* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. HAPPY VALENTINE'S [00:00:01] DAY TO ALL. [Regulatory and Neighborhood Affairs Committee on February 14, 2023.] I'M EXCITED FOR THIS MEETING. RECENTLY, I HEARD MAYOR TURNER TALK ABOUT DANGEROUS BUILDINGS THAT WERE GONNA BE COMING DOWN IN 2023 AND THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME FOR THE REGULATORY AND NEIGHBORHOOD FAIRS, UH, COMMITTEE TO VISIT OUR PROCESSES SURROUNDING DANGEROUS BUILDINGS, WHAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH TO GET AN UNSAFE BUILDING DOWN, AND, UH, GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT'S UPCOMING ON IN THE DANGEROUS BUILDINGS PROGRAM THIS YEAR. MY NAME IS SALLY ALCORN, COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE POSITION FIVE AS CHAIR OF THE REGULATORY AND AFFAIR NEIGHBORHOOD AFFAIRS COUNCIL COMMITTEE. I WILL BE SERVING AS THE PRESIDING OFFICER AND WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER IN ACCORDANCE WITH PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 5 1 0.127 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE APPLICABLE TO A GOVERNMENTAL BODY THAT EXTENDS INTO THREE OR MORE COUNTIES. ALL OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVE THE OPTION TO PARTICIPATE IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY VIA MICROSOFT TEAMS. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE. I HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON, COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS, AND THEN STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER TASHA JACKSON'S, OFFICE COUNCIL MEMBER MIKE KNOX'S, OFFICE AND VICE MAYOR PRO TEM MARTHA CASTEX, TATUM'S OFFICE AND COUNCIL MEMBER ASH'S OFFICE. OH, AND MY VICE CHAIR AMY PEG IS HERE AND ONLINE WE HAVE DISTRICT H STAFF AND, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, POSITION FOUR STAFF. HOPE I GOT EVERYBODY SPEAK UP IF, IF NOT CAROLYN EVAN SHABAZZ IS ON. OH, GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU. SO FOR THE MEMBERS WHO ARE PARTICIPATING VIRTUALLY, PLEASE BE SURE YOU'RE TO HAVE YOUR CAMERA ON WHEN YOU'RE SPEAKING. AS OF YESTERDAY'S 5:00 PM DEADLINE, FIVE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE MEETING. IF THERE ARE ME ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE HERE IN PERSON AND WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC COMMENT, THERE IS A SIGN IN SHEET AT THE FRONT TABLE. TODAY'S AGENDA, AS I MENTIONED, INCLUDES A PRESENTATION ON THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS DANGEROUS BUILDINGS PROGRAM AND ITS 2023 GOALS. SO WITH THAT DIRECTOR, TASHA FRANCIS, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY, SO IT IS GREAT. SO GOOD MORNING. HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO EVERYONE LOOKING AT EVERYBODY CELEBRATING A DAY OF LOVE. I, HOWEVER, AM WEARING BLACK 'CAUSE WE'RE HAVING FUNERALS FOR DANGEROUS BUILDINGS ALL OVER THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN 2023. SO THAT'S THE LAST RESPECT. THEY WILL BE PAID FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. I WANNA START OFF BY THANKING MY STAFF FOR HELPING PREPARE TODAY'S PRESENTATION AND WITHOUT BELABORING ANY OTHER PLEASANTRIES, ACKNOWLEDGING OUR CHAIR COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCO. THANK YOU FOR THE INVITE CO-CHAIR, AMY PECK. THANK YOU SO MUCH AS WELL AS THE COMMITTEE. SO NOW LET'S GET TO IT. NEXT SLIDE. NOW OF COURSE, DANGEROUS BUILDINGS ARE, UH, ENFORCED UNDER SEVERAL LEGAL AUTHORITIES AND I'M JUST GOING TO RUN OVER THOSE BECAUSE WE'LL GET INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL FROM A STATUTORY LEVEL STATE LEVEL. THAT IS THE TEXAS LEVEL, UH, TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER TWO 14, WHICH REGULATES MUNICIPAL HOUSING AND OTHER STRUCTURES. THEN WE HAVE THE CITY OF HOUSTON ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE OVER THE DEMOLITION OF PRIVATELY OWNED BUILDINGS, WE HAVE THE CITY OF HOUSTON MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 10 DASH 3 41 THROUGH 10.344, AND THAT AUTHORIZES OUR BUILDINGS AND STANDARDS COMMISSION. WE ALSO HAVE THE CITY OF HOUSTON MUNICIPAL CODE, WHICH IS SECTION 10 DASH 3 71, WHICH DEFINES DANGEROUS BUILDINGS. AND WE HAVE THE CITY OF HOUSTON MUNICIPAL CO, UH, CODE SECTION 10 DASH 3 72, WHICH TALKS ABOUT DANGEROUS BUILDINGS AS NUISANCES. THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS ENFORCES CODES RELATED TO CHAPTER 10 OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, CODE OF ORDINANCES AND DANGEROUS BUILDINGS IS A PART OF OUR OVERALL LANDSCAPE. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. NOW THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO DEAL WITH DANGEROUS BUILDINGS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THEY ARE BY ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS. SO IN THE FIRST BUBBLE ABOVE YOU HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING THAT COULD BE OFFICIATED BY AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING OFFICER. THEN YOU HAVE THE BUILDINGS AND STANDARDS COMMISSION, WHICH CAN HEAR CASES REGARDING DANGEROUS BUILDINGS. AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE OUR FINAL STEP, THE DEMOLITION ASSESSMENT PANEL, WHICH HEARS THE FINAL ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING BEFORE A BUILDING IS DEMOLISHED. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. NOW FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO EVERYONE THE BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION. YOU CAN FIND OF COURSE, THE MUNICIPAL CODE OUTLINES THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMISSION IN SECTION 10.34, ONE THROUGH 3 4 4 AND THE BUILDINGS AND STANDARDS COMMISSION'S. PURPOSE IS TO CONDUCT ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS REGARDING DANGEROUS BUILDING VIOLATIONS AND TO ADMINISTER LEGAL ORDERS REGARDING CORRECTIONS. THERE ARE TWO TO FIVE REGULAR MEMBERS THAT ARE APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR AND CONFIRMED BY CITY COUNCIL WE HAVE EIGHT ALTERNATE MEMBERS AND THEY ALL SERVE TWO YEAR TERMS. SO IN ESSENCE, WHEN WE ARE IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE OBSERVE A BUILDING THAT MEETS THE QUALIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS OF A DANGEROUS BUILDING, THOSE [00:05:01] CASES ARE REFERRED TO THIS COMMISSION TO REVIEW. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. NOW UNDER THE CODE, WE ALSO HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING OFFICER. THE PURPOSE OF THIS ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING OFFICER IS TO CONDUCT ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS ON DANGEROUS BUILDING VIOLATIONS AND ADMINISTER LEGAL ORDERS TO CORRECT THE VIOLATIONS. SO IN ESSENCE, THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING OFFICER AND THE COMMISSION CAN ACTUALLY SERVE THE SAME PURPOSE IN IT CONDUCTING AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING. THIS PARTICULAR HEARING OFFICER IS APPOINTED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY. THIS HEARING OFFICER ALSO SPECIFICALLY REVIEWS EXTENSION REQUESTS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE ORDERS. SO THOSE SITUATIONS COME UP WHEN THE BUILDINGS AND STANDARDS COMMISSION HAS ACTUALLY PUT IN PLACE AN ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER. A PERSON MAY BE REQUESTING AN EXTENSION TO MAKE THE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS THAT ARE OUTLINED. THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING OFFICER WILL REVIEW THE REQUEST FOR AN EXTENSION, AND THEN THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING OFFICER SINGULARLY CONDUCTS EMERGENCY HEARINGS UNDER THE CITY OF HOUSTON MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 10 DASH 3 91 FROM SECTION 10 DASH 3 92. AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT WHAT CONSTITUTES AN EMERGENCY HEARING LATER IN THE PRESENTATION, BUT THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING OFFICER WILL HEAR THOSE CASES SPECIFICALLY. