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SHOWING 9 0 2 ON WEDNESDAY,[9:00 AM - ROLL CALL]
JANUARY 4TH, 2023.I MAYOR, FIRST ATTORNEY, AND I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO WATER.
UH, LET'S START TODAY WITH IATION AND PLEDGE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS.
AND AS, UH, WE GET AS, UH, GETTING READY FOR HIM, LEMME JUST SAY, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYBODY.
AND, UH, HOPE THE END OF 22 WENT OUT WELL.
AND THEN LOOKING FORWARD TO 2023.
UH, SO, UH, SHOULD BE AN EXCITING, SHOULD BE AN EXCITING YEAR.
AND IN WHAT WAY? WHAT A BETTER WAY TO START AN EXCITING YEAR.
AND THEN TO FIRST TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMAN MCG GAGGLES.
ASSIST WITH YOUR SPIRIT OF COUNSEL AND FORTITUDE, THE LEADERS OF THIS GREAT CITY.
MAY WE ALWAYS SEEK THE WAYS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, JUSTICE, AND MERCY.
OPEN OUR HEARTS SO THAT WE MAY SEE ALL PEOPLE AS REFLECTIONS OF YOU.
OUR CREATOR ENABLE US TO LEAD OUR CITY WITH COMPASSION, HONESTY, AND INTEGRITY.
WE ASK THIS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
I WANTED TO, UM, CERTAINLY, UH, CONGRATULATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR, FOR WINNING YOUR ELECTIONS.
AND WE'LL HAVE THE SWEARING IN IN A FEW MINUTES.
SO, UH, NOW
[ADOPT MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING]
TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF OCTOBER 18TH AND 19TH.AND NOVEMBER 1ST AND SECOND, CASTEX TAYLOR TO MOVE SECOND ROBINSON.
AND SECOND ON THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENTS.
AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE, UH, MINUTES ARE ADOPTED.
[
REPORT FROM CITY CONTROLLER AND THE CITY ADMINISTRATION REGARDING THE CURRENT FINANCIAL STATUS OF THE CITY including but not limited to, a revenue, expenditure and encumbrance report for the General Fund, all special revenue funds and all enterprise funds, and a report on the status of bond funds and a Quarterly Investment Report by the City Controller
]UH, UH, THE TODAY'S AGENDA.AND THE FIRST THING WILL BE THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT.
SO LET ME, YOU, UH, RECOGNIZE COMPTROLLER CHRIS BROWN AND FIN FINANCE DIRECTOR WILL JONES FOR THE FIRST MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT OF 2023.
UH, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING NOVEMBER 30TH.
IN THE GENERAL FUND, THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE IS PROJECTING AN ENDING FUND BALANCE OF 300 MILLION FOR FOI 23.
THIS IS 37.7 MILLION LOWER THAN THE PROJECTION OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
BASED ON OUR CURRENT PROJECTIONS, THE FUND BALANCE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY 126.6 MILLION ABOVE THE CITY'S TARGET OF HOLDING 7.5% IN RESERVES.
OUR REVENUE PROJECTION DECREASED BY 4.5 MILLION FROM THE OCTOBER 22 REPORT.
THIS WAS DUE TO THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT'S CONTAINER LEASE REVENUES AND CHARGES FOR SERVICES BEING EXCLUDED FROM THE GENERAL FUND REVENUES.
CONTAINER LEASE REVENUES ARE NOW INCLUDED IN THE NEWLY CREATED CONTAINER LEASE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, AND AS A RESULT, RELATED EXPENDITURES ARE NOW EXCLUDED FROM THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES, RESULTING IN A $3.6 MILLION DECREASE IN SOLID WASTE EXPENDITURES.
LOOKING AT OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS, WE ARE SEEING NO MATERIAL CHANGES IN THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
SO MOVING ON TO THE COMMERCIAL PAPER AND BONDS, UH, ALL OF OUR VARIABLE RATE DEBT IS WELL BELOW THE 20% THRESHOLD.
UH, MAYOR, JUST A QUICK POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE ACTUALLY, TOO.
UH, FIRST, UH, YESTERDAY I ANNOUNCED DURING THE BFA COMMITTEE THAT WE HAVE COMPLETED THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT, UH, THAT'S NOW LIVE ON OUR WEBSITE.
AND PRINTED COPIES, UH, WILL BE GOING OUT.
I ALSO WANTED TO, UM, SEND A SHOUT OUT TO MY ALMA MATER WHO IS HEADED TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, UH, TCU, WHO HAD A PRETTY FANTASTIC
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GAME.UH, IT'S BEEN, UH, UP AND DOWN, UH, OVER THE YEARS, UH, UH, APPROXIMATELY 85 YEARS SINCE WE'VE, UH, SEEN TCU IN A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.
WELL, I'M GONNA JOIN YOU IN CONGRATULATING.
UH, THEY, THEY PUT A WHIPPING ON MICHIGAN AND, UH, AND WE'LL BE REPRESENTING THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS.
SO EVEN THE COS JOIN IN, IN CELEBRATING, UH, T-C-T-C-U, THEY MADE US ALL, MADE US AND CONTINUE TO MAKE US PROUD.
UH, WILL, CAN YOU BEAT THAT? WHAT'S, WHATEVER MIND I HAVE YET? DO YOU HAVE? I DON'T THINK I CAN BEAT THAT.
GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE.
UM, THIS IS THE FIVE PLUS SEVEN FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING NOVEMBER 30TH, 2022.
PROJECTIONS ARE BASED ON FIVE MONTHS OF ACTUAL RESULTS AND SEVEN MONTHS OF PROJECTIONS FOR THE GENERAL FUND.
OUR REVENUE PROJECTION IS 8.5 MILLION LOWER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET, AND 4.5 MILLION LOWER THAN THE PRIOR MONTH.
THE VARIANCE FROM PRIOR MONTH'S PROJECTION IS DUE TO A DECREASE IN CHARGES FOR SERVICES TO REFLECT THE NEWLY CREATED CONTAINER LEASE FUND.
OUR EXPENDITURE PROJECTION IS 2.5 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET AT 3.6 MILLION LOWER THAN PRIOR MONTH.
THE VARIANCE IS ALSO DUE TO, UH, THE CREATION OF THE, UH, CONTAINER LEASE FUND.
WE'RE CURRENTLY PROJECTING THE ENDING FUND BALANCE OF 337.6 MILLION, WHICH IS 1 MILLION LOWER THAN PRIOR MONTH, AND 14.6% OF ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES, LESS DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO.
THE FUND BALANCE IS 164 MILLION ABOVE THE TARGETED 7.5% OF EXPENDITURES, EXCLUDING DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO.
UM, NO CHANGES IN OUR ENTERPRISE AND SPECIAL FUNDS.
UH, FOR THE HEALTH BENEFITS FUND, UH, THE REVENUES DECREASED BY 740,000 DUE TO LOWER ENROLLMENT AND NON-OPERATING REVENUES INCREASED BY 740,000 FOR CIGNA PERFORMANCE GUARANTEES.
AND THEN THE ASSET FORFEITURE FUND REVENUES INCREASED BY 1 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED CONFISCATIONS.
AND THEN FINALLY, WE HAVE THE, THE NEW CONTAINER RELEASE SPECIAL FUND, UH, WITH THE REVENUES OF 4.5 MILLION IN EXPENDITURES OF 3.6 MILLION.
UM, AND COMPTROLLER, I DO WANT TO GO BACK TO THE, UM, WHAT WE USED TO REFER TO AS THE CFRA, THE ANNUAL REPORT THAT YOU JUST PUT OUT.
NOW, BECAUSE IF MY MEMORY SHOULD BE RIGHT, AND I, AND I MEANT TO HAVE BROUGHT IT, BUT I DON'T HAVE HAVE IT HERE WITH ME.
UM, BUT I THINK THE NET WORTH OF THE CITY HAS JUMPED QUITE A BIT, UM, BECAUSE IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, LAST YEAR, THE NET WORTH OF THE CITY, UH, WAS LIKE THREE POINT SOMETHING BILLION.
UH, BUT THIS REPORT SAYS THAT THE NET WORTH OF THE CITY IS NOW WAY IN EXCESS OF 5 BILLION, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.
AND, AND THE MAIN DRIVING FACTOR, UH, BEHIND THAT IS, UH, THE PENSION REFORM, QUITE FRANKLY, UH, AS YOU ARE WELL AWARE, WHEN WE, UH, CAME INTO OFFICE, UH, THE PENSION UNFUNDED LIABILITY, UH, WAS, YOU KNOW, SIX TO 8 BILLION DEPENDING ON WHICH DISCOUNT RATE YOU WERE USING.
AND UNDER THE REFORM PACKAGE, UH, USING THE LOWER DISCOUNT RATE, WE BROUGHT THE, UH, UNFUNDED LIABILITY FROM 8.1 BILLION, UM, DOWN TO 4.2 AT THE TIME OF THE REFORM.
BUT NOW, BECAUSE OF THE REFORM AND, UM, YOU KNOW, OTHER FACTORS, UM, THIS, UH, MOST RECENT, WHICH WAS FROM LAST YEAR, RSVS, UH, STUDY BASICALLY SHOWED THAT THE UNFUNDED LIABILITY WAS 1.49 BILLION.
SO, UH, I THINK, UH, CREDIT TO YOU AND, UH, MEMBERS OF THIS BODY AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WERE INVOLVED IN, IN THAT PENSION REFORM, AND THAT'S A, A HUGE DRIVER IN REDUCING, UM, THAT, UH, UNFUNDED LIABILITY AND CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN OUR STATEMENT OF NET POSITION.
YEAH, AND I ALSO BELIEVE THAT, UM, UM, WHEN WE CAME IN, OR A YEAR OR TWO AFTER, EVEN ON THE GOVERNMENT BALANCE SIDE, THE FINANCE SIDE, UH, WE WERE OPERATING SLIGHTLY IN THE NEGATIVE, UH, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, SOMETHING LIKE MAYBE 93 MILLION, UM, BELOW.
UH, BUT IN THIS FINANCIAL REPORT, UH, IN EVERY CATEGORY, UH, THERE IS A HEALTHY, A HEALTHY, UH, BALANCE, UM, WHICH THEN LEADS TO, UH, THE NET WORTH OF THE CITY, UH, BEING IN EXCESS OF $5 BILLION.
SO LET ME ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO, UH, TAKE A LOOK AT THE REPORT.
UM, IT IS WORTH LOOKING AT, UH, IN TERMS OF JUST SEEING THAT THE PROGRESSION, UM, UH, OF US FINANCIALLY, AND THE GOAL IS TO KEEP MOVING IN A VERY POSITIVE, IN A POSITIVE, UH, TRAJECTORY.
I, I WILL, UH, JUST NOTE THAT WE DO HAVE A STRUCTURALLY IMBALANCED BUDGET.
SO WE ARE, UH, AS WE SEE EVERY YEAR USING, UM, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED AT THIS TABLE, UH, FEDERAL FUNDS TO HELP FUND THE BALANCE, UH, FUND, FUND THE BUDGET DEFICIT.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING I CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THIS BODY.
UH, WE DO HAVE A HIGH FUND BALANCE
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RIGHT NOW, UM, YOU KNOW, PLENTY OF SURPLUS CASH.BUT AS WE BURN THAT FEDERAL MONEY OFF, UH, WE'LL HAVE TO FIND SOME TYPE OF RECURRING REVENUE, UH, TO REPLACE THAT.
UM, MAYOR, THAT PROBABLY WILL NOT BE SOMETHING THAT, UH, YOU AS MAYOR OR I AS CONTROLLER WILL, WILL DEAL WITH.
THAT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING IN, UH, CALENDAR YEAR 24, MAYBE EVEN 25.
BUT, BUT IT IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE THAT, UH, I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS.
AND I, I, I AGREE, WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE WITH THE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED, UH, WHICH HAS HELPED TO PREVENT US FROM HAVING TO LAY OFF AS MANY AS 2000 PEOPLE.
SO WE'VE BEEN VERY, VERY FORTUNATE WITH THE FEDERAL DOLLARS.
WE'VE THEN BEEN FORTUNATE WITH THE FACT, UH, THAT IN ALMOST EVERY SINGLE MONTH, THE SALE TAX HAS PERFORMED, UM, BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAD PROJECTED.
UH, BUT THERE ARE ONGOING EXPENSES THAT WOULD GO BEYOND 2024, UM, THAT WOULD NEED THOSE FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS WILL BE, WILL, WILL NEED TO BE MET.
SO I AGREE WITH YOU ON, ON THAT FRONT.
WE HAVE ADDRESSED THE PENSION ISSUE.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, DONE SIGNIFICANT WORK IN ADDRESSING THE OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS ON THAT FRONT.
UH, BUT IN TERMS OF THE REVENUE CAP AND ALL OF THAT, UH, THAT MAY HAVE TO BE LESS FOR, FOR PEOPLE WHO CLAIM THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS THAT NEED TO BE FIXED, THEN I'M GONNA LET THEM FIX IT.
OKAY? UH, BUT, UH, WE ARE NOT GOING, YOU KNOW, CAN'T FIX IT ALL, FIX HOUSTON.
BUT IF PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT HOUSTON NEEDS TO BE FIXED, LET 'EM FIX IT, YOU KNOW? BUT I HAVE FIXED WHAT I'M GOING FIX
UH, COUNCILMAN MCC, COUNCILMAN MC, ASH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT.
UM, ALSO, UH, DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH, UH, LAST MONTH, WE RECEIVED THE, THE PERFORMANCE AUDIT FOR PUBLIC WORKS AND THE HOUSTON PERMANENT CENTER.
AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT, UH, WHAT, UH, OF YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE FUTURE.
AND, AND, AND I, I APPRECIATE YOU MENTIONING THAT, THAT OUR BUDGET IS NOT A, THAT WE PASS AS NOT A, A STRUCTURALLY BALANCED BUDGET.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I HAD BROUGHT UP THE FACT THAT THE NEED FOR US TO LOOK AT, UH, DOING SOMETHING THAT HAD BEEN DONE BEFORE, DURING PRIOR, UH, ADMINISTRATIONS WHERE THEY PASSED A, A, UM, A PROPOSITION H WHERE WE COULD COLLECT A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF REVENUE OVER THE, THE STATED REVENUE CAP FOR PUBLIC SAFETY PURPOSES ONLY.
SO I, I KNOW THE MAYOR HAD SAID THAT HE'S GONNA BRING SOMETHING LIKE THAT BEFORE US.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT THAT WILL BE, BECAUSE, UH, WE'RE GONNA NEED TO CONTINUE TO PAY OUR FIRE AND OUR POLICE AND OUR EMS AND OUR PUBLIC WORKS, ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
AND OUR, OUR, OUR, OUR, OUR SOLID WASTE.
WE, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PAY THEM.
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO COME UP WITH SOME SOLUTION.
I, I REALLY DON'T THINK IT'S THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION.
I BELIEVE IT'S THIS ONE, UH, BECAUSE THIS WOULD BE THE ONE THAT WOULD PUT IT ON THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY, UH, FOR THE, THE, THE BALLOT FOR THE CITIZENS TO VOTE TO, TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES.
SO, UM, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT'S GONNA COME FORWARD, AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
WELL, LET'S NOT HOLD THE BREATH ON THAT ONE.
UH, WHAT I WILL SAY IN A FEW MINUTES, I WILL ANNOUNCE THE THINGS THAT I'M GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON, AND YOU'LL, YOU'LL HEAR THOSE COMING UP IN A FEW, IN A FEW MINUTES DURING THE MAYOR'S REPORT.
UH, COUNCILMAN MARICO, THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND ALSO CONTROLLER IN THE CER.
IT'S, IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE, UM, MAYOR, ABOUT THE OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS CHANGES THAT WERE MADE YIELDING ABOUT 450 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS IN SAVINGS, OR AN ACTUARIAL DIFFERENCE THAT SAVES US IN THE LONG RUN.
SO ACTUALLY OUR OP LIABILITIES MORE THAN OUR PENSION LIABILITY, IF YOU CAN BELIEVE THAT.
UM, SO ANYWAY, I KNOW I JUST CONTROLLER, I KNOW IN YOUR REPORT YOU MENTIONED THAT FURTHER REFORMS ARE NEEDED ON OPE.
I MEAN, THIS IS A GREAT START AND ACTUALLY WAY MORE THAN, THAN, UH, THAN WAS EXPECTED.
SO, UM, JUST IF YOU WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK MORE COULD BE DONE ON THE OPE SIDE.
WELL, UH, THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.
UH, AS WE'VE TALKED, UH, NUMEROUS TIMES AT THIS BODY ABOUT, UH, THE PENSION REFORM, AND, AND THE NEXT STEP WAS, UH, THE OPED REFORM.
AND, UH, TO MAYOR TURNER'S CREDIT, UH, HAS STARTED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, UH, REFORMS, UH, TO REDUCE THAT LIABILITY BECAUSE LEFT, UH, YOU KNOW, UNCHECKED, UH, THE SAME THING.
AND AS YOU ALLUDED, UH, COUNCILMAN ALCORN, UH, NOW OUR OPEP LIABILITY IS LARGER THAN OUR PENSION LIABILITY.
AND THAT'S IN PART 'CAUSE OF THE GOOD WORK THAT THIS BODY HAS DONE TO REDUCE THE PENSION LIABILITY.
BUT, YOU KNOW, OVER TIME, OVER THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, 15 OR SO YEARS, UH, AND THESE ARE THINGS THAT, THAT ARE NOT COMPLETELY OUR FAULT.
THE COST OF HEALTHCARE IS GOING UP, UH, VERY RAPIDLY.
SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE UNFORTUNATELY HAVE TO DEAL WITH AT THIS BODY.
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UH, CONTINUED REFORMS, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AN OPE TRUST.UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE ADVOCATED, UH, USING SOME OF THE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED TO, UH, SEED THE INITIAL FUNDING, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT HAS ALLUDED US.
WE HAVEN'T HAD THE MONEY, UH, TO START THE FUNDING FOR AN OPPE TRUST.
BUT, UH, IF WE WERE TO DO THE OPPE TRUST, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, UTILIZE A LOWER DISCOUNT RATE INSTEAD OF THE RISK-FREE RATE.
WE COULD USE AN INVESTMENT RATE, UH, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DO IN THE PENSION.
SO, YOU KNOW, ON PAPER, THAT WOULD REDUCE, UH, ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THAT UNFUNDED LIABILITY BY, YOU KNOW, A SIGNIFICANT MARGIN.
UM, SO CONTINUED REFORMS ARE NEEDED AND, UM, I, I KNOW THIS BODY WILL WORK TO HELP, UH, GET THAT RESOLVED.
UM, CHAIR, I RECOGNIZE THIS MAYOR PROAM MARTIN REPORT MOTION? YES.
UM, MOTION TO ACCEPT THE FILE PLUS SEVEN MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT DATED NOVEMBER 30TH, 2022, AS PRESENTED.
SECOND ROBINSON, IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND TO ACCEPT THE, THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT, UH, IN THE DISCUSSION.
IN DISCUSSION, IN FAVOR POST GRANTED.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
TIME, UH, SEE MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL PLEASE CALL, UM, ITEM ONE.ITEM ONE NEEDS A MOTION MOVE ROBINSON.
MOVED, THEN MOVED BY ROBINSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX.
DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED, GRANTED.
UH, THIS IS, UH, THE APPOINTMENT OF, OH, AND THEN, I'M SORRY, MADAM SECRETARY, GO TO GO TO NUMBER TWO.
ITEM TWO NEEDS A MOTION MOVE, ROBINSON.
UH, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR.
OPPOSED? AND GRANTED, UH, WE JUST APPROVED, AND I THINK IT'S RENA RAMOS, UH, TO THE BOARD OF T 12, IF YOU'LL COME FORWARD, AS WELL AS TO THE ZONES REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
UH, SO AM I GETTING THAT FIRST NAME RIGHT? MINA? YES, IT'S MACINA.
UH, SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON CHURCH 12.
YOU WANNA JUST SAY A QUICK WORD TO US? INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, AND, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE APPOINTMENT.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND ESPECIALLY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN.
UH, I JUST WANTED TO THANK MS. RAMOS, UH, FOR HER COMMITMENT TO SERVING ON OUR CITY PARK TOURS.
MAYOR, IT WAS ONE OF OUR NEWER TOURS TO ADDRESS SIGNIFICANT, UH, FLOODING IN ONE OF OUR DISTRICT SEA AREAS.
AND MS. RAMOS COMES WITH, UH, PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE, NOT ONLY IN, UM, WATER TRANSMISSION PROGRAMS, UH, WORKING WITH THE CITY, WORKING, UH, SPECIFICALLY ON HOUSTON INFRASTRUCTURE.
BUT, UH, ALSO WHAT I FOUND INTERESTING ABOUT YOU IS YOUR COMMITMENT AND YOUR WORK IN, UH, PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETINGS.
AND AS WE KNOW WITH OUR TOURS, AS WE INCREASE TRANSPARENCY, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, UM, YOUR EXPERIENCE, YOUR COMMITMENT TO INFRASTRUCTURE AND FLOOD MITIGATION, AND JUST NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENTS, UH, WE'RE THRILLED TO HAVE YOU.
AND MAYOR, IF I MAY TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY JUST TO THANK ALL OF OUR DISTRICT CTS BOARD MEMBERS FOR THEIR SERVICE AS WE START THE NEW YEAR.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
THANK YOU, AND HAPPY NEW YEAR AGAIN.
UH, MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'RE NOT, CALL ITEM NUMBER THREE.
ITEM THREE NEEDS A MOTION CAST.
DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSE, AND GRANTED, UH, THIS IS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
UM, AND AS I CALL YOUR NAMES, UH, IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE STAND.
IN FACT, LET JUST FIRST RECOGNIZE, UH, THE PLANNING COMMISSION CHAIR.
MARTY, WHERE ARE YOU? IF YOU'LL JUST COME ON, MARTY, COME ON UP.
AND THEN POSITION TWO IS RA D VICTOR.
SIX IS MICHELLE LYNN, CO COVERT EIGHT IS LYDIA MYERS.
UH, 10 IS MEGAN HONOR, UH, SIGLER, UH, 12 IS LIBBY VIRA BLAND, 20 IS DAMIEN SHINS.
AND THIS IS MARGARET WALLACE BROWN HERE, THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING.
AGAIN, I, I, I DON'T THINK I HAVE TO TELL ANYONE HOW IMPORTANT THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS, AND I DON'T THINK I HAVE TO TELL ANYBODY ABOUT HOW MUCH WORK IS DONE.
UH, YEAH, BECAUSE THIS, THIS IS A WORKING COMMISSION, UM, AND, AND I UNDERSCORE WORKING COMMISSION, AND IT DOES TAKE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME READING, LISTENING, DISCUSSIONS.
UM, AND QUITE FRANKLY, IT HELPS TO SET THE DIRECTION OF OUR CITY AND HOW OUR CITY IS DEVELOPED AND MOVE FORWARD.
SO I WANT TO, I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, UH, FOR AGREEING TO SERVE, BEING REAPPOINTED, COMING ON.
[00:20:02]
I THINK WE GOT, LIBBY IS COMING ON FOR THE FIRST TIME.SO, UH, LET ME THANK ALL OF YOU ALL FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO, TO SERVE.
AND BEFORE I YIELD TO, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, MARTY, YOU, YOU ARE THE CHAIR.
I JUST GET RIGHT BEHIND THAT MIC.
JUST, UH, HAPPY NEW YEAR, MAYOR.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR USUAL GREAT, UM, JUDGMENT AND TASTE IN, IN APPOINTING COMMISSIONERS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT OUR NEW MEMBERS, AND, UH, WE'RE READY TO TAKE ON THE, THE CHALLENGES AHEAD OF US.
UM, YOU'VE MADE SOME GREAT POLICY FOR THE CITY IN TERMS OF DEVELOPMENT.
WE'VE GOT SOME MORE WE HOPE TO GET BEFORE YOU, UM, SOON.
AND JUST THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR OF SERVING ON THIS COMMISSION.
LET ME THANK YOU, MARTY, FOR, FOR YOUR SERVICE.
'CAUSE YOU, YOU GOT TENURE AND, UH, YOU CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THIS PROCESS FROM HERE, FROM THE CHAMBER TO, UH, TO THE COMMISSION ITSELF.
SO LET ME, LET ME THANK YOU IF THE CONTINUITY IS GOOD, AND THAT INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE IS HIGHLY VALUABLE, ESPECIALLY AS YOU BRING ON OUR MEMBERS, UH, TO THE CITY.
LET ME NOW YELL TO COUNCILMAN ROBINSON.
UH, SO WELL, UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LOVE TO AGREE WITH THE MAYOR ABOUT, UH, YOUR GREAT WORK, MARTY, WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THIS BODY, UH, BUT THE INTEGRITY THAT YOU ALL BRING TO THE GAME, UH, HOW WE CAN RELY ON YOU.
I THINK WE ALL FEEL VERY STRONGLY, AGAIN, ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE RESUMES THAT WE, UH, BRING AND HAVE WITH YOU.
ALL OF YOU WHO ARE BEING REAPPOINTED TODAY.
I KNOW I'VE SEEN AN ACTION, AND I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT AND STRONG ABOUT ALL OF YOU.
LIBBY, I WANNA WELCOME YOU TO THE COMMISSION.
I KNOW YOUR FIRST TIME APPOINTMENTS, ALONG WITH MICHELLE, UH, IN THIS CASE, THE TWO OF YOU WILL BRING GREAT SKILLS AND ABILITY TO THE COMMISSION.
I KNOW DIRECTOR WALLACE BROWN IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT, UH, SOME NEW ENERGY AS WELL AS THE GREAT, UH, RETURNING ENERGY THAT WE HAVE WITH THIS BODY.
WE ARE HERE TO SERVE YOU AND HELP.
UH, AND IF YOU NEED HELP FROM COUNSEL, I HOPE YOU'LL UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE HERE TO WORK TOGETHER AND UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT THE WORK YOU DO.
AND MICHELLE, WHERE'S MICHELLE? IS MICHELLE, MICHELLE IS NOT HERE.
IF YOU'LL JUST STATE QUICKLY YOUR NAMES.
I'M LIBIA MA, MEGAN SIGLER, LIBBY RA LAND.
MARGARET WALLACE BROWN, SUSAN ALLMAN RA VICTOR MARTY.
UH, COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS.
AND CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR REAPPOINTED AND OUR NEW APPOINTED MEMBERS.
UM, I ECHO EVERYTHING MAYOR TURNER, UM, OFFERED IN TERMS OF THE RESPONSIBILITY AND THE OBLIGATION OF YOUR WORK.
UM, BUT I HAVE ONE REQUEST AS I CONGRATULATE YOU, UM, FOR THE NEW APPOINTEES, I WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET TO KNOW YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, OFTENTIMES Y'ALL HAVE A VERY ROBUST AGENDA, AND SO VERY DO WE, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE IN TANDEM.
AND FOR OUR REAPPOINTED MEMBERS, IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, I WOULD LOVE TO GET TO KNOW YOU.
UM, OFTENTIMES Y'ALL VOTE ON ITEMS OR THINGS COME UP, ARE MADE AWARE, AND BY THE TIME IT GETS TO US, IT'S 18 MONTHS DOWN THE LINE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, RIGHT? AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REPRESENTING HOUSTONIANS IN A VERY EQUITABLE, FAIR MANNER.
AND I WANNA START THE NEW YEAR OFF RIGHT, UH, TURNING THE PAGE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
AND, AND THANK YOU FOR THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
MARTY, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
UH, UH, WE COULDN'T PAY YOU ENOUGH, AND I DON'T BELIEVE WE PAY YOU ANYTHING FOR THIS.
SO IT, IT MEANS A LOT TO HAVE SOMEBODY THAT, THAT UNDERSTANDS WHAT'S GOING ON, THAT YOU SAT HERE AT COUNCIL FOR MANY YEARS.
I REMEMBER COMING TO SPEAK AT COUNCIL, AND YOU WERE HERE.
AND, UH, I, UH, I JUST APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE AND EVERY TIME I'VE EVER REACHED OUT TO CALL YOU, IF, IF, UH, IF, IF YOU DIDN'T ANSWER THE PHONE, YOU'D CALL ME BACK.
AND I ALSO GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR HUSBAND, BOB.
AND, UH, I WISH ALL OF YOU THE BEST.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
YOU TAKE A BIG LOAD OFF OF CITY COUNCIL IS WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
YOU'RE TAKING THE LOAD OFF OF US BY THIS BOARD, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE.
UH, I ECHO EVERYTHING THAT'S ALREADY BEEN SAID.
UH, MARTY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, MAYOR.
I MEAN YOU, NO ONE CAN SAY IT BETTER THAN YOU JUST DID ABOUT, UH, YOUR EXPERIENCE, YOUR TENURE, YOUR LEADERSHIP, UH, AND ALL OF WHAT YOU DO.
JUST TO MAKE SURE I, COUNCIL MEMBER KUBOSH SAID IT, BUT, UM, IS A VOLUNTEER ROLE FOR THE CITY.
AND IT IS NOT SIMPLY, UH, I THINK IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST ACTIVE, UH, COMMITTEE OR COMMISSION THAT WE HAVE HERE AT THE CITY.
[00:25:01]
THE BINDERS YOU ALL GO THROUGH EVERY SINGLE WEEK, EVERY OTHER WEEK, UH, THE WORK THAT YOU DO WITH THE DEPARTMENT, WITH DIRECTOR WALLACE BROWN AND DIRECTOR, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.AND THE TIME THAT YOU PUT INTO COMMISSION.
