[00:00:05]
IT[PRESENTATIONS]
IS ONE 30.IT'S 1 33 ON TUESDAY, MARCH THE SEVENTH, 2023.
I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER, UH, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILMAN KNOXVILLE PROCLAMATION TO THE TEXAS RANGERS IN CELEBRATION OF THEIR 200TH BIRTHDAY.
UH, IT IS MY GREAT PRIVILEGE TODAY, UH, TO HAVE THE HONOR OF WELCOMING CHIEF JASON TAYLOR AND THE TEXAS RANGERS TO CITY HALL AS THEY CELEBRATE THEIR BICENTENNIAL.
JASON TAYLOR BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY IN 1998.
CHIEF TAYLOR WAS THEN ACCEPTED INTO THE TEXAS RANGER DIVISION, WHERE HIS FIRST ASSIGNMENT WAS WITH COMPANY F, AND LATER, WITH COMPANY A ON OCTOBER 1ST, 2022, HE WAS APPOINTED TO HIS CURRENT POSITION AS CHIEF OF THE TEXAS RANGER DIVISION.
SINCE THEIR INCEPTION, THE TEXAS RANGERS HAVE KEPT US SAFE UNDER FIVE NATIONAL FLAGS.
FOUNDED UNDER MEXICO IN 1823 BY STEPHEN F. AUSTIN, THE FATHER OF TEXAS.
THEY SERVED THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS FROM 1836 UNTIL 1845.
THEN THE NEW US STATE OF TEXAS FROM 1845 TO 1861, THE CONFEDERATE STATE OF TEXAS FROM 1861 TO 1865, AND THEN AGAIN AS A US STATE FROM 1870 TO THE PRESENT DATE.
WHEREAS TODAY'S TEXAS RANGERS PLAY AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN GUARANTEEING THE SAFETY OF TEXAS AND REFLECT THE BEST DIVERSITY, PROFESSIONALISM, AND INTEGRITY IN ONE OF THE WORLD'S OLDEST IN FINEST LAW ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATIONS.
AND WHEREAS STARTING WITH 10 MEN, THE TEXAS RANGERS HAVE NOW GROWN TO 169 WOMEN AND MEN COVERING ALL 254 COUNTIES AND SPREAD ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS.
THEY ARE THE LEADERS IN BORDER SECURITY, TACTICAL OPERATIONS, CRISIS NEGOTIATIONS, AND PROVIDE DIRECT SUPPORT AND INTELLIGENCE TO ENSURE TEXAS IS PROTECTED AT EVERY LEVEL.
AND WHEREAS 2023 IS THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TEXAS RANGERS WITH THE BICENTENNIAL EVENTS IN HOUSTON, MAY 3RD THROUGH SIXTH, 2023, THESE EVENTS WILL INFORM AND EDUCATE ATTENDEES ON HOW THE TEXAS RANGERS BETTER THE LIVES OF ALL IN THE LONE STAR STATE.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON HONORS AND COMMENDS THE TEXAS RANGERS ON THEIR 200 YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE STATE OF TEXAS.
MAYOR, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND IT GIVES ME GREAT HONOR TO SAY, SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM MARCH 7TH, 2023 AS TEXAS RANGERS DAY 200TH ANNIVERSARY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH, EVERYONE OF YOU.
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL ON BEHALF OF TEXAS RANGERS PASSING AND PRESENT, BEGINNING IN AS STATED IN IN THE PROCLAMATION IN 1823.
THIS IS OUR 200TH ANNIVERSARY.
WE'RE VERY HONORED TO BE HERE.
UH, THE TEXAS RANGERS STARTED, BEGAN, AND AUSTIN COLONY JUST, JUST WEST OF HERE IN FORT BEND COUNTY, AND IN THE TOWN OF EE BEING THE CAPITAL OF, OF THE, UH, OF THE COLONY.
AND TEXAS RANGERS COMPANY A HAS BEEN STATIONED IN HOUSTON FOR A HUNDRED FOR OVER 150 YEARS.
SO, UH, WE HAVE A GREAT, UH, HISTORY HERE IN HOUSTON.
WE HAVE GREAT RANGERS THAT HAVE SERVED HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO NAME A FEW CLINT PEOPLES, UH, BOB CONNELL, CHARLIE COOK.
I GOT A COUPLE OF RETIRED RANGERS IN THE CROWD, A OFFICE PRESLEY AND DAVID RAINWATER.
THEY WERE COMPANY A RANGERS, BUT WE JUST COULDN'T BE HAPPIER FOR THE, UH, RECOGNITION.
AND, UH, IF WE CAN EVER DO ANYTHING FOR YOU, THE COUNCIL, JUST JUST LET US KNOW.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX, HOW FITTING IT IS TO HAVE SOMEONE WITH YOUR STATURE AND WITH YOUR BACKGROUND IN LAW ENFORCEMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE TEXAS, TEXAS RANGERS HERE IN HOUSTON.
UH, I'M HONORED TO HAVE YOU HERE.
UH, I I, I COULDN'T CLAP LOUD ENOUGH.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE TO OUR STATE.
AND UH, I REMEMBER MY DAD USED TO TELL ME YEARS AGO, HE WOULD SAY, UH, WELL, THE TEXAS RANGERS SHOWED UP IN GALVESTON, GOT ALL THEM ONE ARM BANDITS.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT.
YOU KNOW, THOSE SLOT MACHINES AND HE CALLED THEM.
BUT ANYWAY, I KNOW THAT, UH, Y'ALL BEEN ACTIVE FOR YEARS AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE.
I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION, UH, OUR COM, OUR TEXAS RANGER 2023
[00:05:01]
CHAIRMAN RUSSELL MOLINA, UH, A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN AND HE IS A RAM ROD AND OUR 2023 EDUC, WE'RE BASICALLY HERE TO EDUCATE ON THE HISTORY OF TEXAS, THE HISTORY OF THE TEXAS RANGERS, AND, UH, AND TO SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT IN GENERAL.SO APPRECIATE RUSSELL BEING A PART OF IT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE, AND HAPPY 200TH ANNIVERSARY.
SO WE'RE GONNA BE HAVING A RECEPTION IN THE LEGACY ROOM FOLLOWING THIS EVENT.
SO ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME BY, WE, I'M SURE THEY'D APPRECIATE SEEING YOU, SO YOU'RE WELCOME TO THAT AS WELL.
OH, AND BY THE WAY, WE DO HAVE A BUNCH OF TEXAS RANGERS.
WOULD Y'ALL JUST STAND UP AND BE RECOGNIZED? OKAY, WE NEED TO GET SOME PICTURES, RIGHT.
THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FOR A PROCLAMATION TO COVENANT HOUSE AND RECOGNITION OF THEIR HARD WORK WITH THE HOMELESS YOUTH COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN.
AND I'M SO HAPPY TO CALL UP HANNAH COBB, MY FORMER STAFFER WHO GOT STOLEN AWAY BY THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP.
IT IS ALSO LEADING THIS YEAR'S COVENANT HOUSE TEXAS SLEEPOUT DAY.
SO WE ARE HONORING THAT TODAY.
ALSO WITH HER IS LESLIE BOURNE, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COVENANT HOUSE, FELICIA BROUSSARD, CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, AND HANNAH CLINT AND LINDSAY, WHO ARE WITH THE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS GROUP.
SO WITH THAT, IN 1972, COVENANT HOUSE OPENED ITS DOORS IN RESPONSE TO THE RISING PROBLEM OF KIDS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
LOCATED IN NEW YORK'S EAST VILLAGE, VOLUNTEERS INCLUDED FRIENDS, FORMER STUDENTS AND NEIGHBORS, ALL WORKING TO PROVIDE SHELTER, FOOD, IMMEDIATE CRISIS CARE, AND OTHER SERVICES TO THOSE IN NEED.
COVENANT HOUSE IS PROUD TO OFFER A CONTINUUM OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND CARE TO YOUNG PEOPLE FACING HOMELESSNESS AND TRAFFICKING, INCLUDING HEALTHCARE, EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT, JOB READINESS AND SKILLS, TRAINING PROGRAMS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, TREATMENT AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS, LEGAL SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, MOTHER AND CHILD PROGRAMS, AND TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAMS. SINCE ITS OPENING, COVENANT HOUSE HAS SERVED OVER 1.5 MILLION YOUNG PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND TRAFFICKING.
NOW, LOCATED IN 34 CITIES ACROSS SIX COUNTRIES, COVENANT HOUSE SHELTERS MORE THAN 2000 YOUNG PEOPLE EACH NIGHT.
COVENANT HOUSE TEXAS FIRST OPENS, ITS ITS DOORS IN HOUSTON IN 1983 AND REMAINS THE STANDALONE COVENANT HOUSE CAMPUS FOR THE STATE.
[00:10:01]
35 YEARS OF SERVICE, COVENANT HOUSE, TEXAS CONTINUES TO HELP HOUSTON'S UNSHELTERED YOUTH TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES AND LEAD THEM TO INDEPENDENCE.THE COVENANT HOUSE SLEEP OUTS ARE INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENTS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE OF SLEEPING OUTSIDE FOR ONE NIGHT SO THAT HOMELESS KIDS DON'T HAVE TO SLEEP OUTS, RAISE CRITICAL FUNDS TO HELP COVENANT HOUSE PROVIDE 24 7 SHELTER SANCTUARY AND SUPPORT TO YOUTH OVERCOMING HOMELESSNESS.
SLEEP OUT EVENTS HAVE HELPED PROVIDE 4,000 YOUTH WITH STABLE HOUSING, 1600 YOUTH WITH EMPLOYMENT, AND 720,000 NIGHTS OF SHELTER.
STILL THIS YEAR, 4.2 MILLION KIDS WILL EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS IN AMERICA ON FRIDAY, MARCH 24TH, 2023, THE COVENANT HOUSE, TEXAS ASSOCIATE BOARD, COVENANT HOUSE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS GROUP WITH HANNAH HERE, WHO LITERALLY, WE WENT TO TOUR COVENANT HOUSE AND THEN SHE TOOK OVER COVENANT HOUSE, LIKE RIGHT AFTER THE TOUR, WILL JOIN BOARDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY BY GIVING UP THEIR BEDS FOR THE NIGHT TO FUNDRAISE FOR THE HOMELESS YOUTH AND GENERATE FUNDS FOR COVENANT HOUSE TEXAS.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS GRATEFUL TO COVENANT HOUSE TEXAS FOR RAISING AWARENESS, BUILDING EMPATHY, AND FOSTERING UNDERSTANDING OF YOUTH HOMELESSNESS, WHILE ALSO PREPARING FOR AND RESPONDING TO THE CURRENT HEALTH CRISIS.
SO THEREFORE, IVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROBABLY PROCLAIMED MARCH 7TH, 2023, IS COVENANT HOUSE, TEXAS, SLEEPOUT DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT ALL YOU DO.
AND, UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT WHILE I WAS WORKING FOR COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, I WAS INTRODUCED TO COVENANT HOUSE TEXAS, UM, ON A TOUR LED BY THE AMAZING FELICIA BROSSARD, WHO'S THE CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER.
UM, OUR ASSOCIATE BOARD, UM, OF YOUNG PROFESSIONALS IS A GREAT GROUP, UM, THAT WORKS TIRELESSLY TO, UM, AND IS DEDICATED TO FUNDRAISING FOR THE COVENANT HOUSE, TEXAS.
SO I'M JUST HERE TO ENCOURAGE ANYONE WATCHING AT HOME TO JOIN THE YOUNG HOUSE, THE YOUNG YOUNG PROFESSIONALS ASSOCIATE BOARD OF THE COVENANT HOUSE, AND TO COME SLEEP OUT WITH US AT OUR SLEEP OUT ON MARCH 24TH.
AND IF YOU CAN'T SLEEP OUT, PLEASE DONATE.
THANK YOU, MAYOR TURNER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU, UH, FOR, FOR THIS PROCLAMATION AND JUST FOR RECOGNIZING THIS VERY IMPORTANT SLEEPOUT EVENT HAPPENING AT THE END OF THE MONTH.
AND FOR HANNAH AND CLINTON, ALL OF OUR OTHER YOUNG PROFESSIONALS THAT WORK SO HARD, JUST AS HARD AS OUR REGULAR BOARD MEMBERS TO BRING ATTENTION TO OUR PROGRAMS AND TO OUR YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS BECAUSE OF THE, THIS EVENT, IT CONTRIBUTES TO THE OVER 21,000 NIGHT STAYS AND RESIDENTIAL STAYS, PLUS OUR SUPPORT PROGRAMS, MEDICAL CARE, WORKFORCE AND JOB DEVELOPMENT, EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED, WE COULD NOT DO WITHOUT THIS GROUP AND THIS EVENT.
SO, WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO ALL OF YOU FOR SUPPORTING US, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND I HOPE THAT WE SEE YOU MAYOR TURNER THURSDAY MORNING.
IS THAT A COMMITMENT?
AND, UH, WE'LL BE ABLE TO HOUSE 50% MORE YOUTH THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING TURNED AWAY.
SO WE ARE SO VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF YOU, FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE GREAT WORK, HANNAH, IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU.
UM, I LOVE THE STORY OF YOU, UM, GOING ON A TOUR OF THE COVENANT HOUSE AND THEN USING YOUR POSITION TO LEAD FROM ANY SEAT AND CHAMPIONING THIS CAUSE.
THANK YOU, UM, ALL FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE.
COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD TO SPOTLIGHT.
I WAS GONNA SAY TOMORROW'S LEADERS THAT Y'ALL ARE TRAINING, BUT Y'ALL ARE ALREADY LEADING.
UH, AND THAT'S INCREDIBLE IN THE, THE COMPASSION THAT YOU'RE FOSTERING FOR OTHER YOUTH AND SUPPORTING YOUTH, UH, CANNOT BE UNDERSTATED.
AND I, I'M SO GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP THE GROUNDBREAKING.
WE ARE SO EXCITED, UH, FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, COVENANT HOUSE IS PROUDLY IN DISTRICT C AND, UH, ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO FROM THIS EVENT.
BUT THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES, THE HOLISTIC APPROACH, AND THE MAKING SURE THAT OUR YOUTH ARE NOT FORGOTTEN.
OFTENTIMES WE'RE FOCUSED ON, UM, OLDER POPULATIONS AND HOMELESSNESS, RIGHT? THAT'S THE MOST VISIBLE.
BUT OUR YOUTH CAN OFTEN GET LEFT BEHIND AND Y'ALL ARE MAKING SURE THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN.
SO MY GRATITUDE, NOT JUST FOR DISTRICT C BUT FOR THE WHOLE CITY AND MAYOR, OF COURSE, UH, I ALMOST FORGOT TO MENTION, UH, WITH THE GROUNDBREAKING WE RECENTLY SIGNED WITH YOUR HELP, THE, UH, SUBSTANTIAL LOAN AGREEMENT THAT IS ENABLING THIS WORK TO HAPPEN ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN PARTNERSHIP.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT AS WELL.
