM 18 TO 20. I INTEND TO HONOR THAT. SO, UH, WE ARE GOING TO BE COMING FORTH WITH AN AMENDMENT, ADDING THE ADDITIONAL TWO VERY, VERY SHORTLY. OKAY? SO THAT WILL, WE ARE GOING TO HONOR THAT, UM, COMMITMENT I, AND, AND THERE WE WON'T BE ANY NEED TO REDUCE OUR CERT TEAMS, BUT WE WILL ADD TO OUR MOP TEAMS. AND THAT SHOULD BE BEFORE US IN A FEW WEEKS. OKAY? SO THANK YOU. I'M GONNA FOLLOW UP THROUGH ON THAT. AND THEN, UM, UH, THIS IS AS COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY, UH, WAS SAYING, A PART OF OUR CRISIS INTERVENTION INITIATIVES. I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT THE FUNDING IS FROM OPERA. SO I WANT, I WANT, I WANT ALL TO BE, ANYTIME WE ARE SPENDING OPERA DOLLARS, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THE MATTERS WILL COME BEFORE CITY COUNCIL. SO YOU WILL NOTE THAT THE, UM, IN ITEMS, UH, 31 AND 32, 30 31 AND 32, 30, 31, 32 ARE UPPER DOLLARS THAT YOU WILL BE VOTING ON. SO PLEASE, PLEASE TAKE NOTE, UH, BECAUSE ANYTIME WE ARE SPENDING OPERA DOLLARS, YOU WILL BE, YOU'LL BE VOTING ON THOSE ITEMS. SO IN 30, FOR EXAMPLE, IT IS TWO HOURS CERT, UH, CRISIS INTERVENTION RESPONSE TEAMS. UM, AND 31, OF COURSE IS OUR MOBILE, UH, CRISIS UNITS. UH, 32 OF OUR CLINICIANS WITH THE HARRIS CENTER, THAT'S, THESE ARE FOR THE CRISIS INTERVENTION INITIATIVES, OKAY. THAT WE PUT FORTH AND ARE PART OF THE ONE SAFE HOUSTON, UM, UH, PROGRAM. SO, UH, COUNCILMAN PALMER, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. UM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS, BUT NOT ONLY OUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE BEEN ASKING, AND ACTIVISTS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR THIS, BUT I'VE GOTTEN LETTERS FROM INMATES AT THE COUNTY JAIL THAT HAVE ASKED, UH, ONE, ONE SPECIFIC STORY. UM, A GENTLEMAN WAS ON HIS ROOF AND HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH, UM, ISSUE AND HIS MOTHER HAD NO ONE OTHER TO CALL THE NINE ONE ONE. AND HE WAS ARRESTED AND IT'S STILL INCARCERATED. UM, AND SHE WAS JUST CALLING 9 1 1 BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T WANT HER SON TO JUMP OFF THE ROOF. AND SO THIS IS JUST SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE, UM, PEOPLE THAT [04:50:01] ARE COMING THERE THAT ARE, UM, LICENSED PROFESSIONALS AND HEAL OF THE HEALING ARTS AND MASTER LEVEL CONDITIONS COMING AND NOT A POLICE OFFICER. SO THIS IS AS CLOSE TO CAHOOTS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO HAVE 20 TEAMS. UM, WE NEED THESE ON THE GROUND AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE ADMINISTRATION FOR CONSIDERING THIS INCIDENT. THANK YOU. AND I DO WANNA UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES. YOU KNOW, IT WAS AT THE MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA, UH, LUNCHEON ON YESTERDAY. UH, SO THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. THESE ARE RESOURCES THAT ARE PUT IN TO ADDRESS PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING MENTAL, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES. UH, SO THIS IS SO VITALLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DIRECT THEM TO THE RIGHT, UH, PERSONS THAT CAN ADDRESS, UH, THEIR SITUATION WHEN THEY'RE IN CRISIS AND NOT JUST A POLICE OFFICER. SO THESE ARE IMPORTANT. OKAY. UH, COUNCILMAN KASH? MAYOR, THERE WAS A, UM, UH, A WRITTEN, UH, TYPED, UH, MOTION ON THIS. HAVE WE DISPO? IT WAS, HAS IT BEEN WITHDRAWN? I DIDN'T HEAR IT. YEAH, WE'VE WITHDRAWN. IT WAS NEVER OFFICIALLY SUBMITTED AND WE'VE GONNA COME BACK WITH, OKAY. SO IT'S NEVER BEEN OFFICIALLY SUBMITTED? NO. OKAY. NO, I, THAT'S FINE. YEAH, WE HAVE TO AMEND THE CONTRACT, SO WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO BRING THE ITEM BACK. OKAY. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 31? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 31. ITEM 34 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. WE ON ITEM 34. ITEM 34, DISCUSSION ON 34. DISCUSSION ON 34 IN FAVOR OF POST GRAND ON 34. ITEM 36 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. WE ON ITEM 36 A. ITEM 36 IS BEING TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. ITEM 38 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 38 BY MAYOR PER TIM ON 38. YES, MAYOR, THESE NEXT TWO ITEMS DEAL WITH WATER. AND AS EVERYONE KNOWS IN THE UNITED STATES, THE MOST VALUABLE COMMODITY IN THE WORLD IS NOT OIL AND GAS, IT'S WATER. AND THIS IS AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE BRAZOS RIVER AUTHORITY. AND IT STEMS FROM THE 86 TEXAS LEGISLATURE THAT PASSED HOUSE BILL 28 46 IN THE YEAR 2019, WHICH MANDATED AT THAT TIME THE TRANSFER OF OUR INTEREST IN THE ALLEN CREEK. WE OFRA PROJECT FOR THE BRAZOS RIVER AUTHORITY. AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE WERE TO RECEIVE WAS NO MORE THAN $23 MILLION AS MANDATED BY HOUSE BILL 28 46. THE ISSUE THAT WE HAD WITH IT IS THAT, WAS THAT WE SPENT OVER $23 MILLION ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT AT THAT POINT IN TIME. AND WE ALL KNOW THE LOBBY EFFORTS OF THE RIVER AUTHORITIES IN AUSTIN DURING SESSION. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT YESTERDAY WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT OTHER LOBBY EFFORTS, BUT THERE IS NO ONE THAT PUTS MONEY INTO PEOPLE'S POCKETS QUICKER THAN RIVER AUTHORITIES. AND PEOPLE HAVE AN INTEREST IN TAKING THIS WATER FROM US. AND AFTER IMPLEMENTING HOUSE BILL 28 46, THE BRAZOS RIVER AUTHORITY ISSUED AN AMENDMENT TO THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT REFLECTING THE TRANSFER. THE CONDITIONS OF THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION, THE CITY IN TURN SUED THE BRAZOS RIVER AUTHORITY AND THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND FOR THOSE WHO OBJECT TO US SPENDING MONEY ON LAWSUITS, I'LL GIVE YOU THE GREAT REASON WHY THIS WORKED. THE ITEM RESULTING IN THE AGREEMENT WHERE THE BRAZOS RIVER AUTHORITY WILL PAY THE CITY 41.5 MILLION. REMEMBER, IT WAS NO MORE THAN 23 MILLION IN HOUSE BILL, 28 46 PLUS IT REIMBURSES THE CITY FOR PAYMENTS THAT WE MADE TO THE TUNE OF AN ADDITIONAL $15 MILLION. SO 56 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS COMPARED TO HOUSE BILL. 28 46 IS VERDICT OF 23 MILLION. SO MIKE, KUDOS TO, UH, THE CITY ADMINISTRATION, MAYOR TURNER, AURA MICHEL, UH, AND YOUR STAFF. AND ALSO DIRECTOR CAROL HADDOCK AND THE DIRECTOR OF, UH, CITY OF HOUSTON WATER YVONNE'S FOREST. WHILE NO ONE LIKES TO GIVE UP WATER RIGHTS, ESPECIALLY IN THE YEAR 2022, IT'S A GOOD DEAL WHEN YOU CAN MAKE AN AGREEMENT WHERE YOU STILL AGREE THAT THEY WILL SEND US WATER AND GIVE US THE ABILITY TO NOW PURCHASE WATER FROM THEM. AND AT THE SAME TIME, RECEIVE 56 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS WHEN WE WERE ONLY EXPECTED TO RECEIVE 23. THANK. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, MAYOR PRO TEM. COUNCILMAN ROBINSON. YEAH, I JUST WANT TO COME IN BEHIND THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND, UH, THANK ALL OF THOSE INVOLVED IN PARTICULAR, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THE, THE FOLKS IN PUBLIC WORKS IN WATER THAT HAVE DONE SO MUCH. AND THE NEXT COUPLE OF ITEMS AS WELL ARE GONNA REFLECT THAT. UH, JUST, UH, HOW BLESSED WE ARE AS THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO HAVE THE WATER RESERVES AND THOSE, UH, UH, ANCESTORS OF OURS WHO HAVE DONE WELL TO SET HOUSTON UP FOR THE FUTURE. BUT TO DEFEND THOSE WATER RIGHTS. IT'S, IT'S [04:55:01] LIKE THE WILD, WILD WEST OUT THERE. SO, UM, I APPRECIATE AS WELL WHAT THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAS DONE. UH, CITY ATTORNEY, MICHELLE, UH, THANK YOU AS WELL. AND MAYOR, OBVIOUSLY YOUR GREAT LEADERSHIP ON THIS TOPIC. THANK YOU. AND AGAIN, LET ME ALSO ECHO MY THANKS TO THE CITY LEGAL ATTORNEY, MICHELLE. UH, 'CAUSE THE LEGISLATURE DID TAKE OUR RIGHTS, UH, AND ONLY OFFERED 23 MILLION. UH, WE END UP SUING, UH, IN