[00:00:01]
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14TH, VALENTINE'S TODAY, 2023.
[PRESENTATIONS]
I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER.UM, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I PROVIDED THE ROSES TO ALL OF YOU ALL, UH, AROUND THIS, SO, YOU KNOW, LADIES.
ALL LADIES COMPLIMENTS OF, OF THE MAYOR.
IT MAY SAY SOMEBODY ELSE'S NAME ON THERE, BUT THAT'S A MISTAKE.
WE ARE NOW WITH THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON FOR A PROCLAMATION TO RECOGNIZE THE RETIRED FIREFIGHTER CLARENCE PREVO, UH, WHO DEDICATED HIS LIFE IN SERVING THE CITY FOR 35 YEARS.
UM, TODAY WE'RE GONNA BE HONORING MR. PRIVO.
I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH MR. PRIVOS, UM, WHEN I FIRST TOOK OFFICE, AND HE WAS SHARING ALL THE AMAZING THINGS THAT, UM, NOT ONLY HE WAS DOING IN DISTRICT B, BUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND SO I JUST FELT IT WAS BEFITTING THAT WE RECOGNIZE YOU BLACK HISTORY MONTH, UM, AND JUST HONOR YOU AS A LEADER IN THE DISTRICT B.
UM, SO THIS PROCLAMATION, CLARENCE PROVOST PRIVO, SORRY.
FIREFIGHTERS, EXEMPLIFY THE MOST TIME HONORED AMERICAN IDEALS OF PUBLIC SERVICE SACRIFICE AND PROTECTING THE CITIZENS OF OUR COMMUNITY FROM TRAGEDY ON THE HOME FRONT.
EVERY DAY, FIREFIGHTERS PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE TO PROTECT OUR LIFE AND PROPERTY SELFLESSLY GIVEN TIME AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES.
SPENT HIS ENTIRE CAREER RESCUING LIVES AS A FIRE FIRST RESPONDER IN 1978.
AT THE AGE OF 20, HE JOINED THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT AND BEGAN HIS LIFELONG CAREER, A DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT.
HE EARNED THE FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR AWARD IN 1990, WHILE SERVING AS A FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC.
OVER THE YEARS, HE HELPED TO DELIVER MORE THAN 300 NEWBORNS.
HIS GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT WAS TEACHING AND TRAINING TWO THIRDS OF ALL HOUSTON FIREFIGHTERS WHO WERE HIRED BETWEEN 1984 AND 2002.
AFTER 35 YEARS, HE RETIRED AS A SENIOR CAPTAIN AT THE HOUSTON EMERGENCY CENTER ON NORTH SHEPHERD DRIVE.
IT IS WITH THE UTMOST RESPECT, ADMIRATION, AND GRATITUDE THAT WE HONOR CLARENCE VOS JR.
IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO CALCULATE THE NUMBER OF LIES THAT HE'S POSITIVELY, POSITIVELY IMPACTED IN THE SPAN OF HIS CAREER.
THROUGH IT ALL, HIS DEDICATION TO HOUSTONIANS HAS BEEN UNQUESTIONABLE AND DEMONSTRATED IN HIS WILLINGNESS TO GO BEYOND, ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY TIME AND TIME AGAIN, AND THE RECOGNITION OF HIS 10TH RETIREMENT ANNIVERSARY, THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND DISTRICT B, CONGRATULATE AND COMMEND MR. CLARENCE PROVOST, PROVOST, PROVOST FOR HIS SERVICE, LEADERSHIP, AND COMMITMENT TO SAVING LIVES.
SO, THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 14TH, 2023 AS CLARENCE PROVOST DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
CONGRATULATIONS, AND REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR, AND YOU WANT YOUR MOM, COME ON UP HERE.
YOUR MOM, YOU WANNA INTRODUCE? YES.
THIS IS MY MOTHER, UH, DOROTHY HIGHTOWER.
HELLO, MISS HIGH MS. HIGH MOTHER HUG YOU.
UH, WELL, I'M NOT, I'M NOT USED TO, WELL, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME IN FRONT OF COUNCIL, SO, UH, SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU DO HERE.
I KNOW WHAT TO DO IN THE BACK OF AN AMBULANCE.
I KNOW WHAT TO DO, UH, ON A FIRETRUCK.
I KNOW WHAT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WHAT TO DO ON AN AIRBOAT.
I KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF LIVES.
I'VE, I'VE, I'VE DELIVERED A WHOLE LOT OF BABIES AND, UH, I, I CAN, I CAN TEACH YOU HOW TO DO WHAT THE GUY MEN AND WOMEN OF HFD DO ON A DAILY BASIS.
UH, IT WAS, IT WAS A PLEASURE AL ALSO TO BE INVOLVED WITH HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND THE EDUCATION OF PROBABLY TWO THIRDS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT'S STILL WORKING BECAUSE, UH, I STARTED TEACHING IN 84 ALL THE WAY TO 2002.
AND THEN, UH, UH, I WENT TO, HECK, I WENT TO, UH, UH, MOTOR REPAIR MAINTENANCE, AND THEN, UH, CAME OUT NUMBER ONE ON THAT TEST, UH, AT THE, AT THE SHOP AS A CAPTAIN, UH, UH, UH, A CLASSIFIED MECHANIC.
[00:05:01]
UH, AND I LEFT JANUARY 3RD, 2013.SO I'VE BEEN GONE, UH, UH, A DECADE AND A MONTH, AND I'VE BEEN BUSY, UH, PUTTING MY MOTHER IN A BRAND NEW HOUSE.
AND SHE SAYS, I, I BOSS HER AROUND A LITTLE BIT TOO.
I LOOK AT HIM ON, OH, CONGRATULATIONS.
UH, SO YOU'VE BEEN RETIRED FOR 10 YEARS NOW.
SO NO MATTER WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT RETIREMENT, IT'S DONE.
WELL, THIS IS, THIS IS A SMALLER UNIFORM.
BECAUSE, UH, I FOUND OUT IN MAY OF LAST YEAR THAT I WAS DIABETIC.
SO I GOT WITH THE PROGRAM TO, TO LOSE WEIGHT.
AND, UH, THIS IS A BRAND NEW UNIFORM, UH, THAT I, THAT, THAT I, I HAD, UH, UH, THROW, THROW THE BIG, THE BIG PANTS OUT AND GOT THE, GOT THE SLIM PANTS.
YOU LOOK, YOU LOOK PHENOMENAL.
COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON.
AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON FOR BRINGING MR. PRIVOS, UH, HOME TO US HERE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.
I WANNA, UH, TEST YOUR MEMORY JUST HERE A LITTLE BIT.
YOU, UH, IN THE ACCOLADES THAT WE HEARD, WHEN WE READ THE PROCLAMATION, WE HEARD ABOUT YOUR FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR AWARD.
AND I'M CURIOUS IF YOU COULD JUST PUT A FEW WORDS TO, TO WHY YOU GOT THAT AND WHAT YOU DID TO ACCOMPLISH IT.
WELL, ME AND MY PARTNER ROBERT, ROBERT, GARY STRONG, WE MADE A RUN, UH, IN, IN A NORTHWOOD MANOR ON A SUNDAY MORNING, GOT TO WORK ON A SUNDAY MORNING, AND, UH, APPARENTLY THERE HPD WAS SHORTHANDED AND THERE WAS A LADY IN DISTRESS.
UH, SHE WAS, SHE WAS BEING, UH, SEXUALLY ASSAULTED.
AND, UH, SO THEY SENT US, UH, WE WERE ON MEDIC 32 AT THE TIME, WHICH IS ON TIDWELL, UH, NEAR MESA.
SO WE WENT UP THERE AND, UH, WHEN WE FIRST ARRIVED, THE LADY NEXT DOOR SAID THEY WERE IN THE VACANT HOUSE NEXT DOOR.
SO WE WENT INTO, WE WENT TO THE HOUSE, AND I'M THINKING, WE WALKED INSIDE THE HOUSE AND WE HEARD NOISES, BUT, BUT, UH, WHEN WE WALKED IN, EVERYTHING GOT QUIET.
LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT THE, THE, THE, THE VICTIM WAS, WAS BEING MUFFLED.
SO I TOLD MY PARTNER, I SAYS, IF WE GO IN THERE, YOU KNOW, WE COULD GET SHOT.
SO I GRABBED THE TANK TOP OFF OF A TOILET IN THE, IN THE, IN THE BEDROOM NEXT TO US.
AND WE KICKED THE DOOR IN AND, AND THE ASSAULT WAS TAKING PLACE.
THE, THE ATTACKER JUMPED OUT THE WINDOW.
WE WENT BACK OUTSIDE, HE WENT TO THE FRONT YARD, AND I WENT TO THE BACKYARD AND WE JUMPED THE FENCE.
HE WENT INTO A HOUSE NEXT DOOR, AND, UH, WE HELD HIM THERE UNTIL HPD SHOWED UP.
WELL, I'M GLAD I ASKED THAT QUESTION 'CAUSE, UH, THAT, THAT'S HEROIC.
YOU WERE, UH, FIRST RESPONDER AND, UH, DELIVERED BABIES AND, UH, DRIVING THE AIRBOAT.
I BET YOU'RE GOOD AROUND THE CAMPFIRE.
YEAH, I, I DO WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE DONE.
AND, UH, BOY, YOUR RETIREMENT IS WELL DESERVED A DECADE INTO IT.
THIS IS A FITTING DAY FOR YOU.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
MAYOR, UH, I, WHENEVER, UM, WHENEVER I THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE TODAY AT BEING, UH, RECEIVING THIS AWARD, I, I KNOW THAT FIREFIGHTERS ALL AROUND THE CITY ARE WATCHING RIGHT NOW.
IF THEY'RE, IF THEY'RE IN THEIR STATIONS AND THEY'RE NOT DOING A RUN, THEY, THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE A ZONE.
AND YOU KNOW, THAT THEY, THEY'RE WATCHING WHAT HAPPENS AT COUNCIL.
'CAUSE WHAT HAPPENS HERE AFFECTS THEIR LIVES.
AND SO, UH, I KNOW THAT, UH, THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE DONE TO SAVE LIVES AND TO, TO RUN TO DANGER WHEN, WHEN ALL THE REST OF US ARE RUNNING AWAY FROM DANGER, WHEN THERE'S A FIRE, I, I WOULD RUN AND YOU WOULD RUN TO IT.
AND I APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO.
AND, AND, AND I, I'VE SEEN, I'VE SEEN FIREFIGHTERS CUT PEOPLE OUT OF CARS AND DO ALL TYPES OF THINGS TO, TO TRY TO SAVE THEIR LIVES.
AND YOU NEVER ASK 'EM IF THEY'RE A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN OR WHAT THEIR BACKGROUND IS.
ARE YOU LEGALLY HERE? YOU KNOW, UH, DID YOU DO THIS TO YOURSELF? THEY, YOU'RE JUST THERE TO HELP THEM.
AND THANK GOD FOR PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT HAVE MADE THAT COMMITMENT.
GOD BLESS YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR COMING, AND YOUR MAMA SHOULD BE SO VERY PROUD OF YOU.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING MR. PREVOST IN HERE.
UM, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT STANDING IN FRONT OF US, AND YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB OF THAT.
AND BASED ON YOUR HISTORY AND WHAT I'VE HEARD YOU SAY WE'RE THE LEAST OF YOUR CONCERNS, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE
[00:10:01]
BEEN OUT THERE RESCUING PEOPLE AND SAVING LIVES AND DELIVERING BABIES, THAT'S WAY EASIER THAN TALKING TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.SO, GOD BLESS YOU FOR, FOR YOUR TIME HERE AS SERVICE TO THE CITY, AND, AND WE WISH YOU WELL AND YOUR FUTURE.
COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARD POLLARD.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIMM, AND COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU.
UH, HEARING YOUR STORY JUST NOW IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE THOUSANDS OF STORIES YOU CAN TELL ABOUT THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE DONE THAT NO ONE PROBABLY KNOWS ABOUT, BUT YOU AND YOUR PARTNERS.
AND IT'S A TESTIMONY TO, UH, YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
WE'RE A BETTER CITY BECAUSE OF YOU.
WE'RE A BETTER CITY BECAUSE OF YOUR MOTHER.
SO I WANT TO THANK BOTH OF YOU ALL, AND CONGRATULATIONS.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS AWARD, AND, UH, HOPE THE GOOD LORD CONTINUES TO BLESS YOU WITH GOOD HEALTH AND, UH, BOTH YOU AND YOUR MOTHER.
[2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON FOR A PRO.COUNCIL CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER PAT FOR THE INVOCATION AND PLEDGE.
UM, AND FATHER RAFA, IF YOU WANNA COME UP.
UM, FATHER RAFAEL BOER IS THE PASTOR OF ST.
JEROME CATHOLIC CHURCH IN SPRING BRANCH.
HE BECAME AN ORDAINED PRIEST IN 1995 AND HAS BEEN SERVING AS A PASTOR OF ST.
JEROME IS A GREAT PARTNER WITH US, AND WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO ALL OF YOU, ESPECIALLY, UM, MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER AND THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE, AND TO ME, IT'S A PLEASURE THAT YOU INVITE ME TO LEAD THIS OPENING PRAYER FOR THIS CONSULT MEETING AS WELL.
AND TODAY WE CELEBRATE, UH, S SOME VALENTINE DAY.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE, NOT JUST ONLY THOSE WHO LOVE EACH OTHER, BUT IT IS A GOOD TIME TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS, MY FRIENDS AS WELL.
AND I WILL ASK TO START THIS, UH, THIS PRAYER.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU, PLEASE, I BEG YOU STENT, AND LET'S START IN WITH THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
ALMIGHTY FATHER GOD, WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR THE MANY BLESSINGS THAT YOU HAVE BESTOW UPON US AND UPON OUR GRAY CITY OF HOUSTON, CONTINUE TO GUIDE US THAT WE GOVERNED AND PROVIDE FIRMLY AND IMPROVELY IN ADDRESSING THE NEEDS AND THE CONCERNS OF ALL OUR GOOD PEOPLE OF HOUSTON.
MAY OUR MOTIVATION AND EFFORTS BE HEARTFELT, COMPASSIONATE, COURAGEOUS, AND SUCCESSFUL IN THE BETTERMENT OF OUR WONDERFUL CITY.
KEEP US EVERY FAITHFUL TO THAT HONEST AND BENEVOLENT PATH OF GOOD GOVERNANCE.
CONTINUE BLESSINGS AND LOVE UPON US, OUR FAMILY, AND OUR LEADERS.
[00:15:02]
PLEASE, PLEASE ACCEPT THE PRAYERS THAT WE ASK TO YOU ALMIGHTY FATHER, FATHER, AND BE WITH US THROUGH THIS SPECIAL YEAR, 2023.WELL, THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU.
AND NOW, IF YOU REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, REPUBLIC WITH NATION UNDER GOD.
[ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING]
THE ROLL CALL, MAYOR TURNER.PRESENT, COUNCIL THOMAS PRESENT.
COUNCIL HUFFMAN PRESENT, COUNCILMAN CISNEROS.
COUNCIL CASTEX HEADING WILL BE ABSENT.
WE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 29TH AND 30TH.
MOVE ROBINSON SECOND MARTIN REMOVED AND EX AND SECONDED ON THE ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES.
ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR IS NOT IN THE MINUTES ARE ADOPTED.
CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILMAN MCCOSH FOR A PROCEDURAL MOTION.
MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND MOVE DOUG SMITH FROM THE, HE'S CURRENTLY ON THE THREE MINUTE, UH, UH, NON AGENDA, NEARLY TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.
I'D LIKE TO PUT HIM, UH, AS THE, THE FIRST SPEAKER UNDER THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA.
YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION BEEN SECONDED.
ANY OTHER PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? VERY MUCH.
UH, MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL PROCEED TO CALL THE
[PUBLIC SPEAKERS]
SPEAKER'S LIST, THE FIRST SPEAKER, JESSICA MULLINS.JESSICA IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARY COOK.
I DIDN'T THINK I WAS GOING TO BE FIRST.
I'M WITH IMPACT RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
UM, I GREW UP IN HOUSTON AND I HAVE A DEEP LOVE FOR THIS CITY, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING MORE AND MORE, UM, BUILDING MORE AND MORE RESIDENTIAL FOR EVERYONE.
UM, I ASK THAT COUNCIL CONSIDER PARK POINT VILLAGE A SENIOR DEVELOPMENT FOR A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT, UM, AS IT WAS RANKED FOURTH OUT OF FIVE ELIGIBLE DEVELOPMENTS, UH, PER HDDS, UH, MEMO PUBLISHED, UM, TO THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY.
UM, PROVIDING A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR PARK POINT VILLAGE ALLOWS DISTRICT E TO HAVE A GREATER CHANCE OF SUCCESS THIS YEAR.
UM, I WANT TO NOTE THAT PARK POINT VILLAGE IS NOT IN A FLOOD PLAIN, UM, AND IS A HIGH SCORING APPLICATION.
UM, THE TAX CREDIT, UH, ROUND IS IN HIGHLY COMPETITIVE PROCESS.
LAST YEAR, ONLY FIVE DEVELOPMENTS WERE AWARDED.
AND SO, UM, ENABLING ALL THE DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE, UM, AND THAT ARE, ARE, ARE, ARE THAT SCORE.
WELL, I, I THINK BODES A CONSIDERATION.
UH, WHAT PERCENTAGE, UH, IF THIS PASSES, WHAT, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE APARTMENTS WOULD BE AFFORDABLE THROUGH ALL? BE AFFORDABLE? ALL OF THEM? YES, SIR.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I HAVE THAT ON THE RECORD.
ACTUALLY, I THINK I, I MISSPOKE.
WHAT, WHAT IS CONSIDERED A SENIOR 55 AND UP? I CERTAINLY QUALIFY
OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER, MARY COOK.
MARY COOK IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY DANIEL HENDRON.
HELLO, MY NAME IS MARY COOK, AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING FIRST UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
AND WE'VE, MY COMMENTS ARE GENERAL.
WE'VE BEEN READING, UM, IN THE NEWSPAPER ABOUT, UM, OPPOSITION TO WIDELY DISPERSED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND WE JUST WANT TO BE HERE TO SUPPORT, UH, WIDE GEOGRAPHIC AS WELL AS ECONOMIC AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND ANYTHING THAT OUR CONGREGATION OR OUR, OUR JUSTICE COUNCIL CAN DO TO SUPPORT THAT EFFORT.
WE ARE HERE WITH YOU, BUT EVERYBODY HAS TO BE SOMEPLACE.
AND, UH, SOMETIMES IT'S SCARY TOO FOR PEOPLE TO ENCOUNTER NEW CHANGES IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, AND WE HAVE EMPATHY FOR THAT.
[00:20:01]
FORWARD LOOKING.WE LIVE IN A BIG COMMUNITY, AND SO WE JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO ACT ON THAT.
AND THIS IS MY COLLEAGUE JOHN NAOR.
DANIEL TO BE FOLLOWED BY ZACH CAVENDER.
MY NAME IS DANIEL HENDRON WITH VERSA DEVELOPMENT.
UM, HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF A REQUEST FOR RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR 9% TAX CREDIT FROM THE T-D-H-C-A.
UM, THIS IS IN DISTRICT OR COUNCIL, DISTRICT G UM, MS. HUFFMAN.
AND, UH, REALLY JUST WANNA GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND.
WE DID MEET, UM, LAST WEEK, UH, WITH THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, UH, VS.
BACKGROUND IS, UH, IS WELL ESTABLISHED.
WE HAVE, UH, SEEN THROUGH, UH, FULL DEVELOPMENT 23 HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS.
WE DO HAVE TWO OTHERS UNDERWAY, ONE IN THE VALLEY IN BROWNSVILLE, AND ANOTHER IN PLANO, TEXAS.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, FOLLOWED NOT ONLY THE TD HCAS PROCESS WITH THE PRE-APPLICATION THAT WAS DUE RIGHT AROUND THE SAME TIME THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S APPLICATION, UH, WAS AS WELL.
UH, WE DO FEEL STRONGLY THAT THE APPLICATION IS, UH, IT DOES SCORE VERY WELL.
UH, WE, UH, WE FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT THE, UM, THE LOCATION LENDS ITSELF TO A SUCCESSFUL AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
UH, WE ESTIMATE THAT THE DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE BETWEEN A HUNDRED AND 110 UNITS, 85% OF WHICH WOULD BE, UH, LOW INCOME HOUSING OR RENT CAPPED, IF YOU WILL, AT 30, 50 OR 60% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME IS ROUGHLY 90,000 IN THE CI IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
IN THIS PARTICULAR SUBMARKET, WHICH IS ADJACENT TO THE GALLERIA, JUST TO THE WEST AND GREENWAY PLAZA OFFICE, UH, TO THE EAST, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 184,000 JOBS WITHIN A TWO MILE RADIUS.
AND WE FEEL THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR, UM, THOSE THAT WORK, UM, IN THE AREA TO ALSO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THAT LOCALITY.
UM, WE KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN, UH, COMMUNITY, UH, QUESTIONS, CONCERNS.
UH, WE DID OUR BEST TO ADDRESS THOSE IN THE 60 SECONDS PROVIDED AT LAST WEEK'S, UH, HOUSING, COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, UH, MEETING, UM, MANY OF WHICH ARE THE CUSTOMARY, UH, DISCUSSION POINTS WHEN IT COMES TO MULTIFAMILY HOUSING.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IT DOES BECOME AN EVEN MORE CHALLENGING CONVERSATION.
ADMITTEDLY, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO THE REASON WHY WE LIKE THE SITE, WHICH IS AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF LAS PALMAS AND RICHMOND AVENUE, UH, WE, UM, UH, WE DO FEEL LIKE IT IS RELATIVELY WALKABLE.
IS THAT 30 SECONDS OR TIME? I'LL GIVE TIME.
I'LL GIVE YOU ANOTHER, I'LL GIVE YOU ANOTHER MINUTE.
UM, SO WHEN WE DO FEEL THAT IT IS RELATIVELY WALKABLE, UH, BASED ON THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE ARGUMENTS WERE ASSUMING THAT THE RESIDENTS, UH, THAT WE WOULD HAVE HERE AND WOULD CALL HOME, UH, FELICITY OAKS DO NOT DRIVE.
UH, WHY THAT IS AN ASSUMPTION I DO NOT KNOW BECAUSE THE VAST MAJORITY, IF NOT ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS WOULD DRIVE.
AND I ALSO FEEL THAT THAT WOULD DISCOUNT THE PROCESS OF SELF-SELECTION, WHERE IF ONE WAS DEPENDENT ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, THEY WOULD CHOOSE NOT TO LIVE IN OUR DEVELOPMENT.
UM, SO, UH, WE ARE REQUESTING YOUR SUPPORT FOR RESOLUTION SUCH THAT WE MAY MOVE FORWARD IN THE T-D-H-C-A PROCESS FOR YOUR TIME.
UM, HOW MANY UNITS ARE YOU SENT? ONE 10 TO ONE 20, APPROXIMATELY A HUNDRED TO 110.
WE'RE STILL GOING THROUGH SITE PLANNING WITH THE ARCHITECT.
UH, I DIDN'T HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF, OF FORWARDING IT TO EVERYONE, BUT I CERTAINLY CAN MAKE THESE AVAILABLE.
UM, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PASS THESE AROUND, CAN YOU GIVE IT TO RHONDA? LEMME TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
AND THEN YOUR, YOUR PERCENTAGE OF AFFORDABILITY IS 85.
SO THERE WOULD BE 15% MARKET RATE UNITS.
AND, UM, AND WHEN YOU SAY AFFORDABILITY, WHAT IS THE, WHAT IS THE, UH, A MI? SURE.
UH, THERE WOULD BE A MIX BETWEEN 30%, 50%, AND 60% UNITS.
SO THE LOWEST RENT AT THE 30% A MI WOULD BE $500, $498.
UH, MAXIMUM RENT, UH, FOR A THREE BEDROOM WOULD BE CLOSER TO $1,400 AT A 60% A MI LEVEL.
AND LET ME ASK PRIOR, UM, WHAT SORT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HAVE YOU HAD? HAVE YOU DISCUSSED THIS WITH SOME OF THE PEOPLE, COMMUNITIES, GROUPS, ORGANIZATIONS, HOAS? SURE.
AND WE DID REACH OUT TO, UM, COUNCIL DISTRICT G, UM, MS. HUFFMAN, AND WE DID HAVE A MEETING WITH HER AND HER CHIEF OF STAFF.
THEY DID PROVIDE FEEDBACK FROM THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED DIRECTLY FROM HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS AND NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, WE HAD REQUESTED THAT THAT INFORMATION OR CONTACT INFORMATION BE PROVIDED TO US.
UH, BUT, UH, WE, WE HAD NOT RECEIVED THAT.
[00:25:01]
I AM OF THE ASSUMPTION THAT THEY, THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS WANTED TO STAY ANONYMOUS.WE DID HEAR FROM, UH, APPROXIMATELY 10 OR 12 OF THE, UH, OF CONCERNED CITIZENRY LAST WEEK IN THE HOUSING AID COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.
UM, THERE WAS A, UH, A GREAT DEAL OF OVERLAP IN TERMS OF THE FEEDBACK, UH, PRIMARILY WITH REGARD TO PARKING, TRANSPORTATION, UH, GROCERY STORES, UH, WHICH THERE ARE MANY IN, WITHIN ONE TO ONE AND A QUARTER MILES.
UM, AND, UH, WE HAVE REACHED OUT SPECIFICALLY TO OTHER, UM, COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, WE DID REACH OUT TO MS. CAYMAN'S DISTRICT BECAUSE WHILE NOT IN DISTRICT G, IT IS DIRECTLY ADJACENT, WE DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING BACK, UH, FROM HER.
AND JUST GIMME AND THERE HAVE BEEN, AND JUST GIMME SOME IDEA OF WHAT THE, WHAT THE CONCERNS WERE.
UH, PRIMARILY, UM, TRAFFIC ALONG RICHMOND AND IT NOT BEING A PEDESTRIAN, UM, FRIENDLY STREET, WHICH I, I DON'T DISAGREE WITH.
I WOULD MENTION THAT WE DO HAVE A 25 FOOT EASEMENT ALONG RICHMOND, WHICH IF THE CITY OF HOUSTON BECOMES, OKAY, I GOT THAT.
IN ADDITION TO TRAFFIC, UH, DISTANCE TO SCHOOLS WAS, WAS ALSO A, A PRIMARY ONE.