AND TO EVERYONE IN THE TEAM, PLEASE THANK YOUR STAFF, YOUR VOLUNTEERS FOR ALL OF US.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON, THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM.
AND I JUST WANNA THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD, REALLY ECHOING WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, MY COUNCIL MEMBER, AND OF COURSE KEVIN HOUSE'S
[00:15:01]
COUNCIL MEMBER IN THE HEART OF DISTRICT C IN THE HEART OF MONTROSE, YOU ALL HAVE BEEN SO IMPORTANT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.UH, YOU'VE BEEN SUCH GOOD NEIGHBORS.
AND I SAY THAT AS THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MONTROSE, YOU GUYS WERE ALWAYS THERE FOR US HOSTING THINGS WHEN WE NEEDED.
UH, YOU KNOW, IT IS ONLY APPROPRIATE THAT WE CAN GIVE BACK TO YOU, UH, WITH THE GROUNDBREAKING.
I KNOW I'VE SCRUTINIZED THOSE PLANS AND YOU GUYS ARE NOT ONLY INCREASING THE CAPACITY FOR YOUR POPULATION, WHICH IS SO CRITICAL FOR OUR YOUTH IN MONTROSE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT IT'S A GREAT BUILDING.
YOU GUYS ARE AT THE CENTER OF ACTIVITY AT THE HEART OF THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN IS LIVING THE DREAM AS A FIRST YEAR, UH, COUNCIL OR FIRST TERM COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND, UH, WE'RE ALL VERY, VERY LUCKY TO HAVE YOU.
I KNOW AS A NEIGHBOR, I'M EXCITED TO SEE YOUR FACILITY AND, UH, MAYOR, AFTER WE'RE GONE FROM THESE JOBS, UM, THESE, THIS FACILITY WILL BE LONG SERVING THE CITY.
SO PLEASE HELP US KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU GUYS.
AND YEAH, ON THE 24TH OF MARCH, LET'S HAVE A GREAT TURNOUT.
HOPEFULLY THE WEATHER WILL BE GREAT.
WE WOULDN'T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY,
UM, UH, VICE P TIM, I WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT AS WE BILL, WE ALSO HAVE TO, UH, REPLACE, UH, BECAUSE OF THE VANDALISM THAT JUST TOOK PLACE.
IF YOU'LL COME UP AND SPEAK TO THAT AND JUST LET PEOPLE KNOW HOW, HOW THEY CAN ASSIST.
THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER FOR THIS EXTRA TIME.
I, I THINK SOME OF YOU HAVE, HAVE WATCHED ANY OF THE, OUR LOCAL NEWS STATIONS OVER THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE DAYS HAVE SEEN WHAT HAPPENED TO COVENANT HOUSE.
THIS WAS NOT OUR, UM, UH, MAIN FACILITY.
COVENANT HOUSE WAS, UH, IN THE LAST YEAR, PART OF TWO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUBMITTED A, UM, A HUD GRANT FOR OUR YOUTH HOME AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.
AND WE BROUGHT IN 10 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR THIS PROGRAM.
WE RECEIVED ALMOST 10 MILLION OF THAT FOR A RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM.
AND, UH, WE WERE ONLY ABOUT A WEEK AWAY.
WE HAD JUST RENTED AND MOVED ALL OF THE FURNISHINGS IN.
AND WE'RE SO PROUD OF THE FIRST 16 YOUTH THAT WE, WE WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MOVE INTO THESE RAPID REHOUSING DUPLEXES.
AND, UH, I GUESS THEY WERE WATCHING US OVER IN THE THIRD WARD AND THEY, UM, GOT EVERYTHING.
IT WAS A VERY CALCULATED AND PROFESSIONAL MOVE.
THEY TOOK WASHERS, DRYERS, WATER HEATERS, AC UNITS, THERMOSTATS OFF THE WALLS, THE RING DOORBELLS, SINKS.
I MEAN, THERE IS NOTHING LEFT.
AND THEN, UM, FLOODED THE UNIT.
SO WE'RE IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW.
UM, I'M A LITTLE EMOTIONAL AND WE'RE VERY SAD THAT SOMEONE WOULD DO THIS.
UM, I DON'T THINK THEY KNEW IT WAS COVENANT HOUSE, AND I HOPE THEY DO NOW.
UM, WE'RE STILL ASSESSING THE DAMAGE, BUT WE THINK IT'S ABOUT 80 TO A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS DAMAGE.
AND JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THE, UH, ATTENTION THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US AND, AND FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND THE DONATIONS ARE COMING IN.
UM, MY PHONE IS RINGING OFF THE WALL, SO I ALWAYS SAY, IF YOU'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING, RIGHT, THINGS HAPPEN.
AND SO, UM, AS I WAS SAYING, THIS IS STUFF, BUT WE NEEDED THE STUFF, UH, FOR THE YOUTH.
BUT THE, THE SADDER THING IS WE HAVE 16 YOUTH OUT THERE THAT ARE STILL GOING TO BE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE VERY UPSET ABOUT.
SO WE WANNA THANK YOU SUP FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON, ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL.
WE DO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL COMMENT FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN.
SORRY, IN LIGHT OF THAT, AND I THINK WHAT THE MAYOR WAS GETTING TO, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO SAY HOW PEOPLE CAN CONTRIBUTE, WHERE THEY CAN GO TO GIVE, UH, SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
MY CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER'S RIGHT HERE.
SO SHE WOULD BE KICKING ME IF SHE WAS CLOSER.
SO YES, YOU CAN GO TO COVENANT HOUSE TX.ORG AND DONATE.
UM, YOU CAN CALL US, YOU CAN GO THROUGH OUR WEBSITE AGAIN, COVENANT HOUSE TX.ORG TO DONATE.
WE HAVE A ROBBER ROBBERY RELIEF FUND, UM, THAT PEOPLE ARE DONATING TO, TO REPLACE ALL OF THESE ITEMS FOR US.
IF YOU CAN'T GET ON THE WEBSITE, JUST GIVE US A HOLLER.
AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR THANK YOU COUNCILMAN MCCAIN FOR REMINDING ME THAT.
[00:20:02]
TO POSITIVE WOMEN'S NETWORK.USA TEXAS GREATER HOUSTON AREA IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR HARD WORK.
POSITIVE WOMEN'S NETWORK, USA TEXAS GREATER HOUSTON AREA POSITIVE WOMEN'S NETWORK.
USA ENVISIONS A WORLD WHERE WOMEN LIVING WITH HIV CAN LIVE LONG, HEALTHY, DIGNIFIED LIVES FREE FROM THE STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION.
THE MISSION OF PWN IS TO PREPARE AND INVOLVE WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF THE TRANS EXPERIENCE LIVING WITH HIV AND ALL LEVELS OF POLICY AND DECISION MAKING.
P-W-N-U-S-A GREATER HOUSTON AREA CHAPTER WILL REFLECT PWN USA'S MISSION AND VALUE BY GIVING WOMEN THE EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE AND SUPPORT TO BE EMPOWERED TO SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF.
THE POSITIVE WOMEN'S NETWORK, USA TEXAS GREATER HOUSTON AREA WAS FOUNDED IN 2016 BY SIX WOMEN, JESSE CARTWRIGHT BIGS, ANGELA HAWKINS, EUNICE MARSHALL, TINA PREYA, NITA RAY ISIS, TO TO ORGANIZE AND BILL THE LEADERSHIP OF WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF TRANS EXPERIENCE LIVING WITH HIV IN THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY.
IN 2019, P-W-N-G-H-A CHAPTER CREATED H TOWN POWER, A NON-PARTISAN VOTER MOBILIZATION CAMPAIGN TO ORGANIZE AND BUILD POWER FOR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES IN HOUSTON, SINCE THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA HAS REACHED OVER 250,000 HOUSTONIANS THROUGH THE H TOWN POWER OF VOTER ENGAGEMENT CAMPAIGNS, AND HAS BEEN A RESOURCE IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAS FOUGHT TO ENSURE THAT MARGINALIZED GROUPS, INCLUDING PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV ARE CENTERED IN ALL OF THIS WORK, POSITIVE WOMEN'S NETWORK, GREATER HOUSTON REMAINS A MOVEMENT LED BY WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF THE TRANS EXPERIENCE LIVING WITH HIV.
THEIR COMMITMENT IS FOCUSED ON BUILDING THE LEADERSHIP OF WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF TRANS EXPERIENCE LIVING WITH HIV PW AND MEMBERS AND ALLIES SHOW UP UNAPOLOGETICALLY AS ADVOCATES FOR REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE TO FIGHT OPPRESSION AND VOTER SUPPRESSION IN ALL FORMS TO LIBERATE TEXAS, THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS PWAS NETWORK, GREATER HOUSTON, AND THEIR OUTSTANDING WORK AND EXTENDS BEST WISHES FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS IN ALL FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROBABLY PROCLAIM MARCH 7TH, 2022.
AND IT'S POSITIVE WOMEN'S NETWORK, USA TEXAS GREATER HOUSTON AREA DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO.
SO, AS ONE OF THE CO-FOUNDERS FOR POSITIVE WOMEN'S NETWORK, WE ARE PROUD.
WE ARE PROUD WOMEN LIVING WITH HIV.
WE ARE IN THIS FIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS THE HEALTHCARE, THE MEDICATION THAT THEY NEED.
AND LAST YEAR WE WON A FIGHT THAT 2,700 TEXANS WOULD NOT GET CUT OFF THE ADAP PROGRAM.
THAT IS ONE OF OUR MOST PROUD MOMENTS THAT WE FOUGHT FOR SIX MONTHS FOR OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, THE 12 SURROUNDING COUNTIES, BUT ALSO THE WHOLE STATE OF TEXAS.
WE ARE A NATIONAL NETWORK ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
WE HAVE OVER 3000 WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF TRANS EXPERIENCE.
WE ARE PROUD, VERY UNAPOLOGETIC ON THE FIGHT THAT WE HAVE HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, BUT ALSO ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
I BELIEVE THAT IF I WANT TO SEE A CHANGE, I HAVE TO BE THAT CHANGE THAT I WANNA SEE FOR MY GENERATIONS, MY CHILDREN, MY GRANDCHILDREN, AND THE COMMUNITY THAT I LIVE IN.
AND THAT FIGHT IS GREENS POINT, ALDEN AREA TO MAKE SURE THAT WE EDUCATE OUR WOMEN, BUT ALSO OUR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE AFFECTED BY HIV.
THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER SO MUCH FOR THIS.
THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
I I DID WANT TO, UM, ASK A QUESTION.
I, I READ, UM, SOME, A STATISTIC ABOUT BLACK WOMEN, UM, BEING THE HIGHEST.
CAN YOU, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE, UM, PUT SOME CONTEXT ON HOW HIV IS AFFECTING, UH, WOMEN OF COLOR.
WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT AS A BLACK WOMAN, WE ARE
[00:25:01]
LEFT OUT OF BEING SEEN OR BEING HEARD.SO WHEN BLACK WOMEN GET A HIV DIAGNOSIS, IT'S EITHER WHEN THEY'RE PUT IN THE HOSPITAL AND THEY GET A AIDS DIAGNOSIS BECAUSE OF, SAY FOR EXAMPLE, ME, FOR EXAMPLE, INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, NOT BEING TOLD THAT MY PARTNER WAS LIVING WITH HIV, BUT ALSO THE SHAME.
IT IS A LOT OF US FEEL LIKE THE SHAME KEEPS US FROM GOING TO THE DOCTOR TO GET TESTED.
AND HOW DO WE CHANGE THAT IN A COMMUNITY THAT BLACK WOMEN HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE BACKBONE OF EVERY FAMILY.
WELL, LET ME JUST TELL YOU THAT YOU HAVE ALLIES AT CITY HALL AND WE ARE HERE IN THE FIGHT WITH YOU.
IT IS SO VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE IN THESE CONVERSATIONS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT POLICY, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING WITH HIV AND AIDS.
UM, SO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ALLIES HERE AT CITY COUNCIL.
COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
[2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
NOW TO THE COMMUNITY, UH, SESSION.UM, IF YOU BOW YOUR HEADS, FATHER GOD, WHO IN HEAVEN, WE COME BEFORE YOU.
AGAIN, GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL FOR ANOTHER DAY.
WE PRAY THAT YOU'LL BE WITH US AS WE, UM, COMMENCE THIS COMMUNITY SESSION.
UH, GIVE US WISDOM, GIVE US KNOWLEDGE, GIVE US A BETTER UNDERSTANDING, AND HELP US TO DO OUR JOB IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE REPRESENT.
AND WE'LL GIVE YOU ALL THE PRAISE AND THE GLORY.
IF YOU'RE PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE.
I PLEASURE THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC, WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY, JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING]
NOW PREPARED FOR THE ROLL CALL, MAYOR TURNER.COUNCIL MARTIN WILL BE ABSENT.
I NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF DECEMBER.
AND WE NEED A MOTION TO DELAY THE MINUTES.
NOW THEN THE MOTION IS GRANTED.
UH, LET ME RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER KUBOSH FOR UPON A PERSONAL PRIVILEGE MAYOR TODAY.
UH, MY BROTHER RANDY'S IN THE AUDIENCE WITH US STAND UP.
RANDY IS, UM, A CANCER VIC PATIENT AND HE, HE'S BEEN, HE'S BEEN FOUND TO BE CANCER FREE.
AND, UH, WE'RE ALL HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
THE FAMILY IS SO THANK GOD FOR, FOR HIS LIFE.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL THE BEST.
UH, NOW WE CHAIR RECOGNIZES, UH, VICE MAYOR TIM CASTEK TATUM FOR PROCEDURAL MOTION.
I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD MARY RAMOS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA LIST.
YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTIONS A SECOND.
[00:30:01]
RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER KASH FOR, UM, POINT OF, UH, PROCEDURAL MOTION.I'D LIKE TO, UH, TO, TO SWITCH THE PLACE OF JOHNNY KING AND ERIC SWANSON.
THE ERIC SWANSON WANTS TO GO BEFORE, UH, JOHNNY KING AND THEY, THEY'VE AGREED TO THAT.
AND ALSO IF YOU WOULD, UM, MOVE, UH, CARLOS BURNELL BERNAL AND DANIELLE GANTT TO THE, UH, BOTTOM OF THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA LIST SO THAT THEY CAN KICK, WE CAN KEEP IT CONGRUENT.
AND YOU'RE KEEPING THEM AT ONE MINUTE.
AND YOU'RE KEEPING THEM THEM AT ONE MINUTE? YES, SIR.
YOU'VE HEARD THE, UM, THE, THE MOTION.
SECOND ROBINSON, IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND.
COUNCILMAN MCCLUM FOR A PROCEDURAL MOTION.
I WOULD LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES, UH, TO MOVE TAMARA BELL TO THE TOP OF THE TWO MINUTE AGENDA LIST.
ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR? NOT THE MOTION IS GRANTED.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? CHAIR HEARS AND SEEKS NONE.