FACT, IT'S STILL IN THE APPELLATE COURT. I THINK WE WANTED THE TRIAL LEVEL AND THEN IT WENT UP. UM, BUT THIS, THIS SETTLEMENT, UH, PUTS US BACK IN A PRETTY GOOD POSITION, A SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT FROM WHERE WE, FROM WHERE WE WERE. IF STILL, INSTEAD OF US HAVING TO BUILD A VERY EXPENSIVE FACILITY, WE'RE NOT HAVING TO BUILD THAT FACILITY. THEY WILL BUILD IT, UH, BUT WE RESERVE OUR RIGHTS TO, UM, OBTAIN WATER FROM IT. UH, THEN AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE GETTING BACK ALL THE MONEY THAT WE'VE PUT IN IT OVER THE YEARS. AND, UH, BUT FOR THE LEGAL REPRESENTATION BY THE CITY, UM, WE WOULD NOT BEEN IN THE POSITION TO, UH, WORK OUT THIS SETTLEMENT ARRANGEMENT, WHICH IS IN THE CITY'S BEST INTEREST. SO I WANT TO GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT, UH, TO CITY LEGAL AND A LOT OF CREDIT TO, UH, UH, CAROL HADDOCK AND PUBLIC WORKS, UH, FOR THEIR, UM, WORK ON GETTING US TO, TO THIS PARTICULAR POINT. AND I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT THIS, UH, TO YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. COUNCIL MEMBER, KASH. SO THIS IS A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT? YES, IT IS. SO WE'RE NOT GONNA BE IN COURT WITH IT ANYMORE. AND ONCE THIS IS THE GOAL IS ONCE THIS IS PASSED AND THEY PASS IT, PERHAPS WERE OF AUTHORITY. THERE'S NO REASON FOR THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL VOTE LEGISLATURE'S NOT GONNA JUMP ON US AGAIN. THEY SHOULD NOT. I REMEMBER WHEN THEY JUMPED ON US YEAH. TALKING ABOUT IT. YEAH. THIS SHOULD BE GOOD. YEAH. SO, UH, THEY JUMPED ON US PRETTY GOOD. YEAH. THEY TOLD US WE WERE GONNA LOSE. I REMEMBER THEM TELLING ME, YOU'RE GONNA LOSE. RIGHT. BUT WE DIDN'T. YEAH, WE WON. IT ENDED UP BEING A WIN-WIN. YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CITY ATTORNEY OFFICE, SUPREME COURT. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 38? IN FAVOR OPPOSED? GRANTING ON 38. ITEM 39 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. MAYOR. MAYOR, I, I HAVE AN INQUIRY. SURE. WHERE WILL THIS MONEY GO? WHEN WE GET IT? IT GOES TO THE CUS SYSTEM. IT STAYS WITHIN PUBLIC WORKS. OKAY. ALRIGHT. YEAH. OKAY. I'M 39. MAYOR, I APPROACH MARTIN. I'M 39. THANK YOU MARGARET. MAYOR, THIS IS ANOTHER ISSUE THAT'LL HELP THE CITY MEET THE NEEDS OF NEW WATER CUSTOMERS TODAY BEFORE THE NORTHEAST WATER PURIFICATION PROJECT IS COMPLETED. THIS IS THE THIRD AMENDMENT TO THE EXIST IN 1997, WATER SUPPLY CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND MY FRIENDS IN THE CITY OF BOL. UH, THE CITY HAD THE, THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL WATER, SURFACE WATER, UH, TAPS, SO TO SPEAK, FOR INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLDS, WHILE THE CITY OF HUMBLE DID NOT HAVE THE NEED FOR THIS AMOUNT OF SURFACE WATER. SO WE HAD AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF HUMBLE THAT REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF SURFACE WATER THAT WE SET ASIDE FOR THE CITY OF HUMBLED BEFORE 2025 BY 1.5 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY. SO THIS HAD TO GO THROUGH THE CITY OF HUMBLE. IT HAD TO BE PASSED BY THEIR CITY COUNCIL, WHICH THEY DID A WEEK AGO. SO MY THANKS TO MAYOR NORMAN, FUNDER WITH THE CITY OF HUMBLE, UH, ALL THE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, MR. MARK ARNOLD, THE HUMBLE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR WHO WORKED HAND IN HAND WITH CAROL HADDOCK AND YVONNE FOREST TO GET THIS DONE. AND ALSO, MR. JASON STUBY, THE CITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF HUMBLE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS. IT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO HAVE NEW WATER TAPS INTO NEW DEVELOPMENTS WHERE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE NEED FOR SUCH EXISTING WATER SUPPLY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CITY OF HUMBLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND, AND MAYOR TIM, LET ME THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN. UM, THIS WILL BE A BIG BOOST FOR DEVELOPMENT IN THAT NORTHEAST, UM, CORRIDOR. UM, OKAY. ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM 39, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRAND ON 39. ITEM 40 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 40, DISCUSSION ON 40. DISCUSSION. UM, VICE P TIM KNICK, TATUM ON 40. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS HAS ALREADY HAPPENED, BUT I, UM, WE JUST NEED A LITTLE CLEANUP ON THE CHART. UM, THE COUNCIL DISTRICTS THAT ARE LISTED ON THE CHART FOR THE FACILITY IN CHASEWOOD AT, UH, 1 6 3 3 5 HILLCROFT, IT SAYS DISTRICT D, BUT THAT'S ACTUALLY IN K. UM, THE FACILITY ON SIMS BAYOU ON CROQUETTE SAYS D, BUT IT'S ALSO IN, IN K AND THEN FACILITY THAT SAYS WESTBURY ONE ON MOONLIGHT AND WESTBURY. TWO ON WICK, SAY DISTRICT C, BUT THEY ARE BOTH ALSO ACTUALLY IN DISTRICT K. I'LL GET IT. OKAY, WE WILL CHANGE THAT. OKAY, I GOT IT NEXT. OKAY. [05:00:01] ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON 9 0 40? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? BOTH. AND GRANTED. ALRIGHT, MADAM SECRETARY, THIS COMPLETES THE GUIDANCE ON THE AGENDA. OKAY, UH, UM, WE'RE GONNA GO [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] TO THE POPOFF. I KNOW THAT, UM, UH, SOME MEMBERS OF THE PRESS, I THINK WE WANNA TALK ABOUT PARENTAL LEAVE. UM, BUT THAT'S GONNA DEPEND ON HOW LONG THE POPOFF LASTS. SO NOT, NOT TRYING TO TELL YOU TO CUT IT SHORT. UM, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, WE START TODAY WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. UM, OUR DISTRICT J JOBS.COM WEBSITE IS LIVE AND ACTIVE, AND HUNDREDS OF JOBS ARE AVAILABLE ALL OVER HOUSTON. SINCE THE WEBSITE IS LAUNCHED, THE HITS DEPARTMENT HAS LET ME KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN THOUSANDS OF IMPRESSIONS, AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO SPREAD THE WORD TO WHOEVER IS SEARCHING FOR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. THIS INITIATIVE IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH METRO, WHERE QR CODES ARE ATTACHED TO EVERY BUS SHELTER IN DISTRICT J, AND METRO IS ONE OF OUR LEADING COMPANIES THAT HAVE MANY JOBS ON THE WEBSITE. SO PLEASE GO TO DISTRICT J JOBS.COM AND CHECK IT OUT. OUR ALSO, OUR OFFICE IS ALSO COORDINATING OUR SECOND DISTRICT J PRIVATE TRASH DAY, WHERE WE WILL BE PROVIDING OUR SINGLE FAMILY HOME RESIDENCE CURBSIDE PICKUP FOR THEIR HEAVY TRASH AND TREE WASTE. THIS PRIVATE PICKUP IS TO SUPPLEMENT THE HARD WORK OF OUR SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT TO BRING ADDITIONAL PICKUP OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISTRICT J RESIDENTS. THE PRIVATE TRASH DAY WILL BE SATURDAY, APRIL 30TH, AND RESIDENTS WILL NEED TO REGISTER BY APRIL 22ND FOR THIS PRIVATE PICKUP. AND YOU CAN REGISTER THROUGH OUR OFFICE BY EMAILING US AT DISTRICT J@HOUSTONTX.GOV. AND TO MY COLLEAGUES, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I WANT TO SAY THAT THERE WAS REALLY GOOD DIALOGUE, UH, TODAY AROUND THE HORSESHOE ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT ITEMS. AND I STAYED QUIET ON PURPOSE BECAUSE SOMETIMES, UH, YOU NEED TO JUST LISTEN TO GAME PERSPECTIVE. AND THIS IS ONE OF THE ONLY TIMES THAT WE'RE REALLY ALL IN THE SAME ROOM, UH, DISCUSSING REAL ISSUES FOR REAL PEOPLE. AND I WANNA COMMEND YOU ALL ON THE, THE EXTRAORDINARY WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING IN ALL OF YOUR OFFICES. AND SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND TO EVERYONE, HAVE A BLESSED REST OF YOUR WEEK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I DID MENTION THE PRESS CONFERENCE AND, UH, ALL OF YOU'RE INVITED TO BE, TO PARTICIPATE AND BE A PART OF IT IMMEDIATELY WHEN Y'ALL FINISH TALKING RIGHT HERE, RIGHT HERE AND MEAN AFTER Y'ALL FINISH TALKING. UM, UM, THE