UM, WHEN YOU SAY DISTANCE TO SCHOOL, UH, THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, ST.
GEORGE PLACE, CONCERNED THAT THE, THAT THE DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE TOO FAR AWAY FROM THE SCHOOL? THAT IS, THAT IS, THAT WAS WHAT THE SUGGESTION WAS.
I, I WOULD, UH, I WOULD BEG TO DIFFER, UH, BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL WOULD PROVIDE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
WHAT ELSE? UM, THERE WAS PARKING, UH, WHICH WE WOULD INTEND TO PROVIDE AN ACCOMMODATION OF GARAGE, AS WELL AS A SMALL AMOUNT OF SURFACE SPACES.
UM, A LACK OF PARKS, UH, WAS BROUGHT UP.
UH, THE CLOSEST PARKS ARE, THERE'S A DOG PARK ABOUT A MILE AWAY, BUT THE PRIMARY PARKS ARE ABOUT ONE AND A QUARTER MILES AWAY.
UM, AND THEN INFRASTRUCTURE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE SITE COULD, UH, COULD WITHSTAND IT.
WE'RE CURRENTLY UNDERGOING A CIVIL FEASIBILITY STUDY WITH THE LOCAL HOUSTON BAY CIVIL ENGINEER, UH, WGA, UH, WE ARE WELL CLEAR OF THE 100 AND 500 YEAR FLOODPLAIN AND WOULD, UH, PROVIDE UNDERGROUND ATTENTION ON SITE.
SO IT GOT TRAFFIC DISTANCE FROM THE SCHOOLS, PARKING, LACK OF PARKS, INFRASTRUCTURE.
ANYTHING ELSE? UM, THERE WAS A ONE COMMENT THAT HAD TO DO WITH A, UM, PERCEIVED CONCENTRATION OF HOUSING TAX CREDIT DEVELOPMENTS ON RICHMOND IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
THERE IS RICHMOND SENIOR VILLAGE, WHICH WAS, UH, WHICH WAS AWARDED BY THE T-D-H-C-A 2.2 MILES WEST, AND THEN BOULEVARD 61, WHICH IS A FAMILY ORIENTED, WHICH IS THREE MILES WEST OF THE SITE.
I THINK IT WOULD, UH, IT PROBABLY WOULD BEHOOVE YOU AND I CERTAINLY WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU, UH, TO REACH OUT TO WHATEVER COMMUNITY GROUPS MAKE YOURSELF AVAILABLE MM-HMM
I THINK THAT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT, WHETHER THEY AGREE OR DISAGREE OR NOT.
BUT I DO ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO, TO DO THAT MM-HMM
AND, UH, SO THAT, THAT WILL, UM, SOMETIMES GO A LONG WAY.
UM, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE OUTLINING, WHEN YOU ARE, UH, GIVING ME SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WERE RAISED MM-HMM
QUITE FRANKLY, THAT COULD BE RAISED BY ANY DEVELOPMENT THAT'S OCCURRING IN ANYWHERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU AS WELL AS EVERYBODY ELSE, WHEN THESE DEVELOPMENTS ARE COMING ALONG, UH, IS ALWAYS PRUDENT TO REACH OUT TO THE PEOPLE, THE ORGANIZATIONS, THE HOAS, WHATEVER ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE THERE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES, AND TO LET THEM KNOW YOU, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOUR PLANS ARE, LET THEM SEE THE DRAWINGS.
UH, GET THEIR INPUT, YOU KNOW, EARLY ON INSTEAD OF JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN APPEARING ON THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA AND BOOM.
UH, IT, IT MAKES IT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT.
UM, BECAUSE DEVELOPMENTS OF THIS KIND WILL ALWAYS RAISE CONCERNS BY SOMEBODY IN MANY, MANY CASES.
UM, BUT AS LONG AS YOU'RE REACHING OUT TO THEM AND, AND MAKING YOURSELF AVAILABLE TO THEM TO ANSWER WHATEVER QUESTIONS, EVEN THOUGH AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU MAY NOT CONVINCE EVERYONE, BUT AT LEAST YOU'RE NOT SUBJECTING YOURSELF TO ANY CRITICISM THAT YOU DID NOT REACH OUT TO THEM.
AND THEN ONE LAST CLOSING PIECE OF ADVICE, UM, IS ALWAYS GOOD TO REACH OUT TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, BUT THAT SHOULD NEVER BE THE FIRST AND THE LAST STOP.
JUST ONE OF THE STOPS ALONG THE WAY.
SO YOU REACH OUT TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, BUT IN THE END, IT'S IMPORTANT TO GO AND REACH OUT, INTO, INTO THOSE COMMUNITIES AND TALK BA TOUCH BASES WITH THOSE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
YOU NAME IT, YOU JUST HEARD FROM, UM, ONE INDIVIDUAL, UH, WHO SPOKE FAVORABLY ABOUT HOUSING SHOULD BE EVERYWHERE.
AND I COULD NOT AGREE WITH THAT PERSON EVEN MORE.
SO JUST WORDS OF ADVICE, NOT JUST TO YOU YES, SIR.
[00:30:01]
OUT THERE IN THE UNIVERSE, YOU KNOW, UM, LET ME ENCOURAGE THAT TO TAKE PLACE.HAVING SAID ALL OF THAT, COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX.
UM, LAST WEEK WHEN WE ATTENDED THE, UM, HOUSING COMMITTEE, I ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT IF YOUR ORGANIZATION HAD REACHED OUT OR MET WITH ANY OF THE NEIGHBORS AND WAS TOLD NO.
UH, I'M TOLD NOW THAT YOU REACHED OUT TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHOSE DISTRICT IS INVOLVED AND ASKED THEM TO DO YOUR WORK FOR YOU AND PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION REGARDING HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS IN THAT YOU SPEND, UH, YOU SAY YOU'VE, YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK IN AREAS ALL ACROSS TEXAS, IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR.
AND SO WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU GO INTO A COMMUNITY AND YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THAT, DO YOU DO ANY HOMEWORK ABOUT WHAT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODY ASKS OR REQUIRES OF PEOPLE? WE, WE DO, YES.
AND YOU JUST BEEN A STANDING PRACTICE HERE IN HOUSTON WHEN WE HAVE THESE KIND OF HOUSING PROJECTS FOR AT LEAST THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, UH, THAT WE LIKE TO SEE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND PARTICIPATION.
AND AS FAR AS I'M AWARE TO DATE, YOU'VE NOT HAD ANY MEETINGS WITH ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY, IS THAT CORRECT? I DID MEET WITH, UH, FRED HINDEL, WHO WILL ACTUALLY BE SPEAKING.
I UNDERSTAND HE CALLED YOU THOUGH.
HE HE DID REACH OUT DIRECTLY? YEAH.
HAVE YOU, HAVE YOU, IN THE INTERVENING WEEK THAT YOU'VE BEEN, UM, BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MEETING, HAVE YOU MADE AN APPOINTMENT OR SET A MEETING WITH ANYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY TO DATE? NO, SIR.
UM, ONE OTHER ISSUE THAT I HAVE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT PARKING AND PARKS AND GROCERY STORES.
UM, HAVE YOU DONE ANY RESEARCH ON THE SCHOOLS IN THE AREA ABOUT HOW FULL THEY ALREADY ARE AND WHAT THE IMPACT OF THOSE SCHOOLS WOULD BE? YES.
DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THAT? YEAH, UM, THERE WAS, UH, WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE CAPACITY OF THE SCHOOLS, UH, THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ROUGHLY, I BELIEVE IT WAS FOUR OR FIVE STUDENTS ABOVE CAPACITY.
THE MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS SIMILARLY CLOSE TO CAPACITY, JUST ABOVE THE HIGH SCHOOL WOULD, WOULD BE OF CONCERN.
I BELIEVE IT WAS 126 STUDENTS ABOVE CAPACITY.
I, UM, I, I PER PERSONALLY DO NOT HAVE A SOLUTION FOR THAT.
WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT THERE, THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 4,800 UNITS WITHIN ONE MILE DELIVERED IN THE LAST DOZEN YEARS.
AND WITHIN ONE MILE THERE ARE OVER 10,000 MULTIFAMILY UNITS.
WELL, I'M GLAD YOU'VE AT LEAST DONE THE RESEARCH ON THE SCHOOLS.
NOW, UM, WHEN YOU MET WITH MY OFFICE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, REACHING OUT TO THE HOAS, AND THEN YOU SAID LAST WEEK, YOU KNOW, AT THE HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING THAT THERE WERE 10 TO 12 PEOPLE THAT CAME AND, AND SPOKE.
ONE ACTUALLY BEING THE PRESIDENT OF AN HOA IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, DID YOU TALK TO THE PRESIDENT THAT DAY WHEN HE WAS HERE IN CHAMBERS WITH YOU? I DID NOT.
I WAS, UM, I, I WAS CAUGHT UP WITH ANOTHER CONVERSATION.
UH, BY THE TIME THAT CONVERSATION WRAPPED UP, IT'S, UH, THEY, THEY WERE NOT PRESENT ANY LONGER.
UM, I DID NOT HAVE THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION.
UM, I, I DID NOT GO SO FAR AS TO TRACK THEM VIA THE, YOU KNOW, HOUSING OR, EXCUSE ME, HARRIS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT PUBLIC RECORDS AND PROPERTY SEARCH AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE A BIT INTRUSIVE, FRANKLY.
UH, BUT NO, I DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO, UH, I BELIEVE IT WAS, UH, MR. AND MR. MOSS, I BELIEVE.
AND SO OF THE 12 PEOPLE THAT CAME LAST WEEK, UH, TO SPEAK ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND, YOU KNOW, BEING MADE AWARE OF THIS PROJECT, HOW MANY OF THOSE 12 DID YOU SPEAK TO LAST WEEK? I, I HAVE NOT SPOKEN TO THEM DIRECTLY.
WELL, MR. HENDON HENDRON, OKAY.
I'M GONNA GIVE YOU SOME TIME TO GO AND TALK TO THEM NOW.
UH, NOT PERSUASIVE TO ME, AND THIS IS NOT JUST YOU.
IF YOU TELL ME THE SCHOOLS, SO YOU PEOPLE DON'T WANT A MOTHER TO BE CROWDED OR GETTING CLOSE TO BEING CROWDED, THEN ALSO TELL ME THAT YOU'RE OPPOSED TO ANY OTHER DEVELOPMENTS BEING BUILT IN THE DISTRICT.
BECAUSE IF YOU'RE, IF PEOPLE ARE SAYING THEY DON'T WANT ANY MORE KIDS IN THE SCHOOLS, THEN I EXPECT PEOPLE TO BE WILLING TO SAY THAT THEY'RE OPPOSED TO ANY OTHER APARTMENT UNITS OR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES BEING BUILT IN THE AREA.
OTHERWISE, YOU'RE JUST TARGETING THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT.
SO SCHOOLS BEING CROWDED SCHOOLS OKAY.
BUT I AM ABOUT NOT TALKING TO PEOPLE.
'CAUSE YOU NEED TO TALK TO PEOPLE.
[00:35:01]
ALL THE TIME.THAT'S ONE WAY TO DEMONSTRATE THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR.
SO DON'T, THAT'S AN EASY THING TO DO.
AND REGARDLESS OF HOW PEOPLE, UM, RESPOND, OR PEOPLE MAY NOT BE, MAY NOT BE, AND YOU MAY NOT GET THE ANSWER YOU WANT, BUT YOU NEVER WANTED TO BE SAID THAT YOU DIDN'T REACH OUT TO THEM.
SO PLEASE TAKE THE TIME, UH, TO REACH OUT AND GO AND TALK TO THEM.
OKAY? I'M NOT GONNA SAY THAT'S, THAT'S GONNA SOLVE EVERYTHING, BUT IT'S A GOOD BEGINNING.
ZACH IS TO BE FOLLOWED BY AVIS CHASON.
I'M, UH, WITH MARK DANA CORPORATION.
WE ARE A, A MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPER THAT HAS TWO PROJECTS ON THE, UH, CITY OF HOUSTON'S, UH, APPROVED LIST FOR RESOLUTIONS, UH, LOST OAKS, AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN'S DISTRICT, AND, UH, WESTPORT PLACE IN MARI PRO TIP MARTIN'S DISTRICT.
AND I JUST WANTED TO PUT A FACE TO THE NAME, TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY.
UH, I KNOW OF SOME OF YOU, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UM, AND I WANT TO TAKE, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT WESTPORT PLACE A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFICALLY AS THERE IS COMPETITION, UH, FOR THE SUPPORT IN THAT AREA.
UH, WESTPORT PLACE IS A PROJECT THAT, UH, WE APPLIED FOR 9% TAX CREDITS LAST YEAR.
UH, DID RECEIVE A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UM, BUT IT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING AN ALLOCATION OF CREDITS FROM T-D-H-C-A.
UH, SOME RULES HAVE CHANGED SINCE LAST YEAR THAT MAKE THE PROJECT MORE COMPETITIVE.
UH, SO WE ARE IN LINE TO HOPEFULLY GET, UH, THE SUPPORT FROM THE CITY, UH, AND, AND AN ALLOCATION OF CREDITS FROM FROM THE AGENCY.
UH, WE HAVE THE, THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE SUPPORT.
UM, AND WE'VE, UH, GOT A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN THAT AREA.
SPECIFICALLY KINGWOOD AREA OF HOUSTON, AS WELL AS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS A WHOLE.
WE HAVE A MARKET RATE PROJECT NAMED KING'S LANDING, WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE, UH, KINGWOOD PLACE, WEST COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS ALSO WHERE WESTPORT PLACE IS LOCATED.
WE'VE EXPERIENCED WITH, UH, WITH THEIR DESIGN REQUIREMENTS AND THEIR COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION AND, AND, UM, UH, AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE, UH, PROUD TO SAY THAT WE'RE A GOOD NEIGHBOR IN THAT AREA.
UM, WE'RE LOCATED IN THE, UH, UH, LAKE HOUSTON TURS, UH, WHICH WAS A, UH, UH, PRIORITY GUIDELINE FOR THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND, UH, PROJECTS THAT THEY WOULD SUPPORT.
UH, SO WE ARE PROUD TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE TAX DOLLARS THAT OUR PROPERTY GENERATES, YOU KNOW, WILL BE REINVESTED IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE TURS.
UM, SO THAT BEING SAID, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO MAKE THAT PITCH TO YOU.
AND, UH, HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
MR. CAVENDER, DID YOU FIND IT DIFFICULT? UH, I'M, LET ME ASK YOU THIS QUESTION FIRST.
DID YOU MAKE AN EFFORT TO VISIT WITH THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND INTERESTED PARTIES IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE YOU WERE PLANNING TO PUT THESE FACILITIES? WE DID.
UM, WE, UH, AS I SAID WITH WESTPORT PLACE, IT WAS A PROJECT WE APPLIED FOR LAST YEAR.
MY NEXT QUESTION IS, UH, DID YOU FIND IT DIFFICULT TO LOCATE THEM? IT CAN BE.
UM, WE LIKE TO USE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A VARIETY OF RESOURCES YOU CAN USE.
WE LIKE TO REACH OUT TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S OFFICE TO SAY IF THERE'S PEOPLE THAT THEY KNOW SPECIFICALLY THAT WE SHOULD REACH OUT TO, THAT WE WILL.
UM, BUT THERE'S ALSO, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC RECORD, THE CITY'S WEBSITE.
BUT YOU WERE ABLE TO FIND THEM.
'CAUSE EVIDENTLY YOU DID IT BEFORE YOU CAME UP HERE, RIGHT? YES, WE, WE DID.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR TURNER, MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL.
IT'S MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING IN PERSON BEFORE YOU, SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
AS I MENTIONED TO COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON BEFORE THE MEETING, WE HAVE OUR FIRST DEVELOPMENT IN, UH, COUNCIL DISTRICT B.
IT'S, UH, HOUSTON AT ELLA BOULEVARD.
SO WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO BE, UH, COMING TO YOUR GREAT CITY.
AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL NOT BE THE LAST TIME I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT, UH, AN AGENDA.
ITEM 11, WE HAVE, UH, SPECIFICALLY PARK ROW KATIE 11.
IT'S IN THE LIMITED PURPOSE ANNEX, UH, BUD IN COUNCIL MEMBER PECK'S DISTRICT, UH, WE HAVE MET WITH COUNCIL MEMBER PECK STAFF.
I WANT TO THANK YOUR STAFF WITH JOSIE DE LEON AND LIZ MIRANDA.
OUR TEAM HAS ALSO MET WITH, UH, STATE REPRESENTATIVE HUBBERT VO.
WE DO HAVE LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM THE FARA VILLAGE, HOA.
AND WE'RE REALLY PLEASED TO HAVE ANOTHER STELLAR DEVELOPMENT IN AN AREA THAT'S GROWING.
IT HAS A LOT OF MULTIFAMILY COME ONLINE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT'S ALL MARKET RATE.
SO THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
IT'S A TOP SCORING APPLICATION WITH THE STATE, UH, TO BRING HIGH QUALITY HOUSING, UH, TO AN AREA THAT'S NEXT TO TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, HOUSTON, UH, HARRIS METHODIST WEST, AND NOT TOO FAR FROM THE ENERGY CORRIDOR.
AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO A LOTS OF RETO RETAIL, A SAM'S CLUB, A WALMART, AN HEB.
SO PLEASE, WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO SUPPORT US.
UH, IT IS ACTUALLY, UM, RECOMMENDED BY
[00:40:01]
SUPPORT.UH, WE HAVE A LONGSTANDING HISTORY OVER 150 YEARS OF OWNING, DEVELOPING, UH, MANAGING THROUGHOUT THE GLOBE.
AND WE'RE BASED OUT OF DALLAS, BUT WANT TO COME TO YOUR GREAT CITY.
THANK YOU MS. JASON, THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY AND TALK TO, TALKING TO US.
AND I'LL ASK THE SAME QUESTIONS.
UH, HAVE YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH YOU PLAN TO LOCATE YOUR, YOUR BUSINESS? YES.
WE ACTUALLY HAD A NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING IN THE AREA AT THE, UH, COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT.
UM, WE, I ACTUALLY CANVASSED THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE'S RETAIL RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.
THEY'RE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT THEIR EMPLOYEES COULD BENEFIT FROM THIS DEVELOPMENT.
UH, I WENT TO THE CENTRAL, UH, BAPTIST CHURCH OFF OF GREENHOUSE ROAD, I A MONTESSORI SCHOOL.
I VISITED THE MAY CREEK ELEMENTARY HIGH SCHOOL AND JUNIOR HIGH.
SO DID YOU HAVE A, A PARTICULARLY UNDUE AMOUNT OF DIFFICULTY REACHING THESE PEOPLE? NO, BECAUSE I WALKED THE NEIGHBORHOOD
SO YOU TOOK THE TIME TO ACTUALLY GO DO THE WORK.
WELL, AND MEETING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER PECKS STAFF AS WELL, THEY WERE VERY HELPFUL.
AND YOU HAVE A GREAT RESOURCE ON YOUR, UH, WEBSITE FOR NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THEY'RE ASSIGNED DIFFERENT AREAS? YES.
WE HAVE A LIST OF NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND CIVIC CLUBS AND SO FORTH ON THE CITY WEBSITE, RIGHT? THAT IS CORRECT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO VISIT WITH YOU ALL TODAY.
I AM OPPOSED TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 10, FELICITY OAKS.
LYNN PARK SUBDIVISION, LOCATED DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET.
I'M A HOMEOWNER THERE AND HAVE BEEN THERE FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
SEVERAL REASONS WHY I OPPOSE THIS IS MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
NONE EVEN AFTER OUR SPEAKING AT THE COUNT, UH, THE HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING LAST WEEK, NO CONTACT WHATSOEVER FROM THE DEVELOPER.
LYNN PARK, HOUSTON, WE HAVE A WEBSITE.
WE'VE, WE HAVE 168 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE THERE, AND THAT'S, THAT'S NOT RIGHT.
RICHMOND AVENUE IS A LARGE SIX LANE THOROUGH FLARE, NOT PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY NOR BICYCLE FRIENDLY, AND HAS NO BICYCLE LANES.
ALSO, THE CLOSEST PARK, IT'S DOWN AT RICHMOND AND KIRBY CALLED LEVY PARK.
BEAUTIFUL PARK 1.25 MILES AWAY.
AND THE CLOSEST GROCERY STORE WOULD BE RANDALL'S, SOUTH OF 59 AND WEST PARK AT WESLEYAN AND BINET.
AND, UM, MY ADDRESS IS 4 0 0 4.
AND LEMME SEE, UM, I THINK MR. HENDRON MOS I KNOW, I KNOW THIS IS MR. MOSS, BUT I THINK YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE PROPERTY THAT WHERE MR. HENDRON JUST SPOKE ABOUT.
UH, YOU ALL ARE CERTAINLY BOTH HERE TODAY, BUT LET ME, LET ME JUST DRILL DOWN A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.
I'LL HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING.
WHEN YOU MENTIONED, UH, TRAFFIC SITUATIONS, UM, ARE THERE, ARE THEY, ARE THEY BUILDING, UH, LET'S SAY APARTMENT COMPLEXES IN THAT AREA? THERE ARE BUILDING CLOSER TOWARDS LOOP SIX 10 WHERE THERE'S, UH, BETWEEN WESTHEIMER AND RICHMOND, THERE'S BEEN SOME HIGH RISE MULTIFAMILY, UH, TO THE NORTH.
THERE WAS A DEVELOPMENT PUT IN, UH, CAMDEN AT, UH, IT WAS A MID-LEVEL, I THINK IT'S LIKE FOUR, FOUR STORIES.
IT WAS AT WESLEYAN AND ALABAMA, THE SOUTHEAST CORNER, YOU KNOW WHERE THE AT AND T PROPERTY IS.
AND THEN ACROSS THE STREET, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A HIGH RISE, UH, APARTMENT COMPLEX THERE.
THESE WERE, THESE WERE DEVELOPMENTS THAT WERE BUILT IN THE AREA? YES, SIR.
AND IT'S NORTH OF IT'S NORTH ABOUT, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THEM, YES.
BUT FAM BUT FAMILIES ARE STILL MOVING INTO THE AREA, IS WHAT I'M SAYING IS THE POINT THAT I'M MAKING.
I AM, I WOULD EXPECT SO, YES, SIR.
AND, UM, AND THE GROCERY STORE ISSUE THAT YOU BROUGHT UP, UM, THAT'S BEEN THE SITUATION FOR, FOR A WHILE? YES, SIR.
AND THEN I THINK YOU MENTIONED ONE OTHER THING THAT I NOTED, THE PARK.
UM, SO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MOVING INTO THE AREA, UH,
[00:45:01]
SEPARATE AND APART FROM FELICITY OAKS, UM, ARE THERE FAMILY ORIENTED HOUSING? ARE THEY, ARE THEY PEOPLE MOVING IN WITH CHILDREN? IT DEPENDS.MAYOR, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S ALL SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE BUYING THE HOMES IN SOME INSTANCES, BULLDOZING AND BUILDING THESE NICER HOMES.
I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE APARTMENTS.
I HAVE TWO BOYS THAT, UH, 1 31 27.
THEY LIVE OVER THERE RIGHT ACROSS FROM GREENWAY PLAZA IN THE METROPOL.
AND I BELIEVE THAT'S MORE, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A FAMILY SITUATION.
AND, BUT, BUT THE NO ONE FROM THIS DEVELOPMENT EVER REACHED OUT TO, TO YOUR ORGANIZATION, TO THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION AS FAR AS YOU KNOW? YES, SIR.
IF, CERTAINLY IF THEY'RE SMART, THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD BE MORE RESPONSIVE.
UH, MR. MOSS, WHEN YOU SIGN UP TO SPEAK, UH, BEFORE COUNCIL, YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE YOUR ADDRESS AND YOUR PHONE NUMBER, RIGHT? YES, SIR.
SO, AND THIS IS A PUBLIC DOCUMENT? YES, SIR.
I THINK THERE'S SOME OUTSIDE, IS THAT RIGHT? UH, YES.
SO, MR. HENDRON, AND YOU ARE, WERE IN THE COMMITTEE MEETING LAST WEEK, AND THAT INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE TO HIM AT THAT TIME, RIGHT? YES.
AND ARE YOU OPPOSED TO SPEAKING TO MR. HENDRON ABOUT THIS PROJECT? NOT AT ALL.
MAY I HAND THIS OUT? ABSOLUTELY.
THAT'S THE RIGHT, IF YOU'LL GIVE IT TO RONDA AND HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE HOMEOWNERS HERE WITH US.
WHICH, UH, CORNER OF RICHMOND AVENUE ARE THEY PLANNING ON BUILDING THIS ON SOUTHEAST CORNER OF RICHMOND AND LAS PALMAS.
CURRENTLY THERE IS A, I THINK FIVE OR SIX STORY BUILDING.
IT'S CALLED PAN JACKSON BUILDING, AND THEN ADJACENT TO THE WEST WITH THE WESTERN BOUNDARY BEING LAS PALMAS.
IT WAS AN AUTO REPAIR, AN AUTO SALES, UH, FACILITY.
AND I, I, YEAH, I WAS LOOKING ON THE INTERNET, TRYING TO PICK OUT WHICH CORNER IT WAS.
AND WHAT I'M PASSING AROUND AGAIN, BACK TO THE NO TRANSPARENCY.
THIS DOCUMENT WAS RECEIVED OUTTA THE T-D-H-C-A APPLICATION MADE BY THE DEVELOPER, AND I'VE HIGHLIGHTED WHERE IT STATES THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES ARE TO NOTIFY OR CONTACTED PRIOR TO CLOSING OF THIS TRANSACTION.
OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER, ROBERT WILSON.
ROBERT WILSON IS HERE BE FOLLOWED BY BONNIE SPENCER.
MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I'M A RESIDENT IN HOUSTON, AND I'M SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO THE FELICITY OAKS DEVELOPMENT ON RICHMOND.
I WAS GOING TO COME UP HERE AND COMPLAIN ABOUT DEVELOPER OUTREACH OR LACK THEREOF, BUT SEEMS I'VE BEEN BEATEN TO THE PUNCH.
UM, I WILL NOTE THAT ONE OF THE SPEAKERS LAST WEEK MADE A SUGGESTION THAT THE PROJECT SITE WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR SENIOR HOUSING TO THE LACK OF NEARBY FAMILY AMENITIES, SCHOOLS, AND GROCERY STORES.
