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AND REGULATORY[Quality of Life and Regulatory & Neighborhood Affairs Committee]
AND NEIGHBORHOOD AFFAIRS COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETING.I'M ROBERT GALLEGOS, CHAIR OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE, AND I WILL BE SERVING AS PRESIDING OFFICER.
I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 5 1 0.127 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE APPLICABLE TO A, A GOVERNMENTAL BODY THAT EXTENDS INTO THREE OR MORE COUNTIES.
ALL OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVE THE OPTION TO PARTICIPATE IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY VIA MICROSOFT TEAMS. I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE.
UH, WE ARE STARTING OFF WITH CO-CHAIR SALLY ALCORN.
UH, WE HAVE VICE CHAIR A AMY PECK.
UH, AND WE HAVE, UM, VIRTUALLY WE HAVE VICE CHAIR ABEY CAYMAN.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS CISNEROS.
WE HAVE STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER LA TIA PLUMBER, AND WE HAVE STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PARTICIPATING.
VIRTUALLY A REMINDER TO HAVE YOUR CAMERA ON WHEN YOU ARE SPEAKING AS OF YESTERDAY'S 5:00 PM DEADLINE.
WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGN UP TO MAKE COMMENT VIRTUALLY OR IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER.
IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE HERE IN PERSON AND WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC COMMENT, THERE IS A SIGN IN SHEET AT THE FRONT TABLE WITH KATIE.
BEFORE WE CONTINUE, WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ANY OPENING REMARKS, COMMENTS, UH, COUNT, UH, CHAIR, UH, ALCORN.
UM, NO, JUST TO SAY THAT, UM, LOOKING FORWARD TO TODAY'S AGENDA.
WE DID HAVE ORIGINALLY, UH, THE CITY'S UPDATES TO THE BUFFERING ORDINANCE.
WE'RE GOING TO BE ON THIS AGENDA THAT HAS NOT, THAT WILL COMING IN DECEMBER.
SO, UM, APOLOGIZE IF ANYBODY TUNED IN HERE, HOPING TO HEAR THAT PRESENTATION, BUT STILL HAVE A GOOD PROGRAM AHEAD.
ALSO, UH, QUALITY OF LIFE, VICE CHAIR, A ABBY CAYMAN.
UH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE ANY REMARKS? UH, NO.
VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO THE OVERVIEW OF THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE AND BUILDING LINE PROGRAMS, AND, UH, THE ENTIRE AGENDA IS GREAT.
AND ALSO VICE CHAIR OF THE RA COMMITTEE AT AM.
JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PRESENTATIONS.
TODAY'S AGENDA INCLUDES MUNICIPAL SETTING DESIGNATION, LOCATED AT 5 1 2 9 5 1 3, 3 AND ZERO LAWNDALE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, 7 7 0 2 3.
MARK WOODEN WOOTEN, MSD PROGRAM MANAGER AT HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS.
WE ALSO HAVE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS, CIVIC ARTS UPDATE.
NICOLE IRVIN, DIRECTOR OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS.
THERESA ESCOVEDO, CIVIC ART PROGRAM MANAGER, MAYOR'S OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS.
WE HAVE AN OVERVIEW OF MINIMUM LOT SIZE AND MINIMUM BUILDING LINE PROGRAMS. JENNIFER SLAND, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, ABRAHAM ZIA, PLANNER FOR PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
AS A REMINDER, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE BUFFERING ORDINANCE HAS BEEN PULLED FROM TODAY'S AGENDA.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSING THE PROPOSED REVISIONS AT A SPECIAL CALL JOINT MEETING ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13TH AT 10:00 AM COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF, UM, AS ALWAYS, PLEASE HOLD YOUR QUESTION UNTIL THE END OF EACH AGENDA ITEM.
IF YOU'RE CALLING FROM THE PHONE, IT'S A STAR SIX TO UNMUTE, AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES IN THE QUEUE, I MEAN IN THE TIME PERIOD.
NOW, PRESENTATION ONE, MUNICIPAL SETTING DESIGNATION 51 29, 51, 33, AND ZERO.
LAWNDALE, HOUSTON, TEXAS 7 7 0 2 3.
WELCOME, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS MUNICIPAL SETTING DESIGNATION PROGRAM MANAGER, MARK WOOTEN.
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOUR GUESTS FOR THE RECORDS, UH, AND, UH, YOU CAN BEGIN WITH YOUR PRESENTATION.
MY NAME IS MARK WOOTEN AND I'M A PROGRAM MANAGER IN HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS.
I'M JOINED BY MR. WYNN COLBERT, SENIOR ASSISTANT ATTORNEY IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
OUR PURPOSE IN HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS IS TOGETHER WE CREATE A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR HOUSTON TO THRIVE USING OUR FIVE TO THRIVE VALUES OF INTEGRITY, TEAMWORK, OWNERSHIP, COMMUNICATION, AND RESPECT.
TODAY, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS IS HOLDING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR ONE MSD APPLICATION.
UH, WE ARE JOINED BY LAUREN GOODWIN, REPRESENTING 51 29 LAWNDALE, LLC.
UH, WE ARE ALSO JOINED BY MS. CHRISTINE PEACH OF IN CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES, THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT SUPPORTING TODAY'S MSD APPLICATION.
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A MUNICIPAL SETTING DESIGNATION OR MSD OR MSD IS AN OFFICIAL DESIGNATION THAT CERTIFIES THAT THE PROPERTY GROUNDWATER IS CONTAMINATED AND IS NOT TO BE USED AS POTABLE WATER NOW OR IN THE FUTURE.THE DEED RESTRICTION IS VOLUNTARY AND IT CAN BE USED AS A TOOL FOR PROPERTY OWNERS TO ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPAIRMENTS TO GROUNDWATER.
IT ALSO ALLOWS FOR REINVESTMENT AND RE-DEVELOPMENT OF CONTAMINATED PROPERTIES, WHILE ALSO PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH.
THE MSDD RESTRICTION IS ADMINISTERED BY THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY OR TCEQ, BUT IT REQUIRES LOCAL SUPPORT ARTICLES 13 OF CHAPTER 47 OF THE CODE TO ORDINANCES PROVIDES THE CITY'S PROCESS TO EITHER SUPPORT OR NOT SUPPORT, UH, MSD APPLICANT'S, UH, APPLICATION TO THE STATE.
THIS CROSS SECTION GRAPHIC ON THE SCREEN DEPICTS WHAT AN MSD IS.
YOU HAVE A SUBJECT PROPERTY WITH SOME TYPE OF GROUNDWATER IMPAIRMENT.
IN THIS PROGRAM, ONLY SHALLOW GROUNDWATER, WHICH WOULD NOT BE USED FOR DRINKING IS CONSIDERED DRINKING WATER.
WELLS ARE TYPICALLY MUCH DEEPER THAN WHAT WE CONSIDER FOR THE MSD PROGRAM.
UH, WE REQUIRE THAT THE AREA WHERE THE CONTAMINATION IS BE FULLY DEFINED ON SITE SO THAT WE KNOW WHERE IT IS THAT IT IS NOT GROWING AND THE SOURCE HAS TO BE REMOVED.
UH, TODAY WE HAVE ONE PROPERTY THAT IS, UH, REQUESTING THE MSD DESIGNATION.
UH, THE APPLICATION, UH, TO BE CONSIDERED FOR MSD IS LOCATED AT 51 29, 51, 33 AND ZERO LAWNDALE AND COUNCIL DISTRICT.
I, UH, 51 29 LAWNDALE, LLC IS THE APPLICANT.