UH, WE MONITOR PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, FOR EVERY SINGLE MEETING BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MUCH, UH, IN DISTRICT C THAT COMES UP.
AND I KNOW YOU KNOW THAT, BUT I DUNNO HOW YOU KEEP UP WITH IT ALL.
AND, UH, YOUR EXPERTISE IS TRULY VALUED.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT.
THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR PRO MARTIN, THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CHAIR STEIN.
UH, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DID WORKING FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND IT CONTINUES WITH THE PLAN COMMISSION.
AND DAMIEN, WELCOME TO OUR WORLD WORKING WITH SUCH TALENTED AND SMART LADIES BECAUSE WE'RE DOMINATED BY TALENTED AND SMART LADIES.
BUT, UH, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T DO A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO LYDIA, BECAUSE LYDIA WAS THE LADY WHO HIRED MY ENGINEERED DAUGHTER FOR HER FIRST REAL JOB, AS WE CALL IT.
SO, UH, GLAD TO HAVE ALL THE REAPPOINTMENTS AND GLAD TO HAVE THE NEW MEMBERS ON BOARD AS WELL.
LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, MY APPEARANCE AND THE NEXT PLANNING COMMISSION'S MEETING.
IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE WHEN I GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO DIALOGUE WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION BECAUSE, UH, YOU DO A GREAT JOB OF LOOKING AT THE SITUATION FROM BOTH SIDES, FROM A DEVELOPER SIDE, FROM A CONTINUING NEIGHBORHOOD SIDE, FROM A CITY COUNCIL SIDE.
SO, UH, YOU DO IT WITH EXTREME INTELLIGENCE AND PASSION.
AND FOR THAT, I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE.
SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR US.
I'M VICE MAYOR PROAM, MARTHA, CAST TAYLOR.
I, I DID WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CONGRATULATE EACH OF YOU, UM, FOR BEING WILLING TO SERVE.
UH, ALSO WANT TO SAY TO CHAIR STEIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE AND LISTEN IN ON SOME PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS BECAUSE OUR OFFICE WEEK AFTER WEEK IS ALSO COMBING THROUGH THOSE VERY LENGTHY AGENDAS, UM, AS OUR CITY DEVELOPS AND BECOMES MORE DENSE.
UM, WHAT I APPRECIATED WHEN I PARTICIPATED AND LISTENED IN ON THOSE MEETINGS WAS THE WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE CONSTITUENTS AND ALLOW THE CONSTITUENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR GOVERNMENT AND PARTICIPATE IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION PROCESS.
AND I THINK WE GET A LOT OF SLACK BECAUSE MANY TIMES IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS TO ENGAGE, AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO TAKE THE TIME OFF AND LEARN ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN PERMITTED, WHAT'S BEEN PLOTTED.
SO THEY CALL OUR OFFICE AND WE DEPEND A LOT ON THE STAFF AND THE PERMITTING DEPARTMENT AND THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO GIVE US THAT ACCURATE INFORMATION, TIMELY.
AND FOR US TO BE ABLE TO TRANSFER THAT KNOWLEDGE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS SO THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS, UM, IT IT TAKES A LOT.
AND SO I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION, AND TO LISTEN INTENTLY, UM, TO BOTH SIDES AND MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR HOUSTONIANS.
SO, CONGRATULATIONS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS FOR SERVING ON SUCH AN IMPORTANT BOARD HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
I KNOW RECENTLY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND I, UH, HAD A JOINT COMMITTEE MEETING, UH, THE RNA AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE.
UH, SHE'S CHAIR OF THE RNA AND I'M, UH, CHAIR OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE, UH, IN REGARDS TO THE, UH, SETBACK, UH, THE LOT SIZE AND THE NO PARKING ON THE GRASS ORDINANCES.
I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S BEEN CHANGED NOW.
UH, WE'RE, WE'RE STILL WAITING ON ONE, I BELIEVE, BUT, UH, TWO OF THEM HAVE BEEN CHANGED FROM 20 YEARS TO 40 YEARS TO RENEW.
UM, MY QUESTION, AND I'M, I'M, I'M, I'M HOPING THAT Y'ALL WILL WORK ON THIS.
I'M, MY COMMENT, UH, IS THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER, UH, SO THAT WAY WHEN THOSE 40 YEARS HAPPEN, UH, PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO THAT WANT TO PROTECT THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK OUT TO OPT IN.
UH, IT'S GONNA HAVE, IN MY OPINION, NEEDS TO BE AN OPT OUT.
THOSE THAT WANNA DESTROY THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY NEED TO GO DO THE WORK, THE LEG WORK, NOT THOSE THAT WANNA PROTECT THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO I'M ASKING, IT NEEDS TO BE AN OPT OUT, NOT AN OPT IN AFTER 40 YEARS.
UH, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S DEED RESTRICTIONS AND WHAT HAVE YOU INVOLVED.
THANK YOU, UH, DIRECTOR MARGARET WALLACE BROWN.
YOU WANNA MAKE A FEW COMMENTS? I, I, I, SIR, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR WISE CHOICES.
THIS IS, AS EVERYONE HAS SAID, PERHAPS THE HARDEST WORKING COMMISSION THAT THE CITY HAS EVERY TWO WEEKS, 200 ITEMS. NOTHING GOES WITHOUT VERY CLEAR REVIEW.
OUR TEAM, UH, AT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WORKS VERY HARD.
UM, AGAIN, THE LEADERSHIP FROM THE CHAIR'S POSITION IS AMAZING, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE CHOICES THAT THE MAYOR AND THIS COUNCIL MAKES IN GIVING US THE BEST, THE BEST HARDEST WORKING COMMISSION WE HAVE.
I WILL COMMENT, THOUGH, YES, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MEMORY, WE
[00:30:01]
HAVE MORE WOMEN ON THE COMMISSION THAN WE HAVE MEN.AND IF I MAY ADD APPOINTED BY THIS MAYOR, UM,
I THINK IT'S, I THINK IT'S PROBABLY THE HARDEST WORKING UNIT THAT WE HAVE.
BECAUSE IN A CITY WITH NO ZONING, WHERE THINGS HAVE KIND OF DEVELOPED ON THEIR OWN, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN CITY OF HOUSTON IS, UM, THEY JUST KIND OF SHOT UP.
AND SO IT'S, HOW DO YOU CONTROL WHAT HAS BEEN UNCONTROLLED? OR MAYBE CONTROL IS THE WRONG IS THE WRONG WORD.
HOW DO YOU PLAN FOR SOMETHING WHERE THERE HAS BEEN A LACK OF PLANNING? AND IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT WHEN YOU HAVE, UH, NEIGHBORHOODS JUST OPPOSED TO ALL KINDS OF BUSINESSES, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE'S NO MORE LAND BEING CREATED.
AND SO PEOPLE START LOOKING PLACES WHERE THEY CAN DO THINGS IN PLACES WHERE THERE HAS NOT BEEN IN THE PAST.
SO IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO STRIKE THAT BALANCE.
AND OFTENTIMES, UM, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE SOMEBODY WALKING AWAY NOT HAPPY.
UH, BUT AGAIN, MARTY, AS WE APPROACH 2023, AND AS I GO INTO MY FINAL YEAR, I DO WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE PROVIDED STILL A LEADERSHIP SINCE I'VE BEEN MAYOR, UM, AND DOING SOME CHALLENGING, CHALLENGING TIMES, CHALLENGING PERIODS, OUR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.
AND I, I WISH I HAD SAID THIS ORIGINALLY, I, WE COULD NOT DO OUR WORK ON THE COMMISSION WITHOUT THE INCREDIBLE WORK OF THE STAFF OF THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
IT IS A LABOR INTENSIVE PROCESS, AND WE HAVE SOME VERY COMMITTED PEOPLE WHO ARE PLANNERS.
IT'S HARD TO WORK AS A PLANNER IN A CITY WITH NO ZONING.
AND, AND WE REALLY, WE COULDN'T DO WHAT WE DO WITHOUT THEM.
AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK THEM.
UM, I AGREE WITH YOU A HUNDRED HUNDRED PERCENT.
SO NEVER WANNA, UH, LEAVE OUT THE STAFF BECAUSE WITHOUT THE STAFF, WE, WE DON'T FUNCTION.
UH, COUNCILMAN CIRO, THANK YOU.
UM, AND, AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU COMING, THE NEW ONES AND THE, UM, THE, THE ONES THAT ARE RETURNING.
WE REALLY SO APPRECIATE YOU AND VALUE THE WORK.
UM, THE CONVERSATION JUST NOW ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DON'T HAVE, UM, ZONING AND THE CHALLENGES THAT PUTS ON THE CITY AND ON YOU.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST SAY, I, I KNOW THAT THE CITY, THAT THE CONSTITUENTS IN THIS CITY HAVE VOTED, ZONING, ZONING DOWN TWICE.
UM, I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION.
I HOPE SOMEONE WILL LOOK AT IT AND MAYBE REVISIT THAT AND SEE IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO CONSIDER.
AGAIN, I'M THINKING RIGHT NOW ABOUT, UM, A A THE CHALLENGES OF CONCRETE BATCH PLANTS, WHICH THE CITY HAS LIKE NO CONTROL OVER, YOU KNOW, AND THIS, AND THE, THE STATE JUST LETS 'EM GO ANYWHERE.
THERE'S NO PROHIBITIONS ABOUT BEING TOO CLOSE TO A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD OR TO A SCHOOL.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE, I'VE GOT APPLICATIONS NOW TO, YOU KNOW, RIGHT IN, IN, YOU KNOW, NEXT TO NEIGHBORHOODS AND PEOPLE ARE UPSET.
AND, AND WE, WITHOUT ZONING, WE ARE POWERLESS TO DO REALLY MUCH OF ANYTHING EXCEPT LEAN ON THE STATE OFFICIALS TO, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, AND THEIR, YOU KNOW, THEIR, THEIR SENSE OF WHAT'S RIGHT.
BUT, BUT, BUT I, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT IF WE DID HAVE ZONING, WE COULD SAY IT'S NOT ALLOWED HERE.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S THE LOCAL CONTROL THAT WE REALLY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, AND, AND NOT BE AT THE MERCY OF THE STATE.
SO I, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THERE'S NOT TIME IN, YOU KNOW, IN THIS YEAR TO REALLY FIX THAT, BUT I, BUT I WANTED TO JUST PLANT A SEED ABOUT THE FUTURE.
'CAUSE YOU GUYS WILL BE HERE AND, UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, TO HELP US PROTECT THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN, YOU KNOW, IN HOUSTON NEIGHBORHOODS.
WHAT I WOULD SAY THE LEGISLATURE WAS, WILL BE MEETING, STARTING ON TUESDAY.
AND, UH, THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT CAN BE FIXED, SO MAYBE PEOPLE WILL WANT TO FIX IT, UH, IN THE LEGISLATURE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE IT IS.
AND STARTING TUESDAY, THIS IS AN ISSUE, ESPECIALLY ON CONCRETE BATCH PLANTS AND ALL THAT.
SO WE NEED TO BE PUSHING THE LEGISLATURE TOO, TO ADDRESS IT.
VERY, VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND LOOK FORWARD TO, TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL.
[9:30 AM - PUBLIC SPEAKERS]
9 38.AND IT'S TIME TO TURN TO THE, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION.
UM, SO AT THIS TIME, UM, MADAM SECRETARY, UM, WE ARE GOING TO TURN TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION.
AND IF YOU COULD PROCEED, UH, UH, FIRST, UH, COUNCIL
[00:35:01]
MEMBER EVAN SHAVA.THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.
I, I WANT I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE CATHERINE FLOWERS TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST.
ANY DISCUSSION? ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR? NONE.
UH, ANY OTHER PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? HEARING SEEN NONE, MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PROCEED TO CALL THE WRONG FIRST SPEAKER? FIRST SPEAKER, I'M SORRY.
GET RIGHT BEHIND THAT, THAT MIC.
GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY NEW YEAR'S.
HONORABLE MAYOR TURNER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU TODAY I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY COLLEAGUE, SION AMARI, WHO'S HERE FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND, WHO TRAVELED FROM AUSTIN TO BE HERE.
I'M A SOCIAL IMPACT CONSULTANT, AND I WORK WITH AGENCIES LIKE THE HOUSTON ADVANCE RESEARCH CENTER IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND AND OTHERS.
I AM ALSO THE BOARD SECRETARY FOR THE CLEAN ENERGY FUND OF TEXAS.
THE CLEAN ENERGY FUND OF TEXAS IS A FINANCING PROVIDER FOR TEXANS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS TO PAY FOR SOLAR AND OTHER ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES.
AS THE FIRST GREEN BANK UP AND RUNNING IN TEXAS, WE HELP TO SPEED UP INVESTMENTS IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY, RESILIENCY, AND RENEWABLE POWER, ESPECIALLY FOR HOUSTON HOME AND BUSINESS OWNERS THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT OF THE GREEN ECONOMY.
WE PARTNERED WITH EDF FOR FIVE MONTHS TO ENGAGE COMMUNITIES AND DEVELOP TOOLS FOR LEADERS AND RESIDENTS TO HELP UNDERSTAND THE ENERGY TRANSITION.
WE ARE HERE TODAY TO ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO PARTNER WITH US AND TO LEVERAGE FEDERAL DOLLARS TO INVEST IN CLEAN ENERGY, HELP LOWER RESIDENTS ELECTRIC BILLS, AND ENSURE HEALTHIER, MORE PROSPEROUS FUTURE.
THE CATASTROPHIC IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE MEANS TEXAS FACE MORE FREQUENT AND INTENSE HEATH WAVES, FLOODS, AND DROUGHTS, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE HOTTEST SUMMERS AND COLDEST WINTERS ON STORM ON RECORD.
THIS INCREASINGLY DANGEROUS EXTREME WEATHER AND THE THREAT THAT IT POSES TO US.
AND THE POWER GRID SPOTLIGHTS THE GROWING NEED FOR CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY, INCREASED RESILIENCY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY.
TEXAS CONSUMES AND PRODUCES MORE ENERGY THAN ANY OTHER STATE IN THE NATION.
AND OUR POPULATION CONTINUES TO GROW.
IN NOVEMBER 20, 20, 22, A NEW STUDY SHOWED THAT ALMOST HALF OF ALL TEXANS HOUSEHOLDS STRUGGLED WITH HIGH ENERGY COSTS.
IN THE LAST YEAR, ELECTRIC PRICES HAS SURGED, AND THAT HAS LED TO APPROXIMATELY 45% OF TEXAN HOUSEHOLDS SAYING THAT THEY HAD TO GO WITHOUT SOME BASIC NECESSITIES, SUCH AS FOOD OR MEDICINE TO PAY THEIR ELECTRIC BILL.
TEXAS PRODUCES A QUARTER OF THE NATION'S TOTAL RENEWABLE ENERGY, MAKING OUR STATE THE NUMBER ONE RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATOR IN THE COUNTRY.
DID YOU KNOW THAT ENERGY EFFICIENCY REDUCES THE ENERGY NEEDED TO KEEP HOUSTONIANS LIGHTS ON? ENSURE HOMES AND BUSINESSES REMAIN COMFORTABLE? TEXAS HAS MORE ENERGY EFFICIENCY POTENTIAL THAN ANY OTHER STATE IN THE NATION.
AND COUPLED WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY, IT CAN DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE GRID RELIABILITY AND LOWER ENERGY COSTS.
CONSTITUENTS NEED DEMAND FOCUSED STRATEGIES LIKE ENERGY EFFICIENCY TO PROTECT THE ERCOT GRID.
EXPANDING TEXAS ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND DEMAND RESPONSE PROGRAMS SUCH AS BETTER INSULATED HOMES AND UPGRADED HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS WILL SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE GRID DEMAND, THEREBY LOWERING ELECTRIC COSTS, SAVING LIVE, EXTENDING THE REACH OF EXISTING POWER PLANTS AND ENSURING HOUSEHOLDS ARE NOT LEFT IN THE DARK, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
TO FINISH, LAST YEAR, PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED THE INFLECTION INFLATION REDUCTION ACT, THE SINGLE LARGEST CLIMATE INVESTMENT IN THE US HISTORY.
THE IRA MAKES A HISTORIC $3.5 BILLION INVESTMENT IN WEATHERIZATION TO IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND LOWER ENERGY COSTS.
8 BILLION FROM THE FEDERAL BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW COULD HELP FUND HUNDREDS OF PROJECTS TO HELP HOUSTON RESIDENTS.
THAT MEANS AN LMI HOUSEHOLD COULD RECEIVE UP TO $28,500 TO SWITCH TO, UH, EFFICIENT ELECTRIC HOME APPLIANCES, INSTALL ROOFTOP SOLAR, SO SOLAR PANELS, OR BUY A NEW ELECTRIC VEHICLE.
THAT IS BECAUSE AMONG THE OTHER THINGS, THE IRA ALSO INCLUDES REBATE AND TAX CREDITS THAT COVER 50 TO A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE COST OF INSTALLING NEW ELECTRIC APPLIANCES, 30% OF THE COST TO INSTALL SOLAR PANELS IN BATTERY STORAGE, UP TO $7,500 FOR AN ALL IN PLUGIN HYBRID OR FUEL CELL ELECTRIC VEHICLE,
[00:40:01]
AND 30% OF COST OF COMMUNITY SOLAR PROJECTS.AS NOTED, EARLY, A GREEN BANKS, LIKE THE CLEAN ENERGY FUND OF TEXAS WILL SPEED UP INVESTMENTS AS THE FIRST GREEN BANK IN TEXAS.
THE CLEAN ENERGY FUND WILL SAVE MONEY AND ENERGY FOR THOUSANDS OF LOW TO MODERATE INCOME RESIDENTS.
THROUGH OUR MANY INNOVATIVE FINANCING PRODUCTS, THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY TO HELP CONSTITUENTS TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE SUPPORT CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE RISING ENERGY COSTS POSE A SIGNIFICANT BURDEN TO ESTONIANS.
THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN COMMUNITY'S FUTURE AND ENSURE TEXAS REMAINS THE NATION CLEAN ENERGY LEADER.
WE WELCOME EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER WITH EACH OF YOU.
EVERY DISTRICT IS DIFFERENT, BUT COLLABORATION IS THE KEY.
LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN BE A RESOURCE, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
AND AGAIN, LET ME ENCOURAGE YOU AND THEN LET ME ENCOURAGE, UM, UM, MY TEAM, UH, TO REALLY WORK TOGETHER.
UH, PRIYA ZACHARIA IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY.
SO ALL OF THE RESILIENCE INITIATIVES, THE CLIMATE ACTION INITIATIVES, UH, KIND OF FALL UNDER HER JURISDICTION.
AND THEN WORKING WITH, UM, UH, SHANNON BUGS ON COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, WHICH HAS BEEN WORKING WITH WEATHERIZATION PROGRAMS. MM-HMM
UH, AND SOME, UH, SOME OF THE OUTSIDE FUNDERS, UH, ON THOSE INITIATIVES.
UM, BUT COLLABORATION IS IMPORTANT AND SO, UM, I CERTAINLY WILL ENCOURAGE THEM TO WORK WITH SERVE, AND LET ME ENCOURAGE YOU TO ALSO TO REACH OUT, UH, TO REACH OUT TO THEM.
UM, THEN WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT, UH, IN MARCH, UH, THE GLOBAL RESILIENCE, UM, UH, NETWORK WILL BE MEETING, HAVING THIS, UM, UH, INTERNATIONAL MEETING HERE IN, UH, HOUSTON, WHICH I CHAIR.
AND SO THAT'LL BE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO COUNTRY ADVANCE THINGS.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO RENEWABLES, CLEAN ENERGY, CLEAN ENERGY, TRANSITION, WEATHERIZATION, ALL OF THOSE THINGS, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S A HIGH PRIORITY FOR US.
UH, ACTUALLY, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR COMING.
UH, CATHERINE, MY MOTHER'S NAME WAS CATHERINE WITH THE C AND SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU ARE HERE SPEAKING, AND CERTAINLY THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC, AND MY OFFICE WILL REACH OUT TO YOU TO GET MORE INFORMATION.
AND THANK YOU FOR COMING THIS MORNING.
AND THANKS FOR CONTINUING YOUR FIGHT.
YOU'VE BEEN IN THIS FIGHT FOR A WHILE.
AND, UM, AND WE'D LOVE TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT THE GREEN ENERGY BANK, IF YOU, YOU KNOW, CAN SEND THAT AROUND TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND JUST LIKE WHAT THE MAYOR SAID, IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO PARTNER WITH US, CERTAINLY, UM, WITH OUR RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE AND WITH COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT, I MEAN, THIS, WE ALL HEAR A LOT ABOUT RENEWABLE ENERGY AND HOW WE CAN MAKE, DO THINGS, BUT THERE'S SOME COMMUNITIES THAT ARE NOT GETTING THAT INFORMATION AS, AS, AS WELL AS THEY COULD.
AND SO I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THAT AND HAPPY TO PARTNER WITH YOU.
AND THEN JUST ADD, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO PARTNER WITH ORGANIZATION LIKE YOURSELF, UM, WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO PULL DOWN THESE GRANTS FROM THE, UM, INFLATION REDUCTION ACT.
UM, ESPECIALLY FOR LIKE WEATHERIZATION COMMUNITY INITIATIVES.
UH, WE NEED TO BE PARTNERING WITH OTHER GROUPS.
SO, UM, THERE'S EVERY INCENTIVE FOR US TO PARTNER WITH YOU.
AND, UM, WE JUST ALL NEED TO BE VERY INTENTIONAL IN MAKING THAT HAPPEN.
UH, GOOD TO SEE MY NEW ORLEANS HOME GIRL, UH, IN CHAMBERS.
UM, I THINK YOU RAISED A, A REALLY GOOD POINT, PARTICULARLY, UM, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE DIRECT RESOURCES TO THOSE THAT IMPACTED.
AND AS YOU WERE SPEAKING, WHAT CAME TO MY MIND WAS HAVING THE CONVERSATION WITH LANDLORDS MM-HMM
UM, MANY OF, WE HAVE AN AN AGE, AN AGING MULTIFAMILY STOCK.
SO MANY OF THE APARTMENTS THAT WERE DEVELOPED IN THE EIGHTIES AND NINETIES AND EVEN THE TWO THOUSANDS, MAYBE IT'S TIME FOR THEM, UM, TO HAVE A REHAB OR INCREASE THEIR ENERGY EFFICIENCY OR WHATEVER THEY CAN DO ON PROPERTY.
AND I THINK THERE MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY DOWN THE LINE TO HAVE A, A, A SPECIFIC CONVERSATION WITH THEM.
'CAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, MANY INDIVIDUALS THAT, YOU KNOW, LIMITED RENT, LIMITED INCOME, RATHER, THEY STILL GET HIGH BILLS.
AND IF WE CAN IMPROVE THEIR, UM, LIVING CONDITIONS AND THE, THE PLACES THAT THEY LIVE, UM, THROUGH SOME TYPE OF PARTNERSHIP OR INITIATIVE, I THINK IT MIGHT BE MEANINGFUL EVEN IN THAT SECTOR.
SO IF THERE'S ANY RESOURCES WE CAN DIRECTLY PROVIDE, UH, TO CONSTITUENTS, PLEASE SEND TO, UM, SHARE WITH ALL OF US.
AND I WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH YOU TO GET THOSE LANDLORDS PIPED IN.
YOU, I, I DID BRING DOCUMENTS FOR EVERYBODY, AND YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
$8 BILLION, ACTUALLY, IT'S MORE THAN $8 BILLION.
AND IF WE DON'T SPEND THE MONEY, IT'S GONNA BE DISTRIBUTED SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AND SO THIS REALLY IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE KIND OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND SO, AGAIN, WE'RE HAPPY TO PARTNER WITH EACH OF YOU.
AND I WILL SHARE THIS WITH YOU GUYS.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING GREAT THINGS.
I THANK COUNCILMAN ASH COUNCIL, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.
I HEARD YOU TALK ABOUT, UH, THE DIFFERENT, UM, INCENTIVES TO, TO, TO DO SOLAR AND OTHER TYPES OF THINGS TO THE HOME.
UH, I DIDN'T HEAR YOU SAY ANYTHING ABOUT INSULATION.
[00:45:02]
UH, YOU KNOW, MANY OF THESE HOMES NEED, UH, MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF INSULATION TO, TO, TO, TO PROTECT THEM.AND NOT ONLY THE WINTER, BUT ALSO THE SUMMER FROM THE HEAT, UH, AND EVEN IN THEIR WALLS.
SO, UH, IS THERE A PROGRAM TO HELP PEOPLE TO GET TO INSULATION IN THEIR, IN THEIR HOMES AND WALLS? THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT.
REMEMBER, UP TO $28,500 EACH HOUSEHOLD IS ELIGIBLE FOR, AND INSTALLATION IS A PART OF THAT.
ANY KIND OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT CAN BE PAID FOR.
AND, AND SO HOW DO THEY APPLY FOR IT? WILL, WILL IT BE IN THIS PASS OUT THAT YOU'RE SENDING AROUND? YES, THERE'LL BE SOME INFORMATION, BUT THERE'LL BE TONS OF PROGRAMS. HOPEFULLY, UH, THROUGH THE CITY WE WILL BE OFFERING SOMETHING AS WELL.
BUT THE CLEAN ENERGY BANK OF TEXAS, CLEAN ENERGY FUND OF TEXAS, UH, WE ALSO WILL OFFER OPPORTUNITIES TO DRIVE DOWN, BRING DOWN THAT MONEY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BECAUSE VERY WELCOME.
I'VE BEEN GETTING CALLS FROM PEOPLE THAT SAY THAT THEIR ELECTRIC BILLS SINCE LAST YEAR HAVE TRIPLED.
UH, AND, UH, I, I GOT A BILL THAT SOMEBODY SENT ME THIS WEEK THAT THE BILL WAS $206, UH, UH, LAST YEAR.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE THE HOW, HOW CAN YOU AFFORD THAT? AND IT'S JUST GOING OUTTA SIGHT.
SO THANK YOU FOR, THERE IS A SOLUTION TO THAT.
UM, BUT THERE'S TONS OF COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS THAT WE CAN MAKE TO ENSURE THAT, UH, ELECTRIC BILLS STAY AT A PRICE THAT'S EQUITABLE FOR FOLKS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CATHERINE.
SARAH BELL EDWARDS IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY GIANNI BONANO.
UM, UM, THE SUBJECT IS IDENTITY THEFT AND, UH, CITIZENS ABUSE.
MY IDENTITY HAVE BEEN USED TO THE CAPACITY IN THIS CITY THAT I CANNOT FUNCTION AT ALL BY CITIZENS OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, CONGRESS OFFICIALS, AND OTHER INSTANCES IN THIS CITY.
MY IDENTITY, MY DRIVER'S LICENSE, MY ID, MY BIRTH CERTIFICATE, MY, UH, IMMIGRATION SHOT RECORD, FINGERPRINTING, UH, UH, BIRTHRIGHTS, SOCIAL SECURITY, UNEMPLOYMENT WORK LABEL LAW HAVE BEEN TERRIBLY DISRESPECTED.
UM, UM, HOUSING, IMMIGRATION, GREEN CARDS, PASSPORTS, I HAVE NOT HAVE ONE YET.
MY DRIVER'S LICENSE HAVE BEEN TURNED AROUND TO CUT THE BEAT OF THE CRIME THAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY.
MY IDENTIFICATION HAVE BEEN USED UNGODLY MY DEGREE.
THAT WAS, UH, IS A LEGISLATION SENATE BILL ACT FROM CHANNEL 13.
DAVE WARD AND MARVIN LER BROUGHT IT TO THE, TO, TO THE ATTENTION WHERE A NURSING ASSISTANT HAS TO BE CERTIFIED IN THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS.
I AM ONE OF THE LADIES WHO THEY ARE APPOINTED TO, OF A DEGREE OF A, OF A, A SOURCES OF ALL TRADES OF A MASTER IN THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS, HOUSTON, TEXAS.
SHARON, SARAH, CHANTEL BELL EDWARDS OF AID FOR HOUSTON, ROTC, SAM HOUSTON HIGH SCHOOL.
MY HIGH SCHOOL, RUTGERS HAVE BEEN DEMOLISHED.
MY SON, BRANDON DESHAUN BROOKS, WHO SERVED IN HEDY AS A UNITED STATES CITIZEN ARMY WORKER, HAS BEEN EXPUNGED.
WHY IS MY IDENTIFICATION HAVEN'T BEEN MONITORED, BEEN USED IN THE GOVERNMENT OF FOOD STAMPS, HOUSING, UNEMPLOYMENT, AND I CAN'T GET NO ASSISTANCE.
I JUST GOT HELP WITH SALVATION ARMY AND THE GRAY STATE, UH, HOUSTON HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
IDENTITY THEFT WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
MY NAME HAVE BEEN USED IN THE MEDICAL WITH GOVERNMENT, MEDICARE, UH, MEDICAID.
MY, MY, UH, PRIVATE INSURANCE.
BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD HAVE BEEN USED BY EVERY NATIONALITY.
IT'S A DISRESPECT, A DISGRACE.
I AM THE REAL SARAH CHANTEL BELL.
MY MEDIA, MY BODY HAVE BEEN EXPLOITED.
I GOT PUT OUT MY HOME FOR A VIOLATION THAT I DID NOT COMMIT.
MY NAME IS RINGING IN THE CPS OFFICE.
THAT'S AGAINST THE LAW AND THE RULES OF MY BELIEFS.
