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THIS MEETING TO ORDER.[Transportation, Technology, and Infrastructure Committee on January 12, 2023.]
I'M A COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND CHAIR OF THE TTI COMMITTEE.THAT'S TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE.
TODAY IS THURSDAY, JANUARY 12TH.
AND WELCOME TO THIS MONTH'S MEETING OF, UH, THE TTI COMMITTEE.
I WANNA WELCOME ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF IN ATTENDANCE HERE, BOTH IN THE CHAMBER AS WELL AS VIRTUALLY.
AND, UH, NOTE THAT THIS MEETING IS BEING HELD IN A HYBRID MODE DUE TO THE DISCONTINUATION OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
THAT'S CHAPTER 5 51, THE PROVISIONS THAT ALLOWED PUBLIC MEETINGS TO BE HELD SOLELY, VIRTUALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC.
THIS MEETING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND AS CHAIR AND PRESIDING OFFICER OF THE COMMITTEE.
UH, I AM PHYSICALLY PRESENT IN THE CHAMBER AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 51 0.127 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE APPLICABLE TO A GOVERNMENTAL BODY THAT EXTENDS INTO THREE OR MORE COUNTIES.
ALL OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVE THE OPTION TO PARTICIPATE IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY VIA MICROSOFT TEAMS. WE HAVE ONE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK VIRTUALLY AS WELL AS I BELIEVE TWO CURRENTLY IN THE CHAMBER.
THE DEADLINE TO SPEAK IS 5:00 PM ON THE DAY BEFORE THE MEETING YESTERDAY.
HOWEVER, AS ALWAYS, ANY QUESTIONS MAY BE SENT TO THE AT LARGE2@HOUSTONTX.GOV EMAIL ADDRESS, AND WE WILL SHARE THOSE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS WITH THE DEPARTMENTS FOLLOWING THE MEETING AND DISTRIBUTE THE RESPONSES ACCORDINGLY.
UH, THE AGENDA THIS MORNING FEATURES TWO IMPORTANT TOPICS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS CIRCULATED.
WE ARE GOING TO PROCEED TODAY TAKING THE ITEMS OUT OF SEQUENCE.
THE FIRST ITEM IS FOR THE HOUSTON WATER FEES, AGREEMENTS AND DUES.
UM, AND I AM GOING TO PAUSE FOR A MOMENT HERE IN THE CHAMBER.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT ONLINE WE ARE WITHOUT SOUND, SO IF YOU'LL BEAR WITH ME FOR A MOMENT, WE WILL SEE IF WE CAN GET THE TECH GLITCHES OUT OF OUR TTI COMMITTEE.
SECOND T FOR TECHNOLOGY, WE'RE GONNA TEST THE MIC, AND I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE BACK LIVE.
I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE HOW MUCH OF THAT WE MISSED.
SO I WILL BACK UP TO SAY THAT WE HAVE ONE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC HERE SIGNED UP, UH, VIRTUALLY, AND THE DEADLINE WAS 5:00 PM YESTERDAY.
WE HAVE, I BELIEVE TWO MEMBERS ALSO SIGNED UP, UH, HERE PRESENT IN THE CHAMBER.
AND I WILL READ THE TOPICS ON THE AGENDA TODAY AS CIRCULATED.
WE ARE TAKING THEM OUT OF ORDER.
UH, AND WE WILL BE BEGIN TODAY WITH A TALK ON THE HOUSTON WATER FEES, THE AGREEMENTS AND DUES.
MS. UH, VENUS PRICE, THE DIRECTOR OF DR.
DRINKING WATER OPERATIONS FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS WILL GO FIRST FOLLOWED BY A DISCUSSION OF FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND THAT'S A TWO PART PRESENTATION WITH SUSAN LENT, WHO'S A PARTNER WITH AIKEN GUMP STRAUSS AND HEER AND FELD, LLP FROM WASHINGTON, DC SUSAN'S JOINING US, UH, FROM THE CAPITOL, AS WELL AS OUR OWN DIRECTOR OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS DIRECTOR BILL KELLY FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
I WANNA WELCOME ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THEIR STAFF TO THE CHAMBERS.
LET ME NOW RECOGNIZE THAT WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY OUR VICE CHAIR, THAT'S COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN IN THE AT LARGE POSITION FIVE.
WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS, UH, CHAIR IN HIS OWN RIGHT FROM DISTRICT.
WE HAVE STAFF, WE HAVE ONLINE, UH, DR. CAROLYN EVANS SHABAZZ, AND WE HAVE, UH, THE VICE MAYOR, UH, PRO TEM MARTHA CASTEX TATUM, WHO IS ALSO JOINING US, UH, VIRTUALLY, UH, BUT HER DIRECTOR AND CHIEF OF STAFF IS HERE WITH US IN THE CHAMBER, AS ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER STAFF MEMBERS, INCLUDING FOR COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN FROM DISTRICT C, THE MAYOR PRO TEM, DAVE MARTIN FROM DISTRICT E.
WE HAVE STAFF FROM TIFFANY THOMAS, UH, JOINING US LIVE HERE IN THE CHAMBER.
WE HAVE STAFF FROM, UH, MARY NAN HUFF HUFFMAN FROM DISTRICT G.
AND WE HAVE, UH, STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS CISNEROS FROM DISTRICT H, UH, STAFF, IN PERSON IN THE CHAMBER, FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MIKE KNOX, AS WELL AS VIRTUALLY ONLINE STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL KUBOSH FROM POSITION THREE.
AND I BELIEVE THAT COVERS IT FOR NOW.
PLEASE LET US KNOW THROUGH THE CHAT OR DIRECT, UH, TEXT MESSAGE IF YOU ARE HERE TO BE REPRESENTED.
WE HAVE BEEN JOINED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TARSHA JACKSON FROM THE, THE DISTRICT B, UH, WONDERFUL PART OF HOUSTON, AND WE ARE ALSO JOINED BY STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA PLUMMER, UH,
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FROM THE AT LARGE POSITION FOR HER STAFF IS HERE TODAY.SO WITH THAT, AND WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, UM, WE WILL TURN TO THE AGENDA AND I'D LIKE TO, UH, CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THE MONITOR.
THE FIRST PRESENTATION WILL BE GIVEN VIRTUALLY, UH, AND THAT WILL BE FROM MS. VENUS PRICE, THE DIRECTOR OF DRINKING WATER OPERATIONS FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS, AND MS. PRICE.
IF YOU'RE READY TO PRESENT ON HOUSTON WATER FEES, AGREEMENTS, AND DUES, WE SEE YOUR PRESENTATION CALLED UP ON THE QUEUE AND THE MONITOR, AND WE ARE READY FOR YOU NOW.
HELLO AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS HOUSTON WATER'S FEES AND AGREEMENTS WITH THE TTI COMMITTEE TODAY.
MY NAME IS VENUS PRICE AND I'M THE NEW DIRECTOR FOR DRINKING WATER OPERATIONS IN THE HOUSTON WATER SERVICE LINE OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS.
I'M VERY PLEASED TO BRING YOU THIS INFORMATION.
HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS BEGINS ALL OF OUR PRESENTATIONS BY REITERATING OUR PURPOSE.
