* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:04] GOOD AFTERNOON. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET STARTED. UM, IT IS 1 31 33, [PRESENTATIONS] UH, PM ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 10TH, 2023. I'M MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER, AND I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO WATER. UH, WE'VE GOT SEVERAL PROCLAMATIONS, UH, THAT ARE GOING TO BE HAPPENING, UH, TODAY. UM, AND I TELL YOU WHAT, UH, LET ME, LET ME FIRST PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION TO, UH, UH, TO THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS MONTH. LET ME ALSO ENCOURAGE, UM, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL WHO ARE IN THEIR OFFICES, UH, TO POLICE. THE POLICE COME, THE POLICE COME DOWN TO COME IN. UH, THOSE THAT ARE WALKING IN THE WALKWAY, UH, ALL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL PLEASE, UM, PLEASE COME IN. BUT THE FIRST PROCLAMATION IS GONNA BE PRESENTED, UH, TO, UH, HU IN, IN APPRECIATION OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND AWARENESS MONTH. YES. AND I AM ALSO STANDING HERE WITH MINA PATEL DAVIS, WHO IS OVER OUR HUMAN TRAFFICK AND DOMESTIC ABUSE SECTION, AND HAS BEEN OVER AT THE, EVEN PRIOR TO ME BECOMING MAYOR, AND HAS JUST DONE A TERRIFIC, TERRIFIC JOB. UH, SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER, UM, AND THEN WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK THAT SHE'S DONE WITH HELPING TO GET THE WORLD CUP TO, UH, CITY OF HOUSTON, BECAUSE A PART OF THAT PRESENTATION, UH, THAT WAS A KEY SECTION DEALING WITH HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND MEEL LED THAT LED THAT EFFORT. SO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MEEL, UH, HUMAN RAF AND TRAFFICKING AWARENESS. UH, WHEREAS HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS AN EGREGIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION THAT IMPACTS THE PUBLIC HEALTH OF ALL COUNTRIES ACROSS THE GLOBE AND THE UNITED STATES AS A SOURCE, TRANS, AND DESTINATION COUNTRY, UH, FOR VICTIMS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS AND VULNERABILITIES. AND WHEREAS THE INTERNATIONAL LABOR ORGANIZATION ESTIMATES THAT 28 MILLION INDIVIDUALS DISPROPORTIONATELY WOMEN AND GIRLS ARE VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AT ANY GIVEN TIME. AND WHEREAS HU HOUSTON IS HOME TO A DEDICATED AND DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL AND GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT FIGHT HUMAN TRAFFICKING BY RAISING AWARENESS, PROVIDING TRAUMA-INFORMED AND COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO CONFIRM AND POTENTIAL VICTIMS ENGAGING IN DIRECT OUTREACH AND LAW ENFORCEMENT BRINGING PERPETRATORS TO JUSTICE. AND WHEREAS THE NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE CONFIRMED CASES OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN HOUSTON DURING THE LAST YEAR, THAT CUT ACROSS GENDER AND AGE, WHILE MANY MORE CASES AFFECTING ALL INDUSTRIES GO UNREPORTED. AND WHEREAS UNITED AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING WORKS RELENTLESSLY TO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY ON HOW TO FIGHT HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN OUR DAILY LIVES BY TRAINING FRONTLINE PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON HOW TO IDENTIFY DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, PROVIDING CARE FOR SURVIVORS, REBUILDING THEIR LIVES, AND FACILITATING COLLABORATION OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL AND GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH THEIR RESCUE AND RESTORE COALITION. AND WHEREAS THROUGHOUT JANUARY, 2023, VARIOUS EVENTS WILL TAKE PLACE AROUND HOUSTON IN AN EFFORT TO CREATE A MORE AWARE, ENGAGED, AND UNIFIED COMMUNITY HELPING TO ELIMINATE MARTIN DAY SLAVERY. AND RISE THE CITY OF HOUSTON, SALUTES AND COMMENDS THE ORGANIZERS AND PARTICIPANTS OF THIS WORTHWHILE ENDEAVOR AND EXTEND BEST WISHES FOR A SUCCESSFUL AND REWARDING MONTH OF EVENTS. THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER MAYOR CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF JANUARY, 2023 AS HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS MONTH, UH, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND I CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK TAMIKA WALKER, UH, FOR EVERYTHING THAT SHE HAS DONE CONTINUES TO DO. WE HAVE STOOD HERE BEFORE, AND I'M, I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DAY, UH, WHEN HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WILL BE NO MORE. SO THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YES, THANK YOU. I'LL SAY THAT, YES. UM, BUT IT'S, I JUST WANTED TO, TO START OFF BY SAYING THAT IT'S AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE TO BE STANDING BEFORE YOU TODAY, UH, UH, KNOWING THAT ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED OVER THE YEARS, AND MAYOR TURNER HAS BEEN SUCH AN ADVOCATE FOR THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO ALL THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE COMMUNITY IN HOUSTON WITHOUT THAT SUPPORT. IT'S BEEN YEARS AND YEARS OF SUPPORT, AND IT'S REAL SUPPORT, LIKE COMING UP TO OUR, COMING TO OUR MEETINGS, COMING TO OUR EVENTS, REALLY ENCOURAGING US IN THE WORK THAT WE DO DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND REALLY UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE [00:05:01] OF GETTING THE WORD OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. IT'S BEEN VITAL TO THE WORK THAT WE DO. UH, WE LOVE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SUCH A AWESOME PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY HELPED US REALLY ELEVATE THE WORK THAT WE DO HERE, AND ALSO IN OTHER COMMUNITIES AS WELL. AND SO, OF COURSE, MINO PATEL DAVIS HAS BEEN SUCH A ROCK FOR ME OVER THE YEARS. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE AND, AND THE SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE LEADING AN ORGANIZATION, WHEN YOU'RE PUSHING FORWARD THE MISSION THAT WE'RE PUSHING FORWARD, HAVING SUPPORT, AND FOR FOLKS IN YOUR CORNER, LIKE I HAVE IN MY CORNER TO DO THIS WORK, IS REALLY, REALLY PIVOTAL. UH, AND FOR ME, AS A LEADER OF THE ORGANIZATION, OUR TEAM REALLY WORKS DILIGENTLY TO SUPPORT UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, AS WE KNOW OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS, THE IMPORTANCE OF COMING TOGETHER AS WE COMBAT ALL THE, THE ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITY. BUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS SUCH A VITAL, VITAL, UM, UH, FOR US TO FIGHT. IT'S VITAL FOR US TO FIGHT IT IN A WAY THAT'S REALLY COMMUNITY BASED AND ORGANIZED. SO WE HAVE A COALITION OF OVER 50 ORGANIZATIONS, AND SOME OF THEM ARE HERE TODAY, THE LANDING, UH, THE SECOND CUP, MANY ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY. I WANNA GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. THIS IS WHEN Y'ALL COME UP, THIS IS WHEN Y'ALL COME UP. THIS IS, SO, ANYBODY, YES. UH, THERE ANY, IF WE, IF WE CAN HAVE THEM STAND UP, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO. YEAH. AWESOME. MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. UH, WE HAVE AWESOME LEADERSHIP ALSO WITH OUR ORGANIZATION, TITUS BITTEN, UH, WHO'S DONE SOME GREAT WORK. ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, WE WANNA HONOR THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES WHO DO THE WORK. YES, I'M STANDING UP HERE WITH THE MAYOR, AND I'M SO BLESSED TO BE STANDING HERE. BUT WITHOUT OUR COALITION PARTNERS AND OUR PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY, WE COULDN'T DO GREAT WORK. THIS IS A CRITICAL MONTH. SO I REALLY WANNA CHALLENGE EVEN THOSE WHO LOOK AWESOME IN THE AUDIENCE, IN THE BLUE, UH, TO REALLY GET MATCHING HUMAN TRAFFICKING GROUP. THAT'S OUR COLOR, THAT'S OUR COLOR. SO IT WAS DIVINELY APPOINTED. UH, SO THE, THE WORK THAT WE DO, WE INVITE ALL TO BE ENGAGED IN THAT WORK. IT'S A COMMUNITY EFFORT. IT'S IMPACTING ALL COMMUNITIES, ALL PEOPLE, ALL NATIONALITIES, MEN AND WOMEN HERE IN OUR CITY. AND SO, HOW WE COME TOGETHER AND HOW WE WORK TOGETHER IS HOW WE CONTINUE TO COMBAT IT, AND HOW WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. SO WE HAVE A CALENDAR OF EVENTS ON OUR WEBSITE@UHT.ORG THAT LISTS ALL THE ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING TO, TO RAISE AWARENESS HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO I ASK, AND I, AND I, AND I BEG YOU TO BECOME A PART OF THIS MOVEMENT. 'CAUSE WE NEED YOU, WE NEED MEN. I SEE SOME BEAUTIFUL MEN IN THE AUDIENCE. WE NEED YOU GUYS TO BE A PART OF THAT MOVEMENT. SO KNOW THAT WE LOVE AND APPRECIATE YOU AND THE COMMUNITY, AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS IF WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS WHO WANNA COME DOWN HERE AND GET A PHOTO OP, OR WANNA BE, I KNOW KEN WITH THAT HAT. ANYBODY WANNA COME DOWN HERE AND BE A PART OF THAT, KNOW THAT YOU CAN. BUT I LOVE AND APPRECIATE THE, THE, THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF US OVER THE YEARS AND KNOW THAT WE COULD NOT DO THE WORK WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF YOU GUYS AS WELL. SO, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS YES. ANY THOUGHTS OR ANYTHING, I'M HERE. MARTHA, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM. MARTHA CASTEX. TATUM. OKAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. I WANTED TO SAY, UH, TO YOU, MS. WALKER, THAT YOUR WORK, UH, SPEAKS VOLUMES. UM, YOUR HEART AND YOUR PASSION FOR THIS WORK IS SO EVIDENT EVERY TIME WE SEE YOU. UM, YOUR PASSION, YOU EXUDE THE PASSION FOR ERADICATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING. YES. UM, UH, DIRECTOR PATEL, I, UH, DAVIS, YOU HAVE BEEN SUCH AN EDUCATOR, UH, FOR SO MANY PEOPLE. UH, WHEN I MOVED BACK TO HOUSTON, I HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING HAS, UM, IN OUR CITY. AND YOUR WORK, ALONG WITH MANY OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAS BEEN A, A BEACON OF LIFE FOR SO MANY OF US, BECAUSE THE AWARENESS IS SO CRITICAL. AND SO THIS MONTH, UM, ESPECIALLY, WE WANT TO CELEBRATE YOU AND ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE AMPLIFYING THIS MESSAGE THAT WE NEED TO ERADICATE HUMAN TRAFFICKING. THE WORK THAT WAS DONE AT NRG, UM, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT, UH, HOW SPORTS BRINGS US ALL TOGETHER, AND WHEN I LEARNED ABOUT HOW, UM, HUMAN TRAFFICKING IMPACTS AT OUR SPORTING EVENTS, IT WAS HEARTBREAKING. UM, BUT NOW THAT WE HAVE THE PROGRAMS LIKE WHAT WE HAVE AT NRG, UM, FOR, FOR, UM, PEOPLE THAT MAY BE EXPERIENCING HUMAN TRAFFICKING, TO GET OUT OF THOSE TOUGH SITUATIONS, UM, WE ARE REALLY SHINING A LIGHT ON A VERY DARK SPACE, UH, IN OUR, IN OUR COUNTRY, IN OUR WORLD, IN OUR CITY, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN, UH, RID THE CITY OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND, AND CALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THESE THINGS, UM, TO THE, TO THE TABLE, AND, AND, AND THEY WILL, UM, BE PUNISHED FOR, FOR THE CITY EGREGIOUS CRIME. SO, THANK YOU FOR CARING ABOUT PEOPLE. THANK YOU FOR WORKING TOWARDS, UM, AMPLIFYING THIS MESSAGE, NOT JUST THIS MONTH, BUT EVERY SINGLE DAY, UM, AND FOR EDUCATING OTHERS SO THAT WE CAN BE AWARE AND ALSO BE PART OF THE JOURNEY TO ERADICATE HUMAN TRAFFICKING. CONGRATULATIONS ON A, ON A WONDERFUL, CAN I TAKE YOU ON MY SPEAKING TOURS? , WHAT YOU DID. THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL. THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL. THAT WAS AWESOME. ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY THOUGHTS? YES. THANK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, MS. PATEL DAVIS, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO EACH AND EVERY DAY FOR US, UH, WORKING HERE. AND, AND MS. WALKER AS, UH, THE VICE MAYOR PRO TEM STATED, IF WE HAD HALF YOUR PASSION AND HALF YOUR ENERGY, UH, WE WOULDN'T BE TALKING ABOUT HUMAN [00:10:01] TRAFFICKING IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU FOR THAT. I APPRECIATE YOU. YOU WANNA TAKE YOUR PICTURE? A PICTURE? OKAY. THE HAT . LOOKING GOOD. BEFORE THE NEXT PRESENTATION, UH, POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE A LEADERSHIP LAKE HOUSTON, CLASS 11, WHO IS WITH US HERE TODAY. IF Y'ALL WOULD PLEASE STAND. LEADERSHIP LAKE HOUSTON IS A PROGRAM OF THE PARTNERSHIP LAKE HOUSTON, WHICH IDENTIFIES AND DEVELOPS FUTURE LEADERS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THE INTENT OF PROGRAM IS TO DEVELOP NEW COMMUNITY LEADERS AND ENHANCE THE SKILLS OF COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF EXISTING COMMUNITY LEADERS BY EXPOSING THE PARTICIPANTS TO THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN VARIOUS SEGMENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY. TODAY, THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH US AND THEN TO LISTEN TO THE MAYOR FOR A FEW MINUTES. AND, UH, I KNOW Y'ALL ARE GONNA HAVE A FILLED, UH, REST OF THE DAY. SO, UH, THANKS FOR COMING. I HOPE THE EXPERIENCE WAS WORTHWHILE, AND, UH, HAVE A BLESSED DAY. SO, THANK YOU, CHAIR. NOW RECOGNIZES MAYORAL VESTA TURNER FOR A PROCLAMATION TO SAMIR BAIK FOR HIS WORK AS THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ZA AND MAYOR, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, I WAS AT THE GYM AT SIX 30 THIS MORNING. THANK YOU. HI, GUYS. LOOK, IT, IT IS MY, IT'S MY HONOR TO PRESENT A PRO A PROCLAMATION TO, UH, SAMIR BAEK, SOMEONE WHO, UM, IS THE EPITOME OF HEALTH AND FITNESS. IF YOU SEE HIM ON SOCIAL MEDIA, YOU'VE SEEN HIM, UH, PUSHING TRUCKS, UH, I MEAN DOING ALL SORTS OF, UH, UM, HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND, UM, BODY BUILDING STRENGTH. UH, AND QUITE FRANKLY, UH, FOR SAMIR, UH, AS TO STRENGTHEN THE, THE BODY, YOU STRENGTHEN THE MIND, YOU STRENGTHEN THE MIND, YOU STRENGTHEN THE BODY. AND SO, UM, I'VE LEARNED QUITE, UH, QUITE A BIT FROM HIM. UH, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, , YOU PROBABLY CAN'T SEE IT UNDERNEATH, BUT, UH, BUT IT'S SOMEWHERE THERE. UH, BUT LEMME JUST SAY THIS. SAMIR BAIK IS A WORLD RENOWNED HEALTH AND FITNESS [00:15:01] EXPERT NAMED THE FITNESS CZAR OF HOUSTON BY GEORGES, TRULY IN 2018. HE IS ALSO THE AUTHOR OF THE HARPER COLLINS BOOK, UH, REIK YOUR LIFE, FOUNDER OF HEALTH FITNESS REVOLUTION MAGAZINE, AND CREATOR OF THE REIK FITNESS METHOD. SAMIR'S WORK HAS BEEN FEATURED IN MANY TOP MEDIA OUTLETS, AND HE IS FAMOUS FOR HIS ENERGETIC PRESENCE AND STRONG MOTIVATIONAL SKILLS. BETWEEN 2000 AND 2008, SAMIR WORKED AS THE FITNESS DIRECTOR FOR B TOTAL FITNESS, OVERSEEING THE LARGEST FITNESS FACILITY IN THE ENTIRE US. AND DURING THAT TIME, SAMIR QUICKLY ESTABLISHED HIMSELF AS A WORLD LEADER IN HEALTH AND FITNESS, LEADING HIM TO RECEIVE THE PRESTIGIOUS TITLE OF NUMBER ONE FITNESS TRAINER IN THE WORLD, USA. FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES IN 2 0 0 9, SAMIR STARTED REIK ENTERPRISES, A COMPANY THAT PROVIDES HEALTH AND FITNESS EDUCATION THROUGH EVENTS AND SEMINARS FOR CORPORATIONS, THE MEDIA, AND THE COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS. USING HIS CELEBRATED REIK MODEL, SAMIR WENT ON TO USE HIS EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF HEALTH AND FITNESS TO FOUND HEALTH FITNESS REVOLUTION IN 2011, HEALTH FITNESS REVOLUTION, A NONPROFIT MOVEMENT HEADED BY THE SAMIR BEEK FOUNDATION, 5 0 1 C3 AIMS TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF HEALTH AND FITNESS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD IN ORDER TO PREVENT DISEASE AND IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE. IN 2012, SAMIR COMMENCED A YEAR LONG PARTNERSHIP WITH 89.3 F KBS. J RADIO HELPED IN THIS REVOLUTION MAGAZINE LAUNCHED IN 2013 AND HAS ACHIEVED REMARKABLE INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS. SAMIR SPENT 2014 WORKING WITH SEVERAL HOMELESS ORGANIZATIONS IN HOUSTON. HE PROVIDED THEM WITH HEALTH AND FITNESS PROGRAMS AND CREATED A CAMPAIGN TITLED, WALKING OUT OF HOMELESSNESS. IN 2017, SAMIR RELEASED HIS BOOK RE RESET YOUR LIFE. IT REACHED THE NUMBER ONE AMAZON KINDLE BESTSELLERS LIST, AND THE HEALTH AND FITNESS HEALTHY LIVING AND WELLNESS CATEGORIES FROM 2018 ON SAMIR HAS CONTINUED HIS MISSION TO RAISE OBESITY AWARENESS. HE RAN SEVEN MARATHONS IN EIGHT WEEKS, EACH WHILE WEARING A WEIGHTED, UH, VEST EQUIVALENT TO AN ADDITIONAL 73.5 POUNDS. UH, THIS EXTREME FITNESS CHALLENGE WAS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD. SINCE JANUARY 1ST, 2022, THIS, UH, SAMIR BEEK FOUNDATION HAS REACHED OUT TO 647 CORPORATIONS, 500 SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND 1000 POLITICIANS, AND HAS PUBLISHED OVER 120 ARTICLES TO PROMOTE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE IN THE UNITED STATES. ON NOVEMBER 1ST, 2022, SAMIR BAIK WILL CELEBRATE FOUR YEARS AS THE BUSINESS SAW, 20 YEARS AS A CITY OF HOUSTON VOLUNTEER PROMOTING FITNESS, AND 10 YEARS OF THE SAMIR BEEK FOUNDATION, 5 0 1 C3, THE CITY OF HOUSTON CONGRATULATES AND COMMANDS SAMIR BEEK ON THIS AUSPICIOUS OCCASION AND EXTENDS BEST WISHES FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS. SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIMED JANUARY 10TH, 2023 AS SAMIR BEEK DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU. AND HE IS SOLID AS A ROCK. I TELL, I TELL YOU, I ALMOST BOUNCED OUT, YOU KNOW, , BUT YOU'RE A STRONG MAYOR. YOU KNOW, SAMIR, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. RESPECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND DOING GREAT JOB FOR A GREAT CITY. I'M PROUD TO BE HERE. I WASN'T BORN HERE, BUT I CAME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. , BELIEVE ME, AND I LOVE THIS CITY. LIKE I WAS BORN HERE IN 20, UH, IN 2023, I AIMED TOGETHER WITH MAYOR TURNER AND RESPECT COUNCIL MEMBERS TO MAKE HOUSTON ONE OF THE FIT, FITTEST AND HEALTHIEST CITIES IN AMERICA, BECAUSE I BELIEVE TOGETHER WE CAN DO THIS, ME AND SVE TURNER IS DOING ALREADY AMAZING JOB WITH PROMOTING BIKING. I SEE MANY OF THE CITY MEMBER COUNCIL MEMBERS DOING GREAT JOB IN PROMOTING HEALTHY LIFESTYLE TOGETHER AS HOUSTONIANS. WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT. AND I BELIEVE ALWAYS THAT HOUSTON IS NUMBER ONE IN EVERYTHING WE DO, THEREFORE WILL BE ALSO NUMBER ONE IN HEALTH AND FITNESS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. RESPECT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU, MAYOR VESTER TURNER. AND BY THE WAY, HOUSTON MAYOR S TURNER IS 2016 IS ALWAYS TOP 10 AND TOP 20 FITTEST MAYORS IN AMERICA. SO AN APPLAUSE FROM . I HOPE THE SIGMA'S HEARD THAT. UH, . YES. THANKS, AMIR. I, I'D LIKE TO, UH, GIVE A SHOUT OUT. THIS IS SUNDAY IS THE HOUSTON [00:20:01] MARATHON. SO FOR ALL THOSE RUNNING, INCLUDING JENNIFER MARTIN, I WISH 'EM GOOD LUCK, BECAUSE THAT IS A DAY OF FIT FITNESS COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARD J FITNESS, POLLARD . THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU MAYOR FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. UH, SAMIR, GOOD TO SEE YOU. UM, I REMEMBER RECEIVING YOUR BOOK MAYBE TWO YEARS AGO, APPROXIMATELY. YEAH. YEAH. I SENT BOOKS TO 2000 LEADING POLITICIANS IN AMERICA IN ORDER TO PROMOTE HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. I THOUGHT BY SENDING THE BOOK WITH A NOTE, I WAS TRYING TO MOTIVATE YOU. AND MANY OF YOU ARE ALREADY MOTIVATED, SO, YEAH, THANK YOU. AND IT WAS LIKE 28 DAYS OF LIKE, CHANGING YOUR LIFE THROUGH BEGINNING WAYS OF FITNESS, RIGHT? AND, UM, IT WAS WAYS IN WHICH YOU COULD USE, LIKE, UM, JUST BEING AT HOME WITHOUT BEING AT A GYM, BEING ABLE TO UTILIZE THE WALLS AND, AND DIFFERENT FURNITURE TO DO DIFFERENT EXERCISES TO HELP KICKSTART YOUR, YOUR HEALTH, UM, LIFESTYLE. YEAH. MY GOAL WITH THAT BOOK WAS TO, UH, APPROACH 90% AMERICANS WHO DON'T GO TO THE GYM. 90, 95% AMERICANS WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND REALLY HEALTHY LIFESTYLE BY BRINGING THE BOOK THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY EXERCISE AT THE COMFORT OF THEIR HOME. I THOUGHT THAT WILL BE AN EASY WAY TO INTRODUCE HEALTHY LIFESTYLE TO OUR FELLOW HOUSTONIANS NOW, FELLOW TEXANS. WELL, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I READ, I READ YOUR BOOK, AND I, I THOUGHT IT WAS A, A GREAT READ, AND IT HAD SOME REALLY GOOD INSIGHT. AND, UH, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR DAY TODAY. WELL DESERVED. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH. YOU LOOK VERY FIT. LIKE MANY OF YOU AS WELL, AND, AND SAMIR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO EACH AND EVERY DAY FOR FITNESS IN AMERICA, ESPECIALLY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO, THANK YOU. I AGREE TO YOU. THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, APPRECIATE YOU. REMEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS FOR A PROCLAMATION TO ONE HOUSTON SIGMA TO CELEBRATE THEIR HUNDRED NINTH YEAR OF SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. WE TURN THE CITY HALL BLUE TODAY, AS WE CAN SEE IF I CAN CALL UP PRESIDENT RAY TO JOIN ME. AND, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROAM AND MAYOR FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. ONE OF THE, UH, PRIORITIES I'VE HAD SINCE CAMPAIGNING, UM, BUT ALSO AS WE RESPONDED TO COVID EVICTION CRISIS RENT RELIEF WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT BLACK GREEK LETTER ORGANIZATIONS HAD A, UH, THE INFLUENCE IN THAT. AND THEY CONTRIBUTED TO THAT WORK. AS A MEMBER OF A BLACK GREEK ORGANIZATION, DELTA SIGMA THETA, I WANTED US TO TRANSITION FROM USING OUR PHYSICAL LABOR AND SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO MOVING TO OUR INTELLECTUAL LABOR AND CONTRIBUTING TO THINGS. AND JUST AS AN ASIDE, BEFORE I READ THE PROCLAMATION, UM, PARTICULARLY ADARO SIGMA CHAPTER, THE CHAPTER WHERE MY COUSIN IS A ACTIVE MEMBER, SHOUT OUT TO REGINALD THOMAS. UH, UH, UM, THEY RESPONDED AND WE HAD TO HOST A RENT RELIEF EVENT, A DRIVE THROUGH EVENT IN THE MIDST OF COVID. UH, THEY WERE THERE. UM, I CHARGED THEM WITH PARTICIPATING AND OFFERING FEEDBACK TO THE MAYOR'S, UH, TASK FORCE ON POLICING REFORM. THEY WERE THERE, UH, AND IN THAT DOCUMENT, THE FINAL REPORT, IT, IT POINTS TO THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO RECOMMENDATIONS. SO I JUST WANNA PUBLICLY THANK THEM FOR THAT. UM, AS IT RELATES TO THE COALITION OF THE SIGMAS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, UM, AS YOU KNOW, THE ONE SAFE HOUSTON PLAN THAT WE ALL GOT BEHIND, UM, AGAIN, I ASKED FOR THEIR HELP. UH, PHI BETA SIGMA PUT THEIR MONEY WITH THE MISSION, UH, AND THE COALITION WAS FULL THROTTLE. AND TO DATE, WE STILL REMAIN, UM, THE ONLY CITY WITH THE LARGEST GUN BUYBACK, UM, UM, THROUGH THIS EFFORT. SO I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THEM FOR THAT GREAT TIME TO CLAP. UM, AND I'LL ALLOW MR. PRESIDENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE WE HAVE SOME OTHER [00:25:01] ESTEEMED GUESTS IN THEIR MEMBERSHIP, AND HE WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THEM THROUGH HI IN HIS REMARKS. SO, WHEREAS PHI BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY INCORPORATED IS A HISTORICALLY AFRICAN AMERICAN FRATERNITY THAT WAS FOUNDED ON JANUARY 9TH, 1914 AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY. MEMBERS OF THIS OUTSTANDING ORGANIZATION STRIVE TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT THE HIGH AND ILLUSTRIOUS IDEALS OF BROTHERHOOD, SCHOLARSHIP, AND SERVICE FOR 109 YEARS. THIS COMMUNITY SERVICE ORIENTED ORGANIZATION HAS OPERATED UNDER THE THREE PROGRAMMATIC THRUST OF BIGGER AND BETTER BUSINESS, SOCIAL ACTION AND EDUCATION. WHEREAS THE ONE HOUSTON SIGMA COUNCIL OF CHAPTERS OF FIVE BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY INCORPORATED WILL HOST THE 76 CONCLAVE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS BETWEEN JULY 11TH AND 16TH OF 2023. THIS SPECIAL AND HISTORICAL EVENT WAS LAST HELD 50 YEARS AGO IN OUR CITY IN 1973. THIS YEAR'S WILL FOCUS ON THE THEME, BELIEVE IN OUR POWER LEADING THE MOVEMENT, WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON SALUTES FIVE BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY INCORPORATED ON THIS AUSPICIOUS OCCASION AND EXTENDS BEST WISHES TO ALL MEMBERS FOR SUCCESSFUL AND REWARDING CONCLAVE MEETING MAYOR TURNER. AND LEMME JUST SAY, UM, AS THE MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, AND AS A PROUD ALPHA, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE . NOW, YOU KNOW, I HAD TO PUT SOME BLACK AND GOLD ON TOP OF THIS BLUE , BUT I WILL TELL YOU I HAVE THE DISTINCT HONOR AND PLEASURE OF SAYING THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HE ABIDE PROUDLY PROCLAIMED JANUARY IN THIS CASE, 11TH, 2023, AS FIVE BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY INCORPORATED TODAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS, MR. PEPPER. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. AND IF, AND IF I MAY ADD NUMBER ONE, LET ME, LET ME THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, TIFFANY THOMAS FOR PRESENTING THIS PROCLAMATION. UM, BUT THIS, UH, I AM VERY PROUD TO, TO BE A PART AND, AND A FIXING MY NAME TO THIS, UH, PROCLAMATION, UH, FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE AND CONTINUE TO DO. UH, WE HAVE SOME, THERE'S SOME OUTSTANDING BROTHERS THAT ARE A PART OF PHI BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY. UH, I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, JUST LAST WEEK, UH, THIS FRATERNITY WAS IN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON IN YOUR DISTRICT AT CARVER HIGH SCHOOL, UH, RECOGNIZING AND HONORING THAT HIGH SCHOOL AND HIS STUDENT'S TEACHER AND FACULTY FOR THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE, THAT THEY'VE DONE. UH, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE. I HEARD THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE THERE, AND I STOPPED BY. AND, UM, IT WAS A VERY MOVING AND INSPIRATIONAL PROGRAM. SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM FOR THAT. AND THEN SECONDLY, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH ONE OF HIS DISTINGUISHED, UH, MEMBERS, UH, SECRETARY ROD PAGE, UH, WHO IS HERE, AND SECRETARY ROD PAGE, AS YOU KNOW, FORMER SUPERINTENDENT OF THE HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND, UH, FROM TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY TO AN INTERIM PRESIDENT AT JACKSON STATE, AND THEN WORKED AS A SECRETARY OF EDUCATION UNDER GEORGE BUSH. AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND ON. AND WHAT A TREMENDOUS MENTOR, UH, HE HAS BEEN TO SO MANY OF US, UH, IN THIS ROOM. HIS STYLE, HIS GRACE, UH, JUST SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. MY ONLY WISH IS THAT IF THE, UH, SEVEN JEWELS HAD GOTTEN A HOLD OF HIM MUCH EARLIER, I, I, I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW WE LET YOU GET AWAY . BUT, UH, BUT, UH, HE HAS CERTAINLY NOT ONLY BEEN ABLE TO SHINING LIGHT FOR SIGMAS, BUT HE'S BEEN A SHINING LIGHT FOR ALL OF US. AND SO VERY PROUD OF HIM. AND THERE ARE SO MANY OTHERS I KNOW WE'RE GONNA BE HONORING, UM, ANOTHER ASTRONAUT, UH, SOMEONE, UH, UH, ON SATURDAY NIGHT, UH, WHO IS ALSO HERE. AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW, I HAVE RE-ROUTED MY SCHEDULE. MM. UH, AND ONE, AND I, AND I SO, UH, SO APPRECIATE. SO THERE ARE SO MANY THAT ARE HERE. BUT I, I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW, UH, AT A TIME, UH, WHEN WE ARE IN MANY DARK SPACES, UH, SIGMAS HAVE BEEN [00:30:01] A SHINING LIGHT, UH, NOT IN JUST TO THIS CITY, MR. PRESIDENT, UH, BUT ALL OVER. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BRINGING YOUR ENCLAVE, UH, BECAUSE, UH, HONOR. SO HAVING SAID THAT, LET ME YIELD, LET ME YIELD TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, MR. MAYOR, UH, TO THE, UH, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, AND OF COURSE, COUNCILMAN TIFFANY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UH, THIS RECOGNITION OF OUR ORGANIZATION TODAY. UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT KNOW, FIVE 80 SIGMA HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 109 YEARS. WE HAVE OVER 275,000 MEMBERS THAT WE HAVE INITIATED THROUGH OUR ORGANIZATION. WE HAVE ALMOST 700 CHAPTERS AROUND THE WORLD. WE PLAY NO GAMES. WE ARE ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED TO LIVING A LIFE OF CULTURE FOR SERVICE AND SERVICE FOR HUMANITY. THAT IS OUR MOTTO, UH, FOUNDED BY THREE, UH, COLLEGE EDUCATED MEN ON THE CAMPUS OF HOWARD UNIVERSITY ON JANUARY 9TH, 1914. UH, WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE ACROSS THE WORLD AROUND SOCIAL INJUSTICE, UH, WHETHER IT'S AROUND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, WHETHER IT'S AROUND AROUND MENTORING YOUNG BOYS, UH, OR PURSUING EDUCATION, WE DO IT UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ONE COMMON THREAD THAT WE ALL HAVE AS MEN IS THAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO WE ARE PROUD TO NOT ONLY BE HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, WE HAVE SOME HISTORIC CHAPTERS THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FROM FOR A VERY LONG TIME. UH, BROTHERS, UH, FROM ALPHA BETA SIGMA CHAPTER, WHO HAVE DONE A LOT OF GREAT WORK, UH, TO OUR NEWEST CHAPTERS THAT WE HAVE HERE THAT ARE CONTINUOUSLY DOING WORK. UH, WE HAVE A, A A MULTITUDE OF BROTHERS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT THE WORK CONTINUES IN THIS CITY. UH, AS I LISTENED TO THE YOUNG LADY, UH, WHO WAS SPEAKING ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING, TOMORROW, THE PHI BETA SIGMA IS HOSTING A GLOBAL, UH, SEMINAR ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING. OH, WE'RE, WE'RE ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED AGAIN TO SERVICE TO HUMANITY. UM, NEXT YEAR, THIS YEAR, UH, WE ARE GONNA BE TEARING DOWN OUR INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, DC UH, WE WILL BE BUILDING A NEW STATE OF THE ART FACILITY, BUT WE DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL. WE WILL BE BUILDING A FOUR STORY AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPLEX ON TOP OF OUR HEADQUARTERS. THAT'S RIGHT. WHAT THE MESSAGE WILL ALWAYS BE IS THAT SIGMA MEN ARE NOT JUST ABOUT PARTYING. THAT'S NOT WHAT WE DO. WE DON'T JUST STEP, WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE, AND WE IMPACT OUR COMMUNITIES. LAST YEAR, WE TALKED ABOUT STRATEGICALLY LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR US TO BEGIN FOCUSING ON MEN'S CLINICS AND OUR FUTURES. ONE DAY WE WILL BUILD OUR OWN HOSPITAL. WE ARE ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE. AND SO IT TOOK US 50 YEARS TO COME BACK, BUT WE'RE BACK. AND, UH, AND AS, AS A FORMER MAYOR TO A CURRENT MAYOR, WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF, UH, OF SPENDING DOLLARS IN THE COMMUNITY. AND FIVE 80 SIGMA WILL BE SPENDING A LOT OF DOLLARS IN YOUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. UH, GREAT WORDS OF WISDOM, THAT'S FOR SURE. UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM MARTHA CASTEX TATUM, MR. PRESIDENT, AND TO ALL OF THE MEN OF PHI BETA SIGMA, UH, WELCOME TO YOUR CITY HALL. WE ARE SO EXCITED TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY. 109 YEARS DESERVES TO BE CELEBRATED, AND WE CANNOT THANK YOU ALL ENOUGH FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT. UH, WE SAY THIS ALL THE TIME, THAT WE CANNOT, GOVERNMENT CANNOT DO THIS WORK ALONE, AND WE NEED PARTNERS. AND PHI BETA SIGMA HAS STEPPED UP TIME AND TIME AGAIN TO BE A PARTNER FOR US IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING FORTH THIS PROCLAMATION. MAYOR, I ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL BE LIGHTING UP CITY HALL IN JULY IN BLUE AND WHITE. YES. UH, BUT TO HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT, UH, HOUSING, UH, AND THE TIMELINESS OF YOUR HUMAN TRAFFICKING EVENT ON TOMORROW, IT, IT FURTHER REITERATES, UH, THE TIMELY SERVICE, YOUR DEDICATED SERVICE, AND HOW NEEDED YOU MEN ARE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. I TELL YOU, IT GIVES ME A, I'M SO PROUD SITTING HERE, LOOKING OUT AT THE MEN THAT LOOK LIKE MY DADDY AND MY BROTHER, AND MY UNCLES AND MY SON, UH, TO SEE ORGANIZATIONS FILLED WITH AFRICAN, PRIMARILY AFRICAN-AMERICAN [00:35:01] MEN. THERE AREN'T MANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE OVER A HUNDRED YEARS OLD THAT FOCUS ON THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAN. YEAH. AND TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE AND WHAT YOU PLAN TO DO, UM, IT, IT GIVES ME A, A GREAT SOURCE OF PRIDE. AND I WISH YOU ALL THE VERY BEST. IF THERE'S ANYTHING, UH, THE DISTRICT, A OFFICE, UH, THE WOMEN OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, CAN DO, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, PARTNERING AND, AND BEING A RESOURCE TO YOU AND WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. UH, ON 109 STELLAR YEARS OF SERVICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARD J. POLLARD, THANK YOU, CHAIR AND COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD, UH, UM, TO THE PRESIDENT AND TO SECRETARY PAGE, ALL OF THE MEN OF PHI BETA SIGMA. I WANNA WELCOME YOU ALL TO YOUR CITY HALL. UH, WHEN I WALKED IN AND I SAW ALL YOU IN YOUR BLUE JACKETS, UH, IT REALLY STOOD OUT, UH, TO SEE MEN OF HIGH INTEGRITY, HIGH MORAL, HIGH CHARACTER, UH, THAT DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO IMPACT THE LIVES OF OTHERS, TO IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY, IS SOMETHING FOR US TO, UH, CELEBRATE. AND SO TODAY, WE CELEBRATE YOU ALL, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ, THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM. WHEN I WALKED IN AND I SAW THIS SEA OF BLUE WITH ALL OF THESE HANDSOME GENTLEMEN, I WAS JUST OVERTAKEN . WHAT ABOUT YOU? SEE, YOU KNOW ME, I'M GONNA TELL IT LIKE IT'S RIGHT . I SAW TWO GUYS WALKING ON THE STREET, AND THEN WHEN I GOT IN HERE, I SAID, OH, THAT'S WHERE THEY WERE GOING. BUT NOT ONLY DO YOU ALL LOOK GOOD, YOU ALL ARE DOING SUCH PHENOMENAL THINGS. AND SO IT JUST MAKES MY HEART, MY HEART, VERY, VERY WARM TO SEE YOU HERE TODAY. AND IT'S SO BEFITTING FOR YOU TO GET THIS DAY OF 109 YEARS. SO THANK YOU. IS THAT GOOD? BUT IT'S TWO Y'ALL, Y'ALL LOOK, Y'ALL COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA PLUMMER, CONGRATULATIONS. I MEAN, I THINK ALL THE WORDS WERE ALREADY SAID, BUT CONGRATULATIONS AS A MOTHER OF THREE BOYS, WHAT YOU DO AND WHAT YOU EPITOMIZE AND THE EXAMPLES THAT YOU SHOW FOR YOUNG BLACK MEN IS CRUCIAL. THANK YOU. AND, UM, AND NOW IS THE TIME TO GET IT DONE. AND YOU GUYS ALL STAND BEHIND WHAT YOUR OATH IS. AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. SURE. COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS CISNEROS, THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. UM, WHEN I SAW DR. PAGE OVER THERE, I, I DID NOT KNOW THIS ABOUT YOU, DR. PAGE. UM, THE COMPANY YOU KEEP IS EXTRAORDINARY . SO CONGRATULATIONS FOR, FOR ALIGNING YOURSELF WITH SUCH A FABULOUS GROUP OF, UM, OF CITIZENS THAT, THAT, THAT DO SO MUCH TO MAKE, UM, OUR WORLD BETTER. UM, WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU AND, UM, AND, UH, THANK YOU, THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN THE COMMUNITY. AND YOU SAID YOU WERE A FORMER MAYOR. WHERE, WHERE, WHAT WERE YOU? MAYOR OF? SPRING LAKE, NORTH CAROLINA. ALRIGHT. NICE. SPRING LAKE, NORTH CAROLINA. YES. THANKS. GOOD. THREE GOOD TERMS. AND THEN I SAID I'M GOING ON . THREE TURNS WAS ENOUGH. THREE TURNS WAS ENOUGH. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, I'LL LEAVE YOU THE LAST WORDS. THE ONLY THING I'M DISAPPOINTED IN IS YOU'RE REPRESENTING ALPHA WITH, YOU SHOULD HAVE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF BLUE IN THERE TODAY, JUST, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW. THEY'LL SEE ME ON SATURDAY. OKAY. FULL HAIR BLUE, GOT SOMETHING FOR YOU ON SATURDAY. UH, THANK YOU, UH, COLLEAGUES FOR INDULGING US. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER. THANK YOU. UH, CHRIS. CHRIS AND I GO WAY BACK. UH, HE SENT ME A PICTURE AND I TOO LONG AGO, AND WE WERE BABIES. UH, WE WERE, WE, CHRIS AND I MET WHEN WE WERE BOTH, UH, NEWLY ELECTED. HE WAS A MAYOR AND I WAS A TRUSTEE FOR ALI, ISD. SO, UM, I'M SO PROUD TO WITNESS YOUR TRAJECTORY AND OF COURSE, THE, THE BEST IS YET TO COME THAT WE ALL KNOW. UM, OF COURSE I HAVE TO, OF COURSE, WE SHOUT OUT DR. PAGE, BUT HE'S MARRIED TO MY SORO, SO WE GOTTA, I GOTTA GIVE THAT, THAT SHOUT OUT. UM, UH, UH, THAT, THAT THERE'S A SIGMA THAT INTERSECTS WITH BOTH OF THEM, RIGHT? SO WE APPRECIATE THAT. UM, NO, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND, UM, MR. PRESIDENT, ARE THERE ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS YOU WANNA CALL UP? SURE. I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UM, FOR PHOTOS, YEAH, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT DR. PAGE, UH, COMES IN AND, UH, TAKES A PHOTO WITH US. ALSO, WANNA RECOGNIZE BROTHER VICTOR GLOVER, UH, WHO'S AN ASTRONAUT, UH, MANY OF YOU KNOW, WHO WAS, UH, AT THE SPACE STATION, UH, WHAT WAS IT? WALKED IN THE SPACE STATION, DID HIS THING IN SPACE, IN, UH, IN THE SPACE STATION. AND OF COURSE, I LIKE FOR THE PRESIDENTS OF ALL OF THE CHAPTERS, THE LOCAL CHAPTERS, EACH OF THE PRESIDENTS TO PLEASE COME UP AS WELL. PRESIDENT. YEAH. I THINK WE'LL DO THE, WE'LL DO THIS FIRST SET FIRST, AND THEN FOR ALL OF THE OTHERS, WE'LL, WE'LL RECOGNIZE THEM AND, AND THAT, AND I DO WANT TO, AND I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALSO, AND I'LL BE REMISS [00:40:01] NOT TO MAKE MENTION OF BROTHER ELWIN LEE. OH, YEAH. UM, DR. DR. LEE, WHERE'S DR. LEE? UM, DR. LEE HAS BEEN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON FOR, FOR MANY YEARS, RISING TO THE HIGHEST LEVELS. SO WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, PROFESSORSHIP, I'VE BEEN AN ACADEMICIAN, UH, BEING A COMMUNITY LEADER, UH, IN HIS OWN RIGHT, UH, THIS BROTHER HAS DONE AND CONTINUES TO DO SOME OUTSTANDING THINGS. SO, DR. ELWIN LEE, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. OKAY. AND, UH, THIS, Y'ALL JUST, SO THIS, Y'ALL HADN'T BEEN HERE IN 50 YEARS. 50 YEARS. WE HAVEN'T BEEN HERE IN 50 YEARS. OKAY, WELL, WELCOME. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE DOING PROCLAMATIONS. NOW. . HERE YOU GO, MR. MAYOR. COME ON. GET, GET CLOSER. I'M, I'M, I'LL GET IN A, OKAY. WILL YOU HOLD SLIDE, SLIDE A LITTLE BIT MORE? PERFECT. THIS WAY. COUNT OF THREE. WE'RE GONNA GO THREE, TWO, AND THEN ONE, TWO, AND THREE. ALRIGHT, HOLD ON GUYS. ONE, TWO. OKAY. NOW, NOW THIS SAME GROUP, IF YOU'LL COME THIS WAY, WE'LL GO THEN EVERYBODY. WHAT YOU DOING? [00:47:00] OH, [00:50:04] ALL [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] RIGHT. LET'S GET STARTED. OKAY. THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON FOR THE INVOCATION AND PLEDGE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. IT IS MY HONOR INDEED TO RECOGNIZE AND BRING FORWARD MY FRIEND. UH, THIS IS THE REVEREND CHARLES GRAVES THE FOURTH. CHARLES IS AN EPISCOPAL PRIEST AND CAMPUS MINISTER ON THE CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON COUGARS MAYOR. UH, HE LEADS THE HOUSTON CANTERBURY SOCIETY, THE COLLEGE MINISTRY, SERVING ALL OF HOUSTON'S PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. HE COMPLETED HIS UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE AT HAMPTON UNIVERSITY AND SERVED AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, A CAMPAIGN MANAGER, AND IN A US SENATE OFFICE ON CAPITOL HILL BEFORE COMPLETING SEMINARY AT YALE DIVINITY SCHOOL. CURRENTLY, HE SERVES AS A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH, HELPING TO ENVISION, ORGANIZE, AND SUPPORT MINISTRIES ACROSS ALL 50 STATES AND 16 COUNTRIES IN WHICH THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IS LOCATED. CHARLES ENJOYS SPENDING TIME WITH HIS WONDERFUL HUSBAND, CHRIS, EXPLORING AROUND THE CITY, TAKING TIME OFF AT THE BEACH, TRAVELING, LEARNING LANGUAGES, AND TRYING ALL KINDS OF SEAFOOD. CHARLES IS HERE TODAY. WE ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE HIM WITH US. AND I TURN IT OVER TO YOU FOR THE INVOCATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON AND, UH, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, LET US PRAY. LOVING, LIBERATING, AND LIFE-GIVING GOD SOURCE OF ALL WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING. BE PRESENT WITH THE MEMBERS OF THIS CITY, COUNCIL, WITH OUR MAYOR, AND WITH ALL WITH WHOM THEY SERVE FOR THE RENEWAL AND BETTERMENT OF OUR CITY. GUIDE OUR LEADERS TO PERCEIVE WHAT IS RIGHT AND GRANT THEM THE COURAGE TO PURSUE IT AND THE GRACE TO ACCOMPLISH IT. GRANT THEM THE WILL TO WORK TOGETHER IN THE SERVICE OF JUSTICE FOR ALL. AND MAY THEIR ACTIONS IN PUBLIC SERVICE BE A WORTHY EXAMPLE TO ALL HOUSTONIANS. MAY IT BE SO BY THE GRACE OF THE DIVINE SPIRIT OF US ALL. AMEN. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU. YOU PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE. JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE. I PLEDGE ALLE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE. [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] OKAY. UH, MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MAYOR TURNER. HERE. CONSTABLE PECK. HERE. CONSTABLE JACKSON. HERE. COUNCILMAN KAMAN. CONSTABLE EVANS. HERE. COUNCILMAN MARTIN. PRESENT. CONSTABLE THOMAS. PRESENT. CONSTABLE HUFFMAN WILL BE ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS. HERE. CONSTABLE GALLOS WILL BE ABSENT. CONSTABLE POLLARD. HERE. CONSTABLE CASTEX TATUM. HERE. CONSTABLE KNOX WILL BE ABSENT. COUNCIL ROBINSON HERE. CONSTABLE KUBO. HERE. COUNCIL PLUMMER HERE. AND CONSTABLE ALCORN HERE. WE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 8TH AND NINTH, 2022. CASTEX MOVE. SECOND ROBINSON MOVE. AND SECOND ON THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT AMENDMENTS. AND THE OBJECTION. CHAIR, NONE. AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE ADOPTED. UH, UH, CHAIR RECOGNIZES, COUNCIL MEMBER POLL FOR A PROCEDURAL MOTION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADD SEBELA, WHICH IS SPELLED S-E-B-L-E, LAST NAME W-O-R-E-D-E, TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON-AG AGENDA LIST. YOU'VE HEARD THE, UH, MOTION. ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? SHARE IS NOT. AND THE MOTION IS GRANTED. CHAIR RECOGNIZES VICE MAYOR PROM ACK TATUM. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO, UM, MAKE A PROCEDURAL MOTION TO MOVE BRITTANY STREEK UNDER ZACHARY PETIT, UH, SO THAT WE CAN, UH, DISCUSS ALL THOSE ISSUES AT ONE TIME. SECOND, UH, YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION. ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE. AND THEN MOTION IS GRANTED. ARE THERE ANY OTHER PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? HEARING NONE, THEN WE WILL PROCEED. [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER, BEAR IN MIND, UH, WHEN YOU HEAR THE BELL RINGS, THAT MEANS THAT YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED AND YOU MUST COME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP. FIRST SPEAKER. THE FIRST SPEAKER. SIBLEY WORD. SIBLEY WORD. HELLO. DO I SPEAK INTO THIS? OKAY, . THERE YOU GO. HELLO, COUNSEL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ADDING ME TO YOUR MINUTES. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. UM, JUST TO INTRODUCE MYSELF REALLY QUICKLY, [00:55:01] MY NAME IS BLA GUERRA AND I AM ONE OF THE VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS FOR THE NON-PROFIT UNIVERSITY STUDENT LED, UM, GROUP CALLED AZ. IT'S AZ AN ACRONYM FOR SAVING THE EARTH FROM A TO Z. WE ARE A GLOBAL NONPROFIT UNIVERSITY LED INITIATIVE THAT HAS PARTNERED WITH THE UNITED NATIONS TO CARRY OUT THEIR 17 SDGS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS. AS WE HAVE CHAPTERS ALL OVER THE WORLD. WE HAVE ACTUALLY THREE BRANCHES HERE IN HOUSTON, AND WE ARE GONNA BE CARRYING OUT A FEW INITIATIVES THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO HELP BRING AWARENESS TO CRIME PREVENTION AND VOLUNTEERISM. AND AS WE ARE DOING THAT THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, UH, THROUGHOUT THE COMING WEEKS, STARTING JANUARY 11TH TO FEBRUARY 2ND, OUR SOUTH KOREA CHAPTER WILL BE SENDING OVER SEVEN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO HELP CARRY OUT THOSE DIFFERENT INITIATIVES. SO, AS WE ARE GOING ABOUT CARRYING OUT DIFFERENT EVENTS, LIKE, UM, HOLDING A SEMINAR AT THE U OF H, UM, OR ALSO BE HAVING A CLEANUP AT ONE OF THE PARKS. AND WE WILL ALSO HAVE A KOREAN CULTURAL EXPERIENCE OUT IN DEER PARK NEAR PASADENA AREA, UM, TO KIND OF BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS FROM OUR CHAPTER IN HOUSTON TO THE ONE IN OUR CHAPTER IN SOUTH KOREA. BUT AS I MENTIONED, WE ARE A GLOBAL, UM, NON-PROFIT ORG. SO WE EXTEND AN INVITATION TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO COME AND JOIN US IN SHOWING US SUPPORT. UM, AND WE WILL ALSO HAVE OUR KOREAN MEMBERS COME TO CITY COUNCIL TO HOPEFULLY HAVE A MEETING WITH ANY OF YOU THAT WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT OUR INITIATIVE. UM, AS I MENTIONED, WE ARE BACKED WITH THE UNITED NATIONS, AND WE DO HAVE SPONSORSHIPS THAT SPAN FROM AMAZON TO WALMART TO EVEN HOME DEPOT. UM, AND AS WE ARE CARRYING OUT THIS MISSION, WE HOPE THAT OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL ALSO WANT TO HELP IGNITE THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO COME BACK INTO VOLUNTEERISM AND ALSO HELP REDUCE CRIME. UM, AND ALSO KIND OF CARRY THE SAME MESSAGE. WE WANNA SAVE THE EARTH FROM A TO Z. WE CAN START HERE TOO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD. AND IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO AS OF YET, IF YOU CAN EMAIL OUR OFFICES INFORMATION ON YOUR NONPROFIT AS WELL AS THE DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT YOU ALL WILL BE HAVING OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS. WE, WE'D APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. WE WILL ACTUALLY SEND OUT THE INFORMATION AS WELL AS OUR WEBSITE THAT SHOW ALL OF OUR CREDENTIALS, UM, AND ALSO THE CALENDAR DATES, SO THAT IF ANY OF YOU'RE AVAILABLE AND WOULD BE ABLE TO MEET WITH OUR KOREAN MEMBERS ONCE THEY LAND HERE, UM, WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE YOU AND ALSO CONTINUE TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER. ANNETTE POTS. ANNETTE POTS. ANNETTE POTS. ANNETTE POTS. NEXT SPEAKER. LORENZO BUTLER. LORENZO BUTLER'S HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY VE ROBINSON COUNCIL. OKAY. AND JUST, JUST, JUST SO, JUST SO THAT WE ARE TECHNICALLY CORRECT, I KNOW LORENZO IS, SHE IS HERE A MOTION TO JUST HAVE MORE THAN ONE PERSON AT THE MIC. SO MOVED. SECOND ROBINSON MOVE. AND SECOND. OBJECTION. HEARING TIME GRANTED. OKAY. THANK YOU MR. LORENZO BUTLER. COUNCIL, OUR MAYOR, A CHILD IS DESTINED IN THIS WORLD TO BE A THURGOOD MARSHALL OR BOOKER TA MARIAN ANDERSON WITH A BEAUTIFUL VOICE, A MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. SENIOR PUBLISHER, LORENZO BUTLER SENIOR, OR W DU BOIS, A JAMES WELDON JOHNSON, OR WIZ WHI, HIS PEN. A FAMOUS ARCHITECT LIKE WASHINGTON'S PEN, US AS LEE TYSON OR HARRY TUBMAN, OR MAYBE A BILLY DEE. WITHOUT THE PEOPLE WHO CARE IS DREAM WILL DIE, THE GREATER HOUSTON FRONTIERS PRESENTS ON THIS SUNDAY, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING'S BIRTHDAY, THE LAST MAYOR, SYLVESTER TURNER, VIP RECEPTION AT SIX O'CLOCK AT MAISIE OFFICE ON THE WEST SIDE OF HOUSTON. WE WELCOME ALL OF YOU AT SIX THE NEXT MORNING. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE, THE FLYERS, THE FLYER, WE WILL BE LIVE ON K-H-O-U-T-V CHANNEL 11 AT 9:00 AM PLEASE JOIN THE MARTIN LUTHER KING SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, SPONSORS BY HEB AND A NUMBER OF OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS. NEXT, YOU'LL SEE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY WILL HOST A RECEPTION FOR CITY COUNCIL AFTER NEXT WEEK'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING [01:00:01] AT NOON, AND IT WILL BE A RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY IN THE ROTUNDA HOUSTON FORMER, I'M THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSTON FORMER FOUNDATION. BILL COLLINS IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON FORMER FOUNDATION, AND WE'RE SHOWING A RETROSPECT OF 130 YEARS OF BLACK HISTORY ON THE FRONT PAGE, ON THE BACK PAGE, AND HAS BEEN ON MANY SEVEN O'CLOCK NEWS. PLEASE ATTEND AT NOON ON THE 18TH, AND IT WILL BE ON DISPLAY FROM JANUARY 18TH THROUGH FEBRUARY 28TH, 40 DAYS IN THE ROTUNDA NOW AS YOUR BLACK, ONLY, BLACK AND EAST PUBLISHER IN AMERICA. PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE 27TH TEXAS LUNAR FESTIVAL AT OUR OFFICES ON THE WEST SIDE, WILCREST IN BEL AIR, AND AS ALWAYS, CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR SITS ON THE FRONT ROW AS YOU HAVE OVER 20,000 RESIDENTS OF CHINATOWN THAT WILL BE OUT FOR THE FESTIVAL. I'M YOUR PUBLISHER, LORENZO BUTLER, YOUR PUBLISHER, MIKE MIGUEL COLLINS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, UH, BROTHER BUTLER. APPRECIATE IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU, UM, RIGHT AROUND THIS TIME, UH, EVERY YEAR, AND, UH, APPRECIATE YOUR WORK AND, UH, WHAT YOU, UH, CONTINUE TO DO. UM, CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING PEOPLE AT THE MAYOR'S RECEPTION, UH, FOR THE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH WILL BE SUNDAY, JANUARY THE 15TH, UH, AT SIX O'CLOCK THEY SAY SIX TO 10. YES. BUT IF THEY WANT TO SEE ME, IT'D BE CLOSER TO SIX, SEVEN. YES. EIGHT TIME SPAN BACK. UH, BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S THIS COMING SA SUNDAY, THIS COMING SUNDAY FOR THE RECEPTION. THEN OF COURSE, WE WANNA INVITE PEOPLE OUT TO THE PARADE, UH, WHICH WILL BE DOWNTOWN, WHICH WILL START AT 10, THOUGH I THINK THERE'S, AMONG LUTHER THE KING BREAKFAST, UM, OR AT THE LIBRARY BEFORE THEN. UM, AND THEN OF COURSE YOU MENTIONED THE EVENT WITH THE, UH, UH, OBO, THE BLACK BUSINESS IN RETROSPECT. YES. UM, WHICH IS ON THE 18TH. AND THEN OF COURSE FOR THE LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE, UH, SATURDAY ON THE 21ST. YES. SO, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO ATTENDING ALL OF THOSE THINGS, AND IT'S JUST GOOD TO TO HAVE YOU WITH US AGAIN. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MR. BUTLER, THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD. THANK YOU FOR THIS INFORMATION. UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE GREATER HOUSTON FRONTIERS CLUB EACH YEAR, UH, FOR PUTTING ON A MAGNIFICENT PROGRAM AND PARADE TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS BACKING TIME, UM, BLACK BUSINESS AND RETROSPECT RECEPTION. UM, AND THANK YOU TO THE HOUSTON AND FORMER, UH, FOR, FOR SPONSORING AND ALWAYS EVERY YEAR THE, UH, TEXAS LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL RIGHT OUTSIDE OF JAY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BOUNDARY LINE INTO MY, MY FRIEND, DISTRICT F UH, TIFFANY THOMAS' DISTRICT, BUT, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO THAT AS WELL. AND JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS INFORMATION FORWARD. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND CERTAINLY, IT'S ALWAYS AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU. WE ACTUALLY KINDA GREW UP TOGETHER A LITTLE BIT, BUT IF YOU WANNA STAY INFORMED, YOU STAY, UH, ON THE, UH, ROLODEX OF THE PUBLISHER. UH, IT'S SO VERY FUNNY. HE ALWAYS TEXTS YOU BEFORE HE CALLS, SO I CAN DECIDE WHETHER I'M GONNA ANSWER OR NOT. BUT I, UH, , I USUALLY DO, AND I ALWAYS CALL HIM BACK. BUT IT'S JUST A, A PLEASURE OF ALL OF THE THINGS YOU DO. I WANT TO THANK YOU AND MIKEL, UH, ACCOMPANIED US ON OUR TRIP TO LIBERIA AND JUST A WONDERFUL YOUNG MAN AND JUST DOING SOME GREAT THINGS. AND IT'S A PLEASURE TO KNOW YOU AS WELL. AND SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR ALWAYS KEEPING US INFORMED, PUBLISHER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR AND MAYOR. YES, SIR. REMIND YOU, UH, IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION, WE WILL HAVE THE METAVERSE DOWNSTAIRS. SO YOU'LL SEE EMANCIPATION BOULEVARD, WHAT IT WAS AND WHAT IT IS TODAY IN THE METAVERSE. UM, THAT, THAT SOUNDS, THAT SOUNDS FANTASTIC. THAT'S THE EMANCIPATION BOULEVARD, AND WE HAVE 13 SCHOOL DISTRICTS COMING THROUGH IN THE NEXT FOUR, FOUR, UH, 40 DAYS. OKAY, WELL, THAT'S, THAT SOUNDS TERRIFIC. AND, UH, UH, THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. YES. WE ARE TURNING INTO A DISTRICT THAT'S FUTURISTIC. YES. UH, IN NA IN, IN, IN NATURE. SO, UH, UH, SO THANK YOU. YOU APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP. MIKE MIGUEL. THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU AS WELL. OKAY. ALRIGHT. NEXT SPEAKER, BE ROBINSON. BEV ROBINSON. IS BEB HERE BE [01:05:05] OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER, MARILYN RAND. MARILYN RAN RAND TO BE FO TO BE FOLLOWED BY KENNETH BURGESS. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MARILYN RAYON AND I RESIDE IN SOUTHWEST CROSSING, WHICH IS LOCATED IN SOUTHWEST HOUSTON IN DISTRICT K. WE'RE AT ORUM AND HILLCROFT. WE'VE COME BEFORE YOU IN THE PAST TO COMPLAIN REALLY ABOUT THE FACT THAT A, A CENTER POINT WAS ALLOWED TO BUILD A 300,000 GALLON LIQUID PROPANE TANK FACILITY HOLDING FACILITY IMMEDIATELY BEHIND OUR HOMES LESS THAN 500 FEET. WE'RE NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT. WE CAN'T SLEEP. WE HAVE ISSUES. WE RECENTLY HAD A PROBLEM, WHEREAS WEMT GAS, WE RAN DOOR TO DOOR SCREAMING AND SAYING WE MIGHT HAVE TO VACATE, ET CETERA. THIS IS NOT HOW WE WANT TO LIVE. IF YOU NOTICE MY SHIRT, IT TALKS ABOUT OUR CHILDREN. SO I'M HERE TO SAY THAT WE'RE JUST NOT CONCERNED FOR THE 400 PLUS HOMES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THERE ARE MANY SCHOOLS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND WE SPOKE ABOUT THIS IN THE PAST. MY SHIRT SAYS, CHILDREN'S SCHOOLS PLUS 300,000 GALLONS OF PROPANE GAS EQUALS A DISASTER. SO WE ARE JUST NOT AFFECTED. THE CHILDREN ARE AFFECTED IN THE SCHOOLS. IF THERE WAS A LEAK OR FIRE OR ANY OTHER PROBLEM, WHAT WOULD THEY DO? WE RECENTLY HAD A MEETING WITH CENTER POINT AND, UM, WE, UH, THERE WAS AN HISD REPRESENTATIVE THERE. SHE STATED THAT SHE HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY FORMAL PLAN FROM A, UM, FROM CENTER POINT REGARDING WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF AN INCIDENT. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. I'M GONNA LIST FOR YOU THE SCHOOLS IN OUR AREA, FONDANT ELEMENTARY, ONE FOURTH OF A MILE OR 0.4 MILES AWAY FROM THIS FACILITY. WE ALSO HAVE BUTLER STADIUM, WHICH HOLDS OVER 8,000 PEOPLE, AND IT'S 1.2 MILES AWAY. THE HISD BUS BARN IS 1.2 MILES AWAY. FOSTER ELEMENTARY, 1.2 MILES AWAY, HEINZ, CALDWELL, 1.4, 1.5 MILES AWAY. WESTBURY HIGH SCHOOL, 1.9 MILES ANDERSON ELEMENTARY, TWO MILES KIPP MOSAIC 0.9 MILES ACCELERATED IMMEDIATE INTERMEDIATE INTERMEDIATE ACADEMY, 1.3 MILES MEYER PARK CHART CHARTER SCHOOL, 1.5 MILES. AND THEN WE HAVE A NEW SOCCER CITY COMPLEX, WHICH IS 0.4 MILES AWAY. THEY WON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO IF THERE'S AN INCIDENT. AND WE DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO HAPPEN TO OUR CHILDREN. AND I KNOW YOU DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO HAPPEN TO OUR CHILDREN EITHER, SO CAN YOU PLEASE LOOK AT DOING SOMETHING TO HELP US GET THIS FACILITY REMOVED FROM OUR AREA? THE MAYOR WAS KIND ENOUGH TO TELL US THAT HE WASN'T REALLY THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE, BUT HE WOULD HELP US BY TALKING IF TIME HAS EXPIRED. AND I SAY, MA, MS. R, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND APPRECIATE YOU COMING. CERTAINLY, UH, SENSITIVE TO ALL THE CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE MADE AS WELL AS OTHERS. UM, YOU KNOW, IT WAS, IT'S THE RAILROAD COMMISSION, UH, IN AUSTIN THAT GOTS PERMISSION ON THESE FACILITIES. SO IT'S THE RAILROAD COMMISSION THAT SAID TO CENTER POINT, YES, YOU CAN BUILD IT AND YOU CAN PUT IT THERE. THE ONLY THING THAT WE CAN DO IS IN TERMS OF SEEING WHETHER OR NOT THEY FOLLOW ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR PERMITTING. AND WHAT WE DID DO IS THAT, UH, PERMITTING WAS PLACED ON HOLD UNTIL THEY HAD A SAFETY MEETING WITH RESIDENTS OUT IN THE AREA. UH, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THEY DID HAVE THAT SAFETY MEETING OUT, OUT WITH THE PEOPLE IN THE AREA. I KNOW I'M, I'M COMING TO YOU, BUT THE POINT THAT I WANT TO MAKE IS THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON DOESN'T CONTROL WHETHER OR NOT AUTHORIZATION IS GOING TO BE GIVEN OR NOT. THEY DON'T COME TO US. THEY GO TO THE TEXAS RAILROAD COMMISSION IN AUSTIN, UH, WHICH OVERSEES, REGULATES AND DECIDES WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE THE, UH, RIGHT. UH, OR SHOULD BE GIVEN THE AUTHORITY TO BUILD THE FACILITY AND WHERE THEY WILL BUILD IT. AND THEY, THEY RECEIVED THAT FROM THE RAILROAD COMMISSION. BEYOND THAT, UH, REGARDLESS OF HOW WE FEEL, REGARDLESS OF HOW I FEEL, UH, ONCE THEY MEET THEIR, [01:10:01] UM, TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS ON PERMITTING, UM, WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T PREVENT IT. NOW. WE HAVE HELD UP THE PERMITTING. UM, AND AGAIN, WE KIND OF STRETCHED IT ON THAT FRONT, BUT, UM, WE CAN SHARE YOUR CONCERNS. NOW. THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION RIGHT NOW. THEY STARTED AT 12 O'CLOCK TODAY. YES, THEY DID. AND SO WHAT WE ARE SAYING TO THE LEGISLATORS IS THAT THEY NEED TO PUT IN REQUIREMENTS THAT WHEN UTILITIES LIKE CENTER POINT AND OTHERS ARE SEEKING THESE SORTS OF FACILITIES, UH, THEY OUGHT TO BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE NOTICE BEFORE, UH, THE AUTHORIZATION IS GIVEN BY, LET'S SAY THE TEXAS RAILROAD COMMISSION OR ANYONE ELSE. SO WE ARE PUSHING THE LEGISLATURE, UH, TO DO MORE THINGS, TO PROVIDE NOTICE TO THE RESIDENTS, TO THE CITY AND OTHERS, SO THAT WE CAN GET IN, GET ON THE FRONT OF THESE THINGS RATHER THAN HAVING TO RESPOND AFTER THE FACT, WHICH IS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT. MM-HMM . SO WE ARE DOING THAT NOW WITH THE, WITH THE, WITH THE LEGISLATORS IN SESSION. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE SENSITIVE AND IN MANY CASES WE SHARE CONCERNS, BUT OUR HANDS, BUT OUR HANDS LITERALLY ARE, ARE, ARE TIED. I KNOW THAT'S NOT A, THAT'S NOT A, UM, THE ANSWER THAT YOU AND OTHERS WOULD LIKE, BUT ON THIS PARTICULAR MATTER, THE JURISDICTION IS JUST NOT IN OUR HANDS. I WISH I COULD GIVE YOU A BETTER ANSWER, BUT I CAN'T. OKAY. MAY I MAKE A COMMENT? SURE. ABSOLUTELY. UM, WE DID HAVE A MEETING WHICH WAS FACILITATED BY MARTHA TATUM WITH, UM, CENTERPOINT ON THE 14TH OF DECEMBER. AND IT WAS CALLED A SAFETY MEETING, BUT I DON'T REALLY FEEL LIKE IT WAS AN EFFECTIVE SAFETY MEETING. THE ONLY SAFETY TIPS THEY GAVE US WAS CALL 9 1 1 IF YOU SMELL GAS OR CALL THE CENTER POINT NUMBER IF YOU SMELL GAS. WHICH THEY GAVE US A NUMBER OUT VERBALLY, AND SOME OF US DIDN'T GET IT. AND, UM, THAT I DON'T PERCEIVE THAT AS BEING A QUOTE SAFETY MEETING. SO, AND I KNOW, AND I KNOW ABOUT THAT MEETING. AND, UM, VICE MAYOR TIM, UH, AND I HAD CONVERSATIONS AFTER THAT. AND, UH, WE ARE INSISTING THAT THEY PUT OUT LIKE A PAMPHLET WITH, UH, WHAT WE DO. SOMETIMES WE PUT THESE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON MEASURES AND, UH, AND THEN PROVIDE RESPONSES TO THOSE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS. WHAT, WHAT SHOULD WE DO IF THIS HAPPENED? WHAT SHOULD WE DO IF X HAPPENED? AND SO, UH, WE ARE INSISTING, UH, THAT IN ADDITION TO THAT MEETING, THAT THEY PUT OUT A PAMPHLET, SAFETY PAMPHLET, UH, THAT WILL ADDRESS MANY QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE WOULD ASK IF AN INCIDENT SHOULD HAPPEN. SO WE ARE, WE ARE, UH, MOVING FORWARD AND, UH, SAYING TO THEM THAT THEY NEED, THEY NEED TO DO JUST THAT. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. UM, AND IF I MISSTATED SOMETHING, VICE MAYOR PROAM. CORRECT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, MS. RAYON, UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND I, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WILL EVER BE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN SAY TO YOU AND THE RESIDENTS OF SOUTHWEST CROSSING THAT WILL SATISFY THE SENSE OF, UM, UH, FEAR, UM, YOUR INABILITY TO SLEEP, UM, AND THE FRUSTRATIONS THAT YOU HAVE EXPRESSED TO US AS A CITY COUNCIL. UM, BUT I WILL TELL YOU AT THE SAFETY MEETING, UM, MY OFFICE COMMITTED TO, UM, HOSTING ALONG WITH, UM, HFD AND THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT A, UM, PAMPHLET SO THAT RESIDENTS WOULD HAVE THAT TAKEAWAY IN THE MEETING. UH, SEVERAL OF THE RESIDENTS SAID THEY WISH THEY HAD SOMETHING TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE SAFETY MEETING. UH, AND WE ARE WORKING WITH THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TO DO THAT, UM, MATTER. AS A MATTER OF FACT, TODAY I RECEIVED, UM, WHAT OUR CURRENT OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HAS AS, UH, SAFETY PROCEDURES AND THE ANNEXES THAT THEY HAVE. WE ARE GOING TO COMPILE THOSE AND REASSEMBLE A MEETING WITH THE MEMBERS OF YOUR COMMUNITY SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE THAT TAKEAWAY. SO WHEN YOU DO SMELL GAS, YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO. SO WHEN YOU DO FEEL, HEAR SOMETHING, YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO. SO WE ARE WORKING ON PROVIDING YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY THAT, UH, SAFETY, UH, PRECAUTION OR THAT SAFETY PAMPHLET SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE THAT. CAN I ASK, ARE YOU DOING ANYTHING FOR THE SCHOOLS? 'CAUSE THE HISD REPRESENTATIVE THAT THE AT THE SCHOOLS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THAT PAMPHLET AS WELL. I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL, WE HAD SAFETY PROCEDURES. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THERE WAS A ANOTHER SCHOOL PERSON IN THAT MEETING, AND SCHOOLS DO HAVE, AND I, AND I REACHED OUT TO, UM, SOME MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. THEY HAVE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AT THE SCHOOLS. UM, SO CENTER POINT DOESN'T SPECIFICALLY SEND OUT A SAFETY PRECAUTION FROM CENTER POINT, BUT SCHOOLS HAVE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS IN GENERAL FOR ANY [01:15:01] INCIDENTS. UM, BUT THEY, EVERY SCHOOL WILL ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO THE PROCEDURES THAT WE PUT IN PLACE, AND I WILL PERSONALLY MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE A COPY. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. KENNETH BURGESS. KENNETH BURGESS. KENNETH, YOU FOLLOWED BY ZACHARY PETIT. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS KENNETH BURGESS. I'M A, UH, I SPENT 36 YEARS IN THE C INDUSTRY AS, UH, WORKING, UH, AT MY COMPANY, AND I'M HERE TO, UH, FIGHT FOR MY COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW. CENTER POINT IS NOT BEING TRANSPARENT ABOUT THE GAS RELEASE. ON DECEMBER 23RD, THE GAS RELEASE AT HILLCROFT AND DUBLIN STREET NEAR SOUTHWEST CROSS, THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS A SERIOUS NEAR MISS EVENT CENTER. PORT RELEASED A STATEMENT THAT THEIR STANDARD SAFETY PROCESS SAFETY, UH, THEIR STANDARD PROCESS TO SAFETY, UH, TO SAFETY RELEASE PRESSURE FROM THE NATURAL GAS, UH, SY GAS SYSTEM. THEY ALSO STATED THIS NATURAL GAS RELEASE WAS NOT RELATED TO THE PROPANE AIR PEAK SHAVING FACILITY IN THE AREA, AND POSES NO DANGER TO PUBLIC HEALTH. SO WHAT, WHAT IS CENTER POINT'S STANDARD PROCEDURE FOR RELEASING NATURAL GAS INTO THE APP, INTO THE ENVIRONMENT FOR MORE THAN THREE HOURS? NO DANGER TO PUBLIC SAFETY. OKAY. THIS IS THE SAME GAS THAT WOULD DESTROY YOUR HOME AND YOUR NEIGHBOR'S HOME IF YOU HAVE A GAS LEAK. AND, AND IF, IF IT'S IGNITED, YOU COULD, YOU COULD LOSE BOTH YOUR HOME AND YOUR NEIGHBOR'S HOME IF THAT GAS IS RELEASED. SET PORT IS NOT WILLING TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR LACK OF SAFETY DUE TO THE PUBLIC OR MY COMMUNITY OF SOUTHWEST CROSSING. THIS IS THE SAME CENTER POINT. THIS THAT'S THREATENING TO EXERCISE THEIR, UH, INTIMATE DOMAIN AUTHORITY TO LAY A 20 INCH PIPELINE THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD ON MY PROPERTY. SO THEY WANT TO TAKE THAT PROPERTY TO, TO, TO CREATE A NEW EASEMENT IN MY, IN MY, IN MY BACKYARD. CENTER PORT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE NOT PLACING THE PUBLIC AT RISK WITH THEIR ACTIONS. HERE'S SOME DATES AND NUMBERS TO KEEP IN MIND BECAUSE THEY, THEY'RE ON MY MIND ALL THE TIME. THE PHILIP DISASTER OF 1989, OCTOBER 23RD, 23 OF MY COWORKERS WERE KILLED WHEN 80, 85,000 POUNDS EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE GASES WERE RELEASED THROUGH AN OPEN VALVE. THE TEXAS CITY REFINERY EXPLOSION MARCH 23RD, 2005 17, KILLED 180 INJURED WHEN VAPOR, WHEN A VAPOR CLOUD OF NATURAL GAS AND PETROLEUM IGNITED THE CENTER POINT GAS RELEASE OF 2022. A NEAR MISS. THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A FIRING EXPLOSION, BUT GOD PROTECTED OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WITH, WITH HIS WINDS THAT BLEW THROUGH THERE AND PREVENTED THAT, THAT GAS FROM, FROM, UH, BEING IGNITED. THANK YOU VERY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. NEXT, NEXT SPEAKER, ZACHARY PETIT. ZACHARY PETIT BE FOLLOWED ABOUT REED. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNSEL, IF YOU'LL GET RIGHT BEHIND THAT MIC. THERE YOU GO. MY NAME IS ZACHARY PETIT. I LIVE IN SOUTHWEST CROSSING CENTER POINT CAME TO A SAFETY MEETING THAT THEY CALLED A SAFETY MEETING. THE PEOPLE THAT THEY SENT COULD NOT EVEN ANSWER SIMPLE QUESTIONS. THEY HAD TO LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND SAY, I'M GONNA TAKE IT BACK TO THE BOARD. YOU KNEW YOU WAS COMING TO A SIMPLE, UH, TO A SIMPLE SAFETY MEETING. YOU COULDN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION. THE FIRE CHIEF OR THE FIRE MARSHAL WAS NOT THERE. NONE OF 'EM THERE TO REPRESENT THE CITY OR FOR US, NO ONE, BUT OUR CITY COUNCILWOMAN. NOW, WE HAD A NEAR MISS. IF YOU EVER BEEN IN A GARAGE, A MECHANIC SHOP, AND HERE AN AIRLINE HOSE BUST. I WAS WALKING MY DOG WHEN THE LINE WENT OFF, THERE WAS SO MUCH GAS IN THE AIR, ALL IT WAS DOING WAS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO IGNITE IT. ALL IT HAS TO HAVE IS SOMETHING HOT TO IGNITE IT. THE WHOLE AREA WOULD'VE WENT. MIND ME. FOUR DAYS AFTER A SO-CALLED SAFETY MEETING, WHAT CAUSED THAT CHECK? BAIL TO FAIL WHAT THE CENTER POINT MAN TOLD ME. TRASH IN THE LINE. THEY SAY THEY MONITOR ALL THIS DOWNTOWN. THEY WOULDN'T MONITOR BECAUSE IF THEY DID, THEY KNEW WHERE THEY LOST PRESSURE AT. THEY WOULD'VE BEEN THERE IMMEDIATELY. [01:20:01] WE HAD TO CALL 9 1 1. WE HAVE TO MONITOR SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE PUTTING IN. IT'S NOT HELPING THE COMMUNITY FOR US. IT'S HELPING PEOPLE 40 MILES AWAY. NOW, CENTER POINT IS SENDING OUT ONE PACKAGE. NEIGHBORS GETTING THIS YESTERDAY, IT TAKE A LAWYER TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS. IT TAKES A LAWYER. YOU WANNA FIND INTIMATE DOMAIN ON MY PROPERTY TO PUT DOWN ANOTHER 20 INCH PIPE BEHIND MY HOUSE. WHERE WAS CENTER POINT AT TO MOW THE GRASS FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS? WE DON'T OWN THE PROPERTY. WE'RE NOT GONNA MOW IT. WE PAY TO MOW OUR OWN PROPERTY. NOW YOU WANT TO COME IN AND FIND INTIMATE DOMAIN FILE LAWSUIT, GIVE US CRUMBS ON PENNIES. WE ASK THEM TO BUY US OUT. IT'S NOT FOR 40 HOUSES. BUY US OUT, THEN YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. YOU HAVE ALL THE OPEN SPACE. YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. DON'T SEND ME THIS AND TELL I'M GONNA FILE INTIMATE DOMAIN ON YOU. IF YOU DON'T SELL ME YOUR PROPERTY FOR A LITTLE OF NOTHING, BUY US OUT 40 HOUSES. THAT'S ALL IT IS. AS MR. BIRD SAID, GAS VAPORS IN THE AIR. ALL IT NEED IS SOMETHING TO IGNITE IT. MS. MARYLAND SAID ALL THE SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES ARE AROUND ALL THE KIDS THAT'S PLAYING OVER AT THE PARK PLAYING SOCCER THAT YOU ALL HAVE JUST PUT IN. MARY, YOU TOLD ME AT THE BEAUTIFICATION MEETING, YOU HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. YOU WOULD BE A VOICE FOR US. YOU HAVE NOT. YOU TOLD ME, HAD THE BEST CITY COUNCILWOMAN, SHE WILL BE A VOICE FOR HER. SHE HAS NOT BEEN. EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN DONE IS AFTER THE FACT. IT'S ALL BEHIND. WE'RE RUNNING THE RACE OR BEHIND IN MY COMMUNITY. I SPEAK FOR, NOT FOR MYSELF. I SPEAK FOR MY COMMUNITY AND MY NEIGHBORS. WE'RE A LOT OF RETIRED PEOPLE THERE. WE'VE BEEN THERE FOR YEARS. IT'S NOT BENEFITING US IN THAT WE HAVE NO PROPANE IN OUR AREA. 40 MILES AWAY IN KA IS WHERE IT'S GOING. IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT HELPING US. IT, IT IS HELPING PEOPLE 40 MILES AWAY. SEND IT DOWN TO WEST SPARK TOLL ROAD. AGAIN. LET ME, LET ME SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LET ME, LET ME JUST SAY THIS ONE MORE TIME. THE CITY OF HOUSTON DID NOT AUTHORIZE THIS PROPANE FACILITY. IT IS NOT IN OUR AUTHORITY. YOU'RE COMING TO US. I UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION. I'M NOT UPSET WITH THAT. I UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION. BUT YOU'RE COMING TO US SEEKING A REMEDY AND IN THIS CASE, NOT FOR IT TO GO FORWARD WHEN WE DIDN'T AUTHORIZE IT IN THE FIRST PLACE. THAT'S THE RAILROAD COMMISSION, SIR. THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WE DON'T HAVE THE, WE DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE THE POWER. BUT I UNDERSTAND YOU BEING HERE. WE ARE THE CLOSEST TO YOU. I, I GOT THAT. SO I'M NOT, I'M, I'M NOT, UM, UPSET OR FRUSTRATED WITH YOU. I KNOW YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BE FRUSTRATED. I DON'T TAKE ISSUE WITH THAT. BUT ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT I CANNOT STOP WHAT I DID NOT ALLOW. THAT'S THE ONLY THING I'M SAYING TO YOU. SAY THIS, YOU, YOU, YOU UPSET YOU AND, AND I UNDERSTAND BEING UPSET, SO DON'T GET ME WRONG, BUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON CANNOT STOP WHAT THE STATE ALLOWED SAY. I WISH I HAD, WISH I HAD ANOTHER ANSWER FOR YOU, BUT I DON'T. LEMME SAY VICE MAYOR CAST TAYLOR, MR. ETT, UH, AGAIN, UH, I DON'T THINK ANYTHING THAT WE WILL EVER SAY WILL SATISFY THE FRUSTRATION THAT, THAT YOU AND YOUR, AND YOUR NEIGHBORS FEEL. BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE TALK ABOUT THE FACTS. UM, THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT YOU SAID, AND I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU SAY THEM, BUT THEY AREN'T TRUE. UH, THE FIRST THING IS THAT THE GAS IS FOR PEOPLE IN KATY. AND WE'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, UM, FROM WHAT WE WERE TOLD FOR BY CENTER POINT. AND A CENTER POINT REPRESENTATIVE IS HERE WHO CAN EXPLAIN IT PROBABLY BETTER THAN I CAN, THAT THOSE FACILITIES ARE IN PLACE IN PLACES FOR THEIR IMMEDIATE CUSTOMERS. SO EVERY TIME WE HAVE A MEETING AND YOU SAY THEY PUT THE PROPANE TANKS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD FOR PEOPLE IN KATY THAT'S INACCURATE. THAT PROPANE IS THERE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE CLOSEST TO THE PROPANE, UH, TANKS. UH, SO FOR YOU TO KEEP SAYING IT FOR PEOPLE IN KATIE, THAT'S INACCURATE. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE TALK ABOUT THE FACTS. UH, AND I ALSO WANNA SAY, AND, AND THIS IS IN NO WAY, UM, TO, I I, I SAY ALL THIS WITH TOTAL RESPECT TO YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBORS. UM, WHEN WE HAD THE VERY FIRST MEETING, UH, CHIEF PENA WAS THERE WHEN WE HAD THE, UH, PROTEST. CHIEF PENA WAS THERE, AND THEN THE, THE, HE WAS THERE, HE STOOD RIGHT NEXT TO ME. AND THEN THE RESIDENTS SAID, YOU KNOW HOW DANGEROUS THIS IS BECAUSE THEY EVEN BROUGHT THE FIRE CHIEF HERE. AND [01:25:01] YOU USE THAT TO WEAPONIZE US AS OPPOSED TO SAYING THE, THE, THE CHIEF OF POLICE IS HERE TO, TO HELP US AND PROVIDE THE SERVICE. BECAUSE IF SOMETHING IS TO HAPPEN AT THAT FACILITY, THEY ARE OUR LINE OF DEFENSE. THEY WOULD BE THE ONES THAT WOULD RESPOND IF THERE WAS AN INCIDENT. AND I DO WANT TO REITERATE IN THE SAFETY MEETING THAT THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM CENTERPOINT SAID THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THIS BUSINESS FOR 50 YEARS WITH THESE PROPANE TANKS, AND THEY HAVE NOT HAD ONE INCIDENT. AND THAT GAVE ME A LITTLE, UM, REPRIEVE BECAUSE THEY DO IT UP NORTH. UH, THEY'VE MOVED TO THE SOUTH BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND BECAUSE WE'VE, WE ARE HAVING MORE COLDER, UM, WINTERS. UH, I DO WISH THEY WOULD HAVE PUT THAT SOMEWHERE ELSE. WE ASKED THEM TO PUT IT SOMEWHERE ELSE AND THEY, THEY COULD NOT MOVE IT OR THEY WOULD NOT MOVE IT. UM, AND SO I AM COMMITTED TO DOING ALL THAT WE CAN SO THAT IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. UM, AND THAT WE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH SOME SENSE OF, UM, SAFETY PROCEDURES. UM, BUT I DO WANT US TO TALK ABOUT THE FACTS. UM, AND I DO KNOW, UH, MAYOR, THAT JASON FABRE IS IN THE AUDIENCE. UM, BECAUSE SOME OF, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, MR. PETIT HAS SAID WAS, WAS INACCURATE. AND I DO WANT US TO DEAL IN CORRECT, UH, INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC AND TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AS WELL. OKAY. EVERYBODY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ON SOMETHING THE CITY COUNCILWOMAN, IS THERE A MOTION TO EXTEND THE MOTION TO EXTEND ANYWAY, PLEASE GRANT THE MOTION TO EXTEND MOTION. MOTION TO EXTEND SECOND ROBINSON. THEN SECOND JIM CHAIR STEIN MOTION. WHAT I WANNA SAY IS, YOU ALL TOLD US AT A BEAUTIFICATION MEETING THAT YOU ALL DIDN'T ISSUE ANY PERMITS. AT THE LAST MOMENT WE GOT HANDED DOWN THAT THEY HAD TO ISSUE A PERMIT FOR A BUILDING, MS. MARTHA SAID, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT. YOU JUST SAID THAT ALSO WHAT I TOLD YOU AT THE EDUCATION MEETING, PERMITS COME OUTTA THE CITY. ANYTHING YOU BUILD IN THE CITY, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PERMIT. WE GOT IT AT THE LAST MINUTE. EVERYTHING WE HAVE GOTTEN FROM CENTER POINT OR FROM YOU ALL HAS BEEN AFTER THE LAST MINUTE. WE CANNOT RESPOND ON IT UNLESS WE HAVE AN ATTORNEY. WE HAVE TO HIRE ATTORNEY TO HANDLE THIS. JUST LIKE WE HAVE TO HIRE ATTORNEY TO HANDLE, GO THROUGH ALL THIS CENTER POINT. CENTER US. WE GOT THIS OUTTA THE MAIL YESTERDAY. LEMME SAY IT'S ONLY 40 HOUSES, BUT THANK YOU. LEMME JUST SAY YOU'RE MIXING, YOU'RE MIXING APPLES. AND ON JUST SIR, THE RIGHT TO BUILD THAT PROPANE FACILITY, THE AUTHORIZATION WAS GIVEN BY THE TEXAS RAILROAD COMMISSION. YES. WHEN YOU ARE BUILDING CERTAIN THINGS IN THE CITY, THERE ARE PERMITS BASED ON TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS. AND IF YOU SATISFY THOSE TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS, YES, WE WILL ISSUE THE PERMIT. BUT THE AUTHORIZATION TO BUILD THAT PROPANE FACILITY CAME FROM THE TEXAS RAILROAD COMMISSION. WE HELD UP THAT PERMIT FOR VERY TECHNICAL REASONS. AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT I AUTHORIZED IT TO BE HELD UP PENDING THE SAFETY MEETING. OTHERWISE, WE HAD NO RIGHT TO HOLD THAT UP, BUT WE DID. OKAY. SO AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND YOUR FRUSTRATION, BUT, UH, YOU'RE BEFORE US. IF YOU WANT IT TO BE BEFORE THE BODY THAT AUTHORIZED THAT PROPANE FACILITY, THAT'S THE RAILROAD COMMISSION IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. OH, WE'LL BE THERE AND NOT HERE. OKAY. AND OFTENTIMES WHAT I FIND, AND, AND, AND I UNDERSTAND, LOOK, I UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION. OKAY? I, I GOT THAT. I WOULDN'T WANT IT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT I DON'T HAVE, BUT I, IF IT CAME TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD, I WOULDN'T HAVE THE AUTHORIZATION TO STOP IT. JUST LIKE THESE, WHAT YOU CALL THESE CONCRETE PLANTS, BATCH QUESTION BATCH PLANTS AUTHORIZED BY THE STATE AND THEY'RE IN ACRES HOME. AND I DON'T, AND I'VE BEEN OUT THERE SPEAKING AGAINST THAT ONE, BUT I COULDN'T STOP IT. BUT I UNDERSTAND FRUSTRATION. I I GOT THAT. ONLY THING I WOULD SAY IS THAT OFTEN, WELL, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. I WISH WE HAD BETTER ANSWERS, BUT, UH, WE'VE GIVEN YOU THE BEST ANSWERS THAT WE HAVE. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, BRITTANY ICK TO BE FOLLOWED BY TRUFFER KING. [01:30:01] UM, HELLO, MAYOR. MARTHA, COUNSEL, UH, THANK YOU FOR, UM, ALLOWING US TO SPEAK. UM, I'M GOING TO JUST MAKE SURE I STICK TO THE TIME. SO EVERYBODY, YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD EVERYBODY SPEAK ABOUT THIS ISSUE. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO I HAVE NOT SEEN THE LAST TIME WE CAME, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT. UM, SINCE LAST YEAR, EARLY ON IN THE SUMMER OF 2021, WELL, ACTUALLY WE KIND OF JUMPED A FEW YEARS, BUT, UM, SO WE'RE DEALING WITH, UH, PROPANE GAS FACILITY IN DISTRICT K. THIS ISN'T THE FIRST. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND. THE FIRST ONE IS ON A ROAD. IT HAS 360,000 GALLONS OF PROPANE. AND THE ONE THAT'S NEAR US, 300,000 GALLONS OF PROPANE. JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU SOME NUMBERS, THIS FACILITY HAS LIQUIFIED PROPANE. SO THAT'S 660,000 GALLONS TOTAL IN OUR DISTRICT IS UP THREE MILES AWAY FROM EACH OTHER. THESE FACILITIES, UH, IF YOU CONVERT THAT TO ITS AIR FIVE FORM, WHICH I BELIEVE THAT'S HOW THEY'LL BE USING IT, IT'LL BE 162 MILLION GALLONS OF PROPANE. UM, SO YOU, YOU'VE HEARD OUR CONCERNS. UM, ACTUALLY, MAYOR, THIS, I HAVE A PACKET FOR YOU. I'LL GIVE IT TO YOU AFTER. I SHOULD HAVE GAVE IT TO YOU BEFORE. BUT, UM, WHAT I REALLY WANNA FOCUS ON IS THE SAFETY MEETING. SO THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE SAYING. WE DON'T HAVE TO REITERATE IT. WE KNOW THAT THE CITY DOES NOT GIVE THE PERMITS, UH, UH, AS FAR AS BEING APPROVED, THOSE TYPES OF FACILITIES, WE UNDERSTAND IT'S THE RAILROAD COMMISSION. HOWEVER, IT'S NEVER GOING TO BE, UH, UNNECESSARY FOR US TO KEEP TELLING YOU THIS INFORMATION BECAUSE THE RISK IS STILL THERE, DESPITE THE FACT THAT, UH, THEY WERE LEGALLY OR DO THE LAW ARE ALLOWED TO DO THIS. THERE'S THINGS WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT WERE APPROVED BY THE LAW YEARS AGO THAT I DON'T THINK ANY OF SOME OF YOU SITTING HERE WOULD APPROVE OF. SO, UM, WITH THE, UH, THE SAFETY MEETING, THE WAY WE GOT THAT, WE CAME ON OCTOBER 11TH AND WE SAID, MARTHA, YOU SAID THAT YOU WOULD HOLD THE PERMIT UNTIL THERE WAS A THOROUGH SAFETY PLAN PUT IN PLACE. I MADE SURE THAT I QUOTED IT CORRECTLY. 'CAUSE LIKE YOU, I'M NOT A FAN OF MISINFORMATION EITHER. WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR ON THE SAME PAGE. SO THAT'S WHAT THE EXPECTATION WAS, A THOROUGH SAFETY PLAN. SO AT THIS MEETING, JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS MEETING, CENTER POINT REPRESENTATIVES WERE THERE. UM, THEY DID TELL US TO CALL 9 1 1 OR THE CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. UM, BUT THE MAIN CONCERN WAS, UH, FOR A LOT OF US WAS ABOUT TERRORIST ATTACKS, BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN, UH, IN NORTH CAROLINA HOW THERE WAS ATTACK ON THE POWER GRID AND ALSO, UM, OTHER THINGS. IT'S JUST A CONCERN. IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S CAN HAPPEN. EVEN THOUGH THESE ARE PROBABILITIES, IT CAN HAPPEN. AND SO WHEN IT HAPPENS, WE'RE JUST SAYING YOU NEED TO BE FULLY AWARE THAT THE RISKS THAT ARE INVOLVED, THE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE AFFECTED, IF THIS BECOMES A REALITY, WE UNDERSTAND IT'S NOT A REALITY RIGHT NOW, BUT THE FACT IS, IT CAN BE, WHICH IS SCARY ENOUGH. YOUR TIME HAS EXPOSURE. MOTION TO EXTEND SECOND ROBINSON. MOVE SECOND. ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR? NONE. MOTION IS GRANTED. I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. UM, QUICKLY, UM, ANOTHER THING TO BE NOTED ABOUT THE SAFETY MEETING. WE DID HAVE, UM, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM TSU, THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM PRESENT, AND SHE RECOMMENDED THAT CENTERPOINT CREATE A SAFETY DISASTER PLAN. AND A TEAM, MARTHA, YOU AGREED TO THAT. UM, AND UM, ALSO TO LEAD THAT. AND SO, UM, SO WE HAD A, A, A EMAIL TO GET, I THINK, UH, PUBLIC, UH, SAFETY AND, UH, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, HISD, DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE INVOLVED WITH THIS TO CREATE A SAFETY PLAN. AND SO, JUST TO KIND OF REALLY EMPHASIZE THE CONCERN HERE, UM, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS FACILITY IS THERE, BUT AGAIN, TO REITERATE, LIKE, UM, MR. ZACH SAID, IT'S ALL COMING AFTER THE FACT. SO WE'RE ALREADY AT A RISK. WE, WE TALKED ABOUT THE RECENT GAS INCIDENT. IF THERE WAS SOMETHING THERE TO IGNITE IT, THERE COULD BE AN INCIDENT, THERE WOULD BE AN INCIDENT. AND SO JUST TO SEE, JUST TO PAINT THE PICTURE OF HOW WE'RE FEELING AND, AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS THAT ALL OF THESE PRECAUTIONARY, UM, FIXES OR WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL 'EM, ARE COMING WAY AFTER THE FACT AFTER WE ARE ALREADY SITTING NEXT TO PROPANE, WHICH THEY DID FILL THOSE TANKS, UM, DURING THE THANKSGIVING BREAK. SO WE'RE, WE'RE ALREADY BEHIND THE LOOP THERE. UM, SO THE SAFETY PLAN, DISASTER PLAN THAT WE WERE EXPECTING WAS NOT WHAT WAS THERE, IT WAS WHAT WAS PRESENTED BY SOMEONE AT THE MEETING, WHICH IS HOW WE GOT TO THIS POINT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO CREATE A TEAM. BUT AGAIN, IT'S AFTER THE FACT. UM, AND ALSO WE DO WANNA NOTE THAT NO ONE FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT [01:35:01] WAS THERE. I KNOW YOU SAID CHIEF PENA WAS OUTTA TOWN, BUT TO ME AND TO OUR NEIGHBORS, SINCE THEY WILL BE FIRST RESPONDERS IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, WE FELT THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE REALLY BEEN AT THIS MEETING OR AT LEAST SOMEBODY TO REPRESENT THEM BECAUSE THAT'S KIND OF, WE'RE AT A LATE STAGE WHERE IT'S A LOT OF EMOTIONS. WE FEEL UNSAFE. SO HAVING THOSE KEY PEOPLE PRESENT IS VERY IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW. UM, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE SCHOOLS AGAIN, UH, UM, UH, FIELD SAFETY, HISD REPRESENTATIVE WAS PRESENT. UM, THEY DO NOT HAVE A PLAN. I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE SAYING THAT THEY DO HAVE DIFFERENT PROTOCOLS AND SAFETY PROCEDURES. THAT'S I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THEY HAVE SPECIFIC PLANS FOR EXPLOSIONS, FIRES OF THAT CAPACITY. THIS IS A LARGE CAPACITY. SO IN THE CASE OF SOMETHING HAPPENS, DO THEY HAVE A PLAN FOR THAT? DO THEY KNOW, DO THE STAFF TEACHERS KNOW? CAN THEY EVACUATE QUICKLY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO EVACUATE? THAT'S GONNA BE A WIDE RADIUS. UM, OKAY. AND LET ME, UM, LET ME SAY ONE ANYTHING TO TRY TO BRING SOME CLARIFICATION. OKAY. AND WE ALL KNOW THAT THE RAILROAD COMMISSION APPROVED IT. I THINK WE ALL CLEAR ON THAT, RIGHT? THE ONLY THING THAT THE CITY HAD OBLIGATION TO DO WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY PRESENTED BUILDING PLANS CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY'S CODE. OKAY? IF THEY PRESENTED BUILDING PLANS MM-HMM . OKAY. THE PROPANE PLANT STATE SAID YOU CAN BUILD IT. RIGHT? SO THE ONLY THING THEY GIVE TO HAVE TO, THAT THE CITY HAS TO LOOK AT IT IS DID YOU BUILD IT IN ACCORDANCE TO THE CITY'S CODE? RIGHT? IF THEY PRESENTED PLANS WHERE THEY BUILT IT IN ACCORDANCE TO THE CITY'S CODE, WE ARE AUTHORIZED TO GRANT THEM THEIR PERMIT. WE HAVE NO REASON NOT TO UNDERSTOOD. BUT IN THIS CASE, AND I SAY IN THIS BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY CONCERNS, WE HELD OFF ON GRANTING THE BUILDING PERMIT AND SAID, GO AND HAVE A SAFETY MEETING. OKAY? THAT'S NOT A PART OF OUR OPERATION. OKAY? BUT WHAT WE SAID, AND SPECIFICALLY WHAT I SAID TO MY PERMITTING DEPARTMENT IN THIS SENSE, WANT THEM TO GO AND HAVE A SAFETY MEETING FIRST. MM-HMM . OKAY. BUT V A'S DOMAIN, IF THEY BUILT IT IN ACCORDANCE TO OUR BUILDING CODE, WE ARE OBLIGATED TO, TO GRANT THE PERMIT. THAT'S THE PERMIT THAT WE GIVE. NOT WHETHER OR NOT THE PROBATE FACILITY SHOULD BE, THAT DECISION HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE. AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE. SO I JUST, I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT AS A PART OF THE CONVERSATION. OKAY. WHAT, CAN I JUST MAKE A REAL QUICK SURE. ABSOLUTELY. JUST A QUICK COMMENT. AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND THAT COMPLETELY. I, I REALLY WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT COMPLETELY. WHAT I'M JUST SAYING TO YOU AND TO EVERYONE PRESENT HERE IS THAT IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE RISKS. AND SO YOU NEED TO BE AWARE THAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENED AT THE FACILITY, THE CITY WILL RESPOND. YOU HAVE TO ABSOLUTELY. AND THERE COULD BE A LOSS OF PROPERTY, LOSS OF LIFE. ABSOLUTELY. IN THE WORST CASE SCENARIO. SO THIS IS JUST FOR YOUR AWARENESS, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT ANYTHING, IF ANYTHING SHOULD HAPPEN OUT THERE, ANYTHING ABOUT IT, IF ANYTHING, EVEN IF THE STATE AUTHORIZED IT, EVEN IF THE FEDS ARE AUTHORIZED IT, THE STATE WON'T RESPOND TO THE EMERGENCY. YOU GUYS WILL. I YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. SO THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING, THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. WE, WE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE, RIGHT. STATE AUTHORIZED TO SAY, YOU CAN PUT IT THERE. RIGHT. BUT IF SOMETHING SHOULD HAPPEN, THE STATE'S NOT COMING. RIGHT? OKAY. YEAH. YEAH. THE CITY, THE CITY WILL HAVE TO RESPOND. AND THAT'S WHY AS MAYOR, AND I'M SURE AS MANY OF CITY COUNCIL THAT WE WOULD SAY WE SHOULD HAVE MORE SAY, I'M HOPING YOU GET AT THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION. OKAY. MY, MY, MY POSITION IS BEFORE YOU PUT IT HERE, THE CITY SHOULD HAVE A LOT MORE SAY OKAY. BEFORE YOU PUT IT. AND I AM HOPING THAT THE LEGISLATURE WILL, UH, WILL ADDRESS THAT. BECAUSE IN THE, AND YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. IN THE END, IF ANYTHING SHOULD HAPPEN, IT'S THE CITY POLICE AND FIRE. YEAH. THAT WILL HAVE TO RESPOND. I NO ISSUE, NO QUESTION AT ALL ON THAT. VICE MAYOR TE CAST. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, BRITTANY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE ON BEHALF OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, AND I DO WANNA TELL YOU THAT, UM, HOMELAND SECURITY WAS AT [01:40:01] THE MEETING, UH, THEY SAT IN THE VERY BACK OF THE MEETING FROM, UH, HFD. UH, THEY, THEY WERE PRESENT TAKING NOTES, UM, IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN, UH, WHAT WE WILL NOW DO, WHICH IS PULL TOGETHER SOME SAFETY PROCEDURES, UM, TO PRESENT TO YOU, UM, AS PART OF THAT TEAM AND THE OTHER MEMBERS WHO WILL WORK WITH US, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF YOUR NEIGHBORS, ALL OF THE SCHOOLS, THE CHURCHES THAT ARE IN THAT AREA, KNOW WHAT A SAFETY PROCEDURE WOULD BE IN CASE OF AN INCIDENT. UM, WE, WE'VE GOT THE BASELINE TO THAT. AND WHEN WE HAVE A, A, A STRONGER DOCUMENT WE'LL PUT TO PUT TOGETHER A MEETING THAT YOU'LL, YOU'LL BE A PART OF. I DID WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT, UM, SENATOR MILES IS, UM, GOING TO CARRY SOME LEGISLATION, THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION. I, I THINK YOU, YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THAT? YES. I SPOKE WITH HIM. YOU, YOU'VE SPOKEN WITH HIS OFFICE. UM, SO, UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON WILL BE WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORTING THAT LEGISLATION. UM, I HOPE THAT THE RESIDENTS OF SOUTHWEST CROSSING WOULD ALSO PARTICIPATE IN THOSE HEARINGS BECAUSE YOU HAVE A STORY, UM, THAT IS A FACE TO THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION. UH, AND, AND I REALLY WOULD WANT, UM, YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN, UH, MAKING A CHANGE FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES. UM, KNOW THAT WE, WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO BRING SOME SENSE OF PEACE TO THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY. UM, I KNOW THAT IS AN UPHILL LIFT. UH, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WILL EVER BE, UH, A TIME WHERE, WHEN, AS LONG AS THAT PROPERTY IS THERE THAT YOU FEEL SAFE. UM, BUT I WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN. I KNOW WE HAVE THE COMMITMENT FROM OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, TO SUPPORT THAT LEGISLATION, UM, AND PROVIDE AS MUCH INFORMATION. UH, CHIEF PENA IS, UM, ON BOARD FOR PROVIDING AS MUCH INFORMATION. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, I'VE SPOKEN WITH HIM, I'VE SPOKEN WITH, UM, UH, CHIEF WEST, THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROPERTY. THEY KNOW WHAT'S ON THE PROPERTY. AS A MATTER OF FACT, ONE OF THE COMMENTS WAS THEY KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT'S ON THE PROPERTY ON THE CENTER POINT PROPERTY THAN THEY DO AT A TRADITIONAL GAS STATION. UM, SO BECAUSE OF THE HIGHER THRESHOLD WITH PROPERTIES THAT ARE PERMITTED THROUGH THE RAILROAD COMMISSION, THEY HAVE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S THERE AND WHAT THEY WILL DO IF THERE IS AN INCIDENT. SO, UM, ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP GIVE AS MUCH INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE TO YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WE WILL DO IT. YOU, YOU, YOU HAVE, UM, MY WORD THAT I WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO HELP YOU. OKAY. JUST ONE FINAL QUESTION. AS FAR AS THE PERMIT GOES, HAS THAT BEEN ISSUED OR IS IT STILL ON HOLD? IT HASN'T BEEN ISSUED YET. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I GOT AN EMAIL FROM, UM, UH, WHO'S THE, UH, CHRIS, CHRIS BUTLER TODAY ASKING IF THE SAFETY MEETING HAD TAKEN PLACE. AND I DID TELL HIM, YES, THE SAFETY MEETING HAS TAKEN PLACE. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'VE GIVEN THE, THE PERMIT YET. BUT, UM, HE DID SEND ME AN EMAIL TODAY THAT SAID, HAS THE SAFETY MEETING TAKEN PLACE. OKAY. NOW, I, I ALSO WANNA ADD THAT LANTANA SITE WAS NOT ACTIVE DURING, UH, THE FREEZE. I GOT A EMAIL AND A CALL SAYING THAT THERE WAS GAS AT THE, THERE WAS, UM, GAS BEING EMITTED FROM THE LANTANA SITE. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED CENTERPOINT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THAT SITE WAS NOT ACTIVE. UM, THAT THEY, THEY PUT PROPANE IN IT. IT WAS NOT FILLED UP WITH GAS, AND IT WAS NOT ACTIVE DURING, UM, DURING THE FREEZE. SO WHATEVER YOU WERE SMELLING WAS NOT COMING FROM LANTANA. IT WAS COMING FROM ANOTHER, UM, CENTER POINT SITE. RIGHT. THAT HAD SOME SAFETY MEASURES IN PLACE. YEAH. AND THAT, THAT SMELL IS AN ODORANT, WHICH IS A PROTECTION. RIGHT. SO IF GAS COMES IN YOUR HOUSE MM-HMM . YOU WOULD SMELL IT. OTHERWISE YOU WOULD NOT SMELL THE GAS AND SOMETHING TRAGIC COULD HAPPEN. RIGHT. SO THAT SMELL WAS ACTUALLY A PROTECTANT MM-HMM . AND I GOT THAT DIRECTLY FROM CENTERPOINT. I IMMEDIATELY SENT AN EMAIL TO THE PRESIDENT OF, UM, SOUTHWEST CROSSING AND TO EVERYONE THAT RESPONDED TO ME, THE INFORMATION THAT I HAD, SO THAT I CAN GIVE YOU THAT INFORMATION IN REAL TIME. AND I'M COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO DO THAT TO YOU, FOR YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBORS. OKAY. WELL, WE WEREN'T TALKING ABOUT, UH, 'CAUSE I KNOW I EMAILED YOU, BUT I, I DIDN'T SAY THE ANA, UH, WAS THE LIFT STATION THAT WAS ON DUBLIN IN HILLCROFT. SO I DON'T KNOW WHO SET THE LANTANA SITE, BUT ALL OF US HERE THAT DO CONSULT WITH YOU ABOUT THIS ISSUE. YEAH. NO, WE WEREN'T REFERRING TO THE LAN SITE. WE KNEW IT WASN'T ACTIVE. IT WAS THE ONE ON NEXT TO THE CAR WASH. THAT'S THE ONE THAT WAS MAKING THE NOISE AND HAD [01:45:01] THE GAS MAIL. SO YEAH, WE, WE KNEW IT WASN'T THE LANTANA SITE. OKAY. THANKS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. OH, THIS IS FOR YOU. CAN I GIVE THIS TO SOMEONE? LER KING. TRUFFER KING IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY CLARE KING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. TURNER. AND TO THE HOUSTON CITY RIGHT BEHIND THAT MIC. OKAY. UM, I'M GONNA BE VERY BRIEF. UH, AS I LOOK AROUND, I'M HERE TO PLACE MY GRIEVANCE, UH, WITH MY AREA WHERE I LIVE AT TOO. UH, BUT I LOOK AROUND, I FEEL MUCH OLDER GENERATION THAT ARE, UM, ABOUT TO CELEBRATE THE MARTIN LUTHER KING'S, UH, HOLIDAY MYSELF. I WAS ACTUALLY BORN ON THE DATE ON HIS BIRTHDAY. AND I COME TO APPRECIATE MEN AND WOMEN THAT FOLK PUT THEIR RIGHTS IN. I AM REALLY, UH, GLAD THAT I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT, UM, RETALIATION OF SPEAKING UP FOR MY RIGHTS. SO I, I REALLY THANK YOU, YOU GUYS FOR THE PAST GENERATION. UH, MY GRIEVANCES, UH, I HAVEN'T BEEN, I'M DISABLED. UH, AND MY DAUGHTER IS MY, UM, HEALTHCARE PROVIDER. WE MOVED INTO AN APARTMENT COMPLEX. WE HAVEN'T BEEN THERE, UM, A FULL 60 DAYS. THE PROBLEM IS THEY HAVE, UM, PETS ABOVE US. WE, WHEN WE SIGNED THE LEASE, UH, WE, WE REQUESTED NOT TO BE AROUND PETS BECAUSE OF MY BREATHING SITUATION. UM, WE WENT, I WENT AND COMPLAINED, UH, TO THE APARTMENT COMPLEX. 'CAUSE BOTH ME AND MY DAUGHTER ON THE PROPERTY OR IN THE UNIT, THEIR FIRST RESPONSE WAS TO COME BACK AND SPRAY. THAT DIDN'T WORK BECAUSE I HAVE BREATHING ISSUES. AND MY DAUGHTER'S DUE ANY DAY ON FRIDAY. SHE WOULD BE 36 WEEKS AT FULL TERM. WE ASKED THEM, THEY SPRAYED, UH, FOR THE FIRE ANTS. AND ALSO WE WASN'T AWARE OF THE BROACH PROBLEM. THE NEXT TIME I WENT BEFORE, UH, THE MANAGER AND THE ASSISTANT MANAGER, I ASKED HIM, WE ARE NOT TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE LEASE AGAIN. WE HAVE NOT BEEN THERE GOOD 60 DAYS. WE'RE NOT TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE LEASE. WE JUST WANNA BE MOVED TO ANOTHER UNIT WHERE WE HAD SPECIFICALLY PUT ON THE LEASE FOR, UH, ANY KIND OF PETS TO BE AROUND BECAUSE OF MY DISABILITY AND BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER'S BRINGING IN MY, UH, FIRST GRANDCHILD. UH, AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS, BARBARA, DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO AND WE'LL DO WHAT WE'LL HAVE TO DO. UH, AND AT THAT POINT, MY NEXT STEP WAS TO GO TO OUR, UM, CITY COUNCIL, MAN, UH, MEN, UH, CITY, CITY COUNCIL WOMAN, WHICH WAS PRECINCT ONE, WHICH WAS MR. ELLIS OFFICE. I HAVE HAD, I GOT IN, I ACTUALLY, UH, HAD SPOKEN TO THE OFFICE MAYBE ABOUT THREE O'CLOCK YESTERDAY. AND AS FAST AS I COULD GET THE INFORMATION TO THEM, HE, HE MIGHT NOT HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO RESPOND OR TRY TO BRING IT, YOU KNOW, A, A RESOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM. BUT, UM, I, I DON'T THINK THAT THEY REALLY TOOK ME SERIOUS AS OF GOING THIS FAR. I JUST WANT TO SEE, BECAUSE WHEN I DID TALK TO THIS PERSON, UH, I'M SORRY, YOUR TOM HAS BEEN CAN I, AN EXTENSION PLEASE. YEAH. YEAH. AND, AND I'M OKAY. YES, SIR. AND YOU AND I CAN TALK, BUT I DO KNOW THAT, UM, THIS IS A PROPERTY THAT'S OUTSIDE OF THE CITY. YES, SIR. BUT IT, BUT IT IS IN, UH, I THINK, UH, HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT ONE. YES, SIR. IT IS. UH, PRECINCT ONE. YEAH. SO WE CERTAINLY CAN FOLLOW UP WITH, UH, UH, WITH COMMISSIONER, UH, ON THIS, ON, ON THE, ON YOUR BEHALF. YES, SIR. OKAY. UH, TO ASK THAT, TO ASK THE, UM, THE COUNTY, THE COMMISSIONER TO GET, TO GET INVOLVED. UM, YES, SIR. YOU KNOW, FOR YOU. YES, SIR. AND I, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF I CAN GET ANY KINDA HELP. AND AGAIN, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO GET OUT, AT LEAST WE JUST WANNA BE PUT I UNDERSTAND. IN THE UNIT, UM, BECAUSE OF MY HEALTH CONDITIONS. NO, I UNDERSTAND. I UNDERSTAND. YES, SIR. YEAH. UM, IT DOES FALL OUTSIDE THE CITY, BUT NONETHELESS, UH, WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE, UM, WITH THE COMMISSIONERS. SO I'M GONNA ASK MY TEAM TO, UM, UH, TO, UH, GET WITH PRECINCT ONE. YES, SIR. AND, UH, SEE, UH, ABOUT PROVIDING YOU WITH SOME ASSISTANCE. OKAY? OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR Y'ALL TIME. YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH, UM, AS, UM, WALTER. MM-HMM. NEXT SPEAKER, CLAT KING TO BE FOLLOWED BY TYLER GREG. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE MAYOR AND DISTINGUISHED COUNCIL MEMBERS. [01:50:01] THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE. MY NAME IS CLARET BAXTER. CLARET KING IS MY GRANDDAUGHTER, AND I'M PRIVILEGED TO BE HERE AND STANDING IN HER PRE FOR AS PROXY FOR HER, BECAUSE AS MY DAUGHTER MENTIONED, SHE'S, IS THERE ONE SECOND? MOTION TO SUBSTITUTE, UM, KING. AND WHAT'S YOUR NAME WITH BAXTER. BAXTER WITH BAXTER. SO MOVED. THAT'S WITH THE V SECOND ROBINSON. MOVE A SECOND. ANY OBJECTION YOUR NO, GRANTED. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. I'M VERY HONORED TO BE BEFORE YOU. UM, MY, AS MY DAUGHTER SPOKE, YOU KNOW, MY GRANDDAUGHTER IS IN, AT IN BED REST RIGHT NOW BECAUSE SHE COULD COME ANY DAY ACTUALLY. AND, UH, WE ALL A PART OF THE HUMAN EQUATION. SO I'M HOPING THAT YOU DON'T DISMISS HER GRIEVANCE BECAUSE I DON'T SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING FORTH COMPLAINING ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS. 'CAUSE I'M SURE THAT SHE'S NOT THE FIRST PERSON THAT WIND UP IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION. BUT I DON'T WANNA SEE HER IN THAT SITUATION. I DON'T WANNA SEE MY GRANDDAUGHTER IN THAT SITUATION. THE MAYOR, YOU HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN AND SAID THAT YOU WILL HELP MY DAUGHTER, AND SO MY GRANDDAUGHTER WILL BE HELPED AS WELL. I'M VERY GRATEFUL. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. EARL THOMAS. I'M SORRY. CHYNA GRAD. CHYNA GRAD. G-R-A-G-G, CHYNA GRAD. NEXT SPEAKER. EARL THOMAS. EARL THOMAS IS HERE. YES, SIR. TO BE FOLLOWED BY SIMON SIM SEMINOLE. UH, I WON'T, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, UH, PUTTING ME ON THE AGENDA, UH, MAYOR TURNER AND, UH, ESTEEMED COUNCIL MEMBERS. I WON'T TAKE UP A LOT OF YOUR TIME. I WAS HERE IN RESPONSE TO MS. GREG, UH, BECAUSE SHE HAD MADE, UH, CLAIMS THAT SHE WAS GONNA COME BEFORE YOU AND MAKE DEFAMATORY STATEMENTS ABOUT, UH, MY COMPANY AND THE OBO, BUT AS SHE IS NOT HERE, UH, I'LL LET YOU HAVE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. BUT IF SHE SHOWS UP, UH, LATER TODAY, UH, BEFORE THE SESSION IS OVER AND SHE'S GRANTED TIME, I WOULD'VE LIKED TO BE ALLOWED TO HAVE A REBUTTAL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER, SEMINOLE DURACELL FOSTER SEMINO DURACELL FOSTER IS COMING TO BE FOLLOWED BY NAPOLEON OAKEY. GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MAYOR THE MIC. HUH? THERE YOU GO. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'VE ALWAYS RAN IN HERE LATE TO TRY TO SPEAK WITH THE MAYOR EVERY TIME, BUT THE DAY I TOOK OFF, MAYOR, I'M ASKING YOU, I REMEMBER WHEN YOU RAN BACK IN 1991, YOU DIDN'T GIVE UP. GOD TELLING ME NOT TO GIVE UP. THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY. AND I WOULD LIKE, IF YOU CAN JUST GRANT ME FIVE MINUTES OR 10 MINUTES WITH YOU. 'CAUSE WHAT I WANNA SAY IS NOT FOR THE EARS OF OUR ALL THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK WITH YOU. AND IF ONE VOTE GOT YOU IN THERE, THAT WAS MY VOTE, WOULD YOU GRANT ME THE OPPORTUNITY, MAYOR? AND THAT WAS A POWERFUL STATEMENT THAT YOU JUST MADE. YES, SIR. ? YES, SIR. GOD SENT ME HERE. I TELL YOU WHAT I'M GONNA DO. I APPRECIATE THAT. . ANY LAUGHING? THAT WAS A, THAT WAS A POWERFUL STATEMENT. GOD TOLD. ALRIGHT. YOU WALKED RIGHT OUTSIDE THAT DOOR AND COME AROUND. OKAY. WALK RIGHT OUTSIDE THE DOOR AND COME AROUND. YOU GONNA WALK OUT WITH ME, RIGHT? I'M, I'M GOING. YOU COME OUT THAT DOOR. . NEXT SPEAKER. NAPOLEON OAKEY. NAPOLEON OAKEY. NEXT SPEAKER. NIA COLBERT. NIA COLBERT IS NOT HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. ROBERT GREEN. ROBERT GREEN. YES. HOW ARE YOU MR. GREEN TO BE FOLLOWED BY DOROTHY HAS, GO AHEAD. HEY, MAYOR TURNER HAD TO STEP OUT, BUT, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR TURNER AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS ROBERT GREEN AND I AM A JUSTICE INVOLVED VETERAN. I POSSESS OVER 25 MISDEMEANORS, FOUR FELONIES, AND ONE FEDERAL CONVICTION. SO I HAVE EXPERIENCED ALL LEVELS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THROUGHOUT ALL THE HARDSHIP THAT I HAVE ENDURED, ALONG WITH THE LOSS OF MY FATHER WHILE BEING INCARCERATED. I HAVE MADE IT MY PURPOSE TO DIG DEEP WITHIN MYSELF TO REBIRTH THE BEST POSSIBLE PERSON THAT I CAN [01:55:01] TO PREVENT MYSELF FROM EVER BEING INCARCERATED AGAIN. ON APRIL 12TH, 2019, I WAS RELEASED FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND IMMEDIATELY SIGNED UP WITH THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION VOCATIONAL AND REHABILITATION DIVISION. ALONG WITH THE HELP OF A COUNSELOR, I COMPLETED THE NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS FOR AUSTIN TO APPROVE MY BUSINESS PLAN. IN 2021, AUSTIN APPROVED MY BUSINESS PLAN AND AWARDED TWC CYPRUS THE FUNDS FOR ME TO RECEIVE MY PRESSURE WASHING EQUIPMENT. THAT WAS IT LISTED IN MY BUSINESS PLAN. IT'S NOW 2023 AND I HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED THE EQUIPMENT I WAS APPROVED FOR. IN MOST CASES, A PERSON IN MY SITUATION STILL WAITING ON APPROVED EQUIPMENT FROM THREE YEARS AGO WOULD HAVE REVERTED BACK TO A CRIMINAL AND DYSFUNCTIONAL LIFESTYLE. I REFUSED TO BE THE STATUS QUO IN NOVEMBER, 2019. I WAS GIFTED A PRESSURE WASHER AND I QUICKLY FIGURED OUT THAT IF I WANTED TO HAVE LONGEVITY IN THE PRESSURE WASHING INDUSTRY, I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO INVEST INTO BETTER EQUIPMENT. SO THEREFORE, I GOT UP EVERY MORNING AND I WENT OUT SEARCHING FOR CUSTOMERS AS IF I WAS WORKING A REGULAR JOB KNOCKING ON DOORS AND OFFERING PRESSURE WASHING SERVICES FOR PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR TO GAIN THE EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION AND EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL AND QUALITY SERVICE WHILE WAITING ON TWC TO PURCHASE THE COMMERCIAL EQUIPMENT I HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR. AS I CONTINUE TO STICK WITH THE PRESSURE WASHING DURING THE PANDEMIC, I WAS ABLE TO GROW INTO WHAT IS KNOWN TODAY AS ACCELERATE PRESSURE WASHING SERVICES LLC INTO A FULL FLEDGED COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR CLEANING COMPANY WITHOUT ANY BUSINESS EXPERIENCE OR ASSISTANCE. IN ADDITION TO STARTING ACCELERATE PRESSURE WASHING SERVICES, I HAVE ALSO BECOME A CERTIFIED MENTAL HEALTH PEER SPECIALISTS FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS TO INSPIRE, MOTIVATE, AND ENCOURAGE THOSE LIKE ME, CHANGE IS POSSIBLE. I HAVE APPLIED WITH MANY DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS HIRING FOR MENTAL HEALTH PEER SPECIALISTS AND THE VA TO WORK AND OR VOLUNTEER. UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT SELECTED FOR EMPLOYMENT THROUGH THEIR COMPUTER VETTING PROCESS DUE TO COVID. AND THEN, AND THEY ARE, AND THEY ARE NOW NOT ALLOWING FOR PEER SUPPORTERS TO VOLUNTEER AT THE MICHAEL E DEBAKEY MEDICAL CENTER. TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCIL, COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MR. UH, GREEN FOR COMING FORWARD. UM, AND CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL OF THE PROGRESS THAT YOU'VE MADE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, YOUR, UH, TESTAMENT TO WHAT DEDICATION AND PERSEVERANCE LOOKS LIKE. UM, I WANTED TO ASK YOU, DID YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC ASK? MAY I APOLOGIZE? UH, MY NOT. MAY I PLEASE SPEAK? NO. ASK FOR A MORE ONE, ONE SPEAKER. UH, I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF YOU HAD A SPECIFIC ASK, UH, OF US. UH, YES, I DO. UM, MY SPECIFIC ASK IS IF SOMEBODY FROM THE, UM, I GUESS CYPRESS NORTHWEST DISTRICT CAN CONTACT THE TWC TO FIND OUT AND SEE WHAT IS THE PROBLEM THAT, OR THE REASON WHY I HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE EQUIPMENT THAT I HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR FROM AUSTIN'S TEXAS, UH, VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM. AND ALSO, I'M A MENTAL HEALTH PEER SPECIALIST TOO, AT THE SAME TIME. AND THE ISSUE THAT I'M HAVING WITH THAT IS A PLACE TO BE ABLE TO VOLUNTEER, TO BE ABLE TO ACQUIRE THE INTERNSHIP HOURS I NEED TO RECEIVE MY OFFICIAL CERTIFICATION SO THAT I CAN BE ABLE TO HELP ASSIST OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME SITUATIONS I HAVE AND, AND HELP THEM TO BE ABLE TO CHANGE THEIR QUALITY OF LIVING. SO, UM, I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO HELP YOU WITH THAT. THAT'S ACTUALLY A COUNTY ISSUE, AND THIS IS, UH, ONLY FOR CITY MATTERS, BUT I DO SEE THAT WE HAVE DIRECTOR DEBO STANDING IN THE BACK WHO IS, UH, THE DIRECTOR OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE A GOOD RESOURCE FOR YOU TO HELP FACILITATE THE CONTACT WITHIN, WITHIN HIS OFFICE, UH, TO THE COUNTY, AND THEN TO ALSO LOOK UP WHAT AVAILABILITY MAY BE FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO GET SOME HOURS FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR INTERNSHIP. OKAY. YES, SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MUCH APPRECIATE. AND MR. DEMBO IS IN THE BACK RIGHT THERE. COUNCIL SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, SIR FOR COMING. I, I'M REALLY INSPIRED BY YOUR STORY. THANK YOU FOR STICKING WITH IT. UM, I THINK YOU'VE CHOSEN A GREAT BUSINESS. EVERYBODY NEEDS THAT. AND, UH, PLEASE, UH, I'LL GET, I'LL MAKE SURE YOU GET ONE OF MY CARDS. UM, I CAN, I TOO, LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, WE CAN, WE CAN MAKE SOME CALLS AND, AND, AND, UM, DIRECTOR DEBO AS WELL. WE'D LOVE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT EQUIPMENT AND YES. AND GET YOU GOING. BUT, UM, I'VE WORKED, UM, AS A VOLUNTEER AT THE DARRINGTON UNIT IN A RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAM FOR, UH, SEVERAL YEARS. AND THE STORIES LIKE THIS, THIS [02:00:01] IS WHAT WE WANNA SEE. THIS IS WHAT WE WANNA SEE, PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN IN THE SYSTEM COMING OUT AND REALLY MAKING A, A LIFE FOR YOURSELF. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU FOR COMING. YES. REMEMBER JACKSON? THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU MR. GREEN FOR COMING IN AND JUST, JUST YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. IT'S AMAZING. UM, UM, I ACTUALLY HEAD UP A INITIATIVE CALLED THE SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVE. AND ONE OF THE, PART OF THE INITIATIVE IS WORKING WITH AT RISK YOUTH AND NOT YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN THAT'S COMING OUT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND TRYING TO HELP THEM INTO ENTREPRENEURSHIP. AND JUST TO SEE THAT YOU WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT ON YOUR OWN, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S AMAZING. THANK YOU. AND SO WHATEVER I CAN DO TO SUPPORT YOU, I HAVE, UM, UM, INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL AS VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES. SO WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH YOU, THANK YOU. UM, AND EXPAND WHATEVER YOU'RE WORKING ON AS WELL AS WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON. SO APPRECIATE AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. OKAY. I APPRECIATE IT. NEXT, NEXT SPEAKER, DOROTHY HAAS. DOROTHY HAAS. DOROTHY HA HA. NEXT SPEAKER NEIL SMITH. NEIL SMITH. NEIL SMITH. NEXT SPEAKER THOMAS AWO. TOM THOMPSON AWO, A KWO. NEXT SPEAKER, ELA MATTHEWS. ELA MATTHEWS. ELA MATTHEWS. NEXT SPEAKER, MARY TAYLOR. MARY TAYLOR. MARY TAYLOR IS COMING, BE FOLLOWED BY STEVE WILLIAMS, AND IF YOU GET RIGHT BEHIND THAT MIC. YES, SIR. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR TURNER AND AVERY TO THE COUNCIL. UM, MY NAME IS, UH, MRS. MARY TAYLOR MOSLEY, AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MY MOTHER. UM, SHE NEED TO SEE IF SHE COULD SPEAK WITH YOU, MAYOR TURNER. UM, BECAUSE WHAT IT IS IS THAT, UM, SHE HAD, THANK GOD, UM, THROUGH YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE COUNCIL, UM, SHE WAS ABLE TO GET HER HOME, UH, REBUILT. AND NOW, UM, WE'RE AT THE END OF IT. AND SOME PEOPLE ARE TELLING US THAT WE'RE UNABLE, AT LEAST THE CONTRACTORS ARE NOT COMPLETING THEIR PART OF THE BARGAIN. AND WE NEED TO SEE IF YOU CAN HELP US WITH THAT. OKAY. THE HOME IS BEING, THE HOME HAS NOT YET BEEN FULLY REBUILT. EXACTLY. IT'S NOT FULLY REBUILT. AND, AND WHY ARE THE CONTRACTORS? WE DO NOT KNOW. WE DO NOT KNOW WHY THEY'RE, ARE NOT, WHY THEY'RE NOT KEEPING UP THEIR END OF THE BARGAIN OF THE TABLE. AND, UM, THAT'S, THIS IS WHY WE'RE HERE. OKAY. LET ME GET SOMEONE FROM HOUSING TO FOLLOW UP. I'LL HAVE SOMEONE, UM, IS ROXANNE HERE? NO, NO. I'LL CONTACT RENEE IF YOU'LL GET WITH RENEE. WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT SOMEONE FROM MY HOUSING DEPARTMENT FOLLOWS UP WITH YOU. YES. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. OKAY. COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN SHIBA, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR COMING. I, I BELIEVE SOMEONE FROM MY OFFICE DID CALL AND THE PHONE GOT DISCONNECTED OR SOMETHING. OKAY. OKAY. SO, UH, UH, THIS IS YOUR CORRECT NUMBER, I'M SURE THE SON HERE, WE WILL REACH OUT TO YOU TO FIND OUT HOW WE CAN ASSIST. OKAY? I DON'T KNOW WHO'S BUILDING THE HOME, UM, BUT WE CAN GET ALL THAT INFORMATION OFFLINE WHEN WE TALK TO YOU. WONDERFUL. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH. WE'LL FOLLOW UP. YES, SIR. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER. STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS. NEXT SPEAKER. MARCUS JOHNSON. MARCUS JOHNSON. MARCUS JOHNSON. NEXT SPEAKER. THAT COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS. OKAY. [RECESS] THAT DOES IT FOR US, UH, UH, TODAY. AND WE ARE GOING TO STAND IN RECESS UNTIL, UM, UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM THANK YOU MARLA. CAPTIONS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 10 AND 11 2023. ITEM ONE, PUBLIC HEARING TO UPDATE PORTIONS OF THE CITY'S DEVELOPMENT CODE, CHAPTER 42, TO CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WALKABILITY, AFFORDABILITY, AND EQUITY. ITEM TWO, REQUEST FROM MAYOR, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE HARRIS COUNTY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. NUMBER THREE, UPPER KIRBY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT FOR A TERM TO EXPIRE JUNE 1ST, 2025. ITEM THREE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CON CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OR REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT, ZONE NUMBER 22, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, LELAND WOODS ZONE. ITEM FOUR, [02:05:01] REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OR REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING TO THE LELAND WOODS REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ITEM FIVE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF PUBLIC TRUSTS. ITEM SIX, RECOMMENDATION FROM CITY ATTORNEY TO DEPOSIT THE AMOUNT OF THE AWARD OF THE SPECIAL COMMISSIONERS INTO THE REGISTRY OF THE COURT AND PAY ALL COST OF COURT IN CONNECTION WITH IMMINENT DOMAIN PROCEEDINGS STYLE, CITY OF HOUSTON VERSUS MORRIS B LENDER, TRUSTEE, ET AL. CAUSE. NUMBER 1 1 9 2 6 4 7 FOR ACQUISITION OF PARCEL, A Y 21 DASH 48 FOR THE GREENS ROAD PAVING AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS. PROJECT ITEM SEVEN, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR PAYMENT OF THE PURCHASE PRICE FOR THE ACQUISITION OF PARCELS KY TWO ZERO DASH 70 AND TCY 21 DASH 0 1 1. LOCATED AT ZERO GALVESTON ROAD, HOUSTON, TEXAS, 7 7 0 3 4 FOR THE 24 WATERLINE ALONG HIGHWAY THREE PROJECT FROM FUQUA STREET TO DIXIE FARM ROAD. ITEM EIGHT IEH AUTO PARTS LLC, DOING BUSINESS AS AUTO PLUS AUTO PARTS FOR AUTOMOTIVE FORD MOTOR CAR LIGHT, MEDIUM HEAVY DUTY TRUCK REPLACEMENT PARTS AND REPAIR SERVICES FOR THE FLEET MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENTS DEPARTMENT. THREE YEARS WITH TWO ONE YEAR OPTIONS. LAKE COUNTRY CHEVROLET FOR THE PURCHASE OF CHEVROLET MALIBU. SEDANS THROUGH THE INTERLOCAL PURCHASING SYSTEM FOR THE FLEET MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. ITEM 10, ADAM, SOME POLICE PRODUCTS AND TX A-T-L-L-C FOR AMMUNITION AND ACCESSORIES FOR THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. ITEM 11, ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 24 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, HOUSTON, TEXAS RELATING TO OVERDUE FEES FOR LIBRARY, BOOKS AND MATERIALS. ITEM 12, ORDINANCE EXTENDING DELEGATED AUTHORITY PERTAINING TO AIRPORT SYSTEM, INFERIOR LIEN REVENUE, BONDS, RATIFYING AND RELATED AGREEMENTS, MAKING CERTAIN FINDINGS AND OTHER DECLARATIONS NECESSARY AND, AND INCIDENTAL TO SUCH A MATTER AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. ITEM 13, ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING SUB RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNCIL TO PROVIDE HOME A REP FUNDS TO SUPPORT MOBILE TRAUMA SUPPORT SPECIALISTS BENEFITING HOUSEHOLDS, EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS THAT ARE SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND OR HUMAN TRAFFICKING. ITEM 14 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS OF HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY, PROVIDING UP TO $130,000 IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS FOR STRATEGIC HOMELESS PLANNING SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES. ITEM 15 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING FOURTH AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HEALTHCARE FOR THE HOMELESS HOUSTON EXTENDING THE TERM OF CONTRACT AND PROVIDING UP TO $150,000 IN ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS FOR THE CONTINUING ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATIONAL PROJECT ACCESS, A HOMELESS TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES HOMELESS PERSONS WITH ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES RESOURCES. ITEM 16 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING FOURTH AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON AREA COMMUNITY SERVICES, INC. DOING BUSINESS AS AVENUE 360 TO EXTEND THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS FUNDS FOR THE CONTINUING ADMINISTRATION OF A TENANT BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, SHORT TERM RENT, MORTGAGE AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, ALONG WITH PERMANENT HOUSING PLACEMENT SERVICES AND OTHER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND THE OPERATION OF A TRANSITIONAL MEDICAL RESPITE FACILITY. ITEM 17 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF AN AWARD OF $401,908 IN STATE OF TEXAS HOMELESS HOUSING AND SERVICES PROGRAM FUNDS AND APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF FY 2023. TEXAS HOMELESS HOUSING AND SERVICES PROGRAM TO ADDRESS YOUTH HOMELESSNESS. ITEM 18 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR SERVICES ADDRESSING HEALTH DISPARITIES AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY CENTER OF TRANSFORMATIVE HEALTH FOR THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT, PROVIDING A MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT. ITEM 19, ORDINANCE APPROV [02:10:01] AND AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND HOUSTON PARKS BOARD LGC INC. RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION OF IMPROVEMENTS TO NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS UNDER THE 50 50 PARK PARTNERS INITIATIVE. PROJECT ITEM 20 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE 5,200 TO 5,400 BLOCK OF PALMER STREET EAST SIDE BETWEEN SOUTHMORE BOULEVARD AND THE END OF PALMER STREET WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 42 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, HOUSTON, TEXAS. ITEM 21 RECEIVE NOMINATIONS FOR POSITION ONE OF THE PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY FOR A TWO YEAR TERM. ITEM 22 RECEIVE NOMINATIONS FOR POSITIONS ONE AND TWO AND TWO ALTERNATE. TWO ALTERNATE AT LARGE POSITIONS OF THE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR A ONE YEAR TERM TO EXPIRE DECEMBER 31ST, 2023. ITEM 23, RECOMMENDATION FROM PURCHASING AGENT TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING AWARDS FOR EQUINE PRODUCTS AND VETERINARY SUP SUPPLIES FOR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS. ITEM 24, MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON TO ADOPT RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $1,557,819 83 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH INTEGRATED CORROSION COMPANIES INC. FOR CATHODIC PROTECTION, INSTALLATION, AND REHABILITATION PACKAGE NUMBER TWO. THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF JANUARY 10 AND 11 20 23. STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF THE HOUSTON COUNCIL SESSION. HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM AND IN THE WORDS OF THE CURRENT CITY SECRETARY, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING THE WAY YOU WOULD WANT TO BE TREATED. HAVE A BLESSED AND FAN TABLET DAY. THANK YOU SENIOR SECRETARY, IF [RECONVENE] EVERYONE WILL TAKE THEIR SEATS AND LET'S GET, LET'S GET MOVING. UH, IT IS 9 0 4 ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY THE 11TH, 2023. UH, MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER. I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO WATER. OKAY, WE'RE GONNA START TODAY WITH THE HEARING ON CHAPTER 42 CHANGES. UH, UM, [1.  9:00 A.M. PUBLIC HEARING to update portions of the City’s Development Code, Chapter 42, to create more opportunities for walkability, affordability and equity ] MADAM SECRETARY, YOU'LL CALL ITEM NUMBER ONE. ITEM ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO UPDATE PORTION OF THE CITY'S DEVELOPMENT CODE CHAPTER FORTITUDE TO CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WALKABILITY, AFFORDABILITY, AND EQUITY. OKAY, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED DIRECTOR WALLACE BROWN AND AVIDA VANDY, UM, DIRECTOR. GOOD MORNING COUNCIL. THANK YOU MAYOR. GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, IT'S GOOD TO SEE ALL OF YOU THIS MORNING. WE WILL BE VERY BRIEF WITH THIS. UM, I WANNA POINT OUT THAT DETAILS ABOUT WHAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT ARE IN FRONT OF YOU IN A TABULAR FORMAT, SO YOU MAY FOLLOW ALONG WITH THAT. UM, THE ORDINANCE HAS BEEN POSTED ON OUR AGENDA. UH, THERE IS ONE MINOR CHANGE THAT WE'RE PROPOSING THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN WHAT'S BEEN POSTED ON OUR AGENDA. SAVITA WILL GIVE YOU THAT DETAIL, BUT I WANNA THANK, UM, ALL OF YOU FOR THE INPUT THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM YOU UP TO THIS POINT. WE, UM, ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE COOPERATION FROM YOUR OFFICES AND FROM THE LIVABLE PLACES ACTION COMMITTEE. UM, THIS IS TRULY AN EFFORT THAT, UM, HAS BEEN COLLABORATIVE IN NATURE AND, UM, WE BELIEVE WILL MOVE, UM, HOUSTON FORWARD, UH, VERY PROGRESSIVELY AS WE INCREASED DENSITY IN OUR DIRECTOR. LET ME ASK YOU TO SPEAK RIGHT TO MY, FOR SOME REASON, I'M, I'M HAVING A, I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE MY AGE. UM, IT MIGHT BE MY AGE TOO. UM, OKAY. SO I WON'T SAY ALL THAT AGAIN, BUT THANK YOU ALL. SAVITA BONDI, EVERYONE. GOOD MORNING. THERE YOU GO. GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M SAVITA BANDY, PRINCIPAL PLANNER WITH THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. TODAY I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL BUFFER BUFFERING ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS STAFF WORKED ON THESE AMENDMENTS WITH LIVABLE PLACES ACTION COMMITTEE AND INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMITTEE IS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN OUR DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS THAT ENCOURAGE HOUSING VARIETY AND AFFORDABILITY. STAFF WORKED ON THESE AMENDMENTS WITH THE COMMITTEE'S INPUT. THE TOPICS INCLUDED IN THESE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS ARE LISTED HERE. THESE AMENDMENTS INCLUDE CHANGES TO CITY CODES, NAMELY CHAPTER 42, WHICH IS SUBDIVISION PLANTING ORDINANCE, AND CHAPTER 39, WHICH IS SOLID WASTE ORDINANCE, AS WELL AS CHANGES TO CITY ADOPTED [02:15:01] NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION AND ELECTRIC CODES. LET ME PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW ON THESE ONE BY ONE. CAN WE GO TO THE NEXT? THERE YOU GO. SO THE FIRST ONE IS RESIDENTIAL BUFFERING STANDARDS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. MEANING THE PHYSICAL DISTANCE SEPARATION BETWEEN TALL STRUCTURES AND HOMES. CURRENT STANDARDS REQUIRE HIGH-RISE STRUCTURES, MEANING THE STRUCTURES TALLER THAN 75 FEET TO THE HABITABLE FLOOR, ABORTING A LOCAL OR COLLECTOR STREET TO PROVIDE A 30 TO 40 FEET BUFFER ONLY FROM SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL HOMES ON LARGER LOTS IN THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. HIGHRISE STRUCTURES, ABORTING LOCAL OR COLLECTOR STREET MUST PROVIDE THE BUFFER FROM ALL SINGLE FAMILY, RESIDENTIAL AND MULTI-UNIT RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS. MULTI-UNIT RESIDENTIAL MEANS SMALL SCALE MULTI-FAMILY DEVELOPMENTS WITH EIGHT OR LESS UNITS ON A PROPERTY. AMENDMENTS ALSO REQUIRE MID-RISE STRUCTURES, MEANING THOSE STRUCTURES THAT ARE TALLER THAN 65 FEET ABORTING A LOCAL STREET TO PROVIDE 15 FEET BUFFER GARAGE. THE NEXT ONE IS GARAGE SCREENING AMENDMENTS. AND THESE ADDRESS TWO DIFFERENT ISSUES, LIGHT FROM THE CAR HEADLIGHTS AND LIGHT FROM THE CEILING FIXTURES TO HELP BLOCK LIGHT FROM CAR HEADLIGHTS. CURRENT STANDARDS REQUIRE A COVER OF EXTERIOR COVER OF 42 INCHES FOR GARAGES THAT ARE WITHIN 30 FEET OF SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. ALL PARKING GARAGES, ABORTING, OR ACROSS THE STREET FROM RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT MUST PROVIDE AN EXTERIOR COVER OF 48 INCHES. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE EXTERIOR COVER DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A MASONRY WALL. IT CAN BE ANY SCREEN MESH MATERIAL THAT BLOCKS HEADLIGHTS FROM SHINING ONTO HOMES. STAFF ORIGINALLY PROPOSED 50 INCHES TO THE EX, UH, FOR THE EXTERIOR COVER, BUT AFTER HEARING THE CONCERNS AND FURTHER ANALYSIS, STAFF UPDATED THE PROPOSAL TO 48 INCHES. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. HERE IS AN IMAGE TO SHOW WHAT A FULL SCREENING LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT THE EXTERIOR COVER OF 42 INCHES LOOKS LIKE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE TO HELP BLOCK LIGHT FROM GARAGE CEILING FIXTURES, PARKING GARAGE STRUCTURES, AVERTING A PUBLIC STREET OR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT MUST NOT CREATE LIGHT TRESPASS IN EXCESS OF 0.2 FOOT CANDLES MEASURED AT THE PROPERTY LINE. TO MEET THIS REQUIREMENT, THERE ARE TWO OPTIONS TO TO, TO CHOOSE FROM. FOCUS, UH, FOCUS THE INTERIOR GARAGE CEILING LIGHTS APPROPRIATELY, OR PROVIDE FULL SCREENING FOR THE GARAGE FACES THAT ABORT, UM, RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS. NEXT ARE THE CHANGES TO LIGHTING FIXTURE STANDARDS. IN THE CURRENT LIGHTING FIXTURE STANDARDS, FULL CUTOFF FIXTURES ARE ONLY REQUIRED WHEN THE OUTDOOR FIXTURES ARE LOCATED WITHIN 30 FEET OF SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE PROPOSED STANDARDS. ALL OUTDOOR FIXTURES FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS WHEN ABORTING RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS OR PUBLIC STREETS MUST NOT CREATE A LIGHT TRESPASS OF MORE THAN 0.2 FOOT CANDLES. THEY MUST BE FULLY ENCLOSED AND MU AND THE FIXTURES MUST HAVE A CORRELATED COLOR TEMPERATURE OF 3,500 KELVINS AND A MINIMUM COLOR RENDERING INDEX OF 70. HERE IS AN IMAGE TO SHOW WHAT A 3,500 KELVIN CCT LIGHT LOOKS LIKE. THESE ARE WARM LIGHTS SOOTHING TO THE ICE WITH LESS BLUE LIGHT. IT PROVIDE WHITE TO BE ABLE TO SEE CLEARLY WITHOUT GLARE. KELVIN VALUE ONLY DESCRIBES THE WARMTH OR COOLNESS OF A LIGHT APPEARANCE. IT A MIS IT IS A MISCONCEPTION THAT HIGHER KELVIN TEMPERATURE WILL PROVIDE AN INCREASED SENSE OF SECURITY BECAUSE KELVIN TEMPERATURE IS NOT A PERFORMANCE METRIC FOR A BRIGHTER LIGHT, A FIXTURE WITH HIGHER AMOUNT OF LUMEN MUST BE USED FOR BETTER CLARITY AND HUMAN SIGHT. A FIXTURE WITH A HIGH CRI, WHICH IS COLOR RENDERING INDEX MUST BE RECOMMENDED. PROPOSED AMENDMENTS REQUIRE A MINIMUM OF 70 CRI AND ANYTHING HIGHER CAN BE USED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF SECURITY AND SURVEILLANCE PURPOSES. LOWER COLOR TEMPERATURE, LIGHT SOURCES CAN STILL PROVIDE HIGHER LUMENS AND CRI VALUE. NEXT ONE, AND THE LAST ONE IS CHANGES TO THE BULK CONTAINER AND, UH, OR DUMPSTER SCREENING STANDARDS IN THE CURRENT STANDARDS, BULK CONTAINER SCREENING IS ONLY REQUIRED WHEN THEY'RE LO LOCATED ALONG THE ADDRESS SIDE OF THE PROPERTY. WITH THE AMENDMENTS SCREENING IS REQUIRED FOR ALL BULK CONTAINERS THAT ARE ABORTING [02:20:01] RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS OR PUBLIC STREETS. ALSO, ALL NEW COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS MUST IDENTIFY THE LOCATION OF THE BULK CONTAINER ON THE SITE. PLAN ALL OF THIS INFORMATION. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. ALL OF THIS INFORMATION IS, AND THE DRAFT PROPOSED ORDINANCE IS AVAILABLE ON LET'S TALK HOUSTON WEBSITE. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. HERE IS A SNAPSHOT OF THE TIMELINE ON THESE AMENDMENTS. LIVABLE PLACES ACTION COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED CONSENSUS IN APRIL, 2021. PLANNING COMMISSION GAVE A UNANIMOUS VOTE IN DECEMBER, AND COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETING WAS ON DECEMBER 13TH. DURING THIS TIME, STAFF PRESENTED THESE AMENDMENTS TO VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES IN CLOSE TO 15 MEETINGS, AND RECEIVED MULTIPLE EMAILS IN SUPPORT. STAFF ALSO RECEIVED TWO FORMAL SUPPORT LETTERS FROM MUSEUM PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, AND MIDTOWN SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD AFTER COUNCIL ACTION. THESE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE IN 30 DAYS AND APPLY TO ALL NEW COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN THE CITY. WITH THAT, I CONCLUDE MY PRESENTATION, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT. I'M READY FOR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, MS. BANDY. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS TO, UH, TO THE DIRECTOR, UH, BROWN OR TO, UH, MS. BANDY? ANY, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TIM? UM, CAST. THANK YOU, UH, DIRECTOR. AND MS. BANDY. I APPRECIATE THE, UM, MEETING THAT WE HAD TO GO OVER THIS. UM, THERE I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. I'VE RECEIVED SOME FEEDBACK FROM, UM, SOME RESIDENTS THAT ARE VERY INTERESTED IN THE LIGHTING, UH, FIXTURE STANDARDS. UM, AND HAVE WE LOOKED AT, UH, 3000 K OF, UH, UPPER LIMITS FOR VISIBILITY, UM, AND WHAT THE IMPACT THAT WOULD BE AS OPPOSED TO THE, UM, 3,500 K MA'AM? WE HAVE LOOKED AT THE FULL RANGE AND, UM, CONSIDERED 33,000 AS THE, THE ALTERNATIVE. HOWEVER, BASED ON INFORMATION THAT WE, UM, HAVE GOTTEN FROM BOTH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND OUR CONSTITUENTS, OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE SETTLED ON 3,500 OR PROPOSING 3,500. QUITE FRANKLY, THERE ARE MANY, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO, WHO WANTED LIKE 4,000 OR GREATER. THERE ARE SOME WHO WANTED LESS. UH, I THINK THEY END UP SELLING ON, ON, UH, SOMETHING IN THE MID-RANGE, SO TO SPEAK. UH, THE 3,500 IS COOLER. UH, WELL, IT'S NEUTRAL. IT'S MORE NEUTRAL, BUT IT DOESN'T GET TOO, TOO BRIGHT AND AT THE SAME TIME, IT DOESN'T GET TOO, UH, HOT WARM. YEAH. SO IT'S, I THINK THE, THE, UM, THE COMPROMISE, IF I COULD USE THAT TERM, UH, WAS, WAS 3,500. AND, AND I, I CAN, I CAN SEE THAT I, I STILL AM VERY, UM, INTERESTED IN CITIES THAT ARE, ARE DOING THE 3000 K, UH, QUITE FRANKLY, BECAUSE THE LIGHTING THAT BUSINESSES EMIT THAT. A BUT RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS IS SUCH A NUISANCE. UH, WHEN THE GAS STATION WENT UP IN FORT BEND, HOUSTON AND THE RESIDENTS HAD TO LIVE WITH THOSE BRIGHT LIGHTS IN THEIR BEDROOMS AT NIGHT, AND THEY COULD NEVER GET DARK, AND THEY BOUGHT DARK OUT, UH, THE, THE BLOCKOUT CURTAINS, AND THEY STILL HAD THAT BRIGHT LIGHT COMING THROUGH. YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S HARD TO SLEEP WHEN YOU CAN'T GET TOTAL DARKNESS. UM, SO I, I HOPE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT, UM, IF THERE ARE SOME ABUTTING PROPERTIES AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SOME INDIVIDUAL DECISIONS, UH, WHEN THERE, WHEN IT DOESN'T FIT IN THE, THE MOLD OF WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY. UM, IF WE HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY, SPECIFICALLY WHEN THERE IS A GAS STATION THAT ABUTS A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM ACTUALLY GETTING A DARK SPACE IN THEIR BEDROOMS. THANK YOU, MA'AM. IF I MIGHT, I COULD, I WOULD LIKE TO POINT TO THE CHANGES THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING FOR THE ELECTRIC CODE, THE LIGHTING FIXTURE STANDARDS, WHICH WILL HELP PREVENT SOME OF WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BY DIRECTING THE LIGHT DOWNWARD, WHICH IS WHAT THIS NEW REQUIREMENT WILL DO. IT WILL HELP PREVENT SHINING IT UPWARD INTO BEDROOMS. AND SO WE BELIEVE THAT WE'RE, THAT THIS, THE THIRD OF THE FOUR, UH, PROPOSALS THAT WE PRESENTED TO YOU TODAY IS PROBABLY GOING TO SOLVE MOST OF THE PROBLEM THAT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FOR ANY NEW CONSTRUCTION. UM, AND THAT THE, THE COLOR TEMPERATURE, THE 3000 VERSUS 4,000 IS REALLY JUST A COLOR. IF YOU'LL GO TO THE SLIDE, UM, ON THE, THERE YOU GO. IT'S, IT'S BRIGHTNESS. IT DOESN'T, UM, IT REALLY DOESN'T AFFECT BRIGHTNESS OR HOW MUCH IT WOULD SHINE INTO BEDROOMS. IT, IT AFFECTS THE COLOR THAT IT SHINES INTO BEDROOM. SO A MORE, UM, SO THIS IS IN THE NEUTRAL RANGE. 