[PUBLIC SPEAKERS]
SECRETARY, YOU PROCEED TO CALL THE SPEAKER'S LIST TOMORROW BELL.LEMME TELL Y'ALL WHY I'M HERE TODAY.
LAST FRIDAY, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS AND I RAN INTO EACH OTHER A MAYOR.
I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN PUBLICLY FOR LETTING US KNOW ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AT HISD THAT IS CITYWIDE OF IMPORTANCE TO EVERYBODY WHO LIVES IN THIS CITY.
AND I CANNOT APPLAUD YOU ENOUGH BECAUSE THAT WOULD'VE NOT NOT BEEN BOUGHT TO THE FOREFRONT HAD YOU NOT DONE THAT.
NOW, BACK TO WHAT I WAS SAYING ON FRIDAY, GEICO, YOU CAME TO ME AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE CONCESSIONS.
AND YOU TOLD ME THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU DISPLAYED YOUR DISDAIN AT THE DECEPTION THAT YOU FELT WAS GOING ON WITH THE CONTRACT.
AND YOU TOLD ME AT THE TIME THAT CHRIS SHEPHERD DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT OR ANYTHING.
WELL, SINCE THAT TIME I'VE SEEN A VIDEO, CLEARLY WHAT YOU TOLD ME IS NOT TRUE.
SO WHAT ARE YOU PREPARED TO DO? BECAUSE I CAME HERE FOR THAT.
BECAUSE YOU TOLD ME ABOUT THAT AND ABOUT YOUR BROTHER.
AND I WAS JUST SO TAKEN ABACK.
SO I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO.
'CAUSE YOU WERE VERY UPSET AS YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT THE THOUGHT THAT THAT HAD OCCURRED.
BUT NOW I'VE SEEN THE VIDEO, SO I KNOW WHAT YOU SAID WASN'T TRUE.
I'M GONNA ASSUME YOU HADN'T SEEN THE VIDEO AND THAT'S WHY YOU SAID IT, BUT I'M SURE YOU HAVE NOW.
SO WHAT ARE YOU PREPARED TO DO? BECAUSE YOU KOSH KNOX MARTIN AND HERE, BUT IT INCLUDED, Y'ALL HAVE OTHER ENDEAVORS THAT Y'ALL PLAN ON PURSUING, WHICH THAT'S YOUR RIGHT.
IF THIS IS PUBLIC SERVICE IS YOUR LIFE.
I AIN'T TALKING ABOUT NONE OF Y'ALL.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THE OTHER ONES WHOSE TIME IS UP AROUND THIS HORSESHOE AND WANNA RUN FOR SOMETHING ELSE.
THOSE ARE THE ONES I'M TALKING TO.
SO REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME WHERE YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU'RE THINKING.
SO I'M ASKING YOU, I'M, I'M SORRY.
OH, I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WOULD, DO YOU WANNA DO FIRST? NO, GO AHEAD.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
AND UH, YES, WE WERE AT THE, UH, NEWS CONFERENCE AND YOU PULLED ME TO THE SIDE AND YOU ASKED ME MM-HMM
WHY I WAS GOING TO VOTE THE WAY I WAS GOING TO VOTE.
UH, AND I TOLD YOU THAT I REPRESENT THE HOBBY AIRPORT.
AND THEY REACHED OUT TO ME THREE OR FOUR WEEKS AGO ASKING FOR MY ASSISTANCE.
AND WHEN I RAN FOR CITY COUNCIL, I PROMISED MYSELF THAT I WILL REPRESENT MY CONSTITUENTS.
WELL THAT WASN'T, YOU SAID THAT, BUT THEN YOU ADDED WHAT I SAID.
'CAUSE I HAD NO IDEA AT ALL ABOUT, UH, ARI SAYING THAT CHRIS SHEPHERD WAS, YOU TOLD ME THAT ON FRIDAY.
RIGHT? THAT WAS A PART OF YOUR REASONING BECAUSE AT THAT TIME I WAS GOING BY THE NEWS REPORT JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.
'CAUSE YOU, YOU TOLD ME THAT AND I TOLD YOU, BUT LET'S BE HONEST WITH EACH OTHER.
PAPS DIDN'T WIN THE FIVE GATES.
KOSH WAS IN OFFICE THEN ROBINSON WAS IN OFFICE THEN YOU WAS IN OFFICE THEN.
ARE THEY? AND SO YOU TOLD ME FRIDAY.
WELL, LET'S PUSH THAT ASIDE FOR NOW.
BUT I'M SAYING TO YOU, THESE CONTRACTS THAT COME UP IN THE CITY, WHETHER THEY, FOR CONSTRUCTION, WE DON'T BUILD WATER
[00:35:01]
TREATMENT PLANTS EVERY YEAR.THESE ARE SOMETIMES ONCE IN A LIFETIME.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE STAY ON PROPER PROCEDURE FOR EVERYBODY.
NOT JUST 'CAUSE THEY YOUR CONSTITUENT.
I MEAN, AGAIN, UN UNDER THE PARKER ADMINISTRATION, WE VOTED ON CONTRACTS AT THE INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT AND, AND, AND I VOTED NO BACK THEN.
AND THAT, THAT'S NOT MY DISTRICT.
BUT I FELT LIKE THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS.
AND I AM NOT GONNA PUT MY NAME ON SOMETHING THAT, THAT DOESN'T LOOK RIGHT.
I I WANT YOU TO SEND ME THE VIDEO THAT YOU SAW, BECAUSE I SAW A VIDEO TODAY THAT WAS SENT TO ME AND I SAW WHERE, UH, CHEF SHEPHERD WAS ON THAT VIDEO, BUT NOWHERE IN THE VIDEO DID HE ENDORSE ANYONE.
HE TALKED ABOUT HIS FOUNDATION.
I SAW NOTHING IN THE VIDEO THAT WOULD LEAD ME TO BELIEVE, IF YOU WATCH EVERY WORD HE SAID.
AND I'VE WATCHED IT ABOUT SIX TIMES THAT HE WAS ENDORSING ANYONE.
OH, WELL, IT DIDN'T TAKE ME SIX TIMES.
I WATCHED IT FOR THE FIRST FEW SECONDS WHEN THE PERSON THAT WAS INTERVIEWING THEM SAID, SO YOU ARE THE, UH, UH, UH, CHEF CON, UH, CONSULTANT OR WHATEVER.
THAT WAS IN THE FIRST FIVE SECONDS.
I DIDN'T HAVE TO WATCH IT SIX TIMES.
ME BECAUSE I, 'CAUSE I DIDN'T SEE THAT IN THERE AT ALL.
SO, BUT, BUT I, I WOULD SAY THIS, WHEN, WHEN I LOOKED AT THE, UH, THE SHEETS THAT WERE SENT TO US BY THE ADMINISTRATION MM-HMM
UH, HE WAS LISTED AS, AS ONE OF THEIR CONSULTANTS.
AND, AND THEN WHEN I RECEIVED A, HAD A MEETING WITH, UH, THE, THE LEADERS OF ERUS MM-HMM
AND, AND WHEN THEY, THEY BROUGHT ME THIS BEAUTIFULLY ABOUND LITTLE BOOKLET MM-HMM
AND, AND, AND HIS PICTURE IS RIGHT HERE.
AND IT, AND IT SAYS, UH, AND IT SAYS, LIFE SUSTAINING SUPPORT FOR FOOD SERVICE WORKERS WITH CHRIS, CHEF CHRIS SHEPHERD THROUGH THE SOUTHERN SMOKE FOUNDATION.
BUT, BUT IT DIDN'T SAY THAT HE, HE DIDN'T GIVE HIS POSITION.
I'M GONNA SEND YOU THAT VIDEO.
YOU AIN'T GOTTA SWEAT YOURSELF.
I HEARD YOU THE FIRST TIME I GOT IT.
AND IT'S ON THERE THE FIRST FIVE SECONDS AND I WILL SEND IT TO YOU.
HEY, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU AS A FRIEND.
CAROL HERZO HERE, ALABAMA WATKINS MARTIN.
I AM A 42 YEAR EMPLOYEE FOR SOUTHWEST AIRLINES AT HOBBY AIRPORT.
AND ALL MY TIME HAS BEEN AT HOBBY AIRPORT.
I'VE SEEN, UM, PRE PAPPAS, POST PAPPAS, PAPPAS, PAPPAS, NO PAPPAS.
UH, I'M TELLING YOU, HOUSTON IS KNOWN FOR MANY THINGS.
AND FOOD IS ONE OF THOSE ON THE TOP.
WE'VE GOT THE MEDICAL CENTER, WE'VE GOT BEAUTIFUL PARKS, WE'VE GOT ENTERTAINMENT.
THEY'RE KNOWN FOR THE RESTAURANTS HERE.
AND PAPPAS REPRESENTS HOUSTON BEAUTIFULLY.
THEY HAVE BUILT BEAUTIFUL PROPERTIES.
PEOPLE ARE CONSTANTLY TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE AMENITIES, THE, THE ARTWORK ON THE SIDE OF THE RESTAURANTS.
THEY PROVIDE A REAL HOUSTON EXPERIENCE.
AND I WAS THERE WHEN YOU COULD GET A STALE DONUT, AN OLD COOKIE, UH, A HORRIBLE PIECE OF PIZZA.
AND OF COURSE YOU CAN'T SCREW ICE CREAM UP.
THERE WAS NO FLAVOR OF HOUSTON IN THE AIRPORT.
AND I JUST HATE TO SEE SOMEBODY COME IN THAT DOES NOT REPRESENT HOUSTON.
THE FOUR FAMILIES WILL HAVE 11, UH, LOCALLY OWNED RESTAURANTS AND AREAS.
I BELIEVE THE NUMBERS ARE SEVEN OF THE 12 PROPERTIES WILL BE LOCALLY OWNED.
THAT DOESN'T REPRESENT HOUSTON VERY WELL.
UM, I JUST FEEL LIKE WHEN THERE'S LAYOVERS, PEOPLE LOOK FORWARD TO EATING THOSE RESTAURANTS.
THEY DON'T WANT CHAIN RESTAURANTS THAT THEY COULD GET ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD.
THEY WANT SOMETHING UNIQUE AND ORIGINAL.
THAT IS THE FLAVOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UH, I KNOW PRE PAPPAS YOU WOULD COME TO THE AIRPORT WITH A FULL BELLY OR A LUNCH BAG.
YOU DIDN'T COUNT ON EATING AT THE AIRPORT AND HAVING ANY KIND OF GOOD FOOD EXPERIENCE WITH PAPPAS, PEOPLE COME HUNGRY.
THEY ALLOW THEMSELVES TIMES IF THE LIGHTS ARE DELAYED OR THEY'RE HERE ON A LAYOVER.
THEY'VE ALREADY DETERMINED, AM I GONNA GO TO PAPA SITA'S? AM I GONNA GO GET BARBECUE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SECURITY? AM I GONNA HAVE A PAPA'S BURGER? I MEAN, THEY HAVE ALL THOSE THINGS IN THEIR HEAD AND THEIR STOMACH IS HUNGRY FOR THAT FOOD.
AND I WOULD HATE FOR HOUSTON TO GIVE THAT UP BECAUSE IT'S A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE FOR OUR AIRPORT.
AND YOU, YOU WORK FOR SOUTHWEST AIRLINES? UH, I RETIRED PREM MASK.
I, I TOLD MY CHILDREN, IF YOU'RE GONNA GET MARRIED, YOU NEED TO MARRY SOMEBODY THAT WORKS FOR SOUTHWEST AIRLINES.
[00:40:01]
THEY'VE ALREADY FOUND OUT ALL THE, ALL THE SWEET PEOPLE.I'VE NEVER MET ANYONE FROM SOUTHWEST AIRLINES THAT I DIDN'T LIKE.
NOW, I, I RECEIVED THIS BOOKLET FROM ARIA THIS WEEK, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO CAN SEE THIS, IT'S A LETTER FROM SOUTHWEST AIRLINES IN LOS ANGELES AIRPORT.
I, AND SO IT, IT'S A, IT'S A RECOMMENDATION FOR THEM IN LOS ANGELES.
UH, IF I, I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ONE FROM, FROM HOUSTON, BUT THEY PUT THE ONE IN FROM LOS ANGELES.
I, I WILL SAY THIS, I APPRECIATE LOS, UH, SOUTHWEST AIRLINES.
I FLY ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ON NEAR AIRPLANES.
UNLESS I'M GOING TO ANCHORAGE, ALASKA TO SEE MY BROTHER.
BUT, UH, OTHER THAN THAT, I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND TALKING ABOUT THIS OPERATION.
THAT WE STAY A FIVE STAR HOTEL.
I DON'T HAVE A VIDEO OF ANYTHING, AND I DON'T HAVE ANY SCANDAL.
NEXT SPEAKER, MERINDA WATKINS.
MARTIN MERIN WATKINS MARTIN IS HERE.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I'M HERE FROM A VERY DIFFERENT ANGLE.
UH, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I'M PART OF ONE OF THE BIDS, SO I DON'T WANNA SPEAK TO WHO WINS THE BID OR DOESN'T WIN THE BID.
I'VE BEEN BEFORE YOU GUYS SO MANY TIMES IN THE PAST WHERE YOU ALL TRUSTED US TO PARTICIPATE WITH YOU GUYS.
WHETHER IT WAS FEEDING PEOPLE AFTER HARVEY OR WORKING WITH YOU GUYS DURING COVID, EXCUSE ME, IN THE CARES ACT.
I SAW SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT WHEN THEY RELEASED THOSE SCORE SHEETS.
UH, MANY OF YOU ALL MAY HAVE SEEN THAT LAMONT KITCHEN WAS LISTED AS A WEAKNESS.
OBVIOUSLY I TOOK THAT PERSONALLY BECAUSE MY HUSBAND AND I ARE LA AMONG KITCHEN.
BUT IT ALSO MADE ME THINK ABOUT ALL THE OTHER ACDBES WHO ARE FIGHTING TO GET A CHANCE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR ONE OF THESE CONTRACTS.
IF THE SOLE POINT OF YOU BEING QUALIFIED IS WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE IN AN AIRPORT, NONE OF US WILL EVER BE UP HERE AGAIN.
I NEED YOU ALL TO THINK ABOUT THAT PROCESS.
YOU ALL NEED TO LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE OF ACDBES BEFORE YOU SAY THERE ARE WEAKNESS.
WE'VE DONE MILLS FOR LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
JUST BECAUSE I HAVEN'T PHYSICALLY OCCUPIED ONE SPACE DOESN'T MAKE ME UNQUALIFIED OR A WEAKNESS.
I SAY THIS ON BEHALF OF OTHER ACDBES.
I'M GRATEFUL WE HAVE BEEN AWARDED A CONTRACT, BUT ALL FUTURE PEOPLE WON'T GET THAT CHANCE IF THE BIDDING PROCESS SEES EVERY A-C-D-B-E THAT ISN'T CURRENTLY ALREADY IN AN AIRPORT AS A WEAKNESS.