THE SITE IS APPROXIMATELY 0.7936 ACRES, AND IN THE 1940S, THE SITE OPERATED AS AN INDUSTRIAL FACILITY.
UH, MOST RECENTLY, THE SITE WAS OCCUPIED BY THE FORMER SPRAY METAL FACILITY.
OPERATIONS AT THIS SITE INCLUDED METAL SPRAYING, ABRASIVE BLASTING, SANDING GRINDING, HEAT, TREATING, QUENCHING, AND WELDING.
UH, OPERATIONS CEASED IN 2019 AND THE BUILDINGS ARE VACANT.
THE SITE WAS ENROLLED IN THE TCE Q'S VOLUNTARY CLEANUP PROGRAM IN 2020, UH, VCP NUMBER 30 60.
THE CONTAMINATION THAT THIS SITE CONSISTS OF TETRA CHLORO, ETHAN TRICHLOROETHYLENE, CS ONE TWO DI CHLORO, ETHENE VINYL CHLORIDE ONE ONE DI CHLORO, ETHNE AND BENZENE.
A PROFESSIONAL, UH, STATE CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL GEOLOGIST HAS CERTIFIED THAT THE AERIAL CONTAMINATION IS DELINEATED AS DEPICTED IN ORANGE ON THE SCREEN.
IT IS STABLE AND IN MOST CASES, DECREASING IN CONCENTRATION.
ON SEPTEMBER 6TH, 2022, WRITTEN NOTICES IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH WERE MAILED TO PROPERTY OWNERS AND REGISTERED CIVIC GROUPS WITHIN A HALF MILE OF THE SITE AND TO WATER WELL OWNERS AND OPERATORS WITHIN FIVE MILES OF THE SITE.
OUR DEPARTMENT THEN HOSTED A VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING ON OCTOBER 6TH, 2022 VIA MICROSOFT TEAMS, AND BASED ON THE INFORMATION SUPPLIED IN THE APPLICATION INPUT FROM VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS AND INPUT AT THE PUBLIC MEETING, MY DIRECTOR HAS REQUESTED A PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, DEPENDING ON THE OUTCOME OF TODAY'S MEETING, THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS WILL REQUEST THAT COUNCIL TAKE ACTION.
UH, TO SUPPORT THIS MSD APPLICATION.
UH, THE ORDINANCE WILL INCLUDE ALL ELEMENTS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW AND CHAPTER 13, UH, I'M SORRY, AND ARTICLE 13 OF CHAPTER 47 OF THE CODE ORDINANCES.
UH, THE APPLICANTS ARE PRESENT TODAY AS REQUIRED BY THE ORDINANCE AND STAFF, ALONG WITH THE APPLICANT ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS IN THE QUEUE, SO I APPRECIATE IT.
WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO PRESENTATION TWO MAYOR'S OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS, CIVIC ARTS UPDATE.
WELCOME MOCA DIRECTOR NICOLE IRVIN, AND THERESA ESCOVEDO, CIVIC ART PROGRAM MANAGER.
WHEN YOU'RE READY, WE CAN BEGIN.
COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND ALL OF THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS TODAY.
UM, ONE OF THE WAYS THAT THE CITY INVESTS IN ARTISTS AND THE CULTURAL ECONOMY OF OUR COMMUNITIES IS OUR CIVIC ART PROGRAM, WHICH IS PART OF THE CITY'S CAPITAL ASSET INVESTMENT PROGRAM MANAGED WITHIN OUR OFFICE.
THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE PROGRAM
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IS TO ENHANCE THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH THE INCLUSION OF ARTIST DESIGN FEATURES AND ARTWORK AND MUNICIPAL FACILITIES SUPPORTING THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO NEIGHBORHOOD ENHA ENHANCEMENT AND TO IMPROVING THE OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE AND COMMUNITY WELLBEING OF HOUSTONIANS.THERESA SCOLITO, OUR ARTS IS AN ARTS ADMINISTRATOR, CURATOR AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTIST, AND SHE IS THE FIRST EVER MANAGER OF THE CITY'S CIVIC ART PROGRAM.
AND IN THE TWO YEARS THAT SHE HAS BEEN HERE WITH THE CITY, SHE HAS BUILT STRENGTHEN AND ADVANCE THIS WORK, WHICH IS RECEIVING NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION.
WE ARE EXCITED TO SHARE WITH YOU THE ROBUST FISCAL YEAR 22 ACTIVITY, AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO TERESA.
AS MENTIONED, MY NAME IS TERESA COELLO HERE PRESENTING MOCA ON THE CIVIC ART PROGRAM.
TODAY, I'M GONNA PRESENT EXCERPTS FROM BOTH OUR FISCAL YEAR 2022 ANNUAL REPORT AND OUR 2022 EQUITY REVIEW OF OUR CIVIC ART COLLECTION UPDATES SHARED TODAY WILL HIGHLIGHT A CONSIDERABLE INCREASE FROM PAST FISCAL YEARS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S INVESTMENT IN CIVIC ART ACTIVITY THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, THOROUGH WORK IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THIS PROGRAM AND DEEP WORK AROUND EQUITY AS IT RELATES TO OUR PROGRAM VISION AND GOALS.
THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF INFO COVERED IN THE DECK, AND SO I'LL JUST BE TOUCHING ON KEY HIGHLIGHTS AND I'LL ASK FOR ADVANCEMENT TO PARTICULAR SLIDES.
IF WE CAN ADVANCE TO SLIDE FOUR, OUR ACTIVITY REPORT.
YOU'LL SEE ACTIVE IN 15, UH, FISCAL YEAR 22, THAT WE HAVE 53 ACTIVE PROJECTS THAT COVERS NEW COMMISSIONS, CONSERVATION AND COLLECTION MANAGEMENT.
UH, THE ACTIVE PROJECTS IN, IN THIS FISCAL YEAR 2022 INCLUDE ACTIVITIES AMONG EIGHT CITY DEPARTMENTS AND ACROSS SEVEN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
WE ALSO HAVE EXPERIENCED AN INCREASE IN COLLABORATIVE AND INTERDEPARTMENTAL PROJECTS.
THAT MEANS DEPARTMENTS SPLITTING COSTS OR SHARING COSTS OF COMMISSION PROJECTS.
THE NEXT SLIDE YOU SEE WILL OUTLINE OUR FUNDS AND SERVICE, AND I SIMPLY WANNA REMARK ON THIS SLIDE THAT IT IS ANOTHER WAY.
WE'RE DEMONSTRATING A HUGE INCREASE IN OUR ACTIVITY AND IN THE CITY'S INVESTMENT IN THE CIVIC ART PROGRAM.
UM, AND I SHOULD SAY RATHER IN NEIGHBORHOODS VIA THE CIVIC ART PROGRAM.
ON SLIDE SIX, AND I'LL WAIT FOR YOU TO CATCH UP, WE'VE HIGHLIGHTED, UM, OUR NEW ARTWORK COMMISSIONS.
SO DURING FISCAL YEAR 22, WE SAW 20 ACTIVE COMMISSIONS ACROSS SIX DISTRICTS.
THOSE ARE COMMISSIONED, OR THAT WORK IS AUTHORIZED THROUGH LETTERS OF AUTHORIZATION.
SO 20 LOAS HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED IN THE PAST FISCAL YEAR COMBINED.
AND ONCE COMPLETED, THESE PROJECTS WILL ADD 34 SITE SPECIFIC CIVIC ARC COMMISSIONS TO OUR FACILITIES AND GROUNDS THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON OWNS, AS WELL AS OVER 80 PORTABLE WORKS PROJECTS OR ARTWORKS TO OUR CIVIC ART COLLECTION.