TOGETHER WE CREATE A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR HOUSTON TO THRIVE AND WITH OUR FIVE TO THRIVE VALUES.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE WATER CYCLE AS IT RELATES TO HOUSTON WATER, AND ALSO ESTABLISHES THE CONTEXT FOR THE ITEMS WHICH WE WILL PRESENT TODAY.
THE SOURCE ON THIS GRAPHIC IS OUR WATER SUPPLY, AND THE FOLLOWING SLIDES WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE CONTRACTS AND FUNDING THAT BRINGS THAT SUPPLY INTO THE CITY.
OUR WATER SUPPLY COMES FROM TWO SOURCES, SURFACE WATER AND GROUNDWATER.
THE MAJORITY OF OUR SUPPLY, APPROXIMATELY 85% OF IT, COMES FROM SURFACE WATER.
THIS EXHIBIT ILLUSTRATES OUR SURFACE WATER SUPPLY RESERVOIRS FROM WHICH WE GET OUR SURFACE WATER, AND ALSO THE GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS, WHICH REGULATE OUR GROUNDWATER SUPPLY.
THE THREE COLORS SHOW THE LIMITS OF THE DIFFERENT SUBSIDENCE DISTRICTS IN WHICH WE OPERATE.
WE ARE PREDOMINANTLY SERVED BY THE AREA AND PINK, WHICH IS THE HARRIS GALVESTON SUBSIDENCE DISTRICT.
WE HAVE 122 WELLS IN THIS DISTRICT.
WE HAVE THREE WELLS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, WHICH IS THE LONE STAR SUBSIDENCE DISTRICT, AND THREE WELLS IN FORT BEND COUNTY, WHICH IS THE FORT BEND SUBSIDENCE DISTRICT.
FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL SLIDES, WE'LL BRIEF ON OUR SURFACE WATER PARTNERS WITH WHOM WE HAVE CONTRACTED TO ENSURE OUR SURFACE WATER SUPPLY SUCCESSFULLY REACHES OUR SURFACE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS.
SPECIFICALLY THE TRINITY RIVER AUTHORITY FOR LAKE LIVINGSTON COASTAL WATER AUTHORITY FOR CONVEYANCES FROM TRINITY RIVER AND LAKE HOUSTON, AND SAN JACINTO RIVER AUTHORITY FOR LAKE CONROE.
THE TRINITY RIVER AUTHORITY CONTRACT COVERS THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF LAKE LIVINGSTON, THE LAKE LIVINGSTON DAM, AND THE WALLACE WILL SALT WATER BARRIER ON TRINITY BAY.
LAKE LIVINGSTON IS THE LARGEST SOURCE OF WATER FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
A REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION WILL BE COMING FORWARD IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS TO PAY FOR THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE BUDGET AND ASSOCIATED DEBT SERVICE FOR THEIR FISCAL YEAR.
THE COASTAL WATER AUTHORITY CONTRACT COVERS THE CONVEYANCE FOR MOST OF THE CITY'S WATER RIGHTS, AND THESE COSTS WILL BE BROUGHT FORWARD IN REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTIONS IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
THE TRINITY RIVER CONVEYANCE SYSTEM IS COMPRISED OF A PUMPING STATION NEAR LIBERTY, TEXAS AND APPROXIMATELY 22 MILES OF CANAL, WHICH WE CALL THE MAIN CANAL, THE LYNCHBURG RESERVOIR AND THREE TRANSMISSION LINES THAT CONNECT TO THE CITY'S EAST AND SOUTHEAST WATER PURIFICATION PLANTS.
LAKE HOUSTON INCLUDES THE LAKE HOUSTON DAM OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, A PUMPING STATION AND THE WEST CANAL, WHICH CONNECTS TO THE CITY'S EAST WATER PURIFICATION PLANT.
THIS CONTRACT ALSO COVERS AQUATIC VEGETATION CONTROL ON THE LAKE LOOSE BAYOU INNER BASIN TRANSFER, WHICH IS CURRENTLY AT SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION AND IS COMPRISED OF A PUMPING STATION APPROXIMATELY 23 MILES OF CANAL AND THREE MILES OF DUAL 96 INCH PIPELINE, TRANSFERRING WATER FROM THE TRINITY RIVER INTO LAKE HOUSTON.
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HERE ARE SOME PICTURES OF THE LOOSE BIO INNER BASIN TRANSFER PROJECT AT VARIOUS STAGES OF CONSTRUCTION SHOWING THE OPEN CANAL SYSTEM.THE SAN JACINTO RIVER AUTHORITY MANAGES LAKE CONROE.
THE CITY HAS THREE CONTRACTS WITH THE AUTHORITY, THE 1955 LAKE HOUSTON CONTRACT, THE 1968 LAKE CONROE CONTRACT, AND THE 2009 WATER SUPPLY CONTRACT.
THERE ARE TERMS IN EACH OF THESE CONTRACTS THAT THE CITY AND THE AUTHORITY ARE REVIEWING TO CLARIFY AND UPDATE.
SO THERE IS NOT A CURRENT CONTRACT THAT ARE ACTIVE, HOWEVER, THERE ARE INVOICES AND THE REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTIONS NEEDED TO PAY THESE INVOICES IS PENDING REVIEW.
THE BRAZOS RIVER AUTHORITY HAS A NOMINAL FEE FROM THE TEXAS COM COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.
WE PAY THIS FEE TO TCQ SINCE WE HAVE WATER RIGHTS IN THE BRAZOS RIVER.
PAVEMENT OF THIS FEE WILL NOT REQUIRE COUNCIL ACTION.
IT IS BEING PROVIDED HERE FOR YOUR INFORMATION.
HOUSTON WATER ALSO PAYS AN ANNUAL PERMIT AND POAGE FEE TO EACH OF THE SUBSIDENCE DISTRICTS.
THE NOTED FEE IS FOR THE HARRIS GALVESTON SUBSIDENCE DISTRICT, WHICH AS PREVIOUSLY BRIEFED COVERS 95% OF OUR WELLS.
THE FEE FOR THE OTHER TWO DISTRICTS WILL NOT REQUIRE COUNCIL ACTION.
THIS SLIDE SUMMARIZES THE PRESENTATION AND THE VARIOUS COSTS AND FEES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE ASSOCIATED WITH OUR RAW WATER SUPPLY.
THAT CONCLUDES THE INFORMATION THAT WE WANTED TO PRESENT TO YOU TODAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DIRECTOR, UH, PRICE AND, UM, A LOT OF GREAT INFORMATION THERE.
WE DO HAVE AT LEAST ONE COUNCIL MEMBER IN THE QUEUE, AND THAT'S THE VICE CHAIR COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN.
THANK YOU CHAIR, AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I DID SPEAK BRIEFLY TO THE, THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR THE OTHER DAY ABOUT THIS QUESTION YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO ADDRESS IT ABOUT, I WAS ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT THE CAPERS RIDGE PUMP STATION THAT'S PART OF THE TRINITY RIVER AUTHORITY AND, AND PLANS THERE, UM, FOR ADDITIONAL PUMPS.
UM, AND IS THE CITY'S, UH, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT? UH, THE CAPERS RIDGE PUMP STATION IS, UH, THERE ARE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT SOME ADDITIONAL PUMPS.
UM, WE MEET WITH SIWA ON A REGULAR BASIS.