I'M NOT SURE IF THIS SUGGESTION HAS ACTUALLY BEEN CONSIDERED BY THE DEVELOPER SINCE WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM HIM, BUT IF THIS WERE CH CHANGE WERE MADE, I THINK OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD ACTUALLY BE IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT.
BUT IN ITS CURRENT FORM, WE CAN'T SUPPORT IT.
AND SO WE WOULD ASK THAT COUNCIL, TAKE THIS OFF THE LIST FOR THE RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT.
DOUG SMITH TO BE FOLLOWED BY BERTHA LANE.
I CAME HERE ROUGHLY TWO YEARS AGO TO POINT OUT THAT IN THESE LAWSUITS WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION, THE CITY WAS ARGUING OUT OF BOTH SIDES OF ITS MOUTH.
IN ONE CASE, THEY WERE SAYING THAT PROP B WAS ILLEGAL BECAUSE IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.
AND IN THE SECOND CASE, THEY WERE ARGUING THAT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
[00:50:01]
WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.WHEN I POINTED THIS OUT, I WAS TOLD I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
AFTER LISTENING TO THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT DOCUMENTS RECENTLY, I THINK MY POSITION WAS CONFIRMED.
DID ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS EVER QUESTION WHAT I POINTED OUT TWO YEARS AGO IN AN EFFORT TO STOP THE ADMINISTRATION'S ACTIONS TOWARD THE FIREFIGHTERS? I BELIEVE THERE ARE 10 OF YOU WHO ARE IN YOUR FIRST TERM AND SUBJECT TO REELECTION IF YOU CHOOSE TO RUN AGAIN, I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK ALL OF YOU TO CALL A SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNCIL TO DEMAND THAT THE ADMINISTRATION ENTER INTO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, OR EXCUSE ME, MY BINDING ARBITRATION WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION TO RESOLVE THIS FIVE YEAR IMPASSE.
FIREFIGHTERS ARE WILLING TO DO THIS.
WHY ISN'T THE CITY? IS IT BECAUSE THE ADMINISTRATION KNOWS IT HAS A WEAK BARGAINING POSITION? I THINK THAT POSITION WILL BE MUCH STRONGER.
PRIOR TO THE SUPREME COURT FINAL DECISION, SINCE, IN MY OPINION, FROM LISTENING TO THE COURT ARGUMENTS, THE DECISION WILL NOT BE FAVORABLE TO THE CITY.
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT DUE TO THE ADMINISTRATION'S ATTITUDE TOWARD THE FIREFIGHTERS, THE CITY HAS INCURRED A BACK PAY LIABILITY THAT THE CITY CONTROLLER HAS SET A SIGNIFICANT AT A RECENT BFA MEETING.
HE SAID HE WOULD BE WILLING TO MEET WITH YOU PRIVATELY WITH HIS ESTIMATE OF THAT AMOUNT.
I THINK YOU'LL ALL BE SHOCKED WHEN YOU HEAR THAT AMOUNT, WHICH I THINK COULD BE NEAR A BILLION DOLLARS.
THE CITY ATTORNEY RECENTLY MADE THE COMMENT THAT IF THE CITY LOSES THESE CASES, IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO FINANCE ONGOING OPERATIONS.
IF THIS IS TRUE, WHY DID THE CITY LET IT FESTER FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS? ADDRESSING IT EARLIER WOULD'VE REDUCED THE LIABILITY SUBSTANTIALLY.
IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO CALL A SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNSEL, I IMAGINE THAT THE FACT THAT YOU DID NOTHING TO ADDRESS THIS POTENTIAL FOR BANKRUPTCY WILL BE A PROMINENT ISSUE.
SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO RUN FOR REELECTION, I WOULD EXPECT IT WILL BE ADDRESSED IN ANY CANDIDATE FORUM.
I HELP ORGANIZE FOR SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS I BELONG TO.
I WOULD ALSO HOPE THAT THOSE OF YOU IN YOUR FINAL TERM WOULD JOIN IN THIS CALL FOR A SPECIAL MEETING.
TO ADDRESS THIS, YOU WON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE LIABILITY AND HOW TO COVER IT, BUT YOUR LEGACY AND THE LIABILITY YOU LEFT WITH THE CITY WILL HANG OVER YOUR DEPARTURE.
WHEN YOU CALLED A MEETING, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO ADD ANOTHER ITEM TO THE AGENDA RELATING TO CITIZEN COMMENT AT COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
THIS WAS STOPPED OVER A YEAR AGO WHEN THE MAYOR CIRCULATED A MEMO ASKING COMMITTEE CHAIRS TO ALLOW DEPARTMENT HEADS TO QUOTE, RETURN TO WORK AFTER ANSWERING COUNCIL QUESTIONS.
THAT WAS AS IF TO SAY, ANSWERING CITIZENS' QUESTIONS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE A PART OF THE DEPARTMENT HEAD'S WORK.
THIS MAY HAVE ORIGINATED FROM A QUESTION I ASKED FOR TWO YEARS AT THE HR BUDGET HEARINGS AFTER THOUSANDS OF CITIZENS LOST THEIR JOBS AND BUSINESSES WERE FORCED TO CLOSE, MANY OF WHICH NEVER REOPENED DURING THE COVID CRISIS.
I ASKED THE HR DIRECTOR HOW MANY CITY EMPLOYEES SUFFERED PAY CUTS, AND THE ANSWER WAS NONE.
THIS IS THE KIND OF INFORMATION THAT NEEDS TO BE COMMUNICATED IN A PUBLIC MEETING RATHER THAN VIA HIDDEN RESPONSE.
AND I WOULD LIKE YOU TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE AGAIN, FINALLY, I WOULD HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU REALIZE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS SITUATION AND AGREE TO PARTICIPATE IN A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING.
BUT EVEN IF IT'S ONLY NINE OF YOU, THAT WILL BE A MAJORITY AND YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO ANSWER IF YOU DECIDE TO RUN FOR REELECTION WHY YOU DID NOTHING TO STOP THIS POTENTIAL BANKRUPTCY AND CRAZY RETALIATION AGAINST THE FIREFIGHTERS.
UH, DOUG, I JUST HAVE ONE POINT I WANNA MAKE.
FIRST OF ALL, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS REGARDING THE FIREFIGHTER PAY ISSUE.
IT'S DEFINITELY A SERIOUS ONGOING PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IN THE CITY.
UH, BUT I'D POINT OUT TO YOU THAT THE CITY CHARTER PROHIBITS COUNCIL.
IN FACT, THE CITY CHARTER ONLY ALLOWS THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE UNIONS TO NEGOTIATE CONTRACTS.
UH, IF WE DID A COMMITTEE MEETING LIKE THAT AND WE TOLD THE MAYOR WHAT WE WANT, THEN WE'RE ENGAGING IN THAT, IN THAT NEGOTIATION IN VIOLATION OF THE CITY CHARTER.
HAVE YOU REVIEWED THAT? DO YOU, ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THAT? I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO NEGOTIATE.
I'M ASKING YOU TO HAVE THE CITY ENTER INTO MANDATORY ARBITRATION.
WELL, WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT IF, IF WE VOTED TO TO REQUIRE THE MAYOR TO GO TO BINDING ARBITRATION, THEN WE HAVE ENTERED INTO THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS.
SO THAT'S, THERE'S NO WAY AROUND THAT WE, WE WOULD BE PARTICIPATING AS A, A PARTICIPANT IN THAT NEGOTIATION AND, UH, WHERE THE, THE CHARTER ITSELF REQUIRES ONLY THE MAYOR AND THE LEADERS OF THE VARIOUS UNIONS CAN NEGOTIATE.
I I, I MEAN, I I, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO AND I, AND I REALLY AM NOT UN UNSUPPORTIVE OF YOUR IDEA, BUT I JUST DON'T SEE HOW A CALLING A SPECIAL MEETING WOULD BE ABLE TO OVERCOME THAT OBSTACLE WHERE WE, WE WOULD BE THEN IN VIOLATION OF OUR CITY CHARTER BY INTERVENING IN, IN THE NEGOTIATION BETWEEN THE MAYOR AND
[00:55:01]
THE OTHER COUNCIL.SO IN CASE YOU DON'T GET A RESPONSE FROM MY OFFICE REGARDING THAT, THAT'S WHY HOPEFULLY THERE'S ANOTHER WAY TO ADDRESS THIS BECAUSE IT'S AN ABSOLUTELY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND YOU'RE ALL AWARE OF IT.
COUNCIL MEMBER KASH DOUG, I, UH, I HAVE TO CONCUR WITH WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX SAID CONCERNING THE CHARTER'S DIRECTED THAT COUNCIL CANNOT NEGOTIATE, UH, THESE TYPE OF SETTLEMENTS.
BUT I WILL SAY THAT, UH, THE SUPREME COURT OF TEXAS HAS THIS MATTER BEFORE IT NOW MM-HMM
AND, AND THEY MAY RESOLVE THIS BE, UH, IN APRIL OR MAY OR, OR, OR AT LEAST GIVE SOME KIND OF A RESPONSE TO ALL THIS LITIGATION.
SO, BUT I DO APPRECIATE YOU COMING UP AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR, UH, FOR BEING HERE.
AND I JUST THINK THAT IF YOU COULD ADDRESS THE ISSUE THROUGH MANDATORY ARBITRATION WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT ISSUES ITS OPINION, THE CITY WOULD BE IN A MUCH STRONGER POSITION.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO SUGGEST.
WELL, I THINK THAT HE HEARD WHAT YOU SAID.
LEMME JUST SAY I COULDN'T HAVE DISAGREE TOO.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH I DISAGREE WITH THAT ASSESSMENT.
YOU ENTER INTO BINDING ARBITRATION AND YOU TAKE THE POWER AWAY FROM YOU AS ELECTED OFFICIALS TO DETERMINE WHICH EMPLOYEE GROUP GETS WHAT.
AND YOU PUT INTO THE HANDS OF THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW THE FULL IMPLICATION OF BUDGETARY MATTERS IN THIS CITY.
BUT THAT CERTAINLY CAN BE YOUR CHOICE TO BE THE NEXT MAYOR FOR THE NEXT MAYOR.
IF YOU WANT, IF YOU WANT TO GO INTO BINDING ARBITRATION AND TURN THE BUDGET OVER TO SOMEBODY ELSE WHO'S NOT IN AN ELECTED POSITION, WHO DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THE BUDGET OR THE BUDGET IMPLICATIONS, YOU ALL GO RIGHT ALONG WITH THAT.
AND THEN TELL ME HOW, HOW THE CREDIT RATING AGENCIES WILL RESPOND TO YOU CREATING ANOTHER STRUCTURAL HURDLE FOR THIS CITY.
I WISH YOU THE VERY BEST ON THAT.
BUT LEMME TELL YOU, WHEN YOU GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU START TRYING TO SATISFY A GROUP AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CITY, YOU WILL BANKRUPT IT.
BUT I WISH YOU ALL WELL IN YEARS TO COME.
BUT I WILL NOT LEAVE THE CITY IN A FINANCIAL HOPE, BUT YOU MAY, AND THEN YOU CAN SATISFY SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS IF I DO THAT.
WE HAVE BEFORE, OH, SORRY, I WASN'T TRYING TO, THIS IS MS. LANE.
I AM HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT, UH, WAVING I A SYSTEM WITH WAVING A SIDEWALK.
I'M REALLY NOT COMPLETELY UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THAT.
IT'S A SIDEWALK GOING TO NOWHERE IN FRONT OF MY, UH, FRONT OF MY PROPERTY AND IT'S GETTING TO BE VERY EXPENSIVE.
AND IT'S REALLY, UM, I'VE TRIED TO SEE WHAT PURPOSE WILL IT, YOU KNOW, HAVE, BECAUSE WHEN IT, UH, THIS IS A, I LIVE IN A FLOOD AREA AND WHEN IT FLOOD IT, THE DITCHES GET FULL OF WATER AND EVERYTHING.
SO THE SIDEWALK BASICALLY WOULD JUST BE FALLING INTO THE WATER.
I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND.
SO YOU SEE YOU HAVE A CONSTRUCTION, YOU HAVE A CONSTRUCTION LOAN TO BUILD A DUPLEX? YES, IT'S BUILT ALREADY.
BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO PUT IN A SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF THE DUPLEX THAT YOU'RE BUILDING BASICALLY.
YEAH, BECAUSE IT FLOODS OVER THERE AND IN THE, UH, SIDEWALK BASICALLY JUST, IT'S AN OPEN DITCH.
AND THE SIDEWALK WILL BASICALLY LIKE, JUST 'CAUSE THE CONTRACTOR DID PUT UP SOME STAKES AND THE ONES CLOSE TO THE DITCH ABOUT A DITCH.
WHEN IT RAIN REAL BAD, IT, IT FALLS INTO THE WATER.
MS. LANG, I'LL, I'LL HAVE TO LOOK INTO THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE.
ALRIGHT, LEMME LOOK INTO IT SOME MORE.
THANK YOU, MS. UM, UH, MAYOR AND MS. LANE, I'LL FOLLOW UP.
YOU KNOW, WORK WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
IT SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE TRYING TO, YOU'RE BUILDING A DUPLEX.
THEY WANT YOU TO PUT A SIDEWALK ON IT, BUT IT'S AN OPEN DITCH.
AND YOU'RE SAYING THAT IT SHOULDN'T BE A SIDEWALK, RIGHT? IT'S A, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A SIDEWALK GOING TO NOWHERE.
SO, SO YOU'RE THE, YOU'LL BE THE ONLY HOUSE ON THAT, UH, UH, I GUESS PROPERTY ON THAT STREET THAT WOULD HAVE A SIDEWALK.
IF YOU DO, DO ONE, IF YOU INSTALL A SIDEWALK, YOU WOULD BE THE ONLY PROPERTY ON THAT STREET THAT WOULD HAVE A SIDEWALK, CORRECT? BECAUSE IT'S DITCHES.
YEAH, BECAUSE THE, UH, THE DUPLEX IS FACING THE STREET.
AND THE OTHER COUPLE, FEW HOUSES ON THE STREET, WHICH THE STREET IS,
[01:00:01]
UM, 204TH BLOCK LONG AND THE BACK DOOR IS ON THE STREET.SO IT'S, AND AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THOUGH, MS. LANE, THEY'RE OFFERING YOU, INSTEAD OF HAVING TO BUILD A SIDEWALK TO DO THE FEE IN LIEU OF THE SIDEWALK, IS THAT NOT THE CASE? WELL, AND YOU DON'T WANNA DO EITHER.
WELL, NOT SO MUCH AS I DON'T WANT TO DO IT, BUT IT'S JUST THAT IT'S NOT, I'M REALLY NOT UNDERSTANDING IT REAL WELL BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE SIDEWALK WON'T HAVE A PURPOSE.
WELL THAT'S, WE, WE JUST CHANGED THE ORDINANCE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THE SIDEWALK, BUT IN DO, IN LIEU OF THE SIDEWALK, YOU PAY A FEE INTO THE SIDEWALK FUND.
SO, UH, HOW DO I FIND OUT ABOUT THE FEE? OKAY.
I HAVE TO BORROW, IF YOU'LL GET WITH, IF YOU'LL GET WITH RHONDA, RHONDA IS THE SIDEWALK LADY, RIGHT THEN.
OH, I'M SO COUNCILMAN, WILL YOU FINISH? YEAH, I'M FINISHED.
AND RHONDA CAN PUT YOU IN TOUCH WITH SOMEONE.
ANTHONY BARRON ANTHONY IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY KENNA.
MR. BARRON, RIGHT BEHIND THAT MIC.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR, EVERYBODY HERE.
UH, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE GRAND TRANSPORTATION AT, UH, BUSH AIRPORT.
UH, WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THE AGENTS AND THE OFFICERS THAT ARE RUNNING THE SHOW OVER THERE.
UH, I FORTUNATELY DON'T USUALLY DO TRIPS OUT THERE, BUT, UH, I DO MOST OF THE DISPATCHING FROM MY COMPANY AND OTHER PEOPLE TO HELP US.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS THAT THE, THE TRAFFIC CAN BE EASILY EFFICIENT FOR EVERYBODY.
UH, MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE I PUT STARTED PUTTING DASH CAMS ON MY CARS AND HAVING MY DRIVERS PUT BODY CAMERAS ON JUST FROM THE BODY LANGUAGE ALONE.
YOU DON'T NEED TO HEAR WHAT THE PEOPLE SAY.
THEY ALREADY HAVE SOME, I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF BEEF THEY HAD BEFORE I STARTED WORKING FOR MY DAD.
BUT, UH, YOU CAN JUST TELL FROM THE BODY LANGUAGE ALONE FROM THE CAMERA THAT THEY HAVE SOME KIND OF ISSUE WITH THE LIMO DRIVERS.
THERE ARE SOME ROTTEN APPLES THAT DO THINK THAT THEY CAN PARK WHEREVER THEY WANT, BUT NOT EVERYBODY DOES THAT.
UH, YOU CAN SEE THEM AS SOON AS THEY SEE THE PERMITS ON THE, ON THE, ON THE WINDSHIELD, THEY START MAKING US GO FURTHER AWAY FROM DROPPING OFF WHERE WE HAVE TO, TO DROP THE PEOPLE OFF.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE OTHER COMPANIES, LIKE THE SHUTTLE BUSES, THE TAXIS PAY, BUT I WANT TO SAY THAT THE LIMO COMPANIES PAY A PRETTY PREMIUM FOR THE PERMITS TO PARK AT THE AIRPORT AND AROUND THE CITY.
UM, THERE IS EMIRATES, I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF DEAL THEY HAVE WITH THE CITY, BUT THEY ARE, THEY HAVE SLOTS AT THE TERMINAL E CURBSIDE PICKUP.
THERE'S TAXIS, THERE'S RIDE SHARES, AND THERE'S THEM.
THERE'S NO SPACES FOR LIMOUSINES TO PICK UP ON THE CURBSIDE.
UH, A LOT OF THE, I I TRIED TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION TO MR. GOKEY, FORGIVE ME IF I'M NOT SAYING IT RIGHT, WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE HEAD OF, UH, GROUND TRANSPORTATION AT AIRPORT.
THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE, UH, HEAD END PARKING IN FORCE TO SHOW THE VISIBLE LICENSE PLATES IN THE BACK.
A LOT OF UBER DRIVERS ARE PARKING IN THE LIMO, PARKING AND SOLICITING.
UH, I HAVE HUNDREDS OF VIDEOS AND THOUSANDS OF PHOTOS OF PEOPLE SITTING THERE SOLICITING.
UH, THERE'S NO BARRIER FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO THE RIDE SHARE IN THE LIMO PARKING.
UH, THEY CAN EASILY BE HIT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE COMING OUT TO GET THEIR RIDE SHARE.
A LOT OF THE LIMO DRIVERS TURN IN AND THERE CAN BE AN ACCIDENT THERE.
UH, THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY ENTRY AND ONE WAY OUT TO TERMINAL C LIMO PARKING.
IF SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS, THERE'S A PARKING LOT RIGHT NEXT TO IT THAT'S, THAT'S NOT BEING USED.
POSSIBLY FOUR TO 5, 6, 7 CARS THERE ON A DAILY BASIS, WHICH WE CAN USE THAT TO COME IN AND EXIT OUT.
I'M SORRY IF I DON'T HAVE THE DIAGRAMS SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE PREPARED.
UH, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PARKING TO TERMINAL B.
THERE'S A LOT OF HPD VEHICLES THAT PARK THERE.
THERE'S A LOT OF OFFSHORE RIGGED VEHICLES THAT JUST PARKED THERE TO LEAVE THE VAN THERE ALL DAY FOR SOMEBODY TO COME IN THE NIGHT SHIFT AND PICK IT UP AND TAKE IT AWAY.
UH, ANOTHER THING WHICH IS MORE ABOUT SECURITY, THERE'S A LOT OF SOFT ENTRIES INTO THE AIRPORTS.
BUT, UM, I HAVE A NOTE THAT SAYS THAT, UM, A SENIOR MEMBER OF THE, UM, HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM FROM LANDSIDE OPERATIONS, THEY HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH YOU.
CORRECT? ONLY WHEN I STARTED VOICING MY, MY ANGER AND TELLING THEM THAT I'M GONNA COME SEE YOU.
I HAVE A TEXT TRAIL OF THEM NOT RESPONDING UNTIL THE DAY OF TODAY.
UH, I HAVE ON VIDEO OF THE PEOPLE TELLING ME TO SHUT MY MOUTH, TELLING ME TO GET OUTTA
[01:05:01]
MY FACE.UH, THERE WAS INSTANCES WHERE WE HAD TO GET A GREEN SHEET WHEN WE ALREADY HAD THE PERMIT.
THE PEOPLE WOULD BE IN THE BOX ON THE PHONE PURPOSELY MAKING US WAIT.
SOMETIMES IT'S ALREADY A HASSLE TO GET INTO THE PARKING.
BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT THE NOTE THAT I HAVE, UH, IS THAT DUE TO ONGOING CONSTRUCTION AND THERE'S A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION OUT THERE.
MEMOS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PICK UP PASSENGERS ON THE TERMINAL E TEMPORARY ARRIVAL CURB AND MUST USE THE TERMINAL C LIMO PARKING AREA.
AND THEN THEY SAY, MR. VARONE WAS PREVIOUSLY UNFAMILIAR WITH THIS CHANGE, BUT HAS BEEN ADVISED, AND THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM WEBSITE HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH CURRENT LIMO PICKUP PROCEDURES.
UM, AND THEN THEY INDICATE THAT YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU VOICE VARIOUS CLAIMS AND A SENIOR MEMBER OF THE, UH, HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM TEAM, UH, HAS BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH YOU, HAS ANSWERED MR. BAR, UM, MR. BARONES QUESTIONS AND HAS ALSO OFFERED TO MEET WITH HIM.
I, I'VE, I'VE VOICED THAT OPINION, BUT ONLY UNTIL I STARTED TELLING HIM THAT I WAS GONNA COME SPEAK TO Y ALL I UNDERSTAND, I UNDERSTAND.
WHEN THAT WASN'T VOICED, I DIDN'T GET A TEXT MESSAGE.
LET NO, SIR, JUST LET ME, LET ME VOICE THIS.
WELL, LET, LET, LET JUST SAY THIS, UH, OKAY.
BECAUSE LET ME ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO, TO VISIT WITH THEM.
I MEAN, THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO, UM, TO, TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING.
I CERTAINLY WILL ENCOURAGE THEM TO VISIT WITH YOU.
YOU KNOW, DON'T WANT THEM TO BE DISRESPECTFUL AT ALL, BUT TO LISTEN TO YOU AND TO, UH, AND TO DO THEIR VERY BEST TO, UM, TO RESPO RESPOND TO YOUR CONCERNS.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO COME AND LAY IT OUT BEFORE US.
AND WHEN YOU TOLD 'EM YOU WERE COMING BEFORE US, THEY START, THEY START RESPONDING TO YOU, RIGHT? YES, SIR.
WE GO BACK AND TELL 'EM THAT THE MAYOR SAYS THEY NEED TO KEEP TALKING WITH YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. BARON, FOR COMING.
SO YOU HAVE A LIMO SERVICE, RIGHT? MY DAD HAS A LIMO SERVICE.
I JUST USUALLY DISPATCH ITM FORTUNATE ENOUGH JUST TO STAY AT HOME.
HOW MANY, HOW MANY LIMOS DO YOU HAVE GOING ON? WE ONLY HAVE THREE VEHICLES IN SERVICE, BUT WE CONTRACT AROUND 30 PEOPLE TO HELP US WITH THE TRIPS THAT WE GET.
AND SO, UH, I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION GOING ON OUT THERE.
UH, WHEN I WENT OUT THERE LAST TIME, I HAD TO, WHEN I MADE A DROP OFF, I HAD TO GO THROUGH A PARK PARKING GARAGE TO EXIT.
I MEAN, I WAS SO CONFUSED BY THE TIME I GOT, COULDN'T BELIEVE THEY PUT ME INTO A PARKING GARAGE.
BUT, UH, I, I KNOW YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
AND, AND IT JUST, UH, THEN, THEN IT FINALLY DUMPED ME BACK OUT ON THE, ON THE RIGHT ROAD.
BUT IT WAS JUST HARD TO FIGURE IT ALL OUT.
AND SO, I'M SURE FOR YOUR DRIVERS, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S EQUALLY, IT'S, IT IS CONCERNED AND TRYING TO FIND YOUR PASSENGERS THAT HAVE PAID YOU TO PICK THEM UP, SO, YOU KNOW, THANK GOD FOR CELL PHONES OR YOU'D REALLY BE IN A, A TON OF TROUBLE.
BUT ANYWAY, UM, I, I DO KNOW THAT THERE'S PROBLEMS OUT THERE AND EVERYBODY'S SUPPOSED TO BE RESPECTFUL.
AND I BELIEVE IF YOU'RE KIND TO 'EM AS AND, AND TELL 'EM YOU'RE GONNA SEE THE MAYOR, I THINK, I THINK THAT, THAT THAT'LL MAKE 'EM CALM DOWN.
AND EVERYBODY JUST NEEDS TO BE NICE.
AND YOUR VIDEO AND THESE GUYS.
WELL, I STARTED HAVING TO, SINCE APRIL, I GOT OUT OF THE GUARD AND I STARTED HELPING MY DAD FULL TIME.
AND, UH, WHEN I STARTED GOING OUT THERE, I STARTED REALIZING THESE PROBLEMS. AND IT'S NOT REALLY MY DRIVERS, I'M WORRIED ABOUT, IT'S THE CLIENTS.
YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T MAKE, I MEAN, I'M NOT TRYING TO BE DISRESPECTFUL, BUT NOW YOU SAID YOU GOT OUT OF THE GUARD.
YOU, YOU SERVED IN OUR, UH, IN THE MILITARY.
MR. WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND GOD BLESS YOU.
AND CONGRATULATIONS FOR BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR.
BUT TO HIS POINT, MAYOR TURNER, I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU'RE ON THIS.
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN TRAVELING INTERNATIONALLY AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING HERE, THEY'VE GOT FOUR AND FIVE PIECES OF LUGGAGE.
AND THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN REALLY GET TO SEE IS THE UNDERGROUND TRAM, WHICH IS REALLY HARD TO GET TO.
'CAUSE WE CAN'T USE THE SKY, THE SKY LINK UNLESS YOU'RE INSIDE THE TERMINAL.