THE SUBSEQUENT SLIDES OUTLINE IN DETAIL, UM, IN MORE DETAIL WHAT THOSE COMMISSIONS AND WHAT THOSE PROJECTS ARE.
UM, BUT IF WE CAN JUMP TO SLIDE 18, I'D LIKE TO BEGIN REPORTING ON OUR, OUR WORK AROUND EQUITY.
SO IN THE SLIDES, UM, AT THE END OF THE ANNUAL REPORT, YOU'LL ALSO SEE UPDATES ON COLLECTION MANAGEMENT, CONSERVATION, UM, WHICH HAS UNDERGONE A CONSIDERABLE EFFORT AND ACTIVITY, AS WELL AS OUR WORK ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND TEMPORARY ART.
ON SLIDE 18, WE BEGIN TO REPORT FROM OUR EQUITY REVIEW.
THIS IS A SURVEY OF OBSERVABLE AND COLLECTED DATA REGARDING THE ARTWORKS IN OUR COLLECTION.
SOME OF THESE ARE KEY KEY HIGHLIGHTS I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT HERE.
SO IN OUR 2022 REPORTING, WE FOUND THAT COMPARED TO NATIONAL AVERAGES, HOUSTON REMAINS RAKED AS THE MOST CULTURALLY DIVERSE CITY IN THE UNITED STATES.
GATHERING INFORMATION ON RACE AND ETHNICITY AND GENDER FROM ALL OF THE ARTISTS APPLYING TO OUR OPPORTUNITIES HAS RESULTED SINCE 2020 IN MORE NUANCED RACIAL, ETHNIC AND GENDER REPRESENTATION AND BROADER DEMOGRAPHIC DEMONSTRATION, UH, OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY WITHIN OUR CIVIC ART COLLECTION, THE LARGEST SINGLE ACQUISITION OF ARTWORKS INTO THE CIVIC ART COLLECTION TOOK PLACE DURING FISCAL YEAR 2022.
THE MAJORITY OF THE ARTWORKS COLLECTED THROUGH THAT PROCESS WERE CREATED BY ARTISTS IDENTIFYING AS WOMEN.
OUR RECENT PORTABLE WORKS INITIATIVE ADDED TO THE CIVIC ART COLLECTION ARTWORKS THAT IN INCREASED NUMBERS REPRESENT NON-HISPANIC, UM, CORRECTION, REPRESENT HIS NON-HISPANIC WHITE ARTISTS TO A GREATER DEGREE THAN OTHER ARTISTS OR ARTISTS REPRESENTING OTHER DEMOGRAPHIC,
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UM, GROUPS.BUT WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASED NUMBER OF ARTISTS REPRESENTED MORE, MORE DIVERSE CULTURES.
THE SELECTION PROCESSES, WHICH TOOK PLACE DURING FISCAL 2022 ON OTHER ACTIVE PROJECTS HAVE RESULTED IN A DIVERSE POOL OF APPLICANTS IN NUMBERS, MORE DIVERSE THAN WE'VE SEEN BEFORE, UM, FOR MULTIPLE RACIAL AND ETHNIC CATEGORIES THAT ARE UNDERREPRESENTED IN OUR COLLECTION.
I'LL ALSO HIGHLIGHT THAT OVERALL CHANGES TO THE CIVIC ART PROGRAM SELECTION PROCESSES AND PROGRAM PRACTICES HAVE RESULTED IN MORE DIVERSITY AMONGST ARTISTS.
APPLICANTS MORE DIVERSITY AMONG PANELISTS ADJUDICATING OUR PROCESS, AND ULTIMATELY MORE DIVERSITY AMONG ARTISTS WHO HAVE BEEN CONTRACTED FOR FUTURE COMMISSIONS.
FROM HERE, I'LL ASK THAT WE JUMP TO SLIDE, UH, EXCUSE ME, 24.
ON THIS SLIDE, WE TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THE ARTWORKS, WHICH HAVE BEEN ADDED TO OUR CIVIC ART COLLECTION IN THE PAST FISCAL YEAR.
IN TOTAL, 163 ARTWORKS WERE ADDED TO OUR COLLECTION.
UM, DURING FISCAL YEAR 2274 WERE ACQUIRED VIA DIRECT PURCHASE THROUGH A PORTABLE WORKS PROJECT AT THE HOUSTON AIRPORTS.
THREE WERE GIFTED TO THE CITY VIA DONATIONS AND ACCEPTED BY COUNCIL.
34 WERE PREVIOUSLY IN OUR POSSESSION, BUT A SESSIONED INTO THE COLLECTION.
AND 52 PORTRAITS OF FORMER MAYORS WERE ADDED TO OUR COLLECTION SO THAT THOSE IMAGES COULD BE CONSERVED, REFRAMED, AND REHUNG IN THE BASEMENT OF CITY HALL.
IT'S NOTABLE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS CHART THAT WE ARE IN A PHASE NOW WHERE WE ARE ASKING ARTISTS TO SELF-IDENTIFY, AND AS WE DO, WE ARE PRO PROVIDED WITH MORE NUANCED DATA.
THE INFORMATION PROVIDED TO US BY ARTISTS ALLOWS FOR THEM, AGAIN, TO SELF-IDENTIFY, BUT ULTIMATELY SHOWS MORE NUANCED DEMOGRAPHICS AND AN INCREASE IN DIVERSITY AMONG THE ARTISTS WHOSE ARTWORKS ARE IN OUR COLLECTION.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE ON THIS SLIDE THAT THE 31% THAT'S DESIGNATED AS UNKNOWN ARE ALL RELATED TO THE MAYORAL PORTRAITS I MENTIONED.
SO THOSE ARTISTS, UM, WHO CREATED THOSE ORIGINAL ARTWORKS, THERE'S INFORMATION ABOUT THEM WE DON'T KNOW.
THAT'S ALSO TO MAKE THE POINT, THE MORE INFORMATION WE HAVE ABOUT THE ARTWORKS IN THE COLLECTION, THE MORE NUANCED INFORMATION WE CAN REPORT UPON AND THE MORE DIVERSITY WE SEE.
I'D LIKE TO, IF WE CAN NAVIGATE TO, UH, SLIDE 27, TALK ABOUT OUR SELECTION PROCESSES.
SO THE SELECTION PROCESSES REPORTED ON IN THIS SELECTION ARE THE FIRST PROJECTS TO RECEIVE THE BENEFITS OF CHANGES IN OUR PRACTICE.
SINCE OUR ORIGINAL AND FIRST REPORT ON EQUITY IN 2020 KEY AMONG THESE PROJECTS, UM, WE SEE IMPROVEMENT IN FOUR KEY ASPECTS.
WE ARE NOW GATHERING ARTISTS PROVIDED DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION AT THE START OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
WE HAVE, UH, STRENGTHENED AND IMPROVE THE CRITERIA FOR SELECTING ARTS PROFESSIONALS WHO ADJUDICATE THESE PROCESSES, REALLY DIGGING INTO THEIR OWN VALUES FOR EQUITY AND HOW THEY DEMONSTRATE THOSE VALUES IN THEIR OWN WORK.
WE'VE INVITED PARTICIPANTS, UM, ON EVERY SELECTION PROCESS TO INCLUDE COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES RECOMMENDED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS, SOME OF WHICH ARE PRESENT TODAY.
WE'VE ALSO TREMENDOUSLY DEEPENED OUR SUPPORT, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR PARTNER HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE IN WHAT IS PROVIDED TO ARTISTS WHO ARE INITIATING PROJECTS.
WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN FIRST TIME AWARDEES, MEANING ARTISTS WHO'VE MAKING COMMISSIONS FOR THE FIRST TIME OTHER THAT REQUIRES DEEPENED SUPPORT FOR THEM AS THEY NAVIGATE THE DESIGN DEVELOPMENT, FABRICATION AND INSTALLATION PROCESS.