3000 REALLY FALLS, [02:25:01] UM, FAR MORE YELLOW THAN WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING AND IS, AND DOES LEND MORE DIFFICULTY TO SEE IN THE EVENINGS. SO, AND THAT'S INTERESTING THAT YOU, THAT YOU SAY THAT BECAUSE, UM, I, I'VE BEEN DOING SOME READING ON IT, AND I THINK THAT, UM, THERE'S TWO SCHOOLS OF THOUGHTS ABOUT THE VISIBILITY AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE 3000 K AND THE 3,500 K. UM, I, I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY A, A COMPROMISE AND WE'RE IN THE NEUTRAL RANGE, BUT I DO WANT US TO STILL MAINTAIN SOME FLEXIBILITY, UM, FOR INDIVIDUAL CASES, UM, WHEN THEY ARISE. AND THEN MY OTHER QUESTION IS THE BULK CONTAINER SCREENING STANDARDS, WHICH I AM OVER THE MOON EXCITED ABOUT, UM, YOU CAN DRIVE AROUND OUR COMMUNITIES AND YOU SEE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE THE OPEN BULK CONTAINERS, UM, AND THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE FENCING AROUND THOSE, AND YOU SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THEM FROM THE STREET. AND UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS, UM, NOT VERY STRONG ENFORCEMENT FOR THAT. UM, I'M, I'M HOPING THAT WE WILL ADD A COMPONENT OF ENFORCEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS BECAUSE IT IS A, UH, DETERRENT. UM, IT, IT LOOKS TRASHY. IT, IT, IT'S UNAPPEALING WHEN BUSINESSES HAVE THEIR TRASH CANS VISIBLE TO THE STREET, TO THE PUBLIC. AND UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN PEOPLE SEE THAT TRASH CAN, GUESS WHAT THEY DO, THEY USE THAT TRASH CAN AND THEY TAKE THAT TRASH CAN AND THEY DUMP THEIR ITEMS, THEIR HOUSEHOLD ITEMS IN THOSE TRASH CANS. SO MY POINT IS, I, I HOPE WE HAVE, UM, SOME ENFORCEMENT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ENFORCING THESE SCREENING STANDARDS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILMAN KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I'M ALSO ASSUMING WITH THE LIGHTING, MS. GUNESS, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM INDICATED WE HEARD, UH, FROM SOME GROUPS THAT THEY WANT A HIGHER, UM, MAX, SOME WANT A LOWER MAX. DID WE CONSULT WITH, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY FEEL IS THE APPROPRIATE, UM, LIGHTING TO ENSURE VISIBILITY AND SAFETY, UM, ON PROPERTY? SO WE HAVE REVIEWED THE CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN STANDARDS, AND THAT INCLUDES THE 3,500. OKAY. BUT DID WE, SORRY, I, DID WE CONSULT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT? I DID NOT SPEAK WITH THE CHIEF DIRECTLY. UM, I KNOW WE'VE REACHED OUT TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, I DUNNO WHAT THE RECEIVER NOT, WE WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL IN REACHING THEM. WE CONTACTED THEM. WE LOOKED AT ACCEPTED REGULATIONS AND INCEPTED REGULATIONS FOR SAFETY AND SURVEILLANCE PURPOSES. CRI VALUE IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE BRI FOR, UH, CAPTURING THE VIDEO AND SAFETY PURPOSES AND NOT THE KELVIN VALUE. SO THAT'S WHY OUR CRI WE ARE RECOMMENDING HELPS WITH THE SURVEILLANCE AND SAFETY PURPOSES. THANK YOU. AND THEN WITH THE, UH, I BELIEVE THE WAY IT'S WORDED, AT LEAST IN THE COMPARISON, AND THIS IS VERY HELPFUL, THANK YOU. UH, IT'S MAINTAIN A MAXIMUM, UM, AND WE INDICATE WHAT THE MAXIMUM IS. THAT MEANS THAT, IS THERE DISCRETION TO GO LOWER, LET'S SAY TO 2,700? YES. YEAH, SURE. ABSOLUTELY. SO THERE COULD BE PROPERTIES THAT HAVE WARMER, ET CETERA, IF THEY'RE WORKING WITH US OR WITH THE COMMUNITY, WHICH WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE AND ADVOCATE FOR. UM, WE ALSO GOT SOME FEEDBACK WITH THE GARAGE SCREENING STANDARDS, WHICH I WAS ACTUALLY PERSONALLY EXCITED ABOUT, AND I KNOW OUR RESIDENTS WERE, 'CAUSE IT, UM, ALLOWS TO PREVENT SOME OF THE LIGHT FROM COMING THROUGH. BUT YOU CAN ALSO GET THOSE NICE GREEN BINDS POTENTIALLY GOING, I KNOW RICE UNIVERSITY TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THAT. UH, THERE WAS SOME FEEDBACK THOUGH THAT, THAT MAY FORCE PEOPLE TO USE A VENTILATED SYSTEM. UH, I'M NOT THE EXPERT ON THAT. DID Y'ALL DISCUSS AND TALK THROUGH THAT, AND CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN HOW WE CAME TO THIS DECISION AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT? WE ACTUALLY DID TALK THROUGH THAT. AND OUR FIRST RECOMMENDATION, WHICH WAS 50 INCHES, UM, WE SPOKE VERY, WE HAD SOME VERY DETAILED ANALYSIS DONE BY AN ENGINEERING FIRM HERE IN HOUSTON. UM, THE LIKELIHOOD THAT IT WOULD PREVENT MECHANICAL VENT VENTILATION ACTUALLY, UM, INCREASED, OBVIOUSLY THE HIGHER THE NUMBER WENT. AND SO WE LOOKED CAREFULLY AT THAT DATA THAT WE RECEIVED. AND THE TIPPING POINT WE BELIEVED WAS CLOSER TO A 48 INCHES, NOT 50. AND THEN WE DID FURTHER RESEARCH ON THE TYPES AND THE SIZES OF VEHICLES THAT ARE IN GARAGES AND HOW, AND THE SIZE OF VEHICLE THAT CAN GET UP INTO THE SECOND AND THE THIRD AND THE FOURTH FLOOR OF GARAGES AND LOOKED AT THE LIGHT, THE HEADLIGHT, THE HEADLAMP HEIGHTS OF THOSE VEHICLES. AND THROUGH THAT DATA ALSO JUST DETERMINED THAT 48 WAS SUFFICIENT. GREAT. AND THEN FINALLY, UM, RELATED TO RESIDENTIAL BUFFERING. UM, MAYOR, AS YOU MAY KNOW, IN DISTRICT C, THIS IS A BIG, BIG, BIG ITEM, ESPECIALLY AS SOME MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS ARE COMING, UH, VERY CLOSE TO OTHER RESIDENTIAL HOMES. UH, THIS IS NOT A GRANDFATHER CLAUSE, THOUGH, IT HAS TO WAIT FOR IMPLEMENTATION. IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT. OKAY. AND AGAIN, PHENOMENAL PROGRESS FORWARD MAYOR. I WOULD JUST SAY WE CONTINUE [02:30:01] TO HAVE CHALLENGES WHERE SOMEONE MAY BE, UH, HOLDING OVER ON A PROPERTY FOR, UH, LET'S SAY OVER A DECADE. AND BECAUSE THEY'RE UNDER THE ORIGINAL APPLICATION, THEY DON'T COME UNDER THE NEW RULES. THAT GOES THE SAME FOR DRAINAGE AS WELL. AND I WOULD, UH, JUST RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THAT. IF I KNOW WE'RE UNDER STATE LAW, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE LEGAL PARAMETERS THAT WE HAVE TO ABIDE BY, BUT THE FACT THAT EVEN WITH DRAINAGE, WE CAN'T NECESSARILY APPLY THINGS THAT WE ARE PASSING, BUT NOTHING'S ON THE LAND YET. UH, I, I THINK THAT'S A HUGE PROBLEM, AT LEAST IN DISTRICT C, THAT I, UH, WOULD IMPLORE ALL OF US TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT SOLUTIONS FOR. BUT THANK YOU FOR THIS WORK, AND THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS. UH, I THINK A LOT OF OUR DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS WE'RE INVOLVED IN THESE CONVERSATIONS AND FOLLOWING IT CLOSELY. UH, SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE EFFORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS. UM, THE BULK CONTAINER STANDARDS. I THINK THAT'S GREAT. SO I'LL START THERE. UM, I THINK IT'S, IT'S LONG OVERDUE AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT, THAT WE'RE TAKING A STEP IN THAT DIRECTION. UM, MY, MY ONLY ISSUE WITH, UH, SOME OF THE STANDARDS THAT WE ARE CREATING IS WE PUT THIS LANGUAGE IN THERE. THAT'S ALL OR MUST. AND IT'S, IT'S SO CONSTRICTING AS A LAWYER, AND, AND MARY, YOU SHOULD APPRECIATE THIS, WE ARE DOING THESE ONE SIZE FITS ALL, IN MY OPINION, APPROACHES TO DEVELOPMENT AND HOW WE WANT TO, UM, SEE EACH NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGNED IN YOUR, UM, STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS. USE THE WORD CUSTOMIZABLE, AND I ALWAYS BRING THAT UP. NOW, I THINK WE, WE CAN'T ALWAYS BOX OURSELVES INTO EVERY SINGLE, UM, AREA OF THIS CITY HAVING TO DO EVERY SINGLE THING THE SAME WAY BECAUSE THERE'S DIFFERENT DYNAMICS AND UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES DEPENDING ON WHATEVER NEIGHBORHOOD OR AREA THAT IS. BUT WHEN WE PUT IN THESE OFF, WE GIVE NO, UH, CREDENCE TO ANYTHING THAT COULD BE A UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE. AND I ALWAYS LIKE TO HAVE SOMETHING IN THERE THAT IF EITHER GIVES SOME TYPE OF EXCEPTION OR SOME TYPE OF FLEXIBILITY IN CASE WHATEVER WE DO PUT OUT THERE DOESN'T FIT EVERY SINGLE AREA. SO ARE THERE ANY EXCEPTIONS TO THESE STANDARDS? AND WILL THEY BE A WAY TO BE MORE CUSTOMIZABLE PROCESS? SO, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT, UH, WITHIN THE BUILDING CODE, THERE IS AN OPTION FOR AN ALTERNATE METHOD OF COMPLIANCE THAT THE CITY'S, UM, CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL CAN, CAN CONSIDER. AND SO THAT, THAT DOES ALLOW FOR SOME FLEXIBILITY UNDER, GIVEN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. I BELIEVE ALSO IN THE CHAPTER 42 PIECE OF THIS, UH, WE, WE RECEIVE VARIANCE REQUESTS ALL THE TIME FOR, FOR VARIOUS, UM, CHANGES. AND THIS, THEN THE PLANNING COMMISSION REVIEWS THOSE. SO IN THE EXAMPLE THAT THE VICE MAYOR PRO TEM GAVE, IF HER RESIDENTS WANTED 3,500 K AND THEY DID NOT WANT THE 3000 K, WOULD THERE BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT NEIGHBORHOOD TO GET WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS BEST FOR THEM? OR DO THEY HAVE TO BE TO A STANDARD THAT THE, THAT IT'S ONLY 3000 K AND THERE'S NO OTHER WAY IN WHICH TO NEGOTIATE? WELL, SIR, I THINK SHE WAS REQUESTING THE OPPOSITE. WE'RE ESTABLISHING IT AT A MAXIMUM OF 3,500. BUT, BUT 3000 IS AVAILABLE TO ANYBODY. I THINK YOUR QUESTION WAS, UM, CAN THE NEIGHBORHOODS ASK FOR A VARI A VARIATION ON THIS? AND NO. THAT HAS HAPPENED THROUGH THE PERMITTING PROCESS WHERE THE PROPERTY OWNER ASKS FOR THE VARIATION, BUT THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EXCEPTIONS OR VARIANCES TO THESE STANDARDS. UH, THE BUILDING CODE ALLOWS FOR AN ALTERNATE STANDARD FOR THE BUILDING, UH, OFFICIAL TO DETERMINE, UM, IT IS ACTUALLY CALLED AN ALTERNATE METHOD OF COMPLIANCE. AND THEN CHAPTER 42 ALLOWS FOR VARIANCE REQUESTS ALSO. AND THEN WHAT'S THE PROCESS FOR THAT? WILL THEY HAVE TO GO BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION? DO THEY GO BEFORE IT? YES. PLANNING COMMISSION, YES. THANK YOU. OKAY. UH, COUNCILMAN GOT ENGLES. THANK YOU MAYOR. TH THANK Y'ALL FOR THE, UH, PRESENTATION. I KNOW THAT Y'ALL PRESENTED AT THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE, UH, RNA COMMITTEE AS WELL, UM, IN, IN REGARDS TO THE LIGHTING, UH, THE 3,500, UH, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, IT'S, IT'S SUPPLYING JUST FOR GARAGES AND PARKING LOTS, CORRECT? OR INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES ALSO ALL COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS. EXTERIOR. EXTERIOR. OH, EXTERIOR FOR, OKAY. AND, UH, UM, IN, IN REGARDS TO THE SCREENING AND WHAT HAVE YOU, UM, TH THIS IS BASICALLY, AGAIN, JUST FOR, UH, GARAGES THAT ARE BEING BUILT. AND THERE'S A RESIDENCE [02:35:01] MID-RISE OR HIGH RISE ACROSS THE STREET. CORRECT? UH, MY QUESTION, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, THEY'RE ON, UH, UH, THEY'RE ON PAGE 10. IF, IF, IF, IF SOMEONE IS BUILDING A GARAGE, BUT THERE'S NOTHING ACROSS THE STREET AT THE TIME, OR IT'S A BUILDING THAT'S, NO ONE'S USING IT AND SOMEONE'S COMING IN, REFURBISHING IT INTO RESIDENTIAL. SO MY, MY, MY CONCERN IS IF THERE'S NOTHING THERE, FOR EXAMPLE, AND SOMEONE BUILDS A GARAGE, UH, AND THEN IN TIME SOMEONE COMES AND BUILDS RESIDENCE ACROSS THE STREET, A HIGH RISE OR A MID-RISE, THE OWNER OF THE GARAGE DOES NOT THEN HAVE TO GO TO THESE STANDARDS, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING THERE AT THAT TIME. SO THEREFORE THEY DON'T. SO MY MY CONCERN IS THAT IN TIME, I MEAN, YOU'RE, YOU'RE, IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE CALLING YOUR OFFICE WANTING TO KNOW WHY LIGHTS ARE SHINING INTO THEIR BUIL, THEIR, THEIR RESIDENCE. AND YOUR REPLY ISS GONNA BE, WELL, THE GARAGE WAS BUILT FIRST, NOW YOUR RESIDENCE WAS BUILT SECOND, SO THEREFORE IT DOESN'T APPLY THAT. UH, IS THERE A CLAUSE WHERE YOU CAN STATE, UH, IF SOMEONE COMES BACK, COMES IN AND BUILDS RESIDENCE, UH, THEN THE GARAGE OWNER THEN HAS TO PUT SOME KIND OF SCREENING TO PROTECT THE RESIDENCE? NO, SIR. FIRST IN TIME. FIRST IN, RIGHT. WHAT'S THAT? FIRST IN TIME, FIRST IN, RIGHT. THAT'S THE GENERAL, THAT'S THE GENERAL PRINCIPLE. MM-HMM . SO THERE'LL BE NO, NO WAY TO DO THAT. YEAH. IT'S, UH, IN THIS CITY WHERE WE'VE KIND OF GIVEN THE GREEN LIGHT TO DEVELOP, AND THAT'S BEEN OUR PREFERENCE. UH, NOW EVEN THROUGH WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE, WE ARE TRYING TO PUT SOME CHECKS AND BALANCES IN IT. BUT IF IT WAS ALREADY THERE FIRST IN TIME, WELL, FIRST AND RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER ROBBINS, WHO'S AN ARCHITECT, JUST, UH, ASKED, OR, OR I'M ASKING, I GUESS LET'S SAY THERE WAS NOTHING THERE. THE GARAGE IS UP NOW, SOMEBODY COMES IN AND BUILDS RESIDENCE. CAN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TELL THE ARCHITECT OF THE RESIDENCE, WELL, NOW YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DESIGN SOMETHING TO KEEP LIGHT FROM COMING INTO THE RESIDENCE. NO, YOU CAN'T DO THAT EITHER. NO. WELL, THE, THE NEW, THE NEW DEVELOPMENT, IF IT WERE COMMERCIAL OR IF IT WERE POTENTIALLY SHINING LIGHTS ON OTHER PROPERTIES, WE WOULD, WE WOULD REGULATE THAT IN THE SAME WAY WE, WE WOULD REGULATE THAT. UM, WOULD WE ASK A PROPERTY OWNER TO DO SOMETHING TO PREVENT LIGHT INTRUSION INTO THEIR OWN PROPERTY? NO, TO ME, THAT'S IN THE PROPERTY OWNER'S INTEREST. AND THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD HANDLE IT ACCORDINGLY. OKAY. UNLESS EXERCISE THE SPIRIT OF BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR AND WANT TO BE, AND WANT TO THEN DO IT ON THEIR OWN. YOU KNOW, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. AND, UH, AND THAT'S HAPPENING ALL OVER THE CITY. THESE ISSUES ARE BEING DEALT WITH ALL OVER THE CITY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILMAN GALLES, WHERE YOU FINISH? NO, I'M DONE. OKAY. COUNCILMAN ROBINSON? I, I THINK IT IS A, I THINK IT IS A GOOD QUESTION, MAYOR. AND YOUR POINT, I THINK WAS ABOUT VESTED RIGHTS, WHICH IS WHERE, YOU KNOW, TWO PIECES OF PROPERTY THAT ARE LOOKING TO DEVELOP AND A GARAGE GOES UP FIRST, YOU KNOW, THEY, UH, HAVE TO APPLY BY THIS RULE, BUT IF THERE'S NOT A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY ACROSS THE STREET, THEN THEY'RE OBLIGED. UH, THEY'RE NOT OBLIGED TO DO ANYTHING TO ANTICIPATE POTENTIAL FUTURE DEVELOPMENT. AND THEN WHEN SOMETHING COMES ALONG LATER, AGAIN, THAT IS THE CHALLENGE FOR THE DEVELOPER AND HIS OR HER ARCHITECT, FRANKLY. YOU KNOW, ONE HAS TO ORIENT, UH, BEDROOMS OR RESIDENTIAL UNITS AWAY FROM THAT POTENTIAL HAZARD. AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE VESTED RIGHTS THAT THE PROPERTY HAS, UM, FOR BEING THERE FIRST AND FOR DEVELOPING. SO, UM, THAT RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY MAY HAVE SOME LIMITATIONS BY, UM, BY WHAT CAME FIRST. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, BUYER BEWARE AND BUILDER BEWARE TOO. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU ALL. WE GOTTA BRING UP, UM, I THINK THERE ARE A FEW, UM, WHAT DO YOU CALL 'EM? PUBLIC. THANK YOU. I WAS GONNA SAY WITNESSES, BUT LIKE A LAWYER. A FEW PUBLIC SPEAKERS. MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL CALL THE FIRST ONE, SONNY GARZA. AM I THE ONLY ONE THAT'S A LITTLE WARM? LITTLE WARM ? AIN'T TELL IT IS THE LIGHTING. IT'S THE LIGHTING. IT'S THE LIGHTING. WE NEED TO GO DOWN TO THOUSAND. YEAH, IT'S TOO WARM. WE NEED ABOUT 2,500. OKAY. WHO, WHAT'S THE NAME? SONNY GARZA. OH, MR. GARZA. I'M SORRY. [02:40:01] GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. UH, I'M COMMISSIONER SUNNY GARZA WITH THE HOUSTON PLANNING COMMISSION AND CO-CHAIR OF THE LIVABLE PLACES ACTION COMMITTEE. UM, I HAVE NOTES TO REFER TO BECAUSE YOU ALL MAKE ME REALLY NERVOUS AND I DON'T DO A LOT OF PUBLIC SPEAKING. SO, UH, WHAT I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER HERE IS THAT LIVABLE PLACES CHARGE HAS BEEN TO GATHER RESEARCH FROM THE MANY COMMITTEES AND PROJECTS YOU HAVE PUT IN PLACE TOWARDS BUILDING A BETTER HOUSTON, INCLUDING PLANNED HOUSTON, VISION ZERO, RESILIENT HOUSTON, AND MORE, AND MAKE THEM A REALITY THROUGH CHANGES TO CHAPTER 42, LIVABLE PLACES, STAKEHOLDERS, WHICH INCLUDED NEIGHBORHOODS AND DEVELOPERS, ARCHITECTS, AND THE LIKE, HAVE PULLED THIS RESEARCH, THOSE FINDINGS AND THE WANT AND NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES WITH THE GUIDANCE OF PLANNING CITY, LEGAL, PERMITTING, PUBLIC WORKS, AND MORE, AND HAVE CODIFIED THESE CHANGES TO CHAPTER 42 FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, I WANT TO THANK, UH, SUBBIE DE BANDI, MARGARET WALLACE BROWN, AND THE ENTIRE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, AND OUR, AS WELL AS OUR VOLUNTEER STAKEHOLDERS FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO MAKING HOUSTON A MORE LIVABLE, EQUITABLE, AND PROSPEROUS CITY FOR ALL ITS CITIZENS. AND WE THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN MCCAIN. THANK YOU, MAYOR SONNY, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVOLVEMENT, UM, AND ALL THAT YOU DO. AND THE COMMISSION DOES, UH, IT'S A, AS WE HAD SOME APPOINTMENTS, UH, LAST WEEK, MAYOR, WE TALKED ABOUT IT'S A VOLUNTEER CAPACITY, BUT IT IS NO SMALL TASK. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DID ON THIS. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THE CITY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR ALCO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. I'LL, I'LL REPEAT THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THIS, THESE LIVABLE PLACES, COMMITTEE MEETINGS, MAYOR, ARE DENSE. I'VE ATTENDED MANY JORDAN FRAZIER ON MY STAFF, ATTENDS EVERYONE. THEY ARE IN THE WEEDS. THEY ARE TALKING KELVIN'S AND DEGREES OF THIS. AND THAT'S HIGHLY TECHNICAL. ALL OF THESE WONDERFUL QUESTIONS THAT HAVE, HAVE GONE ON AROUND THE TABLE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED AT LENGTH, UM, AT THESE MEETINGS AND REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME. THESE MEETINGS GO ON FOR A LONG TIME. UM, A LOT OF OF THOUGHT AND EFFORT HAS GONE INTO THESE CHANGES AND, AND I KNOW, UM, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WHEN THEY COME TO COUNCIL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. UM, WHEN WE PASS THIS ITEM IN, IN LIVABLE PLACES CAME BEFORE COUNCIL, THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, CONCERN ABOUT ENGAGEMENT. AND SO AS CO-CHAIR, JUST A QUESTION ABOUT HOW WOULD YOU RATE THE ENGAGEMENT? MY COUNCIL MEMBER JUST MENTIONED THE DETAILS AND THE LEVEL OF, YOU KNOW, CONVERSATION YOU WERE HAVING. BUT THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PROCESS TO BRING THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THIS BODY, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR OPINION OF THAT? WELL, I WILL TELL YOU THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, AS, AS THE CHAIRMAN, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE ALL KNOW, MAYOR, IS THAT YOU'RE HERDING CATS. WE'VE GOT THESE PEOPLE FROM ALL KINDS OF COMMUNITIES AND DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITIES AND LOWER INCOME AND HIGHER INCOME. AND AS, LIKE I SAID, THE DEVELOPERS, UM, EVERYONE IS ASKING QUESTIONS, WHICH TYPICALLY, IF YOU HAVE A MEETING OF THE, THE COMMUNITY, THEY'RE ALL QUIET, THEY DON'T WANNA SPEAK UP. SO AT THE BEGINNING, I HAD TO ASK QUESTIONS AND KIND OF FORCE THE ISSUE BY NAME. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS, THIS, AND WHAT DO YOU, I DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT ANYMORE. IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS IN THE MAKING. AND AS YOU SAID, COUNCIL MEMBER, WE ARE VERY MUCH IN THE WEEDS. PEOPLE ARE ASKING TECHNICAL QUESTIONS. AND FORTUNATELY BECAUSE, UM, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT GOES AND WE COME UP WITH AN IDEA, LET'S JUST SAY, THEN WE HAVE TO VET IT. WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH CITY DEPARTMENTS, SAY, IS THIS REALLY DOABLE? IS THIS REASONABLE? CAN IT BE DONE? OTHERWISE, WE THROW IT OUT THE WINDOW AND START OVER. SO YES, I THINK OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HAS BEEN LITERALLY NOTHING SHORT OF MIRACULOUS. AND, UH, AGAIN, IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF HERDING CATS, BUT IT IS A REAL PLEASURE, AS I'VE ALWAYS SAID, TO BE ABLE TO CHANGE THE FACE OF OUR CITY, TO BE A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS A SIMPLY COM COMMUNITY MEMBER, AND TO HAVE INFLUENCE ON WHAT HAPPENS IN OUR CITY IN THE FUTURE. AH, IT IS VERY GRATIFYING. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. AND, UM, AND, AND MAYOR AND MY COLLEAGUES KNOW, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS A VALUED PRINCIPLE. PRINCIPLE OF MINE AND THE LEVEL OF DETAIL THAT THE DEPARTMENT OFFERED IN TERMS OF THE RECOMMENDATION. THIS IS THE TYPE OF STUFF I LIKE TO REFLECT BACK TO THE COMMUNITY SO THEY CAN HAVE THIS INFORMATION AND IT'S DIGESTIBLE, IT MAKES SENSE, IT'S PLAIN TALK. UM, SO I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERY DAY HOUSTONIANS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THAT. SO I APPRECIATE THIS LEVEL OF DETAIL AND THE COMMITMENT OVER THE TWO YEARS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN. COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS. THANK YOU MAYOR, UH, SONNY AS ONE DISTRICT, I RESIDENT TO ANOTHER DISTRICT, I RESIDENT. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT, UH, YOU DO FOR OUR CITY. UH, AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO ALSO AT THE, UH, GOLD CREEK TUR. SO MY PLEASURE. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU MR. GAZA. YOU'VE BEEN AN INCREDIBLE CHAIR, SO APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. OH, AND ALSO A SHOUT OUT TO LISA CLARK, WHO WAS THE CO-CHAIR WHO WAS IN THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, HAS BEEN VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING US PUSH THIS FORWARD. SO SHE COULDN'T BE HERE THIS MORNING, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE AND METRO HER NAME 'CAUSE I WILL HEAR ABOUT IT LATER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT, [02:45:01] NEXT SPEAKER. DEBORAH MORAN. DEBORAH MORAN. DEBORAH MORAN IS COMING, LAMP. THEN WE HAVE ONE LAST SPEAKER ON THIS SUBJECT. AND SO, HI EVERYONE, IN CASE YOU NEED IT IN THE FUTURE, I HAVE A LAMP, WHICH SHOWS YOU WHAT, 3000 K VERSUS 30 504,000 K LIGHT LOOKS LIKE. I WANT TO SPEAK TO, UM, PARTICULARLY THE COLORS, SINCE THAT SEEMS TO BE WHERE THE CONCERN IS. I'M GLAD WE'RE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT SHIELDING. UM, THE CONCERNS ARE OFTEN AVAILABILITY OF FIXTURES. I ALREADY EMAILED YOU LAST NIGHT SOME VERY LOW COST OPTIONS FOR LOW INCOME APARTMENTS. THERE ARE RECESSED FLOODLIGHTS ON HINGES THAT CAN BE SWIVEL JUST TO COVER THE PARKING LOT. AS FOR AS LITTLE AS $10. WE USE A $20 50 WATT, 3000 K FLOODLIGHT AT THE, UM, AT SOME APARTMENTS NEAR THE WESTBURY COMMUNITY GARDEN. AND GREATLY REDUCE THEIR, UM, THEIR, THEIR ENERGY USE. UM, THE OTHER THING IS NO ONE'S TALKING ABOUT THE HARM OF, OF THE BLUE LIGHT AND THE HIGHER KELVIN TEMPERATURE. AND THERE'S A LOT OF HARM. SO FIRST OF ALL, IT MAKES THINGS, MAKES IT A LOT DIFF MORE DIFFICULT TO SLEEP, EVEN WITH A SMALL AMOUNT COMING AROUND THE EDGES OF, OF, UH, BACK OUT SHADES. AND THERE ARE A LOT OF HARMS WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO SLEEP ALL SORTS OF HEALTH HARMS. BUT THEY ALSO INCLUDE, UM, THAT JUVENILE DELINQUENCY GOES UP WHEN SLEEP, WHEN YOU HAVE SLEEP DEPRIVATION AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES GO UP WHEN YOU HAVE SLEEP DEPRIVATION. SO THE, THE RE WE FEEL, FEEL THAT THE 3000 K ACTUALLY IS THE ALL PURPOSE FOR ANY TYPE OF USE. UM, AND THEN YOU CAN GO LOWER. THE ONLY THING IT MIGHT NOT BE THE ALL PURPOSE FOR WOULD BE DOING SURGERY OUTSIDE, IF THAT'S HAPPENING IN EMERGENCY ROOMS 'CAUSE OF COVID, MAYBE JUST IN THEIR, THE EMERGENCY ROOM PARKING LOT, YOU COULD HAVE A VARIANCE. UM, BUT NO ONE'S TALKED ABOUT THE HARM. OUR, OUR, UH, LIGHTING ENGINEERS WHO HAVE ADVISED CHICAGO, THERE'S LIGHTING, RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, THE, THE GRAND CANYON, FLAGSTAFF SAY THERE'S ALL SORTS OF STUDIES. THERE'S SIMPLY NOT A DETRIMENT AND VISIBILITY UP TO 3000 K COMPARED TO THE 4,000 3,500 K. BUT WHAT IT DOES DO IS REDUCE HARM FROM THE BLUE LIGHT AT NIGHT. SO IT'S NOT LIKE HERE WHEN TO READ YOUR NOTES. YOU DO NEED THE 5,000 K IN THE 4,000 K, UM, BUT OUTSIDE TO SEE YOUR SURROUNDINGS FOR VIDEO, CAMERAS TO WORK, YOU DON'T NEED ANYTHING ABOVE THE 3000 K FOR ALL PURPOSES UNLESS YOU'RE DOING SURGERY. SO I SPOKE TO JIM BEYA LAST NIGHT, ONE OF OUR LIGHTING VENTURE, UH, UH, LIGHTING ENGINEER ADVISORS. HE'S IN DAVIS, CALIFORNIA, AND HE'S WILLING TO TALK TO ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO HIM. KANSAS CITY CHANGED THEIR STREETLIGHTS TO 3000 K BASED ON TALKING TO OUR LIGHTING ENGINEER ADVISORS. AND, UH, ONE CHRIS MONRAD WHO LIT TO TUCSON WAS ON THEIR, THEIR NEWS REPORT. THERE'S SIMPLY NO REASON TO GO ABOVE 3000 K. THE WAY MY BOYFRIEND PUT IT IS IF RAT POISON IS MORE, UM, IS MORE PLENTIFUL THAN INSULIN AND YOU'RE DIABETIC, YOU STILL CHOOSE THE INSULIN. SO THERE ARE PLENTY OF PRODUCTS AT 3000 K AND PLENTY BELOW THAT, BUT 3000 K IS NOT A DETRIMENT TO GETTING LOW COST SAFE LIGHTING OUTSIDE. OKAY, COUNCILMAN COUNCILMAN ROBINSON? THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, MS. MOORE. MS. MOORE, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THE CRUSADE YOU'VE BEEN ON FOR YEARS AND YEARS FOR US TO TRY TO HELP US UNDERSTAND MORE AND MORE ABOUT LIGHTING. AND, UH, YOUR EXAMPLE OF SURGERY IS A GOOD ONE FOR, YOU KNOW, WHAT THOSE HIGH RANGES REALLY, UH, WOULD CALL FOR TO BE JUSTIFIED IN OUR BUILDINGS. AND WHAT YOU BRING UP AN IMPORTANT POINT, AND I THINK MY COLLEAGUE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS REFERRED TO SOMETHING. CERTAINLY THE DIRECTOR IS AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF TUNING AND, UM, REALLY COMMISSIONING THE LIGHTS AFTER THEY'RE INSTALLED AND THE IMPORTANCE FOR ENFORCEMENT AFTER THE INSTALLATION ON A NEW BUILDING. BECAUSE WHETHER THE RIGHT FIXTURE IS, UH, INSTALLED, WHETHER THE RIGHT LAMP OR BULB IS INSTALLED, IT CAN STILL BE POINTED IN A BAD DIRECTION. YOU NEED TO HAVE THE RIGHT BAFFLES AND CUTOFFS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE NOT BLINDING SOMEBODY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR POINTING IT IN A DIRECTION THAT'LL CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION. SO YOUR REFERENCE TO SURGERY SURGERY MAKES ME THINK OF THE HIPPOCRATIC OATH FOR DOCTORS AND PHYSICIANS WITH FIRST DO NO HARM. AND I THINK I WANNA SALUTE YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR CRUSADE. 'CAUSE WITH YOUR APPEAL TO US FOR HIGHER LIGHTING STANDARDS, BETTER LIGHTING STANDARDS, YOU'RE TRYING TO DO THAT FOR, FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS OF HOUSTON. SO I COMMEND YOU ON THAT AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SAY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF TUNING LIGHTS OR CUTOFFS, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY MY POINT, RIGHT? I I'M HOPING WE'RE ALL TOGETHER ON THE CUTOFF AND A LOT OF THAT CAN BE DONE. SO MUCH OF THIS LIGHTING IS ON HINGES, A LOT OF IT, AND HOUSTON HAS POINTED OUTWARD RIGHT NOW, IT'S JUST AS SIMPLE AS BENDING IT DOWNWARD FOR THE EXISTING LIGHTING. AND THERE'S PLENTY OF PRODUCTS THAT ARE INEXPENSIVE [02:50:01] WITH A 3000 K, THEY'RE ON HINGES AND YOU CAN JUST AIM IT UNTIL IT ENDS AT YOUR PROPERTY LINE AND JUST COVERS ONLY WHAT YOU NEED. I WOULD, CAN I MENTION ONE MORE THING ABOUT LIGHT JUSTICE.ORG? YES, BRIEFLY. SO THERE IS A NEW ORGANIZATION FOUNDED LAST YEAR BY BLACK LIGHTING ENGINEER, UH, EDWARD BARTHOLOMEW. AND THEY JUST, I JUST HEARD A FIVE HOUR SEMINAR WITH THEM. THEY ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE, WHAT HE, WHAT THEY CALL ASSAULTIVE LIGHTING IN LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS. SO WE JUST WENT TO ALDEEN BENDER TO SEE THE ACCIDENT SITE WHERE THE POLICEMEN HIT, UH, OF 24-YEAR-OLD. AND IT'S THE WORST CASE SCENARIO. NO STREET LIGHTS, BUT THE ONLY LIGHTS THERE WERE AROUND WERE INCREDIBLY BRIGHT WHITE LIGHTS POINTED OUTWARD. UM, I, WE DEFINITELY SAW, WE WERE DRIVING SLOWLY, WE WERE TERRIFIED OF HITTING A PEDESTRIAN AND WE'D SAW ONE CROSS THE STREET WHEN WE STOPPED TO, TO TURN AROUND. UM, SO THE, SO EVEN ADDING STREET LIGHTS, YOU NEED TO STILL SUBTRACT THE REALLY BRIGHT WHITE LIGHT POINTED OUTWARD. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW PEOPLE SLEEP AT SOME OF THESE APARTMENT COMPLEXES. UM, SO WE ALSO NEED TO BE, I BELIEVE WE WORRIED THAT THIS, UM, WOULD ALLOW 3000 K OR 3,500 K POINTED DOWNWARD, EXTREMELY BRIGHT OUTSIDE SOMEONE'S WINDOW WOULD STILL BE A PROBLEM. SO FOR THAT REASON, WE WERE SUGGESTING WE PUT AT LEAST THESE SUGGESTIONS OF FIVE PRINCIPLES TO STEER PEOPLE TOWARD NOT OVERUSING LIGHT. UM, IF ANYONE HAS TIME, THANK YOU. THIS LAMP WILL SHOW IT REAL TIME. APPRECIATE THAT OFFER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. VICE MAYOR CAST TATUM. MS. MORAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT YOU PROVIDE TO US. UM, MAYOR, I WANTED TO AMPLIFY, UH, THE WESTBURY GARDEN WAS IN PLACE AND THEN THERE WAS A GAS STATION BUILT ADJACENT TO THE GARDEN. AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE LIGHTING WAS SO BRIGHT AT THE GA BEHIND THE GAS STATION. IT WAS PREVENTING, UM, THE NATURAL THINGS THAT HAPPEN AT NIGHT AS FAR AS THE, UM, POLLINATION, UM, AND THE THINGS THAT YOU NEED FOR THE GARDEN TO FLOURISH TO ACTUALLY HAPPEN. BECAUSE OF THE BRIGHT LIGHT AT THE GAS STATION, MS. MORAN WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING SURE THAT THERE WAS CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE MEMBERS OF THE GARDEN AND THE MEMBERS AND THE OWNERS OF THE GAS STATION. UM, SOME SHIELDS AND CHANGE OF LIGHTING, UH, WAS A, A WONDERFUL COMPROMISE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, THE PEOPLE AT THE GAS STATION WERE ABLE TO STILL HAVE THE LIGHTING THAT THEY NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THEIR PROPERTY WAS PROTECTED AND THEN IT DID NOT IMPACT WHAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN AT THE GARDEN SO THAT THE GARDEN, UH, VEGETABLES AND EVERYTHING COULD CONTINUE TO FLOURISH. UM, IN ADDITION, UH, WHEN WE BUILT THE NEW APARTMENTS IN ONE OF OUR, IN OUR FORT BEND COMPLETE COMMUNITY, UM, MS. UH, MORAN WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING SURE THAT THOSE, THE LIGHTING BEHIND THE APARTMENTS DID NOT IMPACT THE HOUSES, UM, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND SO I THINK SHE BRINGS A, A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE TO US AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, THE, THE IN DEPTH RESEARCH THAT SHE DOES TO, TO HELP US. UM, I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED TO OFFICE, WE HAD A MEETING ABOUT THE STREETLIGHTS AND, AND HOW BRIGHT THEY ARE. I, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW IF, IF THERE'S AN UPDATE ON WHAT, WHAT ARE OUR STREET LIGHTS AT 4,000 K? YEAH, RIGHT. OUR STREET LIGHTS ARE 4,000 K AND THAT'S WHY, UM, OUR, OUR EYES REACT TO THE GLARE. SO YOU SEE BRIGHT, DARK, BRIGHT, DARK, BRIGHT, DARK, AND IF THEY WERE A LITTLE FAINTER AND A LITTLE WARMER, IT WOULD LOOK MORE EVEN. UM, WHAT WHAT WE DO HAVE IS WE HAVE PRIVATE LIGHTING BLOCKING OUR ABILITY TO SEE WHAT THE STREET LIGHTING DOES ALLOW US TO SEE. SO WE NEED TO FIX THAT, AND THIS ORDINANCE WOULD HELP. UH, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO STEVE GOLDBERG WHO'S HERE BEHIND ME, WHO ACTUALLY DID SOME OF THE NEGOTIATIONS. I CHOSE THE LIGHTING FIXTURES THAT'S GOING ONLINE FINDING, SO WE ALSO LOWERED THE WATTAGE FROM 80 WATTS TO 32 WATTS. AND THE OTHER THING IS, YOU GO TO THE GARDEN, THERE'S STILL SOME BAD LIGHTING AT AT A CHURCH IF YOU FACE THE CHURCH. I ACTUALLY HAD TO LOOK STRAIGHT DOWN TO SEE THE PATH BETWEEN THE GARDEN. IF YOU FACE OUR LIGHTING, WHICH IS NOW ON TWO SIDES, YOU SEE EVERYTHING. YOU CAN SEE THE FIELD, YOU CAN SEE THE TREES, YOU CAN SEE YOUR FOOTING. SO IT'S, THE DIFFICULT MESSAGE IS THAT IT'S A LOT MORE VISIBILITY. WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME SIDE ON VISIBILITY. WE CAN GET A LOT MORE VISIBILITY WITH A LOT LESS LIGHT IF WE DO THIS SHIELDING AND THIS WARMTH, WHICH HELPS OUR EYES TO SEE IT BETTER. WELL, I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE, UM, OPTIMAL VISIBILITY FOR SAFETY AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN IN THE DARK LIGHT. I MEAN, COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU MAY REMEMBER, UH, WHEN THE, THE BIRDS NEEDED, UH, TOTAL DARKNESS IN THE CITY SO THAT THEY COULD, UM, MIGRATE, MIGRATE, UH, IT PLAYS SUCH A VITAL PART IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. OKAY, ONE, THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. OH, ONE SECOND. OH, DEBBIE IS OUR RESIDENT LIGHTING [02:55:01] EXPERT. I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING SO ENGAGED ON IT. IT HELPS A LOT OF US NAVIGATE AN AREA THAT WE'RE JUST NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH. UH, SO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO ENGAGE. COULD YOU TALK VERY BRIEFLY, YOU TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE, UM, PERSONAL IMPACTS ON LIGHTING. WHAT ABOUT IN TERMS OF ENVIRONMENT, UH, NATURE, ANIMALS, ET CETERA? DO YOU HAVE ANY OF THAT INFORMATION? RIGHT, SO THERE'S VIRTUALLY ZERO GOOD ABOUT USING, UH, DAYLIGHT COLOR AT NIGHT FOR ANYBODY, FOR HUMAN HEALTH, FOR PLANTS. THE PLANTS. MANY PLANTS, UM, DECIDE WHEN TO GO TO THEIR NEXT LIFE CYCLE, DROPPING LEAVES, WHATEVER, ACCORDING TO THE, THE RELATIVE LENGTH OF DAY AND NIGHT. SO, AND THAT'S DONE BY THE BLUE FREQUENCY. LIGHT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T HAVE ANY LIGHT, BUT IF YOU MINIMIZE THE BLUE FREQUENCY, THEN THEY CAN DETECT WHEN NIGHTTIME IS MIGRATORY. BIRDS ARE ATTRACTED TO CITIES WITH VERY BRIGHT WHITE LIGHT, WHICH IS REFLECTING UP INTO THE SKY, AND THEN THEY GET TIRED AND THEY CIRCLE AROUND. UM, THE LIGHTS OUT IS USUALLY FOR TALL BUILDINGS, WHICH IS ANOTHER PROBLEM FOR MIGRATORY BIRDS. BUT IF THE ENTIRE CITY WERE MORE WARMLY LIT, AND I KNOW WE'RE PROBABLY A GENERATION AWAY THAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR MIGRATORY BIRDS. SO HOUSTON, CHICAGO, AND DALLAS ARE THE THREE BIG KILLERS. WE LITERALLY USE BILLIONS OF MIGRATORY BIRDS. UM, THEREFORE, UM, ANIMALS FIREFLIES ARE DYING. I MEAN, WE COULD GO INTO MULTIPLE YEAH. PROBLEMS, BUT LET'S STAY, LET'S STAY ON. YEAH. SO WE DON'T, BUT ANYWAY, THE ENVIRONMENT IT'S BAD FOR. THE ENVIRONMENT IS BAD FOR, WE GOT A LONG MORNING. I JUST WANNA SAY, I'M SORRY. ONE LAST THING, MS. MIRANDA. HOLD ON. LEMME JUST SAY WE GOT A LONG MORNING MM-HMM . LET'S STAY ON THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH WE ARE HERE ON THE PUBLIC HEARING. SO ONE LAST THING. I SPOKE TO THE MUSEUM PARK, UM, DISTRICT ON IN JANUARY, AND THE POLICEMAN WENT FROM RECOMMENDING THE BRIGHTEST LIGHT POSSIBLE TO TURNING AROUND ON THIS, THINKING ABOUT LIGHTING. BUT WHAT REALLY SURPRISED ME IS HE SAID, I DON'T THINK MANY PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE MELATONIN HEALTH ISSUES AT NIGHT. HE, I WAS VERY SURPRISED THAT HE MENTIONED THE HEALTH ISSUES AS WELL AS THE GLARE ISSUES. SO HE WAS VERY RECEPTIVE TO THAT ARGUMENT. THAT WAS OFFICER CORGI. COUNCILOR OMA? NO, NO. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY, THE LAST SPEAKER ON, UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING. SANDRA STEVENS, SANDRA STEVENS. AND AGAIN, LET ME REMIND EVERYONE LONG, LONG MORNING, AND I'VE GOT OUR POLICE CHIEF AND THE ASSISTANT CHIEFS THAT ARE WAITING, AND I DO WANT TO GET THEM OUTTA HERE. I GOT THE MESSAGE , I'LL TRY TO BE BRIEF. MY NAME IS SANDY STEVENS. I SERVE AS PRESIDENT OF THE MUSEUM, PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. AND, UM, WE SIT, UH, BETWEEN DOWNTOWN, I'M SORRY, MIDTOWN AND THE MEDICAL CENTER, UH, BORDERED BY, UM, HERMAN PARK ON OUR SOUTH, UH, MAIN STREET ON THE WEST, 59 ON OUR NORTH, AND 2 88 ON OUR EAST. AND, UM, WE ARE A, UM, MIXED DEVELOPMENT NEIGHBORHOOD, I GUESS IS A GOOD WAY TO DESCRIBE US. AND DURING THE LAST 20 YEARS, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED RAPID REDEVELOPMENT IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, REDEVELOPMENT THAT'S BEEN MARKED BY THE SHORTCOMINGS OF THE CURRENT STANDARDS DESIGNED TO PROTECT RESIDENTS. I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS TO SERVE WITH, UH, MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WITH SUNNY GARZA, WITH LISA CLARK AND A HOST OF OTHER, UM, COMMUNITY LEADERS, UH, LEADERS OF, UM, UM, NONPROFITS, UM, SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, UM, INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES. AND I WILL SAY THAT WE OFTEN APPROACHED THE ISSUES WE WERE LOOKING AT FROM QUITE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. UM, BUT, UM, WE HAD GREAT LEADERSHIP, AS I MENTIONED, AND WE'VE ARRIVED AT A SET OF, UH, AMENDMENTS THAT GO A LONG WAY TOWARD IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERYONE. UM, AND I'M IMPRESSED, UH, HONESTLY, WITH HOW MUCH HOMEWORK YOU GUYS HAVE DONE. YOU KNOW WHAT THE ISSUES ARE. YOU KNOW THEM WELL, YOU TALK TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THEM, AND, UH, I FEEL LIKE WE ARE IN GOOD HANDS TODAY AS YOU LOOK AT THESE ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS AND MAKE YOUR DETERMINATION TO SUPPORT THEM. UM, GRANDFATHERING, I'M JUST GONNA MENTION THAT FOR A MOMENT BECAUSE, UM, WE HOSTED, UH, SAVITA, BANDY AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AT ONE OF OUR, UM, MEETINGS, UH, A FEW MONTHS AGO. AND ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT CAME UP WAS, WHY CAN'T WE FIX IT NOW? WE HAVE A, A MID-RISE THAT WAS BUILT RIGHT SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS DURING THE, THE LAST FOUR YEARS. AND, YOU KNOW, THE GARAGE SCREENING, THE EXTERIOR [03:00:01] LIGHTING STILL CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. UH, IT'S A NICE BUILDING BY AND LARGE, IT'S OKAY, BUT THE GARAGE IS NOT SCREENED SUFFICIENTLY. SO, UM, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CHANGE IN OUR CURRENT ORDINANCES, AND I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO VOTE FOR THESE BECAUSE I THINK THEY WILL MAKE A GREAT DIFFERENCE, UH, WITHIN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE MINE AND AS YOU SAID, ALL ACROSS THE CITY. YEAH. TIME COUNCILMAN MAY COUNCIL, COUNCILMAN SHABAZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND CERTAINLY THANK YOU SANDY. SANDY IS ONE OF MY GREAT LEADERS, OUR GREAT LEADERS IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION, AND SHE AND HER HUSBAND JOHN, THEY JUST DO SO MANY THINGS AND I REALLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND STAYING ON TOP OF THE ISSUES AND HELPING US TO COME TO A RESOLUTION. SO HAVE A GREAT DAY, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. DID YOU, YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WANTED TO SAY? OUR SUPPORT? NO, I'M GOOD. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. OKAY. SHE ALSO IS A GREAT SUPPORTER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I HAVE NO OTHER, UH, SPEAKER SIGNED UP. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WISHES TO, UH, SPEAK ON CHAPTER 42? UH, THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, ANYONE HEARING, HEARING AND SEEING NONE, UM, IS THAT MOTION TO CLOSE HEARING CASTEX NEXT'S TITLE SECOND MOVED AND SECOND TO CLOSE. AND THE OBJECTION CHAIR IS NONE, AND THE MOTION IS GRANTED. UM, NOW I THINK WHAT I'M [MAYOR'S REPORT] GONNA DO IS THAT, UH, I'M GONNA GO TO THE MAYOR'S REPORT, UH, FIRST, UH, AND THEN I'M GOING TO TAKE UP, UH, UH, CHIEF NER AND HPD, UH, HERE, AND THEN I'M GONNA PAUSE ON MY MAYOR'S REPORT AND GO BACK TO THE APPOINTMENTS AND THEN COME BACK TO THE MAYOR'S REPORT. OKAY? BUT I DON'T WANT TO KEEP, UH, CHIEF FINN AND HIS PEOPLE HERE, UM, ANY LONGER THAN WE HAVE TO. UH, I WILL TELL YOU THIS, UM, IS THAT, UH, 2022 IS NOW HISTORY IN THE BOOKS GONE, UM, CHIEF NER AND, UH, UH, CAME BEFORE US DURING 2022 TO TALK ABOUT, UH, UM, PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES, CRIME STATS, UH, NOW THAT 22 IS IN THE BOOKS, UM, I WOULD ASK HIM TO COME BACK AND TO KIND OF GIVE US, UM, UH, HIS ANALYSIS, HIS COMMENTS ON 22, AS NOW WE ARE IN 2023. SO I WANNA KIND OF, I WANNA PUT A BOW ON 22. OKAY? AND THEN AS WE MOVE FORWARD INTO 23. SO WITHOUT ANY FURTHER, UH, COMMENTS FROM ME, CHIEF FINNER AND I KNOW, UH, ASSISTANT CHIEF MARTIN, THANK YOU, UH, VERY MUCH. IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE, MAYOR, AND, UH, TO SPEND ANY TIME WITH OUR GREAT MAYOR AND OUR, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO SUPPORT US SO MUCH, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. UM, I WANNA PAUSE AND, AND, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE MY EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM. UH, WE HAVE A NEW MEMBER, UM, MELISSA COMMONS, WHO IS, UH, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OVER, UH, PLANNING END DATA GOVERNED. IT'S, UH, SHE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR A LOT OF THESE NUMBERS AND HER TEAM, UM, SHE'S, UM, ASSIGNED UP UNDER, UH, CHIEF MARTIN HERE, WHO'S, WHO'S GONNA DO, UH, MOST OF THE PRESENTATION. BUT I DO WANT TO HIT ON A FEW POINTS. UM, I, I WANT TO, UH, THANK EVERY MAN AND WOMAN, UH, ON OUR AGENCY. AND I MEAN THAT, UH, IN THE FIELD AND OUR SUPPORT TEAM, BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT 'EM. AND AS YOU SEE, AND WE'RE GONNA REPORT, UM, REDUCTION IN VIOLENT CRIME. THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN, UH, WITH JUST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ALONE, THAT HAPPENS BECAUSE SUPPORT AROUND, UM, THIS ROOM, THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, UH, SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATION OF CITIZENS. SO I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL AND EXTREMELY PROUD OF, OF WHAT WE'VE DONE. THERE'S STILL WORK TO BE DONE. UH, AND I WANT TO SAY THAT UPFRONT, UH, BEFORE WE GET INTO SPECIFIC NUMBERS, UM, THERE'S STILL WORK TO DO IN HOUSTON, BUT WE'RE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND, AND WITH ALL OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE. SO I'M, I'M VERY, VERY, UH, PROUD OF THAT. AND, UM, I WANT TO MENTION A FEW THINGS BECAUSE WE MISS IT SOMETIMES SINCE MAYOR TURNER'S ADMINISTRATION FOR SEVEN YEARS, AND PEOPLE TALK ABOUT WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT STAFFING WHEN YOU HAVE 34 CADET CLASSES, 34, 2020 NEW OFFICERS, UH, IN OUR CITY, THAT'S A BIG THING. EVERY TIME I GO TO COUNCIL AND TO THE MAYOR AND WITHIN REASON AND I ASK FOR SOMETHING, UH, IT'S FUNDED. AND I APPRECIATE THAT $10,000 A SIGNING BONUS FOR NEW CADETS COMING IN OUR ACADEMY. IT HELPS. AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. JUST WANT TO LOOK, TOUCH ON A FEW NUMBERS, UH, RIGHT QUICK. UM, SLIDE, MOVE TO SLIDE, NEXT SLIDE. SO THE HIRING, UH, EXPO THAT WE HAD, UM, BACK IN, UH, AUGUST OF LAST YEAR, BROUGHT UP TWO [03:05:01] APPLICANT, UH, 200 APP APPLICANTS MA UH, MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. SO THAT WAS GOOD. BUT YOU DON'T RECRUIT EFFECTIVELY IF YOU DON'T HAVE COMPETITIVE PAY. AND SOME OF THAT, WHAT I SPOKE ABOUT, UM, IT BRINGS ABOUT, UH, COMPETITIVE PAY IN ALL GREAT CITIES. SO, UH, WE SHOULD SEE, UH, AN INCREASE OF PEOPLE COMING IN OUR AGENCY. I DO NOT WANNA FORGET ABOUT OFFICER WELLNESS. UH, IT'S NOTHING THAT WE CAN DO IN TERMS OF, UH, SERVING OUR CITY IF WE DON'T ENSURE THAT, UM, OUR OFFICERS AND OUR STAFF ARE WELL. AND WE DO THAT THROUGH, UH, UH, GIVING THEM SOME ATTENTION AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE ALL RIGHT AND THEIR FAMILY'S ALL RIGHT, UM, THROUGH PSYCH SERVICES, PEER SUPPORTS, AND WHATEVER, UM, SUPPORT THEY NEED. SO I WILL BE LASER FOCUSED ON THAT, MY ENTIRE AGENCY. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, TO HIT ON A FEW, UH, NUMBERS. WE, UH, MAYOR, SAY WE WANT TO PUT, UH, 2022 BEHIND US, AND, AND WE DEFINITELY DO. UM, BUT, UM, YOU CAN REMEMBER, UH, AT THE FIRST OF THE YEAR, LAST YEAR WHEN THINGS JUST, WE HAD A BAD MONTH, BAD FEW MONTHS, AND WE SPENT A WHOLE YEAR CATCHING UP ON IT, BUT WE DID. SO I'M VERY PROUD TO REPORT, UM, A REDUCTION MURDER, 9% RAPE, 18% ROBBERY, 9% AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, 8% KIDNAPPING. IT'S SHOWING A 63% INCREASE, BUT IT'S BECAUSE OUR NOT WE'RE, UH, PARTICIPATING IN OUR NO, UM, UM, SYSTEM. IT'S A, IT'S A, A NATIONAL REPORTING SYSTEM. WANNA SAY THAT 53% OF AGENCIES ARE NOT REPORTING IN IT. THERE'S A DIFFERENT CLASSIFICATION AND TERMINOLOGY IN THAT, A LOT OF THOSE NUMBERS, AND WE STILL HAVE TO REPORT 'EM DUE TO DOMESTICS CUSTODY IN, IN INCIDENTS. AND IT'S NOT SO MUCH OF OUR TRADITIONAL, UH, WHEN SOMEBODY COMES AND FORCIBLY KIDNAPS A KID OR SOMEBODY. SO JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT. AND LIKE I SAID, AN OVERALL, UM, 8%, UM, DEC DECREASE IN, UH, VIOLENT CRIME. WE ARE 7% UP IN NONVIOLENT CRIME THAT IS DRIVEN MOSTLY BY PHELPS FROM AUTOMOBILES, UH, CADILLAC CONVERTERS AND UH, UM, BIRDWOOD MOTOR VEHICLES AS AS WELL. SO WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO ON THAT AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. UM, I WILL PAUSE. UM, AND AGAIN, JUST THANK YOU. UM, THANK ALL CITIZENS AND OUR MEN AND WOMEN ON THE FRONTLINE, BOTH IN THE FIELD AND, AND ALSO SUPPORT FOR DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB. WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO, UH, ASSISTANT CHIEF, UH, WYATT RIGHT NOW. ALRIGHT, THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. UH, START REAL QUICK. WE'RE GONNA HAVE TWO THINGS. WE'RE GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME HISTORIC CRIME TRENDS AND JUST BRIEFLY, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA GET INTO CRIME STATS FOR THE YEAR, BROKEN DOWN BY COUNCIL DISTRICT, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID ONCE BEFORE. UH, I KNOW A LOT OF YOU WERE HERE, UH, WHEN WE DID THAT EARLIER IN THE YEAR, BUT WE HAVE THESE YEAREND NUMBERS BROKEN DOWN BY COUNCIL DISTRICT WILL GET INTO THOSE AS WELL. UH, THE HISTORICAL CRIME COMPARISON THAT YOU SEE UP THERE, IT ONLY GOES BACK TO 2019 BECAUSE OF WHAT THE CHIEF WAS TALKING ABOUT WITH NBRS. THAT'S NATIONAL INCIDENT BASED REPORTING SYSTEM. UH, WE AS THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT CONVERTED TO NBRS REPORTING FOR, UH, FOR OUR REPORTING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BACK IN 2019. BUT WHAT THAT DOES IS IT CHANGES THE WAY YOUR STATISTICS ARE CAPTURED. SO ANYTHING BACK BEFORE 2019, WE WOULD HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME DOING AN APPLES, APPLES COMPARISON OF WHAT THESE CRIME NUMBERS WERE. BUT THERE WAS A COUPLE OF PROMISING THINGS THAT I WAS HAPPY TO SEE, UH, WHEN WE WERE HERE BEFORE TALKING ABOUT THE CRIME NUMBERS. UH, YOU KNOW, IT WAS MENTIONED THAT COMPARING TO 2020 AND STUFF DURING COVID, YOU KNOW, MAY SKEW WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT. BUT IF YOU GO BACK TO 2019, WHICH IS PRE COVID, I, THERE ARE SEVERAL VIOLENT CRIME CATEGORIES THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE GOTTEN TO THE POINT NOW WHERE WE ARE BELOW THAT 2019 LEVEL WHERE WE WERE. IF YOU LOOK AT SEXUAL ASSAULTS, WE ARE ACTUALLY 300 BELOW WHERE WE WERE IN 2019. AND IF YOU LOOK AT ROBBERIES, UH, WE'RE ALL, WE'RE SEVERAL THOUSAND INCIDENTS BELOW WHERE WE WERE IN 2019. SO WE'RE, WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF CHALLENGES. UH, WE'RE, WE'RE NEVER GONNA BE DONE, UH, UNTIL THERE'S NO CRIME, UH, WHICH PRETTY MUCH MEANS WE'RE NEVER GONNA BE DONE. BUT, UH, IT, IT'S A GOAL. WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO GET BACK TO WHERE WE WERE AND WE'RE MAKING SOME PROGRESS. UH, AGAIN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE, TOWARD THE LOWER END, WE HAVE THE NONVIOLENT CRIME STATISTICS OUT THERE THAT ARE DRIVING OUR NUMBERS. UH, THOSE ARE THE HIGH VOLUME ONES, THE BURGLARIES, THE THEFTS, THE AUTO THEFTS. THOSE ARE VERY HIGH VOLUME CRIMES THAT IMPACT OUR CITY. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF BURGLARIES COMPARED TO 2019, WE'RE ACTUALLY 3000 INCIDENTS BELOW. AND EVEN IF YOU LOOK AT THE THEFTS, THEFTS RIGHT NOW ARE BEING DRIVEN SIGNIFICANTLY BY, UH, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFTS, THEFTS FROM VEHICLES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND WE ARE WAY UP FROM LAST YEAR. BUT IF YOU GO BACK TO 2019, THAT WAS ANOTHER BAD YEAR FOR THEFTS AS WELL. UH, SO WE'RE, IT, IT'S GONNA BE A CONSTANT, UH, FIGHT ON THAT ONE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEFT, WE, WE PUT A LOT OF RESOURCES INTO VIOLENT CRIME. WE PUT A LOT OF RESOURCES INTO HOME [03:10:01] BURGLARIES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND THEFT OFTENTIMES SOMETIMES IS DRIVEN WITH SHOPLIFTING, THINGS OF THAT NATURE AND CAN BE A VERY DIFFICULT ONE TO COMBAT. AND THE NEW CHALLENGE NOW, OBVIOUSLY IS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFT, WHICH IS IMPACTING US GREATLY. NEXT SLIDE. OKAY. UH, WE TALKED ABOUT CONVERTING TO NBRS REPORTING. NBRS BREAKS CRIMES DOWN INTO THREE CATEGORIES VERSUS JUST THE OLD, TRADITIONAL VIOLENT AND NONVIOLENT. IT BREAKS IT DOWN INTO CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS, CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY AND CRIMES AGAINST SOCIETY. UH, THE SHORT DEFINITIONS OF THESE CRIMES AGAINST PERSON CATEGORY ACTUALLY CONTAINS CRIMES THAT IS AN ELEMENT USED OR ATTEMPT TO USE OR THREATEN, USE PHYSICAL FORCE OR OTHER ABUSE OF A PERSON AND INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO HOMICIDES, ASSAULTS, RAPES, KIDNAPPING, AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING. UH, WHEN YOU LOOK AT CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY, THAT IS DEFINED UNDER S AS, UH, USUALLY INVOLVING PRIVATE PROPERTY LIKE BURGLARY, THEFT, AUTO THEFT, ARSON, SHOPLIFTING, FINANCIAL CRIMES AND VANDALISM. AND THEN YOU GET INTO THE CRIMES AGAINST SOCIETY CATEGORY, UH, SOME OF WHICH UNDER THE OLD STANDARD WERE THESE WERE REFERRED TO AS PART TWO CRIMES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. UH, YOU'RE DEALING WITH, UH, CRIMES AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO SAY IT. AND THERE ARE ACTIONS THAT VIOLATE SOCIETY'S CURRENT LAWS AND VALUES. EXAMPLES OF THIS BEING DRUG OFFENSES, PROSTITUTION, GAMBLING, ANIMAL CRUELTY, AND SOME WEAPONS LAW VIOLATIONS. SO THAT'S HOW, UH, THE NEIGHBORS SYSTEM, UH, LOOKS AT CRIME IN THOSE THREE CATEGORIES. THE CHIEF MENTIONED KIDNAPPING, AND YOU'RE GONNA SEE THAT AS WE GO FORWARD. GO AHEAD AND DO THE NEXT SLIDE. UH, YOU'RE GONNA SEE THAT AS WE GO FORWARD, ALMOST EVERY DISTRICT IS GONNA SEE AN INCREASE IN KIDNAPPING, OKAY? BUT IT IS SOMETHING WE'RE STILL LOOKING INTO. WE'D HAVE TO GO CASE BY CASE TO REALLY TELL YOU EXACTLY EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING. BUT IT GETS INTO THE DEFINITION. UH, IT IS NOT A TRADITIONAL ABDUCTION KIDNAPPING THAT WE'RE USUALLY TALKING ABOUT. IT COULD BE A DOMESTIC INCIDENT WHERE MAYBE THERE'S AN ASSAULT GOING ON OR AN ARGUMENT OR FIGHT BETWEEN FAMILY MEMBERS WHERE ONE ATTEMPTS TO DETAIN THE OTHER OR STOP THEM FROM LEAVING THE LOCATION. THAT WILL RISE TO THE LEVEL OF BEING RECORDED AS A KIDNAPPING. UH, IF A NON-CUSTODIAL FAMILY MEMBER, AUNTS, UNCLES, GRANDPARENTS, SOMEONE LIKE THAT PICKS UP A CHILD AND TRANSPORTS A CHILD FROM POINT A TO POINT B WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE CUSTODIAL PARENT, UH, THAT CAN RISE TO THE LEVEL OF A KIDNAPPING IF IT IS REPORTED TO THE POLICE. SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS INVOLVED IN THAT KIDNAPPING NUMBER. THANKFULLY THE NUMBERS ARE STILL RELATIVELY SMALL COMPARED TO OTHER CRIME CATEGORIES, BUT THE PERCENTAGE NUMBER, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT INCREASE IT, IT'S GONNA JUMP OFF THE PAGE, BUT YOU'RE GONNA SEE IT IN ALMOST EVERY DISTRICT. GO AHEAD AND GO NEXT, NEXT SLIDE. OKAY, WE'RE GONNA GET INTO EACH OF THE COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICTS HERE REAL QUICK. UH, OH, THREE THINGS I DID WANNA MENTION REAL QUICK THOUGH, BEFORE WE DIVE INTO THAT DEEPLY. WE TALKED ABOUT THEFTS FROM VEHICLES WHEN WE WERE HERE LAST TIME. WE MENTIONED FIREARMS STOLEN FROM VEHICLES. WE ARE, UH, THROUGH THE LOCK IT UP SAFE PROGRAM, WE'RE DOING A LOT PSAS TRYING TO TELL PEOPLE NOT TO LEAVE GUNS IN THEIR CARS, PRESENTING AT PARKS, DOING PTA PRESENTATIONS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE TO TRY AND INCREASE GUN SAFETY THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. PROBLEM IS IN 2022, WE HAD 4,140 GUNS STOLEN FROM CARS. OKAY? IT WAS 3,700 IN 2021. NOW IF YOU REMEMBER, 3720 21, THAT'S MORE THAN 10 A DAY AND THAT NUMBER WENT UP. SO A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF FIREARMS ARE BEING STOLEN FROM VEHICLES. SO POLICE, IN ANY DISCUSSIONS WITH CONSTITUENTS, ANYONE OF THAT NATURE, STRESS, THE, THERE IS NO REASON TO LEAVE A FIREARM IN A VEHICLE UNSECURED BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING STOLEN IN ALARMING NUMBERS. UH, WE TALKED ABOUT THEFT OF VEHICLE PARTS. UH, THEFT OF VEHICLE PARTS IS DRIVING OUR THEFT NUMBERS. THE NUMBER IS 15,645 CASES IN 2022. THAT'S UP 2000 FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. AND WE WERE ALREADY DEALING WITH CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFT IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. SO THAT IS DRIVING OUR THEFT NUMBERS. THAT'S HEAVILY DRIVING OUR NONVIOLENT CRIME NUMBERS. SAY THAT AGAIN. THAT IS FIF 15,645. COUNT OF THEFT OF VEHICLE PARTS, WHICH COUNTS, THAT'S WHERE THOSE CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFTS COME IN. SO THAT IS A HEAVY DRIVER OF OUR NON-VIOLENT CRIME NUMBERS. THOSE ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT. UH, THE NEW ORDINANCE IS HELPING, UH, WE HOPE, UH, THE CITY ORDINANCE WHERE THERE'S ALSO A WORK IN THE STATE HOUSE TO TRY AND GET THE PENALTIES FOR THAT INCREASED, WHICH SHOULD HELP. BUT RIGHT NOW THAT IS DRIVING OUR THEFT NUMBERS, UH, SIGNIFICANTLY SO. AND THEN WE GET INTO AUTO THEFT, UH, THAT'S ALSO UP. UH, CRIMINALS ARE USING MORE HIGH TECH DEVICES TO STEAL CARS. NOW, UH, THAT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE AND WE'RE STILL DEALING WITH, OKAY, SO DISTRICT A OVERALL VIOLENT CRIME, DECREASE OF 6%. BUT AGAIN, YOU SEE THE KIDNAPPING NUMBER, I TOLD YOU THAT'S KIND OF GONNA JUMP OFF THE PAGE, UH, THAT THAT IS AN ISSUE. BUT AGAIN, IT IS NOT YOUR TRADITIONAL ABDUCTION, KIDNAPPINGS. THOSE ARE MOSTLY DOMESTIC CASES, CASES DEALING WITH CHILDREN, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. UH, HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS ON THERE. IT'S AN INCREASE IN A NUMBER THREE, A THREE COUNT, ALTHOUGH IT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT. BUT OFTENTIMES THOSE ARE DRIVEN BY OFFICERS ENFORCEMENT ACTION. YOU'LL SEE NUMBERS LIKE NARCOTICS AND, AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING BEING DRIVEN UP BECAUSE WE GO OUT AND MAKE CASES ON THE TRAFFICKERS AND THEN THOSE GET COUNTED. 