SO ONCE YOU PICK UP YOUR LUGGAGE, GETTING OUTSIDE BECAUSE OF ALL THE TRAFFIC, LUGGING THOSE SUITCASES, IT'S REALLY, IT'S REALLY TOUGH.
AND AS WE'RE ENTERING A SPACE WHERE WE HAVE A LOT MORE CONVENTIONS COMING, PEOPLE TRAVELING MORE INTERNATIONALLY, I DO BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD BE, IT WOULD BEHOOVE, YOU KNOW, IH TO SEE IF THERE'S ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE, TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER.
I DID HIRE A SERVICE TO PICK ME UP.
'CAUSE PARKING AT SEA IS SO CHALLENGING.
UM, AND I DID HAVE TO KIND OF LOAD UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.
SO IT, AND THEN UNDERSTAND, IT'S, IT'S, WE HAVE A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION GOING ON.
BUT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS IT'S DEFINITELY WARRANTED.
AND I KNOW THAT THE MAYOR IS ON IT,
[01:10:01]
AND, AND EVERYONE'S LISTENING TO YOU.AND, UM, THANK YOU DE BECAUSE YOU'RE TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE THAT IT'S THE FIRST WAY THAT WE SEE HOUSTON.
RIGHT? YEAH, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I, THAT'S EXACTLY.
WANNA ABSOLUTE THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE AND MAKING SURE THAT YOUR CLIENT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON.
UH, CAN YUMA UBA, MR. UBA TO BE FOLLOWED BY JAMES SUTHERLAND? GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCI OF SEA DOGS PARISH FRATERNITY.
AND, UM, I'M HERE WITH MY COLLEAGUES, UM, TO SHED MORE LIGHT ON HOMELESSNESS IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
UM, I MUST COMMAND THE CITY ON THE MAYOR FOR A GREAT JOB.
UM, I'VE BEEN IN THE EAST, DOWN EAST DOWNTOWN AREA FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS NOW, AND I'VE SEEN THE TRANSITION FROM THE MESS IT USED TO BE, UM, TO WHAT IT IS RIGHT NOW.
AND LESS HOMELESSNESS, BUT STILL, UM, WE STILL HAVE A LITTLE MORE WORK TO BE DONE.
AND THAT'S WHERE MY ORGANIZATION COMES IN.
WE WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT YOU GUYS IN ANY CAPACITY WE CAN FROM MENTORING, YOU KNOW, THERAPY, HEALTHCARE, WHATEVER IT IS.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE, YOU KNOW, THE JV WITH THE CITY ITSELF, OR ALL THE FAITH-BASED OR SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS TO LIKE, YOU KNOW, BRING MORE AWARENESS TO HOMELESSNESS.
I KNOW YOU GUYS CAN DRAG PEOPLE INTO THESE SHELTERS.
YOU HAVE, THERE ARE A BUNCH OF 'EM.
I MEAN, I KNOW YOU BUILT NAVIGATION, DIFFERENT PLACES, BUT STILL NOT BEING OCCUPIED, YOU KNOW, SO WE'D LIKE TO GET THIS PLACES TO, YOU KNOW, TO CAPACITY, UM, YOU KNOW, HELP THEM.
EVEN SOME PEOPLE AT RISK OF BEING HOMELESS.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO PUT THEM BACK MAYBE IN THE WORKFORCE? UM, MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS, UM, YOU KNOW, HELP THEM ON THE RESUMES.
SOMETIMES THEY DON'T HAVE CLOTHING.
CLOTHING, WHATEVER IT COULD DO.
CAPACITY ORGANIZATION COULD COME TO LIKE, HELP OUT.
SO, UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO MAYBE BE IN TOUCH WITH ANYONE THAT CAN HELP US, MAYBE PARTNER WITH SOME SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS OR, OR IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANYTHING THAT NEEDS CAPACITY, LIKE FROM, YOU KNOW, TRAINING, MENTORSHIP, WHATEVER IT IS, WE'LL HAVE PEOPLE IN THE ORGANIZATION THAT CAN HELP FOR FREE.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.
JUST MAKING SURE THAT, UH, YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION WAS IN HERE.
I, I SEE THE REFERENCE SHEET, BUT I DON'T SEE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION.
OH, I WAS LOOKING IN THE, IN YOUR BROCHURE.
YEAH, IT IS ON THE SHEET, SIR.
THANKS A LOT FOR WHAT YOU GUYS BEEN DOING.
JAMES SUTHERLAND IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY KATHY GUNNER.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE Y'ALL HERE TODAY.
UM, WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER, THE WAY WORKED THINGS WITH DAD WAS, THIS ISN'T GONNA COST YOU ANYTHING.
CAN WE TALK? THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.
BUT I'M HERE TO SAVE THE CITY SOME MONEY.
WE HAVE SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS IN THIS CITY.
IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME.
UH, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT FAIR HOUSING.
EVERYBODY SAID WE DO LOW INCOME HOUSING.
YEAH, MOST LOW INCOME HOUSING IS CHEAP AND POOR PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD THOSE.
BUT WHEN WE GO A LITTLE DEEPER, THERE'S A THING CALLED FAIR HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY.
I DON'T KNOW WHO IS IN CHARGE OF MAKING LOW INCOME HOUSING ACCESSIBLE, BUT THEY HAVE NO TRAINING IN IT.
HOW CAN WE DO THIS? HOW ARE THEY? WHERE IS THIS COMING FROM? AND I LOOK AT THE PLANS AND GOING, OH MY GOD.
ANOTHER ADMINISTRATOR GOT INVOLVED WITH SOMETHING THEY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT.
THAT BUILDER IS NO LONGER GONNA WORK WITH THE CITY AS OF TODAY.
THEY CALLED ME AND SAID, WE'RE DONE.
THEY'RE HAVING A TRAINING PROGRAM.
IT'S CALLED FAIR HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY.
I TOOK MY CLASS THIS MORNING, I'VE BEEN THROUGH IT BEFORE.
WE'RE ALL GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER EVERY DAY.
WE NEED TO HAVE ACCESSIBILITY.
THE PROBLEM WE HAVE IS WHOEVER'S DOING THIS STUFF DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
AND IT, IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT PEOPLE.
IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT A DEGREE.
IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT WHO YOU ARE.
[01:15:01]
FOR YEARS, AND I HAVE SEEN THE PROBLEMS IN LOW INCOME HOUSING.I'LL, I'LL BE GLAD TO GIVE YOU THIS.
I DON'T WANT ANY, I'M NOT TRYING TO SOLICIT.
ALL I'M TRYING TO DO IS HERE IS A FIVE WEEK COURSE THAT'S AN HOUR AND A HALF UP AT A TIME WHERE YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT IT.
AND THAT'S ALL I'M HERE TO DO, IS JUST TRY TO HELP.
AND DON'T GET ME STARTED ON, ON LOW INCOME HOUSING.
'CAUSE I, POOR PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD MOST LOW INCOME HOUSING BECAUSE IT'S DONE IN SUCH POOR QUALITY.
SO, WITH THAT, IF THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT, THANK YOU MA'AM FOR SEEING A SECOND.
OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER, KATHY GUNNER.
KATHY GUNNER IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY A SIMS. GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR, I'M HERE AGAIN.
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, BY THE WAY, I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA GET SOME LOVE FROM THE CITY TODAY, BUT I DID NOT.
UH, TODAY I WAS EXCITED ABOUT THE LIGHT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO COME ON AT BENNINGTON AND HOMESTEAD ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE STRIPES HAD NOT BEEN, UH, PLACED OUT.
I SAID, I SAID, ASKED WHY I, I DIDN'T GET AN ANSWER.
YESTERDAY WAS BEAUTIFUL AND SUNNY.
SO I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THE STRIPES WASN'T DONE IN NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER OR JANUARY WHEN THEY PROMISED THAT THEY WERE GONNA HAVE THE LIGHTS ON BY MID-JANUARY.
I KEPT EMAILING COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, TASHA JACKSON.
AND I KEPT GETTING, YOU KNOW, RUN AROUND FROM, UH, NOT FROM HER OFFICE, BUT THEY JUST GAVE, THEY GAVE ME THE INFORMATION THAT WAS GIVEN TO THEM.
AND THAT'S WHERE I'VE BEEN BACK AND FORTH, BACK AND FORTH.
SO I, I MISSED THE LAST TWO OR THREE MEETINGS BECAUSE THEY SAID WE GONNA HAVE IT ON.
SO I'M JUST HERE BECAUSE I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED.
THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY LIVES LOST AT THAT INTERSECTION.
AND I STARTED THIS PROJECT IN 2017.
I GOT EMAILS DATED BACK TO 2017 TRYING TO GET, UH, A LIGHT THERE BECAUSE OF THE MANY LIVES THAT HAVE BEEN LOST AT THAT CORNER IS UNBE.
I DO HAVE A ACCIDENT REPORT AND I COUNTED JUST WHILE I WAS SITTING THERE.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY IT WAS DONE IN, IN 2022 'CAUSE I DON'T HAVE THAT DATA, BUT IT'S BEEN, UH, SO I'M JUST, I'M, I'M PLEADING WITH THE, UH, WITH YOU MAYOR TO LET THEM GO.
UH, SO I LET, I ASKED THEM, WILL THEY GO AHEAD AND PUT THE STRIPES DOWN? I ASKED THEM TO LET THE LIGHTS BLINK TODAY, SO GET THE, GET THE, UH, THE PEOPLE PREPARED TO STOP.
AND THEY COULDN'T DO THAT EITHER.
SO, I'M, I JUST KIND OF, I'M, I'M JUST DISAPPOINTED.
AND, UM, THANK YOU KATHY FOR COMING IN.
UM, I KNOW WE ALL DISAPPOINTED.
UM, THIS MORNING WE HAD, UM, CONSTITUENTS COME OVER FROM GREENS POINT, ACRES, HOMES TO CELEBRATE THE TURN THAT THIS LIGHT BEING TURNED ON BECAUSE OUR OFFICE PAID FOR IT WHAT, IN MARCH OF 2021.
AND SO WE'VE JUST BEEN GETTING, IT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
AND, AND I'VE, I'VE TOLD YOU MANY A TIMES DON'T COME IN.
I MEAN, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME IN.
I'M LIKE, YOU CAN COME IN, BUT WE WORKING ON IT, IT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
AND SO I DID REACH OUT TO THE MAYOR THIS MORNING, UM, WHEN WE GOT THE, THE MESSAGE THAT THE I, THAT IT WASN'T GONNA BE TURNED ON.
AND HE SAID HE WAS GONNA LOOK INTO IT.
AND I'M SURE YOU HAVE, BUT JUST, JUST KNOW THAT I WAS DISAPPOINTED TOO.
IF YOU, IF YOU TAKE YOUR SEAT AND LEMME SEE IF I CAN GET AN ANSWER RIGHT QUICK.
AMOS SIMS. UH, SIMS, EVERYBODY, DOCTOR, TO EVERYBODY.
MY NAME IS AMY SIMS. I WANT TO, UH, SPEAK ON THE BEHALF OF ME AND THE REST OF THE HOMELESS PEOPLE.
I HAVEN'T BEEN HOMELESS THAT LONG, BUT I, I HELPED START THE HOMELESS COURT RELATION BACK IN 2009.
THAT'S WHEN I WAS STUDYING LAW.
NOW I'M IN A POSITION TO WHERE I NEED THEM AND I CAN'T GET THE HELP NOR THE SERVICES THAT I NEED.
I SIGNED UP FOR SECTION EIGHT HOUSING IN SEVERAL PLACES.
AND MY IDENTITY WAS STOLEN BY THE PEOPLE WHO I GAVE MY INFORMATION TO.
[01:20:01]
BUT THESE TWO YOUNG LADIES HERE ALSO HAD THE SAME ISSUE THAT I HAVE.WE GIVE THESE PEOPLE ALL OUR INFORMATION, OUR BIRTH CERTIFICATES, OUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS, OUR IDS, HOPING THAT WE CAN GET SOME KIND OF ASSISTANCE TO HELP US TO MOVE ON WITH OUR LIVES, TO BETTER OURSELVES.
I'M NOT ABLE TO WORK NOW MY FAMILY MEMBERS.
I CAN'T DEPEND ON THEM TO, TO KEEP ME COVERED WITH A ROOF OVER MY HEAD, CLOVE ON MY BACK, OR FOOD ON MY BODY.
THESE THINGS I HAVE TO DO ON MYSELF TO BE INDEPENDENT.
I HAVE TO LUG THESE THINGS AROUND.
I CAN'T, UH, WORK BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE IS ALREADY USING MY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.
SO THEREFORE, WHEN I GO TO GET MY MONEY OR GO TO MY CHECKING ACCOUNT, I HAVE NOTHING THERE.
I'D HAVE MADE, I GOT THE POLICE REPORTS IN MY POCKET.
I WAS TOLD THAT MY HOUSING WAS APPROVED.
I WAS WAITING ON A ASSESSMENT.
AND THEN WHEN I GO IN TO CHECK ON THESE THINGS, THEY TELLING ME I NO LONGER HAVE IT.
AND IT'S VERY DIS IN, UH, DISCOURAGED FOR NOT ONLY FOR ME, FOR ANYONE, BUT I'M NOT THE PERSON TO GIVE UP BECAUSE I'M NOT A, I'M NOT A QUITTER.
SO WHAT I'M ASKING Y'ALL IS SEARCH THE BEACON.
THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT WORKING WITH INTEGRITY.
THEY'RE NOT WORKING WITH TRUST.
THEY'RE NOT WORKING WITH HONESTY.
AND THEY ARE WORKING OFF OF GOVERNMENT FUNDING.
AND THEY ARE USING THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AS A COVER UP TO COVER UP THEIR OWN DOINGS AND TO MAKE US LOOK LIKE WE ARE THE BAD ONES BECAUSE, OR WE ARE THE ONES ON THE STREETS.
NOT EVERYONE ON THE STREETS ARE DRUG ADDICTS.
NOT EVERYONE ON THE STREETS, UH, UH, UH, WANT TO BE ON THE STREETS.
WE ARE, SOME PEOPLE ARE BEEN MISFORTUNATE.
THEY HAVE SOMETHING THAT CAUSED THEM TO BE HERE ON THE STREETS.
WE SHOULDN'T BE, HAVE TO GO OUT AND BEG FOR, UH, FOR ASSISTANCE.
WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO OUT AND ASK THE COPS IF TIME HAS EXPIRED.
AND MR. SIMS, WHO IS IT THAT YOU HAVE BEEN TALKING TO? I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH SEARCH AT THIS MOMENT OVER 2015 CONGRESS.
AND WHAT DID THEY TELL YOU LAST, THE LAST TIME THEY DID? THEY WAS REMOVING EVERYONE OFF THE STREETS AND PUTTING THEM IN, UH, SOME PLACES, A REPLACEMENT FOR TWO WEEKS.
AND THEY SAID, ANYONE THAT HAS BEEN ALREADY ON THE STREETS FOR A YEAR AND BEEN WAITING ON THEIR HOUSING, THEY'RE, THEY'RE GOING TO PLACE 'EM IN THE SHELTER FOR TWO WEEKS.
AND YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET A KEY TO A APARTMENT.
WELL, I'VE BEEN ON THE STREETS OVER TWO YEARS, PLUS I'VE BEEN RIGHT THERE AND THEY WALK RIGHT PAST ME.
THEY LIED AND TOLD ME I HAD A REFERRAL.
SO THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE ME IN THE SHELTER WHERE I CAN GO TO WORK, WHERE I HAVE TO REPLACE MY STUFF.
AND HOW CAN AND HOW CAN, UH, THEY REACH YOU? WELL, I'M STAY, I STAY RIGHT THERE BY 'EM.
THEY REFUSE TO HELP ME AND, AND TO, AND GIMME SOMETHING.
ALL I'M ASKING IS FOR A, A HAND TO, TO A PLACE TO LAY MY HEAD.
PUT MY PROPERTY TO WHERE I CAN WORK.
LET US, LET US FOLLOW UP WITH THEM.
AND THAT'S NOT ONLY ME, IT'S THESE YOUNG LADIES TOO.
WELL, I, ANYBODY THAT'S OUT THERE THAT'S, UH, IN NEED OF HOUSING AND OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES WE WANT TO HELP.
SO, UM, LET US, LET US REACH OUT TO THEM.
AND I'M SURE THEY, YOU, YOU, WHERE YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME? YES.
OKAY, THEN LET US REACH OUT TO YOU.
FRED IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY RAZZA PAGE.
I LIVE AT 33 33 LAS PALM AND THE COURTS OF LAS PALM.
WE ARE IN THE DISTRICT THAT THE FELICITY OAKS IS PROPOSED TO BE DEVELOPED.
I'VE BEEN IN THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS ALL MY LIFE, AND IT INCLUDED THE DESIGN AND BUILDING OF ONE PARK PLACE IN DISCOVERY GREEN FOR THE FINGER COMPANIES.
SO I COME TO YOU WITH MY DEVELOPMENT BACKGROUND AND I'M HERE TODAY
[01:25:01]
TO SHOW YOU WHY YOUR OWN RESOLUTION REQUIRES THAT YOU REJECT FELICITY OAKS.LAST TUESDAY WAS MADE CLEAR THAT DEVELOPERS WERE TO ENGAGE ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS.
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THAT REMINDER, COUNCILMAN GALAGOS TALKED ABOUT HIS DEVELOPER AND SAID, I QUOTE, I DID ASK THE CIVIC CLUBS IF THEY WOULD PROVIDE A LETTER OF SUPPORT TO THEIR TWO DEVELOPERS.
AND HE LOOKED OVER AT THE DIRECTOR AND I QUOTE, HE SAID, SO, DIRECTOR, I BELIEVE I HEARD YOU SAY THAT WOULD BE A HELP.
OR IS THAT A REQUIREMENT? THE DIRECTOR THEN RESPONDED, THAT IS A REQUIREMENT FOR THE PACKAGE TO GO FORWARD.
WITH THOSE WORDS IN MIND, I CALLED THE DEVELOPER YESTERDAY AND LISTENING TO HIM, HE CLEARLY DID NOT FULFILL THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES.
HE DID SAY HE TALKED TO DISTRICT G OFFICE, BUT HE DID NOT TALK TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER.
HE TALKED TO ONE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES.
SO I CALLED MR. RAINS IN THE DISTRICT'S OFFICE.
MR. RAINS SAID YES, HE DID TALK TO HIM.
THEY HAD A VIRTUAL CONVERSATION.
AND DURING THE CONVERSATION, HE GENERALLY DESCRIBED THE PROPERTY.
AND MR. RAINS ASKED HIM FOR A RENDERING.
AND HE ALSO ASKED HIM FOR THAT.
HE SAID, WOULD YOU PROVIDE US COPIES OF SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS? THE DEVELOPER SAID HE'D GET BACK WITH 'EM.
MR. RAIN SAID, HE IS STILL WAITING.
WELL, ALL THAT SAID, YOUR RESOLUTION BEFORE, YOU CLEARLY SAYS ALL PROPERTIES, ALL PROPERTIES MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS, WHICH INCLUDE, AND I QUOTE, WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND DOCUMENTATION OF SUPPORT FROM NEIGHBORHOOD BASED ASSOCIATIONS, UNQUOTE, WITH THE FACTS PRESENTED REGARDING FELICITY OAKS.
SO YOU HAVE NO OTHER, YOU HAVE NO REASON NOT TO REMOVE IT FROM THE RESOLUTION.
THE DEVELOPER OF FELICITY OAKS HAS DEMONSTRATED HIS LACK OF CONCERN AND DISREGARD FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOL.
CONSEQUENTLY, WE ARE APPEALING FOR THE DIRECTOR AND COUNSEL TO REMOVE THEM FROM THE RESOLUTION.
MAYOR I TOO HAD SOME QUESTIONS LAST WEEK AT THE, AT THE, AT THE HOUSING MEETING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
I ALSO HEARD THE DIRECTOR SAY THAT THAT WAS A REQUIREMENT TO HAVE SUPPORT LETTERS FROM THE COMMUNITY.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT'S THE CASE OR NOT.
AND I ALSO NOTED ON THE, THE LONG SCORE SHEETS THAT WE GOT, THAT EVERYBODY GOT A SCORE OF NINE, UM, POINTS, WHETHER THEY HAD COMMUNITY SUPPORT OR NOT.
AND STILL AM WAITING KIND OF ON AN ANSWER, CLARIFICATION ON THAT.
'CAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE IF YOU HAD SUPPORT LETTERS, YOU SHOULD GET A BETTER SCORE THAN IF YOU DIDN'T.
BUT IT, WHETHER IT SAID YES OR NO, THEY HAD 'EM, IT GOT A SCORE OF NINE.
SO THAT, I I JUST, I ALSO NOTICED THAT I DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT WAS A REQUIREMENT UNTIL, UH, DIRECTOR BYNUM SAID THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE SUPPORT LETTERS FROM AND COMMUNITY.
THAT MEANS OUR COMMUNITY, LIKE THE COMMUNITY OF COUNCIL OR THE COMMUNITY OF, OF CIVIC CLUBS OR WHAT IS THAT? WHAT IS IT'S SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS AND CIVIC CLUBS.
ONE PERSON AT THE PODIUM AT A TIME.
MY NAME IS SHERRY BROWNING AND I'M OO COREY WITH ROYALTY REIGNS.
THANKS TO OUR HIGHER POWER BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND VALENTINE'S DAY.
EVERYONE HAVE A HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY.
AND I ALSO MISS, MS. RUSSELL, SHE WOULD ALWAYS SAY, YOUR TIME IS UP
[01:30:02]
SHE WAS REALLY A SWEET PERSON.BUT I'M, I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE, UM, I'M REALLY TRYING TO REMIND, UM, THE MAYOR OF A CONVERSATION THAT YOU HAD WITH SUSIE STILLWELL ABOUT, ABOUT THE BLACK HISTORY PARADE.
I STARTED THE BLACK HISTORY PARADE, I THINK IN 2000 WITH, UH, WHITBY ELEMENTARY.
AND THE NEXT YEAR WE HAD A REAL PARADE WITH MAYOR LEE P BROWN.
WE DIDN'T CONTINUE IT, BUT WE WANTED TO BECAUSE, UM, THEY HAD STARTED TESTINGS IN THE SCHOOLS AND IT TOOK OUT A LOT OF TIME THEN, UM, WE, WE STARTED JUST HAVING A LITTLE PARADE AROUND THE SCHOOL.
BUT WE WANNA GO BACK TO THE ONE LIKE WE HAD FOR, FOR MAYOR LEE P.
BUT THE PROBLEM THAT WE ARE HAVING TOO, IS THAT MS. DORIS ELLIS, SHE WAS HELPING ME LATER ON WITH THE PARADE.
AND NOW SHE'S SAYING SHE'S THE FIRST ONE THAT STARTED THE PARADE AND SHE DIDN'T.
AND WE WANT THE, UH, CITY AND THE, AND THE TEACHERS AT WHI ELEMENTARY, WE WANT THE CITY TO EMBRACE OUR PARADE.
AND I WAS JUST SO PROUD OF THE, THE KIDS THAT GOT INVOLVED IN THEIR PARENTS, YOU KNOW, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND IT'S JUST HEARTBREAKING TO THEM TO, UM, FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO HAPPEN.
AND IT WASN'T THEIR FAULT E EITHER THAT COVID CAME ALONG AND WE, WE WERE REALLY, REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH AT, AT THAT POINT.
BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO RESUME BACK TO HAVING THE BLACK HISTORY PRAYED AGAIN.
SO THAT, THAT'S OUR, OUR REAL REQUEST.
AND ALSO, WHEN WE DID GIVE THAT PARADE, IT WAS THE TIME WHEN, UH, MAYOR LEE P BROWN WAS LEAVING OFFICE.
SO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HAVING ONE FOR YOU, MAYOR TURNER, BUT SHE GOT IN FRONT OF US, MISS DARCELL, AND SHE TOOK ALL OUR PLANS AND USED IT FOR HER PARADE.
SO, BUT WE JUST WANT TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, UH, UM, MS. PAGE, YOU KNOW, IT TAKES TIME TO PLAN, TO PLAN THESE MS. BROWNING.
IT TAKES TIME TO, TO, UH, TO PLAN THESE PARADES.
AND, UM, IT'S GONNA BE VERY TIGHT.
'CAUSE THE CALENDARS NO, WE DON'T.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING AROUND THE SCHOOL.
LIKE WE FIRST STARTED AROUND THE SCHOOL, WE HAD LIKE A PARADE JUST GOING AROUND THE BLOCK.
BUT WE KNEW, WE KNOW IT WAS TOO LATE.
BUT YOUR NEIGHBOR, SUSAN STILLWELL, WHEN SHE WAS LIVING, SHE HAD, HAD BROUGHT IT TO YOUR ATTENTION WHEN WE WERE AT THE JU ROBINSON CENTER TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET ACKNOWLEDGE FOR HAVING THE FIRST PARADE AND THAT THE CITY WOULD DO JUST LIKE YOU DID FOR THE MARTIN LUTHER KING PARADES, THE TWO PARADES.
AND BY THE WAY, I WAS THE ONE THAT NAMED IT THE ORIGINAL.
I DON'T, I'M NOT WEARING INTO ANY MORE PARADES.
UM, UM, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING MM-HMM
UH, BUT, UM, THAT'S JUST, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
I MEAN, THAT'S HEARTBREAKING FOR THESE KIDS.
THAT'S, THAT WAS LIKE A HISTORY MOMENT FOR KIDS TO RIGHT.
GET TOGETHER AND HISD TO GET TOGETHER AND, AND HAVE THIS PARADE.
YOU KNOW, AND THEN IT TURNED INTO A BIG ONE.
'CAUSE PEOPLE TURNED OUT FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
AND, UM, UM, I SEE MS. GUNTHER HAS LEFT, BUT, UH, CONSTABLE JACKSON, WHAT THEY'RE TELLING ME IS, UH, THURSDAY WEATHER PERMITTING THURSDAY, THURSDAY OF THIS WEEK.
AND WHAT I WOULD SAY SOLVE, IF, IF THERE'S ANY PROBLEM, ANY QUESTION, Y'ALL LET ME KNOW.
BUT DON'T HAVE PEOPLE OUT THERE WAITING AND IT DOESN'T TAKE PLACE.
Y'ALL TURN ON THE LIGHTS, STRIPE THE ROAD.
AND, UH, AND TELL 'EM I'LL BE OUT THERE.
