* 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. EVERYONE CAN TAKE THEIR SEATS. [PRESENTATIONS] [00:00:09] WE HAVE THREE PROCLAMATIONS, UH, TODAY. AND THE FIRST ONE, WE'LL START OFF WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KUBOSH, UH, WHO WILL BE PRESENTING A CO A PROCLAMATION TO CONSTABLE MAY WALKER TO RECOGNIZE HER FOR 41 YEARS OF EXEMPLARY SERVICE. AND, UM, TIM, IF YOU WILL. YES. WHAT'S GOING ON? I'M TOO OLD. I MIGHT HAVE A, A HEART ATTACK, PLEASE. SHE TOLD ME, SHE SAID, I AIN'T NEVER DONE ANYTHING. WE, WE WATCH WHAT I READ. . HEY. AND THEN Y'ALL GOT THE SCHOOL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR. IT'S, UH, IT'S, IT'S WITH GREAT PLEASURE TODAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PRESENTING A MAYORAL PROCLAMATION TO, UH, CONSTABLE MAY WALKER. WE'RE PLEASED TO HAVE US WITH US TODAY. HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT SEVEN CONSTABLE MAY WALKER. SINCE JANUARY THE SECOND, 2005, CONSTABLE WALKER HAS SERVED AS THE FIRST FEMALE AND FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN CONSTABLE OF HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS. SHE'S A PROUD GRADUATE OF TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, AND SHE'S ALSO A PROUD GRADUATE OF THE SAM HOUSTON'S STATE UNIVERSITY LAW ENFORCEMENT MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE. FOR 24 YEARS, WALKER HAS BEEN A, WAS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND SERVED AS THE FIRST WOMAN, HPD PATROL OFFICER AS AN HPD OFFICER. SHE FILED VARIOUS LAWSUITS IN SUPPORT OF MINORITIES, QUESTIONING THE HIRING AND PROMOTIONAL PRACTICES OF THE DEPARTMENT. WALKER WAS A PART OF THE 1974 CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FILED ON BEHALF OF MINORITIES, UH, IN HPD, WHICH ALSO INCLUDED THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRST PART OF THE LAWSUIT FOCUSED ON HIRING PRACTICES AND WAS SETTLED IN THE 1980S. A SEPARATE PART OF THE LAWSUIT ADDRESSED DISPARITIES IN THE DEPARTMENT'S PROMOTIONAL SYSTEM, BUT IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE 1990S THAT BOB LANIER, WHO WAS SERVING AS MAYOR OF HOUSTON, HEARD ABOUT THE UNSETTLED LAWSUIT AND PUSHED FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF THE MATTER. AND FINALLY, AFTER MORE THAN TWO DECADES, A RULING WAS HANDLED, HANDED DOWN IN FAVOR OF DEPARTMENTS MINORITIES. TODAY, MANY BLACK HISPANIC AND WOMEN OFFICERS IN BOTH HPD AND HFD ARE ENJOYING THE RESULTS OF CONSTABLE WALKER'S EFFORTS. WALKER'S PERSISTENCE IN CHANGING AN OUTDATED SYSTEM AND HER INSISTENCE IN SEEKING A LEGAL SOLUTION FOR CHANGE HAS MADE A-H-P-D-A BETTER PLACE. CONSTABLE WALKER IS INVOLVED IN NUMEROUS REGIONAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATIONS. SHE'S A LIFETIME MEMBER OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INCORPORATED THE 100, OKAY, Y'ALL CAN DO THAT. THE 100 CLUB OF HOUSTON AND THE HOUSTON FAT STOCK SHOW AND RODEO. SHE'S A BOARD MEMBER OF ST. MARY'S PARISH COUNCIL, A BOARD MEMBER OF HOUSTON AREA WOMAN CENTER, AND A CO-FOUNDER OF ADOPT A BLACK CHILD. AND MY SON, JOSHUA, DONE JUST THAT VERY THING. HE FOLLOWED THROUGH, AND WALKER CONTINUES TO OPEN DOORS FOR OTHERS THROUGH HER LEADERSHIP AND COURAGE. MAYOR. SO GLAD. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. AND I HAVE THE, UM, THE PRIVILEGE OF SAYING TO A GOOD FRIEND AND SOMEONE WHO I'VE KNOWN FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND WHO HAVE SERVED, UM, WITH EXEMPLARY SERVICE, UH, NOT ONLY FOR THE CITY, BUT FOR THE COUNTY AS WELL. SO, THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM THIS DAY, FEBRUARY 21ST, 2023, AS CONSTABLE MAY WALKER DAY, HARRIS COUNTY CONSTABLE PRECINCT SEVEN IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS. LET ME JUST ADD BEFORE SHE COMES. UM, I'VE KNOWN, I'VE KNOWN CONSTABLE WALKER, UM, MAY FOUR FOR A NUMBER, FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. AND IN LARGE PART, I WOULD NOT BE STANDING HERE TODAY WITHOUT HER, WITHOUT HER SUPPORT AND HER LEADERSHIP. UH, MANY OF THE PERSONS WHO WERE [00:05:01] PART OF MY, UM, INITIAL DETAIL BEFORE I BECAME MAYOR, UH, AND THE HEAD OF THAT DETAIL CAME DIRECTLY FROM CONSTABLE WALKER'S OFFICE. I WANT TO THANK HER FOR HER, HER SUPPORT, WANT TO THANK HER FOR HER SERVICE, HER FRIENDSHIP. UH, SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE. SHE'S ALWAYS MADE THE ROAD MUCH BETTER, SMOOTHER FOR OTHERS COMING BEHIND HER, WHETHER THEY WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR, OR QUITE FRANKLY, JUST FOR RESPECT FOR PEOPLE ACROSS THE BOARD. UH, SO MAY IT'S ONLY FITTING AND CONSTABLE, UH, CONSTABLE KOSH, THANK YOU. BUT IT'S ONLY FITTING IN FEBRUARY BLACK HISTORY MONTH, UH, THAT WE HONOR SOMEONE WHO IN MANY WAYS IS THE HARRIET CUMAN SOJOURNER TRUTH OF OUR TIME. CONSTABLE MAY WALKER. I I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'VE BEEN THROUGH FIVE MAYORS IN THE HI CITY OF HOUSTON, AND MOST WERE PERSONAL FRIENDS OF MINE. AND I'M JUST HAPPY TO HAVE SURVIVED, AND I'M HAPPY TO BE A PART OF TO BE HERE WITH MY, ONE OF ONE OF MY FAVORITE MAYORS, UH, SYLVESTER TURNER. AND THANK YOU. THANK ALL OF YOU SO MUCH. I HAVE HAD A PLEASURE SERVING OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I'M NOT QUITE THROUGH YET, BUT IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE AND I WOULD DO IT AGAIN. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH, FOR HIGHLIGHTING THIS WONDERFUL ICON. YEAH. UH, PRECINCT SEVEN PROTECTS DISTRICT D, AND SO I THOUGHT IT WAS FITTING THAT I COME UP AS WELL AND GIVE YOU MY GREETINGS AND MY THANKS AND APPRECIATION FOR THE WONDERFUL SERVICE THAT YOU CONTINUE TO GIVE DISTRICT D. AND YOU ARE A BLACK HISTORY ICON FOR SURE. AND THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. THANK, THANK YOU CONSTABLE WALKER. THANK YOU FOR BEING A TRAILBLAZER IN THIS WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN, AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO, AND THE LUCKY NUMBER SEVEN. SO THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. IT WAS A PLEASURE. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER SASHA JACKSON FOR A PROCLAMATION TO KENDRICK SAMPSON TO RECOGNIZE HIS DEVOTED LIFE TO RACIAL JUSTICE. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, MAYOR. I CAN'T SEE. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTI. I AM GOING TO ASK MR. KENDRICK SAMPSON TO COME ON UP, AND I'M REALLY HONORED TO, UM, PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION. UM, TODAY, MY FRIEND, YOU KNOW, KENDRICK, UM, DONE A LOT OF WORK WITH, UM, KENDRICK. I WAS AN ORGANIZER AT TOP AND HE WOULD ALWAYS JUST COME OUT AND LEND A HAND TO THE GRASSROOTS ORGANIZERS AS WE FIGHT FOR, UM, SOCIAL JUSTICE AND RACIAL JUSTICE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES. AND SO, AGAIN, I'M HONORED, UM, TO BE ABLE TO PRINT THE ZEN THIS TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM. BILL POWER TEAM. YOU WANNA COME ON UP? YEAH. BILL POWER AND ITS FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT KENDRICK SAMPSON HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS IN ALL IN THE ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. BILL POWER IS COMMITTED TO PARTNERING WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMUNITY AND LOCAL [00:10:01] BUSINESSES TO ADVANCE THE ARTS CULTURE, DIVERSITY AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL PEOPLE. IT STRIVES TO ENCOURAGE, ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO BE CIVICALLY ENGAGED, ADVANCE SOCIAL JUSTICE, FOSTER VALUES OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION, WHILE ESTABLISHING CULTURAL ENTERTAINMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL ARTS AND CREATIVE COMMUNITIES. KENDRICK SAMPSON IS DE IS THE DEDICATED SON, BROTHER, AND MOST IMPORTANT FOR HIS WORK AS AN ACTOR IN VAMPIRE DIARIES. HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER, MISS JUNETEENTH, THE FLASH. AND WHAT? OH, HE, HE PORTRAYED NATHAN IN HBO'S CRITICAL ACCLAIM. EMMY AWARD-WINNING, UM, UM, NO NOMINATED INSECURE KENDRICK IS WELL KNOWN AS AN UNAPOLOGETIC SOCIAL JUSTICE ACTIVIST, USING HIS PLATFORM AS AN ACTOR TO EDUCATE AUDIENCE ON THE ISSUES FROM RACIAL JUSTICE TO MENTAL HEALTH. HE FOUND CO-FOUNDED BUILD POWER TO UNITE HOLLYWOOD AND ITS RESOURCES TO HELP SHIFT THE CULTURE TOWARDS INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE CARE AND FREEDOM. GROWING UP IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, UM, KENDRICK GATHERED GRAVITATED TO THE ARTS AND LEARNED THE FILMMAKING LANDSCAPE IN TEXAS AND NEW ORLEANS. HE GREW UP IN AN EXCITING TIME WHEN AUSTIN WAS THE CENTER OF INDEPENDENT FILMMAKING, AND NEW ORLEANS WAS EXPANDING THEIR TAX INCENTIVES. THERE WAS A HUGE BLOCK FOR MARGINALIZED PEOPLE AND LOCAL PEOPLE WHO COULD NOT AFFORD TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT ECONOMY. KENDRICK WAS INSPIRED TO BRING HOUSTON TO HOLLYWOOD AND TAKE THOSE LESSONS. LEARNED TO BUILD A NEW HOLLYWOOD IN HOUSTON. THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENCED BUILD POWER AND KENDRICK SIMPSON FOR THEIR SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY, AND EXTENDS BEST WISHES FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS. MAYOR, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER. AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SAYING, SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROBABLY PROCLAIMED FEBRUARY 21ST, 2023 AS BILL POWER DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS. CAME TO, TO YOUR ENTIRE TEAM. OH, MAN. OH, YEP, YEP. OKAY. WELL, I WAS NOT PREPARED TO SAY ANYTHING, BUT, UM, TIA HELP ME OUT. SO, I'M HONORED TO BE RECOGNIZED TODAY WITH BUILD POWER AND THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, UM, ESPECIALLY IN MY HOMETOWN WHERE I GREW UP. I DIDN'T GO TO TSU, BUT I USED TO GO TO THE STEP SHOWS IN HIGH SCHOOL. YOU KNOW, I USED TO SNEAK IN. BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, I, ESPECIALLY WITH MY, MY FAMILY, MY HOMIE, MY PARTNER, UM, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING, SHE'S BEEN SO DOPE AND A COLLABORATOR, COUNCIL MEMBER, TARSHA JACKSON INSPIRES ME, MENTORS ME EVERY DAY. UM, OUR ORGANIZATION, BUILD POWER IS COMMITTED TO REIMAGINING AND REALIZING THE LIBERATED FUTURE THAT WE KNOW OUR PEOPLE DESERVE. WE ARE DOING JUST THAT RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BRINGING OUR VALUES TO BUILD THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND CREATIVE CAMPUS DEDICATED TO CREATING OPPORTUNITIES IN FILM, TV, TECH, ARTS, AND CULTURE. I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS PARTNERSHIP, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO Y'ALL SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU KENDRICK. AGAIN. UM, AS YOU KNOW, MAYOR, UM, KENDRICK IS WORKING WITH, UM, OUR BE SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVE. YOU KNOW, AS FOLKS ARE COMING IN TO JO TO GET JOBS AND WANT TO GET THAT SKILLS, THE SKILLS TO BE ABLE TO GET THOSE CRAFTS AND SERVICES POSITIONS AND DIRECTOR OF, UM, PHOTOGRAPHER, WE WANNA MAKE SURE OUR PEOPLE, OUR COMMUNITIES, CAN GET THOSE JOBS THAT WILL BE COMING TO HOUSTON SINCE THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY IS GROWING HERE. SO, THANK YOU AGAIN. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP AND THANK YOU. WHAT I'LL SAY IS THAT, UH, KEN GREW UP IN A TIME WHEN, UM, AUSTIN WAS, UM, THE PLACE IN TEXAS FOR FILM. YEP. AND THEN OF COURSE NEW ORLEANS, ATLANTA, ALL OF THOSE OTHER PLACES. AND NOW WE ARE WORKING, UM, TO TRY TO, UM, ADD TO OUR INCENTIVE PROGRAM HERE BECAUSE HOUSTON HAS A, HAS A WONDERFUL STORY TO TELL. EXACTLY. BUT YOU HAVE TO INCENTIVIZE THE INDUSTRY AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF TALENT COMING UP OUT OF THIS CITY, LIKE YOURSELF AND OTHERS PARALLEL TIME AND PEOPLE WANNA STAY HERE. ABSOLUTELY. BUT THEY ALSO HAVE TO GO WHAT THE BUSINESS IS. RIGHT? RIGHT. AND SO WE ARE TRYING, EVEN AS WE SPEAK IN THE LEGISLATURE, TRYING TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF INCENTIVES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS TO ATTRACT MORE BUSINESS, TO STAY HERE AND TO COME HERE. ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP. OKAY. WELL JUST PUT ME IN ONE OF THOSE SHOWS. , I'M AVAILABLE IN 10 MONTHS. , MAYOR. YOU RIGHT. MAYOR. AND NOW ACT, ACT IN DEBUT. RIGHT. AND MR. SAMPSON, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND INTRODUCING THE, THE LADIES THAT ARE WITH YOU, TIA [00:15:01] OSHO, OUR CO-FOUNDER, HELLO. AND KIMBERLY, WHO IS OUR DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS PEOPLE AND CULTURE. PEOPLE AND CULTURE. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. SO DO Y'ALL WANNA SAY SOMETHING? NO, SURE. , UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS IS SO SPECIAL. UH, TASHA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING US AND, UH, RECOGNIZING KENDRICK IN THIS WAY, UH, MAYOR SEMESTER. SO NICE TO MEET YOU AS WELL. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO, UM, JUST TO, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE AND CELEBRATE, UM, ALL OF THE WONDERFUL, AMAZING ARTS AND CULTURE THAT IS HAPPENING HERE IN HOUSTON. KENDRICK HAS BEEN, UM, YOU KNOW, SINGING THE PRAISES OF HOUSTON FOR THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS THAT WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER AND SINCE THE FOUND OF BUILD POWER AND, UM, BEING ABLE TO COME, UM, HE AND TASHA ARRANGED A TOUR FOR US LAST YEAR, AND SO WE'RE TOTALLY SOLD. UM, THEY'RE TRYING TO GET ME TO MOVE OUT HERE. I'M WORKING ON IT. UM, , KIMBERLY ALEXANDER, OUR DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS PEOPLE AND CULTURE IS BASED HERE IN HOUSTON AS WELL. AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO GROW THE TEAM. AND SO JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE Y'ALL. KENRICK, YOU WANT TO COME GET RIGHT DOWN CHAIR. NOW RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ FOR A PROCLAMATION TO DR. LETICIA COMPTON, YOUNG ALICIA COMPTON YOUNG TO RECOGNIZE FOR HER EXTRAORDINARY LEADERSHIP IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND AT TSU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROAM. AND I KNOW I AM WRAPPING THE COUGAR RED, BUT TEXAS SOUTHERN IS IN MY HEART. I WASN'T GONNA GET A CHANCE TO WEAR THIS OUTFIT BECAUSE I WON'T BE HERE NEXT WEEK. AND SO I WANTED TO CATCH THIS IN BLACK HISTORY MONTH, . BUT, UH, I WANNA SAY DR. LECIA L CRUMPTON YOUNG IS THE 13TH PRESIDENT OF TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. SINCE ARRIVING AT TSU PRESIDENT, CRUMPTON YOUNG HAS STRENGTHENED PARTNERSHIPS WITH INDUSTRIES, CORPORATIONS, NONPROFITS, FOUNDATIONS, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. DURING THE SPAN OF A THREE DECADE CAREER IN ACADEMIA, PRESIDENT DR. CRUMPTON YOUNG HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR HER TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND EXEMPLARY RECORD OF EXECUTING HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS. PRESIDENT CRUMPTON YOUNG IS PASSIONATE ABOUT ADVANCING RESEARCH AS WELL AS ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND ENSURING STUDENT ACADEMIC, PROFESSIONAL, AND PERSONAL SUCCESS. PRESIDENT CRUMPTON YOUNG'S ACADEMIC CAREER BEGAN AT TEXAS A AND M UNIVERSITY WHERE SHE EARNED A BSS AND PHD IN DEGREES, I MEAN, DEGREES IN INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING. PRESIDENT DR. CRUMPTON YOUNG HOLDS THE DISTINCTION OF BEING THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN TO EARN A PHD IN ENGINEERING FROM TEXAS A AND M AND IS AND ONE OF THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES TO REACH THE RANK OF FULL PROFESSOR IN ENGINEERING. IN ENGINEERING. THAT'S ANOTHER CLASS PRESIDENT, DR. CRUMPTON YOUNG, ALSO EARNED AN MBA FROM TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY. SHE HAD THAT TSU ALREADY THAT'S CORRECT, READY FOR HER. IN HER FUTURE, BEFORE RISING TO PRESIDENT OF TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, DR. CRUMPTON YOUNG EXCELLED IN SEVERAL LEADERSHIP CAPACITIES AS PROVOST AND SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS FOR MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY. DR. CRUMPTON YOUNG ALSO SERVED AS VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH AND INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT AT TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY, WHERE HER SERVICE RESULTED IN OVER 225 MILLION IN RESEARCH AWARDS OVER A FOUR YEAR PERIOD, AS WELL AS MEANINGFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN TENNESSEE STATE'S NATIONAL RESEARCH RANKING PROGRAM DIRECTOR AT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION, MANAGING AN ANNUAL PORTFOLIO OF 90 MILLION IN RESEARCH AND FUNDING, AND DIVERSIFIED THE PORTFOLIOS OF SUPPORTED UNIVERSITIES. ASSOCIATE PROVOST OF TEXAS A [00:20:01] AND M UNIVERSITY ASSOCIATE DEAN OF ENGINEERING AT MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY, AND PROFESSOR AND CHAIR OF THE INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING AND MANAGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS DEPARTMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA. HAVING PUBLISHED OVER 100 SCHOLARLY ARTICLES, EXPLORING TALK TOPICS SUCH AS HUMAN FACTORS, ENGINEERING, HUMAN SYSTEMS MODELING, AND PRODUCTION ENGINEERING. DR. CRUMPTON YOUNG IS THE RECIPIENT OF THE US PRESIDENTIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS, AND ENGINEERING MENTORING FROM PRESIDENT OBAMA, THE JANICE, A LUMPKIN EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR, GOLDEN TORCH AWARD FROM THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK ENGINEERS, THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARD FROM THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION, AND THE BLACK ENGINEER OF THE YEAR EDUCATION AWARD PRESIDENT, DR. CRUMPTON YOUNG, SERVES ON SEVERAL NATIONAL AND LOCAL ADVISORY BOARDS FOCUSED ON TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF STUDENTS. PRESIDENT DR. CRUMPTON YOUNG, AS A MEMBER OF PS I KPA, PHI BETA, GAMMA SIGMA, ALPHA KAPPA MU, AND GOLDEN KEY INTERNATIONAL HONOR SOCIETIES PRESIDENT, DR. CRUMPTON YOUNG, HAS ENJOYED OVER 30 YEARS OF MARRIAGE TO MR. REGINALD YOUNG AND IS THE MOTHER OF TWO BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS, MADELINE AND ASHLEY, THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS DR. ALICIA L CRUMPTON YOUNG ON HER EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY AND IMPECCABLE LEADERSHIP SHE PROVIDES TO THE STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF OF THE TEXAS SUN SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. AND I WOULD REMISS IF I DID NOT SAY SHE WAS ALSO A PROUD MEMBER OF THE ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY INCORPORATED. , Y'ALL. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. AND, UM, UM, ANOTHER, UH, PROUD AND DISTINGUISHED PERSON TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED, UH, DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH, UM, RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND, AND IN HONORING DR. ALICIA CRUMPTON YOUNG, UH, WE HONOR THE INSTITUTION, UH, THAT SHE NOW, UH, LEADS ONE OF THE LEADING HBCUS, UH, IN, IN OUR, IN OUR COUNTRY. SO, UM, HONORED TO, TO, UH, SAY THAT THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIMED FEBRUARY 21ST, 2023 AS DR. ALICIA L CROMPTON, YOUNG DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ON BEHALF OF TIGER NATION, LET ME SAY THANK YOU TODAY. FIRST, THANK YOU TO DR. CAROLYN EVAN SHABA FOR NOMINATING US FOR THIS PROCLAMATION, HONORING US ON THIS DAY, AND FOR READING SUCH A LONG BIO ON THE PROCLAMATION. AND THEN I CERTAINLY WANNA THANK MAYOR TURNER. HE HAS BEEN A TRUE, TRUE SUPPORTER SINCE I HAVE JOINED THE GREAT CITY OF HOUSTON IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS. AND THEN I WANNA THANK ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. YOU ALL HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE OF OUR INSTITUTION. ONE OF THE THINGS I WANNA SAY TO YOU IS THAT WE ARE AN INSTITUTION THAT IS A PROUD PRODUCER OF PREMIER DIVERSE TALENT FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND FOR THE NATION. AND AS WE CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT TRANSFORMATION, I WANT YOU EACH TO KNOW THAT WE WILL BE COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO DIVERSIFY THE WORKFORCE, AND WE CONTINUE TO HELP ATTRACT THOSE BUSINESSES INTO THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND INTO THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT WE SO DESERVE TO HAVE. SO, THANK EACH OF YOU FOR THIS WONDERFUL DAY, AND THANK YOU TO THE FACULTY, THE STAFF, THE STUDENTS, THE ALUMNI, AND ALL OF THE WONDERFUL COMMUNITY AND CORPORATE PARTNERS OF THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. AND I'LL ALSO SAY THANK YOU TO MY REGENTS REGENT NELLY'S PAGE, WHO'S HERE WITH ME TODAY? REGENT JOHNSON, WHO'S HERE TODAY. AND THEN I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY TWO, WONDERFUL, MY HUSBAND AND MY DAUGHTER, WHO ARE ALSO HERE TO SUPPORT ME TODAY. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR TSU AND ONE OF THE REGENTS. UH, DR. RICHARD JOHNSON IS GOING TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS, TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK GOD AND HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST, AMEN. FOR BLESSING US AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND POURING HIS SPIRIT INTO US, BECAUSE ALL OF THOSE FOLKS WHO [00:25:01] CAME BEFORE US FROM 1927 THROUGH 1947, UP TO NOW ARE THE SHOULDERS UPON WHICH WE STAND. WE HAVE GRADUATES IN AT THE STATE HOUSE. WE HAVE GRADUATES IN CONGRESS, WE HAVE GRADUATES HERE IN IN CITY HALL. WE HAVE GRADUATES IN THE COUNTY. WE HAVE GRADUATES ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND THAT'S TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK GOD AND HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST, FOR A WONDERFUL PRESIDENT WITH A VISION TO MOVE US FORWARD. THANK YOU. TEXAS SOUTHERN IS ON THE MOVE, AND AS SHE SAID A MOMENT AGO, MAYOR, AIN'T NO STOPPING US NOW, . SO THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, WE THANK YOU AND WE THANK YOU MAYOR, FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE. THANK YOU. AND SETTING AN EXAMPLE FOR ALL OF US IN HOUSTON FOR OVER 40 YEARS. I KNOW, I WANNA TELL YEARS. THANK YOU, . THANK YOU ALL. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE BEFORE WE GO TO THEM, I'D LIKE TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS. DR. CRUMPTON YOUNG, I REMEMBER VIVIDLY THE FIRST TIME I MET YOU, I READ YOUR RESUME AND I GOT EXTREMELY NERVOUS. AS THE FATHER OF THREE ENGINEERS, I KNOW WHAT A CURRICULUM AND ENGINEERING LOOKS LIKE. AND FOR SOMEONE TO HAVE A BACHELOR, A MASTER, AND A DOCTORATE IN ENGINEERING, YOU'RE THE CREAM OF THE CROP. AND I'VE ADMIRED YOU, I, I, I'VE ADMIRED YOU FROM THAT DAY FORWARD, UH, BECAUSE YOUR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND WHAT YOU DO FOR THE STUDENTS AT TSU. SO WITH THAT COUNCIL MEMBER, TIFFANY D. THOMAS OF THAT OTHER SORORITY THAT WEARS A DIFFERENT COLOR, , WE LOVE THEM TOO. IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR DR. SHABAZZ TO WEAR HER CRIMSON TODAY. SO , UH, BUT NO, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR PORT TIM, AND THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FOR PRESENTING, UM, OUR WONDERFUL PRESIDENT. AND I SAY, UM, OUR, BECAUSE I SHARE IN YOUR SUCCESS AS TEXAS SOUTHERN BECOME SUCCESSFUL, THE CITY BECOMES SUCCESSFUL. AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF. AND I PROMISE NOT TO BE CONTRARY, I DID NOT WEAR MY PRAIRIE VIEW COLORS TODAY. THIS WAS JUST WHAT WAS AVAILABLE , IT'S MARDI GRAS. UM, UM, BUT AS SOMEONE THAT IS NOT ONLY A FACULTY MEMBER AT PRAIRIE VIEW, BUT ALSO A GRADUATE OF THAT INSTITUTION, I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT TAKES FOR OUR INSTITUTIONS TO REMAIN INNOVATIVE, UM, FOR US TO BE SUSTAINABLE IN ORDER FOR OUR STUDENTS TO BE ACADEMICALLY PREPARED TO GO OUT INTO THE WORKFORCE, AND JUST TO SHARE WITH, UM, COLLEAGUES AND THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE AND THOSE WHO MAY BE WATCHING. I REMEMBER DOING OUR, THE LINKS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF HBCUS AND THE CALL TO ACTION THAT YOU GAVE EVERYONE ACROSS THE NATION IS THAT, YES, WE CAN SUPPORT OUR HBCUS, BUT TALK TO YOUR LEGISLATURE AND MAKE SURE THAT HBCUS HAVE THE FUNDING THEY NEED IN ORDER TO BE WHO WE SAY WE ARE. AND SO I THINK IT'S A CRITICAL POINT. WHILE WE'RE IN THE LEGISLATURE, ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SUPPORT TEXAS SOUTHERN, ITS MORE THAN A T-SHIRT AND PAYING AN ANNUAL DUE. BUT THIS IS A WONDERFUL TIME TO CALL YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THE, IN THE EARMARKS, THE BENCHMARKS THAT YOU NEED, THAT BILLION DOLLARS, I READ THAT IN THE NEWS TO GET WHAT YOU NEED IN ORDER FOR THIS INSTITUTION TO REMAIN AND ENTER IN THE CITY. SO, STACY, FOR THAT, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISION, AND I'M JUST SO EXCITED ABOUT WHO YOU ARE IN THE CITY. THANK YOU MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND WE LOVE PRAIRIE VIEW. ALSO, MY DAUGHTER'S A GRADUATE OF PRAIRIE REVIEW, SO WE LOVE PRAIRIE REVIEW. SO FROM THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, THURGOOD MARSHALL SCHOOL OF LAW, MR. EDWARD J. POLLARD , THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIM. AND, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE. COUNCILWOMAN SHABAZZ, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING FORTH THIS PROCLAMATION TO MAYOR. THANK YOU, UH, DR. CRUMPTON YOUNG. I WANNA JUST GIVE YOU A CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL YOUR SUCCESS. UM, THE PRESENCE THAT YOU BROUGHT TO THE CAMPUS OVER THE PAST, WHAT, 18 MONTHS AND, UM, OVER THAT SPAN OF 18 MONTHS, WE'VE SEEN TSU GET HIGHLIGHTED IN MANY WAYS, AND YOU'VE BEEN EVERYWHERE. WE'RE GETTING SO MANY DIFFERENT GRANTS AND, UH, SPONSORSHIPS EVERY WEEK. I'M, I'M, I'M LOOKING ON TV OR FACEBOOK AND SEEING SOMEONE PRESENTING A CHECK TO TSU. AND THAT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP, HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS. AND I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF THE TIGER NATION THAT'S OUT THERE IN THE AUDIENCE EVERY, EVERY SINGLE DAY, EVERY SINGLE WEEK THAT, UH, WE'RE HERE AT COUNCIL, I HAVE A TSU TIGER TO MY LEFT, AND I HAVE A TSU TIGER TO MY RIGHT. AND, UH, I'M A PROUD GRADUATE OF THURGOOD MARSHALL SCHOOL OF LAW. AND MY MOTHER, UH, SERVED AS, UM, THE DEAN OF THE HONORS COLLEGE, AS WELL AS A PROFESSOR OF THEATER FOR 44 YEARS AT THE INSTITUTION. SO, UH, I GREW UP ON THAT CAMPUS, AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE ALL THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER LETICIA PLUMMER, OH, HE'S SO MUCH MAYOR PRO TEM. AND I WANNA JUST THANK COUNCIL [00:30:01] MEMBER SHABAZZ FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR, FOR THIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. YOU ARE TRULY MY SISTER. THANK YOU. UM, ALONG WITH ALL THE ACCOLADES THAT WE WAS CLEARLY READ, YOUR HEART AND YOUR SPIRIT OVERSHADOWS ALL OF IT. IT'S NECESSARY BECAUSE WE NEED SOMEONE AT THE HELM THAT CAN MOTIVATE AND INSPIRE AND GIVE HOPE TO OUR STUDENTS. AND THAT'S WHAT YOU DO. AND THAT'S SOMETIMES NOT, UM, WE DON'T KNOW. WE DON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. BUT THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE FEEL WHEN THEY MEET YOU. THE MOMENT I MET YOU, I FELT LIKE YOU WERE MY SISTER. UM, AND I KNOW THAT YOU MAKE EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON YOUR FACULTY, THE BOARD OF REGENTS, YOUR STUDENTS FEEL THE EXACT SAME WAY. AND THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID ABOUT THAT. SO THANK YOU. YOU SO DESERVE THIS AND SO MUCH MORE. I'M SO PROUD OF YOU AND GRATEFUL THAT YOU'RE IN OUR GREAT CITY DOING GREAT THINGS FOR OUR GREAT STUDENTS. AND, UM, I WISH YOU SO MUCH LUCK, UM, IN THE FUTURE AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL KOSH. WELL, THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION HAS REALLY BEEN FOCUSED ON HERE TODAY, MAYOR, YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW, THAT'S WHAT'S WHAT DR. CAROLYN OZ, OUR COUNCIL MEMBER CALLS OUR DISTRICT. AND, UH, GOD BLESS YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO THERE AT THE UNIVERSITY. UH, I KNOW THAT, UH, THE BASKETBALL TEAM IS AS ROARING ON . SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST GREAT TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY, AND I CELEBRATE WITH YOU. AND, UH, DR. SABRAS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. COUNCIL MEMBER TARSHA JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIM, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. AND MADAM PRESIDENT, IT IS AN HONOR. I'M A STUDENT OF TSU, Y'ALL. I HAVE A 30 YEAR DEGREE, BUT , I'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR 30 YEARS, BUT I'M ABOUT TO GRADUATE THIS MAY, AND I CAN, YES, I'M ABOUT TO GRADUATE IN MAY. AND, UM, JUST YOUR, YOUR, YOUR CONS SPIRIT HAS ENCOURAGED ME TO CONTINUE ON, YOU KNOW, TO CONTINUE AT TSU. SO I JUST WANNA SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE TIGERS. IT'S WELL DESERVED. UM, EVERY TIME I'M ON COUNT ON ON CAMPUS, I'M LIKE, HUH, AM I TOO OLD FOR THIS? NO, YOU GUYS MAKE ME FEEL LIKE I'M YOUNG. AND SO I, WHICH I AM YOUNG. UM, BUT IT'S JUST AN HONOR TO, UM, JUST NOW HAVE TSU, YOU KNOW, ON MY RESUME. SO THANK YOU. AND YOU'RE BLESSED. SO, SO, DR. DR. CRUMPTON YOUNG, BEFORE I THROW IT BACK TO YOU, I'D LIKE TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW OF. AND I MAKE THIS IN HONOR OF MY FAVORITE BASKETBALL PLAYER, JOHNNY, THE JET JONES FROM RITER, LOUISIANA, HEAD BASKETBALL COACH AT TSU. BUT HBCU ALL-STAR GAME IS BEING HELD AT TEXAS SOUTHERN THE SUNDAY OF FINAL FOUR WEEK. AND I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD PLAYED FOR AN HBCU IN BASKETBALL. SO I INVITE EVERYONE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO GO OUT TO TCU THAT SUNDAY AND MAKE SURE YOU SUPPORT T WHAT DID I SAY? TTSU TO SUPPORT THE, ALL THE H-H-B-C-U ALL STARS THAT WILL BE IN OUR CITY FOR THAT GREAT GAME. SO COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVANS SHABAZZ TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ROYAL COURT OF THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND OUR PRESIDENT AND OUR PRESIDENT OF STUDENT GOVERNMENT FROM TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. AND CERTAINLY WE HAD A WONDERFUL EVENT OUT IN FRONT OF THE LIBRARY. AND SO I'M SO VERY HONORED THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO THIS. IT WAS JUST SO HEARTWARMING. AND SO, I'M GONNA SAY THE TIGER NATION AIN'T NO PARTY LIKE A TSU PARTY 'CAUSE A TSU PARTY. DON'T STOP. THANK YOU. OKAY, WE TAKE A PICTURE. OKAY, WE ARE GONNA TAKE THIS PICTURE, BUT LET ME JUST SAY THIS 'CAUSE I KNOW WE'RE NOT GONNA GET EVERYBODY, UH, THIS TIME UP HERE, THE , IF YOU ARE, UM, FACULTY STUDENT ALUMNI OF TEXAS SOUTHERN, IF YOU'RE JUST STAND WHERE YOU ARE, MAYBE WE CAN SHOOT THE PICTURE FROM THIS. CAN THEY GET BACK THERE, MAYOR? LEMME SEE IF YOU'LL STAY STANDING SAYING, THIS IS THE LAW TROOPER. OKAY, WE'LL GO IN TO HORSESHOE. YEAH, OPEN. OPEN THAT UP. LET'S SEE IF WE'LL FIT. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, MEMBER, MADAM PRESIDENT, IF YOU, IF YOU'LL GO, [00:42:46] LET'S [00:42:47] GET STARTED. I KNOW THE TSU PARTY NEVER STOPPED, BUT YOU GONNA STOP HIM OUTTA HERE. . ALL RIGHT. [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON FOR THE INVOCATION AND PLEDGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL DR. THERESA R. CASEY UP TO DO A SPECIAL, UM, INVOCATION. UM, DR. CASEY IS A NATIVE OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND AN ANOINTED WOMAN OF GOD. UM, SHE HAS BEEN UNAPOLOGETIC, PROCLAIMING GOD'S WORD FOR 29 YEARS. NOT ONLY IS SHE ANOINTED TO PREACH THE GOSPEL, BUT OF JESUS CHRIST, BUT SHE'S ALSO GIFTED MINISTER AND A VOCALIST. THIS BLENDED COMBINATION ALLOWS HER, ALLOWS HER TO USE THE USED IN SEVERAL CAPACITIES FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD. MINISTER CASEY HAS BEEN RESPECTED FOR THE ENTIRETY OF HER MINISTRY AS AN AWESOME SPIRIT FILLED WOMAN OF GOD WHO DELIVERS THE WORD WITH ACCURACY, ACUMEN, AND ANOINTING. UM, BISHOP THERESA R. CASEY IS, WITHOUT A DOUBT, A WOMAN OF GOD SET APART FOR THE SERVICE OF SAVIOR IN THIS SEASON. AND A ONE WOMAN WRECKING CREW BY HERSELF. I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO YOU, HALL TH COME WE'LL BE DONE ON EARTH. [00:45:12] GIVE US THIS DAY, OUR DAY, AND FORGIVE US OUR DEAD AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEAD TO, AND, AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPAY, SHINE, BUT DELIVER FOR IS THE AMEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC OF WHICH IT STANDS OUR NATION UNDER GOD AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LET ME THANK, THANK YOU FOR THAT RENDITION. THANK YOU, SIR. VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT. WONDER A WONDERFUL WAY TO START THE, UH, THE AFTERNOON. OKAY. [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] UM, MADAM SECRETARY OF YOU'LL CALL THE ROLE MAYOR TURNER. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. HERE. COUNCILOR JACKSON. HERE. COUNCILMAN KAMAN. COUNCILOR EVANS SHABA. I THINK I'M HERE. COUNCILMAN MARTIN. PRESENT. COUNCIL THOMAS PRESENT. COUNCIL HUFFMAN PRESENT. COUNCIL CISNEROS. HERE. COUNCIL GALLEGOS. HERE. COUNCIL POLLARD. HERE. COUNCILOR CASTEX TATUM. COUNCIL OX WILL BE ASKING, COUNCIL ROBINSON WILL BE ASKING. COUNCIL KUBO HERE. COUNCIL PLUMMER HERE. AND CONSTABLE ALCORN HERE, READ THE MOTION TO DELAY THE MINUTES. SO MOVED. SECONDS BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND ON TO DELAY THE MINUTES. THE OBJECTION CHAIR NOW. AND MOTION IS GRANTED. CHAIR, I RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER FOR PROCEDURAL MOTION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE MR. NALA TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. SECOND TO BOTTOM. WHERE WE AT? OKAY. YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION BEEN SECONDED? ANY OBJECTION? CHAIR IS DONE. MOTION IS GRANTED. POINT OF, AND NOW CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I, UM, I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WISH MY BEAUTIFUL MOTHER HAPPY BIRTHDAY. SHE WAS BORN IN NEW ORLEANS, UM, AND GREW UP IN, YOU KNOW, IT SPENT HER LIFE THERE UNTIL SHE CAME TO TEXAS. UM, SO TODAY IS MARDI GRAS, AND TODAY SWEET BETTY JEAN FROM NEW ORLEANS IS 92 YEARS YOUNG. ALRIGHT, WELL THROUGH SWEET BETTY. JEAN, WE SAY HELLO, UH, TO YOU AND ENJOY YOUR 92ND, UH, BIRTHDAY IN NEW ORLEANS. SHE'S HERE. SHE'S HERE. ALRIGHT, WELL WE GONNA MARDI GO OFF FROM HERE. OKAY. ALRIGHT THEN WITH THAT BEING SAID, UM, I'M SEEING NO OTHER PROCEDURAL MOTIONS. UH, MA'AM, [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] SECRETARY OF YOU PROCEED TO CALL THE SPEAKER'S LIST. ROBERT RIDDLE. ROBERT RIDDLE IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHRIS PEPPERS. MS. RELE, GET RIGHT BEHIND THAT MIC. UM, THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS COUNSEL TODAY. HOUSTON, WE [00:50:01] HAVE A PROBLEM THAT MAY IMPACT THE ECONOMIC VITALITY AND PASSENGER EXPERIENCE WITHIN OUR FIVE STAR AIRPORT SYSTEM. THIS IS WHY I'M ASKING YOU TODAY TO VOTE NO TO AGENDA. ITEM NUMBER 26, AWARDING HOBBY, FOOD AND BEVERAGE PACKAGE ONE TO AREAS A COMPANY HEADQUARTERED IN SPAIN. THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM WORK PURPOSELY AND TIRELESSLY FOR FIVE YEARS WITH A GOAL TO ACHIEVE SOMETHING. NO OTHER AIRPORT. NORTH AMERICA HAS A FIVE STAR SKY TRACKS RATING. AND FOUR FAMILIES, ALONG WITH PAPPAS RESTAURANTS, HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF ELEVATING THE HOBBY PASSENGER EXPERIENCE. FOUR FAMILIES HELP THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM ACHIEVE THIS DISTINGUISHED HONOR THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH PREMIER LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND DELIVERING SUPERIOR PRODUCT QUALITY AND SUPERIOR SERVICE TO EACH PERSON WHO FLIES THROUGH OR WORKS AT HOBBY AIRPORT. I STAND BEFORE YOU AS THE FOUR FAMILIES OPERATIONS LEADER WHO RUNS THE HOBBY AIRPORT FOOD AND BEVERAGE PROGRAM FOR PAPPAS RESTAURANTS. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU HOW THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN PAPPAS RESTAURANTS AND THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM HAS RESULTED IN THE TRANSFORMATION OF HOBBY AIRPORT FROM AN AGING AIRPORT WITH UNDERPERFORMING CONCESSIONS OPERATIONS TO A MODERN AIRPORT WITH A FOOD AND BEVERAGE PROGRAM THAT IS A SHOWPIECE FOR AIRPORT DINING IN THE COUNTRY. FOUR FAMILIES AND PAPPAS ARE RESTAURATEURS, NOT CONCESSIONS OPERATORS. WE BRING THE SAME HIGH QUALITY DINING EXPERIENCE FOUNDED AT OUR LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND ACROSS MULTIPLE STATES TO AN AIRPORT SETTING. WE ARE LOCAL. OUR OWNERSHIP LEADERS AND SUPPORT STAFF ARE HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. EVERY DAY AROUND 6,000 HOUSTONIANS GET UP AND GO TO WORK AT A PAPPAS LOCATION. WE DEVELOP PEOPLE. PAPPAS LEADERS ARE GROWN FROM WITHIN IN AN INDUSTRY THAT AT TIMES HAS LOOKED DOWN ON IN REGARDS TO CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. WE HAVE A DEFINED PATHWAY FOR ADVANCEMENT, WHICH ALLOWS TEAM MEMBERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR CAREER GOALS WITHIN PAPPAS. RESTAURANTS. IN ATTENDANCE TODAY, THERE ARE SEVERAL OF OUR HOBBY AIRPORT RESTAURANT LEADERS. EACH OF THEM STARTED IN A RESTAURANT ENTRY LEVEL POSITION, AS DID I, AND GREW WITHIN THE PAPPAS ORGANIZATION TO THE LEVEL OF A GENERAL MANAGER. THEY'RE THE GROUP WHO DELIVER ON OUR PROMISE OF SUPERIOR PRODUCT QUALITY AND SUPERIOR SERVICE. EACH TO EACH OF OUR GUESTS EVERY DAY DEVELOPING OUR PARTNERS. WE HAVE MENTORED OUR PARTNER FAMILIES WORKING SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, SHARING OUR BEST PRACTICES WITH THEM. WE ARE PROUD THAT OUR PARTNER FAMILY LATRELL MANAGEMENT, HAS GRADUATED TO THE LEVEL OF PRIME AND WAS AWARDED THE HOBBY PACKAGE TOO. CONSISTENT WORLD CLASS OPERATIONS AND GOOD TIMES AND BAD HURRICANES, FREEZES, WATER BOILS AND GLOBAL PANDEMICS. BEING A LOCAL COMPANY, WE HAVE PROVEN OUR ABILITY TO UTILIZE OUR LARGE PRESENCE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO SUPPORT OUR AIRPORT OPERATIONS DURING COUNTLESS IRREGULAR OPERATIONS PERIODS. NOT ABANDONING HOBBY DURING COVID. AS COVID AS THE COVID PANDEMIC BEGAN TO UNFOLD IN 2020, OUR FOUR FAMILIES CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON EXPIRED. AND WE WERE ASKED BY THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM IF WE WOULD BE WILLING TO REMAIN IN PLACE WITH THE MONTH TO MONTH AGREEMENT. AS AIRPORTS BEGAN TO SHUTTER ACROSS THE GLOBE, CHRIS AND HARRIS PAPPAS AS HOUSTONIANS COMMITTED TO KEEP JAVI AIRPORT OPERATING WITH SUPERIOR DINING OPTIONS AS THE BUSINESS LEVEL DROPPED TO 4% OF NORMAL SALES. AND FINALLY, OUR TEAM, OUR TEAM IS PROUD TO SAY THEY WORK FOR PAPPAS RESTAURANTS AT HOBBY. WE'RE A TEAM OF 450 HOUSTONIANS WHO WORK WITH A COMMON GOAL EACH DAY. AND THAT IS TO HELP THE CITY OF HOUSTON MAINTAIN A FIVE STAR AIRPORT BY COOKING WITH LOVE AND SERVING WITH CARE EVERY PERSON WHO WORKS OR TRAVELS THROUGH HOBBY AIRPORT. ON BEHALF OF OUR TEAM AT HOBBY, GO AHEAD, I'LL LET YOU FINISH YOUR STATEMENT. THANK YOU, SIR. ON BEHALF OF OUR TEAM, OUR HOBBY, UH, TEAM MEMBERS, I ASK YOU TO PLEASE VOTE NO TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 26, COUNCILMAN KUBAN. WOW. I I DON'T THINK I COULD HAVE SAID IT ANY BETTER. I I'VE THOUGHT OF IT. I THOUGHT OF EVERYTHING YOU SAID. I MEAN, YOU'RE JUST RIGHT ON POINT. WHENEVER WE HAD COVID AND THE AIRPORT WAS, UH, BEING DEVASTATED, THE PASSENGER COUNT WAS DOWN. YOU STAYED THERE. AND, AND, AND, UH, ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I BELIEVE WE'RE A FIVE STAR AIRPORT AT HOBBY IS BECAUSE OF, OF THE, THE ORGANIZATION OF THE PAPPAS ORGANIZATION. AND, UH, I, I HIGHLY APPLAUD YOU FOR, FOR YOUR COMMENTS. I I, I DON'T KNOW HOW I COULD ADD ANYTHING TO IT OR HAVE, UH, BUT I WOULD SAY THIS, THAT, UH, IT, IT WOULDN'T BE THE SAME AIRPORT WITHOUT IT. AND, UH, I, I BELIEVE PEOPLE LIKE THE LOCAL BRAND, UH, EVEN EVEN THE FLYERS WHO FLY IN FROM, FROM OTHER PLACES, THEY, THEY, THEY LIKE TO COME TO EAT THERE, UH, AS THEY TRAVEL ON. SO I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR. UH, GALLOS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, ROBERT, FOR BEING HERE. UH, AND FOR SPEAKING. UM, I, I, I TOO AM CONCERNED IN REGARDS TO THE, UH, UH, HOBBY AIRPORT BEING A FIVE STAR AIRPORT IN REGARDS TO JUST RECEIVING THAT AWARD, UH, NOT TOO LONG AGO. UH, AND, AND HOBBY'S THE ONLY FIVE STAR AIRPORT IN THE AMERICAS. UH, AND HERE WE ARE CHANGING EVERYTHING. UH, WHEN I MET WITH THE AIRPORT SYSTEM, I WAS TOLD THAT THE RENOVATIONS WILL START ON [00:55:01] MAY 11TH, AND THEY'LL BE COMPLETED BY NOVEMBER OF 2024. UM, BUT I WAS TOLD WHEN THE REASON WHY WE RECEIVED THE FIVE STAR WAS BECAUSE OF ITS CLEANLINESS. UH, THE, UH, THE WORKERS THERE ARE FRIENDLY, UH, YOU KNOW, THE BATHROOMS ARE CLEAN, UH, AND WHAT HAVE YOU. UH, AND, AND, AND FOR THIS RENOVATION TO TAKE THAT LONG CONCERNS ME, UH, IN, IN REGARDS TO WOULD WE LOSE OUR FIVE STAR, UH, DESIGNATION. UM, I ALSO ASKED ABOUT THE WORKERS THAT WORK AT THE PAPPAS RESTAURANTS THERE AT THE AIRPORT. UH, WITH THE NEW GROUP COMING IN, I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY WILL BE INTERVIEWING THESE WORKERS TO SEE IF THEY WANT TO STAY WITH THESE OTHER RESTAURANTS. MY QUESTION IS, IF THEY HAVE SENIORITY, WILL THEY ALSO GO AND KEEP THAT SENIORITY, UH, OR WILL THEY START FROM DAY ONE? UH, SO THAT'S A CONCERN THAT I HAVE AS WELL. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. THANKS. THANKS VERY MUCH. THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR TIME. ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER CHRIS PAPPAS. CHRIS, CHRIS PAPPAS, BE FOLLOWED BY WILL CONNORS. CHRIS, GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR. GREAT TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU FOR GIVING US A FEW MINUTES TO SPEAK TODAY. OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE'VE GONE THROUGH THREE PROPOSALS, GIVEN THREE ORAL PRESENTATIONS, AND SUBMITTED BEST AND FINAL FOR THREE TIMES SO FAR. DURING THESE YEARS, WE NOT ONLY WEATHERED A GLOBAL PANDEMIC KEEPING OUR RESTAURANTS OPEN WHILE OTHERS CLOSED AND, AND WERE SHUTTERED, WE HELPED GET THE HOBBY AIRPORT RECEIVE THE FIVE STAR RATING THAT, THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SO HIGHLY. TWO WEEKS AGO, SKY TRACK WAS BACK IN AGAIN. AND WHERE DID THEY EAT? THEY ATE AT PAPA'S ONE DAY AND THEY ATE AT PAPA POTOS ANOTHER DAY FOR A FIVE STAR MEAL. AS, AS WELL. THIS THREE, THIS THREE YEAR PROCESS HAS BEEN FULL OF CANCELLATIONS, REDOS, RE RE REQUIREMENT CHANGES, SHORT PREPARATION PERIODS, AND MONTH LONG GAPS WITH NO COMMUNICATION IN REGARD TO THE RFPS. IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME WE'VE HAD CONCERNS ABOUT AN OUR AIRPORT RFP. IN OCTOBER, 2002, THE FIRST TIME IN CITY HISTORY COUNCIL VOTED TO SUBSTITUTE ONE COMPANY FOR ANOTHER ON A HOTLY CONTESTED AIRPORT ION CONTRACT. WE WON THE HOBBY CONTRACT THAT, THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT HAS ALLOWED US TO BECOME FIVE STARS. AND 20 YEARS LATER, YOU KNOW, WE STILL ARE EXCELLENT IN WHAT WE DO. WE'RE VERY, WE HAVE VERY SIMILAR CONCERNS ABOUT THESE RFP SOLICITATIONS. WE BELIEVE THAT WE'RE THE BEST IN PRETTY MUCH EVERY, EVERY CATEGORY OUT THERE. FIVE STAR JUST KIND OF SHOUTS THAT AS, AS WELL FROM A CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGEMENT POSITION. OUR LOCAL PARTICIPATION, WE'RE ALL HERE LOCAL, AS WE DESCRIBED. OUR CONCEPTS ARE LOCAL THAT WE CREATED, AND THEY, AND THEY SERVICE ALL THE DIFFERENT, UH, FOOD GROUPS AT, AT THE END OF THE DAY. AND THE BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE WE'RE FIVE STAR AND WHAT WE OPERATE, AND WE OPERATE IN OTHER AIRPORTS, AND WE'RE THE HIGHEST VOLUME IN A NUMBER OF AIRPORTS THAT, THAT WE OPERATE AND WE'RE SOUGHT AFTER TO BE IN, IN COUNTLESS AIRPORTS. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE COMPENSATION WAS ONLY 10% OF, OF THIS, THIS IS NOT A, A SEAL BID TYPE OF, UH, OPERATION. AND, AND THE POINTS ARE 90 POINTS FOR ALL THE OTHER CATEGORIES THAT, THAT ARE DESCRIBED IN THE, IN THE RFP, IT'S IMPORTANT NOTE THAT CITY DOESN'T GET A CENT OF THESE FUNDS TO FIX POTHOLES INFRASTRUCTURE OR PAY FOR TRASH. AND, AND POLICE, WHATEVER AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT IS COLLECTED GOES INTO THE ENTERPRISE FUND. AND OUR AIRLINES GET A SLIGHT REDUCTION IN THEIR COSTS. WITH THIS IN MIND, THE CITY'S REAL BENEFIT FROM THIS CONTRACT IS HAVING A WORLD CLASS FIVE STAR FOOD AND BEVERAGE OPERATION AND HOBBY, WHICH SHOWCASES THE FLAVORS OF, OF TEXAS. I'VE SERVED ON THE RADIUS HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP AND THE CONVENTION BUREAU. I KNOW THAT MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING THE IMAGE OF OUR AIRPORTS IS CRUCIAL TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF OUR, OUR CITY. WHAT WILL WE DO TO HELP THE CITY'S IMAGE? WHEN I WAS ON THE PARTNERSHIP AND I SAID, WELL, WE KNOW HOW TO DO FOOD. SO WE WENT AFTER THE FOOD SERVICE CONTRACT. WE, WE GOT IT. AND HERE WE ARE, 20 YEARS LATER, YOUR TIME HAD EXPIRED. COUNCILMAN KASH. THANK YOU MR. PAPAS. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU HERE. UH, I REMEMBER YOU COMING AND TESTIFYING YEARS AGO, UH, ABOUT THE CONTRACT, UH, YEARS AGO. YES, SIR. AND I'VE BEEN HERE QUITE A WHILE. UM, I'M, I'M CONCERNED THAT, UH, YOU, YOU MADE A STATEMENT THAT, THAT YOU, YOU, YOU WENT TO THE ORAL, UH, PRESENTATIONS AND THE, YOU, YOU WENT TO THE ORAL, UH, WHEN, WHEN YOU WERE ASKED TO COME. YES, SIR. [01:00:01] BUT I, I'M READING WHERE THAT IT, THAT APPEARS THAT, THAT SOME DIDN'T. AND I DON'T SEE HOW, HOW, HOW SOMEONE CAN GET A CONTRACT WHO FAILS TO SHOW UP. IT'S KINDA LIKE, YOU KNOW, UH, HAVING AN EMPLOYEE AND, AND THEY DON'T SHOW UP FOR WORK. YOU KNOW, I I I JUST DON'T SEE HOW THAT WOULD, WOULD WORK FOR ME. BUT ANYWAY, I, I KNOW, YOU KNOW, I'M A I'M A, UH, I'M SOMEONE WHO FREQUENTS THE HOBBY AIRPORT. I EAT AT YOUR RESTAURANTS. I, I EAT AT A LOT OF RESTAURANTS, AS YOU CAN TELL. AND, UH, WELL, IT'S OBVIOUS. SO, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN'T HIDE FROM THE TRUTH. BUT, BUT ANYWAY, I, I'VE CERTAINLY ENJOYED, UM, THE FACT THAT OUR, OUR AIRPORT IS A FIVE STAR AIRPORT. THE ONLY COMPLAINTS I'VE EVER HAD ABOUT OUR FIVE STAR AIRPORTS WHEN I LAND AFTER MIDNIGHT, AND I, I I, AND THEY'VE ALREADY CLEANED THE RESTROOMS AND THEY SHUT 'EM DOWN WHERE I CAN'T GET IN. AND, AND, AND THAT, THAT UPSETS ME A LITTLE BIT. SO, YOU KNOW, I CALL THE AIRPORT DIRECTOR AND FUSS AT HIM A LITTLE BIT. BUT THE MAIN THING IS, IS, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE 160 PEOPLE ON THE PLANE. THEY, THEY GET OFF THE AIRPORT, THEY GOTTA GO RESTROOM. SO, BUT, BUT YOUR RESTAURANTS AREN'T NORMALLY OPEN AT ONE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING. BUT WE DON'T EXPECT THEM TO BE YOU. 'CAUSE WE, WE NEED TO GO HOME. BUT I, I APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE. I I THINK THAT, THAT, THAT YOUR OPERATIONS AT OUR HOBBY AIRPORT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO US BEING A FIVE STAR AIRPORT. AND THANK YOU. AND I APPLAUD YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU. AND I WILL CERTAINLY, UH, WANT SUPPORT KEEPING YOU THERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN GALL GOES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MR. PAPPAS, UH, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN, UH, AT THE AIRPORT UNDER THIS CON THE, THE, UH, CONTRACT THAT YOU'RE ON? UH, WE'VE BEEN THERE SINCE, UH, WE RECEIVED THE CONTRACT AWARD IN 2002. AND SO IT'S RIGHT AT 20, RIGHT AT 20 SOMETHING YEARS OVER 20 YEARS. AND, UH, I KNOW TALKING TO THE AIRPORT SYSTEM, YOU KNOW, I I'M BEING TOLD THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT ARE TRAVELING WANNA SEE RESTAURANTS THAT THEY'RE FAMILIAR WITH. WELL, I DISAGREE WITH THAT. 'CAUSE WHEN I GO TO ANOTHER CITY, I WANNA TRY SOMETHING NEW. I WANNA TRY SOMETHING NEW. I DON'T WANNA GO TO A RESTAURANT THAT I HAVE HERE IN HOUSTON, OR I HAVE, YOU KNOW, IN TEXAS, I, I WANNA TRY SOMETHING NEW. SO WHEN SOMEONE COMES TO HOBBY FROM ATLANTA, FROM SEATTLE, FROM MINNEAPOLIS, I'M ASSUMING THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO TRY SOMETHING NEW. AND YOU HAVE BEEN HERE FOR DECADES. I UNDERSTAND YOU COOKED AT THE DOTS THERE IN THE EAST END. YES, SIR. BACK IN THE SEVENTIES, YOU'RE A NAME BRAND FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. YOU HAVE HELPED MANY, MANY WORKERS IN ALL THE RESTAURANTS THAT YOU HAVE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS ABOUT 5,000 EMPLOYEES. YES, SIR. EVERY DAY. AND I UNDERSTAND MANY OF THOSE EMPLOYEES ARE GOING TO COLLEGE AND MANY HAVE GONE TO COLLEGE, HAVE GRADUATED, AND THEY'VE GONE ON TO THEIR CAREERS. YOU HAVE GIVEN BACK TO THE CITY MANY TIMES OVER. AND FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF PAPA'S THE NAME BRAND FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO BE TAKEN OUT OF THE HOBBY AIRPORT SO WE CAN HAVE A RESTAURANT THAT EVERYBODY IN THE COUNTRY IS FAMILIAR WITH, FOR ME. MAKES NO SENSE. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU MR. PAPPAS FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND FOR YOUR, THE GOOD WORK YOU'VE DONE FOR THE CITY AND THE AIRPORT. I, I HAVE A QUESTION. YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR, IN YOUR REMARKS, SOMETHING WAS 10% AND SOMETHING WAS 90% AND I DIDN'T CATCH IT. CAN YOU SAY THAT? THAT'S CORRECT. UM, THE, THE QUALITATIVE FEATURES OF THIS, OF THIS RFP, WERE, WERE, WERE 90 POINTS AND IT WAS BROKEN DOWN 20 AND 15 AND 15 AND 15 AND 15 AND, AND 10 WERE THE, WERE THE, WERE THE AREAS THAT WERE, THAT WE WERE JUDGED ON. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE FEEL LIKE THAT, THAT IF WE LOST, WE'RE NOT SURE HOW WE COULD HAVE LOST IN THOSE CATEGORIES BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE CHECK THE BOXES AS, AS FAR AS BEING ALL THE THINGS THAT THE CITY WOULD WANT, UH, IN, IN BEING, IN, BEING LOCAL. IN, IN, THERE ARE CONCEPTS OR AWARD WINNING, UH, CONCEPTS OUT THERE. THEY'RE, THEY'RE DIFFERENT, UH, FOOD, UH, SELECTIONS E EACH ONE. SO, UH, WE JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW POINTS MOTION SECOND, WE COULD, WE COULD BE DOWN MOTION GRANTED. THANK YOU. AND, AND YOU, YOU ALSO, UM, YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT THERE BEING THREE DIFFERENT CYCLES OF THIS, UH, RFP. SO CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME, UM, THE REASON WHY, WHAT [01:05:01] SOMETHING WASN'T AWARDED? WAS IT, WHAT WAS THE REASONING GIVEN TO YOU THAT A CYCLE ENDED AT A NEW RFP STARTED AND THE, UH, THE, THE FIRST RFP WAS PRE PRE COVID AND WE WENT THROUGH ORALS AND THERE, THERE WAS THE, THERE WAS NO OUTCOME, UH, GIVEN TO ANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT, THAT WERE IN THE FINALIST. AND SO THEY JUST SAID, WE'RE GONNA NOT AWARD A CONTRACT. UH, COVID HAPPENED SHORTLY THERE UPON, AND THEY, THEY COULD HAVE AWARDED IT, BUT THEY CHOSE NOT TO. I DON'T KNOW WHAT, FOR REASON, WE NEVER OKAY. WE NEVER SAW ANY OF THE RESULTS. AND THEN HOW LONG A TIME PERIOD BEFORE THE NEXT SECOND? THE NEXT ONE, THE NEXT ONE WAS A, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL MONTHS OR 12 MONTHS LATER. AND A, A NEW RFP CAME OUT AND, AND WE APPLIED FOR THAT ONE. AND, UH, WE, WE, UH, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT ONE WAS DETERMINED TOO CLOSE TO CALL. AND, AND THEY, AND THEY THREW THAT ONE OUT AND, AND WE NEVER SAW THE RESULTS OF THAT. AND THEN WE DID, THE THIRD ONE WAS JUST IN THE LAST, UH, THIS LAST, UH, EIGHT, SIX MONTHS WAS, WAS DONE THE LAST ONE. AND WE DID THE ORALS ON THAT ONE. AND, UH, AND THE COMPETITOR THAT WE WERE UP AGAINST WAS THIS, THIS, THIS COMPANY FROM, UH, FROM FROM SPAIN THAT, THAT WE'RE UP AGAINST, UH, TODAY. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, MAYOR PRO, TIM MARTIN. YES. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU MR. PAPPAS. UH, THE ADMINISTRATION PROVIDED US WITH A RECAP, UH, EITHER LAST NIGHT OR EARLY THIS MORNING. UH, I'VE BEEN REALLY BUSY AND I REALLY HAVEN'T HAD THE TIME TO DELVE INTO IT. I WILL DO THAT. I HAVE A FEELING THIS ITEM WILL BE TAGGED TOMORROW, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE A WEEK TO LOOK AT IT. I, FOR ONE, AM GONNA GO TO PROCUREMENT AND LOOK AT THE SCORING SHEETS AND SEE EXACTLY HOW THINGS WORK. MY QUESTION TO YOU THOUGH, AS WE NARROWED IT DOWN FROM A NUMBER OF FIRMS, I THINK THERE WERE SEVEN FIRMS DOWN TO TWO, YOU WERE INVITED BACK TO DO A BEST AND FINAL, USUALLY IN A BEST AND FINAL. WE ASK FOR THOSE COMPANIES TO SHARPEN THEIR PENCILS A LITTLE BIT. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR PENCIL MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SHARPENED, IT MAY HAVE GONE IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. CAN YOU VERIFY, OR, UH, THAT POINT AS FAR AS THE COMPENSATION BACK TO THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM, THE ENTERPRISE FUND, ET CETERA, WAS A COMPENSATION LOWERED OR, OR HIRED THAT THE MONEY THAT THE SYSTEM WOULD RECEIVE? UH, YOU CAN ANSWER THAT OR YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER THAT. YEAH, I WOULD, I WOULD, UH, IT WAS, IT WAS, WE OFFERED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT. OKAY. THAT IN THE MILLIONS OKAY. OVER THE LIFECYCLE. AND, AND, AND IT WAS PREDICTED ON, ON CONCEPTS THAT WE HAVE AT, AT THE AIRPORT. OUR COMPETITOR IS, IS PULLING NUMBERS OUT OF THE, OUT, WHAT HIS SALES NUMBERS COULD BE WITHOUT KNOWING THAT, HOW, HOW MUCH THOSE OPERATIONS WOULD DO. SO, SO WE'RE, WE, ARE, THE, THE ESTIMATE OF THE REVENUE FOR THE CITY IS ON THEIR PART IS, IS A, A LOOSER AND LESS PREDICTABLE BECAUSE THE BRANDS THAT THEY'VE PUT IN ARE NOT IN THAT AIRPORT NOW. AND SOME OF THEM HAVE NEVER BEEN IN THE AIRPORT BEFORE. AND SO THEY'RE ESTIMATING THAT THEY'RE GONNA HAVE REVENUES. UH, PROBABLY THAT WOULD EX EXCEED HOURS. SO T IN THE SALE ON THE SALES SIDE, I'M RUN, I'M, I'M TRYING TO GET A COUPLE. SO TYPICALLY, UH, WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN, I'VE BEEN SITTING HERE FOR, THIS IS 10 AND A HALF COUNCIL MEMBER, KASH AND GALLEGOS, THE SAME NUMBER OF YEARS WE'VE SEEN A PERCENT OF REVENUE. THAT'S IT. SO WHEN YOU MAKE MONEY, WE MAKE MONEY. THAT'S CORRECT. YOU MAKE MORE MONEY. THAT'S RIGHT. WE MAKE MORE MONEY. SO WAS THE PERCENTAGE RAISED IN A BEST AND FINAL OR WAS IT LOWERED IN THE BEST AND FINAL? THE IN, IN, UM, IN THE THIRD ROUND, WE, WE, WE PUT OUR BEST AND FINAL, UH, IN THERE AND, AND WE, WE, WE LET IT STAND AS IT FIRST WAS, WAS, WAS PUT IN THERE AND IT WAS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AS WELL. OKAY. AND IT REPRESENTED THAT THAT CATEGORY ONLY REPRESENTED 10 POINTS. AND THOSE DOLLARS DO NOT GO TO, TO FIX, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, UH, ROADS OR ANYTHING IN, IN THE CITY. AND SO AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE FEEL LIKE OUR VALUE IS IN FOR THE CUSTOMER AT THE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE, WE GIVE MORE VALUE, I BELIEVE, TO THE CUSTOMER THAN ANYBODY ELSE OUT THERE. IF ANYBODY EATS WITH THEY, THEY CAN PROBABLY RECOGNIZE THAT. AND, AND WE DID 25 MORE MILLION DOLLARS THAN WAS PREDICTED IN THE FIRST, IN, IN OUR 10 YEARS CYCLE THAT WE WERE THERE. THAT, THAT WE'VE BEEN THERE. THE, THE CITY PREDICTED X, WE GAVE $25 MILLION EXTRA ON THE SALES VOLUMES THAT, THAT WE COULD GENERATE, THAT WERE U THAT WERE A TRUE AMOUNT THAT WE, THAT WE CUT TO THE CITY IN, IN OUR PAST EXPERIENCE. SO WE HAVE AN EX EXPERIENCE OF GIVING MORE. COUNCILMAN [01:10:01] MCCO, COUNCILMAN MC GALLEGOS. THANK YOU MAYOR PAPPAS. UM, MOTION TO EXTEND. MOTION. SECOND. OKAY. GRANTED, COUNCILMAN GALLOS. THANK YOU MAYOR. MR. PAPPAS. LIKE CONTINUING WITH MY DISCUSSION REGARDING A NAME BRAND IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, HOUSTON IS KNOWN. THERE'S BEEN MANY WRITEUPS AND MAGAZINES IN REGARDS TO HOUSTON'S CULINARY RESTAURANTS THAT WE HAVE. WE HAVE GREAT RESTAURANTS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHICH I'M PROUD OF. AND WHEN A VISITOR COMES TO THE HOBBY AIRPORT, MAYBE FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND YOUR RESTAURANTS ARE THERE REPRESENTING OUR GEOGRAPHICAL AREA OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, YOU'VE GOT GREAT MEXICAN FOOD IN THAT, IN THAT AIRPORT. YOU'VE GOT GREAT TEXAS BARBECUE IN THAT AIRPORT. YOU'VE GOT GREAT CAJUN FOOD AT THAT AIRPORT. IT IDENTIFIES WHO WE ARE. IT IDENTIFIES WHO WE ARE IN REGARDS TO OTHER AREAS OF THIS COUNTRY. I, I HAVE A BROTHER THAT LIVES IN LOS ANGELES AND WHEN HE FLIES OUT OF HOBBY, HE MAKES SURE HE GOES THREE HOURS EARLY SO HE CAN GO TO PAPAS AND ENJOY PAPAS. 'CAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THAT IN LA AND YET WE'RE LOOKING AT GETTING RID OF OUR BRAND. WHAT MAKES HOUSTON, AGAIN, IT, IT, IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. THANK YOU. THANK MEMBER . UH, FOR, FOR ALL OF US, ESPECIALLY FOR THE LISTING PEOPLE THAT ARE WATCHING THIS. UH, SO THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT YOU HAVE TO PAY IS ACTUALLY A PERCENTAGE OF YOUR TOTAL SALES, IS THAT RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT. SO IT'S IT YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE NOT, UH, WE'RE NOT GUARANTEEING IT'S NOT BUYING A HOUSE. WE'RE NOT G WE'RE NOT GUARANTEEING THAT AMOUNT, AMOUNT OF MONEY. THAT'S RIGHT. SO IT'S NOT LIKE BUYING A HOUSE AN ES IT'S AN ES IT'S TOTALLY AN ESTIMATION OF HOW BUSY YOU'RE GONNA BE. SO, SO YOUR RENT IS BASICALLY THE PERCENTAGE OF YOUR SALES. YES. AND SO WHAT, WHEN, WHEN CO COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, THE MAYOR PRO TEM ASK YOU ABOUT DID YOU SHARPEN YOUR PENCIL AND, AND CHANGE THAT NUMBER, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PERCENTAGE. I MEAN, YOU, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU MAKE, YOU, YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR OVERHEAD IS AND, AND YOU BELIEVE THAT THE NUMBER THAT YOU GAVE WAS A FAIR NUMBER TO, TO PAY INTO THE AIRPORT SYSTEM. NOW, LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT FIXING BRIDGES AND ROADS AND NOT, IT'S NOT FOR, IT'S, IT'S ACTUALLY THE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM, UH, OF, OF THE CITY, WHICH IS THE AIRPORT SYSTEM. SO I, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S THE PERCENTAGE THAT'S CORRECT. AND, AND THAT'S THE TOTAL THAT, THAT YOU GIVE THAT'S CORRECT. AS RENT FOR IT? THAT'S CORRECT. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. COUNCIL COUNCILMAN MAG GOES. THANK YOU MAYOR. EXCUSE ME. SO THESE, THIS OTHER GROUP WHO'S NOT AT THE AIRPORT SAID, I'M GONNA MAKE SO MUCH REVENUE. CORRECT. WHICH THEY DON'T HAVE A RECORD OF MAKING THAT REVENUE TO EVEN MAKE UP THAT NUMBER, BUT YET YOU HAVE BEEN THERE FOR 10 YEARS, SO YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR REVENUE HAS BEEN. AND NOW YOU'RE SAYING, WELL, I CAN DO A LITTLE BETTER, BUT, BUT YOU ACTUALLY HAVE NUMBERS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, BUT YET YOU'RE BEING PUNISHED BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T, YOU KNOW, THROW OUT A BIG NUMBER OUT THERE ON THE, UH, I WILL SAY THAT, THAT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON THREE YEARS. AND I KNOW FOR A FACT FACT THAT, THAT THAT COMPANIES IN THE FIRST ROUND HAD SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER SALES EXPECTATIONS PROBABLY TO THE TUNE OF $150 MILLION LESS THAN THE FINAL PACKAGE THAT WAS TURNED IN THREE YEARS AGO. SO THAT, THAT'S A, THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN SAME COMPANY PUTTING, UH, DIFFERENT BRANDS, PUTTING SOME DIFFERENT BRANDS IN THERE AND EXPECTING TO GET 150 MORE MILLION DOLLARS, YOU KNOW, OUT OF IT. SO IT, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S POSSIBLE, BUT IT'S STILL, IT'S STILL RELIES ON THEM BEING ABLE TO PUT THAT, REST THOSE RESTAURANTS IN THERE AND HAVE THEM DO THOSE TYPE OF NUMBERS. JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN DO A, A LOT OF BUSINESS ON, ON THE STREET DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE GONNA DO A LOT OF BUSINESS INSIDE THE AIRPORT BECAUSE THE SPACE JUST DOESN'T JUSTIFY BEING ABLE TO PUT SOME OF THESE BRANDS IN THE AIRPORT. SO, SO NOW IF THEY'RE CLAIMING THEY'RE GONNA MAKE JUST THROWING OUT A NUMBER, $500 MILLION THIS YEAR IN REVENUE, BUT YOU KNOW, IT COMES OUT THAT THEY'VE ONLY MADE 300 MILLION, WHAT HAPPENS? [01:15:01] THEY'RE GONNA GET, THEY'RE GONNA GET THEIR, THEIR MULTIPLIED, THE, THE, THE PERCENTAGE RENT THAT, THAT THEY PUT DOWN THERE TIMES THE 300 INSTEAD OF TIMES THE 500. AND THAT'LL BE THE RENT THE CITY GETS. SO AGAIN, NO GUARANTEES OR NO, THERE'S NO CONTRACT, NONE WHATSOEVER GUARANTEE THAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE THAT AMOUNT? NO, NO, NO. NO REASON THEY HAVE TO MAKE THAT NUMBER AT, AT, AT ALL. OKAY. LEMME JUST SAY TO, UM, CHRIS, I LOVE PAPA DO'S, I LOVE PAPA CTO'S CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTION THAT YOU ALL HAVE MADE, BUT YOU ARE A BUSINESS PERSON AND YOU HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN MANY PROCUREMENTS HAVING, YOU, YOU, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT PROCESS. YES, SIR. OKAY. IT IS A COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND WE ARE OBLIGATED TO FOLLOW THE COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT PROCESS NO MATTER, AND, YOU KNOW, I LIKE PAPA'S AND PAPA CTOS AND WOULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, WELL I, I DO LIKE YOU, BUT IF I, BUT IF THE ADMINISTRATION MADE A DECISION BASED ON WHAT, WHO WE LIKED, WE WOULD BE VILIFIED FOR GOING AGAINST THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND THE RESULTS. SO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT. AND SO I DON'T WANT ANY IMPLICATION MADE THAT IN ANY OF THESE PROCESSES IN WHICH YOU PARTICIPATED, UM, THAT YOU ALL CAME OUT FIRST, THAT WOULD BE ERRONEOUS. OKAY. WE ARE OBLIGATED TO FOLLOW THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS NOW, AND IN THAT PROCUREMENT PROCESS, THERE'S A SCORING AND THE SCORES ARE WHAT THEY ARE. THEY ARE WHAT THEY ARE. AND IN CERTAIN CATEGORIES YOU MAY SCORE HIGHER AND LEAST YOU MAY SCORE LOWER, BUT WHEN YOU GET TO THE END, THERE'S A CUMULATIVE SCORE. IT IS WHAT IT IS. NOW, LET ME ALSO SAY, UM, BECAUSE I, YOU ARE HERE AND WE'LL CERTAINLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS IT. AND THAT IS, IF YOU PUT FORTH ON YOUR REVENUE, IF IN YOUR PROPOSAL, YOUR REVENUE, YOUR FEES THAT YOU'RE PUTTING IN YOUR PROPOSAL IS LESS THAN WHAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY GIVING TO THE CITY, THAT'S NOT GONNA HELP IN A COMPETITIVE PROCESS. OTHERS ARE COMPETING FOR IT. SO IF YOU STAY THE SAME AND OTHERS GO HIGHER, AND THEN WHEN YOU END UP THAT CUMULATIVE SCORE, IT IS WHAT IT IS. AND AGAIN, I LIKE PAPA DO'S, I LOVE PAPA CTO'S, BUT IF I MADE, IF THE ADMINISTRATION MADE A DECISION ON JUST WHO IT LIKED, WE WOULD BE VILIFIED. SO LEMME TRY AND CRYSTALLIZE WITH USING THIS EXAMPLE. I AM A DIEHARD UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, FAN OF NCAA FINAL WILL BE IN HOUSTON. I WANT UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON IN THE FINAL FOUR IN HOUSTON, BUT I JUST CAN'T PUT THEM THERE BECAUSE THEY ARE MY FAVORITE. THEY'VE GOT TO EARN IT, THEY'VE GOT TO COMPETE. AND IF IN THE FINAL FOUR, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON IS NOT BAD, YOU JUST CAN'T PUT THEM THERE BECAUSE OTHER TEAMS, OTHER TEAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SECONDS, ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR, NONE. OTHER TEAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WILL SAY THERE'S A PROCESS AND YOU, AND EVEN UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON HAS TO EARN IT. SO I, I HEAR WHAT EVERYBODY'S SAYING. SO LET ME ENCOURAGE ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, GO, GO TO PROCUREMENT, LOOK AT THE PAPERWORK, LOOK AT THE DOCUMENTATION, LOOK AT THE SCORING, GO LOOK AT IT. BUT THERE IS, THIS IS A COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT PROCESS, AND IN THE END, THE NUMBERS DICTATE. THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY. AND QUITE FRANKLY, THIS ADMINISTRATION DOESN'T HAVE A CHOICE. [01:20:01] UNLESS YOU'RE SAYING TO ME, YOU, YOU'RE DARN IF YOU DO, AND YOU'RE DARN IF YOU DON'T. OKAY, COUNCILMAN KASH, MAYOR. IN, IN 2015, WE HAD A VERY SIMILAR ISSUE AND COUNCIL MEMBER BRADFORD AND I, UH, PUSHED REAL HARD TO MAKE SURE WE GOT TO SEE THE, THE SCORING, UH, UH, SHEETS AND, AND, AND WHO THE SCORERS WERE. AND WE LEARNED THAT THERE WERE 10, UH, PEOPLE WHO WERE SCORING THIS. AND WHAT STUNNED ME WAS ONLY ONE WAS A RESIDENT OF HOUSTON. SIX WERE, UH, WERE, WERE OUTSIDE OF HARRIS COUNTY, THAT, THAT WERE IN THESE EV THAT THAT, THAT WERE EVALUATORS WHO WERE SCORING. AND SO HOW IS SOMEBODY FROM ANOTHER COUNTY? AND, AND I I, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THESE PEOPLE ARE FROM. I, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY LIVE. I DON'T KNOW WHO APPOINTED THEM. BUT I WILL SAY THIS, THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT, THAT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S MORE BY BEHIND THE SCENES THAT THAN, THAN WHAT, THAN JUST THAT THERE WAS A SCORE, THAT SOMEBODY EVALUATED IT, SOMEBODY MADE A DECISION, AND, AND THEY'RE MAKING A DECISION FOR ALL OF US. AND, AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE WERE FIVE FIVE ACCORDING TO WHAT I HAD SEEN. BUT, BUT MY CONCERN IS, IS THAT HIRE HOUSTON FIRST DURING THE PARK ADMINISTRATION, THAT THAT WAS THE BIG THEME HERE AROUND COUNCIL HIRE HOUSTON FIRST WE, WE WANT TO PUT SOMETHING, UH, WE WANNA PUT OUR OWN PEOPLE TO WORK AND, AND THAT SHOULD GET A HIGHER GRADE ON, ON ANYTHING. I MEAN, THERE SHOULD BE A, A POINT LOADING FOR THAT RATHER THAN SOMEBODY OUTTA STATE OR OR OUTTA CITY, OUTTA STATE, OR CERTAINLY OUT OF THE COUNTRY. SO, YOU KNOW, IT, THAT, THAT, THAT CONCERNS ME. SO I JUST WANT EVERYTHING TO BE FAIR, BUT I WANT IT TO BE FOR HOUSTON, WE WANT TO HIRE HOUSTON FIRST. THANK YOU. WELL, I WASN'T HERE IN 2015, SO I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT COUNCIL MEMBER KASH. AND IF THAT IS THE RULE, IF YOU WANT, IF YOU SIMPLY WANT TO SAY TO THE PROCUREMENT ONLY HIRE COMPANIES THAT DO BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, PERIOD, UH, THEN, YOU KNOW, THEN YOU ALL END UP SAYING THAT. UM, BUT THIS IS A COMPETITIVE PROCESS AND PEOPLE, IF THEY MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS, THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO COMPETE AND WE NEED TO COMPETE AND IT NEEDS, THE PROCESS NEEDS TO BE FAIR. AND THIS IS NOT ABOUT FAVORITES. OKAY. AND QUITE FRANKLY, UH, LEMME JUST SAY I DON'T MAKE ANY SELECTIONS. I DON'T CHOOSE THE, THE SELECTION SCORES. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO THEY ARE. OKAY? I'M NOT EVEN INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS. BUT IN THE END, WHEN THE RANKINGS DO COME, IT IS WHAT IT IS. OKAY. UH, MAYOR MARTIN, YES, THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I JUST, I DID NOT STUDY THE INFORMATION, BUT I GLANCED AT IT. THERE WERE FIVE SCORES, I BELIEVE, AND TWO OF 'EM CAME FROM THE AIRPORT. SO IF WE DON'T BELIEVE IN 'EM, THEN WE OUGHT TO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A SAD THING TO SAY IF WE DON'T BACK OUR EMPLOYEES WHO WENT THROUGH EVERY PART OF THIS RFP AND LOOKED AT IT BECAUSE THERE WERE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. THERE WERE CATEGORIES BASED ON COST, AND THAT WAS 10%. AND THERE WERE OTHER CATEGORIES THAT WERE VERY SUBJECTIVE, BUT WE WEREN'T INVOLVED IN THE PRESENTATION. SO YOU EITHER TAKE IT AT FACE VALUE AND YOU BELIEVE YOUR EMPLOYEES OR YOU DISREGARD IT. MY QUESTION GOES TO REVENUE. SO IS IT WHAT YOU HEARD IF EVERYTHING'S OFF A PERCENT OF REVENUE? CORRECT. SO IF I HAVE $10 MILLION IN SALES AND I GIVE THE CITY OF HOUSTON 16 MILLION, THAT'S 1.6 MILLION TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, IS IT YOUR AS ASSERTION THAT THE REVENUE FROM THE OTHER BIDDER WAS A HIGHER NUMBER, LET'S CALL IT 12 MILLION, BUT THEIR PERCENTAGE WAS LOWER, LET'S CALL IT 14%, THAT STILL YIELDS ALMOST $1.7 MILLION TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO IF YOU LOOK AT IT FROM A MONETARY STANDPOINT, FOR THOSE 10% THAT'S RIGHT. IS IT YOUR AS ASSERTION THAT BECAUSE OF INFLATED REVENUE AND MAYBE A LOWER PERCENT OF REVENUE, UM, THAT COMPANY REALLY PUT UP NUMBERS THAT DON'T MAKE SENSE? IF THAT'S SUCH A, THE, THE NUMBERS THAT THEY PUT UP OF $480 MILLION THAT EXCEEDED OUR SALES OF $460 MILLION, WE, I HAVE A HARD TIME, UH, BELIEVING THAT THAT'S A, THAT'S A, GONNA BE ABLE TO HIT THOSE TYPE OF NUMBERS WITH THE CONCEPTS THAT THEY'VE PUT IN. I, I'VE, I KNOW WHAT THE CONCEPTS THAT THEY'RE PUTTING IN THAT THEY'RE MAJOR PRODUCERS, AND I CAN'T SEE A RESTAURANT FROM GALVESTON ON THE SEA WALL DOING [01:25:01] THE TYPE OF BUSINESS THAT, THAT I MIGHT DO IN A PAPA CTO'S, WHICH IS, IS A WORLD CLASS EXTREMELY HIGH VOLUME, UH, RESTAURANT THAT, THAT, THAT WE DO. I, I CAN'T SEE THAT HAPPENING. I CAN'T SEE A, I CAN'T SEE A-A-A-A-A STEAKHOUSE GOING AND COM INTO A SPACE WHERE PAPA'S IS, THAT IS, IS JUST A AVERAGE RUN OF THE MILL, UM, UH, BUDGET STEAKHOUSE GOING IN THERE AND, AND DOING THE TYPE OF BUSINESS THAT DOE'S DOES IN THERE. AND SO THEIR NUMBERS WENT FROM $330 MILLION IN, IN, FOR THEIR WHOLE PACKAGE BACK IN 2019, AND NOW THEY'RE 480 MILLION THAT THEY'RE PREDICTING. AND I DON'T CARE WHAT PERCENTAGE YOU PUT BY IT, THAT'S A HUGE, THAT'S A HUGE JUMP AND EXPECTATION THAT THEIR BRANDS THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN IN, IN, IN OUR AIRPORT ARE GONNA DO THOSE TYPE OF BUSINESSES. SO YOU'RE SAYING THE REVENUE PROJECTIONS WENT FROM 330 MILLION TO 480 80? YES, SIR. OKAY. THANK YOU. I, UM, THAT'S FROM, THAT'S FROM 19, YOU KNOW, FROM 2019 TO, TO TODAY. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. AND THAT WOULD AFFECT, I'LL DIG INTO THE, AND, UH, I WILL LOOK AT IT VERY CLOSELY. I DO ENJOY YOUR RESTAURANTS AS WELL. MATTER OF FACT, MY WIFE IS OUT TOWN, SO I STOPPED OFF AND GOT ME A, A BEACH ENCHILADA LAST NIGHT FROM . THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IN HUMBLE TEXAS. AND THEY DO A GREAT JOB. SO THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCILMAN GALL GOES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M CONCERNED IN, IN, IN HEARING STATEMENT THAT THEY EARNED IT. THAT THEY EARNED IT. WHEN YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR DECADES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, YOU HAVE EMPLOYED HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OR THOUSANDS, SINCE YOU HAVE ONLY 5,000 AT THIS TIME. SO THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND WHO KNOWS HOW MANY COLLEGE GRADUATES THAT WORKED AT YOUR RESTAURANTS. AGAIN, YOU STARTED AS COOKING AT DOTS. THAT'S CORRECT. YES. AND HERE YOU ARE TODAY, MOTION TO EXTEND THOMAS SECONDS, AND HERE YOU ARE TODAY. IT WAS BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS. AND LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER KUBOSH SAYS, IT'S HOUSTON FIRST, NOT LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE, A NATIONAL BRAND OR YARD HOUSE. PF CHANG'S. IT'S PAPA'S BARBECUE. PAPA PAPA'S, PAPA DO'S. THAT'S WHAT MAKES UP HOUSTON. THAT'S HOUSTON PROUD. WHEN YOU HAVE VISITORS COMING INTO THE AIRPORT, GOING TO EAT, GOING TO EAT AT THESE RESTAURANTS, THEY GO BACK AND THEY TELL THEIR FAMILIES, OH MY GOD, THEY GOT SOME GOOD MEXICAN FOOD DOWN THERE. THEY GOT SOME GOOD BARBECUE DOWN THERE. THEY'VE GOT SOME GOOD CAJUN FOOD DOWN THERE. THAT'S TOURISM. NOT PROMOTING THESE NATIONAL BRANDS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANKS, CHRIS. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. UM, UH, LOVE TO VISIT WITH ANYBODY SOME MORE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, NEXT SPEAKER IS WILL CONNORS, MS. CONNORS. UH, HI, MY NAME'S WILL CONNOR, NO S UM, I LIVE OFF RICHMOND AVENUE, ABOUT 400 FEET FROM THE PROPOSED FAC, UH, FELICITY OAK SITE THAT IS BEING PUT BEFORE YOU. I'M ON THE BOARD OF WESLEYAN PLAZA, NORTH CIVIC CLUB, REPRESENTING 89, UH, RESIDENCES. AND AS A RESIDENT SINCE 2014, I HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THE LONG-TERM HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. UM, FIRST I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE DEVELOPER'S LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND OUTREACH. A CHRONICLE ARTICLE FROM FEBRUARY 15TH STATED THAT MAYOR TURNER SAID THE DELAY REGARDING TWO PROPOSED PROJECTS IS TO GIVE, DEVELOP DEVELOPERS MORE TIME TO ENGAGE LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS AND ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS. THERE'S BEEN NO OUTREACH TO ME PERSONALLY AS A BOARD MEMBER, NOR ANYONE ELSE ON MY CIVIC CLUB. UH, I'M AWARE OF A MEETING BETWEEN THE DEVELOPER REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CITY AND A FEW LYNN PARK RESIDENTS LAST FRIDAY THAT WE WERE NOT INVITED TO. AND I'M NOT AWARE OF ANYONE FROM WHAT WP NORTH BEING INVITED TO THAT BASED ON MAYOR TURNER'S OWN STANDARD. HOW CAN ANY OF YOU TAKE THE PROPOSAL SERIOUSLY IF THE DEVELOPER CAN'T BE BOTHERED TO ENGAGE SOME OF THE CLOSEST NEIGHBORS WHEN THEY'RE GIVEN EXTRA TIME TO DO EXACTLY THAT. SECOND, THE AREA'S ALREADY EXTREMELY CONGESTED BY A COUPLE THINGS. ONE, EXISTING APARTMENTS. MAYOR TURNER'S ALSO BEEN QUOTED IN THE LAST HOUSING MEETING. IF PEOPLE ARE SAYING THEY DON'T WANT MORE KIDS IN SCHOOLS, THEN [01:30:01] I EXPECT THEY'RE OPPOSED TO ANY OTHER APARTMENT UNITS OR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES BEING BUILT IN THE AREA. I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE SCHOOLS, I DON'T HAVE ANY CHILDREN, BUT ANY MORE APARTMENTS IN THE AREA IS GOING TO DO A DISSERVICE TO ALL OF US. WE ARE OPPOSED TO ANY MORE. WITHIN ONE THIRD OF A MILE OF THE SITE, THERE ARE ALREADY 10 OTHER APARTMENTS AND HIGH RISES, AT LEAST FIVE BEING BUILT IN THE LAST 10 YEARS. CAMDEN HIGHLAND VILLAGE IS TWO BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE PAVO SITE, AND IT STILL HAS ONE THIRD OF THEIR LAND RESERVED FOR FUTURE BUILDING, WHICH, WHICH WILL MAKE THE PROBLEM WORSE. THE GUESTS OF THE CAMDEN ARE PARKING ON STREET, ON IN THE STREET, ON LOS PALMAS AND ON WEST MAINE, WHERE WEST MAINE HAS EFFECTIVELY BECOME A ONE-WAY STREET DURING MOST OF THE DAY. UM, WHERE WILL ALL THE GUEST PARKING FOR FELICITY OAKS GO? WP SOUTH HAS ALREADY HAD RESIDENCE RESIDENT ONLY PARKING PUT IN, AND THE NORTH SIDE HAS APPLIED FOR IT BECAUSE PATRONS OF A CLUB ON RICHMOND ARE SPILLING INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY AND NIGHT. UH, CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC, BOTH WESLEY AND PLAZA NEIGHBORHOODS AND LEN PARK HAVE BECOME MUCH MORE DANGEROUS TO PEDESTRIANS AND KIDS BECAUSE OF CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC AND INCREASED LOCAL TRAFFIC. WITH ALL THE NEW BUILDINGS I'VE BEEN TOLD THE PARKING ENTRANCE FOR THE COMPLEX WILL BE ON LAS PALMAS. HOW WILL RESIDENTS SAFELY ENTER AND EXIT WESTBOUND RICHMOND AT PEAK TRAFFIC TIMES IF THEY USE STREETS IN, UH, WP SOUTH TO GET TO WESLEYAN? THERE ARE NO SIDEWALKS AND OTHER DRIVERS ALREADY USING IT AS A CUT THROUGH DURING PEAK TRAFFIC. IT'S UNSAFE NOW AND WILL ONLY GET WORSE BECAUSE OF CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC ANY SCHOOL BUS PICKUP AND DROP OFF ON LAS PALMAS WITH RISK SAFETY TO BOTH CHILDREN AND DRIVERS MAKING IT ALSO MAKE ALREADY CHOKED TRAFFIC ON RICHMOND THAT MUCH WORSE. CHILDREN DON'T RIDE BIKES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ANYMORE BECAUSE OF THE SPEEDING CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC WE ALREADY HAVE. IN CONCLUSION, I AM AGAINST THE DEVELOP OF ANY MORE MULTIFAMILY BUILDING IN THE AREA, ESPECIALLY FROM DEVELOPERS WHO ARE NOT INTERESTED IN STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITY, ONLY THEIR POCK BOOKS. WE ARE ALREADY IN A HIGH TRAFFIC AND CONGESTION AREA THAT IS BEING SEVERELY OVERCROWDED BY EXISTING DEVELOPMENT, BUT I WOULD SAY WE'D LOVE A PAPPAS RESTAURANT THERE. THANK YOU COUNCILOR. COUNCIL MEMBER HOFFMAN, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND SPEAKING TODAY. AND I'M SORRY THAT NO ONE REACHED OUT TO YOU AND, UM, NO ONE NOTIFIED YOU OF THE MEETING ON FRIDAY. UM, THAT MEETING WAS SCHEDULED BY THE DEVELOPER. SOME PEOPLE WERE GIVEN LESS THAN 24 HOUR NOTICE TO SHOW UP ON A WORK DAY AT NINE 30 IN THE MORNING. SO, UM, I'M SORRY THAT YOU WERE NOT ENGAGED. YEAH, NO, I HEARD ABOUT IT AFTER THE FACT FROM SOME OF MY LINDEN PARK NEIGHBORS. UM, THANK GOODNESS FOR THEM THAT THEY HAVE STAYED IN THE KNOW, BECAUSE THE DEVELOPER HAS MADE ZERO OUTREACH TO ANYBODY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER ALEXANDER PAUL MARTINEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY GARY ANDERSON. MR. MARTINEZ IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR S MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE TODAY. THIS HAS BEEN A, A BEAUTIFUL SITUATION, VERY COLORFUL AND AND VIBRANT. UM, I WANT TO TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT MY OPPOSITION TO THE FELICITY OAKS PROJECT. UH, PROPOSE TO GO AT 40 41 RICHMOND AVENUE. LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF. UH, I WAS BORN IN NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA. HAPPY FAT TUESDAY. UH, I GOT HERE TO HOUSTON IN 1990. I WENT TO KINDERGARTEN ON RICHMOND AVENUE BY THE RAILROAD TRACKS ON THE EAST SIDE OF RIDGE, AND CAJUN THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THOSE, THOSE TRACKS, UH, AT A SCHOOL THAT WAS CALLED THE WILHELM SCHOOL BACK THEN. I'M INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH THIS BLOCK OF RICHMOND AVENUE. I'VE SPENT THE LAST 10 YEARS OR SO, UH, ACTUALLY 15. I SPENT 10 YEARS LIVING IN A HIGH RISE AT TIMMONS IN RICHMOND. AND THE LAST FIVE YEARS I'VE LIVED ON NORFOLK STREET, UH, BETWEEN WESTLAND AND LAS PALMAS IN WESTLAND PLAZA SOUTH SECTION TWO. UH, THE DEVELOPER WHO HAS PROPOSED THIS PROJECT HAS DONE ZERO COMMUNITY OUTREACH IN TERMS OF, UH, LOCAL BUSINESSES OR LOCAL RESIDENTS. UH, HE HASN'T BOTHERED TO SPEAK TO NOT ONLY THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS, UH, WHO COLLECTIVELY REPRESENT, YOU KNOW, NUMBERS OF HOMEOWNERS, BUT HE ALSO FAILED TO REACH OUT TO ANY OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO ARE NEIGHBORING AND, AND ON THE PROPERTY LINES OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT. UM, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH MEETING THAT WAS HELD ON FRIDAY AT NINE 30 IN THE MORNING, WHICH BY THE WAY, I THINK IT WAS 35 DEGREES, UH, IT WAS VERY COLD. UM, I CERTAINLY WASN'T INVITED TO, I HAD HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE OF GETTING A CALL FROM A NEIGHBOR THE NIGHT BEFORE, AND I CRASHED THE PARTY AND I GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE DEVELOPER AND ASK HIM QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS INTENT AND THE WAY THAT HE HAD GONE ABOUT HIS COMMUNITY OUTREACH. HE INFORMED ME THAT HE HAD SENT AN EMAIL TO LAKEWOOD CHURCH AND TO ST. LUKE'S CHURCH, AND [01:35:01] THAT WAS THE EXTENT OF HIS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT THEY DIDN'T RESPOND. UM, I, I THINK THAT THAT'S TERRIBLE. I HAVE A BUSINESS AT THE CORNER OF RICHMOND AND DREXEL, UH, WHICH IS, I DON'T KNOW, 500 FEET AWAY FROM THE PROJECT. UH, HE CERTAINLY, CERTAINLY DIDN'T SEND ANY LETTER OR MAKE ANY PHONE CALL TO MY BUSINESS. UH, I CERTAINLY DIDN'T RECEIVE ANYTHING AT MY HOME. UH, AND, AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GONNA DO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH I THINK IS A NOBLE GOAL, I THINK, I THINK ABSOLUTELY THERE SHOULD BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I THINK THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS ALLOWED MY FAMILY TO DO VERY WELL IN THE CITY, AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR MANY OF THE PROGRAMS AND THINGS THAT EXIST HERE. BUT, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THAT PARTICULAR SITE IS VERY POORLY SUITED TO MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT. AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE RESIDENT POPULATION THAT WOULD LIVE IN THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE MUCH BETTER SUITED TO HAVE THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT MOVE TO A DIFFERENT SITE. AND I WOULD ARGUE, I'M SORRY, EXPLAIN THAT ONE TO ME. EXPLAIN THAT STATEMENT TO ME. ABSOLUTELY. YES, SIR. UH, THE INTERSECTION OF LAS PALMAS AND RICHMOND AVENUE SEES OVER 40,000 CARS A DAY IN DAILY STREET TRAFFIC. THE WEST LANE PLAZA SOUTH, THE, THE SOUTHERN SECTION OF WEST LANE PLAZA NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH ENCOMPASSES PORTSMOUTH, NORFOLK, AND LAS PALMAS, UH, HAS 89 HOUSES, PUTTING 120 UNIT DEVELOPMENT AT THE MOUTH OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THE ENTRANCE AND EXIT ON LAS PALMAS IS LOOKING TO DOUBLE THE DENSITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND CREATE A SAFETY PROBLEM AND CONCERN WITH RACING TRAFFIC COMING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS IS, YOU KNOW, SMALL STREETS NEXT TO A MAJOR INTERSECTION IN THE URBAN CORE. THIS ARE YOU, ARE YOU SAYING TO US THAT NOTHING SHOULD BE BUILT THERE? NO, SIR. NOT AT ALL. I, ALL FOUR, DEVELOPING THE PROPERTY TO ITS HIGHEST AND BEST USE. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS IS ITS HIGHEST AND BEST USE. AND WHAT WOULD YOU THINK WOULD BE TO ITS HIGHEST AND BEST USE? A MIXED USE OF, UH, OFFICE, RETAIL AND RESTAURANTS. WOULDN'T THAT ADD TO TRAFFIC AS WELL? IT WOULDN'T CREATE THE DENSITY ISSUES IN THE SAME, IN THE SAME CAPACITY AS A MULTIFAMILY HOUSING SITUATION. I'M NOT, I'M NOT, I'M NOT FOLLOWING YOU ON THAT. I MEAN, WHAT'S YOU, YOU MIXED USE FOR THIS OFFICE? RETAIL, YOU NAME IT IN THIS CASE? WELL, IT WOULD BE, THIS IS, THIS IS A, A MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT. NOT ALL OF THOSE UNITS ARE GONE, THEY SAID WOULD HAVE CHILDREN. SOME OF 'EM WOULD JUST BE ADULTS. SURE. WHY SHOULDN'T WHY SHOULDN'T IT BE A SUITABLE SITE FOR, FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING? WELL, MR. MAYOR, LEMME REMIND YOU, THERE ARE 24 HOURS IN A DAY. A BUSINESS IS GENERALLY OPEN FROM THE MORNING UNTIL THE EVENING, AND THEN IT CLOSES AND THE DENSITY ISSUE DISAPPEARS. LOOK AT GREENWAY PLAZA. I HAVE 35,000 NEIGHBORS WHO COME TO GREENWAY PLAZA TO GO TO WORK EVERY DAY. AND AT FIVE O'CLOCK THEY ALL GET IN THEIR CARS AND THEY GO BACK TO WHEREVER THEY LIVE. MM-HMM . AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS A NICE, CALM PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY AND DO BUSINESS AND, AND BE A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY AND CONTRIBUTE. AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I HOPE TO SEE CONTINUE. I, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I'D LOVE TO SEE BETTER SITE SELECTION, AND I'D LOVE TO SEE BETTER DEVELOPERS CHOSEN AND TAP TO, TO BRING THESE PROJECTS TO MARKET. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. NEXT WEEK, I'M SORRY. COUNCIL MEMBER HOFFMAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY AND EXPRESSING YOUR OPINIONS AND THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING THE MEETING ON FRIDAY. IT WAS VERY COOL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HAVE A WONDERFUL GARY ANDERSON. GARY ANDERSON, BE FOLLOWED BY CRAIG O'CONNOR. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, MY NAME'S GARY ANDERSON. I RESIDE AT 4 0 15 BERNARD STREET IN LIN PARK. WE BACK UP TO RICHMOND AVENUE DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THIS SITE, THE, UH, FELICITY OAKS. WE'VE LIVED THERE FOR 42 YEARS. I'M ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF THE LIN PARK CIVIC ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS COMPOSED OF 189 DEED RESTRICTED SINGLE, SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. I SPEAK FOR MYSELF AND OUR BOARD IN OPPOSITION TO THE FELICITY OAKS PROJECT. WE WERE NEVER CONTACTED BY THIS DEVELOPER. THIS MEETING ON FRIDAY, AFTER TWO OF THE MEETINGS, TWO OF OUR MEMBERS DECIDED TO CONTACT THE DEVELOPER AND ASKED MEET AT THE SITE. THEY LET ME GO. AND SO I CRASHED. THIS MEETING ALSO, ALONG WITH ALEX PROJECT HAS BEEN CHANGING SINCE IT WAS FIRST INTRODUCED. FIRST THERE WERE 120 UNITS. IT'S THE FIRST ONE I SAW. THEN AT THE CITY COUNCIL. IT COULD HAVE BEEN 90 TO 110. AND THE LATEST ITERATION HAS 115 UNITS. THE, THE THEY MET, WE MET IN THE PARKING GARAGE, WHICH IN THE SITE PLAN SHOWS AS BEING ONE OF THE POSSIBLE USES FOR PARKING ON THE SITE. IT IS AN OLD, [01:40:01] PROBABLY 1979 STRUCTURE. IT'S RUSTY. IT'S GOT RUST ON THE, ON THE CEILINGS. IT'S GOT NO, UH, FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM. IT'S GOT A CRACKED FOUNDATION. BUT THE WORST THING ABOUT IT IS WHERE THE SITE PLAN SHOWS IT, IT SHOWS THAT THE BUILDING RIGHT NOW HAS AN EXIT TO TWO EXITS, ENTRANCE AND EXIT ONTO RICHMOND. THE NEW BUILDING IS GONNA TAKE BOTH OF THOSE OUT. IT SAID THAT THE EXIT FOR THIS PARKING GARAGE IS GONNA BE ONTO LAS PALMAS. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SITE PLAN, THERE'S A BUILDING. THERE IS NO EXIT SHOWN FROM THE PARKING GARAGE ONTO LAS PALMAS. IT ISN'T GONNA WORK. IT'S TOUTED AS A FAMILY ORIENTED PROJECT. NOT EVERY UNIT WILL HAVE KIDS, BUT YOU WILL EXPECT SOME OF THESE TO HAVE KIDS. WHEN ASKED PREVIOUSLY, THE DEVELOPER SAID COULD BE A HUNDRED TO 115, ASSUME A HUNDRED. THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL HAS A CHILDREN'S PLAY SCAPE. THE SITE PLAN HAS NO ROOM FOR A PLAY SCAPE. THERE'S ROOM FOR A POOL IN THE MIDDLE, AND THAT'S IT. IT'S GOTTA BE FENCED. SO THEY CAN'T PLAY THERE. THE ONLY OPTION THEY'VE GOT TO PLAY IS ON RICHMOND, WHICH IS A DISASTER. THEY SHOULD NOT GO THERE OR ONTO LAS PALMAS WITH NO BIKE LANES OR SIDEWALKS. BUT LIKE HE SAYS, IT'S A MAJOR CUT THROUGH. TRYING TO GET TO WESLEYAN. I HAVE TO COMMENT ON A MAJOR COINCIDENCE. I'VE SENT LETTERS IN FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS. YESTERDAY I RECEIVED A CALL FROM A STAFFER AT THE CITY HOUSING DEPARTMENT. THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHAT I WAS GONNA TALK ABOUT. THEY ASKED FOR DETAILS. I SAID, I'M TALKING ABOUT FELICITY OAKS. AMONG THE ITEMS THAT I DISCUSSED WITH HER WAS THE LACK OF REACH OUT TO ANY OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS. LIN PARK, HIGHLAND VILLAGE, NOT CONTACT COURTS OF LAS PALMAS, NOT CONTACTED WESLEY AND PLAZA. MIDLAND WESLEYAN PLAZA TWO. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN, IF YOU'D LIKE TO TAKE SOME OF MY TIME, YOU COULD GO AHEAD. ALL RIGHT, I'M ALMOST DONE. I, SORRY. I GOT A LITTLE TONGUE TIED THERE AND I'M NERVOUS. UM, SHORTLY AFTER THE CALLS THAT WERE MADE TO ME AND TWO OTHERS PEOPLE ON THE LIST BEGAN TO GET EMAILS FROM THE DEVELOPER. THAT DOESN'T QUALIFY TO ME AS CONTACTING. THIS PROJECT IS CHANGING. IT'S TOO UNDEFINED AND IT'S NOT FAIR TO THE FAMILIES WHO WOULD LIVE HERE. YOU CAN'T APPROVE THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING. NEXT SPEAKER, CRAIG O'CONNOR. CRAIG O'CONNOR IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY JESSICA RICE. OKAY. NOT REALLY GOOD AT SPEAKING IN FRONT OF PEOPLE, BUT I'LL MUDDLE THROUGH. UM, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY THAT IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL ROOM AND TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF YOU AND TO BE PART OF A PROCESS WHERE THE VOICES OF ALL CAN SPEAK FREELY AND BE HEARD. I WANT TO SAY THAT ALL FAIR-MINDED, DECENT AND GOOD PEOPLE DO NOT OPPOSE LOW INCOME HOUSING. TWO WEEKS AGO I WAS IN THIS ROOM AND I OBSERVED MULTIPLE LOW INCOME HOUSING APARTMENTS BEING DISCUSSED IN THIS CHAMBER. WHAT CAUGHT MY EAR WAS HOW MANY OF THE DEVELOPERS HAD REACHED OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND EXTENDED THEIR HANDS TO BE WELCOME NEIGHBORS OF THOSE COMMUNITIES, THERE WERE MANY WHO REACHED OUT, BUT NOT FELICITY OAKS. THE SAN ANTONIO DEVELOPER OF FELICITY OAKS CHOSE TO REACH OUT TO NO ONE. AND THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE. THEY HAD MONTHS AND MONTHS TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT INSTEAD THEY CHOSE TO HIDE THEIR PROJECT IN THE SHADOWS SO THAT NO ONE WOULD KNOW WHAT THEY WERE DOING. THEY OPERATED IN SILENCE, HOPING THEIR PAYDAY WOULD SLIP THROUGH UNNOTICED AND COULD CARE LESS ABOUT BEING GOOD NEIGHBORS IN THE COMMUNITY. YESTERDAY I SAW A PROPOSED SITE DRAWING FROM THE FELICITY OAKS DEVELOPER SHOWING THAT THEY WOULD HAVE 110 PARKING SPACES FOR 110 APARTMENTS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS THIS IS MULTIFAMILY AND PEOPLE THESE DAYS HAVE MORE THAN ONE CAR. WHAT IF SOMEONE HAS GUESTS OR WANT TO HAVE A BIRTHDAY PARTY? THE RESIDENTS ARE GOING TO HAVE GUESTS. THAT IS WHAT NORMAL PEOPLE DO. WHERE WILL THE GUEST IN OVERFLOW PARKING BE LOCATED? ARE THERE ANY PROVISIONS FOR GUEST PARKING? I DID NOT SEE IT. DOES THE DEVELOPER KNOW THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD BEHIND THE PROPOSED FELICITY OAKS IS PERMIT PARKING? WE HAVE NO IDEA BECAUSE THE OUT OF TOWN DEVELOPER PROBABLY HAS NO CLUE HIMSELF AND PROBABLY DOES NOT CARE. I HEARD THAT THE DEVELOPER RECKLESSLY PLANS TO HAVE THE ENTRANCE AND EXIT TO THE PARKING GARAGE ON LAS PALMAS STREET. THE WESLAND PLAZA NUMBER TWO SUBDIVISION, WHICH IS DIRECTLY [01:45:01] BEHIND THE PROPOSED PHILISTIA OAKS APARTMENTS, IS ALREADY UNDER SIEGE FROM CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC. WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE SPEED BUMPS INSTALLED. DID THE DEVELOPER DO A TRAFFIC STUDY TO SEE HOW THE FELICITY OAKS WOULD INCREASE CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC IN WESTLAND PLAZA? TWO CARS ARE ALREADY RACING DOWN OUR STREETS AND ADDING MORE TRAFFIC TO THE PROBLEM COULD END UP GETTING SOMEONE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. THE NEIGHBORHOOD BEHIND THE PROPOSED FELICITY OAKS HAS NO SIDEWALKS. PEOPLE HAVE TO WALK THEIR PETS IN THE STREET AND THEY ARE ALREADY DODGING CARS. FELICITY OAKS WILL INCREASE THE CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC EXPONENTIALLY. AND THIS UPS THE ODDS FOR A CATASTROPHE. FOR THOSE WHO MUST WALK IN THE STREET. A REPEAT, THERE ARE NO SIDEWALKS. THE DEVELOP, THE DEVELOPER HAS A BAD AND DANGEROUS PLAN THAT COULD RESULT IN INJURIES AND DEATHS. THERE SHOULD BE A TRAFFIC STUDY. I THINK COUNCILWOMAN KOOSH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. THE REASON I TAG THIS LAST WEEK, THERE SEEMED TO BE SOME, SOME CON CON, UH, COMMUNICATIONS THAT I WAS UNAWARE OF, YOU KNOW, WHERE PEOPLE WERE TALKING TO OTHERS ABOUT THAT THERE WAS GONNA BE A TAG ON THIS MATTER. I DIDN'T HEAR THAT. AND SO THEN WHEN THE MAYOR THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS GONNA BE A TAG AND THEN THERE WASN'T TO GIVE THE, THE OPPORTUNITY TO THE, THE, THE, THE, UH, THE THE PERSON WHO'S THE, THE COMPANY THAT'S BUILDING THE, THE FACILITY TO, TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY. SO I THOUGHT, WELL, I'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND TAG IT, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE I, I I DID. SO THAT'S WHY I DID IT. AND SO YOU'RE SAYING THEY STILL DIDN'T REACH OUT TO YOU? UH, I WAS AWARE OF, OF SOME SORT OF A MEETING THAT, UH, I GOT NOTICE OF LESS THAN 24 HOURS, YOU KNOW, BEFORE IT WAS TO HAPPEN. AND, AND I WAS OUT OF TOWN AND, AND, UM, I, YOU KNOW, WELL, YOU CAN'T, YOU CAN'T MEET IF YOU'RE OUT OF TOWN. I AGREE WITH THAT. RIGHT. I MEAN, AND NORMALLY, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE SCHEDULES HERE. YOU KNOW, WHEN WHEN YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WHAT'S GONNA BE TALKED ABOUT. YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN, WHEN YOU'RE MAKE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE MAKE APPOINTMENTS FOR MEETINGS AND YOU KNOW, GENERALLY, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU DON'T DO IT WITH LESS THAN 24 HOUR NOTICE WHEN YOU'VE HAD MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS TO, TO REACH OUT. WELL, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE OTHER PEOPLE, WHEN I WAS HERE AND I WAS LISTENING TO ALL THESE OTHER DEVELOPERS AND, AND THEY REACHED OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, YOU'RE RIGHT. AND, AND THIS GUY DIDN'T DO IT. WELL, YOU'RE RIGHT. AND, AND, AND YOU KNOW, I NORMALLY WOULDN'T HAVE HAVE TAGGED IT BECAUSE I KNEW THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER DIDN'T WANT IT TAGGED. AND I, I WANTED TO TRY TO FOLLOW THEIR LEAD, BUT, BUT IT JUST SEEMED LIKE THE RIGHT THING TO DO WAS TO, WOULDN'T IT BE TO GIVE ANOTHER WEEK TO GIVE THE DEVELOPER A CHANCE TO REACH OUT? THAT, THAT'S THE ONLY REASON WHY I DID IT. AND SO THE THING IS, IS I DON'T KNOW HOW THE VOTE'S GONNA GO TOMORROW, BUT I HAVE AN IDEA. SO, UH, I, I WISH YOU THE BEST AND THANK YOU FOR COMING. ALRIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER. AND THANK YOU, SIR FOR COMING. UH, JUST A SIMPLE QUESTION. AND I, AND WE ALWAYS ENCOURAGE OUTREACH, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE TRYING, WE'RE CHANGING SOMETHING IN, IN SPECIFIC COMMUNITIES. BUT JUST A HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION. IF HE WERE TO HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE COMMUNITY WHAT WE, AND, AND EXPRESSED WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND WHAT THEY'RE WANTING TO DO, WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN, WOULD IT, WOULD IT, WOULD THE PROJECT BE SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD SUPPORT? I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC ON LAS PALMAS. UH, BECAUSE THERE IS ALREADY A, A LOT OF CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC RIGHT NOW. AND, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT, I BELIEVE THAT WILL FORCE MORE CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. BECAUSE THE, THE REASON PEOPLE CUT THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS THEY WANT TO AVOID THE TRAFFIC AT, AT RICHMOND AND WESTLAND. AND THEY WANT TO AVOID IT. YOU KNOW, IF, IF YOU'RE HEADING EAST ON RICHMOND, YOU CUT THROUGH LAS PALMAS AND YOU GET TO WESTLAND. IF YOU'RE ON WESTLAND AND, AND, AND YOU WANT TO, TO HEAD WEST ON RICHMOND, YOU CUT THROUGH AT NORFOLK OR PORTSMOUTH AND, AND HOOK UP ALL LOST PALMAS AND, AND THEN CUT THROUGH. SO YOU, SO YOU DON'T GET THE, THE TRAFFIC LIGHT THERE. SO, SO THE QUESTION, SIR, WAS ONCE THING, CLEARLY TRAFFIC PATTERNS ARE DIFFICULT TO MANAGE, BUT IF YOU WERE TO, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE, WITH THE BUILDER, WOULD IT, DO YOU BELIEVE IT WOULD'VE BEEN A PROJECT THAT YOU WOULD'VE SUPPORTED? I'M OPEN-MINDED. I, I WOULD HAVE TO HEAR, BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T, I HAVEN'T HEARD, I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING. OKAY. YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD NOTHING, YOU KNOW, OTHER THAN, THAN IT SEEMS LIKE THAT, THAT THE BUILDER WANTS TO HIDE. AND, AND, AND, AND WHEN I WAS UP HERE BEFORE, LIKE I SAID, THE, THE, THE OTHER BUILDERS AND DEVELOPERS AND, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF 'EM AND IN HERE TWO WEEKS AGO, AND, AND I WAS LISTENING THAT THEY HAD REACHED OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND, AND, AND I WAS LIKE, WOW, OKAY. WELL THAT, I MEAN, IT SOUNDS GOOD. 'CAUSE THEY, THEY WERE BECAME, UH, YOU KNOW, WELCOMED INTO THE COMMUNITY. LOOK, THIS PERSON, YOU KNOW, THE, THE PEOPLE DOING THIS, IT, IT'S, IT'S LIKE THEY DON'T CARE. IT IS LIKE, THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T WANT ANYONE TO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING, YOU KNOW? AND THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE, I [01:50:01] THINK. SO THANK YOU VERY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER, JESSICA RICE. JESSICA RICE TO BE FOLLOWED BY NICHOLAS STEELMAN. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JESSICA RICE. I'M THE OWNER OF THE GODDARD SCHOOL, LOCATED AT 4 0 2 5 RICHMOND AVENUE. AND I OPPOSE THE FACILITY OAKS PROJECT. MY BUSINESS IS DIRECTLY NEXT TO THE PROPOSED FACILITY OAK SITE AT THE GODDARD SCHOOL. WE PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL CHILDCARE FOR CHILDREN AGE SIX WEEKS THROUGH SIX YEARS. OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN IN OUR CARE. WE HAVE SECURITY CAMERAS AROUND THE BUILDING AND PLAYGROUND, AND IN THE FOYER BALLARDS AROUND THE BUILDING TO PREVENT VEHICLES FROM HITTING OUR BUILDING GATE ALARMS ON THE PRO PLAYGROUND AND LOCKED ENTRY DOORS TO NAME A FEW OF OUR SAFETY MEASURES. WE MONITOR OUR PROPERTY EXTREMELY CLOSELY TO ENSURE THAT NO UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS ON THE PROPERTY AT ANY TIME THROUGHOUT THE DAY. IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE, THE PROPOSED FACILITY OAKS PROJECT WOULD COMPROMISE THIS SAFETY AND SECURITY BY ADDING AND OVERCROWDING POTENTIALLY 110 FAMILIES WITH UP TO 115 CHILDREN AND THOSE FAMILIES VEHICLES. I'M AT THE SCHOOL EVERY DAY, AND THE DEVELOPER HAS MADE NO EFFORT TO CONTACT ME, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF AN EMAIL YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AT 1:24 PM OR 1:42 PM I RECEIVED THE EMAIL THIS MORNING AS WE WERE CLOSED YESTERDAY FOR THE HOLIDAY. I DID ATTEMPT TO MAKE CONTACT WITH HIM THIS MORNING VIA PHONE AND WAS ONLY ABLE TO LEAVE A VOICEMAIL FOR REFERENCE. THE INFORMATION I HAVE GATHERED REGARDING THE PROPOSED SITE PLAN HAS BEEN FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, NOT THE ACTUAL DEVELOPER. SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD FOR HIM INCLUDED, I HAVE MANY SAFETY MEASURES BUILT INTO MY SCHOOL TO ENSURE OUR CHILDREN ARE SAFE AT ALL TIMES. HOW DO YOU PLAN ON ENSURING THE SAFETY OF THE POTENTIALLY 115 CHILDREN LIVING DIRECTLY ON RICHMOND AVENUE? WILL THESE UNITS BE MULTI-STORY? IF SO, HOW MANY STORIES OUR PLAYGROUND WOULD SHARE A PROPERTY LINE WITH FELICITY OAKS? WILL THESE UNITS OVERLOOK MY PRO PLAYGROUND OR WILL THERE BE BALCONIES OVERLOOKING MY PLAYGROUND? HOW DO YOU PLAN ON KEEPING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OUT OF MY PLAYGROUND? GIVEN THE APPARENT LACK OF RECREATIONAL SPACE PROVIDED IN THE PROPOSED SITE PLAN? I ASK THAT YOU HELP KEEP THE CHILDREN AT THE GODDARD SCHOOL SAFE AND DO NOT APPROVE THE PUBLICITY OAKS PROJECT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL ASH, UH, MS. RICE IS, IS YOUR, IS YOUR PLAYGROUND IN YOUR BUILDING? FENCED IN? THERE'S A FENCE ON TWO SIDES. OUR BUILDING'S ON THE OTHER SIDE, AND THEN THEIR PARKING GARAGE IS OUR OTHER, OTHER SIDE. BUT, YOU KNOW, BUT WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT, IF, IF YOU HAVE A, A LARGE APARTMENT COMPLEX RIGHT BY YOUR BUSINESS, MIGHT THEY NOT BRING THEIR CHILDREN TO PUT 'EM IN YOUR SCHOOL AND, AND BOLSTER YOUR BUSINESS? AND I, I'M JUST TRYING TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX HERE FOR A SECOND, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE TO ME IT WOULD BE A GREAT ADVANTAGE TO YOU TO HAVE THEM THERE. UH, UH, POTENTIALLY WE ARE, UH, FAIRLY HIGH END. UM, SO, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR PRICES ARE PRETTY HIGH. UM, BUT I THINK YOU JUST, I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY. SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME SO I MAKE SURE I HEARD YOU CORRECTLY. WE ARE A HIGH, HIGH-END, UH, QUALITY CHILDCARE FACILITY. IF, IF ANY PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO PAY TUITION, WE ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HAVE THEM. MAYOR, I, AND MY COMMENT WAS, I THINK YOU JUST ANSWERED THE QUESTION. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. SO ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOUR CHILDREN AT YOUR SCHOOL THAT ARE PAYING HIGH LEVELS OF TUITION, THAT CLEARLY THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING RESIDENTS ARE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO AFFORD, ARE MAKING YOUR, YOUR SCHOOL UNSAFE? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? NO, MY CONCERN IS MORE OF IF THERE'S BALCONIES OR WINDOWS THAT ARE OVERLOOKING, UH, MY PLAYGROUND STUFF CAN BE DROPPED OFF BALCONIES, OR IF PEOPLE ARE WATCHING, WE'RE VERY PROTECTIVE OF OUR CHILDREN. UM, I KNOW WE'VE, WE'VE STOPPED PEOPLE FROM TAKING PHOTOS, YOU KNOW, ON SIDEWALKS ON RICHMOND AVENUE, UH, DOWNTOWN, THEIR DAYCARES AND THEIR OFFICE BUILDINGS IN RESIDENCES. AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, ALSO HAPPENING THERE. IT JUST, I APOLOGIZE, I'M NERVOUS. SO THAT WASN'T HOW YEAH, THAT'S GREAT. YOU KNOW? YEAH, NO, I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT I THINK WE SHOULD BE RESPECTFUL FOR EVERY RESIDENT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND EVERY PERSON IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON DESERVES A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE. AND I JUST THINK THAT YOUR COMMENTS ARE ABSOLUTELY, AND I, AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE. YEAH, THANK YOU. THAT WASN'T HOW I WAS TRYING TO SAY IT. SURE. BUT LIKE I SAID, I'M, I'M NERVOUS, SO. SURE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER HOFFMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND SO THE GODDARD SCHOOL, HOW FAR AWAY WOULD YOU SAY IT IS FROM THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT? ABOUT 115 FEET. I MEAN, OUR PROPERTY LINES WOULD CONNECT. OKAY. AND THE DEVELOPER NEVER, [01:55:01] THE DEVELOPER NEVER CAME TO, TO SPEAK WITH YOU? NO, NO. I JUST GOT THE EMAIL YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. THANK YOU COUNCILOR MCCAL. THANK YOU. UM, WOULD YOU SURMISE THAT THE, UM, UM, PROFESSIONAL THAT TAKES THE CALLS FOR 9 1 1, THAT THEY WOULD BE DANGEROUS? NO. THOSE, THOSE 9 1 1 OPERATORS COULD SEE, THEY FALL WITHIN THAT A MI THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. UM, IF WE CHECKED THE SALARIES THAT YOU PAY AT YOUR HIGH END FACILITY, SOME OF THEM MAY BE ABLE TO QUALIFY TO LIVE IN THAT BUILDING RIGHT NEXT TO THAT APARTMENT COMPLEX. I THINK WE HAVE TO CHECK IN WITH THE LANGUAGE THAT WE USE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, NERVOUS OR NOT APOLOGIZE. AND $500, WHEN I FIRST GOT, I LIVED IN AN APARTMENT WHEN I FIRST GOT OUTTA COLLEGE, THE FIRST APARTMENT I CAN LIVE IN WAS ON WILCREST. IT LOOKS A MESS. I PAID $500. I'VE NEVER BEEN TO JAIL. I'VE NEVER DONE ANY HARM. I'M ELECTED TO THE THIRD LARGEST CITY IN AMERICA. THE NARRATIVE THAT PEOPLE WHO NEED AFFORDABILITY, IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT. THE FACT THAT WAGES ARE NOT INCREASED, THE FACT THAT PEOPLE MAY HAVE A MEDICAL CONDITION AND IT LIMITS THEIR ABILITY TO GO TO WORK FIVE DAYS, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. WE HAVE GOT TO STOP THAT IN THIS CITY. WE HAVE GOT TO STOP THAT. UH, PEOPLE DESERVE TO HAVE ACCESS TO EVERY RESOURCE IN THIS CITY. AND YES, I TOTALLY AGREE THE DEVELOPER SHAME ON HIM BECAUSE OUR LOCAL GUIDELINES AND OUR FOCUS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN ENGAGE WITH EVERY RESIDENT. THAT'S A PRIORITY. BUT ALSO, SHAME ON YOU, RIGHT? FOR SAYING THAT YOU PERCEIVE A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE SOMEONE'S GONNA LOOK OVER YOUR BALCONY. MAYBE THEY DON'T WANT Y'ALL LOOKING IN THEIR APARTMENT WINDOW, RIGHT? SO WE HAVE TO CHECK IN WITH THAT. AND SO YOU, YOU LOST ME ON, ON THAT ONE. CHECK IN WITH YOUR LANGUAGE WHEN Y'ALL COME UP HERE TALKING ABOUT SAFETY. I GET IT. THE WHOLE LOCATION. LISTEN, YOU WANNA POP US THERE? I GOT IT. YOU DON'T WANT ANY DEVELOPMENT THERE BECAUSE OF THE TRAFFIC. I HEAR YOU. YES. TRAFFIC IS AN ISSUE, BUT THE IDEA THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE PARAPROFESSIONALS AT LAMAR HIGH SCHOOL THAT TAKE THE ATTENDANCE OF THOSE STUDENTS CAN'T LIVE THERE, THAT THEY'RE DANGEROUS IS WRONG. AND WE HAVE GOT TO STOP THAT. I'M NOT SAYING THEY'RE DANGEROUS. I'M DON'T WANT STUFF, YOU KNOW, THINGS DROPPED OFF BALCONIES OR THROWN OR THAT KIND OF STUFF ONTO THE PLAYGROUND WHILE THE CHILDREN ARE THERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, NICHOLAS STEELMAN. NICHOLAS STEELMAN TO BE FOLLOWED BY JANINE, JACK STEELMAN. . UH, THANK YOU MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. I APPRECIATE THE TIME TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT FELICITY OAKS PROJECT. I AM LOCATED AT 41 0 6 PORTSMOUTH AVENUE, WHICH DIRECTLY BACKS UP TO THE FELICITY OAKS PROJECT IN THE WESLEYAN PLAZA TWO SUBDIVISION. I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND THE COUNCIL MEETING LAST WEEK, BUT, UH, QUICKLY CAME UP TO SPEED. I WATCHED THE, UH, THE REPLAY OF THE HEARING TO GET MYSELF EDUCATED BECAUSE FRANKLY, NONE OF US WERE TOLD THAT ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. AND I TRIED TO GET UP TO SPEED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE I HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY THE DEVELOPER AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. I FOUND OUT THE EVENING OF THURSDAY NIGHT THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A MEETING WITH A DEVELOPER IN THE, IN THE PARKING GARAGE BEHIND MY HOUSE. I QUICKLY CHANGED MY SCHEDULE TO MAKE SURE THAT I COULD SHOW UP THERE AND CRASH THAT MEETING. I DID ATTEND THAT MEETING. UM, I FOUND THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, AND BY THE WAY, I PROVIDED MY CONTACT DETAILS TO THE DEVELOPER AT THAT MEETING AND SAID, I'M LITERALLY THERE. YOU'VE NEVER MADE AN ATTEMPT TO CONTACT ME AND PROVIDED ALL MY INFORMATION TO THAT, THAT DEVELOPER, AND HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM HIM. NOT EVEN AT FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. LIKE SOME OF MY NEIGHBORS FOUND OUT. I THINK THAT, UH, DURING THAT MEETING, WE WERE PRESENTED WITH A SITE PLAN THAT WAS ITSELF NOT FINAL. UM, I HAVE SEEN EVERYTHING FROM 90 TO A HUNDRED TO 110 TO 120 UNITS TO A PLAN THAT POTENTIALLY KEEPS A PARKING GARAGE THAT IS OUT OF CODE AND NOT COMPLIANCE WITH ANY OF THE SETBACK RESTRICTIONS THAT THIS COUNCIL JUST PASSED A FEW WEEKS AGO. IT IS ON THE PROPERTY LINE. UM, EVEN IN THAT EXISTING PLAN, UM, THE, THE, THE SITUATION DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE CORRECTLY ACCOUNTED FOR EITHER PARKING OR UNITS OR EVERYTHING. THIS IS A 1.3 ACRE PARCEL ON A VERY BUSY SECTION OF LAND. AND I THINK THAT THE REALITY IS THAT WHILE THERE WAS A BRIEF HALF-HEARTED ATTEMPT TO ENGAGE WITH US ON FRIDAY, THE REALITY IS A PLAN THAT WAS OUTDATED ITSELF BY THE DEVELOPER'S OWN WORDS WAS PRESENTED. AND HOW WE CAN JUDGE ON AND, AND SAY WHETHER A PLAN MAKES SENSE OR NOT, WHEN IT IS ITSELF MOVING AROUND CONSTANTLY, PRINCIPALLY, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IN MY MIND, FROM, FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, THE DEVELOPER HAS NOT FIGURED OUT A WAY TO COMPLY WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT BOXES THAT HE NEEDS TO TICK IN [02:00:01] SUCH A SMALL PARCEL WHERE THERE IS NO STREET PARKING AND THERE ARE NO BIKE LANES AND THERE ARE NO SEATS, UH, SIDEWALKS ON WHICH TO WATCH. UH, WALK, EXCUSE ME, ON WESLEYAN PLAZA. TWO, AS OTHERS HAVE NOTED, WE HAVE ALREADY HAVE RESTRICTED PARKING BECAUSE WE WERE NEXT TO GREENWAY PLAZA AND WE HAD EVERYONE PARKING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE DON'T HAVE SIDEWALKS. SO WHEN I WALK MY DOG, I DO HAVE TO AVOID TRAFFIC. THIS IS NOT AN IDEAL, YOU KNOW, CIRCUMSTANCE, BUT THE PROBLEM IS NOT AROUND THAT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROPOSAL IS. I HAVE YET TO BE PRESENTED WITH A SITE PLAN TO EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT IS BEING VOTED ON, WHAT IS BEING APPROVED, WHY ARE TAX CREDITS GOING TO A PROJECT WHEN WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT IS? YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, JANINE JACK IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY TERRY BLANTON. ALL RIGHT, GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR. THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. MY NAME IS JANINE JACK AND I LIVE ON WESTLAND STREET NEAR THE COSTCO. I ALSO AM OPPOSED TO THE FELICITY OATS DEVELOPMENT DESIGNATED FOR FAMILIES AT THE SITE OF LOS PAOS IN RICHMOND AVENUE. I'M A REALTOR, FORMER HISD EDUCATOR AND MOTHER. AND THIS PROPOSED LOCATION PRESENTS NUMEROUS CONCERNS. WE TALK ABOUT FAMILY DESIGNATION, I THINK INSTANTLY OF CHILDREN'S SCHOOLS BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL, CHILDCARE, DAYCARES, PARTS, RECREATION, BUS ROUTE, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. AND IF YOU STEP BACK AND LOOK AT THIS COMMUNITY, IT IS DOMINATED BY PRIVATE SCHOOLS. THE NEAREST PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR WALKING DISTANCE FOR ELEMENTARY IS 15 MINUTES, MIDDLE SCHOOL, 15 MINUTES, AND HIGH SCHOOL 30 MINUTES. AND DAYCARE IS ONE. AND AS I JUST HEARD, ZERO, UM, FOR AFFORDABILITY. I RECALL RIGHT BEFORE MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER STARTED HIGH SCHOOL, I KNEW THAT MY HOURS WERE GOING TO BE LONGER SINCE I WAS AN EDUCATOR. AND I, DESI DECIDED I MADE THE DECISION TO MOVE ACROSS THE STREET FROM HER SCHOOL. SO EVEN IF I HAD TO WORK LATE, I KNEW THAT SHE WOULD GET TO SCHOOL ON TIME AND BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND ATTEND TUTORIALS ACROSS THE STREET WAS AN ELEMENTARY GROCERY STORE PARK, AND A MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS A FIVE MINUTE WALK. IT JUST MADE MY LIFE SINCE I HAD A BUSY LIFE. SO YES, I APPLAUD THESE INITIATIVES TO CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AS THIS INITIATIVE IS BEING INTRODUCED TO AN ALREADY ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY, I GET IT. THERE ARE CHALLENGES ON DETERMINING WHERE SHOULD THAT DEVELOPMENT BE, NOT AN EASY TASK. HOWEVER, THIS SITE IDEA SUGGESTS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE DEVELOPER THAT IT WOULD BE POSSIBLY MAKE SENSE AS A DESIGNATED FOR SENIORS VERSUS FAMILY. UNFORTUNATELY, THE DEVELOPER DID NOT CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITY UNTIL A FEW WEEKS AGO TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS. AND AT THIS POINT, IT'S TOO LATE TO EVEN CONSIDER THIS AS AN OPTION. THIS INITIATIVE SHOULD NOT BE JUST ABOUT EARNING A TAX CREDIT. LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THE CREDIT COUNT TOWARDS A REAL CHANGE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY SAY THAT LIVING AT FELICITY OAKS CHANGED THEIR LIFE BECAUSE THEY NOW HAVE ACCESSES TO RESOURCES THEY DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE. THEY FEEL SAFE BECAUSE SOMEONE THOUGHT ENOUGH ABOUT THEIR SITUATION TO PLAN TO HELP THEM AND THEIR FAMILY LIVE A BETTER LIFE. FOR INSTANCE, I WORK WITH CLIENTS WHO ARE VIABLE CANDIDATES TO LIVE IN THIS FELICITY OATS APARTMENTS. HOWEVER, IT WOULD NOT BE MY FIRST CHOICE BECAUSE AT POINTS IN TIME, I HAVE TO PICK UP MY CLIENTS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION. AND WHEN I SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS, IT'S NOT JUST PICKING THEM UP, IT'S THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES. SO WHEN WE LOOK FOR APARTMENTS IN HOMES, WE LOOK FOR WALKING DISTANCE TO SCHOOLS. WHAT'S THE CLOSEST GROCERY STORE? IS IT ON A BUS LINE? IS THERE A DAYCARE NEARBY JUST TO NAME A FEW? AND FELICITY OATS WILL NOT PROVIDE THIS FOR FAMILIES. SO, ON THE OTHER HAND, AS A EMPTY NESTER MYSELF, YOU KNOW, GREENWAY PLAZA'S A GREAT PLACE TO PLAN YOUR MORNING FOR A STARBUCKS RUN. I HAVE SIX TO CHOOSE FROM. SO, BUT THROUGH THE EYES OF A MOTHER WITH THE SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN, GETTING MY CHIL CHILD READY FOR SCHOOL AND HAVE THEM CATCH A BUS HAS EXPRESS ON A STREET, YOU KNOW, IS A STRESSOR FOR SOMEONE. SO TRUANCY IS REAL. SO, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT TARDINESS AND FOR SCHOOLS, HOW THAT LOOKS FOR A FAMILY. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A PROPOSED SITE IN THE UNDEVELOPED AREA, AND IT WOULD BE A GREAT USE FOR MISUSE OR JUST OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER. BUT AS A DEVELOPER, YOU HAVE THE POWER TO DESIGN AND CREATE WHERE FAMILIES CAN CHOOSE TO CALL HOME FOR INITIATIVES SUCH AS THESE AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY TIME HAS EXPIRED. I'M SORRY. THAT'S OKAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. LET, LET, LEMME MAKE SURE, LEMME MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. MM-HMM . SO WHERE WOULD, SO WHERE WOULD YOU PUT, WHERE WOULD YOU PLACE THESE FAMILIES? I WOULD PLACE IT, TO BE HONEST, THEY HAVE UNDERUTILIZED AREAS IN THE AREA WHERE IT WILL BE CLOSER. IT HAS TO CHECK A BOX WHERE IT'S WALKING DISTANCE TO AN ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL, OR HIGH SCHOOL. SO THEREFORE SURVEYING THE AREA WHERE THERE ARE [02:05:01] PLACES WHERE THAT MAYBE NEED A, A, YOU KNOW, TO BE REDESIGNED. OR IT COULD BE AN AREA WHERE THERE'S NOTHING GOING ON THERE WHERE IT IS LIKE, HEY, IT NEEDS TO BE DEMOLISHED AND, YOU KNOW, REFACED TO ACTUALLY REPURPOSE AS A PLACE FOR SOMEONE TO LIVE. OR ALSO PLACES WHERE IT'S LIKE THEY HAVE PLACES IN THIS AREA THAT CAN BE DESIGNATED TO ACTUALLY SAY THIS WOULD FIT THE NEED BECAUSE WE DO NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. BUT THAT IS JUST NOT THE PLACE FOR IT. YEAH, WE HEAR THAT ALL THE TIME. UM, , UM, ONE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT DOES DO IN PUTTING FORTH THESE SELECTIONS IS THAT THEY DO CHECK THE VARIOUS BOXES. MM-HMM . WE ARE OBLIGATED BY HER TO CHECK THE VARIOUS BOXES. OKAY. SO, UM, AND THEN FOR ME, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A, A PERSON POINT OF PREFERENCE. YOU KNOW, I WENT TO SCHOOL 18 MILES ONE WAY, 36 MILES A DAY, OKAY. AND 36 MILES A DAY. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT TODAY'S CHILD BEING LIKE, AND THAT'S WHY I MENTIONED THAT I WASN'T PUBLIC EDU EDUCATION WHEN YOU SAY, HEY, I HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL, WAKE UP EARLIER, AND THE KIDS ARE DIFFERENT. AND SO THEREFORE TO PUT IN THAT GRIT AND SAY, I'M GOING TO DO THAT, AND THEIR PARENTS THINK ABOUT THEIR MORNINGS, THEREFORE THEY'RE LIKE, HEY, I NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S CONVENIENT. SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE A HUGE, WHEN YOU SEE APARTMENTS, YOU SEE THEM ACROSS THE STREET FROM SCHOOLS AND THEREFORE, BECAUSE IT, IT'S A CONVENIENCE FACTOR. SO 50 MINUTES, 50 MINUTES, AND 30 MINUTES FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND TO PLAN MY BUSY MORNING, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS A CHALLENGE. SO IF YOU CAN MAKE SOMETHING THAT IS CLOSER TO FIT THE NEED AND A GROCERY STORE, THEN THERE YOU GO. I DON'T, I DON'T THINK IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE THOUGH, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT FAR AWAY. NOTHING IN COMPARISON TO WHAT I EXPERIENCED WHEN I WAS GROWING UP. ABSOLUTELY. SO, SO THERE IT IS. MUCH, MUCH, MUCH, MUCH, MUCH CLOSER. OKAY. COUNCIL, UH, COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. AND I, I JUST, I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD TO WHAT, TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SPEAKING OF, YOU KNOW, DESIRES, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING HERE. ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. AND SO UNFORTUNATELY, UM, THE RESIDENTS ARE THAT ARE GONNA NEED TO LIVE IN THESE SPACES, THEY DON'T HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF OPTIONS. I UNDERSTAND. AND SO THE FACT THAT THEY'RE CLOSE ENOUGH TO A SCHOOL, UM, IS, IS, IS, IS ACCEPTABLE. WE, THEY DON'T, THEY, THEY DON'T GET TO BE, THEY'RE NOT LIKE YOU THAT YOU CAN, THEY CAN PICK AND CHOOSE WHERE THEY LIVE IN PROXIMITY OF THEIR MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL. UM, THE, THE OPTIONS UNFORTUNATELY ARE JUST NOT THERE. AND SO WE, WE'VE DONE THE DUE DILIGENCE. THEY WOULD'VE MADE IT THIS FAR IN THE, THE PROCESS IF IT WASN'T ACCEPTABLE. AND, UM, AND THESE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA GO, THEY'RE GONNA LIVE IN A SAFE SPACE, A BEAUTIFUL NEW FACILITY, BE ABLE TO GO TO A GRADE SCHOOL AND GET A GOOD EDUCATION. SO YOU THINK IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO 15 MINUTES AND ONE WAY AND THEN 15 MINUTES THE OTHER WAY WHEN IT MAKES IT AN HOUR? WELL, LIKE I SAID TO YOU JUST A SECOND AGO, WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF IT IS A SHORTAGE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHORTAGE. TRUST ME, I KNOW OKAY, THERE'S A SHORTAGE. YES, THERE IS. WHICH MEANS, UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS NOT, IT'S NOT IDEAL TO, WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO PULL AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACROSS THE STREET FROM A SCHOOL BECAUSE WE HAVE A SHORTAGE. AND, AND I UNDERSTAND NOT ACROSS THE STREET, BUT NEAR CLOSER WHERE IT'S 30 MINUTES OR LESS AND FIND A SITE THAT ACTUALLY FITS THAT. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW TO PRESENT THAT TO FAMILIES AND SAY, THIS IS ACCEPTABLE AND THIS IS WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST QUESTIONABLE. SO THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I SAY I BELIEVE YOU'RE ALSO SPEAKING OF OUR PERSPECTIVE OF OPTIONS. RIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME. OKAY. I'M SORRY, ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN ROS. OKAY. UM, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT, THAT I MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD WHAT YOU WERE SAYING. THAT YOU THINK 15 MINUTES IS TOO LONG FOR A CHILD TO WALK? IS THAT WHAT YOU SAYING? NO, I SAID 55 0. OKAY. YEAH. NOT 15, 15 MINUTES IS PERFECT, BUT NO, NOT, NOT WHEN THEY'RE CHALLENGED TO WHERE THEY COULD POTENTIALLY TAKE A CITY BUS BECAUSE WHEN STUDENTS ARE LATE FOR SCHOOL, THEY, THEY'RE PUNISHED FOR THAT. SO IT JUST CREATES THIS ANXIETY AND THIS, YOU KNOW, LIKE, HEY, WELL, SHOULD I BE DOING THIS? AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GET INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL AGES, SOMETIMES STUDENTS GET DISCOURAGED AND THEY'RE JUST LIKE, WELL, WHY AM I DOING THIS ANYWAY? SO THAT'S WHY THE ONLY REASON I SAY, UM, ACCESSIBILITY IS IMPORTANT. SO I SAID 30 MINUTES OR LESS, I CAN TAKE A 30 MINUTE WALK. NOTHING'S WRONG WITH THAT, BUT WHEN I SAY IT'S CLOSER TO AN HOUR, THAT'S A CHALLENGE. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE HERE IN, IN ON HISD ANYWAY IS, IS SOME SCHOOL CHOICE, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT CHILDREN APPLY TO GO ACROSS THE CITY TO PARTICULAR SCHOOLS. AND I WILL JUST SAY THAT ALL OF MY CHILDREN TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT. AND THEY WENT NORTH OF THE CITY, THEY WENT SOUTH OF THE CITY, THEY WENT INTO THE CENTER OF THE CITY AND THEY, THEY HAD TO RIDE BUSES TO DO THAT. AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANKS A LOT. NEXT, NEXT SPEAKER, TERRY BLANTON. TERRY BLANTON TO BE FOLLOWED BY MOHAMED [02:10:01] NULA. OKAY. FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK GOD FOR BEING HERE. HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO THE MAYOR AND TO THE COUNCILMAN. I DON'T KNOW IF, UM, UH, MAYOR TURNER REMEMBERED ME, BUT HIM AND I DID A COMMERCIAL, UH, ACTUALLY FOR UNITED , UH, ON JUNETEENTH . AND I SAID, DON'T FORGET ME. AND, AND, UH, HE GAVE ME HIS PERSONAL NUMBER, BUT BETWEEN EVERYTHING ELSE, IT GOT, WELL NOT YOUR PERSONAL NUMBER, BUT YOU DON'T, YOUR NUMBER . OKAY, LET ME, LET, LET ME, LET ME CLEAR THAT UP. HOLD ON. Y'ALL LAUGHING A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH. ME AND THE MAYOR IS NOT DATING YOU GUYS. I'M MARRIED . I'M HAPPILY MARRIED. I PROBABLY WOULD, BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK HE'S HAPPY NEVERTHELESS, NO. BUT, UH, THROUGH ALL OF THAT, UM, I AM, UH, ACTUALLY, UH, THE OWNER OF BOSS OF PRODUCTION. I DO A, UH, A PRODUCTION COMPANY HERE IN HOUSTON, AND I ALSO HAVE A TALK SHOW. UM, I DO TALKING TO TERRY, THE ROYALTY SHOW. AND THEN WE ALSO DO TEAM SING. UM, I CAME HERE TODAY TO OFFER, UM, UH, THE MAYOR AND EVERY, EVERY ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME SO THAT WE CAN DO AN OPEN FORM WITH THE CHILDREN, WITH OUR KIDS. I DON'T KNOW WHO ALL HAVE KIDS IN HERE, GRANDKIDS, NIECES AND NEPHEWS. SOMETIMES YOU MAY WAKE UP AND WONDER IF THEY'RE FROM ANOTHER PLANET. I DO NOT LOOK AT IT THAT WAY. I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER A SAFE PLACE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THINGS, UH, SOCIAL MEDIA, THINGS THAT THEY MAY BE DEALING WITH. I'M GETTING READY TO DO A, UM, A REVIVAL, WHICH IS CALLED I NEED YOU TO SURVIVE. THERE IS SO MANY OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, OUR YOUNG KIDS THAT ARE COMMITTING SUICIDE, UH, BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO SPEAK. SO, UH, I WAS TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER THE MAYOR TO COME AND DO A HOUSE, UM, A MEETING WITH THE CHILDREN, UM, SO THAT HE CAN, SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE A SAFE PLACE, BUT THEY CAN ALSO TELL HIM WHAT THEIR CONCERN IS. I ALSO HAVE, UH, SI I ALSO HAVE C LOVE, WHICH IS FOR THE WOMEN, AND WE HAVE THE ROYALTY SHOW FOR THE MEN. IT'S JUST A SAFE PLACE THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO SPEAK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, . OKAY. THANK YOU. TAKE CARE. NEXT SPEAKER. MOHAMED NULA NALA. MOHAMED NALA. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. UH, MAYOR PROAM AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, ADDRESS THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS MOHAMMED NALA. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF COVID-19 WALL OF MEMORIES. IT'S A NONPROFIT THAT WHOSE MISSION IS TO MEMORIZE AND AMPLIFY COVID-19 VICTIMS IN OUR COUNTRY, WHILE SERVING AS A SOURCE OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE DISEASE, THE EPIDEMIC, AND ITS IMPACT ON OUR COUNTRY. UH, I'M HERE TO INVITE YOU ALL TO THE OPENING OF THIS GREATER, GREATER HOUSTON ROSE RIVER MEMORIAL THIS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH AT 1:00 PM AT IN TRANQUILITY PARK, RIGHT NEXT DOOR, THE ROSE MEMO, THE ROSE RIVER MEMORIAL IS A GRASSROOTS ART INSTALLATION CREATED WITH MORE THAN 12,000 HANDMADE RED FELT ROSES. EACH ROSE REPRESENTS SOMEONE IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA WHO PASSED AWAY FROM COVID-19. ALL THE ROSES WERE WERE HANDMADE BY VOLUNTEERS. FRIDAY'S OPENING PROGRAM WILL INCLUDE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES TO THIS TERRIBLE DISEASE. THE MEMORIAL WILL BE DISPLAYED IN TRANQUILITY PARK UNTIL FEBRUARY 26TH IS SUNDAY, SO IT'LL BE THERE FOR 48 HOURS. I WANNA THANK MAYOR TURNER FOR AGREEING TO OPEN THE MEMORIAL AND ADDRESS THE GATHERING. THE ROSE RIVER MEMORIAL PLANNING TEAM EXPRESSES ITS SINCERE GRATITUDE TO COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER AND HER STAFF FOR THEIR INVALUABLE SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU. THE GREATER HOUSTON ROSE MEMORIAL IS SPONSORED BY COVID-19 WALL OF MEMORIES, THE MULTICULTURAL CENTER, THE VIDEO DIARIES, IMAN ACADEMY VAST ACADEMY, AND HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT TO COMM COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA AND HIS WIFE MONICA GARCIA. I HAVE A PICTURE OF WHAT THE, WHAT THE MEMORIAL IS GONNA LOOK LIKE IN, IN, UH, [02:15:01] IN TRANQUILITY PARK. UH, AND, UH, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. I'M SORRY. CO COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. SIR, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR EFFORTS. UH, YOUR WORK IS ADMIRABLE. I WANT TO THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER FOR YOUR EFFORTS AND LEADERSHIP AS WELL. UH, THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING THAT AND OFFERING THE INVITATION TO US AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE. NEXT SPEAKER, MABEL GOODEN. MABEL GOODEN. MABEL GOODEN IS HERE. BE FOLLOWED BY MICHELLE VINCENT. GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, MY NAME IS MABEL GOOD. AND I HAVE SOME PICTURES. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY CAN BE DISTRIBUTED OR NOT. YES, SIR. RDA, UH, THESE ARE FOR THE MAYOR, AND THEN THESE ARE, I KNOW SOME OF THEM AREN'T TOO GOOD. UM, I, I'M A LITTLE OBSOLETE ON COMPUTERS AND THE COMPUTERS AND TECHNOLOGY TODAY, SO I HAD SOME ASSISTANCE, BUT, UM, I AM A, UM, UM, I RECEIVED A HARVEY HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE, UH, THROUGH A PROGRAM AND, UH, FOR THE 20, UH, 17 FLOOD. AND, UM, IT STARTED OUT THROUGH BAKER RIPLEY. I WAS AT AN EXTENDED STAY ON THE BELTWAY NEAR WESTFIELD. I WAS THERE FOR A MONTH SLEEPING WITH THE LIGHTS ON, ON TOP OF THE BEDDING BECAUSE IT WAS ROACH INFESTED. AND, UM, I, WE CORRESPONDED THROUGH EMAILS AND TEXT ME MESSAGES. AND FINALLY ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED WITH ME, UH, GOT ME TO A ANOTHER PLACE. UH, THANK GOD. UH, BUT I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT, I FIRST WAS AT THE CIVIC CLUB MEETING AND I SAW A COUNCIL WOMAN, UM, JACK, UM, OH MY GOODNESS, UH, JACKSON. AND, UM, I, UH, ONE LADY MENTIONED ABOUT HER FENCING BEING TORN DOWN, UM, DURING THE WORK AT HER HOUSE AND HOW THEY DIDN'T PUT IT BACK TOGETHER. SO, UH, THE RESPONSE BACK TO ME WAS THEY HAD A RIGHT TO DO IT, WHETHER THEY WERE REFURBISHING ON YOUR PROPERTY OR TEARING YOUR PROPERTY DOWN. I KNOW SOME OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING, BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT THE OVERALL WORK THAT WAS DONE AT MY HOUSE. IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE USING INEXPERIENCED WORK HELP AND SUBSTANDARD WORK IN MY HOME. I HATE I EVEN WENT THROUGH THE PROGRAM. UM, THEY, UM, TOOK OUT, FOR INSTANCE, A PORCELAIN FACE BASIN IN MY RESTROOM WITH CERAMIC, UH, UM, MARBLE TOWEL AND REPLACED IT WITH THIS ACRYLIC OR PLASTIC TO FACE BASIN, WHICH IS NAILED TO THE WALL. AND THE, THE, UH, THEY HAVE IT NAILED TO THE WALL AND THE, THE LIGHTING IS NOT CENTERED OVER THE GLASS. THEY TRIED TO PUT SHELVES IN MY RESTROOM TRYING TO COMPENSATE FOR THE CLOSET THAT WAS, UH, TAKEN OUT AND ON THE SIDE OF THE COMMODE. AND, UH, UH, ONE OF THEM COULDN'T EVEN GET TO IT. SO I HAD THEM TO CLOSE THAT UP, GET A CABINET TO PUT IN MY RESTROOM AND PUT, UM, TOWEL RACKS IN THERE. AND ANOTHER THING TO HOLD ON TO A RAIL TO GET OUT OF THERE. UH, I'M STILL, I, I FOUND THAT THERE WERE CRACKS IN MY CEILING. THEY WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO TAKE ANYTHING OUTTA MY KITCHEN, BUT AROUND THERE, ALL AROUND MY, UM, CABINETS, THERE'S CRACKS IN THE, THE MOLDING ON THE CEILING ALL THE WAY AROUND, BUT THEY SWORE THEY DIDN'T TOUCH MY CABINETS, WHICH IS NOT TRUE. AND THEN MY SINK STOMPER WOULDN'T FIT. I FOUND THEY HAD EVEN TAKEN MY SINK OUT AND REPLACED IT WITH SOMETHING ELSE. OH, THREE MINUTES IS OUT. YES, MA'AM. YES, MA'AM. AND I'M TRYING TO, I'M SORRY. I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, BUT THEY DID A, A LOT OF, YEAH. ONE SECOND. I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND. THIS IS WORK DONE BY, UM, H UH, JW TURNER WAS THE CONTRACTOR, I MEAN, UM, CONSTRUCTION. AND THIS WAS WORK DONE. IS THIS A A, YOUR HOME THAT WAS DAMAGED? MY HOME WAS REFURBISHED, NOT REBUILT. AND, AND IT WAS REFURBISHED BECAUSE OF, WAS IT HURRICANE HARVEY FROM HARVEY? YES. AND J UHHUH AND JW TURNER CONSTRUCTION DID THE WORK. THEY WERE THE CON UH, CONTRACTOR THERE. AND WERE THEY [02:20:01] RETAINED BY THE CITY OR RETAINED BY THE STATE GI LOANS? CITY. CITY, CITY. BECAUSE, UM, UH, TONY CHAVEZ, UM, UH, BERNIE AT THE, UH, ON TRAVIS THERE, HOUSTON HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, UM, I CORRESPONDED WITH HER, UH, TONY CHAVEZ, AND I THINK RICK, I, I CAN'T REMEMBER ALL THE NAMES, BUT THEY, I I, I WENT TO 1200 TRAVIS A COUPLE OF TIMES. WHEN WAS THE LAST, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU TALKED TO SOMEONE WITH THE CITY? WELL, YOU SEE WHEN, WHEN, WHEN THE, THE YEAR'S WARRANTY IS UP, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU HAVE A YEAR'S WARRANTY AFTER THEY DO THE WORK. RIGHT. I'M SAYING HOWEVER I STOPPED, I, I WAS ABLE TO CATCH THEM ON SOME THINGS THAT THEY DID BEFORE THAT PERIOD BEGAN. AND, UH, THE FIRST YEAR THEY WERE, FOR INSTANCE, SUPPOSED TO PAY THE, THE HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE AND THE, AND THE FLOOD INSURANCE. HOWEVER, THEY WEREN'T, I DIDN'T SIGN OFF WITH THEM UNTIL MAY 17TH, AND THEY STARTED IT FOR APRIL 30TH. IT WAS JUST OVERALL, UH, EXPERIENCE OF DECEPTION. OKAY. AND, AND, AND, AND, AND THEN THEY WENT FROM, WHEN WE WERE IN THAT YEAR'S, UH, WARRANTY PERIOD, THEY SHIFTED TO LIKE, WE CAN ONLY DO 80% OF THE COMPLAINTS YOU HAVE. YOU KNOW, IT WAS, I I UNDERSTAND. LET ME, LET ME HAVE SOMEONE FROM THE CITY FOLLOW UP WITH YOU. 'CAUSE UH, I'M, I'M, I'M, I'M TRYING TO PIECE IT ALL TOGETHER. OKAY. SO LET ME, LET ME HAVE SOMEONE FROM THE CITY'S HOUSING DEPARTMENT CALL YOU. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN KASH. OH, GO AHEAD. WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE, WOULD YOU LIKE FOR ME TO COME OUT AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT MYSELF AND ACTUALLY AT MY HOUSE? YES, OF COURSE. OKAY. WELL, IS YOUR NUMBER AND, AND YOUR ADDRESS ON CHATWOOD? UH, THIS IS CORRECT. THAT'S CORRECT. I, I'LL GIVE YOU A CALL AND I'LL COME OUT AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT. I WOULD THANK YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILMAN THOMAS. THANK YOU. UH, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY. JW TURNER IS A PART OF OUR MASTER CONTRACT AGREEMENT. THEY ARE ONE OF OUR VENDORS. OKAY, GOOD. OKAY. COUNCILOR JACKSON AND COUNCILMAN JACKSON. UM, THANK YOU, MARIN. THANK YOU MS. GOODEN FOR, UM, COMING IN. I KNOW WE HAD SPOKE AT THE EAST HOUSTON CIVIC CLUB MEETING. YES. AND SO, UM, I KNOW MY STAFF HAS BEEN, UM, IN CONVERSATION WITH YOU WITH YES. SO JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW I WILL CONTINUE TO, UM, WORK WITH YOU. I KNOW THAT WE WERE GONNA TRY TO FIND, IF WE COULDN'T GET THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT TO COVER IT, WE WAS GONNA TRY TO LIKE SOLICIT HELP FROM, YOU KNOW, SOME DEVELOPERS THAT'S OUT THERE THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WANT TO BE NICE. AND I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH HAS OFFERED TO COME OUT. SO, YOU KNOW, HE GOT A LOT OF RELATIONSHIPS. SO MAYBE , YOU KNOW, WE CAN, WE CAN GET SOMETHING DONE. SO, YEAH, I, I JUST WANT TO SAY I DIDN'T GO THROUGH ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT I HAVE JUST YESTERDAY AS I WAS APPROACHING MY FRONT DOOR, I SAW IN THE RAMP THAT THEY BUILT, THEY ACTUALLY HAD A PIECE OF STYROFOAM STICKING OUT. I MEAN, THEY, WERE, THEY, ANYWAY, WE'LL TALK WHEN YOU COME TO MY HOUSE. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU. OKAY. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. MICHELLE VINCENT. MICHELLE VINCENT. MICHELLE. NEXT SPEAKER. MICHAEL KRIEGER. MICHAEL KRIEGER. MICHAEL KRIEGER HERE IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY PAUL WILSON. HOW YOU DOING? MAYOR. I HAVE SOME PEOPLE HERE, BUT, UH, I HAD TWO O'CLOCK APPOINTMENTS THAT SORT OF WENT ON ALREADY. UM, I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT A PROBLEM YOU'RE WELL AWARE OF. WE GOT AN EPIDEMIC IN HOUSTON OF, UH, HOMELESSNESS. AND, UM, I FEEL THAT, UH, THE, THE, THE DECISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ON WHAT TO DO ARE PROBABLY QUITE COST EFFECTIVE BEYOND WHAT THEY SHOULD BE. AND, UH, I FEEL THAT THERE'S A, A PLAN THAT COULD BE BETTER, UH, DEALT WITH BETTER. AND, UH, AND BY THE WAY, I, I WANTED TO SEE YOU DANCE OVER THERE TODAY AT THE LIBRARY, BUT YOU DIDN'T FOR US. BUT, UM, ASIDE FROM THAT, I DECIDED TO SPEAK, UH, FOR THE HOMELESS POPULATION OF HOUSTON. THE CITY OFFICIALS THAT SHIPPED THEM, WANT TO SHIP THEM TO OTHER PARTS OF HOUSTON, LEAVING OTHER CITIES TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM. I PREVIOUSLY WORKED AS A MAINTENANCE DIRECTOR ON MY OWN BUILDING AND REMODELING COMPANY. I FEEL THAT I'M A QUALIFIED PERSON TO FIX ISSUES THAT NEED BE, NEED A BRAIN TRAINED TO FIXING THINGS. I DEVI A PLAN AREA FOR TENT. WHILE ASSIGN PEOPLE CAN ASSESS THE PEOPLE WHO FIND OUT NEEDS, WHETHER IT BE MENTAL HEALTH, [02:25:01] JOB ASSISTANCE, OR OTHER NEEDS THAT NEED TO BE FIXING. THE PEOPLE NEED A PLACE TO REST AND FEEL SAFE. A PLACE TO CLEAN THEMSELVES, POWER THE DEVICES, AND WAKE UP ON TIME TO GO TO WORK. AND A DRIVE PLACE TO WAIT FOR, FOR MEALS TO BE, UH, SERVED. THERE'S A STEP TWO THAT COMES INTO PLAY. ABANDONED BUILDINGS CAN BE REMODELED TO MEET LIVING NEEDS WHILE PEOPLE ARE ON THEIR WAY TO A NEW LIFE. PLANS WILL COME AT A FRACTION OF THE COST OF THE PLANS THAT ARE IN PLACE NOW. WHY WASTE THE TAXPAYER'S MONEY? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. UH, YOU, YOU WANNA SHIFT IN TO PLACE LIKE PASADENA. I LIVED IN PASADENA. MY, MY, MY COMPANY WAS INSIDE OUT SERVICES. I WAS NUMBER THREE ON GOOGLE FOR, UH, REMODELING AND BUILDING OUT THERE. PASADENA DOESN'T HAVE THE, THE, THE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO HANDLE PEOPLE THAT, THAT, THAT COME OUT OF A, A, A STRUCTURED LIVING FACILITY INTO A PLACE WHERE YOU HOUSE 'EM FOR A YEAR AND THEN THEY END UP LOSING THEIR JOB. THEY, THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE BUILDING, WHATEVER HAVE YOU. AND THEY BECOME HOMELESS AGAIN. OR, OR THEY BECOME SOMEONE THAT NEEDS A LITTLE MORE ASSISTANCE THAN THE AVERAGE PERSON. PASADENA'S NOT, NOT, NOT A NOT MADE TO DEAL WITH A SYSTEM LIKE THAT. CYPRESS, YOU GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT JUST WANT PEOPLE OUTTA THE WAY. UM, THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT JUST LIKE YOU AND I, THEY'RE CITIZENS OF THIS CITY, CITIZENS HERE THAT PROBABLY, I PAID TAXES AT ONE POINT. I PAID A LOT OF TAXES AT ONE POINT, AND HERE I HAVE JUST BECOME HOMELESS A MONTH AND A HALF AGO, DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND MY, WELL, WE WON'T GET INTO ALL THAT, BUT, UM, PUTTING THESE PEOPLE IN OUTER, OUTER HOUSTON IS NOT, IS NOT THE ISSUE THAT SOLVES IT. SITTING THERE AND TAKING AND, AND GETTING THESE, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YEP. MM-HMM . I'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK. YOUR HONOR. PAUL WILSON. PAUL WILSON. PAUL WILSON. NEXT SPEAKER MARCUS. LARA MARCUS. LARA MARCUS. NEXT SPEAKER, TAMIKA DAVIS. TAMIKA DAVIS IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY STEVE WILLIAMS. HI, MY NAME IS IKA DAVIS. AND, UM, FOR THE LAST PAST YEARS, I'VE BEEN BEING HARASSED BY, UM, SEAN CARTER AND CHRISTOPHER BRIDGE. UM, THEY'RE STANDING UP AS THE TWO WISE MEN OF, UM, WITNESSES. WITNESSES TO GOD'S POWER. THEY DECODED MYSELF AND MY KIDS AND HAVING US ATTACKED. MY SON IS IN HARRIS COUNTY JAIL, BUT RIGHT BEFORE HE WENT TO HARRIS COUNTY JAIL, THEY ATTACKED HIM ON HIS BRAINS. AND HE WAS BLEEDING AND HEMORRHAGING ON HIS BRAINS. THEY ALSO IS INVOLVED IN BODY HACKING. THEY TOOK AND, UM, SWAPPED THEM OFF WITH SOME MEMBERS THAT HE, UM, WENT TO BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA AND PRODUCED SOME EX-FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS OF MINE. AND, UM, THESE PEOPLE ARE CONSIDERED MENTALLY ILL, UM, RETARDED AND HANDICAPPED, AND HE'S SWAPPING OUR BODY PARTS OUT WITH THEM. I HAVE, UM, MY, THAT SON, UM, I HAVE PICTURES OF WHAT HE DID OR WHATEVER. MY SON, UM, HE, HE THEN THEY THEN GOT IN HIS BODY AND STARTED APING. YOU REMEMBER THE SONG? THEY MADE APE S**T OR WHATEVER. AND, UM, THEY GOT IN HIS BODY AND STARTED WALKING HIM OFF TO CRIMES AFTER THEY WALKED HIM OFF TO CRIMES OR WHATEVER. UM, THEY STARTED DOING IT BACK TO BACK. THEY USED BRAIN INTERFACING AND, UM, BRAIN TO BRAIN INTERFACING AND, UM, COMMUNICATED WITH ME AND TOLD ME STEP BY STEP WHAT THEY WAS DOING HERE, AND GAVE ME DOCUMENTATION OF WHAT THEY WAS DOING. UM, ON TOP OF THAT, UM, HE'S IN JAIL GETTING RAPED AND BEAT UP BECAUSE OF THEM GANG FIGHTS. AND THEY LET ME KNOW EACH NIGHT THEY ARE TRAFFICKING US. IF I GO INTO A GROCERY STORE, IF I WALK INTO A GOVERNMENT BUILDING, IF I GO ANYWHERE FOR PEACE AND COMFORT, THEY, UM, ATTACK US AND THEY LET ME KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING THERE TO ATTACK MY CHILD. UM, I HAVE A SECOND SON BY THE NAME OF RODNEY DAVIS. AND RODNEY DAVIS IS ALSO BEING ATTACKED. UM, ABOUT ONE NIGHT AGO, OR TWO NIGHTS AGO, UH, UM, LUDACRIS, JAY-Z GOT IN HIS BODY AND, UM, WALKED HIM OFF ONTO CRIME, SHAKING HIM, TWITCHING HIM, DOING ALL KIND OF WEIRD STUFF. HOWEVER, RODNEY WAS ABLE TO SAY, GET ME TO THE HOSPITAL, CALL THE POLICE. GIVE ME SOME HELP. SO I GOT HIM TO THE HOSPITAL. UM, THEY ADMITTED HIM IN THE HOSPITAL, AND, UM, THEY ATTACKED HIM IN HIS HEART AREA. SO HE'S HAVING HEART FAILURE. AND HE'S [02:30:01] A YOUNG TEENAGE KID THAT WAS GIFTED. UM, UM, THEY, THEY, HE COME HEART, EXCUSE ME, SPITING THE MUCUS IN HIS MOUTH. IN HIS MOUTH, AND HE'S EXTREMELY INFECTED. AND, UM, THEY GIVING HIM IV, UM, PENICILLIN 24. YOU KNOW, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. YEAH. THANK YOU. VERY, THANK YOU. AND ONE MORE THING, AND I ALSO HAVE SOME KIDS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. MM-HMM . UM, I WAS LOOKING FOR HELP TO GET THEM TO PULL THEM FROM OFF OF US. WE HAVEN'T DONE THEM NOTHING. I UNDERSTAND. I WAS JUST BORN TALENTED. I UNDERSTAND. AND, UM, HE'S GIVING AWAY PROPERTY THAT BELONGS TO ME. AND WE OUT ON THE STREETS NOW. I UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER. STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE. NEXT SPEAKER. JERRY, GO. JERRY, GO. JERRY, GO NEXT. SPEAKER. ILI MONTA RIVAS. I, MANTA RIVAS IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR TURNER. UM, I HAVEN'T TRIED TO CONTACT, UH, UH, MAYOR PER TERM, DAVIS, UH, DAVE MARTIN ABOUT SOME SITUATIONS THAT WE HAVE, UH, IN DISTRICT E I'M LIKE THREE STREETS FROM, UH, YOUR DISTRICT. UH, PEOPLE ARE NOT VERY POLITE. I REMIND YOU THAT, UH, MONTHS AGO, SOMEBODY PULLED A GUN ON ME. UH, YOUR DISTRICT. I'M IN ACA BETWEEN SUMMER WOOD AND KINGWOOD, AND I COMMUTE BETWEEN WESLEY HOUSTON. I'M HERE, UH, ALSO WITH AN UPDATE THAT I FILE A PROCESS IN THE, UH, CIVIL COURT, 2 46, THE REINFORCEMENT OF MY DIVORCE DECREE. I'M TAKING MY EX-HUSBAND, UH, CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL S TO, UH, COURT. UH, HE HASN'T PAID ME FOR THE ASSAULT HOUSE. UH, I HAVE A SITUATION LAST WEEK WHERE I WAS AT THE TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL ON THE 14TH FLOOR. UH, WE SAW TWO, UM, ANDREA AND I, MY DAUGHTER, ANDREA ENA, SAW TWO, UH, PHYSICIANS, AND WE WERE ALSO AT THE CANCER CENTER. UH, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. MAYOR PRO TIM MARTIN. YES, MA'AM. AS ALWAYS, AS I ALWAYS DO, I'LL BE GLAD TO VISIT WITH YOU AFTER A PUBLIC SESSION. OKAY? YES. BECAUSE THEY'RE HOSTILE. THERE IS, UH, THE NEIGHBOR ACROSS, UH, WHERE MY PARENTS LIVE. I LIVE WITH MY PARENTS, AND BASICALLY, UH, HE BELONGS TO THE MA, UH, UH, TO A LODGE. THERE IS SOME WEIRD STUFF HAPPENING AROUND THE COMMUNITY. I DON'T THINK THEY WANT ME IN THE AREA. I DON'T THINK THAT THEY'RE HAPPY THAT I'M HERE, AND I'M NOT WILLING TO, UH, TAKE A BULLET. UH, BECAUSE SOME OF THE PEOPLE WITHIN YOUR, UH, WHAT IS IT CALLED? UH, DISTRICT ARE VERY POLITE. UH, THE HOUSE THAT MR. STILL LIVES AT, THAT'S MY PROPERTY STILL. AND I'M WITHIN MY LEGAL RIGHTS TO, UH, RESIDE WITH MY PARENTS IF I WANT TO. BUT I'M NOT ONE TO TAKE BULLYING. AND I, I WILL CALL THE COPS AS MANY TIMES AS I HAVE TO AND LET, UH, PRECINCT FOUR OR GO TO THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT. BUT, BUT I WILL NOT TOLERATE THEM, TREAT ME THIS WAY. AND, UH, ALSO, SOME OF THE, UH, WHITE BOYS ARE HARASSING ME, AND THEY'RE FROM THE MASON LODGE. I HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH ANTONIO, CISCO, UH, ANTONIO. CISCO IS MASON, TO TRY TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE, THE LODGE OF, UH, AND ALSO WITH SOME SHRINERS. BUT I WILL NOT TOLERATE, I WILL NOT TOLERATE, UH, THE RULING YOUR DISTRICT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, SIR. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER, FRED HINDEL. FRED HINDEL IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY ROBERT WILSON. SURE. FELICITY OAKS IS PRO TO BE BUILT ON A SITE THAT'S 58,370 SQUARE FEET. TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND HOW SMALL THAT IS, CONSIDER THE FACT THE IDEAL TYPICAL MCDONALD'S RESTAURANT IS ON 50,000 SQUARE FEET. IF YOU APPROVE A HUNDRED UNITS WITH 200 BEDROOMS ON A SITE, A LITTLE BIT BIGGER THAN A MCDONALD'S RESTAURANT, YOU'LL BE SENTENCING ABOUT A HUNDRED KIDS TO A LIFE WITHOUT A PLAY AREA, WITHOUT A BIKE PLACE, PLACE TO RIDE BIKES WITHOUT A PLACE TO WALK THEIR DOGS OR SOCIALIZE. FRIENDS, THEY'RE SURROUNDED BY RICHMOND RETAIL AND RE AND FAMILY HOMES. YES. AND WE NEED MORE HOUSING, BUT NOT CRAMMED INTO A SITE WITHOUT CONSIDERATION FOR THOSE WANTS, NEEDS AND DESIRES OF THOSE MOST IMPORTANT, THE CHILDREN. WOULD YOU PUT YOUR CHILD IN THAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT? DON'T BE DECEIVED. THE ONLY ONE PROFITING HERE IS THE DEVELOPER. THANK YOU. AND COUNCILMAN MAYOR COEN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. SIR, DO YOU THINK IF THE DEVELOPER WOULD'VE REACHED OUT AND WALKED, TALKED THROUGH SOME OF THESE ISSUES YOU HAVE, LIKE A PLAYGROUND AND OTHER THINGS THAT, THAT YOU FEEL LIKE THE SITE MIGHT NEED, THAT YOU WOULD'VE BEEN OPEN TO RECEIVE THAT KIND OF INFORMATION? THIS, THIS SITE IS [02:35:01] NOT GOOD FOR A MULTIFAMILY PROJECT, PERIOD. I DON'T CARE WHETHER IT'S HIGH, LOW, MEDIUM IN. SO, SO HE'S, HE'S MARKETING THIS TO THANK YOU. THANK FAMILIES. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. ROBERT WILSON. ROBERT WILSON. MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MY NAME IS ROBERT WILSON. I'M SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO FELICITY OAKS. MAYOR TURNER, YOU SAID LAST WEEK THAT YOU WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT OBJECTIONS TO THIS SITE WERE VALID. HE MENTIONED THAT SCHOOL CROWDING IS NOT A VALID REASON. AND I AGREE. EVERY DECENT SCHOOL IN HISD IS EVER CROWDED. HOWEVER, THERE ARE PLENTY OF VALID REASONS. THIS SITE IS A BAD CHOICE. THE SITE PLAN THAT THE DEVELOPER SHOWED US LAST WEEK WAS FOR A BUILDING JAMMED ONTO A SITE THAT IS TOO SMALL. IT SITS DIRECTLY ON ONE OF THE BUSIEST SURFACE STREETS IN HOUSTON. THE ONLY OUTDOOR AMENITY FOR 110 FAMILY UNITS IS A SMALL POOL, HAS TERRIBLE PARKING, TERRIBLE WALKABILITY, AND TERRIBLE BIKEABILITY. THE UPCOMING METRO UNIVERSITY DENT LINE DOWN RICHMOND IS GOING TO MISS THIS SITE BY HALF A MILE. SO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ACCESS IS ALSO GOING TO BE TERRIBLE IN A FEW YEARS. THIS IS A COMPETITIVE PROCESS AT THE STATE LEVEL. THE HOUSTON REGION ONLY GETS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF FUNDS. SO IF THIS SUBPAR SITE PASSES COUNCIL AND GETS FUNDING AT THE STATE, IT'LL BE AT THE EXPENSE OF ONE OF THE OTHER 14 PROJECTS THAT PASSED LAST WEEK BY UNANIMOUSLY CONSENT. THAT OUTCOME DOESN'T SEEM TO MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME. I URGE COUNSEL, I URGE COUNSEL TO VOTE. NO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, CHAD MOSS. I'M SORRY. DANIEL HENDRON. DANIEL HENDRON. HELLO EVERYONE. COUNCIL MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. MY NAME IS DANIEL HENDRON WITH VERSA DEVELOPMENT, REPRESENTING THE FELICITY OAKS, UH, DEVELOPMENT, UH, POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT. UM, WHEN IT COMES TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, I KNOW THAT THAT HAS, UH, BEEN A FOCUS AND, UH, AND UNFORTUNATELY, UH, WE HAD A LACK OF FOCUS ON THAT. AND I'LL TAKE THAT ON, ON MY SHOULDERS. I'LL ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT. WE DID HAVE A MEETING ON FRIDAY, AS WAS DISCUSSED, AND COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN WAS KIND ENOUGH, UH, TO ATTEND WITH HER DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF AS WELL. WE DID HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM WESTLAND PLAZA. I DO UNDERSTAND, UH, MR. CONNOR, UH, THE, UH, THE PRESIDENT OF THAT ORGANIZATION WAS NOT THERE. UM, THAT'S, UH, THAT IS UNFORTUNATE. UH, AND I ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT. THERE WERE MEMBERS OF THE WESTLAND PLAZA, UH, COMMUNITY, PRIVATE CITIZENS THAT WERE THERE, AS WELL AS THE COURTS OF LAS PALMAS, UH, REPRESENTED BY MR. HENDLE, WHO JUST SPOKE. UM, AND AS WELL AS GARY ANDERSON, THE PRESIDENT OF THE LIN PARK, UM, HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION. I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAS BEEN A GREAT, UH, DEAL OF FEEDBACK, UM, TO US, AND THAT, UM, CERTAINLY RESONATES WITH ME, AND I WILL LET YOU YEAH, TOM, I FINE. I APOLOGIZE. I THOUGHT IT WAS THREE MINUTES. MY TIM MARTIN. YES, SIR. I'LL GIVE YOU 30 SECONDS TO YES. FINISH YOUR COMMENTS. BUT, UH, THERE WAS SOME MISUNDERSTANDING LAST WEEK WHEN YOU APPEARED. DID YOU, OR DID YOU NOT GET A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM THE STATE REP OR THE STATE SENATOR? WE HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED ANY WORK FROM, FROM EITHER I DID NOT. I, I DIDN'T REALIZE THERE WAS A, A MISCOMMUNICATION ON THAT. OKAY. WE HAVE NOT YET HEARD FROM, FROM EITHER. GOT IT. THANKS. SURE. SO IN THAT MEETING, UM, THE INTENT WAS TO DO WHAT FRANKLY, SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE SOONER. AND, AND AGAIN, I I'M HERE, UH, TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT WAS TO GIVE ADDITIONAL DETAILS AS WE COULD. THE, THE SITE PLAN IS CHANGING IT, AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO CHANGE UP UNTIL BASICALLY THE MARCH 1ST DEADLINE. UH, THE TIMELINES ARE VERY CONSTRICTED. UH, I'M NOT A BLEEDING HEART HERE. UM, IT'S JUST THE FACT THAT WE HAVE HAD THE LANDOWNER CONTRACT SINCE JANUARY THE FIFTH, AND WE ARE RELIANT UPON THE ARCHITECT TO DO THEIR INITIAL DENSITY STUDY, WHICH WE SUBMIT IN A PRE-APPLICATION TO THE T-D-H-C-A. AND THEN WE TRY TO REFINE THAT. AND MY, MY SINCERE HOPE, UM, IS THAT BASED ON THE MEETING THAT WE HAD LAST WEEK, UH, THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THESE CONVERSATIONS, I CERTAINLY HAVE LEARNED A LOT. UM, AND, AND WE'LL TAKE THAT, UH, INTO CONVERSATIONS MOVING FORWARD. COUNCILWOMAN KOSH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, YOU KNOW, I TAGGED THIS MATTER LAST WEEK. YOU REMEMBER THE YES, SIR. I WAS, YES, SIR. I WATCHED THE MEETING, HOW HEATED IT GOT. YES, SIR. SO I JUST, I JUST FIGURED I'D JUST GIVE YOU A CHANCE, YOU KNOW? YES, SIR. WHAT, WHAT, WHAT WOULD IT HURT? MM-HMM . AND THEN, UM, I GUESS MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, IS, SO THE SITE PLANS UNDER DEVELOPMENT ARE, DO, WILL YOU HAVE A PARKING GARAGE OR WILL IT BE PARKING AROUND THE COMPLEX THERE? RIGHT NOW, AS IT STANDS CURRENTLY, THERE IS AN EXISTING PARKING GARAGE. I DO KNOW THAT MR. ANDERSON COMMENTED ON, ON THAT IN TERMS OF ITS AGE. UH, WE HAVE HAD A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER THERE TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT IT COULD STILL SERVE AS A [02:40:01] GARAGE. UM, THAT, SO YOU'LL BE USING AN EXISTING STRUCTURE THAT'S BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE AS A GARAGE? CORRECT. FOR THE, FOR THE APARTMENTS AS WELL AS A COMBINATION OF SURFACE PARKING. OKAY. AND, UM, WHICH WOULD BE BEHIND THE BUILDING. I DO HAVE WHAT WAS PRESENTED IN THE MEETING, UH, WHICH DOES HAVE THE SITE PLAN, WHICH HAS BEEN REFERENCED, AS WELL AS THE RENDERING. I ADAPTED THE, THE, THE BRIEF TO THE COMMUNITY FROM WHAT WAS PRESENTED LAST WEEK, I COUNCIL. AND HOW MANY, HOW MANY, UH, RESIDENTS COULD, UH, APARTMENTS ARE IN THIS FACILITY? WE'RE APPROXIMATING AS OF THIS MORNING, QUITE LITERALLY 102. HOW MANY OF THEM WOULD BE UNDER THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING? UH, 15% MARKET RATE. SO I WOULD, I WOULD SAY THAT THE OTHER 87 WOULD BE, UH, WOULD BE 87 OF 'EM WOULD BE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THAT'S CORRECT. YES, SIR. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, UM, AT THE MEETING ON FRIDAY MORNING, UH, THERE WERE NINE PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE. OF THOSE NINE PEOPLE, A LOT OF THEM WE HAD ALREADY SEEN AT COUNCIL. RIGHT. THEY'D COME TO THE PUBLIC HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING, OR THEY'D SPOKEN AT PUBLIC SESSION. SO WHO, OF THOSE NINE, UM, DID YOU REACH OUT TO SPECIFICALLY, UH, TO LET THEM KNOW, BESIDES THE PEOPLE THAT WERE ALREADY ENGAGED MM-HMM . UM, WAS THERE SOMEBODY THERE THAT YOU REACHED OUT TO SPECIFICALLY THAT, THAT SHOWED UP? I WAS WORKING, UH, SPECIFIC, I WAS EXCHANGING EMAILS AFTER THE COUNCIL MEETING LAST WEEK. I DID HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH CHAD MOSS, WHO, WHO WILL BE SPEAKING AFTER ME. UH, MR. HENDLE, UH, WHO SPOKE JUST A MOMENT AGO, AS WELL AS ROBERT WILSON, WHO ALSO SPOKE, UM, IN THAT, UH, THREAD, IF YOU WILL. WE WERE COORDINATING THE MEETING AS WELL AS, UM, AND THEN I KNOW THAT MR. ANDERSON WAS INVOLVED, UH, IN THAT AS WELL. AND, AND SO ALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT YOU JUST NAMED, THOSE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY ENGAGED THAT WOULD COME TO COUNCIL MEETINGS, HAVE SPOKEN OR COME TO THE PUBLIC HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING? THAT'S CORRECT, YES. AND WE WERE, UM, IF I MAY, UH, WE WERE PROVIDED BY YOUR OFFICE, THE ATTENDEE LIST OR THE PUBLIC SPEAKER LIST FROM THE ORIGINAL HOUSING COMMUNITY AFFAIRS MEETING ON FEBRUARY THE SEVENTH. WE RECEIVED THAT IN THE AFTERNOON ON THURSDAY. AND WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO, TO EACH OF THOSE. I DO KNOW THAT THE, THE OPTICS IS NOT, IS NOT GREAT. UM, AND, UH, AND AGAIN, I'M, I'M ACCEPTING OF THAT. UH, BUT WE DID REACH OUT TO THOSE FOLKS. UM, THAT'S WHERE YOU HEARD MR. RICE, THE PROPRIETOR OF THE GODDARD SCHOOL HAD RECEIVED MR. UH, UH, MR. O'CONNOR AS WELL. WE DID REACH OUT TO THEM. OUR HOPE BEING IS THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT IN OUR VIEW, THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF, OF THE PROCESS, THE RESOLUTION OF, OF SUPPORT PROCESS. UH, I WILL CHANGE MY VIEW ON THAT IN THE FUTURE. UH, BUT I SAY THAT IT'S THE BEGINNING BECAUSE WE DO SPEAK WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I KNOW THERE WAS CONCERN EXPRESSED ABOUT BALCONIES OVERLOOKING, WE FELT THAT, UM, TO MR. ASH'S QUESTION WHETHER THE GARAGE WOULD BE LEFT STANDING, THAT THAT WOULD, NOT ONLY DOES IT PROVIDE A WALL FOR THEIR PLAYGROUND, BUT IT WOULD ALSO PROVIDE SEPARATION. AND, AND SO GOING BACK TO COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, SO YOU GOT A LISTED THE SPEAKERS LIST SURE. OF PEOPLE THAT WERE ALREADY INVOLVED AND YOU REACHED OUT TO THEM. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. AND COUNCILMAN PALMER, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WILL BE A PLAYGROUND, THAT THAT IS OUR INTENT. YES. I KNOW THAT ON THE, ON THE SITE PLAN RIGHT NOW, IT IS VERY, IT'S VAGUE. IT'S NOT AS PRECISE AS WE WANT IT TO BE. UH, THAT IS OUR INTENT. YES. YES. ABSOLUTELY. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. LET ASK, HOW MANY OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS HAVE YOU DONE? I 25? SURE. OKAY. SO YOU, I MEAN, YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH, WHEN YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE, WITH THE, UH, UM, THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. YES, SIR. YES. I'M JUST SO DISAPPOINTED, YOU KNOW, HOW HARD IT IS WITH THESE AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENTS AND IN THE FIRST PLACE. AND THAT'S WHY WHETHER PEOPLE AGREE WITH YOU OR NOT, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. MM. IT'S JUST VERY IMPORTANT. SO YOU, YOU'RE NOT A, YOU'RE NOT AN INEXPERIENCED, UH, PLAYER IN THIS PROCESS. OKAY. SO I'M JUST, I'M, I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT YOU, UH, HAVE ALLOWED THIS ELEMENT TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS CONVERSATION WHEN I, WHEN PROVIDING PEOPLE PLACES TO STAY THROUGHOUT OUR CITY IS SO IMPORTANT. OKAY. UM, SO IT'S JUST VERY DISAPPOINTED. YOU'RE RIGHT, SIR. THAT'S A, THAT'S A FAIR CRITICISM. AND, UH, IT'S ALWAYS BETTER TO BE PROACTIVE THAN REACTIVE. AND [02:45:01] I, I APPRECIATE THAT. ESPECIALLY IF WHEN YOU'VE DONE IT BEFORE AND YOU UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS AND YOU UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND EITHER YOU'RE GONNA GET THE CITY'S RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT, OR YOU'RE GONNA GET YOUR STATE SENATOR OR STATE REPRESENTATIVE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT. UH, SO ANYWAY, YES, MA'AM. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER. CHAD MOSS. CHAD MOSS, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. I, MY NAME IS CHAD MOSS. I LIVE AT 4,004 BERNARD, I'M A RESIDENT AND HOMEOWNER FOR OVER 30 YEARS IN LIN PARK SUBDIVISION. AND I AGREE WITH DANIEL. HE HAS NOT OUTREACHED ANY OF US. HE HASN'T, HE HASN'T CONTACTED THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. THERE'S NO TRANSPARENCY WHATSOEVER ON HIS SITE PLAN. HE SHOWED US. IT'S JUST A MOVING TARGET. SO WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE WE GONNA ACTUALLY APPROVE OUR TAX DOLLARS APPROVING SOMETHING? WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT IS. YOU MUST CONTACT THE COMMUNITIES. WE HAD RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPERS THAT WE'VE SEEN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, THAT HAVE ENGAGED THE COMMUNITIES, HELD MEETINGS WITH THE COMMUNITY, HELD MEETINGS WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. NOTHING FROM THIS GUY. THANK YOU. THANKS VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, DOUG SMITH. DOUG, DONE. AFTER LAST WEEK'S MEETING, I HEARD FROM AN ATTORNEY WHO WAS INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH THE CITY CHARTER AND WAS TOLD THERE'S NO RESTRICTION ON COUNCIL MEMBERS CALLING A SPECIAL MEETING TO PASS AN ORDINANCE RELATED TO MANDATORY ARBITRATION. IF THE ADMINISTRATION BELIEVES THIS INFORMATION IS NOT CORRECT, I WOULD APPRECIATE A RESPONSE FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY TO COUNSEL AND ME IN WRITING BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING, HIGHLIGHTING WHICH SECTION OF THE CHARTER PREVENTS YOUR CALLING. SUCH A MEETING. SHORT OF RECEIVING THIS, I WOULD HOPE YOU AGREE TO CALL THE MEETING, AND NOT JUST THREE OF YOU, BUT A MAJORITY OF NINE, SO YOU CAN PASS THE ORDINANCE. HOPEFULLY, ALL OF YOU WOULD AGREE, SINCE, AS I SAID AT THE LAST MEETING, NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM, WILL BE A BLOT ON THE LEGACY OF THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE TERM LIMITED. AND FOR THOSE OF YOU PLANNING TO RUN AGAIN THIS YEAR IN HIS COMMENTS LAST WEEK, THE MAYOR PLANS TO DUMP IT IN THE LAP OF THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION ANYWAY. AND YOU WILL HAVE MORE LEVERAGE BY TAKING THE STEP NOW, PARTICULARLY IF THE CITY DOES NOT PREVAIL IN THE CASE BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCIL KASH, THANK YOU FOR COMING. UH, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS THE OPTICS OF IT LAST WEEK LOOKED AS THOUGH WE WEREN'T INTERESTED IN CALLING A SPECIAL MEETING. CERTAINLY WE CAN CALL A SPECIAL MEETING. YOU KNOW, I, I'VE DONE THAT THREE TIMES SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL. I'M, YOU KNOW, I'LL, ANYTIME TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT AN EXTRA MEETING, I'LL, I'LL BE HAPPY TO SIGN ON. I DON'T CARE WHAT IT'S ABOUT JUST FOR DISCUSSION, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE I LIKE TO DO THAT. BUT ANYWAY, WHEN I, I THINK WHAT WE WERE SAYING WAS THAT THE CHARTER, UH, GIVES THE, THE, THE AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE, WITH THE, UH, EMPLOYEE GROUPS TO, TO THE MAYOR. I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT THAT, THAT COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX HAD SAID. AND I THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT I HAD AGREED WITH. HOWEVER, YES, WE CAN CALL A SPECIAL MEETING AND, AND, AND WE COULD, UH, PASS AN ORDINANCE SAYING, HEY, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU GOTTA NEGOTIATE. YOU KNOW. BUT, UH, I'M, UH, I MEAN, IF, IF YOU CAN SEND ME WHAT YOU SAID YOU RECEIVED FROM THE ATTORNEY, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT, DOUG. AND, AND, AND, UH, IF, IF PERHAPS, UH, YOU WANT A MEETING, YOU WANT US TO CALL A MEETING, UH, MAYBE THAT ATTORNEY WILL ALSO DRAFT UP, UH, A, A REQUEST TO DO THAT. THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE SIGNED BY THREE, THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS. INSTEAD OF DOING THAT, COULD YOU HAVE THE CITY ATTORNEY DRAFT THE WORDING IN THE CHARTER THAT PREVENTS YOU FROM CALLING THE MEETING? UH, THAT WOULD CALL FOR MANDATORY ARBITRATION. THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING FOR. WELL, I, I DON'T KNOW IF, UH, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF HE WOULD DO THAT. UH, UH, BUT, UH, AND I'M NOT GONNA ASK OUR ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY THAT, BUT I CAN ASK THE, THE ATTORNEY, THE CITY ATTORNEY THAT I'M NOT GONNA PUT HIM ON THE SPOT. I'VE KNOWN RANDY FOR 30 YEARS. . SO, SO, ANYWAY, UH, I KNOW THE OPTICS OF IT LOOKED BAD LAST WEEK. LIKE WE WEREN'T TRYING TO, TO SUPPORT OR TO WORK OUT SOMETHING, YOU KNOW. BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU CERTAINLY HAVE MY SUPPORT. IF, IF THERE'S, IF THEY WANNA CALL, IF WE WANNA CALL A SPECIAL MEETING, WE JUST HAVE TO HAVE THE DOCUMENT FOR US TO SIGN. ALRIGHT. AGAIN, I THINK THE RESPONSE SHOULD COME FROM THIS SIDE, UH, SINCE IT WAS THIS SIDE THAT SAID THAT YOU COULDN'T DO IT. SO, OKAY. WELL, I'LL LOOK INTO IT AND I'LL, I'LL SEE IF THE CITY ATTORNEY SAYS WE CAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND MARTIN, MR. SMITH? YES. I LOOKED INTO IT LAST WEEK. IF THERE ARE THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT SIGN AN AUTHORIZATION, A LETTER, [02:50:02] THEY CAN CALL FOR A SPECIAL MEETING. IF THEY DO NOT REACH A QUORUM, THEY CAN DISCUSS, BUT THEY CANNOT CONDUCT CITY BUSINESS. SO THE CITY ATTORNEY, IF I'LL ASK FOR HIS, HIS, MY OPINION OR MY RESEARCH VALID, BUT THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH THE AUTHORIZATION SIGNED LETTER, PUTTING ALL THREE ON THAT LETTER, THEN CALL FOR A MEETING. SET THE DATE, SET THE TIME. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A QUORUM, YOU CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION, BUT NO BUSINESS CAN BE TRANSACTED. THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. UH, THAT'S NOT WHAT WE SAID LAST WEEK. WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX SAID WAS THAT THE CHARTER PREVENTS COUNSEL FROM CALLING A MEETING TO ADDRESS MANDATORY ARBITRATION, BECAUSE THAT INVOLVES THEM IN THE ARBITRATION. AND THE CHARTER DOES NOT ALLOW THAT. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID. WELL, I GAVE YOU WHAT I RESEARCHED, AND THE CITY ATTORNEY CONFIRMED IT, SO I'LL LET YOU TAKE IT FROM HERE. BUT YOU CAN CALL A MEETING FOR ANY SUBJECT, WHETHER IT'S ARBITRATION, WHETHER IT'S A CITY BUDGET, WHETHER IT'S PUBLIC SESSION, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO, YOU CAN PUT IT ON THERE. BUT UNTIL YOU REACH A QUORUM WITHIN THAT MEETING, YOU CAN DISCUSS IT ALL YOU WANT. BUT YOU CANNOT TRANSACT CITY OF HOUSTON BUSINESS UNLESS YOU HAVE A QUORUM. AND AGAIN, THAT'S NOT, YEAH, THAT'S NOT WHAT WAS SAID LAST WEEK. SO YOU, I'LL LET YOU TAKE THAT UP WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MIKE KNOX. OKAY. WELL, YOU CAN LISTEN TO THE RECORDING. UM, COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, DOUG, FOR COMING FORWARD. AND THERE CAN BE DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS ON WHAT THE CHARGES SAYS, UH, WHAT YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN DO WITH IT, WHAT YOU CAN DO AT A, AT A COUNCIL MEETING, THAT'S GONNA BE UP TO INTERPRETATION BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S AN ORDINANCE, RIGHT? AND THAT'S WHAT A, A COURT OF LAW IS TO DECIDE. AND RIGHT NOW, YOU HAVE AT THE SUPREME COURT OF TEXAS, TWO CASES THAT ARE BEING, UM, REVIEWED, AND IT HAS GOTTEN THERE OVER A COURSE OF TIME, FIVE YEARS. SO OVER THAT COURSE OF TIME, UH, THERE ARE TWO POINTS OF VIEW ON THAT, RIGHT? MM-HMM . AND BECAUSE THE COURT SYSTEM IS NOW UP TO A JUDGE OR JUDGES TO BE ABLE TO SIDE ON THE DIRECTION OF THOSE TWO CASES. SO FOR US AS A BODY TO COME, UH, BEFORE THAT HAPPENS, UH, TO MAKE OUR OWN DECISION ON WHAT WE BELIEVE AS A BODY, UH, WE SHOULD DO FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON AT THIS POINT, I THINK IS A LITTLE PREMATURE BECAUSE WE'RE RIGHT THERE AT THE FINISH LINE. RIGHT? SO WE MIGHT AS WELL WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE, WHAT THE COURT HAS TO SAY ABOUT IT, BECAUSE WHATEVER WE SAY AROUND THIS BODY, THERE'S GONNA BE ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF INTERPRETATION AS WELL. AND THEN THAT COULD LEAD TO ADDITIONAL LEGAL MATTERS. SO SINCE IT IS ALREADY MADE ITS WAY THROUGH THE TRIAL COURT, THEN THE APPELLATE COURT, AND NOW TO THE SUPREME COURT AT THE FINISH LINE, YOU MIGHT AS WELL LET THE, THE, UH, THE CASE BE DECIDED AND THEN GO FROM THERE. I THINK, I THINK THAT IS THE MORE PRUDENT APPROACH AT THIS POINT IN THE CASE. ANY OBJECTION TO A MOTION TO EXTEND MOTION TO ANY OBJECTION? COUNCILMAN KASH? MAYOR, MAY I ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY A QUESTION? SURE. UH, RANDY, I, I WASN'T GONNA GET YOU INVOLVED IN THIS, BUT I KNOW YOU'RE PRETTY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND YOU'LL FORGIVE ME, . UH, BUT , UH, DOES THE CITY CHARTER, NOT AN ORDINANCE, BUT THE CHARTER INSTRUCT US TO HAVE THE, DOES IT, DOES IT INSTRUCT THE MAYOR TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE EMPLOYEE GROUPS AND NOT COUNSEL THAT? HONESTLY, DON'T HAVE TO LOOK AT THE CHARTER ON THAT ONE. I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. OKAY. YEAH. WELL, THAT'S GOOD. THAT'S A GOOD ANSWER. I, WHAT DID, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND. WHAT, WHAT DID YOU SAY? I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. I'D HAVE TO LOOK. OH, OKAY. WELL, LOOK, THANK YOU, COUNCILOR POLLARD. UH, AND, AND JUST TO, TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU COUNCIL MEMBER, REGARDLESS OF WHAT RANDY MAY HAVE SAID, I COULD HAVE A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION. SO THAT COULD LEAD TO ADDITIONAL LITIGATION. JUST, JUST BECAUSE ONE LAWYER SAYS ONE THING DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S, THAT IT'S, UH, ACCURATE. THERE'S ALWAYS GONNA BE TWO SIDES. AND WHAT, WHAT I'M SAYING IS IT'S ALREADY AT THE SUPREME COURT, IT CAN'T GO ANY FURTHER. SO MIGHT AS WELL LET THE DECISION BE MADE AND THEN WE GO FROM THERE. THANK YOU. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER, THE LAST SPEAKER, JACOB CLEMENTI. JACOB, WHAT IS NOT PRESENT? THIS COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS. OKAY. THANK [RECESS] YOU SO VERY MUCH. WE STAND IN RECESS CHAIR TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM 1 8 0 TO INCREASE SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR PURCHASE OF INORGANIC METAL SALT COAGULANT CHEMICALS FOR [02:55:01] HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS, AWARDED TO G 20 TECHNOLOGIES, LLC ITEM 15, OZARK MATERIALS, LLC FOR PURCHASE OF PAVEMENT, MARK AND PAINT FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS. ITEM 16, CURB COBURN SUPPLY COMPANY IN FOR PURCHASE OF COUPLINGS PIPE FITTINGS FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS. ITEM 17, CONSOLIDATED TRAFFIC CONTROLS INC. FOR PURCHASE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS. ITEM 18, PATRICIA TECH SUPPLY AND SERVICE FOR PURCHASE OF BIKE RACKS BARRICADES FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS. ITEM 19, ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING FOURTH AMENDMENT TO TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE. ITEM 20, ORDINANCE, APPRO AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH. ITEM 21, ORDINANCE, AWARD AND CONTRACT TO ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE. ITEM 22, ORDINANCE, AWARD AND CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND SET ENVIRONMENTAL INC. ITEM 23, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $99,996 AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION TO THE DERIVATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND RUBICON GLOBAL LLC ITEM 24 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND EVERBRIDGE INC. ITEM 25 ORDINANCE, APPRO AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERTS, INC. DOING BUSINESS AS CXE INC. ITEM 26, ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING REVENUE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND AREAS H-O-U-J-V-L-L-C. ITEM 27, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING 506 $9,194 AWARD AND CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO TIMES CONSTRUCTION, INC. ITEM 28 ORDINANCE, ESTABLISHING THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDES OF THE 700 BLOCK OF BEAU MAR STREET BETWEEN KACKER AND STANFORD STREETS WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM BUILDING LINE BLOCK ITEM 29 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE 600 BLOCK OF WELCH STREET WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK. ITEM 30 ORDINANCE, ESTABLISHING THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE 600 BLOCK OF WELCH STREET WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM BUILDING LINE BLOCK ITEM 31 ORDINANCE RELEASING CERTAIN TERRITORY CONSISTING OF APPROXIMATELY 87.739 ACRES OF LAND IN WALLER COUNTY, TEXAS. ITEM 32, ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 178.013 ACRES OF LAND TO BAUER LANDING WATER CONTROL AND IMPROVEMENT. DISTRICT ITEM 33 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 154.32 ACRES OF LAND TO HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 5 3 8 ITEM 34, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $15,225,000 APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO INWOOD DETENTION BASIN. INTER A LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. ITEM 35, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $836,070 87 CENTS APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND LER AND SPENCER ENGINEERING INC. ITEM 36, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $899,973 38 CENTS, APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND AMANI ENGINEERING INC. ITEM 37, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $6,016,340 AWARD AND CONTRACT TO RIS. ITEM 38, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $3,450,000 AWARD AND CONTRACT TO GRAVA LLC. THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF FEBRUARY 21 AND 22, 2023. STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL SCHEDULE TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM IN THE WORDS OF THE CURRENT CITY SECRETARY. ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING THE WAY YOU WOULD WANT TO BE TREATED. HAVE A BLESSED AND FAT DAY. THANK YOU. OKAY, GOOD MORNING. IT [RECONVENE] IS 9 0 6 ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15TH, 2023. I MAY SUPPOSED TO, IS IT FEBRUARY 15TH? WHAT DAY IS IT? I'M SORRY, IT'S NOT, IT'S THE 22ND. FEBRUARY 22ND. I APOLOGIZE. THAT'S OKAY. 2023. I'M MAYOR, ATTORNEY. I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. DO WATER. [03:00:02] UH, TODAY WE'RE GONNA START WITH [HEARINGS] THE HEARING ON CHAPTER 42 CHANGES. UH, SO MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL, IF YOU'LL CALL UP ITEM ONE ON THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT. ITEM ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING RELATIVE TO THE CON CREATION OF A CONSERVATION DISTRICT ORDINANCE. AND, UH, CITY CHAIR RECOGNIZES DIRECTOR WALLACE BROWN AND THE PRESERVATION OFFICER, ROMAN MCALLEN ROMAN HERE. I THINK ROMAN WENT TO THE RESTROOM VERY QUICKLY. I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT, SIR. I CAN START AND HE CAN JOIN ME IN A MOMENT. OKAY. WHY DON'T YOU WANNA RESPECTFUL OF YOUR TIME? YEAH, IF YOU'LL SPEAK UP A LITTLE BIT LOUDER, I I I CAN START AND HE CAN JOIN ME IN JUST A MOMENT. I WANNA, OKAY, WHY DON'T YOU START YOUR TIME. SO, GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO BE ABLE TO TALK, TALK WITH YOU TODAY ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL THAT WE HAVE, UM, THIS PUBLIC HEARING ON, UH, CREATING A CONSERVATION DISTRICT PROGRAM IN HOUSTON. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME THIS MORNING, ROMAN. WE'LL GO THROUGH THE, UH, ORDINANCE IN DETAIL IN JUST A MOMENT. BUT LET ME, LET ME BE, UM, LET ME EXPLAIN TWO THINGS TO YOU. ONE, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND WE ARE HOPING TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC, UM, THE ORDINANCE CREATING THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT PROGRAM IS NOT ON THE AGENDA TO TODAY, OBVIOUSLY, AND I DON'T EXPECT IT TO BE NEXT WEEK. WHAT, WHAT, WHAT THIS IS, IS TO HEAR FROM YOU AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT WAYS WE CAN MAKE THE, THE ORDINANCE BETTER. AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY. MAYOR, I CAN'T HEAR HER A LITTLE BIT LOUDER. I'M SORRY. LEMME GO. I'M SORRY. I, I'M CRYING. THERE'S NO CHAIR HERE. USUALLY THERE'S A CHAIR HERE AND I, WELL, I'M A SENIOR, YOU KNOW, SO , I JUST COULDN'T HEAR YOU AND I, AND, AND YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT IT'S GONNA BE ON THE AGENDA NEXT WEEK. NO, SIR, I DID NOT. I SAID THIS IS, I APOLOGIZE. THAT'S WHAT I HEARD. OKAY, LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN REALLY LOUDLY. UM, AS OF RIGHT NOW, I DON'T EXPECT THIS ORDINANCE TO BE ON THE AGENDA NEXT WEEK, BUT WE WILL TAKE THESE COMMENTS HEARD FROM YOU AND THE PUBLIC TODAY THAT THIS IS A LEARNING PROCESS FOR ALL OF US ON THIS. AND SO I WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS. UM, I'M GONNA TAP DANCE FOR JUST A SECOND MINUTE FOR, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND START, AND ROMAN, I'LL JOIN ME IN A SECOND. UM, SO TO, TO MOVE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE BENEFITS OF THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT ARE, ARE, UM, EXTENSIVE AND THEY INCLUDE, UM, THE ABILITY FOR NEIGHBORHOODS TO PROTECT THE CHARACTER, UM, THE LOOK AND THE FEEL OF AN AREA OR A NEIGHBORHOOD. AND I'M GONNA HAND IT OFF TO ROMAN NOW, AND HE'S GONNA FOLLOW WITH A SECOND BULLET. COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU THAT, UH, THE CALL OF NATURE WAS INAPPROPRIATELY TIMED THERE. UH, WE HAVE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS BEFORE YOU, AND THEY CAN PROTECT THE CHARACTER, LOOK AND FEEL OF AN AREA OR NEIGHBORHOOD IN OUR CITY THAT CAN SUPPORT COMPATIBLE DEVELOPMENT AND NEW CONSTRUCTION. AND THEY MAY ENSURE, OR THEY MAY BE EASIER TO ESTABLISH THAN OTHER PROTECTIONS THAT THE CITY HAS. UH, THEY CAN PROMOTE LIVABILITY, THEY CAN PROMOTE THE QUALITY OF LIFE, AND THEY CAN INCLUDE STRUCTURES OF ANY AGE THAT COMMON IS THERE, BECAUSE WITH A HISTORIC DISTRICT, YOU NEED BUILDINGS OLDER THAN 50 YEARS OF AGE, ENOUGH OF THEM CONCENTRATED IN A DISTRICT IN ORDER TO CREATE A DISTRICT, A HISTORIC DISTRICT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. NOW, THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT, UH, AN EARLY DRAFT THAT THAT WAS OUT, THAT LOOKED LIKE THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WAS GONNA BE INITIATING THESE THINGS IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND PUT, AND, AND, AND SUCH, UH, THAT WORDING HAS BEEN CORRECTED IN THE DRAFT. UH, THE LATEST DRAFT THAT'S BEEN ONLINE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. THE, UH, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IN THESE AREAS ARE COMMON STREET SCAPES, STREET PATTERNS, SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY SITES OR LAND USE PATTERNS, CREATING AN AREA IDENTITY OR COMMON PATTERNS OF IMPROVEMENTS, LANDSCAPING, BUILDING, SETBACKS, ET CETERA. WE'RE LOOKING FOR COMMON SCALE AND BULK AMONG BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES, ROOF, HEIGHTS, LOCATION OF GARAGES OR OTHER BUILDING FOOTPRINT ELEMENTS. WE'RE ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY LOOKING AT WHETHER A PROPOSED DISTRICT OR NEIGHBORHOOD IS AN AREA THAT WAS PLANNED OR DEVELOPED BY HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED AND DISENFRANCHISED OR DISENFRANCHISED COMMUNITIES. AND WE'RE CERTAINLY LOOKING AT THE VALUE OF AN AREA OF AN AS, AS AN ASPECT OF COMMUNITY SENTIMENT OR PRIDE. AND IF YOU'LL GO BACK, GO BACK TO THE, UH, BECAUSE I WANT TO UNDERSCORE THIS, UH, TO GIVE SOME, SOME CONTEXT TO WHY WE ARE EVEN HAVING THIS CONVERSATION. UH, 'CAUSE I THINK THAT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. THIS IS NOT TRYING TO CREATE A HISTORIC SORT OF DISTRICT IN THE GENERAL SENSE OR IN THE TECHNICAL SENSE OF HISTORICAL DISTRICTS IN THE PAST AND WHAT'S BEFORE US, THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT CAME UP, UH, PRETTY MUCH, UM, BASED ON CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE HAD WITH A, A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS, [03:05:01] NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES, NEIGHBORHOODS, AND HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE BEEN, YOU WILL SEE BEING GENTRIFIED. SO WHETHER YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT INDEPENDENT HIKES OR WHETHER YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AN ACRE HOME, OR WHETHER YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IN MANY CASES, UM, PINEY POINT, FOR EXAMPLE, IN DISTRICT F, THESE, OR WHETHER YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AREAS IN THE EAST END, UM, MANCHESTER SMITH EDITION, UH, THESE ARE COMMUNITIES, UH, THAT, UH, ARE REPRESENTED IN LARGE PART, UH, HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED OR DISENFRANCHISED COMMUNITIES WHERE THERE ARE, UM, UM, WHERE THERE ARE CERTAIN CULTURAL PERSONALITIES GIVEN TO THESE COMMUNITIES. BUT THESE COMMUNITIES ARE BEING GENTRIFIED. THEY ARE BEING WIPED OUT. CASE IN POINT, FREEDMANS TOWN, FOURTH WARD, WHICH IS NOW MIDTOWN, WIPED OUT. AND SO UNLESS WE TAKE DEFINITIVE STEPS TO PROTECT OR TO PRESERVE, AND MAYBE THAT'S A BETTER WORD, TO PRESERVE THESE UNDERREPRESENTED, DISENFRANCHISED COMMUNITIES, THEY WILL BE KNOWN MORE. OKAY? AND SO, SO HOW DO WE GO ABOUT DOING IT? THAT'S EXACTLY IT. OKAY. AND IT'S NOT TRYING TO CREATE THIS, UH, UTILIZING THE HISTORIC DISTRICT MODEL. NOT AT ALL, OKAY? IS COMING UP WITH A, WITH A, A MODEL THAT'S LESS INTRUSIVE, BUT DOES ACHIEVE THE PURPOSE OF AT LEAST WORKING TO PRESERVE THESE UNDERREPRESENTED, UH, UNDERREPRESENTED OR DISENFRANCHISED COMMUNITIES. SO THAT 10 YEARS FROM NOW, 15 YEARS FROM NOW, THEY ARE KNOWN MORE LIKE FREEMAN'S TOWN, FOURTH WARD, UM, WHICH IS MIDTOWN. SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE SOME CONTEXT TO WHY WE ARE, WHY WE ARE EVEN HAVING THIS CONVERSATION. NOW, THERE, THERE MAY BE SOME PEOPLE, UM, WHO, WHERE IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING AND THESE COMMUNITIES COULD JUST BE WIPED OUT. UM, BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, UM, UH, FOR US TO BE SENSITIVE, UH, TO THESE COMMUNITIES. UM, OTHERWISE DOWN THE STRETCH THEY WILL BE NO MORE. SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE SOME CONTEXT, RAYMOND, IF YOU'LL PROCEED. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THE, UH, MAY I COMMENT ON THAT? MAYOR, WHAT YOU JUST SAID, JUST BRIEFLY, IT, A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK NATIONAL REGISTERED DESIGNATION PROTECTS A NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT, UH, IN THE 1980S, THE FREEDMANS TOWN NEIGHBORHOOD WAS, WAS DESIGNATED AS A, A CONS, A HISTORIC DISTRICT AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL WITH 540 BUILDINGS IN IT. TODAY, THERE ARE LESS THAN 40 BUILDINGS IN IT, BECAUSE NATIONAL DESIGNATION DOESN'T PROTECT LOCAL. YOU NEED A LOCAL ORDINANCE TO PROTECT STRUCTURES LIKE THAT. AND THAT WAS LARGELY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MADE ME THINK OF A CONSERVATION DISTRICT OR ORDINANCE EARLY ON. YOU NEED LOCAL PROTECTION, LOCAL RECOGNITION. AND I WILL SAY THAT PEOPLE WHO SAT IN ALL OF YOUR CHAIRS WERE HERE WHEN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD WAS WIPED OUT. SO IT, IT'S, IT'S SIGNIFICANT THAT WE NEED THIS KIND OF TOOL. IT'S AN IMPORTANT TOOL. UH, THE CRITERIA WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT IS ALSO, I'M SORRY, YOU GO BACK. ONE SLIDE, PLEASE. THANK YOU. COMMON SCALE AND BULK AMONG BUILDING STRUCTURES OR ROOF HEIGHTS, LOCATION OF GARAGES OR OTHER BUILDING FOOTPRINTS ELEMENTS AND WHETHER A PROPOSED DISTRICT, UH, WE DID THAT, SORRY, NEXT SLIDE. WE GOT BACKED UP BY THE . SO HERE WE GO WITH THE, UH, CRITERIA THAT OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT WILL LOOK AT. THE NUMBER ONE CRITERIA THAT THE P DEPARTMENT WILL CONSIDER IS COMMUNITY INPUT, NEIGHBORHOODS. THE NEIGHBORHOODS NEED FOR THIS TOOL AND A SET OF, OF TOOLS TO HELP PROTECT THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. SO THAT IS WHAT DRIVES THIS APPLICATION. THE CURRENT, THE ORDINANCE THAT'S ONLINE, THAT'S BEEN ONLINE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, CLEARLY INDICATES IT'S NEIGHBORHOOD DRIVEN. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK, UH, ABOUT THAT THIS IS A PLAIN DEPARTMENT DRIVEN THING AND, AND ET CETERA. PLEASE READ THE ORDINANCE. IT'S JUST SIX PAGE DOUBLE SPACES, BOLD PRINT. IT DOES NOT SAY THAT IT COMES FROM THE COMMUNITY AND ANALYSIS OF DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, HISTORIC STUDIES OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND AN AND IF THE ANALYSIS CONFIRMS THAT THERE IDENTIFI, THERE ARE IDENTIFIABLE PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD THAT MAY BE PRESERVED. WE'RE ALSO LOOKING FOR A CONTIGUOUS BOUNDARY THAT'S HARD TO DO WITH HISTORIC DISTRICTS. IF WE LOOK AT OUR MAPS ONLINE OF OUR 23 HISTORIC DISTRICTS, WE SEE THAT SOME OF THEM LOOK A LITTLE GERRYMANDERED, IF YOU WILL, INCLUDING OUR BIGGEST ONES. THE HEIGHTS. THE HEIGHTS HAS THREE DISTRICTS. THERE'S WOODLAND HEIGHTS AND AVONDALE PLACE AND ET CETERA. THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS FOUGHT, AND AT THAT TIME, THEY FOUGHT FOR 51% BUY-IN. THEY BOUGHT FOR JUST 51% BUY-IN, AND ALL THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS WERE CREATED WITH 51% BUY-IN MINIMUM TO GET TO MOVE FORWARD. SO [03:10:01] WE'RE LOOKING FOR A CONTINUOUS BOUNDARY AREA. WE'RE LOOKING AT THE, UM, OTHER THINGS THAT MIGHT BE DETERMINED BY THIS OFFICE. THERE'S SOME FLEXIBILITY THERE TO LOOK AT, UH, THE DATA IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT DETERMINING THE NUMBER OF THE PROPERTIES AND THE SIZE OF THE PROPOSED DISTRICT. WE'RE GONNA WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO SEE WHAT WOULD WORK FOR THEM. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS HAS ALSO BEEN A LITTLE CONTROVERSIAL. WE HAVE THIS MENU OF STANDARDS, THIS MENU, I'LL GO THROUGH IT. IT'S, UM, THESE ARE THINGS THAT A COMMUNITY MAY CHOOSE FROM, UH, BUILDING HEIGHT, NUMBER OF STORIES, BUILDING SIZE AND MASSING. THAT IS THE GENERAL SHAPE AND FORM OF THE STRUCTURE. THE FRONT FACING BUILDING FEATURES A LOT SIZE AND COVERAGE, FRONT AND SIDE SETBACKS, OFF STREET PARKING AND YARD PARKING, ROOF LINE AND PITCH PAVING AND HARDSCAPE, COVERING GENERAL SITE PLANNING AND THE LOCATION OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY STRUCTURES ON A SITE. ARCHITECTURAL STYLE AND DETAILING, BUILDING MATERIALS, GARAGE ENTRANCE LOCATIONS, FENCES AND WALLS, BUILDING RELOCATION AND DEMOLITIONS AND ALTERATIONS GENERALLY TO EXISTING STRUCTURES OR OTHER DESIRED CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT. THIS IS A GOOD PLACE FOR ME TO EMPHASIZE THE DIFFERENCE, MAYOR, BETWEEN HISTORIC DISTRICTS HERE, BECAUSE WHILE THAT LIST SEEMS LONG AND INTIMIDATING, THE FACT IS THAT A NEIGHBORHOOD MAY CHOOSE JUST ONE OR TWO OF THESE THINGS. IF, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY'RE CHOOSING JUST SETBACK, WELL, WE ALREADY HAVE A, A, A, A MINIMUM, MINIMUM LOT SIZE AND A MINIMUM BUILDING, UH, BUILDING LINE, BUILDING LINE SETBACK LAWS. IF SOMEONE COMES FORWARD FOR THAT TODAY, WE'RE NOT GONNA DIRECT THEM TOWARDS A CONSERVATION DISTRICT. IF THAT'S ALL THEY WANT, THEY JUST GO THROUGH THAT PROGRAM. BUT IF THEY WANT TO GO THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND THEY'RE CONCERNED AS SOME OF THE ELDERLY PEOPLE WERE THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO IN INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS, THAT WHEN THEY BACK OUT THEIR DRIVEWAY TODAY, NOW THAT THE AREA'S BEEN REDEVELOPED, THEY'RE FORMALLY GENTLE S SWALES THAT EASILY RAN OFF THE WATER BECAUSE THE CON THE DEVELOPMENT WASN'T SO CONCENTRATED. THOSE SWALES NOW ARE FIVE FOOT DEEP DITCHES THAT ARE DANGEROUS. AND THEN YOUR, YOUR NEW PROPERTY OWNER IS BUILDING A SOLID FENCE ALL THE WAY TO THE FRONT PROPERTY LINE. THEY DON'T NEED A BUILDING PERMIT FOR IT. SO THIS IS A CASE WHERE THAT COULD BE ONE THING AND THE PER, SO THESE, THE DISTRICTS THAT MAY COME FORWARD DON'T NECESSARILY CHOOSE ALL OF THESE. BUT HERE'S ANOTHER THING, A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HISTORIC DISTRICTS AND CONSERVATION DISTRICTS. EVEN IF THEY CHOOSE, CHOSE ALL OF THESE, THAT DISTRICT IS STILL NOT AS RESTRICTIVE AS A HISTORIC DISTRICT. HISTORIC DISTRICT DOES ALL OF THIS, AND IT'S SUBJECTIVE, AND IT HAS TO GO BEFORE THE HISTORIC COMMISSION FOR APPROVAL. WE'RE LOOKING AT WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITIES TO ESTABLISH A VERY CUSTOM AND SELECT FEW THINGS THAT WE CAN APPROVE AT STAFF LEVEL BY EITHER THE HISTORIC STAFF OR THE PLANNING STAFF DOWN THE HALL, OR PEOPLE DOWN IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. SO WE, IT, THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE THERE. AND THAT EXPLAINS WHY WE'RE ONLY ASKING FOR 51% BUY-IN BECAUSE IT'S A SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT TOOL. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. ONE SECOND BEFORE YOU MOVE ON. COUNCIL, MR. OWERS, YOU HAD A QUESTION. UM, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD, AND I'M, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT. I'M, I'M REALLY, UM, COULDN'T BE MORE EXCITED ABOUT THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS MOVING FORWARD. BUT ONE, SOME, ONE OF THE, THE MISUNDERSTANDINGS THAT I'VE HEARD, THAT I'VE BEEN ASKED ABOUT IS THAT, UM, THAT SOME THINK THAT THIS IS, UH, ESSENTIALLY REPLACING DEED RESTRICTIONS SO THAT THIS MENU OF STANDARDS HAS SOME SIMILAR THINGS THAT ARE IN DEED RESTRICTIONS. AND THAT, UM, COULD YOU JUST ADDRESS THAT? I, I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS NOT REPLACING DEED RESTRICTIONS. IT'S NOT, BUT, BUT THERE IS SOME MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT THAT. IF YOU COULD ADDRESS THAT, PLEASE, WHILE WE'RE ON THIS, THIS, UM, SLIDE, IT IS NOT REPLACING DEED RESTRICTIONS. IT MAY BE, UM, IN AREAS THAT DON'T HAVE DEED RESTRICTIONS, FIRST OF ALL. AND, UM, IT THEN THE DEED RESTRICTIONS WILL ALWAYS PREVAIL FOR, UM, THIS ORDINANCE. SO, UM, SO THIS MAY BE AN ADDITIONAL SET OF, UM, OPTIONS FOR THE PROPERTY OWNERS SEPARATE FROM THEIR DEED RESTRICTIONS, BUT IT DOES NOT REPLACE THEM. IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT TOOL, ANOTHER TOOL THAN, YES. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN, MEMBER SHABAZZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, UH, FOR THE PRESENTATION. UM, WHAT WOULD TAKE PRESIDENTS THE DEED RESTRICTIONS OR THIS CONSERVATION DISTRICT? THE DEED RESTRICTIONS, I'M SORRY, THE DEED RESTRICTIONS. OKAY, SO I, I GUESS I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, BUT FOR THE LACK OF DEED RESTRICTIONS, WHY WOULD THIS BE NEEDED? IT? WELL, BECAUSE THIS DOES OFFER OTHER OPTIONS BESIDES WHAT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED IN THEIR DEED RESTRICTIONS. THEY MAY HAVE, THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD MAY HAVE DEED RESTRICTIONS THAT ADDRESS ONLY ONE OR TWO SPECIFIC THINGS, AND THEY MAY BE ABLE TO USE THIS TOOL FOR OTHER ASPECTS OF DEVELOPMENT. THAT DEED [03:15:01] THAT THEIR DEED RESTRICTIONS DON'T COVER. LEMME DO THIS, LEMME LET THEM FINISH THE REPORTING, THEN WE CAN OH, CERTAINLY. OKAY. YEAH, I WASN'T GOING TO ASK AND THEN SHE STARTED, SO I JUMP IN. YES, GO. LET'S GO. I HAVE SOMETHING ELSE ON DEED RESTRICTIONS, BUT WE'LL, SO THAT'S THIS SLIDE. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. UM, KEY POINTS. SO AGAIN, KEY POINTS. THIS IS, THESE DISTRICTS WOULD BE BASED ON INPUT FROM COMMUNITIES, SPECIFICALLY WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE TO IDENTIFY AREAS THAT NEED THIS SORT OF PROTECTION. OUR OFFICE WILL LOOK VERY CLOSELY WITH PROPERTY OWNERS TO DETERMINE THEIR SUPPORT AND IDENTIFY THE TRAITS THAT WORK FOR THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. SO IN THAT ANALYSIS IS WHERE YOU WOULD ALSO EVEN LOOK, DO YOU ALREADY HAVE DEED RESTRICTIONS? WHAT, WHAT DO YOU NEED THIS TOOL FOR? FOR? OKAY, SO WITH THE PROPOSED STANDARDS DETERMINED, OUR OFFICE WILL HOST, AT LEAST THESE ARE SOME REQUIREMENTS, AT LEAST ONE PUBLIC, UH, MEETING. AND THAT'S WITH ENORMOUS NOTIFICATION BECAUSE THIS ORDINANCE, JUST LIKE THE HISTORIC DISTRICT ORDINANCE, WHICH THIS IS A HISTORIC PRESERVATION TOOL, THIS ORDINANCE FALLS UNDER CHAPTER TWO 11, AND IT REQUIRES A PRETTY EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF, UH, PUBLIC, UH, NOTIFICATION. SO THAT WOULD HAPPEN. 51% OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS ARE REQUIRED FOR APPROVAL AND BOUNDARIES CAN BE MODIFIED TO MEET THE 51% THRESHOLD. A LOT OF TALK HAS BEEN OUT THERE ABOUT THAT AND MODIFYING THE BOUNDARIES. WELL, THI THIS, WE HAVE PUT IN THIS ORDINANCE SPECIFICALLY THAT IF STAFF MODIFIES AN INITIALLY PRESENTED BOUNDARY, WE GO BACK AND WE NOTIFY EVERYBODY THAT THAT'S GOING ON, THAT WE'VE REDONE THAT WE'RE GONNA DO THAT. SO, UM, THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'VE HEARD OUT THERE. HHC WILL HOST PUBLIC HEARINGS AND THIS COUNCIL WILL HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS. SO A KEY POINT THERE AND IS THAT THE STATE LAW ALSO, WHICH WAS AMENDED IN 2018 OR 19, REQUIRES THAT THIS BODY APPROVE ANY POTENTIAL CONSERVATION DISTRICT BY A 75 5% VOTE. UH, AND ALSO THE HISTORIC COMMISSION MUST APPROVE BY A 75% VOTE. THAT'S TRUE TODAY FOR HISTORIC DISTRICTS. SO WE HAD THE BRUNER HARMONIUM DISTRICT THAT CAME HERE BEFORE YOU INITIALLY, THAT HAD, UH, A LITTLE LESS THAN A HUNDRED PERCENT, IT WAS RESHAPED AND IT BECAME A HUNDRED PERCENT BUY-IN, SO IT WAS GONNA PASS ANYWAY. AND WHO'S AGAINST A HUNDRED PERCENT BUY-IN, BUT IF IT'S BELOW A HUNDRED IN TEXAS, ANY CITY, YOU'RE GONNA NEED THREE QUARTERS OF THE, THE, THE INITIAL BODY, WHICH WOULD BE HISTORIC COMMISSION IN OUR CASE, UH, OR, AND THEN THIS BODY. OKAY, SO THAT'S IN THAT, AND A LOT OF CITY CODES ACROSS TEXAS RIGHT NOW HAVEN'T PUT THAT WORDING, EXCUSE ME, INTO THEIR ORDINANCES BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, 2019 IT BECOMES EFFECT IN 21, 20 21. THEY HAVEN'T GONE BACK AND, BUT THEY FOLLOW THAT. I WAS TALKING TO SAN ANTONIO. THEY FOLLOW THAT. SO, UH, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. UH, WHAT THEY DON'T AFFECT IMPORTANT, JUST LIKE HISTORIC DISTRICTS, NO ORDINARY MAINTENANCE, REPAIR, REPLACEMENT OF EXTERIOR FEATURES THAT ARE ROTTEN AND NOT STRUCTURAL, THAT IS ALL EXEMPT TODAY. WE FIELD A LOT OF CALLS IN OUR OFFICE FROM PEOPLE. SAY, I'M IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT, I NEED TO, UH, REPLACE SOME ROTTEN SIDING. UH, FINE. IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T DEAL THAT. THIS ALSO DOESN'T DEAL WITH LANDSCAPING PLANTS AND SHRUBS, PARTIAL RECONSTRUCTION OF A STRUCTURE OR EXTERIOR FEATURE DAMAGE OR DESTROYED BY FIRESTORM OR OTHER DISASTERS. SO WE'VE UNFORTUNATELY, UH, SADLY, UH, FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, WE'VE HAD A FEW FIRES IN GLENBROOK VALLEY LATELY, AND I, AND SO WHEN THEY GO IN FOR A PERMIT TO REBUILD THEIR HOUSE, THAT'S EXEMPT THAT WE JUST, IT JUST GOES RIGHT THROUGH, UH, AND ANYTHING ON THE INTERIOR OF A HOME. SO THIS ORDINANCE, LIKE THIS HISTORIC DISTRICT DOESN'T AFFECT THE INTERIOR. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AND FINALLY, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'VE BEEN HANDED OUT, BUT WE DO HAVE RESPONSES FROM THE PUBLIC THAT WE'VE RECEIVED TO DATE. UM, AND THERE, UH, THERE HAVE BEEN CIRCULATED AROUND AND WE HAVE FAQS THAT HAVE BEEN CIRCULATED OR NOT CIRCULATED. OKAY. SO THE, THE, BUT THE, HERE'S THE BOTTLE. WHAT WE'VE DONE IN RESPONSE TO THE FEEDBACK IS THAT WE, WE'VE CREATED, WE CHANGED THAT INITIAL PROCESS, THAT WORDING THAT TALKED ABOUT HOW THEY'RE INITIATED, WHICH WAS NOT A BIG MOVE FOR US. WE HAD THREE EARLIER DRAFTS THAT HAD ALL THAT. IT JUST SOMEHOW GOT PUT OUT THAT ONE WAY. SO IF THAT IS CLEAR AND HAD BEEN OUT FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE'VE CLARIFIED HOW 51% BUY-IN IS CALCULATED. THE LANGUAGE IS A LITTLE EASIER TO UNDERSTAND. IT'S THE SAME LANGUAGE FOR A HISTORIC DISTRICT, BUT IT'S JUST EVEN CLARIFIED FURTHER. UH, THEN WE'VE ADDED LANGUAGE REQUIRING NOTIFICATION TO PROPERTY OWNERS WHEN CHANGES ARE MADE TO THE PROPOSED BOUNDARY MAP. AS I SAID EARLIER, AS OF FEBRUARY, ACTUALLY, AS OF TODAY, WE'VE RECEIVED 48 COMMENTS, UH, EITHER IN EMAILS TO OUR OFFICE OR THROUGH THE, UH, LET'S TALK HOUSTON WEBSITE. AND THERE HAVE BEEN 36 OF THOSE IN SUPPORT. NINE HAD QUESTIONS OR REQUESTED CHANGES, AND THREE WERE IN OPPOSITION. AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER. I, [03:20:01] I , I CUT YOU OFF EARLIER. WILL YOU FINISH OR THANK YOU, MAYOR. I KNEW THE HISTORIC DISTRICT HAD SOME FINANCIAL BARRIERS. UH, DOES THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT HAVE ANY OF THESE SAME BARRIERS? AND WHEN I SAY BARRIERS, UH, THE PROPERTY OWNERS WERE REQUIRED TO DO CERTAIN THINGS. UH, AND IS THIS REQUIRED IN THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT? SO LET ME ANSWER THAT DIRECTLY. THE, IN, IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT, NO ONE IS PROACTIVELY REQUIRED TO MAKE CHANGES TO THEIR HOME UNLESS THEY ARE DOING CONSTRUCTION ALTERATION OR CHANGES TO IT. IN AN OTHERWISE, THERE IS NO PROACTIVE, YOU MUST BRING SOMETHING UP TO STANDARD BEYOND NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTION STANDARDS. UM, THE SAME IS CLEAR, THE SAME AS THE CASE WITH CONSERVATION DISTRICTS IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT. WHEN YOU DO CHOOSE TO MAKE ALTERATIONS AND WANT TO, UM, ALTER OR ADD TO YOUR STRUCTURE, THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS THAT YOU USE HISTORICALLY COMPATIBLE MATERIALS. UM, FOR INSTANCE, UH, VINYL WINDOWS THAT ARE MAYBE WOOD CLAD, THAT PERHAPS ARE MORE HISTORICALLY APPROPRIATE THAN, UM, FIN INSTALLED VINYL WINDOWS. THOSE ARE OFTEN CONSIDERED BY PEOPLE TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE. BUT THERE IS NO ESTABLISHED FINANCIAL BARRIER IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT. AND THERE IS NOT WITH THIS CONSERVATION DISTRICT AS WELL. IN FACT, THE COUNCILOR, I'M WANNA BE VERY, VERY CLEAR. YES. YOU PRETTY MUCH SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THE HISTORIC DISTRICT. THAT'S NOT THE REQUIREMENT HERE IN THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT. I WANNA BE VERY, VERY CLEAR. THAT'S HISTORIC. THIS IS CONSERVATION. AND SO THERE'S A, THERE'S A, UM, A CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN, BETWEEN THE TWO. AND I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION, BUT YOU CAN PUT ME BACK IN THE QUEUE OR I CAN ASK IT NOW. UM, WELL, LET ME STAY WITH YOU RIGHT NOW. GO DOWN. OKAY. I REMEMBER, UH, SEEING LANGUAGE SAYING THAT THE, THE DIRECTOR CAN INITIATE A CONSERVATION DISTRICT. DID YOU CLEAR THAT UP? THAT THAT'S NO LONGER, UH, A PROCESS BECAUSE I, I DON'T, I WANT THIS TO BE COMMUNITY DRIVEN, NOT DRIVEN BY ANY DIRECTOR, NO PERSONALITY. I'M TALKING ABOUT POSITION. YEAH. THAT WAS IN THE EARLIER DRAFT THAT ROMAN REFERENCED. WE HAVE CHANGED THAT IS, UM, IN THE LIST OF THINGS THAT WE CHANGED THAT HE WAS REFERRING TO. SO THE FEBRUARY 13TH VERSION OF THE ORDINANCE IS THE ONE THAT IS THE ONE BEING CONSIDERED IN THIS PUBLIC HEARING. AND IT DOES NOT SAY THAT IT IS COMMUNITY DRIVEN. IT IS COMMUNITY DRIVEN. AGAIN, LET'S BE VERY YES, SIR. I DON'T WANT ANY CONFUSION NOW, . SO LET'S ANSWER THE QUESTIONS VERY DIRECTLY. IT IS COMMUNITY DRIVEN. OKAY. OKAY. UH, COUNCILMAN KOSH. WELL, MAYOR, YOU KNOW, UH, IF, IF, IF THE PUBLIC'S NOT CONFUSED ABOUT HEARING THE, THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT VERSUS THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, IT, IT IS A BIT CONFUSING. AND THANK YOU FOR HAMMERING THAT OUT. UH, AND I KNOW YOU TALKED ABOUT A 75%, YOU KNOW, BUY-IN. AND THEN, THEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS BODY WOULD HAVE TO BE 75%, YOU KNOW, UH, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE 75% IS, IS IT 75% OF THE COUNCIL HAS TO VOTE? AFFIRMATIVELY. OKAY. SO, UH, SO I GOT IT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC HAD IT. SO TO ME, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO HAVE ZONING, YOU KNOW, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. YOU KNOW, AND, AND I'M JUST, I KNOW THAT YEARS AGO, THE CITIZENS SAID NO TO THAT. AND IF WE, IF WE VOTE THIS IN, WHAT AUTHORITY DOES THIS GIVE THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO DO, TO, TO ACT? BECAUSE I REMEMBER VOTING ON A, ON A, A COMPREHENSIVE BITE PLAN. AND, AND ONCE WE DID THAT, UH, IT, IT DOESN'T COME BACK HERE ANYMORE THAT I, THAT I KNOW OF. SO ONCE WE GIVE YOU THAT AUTHORITY, UH, Y'ALL RUN WITH IT. AND THEN WE'RE SEEING, LIKE, WE'RE OUT OF THE PICTURE. AND, AND I, I THINK COUNCIL STILL SHOULD HAVE SOME DIRECTIVE IN THIS MATTER. COUNCIL MEMBER, THIS ORDINANCE IS THE ENABLING LEGISLATION FOR A CONSERVATION. SAY, SAY THAT AGAIN. THIS ORDINANCE IS THE ENABLING LEGISLATION FOR A CONSERVATION DISTRICT PROGRAM. IT CREATES NO CONSERVATION DISTRICT TODAY. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN AFTER COUNCIL APPROVES THIS ORDINANCE IS THAT EACH INDEPENDENT CONSERVATION DISTRICT SUPPORTED BY THE COMMUNITY, WOULD COME TO YOU FOR A VOTE. AND, AND SO WHEN YOU SAY IT STARTS WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND I SAW THAT THERE WAS A NUMBER ON THE SCREEN OF 48, UH, 48, 48 PEOPLE. AND THEN YOU TALKED ABOUT, UH, THERE WAS A 51. I OWN MULTIPLE PROPERTIES IN DIFFERENT, UH, AREAS OF HOUSTON IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD. SO IF I HAVE SIX PROPERTIES OR SIX LOTS, DO I GET SIX VOTES? OR, OR DO I GET ONE VOTE AS THE OVERALL PROPERTY OWNER? LET ME BACK UP TO YOUR FIRST COMMENT ABOUT WHETHER THIS IS ZONING OR NOT. UH, TO BE CLEAR, THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT TWO YEARS AGO RULED THAT OUR CITY'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION ORDINANCE IS NOT ZONING. [03:25:01] THEY ASKED US TO FOLLOW THE, THE PUBLIC NOTIFICATION PROCESS. THAT'S IN TWO 11, AS A WAY TO ASSURE THE PUBLIC THAT WE DO GOOD WORK. AND THIS IS AN ORDINANCE UNDER HISTORIC PRESERVATION. IT ISN'T ZONING HOW YOUR, YOUR PROPERTIES WOULD BE CLOWNED IF YOUR PROPERTIES ARE CONTIGUOUS. FOR EXAMPLE, ON ONE BLOCK FACE, YOU OWN THREE LOTS IN A ROW, SIDE BY SIDE, BY OUR DEFINITION AND OUR CITY CODE. TODAY, YOU WOULD HAVE ONE VOTE 'CAUSE THEY'RE SIDE BY SIDE. BUT IF YOU HAD EVEN A GAP BETWEEN 'EM, SO YOU GOT ONE HERE AND YOU DON'T OWN MRS. THIS MS. WILLIAMS, AND YOU OWN THAT, THAT'S TWO VOTES. THAT'S ALREADY WHAT WE OPERATE UNDER FOR OUR HISTORIC, WHEN WE TAKE VOTES TO CREATE A HISTORIC DISTRICT, CONTIGUOUS SIDE BY SIDE PROPERTY, ONE VOTE. BUT IF IT'S SEPARATED ANYWAY, SO YOU OWN ONE CORNER AND YOU OWN THE OTHER CORNER. UH, ACTUALLY, I CAN'T REMEMBER HOW THAT'S DEFINED BY THAT CHECK WITH LEGAL. I COULD GO DO DEEP THERE, BUT DOWN THERE YOU GET THE GENERAL IDEA SIDE BY SIDE IS ONE VOTE. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER KN THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO I'VE GOT THREE QUESTIONS FOR YOU. FIRST OF ALL, IF THIS IS DESIGNED FOR AREAS OF HOUSTON THAT LACK DEED RESTRICTIONS PRIMARILY, WHY DON'T WE MAKE THAT A REQUIREMENT TO, TO BEGIN THIS PROCESS? BECAUSE WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS THAT NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ALREADY HAVE DEED RESTRICTIONS MAY CHOOSE ONE OR TWO ITEMS THAT THEY DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE ON THEIR DEED RESTRICTIONS. AND ONLY 51% OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD HAVE TO AGREE TO THAT TO GET THIS CONSERVATION DISTRICT. BUT IF THEY WANTED TO CHANGE THEIR DEED RESTRICTIONS OR AMEND THEIR DIS DEED RESTRICTIONS, THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE 75% OF THE POPULA OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS AGREE TO IT. SO THIS IS AN END AROUND NEIGHBORHOODS WITH EXISTING DEED RESTRICTIONS TO EXPAND THEIR DEED RESTRICTIONS, UM, WITHOUT HAVING TO MEET THE STATE STANDARD OF 75%. SO, UH, WHY IS IT THAT WE'RE NOT JUST LIMITING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO NEIGHBORHOODS THAT DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE DEED RESTRICTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER, WE'LL MAKE A NOTE OF YOUR SUGGESTION. SORRY. WE'LL MAKE A NOTE OF YOUR SUGGESTION. OKAY, GREAT. MY SECOND QUESTION IS, FUTURE BUILDING PLANS WILL BE REVIEWED BY WHOM? AND, UH, ON NEW AND REMODELED PROPERTIES, IF YOU GET THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT, AND I WANNA BUILD SOMETHING IN THERE. WHO'S REVIEWING THAT PLAN? OBVIOUSLY PLANNING DEPARTMENT. UM, UH, IS THE CONSERVATION DIS UH, THE HISTORIC DISTRICT GONNA DO THIS? NO, IT WOULD BE THE STAFF, CITY STAFF ACTUALLY IN THE, UH, LIVABLE PLACES ACTION COMMITTEE LAST NIGHT. I WAS REVIEWING THAT. AND THAT SECTION, THE, ONE OF THE SECOND TO THE LAST SECTION, I BELIEVE OF THE CODE THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU, IT SAYS HISTORIC PRESERVATION STAFF WILL APPROVE 'EM ALL. BUT WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT WORDING TO PLANNING STAFF. THAT'S A SMALL CHANGE, BUT IT WILL THEN TAKE IN THE WHOLE, OKAY. AND THE, AND THE, USUALLY ON HISTORIC DISTRICT, WHEN WE, WE TALK ABOUT 75% OF THE BODY IS GOING TO MAKE, THEY HAVE TO AGREE. AND THEN COUNCIL, 75% HAS TO AGREE. THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THAT IS HISTORICAL DISTRICT VOTES. WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT, UH, HEARINGS THAT THEY'VE HAD AT THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS, UM, ALL WE'RE ABLE TO VOTE ON IS WHETHER OR NOT THE DISTRICT FOLLOWED ITS OWN RULES. WE CAN'T MAKE AN INDEPENDENT DECISION ABOUT WHETHER SOMEONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ADD A GARAGE OR WHATEVER IT IS. SO IS THIS GONNA BE THE SAME PROCESS? IN OTHER WORDS, WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND THE, UH, DE DEPARTMENT HAS 75% APPROVAL, AND THEN IT COMES TO COUNCIL, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WE'RE LIMITED IN ONLY BEING ABLE TO VOTE ON WHETHER OR NOT THAT GOVERNING BODY FOLLOWED ITS OWN RULES, OR WILL WE BE ABLE TO MAKE INDEPENDENT CHOICES AND DISAGREE WITH THAT GOVERNING BODY? ARE YOU REFERRING TO THE CREATE I'M SORRY, I JUST WANNA UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION. THE, IN THE CREATION. THE CREATION OF A DISTRICT OR? YES. OKAY. I MEAN, UH, OR, OR YEAH. ANY, ANY CONFLICT THAT, YEAH, TO THE CREATION OF THE DISTRICT REQUIRES 75%. WHICH BODY IS IT THAT'S GONNA, THAT'S NOT COUNSEL, BUT THE, WELL, I THINK IT WOULD BE TREATED LIKE ANY OTHER ORDINANCE ONCE IT COMES BEFORE THIS BODY, THERE MAY BE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO THAT ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THAT DISTRICT IF NEEDED TO HAVE THE BODY. I'M NOT SURE YOU UNDERSTAND MY QUESTION. NO, I, I THINK I DO. IS COUNCIL MEMBER. OKAY, GO AHEAD. I, I THINK THE, THE, YOUR QUESTION IS WHAT ARE YOU VOTING ON WHEN IT COMES TO YOU? RIGHT? AND WHAT YOU ARE VOTING ON IS THE CREATION OF THE DISTRICT WITH, WITH THE RULES THAT THE COMMUNITY HAVE ALREADY AGREED TO. SO, SO THE, THE BUREAUCRATIC BODY THAT AGREES 75%, THIS SHOULD BE A, A CONSERVATION DISTRICT BROUGHT TO COUNCIL, AND COUNCIL CAN DISAGREE AND NOT ELECT TO DO IT. IS THAT CORRECT? YOU CAN DIS YOU CAN, YOU CAN VOTE TO NOT CREATE THE DISTRICT. YES, SIR. UNLIKE [03:30:01] THE HISTORIC DISTRICT CONTROVERSIES THAT WE HAVE WHERE PEOPLE, UH, THE ONLY THING WE CAN VOTE ON IS WHETHER THE DISTRICT FOLLOWED ITS OWN RULES. I, I THINK THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. I THINK WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO APPEAL, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THEY ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. THERE'S A AND THAT WE DON'T GO OFF INTO THIS AREA. THE PROBLEM WITH THAT'S NOT RIGHT, THAT'S NOT MAKE IT COMPLICATED FOR THE CREATION OF THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT. IT REQUIRES TWO, UH, THREE, SEVEN, 5%. WELL, I JUST FOUND THIS ON THE RECORD, MAYOR. WELL, AND THAT'S WHY I'M PUTTING IT ON RECORD. IT REQUIRES 75% OF THE HISTORIC COMMISSION AND IT REQUIRES 75% OF CITY COUNCIL. CORRECT. AND OUR VOTE WILL BE INDEPENDENT OF THEIR VOTE FOR THE YEAH. 'CAUSE YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO AUTHORIZE THE, THE CREATION OF THE DISTRICT. 75%. OKAY. YEAH. I JUST DON'T WANNA MAKE IT COMPLICATED. YOU, I KNOW. WELL, IT IS COMPLICATED, MARY. THERE'S NO WAY AROUND IT. IT'S COMPLICATED ISSUE. IT'S COMPLICATED. ONLY IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE MODEL OF A HISTORICAL DISTRICT, THOSE 23 THAT WE HAVE CREATED. BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE, THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS. I KNOW PEOPLE WANT TO CONFLATE IT, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS SORT OF LIKE THE BIKE PLAN MAYOR. IT WAS, I WAS TOLD WHEN THE BIKE PLAN CAME UP, IT WAS GONNA BE FLEXIBLE. AND WE'VE DISCOVERED THAT IT'S LAMINATED, IT'S ON THE PLAN, IT IS WHAT IT IS, AND NO, NO CHANGES CAN BE MADE TO IT. AND I'M CONCERNED THAT THE SAME THING IS GONNA, ANYTIME THE GOVERNMENT DOES STUFF LIKE THIS ON DOWN THE ROAD, THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE ARE, ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT OUR INTENT WAS. AND I, THAT'S WHY I WANT IT ON THE RECORD. I, I, I RESPECT THAT. AND WHAT I WANT ON THE RECORD IS THAT IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT FOR THIS CITY TO PRESERVE COMMUNITIES, UH, THAT HAVE BEEN UNDERREPRESENTED, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR THAT ARE BEING GENTRIFIED IN THIS CITY. AND IF THIS CITY DOES NOTHING, THIS CITY IS GOING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GENTRIFICATION OF COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THIS CITY. JUST LIKE WHAT HAPPENED IN FREETOWN FOR WARD. SO I WANT THAT TO BE ON THE RECORD. AND THE QUESTION IS, IN THIS DEFINING MOMENT, WHERE WILL THIS CITY COUNCIL BE COUNCIL, UM, VICE MAYOR CAST TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I WANTED TO, UM, ASK A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW I SEE THIS CONSERVATION DISTRICT, UM, POTENTIALLY BEING AN ASSET FOR COMMUNITIES THAT I REPRESENTED IN DISTRICT A I'M SPECIFICALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE GLO HOMES THAT WERE BUILT IN MY DISTRICT, UM, THAT DID NOT CONFORM TO THE DEED RESTRICTIONS IN THE AREAS. HAD THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS BEEN CONSERVATION DISTRICTS, WOULD WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AVOID THE TWO BEDROOM, ONE BATH HOME THAT WAS BUILT AMONG THREE AND FOUR BEDROOM HOMES WITH TWO BEDROOMS? THESE HOMES WERE BUILT ON CINDER BLOCKS OR STILTS WITH NO GARAGES, A COUPLE OF WINDOWS, UM, RAMPS, TOTALLY NOT CHARACTERISTIC OF THE OTHER HOMES IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS. MM-HMM . UM, IF THERE WERE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS IN PLACE, WOULD THERE HAVE BEEN PROTECTIONS FOR THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS? BECAUSE WHAT WE FOUND NOW IS NOT ONLY DID THAT HOMEOWNER WHO HAD A HOME BUILT BY GLO LOSE THE WEALTH OF THEIR HOME OWNERSHIP, BUT THE IMPACT THAT THAT HOME NOW HAS ON THE OTHER HOMEOWNERS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS DETRIMENTAL. AND WE KNOW THAT FOR MOST PEOPLE, THEIR HOME IS WHERE THEIR WEALTH LIES. AND WE HAVE CURRENTLY, UM, SEVERAL HOMES IN THE COMMUNITY THAT DO NOT FIT WITH THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. AND THERE WAS REALLY NO OPTIONS. AND SO THE HOMEOWNER WHO HAD A GLO HOME BUILT, THEY LOST, IN MY OPINION, THE NEIGHBORS THAT LIVE IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS, THEY LOST, IN MY OPINION, HOWEVER, THE GLO IS TOUTING, WE BUILT 130 HOMES IN HOUSTON, AND WE ARE HELPING PEOPLE, IN MY OPINION, THAT IS NOT HELPING THE PEOPLE THAT I REPRESENT. IT WAS A LOSS LOSS, UM, FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAD THOSE HOMES BUILT THAT DID NOT MEET THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS COUNCIL MEMBER. YES, I AGREE. AND IT ALSO, THE CITY LOSS, BECAUSE OUR TAX BASE IS GONNA BE LOWERED BY PUTTING IN A LOWER VALUE, A STRUCTURE THAT DOESN'T LOOK APPROPRIATE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S GONNA AFFECT THE, YOU KNOW, HOW THAT NEIGHBORHOOD'S VALUE INCREASES OR DECREASES OVER TIME. I'M VERY AWARE OF THAT HAPPENING. AND, UH, THE, IT'S HA IT'S HAPPENING ACROSS THE, UH, YOU KNOW, EVERY, EVERYWHERE IN HOUSTON THAT'S O OLDER THAN, YOU KNOW, THE 1970S 75 THOSE HOMES BUILT, YOU'RE SEEING THAT, I'M TRYING TO UNTANGLE WHAT WAS DONE TO THAT IS ALLOWING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THOSE HOMES. I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TEXAS HISTORIC COMMISSION [03:35:01] AND THE, UH, GOVERNMENT LAND OFFICE. AND IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THEY'RE VIOLATING THAT ORDINANCE IN CONSTRUCTING THOSE HOUSES. UM, BUT, BUT HERE'S HOW IT IS. IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH PUBLIC INPUT ON THAT MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT, BECAUSE THAT MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT IS HAVING A SUBSTANTIVE IMPACT ON OUR CITY. AND IT SAYS THAT TO MAKE THAT KIND OF AGREEMENT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF PUBLIC INPUT TO THE IMPACT YOU'RE ABOUT TO HAVE ON A PLACE. SO ALL THAT TO SAY, I'M TRYING TO UNTANGLE THAT WITH WHAT I'M DOING, BUT HOW THIS TOOL WOULD'VE BEEN HELPFUL IS THAT AS THE INITIAL PEOPLE WHO WERE DEALING WITH THAT, I WASN'T IN HOUSTON AT THE TIME WHEN ALL THAT WAS GOING ON. THIS IS MY HOMETOWN, BUT I HAD LEFT FOR, UH, 15 YEARS TO WORK IN PRESERVATION STUDY ARCHITECTURE. BUT THE, THE, A LOCAL DISTRICT ALERTS, THE TEXAS HISTORIC COMMISSION, THAT THAT CITY BODY HAS SAID, THIS PLACE MATTERS. THEY LOOK AT THESE LOCAL MAPS, OUR HISTORIC MAP, WHEN THEY DECIDE WHETHER THE CITY HAS DECIDED THAT THAT PLACE MATTERS, THAT'S WHEN YOU NEED TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION. AND THEN YOU REALIZE THE IMPACT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE ON NEIGHBORS AND PEOPLE. SO A LOCAL DESIGNATION DOES NOT ASSURE IT, BUT IT CERTAINLY HELPS THAT PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THAT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, WE'VE SAID THAT PLACE MATTERS. IF THEY LOOK AT A MAP AND THEY SEE THE 23 HISTORIC DISTRICTS IN HOUSTON, UH, 21 OF WHICH ARE IN UPPER INCOME AREAS. I MEAN, WE'VE DONE THE INCOME, I HAVE AN INCOME MAP TO SHOW YOU THE INCOME IN OUR HISTORIC DISTRICTS. THEY'RE UPPER INCOME AREAS, SO THAT THAT'S WHAT THEY SEE TODAY. THEY DON'T SEE SOME OF OUR OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT MATTER. SO A LOCAL DESIGNATION LIKE THIS WILL HELP WITH IN THE FUTURE WHEN WE HAVE ANOTHER CATASTROPHE. AND IF THERE'S FUNDING LIKE THIS BEING SPENT TODAY, UH, AND WE'VE, WE ARE TRYING TO STUDY WHAT HAPPENED. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER, I HOPE THAT HELPS. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU. I'M SORRY, MAYOR. THANK YOU, MAYOR TURNER. AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. JUST A COUPLE OF CLARIFYING QUESTIONS SPECIFICALLY. UM, WHAT, UM, VICE MAYOR PERIN MENTIONED ABOUT GLOW. UM, SO THE COMMUNITY, THE CLARIFICATION NEEDS TO BE THAT IT INFLUENCES WHAT GLO DOES, BUT IT IS NOT A DEFINITIVE DECISION. IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT. AND IT'S ALSO THE TEXAS HISTORIC COMMISSION BECAUSE GLO ANY, ANYBODY, ANYBODY SPENDING FEDERAL DOLLARS HAS TO COMPLY WITH SECTION 1 0 6 THAT SAYS, THAT SECTION SAYS YOU CANNOT SPEND FEDERAL MONEY AND DESTROY OR HAVE AN ADVERSE IMPACT ON HISTORIC REESES IN OUR RESOURCES IN OUR COUNTRY. THAT THAT MEANS THAT YOU'VE GOTTA CHECK WITH THE STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE, WHICH IS THE TEXAS HISTORIC COMMISSION. MM-HMM . THEY TURN AND LOOK AT THE LOCAL MAP AND THE LOCAL OFFICE OF PRESERVATION FOR GUIDANCE IN HOW THEY'RE GONNA RESPOND AS TO WHETHER YOU'RE GONNA HAVE AN ADVERSE IMPACT OR NOT. OKAY. ALRIGHT. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT THIS IS JUST A DEFINITIVE ANSWER TO MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE THEIR HOMES BUILT PROPERLY. IT IS NOT A DEFINITIVE ANSWER. OKAY. AND THAT'S WHAT I WANNA MAKE SURE WE CLARIFY TODAY. OKAY. UM, I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS. SO MAYOR, IF YOU NEED TO PUT ME BACK IN QUEUE, JUST LET ME KNOW. UM, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, REGARDING WHAT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX HAD MENTIONED, UH, PERCENTAGE WISE DEED RESTRICTIONS ARE A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE COMMUNITY CORRECT? FOR, FOR DEED, FOR DEED RESTRICTIONS TO BE ABLE TO BE APPROVED IN A COMMUNITY. WHAT'S THE PERCENTAGE OF THE COMMUNITY? I'M ACTUALLY NOT A DEED RESTRICTIONS EXPERT. OKAY. SO I, I THINK IT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT, BUT I, OKAY. I BELIEVE THE STATE IS A HUNDRED PERCENT, BUT, UM, HISTORIC DISTRICTS ARE 67%, IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT. AND THEN THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT IS 51%? CORRECT. OKAY. UM, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION JUST TO GO ON RECORD, IF WE COULD INCREASE THAT TO 67. JUST A, JUST A, JUST A REQUEST. UM, THE OTHER CONCERN IS IF SOMEONE TO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER BUR SHABAS HAD MENTIONED ABOUT, UM, THE DIRECTOR HAVING CONTROL OF CREATING THIS. I UNDERSTAND. I'M APPRECIATE YOU CHANGING THAT LANGUAGE. UM, I THINK THE OTHER CONCERN IS, IS THAT IF YOU DO NOT GET 51% OF THE VOTE, THE DIRECTOR HAS TWO OPTIONS. ONE TO REDRAW THE BOUNDARIES, AND THEN THE OTHER IS TO REMOVE IT AS AN OPTION. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE CONCERN IS. WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE COMMUNITY MAYBE COME BACK IN, IN THAT CONVERSATION, OR AT LEAST GIVE SOME TYPE OF OPT OUT OPTION 'CAUSE THAT'S NOT PRESENT. AND THEN THE FINE OF $2,000 IS ROUGH. SO THE ORDINANCE SAYS THAT IF THE DIRECTOR MAKES THE, UH, RECOMMENDATION TO REDRAW THE BOUNDARIES, WE GO BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THAT IS WRITTEN INTO THE ORDINANCE AS IT EX THAT AS IT EXISTS RIGHT NOW. I THINK IT GOES BACK, I THINK IT'S NOTICE. RIGHT. IT'S, UM, IS IT, NOTICE IT MAILS, IT MAILS NOTICE TO THE OWNERS AS INDICATED MOST APPRAISAL. YOU'RE RIGHT, RIGHT. NOTICE WE'LL TAKE THAT. OKAY, WE'LL, WE'LL TAKE THAT COMMENT. I JUST WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE CLARIFICATION. UH, NOTICE AND, YOU KNOW, RESPONSIBILITY I THINK WOULD BE REALLY GREAT. AND THE LAST PIECE IS, UM, [03:40:01] THE TEXAS HISTORIC COMMISSION. NO, I'M SORRY. SORRY. THE, UM, THE PLANNING COMMISSION CURRENTLY HAS A LITTLE BIT MORE OVERSIGHT, UH, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HISTORIC DISTRICTS, CORRECT? NO, NO. WILL THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAVE ANY OVERSIGHT OVER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS? NO. NO. AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS A COMMISSION OF INDEPENDENT BODY. SO IS THE HISTORIC COMMISSION. THEY BOTH ARE. OH, THEY BOTH ARE. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, I'D, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE 67% VERSUS 51, IF I MAY. THE, ALL, MOST OF THE DISTRICTS IN HOUSTON WERE CREATED WITH 51% BUY-IN. MM-HMM . LATER THE CITY DID, UH, MAKE, THEY CALLED THE NO MEANS NO. WHERE THEY, THERE WERE SOME ADDED RESTRICTIONS ADDED, BUT REGARDLESS, THEY WERE ALL STARTED WITH 51%. AND THAT IS A COMMON NUMBER ACROSS TEXAS. BUT I ALSO WILL SAY THIS, THAT THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE HAVE BEEN DISENFRANCHISED HAVE A LOT OF HOLES IN THEM WITH FEDERAL DOLLARS. BUILDINGS WERE DEMOLISHED, HOMES WERE DESTROYED. THEY WERE, THEY WERE DECLARED, UH, EITHER BLIGHT OR UNSAFE, AND THEY WERE DESTROYED. SO THE FAMILIES THAT LOST THOSE HOMES DIDN'T, THEY LOST, YOU KNOW, THEY LOST EVERYTHING. THEY DON'T THERE ANYMORE. SO YOU IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, A VERY SIGNIFICANT, UM, HISTORIC CULTURAL HERITAGE TO OUR CITY. THEY, THEY DON'T HAVE, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO PULL TOGETHER THAT VOICE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT, UH, THAT THE, THE, THE MORE, THE OLD NEIGHBORS THAT HAVE ALL THEIR IN, THEY'RE INTACT. YOU CAN SEE THOSE FAMILIES, THEY WERE THERE ALL ALONG. THERE'S NOT HOLES. LOOK AT OUR HISTORIC DISTRICTS. THERE ARE NOT HOLES DRIVE AROUND IN ANY HISTORIC DISTRICT. AND YOU SEE A, A VERY HIGH CONCENTRATION OF HISTORIC HOMES THAT PEOPLE LOVE AND APPRECIATE IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. WE SEE BIG VACANT TRACKS OF LAND, ROWS OF HOUSES THAT WERE DEMOLISHED ALMOST ALL WITH FEDERAL MONEY. RIGHT. IT WAS, WHEN I TOOK THIS JOB THREE YEARS AGO, ONE OF THE OFFICERS FROM REMIND US WE'RE, HAVE TO KEEP OUR OPPORTUNITY, JUST KEEP OUR RESPONSE. IT'S KIND OF BRIEF, BUT WE'RE GONNA BE HERE ALL DAY. OKAY. UH, MAYOR PRO TIM MARTIN. YEAH. JUST A QUICK FOLLOW UP ON COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER'S QUESTION. SO, MOVING FORWARD, WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AS DRAFT AS AS DRAFTED TODAY? THIS HISTORIC, THE, THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT PROGRAM WOULD GO THROUGH THE HISTORIC COMMISSION FOR THEIR REVIEW AND THEIR 75% RECOMMENDATION BEFORE IT CAME TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THEIR 75% RECOMMENDATION. THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS NOT INVOLVED IN EITHER THE HISTORIC DISTRICT CREATION OR IN THIS PROPOSAL FOR CONSERVATION DISTRICT CREATION. OKAY. SO THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS NO ROLE IN THIS MOVING FORWARD. CORRECT. SO I THINK YOUR COMMENT WAS, CONSERVATION DISTRICTS ARE LESS RESTRICTIVE THAN BOTH HISTORIC DISTRICTS AND DEED, DEED RESTRICTIVE NEIGHBORHOODS. IS THAT CORRECT? MORE OR LESS? IT CAN, YES. YES. OKAY. SO IF MY DEED RESTRICTIVE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS A 10 FOOT SETBACK AND A CONSERVATION DISTRICT HAS A 20 FOOT SETBACK, BASED ON WHAT YOU SAID, I'M ASSUMING THAT THE DEED RESTRICTIVE 10 FOOT SETBACKS TAKES PRECEDENT. TYPICALLY THE MOST RESTRICTIVE Y'ALL ARE AM I'M OKAY, ROMAN. I JUST WANNA SAY THAT WE, IN THE, IF WE WERE WORKING WITH A NEIGHBORHOOD TO CREATE A DISTRICT, WE'RE GONNA CONSIDER THAT. I THINK IT WOULD VERY, VERY ODD AND UNUSUAL FOR A DISTRICT TO COME FORTH AND ASK FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN THESE RESTRICTION. THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE SOME STRONG ARGUMENT FOR THAT BECAUSE WE, I'VE SEEN A LOT OF ODD AND UNUSUAL THINGS HAPPEN AROUND HERE IN MY 11 YEARS, SO I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT. BUT, SO IT'S YOUR COMMENT IS THAT IN THE CREATION OF THE DISTRICT, WE WOULD LOOK AT THAT CRITERIA VERY CLOSE BEFORE WE BROUGHT THAT FORWARD AND CAUSED THE CITY TO BE IN SOME CONTROVERSIAL DECISION THAT'S BETWEEN NEIGHBORS WHO'VE CREATED DIS DEED RESTRICTIONS WITH APPARENTLY A HUNDRED PERCENT BUY-IN. I MEAN, COME ON. WE'RE NOT GONNA GO AND REARRANGE THE STREETS OF THESE VERY SIGNIFICANT NEIGHBORHOODS. I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO. I MEAN, I I, MY OPINION WHEN I GO TO THE HEIGHTS, I DON'T THINK CAMELBACK HOUSES A HISTORIC, BUT THAT'S A STORY FOR ANOTHER DAY. AND THAT'S HOW YOU GET AROUND THE HISTORIC STUFF. YOU BUILD A CAMELBACK ON THE BACK ON IT LOOKS, I'M NOT GONNA GO THERE. MY LAST QUESTION IS, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE 51%, UH, IF A NEIGHBORHOOD HAS A HUNDRED LOTS, EACH ONE GETS A VOTE. CORRECT. SO WHAT DO YOU DO? UH, ON A NO VOTE? I DON'T SEND IN MY VOTE. I REALLY DON'T CARE. I'M NOT GONNA SEND IT IN. DO YOU JUST USE THE NUMBER OF VOTES AND USE THE 51? NO, NO. Y'ALL ARE SAYING DIFFERENT ANSWERS. HE'S SAYING YES. YOU'RE SAYING NO, NO RESPONSES ARE COUNTED AS NO VOTES. THAT'S EXACTLY, THAT'S RIGHT. SO IF I HAVE NO VOTE, THEN, THEN THAT IS JUST MATH IN THE, IN THE, SO IF 10 PEOPLE IN THE 100, GO AHEAD. SURE. SO I HAVE A HUNDRED LOTS. YEP. 80 PEOPLE RESPOND. SO 51% OF A HUNDRED IS WHAT YOU USE. 51, NOT 51% OF THE 80 RESPONSES. CORRECT. [03:45:01] GOT IT. COUNCIL MEMBER, MAYOR, COUNCILMAN, MR. CISNEROS. THANK YOU, ROMAN. WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, UM, NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAD BEEN DISENFRANCHISED AND THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, HOMES THAT HAD BEEN, UM, DEMOLISHED AND BIG TRACKS OF LAND. WHAT'S TOP OF MIND FOR ME IN DISTRICT H IS INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENED THERE. AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, GENTRIFICATION GOING ON, AND THIS IS SUCH A HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR CITY. AND SO THIS IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TOOL. YOU KNOW, UM, DEED RESTRICTIONS ARE SO HARD TO MEET. AND IN A, IN GOING INTO A COMMUNITY LIKE THAT, I MEAN, IT'S REALLY NOT REALISTIC. SO THIS IS, THIS IS A TOOL THAT WILL ALLOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO, TO PROTECT ITSELF IN WAYS THAT IT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO, TO PROTECT ITSELF. SO I'M, I'M, I'M, I'M ALL ON BOARD AND FULLY SUPPORTIVE. UM, I, AND I THINK THE OTHER POINTS I WAS GONNA MAKE HAVE ALREADY BEEN ADDRESSED, BUT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT THANK YOU COUNCIL MAYOR COY. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION. AS YOU KNOW, I'VE, I'VE SENT OVER DETAILED 16 QUESTIONS, SO I WON'T BELABOR THOSE AT THE TABLE, BUT LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING RESPONSES. BUT I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE THINGS, UM, IN SECTION 33 DASH 6 0 2 OF THE ORDINANCE THAT TALKS ABOUT HOW THE COMMUNITY INITIATES THE, THE DISCUSSION, YOU KNOW, THE DISCUSSION. AND THEN IT ALSO TALKS ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT MAY ALSO IDENTIFY APPROPRIATE AREAS THAT MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR AND BENEFIT FROM CONSERVATION DISTRICT DESIGNATION AND MAY ALSO CREATE AN ANNUAL PLAN FOR ONE OR MORE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS. SO MAYOR, I THINK THIS IS GREAT. I THINK AN ANNUAL PLAN IS A GREAT IDEA, THE NEIGHBORHOODS. AND LAST WEEK WHEN YOU SAID THIS IS TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, THIS IS TO PROTECT GENTRIFICATION. RIGHT ON. I'M ALL FOR IT. AND I THINK EVERYBODY CAN GET BEHIND THAT. WHAT WE WANT IS SOME CERTAINTY. SO THIS ANNUAL PLAN COULD BE A GOOD WAY OF GOING ABOUT THAT. INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS, FREEDMAN'S TOWN, EASTWOOD, PINEY POINT, ACRES, HOMES, SOUTH EDITION MANCHESTER, ALL THE ONES YOU NAMED EARLIER, THE G UM, NEIGHBORHOODS WITH A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF GLO HOMES. I THINK IF, IF THERE WAS CERTAINTY IN THE ORDINANCE OF AN ANNUAL PLAN IN WHICH, WHERE, WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THESE, I THINK THAT THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I WANNA DO. I WANNA SEE THESE NEIGHBORHOODS PROTECTED. THESE ARE IMPORTANT NEIGHBORHOODS FOR OUR CITY, BUT I THINK PROPERTY OWNERS AND PEOPLE, UH, UH, THAT ARE LOOKING FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE CITY AND ARE WANT SOME KIND OF CERTAINTY IN WHERE TO GO AND WHERE TO BUY AND WHAT TO DO. I THINK CERTAIN PARTS OF THIS ORDINANCE CAN TIE UP BUILDING PERMITS FOR SIX MONTHS PLUS ADD ON 60 DAYS. IF HAHC DE DECIDES TO DEFER, YOU'RE TALKING A 60 DAY DELAY, THEY CAN DEFER, AGAIN, A 60 DAY DELAY. SO YOU COULD HAVE A PROPERTY AND NOT BE ABLE TO GET A PERMIT FOR THE BETTER PART OF A YEAR. SO I THINK TO THE EXTENT, THROUGH THIS ANNUAL PLAN, WHICH IS PART OF THE ORDINANCE, IF WE COULD PUT SOME KIND OF CERTAINTY WITHIN THE OR, UH, ANNUAL, UH, PLAN, I THINK THAT, UH, THAT WOULD GIVE, UH, A LOT OF, OF, OF, UM, UH, MORE COMFORT IN IN, IN KNOWING WHERE YOU'RE GONNA GO. BECAUSE ALL THE AREAS YOU'VE MENTIONED, MAYOR, I WOULD, I WOULD VOTE FOR THOSE TODAY. BUT I THINK THE ORDINANCE JUST BEING SO BROAD, I MEAN, THE ORDINANCE DOESN'T SAY GENTRIFIED AREAS. THE ORDINANCE DOESN'T SAY AREAS WITH GLO CONCENTRATION, THE ORDINANCE IS BROAD. SO THERE'S A FEELING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT, WOW, THIS COULD GO ANYWHERE. I JUST BOUGHT A PLACE IN A STRIP MALL AND THERE'S A NEIGHBORHOOD NEARBY AND THEY MIGHT BE COMING TO TELL ME I CAN'T, YOU KNOW, IT'S THAT KIND OF PERCEPTION THAT'S, THAT'S JUST WOULD BE GOOD TO REWARD. SO I THINK THE KEY IS IN THIS 33 DASH 6 0 2 ANNUAL PLAN, AND IF THAT COULD SOMEHOW BE APPROVED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS BY CITY COUNCIL, THAT THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD, A GOOD WAY TO LOOK AT THIS. AND, AND ON THE, ON MAYOR PRO TEMS POINT ABOUT THE 51%, I GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, IT'S GOTTA BE 51% OF THE A HUNDRED OF THE A HUNDRED HOMES, BUT IN THE FAQS, AND YOU SAID YOU UPDATED 'EM, BUT I LOOKED AT 'EM IN THE FAQS. IT DEFINITELY SAYS 51% OF THE RESPONSES. SO CHANGE THAT FAQ 'CAUSE IT'S, IT'S CONFUSING. IT SAYS THAT THAT'S A MISTAKE ON MARK. OKAY. THANKS. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER HOFFMAN. THANK YOU. IS THERE A WAY OR A MECHANISM TO COME BACK AND REVISIT A CONSERVATION DISTRICT IF AT SOME POINT IN TIME, SAY THE FLOOD PLAINS CHANGE OR, UM, YOU KNOW, THE CONDITIONS CHANGE, UM, OR HAVE A TIME LIMIT ON THE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS TO BE REVISITED? THAT'S, THAT'S NOT IN THE ORDINANCE AS IT'S SUGGESTED TODAY. IT'S SOMETHING WE'LL TAKE, WE'LL TAKE THAT SUGGESTION IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE IT. YEAH, I AGREE. THAT WAS BROUGHT UP LAST NIGHT AT LIVABLE PLACES, AN ACTION COMMITTEE LAST NIGHT, AND I MADE A NOTE THAT WE NEED TO INSERT SOME LANGUAGE LIKE THAT, THAT LANGUAGE EXISTS IN HISTORIC DISTRICT ORDINANCE ABOUT MAKING CHANGES TO IT. AND WE CERTAINLY HAVE [03:50:01] TO RESPOND TO HOT CLIMATE, THE RAISING WATERLINE. YEAH. COUNCILMAN PAT. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. AND WE'VE DISCUSSED MY CONCERNS, UM, WITH IT. AND MAYOR, I THINK THAT IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO, UM, MOVE FORWARD IN SOME MANNER, UM, TO PROTECT NEIGHBORHOODS. I JUST HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PATH FORWARD WITH IT. UM, PARTICULARLY WITH, UM, MY QUESTIONS ABOUT IF WE HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO ACTUALLY TAKE THIS ON. UM, I KNOW THAT THESE AREN'T DEED RESTRICTIONS, BUT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR DEED RESTRICTION PROGRAM WITH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, THEY ENFORCE JUST A FEW DEED RESTRICTIONS AND THERE'S BARELY ENOUGH MANPOWER IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO EVEN ENFORCE THOSE FEW THINGS. AND NOW WE'RE EXPANDING THE SCOPE, BASICALLY, OF GUIDELINES THAT WE NOW WILL, UM, BE IN CHARGE OF ENFORCING. AND SO I'M JUST WONDERING IF WE'LL HAVE THE RESOURCES TO ACTUALLY DO THAT. AND THEN ALSO, SINCE THE ORDINANCE IS WRITTEN PRETTY BROADLY AS FAR AS WHAT NEIGHBORHOODS MIGHT QUALIFY, IT SEEMS LIKE ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN DISTRICT A WOULD WANT TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS BECAUSE WHERE THEY COULDN'T GET ENFORCEMENT ON CERTAIN DEED RESTRICTION ITEMS BEFORE THROUGH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THIS WOULD KIND OF OPEN THAT UP TO THAT. AND SO, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE A BUNCH OF NEIGHBORHOODS FROM EACH DISTRICT APPLYING, HOW WILL WE BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THOSE APPLICATIONS AND DETERMINE WHICH ONES ACTUALLY WOULD QUALIFY AND WHICH ONES WOULD NOT BE SELECTED? COUNCIL MEMBER, THAT IS A CONCERN OF OURS, IS, UM, HOW WE WILL BE ABLE TO STAFF THIS. WE BELIEVE IF THIS ORDINANCE GETS PASSED, WE WILL MAKE IT WORK. THAT'S WHAT WE DO. COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MUCH. I, UM, MAYBE I'M REALLY CLOSE TO IT. 'CAUSE I TEACH A CULTURAL HERITAGE AND PRESERVATION COURSE, SO I, I UNDERSTAND THE, THE IMPORTANCE. I HAVE A STATEMENT AND THEN A, A FOLLOW UP TO COUNCIL MEMBER P'S REQUEST. SO, UM, I REPRESENT OLD TOWN JEANETTA. IT'S NOW KNOWN AS PINEY POINT. IT WAS RESETTLED IN 1865. THERE WERE FIVE NEIGHBORHOODS, RIDGE, HARLEM HEIGHTS, HARKER HEIGHTS, PINEY PARTON, CARVER CREST. CARVER CREST REMAINS WITH ABOUT A HUNDRED HOMES. WOOD FRAME. BLOSSOM HEIGHTS HAS SCATTERED SIGHTS AROUND FONDANT. THAT IS IT SEPARATE OF THE CHURCH AND THE CEMETERY. THAT'S ALL THAT REMAINS OF PINEY POINT. CURRENTLY TODAY, THERE'S SOMEONE THAT HAS PURCHASED LOTS AND HOMES AND IT'S, IT'S AN INCREDIBLY AGED NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT'S TOUGH TO GET THEM TO EVEN, YOU KNOW, SIGN UP FOR THE CIVIC CLUB AND MOBILIZE. IT'S A LOT OF LABOR TO GET THAT TO HAPPEN. UH, SOMEONE TODAY IS KNOCKING ON DOORS AND ASKING RESIDENTS TO ALLOW HIM TO PAY THEIR PROPERTY TAXES. SO HE COULD HAVE, UH, HE COULD CHANGE THEIR DEED RESTRICTIONS SO HE CAN PUT A DENTAL OFFICE IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD ON JARVIS STREET. THIS IS HAPPENING TODAY. RETTA MOSS TEXTS ME ON MONDAY BECAUSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING. IF, WITH ALL OF THE EFFORTS ON AMANDA LANE, WE'RE TRYING TO INFILL A STREET WITH EIGHT TO 10 HOMES JUST TO INCREASE THEIR NUMBERS SO THEY CAN HAVE VOTE AND AGENCY OVER THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE THIS ONE GUY IS BUYING UP THEIR LAND. SO THIS CONSERVATION DISTRICT GIVES THEM SOME TYPE OF HOPE. HERE'S MY CONCERN IS ONCE THEY SIGN UP FOR IT, THE PROCESS WHERE THIS CAN ACTIVATE AND THEN HALT THE ONGOING GENTRIFICATION THAT'S HAPPENING, WHAT'S ALSO HAPPENED, AND TO MAYOR TURNER'S POINT ABOUT THE CITY PARTICIPATING IN PREDATORY P PRACTICES, THIS RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD PLOTS WERE REPLAYED TO COMMERCIAL. THERE ARE MECHANIC SHOPS SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. RIGHT? IT AND IT'S PROBLEMATIC. SO I HAVE, THIS IS ALL I HAVE, RIGHT? AND, AND, AND ROMAN WAS SO KIND AND GRACIOUS TO INTRODUCE THIS OVER A YEAR AGO TO THE PINEY POINT CIVIC COMMUNITY, AND, AND THEY CHOSE THIS. THEY SAID, WHEN THIS COMES AVAILABLE, WE WANT THIS FOR US. SECOND OF THAT, THOUGH, I ALSO HAVE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT DON'T HAVE HOAS AND THAT ARE NOT HISTORICAL BY RACIAL OR HERITAGE DESIGNATION. WESTMONT TANGO WILD. THAT WOULD PROBABLY GLADLY SIGN ON TO THIS. 'CAUSE THEY NEED PROTECTIONS TOO, RIGHT THERE IN MIDWEST HOUSTON TO COUNCIL MEMBER PECK'S POINT. SO WHAT WOULD BE THE PATHWAY? AND I THINK THE OFFERING OF THE ANNUAL, THAT ANNUAL REPORT TO THEN PHASE IN SIMILAR TO COMPLETE COMMUNITIES. WE STARTED OUT WITH THE FA PHASE ONE, AND THEN WE CAME BACK WITH PHASE TWO 'CAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY. AND I THINK IT ALSO GIVES THESE NEIGHBORHOODS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK AND SAY, BASED ON THE MENU, WE CHOSE TWO, I THINK WE NEED THREE. OR WE CHOSE THOSE TWO AND THAT NO LONGER WORKS FOR US AND WE NEED TO MAKE AN EDIT. BECAUSE NOW WE ARE GETTING IN A GROOVE. WE'RE DOING MULTIPLE THINGS. AND I THINK THEY NEED THAT FLEXIBILITY BECAUSE THIS IS A NEW TOOL. BUT I'M, I'M IN COMPLETE SUPPORT. I STILL HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. THE GLO IS STILL ALSO IMPEDING IN DISTRICT F WITH HOMES THAT DO NOT FIT THE FABRIC OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN GET RIGHT, I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO POINT TO THIS 10 YEARS FROM 10 YEARS [03:55:01] FROM THE LINE AND SAY WE DID THE, THE RIGHT THING TO PRESERVE PEOPLE IN THESE, UH, IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. BUT I, I DO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT HOW QUICKLY THIS CAN ONBOARD WHILE HALTING THE, YOU KNOW, THE IMPACT THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, THANK YOU, UM, DIRECTOR BROWN FOR, UM, JUST ALL YOUR WORK ON THIS. I KNOW WE'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE ISSUES IN DISTRICT B AND I SHARE, UM, MY COLLEAGUES' CONCERNS ABOUT THE, YOU KNOW, THE BUSINESSES BEING SET UP IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOUSING, BUT MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, WOULD THIS PROTECT, UM, PROVIDE PROTECTIONS FROM LIKE TRUCK YARDS AND, UM, BATCH PLANTS, YOU KNOW, UM, THAT'S SETTING UP IN SOME OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT DON'T HAVE THE RESTRICTION OR HOAS. SO AGAIN, THIS, THIS ORDINANCE WOULD NOT ADDRESS LAND USE MM-HMM . BUT IT COULD ADDRESS FENCING, IT COULD ADDRESS, UM, LOT SIZES AND UM, AND BUILDING MATERIALS. SO IT WOULD HAVE SOME EFFECT ON THAT. UM, DO YOU WANNA ADD TO THAT? HOW WELL, THIS IS THAT, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. AND WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. UH, RIGHT NOW THAT'S BEEN A, THERE'S BEEN CONCERN EXPRESSED, BUT PEOPLE SAY, WELL, IF WE HAVE A, AS, UM, UH, SOMEONE MENTIONED, I THINK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, IF THERE'S A STRIP CENTER NEAR A NEIGHBORHOOD, CAN YOU WRAP AROUND IT? UH, THE, I WOULD SAY THAT THEY, YOU CAN WRAP AROUND AN AREA, RIGHT? AND YOU COULD PUT SOME RESTRICTIONS THAT MIGHT PROHIBIT IS I IT ALL, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS IN THERE AND YOU'D HAVE TO HAVE THE BUY-IN OF YOUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AND 75% OF THIS BODY AND 75% OF THE HISTORIC COMMISSION TO PASS THAT ORDINANCE. BUT THE WAY WE'VE DRAFTED THIS, IT COULD AFFECT THAT. IF, IF, IF IT ALL CAME TOGETHER RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH THAT CAN. SO THIS IS ADDING TO OUR TOOLBOX IN THAT REGARD. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. UM, COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. GOOD MORNING TO EVERYBODY. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PRESENTATION. UM, I, I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT PRESERVATION IS NECESSARY AND FINDING A WAY TO DO THAT, UM, I GUESS IS WHAT THE PROCESS WE'RE GOING THROUGH NOW. I WOULD, I WOULD'VE LIKED TO SEE IT TO WHERE, UM, MAYBE THE PROPOSED ORDINATE LANGUAGE WOULD HAVE MORE COMMUNITY INPUT FIRST. UM, AND THEN WE STARTED TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS. 'CAUSE I THINK IT WOULD'VE BEEN A LITTLE MORE EFFICIENT FOR US. UM, BUT WHEN WE MET LAST WEEK, I THINK YOU ALL HAD MENTIONED, UM, THAT, AND THIS IS KIND OF GOING BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBER PECK'S POINT, THE CAPACITY ON HOW MANY OF THESE DISTRICTS COULD BE CREATED EACH YEAR, RIGHT? AND I DON'T WANT TO SAY THE EXACT NUMBER, UH, BUT YOU HAD, YOU HAD MENTIONED, UH, A ROUNDABOUT NUMBER ON, ON HOW HOW MANY CONSERVATION DISTRICTS COULD BE REALISTICALLY CREATED IN A YEAR. DO YOU RECALL THAT CONVERSATION? THAT MAY HAVE BEEN. I HAVEN'T, I DON'T REMEMBER HAVING A REALISTIC NUMBER SAYING SOMETHING LIKE THAT. OKAY. FOR ME, I MEAN, FOR ME, I, I ALL, I'M, I'M HEARING FROM ACROSS THE CITY PEOPLE INTERESTED IN MAKING THEM. UM, AND I THINK THAT HA WORKING WITH THE, WHAT, WHAT THE DIRECTOR HAS MENTIONED IS THAT WE WANT TO WORK WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS. AND WE HAD THAT. AND HER CONCERN WITH PUTTING THAT INITIAL LANGUAGE IN THERE ABOUT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WAS THE CONCERN THAT, OH, WELL, WE'RE JUST GONNA GET 50 OF THESE AND HOW ARE WE GONNA DEAL WITH THAT? SO, SO IF YOU DID GET 50 APPLICATIONS, REALISTICALLY, HOW MANY COULD YOU CREATE IN A YEAR? I, I, I, I DON'T, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT. IT, I, I JUST CAN'T ANSWER THAT RIGHT NOW. UH, WE ARE RIGHT NOW WORKING WITH INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS AND WE'D LIKE TO, UM, BRING THAT FORWARD AS OUR FIRST NEIGHBORHOOD AND SEE, UH, YOU KNOW, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE US? HOW LONG DOES THE COMMUNITY WANT TO PARTICIPATE BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY ARE WILLING TO, YOU KNOW, BEFORE THEY'RE INTERESTED, BEFORE THEY GET THEIR ARMS AROUND WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING BEFORE WE ACTUALLY SEND IT OUT TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS FOR VOTE? I, I DON'T KNOW THAT YET WITHOUT HAVING, AND I'M, I'M ASKING THAT FOR TWO REASONS. ONE, IF WE PUT IT OUT THERE TO THE PUBLIC THAT YOU CAN APPLY FOR THESE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS AND YOU GET 50 APPLICATIONS, BUT REALISTICALLY, YOU ONLY CAN CREATE THREE, THEN PEOPLE ARE FEELING LEFT OUT OF THE PROCESS. AND PART OF, BUT ON THE, ON THE OTHER POINT, IF YOU ONLY CAN CREATE THREE, RIGHT, THEN MAYBE WE CAN PRE DESIGNATE, UH, WHICH COMMUNITIES WE'RE GONNA FOCUS ON. RIGHT? AND SO WE SAY THIS YEAR BACK TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, ALCORN'S POINT, YOU HAVE INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS, PINEY POINT, ACRES, HOMES, AND, AND FRIEDMANS TOWN 2023, THE NEXT YEAR IT'S, AND SO PEOPLE HAVE A REALISTIC EXPECTATION ON, ON WHAT IS BEING CREATED, HOW THEY CAN BE A PART OF THE PROCESS. AND WE START TO NARROWLY TAILOR THE ORDINANCE SO THAT, UM, THERE AREN'T THESE ASSUMPTIONS OR UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF JUST PUTTING IT OUT IN A BROAD MANNER. YES, SIR. UH, I WOULD SAY THAT WE WANT, DON'T WANNA RAISE EXPECTATIONS BEYOND WHAT WE CAN DO. I THINK THE ANNUAL REPORT AND THE [04:00:01] REASON WE ADDED IT TO THE ORDINANCE IS SOMETHING THAT'S WORTH PURSUING. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. UM, COUNCILMAN EVAN SHABAS. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I KNOW I MAY BE A LITTLE HYPERSENSITIVE, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR INDULGENCE. UH, BUT I HAVE A COUPLE OF, UH, COMMENTS AND THEN I HAVE A QUESTION. UH, THE FIRST PART IS THE 51%. I'M NOT REALLY SURE IF THAT IS A HIGH ENOUGH BAR. UM, AND I THINK THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, SHOULD WEIGH IN ON THAT. BUT CERTAINLY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER MENTIONED, UH, THE DISCRETION OF THE DIRECTOR TO GO BACK AND REDRAW THE LINES WITHOUT COMMUNITY INPUT. UH, IN ALL HONESTY, I THINK THAT'S WHAT CREATED THE FIRESTORM WITH THE HISTORIC DISTRICT. AND I KNOW WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT, BUT I DO BELIEVE, I KNOW WE, I KNOW WE ARE NOT COUNCILMAN, SO LET'S, BUT SOME LANGUAGES SENT, LET'S NOT CONFLATE THAT I LEFT, I LEFT YOUR COMMUNITY TOTALLY OUT OF THIS. I GOT IT. BUT SOME OF THE LANGUAGE IS SIMILAR. AND SO I'M, I'M, I'M, I HEAR YOU. I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD GO BACK TO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE UNKNOWN THING, UM, NOT MENTIONED. UM, AND SO I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT PIECE. AND THE SECOND PIECE, I'M VERY STRONG ON COMMUNITY INPUT. I DO SEE SOME, UH, MEMBERS OF DISTRICT D OUT THERE AND I WANT TO HEAR FROM THEM. BUT WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR COMMUNITY EDUCATION ALONG WITH COMMUNITY INPUT? BECAUSE I, I DO BELIEVE THAT THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS MAY HAVE JUST GOTTEN THIS A WEEK OR SO AGO. AND HERE WE ARE HERE TODAY, AND I KNOW THAT MY DISTRICT D COMMUNITY, WHICH COULD BE VERY MUCH IMPACTED BY THIS, HAS VERY LITTLE EDUCATION ABOUT THIS. SO WHAT METHOD ARE YOU GOING TO USE TO EN TO EDUCATE? ARE YOU ASKING AND TO ENGAGE? ARE YOU ASKING ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE OR ABOUT INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS? I'M SPEAKING OF BOTH. I'M SURE EVERYBODY WANTS TO, TO GET THE EDUCATION, BUT I KNOW DISTRICT D DOES BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME PROPERTIES THAT COULD BE GREATLY IMPACTED. I'M SORRY, MY, MY QUESTION, I DIDN'T PHRASE MY QUESTION CORRECTLY. UM, LET ME ANSWER IT THIS WAY. WE, WE HAVE BEGUN, AND THIS PUBLIC ME, THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS PART OF OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH THIS ENABLING LEGIS, WITH THIS ENABLING ORDINANCE. UM, AGAIN, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF LISTENING AND PRES PRESENTING WHAT IS PROPOSED AND LISTENING TO, UH, FEEDBACK ON IT. THAT'S WHAT TODAY'S ALL ABOUT. UM, AND WE, WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE OF THESE TYPES OF MEETINGS, WHETHER WITH COMMUNITIES OR WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS DIRECTLY PLANNED OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, UM, FOR THE DISTRICT CREATION, UM, THAT PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS, THERE IS NO MINIMUM OR MAXIMUM FOR IT. IT IS AT LEAST A NUMBER OF MEETINGS. IT COULD. UM, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW IN ORDER TO COME UP WITH THE, UM, WITH THE ATTRIBUTES THEY WANNA PURSUE. UM, SO IT'S ALL BASED ON THE, THE COMMUNITY ITSELF AND WHERE AND HOW THEY DRIVE THE PROCESS. SO THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD COULD CALL A MEETING, ENGAGE YOU TO COME OUT AND DISCUSS THIS. I'M ACTUALLY ON THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD'S AGENDA FOR THE 13TH OF MARCH FOR, FOR THIS, FOR THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD IN MY DISTRICT. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE. I APOLOGIZE. YEAH. I'M ON THEIR AGENDA. I'D BE HAPPY TO TALK TO YOUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD. YES. OKAY. BUT I'M JUST SAYING I WOULD LIKE, BECAUSE OF THE SENSITIVITY OF THIS ISSUE, PERHAPS HAVE SOME ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION FOR MY DISTRICT D CONSTITUENTS. THAT'S FINE. AND SO THAT IS A POSSIBILITY. YES, MA'AM. CORRECT. OKAY. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR. THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR, DIRECTOR, AND I, I JUST WANT TO BE SURE ON HOW THE PROCESS IS INITIATED. CAN YOU REITERATE HOW THE PROCESS IS INITIATED? IT IS A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS. THERE IS NO PETITION, THERE IS NO FORMAL APPLICATION THAT WE HAVE DEVELOPED FOR THIS YET. WHAT, WHAT WE, UM, EX WHAT WE EXPECT IS THAT WE HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITIES ALREADY. AND THAT COMMUNITY WILL BRING THIS FORWARD TO US IN THE, IN THE, IN OUR DAILY, UH, UH, INTERACTIONS WITH THEM. UM, WE HAVE HEARD FROM YOU ALL. WE WILL TAKE COMMENTS, WE WILL TAKE SUGGESTIONS FROM YOUR OFFICES. IF YOU WANT US TO GO OUT AND TALK TO OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THIS. WE WILL BEGIN THE CONVERSATIONS IN ANY, IN ANY NUMBER OF WAYS WITH THE COMMUNITY. I DO THINK IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR US TO DO AN EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN ACROSS THE, THE DISTRICTS, UM, ACROSS THESE NEIGHBORHOODS TO LET PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO ACTUALLY INITIATE THESE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS. UM, BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF NUANCES IN, IN ALL OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. UM, SPECIFICALLY, I'M, I'M VERY, VERY CONCERNED, YOU KNOW, WITH THESE GLO HOMES AND THE IMPACT IT'S HAVING [04:05:01] IN MY DISTRICT, WITH 15 OF THEM HAVING ALREADY BEING BUILT AND THE GLO WITH OVER A THOUSAND LEFT TO BUILD MM-HMM . UM, HOW CAN WE PREVENT WHAT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED FROM CONTINUING TO HAPPEN IN, IN, IN DISTRICT A AND, AND ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY OF HOUSTON. BUT I KNOW THERE'S SOME CONCERN ABOUT THE INITIATION OF THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT THAT INITIAL, UM, CREATION OF THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT IS NOT A DECISION OF THE PLANNING DIRECTOR. THIS IS A COMPREHENSIVE PROCESS THAT NEIGHBORS WOULD BE ABLE TO INITIATE THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. I WOULD SAY IT'S A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS, BUT YES MA'AM. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN KUMA. DID I UNDERSTAND EARLIER THAT IF WE PASSED THIS CONSERVATION, UH, DISTRICT ORDINANCE, THAT UH, IT WOULD, THE PEOPLE WOULD NOT BE COMING TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, THEY'D BE GOING TO THE HISTORICAL DISTRICT. DID YOU SAY THAT EARLIER? NO. SO ANYBODY ELSE HEAR THAT OTHER THAN ME? NO. WELL, THERE HAD BEEN SO MUCH TALK ABOUT HISTORICAL STUFF. MAYOR. I'M THINKING, I'M THINKING COMMISSIONS COMMISSION, WHICH HISTORIC DISTRICT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? ALRIGHT, WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AS LONG AS IT COMES, SO LONG AS WE KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING. OKAY. THE LAST, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WILL BE SPEAKING BEFORE WE TURN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC COUNCIL MEMBER SRO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THERE'S A, A WHOLE RANGE OF INFORMATION THAT PEOPLE HAVE OR DON'T HAVE ABOUT CONSERVATION DISTRICTS, BUT I DID JUST WANNA TO HIGHLIGHT THAT IN INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS, THAT IT WAS IDENTIFIED AS ONE OF THE THINGS THEY WANTED VERY, YOU KNOW, DESPERATELY IT WAS IDENTIFIED IN THEIR LIVABLE CITIES ACTION PLAN IN 2012, MORE THAN A DECADE AGO. SO INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS KNOWS WHAT THIS IS, AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE DESPERATE TO GET IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. UH, NOW I'M MADAM SECRETARY. YOU ARE CALLED THE FIRST, UH, PERSON ON THE SPEAKERS LIST. DAVID BUSH. DAVID BUSH. DAVID BUSH IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY SUSIE HARTGROVE. GOOD MORNING THERE. MORNING. GOOD MORNING. I'M DAVID BUSH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PRESERVATION HOUSTON. UH, WE BELIEVE THIS COULD BE AN IMPORTANT TOOL TO GIVE RESIDENTS A VOICE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD'S FUTURE. IT COULD BE PARTICULARLY USEFUL IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE INDEPENDENT SITES AND THE NEAR NORTH SIDE, WHICH ARE NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICTS, BUT DON'T HAVE LOCAL PROTECTIONS. UH, THE ORDINANCE COULD ALSO COMPLIMENT THE EXISTING, UH, CULTURAL ARTS DISTRICTS IN THIRD WARD AND FIFTH WARD AND, UH, THE HERITAGE DISTRICT IN FRIEDMANS TOWN. UH, WE DO CARE SHARE THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S CONCERN ABOUT STAFFING BECAUSE EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION OF THE DISTRICTS WOULD BE CRUCIAL AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE FINAL VERSION OF THE ORDINANCE. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN KASH. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. CAN, CAN YOU TELL US WHAT POSSIBLE NEGATIVES WE MAY BE, UH, LOOKING AT AS A RESULT OF PASSING THIS ORDINANCE? UH, WOULD, WOULD THERE BE ANY NEGATIVES THAT YOU COULD, UH, YOU KNOW, HIGHLIGHT THAT WE MIGHT HAVE TO FACE? IT'S HARD TO SAY. I NEED, I WOULD REALLY NEED TO SEE THE FINAL VERSION. IT'S REALLY TOUGH TO SAY ANYTHING, UM, ABOUT IT. UH, THERE HAVE BEEN QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LEVEL OF BUY-IN, IN THE RESIDENTS. I, I, THAT WOULD BE IN MY MIND THE MAIN QUESTION ABOUT THE CHANGES YOU WANNA MAKE. BUT, BUT YOU DON'T SEE ANY REAL NEGATIVES OTHER THAN NO, IT, IT'S VERY FLEXIBLE. UH, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN ADVANTAGES. IT'S FLEXIBLE. THESE WOULD ALL BE DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS WANT. AND IT GIVES THE RESIDENTS AN OPTION, YOU KNOW, SORT OF A CHECKLIST ON WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. BUSH. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER PLUMBER FOR THE MOTION RIGHT NOW. I KNOW, UH, COUNCILMAN PLUM, YOU, YOU HAVE A PROCEDURE MOTION? YES. YES MA'AM. UM, I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO, UM, ADD TROY ALLEN TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE LIST. SECOND ROBINSON. UM, YOU HEARD THE MOTION BEEN SECOND AND OBJECTION. MOTION GRANTED. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU MS. HARGROVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M SUZY HARTGRAVE REPRESENTING THE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL OF HOUSTON. WE ARE, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE JUST BECAUSE OF ITS BROAD APPLICABILITY ACROSS HOUSTON. WE THINK THIS MAY OPEN THE DOOR FOR NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY TO KIND OF CO-OPT THE ORDINANCE AND PULL IN, [04:10:01] UM, PROPERTIES THAT NEARBY COMMERCIAL LARGE COMMERCIAL TRACKS AND PREVENT THE DEVELOPMENT OR REDEVELOPMENT OF THOSE TRACKS. WE UNDERSTAND YOUR GOAL OF TRYING TO PREVENT, OR, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO PROTECT VERY SPECIFIC TARGETED HISTORIC AREAS. AND, AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, THAT LET'S MAKE THE ORDINANCE TO ADDRESS THAT VERY SPECIFICALLY. LET'S NAME THOSE COMMUNITIES. LET'S WORK ON WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THOSE COMMUNITIES IN SPECIFICALLY. UM, WE FEAR THAT EVEN WITH AREAS THAT DO HAVE DEED RESTRICTIONS, WE'LL THEN TRY TO USE THESE REGULATIONS TO ENSNARE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND MAKE THEM FALL UNDER DEED RESTRICTIONS THAT THEY HAVE NOT WELL ARE THESE RESTRICTIONS THAT THEY HAVE PREVIOUSLY NOT, UH, BEEN UNDER. SO THAT IS A VERY CONCERNS ABOUT THAT. WE DID SEND A LETTER WITH SOME OTHER CONCERNS AND ISSUES AND, UH, HOPEFULLY YOU WILL READ THAT. AND I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. I'M SORRY, COUNCILMAN KOSH. THANK YOU. SO THE NEGATIVES YOU SEE IS THE, THE POSSIBLY, UH, THE INFRINGEMENT OWNED BUSINESSES THAT, THAT ARE CURRENTLY, UH, NOT UNDER THESE TYPES OF, UH, DEED RESTRICTIONS AND THINGS CORRECT. AND, AND ARE NOT REALLY PART OF THE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT PART OF THE CORE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE'RE NOT TRYING TO BRING DEVELOPMENT INTO THE CORE OF A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY, BUT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS AND COMMERCIAL AREAS. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'VE GOT, YOU, YOU, WE COULD SEE 10 HOMEOWNERS KIND OF GANGING UP AND THEY'VE GOT 10 VOTES AND A NEARBY VERY LARGE COMMERCIAL TRACK ONLY HAS ONE VOTE. AND SO THEY WOULD THEN CONTROL. THANK YOU. MUCH SO THERE IS A CONCERN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER MONETTE BASIL. MONETTE BASIL BE FOLLOWED BY CHARLENE JONES. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M SO THRILLED AND EXCITED TO BE HERE BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN A POINT OF DISCUSSION WITHIN THE ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL COMMISSION, OF WHICH I'M THE IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. AND I WANNA SAY, MAYOR, YOU HELPED INSPIRE THIS WITH YOUR COMPLETE COMMUNITIES PLAN, UH, WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT'S LIVABLE PLACES COMMITTEE THAT'S BEEN ONGOING FOR THREE YEARS. AND I REMEMBER BEING IN EVENT RIGHT BEFORE YOU WERE ELECTED, AND THREE OF US WERE STANDING THERE, TANYA WAS ONE, AND YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF NEIGHBORHOODS. AND WE TURNED TO EACH OTHER AND STARTED TALKING ABOUT CONSERVATION DISTRICTS. IT'S ONE MORE TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX TO HELP THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ALL OF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT. AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS CAN USE TO HELP CONSERVE AND PRESERVE THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. IT'S EQUITY DRIVEN. I THINK YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT'S THE CASE AND YOU USE THE WORD WIPE OUT. AND THAT'S A TOUGH DESCRIPTION, BUT I'LL GIVE YOU A COMPARISON. IF YOU GO TO THE SIXTH WARD TODAY, WHICH IS A HISTORIC DISTRICT, IT IS TOTALLY PROTECTED. THERE ARE NO TOWN HOMES WITHIN THAT COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY ELECTED THEMSELVES TO BE DESIGNATED HISTORIC, GO ACROSS HOUSTON AVENUE JUST TO THE EAST OF SIXTH WARD. THEY HAVE NO DEED RESTRICTIONS, THERE'S NO CONSERVATION DISTRICT, THERE'S NOTHING TO PROTECT THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. IT IS TOTALLY BEEN GENTRIFIED. ALL OF THE LOVELY BUNGALOW, SMALL WORKING CLASS HOUSES ARE GONE EXCEPT FOR A HANDFUL. SO THESE ARE THE KINDS OF AREAS THAT NEED PROTECTION. AND THIS IS ONE MORE TOOLBOX, UH, ITEM THAT YOU CAN DO. AND I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS, AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS OR PARTICIPATE IN ANY DISCUSSIONS. THANK YOU. AND COUNCIL MEMBER KASH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP THE HISTORICAL SIXTH WARD. 'CAUSE THAT'S WHERE I'M, THAT'S WHERE I'M LOCATED. WELL, IT'S A FABULOUS, FABULOUS NEIGHBORHOOD. WELL, YOU KNOW, ON, ON, UM, ON LUBBOCK STREET THAT THEY, THERE WAS A, A BUILDING BUILT THERE WITH MULTIPLE, UH, UH, TOWNHOUSES IN IT YEARS AGO. I THINK BEFORE THEY, THEY HAD THE HISTORICAL DISTRICT DESIGNATION, AND THEN AFTER THEY REQUIRED US TO BUILD OUR BUILDING, HISTORICAL, UH, THEY SCHOLARED THIS OUT. SO WE'RE, WE'RE NO LONGER IN THE, IN THE HISTORICAL PART OF IT, BUT WE'RE IN THE HISTORICAL, WE'RE IN THE SIX WARD. SO THANK YOU FOR COMMENTING ON THAT. YOU BET. THANKS. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANKS, ETT. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. CHARLENE JONES. CHARLENE JONES. CHARLENE JONES. NEXT SPEAKER. TROY ALLEN. TROY ALLEN. TROY'S HERE. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR, FIRST OFF, GIVEN US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT CONSERVATION DISTRICTS DURING THIS PUBLIC HEARING. UM, WE WROTE A LETTER DURING THE FIRST, UM, PUBLIC HEARING AT THE HISTORICAL HOUSTON HISTORICAL ARCHEOLOGICAL COMMISSION, AND REALLY WANTED TO JUST SPEAK ABOUT THE TIME FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. UM, [04:15:01] WHAT I HAVE COUNSELOR OF INTERPRETED FROM TODAY IS THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LANGUAGE IN THE DRAFT AND ABOUT THE LANGUAGE OF THE ORDINANCE. SO WHAT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE IS THERE'S ABILITY TO HAVE, UM, OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC TO ASK QUESTIONS IN A PUBLIC FORM WITH THE PLANNING DIRECTOR AND WITH THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION. BUT SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, THREE MAJOR THINGS THAT WE SAW WAS THAT THE VOTER VOTING PERCENTAGE OF 51% SEEMS TO BE VERY LOW, CONSIDERING THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO DO IN THIS ORDINANCE. I UNDERSTAND THAT AS A MENU OF OPTIONS, BUT THESE ARE VERY SERIOUS ITEMS IN THIS MENU, SUCH AS SETBACKS, SUCH AS MINIMUM LOT SIZES AND THINGS THAT USUALLY GO THROUGH A MUCH HIGHER THRESHOLD TO GET THERE. UM, THE SECOND THING IS WE'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE A MORE INVOLVEMENT OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION DURING THIS PROCESS, UM, OF THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT, SO THAT IT'S NOT JUST LEFT UP IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, WHICH, YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A GREAT PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND GREAT PLANNING DIRECTOR, BUT I BELIEVE THAT, UM, GOING TO THE FUTURE, WE REALLY WANT TO SEE A MORE COLLABORATIVE APPROACH AMONG THE CITY AND INCLUDING PLANNING COMMISSION. THE LAST, AND ONE THAT I REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE MOST IS THE NOTIFICATION PERIOD. I BELIEVE THAT WHENEVER, UM, THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE RE OF THIS DISTRICT OF CONSERVATION DISTRICT THAT THERE SHOULD BE A NOTIFICATION AS SOON AS THE PLAN DIRECTOR OR THE COMMUNITY BRINGS THAT APPLICATION FORWARD SO THAT HOMEOWNERS, PROPERTY OWNERS, PEOPLE THAT ARE LOOKING TO MOVE INTO THE COMMUNITY OR EVEN LOOKING TO MOVE OUT THE COMMUNITY CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ABOUT THE, WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WITH THEIR PROPERTY. UM, WE THINK THAT THERE'S PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO LOOK AT THIS AS AT TARGETED AREAS SO THAT WE CAN REALLY FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO SO THAT WE CAN HAVE, YOU KNOW, YOU'LL NEVER GET UN GET AWAY FROM UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, BUT BELIEVE THAT WE CAN NOT HAVE ANY UNFORESEEABLE CONSEQUENCES AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO, UM, GO THROUGH ALL THESE BOUNDARIES AND GO THROUGH THE DISCRETION OF THE PLAN DEPARTMENT AND FLESH THROUGH ALL THOSE IDEAS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. RAIN EDMAN. RAIN EDMAN IS HERE. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, UM, ON BEHALF OF THE A ACRES HOMES COMMUNITY ADVOCACY GROUP, AND AS A RESIDENT OF A ACRES HOMES, I STAND IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THIS CONSERVATION DISTRICT. I DO BELIEVE THAT IT IS, THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CRE, UH, CREATE EQUITY AMONGST RESIDENTS THAT ARE HISTORICALLY OVERLOOKED WHEN IT COMES TO THE PRESERVATIONS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND THEY DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO, UH, LARGER TOOLS LIKE HISTORIC DISTRICTS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT MAKES IT AN EASIER PLAYING FIELD. MY ONLY CONCERN, NOT SO MUCH CONCERN, JUST A SUGGESTION TO MAKE IT MORE EQUITABLE, IS THAT THE LANGUAGE CAN INCLUDE RESIDENTS RATHER THAN PROPERTY OWNERS. WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CREATING THESE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS. UM, IN ACRES HOMES, THE, UH, RENTER TO HOMEOWNER RATE IS ACTUALLY 60% RENTERS AND A LITTLE BIT OVER 40% HOMEOWNERS AND PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE AREA. SO THERE WILL BE A LARGE SWATH OF ACRES, HOMES, RESIDENTS WHO WOULD BE LEFT OUT OF THE CONVERSATION WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CREATING THESE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS. ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE LONGSTANDING HISTORY IN THE COMMUNITY AND WITH THE HIGH RATES OF, UH, PROPERTY TAXES AND UM, UM, PROPERTY RATES IN THE AREA, UM, YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE MORE AND MORE RESIDENTS CHOOSING TO RENT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO STAY IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY LOVE, BUT THEY JUST UNFORTUNATELY CAN'T AFFORD IT ANYMORE. UM, THE OTHER THING I WOULD ALSO LOVE TO SEE IS, UH, LANGUAGE IN THE ORDINANCE THAT PROVOKES THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO REALLY MAKE THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MORE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROCESS. SO FAR, THE LANGUAGE HAS JUST REFERRED TO COMMUNITY AS A LARGER UMBRELLA TERM, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE, UH, HARD LINE COMMUNICATION THAT SAYS THAT THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS TO BE A PART OF THE EDUCATION, THE OUTREACH, AS WELL AS THE RE UH, CONFIGURING PROCESS WHEN AND IF THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT NEEDS TO BE REDRAWN. ALTHOUGH IT IS GREAT THAT COMMUNITY IS CENTERED IN THIS, I WOULD LOVE FOR IT TO REALLY FOCUS ON MAKING THE COMMUNITY MORE CENTERED BY NAMING THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICT. AND THERE'S PRECEDENT FOR SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS TO BE INVOLVED IN THESE CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE IN SECTION 33 DASH THREE 12, THERE IS A PROVISION FOR SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS TO CREATE THEIR OWN ACTION PLANS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DEPARTMENTS. SO THERE IS PRECEDENT FOR THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS TO BE INVOLVED IN THESE CONVERSATIONS. SO THERE SHOULD BE, UM, AT LEAST MORE THAN ENOUGH, UM, HOW CAN I SAY, EXAMPLES TO MAKE THAT LANGUAGE TRANSFERABLE INTO THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE. OTHER THAN THAT, LIKE I SAID, THIS IS A VERY GREAT EQUITABLE TOOL. ALL THINGS CAN'T BE MADE PERFECT, BUT THIS IS A GREAT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR AT LEAST ACKNOWLEDGING THAT TOOLS LIKE THIS NEEDS TO BE IN, UH, INCLUDED. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THIS BEING EXPANDED WITH COMMUNITY VOICES IN AN EQUITABLE WAY THAT WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT ALL RESIDENTS ARE INCLUDED. AND TO THAT NOTE, I THINK THE BROADNESS IS THE BEAUTIFUL PART OF THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE COMMUNITIES THAT UNFORTUNATELY DON'T HAVE AS LOUD VOICES AS ME AND MAYOR TURNER WHO ARE CONSTANTLY SCREAMING FROM THE ROOFTOPS. WE NEED HELP IN ANCHOR'S HOMES, BUT THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS STILL NEED A CHANCE TO BE BROUGHT [04:20:01] TO THE TABLE AS WELL. VICE, VICE MAYOR, PRO COUNCIL, TATUM? MM-HMM . THANK YOU RAIN FOR YOUR COMMENTS. UM, LEGALLY, UM, AND I WANNA ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY ABOUT A RENTER, UM, BEING INCLUDED AS OPPOSED TO THE HOMEOWNER. I THINK THE SUGGESTION WOULD BE FOR THE TENANT AND THE LANDLORD TO HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE CONVERSATION BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF LEGALLY, UH, THE RENTER WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT DECISION. OKAY. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO KIND OF ADD SOMETHING TO THAT? SURE. UM, ONE THING I JUST WANTED TO ADD TO THAT, YES, LEGALLY IT DOES GET TRICKY. HOWEVER, ONE THING WE ARE NOTICING IN SOME OF OUR LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES IS THAT THE LANDOWNERS DO NOT LIVE IN THE COMMUNITIES OR RATHER MORE THEY DON'T LIVE IN THE STATES. RIGHT. I I GET THAT. YEAH. BUT MY, MY COMMENT IS, I THINK IT WOULD BE PRUDENT FOR THE TENANT AND THE LANDLORD BECAUSE THAT IS A PRIVATE, UM, RELATIONSHIP. MM-HMM . OR, UH, YOUR LEASE RIGHT BETWEEN THE LANDOWNER AND THE TENANT. THAT'S YOUR CONTRACT, YOUR PRIVATE RIGHT CONTRACT. SO THE CONVERSATION WOULD NEED TO BE BETWEEN THE TENANT AND THE LANDLORD. AND YOUR FEEDBACK HOPEFULLY WOULD BE TAKEN AS, UM, BENEFICIAL AND HELPFUL FOR THE LANDOWNER TO MAKE THAT DECISION IF THEY ARE AN ABSENTEE LANDLORD THAT DOES NOT LIVE IN THE CITY. BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW. UM, AND, UH, ATTORNEY PENNY, IF YOU CAN CHIME IN ON THAT, IF WE WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE A TENANT, UM, MAKE THAT DECISION, I DON'T THINK THAT WE CAN DO THAT LEGALLY. I BELIEVE YOU'RE CORRECT. OUR ORDINANCE IS WRITTEN FOR THE PROPERTY OWNER AS IS STATE LAW, I BELIEVE. UNDERSTOOD, UNDERSTOOD. ONE SECOND, ONE SECOND. LET ME JUST ASK YOU THIS, WHERE THERE'S A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, WHO IS, WHO IS THE, WHO IS THE ONE WHO, GOOD QUESTION. VOTES. I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. MAYOR, I'LL HAVE TO LOOK THAT UP. THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE IF WE ARE CREATING THESE COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS, AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE IN ACRES HOME, AND THE PERSON IS NOT THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY MM-HMM . AND WHO VOTES THAT? THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE WE ARE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GETTING THESE ARTICLES FROM TEXAS MONEY AND OTHERS WHO ARE CRITICIZING THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, AND SO WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO PROTECT THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN WHICH THEY ARE LIVING, WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO VOTE? THAT IS DEFINITELY A GOOD QUESTION. OKAY. UH, COUNCILMAN THOMAS? THANK YOU MUCH. UH, THANKS FOR RAISING THAT POINT. UH, RAIN, ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU. UM, LIKEWISE. SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 20 IN MY DISTRICT HAS NOT MET SINCE MARCH OF 2020. MM. UH, WESTMONT TANGO, WILD AND CARVER CREST, PINEY POINT. MM-HMM . IT'S SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 20. WHAT WOULD YOU OFFER ME? WHAT WOULD BE MY ALTERNATIVE? SO WITH THOSE, I AM A, A STRONG ADVOCATE OF THE COMMUNITY NAVIGATOR MODEL, WHERE THERE MIGHT NOT BE SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS. THERE ARE COMMUNITY ADVOCATES AND GROUPS THAT ARE DOING WORK IN THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT MAY BE ABLE TO FORM A STRONG ENOUGH COALITION TO, UH, OFFER ASSISTANCE IN CREATING THESE EDUCATIONAL CIRCLES FOR THESE RESIDENTS. UM, ALTHOUGH I WOULD NOT BE IN A POSITION TO CREATE THE LANGUAGE TO INCLUDE THOSE PERSONS, I DEFINITELY DO FEEL LIKE THERE IS A PATH FORWARD FOR COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS WHO MIGHT NOT, YOU KNOW, FIT INTO THE MODEL OF A SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD THAT COULD BE JUST AS USEFUL IN SITUATIONS LIKE THAT. SURE. AND I'M JUST RAISING THAT POINT BECAUSE ONCE WE, YOU KNOW, IF WE BECOME TOO PRESCRIPTIVE, THEN WE LOCK OUT OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT, UM, THEY'RE OLDER, THEY DON'T HAVE RIGHT. THAT THEY, THAT SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD IS NOT ACTIVE. ALL OF OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS ARE NOT ACTIVE IN THE CITY. MM-HMM . THAT'S A CONSTANT PUSH. WE'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE ENGAGED. ABSOLUTELY. SO JUST TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT, THAT ALL OF THEM ARE NOT ACTIVE IN, IN, UH, YOU KNOW, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 17 AND 25 MM-HMM . IN, IN THE WEST. THEY'RE FIRE. RIGHT. THAT IS. SO WE JUST HAVE TO BE, UM, THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW WE DO ENGAGEMENT, AND ALSO THIS IS A DUAL RESPONSIBILITY. MM-HMM . IT'S NOT JUST THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY, IT'S OURS TO TAKE AN ACTIVE INTEREST IN THIS. AND SO WE HAVE TO ALSO, UM, ENSURE PEOPLE LIKE YOU ARE HELPING US GET THE WORD OUT ABSOLUTELY. TO ATTEND THESE MEETINGS, PAY ATTENTION, SEND IN THEIR COMMENTS, SO THEN WE CAN BE BETTER INFORMED ON, ON THEIR PRIORITIES. ABSOLUTELY. AND IF, IF I DO HAVE THE PERMISSION, I WOULD JUST KIND OF LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THINGS THAT ARE BEING DONE THROUGH THE BE SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVE WHERE THEY'RE IDENTIFYING ANCHOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT MAY NOT HAVE THE SAME AUTHORITY OR PLACE IN THE ORDINANCE AS A SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THEY ARE VERY WELL INTEGRATED INTO THEIR COMMUNITY. SO THEY DO HAVE THAT RANKING WHERE THEY CAN MAKE, THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HOST THE FORUM TO, UH, HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS, BUT THEY CAN AT LEAST ASSIST THEIR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO GATHER THE PEOPLE TOGETHER TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN JACKSON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU RAIN FOR AS ALWAYS, YOUR LEADERSHIP AND COMING DOWN, UM, TO REPRESENT THE RESIDENTS IN, UM, A ACRES HOMES AND DISTRICT B. UM, JUST WANNA SAY, KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK AND, YOU KNOW, ENJOY WORKING WITH YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAN. THANK YOU, RAIN. ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU. YES, MA'AM. I, I JUST WANNA MAKE IT CLEAR THAT, OF COURSE I PUSH DEED RESTRICTIONS AND CERTAINLY ANY PROTECTIONS THAT CAN BE AFFORDED, BUT I JUST DON'T WANT THE DEVIL TO BE IN THE DETAILS, MA, AND THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO MAKE SURE, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, ONCE THESE ORDINANCES ARE PASSED, THEN [04:25:01] AS LONG AS THE RULES ARE FOLLOWED, THEN PEOPLE ARE LOCKED IN OTHER THAN, YOU KNOW, FOR THE DECISION THAT YOU MADE FOR THE COMMUNITY. THAT I DO APPRECIATE. THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. THANKS, RYAN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY. UH, NEXT SPEAKER, DOUG SMITH. DOUG IS HERE. WE FOLLOWED BY JOHN RANCH. GOOD MORNING. UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WAS GLAD TO HEAR THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT STARTS FROM THE BOTTOM AND GOES UP RATHER THAN TOP DOWN BECAUSE I DOWNLOADED THE DRAFT, UH, ORDINANCE ON SUNDAY, UH, UNDER LET'S TALK HOUSTON. AND IT SAYS A CONSERVATION DISTRICT MAY ONLY BE INITIATED BY THE DEPARTMENT. SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE REVISED CHANGES ARE, BUT THAT'S WHAT I GOT JUST AS OF SUNDAY. SO I'M GLAD TO HEAR, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT IT IS BOTTOM UP RATHER THAN TOP DOWN. SECONDLY, UH, ON PAGE SEVEN, UH, IT TALKS ABOUT THE DIRECTOR WILL ALSO GIVE NOTICE BY REGULAR MAIL OR EMAIL TO ALL CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS. I'D LIKE TO REQUEST, AND I'D LIKE TO REQUEST THIS FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS, IF YOU'RE GONNA DO ANYTHING THAT IS AFFECTING THE NEIGHBORHOODS, IF YOU COULD INCLUDE THE ACTIVE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD IN THAT DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE. THE DEPARTMENT CAME TO THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE LAST MONDAY, A WEEK AGO, LAST MONDAY AS PART OF THEIR PUBLIC OUTREACH. AND I WOULD HOPE THAT WHENEVER THEY HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS, WE WOULD DEFINITELY BE ON THE, UH, CORRESPONDENCE LIST. UH, SECONDLY, UM, AND THIS IS REALLY MINOR, IT TALKS ABOUT THE DIRECTOR SHALL SEND BY REGULAR MAIL A REQUEST FOR VOTING. IT DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT INCLUDING A STAMPED, UH, RETURN ENVELOPE. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ANY OF YOU, BUT I DON'T DO ANYTHING BY MAIL ANYMORE. AND I THINK THAT SHOULD BE PART OF THE ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE THAT. SO THEY MAKE SURE TO GET IT BACK. AND FINALLY, PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THE PROVISION OF 51% OR MORE. I ASKED THE QUESTION AT THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE MEETING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT A SITUATION LIKE HAPPENED IN SOUTHMORE WHERE THE DEPARTMENT HAD A VOTE AND THEY DIDN'T GET THE RESULT THEY WANTED. SO THEY EXPANDED THE BOUNDARY AND CREATED REALLY HARD FEELINGS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND I WAS TOLD AT THE MEETING THAT THE CHANGE WOULD BE TO NOT INCREASE IT, BUT TO REDUCE IT TO GET THE 51%. AND THAT, I DON'T HEAR THAT HAPPENING TODAY, UH, IN THE CONVERSATIONS. AND FRANKLY, MY FEELING IS, FIRST OF ALL, I AGREE THAT 51% IS NOT ENOUGH. THAT'S GONNA BE HALF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AGAINST THE OTHER HALF IF THAT'S WHAT YOU END UP DOING. UH, BUT IF IT DOESN'T GET PASSED ON THE FIRST VOTE, MAYBE IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU SHOULD DO. AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M SORRY, COUNCIL. COUNCILMAN THOMAS. THANK YOU. GOOD. UM, HEY DOUG. GOOD TO SEE YOU. SO, YOU KNOW, IN OUR COMMUNITY THERE'S A OLD A LEAF, THERE'S AN ORIGINAL A LEAF, THAT FOOTPRINT, RIGHT? UH, STREET A, B, C, D. AND SO WHAT IF, UH, THE, YOU KNOW, POSSIBILITY CAME TO THAT COMMUNITY WHERE THEY WANTED TO SUBMIT FOR THIS, BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A SCATTERED SITE IN THAT, WITHIN THAT DRAWING, LIKE WHAT WOULD BE THEIR OPTION? BECAUSE 51% WOULD PROBABLY BE THE MAJORITY WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET. THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE REALLY TOUGH FOR US TO GET IN OLD A LEAF IN THAT, THAT ORIGINAL TOWN YEAH, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. RIGHT. AND SO, SO WHAT'S THE QUESTION? SO WHAT, WHAT WOULD BE THE ALTERNATIVE? I MEAN, WE WOULD, THE MOST WE WOULD PROBABLY BE ABLE TO GET WOULD BE 50%, 51%. AND THAT WOULD BE A CHALLENGE IN THAT AREA. SO LET'S SAY WE WANTED TO DESIGNATE THAT AS A CONSERVATION MM-HMM . TO HOLD IT BECAUSE IT IS HISTORIC IN NATURE. UM, 51% WOULD BE OUR, THAT WOULD BE OUR PATHWAY TO GET IT. IT MAY BE VERY DIFFICULT TO EVEN GET THAT RIGHT. UM, BECAUSE MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE ARE LIVING IN TRAILERS. YEP. UH, SO, AND THE REST OF IT IS COMMERCIAL, SO, AND THEY WOULDN'T WANT IT. SO I DON'T THINK YOU'D COME ANYWHERE NEAR IT. UH, THE 51% IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA ARE, ARE YOU SUGGESTING WHAT? TO, TO MINIMIZE IT? EXCUSE ME? ARE YOU SUGGESTING TO MINIMIZE IT? NO, NOT AT ALL. OH, I'M JUST SAYING, I WAS JUST, JUST HAD TO ASK YOU MY CONSTITUENT. I GOTTA MAKE SURE I'M ON RECORD WITH DOUG. OKAY, GOOD. I JUST WANTED TO, I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT AS A FUTURE OPTION FOR EVEN A DISTRICT THEFT. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, JOHN. JOHN RENTS. JOHN RENTS IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY VICKI MARTIN. ALRIGHT, UH, GOOD MORNING. UH, JOHN RENTZ WITH HOUSTON REAL ESTATE COUNCIL. I BELIEVE MOST OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE FAMILIAR WITH OUR ORGANIZATION. WE'RE THE FOLKS THAT BUILD AND OWN AND OPERATE, UH, COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES AROUND TOWN OF ALL, UH, TYPES AND SIZES. AND, UH, WE, WE TYPICALLY LIKE TO ENGAGE WITH THE CITY ON THESE [04:30:01] TYPE OF ISSUES, THESE TYPE OF ORDINANCES, AND HAVE A CONVERSATION TO HOPEFULLY COME TO THE, THE BEST POSSIBLE SOLUTION. SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE ASKING FOR TODAY IS MORE TIME TO ENGAGE WITH THE CITY STAFF, PERHAPS HAVE THIS REFERRED BACK TO LIV LIVABLE PLACES COMMITTEE OR SOMEWHERE WHERE WE CAN HAVE CONTINUING ENGAGEMENT AND CONTINUE TO WORK ON SOME OF THE CONCERNS AND SHORTCOMINGS THAT WE SEE IN THIS. UM, WE'VE MENTIONED SOME OF THEM, SUSIE TALKED ABOUT SOME EARLIER. UH, THE 51% WE BELIEVE IS, IS LOW, UM, FOR NEW DEED RESTRICTIONS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS. YOU HAVE TO HAVE TO HAVE TO HAVE A MUCH HIGHER THRESHOLD THAN THE 51%. AND IT'S STILL UNCLEAR TO ME WHAT MEANS 51% UNDER THIS ORDINANCE. WE'VE HAD SOME DISCUSSION TODAY ABOUT A VOTE NOT BEING SENT IN BEING A NO VOTE. WELL, THAT'S NOT IN THE ORDINANCE. IT JUST SAYS IF THE PLANNING DIRECTOR DETERMINES THERE'S 51% SUPPORT, THEY'LL MOVE FORWARD. UM, SO I THINK THAT, UH, AT A MINIMUM NEEDS TO BE RAISED AND CLARIFIED. UH, THERE'S ALSO, YOU KNOW, IT IT, THIS IS A WIDE RANGING ORDINANCE. IT CAPTURES ANY PART OF THE CITY. WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT TODAY, SOME SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT IT DOESN'T, IT'S NOT LIMITED TO THOSE. THESE COULD BE SET UP IN ANY PART OF TOWN IN ANY SIZE, SMALL, LARGE, MEDIUM, AND PULL IN OUR COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. WE HAVE 30 COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. MY COMPANY IN HOUSTON, A LOT OF THEM ABUT RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS. ARE WE NOW GOING TO BE PULLED IN TO A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD AND HAVE THESE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON OUR PROPERTY? WE'D LIKE TO SEE AN EXEMPTION FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY, OR AT LEAST AN OPT-OUT PROVISION, UH, IF WE DECLINE TO, UH, TO PARTICIPATE. UM, THESE ARE ALL CONCERNS I THINK THAT CAN BE ADDRESSED, THAT CAN BE DISCUSSED. IT COULD BE WORKED OUT IF WE HAVE MORE TIME AND HAVE A MORE DIALOGUE WITH THE CITY STAFF AND, UH, WITH COMMITTEES THAT ALREADY EXIST IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON STRUCTURE TO DEAL WITH THESE TYPE OF ISSUES. UM, THAT'S, UH, AND IN MY REMARKS, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY. COUNCILMAN KOSH, TAKE THEM. YES. UH, MR. RENTZ, DO, DO YOU SEE, UH, YOU TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE NEGATIVES, THE POSSIBILITY OF, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THEIR PROPERTIES BEING, BEING PULLED INTO THIS. UH, DO, DO YOU SEE ANY OTHER, WHAT DO, DO YOU SEE ANY OTHER NEGATIVES THAT COULD IMPACT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY OR EVEN THE NEIGHBORHOODS? WELL, I THINK THERE'S, UH, YOU KNOW, PLENTY OF EXAMPLES OF DEVELOPMENT AROUND THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT'S, THAT HAVE BEEN BENEFICIAL ALONG COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS THAT, UH, TRANSVERSE, UH, COMMUNITIES LIKE TRANSVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS, WE WOULD NOT WANT TO MINIMIZE OR REDUCE OR SLOW DOWN OR PROHIBIT, UM, BY PULLING THEM INTO ONE OF THESE NEW CONSERVATION DISTRICTS. IT WOULD, UH, BE AKIN TO ZONING, IN MY OPINION. UH, I KNOW THAT'S A, A LOADED TERM IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND, UH, CITY OF HOUSTON HAS VOTED AGAINST ZONING MANY TIMES. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT OTHER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS IN THIS STATE, BALLOTS, FOR EXAMPLE, IT'S PART OF THEIR ZONING TOOLKIT. AND IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS A CONSERVATION DISTRICT IS A ZONING TOOL THAT COULD BE USED TO RESTRICT USE AND DEVELOPMENT IN DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS. BUT, WELL, MR. RANCH, EARLIER, TROY ALLEN SPOKE AND HE, HE, HE SAID SOMETHING THAT, THAT, UH, REALLY IMPRESSED ME WHEN HE SAID UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. THERE, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT, UH, IF I COULD GO BACK AND FIX SOME OF THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES IN MY LIFE, YOU KNOW, I, I'D BE, I WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY. YOU KNOW, I'D BE ON SOME ISLANDS SOMEWHERE 'CAUSE I'D BOUGHT A BUNCH OF MICROSOFT STOCK . SO ANYWAY, YOU KNOW, UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, WE, WE DEAL WITH 'EM ALL THE TIME, YOU KNOW, THAT WE DIDN'T INTEND FOR IT TO GO THIS WAY. AND, AND, AND THAT'S WHY THE LEGISLATURE HAS, YOU KNOW, UH, WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY HAVE BILLS, THEY HAVE TO GO, YOU KNOW, TO SEE THE ALLEGED COUNSEL, TO SEE IF IT'S, IF IT'S EVEN CONSTITUTIONAL, IF THEY TRY TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS ALL THIS EFFECT. AND SO, UH, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW HOW DOES IT AFFECT THE, THE OVERALL COMMUNITY THAT IT'S GONNA BE IN. AND SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY HERE TODAY. THANKS, JOHN. YES, SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. VICKI MARTIN. VICKI MARTIN. VICKY. NEXT SPEAKER. TOMORROW BELL. TOMORROW. BELL TOMORROW IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY MELANIE MILES. GOOD MORNING. UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING THIS HEARING, UH, THOUGH, NINE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, I SWEAR Y'ALL BE TRIPPING. UH, UH, LISTEN, START, LET'S START WITH SECTION 33 6 0 2. INITIATION OF A CONSERVATION DISTRICT. A CONSERVATION DISTRICT MAY BE INITIATED FOLLOWING THE EXPRESSION OF INTEREST BY A COMMUNITY AND DISCUSSIONS WITH STAFF. NO FORMAL APPLICATION OR [04:35:01] PETITION IS REQUIRED. THE DEPARTMENT MAY ALSO IDENTIFY APPROPRIATE AREAS THAT MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR AND BENEFIT FROM CONSERVATION DISTRICT DESIGNATION. NOW, WHEN I, WHEN THE DEPARTMENT IDENTIFIES IT DOESN'T MEAN THEY GET THE DESIGNATED. THAT IS WHY I'M HERE. THAT IS A PROBLEM FOR ME. I AM 100 WITH TANYA QE. UH, THE, THE, UM, THE IVORY MAHORN THEM, THEY NEED SOMETHING. ABSOLUTELY. DO WE HAVE D RESTRICTIONS? WE HAVE MINIMUM LOTS. AND THAT STILL AIN'T ENOUGH. WE STILL BATTLING SOMEBODY WANNA PUT SOME TOWN HOMES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S BEEN HAD D RESTRICTIONS SINCE 1938. SO I'M TELLING YOU, CONSERVATION DISTRICTS DIDN'T JUST COME UP WHEN I WAS SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENT IN 13, WE TALKED ABOUT IT. SOMETHING DOES NEED TO BE DONE, BUT THERE SHOULD BE NO WAY IMPLIED THAT A DEPARTMENT COULD TELL ME OR ANYBODY ELSE IN HOUSTON WHAT YOU SHOULD DO FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. SO I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT LINE RIGHT THERE. SECONDLY, WHERE IT SAYS IF YOU VIOLATED, IT'S A MISDEMEANOR, AND IT'S TWO GRAND A DAY. WHEN IKE CAME THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD, IT OBLITERATED THE BOTTOMS OF THIRD WARD OBLITERATED THEM. SO LET'S SAY YOU HAVE A IKE, WHILE THERE'S AN APPLICATION ON FOR THIS CONSERVATION DISTRICT, AND THESE PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD THE WOOD WINDOWS, THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE SHINGLE ROOF. THEY CAN'T AFFORD NONE OF THAT. ARE YOU TELLING ME YOU GONNA CHARGE THEM TWO GRAND A DAY WHILE THIS IS GOING DOWN? NOW INTERRUPT ME. I HAVE FOR THREE MINUTES. UH, SIR, IN ADDITION TO THAT, WHILE THIS IS GOING ON, THIS FACT THAT WE ARE HERE RIGHT NOW, YOU ALL JUST TOLD SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE ABOUT THIS ON MONDAY, AND THIS DRAFT WASN'T OUT. IT WAS THE OLD DRAFT. I ASKED AT THE MEETING, CAN WE HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC MEETING SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE WHAT THE NEW DRAFT, WHEN WE DID THE SALLY ALCORN, WHEN WE DID THE NOISE ORDINANCE, WE WORKED ON THAT FOR OVER A YEAR, WORKED THE SIDEWALK ON IT. A YEAH, WHY THE HELL THIS NEED A FEW WEEKS? WHAT ARE Y'ALL DOING? I MEAN, IT, THIS NEEDS TO, THIS IS PEOPLE HOUSES, YOU TALKING ABOUT TANYA, YOU KNOW, I'M WITH YOU. YOU KNOW, I'M WITH YOU. THEY NEED THIS. THEY DESPERATELY DO. BUT THE WAY YOU TRYING TO SHOVE IT DOWN THE THROAT AND THE FACT THAT THE FIRST DRAFT EVEN GOT OFF THE TABLE SAYING THAT THE DIRECTOR ALONE COULD MAKE AN INITIATION, YOU CAME OUT WITH THE WRONG TASTE. I LOVE STEAKS. I LOVE LOBSTER. PUT THAT CRAP ON A GARBAGE TOP. I'M NOT GOING TO EAT IT. SO WHEN YOU COME OUT TALKING ABOUT ONLY THE DIRECTOR COULD MAKE THIS DECISION, THEN YOU TELL US YOU CHANGING IT AT THE SUPER NEIGHBOR. YOU DON'T SHOW US, YOU DON'T SHOW US A CHANGE, THEN YOU COME BACK WITH THIS. THAT IS A PROBLEM. I UNDER, WE ARE FIGHTING A GL HOME RIGHT NOW IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE NOT ONLY HAVE DE RESTRICTIONS, WE HAVE MINIMUM LOTS STUFF. YOU CAN'T PUT NO 20 HOUSES ON A LOT. SO I'M TELLING YOU, MAKE THIS WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE. GIVE THEM WHAT THEY NEED TO PROTECT THEM. THANK YOU. AND LET ME JUST SAY, MISINFORMATION CAN BE JUST AS DANGEROUS. UH, AND NOBODY'S TALKING ABOUT CHANGING WINDOWS OR DOORS OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE. THAT IS NOT THE CASE. SO LET, I WANT TO, I WANT TO GET RID OF THAT MISUNDERSTANDING. THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT THE CASE AT ALL. AND IT'S ONE THING TO SAY TO TANYA DEBO AND INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS, YOU UNDERSTAND THEM. IT'S ANOTHER THING TO ACT ON IT. AND THE REASON WHY TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE IS BECAUSE THESE COMMUNITIES ARE BEING GENTRIFIED AS WE SPEAK. AS ARE WE. I I DID NOT INTERRUPT YOU. GIVE ME THE SAME RESPECT. THESE IN THESE COMMUNITIES ARE BEING GENTRIFIED AS WE SPEAK. AND TELL THAT TO THE PEOPLE IN FREEMANS TOWN, FOURTH WARD, OR TELL THAT TO PEOPLE IN RACON OR TELL THAT TO PEOPLE IN INDEPENDENT HIKES. NOW, YOU MAY NOT WANT IT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THAT IS YOUR RIGHT, BUT DON'T IMPOSE YOUR RIGHT ON OTHERS AND OTHER COMMUNITIES. AND I'M NOT MAKING MY COMMENTS FOR A RESPONSE. THESE ARE SIMPLY MY REMARKS. COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER KUMAR. NOW, WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THE, THE WINDOWS YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT AFTER HURRICANE IKE, IS THAT CORRECT? SO, UH, DID, SO I'M SAYING THAT IF YOU HAVE A CONSERVATION DISTRICT AND IT PUTS IN PARAMETERS, WHETHER IT'S FENCING OR WHATEVER, AND YOU PUT IN A RULE THAT REQUIRES A, A, LIKE A LOT OF ECONOMICS TO GO BACK TO WHATEVER THE CODE IS, THAT COULD BE A HINDRANCE TO SOME PEOPLE. AND LET ME BE CLEAR, I AGREE 100%. I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT CONSERVATION DISTRICTS FOR THEIR AREA. I THINK THAT'S WONDERFUL. BUT I DON'T WANT THEM TO SPEAK SOMEBODY AT THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO TELL ME TO PUT ONE IN MY DISTRICT. THAT'S MY POINT RIGHT THERE. YOU SAID IT FOR ME AND I APPRECIATE IT. IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE HAVE DONE ALL THAT WE CAN. WE ARE LOOKING FOR ANYTHING ELSE TO PROTECT US BECAUSE WE, [04:40:01] EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE THESE COVENANTS, WE ARE STILL BEING ATTACKED AND STILL HAVE TO HIRE LAWYERS TO HELP US FIGHT. SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS TAKE THAT LINE OUT, NOT THAT THE DEPARTMENT CAN DESIGNATE IT AND PUT 'EM IN. JUST TAKE THAT PART OUT, DO WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO, HELP THE COMMUNITIES THAT DESPERATELY WANTED. AND AS FAR AS INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS, I GOT BAPTIZED AT THE BEING OVER THERE FOR 30 YEARS BEFORE I MOVED MCGREGOR. YEAH. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS, AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE, UH, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICTS FOR ALL THOSE YEARS. THANK YOU. GOD BLESS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMAN NUN. THANK YOU MAYOR TOMORROW. GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. YOU TOO. UH, SO I'M UNCLEAR, ARE YOU IN SUPPORT OR OPPOSED TO THIS AS WRITTEN? AS WRITTEN? I OPPOSE IT. UH, THAT, THAT SECOND LINE THAT I READ WHERE IT SAYS THE DEPARTMENT CAN DESIGNATE, UH, AND, UH, AND LOOK AT MAKING CONSERVATION DISTRICTS, I OPPOSE THAT AND I OPPOSE THE $2,000 A DAY. FINE. WELL, I, AND I AGREE WITH YOU THAT I, I DON'T THINK IT'S EVER APPROPRIATE FOR A DEPARTMENT HEAD OR REALLY ANYBODY TO TELL YOU HOW TO LIVE YOUR LIFE. CORRECT. UH, SO I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENT ABOUT, UH, MAKING IT COMPLETELY COMMUNITY DRIVEN. YES. UH, WITHOUT, UH, THE ABILITY OF A DIRECTOR TO INITIATE ANYTHING. UH, IF THE COMMUNITY WANTS SOMETHING, THEY CAN COME TO THE CITY AND ASK ABSOLUTELY. FOR ABSOLUTELY. SO, I, I'M JUST MAKING SURE I UNDERSTAND YOUR COMMENT. YES, SIR. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LET ME ALSO ADD TO ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO REPRESENT YOUR DISTRICTS. OFTENTIMES THE PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITIES DON'T KNOW. THEY DON'T KNOW. AND IF YOU ARE NOT OUT THERE ADVISING THEM OF THE TOOLS THAT EXIST, HOW DO YOU THINK THEY'RE GONNA KNOW? AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THIS ISSUE IS FORCED IS BECAUSE CURRENTLY I AM THE MAYOR, AND I STILL LIVE IN ONE OF THOSE COMMUNITIES AND SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING. AND THAT'S WHY THIS ISSUE IS FORCED TODAY, , THAT'S A PART OF REPRESENTING YOUR DISTRICTS. OKAY. UH, NEXT SPEAKER. MELANIE MILES. MELANIE MILES WILL BE FOLLOWED BY TANYA DEBO. GOOD, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, MY NAME IS MELANIE MILES AND I AM, FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO SAY THAT, UH, LIKE SO MANY OTHERS AND, AND MANY OF YOU, I ALSO AGREE THAT A CONSERVATION DISTRICT IS NEEDED. UM, I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE MANY COMMUNITIES THAT COULD AND SHOULD AND WOULD BENEFIT FROM A CONSERVATION DISTRICT. MAYOR, YOU HAVE, UH, GONE TO GREAT LENGTHS TO TRY TO PROTECT UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE, UH, ATTEMPTS BY YOU AND YOUR ADMINISTRATION TO DO SO ONCE AGAIN. AND I APPRECIATE THAT. MY CONCERN ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE IS THE LANGUAGE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, ALCORN BROUGHT UP THE WORD CERTAINTY. AND I THINK THAT IS THE, THE CRUX OF IT. THROUGHOUT THE, THROUGHOUT THE PRESENTATION BY PLANNING DEPARTMENT, THEY RE REITERATED SEVERAL DIFFERENT PROVISIONS IN THIS ORDINANCE THAT ACTUALLY ARE THERE BY OBVIOUS INTENT, BUT NOT IN LANGUAGE. AND SO ONCE THIS ADMINISTRATION IS GONE, THEN WE WILL STILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE DOCUMENT ITSELF. SPECIFICALLY, I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT SEVERAL THINGS. ONE, WITH REGARDS TO THE CITIZENS' PARTICIPATION, IT IS NOT HERE. OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I HEARD THAT THE CITIZENS WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE INVOLVED, TO CHECK OFF WHICH RESTRICTIONS, WHICH DESIGN ELEMENTS THEY WOULD LIKE OR NOT LIKE. THAT IS NOT HERE CURRENTLY. THE ONLY PERSON THAT WILL DECIDE IS THE PLANNING DIRECTOR IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. AND THE ONLY PARTICIPATION OUTLINED IN THIS ORDINANCE IS AT SECTION 33.602, WHERE IT SAYS THAT THI THIS CONSERVATION DISTRICT MAY, MAY BE INITIATED FOLLOWING THE EXPRESSION OF INTEREST BY THE COMMUNITY. NOW, I DO UNDERSTAND THAT CURRENTLY INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS IS WORKING WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO ESTABLISH SOME CONSERVATION DISTRICTS IN THEIR, IN THEIR AREA. AND I THINK THAT'S GREAT. I THINK THAT PERHAPS WHAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IS ALLOW THEM TO MOVE FORWARD IN A BETA TRIAL TYPE OF, UH, TYPE OF TYPE OF SCENARIO. WHILE AT THE SAME TIME LOCKING DOWN THE LANGUAGE OF THIS ORDINANCE, UH, ALLOWING IT TO GO BACK TO LIVABLE PLACES WHERE IT STARTED. THAT THIS ACTUALLY HAS NOT BEEN REVIEWED BY LIVABLE PLACES. IT WAS UNVEILED ON JANUARY 21ST, AND HERE WE ARE, FEBRUARY 22ND, LESS THAN 30 DAYS. AND IT'S BEFORE THIS BODY, THE PUBLIC HAS NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN. THE LANGUAGE IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING. [04:45:02] ACTUALLY, WEEK AFTER WEEK, IT'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT. THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S VAGUE AND IT DOES NOT LIVE UP TO THE ACTUAL INTENT OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT OR THE COMMUNITIES AS A WHOLE. I'M GOING TO GO ON, BESIDES THE LACK OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION, WHICH HAS BEEN PROMISED HERE, THAT IS RELIED UPON BY THESE COMMUNITIES, THAT IS NOT IN THE LANGUAGE ITSELF. IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE NOTICE, THE ENORMOUS NOTICE THAT THEY INDICATED WOULD BE PROVIDED IS NOT HERE. I THINK I'M OUT OF TIME. VICE, VICE MAYOR, UH, PRO ATTORNEY. MILES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UM, INVOLVEMENT. I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO SEE YOUR SUGGESTED LANGUAGE, UM, IN COMPARISON TO THE LANGUAGE THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY IN THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT. IF YOU COULD SEND THAT OVER TO OUR OFFICE OR TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S OFFICE, WE'D DEFINITELY WANT TO, UH, REVIEW THAT. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALSO NOTE THAT, UM, WE SPECIFICALLY SAID IN THE PRESENTATION THAT WE WANTED THESE, THIS CONSERVATION DISTRICT TO BE FLEXIBLE. UM, SO WE HAVE TO HAVE MAY TO PROVIDE THAT FLEXIBILITY, UM, BECAUSE THERE, THERE ARE A LOT OF NUANCES IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO I'M INTERESTED TO HEAR YOUR SUGGESTED LANGUAGE, UM, FOR THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT. AND I THINK WE CAN TAKE THAT FEEDBACK AND SEE IF WE CAN COME UP WITH A WIN-WIN FOR, UM, ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KASEK TATUM, UH, I WILL BE HAPPY TO DO THAT, FIRST OF ALL, AND I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE, UM, SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LANGUAGE CHANGES TO THE ENTIRE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER WITH REGARDS TO THE COMMENT ABOUT MAY AND FLEXIBILITY. YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. WE CAN'T WRITE ORDINANCES OR LAWS OR RULES THAT ARE SO STRICT AND SO COM CONFINING THAT YOU CAN'T WORK AROUND THEM. HOWEVER, IN THIS SENSE, MAY MEANS A, A CITIZEN MAY CITIZENS MAY BE INVOLVED OR MAY NOT BE INVOLVED. THAT MAY NOT IS THE ISSUE WHEN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, WELL, WHEN THEY, WHEN YOU GET TO VOTE, THAT'S THE, THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO BE INVOLVED. UM, BUT WE, WE WON'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM HERE, BUT I'M INTERESTED IN KNOWING WHAT YOUR, UH, SUGGESTED LANGUAGE, UM, YOUR FEEDBACK ON THE LANGUAGE WOULD BE. I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT. THANK YOU KOSH ATTORNEY. MILES, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. AND I CERTAINLY WANT A COPY OF THOSE AS WELL. SO, WHEN, UH, MR. DOUG SMITH WAS UP HERE TALKING ABOUT THE GROUNDSWELL COMING FROM THE, THE PEOPLE UP, YOU DON'T SEE IT THAT WAY. I SEE THAT THE DESIRE AND THE NEED COMES FROM THE PEOPLE UP. ABSOLUTELY. BUT I DON'T SEE HERE WHERE THE PEOPLE ACTUALLY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THEIR INPUT. UM, AGAIN, WE WILL BE BOUND BY WHEN YOU ALL GO. WE WILL BE BOUND BY THE BLACK AND WHITE LETTERS OF THIS ORDINANCE. AND SO IT'S JUST NOT PROVIDED. SO THEREFORE, IF THE NEXT PLANNING DEPARTMENT SEES FIT, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT IT SAYS, ARCHITECTURAL STYLE AND DETAILING WILL COULD BE ADDRESSED. SO COULD BUILDING MATERIALS, THAT MEANS ANYTHING ON THE BUILDING COULD BE ADDRESSED. ALTERATIONS TO THE EXTERIOR AND EXISTING STRUCTURES COULD BE ADDRESSED. ANY OF THOSE THINGS AND MORE ON THIS LIST COULD BE CHANGED, DEFINED, UH, RESTRICTED IN ANY KIND OF WAY WITHOUT THE INPUT OF THE COMMUNITY, UNLESS YOU GIVE THEM THAT AUTHORITY IN THIS DOCUMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. MM-HMM . AND THAT, THAT'S NOT ATTORNEY MILES, BUT RAYMOND OUTLINED WAS A MENU OF ITEMS THAT THE COMMUNITIES COULD PICK FROM. AND BEFORE ANY, UM, CONS, UM, CONSERVATION DISTRICT IS PUT IN PLACE, IT HAS TO PASS A THREE QUARTERS VOTE FROM THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION AND A THREE QUARTERS VOTE FROM THE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. AND IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY INPUT, WE ARE LISTENING TO YOU RIGHT NOW AS WELL AS THE OTHER SPEAKERS. WHAT I HAVE LEARNED ABOUT BEING IN CITY GOVERNMENT, IF YOU DON'T MOVE WITH THE GREATEST DEGREE OF URGENCY, YOU GET NOTHING. YEAH. OKAY. AND PEOPLE HAVE REALLY BEEN, I MEAN, THEY HAVE ADVANCED THEIR CASES AT THE CITY BY DELAY, DELAY, DELAY, NOTHING. THAT IS NOT THE CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS ADMINISTRATION. OKAY. I'M MAYOR NOW, AND I'M THE MAYOR FOR THE NEXT 10 MONTHS. AND WE ARE GONNA BE AS IMPACTFUL AS WE CAN WHILE I AM MAYOR. OKAY. WE ARE GONNA RUN ALL THE RIGHT THROUGH THE FINISH LINE. PROCRASTINATION IS NOT THE TIME, THE NAME OF THIS GAME, BUT COMMUNITY SPEAKING RIGHT NOW, COUNCILMAN EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I KNOW SHE FIELDED SOME QUESTIONS, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU FINISHED YOUR COMMENTS AND IF YOU DIDN'T, I'D LIKE TO JUST GIVE YOU A LITTLE TIME. MY TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, I AGREE THAT PROCRASTINATION IS NOT WHAT'S NEEDED RIGHT NOW, MAYOR, [04:50:01] AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU ACT WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY BECAUSE THESE MATTERS HAVE BEEN PENDING FOR A LONG TIME. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS PRESENTED THIS IN 2012. SO YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S, IT'S, THESE ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. UM, THE MENU THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED IN THIS ORDINANCE, UM, MY, MY ONLY ISSUE WITH IT IS THAT THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT FOR CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AT ALL. AND SO THAT IS THE ISSUE WITH THAT AS IT REGARDS, NOTICE, THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT WITH REGARDS TO THAT, WITH REGARDS TO THE 75% THAT HAS BEEN, UM, REITERATED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THERE'S NO 75% IN THIS ORDINANCE. WHAT IT DOES SAY, IT DOES SAY THAT ON PAGE NINE UNDER, UH, SECTION, UM, I DON'T KNOW, ONE OF THE SECTIONS ON PAGE NINE J IT SAYS THAT CITY COUNCIL MAY APPROVE THE PROPOSED CONSERVATION DISTRICT. IT DOESN'T SAY THE CITY COUNCIL MAY APPROVE IT WITH 75%, BUT WHAT THEY ARE REFERRING TO IS A STATE LAW UNDER THE, THE SUPREME COURT SAID THAT OUR HISTORIC DISTRICT FALLS UNDER ZONING. AND ALSO THIS WOULD DO, THIS WOULD AS WELL UNDER STATE LAW. STATE LAW REQUIRES 75% OF COUNSEL. IF A HOMEOWNER WANTS TO OPT THEIR PROPERTY OUT, THEN THE ONLY WAY IT CAN BE INCLUDED IS IF THIS BODY VOTES BY 75%. THAT'S WHERE THAT COMES IN AT. 75% IS NOT IN THIS ORDINANCE. SO, I MEAN, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE CONCERNED CONCERNING. AND YOU'RE RIGHT, MISINFORMATION IS A DANGEROUS THING. AND SO IF YOU ARE SAYING THAT CITIZENS HAVE THIS RIGHT, COUNSEL HAS THIS RIGHT, THEN PUT IT IN WRITING. PUT IT IN WRITING, EVEN, EVEN DALLAS THAT HAS CONSERVATION DISTRICTS THAT WERE PUT IN PLACE PRIOR TO THE SUPREME COURT RULINGS HAVE INDICATED THAT ANY FUTURE CONSERVATION DISTRICT WILL REQUIRE A THREE QUA 75% VOTE. UH, DERA, UH, LET ME JUST FOR CLARIFICATION PURPOSES, WHAT IS, WHAT IS THE, WHAT IS THE REQUIREMENT? YES, MAYOR, IT IS, 75% IS REFERENCED IN OUR ORDINANCE BY REFERENCE TO CHAPTER TWO 11 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, WHICH IS IN SECTION 33 DASH 6 0 3, SECTION K OF OUR ORDINANCE AND SECTION. SO AGAIN, SECTION TWO 11 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT CODE, WE'RE NOT GONNA GET INTO IT INTO, AND I WON'T, I'LL JUST PUT IT IN WRITING A MAYOR. ALRIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. THANK YOU. THANKS. NEXT SPEAKER. TANYA DEBO. TANYA DEBO TO BE FOLLOWED BY JEROME NICKERSON. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. AND THANK YOU TO THIS, UH, MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL. UM, AND ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING SO, UH, DILIGENTLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE OPTIONS AND TOOLS FOR NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS. UM, I JUST WANNA GIVE A LITTLE SNAPSHOT OF WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS, SO THAT YOU WHO HAVE NEVER DRIVEN, HAVE NEVER ASKED FOR A TOUR, DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, MIGHT HAVE SOME IDEA OF HOW THIS IS IMPACTING US AND HOW OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD BE IF WE DON'T HAVE THIS AS A TOOL. AND SO IN THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW, DURING COVID, WE SAW AN AGGRESSIVE AMOUNT OF DEMOLITIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE ALSO SAW PERMITS FOR DEMOLITIONS BEING ISSUED. AND THEN WE SAW PEOPLE WHOSE HOMES HAD BEEN DESTROYED BY WINTER STORM URI SALE BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO FIX THEIR HOMES. TOPPLED WITH HURRICANE HARVEY AND WAITING ON THE GLO TO FIX HOMES IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE SAW MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF ERASURE IN HOMES THAT DISAPPEARED. AND SO IF YOU HAVEN'T DRIVEN THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY, WE ALSO HAVE A NATIONAL HISTORIC DISTRICT. THOSE SENIORS WHO WERE 80 YEARS OLD WORK YEARS AGO TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE PROPERTIES WERE ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER. THAT'S NO SMALL FEAT. THAT'S A HUGE ONE. ONLY TO HAVE OUR CITY HALL TOTALLY DEMOLISHED AND ERASED. IT'S GONE. ONCE DISPERSED BLACK MUNICIPALITY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS IS GONE. IT'S GONE. THERE'S NO TURNING AROUND. AND THIS MAY NOT BE A TOOL THAT WILL WORK FOR EVERY OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT FOR RIGHT NOW IN INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS, I NEED THIS COUNCIL, THIS MAYOR, AND EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS TO US. I'VE HEARD ABOUT 51% VERSUS 67%. I PERSONALLY WENT FOR STARK WEATHER HISTORIC DISTRICT. WE HAVE ONE STREET, 14 HOMES. IT TOOK US 30 DAYS. [04:55:01] I HAD TO DRIVE TO DALLAS PEARLAND, KNOCK ON DOORS, FIND PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T HAVE ADDRESSES ANYMORE. AND NOW YOU WANT TO INCREASE IT TO MAKE IT HARDER. IT'S NEIGHBORHOOD DRIVEN. IF 10 PEOPLE ON ONE SIDE OF THE STREET WANT IT AND 10 ON THE OTHER SIDE WANT IT, THERE'S YOUR PERCENTAGE RIGHT THERE. SO IT'S NOT A COMPETITION. THIS IS AN ENABLING ORDINANCE. AND IN INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS, WE HAVE BEEN MEETING FOR WELL OVER A MONTH. EVERY THURSDAY AT ONE 30, WE PUBLICIZED IT, WE MADE IT KNOWN. IT'S ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES, WE CALL PEOPLE AND TOLD PEOPLE. AND SO THEY HAVE BEEN LEARNING AND ASKING THE SAME QUESTIONS THAT YOU'RE ASKING. AND SO FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY AND HOW THIS IS IMPACTING US, THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE ON THE GROUND IN IN THAT COMMUNITY. THE HOUSE THAT MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER BOUGHT IN 1924 IS GONE. THE MAYOR KNOWS THAT THERE'S NO RETURNING FOR THAT. A FREEWAY THREATENING IT WOULD, IT WOULD WIPE IT OUT TOO. AND SO WHAT I ASK OF THIS COUNCIL IS, I UNDERSTAND WE WANNA GET INTO THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS, BUT ASK US FOR A TOUR RIDE THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY, SEE OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH OUR EYES, AND KNOW WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING ON THE GROUND. AND I APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY THIS MORNING TO SHARE ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, TANYA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, JEROME NICKERSON. JEROME NICKERSON IS HERE. PASTOR NICKERSON, FOLLOWED BY STEVEN MCNEIL FOR THE HONORABLE MAYOR SPEAKING COUNCIL. I'M HERE BECAUSE OF A INVESTED INTEREST IN THE INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS COMMUNITY. I, UH, GREW UP IN INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS. I GREW UP AT A TIME WHEN THE STREETS WERE GRAVEL OR ROCK. I GREW UP AT A TIME WHERE YOU COULD ACTUALLY INTERACT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT WAS INDEED A NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT SINCE THAT TIME, CHANGES HAVE OCCURRED, I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT I AM A DISABLED VETERAN. I'M ALSO PROUD TO SAY THAT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PASTOR THE CHURCH THAT WAS ORGANIZED BY THE LAST MAYOR OF INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS. I LIVED IN INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS, I WORKED IN INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS. AND INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS RUNS THROUGH MY BLOOD. MY FAMILY ON MY FATHER'S SIDE ALL ATTENDED BOOKER T WASHINGTON, BURRIS ELEMENTARY. AND I STAND TODAY TO EMPLOY YOU TO GIVE HEARTFELT CONSIDERATION OF WHAT'S BEING ASKED OF COMMUNITIES PROTECTION. PROTECTION, PROTECTION. IT'S HARD, DISHEARTENING TO GO BACK TO MY COMMUNITY AND SEE THE CONSTRUCTION THAT IS LITERALLY CAUSING PEOPLE TO ALMOST HAVE TO MOVE OUT BECAUSE THE TAX BASE IS GOING TO INCREASE THE BUILDINGS THEMSELVES. UM, I GOT I OUT OF A TOWNHOUSE BECAUSE I AGED AND BECAUSE OF MY DISABILITY. SO WHAT'S TO HAPPEN IF THESE OCCUPANTS MOVE WHAT'S LEFT? CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT ANOTHER YOUNGER COUPLE IS GOING TO COME IN. MY SISTER WHO, UH, HOME WAS REBUILT BY GLO, ALL I SAW WAS A SHOTGUN HOUSE. AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE A SHOTGUN HOUSE IS, YOU CAN OPEN THE FRONT DOOR AND LOOK STRAIGHT TO THE BACK DOOR AND LOOK STRAIGHT OUTSIDE. THAT DOES NOT EVEN MATCH THE COMMUNITY THAT SHE LIVES IN. SO THE GENTRIFICATION OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY NEEDS TO STOP. IT HAS TO STOP IF THE COMMUNITY MEANS ANYTHING TO THIS GREAT CITY. IF THE COMMUNITY MEANS, UH, HAVING A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH, THEN I IMPLORE YOU TO PASS THIS PARTICULAR CONSERVATION EFFORT. COUNCIL MEMBER PALMER, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO SAY HELLO TO YOU. HOW ARE YOU? I'M GOOD. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. THIS IS MY FAMILY . UM, I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND ALSO, UH, TANYA FOR BEING HERE. I HEAR Y'ALL LOUD AND CLEAR. WE THIS THE WAY IN WHICH THIS CONSERVATION DISTRICT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS IS EXACTLY HOW IT SHOULD FROM THE GROUND UP. MM-HMM . WE ARE WANTING, WE WANT THE PEOPLE TO WANT IT. WE WANT, YOU KNOW, WE WANT Y'ALL TO GUIDE US IN, IN THE WAY THAT IT SHOULD BE DONE, THE RIGHT WAY TO [05:00:01] PROTECT YOUR COMMUNITIES. UM, I DON'T THINK ANYONE ON COUNCIL HERE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THAT WHOLEHEARTEDLY. AND SO YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE OUR SUPPORT. WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE DECIDE IT. THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S ALL WE WANT. WE WANNA MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE DECIDE IT. BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WELL, WE'RE GETTING THE WORD OUT AS BEST AS POSSIBLE. BUT I ALSO WANT TO ADD ONE OF THAT THANK YOU FOR, AND THANK YOU AND, AND TANYA FOR PRESERVING THE COMMUNITY. I REALLY WANNA RECOGNIZE YOU FOR BOTH THAT. ONE SECOND PASTOR, UH, COUNCILMAN CISNEROS. PASTOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, AND, AND TANYA TOO. UM, AND, AND I WANTED TO EXTEND IN, UM, MY TIME TO YOU TO, TO FINISH YOUR COMMENTS. I'M SORRY I COULDN'T, UM, YOU, YOU MAY HAVE SOME OF MY TIME TO, TO CON YOU KNOW, TO FINISH YOUR COMMENTS THAT YOU WANTED TO MAKE. RIGHT. DID YOU, YOU SAID YOU HAD ONE MORE COMMENT. I THINK YOUR MIC IS TOO LOW BECAUSE THEY'RE TOO LOW. CAN YOU HEAR ME? THERE YOU GO. CAN YOU HEAR ME? UM, I WANTED TO EXTEND SOME OF MY TIME TO YOU. YOU SAID YOU HAD ANOTHER COMMENT TO MAKE. ALRIGHT. UM, ONE MORE COMMENT, AND I FAILED TO ADD WAS THAT, UH, MY GRANDFATHER IS THE ORGANIZING PASTOR OF THE BELLA VISTA MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, AND I ATTENDED THAT. SO THERE IS INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I'D HATE TO SEE THAT INVESTMENT VANISH. I'D HATE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN. THANKS, PASTOR NICKERSON. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, STEVEN MCNEIL. STEVEN MCNEIL IS HERE BE FOLLOWED BY MARLENE GAFFER. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS STEVEN MCNEIL. I AM A, UH, COMMISSIONER ON THE HOUSTON ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORIC COMMISSION. AND I APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION TODAY. A LOT OF MY CONCERNS HAVE BEEN VOICED HERE BY THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS AND ALSO BY CITY COUNCIL. AND I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE YOUR URGENCY MAYOR, ABOUT HOW YOU WANT THIS TO BE PUT FORTH QUICKLY AND INSTITUTED. AND MY SUGGESTION MIGHT BE A PILOT PROGRAM FOR INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS, BECAUSE THE AMENDMENT IS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IT'S NOT FOR ANY PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOODS. UH, I FIRST HEARD OF THIS AT THE JANUARY HHAC MEETING. WE HAD SOME PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT WERE, UH, PUT BEFORE US, AND THEN WE HAD A SPECIAL MEETING TWO WEEKS AGO. AND THERE WAS A DRAFT AT THAT MEETING THAT, UH, THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER SPOKE ABOUT THAT, UM, SAID SPECIFICALLY THAT ONLY THE, UH, THE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE DRIVING FORCE, RIGHT? AND WE WERE TOLD, HEY, THAT LANGUAGE IS GONNA CHANGE. AND SO WE VOTED ON A DRAFT THAT WAS MISWRITTEN AND THAT WE WERE PROMISED WOULD BE WRITTEN CORRECTLY. UH, AND I SAW IT ON TUESDAY OF LAST WEEK. SO WE VOTED ON THURSDAY ON A DRAFT. I COULDN'T READ UNTIL TUESDAY OF THE FOLLOWING WEEK. UH, I WAS TOLD THAT, THAT WE HAD TO VOTE ON THAT DAY IN ORDER FOR THIS PUBLIC SESSION TO HAPPEN. AND THEN I READ THE COMMENTS, I READ THE DRAFT ON TUESDAY, AND THEN THERE'S STILL FLAWS, OR THERE'S STILL FLAWS IN MY PERSPECTIVE IN THAT DRAFT. AND ONE OF THE THINGS WAS POINTED OUT BY MR. MCCALLAN THAT I'M CONFUSED ABOUT NOW, WHETHER OR NOT THE, UH, HIS HHAC IS GOING TO BE REVIEWING ANY OF THE, UH, I GUESS, ITEMS THAT COME FORTH OF ANYTHING IN A, UH, UH, CONSERVATION DISTRICT OR IF IT'S THE PLANNING PLANNING DEPARTMENT. SO, 'CAUSE THE, 'CAUSE APPARENTLY WHAT I HAVE BE WHAT I HAVE READ NOW IS STILL NOT CORRECT. AND SO THERE'S, FOR ME, THE, THE RUSH IS CREATING A LOT OF CONFUSION AND THAT THE LANGUAGE AND WHAT IS BEING PRESENTED PUBLICLY IS INACCURATE. AND THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS. AND THERE HAS NOT BEEN A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD OF LENGTH IN ORDER FOR THE PUBLIC TO FULLY UNDERSTAND IN ORDER FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON. I AM, UH, EQUALLY CONCERNED AS MS. BELL IN THIS, UH, 3 3 6 0 2, AND THAT THE DEPARTMENT MAY ALSO IDENTIFY APPROPRIATE AREAS THAT MAY BE ELIGIBLE. I HEAR THAT IT'S A, A, UM, A COMMUNITY DRIVEN AMENDMENT, AND THE LANGUAGE IN THE DRAFT IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THAT. AS MS. MILES REALLY ELOQUENTLY POINTED OUT, SHE'S A MUCH BETTER SPEAKER THAN I AM. AND, AND THAT THERE'S, THIS IS A GREAT TOOL I SUPPORT CONSERVATION DISTRICTS. IT, THIS IS NOT WRITTEN IN A WAY THAT IS CLEAR AND SUPPORTS THE ENTIRE CITY OF HOUSTON, UM, AND HAS EXPIRED. I APPRECIATE THE COUNCILMAN MAYOR I CALLING. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU MR. MCNEIL FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THE COMMISSION AND FOR COMING TODAY. I DID ASK THE QUESTION OF, OF LEGAL MAYOR ABOUT THE DRAFT THAT THEY VOTED ON, AND I GUESS IT, IT WAS, IT WAS APPROVED. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO COME BACK FOR [05:05:01] ANOTHER VOTE THAT THE DRAFT WAS THAT WAS THERE. I KNOW IT WAS AMENDED. I I EXPECT IT MIGHT BE AMENDED FURTHER. I WOULD JUST ASK IF THE ADMINISTRATION, IF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT COULD, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY CIRCULATE THOSE DRAFTS TO H-H-A-H-A TO HAHC MEMBERS TO GET THEIR INPUT. UM, I'LL, I'LL LEAVE IT TO LEGAL, WHETHER ANOTHER, UH, VOTE NEEDED TO BE TAKEN OR WHATEVER. IF THEY SAY, NO, THAT'S, THAT'S FINE BY ME. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO, SINCE THESE ARE THE PEOPLE BEING CHARGED WITH CARRYING OUT THIS ORDINANCE, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO COMMENT ON ANY LANGUAGE CHANGES OR SUBSTANTIVE DRAFTS. THANK YOU. THANK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, MARLENE GAFF. GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M MARLENE GAFF. I AM AN HREC MEMBER, BUT I AM REALLY COMING BEFORE YOU BASED UPON MY EXPERIENCE ON IMPLEMENTING THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS MINIMUM LOT SIZE AND BUILDING LINES. AND SO I WANNA GIVE YOU KIND OF JUST A LITTLE BIT OF PERSPECTIVE THAT I'M SEEING, AND MAYOR, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU CLARIFYING THAT THE FOCUS WAS REALLY ON DISENFRANCHISED COMMUNITIES OF COLORS. THAT WAS KIND OF THE GENESIS FOR THIS ORDINANCE. AND WHAT HAS COME OUT ACTUALLY IS SO BROAD THAT ANY NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS ELIGIBLE. SO CLEAR LAKE CITY COULD COME IN AND SAY, BECAUSE OF NASA, WE WANT A CONSERVATION DISTRICT, SHARPSTOWN, BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY ASSOCIATED, UM, NOT THE REAL NICE HISTORY, BUT THE HISTORY ASSOCIATED WITH FRANK SHARP, THEY COULD COME IN AND BECAUSE IT'S SO BROAD, MY CONCERN IS THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO PUT TOGETHER A PLAN, COME UP WITH THEIR OWN DESIGN GUIDELINES COULD BEAT ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT NEED HELP FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO CREATE A CONSERVATION DISTRICT, THESE VERY COMMUNITIES THAT WE WANT TO PROTECT. AND SO I'M REALLY CONCERNED THAT THERE'S JUST GONNA BE A GROUNDSWELL OF APPLICATIONS LIKE WE EXPERIENCED WITH MINIMUM LOT SIZE AND MINIMUM BUILDING LINE. SO THAT'S ONE AREA OF CONCERN. WE'VE GOT TO PROTECT THESE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT THE MAYOR HAS MENTIONED, THEY ARE TRANSITIONING SO FAST. AND HE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF SUPPORT AND THAT HAS BEEN ANSWERED IN TERMS OF THE QUESTIONS, WHETHER IT'S BASED ON BALLOTS VERSUS THE, UM, NUMBER OF PROPERTIES. AND SO I THINK WE'VE TOUCHED ON THAT AND I DON'T WANT TO KEEP TALKING ABOUT THAT. I AM CONCERNED THAT HOW DO, AS YOU GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, HOW DO PEOPLE KNOW WHEN YOU'RE CREATING THE DESIGN GUIDELINES, WHETHER THEIR PROPERTIES MEET THE DESIGN GUIDELINES OR NOT? UM, THAT IS A CONCERN. I MEAN, IN, IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, YOU IDENTIFY CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES AND NON-CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES THAT'S NOT HERE IN THIS ORDINANCE. SO A PROPERTY OWNER DOESN'T KNOW HOW, WHETHER THEY COMPLY OR NOT. AND THEN IT DOESN'T TALK ABOUT WHAT'S THE CRITERIA AND WHAT THEY'RE GONNA REVIEW FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ADDING ONTO THEIR HOUSE AND THAT IMPACT. AND THEN ANOTHER CONCERN IS IF THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD SELECTS LOT SIZE AS PART OF ONE OF MENU OF OPTIONS. SO THEY MIGHT LOOK AT THE BUILDING SIZE, THE BULK, THE HEIGHT AND ADD LOT SIZE, THE LOT SIZE AND BUILDING LINE FALLS UNDER THE PLANNING COMMISSION. AND YET THE, THE, UM, HISTORIC COMMISSION WOULD BE MAKING THAT DECISION. SO I THINK WE CAN WORK THROUGH SOME OF THOSE ISSUES. UM, THERE'S SOME LANGUAGE ON IN SECTION 6 0 6 A THAT TALKS ABOUT IF THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT CONTRADICTS OH, RAN OUTTA TIME. SORRY. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. THANKS MOLLY. UH, COUNCILMAN MINOX. THANK YOU, MAYOR, DID YOU JUST WANT TO FINISH YOUR THOUGHT? SURE. UM, SO WHAT ORDINANCES WOULD THIS POTENTIALLY CONFLICT? BECAUSE THE BULK OF OUR ORDINANCES ARE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY AND THOSE ARE EXCLUDED. SO I WAS TRYING TO THINK WHAT ORDINANCES WOULD THIS POTENTIAL ORDINANCE CONFLICT WITH? IS IT THE BUILDING CODE? BUT TO ME THAT'S PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY. WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, ALSO APPLY THIS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ONCE THE, UH, CONSERVATION CODE GOES IN, THEN THERE'S A MORATORIUM ON BUILDING OR WHATEVER, WHILE IT'S BEING CONSIDERED ADDING. I THINK THE AVERAGE NOW IS WHAT, SIX WEEKS, EIGHT WEEKS, UH, TO GET A PERMIT PASSED THROUGH PLANNING TO BUILD A PROPERTY RIGHT NOW. SO WE'RE ADDING ANOTHER 60 DAYS, 90 DAYS, WHATEVER IT IS IT TAKES TO GET THIS DONE. SO, UM, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT UNINTENDED, ACTUALLY, IT'S A FORESEEABLE CONSEQUENCE. THERE'S A FURTHER RESTRICTION AND, [05:10:01] UH, DELAY IN GETTING BUILDING PERMITS, UH, FOR PROPERTY OWNERS AND SO FORTH. THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE YOU HOLDING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, YVETTE LENO. YVETTE LENO. YVETTE LENO. NEXT SPEAKER, MATTHEW FESTER. MATTHEW FESTER IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY JENNY BEACH. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. UM, I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE STAFF AND THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT FOR MAKING SOME OF THE REVISIONS THAT WE SUGGESTED AT THE, UH, COMMISSION MEETING TWO WEEKS AGO. UM, SPECIFICALLY THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT CHAPTER TWO 11 OF THE LOCAL GOVERN GOVERNMENT CODE DOES APPLY TO THESE PROPOSED CONSERVATION DISTRICTS. SO IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER WE CALL IT A FORM OF ZONING OR HISTORIC PRESERVATION OR CONSERVATION. THE NOMENCLATURE DOESN'T MATTER WITH THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. UM, IN THE NEW REVISION AND IN TODAY'S DISCUSSION THAT CHAPTER TWO 11, THE ZONING ENABLING ACT OF TEXAS, DOES APPLY. UM, I HAVE TWO CO CONTINUING CONCERNS, UM, EVEN THOUGH I APPRECIATE THE, UH, THE GOOD FAITH EFFORTS IN THAT DIRECTION. UM, AND, AND I AGREE WITH SOME OF THE OBJECTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN STATED BY OTHERS AND, AND IN QUESTIONS TODAY. BUT I'LL JUST MAKE TWO QUICK POINTS WITH MY, WITH MY BRIEF TIME. UM, THE REFERENCE TO CHAPTER TWO 11, IN THE SPIRIT OF PROVIDING INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC, I'M NOT SURE IT REALLY COMMUNICATES. WE'VE TALKED A LOT THIS MORNING ABOUT THE 75% ULTIMATE KIND OF BACKSTOP, BUT THAT ONLY APPLIES TO OWNERS WHO CHOOSE TO OPT OUT. THE WAY THE ORDINANCE READS STILL COMMUNICATES THAT IF YOU'RE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF 51%, YOU'D JUST BASICALLY LOSE. UM, SO I THINK THAT THE ORDINANCE COULD BE IMPROVED TO COMMUNICATE NOT JUST THE 75% RIGHT, BUT THE RIGHT TO OPT OUT AND, AND GO TO THAT LEVEL. UH, BUT ALSO THE RIGHT TO GET AN IMPACT STATEMENT, UM, AND ALL THE OTHER PROCEDURAL DUE PROCESS PROTECTIONS OF THE STATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE IN CHAPTER TWO 11. SO THAT'S, UH, ONE RECOMMENDATION. BUT MY SECOND POINT, AND, AND MY LAST POINT FOR NOW IS, UM, THE 51% HAS BEEN RAISED, UH, IN A COUPLE CONTEXTS HERE. AND, AND I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THE WAY THE ORDINANCE IS WRITTEN, IT'S NOT 51% SAY OVER WHAT'S IN THE SO-CALLED TOOLBOX THAT WE KEEP HEARING ABOUT THE DESIGN GUIDELINES. IT'S JUST A THUMBS UP, THUMBS DOWN, 51% AND YOU HAVE A DISTRICT. AND THEN A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE DISCRETION IS, AS MS. MILES POINTED OUT, REMAINS IN THE, IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT STAFF FOR WHAT THE CONTENT OF THOSE GUIDELINES ARE. AND DESPITE GOOD FAITH ASSURANCES, WHICH I KNOW ARE WELL INTENDED TO INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY, IT'S REALLY NOT IN THE LAW. UH, IT'S YOU AGREE 51%, YOU'VE GOT A CONSERVATION DISTRICT, YOU GET HANDED A PACKET OF RULES. UH, AND I THINK THOSE ARE CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WOULD HAVE. AND, UM, AND WITH THAT, UH, THAT COMPLETES MY COMMENTS. I HAVE SOME MORE, UH, EXTENSIVE, UM, COMMENTS IN THIS MEMO THAT I'LL SUBMIT FOR THE RECORD. THANK YOU COUNCIL . THANK YOU, SIR, FOR COMING. SO HOW, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE ACTUAL, I MEAN, THEY'RE INVOLVED IN THE ACTUAL FIGURING OUT WHICH, WHICH ELEMENTS TO PICK, CORRECT. I MEAN THERE, WHETHER THEY WANT SETBACKS OR THEY WANT THE GARAGE TO LOOK THIS WAY AND THE COMMUNITIES, THAT'S HOW IT'S SET UP, IS MY UNDERSTANDING. BUT, AND, AND I DON'T WANT TO, UM, EXPRESS ANYTHING OTHER THAN AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE GOOD FAITH OF EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THIS, BUT THERE'S REALLY NOTHING IN THE LAW THAT SAYS THAT HAS TO HAPPEN. IT, IT REALLY IS IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AS IT'S WRITTEN DOWN. AND I EXPECT THERE WILL BE COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. UH, BUT THAT'S NOT THE WAY THE LAW READS. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. JENNY BEACH. JENNY BEACH. JENNY. NEXT SPEAKER. DANNY ASBERRY. ILL DANNY'S HERE. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. UH, I WANNA MAKE THIS AS SHORT AS POSSIBLE. UH, I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT. UM, I'M A NAVY VETERAN, UH, COMMUNITY ARTIVIST. I PAINT MURALS ALL OVER THE PLACE AND I REPRESENT, UH, THE NORTH FOREST AREA AS WELL. SO I AM, I AM, UM, UM, [05:15:01] I'M PRIVY TO MY HISTORY BEING WIPED AWAY. AS YOU KNOW, THE NORTH FOREST AREA, WE, WE SUFFERED A LOT FROM THAT IN THE PAST. SO I DON'T HAVE A PAST ANYMORE IN MY SHORT LITTLE LIFETIME. I DON'T HAVE A PAST, SO I GO EVERYWHERE AND I HELP EVERYBODY ELSE WITH THEIRS. RIGHT? AND NOW WE'RE DOING IT FOR OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD NOW, YOU KNOW, AND THANK YOU . AND ALSO, UM, THE ORDINANCE, UH, CAN PRESERVE WHAT'S THERE, RIGHT? WE WANNA PRESERVE WHAT'S THERE. UH, WE WANT TO DECREASE VULNERABILITY, THE LANGUAGE THAT SAYS THAT, UH, FUTURE REBUILDING PLANS SHOULD BE REV, UH, REVIEWED BY THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. IT SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE TO DEPUTIZE CIVIC CLUB LEADERS AND ENFORCE THEIR RESTRICTIONS THAT THEY HAVE AS WELL. I MEAN, IF YOU PASS ON SOME OF YOUR ATTRIBUTES TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD HELP YOU IN YOUR CAPACITY TO DO WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU NEED TO DO. ALSO, UH, PERMEABILITY, UM, OPTIONS, UH, THAT WOULD HELP WITH, YOU KNOW, CHOOSING BETWEEN SOMETHING LIKE HEMPCRETE OR CONCRETE. YOU KNOW, WE DON'T DO THAT OFTEN ENOUGH. UH, THIS ORDINANCE COULD ALSO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT. UH, IT CAN HELP WITH, UH, FLOODING AND THINGS LIKE THAT BECAUSE WE ALSO KNOW WHAT AFFECTS OUR, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY. AND AS YOU KNOW, WITH THE, THE WEATHER HAPPENING, THE WAY IT'S BEEN HAPPENING, YOU KNOW, UM, WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. UM, WE SHOULD ALSO PROPERLY IDENTIFY THE COMMUNITY DRIVERS, YOU KNOW, SO PEOPLE WHO ARE MOTIVATING THESE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO NAME THEM, RIGHT? SO THAT WAY WE CAN BE MORE, UM, ASTUTE AS TO WHAT'S GOING ON. AND THEN, UM, NO HISTORY. UM, HOUSTON OFTEN MISSES SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES TO CAPITALIZE ON ITS HISTORY. IT KNOCKS DOWN THINGS, AND THERE'S NO EVIDENCE OF WHAT WAS THERE BEFORE. AND TO BE HONEST, THAT'S EQUITABLE HISTORY THAT HOUSTON CAN CAPITALIZE ON AND IT DOESN'T. OKAY. AND, UH, DEVELOPERS, UH, UH, HEARD A DEVELOPER EARLIER SAYING THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT A PART OF THIS, BUT THEY ARE, BECAUSE THEY AFFECT THE ENVIRONMENT. THEY AFFECT WHAT WE BREATHE, THEY AFFECT WHAT WE SEE. THEY AFFECT HOW WE FEEL. THEY AFFECT ALL OF THAT. AND THAT'S IN OUR, THEY ARE IN OUR COMMUNITIES WITH THIS. AND THEN ALSO, MAYBE LAST THING, MAYBE THE CITY, UH, COULD REQUIRE THE LANDOWNER TO HAVE CONSERVATION LANGUAGE IN THE LEASES. UM, YOU KNOW, IN THE LEASES THAT THEY SHARE, THAT RENTERS SHARE WITH LANDOWNERS. UM, AND I THINK IT SHOULD SAY DISENFRANCHISED, UH, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. OF COLOR, SO THAT WAY PEOPLE CAN KNOW WHO EXACTLY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. I YIELD. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN KOSH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY. MY THANK YOU. MY GRANDSONS IN THE NAVY. AND WHEN I HEARD YOU SAY THAT, IT, I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. I'M SURE THAT ALL OF US DO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. OH, COUNCIL MEMBER CIRO. I'M SORRY. COUNCIL COUNCILOR CISNEROS, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, DANNY, APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. BYE. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN JACKSON. AND THEN THANK YOU DANNY FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. OKAY. UH, I HAVE NO OTHER SPEAKERS ON THIS, ON THIS LIST. UH, UM, IS THERE A MOTION TO, UH, CLOSE THIS HEARING CAST TAYLOR MOVED SECOND ROBINSON MOVED. AND SECOND, ANY OBJECTIONS? SHE DONE? MOTION IS GRANTED LET THANK DR. WALLACE BROWN AND, UH, UH, RAMON MCALLEN, UH, THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, UH, PLANNING DEPARTMENT, H-A-H-H-C, AND ALL OF THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS, UH, FOR BEING HERE AND PARTICIPATING IN THIS HEARING THIS MORNING. I'M GOING TO HOLD ON THE MAYOR'S REPORT UNTIL AT THE END OF THE AGENDA. AND MADAM [CONSENT AGENDA] SECRETARY, THIS PROCEED DIRECTLY TO THE AGENDA. THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY. ITEM TWO NEEDS A MOTION. TATE A MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON BEEN MOVED IN SECOND ON ITEM TWO, DISCUSSION ON TWO. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSING GRANTED. IF YOU'RE HERE ON TWO, PLEASE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD. POSITION ONE IS BETH MET, MET FISH. THREE IS ELSA CABALLERO. FIVE IS ELIZABETH GREGORY. SEVEN IS ANGIE WIT, NINE IS CODY D WIENER. 11 IS ALLISON YOUNG, 13 IS JULIANA. UH, REZA 15 IS LORRAINE LAURIE CHILD 17 IS PHYLLIS RANDOLPH FRY. AND 19 IS GLENDA JOE. AND 21 IS CHRISTINA LEY. ANY OF THEM HERE THIS, THIS MORNING? NO SIR. SEEING NONE. LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM. NEXT ITEM UNDER ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY ITEM THREE HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION IN THE MOTION FOR ITEMS FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX. KA MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON BEEN MOVED IN, SECONDED ON ITEMS FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSING GRANTED UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BID CATEGORY. CATEGORY, I REMOVE SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. 7 8, 13 THROUGH [05:20:01] 15 AND 17. NEED A MOTION ON THE BALANCE. CASTEX MOVED SECOND. ROBINSON BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND IN DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF POST GRANITE UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY. I MOVE SEPARATE CONSIDERATION I, 19, 20, 23, 26, AND 27. 32 AND 34. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 19, 20, 23, 26, AND 27, 32 AND 34. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE. DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANITE ITEMS REMOVED FOR [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEM THREE NEEDS A MOTION. ASEX, TATU, MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON MOVED AND SECONDED ON ITEM THREE. DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED. ITEM SEVEN NEEDS A MOTION. SX, TATUM MOVED. SECOND. ROBINSON MOVED. AND SECOND ON ITEM SEVEN. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED. ITEM EIGHT NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX, TATUM, MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON, WE ON ITEM EIGHT. BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED. ITEM 13 NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX, TATUM, MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON ON ITEM 13, MOVED. AND SECOND. AND ON 13. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANITE. ITEM 14 NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX, TATU, MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON MOVED IN SECOND ON ITEM 14. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED. ITEM 15 NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX TATUM, MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON MOVED IN SECOND ON ITEM 15. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF POST GRANITE. ITEM 17 NEEDS A MOTION. T MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON ON ITEM 17 HAS BEEN MOVED IN SECOND IN DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANITE. ITEM 19 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. WE ON ITEM 19, DISCUSSION ON 19. DISCUSSION ON 19 IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 19. ITEM 20 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUSTINA VOTE. ALCORN. WE ITEM 20. COUNCILMAN ALCORN ON ITEM 20. THANK YOU MAYOR. REALLY HATE TO BREAK THAT RHYTHM YOU GUYS, BUT THIS IS JUST TOO EXCITING. OKAY, REMEMBER LONG AGO WHEN WE WERE FIRST HERE AND I HAD THIS SHARED SERVICES THING AND MAYOR, WE TALKED ABOUT IT SO MUCH AND WE REALLY WANTED TO START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. AND I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS. THIS IS A REAL LIVE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH HARRIS COUNTY HEALTH. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? WE DID THIS AND THEN THE, THE KINDER INSTITUTE AND EVERYTHING DID THAT TALE OF TWO DEPARTMENTS IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF OF GOOD, EFFICIENT GOVERNING WE NEED TO DO. I CAN SEE IT STARTING HERE AND GOING TO BARK AND OTHER PLACES IN THE CITY WHERE WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO REDUCE DUPLICATIVE SERVICES. AND SO, THANK YOU MAYOR. I'M SUPER EXCITED FOR THIS AND I'M NOT GONNA INTERRUPT ANYMORE. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN? UH, PLUMMER. I HAVE TO SAY THE SAME THING. WE'RE LIKE SO EXCITED OVER HERE. THIS IS GREAT. THIS IS REALLY GREAT. HEALTHCARE IS CRI CRITICAL. UM, AND AND PUTTING THOSE TWO TEAMS TOGETHER, THE CITY AND THE COUNTY IS, IS PHENOMENAL. SO I'M INCREDIBLY EXCITED. SO THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU. AND COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX. SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, Y'ALL ARE FOR THIS THING. , JUST CHECK IT. OKAY. IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED ON ITEM 21, SECOND ONE. SECOND COURSE. OKAY, MADAM SECRETARY, PROCEED. ITEM 23 IS AN ORDER. CONTINUE TO VOTE. COUNCIL AK ON 23. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, I JUST WANTED TO THANK THIS ALL WASTE DEPARTMENT FOR THIS ITEM. THIS IS THE RUBICON ITEM FOR THE AUTOMATED VEHICLE TRACKING AND ROUTING. UM, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR FOR A LONG TIME. I KNOW WE APPROPRIATED THE FUNDS LAST YEAR AND ASKED THEM FOR AN UPDATE BEFORE WE APPROPRIATED ADDITIONAL FUNDS. AND THE INFORMATION THAT THEY GAVE ME WAS REALLY, UM, EXCITING. THEY SAID THAT, UM, THEY PROJECTED AN ANNUAL SAVINGS OF, UM, OVER $299,000 PLUS, UM, SAVINGS IN FUEL OF, OF OVER $300,000 JUST FROM IMPLEMENTING THIS PROGRAM. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTINUATION OF THIS PROGRAM AND SEEING HOW IT HELPS WITH OUR ROUTING SYSTEM GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON 9 0 23? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 23. ITEM 26 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED THE VOTE. VOTE. LET ME, LET ME GET IT OUT MY [05:25:01] MOUTH FIRST. ITEM 26 AND ITEM 26 IS BEING TAGGED BY KNOX TAR ALCORN. EVERYONE. EVAN SHABBAT HUFFMAN, WHO'S NOT TAGGED. . YEAH. IS ANYTHING OKAY. IT'S BEEN ITEM 20. WE PREFER NOT TAGGED SO SHE CAN GET THE RECORD CORRECT. SHE PREFER NOT TAGS. SO WE KNOW SO SHE CAN GET THE RECORD CORRECT, IF YOU DON'T MIND. OKAY. WHO'S NOT TAGGING IT? THE MAYOR'S NOT TAGGING IT. WHO'S NOT TAGGING IT? YES. IS EVERYONE TAGGING THIS ITEM? ANYONE? NOT TAGGING? OKAY. WELL THE MAYOR'S NOT TAGGING IT. EVERYBODY ELSE IS TAGGING, SO, OKAY. THE MAYOR IS NOT TAGGING. OKAY. NEXT ITEM. THANK YOU. OKAY, MAYOR, ARE WE GONNA DISCUSS IT OR IS ANYBODY GONNA RELEASE THEIR TAG OR ARE WE JUST GONNA MOVE ON? EVERYBODY'S TAGGING IT. AND, UH, UM, SO YEAH, JUST GO ON. YEAH, WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT NEXT WEEK. ITEM 27 IS ORDINANCE. JUST IN A VOTE. ITEM 27. MAYOR JACKSON, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. JACKSON ON 27. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I WANTED TO JUST THANK YOU AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR, UM, THIS VOTE TODAY. BRINGING THIS ITEM UP. THIS IS A, UM, REBUILD, UM, FOR WINSOR PARK, UM, FORMERLY KNOWN AS CARVER PARK. UM, FOR TWO POINT WHAT? 6 MILLION. AND SO THESE IMPROVEMENTS IS GONNA INCLUDE INSTALLING AN ENTRY PLAZA, UM, NEW CONCRETE TRAILS OF, UM, PICNIC PAVILION, NEW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, SWINGS, EXERCISE STATIONS, JUST THE WORKS. AND SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS, UM, PARK BEING UPGRADED. THE FOLKS OVER IN ACRES, ACRES HOME HAS BEEN ASKING FOR, FOR YEARS. AND SO WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THIS COME UP. SO JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU. I'M EXCITED ABOUT VOTING FOR IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR SUPPORT AS WELL ON THIS ITEM. UH, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON 27 IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 27? ITEM 32 IS AN ORDER. JUST NEED A VOTE. YOU ON ITEM 32, DISCUSSION ON 32. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 32. ITEM 34 IS AN OR MRS. HE VOTE. I JUST WANT TO SAY ON 20, ON 34, THIS IS, UH, AN ITEM, UM, THAT COINCIDES WITH THE HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT FUNDING. UM, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR, ONE OF THE FOUR PRIORITIES, UH, DEALING WITHIN WITH, UM, GOLF COURSE FLOODING, UH, MAJOR DETENTION BASIN. UM, IT IS A BIG, IT IS A BIG DEAL. I BELIEVE THE COUNTY PASSED THEIR PORTION YESTERDAY AND NOW I'VE BEEN ASKED TO FOLLOW THIS. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO DETENTION, UM, THIS IS MAJOR. AND THEN WHEN IT COMES TO, UM, HAVING THE SERVICE DUAL PURPOSE, IT WOULD BE A MAJOR ENHANCEMENT, UH, FOR THE PEOPLE IN THAT INWOOD ANINE AREA, WHICH IS IN DISTRICT EIGHT. AND SO, UH, VERY EXCITED TO SEE THIS HAPPENING, WHICH MEANS THAT THE, UM, RIBBON CUTTING WILL PROBABLY TAKE PLACE SOON, PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT 30 DAYS. SO THIS IS AN EXCITING DAY. COUNCILMAN PAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR, UM, MAKING THIS PROJECT A PRIORITY. I THINK IT'S GONNA BE JUST SUCH A GAME CHANGER FOR THE WHOLE INWOOD AREA. UM, IT'S GOING TO HELP FOR OVER 4,400 STRUCTURES, TAKING THEM OUT OF, UM, FLOODING RISKS. UM, ABOUT ENOUGH DETENTION TO FILL 592 OLYMPIC SWIMMING POOLS AND TO FILL THE ASTRODOME. SO THIS IS A LOT OF ACRE FEET OF DETENTION AND REALLY JUST GOING TO BE SUCH A HUGE, UM, POSITIVE INFLUENCE FOR THE WHOLE INWOOD AREA. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS PROJECT. AND AGAIN, AND THIS IS A COLLABORATION WITH THE COUNTY, WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, WITH ALL THOSE PARTNERS ON THIS. UM, BECAUSE THIS, UM, I WANNA SAY THIS MAY BE CLOSE TO AN $80 MILLION PROJECT ALL IN. SO THIS WOULD BE BE MAJOR. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 34 IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 34, ITEM 39 IS A RESOLUTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. WE ON ITEM WE OWN ITEM 39. MAYOR PRO. MAYOR PRO TEMP. YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND WHEN WE DO THESE TAX CREDITS PROJECTS, WE HAVE A PROCESS THAT WE FOLLOWED. ALL DEVELOPERS KNOW OF OUR PROCESS. THE PROCESS IS WHEN THEY RECEIVE A SPECIAL CALL, THEY KNOW THAT THEIR PROJECT IS MOVING FORWARD TO CITY COUNCIL. AND AT THAT POINT IN TIME, THEY'RE TO ENGAGE THE COUNCIL MEMBER. THEY'RE ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY, THEY'RE ENGAGING THE STATE REP, STATE SENATORS, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, ET CETERA, TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS TO NOTIFY PEOPLE OF WHAT'S [05:30:01] COMING. THIS DEVELOPER DID NONE OF THAT. MATTER OF FACT, AS PEOPLE CAME UP TO THE PODIUM, HE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT WITH THEM WHEN HE'S GOING BACK, WHEN THEY'RE LEAVING THIS PLACE. HE DID NONE OF THAT. STANDARD PRACTICE FOR US IS THAT YOU ENGAGE COUNSEL, YOU ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY, YOU SELL YOUR PROJECT TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY, THEN WE VOTE ON MOVING IT FORWARD. TO USE THE WORDS OF A DEAR FRIEND OF MINE, I'M VERY, VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS DEVELOPER. HE DID NOTHING. THEM ZERO. AND, AND, BUT LET ME ALSO, BUT LET ME INTERJECT. I AM DISAPPOINTED. I'M WITH THE DEVELOPERS I INDICATED ON YESTERDAY. I WAS DISAPPOINTED WITH HIM. UM, AND HE SHOULD HAVE ENGAGED MORE. HE DID ENGAGE IN, HE MET WITH SOME ON LAST WEEK OR THIS THURSDAY OR FRIDAY OF LAST WEEK. SO I'M DISAPPOINTED WITH HIM. BUT LET ME JUST ADD, LET ME ADD THIS. I WEIGHED THE LACK OF HIS ENGAGEMENT, WHAT HE SHOULD HAVE DONE, AND HIS VALUE AGAINST ALSO SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT I HEARD ON YESTERDAY AND LAST WEEK AS WELL. AND THAT IS, UH, FOR SOME OF THE PEOPLE, WHETHER HE DID OR DID NOT, IT NOW, IT WOULD NOT HAVE IMPACTED THEM AT ALL. THEY ARE OPPOSED TO THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT BEING PLACED IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND SO I WAIVE THE TWO, I'M GOING TO VOTE TO MOVE THIS PROJECT FORWARD. AND LET ME TELL YOU WHY. YES, EVERYONE NEEDS, AS TWO SPEAKERS CAME TWO WEEKS AGO, NEED A PLACE TO LIVE. THEY NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND, AND EVER SINCE WE WORKED WITH HUD, WE MADE A, A CONCERTED EFFORT TO PLACE HOUSING THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON BASED ON THE CRITERIA THAT, UM, HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PUT FORTH. AND BASED ON THAT CRITERIA, THESE DEVELOPMENTS CAME BEFORE YOU ON THIS LIST. NOW WHAT TRUMPS WHAT THE, THE FAILURE OF THIS DEVELOPER NOT TO ENGAGE MORE WITH THE COMMUNITY, SHOULD THAT TRUMP AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT BE, UH, DEVELOPMENT MOVING FORWARD. SO SHOULD WE PUNISH THE PEOPLE WHO NEED HOUSING BECAUSE THE DEVELOPER DIDN'T DO EVERYTHING THAT WE DESIRED OF HIM TO DO? AND BEAR IN MIND, THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT GOES MORE SO TO THE STATE'S EVALUATION BECAUSE HE HAS UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH TO ENGAGE IN THAT. AND THEN THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE, THE STATE SENATOR CAN WEIGH IN, QUITE FRANKLY, IN THE ABSENCE OF GETTING A LETTER FROM THE STATE REP OF STATE SENATOR, THAT KILLS THE DEAL. MM-HMM . SO THE QUESTION IS, SHOULD WE KILL IT? SO I AGREE WHAT MAYOR PRO TEM HAD TO SAY, BUT LET ME JUST SAY THIS. LEMME SAY THIS, , THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN CERTAIN AREAS THAT DO NOT WANT AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT DEVELOPMENT IN THEIR AREA. MM-HMM . OKAY. AND WHEN WE CHOOSE AS A CITY COUNCIL TO SAY NO, THEN WE FEED INTO THOSE NEGATIVE ELEMENTS. WE FEED INTO IT AND WE GIVE THOSE ELEMENTS POWER BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT SOME OF THESE PEOPLE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND IF COUNCIL SAYS NO, AND USE THIS, THE, THE, THE DEVELOPER'S LACK OF ENGAGEMENT TO THEN JUSTIFY IT ON OUR END, THEN WE HAVE EMPOWERED THAT NEGATIVE ELEMENT. I'M GONNA VOTE FOR IT. I'M GONNA VOTE FOR IT. BECAUSE I'VE HEARD OF, I'VE HEARD THAT ELEMENT TOO MUCH. WAY TOO MUCH. AND I DON'T WANT TO, I DON'T WANT TO GIVE IT POWER BECAUSE IT DOESN'T STOP. SO WE SHOULD HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN EVERY OTHER PLACE, EXCEPT, IS THAT WHAT WE GOING TO SAY TODAY? IS THAT WHAT WE WERE SAYING? AND ARE YOU ALL GONNA WALK AWAY FROM THIS TABLE? FEELING GOOD ABOUT THAT? IN EVERY OTHER PLACE WE CAN HAVE IT, BUT FELICITY OATHS CAN'T BE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. 'CAUSE THE FOLK DON'T WANT THESE PEOPLE LOOKING DOWN ON THEM. SO YOU ALL GONNA VOTE NO. AND YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT? I THOUGHT ABOUT IT. NO, I, [05:35:01] I I CANNOT VOTE NO AND FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT. I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE POWER TO THAT NEGATIVE ELEMENT AND USE THIS DEVELOPER'S FAILURE TO JUSTIFY IT. SO 16, I THINK IT WAS 16 DEVELOPMENTS THAT CAME FORWARD. 14 HAVE PASSED TWO ON HERE TODAY. AND WE'RE GONNA SAY NO TO THESE TWO. WELL, YOU MAY, BUT AS A MAYOR OF THIS CITY, I SHALL NOT BECAUSE I'VE HEARD WAY TOO MUCH OF THAT NEGATIVE ELEMENT IN THIS CITY. AND I CHOOSE NOT TO REWARD IT AT THE EXPENSE OF PEOPLE NOT GETTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THIS CITY. I CHOOSE NOT TO DO IT. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. YOU KNOW, TODAY WE HAD OUR CONSERVATION, UH, DISTRICT HEARING WHERE WE HAD COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THAT IS WHAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE. WE HAD COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. AND WHEN PEOPLE CAME UP HERE AND SAID, WE WANNA GET THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THESE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS, SO WE GET COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN EVERY OTHER PLACE. BUT THIS ONE, YOU KNOW, WE WANT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ON ALL THESE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT NOT THIS ONE. YOU KNOW? AND EVEN AFTER WE TOLD THIS DEVELOPER TIME AND TIME AGAIN, ENGAGED THE COMMUNITY, HE DIDN'T, EVEN AFTER COUNCIL MEMBER KUBOSH TAGGED IT FOR AN ADDITIONAL WEEK. HE DIDN'T DO IT BECAUSE HE DOESN'T CARE. WE HEARD DEVELOPERS COME UP HERE AND SAY, WE WALKED NEIGHBORHOODS. WE HAD COMMUNITY MEETINGS, WE VISITED SCHOOLS, WE VISITED CHURCHES. HE COULDN'T SAY ANY OF THOSE THINGS. THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT HE ENGAGED WERE THE PEOPLE THAT WERE ALREADY ENGAGED, THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT THE HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT PUBLIC SESSION. THOSE WERE THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT HE TALKED TO. AND PEOPLE GOT UP HERE AND SAID, LOOK, I'D BE OPEN-MINDED IF YOU WOULD TALK TO ME, BUT I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE PLAN IS. YOU KNOW, YESTERDAY THE COMMENT WAS, WAS MADE THAT HE'S NOT A ROOKIE DEVELOPER AND HE'S NOT. HE HAS 25 PROJECTS. AND AS THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE NEED TO STAND UP AND REPRESENT OUR COMMUNITIES. AND LIKE YOU SAID TODAY, MAYOR, YOU SAID IF YOU DON'T LIVE IN AN AREA YOU DON'T KNOW, THOSE WERE YOUR EXACT WORDS ABOUT THE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS. WELL, THIS DEVELOPER, HE DIDN'T CARE TO KNOW. HE DIDN'T CARE TO KNOW COUNCILMAN THOMAS. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, THOMAS. THOMAS. LET HIM GO FIRST, PLEASE. COUNCILMAN MINOX. I GOT, I HEARD COUNCILMAN. WELL, I, I THINK A DEVELOPER WHO REFUSES TO ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY, UH, ANY KIND OF COMMUNITY WORK TO TRY TO SELL THEIR, THEIR IDEA IS ALSO INDICATIVE OF A DEVELOPER WHO'S NOT GONNA BE INTERESTED IN TAKING CARE OF THE RESIDENTS OF THAT PARTICULAR FACILITY. THEY'RE GOING TO JUST DO WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO WITHOUT REGARD TO THE COMMUNITY ITSELF. I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT THIS PARTICULAR DEVELOPER IS NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME HERE IN HOUSTON. SO I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION THAT WE REFER THIS ITEM BACK TO THE, TO THE ADMINISTRATION UNTIL THAT DEVELOPER IS READY. JUST NEED A SECOND. SECOND. THE MOTION. IT'S BEEN, UM, UH, MOVED IN, SECONDED TO REFER THIS ITEM BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION. AND NOW THAT MOTION IS ON THE TABLE TO DISCUSS. LEMME JUST SAY IN RESPONSE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER OCK TO YOUR MOTION BEING SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HOFFMAN. THAT IS THE EFFECT OF KILLING THIS PROJECT. AND WE RENDER AND WOULD RENDER WHAT WE DO MOOT. OKAY. SO WE, WE ARE DISCUSSING THE MAIN MOTION ANYWAY. OKAY? BECAUSE THAT'S THE EFFECT OF RENDERING MOOT. NOW CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, AND COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, YOU KNOW, YOU CHAIR, WHEN IT COMES TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AT THE CITY LEVEL, YES, WE PREFER IT, BUT THAT'S MORE OF A REQUIREMENT FOR THE STATE. AND HE HAS UNTIL THE DEVELOPER HAS, UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH TO HAVE THAT ENGAGEMENT. NOW, HE DID MEET WITH THEM, SOME OF THE PEOPLE LAST WEEK. REMEMBER SOME OF THE PEOPLE LAST WEEK, WOULD I HAVE PREFERRED HIM TO HAVE DONE MORE? ABSOLUTELY. AND I EXPRESSED MY DISAPPOINTMENT TO HIM. BUT I ALSO HAD TO THINK ON THIS ONE, SHOULD I ALLOW THAT [05:40:01] TO NEGATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE IN THIS CITY WHO NEED IT? WHICH WAYS MORE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IN THAT, THOSE COMMUNITY RESPONSES, MANY OF THEM THAT CAME BEFORE US, THEY DON'T WANT THEM THERE. MAYOR, POINT OF ORDER. WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. I'M SPEAKING TO YOUR MOTION. YOU WANNA REFER TO BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION. . HE IS ADMINISTRATION. YOU WANT I'M THE ADMINISTRATION. IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOU'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT THE MAIN ITEM, RIGHT? BECAUSE YOU WANNA REFER IT BACK TO ME AND I'M SAYING THAT NO, DON'T REFER IT BACK TO ME. MOVE THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT FORWARD. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. OKAY. THAT'S THE ONLY POINT I'M, I'M TRYING TO MAKE. SO I'M, I AM RESPONDING. I DON'T WANT IT BACK. I WANT THE PEOPLE TO HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE. AND, AND YOUR MOTION RENDERS IN MOOT. UM, SO, SO WE ARE ON, WE ARE ON YOUR MOTION TO REFER BACK AND ON THE MOTION TO REFER BACK. THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DISCUSSING. COUNCIL MEMBER, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WANNA SPEAK ON THE MOTION, THOMAS OR YOU REFER COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS ITEM. THANK YOU. UM, SO ON THIS ITEM JUST SLIPPERY SLOPE, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROCESS IS IN PLACE TO GO TO THE STATE THAT, THAT PLAYS OUT. WE DON'T WANNA FIND OURSELVES CONSTANTLY INTERJECTING IN THAT PROCESS, UM, FROM AN EQUITY PERSPECTIVE, RIGHT? SO I JUST WANT TO LAY THAT BECAUSE THEN WE, WE START ITEMIZING PROJECTS, UM, AND WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM, UH, THE FULL CHANCE TO RUN THAT FULL PROCESS BECAUSE WITH THE SEC 16 RECOMMENDATIONS, WE MIGHT GET SEVEN THAT MAY COME BACK DOWN TO THE CITY TO, TO BE RECEIVED. SO I JUST WANNA NOTE THAT ON THIS MOTION IS THAT WE NEED TO GET OUT OF THE, WE NEED TO GET, WE DON'T NEED TO BE IN THE BUSINESS OF NOT ALLOWING THEM TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A STATE PROGRAM. THAT'S NOT WHAT OUR POSITION IS. UH, OUR POSITION IS MAKING SURE THAT THE LOCAL PRACTICES I PLACE, WHICH ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE DEVELOPERS IN A PERIOD OF TIME HAVE DEVELOPED PROPERTIES, HAVE NOT ENGAGED, WE'VE CONCENTRATED POVERTY, WE'VE DONE ALL OF THAT. THIS IS A WAY TO, UM, SELF-CORRECT. AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS AGGRESSIVELY FOR THREE YEARS, TELLING DEVELOPERS YOU GOTTA TALK TO THE PEOPLE ENGAGING, GETTING THE RIGHT LETTER OF SUPPORT. WE HAVE DONE THAT. THAT IS OUR LOCAL PRACTICE. MAYOR PRO TEM IS CORRECT AT THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT LEVEL. ONCE THEY ARE NOTIFIED THAT THEY ARE RECOMMENDED, IT'S GO TALK TO YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WILL DIRECT YOU TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE. HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS, DO ALL OF THOSE THINGS. UM, HOWEVER, THIS IS A STATE PROGRAM. AND SO WHAT THE STATE IS LOOKING FOR IS FROM US A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE SAY AS A CITY, WE WILL BE WILLING TO HAVE THESE PROJECTS IF THEY ARE APPROVED AND IF THEY CAN BE FINANCED. UM, SO ON THAT MOTION, I JUST WANNA KEEP THAT IN, KEEP THAT IN MIND. I DON'T WANT HUD TO COME IN AND ENTER ON ON THAT, ON THAT PIECE. AND IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, I DON'T SEE KEITH BIT IN FRONT OF ME. THERE ARE THREE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO. THIS ONE IS A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT THAT CAN BE A RES, THAT CAN BE A, A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION. OBJECTION. AND THEN THERE'S A REC A, A DENIAL. MM-HMM . OKAY. UM, AND IF PEOPLE DO NOT NECESSARILY WANNA DO A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT, WHICH IS ON HERE, THEN COUNSEL CAN SEEK TO DO A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION. HOW CAN WE DO THAT ADMINISTRATIVELY? AND DID CORRECT ME IF I'M, IF, AM I MISTAKEN? CAN THIS BE AMENDED TO DO A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION. I'M LOOKING MAYOR. OKAY. AND NOW WE GOT PROMOTION, BUT AGAIN, WE, WE, WE ON COUNCILMAN MIN NA'S, MOTION COUNCILMAN THOMAS WAS FINISHED. NOW WE ON COUNCILMAN POLLARD DOESN'T WANNA TALK ABOUT THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER KASH ON COUNCIL MEMBER MON NA'S MOTION. POWERFUL MESSAGE YOU GAVE US MAYOR, WHEN YOU FIRST SPOKE. YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T LIKE, UM, WHAT I HEARD FROM THE LADY WHO OWNED THE DAYCARE, THE MAIN ITEM. WELL, IT'S, IT'S THE, IT IS THE TOTAL ITEM. SO, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE IF WE VOTE ON THIS, IT'S GONNA THE MOTION TO REFER IT BACK. OKAY. WELL, I'LL WAIT TILL THE MAIN ITEM. MAYOR. I WAS ALMOST PERSUADED AGAIN. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX, ON THIS MOTION, ON YOUR MOTION IT, I'M SORRY, ON YOUR, ON YOUR MOTION. UH, JUST TO RESPOND TO MY COLLEAGUE'S COMMENT ABOUT WHETHER WE SHOULD OR SHOULDN'T DO THIS. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IT IS A REQUIREMENT FOR THE STATE TO GET A LETTER OF SUPPORT, A LETTER OF, OF, UH, NO OBJECTION OR DENY FROM THE CITY, FROM THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY. SO WE ARE ALREADY IN THAT MIX AND WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THAT. [05:45:01] WHAT I'M SUGGESTING THAT WE DO IS REFER IT BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION SO THAT THIS PERSON CAN BECOME, BRING IT BACK NEXT YEAR AND, UM, MAYBE BE MORE PREPARED OR BETTER PREPARED. I MEAN, THIS GUY HAD EVERY CHANCE IN THE WORLD TO DO WHAT HE SHOULD DO AND HE STILL DIDN'T DO IT. AND I APPRECIATE THE MAYORS IN PASSION COMMENTS ABOUT ALL OF THAT. BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAVE A DEVELOPER WHO IGNORES, HENCE, UH, TO THE POINT OF THIS PARTICULAR DEVELOPER IGNORES THE CON THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE THAT HE'S GONNA BE SERVING IGNORES EVERY ADMONITION THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS MADE TO THEM TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO GET OUT AND, AND DISCUSS THE COMMUNITY, THEN I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT IF THIS WERE PROJECT WERE TO BE COMPLETED IN HOUSTON, THAT HE WOULD TREAT THE TENANTS OF THAT PARTICULAR FACILITY WITH ANY MORE RESPECT THAN HE TREATED THIS COUNCIL PROCESS. AND SO, IN AVOIDING TO, SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO VOTE NO ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, ON THIS ITEM, AND THEN DEAL WITH IT NEXT YEAR, LET'S JUST GO AHEAD AND LET IT DIE. QUIET DEATH SO HE CAN BRING IT BACK NEXT YEAR AND HOPEFULLY TAKE SERIOUSLY OUR COMMENTS ABOUT CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT. SO YES, WE DO HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY NOT ONLY FOR THIS DEVELOPER, BUT FUTURE DEVELOPERS WHO WANT TO COME, UH, TO DO THIS, THIS, THIS KIND OF WORK IN OUR CITY. THAT WE MEAN WHAT WE SAY, AND WE SAY WHAT WE MEAN. WE WANT YOU TO GET OUT THERE AND SELL YOUR PROJECT TO THE COMMUNITY. WE WANT YOU ENGAGED. YOU CAN HAVE, AS THE MAYOR SAID REPEATEDLY, JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE OBJECT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT A GOOD PROJECT. BUT IN THIS CASE, WE HAVE A DEVELOPER WHO'S BASICALLY IGNORING US AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. AND I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE THAT ON AND JUST LET HIM COME BACK NEXT YEAR AND TRY AGAIN. WE'RE ON THE MOTION, THE MOTION BEFORE, IT'S JUST A MOTION TO, TO SEND IT BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS? ON THIS ONE? UM, AND WE'LL DO SIMPLY THE ROLL CALL. SO IT'D BE CLEAR. ALL IN FAVOR OF SENDING THIS ITEM BACK TO THE ADMINIS, TO THE ADMINISTRATION. UH, MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU CALL THE ROLL MAYOR TURNER. NO. COUNCIL PECK? YES. CONSTABLE JACKSON? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA? YES. CONSTABLE MARTIN. NO. CONSTABLE THOMAS? NO. CONST HUFFMAN? YES. CONSTABLE CISNEROS? NO. CONSTABLE GALLS. OH, AB ABSENT. COUNCIL. POLLARD? NO. COUNCIL. CASTEX TATUM? NO. COUNCILMAN KN? YES. CONSTABLE ROBINSON. NO. CONSTABLE ? YES. CONSTABLE PLUM? NO. CONSTABLE ALCORN? YES. VOTE ON NINE TO SIX. THE MOTION FAILS. WE'RE NOT BACK TO THE MAIN ITEM. SORRY. LET PUT ME IN THE QUEUE, POLLARD AND I'LL FIX THE REST IN A MINUTE. SO THOMAS IS NEXT. COUNCILMAN THOMAS. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, PENDING LEGAL'S RESPONSE. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO MOTION MOVE TO DO A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION. SECOND ROBINSON ON THE ITEM SECOND. ROBINSON IMP PENDING LEGAL OBJECTION. I SUPPORT THAT MOTION. MOTION BEFORE US NOW. DO WE HAVE SECOND? OKAY. YEAH. SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND NOW THERE'S A MOTION A SECOND, UH, TO, TO, TO AMEND ITEM 39. INSTEAD OF A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT, IT WOULD BE ALLEGED A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION. SO NOW BEFORE IS THAT AMENDMENT BEFORE IT SAYS THE AMENDMENT. IT'S THE AMENDMENT TO ITEM 39. IT'S THE AMENDMENT TO ITEM 39. DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT. ITEM 30 ON THE MOTION PRESENTED BY COUNCILMAN THOMAS. COUNCILMAN POLL BE NEXT. SO, UH, UH, I I'M TRYING TO GET CLARIFICATION ON A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION. YOU HAVE SOME THAT, THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS. YOU HAVE A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT. I UNDERSTAND. BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS WHAT MESSAGE ARE WE SENDING TO THE STATE? WE'RE SAYING WE DON'T OBJECT TO IT, BUT WE'RE NOT SAYING WE SUPPORT IT EITHER. WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT WE SUPPORT IT OR WE DON'T SUPPORT IT. WE'RE JUST LIKE, WHATEVER Y'ALL WANT TO DO. AND THAT'S EXACTLY, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WELL [05:50:01] THAT'S, IF WE'RE SAYING, IF WE'RE SAYING THAT STATE DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO, THEN WE'RE TAKING OURSELVES OUTTA THE PROCESS ALTOGETHER. THAT MEANS WE HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE, IN THE PROJECT. WE, I MIGHT AS WELL HAVE VOTED WITH MY COUNCIL MEMBER HERE ON, ON HIS MOTION TO REFER IT BACK. BECAUSE NOW WE'RE, WE'RE NOT EVEN PLAYING A ROLE IN THIS. THAT'S NOT TRUE. WE, I DON'T SEE IT THAT WAY. WITH, WITH, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU GO WITH A NO OBJECTION, THAT BASICALLY SAYS I'M NOT IN SUPPORT OR I'M NOT AP OPPOSING IT. YOU ALL FEEL FREE TO DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. AND THAT NOW, NOW WE JUST WASTED OUR TIME ON THIS WHOLE ITEM. ZERO POINTS. IT GET ZERO POINTS COUNCIL MEMBER. THERE IS, THERE IS, THERE IS VALIDITY IN THOSE THREE OPTIONS ON THE RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT. YOU GET POINTS ON THE RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION. YOU GET NO POINT. UH, UH, SO THERE IS POINT OF POINT OF CLARITY. WHO, WHO'S THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE ON THIS? ANN JOHNSON. IS ANN, DO WE KNOW IF ANN JOHNSON IS IN SUPPORT? ACCORDING TO AN EMAIL THAT I READ THIS MORNING FROM THE DEVELOPER, SHE WAS WAITING TO, UM, MAKE HER DECISION UNTIL AFTER. SO SHE'S NOT EVEN GONNA HAVE A, A INDICATION FROM US. SHE, SHE, SHE WILL. SHE'LL WILL. SHE'S GONNA GET A NO OBJECTION. AND YOU CAN, YOU CAN, YOU CAN, YOU CAN VOTE TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM. COUNCIL MEMBER. YOU WANNA VOTE TO SUPPORT IT BE ON NO, I'M NOT GONNA SUPPORT IT. ON, I'M NOT GONNA SUPPORT IT, NO. OKAY. THEN THE, THE AMENDMENT ON THE, ON THE FLOOR IS THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS THE AMENDMENT OF NO OBJECTION. ANY DI ANY DISCUSSION ON THE, ON THE MOTION? NO OBJECTION. COUNCILMAN KBA. ARE YOU ON? PLUMBER COMM PLUMBER ON GOOD CALL ON THE AMENDMENT. THE AMENDMENT ROLL. CALL IT. NO, BUT I WANNA MAKE A COMMENT. I MEAN, IN DISCUSSION. YEAH. IN DISCUSSION. YES. WE DISCUSSION? YES. OKAY. SO I'M KIND OF WITH COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD ON THIS. UM, I JUST THINK THIS IS STILL STAYING THE WRONG, WHAT I HEARD YESTERDAY, I WAS APPALLED. AND SO WAS THAT, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. I GET THAT. I'M NOT, I'M NOT DISCREDITING THAT AT ALL. A HUNDRED PERCENT. UM, BUT I SPEND THE MAJORITY OF MY TIME LOOKING AT PLACES WHERE PEOPLE LIVE THAT ARE DEPLORABLE. AND I KNOW, AND WE HEARD HOMELESS PEOPLE SPEAKING, YOU KNOW, LAST WEEK ABOUT NOT NOWHERE TO LIVE. AND I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING IN THESE APARTMENT COMPLEXES NOW, THEY'RE HORRIBLE. WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A NEW PLACE TO LIVE. WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THAT'S HALF THE REASON WHY WE DON'T PUT PRESSURE ON THESE HORRIBLE LANDLORDS BECAUSE WE'RE SO SCARED THEY'RE GONNA SHUT DOWN AND WE'VE GOT NOWHERE TO PUT ANYBODY. I JUST, I MEAN, FROM A HOUSING HABITABILITY PERSPECTIVE, I JUST FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO TAKE A STANCE ON THIS. AND WHAT I HEARD YESTERDAY, I DON'T, I BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE, YES, WE HAVE TO AGREE AND TALK ABOUT WHAT'S COMING INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES, BUT WE CAN'T BE PREJUDICE ABOUT IT. WHAT WE HEARD YESTERDAY WAS BASICALLY SAYING THAT IF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS HERE, THE CHILDREN AT THE DAYCARE ARE GONNA BE, ARE GONNA BE, COULD BE POTENTIALLY HARMED. THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I'M REALLY, I'M REALLY TORN ON THIS. UM, I DON'T SUPPORT IN TERMS OF DEVELOPERS ENGAGEMENT, BUT I ALSO DON'T THINK THAT, THAT WE AS A COUNCIL AND TO SEND THE MESSAGE TO THE STATE THAT WE ARE GONNA SUPPORT COMMUNITIES THAT ARE BEING PREJUDICED ABOUT WHO IS COMING TO THEIR COMMUNITY. I MEAN, TO THEIR, TO THEIR DISTRICT. I JUST WANNA BE BLATANTLY OPEN ABOUT IT. 'CAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE HEARD. SO, UM, I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY VOTE ON THIS AND GOD'S MEMBER PLUMBER AND COUNCILMAN PLUMMER AND CONS AND COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT I'M ALSO SENSING A PART OF MY, A PART OF THIS ROLE IS TO, HOW CAN I PUT IT? WE ARE ALL SITTING AROUND THIS HORSESHOE. OKAY. IF THIS COUNCIL VOTES NO ON THIS PROJECT, THEN I THINK WE HAVE REALLY SENT A WRONG SIGNAL. AND I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THERE IS SOME TENSION HERE IS BECAUSE OF THE DEVELOPER'S FAILURE TO ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. OKAY. BUT FROM MY VANTAGE POINT IN LISTENING TO THE COMMENTS COMING TO BE HEARD, I DON'T SEE THE JUSTIFICATION OR I CAN'T JUSTIFY SAYING NO TO THIS DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE OF THE DEVELOPER'S FAILURE TO DO THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO VOTE NO TO THIS DEVELOPMENT. I THINK IS IS THE WRONG WAY TO GO. OKAY. MY PREFERENCE [05:55:01] WOULD BE TO VOTE YES. BUT I CERTAINLY KNOW WE SHOULD NOT BE VOTING NO TO THIS DEVELOPMENT. OKAY. I CERTAINLY KNOW THAT A VOTE OF NO OBJECTION ALLOWS THIS PROJECT TO BE FULLY EVALUATED BY THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE. I PREFER WE DO THAT. MAY I, MAY I, MAY I ASK A QUESTION? THAT'S WHERE I'M COMING. SURE. NO, NO. I, I UNDERSTAND. BUT IT ALSO SENDS A MESSAGE TO THE STATE THAT WE ARE KIND OF, THAT WE DIDN'T MAKE A DECISION EITHER, RIGHT? 'CAUSE THEY GET ZERO POINTS FROM US. NO, IT'S A DECISION. I, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. JUST A QUESTION. RIGHT. OKAY. I DO HAVE A, HAVE WE AND I, AND I REALLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE MY OWN DUE DILIGENCE, BUT HAVE, DID WE, DID ANYONE AT THE, ON THE HORSESHOE RESEARCH, ANY OF THE OTHER DEVELOPMENTS THAT THEY'VE DONE, DID ANYONE SEE IF HOW THEY MAINTAIN THEIR PROPERTIES? OR 25? DID ANYONE DO THAT? IT WAS 25 OF THEM. DID ANYONE DO THAT? I'M NOT, I'M NOT ADVISED. OKAY. I JUST, I WAS JUST CURIOUS. BUT I UNDERSTAND, I SHARE YOUR CONCERNS. I DON'T WANT THIS, I WOULD NOT WANT THIS COUNCIL TO VOTE NO ON MOVING FORWARD ON THIS DEVELOPMENT. I'D RATHER GO WITH A NO OBJECTION AND TO GO, NO. MAYOR, DO WE NEED A MOTION TO EXTEND THIS MEETING? OH, I'M SORRY. MOTION GO PAST 12. I'M SORRY. SECOND, UM, BEEN MOVED AND SECOND TO GO PAST 12 AND THEN OBJECTION CHAIR IS NOT GRANTED. OKAY. THANK YOU. I'M SORRY. OKAY. OKAY. NOW WE ON MAY, MAY I PRETEND ON YES, MAYOR, I'D LOVE SOME CLARIFICATION FROM HOUSING BECAUSE I BELIEVE A VOTE OF NO OBJECTIVE OBJECTION GIVES THEM 14 POINTS. AND LET'S FACE IT, WE ALL KNOW HOW THESE THINGS ARE KILLED. THERE'S NO SURPRISE THERE. BUT I'D LOVE FOR HOUSING TO VOICE IN BECAUSE I KNOW A NO VOTE IS ZERO. A NO OBJECTION, I THINK IS 14 AND A YES IS A NUMBER, NONE. ANOTHER NUMBER. IF THEY COULD CLARIFY IF I'M CORRECT OR WRONG, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. BUT I BELIEVE NO OBJECTION. IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS AMENDMENT, UH, IS A 14 POINT PLUS FOR THEM IN THEIR SCORING MECHANISM, THEN IT GOES TO THE STATE. COUNCILMAN THOMAS. I HAVE LOTS OF THOUGHTS. SO LET ME, UH, GATHER MYSELF. SO, SO I WANT TO BE CLEAR, I DON'T THINK ANYONE IS MORE UPSET OR WAS MORE DISTURBED AT YESTERDAY THAN ME. I'M STILL UNSETTLED, UM, BY THOSE COMMENTS. MM-HMM . MM-HMM . THE TROUBLESOME. ESPECIALLY SINCE THAT MORNING WE HAD A HOUSING COMMITTEE AND WE TALKED ABOUT 28,000 HOUSTONIANS ON A WAITING LIST JUST TO GET A VOUCHER TO GO INTO A UNIT. WELL, WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE 7,000 UNITS THAT THE CITY HAS COMPLETED IN TERMS OF AFFORD, UH, PRESERVING AFFORDABILITY IN ADDITION TO THE 12,000 FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. SO ONE, I WAS SOMEWHAT PUT OFF BY THE, THE EDITORIAL BOARD'S COMMENTS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS AFRAID OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING THE DATA. THAT'S NOT TRUE. THE MATH AIN'T MATH. AND ON THAT, SO I WANT TO BE ON RECORD TO SAY THAT THE, THE EDITORIAL BOARDS AT THE CI, THE CITY COUNCIL BOARD, I'M AFRAID I HAVEN'T READ THOSE PAGES IN OVER A YEAR. I DON'T. AND SO I JUST WANT TO BE ON RECORD THAT SEPARATE OF, THERE'S MULTIPLE, UH, IT'S NUANCED AND, AND ANYONE IN HOUSING KNOWS IT'S TECHNICAL INDUSTRY, BUT IT'S ALSO VERY NUANCED AS WE KNOW NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE THEIR OWN STORY. UM, AND, AND WHY THESE PROJECTS, WHY WE DO ENGAGEMENT. BECAUSE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN A IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT. WHAT'S HAPPENING IN K, RIGHT? SO, UH, NO ONE'S MORE DISTURBED AT THAT BECAUSE I LIVED IN AN APARTMENT AT A PERIOD IN TIME WHEN I WAS IN GRAD SCHOOL. THAT'S ME, RIGHT? I COULDN'T AFFORD ANYTHING ELSE BUT $500. THAT WAS ME. UM, UM, BUT I ALSO THINK ONE OF THE WAYS WE GET AHEAD OF THAT IS FOR DEVELOPERS TO ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY, TO TALK ABOUT THE REALITIES OF WHAT AFFORDABILITY IS, MAKING SURE THAT NO HOUSTONIAN IS PAYING MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR INCOME. THAT'S AFFORDABILITY. IT'S NOT YOU PEOPLE AND THEM PEOPLE, AND WE'RE HIGH END. IT'S NONE OF THAT. IT'S 30%. NO MATTER WHAT YOU MAKE, YOU SHOULD HAVE AN OPTION TO LIVE IN SOMETHING SAFE AND CLEAN AND ACCESSIBLE. THAT'S THAT. NOW THE THIRD PIECE TO THAT IS THIS IS A STATE PROCESS. SO EVEN COUPLED WITH ALL OF THAT, I JUST WANT US TO BE MINDFUL THAT WE DON'T WANT TO INTERJECT IN THAT THEY STILL HAVE TO BE SCORED AT AUSTIN. THEY WON'T HEAR ANYTHING UNTIL JUNE. THE ISSUE WITH VOTING NO NOW MEANS THEY DON'T GET TO APPLY, MEET THE DEADLINE BY NEXT WEEK. SO THAT'S WHY WE BUILD IN THE TWO TAGS SO WE CAN HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS GIVE DEVELOPERS COURTESY COMMUNITIES TO DO THAT. HE FAILED TO DO THAT. HE FAILED TO DO IT. AND THAT'S A PROBLEM. BUT HOWEVER, WHAT I DON'T WANT US TO BE IN THE POSITION OF IS BEING ON RECORD SAYING NO, 'CAUSE I'M STILL THINKING ABOUT THE ATTENDANCE CLERK AT LAMAR HIGH SCHOOL. I'M THINKING ABOUT THE SECURITY GUARDS THAT SIT AT THE DESK [06:00:01] AT CITY HALL AND LET ALL THOSE PUBLIC SPEAKERS IN AND GAVE THEM THEIR BADGES THAT DON'T MAKE THE MONEY. THAT WOULD PROBABLY CHOOSE TO SAY THAT I'M THINKING OF THEM. SO I, THE, THE, THE RESOLUTION OF NO IS ALMOST LIKE NO CONTESTS WHEN YOU HAVE CLIENTS AT COURTS, NO CONTEST, IT'S SIMILAR. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY STILL HAVE TO MAKE THE FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS, THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY, THE TRAFFIC STUDY. THEY STILL HAVE TO MEET ALL OF THAT AT THE STATE LEVEL BEFORE IT COMES DOWN OUT OF THE 16. AGAIN, WE MIGHT GET SIX OR SEVEN, WE MIGHT, AND CITYWIDE WE HAVE A HISTORY OF APPROVING PROJECTS ON THE WEST SIDE DISTRICTS, FJ AND K GOT NONE THIS YEAR, NO APPLICATIONS. AND WE WERE ELIGIBLE FOR TWO OR THREE. SO I, I, SO I THINK THAT WHOLE EDITORIAL PIECE GOT ME ANOTHER WHOLE KIND OF WAY. BUT ALSO THOSE COMMENTS YESTERDAY, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO CHALLENGE THAT AND PUSH BACK ON THAT AND SAY NO. AND THEN TELL THESE DEVELOPERS, ONCE YOU APPLY TO THESE, THIS PROGRAM AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THAT'S AN EXPECTATION AT A LOCAL LEVEL. AND THEY HAVE TO MEET THAT. BUT THE, BUT THE, UH, RESOLUTION OF OPPOSITION, I'M SORRY, THE REP RESOLUTION OF NO OPPOSITION IS THE VERY BEST POSITION FOR US TO BE IN. IT'S THE VERY BEST POSITION FOR US TO BE IN. IT'S A TOOL THAT'S AFFORDED FOR US TO USE BECAUSE WE GET TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS AT THIS LOCAL LEVEL. THANK YOU. WE ON THE AMENDED MOTION ON A MOTION I, NO OBJECTION DISCUSSION. COUNCILMAN POLL. THANK YOU MAYOR. WE'RE SITTING HERE DISCUSSING THIS, THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT. WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT IS GONNA BE. THE GENTLEMAN YESTERDAY AT THE MICROPHONE, HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT'S GONNA BE. HE DIDN'T KNOW IF HE WAS GONNA USE THE GARAGE OR NOT USE THE GARAGE. HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW MANY STORIES IT WAS GOING TO BE. HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW MANY UNITS IT WAS GOING TO BE. HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW MANY WAS GONNA BE AFFORDABLE. HE DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS GONNA BE A PLAYGROUND, IF THERE WAS GONNA BE SWIMMING POOL. WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT WE VOTING ON BECAUSE HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT HE'S DOING. THAT'S THE ONE OBJECTION I HAVE. THE SECOND ONE IS, WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT NEGLECTFUL LANDLORDS. MY DISTRICT IS 85% APARTMENTS. I SEE WHEN LANDLORDS ONLY CARE ABOUT THE BOTTOM LINE, RIGHT? THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY. THEY DON'T ENGAGE. AND WE SEE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT. HE'S GIVEN US THAT EXAMPLE FOR A COUPLE WEEKS NOW. HE'S COME BEFORE US AND HE SAYS, YOU KNOW, I APOLOGIZE. IT WAS MY FAULT. I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T DO IT. I DIDN'T GO OUT THERE, I DIDN'T DO THIS, I DIDN'T DO THAT. AND THEN HE'S CHANGING THE PLANS EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO YEAH, WE WANT TO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE ARE GOOD COMMUNITY PARTNERS. WE ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE, THAT, THAT WHERE THEY'RE BUILDING IS, IS, IS THE, IS THE RIGHT PLACE. LIKE THIS IS A HUGE CITY, RIGHT? I WISH THAT, THAT THIS PROCESS WOULD INCLUDE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS MORE. HONESTLY, WE KNOW OUR DISTRICTS MORE THAN ANYONE, RIGHT? AND I COULD, I COULD PROBABLY PICK OUT ALL TYPES OF AREAS OF DISTRICT J THAT WOULD BE PRIME FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. BUT WHAT WE DO IS WE, WE HAVE TO GET THINGS AFTER THE FACT AND THEN, AND THEN WE HAVE TO START SELECTING FROM THERE. THAT TO ME IS BACKWARDS. AND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT A NO OBJECTION, WHEN THE GUY'S GIVEN US A LOT OF REASONS TO OBJECT AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT WE'RE PRO, WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT WE'RE SUPPORTING, NONE OF YOU ALL CAN TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT WILL BE DEVELOPED THERE BECAUSE HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW. OKAY? SO I THINK, I THINK WE HAVE TO REALLY BE MINDFUL ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND THE CHOICES THAT WE'RE MAKING. I AM FULLY ON BOARD WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT IT HAS TO MAKE SENSE. AND THE PERSON WHO MAKES IT MAKE SENSE IS THE DEVELOPER WHO APPLIES FOR IT. IF HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT HE'S DOING, MAYOR, HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO SUPPORT THAT? BUT COUNCILMAN POLL, DIDN'T YOU HEAR SOME OF THESE PEOPLE AT THAT MIC SAY, IN FACT, IN RESPONSE TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN'S QUESTION, IT WOULDN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE IF HE HAD BEEN OUT THERE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 24 HOURS OR OR SEVEN. THEY WERE STILL SAYING NO. SOME PEOPLE DID MAYOR. AND, BUT WE CAN'T GO OFF OF SOME, WE HAVE TO. I LISTEN TO YOU. I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. I LISTEN TO YOU GUYS, I LISTEN TO YOU, YOU LEMME LISTEN. LEMME JUST SAY THIS. NOW, YES, YOU CAN PLACE A GREAT DEAL OF BLAME ON THE DEVELOPER, BUT YOU CANNOT OVERLOOK THE FACT THAT SOME OF THESE PEOPLE WHO CAME UP HERE DON'T WANT THAT PRIDE DEVELOPMENT IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE OF, BECAUSE OF SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE. YOU, LEMME JUST SAY THIS. NOW. YOU CANNOT GIVE CREDENCE AND POWER TO THOSE COMMENTS. YOU CANNOT. I DEFINITELY DO NOT. OKAY. SO, SO THE POINT THAT I'M MAKING IS THAT YES, DEVELOPERS SHOULD ENGAGED IN MORE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. YES, HE SHOULD HAVE. THAT WAS IN THE ARTICLE. AND SO THE [06:05:01] QUESTION IS FROM A DEVELOPER NOT DOING FROM THESE COMMENTS THAT WERE CLEARLY SAYING, WE DON'T WANT THOSE PEOPLE OVER HERE. NOW WHAT ROLE DO WE PLAY? AND WHAT I AM SAYING AND LISTENING TO COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, I CAN SEE THIS AS A PATH FORWARD IN VIEW OF THOSE COMPETING DYNAMICS. SO HAVE WE GOTTEN CLARIFICATION ON IF THEY GET ZERO POINTS FOR NO OBJECTION. HOLD ON, LET ME VICE MAYOR FOR TEMP CAST DICTATOR. THANK YOU MAYOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. IF WE DO A LETTER OF NO OBJECTION, THEY WILL GET 14 POINTS. THAT'S NOT ENOUGH POINTS TO MATTER. IT'S STILL GOING TO PROBABLY FAIL. BUT WHAT THE, THE LETTER OF NO OBJECTION DOES FOR US AS A BODY IS WHEN I HEARD A CONSTITUENT SAY THE GROCERIES ARE TOO HIGH IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, MY ANTENNAS WENT UP BECAUSE THOSE TYPES OF COMMENTS ARE DETRIMENTAL TO PUTTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN COMMUNITIES. AND I WANT TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE ENTIRE CITY OF HOUSTON. A LETTER OF NO OBJECTION TO PUSHES BACK ON THE DEVELOPER WHO FAILED TO ENGAGE IN COMMUNITIES. BUT IT ALSO PUSHES BACK ON THE NOT IN MY BACKYARD. I DON'T WANT US TO USE THE DEVELOPER'S FAILURE TO SUPPORT THE NOT IN MY BACKYARD SENTIMENT THAT I HEARD WITH THE GROCERIES ARE TOO HIGH IN THIS AREA. AND WE WOULD BE VIOLATING OUR VCA IF WE ALLOWED THAT. AND I DON'T WANT TO PUT THE CITY IN A, IN A AREA OR A POSITION TO BE VIOLATING THAT VCA, WE SIGN THAT AGREEMENT SO THAT WE WOULDN'T GET FUNDS TAKEN AWAY FROM US FOR CONTINUING TO VIOLATE, UH, THE VCA. UH, THE LETTER OF NO OBJECTION IS, IN MY OPINION, OUR BEST OPTION TO SUPPORT THE LOCAL POSITION OF YOU NEED TO INVOLVE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. YOU NEED TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. YOU NEED TO TALK TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER. YOU NEED TO TALK TO THE COMMUNITY. AND IF YOU DO NOT, YOU WILL NOT GAIN THE OPTIMAL LETTER OF SUPPORT. THIS LETTER OF NO OBJECTION KEEPS US FROM VIOLATING OUR VCA. UM, AND IT ALSO LETS THE DEVELOPER KNOW YOU DID NOT MEET OUR LOCAL REQUIREMENTS THAT WE HAVE TOUTED FOR YEARS. YOU MUST ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY. YES, YOU MUST TALK TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER. AND SO IN MY OPINION, IT IS OUR BEST ROUTE, UM, TO MOVE FORWARD AT THIS TIME. CAN I RESPOND, MAYOR? AND THE LETTER SAYS TO THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE, WE ARE NOT OPPOSED TO THIS PROJECT. YEP. SO THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE CAN STILL MOVE FORWARD, CAN STILL MOVE FORWARD. POINT OF CLARIFICATION. SO POINT OF CLARIFICATION. POINT OF CLARIFICATION. AND THIS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, UM, YOU CAN CHIME IN AS WELL. SINCE THIS IS A COMPETITIVE PROCESS, RIGHT? ALL THESE APPLICATIONS ARE NOT GONNA GET APPROVED. ARE YOU ALL SAYING THAT YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH, UH, NOTING THAT IF WE GO WITH A LETTER, A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION, THOSE 14 POINTS ARE SO LOW IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, THAT IT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THEIR CHANCES. AND BY ALL LIKELIHOOD, THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PASS TO GET THE PROPOSAL. I'M NOT, I'M NOT GONNA NOT KNOW BECAUSE THEY CAN STILL GET THE, THE SUPPORT FROM THE STATE. FROM THE STATE AND MOVE FORWARD. SO I DO NOT WANT THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE OR ANY OTHER STATE ELECTED OFFICIAL TO SAY OUR NOT GIVING THEM A LETTER OF SUPPORT. I UNDERSTOOD. I WAS JUST TRYING TO, MY POINT OF CLARIFICATION IS ON THE POINTS, WELL, I'M NOT, I'M, I'M, I'M, AND I'M JUST, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE I'M NOT, WE ARE NOT SITTING THE WRONG MESSAGE TO THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND THE STATE OFFICIALS THAT THEY CAN MOVE FORWARD. UNDERSTOOD. BUT MY POINT OF CLARIFICATION WAS ON THE POINTS, NO, I'M NOT AS A, AS A COMPETITOR. I'M, I'M LET THE STATE EVALUATE THEIR OWN POINTS. OKAY? WE'RE NOT GONNA, WE'RE NOT. SO THAT MEANS THAT THE COMMENT MADE THAT THE 14 POINTS, I'M NOT, I'M NOT ADDING UP NO POINTS RIGHT HERE AT THIS TABLE. I'M NOT DOING THAT. NEXT COUNCIL. COUNCILMAN MALCO. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, AS EVERYONE KNOWS, THESE ARE, THESE ARE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE TAX CREDITS. I MEAN THESE, THESE DEALS ARE HARD TO MAKE. I'M TRYING TO FIND THE NUMBERS. 'CAUSE WE ASK THOSE QUESTIONS. HOW MANY MAKE [06:10:01] OUT OF ALL OF THEM? AND I'LL FIND 'EM IN A SECOND. BUT, OKAY, LAST YEAR, UH, IN 2022, THE CITY GAVE OUT 21 RESOLUTIONS IN THE CITY, SIX IN THE ETJ AND ONLY SEVEN WERE, WERE AWARDED. SO THEY'RE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE. SO THESE DEVELOPERS THAT GO AFTER THESE TAX CREDITS, THEY'RE, THEY'RE SOPHISTICATED. THEY KNOW WHAT IT TAKES. AND THEY KNOW THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS A BIG PART OF THIS PICTURE. AND I HAVE FAITH THAT WITH MORE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, YOU ARE NOT GONNA WIN OVER SOME OF 'EM. 'CAUSE I SAT HERE NEXT TO MY COLLEAGUES YESTERDAY AND MY STOMACH DROPPED. IT MADE ME FEEL AWFUL. IT MADE ALL OF US FEEL AWFUL. THAT IS THE STIGMA OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT I AM HERE TO STOMP DOWN EXACTLY THE REASON I SUPPORTED THE, THE, THE, UM, THE REFER BACK. 'CAUSE I THOUGHT PERHAPS THERE'S FAITH. YOU KNOW, GET OUT THERE WITH THE COMMUNITY, TEACH THEM, SHOW THEM EXAMPLES OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE IN SAN ANTONIO AND OTHER CITIES. SHOW THEM THAT THEY'RE GOOD COMMUNITIES. SHOW THEM THAT NOBODY'S HAVING A BUNCH OF CRIME IN THE AREA. AND THE TRAFFIC ALL WORKED OUT. BUT HE DIDN'T DO THAT. AND WE'VE HAD SITUATIONS AROUND THIS TABLE WHERE WE'RE, WE WE'RE FACED WITH THE DECISION OF WHETHER TO GO FOR SOME MONEY FOR A HOMELESS THING. BUT NO, WE'VE GOT THIS DEVELOPER THAT DIDN'T CARE. SO THAT'S ALL WEIGHING IN. WELL, WE'VE GOT A DEVELOPER THAT DOESN'T CARE. 'CAUSE HE, YOU KNOW, IF SOMEBODY SHOWS YOU WHO THEY ARE, BELIEVE THEM. HE DIDN'T, HE DIDN'T DO IT. BUT THEN WE'VE GOT SOME OF THE SPEAKERS, NOT ALL OF THE SPEAKERS, SOME OF THEM I FEEL LIKE HAVE LEGITIMATE COMPLAINTS. I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REALLY ONE SPEAKER, MAYBE A COUPLE YESTERDAY THAT MADE US ALL JUST WANNA DIE. SO I DO FEEL LIKE, AND YOU KNOW, I GIVE WORDS TO SUPPORT DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS. I WANNA HONOR THAT. BUT I DO FEEL THIS NO OBJECTION IS KIND OF A GOOD WAY TO TAKE A BAD DEVELOPER IN MY OPINION AND A SOME INAPPROPRIATE, APPALLING COMMENTS AND FIND SOME WAY TO, TO MOVE FORWARD. BUT I JUST WANT MY COLLEAGUES TO KNOW THAT THERE IS, THERE'S NO MONOPOLY ON FEELING BAD ABOUT THE THINGS THAT, HOW PEOPLE STIGMATIZE, UM, THESE, UH, THESE, UH, DEVELOPMENTS. UM, PEOPLE THAT DON'T MAKE AS MUCH MONEY AND HAVE TO, TO HAVE AN, A APARTMENT THAT COSTS LESS. UM, UH, IT WILL TAKE ALL OF US TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THAT KIND OF LANGUAGE AND TO, UH, TO PROMOTE. TO PROMOTE, UM, GOOD DEVELOPMENTS. 'CAUSE SOME PEOPLE HAVE EVEN SAID, WELL, THERE'S PLENTY OF, PLENTY OF APARTMENTS IN TOWN THAT PEOPLE CAN AFFORD. BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF REALLY TERRIBLE APARTMENTS AND THIS IS A CHANCE TO GET AN APARTMENT THAT'S NEWER. BUT THE DEVELOPER DIDN'T DO HIS DUE DILIGENCE. SO I WAS GONNA BE A HARDCORE NO ON THIS TODAY. BUT I DO THINK THIS PRESENTS US WITH THE MIDDLE GROUND. AND I DON'T, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, THE MAYOR COULDN'T GUARANTEE THAT THIS WOULDN'T MOVE FORWARD. BUT I'M TELLING YOU, THESE ARE TOO COMPETITIVE WITH A NO OBJECTION. THIS ONE'S NOT GONNA GET THE TAX CREDITS MAY DITTO. THOSE, THOSE COMMENTS. AND I CALL THE QUESTION SECOND, ABLE TO CALL THE QUESTION, CALL THE QUESTION. I KNOW THE QUESTION. I SECOND, SECOND. I, I IN FAVOR MOTION. UM, I HATE TO CUT PEOPLE OFF. WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, IF YOU'LL, IF YOU'LL HOLD, I'LL HOLD. YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEAK IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SPEAK. SO LEMME GO TO COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. I'M SO CONFUSED. MAYOR TURNER. . SO WHEN WE VOTE ON THE NO OBJECTION, ARE WE GONNA EVER GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL? TO THE ORIGINAL? YES. WE'LL, OKAY. THAT'S WHAT I NEED TO KNOW. OKAY. OKAY. SO COUNCILMAN, COUNCILMAN MEMBER ROS. THANK YOU. UM, I JUST WANTED TO ECHO THE FRUSTRATION WITH THE, WITH THE DEVELOPER AND, AND THE REPULSION. I FELT, YOU KNOW, UM, BY OFFENSIVE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE. I WANTED TO JUST ADD ANOTHER ONE THAT JUST REALLY GOT ME, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, WAS, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS A COMMENT THAT WAS MADE OR IF IT WAS EMAILED TO ME IN ONE OF THE LETTERS THAT IT'S, THAT THEY WERE COMPLAINING THAT THIS WAS A TERRIBLE PLACE FOR CHILDREN BECAUSE IT WAS 1.25 MILES AWAY FROM THE NEAREST PARK. AND I'M THINKING, OH MY GOODNESS, IF I HAD PARKS THAT WERE JUST 1.255 MILES AWAY FROM MY, FROM MY COMMUNITIES, I WOULD BE OVERJOYED. I'D BE DOING CARTWHEELS. AND SO, I MEAN, THE, THE INSINCERE FAKE CONCERN FOR CHILDREN THAT I HEARD FROM, MANY OF THEM, NOT ALL, BUT, BUT, BUT, BUT I HEARD IT OVER AND OVER THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, I, I I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT REWARDING THAT KIND OF, THOSE KINDS OF COMMENTS. SO I THINK THAT, UM, I ALSO SUPPORT [06:15:01] THE, THE LETTER OF NO OBJECTION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, COUNCILMAN POLLARD THOMAS AND P*****K, YOU ALL, I'M COUNCIL YOU ALL I'M HAVE PERSUADED ME ON THE OBJECT, UH, THE RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION ON THE RECORD. YOU, YOU, YOU ALL HAVE MADE SOME VALID POINTS. COUNCILMAN THOMAS. UH, JUST LASTLY, AND I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD RAISES A GOOD POINT ABOUT, UM, AT THE INITIAL STAGES, AND MAYOR, IF YOU'RE WILLING, I THINK IT'S A GOOD TIME FOR US TO JUST LOOK AT OUR LOCAL CRITERIA. ONCE AGAIN, IT'S ALWAYS PRESENTED TO THE HOUSING COMMITTEE, BUT JUST TO LOOK AT THE NUANCE OF THAT, UH, I, I THINK IT'S JUST A VA IT'S A VALUABLE EXERCISE. JUST SO WE CAN, AGAIN, LOOK AT HOW THEY ARE EVALUATED WHEN THEY SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATION, WHAT THE DEPARTMENT'S LOOKING AT. SO ON THE, ON THE FRONT END, COUNCIL MEMBERS KNOW HOW MANY ARE, YOU KNOW, POSSIBLY BEING SUBMITTED. SO THEY HAVE THAT ON THE FRONT END VERSUS AT THE SPECIAL CALL. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE MOTION TO AMEND? NO. READY TO VOTE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? OPPOSED, UH, GRANTED. SHOW COUNCIL MEMBER KUBOSH VOTING NO ON THE MOTION TO AMEND HUFFMAN NO. SHOW COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN VOTING? NO, THE AMENDMENT PASSES. NOW WE ON THE MAIN ITEM AS AMENDED, WE ON THE MAIN ITEM AS AMENDED TO THE ORIGINAL AND THE MAIN ITEM AS AMENDED. SAY THAT WE, I'M GOING BACK TO THE ORIGINAL QUEUE, RIGHT? SO THAT WE ARE, THAT THE ITEM AND CITIZEN'S ISSUING LETTER OF NO OBJECTION. THAT'S THE AMENDED ITEM. WE ARE ON THE MAIN ITEM AS AMENDED. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER, ONCE AGAIN, I HAVE A QUESTION. I AM NOT, I, I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PROJECT, SO IF I VOTE ON THE AMENDED ITEM, I VOTE. GOT IT. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE Y'ALL, 'CAUSE Y'ALL ARE REALLY CONFUSING ME RIGHT NOW. WELL, I SUPPORT THE ITEM AS WELL, THE PRO MENT. OKAY. AND I WILL SO BE EXPRESSING MY SENTIMENT TO THE LEGISLATORS. OKAY? PERFECT. THAT I FULLY SUPPORT THIS ITEM AND I HOPE THEY WOULD GRANT A LETTER OF SUPPORT TO THIS ITEM. BUT I WILL VOTE FOR THIS ITEM, YES. FOR THE RESOLUTION COMING FROM THE CITY. YOU CAN CERTAINLY JOIN ME IN MY LETTER TO THE LEGISLATORS. OKAY. COUNCILMAN KUBAN? I, I DIDN'T PUSH THIS, BUT, OKAY. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? IT PUSHED ITSELF. AND ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM ON MAY I AS AMENDED IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? OPPOSED? SHOW COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX VOTING? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN? NO. KNOX HUFFMAN HUFFMAN VOTING? NO POLL. VOTING. NO. KUBA VOTING? NO. THE ITEM PASSES. THANKS. NEXT ITEM ONE. GIVE US JUST ONE SECOND. OKAY, NEXT ITEM. ITEM 40 IS AN ORDINANCE IS A RESOLUTION. ITEM 40. UH, COUNCILMAN PAT. THANK YOU MAYOR. THIS ITEM IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN THE PREVIOUS ITEM . UM, SO THE DEVELOPER DID MEET WITH THE COMMUNITY AND I APPRECIATE THEM MEETING WITH THE COMMUNITY. UM, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE DEVELOPER ITSELF, THEMSELVES. UM, THE ISSUE THAT MY CONSTITUENTS BROUGHT UP, IT WAS NOT THE TYPICAL CONCERNS THAT YOU HEAR FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IT WASN'T ABOUT CRIME, IT WASN'T ABOUT, WE DIDN'T, WE DON'T WANT UN CERTAIN PEOPLE LIVING THERE. WHAT THEY SAID IS THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE A V VULNERABLE POPULATION AND PUT THEM INTO A SITUATION WHERE THEY COULD POTENTIALLY FLOOD. THEY DIDN'T WANNA TAKE A VULNERABLE POPULATION AND PUT THEM IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY NOW HAVE TO STAND IN A DITCH TO GET TO THE BUS STOP WHERE THE BUS STOP IS LITERALLY INSIDE A DITCH, WHICH IS ALMOST ALWAYS FULL BECAUSE THERE ARE FLOODING ISSUES ON THAT STREET. AND SO THAT WAS THE CONCERN THAT THEY HAD, IS BRINGING PEOPLE INTO A SITUATION WHERE THEY'RE ALREADY VULNERABLE, THEY'RE ALREADY AT RISK, AND NOW YOU'RE POTENTIALLY CAUSING THEM TO FLOOD AS WELL, BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY FLOODING ISSUES ON THIS STREET. AND SO I AGREE WITH THEM ON THAT. UM, AND I HAVE SUPPORTED AFFORDABLE HOUSING RIGHT IN THE HEART OF SPRING BRANCH WHERE, UM, THE DEVELOPER DID OVERCOME ALL THE FLOODING CONCERNS. UM, THEY WORKED WITH LOCAL, UM, NONPROFITS. THEY HAD ALL THE RIGHT THINGS IN PLACE, AND I SUPPORTED IT. AND SO I ALSO DON'T ENTERTAIN THE OTHER ARGUMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION, THERE ARE FLOODING CONCERNS. AND I CANNOT SUPPORT BRINGING PEOPLE INTO A SITUATION WHERE WE MIGHT ACTUALLY MAKE THEIR SITUATION WORSE. AND, AND I CAN APPRECIATE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER PAC, BUT WE WOULD, WE WOULD NOT BE PUTTING THEM IN A SITUATION IN HARM'S WAY. I MEAN, THE DRAINAGE, THE FLOODING CONCERNS, THOSE BECOME CITY CONCERNS. AND IT'S NOT JUST THAT DEVELOPER, BUT THESE ARE CITY'S CONCERNS. AND WE WILL ADDRESS THAT. JUST LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, UM, IN ARBOR COURT, FOR EXAMPLE, [06:20:01] WE MADE THE DECISION THAT WE WOULD NOT PUT PEOPLE BACK IN ARBOR COURT BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T SUBJECT THEM TO FLOODING ISSUES. AND WE SAID NO TO THAT. SO WE WOULDN'T, WE WOULDN'T ALLOW THIS DEVELOPMENT TO MOVE FORWARD IF WE FELT THAT THAT WOULD, WE WOULD BE PUTTING THEM IN HARM IN HARM'S WAY. SO I, I, I APPRECIATE THEIR CONCERNS, BUT WHAT I WILL SAY TO YOU IS THAT, UH, THE CITY, UH, WILL WORK WITH THE DEVELOPER AND WITH OTHERS, WITH YOU AND, AND OTHERS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE RESIDENTS ARE NOT PUT IN HARM'S WAY. MAYOR, TO THAT END, WILL YOU COMMIT TO A COMPLETE STREET AND DRAINAGE PROJECT ON UPLAND THE ENTIRE STREET? IF NOT, I CAN'T SUPPORT IT. IF YOU WILL, I'LL SUPPORT IT. WELL, WHAT I WOULD SAY TO YOU IS THAT WE'VE GONE THE COMPLETE STREET, IS THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE VERY SENSITIVE TO THOSE ISSUES. WE DON'T WANNA PUT PEOPLE WHO NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN A, IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE FLOODED. WE WOULDN'T WANNA DO THAT. UH, AND I KNOW THE DEVELOPER IS NOT INTERESTED IN DOING THAT, BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE CITY IS NOT INTERESTED IN DOING THAT. WHAT I CAN SAY TO YOU IS THAT I WILL CERTAINLY WORK WITH YOU, THE DEVELOPER AND PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO A, A, A PRETTY DETAILED ASSESSMENT OF THAT AREA AND TO TAKE WHATEVER PROACTIVE STEPS WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT DOESN'T, THAT DOESN'T OCCUR. I CAN SAY THAT TO YOU. OTHERWISE, IT MAKES NO, IT WOULDN'T MAKE NO SENSE. MAY I RESPOND? SURE. ABSOLUTELY. UM, MAYOR THE STREET HAS BEEN LOOKED AT FOR A LOCAL DRAINAGE PROJECT, AND WE ARE WORKING THROUGH SOME OF THOSE ISSUES, BUT ULTIMATELY WHAT'S GOING TO, UM, HELP THE SITUATION SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T FLOOD IS A COMPLETE STREET AND DRAINAGE PROJECT FOR THAT ENTIRE STREET. AND THE LOCAL DRAINAGE PROJECTS WILL HELP A LITTLE BIT HERE AND THERE FOR SOME, UM, PARTICULAR ISSUES. BUT THIS ISSUE GOES FAR BEYOND JUST A LOCAL DRAINAGE PROJECT. SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO COMPLETELY REDO THAT STREET, REDO ALL THE DRAINAGE IN THAT, NOT JUST THAT STREET, BUT BEYOND THAT STREET. I MEAN, THIS IS RIGHT BY SHERWOOD OAKS, THAT PROJECT THAT I'VE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT, UM, THE $30 MILLION PROJECT THAT, UM, WE'RE APPLYING FOR, UM, THE COUNTIES APPLYING TO THE STATE FOR, UM, FLOODING MITIGATION DOLLARS. IT'S RIGHT IN THAT AREA WHERE THERE'S JUST SO MUCH FLOODING. IT'S THE NORTHERN PART OF ATTICS RESERVOIR, UM, FLOODS. THAT ENTIRE AREA IS GONNA BE UNDERWATER. SO IT, I MEAN, THIS GOES BEYOND JUST A LOCAL DRAINAGE PROJECT AND ADDRESSING MINOR FLOODING ISSUES HERE AND THERE. RIGHT. AND WE'RE CERTAINLY LOOKING FOR, FOR, FOR WAYS THAT WE CAN MITIGATE THOSE FLOODING ISSUES. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE ARE LOOKING AT, UM, THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL. AND THE REASON WHY WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN PULLING DOWN THESE GRANTS, UH, IS THE WHOLE EQUITY ISSUE AS WELL, WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE, TO THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION. UM, SO I'M SENSITIVE TO YOUR ISSUES. I APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE IN THAT AREA FOR BEING SENSITIVE. UM, WE DON'T WANNA PUT PEOPLE IN HOUSING THAT WHERE THEY END UP BEING PUT IN HARM'S WAY. SO, UM, BY US MOVING FORWARD, ISSUING A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT, WE ARE ALSO SAYING THAT WE WANT TO PARTNER WITH THE PEOPLE IN THAT AREA TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE PEOPLE HAVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT THEY SO RIGHTFULLY ARE ENTITLED TO. SO IT'S NOT LIKE SAYING YES AND THEM STEPPING AWAY FROM IT. UH, SO I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. WE WANNA BE SENSITIVE AND WE CERTAINLY WANNA CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU AND OTHERS OUT THERE IN THESE AREAS. COUNCILMAN KNOX? YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR MY COLLEAGUE. FIRST OF ALL, IS THE DEVELOPER IN THIS, ON THIS PROJECT AWARE OF THE FLOODING CONCERNS? UH, OBVIOUSLY THEY'VE ENGAGED THE COMMUNITY. WE, THEY'VE DONE WHAT WE'VE ASKED THEM TO DO, CORRECT? MAY I RESPOND? YES. UM, YES. THEY ARE AWARE OF THE FLOODING CONCERNS THAT WAS BROUGHT UP TO THEM AT THE MEETING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND THEIR RESPONSE TO THE FLOODING CONCERNS IS THAT THEY'LL HAVE TO COMPLY WITH CITY OF HOUSTON REGULATIONS, WHICH I MEAN, EVERYONE HAS TO COMPLY WITH CITY OF HOUSTON REGULATIONS, SO IT DOESN'T WELL, BUT IT DOESN'T HELPING THE SITUATION AT ALL. DO THEY IMPLY AT ALL THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE REDESIGNING OR DOING SOMETHING TO MITIGATE OR WHATEVER? NO, THEY DID NOT INDICATE THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO DO MORE THAN WHAT WAS REQUIRED. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND I THINK THAT'S A SITUATION WHERE WE ARE SAYING YES, UM, THAT, UM, AND I CERTAINLY WILL INSTRUCT PUBLIC WORKS TO WORK WITH THIS DEVELOPER, WORK WITH PEOPLE IN THE AREA, YOU KNOW, SO, UM, WE'LL DO, WE'LL, WE'LL DO OUR PART TO ASSIST. AND, UH, AGAIN, I MEAN, YOU'VE RAISED THAT WHOLE ISSUE BEFORE WITH RESPECT TO THAT QUADRANT. SO WITH OR WITHOUT THIS, THE ISSUES, UH, ARE THERE, UH, BUT, UH, WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK TO WORK WITH YOU AND WITH OTHERS AS WE ADDRESS THE, THE WHOLE DRAINAGE ISSUES IN THAT AREA. UH, COUNCILMAN P OKAY. SHE'S IN THE QUEUE AGAIN. COUNCILMAN P THANK YOU MAYOR, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. BUT I THINK SHORT OF A COMMITMENT OF A COMPLETE STREET AND DRAINAGE PROJECT, I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS ITEM. I MEAN, THIS, DOING LITTLE PROJECTS HERE AND THERE ON THAT STREET IS JUST NOT GOING TO ADDRESS THE [06:25:01] ISSUE. SO IF WE CAN GET THAT COMMITMENT, THEN I'LL SUPPORT IT. OTHERWISE I CAN'T. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? PREPARED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? OPPOSED? ITEM? OPPOSED. SO COUNCILMAN P KUMAR AND NOX VOTING ON ITEM PASSAGE. THANKS. NEXT ITEM. ITEM 41 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 41. DISCUSSION ON 41. DISCUSSION ON 41 IN FAVOR, OPPOSE GRANTED MAYOR'S [MAYOR'S REPORT] REPORTS HE DIDN'T DO MAYOR'S REPORTS. UH, JUST BEAR IN MIND. TOUR THE HOUSTON. IT'S THIS COMING SUNDAY MORNING RODEO. COOKOFF, UH, RODEO COOKOFF STARTS, UH, TOMORROW. UM, HARMON PARK. WE DID THE RIBBON CUTTING ON THIS PAST SATURDAY. UH, THE GUN BUYBACK PROGRAM WAS THIS PAST SATURDAY. THE COVID WALL OF MEMORIES, UH, WILL BE THIS COMING FRIDAY AT 1:00 PM IN TL PARK. UM, SAVE THE DATE EARTH TODAY IS ON APRIL 19TH. AND THEN OF COURSE, LENT, UH, LET ME ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. TODAY IS ASH WEDNESDAY AND THE HOLY DAY OF PRAYER AND FASTING FOR MANY CHRISTIANS. OKAY, THAT'S IT. UH, [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS. COUNCIL ROBINSON IS NOT HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON. I'M GONNA PASS. MAYOR, UH, COUNCILMAN ROBINSON PASSES. COUNCILMAN KOSH PASS. COUNCILMAN KOSH PASSES. COUNCILMAN PASS. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS ALCORN. PASSES. PASSES. HONOR PASSES. PASSES. PASS PACK PASSES. JACKSON'S PASSING. CAMAN IS PASSING. COUNCILMAN P*****K IS PASSING. COUNCIL EDMAN SHE PASS. I CAN'T PASS MAYOR . I TRIED, BUT YOU WANT ME TO GO AHEAD? OKAY. I'LL MAKE IT QUICK THOUGH. UH, I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, THANK YOU TO THE SOUTH BELT HOUSTON CHAPTER OF JACK AND JILL OF AMERICA. THEY HAD THEIR APPRECIATION FOR THEIR ASSOCIATES AND THEY HONORED ME. UH, AND THE EVENT WAS AT THE EMANCIPATION PARK. THE, I HAVE TO COMMEND AND THANK YOU, MAYOR, BEFORE YOU LEAVE ON THE WAY OUT FOR COMING YESTERDAY TO OUR TSU DAY AT CITY HALL. IT WAS FABULOUS, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, WELL, WE HONORED PRESIDENT COMPTON YOUNG. UM, WE HAD THE ROYAL COURT, THE STUDENTS, THE ALUMNI AND, AND, UH, PEOPLE THAT WORKED FOR THE CITY THAT WERE PRESENT. AND SO THAT WAS SUCH A PHENOMENAL EVENT. AND I WANNA SAY ON YESTERDAY I DID A HOUSTON FOOD BANK TOUR AND MEETING. I'M WORKING AND MY OFFICE IS WORKING VERY HARD TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY IN DISTRICT D UH, IN THE THIRD WARD. AND, UM, ALSO REBUILDING TOGETHER. HOUSTON INVITES OUR FIRST ANNUAL RISING TOGETHER A CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENT, WHICH WILL BE TOMORROW, UH, WHERE THEY WILL BE, UH, RECONSTRUCTING AND REPAIRING A HOME AT, UH, 33 50 SIMMONS STREET ON TOMORROW AT 11:00 AM AND SO THAT CONCLUDES MY DISTRICT D UH, EVENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND THE ONLY ONE LEFT IN THE QUEUE. WELL, COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS CISNEROS. THANK YOU. UM, THIS IS THE FINAL WEEK OF, WE ARE JUST ENTERING THE FINAL WEEK OF, OF LOVE YOUR PET MONTH. AND I DID JUST WANNA SAY THAT THIS, IT'S, UH, GOT A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON THIS WEEK. UM, THERE WILL BE CONTINUED TO BE, UM, SPAY FREE SPAY NEUTER SURGERIES IN EAST TEXAS JENSEN WITH THE PET SET MOBILE CLINIC. THERE WILL BE ON THURSDAY, THERE WILL BE A STUDENT PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT THAT HAS BEEN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH, WITH, WITH, UH, ME AND THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS AND THE HOUSTON HUMANE SOCIETY AND THREE HIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN DENVER HARBOR. THEY WILL, UM, HAVE, UM, AN EXHIBIT THAT WILL BE UP AT THE MFA FOR, FOR, UM, THIS THURSDAY UNTIL APRIL, ABOUT RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP OF THE PHOTOGRAPHER PHOTOGRAPHS THAT THE CHILDREN HAVE TAKEN PICTURES OF. UM, THERE WILL BE A VACCINE CLINIC WITH HOUSTON PETSET IN THE NORTHLINE AREA AT THE HARRIS COUNTY HARDY SENIOR CENTER. THAT'S, UM, IT'S BY APPOINTMENT ONLY, BUT IN IT'S FREE. THERE WILL BE A PET FEST IN EAST TEXT JENSEN AT THE ART AND HEART STUDIOS THAT W WOULD WILL BE, HAVE ALL KINDS OF INFORMATION AND FUN ACTIVITIES FOR, FOR, UM, FOR FAMILIES. THERE WILL BE FREE SPAY NEUTER SURGERIES IN EAST TEXT JENSEN WITH THE, UM, HOUSTON PETS AT MOBILE CLINIC. UM, UM, SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. UM, JUST STOP BY AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AND, AND IT IS FREE. THERE WILL BE AN, UM, A SECOND VACCINE CLINIC WITH THE HOUSTON HUMANE SOCIETY IN PORT HOUSTON LAST SATURDAY. THEY, UM, VACCINATED OVER 80 ANIMALS AND THEY'LL BE BACK THERE THIS SATURDAY TO, TO DO MORE. AND THEN I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT TUESDAY, WHICH IS ACTUALLY WORLD SPAY DAY. AND WE WILL BE, UM, HONORING, UM, HOUSTON OR HTX [06:30:01] ART IN THE, IN THE CITY, UM, HERE AT CITY HALL, YOU KNOW, WITH THE PROCLAMATION. THAT'S IT FOR ME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. AND I'M LAST, AND MY COMMENTS WILL BE RELATED TO A STORY THAT WE ALL SAW LAST WEEK RELATED TO KINGWOOD CENTRAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT KINGWOOD RESIDENTS TO KNOW THAT THE KINGWOOD DRINKING WATER HAS NOT BEEN IMPACTED BY THE INVESTIGATION AT THE KINGWOOD CENTRAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY. AS PEOPLE IN KINGWOOD KNOW, WE RECEIVE OUR WATER, NOT FROM LAKE HOUSTON, BUT FROM WELLS. LAST MONTH, MY OFFICE BEGAN TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS FROM THE COMMUNITY REGARDING AN INTRU INTRUSIVE SMELL THROUGHOUT THE KINGWOOD AREA. I'VE LIVED THERE FOR 35 YEARS, AND IT'S A SMELL THAT I'VE NEVER SMELLED BEFORE. IT WAS EXTREMELY INTRUSIVE. RESIDENTS COMPLAINTS WERE REPORTED DIRECTLY TO HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND MONITORED BY THE DISTRICT E OFFICE AFTER NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS, I PERSONALLY WENT AND WALKED THIS LAND MULTIPLE TIMES, AND I WAS ALARMED BY WHAT I SAW. MORE INFORMATION WILL BE COMING SHORTLY. I WORKED WITH HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR CAROL HADDOCK. WE DISCOVERED IRREGULARITIES AND IN BOTH THE PLANT OPERATIONS AND THE CORRESPONDENT REGULATORY COMPLIANCE, WHICH WERE TURNED OVER FOR INVESTIGATION BY THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT'S ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES UNIT, AND THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY. OUR OFFICE HAS RESPONDED TO EVERY SINGLE PHONE CALL, EVERY SINGLE EMAIL SOCIAL MEDIA REPORTS, AND WE PROVIDED AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE SO AS TO NOT INTERFERE WITH THE ONGOING INVESTIGATION. AND BE MINDFUL OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT'S REQUEST OF ME AND MY OFFICE TO NOT SAY A WORD BECAUSE THEY DID NOT WANT TO ISSUE TO HAVE PUBLIC INFORMATION STOP THE SUBPOENAS FROM BEING ISSUED, AND THERE WOULD BE A DESTRUCTION OF EVIDENCE IN THEIR POINT OF VIEW. SO WE DID NOT SAY A WORD TO ANYONE. MATTER OF FACT, WE CANCELED SEVERAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS BECAUSE I WANTED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES UNIT TO BE ABLE TO ISSUE SUBPOENAS TO DO AN INVESTIGATION. SO AS THE FOLKS DO NOT DESTROY EVIDENCE, HPDS REQUEST WAS MADE OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION TO PROTECT AGAINST DESTRUCTION OF EVIDENCE BY ALL PARTIES THAT WERE SUBPOENAED. ULTIMATELY, HPD ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES UNIT LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION LAST WEEK AROUND ALLEGATIONS OF FALSIFIED GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS AND COMPLIANCE SAMPLES. THIS PAST FRIDAY, HPD SERVED AN EVIDENTIARY SEARCH WARRANT RELATED TO THIS INVESTIGATION. CITY OF HOUSTON HAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH TCEQ TO TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO MINIMIZE ANY IMPACT TO THE RESIDENTS OF KINGWOOD AND TO THE ENVIRONMENT. HPD WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE FACILITY CLOSELY AND HOPEFULLY KINGWOOD RESIDENTS WILL NOT EXPERIENCE ANY DISRUPTION IN WATER OR WASTE WATER SERVICE. AS WE KNOW IN KINGWOOD, THIS FACILITY IS OPERATED BY INFRA MARK, NOT BY HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS. WHEN I TURNED OVER PICTURES AND THINGS THAT I SAW THAT WERE ATROCIOUS TO HPD, THEY BEGAN AN IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION. WE HAVE HAD GREAT RESULTS FROM INFRA MARK. THEY'VE BEEN A VERY GOOD PARTNER OF OURS. THEY WERE WITH US DURING THE MUD DAYS. PRE ANNEXATION, BEEN A VERY VALUABLE PARTNER TO RUN OUR OPERATIONS. TO SAY I'M EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT. TO SAY I'M EXTREMELY TICKED OFF WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT. I THINK YOU'LL FIND OUT MORE AS A RESULTS FORWARD, AND YOU MAY EVEN FIND OUT SOMETHING TODAY. MEETING ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.