CHURCH SECRETARY, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KAREN, EVAN SHABBAT, . THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WILL MAKE IT BRIEF. I WILL MAKE IT BRIEF, BUT I WANTED TO SAY IN LIGHT OF, UM, YOU KNOW, THE CONSTITUENT COMING YESTERDAY ABOUT THE AILEY FENCE, I HAVE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT ON THIS PAST FRIDAY, MY CONSTITUENTS DIRECTOR, STEVEN AND, UM, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND THE HISD, UH, GROUP MET BECAUSE THERE WAS A CONCERN FOR A PARENT SAYING THAT THERE WAS NOT, UH, A SAFE OPPORTUNITY TO DROP OFF AND PICK UP THE CHILDREN AT A PARTICULAR SCHOOL. AND SO TO SAY THAT, UH, HISD AND HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS COLLABORATED TO MITIGATE THOSE ISSUES, I WANNA SAY THAT WE DO WORK WITH OTHER PARTNERS, UH, BECAUSE SAFETY IS A PRIMARY CONCERN TO ALL OF US. AND SO I, I, I THOUGHT THAT I NEEDED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT. UH, FOR THIS WEEK. ALSO, UH, IN DISTRICT D, WE HAVE SOME SPEED CUSHIONS COMING UP NEAR TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, AND WE ARE COVERING NINE STREETS, AND WE ARE MOVING THROUGH THE DISTRICT TO TRY TO GO BACK TO, UH, EARLIER YEARS WHERE THESE SPEED CUSHIONS WERE, UH, REQUESTED AND THEY WERE NOT PROVIDED. AND SO WE ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO GET THOSE DONE. ALSO, ON THIS PAST SATURDAY, WE HAD OUR KICKOFF OF THE DISTRICT D FIRST T GOLF ACTIVITY PROGRAM AT THE LAW PARK. IT WAS SUCCESSFUL, BUT WE DO HAVE ROOM FOR MORE CHILDREN. SO IF YOU ARE BETWEEN, UH, THE AGES, I BELIEVE OF 10 AND 17, THEN PLEASE REACH OUT TO WWW FIRST T, WHICH IS TEE GREATER HOUSTON.ORG TO GET REGISTERED SO THAT YOU CAN COME. UH, OUR NEXT ENGAGEMENT WILL BE AT EMANCIPATION PARK. ALSO, I DID HAVE A GREAT TIME OUT IN THE FOFO WITH YOU MAYOR, UH, , THE FOFO, UM, OUT THERE. I THINK PEOPLE REALLY, REALLY ENJOYED BEING THERE, AND IT WAS A WONDERFUL ENGAGEMENT. AND I DO THANK YOU. ALSO, ONE LAST NOTE. I WANNA SAY THAT I WAS VERY GLAD THAT WE HAD THE, UH, CASE CHECK PRESENTATION AND WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO DISTRICT D NONPROFITS TO CREATE SAFE HAVENS FOR [05:05:01] OUR YOUTH AFTER SCHOOL. UH, WE HAD CHANGE HAPPENS, CONSUMER ENERGY EDUCATION FOUNDATION, THE CHAUNCEY GLOVER PROJECT SHAPE COMMUNITY CENTER, HYPE FREEDOM SCHOOL, THE FORGE FOR FAMILIES, US DREAM ACADEMY MEN INCORPORATED, AND WORKSHOP HOUSTON, WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO HELP THEM TO GET $5,000 EACH. AND SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK, AND CERTAINLY MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF, UH, JENNIFER CHAVEZ. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, YOU ALREADY MENTIONED THE REDISTRICTING MEETINGS COMING UP AND CIP UM, THE DISTRICT H MEETING WILL BE ON MONDAY, APRIL 25TH AT MOODY PARK, BEGINNING AT SIX O'CLOCK. THIS WILL BE A VERY IMPORTANT MEETING. UM, UH, THE REDISTRICTING FOR DISTRICT H, UM, IS WE'RE GONNA SEE SOME CHANGES IN THE DISTRICT. YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THERE WAS A SERIOUS UNDER COUNT IN THE CENSUS, BUT WE ARE, WE ARE, UM, STUCK WITH THOSE NUMBERS NOW AND ARE OBLIGATED TO DRAW LINES WITH THOSE. BUT, BUT DISTRICT H HAD A DROP. UM, UH, WE ARE, WE WERE SHOWN AS 17% LESS POPULOUS THAN THE AVERAGE DISTRICT POPULATION. THAT TRANSLATES INTO LIKE 35,000 PEOPLE. SO THERE WILL BE, THERE WILL HAVE TO BE CHANGES. DISTRICT H IS ALREADY ONE OF THE GEOGRAPHICALLY LARGEST DISTRICTS IN THE CITY, SO IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT GETS RESOLVED. SO I'M ENCOURAGING, UM, CONSTITUENTS TO NOT JUST COME TO THE DISTRICT H THE TOWN HALL, BUT TO GO TO THE, TO OTHERS AS WELL, TO HEAR WHAT THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE. UM, AND THEN, UH, UH, APRIL IS EARTH MONTH AND, UM, IN DISTRICT H, WE HAD A KICKOFF LAST SATURDAY, UM, WITH A RAINDROPS AND LAPTOPS EVENT