[01:35:01]
AND, UH, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.ALRIGHT, THEN, UH, NEXT, NEXT SPEAKER.
EDUARDO DURAN EDUARDO IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY JACOB CLEMENTI, RIGHT? YES.
MY NAME IS EDUARDO EDUARDO DURAN.
AND I WANTED TO ADDRESS, UH, TWO THINGS SPECIFICALLY.
UH, ONE, UM, THESE RIMS THAT ARE BEING ALLOWED ON, ON THE STREETS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.
UH, THIS IS A MAJOR HAZARD, DRIVING HAZARD, BUT WHAT'S BEEN ALLOWED ON THE STREET.
LIKE THESE, I I I, I DON'T KNOW IF IT CAN BE SHOWN, BUT ANYWAYS, UH, I DO HAVE ANOTHER PICTURE OF OF THEM ON THE, ARE YOU SAYING DAIQUIRIS ON, ON THE, ON THE ROAD? WHAT'S ON THE ROAD? RIMS ON CARS.
THESE KINDS OF RIMS THAT ARE, ARE COMPLETE DRIVING HAZARDS TO EVERYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD.
AND, UH, THEY'RE BEING MADE ACCEPTABLE TO BE DRIVEN OUT ON THE FREEWAY.
AND THAT IS A COMPLETE RECIPE FOR DISASTER.
AND MY OTHER THING WAS, UM, PRETTY MUCH, UH, UH, A SMALL EXCERPT OF SOMETHING THAT I WROTE, WHICH I HAD, I ADDRESSED TO, UH, TO OTHER PEOPLE.
AND THEY TOLD ME, GO AHEAD AND WRITE TO MY CONGRESSMAN, WHICH I WILL DO.
I'M GOING TO DO THAT, UH, MAJOR RED FLAG IN THE MARKET.
I'VE NOTICED A DRIVE, DRIVE-THROUGH SHOPS OPENING UP IN THE CITY.
I LIVE IN TEXAS AND CALIFORNIA.
THEY SELL SLASH EACH STYLE DAIQUIRIS OR MAYBE SIMILAR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.
I'VE HEARD SOME, INCLUDING THE EMPLOYEES SAY HOW CUSTOMERS WILL POP THE STRAW THROUGH THE TAPE AND DRINK THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES THAT ARE SOLD BY THESE DRIVE THROUGH SHOPS WHILE STILL, UH, ON THE ROAD DRIVING, I BELIEVE IT WAS THE EMPLOYEE OF ONE OF THESE SHOPS AND FELLOW COWORKERS SAY IT IN THE SAME WEEKEND THAT, OR WITHIN A WEEK FROM EACH OTHER.
UH, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT AN OPEN CONTAINER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE IS ANY KIND OF ALCOHOLIC THAT HAS BEEN OPENED, WHETHER IT BE A BEER OR VODKA OR WHISKEY, ET CETERA.
IF A POLICE OFFICER PULLS YOU OVER AND SEES ANY OF THESE IN YOUR CAR, IT'S GOING TO BE AN ISSUE.
SO IT WOULD MAKE SENSE THAT SELLING PEOPLE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES THROUGH A DRIVE-THROUGH IN A TO-GO CUP AS A BEVERAGE THAT QUICKLY MELTS, IS NOT A CLOSE CONTAINER.
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE, I'M NOT A LAWYER, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE PROMOTING DRINKING AND DRIVING AND ENCOURAGING IT.
UM, PUTTING A PIECE OF TAPE OVER A TO-GO CUP DOES NOT MAKE IT A CLOSED CONTAINER.
UH, I WON'T LESSEN THE ARGUMENT BY SAYING THAT IF YOU PUT A PIECE OF TAPE OVER A OPEN CONTAINER OF A BEER OR VODKA OR ANY OTHER ALCOHOL DOES NOT MAKE IT A CLOSED CONTAINER.
I DON'T CONDONE DRINKING AND DRIVING.
UM, ALSO THIS, THIS IS MAKING, UM, UM, JUST THINGS MORE DIFFICULT FOR, FOR THE POLICE, UH, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I THINK THE STATE ALLOWS THEM TO DO THAT THOUGH.
UM, UH, I, I DID WAKE UP WITH A SNIFFLES TODAY, UM, WHICH IS THE REASON WHY I'M WEARING A MASK.
WHAT I WANTED TO SAY IS THIS, I WANTED TO WISH MATTRESS BANK A HAPPY BIRTHDAY BECAUSE HE WAS BORN FEBRUARY THE 11TH, 1951.
I, UH, ADD, ANYWAY, THAT WASN'T HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HIM ACAPELLA, BUT HEY, WE, I'M MY LATE FOR BIRTHDAY.
BUT RATE, HE HAS DONE MANY, HE HAS MADE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STUDY OF HOUSTON AND IN UNITED STATES, EVEN IN PHILADELPHIA.
UH, AND AT ANY RATE, UM, WHAT I WANT NOW TO SAY IS THIS.
HE HAS TELL ME HOW TO GIVE HIM GOOD AND TIME AND SERVICES TO OTHER, SUCH AS I HAVE HELPED AS THE JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES CENTER ORGANIZATION AND I HAVE ALSO HELPED, UH, THE HOUSTON COALITION FOR LIFE BY DONATING PRODUCTS THAT I, I WANT FOR AT HIS STORE.
[01:40:01]
WELL, I CAN GO ON AND ON.OH, AMARK, I AM WORKING THE HOUSTON LIVE SECTION RODEO ALL THE DAYS.
SO I, I EXPECT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF Y'ALL TO COME ONE DAY.
STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS. NEXT SPEAKER.
THAT COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS.
I THINK THAT, UH, THAT HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO EVERYBODY.
GOT ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR HER? I DON'T HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS TODAY, BUT HAPPY VALENTINE DEAR ONE, I HOPE
WELL, IT'S, IT'S NOT, IT IS NOT ON OUR LIST TODAY, SO I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT.
I LIKE TO, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADD, UH, THE SPEAKER IN THE PURPLE SHIRT TO, TO THE
SECONDS TO THE, TO THE END OF THAT THREE MINUTE, UH, NON-AG AGENDA LIST.
ANY OBJECTIONS? SHERRY'S? NONE.
UH, MA'AM, IF YOU, I I'M ONLY DOING ONE NOW.
WE ARE NOT DOING THAT TODAY, MA'AM.
I'M NOT DOING THAT TODAY, MA'AM.
ALRIGHT, FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS MS. JOHNSON.
I LIVE DOWN THE STREET ON FLINT RIDGE FROM, UH, MS. LANE.
AND I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE THAT I HAVE GOT SEVERAL PHONE CALLS AND YOUR STATION, I'M SORRY, BEFORE YOU GO ANY FURTHER, YOUR FULL NAME? JACQUELINE JOHNSON.
AND WHEN DID WE SKIP OR THEN JACQUE JOHNSON? MAYBE BECAUSE I HAVE ON THE OMEGA COLORS THE DATE, BUT THAT YEAH, WE DID, WE DID, WE DID WE WE DID CALL YOUR NAME.
WE DID CALL YOUR NAME JAELLE JAELLE JOHNSON.
MS. JACKSON, I WANT TO AGAIN, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF THE HELP THAT YOU'VE GIVEN ME THROUGH THE PROJECTS THAT I'VE GONE THROUGH, THROUGH WITH THE, THROUGH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
YOU SENT MS. RAIN OUT WITH THE SUPERVISOR FROM THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT TO ASSIST ME? WELL, WE ALL DIDN'T MEET EYE TO EYE ON IT AND WE DIDN'T GET WHAT ALL WE WANTED, BUT WE GOT SOMETHING.
BUT I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF THE SIDEWALK THING.
THEY ARE BUILDING THE SIDEWALKS ON THESE NEW PROPERTIES AND PUTTING A PVC PIPE UNDERNEATH THE SIDEWALK.
I MADE A VERBAL COMPLAINT, UH, TO, I WANT TO SAY THE SIDEWALK DEPARTMENT ABOUT THE SIDEWALK AND HOW IT WAS OF NO USE BECAUSE WHEN THE BUILDER BUILT MY HOME THAT'S NO LONGER WITH THE CITY, WHEN THEY DID COME OUT AND BUILD A HOME, THEY PUT A TRENCH ALL THE WAY AROUND A 1600 FOOT HOME FOR THE WATER TO COME OUT THROUGH THOSE PVC PIPES.
I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT THAT PVC PIPE WAS OF NO USE BECAUSE THE DITCH ON THAT SIDE OF, IN FRONT OF MY HOME, IT FLOODS AND IT NOT A LITTLE BIT OF FLOOD IF YOU GIVE, IF IT RAINS LIKE HEAVY FOR LIKE TWO OR THREE MINUTES, THE WHOLE SIDE ON THAT SIDE IS UNDERWATER.
I SENT PICTURES TO MS. RAIN AND I ALSO SENT PICTURES TO ANOTHER PERSON THAT WORKS IN THE FLOOD DEPARTMENT.
I MEAN THE, UH, CONCRETE DEPARTMENT.
I SENT HIM PICTURES ALSO IN A GENTLEMAN CALLED FROM YOUR OFFICE YESTERDAY.
I ASK THEM NOT TO PUT THAT SIDEWALK THERE BECAUSE WHEN THAT DITCH FEELS UP AND IT DOES FREQUENTLY, THE WATER COMES INTO OUR YARDS.
THE GENTLEMAN THAT LIVED NEXT DOOR TO ME, HE'S DECEASED NOW AND THEY HAVE BUILT A NEW HOME THERE AND THAT WATER IS SITTING UP UNDER THAT LADY'S HOUSE JUST LIKE IT WAS SITTING UNDER MINE.
I FEEL LIKE I LIVE IN A BOATHOUSE MOST OF THE TIMES.
SO LEMME MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND.
YOU DO NOT, THIS IS A NEW HOME OR NOT A NEW HOME? YES.
IT'S, IT'S THROUGH THE, I GUESS THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
[01:45:01]
THE HARVEY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.THIS IS A GLO HOME THAT'S BEING CONSTRUCTED, I ASSUME, I GUESS FROM HARVEY? YES.
AND THEY, UM, AND BUT YOU DON'T WANT THE SIDEWALK TO BE BUILT? WELL, IT'S NOT SO MUCH THE SIDEWALK, THE WAY THEY BUILT THE SIDEWALK, IT GOES NOWHERE.
IT'S BETWEEN TWO CENTER POINT LIGHT POLES AND THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE WHERE THEY JUST FINISHED BUILDING A HOME, THE SIDEWALK GOES RIGHT UP NEXT TO A BIG TREE THAT'S BEEN THERE FOR YEARS.
AND I HAVE, SO, AND I WOULD TELL YOU, AND I WOULD TELL YOU, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE NEW COMMISSIONER FROM GLO YESTERDAY MM-HMM
ASKING THEM IF THEY WILL WORK WITH US.
BECAUSE WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IS THAT THEY'RE BUILDING THESE HOMES, BUT THEY'RE NOT WORKING WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
SO THIS MAY BE A SITUATION WHERE THEY NEED NOT BUILD THE SIDEWALK.
AND THIS MAY BE ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE THEY MAY NEED NOT EVEN PAY INTO THE FUND MM-HMM
BECAUSE THIS IS A HARVEY, UH, RECONSTRUCTION, SO TO SPEAK.
SO YEAH, I THINK YOU FALL IN THE SAME CATEGORY AS MS. LANE.
SINCE Y'ALL ARE ON THE SAME STREET.
SO WE'LL REACH OUT TO THE TWO OF YOU.
AND I JUST, COULD I SAY ONE MORE THING? YES, MA'AM.
WHERE MS LANE'S, WHERE, WHERE HER DUPLEX IS ON THAT STREET? THERE'S, THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT'S OVER THERE.
IT USED TO BE A DIRT ROAD AND WHEN THEY CAME UP WITH THE, THE SIDEWALK THING, I WAS MORE THAN GRATEFUL BECAUSE I'VE BEEN CALLING SINCE TWO, UH, 1991 FOR A SIDEWALK TO BE PUT OUT THERE.
AND I WAS TOLD EVERY TIME I CALLED, UH, THAT THERE WERE ONLY ALLOWED ONE SIDEWALK AND THAT WAS TO LEAVE DIRECTLY TO THAT SCHOOL OVER THERE.
SO NOW WE DO HAVE SIDEWALKS COMING INTO PLAY, BUT WE CAN'T USE THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE BUILDING THEM IN CRAZY SPOTS.
THE KIDS ARE STILL WALKING IN THE STREET AND THESE CARS IS FLYING UP AND DOWN THE STREET.
SO WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET MS. LANE AND I ALSO, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THOSE BUMPS PUT IN THE ROAD TO SLOW THE CARS DOWN FOR THE CHILDREN.
MY KIDS HAVE GROWN, BUT I STILL LOVE OTHER CHILDREN.
I STILL WORK WITH THE ELDERLY PEOPLE AND I MAKE SURE THAT THE DITCH IS CLEAN.
AND LIKE I SAY, I ENJOY DOING IT.
I, I ENJOY WORKING WITH MS. TASHA'S PEOPLE THAT SHE SENT.
SHE'S LITTLE MORE THAN A HELP.
AND I KNOW THEY PROBABLY KNOW ME BY NAME, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
I KNOW IF I CALL HER AND I CALLED DOWN TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THEY GONNA DIRECT ME TO SOMEBODY.
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE YOU AND HOPEFULLY Y'ALL COULD COMPLETE, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO LET THIS WITH THE SIDEWALK.
LET'S WORK WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER.
COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA JACKSON.
AND I JUST WANT TO KNOW, I'LL FOLLOW UP.
IN FACT, I'M GONNA COME OUT AND SEE EXACTLY WHAT YOU GUYS ARE TALKING ABOUT.
'CAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S DITCHES OUT THERE AND I'M JUST CURIOUS TO KNOW.
WHERE ARE THEY PUTTING SIDEWALKS? SO I, I'LL COME OUT AND TAKE IT.
IT PUT IT UP ON THE PERSONAL PROPERTY.
AND LIKE I SAID, THAT WAS, IT MADE NO SENSE.
YOU GOT A PVC PIPE AND THEN WHEN THEY BUILD IT, THEY TOLD ME THAT I WAS GONNA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IF ANYTHING HAPPENING TO THE SIDEWALK.
YOU TO, AND I HAD TO KEEP THE PVC HIGH CLEAN.
AND, AND I MISS MS. RAIN, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW.
DID WE OVERLOOK ANYONE ELSE?
AND WHAT IS YOUR NAME? MY NAME? CHANTEL KING.
IT ALLOW CHANTEL KING TO SPEAK TODAY.
I SECOND THE LAST NAME IS KING.
ANY OBJECTION? SHERRY'S? NONE.
I'VE SEEN A COUPLE OF PLACES THAT ARE WANTING TO BRING US IN ON THEIR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, RENTAL HOUSING THINGS.
A LOT OF US, LIKE THE MAN GENTLEMAN SAID, ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE PAPERWORK IS BEING F AND MISHANDLED.
A LOT OF US ARE NOT OUT HERE BECAUSE WE'RE ON DRUGS OR SO ON AND SO FORTH.
UM, ME PERSONALLY, I WAS A CONTRACTOR.
I OWNED MY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY AND COVID TOOK ME UNDER.
I'VE BEEN OUT ON THESE STREETS FOR TWO WHOLE YEARS.
TWO WHOLE YEARS LIVING IN THIS JUNGLE.
MY MENTAL ILLNESS, MY MENTAL IS, IS AT ITS LIMIT.
AND FOR PEOPLE TO SIT HERE AND MISHANDLE US, LOOK DOWN ON US, JUDGE US AND NOT KNOW US, IT'S UNACCEPTABLE TO ME.
YOU HEAR WHAT I'M SAYING? TO TREAT US INHUMANELY,
[01:50:02]
INHUMANELY, WE'RE HAVING TO GO THROUGH THINGS THAT YOU WOULDN'T EVEN WANNA HEAR ABOUT.JUST TO SURVIVE OUT HERE AND TOLD US TO KEEP CHECKING.
WE'LL GET TO YOU RAINING SLEET OF SNOW.
WE'LL GET TO YOU WALKING PAST US.
WE'RE EATING OUTTA TRASH CANS AND GROVELING JUST TO GET THE ATTENTION FROM SOMEBODY.
I DON'T WANNA HEAR ANOTHER DAY OF WE'LL GET TO YOU WHEN WE HAVE THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE.
THESE PEOPLE ARE SAYING MS. JESSICA MOLES, SHE SAID, YES, SHE CAN TAKE US AND HELP US.
MS. MARY CHURCH LADY, SHE SAID YES, SHE'LL DO ANYTHING IN THE NAME OF LOVE TO HELP US.
WHY ARE WE NOT WORKING TO GET PEOPLE WHERE THEY NEED TO BE? EVERYBODY DESERVES TO HAVE HA FOOD, SHELTER, AND HOUSING.
YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE COME OUT OF THESE OUTHOUSES AND DRINK THE WATER OUTTA THESE LITTLE THINGS YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO WASH YOUR HANDS WITH FROM DEHYDRATION.
Y'ALL HAVE A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON IN HOUSTON.
A LOT OF PROGRAMS, BUT IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE SITTING THERE COMFORTABLE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT WALKING THIS WALK.
I WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER HAVE TO WALK THIS WALK.
AND FOR TWO YEARS I'VE BEEN OUT HERE NOT FROM BEING LAZY BECAUSE EVEN IF I MADE THE MONEY, I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO AFFORD PUBLIC HOUSING.
IF I HAVE MY DISABILITY, I STILL CAN'T AFFORD PUBLIC HOUSING.
HOW IS THAT? HOW ARE WE BEING FAILED IN THAT MANNER? HALF OF THE PEOPLE ON THE STREET WITH ME HAVE A DISABILITY AND AN INCOME AND CAN'T GET HOUSING.
MAKE THAT MAKE SENSE? MAKE THAT MAKE SENSE.
IF IT WAS YOUR CHILD, YOUR MOTHER, OR YOU AND YOU HAVE AN INCOME AND CAN'T PUT A ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD, MAKE IT MAKE SENSE.
MY INCOME WILL NOT SUPPORT ME HOUSING.
AND THIS IS ALL I RECEIVE EVERY MONTH.
WELL, LET'S, LET'S SEE HOW, LET'S SEE HOW WE CAN ASSIST YOU.
UM, AND THERE ARE TWO ROUTES HERE.
UH, THE NAVIGATION CENTER IS ONE.
UH, AND THAT CAN GET YOU IN IMMEDIATELY.
UH, THE OTHER SYSTEM MAY BE THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY.
BUT, UM, IF YOU, HOW DO WE REACH YOU? I CAN GIVE YOU MY PHONE NUMBER RIGHT NOW.
GIVE YOUR PHONE NUMBER TO, TO RHONDA RIGHT THERE.
AND THEN WE WILL, WE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU, RHONDA, MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THAT WE FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
OKAY? THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR NAME AGAIN? MS. KING.
I APPRECIATE YOU STAYING AROUND AND BEING PERSISTENT AFTER.
YOU ASK THAT QUESTION? NO, I AM.
UH, YOU ALL MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR FLOWERS 'CAUSE IT TOOK, IT TOOK A WHOLE LOT LONG TIME TO FIND THOSE.
FLY THE ROSE FROM MY HEART TO YOURS.
I APPRECIATE COUNCILMAN POLLY PICKING THEM UP FOR ME.
IT'S HARD TO FIND ROSES THIS TIME OF YEAR.
AND THEN AT WHATEVER RESTAURANT THAT YOU KNOW, YOU ALL WANT TO GO TO TONIGHT, Y'ALL GO ORDER, EAT WHATEVER YOU WANT TO EAT.
[RECESS]
IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY SERIES 2021, AFFORDABLE HOMELESS FUNDS.AN AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS OF HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY.
ITEM 15, ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING CITY OF HOUSTON TO EXECUTE AND SUBMIT REQUIRE MATERIALS TO THE US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.
ITEM 16, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $5,740,550 AND NO CENTS FROM AIRPORTS IMPROVEMENTS FUND AND IMPROVING AND AUTHORIZING LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN SPIRIT AIRLINES.
ITEM 17, ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION WITH OTHER ENTITY SERVICE AREAS, CITIES AND MATTERS CONCERNING ENTITY TEXAS INC.
ITEM 18 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATED $1,055,000
[01:55:02]
AND NO CENTS FROM EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION CONSOLIDATED FUND FOR THE PLANNED CITYWIDE PC REPLACEMENT PROJECT.ITEM 19, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FULL AND FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE BETWEEN CITY HOUSTON AND SINGLE SOURCE EVENTS INC.
ITEM 20 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1 MILLION.
$1 MILLION AND NO CENTS OUT OF HAS AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT FUND AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2020 DASH 180 8 TO INCREASE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT AGREEMENTS BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND GCR INC.
AND JACOBS ENGINEERING GROUP, INC.
ITEM 21 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT NUMBER 4 6 0 0 0 1 6 8 5 3 BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND MIDWEST.
TAPE LLC APPROVED BY ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 21 7 15 ITEM 22, ORDINANCE SUBMITTING ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 19 72 TO AMEND THE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR CONTRACT NUMBER 4 6 0 0 1 4 9 8 9 BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND JEFFERSON.
MOS LLC ITEM 23 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION.
ITEM 24 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF AN ELECTRONIC APPLICATION FOR AN ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION T DOT FOR THE FY 2024 SELECTED TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM, COMPREHENSIVE MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC SAFETY GRANT.
ITEM 25 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF AN ELECTRONIC APPLICATION FOR AN ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TECH DOT FOR THE FY 2024 SELECTED TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM.
STEP COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC SAFETY GRANT.
ITEM 26 ORDINANCE FINDING AND DETERMINING THAT PUBLIC CONVINCED AND NECESSITY NO LONGER REQUIRED THE CONTINUED USE OF A 1,118 SQUARE FOOT TRACTOR OF LAND OUT OF THUNDERBIRD ROAD CUL-DE-SAC ADJACENT TO LOT 1 0 7.
BLOCK IN, IN OUTPOST OF STATE'S SECTION THREE ITEM 27, ORDINANCE APPRO WE AN AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD.
WE AN AUTHORIZING AND GRANT APPLICATION TO THE TEXAS DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOR FLOOD PROOFING MEASURES AT THE TURKEY CREEK WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
ITEM 29 ORDINANCE PROOF WE AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF A RAILROAD CROSSING ELIMINATION PROGRAM.
FY 2022 GRANT APPLICATION TO THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE WEST BELT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
PHASE ONE ITEM 30, ORDINANCE AWARDING CONTRACT PROFESSIONAL TRAFFIC CONTROL LLC FOR THERMOPLASTIC PAVEMENT MARKINGS.
ITEM 31 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO ADVANCE FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE REMOVAL OF FUNDING.
FROM THE DESIGN OF THE NAVIGATION WILL OF BOARD WATERLINE ITEM 32, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $550,000 AND OH CENTS OUTTA METRO PROJECTS CONSTRUCTION D-D-S-R-F AND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY DIFF HOUSTON AND MIDTOWN ENGINEERS INC.
ITEM 33, ORDINANCE AWARDING CONTRACT TO MAIN LANE INDUSTRIES LTD FOR TRAFFIC AND DRAINAGE.
CITYWIDE CONCRETE PANEL REPLACEMENT ITEM 34, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $3,330,410 AND NO CENTS OUTTA WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM.
CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AWARDING CONTRACT TOT CONSTRUCTION LLC FOR WASTEWATER COLLECTION SYSTEM REHABILITATION AND RENEWAL.
THIS IS THE END OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE WEEK.
STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL.
SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM AGAIN, THIS CAME TO YOU LIVE FROM THE ANNA RUSSELL COUNCIL CHAMBER.
IN THE WORDS OF OUR CURRENT CITY SECRETARY, PAT JEFFERSON.
DANIEL, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED.
HAVE A BLESSED AND FANTABULOUS DAY.
[RECONVENE]
IT IS 9 0 5.AND ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY THE 15TH, 2023.
I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO WATER.
[MAYOR'S REPORT]
FEW COMMENTS, UM, THIS MORNING BEFORE WE GET TO THE AGENDA, UM, CERTAINLY WANT TO, UM, SAY WHAT A WONDERFUL WEEKEND IT WAS WITH THE, UH, KINDER LAND OVER BRIDGE AT MEMORIAL PARK.FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT GONE OUT, UH, PLEASE DO SO.
UM, NEW YORK TIMES SUBSCRIBED IT AS THE 11TH ECOLOGICAL WONDER IN THE WORLD.
UM, SOME WOULD SAY LANDSCAPE WONDER,
[02:00:01]
UM, BUT IT IS VERY, VERY NICE.UM, THE PRESS CONFERENCE, OF COURSE, WAS A FRIDAY.
AND, UM, AND FOOD WAS AT NO COST TO EVERYBODY WHO CAME, UH, WITH A, A VETERAN VENDOR WHO DID AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB ON THE FOOD.
UM, THERE WAS A WEDDING THAT TOOK PLACE OUT THERE THAT I RAN INTO, UM, I DON'T WANNA SAY CRASH, BUT
THIS WAS ALL IMPROMPTU, UH, WHILE THE MOM LOOKED ON FROM IOWA, UH, UH, THROUGH THE TELEPHONE AND STUFF.
SO, BUT VERY, VERY NICE, VERY, I MEAN, JUST A WONDERFUL, UM, SPACE.
SO I CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GO OUT AND, AND, UM, ENJOY, UM, AND PARTAKE OF MEMORIAL PARK AND ALL OF ITS DIMENSIONS.
AND THEN, SO THAT WAS ON THE WEEKEND, AND THAT WAS, THAT WAS HUGE.
AND THEN, UH, ON YESTERDAY, UH, THE OPENING OF THE NAVIGATION CENTER WAS ALSO HUGE.
AND, UH, THE CHARTRES ENCAMPMENT, WHICH PEOPLE HAVE REFERRED TO AS TENT CITY, HAS BEEN, UH, DECOMMISSIONED.
SO I WANT TO GIVE, UM, UM, A LOT OF CREDIT TO MARK EICHENBAUM AND THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS, UM, BECAUSE MANY, IF NOT MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE HAVE NOW TRANSITIONED TO THE NAVIGATION CENTER.
AND SO WE WERE OUT THERE ON YESTERDAY.
UH, SO COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS, HARRIS HEALTH HARRIS CENTER, UM, HARMONY HOUSE, UM, CAN'T THINK OF THE OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, BUT ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS LET ME THANK THEM.