ON THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU SEE A BREAKDOWN OF ALL OF THE APPLICANTS WHO WHOSE ARTWORKS OR APPLICATIONS WERE ADJUDICATED IN THE FISCAL YEAR, UM, WHICH SHOWS INCREASED DIVERSITY RESULTING FROM INCREASED OUTREACH.
THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS THE FINALIST, WHO WE'VE CONTRACTED WITH BASED ON THESE ADJUDICATION PROCESS.
OF NOTE, WE SEE MORE PARODY AMONG MALE AND FEMALE ARTISTS IN TERMS OF OUR OFFER OF CONTRACTS FOR COMMISSIONS.
AND, UM, LATER ON WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT INVESTMENT.
SUBSEQUENT SLIDES SHOW THE DETAIL PER PROJECT, UM, SOME OF WHICH, AND I'LL NAME THEM THE DENVER HARBOR MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, THE NORTH BELT SAFETY COMPLEX, WHICH IS A COMBINED PROJECT BETWEEN HPD AND HFD, THE MICKEY LELAND TERMINAL.
THAT'S TERMINAL, UM, A NEW TERMINAL UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT BUSH AIRPORT.
UM, AND WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS OCCURRING IN, IN THAT, UM, IN THAT FACILITY.
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CAN MOVE TO SLIDE 40, THIS IS AN INTERESTING NOTE, THOUGH.WE HAVE SEEN INCREASED PARITY AND A 45 TO 55% SPLIT BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE ARTISTS CONTRACTED IN THE PAST FISCAL YEAR.
WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASED IN UNPRECEDENTED INVESTMENT IN FEMALE ARTIST AS INDICATED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF SLIDE 40.
THE NEXT SLIDE WE OFFER CONCLUSION, UM, NOTABLY, WHICH IS THAT OVERALL THE IMMEDIATE ADJUSTMENTS MADE TO PROCESS AND PROGRAM PRACTICES EXPERIENCED BY THE CIVIC ART PROGRAM HAS RESULTED IN PROGRAM WIDE IMPROVEMENTS TOWARDS CIVIC ART PROGRAM GOALS AND VISIONS, WHICH ARE PARAMOUNT.
UH, OF PARAMOUNT IMPORT IS DIVERSITY.
AGAIN, WE CONTINUE TO MAKE WORK TO BUILD THE COLLECTION THAT IS REFLECTIVE OF AND RESPONSIVE TO THE DIVERSE PEOPLES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND ON THE NEXT SLIDE, I'LL BRIEFLY REVIEW SOME OF THE CHANGES IN PRACTICES, UM, AND THE IMPACT.
SO, AS SAID, MENTIONED BEFORE, OUR FIRST REVIEW OF OUR COLLECTION OCCURRED IN 2020.
WE PUBLISHED THAT REVIEW AND COMMITTED TO MAKE IMMEDIATE CHANGES WITH FULL SUPPORT OF OUR MAYOR.
SINCE THEN, IN DIRECT RESPONSE TO THE RESULTS OF THOSE FINDINGS, WE'VE IMPROVED THE CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF PANELIST, REVIEWERS ADJUDICATING OUR PROCESSES.
WE'VE INVITED COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE RECOMMENDED BY COUNCIL TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL OF OUR SELECTION PANELS.
WE'VE REQUESTED THAT EACH COMMISSION PROJECT BE DEVELOPED FOR COMMUNITIES INCLUDE AMO COMPONENT OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
WE'VE DIVERSIFIED METHODS THROUGH WHICH RFPS AND RF QS ARE RELEASED TO ARTISTS, UM, AND HAVE CASE STUDIES ON TWO SELECTION PROCESSES THAT HAVE BEEN MET WITH SUCCESS.
IN TERMS OF SELECTING DIVERSE FINALISTS, WE'VE INCREASED OUR MARKET STRATEGY MARKETING STRATEGIES, NOT ONLY TO PROMOTE OUR COLLECTION, BUT TO PROMOTE THESE OPPORTUNITIES.
WE'VE ISSUED OUR FIRST EVER CIVIC ART PROGRAM POLICY AND GUIDE TO, UM, DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE CITY.
HOWEVER, THERE'S A LOT MORE WORK TO DO IN THIS SPACE, AND WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO REPORTING ON THIS ANNUALLY AND TO GETTING AHEAD OF THIS WORK EARLIER ON IN THE DESIGN PROCESS.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR REPORTING FOR TODAY, BUT I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
UH, BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO, UH, QUESTIONS, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE WE HAVE, UH, STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MIKE KNOX IN THE OFFICE IN THE CHAMBER.
UH, FIRST IN THE QUEUE, WE HAVE CHAIR ALCORN.
THANK YOU CHAIR, AND THANKS FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
THIS IS GREAT AND REALLY APPRECIATE THE, ALL THE DETAIL ON THIS, UH, THE SOLICITATION PROCESS.
I, I'M CURIOUS ABOUT HOW, HOW ARTISTS LEARN ABOUT THE PROJECTS.
UM, IT SAYS MARKETING, UM, STRATEGY THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED FOR COMMISSION PROJECTS.
HOW DOES, AND I'M SURE HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE HELPS, HELPS US GET THE WORD OUT.
UH, BUT HOW, HOW DO PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT PROJECTS FOR WHICH THEY CAN, AS OUR CONTRACTOR, FOR ALL OF THE WORK RELATED TO OUR CIVIC ART PROGRAM AND ART COMMISSIONING PROJECT? HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE TAKES THE LEAD ON THAT OUTREACH, BUT WE WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THEM IN LONG MEETINGS DAILY IN ORDER TO STRATEGIZE HOW TO, UM, INCREASE THAT OUTREACH.
SO IT IS OFTEN THEIR NEWSLETTERS, THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA.
THAT IS THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT, BUT WE'VE INCREASED SPONSORED ADS, RIGHT? ADVERTORIAL OPPORTUNITIES, ET CETERA.
WE ARE STILL IN A MOSTLY VIRTUAL SPACE, BUT HOPEFULLY THAT MEANS THAT WE ARE OUT IN COMMUNITY SOON, UM, HAVING INFO SESSIONS IN PUBLIC SPACES.
AND, AND WHERE, WHEN DO YOU GET YOUR NUMBER, LIKE YOUR ANNUAL BUDGET? IT'S 1.75% OF DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION ON CERTAIN QUALIFYING PROJECTS.
HOW IS THAT DONE? DOES PUBLIC WORKS? LIKE HOW, HOW DO YOU GET THAT NUMBER? WHEN DO YOU GET THAT NUMBER? I KNOW THE PROJECTS TAKE MORE THAN JUST A CALENDAR YEAR.
SO HOW, HOW DOES THE MONEY KIND OF WORK FOR THIS? WE RECEIVE PROJECTIONS FROM OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT OKAY.
BUT OUR FINAL NUMBERS TO WORK WITH IN TERMS OF CIVIC ART FUNDS COME FROM WHAT IS APPROVED BY COUNSEL, ULTIMATELY.
SO SOMETIMES THERE'S DEVIATION.
AND, AND ONE FINAL THING, DOES SELECTION JURIES, HOW, HOW ARE THOSE DETERMINED? WHO TAKES THE LEAD? DOES HAA TAKE THE LEAD AND WHO'S GONNA BE ON, DOES THE CITY, HOW, HOW BIG ARE THEY? DOES IT VARY AT THIS TIME? THAT'S ALSO COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.