AND I HOPE YOU ALL WILL THINK ABOUT THAT PROCESS.
WE HAVE A STRONG PROGRAM HERE FOR MINORITY BUSINESS OWNERS.
I HAVE BENEFITED FROM THAT GREATLY.
BUT IF WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE DISQUALIFY PEOPLE JUST ON THAT BASIS THAT THEY HAVEN'T DONE IT BEFORE, WE'RE SHUTTING THE DOOR TO FUTURE ACDBES.
COUNCILMAN, THANK YOU FOR COMING.
UH, WHAT I, I LOOKED UP THE, THE DEFINITION OF, OF A DISADVANTAGED, UH, BUSINESS ENTERPRISE.
AND, AND IT SAYS, UH, DBES, DBES ARE FOR PROFIT, SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS WHERE SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED INDIVIDUALS ON AT LEAST 51% INTEREST AND ALSO CONTROL MANAGEMENT AND DAILY BUSINESS OPERATIONS.
SO DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED? YES, SIR.
OFTEN, I'M OVERLOOKED JUST BY THE WAY THAT I LOOK AND NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND OFFERED OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE OF WHO I AM THAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME AND PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME.
WELL, I I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD BE GIVEN THE SAME OPPORTUNITY.
I THINK IT'S WRONG TO, TO, UH, TO, TO IN ANY WISE, UH, UH, TREAT PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE OF, OF ANY OF THEIR, THEIR BACKGROUND.
BUT I APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND, AND I'M LISTENING TO WHAT YOU SAID.
UH, MIRANDA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
UM, YOU SAID THAT YOU HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE CITY'S PROGRAMS. YES.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE BENEFITED FROM LAMONT CATERING IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND DO ON A DAILY BASIS IS HEART WORK.
AND WE APPRECIATE YOU AND WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT.
UM, I THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD AND SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF OTHER A C DBES BECAUSE THIS IS INFORMATION THAT WE ALL NEED TO KNOW AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS A FAIR OPPORTUNITY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR A GREAT QUALITY OF LIFE.
MAY I SAY ONE LAST THING? SURE.
[00:45:01]
THAT ONE LINE WILL STOP ANY PRIME FROM REACHING OUT TO A-A-C-D-B-E WHO ISN'T ALREADY IN AN AIRPORT ON ALL FUTURE CONTRACTS.WHY TAKE A CHANCE IF SOMEONE'S GONNA BE LISTED AS A WEAKNESS? AND THAT WOULD'VE STOPPED ME IF SOMEONE HAD SEEN THAT BEFOREHAND.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR US, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK FOR THE CITY.
COUNCIL COUNCILMAN COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
WE STILL HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL.
COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS? YES, SIR.
ARE ARE, ARE YOU A HOUSTON RESTAURANT? I AM A CATERING COMPANY, BUT WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO FEED PEOPLE AFTER HARVEY.
WE ARE CURRENTLY MANAGING THE CONTRACT TO FEED THE UNHOUSED AT THE NAVIGATION CENTER.
UM, WE DO A LOT OF CATERING THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND YES, WE CURRENTLY HAVE A CAFE AS WELL.
UH, IN REGARDS TO THE PROCESS HERE, I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS AN INCONSISTENCY IN THE JUDGING CORRECT.
I WAS A, I WAS A WEAK, A WEAKNESS ON ONE, BUT A STRENGTH ON THE OTHER.
I JUST THINK THERE NEED TO BE SOME GUIDELINES FOR HOW THOSE DECISIONS ARE MADE.
AND, AND AGAIN, ACCORDING TO THIS, IT SAYS THAT YOU HAVE, UH, 20 PLUS YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
MOST OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN AT AN EVENT THAT WE'VE CATERED OR HAVE BEEN TO THE NAVIGATION CENTER WHERE WE PROVIDE MEALS DAILY FOR THE UNHOUSED OR AWARE OF THE PROGRAM THAT WE RAN WHERE WE, I THINK WE MONITORED AND WORKED WITH 18 HOUSTON LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND PRODUCED A LITTLE OVER 230,000 MEALS IN A SIX WEEK PERIOD DURING COVID.
AND THEN AGAIN, IN 2021, WE RAN A FIVE MONTH PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND PRODUCED OVER A HALF MILLION MEALS FOR PEOPLE AFFECTED BY COVID.
AND, AND, AND WE, AND WE DO HAVE HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST, UH, HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND, UH, WITH, WITH WHAT YOU HAVE JUST SHARED, I MEAN, THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S HOUSTON.
THAT HOUSTON, WE BELIEVE THAT WE'VE BEEN THERE.
TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE AROUND US HOUSTON.
YOU'VE BEEN THERE THROUGH COVID.
YOU'VE BEEN THERE THROUGH HARVEY.
YOU WERE OUT THERE FEEDING THOSE THAT NEEDED HELP.
UH, SO THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE FOR HOUSTON.
I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU HELLO.
I DID HI, MEET YOU AT THE MUSEUM AND I CAN ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT YOUR CATERING IS TOP.
I AM A TRUSTED FOR THE MUSEUM.
I DO SEE IT LISTED AND, AND YOU SAID ONE ON ONE, IT WAS A STRENGTH AND ONE IT WAS A WEAKNESS, I BELIEVE UNDER THE I TWO.
I SEE TWO ON HERE WITH PARODIES.
I MEAN, I DON'T AGREE WITH, YOU KNOW, THAT IT'S A WEAKNESS.
I MEAN, I, THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS MAYOR, THEY GIVE YOU A LIST OF CATERERS THAT YOU CAN USE.
I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S CERTAINLY NOT A WEAKNESS.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY LOOK AT THE TOTAL PICTURE.
IF THE ONLY CRITERIA IS WHETHER OR NOT YOU'VE BEEN IN AN AIRPORT THAT ELIMINATES, I'M GONNA GUESS PROBABLY 90% OF THE ACDBES WE'RE ALL WORKING TO GET TO THAT POINT.
IF THE ONLY CRITERIA IS WHETHER I'VE DONE IT OR NOT, AND THEY DON'T LOOK AT THE BODY OF WORK OR THE EXPERIENCES OR THE CONTRACTS OR THE OTHER THINGS THAT MIGHT MAKE SOMEONE WORTHY OF THAT OPPORTUNITY, YOU'RE GONNA MISS A LOT OF REALLY GOOD PEOPLE.
ANY OBJECTION? NOW, GRANTED, COUNCILMAN KASH, THE, THE ONLY OTHER QUESTION I HAVE, I, I NOTICED ON THE AREAS THEY HAVE A, THEY LISTED TWO WEAKNESSES.
ONE IS NO LOCAL PARTNERS ATTENDED THE ORAL PRESENTATION.
DID, DID, DID YOU OR DID YOU ATTEND THE, THE LOCAL, I MEAN THE ORAL PRESENTATION.
MY HUSBAND ATTENDED PAPA'S, MY HUSBAND ATTENDED PAPA'S.
AND JUST FOR CLEAR DISCLOSURE, I WAS ALSO ON PARODIES, UH, PROPOSAL AS WELL.
AND I DID PARTICIPATE AS A LOCAL OPERATOR.
AND JUST FOR CLARITY, YOU WERE ALSO ON THE LATRELL DEAL, WERE YOU NOT? YES, SIR.
AND YOU WON ON THE LATRELL DEAL? YES, SIR.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS ACKNOWLEDGING.
NO, BUT NOW I WANNA BE CLEAR NOW.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE ONE AND I'M GRATEFUL I'M WORRIED ABOUT FUTURE ACDS.
BUT I JUST WANT US, I WANT EVERYBODY TO HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING ENDING.
YOU ARE AT WE WILL BE AT HOBBY AIRPORT.
AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT FACT.
AND YOU'LL BE AT HOBBY FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS? YES.
AND A PART OF THE DEAL THAT YOU'RE ON, IT WAS LIKE 90% RESTAURANTS OF COLOR.
WELL, I JUST WANNA BE, I JUST, AND MY, MY MY PRESENCE HERE TODAY ISN'T ONE OR THE OTHER.
[00:50:01]
SAYING.MA'AM, THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD.
AND, UH, THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FOR ALL THE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND I KNOW YOU'RE SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY ON FUTURE ACDBES PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE AWARDED, UM, CONTRACTS CORRECT.
AND ALTHOUGH THEY DON'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE BASED ON THEIR TRACK RECORD OUTSIDE OF THE AIRPORTS, YOU BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD STILL BE GIVEN A FAIR SHOT.
I WOULDN'T BE HERE IF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT.
WE, WE HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN AIRPORT.
AND SO FOR COMPANIES LIKE AREAS WHO HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN A CONTRACT WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WHO HAVE A VARIETY OF VENDORS, JUST BECAUSE THEY LACK EXPERIENCE HERE IN HOUSTON WITH LOCAL PRESENCE SHOULDN'T PRECLUDE THEM FROM GIVING A SHOT.
BECAUSE WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO ALL PARTICIPANTS AND HAVE EVERYONE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
UH, THEY REALLY HIT HOME AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY DO FOR THE CITY.
COUNCILMAN MAG GALLEGOS? ONE SECOND.
COUNCILMAN MAG GALLEGOS? YES, SIR.
I, I, I JUST WANNA PERSONALLY THANK YOU, UM, BECAUSE YOU, YOU'RE AT THE HOBBY AIRPORT.
AND, AND THERE'S THOSE THAT WOULD SAY, I'M HERE, HECK WITH EVERYBODY ELSE, BUT YOU'RE HERE TODAY TO MAKE SURE THAT OTHERS GET THAT OPPORTUNITY.
ANNA ANNA MARCHAND IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY ERIC SWANSON.
AND I HAVE, UM, OUR, UH, LEAVE BEHIND MATERIALS FOR ANYONE WHO DIDN'T GET IT AND WHO, UH, NEEDS THOSE MATERIALS.
GIVE THEM, GIVE THEM TO RHONDA.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND S AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS ANNA MARSHAN AND I'M THE GENERAL COUNSEL FOR FOUR FAMILIES IN PAPPAS.
AND I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE FAILURE OF THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS TO PROPERLY APPLY THE HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST ORDINANCE.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THIS CITY COUNCIL DEVELOPED AND PASSED THE HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST ORDINANCE, WHICH RECOGNIZED THAT CREDIT SHOULD BE GIVEN TO CITY BUSINESSES IN LIGHT OF THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT THAT ARISES FROM HIRING BUSINESSES WHOSE PRINCIPLED PLACE OF BUSINESS IS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS.
THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA IDENTIFIES THAT HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST DID APPLY TO THIS BID, AND THAT THE AWARDEE DID NOT QUALIFY UNDER HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST.
HOWEVER, IN LOOKING AT THE RFP GRADING AND MATERIALS, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST ORDINANCE WAS NOT PROPERLY IMPLEMENTED IN THE RFP IN UNDERSTANDING HOW HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST SHOULD APPLY TO THIS PROCUREMENT.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT R FPS AND IN PARTICULAR THIS RFP, ARE BEST VALUE BIDS.
CITY CODE SECTION 15 DASH 47 B STATES THAT THE GOAL OF THE RFP METHOD IS TO OBTAIN THE BEST VALUE, HIGHEST QUALIFIED OR VALUE ADDED PROPOSITION AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE TO THE CITY.
PART FOUR, SECTION SIX OF THE RFP MATERIALS HERE STATES, THE CITY INTENDS TO SELECT PROPOSALS THAT MEET THE NEEDS OF THE CITY, AND THAT PROVIDES THE BEST OVERALL VALUE.
NOW, SECTION 15 DASH 180 D OF THE HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST ORDINANCE STATES THAT THE CITY SHALL PROVIDE WRITTEN GUIDANCE ON GIVING ADDITIONAL CREDIT TO CITY BUSINESSES IN BIDS THAT ARE USING A BEST VALUE DETERMINATION, SUCH AS THIS RFP.
IT FURTHER STATES THAT THIS GUIDANCE SHALL INCLUDE A PREFERENCE STRUCTURE, AWARDING POINTS AS FOLLOWS, THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF POINTS TO A CITY BUSINESS, THE NEXT HIGHEST NUMBER OF POINTS TO A LOCAL BUSINESS, AND THAT NO BUS AND THAT NO POINTS TO A BUSINESS LOCATED OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OR LOCAL AREA.
IN THE PAST AIRPORT RFPS HAVE GIVEN CREDIT IN JUST THAT WAY BY AWARDING FIVE POINTS TO A CITY BUSINESS, THREE POINTS TO LOCAL BUSINESS, AND ZERO POINTS TO BUSINESSES WHO DID NOT QUALIFY AS EITHER.
AND YET, THIS WATERFALL STRUCTURE IS NOWHERE STATED IN THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL.
AND NO POINTS WERE SET ASIDE AS REQUIRED BY HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST.
AND IN FACT, HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST IS NOT EVEN MENTIONED IN THE RFP.
THE RFP DOES NOT EVEN STATE THAT THE HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST ORDINANCE APPLIES.
THERE WERE NO POINTS, THERE WERE POINTS PROVIDED FOR LOCAL BRANDS.
HOWEVER, AS WE'VE SEEN, AN OUT OF TOWN COMPANY CAN LICENSE LOCAL BRANDS.
AND THIS, AGAIN, IS NOT THE TYPE OF POINTS THAT HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST REQUIRES.
HOUSTON FIRST REQUIRES YOU TO LOOK AT THE PRIME BIDDER THAT WOULD BE IN THIS CASE, PAPPAS AREAS, LATRELL, SSP OR HOST.
WHERE IS THAT CORPORATE OFFICE LOCATED? WHERE DO WE CURRENTLY EMPLOY PEOPLE? IN THE CASE OF PAPPAS, THAT IS HOUSTON.
IN THE CASE OF LATRELL, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY'RE ALSO AT LEAST LOCAL.
THE LACK OF APPLICATION OF THE HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST ORDINANCE WAS A FAILURE IN THE PROCESS.
SO TOO WAS THE FAILURE TO EVEN MENTION IN THE RFP MATERIAL THAT THE HOUSTON FIRST ORDINANCE WAS TO
[00:55:01]
APPLY.SECTION 15 DASH 180 REQUIRES THERE TO BE THAT WRITTEN GUIDANCE AND THERE WAS NONE.
COUNCILMAN KASH, THANK YOU FOR COMING.
UM, IN, IN THE PRIOR RFPS, WAS THE HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST POINTS GIVEN, UH, I CAN'T REMEMBER, BACK IN 2015.
WERE, WERE THEY IN THERE THEN? THEY WERE IN THERE THEN THEY, YES, THEY WERE IN THERE THEN THEY, AND THAT'S, WE LOOKED BACK AT PRIOR RFPS JUST TO SEE.