IT'S A VERY NICE FACILITY, VERY, VERY NICE.
THE TENANTS, UH, THE CLIENTS, UM, VERY, VERY PLEASED WITH THE ACCOMMODATIONS.
UM, THE INITIAL PEOPLE WHO WERE HOUSED CAME DIRECTLY FROM FIFTH WARD, AND WE PROMISED THE PEOPLE IN FIFTH WARD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
SO THE FIRST FIVE PEOPLE WHO TRANSITIONED INTO THE NAVIGATION CENTER CAME FROM FIFTH WARD.
IT'S A NAVIGATION CENTER, WHICH MEANS IT'S NOT THE HOUSING.
IT'S A STEP IN THAT DIRECTION.
AND THE FIRST PERSON HAS ALREADY BEEN PERMANENTLY HOUSED.
AND THAT PERSON ALSO IS FROM FIELD WARD.
UH, THE COMMUNITY LAY LIAISON, A MANAGER FOR THE FACILITY IS A YOUNG WOMAN FROM FIELD WARD.
UM, BUT IT IS A VERY NICE, IT'S ABOUT, UM, UM, CAN ACCOMMODATE A HUNDRED PEOPLE, ABOUT 28 ROOMS. UM, THEY'VE GOT A LARGE LIVING SPACE.
THEY'VE GOT SEVERAL OFFICES FOR NAVIGATION FOR THE NAVIGATORS, WHICH IS VERY NICE.
AND THEN THERE'S, UH, ALSO SPACE FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES, WHICH IS SEG, UH, SEPARATED FROM THE OTHER CLIENTS.
UM, BUT IT'S, UM, THEY'VE GOT THEIR TELEVISION AND OTHER THINGS FOR THEM, BUT JUST VERY, VERY NICE.
EACH ONE HAS ITS OWN ELECTRICAL OUTLETS.
SO, UH, UM, THAT IS ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT STEP IN, UM, HOUSING, UH, OUR, THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS.
UM, SO THAT WAS, THAT WAS JUST, UH, UM, I HAVE TO GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS, UM, AND THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM.
HARRIS HEALTH, UH, HARRIS CENTER, HARMONY HOUSE, UM, FOR MAKING THAT POSSIBLE.
SO KUDOS TO MARK ACHENBAUM AND THE ENTIRE TEAM IN THAT FRONT.
SO THAT TOOK PLACE ON, ON YESTERDAY AND VERY, VERY, VERY PROUD OF THAT.
I ALSO WANNA THANK HPD AND THE HOT TEAMS FOR, FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE AS WELL.
UM, UH, YESTERDAY WE WELCOME MARK MORON FROM, UH, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE.
UM, THEIR CONFERENCE, ANNUAL MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE IN HOUSTON, UH, THIS YEAR FROM JULY 26TH THROUGH JULY 29TH.
SO, UM, LET ME ENCOURAGE, UH, PEOPLE TO, UH, TO REALLY SIGN UP, REGISTER TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE.
UH, THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME IN 24 YEARS THAT THE URBAN LEAGUE IS BRINGING THIS CONFERENCE TO HOUSTON.
AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE IN 20, UH, 20 19, 20 20.
UH, BUT IT WAS COUNCIL BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.
SO LET ME ENCOURAGE, LET ME ASK, UH, OUR
[02:05:01]
BUSINESSES, UM, ENERGY SECTOR, LIFE SCIENCES, UH, THE PORT, UM, IN ALL DIFFERENT CATEGORIES TO PLEASE BE SUPPORTIVE.UM, THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE CONFERENCE THAT'S COMING TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND PLEASE PUT IT DOWN JULY 26TH THROUGH THE 29TH.
AND THEN THE THIRD GUN BUYBACK INITIATIVE WILL TAKE PLACE THIS COMING SATURDAY.
THIS ONE WILL BE LED BY THE COUNTY.
UM, AND SO IT'S A MINOR, IT WILL TAKE PLACE THIS COMING SATURDAY, FEBRUARY THE 18TH AT ALEXANDER DOON PARK, 12,000 3 0 3 SONIER, S-O-N-N-I-R STREET.
THE CITY IS PARTNERING WITH HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER RODNEY ELLIS AND, UH, SHERIFF ED GONZALEZ, UH, TO GET UNWANTED AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS FIREARMS OFF THE STREETS.
AND YOU CAN TURN IN YOUR GUN TO RECEIVE A GIFT CARD IN THE AMOUNT, IN THE AMOUNTS FROM 50 TO $200.
AND NO GHOST GUNS, UH, WILL BE ACCEPTED.
SO NO GHOST GUNS, BUT THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE THIS COMING SATURDAY, UM, IN TO DO SOME PARK.
UM, SEE THE HOUSTON ROUGHNECKS THERE.
WHAT TIME? I WANNA SAY THAT IS SCHEDULED FROM EIGHT TO 12, BUT AS BEFORE, YOU KNOW, IT CAN BE EXTENDED, BUT EIGHT O'CLOCK 8:00 AM TO 12, AND I WOULD SUSPECT THERE'LL PROBABLY BE THE, UH, THE PRESS AVAILABILITY PROBABLY BY NINE.
MM-HMM
EVERYONE IS INVITED TO JOIN US FRIDAY IN FRONT OF CITY HALL FOR A CELEBRATION FOR THE HOUSTON ROUGHNECKS.
UH, THE ROUGHNECKS WILL PLAY THEIR SEASON OPENER AGAINST THE ORLANDO GUARDIANS SATURDAY AS WELL, FEBRUARY THE 18TH, AT, UM, THE TDCU STADIUM.
THAT'S THE, UH, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON STADIUM.
IT WILL BE THE XF L'S FIRST PRIMETIME GAME OF THE SEASON THIS COMING SATURDAY.
AND SINCE JANUARY, THE ROUGHNECKS HAVE BEEN TRAINING IN ARLINGTON.
AND THIS EVENT WILL BE THE TEAM'S FIRST OFFICIAL PUBLIC APPEARANCE IN HOUSTON AS A TEAM OF 51 PLAYERS.
UM, SEE, I'LL BE OUT THERE AND LEGENDARY HEAD COACH.
WAIT, PHILLIPS, UH, WE'LL PRESENT A PROCLAMATION TO HIM AND LATER THAT EVENING, THIS IS THAT, THIS WAS, UM, ON, ON FRIDAY IN FRONT OF CITY HALL, UH, AND LATER THAT EVENING.
UH, AND THEN CITY HALL AND SURROUNDING AREAS WILL BE LIT WITH HOUSTON BLUE AND ROUGHNECK RED.
UH, THERE'LL BE A MEET AND GREET WITH ROUGHNECK PLAYERS AND COACHES, PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES, SPECIAL TICKETS AND SWAG GIVEAWAYS, MUSIC AND FOOD TRUCKS.
AND EVERYONE IS ENCOURAGED TO WEAR THE TEAM'S OFFICIAL COLORS.
HOUSTON'S BLUE AND ROUGHNECK RED TO SHOW SUPPORT, UH, FOR THE ONLY UNDEFEATED XFL TEAM FROM 2020.
AND THEN HOUSTON HEALTH C TO SECEDE.
UH, THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT C TO SECEDE PROGRAM WILL REACH A MILESTONE THIS WEEK BY SERVING ITS 100,000 CHILD.
THE C TO SECEDE PROGRAM PROVIDES FREE VISION EXAMS AND QUALITY CORRECTIVE EYEWEAR TO SCHOOL CHILDREN, AGES SIX THROUGH 18.
UH, IT'S AN IMPACTFUL PROGRAM, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE HEALTH HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN SERVICING ITS 100,000 CHILD.
AND THEN, UM, HOUSTON FIRST BLACK HISTORY.
UH, FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND HOUSTON FIRST.
AND HOUSTON FIRST IS HOSTING A CELEBRATION EVERY SATURDAY IN FEBRUARY, AND I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME OUT TO PLAZA AT ANITA ON SATURDAYS FROM 2:00 PM TO SIX.
THIS YEAR'S LINEUP OF TALENTED ARTISTS WHO WILL PERFORM EVERYTHING FROM BLUES TO GOSPEL MUSIC.
THE EVENT WILL SHOWCASE LIVE MUSIC, BEND DOORS, AND ART ALL FREE OF CHARGE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
UH, SO YOU WANT TO COME OUT, UM, AND EVERY SATURDAY FROM TWO TO SIX IN FRONT OF THE GEORGIA BROWN, AL STATE, UM, AMERICAS.
AND IT'S, UH, IN HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
UH, LET ME CONGRATULATE DR. RUTH SIMMONS.
UH, WHO FOR RIGHT NOW IS THE PRESIDENT OF PRAIRIE VIEW, BUT AS OF THE END OF THIS MONTH, WILL NOT BE.
AND, UH, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE DR. RUTH SIMMONS, WHO YESTERDAY ANNOUNCED PLANS TO JOIN RICE UNIVERSITY AS A PRESIDENT'S DISTINGUISHED FELLOW.
AND SIMMONS WILL WORK WITH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS ACROSS CAMPUS AND ADVISE THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE ON VARIOUS MATTERS.
[02:10:01]
UH, DR.SAM SIMMONS HAS BEEN PRESIDENT AT PRAIRIEVIEW A AND M UNIVERSITY SINCE 2017, AND SHE ANNOUNCED HER RETIREMENT, BUT PLAN TO STAY ON UNTIL HER CONTRACT EXPIRED IN JUNE OF 2023.
BUT LAST WEEK SHE ANNOUNCED SHE WILL LEAVE AT THE END OF THIS MONTH AND SHE'LL BE, UM, JOINING RICE UNIVERSITY.
AND THEN, UM, AS WE GO THROUGH THIS LAST, UH, YEAR FOR ME IN 2023, UH, WE ARE GOING TO BE VERY FOCUSED ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION.
UH, NOW I WANNA BE VERY CLEAR, WE DO NOT SHY AWAY FROM DIVERSITY.
WE DO NOT SHY AWAY FROM EQUITY, AND WE DO NOT SHY AWAY FROM INCLUSION.
THEY REPRESENT HOUSTON'S VALUES.
AND, UM, AND YOU CAN BE DIVERSE, BUT YOU CAN ALSO BE DIVERSE, SEPARATE, SEGREGATED, AND APART.
THE QUESTION IS, CAN WE BE DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE? AND IF YOU'RE NOT INCLUSIVE, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO BE A PART.
AND IN THIS CITY, UH, JUST LIKE WE ARE SITTING ALL AROUND THIS TABLE, THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF DIVERSITY AROUND THIS TABLE.
CAN YOU IMAGINE IF WE SEGMENT IT OUT, WOMEN ON ONE SIDE, MEN ON ANOTHER SIDE, HISPANICS OVER HERE, BLACKS OVER HERE, THAT JUST DOESN'T WORK.
SO WE ARE FIRMLY COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION.
AND I, UH, PUBLICLY CHAMPION THOSE VALUES, AND I HOPE AND ENCOURAGE BUSINESSES AND CORPORATIONS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO STAND STRONG IN ADVOCATING FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION.
I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THAT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, BUSINESSES, NON-PROFITS, UM, AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON, AND WE ARE THE MOST DIVERSE CITY IN THE UNITED STATES.
I THINK WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF THAT, BUT WE SHOULD ALSO WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY TO BE EVEN MORE INCLUSIVE.
AND I THINK WE SHOULD CHAMPION THAT AS WELL.
SO THAT'S MY COMMENT FOR THIS MORNING, AND, UH, I DON'T SEE HIM RIGHT NOW.
OKAY, WITH THAT BEING SAID, UH, MADAM SECRETARY, LET'S MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I WAS OUTTA THE ROOM FOR A MINUTE.
I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER JERRY DAVIS OUT HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.
I HAD A NOTE, BUT WE DIDN'T SEE HIM.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
THEN, HEADING NOW TO THE, UH, TO THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY.ITEMS ONE THROUGH FOUR NEED A MOTION MOVE, ROBINSON MARTIN.
SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED ON ITEMS ONE THROUGH FOUR.
DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED AND GRANTED ON ONE, UM, MM-HMM
UH, AND ONE AND TWO ARE THE SAME.
SO AS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE REINVESTMENT ZONE, NUMBER 27, UH, THE MONTROSE ZONE.
UM, AND THEN THE, UH, ON TWO IS THE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, UH, SAYING, UH, SO, UM, IT'S ABBY C NOBELS, EUREKA, GIL GILKEY, AND JEFFREY D UH, WATERS JR.
AND IF ANY OF THEM ARE HERE, PLEASE STAND.
OKAY, MR. WATERS, MR. WATERERS, WHY DON'T YOU COME FORWARD THEN? AND MR. WATERS IS A NEW APPOINTEE, UH, TO THE MONTROSE ZONE.
UH, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
AND IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, I THINK THE ISMAL CENTER THAT IS BEING BUILT UNDER CONSTRUCTION NOW WILL FALL WITHIN THE MONTROSE ZONE.
SO REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT, TO THAT, UM, CONSTRUCTION BEING COMPLETED AND THE OPENING OF THE, OF THE NEW M MILE CENTER.
UH, BUT, UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS, AS WELL AS THE OTHERS.
UM, NOW I TELL YOU WHAT, UM, BEFORE I GO TO PEOPLE IN THE QUEUE, YOU KNOW, WANNA JUST KIND OF SAY HELLO.
[02:15:01]
SURE, MAYOR, THANK YOU.AND THANK YOU MEMBERS OF COUNCIL AND THANK YOU MEMBER CAYMAN, UH, FOR SPONSORING ME.
UH, I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE TOURS ITSELF.
UH, I'VE LIVED IN THE AREA SINCE 2010 AND BEEN A PROPERTY OWNER SINCE 2014.
I'M EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO GIVE BACK TO IT.
UH, IT'S A VIBRANT AREA OF THIS TOWN AND THERE'S A LOT GOING ON IT.
SO I'M EXCITED FOR WHAT IT IS NOW AND FOR THE FUTURE THAT IT'S GONNA BE.
LOOK FORWARD TO BEING A PART OF THAT.
AND I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE THOUGH SHE'S NOT HERE, EUREKA GILKEY, WHO IS ALSO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PROJECT ROWHOUSE.
AND SO SHE'S DONE A STELLAR JOB, AND I THANK YOU AND ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
UM, AND YES, I DID WANNA RECOGNIZE BOTH ABBY AND EUREKA, WHO COULDN'T BE HERE, BUT ARE CONTINUING TO SERVE, NOT JUST WITH OUR TOURS, BUT IN SO MANY DIFFERENT EFFORTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT JEFF, CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP TO SERVE.
UM, YOU NOT ONLY ARE A RESIDENT IN MONTROSE, BUT HAVE GIVEN BACK IN SO MANY WAYS.
YOU'VE SERVED ON SUBCOMMITTEES WITH THE TOURS WITH SOME OF THEIR AFFORDABLE HOUSING EFFORTS, UM, AND YOU ALSO ARE VERY INVOLVED, UH, AGAIN, KNOWING THAT MONTROSE IS HISTORICALLY, UM, OUR MOST WELL-KNOWN LGBTQIA PLUS NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE HISTORY THERE.
AND YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN A LOT OF THOSE EFFORTS AS WELL.
SO I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE YOU FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU DO, IN ADDITION TO BEING A BRILLIANT ATTORNEY, UH, BUT REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE YOU ON THE BOARD.
AND JEFFREY, I JUST WANNA SAY HI, AND WELCOME TO THE, UH, TO THE TOURS BOARD.
THAT'S GREAT NEWS FOR ALL OF US.
AS A NEIGHBOR OF YOURS IN THE DISTRICT, I WANT TO SAY I'M HERE TO HELP YOU HOWEVER I CAN, HAVING LED A LOT OF, UH, INITIATIVES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE WORKING ON IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO MONTROSE, AND SO EXCITED TO HAVE YOU JOIN SUCH AN INCREDIBLE TEAM.
I SHARE IN COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABAZZ'S COMMENTS WITH, UH, THOSE WHO YOU'LL SERVE WITH.
SO WHATEVER I CAN DO TO HELP, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
THANK YOU, JEFF FOR BEING HERE.
AND THANK YOU FOR SERVING ON THIS IMPORTANT BOARD, AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
UH, I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
UH, YOU DO A LOT AROUND THIS CITY.
YOU'RE ALWAYS INVOLVED IN SOMETHING, AND THIS IS JUST SOMETHING ELSE TO PUT ON THE RESUME TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
AND THEN IN ITEM NUMBER THREE, IT THE GREATEST SOUTHEAST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, UH, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, IF YOU ARE HERE, IF YOU STAND AND COME FORWARD.
J HOLIDAY II FIVE IS CHAR DANIELS GELS SIX IS JANICE M SIBLEY, REED SEVEN IS RICKY JIMENEZ.
EIGHT IS ABBY ROBERSON NINE IS ALTON HUDSON 10 IS SED FAIRFAX.
IS THAT HAGEN? 13? IS TEDDY A MCDAVID? 14 IS BRIAN SMITH.
AND 15 IS ABDUL HALEEM MUHAMMAD, ALSO KNOWN AS ROBERT MUHAMMAD.
UH, SO LET ME THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING PRESENT AND, UH, AND EVEN THOUGH I READ ALL THE NAMES, IF YOU'LL, UH, TAKE THE TIME JUST TO INTRODUCE YOURSELVES ONE MORE TIME.
I SERVE AS THE FIRST VICE CHAIR OF THE GREATER SOUTHEAST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.
I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD SINCE ITS CREATION IN THE 77TH LEGISLATURE, STATE OF TEXAS.
I ALSO SERVE AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE, UH, MOBILITY AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
FIRST OF ALL, ON SAY GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE.
I'M A FIRST TIME, UH, BOARD OF DIRECTOR APPOINTEE, AND I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR, UH, YOUR SUPPORT.
I'VE SERVED ON A NUMBER OF, UH, COMMITTEES, UH, WORKING WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
I'VE LIVED IN THE DISTRICT OVER 20 YEARS.
AND, UM, I JUST LOOK FORWARD TO THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WORK, UH, WITH THE CITY AND MY, UH, FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS.
I'VE SERVED ON THE BOARD FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR, UH, 20, 21 YEAR BANKER HERE LOCALLY, UH, NOW WORKING A REGIONAL, UH, FOR A REGIONAL BANK.
BUT I'VE BEEN DOING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, UH, FOR THE PAST, UH, ABOUT EIGHT YEARS
[02:20:01]
OR SO.UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY AND I THANK YOU ALL.
MY NAME IS JANICE SIBLEY REED AND I HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD, UH, A LITTLE AFTER ITS INCEPTION.
I AM THE SECRETARY OF THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, AND ALSO I AM THE CHAIR OF THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE.
LOOK, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ON THE GREATER SOUTHEAST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.
UH, LET ME DEFER NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN AND SHABAZZ.
AND CERTAINLY I WANT TO THANK THE SOUTHEAST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR ALL OF THE ASSISTANCE AND WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE IN DISTRICT D.
AND LOOKING DOWN THIS LIST, I KNOW ALMOST EVERY ONE OF THE PERSONS HERE, EITHER THROUGH CHURCH OR CIVIC LEADERSHIP, OR JUST AN AGITATE.
OH, I DIDN'T MEAN TO SAY THAT, A AGITATOR, UH, DR.
BUT I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ALL DO.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND JUST, YOU ALL HAVE BEEN JUST AN AWESOME PARTNER TO US IN DISTRICT D, AND THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU ALL FOR SERVING ON THIS BOARD.
UH, LAST WEEK I DID MEET WITH THE MAYOR.
I'VE BEEN WORKING ON AN INITIATIVE, AN INITIATIVE FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS, UH, IN REGARDS TO THE SIX MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS, MIDTOWN, DOWNTOWN, EDO, SOUTHEAST, UH, EAST END, AND THE HOBBY AREA MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS.
UH, WE'VE MET WITH TDOT A FEW, A FEW YEARS AGO, UH, AND EACH MANAGEMENT DISTRICT COULD ADOPT A SECTION OF THE GULF FREEWAY.
UH, WE WOULD HAVE A NICE GULF FREEWAY FOR VISITORS COMING TO AND FROM OUR CITY, UH, FROM HOBBY AIRPORT INTO DOWNTOWN.
AGAIN, I MET WITH THE MAYOR LAST WEEK, AND I'M HOPING WE CAN MAKE THIS A REALITY.
AND I JUST WANTED TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE, AND, UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO MEET, MEET, WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU IN THE FUTURE.
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL AND THE REST OF THE BOARD AS WELL.
THEN MOVED IN SECOND ON ITEM FIVE.
DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED UNDER THE PURCHASING AND CALCULATION OF BS CATEGORY.
ITEMS EIGHT AND NINE HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
NEED MOTION FOR ITEM SIX AND SEVEN, MOVE ROBINSON MARTIN.
AND SECOND ON ITEM SIX AND SEVEN.
DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANT UNDER THE RESOLUTIONS CATEGORY ITEMS 10, 11, AND 12 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE ORDINANCES.
CATEGORY ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ARE 13, 14, 16, 20, 24, 25, 27 THROUGH 30.
THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 13, 14, 16, 20, 24, 25, 27 THROUGH 30.
WE NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE.
DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF POST GRANITE.
[CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA]
I MOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.ITEM EIGHT NEEDS A MOTION MOVE ROBINSON, MARTIN.
DISCUSSION ON EIGHT IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANT ON EIGHT.
ITEM NINE NEEDS A MOTION MOVE.
SECOND, BEEN MOVED TO SECOND ON ITEM NINE.
MAYOR, WHEN WE BUY THESE NEW VEHICLES, UH, DO WE EQUIP THEM WITH THE, UH, DPS LOCATOR AND THE, UH, CAMERAS AS OTHER VEHICLES HAVE? YES, I THINK YES, THE ANSWER IS YES.
IN FACT, WE ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT WITH RUBICON WHERE WE PLACED THESE CAMERAS AND GPS SYSTEMS ON PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT IN SOLID WASTE NOW.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM NINE? ON ITEM NINE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED ON NINE, ITEM 10 IS A RESOLUTION.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS ON 10.
THE, THE ATTACHMENT LIST, THE PROPOSED AVENUE, UH, NEW HOPE HOUSING AVENUE, C AS FAMILY.
UH, BUT LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT IT'S ACTUALLY SENIOR HOUSING
[02:25:01]
NUMBER 13.YOU SHOULD SAY SINGLE FAMILY, ACTUALLY.
UH, I MOVE TO DIVIDE THE QUESTION BY REMOVING THE APPLICATION FOR THE PROPERTY AT 40 41 RICHMOND AVENUE, UH, FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO SEPARATE OUT, UM, FELICITY OAKS, UH, 40 41 RICHMOND AVENUE FROM THE REST OF THE PROJECTS.
UM, YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION ANY? IS THERE? THERE WAS A SECOND.
UH, ANY DISCUSSION? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF POST GRANITE? SO THAT ITEM HAS BEEN SEP THAT ONE HAS BEEN SEPARATED OUT.
WE'LL DO WITH THIS SEPARATELY.
COUNCILMAN PAT? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I MOVE TO DIVIDE THE QUESTION TO REMOVE THE UPLAND FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
AND TO SEPARATE OUT, UH, THE UPLAND AT 1430, UPLAND DRIVE AWAY FROM THE REMAINING, UH, DEVELOPMENT.
UH, ANY DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? AND GRANTED.
COUNCILMAN POLLARD, MAY I MOVE TO DIVIDE THE QUESTION TO REMOVE THE CIPHER CROSSING PROJECT FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION? CYPRESS CROSSING IS AT 5 9 0 2 AND 5 9 0 9 CYPRESS IN DISTRICT.
I DON'T SEE A PROJECT HERE IN DISTRICT J.
IT WILL, IF IT'S BUILT NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
IT IS IN DISTRICT C, NOT IN DISTRICT J.
IS THERE A SECOND? IT DIES FOR THE LACK OF A SECOND.
MAY I ASK WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? SO WE'RE DOING THIS BECAUSE, UH, MAYOR, ALTHOUGH THIS PROPERTY IS IN DISTRICT C AT THE MOMENT, AS WE'VE BEEN REDISTRICT INTO DISTRICT J FOR, UM, NEXT YEAR WHEN IT WILL BE BUILT, THE RESIDENTS OF THAT AREA WHO HAVE REACHED OUT TO MY OFFICE, THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS, THE CIVIC CLUBS, AND THE HOAS WITH LETTERS OF OPPOSITION.
SO WHAT I WANTED TO DO WAS TO SEPARATE IT SO WE CAN TAG IT TO HAVE FURTHER TIME TO DISCUSS OVER THE NEXT WEEK.
WELL, LEMME JUST SAY THE COUNCIL MAY CERTAINLY DO THAT, BUT I FIND IT INADVISABLE YOU REPRESENT THE DISTRICT IN WHICH YOU ARE CURRENTLY SITTING, NOT BASED ON WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO BE NEXT YEAR OR 20 YEARS FROM NOW.
NOW I TRY TO HONOR THE REQUEST OF COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR DEVELOPMENTS IN THEIR DISTRICTS.
NOW COUNCIL MAY CHOOSE TO DO IT, BUT, UH, I THINK IT SETS A BAD PRECEDENT.
ANY OBJECTION TO SEPARATING IT OUT? HEARING NONE.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS VOTING NO AND NO, NO, CISNEROS WELL, LET'S GO BACK AGAIN.
UH, AND LET ME DO, SAY, I FIND THAT'S INADVISABLE.
I DO NOT THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
UH, WE HAD A COUPLE SPEAKERS HERE THE OTHER DAY.
EVERYBODY'S ENTITLED TO HOUSING.
EVERYBODY'S ENTITLED TO HOUSING.
AND JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE OBJECTING DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN IT'S VALID.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, MAYOR PRO, TIM MARTIN ON THE, ON THE MOTION TO DEVELOP.
THIS IS PRESENTLY IN DISTRICT C AND AFTER REDISTRICTING, IT'LL BE IN DISTRICT J.
SO DID THE COUNCIL MEMBER THAT REPRESENTS DISTRICT C RECEIVE ANY OPPOSITION? COUNCIL MEMBER KING? AND YES.
UM, AS OF LAST WEEK, THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAD BEEN WORKING WITH DISTRICT J, NOT DISTRICT C.
SO WE HAD REACHED OUT TO THEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON.
UH, WE ALSO FACILITATED A MEETING BETWEEN THE DEVELOPER, UM, WHO HAS WORKED IN SEA PREVIOUSLY.