I AM CHAPLAIN SARAN, SARAH CHANTEL, BELL EDWARDS, TEXAS AID FOR THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS.
HOUSTON NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
[00:50:01]
NO QUESTIONS.IF YOU'LL COME FORWARD TO BE FOLLOWED BY BRITTANY'S SPALDING.
UM, MY NAME IS DWIGHT FOREMAN.
I AM A HOUSTON NATIVE FROM THE SOUTH SIDE OF HOUSTON.
AND I JUST WANNA START OFF BY THANKING, UM, THE BOARD FOR Y'ALL TIME.
AND I WANNA ADDRESS THE HOMELESS SITUATION, UM, THAT'S GOING ON.
UM, AS ANYBODY THAT LIVES IN HOUSTON KNOW IT'S A HOMELESS SITUATION THAT'S GOING ON.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE SEE THE DRUG THING THAT'S GOING ON.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE MENTAL ISSUES AND A LOT OF STUFF IS NOT BEING DONE.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE GETTING CAST AWAY TO THE STREETS THAT'S IN THE SHELTERS.
THE REASON WHY I SPEAK OF THAT, 'CAUSE RIGHT NOW I AM HOMELESS AND I'M NOT A DOCTOR WITH A PHD OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT TO DIAGNOSE ANYBODY WITH SYMPTOMS. BUT I AM A CHILD WITH DISABILITY THAT TOOK SPECIAL NEED CLASSES.
SO I KNOW WHO I'M AMONGST AND WHAT IS GOING ON.
AND I, I FEEL LIKE IT'S NEED TO, PEOPLE NEED TO BE IN THE FIELD TO HELP THESE PEOPLE THAT'S MENTALLY AND INCAPABLE AND UN COMPREHENDING TO THE SITUATION THEY'RE IN.
I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GETTING CAST AWAY 'CAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO HELP THEIR SELVES.
AND I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE SHOULD BE MORE HANDS ON IN, IN THE FIELD, IN THE STREETS INSTEAD OF SENDING THEM TO, THEY WANNA SAY WE HAVE RESOURCES LIKE THAT.
BUT THESE PEOPLE HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO GO TO THESE RESOURCES 'CAUSE THEY'RE INCOMPETENT.
THEY DO NOT HAVE THE SKILLS TO GO THIS PLACE.
SO THEY'RE INFLUENCED BY THE THINGS THAT'S SURROUND THEM, LIKE THE DRUGS.
SO THEY'RE GETTING STEERED IN THE WRONG DIRECTION INSTEAD OF GOING TO THE PLACE, GETTING HELP, THEY'RE WALKING UP ON THE FIRST PERSON THAT'S TO THEM SAY, HEY MAN, I GOT THIS, SO COME WITH ME AND FOLLOW ME.
'CAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE MINDSET FOR THEIR SELF TO FOLLOW WHERE THEY NEED TO FOLLOW.
SO THEY FOLLOWING THE WRONG PATHWAY.
AND I WANT TO ADDRESS THAT AND FIGURE OUT HOW CAN WE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN THE STREETS.
AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT, UH, WE ARE VERY SENSITIVE TO THAT.
THERE ARE, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT THERE WHO ARE HOMELESS, LIVING ON A LOT OF STREETS, UH, WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES.
UM, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ISSUES OUT THERE.
SO IT'S NOT ABOUT JUST TRYING TO PUT PEOPLE IN A, IN A HOME.
OKAY? IT'S ABOUT PUTTING PEOPLE IN A HOME, BUT PROVIDING THEM WITH THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.
SO THAT THEY CAN STAY, UH, PERMANENTLY HOUSED.
WE DO HAVE PEOPLE OUT IN THE FIELD.
UM, AND YOU SAY THAT YOU ARE HOMELESS.
WE WOULD LOVE TO GET YOU OFF THE STREET, UH, AND INTO, INTO, UH, SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
DO I HAVE MORE TIME, MR. MAYOR? LIKE I SAID, I HAVE SKILLS.
LIKE I SAY, I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE SKILLS.
I COULD BUILD A HOUSE, I COULD BUILD THIS BUILDING IF I HAVE THE TOOLS.
BUT LIKE I SAY, I DON'T HAVE THE TOOLS AND I GET CAST AWAY WHEN I DON'T HAVE AN ADDRESS OR A PHONE OR ANYTHING TO GIVE TO THESE PEOPLE TO SAY, HEY, CAN Y'ALL CALL ME BACK? CAN I GO TO THIS JOB? I GET TURNED AWAY.
'CAUSE LIKE I SAY, I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DRESS UP AND GO TO AN INTERVIEW OR GET MY HAIR DONE OR SHAVE.
'CAUSE I DON'T HAVE THOSE THINGS.
LIKE I SAID, THEY SAY IT IS RESOURCES OUT THERE, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THOSE RESOURCES, RESOURCES ARE 'CAUSE WE HAVE DISABILITIES.
WELL, WE JUST NEED TO MAKE THEM AVAILABLE TO YOU.
WE DO HAVE THE TURNAROUND PROGRAM WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THE SKILLS.
AND WE PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES TO PUT, TO MAKE YOU EVEN MORE EMPLOYABLE.
SO THERE, THERE ARE, THERE, THERE ARE RESOURCES AND OUT THERE, UH, NOW OF COURSE YOU ALWAYS NEED MORE.
UH, I ASSUME THIS IS A NUMBER WHERE YOU CAN BE REACHED.
THAT'S, THAT'S ON THIS, UM, OH, THAT'S BEFORE ME.
THAT'S MY GRANDMOTHER'S NUMBER.
IS THAT HOW WE CAN REACH YOU? YES, SIR.
THEN LET'S, LET'S REACH OUT TO YOU.
UH, AND JUST LIKE I'M SAYING, REACH OUT TO YOU, WE WANNA REACH OUT TO OTHERS AS WELL.
BUT THE REASON I HAVE ONE MORE THING.
LIKE I SAY, PEOPLE GET CAST AWAY FROM THE HOMELESS SHELTER.
LIKE I SAY, DURING THE FREEZE, THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WAS ON THE STREETS AND PEOPLE WAS WONDERING WHY.
'CAUSE THESE PEOPLE HAD MENTAL ISSUES AND THE PEOPLE INSIDE THE SHELTER DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO CONTROL THEM.
AND I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND.
SOME PEOPLE IT'S NOT, IF YOU CAN'T HELP THEM, THEY'RE GOING TO JAIL.
SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THOSE AND THEY FEEL LIKE THEY NEED MEDICINE AND ALL THAT.
EVERYBODY BODY IS NOT THE SAME.
YOU MIGHT BE ALLERGIC TO STRAWBERRIES AND I MIGHT NOT BE.
I AGREE WITH YOU AND I MIGHT BE ALLERGIC TO BLUEBERRIES AND YOU NOT.
MIGHT BE, OUR BODY IS NOT THE SAME.
SO WE CAN'T TAKE THE SAME THING AND SAY, OH, THIS MEDICINE WORKED FOR ME, SO IT'S GONNA WORK FOR YOU.
NO, OUR BODY DOES NOT WORK THE SAME.
WE'RE ALL DIFFERENT HUMAN BEINGS.
WE'RE ALL HUMAN BEINGS, BUT OUR BODIES FUNCTION DIFFERENTLY.
WHY DON'T WE REACH OUT TO YOU AND WE'LL FOLLOW UP ON THIS CONVERSATION.
UH, SEE SOME PEOPLE IN THE QUEUE THERE.
[00:55:01]
MOTION TO EXTEND.UM, MS. FOREMAN, A MOTION TO EXTEND.
THIS IS A ISSUE THAT IS VERY SENSITIVE TO ALL OF US.
I SAY THEREBY THE GRACE OF GOD.
AND SO IT COULD HAPPEN TO ANYONE.
AND SO I WANT TO SAY THAT I, I DO HAVE SOME IDEAS THAT I'M GONNA TALK TO THE MAYOR ABOUT.
IT WAS ACTUALLY AN IDEA GIVEN TO ME BY A HOMELESS PERSON.
AND I'VE BEEN KIND OF SITTING ON IT.
BUT CERTAINLY WE DO HAVE, UH, SERVICES SET UP IN THE BUS STATION AS WELL TO TRY TO INTERCEPT PEOPLE THAT ARE, THAT ARE FORMERLY INCARCERATED AND HOMELESS PEOPLE TO TRY TO HELP THEM TO REDIRECT.
AND SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR COMING FORWARD.
AND I MEAN, YOU'RE SO ARTICULATE.
I KNOW CERTAINLY THAT YOU COULD SERVE IN A CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO HELP OTHERS BECAUSE IT'S SPACES THAT YOU CAN GO IN AND SOME OF US MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ACCESS.
AND SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR COMING FORWARD.
UM, IN REGARDS TO, UH, YOUR, YOUR COMMENTS, YOU WERE STATING THAT YOU HAVE SKILLS.
SO, UH, JUST A SUGGESTION, IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE IT YET, YOU MIGHT WANNA REACH OUT TO SET JOBS FOR PROGRESS.
UH, THEY DO AN OUTSTANDING, UH, WORK IN REGARDS TO INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE NEEDING ASSISTANCE.
UH, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT HAVE SKILLS AND THEY DO THE TRAINING, UH, AND ALSO HELP THEM FIND EMPLOYMENT.
SO, UH, THAT'S THEIR JOBS FOR PROGRESS.
UM, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THEIR INFORMATION, PLEASE REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE AND WE CAN GIVE YOU THE CONTACTS.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD 'CAUSE IT TAKES A LOT, UM, TO BE VULNERABLE, ENOUGH TO SPEAK BEFORE PEOPLE ABOUT THE THINGS THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU NEED.
UM, AND I WANNA WORK WITH, UH, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, UH, TO ENSURE THAT WE GET YOU THE RESOURCES THAT WE THINK WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR YOU AND THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH OTHERS.
AND I KNOW A LOT OF THIS INFORMATION IS COMING FAST AND OVERWHELMING, BUT YOU, YOU CAME TO US AND I THINK PEOPLE WANT TO HELP YOU.
SO WE'LL TRY TO FIND A WAY TO PRESENT IT SO YOU CAN DIGEST IT AND ACTUALLY USE IT, UH, TO YOUR BENEFIT.
BUT I HAVE A NONPROFIT CALLED SUITS FOR SUCCESS, AND WE HELP, UM, YOUNG MEN, UM, PUT THEM IN SUITS AND GIVE THEM THE TRAINING THAT THEY WOULD NEED FOR JOB INTERVIEWS AND OTHER, UH, LIFE SKILLS.
AND WE, UM, PARTNER WITH CAREER GEAR HOUSTON, WHICH IS A NONPROFIT SPECIFICALLY FOR, UM, HELPING TRANSITION MEN WHO ARE FORMERLY INCARCERATED OR HOMELESS, OR COMING BACK FROM THE MILITARY TO FIND THEM JOB EMPLOYMENT.
SO, UM, AS WE PACKAGE SOMETHING TOGETHER WITH THE MAYOR, I'LL ENSURE THAT THAT INFORMATION IS IN THERE AS WELL.
SINCE YOU MENTIONED YOU MAY NOT HAVE, UH, PROPER ADDRESS ATTIRE FOR AN INTERVIEW, UH, WE'LL DO WHAT WE CAN TO, TO HELP YOU WITH THAT, AND, UM, JUST UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, WE HEAR YOU AND WE, AND WE DO THANK YOU FOR COMING.
COUNCILMAN PLUMMER, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND I WANTED TO JUST CHIME IN WITH WHAT MY COLLEAGUE SAID.
IT JUST TAKES A LOT FOR YOU TO BE HERE.
BUT ONE THING THAT I DO THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IS THAT HE'S THE PERFECT PERSON TO WORK IN THESE DEPARTMENTS.
I MEAN, HE UNDERSTANDS WHAT IS OUT THERE, HE UNDERSTANDS, HE CAN RELATE TO WHAT IS HAPPENING.
AND HAVING SOMEONE, UM, IN, WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, OR THE HOMELESS COALITION, OR WHOEVER THAT MAY BE, THAT ACTUALLY CAN BE AN ADVOCATE FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE, THAT ARE HOMELESS, THAT CAN SPEAK THE LANGUAGE AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING MORE PERSONALLY.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR PASSION IS AND WHAT YOUR SKILLSET IS, BUT IN MY OPINION, HAVING YOU AS A PART OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, AND, YOU KNOW, ATTEMPTING TO ACHIEVE IS REALLY CRUCIAL.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL HERE TO HELP YOU, AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU'RE HERE AND THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE BEING VULNERABLE.
LIKE COUNCILMAN POLLARD SAID, BEING VULNERABLE.
UM, BUT I THINK YOU HAVE A GIFT.
I WAS FIRST OFF, MR. FOREMAN, THANK YOU FOR COMING.
UH, YOU CAME NOT ONLY TO SPEAK FOR YOURSELF, BUT FOR THOSE AROUND YOU.
UH, AND THAT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
UM, SO THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING FOR OTHERS AND LOOKING OUT FOR EVERYONE, UH, THAT YOU SEE THAT NEEDS HELP.
MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE ONE SUGGESTION.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD'S GONNA GIVE YOU YOUR CARD.
I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THIS IS YOUR GRANDMOTHER'S PHONE NUMBER.
UM, BUT I AL I KNOW YOU ALSO MENTIONED IT'S HARD SOMETIMES, RIGHT? IF WE CALL, SOMEONE CALLS THAT HOME, YOU MAY NOT BE THERE AT THE TIME.
SO, MAYOR, IF WE COULD ALSO GIVE HIM SOME ADDITIONAL PHONE NUMBERS THAT HE CAN CALL PROACTIVELY, INCLUDING, UM, YOUR OFFICE OF HOMELESS INITIATIVES, COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS.
AND THEN WE'LL GIVE YOU COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD'S CONTACT INFORMATION, JUST SO YOU HAVE THAT AS WELL.
MR. I HAVE A PAPER FROM THE SCHOOL THAT I WANTED YOU TO SEE IF IT'S OKAY IF I HAND HOLD ON.
HOLD ON ONE SECOND, MISS ONE SECOND.
LET ME FINISH WITH THE COUNCIL.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE BEFORE YOU LEAVE, YOU GET, UM, THIS PAPER WITH SOME OF THE CONTACT INFORMATION.
[01:00:01]
MEMBER JACKSON.UM, AND THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND JUST SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCE AND YOUR NEEDS.
UM, I ALSO WANTED TO OUTLINE THAT, UM, UM, DISTRICT B HAS AN INITIATIVE, WHICH IS THE BE SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVE.
UM, THAT WILL WORK WITH YOU ONE ON ONE, UM, TO HELP YOU GET CONNECTED TO JOBS AND THE RESOURCES THAT YOU NEED.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE THESE SYSTEMS. WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO, YOU KNOW, IDENTIFY THE RESOURCES OR FIND THE RESOURCES.
SO WE HAVE PEOPLE SPECIFICALLY, THAT'S THEIR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY.
IT'S TO WORK WITH YOU, NOT JUST, IT'S NOT TRANSACTIONAL, IT'S LONG TERM.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU NEED YOUR ID, THEY'LL HELP YOU GET YOUR ID.
IF YOU NEED BUS FARE, THEY'RE GONNA HELP YOU GET BUS FARE.
OUR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET THAT INFORMATION.
AND AGAIN, WE ARE HERE TO WORK WITH YOU, UM, GET YOU ON YOUR FEET.
UH, DWIGHT, GIVE YOU THE FINAL COMMENT BEFORE WE MOVE ON.
I JUST WANT TO THANK THE BOARD FOR EVERYTHING, FOR Y'ALL TIME AND EVERYTHING.
BUT LIKE I SAID, I WAS VERY NERVOUS COMING UP HERE.
AND LIKE I SAID, I DO HAVE A DISABILITY.
LIKE I SAID, I COULD BUILD THIS BUILDING IF I HAD THE SKILLS AND, AND ENOUGH PEOPLE.
UM, I COULD GROW, I COULD, I COULD RAISE ANIMALS.
I KNOW HOW TO DO A LOT OF THINGS.
I KNOW HOW, I KNOW HOW TO TALK TO THE HOMELESS.
I KNOW PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES BECAUSE I GREW UP AROUND THEM.
LIKE I SAID, I TOOK SPECIAL NEED CLASSES.
LITERALLY, I SAT IN CLASSES WITH MY CLASSMATES.
SO I KNOW HOW PEOPLE WORK AND HOW THEY FUNCTION, HOW TO APPROACH PEOPLE, HOW NOT TO APPROACH PEOPLE, WHEN TO APPROACH PEOPLE.
I'VE BEEN AROUND THAT I HAVE SENSE ENOUGH TO KNOW HOW TO DO CERTAIN THINGS.
SO IF Y'ALL GIMME THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE RESOURCES TO DO THOSE THINGS, I WILL MAKE A LOT OF PEOPLE PROUD.
WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU, UM, BECAUSE YOU, UH, YOU CERTAINLY WOULD BE A CAN, A CANDIDATE FOR THE NAVIGATION CENTER THAT WE'RE SEEKING TO OPEN.
BECAUSE IF YOU'RE HOMELESS, UM, THEN THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE NAVIGATION CENTER, IT'S PROVIDE SPACE, UH, AND THEN PROVIDE YOU WITH THE SKILL SETS AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU NEED SO THAT YOU CAN THEN MOVE AND GO WHEREVER YOU WANT, WOULD LIKE TO GO IN THE CITY.
MUCH, COUNCILMAN MEMBER SHAVA.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE ONE ADDITIONAL COMMENT.
COME BACK, COME BACK, COME BACK, COME BACK.
I, I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU, I, I WORKED 25 YEARS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS.
SO I'M VERY, VERY SENSITIVE TO, TO WHERE YOU ARE, BUT I KNOW THAT THERE ARE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR YOU.
AND I'LL MAKE SURE YOU GET MY CARD AS WELL.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICES.
BECAUSE I KNOW THE TIME THAT Y'ALL SPENT WITH US.
BRITTANY SPALDING IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY ROBERT HARDING.
ARE WE STILL ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, HAVING LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL? HELLO, MY NAME IS BRITTANY MONET SPOUTING, AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
IS IT TIME FOR OUR FEDERAL AUDIT? THERE HAS BEEN NO RELIEF OF HOMELESSNESS.
INSTEAD, A RISE, IT'S REMNANT, SCATTERED AMONGST US, RAPIDLY SPREADING, INFECTING THE GROWTH, MURDERING THE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY THAT CAN'T STAND THROUGH ITS STORMS. HMIS SYSTEM SHOWS THAT THERE ARE 6.4 MILLION PERSONS IN COUNTING IN HOUSTON.
ONE OF EVERY 1900 OF US ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
WHY TWO OF FIVE ARE LIVING WITHIN A SHELTER ATMOSPHERE OR EXPERIENCING CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS FOR THREE YEARS OR MORE.
WHY? WHILE ONE OF SEVEN OF US HAS EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS FOR THREE MONTHS OR LESS, WHY BLACKS REPRESENTING THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGES? WHY FROM 2011 TO 2016, THERE HAD BEEN A STEADY DECLINE HOUSING MORE THAN 1000 PERSONS PER YEAR.
HOWEVER, SINCE 2017, IT'S BEEN A YEARLY INCREASE, ALMOST UNDOING FIVE YEARS OF WORK.
2018, HAVING THE BIGGEST JUMP IN NUMBERS.
HURRICANE HARVEY ALSO OCCURRED THIS YEAR.
FIVE YEARS LATER, ONE OUT OF EIGHT OF US ARE FACED WITH HOMELESSNESS DUE TO NATURAL DISASTER.
WHY? IN A SOCIETY WHERE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS AREN'T ABLE TO BE REPLENISHED AS A SAFETY NET AS THEY ONCE WERE, AND THE CONTINUOUS RISE OF COST OF LIVING, NONE OF US ARE EXEMPT FROM BECOMING HOMELESS.
WHY? HOMELESSNESS CAN FIT ANYONE, HOWEVER, IT'S NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL.
INSTEAD, IT'S AN ARRAY OF SIZES THAT CAN BE PASSED ON AS HAND-ME-DOWNS AFFECTING GENERATIONS.
I AM A PART OF THE GENERATIONS THAT IT AFFECTED INCREASING IN CHANCES IF THERE'S WHAT WAS MENTIONED, DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCY, UNTREATED MENTAL DIAGNOSIS, UNFORESEEN FINANCIAL ISSUES, LACK OF FINANCIAL LITERACY OR SUPPORT UNAVAILABLE RESOURCES AND OR DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE.
AFTER BECOMING HOMELESS MYSELF, APRIL
[01:05:01]
THROUGH DECEMBER 27TH OF THIS YEAR WITH LAST YEAR, SORRY.ENCOUNTERING A NUMBER OF SHELTERS AND FACILITIES THAT ONLY DELAYED MY PROCESS, I ASKED MYSELF SEVERAL QUESTIONS.
HAVE WE MISUNDERSTOOD THAT NONPROFIT WORK IS HELP.
WHICH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ARE OVERSEEING THAT? THESE PROGRAMS ARE WITHIN COMPLIANCE.
HOW ARE WE LESSENING THE CHANCES OF SAME RESOURCES BEING REVISITED BY THE SAME FAMILIES? WHAT PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED THAT WILL NOT PROLONG HOMELESSNESS? I HAVE A SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM THAT FALLS ON THE HANDS OF THE NATION IN ITS ENTIRETY.
I'LL GIVE YOU, I'LL GIVE YOU TIME TO FINISH.
WE ARE ONLY AS STRONG AS THE PEOPLE IN IT.
OUR NATIONS ARE CITIES, OUR STATES.
I WANT TO IMPLEMENT AN INITIATIVE, A PROGRAM THAT WOULD DECREASE THE CHANCES OF REOCCURRING INSTANCES.
OVER 365 MILLION IN MONIES AND RESOURCES WAS GRANTED BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO CURE THIS DISEASE.
LET'S USE IT TO PUT THE HEART BACK IN HOUSTON.
AND I'M ASSUMING THAT YOU ARE NO LONGER HOMELESS? NO.
AS OF DECEMBER THE 27TH, I AM NO LONGER HOMELESS.
AND IF I MAY ASK, AND HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? DOMESTIC FAMILY VIOLENCE ISSUE? NO.
BUT HOW DID YOU THEN GET, HOW DID YOU GET IN, INTO A HOME? HOW DID YOU COME OUT OF HOMELESSNESS? UM, EVERY DAY, STRIVING THROUGH SEVERAL DIFFERENT CONTACTS, CHECKING UP, FOLLOWING UP, DOING EVERYTHING IMPOSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE THAT.
UM, I HAVE CURRENTLY BEEN WORKING WITH NEST QUEST, UM, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH ME AND MAKE THE PROCESS A LITTLE BIT MORE.
WELL, I, I APPLAUD YOU AND SALUTE YOU.
AND WISH YOU THE VERY, VERY BEST.
OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER, ROBERT HARDING.
PLEASE COME TO BE FOLLOWED BY MICAH HOEY.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M A CITIZEN OF TEXAS AND I'M HERE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT A GROWING PROBLEM THAT I'M UNDERSTANDING ABOUT, UM, UH, MANAGERS OF PROPERTY MANAGERS ENTERING ILLEGALLY TENANTS, UH, CERTAIN TENANTS UNITS.
AND I'VE HAD A HUGE ISSUE WITH THAT.
I'VE TALKED TO ABOUT FOUR PEOPLE WHERE I STAY.
UM, ONE OF THEM SAID THEY CAME HOME TO, UH, SEE ONE OF CAME HOME EARLY FROM A BUSINESS TRIP TO SEE THE MANAGER IN HER HOUSE, UH, FIDDLING AROUND WITH THINGS.
ANOTHER PERSON, I TALKED TO HIM, HE, UH, HE'S, HE WORKS AT WALMART.
AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE CAME HOME AND THE MAINTENANCE PEOPLE WERE SMOKING WEED IN HIS UNIT.
I TALKED TO ANOTHER LADY, UM, SHE SAID ONE OF HER NEIGHBORS IN THE SAME UNIT THAT I STAY IN, THE MANAGERS ARE COMING IN THEIR UNITS.
UM, AND THIS SUPPORTS THE, THE HUGE COMPLAINT THAT I'VE HAD FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS OF, OF THIS HAPPENING WITH ME, OF I'VE NEVER HAD NOTHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN BEFORE.
UH, THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS THE, THE RESIDENCE PREVIOUS TO THIS ONE.
AND I HAVE COMPLAINTS AFTER COMPLAINTS TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I'VE DONE EVERYTHING THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO LEGALLY, AND I'M EXHAUSTED THE TYPE OF WORK THAT I DO.
I CANNOT HAVE, UM, MANAGERS OR ANYONE FIDDLING AROUND WITH ANYTHING IN MY UNIT.
I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE OF THIS.
I, YOU KNOW, BY THIS TIME I WENT TO BUY A HOUSE.
BUT BECAUSE OF THIS, MY JOB HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, IT'S, I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO MY JOB.
UM, THIS HAS BEEN VERY STRESSFUL TO ME.
I'VE HAD TWO LAPTOPS BROKE INSIDE MY UNIT.
UH, I DIDN'T BREAK MY OWN LAPTOPS.
I CAME HOME ONE DAY, ONE LAPTOP WAS BROKE.
THE NEXT WEEK, ANOTHER LAPTOP WAS BROKE.
THIS WAS ALL, UH, I GAVE A POLICE REPORT TO THE POLICE, UH, BEFORE THIS LOCATION THAT I STAYED AT.
I WENT TO GO VISIT MY DAUGHTER FOR TWO DAYS, CAME BACK HOME.
MY CLOSET WAS CLOTHES PULLED OUT OF MY YANKED, OUT OF MY CLOSET WALL.
I HAVE PICTURES, I HAVE VIDEOS OF EVERYTHING.
UH, I KNOW IT WAS THE MANAGER BECAUSE HE WAS UPSET THAT I WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT HIM.
RETALIATION, I, MY CAR BEING TOWED, MY MY CAR BEING RUINED AFTER IT WAS TOWED.
JUST COMPLAINT AFTER COMPLAINT.
I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO.
I HAD ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WORKS FOR A CABLE COMPANY HERE, I WAS TALKING TO HIM ABOUT IT, AND HE SAID WHEN SOMEONE ENTERED HIS UNIT BEFORE, NOT SOMEONE,
[01:10:01]
THE MANAGER ENTERED HIS UNIT BEFORE AS WELL.I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
UH, I'VE BEEN A APARTMENT MANAGER YEARS BACK, AND YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO ENTER AN APARTMENT UNLESS YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, UNLESS YOU HAVE A NOTICE OR THERE'S A FIRE OR SOME, SOME TYPE OF EMERGENCY.
OR IF THEY'RE, IF THEY'RE BEHIND THEIR RENT, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, YOU CAN COME IN THEIR UNIT AND PLACE A NOTICE ON THE DOOR AND WALK RIGHT BACK OUT.
UM, I HAD ANOTHER NEIGHBOR WHO STAYED ACROSS FROM ME, FROM WHERE I CURRENTLY LIVE RIGHT NOW.
SHE SAID SHE WATCHED THE MANAGER COME IN HER UNIT, FIDDLE AROUND WITH STUFF ON HER CAMERA.
AND THAT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN.
SO I HAVE TONS OF WITNESSES THAT THIS IS HAPPENING.
AND, UM, MY CHIEF OF STAFF, I LEFT A VOICEMAIL FOR YOU THIS MORNING.
IF YOU ARE COMFORTABLE AND WILLING, UM, SHE'S SEATED, SEATED IN THE BACK.
IF YOU HAVE, UH, COPIES OF INFORMATION OR POLICE REPORTS, IF YOU'RE WILLING TO SHARE THAT, UM, PLEASE ALLOW MY OFFICE TO WORK WITH YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PROCESS SOME OF YOUR COMPLAINTS AND GET YOU SOME RESOLUTIONS.
MICHAEL HOEY IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY CLEVEN.
UM, SO MY NAME IS, UH, MICAH HOEY.
I'M A NEWER RESIDENT TO, UH, HOUSTON.
AND, UH, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS A CONCERN WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, MENTAL, UH, HEALTH, MENTAL ILLNESS.
BUT, UH, IT'S ALSO WITH THE NEW WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN TODAY.
WE LIVE IN A, A WORLD THAT OUR CHILDREN DON'T LIVE IN.
UM, YOU KNOW, TECHNOLOGY IS THROUGH THE ROOF WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T EVEN COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE ANYMORE.
RIGHT? UM, YOU KNOW, THE SUICIDE RATES ARE A, ARE HUGE.
UM, ANY AGE, UH, ANY DEMOGRAPHIC, UM, CHILDREN, THEY'RE NOT GETTING THE ATTENTION THEY CAN.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, MY, MY BACKGROUND IS I USED TO OWN A PEST CONTROL COMPANY.
UM, I DID A, UH, ON THE THIRD YEAR I WENT THROUGH A DIVORCE.
AND, UH, I TRULY FELT A CALLING TO GO OUT AND SERVE PEOPLE.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHO THOSE PEOPLE WERE.
UM, BY MY FOURTH YEAR OF BUSINESS, THIS WAS IN OKLAHOMA.
I SOLD THE BUSINESS AND I WAS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO SERVE PEOPLE.
I TRIED TO BE, UM, SOME KIND OF LIKE A COACH FOR BUSINESS, BUT, UH, SOMETHING RESONATED WITH ME.
I ATTRACTED AN ANIMATION COMPANY.