UM, IS THERE A SPECIFIC QUESTION ABOUT THE, THE, WELL JUST IF, JUST IF WE ARE PLANNING TO, UM, I THINK, OR WE'RE PLANNING TO DO, WE USUALLY GET TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD, YOU KNOW, UH, FUNDING FOR THOSE.
AND IF, IF THAT'S IN THE WORKS, UM, TO GET FUNDING TO FOR ADDITIONAL PUMPS AT THAT LOCATION, UM, I WOULD HAVE TO GET BACK OKAY.
THE DETAILS OF THAT SAID FUNDING.
I HAD A BRIEF DISCUSSION WITH THE DIRECTOR ABOUT IT, SO I THINK I'VE GOT WHAT I NEED.
BUT YEAH, ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION YOU COULD PROVIDE WOULD BE GREAT.
WE HAVE ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER IN THE QUEUE THAT'S, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
IN REGARDS TO THE, UH, SURFACE SERVICE WATER PARTNERS, UH, YOUR EXPLANATION THERE, I'M SORRY, CAN YOU EXPLAIN ONCE AGAIN, THE BRA RIVER AUTHORITY, HOW, HOW, HOW DOES, DOES THAT OPERATE? HOW DOES THAT WORK? WE HAVE WATER RIGHTS ALONG THE BRAZOS RIVER AUTHORITY.
THERE'S BEEN SOME, UM, ITEMS THAT HAVE GONE ON, SOME WORK THAT HAS GONE ON WITH REGARD TO THOSE RIGHTS.
UM, CURRENTLY THOSE RIGHTS ARE, UM, NOT TAPPED PER SE.
AND FOR THAT REASON, WE HAVE A VERY SMALL NOMINAL FEE THAT WE STILL PAY TO THE TCQ FOR THOSE RIGHTS.
SO, SO THE BRAS RIVER AUTHORITY, THE WATER IS, THE SURFACE WATER IS COMING FROM THE BRAS RIVER, YOU'RE SAYING, OR THE, THE SURFACE WATER IS COMING FROM THE BRAZOS RIVER? YES, SIR.
AND WHAT PLANT DOES IT GO TO TO BE PURIFIED? WE DON'T HAVE, UH, WE HAVE NOT TAPPED THOSE RIGHTS, SO WE ARE CURRENTLY NOT USING THOSE RIGHTS.
AND THOSE RIGHTS WERE, UM, PERHAPS YOU GUYS, UM, WERE, WERE INFORMED THAT THERE'S SOME, UH, COURT ACTIONS REGARDING THOSE RIGHTS MM-HMM
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LIVE OUT WEST, UM, CLOSER TO THE BRAZOS RIVER, UM, THERE'S SOME LEGISLATIVE ACTION THAT HAS, UM, THAT HAS PENDING AND IS GO ONGOING REGARDING THOSE RIGHTS, BUT WE'RE NOT CURRENTLY TAPPING THOSE RIGHTS.SO THAT, THAT'S A, THEY'RE THEY ARE, I'M SORRY THAT THAT'S A POSSIBILITY OF, OR A FUTURE SOURCE OF WATER FOR THE FUTURE IF WE CAN GET ALL THAT TAKEN CARE OF.
THAT BRA RIVER WATER SUPPLY IS WAY TO THE WEST OF THE CITY.
YOU MAY RECALL, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER RECENTLY SOME LEGISLATIVE ACTION THAT WAS RELATED DIRECTOR, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT I THINK IT WAS THE ALLEN CREEK RESERVOIR THAT, UH, THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE TRIED TO CAPTURE SOME OF OUR, UH, INTEREST IN THAT WATER.
AND THAT IS WHAT THE DIRECTOR'S REFERRING TO IN TERMS OF COURT ACTIVITY.
UH, PENDING THAT I THINK WE HAVE, WE BELIEVE WE'RE IN A STRONG POSITION NOW.
UH, AND PERHAPS BILL KELLY WILL BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN THE NEXT PRESENTATION.
BUT I THINK, UH, DIRECTOR AGAIN TO THIS SLIDE, THAT IS I THINK A SLIDE NUMBER NINE WHERE IT SPEAKS TO THE, UH, TEXAS, UM, COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, THE WATER MASTER FEE, IT'S $31,000.
SO AS YOU SAY, FOR OUR PURPOSES, A VERY NOMINAL FEE TO THE STATE.
WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH, UM, DIRECTOR KELLY, IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.
UH, DIRECTOR, I THINK THAT IS ALL FOR YOU TODAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS WAS THE LAST SPEAKER IN THE QUEUE FOR US.
UM, AND WE'LL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR EVERYONE AT THE END.
I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THEIR QUESTIONS AND STAFF, UH, UH, WE DIDN'T ANNOUNCE EARLIER, BUT WE ARE GOING TO LIMIT COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES TODAY, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN A PROBLEM AT ALL.
AND, UM, AND I THINK WITH THAT, UH, I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN, DIRECTOR, UH, PRINCE FOR THAT.
AND WE'LL MOVE ON NOW TO THE SECOND ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, WHICH IS THE FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND WE WELCOME AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR HER BEING HERE TODAY.
SUSAN LENT IS A PARTNER WITH AIKEN GUMP, STRAUSS COWER AND FELD, LLP, COMING TO US, UH, BRIGHT AND EARLY THIS MORNING FROM OUR NATION'S CAPITAL, ALONG WITH BILL KELLY, OUR DIRECTOR OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS.
UH, AND IF YOU'LL TURN TO THE PRESENTATION, WE'VE GOT IT QUEUED UP.
UH, BILL, I THINK YOU MAY KICK IT OFF, AND I'LL TURN TO YOU AND SUSAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN, IF YOU COULD HOLD ON ONE SECOND, LET'S MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT YOUR MICROPHONE ON THAT BETTER.
SUSAN HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND WE'VE SEEN A NUMBER OF SUCCESSES BECAUSE OF HER EXPERIENCE.
UH, TODAY, SUSAN IS GOING TO UPDATE YOU ON HOW THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS ENGAGING IN THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE, BILL, OR IIJA, THEN GIVEN UPDATE ON THE CITY'S PROGRESS IN SECURING FUNDED COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, WHICH IS KIND OF THE NEW CONGRESSIONAL TERM FOR EARMARKS, UH, FROM OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.
AND FINALLY, TO PREVIEW THE PROGRAMS THAT THE CITY SHOULD LOOK TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IN THE NEW INFLATION REDUCTION ACT.
SUSAN HAD PREVIOUSLY OUTLINED THE OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW TO THIS COMMITTEE LAST DECEMBER, AND HER REPORT TODAY WILL SHOW EXACTLY WHAT BUCKETS OF MONEY WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON AS A CITY.
AND JUST LIKE HER PRESENTATION LAST YEAR, UH, WE WILL POST THIS PRESENTATION ONLINE ON OUR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS WEBSITE.
UH, I WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THOSE MEMBERS OF OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION WHO SUPPORTED THESE MEASURES FOR, WITHOUT THEM, WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON BRINGING THIS MONEY HOME TO HOUSTON.
WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THE WORK OF OUR DELEGATION AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE SHARED ADVOCACY IN HELPING THE CITY OF HOUSTON DRAW DOWN THESE DOLLARS.