UM, AND THEY ARE HAVING A NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING
[02:30:01]
NEXT WEEK AS WELL.UM, I HAVE JUST BEEN HANDED AS OF TWO MINUTES AGO, SEVERAL EMAILS THAT I HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK THROUGH.
UM, THERE ARE, I THINK THERE'S ALSO SOME CONFUSION REGARDING THE FACT THAT THIS IS A SENIOR LIVING FACILITY.
SOME OF THE RESIDENTS WERE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT IT WAS, UM, NOT SENIOR, IT WAS FAMILY LIVING.
UH, BUT AGAIN, I CAN'T FULLY RESPOND TO THAT BECAUSE APPARENTLY THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH DISTRICT J, NOT DISTRICT C.
WELL, IT IS DENOTED AS A SENIOR LIVING FACILITY.
MAYOR, WHERE ARE WE RIGHT NOW? WE ARE ON, WE ARE ON COUNCIL MEMBER POLL'S.
HAVE, BUT HAVE WE ALREADY PASSED IT? NO, WE HAVE NOT.
WELL, 'CAUSE I FELT A LITTLE CONFUSED.
NO, WE ARE ON THE DISCUSSION ON COUNCIL MEMBER POLL'S.
MOTION TO SEP SEPARATE OUT THE, THE CYPRESS CROSSING.
UM, ALL OF THESE MATTERS HAVE GONE THROUGH COMMITTEE.
I'M QUITE FAMILIAR WITH THE OBJECTIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, OF FELICITY OAKS.
WE HAD THAT GENTLEMAN UP HERE YESTERDAY, AND I UNDERSTAND THOSE CONCERNS BECAUSE INDICATED THAT HE HADN'T DONE ANY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
SO I GOT, I GOT THE CONCERNS THERE.
UH, I'M UNDER, I DO HAVE INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE UPLAND AND WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THAT FRONT, EVEN FROM THE LEGISLATIVE POINT OF VIEW.
UM, BUT I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY CONCERNS BEING RAISED ON CROSSING OTHER THAN PEOPLE JUST OBJECTING.
AND THIS IS A SENIOR, THIS IS A SENIOR DEVELOPMENT, COUNCILMAN POLLARD.
SO, UH, CURRENTLY, UH, MAYOR, DISTRICT J IS THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED AREA OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THE CITY AVERAGES 3000 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE.
DISTRICT J IS 10,000 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE.
85% OF OUR RESIDENTS LIVE IN APARTMENT COMPLEXES TO ADD MORE APARTMENT COMPLEXES THAT THIS BODY WOULD APPROVE.
NOT A PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT THAT WE DON'T CONTROL, BUT A DEVELOPMENT THAT THIS BODY WOULD APPROVE WOULD MAKE IT EVEN MORE DENSER.
OKAY? WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT DISTRICT J AND ALL THE APARTMENTS THERE, THERE ARE MANY AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS WELL AS THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE REHABS, BUT NEW DEVELOPMENT ONLY MAKES US EVEN MORE DENSER.
AND FOR PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL, WORK, AND LIVE IN DISTRICT J, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS THERE.
IT'S DIFFERENT THAN THE REST OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
SO I'VE CONTINUOUSLY SAID THAT WE NEED TO REALLY CONSIDER HOW MUCH DEVELOPMENT WE'RE PUTTING, ESPECIALLY MULTIFAMILY IN THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED AREA OF PROBABLY THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND SO WHEN RESIDENTS HEAR THAT THERE MAY BE MORE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT THAT THIS BODY WOULD DECIDE UPON, IT'S GOING TO CAUSE FOR SOME CONCERN.
AND THAT IS THE REASON WHY I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR US TO HAVE THIS MATTER TO DISCUSS A LITTLE FURTHER OVER THE NEXT WEEK.
DISTRICT J IS NOT ON THE LIST.
DISTRICT J IS NOT ON THE LIST.
AND IT IS DISINGENUOUS TO STRAP THAT INTO YOUR ARGUMENT BASED ON A DISTRICT THAT YOU ARE NOT AN AREA YOU ARE NOT CURRENTLY REPRESENTING.
I'M LOOKING AT EVERY ONE OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS.
AND YOUR DISTRICT IS NOT LISTED AT ALL.
SO TO TRY TO SHOE STRAPP A DEVELOPMENT IN ANOTHER DISTRICT THAT WILL, WHERE THE AREA WILL BE IN YOUR DISTRICT SOME 10 OR 12 MONTHS FROM NOW.
I LOVE YOU DEARLY, BUT COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, I HEAR YOU.
BUT THIS IS FOR THE PURPOSE FOR EVERYONE.
THE IDEA THAT THERE'S A NEW GROUP OF PEOPLE ARE COMING TO OUR COMMUNITIES FOR THESE DEVELOPMENTS IS FALSE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SENIORS AND FAMILIES THAT ALREADY LIVE WITHIN YOUR DISTRICT THAT ARE SEEKING NEW CONSTRUCTION, AFFORDABILITY, LONGER PERIODS OF AFFORDABILITY, UM, ENERGY EFFICIENT UNITS, WHICH WILL THEN MINIMIZE THEIR UTILITY BILLS, THAT PUTS THEM DIRECT ACCESS SO THEY CAN GET OUT OF THE C-CLASS APARTMENTS, THE DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE 1975.
[02:35:01]
SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.WHEN YOU SEE THESE DEVELOPMENTS, THIS IS ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING AN ALTERNATIVE TO WHAT THEY ALREADY HAVE.
NOT THE INFLUX OF OUT SO-CALLED OUTSIDERS COMING IN.
THE SAME KIDS ARE GOING TO THE SAME SCHOOLS.
THEY'RE CHANGING THEIR ADDRESS.
THE SAME SENIORS THAT LIVE IN THESE DILAPIDATED UH, APARTMENTS, THEY'RE GOING, THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A NEW CONSTRUCTION.
SO LIKE, KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THESE PROJECTS AND YOU'RE CONSIDERING WHO THESE RESIDENTS ARE.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ALREADY LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, BECAUSE AGAIN, UM, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION AS THEY DECIDE HOW TO VOTE.
UM, ONE, THIS IS GONNA BE SENIOR LIVING.
I'M LOOKING AT SOME LETTERS OF OPPOSITION FROM RESIDENTS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE DEVELOPER, WHICH IS SOMETHING I RAISED AT HOUSING.
HOWEVER, AFTER THAT HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING, UH, THE DEVELOPER DID REACH OUT AND THEY'RE SCHEDULED TO MEET WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HAVE MADE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE STARTING NEXT WEEK.
UM, SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT RESIDENTS RAISED INCLUDED CONCERNS OF FLOODING BECAUSE THAT AREA, IT'S, AGAIN, THE GREATER MEYERLAND AREA.
THIS IS IN ROBINDALE, HAS EXPERIENCED FLOODING.
HOWEVER, MY EXPERIENCE WITH A LOT OF THESE GOING IN HAVE STRICTER, UM, FLOOD MITIGATION REQUIREMENTS AND ACTUALLY IMPROVE THE SURROUNDING AREA.
IT'S THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH OTHER LOCATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD IN DISTRICT C.
UM, I CANNOT SUPPORT CERTAIN CITATIONS ABOUT CITING CRIME AND GANG VIOLENCE.
UM, I THINK IT'S A SLIPPERY SLOPE WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO CATEGORIZE WHO'S GOING TO BE LIVING IN CERTAIN HOUSING.
UH, AND I, I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT.
AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SENIOR HOUSING, BUT AGAIN, I WANTED TO BE, UM, AS THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE WRITING IN, UM, DO HAVE A VOICE.
SO I'M TRYING TO SHARE THEIR CONCERNS WITH ALL OF YOU RIGHT NOW.
UH, THAT BEING SAID, I AM NOT GOING TO, UM, AND I, I, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, I, I RESPECT THAT IT'S GOING INTO DISTRICT J.
UM, AND I'M ONLY FOR THE REASON THAT I DON'T BELIEVE IN SEPARATING, SEPARATING OUT ANY OF THESE ITEMS, BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS HOW WE GOT INTO TROUBLE SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN WE STARTED LOOKING AT INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS AND PULLING THEM OUT.
AND THAT'S HOW WE GOT INTO TROUBLE WITH HUD TO BEGIN WITH.
SO I DON'T BELIEVE IN PRINCIPLE ON SEPARATING OUT THESE ITEMS INDIVIDUALLY, SO I CANNOT SUPPORT IT.
BUT AGAIN, UM, I WANT ALL OF YOU TO HAVE THE INFORMATION AT HAND AS, AS YOU TAKE THE VOTE.
SO IT'S NOT THAT I'M VOTING AGAINST RESIDENTS THAT ARE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS, BUT THE FACT THAT WE'RE SEPARATING OUT ANY HOUSING ITEMS RIGHT NOW, UM, I, I DON'T THINK IS IN LINE WITH WHAT OUR AGREEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING WITH HUD WAS TO BEGIN WITH.
SO, SO COUNCIL MEMBER, ARE YOU SUPPORTING THE MOTION TO SEPARATE OR NOT OR NO, I'M JUST, I WANNA GET AN UNDERSTANDING.
I'M NOT GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THE MOTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER POWELL, DO YOU CHOOSE TO ADVANCE YOUR MOTION? YES.
I'M GONNA CHOOSE TO ADVANCE IT.
SO, UH, J JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN, DO YOU SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OR NOT? YES, I DO.
BASED ON THE GRADING CRITERIA THAT THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT HAS PUT FORWARD, MY POLICY, AND AGAIN, GOING THROUGH HOUSING COMMITTEE, HOW THESE ARE STRUCTURED, HOW THEY ARE SCORED IS MY UNDERSTANDING HOW WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE VOTE AS IN A PACKAGE AS IN ITS ENTIRETY.
UM, I DO RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT THEY NEED TO MEET WITH THE RESIDENTS AND WE HAVE THEIR WORD THAT THEY WILL.
AND IN MY EXPERIENCE, WORKING WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROVIDER, WHO'S ONE OF THE LARGEST WRAPAROUND SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, UM, THEY MAKE GOOD ON THEIR WORD WITH THE COMMUNITY.
AND IF THIS IS PASSED, I WILL HOLD THEM TO THAT.
AND, AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT POLLARD IS TRYING TO DO, BUT AGAIN, I I'M ALSO IN THE SAME BOAT.
I MEAN, UH, NUMBER SEVEN, THE LAUREL AT BLACKWOOD, THAT'S IN DISTRICT D CURRENTLY.
UH, BUT IT WILL BE IN DISTRICT I COME JANUARY.
UH, SO THEREFORE, UH, I HAVE NOT REACHED OUT TO COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ DUE THE FACT THAT IT'S IN HER DISTRICT CURRENTLY.
UH, AND I, I RESPECT HER DECISION, SO THANK YOU.
WE ON THE MOTION TO, UM, COUNCILMAN PAUL'S MOTION TO SEPARATE.
AND, UM, I'M GONNA ASK CALL TO ROLL ON THIS ONE.
[02:40:01]
MAYOR TURNER.NINE, SIX ON VOTE ON NINE SIXTH.
WE RETURN NOW TO THE MAIN ITEM TWO OF THE, UH, DEVELOPMENT IS BEING SEPARATED OUT.
NOW THE DISCUSSION IS ON, UM, THE MAIN ITEM.
FIRST DISCUSSION IS ON THE MAIN ITEM.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MAIN ITEM? COUNCILMAN PLUMBER ON THE MAIN ITEM? MAYOR, CAN WE, CAN, CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN WHY WE'RE SEPARATING NOT JUST THEIR REASONS ON WHY THEY'RE PULLING OUT THOSE PARTICULAR ITEMS? I JUST WANNA GET SOME CLARIFICATION.
I HAVE HEARD OVERARCHING CONVERSATION, BUT JUST SPECIFICALLY ON THE, AND THAT'S COMING UP SOON.
YEAH, THIS IS ON ALL OF THE ITEMS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE UPLAND AND THE FELICITY OATHS.
AND SO, DISCUSSION NOW IS ON THE MAIN ITEM.
DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSE, AND GRANTED, NO, NOT POLL.
SO COUNCILMAN POLL VOTING? NO.
UH, THE ITEM PASSES NOW WE'RE GOING TO TURN TO, UM, PROTECT THE FIRST ONE.
UM, ON THIS ONE, TO ANSWER COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER'S QUESTION, UM, WE HEARD AT THE HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING, AND WE HEARD, UH, YESTERDAY DURING PUBLIC SESSION, MULTIPLE PEOPLE CAME FORWARD AND SAID THAT THERE WAS NO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
UM, WHEN THE DEVELOPER MET WITH MY OFFICE, WE ENCOURAGED HIM TO MEET WITH THE HOAS TO GO AND TALK TO THESE PEOPLE.
UM, AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING, HE STILL HADN'T DONE THAT.
AFTER 12 PEOPLE CAME AND SPOKE AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING, HE, HE STILL DIDN'T ENGAGE, UM, WITH THERE WAS AN HOA PRESIDENT HERE AT THAT MEETING.
UM, AND SO, UM, THAT IS WHY I HAVE SEPARATED THIS ONE.
SO IS HA HAVE WE, HAVE WE SPOKEN WITH HIM NOW? IS HE MOVING FORWARD WITH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT? WELL, WE, HE CAME YESTERDAY TO PUBLIC SESSION AND SAID, SAID THAT, THAT HE STILL HAD NOT TALKED TO ANYONE.
IT'S MY, AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS ITEM IS BEING, UH, UH, TAGGED, UH, FOR THAT KIND OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO OCCUR.
UM, I'D LIKE TO CALL THE QUESTION, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THE SOCIETY WAS GOING TO BE TAGGED.
THAT WAS THE REPRESENTATION TO ME.
WELL, BUT BASED ON THE DEVELOPER STILL NOT MAKING CONTACT, UM, I UNDERSTAND ALL OF THAT.
BUT WHEN YOU INDICATE TO ME THE STEPS YOU INTEND TO TAKE, AND WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS ITEM WAS GOING TO BE TAGGED AS WELL AS THE NEXT ONE.
AND IN DEREFERENCE TO THE CHAIR, I HOLD YOU TO THAT UNDERSTANDING.
I MEAN, YOU DID TELL ME YOU WERE GOING TO TAG IT.
I DO NOT WANT TO TAG THIS ITEM, BUT LET ME BE VERY CLEAR.
BUT YOU TOLD ME YOU WERE, YOU INDICATED TO TO ME THAT THAT'S WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO DO.
THAT WAS, I AGREED TO CONSIDER IT.
AND I WAS STILL HOPING THAT HE WOULD MAKE PROGRESS.
LET ME JUST SAY THIS NOW, WHEN YOU GIVE ME YOUR WORD AND YOU GO CONTRARY TO YOUR WORD, THAT IS A FUNDAMENTAL BREACH TO ME AS THE CHAIR, BECAUSE I TRY TO WORK.
NO, I WORK WITH EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER AROUND THIS TABLE.
BUT THE COUNCIL MEMBER CHOOSES TO PROCEED.
SHE CALLED THE QUESTION COUNCIL MEMBER KUBA.
AND YOU'RE CALLING THE QUESTION ON IT.
[02:45:01]
COUNCIL MEMBER KAGE MAYOR.UH, IF, IF IT, IF THE ISSUE IS THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, W WOULD A, WOULD A TAG GIVE ENOUGH TIME OR WOULD WE HAVE TO REFER BACK FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS? YES, IT ALLOWS THEM TO DO WHATEVER.
NOT TO SAY ANYTHING IS GONNA CHANGE, BUT LOOK, THE COUNCIL MEMBER CHOOSES TO PROCEED.
MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER KUSH TAX ITEM DISCUSSION.
NEXT WE'RE GONNA PROCEED WITH THE NEXT ONE, THE UPLAND COUNCIL MEMBER.
PECK, WHAT IS YOUR DESIRE? THANK YOU, MAYOR, UM, FOR THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
UM, TO BE CLEAR, THE CONCERNS FROM MY CONSTITUENTS, IT'S NOT THAT IT'S, UM, A TAX CREDIT APARTMENT COMPLEX.
ANYTHING THAT'S BEING BUILT ON UPLAND, OUR PHONES RING ABOUT ANY DEVELOPMENT.
THERE'S FLOODING CONCERNS, THERE'S TRAFFIC CONCERNS.
UM, AND THE DEVELOPER DID ASK FOR AN EXTRA WEEK TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS.
AND SO I'D LIKE TO TAG IT TO SEE IF THEY CAN OVERCOME SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS.
I, I DON'T KNOW THAT A WEEK IS GOING TO, UM, FIX THE FLOODING CONCERNS THAT MY CONSTITUENTS HAVE.
UM, BUT, AND WE'RE ALSO EVEN LOOKING AT A SWAT PROJECT ON UPLAND.
SO THERE'S A LOT GOING ON ON THAT STREET.
BUT IF THE DEVELOPER WANTS ANOTHER WEEK TO TRY TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF THAT, UM, I'M WILLING TO ALLOW THEM TO DO THAT.
WE'RE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FELICITY OAKS, NOT UPLAND, RIGHT? NO.
FELICITY OAKS HAS BEEN TAGGED.
AND YOU CHOOSE TO TAG THIS ITEM? YES.
WILL YOU HOLD YOUR TAG FOR ONE SECOND? YES.
I'M SORRY, I, I KNOW THAT WE'RE MOVING AROUND A LOT ON DIFFERENT, CAN I JUST MAKE A GENERAL BROAD COMMENT? UM, IN REGARDS TO THIS WHOLE SITUATION, WE'RE VOTING, THE COUNCIL IS VOTING TO, I VOTED PERSONALLY TO SEPARATE ITEMS BECAUSE I THOUGHT WE WERE TAGGING THEM.
I THINK IT'S UNFAIR TO THE COUNCIL TO DO THIS BECAUSE NOW I VOTED TO SEPARATE SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVE THAT I KNOW THAT THAT INVESTOR OR DEVELOPER DIDN'T DO WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
I GET ALL OF THAT, BUT WE STILL NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO I FEEL A LITTLE I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I'M SAYING IT'S A GENERAL GREATER PRINCIPAL.
A GENERAL COMMENT ACROSS ALL OF IT.
WE AS A COUNCIL HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON WHAT THE AGREEMENTS ARE.
'CAUSE WE, 'CAUSE WE'RE ALL VOTING, OUR NAMES ARE ON THE VOTE.
AND I'M JUST MAKING A JUST GENERAL BROAD COMMENT ON THAT.
UH, THIS ITEM HAS BEEN TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PACK.
DID, DID WE, DID WE VOTE ON THE MAIN ITEM? NO.
YES, WE VOTED ON THE MAIN ITEM.
NOW WE ON ITEM 11 FOR 11 ON ITEM 11.
KATY LIVING IS ON THE LIST, UM, ON THIS ITEM.
AND IT'S IN THE LIMITED PURPOSE.
ANNEXATION AND I DO SUPPORT THIS COMPLEX.
PEOPLE ARE GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE.
SO I'M VOTING YES ON THIS ITEM, BUT JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT THAT GOING FORWARD AS WE'RE LOOKING AT ITEMS THAT ARE IN THE LIMITED PURPOSE, ANNEX ANNEXATION, I THINK THAT IT SHOULD COUNT FOR THE NUMBER OF APARTMENTS MOVING FORWARD IN DISTRICT A BECAUSE IT IS IN THE CITY.
AND SO I THINK THAT WE SHOULD DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE AS FAR AS SCORING THESE AND LOOKING AT IT VERY CLOSELY, I UNDERSTAND THAT THESE AREN'T BEING SCORED IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE ONES THAT ARE ACTUALLY FULLY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT IT DOES AFFECT THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND SO MOVING FORWARD, I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT ACTUALLY BEING SCORED AND, UM, REALLY VETTING IT OUT.
BUT I DO SUPPORT THIS PARTICULAR ONE.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 11? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED ON ITEM 11.
OPPOSED GRANTED ON 12 POLLARD, NO SHALL POLL VOTING, NO ITEM PASSES.
DISCUSSION ON 13TH IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED ON 13.
DISCUSSION ON 14 IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED ON 14.
DISCUSSION ON 16 IN FAVOR OF POST GRANTING ON 16.
MAY I HAVE A QUESTION? YES, SIR.
BECAUSE IT DEALS WITH THE AIRPORT.
[02:50:01]
SEE M THE THE MICKEY LELAND TERMINAL BEING FINISHED?LEMME SEE IF WE CAN GET AN ANSWER FOR YOU ON THAT.
WELL, BECAUSE PEOPLE CALL ME ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME, YOU KNOW, SO WE'LL GET AN ANSWER FOR YOU.
WE ON ITEM, ITEM 20 IS AN ORDINANCE.
WE ON ITEM 20 AND COUNCILWOMAN CAYMAN ON 20.
UM, THIS ITEM, UH, IS THE EXPANSION OF A CONTRACT CURRENTLY BETWEEN HITS AND THE AIRPORT SYSTEM.
UH, IT'S NOW GONNA INCORPORATE A, A BROADER SCOPE RELATED TO H-P-D-O-E-M AND JUST OUR, OUR VIDEO NETWORK IN ITS ENTIRETY.
UM, I'M GONNA RESPECTFULLY TAG THIS, UH, TO HAVE A FEW MORE CONVERSATIONS.
UH, MY CONCERN BEING RIGHT NOW, WE'RE NOT, I'M NOT CLEAR ON WHAT OUR, UM, VIDEO NETWORK POLICIES ARE RELATED TO HOW WE ARE MONITORING, UM, THAT TYPE OF INFORMATION AND, AND SURVEILLANCE.
SO I'D LIKE TO HAVE A FEW MORE CONVERSATIONS.
THE GATES WILL BE OPEN BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS ON ITEM 29.
I WANNA THANK YOU MAYOR AND THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS PROJECT.
OUR DOWNTOWN AND EAST END COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THIS GREAT SEPARATION AND MOBILITY PROJECT FOR OVER A DECADE.
IF AWARDED, THIS PROJECT WILL CONSTRUCT FOUR UNDERPASSES TO REPLACE THREE AT GREAT CROSSINGS, WHICH WILL IMPROVE SAFETY, MOBILITY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND EMERGENCY SERVICES BY PROVIDING SAFE AND RELIABLE PASSAGEWAYS UNDER THESE INCREASINGLY BUSY RAIL CORRIDORS.
THE EXISTING NAVIGATION UNDERPASS WILL BE REBUILT TO ACCOMMODATE THROUGH MOVEMENTS OF BOTH NAVIGATION AND COMMERCE.
CREATING A NEW EAST WEST CONNECTION ON COMMERCE BENEFITING BOTH DISTRICTS H AND I AND ON NEW AND ON NEW YORK OR YORK STREET.
TWO UNDER PASSES WILL BE CONSTRUCTED TO ALLOW FOR TWO-WAY NORTH SOUTH VEHICULAR MOVEMENTS FROM HARRISBURG BOULEVARD TO POLK STREET.
THE PROJECT WILL ALSO ADD HIGH COMFORT INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS ALONG THESE CORRIDORS.
I KNOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL SEE THE VALUE AND BENEFIT FOR THIS PROJECT AND FUND OUR REQUESTS.
I KNOW THIS IS A PROJECT AGAIN WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR SOME TIME.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE'LL GET AN ANSWER, UH, IN A FEW MONTHS.
I, MAYOR I'M EXCUSE THIS IS RACKING MY BRAIN.
I KNOW WE'VE ALREADY PASSED ITEM 12, BUT CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT TRINITY EAST DID NOT HAVE A WAIVER AS WELL? I THOUGHT DISTRICT D WAS REQUESTING A, A WAIVER AS WELL.
THE PSHI COULD HAVE SWORN WE BRIEFED THAT IN COMMITTEE AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE 'CAUSE IT'S NOT LISTED.
AND IF SOMETHING HAS CHANGED, I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ON THAT.
I KNOW IN DISTRICT, I, WE HAVE TWO PROJECTS ON HARRISBURG AND THEN IN DISTRICT E AND I THOUGHT THE TRINITY EAST PROJECT WAS REQUESTING A WAIVER.
2020 EAST IS NOT LISTED ON 12TH FOR A WAIVER FOR THE TWO MILE.
THEY'RE NOT ON THE LIST FOR TWO MILES SAME YEAR.
[02:55:01]
OKAY.UM, THIS ORDINANCE, UM, I THINK WE LOOK VERY COMPETITIVE IN THIS APPLICATION, BUT THIS ORDINANCE WILL APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE SUBMISSION OF, OF A GRANT APPLICATION FOR $36.9 MILLION FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, UM, FOR THE FEDERAL RAILROAD CROSSING ELIMINATION PROGRAM.
THIS IS AN IMP SUCH AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS FUNDING THAT WILL REDUCE, UM, THE NUMBER OF AT GRADE, UM, HIGHWAY AND RAIL CROSSINGS, IMPROVE EFFICIENT MOVEMENT OF FREIGHT AND INCREASE THE QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH, UM, REDUCED CONGESTION AND IMPROVED SAFETY.
UM, THIS PROJECT IS, IS JUST PHASE ONE OF THE RAIL CORRIDOR, UM, ALONG THE HOUSTON BELT AND TERMINAL RAILWAY COMPANIES.
PHASE ONE INCLUDES CONSTRUCTION OF UNDERPASSES, AS YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS WAS MENTIONING.
AND TWO VERY PROBLEMATIC DISTRICT, UM, SITES IN DISTRICT AGE, THE COMMERCE NAVIGATION SITE AND THE S SAMSON YORK SITE.
UM, IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE A, A QUIET ZONE ALL ALONG, UM, FROM REYNOLDS AND DISTRICT H TO, UM, THE INTERSECTION OF LELAND STREET AND COLLIN STREET IN DISTRICT.
I, SO, UM, FINGERS CROSSED, I THINK WE LOOK STRONG ON THIS AND, AND I, UM, THANK YOU TO PUBLIC WORKS FOR YOUR, UM, ALL THE WORK THAT THAT HAS GONE INTO PUTTING IT TOGETHER.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 29? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED ON 29? ITEM 30 IS AN ORDINANCE.
JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 30, DISCUSSION ON 30, DISCUSSION ON 30 IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED ON 30.
THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
[MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL - Council Member Castex-Tatum first]
OFF TODAY WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN MAG GALLEGOS.UH, SATURDAY AT THE MEMORIAL LAND BRIDGE DEDICATION FOR THE BIGGEST PICNIC IN TEXAS.