WHERE, UM, WE, UH, WE GAVE AWAY 40 RAIN BARRELS TO DISTRICT H UM, CONSTITUENTS WHO MET, UM, UH, INCOME LEVELS AND, YOU KNOW, QUALIFYING FOR THAT. AND WE GAVE AWAY ALMOST 300 LAPTOPS. I WANNA THANK, UM, COMP DOT FOR THE, THOSE THAT DONATION. AND THEN, AND ALSO THE GALVESTON BAY FOUNDATION, WHO WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE RAIN BARRELS FROM. WE HAD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO CAME THROUGH WHO, WHO WERE SAYING, AND, AND WHAT IS A RAIN BARREL? AND WHY WOULD YOU WANT ONE? AND, AND WE ENDED UP, WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH. I WISH WE COULD HAVE HAD MORE, BUT IT WAS, IT WAS SUCH A GOOD THING TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, TO, UM, TO, TO EDUCATE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW THAT CAN SAVE MONEY ON THEIR WATER BILL. UM, AND ALSO BE, BE READY FOR HURRICANE SEASON IF YOU LOSE POWER OR WATER. UM, UH, DURING HURRICANE SEASON, IT'S ALSO A, A SOURCE FOR WATER TO, TO FLUSH YOUR TOILET. SO IT'S NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, WATERING YOUR PLANTS THAT ARE FEED OR, UM, OR WATERING YOUR PETS. UM, ANOTHER EARTH DAY EVENT THAT'S COMING UP IN DISTRICT H IS A SCRAP METAL DAY THAT WILL BE HAPPENING ON APRIL 23RD IN THE SECOND WARD, UM, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TRI COASTAL TRADING, WHICH IS AT 7 0 5 NORTH GREENWAY. APRIL IS ALSO A JUNK WASTE MONTH. SO IF YOU HAVE METAL, IF YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, YOU WANNA CLEAN OUT YOUR GARAGE, IF YOU'VE GOT AN OLD PIECE OF FENCE OR, YOU KNOW, UM, PART OF A ROOF OR A A A DRYER THAT DOESN'T WORK, YOU CAN COME TO, UM, THAT EVENT AND, UM, AND THEY WILL PAY YOU BASED ON THE, THE WEIGHT OF THE METAL AND THE KIND. THERE'S A LOT OF DETAIL ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THAT IS. UM, PLEASE CHECK OUR WEBSITE, YOU KNOW, THE DISTRICT AGE WEBSITE AND THERE'S MORE INFORMATION THERE. UM, AND ALSO, UM, LINKS TO IT IN, IN MY NEWSLETTER THAT GOES OUT EVERY WEEK. AND THEN, UM, LATER TODAY AT TWO O'CLOCK, THE CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE MEETING IN THIS ROOM. I'M INVITE INVITE ALL OF YOU TO JOIN US FOR THAT. OR YOU CAN HEAR A PRESENTATION FROM THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT ON, UM, SOME NEW DATA, UM, THAT IS SHAPING A COMMUNICATION PLAN THAT, UM, THAT WILL, UH, HELP REACH PARENTS OF, OF YOUNG CHILDREN REGARDING, UH, COV COVID VACCINES FOR CHILDREN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN PASSING. OKAY, UH, MAYOR, I APPROACH HIM. YES, MAYOR, REAL QUICK. UH, NEXT WEEK, TUESDAY, APRIL 19TH AT SIX O'CLOCK, WE'LL HAVE THE FIRST, UH, REDISTRICTING TOWN HALL IN KINGWOOD. IT'LL BE HELD AT THE KINGWOOD COMMUNITY CENTER AGAIN TUESDAY, APRIL 19TH AT SIX O'CLOCK. AND JUST A QUICK REMINDER THAT OUR DISTRICT E OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED IN HONOR OF GOOD FRIDAY, THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 15TH, IN OBSERVANCE OF THAT HOLY DAY. GOD BLESS. THANK YOU. UM, VICE MEMBER JIM CAST ACTT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST WANT TO, UM, ALSO EXTEND MY, UM, THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS TO, UM, PRECINCT SEVEN DEPUTY JENNIFER CHAVIS FAMILY. THE SERVICES ARE TODAY AT THE FOUNTAIN APPRAISED CHURCH IN DISTRICT A AND THE VIEWING BE BEGINS AT 11 AND THE SERVICE BEGINS AT 1230. ALSO, WANT TO ASK COUNCIL MEMBERS TO MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR JUNE THE 23RD. THIS WEEK I MET AT SPACE CENTER HOUSTON WITH THE TML LEAGUE STAFF, AND WE ARE PLANNING OUR TML BOARD DINNER HERE IN HOUSTON. OUR SUMMER MEETINGS ARE HELD IN THE PRESIDENT'S, UM, CITY. SO WE ARE GOING TO HOST THAT DINNER [05:10:01] AT, UH, SPACE CENTER HOUSTON, AND WOULD LOVE FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS IF THEY ARE AVAILABLE TO JOIN THE TML BOARD, UH, MEMBERS AT NASA SPACE CENTER ON JUNE 