WE ARE MAKING THOSE DECISIONS ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS BASED ON THE ACTUAL PROJECT BEING REQUESTED BY DEPARTMENT SPONSORING THIS WORK.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, PROJECTS IN THE AIRPORT, WE LIKE TO CONSIDER, UM, OTHER CURATORS AROUND THE NATION WHO RUN AIRPORT PROGRAMS, RIGHT, TO HELP ADJUDICATE OUR PROCESSES, RIGHT.
FOR ARTWORKS AND NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT'S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE A COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE TO HELP, UM, SHARE WITH OTHER PANELISTS HOW A CONCEPT MIGHT BE RESPONSIVE TO THAT COMMUNITY.
SO RIGHT NOW WE RUN A TWO TIERED RFQ TO RFP PROCESS, RFQ.
WE ISSUE A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
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THAT'S ADJUDICATED BY A THREE PANEL, THREE PERSON PANEL OF ARTS PROFESSIONALS.WHEN IT MOVES TO THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL PROCESS, A PANEL OF THEN TURNS INTO FIVE PEOPLE WHERE WE ADD A SPONSORING DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVE AS WELL AS A COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE TO REVIEW PRESENTATIONS MADE TO THEM.
SO AT THE MOST, THERE, THOSE ARE FIVE PEOPLE ON THAT AT MOST AS FIVE.
AND I SHOULD ALSO MENTION THAT THAT'S SIMPLY A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT SHOULD BE RECOMMENDED TO THE CITY.
THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE REVIEWED BY THE CIVIC ART COMMITTEE AT HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE, AND THEN BY THEIR BOARD, THEN IT COMES TO THE CITY AS A RECOMMENDATION.
NEXT, IN YOU, WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER CIS.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THIS REPORT.
UM, I WANTED TO APPLAUD THE WORK YOU'VE DONE TO INCREASE DIVERSITY AND ON THE FOCUS ON EQUITY.
UM, SO THE CHANGES TO THIS SELECTION PRO, UM, PROCESS, YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD EXPECT THAT AS THE MOST DIVERSE CULTURALLY DIVERSITY IN THE NATION THAT WE WOULD HAVE THE MOST DIVERSE SELECTION OF, OF APPLICANTS.
BUT THAT'S NOT HOW IT'D BEEN PLAYING OUT.
THAT THIS IS THE, THE CHANGES TO THE SELECTION PROCESS IS MAKING THAT HAPPEN SO THAT, UM, THE, NOW THE, THE ARTISTS THAT ARE APPLYING ARE MORE DIVERSE.
THE, THE, THE, THE ARTISTS THAT ARE JUDGING THEM ARE MORE DIVERSE, AND THE ARTISTS THAT ARE GETTING SELECTED ARE MORE DIVERSE.
UM, I WANTED TO JUST, UM, TO, TO, TO SHINE A LIGHT ON THE, THE ANNUAL EQUITY REVIEW REPORT, TOO.
JUST BECAUSE IT'S WORKING NOW, WE DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, UM, IF IT WILL CONTINUE TO WORK OR IF THERE'S THINGS THAT NEED TO BE TWEAKED TO MAKE IT BETTER.
SO I THINK IT'S REALLY SMART TO KEEP AN EYE ON IT AND TO, TO NOT JUST ASSUME THAT IT'S WORKING.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT AS WELL.
AND MS. ESCO, THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS IN THE QUEUE, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS.
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO PRESENT PRESENTATION NUMBER THREE, UH, OVERVIEW OF MINIMUM LOT SIZE AND MINIMUM BUILDING LINE PROGRAMS. UH, WELCOME DEPUTY DIRECTOR JENNIFER OLINE AND ABRAHAM ZORIA, UH, FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
WHEN YOU'RE READY, PLEASE START ALSO.
THANK YOU, UH, CHAIR ALCORN FOR GIVING US A FEW MOMENTS ON YOUR AGENDA TODAY.
UM, I'M JENNIFER OSLAND WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, AND I'M JOINED BY ABRAHAM ZIA, WHO MANAGES OUR MINIMUM LOT SIZE AND BUILDING LINE PROGRAM.
SO, AS YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY KNOWS, UM, THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE AND BUILDING LINE PROGRAMS ARE VERY POPULAR WITH NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY, UH, PARTLY MODELED AFTER THE PROCESS FOR ESTABLISHING DEED RESTRICTIONS.
UH, THESE TOOLS ARE GRASSROOTS EFFORTS THAT ALLOW, UH, PROPERTY OWNERS ON A BLOCK OR AN ESPECIALLY DESIGNATED AREA TO ESTABLISH BUILDING LINE RESTRICTIONS, LOT SIZE RESTRICTIONS AND SINGLE FAMILY RESTRICTIONS.
THE FIRST OF THESE ORDINANCES WERE ESTABLISHED IN 1999, UH, WITH A TERM OF 20 YEARS AS THEY APPROACH THE EXPIRATION DATES, PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, EXTEND THE RESTRICTIONS FOR ANOTHER 20 YEARS FOLLOWING A SIMPLE PROCESS.
AND THE PURPOSE OF OUR PRESENTATION TODAY IS TO WALK YOU THROUGH THAT PROCESS, AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO ABRAHAM TO DO THAT.
ONCE AGAIN, MY NAME IS ABRAHAM SAR.
UH, ABRAHAM SARRIA WITH THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
IF YOU CAN GO TO THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, PLEASE.
UH, I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, ANSWER THE QUESTION WITH THAT I NORMALLY GET FROM THE PUBLIC AND WHAT ARE MINIMAL OUTSIZE AND MINIMUM BILLING LINE ORDINANCES.
SO BASICALLY, THERE ARE TOOLS AVAILABLE FOR ALL PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND THE PURPOSE OF THOSE ORDINANCES IS TO PROTECT NEIGHBORHOODS THAT DO NOT HAVE THE RESTRICTIONS.
AS JENNIFER STATED, THE MINIMUM BILLING LINE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1999 WITH A TERM OF 20 YEARS.
IN 2001, THE MINIMAL OUTSIZE ORDINANCE WAS CREATED ALSO WITH A TERM OF 20 YEARS.
IN 2007, THAT'S WHEN WE HAVE OUR FIFTH AMENDMENT, ONE OF THEM BEING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SINGLE FAMILY LAND.
DUE RESTRICTION FOR ALL MINIMAL OUT SIZE APPLICATIONS.
IN 2013, UH, PROPERTY OWNERS WERE ALLOWED TO APPLY FOR MINIMAL OUT SIZE AND MINIMUM BUILDING LINE ORDINANCES OUTSIDE OF THE, UH, SIX 10.
BUT WITHIN CITY OF HOUSTON LIMITS, WE ALSO, IN, IN THAT SAME YEAR, THE MINIMUM SPECIAL, MINIMAL OUT SIZE AREA APPLICATION WERE ESTABLISHED AND FOR NEW MINIMAL OUT SIZE APPLICATIONS.
IN 2015, UH, THE MINIMUM BILLING LINES, UM, THERE WAS, UH, AN AMENDMENT FOR THE TERM FOR NEW APPLICATIONS TO BE FOR 40 YEARS.
[00:30:01]
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.SO, NOTIFICATION LETTERS, THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENTS SEND NOTIFICATION LETTERS TO ALL PROPERTY OWNERS, UH, WITHIN THE, UH, BOUNDARY OF EXPIRING ORDINANCES, MINIMUM OUTSIZE AND MINIMUM BILLING LINES.
AND WITH THOSE NOTIFICATION LETTERS, WE PROVIDE THE EXPIRATION DATE OF THE ORDINANCE AND OUR CONTACT INFORMATION SO THEY CAN REACH OUT TO US AND LEARN HOW THEY CAN APPLY.