IN FACT, WHEN I WENT BACK TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR GOOD FRIEND BOB NOACK HAD THIS PRESENTATION ON OUR WEBSITE, WE GET A CALL CONFIRMING, UH, CONGRESSMAN GREEN BEING ABLE TO CONNECT WITH OUR FRIENDS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
UH, THANKS TO A CALL SUSAN MADE ON THAT.
SO REALLY APPRECIATE OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.
WITH THAT, LET ME TURN THE MIC OVER, UH, FOR HER PRESENTATION WITH SUSAN LINT.
AND, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON AND, AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON, UM, THE INFRASTRUCTURE LAW AS WELL AS FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, UM, THAT THE CITY CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AND HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF MORE, MORE BROADLY.
UM, WE CAN GO, WE CAN MOVE THE SLIDE AHEAD AND GO ON.
BILL MENTIONED THE, THE AGENDA ALREADY.
SO, UM, IT WAS A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO ON NOVEMBER 15TH, UM, OF 2021 WHEN PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED THE $1.2 TRILLION
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INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT INTO LAW.AND I CAME BEFORE, UM, THIS COMMITTEE ON DECEMBER 2ND, UM, UH, TO BRIEF, UH, YOU ON THE, UM, IIJA AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.
AND SINCE THEN WE'VE HAD BIWEEKLY MEETINGS WITH, UM, WITH GOVERNMENT CITY, THE CITY, UM, UH, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS OFFICE, UM, ALONG WITH, UM, PUBLIC WORKS AND VARIOUS OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE COME IN TO TALK ABOUT THE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.
UM, AND TO HAVE REALLY VERY GOOD STRATEGIC DISCUSSIONS ABOUT, FOR EACH FUNDING OPPORTUNITY OF WHETHER, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS WERE, WHETHER THERE'S A, YOU KNOW, A FEDERAL MATCH, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE GRANT REQUIREMENTS ARE, WHAT THE EVALUATION CRITERIA ARE, SO THAT, UM, THE CITY COULD MAKE VERY INFORMED STRATEGIC DECISIONS REGARDING WHAT, UM, FUNDING TO GO AFTER.
AND THEN ONCE THE CITY MADE A DECISION, WE, WE WORKED, UM, CLOSELY WITH THE DEPARTMENTS ON, UM, GRANT APPLICATIONS AND THEN ON SECURING SUPPORT FOR, UM, FROM MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, UM, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, ELECT UH, LOCAL STATE AND LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS AND, AND, UM, OTHER STAKEHOLDERS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND ALSO WORKED REALLY VERY STRATEGICALLY ON REGIONAL PRIORITIES AND, AND HELPING OTHERS IN THE REGION SUPPORT THEIR PROJECTS.
AND THEN ALSO SEEKING SUPPORT FROM PARTNERS LIKE METRO AND OTHERS FOR, FOR, FOR CITY PRIORITIES.
SO OUR, OUR FIRST BIG SUCCESS WAS, UM, THE FUNDING FOR, UM, TELEPHONE ROAD MAIN STREET REVITALIZATION.
AND THAT PROJECT, UM, RECEIVED A, UM, $20.96 MILLION RAISE GRANT.
I WANNA SAY JUST UPFRONT, FIRST OF ALL, THAT PROGRAM, WHICH HAS HAD SEVERAL NAMES OVER THE YEARS, STARTING WITH TIGER, UM, IT'S REALLY PRETTY INCREDIBLE BECAUSE A LOT OF LOCALITIES HAVE TRIED FOR YEARS TO GET A GRANT.
IT'S ACTUALLY KNOWN TO BE THE MOST COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM BECAUSE SO MUCH IS ELIGIBLE.
YOU CAN FUND A TRANSIT PROJECT, A HIKE AND BIKE PROJECT, A A ROAD PROJECT, A BRIDGE PROJECT.
UM, IT'S REALLY VERY FLEXIBLE.
AND SO AS A RESULT, IT'S VERY COMPETITIVE.
AND THIS WAS THE CITY'S FIFTH GRANT UNDER THIS PROGRAM, AND THIS IS, IS REALLY A LIVABILITY PROJECT, ALSO A SAFETY PROJECT, UM, FOCUSED ON SIDEWALKS AND INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT, SIGNALIZATION, UM, YOU KNOW, BIKE LANES.
UM, AND SO IT WAS A, IT WAS A REALLY, REALLY GOOD VICTORY WHERE WE, AGAIN, WE ALSO HAD, UM, SUPPORT FROM THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, UM, WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD THE PROJECT AND WHAT WE WERE HOPING TO ACHIEVE AND HOW IT MET THE CRITERIA.
SO, UH, VERY PROUD OF, UM, OF THIS FIRST ACCOMPLISHMENT.
AND THEN WE ALSO SUPPORTED, UM, METRO'S, UM, OVER $21 MILLION, UM, LOW AND NO EMISSION GRANT FROM THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION, UM, FOR ELECTRIC BATTERY ELECTRIC BUSES.
SO IN ADDITION, THE CITY HAS PUT IN, UM, A NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL APPLICATIONS.
UM, IT, IT DID LEARN THAT IT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL.
IT APPLIED FOR THE WA DRIVE BRIDGE, UM, PROJECT UNDER THE BRIDGE, UM, INVESTMENT PROGRAM, AND DID NOT RECEIVE THAT GRANT.
HOWEVER, IT HAS OUTSTANDING GRANTS FOR A NUMBER OF OTHER PROGRAMS, INCLUDING, UM, A SAFE STREETS AND ROADS FOR ALL GRANT.
UM, A DOT RAILROAD CROSSING ELIMINATION GRANT, WHICH I WANNA, I WANNA MENTION A CONGRESSMAN, UH, A COUNCIL MEMBER, GALLEGOS, AND, AND WE SAT, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS WITH YOU LAST YEAR WHEN, UM, I WAS BEFORE YOUR COMMITTEE, AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE, WE REALLY HAVE BEEN VERY MINDFUL OF HOW WE CAN GET MORE FUNDING FOR, UM, GREAT CROSSINGS AND, AND, AND RAIL SAFETY PROJECTS.
UM, AND THEN, UM, FINALLY WE HAVE A, A GRANT APPLICATION AND UNDER THE RE RECONNECTING COMMUNITIES PROGRAM, AND WE'RE WAITING TO HEAR FROM ALL THOSE GRANTS.
UM, BUT THE, THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE LAW PROVIDES FIVE YEARS OF FUNDING.
SO, UH, LAST YEAR, UH, FISCAL YEAR 2022 WAS THE FIRST YEAR.
SO WE HAVE FOUR MORE YEARS THAT WE CAN PURSUE FUNDING FOR PROJECTS UNDER, UNDER MOST VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, UM, PROGRAMS. AND THEN FOR SOME OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS, IT, IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT, BUT FOR TRANSPORTATION, WE HAVE FOUR OPPORTUNITIES.
THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS PUT OUT A, UM, SCHEDULE OF WHEN THEY EXPECT TO RELEASE THE GRANTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023, AND WE'RE, WE'RE ALREADY STARTING TO GET READY AND EVALUATE WHAT GRANT APPLICATIONS TO SUBMIT FOR 2023.