AND SO I CONSIDER THIS COMPANY KIND OF LIKE SESAME STREET AND, UH, LOONEY TUNES.
IT'S EDUCATIONAL AND IT'S FUNNY.
AND I BELIEVE WITH YOUR GUYS' RESOURCES, YOUR REFERENCES, YOUR CONTACTS, I BELIEVE I HAVE A COMPANY THAT CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.
UM, IT CHANGES THE WAY WE THINK.
IT'S ENTERTAINING FOR KIDS AND PARENTS OR GROWNUPS.
IT GIVES SOME KIND OF A SPARK WHEN SOMEONE SEES, UH, THE PRODUCT.
AND SO, I'M, I'M INTERESTED TO REPRESENT MYSELF AS AN INDIVIDUAL OR WITH MY COMPANY.
UM, BUT I NEED, LIKE PR I NEED ARTICLES.
UM, I NEED CONTEXT WHERE I DON'T NEED TO JUMP THROUGH ALL THESE LOOPS WITH LIBRARIES AND SCHOOLS WHERE I CAN BE LIKE A GUEST SPEAKER.
YOU KNOW, I DO WANT TO GROW A BUSINESS THAT I THINK CAN BE LIKE A LOONEY TUNE, SESAME STREET.
I, I WANNA SEE IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN PARTNERING, UM, WHERE YOU CAN GIMME SOME CONTACTS.
LIKE THIS IS LITERALLY THE FUNNIEST COLORING BOOK.
THIS IS, UH, NATIONAL HOT DOG DAY.
OKAY? SO THIS TEACHES THE HOLIDAY, IT TEACHES THE DATE AND IT TEACHES THE JOKE.
I CAN ALSO TEACH PEOPLE WHAT COMPOUND INTEREST IS.
UH, ALBERT EINSTEIN SAID, COMPOUND INTERESTS IS A SEVENTH WONDER OF THE UNIVERSE.
YOU KNOW, WE DO THAT WITH MONEY, BUT WE ALSO DO IT WITH OUR TIME, LIKE GOING TO THE GYM.
AND KIDS NEED TO KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE IN THIS NEW WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN WITH NOT JUST LIKE COMPOUND.
SO THIS IS NATIONAL FISHING DAY.
YOU GUYS SEE THAT? AND SO, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE'S ON THESE PHONES AND LIKE, WE JUST NEED A LITTLE MORE LAUGHTER IN THE WORLD.
SO THIS ONE'S ONE OF MY FAVORITES.
I ACTUALLY CREATED MY FIRST BOOK.
SO THIS IS CALLED ADVENTURE EYELAND.
AND THANK YOU SIR FOR, UH, COMING FORWARD.
UH, ONE OF THE INITIATIVES I KNOW MY OFFICE IS GONNA TRY TO REALLY FOCUS ON, UM, THIS UPCOMING YEAR IS LITERACY, AND SPECIFICALLY FOR CHILDREN AND HAVING THEM, UH, HAVE A APPRECIATION FOR LEARNING, BUT ALSO MAKING IT VERY FUN AND ENGAGING.
SO I'M GOING TO, UH, PASS YOU MY CARD.
I LIKE TO, UH, SEE MORE ABOUT THE, UH, ANIMATION AND THE, UH, DIFFERENT TOOLS THAT YOU HAVE TO, UH,
[01:15:01]
TEACH LEARNING THROUGH, THROUGH THE SESAME STREET LOONY TUNES IDEA YOU HAVE AS AND, AND IN YOUR, IN YOUR BOOK.SO, UM, I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT YOU WANT TO BRING LAUGHTER AND HAPPINESS TO FAMILIES AND KIDS.
AND IF WE CAN DO SOMETHING TO ASSIST YOU IN DOING THAT, UM, I'M ALL FOR IT.
THANK, THANK, THANK, THANK YOU MAYOR.
AND THANK YOU FOR, UH, COMING HERE THIS MORNING.
UH, SO IN, IN REGARDS TO THE COLORING BOOKS THAT YOU WERE DISPLAYING, IT'S, UH, LAUGHTER.
AND WITH LAUGHTER YOU'RE EDUCATING THE CHILDREN, CORRECT? YEAH.
IF YOU CAN REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE ALSO, UM, MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING THERE IN REGARDS TO TEACHING CHILDREN, UH, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERS.
UH, YOU KNOW, SO, UH, THAT WAY THEY CAN TAKE IT BACK TO THEIR PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
UH, AND ALSO, I KNOW THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED IT MA HERE AROUND THE HORSESHOE REGARDING ISSUES THAT WE HAVE, BUT PEOPLE THROWING TRASH.
UH, SO, SO THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT EDUCATING THE KIDS AS WELL, THAT YOU DON'T JUST THROW PAPER AND CUPS AND WHAT HAVE YOU ON, ON, ON THE GROUND.
UH, AND THEN HOPEFULLY THEY CAN TAKE THAT BACK TO THEIR PARENTS AND THEIR GRANDPARENTS.
SO, UH, IF, IF YOU CAN REACH THAT, REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE, I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS THAT WITH YOU.
PLEASE FOLLOW UP WITH THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
ANYA TO BE FILED BY WALTER VIDAL.
UM, I DID COME TO YOU GUYS ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO.
I MOVED TO A NEIGHBORHOOD IN KATY AND SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN HARASSED.
I WAS CALLED A N****R VIA TEXT, AND I WAS TOLD TO GO BACK TO NIGERIA.
UM, I DID HIRE A DETECTIVE, WHICH WAS ABOUT UPWARDS OF $4,000.
AND THEY FOUND OUT THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE LIVING IN KATY THAT ARE DOING THIS.
SO, UM, I WANTED TO PRESENT THAT TO YOU GUYS TODAY.
IS THAT, I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T HEAR YOU.
UM, I LIVE IN KATY, TEXAS, AND I CAME ABOUT A MONTH AGO.
AND, UM, I'M HAVING AN ISSUE WITH CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS AND KATY HARASSING ME AND MY CHILD.
SO I DID HIRE A DETECTIVE AND THEY DID DISCOVER THE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE SENDING US THREAT THREATENING TEXT MESSAGES.
AND I HAVE THAT INFORMATION IF YOU'RE WILLING TO LOOK AT THAT.
HAVE YOU FALLEN INTO THE, TO THE AUTHORITIES IN KATIE? I DID.
AND THEY HAVE, THEY'RE DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT.
UH, I ENCOURAGE OR THANK YOU FOR COMING.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR AUTHORITIES BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE THE BEST AGENCY, UH, TO CONTINUE DOING AN INVESTIGATION.
BUT YOU CAN ALSO REACH OUT TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND GO DIRECTLY TO THEM WITH WHATEVER EVIDENCE YOU MAY HAVE.
AND THEN PRESENT THAT TO THEM TO SEE IF THEY WANT TO FORMALLY LOOK INTO IT, UH, FOR POTENTIAL CHARGES AS WELL.
UM, BUT I WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW UP WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT 'CAUSE THEY'RE THE ARM, UM, THAT WOULD BEST BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU A RESPONSE ON THAT, THAT INVESTIGATION IN THAT MATTER.
AND I DID JUST WANNA, UH, SAY YOU SAID YOU LIVED IN KATY.
AND SO THE CITY OF HOUSTON DOES NOT HAVE JURISDICTION IN KATY.
IT'S A SEPARATE CITY, SO WE DON'T HAVE THAT AUTHORITY, BUT, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE SAYING, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE AUTHORITIES IN KATY.
UM, IF YOU'RE NOT HAVING ANY LUCK THERE, I WOULD RECOMMEND REACHING OUT TO SOME ADVOCACY GROUPS, WHETHER THAT'S THE NAACP, THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE.
YOU CAN REALLY GO ONLINE AND LOOK AT WHO CAN ADVOCATE ON YOUR BEHALF.
BUT BECAUSE IT'S ALSO IN KATY THAT THAT LIMITS WHAT, UM, YOU GUYS CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON CAN DO.
WE ARE ZONED TO THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE, NOT THE KDPD.
I WOULD FOLLOW UP WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AS WELL.
[01:20:01]
ORTEGA.NEXT SPEAKER, STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS. NEXT SPEAKER, RANDY WILKINS.
RANDY IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY ROBERT GREEN.
HOW YOU DOING? BEFORE Y'ALL START MY TIME, I WANT TO, UH, LEMME PUT THIS DOWN.
I WANT TO, UH, SAY I'M A FAN OF YOU.
YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW ME, BUT YOU MY GUY.
AND, UH, UH, GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M GONNA BE FAST BECAUSE I AIN'T GOT 'EM.
I'M THE CEO OF OLD FURNITURE PICKUP.
WE HAUL UNWANTED FURNITURE AND JUNK FROM PEOPLE'S PROPERTY.
WE WERE RECENTLY VOLUNTEERING BY CLEANING UP ILLEGAL TRASH DUMPS IN URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND HOUSTON THAT WORKED SLOW DUE TO THE EXPENSE OF DISPOSAL FEES.
HOWEVER, THE REASON I'M HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE I WANNA PUT TOGETHER REAL SOLUTIONS TO CURBING, ROBBERIES AND OTHER GUN VIOLENCE IN HOUSTON.
A PART OF MY BACKGROUND STEMMED FROM ME BEING CONVICTED AND SENTENCED TO LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE IN THE, IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS FOR CAPITAL MURDER.
I SERVED 24 YEARS FROM THE AGE OF 15 YEARS OLD BEFORE I WAS RECENTLY RELEASED IN 2018.
NEXT MONTH WOULD GIMME FIVE YEARS OF FREEDOM.
BEFORE MY INCARCERATION FOR CAPITAL MURDER, I WAS ALREADY A JUVENILE DELINQUENT WHO HAD BEEN LOCKED UP ON A FEW DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FOR VIOLENT OFFENSES.
I WAS HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE GANG BANGING ERA, SO MUCH SO THAT WE WERE FEATURED IN GANG BANGING DOCUMENTARIES.
MY LOVE AND COMMITMENT TO THE GAME WANTED ME TO LEADERSHIP POSITION IN PRISON.
I, IT WASN'T UNTIL AFTER I WAS STABBED AND TRANSFERRED TO A MAXIMUM SEC SECURITY UNIT THAT I CHANGED MY LIFE AROUND.
I BEGAN READING A LOT OF SELF-HELP BOOKS AND EDUCATING MYSELF ON SUBJECTS SUCH AS LAW, BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND PSYCHOLOGY.
I READ HUNDREDS OF BOOKS, MAGAZINES, AND NEWSPAPERS.
I WAS EVENTUALLY TRANSFERRED BACK TO A UNIT WHERE A LOT OF MY FORMER GANG MEMBERS WERE.
BUT THIS TIME, I AIN'T GO BACK TO MY OLD WAYS.
AFTER GETTING MY GED IN PRISON, I ENROLLED IN OTHER PRISON PROGRAMS. I WAS, I WAS ELIGIBLE FOR IN HOPES OF WINNING CLEMENCY.
I BECAME A MENTOR FOR A COUPLE OF THE PRISON PROGRAMS. WE FORMED AN INMATE COUNCIL PROGRAM IN PRISON THAT FORMULATED DIFFERENT IDEAS THAT MADE THE PRISON CLEANER AND SAFER.
WE WENT FROM STABBINGS EVERY OTHER DAY TO EVERY OTHER MONTH OR SO, WE HAD CHANGED THE CULTURE IN PRISON TO DO I TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO HELP LEAD THE FIGHTING AND CHANGE IN THE CULTURE IN HOUSTON, AWAY FROM VIOLENCE.
THERE ARE SOME MAJOR CONTRIBUTING FACTORS THAT ARE BEING OVERLOOKED IN THE URBAN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE CAUSING THESE CRIMES.
A LOT OF THE CRIMINALS ARE ILLITERATE TO THE POINT THAT THEY DON'T APPLY FOR JOBS DUE TO THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
IT'S EASY TO THINK THAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW BETTER, BUT PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF THEM ARE DOING THE ONLY THING THAT THEY KNOW.
IMAGINE WHAT IT MUST BE LIKE TO BE RAISED BY A SINGLE MOTHER WHO IS A SERIOUS DRUG ADDICT, ALCOHOLIC, OR JUST ALWAYS IN THE STREETS.
WHEN I COMMITTED MY CRIME, I AIN'T HAVE NO WONDER AROUND ME TELLING, TELLING ME ANYTHING POSITIVE.
THE BEST THING THAT CAN CHANGE ANYONE IS ENLIGHTENMENT AND HELP.
I LEARNED THAT IF A MAN'S MIND IS RIGHT, HIS WORLD WILL BE RIGHT.
THAT'S WHY ME AND MY COMPANY HAVE RECENTLY CONNECTED WITH A LOCAL NONPROFIT THAT SHARES THE SAME PASSION I HAVE FOR, FOR PEACE IN THE STREETS.
WE HAVE BEEN MEETING UP TO ORGANIZE PLANS ON ENLIGHTENING AND HELPING THE TROUBLE URBAN COMMUNITIES.
WE'RE MAKING PLANS TO PUT TOGETHER EVENTS THAT HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE VIOLENT CULTURE, THAT PLA THAT CHANGE, THAT HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THE VIOLENT CULTURE THAT PLAGUES OUR CITY.
AND WE WOULD, AND WE WOULD BE FOLLOWING UP THESE EVENTS WITH ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS THAT WILL KEEP THE MOVEMENT GOING.
IF WE CAN GET THE C OF HOUSTON TO ASSIST US, WE CAN MAKE OUR EVENTS REVOLUTIONARY.
LET ME, UH, LET ME JUST SAY YOU, WE HAVE OUR, MY BROTHERS KEEPERS PROGRAM MM-HMM
AND I, I CERTAINLY WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO REACH OUT, UH, TO YOU MM-HMM
UH, TO SEE HOW WE CAN, HOW WE CAN PARTNER.
AND THEN WE WORK WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS, UH, THAT ARE OUT THERE, ESPECIALLY FOCUS ON, ON OUR YOUNG MEN.
UH, AND SO, UM, ASK, LET ME ASK THEM ALSO TO WORK, TO WORK WITH YOU.
I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ARE DOING MM-HMM.
WE CAN ALWAYS, UM, SEEK AND THE ASSISTANCE OF OTHERS.
AND I THINK YOU, I THINK YOU CAN BE A VITAL, VITAL HELP TO US.
SO, WE'LL, I'LL MAKE SURE THAT SOMEONE FOLLOWS UP WITH YOU.
THANK YOU MR. WILKINS FOR COMING IN AND JUST FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING, UM, TO GET YOUR LIFE ON TRACK AND HELP OTHER INDIVIDUALS, UM, THAT HAVE BEEN IN YOUR POSITION, UM, GET THEIR LIFE ON TRACK.
UM, THIS IS VERY, UM, DEAR TO MY HEART, UM, REENTRY.
AND, UM, I'M JUST WORKING WITH AT-RISK YOUTH AND YOUNG MEN AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT THEY DO NOT, UM, GO IN THE SYSTEM AND ONCE THAT'S COMING OUT, TRY TO SUPPORT THEM.
AND SO I JUST WANNA LIKE, INVITE YOU.
THE MAYOR HAS A, UM, A ONE SAFE HOUSTON INITIATIVE AND, UM, WE HAVE CREDIBLE MESSENGERS, WHICH ARE PAID MENTORS THAT
[01:25:01]
ARE WORKING WITH THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN, GETTING THEM, HELPING THEM GET ON THE RIGHT TRACK.AND THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT WAS ONCE IN THE SYSTEM THAT NAVIGATED THE SYSTEM AND HAVE COME OUT AND DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
AND THAT IS GIVING BACK AND WORKING WITH, UM, AGAIN, YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN.
SO WE'D LOVE FOR YOU TO BE PART OF THE, OF THE INITIATIVE.
UM, MY CHIEF OF STAFF IS OVER THERE.
SHE CAN GIVE YOU THAT INFORMATION.
AND, UM, WE JUST GET YOU PLUGGED IN.
UM, THIS INITIATIVE HAS BEEN ROLLING IN FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW.
THEY MEET MONTHLY AND SO WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU BE A PART OF IT.
THANK YOU COUNCILMAN CISNEROS.
HOW YOU DOING? I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR COMING AND, AND I MEAN, IT'S CLEAR YOU'VE GONE THROUGH A LOT OF REALLY DIFFICULT TIMES AND, UM, AND I APPRECIATE HOW, YOU KNOW, YOUR, YOUR JOURNEY AND, AND THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE FOCUSED NOW ON ON ENLIGHTENMENT.
ENLIGHTENMENT AND HELP TO OTHERS AND, AND, UM, HELPING REDIRECT PEOPLE AND, AND SHOWING THEM THE WAY TO, YOU KNOW, TO A YES MA'AM.
UM, AND, AND BEING A PRODUCTIVE MEMBER OF OUR SOCIETY.
UM, AND I'M, I'M GLAD THE, THE MAYOR TALKED ABOUT THE MY BROTHERS KEEPERS PROGRAM.
IT'S, IT'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS.
IT'S A, IT'S A WHOLE, UM, EFFORT.
A NETWORK OF, OF EFFORTS, YOU KNOW, TO, TO HELP, UM, THE, THE, THE PEOPLE.
EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
UM, ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT I'M REALLY, VERY, VERY, UM, HIGH ON IS, UH, URBAN SCHOLARS, WHICH REACHES INTO, UM, HIGH SCHOOLS AND, AND GETS HELP TO YOUNG MEN EARLY, YOU KNOW, AND, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, EARLY INTERVENTION IS, IS BETTER THAN, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND CERTAINLY CHEAPER TOO THAN, THAN THAN, YOU KNOW, UM, A AFTER THE FACT.
AFTER, AFTER PEOPLE HAVE, HAVE MADE TOO MANY, UM, WRONG CHOICES, YOU KNOW? SO GETTING IN EARLY IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
SO I, UM, I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT, UM, THAT YOU'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE SUCCESS, YOU KNOW, AND, AND GOOD THINGS IN YOUR LIFE AHEAD OF YOU.
AND, AND THANK YOU FOR, FOR HELPING OTHERS.
SEE Y'ALL, Y'ALL GONNA HAVE, UH, SUCCESS.
THE THING WITH A LOT OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN HOUSTON, I'M, I AIN'T GONNA TAKE UP THAT MUCH OF Y TIME, IS THAT, UH, THE STREETS DON'T KNOW ABOUT 'EM.
THE STREETS DON'T KNOW ABOUT NONE OF THE, THE ONE SAFE HOUSTON.
THE STREETS DON'T KNOW ABOUT NOTHING.
YOU KNOW, EVEN LIKE, EVEN, UH, IF Y'ALL, LIKE Y'ALL GOT PUT MORE COPS ON THE STREET, UH, THE STREETS DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT THAT.
UH, E EVEN IF Y'ALL GONNA HAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE ABOUT WHAT THEY FINNA DO WITH ONCE SAFE HOUSTON, THE STREETS DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.
THEY DON'T, THE STREETS DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO THE NEWS.
THEY DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO NOTHING.
THE ONLY THING THEY PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT'S, WHAT'S JUNK, WHAT'S GO, GO DO SOMETHING.
'CAUSE BE THEY BROKE OUT THERE AND, UH, PROGRAMS AIN'T FUN.
PEOPLE GO, GO, GO TO FUN STUFF.
WHEREVER FUN AT OR WHEREVER THE LADY'S AT, THAT'S WHERE THE STREETS AT.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? IT AIN'T, IT AIN'T ABOUT, WE AIN'T RUN INTO NO PROGRAMS. WE AIN'T DOING NOTHING.
WE AIN'T RUNNING TO ONE SAFE HOUSTON BECAUSE WE MIGHT THINK IT'S SOMETHING ELSE.
BUT IT IS A WAY TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE STREETS AND, AND, AND IT AIN'T, IT AIN'T THE AVERAGE WAY THAT WE WOULD THINK IT IS.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? THAT WE, WE WOULD THINK THAT, UH, THEY'LL COME JUST BECAUSE WE PUT A PROGRAM.
NO, IT IS A WAY TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE STREETS.
AND I HOPE TO TALK TO SOMEBODY TO BETTER EDUCATE PEOPLE AND EVEN HELP THE HPD BETTER HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH PEOPLE OF THE STREETS AND, AND POSSIBLY GET INFORMATION FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF THINGS.
UH, MAYOR, I THINK HOW WE CAN PROBABLY PLAY A, PLAY A ROLE IN THIS AS WE HAD SPOKE PREVIOUSLY ABOUT, UM, COLLABORATING ON SOME TYPE OF EFFORT TO WHERE WE CAN REACH BACK INTO THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY SPECIFICALLY ON, ON BLESS ON THE CRIME ISSUES THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE MURDER, UH, OF TAKEOFF AND TRYING TO FIND WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN ENGAGE AND COMMUNICATE ON A LEVEL THAT YOU AND I MAY, UH, THINK IS APPROPRIATE, BUT IT'S NOT REACHING THE PEOPLE WHO TRULY NEED TO HEAR THAT MESSAGE.
AND THAT MAY BE A WAY IN WHICH WE CAN PLUG IN MR. WILKINS, UH, TO BE ANOTHER VOICE IN THAT CONVERSATION, OR AT LEAST PLUG US INTO WHERE WE CAN, UM, UM, BE ABLE TO ENGAGE AND IDENTIFY, UM, PEOPLE WITHIN THE STREETS AND THESE COMMUNITIES THAT NEED TO HEAR THAT MESSAGE.
AND SO, UH, LET'S CONTINUE TO FURTHER THAT CONVERSATION BETWEEN YOU AND I AND, AND FIND WAYS THAT WE CAN PLUG HIM IN AND HIS, HIS ABILITIES TO REACH PEOPLE THAT WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO REACH.
I WOULD GO TREAT BUT, UH, THE HIGHEST CRIME AREAS AND JUST SAY, LET'S CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION.
WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH IT RIGHT NOW.
I KNOW THEY CAN'T, WE CAN'T DO, IT'S A LOT GOING ON WITH THAT.
THERE'S A LOT GOING WITH THAT.
THERE'S A WHOLE LOT GOING WITH THAT.
YOU CAN'T DO IT OVER THE HORSESHOE.
SO WE'LL FOLLOW, WE'LL FOLLOW UP.
COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX, I'M SORRY.
I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN COUNCILMAN KNOX WAS GONNA COME IN.
I'M JUST GONNA SAY YOU'VE MADE QUITE
[01:30:01]
A CHANGE FROM GANG BANGER TO COWBOY.AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW I APPRECIATE THAT A LOT.
UM, I USED TO WORK WITH HPDS GANG UNIT AND WORK WITH THESE KIDS ON THE STREET LIKE YOU'RE DOING NOW.
AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THEY DON'T LISTEN TO THE NEWS AND THEY DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO PROGRAMS AND ALL LIKE THAT.
WHAT THEY DO PAY ATTENTION TO IS PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THEIR LIVES THAT ARE COMMITTED TO THEM, THAT ARE INTERESTED IN HELPING THEM.
UM, THE DIFFICULTY WITH GANGSTERS IS THAT OFTEN THEY SEE AUTHORITY FIGURES AS, UH, PART OF THE PROBLEM.
AND THEY DON'T LISTEN TO THEM EITHER.
TEACHERS, PARENTS, EMPLOYERS, THOSE KINDS OF PEOPLE.
UH, WHEN IN FACT THOSE ARE THE VERY KINDS OF PEOPLE THAT CAN PROVIDE THEM INFORMATION AND HELP YEAH.
SO WITH YOUR BACKGROUND AND YOUR ABILITY TO SPEAK TO THOSE COMMUNITIES, I THINK, UM, I THINK YOU'RE GONNA DO SOME GOOD OUT THERE.
THIS COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS.
ALRIGHT, LET'S TURN BACK TO THE AGENDA.
UH, LEMME JUST, UH, COMMENT ON A FEW THINGS AND IN TERMS OF THE MAYOR'S REPORT, UM, WELL, LEMME DO THIS.
LEMME JUST HIGHLIGHT THE, LEMME JUST HIGHLIGHT THE THINGS THAT, UH, SOME OF THE THINGS, UH, THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION WILL BE FOCUSED ON AS WE MOVE FURTHER INTO 2023.
I'VE MET WITH MY EXECUTIVE TEAM WILL BE MEETING WITH, UH, ALL OF THE DIRECTORS OF THIS, UH, THIS WEEK.
AND THE FOCUS FOR 2023, UH, FOR THIS ADMINISTRATION WILL BE EXECUTION AND IMPLEMENTATION.
VERY SIMPLE, YOU KNOW, EXECUTE AND IMPLEMENT.
THAT'S WHAT 2023 IS ALL ABOUT.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TELLING MY TEAM.
IT'S ABOUT GETTING THINGS DONE, UH, IN 2023.
UM, AND OF COURSE THERE'LL BE A NUMBER OF EVENTS.
YOU KNOW, SUSAN CHRISTIAN, UM, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF EVENTS.
THERE'LL BE MAJOR EVENTS THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
UM, AND THE GOAL IS TO, IS TO MAKE THESE EVENTS EVEN GRANDER BIGGER, BETTER THAN THEY HAVE BEEN.
UH, AND JUST IN THE MONTH OF, OF JANUARY, OF COURSE WE'LL BE THE CHEVRON MARATHON.
OKAY? THAT'S COMING UP 26TH, 20.
NOT IN THAT MAYOR, I, I, I CERTAINLY WAVE AT 'EM.
UH, BUT THAT'D BE, YOU KNOW, 26,000 PLUS PEOPLE OUT THERE.
THE MARTIN LUTHER KING PARADE DOWNTOWN ON JANUARY THE 16TH, UH, IS COMING UP.
UH, AND WE'LL HAVE SOME KEY PEOPLE IN THAT, IN THAT, IN THAT PARADE.
AND, UM, THE BIG E WOULD BE IN THERE, CARL LEWIS, ALL OF THEM WOULD BE IN IT.
I'M ENCOURAGING ALL OF YOU TO PARTICIPATE AND I'M ALSO ENCOURAGING THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS TO AND AT LARGE TO ENCOURAGE OTHER PEOPLE TO COME OUT AND BE A PART OF THE AUDIENCE, UH, FOR THE MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY PARADE.
AND THEN THIS MONTH, UH, WE'LL START RIBBON CUTTINGS AND ALL OF THAT.
UH, ALE THE ALE, UH, MULTI-SERVICE CENTER.
THEY'VE BEEN WAITING ON THAT FOR 25 YEARS.
AND SO, UH, THAT'S GONNA TAKE PLACE ON JANUARY THE 14TH.
SO, UM, THAT'S A BIG JANUARY 14TH.
IT IS A STATE OF THE ART FACILITY.
AND, UM, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
AND THEN ON JANUARY THE 28TH AT 11:00 AM IT IS THE SUNNYSIDE MENTAL SERVICE CENTER.
AND WE ARE GONNA CUT THE RIBBON ON THAT.
ALL OF THAT'S TAKING PLACE JUST IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY.
SO, UM, THAT'S GONNA BE A, A BIG, A BIG MONTH.
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA TRY TO FOLLOW THAT EVERY SINGLE MONTH AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
PUBLIC SAFETY WILL BE HUGE, UH, IN LAST YEAR.
AND THEN CHIEF NER AND HIS TEAM WILL BE HERE NEXT WEDNESDAY, UH, TO GIVE THEIR ANALYSIS OF 2022.
BUT WE DO, WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT THERE WERE ABOUT 40 LESS MURDERS, UH, IN 22 THAN IN 21 IN ALMOST EVERY VIOLENT CRIME CATEGORY, THE NUMBERS WENT DOWN.
SO WE JUST NEED TO TELL OUR STORY.
OF COURSE, IF YOU ARE IMPACTED BY A CRIME, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE NUMBERS WENT DOWN, OKAY? SO LET'S BE CLEAR ON THAT.
BUT THE REALITY IS WE FOCUS, UM, WE DO, PEOPLE DO FOCUS ON THE NUMBERS.
AND HAD WE BEEN 40 MURDERS UP, WE WILL STILL BE HEARING ABOUT IT.
OKAY? ISN'T THAT IRONIC? WHEN IT'S BAD, YOU HEAL.
WHEN IT'S GOOD, PEOPLE ARE SILENT.
OKAY? AND SO PEOPLE ONLY THEN DIGEST WHAT THEY HEAR.
SO WE'VE GOT TO TELL, WE'VE GOT TO TELL OUR STORY.
AND, UM, AND I DO WANT TO COMPLIMENT, UH, HPD COMMUNITY, EVERYBODY FOR, FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN.
SO WE ARE INTO ANOTHER YEAR, AND THE GOAL
[01:35:01]
NOW IS TO BEAT 22, BEAT 21 AND BEAT 20.SO IT'S TO DRIVE THE NUMBERS DOWN.
SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO PLACE A GREAT DEAL OF, UM, EMPHASIS ON PUBLIC SAFETY, WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY MESSENGERS PROGRAMS AND OTHERS, MENTAL HEALTH, UH, CRISIS INTERVENTION, ALL OF THAT.
UH, THE OTHER ONE IS COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, UH, REALLY FOCUSED ON GETTING THOSE PROJECTS DONE.
QUITE FRANKLY, ALE AND, UH, SUNNYSIDE ARE ALL INCOMPLETE COMMUNITIES.
UH, WORKING WITH THE BASIS, BASIS ACADEMY FOUNDATION, WE'LL BE OPENING UP FOUR, UM, CHILDCARE FACILITIES, NO COST TO PEOPLE AT ALL, TO THE PARENTS, ANYONE THAT'S TAKING PLACE IN THIS YEAR ALONE.