'CAUSE WE REALIZED THAT THIS HAD BEEN DONE DIFFERENTLY, THAT FIVE POINT, AND THAT'S WHERE I GOT THE NUMBERS THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT AS WELL AS IN THE 2021, UH, INTERCONTINENTAL, ALTHOUGH, I GUESS I SHOULD SAY IN THE 2021 INTERCONTINENTAL RFP BID, IT WAS IN THERE AS FIVE POINTS, THREE POINTS AND ZERO POINTS INITIALLY.
AND THEN THERE WAS A LETTER OF A CLARIFICATION THAT TOOK IT OUT.
UM, BUT IN THE PAST, THIS 5.3 0.0 POINT WATERFALL WAS IN RFPS.
COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILMAN? MAYOR COY.
UH, I'M A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED, AND THIS MIGHT BE A BETTER DISCUSSION FOR TOMORROW, BUT, UH, IT DOES SAY ON THE, ON THE RCA ITSELF, ON THE COVER SHEET THAT HIGHER THE PROPOSED CONTRACT REQUIRES COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITY'S HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST ORDINANCE THAT PROMOTES OPPORTUNITY FOR HOUSTON BUSINESSES AND SUPPORTS JOB CREATION IN THIS CASE AREA, HOUJ.
VLLC DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR HHF DESIGNATION.
SO AGAIN, THAT MIGHT BE A, I MEAN, JUST WHAT YOUR ANALYSIS OF THAT YEAH.
THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION.
AND I, THERE IS SOME LANGUAGE IN THE ORDINANCE, UH, SECTION 15, 1 78, A TWO, AND I'M A LAWYER.
I'VE GOT THE, YOU KNOW, LOOKED AT, I LOOKED IN DEPTH AT THIS ORDINANCE.
AND THAT'S A SECTION THAT TALKS ABOUT, UM, UH, UH, COMPANIES THAT ARE PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE CITY AND CHARGING MONEY IF THEY ARE WITHIN THREE, IF A LOCAL COMPANY IS WITHIN 3%.
UM, AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY WHERE THAT COMES FROM.
BUT HERE, IN A BEST VALUE DETERMINATION, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN POINTS FOLDED INTO THE PROCESS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE FACT THAT THIS IS NOT ONLY LOOKING AT MONEY, BUT IT'S ALSO LOOKING AT THE BEST QUALIFIED COMPANY.
'CAUSE BEST VALUE IS PART OF THE ORDINANCE IN, IN 15 DASH 47.
UM, YOU KNOW, YOU RAISED A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT ABOUT WHAT ORDINANCE HAS SAID, BUT THIS IS ALSO THE KIND OF THE CHRONICLES OF THE NEVER ENDING R RFPS, RIGHT.
FOR THIS, UH, STARTING WITH COVI AND ONWARD.
AND, AND THAT WITH THIS PROCESS OR CYCLE OF RS RFPS, RIGHT? FROM CO ONWARD, INCLUDING THE SECOND FP, WAS ANY OF THAT LANGUAGE INCLUDED? SO NOT 2015 RFPS, BUT, AND FROM YES.
UH, THE ENTIRE PROCESS, UH, THAT LANGUAGE, THE, THE POINTS WERE NEVER SET ASIDE, UH, FOR CITY AND LOCAL BUSINESSES.
AND SO MY QUESTION IS, AND AGAIN, AS A PAPPAS LOVER, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT WHY WASN'T THIS RAISED BEFORE? WHY WASN'T THIS RAISED WITH ANY OF THE OTHER RFPS? WHY WASN'T THIS RAISED WHEN THERE HAVE BEEN YEARS OF REVIEWS OF THESE RFPS, RIGHT? AND I KNOW NOW WE'RE GETTING INTO THE PROCESS, WHICH I THINK IS ANOTHER CONVERSATION MM-HMM
HOW DO WE DEAL WITH RFPS IN AN EVEN BETTER WAY? I THINK THE CITY OF HOUSTON DOES A PRETTY GOOD JOB, BUT WE ALWAYS NEED TO BE IMPROVING.
AND THIS ENTIRE SERIES HAS SHOWN SOME OF THE THOSE NEEDS.
BUT WHY HASN'T ANYONE COME FORWARD UNTIL NOW WHEN WE'VE HAD ALL THESE OTHER ADDITIONS? WELL, I THINK THAT SPEAKS TO, UM, YOU KNOW, IN THE ORDINANCE, THERE'S A AFFIRMATIVE DUTY ON THE OFFICE OF THE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THIS INTO ACCOUNT IN CONJUNCTION WITH PROCUREMENT AND TO PROVIDE, UM, WRITTEN GUIDANCE AND TO TAKE CARE OF THIS.
SO WE WOULD THINK THAT THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY, JUST AS THEY DO WITH, UM, A-C-D-B-E CERTIFICATIONS WOULD BE LOOKING AT THIS AND, AND GIVING CREDIT FOR THIS.
UM, BUT APPARENTLY, UH, THAT WASN'T DONE RIGHT.
BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS IF IT WAS, AGAIN, IT WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE RFPS THAT EVERYONE HAD BEEN FOLLOWING FOR SEVERAL YEARS THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.
SO WHY WASN'T IT RAISED THEN TO ANY OF THE OFFICES OR THE MAYOR? MM-HMM
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, EVEN, UH, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN REASONS, UH, DE DETERMINATIONS AND THE ORDINANCE PROVIDES THAT THERE COULD BE DETERMINATIONS, WRITTEN DETERMINATIONS, UM, THAT THE CITY CAN DO TO, TO MAKE AN ANALYSIS AS TO WHY HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST SHOULDN'T APPLY TO A PARTICULAR CONTRACT.
AND, UM, HOWEVER, WE KNOW THAT IT DID APPLY TO THIS CONTRACT BECAUSE THE ITEM SAYS THAT IT DID.
[01:00:01]
SAW THAT IN THE ITEM, WE REALIZED, OH, HOUSTON FIRST APPLIED, HOW DID HOUSTON FIRST APPLIED? AND WE LOOKED AND WE SAW NO EVIDENCE OF IT.THANKS, MAYOR PRO TIM CASH STACK TITLE, THANK YOU FOR ALL THIS INFORMATION, UH, THAT YOU PROVIDED WITH US.
IS, UM, FOUR FAMILIES, UH, REGISTERED AS A HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST, UH, ORGANIZATION? YEAH.
THE, THE PRIME BIDDER FOR FOUR FAMILIES IS PAPPAS AND PAPPAS IS A, A CITY REGISTERED BUSINESS.
IT ARE THEY UNDER THE ORDINANCE? ARE HOUSTON FIRST REGISTERED? YES.
FAMILY FOUR FAMILIES IS A HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST REGISTERED BUSINESS, HOSPICE RESTAURANTS.
THE PRIME IS A, UM, UH, IS A HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST REGISTERED BUSINESS, SECOND, UH, AS A CITY BUSINESS.
ANY OBJECTION TO A MOTION TO EXTEND CHAIR IS NONE.
MOTION GRANTED, I GUESS MY, MY CONCERN IS YOU PUTTING A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST.
UM, AND THE A OR THE PERSON THAT PUT IN THE BID WAS FOUR FAMILIES.
IS FOUR FAMILIES A HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST REGISTERED ORGANIZATION? SO JUST LIKE THE, UM, ALL THE O OTHER BIDDERS, WE CREATE A JV CONSISTING OF US AND OUR A-C-D-B-E PARTNERS.
AND JUST LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THEY'RE, WHEN THE, UM, UH, PROCUREMENT IS EVALUATING THE FINANCIAL STABILITY OF A JOINT VENTURE, THEY DON'T ASK FOR THAT.
THEY ASKED FOR THE PRIMES JOINT, UH, FINANCIALS.
SO WE PROVIDED, YOU KNOW, FINANCIALS, UH, TO SUPPORT THAT THIS WAS A, UM, UH, THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S A, IT'S A SOUND BUSINESS.
AND I GET, BUT THE QUESTION IS, BECAUSE WE'RE PUTTING A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON HIGHER HOUSTON, FIRST THE QUESTION IS, IS FOR FAMILIES A HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST ORGANIZATION? BECAUSE IT'S A BRAND NEW ENTITY, JUST LIKE EVERY BIDDER, IT'S, IT ITSELF, IT'S NOT A HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST COMPANY, BUT THAT IS WHY THE CITY HAS HISTORICALLY LOOKED AT THE PRIME TO SEE IF THE PRIME IS A REGISTERED HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST CITY BUSINESS OR LOCAL BUSINESS UNDER THE ORDINANCE.
THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.
AND JUST SO I AM UNDERSTANDING THIS, RIGHT, SO YOU ARE SAYING THAT IF HU HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST, UM, DID APPLY AND IT WAS DIFFERENT THAN HOW IT'S APPLIED IN THE PAST, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXPLAINED BETTER IN THE RFP OR IT EXPLAINED IT ALL OR MENTIONED IT ALL.
WELL, I, I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS, UH, FOR, UH, PERHAPS THE, THE BIDDERS TO NOT COME FORWARD AND TELL US THAT THINGS ARE CHANGED IS BECAUSE THERE'S A CONE OF SILENCE.
YOU KNOW, I, I TRY TO CALL PEOPLE SOMETIMES, UH, TO TALK TO 'EM ABOUT THINGS AND THEY WON'T ANSWER THEIR PHONE.
YOU KNOW, SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR LATER, I FOUND OUT THAT THEY WERE IN A CONE OF SILENCE.
I, I WISH THERE WAS SOME WAY I'D HAVE KNOWN THAT, BUT NONETHELESS, UH, AND THEN LATER I'M TOLD THAT WERE, WERE YOU, WAS YOUR, WAS FOUR FAMILIES TOLD WHERE THEY WERE AT THE CONCLUSION OF ROUND ONE ON IN, UH, IN 2019 WHERE THEY, WHERE WE WERE.
WHERE Y'ALL WERE IN THE BIDDING? WHERE WE WERE RANK.
WERE WERE YOU TOLD WHERE, WHERE YOU WERE IN 2022 AT, AT, AT THE END OF THAT SECOND ROUND IN 2022? NO.
SO, SO YOU, SO YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU WERE, RIGHT? CORRECT.
DO YOU THINK THE CITY WOULD, WOULD TREAT YOU ANY DIFFERENTLY THAN THEY WOULD TREAT ANY OTHER BIDDER? I WOULD EXPECT NOT.
ERIC SWANSON IS PRESENT, BE FOLLOWED BY JOHNNY KING.
HELLO, MY NAME IS ERIC SWANSON, AND I'M THE CFO OF PAPPAS RESTAURANTS AND FOUR FAMILIES.
AS HOUSTONIANS, OUR VISION HAS BEEN TO OFFER THE SAME EXPERIENCE IN THE AIRPORT AS OUR STREETSIDE LOCATIONS AS A WAY TO DIFFERENTIATE HOBBY.
THERE HAVE BEEN QUESTIONS REGARDING OUR PROPOSED RENT TO THE AIRPORT SYSTEM, AS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED.
WE CURRENTLY OPERATE AT LOCATIONS ACROSS THE CITY AS WELL AS AT HOBBY I, A H AND DFW AIRPORT.
FOR REFERENCE STREET SIGN LOCATIONS TYPICALLY HAVE A RENT RATE OF FIVE TO 6%.
WE BID A COMPETITIVE MARKET RATE OF 15.5%, WHICH EXCEEDS OUR OPERATING MARGIN AT HOBBY.
OVER OUR TIME AT HOBBY, WHEN WE
[01:05:01]
REVIEWED POTENTIAL RENT RATES, WE APPLIED THE SAME PERCENTAGE RENT TO ALL LOCATIONS, INCLUDING FULL SERVICE, AS WELL AS QUICK SERVICE, PRE-SECURITY AND LOCAL CONCEPTS.ALL LOCATIONS DO NOT HAVE THE SAME OPERATING MARGIN.
IF A 22% RENT RATE IS ADDED TO SOME OF THESE LOCATIONS, THEY ARE OPERATING AT A BREAK EVEN, OR A LOSS.
IF YOU ADD A TYPICAL FRANCHISE FEE OF 6% THAT NATIONAL BRANDS REQUIRE, IN ADDITION TO 22% RENT, APPROXIMATELY 28% OF REVENUE IS GONE OFF THE TOP, LEAVING LITTLE TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS.
AT THAT POINT, THE CONCESSIONAIRE CAN EITHER OPERATE AT A LOSS, CUT STAFF OR REPLACE THEM WITH IPADS OR REDUCE FOOD QUALITY PORTIONS, OR SEEK TO RENEGOTIATE RENT TERMS. THERE ARE TWO SIGNIFICANT ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
FOUR FAMILIES SUBMITTED A FIRST YEAR SALES ESTIMATE OF $43.6 MILLION.
WE INCREASE OUR SALES ESTIMATE 3% PER YEAR OVER THE LIFE OF CONTRACT, AND BY 1% INCREASE IN TRAFFIC AND A 2% INCREASE IN PRICE.
THE TWO MAIN DRIVERS OF REVENUE GROWTH.
WHILE AIRPORT LOCATIONS CAN PROVIDE A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE, THE GUEST WILLINGNESS TO SPEND BECOMES THE LARGEST DETERMINING FACTOR OF REVENUE.
SUBMITTED A FIRST YEAR SALES ESTIMATE OF 35.2 MILLION BELOW FOUR FAMILIES ESTIMATE, AND A 10 YEAR CONTRACT TOTAL OF 470 MILLION ABOVE FOUR FAMILIES ESTIMATE VARIOUS FIGURES.
IMPLIED ANNUAL GROWTH RATE IS 10% PER YEAR.
THIS FAR EXCEEDS A REASONABLE GROWTH RATE.
IF A 3% GROWTH RATE IS APPLIED TO THEIR STARTING POINT, THEIR REVENUE ESTIMATE FALLS BY NEARLY A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.
THAT DECREASE WOULD PRESENT WOULD RESULT IN A $20 MILLION LOSS IN RENT, OR $2 MILLION PER YEAR, LESS RENT TO THE ENTERPRISE FUND.
FIRST YEAR SALES ESTIMATE IS IN LINE WITH OUR CURRENT OPERATIONS AND DOES NOT RELY ON AGGRESSIVE GROWTH RATES.
FOUR FAMILIES REVENUE RESULTS IN RENT OF 6.8 MILLION TO THE AIRPORT WHILE AREAS RESULTS IN 7.8 MILLION.
BASED ON THEIR ESTIMATES, A MORE REALISTIC REVIEW OF SALES AND GROWTH RATES NARROWS THE REVENUE VARIANCE BETWEEN THE OFFERS TO APPROXIMATELY A MILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR.
JOHNNY, HOW YOU DOING? HI, MAYOR.
HOW YOU DOING? IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
I THINK THE LAST TIME I SAW YOU, YOU AND YOUR WIFE WERE HOSTING ME IN YOUR HOME.
AND CHRIS PAPS CAME FROM HOUSTON TO BE A PART OF THAT RECEPTION.
AND WE'RE FRAT BROTHERS AND WE ARE FRA BROTHERS AND WE ARE FRIENDS THEN WE ARE FRIENDS.