'CAUSE SOMETIMES WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THEM UNLESS WE FIND OUT ABOUT THEM. AND SO SOMETIMES THOSE ARE [03:15:01] DRIVEN BY OUR OWN EFFORTS. NEXT SLIDE. ALRIGHT, LOOKING AT DISTRICT B, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, UH, AN OVERALL VIOLENT CRIME DECREASE OF 13% IN 22, UH, WHICH IS POSITIVE. AGAIN, UH, I'VE SAID BEFORE, TALKING TO PEOPLE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, ANY CRIME IS TOO MUCH CRIME, BUT DOWN IS BETTER THAN UP IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE. BUT YOU ALSO SEE THE KIDNAPPING NUMBER BEING UP THERE. NEXT SLIDE. DISTRICT C FOR COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. UH, AN OVERALL DECLINE OF 14% IN VIOLENT CRIME. UH, AGAIN, THE KIDNAPPING NUMBER IS THERE. YOU'RE GONNA SEE THAT IN ALMOST EVERY DISTRICT WHEN WE GO BY. UH, NEXT SLIDE. DISTRICT D COUNCIL MEMBER SHAVA, UH, MY OLD AREA OVER THERE WHEN I WAS AT SOUTHEAST, UH, ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, WE HAD SOME STUFF WITH HIM TOO. YOU, AGAIN, YOU SEE THE KIDNAPPING NUMBER, BUT AN OVERALL DECLINE OF 5% IN VIOLENT CRIME. NOW, DISTRICT E OVERALL VIOLENT CRIME, DECLINE OF 7%, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME YOU'RE GONNA SEE A, A RED NUMBER THAT'S NOT HUMAN TRAFFICKING OR, UH, KIDNAPPING. WE HAVE AN INCREASE IN MURDER THAT SHOWS 31%. THAT WAS FIVE, FIVE COUNT, FIVE INSTANCES OF MURDER, WHICH ONE IS TOO MANY? UH, WHAT I DID IS I WENT BACK AND LOOKED, AND I DIDN'T MENTION THIS IN THE BEGINNING. WHEN WE STOP OUR PRESENTATION, THE PART, THE VERSION YOU HAVE IS GONNA HAVE A MONTHLY BREAKDOWN OF THESE STATISTICS AT THE BACK FOR YOUR REFERENCE LATER. AND I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THE MURDER NUMBERS. WE TALKED ABOUT HAVING A ROUGH COUPLE OF MONTHS AT THE BEGINNING OF 22. UH, WE DID BEFORE THE ONE SAFE HOUSTON PROGRAM KICKED OFF. UH, JANUARY AND FEBRUARY OF 22 WERE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGH IN VIOLENT CRIME NUMBERS. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MONTHLY BREAKDOWN FOR DISTRICT E, THAT'S WHERE THAT INCREASE OCCURRED. IT WAS IN THOSE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF THE YEAR BECAUSE AFTER THAT, THE NUMBERS WENT DOWN TO PREVIOUS YEAR LEVELS. WE JUST WEREN'T ABLE TO CATCH UP BY THE END OF THE YEAR. NEXT SLIDE. DIS , SAFEST DISTRICT IN THE CITY. THERE YOU GO. SEE OVERALL DECLINE OF 14%. ONLY THE KIDNAPPING NUMBER ON THERE. SO, UH, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT, AGAIN, AN OVERALL DECLINE IN VIOLENT CRIME, WHICH IS GOOD, WHICH WE DID SEE ACROSS THE BOARD. IT'S ONE THING I DIDN'T MENTION IN THE BEGINNING. YOU'RE GONNA SEE THAT EVERY DISTRICT HAD AN OVERALL DECLINE IN VIOLENT CRIME. , KIDNAPPING NUMBER, STILL THERE. NEXT SLIDE. . ALRIGHT, DISTRICT G, UH, AGAIN, I TALKED ABOUT, UH, ANOTHER POINT WHERE YOU HAVE A RED NUMBER THAT IS NOT, UH, THE KIDNAPPING OR THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING. THERE WAS A 10 COUNT INCREASE IN, IN MURDERS IN DISTRICT G FOR THE YEAR 2022. BUT I DID THE SAME ANALYSIS. I WENT BACK AND LOOKED, AND THE INCREASE WAS HEAVILY, HEAVILY WEIGHTED AT THE BEGINNING OF 22. IN THOSE FIRST COUPLE YEAR, COUPLE OF MONTHS, UH, WHEN ALL OF OUR VIOLENT CRIME NUMBERS WERE UP, UH, WE, WE STARTED ONE SAFE HOUSTON. AFTER THAT. WE ALREADY HAD A LOT OF STRATEGIES IN PLACE, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE SOME SIGNIFICANT STRIDES THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE YEAR. AND IT'S JUST THAT IN A COUPLE OF DISTRICTS, WE WERE UNABLE TO CATCH UP TO A NEGATIVE. UH, BY THE TIME THE YEAR CLOSED OUT, UH, WE CLOSED OUT NEGATIVE FOR THE CITY, BUT THERE WERE A COUPLE OF DISTRICTS WHERE WE STILL SAW SOME INCREASES. NEXT SLIDE. DISTRICT H OVERALL DECLINE OF 12% IN VIOLENT CRIME. NEXT SLIDE. NEXT SLIDE. DISTRICT I, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS. WE ALSO SAW AN OVER OVERALL DECLINE IN 5% IN VIOLENT CRIME. AGAIN, YOU SEE THAT KIDNAPPING NUMBER, UH, THAT THOSE ARE HEAVILY REPRESENTED BY THOSE DOMESTIC CASES AND THINGS THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT. NEXT SLIDE. DISTRICT J COUNCIL MEMBER, POLLARD, OVERALL DECLINE OF 5%. AGAIN, YOU SEE THAT, THAT SLIGHT TICK IN THE MURDER, IT WAS ONLY, IT WAS ONE, ONE ADDITIONAL CASE FOR THE YEAR. UH, WE'RE GONNA SEE THOSE FLUCTUATE. ONE IS TOO MANY. UH, NONE, NONE WOULD BE THE GOAL. UH, WE, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THERE YET, BUT THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN ONE IN THE DISTRICT, UH, BY OF THE MURDERS. UH, NEXT SLIDE. DISTRICT K, UH, AGAIN, WE SAW AN INCREASE. THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN OF THREE, UH, PERCENTAGE BEING 8% IN THAT. UH, HOWEVER, THERE'S A DISTINCTION HERE. THIS IS THE ONE DISTRICT WHERE WE DID NOT SEE A RED NUMBER ON KIDNAPPING. UH, INSTEAD WE SAW, UH, WE SAW A DECLINE IN KIDNAPPING, UH, IN THAT AREA. OKAY, SO NOW, UH, THAT, THAT'S IT FOR THE SPECIFIC COUNCIL MEMBER NUMBERS. LIKE I MENTIONED IN THE BACK OF THE PRESENTATION THAT YOU HAVE, THAT SHOULD, SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO YOU. THERE IS A MONTH BY MONTH BREAKDOWN OF BOTH 2021 AND 2022 CRIME NUMBERS THAT YOU CAN REFERENCE BY COUNCIL DISTRICT. SO LEMME TURN IT BACK OVER TO THE CHIEF. THANK YOU. UH, ASSISTANT CHIEF, UH, MARTIN. UH, I WANT TO, UH, SAY AGAIN, PROUD OF, UM, NOT ONE DISTRICT, UH, NOT ONE COUNCIL PERSON HERE HAS TO GO AND SAY, HEY, THAT THERE WAS NOT A DECREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME. AND, AND, UH, THAT'S HUGE. AND, AND I, WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO, LIKE I SAID, AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD. SO, LOOKING AHEAD, UH, ONE SAFE HOUSTON, UH, AGAIN, THANK Y'ALL. WE'LL CONTINUE TO USE THOSE FUNDS TO, UH, GO AFTER THOSE MOST VIOLENT INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS, UH, IN OUR CITY. THAT'S REALLY, UH, PUSHING [03:20:01] UP THOSE NUMBERS. UM, RECRUITING AND RETENTION, I TALKED ABOUT THAT. WE'RE GONNA STAY ON THAT AND, UH, MAKE SURE WE GETTING THE BEST PEOPLE THAT WE CAN. UH, WITH THE BIGGEST HEARTS TO SERVE ON THE FRONT LINE IN OUR CITY, UH, TECHNOLOGY, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO, UH, USE THAT AS A FORCE MULTIPLIER, AS LICENSE PLATE READERS, UH, UH, FLOCK SYSTEMS, UM, UH, ALSO OUR SHOT SPOTTERS. UM, ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO, UM, WE ARE, ARE LOOKING AT, UM, AND, UH, INCREASING, UH, AND ENHANCING, I MEANT TO SAY, OUR REAL TIME CRIME CENTER. UH, I THINK IT'S, UH, EIGHT POINT SOMETHING MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE'RE GETTING READY TO PUT IN THERE. SO IT'S GONNA BE A TRUE, A REALTIME CRIME CENTER. WHAT I WANNA SAY ABOUT MOBILITY, UM, A DECEASED PERSON, UH, TO A FAMILY IS A DECEASED PERSON, UH, REGARDLESS OF IT'S A GUNSHOT OR AN ACCIDENT. UM, OUR PARTNERSHIPS, UH, UM, LOCAL AND, AND, AND STATE AND FORCING, UH, UM, TRAFFIC AND SLOWING PEOPLE DOWN IN OUR CITY. UM, IN OUR COUNTY. UH, WE LEAD THE NA THE NATION IN OUR COUNTY YEAR AFTER YEAR WITH D-W-D-W-I DEATHS. WE GOTTA DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT. AT THE SAME TIME, UM, WE HAVE TO BE LASER FOCUSED ON MOVING TRAFFIC. UH, WHEN WE HAVE ACCIDENTS DURING RUSH HOUR, IT'S INCUMBENT AND VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE MOVE THAT TRAFFIC. WE LOSING DOLLARS WHEN PEOPLE ARE SITTING UP IN TRAFFIC. AND I HEAR THAT FROM OUR CORPORATE, UH, WORLD. AND, UM, WANNA MAKE SURE WE DO THAT IN TERMS OF MENTAL, MENTAL, UH, ILLNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH. I SPOKE ABOUT IT FOR OUR OFFICERS, YOU KNOW, AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S WELL. BUT AS WE RESPOND, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO USE ALL THOSE INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CITY. UM, WHEN WE DON'T NEED A POLICE OFFICER ON A SCENE, WE GET SOMEBODY ELSE ON THERE. OUR MEDICAL PROFESSIONS AND ALL THOSE INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE, UM, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. WHAT I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THAT IS WE GREAT, WE HAVE GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY HERE, BUT ONE THING I ASK ALL OF US, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUSINESS OWNERS, MAKE SURE THAT WE PAYING IT BACK AND PAYING IT FORWARD WITH THE YOUTH AND OUR COMMUNITY. UM, I WANT TO GET MORE INTO, UM, AS A CHIEF, AS A DEPARTMENT, I WANT TO GET MORE INTO THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF OUR YOUTH. THEY NEED US, AND I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF AND ANYBODY AROUND THIS TABLE. SOMEBODY OUTSIDE OUR FAMILY HELPED US. SOMEBODY GAVE US A HAND UP, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE WE DO THAT AS A CITY. I, I SPOKE TO JUST REALLY BRIEFLY, UM, UM, HISD, CHIEF PETE LOPEZ. UM, I WANT TO HAVE LUNCH PERIODS WHERE I'M, AND, AND OTHER MEMBERS OF MY LEADERSHIP TEAM ARE IN HIGH SCHOOLS AND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS. NOTHING FORMAL, JUST SHAKING SOME HANDS AND TALKING TO KIDS, UH, AFFECTING THEIR HEARTS AND THEIR MINDS. SO, UM, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE WILL MOVE FORWARD ON. BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT. UM, PUBLIC SAFETY, FOCUSING IN ON THOSE VIOLENT INDIVIDUALS, THAT IS OUR NUMBER ONE, UH, PRIORITY AND THE MAYOR SAID AT TIME AND TIME AGAIN. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO. BUT, UM, THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION, BUT I, I KNOW THERE MAY BE SOME, UH, QUESTIONS. SO THERE, CHIEF, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WANT TO, UM, UH, UH, SPEAK TO Y'ALL THIS MORNING. I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT BEFORE I RECOGNIZE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, WHAT YOU SAID, UH, DURING THIS ADMINISTRATION, UH, 34 ACADEMIES MM-HMM . I DON'T KNOW IF THERE HAVE, UH, ANY PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION HAS HAD AS MANY CADET CLASSES AS WE HAVE HAD, UH, 2026, I BELIEVE YOU SAID, UH, NEW POLICE OFFICERS ADDED TO, ADDED TO THE FORCE AND THEN, UH, UH, THE INCENTIVE PAY. I KNOW I SEE DOUG BACK THERE AND I KNOW WHAT I HEARD HIM SAY, UH, ON, UM, ON SOME OF THE, UH, IN HIS PUBLIC COMMENTS ABOUT MORE COMPETITIVE PAY. AND, UM, THE HOPE IS THAT THE $10,000 INCENTIVE PAY GOING TO THOSE IN OUR CADETS WILL INCENTIVIZED EVEN MORE. YES. AND SO, UH, I APPRECIATE, I APPRECIATE YOUR Y'ALL'S EFFORTS, AND BOTH OF YOU HAVE UNDERSCORED THE FACT THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, WE HAD A ROUGH YEAR OF 2022. UM, BUT ONE SAFE HOUSTON THEN CAME IN, AND THEN WE GOT ON TOP OF THAT. I, I JUST WANT YOU TO MAKE SURE YOU BE CLARIFIED, UM, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ONE SAFE HOUSTON. YES. BECAUSE THAT WILL IMPART DETERMINE HOW MUCH MORE WE INVEST IN ONE SAFE, IN ONE SAFE HOUSTON. SO I DO IT, LET ME JUST ASK THAT QUESTION. IS THERE ANY, ANY DOUBT, UH, THAT ONE SAFE HOUSTON HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE? AND THEN, UM, AND THEN WHAT MORE, UH, WOULD YOU ASKED FROM, UM, THIS CITY COUNCIL AS WE MOVE INTO 2023? I WANT TO, AGAIN, THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR. IT, IT'S A FACT, UM, THAT IT'S BEEN SUCCESSFUL. UH, IT WAS A, A, UM, UH, AN INITIATIVE AND, AND I GUESS I WANT TO SAY A WAY OF LIFE HERE IN HOUSTON, UM, BASED ON [03:25:01] YOUR LEADERSHIP, THAT IT'S A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH. YOU DIDN'T JUST THROW DOLLARS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAINED ABOUT, ABOUT TRADITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE BOUGHT EVERYBODY INTO IT. UM, AND, AND VIOLENCE AND INTERRUPTION PLANS, UH, DEALING WITH OUR MENTAL ILLNESS, UH, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESPONSE, UH, EVERYTHING THAT'S IN THERE. AND IT BROUGHT CITIZENS EVEN CLOSER TO US. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'LL NEED TO GO FORWARD. UM, AND I, I JUST ASK THAT, UM, YOU CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THAT. UH, WE'RE GONNA DO EVERYTHING AND, AND, AND OUR POWERS TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, WE'RE PUTTING OFFICERS AND, AND, AND RESOURCES, UH, WHERE THEY NEED TO BE PLACED, UM, AT THE RIGHT TIME, UM, AT THE, AND ON THE RIGHT DAY AND, UM, TO, UH, REDUCE THE CRIME. THANK YOU. AND THEN, UH, I, I DON'T THINK WE STARTED THE YEAR OFF BETTER THAN, THAN TO HAVE, UH, CADET CLASS 2 56, UH, LAST WEEK, UH, 61 POLICE OFFICERS BEING ADDED TO THE FORCE IN THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY. AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE ADDITIONAL CADET CLASSES. I THINK THEY'RE ALREADY IN PROCESS. YES. SO LET ME JUST, LEMME JUST SAY TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, UH, WE VALUE ALL OF OUR POLICE, UM, AND THOSE WHO SEEK TO BE POLICE OFFICERS, WE WANT MORE TO JOIN THE FORCE. UH, AND YOU'LL FIND A CITY THAT'S VERY, VERY SUPPORTIVE. SO LET ME ENCOURAGE OTHERS, UH, TO STEP FORWARD TO SERVE, UH, AND PROTECT. AND LASTLY, WITH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN, IN, IN, IN PLACE RIGHT NOW, YOU MENTIONED MENTAL HEALTH. IT'S MY HOPE THAT YOU ALL ALONG WITH OTHER POLICE AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE, WILL ENCOURAGE THE LEGISLATURE FUND, UH, TO PUT FORTH TRANSFORMATIVE FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH, UH, WITH A BUDGET SURPLUS SURPLUS OF $33 MILLION. AND IT MAKES NO SENSE, UH, FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS TO BE RANKED AT THE BOTTOM IN TERMS OF FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH, BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE DEALING WITH IT. YOUR OFFICERS ARE DEALING WITH PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, UM, WHETHER IT'S IN, WHETHER IT'S IN SCHOOLS, WHETHER IT'S ON THE STREETS WITH THE HOMELESS POPULATION, WHETHER IT'S EVEN IN CASES, UM, IN, IN HOMES. YES. UM, BUT IT'S MY HOPE THAT, UH, POLICE OFFICERS, UH, BIG CITY CHIEFS ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS WILL ENCOURAGE, UH, THE LEGISLATURE TO ENGAGE IN TRANSFORMATIVE, UH, MENTAL HEALTH FUNDING, UH, AT A, AT A LEVEL THAT WE HAVE NEVER SEEN, UH, IN THE HISTORY OF THIS STATE. THERE'S NO, IT MAKES NO SENSE TO HAVE $33 BILLION IN SURPLUS WITHOUT INVESTING. YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY IN MY OWN MIND, UH, AT LEAST A BILLION DOLLARS OF THAT IN MENTAL HEALTH ACROSS THE STATE, ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH. UH, SO THAT'S, THAT, THAT WOULD BE MY ASK OF YOU ALL FOR THE LEGISLATURE IN ADDITION TO THE ADDITIONAL AGENDA THAT'S PUT FORTH. HAVING SAID THAT, LET NOT YIELD TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS COUNCILWOMAN CAMAN. WE'LL START WITH YOU, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, CHIEF ASSISTANT CHIEF, THANK Y'ALL FOR THE PRESENTATION. BUT GOING BEYOND THAT, IF YOU COULD RELAY OUR APPRECIATION TO EVERY OFFICER AND PERSONNEL, UM, THAT CONTINUES TO SERVE IN OUR CITY. UH, AND I KNOW WE'RE TODAY FOCUSED ON CRIME STATISTICS, UH, BUT AS YOU SAID AT THE BEGINNING IN THE OUTSET, SO MUCH THAT YOU ALL, AND WE AS A COUNCIL MAYOR, YOUR LEADERSHIP ARE DOING WITH INVESTMENTS IN COMMUNITY AS WELL. YES. AND THOSE, UM, PROGRAMS THAT FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH, CRISIS DIVERSION, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT, UH, ARE PROGRAMMATIC, THAT IT GOES HAND IN HAND WITH THIS. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. UM, I'M JUST GONNA SAY REALLY QUICKLY ON THEFT AND AUTO THEFT, AND THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING. A LOT OF THAT THEFT NUMBER IS THEFT OUT OF CARS AS WELL. UH, SO I WANNA CLARIFY THAT FOR THE PUBLIC AND APPRECIATE YOU FLAGGING THAT. AND I'M, I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT THE NUMBER IS GOING UP OF FIREARMS, OUT OF VEHICLES. UM, I WANT TO JUST SAY FOR THE PUBLIC, KEEP STUFF OUT OF CARS WHEN WE'RE PARKING OUR CARS AT NIGHT. AND I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT ON ALL OF THAT TO CONTINUE PUSHING THAT OUT. BUT I APPRECIATE, UM, HP D'S PARTNERSHIP ON LOCK IT UP SAFE, UH, AND THAT EDUCATION AROUND FIREARMS AND SAFE STORAGE, NOT JUST IN CARS, BUT IN HOMES AS WELL, UH, ON KIDNAPPING MERITS. UH, YOU KNOW, I, I KNOW Y'ALL MENTIONED, THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THE LAST TIME YOU CAME BACK, UH, YOU WERE BEFORE US, YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO, FOR, WITH CERTAINTY SAY THAT A LOT OF THAT KIDNAPPING HAS TO DO WITH INTER-FAMILY, UH, MATTERS. SO NOW I THINK I HEAR THAT YOU'RE SAYING YES, THAT'S CORRECT. IT'S NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT RIGHT, BUT THAT IS A LARGE PORTION AND WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH, UM, UH, UH, ALL THOSE CASES. BUT, UH, RIGHT NOW IT'S LOOKING LIKE, UH, A LOT OF THAT IS DRIVEN. SOME OF THAT INCREASES IS DUE TO THAT. THANK YOU. AND I ALSO WANNA EMPHASIZE, MAYOR, WE SEE A LOT OF HEADLINES ABOUT PERCENTAGES. AND OF COURSE, WE'RE ALL GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT THESE LARGE [03:30:01] PERCENTAGE DECREASES BECAUSE THAT'S IMPORTANT. BUT FOR EXAMPLE, IN DISTRICT C WITH KIDNAPPING, IT WENT FROM 18 TO 20. THAT'S A DIFFERENCE OF TWO. YES. IN A DISTRICT OF CLOSE TO 250,000, AND YOU'RE GONNA SEE AN 11% INCREASE. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PERCENTAGES, I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO BE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF NUMBERS. THE NUMBERS, YES. BECAUSE IN A CITY AS BIG AS WE ARE, UM, I HOPE THIS GIVES SOME REASSURANCE TO RESIDENTS, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND, UH, ON VIOLENT CRIME. UH, I'M STILL HOPING THAT WE CAN GET TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN BE TALKING ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO, FOR EXAMPLE, HOMICIDES, UM, OR AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS, WHERE WE CAN DISTINGUISH WHAT WAS USED WITH A FIREARM AND WHAT WAS NOT. AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE THERE YET. UH, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT? GO AHEAD. UH, WE DO HAVE SOME NUMBERS ON THAT. THE, THE EASE OF TRACKING IT IS NOT WHERE IT SHOULD BE. UH, ONE OF THOSE TECHNOLOGICAL ENHANCEMENTS, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR TALKED ABOUT WHAT DO WE NEED, WE, WE NEED TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD WITH, WITH TECHNOLOGICAL ENHANCEMENTS BECAUSE, UH, FACE IT FACT OF LIFE IS WE'RE NEVER GONNA HAVE ENOUGH COPS. AND HAVING TECHNOLOGY TO HELP OUR COPS DO THEIR JOBS MORE EFFICIENTLY AND BETTER, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE WORKING ON, WE'RE IN A QUIET PERIOD ON IT RIGHT NOW WITH VENDORS, IS AN, A REFRESHING UPDATE TO OUR RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. THE SYSTEM OFFICERS USED TO GENERATE THEIR REPORTS AND TRACK THAT INFORMATION. AND THAT SHOULD ALLOW US TO, UM, IN MUCH MORE DETAIL, UH, CAPTURE THAT INFORMATION. 'CAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING IN THAT PROCESS IS HAVING A BETTER ABILITY TO DIG DOWN INTO THIS DATA GRANULARLY AND SEE THINGS LIKE THAT, UH, WITHOUT HAVING TO GO BACK CASE BY CASE AND JUST READ IT AND MANUALLY TICK MARK IT. AND THAT MAYOR, I THINK IS A BIG CONCERN OF MINE, IS US BEING ABLE TO POINT TO THAT DATA AT THAT GRANULAR LEVEL, BECAUSE THEN WE CAN ADDRESS THE ROOT ISSUES. THE SAME THING WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MURDERS. WHAT WAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RELATED AND WHAT WASN'T? AND WHAT IS A, A KNOWN, UH, RELATIONSHIP VERSUS SOMEBODY RANDOM ON THE STREET AND HAVING, DO Y'ALL HAVE THAT INFORMATION AVAILABLE? ARE WE ABLE TO BREAK THAT DOWN? OUR HOMICIDE DIVISION DOES TRACK THE MOTIVE IN MURDERS. UH, THERE'S, THERE'S UNKNOWNS. YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU FIND A BODY AND YOU DON'T HAVE A SUSPECT, YOU DON'T HAVE A WITNESS, YOU MAY NOT KNOW. SO THERE'S A, A LARGE NUMBER WHERE IT'S LIKE, WE DON'T KNOW WHY THEY DO TRACK THAT. BUT AGAIN, IT'S A MANUAL TRACKING PROCESS. UH, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WHAT DOMESTIC, WHETHER IT WAS GANG RELATED, IF, IF WE KNOW, UH, WHAT THE MOTIVE WAS. SO WE, WE DO TRACK THAT AS FAR AS, UH, BREAKING THAT DOWN. I DON'T HAVE THAT WITH ME TODAY, BUT WE'LL PROVIDE THOSE TO YOU. YEAH, I WOULD, I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT BREAKDOWN. 'CAUSE AGAIN, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MURDER AND HOMICIDE IN THE CITY, THERE ARE PATTERNS, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SPEAKING CLEARLY TO THE COMMUNITY ON THAT. AND, AND TO THE, TO THE KNOWN VERSUS UNKNOWN. UH, TRADITIONALLY YEAR OVER YEAR ON MANY OF OUR VIOLENT CRIME CATEGORIES, MURDER INCLUDED, UH, YOU ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO BE HARMED BY SOMEONE YOU KNOW, THAN SOMEONE YOU DON'T. THANK YOU. AND FINALLY, UM, IF YOU COULD CONTINUE, MAYBE IT'S EVERY THREE OR FOUR MONTHS, UM, I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT TO DO EVERY MONTH, BUT PROVIDING THESE DISTRICTS SPECIFIC UPDATES IS SO IMPORTANT. IT HELPS US RELATE TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND HELPS US KIND OF HONE IN ON WHAT WE CAN BE DOING TO BRING THESE NUMBERS DOWN FURTHER. UH, I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE, I THINK IF I GOT IT RIGHT, DISTRICT C RIGHT NOW IS TIED AS THE SECOND LARGEST DECREASE IN CRIME. AND WE'RE OVERALL, IF YOU LOOK AT RAW NUMBERS, THE SECOND LOWEST FOR VIOLENT CRIME IN THE CITY. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS COMPETING FOR GOOD THINGS. THAT'S GOOD. BUT WE'LL GET THAT TO YOU, I PROMISE YOU. YES, MA'AM. BUT, BUT AGAIN, MY, MY SINCEREST APPRECIATION, UM, TO YOU ALL, I MAY, YOU'RE RIGHT, KICKING OFF WITH THAT CADET CLASS AT THE START OF THE YEAR, UH, I THINK FAMILIES, WE GOT A STANDING OVATION, UH, FROM THE AUDIENCE WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, UH, 10,000 SIGNING BONUS. BUT, UH, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN ROBINSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I APPRECIATE, UH, ALL THE POINTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE, ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE ONE SAFE HOUSTON AND CHIEF. IT'S REALLY CLEAR THAT THE CURVE IS BENDING AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THE STATISTICS BEAR IT OUT, WHETHER IT'S IN ANYONE'S DISTRICT OR MY DISTRICT AT LARGE. YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING ACROSS THE CITY AND WE'RE SEEING TRENDS ACROSS ALL THE INDICATORS THAT ARE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. AND MAYOR, I THINK FOR YOUR CALL TO THE LEGISLATURE AHEAD, TO PUT SOME OF THAT MONEY INTO THE, THE, THE SPACE WHERE WE NEED HELP. AND, UH, I THINK THAT'S REALLY WHERE I WANT TO FOCUS. AND, UH, PERHAPS IT'S PERSONAL IN THIS CASE AND IN MY DISTRICT WHERE I LIVE. COUNCIL MEMBER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, TWO THINGS ARE UP ONE, SLIGHTLY, A LITTLE BIT BY PERCENTAGE AS COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN POINTS OUT, AND THAT'S KIDNAPPING. AND THEN ONE THING IS REALLY RADICALLY UP. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I WAS A VICTIM OF IT ON SATURDAY NIGHT. MY, MY TRUCK WAS STOLEN OUTSIDE MY HOUSE. AND THAT'S, THAT'S NOT A SMALL CHANGE. THAT'S 500 VEHICLES, UH, FROM 2021 TO 2022, I GUESS I'M A STATISTIC FOR 2023. SO I'D, YOU KNOW, I'M SELFISH [03:35:01] IN WANTING TO KNOW WHAT, WHAT ARE WE DOING WHEN WE SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT AUTO THEFT. AND, AND THIS IS BASED ON MY AT LARGE DISTRICT, NOT SO MUCH WHAT HAPPENED TO ME OR WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR DISTRICT AND DISTRICT C, BUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO WE DO? HOW DO WE RESPOND WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS GOING ON? YOU MENTIONED THE TECHNOLOGY THAT THE CRIMINALS ARE USING. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE IT ON VIDEO. I LIVE ACROSS THE STREET FROM A RESTAURANT AND THERE WAS A VIDEO POINTED AT MY FRONT DOOR. WE SAW TWO MINUTES BEFORE IT WAS TAKEN, AND WE SAW THEM DRIVE AWAY WITH IT. AND, UH, YOU'RE BY THE WAY, RIGHT? YOUR TEAM HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE. AND I GOTTA SAY, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT'S A LITTLE BIT 'CAUSE THEY'RE HELPING A COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT I'VE GOTTA SAY IT'S BEEN MM-HMM . REALLY IMPRESSIVE. RIGHT? SO, UM, YOU, YOU HIT A A FEW POINTS THAT THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT, UH, AND, AND APOLOGIZE FOR THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY HOW EXPENSIVE, UH, VEHICLES ARE RIGHT NOW. AND YOU TOLD ME A LITTLE BIT EARLIER IT WAS ALREADY PAID FOR, AND THAT THAT MAKES IT EXTRA PAINFUL. SO, BUT LOOK, THEY, THEY TOOK THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE TRUCK GOODNESS. SO, UH, OUR FLY CAMERAS AND OUR LICENSE PLATE READERS, THAT SHOULD HELP US. BUT WHAT HELPS US MOST, AND AND THIS IS THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO INTO WITH, UH, THE, UH, COMMUNITY, UM, CAMERAS, RESIDENTIAL CAMERAS, UH, CAMERAS AT APARTMENT COMPLEXES, BUT ALSO IT'S INCUMBENT ON US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE JUMP ON. IF YOU HAVE SOME INFORMATION, AND I KNOW WE CAME OUT AND DONE A REPORT, OUR INVESTIGATIVE DIVISIONS HAVE TO FOLLOW UP. BUT EVEN BEYOND THAT, UH, WE LOOK AT, UH, CRIME PATTERNS DAILY, UM, AND WE MOVE, UH, RESOURCES, UM, WHEN THERE'S A PEAK IN, IN THOSE AREAS. AND EVEN IF IT'S NONVIOLENT, LIKE YOU SAY, IT IS STILL A CRIME. UH, WE MOVE OUR RESOURCES, OUR CRIME SUPPRESSION, UH, TEAMS, UH, AND WE PUT UNDERCOVER OFFICERS, UM, IN THOSE AREAS AND TRY TO CATCH THOSE INDIVIDUALS. BUT, UM, I DON'T LIKE PUSHING, PUSHING THE BLAME ANYWHERE, BUT UNTIL WE DO SOMETHING, UH, WITH OUR BACKLOG. AND MAYOR, I WANTED TO JUST SAY SOMETHING REALLY, REALLY QUICKLY ON THE BACKLOG. WE NEED FUNDING, UH, FOR MENTAL ILLNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH, I MEANT TO SAY. BUT IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING AND GET SERIOUS ABOUT DOING FUNDING STATE, I MEAN, COUNTYWIDE, NO COUNTY IN THE NATION, UH, SUFFERS FROM A BACKLOG THAT WE DO. WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH. EVERYBODY HAS TO SIT DOWN AND COME UP WITH APPROACH OF HOW WE GONNA DO. AND WHEN YOU HAVE, AND WE TALK ABOUT VIOLENT CRIMINALS, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A CRIMINAL THAT'S BREAKING IN HOUSES AFTER HOUSE, AFTER HOME, AFTER HOME, OR BREAKING IN CAR, THAT'S A PROBLEM. AND WHEN WE CATCH THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND, AND, AND, AND THEY ARE TIME AFTER TIME COMMITTING CRIMES, WE GOTTA HAVE A PLACE FOR 'EM. WE GOTTA TALK ABOUT CAPACITY IN OUR COUNTY JAILS UNTIL THOSE INDIVIDUALS GET TO COURT. SO A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO AND NOT POINT FINGERS, I WANT TO SIT DOWN WITH ALL OF OUR OFFICIALS BECAUSE IF YOU ELECTED, IF YOU APPOINTED, IF YOU A LEADER, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY EXPECT OF YOU. SOLUTIONS, NOT A LOT OF EXCUSES. SO 2023, LET'S, LET'S BE SOLUTION BASED AND THEN LET'S GET OUT THERE AND GET AFTER IT. CHIEF, I'M A BELIEVER, YOU KNOW, SO MUCH OF WHAT YOU SAY, WHAT YOU'VE BROUGHT WITH YOUR TEAM BEFORE US, INCLUDING THE LICENSE PLATE READERS, WHEN THE OFFICER REPORTED TO MY HOUSE ON SUNDAY MORNING BEFORE CHURCH, HE ASKED ME, AND HE SHOWED UP REALLY QUICK. HE WONDERED IF I HAD BEEN OUT THE DAY BEFORE AND IF I HAD HAD A CHRISTMAS TREE IN THE BACK OF MY PICKUP TRUCK AND I WAS TAKING IT TO GET RECYCLED, WHICH I DID MM-HMM . AND HE HAD SEEN IT FROM ONE OF THOSE CAMERAS YES. ON, YOU KNOW, A NEARBY MAJOR THOROUGHFARE. AND IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE, THE TECHNOLOGY IS WORKING. SO I'M A BELIEVER, HOPEFULLY THEY'LL TRACK IT DOWN, YOU KNOW, IF THEY COULD VACUUM THE INSIDE MAYOR AND MAYBE DO A LITTLE TOUCH UP ON THE OUTSIDE. THAT'D BE GREAT. THANKS, CHIEF. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU. UH, YOU KNOW, MAYOR, THIS MORNING I WAS READY TO TUSSLE ON THE AGENDA, BUT I GOT GOOD NEWS FROM THE CHIEF, SO I'M GONNA BE GOOD. I GOT A GOOD, I GOT A GOOD DISPOSITION THIS MORNING. UM, SO THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE CHIEF BEFORE THE BODY TO TALK ABOUT THESE STATISTICS. SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO MIDWEST AND WEST SIDE, UM, YOU KNOW, TO REPRESENT DISTRICT F UH, AND NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE HAD A REALLY BAD RAP IN THE PAST. A LEAF WEST CHASE, PINEY POINT AROUND CRIME. AND EVEN AS WE PREPARE FOR THE CENTER'S OPENING, THE PRIMARY QUESTION IS, HOW ARE WE GONNA STAY SAFE AT THE PARK? AND SO TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THIS INFORMATION, GO BACK TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND SAY, WE'RE UP IN THE CITY. AND, AND THAT'S A GOOD TERM TO SAY UP IN THE CITY. AND THE FACT THAT THE CRIME IS DOWN, WE'RE IN POSITIVES. THE WORK, THE INVESTMENT, ONE SAFE HOUSTON, IT'S WORKING. AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW ALL OF THOSE RESOURCES ARE YIELDING ITS FRUIT. MY PARTICULAR QUESTION, AND MY COLLEAGUE ALLUDED TO IT AROUND THE LPR, UH, WE CONTRIBUTED 50 TO THE CITY, THEY'RE INSTALLED. UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT ITEM. THAT'S BEEN TREMENDOUS. BUT HOW DO WE PLAN ON, UM, GOING BACK TO COMMUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS? AND I [03:40:01] KNOW WE, YOU KNOW, M WE DON'T WANNA TELL EVERYBODY HOW Y'ALL ARE WORKING THAT SYSTEM. NO. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF TALKING POINT. SO IN THE FUTURE, AS YOU GATHER, UM, GOOD STORIES, UH, IF YOU CAN INCORPORATE THIS IN THE PLAN. 'CAUSE I WANNA BE ABLE TO PUT THOSE OUTCOMES WITH THE FINANCIAL INVESTMENT. THE, THE MAYOR AND I, UH, SPOKE ABOUT THIS A FEW WEEKS BACK. UH, WE REALLY NEED TO GET A COMPREHENSIVE THING AND, AND HAVE A, A PR, UM, THING, UH, WITH ALL, AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GONNA SAY, UH, HOUSTON WATTS OR WHATEVER, MAYOR, UM, BUT WE'LL COME UP WITH THE TERM. BUT WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT, WE GET EVERYBODY INVOLVED. CAN YOU IMAGINE IF, IF, IF WE HAD, UM, THE MAJORITY OF OUR CITIZENS IN THE RESIDENCE WITH SOME TYPE OF OUTWARD FACING AND CAMERA, MOST OF ALL APARTMENT COMPLEXES, ALL BUSINESSES WITH LICENSE PLATE READERS AND FLOCK CAM. CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT IN OUR CITY? I KNOW IT'S HUGE. AND IF IT'S NOTHING OUT THERE, IF IT'S IT'S A WOODED AREA, SOMETIME IT'S NO NEED AND UNTIL THEY START DUMPING, AND THEN WE'LL PUT SOME PORTABLE CAMERAS OUT THERE. BUT CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT? SO I, I THINK THAT THAT IN 2023, UH, AS THE MAYOR HAS, HAS SAID, UM, I, I REALLY WANNA PUSH THAT AND, AND, AND I NEED YOUR HELP. AND WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL PUT THE PLATFORM OUT THERE, BUT WE'LL PROMOTE IT. UM, BUT IT HAS TO BE A CITYWIDE THING AND EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED. AND YOU'LL SEE A SAFER CITY AND A, AND A LOT OF EASY WAYS TO, UH, UH, UH, EASIER WAYS TO, UH, UM, SOLVE SOME CRIME. I APPRECIATE THAT. AND MAYOR, IF I MAY, UM, ADD THIS, UH, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, JUST A REMINDER, WE HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM, UH, TO SUPPORT, I THINK IT'S LIKE 360,000 FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. SO WHEN, UH, TODAY. AND SO THAT VERY SMALL AMOUNT, AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE KIDNAPPING AND THE STATISTICS JUST SHOWS US THE PRIORITY AND HOW WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO INVEST, UM, IN THIS WORK TO GET THESE NUMBERS DOWN. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT SUPPORT OUR CITY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. AND I WILL SAY WE NEED TO DO, MAKE A, A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, UH, DOMESTIC ABUSE, UH, BECAUSE RELATIONSHIP CRIMES ARE, UH, YES. UH, UH, SO WE DO NEED TO MAKE A HUGE INVESTMENT THERE. WITH RESPECT TO THE PARKS. I DO WANT YOU TO BEAR IN MIND THE PART OF ONE SAFE HOUSTON WAS TO ADD 15 ADDITIONAL RANGERS. I THINK THEY HAVE DONE, THEY ARE NOW 15 MORE THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED THAT WOULD HELP WITH OUR PARKS AND OUR GREEN SPACE. SO TO COMPLIMENT WHAT THEY'RE DOING. UM, AND I'LL RESERVE SOME COMMENTS INTO, 'CAUSE THERE ARE MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS I WANT TO GET TO YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS, COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS. UM, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, UM, UM, OFFICERS, I, I, I WANT TO REALLY THANK YOU CHIEF FINNER FOR YOUR COMMENTS REGARDING, UM, THE PUBLIC SAFETY CONNECTION TO INVESTING IN YOUNG PEOPLE. AND THAT IT REALLY DOES REQUIRE A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH THAT'S, THAT'S BEYOND WHAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN DO. AND I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL FOR, YOU KNOW, THE, UM, THE MY BROTHERS KEEPER PROGRAMS AND THE THINGS THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DOES BECAUSE, UM, IT, IT GETS BACK TO WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, MENTAL HEALTH, MENTAL, UM, ILLNESS, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, AND THE REALLY, UM, THE, THE WHAT A CRUCIAL INVESTMENT THAT IS IN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, AND, AND MAKING SURE THAT ALL YOUNG PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, OR HAVE WHAT THEY TAKE TO BE SUCCESSFUL IS, THAT'S GOOD FOR EVERYBODY. BUT IT REALLY, REALLY MATTERS A HUGE DEAL. YOU GET THE BIGGEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK WHEN YOU FOCUS ON THE KIDS THAT ARE REALLY AT RISK. SO, SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR BEING SUCH A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR THAT. UM, I DID WANNA GO BACK TO THE, THE DATA AND, UM, AND THE KIDNAPPING NUMBERS. UM, YOU KNOW, AND I SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT CITYWIDE IT'S, YOU KNOW, 63% INCREASE, AND YOU EXPLAINED THAT, BUT I, I AM CONCERNED THAT DISTRICT H LEADS THE CITY IN KIDNAPPING NUMBERS. WE ARE UP 179% MUCH HIGHER THAN ANYBODY ELSE. AND THAT, AND IN LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS OF WHAT THAT MEANS IN TERMS OF PEOPLE, IT WAS 14 IN THIS LAST YEAR, IT WAS 39, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 25 PEOPLE, NOT TWO AS IN SOME DISTRICTS, 25 PEOPLE. SO, A AS YOU KNOW, YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO BE BRIEF AND, YOU KNOW, AND, AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT IS, YOU KNOW, AND IS THERE SOMETHING MORE THAT WE CAN DO? AND, YOU KNOW, WHO ARE THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING KIDNAPPED? AND, YOU KNOW, IS IT, YOU KNOW, IS WHAT IS IT? YOU KNOW? SO, SO HELP ME WITH THAT. AND THEN, UM, FINALLY, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT OVERALL STILL, YOU KNOW, VERY HAPPY TO SEE THE 12% REDUCTION IN VIOLENT CRIME IN DISTRICT AGE. UM, AND I KNOW A, A A, A BIG PART OF THAT WAS BECAUSE OF A MAJOR FBI INVESTIGATION THAT WAS HAPPENING IN, IN INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS. AND I WANNA JUST TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE HPD GANG DIVISION, THE MAJOR OFFENDERS DIVISION, NARCOTICS DIVISION, CENTRAL PATROL DIVISION, NORTH PATROL DIVISION, THE FBI, SAFE STREETS TASK FORCE, HPD, CANINE UNITS, AND METRO PD, BECAUSE THEY WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN, UM, AN [03:45:01] INVESTIGATION THAT REALLY, YOU KNOW, UM, CAME TO LIGHT, YOU KNOW, AND, UM, WAS IDENTIFIED IN 2017 AND THEN 2018, UM, INVESTIGATION INTO DRUG DEALING AND ORGANIZED CRIME. THAT'S, YOU KNOW, TIED TO OTHER CRIME ACROSS THE REGION AND, AND ALSO TO MEXICO AND GEORGIA, OKLAHOMA, WISCONSIN AND FLORIDA. IT WAS HUGE. AND THERE HAVE BEEN, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE, THE RESULTS OF THAT, AND THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO SAY THIS, BUT YOU KNOW, SYLVIA, BECAUSE IT GETS TO MY, MY QUESTION. UM, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT, UM, IT WAS, UM, LEADERS AND MEMBERS OF THREE TO FOUR GANGS HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, UM, ARRESTED AT LEAST 18 INDIVIDUALS ARRESTED IN DIRECT CONNECTION TO THOSE CRIMES. SEVEN OTHERS WERE UNDER INVESTIGATION THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT WERE UNDER INVESTIGATION, HAD NOW BEEN KILLED IN GUN VIOLENCE DURING THE COURSE OF THE OPERATION GANG MEMBERS UNDER INVESTIGATION, YOU KNOW, COMMITTED, YOU KNOW, SOME TERRIBLE THINGS. MM-HMM . I MEAN, IT'S SO UPSETTING TO REALLY TO, TO READ THE DETAILS OF THIS. BUT, UM, THREE OF THE, OF THE LEADERS ARE CURRENTLY OUT ON BOND. UM, ONE WILL BE RELEASED FROM PRISON SOON, ANOTHER'S ALREADY RELEASED SO THAT THEY'RE NOT REALLY GONE, YOU KNOW, UM, AND, AND AT LEAST SEVEN OF THE INDIVIDUALS WERE REARRESTED FOR CRIMES COMMITTED WHILE OUT ON BOND. UM, SO I THINK THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT THIS HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE REDUCTION IN CRIME IN DISTRICT H YES. WHICH I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE. BUT, UM, BUT NOW IT'S CONCLUDING AND RESOURCES ARE BEING DEPLOYED TO OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY. AND, UM, AND I WANNA KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT FOR US, YOU KNOW? 'CAUSE WE'RE STILL, THESE PEOPLE ARE STILL OUT OR ARE BEING RELEASED. AND, AND I WILL TELL YOU ALSO, AND IT'S BEEN VERIFIED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT I HEARD FROM, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, FURTHER NORTH OF INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS, THAT, THAT, THAT THEY'VE SEEN SIGNIFICANT UPTAKES IN, IN VIOLENT CRIME THERE. AND, AND, AND YOU GUYS VERIFY THAT. SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S STILL IN DISTRICT H YOU KNOW, SO, SO WE, WE'VE MOVED IT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE, UM, YOU'VE RE YOU'VE ELIMINATED SOME OF IT, BUT, BUT PART OF IT JUST GOT MOVED TO ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD AND, AND I NEED HELP WITH THAT. WELL, WE GOT YOUR BACK AND, UH, WE WILL TAKE A DEEP DIVE AND, UM, THE KIDNAPPING NUMBERS. BUT LET ME SAY JUST FOR 10 SECONDS, UH, 'CAUSE I DON'T THINK I DID. UM, I'M SO GRATEFUL TO OUR FEDERAL PARTNERSHIPS DUE BECAUSE OF OUR BACKLOG. THEY HAVE STEPPED IN, OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL CAME DOWN TO VISIT, UM, OUR US ATTORNEY HERE IN ALL OF OUR FEDERAL AGENCIES WITH THE TASK FORCES THAT WE FORMED. AND, UM, I CAN'T GO INTO DETAIL RIGHT NOW, BUT YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT SOME VERY SIGNIFICANT, SIGNIFICANT CASES THAT, UH, OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS STEPPED IN AND HELPED US WITH HERE IN HOUSTON. SO, AND, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO, UH, UM, UH, ADDRESS CRIME ALL OVER THE CITY AND, AND WHEN IT'S POPPING UP IN YOUR AREA, WE WILL ADDRESS IT AS WELL AS ALL THE REST OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. SO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANKS, MAYOR. COUNCIL TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I WANTED TO SAY, UH, THANK YOU TO THE CHIEF AND TO EACH OF OUR OFFICERS, UH, HAPPY LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY ON YESTERDAY. THANK YOU. UM, IT IS DEFINITELY A BREATH OF FRESH AIR TO GET THIS INFORMATION, BUT I DID WANT TO AMPLIFY THAT WE RECEIVED THIS INFORMATION MONTH AFTER MONTH FROM OUR SOUTHWEST, UH, COMMAND STATION AT OUR PIP MEETINGS. AND I ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS ALL THE TIME IN OUR NEWSLETTERS AND OUR AT COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO ATTEND THOSE PIP MEETINGS BECAUSE THE INFORMATION THAT WE LEARN MONTHLY, UM, THE TIPS THAT WE RECEIVE EACH MONTH, UM, ALL OF THE MM-HMM . INTERACTION AND ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND HPD, I THINK HAS PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN SEEING THE DECREASE IN THE VIOLENT CRIME, SPECIFICALLY IN DISTRICT K. UM, TO SEE A 15% DECREASE IN OUR OUR COMMUNITY, I THINK SPEAKS VOLUMES TO THE AMOUNT OF ENGAGEMENT. UM, THE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO SEE SOMETHING AND SAY SOMETHING, AND KNOWING THAT THEY CAN REPORT THINGS ANONYMOUSLY AND STILL FEEL SAFE, UM, PLAYS A BIG ROLE. SO I DID WANNA SAY, UM, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'RE DOING IN, IN THE ENTIRE CITY, SPECIFICALLY IN DISTRICT A. WE APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS, UM, AND THE WORKING ALONGSIDE THE COUNCIL OFFICE, THE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, THE MEMBERS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WHO ARE EVERY DAY TRYING TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES BETTER. WE APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTE MARTIN. YES, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU GENTLEMEN. AND, UH, GENTLE LADIES. THAT'S FOR SURE. YOU'LL, YOU'LL SEE A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE, AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS EVERYONE'S GONNA SPEAK BECAUSE THERE'S NO GREATER USE OF OUR FUNDS THAN PUBLIC SAFETY. AND WHAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS WITH THE INCREASE IN LAW OFFICERS AND WITH THE INCREASE IN CADET CLASSES GO EXACTLY TO THAT POINT. AND THAT'S WHY [03:50:01] WE'RE SEEING SOME OF THESE STATISTICS. UH, CHIEF NER, UM, AS WE HAVE OVER, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS, AS WE HAVE OVER 25 SCHOOL DISTRICTS NOT NAMED HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA TO INTERACT WITH THE SCHOOLS. THERE ISN'T A MONTH THAT GOES BY WHERE I DON'T GET A CALL FROM A SUPERINTENDENT OR A PRINCIPAL RELATED TO MY INTERACTION WITH HPD AND TRYING TO GET SOME HELP. SO IF YOU WOULD TAKE UP THAT, UH, I THINK IT'S A GREAT USE OF OUR TIME. UH, CHIEF MARTIN, I'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED YOUR STATISTICS. THE DATA WONK LIKE YOU AND ME, UH, THEY MEAN A LOT FOR ME. I WOULD ASK, SINCE MY DISTRICT IS NORTH AND SOUTH, SEPARATED BY 60 MILES, A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE KINGWOOD AREA DON'T CARE ABOUT CRIME STATISTICS IN THE CLEAR LAKE AREA AND VICE VERSA, COULD I GET A BREAKDOWN BETWEEN THE STATIONS OF KINGWOOD AND ALSO CLEAR LAKE IN MY AREA? AND THEN THE LAST THING, AS A NUMBER OF US ATTENDED THE 256 GRADUATION CLASS WITH 61 CADETS. UM, EVERYONE THAT CAME THROUGH THE RECEIVING LINE, I CALL IT, UH, I ASKED WHERE THEY'RE GOING. AND COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, THE MOST OF 'EM, MOST OF 'EM WERE GOING TO THE WEST. AND, AND SO QUICK COMPLAINING OVER THERE, OKAY, COME TO THE WEST, BUT, UH, NOT A SINGLE OFFICER WAS GOING TO KINGWOOD AND ONLY THREE WERE GOING TO CLEAR LAKE. SO MY QUESTION IS, WHEN THEY GRADUATE, WHEN WE PUT 61 NEW OFFICERS ON THE STREETS, WHAT'S THE CRITERIA THAT WE USE TO DETERMINE WHERE THEY GO AND WHERE THEY'RE ASSIGNED? THE, UH, CLEAR LAKE, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, IS NOT A TRAINING, UH, DIVISION, IT'S A SMALLER DIVISION. SO, UM, THEY WON'T KINGWOOD, I MEANT TO SAY. SO I'M, I'M TALKING ABOUT YOU, HOW YOU SPLIT KINGWOOD. IT'S NOT A TRAINING DIVISION, SO THEY WON'T INITIALLY GO THERE, BUT, UM, WE LOOK AT, UM, WHERE OUR CRIME IS HIGHEST, WHERE THE CALLS FOR SERVICE ARE HIGHER AND WE PUT THE OFFICERS WHERE WE NEED THEM. UM, BUT YOU'RE GONNA GET SOME, A FEW OFFICERS OUT THERE. UM, BUT IT'S AFTER TRAINING, UH, THEY HAVE TO GO TO WHERE WE HAVE THE TRAINING. SO THANKS FOR ASKING THAT. AND, AND WE CAN CLARIFY THAT. I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT WE ARE LEAVING YOU OUT ON ANYTHING. WELL, I DID THINK THAT LAST WEDNESDAY AS WE WERE THERE. BUT ANYWAY, UM, GOD BLESS AND STAY SAFE. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE AND FOR ALL OF THE OFFICERS, UM, THAT PROTECT OUR CITY. UM, A COUPLE QUESTIONS, AND IF I HAVE TO GET BACK IN QUEUE, I CAN, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY FOCUSED ON MULTI-FAMILY LIVING AND, UM, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW THAT THE BLUE STAR PROGRAM CERTIFICATION PROGRAM IS A JOINT PROGRAM, STATE PROGRAM BETWEEN MULTIFAMILY RESIDENCES AND, AND OUR, OUR, UM, OUR POLICE OFFICERS TO REDUCE CRIME ACTIVITY. DO WE HAVE ANY SPECIFIC NUMBERS ON CRIME IN MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT? YOU'LL, YOU'LL TYPICALLY SEE THOSE BROKEN DOWN AT THE DIVISION LEVEL. SO LIKE THE DIVISION, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, I STARTED MY CAREER AS A COMMANDER WAY BACK AT WHAT USED TO BE THE FOND RUNNING DIVISION NOW AT SOUTH GASTRO DIVISION ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE. AND WE WOULD DO THAT, UH, CITYWIDE. IT'S, IT'S DIFFICULT BECAUSE IF IT'S NOT LISTED AS MULTIFAMILY, THERE'S NOT A, A SWITCH. WE CAN SWITCH AND SAY, ONLY SHOW ME MULTIFAMILY. WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A DATABASE OF WHERE THE APARTMENTS ARE, WHICH WE DO, WE DO LOOK AT CRIME AND MULTIFAMILY HOUSING. I DON'T HAVE IT RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF ME, BUT THERE IS A WAY TO PULL THAT NUMBER. OKAY. I WOULD LOVE THAT. JUST TO SEE THAT, BECAUSE I, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE DATA COMPARISON AND WHEN AN APARTMENT COMPLEX, WHICH I WOULD LOVE EVERY APARTMENT COMPLEX IN HOUSTON TO HAVE THAT CERTIFICATION, RIGHT? UM, BUT HOW THAT CERTIFICATION ACTUALLY DECREASES CRIME. 'CAUSE WE DO KNOW THAT, UM, IN THESE INHABITABLE APARTMENT COMPLEXES, WE SEE THE CRIME AS BEING A HIGHER, UH, YOU KNOW, HIGHER STATISTIC. SO THAT'S ONE. UM, NUMBER TWO, I KNOW THAT HISTORICALLY HATE CRIMES ARE UNDER, ARE UNDER REPORTED NOT ONLY ON A LOCAL LEVEL, BUT FEDERAL AND STATE AS WELL, UM, IN THIS INFORMATION. WHERE DO HATE CRIMES FALL? THOSE FALL UNDER, UH, YOU KNOW, HATE. THE, THE THING ABOUT HATE CRIME, I, I USED TO BE OVER OUR HATE CRIMES UNIT, WHICH BASICALLY WHAT THEY WOULD DO IS TRACK, YOU KNOW, WHICH OF OUR CRIMES ACTUALLY CONSTITUTE A FEDERALLY OR STATE A HATE CRIME. UH, AND I ALWAYS HAD TO TELL PEOPLE THE VERY FIRST CRITERIA FOR A HATE CRIME IS THAT BE A SPECIFIC CRIME. USUALLY THEY ARE ASSAULTS. OKAY. UH, OCCASIONALLY YOU'LL HAVE A MURDER. UH, YOU WILL HAVE SOMETIMES PROPERTY CRIMES, VANDALISM, THINGS OF THAT NATURE WHERE THERE'LL BE GRAFFITI THAT'S HATE, HATE RELATED. UH, SO THOSE FALL UNDER DIFF UNDER THE DIFFERENT CRIME CATEGORIES. THEY'RE MIXED IN AMONGST HERE. UH, WE DO, I THINK ON OUR WEBSITE ACTUALLY REPORT THE ONES THAT WE HAVE VERIFIED ACTUALLY MEET THE CRITERIA FOR HATE CRIMES. UH, I BELIEVE IT IS ON THE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE. UH, I JUST DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER IN FRONT OF ME RIGHT NOW. OKAY. AND THEN DO THOSE, DO THAT STATISTIC ALSO INCLUDE WHAT WE SEE IN THE TRANS COMMUNITY, L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY? DO, DOES ANY OF THAT IN THERE AT ALL? IT, IT, IT WOULD BE IF IT IS A SPECIFICALLY ENUMERATED CRIME. SO IF THEY'RE ASSAULTED, UH, IF THEIR PROPERTY IS VANDALIZED, IF SOMEONE WAS MURDERED, UH, OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE, IT WOULD BE CAPTURED AND IT WOULD BE IN, IN THE HATE CRIME STATISTICS. WHAT WE SEE A LOT OF, AND WE, WE TRY [03:55:01] TO, WE DON'T HAVE A REALLY GOOD MECHANISM TO TRACK IT, ALTHOUGH WE'RE GETTING BETTER, IS WHAT WE CALL HATE INCIDENTS, YOU KNOW, INCIDENTS OF LANGUAGE OR, UH, SOMEBODY UTTERING SLURS OR USING HATE SPEECH IN PLACES LIKE THAT, THAT DOESN'T RISE TO THE LEVEL OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. UH, THOSE ARE THE HARDER ONES TO TRACK BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY MORE OF THOSE, YOU KNOW, UH, THERE, THERE'S A CRASS WAY TO PUT IT, BUT IT, IT'S NOT AGAINST THE LAW TO BE OBNOXIOUS. UH, AND, UH, SO SOMETIMES WE SEE THOSE AND THEY DON'T RISE TO THE LEVEL OF BEING A CRIME, UH, BUT THE CRIMES THEMSELVES, UH, FOR THE TRANS COMMUNITY, IF THAT, IF THAT WAS A ROSE TO ONE OF THOSE CRIME LEVELS, THAT WOULD BE TRACKED. YES. OKAY. NO, THANK YOU. I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KIND OF KEEP TRACK OF, JUST TO LET OUR COMMUNITIES KNOW THAT THEY'RE SAFE. AND I'M GONNA GO, I'M SORRY. I'M GONNA GO BACK TO, UM, THE MULTIFAMILY JUST FOR A MOMENT. I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE MAYOR TURNER FOR PUTTING FORTH THE, UM, THE STRIKE FORCE FOR MULTIFAMILY DWELLINGS. HAVE YOU FOUND THAT THE STRIKE FORCE HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE WHEN IT COMES TO DEALING WITH SPECIFIC, YOU KNOW, APARTMENT COMPLEXES THAT HAVE HIGH RATES OF CRIME? I THINK THAT, THAT STRIKES, WE STILL, WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT STATS TOO, AND, AND WE JUST KIND OF JUST STARTED. BUT LET ME TELL YOU WHAT, IT'S EFFECTIVE IN GETTING PEOPLE'S ATTENTION WHEN YOU SEND A TASK FORCE. AND THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANKS FOR BRINGING THAT UP. WHEN YOU SEND A TASK FORCE OUT TO TALK TO OWNERS AND, AND MANAGEMENT AND THANK ALL MEDIA FOR COMING OUT, UH, I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE, YOU DON'T LIKE BAD PRESS, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE IN BUSINESS. SO, UM, IT, IT BRINGS ATTENTION TO THEM AND PUTS THEM ON NOTICE. SO IT'S HELPING IN THAT, UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FOLLOW A FEW STATS OVER THE NEXT, UH, FEW MONTHS. BUT, UH, IT DEFINITELY HELPS IN THAT, UH, INSTANCE GETTING PEOPLE'S ATTENTION. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. AND THEN TWO MORE QUESTIONS, MAJOR, IF THAT'S OKAY. UM, IN TERMS OF CLEARING UP DATA ON THE KIDNAPPING HUMAN TRAFFICKING, I THINK BECAUSE OUR ADMINISTRATION HAS PUT SO MUCH FOCUS ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, UH, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN DO THAT, BUT MAYBE WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION OFFLINE OF HOW WE CAN CATEGORIZE THAT IN DOMESTIC KIDNAPPING IN SOME WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM. OKAY. UM, AND JUST YOUR, YOUR INPUT ON THAT IN, IN THE FUTURE. AND THEN FINALLY, MAYOR TURNER, THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT STATEMENT. IN TERMS OF THE STATE STEPPING UP WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS ARE, UM, I DON'T HOW MANY CERT TEAMS AND M COT TEAMS DO WE HAVE THUS FAR? DO YOU KNOW? I KNOW WE HAD SOME HIRING ISSUES WITH THOSE TEAMS. WE, EIGHT, I, I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. I THINK WE'RE AT, I KNOW WE, WE INCREASED EIGHT FROM, UH, WHAT, WHAT WE HAD. BUT I, I'LL GET THAT TO YOU AND, UH, JUST HERE SHORTLY. OKAY. AND I WILL, YES, MA'AM. AND I, I, YOU KNOW, I ASK AND BEG ALL OF OUR STATE OFFICIALS, GOVERNOR, EVERYONE, TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT MONEY IS PUT THERE BECAUSE WHEN WE LOSE THAT ARPA MONEY THAT WE, YOU KNOW, PUT INTO START AND BUILD THOSE TEAMS, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE SURE THOSE, THOSE, UM, THOSE TEAMS ARE SUSTAINABLE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THOSE ARE QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. WE'LL GET THOSE NUMBERS TO YOU. 'CAUSE IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT WHEN WE CAN HAVE A CLINICIAN, UH, RIDING ALONG WITH A POLICE OFFICER. IT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE. IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE. AND AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT AND WE'LL, I SHOULD KNOW THAT, UM, UM, BUT IT'S SLIPPED ME RIGHT NOW. WE'LL GET IT TO YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. SURE. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN, COUNCILMAN, MAYOR ALCO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I'LL ADD MY THANK YOUS TO EVERYBODY FOR ALL THE GOOD WORK YOU'RE DOING AND THESE GREAT STATS. I WANNA TALK ABOUT CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. I THANK YOU. SAID, UM, 15,645 VEHICLE PARTS THIS YEAR. MM-HMM . IS THAT AN INCREASE OVER, I MEAN, I, I'M TRYING TO, WHERE ARE THE CATEGORIES? I'M SURE IF YOU STEAL THE WHOLE CAR, YOU'RE, THAT'S AUTO THEFT, CORRECT? UM, BURGLARY, IS THAT WHERE TYPICALLY WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU SEE BURGLARY ON THESE SLIDES, THAT'S ACTUALLY VERY OF A RESIDENCE OR A BUILDING. OKAY. UH, THE SLIDE, THE WHERE THE, WHERE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFT WOULD FALL IS UNDER THAT THEFT, JUST THE THEFT CATEGORY. OKAY. 'CAUSE IT'S A SUBCATEGORY OF THEFT. OKAY. UH, YOU KNOW, THEFT FROM A VEHICLE, THEFT TO VEHICLE PARTS. SO IF THEY'RE STILL IN THE WHOLE CAR THAT GOES UNDER AUTO THEFT. IF THEY JUST STEAL THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE GETTING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TOO WITH THE WHOLE CAR, BUT CORRECT THAT, THAT WOULD FALL UNDER THEFT. OKAY. SO ARE, SO YOU'RE SEEING POSITIVE RESULTS AFTER, AFTER THE OUR, I KNOW WE NEED TO DO A LOT MORE AT THE STATE LEVEL, AND I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT. WHAT SPECIFICS ARE WE ASKING FOR AT THE STATE, AND THEN HOW HAVE YOU SEEN WHAT WE DID ON CATALYTIC CONVERTERS IMPACT? I DON'T HAVE A MONTH TO MONTH BREAKDOWN ON CALENDAR CONVERTERS TO SEE THAT IMPACT. OKAY. WE CAN GO BACK AND TRY AND LOOK AT THAT. ALRIGHT. UH, WE HAVE SEEN IF YOU, IF YOU THINK ABOUT ENFORCEMENT, I KNOW, UH, ANECDOTALLY AND FROM TALKING TO OUR AUTO THEFT PERSONNEL TO SELL THEM, NOW, THEY'RE TAKING 'EM OUT OF STATE, UH, TO TRY AND SELL THE ONES OKAY. THAT THEY STEAL. I KNOW OUR AUTO THEFT DIVISION HAS SOME SPECIFIC NUMBERS, SO WE'LL GET THAT TO YOU. I'D LIKE TO SEE THOSE. AND THEN AT THE STATE LEVEL, MAYBE MAYOR, MAYBE YOU CAN ANSWER THIS. YOU TALKED ABOUT FINES INCREASING, ASKING FOR INCREASED FINES. ARE THERE ADDITIONAL MEASURES AT THE STATE THAT WE'RE PURSUING, OR HAVE WE GONE AS FAR AS WE CAN GO AT THE CITY? I THINK WE ARE TRYING, WE ARE TRYING TO EXPAND THE, THE, UH, CATALYTIC CONVERTER ORDINANCE THAT WE PUT AND MAKE THAT STATEWIDE. OKAY. UM, BECAUSE THE MORE COVERAGE IT GETS, I THINK IT MAKES IT MORE DETER. UM, IT, UH, BECOMES A GREATER DETERRENCE AND THEN THEY REALLY HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE THE [04:00:01] STATE. SO WE JUST NEED TO TRY TO MAKE IT AS INCONVENIENT AS POSSIBLE. AND SO IF YOU TAKE OUR ORDINANCE AND MAKE IT STAY WIDE, I THINK THAT WOULD'VE TO DO THAT. AND THEN WE SIMPLY NEED MORE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND ADDITIONAL FUNDING. OKAY. IN MANY OF THESE CATEGORIES, UM, THE INFUSION, I APPRECIATE WHAT CUSTOMER EMPLOYMENT JUST SAID, THE INFUSION OF, FOR EXAMPLE, THE MENTAL HEALTH FUNDING, LIKE INTO ONE SAFE HOUSTON. THAT WAY THIS IS NOT A ONE SAFE HOUSTON FOR 20 GOING THROUGH 2024, IT NEEDS TO BE ONGOING. UH, SO WE NEED A SUBSTANTIAL INFUSION OF MENTAL HEALTH FUNDING AT ALL LEVELS. COMMUNITY, HEALTHCARE, STATE, HOSPITALS, YOU NAME IT. UH, WE JUST NEED WHAT I CALL A MAJOR TRANSFORMATIVE FUNDING SO THAT THAT WILL HELP. OKAY. AND THEN THE FLOCK, THE FLOCK GUN LEGISLATION, UH, THAT WE ARE PUSHING ON BEHALF OF HPD, UH, IN AUSTIN, THAT WILL HELP. SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ELEMENTS WHERE THE LEGISLATURE CAN REALLY COMPLIMENT WHAT WE'RE DOING. OKAY. OKAY. AND FINALLY, UM, WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER CAME AND BROUGHT UP ABOUT BREAKDOWNS, GUNS BREAKDOWN, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BREAKDOWNS. I THINK THAT'S SO HELPFUL. WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS BROUGHT UP ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOOD, LIKE EVERYBODY'S BUYING THESE LICENSE PLATE READERS AND THEY'RE EVERYWHERE, BUT IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO COMMUNITIES AND SAY, WE BOUGHT X, WE'VE CAUGHT X CRIMINALS, YOU KNOW, FROM THOSE CAMERAS. SO THAT ALL THAT'S GREAT. AND, AND JUST, UM, UH, TO ADD TO WHAT EVERYBODY SAID ABOUT THE GRADUATION, THOSE ARE SUPER INSPIRING. AND, AND CHIEF, I JUST LOVE HOW YOU TELL 'EM YOU LOVE 'EM AND LEAD WITH YOUR HEART AND YOU'RE MEETING PEOPLE AT THEIR WORST MOMENT OF THEIR LIVES AND YOU'RE CONSISTENT WITH THAT MESSAGE. AND, AND, UM, AND JUST THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU. LOVE Y'ALL. SO . AND LET ME ALSO ASK, AND AGAIN, UH, UH, DOUG GRIFFIN, THE CIVIL H-P-O-U-A SIGNIFICANT INFUSION FROM THE STATE OF FUNDING FOR TECHNOLOGY THAT, THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE HUGE, UH, TO GET MORE TECHNOLOGY, UH, YOU KNOW, DOWN, UH, WOULD REALLY COMPLIMENT OUR MEN AND WOMEN ON THE POLICE FORCE. SO THAT'S, THAT'S ANOTHER THING. WHAT I WOULD SAY TO THE LEGISLATURE OF THE 33, UH, BILLION, UH, IF YOU WANNA HELP LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, SIGNIFICANT INFUSION OF RESOURCES FOR TECHNOLOGY, YOU MAY WANNA COME SPEAK TO THAT. OKAY. YES, SIR. CO COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, CHIEF AND ASSISTANT CHIEF, UH, MARTIN FOR THE, UH, PRESENTATION, UH, CHIEF. RIGHT, RIGHT. NOW, WHERE ARE WE IN REGARDS TO THE NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS THAT THE CITY HAS? WE'RE A LITTLE OVER 5,100. I'LL GET YOU THE EXACT NUMBERS. I DIDN'T, UH, LOOK AT 'EM AFTER, UH, THE LAST CLASS. AND ALSO, UH, I NEED TO GET YOU THE EXACT NUMBERS OF THE, UH, CADETS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR ACADEMY, BUT WE'RE A LITTLE OVER 5,100. YEAH, I, I, I KNOW THAT THE MAYOR HAS STATED IT AND I MENTIONED IT AT, AT, AT, UH, CIVIC CLUB MEETINGS AND WHAT HAVE YOU. 'CAUSE PEOPLE JUST SEEM TO BE VERY SURPRISED WHEN YOU MENTION IT IN, IN, IN REGARDS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON BEING OVER 600 AND SOME ODD SQUARE MILES. UH, THE COMPARISON THAT THE MAYOR HAS DONE IN THE PAST, COMPARING IT TO CHICAGO WITH 200 AND SOMETHING SQUARE MILES, BUT YET CHICAGO HAS, LIKE OVER 8,000 POLICE OFFICER. 13,000, 13,000 POLICE OFFICERS. CITY OF HOUSTON HAS 5,100 OFFICERS. UH, SO I WANNA COMPLIMENT AND, AND THANK HPD FOR AN OUTSTANDING JOB THAT THEY ARE DOING. AND, UH, PROUD THAT THIS COUNCIL AND THIS MAYOR VOTED ON A $10,000 SIGN ON BONUS, UH, AND AN INCREASE, UH, PAY FOR THE CADET. SO WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. UM, AND, UH, I, I KNOW THAT, UH, IN, IN DISTRICT I, THERE, IT'S NOTED HERE THAT THERE'S A 5% DECREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME, WHICH IS GREAT. UNFORTUNATELY, UH, IN EDO AND IN DOWNTOWN, UH, WE, WE'VE BEEN CON MY OFFICE HAS BEEN CONTACTED WITH CONCERNS FROM, UH, UH, BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS RECENTLY THAT HAVE BEEN TARGETED WITH SOME BURGLARIES. UH, I KNOW. AND I WANT TO THANK, UH, COMMANDER REED, UH, FROM THE DOWNTOWN DIVISION COMMANDER JOHNSON, WHO I SPOKE WITH. UH, THEY, THEY ARE ANALYZING, UH, THE, THESE, UH, UH, BUSINESS, UH, BUSINESSES THAT ARE BEING TARGETED. YES. UH, TO FIND OUT, LIKE YOU STATED EARLIER, UM, UH, CHIEF IN REGARDS TO RESOURCES, PLACING THEM AT THE RIGHT TIME AND AT THE RIGHT PLACE. YES. UH, AND THAT'S WHAT THESE COMMANDERS ARE WORKING ON TO TRY TO TARGET, UH, THESE BURGLARIES. UH, YESTERDAY I DID ATTEND THE AUSTIN LEGISLATIVE, UH, SWEARING IN, UH, I GOT THERE EARLY IN THE MORNING AND DIDN'T LEAVE TILL AROUND THREE O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON. AND MY STAFF, UH, MEMBER AND I, WE KIND OF LAUGHED BECAUSE WE WERE ASKING ABOUT THIS SURPLUS. UH, IT STARTED AT $25 BILLION IN THE MORNING. UH, WHEN WE LEFT, IT WAS AT $37 BILLION. UH, SO OBVIOUSLY THERE'S MONEY OUT THERE, UH, THAT CAN BE USED IN REGARDS TO, UH, UH, ADDRESSING THE, THE ISSUE THAT THE MAYOR AND, AND, AND YOU CHIEF AND ASSISTANT CHIEF ASTRA HAVE STATED IN REGARDS TO MENTAL HEALTH. UH, I, I KNOW THAT THE, UH, MAYOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, IF I'M MISTAKEN, MAYOR, UH, YOU HAD A LITTLE SUMMIT REGARDING LAW ENFORCEMENT HERE [04:05:01] AT CITY HALL. I HAD ONE ABOUT A YEAR OR TWO AFTER I TOOK OFFICE IN REGARDS TO METRO, UH, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, HPD, UH, UM, UH, UH, CONSTABLE ROSEN'S OFFICE, UH, IN MY PERSONAL OPINION REPRESENTING DOWNTOWN, UH, THE SHERIFF. UH, WE, WE HAVE THE COUNTY JAIL. UH, I USED TO BE A DETENTION OFFICER. UH, AND I COULD NEVER COMPREHEND WHEN THEY RELEASE THESE INDIVIDUALS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAVE MENTAL HEALTH IN, INTO THE STREET. AND, AND GUESS WHAT THEY'RE STAYING IN DOWNTOWN OR THE NORTH PART OF DOWNTOWN. UH, AND I REALLY, UH, AN ADVOCATE TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO WHERE THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HELPS PATROL THE DOOR, THE, THE, UH, NORTHERN PART OF DOWNTOWN, UH, 'CAUSE THEY'RE RELEASING, RELEASING THESE INDIVIDUALS. YES. UH, CONSTABLE ROSEN'S OFFICE AS WELL. AND METRO. UH, UH, BUT AGAIN, YOU STATED WE ONLY HAVE 51, UH, HUNDRED OFFICERS. UH, WE NEED HELP. UH, AND, AND WHEN THE COUNTY JAIL'S RELEASING THESE INDIVIDUALS, UH, WE NEED THESE OTHER AGENCIES TO STEP UP. I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU, COUNCILMAN. THANK, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN P THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU CHIEF AND ASSISTANT CHIEF. UM, LAST NIGHT I SPOKE AT A CIVIC CLUB MEETING AND I MENTIONED TO THEM THAT THE CRIME AND DISTRICT A IS AMONG THE LOWER END OF ALL THE COUNCIL DISTRICTS IN THE CITY. AND THEY, THEY WERE SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT. UM, AND THEY ASKED WHY. AND I HAD SOME THEORIES OF WHY, BUT ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I GAVE WAS REALLY OUR POLICE OFFICERS IN DISTRICT A WHO ARE SO AMAZING AND ARE COMMANDERS AS WELL. UM, THERE'S BEEN A BIG PUSH IN DISTRICT A OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS TO REALLY HAVE OUR OFFICERS BE A PART OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND GO TO CIVIC CLUB MEETINGS. AND, UM, COMMANDER WYNN, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE NORTHWEST DIVISION, HE PERSONALLY GOES TO A LOT OF CIVIC CLUB MEETINGS AND TALKS TO PEOPLE. AND I THINK THAT'S BEEN REALLY HELPFUL IN OUR COMMUNITY. UM, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OUR OFFICERS USED TO DO THAT I HAVEN'T SEEN THEM DOING ANYMORE, IS THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO GET, UM, CRIME STATISTICS FOR THE EXACT NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THEY WERE SPEAKING AT, AND THEY WOULD PROVIDE CONTEXT TO THAT INFORMATION. AS COUNCIL MEMBER KINGMAN SAID, UM, A LOT OF TIMES IN DISTRICT A IN FACT, MOST OF THE TIMES, UM, THE MURDERS ARE AMONG PEOPLE WHO KNOW EACH OTHER. AND IT'S ALMOST NEVER SOMEONE JUST COMING INTO DISTRICT A SHOOTING SOMEONE RANDOM. AND THAT REALLY MAKES PEOPLE FEEL A LOT BETTER WHEN THEY SEE OUR, UM, MURDER NUMBERS IN DISTRICT A TO KNOW THAT THAT'S, THEY'RE PROBABLY SAFE, YOU KNOW, GOING IN DISTRICT A. AND SO, UM, I'VE HEARD KIND OF CONFLICTING INFORMATION IF OUR OFFICERS STILL HAVE ACCESS TO GET THAT INFORMATION, LIKE BY NEIGHBORHOOD ANYMORE. AND I THINK THAT'S, THAT HAS BEEN REALLY HELPFUL TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL BETTER ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THEIR COMMUNITY. I'M GONNA LET, UM, ASSISTANT CHIEF MARTIN FINISH ON THIS, BUT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AS THE CHIEF, I WANT COMMUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO GET THE STATS, UM, THAT AFFECTS THEM, THAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM. AND NOT A WHOLE CITY. IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO, BUT EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. AND SO WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO, WE'LL WORK ON THAT. LET ME FIND OUT WHY THEY SAYING THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A STAT. SO IT COULD BE, AND WE SAID THIS TIME AND TIME WE'RE IN A QUIET PERIOD. UM, BUT AN AGENT, RMS SYSTEM, UH, REALLY COMPLICATES EVERYTHING. AND THAT'S NOBODY'S FAULT AROUND THIS TABLE. IT'S NOT MY FAULT. UH, IT, IT JUST AIDS AND WE GOTTA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. AND, AND, AND WE ARE. SO, UM, AS WE GET A NEW SYSTEM IN, YOU CAN EASILY GRAB, UM, SOME, SOME, SOME STATISTICS THAT IS NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC AND THAT SHOULD BE HAPPENING. BUT GO AHEAD, MARTIN. WE USED TO HAVE, UNDER OUR OLDER WAY, OLDER SYSTEM, WE HAD SOMETHING CALLED A NEIGHBORHOOD CODE. IT MADE IT EASIER FOR OFFICERS TO DO THAT. THOSE CODES BECAME, UH, DISUSED AS THEY BECAME UNACCURATE WITH DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY, UH, MOVEMENT OF PERSONNEL, ADDING NEIGHBORHOODS, TAKING, YOU KNOW, NEIGHBORHOODS BEING REDEVELOPED INTO DIFFERENT THINGS, UH, THOSE CODES BECAME INACCURATE. SO OUR CURRENT RMS SYSTEM, LIKE THE CHIEF SAID, IS NOT REAL GOOD AT, AT PULLING THAT DOWN WE ARE WORKING ON SYSTEMS THAT WILL PROVIDE A MUCH MORE PUBLIC FACING AVAILABILITY OF DATA THAT WOULD THEN ALLOW YOU TO, YOU, YOU DRAW IN BOUNDARIES AND SAY, OKAY, WHAT HAPPENED WITHIN HERE? SO WE ARE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION. WE SHOULD HAVE THAT CAPABILITY SOONER. AND IT MAY EVEN BE THAT WE CAN GET TO THE POINT WHERE THE NEIGHBORHOODS CAN GO ON AND JUST LOOK, SAY, SHOW ME WHAT'S IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, BY NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU KNOW, AND BE ABLE TO SEE THEIR BOUNDARIES AND DO THOSE THINGS. UH, BUT IT'S A, IT'S A TECHNOLOGICAL STEP, AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING ON SOME OF THOSE THINGS AND IMPROVING THOSE PROCESSES. UH, AND, AND I, I DON'T HAVE A TIMELINE, BUT I HOPE WE GET THERE. I HOPE WE GET THERE SOON. THANK YOU. AND THEN JUST ONE FINAL NOTE, I WAS ALSO GONNA BRING UP WHAT, UM, THE MAYOR PRO TEM SAID ABOUT THE CADET CLASS GRADUATION. AND THERE WERE NO OFFICERS COMING TO THE NORTHWEST DIVISION, AND I THINK MAYBE ONE COMING TO NORTH, WHICH WE HAVE A SMALL SECTION OF IN DISTRICT A. UM, BUT, UM, AND THAT SEEMED TO BE THE CASE IN THE PAST COUPLE OF CADET CLASSES THAT I WENT TO, IS THAT WE WEREN'T GETTING A LOT IN DISTRICT A AND I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE TO GO WHERE THEY'RE NEEDED, AND I GET THAT. BUT JUST WANTED TO BRING UP THE POINT THAT, UM, WE ALSO NEED TO PUT OFFICERS IN OTHER AREAS TOO, SO THAT THEY DON'T BECOME THOSE [04:10:01] AREAS THAT THEY ARE, THAT NEEDED TO GO TO . I, I HEAR ALL ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBERS. OKAY. I, I, I GOT ONE FOR YOU, THOUGH. YOU DID GET AT LEAST ONE, BECAUSE SHE FOUND ME IN A RESTAURANT YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS EATING LUNCH AND WAS SO EXCITED TO BE AT NORTHWEST WITH COMMANDER WYNN AND JUST, AND SO EXCITED TO BE ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. IT WAS, IT WAS INFECTIOUS. YOU SEE ONE OF THESE CADETS THAT JUST GRADUATED THE GRADUATION WE'D JUST SEEN THE WEEK BEFORE IS THERE EATING LUNCH AND JUST SAW ME AND WAS WILLING TO WALK UP AND SAY, HEY, I JUST JOINED THE DEPARTMENT. AND SHE WAS SO EXCITED. UH, SO YOU DID GET AT LEAST ONE REALLY GOOD ONE. OKAY. GOOD. SO, , COUNCILMAN, MAYOR, COUNCILMAN JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU CHIEF. AND, UM, ALL OF OUR HPD OFFICERS WHO SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY THE ONES IN DISTRICT B. UM, IT'S REFRESHING TO SEE, UM, DISTRICT B NUMBERS DOWN BY 13%. UM, LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THOSE NUMBERS GO EVEN FURTHER DOWN. UM, AS YOU KNOW, UM, MY OFFICE HAS BEEN LEADING THE EFFORT TO GET OUR CREDIBLE MESSENGERS TRAINED. UM, OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, WE'VE TRAINED AND CERTIFIED, UM, A TOTAL OF 50 CREDIBLE MESSENGERS. AND SO WE'RE READY TO KICK THIS OFF. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UM, WE HAD A CONVERSATION LAST WEEK WHERE WE'LL BE ROLLING OUT OUR PILOT PROGRAM, UM, WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH. AND SO COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD SEE SOMETHING COMING ON THE AGENDA, UM, TO COVER THE COST FOR THAT. UM, BUT LOOK, REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO, YOU KNOW, JUST REALLY IMPACTING, I SEE, UM, YOUR, YOUR PRIORITIES FOR 2023 IS, UM, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. AND THE COMMUNITY IS, IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THESE NUMBERS ARE DOWN. AND I KNOW, UM, WE'RE GONNA DO A WHOLE LOT MORE, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, MY COLLEAGUES JUST MENTIONED ABOUT DATA THAT'S SPECIFICALLY FOR NEIGHBORHOODS MM-HMM . THAT WOULD BASICALLY REALLY HELP, UM, DISTRICT B. 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, DISTRICT B IS KIND OF SPREAD OUT. GREEN POINT, YES. ACRES HOMES, YES. UM, NORTHEAST. AND SO JUST HAVING THOSE NUMBERS WILL HELP US KIND OF LIKE, KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO FOCUS, UM, ON TO REDUCE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE CRIME IN THOSE AREAS. SO THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. THEN ALSO, UM, CONVENIENCE STORES, YOU KNOW, CONVENIENCE STORES IS A, A BIG PROBLEM. AND SO JUST KNOWING WHERE THE ACTIVITY, THE, THE HIGH CRIME ACTIVITY IS HAPPENING WITHIN THE CONVENIENCE STORES WILL HELP US AS WELL. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MAYOR POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU CHIEF ASSISTANT CHIEF FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. UH, A FEW THINGS, UH, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, UH, HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF THE OFFICERS, I WANT TO THANK YOU, UH, CHIEF FOR BEING, UM, ACCEPTING AND WELCOMING OF THE PEACE PROGRAM. YES. THE POLICE, ENLIGHTENMENT AND COLLECTIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM. I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO DOUG GRIFFITH AND THE, UH, POLICE UNION FOR REALLY PILOTING THAT PROGRAM WITH MY OFFICE AND THEN YOU CHIEF AND, AND MAKING THAT, UH, SOMETHING THAT'S AVAILABLE TO ALL OFFICERS IN THE DEPARTMENT. UM, THE PEACE PROGRAM, IT, IT GIVES OFFICERS AND CIVILIAN STAFF AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO YOGA, SOUND THERAPY, MEDITATION, UH, BE IN A SAFE PLACE, UH, TO DECOMPRESS AND, AND, UH, DO JOURNALING. AND, UH, IT SEEMED TO BE VERY HELPFUL. SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR WELCOMING THAT. UM, THE LPRS WE'RE APPROACHING ALMOST A HUNDRED IN, UM, DISTRICT J. UM, FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD, THEY HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY, UH, BENEFICIAL. SO I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO SERGEANT DO AND YOU ASSISTANT CHIEF MARTIN FOR ALL YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THAT. AND THEN CHIEF FOR THE DISTRICT J PATROL. I KNOW THAT'S A, THAT WAS A NEW CONCEPT, UM, BUT YOU ALL HAVE EMBRACED AND, UM, THE COMMUNITY AND THE RESIDENTS SEEM TO REALLY LIKE IT. UM, THE FIRST YEAR WE HAD OVER A THOUSAND SUBMISSIONS AND THE DRT OFFICERS AT SOUTH GESNER, WEST SIDE AND MIDWEST, UH, HAVE REALLY BEEN OUTSTANDING AND PARTNERING WITH OUR OFFICE ON THAT. THE, THE THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON MORE IN DISTRICT J IS PROSTITUTION, UH, ESPECIALLY OFF OF BINET BETWEEN 59 AND BELTWAY EIGHT. THAT'S BEEN A LONGSTANDING CHALLENGING PROBLEM FOR OUR DISTRICT FOR SOME TIME. AND WE JUST HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO BE MORE CREATIVE IN, IN OUR APPROACH THERE. UM, WHEN I LOOK AT THE CAPACITY OF OUR OFFICERS, WHEN IT COMES TO HOW MANY, UM, OFFICERS WE HAVE IN PATROL, UH, I WANNA START LOOKING AT MORE COLLABORATION. AND MAYBE YOU ALL ARE DOING THIS WITH METRO, WITH THE ISDS, WITH THE CONSTABLES, WITH THE SHERIFFS, WITH THE UNIVERSITY PATROL. THERE'S SO MANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN OUR CITY THAT IF WE CAN, IF WE CAN FIND STRATEGIES TO WHERE YOU ALL ARE, UH, COLLABORATING, UM, ON CERTAIN ISSUES, I THINK THAT WILL INCREASE THE, THE MANPOWER THAT WE HAVE OUT ON THE STREET TO, TO LOOK AT THESE ISSUES. AND THEN FINALLY, UH, MAYOR, WE HAD WORKED ON THAT POLICE TRANSPARENCY DASHBOARD. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE, UH, FROM A DATA STANDPOINT TO ENSURE THAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE UP TO DATE. MY OFFICE WILL REACH OUT TO, UM, DO A FOLLOW UP MEETING TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE, ARE GOING IN A, IN A TREND THAT WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO SEE. AND ALSO FINDING WAYS THAT WE CAN REALLY AMPLIFY AND ENGAGE THE PUBLIC MORE TO USE THAT. 'CAUSE WE PUT A LOT OF EFFORT, TIME, AND MONEY INTO THAT DASHBOARD, BUT IF THE PUBLIC DOESN'T REALLY KNOW HOW TO UTILIZE IT, [04:15:01] UM, THAT IT'S NOT BEING AS BENEFICIAL AS IT COULD. SO OVERALL, I'M, I'M, I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT VIOLENT CRIME IS DOWN 5% IN DISTRICT J, AND MANY OF THAT IS BASED ON YOU ALL'S LEADERSHIP. AND THE INVESTMENT THAT OUR OFFICE PUTS FORWARD WHEN IT COMES TO THE LPRS AND DIFFERENT THINGS IS BECAUSE YOU ASKED FOR IT. AND OUR OFFICE IS REALLY AN OFFICE THAT STANDS ON UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU ALL ARE BOOTS ON THE GROUND OUT THERE, WE'RE NOT. SO WE CAN JUST LISTEN TO WHAT YOU ALL NEED AND BE A, UH, A BODY THAT SUPPORTS YOU FINANCIALLY. I THINK WE CAN GET A LOT OF THESE THINGS DONE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT. COUNCILMAN CAMERON. ALL RIGHT. REALLY QUICKLY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, YOU BEAT ME TO THE PUNCH BECAUSE OUR NEXT PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, COMMITTEE MEETING NEXT THURSDAY IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE COVERING NOT JUST THE UPDATE ON THE TRANSPARENCY DASHBOARD, BUT, UM, PROGRAMS LIKE SITE AND RELEASE AND WHERE WE STAND ON THAT, WHAT WE NEED TO BE WORKING ON AND FOCUSING ON. SO THAT UPDATE IS COMING, UH, AND WE'LL SHARE THAT AGENDA WITH YOU ALL AS SOON AS IT'S POSTED. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, JUST TO ADDRESS ON HATE CRIMES IN REPORTING, UM, I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE HP IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, LAW ENFORCEMENT IS NOT REQUIRED TO REPORT HATE CRIMES TO FBI'S DATABASE. HPD IS ONE OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENTS THAT DOES REPORT, UH, I DON'T EVEN KNOW AT THIS MOMENT. I KNOW A FEW YEARS AGO THE COUNTY WAS NOT EVEN REPORTING THROUGH THE FBI'S DATABASE. AND MAYOR, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS AT THE STATE LEVEL, UM, I ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO BE ADVOCATING FOR IS THAT REQUIREMENT TO REPORT AN HPD. Y'ALL TAKE IT SO SERIOUSLY, EVEN IF IT'S JUST A HATE INCIDENT. UM, YOU ALL ARE CONTINUING TO FOLLOW UP, CHASE EVERY LEAD. AND I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT. AND I KNOW OUR CONSTITUENTS AND OTHER COLLEAGUES DO, UH, I MAYOR I'VE NEGLECTED TO MENTION AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE, UH, BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GUNS, FIREARM SAFETY, AND CHIEF, YOU BROUGHT UP ALSO COURTS IN THE BACKLOG LAST SESSION, EXPANDING. THE COURTS FAILED. AND MY HOPE IS THAT WE CAN ALL COME TOGETHER AND LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN HELP ADVOCATE FOR THE EXPANSION OF COURTS BECAUSE WE NEED MORE COURTS FOR THE COUNTY. UM, WE NEED, AGAIN, UH, STRENGTHENING OUR RED FLAG LAWS AND PROTECTIONS. IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT KIDNAPPINGS RELATED TO DOMESTIC RELATIONSHIPS, PROTECTIONS FOR FAMILIES THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN ACTUALLY ENFORCE AND GIVE TEETH TO. THOSE ARE THINGS AT THE STATE LEVEL, I THINK WE NEED TO BE CONTINUING TO LOOK AT AS WELL. AND I'M GONNA PUT A BIG STAR BY RESOURCES MAYOR. UH, BECAUSE IN ADDITION TO ALL THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY, THIS WEEKEND, WE HAVE THE HOUSTON MARATHON GOING BACK TO THE FALL, WHICH WAS GREAT FOR ALL OF US. WE HAD THE ASTROS CHAMPIONSHIPS, THE WORLD SERIES AND THE PARADE. WE HAVE THE FINAL FOUR, WE HAVE THE WORLD CUP. ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT EXPEND AND ARE IMPORTANT AND WE LOVE, BUT EXPEND LAW ENFORCEMENT RESOURCES AND TO COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER'S, POINT YOUR POINT, THOSE ADDITIONAL DO FEDERAL DOLLARS ARE GONNA DRY UP AND WE REALLY NEED THE STATE TO, TO PONY UP. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN GGO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, ASSISTANT CHIEF MARTIN, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE, UH, PRESENTATION AND YOU HAD MENTIONED THE NUMBER OF GUNS THAT ARE, THAT WERE STOLEN. UH, UH, COULD YOU REPEAT THAT NUMBER AGAIN? I KNOW WE HAVE, UH, QUITE A FEW MEDIA SOURCES HERE TODAY, AND I'M HOPING THAT'S INCLUDED IN THEIR STORY. UH, SO THAT WAY THOSE THAT ARE GUN OWNERS CAN BE RESPONSIBLE GUN, GUN, GUN OWNERS, UH, IN REGARDS TO THEIR, UH, UH, GUNS BEING PLACED IN THE TRUNK, UH, OR IN THEIR, UH, HOMES. RIGHT. THE, THERE IT IS, UH, FIREARMS STOLEN FROM VEHICLES FOR 2022 WAS 4,140. UH, LOST MY SHEET. I HAD TO BORROW THE CHIEFS. UH, 2021. IT WAS 3,700. SO THE 3720 21 THAT WAS ALREADY MORE THAN 10 PER, PER DAY STOLEN FROM A VEHICLE THAT, THAT IS MASSIVE. SO THAT'S HUGE. 4 41, A LITTLE OVER 4,100 PER YEAR. 4,140 GUNS STOLEN FROM CARS IN 2022. UH, UH, TYPICALLY THEY'RE UNSECURED. THEY'RE IN TRUNKS. THEY'RE PLA WE ACTUALLY HAVE, UH, THEY, THERE'S A TYPE OF CRIME CALLED A JUGGING WHERE PEOPLE GET, OFTEN YOU HEAR ABOUT IT, THEY GET FOLLOWED FROM AN ATM MACHINE FOLLOWED FROM A BANK, OR WHETHER THEY MONEY, WE GET ACTUALLY GUN RANGE AND GUN STORE CHUGGING. THE CRIMINALS WILL FOLLOW SOMEONE FROM THE SHOOTING RANGE, FROM A GUN STORE OR WHEREVER THEY HAPPEN TO BE, AND THEY WILL FOLLOW THEM AND STEAL WHAT IS IN THEIR CAR WHEN THEY STOP. UH, THEY STOP AT A GAS STATION, STOP AT A RESTAURANT, AND THEY WILL TARGET THAT VEHICLE TO, SPECIFICALLY TO TRY AND STEAL GUNS. YEAH, I, I KNOW THAT THIS PAST NOVEMBER I HAD, UH, WAS ATTENDING THE, UH, DE LOS MUTOS GALA, UH, AT THE PETROLEUM CLUB. AND I HAD PARKED ON SMITH STREET RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE CHEVRON BUILDING, AND IT WAS WELL LIT, FELT LIKE IT. OKAY, THAT'S GONNA BE A GOOD PLACE TO PARK. UH, WHEN I GOT BACK, MY DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WAS BUSTED OUT. [04:20:01] UH, THEY, THEY WENT THROUGH MY GLOVE BOX AND MY CONSOLE. YES. UH, SO I'M ASSUMING THEY PROBABLY WERE LOOKING FOR A GUN, MAYBE. 'CAUSE THEY DIDN'T TAKE ANYTHING ELSE. UH, YOU KNOW, THEY JUST BROKE THE WINDOW AND, AND, AND, AND DIDN'T FIND A, A WEAPON. SO THEY JUST TOOK OFF. SO. RIGHT. WE GOT TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WERE VICTIMIZED. SO IT MEANS WE GOT A LITTLE LOT OF WORK TO DO HERE. STANLEY CITY. ALRIGHT. COUNCILWOMAN COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THREE. THIS IS A FOLLOW UP QUESTION TO YOU, UH, MR. MAYOR, UM, AS WE KNOW, DISTRICT DEF HAD THE ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL GUN BUYBACK. NOT ONLY ARE WE THE SAFEST, UM, JUST TO PLUG THERE, BUT ARE YOU CONSIDERING TO HOST ANOTHER GUN BUYBACK AND BECAUSE OF THE BENEFITS THAT IT'S YIELDED CITYWIDE BETWEEN, BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF MARCH? OKAY. THANK YOU MUCH. CAN I, COUNCILMAN MC AL ALCO? I'M JUST REAL QUICK. I WANNA MAKE SURE I'M LOOKING AT THESE, I'M GONNA TAKE THESE TWO AND THEN I'M GONNA STOP. JUST REAL QUICK QUESTION ON THE STATS. UH, IT, SO THE GUN OUT OF A VEHICLE WOULD BE A THEFT. WHAT ABOUT JUST LIKE A LAPTOP OR SOMETHING? IS THAT A THEFT OR A BURGLARY? THOSE ARE A SUB SUB THEFT CALLED. OKAY. BUR OF A MOTOR VEHICLE. EVEN THOUGH IT'S CALLED BURGLARY OF MOTOR VEHICLE, IT'S UNDER THEFT. IT'S STILL A THEFT. YES. OKAY. GOT IT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CIRO. THANK YOU MAYOR. I, I HAD A FOLLOW UP QUESTION TOO ABOUT THE LICENSE PLATE READERS. THE SWAT CAMERAS, UM, HAVE ALL OF THEM THAT WERE FUNDED BY COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE HOURS, ARE ALL OF THEM DEPLOYED NOW? YES. ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBER FUNDED CAMERAS ARE DEPLOYED AND ALMOST ALL OF THE PUBLIC WORKS FUNDED CAMERAS ARE DEPLOYED. THERE'S A FEW WE'RE STILL WAITING ON, UH, A NEED, NEED FOR POWER. SOME OF THEM WERE IN AREAS WHERE THE SOLAR PANELS WOULDN'T WORK, SO THEY HAVE TO HAVE POWER, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. BUT ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBER FUNDED CAMERAS ARE DEPLOYED. WE ARE AT, AND I HAD THAT STAT HERE, UH, WE'RE AT OVER 300, UH, WELL OVER 300 LPR CAMERAS IN THE CITY DEPLOYED NOW FROM THE 25 WE HAD AS A TEST WHEN WE FIRST TALKED ABOUT THIS. AND DAILY, I GET MULTIPLE EMAILS FROM SERGEANT DO AND OTHER PEOPLE INVOLVED ABOUT SUCCESS STORIES. AND THOSE ARE JUST THE ONES WE KNOW ABOUT BECAUSE WE TALK ABOUT TRACKING. THERE'S NOT AN AUTOMATIC, OH, THIS WAS A, THIS WAS AN LPR, THIS WAS AN LPR. SO WE'RE MANUALLY TRYING TO CAPTURE THOSE SUCCESS STORIES. THE BIGGEST ONE WE SEE IS RECOVERY OF THE STOLEN VEHICLES. UH, FINDING THE STOLEN VEHICLES AS THEY'RE MOVING AROUND THE CITY, WHICH IS FANTASTIC. UH, YOU KNOW, IT SOUNDS LIKE, OH, WE'RE RECOVERING STOLEN CARS, BUT THEY USE THOSE STOLEN CARS TO COMMIT ROBBERIES AND OTHER CRIMES. MM-HMM . SO WE'RE, WE'RE POTENTIALLY GETTING AHEAD OF OTHER VIOLENT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT MAY TAKE PLACE. THE USE OF THESE STOLEN CARS. WE'VE EVEN APPREHENDED AND, AND BEEN INVOLVED, BEEN ABLE TO APPREHEND OR LOCATE MURDER SUSPECTS, UH, FROM AN LPR HIT. SO HAVING THOSE OUT THERE HAS BEEN EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL. TELL THE CRIMINALS WE GOT MORE COMING TOO. THANKS. LEMME JUST EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. LEMME, THANK YOU, BO THE ONLY THING THAT, ONE THING I WOULD SIMPLY ADD, UH, IS, UH, ILLEGAL DUMPING. IT IS ILLEGAL. AND SO, UM, UM, AS WE MOVE IN WITH SOLID WASTE, I ALSO WANT, UM, HPD AND CONSTABLES AND OTHERS SHERIFF DEPARTMENT TO WORK WITH US ON ILLEGAL DUMPING. AND I WANT, I WANT MORE EMPHASIS, JUST LIKE POLICE CAN'T DO IT ALL. LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN'T DO IT ALL CITY CAN'T DO IT ALL. I WANT US TO PUT AS MUCH EMPHASIS ON THE PERPETRATORS AND NOT GIVE THEM AN EXCUSE AND SAY WHY THE CITY IS NOT DOING IT. OKAY. UM, IF IT'S ILLEGAL, PEOPLE SHOULDN'T BE DOING IT. WHETHER THEY'RE BUSINESSES, WHETHER THEY'RE INDIVIDUALS, AND IT'S ILLEGAL DUMPING. AND SO I DO WANT EVERYBODY'S PARTICIPATION IN ADDRESSING THAT. AND THEN AT THE BEGINNING OF 2022, YOU KNOW, WE HAD THIS KICK UP IN CRIME, SO IT'S GONNA TAKE ALL OF US WORKING ON IT, UH, ON MULTIPLE FRONTS. UM, YOU KNOW, WE NEED, WE WILL NEED JUDGES TO PARTICIPATE TOO AS Y'ALL PICK THEM UP. AND THEY'VE GOT TO STAY IN, IN THE, IN, IN THE SYSTEM. UH, SO WE DON'T NEED THE REVOLVING DOOR. UH, THE CASE LOG NEEDS TO COME DOWN, AND THEN WE NEED THE SUPPORT OF OUR STATE PARTNERS AS WELL. SO, BUT I WANT TO CLOSE BY. UH, OH. AND THEN IN TERMS OF CADET CLASSES, UM, I JUST RECEIVED SOME INFORMATION. THERE ARE TWO CADET CLASSES THAT ARE IN PROCESS RIGHT NOW, 115, UH, IN THOSE TWO. AND THEN A THIRD ONE IS STARTING UP ON JANUARY THE 23RD. SO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE COMING AND WE ARE TRYING TO PUT MORE ON THE STREET. UH, AND THEN JUST BEAR IN MIND, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, WHEN WE STARTED SEVEN YEARS AGO MM-HMM . 38% OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS ELIGIBLE TO RETIRE MM-HMM . SO WE ARE STILL IN A CATCHUP PHASE. 'CAUSE WE INHERITED A, AN, AN AGING POLICE FORCE. I'M JUST GRATEFUL THAT THEY DIDN'T ALL RETIRE AT THE SAME TIME. SO I WANT TO CLOSE THIS BY, UH, CHIEF FON, LET ME THANK YOU. UH, YOU CAME IN AT A DIFFICULT TIME, A VERY CHALLENGING TIME. [04:25:01] UH, BUT THERE'S NO QUESTION FOR ME THAT YOU WERE THE, YOU WAS THE RIGHT PERSON AT THE RIGHT TIME AND IN LEADING OUR CITY. AND SO, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, WELL RESPECTED BY EVERYONE, UH, FROM THOSE WITHIN THE FOREST, THOSE ON OUR STREETS. UH, AND THEN PEOPLE APPRECIATE THE FACT YOU'RE JUST A STRAIGHT SHOOTER. SO, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. SO LET ME THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, FOR YOUR ENTIRE COMMAND STAFF, YOUR TEAM. UH, LET ME, LET ME THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM. CHIEF LINCOLN, I SEE CHIEF S, WHITE CHIEF JONES, IF I'M MISSING ANYBODY. UH, ALL THE, ALL THE ASSISTANT CHIEFS, THE COMMANDERS. I WANT TO THANK, UH, UH, DOUG GRIFFIN WITH HPOU, APO, THE SPANISH POLICE OFFICERS, UH, ASIAN MEMBERS OF OUR LGBT COMMUNITY, THE DIVERSITY THAT EXISTS. UH, AND THEN I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK 5,100, WHATEVER THAT NUMBER MAY BE. UH, EVERY ONE OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE ON PATROL YES. UH, WHO ARE OUT THERE. UM, THESE HAVE BEEN SOME CHALLENGING TIMES. I DON'T CARE WHICH CITY IN, BUT THESE HAVE BEEN SOME CHALLENGING TIMES. BUT I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH, UH, FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS AND HPD BECAUSE WE'VE GONE THROUGH SOME CHALLENGING TIMES. BUT WE'VE BEEN THE MAJOR CITY IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAVEN'T HAD TO DEAL WITH, UM, CURFEWS MM-HMM . OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE. AND QUITE FRANKLY, UM, EVEN DURING THE HOLIDAYS TO SEE THE POLICE OFFICERS INTERACTING WITH OUR KIDS, UH, I WAS SIMPLY BLOWN AWAY. UH, WHEN I WENT TO, UH, SEVERAL OF THOSE EVENTS. THE KIDS HAD A WHOLE LOT OF ENERGY. THE POLICE OFFICERS HAD A WHOLE LOT OF ENERGY AND, UH, AND THE MAYOR WAS FAKING ENERGY. . UH, BUT, UM, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH FOR, UH, THE BRAVERY AND THE COURAGE AND THE SACRIFICES, AND I NEVER WANT TO FORGET THOSE WHO HAVE PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE, UH, FOR KEEPING OUR CITY SAFE. SO IT'S MY HOPE AND PRAYER THAT AS WE GO THROUGH 2023 AND WE WON'T BE DEALING, UM, NO ONE WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. SO IF YOU WOULD JOIN ME AND JUST THANKING, UM, CHIEF THE COMMAND STAFF, ALL OF THE POLICE OFFICERS, UH, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON STATE. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. . OKAY. HAVING, HAVING SAID, HAVING SAID THAT THIS HEARING STANDS ADJOURNED, . ALL RIGHT. LET'S GET BACK TO IT. I, NOW, I WANT GO QUICKLY. OH, UH, COUNT. MAY I TEMP MARTIN? YES, MA'AM. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO TAKE ITEMS TWO THROUGH FIVE AND ITEM 21 NEXT SECOND. OKAY. YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION, MS. SECOND ENDING OBJECTION CHAIR. THERE'S NOT A MOTION IS GRANTED. UH, MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL CALL ITEMS TWO THROUGH FIVE, ITEM TWO NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX, TATU MOVED. SECOND ROBINSON. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED ON ITEM TWO. DISCUSSION ON ITEM TWO. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF POST AND GRANTED. UM, AND THEN JUST GO, WE'LL GO THROUGH AND I'LL COME BACK. ITEM THREE NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX. TATU, MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON BEEN MOVED IN SECOND ON ITEM THREE. DISCUSSION ON THREE. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSING GRANTED. ITEM FOUR NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX, TATU, MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON BEEN MOVED IN SECOND ON ITEM FOUR. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSING GRANTED. ITEM FIVE NEEDS A MOTION. ASEX TATUM, MOVE. SECOND. ROBINSON MOVED. AND SECOND. AND ON FIVE. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSING GRANTED. NOW LET ME GO BACK. UM, ON TWO IS THE HARRIS COUNTY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, UPPER KIRBY. IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND YOU CAN COME FORWARD. UM, THREE IS ELIAS. J JEFF STING, STING FOUR IS ABBOT KELLER THE SECOND AND FIVE IS ROBERT SCHULTZ. ANYONE HERE? OKAY. THANK YOU. LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM ON [3.  REQUEST from Mayor for confirmation of the appointment or reappointment of the following to the BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER TWENTY-TWO, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS (LELAND WOODS ZONE): Position One - LORNIA ANN PARKER, reappointment, for a term to expire 12/31/2023 Position Two - KIMBERLY A. LEE, appointment, for a term to expire 12/31/2024 Position Three - ANIBETH CAROLINA TURCIOS, reappointment, for a term to expire 12/31/2023 Position Four - CHARLES EDWARD NOBLE, JR., reappointment, for a term to expire 12/31/2024 Position Five - BRYAN SMART, reappointment, for a term to expire 12/31/2023, and to serve as Chair for a term ending12/31/2023 Position Six - IVORY MAYHORN, appointment, for a term to expire 12/31/2024 Position Seven - ABUR ABNER LYONS, appointment, for a term to expire 12/31/2023 ] [4.  REQUEST from Mayor for confirmation of the appointment or reappointment of the following to the LELAND WOODS REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Position One - LORNIA ANN PARKER, reappointment, for a term to expire 12/31/2023 Position Two - KIMBERLY A. LEE, appointment, for a term to expire 12/31/2024 Position Three - ANIBETH CAROLINA TURCIOS, reappointment, for a term to expire 12/31/2023 Position Four - CHARLES EDWARD NOBLE, JR., reappointment, for a term to expire 12/31/2024 Position Five - BRYAN SMART, reappointment, for a term to expire 12/31/2023, and to serve as Chair for a term ending 12/31/2023 Position Six - IVORY MAYHORN, appointment, for a term to expire 12/31/2024 Position Seven - ABUR ABNER LYONS, appointment, for a term to expire 12/31/2023 ] THREE FOUR. THEY'RE THE SAME. THIS IS TO, UH, THE TAX INCREMENT, THE LELAND WOODS ZONE, AND THEN THE, UH, LELAND WOODS REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ONE IS LONNA AND PARKER. UH, TWO IS KIMBERLY LEE. THREE IS ANNABETH, CAROLINA. CAROLINA CIOS. UH, FOUR IS CHARLES EDWARD WITH NOBLE. FIVE IS BRIAN SMART. SIX IS IVORY MAHORN, AND SEVEN IS A BUICK. ABNER LYONS. ALRIGHT. IS THIS MR. LYONS? YES, THAT'S ME. OKAY. WHY DON'T YOU STATE YOUR NAME, UH, FOR US. AND MY NAME IS, OH, SORRY. [04:30:01] CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. OKAY. COUNT, UH, TAMARA, MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER. MY NAME IS ABOR ABNER LYONS. HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. WELL, LOOK, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU WITH THIS LELAND WOODS ZONE AND THE REDEVELOPMENT ZONE. APPRECIATE YOU STEPPING FORWARD AND SHOWING YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU MR. ABNER FOR, YOU KNOW, AGREEING TO, UM, SERVE ON THIS TOUR BOARD. I KNOW HE WAS ONE OF THE ONES ACTUALLY, UM, LIKE SPEARHEADED TO GET THIS, THE TOUR SET UP OVER, UM, IN THE NORTHEAST AREA. AND SO IT'S ONLY BE FITTING TO HAVE YOU ON THE BOARD. UM, THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, AGREEING, UM, TO, TO SERVE AND, UM, TO EVERYONE THAT ACTUALLY HAS BEEN, BEEN REAPPOINTED OR APPOINTED. I KNOW, UM, WE HAVE MR. MAHORN, WHO'S CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW IN THE HOSPITAL WITH, UM, JACKIE MAHORN, SO HE COULDN'T BE HERE. AND KIM LEE, UM, SHE'S AT WORK, RIGHT? UM, BUT I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE GONNA DO A GREAT JOB. YOU, YOUR PASSION AND YOUR, YOU, YOU, YOU'RE, YOU'RE JUST PASSIONATE ABOUT DISTRICT B AND THE NORTHEAST SIDE, BUT SPECIFICALLY THE NORTHEAST SIDE. BUT I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA DO A GREAT JOB AND IT'S GONNA BE, IT'S GONNA WORK WELL. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCIL, JUST WANTED TO COUNCIL, SAY THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD TO SEE YOU, MR. THANK YOU, MR. LINE. LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. ALRIGHT, CHAIR. STILL RECOGNIZE THIS MAYOR PRO TIM FOR A MOTION. I'M SORRY, NUMBER FIVE. YOU'RE GONNA RECORD. OH, DO I DO? NO. OH, I DIDN'T DO FIVE. I'M SORRY. BOARD OF PUBLIC TRUST, THE BOARD OF PUBLIC TRUST. IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD. ONE IS MATT ZEISS. UH, TWO IS RUSSELL WADE, GRIEGO THREE IS KIMBERLY DIXON, DUDLEY FOUR, LARA LIA, PULLMAN. UH, FIVE IS IS JONATHAN HOWARD. SIX IS CELIA MEDINA. GARCIA SEVEN, MR. NISH NAGAR. EIGHT IS BILL C. LITTLE JOHN. AND NINE IS JOHN MARIE ROGERS. IN FACT, I, I SAID YOUR NAMES, BUT NOW I NEED YOU TO REPEAT YOUR NAMES. SO WE'LL START WITH I, YOU'RE CLOSER TO THE MIC. UH, KIM DIXON. DUDLEY. MY NAME IS KIM DIXON DUDLEY. JONATHAN HOWARD, UH, JUDGE BILL C LITTLEJOHN MAYOR. I WANT TO SAY THAT, UH, DUE TO THE PEOPLE HERE, THEY ELECTED ME TO THE SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL BOARD. AND, UH, THEY'RE ENCHANTED WITH THE WASTE DUMP THAT HOUSTON HAS THE ONLY ONE IN THE WORLD LIKE THAT. AND THEY'RE GONNA FEATURE THAT IN CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA IN FEBRUARY. THANK YOU. GOOD. EXCELLENT. JEAN MARIE ROGERS. THANK YOU, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I CERTAINLY WANNA RECOGNIZE MY CIVIC CLUB LEADER, UH, MR. JONATHAN HOWARD. I ALWAYS TELL HIM THAT ONE DAY HE'S GONNA SIT IN THE SEAT IF HE CHOOSES TO. 'CAUSE HE IS A GREAT, GREAT YOUNG LEADER. AND CERTAINLY I NEED TO RECOGNIZE JUDGE, JUDGE LITTLE JOHN, WHO IS AN OUTSTANDING LEADER HIMSELF. HE CERTAINLY, HE'S THE MEMBER OF THE SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND HE'S DONE EXTENSIVE WORK IN MONROVIA, LIBERIA. AND SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, UH, FOR EVERYONE, FOR YOUR SERVICE, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THERE'S A FEW FOLKS THAT AREN'T PRESENT TODAY THAT I ALSO WANTED TO RECOGNIZE. AND KIMBERLY, IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU. AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU, UH, MATT ZEISS, UH, AND LENORA COLEMAN, UH, WHO DOES A LOT OF WORK IN DISTRICT C AND JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE THEM AS WELL. BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR SERVING. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN P*****K. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND YEAH, THIS IS A PRETTY DYNAMIC BOARD, UH, THAT YOU ALL HERE. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR, YOUR LEADERSHIP. UH, MR. LITTLEJOHN, GREAT TO SEE YOU, KIMBERLY AS WELL. AND MY MOREHOUSE BROTHER, UH, JONATHAN HOWARD. UM, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, SEEING THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU ALL DO THIS UPCOMING YEAR. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. LET ME THANK ALL OF YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU, JOHN MARIE, AND ALL OF YOU, UH, APPRECIATE YOU. I'M SORRY, COUNCILMAN SHAVA. AND I'M SORRY I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE YOU. I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN A WHILE, BUT CERTAINLY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU ARE DOING TO HELP US DEVELOP, UH, IN THE DISTRICT. THANK YOU. MY PLEASURE. THANK YOU. LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH ONE OF YOU, AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MY MOREHOUSE BROTHER AS WELL AS WE MOVE FORWARD. , THANK YOU'ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 21 NOW, UH, MAYOR PRO, HIM, ACTUALLY, CAMAN, COUNCILMAN CAYMAN, HE'S DOING. THANK YOU, MAYOR. IT'S MY PRIVILEGE, UH, TO NOMINATE DEAN CORGI FOR POSITION ONE OF THE PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY. SECOND, SECOND, ROBINSON BEEN MOVED IN SECOND, AND ON THE NOMINATION OF DEAN CORGI, UM, UH, FOR THE, UH, PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY. UM, POSITION ONE. DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION NOMINEES. ARE THERE ANY OTHER, ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? CLOSE? HERE'S NONE. IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE, TO MOVE, SAY, TO MOVE TO CLOSE THE NOMINATION? SECOND ROBINSON, TO MOVE AND CLOSE TO CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS ON DEAN CORGI. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, [04:35:01] OPPOSE AND GRANITE. DEAN CORGI, WHY DON'T YOU COME FORWARD? VOTE NEXT WEEK, RIGHT? YES. WE'LL VOTE NEXT WEEK. OH, WE VOTE NEXT WEEK. NEXT WEEK SINCE WE VOTED NEXT WEEK. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. YOU WANNA SAY HELLO TO US? SURE. UH, JUST SITTING BACK THERE, UH, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS. IT'S GREAT TO BE ON A WINNING TEAM. AND TRUST ME, THE PORT IS AS WELL. MM-HMM . WE'RE DOING VERY WELL AT THE PORT. AND, UH, THIS WILL BE MY LAST TERM. I'VE BEEN THERE, UH, UH, 10 YEARS NOW. AND, UH, AND I'LL BE TERMED OUT. BUT, UH, WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT. UH, THE PORT WAS STRUGGLING WHEN WE CAME ON BOARD AND WE HAD A NEW TEAM. AND, UH, WE'VE DONE SOME, I THINK SOME AMAZING WORK DOWN THERE. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO, UH, IMPROVE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS. OUR, UH, UH, WOMEN AND MINORITIES ARE GETTING A FAIR SHAKE DOWN THERE NOW. UH, WE HAVE, UH, IMPROVED THE BUSINESS. WE'RE THE TOP PORT IN EVERY CATEGORY IN THE UNITED STATES. ONE OF THE TOP PORTS IN THE WORLD. UH, NOBODY GETS MORE SHIP MOVEMENTS IN THE WORLD, IN THE PORT OF HOUSTON. AND EVERY TIME A SHIP MOVES THAT STIMULATES OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND JOBS, JOBS, JOBS, THEY'RE, THEY'RE THERE. ANYBODY WANTS TO PUT SOMEBODY TO WORK? CONTACT ME AFTER THIS MEETING. WE'LL GET 'EM GOING SOON. BUT, UH, IT'S BEEN A REAL PLEASURE. UH, UH, THE, THE PORT IS IN MY DNA, UH, I WAS RAISED DOWN THERE, MY WHOLE FAMILY. MY, UH, MY, UH, GREAT-GRANDFATHER CONSTRUCTED, BUILT, HELPED BUILD THE PORT. MY, UH, FAMILY HAS WORKED DOWN THERE EVER SINCE THE TURN OF THE CENTURY. AND IT'S THE GREATEST HONOR OF MY LIFE TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THE PORT. AND I THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART TO GIVE ME THAT OPPORTUNITY AND MY FAMILY. THANKS YOU AND MY DEAD FATHER. HE REALLY THANK YOU. HE SO PROUD THAT WHEN I GOT APPOINTED AND HAD BEEN ABLE TO SERVE. SO, GOD BLESS, UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON. GOD BLESS, UH, THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND GOD BLESS THE PORT OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK, THANK YOU, DEAN. AND, UH, YOU HAVE BEEN, AND CONTINUE TO BE AN INCREDIBLE COMMISSIONER. UM, INCREDIBLE LEADER, CHIEF HARRIS, UM, SUPPORTIVE OF THE CITY FRIEND. UM, AND, UH, YOU'VE, YOU'VE JUST BEEN A VERY CALMING INFLUENCE, BUT IMPACTFUL, YOU KNOW, SO, UH, IT, IT IS IN YOUR DNA, IT IS IN YOUR DNA, UH, BUT FOR BE ON THERE FOR 10 YEARS AND TO SEE THE GROWTH, THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT GOOD LEADERSHIP. SO I JUST WANNA, I WANT TO APPRECIATE YOU, UM, YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH LABOR AND HOW YOU'VE HELPED, UH, KEEP THIS CITY, UM, MOVING FORWARD. SO LET ME, LET ME, LET ME THANK YOU. I KNOW YOU SAID YOUR TERM IS GONNA COME TO AN END, BUT CERTAINLY YOUR, YOUR, UM, YOUR LIFE AND MARRIAGE IS JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST BEGINNING . SO, UH, AND YOU'RE SMILING MORE THAN I'VE EVER SEEN YOU SMILE BEFORE , YOU KNOW, SO, UH, CONGRATULATIONS. THERE ARE SEVERAL MEMBERS THAT WANT TALK TO YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. SURE. THANK YOU. UH, DINA, I WAS WAITING FOR YOU TO COME UP TO THE MIC TO BRAG ON YOU A LITTLE. BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, MAYORS, WE JUST WERE AT THAT, YOU KNOW, BIG PORT COMMISSION MEETING YESTERDAY, WAS IT YESTERDAY, TWO DAYS AGO, UH, MONDAY. UM, A LOT OF US HAVE TRAVELED AROUND THE WORLD, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY. AND THERE IS NOT A SINGLE PLACE WE HAVE GONE WHEN IT COMES TO ENERGY OR BUSINESS THAT OTHER COUNTRIES DO NOT KNOW THE PORT OF HOUSTON. AND THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING AND CONTINUE TO DO, UM, INCLUDING IN THE ENERGY TRANSITION. AND I KNOW THAT YOU ARE A STAUNCH ADVOCATE FOR BRINGING INTO THE FOLD. A LOT OF THAT WORK INTO THE PORT. UM, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU NOT ONLY FOR YOUR WORK ON THE PORT, BUT YOUR LEADERSHIP AT THE STATEWIDE LEVEL AS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF OUR SEAFARERS, UM, BUT ALSO AS VICE PRESIDENT OF TEXAS, A-F-L-C-I-O, AND YOUR WORK FOR LABOR AS A WHOLE AND FOR WORKING FAMILIES. SO THANK YOU. UH, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO VOTING ON YOU NEXT WEEK. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'LL BE HERE FOR THAT, BUT WANTED TO MAKE SURE I GOT IN MY APPRECIATION FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO WELL IN, IN MY FINAL TWO YEARS. THAT THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS I, I, I'M, I'M, I'M WORKING ON NOW IS, UH, UH, ENERGY TRANSITION. AND WE HAVE SOME GREAT IDEAS AND, UH, YOU'LL BE HEARING ABOUT IT SOON. BUT WE'RE GONNA BE HAVING SOME MEETINGS AND, AND I THINK WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA TAKE THE LEAD ON THAT AS WELL. 'CAUSE IN THE PORT OF HOUSTON, WHAT WE DO IS WE LEAD, WE DON'T FOLLOW, WE ALWAYS LED ON EVERY ISSUE, UH, OIL SPILL, PORT SECURITY, UH, FUNDING FOR DREDGING. I MEAN, WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN THE LEADER. AND WE'RE GONNA LEAD ON THIS ENERGY TRANSITION AS WELL. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS CISNEROS. THANK YOU. UH, DEAN, CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. I WANTED TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION TO YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND, UM, AND YOUR COMMITMENT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, WHEN YOU SAID JOBS, JOBS, JOBS, YOU KNOW, TALK TO YOU ABOUT JOBS, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STUCK, REALLY STUCK WITH ME, UM, FROM THE JOINT SESSION. WE JUST HAD THIS EARLIER THIS WEEK, WAS THAT [04:40:01] THE, THE FACT THAT THAT 28% OF THE PILOTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO RETIRE WITHIN THE NEXT 10 YEARS BECAUSE OF THEIR AGE AND, AND THAT THAT'S ANOTHER GROWTH AREA FOR JOBS. AND I, YOU KNOW, AND, AND SO THERE WAS SOME TALK ABOUT THAT, BUT I, I, UM, I HOPE THAT ADDED TO YOUR LIST TO ENERGY TRANSITION AND THE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU'VE, YOU'VE GOT ON YOUR TO-DO LIST. THAT THAT, THAT, THAT CAN BE A BIG FOCUS TOO, OF, OF, OF GROWING THE NEXT GENERATION OF PILOTS BECAUSE IT BEGINS VERY EARLY IN A YOUNG PERSON'S LIFE. IT'S NOT WHEN THEY'RE IN HIGH SCHOOL, IT'S EARLIER THAN THAT. AND I, I HOPE YOU CAN HELP MAKE SOME, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME INROADS TO, TO REALLY REACH YOUNGER KIDS BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA NEED 'EM. WE NEED THEM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE, ALL THE DATA ABOUT HOW THE, THE PORT IS GROWING AND THERE WILL BE, YOU KNOW, THE FUTURE IS, IS REALLY, UM, BIG, YOU KNOW, FOR THE, YOU KNOW, UH, ALL THE FREIGHT THAT'S GONNA BE TRANSPORTED BY SHIP AND, YOU KNOW, AND THE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE ACCESS THAT THAT'S GOING TO, YOU KNOW, BE MORE AVAILABLE AND, AND, UM, AND HOW WE WE'RE GONNA NEED PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO DO THIS. WELL, WE, UH, WE, WE JUST GRADUATED SIX, UH, TALKING ABOUT THE POLICE ACADEMY, BUT YOU KNOW, WE'RE ON A SMALLER SCALE, BUT WE JUST GRADUATED SIX APPRENTICES FROM OUR APPRENTICE PROGRAM TO WORK ON TUGS AT THE PORT. AND THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE PILOTS COME FROM. LOT OFF THE TUG BOATS 'CAUSE THEY HAVE GREAT LOCAL KNOWLEDGE. BUT, UH, OUTTA THAT GROUP THERE'S UH, TWO WOMEN, UH, TWO AFRICAN AMERICANS AND, AND A HISPANIC. UM, SO WE ARE PUTTING IN THE PIPELINE FOLKS WHO CAN IMPROVE THE, UH, THE, THE MINORITY REPRESENTATION AND, AND THAT PILOT ASSOCIATION. AND, UH, THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT ON MONDAY. AND, UH, AND WE ARE DOING OUR PART TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS AS WELL. COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO. TIM, AS I EXPRESSED TO YOU ON MONDAY, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN THE JACK YATES HIGH SCHOOL, UH, MARITIME PROGRAM THAT IS PHENOMENAL. AND CERTAINLY THE OFFER OF THE JOBS WE MAY NEED TO GET YOUR DIGITS. 'CAUSE I ALWAYS KNOW PEOPLE THAT ARE LOOKING, UH, TO DO THAT BECAUSE MY, ACTUALLY MY YOUNGER BROTHER WHO, WHO IS DECEASED, ACTUALLY WORKED FOR THE PORT. AND SO, UH, JUST IN CLOSING, I HAD A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO GO WITH A ICE MEAL PRO TIM TO SEE THE PANAMA CANAL. AND SO THAT ACTUALLY, ALL OF THAT, ALONG WITH BEING ABLE TO TAKE A TOUR OF THE PORT REALLY BROUGHT IT HOME TO ME HOW IMPORTANT, UH, MARITIME IS. AND SO, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. WELL, WE HAVE A A A, I'LL DO A, A PAID POLITICAL ANNOUNCEMENT. WE HAVE A VIBRANT APPRENTICE PROGRAM. WE'RE RECRUITING EVERYWHERE. WE, OUR, THE DOORS ARE WIDE OPEN. UM, AND, AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS AND, AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, UH, MENTIONED THE OFFSHORE WIND IS COMING AND THERE ARE GONNA BE THOUSANDS OF JOBS OUT THERE FOR FOLKS TO WORK ON THESE VESSELS THAT ARE GONNA SERVICE THOSE OFFSHORE, UH, WIND FARMS. AND, AND WE DON'T HAVE THE PEOPLE RIGHT NOW. SO WE'VE GOT ENOUGH TIME, BUT WE NEED TO START GETTING THAT PIPELINE GOING. AND, AND IF ANYBODY WANTS TO WORK WITH ME, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, I'D BE LOVE TO WORK WITH YOU AND YOUR STAFF TO PROMOTE, UH, OUR JOBS AND YOUR DISTRICT AND GET FOLKS, UH, INVOLVED. AND, AND 'CAUSE THESE ARE GOOD PAYING JOBS. THEY'RE VERY GOOD PAYING AND THEY HAVE FULL BENEFITS. AND, UH, AND, AND, AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THERE. WE, THERE JUST SEEMS TO BE A DISCONNECT 'CAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN DON'T REALLY REALIZE THAT WE HAVE A PORT, THAT WE HAVE ALL THESE OPPORTUNITIES DOWN THERE. AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND HERE THIS MORNING AND TALK ABOUT IT. BUT, UH, WE'RE WIDE OPEN. WE'RE READY TO GO. COUNCILMAN GGO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. CONGRATULATIONS, COMMISSIONER. I JUST, UH, ALSO JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE THESE PAST YEARS. UM, I KNOW THAT, UH, AT THE, UH, MEETING THAT WE HAD THIS PAST MONDAY THERE AT THE, AT THE PORT, UH, I KNOW THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, IN REGARDS TO THE DISPARITY STUDY, I KNOW THAT, UH, COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND I WENT AND SPOKE AT THE PORT A FEW YEARS AGO ASKING THE PORT TO DO A DISPARITY STUDY. SO I'M GLAD THAT THE PORT HAS DONE IT, UH, IN REGARDS TO, UM, DOING A BETTER JOB IN REGARDS TO MWBE. UH, I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE PORT FOR, AND, AND, AND YOU AS WELL, UH, FOR YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN, UH, GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE BEING IMPACTED ALONG THE PORT OF HOUSTON. I KNOW THAT THE PORT OF HOUSTON IS PART OF THE 50 50 PARKS INITIATIVE THAT THE MAYOR CREATED, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING THERE. I KNOW THERE'S GONNA BE SOME IMPROVEMENTS AT HE PARK, UH, AND THEN ALSO MONIES THAT ARE GIVEN TO SPARK PARKS, UH, TO IMPROVE, UH, PARKS WITHIN OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT AS WELL. UH, AND EXCITED THAT HOPEFULLY SOON THEY'LL, UH, BE AN ANNOUNCEMENT, UH, IN REGARDS TO 21 ACRES THAT ARE GONNA BE ADDED, UH, TO OUR, OUR, UH, CITY PARKS INVENTORY. UH, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. UH, AND THEN ALSO IN REGARDS TO A JOB FAIR, WE DID HAVE A JOB FAIR A FEW MONTHS AGO AT HCC. UH, WE PLAN TO HAVE ANOTHER ONE THIS SPRING. UH, WE WILL REACH OUT TO THE PORT, UH, TO HAVE REPRESENTATION THERE AT THE JOB FAIR AT HCC SOUTHEAST. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU. WE WILL BE THERE. [04:45:01] THANKS, COUNCILMAN THOMAS. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU EXTENDING THAT INVITATION AND I WOULD LOVE TO ACCEPT IT. AND OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, I WOULD LOVE A COMMITMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE APPRENTICE PROGRAMS ARE IN THE WEST SIDE. MOST PEOPLE DON'T LEAVE BELTWAY EIGHT, UM, INCLUDING A LOT OF PEOPLE AND THEY DON'T REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT THE PORT IS TO OUR REGION. AND THAT IN THAT REGION INCLUDES THE WEST SIDE. AND SO AS WE LOOK AT THE MANDATORY REQUIREMENT, UM, IN, IN THE NEXT DECADE, AS WE LOOK AT MAKING SURE WE HAVE A PIPELINE FOR SEAFARERS A, A PIPELINE FOR ALL OF THOSE LABOR, UH, POSITIONS, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT NOT JUST THE YOUNG PEOPLE, BUT THEIR PARENTS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE UPSKILLED TO HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE HIGH, THOSE HIGHWAYS JOBS. UM, AND I WANNA PILOT THAT. I LOVE AND, AND I'M ENVIOUS OF WHAT THEY DO IN JACK YATES, BUT I WANNA EXTEND TO THE LEADERSHIP AT THE PORT. AND ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS THAT ALE AND OTHER PORTIONS IN HISD ALSO DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECREATE AND REDEFINE THEIR CAREER. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS. WE'RE GONNA MAKE MAGIC AND WE'RE GONNA SHOW 'EM HOW IT'S DONE, NOT JUST ON THE EAST SIDE, BUT ALSO ON THE WEST SIDE. WELL, I THANK YOU. AND I DID COME FROM THE, I WAS BORN AND RAISED DISTRICT. I, BUT I'M, I'M, I WANNA WORK WITH DISTRICT F AND I THINK THE UNTAPPED, UH, AREA THAT WE HAVEN'T REALLY LOOKED AT IS THE ASIAN COMMUNITY. AND YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE FILIPINOS ARE, ARE ARE NATURAL BORN SEA FARES. THEY'RE, THEY'RE BORN AND RAISED, I MEAN, AND, AND, AND, AND THEY GET HERE AND THERE'S A DISCONNECT. AND WE'VE BEEN RECRUITING SOME LATELY, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU TO IMPROVE THAT AND, AND, UH, AND, AND EXPAND THE OPPORTUNITIES AND, YOU KNOW, MAN, THESE JOBS, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T DO IT, THE FOREIGNERS WILL. AND I DON DON'T THINK ANYBODY WANTS THAT. COUNCILMAN JACKSON? I'M PROBABLY TALKING TOO MUCH. MAYOR. OBJECTION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I WANT TO LIKE JUMP IN AND, UM, POSSIBLY GET A COMMITMENT TO, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU WORK WITH THE DISTRICT B OFFICE. THE PORTS IS IN THE DIS IN DISTRICT B. AND I HAVE LIKE REACHED OUT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO TRY TO GET THE PORTS TO COME TO OUR JOB FAIRS TO BE SUCCESSFUL. AND THEY HAVEN'T. AND SO IT'LL BE GREAT. WE HAVE NOT, NO, WE'VE HAD THREE, THREE JOB FAIRS SO FAR. WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE THIS SATURDAY. SO IT WOULD BE GREAT IF I CAN LIKE, YOU KNOW, REALLY FORGE THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PORTS, UM, BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN DISTRICT B THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM THESE JOBS. UM, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH ANHEUSER-BUSCH, UNION PACIFIC, THE AL PORTS, AND SO THE PORTS, I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO NAIL THEM DOWN AND, AND GET THEM TO BE A PART OF WHAT, WHAT WE, MY COMMITMENT TO WORK WITH DISTRICT B. THANK YOU. AND THE ENTIRE, I APPRECIATE IT. ENTIRE CITY. THANK YOU. WE'LL FOCUS ON DISTRICT B. OKAY. THANKS. THANKS DEAN. GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANKS FOR MARRYING US. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT, . IT WAS AWESOME. IT WAS, IT WAS AWESOME. ON TOP OF THAT, I'M FREE . THANK YOU. GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. OKAY, WE LOOK FORWARD TO VOTING, UH, NEXT WEEK TO CONFIRM, UH, DEAN CORGIS APPOINTMENT. OKAY, NOW WE'RE GOING BACK, UH, BRIEFLY TO, UH, TO, UH, TO THE MAYOR'S REPORT AND VERY BRIEF. I JUST, AGAIN, A REMINDER, UH, SATURDAY 11 O'CLOCK, A LEAVE, UH, MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, COUNCILMAN THOMAS, LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING WITH YOU ALL. THAT SHOULD BE A GRAND FAIR IN THE WEATHER. SHOULD BE VERY NICE. SUNDAY, SUNDAY IS THE HOUSTON MARATHON. UH, SO CHEVRON AND ARAMCO, UH, WE'LL BE OUT THERE ON SUNDAY MORNING. AND, UH, IF YOU CAN JOIN US, PLEASE DO SO. AND THAT'S EARLY. AND THEN OF COURSE, UM, UH, ON MONDAY, UH, MORNING, UH, 10 O'CLOCK IS THE PARADE. I THINK THERE'S A, A BREAKFAST BEFORE THAT. BUT THE PARADE AT 10 O'CLOCK, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, CARL, CARL, CARL, CARL LEWIS, CARL LEWIS WILL BE OUT THERE WITH US ON THE FLOAT. ANDRE JOHNSON WILL BE WITH US ON THE FLOAT. THE BIG E EVAN HAYES WILL BE WITH US. UH, CHERYL SWOOPES, UH, WILL BE WITH US. ZENA GARRISON. UH, ALL, ALL OF THOSE PERSONS AND SO MANY, MANY MORE, UH, WILL BE OUT THERE. AND TS U'S BAND, UH, RICE BAND AND UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON'S BAND WILL BE LEADING THE WAY ALONG WITH NINE OTHER, UH, BANDS, 14 DIFFERENT FLOATS. SO PLEASE PLAN TO JOIN US ON MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY, DOWNTOWN AT 10:00 AM. UH, AND THEN OF COURSE WE HAD THE, UH, PLAYOFFS FOR THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE, UM, UH, WHAT DO THEY CALL IT? UM, THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. OF COURSE, GEORGIA AND TSU, UM, TCU COULD HAVE BEEN T-S-U-T-T-C-U PLAYED. AND, UM, THAT WAS THEN. BUT THE NATIONAL PLAYOFFS WILL BE IN HOUSTON, UH, FOR THE FIRST TIME. UH, NEXT, NEXT YEAR IN JANUARY 8TH, 2024. UH, THE BIO CITY WILL HOST THE 2024 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME ON JANUARY THE EIGHTH. YOU KNOW, I WON'T BE HERE, UM, UH, AS MAYOR, UM, BUT I'LL, YOU KNOW, I'LL BE OUT THERE ON THE FIELD. IT WILL BE THE FIRST, IT WILL BE THE FIRST TIME HOUSTON HAS HOSTED THE SPORTS TITLE GAME. [04:50:01] AND WILL MARK ONE OF THE BIGGEST EVENTS EVER AT NRG. UH, SO THAT'S EXCITING. UH, ON THAT FRONT, I THINK I'M GONNA JUST CUT IT SHORT WITH THAT, AND THEN LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN 2023, WHICH IS THE YEAR OF EXECUTION AND IMPLEMENTATION. OKAY? THAT'S, THAT'S HOW I LABEL IT. HAVING SAID [CONSENT AGENDA] THAT, BACK TO THE AGENDA UNDER THE PROPERTY CATEGORY, ITEM SIX HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED A MOTION FOR ITEM SEVEN. NEXT, TATUM, MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON MOVED IN SECOND. AND ON ITEM SEVEN, DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS CATEGORY ITEMS EIGHT AND NINE HAVE BEEN REMOVED. SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED TO VOTE ON ITEM 10. DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF POST GRAND ON 10, I'M SORRY. NEED A MOTION ON MOTION? BACK UP. WE NEED A MOTION ON 10. MOVE 10. TATUM. SECOND, THEN MOVED. AND SECOND. AND ON ITEM 10, DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF POST GRANITE UNDER THE ORDINANCES. CATEGORY ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ARE 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, AND 19. THE ITEMS REMOVED ARE 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, AND 19. JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEMS 12, 14, 17, AND 20. DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSING GRANTED I MOVE [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEM SIX NEEDS A MOTION MOVE ITEM SIX, DISCUSSION CAST. TATUM MOVED SECOND. ROBINSON MOVED IN SECOND. AND ON ITEM SIX, DISCUSSION ON SIX. DISCUSSION ON SIX. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED ON SIX. ITEM EIGHT NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX, TATU, MOVE. SECOND. ROBINSON. WE ON ITEM EIGHT. DISCUSSION ON EIGHT. DISCUSSION ON EIGHT. DISCUSSION ON EIGHT IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED ON ITEM EIGHT. ITEM NINE NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX TATUM, MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON. WE ON ITEM NINE, DISCUSSION ON NINE. DISCUSSION ON NINE. DISCUSSION ON NINE IN FAVOR OPPOSED, GRANTED OR DIE? ITEM 11 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. WE ON ITEM 11. COUNCILMAN PECK ON 11. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS IS THE REMOVAL OF THE FEES AT THE LIBRARY AND I SUPPORT, UM, THE GOAL HERE OF EQUITABLE ACCESS AND REMOVING FINANCIAL BARRIERS. BUT I DID HAVE SOME CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS. AND SO I, AND I REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT FULFILLS ITS INTENDED PURPOSE AND IT'S SUCCESSFUL. SO MY ASK HERE IS THAT BY THE END OF THE YEAR, IT COMES TO COMMITTEE JUST SO WE CAN REVIEW IT AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S MEETING THAT INTENDED PURPOSE. I FEEL LIKE SOMETIMES WE VOTE ON THINGS, UM, HERE AT COUNCIL AND IT, WE NEVER GET DATA OR INFORMATION AFTER THE FACT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ACTUALLY WORKING AS INTENDED. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS WHERE WE MOVE TO A SYSTEM WHERE WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO COME BACK IN A YEAR OR SO AND VOTE TO CONTINUE THINGS LIKE THIS. BUT I'M SURE MAYOR, THAT YOU WOULDN'T WANNA CONTINUE A PROGRAM THAT ISN'T WORKING EITHER. SO I TRUST THAT YOU WOULD MAKE THOSE CHANGES. UM, SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE INFORMATION AFTER A COUPLE MONTHS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ACTUALLY WORKING. UM, AND FINALLY, AS WE'RE LOOKING AT EQUITABLE ACCESS AND REMOVING FINANCIAL BARRIERS, I'VE HAD SOME SUGGESTIONS, UM, THAT I'VE GIVEN TO THE LIBRARY SYSTEM OVER THE YEARS THAT I DO WANT TO CONTINUE TO EVALUATE. FOR EXAMPLE, UM, THE CARDALE NEIGHBORHOOD IS OVER TWO AND A HALF MILES FROM THE NEAREST LIBRARY, WHICH, UM, IS A LOT IF YOU DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION, BUT IT'S NOT A LOT FOR THE LIBRARY SYSTEM TO MAYBE TAKE BOOKS FROM THE NEAREST LIBRARY TO THE CARDALE COMMUNITY CENTER. UM, WE ALSO SUGGESTED, UM, THAT BOOK LINK, THAT VENDING MACHINE LIBRARY SYSTEM USING SERVICE FUNDS TO PAY FOR ONE OF THOSE AT THE CARDALE COMMUNITY CENTER, JUST SO THAT THERE'S MORE ACCESS TO BOOKS IN AN AREA THAT NEEDS IT. AND SO AS WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, THOSE IDEAS, UM, I DO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, UM, BEING INNOVATIVE WITH THE LIBRARY SYSTEM AND KEEPING LIBRARIES RELEVANT FOR THE COMMUNITIES THAT NEED THAT ACCESS. YEAH, THANK YOU. AND, AND, UH, I AND I HEAR YOU. NO, NO. UM, UH, PROBLEM AT ALL WITH COMING BACK TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR AND REVIEWING THE SUCCESS OF IT. THAT'S FINE. YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S ALWAYS A GOOD MEASURING TOOL TO SEE HOW SUCCESSFUL AND WHETHER OR NOT WE ACHIEVED OUR OBJECTIVE. UH, SO NO PROBLEM ON THAT FRONT. I WOULD TELL YOU WHAT'S BEEN BEFORE YOU, UH, HAS ALREADY BEEN LOOKED AT NATIONALLY. UH, SO I THINK WE'VE SENT SOME INFORMATION TO YOU. NEW YORK, UH, CHICAGO, BOSTON, PHILADELPHIA, MIAMI, DENVER AND OTHERS HAVE ALREADY DONE WHAT WE'VE DONE, UH, DOING. WE'RE PROPOSING IN TEXAS, SAN ANTONIO, DALLAS, AUSTIN, FORT WORTH HAVE ALREADY DONE THIS AS WELL. UH, THIS IS ABOUT 1%, UH, OF [04:55:01] THE OVERALL LIBRARY'S BUDGET THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH. AND THEN, THEN WHAT THEY HAVE FOUND IS WHEN THEY HAVE GONE TO WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING, THAT THE UTILIZATION OF THE LIBRARY INCREASES AMONG, YEAH. AMONG OTHER BENEFITS. AND, UH, UH, IN, UH, THE NEW YORK LIBRARY SYSTEM. IT, IT WENT UP, JUMPED DRAMATICALLY. CHICAGO WENT UP 240% INCREASE IN BOOK RETURNS. THEM HAD A 35% OF CUSTOMERS WITH FIVES COME BACK TO THE LIBRARY WHEN FINES WERE REMOVED. UM, SO, UH, SAN FRANCISCO SIMILAR RESULTS. SO IT, UH, THE STUDIES INDICATE THAT WHEN WE MOVE IN THIS DIRECTION, UH, WE, THE SERVICE OF THE LIBRARY IS ENHANCED. SO, UH, BUT AT THE END OF THE YEAR, UH, I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE LIBRARY TO COME BACK AND SHARE WITH YOU WHERE THINGS ARE. SO NO, NO OBJECTION AT ALL TO THAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND AS WE KNOW, HOUSTON IS UNIQUE SOMETIMES, AND SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, WHILE IT MAY HAVE BEEN GREAT IN OTHER CITIES, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ALSO WORKING HERE IN THE CITY. OKAY, NO PROBLEM. UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TE TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK THAT, UM, WE, WE ARE MOVING IN A REALLY GOOD DIRECTION. I CAN REMEMBER WHEN I WAS YOUNG, MY MOTHER USED TO ALWAYS TELL US TO REMIND HER TWO DAYS BEFORE THE BOOKS WERE DUE TO MAKE SURE WE GOT OUR BOOKS BACK TO VINCENT BRANCH LIBRARY SO SHE WOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY THAT 10 CENTS. UH, THE FINES WERE 10 CENTS FOR, UM, THE BOOKS. AND IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT WE GOT THOSE BOOKS BACK BEFORE THOSE FINES WERE DUE. AND I REALIZED THINGS, THINGS HAVE CHANGED BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE ENCYCLOPEDIAS IN OUR, IN OUR HOMES ANYMORE AND ONLY USE THE LIBRARIES FOR ADDITIONAL RESEARCH WHEN WE HAVE A, A PROJECT AT SCHOOL. UM, BUT PEOPLE ARE USING OUR LIBRARIES FOR THAT INTERNET ACCESS AND FOR THE PROGRAM, THE PHENOMENAL PROGRAMMING THAT WE HAVE AT THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARIES. AND I THINK THIS, UM, CHART THAT IS IN OUR, UH, PAPERWORK WAS WHAT BROUGHT IT HOME FOR ME TO SHOW THE REVENUE FROM THE FINES FROM 2016 TO 2020 WENT FROM 558,000 DOWN TO 251,000. AND IT, IT REALLY, UM, REITERATES OUR NEED FOR ELIMINATING THESE FINES, BUT STILL HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DAMAGED BOOKS AND THE LOST BOOKS. WE WANT PEOPLE TO UTILIZE THE LIBRARY. WE WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE GOOD CARE OF THE BOOKS AND EQUIPMENT THAT WE HAVE IN OUR LIBRARY SO THAT OTHER PEOPLE CAN USE THEM. LIBRARIES ARE DESTINATIONS IN OUR CITIES AND SO CRITICAL TO OUR COMMUNITIES. SO I WANT TO, UM, COMMEND DR. LAWSON AND HER TEAM FOR MOVING HPL IN THIS DIRECTION. UM, AND THE DISTRICT A OFFICE, UH, SUPPORTS, SUPPORTS THIS. UM, WE LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, HAVING PHENOMENAL PROGRAMMING, CONTINUED PHENOMENAL PROGRAMMING IN IN OUR DISTRICTS. AND I LIKE THAT WE HAVE STATISTICS FROM THE AMNESTY PROGRAM BECAUSE I THINK THAT REALLY SAYS WHY WE SHOULD DO THIS. UM, PEOPLE CAME FORTH THAT HAD FINES AND SAID, OH, I, I, I WILL GET MY FINE, UM, TAKEN CARE OF AND NOW I CAN UTILIZE THE LIBRARY AGAIN. SO THIS IS GOOD DATA THAT SHOWS THAT WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW THIS ACTUALLY HELPS US IN THE CITY WHEN WE COME BACK TO COMMITTEE, UM, AT THE END OF THE YEAR. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. THANKS, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU. I, UH, SUPPORT THIS ITEM AS WELL. AND QUICK STORY. UM, I'VE HAD, UH, LATE FINES BEFORE AND THE LIBRARY IN A PREVIOUS LIFE HAS SENT ME TO COLLECTIONS AND IN A PREVIOUS LIFE HAS IMPACTED MY CREDIT REPORT, UH, AND OVER LIKE 10 OR $15. TRUE STORY. TRUE STORY. AND, UM, AND I, I PAID IT ALL. GUESS WHAT? I'M CLEAN. OKAY. , DR. LAWSON SENDING ME TO THE CREDIT BUREAU. UM, I DID MY TIME, TURNED THE BOOK IN, BUT I'LL TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, THAT DID STOP ME FROM USING JUDSON ROBINSON. UM, I'M A BUSY GIRL. I WAS BUSY DOING THINGS. I COULDN'T MEET THE DEADLINE. UM, BUT THIS IS LIKE ALMOST A DECADE AGO. SO I, I KNOW FIRSTHAND ON WHAT THAT IS, RIGHT? AND SO, UH, DON'T BE LIKE ME. UH, AND I THINK THIS ITEM ALLOWS FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ON THE GO, UH, TO RETURN THAT, UM, AT A CONVENIENT LOCATION. SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD TO COUNCIL. WE WANNA THANK THAT WITNESS FOR PROVIDING THAT , THAT TESTIMONY. , SHE'S IN THE SECOND CHANCE PROGRAM. , THAT WAS, THAT WAS SOME VERY POIGNANT TESTIMONY. AND, UH, IS THERE, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE ON THIS ITEM? ANYONE ELSE? ALRIGHT, IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED, UH, THANK YOU OFFICER VERY, VERY MUCH. CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO GO PAST 12 [05:00:01] CAST NEXT T MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON BEEN MOVED AND SECOND TO GO PAST 12 OF DISCUSSION. ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR GRANTED. ITEM PASSES. THE ITEM PASSES OVER. OBJECTION. ALL. NEXT ITEM. OH, LET ME RECOGNIZE DR. LAWSON. DR. LAWSON, THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE, APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT, NEXT ITEM, ITEM 13 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. WE ON ITEM 13, DISCUSSION ON 13. DISCUSSION ON 13 IN FAVOR. OPPOSED GRANT ON 13. ITEM 15 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 15, DISCUSSION ON 15, DISCUSSION ON 15, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSED GRAND ON 15. ITEM 16 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 16. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN ON 16. THANK YOU MAYOR. VERY BRIEFLY, I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE THIS IS AN ALLOCATION FOR AVENUE 360, UM, UPPING THEIR RENTAL ASSISTANCE. WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE ITEMS, UH, INCLUDING 13, 14, 16 AND 17 TODAY. CONTINUING TO ADDRESS DIFFERENT PARTS OF HOMELESSNESS. THIS RELATES TO H HI, UH, INDIVIDUALS WITH HIV IN SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. I JUST WANNA REPORT BACK. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, AS YOU TALK ABOUT GETTING THOSE NUMBERS AND REPORTS BACK AS OF SEPTEMBER 22, AVENUE 360 HAS SERVED 399 CLIENTS UTILIZING ALMOST 92% OF ALL FUNDING. SO THIS IS MONEY WELL SPENT AND I WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT ALSO ITEM 13, MAYOR THAT WE JUST PASSED, ADDRESSING THE NEXUS OF HOMELESSNESS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BECAUSE THAT IS A HIGH DRIVER OF HOMELESSNESS FOR, UM, PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT ITEM IN THE, WHAT THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNCIL IS DOING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 1616 IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 16, ITEM 18 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. WE ON ITEM 18, DISCUSSION ON 18, DISCUSSION ON 18 IN FAVOR OPPOSED GRANTING 18. AND LET ME COMMENT ON, ON 18, UM, ON WHY THIS ITEM IS, UM, IS SO IMPORTANT. UM, IT WAS HIGHLIGHTED DURING COVID, UH, WHEN WE SAW SO MANY, UH, HEALTH DISPARITIES INEQUITIES, UH, IN OUR CITY. UH, EVEN THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES. WE ESTABLISHED THE TASK FORCE, THE HEALTH EQUITY RESPONSE TASK FORCE. AND WHAT WE SAW IS THAT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, UH, HISPANICS, AFRICAN AMERICANS AND OTHERS WERE ON THE BACK END OF RECEIVING VACCINATIONS. UM, THE, UM, THEY WERE REPORTING MORE TO THE HOSPITALS. IT WAS JUST AN INCREASING NUMBERS AND THEN, UH, WHAT WE SAW LIKE IT WITH THE CANCER CLUSTER AND CASHMERE AND, AND WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE. UM, AND THEN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DID ITS ASSESSMENT WHERE IN CERTAIN THE ZIP CODES, IN THIS CASE IN THE NORTHEAST WHERE THE MORTALITY RATE WAS 24 YEARS GREATER THAN THE ADJACENT ZIP CODE. SO WE'VE SEEN ALL OF THESE HEALTH INEQUITIES EXIST WITHIN OUR CITY. AND JUST LIKE, UM, WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD A SUSTAINABLE CITY RESILIENT GOING FORWARD, THE QUESTION IS HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THESE HEALTH INEQUITIES OTHER THAN A COMPLETE COMMUNITIES THAT THE NEXT MAYOR MAY DECIDE NOT TO CONTINUE? OKAY, SO HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO BE LASER FOCUSED AND COMING UP WITH RESEARCHING AND COMING UP WITH WAYS OF ADDRESSING HEALTH INEQUITIES WITHIN OUR, WITHIN OUR CITY THAT WILL BE TRANSFORMATIVE IN NATURE. AND THEN WE HAVE THE MEN, THE ADMINISTRATION THAT'S FOCUSING A LOT ON INEQUITIES, UH, JUSTICE FOR THE ISSUES. AND THEIR FUNDING IN PART IS DRIVEN BY HOW WE ADDRESS THESE INEQUITIES. BUT YOU NEED A TOOL IN ORDER TO PUT IT DOWN. IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PRESIDENT OF TEXAS SOUTHERN AND OTHERS, UH, THEY WERE MOVING FORWARD IN ESTABLISHING THE CENTER FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL HEALTH. OKAY? AND WHAT SHE SAID TO ME IS, MAYOR, WHAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT OR INSTRUMENTAL IN ATTRACTING MORE GRANT FUNDING, UH, IN ATTRACTING DOLLARS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IS THAT THEY KNOW THAT THE UNIVERSITY IS PARTNERING WITH AN ENTITY LIKE THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO THE DOLLARS THAT WE ARE PUTTING ADVANCING HERE ARE INTENDED TO BE C DOLLARS WITH TEXAS SOUTHERN, UM, AS [05:05:01] THEY DRAW DOWN SUBSTANTIALLY MORE FEDERAL DOLLARS GRANT DOLLARS. THIS, THESE ARE JUST SEED DOLLARS THAT WE ARE PUTTING IN SAYING WE TOO AGREE THAT THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT HEALTH DISPARITIES WITHIN OUR CITY. AND THESE HEALTH DISPARITIES NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE AFTER, AFTER CORONAVIRUS, THERE WILL BE SOMETHING ELSE. THERE'LL ALWAYS BE SOMETHING ELSE, BUT WE'VE GOT TO COME UP WITH WAYS TO ADDRESS OUR HEALTH INEQUITIES, DISPARITIES. AND HOPEFULLY THIS CENTER WILL ALSO PARTNER WITH THE MEDICAL CENTER WHERE THEY TOO WILL SEE THE NEED TO PULL DOWN. I VISITED WITH THE CEO OF, UM, ST. LUKE A WEEK AND A HALF AGO TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR THE MEDICAL CENTER NOW TO EXPAND EVEN BEYOND ITS WALLS AND HELP. FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE WITH THIS CENTER FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL HELP ON THE CAMPUS OF TEXAS SOUTHERN, WE HAVE DONE SOME SUB OUTSTANDING WORK WITH, LIKE, WITH RICE AND BAYLOR. THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE DOING THE TESTING, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR CORONAVIRUS THROUGH OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM. WHEN MONKEYPOX CAME UP LAST YEAR, WE PUT A, WE PUT AN ADDITIONAL $500,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND. WE GAVE IT TO RICE AND BAYLOR FOR THEM TO DO STUDIES ON THE WASTEWATER OF A MONKEY. WELL, WHAT THEY CALL THEN MONKEY POPS. AND THAT HAS PROVEN TO BE ON THE CUTTING EDGE. WELL, THIS IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON WORKING WITH TEXAS SOUTHERN TO BE ON THE CUTTING EDGE. WHEN YOU TALK, WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TRANSFORMATIONAL HEALTH, THE SUCCESS OF IT WILL BE MEASURED BY WHETHER OR NOT THIS INITIAL SEED DOLLARS WITH TEXAS SOUTHERN WILL DRAW DOWN MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND FROM GRANT, AND YOU'LL HAVE COLLABORATION WITH THE MEDICAL CENTER. THAT'S HOW YOU WILL MEASURE THE SUCCESS. AND THESE DOLLARS WILL BE ADVANCED OVER A THREE YEAR PERIOD. OKAY? WORKING THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF, UH, OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT. BUT THIS IS BEING DONE OVER A THREE YEAR PERIOD, WHICH IS MORE THAN SUFFICIENT TIME TO JUDGE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF THIS CENTER. UM, BUT, UH, THE SUCCESS OF IT WILL GO, WILL BODE WELL FOR OUR CITY. AND I THINK, 'CAUSE WE ARE NOT THE ONLY CITY WHERE THERE ARE COMMUNITIES WITHIN WITH HEALTH INEQUITIES. THERE ARE OTHER MAJOR CENTERS, CITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. BUT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE ON THE CUTTING EDGE. AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE TODAY. THESE ARE SEED DOLLARS, UM, BEING SOWN INTO THIS PARTICULAR CENTER. SO I WANT TO, I WANTED TO, UH, GIVE FURTHER EXPLANATION. IRE, I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT. LEMME JUST SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT. UM, BECAUSE IT IS NEW. IT IS NEW, OKAY? UM, BUT THE NEED, BLESS THE NEED IS REAL. BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK IN SOME OF OUR COMMUNITIES IN THIS, IN OUR CITY, ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, THEIR HEALTH INEQUITIES, THEY ARE, THE NEED IS HIGHER. UM, THEY'RE DYING AT A GREATER RATE. AND WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT IF WE ARE GOING TO BUILD A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY. AND SO THAT'S, AND I THINK THE BEST WAY TO DO IT IS TO PARTNER WITH, WITH OUR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. OKAY. UH, COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I WAS EXCITED TO SEE THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA. I WANT TO THANK YOU, YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND, UH, BEING CREATIVE AND THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX AND HOW WE COULD COLLABORATE WITH TSU ON THIS, UM, CENTER FOR TRANSFORMATIVE HEALTH. YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION EARLIER. UM, AT THE STATE LEVEL, WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING FOR TEXAS SOUTHERN, IT'S USUALLY AT THE VERY BOTTOM. THEY'RE THE ONLY PUBLIC, UH, UNIVERSITY THAT'S STILL INDEPENDENT IN THE ENTIRE STATE, I BELIEVE. AND WE HAVE TO FIND WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING. UH, AND THIS IS ONE WAY TO DO IT, RIGHT? THERE'S A LOT OF TALENT AND CAPABILITIES THAT COME OUT OF THAT UNIVERSITY, BUT THEY DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THE FINANCES, DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THE SUPPORT, DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THE PLATFORM. AND SO FINDING WAYS FOR OUR BODY TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO SUPPORT THEM, NOT JUST, UH, THIS YEAR, BUT IN A COUPLE YEARS, EVEN AFTER YOUR ADMINISTRATION LEAVES, IS IMPORTANT. EVEN UP HERE ON THIS BODY RIGHT NOW, YOU HAVE A TEXAS SOUTHERN STUDENT, UH, WITH A COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. I'M A TEXAS SOUTHERN GRAD, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, EVAN SHABA, UH, TEXAS SOUTHERN GRAD, TEXAS SOUTHERN PRODUCES LEADERS. BUT TEXAS SOUTHERN ALSO NEEDS THE FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO DO THE GOOD WORK THAT THEY DO. AND THIS IS ONE WAY IN WHICH, UM, OUR BODY IS ABLE TO SUPPORT THEM, UH, FOR A ISSUE THAT'S TRULY IMPORTANT FOR OUR, OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, VICE MAYOR PROAM CAST. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. MY DAD HAS RECEIVED HIS MASTER'S DEGREE FROM TEXAS SOUTHERN AS WELL. [05:10:01] SO, UM, MAYOR, I ALSO WANTED TO JUST AMPLIFY. UM, WE WERE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE STATISTICS, UM, ON THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SITE. AND, UM, WHAT JUMPED OUT TO ME WAS, UM, THOSE COVID NUMBERS WITH THE DEATHS, UM, 4,786 TOTAL DEATHS. AND THERE WERE 1,149 AFRICAN AMERICAN DEATHS, 2,297 HISPANIC DEATHS. SO 72% OF THE DEATHS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WERE PEOPLE OF COLOR FOR COVID. UM, SO IF THAT IS NOT AN INDICATION OF THE DISPARITIES AND THE NEED FOR, UH, RESEARCH LIKE THIS AND THE ABILITY TO HELP PEOPLE WITH THE HEALTH INEQUITIES THAT EXIST IN OUR CITY, I THINK THAT IS JUST ONE, UM, DEPICTION OF HOW IMPORTANT THIS ACTUALLY IS. UM, AND UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CHRONIC DISEASES, MOST TIMES AFRICAN AMERICANS, UM, LEAD THE PACK WITH, UM, THE, THE DIABETES, UM, ALL OF THESE THINGS, YOU, YOU ALWAYS HEAR, UM, AFRICAN AMERICANS THAT GET IT THE WORST, THEY HAVE THE HIGHEST, UM, INCIDENTS OF, OF THESE CHRONIC DISEASES. SO I DO THINK THAT THIS IS A, A GOOD MOVE FOR US TO BRING MORE MONEY INTO, UM, THE SPACE TO HELP PEOPLE TO HAVE HEALTH LIVE HEALTHIER LIVES. SO, UM, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS AND WOULD LIKE TO, UM, BE INVOLVED IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN. I KNOW THAT MY STATE REP IS WORKING HARD ON, UM, MATERNAL MORTALITY AT THE STATE AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN THREE TIMES, ALWAYS LEADING THE PACT. SO, UM, IT, IT IS A COMPREHENSIVE EFFORT AND I THINK THIS IS JUST A SMALL WAY THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON CAN PLAY A PART. UM, AFRICAN AMERICAN NEEDS WOMEN, UH, NEED A MATERNAL DEATH THREE TIMES GREATER. AND, UM, AND, AND FOR EXAMPLE, YOU NEED A VEHICLE SOMETIMES FOR EVEN THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS TO PUT DOLLARS IN. YOU GOTTA HAVE THAT VEHICLE. AND, UM, TEXAS SOUTHERN, UH, IN THIS CASE CAN BE THAT VEHICLE WITH A SPECIFIC PURPOSE, UH, OF ADDRESSING THE DISPARITIES THAT EXIST. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR, AND I'M JUST INCREDIBLY EXCITED TO, TO VOTE FOR THIS ITEM. AND ALSO ITEM 15, 'CAUSE THAT ALSO DEALT WITH HEALTHCARE IN TERMS OF HOMELESS. SO CREATING THOSE WRAPAROUND SERVICES, BUT FOR MANY HEALTHCARE IS EXPENSIVE AND COMPLETELY UNATTAINABLE. AND AS MANY OF YOU HAVE MENTIONED, UM, AFRICAN AMERICANS LEAD IN COMORBIDITIES. SO WE LEAD IN NOT ONLY ONE DISEASE, BUT TWO OR MORE. AND, UM, AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE ARE MORE VULNERABLE IN, IN CONTRACTING DISEASE AND INFECTION. AND WE SHOULD ALSO LOOK AT THE ECONOMIC STRESSES THAT IT PUTS ON THE COMMUNITY. WE TYPICALLY WILL HAVE TO GO TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM, WHICH IS A MORE EXPENSIVE, UM, IF A CHILD IS SICK, MOM OR DAD OR GRANDMA LOSES TIME AT WORK. SO IT'S AN ECONOMIC STRESS AS WELL THAT KIND OF TRICKLES INTO THE, YOU KNOW, THE, UM, THE, THE, YOU KNOW, DIFFICULTIES THAT WE DEAL IN COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU FOR LEADING ON THIS AND PUTTING THIS FORWARD. THIS IS GONNA BE AN EXAMPLE FOR MANY CITIES AND STATES AND, UM, AND I'M SO GLAD THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH SU BECAUSE ONE THING THAT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE FROM COMMUNITIES UNDERSTAND COMMUNITIES AND THEY KNOW WHAT'S NECESSARY AND THEY, UM, AND THEY HEAR FROM THEM. SO THANK YOU. THIS IS AN AMAZING ITEM TO VOTE FOR. THANK YOU COUNCILOR. MEMBER MC KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. Y'ALL, UM, TOOK EXACTLY WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY IN TERMS OF MATERNAL MORTALITY. AND IT'S NOT JUST IN THE UNITED STATES, TEXAS LEADS IN MATERNAL MORTALITY, BUT IN, IT'S NOT JUST MATERNAL MORTALITY. UH, STATISTICS SHOW THAT INFANT MORTALITY IN FAMILIES OF COLOR IS ALSO HIGHER THAN THAT OF WHITE FAMILIES. SO IT'S, IT'S MATERNAL MORTALITY. IT'S INFANT MORTALITY, IT'S ACROSS THE BOARD, UM, INEQUITIES WHEN IT COMES TO, AND WAY TOO FAR IN TERMS OF THE GAP OF HEALTH INEQUALITY. CHILDREN TOO. THANK YOU. AND WE'VE PARTNERED WITH, UH, OTHER UNIVERSITIES I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT WE'VE GIVEN TO UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON MARMA MA UH, $2.2 MILLION. WE'VE GIVEN A TEXAS A AND M, UM, 2.6. YEAH, I THINK A AND M WAS 2.6, 2.6 MILLION. WE'VE GIVEN TO RICE UNIVERSITY, 7.9. WE'VE GIVEN TO BAYLOR 12.7 AND WE'VE GIVEN TO UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS 8.1, THE CITY. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE CITY. SO WE'VE PARTNERED, AND AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE STATE AND THE FED TO DO, TO DO THE SAME. SO LET ME THANK YOU. LET ME THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. I KNOW THIS IS NEW, UM, BUT THE NEED IS THERE, AND NOW WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT PRODUCES AND HOPEFULLY, [05:15:01] UH, SUBSTANTIALLY, SUBSTANTIALLY MORE DOLLARS WILL FLOW. AND I DON'T WANT TO IGNORE COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS THE IMPORTANCE ON OUR KIDS. 'CAUSE IF THEY'RE NOT WELL DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO LEARN. OKAY? ALRIGHT, HAVING SAID THAT, THANK YOU. UH, NEXT ITEM, ITEM ITEM 19 IS AN ORDER. JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 19. DISCUSSION ON 19. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR POST GRANITE. [NON CONSENT AGENDA - NUMBERING] ITEM 22 IS TO RECEIVE NOMINATIONS FOR POSITIONS ONE AND TWO AND TWO, ALTERED AT LARGE POSITIONS OF THE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER AL COEN FOR A MOTION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I MOVE TO NOMINATE. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK FOR POSITION TWO. AND COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD AS AN ALTERNATE GENERAL COUNCIL MEMBER. PECK FOR A MOTION. I MOVED TOM, OH, DO, I'M SORRY. DID I GET A SECOND ON COUNCIL MEMBER SECOND THOMAS SECONDS. THOMAS SECOND. OKAY, I'M SORRY. AND DO I GO AHEAD ON VOTE THEN WE'LL VOTE AFTER BOTH. MOTION. OKAY. ACTUALLY IT'S, AND IT'LL BE A VOTE TO CLOSE. OKAY, THEN, UH, CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER PECK FOR A MOTION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I MOVE TO NOMINATE COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FOR POSITION ONE AND COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN AS AN ALTERNATE. THOMAS SECONDS. THERE'S BEEN A SECOND. ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? I MOVED. WE GOT SEVERAL MOTIONS ON THIS FLOOR. UM, I TELL YOU, LET ME BACK UP. LET BACK UP. THERE ARE TOO MANY MOTIONS ON THE FLOOR. LEMME DEAL WITH COUNCILMAN PECK'S MOTION FIRST. THAT HAS BEEN SECONDED. OKAY. ALCO ALCORN. LEMME DEAL WITH COUNCILMAN ALCORN'S MOTION THAT'S BEEN SECONDED. AND ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? UH, ON FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. SHE NOMINATED COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. OKAY. IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED. OKAY, NOW LEMME DEAL WITH COUNCIL MEMBER PECK'S NOMINATION AND WHICH WAS SECONDED. AND YOU NOMINATED COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. ALCORN. HUFFMAN. AND HUFFMAN. AND HUFFMAN. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? ANY OTHER DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSE AND GRANTED. CORRECT. OKAY. GOT IT. AND IF THERE ARE NO OTHER NOMINATIONS, THEN WE NEED THE MOTION TO CLOSE. UH, ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS, NATIONS? THEIR MOTION TO CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS AND POLLARD IS, IS THE ALTERNATE FOR THE PACKED POSITION THAT WAS A PART OF YOUR MOTION, CORRECT? COUNCILMAN PAT? YES. I MEAN, ALCORN, THAT WAS PART OF COUNCILMAN ALCORN'S MOTION, RIGHT? SECOND ROBINSON CAME. MS. CLOSE ROBINSON SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION IN FAVOR POST GRANITE? THANK YOU. OKAY. ALRIGHT, NEXT ITEM. THANK YOU. UNDER THE CONSENT [PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS] AGENDA, UNDER THE CONSENT AGENDA, ITEM 23 IS A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING AWARDS FOR EQUINE PRODUCTS AND VETERINARY SUPPLIES FOR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS. HOWEVER, FOR ITEMS ONE THROUGH FIVE AND 1 96 AND ITEMS NUMBER ITEM NUMBERS 7 28 40 42 60, 62, 63, 77, 83 2 1 0 8, 1 51, 1 9 7 2 17, 2 29, 2 30, AND 2 31 TIE BIDS WERE RECEIVED. SO WE WILL ASK COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS TO DRAW LOTS TO, TO SEE WHO WILL RECEIVE THE AWARD. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS TREATED LIKE IT SAID, $1.1 BILLION LOTTERY . THIS WILL BE ON ITEMS ON ITEM NUMBERS ONE THROUGH FIVE AND 1 96. WE RECEIVED THREE BIDS, THREE TYPE BIDS. MIDWEST VETERINARY SUPPLY, PATTERSON VETERINARY SUPPLY, AND INTERVE LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED AT, UM, AT YOUR NEIGHBORING RESTAURANTS. ARE WE READY TO GO? I DIDN'T VOTE TO MM. [05:20:05] COUNCIL MEMBERS PULLING. OKAY. MM-HMM . AWARDED TO MIDWEST VETERINARY SUPPLY. OKAY. IS THAT THE ONLY ONE? THAT'S IT. WE HAVE ONE MORE. OH, ONE MORE FOR THE ITEMS. SEVEN. AND ALL THOSE OTHER ITEMS LONG, WE HAVE TWO TYPE BIDS. IT WAS FOR PATTERSON VETERINARY SUPPLY AND MIDWEST VETERINARY SUPPLY. ONE, TWO. AND THE WINNING DRAW IS PATTERSON VETERINARY SUPPLY. WHO WON IT? PATTERSON PATTERSON. OH, OKAY. PATTERSON VETERINARY SUPPLY. GOOD JOB. CAR. OKAY. OKAY. HOLD ON ONE MINUTE. I GOT ONE MORE PART NOW, ONE MORE THING TO SAY. I LEFT MY SCRIPT. WE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RECOMMENDATION WITH THE WINNING DRAWS. CASTEX TATUM MOVED TO, UM, ADOPT THE WINNING DRAWS, ADOPT THE WINNING DRAWING OF MIDWEST VETERINARIAN FOR ITEMS NUMBER ONE THROUGH FIVE. AND PATTERSON VETERINARIAN SUPPLY FOR ITEMS SEVEN. AND ALL THE OTHERS LISTED SECOND THAT ROBINSON? YES. OKAY, WE GOT IT. WE GOT IT. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED. OKAY. JUST A MATTER. OKAY. NOW ONE ITEM, ITEM 24 [MATTERS HELD] WAS A MOTION. ALL WE NEED IS A VOTE, UH, ON 24. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION. I'M SORRY, COUNCILMAN PLUM ON 24. YES, MAYOR TURNER. I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, MAKE A COMMENT ON THE COMMENTS YOU MADE LAST TIME. THERE WAS, I WANNA CORRECT THE RECORD. UH, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE ITEMS, UM, WHEN I WAS SPEAKING ABOUT THAT COMPANY NOT DOING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO, RIGHT, AND OBOS RESPONSE, UH, WERE SUPPORTED THAT ITEM, I WANNA MAKE A CORRECTION. UH, SO IT WAS MENTIONED THAT THE RESPONSE BACK TO ME ON THE BACKUP MATERIAL, THE INTERNAL MEMO STATED THAT THE CONTRACTOR PERFORMANCE WAS RATED SATISFACTORY DUE TO THE GOOD FAITH EFFORTS AND MEETS THE INTENT AND SPIRIT OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S M-W-S-B-E PROGRAM. THAT WAS IN FACT THE BACKUP MEMO FOR ITEM NUMBER EIGHT. IT WAS NOT ITEM NUMBER NINE. OBO ACTUALLY MADE THE PROPER RATING DECISION. UH, THE INTERNAL MEMO ON ITEM NINE, WHICH IS THE ONE IN QUESTION RIGHT NOW. THE PRIME DID NOT MAKE, UM, GOOD FAITH EFFORTS TO ENGAGE THE ORIGINAL GOAL CREDITED, UM, CREDIT SUBCONTRACTORS AT COMMITTED CAPACITIES IN THE APPROVED MWBE PLAN AND FAILED TO COMPLY WITH MWBE CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS REGARDING DEVIATION FROM THE APPROVED MWBE. SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE DO HAVE STANDING, UM, TO HAVE DONE SOMETHING MORE POWERFUL IN TERMS OF, UM, GOING AGAINST INTEGRATED CORROSION COMPANIES INCORPORATED, BECAUSE OBO DID SUPPORT THE FACT THEY DID NOT DO THEIR JOB AND IT IS IN THE BACKUP INFORMATION. RIGHT. AND THEY GAVE THEM AN UNSATISFACTORY AND THEY GAVE THEM AN UNSATISFACTORY. RIGHT? BUT IT WAS MENTIONED AT THE PRE, WHEN I, WHEN I SAID IT LAST TIME, IT WAS MENTIONED THAT IT WAS A REVERSE. IT WAS, IT WAS MENTIONED THAT OBO ACTUALLY SAID THEY DID A GOOD JOB AND IT, AND THAT'S ACTUALLY CONTRARY. SO I WANTED TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT OKAY. BECAUSE THAT WAS MENTIONED, UM, AT THE LAST MEETING. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 24? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED, OPPOSED SHOW? COUNCILMAN PLUM VOTING? NO POLL, NO SHOW. COUNCILMAN POLL VOTING? NO ITEM, PASTOR. OKAY, WE [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] START NOW WITH, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHAHAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I JUST WANTED TO, UM, HIGHLIGHT A WONDERFUL MEETING BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOLANDA JONES, A LEGISLATIVE LISTENING SESSION AND TEXAS AGENCY RESOURCE FAIR. IT WAS WELL ATTENDED AND CERTAINLY, UH, THERE WAS A LOT OF GREAT DISCUSSION THAT CAME OUT OF THE MEETING. SO I WANTED TO THANK HER FOR HOSTING THE MEETING AND ALLOWING MY PARTICIPATION. I ALSO WANNA SAY ON YESTERDAY, MRS. DIGG, DOROTHY DIGGS HOME IS COMPLETE AND SHE GOT HER KEYS AND, UM, MY STAFF WAS ON SITE WITH HER AND MY OFFICE WORKED WITH GLO TO ENSURE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HELP MS. [05:25:01] DIGGS HOME CONSTRUCTION MOVE FORWARD. AND SHE WAS SO VERY APPRECIATIVE AND WE ARE THRILLED THAT MS. DIGGS IS FINALLY ABLE TO MOVE INTO HER NEW HOME. AND THAT'S JUST FANTASTIC. I WANNA THANK, UH, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR MARGARET WALLACE BROWN, WHOSE OFFICE ASSISTED WITH GETTING PAST A FEW HURDLES FOR MRS. DIGGS. ALSO ON LAST NIGHT, UH, I ATTENDED THE GARDEN GORDON PARKS EXHIBITION AND CELEBRATION AT THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS. I WANT TO THANK ALEX BRACY AND TRANSFORMATIVE CULTURE FOR THE INVITATION TO SUCH A LOVELY EXHIBITION. AND IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE EXHIBIT, THEN YOU NEED TO DO SO. AND CERTAINLY I'M GONNA RUN OUT, I BELIEVE WITH THE MAYOR TO THE BLUE TRIANGLE, YMCA TODAY FOR THEIR, UM, RIBBON CUTTING. THEY FOLLOWING A YEAR OF CONSTRUCTION, THE 24,476 SQUARE FOOT COMMUNITY CENTER IS A SITE TO BEHOLD, SORRY, UPGRADES INCLUDED, REFURBISHED INDOOR AND SALT WATER, SWIMMING POOLS, NEW COMMERCIAL KITCHEN RENOVATED BATHROOMS. IT'S JUST GONNA BE SO TREMENDOUS. AND THERE IS A COMMUNITY OPENING FROM TWO TO FOUR THIS AFTERNOON. SO IF YOU'RE ABLE TO GO BY THE BLUE TRIANGLE, I THINK THAT YOU WILL BE VERY, VERY PLEASED WITH WHAT IS RIGHT THERE IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. AND THEN, UH, AND IT'S BEEN THERE FOR MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS. UM, AND THANK YOU TO CHARLOTTE, BRYAN AND LUCY BREMAN FOR THEIR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE BLUE TRIANGLE. ALSO, THERE WILL BE A FAITH IN ACTION MEETING WITH THE EMANCIPATION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL TODAY AT 1:00 PM WHERE THEY'LL TALK ABOUT THE MLK DAY OF SERVICE PROJECTS. THAT'S AT BOYINGTON CHAPEL, 28 12 MILBY. AND CERTAINLY WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE PARADE ON MONDAY WHERE WE CAN RIDE THROUGH AND LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE COMMEMORATE FREEDOM. AND THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, MAYOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, AND LET THEM KNOW I'M GONNA BE RUNNING VERY LATE, SO PLEASE DON'T, PLEASE DON'T WAIT ON ME FOR THE BLUE TRIANGLE. WHAT, WHAT DID YOU SAY, MAYOR? WHAT'D YOU SAY? , PLEASE DON'T WAIT ON, I'M GLAD THAT'S WHAT I'M WAITING ON. RO THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I WANTED TO JUST, UH, SAY I'M, I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THE, UM, THE ALE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER GRAND OPENING THIS WEEKEND. UH, IT'S, IT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME. AND, AND I, FROM WHAT I KNOW, I THINK IT, IT REALLY BEGAN WITH, UM, THREE DIRECTORS, PARKS LIBRARY AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT MANY YEARS AGO WHO CAME TOGETHER AND HAD AN, HAD AN IDEA. AND SO I JUST WANNA, YOU KNOW, TO SAY I, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT, THAT SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE AREN'T HERE ANYMORE. AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP, BUT THE STRONG IDEA HAS CARRIED IT FORWARD AND, AND TO EVERYONE WHO'S COME IN AND HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE AND NOW CAN SEE IT THROUGH, YOU KNOW, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. UM, AND I WANTED TO ALSO THANK HER. I, I AM NOT ABLE TO GO, I HAVE CONFLICTS THAT WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO GO, BUT SHE HAS PROMISED TO GIVE ME A, UM, A PERSONAL TOUR OF THIS, OF THIS CENTER. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. AND, UM, AND, UH, AND I'M SORRY I WON'T BE THERE. UM, MAYOR, I WANTED TO JUST POINT OUT TO YOU THAT, UM, THAT THIS WEEKEND IS ALSO THE LUNAR NEW YEAR AND, AND IT'S THE YEAR THE RABBIT, WHICH IS PERFECT FOR, UM, FOR YOU, YOUR, UM, YOUR GOALS THIS YEAR OF, OF, UM, MAKING, YOU KNOW, RUNNING FAST TO GET TO THE, THE FINISH LINE. UM, THE YEAR THE RABBIT IS PREDICTED TO BE A YEAR OF HOPE. UM, UH, THE RABBIT IS A SYMBOL OF LONGEVITY, PEACE, AND PROSPERITY IN CHINESE CULTURE. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEKEND. UM, I WANNA WISH THE MARATHON RUNNERS WELL. I RAN THE MARATHON IN, IN JANUARY 20, UM, 2000, AND I FINISHED IN A LITTLE OVER FOUR AND A HALF HOURS. IT'S AN EXPERIENCE THAT I REALLY AM GLAD THAT I HAD. AND, UM, UH, MY ADVICE TO RUNNERS IS TO, UM, TO, TO RUN YOUR OWN PACE. YOU KNOW, UM, BEING PREPARED FOR THE MARATHON IS A TON OF WORK. IT TAKES A LOT OF DISCIPLINE AND COMMITMENT. UM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND THAT WAS MY BIG TAKEAWAY REALLY FROM THAT EXPERIENCE, IS THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO, TO RUN YOUR OWN PACE. YOU KNOW, DON'T RUN FASTER THAN YOU CAN GO. YOU WILL HURT YOURSELF. DON'T RUN SLOWER THAN YOU CAN GO. IT'S NOT SATISFYING AT ALL TO GET TO THE END AND REALIZE YOU COULD HAVE DONE MORE. SO, UM, RUN YOUR OWN PACE. IT'S ALSO A, A LIFE LESSON. I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT I, I THINK ABOUT THAT HERE, YOU KNOW, JUST TO, YOU KNOW, TO REALLY, UM, KIND OF LISTEN TO YOURSELF AND DO WHAT YOU CAN, YOU KNOW? ALRIGHT. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. OH, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, UM, AND, UM, JOINING YOU, MAYOR ON, ON MONDAY ON THE, ON MARTIN LUTHER KING, UM, PARADE. THANK YOU. AND, UM, I PROMISE YOU I'M GOING TO RUN MY OWN PACE AND THE FROM YOUR CHEMISTRY, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TIM, UH, CAST TATUM. THANK [05:30:01] YOU, MAYOR. UM, COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS ON JANUARY 21ST FROM 9:00 AM TO 12:00 PM BACKED BY POPULAR DEMAND IS OUR SHRED DAY. UH, WANT TO JUST REMIND RESIDENTS THEY CAN BRING THEIR, UH, PAPER THAT THEY'D LIKE TO SHRED TO WESTBURY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AND TO NEW FAITH CHURCH, UH, FROM NINE TO 12, UH, NEW FAITH CHURCH LOCATION WILL ALSO BE ACCEPTING SMALL, UH, ELECTRONICS. JANUARY 28TH WILL BE AT RIDGEMONT CLUBHOUSE FROM NINE TO 12. SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE, UM, A COUPLE OF OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR SHRED DAY OPPORTUNITIES. UM, ON MLK DAY IN THE DISTRICT, THE YMCA IS HOSTING AN EVENT AND LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR THEIR TOGETHERNESS PROJECT. UH, THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES TO DROP OFF, UM, SHOES, SOCKS, UNDERGARMENTS, BELTS, AND NON-PERISHABLE SNACKS. UH, AND THERE'S ALSO GOING TO BE A BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT. MANY PEOPLE KNOW THAT THE YMCA HAS BEEN, UM, CLOSED SINCE, UH, COVI AND THEY ARE LOOKING TO REOPEN. UH, SO ON JANUARY 16TH, IF YOU ARE AVAILABLE FROM 9:00 AM TO 1:00 PM WE'D LOVE FOR YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT AND HELPING WITH INDOOR CLEANING AND OUTDOOR LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE. THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18TH AT 2:00 PM THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM DIRECTOR, MARIO DIAZ, WILL PRESENT ON THE HOUSTON SPACEPORT LAND USE PLAN. AND THERE'LL ALSO BE AN UPDATE ON THE IAH TERMINAL REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR ATTENDANCE. UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUPLE OF PROJECTS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT. WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE, UM, SIDEWALKS AND RAMPS, UH, IN BRIAR VILLA NEIGHBORHOOD. THERE'S SOME ASPHALT OVERLAY PROJECTS HAPPENING, UM, IN BRA OAKS, UM, NEAR NEAR MY HOME. VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT, THAT THOSE STREETS HAVE BEEN IN DEPLORABLE CONDITION, UM, MAYOR. AND WE ARE, UM, USING THE MAYOR STREET AND REHABIL REHABILITATION INITIATIVE FOR, UM, THAT ASPHALT WORK ON THOSE STREETS TO GET THOSE IMPROVED. UH, WE'LL PUT ALL OF THAT IN OUR, OUR NEWSLETTER. THE GUTTERS ARE FLOWING PROPERLY. THE SIDEWALKS ARE NOW FIVE FEET WIDE. UH, WE HAD OUR WALKTHROUGH. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF PUNCH ITEMS, UM, UH, THAT THE STAFF IDENTIFY WITH PUBLIC WORKS, BUT LOOKS GOOD. AND WE HOPE THAT RESIDENTS APPRECIATE ALL OF THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS THAT ARE HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. AGAIN, IF YOU AREN'T RECEIVING OUR NEWSLETTER, LET US KNOW. WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW ABOUT ALL THE THINGS HAPPENING, UH, IN DISTRICT K. AND FINALLY, I WANT TO WISH MY SORROWS OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY A HAPPY FOUNDER'S DAY ON SUNDAY, JANUARY THE 15TH. BE KIND TO EACH OTHER. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, GALLEGOS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST, UH, ONCE AGAIN, I WANT TO CON CONGRATULATE. UH, YESTERDAY I WENT TO AUSTIN, UH, AND, UH, MET WITH THE, UH, UH, STATE SENATOR AND STATE REPS, UH, THAT OVERLAP WITH DISTRICT. I, UH, AGAIN, CONGRATULATE CONGRATULATIONS TO STATE SENATOR CAROL ALVARADO, STATE REPS, UH, ANNA HERNANDEZ, CHRISTINA MORALES, JOLANDA JONES, UH, UH, MARYANNE PEREZ. AND WE ALSO STOPPED, UH, AT THE OFFICE OF, UH, STATE REPRESENTATIVE PENNY MORALES SHAW, UM, UH, IN, IN, IN REGARDS TO, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE. I KNOW THAT I DID MENTION MARY IN REGARDS TO INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, UH, ESPECIALLY, UH, GREAT SEPARATIONS AND, UH, AS THEY KNOW, UH, ISSUES THAT WE'RE HAVING WITH THE TRAINS IN, IN, IN, IN, IN THE DISTRICT, UH, WITH THE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE BILL MONIES. AND NOW WITH THE STATE'S, 30 PLUS BILLION SURPLUS. HOPEFULLY SOME OF THAT MONIES CAN BE USED ALONG WITH PUBLIC WORKS, UH, TO ADDRESS, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE IN REGARDS TO GREAT SEPARATIONS IN THE EAST END TO HELP ALLEVIATE THE, UH, TRAINS THAT ARE STOPPED AND BLOCKING OUR, OUR CROSSINGS. UM, AND ALSO WITH THE, UH, STATE'S, UH, 30 PLUS BILLION AS, UH, CHIEF FIN STATED, UH, HOPEFULLY ADDRESSING AND TARGETING SOME OF THE, UH, MENTAL HEALTH, UM, UH, ISSUES THAT WE ARE HAVING HERE IN THE CITY ADDRESS TO ADDRESS CRIME AS WELL. SO, AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE AND, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH Y'ALL. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND TIMELY POINT THERE. COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, TOMORROW MORNING WE HAVE OUR MONTHLY TTI COMMITTEE MEETING WHERE FIRST WE'LL HEAR FROM HOUSTON WATER REGARDING FEES AND AGREEMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023. BUT TO YOUR POINT, WE'RE ALSO GONNA HEAR, UH, FROM OUR CONSULTANT SUSAN LENT AT AIKEN GUMP, UH, IN WASHINGTON DC SUSAN IS OUR EXPERT ON FEDERAL FUNDING AND THE, UH, OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON ARE GONNA BE DISCUSSED, UH, THURSDAY MORNING, TOMORROW AT 10:00 AM HERE IN CHAMBERS. SO IT'S, UM, VERY EXCITING TIME. UM, WE'RE GONNA HEAR ALL ABOUT THAT. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, COMBINED WITH [05:35:01] ALL THAT THE MAYOR HAS SET ON THE TABLE, WE'VE GOT A LOT TO WORK ON AND A LOT TO SAY GRACE OVER CERTAINLY THIS WEEKEND WITH BOTH, UM, THE MARATHON AND THE MLK PARADE ON MONDAY. GIVE US SO MUCH TO GIVE THANKS FOR, UM, REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU RUN BY AT YOUR BLAZING PACE, MAYOR AND, UH, UH, CHEERING YOU ON. SO WITH THAT, UM, BE SAFE OUT THERE. COUNCILMAN THOMAS. THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR. GOOD MEETING TODAY WAS GOOD. UH, CHIEF FINN CHANGE MY ATTITUDE, UH, SO WE APPRECIATE THAT. UH, BUT SOME GOOD NEWS AND JUST WANNA FOLLOW UP. UH, MIDWEST REPORTED LAST NIGHT THAT THEY CLOSED TWO MASSAGE PARLORS THROUGH CHAPTER 1 25, WHICH IS GREAT. WE'VE REALLY BEEN, UH, FOOT ON THE GAS, UM, DESIGNATING OVERTIME, AND SO IT'S YIELDING GOOD RESULTS. UM, I WANNA CIRCLE BACK WITH YOU ABOUT THE AFTER HOURS ORDINANCE. I KNOW CITY LEGAL IS WORKING ON THAT. I STILL WANNA CONTRIBUTE, UM, TO THAT CONVERSATION 'CAUSE IT'S STILL A PERVASIVE ISSUE. AND IT WAS ALSO MENTIONED THAT THERE'S SOME LEGISLATION FILED IN THE HOUSE WHERE TABC WILL HAVE TO PERMIT THE BYOBS. UM, AND SO IF WE CAN, SO THEY, AT LEAST THERE'S SOME TYPE OF, UM, UM, A TRIGGER FOR US TO THEN PULL DOWN ON THEM. SO I WANNA MONITOR THAT AND THEN, AND REALLY WANT TO LEND A VOICE AND SOME ACTION TO THAT LEGISLATION, AND SO WE CAN HAVE THAT A PART OF OUR AGENDA. UM, AS YOU'VE MENTIONED OVER AND OVER, WE'RE READY. UM, I READY TO WELCOME Y'ALL TO THE WEST SIDE. UH, MY TEAM AND YOUR TEAM, I BELIEVE THEY'RE ACTUALLY CONCLUDING THEIR SITE VISIT AS WE SPEAK. UH, AND MY PHONE'S BEEN BLOWING UP AND SO WE ARE PRAYING FOR GREAT WEATHER. YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SIGN UP FOR YOUR LIBRARY CARD. UM, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS READY TO HAVE RESOURCES READILY AVAILABLE FOR OUR SENIORS NUTRITION, ALL OF THE PROGRAMMING. SO IT'S GREAT. AND WE'LL LEAVE MOST OF THAT TO SURPRISE AND, UH, TO ALL IN ALL ALL OF YOU ONCE YOU, YOU WALK THE PROPERTY. SO WEAR SOME COMFORTABLE SHOES. UM, SO THE MUSIC'S GONNA START. WE'RE GONNA HAVE CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS AND, AND THAT'S GONNA BE A GREAT TIME. UM, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, UH, CINCINNATI FOR, UH, MENTIONING LUNA NEW YEAR. UH, WE WILL HAVE, UH, CHINESE CELEBRATION AND VIETNAMESE CELEBRATIONS. AND SO JANUARY 21ST, 28TH, AND I KNOW MAYOR, YOU'LL BE THERE AS WELL, AND IT'S BEEN IN THE NEWSLETTER. I WANNA ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO COME OUT THERE AND CELEBRATE AND LET'S LET US ALL GET OUR BLESSINGS, UH, FOR THE NEW YEAR, THE YEAR OF THE RABBIT. UH, AND IN CLOSING, I WANNA WISH MY SOROS OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY INCORPORATED A BIG OOH, FOR OUR FOUNDER'S DAY ON JANUARY 13TH. THE CRIMSON'S, SO GOOD VICE MAYOR PRO TEM WOULD'VE READ TWICE. SHE WORE IT ON MONDAY AND SHE WEARING IT ON WEDNESDAY INTENSIFIED. SO, UH, THAT, THAT CRIMSON'S. SO GOOD TOUR. SO THANK YOU ALL. SO ROSA, I LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING WITH YOU AND, UH, HAPPY FOUNDERS DAY TO ALL THE SORROWS AT CITY HALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MAYOR ALCO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M GONNA GET IN ON SOME OF THE SORORITY TALK. YEAH. UH, MY, MY SORORITY, THE TRYOUTS HAD THEIR BIG SALE LAST WEEKEND FOR TO BENEFIT MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER. UM, WE DON'T DO NEARLY AS MUCH , I FEEL LIKE, AS ALUMNI AS YOU GUYS DO, BUT WE DID HAVE THE SALE RAISE. WE USUALLY RAISE, UM, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR MD ANDERSON CHILDREN'S CANCERS. SO SHOUT OUT TO THE TRYOUTS. UM, MAYOR, I APPRECIATE YOUR BEING AT THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE THE OTHER NIGHT. I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT MEETING. YOU COVERED A LOT OF TOPICS. UM, READY TO ROLL, MAN ON ALL THOSE. AND IT'S SO, IT MEANS SO MUCH TO THEM THAT YOU WERE THERE AND TALKING TO THEM DIRECTLY. SO REALLY APPRECIATE YOU'RE DOING THAT EIGHT YEARS IN A ROW IN JANUARY. THAT WAS A GOOD MEETING. ALSO ATTENDED LAST NIGHT, THE 10 ACROSS, I NEVER EVEN HEARD OF 10 ACROSS BEFORE I 10 ACROSS THE REGION. YOU KNOW, THAT GROUP THAT LOOKS AT EVERYTHING FROM JACKSONVILLE TO I GUESS LA AND KIND OF THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY. I, I BELIEVE, MAYOR, YOU'RE SPEAKING THERE TOMORROW MORNING. UM, PEOPLE ARE MOVING TO THIS AREA. YOU'VE GOT ENERGY, YOU'VE GOT FLOODS, YOU'VE GOT DROUGHT, KIND OF LIKE EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON ALONG THE I 10 CORRIDOR. HEARD BOBBY TUDOR LAST NIGHT TALK ABOUT THE ENERGY TRANSITION IN A WAY ONLY HE CAN DO. AND REALLY OFFERED A LOT OF GOOD INSIGHT INTO WHAT'S, WHAT'S COMING FOR HOUSTON, WHAT MUST COME FOR HOUSTON, AND, AND HOW WE WILL BE LEADERS AND RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. AND, UM, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CASTROS. I'M CISNEROS. I'M RUNNING THE HALF MARATHON, UM, ON SUNDAY. I'VE RUN ONE FULL MARATHON RIGHT WHEN YOU DID, BUT I THINK A YEAR BEFORE JANUARY OF 1999. AND IT TOOK ME EVERY BIT OF FIVE HOURS. SO CONGRATS ON YOUR FOUR HOURS AND 30 MINUTES. I SPENT, I WAITED IN WITH MY BROTHER-IN-LAW, THE BATHROOM LINE FOR NINE MINUTES. SO I'M DEDUCT THAT OFF OF THAT FIVE. I'LL BE SEEING YOU THERE, MAYOR AT THE START. UM, AND UH, YOU KNOW, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GONNA BE HOT, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL SUFFER THROUGH IT IN THE FORTIES IN THE MORNING. I'M SORRY, IN THE FORTIES IN THE MORNING AND THEN OH, OH GOOD. OH GOOD. SOMEBODY SAID 65 AT THE START. SO I NEED TO RECHECK MY WEATHER. WELL, LET ME GIMME YOUR NUMBER. OH, OKAY. I'LL GIVE Y'ALL MY NUMBER. YOU CAN CHEER ME. GEORGE WILL BE ALONG. I'M RUNNING WITH LISA HUFFMAN AND GEORGE WILL BE ALONG THE, UM, EMBARRASSING ME ALONG [05:40:01] THE, ALONG THE TRAIL. WELL, I'M, I'LL BE WITH YOU AT THE START AND I'LL BE WITH YOU AT THE FINISH . SEE, SEE, SEE YOU THERE. AMY. PECK'S GONNA RUN IT NEXT YEAR WITH ME. SHE PROMISES, BUT NOT IN BETWEEN COS PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I WANNA INVITE EVERYONE TOMORROW AT 10:00 AM UM, TO THE RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE NEW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AT RL AND CORA JOHNSON PARK IN CARDALE. VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. I TOOK MY KIDS TO THE PLAYGROUND, UM, BEFORE WE GOT THE NEW EQUIPMENT. AND I WAS, I WAS A LITTLE SCARED FOR THEM BEING ON THAT PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT. IT WAS, UM, DEFINITELY IN NEED OF REPAIR. SO I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR THE COMMUNITY ON THE NEW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AND EXCITED TO TAKE MY KIDS BACK THERE. SO, UM, THEY'LL BE AT 10 O'CLOCK TOMORROW, UM, AT RL IN CORA JOHNSON PARK. AND THEN FINALLY FRIDAY IS KOREAN AMERICAN DAY, AND I HAVE THE HONOR OF REPRESENTING SO MANY KOREAN AMERICANS IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND THE, UM, KOREAN COMMUNITY CENTER IS IN DISTRICT A AS WELL. SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK ALL KOREAN AMERICANS FOR EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO. UM, THE COMMUNITY IS ALWAYS THERE, UM, WHENEVER WE NEED ANYTHING FROM THEM. SO JUST WANTED TO APPRECIATE THEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, SO TOMORROW I WILL BE JOINING. UM, I'LL JOIN NORTH NEST, NEST QUEST AND THE, UM, HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY. WE'RE GONNA BE ANNOUNCING A NEW PARTNERSHIP, UM, WHERE THE GOAL IS TO GET 350 FAMILIES, UM, INTO HOUSING THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE HOUSING VOUCHERS. UM, NEST QUEST ACTUALLY WORKS WITH THE HOMEOWNERS AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, UM, THE GOVERNMENT AND, UM, THE FAMILY, YOU KNOW, JUST TO BRIDGE THAT GAP. AND SO THIS WOULD BE PART OF THE BE SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVE AS PEOPLE ARE COMING THROUGH GETTING JOBS IF THEY, UM, VOUCHERS OR NEED HOUSING. UM, WE WILL BE WORKING NOT JUST WITH QUEST, BUT ALSO NACA, UM, TO JUST GET PEOPLE INTO SOME HOUSING. UM, ON THIS SATURDAY, UM, IS OUR BE SUCCESSFUL JOBS IN RESOURCE FAIR, UM, OUT THE FIRST ONE OF THE YEAR. AND SO, UM, IT WOULD BE AT 6 3 0 WEST LID YORK, THAT'S HCC ACRES HOMES. UM, WE WILL HAVE NAVIGATORS AVAILABLE TO ANYONE WHO WALKED THROUGH THE DOOR. YOU'LL BE ASSIGNED A NAVIGATOR. UM, THEIR JOB IS TO CONNECT, HELP YOU WALK, HELP YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS, AND BASICALLY, UM, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE DOCUMENTS YOU NEED. IF YOU NEED TO GET INTO SOME TRAINING. IF YOU NEED SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, THAT'S WHAT THE NAVIGATOR'S THERE FOR. IT'S TO LIKE BRIDGE THAT GAP AGAIN AND MAKE THIS PROCESS EASIER. UM, SOMETIMES YOU CAN GET FRUSTRATED BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE THESE SYSTEMS AND, UM, MY NAVIGATORS ARE THERE TO HELP, UM, THEM NAVIGATE THE SYSTEMS AND AT THE SAME TIME, TO GET GOOD PAYING JOBS WITH BENEFITS. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD, UM, TO SATURDAY. I MEAN, FOLKS THAT HAVE LIKE PARTICIPATED IN THE INITIATIVE, UM, ARE MAKING 60,000 OR MORE. AND SO IT'S JUST REFRESHING, YOU KNOW, WHEN I STARTED IT, IT IS LIKE YOU, NOT SURE, BUT JUST TO SEE, YOU KNOW, THE PROGRESS AND THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS. REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. UM, ON, AND SO IF YOU WANT INFORMATION, CONTACT OUR OFFICE, 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 9 OR EMAIL US AT DISTRICT B@HOUSTONTX.GOV. WE ALSO HAVE A, UM, BE SUCCESSFUL WEBSITE. UM, IT'S THE SUCCESSFUL.ORG AND YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, CHECK OUT ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS. WE HAVE, UH, CLOSE TO 40 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE, UM, VARIOUS SERVICES. WE HAVE OUR PARTNERS THAT ARE PROVIDING THE JOBS. AND SO, UM, JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO JUST CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE. UM, AND IT IS CONSTANTLY UPDATED ON THE ACTIVITIES THAT'S HAPPENING, UM, ACROSS THE DISTRICT, INCLUDING THE CREDIBLE MESSENGER TRAININGS, UM, THE COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER TRAININGS, WHICH ARE THE TRAININGS THAT PEOPLE GO THROUGH IN ORDER TO BE COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS. AND SO WE HAVE A GOAL OF, YOU KNOW, HAVING A TOTAL 25 TRAINING, 25 COMMUNITY, UM, RESOURCE NAVIGATORS, WHICH ARE HEALTH WORKERS. SO, UM, CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE. REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. UM, LASTLY, WE WILL BE, UM, ON NEXT SATURDAY IS OUR DISTRICT B BRIEFING. UM, AND THIS BRIEFING, WE WILL ACTUALLY, UH, UM, DISCUSS THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF 2022 AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2023. UM, MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THE ARTICLE JUST CAME OUT A FEW DAYS AGO ABOUT ILLEGAL DUMPING. THAT WAS YESTERDAY, RIGHT? ILLEGAL DUMPING MM-HMM . AND SO, BUT, UM, I GOT THE STATS FOR DISTRICT B. UM, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 83 INVESTIGATIONS UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW, AND 28 FOLKS CHA CHARGES HAVE BEEN FILED. SO PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE, UM, LOOKING FORWARD TO, YOU KNOW, IMPROVING THAT. UM, AND OF COURSE IT'S GONNA TAKE A COLLABORATION, NOT JUST WITH MY OFFICE, BUT WITH COMMUNITY POLICE. AND SO, UM, AND OF COURSE WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT OTHER THINGS TOO, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARKS AND JUST HOW WE, UM, ARE IMPROVING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WE ALSO BE, WE'LL BE ROLLING OUT OUR DITCH MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, UM, WHAT WE'LL BE WORKING WITH OUR SENIORS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEIR DITCHES ARE CLEARED UP AND A LOT OF OTHER, UM, PROGRAM HOME WITH REPAIR PROGRAM THAT I'M COPYING OFF OF SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES. AND SO JUST READY TO, TO GET DISTRICT B MOVING FORWARD. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND HAVE A BLESSED WEEK. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, I LIKE THE SNAP. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, REALLY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION [05:45:01] ON, UM, PUBLIC SAFETY TODAY. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION. MAYOR I SAW IN THE AUDIENCE AND, UH, I NEGLECTED TO RECOGNIZE HIM. CHIEF PENA, UM, WAS SITTING THERE ALONGSIDE HPD AND I ALWAYS APPRECIATE THAT HE SHOWS UP, UH, EVEN WHEN IT'S NOT HIS DEPARTMENT. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE HIM THAT HE WAS HERE FOR THAT AS WELL. UM, REALLY EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE WE'VE, UH, WE'VE WELCOMED AARON FELDSTEIN, UH, TO OUR OFFICE. HE IS OUR NEW COMMS AND, UH, OFFICE COORDINATOR. UH, HE IS ALSO A DI LONGTIME DISTRICT C RESIDENT. UH, HE'S A GRADUATE OF MY HIGH SCHOOL, EMORY WIENER. UH, HE'S ALSO, UH, MOST RECENTLY HE CAME FROM THE NONPROFIT SECTOR. SO VERY COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY AND WE ARE SO EXCITED TO HAVE HIM. WE HAVE SOME VERY IMPORTANT UPDATES FROM OUR MEMORIAL HEIGHTS TOURS. UH, THERE'S A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR EFFORT UNDERWAY AND MO A LOT OF IT IS ALREADY BEING COMPLETED AS WE SPEAK, DOING, UH, SHARED YOUTH PATH USED PATHS, UH, BIKE LANE RES STRIPING AND BUFFERING, UM, ALL ALONG IN THE HEIGHTS AND OUTSIDE ALONG THE WASHINGTON AVENUE CORRIDOR. UH, BUT I WOULD SAY MOST IMPORTANTLY, MAYOR IS 11TH STREET FINISHES UP. AND AS YOU KNOW, ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES, UH, WITH PEDESTRIAN SAFETY COMING INTO OFFICE WAS THAT INTERSECTION AT 11TH AND NICHOLSON, THAT CROSSING WHERE A LOT OF STUDENTS ARE. A LOT OF, UH, PEDESTRIANS ALONG THE NICHOLSON TRAIL. BUT, UH, ARTUR HAS STEPPED UP IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PUBLIC WORKS. AND IN THIS FIRST QUARTER, UH, I WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS WE'RE GETTING A RAISED CROSS CROSSWALK IT HEIGHTS BOULEVARD RIGHT IN FRONT OF DONOVAN PARK AND, UH, ON THE WHITE OAK TRAIL. THIS WAS ANOTHER COMMITMENT I HAD COMING INTO OFFICE, AND ARTUR STEPPED UP TO DO THIS, UM, ON THE MKT TRAIL AT WHITE OAK, ANOTHER VERY DANGEROUS CROSSING WHERE THERE IS NOT A LOT OF PROTECTION AND THAT IS BEING DONE AS WE SPEAK. SO I JUST WANNA VOICE MY APPRECIATION TO OUR TOUR FOR THAT TO PUBLIC WORKS. AND ANYBODY CAN GO TO THE T'S WEBSITE, MEMORIAL HEIGHTS TOURS FIVE.COM FOR UPDATES ON ALL THE PROJECTS THEY'RE DOING, BUT SPOTLIGHTING THOSE RIGHT NOW. A REMINDER TO DISTRICT C RESIDENTS, UH, WITH THE MARATHON, A LOT OF DISTRICT C STREETS ARE CLOSED AND WE WELCOME ALL THE MARATHONERS, BUT PLEASE BE AWARE, UH, A LOT OF THOSE, YOU KNOW, FREQUENTLY USED ROUTES THAT PEOPLE WILL BE RUNNING ON, WE HAVE DRIVERS THAT WON'T BE ABLE TO ACCESS THAT. SO PLEASE GO TO THE MARATHON WEBSITE TO, UH, LEARN ABOUT THOSE STREET CLOSURES. UH, ALSO WANNA SAY GOOD LUCK TO ALL WHO ARE RUNNING, ESPECIALLY COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND OUR FRIEND LISA. UH, AND I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, YOU'RE GONNA GET IN NEXT TIME, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT I HEARD. SO SALLY, WE'RE WISHING YOU ALL THE BEST WE KNOW YOU'LL, YOU'LL KILL IT, UH, IN A VERY, VERY HAPPY MLK DAY. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AGAIN, MY OFFICE IS FOCUSING ON EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, UH, FOR THE START OF THE NEW YEAR. UH, THE DISTRICT J JOBS WEBSITE HAS JUST RELAUNCHED AND, UH, WE'RE TRYING TO GET AS MUCH TRAFFIC TO THAT WEBSITE AS POSSIBLE. IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO'S LOOKING FOR A JOB, UH, PLEASE GO TO DISTRICT J JOBS.COM. WE'VE ADDED A RESOURCE TAB, UH, TO OUR WEBSITE, WHICH HAS VIDEOS AND ARTICLES TO, UH, INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES, RESUME WRITING, NEGOTIATING A SALARY, AND OTHER TOPICS. UH, I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO BERT RUIZ, WHO'S A CONSTITUENT OF MY DISTRICT, WHO HELPED US, UH, PUT TOGETHER THOSE ARTICLES AND VIDEOS. UH, BUT THERE'S HUNDREDS OF JOBS AVAILABLE ON THE SITE WHEN YOU DRIVE AROUND THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND YOU'RE GONNA START TO SEE BILLBOARDS, UH, ALL OVER THAT ARE PROMOTING THE DISTRICT J JOBS.COM WEBSITE. UM, WE, WE TRULY BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T HAVE A THRIVING CITY IF PEOPLE ARE, ARE UNEMPLOYED, AND THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS ALSO GONNA BE TIED, UH, DIRECTLY TO OUR, OUR CRIME RATE. AND SO AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, WE HAVE TO GIVE PEOPLE A LEGAL ALTERNATIVE, UH, TO SOME OF THE CRIME THAT THEY'RE COMMITTING. UH, I WANT TO GIVE ALSO A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO BOB NOAC, UH, THE CITY'S WEB MASTER BECAUSE HE HELPS A LOT WITH UPDATING THAT SITE. AND SO IT'S BEEN A, A, A TEAM EFFORT TO PUT TOGETHER THIS SITE. WE'RE CONTINUOUSLY GROWING. IF THERE ARE EMPLOYERS OUT THERE WHO ALSO WANT TO PUT JOB POSTINGS ON THAT SITE, PLEASE UH, CONTACT MY OFFICE AND I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU ALL TO LOOK@THEDISTRICTJJO.COM WEBSITE. UM, GET IT OUT TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS WHO YOU KNOW, MAY NEED, UH, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. AND LASTLY, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MLK PARADE. UH, IT'S MORE THAN JUST, UM, A CELEBRATION THROUGH A PARADE, BUT IT'S A, IT'S A CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF A MAN WHO CHANGED THE WORLD AND MANY WHO ARE UNNAMED, UH, THAT HELPED HIM AS WELL. AND SO, TAKE SOME TIME THIS WEEKEND AND OVER THAT HOLIDAY TO REFLECT ON, ON HIS IMPACT AND WHAT WE ALL CAN DO GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON MAYOR, JUST WANTED [05:50:01] TO, UH, ADD TO OUR ENCOURAGEMENT FOR COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, UH, AND MY CHIEF OF STAFF, DIANA SDO ALSO IS GONNA BE RUNNING THE HALF. SO FOR THAT, AND I THINK MAYOR PRO TEM MARTIN'S DAUGHTER, JENNY, YOU KNOW, WE WE'RE GONNA THE FULL, SHE'S DOING THE FULL. OKAY. SO THERE YOU GO. ALL OF ALL OF Y'ALL, GIVE US YOUR NUMBERS SO WE CAN TRACK YOU FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE GONNA BE OUT THERE ENCOURAGING YOU. AND, UH, BEST LUCK. THANK YOU. HOPEFULLY THERE'LL BE A VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE FOR SOME OF US. , UM, . ALL RIGHT. UH, AN EXCITING WEEKEND, UH, COMING UP, LOOKING, REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. HOPE THIS WILL BE THE BEST AND LARGEST MLK PARADE DOWNTOWN EVER. UH, AND SO YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT, ENCOURAGING CONSTITUENTS TO COME OUT, WHETHER I THINK WILL BE EXCELLENT FOR IT. AND THEN, UM, WE'LL START OFF IN, UH, IN A LEAVE. MM-HMM . SO, UM, IN FACT, I DID GET A TEXT. YOUR TEAM, MY TEAM WAS OUT THERE AND, AND WHAT THEY TEXT ME WAS THAT, UM, UM, IT IS VERY IMPRESSIVE, MAYOR. YOU MAY WANNA COME OUT AND SEE IT EVEN BEFORE SATURDAY. BEAUTIFUL BUILDING. SO, UM, UM, LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. HAVING SAID ALL OF THAT, THANK YOU ALL TODAY FOR TODAY'S MEETING. WENT, WENT A LITTLE LONG, BUT WAS A LOT. HAVING SAID THAT, WE STAND IN RECENT, WE, WE STAND ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.