UM, THE BETHUNE EMPOWERMENT CENTER, DISTRICT B, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD ON THAT.
SO REALLY ON THE COMPLETE COMMUNITY, THE INITIATIVES, WE, I'M PLACING A GREAT DEAL OF EMPHASIS ON THAT.
SOLID WASTE IS IMPORTANT, MAJOR.
SO STILL FOCUSING ON THE BLACK GREEN BINS PROGRAM, ILLEGAL DUMPING, YOU KNOW, THAT'S GONNA BE HUGE.
AND THEN I'M MASTERING, I'M MASTERING THE LEGISLATURE TO EVEN INCREASE THE CRIME ON ILLEGAL DUMPING.
UM, PEOPLE JUST, YOU KNOW, WE, WE CLEAN THEY DUMP, WE CLEAN, THEY DUMP.
IT'S JUST, IT IS, UM, WE'VE JUST GOTTA FIND WHATEVER THE FORMULA IS THAT WILL FORCE PEOPLE TO CHANGE THEIR MINDSET.
OKAY? CAMERAS ARE, WILL BE GOING UP, UM, THIS YEAR.
WE'LL PURCHASE MORE CAMERAS WE GONNA PARTNER WITH, WITH OTHERS, UH, TO GET IT DONE.
THERE'S ANOTHER CONTRACTOR THAT'S COMING IN ON ILLEGAL DUMPING.
WE'VE BEEN SPENDING MILLIONS AND MILLIONS, BUT WE REALLY DO NEED TO CHANGE THE CULTURE.
UH, A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON SOLID WASTE.
SO DIRECTOR MARKS, WHO'S THE DIRECTOR WILL BE WORKING WITH HIM AND HIS ENTIRE TEAM, UH, TO MOVE FORWARD, UH, THE BUILDING OF 3000 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, THAT'S A HIGH PRIORITY.
OKAY? SO, UH, I'VE TALKED TO DIRECTOR KENNETH, UM, UM, BYNUM, UH, I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS, THE CHAIRPERSON ON THAT.
WE'LL BE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THEM.
BUT WE NEED TO BUILD THE INVENTORY IF YOU WANT TO DRIVE THE PRICES DOWN, MAKE THINGS MORE AFFORDABLE.
AND THEN THAT'S IN ADDITION TO THE 7,000 APARTMENT UNITS, UH, THAT WE ARE SEEKING TO BILL END OF MONTH OF 2023.
SO GET 'EM, GET 'EM, AS I TOLD MY TEAM, GET 'EM STRUCTURED TO TURN THE DIRT.
UM, UH, I GET THE SHOVELING AND DO IT MYSELF.
UH, BUT WE ARE GONNA, UH, BUT THAT WILL GET DONE.
UH, AND AGAIN, LET ME JUST SAY, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HOMELESSNESS HAS BEEN GOING DOWN.
NOW I KNOW IF YOU SEE, IF YOU SEE SOMEBODY OUT THERE HOMELESS OR YOU SEE AN ENCAMPMENT, AS YOU'VE SEEN TOO MANY, BUT HOUSTON IS THE MODEL ACROSS THE COUNTRY ON HOMELESSNESS.
IN LA THEY DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY, UH, ON HOMELESSNESS.
UH, NEW YORK HAS THIS PROBLEMS. WELL ALL, MOST ALL OF THE MAJOR CITIES.
UH, BUT THE FOCUS IS TO DRIVE IT DOWN.
SO THE NAVIGATION CENTER WILL OPEN, UH, IN THIS QUARTER.
AND THEN WE'RE WORKING WITH OTHER PRIVATE OWNERS TO GET MORE APARTMENT UNITS AND THEN TO PROVIDE MORE WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
I HOPE THE LEGISLATURE WILL PROVIDE UNPRECEDENTED FUNDING FOR MENTAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
ONE THING WE DO NOTICE WHEN PE AND WE SEE THEM ON A WEEKLY BASIS, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO COME BEFORE US.
THEY NEED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
AND LEMME TELL YOU WHAT'S HEARTBREAKING FOR ME.
SO WHEN PEOPLE COME AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE IN NEED OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
SO WE NEED MORE DOLLARS FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, FOR COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
SO HOMELESSNESS NICE'S TO MAJOR, UH, THE 22 PARKS FROM THE 55 50 PROGRAM, UH, TO, TO GET THEM ALL OF THE IMPROVEMENTS ON THOSE 22 PARKS IN THE, IN 2023.
SO DIRECTOR KEN AND ALLEN, I KNOW YOU'RE OUT THERE LISTENING TO ME AND TO BETH, UH, WHITE FROM THE PARKS BOARD.
22 OF THOSE PARKS DONE AND COMPLETED.
AND THAT'S IN ADDITION TO OUR LOVE YOUR PARK INITIATIVES.
SO THAT'S IN EVERYBODY'S DISTRICT.
AND THEN THE STREET WHEEL RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM, UH, WE GOT 16,000 MILES OF STREETS WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON EVERY YEAR.
YOU CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE, THE PUBLIC WORKS HAS ON IT.
BUT THE CONTINUING EMPHASIS ON IMPROVING OUR STREETS, WE'RE NOT GONNA GET 'EM ALL DONE, BUT WE SIMPLY WANNA MAKE SOME SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS.
SO A LOT OF RESILIENCE EMPHASIS ON THAT.
THEN THE RESILIENCE CLIMATE ACTION PROGRAM.
UH, THESE DETENTION BASINS, LIKE AT THE, UH, INWOOD FOREST COUNTRY CLUB, UH, UH, THAT'S THE MAJOR DETENTION BASINS, THE GREENSTONE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE INITIATIVES, ENERGY TRANSITION.
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN IN THE PAPER YESTERDAY, WHAT HOUSTON IS, IS REFERRED TO AS THE, UH, UH, HYDROGEN HUB.
WE'RE TRYING TO DRAW DOWN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, UH, FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE GOAL IS TO PLANT 4.6 MILLION TREES BY 2030.
WE'RE GONNA BE PLANNING A LOT OF THEM IN THIS YEAR ALL OVER.
AND THEN OF COURSE, THE AIRPORTS MAJOR THINGS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE AT ALL THREE AIRPORTS, UH, FROM AN CONTINENTAL TO HOBBY AS WELL AS TO TON'S BUILD THE SPACEPORT.
[01:40:01]
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I WANNA FOCUS ON IN, IN TERMS OF EXECUTING, GETTING IT DONE.I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
BUT THE YEAR FOR, FOR ME, 2023 IS EXECUTE AND IMPLEMENT.
AND TO BE DIRECTLY HONEST WITH YOU, I'M NOT LOOKING, UH, TO OPEN UP ANY PUT FORTH, ANY OTHER MAJOR INITIATIVES.
OKAY? I JUST WANT TO GET, LIKE I TOLD MY TEAM, GET DONE WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON AND WE'LL BE GOOD, OKAY? BECAUSE ONE THING, NO ADMINISTRATION'S GONNA SOLVE ALL THE CITY'S PROBLEMS. IMPOSSIBLE.
UM, BUT I DO THINK ALREADY WE HAVE DONE SOME SUBSTANTIAL WORK.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL BECAUSE WE HAVE DONE SOME SUBSTANTIAL WORK, UH, IN THIS CITY, AND I'M PROUD OF THAT.
AND I DO WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, UH, FOR WORKING WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION, UH, TO IMPLEMENT.
AND AS WE, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, DO TAKE A LOOK AT THE, WHAT WE USED TO REFER TO AS THE CER THE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND I THINK YOU WILL BE PROUD FROM A FINANCIAL POINT OF VIEW.
AND ONE THING, A PROBLEM IS A PROBLEM, AS LONG AS IT'S A PROBLEM AND YOU HEAR ABOUT THE PROBLEMS. BUT WHEN THE PROBLEMS ARE GONE, YEAH, IT'S A MURMUR.
NOW I KNOW IT, IT BLEEDS, IT LEADS, OKAY? IF IT BLEEDS, IT LEADS.
AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT HEADLINE, PERSON GETS SHOT, BLEEDS, HEADLINES, NO BLOOD, NOBODY INJURED, NO LEAD, NOBODY KILLED, NO HEADLINE.
BUT PEOPLE THAT, UH, PUT IN THEIR HEAD WHAT THEY HEAR AND WHAT THEY SEE.
OKAY? SO, UH, LET'S, LET'S GO.
I'M ASKING YOU, LET'S, LET'S GO THROUGH 2023 AND LET'S BE VERY INTENTIONAL.
UH, JOIN WITH ME AT THE RIBBON CUTTINGS AND THE, AND AND THE MOVING OF THE DIRT AND THE OPENING OF THESE DEALS.
UH, AND LET'S JUST MAKE 2023, UH, A A HAPPY YEAR.
IN FACT, WHERE'S I, I SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN PLAYING MY SONG.
BUT YOU KNOW, I HAD SURGERY AND, AND MY VOICE IS NOT WHERE IT USED TO BE.
BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S MY REPORT I THINK.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? UM, THE WALK 30 CHALLENGE, YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT THAT SETTING GOALS FOR A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE ON JANUARY 1ST, UH, I JOINED WITH FIT HOUSTON AND THE TEXAS HEART INSTITUTE TO LAUNCH THE WALK 30.
I THINK I SAW COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO DURING THE WALK 30.
UH, SO PLEASE BEAR THAT IN MIND.
AND THEN, UM, UM, I DO WANT TO CONTINUE TO LIFT UP CHIEF PENA, YOU KNOW, HIS FATHER PASSED.
AND, UM, SO I WANT TO, I WANT TO CONTINUE TO, TO LIFT HIM UP AND, UH, AND WISH HIM WELL.
HE'S A PERSON OF AND A MAN OF FAITH, SO, UM, ALL IS WELL ON THAT FRONT.
ALRIGHT, HAVING SAID THAT, UH, COUNCILMAN CAMAN.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR VISION IN TERMS OF FINISHING STRONG, UH, AND COMPLETING ALL THAT.
WE AS A CITY, AND YOU SPECIFICALLY HAVE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS, UM, YOU HAD BROUGHT UP PUBLIC SAFETY AS ONE OF THOSE PRIORITIES.
AND I KNOW IT WILL ALWAYS REMAIN A PRIORITY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, HAS BEEN TREMENDOUSLY HELPFUL AS COUNCIL MEMBERS IS RECEIVING THOSE CRIME STATISTICS BROKEN DOWN BY DISTRICTS.
I HAD SUBMITTED A REQUEST, I BELIEVE, UH, IN EARLY DECEMBER OR LATE NOVEMBER, THAT WE GET ANOTHER ROUND OF THAT.
AND HPDI BELIEVE CIRCULATED THAT TO EVERYONE.
BUT IF WE COULD HAVE STANDING REPORTS, I KNOW THAT DATA, JUST FOR THE PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE, IT TAKES SEVERAL MONTHS FOR HPD TO COLLECT THE DATA FOR THOSE MONTHS.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT, AND I WANT THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT WHEN WE DO GET THAT DATA, IF THERE'S A WAY TO UPDATE COUNCIL BASED ON DISTRICTS, THAT INFORMATION IS SO HELPFUL AND IT'S REALLY WELL RECEIVED WHEN WE'RE ABLE TO GO TO THOSE COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND SAY, FOR OUR DISTRICT, IT'S DOWN X PERCENTAGE.
I I, AND WHEN CHIEF NER THEM COME ON NEXT WEDNESDAY, I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO EMPHASIZE THAT EVEN FURTHER.
AND THEN ALSO, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HUSBANDMAN, WE'VE BEEN PRAYING FOR YOU.
GOD, ONE IS STATE, RIGHT? WHAT, WHAT IS THIS? YOU WANT A STATE RACE? WHAT IS THIS WRONG? HER DAD WANT HIS STATE RACE? SORRY, THIS FOR NEXT WEEK.
[01:45:01]
ALIVE AND WELL APOLOGIZE.COUNCILMAN PLUMMER'S BROTHER-IN-LAW PASSED.
AND I, AND I BELIEVE THE FUNERAL WAS IN ARKANSAS, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.
LET ME RESET AND MOVE FORWARD.
ALRIGHT, HEADING BACK DOWN TO, TO, TO THE AGENDA UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY.
ITEMS ONE THROUGH THREE HAVE ALREADY BEEN DONE.
ITEM FOUR HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY.
ITEMS FIVE THROUGH NINE HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS.
CATEGORY ITEMS 10 AND 15 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
NEEDED MOTION FOR ITEMS 11 THROUGH 17 TM MOVE SECOND ROBINSON, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSING GRANTED
[CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA]
UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ARE ITEM 26, 28, 31, AND 36.THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 26, 28, 31, AND 36.
DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSING GRANTED ITEM MOVE SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
ITEM FIVE NEEDS A MOTION CAST TA MOVE SECOND.
AND SECOND SECONDED ON ITEM FIVE.
ROBINSON CASTEX TATUM, UH, MOVE SECOND.
ROBINSON MOVED IN SECOND ON ITEM SIX.
UH, VICE MAYOR PROAM ON ITEM SIX.
I, I'M NOT GONNA TAG THIS ITEM, BUT I DID WANT TO AMPLIFY, UM, THAT WE, I'M STILL HAVING A LITTLE CONCERN WITH, UH, WE'VE HAD SOME WORK DONE.
UH, AND BY THE TIME WE GET TO ACTUALLY PAYING FOR THESE, UH, PROJECTS, UH, FOR EXAMPLE ON HARM CLARK AND WEST ORM, THE INTERSECTION NEEDS TO BE RETRIED.
THE NORTHERN CORNER OF THAT, UH, INTERSECTION IS INCOMPLETE.
AT ALLEN, THAT INTERSECTION NEEDS TO BE RES STRIPPED.
UH, WE SEND OUR STAFF OUT BEFORE WE PAY THESE CONTRACTS TO LOOK AT THE COMPLETION OF THESE PROJECTS AND TO WALK WITH, UM, PUBLIC WORKS AT THE SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETIONS.
AND I KNOW WE ONLY HAVE THAT ONE YEAR WARRANTY ON THE WORK.
UH, BUT I, IT, IT BOTHERS ME EVERY TIME WE DO THESE PROJECTS THAT IT SEEMS LIKE BY THE TIME, BY THE TIME WE GET TO PAYING THE WORK ALREADY LOOKS LIKE IT HAS IT'S OLD WORK.
UH, THEY, THEY DID THE PANEL REPLACEMENTS, THE STRIPING IS, HAS ALREADY WORN OUT AND IT HADN'T BEEN DONE THAT LONG AGO.
AND I JUST FEEL LIKE WE SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR THESE CONTRACTORS TO DO THIS TYPE OF WORK THAT WE SHOULD GET A BETTER WARRANTY OR WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DEPEND ON THIS WORK LASTING LONGER THAN BY THE TIME IT'S TIME TO PAY THEM.
UM, WE, I DID REPORT THIS BACK TO PUBLIC WORK SO THEY ARE AWARE OF IT, BUT I WANTED TO AMPLIFY IT HERE BECAUSE I KNOW I'VE ASKED THE CITY ATTORNEY A COUPLE OF TIMES ABOUT OUR OPPORTUNITY FOR A LONGER WARRANTY FROM THE SUBCONTRACTORS.
AND THE RESPONSE HAS TYPICALLY BEEN WITH A LONGER WARRANTY, IT'S A MORE EXPENSIVE PRICE.
UM, BUT I WANT TO KEEP TALKING ABOUT HOW CAN WE HAVE A LONGER WARRANTY ON THESE BIG PROJECTS.
AND, UH, LET ME, LET ME PASS THAT BACK TO, UH, GEORGE, TO Y'ALL AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
UM, AND, AND I DO AGREE THAT WHEN IT COMES TO PAY THE WORK SHOULD NOT WHERE WE NEED TO DO IT AGAIN.
SO SOMETHING, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED IN SOME FAVOR.
WE'RE STILL ON ITEM NUMBER SIX.
DISCUSSION ON SIX IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED ON SIX, NO POLL.
UH, SHALL COUNCILMAN POLL VOTING NO.
[01:50:01]
ITEM, ITEM ITEM SEVEN NEEDS A MOTION.ROBINSON MOVED IN, SECONDED ON ITEM SEVEN, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM ON ITEM SEVEN, UH, I AM GOING TO TAG ITEM SEVEN.
UH, WE WENT BY AND LOOKED AT, UH, THE ITEMS IN DISTRICT K.
AND AGAIN, I WANT THE SUBCONTRACTORS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE INTEGRITY AT THE JOINTS ON THESE PANEL REPLACEMENTS NEED TO BE BETTER.
UH, WE, WE WENT AND LOOKED AT THE CHIMNEY ROCK PANEL REPLACEMENT AND THE CONCRETE IS ALREADY CRUMBLING.
UM, WE REPORTED THAT THE CONCRETE FOR THESE PANEL REPLACEMENTS WAS CRUMBLING.
THIS IS A HIGH TRAFFIC STREET.
IT'S GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE.
AND THERE IS A SMALL, UM, HOLE IN THE STREET THAT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED.
AND WHAT TYPICALLY HAS HAPPENED IS WE GET THE CRUMBLING CONCRETE, THERE'S A SMALL POTHOLE, AND THEN WE GO AND PUT ASPHALT.
BUT WE PAID FOR A PANEL REPLACEMENT WITH CONCRETE.
AND SO UNTIL WE CAN GET A BETTER WARRANTY, AND THE SUBCONTRACTORS UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE ARE SPENDING OUR COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS FOR THESE PANEL REPLACEMENTS, THEY ARE INTENDED TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF THE STREET.
AND IT'S FRUSTRATING TO GET THE PANEL REPLACEMENT.
AND THEN THE JOINTS, UM, THERE'S NO INTEGRITY IN THE JOINTS AND THEN WE HAVE TO GO PUT ASPHALT IN.
AND THEN YOU'VE GOT A STREET WITH PANEL REPLACEMENTS AND ASPHALT AND IT JUST CREATES A BIGGER PROBLEM THAT'S NOT REALISTICALLY EXPANDING THE LIFE OF THE STREET.
AND WE SPENT A BIG PORTION OF OUR COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS IN DISTRICT EIGHT ON PANEL REPLACEMENT SO THAT WE CAN HAVE BETTER MOBILITY THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.
SO I AM GOING TO TAG ITEM SEVEN.
BEFORE, BEFORE TAG, IF I, LET ME LET, LEMME JUST SAY THIS.
IT IS, I KNOW YOU'RE SAYING YOU, YOU ARE TALKING TO PUBLIC WORKS.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO TALK TO ME.
OKAY? BECAUSE I'M HEARING THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME.
IF I HAD, IF I HAD KNOWN THIS, THIS WOULD NOT BE PUT ON THE, WOULD NOT BE ON THE AGENDA, REFER IT BACK TO ME.
I I'LL REFER ITEM SEVEN BACK, THOMAS SECOND TO THE AGENDA, I MEAN TO THE ADMINISTRATION.
UH, IT IS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO REFER THE ITEM SEVEN BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION.
AND THE OBJECTION CARRIES DONE.
BUT LET ME REITERATE NOW AND AGAIN, SOMETIMES YOU ALL TALK WITH THE DEPARTMENTS, BUT THAT'S NOT TALKING TO ME.
AND, AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, MAYOR, THE TALKING TO YOU DIDN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE WE JUST, I WE JUST WENT BACK AND GOT THE PICTURES YESTERDAY.
'CAUSE THE STAFF JUST CAME BACK TO WORK YESTERDAY.
AND WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT WHEN YOU FIND OUT, YOU LET ME KNOW BECAUSE WHEN THE ITEM IS ON THE AGENDA, THAT IS SAYING THAT THE ADMINISTRATION, YOURS TRULY IS STANDING BY THIS ITEM.
BUT IF I KNOW SOMETHING, THEN I'M NOT GONNA TRY TO DEFEND SOMETHING.
THAT'S THE POINT THAT I'M MAKING.
WHEN, WHEN YOU FIND OUT, MAKE SURE THAT I KNOW AND THEN, UH, AND THEN LET ME, LET ME SEE WHAT I CAN DO TO ADDRESS IT.
BECAUSE I, WHEN, WHEN IT'S ON HERE, THEN IT'S, I'M SAYING IT IS READY TO GO.
AND THEN WHEN I'M LISTENING TO YOU IN MY OWN HEAD, I'M SAYING IT'S NOT READY.
SO, UM, YES, KNOW, I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT UP AND NOW LET'S LET US WORK ON IT.
UH, COUNCILMAN, COUNCILMAN MCG, GGO.
AND, AND THANK YOU VICE MAYOR PRO TEM, FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTIONS.
UH, I, I KNOW THAT IN, UH, DISTRICT I AS WELL, WE, UH, HAVE PAID FOR PANEL REPLACEMENTS AND AT TIME, YOU KNOW, IN, IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, IT, IT, IT'S CRACKING OR THERE, THERE THERE'S A HOLE OR WHAT HAVE YOU, WHERE NOW THEY'RE HAVING TO COME BACK AND FILL IT IN WITH ASPHALT.
UH, AND ALSO, MAYOR, I JUST WANNA POINT OUT IN REGARDS TO OATS ROAD, SOMETHING THAT WE ARE BOTH FAMILIAR WITH.
UH, WE WERE HAVING AN ISSUE WITH A CONTRACTOR THERE.
UH, AND I UNDERSTAND FROM PUBLIC FOLKS YOU'RE DEALING WITH THAT AWARE.
UH, BUT I'M AFRAID THAT, I'M HOPING THAT THIS IS NOT GONNA TURN INTO THAT SITUATION AFTER WE GET THAT CONTRACTOR NEEDS A WHOLE LOT OF WORK.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TIM, I WANT TO, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR OFFICE FOR EVEN FOLLOWING UP FOR US TO KNOW, UH, THE STATUS AND THANK YOU MAYOR FOR, FOR, FOR REFERRING THAT BACK.
BUT I, I DO THINK WE AS A COUNCIL, UM, HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO OUR PART TO IDENTIFY WHEN THERE IS BAD WORKMANSHIP BY THE CONTRACTORS SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT BACK OVER TO THE DEPARTMENTS SO THAT THERE'S A LIST THAT CAN BE COMPILED OF THOSE WHO HAVE, WE'VE TRUSTED TO DO GOOD WORK, AND THEN THEY HAVE NOT DONE GOOD WORK, SO THEY CAN'T CONTINUE TO GET THE WORK.
SO IF WE CAN, IF WE SEE CERTAIN VENDORS THAT ARE
[01:55:01]
NOT PUTTING FORTH A GOOD WORK PRODUCT AND WE SEE IT, I THINK THE ONUS IS BACK ON US THEN TO ENSURE THAT THOSE DEPARTMENTS UNDERSTAND THAT.BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO CONTINUE TO VOTE ON ITEMS WHEN THERE'S A CONTRACTOR THAT IS ALREADY PROVEN, UH, TO DO WORK THAT WON'T LAST, UH, A LONG TIME.
SO, UH, I WANTED TO PUT THAT IN EVERYONE'S EAR.
UH, AND, AND THANK THE VICE MAYOR PRO TEM FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR DILIGENCE.
COUNCILMAN MAYOR THOMAS, UH, THOMAS.
UM, AND TO VICE MAYOR FOR RAISING THIS, I WAS ACTUALLY GONNA SHARE SOMETHING SIMILAR ON ITEM 31.
UM, TO, TO RAISE THE POINT THAT, UM, WITH THE CONTRACTOR, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE SEND OUT THE NOTICE TO PROCEED FOR ITEMS, WE'RE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE CONTRACTOR'S GONNA TAKE THE LEAD.
THIS IS THE CONTACT THAT WE PUT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND THE MAJORITY OF THE ISSUES THAT I'VE RECEIVED, SPECIFICALLY IN SOUTH BROWN MEADOW FOR A PROJECT THAT WAS DONE, IT, THE, THE, THE CULPRITS HAS BEEN THE SUB OF THE SUB.
AND SO EVEN WITH THAT, WITH, UH, THESE CONTRACTORS MAKING SURE, LIKE I WOULD NOT KNOW THAT THE SUB OF THE SUB IS THE ONE PARKING ON OUR ESPLANADES DAMAGING OUR SPRINKLERS, WHICH THEN CAUSES PUBLIC WORKS TO DO A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EFFORT TO TRACK THEM DOWN.
AND SO IF THERE'S SOME TYPE OF WAY THAT WE CAN GET CLARITY ON THAT, BECAUSE THEN IT, IT, WE'RE SPENDING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME.
ONE, I DON'T KNOW IF I'M DEFENDING THE CONTRACTOR, LIKE, OH NO, THIS IS GOOD WORK WHEN, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THEM OR THE SUB OF THE SUB.
SO IF THERE'S A, I KNOW SOME WORK MUST BE DIVIDED, BUT FOR EVERYTHING, WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND IT JUST RAISES THE SAME POINTS.
AND SO, UM, I, I DON'T, I WON'T HAVE A DISCUSSION ON ITEM 36 ABOUT THAT, 'CAUSE I'LL JUST JOIN THE MAYOR'S A SECOND WITH, UH, SENDING THAT BACK.
BUT I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT 'CAUSE WE WANT THESE PROJECTS TO GO FORTH.
THEY'RE IMPORTANT TO GET DONE, BUT THEN IT JUST DELAYS OUR WORK AND PUTS A LOT OF UNNECESSARY EFFORT ON PUBLIC WORKS PART TO TRACK THIS DOWN.
MAYOR, JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALSO FOR YOUR INSTINCT TO PULL THIS BACK.
'CAUSE I THINK THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALL HEARING.
WE'RE ALL APPRECIATING WHAT THE VICE MAYOR PRO TEM HAS SAID, WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS HAS JUST ADDED, UM, IN THE WAY THAT THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING IN TERMS OF PANEL REPLACEMENT, OTHER ASPECTS OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HAS COME BEFORE TTI, I'D LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, I, I'VE GOT A LIST IN OUR FINAL YEAR, THE THINGS THAT'S GONNA COME BEFORE TTI, THAT I'M ABOUT TO GIVE TO YOU.
BUT I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT WE CAN FIND A TIME TO REVIEW THIS IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS AS WELL.
THANKS, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND I APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION.
UM, BECAUSE VICE MAYOR PRO TEM ALSO RAISED THIS, I'M GONNA BE THE, UM, REPETITIVE VOICE, UH, BECAUSE OF STRIPING ISSUES.
AND SO WE HAVE CONSTRUCTION ISSUES AS IT RELATES TO ASPHALT, CONCRETE, THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, BUT WE'VE TALKED AT THE HORSESHOE AGAIN ABOUT THE STRIPING AND THE PAINT.
NEVER IN MY LIFE DID I THINK WE'D BE SITTING AROUND THE HORSESHOE TALKING ABOUT STRIPING AND PAINT AT HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL.
UM, AND MAYOR, THAT'S NO FAULT OF YOURS.
UH, IT'S JUST SOMETHING WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE STATUS IS OF THE STRIPING MACHINES OR RE-LOOKING AT WHY THE PAINT IS WEARING DOWN.
UM, I'VE GONE TO THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS IN THE SPAN OF TWO MONTHS AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
EACH ONE OF THOSE GROUPS RAISED IT.
UM, SO AGAIN, JUST TRYING TO KEEP THAT AT THE FOREFRONT.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT ANY OF US WANTED TO BE TALKING ABOUT.
BUT, UH, BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC TOPIC, I I WANTED TO BRING THAT UP AS WELL.
IF WE CAN GET AN UPDATE OR JUST LEND OUR SUPPORT FOR WHATEVER'S NEEDED.
AGAIN, I THINK BOTH COUNCIL MEMBER PECK AND I HAD, HAD EVEN OFFERED FUNDS TO HELP AT THIS POINT.
SO, WELL, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, NOTHING PUBLIC WORKS HAS PURCHASED, WAS IN THE PROCESS OF PUR PURCHASING ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE MACHINES.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMBER, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND THANK YOU VICE MAYOR PROTE FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
AND I, AND I WANNA, UM, MAKE A COMMENT ON WHAT SHE HAD SAID ABOUT THE WARRANTY.
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT WE ARE THE SIGNERS OF THE CHECK, AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT THAT WARRANTY SHOULD LOOK LIKE.
WE SHOULDN'T LET THE CONTRACTORS DICTATE ON WHAT OUR EXPECTATIONS ARE AS A CITY.
AND SO I REALLY WOULD LOVE TO LOOK AT THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, IF THE CITY ATTORNEY CAN LOOK AT THAT TO SEE IF WE CAN EXTEND THOSE WARRANTIES EVERY SINGLE SUPPLIER.
I MEAN, I HAVE A WARRANTY ON ALL THE WORK THAT I DO.
ALL OF US THAT ARE IN BUSINESS HAVE SOME LEVEL OF WARRANTY AND COMMITMENT TO THE CONSUMER.
AND, UM, AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY FLIP THAT NARRATIVE AND JUST UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE THE DRIVERS OF THIS AND, UM, AND THEY HAVE TO DO THE JOB, OR THEY NEED TO GET PASSED OVER AND LET SOMEONE ELSE THAT CAN DO THE JOB PROPERLY AND EFFECTIVELY TO DO IT.
AND COUNCILMAN KOSH? MAYOR, I HAD TO STEP OUT, BUT I, FROM WHAT I CAN HEAR THAT THERE'S BEEN A MOTION TO REFER THIS BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION, IS THAT CORRECT? IT HAS BEEN REFERRED BACK.