UH, MY NAME IS JOHNNY KING, AS MAYOR SAID, UH, I'M THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF KG CONCESSIONS ALONG WITH MY WIFE, WHO IS OUR CEO DR.
SHE SHOULD BE UP HERE, NOT ME.
AND, UH, WE, WE, WE OWN A COMPANY CALLED KG CONCESSIONS.
WE'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS WITH PAPA'S FAMILY FOR MORE THAN 14 YEARS.
WE'VE BEEN IN THE AIRPORT CONCESSION BUSINESS FOR MORE THAN 29 YEARS.
UH, WE'VE BEEN IN THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE PART OF THAT BUSINESS MOST OF THAT TIME.
UH, FORGOT TO MENTION, DR. KING IS A JACK GATES GRADUATE AND A HOME, A A A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN.
AND WE BOTH HAVE OUR MASTER'S DEGREES FROM TEXAS SOUTHERN, THE GREAT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.
UH, WE'VE BEEN IN FOOD AND BEVERAGE BUSINESS FOR 29 YEARS, AS I SAID.
UH, WE'RE IN BUSINESS AT DFW AIRPORT.
WE'RE IN BUSINESS AT IIH AIRPORT WITH THE PAPPAS FAMILY.
WE'VE BEEN IN THE PHILADELPHIA AIRPORT AND WE'VE BEEN IN LOVE FIELD IN THE AIRPORT, IN THE ADVERTISING CONCESSION BUSINESS.
UH, I WANT TO PUT IN PLAIN WORD WHAT ERIC JUST SAID.
UH, WE BUILD A QUALITY RESTAURANT.
IT COSTS MORE PER SQUARE FOOT TO BUILD THAN ANYONE I OWN BOTH MORE THAN THIS, MORE THAN THE PAPS BRAND.
IT COSTS GENERALLY 50% MORE TO BUILD THE PAPS RESTAURANT THAN IT DOES TO BUILD, UH, MY OTHER CONCEPTS.
OUR KITCHENS ARE WHAT THEY CALL SCRATCH KITCHENS.
THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THOSE LARGE NUMBERS YOU SEE COMING FROM THE PERSONNEL COME IN.
UH, OUR FOOD IS KEPT IN FRESH, NEVER FROZEN.
UH, THAT'S WHAT WINDS UP ON THE PLATE.
THE REAL WINNER AND A PAPS RESTAURANT IS THE FOLKS THAT COME IN AND SIT DOWN AND EAT.
THAT TRANSLATES INTO MORE CELLS.
WHEN, WHEN YOU'RE IN AN AIRPORT BUSINESS, YOU HAVE A FINITE AMOUNT OF SPACE.
YOUR SALES PER SQUARE FOOT IS EVERYTHING.
THAT'S HOW WE MEASURE OUR SUCCESSES.
[01:10:02]
AND PAPS GENERATES THE HIGHEST SALES PER SQUARE FOOT THAN ANYONE THAT I KNOW IN THIS BUSINESS.THAT ALLOWS US TO, TO PRODUCE MORE REVENUE IN FORM OF PERCENTAGE RENT AND SALES.
YOU CAN'T TAKE A PERCENT TO THE BANK.
YOU CAN ONLY TAKE A PERCENT MULTIPLIED TIME, TIMES REAL SALES TO THE BANK.
THAT HAS BEEN OUR BUSINESS MODEL.
IT HAS BEEN SU VERY SUCCESSFUL.
I JUST RETURNED FROM THE AIRPORT, UH, CONVENTION LAST WEEK.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY CITIES HAVE ASKED ME AT THAT CONVENTION.
WHEN IS PAPA DO COMING TO ATLANTA? WHEN IS PAPA DO COMING TO, UH, PHOENIX? PAPA DO'S HOME IS HERE.
AND WE WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY OF COMING BACK TO DEVIL'S HOMETOWN AND BEING PART OF THIS CONCESSION.
SO I JUST WANT TO TALK TO YOU IN TERMS OF LAY TERMS AS WHAT WE PROVIDE.
I DON'T THINK, I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYONE HAVE PROGRESSED ANY DISPERSEMENT UPON THE QUALITY OF OUR PRODUCT.
UH, COUNCIL COUNCILMAN POLLARD.
UH, AND THANK YOU, SIR FOR COMING FORWARD.
I'LL GIVE YOU ANY, I'LL GIVE YOU MY TIME IF YOU WANNA FINISH UP YOUR COMMENTS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CONSTABLE.
AND WHAT WE, WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS, UH, A PROCESS THAT MAKES SENSE AND ALLOWS BAPTIST TO REMAIN IN, IN, IN THIS AIRPORT IN SOME FORM OR FASHION.
WE, UM, CHRIS AND I AND THE PAPPAS FAMILY ARE, ARE FAMILY.
UH, I'LL NEVER FORGET WHEN WE FIRST OPENED OUR RESTAURANT IN DALLAS, UH, WE WERE HAVING SOME ISSUES AND, AND HARRIS AND CHRIS CAME UP AND WERE MOPPING TABLES AND STUFF.
AND, UH, WE WERE HAVING SOME ISSUES.
AND I, THEY SUPPORTED US IN AN ISSUE WITH OUR OWN AIRPORT.
AND, UH, I, I, I THANKED HARRIS AND I'LL NEVER FORGET WHAT HARRIS TOLD ME.
HE SAID, JOHNNY, YOU ALL ARE FAMILY.
AND THAT'S, WE THINK WE HAVE A VERY UNIQUE, UH, RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PAP FAMILY.
AND I THINK IT REFLECTS IN WHAT, WHERE THEIR HEARTS ARE.
I, I'VE HEARD NOTHING BUT GREAT THINGS SAID ABOUT THEM.
WE'RE PROUD TO BE PART OF, OF THE, OF THE PAPPAS OPERATION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU COUNCILMAN FOR YOUR TIME.
MY NAME'S MIKE RIZZO AND I AM THE COO FOR PAPA'S RESTAURANTS AND FOUR FAMILIES.
I'M HERE TODAY TO REPRESENT THE MANY LOCAL TEAM MEMBERS THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUCCESS OF HOBBY AIRPORT AND THE FIVE STAR HOSPITALITY RATING THAT OUR CITY AIRPORT NOW ENJOYS.
THE RFP PROCESS, WE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THREE TIMES SINCE 2019, HAS ALWAYS HAD THE SAME PRIORITIES AS ESTABLISHED BY THE SCORING PROCESS.
90% OF THE SCORING IS ON QUALITATIVE MEASURES LIKE CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGEMENT, AIRPORT EXPERIENCE, AND QUALITY BRANDS.
WHILE 10% OF THE SCORING IS FOR ESTIMATED COMPENSATION TO THE CITY, THE QUALITATIVE ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR TEAM MORE THAN JUSTIFIES OUR INVESTMENT IN PEOPLE AND QUALITY PRODUCT VERSUS RENT PAID TO THE ENTERPRISE FUND.
OUR PROPOSAL TO THE CITY DELIVERS THE PRIORITIES LAID OUT IN THE RFP FOUR FAMILIES.
PROPOSAL INCLUDED 106 MILLION OVER 10 YEARS IN RESTAURANT WAGES VERSUS 72 MILLION IN COMPENSATION TO THE CITY.
THE AREA'S PROPOSAL HAS 104 MILLION, BUT COMPENSATION TO THE CITY IN RENT.
PAPPAS CURRENTLY STAFFS EIGHT TO 10 FULL SERVICE RESTAURANT MANAGERS PER UNIT.
THAT IS COMPARED TO FOUR TO FIVE FOR ALL NON PAPPAS, UH, RESTAURANTS THAT OPERATE IN THE SAME AIRPORTS AS WE DO.
WE RUN 50% MORE FRONT OF THE HOUSE HOSPITALITY SERVERS, AND WE RUN 40% ON AVERAGE, UP TO 40% MORE KITCHEN PERSONNEL.
PLUS, WITH THE ADVENT ADVENT OF KIOSK AND IPADS, THE INVESTMENT AND TALENTED STAFF NECESSARY TO DELIVER FIVE STAR EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN FURTHER REDUCED.
BUT FOUR FAMILIES DOES NOT USE TECHNOLOGY TO REPLACE OUR TALENTED LOCAL SERVERS OR CASHIERS, AND WE NEVER WILL TO ENSURE THE HIGHEST QUALITY MEALS FROM OUR AWARD-WINNING BRANDS.
PAPAS OPERATES, UH, A LOCAL REMOTE SCRATCH KITCHEN FOR HOBBY AND DELIVERS FRESHLY PREPARED HOMEMADE FOOD DAILY TO OUR AIRPORT UNITS IN OUR OWN TRUCKS.
MAYBE OPENING A JAR CAN COULD RESULT IN MORE MONEY FOR RENT, BUT WE HAVE ALWAYS CHOSEN TO INVEST IN THE GUEST EXPERIENCE.
WE BELIEVE OUR FOCUS HAS PAID OFF FOR OUR CITY.
OUR TEAMS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE HIGHEST RATING IN AIRPORT HOSPITALITY.
THE SKY TRACKS FIVE STARS ALSO.
FOR YEARS, HOBBY PASSENGERS HAVE ALWAYS VOTED WITH THEIR FORKS, HELPING OUR AWARD-WINNING CONCEPTS OVER DELIVER ON ANY REVENUE OR RENT PROJECTIONS
[01:15:01]
WE HAVE EVER MADE.WITH OUR FOCUS ON QUALITATIVE AND OUR PERFORMANCE AND THE PRIORITY PUT ON SUCH MEASURES IN OUR PROPOSAL, FOUR FAMILIES HAVE PUT OUR MONEY WHERE THE MOUTHS ARE.
IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE OUR PROPOSAL, UH, IS INVESTING IN THE WRONG PLACE TO EARN THIS, COMMIT THIS CONTRACT.
IF IT IS ALSO HARDER EVEN TO IMAGINE ANY QUALITATIVE SCORES.
WERE TOO CLOSE TO CALL VERSUS NOT CLOSE AT ALL.
WE CREDIT OUR TEAM AND OUR CULTURE FOR OUR SUCCESSES.
WE WOULD NEVER BREAK UP OUR FAMILY.
AND IF WE'RE FORCED TO LEAVE HOBBY, WE'RE TAKING ALL OF THEM WITH US.
AND COUNCILMAN KASH, UH, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND UH, IT'S GOOD TO SEE ALL THESE FOLKS FROM, UH, PAPA'S, I'M SURE Y'ALL SERVED ME A COUPLE OF TIMES, BUT, UM, I NOTICED THAT, UH, THE WEAKNESSES THAT WERE OUTLINED, ONE OF THEM WAS TECHNOLOGY PROPOSED FOR ORDERING FROM PHONES BUT NOT READY FOR IMPLEMENTATION.
WHAT, WHAT, WHAT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT? WELL, IN AIRPORT TECHNOLOGY, THERE'S A, A COUPLE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT IT'S APPLIED IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.
UH, ONE IS TO REPLACE, UH, STAFF SO THAT LESS PEOPLE ARE NECESSARY FOR ORDER ENTRY AND FOR, UH, ADMINISTRATE MAKE, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT A KIOSKS THAT I WANT? I'M TALKING ABOUT KIOSK AND IPADS WHERE I WALK UP AND PICK THE FOOD I WANT AND THEN GO SIT DOWN AND WONDER IF I ACTUALLY DID A, DID AN ORDER OR NOT.
WELL, THAT'S WHY I CAN'T HARDLY STAND TO GO TO TO, TO MCDONALD'S ANYMORE.
THEY GOT THOSE THINGS AND I, I JUST GET CONFUSED AND HAVE IT MY WAY WHEN I GO WITH BURGER KING.
BUT ANYWAY, UH, AND YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T WANNA BE A DINOSAUR AND, AND, AND SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M, I REMEMBER IN, IN MY INDUSTRY YEARS AGO, PEOPLE WOULD MAKE FUN OF PEOPLE THAT DID EMAILS AND, AND AND, AND GOT ONLINE AND ALL, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE BACK THEN IT WAS DIAL UP.
BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WANNA BE ON THE CUTTING EDGE.
SO ANYTHING THAT COMES ALONG THAT, THAT WILL HELP, UH, A CITIZEN TO PLACE AN ORDER BEFORE HE GETS THERE.
'CAUSE HE'S IN A RUSH BECAUSE HE'S GOTTA CATCH A PLANE.
BUT, UH, I, I, BUT THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A REAL PERSON ANSWERING THE TELEPHONE.
I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO A ROBOT AND, AND I DON'T WANT TO ORDER MY FOOD ON A KIOSK.
SO I I I WANT YOUR PEOPLE TO TALK TO ME.
ANY COMMENTS YOU HAVE ABOUT THAT? OH, JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE THE TECHNOLOGY'S AVAILABLE DOESN'T MEAN IT'S RIGHT FOR WHAT WE DO.
UM, WE BELIEVE THAT WITH OUR, WITH WITH THE VALUE WE PUT ON OUR STAFF, ENGAGEMENT WITH THE GUEST IN THE RESTAURANT, THAT TECHNOLOGY ONLY SERVES US IF IT INCREASES OUR CAPACITY TO FEED PEOPLE, NOT IF IT'S A SHORTCUT TO, UH, TO DOING MORE BUSINESS WITH LESS STAFF.
UM, JUST FOR THE RECORD, 'CAUSE YOU TALKED ABOUT EMPLOYMENT AND I KNOW PAPPAS IS REALLY A FAMILY OF EMPLOYEES OF EVERY LEVEL.
UM, HOW MANY DO YOU ALL CURRENTLY EMPLOY IN HOBBY? HOW MANY EMPLOYEES IN HOBBY AIRPORT? IT'S A LITTLE 4 0 4 0 1 SPEAKER AT A, A TIME.
THANK YOU MAYOR, MR. RE ZO FOR BEING HERE.
UM, HE, HOUSTON IS THE MOST DIVERSE CITY IN THE NATION.
AND WHEN PEOPLE COME TO OUR AIRPORT, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO SEE.
SITTING HERE AND LOOKING OUT AT THE FACES OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE STANDING UP.
A DIVERSE, THE DIVERSITY IS SO IMPORTANT, IS A BIG SELLING POINT FOR OUR CITY.
AND WHEN VISITORS COME TO THE AIRPORT AND GO TO A PAPPAS RESTAURANT AND SEE THE DIVERSITY, YOU GO TO OTHER CITIES AND YOU DON'T SEE THAT, YOU DON'T SEE THAT.
AND THAT RIGHT THERE IN ITSELF IS A BIG SELLING POINT FOR OUR CITY.
AND MAYBE YOU'RE THE WRONG PERSON TO ASK FOR THIS, BUT MAYBE THIS IS A CLARIFICATION FROM LEGAL.
I KNOW, UM, WITH ONE OF THE LAST SPEAKERS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOUSTON HIRE, HIRE HOUSTON FIRST.
DOES THAT REQUIRE REGISTRATION IN THE ORDINANCE? IT'S AN APPLICATION.