SO, AND I'LL MENTION THAT THE CITY, UM, HAS SUBMITTED AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, LETTERS OF INTENT FOR TWO, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
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GRANTS THAT WERE, UM, MADE AVAILABLE.FUNDING WAS MADE AVAILABLE UNDER THE INFRASTRUCTURE LAW, THE RECYCLING EDUCATION AND OUTREACH AND SOLID WASTE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR RECYCLING GRANT PROGRAMS. UM, EPA ASKED FOR LETTERS OF INTENT, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE ISSUING NOTICES OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY, UM, IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR THAT WE'RE WAITING FOR SO THAT THE CITY CAN APPLY FOR THAT FUNDING.
UM, THERE'S SOME PROGRAMS THAT THE, THAT DOT HAS NOT YET ISSUED NOTICES FOR, AND SO WE'RE EXPECTING THEM TO COMBINE 2022 AND 2023 FUNDING.
UM, TWO OF THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE, UM, AS I UNDERSTAND IT POTENTIALLY OF INTEREST TO THE CITY IS THE FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY-BASED ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE AND FOR PROTECT GRANTS, WHICH ARE FOR, UM, RESILIENT TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
SO WE'RE KEEPING A LOOK, UH, LOOKOUT FOR THOSE NOTICES OF OPPORTUNITY.
ALSO, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY IS GOING TO BE DISTRIBUTING ENERGY EFFICIENCY BLOCK GRANT FUNDING, UM, IN THIS FIRST QUARTER.
AND WE'VE ALREADY MET WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE CITY'S PRIORITIES.
THIS IS GONNA BE A FAIRLY FLEXIBLE PROGRAM WHERE THE CITY WILL HAVE A LOT OF DISCRETION, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THE KIND OF BROAD PURVIEW OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN TERMS OF THE TYPE OF INVESTMENTS IT MAKES.
IT'S GOING TO GET GUARANTEED FUNDING.
IT'S GONNA GO OUT, UM, BASED ON A FORMULA AS A BLACK GRANT.
SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CITY IS ALREADY STARTING THAT STARTING TO, UM, PLAN ON HOW THEY'RE GONNA SPEND, UM, THAT MONEY.
AND THEN, UM, THERE'S BROADBAND AND CYBERSECURITY MONEY THAT'S GOING TO, UM, FLOW TO THE STATE, AND THE CITY WILL HAVE TO PURSUE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE STATE FOR THOSE PROGRAMS. AND I KNOW THAT, UM, THE DEPARTMENTS ARE, ARE LOOKING AT THAT.
SO AGAIN, WE'RE CONTINUING TO MONITOR OPPORTUNITIES AND HAVING THESE, UM, REGULAR CALLS TO TALK ABOUT NEW OPPORTUNITIES.
SO, TURNING INTO COMMUNITY PROJECTS, WHICH MANY OF YOU, UH, MAY REC MAY REMEMBER WERE, WERE PREVIOUSLY CALLED EARMARKS.
UM, AND, UM, THEY WERE RENAMED AND BROUGHT BACK, UM, LA IN, IN TWO YEARS AGO.
UM, AND, UM, THE, THE, IN THE, THE, UM, APPROPRIATIONS LAW FUNDING FUNDING, THE, UH, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022, WHICH THE PRESIDENT SIGNED INTO LAW IN DECEMBER, INCLUDED COMMUNITY PROJECTS ACROSS DIFFERENT, UM, AGENCIES.
AND THE CITY WAS SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING SEVERAL, UM, COMMUNITY PROJECTS FUNDED.
AND, UM, I, I'LL JUST MENTION THEM BRIEFLY AND THEN I KNOW WE HAVE A HANDOUT THAT DESCRIBES THESE PROJECTS IN
[00:59:59]
[01:00:00]
ALRIGHT.[01:00:00]
THANK[01:00:00]
YOU[01:00:01]
MS.[01:00:01]
LEN.[01:00:01]
IT MAY BE A GOOD MOMENT TO MENTION, I, I THINK YOU PROBABLY MENTIONED IT AT THE OUTSET OF THE DISCUSSION TODAY, BUT THIS IS NOT A COMPREHENSIVE DISCUSSION OF ALL FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS. YES.THESE, THESE ARE THE ONES THAT WE'RE REALLY TARGETING SO FAR.
SO TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS QUESTION THERE, THERE MAY BE OTHER AVENUES TO PURSUE.
BUT THIS IS A PRESENTATION REALLY ABOUT THE FOREMOST ONES THAT THE CITY IS LOOKING AT.
THERE MIGHT BE MONEY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FOR THE POLICE SUBSTATIONS.
I, I DON'T KNOW, I CAN'T REME RECALL OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
I'D HAVE TO RESEARCH THAT, BUT, BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS LIKE MAJOR CASH INFUSION IN THIS INFRASTRUCTURE LAW AND WHAT IT, WHAT IT FUNDS YOU.
UH, NEXT WE'LL RETURN AGAIN TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND CHAIR.
I WAS ASKING ABOUT THE PROTECT RESILIENCE GRANTS.
WHAT TYPES OF THINGS WOULD THAT FUND? OKAY, SO THAT, THAT WOULD FUND, UM, TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS TO ADDRESS, UM, CLIMATE CHANGE AND, YOU KNOW, SEA LEVEL RISE AND TO MAKE, MAKE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE MORE RESILIENT.
UM, AND THAT'S FOCUSED ON SURFACE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO ROADWAYS AND BRIDGES AND, UM, AND, AND PUBLIC TRANSIT FOCUSED ON, THEY COULD DO AN ACTUAL ROAD PROJECT YES.
WITH A, WITH A DRAINAGE COMPONENT THAT WOULD MAKE IT MORE RECENT.
AND BILL, BESIDES YOU, AND YOU HAVE ANDY AND YOU HAVE, TELL ME YOUR NAME, HER NAME AGAIN, YOUR NAME AGAIN? ALEXA.
UM, WHO'S, I MEAN, ARE YOU, IS THIS A, I MEAN, DO WE HAVE HELP BY FINANCE? I MEAN, IS THERE A BIG CITY TEAM ALTOGETHER? I MEAN, I KNOW SUSAN'S WEIGHING IN A LOT, BUT WHO'S DOING ALL THIS MONEY? SURE.
NO, I, I WOULD GIVE, UH, A LOT OF CREDIT TO OUR TEAM FROM HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS.
UH, DIRECTOR HADDOCK HAS, HAS HAD SOME, UH, TERRIFIC FOLKS, UH, VERONICA DAVIS.
UH, WE'VE GOTTEN A ALONE KNOW VERY, VERY WELL FROM OUR DEPARTMENT, UH, AND, AND HER TEAM, I WILL SAY THE COUNCIL MEMBER, I THINK YOU'RE CONCERNED ON THAT, ABOUT BEING ABLE TO DO A LOT OF THESE APPLICATIONS IS A BIG DEAL.
UH, AND I, I REALLY WANT TO, UH, THANK THEM FOR THE STRATEGY CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE, KNOWING, LOOK, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, X AMOUNT THAT WE CAN REALLY CONCENTRATE TO BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR, AND THANK GOODNESS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
WE'VE GOT THAT CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO DO IT.
WHEN YOU, WHEN WE SEE, RECEIVE THESE EMAILS FROM OUR FRIENDS AT US CONFERENCE OF MAYORS AND AFRICAN AMERICAN MAYORS ASSOCIATION, THEY'RE HAVING TO BE ABLE TO DO A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE AUTOMATICALLY GET BECAUSE WE'VE GOT CATHERINE AND VERONICA ON THAT PUBLIC WORK SIDE.