AND THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS SENT NOTIFICATION LETTERS TO ALL PROPERTY OWNERS WITH EXPIRING ORDINANCES ALL THE WAY TO AUGUST, 2023.
SO NOW WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THE, UH, RENEWAL PROCESS.
AND TO START THAT RENEWAL PROCESS, WE, UH, NEED, UH, RENEWAL APPLICATIONS.
AND WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO MENTION HERE IS THAT THE RENEWAL APPLICATIONS ONLY CONSIST OF AN APPLICANT FILLING OUT THE FIRST TWO PAGES OF THE APPLICATION FORM.
THESE RENEWAL APPLICATIONS DO NOT NEED TO COME WITH, UM, SO, UH, EVIDENCE OF SUPPORT.
SO THAT'S THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RENEWAL APPLICATIONS AND NEW LOT SIZE AND BILLING LINES APPLICATIONS.
SO ONCE WE RECEIVE A RENEWAL APPLICATION, WE SEND NOTIFICATION LETTERS TO ALL PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN THE BOUNDARY OF THE EXPIRING ORDINANCE TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THE EXISTENCE OF THE APPLICATION AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROTEST WITHIN, UH, THAT 30 DAY PROTEST PERIOD.
IF WE DO NOT RECEIVE A PRO A PROTEST LETTER, THEN THE APPLICATION WILL GO TO OUR DIRECTOR FOR APPROVAL, AND THEN IT WILL BE FORWARD TO CITY COUNCIL FOR THE FINAL APPROVAL.
IF WE DO RECEIVE A PROTEST LETTER WITHIN THE PROTEST PERIOD, THEN A NOTIFICATION LETTER WILL BE MAILED OUT TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THE DATE, TIME, AND LOCATION OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THAT WILL BE, THIS APPLICATION BASICALLY WILL BE PRESENTED BEFORE PLANNING COMMISSION AT THE PUBLIC HEARING.
PROPERTY OWNERS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OR IN OPPOSITION OF THE APPLICATION.
IF, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVE THE APPLICATION, THEN THE APPLICATION WILL BE FORWARD TO CITY COUNCIL FOR THE FINAL APPROVAL.
WE HAVE HAD FEW, UH, APPLICATIONS, RENEWAL APPLICATIONS THAT WERE PRESENTED BEFORE PLANNING COMMISSION.
ALL OF THEM HAVE MOVED FORWARD TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
SO, WHO CAN BE AN APPLICANT? AN APPLICANT PER THE ORDINANCE COULD BE APPROPRIATE OWNER WITHIN THE BOUNDARY OF THE RENEWAL APPLICATION.
AND IT CAN ALSO BE A REPRESENTATIVE OF A HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION OF A CV CLUB.
THIS IS A PICTURE OF AN APPLICANT WHO CAME TO THE OUR DEPARTMENT AND SUBMITTED THE APPLICATION.
UH, HE APPLIED FOR A MINIMUM OUTSIZED RENEWAL, UH, AND THE THESE APPLICATIONS IS IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
HE ALSO SUBMITTED LAST YEAR A RENEWAL FOR THE MINIMUM BILLING LINE.
THAT RENEWAL HAS BEEN, UH, APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL AS WELL.
SO, AS OF TODAY, UH, HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL HAS APPROVED A TOTAL OF 663, UH, MINIMAL OUTSIZE ORDINANCES AND 203 MINIMUM BILLING LINE ORDINANCES.
UH, AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE ARE PROCESSING 37 MINIMUM OUTSIZE APPLICATIONS AND 24 MINIMUM BILLING LINES APPLICATIONS, AND EXPIRING THROUGH DECEMBER, UH, 2022.
WE HAVE 23, UH, MINIMAL OUTSIZE ORDINANCES EXPIRING, AND 26 MINIMUM BILLING LINE ORDINANCES EXPIRING AS WELL.
HOWEVER, THE, THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAVE RECEIVED A MINIMAL 21 MINIMAL OUTSIDE RENEWAL APPLICATIONS.
THERE ARE IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
AND AS OF TODAY, WE HAVE RECEIVED SEVEN MINIMUM BILLING LINE RENEWAL APPLICATIONS, WHICH IS IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS AS WELL.
15 MINIMUM BILLING LINE OR RENEWAL ORDINANCES HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY, UH, CITY COUNCIL.
WITH THAT, UH, THAT CONCLUDE MY PRESENTATION.
HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE TO INFORM THE PUBLIC IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS OR WOULD LIKE TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO PROTECT THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
PLEASE REACH OUT TO THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AT 8 3 2 3 9 3 6 6 0 0.
AND AGAIN, MY NAME IS ABRAHAM SOJA WITH THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UH, FIRST IN THE QUEUE, WE HAVE, UH, CHAIR ALCORN.
ON SLIDE 17, IF YOU COULD GO BACK ON THE ONES THAT ARE COMING DUE EXPIRING NEXT MONTH, 23 AND 26 ON THE PROCESSING.
NOW, THE 21 AND SEVEN, DOES THAT JUST MEAN THAT, I MEAN, ARE YOU PROCESSING THE ONES FROM THE EXPIRING THROUGH 1222 ONES? YES, SIR.
SO DOES THAT MEAN THERE'S LIKE 19 THAT DON'T CARE ON THE BUILDING LINE, OR, OR DO WE LIKE REACH BACK OUT, HEY, IT'S REALLY HAPPENING OR? SO YEAH, SO WE, WE SEND NOTIFICATION LETTERS TO ALL PROPERTY OWNERS, WHICH ARE EXPIRING ORDINANCES.
[00:35:01]
WE HAVE APPLICATIONS THAT WERE FROM EXPIRING FROM 2022.SO WE, THAT'S, WE ONLY HAVE FIVE, UH, BUILDING LINES THAT HAVE EXPIRED, MEANING THAT PEOPLE HAVE NOT SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS TO RENEW, BUT LIKE WHAT'S, BUT THROUGH 12, OH, THAT'S TOTAL.
YEAH, THE NUMBER WILL NOT MATCH, BUT OKAY.
SO PRETTY MUCH, PRETTY MUCH ALL OF 'EM ARE RENEWING.
SO FAR WE ONLY HAVE, AGAIN, FOR BILLING LINES FIVE, THAT DID NOT APPLY FOR RENEWAL AND FOR THE LOT SIZE, WE HAVE APPLICATIONS, RENEWAL APPLICATIONS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DECIDED TO SUBMIT A NEW APPLICATION TO HAVE THE SINGLE FAMILY LAND YOUTH RESTRICTION.
UM, TO THAT POINT, AND FIRST OFF, THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THE WORK THAT GOES INTO THIS.
I KNOW THAT DISTRICT C HAS A LOT OF THESE, UH, AND OUR RESIDENTS VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
UM, CAN YOU JUST, SO FOR ANY RESIDENTS THAT ARE LISTENING, SAY ONE MORE TIME VERY CLEARLY, THE DIFFERENCE IN THE TERMS, FOR EXAMPLE, SOME EXPIRE IN 20 YEARS VERSUS 40 YEARS, AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR RESIDENTS.
SO CURRENTLY WE HAVE MINIMAL OUTSIZE AND MINIMUM MINIMUM BILLING LINES, ORDINANCES THAT ARE EXPIRING JUST BECAUSE THEY WERE ESTABLISHED WHEN THE TERM FOR THOSE ORDINANCES FOR, UH, WAS 20 YEARS.
SO WE HAVE A RENEWAL APPLICATION PROCESS THAT ONLY CONSISTS OF AN APPLICANT FILLING OUT AN APPLICATION FORM.