IT IT DOES, IT SOUNDS THAT'S WHAT I WANNA KNOW.
MARY RAMOS, MAYOR RAMOS IS HERE TO BE
[01:20:01]
FOLLOWED BY CARLOS AL.AFTERNOON, RIGHT BEHIND THE MIC.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU AGAIN.
I'M GONNA START REAL QUICK BY READING THIS TO YOU.
AND THEN I'M GONNA COME INTO THE ONES THAT I'M REALLY, REALLY, REALLY UPSET ABOUT.
'CAUSE YOU KNOW, WHEN I GET UPSET, I GET REAL LOUD.
ONE, WHEN ALL BIDDERS GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS, FACE THE SAME REQUIREMENTS, AND ARE ALL SCORED OBJECTIVELY, NOT ONLY DOES IT CREATE FAIRNESS, BUT IT ALSO CREATES THE PROCESS BY WHICH ALL CITIES FOLLOW TO ENSURE THAT THEY GET WHAT IT WANTS AND NEEDS.
HOWEVER, WHEN A WEALTHY CORPORATION DOES NOT MEET THE CRITERIA, AND THEY USE THEIR WEALTH AND STANDING IN THE COMMUNITY TO CREATE A PUBLIC CAMPAIGN TO OVERRULE THE PROCESS, NOW THAT IS NOT ONLY A THREAT TO ALL SMALL BUSINESS AND MINORITY OWNED THE ROLE OF OUR CITY COUNCIL, BUT TO THE PROCESS ITSELF, IF YOU ALLOW THE PROCESS TO BE CHANGED THIS TIME, WHERE IS IT GONNA END? SO LET ME, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, LAST WEEK WE SPOKE ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS.
WE FOUND OUT THAT, UH, PAPA SAID THAT THEY REALLY LOVE THEIR EMPLOYEES.
THEY REALLY LOVE THEIR EMPLOYEES.
AND I, I BEG TO DIFFER, BUT I WANNA KNOW IF THEY REALLY LOVE THEIR EMPLOYEES, WHY DID THEY WAIT FOR THIS NEW CONTRACT TO RAISE IT TO WHAT THE CITY ORDINANCE SAID OF $15? AND WHY DO THE EMPLOYEES AT IAH MAKE MORE THAN THE EMPLOYEES AT HOBBY MAKES NO SENSE.
I WANNA KNOW WHY THEY DID NOT RAISE THE, THE, THE SALARIES OF EVERY ONE OF THEIR EMPLOYEES OVER $15 UNTIL THEY FIND OUT IF THIS CONTRACT GOES THROUGH.
NOT EVER BORN, RAISED FIFTH GENERATION HOUSTONIAN.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN PAPPAS EVER, AT ANY EVENT, HELPING US OUT THERE.
NOT ALMA, NOT LULAC, NOT SHOES FOR KIDS THAT AT THE HANO CENTER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT JUST A FEW, FEW OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT REALLY MEAN A LOT TO THIS CITY.
AND THE ONE THING THAT HIT ME THE MOST LAST WEEK WAS THREE DIFFERENT CITY COUNCILMEN ASKED MR. PAPPAS WHY? KNOWING THAT THEY HAD COME TO YOU TO ASK YOU FOR BEST AND HIGHEST.
AND ME BEING A REALTOR, I ALREADY KNOW WHEN I GO TO MY CLIENT AND I SAY, BEST AND FINAL AND BEST RIGHT NOW, THAT MEANS THAT WE HAVE SEVERAL CONTRACTS ON THAT PROPERTY AND SOMEBODY HAS BIDING REAL HIGH.
BUT YOU WANNA GIVE EVERYBODY THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO BID.
SO WHY DID THEY LOWER THEIR BID FROM 15.6 WHEN THEY WERE ASKED TO DO BEST AND HIGHEST TO 15.5? WHY WE NEVER GOT AN ANSWER? COUNCIL MEMBER, EVAN SHABAZZ.
JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO FINISH YOUR THANK YOU THOUGHTS.
I WANNA KNOW WHY, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T TAKE A FINANCIAL GENIUS.
I MEAN, DAY MARTIN IS A ACCOUNTANT, SO HE KNOWS I STUDIED ACCOUNTANT, BUT I'M NOT ONE.
SO I WANNA KNOW, GIVEN HIGHEST AND BEST, WHY WOULD THEY LOWER THEIR OFFER? THEY WERE GIVEN HIGHEST AND BEST GUYS.
THAT'S YOUR CHANCE TO RAISE IT.
EVEN IF THEY WOULD'VE RAISED IT A COUPLE OF PERCENT, THEY WOULD'VE SAID, OKAY, WELL WE, WE LOST IT.
WE, EVEN THOUGH WE RAISED IT, BUT THEY DIDN'T RAISE IT, THEY LOWERED IT.
AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, OBVIOUSLY THEY REALLY THOUGHT THAT EVEN IF THEY LOWERED IT, THEY ALREADY HAD IT IN THE BAG.
THEY THOUGHT, OH, WE GOT CITY COUNCIL.
THEY'RE GONNA GIVE US WHAT WE WANT ACCORDING TO WEALTHY CORPORATIONS.
AND YOU KNOW, IF YOU AWARD THIS CONTRACT AFTER THIS TRANSPARENT PROCESS, AND ANYBODY WHO DIDN'T SAY IT WAS TRANSPARENT, OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T GO THROUGH ALL OF IT.
IF YOU AWARD IT AND SHOWING THAT WEALTHY CORPORATIONS CAN DO A PUBLIC CAMPAIGN OUT THERE AND THREATEN PEOPLE THAT IF THEY DON'T VOTE TO HELP THEM, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT'S GONNA DO TO OUR CITY? NOBODY'S GONNA WANNA BID.
IT COSTS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO PUT AN RFP TOGETHER AND THEY'RE NOT GONNA COME TO HOUSTON.
[01:25:01]
YOU AIN'T GONNA WIN.THE ONE WHO HAS ALL THESE FRIENDS ON CITY HALL, THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE PROCESS IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
AND I DON'T WANT THAT BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE THE BEST MAYOR IN THE WORLD.
WE HAVE A WONDERFUL CITY COUNCIL AND I WANNA KEEP IT THAT WAY.
CARLOS BEAL IS HERE BE FOLLOWED BY DAN DANIELLE GANT.
MR. MAYOR, UH, UH, VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.
UM, COUPLE THINGS I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS BEFORE, I HAD A COUPLE NOTES HERE THAT I WANTED TO GO THROUGH, BUT COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS, UH, RIGHT BEHIND THE MIC.
CAN YOU SPEAK INTO THE MIC? RIGHT BEHIND THE MIC.
UH, WE SHARE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT DIVERSITY AND I JUST WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT 68% OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR.
SO WE SHARE THOSE CONCERNS AND WE LIVE IT EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US AS A COMPANY.
IT'S ONE OF OUR CORE PRINCIPLES.
SO, YOU KNOW THAT THE OTHER THING I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS IS MAYBE THE CFO FOR, UH, THE FOUR FAMILIES SHOULD HAVE SPENT A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME LOOKING AT HIS NUMBERS VERSUS LOOKING AT OUR NUMBERS.
MAYBE THEY WOULD'VE BEEN A LITTLE HIGHER.
UH, YOU HEARD FROM, UH, MR. POPPAS AND HIS, UH, NIECE CHRISTINA LAST WEEK THAT THEY UNDERBID BY $160 MILLION THE LAST TIME THEY WERE HERE BEFORE YOU.
SO MAYBE IF WE'D HAD A BETTER CALCULATOR THIS TIME AROUND, HE WOULD'VE INCLUDED A LITTLE BIT MORE REVENUE IN HIS BIT VERSUS WORRYING ABOUT AND SPENDING ALL HIS TIME LOOKING AT OUR INFORMATION.
UM, CHRIS SHEPHERD, WE HAD EXTENSIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH CHRIS SHEPHERD AND HE'S A GREAT GUY.
HE'S DONE A LOT FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
HIS SOUTHERN SMOKE FOUNDATION IS, IS CONSTANTLY TAKING CARE OF THOSE IN NEED.
WE DID HAVE A VIDEO THAT WE PRODUCED THAT WE SHARED WITH YOUR STAFF AND HOW SOUTHERN SMOKE WAS GOING TO BE PART OF OUR PROGRAM AND HOW WE WERE GOING TO SUPPORT HIM.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE SOME OF THE STUFF COMES UP FROM, BUT IT'S JUST ISN'T TRUE.
HOW CAN YOU IN GOOD CONSCIOUS PAY ONE, ONE SET OF EMPLOYEES AT HOBBY DIFFERENT THAN YOU PAY AT INTERCONTINENTAL DOING THE SAME JOB, SAME EXACT JOB, AND COME UP HERE AND SAY HOW, HOW THEY, HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THE EMPLOYEE, HOW WELL TAKING CARE OF THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE AND THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE HERE.
SO MAYBE FOR THE FIRST TIME THEY'RE FINDING OUT THAT THEIR PEOPLE WORKING AT HOBBY, MAYBE THEY'RE THEM, I DON'T KNOW, ARE MAKING LESS THAN THE EMPLOYEES IN INTERCONTINENTAL UNION.
I COMMITTED TO YOU LAST WEEK THAT IF THE EMPLOYEES AT HOBBY WANTED TO BECOME MEMBERS OF THE UNION, WE WOULD NOT STAND IN THEIR WAY.
WE DIDN'T BID IT THAT WAY AT ALL.
SO I'M BEING HONEST WITH YOU, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA STAND IN THE WAY.
WELL, PAPAS DO THE SAME THING.
HOPE SOMEONE ASKS THAT QUESTION.
MAYOR, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM.
I'LL ANSWER THE QUESTION FOR YOU.
FORD FAMILIES IS NOT REGISTERED.
AND TO SAY THAT THEY'RE JUST STARTING OUT AS A NEW ENTITY.
THEY BEEN HERE, I THINK, RIGHT? WEREN'T THEY, AREN'T THEY IN THE AIRPORT TODAY? HAVEN'T THEY BEEN HERE FOR 10 YEARS? MAYBE LONGER.
AND THE QUESTION WAS ASKED, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
I HAVE, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS I WANNA ASK YOU, BUT IF YOU WANNA JUST QUICKLY WRAP UP WITH SOME OF MY TIME.
THE QUESTION OF, UM, THE SCORING WITH HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST, NONE OF THE COMPANIES GOT ANY POINTS FOR THAT OR FAMILIES DIDN'T.
WE DIDN'T, NONE OF THE OTHER TOTAL SEVEN BIDDERS GOT ANY POINTS FOR THAT.
AND THE WAY HOUSTON HIRE FIRST WORKS, IF YOU ARE WITHIN THREE PERCENTAGE POINTS OF YOUR FINANCIAL OFFER THAT KICKS IN, WE WERE SEVEN POINTS ABOVE THEM.
SO THERE WAS NO WAY THAT HOUSTON HIRE FIRST WOULD COME INTO PLAY FROM AN S PERSPECTIVE, FIVE STAR SKY TRACK.
I I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO WRAP UP JUST A LITTLE BIT.
'CAUSE AGAIN, I WANTED TO RECLAIM, OKAY, THIS IS MY LAST, OKAY.
WE OPERATE A FIVE STAR SKY TRACK AIRPORT IN ROME.
AND BY THE WAY, WE HAVE SEVEN OTHER AIRPORTS THAT ARE FOUR STAR SKY TRACK.
SO THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT THEY JUST FIGURED OUT AND IT TOOK 'EM A FEW YEARS TO DO IT BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN THERE 20 YEARS.
BUT THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT JUST FIGURED OUT.
AND AS MR. MAYORS YOU BROUGHT UP, THAT IS NOT THE ONLY CRITERIA IS YOUR RESTAURANTS AND FOOD SERVICE, BATHROOM, SIGNAGE, ROADWAYS, YOU NAME IT.
[01:30:01]
IT'S A LOT OF STUFF.UM, I'M GOING TO STICK TO QUESTIONS FOCUSED ON YOU.
YOU KNOW, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND I THINK WE HAVE TWO GREAT INSTITUTIONS.
UM, AND THIS IS A SITUATION THAT ALL OF US ARE TAKING VERY SERIOUSLY.
IT'S HARD FOR ME TO STEP UP HERE WITH MISINFORMATION.
UM, REALLY QUICKLY, I HEARD 400 EMPLOYEES AT PAPPAS CURRENTLY.
I KNOW THAT YOUR CO I WANNA JUST SAY FOR THE RECORD ONE MORE TIME WHAT YOUR COMMITMENT TO YEAH.
HOW MANY ARE EMPLOYEES? WILL YOU BE ABLE TO STAFF WITH YOUR CAPACITY IF THIS GOES THROUGH? SO WE'LL, WE'LL BE WELL OVER 200, BUT I'M SURE IF YOU PUT THE LATRELL NUMBERS IN THERE AND TOTAL, WE'LL BE OVER 400 TOGETHER WITH BOTH COMPANIES.
BUT LATRELL WOULDN'T NECESSARILY EMPLOY EVERYONE FROM PAPPAS.
AND YOU HAD COMMITTED TO US THAT I, I, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR LATRELL.
SO I CAN TELL YOU EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE THAT WANTS A JOB WITH US WILL GET A JOB WITH US WITH THE SAME SENIORITY, COMPARABLE PAY, HIGHER PAY.
'CAUSE WE'LL BE STARTING OUT AT, UH, ABOVE THE CITY ORDINANCE.
FIRST OF ALL WITH BENEFITS AND 401K MATCHING AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS.
BUT YOU JUST SAID YOU ONLY HAVE CAPACITY FOR 200 AND THERE'S 400 EMPLOYEES.
IS I, I DON'T WANNA MIX UP YOUR WORDS.
IT'S NOT A, IT'S NOT A CAPACITY ISSUE.
YOU CAN'T, IT'S A, IT'S, WE WERE TALKING TO APPLES AND ORANGES THE OTHER DAY.
I THINK HE'S, HE HAS MORE UNITS AT THE AIRPORT TODAY THAN WE WILL.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT LATRELL HAS.
ALL I'M SAYING IS THE TOTAL, THE TOTAL EMPLOYMENT'S AT THE AIRPORT'S, PROBABLY OVER 400.
WE'LL HAVE HALF THE AIRPORTS, WE'LL HAVE APPROXIMATELY 200 EMPLOYEES.
SO IT'S AN, IT'S AN APPLE'S AN ORANGE QUESTION.
BUT YOU COMMITTED TO US THAT YOU, ANYONE THAT WANTED TO WORK FROM PAPPAS COULD COME WORK FOR YOU.
SO WOULD YOU HAVE THAT CAPACITY IF YOU'RE ESTIMATING AT 200? IF WE HAD THE CAPACITY TO HIRE ALL 400? 'CAUSE WE NEED ALL 400.
DO YOU EXPECT TO HAVE THAT CAPACITY IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT.
UM, WE DON'T HAVE, I DON'T KNOW HOW, WHAT THEY HAVE THERE TODAY, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE TOTAL AIRPORT.