UH, JUST HAVING THEM IN-HOUSE REALLY, REALLY HELPS.
SO GRANTED, WE, WE HAVE SOME CAPACITY, BUT WE HAVE A WHOLE HECK OF A LOT OF NEED.
UH, AND SO MAKING SURE, UH, WORKING WITH SUSAN ON A BIWEEKLY BASIS, THAT WE MAXIMIZE THAT CAPACITY, THAT THAT'S A BIG PART OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IS FINANCE INVOLVED.
I MEAN, WE USED TO KIND OF COORDINATE SOME GRANTS THROUGH FINANCE, BUT IS THAT STILL A THING OR? I, I THINK THEY'RE, THEY'RE INVOLVED TO THE DEGREE THAT THAT, UH, VERONICA'S GROUP COORDINATES WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE IF THERE ARE ASPECTS LIKE, UH, MATCHING FUNDS THAT ARE REQUIRED OR DIFFERENT THINGS.
I DO KNOW ON A, ON A SEPARATE FEDERAL TRACK FOR ARPA FUNDING, OUR FINANCE TEAM IS AT ALL OF OUR WEEKLY MEETINGS.
SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT ASPECT OF IT IN PARTICULAR, YEAH.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE RIGHT AT THE FRONT OF THE TABLE.
I THINK THE EXCELLENT QUESTION.
AGAIN, I THINK, UH, THE TEAM IS BROAD AND DEEP.
I WOULD ADD PRIYA ZACHARIA AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY, UM, THINKING OF DAVID FIELDS WITHIN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORTATION GRANTS.
UM, THE MAYOR SPOKE THIS MORNING AT A CONFERENCE BEING HELD AT THE ASIA SOCIETY, 10 ACROSS, UM, UH, IT IS THE, UH, GROUP OF MAYORS AND LEADERS FROM ACROSS I 10 WHERE YOU'VE ATTENDED THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS.
THE MAYOR PRESENTED THIS MORNING TALKING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND RISK, THE THINGS RELATED TO INFRASTRUCTURE ELEMENTS THAT ARE EXACTLY IN THE CATEGORY YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND IT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN THINK ABOUT THAT FROM, UH, WHERE I 10 HITS THE ATLANTIC SEABOARD, UH, TO LOS ANGELES IN, UH, YOU KNOW, IN MALIBU AND VENICE BEACH.
AND IT'S, IT'S AMAZING, UM, THE DEPTH AND BREADTH OF THE ISSUES THAT THESE TOPICS CAN, CAN TOUCH AND DISCUSS.
UM, SO I THINK WITH THAT, AGAIN, WE OWE A GREAT DEAL TO MS. LEN AND HER TEAM, AND TO BILL AND HIS TEAM, BUT ALSO VERY MUCH TO OUR MAYOR WHO IS REALLY AT THE TIP OF THE SPEAR GLOBALLY.
AND, UH, I, I AM CONVINCED OF THAT AND ALWAYS IMPRESSED TO HEAR HIM DISCUSS LIKE THIS MORNING.
UM, NEXT IN THE QUEUE IS STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MARY ANNE HUFFMAN, JAMES, UH, THANK YOU CHAIR, AND THANK YOU DIRECTOR KELLY AND, AND MS. LINT FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, SO ONE OF THE MOST SUBSTANTIAL, UM, I, I GUESS CONCERNS OF EVENT RELATED TO INFRASTRUCTURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS REPORT IS RELATED TO OUR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
UH, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, SIX, 700
[01:05:01]
LEAKS OCCURRING AT ANY GIVEN TIME AROUND THE CITY.WE HAD A, A BIG SYSTEM FAILURE THAT RESULTED IN A BOILED WATER NOTICE OVER THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, PREVIOUSLY THE WHITE HOUSE HAS STATED THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS IS GONNA RECEIVE $2.9 BILLION FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT, UH, FOR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO ARE WE GOING TO APPLY FOR THESE FUNDS? AND, AND WHEN WILL, WHEN WILL WE START CE RECEIVING THOSE? SO IT'S A LITTLE COMPLICATED WHEN IT COMES TO WATER, RIGHT? BECAUSE THE WAY THE WATER MONEY GOES OUT, UM, IS IT GOES THROUGH EPA, UM, TO, TO, UM, UNDER THE, UM, THE, THE CLEAN WATER AND DRINKING WATER REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM.
AND SO IT GOES OUT AS LOW COST LOANS.
NOW, 49% OF THE MONEY, UM, UNDER THE LAWS REQUIRED TO GO OUT AS GRANTS OR FORGIVABLE LOANS, BUT THAT'S TO LOW INCOME AREAS.
AND THE STATE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE WHAT A LOW INCOME AREAS.
MY UNDERSTANDING FROM CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD, UM, WITH CITY, WITH WITHIN THE CITY IS THAT HOUSTON HA THAT THE, THAT THE STATE, UM, WATER BOARD HAS NOT, UM, DESIGNATED AREAS IN HOUSTON AS ELIGIBLE FOR THE FREE MONEY.
SO THE CITY COULD DEFINITELY APPLY FOR THE FUNDING, BUT IT WOULD BE, UM, IN, AS A LOW, LOW COST LOAN.
AND I, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW, I, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S HAPPENING.
UM, BUT I DON'T, BILL, YOU MAY HAVE MORE DETAILS ON THAT.
I, I CAN TELL YOU THE, UH, THE SPECIFIC BUCKET BUCKETS THAT WE OUTLINED IN YOUR, IN YOUR DECEMBER, THE SECOND PRESENTATION.
UH, WE'VE BEEN CHECKING THAT THAT REALLY DIRECTLY, I THINK THERE WAS ONE SPECIFICALLY ON SANITARY SEWER, UH, UH, OVERFLOWS WITH IT.
UH, THEY HAVE BEEN SLOW TO BE ABLE TO ISSUE THOSE NPAS WITH IT.
UH, SO IN FACT, I THINK WE HAD A CALL MAYBE A MONTH AGO JUST CHECKING, UH, UH, YES, WHEN THEY PLAN TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE ISSUES WITH IT.
SO, UM, IF THEY HAVEN'T ISSUED THE NOFA OR, OR ASKED FOR THOSE LETTERS OF INTENT, WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THAT.
I THINK, UM, LIKE, LIKE A NUMBER OF MEMBERS HAVE SAID THIS IS A, A PRETTY BIG OVERALL FUNDING OPPORTUNITY.
SO SOME OF THE THINGS JUST BY NATURE MAKE IT SLOW.
I DON'T THINK IT WAS A COINCIDENCE THAT THE RAISE GRANT PROGRAM, WHICH WAS AN EXISTING PROGRAM, WAS THE FIRST ONE THEY WERE ABLE TO ROLL OUT.
'CAUSE IT WAS PUTTING GAS ON A CAR THEY ALREADY HAD KIND OF THING.
SO, UH, WE'LL CONTINUE TO, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THE, UH, UH, WATER PRIORITIES ARE A BIG THING FOR MAYOR TURNER AND, AND TOP OF OUR MIND WITH IT.
WE JUST REALLY HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF THE DIRECT ABILITY FOR THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO GO AFTER THAT VERY MUCH.