[02:00:01]
WELL, I HAD TO GO TO THE RESTROOM.SO ANYWAY, UH, UH, I, I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE ADDRESSES, UH, IF, IF, UH, IF THE VICE MAYOR PROM WOULD GIVE US, GIVE ME THE ADDRESS OF THE STREAK, I'D LIKE TO GO BY AND DRIVE BY AND SEE THAT FOR MYSELF, BECAUSE I, I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S NOTABLE.
THESE, THESE STRIPES ARE IMPORTANT ON THESE ROADS WHEN PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO DRIVE IN BAD WEATHER.
OKAY, NEXT ITEM, ITEM EIGHT NEEDS A MOTION.
ROBINSON MOVED AND SECONDED ON ITEM EIGHT.
AND LEMME JUST SAY ON ITEM EIGHT, UH, IS ON THE AGENDA, UH, FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR, UH, CONSIDERATION, IT'S, NO, IT'S ITEM NINE THAT I REALLY WANNA SPEAK TO.
COUNCILMAN POLL ON ITEM EIGHT.
WE'LL GET TO ITEM NINE NEXT, BUT, UH, YEAH, ITEM EIGHT IS, UM, A CONTRACT FOR A SANITARY SEWER REHABILITATION AND SLIPPING AND PIPE BURSTING.
UM, AND AS ALWAYS, ALWAYS LOOK AT THE NWBE ON EACH OF THESE ITEMS. THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, THE GOAL WAS SET AT 21.92%.
UM, THIS VENDOR REACHED ONLY 11.7%.
THERE WAS A 13.2, UH, MBE, UH, THEY REACHED 9.57, BUT WITH THE WBE, IT WAS A 8.90.
UH, SO THEY'RE ABOUT 10% LOWER THAN WHERE THEY ARE.
WHEN I ASKED OBO, UM, WHY DID WE STILL GIVE THEM A GOOD FAITH EFFORT, UM, DESIGNATION ON THIS? AND THEY SAID, WELL, BASED ON THE SCOPE OF WORK THAT EVENTUALLY HAPPENED ON THIS, UH, PROJECT, THAT IT CHANGED OVER TIME AND THAT, UM, THE SUBS COULDN'T DO THE WORK.
SO THE VENDOR HAD TO SELF PERFORM.
NOW, MY THING IS, IF THIS IS THE TYPE OF PROJECT THAT ROUTINELY COMES BEFORE THE CITY, WHICH I BELIEVE IT DOES, THIS ISN'T ANY EMERGENCY TYPE OF, THE ONLY TIME WE'VE EVER HAD TO DO A CONTRACT LIKE THIS, THAT THESE VENDORS HAVE TO ANTICIPATE THAT THERE'S GONNA BE SOME CHANGE IN THE SCOPE OF WORK AND SOME OF THE, THE, THE CHANGES THAT MAY OCCUR.
AND IF SO, WE NEED TO HAVE A CONTINGENCY LIST OF SUBS THAT CAN DO THE, AN, THE, THE ANTICIPATED WORK THAT, UH, MAY NOT BE IN THE ORIGINAL SCOPE OF WORK.
SO I DON'T WANT VENDORS TO BE ABLE TO GET AROUND NOT PAYING SUBS AND SELF-PERFORMING, JUST BECAUSE THEY SAY THE SCOPE OF WORK CHANGES, THAT YOU HAVE TO ANTICIPATE THAT SOME OF THE SCOPE OF WORK IS GONNA CHANGE.
AND IF SO, THEN WE NEED TO HAVE A CONTINGENCY LIST THERE, UH, IN THAT OCCURRENCE BECAUSE THESE SUBS ARE RELYING ON THIS WORK.
AND A VENDOR CAN ALWAYS SAY, WELL, CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE.
NOW I'M JUST GONNA DO ALL THE WORK MYSELF.
UH, WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT, UM, THAT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT'S DIRE, DIRE NEED.
BUT WE ALSO NEED TO HAVE IN PLACE A SYSTEM TO WHERE YOU HAVE YOUR SUBS AND WE NEED TO DISCUSS CONTINGENCY SUBS IN THE CASE THAT SCOPE OF WORK CHANGES THAT CAN BE ANTICIPATED.
WELL, I, I AGREE WITH ALL OF THAT COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT THIS WAS, THIS IS DIFFERENT.
UM, ON THIS ITEM AS WELL AS THE ONE THAT'S COMING UP.
I'VE TAKEN A LOOK AT, UM, BOTH OF THEM.
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY WHERE THE VENDOR SET THE SCOPE CHANGED.
WE SET THE SCOPE CHANGED, AND, UH, INITIALLY THIS WAS JUST FOR LIKE, WHAT I CALL GENERALIZED PIPE BURSTING.
BUT IN THE CHANGING OF THE SCOPE, IT BECAME MORE SPECIALIZED.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT CHANGED THINGS.
WHEN THE WORK BECOMES MORE SPECIALIZED AND YOU DON'T, UH, HAVE THE M-W-B-A-M WBS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHO CAN REFORM, PERFORM THIS SPECIALIZED WORK.
THAT'S WHAT CHANGED THE NUMBERS.
AND THAT'S WHY OBO, WHEN THEY DRILLED DOWN AND LOOKED AT IT, GAVE THEM A SATISFACTORY, UH, PERFORMANCE RATING, UH, BECAUSE OF THE SPECIALIZATION OF THE WORK THAT WAS REQUIRED BY THE CHANGE OF SCOPE.
IF THAT HAD NOT BEEN THE CASE, I AGREE WITH YOU, BUT IF, IF WE ARE THE ONES THAT CHANGED THE SCOPE OF WORK, THEN THAT, THAT'S, EVEN IN MY MY OPINION, THAT'S WORSE BECAUSE NOW WE COULD HAVE ANTICIPATED THAT THE SCOPE OF WORK MAY HAVE TO CHANGE.
I MEAN, AND THEN PUT A CONTINGENCY THERE.
AND I CAN'T GO WITH YOU ON THAT BECAUSE AS YOU ALL KNOW, WELL, LEMME JUST WAIT A MINUTE.
LEMME JUST USE MYSELF AS A PERSONAL EXAMPLE.
I THOUGHT I HAD A TOOTHACHE,
AND THAT SAME DENTIST COULDN'T DO WHAT I NEEDED.
SO I, BUT YOU STILL, YOU STILL HAD INSURANCE.
I'M THAT YOU, YOU HAD INSURANCE IN PLACE IN CASE THERE WAS SOMETHING MORE I DID.
SERIOUS, I DID TO TAKE CARE OF IT.
AND WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE HAVE TO HAVE INSURANCE IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT IT'S JUST NOT GONNA TAKE CARE OF THE WELL, I UNDERSTAND OF
[02:05:01]
THE BASICS.BUT IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, UH, WE HAVE GOOD INSURANCE.
BUT INITIALLY THOUGH, WHERE I WENT, IT WAS AN MWBE
IT WAS NO, IT WAS NO, UH, NO PERCENT OF THE WORK WITH MWE.
IT WAS A REHAB, IT WAS A SPECIALIZATION THAT I NEEDED.
SO I'M USING THAT AS, AS A VERY DRAMATIC CASE.
I'M BEING VERY, VERY DRAMATIC, YOU KNOW.
BUT THE POINT IS, I AGREE WITH YOU.
WE DO NEED TO PLAN FOR THE CONTINGENCY.
SO VOTE NO WITH ME
HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE SPECIALIZATION, THEN THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE MET THE 21.9% GOAL THAT WAS ON IT.
AND BY HAVING NOT, THEY, THEY GOT UP TO 11.7% AND THEN OBO GAVE THEM A SATISFACTORY BASIS.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE EXPLANATION.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU COUNCILMAN POLLER.
THAT DITTO TO EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAID.
UM, I DO BELIEVE THAT WE NEED THE DEPARTMENTS THAT PUT OUT THE RFP AND PUT OUT THE BID FOR THESE, THEY NEED TO ALSO HAVE A LIST OF CONT OF CONTINGENCY, UM, COMPANIES THAT CAN STEP IN.
UM, THEY WORK IN A SMALL CIRCLE.
THEY'VE GOT CERTAIN PEOPLE THAT THEY'VE GOT CONTACT WITH, AND THEY KNOW THEY NEED TO BROADEN THEIR REACH A LITTLE BIT AND GET TO KNOW A LOT OF OTHER COMPANIES THAT COULD POTENTIALLY DO THE SAME WORK.
AND THEN THAT'S THAT, THAT PUTS EFFORT.
AND, UM, THEY HAVE TO PUT A LITTLE BIT MORE FORTH AND MORE EFFORT, UM, IN THEIR DEPARTMENT WHEN THEY'RE DOING THIS.
AND NOT NECESSARILY DEPEND, UM, ON THE CONTRACTOR AT HAND, BUT HAVE AN OPTION TO STEP IN, UM, TO DO THE WORK AS WELL.
I, I WANTED TO JUST, UH, ADD TO THAT, UH, IN THE AGENDA BRIEFING THAT THE REASON THAT THIS WAS CHANGED WAS BECAUSE PUBLIC WORKS DETERMINED THAT THE VENDOR HAD TO DO A STATIC, UM, PIPE BURSTING, PIPE BURSTING INSTEAD OF THE TRADITIONAL PIPE BURSTING, UM, BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE.
AND THERE ARE TIMES WHEN SITUATIONS WILL ARISE THAT WE DO HAVE TO, UM, GIVE, UH, LENIENCY TO THE PRIME.
AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE IT IN PLACE.
AND THIS WAS AN EX A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHEN THERE IS A TRADITIONAL CONTRACT AND EVERYTHING GOES AS AS PLANNED, THEY SHOULD HAVE MET THE RATINGS, BUT SOMETHING UNEXPECTED HAPPENS.
AND THAT'S THE REASON WE HAVE PROCESSES IN PLACE FOR WHEN, UM, THINGS DON'T GO AS PLANNED.
BUT WE DID DELVE DOWN INTO WHY THEY DID NOT MEET.
AND, UM, OBO IS VERY WELL AWARE OF, UH, EVERYONE WATCHING THE, UM, MWBE NUMBERS.
AND SO THAT'S WHY THEY PROVIDED THAT INFORMATION.
BUT THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF A TIME WHEN THE PRIME DID NOT HAVE ANOTHER CHOICE.
AND SO THEY SHOULD BE GIVEN THE LENIENCY TO CONTINUE TO DO WORK WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND THAT'S WHY THAT PROCESS IS IN PLACE, BECAUSE IT WAS DETERMINED BY PUBLIC WORKS THAT THEY NEEDED TO DO A STATIC PIPE BURSTING.
AND THERE WAS NOT ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, I GET IT, THAT IN A PERFECT WORLD, THERE ARE 50,000 PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT CAN DO THIS WORK, BUT IN THIS SPACE, THERE'S NOT, UM, WE'VE ALREADY DELVED DOWN INTO THAT TO FIND OUT, UH, IT IS MY HOPE THAT THERE ARE COMPANIES OUT THERE MENTORING OTHER COMPANIES THAT DO TRADITIONAL PIPE BURSTING TO DO STATIC PIPE BURSTING.
BUT AS WE ARE PUSHING COMPANIES TO DO MORE AND EXPAND THEIR CAPACITIES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND MAKING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE, I FEEL LIKE THAT WE WILL HAVE MORE.
BUT THIS SITUATION WAS ONE THAT COULD NOT BE, UM, HELPED.
COUNCILMAN POLLARD? ARE YOU PERSUADED? WELL, LISTEN, THE, THE, THE, THE SAME WAY THAT WE PUT CONTINGENCIES ON THESE CONTRACTS FOR, FOR THE AMOUNT IN WHICH WE MAY PAY, RIGHT? WE PUT 10% CONTINGENCIES ON THESE CONTRACTS BECAUSE IT MAY GO OVER, UH, BASED ON THINGS THAT WE CANNOT FORESEE TODAY.
WELL, IF IT'S PIPE BURSTING, AND I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT PIPE BURSTING, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO ANTICIPATE, MAYBE IT'S JUST GONNA TURN INTO A STATIC PIPE BURSTING, WHATEVER THAT MEANS.
AND IF THAT'S THE CASE WHERE THE CONTINGENCIES, IF THAT HAPPENS FOR THE SUBS AND FOR THESE SUBS TO BE RELIED
[02:10:01]
ON TO DO WORK, SO WE GONNA PUT CONTINGENCIES IN PLACE FOR THE WORK PRODUCT OF PAYMENT, THEN WE NEED TO PUT CONTINGENCIES IN PLACE THAT, UH, IF THE SCOPE OF WORK CHANGES AS WELL.AND SO, UH, HOPEFULLY WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THAT.
AND, UH, UH, THANK YOU FOR, FOR LISTENING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UM, APPRECIATE THIS CONVERSATION.
UH, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM EIGHT? ANY OTHER DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OPPOSED? NO, NO.
SHOW COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMET AND COUNCIL MEMBER POLL, UH, VOTING.
NEXT ITEM, ITEM NINE NEEDS A MOTION.
WE ON ITEM NINE, CASTEX TATUM, MOVE SECOND.
AND SECOND ON ITEM NINE, MAYOR PRO TE ON NINE.
AND IF WE THOUGHT SEVEN AND EIGHT WAS BAD, WAIT TILL YOU LOOK AT NUMBER NINE.
AND, UH, I KNOW FOR A FACT, DOVETAILING ON OUR CONVERSATION THAT YOU WERE EXTREMELY UPSET WITH INTEGRATED CORROSION COMPANIES EXTREMELY UPSET.
AND THAT'S AN UNDERSTATEMENT IN THE PROCESS THAT THEY IMPLEMENTED FOR THEIR MWBE COMPONENT, BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T USE THEM AND THEY KNEW THEY WEREN'T GONNA USE THEM.
AND THE THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE FROM OBO IS WE TALKED ABOUT PROCESS A MINUTE AGO, SO THIS IS 34 SEPARATE INSTALLATION AND REHAB SITES 34, WE GAVE THEM AN ADDITIONAL 510 DAYS, WE HAD SEVEN CHANGE ORDERS.
SO SOMEWHERE THROUGH THE PROCESS, SHOULDN'T OBO HAVE CHECKED AND GOT AN INDICATION THAT THEY WERE NOT USING THE SUBS THAT THEY WERE REQUIRED TO USE, AND SHOULDN'T THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LOOK AT THEM AND SAY, OKAY, YOU'RE AT 0% NOW YOU'RE REQUIRED TO DO 20%.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET THERE? BUT YET, HERE WE ARE SITTING TODAY, AND I KNOW WHERE COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD'S GONNA GO.
WE OWE THESE PEOPLE $1.6 MILLION.
IF WE DON'T PAY 'EM, WE GET SUED.
RIGHT? ATTORNEY MICHELLE, THEY FILL THEIR OBLIGATION BY DOING THE JOB.
WE NEED TO ACT AND FILL OUR OBLIGATION BY PAYING THEM $1.6 MILLION.
BUT THE PROCESS THAT WE IMPLEMENT THROUGH OBO NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED.
THERE HAS TO BE A CHECKS AND BALANCES ON THESE COMPANIES.
HOW MANY TIMES ARE WE GONNA SIT HERE AND HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT MWBES GETTING, I WON'T SAY THAT WORD, GETTING, UM, UNDERPAID AND NOT UTILIZED? SO I KNOW YOU WERE EXTREMELY UPSET BECAUSE I SAT NEXT TO YOU WITH MATER AND LISTENED TO YOUR TIRADE ON THESE FOLKS.
BUT SHOULDN'T OBO DEVELOP A PROCESS AS WE GO THROUGH A SEVEN CHANGE ORDER METHODOLOGY AND FIGURE SOMETHING OUT? AND I, AND I AGREE, AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT, UM, A PROS ORDINANCE THAT WILL BE COMING TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION, LIKE OF THIS KIND.
UH, THIS IS ONE IN WHICH OBL HAS GIVEN THEM AN UNSATISFACTORY RATING AND RIGHTFULLY SO MM-HMM
UH, THEY INTENTIONALLY CHOSE NOT TO UTILIZE THEIR SUBS.
UM, AND, UM, AND AFTER BEING, AFTER BEING REACHED OUT BY OBO, UH, THEY STILL REFUSE TO UTILIZE THEIR OPS AND THE WAY THE SYSTEM WORKS WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT THEIR BE, UM, THEIR PAST PERFORMANCE OR BEHAVIOR, UNLESS THEY RECEIVED ANOTHER UNSATISFACTORY IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.
UM, THEN WHAT THE ORDINANCE, ORDINANCE SAYS IS THAT WE GIVE THEM AN UNSATISFACTORY RATING.
SO THEY'RE BEING GIVEN AN UNSATISFACTORY RATING.
UM, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT, UM, MODIFYING THE ORDINANCE, UH, TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION OF THIS KIND.
UM, BECAUSE IT IS, IT IS UN TOTALLY UNSATISFACTORY, UH, UNACCEPTABLE, UH, BY INTEGRATED CORROSION COMPANIES.
AND, UH, TO SAY, DISAPPOINTED IT'S NOT A STRONG ENOUGH TERM, UH, IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE THE SUBS AND THEN, UH, SIMPLY CHOOSE NOT TO UTILIZE THEM EVEN AFTER WE APPROACH THEM TO DO SO.
UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TE CAST TATOR.
I DID WANT TO, UM, ON BEHALF OF OBO, JUST BECAUSE I'M, I'M CLOSE TO THIS ISSUE, SAY THAT, UH, THE REASON WE PUT FORTH THOSE BUDGET AMENDMENTS AND WHY THEY WERE SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO OBO IS SO THAT WE COULD BE MICROMANAGING AND MONITORING THESE PARTICULAR CONTRACTS.
THEY HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB WITH THE PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE.
THEY'VE BEEN UNDERSTAFFED AND UNDERPAID, UM, FOR THE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF CONTRACTS THEY ARE, THAT THEY ARE REQUIRED TO MONITOR.
UM, WE DID, UH, PASS THOSE BUDGET AMENDMENTS.
WE HAVE GOTTEN MORE MONEY TO THEM.
WE DO HAVE TWO CONTRACTORS THAT ARE
[02:15:01]
WORKING WITH THEM TO MONITOR THESE, UM, CONTRACTS.AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE DIRECTOR, UM, IS VERY PLEASED WITH THE CONTRACTORS THAT WE HAVE ALL, UM, VOTED ON TO SUPPLEMENT, UH, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING IN OBO.
AND SO I THINK WHAT WE'LL SEE IS, UM, MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTS, BECAUSE NOW THEY HAVE HELP, BECAUSE WE'VE PUT THE PROCESSES IN PLACE TO, TO GIVE THEM THE HELP THAT THEY NEEDED BECAUSE IT WAS, UM, NOT FAIR FOR US TO REQUIRE THE AMOUNT OF DETAILED, UH, INFORMATION THAT WE NEED WHEN WE GET IT HERE WITH THE FOUR PEOPLE THAT WERE WORKING THOSE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF, OF CONTRACTS.
IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO GET THAT WORK DONE.
SO YOU'LL SEE THE CHANGE, UM, OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS BECAUSE OF THE NEW PEOPLE THAT, UM, WE'VE, THE CONTRACTS THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE, BUT I WANNA SAY THAT OBO WITH THE PEOPLE THEY HAD, THE STAFF THEY HAD, AND THE STAFF, WHAT THE STAFF WAS BEING PAID, THEY PROVIDED A, A GOOD SERVICE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND WE CAN ALWAYS IMPROVE ON OUR BEST.
AND TO WHAT YOU STATED IN THE MAYOR'S REPORT, MAYOR, IT'S GETTING BETTER.
UM, AND WE EXPECT MORE FROM THEM.
AND THEY KNOW THAT, AND THEY KNOW THAT WE'RE WATCHING, UM, AND, AND THEY WANNA BE, WANNA BE BETTER.
AND I ANTICIPATE THAT IT WILL BE BETTER.
AND THE, AND THE COMPANIES NEED TO KNOW ABSOLUTELY, UH, THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT EVERY ONE OF THESE CONTRACTS, AND WE EXPECT FOR THEM TO ABIDE BY THE, UH, UH, THE GOALS THAT ARE SET AND THE RULES THAT WE ARE PUT IN PLACE.
THAT IF YOU BRING YOUR OWN SUBS, YOU TO UTILIZE THOSE SUBS, AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, IF YOU FIND THAT YOU CAN UTILIZE THAT SUB, THEN THERE'S A PROCESS TO GO BACK TO OBO AND TO ADDRESS THAT.
BUT YOU JUST CAN'T DEC BRING ON SUBS AND THEN DECIDE NOT TO USE THEM, DO THE WORK YOURSELF, AND JUST GO AND FIND SOME OTHERS.
SO THE COMPANIES NEED TO KNOW AND INTEGRATE IT.
CORROSION COMPANIES INCORPORATED SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT, AND THEY DID KNOW THAT, BUT THEY CHOSE NOT TO UTILIZE THEM, UH, WHICH IS EVEN MORE EGREGIOUS IN THIS CASE.
SO, UM, EVEN THOUGH INTEGRATED CORROSION COMPANIES INC.
DIDN'T HAVE, UM, A PREVIOUS UNSATISFACTORY, UM, THEY WILL HAVE ONE NOW.
AND, UM, AND THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT MODIFYING THE ORDINANCE TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION OF THIS KIND GOING FORWARD.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, THANK YOU.
UM, AND JUST TO MAYOR PRO TEMS POINT ABOUT, UM, US, UM, PAYING BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HONOR THE AGREEMENT, I THINK, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER THAT THEY VIOLATED THE AGREEMENT BECAUSE YOU'RE DOING THE WORK, BUT YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE VIOLATING THE POLICIES THAT WE SET FOR TO ENGAGE THESE MWBES AND NOT JUST TO ENGAGE, BUT TO DIVIDE THAT WORK.
AND THEY HAVE, THESE CONTRACTORS HAVE THREE OPPORTUNITIES TO MOVE TO GET MILLIONS FROM THE CITY AND NOT HONOR OUR AGREEMENT.
SO I HOPE IN THE ORDINANCE AND IN THE BACKUP THAT WE SEE IN THE FUTURE, A RECOMMENDATION THAT SAYS, WE'LL NO LONGER QUALIFY TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY FOR FIVE YEARS OR SOMETHING.
THERE HAS TO BE SOME TEETH IN THIS, BECAUSE I COULD BE A BUSINESS AND I MEAN, WE MOVE MILLIONS A WEEK, AND I COULD GET MULTIPLE CONTRACTS AND NOT HONOR AND THEN TELL OBO NO, AND THEN HAVE THESE OTHER, UM, UM, UH, FIRMS ON THE HOOK FOR WORK THAT THEY WEREN'T, THEY'RE NOT EVEN ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN, WHICH HOLDS THEM UP.
SO, UM, YEAH, WE MAY HAVE TO PAY 'EM, THEY SUE US FOR EVERYTHING ELSE.
I, YOU KNOW, I THINK THEY COULD SUE US FOR THIS, BUT, UM, I, I'M JUST SAYING, UH, JUST FOR US TO BE WHO WE ARE AS A CITY, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THIS PROGRAM HAS TEETH AND, UM, THAT SUBS AND, UH, SUB, UH, BUSINESSES FIND VALUE, EVEN IN PARTICIPATING IN OUR PROGRAM, KNOWING THEY'RE ACTUALLY GONNA GET THE WORK.
UM, SO I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT, UM, ORDINANCE FORTH IN THE FUTURE.
MAY I SEE THE ATTORNEY A QUESTION? SURE.
WHEN WE ARE IN CONTRACT WITH A COMPANY, THEIR COMMITMENT TO USING AN MWBE IS, IS THAT IN THEIR CONTRACT? THE GOAL IS THAT, IS THAT LISTED IN THEIR CONTRACT CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT? IT'S EFFECTIVELY IN INCORPORATED THROUGH THE SOLICITATION REQUIREMENTS IN OUR ORDINANCES.
IT'S, IT'S, UM, NOT NECESSARILY IN THE CONTRACT, BUT IT HAS, BUT WE CAN ENFORCE IT AS A CONTRACTUAL TERM.
SO THEM NOT UTILIZING THEM, AREN'T THEY IN BREACH OF THEIR AGREEMENT THEN? WELL, THE, THERE'S A GOOD FAITH STANDARD.
SO IF THEY'RE NOT OPERATING GOOD FAITH, THEY WOULD BE IN BREACH.
TYPICALLY, WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY ARGUE THAT THERE WAS A GOOD FAITH.
IN SOME INSTANCES THOUGH, THERE'S JUST A FAILURE TO NOT COMPLY, AND IT IS A BREACH OF THE CONTRACT.
SO IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION, WHEN THEY HAD MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO
[02:20:01]
SO, IF WE DON'T PAY THEM, COULD THEY POTENTIALLY REALLY SUE US BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T DO THEIR PORTION? YES.I MEAN, THEY, THEY COULD SUE US.
IT WOULD BE A DIFFERENCE AS TO WHAT THE DAMAGES WOULD BE FOR NOT USING THAT, UH, RELATIVE TO THE DAMAGES NOT GETTING, UH, UH, THE AMOUNT THAT WAS DUE THEM.
BUT THERE IS LEGAL ACTION THAT CAN BE TAKEN.
BUT DON'T WE HAVE STANDING THOUGH, AS A CITY? YES, WE HAVE STANDING.
DON'T WE HAVE HEAVY STANDING AS A CITY? YES.
I MEAN, MAYOR, I, I JUST THINK THAT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
WE, THIS HAPPENS OFTENTIMES, WE JUST ALL VOTE ON IT TO PAY THEM BECAUSE WE'RE SO AFRAID THAT THEY'RE GONNA SUE US, AND WE HAVE TO, SOMEBODY HAS TO BE AN EXAMPLE OF MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
AND I THINK THIS COMPANY SHOULD BE IT.
I I, I, I HEAR WHAT EVERYONE IS SAYING.
I, I DO THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE, MAKE CLARIFY THE GUIDELINES ON OUR END SO THAT IT'S CLEAR FOR EVERYBODY.
UM, CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, UH, WE CAN NOT PAY.
OKAY? AND THEN YOU END UP GOING INTO COURT, AND THEN YOU GOT LEGAL FEES AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
I THINK, I THINK, UM, THERE'S A WAY TO ADDRESS FUTURE SITUATIONS, WHICH IS WHAT I'VE SAID TO CITY LEGAL.
LET'S CLARIFY OUR ORDINANCE SUCH THAT IN A CASE OF THIS KIND, IT BECOMES VERY CLEAR.
THEY THEN KNOW BECAUSE WE HAVE SET THE RULES, AND THEN IT IS QUITE CLEAR, I DON'T WANT TO DEAL ON A SITUATION WHERE IT'S SOMEWHAT FUZZY, WHERE THEY CAN SIMPLY GO IN AND SAY, WELL, IF WE FELL SHORT, UH, FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE CITY SAYS, YOU GET AN UNSATISFACTORY.
AND THEN, AND WE HADN'T HAD AN UNSATISFACTORY IN THE PAST, AND NOW THEY ARE CHANGING THE RULES BECAUSE THEY FIND THIS TO BE QUOTE UNQUOTE EGREGIOUS.
UH, I'M SIMPLY SAYING THIS IS A, IS A MESSAGE TO US THAT WE NEED TO MODIFY OUR ORDINANCE.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE SAID TO A JURY WHEN I, WHEN THIS WAS PRESENTED TO ME, WHEN, AND IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH OBO AND MY EXECUTIVE TEAM, I JUST SAID, NO, THAT'S MODIFY THE RULES SO THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT'S THE EXPECTATION, AND THEN HOW WE ARE GOING TO, UM, CONSULT AND GOVERN.
AND, UH, UM, BUT GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE YOU WITH A, WITH A MODIFICATION TO THE ORDINANCE.
AND I KNOW AS, AS, AS, UM, DISTASTEFUL AS IT IS WOULD BE TO, TO VOTE FOR IT.
AND I KNOW IT WOULD BE DISTASTEFUL, UM, BUT UNDER THE CURRENT SET OF CONDITIONS PROCESS AND THE PROCESS ITSELF, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO VOTE FOR IT AND THEN ALLOW US TO ADDRESS IT AND, UH, THROUGH THE MODIFICATION OF THE ORDINANCE.
ONE OF YOUR PATIENTS IS CALLING YOU.
THAT YOU JUST PROVIDED THE CLARIFICATION I WAS LOOKING FOR.
'CAUSE AGAIN, WE, MY UNDERSTANDING IN CITY ATTORNEY, IF YOU COULD CLARIFY, WE DO BELIEVE THERE COULD POTENTIALLY BE A BREACH OF GOOD FAITH IN THE CONTRACT.
BUT THE BURDEN OF PROOF WITH THAT IN A COURT OF LAW CAN BE COSTLY, OR EVEN TO GO TO MEDIATION OR TO SETTLE CAN BE COSTLY.
SO ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, WE'RE SPENDING THIS MONEY, AND FROM WHERE I'M SITTING, UH, WE ALSO ARE POTENTIALLY BREACHING OUR FIDUCIARY DUTY WHEN WE OPEN UP THE CITY, UH, TO LITIGATION.
THAT BEING SAID, MAYOR, I'M GONNA, YOU KNOW, DEFER TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND THE GUIDANCE THAT THEY HAVE GIVEN YOU, AND AS YOU SAID EARLIER, SETTING THIS ON THE AGENDA MEANS IT'S, IT'S SUPPORTED BY THE ADMINISTRATION, AND THERE'S A REASON FOR THAT, EVEN DESPITE THE EGREGIOUS, UM, NATURE OF THE PERFORMANCE, RIGHT? IN RESPECTING THE, THE FAITH AND SPIRIT OF THE AGREEMENT.