UM, AND IT'S, IT WILL BE, IF IT'S RENEWED, IT WILL BE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS THAT WERE ESTABLISHED 20 YEARS AGO.
UH, IN 2014 IS WHEN WE, THE TERMS CHANGED FROM 20, UH, YEARS TO 40 YEARS FOR THOSE APPLICATIONS THAT WERE SUBMITTED FROM 2014.
AND AT THE TIME, NOWADAYS, UH, WE HAVE THIS MINIMAL OUTSIZE APPLICATIONS THAT COME WITH SINGLE FAMILY LAND USE RESTRICTION.
AND WHAT'S IMPROVED, IT WILL, IT WILL BE IN PLACE FOR 40 YEARS FOR THE MINIMUM BILLING LINE.
UM, THAT CHANGED THE TERMS, UH, FROM 20 TO 40 YEARS HAPPENED IN 2015.
SO ALL THE APPLICATION THAT WAS, UH, RECEIVED FROM 2015 TO NOW, UH, ONCE IT'S APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL, IT WILL BE IN PLACE FOR 40 YEARS.
THE BILLING LINE, UH, APPLICATIONS DO NOT COME WITH THE, UH, SINGLE FAMILY LAND RESTRICTION.
ONLY THE MINIMAL OUTSIZE APPLICATIONS WILL ESTABLISH THE, UH, SINGLE FAMILY LAND, LAND RESTRICTIONS TO PROPERTIES THAT ARE SINGLE FAMILY OR VACANT WHEN THE APPLICATION IS SUBMITTED.
AND SO JUST TO, FOR CLARIFICATION, FOR CLARIFICATION PURPOSES, SO IF RESIDENTS WANNA NOW EXTEND THE LIFE FROM 20 TO 40 YEARS, THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS AGAIN, IT'S NOT JUST THAT SIMPLE, YOU KNOW, SHEET THAT ONE PERSON CAN FILL OUT.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT THAT IS CORRECT.
IF YOU WANT TO HAVE THE, THE RESTRICTIONS THAT THE MINIMAL OUTSIDES AND BILLING LINES HAVE NOW, THEN YOU NEED TO, OR THE PROPERTY OWNER WILL NEED TO SUBMIT A NEW APPLICATION.
AND DEVELOPERS, LET'S SAY SOMEONE IS INTERESTED IN, UH, DEVELOPING ON LAND ON A CERTAIN PROPERTY, CAN ACTUALLY GO AND ONLINE VIEW WHAT APPLICATIONS ARE IN QUEUE, ET CETERA, SO THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF THAT AS WELL.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
IN HOUSTON MAP VIEWER, ANYBODY CAN GO TO THAT WEBSITE AND SEE THE EXISTING ORDINANCES AND THEIR STATUS, THE ORDINANCE NUMBER, UH, IF THERE'S ONE.
UM, UH, ALSO IN OUR, UH, WEBSITE, UH, WITHIN THE PLANNING AND DEVELOP DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE AN ONLINE SPREADSHEET THAT IS ALWAYS UPDATED ANYTIME WE RECEIVE NEW APPLICATIONS.
AND, UH, ABRAHAM, YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT, UH, FIVE, UH, HAD NOT SUBMITTED FOR RENEWAL FOR MIN MINIMUM, UH, BUILDING LINE.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
IN, IN YOUR OPINION, UH, WHY IS THAT? DID THEY NEW OWNERS OR SOMETHING? MAYBE, OR MOST OF THE TIME WITH THOSE RENEWAL APPLICATION, WE HAVE NEW OWNERS, UH, SOME OF THEM DON'T WANT TO APPLY, BUT WE HAVE SEEN THAT ONCE WE RECEIVE, UH, ONE RENEWAL APPLICATION FOR A SPECIFIC BLOCK, THEN THE PRO THE APPLICANT'S DUTY IS TO PLATE SIGNS ON THE STREET.
AND THAT'S HOW OTHER PEOPLE ARE INFORMED OF THOSE, UM, NEW OF THE RENEWAL ORDINANCES.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER WAY FOR THEM TO BE INFORMED OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY.
BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, MOST OF THE TIME WE DON'T HEAR FROM THE PROPERTY OWNERS IS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED IN RENEWING THE ORDINANCE.
SO, SO E EVEN IF THERE IS A NEW PROPERTY OWNER REGARDING A MILL, A MINIMUM BUILDING LINE, OR A LOT SIZE, YOU WOULD STILL SEND A NOTICE TO THAT NEW OWNER TO LET THEM KNOW, HEY, YOU, Y'ALL USED TO BE IN THIS PROGRAM, IT'S ABOUT TO EXPIRE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESUBMIT THAT? THAT
[00:40:01]
IS CORRECT.WE, WITH THOSE NOTIFICATION LETTERS, WE ALSO INFORM THEM ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR NEW ORDINANCES IF THEY WANT TO HAVE THE LAND USE RESTRICTIONS OR IF YOU, THEY WANT TO HAVE A TERM OF 40 YEARS MM-HMM
SO YES, WE, AND THEY CALL US, WE TALK TO THEM.
HALF OF THE OF MY DAYS, I, I SPEAK WITH RESIDENTS TO INFORM THEM ABOUT, UH, THOSE ORDINANCES OR ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THEY HAVE.
SO IF OUT OF THOSE FIVE, UH, BLOCKS OR ORDINANCES, I'M SURE I TALK TO A COUPLE OF RESIDENTS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NOTIFICATION LETTERS.
UM, TH THANK YOU FOR Y'S PRESENTATION.
AGAIN, WE DID NOT HAVE ANYONE SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE YESTERDAY'S 5:00 PM DEADLINE, BUT HERE IN THE CHAMBER WE DO HAVE A SOMEONE THAT DID SIGN IN TO SPEAK, UH, AND THAT IS DOUG SMITH.
DOUG SMITH, IF YOU CAN COME UP AND, UH, YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES, ALWAYS LEARNING NEW THINGS.
UM, MSD MUNICIPAL SETTING DESIGNATION, NEVER HEARD OF THAT BEFORE.
LOOKING AT TODAY'S AGENDA, IT SEEMS TO BE MISNAMED NOW THAT I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT COVERS
BUT, UH, THAT'S BESIDE THE POINT.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE REASON THEY DO THIS IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE A PROPERTY THAT HAS CONTAMINATED WATER, THEY WANNA DEVELOP IT AND THEY CAN'T UNTIL THEY GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
SECONDLY, ON THE ART PRESENTATION, I DIDN'T THINK I WAS INTERESTED IN THAT UNTIL I HEARD IT, BUT, UH, I WAS ON THE COMMITTEE THAT HELPED PICK THE NEW ART FOR THE A LEAF COMMUNITY CENTER.
UH, AND JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW, PUT ON YOUR CALENDAR DECEMBER 10TH IS THE SCHEDULED OPENING FOR THAT CENTER.
SO WE HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE.
UH, AND FINALLY ON THE, UH, EMMETT, UM, MUNICIPAL LOT MUNICIPAL BUILDING, I'M CONCERNED THAT ALL OF THE PARTIES THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED ARE NOTIFIED.
IT'S NOT ONLY MY UNDERSTANDING, IT'S NOT ONLY THE PROPERTY OWNERS CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS AND ALSO THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD INVOLVED SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT.
AND ACCORDING TO THE HEIGHTS SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY WERE NOT AWARE THAT SOME OF THEIR DESIGNATIONS ARE, UH, BECOMING DUE.
SO YOU MIGHT WANNA CHECK INTO THAT TO SEE IF THAT WAS DONE CORRECTLY.