KIND OF LIKE THE BROADBAND OPPORTUNITY WHEN, UH, STATES WERE THE ONES THAT REALLY WERE THE TIP OF THE SPEAR ON BEING ABLE TO MAKE THEIR PLANS.
WE'RE AT THE POINT NOW ON BROADBAND WHERE CITIES ARE, UH, BEING ABLE TO WEIGH IN A LITTLE BIT MORE.
WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF LETTERS, UH, FROM, UH, BIG CITY MAYORS AND FROM, UH, MAYOR TURNER HIMSELF GO OUT ON BROADBAND IMPLEMENTATION.
I THINK WATER'S EVEN A LITTLE BIT FURTHER DOWN THAT LINE WHERE STATES ARE STILL WORKING WITH OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FRIENDS AND OUR OPPORTUNITY AS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT JUST HADN'T CAUGHT UP TO THAT TIMELINE YET.
YEAH, THAT WAS ACTUALLY ANOTHER TOPIC HE DISCUSSED THIS MORNING, WAS MAKING SURE THAT OUR, UH, YOU KNOW, SINCE WE'RE NOT GETTING DIRECT PAY, UH, FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO THIS POINT, UH, AND IT HAS HAD TO FILTER THROUGH VARIOUS CHANNELS AND HIGH FILTRATION, UH, AGENCIES AT THE STATE, SHALL I SAY, UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO MONITOR THAT VERY CAREFULLY.
SO I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION VERY MUCH.
AND OBVIOUSLY WITH RELATION TO SOME OF THE HUGE PROJECTS AND THE IMPLICATIONS WITH THE PORT, LESS ON THE DRINKING WATER, BUT MORE ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE SIDE, THERE'S A LOT TO KEEP TRACK OF.
SO I GUESS, UM, I SEE NO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE QUEUE.
MS. LEN, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
BEFORE I LET YOU GO, I DO WANT TO TURN TO ONE OTHER SLIDE THAT YOU HAD, NAMELY ON SLIDE EIGHT, IF WE COULD QUEUE THAT UP.
IT IS, WITH THE COMMUNITY PROJECTS IN MIND AND THE EARMARKS, THE, JUST THINKING ABOUT OUR LOCAL, UH, CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, SOME OF THOSE LEADERS THAT WE WORK WITH DAY TO DAY THAT YOU SEE IN THE CAPITOL.
AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING FOR OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE AND THEIR TEAMS TO UNDERSTAND AND KNOW AS WE GET INTO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT JEFF'S GAVELED IN EARLIER THIS WEEK, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU WOULD RECOMMEND OR ENCOURAGE US TO DO AS REPRESENTATIVES HERE IN HOUSTON.
WELL, UM, WELL, ONE THING THAT, THAT WE, THAT, THAT BILL, BILL HAS REALLY BEEN A LEADER ON IS INTERACTING EARLY WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION AND, AND, AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEIR PRIORITIES ARE.
AND I KNOW WE, WE DID THAT, UM, WITH, WITH, WITH SEVERAL OF THE MEMBERS WHERE WE PRESENTED DIFFERENT, UM, PROJECTS TO THEM AND GOT THEIR, UM, KIND OF THEIR, THEIR READ OF WHAT, WHAT THEY THOUGHT WOULD BE MOST COMPELLING, WHAT THEY FELT WOULD BE MOST, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, THERE THAT THEIR CONSTITUENTS WOULD BE MOST APPRECIATIVE OF.
AND SO THEN WE WOULD, WOULD BE ABLE TO PURSUE PROJECTS WHERE WE WOULD, WE'D BE SUCCESSFUL.
ONE EXAMPLE WOULD BE THAT THE, UM, LAKE HOUSTON DAM
[01:10:01]
SPILLWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT, UH, COMMUNITY PROJECT, CONGRESSMAN CRENSHAW REALLY FOCUSED HIS COMMUNITY PROJECTS ON WATER.HE, HE DIDN'T, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS WHERE HE PUT HIS, HIS PRIORITY.
THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF COMMUNITY PROJECTS HE FELT COMFORTABLE SEEKING FUNDING FOR.
SO RATHER THAN TRY TO FIGHT THAT, AND WHAT WE, OUR STRATEGY HAS BEEN TO WORK WITH EACH OF THESE MEMBERS AND THEN GIVE THEM THE PROJECTS THAT ARE, THE PROJECTS THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT AND WILLING TO PUT FORWARD AND, AND, AND TRY TO DO IT THAT WAY.
SO THAT'S WHAT I THINK WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO DO IS, IS TRY TO LOOK AT THAT AND MAYBE EVEN SEE WHETHER THERE ARE SOME MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, UM, WHO HADN'T REQUESTED EAR MARKS BEFORE.
AND MAYBE WE COULD MEET WITH THEM AND SAY, OKAY, IF WE PUT THIS PROJECT FORWARD, WOULD THIS BE SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD, YOU WOULD CONSIDER, UM, SUPPORTING? SO THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO, TO BE DOING.
CERTAINLY THE LIST OF, UM, CON CONGRESS FOLKS HERE ON THIS LIST ARE, ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO WE ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH, BUT I THINK THAT THAT'S A GREAT IDEA AND WORTH PURSUING.
UH, SO DIRECTOR KELLY WILL, WE WILL LOOK TO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT.
WELL, I THINK WITH THAT, UM, WE ARE AT THE END OF QUESTIONS FROM, UH, THE COUNCIL AND THEIR STAFF, AND WE WILL TURN TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AT THE PODIUM AND GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO, UH, SIT BACK.
UM, AND OUR, OUR SPEAKERS ARE, ARE HERE IN PERSON AND ONLINE, BOTH I BELIEVE, UM, WITH YOU RECESSING HERE.
WE WILL TURN FIRST TO OUR SPEAKER WHO'S IN THE CHAMBER, AND THAT IS, UH, OUR, OUR FRIEND MR. DOUG SMITH.
DOUG, IF YOU WOULD APPROACH THE PODIUM, UM, GREAT TO SEE YOU HERE TODAY.
GLAD YOU COULD MAKE IT AGAIN, OUR FRIENDLY FACE AT COUNCIL.
AND IF YOU WOULD, WE WILL START YOUR TIMER AND, UH, GO AHEAD.
I HAD TO SMILE AS I WAS LISTENING TO THE CONVERSATION.
'CAUSE WHEN I FIRST STARTED COMING HERE, I HAD NO IDEA WHAT A NOFA WAS.
AND NOW I DON'T EVEN HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT
UH, BUT I HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS TODAY.
FIRST OF ALL, UH, THE LAST COUPLE MEETINGS THAT I'VE COME TO, I ASKED IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO HAVE CAROL HADDOCK DO THE FANTASTIC PRESENTATION SHE DID A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO ON THE D-D-S-R-F, BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST ON CITIZENS AND PROBABLY COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THAT.
AND I JUST WANTED TO FIND OUT IF ANYTHING HAD BEEN DONE ON THAT.
WELL, LET ME JUST, UH, QUICKLY RESPOND THAT OUR OFFICE IS, UH, LIKE MAYOR TURNER WITH HIS FINAL YEAR.
WE'RE TAKING OUR FINAL YEAR ON CITY COUNCIL HERE VERY SERIOUSLY.