CONGRATULATIONS TO SHELLY ARNOLD AND THE, UH, MEMORIAL PARK CONSERVANCY BOARD MEMBERS, UH, FOR THIS 11TH ECOLOGICAL WONDER OF THE WORLD.
UH, PROUD TO HAVE SUPPORTED THE VOTING, VOTING FOR THE MEMORIAL PARK MASTER PLAN AND THE EXPANSION OF THE UPTOWN TURS AS A FUNDING SOURCE FOR THE MASTER PLAN.
UH, JOIN THE MAYOR IN THE RIBBON CUTTING AT SAID FOR THE NEW WORKFORCE TRAINING CENTER LAST WEEK.
UH, FOR THE NEW WORKFORCE TRAINING FACILITY FOR INDIVIDUALS SEEKING JOB TRAINING AND NEW CAREERS.
UH, GIVING A SECOND CHANCE TO INDIVIDUALS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THEIR LIVES, THANKS TO THE PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN THE CITY AND COUNTY, PROVIDING FUNDING THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE.
LAST WEEK, COUNCIL VOTED $1.3 MILLION FOR A RONALD MCDONALD CHILDREN'S LEARNING CENTER INSIDE THE NEW WORKFORCE TRAINING CENTER WHERE PARENTS CAN BRING THEIR CHILD FOR DAYCARE WITH NO WORRIES WHILE THEY TRAIN FOR THE NEW CAREER, FOR THEIR NEW CAREER.
UH, JOINED THE MAYOR IN TOURING THE NEW NAVIGATION CENTER.
THE PROJECT HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
THE CENTER IS A BEAUTIFUL SAFE PLACE WHERE HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS CAN STAY TEMPORARILY AND RECEIVE RESOURCES WHILE WAITING TO BE ASSIGNED PERMANENT HOUSING.
AND I WANT TO THANK JOE SCALES FOR, UM, TALKING WITH THE MEDIA AND THANKING THE MAYOR.
HE IS ONE OF 44 NEW RESIDENTS AT THE CENTER.
HE SHARED HIS STORY THAT HE HAS BEEN LIVING ON THE STREETS FOR SEVERAL YEARS AFTER HIS HOUSE IN FIFTH WARD BURNED DOWN.
HE IS THANKFUL AND THANKED EVERYONE FOR MAKING THIS CENTER A REALITY.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU MAYOR FOR THAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, VERY MUCH.
MAYOR, I JUST WANT TO ADD TO THOSE, UH, TALKING GREAT THINGS ABOUT MEMORIAL PARK.
WHAT A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL DAY THAT WAS.
UM, AS I THINK, YOU KNOW, I RODE MY BIKE OUT THERE AND, UH, ATTENDED WITH MY GIRLFRIEND AND IT WAS SUPER, SUPER FUN.
WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY FOR THE LANDSCAPE OF HOUSTON.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, TREMENDOUS JOB OUT IN FRONT, UH, WITH DISTRICT C AND OF COURSE ELLEN COHEN AND MAYOR PARKER WERE ALL THERE.
IT WAS, UH, REALLY A WONDERFUL DAY ON ANOTHER EXTREME MAYOR.
I WANNA MENTION A WONDERFUL TIME.
I HAD ON MONDAY OUT IN, UH, THE CLEAR LAKE PART OF DISTRICT E AT, UH, THE SPACEPORT.
I ATTENDED A SEMINAR AND A WORKSHOP ON THE DIGITAL ENGINEERING THAT'S COMING THERE AT SAN JACINTO COLLEGE.
PUT IT ON WITH, UH, FOLKS, A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FROM SCOTLAND.
WHITFORD, UH, WAS HERE WITH US, UH, SCOTT, HERSELF, AND A SURGEON OF INCREDIBLE SKILL, UM, AND AN ONCOLOGIST IN THE WAY OF HER TREATMENT OF, OF CANCERS.
[03:00:01]
ARE DOING AND SOME OF THE WORK THAT I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN A PART OF, GOING TO MEXICO, GOING TO TECH MONTEREY, UH, BEING THERE WITH FOLKS INTERNATIONALLY, UH, RIGHT HERE IN HOUSTON, MODERNIZING OUR MANUFACTURING TECHNIQUES, WORKING ON FUTURE, UH, TECHNOLOGIES, WHAT WE ARE GOING TO BUILD ON THE MOON AND THE FACE OF MARS IN THE YEARS TO COME.UH, THIS IS TRULY OPENING UP THE WORLD.
SO JUST SORT OF THE FRAMING OF THOSE TWO EVENTS OVER THE RECENT DAYS, THE GROUNDING AND GETTING BACK TO OUR ROOTS IN MEMORIAL PARK AND, UH, EXPLORING THE OUTER PARTS OF OUR GALAXY WITH THE SPACEPORT.
SO, UH, JUST A WONDERFUL TIME TO BE IN HOUSTON AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S 80 DEGREES OUT AND TWO YEARS AGO TODAY, UH, WINTER STORM YURI WAS UPON US.
SO LET US ALL KEEP THAT IN MIND ABOUT HOW WE NEED TO PRESERVE OUR PLANET AS WELL AS LOOK TO THE FUTURE IN THE UNIVERSE.
MAYOR HAVING, UH, BEEN ON COUNCIL NOW FOR JUST NINE AND A LITTLE OVER NINE YEARS AND, UH, SEEING YOUR CONCERN FOR TAKING CARE OF THE HOMELESS, UH, OUR VETERANS.
UH, I GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT, MAYOR.
IT'S, UH, UH, YOU'RE DOING GOD'S WORK HELPING THE NEEDY, AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE IT WHEN I SEEN THE NAVIGATION CENTER, WHEN I SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE HURTING, AND THEY REALLY DON'T NEED TO BE IN THOSE TENTS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS DOWN TO THE SOLO.
BUT, UH, UH, IT, IT'S A REAL WORK TO, TO DO WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING TO, TO HELP THE HOMELESS.
AND I, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I GREATLY APPRECIATE IT AND, UH, IT MEANS A LOT TO OUR CITY THAT, THAT WE'RE DOING SOMETHING FOR, FOR THE, THE LEAST AMONG US.
I WANT TO INTRODUCE KEN ULMER IN THE CHAMBERS.
HE IS OUR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF DISTRICT F KEN COMES TO US WITH THE CORPORATE BACKGROUND AND WILL BE HELPING ME WITH, UH, MY INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS.
UM, AND SO, UM, TELL HIM HELLO IF YOU SEE HIM, UM, ON THE FLOOR AND AT THE ANNEX, UM, ON SATURDAY.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH, I'M GONNA START MY DAY OFF IN CARVER CREST AS WE CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE BLACK BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
UH, THE SCHLUMBERGER BOLD GROUP, WHICH IS THEIR BLACK EMPLOYEE GROUP, THEY ARE PARTNERING WITH OUR OFFICE FOR THE THIRD ANNUAL LOVING OUR SENIORS EVENT, UH, RESIDENTS IN PINEY POINT AND, UH, BLOSSOM HEIGHTS.
THEY GET BASKETS, COFFEE CUPS, CROSSWORD PUZZLES, ALL TYPES OF THINGS.
AND THOSE ITEMS ARE DONATED AND FUNDED BY EMPLOYEES OF SCHLUMBERGER.
SO WE'RE GONNA BE OUT THERE AT 10:00 AM AND THEN MAYOR TURNOUT SHOULD BE JOINING YOU ON SATURDAY AT THE RIBBON CUTTING OF THE HARWIN 50 50 PARK.
UM, AT, THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST 50 50 PARKS YOU LISTED, AND SO WE'RE HAPPY THAT THIS IS OUT THE GATE.
UH, TANGO WILD, WHICH IS ANOTHER 50 PARK IN DISTRICT F IS I THINK 70% IN DESIGN.
THAT'LL BE AT 11:00 AM WE ARE SHARING THAT.
SO IF YOU LIVE IN THE AREA, PLEASE JOIN US ON SATURDAY AT HARWIN PARK AT 11:00 AM THANK YOU MUCH.
I WANNA THANK THE ADMINISTRATION FOR THE AGGRESSIVE STANCE.
WE'RE TAKEN ON DANGEROUS BUILDINGS THIS YEAR.
WE HAD A MEETING, UH, RNA YESTERDAY ABOUT DANGEROUS BUILDINGS.
I KNOW IT'S YOUR GOAL TO GET OVER 400 BUILDINGS THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE BOOKS FOR A WHILE.
NOT, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES, THE CONTRACT IN PLACE TO GO AHEAD WITH DEMOLITION.
SO IT'S AN AGGRESSIVE SCHEDULE AND REALLY THANKS FOR THAT.
WE WENT THROUGH ALL THE PROCESSES, EVERYTHING THAT IT GOES THROUGH TO GET TO THE POINT OF DEMOLITION.
UH, DIRECTOR FRANCIS DID SAY UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE, IT SHOULDN'T TAKE MORE THAN FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS.
I KNOW SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES HAVE BEEN ON THE BOOKS FOR LIKE YEARS, SO GLAD TO SEE THEM.
THEY REALLY CAUSE BLIGHT AND IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S A GREAT GOAL TO HAVE THIS YEAR ON THE, THE, UH, DECOMMISSIONING OF THE, OF THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT.
THAT WAS A GREAT STORY IN SUNDAY'S PAPER.
I KNOW JORDAN ON MY STAFF ATTENDED THE OPENING OF THE NAVIGATION CENTER AND HAD NOTHING BUT GOOD THINGS TO SAY.
I REMEMBER SEEING THAT BUILDING BEFORE IT WAS MADE INTO THE NAVIGATION CENTER, JUST A TORN UP, BROKEN OUT WINDOWS, ABANDONED, DANGEROUS BUILDING.
AND NOW IT IS TRULY, UM, TURNING OUT TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY GONNA BE GOOD FOR OUR CITY.
AND WHEN OTHER CITIES ARE REALLY JUST HAVING SUCH A TOUGH TIME WITH HOMELESSNESS, UH, I REALLY THINK THAT HOUSTON HAS RISEN TO THE OCCASION AND REALLY HAS, UH, LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH SAID IS, IS LOOKING OUT FOR THOSE, UH, THE LEAST OF OUR BROTHERS.
UM, ON THE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS THAT WERE, THAT IS UPCOMING, MAYOR, I DID ATTEND THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD
[03:05:01]
ALLIANCE MEETING ON MONDAY NIGHT, WHERE DIRECTOR MARGARET WALLACE BROWN AND ROMAN GAVE MACALLAN, GAVE A PRESENTA A BRIEF PRESENTATION.THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF TIME, BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF QUESTIONS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND IT WAS EVEN SUGGESTED AT BY THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENT THAT PLANNING COME PLAN TO COME BACK NEXT MONTH.
AND I KNOW THIS IS ON A, A SCHEDULE, SO I JUST WANTED YOU TO BE AWARE THAT, THAT THIS IS, UH, A SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS STILL HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT.
SO I WOULD, UH, ASK FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF POSSIBLY BUILDING IN A BIT MORE TIME FOR, UM, SOME ADDITIONAL, UH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ON THAT.
I WOULD TELL YOU THIS IS ABOUT PROTECTING HISTORICAL NEIGHBORHOODS, RIGHT? I UNDERSTOOD.
AND PRIMARILY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR UNDERSTOOD.
AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT GETS DONE WHILE I'M MAYOR.
SO THAT'S WHY WE ARE ON A VERY AGGRESSIVE TIMELINE.
WELL, I'M JUST RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THAT, UM, ADDITIONAL PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT TAKE PLACE.
UM, LAST WEEK, TWO OF THE DISTRICT, A CONSTITUENTS CAME TO PUBLIC SESSION.
UM, SHEILA AND JANE, YOU MAY RECALL THEY WERE HAVING A FLOODING CONCERN.
AND WE HAD THAT MEETING SCHEDULED WITH THE DEVELOPER, UM, AND PUBLIC WORKS TO GO AND LOOK AT THE SITUATION AND JUST WANTED TO GIVE AN UPDATE THAT THAT MEETING DID NOT GO AS ANY OF US HOPED.
UM, THE DEVELOPER FINALLY WAS ASKED TO LEAVE, UM, THE, UM, CONSTITUENTS HOME BECAUSE THERE WAS A SCREAMING MATCH, UM, THAT HAPPENED.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE, I MEAN, IT'S STILL BEING INVESTIGATED, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THEY MAY HAVE, UM, DEVELOPED EVERYTHING THAT WAS APPROVED BY PUBLIC WORK.
SO WHILE THAT MAY BE THE CASE, THERE'S DEFINITELY A FLOODING CONCERN THAT HAS HAPPENED AS A RESULT OF THIS DEVELOPMENT.
AND SO I AM GOING TO BE MEETING WITH THE DEVELOPER AGAIN TODAY TO TRY TO SEE IF HE WILL BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR AND ASSIST WITH FIXING THIS FLOODING SITUATION.
BUT FOR ANY DEVELOPMENT COMING INTO DISTRICT A, I EXPECT WHEN THEY COME INTO DISTRICT A THAT THEY BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR AND NOT CAUSE FLOODING.
AND THAT IS JUST COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE TO COME INTO MY COMMUNITY AND CAUSE A FLOODING SITUATION REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY BUILT ACCORDING TO WHAT WAS SUBMITTED TO PUBLIC WORKS.
BUT I DO WANT TO THANK, UM, GORDON FROM THE CITY ENGINEER'S OFFICE.
UM, CHRIS SANDOVAL FROM PUBLIC WORKS.
UMER WAS FROM THE SWAT OFFICE, WAS AMAZING, STEPPING IN TO CALM EVERYONE DOWN.
UM, HE REALLY DID AN AMAZING JOB.
SO I'M VERY THANKFUL TO EVERYONE FROM PUBLIC WORKS WHO WAS AT THIS MEETING.
BUT AGAIN, I, UM, THAT IS AN ONGOING TALK AND I DO EXPECT THE DEVELOPER TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR AND HELP US FIX THIS FLOODING SITUATION.
UM, LAST WEEKEND'S LANDBRIDGE OPENING WAS JUST UNBELIEVABLE.
UH, FROM APPARENTLY UNBEKNOWNST WEDDING OFFICIATING AND PARTICIPATION.
UH, THERE WERE WEDDINGS THAT WERE HA APPARENTLY BEING HELD THERE, BUT THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TURNED OUT, UM, TO LOOK AT MEMORIAL PARK'S LAND BRIDGE AGAIN, SO PROUD THAT IT'S IN DISTRICT C, BUT IT TOOK A VILLAGE.
UM, MEMORIAL PARK ISN'T JUST ABOUT DISTRICT C, IT'S FOR THE ENTIRE CITY AND SURROUNDING AREAS.
SO THERE'S A WHOLE LIST OF PEOPLE TO THANK AND WE RECOGNIZE THEM.
BUT, UH, TO SEE OVER A HUNDRED NEW ACRES CREATED IN WHAT'S ALREADY ONE OF THE LARGEST URBAN, UH, PARKS IN NORTH AMERICA, UNITING THE PARK, UH, IN THE RESILIENCY FACTORS, THE HISTORICAL, UH, PRESERVATION FACTORS, ALL OF IT WAS JUST BEAUTIFUL.
UH, THIS HAPPENED UNDER BOTH YOU AND MAYOR PARKER, BUT, UH, COULD NOT BE MORE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR THE PARK AND OTHER PARKS AND OUR CITY.
I DID WANNA MAKE A QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT.
UM, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE WILL BE MEETING TOMORROW AT 2:00 PM THURSDAY.
UH, WE'LL BE HEARING AN UPDATE ON, UH, THE SHOT SPOTTER PROGRAM.
COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, YOU HAD RAISED THAT AS AN ISSUE, JUST GETTING AN UPDATE ON THAT, WHERE THINGS STAND, HOW IT EFFECTIVE OR NOT EFFECTIVE IT IS, AND MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT.
UH, AS WELL AS AN OVERVIEW PRESENTATION FROM THE HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER, UH, WHICH WAS ALSO REQUESTED.
SO WE'LL HAVE DR. PETER STOUT WITH US ON THAT AS WELL.
SO THERE'LL BE A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT I THINK IS RELEVANT TO WHAT ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE CALLING US ABOUT RIGHT NOW, UM, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
AND LASTLY, UH, WE RECEIVED FROM PUBLIC WORKS, THE LATEST 3 1 1 NUMBERS RELATED TO CALLS FOR PUBLIC WORK SERVICE.
AND DISTRICT C, AGAIN, FOR LAST YEAR WAS RANKED THE HIGHEST AMONG ALL 11 DISTRICT COUNCILS.
[03:10:01]
TOTAL NUMBER OF PUBLIC WORK SERVICE REQUESTS WERE 26,330 CASES COMPARED TO THE AVERAGE ACROSS ALL DISTRICTS OF ABOUT 15,500.UH, SO WE HAD THE MOST WATER LEAKS, WATER SERVICE COMPLAINTS, UM, THE LIST GOES ON, BUT I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT AGAIN, AS WE TALK ABOUT EQUITY, UH, WHEN WE HAVE AREAS THAT HAVE SOME OF THE OLDEST INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE CITY, IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO BE IN CONTINUING TO INVEST IN ALL OF THOSE AREAS BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S GONNA COST THE CITY A LOT MORE IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO FIX THOSE.
SO MY HAT'S OFF TO PUBLIC WORKS, UH, FOR ALL THAT THEY'RE DOING.
AGAIN, 26,330 CASES, CALLED INTO 3 1 1 ALONE, UH, JUST FOR ONE DISTRICT.
SO APPRECIATE ALL THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM AND MAYOR, EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING TO HELP WITH THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.
COUNCIL MEMBER MC, UH, EVAN SHABA.
UH, LAST WEEK, STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOLANDA JONES, THE STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY HOUSTON AND THE CONSTITUENTS OF TEXAS HOUSE DISTRICT 1 47 HAD A SUCCESSFUL TOWN HALL MEETING.
THE STUDENTS VENTED, AND I THINK THAT IT WAS VERY THERAPEUTIC FOR THEM, BUT EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT, IT RESULTED IN THE UNIVERSITY TAKING ACTION THE FOLLOWING DAY TO ENSURE THAT THE STUDENTS' VOICES WERE RESPECTED AND THE ISSUE ADDRESSED FAIRLY AND TRANSPARENTLY.
ALSO, ON LAST SATURDAY, I WANT TO THANK THE EL DORADO SOCIAL CLUB FOR HONORING ME AT THE 98TH ANNUAL WINTER BALL I, ALONG WITH CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN AND TONY CHASE.
AND IF YOU AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH THE EL DORADO SOCIAL CLUB, I WANNA SHARE THE FOLLOWING.
DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN THE YEAR 1925, A GROUP OF STUDENTS AT THE OLD COLORED HIGH SCHOOL LOCATED AT 3 0 3 WEST DALLAS AVENUE, HOUSTON, TEXAS, WERE STUDYING UNDER DIRECTION OF MRS. VIOLA WEBER COLVIN, A TEACHER OF ENGLISH.
WHILE IN MRS. COLVIN'S CLASS, THEY LEARNED ABOUT EL DORADO BY READING THE POEM, BY WRITTEN BY EDGAR ALLEN POE.
THE ORGANIZATION TODAY IS VIBRANT AND THRIVING WITH A LONG WAITING LIST FOR MEMBERSHIP.
THE CURRENT PRESIDENT IS SAM FORD, WHO LEADS THE ORGANIZATION'S CONTINUED EFFORTS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL EVENT AND I REALLY, REALLY WAS HONORED TO RECEIVE THAT, UH, COMMENDATION ON YESTERDAY, I HAD THE HONOR OF SPENDING AN EXCELLENT VALENTINE'S DAY WITH THE LOVELY SENIORS AT THE NEW SUNNYSIDE HEALTH AND MULTI-SERVICE CENTER.
THANK YOU TO HONORARY MAYOR OF SUNNYSIDE, SANDRA MASSEY HINES FOR HOSTING THE EVENT AND ALWAYS BEING A BEACON OF LIGHT IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
SHE WAS WAITING ON SOMETHING FROM YOU, MAYOR.
YOU MAY BE ON HER BAD SIDE AGAIN.
UH, BUT AT ANY RATE, UH, HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY FROM HER.
UH, I ALSO WANT TO THANK, UH, MY SPELMAN SISTER, CRYSTAL TUCSON FOR HER SERVICE TO DISTRICT D DURING HER SHORT BUT IMPACTFUL TENURE WITH MY OFFICE, SHE'S VERY TALENTED AND EXTRAORDINARY PROFESSIONAL, WHO I KNOW WILL SUCCEED IN HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
ON NEXT TUESDAY, WE HAVE A MAJOR EVENT, THE TSU DAY AT CITY HALL, WHERE WE WILL HAVE A PRE RECEPTION.
WE ARE INVITING ALL TSU ALUMNI FROM NOON TO ONE 40.
THERE WILL BE A PRE CEREMONY RECEPTION AT THE JULIA IDELSON LIBRARY, FIVE 50 MCKINNEY STREET.
WE'RE ASKING EVERYONE TO COME, AND THEN IT WILL CULMINATE IN A PROCLAMATION GIVEN BY THE MAYOR TO PRESIDENT ALICIA CRUMPTON YOUNG.
AND SO COME OUT AND JOIN US AT THE JULIA IDELSON BUILDING ON NEXT TUESDAY.
AND THAT CONCLUDES WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
UH, CHECK OUT THE LOVE YOUR PET WEBSITE FOR MANY FREE OPPORTUNITIES THIS WEEK FOR FREE SPAY NEUTER SURGERIES, FREE PET FOOD, FREE VACCINATIONS, FREE MICROCHIPPING.
UM, AND THEN MAYOR, I WANTED YOU JUST SAY THAT I, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS AND, UM, WHY DON'T YOU JUST, UM, GIVE A HEADS UP THAT NEXT WEEK'S CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
UM, THERE WILL BE, UH, A PUBLIC HEARING, UM, UH, ABOUT THE, THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT.
SO, UM, THERE, THERE, IT'S AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY.
UM, THEY CAN, UM, THEY'RE THOUGHT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A MORE FLEXIBLE WAY FOR PROPERTY OWNERS TO PROTECT THEIR COMMUNITY'S CHARACTER AND ADDRESS OTHER CONCERNS STEMMING FROM REDEVELOPMENT.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN THEM.
THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THEM.
PLEASE, UM, PLEASE, UH, TUNE IN AND JOIN US FOR THE PUBLIC, UM, UH, HEARING NEXT, NEXT, NEXT, UH, WEDNESDAY, NINE O'CLOCK.
I WANTED TO TAKE THE TIME TO INTRODUCE OUR TWO UNIVERSITY HOUSTON CHIP INTERNS FOR THE SPRING.
JASMINE PEREZ ON YOUR LEFT AND DAMARI PEREZ ON YOUR RIGHT, NO RELATION TO EACH OTHER.
JASMINE'S A SENIOR AT U OF H MAJOR AND IN PSYCHOLOGY.
[03:15:01]
SO SHE'S ENJOYING PUTTING TOGETHER A WHITE PAPER ON CITY COUNCIL AS A MAJOR IN PSYCHOLOGY WITH A MINOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE.SHE WAS BORN IN HOUSTON AND GRADUATED FROM CLEAR LAKE HIGH SCHOOL.
SHE'S HOPING TO SUBMERGE HERSELF IN THE WORKINGS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
AND HER FAVORITE THING TO DO IS TO BAKE AND RUN IT MEMORIAL PARK TO BALANCE HER LOVE FOR SWEETSS.
DAMARI IS A BILINGUAL SPEAKINGS, FOURTH GENERATION NATIVE HOUSTONIAN, BORN TO MEXICAN CUBAN PARENTS RAISED NEAR CYPRUS, TEXAS.
SHE'S ENROLLED ALSO AT U OF H AND THRIVING TOWARDS A CAREER IN LAW.
SHE EXPECTS TO GRADUATE IN DECEMBER, 2023 WITH A BACHELOR'S ARTS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND A MINOR IN PUBLIC RELATIONS.
HER PASSION INCLUDES SINGING, DANCING, LAW, AND SERVING HER COMMUNITY.
UH, ON ANOTHER NOTE, I'M HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE WELL, I'M REALLY NOT HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE, I'M SAD TO ANNOUNCE THAT ABOUT AFTER ABOUT TWO YEARS WITH DISTRICT E OFFICE, MARK MITCHELL, OUR DIRECTOR OF CONSTITUENT OUTREACH IN SOUTH SECTOR, IS LEAVING THE OFFICE TO JOIN THE RANKS OF THOSE AT THE BAY AREA.
HOUSTON ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP MARK'S LAST DAY IN THE DISTRICT E OFFICE WILL BE TOMORROW.
MARK'S DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB ENGAGING THE RESIDENTS OF EDGEBROOK, SOUTH BELT, ELLINGTON, NORTH SHORE, AND CLEAR LAKE, AND JOINING OUR TEAM RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC IN 2020.
IN ADDITION, HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB OF MENTORING MANY OF OUR OFFICE INTERNS, WEARING MANY HATS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND OUR OFFICE ITSELF.
MARK LEAVES OUR SOUTH SOUTH SECTOR IN TREMENDOUS SHAPE ON THE HEELS OF JORDAN MCGINTY.
UH, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO OUR NEW CONSTITUENT OUTREACH AND SOUTH SECTOR MANAGER, DARI GLASSCOCK, WHO'S STEPPING INTO HIS ROLE AND MAKING AN IMPACT AS WE SPEAK.
MARK AND DARI ARE ALREADY DOWN IN CLEAR LAKE, UH, BUT DARI'S GRADUATED ALSO FROM U OF H, BUT U OF H CLEAR LAKE WITH A BACHELOR'S IN ARTS AND COMMUNICATION IN THE FALL OF 2020.
SHE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO TAKING ON THE ROLE AS CONSTITUENT OUTREACH AND SOUTH SECTOR MANAGER.
SHE SPENT THE GREATER PART OF HER LIFE IN THE CLEAR LAKE AREA.
SO SHE'S ALREADY HAS CONNECTION WITH COMMUNITY THAT SHE'LL BE SERVING.
SHE HOPES TO CARRY ON MARK AND JORDAN'S LEGACY AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE EXCELLENT SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT E.
THANK YOU ALSO VERY, VERY MUCH.
AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, ENJOY THE WEEKEND EVERYONE.
UNTIL NEXT WEEK, WE STAND ADJOURNED.