23RD, JUNE, UH, THURSDAY, JUNE 23RD. UM, I KNOW THAT BOARD DINNER WILL BE OUT OF THIS WORLD, PUN INTENDED. UM, ALSO WANNA SAY THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT ATTENDED THE WILLOW WATER HOLE MUSIC FEST THIS PAST SATURDAY. IT WAS VERY WELL ATTENDED. WE HAD A GREAT TIME. PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO TAKE PICTURES IN THE BLUE BONNETS AND ENJOY SOME GREAT MUSIC. UM, AND WANT TO ALSO REMIND, UH, RESIDENTS THAT THERE WILL BE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ELECTION ON MAY 7TH, AND THESE ELECTIONS DON'T GET VERY MUCH ATTENTION. UM, AND EARLY VOTING BEGINS APRIL 25TH. AND ON THE BALLOT ARE TWO PROPOSITIONS, THE PROPOSITION ONE PROPERTY TAX LIMIT REDUCTION FOR ELDERLY AND DISABLED RESIDENTS, AND PROPOSITION TWO, INCREASED HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPERTY TAX AMENDMENTS. SO, UM, IF PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS, THEY CAN GO TO WWW.VOTE TEXAS.GOV FOR MORE VOTING INFORMATION, BUT THAT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ELECTION IS ON MAY THE SEVENTH, UM, 2022, AND EARLY VOTING BEGINS APRIL 25TH. THANK YOU. AND BE KIND TO EACH OTHER. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN ROBINSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I KNOW I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU HOW ACTIVE WE'VE BEEN LATELY WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, THE FAMILY DAY IN THE PARK THAT WE HAD LAST WEEKEND. HOW FUN WAS THAT? BY THE WAY, I THINK YOUR SKILLS AT THE WASHBOARD ARE IMPROVING SIGNIFICANTLY. SO KUDOS TO YOU AND ALL THE PRACTICE AND THE ART CARD PARADE, UH, WITH, WITH SLIM THUG. I MEAN, WELL, AND WE, BUN B WAS OUT THERE WITH US. HE WAS RIDING WITH YOU. I MEAN, IT WAS, IT WAS HUGE. UM, ALSO WANT TO THANK MY FOLKS WITH, UH, THE A I A, UH, WE HAD OUR GALA THIS WEEKEND AT THE POST TX, WHICH WAS SUPER FUN. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO, I THINK, HOLD YOU UP, MAYOR WHILE YOU ATTEND THIS FUNERAL TODAY. AND, UH, OF COURSE OUR HEARTS ARE GONNA BE WITH THOSE WHO'VE PASSED THIS WEEK. AND, UH, UH, I WANTED, WANTED TO WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY PASSOVER AND A HAPPY EASTER. UM, HAPPY HOLY WEEK THIS WEEK. UM, I KNOW ONE PART OF MY COMMEMORATION, I'M GONNA RIDE AGAIN. MAYOR WITH, UH, UH, PASTOR MARCIA BURY FROM ST. LUKE, THE EVANGELIST CHURCH, UM, IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, WHERE THAT STATIONS OF THE HOOD RIDE, WHICH IS GONNA BE AT 9:00 AM ACTUALLY WE LEAVE ST. LUKE AT 10, BUT WE'RE GATHERING AT NINE AND IT ROLLS BY PROJECT ROW HOUSES, EMANCIPATION PARK, THURGOOD MARSHALL SCHOOL, THE GEORGE FLOYD MEMORIAL, AND A NUMBER OF SITES IN DISTRICT D. SO THAT'S, THAT'S A GREAT PART OF THE CELEBRATION AS WE THINK ABOUT, UH, GOOD FRIDAY. BUT, UH, BEST WISHES TO ALL FOR A HAPPY PASSOVER AND A, UM, AND A HOLY AND HAPPY EASTER. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MAYOR CALLING. THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST REAL QUICKLY, WE, UH, HAD A GREAT MEETING YESTERDAY AT THE RNA COMMITTEE ON THE NOISE ORDINANCE. WANNA THANK THE STAFF THAT FROM A RA AND LEGAL WHO'VE WORKED SO HARD ON THIS GENERAL SUPPORT, YOU, YOU WERE STEALING MY LINES EARLIER TODAY. SOME PEOPLE WANT US TO GO FARTHER. SOME PEOPLE THINK WE DON'T EVEN GO FAR ENOUGH, BUT THIS, WHAT WE'VE GOT IS REALLY GOOD AND I THINK IT'S A BIG IMPROVEMENT OVER WHAT'S THERE NOW. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. ALSO, AS WE PASSED THE, UH, PARENTAL LEAVE, I'D LIKE THE CITY TO LOOK ALSO TO ITS COMPONENT UNITS, IT'S BUSINESS COMPONENT UNITS, HOUSTON FIRST, HOUSTON HOUSING CORP, UM, FINANCE CORP, HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CORP. HOUSTON ZOO. UM, TO LOOK AT THEIR POLICIES. I KNOW HOUSTON FIRST HAS LIKE A TWO WEEK POLICY, UH, LEAVE POLICY. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO DO THAT. I KNOW THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION IS ACTIVELY GONNA ISSUE A CHA A CHALLENGE, BUT I THINK WITH, UH, THE COMPONENT UNITS, THAT'D BE A GOOD PLACE TO START. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN PALMER. COUNCILMAN PAT. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, I JUST HAVE A QUICK ISSUE THAT I WANTED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION. WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE TELLING US THAT THE, UM, HBD NON-EMERGENCY LINE IS BUSY WHEN THEY CALL. AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE TO ANSWER THAT PHONE. AND SO IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO TO MOVE RESOURCES TO THAT LINE, BECAUSE WE TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME TO CALL THAT NUMBER, AND IF IT'S CONSTANTLY BUSY, IT'S DOING, IT'S NOT DOING ANY GOOD FOR ANYONE. UM, EVEN IF WE CAN SWITCH IT TO WHERE SOMEONE'S ON HOLD RATHER THAN JUST A BUSY SIGNAL, I THINK THAT WOULD GO A LONG WAY, WAY TO WHICH ONE IS THAT? THIS IS THE HPD NON-EMERGENCY LINE, NOT EMERGENCY LINE. YEAH. IT'S JUST BUSY. SO I THINK IT WOULD MAKE PEOPLE FEEL, FEEL BETTER, AT LEAST IF THEY WERE ON HOLD WAITING FOR THE, FOR THE TO GET PICKED UP. BUT IT'S JUST BUSY CONSTANTLY WHEN PEOPLE TRY TO CALL. OKAY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, JACKSON AND THEN COUNCILMAN JACKSON. YES, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UM, I JUST WANTED TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR A SUCCESSFUL FAMILY DAY IN THE PARK. IT WAS A LOT OF FUN. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE ALL THE CONSTITUENTS OUT THERE AND THEM TURKEY LEGS WAS LIKE REALLY HUGE AND GOOD. TAKE A LEG HUG, [05:15:01] AND FROM DISTRICT D IT WAS HUGE. YEAH, BUT IT WAS A GREAT EVENT, . UM, AND THEN OF COURSE OVER IN FIFTH WARD THEY HAD THE RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL. YEAH, NICE. KATHY PAYTON OUT THERE. THEY DID AMAZING JOB PULLING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEEDED. SO I JUST WANTED TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, ALSO WANTED TO JUST INVITE FOLKS OUT TO OUR DISTRICT B MONTHLY BRIEFING. UM, IT'S GONNA BE THIS SATURDAY AT 10:00 AM. UM, WE WILL HAVE, UM, MR. CRENSHAW FROM THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THE RESTRICTION, YOU KNOW, WALKING THE CONSTITUENTS ON THAT AND HOW GET HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT ENFORCE IT, YOU KNOW, UH, HOW IT IS ENFORCED SO THAT THEY ARE CLEAR ON THAT. SO I INVITE FOLKS TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT. UM, IF YOU WANT INFORMATION, OUR CONTACT, UM, TO GET THE ZOOM LINK, CALL 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 9 OR EMAIL MY OFFICE DISTRICT B@HOUSTONTX.GOV. HAVE A BLESSED WEEK. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MCC KAMAN, UH, JUST WANTED TO WISH ALL IN DISTRICT CA HAPPY PASSOVER AND A HAPPY EASTER AND FOR THOSE CONTINUING TO CELEBRATE RAMADAN AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LET ME ECHO THAT. UH, HAPPY PASSOVER, THOSE IN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY. HAPPY EASTER FOR THOSE WHO ARE CHRISTIAN. AND, UH, FOR THOSE IN THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY. UH, RAMADAN BARBARIC. IN FACT, ON SUNDAY NIGHT WE HAD 2000 PEOPLE AT THE BAYOU EVENT CENTER, UH, CELEBRATING, UH, THE IFTAR DINNER. SO THANK ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBER PALER, COUNCIL MEMBER PAULA, FOR BEING PRESENT. HAVING SAID THAT, WE ARE GOING TO, DID I MISS ANYBODY? OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO QUICKLY STEP OUT. UH, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY, WHICH PRIMARILY WE'LL FOCUS ON PARENTAL LEAVE, UH, IN A FEW MINUTES. SO WE'RE GONNA STEP OUT AND THEN I THINK WE'RE GONNA TRY TO DO IT FROM RIGHT HERE TO MAKE IT AS CONVENIENT AS POSSIBLE. OKAY. WE STAND ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.