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. NOW, THE DEMOLITION, UH, ASSESSMENT PANEL WAS ACTUALLY CREATED IN 2011 TO REVIEW EXPIRED ADMINISTRATIVE ORDERS. SO ONCE THE BUILDINGS AND STANDARDS COMMISSION ACTUALLY MAKES A LEGAL ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER, THE PERSON IS USUALLY GIVEN A PERIOD OF UP TO 90 DAYS TO EITHER SECURE THE BUILDING, REPAIR THE VIOLATIONS, OR DEMOLISH THE BUILDING. TYPICALLY, IT'S GONNA BE IN 30 DAY INCREMENTS, SO 30 DAYS, 60 DAYS, 90 DAYS. ONCE THAT ORDER EXPIRES, WHICH IS USUALLY GONNA BE AFTER 90 DAYS AS ESTABLISHED BY THE DEMOLITION ASSESSMENT PANEL UNDER COM, UH, CITY OF HOUSTON ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE, NINE 7.7 DAP REVIEWS THAT EXPIRED ORDER TO DETERMINE IF THE CIRCUMSTANCES STILL EXIST FOR THE BUILDING TO BE EITHER SECURED TO PROHIBIT THE DANGER OR DEMOLISHED. AND SO THIS PANEL WAS CREATED IN 2011 TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION, BUT THE PROCESS ALSO ENABLES THE CITY TO DEMOLISH THESE BUILDINGS WITHOUT CREATING UNDUE LEGAL EXPOSURE. AS YOU REALIZE, WE LIVE IN A PROPERTY RIGHTS STATE AND THAT THERE'S CERTAIN, UH, POINTS OF DUE PROCESS THAT HAVE TO BE, UM, THAT HAVE TO ACTUALLY BE ACCOMPLISHED AND EXECUTED BEFORE WE CAN GO IN AND ACTUALLY TAKE WHAT IS A TAKING, UH, TO DEMOLISH A PROPERTY. SO THIS PANEL IS COMPOSED OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTION OFFICIAL, WHICH WOULD BE ME OR MY DESIGNEE, THE CHIEF OF POLICE OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE, AND THEN THREE ATTORNEYS THAT ARE APPOINTED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. NOW THIS IS THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE, UH, FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING DANGEROUS BUILDINGS. AND THIS ACTUALLY DEFINES WHAT A DANGEROUS BUILDING IS. SO FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE, THE FOLLOWING ARE DANGEROUS BUILDINGS, REGARDLESS OF DATE OF CONSTRUCTION WOULD BE EITHER ONE, A BUILDING WITH WALLS OR OTHER VERTICAL STRUCTURE MEMBERS THAT LIST LEAN OR BUCKLE IN EXCESS OF A FOURTH OF AN INCH OF HORIZONTAL MEASUREMENT FOR EACH FOOT OF VERTICAL MEASUREMENT. DON'T WORRY, WE HAVE PICTURES. TWO, A BUILDING WITH 33% OR MORE DAMAGE OR DETERIORATION OF ITS SUPPORTING MEMBERS. AND I'M JUST GONNA GO OVER THESE IN PART THREE. A BUILDING WITH A FLOOR OR A ROOF OF INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH THAT'S REASONABLY SAFE FOR A BUILDING WITH A PART NOT PROPERLY ATTACHED SO THAT THE PART MAY FALL ON OR OTHERWISE INJURE OCCUPANTS OF THE BUILDING OR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. FIVE. A BUILDING WITH LIGHT OR AIR OR SANITATION FACILITIES INADEQUATE TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE OCCUPANTS. SIX. A BUILDING WITH UNSAFE ELECTRICAL WIRING. SEVEN, A BUILDING WITH UNSAFE NATURAL GAS PIPING OR EQUIPMENT. EIGHT. A VACANT BUILDING REGARDLESS OF STRUCTURAL CONDITION THAT HAS BEEN UNSECURED FOR MORE THAN SEVEN DAYS. THESE DAYS DO NOT NEED TO BE CONSECUTIVE IN ANY 30 DAY PERIOD. AND THEN NINE, EVEN IF SECURED FROM AN AUTHORIZED ENTRY TO OR MORE VACANT BUILDINGS UNDER COMMON OWNERSHIP SITUATED NEAR ONE ANOTHER IN A MANNER AS TO ALLOW CRIMINAL ACTS TO BE SHIELDED FROM PUBLIC VIEW. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. 10. AN OVERCROWDED, AN OVERCROWDED DWELLING UNIT OR CONGREGATE LIVING FACILITY. 11. A POOL OR OTHER AQUATIC STRUCTURE NOT PROPERLY ENCLOSED. 12. A PROPERTY WITH A CONDITION CAUSING A BUILDING TO BE UNFIT FOR HUMAN OCCUPANCY OR CAUSING A DANGER TO PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE. B, IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON TO KNOWINGLY ALLOW KEYWORD, ALLOW A PROPERTY UNDER THEIR OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL [00:10:01] TO CONSTITUTE A DANGEROUS BUILDING. C, IT'S UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON TO OCCUPY OR TO LET ANOTHER PERSON OCCUPY A PROPERTY THAT HAS BEEN ORDERED TO BE VACATED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. NOW HERE WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT A COUPLE OF PICTURES. IF YOU NOTICE THAT WHEN I WAS GOING OVER THE CITY ORDINANCE, THERE WERE CERTAIN ONES THAT WERE IN BOLD, THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT WE AS THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS ARE USUALLY GOING TO FIND AS WE ARE MAKING INSPECTIONS BECAUSE THEY DEAL MORE SO WITH THE STRUCTURAL DEFECTS, WHAT YOU DID NOT HEAR AND WHAT IS NOT MENTIONED IN THE MUNICIPAL CODE OR THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OR ANY OTHER CODE THAT ENFORCES THIS IS AN EYESORE. I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE I THINK THAT WHILE THERE SEEMS TO BE A COMMON THREAD THAT MOST DANGEROUS BUILDINGS ARE UGLY AND INSIGHTFUL, THAT TYPE THE AESTHETICS OF A DANGEROUS BUILDING BY ITSELF DO NOT MAKE IT A DANGEROUS BUILDING. AND THE ONLY, UH, REMEDY IS NOT USUALLY DEMOLITION. SO I WANNA MAKE IT VERY CLEAR. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THESE ARE EYESORE IN THE COMMUNITY. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE UNSIGHTLY. HOWEVER, THAT BY ITSELF IS NOT ENOUGH FOR US TO CONSIDER A BUILDING A DANGEROUS BUILDING, NOR IS IT A CALL FOR A DEMOLITION. SO LOOKING AT THE FIRST SLIDE HERE, SECTION 10 DASH 3 71 A ONE A BUILDING WITH WALLS OR OTHER VERTICAL STRUCTURE MEMBERS THAT LIST LEANER BUCCAL IN EXCESS OF A FOURTH OF AN INCH OF HORIZONTAL MEASUREMENT FOR EACH FOOT OF VERTICAL MEASUREMENT. IF YOU LOOK AT EACH ONE OF THESE BUILDINGS, OBVIOUSLY BY NOW YOU CAN TELL THESE ARE ENGINEERING STANDARDS, BUT AN OCULAR VIEW OF THIS CAN SHOW THAT THERE ARE CLEARLY SOME ISSUES WHERE THE VERTICAL STRUCTURAL MEMBERS ARE CAUSING AN ISSUE AND SAGGING IN ALL THREE OF THESE PROPERTIES. SO THESE ARE JUST THREE PICTURES THAT WE HAVE OF THIS PARTICULAR VIOLATION THAT COULD BE FOUND IN A DANGEROUS BUILDING. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. A BUILDING WITH 33% OR MORE DAMAGE OR DETERIORATION OF ITS SUPPORTING MEMBERS OR 50% OR MORE DAMAGE OR DETERIORATION OF ITS NON-SPORTING MEMBERS OR OUTSIDE WALLS OR COVERINGS. AGAIN, THESE ARE BUILDINGS THAT EXEMPLIFY EXAMPLES OF THIS PARTICULAR VIOLATION. AND FOR THOSE THAT ARE WONDERING WHAT TYPE OF EXPERTISE, UH, WOULD BE NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THIS DETERMINATION, I JUST WANNA REMIND EVERYONE THAT OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE CERTIFIED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS. THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH A TRAINING OF A YEAR AND THEY ALSO HAVE TO TAKE A TEST. SO PART OF THEIR LEARNING IS UNDERSTANDING HOW TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY A DANGEROUS BUILDING WHEN WE HAVE THE HEARINGS BEFORE THE COMMISSION. IN CERTAIN INSTANCES, THERE IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE SOME LEVEL OF PROFESSIONAL TESTIMONY OR EXPERT TESTIMONY IF NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE VIOLATIONS ARE ACCURATELY UH, ATTRIBUTED AND THAT THEY ARE PLACED ON THE PARTICULAR PROPERTY TO WHICH WE'VE INSPECTED. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. A BUILDING WITH A FLOOR OR A ROOF OF INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH TO BE REASONABLY SAFE FOR THE PURPOSE USED. SO YOU CAN LOOK HERE AT THE ROOFS AND THE FLOORS AND BASICALLY INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH MEANS THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A DANGER OF EITHER THE ROOF COLLAPSING OR THE FLOOR ACTUALLY COLLAPSING IF A PERSON WERE TO STAND INTO IT. SO THESE ARE A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF THIS PARTICULAR VIOLATION FOUND AT TEN THREE SEVEN ONE A THREE. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. A BUILDING WITH A PART NOT PROPERLY ATTACHED SO THAT THE PART MAY FALL ON OR OTHERWISE INJURE OCCUPANTS OF THE BUILDINGS OR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. SO WHEN WE START LOOKING AT DANGEROUS BUILDINGS, AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, THE MAIN ISSUE IS ONE OF SAFETY. SAFETY. CAN THIS INJURE THE PEOPLE WITHIN THE BUILDING? CAN IT INJURE THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING? AND SO THESE THREE PICTURES SHOW, UH, THIS PARTICULAR VIOLATION OF WHERE A PERSON COULD BE INJURED INSIDE AS WELL AS SOMEONE COMING NEAR THE BUILDING TAKING A POINT AWAY FROM THIS. WHEN YOU LOOK AT MOST DANGEROUS BUILDINGS, THEY'RE WHAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD CALL AN ATTRACTIVE NUISANCE, WHICH MEANS THAT EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT, UH, INTENDING TO HURT SOMEONE, IF YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE A PERSON CAN ACCESS A PROPERTY THAT COULD HURT THEMSELVES, THAT THEN BRINGS IN THE LIABILITY. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. A VACANT BUILDING, REGARDLESS OF ITS STRUCTURAL CONDITION THAT HAS BEEN UNSECURED FOR MORE THAN SEVEN DAYS, THESE DAYS DO NOT NEED TO BE CONSECUTIVE IN ANY 30 DAY PERIOD. SO THESE ARE PHOTOS OF UNSECURED BUILDINGS. AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO DANGEROUS BUILDINGS, ACCORDING TO OUR ORDINANCE, THERE ARE THREE WAYS THAT THOSE VIOLATIONS CAN BE CORRECTED. THEY'LL EITHER BE REPAIRED, THEY'LL BE SECURED, OR THE BUILDING WILL BE DEMOLISHED. SO ACCORDING TO OUR ORDINANCES, IF A BUILDING IS UNSECURED, THEN THAT IS A VIOLATION. IT WOULD NEED TO BE SECURE. SOMEONE WOULD ASK, WELL, WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT? BECAUSE IF A BUILDING IS OPEN, YOU OPEN UP YOURSELF TO ALL KINDS OF OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES LIKE VAGRANTS. YOU ACTUALLY HAVE, UH, [00:15:01] PLACES WHERE CRIME CAN BE HARBORED. AND SO AS LONG AS YOU HAVE A DANGEROUS BUILDING THAT IS WIDE OPEN FOR SEVEN DAYS AND IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE CONSECUTIVE, AND IN MOST CASES IT'S NOT, THAT IS CONSIDERED A DANGEROUS BUILDING UNDER OUR CODE. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. NOW LET'S GET INTO THE MEAT AND POTATOES. REMEMBER EARLIER I TOLD YOU THAT WE HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE, UH, HEARING OFFICER WHO WILL HEAR EMERGENCY ORDERS. SO THIS IS WHAT QUALIFIES AS AN EMERGENCY DEMOLITION PROCESS. IF ONE OF OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEY DISCOVER A DANGEROUS BUILDING, THEY WILL LOOK AT A DANGEROUS BUILDING AND THEY WILL DETERMINE THAT A SERIOUS AND IMMEDIATE HAZARD HAS OCCURRED. NOW AS DEFINED BY THE MUNICIPAL CODE, A SERIOUS AND IMMEDIATE HAZARD MEANS A CONDITION THAT IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY IMMEDIATE ACTION PRESENTS A LIKELIHOOD, A REASONABLE ONE OF CAUSING SERIOUS BODILY INJURY TO A HUMAN BEING. AND SO TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, IT COULD BE A CONDITION THAT PRESENTS EITHER ELECTROCUTION OR ASPHYXIATION, A STRUCTURE THAT IS REASONABLY LIKELY TO COLLAPSE, OR A VACANT STRUCTURE WHERE THERE'S A LIKELIHOOD THAT AN INDIVIDUAL WHO DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT OF ENTRY CAN COMMIT A VIOLENT CRIME. AND SO IN MOST INSTANCES, THE MAJORITY OF THE CASES THAT WE REVIEW FOR EMERGENCY DEMOLITION WILL FALL IN ONE OF THESE CATEGORIES. TO KIND OF MAKE THIS A LITTLE SIMPLER, ONE OF, OR A LOT OF OUR EMERGENCY DEMOLITIONS LOOK LIKE FIRE RAVAGED BUILDINGS. SO IF WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THERE IS A FIRE AT A RESIDENTIAL HOME, NINE TIMES OUTTA 10, ONCE THAT FIRE HAS BEEN PUT OUT, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A LOT OF STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. BUILDING COULD BE FALLING APART. AND SO IF OUR INSPECTORS COME ACROSS THAT, THOSE ARE THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WILL QUALIFY AS A SERIOUS AND IMMEDIATE HAZARD THAT CANNOT WAIT. THE CEO THEN AT THAT POINT WILL CALL OUR HEARING OFFICER. USUALLY THESE UH, HEARINGS ARE EX PARTE AND THEY'RE COMMUNICATED OVER THE PHONE. THEY'LL WALK THROUGH THE EVIDENCE, THEY WILL SEND THE EVIDENCE OF THE SERIOUS AND IMMEDIATE HAZARD BY WAY OF PICTURES. WE'LL SHOW THE HEARING OFFICER THE EVIDENCE THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT, AND THEN THEY WILL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON THE CORRECTIVE ACTION WHETHER TO SECURE THE BUILDING TO IMMEDIATELY DEMOLISH THAT BUILDING TO FENCE THE BUILDING. IF THE HEARING OFFICER AGREES WITH THE RECOMMENDATION BASED ON THE EVIDENCE THAT WAS PRESENTED BY THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, THEY WILL DRAFT AN ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER, EITHER SAYING THEY AGREE OR SAYING THAT THEY DON'T. IF THEY SAY THAT THEY AGREE WITH THE, UH, HEARING WITH THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER'S ASSESSMENT OF THE SERIOUS AND IMMEDIATE HAZARD, THEN WE'LL MOVE FORWARD TO ABATING THE PROPERTY. AND I'LL GO INTO THAT IN A MOMENT. IF THEY DISAGREE, THEN THE HEARING OFFICER WILL DO AN ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER DENYING THE REQUEST AND THEN ROUTING THAT CASE FOR REGULAR PROCESSING THROUGH OUR DANGEROUS BUILDING'S, UM, STANDARD PROCESS. NOW, IF WE ARE MOVING FORWARD ON AN EMERGENCY DEMOLITION, WE TYPICALLY WILL SET THAT ABATEMENT OF THE PROPERTY TO BE SCHEDULED WITHIN 24 HOURS OF THE INSPECTION. SO USUALLY THE TURNAROUND IS GONNA BE WITHIN A DAY IF DEMOLITION IS THE CHOSEN CORRECTIVE ACTION. IPS MUST ENSURE THAT THE UTILITY DISCONNECTS ARE PROCESSED THROUGH CENTER POINT. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE TITLE PAPERWORK HAS BEEN RECEIVED. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE ALL APPLICABLE PERMITS HAVE BEEN PULLED AND THAT THE DEMOLITION CONTRACTOR IS READY TO GO. AND USUALLY BECAUSE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES, WE'RE ABLE TO FAST TRACK FOR THOSE SITUATIONS WITH THOSE PARTICULAR PARTNERS. AFTER THE DEMOLITION IS DONE, IF THAT IS THE APPROPRIATE UH, CORRECTIVE ACTION, THEN OUR WORKERS WILL RETURN BACK TO THE SITE TO MAKE SURE THE WORK IS COMPLETED. THE AREA IS CLEAN TAKE AFTER PHOTOGRAPHS AND THEN OF COURSE WE WILL FILE A LIEN ON THE PROPERTY FOR THE COST OF THE ABATEMENT. AND WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD TO RECOVER THE EXPENSES VIA LIEN BY FORECLOSURE BY THE CITY. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. NOW WE JUST WENT OVER THE EMERGENCY PROCESS FOR SERIOUS AND IMMEDIATE HAZARDS. NOW WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THE REGULAR PROCESSING FOR DANGEROUS BUILDINGS. THIS ONE SPECIFICALLY GOES OVER WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TODAY, WHICH SPECIFICALLY IS THE DEMOLITION PROCESS. SO A CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WILL INSPECT A BUILDING AND COLLECT PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE OF THE VIOLATIONS ON THE PROPERTY PURSUANT TO THE MUNICIPAL CODE. WE THEN NOTICE A PROPERTY OWNER OF THE VIOLATION AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION OF THE CORRECTIVE ACTION, SECURE REPAIR OR DEMOLISH. WE PLACE A PLACARD IN THE ACTUAL PROPERTY AND WE ALSO SEND CERTIFIED MAIL NOTICE TO THE PROPERTY OWNER VIA THE COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT. THEN THE OWNER IS GIVEN USUALLY A MINIMUM OF 30 DAYS TO BRING THEIR PROPERTY INTO COMPLIANCE. WE GIVE OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THE, UH, LEVERAGE TO ASSESS EXTENSIONS IF THEY ARE APPLICABLE. SOMETIMES WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE DEVELOPING PROPERTIES THAT MAY NEED A LITTLE MORE TIME TO MAKE THOSE CORRECTIONS. SO DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES, IF OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER DEEMS THAT THERE'S MORE TIME [00:20:01] OR AN EXTENSION THAT CAN BE GIVEN, THEN THEY'RE, THEY'RE ALLOWED TO DO THAT. BUT IF IT IS NOT QUALIFYING FOR ONE, THEN A CHECK BACK INSPECTION OCCURS TO ASSESS COMPLIANCE OR POSSIBLE EXTENSION. IF NO EXTENSION TO COMPLY, THEN WE'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD. NOW, IF THERE'S NO EXTENSION GRANTED AND THE PROPERTY IS STILL IN VIOLATION, THE CASE IS REFERRED TO LEGAL FOR PRE-APPROVAL TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE BUILDINGS AND STANDARDS COMMISSION. BY NOW, YOU KNOW THAT DEMO THAT DEMOLISHING BUILDINGS IS TRULY A TEAM PROJECT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO ONCE OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT DOES THEIR REVIEW, THEIR REVIEW INCLUDES VERIFYING OUR EVIDENCE. SO BASICALLY OUR PHOTOGRAPHS ARE PICTURES AND PREPARING THE CASE FOR SUBMISSION TO THE BUILDINGS AND STANDARDS COMMISSION. THEY ALSO CONDUCT THE SAME UH, TITLE REVIEWS THAT WE MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE IDENTIFYING THE PROPER PERSON AND THEN WE GET READY TO GO BEFORE THE COMMISSION. THE COMMISSION THEN WILL OF COURSE REVIEW DURING THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED BY THE CITY VIA OUR EXPERT TESTIMONY WITH DAWN AND THE PREPARATION BY THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, THE BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION WILL THEN MAKE AN ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION UP TO A DEMOLITION. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WITHIN 90 DAYS THE ORDER IS GOING TO BE FILED WITH THE COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT. SO WHETHER IT'S HARRIS COUNTY, FORT BEND, MONTGOMERY, THAT'S WHERE IT'S GONNA BE FILED. THE ORDER CAN ONLY BE APPEALED. AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. ONCE THAT ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER IS EXECUTED, IT IS A VALID LEGAL ORDER. IT CAN ONLY BE APPEALED BY VERIFIED POSITION IN DISTRICT COURT IN THE APPLICABLE COUNTY. SO YOU DON'T COME BACK TO THE COMMISSION TO APPEAL YOUR ORDER. YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO FILE THAT ORDER AND FILE A VERIFIED PETITION IN DISTRICT COURT AND THEN THAT JUDGE WILL MAKE THAT DECISION. HERE IS THE OTHER CAVEAT. YOU HAVE TO MAKE THAT FILING TO APPEAL THE ORDER WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER YOU RECEIVE THE ORDER. AFTER THAT 30 DAY PERIOD, THE ORDER'S FINAL. SO IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. SO IF SOMEONE FEELS AS THOUGH THE BUILDINGS AND STANDARDS COMMISSION HAS MADE A MISTAKE OR AN ERROR IN JUDGMENT, YOUR AVENUE FOR APPEAL IS TO THE DISTRICT COURTS. IT IS NOT BACK BEFORE THIS COMMISSION. NEXT SLIDE. NOW AFTER THE ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER HAS EXPIRED WITHOUT OWNER COMPLIANCE, OKAY, DON WILL THEN SCHEDULE A CASE FOR REVIEW WITH THE DEMOLITION ASSESSMENT PANEL THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER WITH THE DON REP, POLICE REP, THREE ATTORNEYS. THEY'RE THEN GOING TO REVIEW THE EXPIRED ORDER TO DETERMINE WHETHER TO MOVE FORWARD TWO WAYS, ONE OF TWO WAYS, EITHER WITH A DEMOLITION OR TO SECURE THE BUILDING. OKAY, DON REFERS THAT CASE TO A VENDOR. IF THE DECISION IS TO ACTUALLY GO FORWARD AND DEMOLISH THE BUILDING, WE THEN REFER THE CASE TO A VENDOR, GET OUR PERMITS, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DISCONNECTED, DISCONNECTING THE UTILITIES, WATER, SEWER, PLUMBING. AND WE ALSO HAVE TO GET ASBESTOS CLEARING DURING THAT TIME. USUALLY THIS TIMELINE IS ABOUT FOUR TO SIX WEEKS AND THAT FOUR TO SIX WEEKS IS TO MAKE SURE ALL THOSE DISCONNECTS ARE PERFORMED AND MAKE SURE ALL OF THE PARTIES HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THEIR PART BEFORE WE CAN MOVE ON TO DEMOLISH THE BUILDING. WE THEN SCHEDULED THE DEMOLITION DATE AFTER WE RECEIVE VERIFICATION THAT ALL THE DISCONNECTS HAVE BEEN DONE. AND THEN THE DEMO IS USUALLY GONNA BE SCHEDULED WITHIN FIVE DAYS AFTER THE WORK ORDER IS ISSUED. AND THEN AFTER THE WORK IS COMPLETE, WE COME BACK ON THE PROPERTY, TAKE OUR AFTER PHOTOS, MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S CLEAN, FILE OUR LIEN, AND THEN SET IT UP FOR RECOVERY OF OUR FUNDS. BE A LIEN FORECLOSURE WITH THE CITY. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. NOW BEFORE I GET STARTED, THIS IS WHAT WE ANTICIPATE BEING ABLE TO DO. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TOP OF THIS, YOU SEE AN AMAZING NUMBER. THAT NUMBER IS $18 MILLION. IT IS $18 MILLION OVER THREE YEARS, LET ME SAY ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. THANK YOU TO MAYOR TURNER FOR BRINGING IT BEFORE THIS BODY WHO ARE HERE TODAY IN THE CHAMBER AND ONLINE. AND THANK YOU TO CITY COUNCIL FOR SEEING THE VALUE AND IMPORTANCE OF PUTTING YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR CITY. SO I WANTED TO PUBLICLY THANK YOU ALL FOR APPROVING THIS BUDGET AND WITH THIS BUDGET WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE IN THIS QUARTER IS GOING TO BE 112 BUILDINGS ESTIMATED TO COME DOWN IN THE FIRST QUARTER. CURRENTLY WE'VE COMPLETED 23 AND WE STILL HAVE ANOTHER MONTH AND A HALF TO GO, BUT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT. WE'RE LOOKING AT THE AVERAGE OF ABOUT A HUNDRED BUILDINGS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO ACTUALLY DEMOLISH WITHIN EVERY QUARTER. AND THIS IS LOOKING AT OUR CURRENT, UM, INVENTORY THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE. SO LOOKING AT WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, IF WE ARE AVERAGING ABOUT A HUNDRED AND POSSIBLY A FEW OVER, WE'RE LOOKING AT A LITTLE OVER 400 BUILDINGS THIS YEAR THAT WE WILL BE ABLE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO DEMOLISH VIA DANGEROUS BUILDINGS THAT