UM, I'M ALSO GOING TO, YOU KNOW, RELY ON THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO CLOSE THIS LOOPHOLE QUICKLY.
BUT AGAIN, JUST FOR THE RECORD, BECAUSE WHEN I VOTE, UM, I WANNA MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR.
WE ARE BEING ASKED TO VOTE IN SUPPORT OF THIS BECAUSE OF THE, UH, FIDUCIARY DUTY AND THE LIABILITY THAT THIS WOULD OPEN UP ON THE CITY ON A OVER $1 MILLION CONTRACT.
THIS ISN'T, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
THIS IS OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.
[02:25:01]
THAT'S CORRECT.MAYOR, I'M ENJOYING THIS CONVERSATION SO MUCH.
I'M JUST GONNA TAG THIS SO WE CAN HAVE THIS NEXT WEEK.
ALL RIGHT, MAYOR, UH, WHAT DID, UH, DID YOU WANT TO YIELD FOR A SECOND ON YOUR, ON YOUR TAG? GO.
I'M ENJOYING THE CONVERSATION.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER.
I THOUGHT THE EXACT SAME THING YOU THOUGHT, AND THAT IS SOMEWHERE DOWN THE ROAD.
WE GOTTA MAKE AN EXAMPLE AND WE GOTTA HOLD OUR FEET TO THE GROUND.
SO I LOOKED AT THE BACKUP MATERIAL THAT WE ALL RECEIVED, AND IN THERE THERE'S AN INTERNAL ME MEMO THAT IS SIGNED BY DIRECTOR MURRAY AND DIRECTOR HADDOCK TO MAYOR TURNER THAT STATES THIS, FOR THE REASON LISTED AS CONTRACTORS', PERFORMANCE WAS RATED AS SATISFACTORY DUE TO GOOD FAITH EFFORTS AND MEETS THE INTENT AND SPIRIT OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S M-W-S-B-E PROGRAM.
SO YOU GO TO A COURT LAW, FIRST THING THEY'RE GONNA DO IS THROW THIS LETTER AND SAY, THE CITY OF HOUSTON AGREED THAT THEY MET GOOD FAITH EFFORTS.
SO WHILE I AGREE WITH YOU IN PRINCIPLE ON THIS ISSUE, UH, WE HAVE, WE'LL LOSE.
SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY I AM VOTING YES ON IT AND MOVING THIS FORWARD.
OKAY? HAVING SAID THAT, WHEN YOU RELEASE THAT TAG, ITEM NINE IS BEING COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS JOINS.
TAG ITEM NINE IS BEING TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH.
COUNCILMAN MANCO ON, ON ITEM 10.
ON A HAPPIER NOTE, WE'VE GOT A GREAT ORDINANCE, GREAT ORDINANCE RIGHT HERE, GREAT PURCHASE RIGHT HERE.
UM, THIS WAS THE BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT BROUGHT US UP TO THE PER CAPITA THAT BROUGHT OUR PER CAPITA SPENDING UP ON ANIMAL WELFARE.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE BOND ISSUE.
APPRECIATE THE EXTRA RPA MONEY GOING TOWARDS THIS MANDATORY MICROCHIPPING.
Y'ALL GET IT OUT IN YOUR NEWSLETTERS.
I MEAN, IT'S HERE AND IT REALLY WILL IMPROVE OUR RETURN TO OWNER RATES IN SAN ANTONIO AFTER THEY PASSED MANDATORY MICROCHIPPING.
THEY IMPROVE THEIR RETURN TO OWNER RATES BY 20%.
THIS IS GETTING STRAY DOGS OFF THE STREETS AND NOT HAVING TO BRING 'EM TO OUR SHELTER.
SO THANK YOU FOR THIS ITEM AND APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S SUPPORT.
AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FOR ALL ALL YOU'VE DONE IN REGARDS TO THIS.
IT, AGAIN, IT'S JUST SO IMPORTANT TO, TO NOW HAVE THESE DOGS, OR MANY OF THESE DOGS THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE, UH, MICROCHIPPED AND LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN STATED, UH, TO BE IDENTIFIED WHO THE OWNERS ARE.
UH, THAT THERE, AS, AS I'VE STATED, THERE'S FIVE COUNCIL DISTRICTS, UH, WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH STRAY DOGS.
AND THIS IS JUST GOING TO HELP THE SITUATION.
UM, UH, ANY OF THE DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OPPOSED GRANTED ON ITEM 10? NEXT ITEM, ITEM 15.
ITEM 15 NEEDS A MOTION AND DICTATE A MOVE.
COUNCIL MEMBER PECK ON ITEM 15.
UM, THIS IS FOR OUTREACH AND OUTREACH CAMPAIGN TO, UM, EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT THE DANGER OF STEPPING OUTSIDE THEIR VEHICLE WHILE ON THE FREEWAY, WHICH IS DEFINITELY AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE.
UM, MY CONCERN IS IN THE BACKUP, UM, WHAT THE OUTREACH IS GOING TO BE, FIRST OF ALL, $38,000 TO DESIGN AND CODE AND MAINTAIN A WEBSITE.
WELL, THE WEBSITE ALREADY EXISTS, SO I'M NOT SURE UNLESS THEY'RE CHANGING AT ALL WHAT WE'RE SPENDING $38,000 ON.
AND ALSO SOME OF IT JUST SEEMS REALLY OUTDATED.
UM, MARKETING MATERIALS, PRINTING MATERIALS, POSTERS.
I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHO'S GETTING THIS PRINTED MATERIAL, SO I'M NOT GONNA VOTE AGAINST IT BECAUSE IT'S AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE.
I DON'T WANT PEOPLE DYING ON THE FREEWAY.
UM, BUT MY ASK IS THAT AFTER THIS CAMPAIGN IS OVER FOR US TO GET INFORMATION, STATISTICS, DID THIS REALLY HELP ANYBODY? HOW MANY PEOPLE DID THEY ACTUALLY GET THIS MESSAGE OUT TO? IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE? I KNOW THAT, UM, THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF A CURRENT PROGRAM, SO ANY STATS THAT WE CAN GET TO, MAYBE WE NEED TO CHANGE THINGS UP FOR THE NEXT YEAR GOING FORWARD.
AND WE'LL MAKE THAT REQUEST AS WELL.
IN THE DISCUSSION ON ITEM 15 OF DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSED, GRANTED ON 15, AND WE'LL MAKE A NOTE OF THAT TO FOLLOW UP.
NEXT ITEM, ITEM 26 IS AN ORDINANCE.
JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 26, DISCUSSION ON 26, DISCUSSION ON 26, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR.
[02:30:01]
ITEM 28 IS BEING TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GGO.
ITEM 31, POLL COUNCILMAN POLLARD ON 31.
I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM REALLY QUICKLY.
UM, IT IS FOR A RENOVATION OF THE SOUTHWEST MULTI-PURPOSE CENTER, UH, WHICH IS IN THE GULFTON SHARPSTOWN AREA.
UM, ONE OF THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED AREAS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
SO I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THIS ITEM COME FORWARD.
UH, THIS, UH, FACILITY WAS ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED IN 2006, AND IT WILL, UH, BE GETTING SOME, SOME REALLY MUCH NEEDED, UH, UPGRADES.
SO I WANTED TO, TO HIGHLIGHT THAT AND, AND THANK THE ADMINISTRATION FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD FOR THIS ONE.
I'M SORRY, I, I SAY HE, HE IS DONE WITH HIS COMMENT.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 31? DISCUSSION ON 31 IN FAVOR OF POST GRANITE ON 31.
OKAY, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON 36? NO, YOU'RE GOOD.
YOU'RE GOOD IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 36, ITEM 42,
[42.
SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE to update portions of the City’s Development Code, Chapter 42, to create more opportunities for walkability, affordability and equity
HEARING DATE - 9:00 A.M. - WEDNESDAY - JANUARY 11, 2023
]ITEM FOUR IS TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE.TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE TO UPDATE PORTIONS OF THE CITY'S DEVELOPMENT CODE.
SUGGEST A HEARING DATE WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11TH.
UH, CASTEX TATUM MOVED TO SET THE YES.
SET THE HEARING DATE TO SET THE HEARING DATE FOR 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11TH, 2023.
ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM 42? COUNCIL MEMBER ABEY CAYMAN.
UH, FOR THE PUBLIC'S PURPOSES, BECAUSE THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, I JUST WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT OR HIGHLIGHT WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE COMING FORWARD ON THIS.
IT RELATES TO RESIDENTIAL BUFFERING STANDARDS, GARAGE SCREENING AND LIGHTING STANDARDS, UH, WALL OR POLE MOUNTED, LIGHT FIXTURE STANDARDS, DUMPSTER SCREENING STANDARDS, UM, AS WELL AS OTHER THINGS.
AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE, UH, FOR DISTRICT C RESIDENTS, THEY HAVE BEEN, UH, VERY FOCUSED ON THESE ITEMS, AS HAVE OTHERS.
SO IT HAS COME BEFORE COMMITTEE, BUT THIS IS, UH, THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO ONCE AGAIN CHIME IN.
COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS.
JUST TO CLARIFY, THIS IS THE PUBLIC HEARING TO FOLLOW A VOTE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE HEARING? CORRECT.
'CAUSE SOMETIMES IT'S DIFFERENT.
I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW IT'S HEARING AND THEN WE VOTE.
ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, OPPOSE.
[43.
MOTION TO SET A DATE not less than seven days from January 4, 2023, to receive nominations for Position One of the PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY, for a two-year term
]IS A MOTION TO SET A DATE NOW LESS THAN SEVEN DAYS FROM JANUARY THE FOURTH, 2023 TO RECEIVE NOMINATIONS FOR POSITION ONE OF THE PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY CASTEX, TA MOVE, SECOND ROBINSON MOTION.ANY, AND WE'RE SETTING THAT DISCUSSION.
WE'RE SETTING THE DATE FOR NEXT WEEK, AND THAT PERSON IS LISTED AS DEAN CORGI.
ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? WE JUST SETTING THE DATE.
WE DIDN'T NEED THE PERSON AND ALL THAT.
UM, AREN'T WE MEETING ON JANUARY THE NINTH? THE NINTH? CORRECT.
AT, UH, AND SO A WEEK, SEVEN DAYS FROM THE FOURTH WILL BE THE 11TH.
THAT'S WHAT, RIGHT? THESE ARE COUNCIL NOMINATIONS.
THAT IS THE PORT CHAIRMAN COM UH, NOMINATION AT THAT PORT MEETING AT THE PORT OF HOUSTON.
THIS IS THE COUNCIL APPOINTEE APPOINTEE TO POSITION ONE OF THE PORT OF HOUSTON.
I SAW, I SAW HIS NAME ON THE AGENDA, SO I THOUGHT THAT PERHAPS, YEP.
ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION ON ITEM 43? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, OPPOSE.
[44.
MOTION TO SET A DATE not less than seven days from January 4, 2023, to receive nominations for Positions One and Two and Two Alternate At-Large Positions of the HOUSTON-GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS, for a one-year term to expire December 31, 2023
]IS A MOTION TO SET A DATE IN OUR LESS FOR SEVEN DAYS FROM JANUARY 4TH, 2023 TO RECEIVE NOMINATIONS FOR POSITIONS ONE AND TWO AND TWO, ALTERNATE LARGE POSITIONS OF THE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, CAST STATE MOVE, SECOND ROBINSON MOTION.SETTING THAT DATE AGAIN FOR JANUARY 4TH, NEXT WEEK? JANUARY 11TH.
[02:35:01]
SEVEN DAYS FROM JANUARY 4TH.ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, OPPOSE.
THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, AND WE'LL
[MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL - Council Member Pollard first]
START OFF WITH COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARD POLLARD.THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIM, REALLY QUICKLY, UH, I WANT TO WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY NEW YEAR.
UH, THE DISTRICT J OFFICE WILL REALLY BE FOCUSING ON, UM, EMPLOYMENT AND CREATING JOB OPPORTUNITIES TO THOSE IN NEED.
UH, WE WANNA PUSH EVERYONE TO THE DISTRICT J JOBS.COM WEBSITE.
IT IS A ONE STOP PLACE FOR JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES.
THERE'S HUNDREDS OF JOBS, UH, AVAILABLE ON THAT SITE, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR EXPERIENCE LEVEL IS.
UM, THERE'S SOMETHING THERE FOR YOU.
SO IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS INTERESTED OR LOOKING FOR A JOB, PLEASE GO TO DISTRICT J JOBS.COM.
COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ.
UH, I WANT TO SAY ON TOMORROW EVENING, THERE WILL BE A LEGISLATIVE LISTENING SESSION IN TEXAS EDUCATION RESOURCE FAIR AT THE JUDSON ROBINSON COMMUNITY CENTER.
IT WILL BE LED BY OUR NEW STATE REPRESENTATIVE YOLANDA JONES.
AND SO THIS IS AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM, UH, THE STATE REP AND OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS AND LEARN ABOUT THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN, UH, OUR COMMUNITY.
ALSO, UH, MY BROTHER'S KEEPER AND LAW IN THE COMMUNITY ROCKETS GAME WILL BE, UH, WITH YATES AND WORTHING HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO GO ALONG WITH HPD, UH, TO THE TOYOTA CENTER ON SUNDAY, THE, UH, EIGHTH AT 6:00 PM TO ENJOY SOME COLLABORATION WITH SOME YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WANT TO WORK WITH THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, AS A RESOURCE, AS WELL AS HELP HELPING IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
AND CERTAINLY THE MAYOR MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THERE WILL BE THE OPENING OF THE SUNNYSIDE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER ON SATURDAY THE 28TH AT 11:00 AM SO WE ARE REALLY, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
AND THEN ON ANOTHER NOTE, I WANT TO SAY THAT I WAS HORRIFIED AND CONDEMNED, AND I CONDEMNED THE HATE SPEECH AND ANTISEMITISM DISPLAYED BY THE FLYERS BLANKETED IN THE MUSEUM DISTRICT.
THESE ACTIONS ARE INTENDED TO THREATEN AND INTIMIDATE AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
WHEN MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE ATTACKED, IT AFFECTS US ALL.
I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH HPD AND WILL CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH THEM TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I ALSO WANT TO, ON A SAD NOTE, GIVE CONDOLENCES TO MY CHIEF OF STAFF, STEVEN JAMES, WHO IS CURRENTLY OUT OF TOWN, UH, TO ATTEND THE SERVICES OF HIS NINE 92-YEAR-OLD AUNT.
SHE'S THE LAST LIVING AUNT, UM, THAT HE HAS.
AND CERTAINLY I WANT TO GIVE HIM MY CONDOLENCES ON THE DEATH OF ROSALIE JAMES SUTHERLAND.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT SINCE AUGUST, WE HAVE BEEN OPERATING WITH TWO STAFF MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN AWESOME.
I MEAN, THEY HAVE REALLY BEEN AWESOME.
THAT'S, THAT'S STEVEN JAMES, WHO'S THE CHIEF OF STAFF.
AND COREY GLENN, WHO'S MY PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR.
I WANNA PUBLICLY THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE AND THEIR CONTINUED SERVICE.
THEY'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE, PRAISE GOD.
AND, BUT I DO WANNA WELCOME TWO NEW STAFF MEMBERS, UH, INGRID MITCHUM, WHO'S MY CONSTITUENTS RELATIONS DIRECTOR.
SHE HAS SOME BIG SHOES TO FILL BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE STEVEN WAS.
AND CRYSTAL TOUSSANT, WHO IS, UH, THE CONSTITUENTS LIAISON AND COMMUNICATION SPECIALISTS.
SO I'M REALLY, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THEM STARTING AND, AND HELPING US TO MOVE FORWARD INTO 2023.
AND JUST, YOU KNOW, MORE, MORE DETAILS ARE TO COME.
BUT I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR, UH, THE EARMARKS THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, RECEIVED BY CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN.
UH, WE SPECIFICALLY WILL BE TARGETING SUNNYSIDE PARK, AND SO WE'LL HAVE MORE DETAILS ON THAT SURE.
PRESS CONFERENCE THAT WE'LL BE MOVED FORWARD, BUT REALLY, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
AND SO, AGAIN, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE.
AND WE ARE GONNA MAKE IT DO ADO.
FROM THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS CISNEROS.
UM, JANUARY KICKS OFF AFFORDABLE HOUSING SEASON.
THIS IS, UM, THE TIME EACH YEAR THAT THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, T-D-H-C-A HAS AN EXTREMELY NARROW TIMEFRAME FOR DEVELOPERS TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS FOR TAX CREDIT PROGRAMS. UM, AND THESE, UH, THIS PRO, THESE TWO PROGRAMS HELP DEVELOPERS LOOKING TO BRING WORKFORCE APARTMENT HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS INTO ELIGIBLE NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE STATE HAS TWO DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, UM, THE, THE
[02:40:01]
T-D-H-C-A 9% TAX CREDIT PROGRAM AND THE, THE, UM, THE 4% TAX CREDIT PROGRAM.UM, I WILL TELL YOU THAT, UM, THAT THESE TWO STATE PROGRAMS ARE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND EFFECTIVE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE TO FIGHT GENTRIFICATION.
IN THE SEVEN YEARS, I'VE, I'VE SAT HERE IN THIS, UM, IN THIS ROLE, UM, I'VE SEEN MANY DISTRICT H NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, UM, BECOME MUCH MORE GENTRIFIED THAN THEY WERE SEVEN YEARS AGO.
SO, AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENTS LIKE THESE HELP PEOPLE REMAIN IN THEIR, IN THEIR, THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THEIR, THEIR LIVES ARE, THEIR, THEIR, UM, THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR JOBS, UM, THEIR, THEIR HISTORY.
SO, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM IS BECAUSE, UM, THIS, IT'S A STATE PROGRAM AND IT HAS SUCH A TIGHT TIMEFRAME, IT'S, IT'S, UM, A BIT OF A CHALLENGE FOR COMMUNITIES TO FOLLOW ALONG BECAUSE THE DEVELOPERS ARE MOVING FAST TO GET LAND UNDER CONTRACT, TO DESIGN THEIR PROJECTS, AND THEN TO RECEIVE A, UM, A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT OR NO OBJECTION, UM, FROM THE CITY DEVELOPERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO CONTACT OR MEET WITH, UM, OR, OR TO, TO MEET WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT MY POLICY IS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT TO RECEIVE MY SUPPORT, THEY MUST COMMUNICATE WITH LOCAL CIVIC CLUBS AND SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, IN ADDITION, EACH APPLICANT, EACH APPLICATION THAT I RECEIVED PRO PERTAINING TO DISTRICT H WILL BE POSTED ON THE DISTRICT H WEB WEBPAGE.
THAT'S, UH, IF YOU WILL, LET'S GO BACK TO 28TH.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER, ARE YOU RELEASING YOUR TAG? YES.
MAYOR, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL RELEASE MY TAG.
I UNDERSTAND THE AIRPORT SYSTEM AND PROCUREMENT WILL COME AND SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER THAT REPRESENTS THE AIR, UH, HOBBY AIRPORT.
UH, AGAIN, I'VE BEEN HERE AT THIS HORSESHOE FOR NINE YEARS, AND I EXPECT TO BE RESPECTED AS A COUNCIL MEMBER.
THAT REP REPRESENTS HOBBY AIRPORT.
UM, SO WE BACK, I'M GONNA SECRETARY REVIEW CALL ITEM 28.
JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 28, DISCUSSION ON 28.
AND THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF AN MWBE FIRM MOVING TO THE POSITION OF PRIME WHILE IMPLEMENTING THE MWBE STRATEGIES OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UH, I MET THE JAMES FAMILY MANY YEARS AGO, WALLY, KENNETH, AND CYNTHIA, AND THEN THEIR OFFSPRING.
I KNOW KENNETH, UH, CAMERON'S HERE, AND CAMERON AND HIS DAD WERE ONCE THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION AND, UH, DONE A GREAT JOB.
BUT THIS IS A, IT'S A GREAT FIRM, UH, WITH A GREAT BACKGROUND.
UM, CAMERON ACTUALLY WENT TO SCHOOL AT KINGWOOD WITH MY OLDEST.
GOOD TO SEE 'EM WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FROM A SUBORDINATE TO A PRIME, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT SHOULD BE.
THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF OBO IS MOVING FIRMS LIKE THIS FROM A SUBORDINATE INTO A PRIME WHILE IMPLEMENTING, HAVING THEM IMPLEMENTING MORE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE MWBE PERCENTAGE.
AND ALSO, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MY FRIEND, CO-BOARD MEMBER, MR. REGGIE MARTIN AND HIS WIFE AND KIDS, UH, WHO WILL BE A PART OF THE, UH, LATRELL FAMILY MOVING FORWARD AT HOBBY.
SO, CONGRATULATIONS, UH, IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY AND A GOOD DAY TO RECOGNIZE A GOOD FIRM.
SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.
THANKS, MAYOR FOR TIM, CAST TATU.
I CAN DEFINITELY, UH, APPRECIATE YOUR SENTIMENT.
I KNOW THAT THESE, UM, CONTRACTS ARE VERY LARGE, UM, CONTRACTS AND CONCESSIONS AT OUR AIRPORTS, AND THEY ONLY COME AROUND EVERY 10 YEARS.
UM, AND SO, UM, IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU, UM, GET THE ANSWERS AND, UH, THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED.
AND WE DON'T, UM, SEND THESE, UH, THROUGH COMMITTEE AS WELL.
SO, UM, HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO, UH, THE CONCESSIONAIRES IS, IS, IS IMPORTANT.
UM, JUST WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO, UM, LATRELL AND ALL OF THE SUBCONTRACTORS.
THIS, UH, PACKAGE ACTUALLY, UM, HAS A VERY HIGH MWBE, UH, A-C-D-B-E PARTICIPATION.
I THINK IT'S OVER 90%, UH, MAYORS, MAYBE 95%.
UM, UH, MINORITY PARTICIPATION, WISH YOU ALL THE VERY BEST, UM, IN YOUR, IN YOUR BUSINESS DOINGS AT HOBBY AIRPORT.
HOBBY AIRPORT IS A FIVE STAR AIRPORT, AND SO WE ARE LOOKING FOR FIVE STAR BUSINESSES AND EXPERIENCE, UH, IN, IN HOBBY AIRPORT.
AND, UM, LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, GREAT SUCCESS TO EACH OF YOU.
AND I, I WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT THIS FIRM AS WELL.
UH, WE, WE KNOW THEIR TRACK HISTORY WITH CONCESSIONS, BUT, UH, ALSO WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, I'VE SEEN IT FIRSTHAND HOW THEY HAVE LENT THEIR TIME AND,
[02:45:01]
AND THEIR POCKETBOOK, UH, TO EFFORTS AND CAUSES THAT, UH, IMPACT OUR COMMUNITIES.AND SPECIFICALLY THE SUITS FOR SUCCESS PROGRAM THAT WE MENTIONED EARLIER.
UM, THEY WERE, UM, CHAMPIONS OF INITIATIVES THAT WE'VE HAD WITH THE YOUNG BOYS.
AND, UM, IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT FIRMS THAT, UH, WE STAND BEHIND ARE ALSO DOING GOOD WORK IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, I ALSO WANTED TO THANK, UH, COUNCILOR GALLEGOS, NOT ONLY FOR YOUR DILIGENCE, BUT YOUR RELEASE OF THE TAG GIVEN WE HAVE A LOT OF OUR PARTNERS, UM, THAT HAVE SAT HERE THROUGHOUT THIS, UH, LONGER THAN NORMAL MEETING, UH, BECAUSE OF THIS ITEM.
BUT I ALSO WANTED TO JUST RECOGNIZE AND THANK YOU ALL.
I'M NOT GONNA CALL EVERYONE OUT BY NAME, BUT I, I KNOW A LOT OF YOU, THE WORK THAT YOU DO, UM, NOT ONLY FOR YOUR FIRMS THAT YOU'RE REPRESENTING IN, YOUR COMPANIES THAT YOU'RE REPRESENTING, BUT ALSO FOR THE COMMUNITY.
UM, AND GREATER HOUSTON RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION WAS MENTIONED AS WELL.
UM, SO FOR THOSE THAT HAVE LED THE ENTITY, BUT ALSO THOSE INVOLVED IN PARTICIPATING, UH, YOU ALL HAD IT REALLY HARD DURING THE PANDEMIC, UH, REALLY HARD.
AND, UH, HOUSTON WOULD NOT BE HOUSTON WITHOUT ITS CULINARY, UH, ECONOMY.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, AND, UH, APPRECIATE YOUR INVOLVEMENT.
AND AGAIN, UM, LET ME, LET ME THANK COUNCILMAN MIGOS.
IT IS IMPORTANT, UH, THAT, UH, THE AIRPORT SYSTEM COME VISIT WITH HIM.
THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S TAKING PLACE.
AND SO THAT RESPECT IS ALWAYS, UM, MERITED AND SHOULD BE GIVEN.
SO, SO THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH.
AND THEN ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, UH, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THIS PARTICULAR ITEM AS, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM HAS SAID IN VICE MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A-C-D-B-E PARTICIPATION OF 97.2%.
SO IT IS JUST HISTORIC IN ITS OWN RIGHT, BUT EVEN SEPARATE IN PART FROM THE, UM, FROM THE A-C-D-B-E DESIGNATION.
UH, YOU HAVE BUSINESSES WHO HAVE BEEN AROUND IN THIS CITY FOR A LONG TIME, UH, THAT HAVE STRONG ROOTS, UH, IN THIS, IN THIS CITY, UH, THAT HAVE REALLY GROWN TO THAT ADDED LEVEL, UH, THE CAPACITY SCALABILITY.
UH, SO THAT'S, UH, THAT IS TO BE NOTED.
UM, AND THAT HAVE DONE EXTREMELY WELL IN THE, IN THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS.
SO THESE ARE BUSINESSES THAT ARE IN THE BUSINESS, OKAY.
UH, THAT HAVE PROVEN AND SHOWN A HIGH DEGREE OF EXCELLENCE.
SO IT'S, IT IS A, IT IS A, IN MANY WAYS, IT'S A HISTORIC DATE.
AND IT DOES INDICATE, UH, HOW BUSINESSES CAN BE AT ONE LEVEL AND THEN ELEVATE IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL, UM, AND SHOWCASE THAT EXCELLENCE THAT WE, UH, WE TALKED ABOUT IN OUR CITY.
SO CONGRATULATIONS, UH, TO, TO THEM.
UM, VICE, UH, MAYOR PER TEMP, CASTEK TATUM.
I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT I WAS, UH, OVER THE BREAK I WAS IN BEARINGS, UM, AND I HAD A TASTE FOR SOME GUMBO.
AND, UH, IN THE CASE AT BEARINGS IS LAMONT CATERING'S GUMBO AND CRAWFISH AT TOOTH FE.
AND I WENT HOME AND I WARMED UP THE GUMBO.
AND I DON'T EAT EVERYBODY'S GUMBO 'CAUSE MY MOTHER'S FROM LOUISIANA AND SHE COOKS THE BEST GUMBO IN THE WORLD.
UH, BUT I HAD SOME GUMBO FROM LAMONT'S CATERING THAT I GOT IN THE FREEZER AT BEARINGS WHEN I WENT TO BUY SOME VAC TO CLEAN MY BATHROOM.
AND, UH, TO KNOW THAT THIS CALIBER OF A RESTAURANT WILL BE IN HOBBY AIRPORT IS PHENOMENAL.
SO I KNOW FIRSTHAND OF THE TREMENDOUS WORK THAT THEY DO IN OUR, IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
BUT, UH, I ALSO KNOW FIRSTHAND OF THE FOOD THAT THEY PROVIDE, UH, AND FOR YEARS, UM, GOING BACK TO THEIR GRANDMOTHER AND GREAT-GRANDMOTHER AND THE, THE HISTORY AND LEGACY OF THE BUSINESS, UH, THAT THE LAMONT FAMILY HAS PROVIDED TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, OVER THE LAST YEARS.
AND I JUST DIDN'T WANNA LEAVE TODAY WITHOUT LETTING Y'ALL KNOW.
IF YOU WANT TO TASTE THE GUMBO, YOU CAN GO TO BEARINGS AND GET IT OUT THE FREEZER.
I DON'T WANNA TAKE ANY, I DON'T WANNA TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM THAT, BUT I MADE SOME OVER THE WEEKEND
THAT SHOULD BE AN HEB IN EVERY OTHER STORE.
UH, GOING BACK DOWN AROUND THE HARD SHOE COMES FROM NO MAYOR PRO TIM MARTIN.
I DON'T KNOW HOW I CAN FOLLOW THAT UP, BUT, UH, BUT MY MOMMA MAKES THE BEST GUMBO,
SO ON THE NORTH SIDE, THE KINGWOOD MONTHLY RECYCLING EVENT WILL HAPPEN THIS SATURDAY, JANUARY 7TH, FROM NINE TO THREE UNTIL THE TRUCKS ARE FILLED.
USUALLY THEY'RE FILLED ABOUT NOON, SO GET THERE EARLY.
[02:50:01]
IT'S AT THE KINGWOOD METRO PARK AND RIDE.REMINDER THAT THE NEW WEEKEND RECYCLING PROGRAM IN KINGWOOD NOW ACCEPTS ALL TYPES OF PLASTICS.
YOU CAN BAG ALL YOUR PLASTICS FOR RECYCLING AND BRING THEM TO THE RECYCLING CENTER, METRO PARK AND RIDE CURBSIDE PLASTIC RECYCLING HAS THEIR LIMITS, WHEREAS STYROFOAM, FOR EXAMPLE, CAN BE RECYCLED.