AND WE'VE, WE'VE GOT A MATRIX OF UPCOMING TOPICS THAT WE ARE VETTING WITH ALL DEPARTMENTS, AND THAT CERTAINLY INCLUDES PUBLIC WORKS AND DIRECTOR HADDOCK.
AND YOUR REQUEST HAS BEEN HEARD, AND YOU AND I CAN FOLLOW UP ABOUT THAT AND WE CAN GET YOU A SPECIFIC TIMEFRAME, BUT IT IS INDEED ON OUR LIST, UH, OF TOPICS COMING FORWARD.
UH, SECOND QUESTION AFTER THE BOIL WATER NOTICE COUPLE, I GUESS IT WAS ABOUT A MONTH AGO, UH, THE COMMENT WAS MADE.
THE COMMENT WAS MADE THAT, UH, AN AFTER ACTION REPORT WOULD BE ISSUED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.
AND I WONDERED IF THAT REPORT HAS BEEN DONE AND IF SO, UH, IF IT'S AVAILABLE AND ON THE SAME TOPIC, I'M SURE, WELL, HOPEFULLY THERE WAS A REPORT DONE AFTER THE PRES, UM, FEBRUARY A YEAR AGO WHERE WE DIDN'T HAVE WATER FOR SEVERAL DAYS.
WAS AN AFTER ACTION REPORT DONE WITH THAT.
AND IS IT AVAILABLE, DOUG? AS ALWAYS, YOU'RE PAYING ATTENTION.
I, I RECALL TO YOUR MEMORY, UH, THE WINTER STORM URI, AND IT WAS NOT THE FOLLOWING MONTH THAT THE REPORT CAME THROUGH THIS COMMITTEE, BUT I THINK TWO OR THREE, SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER WHEN ALL THE FACTS, ALL THE IMAGES, ALL THE, THE REAL DETAIL OF WHAT TOOK PLACE WERE READY, UH, FOR A PRESENTATION IN A PUBLIC SETTING LIKE THIS.
AND THE SAME IS TRUE WITH, UH, WHAT TOOK PLACE, UM, OVER THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY, IF, IF THAT'S CORRECT.
AND I KNOW THAT AS WELL IS ON OUR LIST OF UPCOMING TOPICS.
SO APPRECIATE YOU PAYING ATTENTION AS ALWAYS.
MAYBE MAYBE DIANA COULD SEND ME THE LINK TO THE REPORT AFTER THE, UH, FREEZE.
MY CHIEF OF STAFF IS HERE TO SERVE AND WE WILL DEFINITELY, UM, FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ONLINE AND UH, UH, I AM GOING TO DO MY BEST WITH HIS LAST NAME, NICHOLAS, UH, RAD, RAD ZZ.
AND UH, NICHOLAS, IF YOU'RE HERE, UM, PLEASE HIT STAR SIX TO UNMUTE.
LET US KNOW IF YOU'RE ONLINE, IF YOU ARE WITH US.
NICHOLAS, GONNA TRY ONE MORE TIME FOR YOU, NICHOLAS.
WE ARE, UH, SEEING YOU ONLINE HERE.
[01:15:01]
IF I DON'T SEE YOU, I CAN READ THE TOPIC THAT YOU'VE COMMUNICATED WITH MY STAFF FOR THE RECORD, LET ME, UH, RELATE THAT NICHOLAS R WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THE ADOPTION OF BATTERY ELECTRIC BUSES IN FAVOR OF EXPANDED ACCESS TO DIESEL BUSES AND GREATER BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE PURCHASES UNDER THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT SECTION.THANK YOU FOR SUBMITTING THAT COMMENT.
IT HAS BEEN READ FOR THE RECORD AND I BELIEVE WITHOUT THAT HIT STAR SIX IF YOU COULD.
NICHOLAS, WE ARE SEEING THAT YOU ARE ONLINE BUT NOT UNMUTING STAR SIX OR UNMUTE.
WE'LL TRY ONE MORE TIME AND IF NOT, WE CAN CERTAINLY FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
BUT YOUR COMMENT AS DELIVERED HAS BEEN READ INTO THE RECORD AND I THINK WE'LL TRY ONE MORE TIME.
NICHOLAS, ARE YOU THERE? WE SEE THAT YOU ARE UNMUTED NICHOLAS.
WELL, AND WITH THAT, I THINK WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO FOLLOW UP, UH, WITH THAT FINAL SPEAKER.
AND LET ME SAY THAT IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO CHAIR THIS MEETING.
UM, UH, ALL THE PRESENTATIONS TODAY WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE TTI WEBSITE.
THAT'S AT WWW.HOUSTONTX.GOV/COUNCIL/COMMITTEES/TTI HTML.
AND AS AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE, WE WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT, UH, THAT THE CONSTRUCTION CODE AMENDMENT PROCESS AND THE COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER INPUT THAT IS UPON US NOW WITH THE ADOPTION OF THE 2021 SET OF CODES TO ENSURE, UH, CODE AMENDMENT PROCESS CAPTURES THE NEEDS OF THE LARGER COMMUNITY WHILE PROTECTING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF HOUSTON CITIZENS, WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE AND INVITE THE PUBLIC AND INDUSTRY GROUPS TO SUBMIT THEIR INPUT ON CODE ANALYSIS.
THE 2021 BUILDING CODE ANALYSIS IS GROUPED BY TASK FORCE GROUPS TO VIEW THE PROPOSED 2021 BUILDING CODES TO AND TO SUBMIT A PROPOSED AMENDMENT, PLEASE VISIT HOUSTON PERMITTING CENTER.ORG AND CLICK ON CODE AMENDMENTS.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE BUILDING AND FIRE CODE IS TOMORROW, JANUARY 13TH.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE RESIDENTIAL AND SWIMMING AND SPA CODE IS UH, PASSED.
BUT WE CAN HELP YOU IF YOU HAVE CONCERN ABOUT THAT.
AND WE WOULD LIKE ALSO TO ENCOURAGE STAKEHOLDERS, INDUSTRY GROUPS, ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES TO SIGN UP TO SERVE ON A TASK FORCE GROUP OR CONSTRUCTION CODE MODERNIZATION COMMITTEE, THE DEADLINE TO SIGN UP FOR THOSE TASK FORCES AND COMMITTEES FOR THE PERFORMANCE AND ENERGY CODES, THE REVIEWS OF THE INTERNATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION CODE, THE I-I-I-E-C-C AND INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL PERFORMANCE CODE, THE I-C-C-P-C, THE CUTOFF FOR THAT.
SIGNING UP FOR THIS TASK FORCE IS ON JANUARY 27TH.
AND THE MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING CODES, THE REVIEWS OF THE MC, THE MECHANICAL CODE, AND NEC, THE NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE AND PLUMBING CODE, THE PC, THE CUTOFF FOR THAT, SIGNING UP FOR THIS TASK FORCE IS ON FEBRUARY 24TH.
WITH ALL OF THAT, YOU CAN REFERENCE ALL THESE DATES THAT I'VE SHARED ON THE TTI COMMITTEE WEBPAGE.
AND WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO ULTIMATELY ANNOUNCE HERE THAT OUR NEXT TTI COMMITTEE MEETING IS ON FEBRUARY 2ND, 2023.
WE'LL SEE YOU THERE AT 10:00 AM I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE.
CERTAINLY OUR SPEAKERS AND ALL OF YOU FOR PAYING ATTENTION.