ARE [00:25:01] DEMOLISHED UNDER OUR EMERGENCY PROCESS. AS WELL AS GOING THROUGH OUR REGULAR PROCESS. WE DO HAVE INVENTORY THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD ON AND WE'RE MOVING AND PUSHING MORE OF OUR DAP PANEL COMMISSIONS AS WELL AS OUR BUILDINGS AND STANDARDS. UM, OUR ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING OFFICER HEARS ALL OF OUR EMERGENCY BUILDINGS. SO WE ARE VERY CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THIS TIMELINE AND THIS NUMBER THIS YEAR. AND WITH THAT I END MY PRESENTATION AND I'M NOW OPEN FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS FROM THE PANEL OR OUR GUESTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DIRECTOR. REALLY APPRECIATE IT. VERY THOROUGH. THANK YOU. WE DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU. I'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. SURE. ON BEHALF OF UH, FLAT STANLEY. UH, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, SO LOTS OF INFORMATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THERE'S TWO THINGS YOU MENTIONED ONE ABOUT THE AESTHETICS VERSUS WHAT IS A DANGEROUS BUILDING. I KNOW, UM, MY OFFICE RECEIVES, YOU KNOW, INCREASE OVER TIME ABOUT OH THIS HOME IS ABANDONED. MM-HMM UM, THIS COMMERCIAL PROPERTY. SOMETIMES YES THERE ARE CITATIONS THAT ARE WARRANTED, BUT SO IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR ME TO HAVE LANGUAGE OR IF THERE'S AN INFOGRAPHIC JUST TO SOMETHING PUBLIC FACING TO EDUCATE HOAS THAT ROUTINELY MONITOR THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. SOME HOMES HAVE BEEN ABANDONED, ALL OF THAT SO THEY CAN KNOW ONE WHEN THE CITY CAN GET INVOLVED BECAUSE WE ARE A PRIVATE RIGHTS STATE. MM-HMM . UM, AND THAT TAKES A VERY LONG TIME. MY SECOND PIECE TO THAT IS, OKAY, SO FROM THE MOMENT THAT WE INITIATE WITH YOUR OFFICER 3 1 1, WHAT'S THE AVERAGE TIMELINE FOR US TO GET TO DEMOLITION? SO THE AVERAGE TIMELINE RIGHT NOW TO GET TO A DEMOLITION COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM PROBABLY THREE TO FOUR MONTHS. REALISTICALLY. REALLY? YES. REALISTICALLY SOMETIMES UP TO SIX. BUT WE'RE TRYING TO CUT THAT BECAUSE INITIALLY, AS I MENTIONED, IF IT'S NOT A CASE THAT QUALIFIES FOR AN EMERGENCY DEMOLITION, THEN TYPICALLY YOU BY LAW WOULD GIVE THE PERSON UP TO 30 DAYS TO MAKE THE ORIGINAL, YOU KNOW, CORRECTED VIOLATIONS. IF THEY HAVE NOT DONE THAT, THEN AFTER THAT WE HAVE TO SEND IT FOR LEGAL REVIEW. SO THAT'S GONNA BE A COUPLE OF WEEKS. ONCE LEGAL HAS COMPLETED THAT, THEN WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY MOVE TO THE BUILDINGS AND STANDARDS COMMISSION. ONCE THE BUILDINGS AND STANDARDS COMMISSION HAS ACTUALLY REVIEWED THAT, YOU USUALLY HAVE UP TO 90 DAYS FOR THAT PERSON TO EITHER SECURE REPAIR OR DEMOLISH THE BUILDING. AND THEN AFTER THAT, PROBABLY ANOTHER FOUR TO SIX WEEKS BEFORE WE CAN ACTUALLY GET IT BEFORE DAP AND THEN TEAR IT DOWN. NOW HERE'S WHY WE BELIEVE THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO MOVE THROUGH SO MANY BUILDINGS IN A SHORTER SPAN OF TIME, UM, IS BECAUSE IN QUEUE RIGHT NOW THE INVENTORY WE HAVE ALMOST ALL OF THESE BUILDINGS ALREADY HAVE ORDERS. SO AT THIS POINT WHAT WE'RE REALLY DOING IS GOING BACK AND LOOKING AT EXPIRED ORDERS. CORRECT. AND WE'RE ALSO ACTUALLY HOSTING MORE COMMISSIONS AND TRYING TO PUSH MORE INVENTORY BEFORE THE BUILDINGS AND STANDARDS COMMISSIONS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE ALL OF THOSE ORDERS, UM, REVIEWED. AND ONCE THEY'VE BEEN REVIEWED, THEN WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD NOW THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE FUNDING IN PLACE TO MAKE THAT PROCESS GO A LITTLE FASTER. SO, BUT IF YOU WERE TO CALL TODAY, THAT'S USUALLY WHAT THAT PROCESS LOOKED LIKE, WHICH IS WHY I WANTED TO KIND OF TALK ABOUT, UH, WHAT THAT PROCESS IS AND WHY IT TAKES A WHILE. BECAUSE IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS IT'S A UGLY BUILDING, IT'S A DANGEROUS BU TEAR DOWN. AND THE ANSWER IS NOT ALWAYS TO TEAR IT DOWN. TO YOUR POINT, THE ISSUE WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO DANGEROUS, UNSAFE STRUCTURES IS JUST THAT IT'S NOT SAFE FOR THE PEOPLE LIVING IN IT. IF SOMEONE'S LIVING IN IT, PERMISSION TO THAT'S OKAY. CAN PICK IT UP MOTION OR IT'S NOT SAFE FOR THE PEOPLE AROUND IT. SO AS I TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, I KNOW IT'S NOT POPULAR, BUT I DON'T REGULATE UGLY MADAM CHAIR. JUST LASTLY, UM, AND I WOULD BE INTERESTED IF THE DATA'S AVAILABLE TO HAVE AN IDEA OF THE NUMBER IN Q AND DISTRICT F OR FOR ALL DISTRICTS JUST KIND OF SEE WHAT, WHAT WE HAVE. YES, THAT WAS SOMETHING WE HAD ASKED FOR. NO, NO, NO, ABSOLUTELY. SO, UM, I'M PROVIDING A BIWEEKLY REPORT TO MAYOR TURNER AND SO WHAT I WILL START DOING ACTUALLY STARTING THIS WEEK IS ALSO PROVIDING THAT TO THE COUNCIL DIS THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS OR JUST COUNCIL MEMBERS PERIOD. SO YOU CAN SEE HOW MANY ARE IN YOUR DISTRICT. YEAH. AND COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, I HAD SOME OF THE SAME QUESTIONS 'CAUSE IT CERTAINLY SEEMS LIKE IT TAKES A LOT LONGER, BUT THESE ARE BACKED UP. THEY JUST NOW GOT THE MONEY TO DO 'EM. SO WE HAVE BACKED UP ORDERS AND I THINK THAT'S HOW WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO GET 'EM OUT. I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME COUNCIL MEMBER MARYANNE HUFFMAN. SHE'S BEEN ONLINE. ALSO STAFF FROM MAYOR PRO. TEMS OFFICE IS HERE, AND STAFF FROM DISTRICT G ALSO ATTENDING IN ADDITION. SO NEXT FROM VICE CHAIR AMY PECK. THANK YOU CHAIR AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. UM, AS FAR AS THE TIMELINE IS CONCERNED FOR EMERGENCY HEARINGS, WHAT IS THE TIMELINE AND [00:30:01] ARE THERE PROPERTIES THAT ARE, UM, IN THE QUEUE FOR THAT, THAT MAYBE ARE BACKLOGGED? SO AT THIS TIME WE'RE ACTUALLY REVIEWING WHAT WE HAVE BY WAY OF, UM, OUR EXPIRED ORDERS FOR THAT. BUT TYPICALLY EMERGENCY HEARINGS ARE MORE ABOUT WHAT OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS SEE WHILE THEY'RE OUT AND ABOUT, OR EITHER WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT MAY REACH OUT TO US. IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT COMES THROUGH, THEN THEY'LL USUALLY GO AHEAD AND LET US KNOW THAT. SO WE'RE ASSESSING TO SEE, JUST LIKE WITH OUR ABATEMENTS, WHAT CAN QUALIFY FOR EMERGENCIES THAT CAN MOVE A LITTLE FASTER AND WHAT ACTUALLY HAS TO GO THROUGH THE REGULAR PROCESS. I DON'T KNOW OFFHAND HOW MANY ARE IN QUEUE, BUT IF YOU WILL, UH, LET ME LOOK INTO THAT. I CAN SEND THAT TO YOUR OFFICE. THANK YOU. BECAUSE WE HAVE ONE IN DISTRICT A THAT COMPLETELY LIKE BURNT DOWN HOUSE THAT HAS BEEN SITTING FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS. OKAY. NOW THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST NOT SECURE AT ALL AND HAS NOT GONE THROUGH ANY KIND OF EMERGENCY HEARING, SO. OKAY. THANK YOU. WOULD YOU MIND SENDING ME THAT ADDRESS SO I CAN SEE? I WILL. WE HAVE IT ON OUR RADAR. YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON. THANK YOU CHAIR. UM, THANK YOU DIRECTOR FOR THE PRESENTATION. UM, OTHER THAN THE SUM TOTAL OF 18 MILLION THAT'S ON THE LAST SLIDE MM-HMM . UM, I DON'T RECALL EVER SEEING PROCUREMENT COME BEFORE US, UH, AS A LEGISLATIVE ITEM ON OUR AGENDAS FOR SUBCONTRACTORS WHO ACTUALLY DO THE TEARING DOWN. IS THAT, 'CAUSE IT ALL HAPPENS INTERNALLY TO THE DEPARTMENT AND I, DO WE OWN THE BACK HOSE OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? DO WE CONTRACT WITH THIRD PARTIES OR IS THAT PUBLIC WORKS FUNCTION? WHO, WHO ACTUALLY DOES THAT? NO PROBLEM. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SUNO, WE ARE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THE $18 MILLION IS OVER THREE YEARS. SO WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT A BREAKDOWN OF THAT MONEY DIVIDED OVER THAT THREE YEAR PERIOD. OKAY. CONTRACTING SERVICES FOR CONTRACTORS WHO ARE COMING IN WITH THAT EQUIPMENT TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES. OKAY. AND AM I JUST NOT REMEMBERING IT? DO THESE THINGS DO COME BEFORE US MM-HMM . TO APPROVE AND APPROPRIATE. SO THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH, UM, A HANDFUL OF BUILDERS, A HANDFUL OF CONTRACTORS THAT ARE IN THE DEMOLITION BUILDING. SO THAT'S, THAT'S CHERRY AND SOME OF THE OTHER FAMILIAR ONES, RIGHT? YES. SOME OF THOSE MM-HMM . VERY GOOD. I GUESS. UM, AND DO YOU KNOW OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD, UM, LOOKING AT SOME OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS THAT YOU SHOWED YES. HOW MUCH, WHAT IS A RANGE FOR A SMALL HOUSE OR A, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS AN AVERAGE OR IF, IF YOU HAVE THAT? I DON'T HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF ME AT THIS POINT. UM, WE COULD DO THE MATH, I SUPPOSE IF IT'S, UH, 18 MILLION OVER SO MANY YEARS, IF IT'S, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ABOUT 400 A YEAR, SO THAT'S 1200 INTO, UH, YOU KNOW, 18 MILLION. AND I'M SURE THERE'S, YOU'RE NOT JUST PAYING FOR THAT WITH THE 18 MIL. NO, AND AND I THINK WHAT YOU'RE, WHAT YOU'RE GETTING TO NOW AS FAR AS THE MATH, I DON'T WANT TO, UH, MOVE IN CONJECTURE. SO LET ME GET YOU AN ACCURATE FIGURE. I'D SO LET, I'D TO KNOW, LEMME COME BACK WITH THAT'D YEAH. BUT I'M SURE THERE'S A RANGE, RIGHT? THERE'S OBVIOUSLY MORE EXPENSES, EXPENSIVE BUILDINGS TO TAKE DOWN AND SOME VERY, SOME YOU CAN PRACTICALLY, UH, BLOW AT AND THEY'LL FALL DOWN, BUT EXACTLY. UH, SO, UM, LOOKING AT WHAT WE HAVE AT THIS POINT, UM, I THINK THE, TO ANSWER YOUR FIRST QUESTION, I'M THINKING THE AVERAGE, UH, FOR A SMALLER HOUSE MIGHT BE ANYWHERE BETWEEN PROBABLY MAYBE 10, MAYBE $10,000, DEPENDING UPON, OKAY. LET'S GET THE FIGURES SO THAT YOU'RE NOT YEAH, I DON'T WANNA DO THAT. BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT EVEN THOUGH THE 18 MILLION IS A GREAT START, YEAH, DON'T BE SURPRISED IF YOU SEE ME COME BACK, YOU COULD SEE SOME MORE. THE, I THINK THE OTHER QUESTION THAT, THAT LEADS TO, OF COURSE IS WHAT THEN HAPPENS TO THE MATERIALS. AND AS MUCH AS WE'VE BEEN MOVING TOWARDS SMART RECYCLING AND REUSING OF MATERIALS, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE ARE WAYS IN WHICH WE'RE WORKING WITH SALVAGE OPERATIONS OR, OR WAYS TO RECYCLE AND REUSE, UH, THE MATERIALS THAT ARE DISMANTLED IF THERE'S AN ASSESSMENT GOING ON, FOR INSTANCE, WHETHER CERTAIN COMPONENTS OF THE BUILDINGS THAT ARE BEING TORN DOWN ARE, UH, REUSABLE BRICK. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE WINDOWS, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT COULD COME FROM IT. THERE ARE WONDERFUL, UM, ORGANIZATIONS IN TOWN, 5 0 1 C THREES NONPROFITS THAT ARE IN THE BUILDING SALVAGE MATERIAL BUSINESS. AND IF WE'RE SPEAKING WITH THEM ABOUT THAT, I THINK THAT WOULD BE MOST EXTREMELY GOOD. THANK YOU. SURE. GO AHEAD. I THINK THAT REALLY WRAPS UP MY QUESTIONS HERE. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER AND YEAH, ON, ON THE MONEY. THAT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE KIND OF WHAT OUR AVERAGE, I SURE THEY DO IT BY SQUARE FOOT OR AMOUNT OF DANGER AMOUNT OF, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY DO IT, BUT NO, WE CAN GIVE SOME KIND OF NUMBERS PER DEMOLITION. AND, AND IS, IS THIS 400 A YEAR GOAL? YOU KNOW, THAT'S GONNA BE OUR, I MEAN, ARE WE SET UP NOW TO DO A HUNDRED A QUARTER FROM NOW ON? UM, AS [00:35:01] LONG AS WE KEEP GETTING THE MONEY. I MEAN, DO WE HAVE THE RESOURCES, DO WE HAVE THE PERSONNEL AND THE, ANYTIME WE HAVE THE RESOURCES, THEN WE CAN DEFINITELY PROVIDE THAT. UH, WE'RE BASICALLY, MAYOR TURNER HAS ALLOWED US TO, UH, BRING IN SOME ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE BECAUSE THIS IS VERY PAPERWORK INTENSIVE. UH, SO REALLY THE KEY TO THIS PROCESS AT THIS POINT IS MAKING SURE THAT OUR PARTNERS ARE JOHNNY ON THE SPOT WITH US. UH, BECAUSE OUR ABILITY TO MOVE FORWARD DEPENDS ON, YOU KNOW, UH, CENTER POINT DISCONNECTING. AND SO WE HAVE WORKED OUT SOME REALLY GOOD EFFICIENCIES WITH THEM, WITH OUR PARTNERS IN LEGAL, OUR PARTNERS IN HPD TO A COMPANY. SO AS LONG AS WE'RE ALL MOVING IN LOCKSTEP, I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO IT. OKAY. AND YOU MENTIONED THAT THE, THE BUILDING STANDARDS COM AND THAT'S JUST SOMETIMES A PHONE CALL. I MEAN, DO THE PEOPLE COME IN TO THE BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION? HOW OFTEN DO THEY MEET? HOW OFTEN DO THEY BUILDINGS AND STANDARDS COMMISSION? AT THIS POINT, WE'RE MOVING TO, WE HAVE A MONTHLY MEETING, BUT NOW WE'RE TRYING TO ACTUALLY INCREASE OUR PANEL SO THAT WE CAN TAKE IN MORE CASES. OKAY. UM, BECAUSE OF COVID, WE ACTUALLY HAD VIRTUAL MEETINGS, SO WE'RE STILL KEEPING A HYBRID OPTION AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE TO COME IN OR EITHER APPEAR THAT WAY. OKAY. GREAT. AND ONE QUESTION FROM EMILY HAYNES IN COUNCIL MEMBER CIRO'S OFFICE. YES. HI, DIRECTOR FRANCIS. HI. I THIS THIS QUESTION, UH, GOES BACK TO, UM, SOME OF THE, THE TIMELINE, UM, QUESTIONS THAT WERE BEFORE, UM, BUT DID WANT TO DIG A LITTLE BIT DEEPER. WE HAVE A, UM, A PROPERTY THAT WAS FIRST RE UH, BURNED OUT PROPERTY, UM, THAT WAS FIRST REPORTED IN MARCH OF 2019 MM-HMM . UM, AND SO WE'RE GOING ON FOUR YEARS HERE. AND I DO WONDER, UM, IF THERE ARE CERTAIN MAYBE BAD ACTORS, UM, THAT ARE EXPLOITING LOOPHOLES, UM, THAT WILL ALLOW, RIGHT. SO MAYBE, UH, AND MY QUESTION IS, IS, IS, IS THAT WHAT YOU GUYS ARE SEEING THAT SOMETIMES, UH, YOU KNOW, PROPERTY OWNERS, UM, ARE GONNA JUST, MAYBE THEY'LL PUT UP A FENCE, RIGHT? UH, AND THAT SECURES THE BURNED OUT BUILDING AND THEN IT GOES BACK TO SQUARE ONE. UM, JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW SOMETHING, HOW A BURNED OUT BUILDING COULD BE IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD FOR FOUR YEARS, UM, BEFORE GETTING, YOU KNOW, ANY KIND OF OF DEMOLITION ORDER AND WHETHER THAT'S BACKLOG OR THERE ARE LOOPHOLES THAT MAYBE, UM, CAN BE EXPLOITED. SURE. SO WITHOUT KNOWING THE PARTICULARS AROUND YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION, AND IF YOU DON'T MIND, PLEASE EMAIL ME THAT ADDRESS SO THAT I CAN GIVE YOU THE UPDATE THAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR ON THAT PROPERTY. BUT QUITE FRANKLY, IF YOU'LL RECALL, OUR DEMOLITION CONTRACTS WERE JUST APPROVED A FEW MONTHS AGO. SO WE HAVE NOT HAD DEMOLITION CONTRACTS TO ADDRESS MANY OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE COMING UP IN THE CITY, WHICH IS THE REASON WHY THE NUMBER IS AS HIGH AS IT IS AND WHY WE ARE SO AMBITIOUS ABOUT KNOCKING DOWN AS MANY ORDERS, UH, IN BUILDINGS AS WE HAVE BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT HAD THE CONTRACTS TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE DEMOLITION. SO THERE PROBABLY, UH, IS A REASON THAT THAT BUILDING IS THERE, IS BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE THE CONTRACTS ACTUALLY GO THROUGH AND PUT IN PLACE THE CORRECTIVE ACTION TO DEMOLISH THAT BUILDING. UNDERSTOOD. THANK YOU. OKAY. SEEING NO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE QUEUE, DIRECTOR FRANCIS, THANK YOU. THIS IS AGGRESSIVE AND I LIKE IT. NEIGHBORHOODS AT THESE REALLY BRING DOWN THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN NEIGHBORHOODS, SO WE NEED TO GET THEM DOWN WHEN WE CAN AND, AND, UH, PLEASE KEEP US INFORMED AND I'D LOVE TO GET THE INFORMATION ON THE, ON THE MONEY AND ON THE, UH, WHERE, HOW WE REUSE THE MATERIALS, IF AT ALL, WITH OUR CONTRACTORS AND ALSO THE, THE, ON THE UPCOMING 400 PLUS DEMOLITIONS. I, I'D LIKE TO GET THAT BY COUNCIL DISTRICT. SURE. GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE DO HAVE PUBLIC SPEAKERS. AWESOME. AND THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP IN ADVANCE. I'LL FIRST CALL ON ELIZA MARCEL RUIZ BLOOM. SHE IS ON VIRTUALLY. OKAY. OH NO, NOT ON VIRTUALLY. OKAY. WE'LL GO TO SUSANNA SEGERS. SHE WAS PLANNING TO BE HERE IN PERSON. SUSANNA SEGERS, DO NOT SEE IF YOU'RE ONLINE, PLEASE LET US KNOW. STAR SIX TO UNMUTE ALSO, ED PETIT. ED PETIT IS ONLINE. MR. PETIT STAR SIX TO UNMUTE. WE DO SEE YOU ONLINE, SO HOPEFULLY YOU CAN, THERE YOU GO. WE CAN HEAR YOU. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? YES. OKAY, GREAT. UM, I, UH, THANK YOU EVERYONE. MY NAME IS ED PETIT. I AM VICE PRESIDENT OF THE THIRD WARD SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD. AND I WANTED TO MAKE A REQUEST AND ALSO ASK A QUESTION. UH, THE REQUEST IS I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE DATA ON THE FUNNEL OF, UH, 3 1 1 REQUESTS ONCE THEY'RE REPORTED AND AFTER THEY GO THROUGH THOSE 10 STEPS AND [00:40:01] ACTUALLY END UP IN SOME KIND OF RESOLUTION. UM, AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO LOOK AT THE DATA BEFORE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, OR THE CITY TERMINATED THEIR CONTRACT WITH CCL FIX FOR THE 3 1 1 APP. AND AFTER THEY STARTED TAKING THE, UM, 3 1 1, UM, COMPLAINTS THROUGH THEIR IN-HOUSE SYSTEM, UH, IT'S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE AND I'VE SPOKEN TO OTHER SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS, IT'S BEEN THEIR EXPERIENCE AS WELL THAT IT'S BEEN MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO, UM, COMPLETE THE, UH, PROCESS ON THE CITY'S IN-HOUSE 3 1 1 SYSTEM AND ACTUALLY GET FEEDBACK, UM, AND RESOLUTION DOWN THE LINE. AND SO I'D LIKE TO LOOK AT THE DATA, UH, BEFORE AND AFTER THE, THE CONTRACT WAS CCL FIX WAS TERMINATED, AND THEN MY REQUEST OR MY QUESTION IS, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF A DANGEROUS BUILDING THAT WE HAVE REPORTED MULTIPLE TIMES. UH, THE MOST RECENT TIME WE ACTUALLY, UH, WORKED WITH OUR DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD CITIZENS, UH, ASSISTANCE OFFICER ELRIDGE Q UM, THE REQUEST NUMBER IS 2 3 0 0 7 5 2 8 9 0, AND I CAN EMAIL THAT TO ANYONE WHO WANTS IT. UM, THIS IS ON MCGOWAN STREET. IT'S A PART OF THE WALKABLE PLACES PILOT. IT'S PART OF THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, IT'S DESIGNATED AN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR. SO IT HAS ALL OF THESE DESIGNATIONS BY THE CITY THAT HAVE PROMISED KIND OF EXPEDITED, UH, RESPONSE AS A, AS A COMPLETE COMMUNITY. WHAT, WHAT DOES, WHAT DOES THAT, WHAT DO THOSE STATUSES ACTUALLY MEAN OPERATIONALLY? HOW ARE THESE COMPLAINTS IN THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, IN THE WALKABLE PLACES PILOT ACTUALLY BEING EXPEDITED OR PRIORITIZED? THANK, THANK YOU MR. PETIT. ALL GOOD QUESTIONS. WE'VE BEEN TAKING THEM DOWN AND WE WILL CERTAINLY WORK WITH DIRECTOR FRANCIS AND WITH 3 1 1 TO PROVIDE YOU WITH SOME ANSWERS. I DO SEE COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ IN THE QUEUE TO ADDRESS YOU. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. AND I CERTAINLY WANNA THANK ED PETIT. EVERYBODY NEEDS A ED PETIT IN THEIR DISTRICT. HE REALLY STAYS ON TOP OF THE ISSUES AND CERTAINLY, UH, ED, IF YOU NEED SOME ASSISTANCE, UH, GETTING ANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE, UH, BECAUSE I REALLY DO APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO, UH, FOR THE CONSTITUENTS OF DISTRICT D AND IN PARTICULAR THIRD WARD. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH AND HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO YOU, . YES, THANK YOU MR. PETIT. AND I DO THINK IT'S, IT'S A VALUABLE AND DATA IS WHAT WE NEED. SO IT IS INTERESTING TO ME, WE CAN SEE HOW MANY THINGS GET CALLED INTO 3 1 1 THAT ARE DANGEROUS BUILDINGS. SOME OBVIOUSLY FALL OUT, THEY MIGHT NOT MEET THE CRITERIA. AND THEN HOW MANY KIND OF GO ALL THE WAY TO FRUITION TO ACTUALLY BE SECURED OR DEMOLISHED IN SOME WAY. UM, THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT, UH, LONGER TASK TO COMPLETE. BUT, UH, THAT'D BE, I WAS ALSO GOING TO, UH, RECOMMEND, UH, THAT MR. PETIT MAKE A-T-P-I-A REQUEST REGARDING THAT BECAUSE THAT IS A LARGE TRAN OF DATA SO THAT WE CAN GET STARTED ON THAT. SO THAT WOULD BE THE OFFICIAL WAY TO REQUEST THAT INFORMATION. UH, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO GO AHEAD AND WORK ON THAT. THE OTHER QUESTIONS, BECAUSE YOU'RE VIRTUAL, I COULD NOT MAKE OUT, SO I'LL LISTEN TO THE REPLAY OR EITHER GET THEM FROM THE COMMITTEE SO THAT WE CAN ANSWER YOUR QUESTION. BUT THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. PETIT. NEXT WE HAVE MARIAN WRIGHT, WHO IS HERE IN PERSON. HI, THAT'S GREAT. HI. UM, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FOR COMING OUT AND MEETING WITH ME THIS MORNING ON 11TH STREET. SO SHE DID COME OUT AND WALKED UP AND DOWN AND VISITED WITH SOME OF OUR BUSINESSES. COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON ALSO DID THE SAME THING. COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX AND COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH. SO I DO APPRECIATE ALL FOUR OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AT LARGE, AND WE REALLY DO NEED COUNCIL MEMBERS AT LARGE BECAUSE WHEN WE CAN'T GET OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO LISTEN TO US, WE NEED SOMEONE ELSE TO. SO I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME TALK ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBERS AT LARGE AND IF WE NEED 'EM, THE ANSWER IS YES, WE DEFINITELY DO. UM, SO NOW WHEN YOU WERE OUT ON 11TH STREET, YOU WENT THROUGH AND IT'S APPROXIMATELY TWO MILES LONG. YOU VISITED ANYWHERE FROM FIVE TO EIGHT DEPENDING ON WHICH COUNCIL MEMBER CAME OUT. WE HAVE 24 BUSINESSES ON THAT STRETCH THAT IF SIGNED A PETITION SAYING THAT THIS IS DAMAGING OR HURTING THEM IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM, WE HAVE 2,932 BUSINESSES, RIGHT AT 3000 BUSINESSES ABOUT THIR 68. SHORT OF THAT, THAT IT SAID THAT THEY THINK THAT THE 11TH STREET PROJECT NEEDS TO BE UNK NEEDS, SOMEONE NEEDS TO RETHINK WHAT'S GOING ON. EVERYONE THAT'S COME OUT TO SEE IT HAS SAID YES, THEY DO. SOME SEE SOME ISSUES THAT NEED OR SHOULD POSSIBLY BE ADDRESSED. WE CAN'T GET OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE IN THE DISTRICT TO COME OUT AND VISIT. WE CAN'T GET THEM TO DO A [00:45:01] TOWN HALL WHERE THEY SIT DOWN AND THEY LISTEN TO PEOPLE'S ISSUES. UM, WHEN I'VE CONTACTED MR. FIELDS ABOUT PEOPLE USING BABY STROLLERS IN THE BIKE LANES, I WAS TOLD THAT THAT JUST MEANS THAT WE NEED MORE WALKABLE SPACES THAT PEOPLE WANNA WALK. THE SIDEWALKS ARE NOT BEING PROPERLY ADDRESSED. THERE WAS ONE LITTLE STRETCH WITH THE SIDEWALKS HAVE BEEN DONE. COUNCILMAN ELKHORN CAME OUT TODAY AND I SHOWED HER THE NEXT BLOCK AND WHAT THE CONDITIONS WERE. SHE ASKED, ARE THEY BEING ADDRESSED? WE HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD THAT THEY WERE ON THAT STRETCH AND THEY WERE NOT MARKED TO BE REDONE. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY IN ONE BLOCK THEY'RE GONNA BE REDONE, AND IF YOU LOOK AT 'EM IN THE NEXT BLOCK, AND ANY OF Y'ALL ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME OUT AND SEE THAT WE NEED SIDEWALKS, WE NEED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE BUSINESSES NOT TO CUT OFF LEFT HAND TURNS IN A PEOPLE'S BUSINESSES. THE TRAFFIC IS REALLY, REALLY BAD. AND I JUST, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. I COME OUT HERE AND I SPEAK WITH Y'ALL. Y'ALL COME OUT AND Y'ALL LOOK AT IT. HOW CAN WE ENCOURAGE OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO COME OUT? UM, YOU ASK HOW THIS HAPPENED. LET ME TELL YOU HOW IT HAPPENED. THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP VOTED ON THIS. THE HEIGHTS DID NOT VOTE ON IT. THE ACTUAL DISTRICT THAT THANK YOU MS. WRIGHT, THAT'S THREE MINUTES. I I APPRECIATE YOUR COMING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT WE WILL HEAR FROM BOB CHO. OH, I'M SORRY. NO, WE HAVE SOMEBODY IN THE QUEUE. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ, PLEASE. OKAY. YES MA'AM. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADDRESS THE SPEAKER? OKAY, THANK YOU. OKAY, NEXT WE WILL HEAR FROM BOB CHO. HI THERE. OH, OH, I'M UNMUTED. I'M SORRY. I, I COULDN'T GET, I COULDN'T UNMUTE IN WOMEN MINUTE, THEN MY CAMERA WENT OFF THAT THAT'S OKAY. WE CAN HEAR YOU NOW. OH, OKAY. I WANTED TO GIVE HER, UH, SOME OF MY TIME TO FINISH HER COMMENT. UH, IT'S RELEVANT NOT ONLY TO THAT AREA, BUT THE AREA OF WHERE I LIVE AS WELL. OKAY, THANK YOU. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU FOR THE ADDITIONAL TIME. UM, SO HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? SO WE HAVE A SUPER GREATER SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP. THE HEIGHTS DID NOT VOTE ON IT. THEY ABSTAINED FROM VOTING. SO THIS WAS DONE WITHOUT THE HEIGHTS GIVEN WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE PROJECT IS. KEVIN STRICKLAND, WHO SITS AS ONE OF THE MEMBERS. AND THIS WAS WAY BEFORE THE VOTE WAS DONE POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA, ON BIKE HOUSTON'S WEBSITE. I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE 11TH STREET IMPROVEMENT. THE CARS IN THE HEIGHTS, THE CAR, PEOPLE IN THE HEIGHTS COME OUT AND DROVES TO OPPOSE CHANGES LIKE THIS, AND THEY'RE VERY VOCAL. IN ADDITION, THE COMMUNITY LEADERS AREN'T KEEN ON HOW THE UPDATES AND THE CHANGES HAVE BEEN PLANNED IN OUR COMMUNITY. THEN YOU'RE ACTUALLY MENTIONED IN THIS AMY PECK, IT SAYS, THEN THEY WILL STOP THE CONSTRUCTION AND REMOVE THE STUDY BEFORE IT EVER STARTS. PEOPLE WHO DON'T EVEN KNOW THE TERM PROTECTIVE BIKE LANES MEAN TO COMPLAIN TO THEIR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. LOOKING AT YOU, AMY PECK AND LONG POINT STUDY. NOW, IF YOU'VE NOTICED, NO ONE'S BEEN IN HERE COMPLAINING ABOUT HOW THE LONG POINT PROJECT HAS GONE THROUGH. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK LISTENED TO HER CONSTITUENTS AND SHE FOUND AN ALTERNATIVE. OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE NOT COMING OUT AND LISTENING TO US, AND THAT'S WHY Y'ALL HAVE THE NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT Y'ALL ARE HAVING RIGHT NOW WHEN PEOPLE ARE CALLING THREE ONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MS. WRIGHT. REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR COMING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, BOB CHO, SINCE THIS IS THE REGULATORY AND NEIGHBORHOOD AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, I WANNA TAKE A DIFFERENT STAB AT THIS 11TH STREET AND BIKE LANES OVERALL. FOR STARTERS, NO ONE KNOWS HOW MANY BIKES THERE ARE IN THIS CITY. ASK THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BIKE HOUSTON, HE DRAWS A BLANK. THE CITY PROVIDED SOME SORT OF AN ESTIMATE, BUT WHO KNOWS WHERE THAT CAME FROM? SO WHY ARE WE SO HOT TO TROT TO DEDICATE 25% OF A THOROUGHFARE FOR BIKE LANES? UM, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I'VE SEEN A PIPER CUB LAND AT ONE OF OUR AIRPORTS. I DON'T BELIEVE PLEDGE CRAFT ARE ALLOWED IN A PORT OF HOUSTON. AND SHOULD WE TALK ABOUT TRAINS? WE CAN'T USE TRAIN TRACKS FOR DIFFERENT CONVEYANCES. SO WHY ARE WE, WHY ARE WE SO HOT TO TROT, TO CREATE AN EASEMENT FOR BICYCLES ON MAJOR THOROUGHFARE? [00:50:01] AS THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY ADAMANT THAT MAYBE WE NEED SOME RECIPROCITY FROM BICYCLE OWNERS. I'M TALKING ABOUT BICYCLE REGISTRATION, BICYCLE INSPECTIONS REQUIREMENT TO HAVE SAFETY DEVICES, FRONT AND BACK LIGHTS AND WEARABLE ITEMS TO ENHANCE VISIBILITY. UH, ALL TOO OFTEN BICYCLISTS JUST AREN'T, AREN'T SEEN VERY EASILY, YOU KNOW, SO WHY SHOULD BE THEY? WHY SHOULD THEY BE EXEMPT? AND PROBABLY A BETTER QUESTION. WHY SHOULD THEY BE REQUIRED? BICYCLISTS ARE ALL TOO OFTEN, GIVEN THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT TO IT. ON MARCH 7TH, UH, 2019, A TRAGEDY OCCURRED ON HEIGHTS BOULEVARD WHERE A BICYCLE AND A SCHOOL BUS MET EACH OTHER. THREE HEADLINES FROM K-H-O-U-K-P-R-C AND A CHRONICLE BICYCLIST HIT AND KILLED BY SCHOOL BUS. THEY ALL THREE HAD THE SAME MESSAGE. WELL, GUESS WHAT? YOU KNOW, ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU KNOW, THE BI THE, THE BUS WAS AUTOMATICALLY INDICTED. BUT ON FURTHER EXAMINATION, IT WASN'T, IT WASN'T TECHNICALLY THE SCHOOL BUS'S FAULT. IT WAS A CYCLIST'S FAULT. THE CYCLIST WAS COMING UP, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, A BIKE LANE. THE SCHOOL BUS CROSSED HEIGHTS BOULEVARD AND THE BICYCLIST HIT THE REAR PART OF THE BUS, FELL, HIT HIS HEAD, WASN'T WEARING A HELMET, AND UNFORTUNATELY DIED. YOU CAN'T HOLD, YOU KNOW, SO ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU KNOW, SOCIETY EVISCERATED THE SCHOOL BUS DRIVER. SO, IN CONCLUSION, OH, THAT'S ONE LAST POINT I WANNA MAKE. CYCLISTS ALSO HAVE THE COMMON BELIEF THAT, THAT ONCE THEY HAVE THE LANE, THEY THEY NEED NOT YIELD, THEY OWN IT. SO ON SOCIAL MEDIA, I CHALLENGE SOMEBODY AND THEY CHALLENGE ME BACK. SO, BIG BOY. WHERE IN THE TEXAS SAFETY CODE DOES IT SAY THIS? IT SAYS IT IN SECTION 5 45. A SLOWER MOVING VEHICLE MUST YIELD TO TRAFFIC THAT IS DRIVING WITHIN THE PROPER SPEED LIMIT THAT INCLUDES A BICYCLE. BICYCLISTS DON'T SEEM TO KNOW THAT THAT PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE SHARED. IN CONCLUSION, WHILE MOST PEOPLE WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THE NEED FOR BIKE LANES, MANY OR MOST WILL ALSO URGE THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO REVISIT THIS IMPLEMENTATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MR. CHO. SEEING NO OTHER PUBLIC SPEAKERS, VERY MUCH APPRECIATE EVERYBODY BEING HERE TODAY. DUE TO THE COUNCIL BREAK WEEK, OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MARCH RNA MEETING HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO THURSDAY, MARCH 23RD AT 10:00 AM AND AT THAT TIME WE WILL BE, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO DISCUSSING SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.