ALL ALL COLLECTION IS POSSIBLE THANKS TO OUR NEW SORTING AND RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, TECHNOLOGY CAN SORT AND TRANSFORM, TRANSFORM ALL TYPES OF PLASTICS INTO NEW PRODUCTS.
HOPE THAT EVERYONE HAD A VERY GOOD HOLIDAY AND LOOK FORWARD TO A GREAT PRODUCTIVE AND BLESSED 2023.
I, I DIDN'T SQUARE ITEM 14, BUT I DID WANT TO JUST KINDA HIGHLIGHT ITEM 14 AND BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT I DID ASK SOME QUESTIONS AT THE, UM, AGENDA BRIEFING ABOUT, UM, THE PROCESS OF, UM, THESE AMENDMENTS WHEN WE'VE PASSED THESE ITEMS IN 2018.
UM, THIS ONE PARTICULARLY WENT FROM 11 7 50 TO 16 450.
UM, AND THE RESPONSE WAS, TRANSPORTATION COSTS ARE GOING UP.
EVERYBODY IS COMING BACK TO US WITH THE INCREASED COSTS.
AND WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE ARE INCREASED COSTS IN EVERY AREA.
EVERYTHING'S GOING UP EXCEPT PAYCHEX
UM, BUT I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT PROCESS WE HAVE IN PLACE FOR THESE AMENDMENTS.
AND I KNOW THAT, UM, MR. GREENFIELD WAS IN THE CHAMBER TODAY AND SAID THAT SPD IS PUTTING SOME PROCEDURES IN PLACE.
I KNOW, MAYOR, YOU PROB YOU HAD THE, THE EXACT SAME QUESTIONS.
BUT WHEN EVERYONE IS COMING TO US SAYING THEIR COSTS ARE GOING UP AND WE NEED TO AMEND THEIR CONTRACT, HOW ARE WE MONITORING THOSE AMENDMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IT'S FAIR AND IT'S APPROPRIATE AND PEOPLE AREN'T JUST SAYING, OH, I NEED TO GO UP BECAUSE IT'S GOING UP.
AND WE ARE AND WE ARE HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND WORKING THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
AND THEN THE OTHER, UM, ANNOUNCEMENT I LIKE TO MAKE IS BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND IS OUR DISTRICT KRE SHRED DAYS.
UM, IT'S THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AND I KNOW PEOPLE KIND OF COMPILED ALL THEIR STUFF FROM LAST YEAR.
IF YOU WANNA SHRED IT AND MAKE SURE YOUR INFORMATION IS HANDLED PROPERLY.
JANUARY 21ST FROM NINE TO 12 AT WESTBURY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AND NEW FAITH CHURCH.
SIMULTANEOUSLY, THERE WILL BE TWO SHREDDING OPPORTUNITIES.
UH, YOU CAN ALSO BRING SMALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES TO NEW FAITH CHURCH TO DISPOSE OF THOSE PROPERLY AS WELL.
AND THEN ON JANUARY 28TH FROM NINE TO 12 AT RIDGEMONT CLUBHOUSE, WE WILL ALSO HAVE ANOTHER SHRED DAY IN OUR COMPLETE COMMUNITY IN, IN FORT BEND, HOUSTON, IF YOU ARE NOT RECEIVING OUR DISTRICT K NEWSLETTER, YOU ARE MISSING OUT ON ALL THE GREAT INFORMATION AND PROJECTS AND EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WE WANNA ENGAGE WITH YOU.
SO LET US KNOW IF YOU HAVE NOT SIGNED UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO AN EPIC 2023 HAPPY NEW YEAR.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA START OFF WITH, UH, SAD NEWS.
UM, THE, UH, DISTRICT I LOST A LONG TIME, COMMUNITY ACTIVIST, UH, FRANK PARTITA, UH, PASSED AWAY, UH, RIGHT AROUND THE, UH, CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS.
UH, HE WAS VERY, AGAIN, VERY ACTIVE IN, IN THE EAST END, UH, AND HE WILL TRULY BE MISSED.
I ALSO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THE PASSING OF MARO AND ANGELINA BLANCO AND THEIR FAITHFUL DOG, SPARKY AT THEIR SIDE, ALL PASSED AWAY FROM A HU A HOUSE FIRE ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22ND.
UH, MY CONDOLENCES GO OUT TO HOUSTON FIREFIGHTER AND PARAMEDIC VINCENT ESPINOZA AND FAMILY FOR THE LOSS OF HIS PARENTS.
I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT THE DISTRICT EYE NEWSLETTER ALSO WENT OUT DURING THE HOLIDAYS, AND IT WAS A RECAP OF WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED THIS PAST YEAR.
UH, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS COMING YEAR, UH, ALONG WITH THE MAYOR.
UH, I, I LEAVE ON DECEMBER 31ST AS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
UH, BUT WE DO STILL HAVE PROJECTS IN THE WORKS, AND I PLAN TO TRY TO DO MY BEST TO GET THOSE, UH, TAKEN CARE OF.
UM, ALSO, THANK YOU MAYOR, UH, FOR CHOOSING DISTRICT I ON THE, UH, HOLIDAY DECORATIONS, UH, AS NUMBER ONE TAMALES.
I'M SURE THOSE TAMALES DID THE TRIP
AND THE ORANGE, THE FOOD, THE ORANGE SODA.
AND ORANGE SODA CAPPED IT OFF.
UH, BEING NUMBER ONE ON THE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS.
[02:55:01]
UM, I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE, UH, MY CHIEF OF STAFF, UH, DANIEL AND HIS WIFE EDITH, UH, PROUD NEW PARENTS OF THEIR BABY SON, UH, DANIEL HOUSTON, SANTA MARIA.UH, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PROUD PARENTS.
AND NOW, WHATEVER YOU CALL THOSE THINGS WITH THE, WITH THE, UH, UM, LENO AND LENORA, THE, THE, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT THE TACO, WHAT YOU CALL IT, THE WHATEVER.
YOU STICK IN THE GREASE AND THEN YOU PUT IT IN THE CINNAMON.
OH, I TELL YOU, THOSE THINGS ARE GOOD.
I TOOK SOME OF THOSE THINGS HOME.
JUST, IT IS, IT IS NOT GOOD IF YOU HAVE, IF YOU HAVE LIKE, UH, DIABETES AND WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR MACHINE ON, YOU GOT THE SUGAR BECAUSE, BECAUSE IT BEEPED ALL PUT THOSE THINGS WERE GOOD.
ESPECIALLY WE'RE COMING OUT OF THE, YEAH.
I JUST WANTED TO SALUTE YOUR LIST OF THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2023.
WE'VE GOT A LOT TO WORK ON IN THIS, OUR FINAL YEAR TOGETHER.
AND, UH, WANTED TO, UH, APPRECIATE ALL THOSE THINGS.
UM, ONE THING I DON'T BELIEVE YOU MENTIONED, BUT I KNOW IS ON OUR LIST AT TT I, AGAIN, WE'LL BE GETTING YOU OUR LIST SHORTLY.
UM, BUT IT'S THE PASSAGE OF, AND THE UPDATE OF THE CONSTRUCTION CODE.
FOR, FOR THE 2021 CODE THAT WAS INTRODUCED IN THE PROCESS FOR TTI LAST SUMMER IN JUNE OF 2022.
WE HAD A BIG MEETING AT THE JESSE JONES LIBRARY, MAIN LIBRARY DOWNTOWN ON DECEMBER 14TH, I BELIEVE IT WAS.
AND I WANT TO THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, THE VICE CHAIR OF TTI, AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS, UM, ARCHITECTURALLY TRAINED AS SHE IS, AND, UH, EXCELLENT INPUT ONTO WHAT WE ARE GATHERING AS STAKEHOLDERS TO DO, TO IMPROVE THE CODE.
SO I KNOW THERE ARE A NUMBER OF UPCOMING DEADLINES AND TASK FORCES, RIGHT? THERE ARE STAKEHOLDER GROUPS HAVE BEEN, UH, UH, MADE KNOWN TO BE AWARE OF.
I WANT TO INVITE THE PUBLIC AND INDUSTRY GROUPS TO SUPPORT THE INPUT ON THE CODE ANALYSIS.
AND I KNOW YOU SHARE THE FEELING.
UM, THERE IS A DEADLINE TO SUBMIT INPUT FOR THE FOLLOWING CODES ON JANUARY 13TH, THAT'S THE 2021 IBC, THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE, UH, FOR CODE ANALYSIS, UH, THE INTERNATIONAL EXISTING BUILDING CODE, CODE ANALYSIS, THE INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE CODE ANALYSIS.
AND THEN ON THE 20TH OF JANUARY, THERE'S A DEADLINE TO SUBMIT FOR THE 2021 INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE, UH, AS WELL AS THE 2021 INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING POOL AND SPA CODES.
THIS IS ALL I KNOW, TECHNICAL AND FASCINATING TO SOME, UH, SOPER TO OTHERS.
BUT IT IS, UH, SOMETHING WE NEED A LOT OF HELP FROM, UH, THE INDUSTRY.
AND OF COURSE, WE'LL BE TAKING THIS UP AT TTI, SO ANYBODY WHO HAS ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT MY OFFICE.
AND I GUESS I, I DID WANT TO ADDRESS ONE THING THE VICE MAYOR PRO TEM JUST SAID REGARDING PRICE ESCALATION, GENERALLY SPEAKING, AND, AND WHAT CHAIR THOMAS KNOWS ABOUT THE, THE COST OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SOME OF THE AMBITIOUS GOALS WE HAVE.
YOU KNOW, IT, IT REALLY HAS CALLED INTO QUESTION, MAYOR, AND YOU, YOU SAID YOURSELF THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THE DEFINITIONS OF THINGS, BUT THE QUESTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, YOU KNOW, AND WHAT HAS, UH, THE PANDEMIC, WHAT HAS, UH, THE SUPPLY CHAIN CRISIS, UH, AND SO MANY OTHER THINGS DONE, UM, THAT WE ARE RETHINKING THAT I KNOW, UM, WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT ENGAGING, UH, LOCAL PROFESSIONALS ABOUT THAT.
AND IT IS AN IDEA THAT I THINK WE MAY NEED TO PROVIDE A NEW DEFINITION, A NEW SET OF PRICE POINTS AND STANDARDS, UH, FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
SO I KNOW I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND CHAIR THOMAS ON THAT.
UM, AND, AND MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR, YOU KNOW, WE ALL WERE AT, ATTENDED A FUNERAL ON DECEMBER 31ST, SO TO END YOUR YEAR, YOU KNOW, ACKNOWLEDGING SOMEONE THAT'S NO LONGER WITH US GAVE ME A WHOLE NEW PERSPECTIVE, UM, GOING INTO 2023.
AND SO, UM, I'M GLAD TO BE ON THIS SIDE TO SEE YOUR FACES AND THAT WE'RE ALL HERE TOGETHER.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA MAKE, UH, 2023, UH, PHENOMENAL.
AND WE'LL, WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT WORK TOGETHER.
UH, ONE, AND MAYOR, YOU MENTIONED THIS ONE ANNOUNCEMENT, I'M JUST EXCITED THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE A PARTY IN SOUTHWEST ELIE, TEXAS.
UM, WELCOME Y'ALL TO THE WEST SIDE, UM, FOR YOUR, FOR THOSE OF WHO DON'T LEAVE SIX 10, MANY OF Y'ALL IN THE HORSE YEAR,
SO IT'S GONNA BE, IT'S GONNA BE A GOOD TIME.
AND WHAT, AND, AND, AND REALLY, AS I'VE SHARED THE MAYOR, SHARED THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, IT'S TRANSFORMATIONAL.
AND IF WE CAN GET IT RIGHT IN SOUTHWEST A LEAVE TEXAS, WE CAN GET IT RIGHT IN EVERY CORNER OF THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AND IN THE US.
UM, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
AND, YOU KNOW, ANY INFORMATION IN TERMS OF PROGRAMMING THAT WILL BE FULLY AVAILABLE, WOULD LOVE TO SHARE WITH RESIDENTS AS WE HAVE A OPEN HOUSE.
YOUR OFFICE, ESPECIALLY VINCE, THEY'VE DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB IN
[03:00:01]
MAKING SURE THAT THE DIVERSITY, THE CULTURE IS FULLY REPRESENTED.WE WILL HAVE MARIACHI BAND, WE'LL HAVE A LION DANCE.
I THINK THEY HAVE AN AFRICAN, UH, DANCE TROUPE ON STANDBY.
SO, UM, EVERYONE'S EXCITED AND I WANT YOU TO BE EXCITED TOO.
AND THEN LASTLY, IN CLOSING, AND THIS IS AN, IS AN ASIDE AND NOT NECESSARILY A PRIORITY, BUT IT'S INTERESTING THAT TWO NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE ASKED FOR THEIR, UH, PRIVATE POOLS TO BE PURCHASED BY THE CITY, HUNTINGTON VILLAGE IN TANGLE WILD.
UM, THEY'RE NO LONGER ABLE TO, UM, BECAUSE OF HOA RIGHT? THEY CAN'T GET THOSE FEES INCREASED.
THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO MAINTAIN IT.
AND MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, UH, PROJECT.
AND SO JUST AS WE MOVE THROUGH THAT CYCLE IN 23, WHAT THE POSSIBILITY OF THAT MIGHT BE.
I KNOW WE'RE CHALLENGED WITH LIFEGUARDS AND KIND OF MAINTAINING OUR OWN, UH, PROPERTIES, BUT, UH, THERE ARE TWO THAT ARE WILLING TO, TO GO INTO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY FOR THAT TRANSACTION.
SO JUST TO KEEP THAT ON YOUR RADAR SO WE CAN OFFER MORE RESOURCES IN DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, I JUST HAVE SOMETHING THAT I WANTED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION.
THERE HAS BEEN A WATER MAIN BREAK SINCE NOVEMBER.
AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S SO MANY OF THESE ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
IT TAKES TIME TO GET TO ALL THOSE COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND.
BUT IN THIS SITUATION, UM, THE STREET IS NOW BUCKLING.
AND SO WHAT WAS JUST A WATERLINE PROJECT IS ALSO NOW GOING TO HAVE TO BE A STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
AND WE DID NOTIFY PUBLIC WORKS ABOUT THE STREET CONDITION, AND IT WAS, THE ANSWER WAS BASICALLY, WELL, WE'LL GET TO IT WHEN WE GET TO IT.
AND I GET THAT THIS IS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
SO THIS IS A REALLY BIG ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IN DISTRICT A.
AND SO WE'VE ASKED, CAN WE USE COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS TO HIRE A CONTRACTOR ON CALL FOR DISTRICT A TO HELP WITH SOME OF THE BACKLOG ON THIS? AND WE WERE TOLD NO.
SO I KNOW THAT YOU SAID IN YOUR MAYOR'S REPORT THAT YOUR GOAL THIS YEAR IS IMPLEMENT AND EXECUTE.
AND SO ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP US, WE'RE WILLING TO PAY FOR IT WITH COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS, BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A BIG ISSUE.
I THINK WE HAVE A HIGHER NUMBER OF WATER MAIN BREAKS IN DISTRICT A THAN MOST OTHER COUNCIL OFF COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
AND SO WE'RE WILLING TO PUT THE MONEY INTO IT TO GET IT DONE, BECAUSE IT'S A REALLY BIG ISSUE IN DISTRICT A.
THANK YOU MAYOR, AND HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE.
UM, DISTRICT B, WE GONNA HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
I KNOW ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES IS BUILDING NEIGHBORHOOD CAPACITY, SO I WANTED TO JUST INVITE RESIDENTS WHO ARE IN NEED OF JOBS TO JOIN US ON NEXT SATURDAY FOR OUR FIRST BE SUCCESSFUL FIRST OF THE YEAR, UM, BE SUCCESSFUL JOBS AND COMMUNITY RESOURCE FAIR WILL BE IN ACRES HOMES AT THE ACRES HOME, HCC CENTER, LOCATED AT SIX 30 WEST LIDAR.
AND WE GOT SOME GOOD EMPLOYERS THAT'S GONNA BE THERE.
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES, OF COURSE, UNION PACIFIC IS ALWAYS THERE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, UM, BRIDGE THAT, UM, GAP OR THAT RELATIONSHIP.
AND THEN ALSO THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, UM, JUST BRINGING OUT NEW EMPLOYERS AND THE CONSTITUENTS SO THAT THEY CAN JUST IDENTIFY NEW OPPORTUNITIES, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT WAS AVAILABLE.
SO, AGAIN, IF YOU INTERESTED, UM, REACH OUT TO THE DISTRICT B OFFICE 8 3 2 3 9 3 0 0 9 ARE THE BE SUCCESSFUL.
WE DO HAVE A B BE SUCCESSFUL WEBSITE, WHICH IS B SUCCESSFUL.ORG.
UM, ALL THE EMPLOYERS ARE THERE.
OUR, UM, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 40 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE VARIOUS SERVICES.
YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT THE, THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING WITHIN THE DISTRICT, AND JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST GET INVOLVED.
SO AGAIN, NEXT SATURDAY THE 14TH, UM, AT 10:00 AM AFTER THAT, I KNOW I WILL BE GOING TO A LEAF AND SUPPORTING MY COLLEAGUE, THE, THE GROUND, THE, THE, THE, THE GROUNDBREAKING OVER THERE AT THE A LEAF CENTER.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANNA WISH MY LITTLE SISTER, JENNY ELISE CAYMAN, A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO, IN ADDITION TO SAYING HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EACH OF YOU, UH, REMIND CONSTITUENTS THAT OUR ANNUAL REPORT FOR 22 IS STILL UP ON, UH, OUR DISTRICT C WEBSITE.
SO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH, NOT JUST IN THE DISTRICT, BUT AS A CITY.
UH, MAYOR, I WANTED TO, UH, TALK FOR A MOMENT ABOUT SOLID WASTE, IF I MAY.
UH, BUT FIRST, UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE, WE JUST GOT A NOTICE.
SO FOR THE PUBLIC, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND SOLID WASTE ARE TEAMING UP TOMORROW MORNING TO DO A DEMONSTRATION ON THE DANGERS OF DRIED OUT CHRISTMAS TREES AND HOW QUICKLY THOSE CAN GO UP IN FLAMES.
AND COUNCILOR GALLEGOS, THANK YOU FOR, UM, ACKNOWLEDGING SOME OF THE, THE LOSSES THAT WE HAVE INCURRED DUE TO FIRE.
UM, SO I WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT, SPOTLIGHTING THE CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING PROGRAM THAT SOLID WASTE IS DOING.
UM, I ALSO WANTED TO JUST 'CAUSE YOU WANNA BE INFORMED, UM, OF THINGS, I AM GONNA, UH, BE SPEAKING TO THE DIRECTOR.
UM, OUR SOLID WASTE, AND I SAY THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, OUR SOLID WASTE STAFF ARE SOME OF THE HARDEST WORKING
[03:05:01]
EMPLOYEES IN THE CITY.UH, THEY'RE ALSO ON THE FRONT LINES.
THEY HAVE, I MEAN, THEY WORK SO HARD.
UH, SO I DON'T EVER RAISE ISSUE WITH THE FACT THAT OVER THE HOLIDAYS WE SUSPEND SERVICE.
UH, I THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO, AND THEY DESERVE A BREAK AS WELL.
WHAT'S HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THE DATES THAT THE HOLIDAYS HAVE FALLEN OVER, UM, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, THIRD THURSDAY OR ONE OF THE THURSDAYS DIDN'T HAVE THANKSGIVING, DID NOT HAVE CHRISTMAS EITHER.
THERE WAS ONE WEEK SINCE THANKSGIVING WHERE RECYCLING HAS BEEN PICKED UP ONE WEEK SINCE THANKSGIVING.
UM, THEY'RE ON THE DOCK IN THE DISTRICT FOR THIS UPCOMING WEEK, AND I HOPE IT WILL BE ON TIME.
UH, BUT THAT'S A LONG TIME TO NOT HAVE RECYCLING PICKUP.
UM, I SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT IN YOUR DECISION THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA TRY TO DO MAKEUPS.
WE JUST CAN'T DO THAT RIGHT NOW.
BUT IF THERE'S SOME WAY WE CAN SOMETIMES TAKE A LOOK AND SAY, OH, THIS SHIFT, UH, DID NOT GET IT FOR THESE, YOU KNOW, FOUR WEEKS OR THESE HOLIDAYS, AND IT ALL COMPOUNDED, UH, WE WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF EMAILS ABOUT THAT.
SO I JUST, I RAISE IT RESPECTFULLY.
UM, I'LL BE, YOU KNOW, TALKING TO THE DIRECTOR ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO.
THEIR COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING IN TERMS OF MANAGING EXPECTATIONS.
IT'S JUST SOMETIMES THAT TIMING HITS, UH, CERTAIN CYCLES WITH RECYCLING PICKUP ESPECIALLY HARDER.
UH, YEAH, I THINK IN, IF I MAY, I THINK IN THAT, IN THAT PARTICULAR CASE, IT WAS THEIR HOLIDAY RECYCLING SCHEDULE.
UM, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, THEY FELT THEY NEED, THEIR EMPLOYEES NEEDED, NEEDED THE TIME.
UM, AND JUST LIKE, I KNOW IN, LIKE IN MY SUBDIVISION, PEOPLE HAVE PUT OUT THEIR GREEN BENCH.
UM, BUT IT, YEAH, IT FELL ON THAT HOLIDAY, ON THAT HOLIDAY SCHEDULE, SO I GOT YOU.
SO AGAIN, I'M JUST RAISING IT, AND I, IT'S NOT TO CRITICIZE THE DEPARTMENT AT ALL.
UM, ON A LIGHTER NOTE, WELL, FIRST OFF, NOT ON A LIGHTER NOTE, BUT COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP AND SPEAKING IN SOLIDARITY ABOUT THE, UM, HATE FLYERS AND ESPECIALLY TARGETING THE ANTISEMITIC, UH, THE ANTISEMITISM, TARGETING THE JEWISH COMMUNITY.
I TALK A LOT ABOUT IT, BUT TO HAVE COLLEAGUES SPEAK OUT FOR THOSE THAT MAY NOT AFFILIATE, UH, MEANS A LOT.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR VOICE ON THAT.
UH, FINALLY, ON A LIGHTER NOTE, UH, 46 45 TULANE, UH, WON THEIR FIRST MAJOR BULL SINCE 1935.
UH, SO TO MY ALMA MATER, THAT ROLL WAVE, WE'RE SO PROUD OF THEM.
AND THEY BEAT USC, BEAT USC, UH, INCRE.
I WAS ON A PLANE COMING BACK FROM QUEBEC WHERE I WAS VISITING FAMILY.
UH, THE ENTIRE PLANE HEARD ME CHEERING, LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY.
UH, AND, YOU KNOW, KUDOS TO USC.
UH, THEY HAD A TREMENDOUS SEASON, BUT THE FACT THAT TULANE JUST PULLED THAT OFF IS, UH, HISTORIC.
IT'S EXCITING, AND THEY MADE US ALL PROUD.
AND I DO WANT TO AMPLIFY THAT, UH, UH, FOR THESE ANTI-SEMITIC FLYERS THAT HAVE BEEN DROPPED, BEING DROPPED OFF IN NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.
LET ME ENCOURAGE PEOPLE, IF YOU KNOW OF WHO'S DOING THAT, IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION ON WHO'S DOING THAT, PLEASE MAKE THAT AVAILABLE TO US.
UM, UM, UH, WHETHER IT'S HPD OR CALLED THE CITY, UH, PROVIDE US INFORMATION, UH, IT IS UN IT IS, IT IS JUST, UM, IT'S DISAPPOINTING, UH, WHEN YOU HAVE THESE TYPE OF HATEFUL MESSAGES THAT ARE BEING, UH, DROPPED OFF IN OUR CITY, IN NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, MESSAGES, IN, IN PLASTIC BAGS.
AND LET ME JUST SAY HATE AGAINST WHAT IS HATE AGAINST ALL.
SO LET ME, LET ME JUST SAY TO PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, YOU MAY THINK IT'S, IT IS MESSAGES AGAINST THE JEWS.
UH, TOMORROW IT MAY BE AGAINST HISPANICS, IT MAY BE AGAINST BLACKS AND ASIANS, L-G-B-T-Q, BUT HATE AGAINST ONE.
AND IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US AS A COMMUNITY TO STAND UP AND DENOUNCE IT IN THE STRONGEST OF TERMS. AND THAT SORT OF, UH, HATRED BIG, UH, BIGOTRY, UH, IS JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE IN OUR CITY IN ANY SHAPE, FORM OR FACT.
IT'S NOT FUNNY, OKAY? IT'S NOT CUTE, OKAY? UH, AND QUITE FRANKLY, IT COULD BE DEADLY.
SO, UM, UH, IF ANYBODY HAS ANY INFORMATION ON WHO'S RESPONSIBLE, UH, FOR THE, FOR THE, UH, DISSEMINATION OF THESE LEAFLETS, THESE
[03:10:01]
FLYERS, PLEASE LET US KNOW.PLUS, I, I THINK IT IS THE ULTIMATE ACT OF COWARD THIS MM-HMM
WHEN PEOPLE DO THINGS THIS WAY.
YOU KNOW, WHAT GETS ME IS WHEN PEOPLE DO MESSAGES ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THEN THEY HIDE BEHIND SOME FAKE NAME.
YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T PUT THEIR REAL NAME OUT YET.
A PO BOX, YOU KNOW, AND THE SAME THING HERE.
WHEN PEOPLE ARE DROPPING, UM, UM, MESSAGES, UH, IN THESE COMMUNITIES, ANTISEMITIC NATURE, UH, WE DO NEED TO CALL THAT OUT IN EVERY, IN EVERY SHAPE, FORM, OR FASHION.
SO, UH, THANK YOU ALL, UH, FOR, FOR BRINGING IT UP TODAY.
I MEANT TO HAVE DONE IT, UH, MUCH SOONER.
ALSO VERY, VERY MUCH KAMAN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN.
UM, AND JUST TO EMPHASIZE, IN ADDITION TO REPORTING, UM, TO HPD, UH, YOUR HATE CRIMES DIVISION, THE HATE, HATE CRIMES DIVISION OF HPD HAS BEEN TAKING THIS VERY SERIOUSLY, UM, IS INVESTIGATING.
SO EACH OF THOSE REPORTS, EVEN IF YOU THINK A NEIGHBOR REPORTED, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO REPORT AS WELL SO THAT THEY CAN IDENTIFY THE ROUTES THEY'RE TAKING.
UM, EVERY ONE OF THOSE REPORTS IS IMPORTANT.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, I KNOW I WORKED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS ON THIS, AND COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, NOW, COUNCIL MEMBER REVEREND SHABAZZ, UM, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT RESIDENTS DO NOT POST THE IMAGES.
THAT'S WHAT THESE GROUPS WANT, IS THAT ATTENTION.
THAT'S WHAT THEY USE TO RECRUIT, THAT'S WHAT THEY USE TO GAIN NOTORIETY, UM, IN THOSE CIRCLES.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO REPORT, UH, WHETHER IT'S TO HPD OR THE A DL, IDEALLY BOTH, BUT ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO REPORT, BUT NOT TO POST THOSE IMAGES, BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT.
SO MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THANK YOU, THOSE BEST PRACTICES.
WE DID DO A TOWN HALL IN THE DISTRICT ON THIS VERY ISSUE.
A LOT OF RESIDENTS WERE ASKING FOR THAT.
UM, SO THAT GUIDANCE IS ALSO OF HPD PUT UP A, A VIDEO, UM, WITH BEST PRACTICES AS WELL, AND HOW THEY'RE ADDRESSING IT.
AND I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN.
WHAT WE DO NOT WANT IS FOR IT TO BE REPOSTED IN SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT MAYOR TH THEY'VE ALSO TARGETED, UH, CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS, INDUSTRY DIE.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE MENTIONED IT TO YOUR, TO YOUR OFFICE, UH, IN, IN REGARDS TO ANTI-HISPANIC AND ANTI-IMMIGRANT AS WELL, UH, UH, WHERE THESE PLASTIC BAGS ARE LEFT ON, UM, DRIVEWAYS.
AND WE'VE GOT, WE'VE GOTTEN CALLS FROM RESIDENTS, UH, UH, BUT WE HAVE TOLD THEM, PLEASE DO NOT REPOST THIS ON SOCIAL MEDIA 'CAUSE WE DO NOT WANT TO PROMOTE THIS.
SO THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MAD, MR. BAZ, AND THANK YOU MAYOR.
AND IN CONCLUSION, UH, FOR ME, I WANNA SAY THAT YOU ARE SO CORRECT THAT WHEN IT'S HATE OF ONE, IT'S HATE OF ALL.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF, UH, THIS CAME TO THE ATTENTION.
BACK IN OCTOBER, THERE WAS A POST IN THE SUNNYSIDE PARK ON A TREE SAYING, GREAT SALE OF NEGROES.
AND SO THAT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION AS WELL.
AND I'M TOLD THAT THEY MAY EVEN HAVE SOME INFORMATION REGARDING WHO POSTED IT.
AND SO JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT AS WELL.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION TODAY? LET ME THANK YOU ALL.
I KNOW WE WENT PAST 12 O'CLOCK, FIRST DAY, FIRST, UH, MEETING OF THE, UH, OF THE YEAR.
AND BEAR IN MIND, 2023 IS THE YEAR OF EXECUTION AND IMPLEMENTATION.
HAVING SAID ALL OF THAT, WE STAND ADJOURNED.