SO, AND THAT'S ALL THAT I HAVE TO SAY.
SO YOU'RE SAYING YOU'RE ASKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT NOTIFIES THE CIVIC CLUB AND THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT'S PART OF THE NOTIFICATION PROCESS.
I WAS TOLD THAT BY SOMEBODY ELSE, BUT AT LEAST CHECK INTO IT.
SO CERTAINLY CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS BECAUSE THEY CAN APPLY FOR, UH, THE YEAH.
PLANNING DEPARTMENT IF YOU CAN RESPOND TO THAT.
UH, RIA, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, UH, WE ARE IN, IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE CCB CLUB HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION FROM THE HEIGHTS, WOODLAND HEIGHTS, DENVER HARBOR.
WE, THEY SUBMITTED RECENTLY IN THE COUPLE IN LAST YEARS NEW MINIMAL OUTSIZE AND BILLING LINES APPLICATIONS, AREA APPLICATIONS.
SO, BUT THE NOTIFICATION LETTERS GO TO THE OLD PROPERTY OWNERS FOR THE RENEWAL, UH, ORDINANCES.
UH, BUT UH, FOR THE INTERACTION I HAVE WITH THE CIVIC CLUB IN THE HEIGHTS, THEY'RE AWARE OF THE EXISTENCE OF THE ORDINANCES AND THEY ARE AWARE OF WHICH ORDINANCE THEY HAVE BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
SO ARE YOU SAYING THAT FOR RENEWAL PURPOSES, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO THE CIVIC CLUBS IN THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS ONLY TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS? WE, WE SEND NOTIFICATION LETTERS TO, ON THE ONLY, ONLY PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN THE BOUNDARY OF THE EXPIRING ORDINANCES.
SO I WOULD REQUEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT REVIEW THAT.
UM, AND I, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE CAN SPEAK TO WHETHER THAT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE, BUT THAT GIVEN THEIR EXTENSIVE INVOLVEMENT, AND DOUG, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A CIVIC GROUP IN MY DISTRICT, UM, AND THAT'S, THIS IS THE FIRST, I'M HEARING THAT THEY ARE NOT, UM, BEING MADE AWARE OF CERTAIN ONES.
SO I WOULD REQUEST THAT THEY BE INCLUDED IN THOSE NOTIFICATIONS.
IS THERE A REASON WHY THEY CANNOT? NO, THERE'S NOT A SPECIFIC REASON.
JUST PER THE ORDINANCE, IT'S REQUIRED TO SEND THE NOTIFICATION LETTERS TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS WITH, AS SAID, I WILL NEED TO TALK TO LEGAL, BUT I DON'T THINK A REASON WHY WE CANNOT SEND NOTIFICATION LETTERS TO THE CCB CLUB OR HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS.
AND, AND MAYBE FOR THIS ONE, AGAIN, Y'ALL DO A TON OF WORK.
I KNOW THE DEPARTMENT IS ALREADY STRETCHED THIN,
[00:45:01]
BUT, UM, IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL CHAIR, UH, IF WE KNEW FOR THE ONES THAT ARE EXPIRING WHERE WE DON'T SEE, UH, THOSE APPLICATIONS FOR RENEWAL BEING SUBMITTED, IF THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS MAYBE COULD BE MADE AWARE OF WHAT, WHERE THOSE ARE SO WE CAN LET OUR CIVIC GROUPS KNOW.ABRAHAM, IF, IF YOU CAN ALSO INCLUDE, IF IT HAS AN ACTIVE CIVIC CLUB, THE CIVIC CLUB SHOULD BE NOTIFIED, WHICH I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THEY ARE NOTIFIED.
IF IT'S, IF, IF THAT AREA IS IN A SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, THEN THEY SHOULD ALSO NOTIFY THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL.
UM, SO, UH, SO YEAH, DEFINITELY.
AND, AND, AND WHAT, LIKE, UH, THE VICE CHAIR STATED, IF YOU CAN NOTIFY THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER ALSO, SO THEN WE CAN ALSO IN TURN NOTIFY THE CIVIC CLUB IF THERE IS A CIVIC CLUB JUST TO FO AS A FOLLOW UP.
AND I'M, I'M JUST SINGING THE SAME SONG, IT SOUNDS LIKE BY ORDINANCE, IT JUST SAYS, NOTIFICATION OF PROPERTY OWNERS.
IF THAT'S AN ORDINANCE CHANGE, IF THAT'S A SLIGHT AMENDMENT TO THE ORDINANCE THAT WE INCLUDE DIS DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER OR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, OR IF THAT'S JUST A POLICY.
UM, BUT HOWEVER WE CAN SOLIDIFY THAT THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, I KNOW IT'S HARD TO FIND INDIVIDUAL CIVIC CLUBS AND WHATEVER, BUT IF YOU CAN AT LEAST LET THE, THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER AND THE, THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD KNOW, I THINK THAT WOULD GO A LONG WAY.
AND, AND IF THAT'S, IF THAT REQUIRES SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO, LET US KNOW.
AND, AND JUST SO EVERYBODY KNOWS, WE ALSO ATTEND CIVIC CLUB MEETINGS AND SUPERNATIONAL MEETINGS ANYTIME WE'RE, WE'RE INVITED AND WE TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS, AND WE ALSO HAVE MAPS TO SHOW THE EXISTING, THE ORDINANCE THAT ARE IN PLACE IN THE, IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE ONES THAT ARE EXPERIENCED.
SO WE, WE HAVE COMMUNICATIONS WITH GREAT.
BUT DEFINITELY WE CAN DEFINITELY LOOK INTO THIS AND SEE, WE SEND NOTIFICATION LETTERS TO, UM, ALL, ALL THE GROUPS THAT YOU MENTIONED.
AND, AND THANK YOU DOUG FOR BRINGING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION.
THANK YOU FOR ADDING THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS TO NOT ONLY, UH, TO NOT JUST THE CIVIC CLUBS.
'CAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS WE'RE THE ONES THAT ARE ACTIVE AND KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO THANK YOU FOR AND, AND CHAIR, CAN I JUST ASK ONE QUESTION OF DOUG? YES, GO AHEAD.
YOU MENTIONED BEING ON THE SELECTION COMMITTEE FOR THE ALE LIBRARY.
UM, SO CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT EXPERIENCE A LITTLE BIT? HOW OFTEN DID YOU MEET? HOW MANY THINGS DID YOU LOOK AT? I MEAN, WHAT, WHAT WAS IT LIKE? UM, AND IT WASN'T JUST, UH, THEY TALKED ABOUT A, A COMMITTEE OF FIVE, BUT THERE WERE SEVERAL, UH, PEOPLE THAT WERE ACTIVE IN THE ELE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD.
I THINK THREE OR FOUR OF US THAT MET WITH THE ARTISTS AND LOOKED AT THE PROPOSALS AND MADE SUGGESTIONS.
AND, UH, IT, I DON'T KNOW, WE PROBABLY MET THREE OR FOUR TIMES BEFORE WE FINALLY DECIDED.
AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE FINISHED PRODUCT.
UH, 'CAUSE IT'S, YOU, YOU HAVE TO COME AND SEE IT.
THERE THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
UH, SO BEFORE WE ADJOURN A REMINDER, THERE WILL BE ANOTHER SPECIAL CALL, JOINT QOL AND RNA MEETING ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13TH AT 10:00 AM TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE BUFFERING ORDINANCE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE PROPOSED CHANGES, PLEASE VISIT LET'S TALK HOUSTON.ORG, UH, SLASH LIVABLE PLACES.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, THANK, THANK YOU AGAIN TO, FOR EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, UH, THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.