AND MY OTHER QUESTION TO YOU IS, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS, AND THIS IS MORE SUBJECTIVE, RIGHT? WE ARE BOUND, AND I BELIEVE THIS, TO FOCUS ON THE PROCESS AS COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS PERIOD.
UM, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT PAPPAS AND YOU LOOK AT THE, UH, MENU OF OPTIONS THAT YOU ALL PROVIDE ARE PROVIDING, AND SOME OF THOSE ARE GREAT VENDORS.
THEY'RE DISTRICT C VENDORS IN MY DISTRICT, JUST LIKE PAPPAS IS IN DISTRICT C.
BUT, AND I'VE, I'VE SAID THIS TO YOU PERSONALLY, I HAVE A HARD TIME SWALLOWING THAT THERE'S NO MEXICAN FOOD OFFERING IN HOUSTON, TEXAS WITH A PACKAGE.
AND ME, WE HAVE VELVET TACO COMING IN, VELVET TACOS IN THE DISTRICT, LOVE VELVET TACO, NOT NECESSARILY MEXICAN FOOD.
UM, ARE THERE OPTIONS IF, YOU KNOW, THIS IS APPROVED TOMORROW TO WORK INTO SOME OF THAT ADDITIONAL, UM, PROVIDERS THAT CAN PROVIDE THE DIVERSITY THAT HOUSTON REPRESENTS? 'CAUSE AGAIN, NO MEXICAN FOOD AT HOBBY IS NO MEXICAN FOOD AT HOBBY
AND YOU LIKE MEXICAN FOOD? UH, NO.
UH, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP AT, UH, DURING THE ORAL PRESENTATION THAT WAS PART OF, UM, AND TO CLARIFY A QUESTION, THE REASON WHY OUR, UH, JOINT VENTURE PARTNERS WEREN'T THEIRS.
'CAUSE WE MADE THE DECISION THAT WE WANTED THE BEST FIVE QUALIFIED PEOPLE.
'CAUSE YOU'RE LIMITED TO FIVE, UH, IN ATTENDANCE AT THAT MEETING.
SO, UH, UH, BUT ANYWAY, BACK TO YOUR QUESTION.
ONE OF THE QUESTION THAT CAME UP, UH, DURING THE ORAL PRESENTATION THAT WE GAVE WAS, WOULD YOU BE FLEXIBLE TO MAKE CHANGES TO YOUR PROPOSAL IN TERMS OF THE BRANDS? IF STAFF FELT THAT, UH, SOMETHING FIT IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION? SO, AND WE SAID OF COURSE WE WOULD.
SO IF THEY CAME TO US AND SAID, WE WANT MEXICAN IN, IN THIS SPOT HERE, WE WOULD WORK WITH THEM.
UM, MOTION TO EXTEND CAST MOTION TO ANY OBJECTION.
NOW, GRANTED, MEMBER KASH, UH, I RECEIVED A, UH, A, UH, A MESSAGE FROM, UH, IT LOOKS LIKE A GROUP MESSAGE THAT'S FROM, UH, CHRIS SHEPHERD.
THE, UH, I'M SURE YOU'VE SEEN IT TOO.
UH, THE CHEF, AND LET'S PUT THIS TO REST.
DO YOU HAVE, DOES HE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH YOU OR NOT? NO.
AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY, BUT, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE HE IS NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE A CONTRACT WITH US.
'CAUSE THAT WAS NOT A REQUIREMENT IN THE RFP.
THE RFP ONLY REQUIRES A CONTRACT FOR YOUR JOINT VENTURE PARTNERS AND YOUR BRANDED PARTNERS.
THAT WAS NEVER, UH, SO HAVE YOU EVER PAID, HAVE YOU PAID HIM ANY MONEY? NO.
THE OTHER THING IS, UH, UH, WHAT IS THE VALUE OF AREAS, UH, INTERNATIONALLY? WOULD IT, IT'S IN THE BILLIONS.
WOULD YOU SAY IT'S IN THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS? YEAH.
PROBABLY A LOT LARGER THAN YOU.
YOU HAVE THE BOOK THAT'S IN YOUR BOOK.
NOW, UH, ANOTHER QUESTION I I WANNA KNOW IS, IS YOUR LAST TESTIMONY BEFORE US, YOU MADE THE STATEMENT THAT YOU'VE BID THIS THING FIVE TIMES? YES,
[01:35:01]
SIR.THAT YOU CAME IN FIRST OR SECOND IN THE FIRST TWO ROUNDS.
WELL, THE FIRST TIME OUT 2019.
AND WAS THROWN OUT BECAUSE OF COVID CAME BACK OUT.
WE MADE THE SHORTLIST ON PACKAGE, UH, AGAIN AND BEST FOUND.
HOW, HOW DID YOU FIND THIS OUT? HOW DID YOU KNOW THIS? BECAUSE I, I MEAN, PAPA'S, UH, UH, GENERAL COUNSEL SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THEY CAME IN.
YOU SAW IT WHERE WE SAW IT IN THE NEWS THAT WHO THE WINNERS WERE, WE NEVER GOT NOTIFIED WE WON OR LOSS.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE WE, ALL WE KNEW IS THAT WE MADE THE FINAL, WE MADE SHORT LIST.
SO SOMEBODY PUT THIS PUBLIC, THEY MADE IT PUBLIC INFORMATION AND A COUNCIL MEMBER COULDN'T GET IT UNTIL HERE RECENTLY.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.
WELL, THE QUESTION IS, YOU, YOU STATED THAT YOU CAME IN 'CAUSE I LOOKED AT THE RECORDS, UH, THAT THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME BY THE PROCUREMENT DIRECTOR, JEDI GREENFIELD.
AND AND YOU DIDN'T COME IN FIRST AND SECOND.
WE DON'T KNOW IF WE CAME IN FIRST OR SECOND, BUT YOU SAID YOU DID WHAT? WE KNOW, WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT WE MADE THE SHORT LIST AND WE WERE ASKED FOR BEST AND FINAL, WHICH WE GAVE.
AND WE CAME DOWN TO DO THE ORAL PRESENTATION AND WE DIDN'T WIN THOSE PACKAGES.
AND WE FOUND OUT THROUGH THE MEDIA THAT SOMEONE ELSE WAS SELECTED, LIKE LATRELL JUST SELECTED.
LAST TIME WE MADE THE SHORT LIST ON THAT PACKAGE, NO ONE TOLD US WE LOST.
BUT WE FOUND OUT THROUGH THE MEDIA THAT, THAT WE WEREN'T FORTUNATE ENOUGH.
AND THEN WE DIDN'T COME DOWN HERE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT.
WOULD YOU SAY THAT THIS PROCESS, THESE THREE BIDDING PROCESSES HAVE, HAVE, HAVE BEEN SLOPPY AND, AND MUDDIED? I I, I WOULD SAY IN THE CONTRARY, RIGHT, WHAT WE DO, WE'RE NINE AIRPORTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
WE BID ON RFPS AND THIS STAFF WERE CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONALS.
WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE ANYTHING BEHIND IN THE ROOMS. WE COULD, WE COULDN'T SHAKE HANDS, COULDN'T LEAVE BUSINESS CARDS.
IT WAS A WELL RUN PROCESS WITH HIGH INTEGRITY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW EVERYBODY GOT OUR INFORMATION 'CAUSE WE CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE POPPY'S INFORMATION, BUT, SO I'M NOT SURE WHERE THAT CAME FROM.
BUT WE, THIS PROCESS WAS 100, 100% BY, UH, CITY STAFF WITH, UH, MANAGED BY THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF IN INTEGRITY.
GOD, I WILL TELL YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY.
THANKS, MAYOR PRO TIM CAST KADO.
MR. BURNELL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I I DO HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
UM, WHEN YOU CAME DOWN LAST WEEK, UM, THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF CONVERSATION ABOUT RENEGOTIATING CONTRACTS BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT YOU HAVE COMMITTED IN YOUR RFP.
I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW IF, UM, I I'D LIKE TO HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT THE BOND THAT IS REQUIRED AND THEN ALSO, UM, THE STATEMENT YOU MADE LAST TIME FOR THE RECORD WAS THAT ARIES HAD NO INTENTION ON RENEGOTIATING A CONTRACT.
YEAH, I'LL SAY IT AGAIN TODAY.
I MEAN, OUR NUMBERS ARE NUMBER, THAT'S WHAT WE PROPOSED.
WE'RE NOT GONNA COME BACK HERE TO CITY COUNCIL OR TO STAFF AND SAY, HEY, JUST KIDDING.
THAT'S NOT, UH, HOW WE DO BUSINESS.
THESE, UH, THESE NUMBERS ARE RENT PERCENTAGES.
AND, AND THAT'S WHAT WE DON'T LIVE BY AS IT RELATES TO THE BOND.
I GAVE YOU BAD INFORMATION LAST WEEK.
I SAID, I THINK IT WAS LIKE 3.6 OR 3.7, UH, MILLION.
IT'S 3.9 MILLION AND IT'S A SIX MONTH, UH, IT'S SIX MONTH OF RENT AND IT'S A PERFORMANCE BOND.
SO, SO THERE'S SOME PROTECTION FOR THE CITY.
ADDITION PROTECTION TO THE CITY.
AND, UH, MR. BERNAL, THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD.
I KNOW YOU HAD GOT, UH, YOUR TIME CUT, UH, PREVIOUSLY, BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY FINAL REMARKS, YOU CAN HAVE MY TIME.
NO, MY FINAL REMARKS WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE COMMITTED TO, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE COMMITTED THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND, UM, WE HOPE THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE YOU THAT WE WILL BE A VERY GOOD BUSINESS PARTNER WITH, UH, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND, AND THE HAAS STAFF.
AND, UM, WE WILL MAINTAIN YOUR FIVE STAR SKY TRACK SERVICE.
AS I SAID, WE DO THIS EVERYWHERE AND WE'LL BE GOOD PARTNERS WITH THE COMMUNITY AND WE WILL STILL WORK WITH CHRIS SHEPHERD AND, UH, SOUTHERN SMOKE.
AND, AND SO, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE OUR A HUNDRED PERCENT COMMITMENT AND I'M ON THE RECORD OF SAYING THE THINGS I'VE SAID AND I STAND BY IT 100%.
COUNCILMAN MC, COUNCILMAN ASH, MR. BURNELL, UH,
I DON'T KNOW ANYONE THAT GETS MARRIED THINKING, HEY, I'M GONNA GET A DIVORCE.
WELL, MAY MAYBE NOWADAYS WITH ALL THESE, UH, PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENTS, BUT, UH, I, I THINK A $3 MILLION BOND, UH, THAT WOULD COVER FOR SIX MONTHS.
RENT IS A VERY SMALL DEAL WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A 10 MILLION, A 10 YEAR CONTRACT.
SO I, I JUST, UH, I I I CAN'T HANG MY HAT ON THAT, BUT I MEAN, I WANT TO, IF YOU'RE GONNA GO IN THERE AND YOU'RE GONNA MAKE IT, I WANNA SEE YOU MAKE IT AND, AND, AND REALLY MAKE IT BIG, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS, I SAY WE HAVE TO, WE NEED TO HAVE THIS AIRPORT TO MAINTAIN ITS FIVE STAR R RATING.
AND, AND I, I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT, THAT WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN, IN DEFAULT, WE'RE INTERESTED AND, AND, AND ACTUALLY GOING FORWARD IN MAKING IT AS GOOD AS POSSIBLE.
[01:40:02]
COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH, UH, BESIDES MY WORD, YOU HAVE A PERFORMANCE BOND THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE AND YOU HAVE A VERY GOOD, UM, GOOD, GOOD LEGAL REPRESENTATION WITHIN THE CITY.AND THERE'S A LOT OF CRITERIA WITHIN OUR CONTRACTS.
IT REQUIRES TO PROVIDE A LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT YOU WILL BE PROUD OF AS, UH, BEING HOUSTONIAN AND BEING PART OF THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY.
SO, UH, NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE MY WORD, BUT YOU HAVE THE, THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR PACKAGE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING.
I TOLD YOU I'D ASK YOU SOME HARD QUESTIONS.
YEAH, I, WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT.
DANIELLE GANTT IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY MO CORTEZ.
MY NAME IS DANIELLE GANTT, THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES FOR PAPA'S RESTAURANTS FOR FAMILIES.
I STAND WITH OUR OVER 400 EMPLOYEES AT HOBBY AIRPORT AS MIKE RIZZO, OUR C-O-O-C-O-O SHARED.
WE INVEST IN OUR TEAM MEMBERS.
YOU ALL HAVE TALKED ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU LOVE PAPPAS.
BUT ALSO BY THE TENURE IN OUR TEAM MEMBERS, WE INVEST IN OUR TEAM MEMBERS WITH THEIR HOURLY WAGE, THEIR COMPENSATION, THEIR BENEFITS, OUR TUITION REIMBURSEMENT, THE OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVANCE AND NOT JUST STAY AT AN HOURLY RATE.
WE DEVELOP OUR TEAMS WITH LEADERSHIP, WITH LEADERSHIP SKILLS TO GROW INTO MANAGEMENT OR OUTSIDE PURSUITS.
OUR TEAM MEMBERS, BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES AT HOBBY AIRPORT, EARN SENSE LESS THAN THAN IAH THAT HAS THAT LIVING WAGE IN ORDER AND HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW FROM THERE.
IN THIS, UM, A COUPLE OF TIMES IT'S BEEN MENTIONED, UM, ABOUT THE BIGGER COMPANY AND THE SMALLER COMPANY.
OUR EMPLOYEES, DALLAS 7 1 3 NUMBER.
THEY COME AND THEY SPEAK TO A HANDFUL OF MAIN OFFICE EMPLOYEES BASED HERE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
WE, IF THIS SHOULD NOT GO, UM, THE WAY THAT WE HOPE INTEND TO EXTEND A JOB OFFER TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE 400 EMPLOYEES TO ONE OF OUR PAPPAS RESTAURANTS, STREETSIDE, ALTHOUGH WE'RE NOT AS BIG AS AREAS, WE ARE A FAMILY AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM.
MO CORTEZ MO CORTEZ IS HERE, BE FOLLOWED BY REGINA COR.
GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M IEX AND TRANS, UH, CRIMINAL LEGAL, LEGAL ADVOCATE.
I PROVIDED, UM, UM, UH, POLICY GUIDANCE AND ADVISING TO THE WHITE HOUSE AT A WHITE HOUSE ROUNDTABLE IN OCTOBER, 2021 TO ADVISE ABOUT INTERSEX POLICY ACROSS ACROSS THE STATES.
AND THE REASON I MENTIONED THAT IS BECAUSE I I, I'M ASKING YOU TODAY TO PLEASE, UH, PLEASE DO WHAT YOU CAN TO, TO BASICALLY JUST, I'M ASKING YOU FOR A SMALL SPECIFIC ASK, AND THAT IS TO ALLOW FOR THE PEOPLE TO THAT FEED THE HOMELESS PEOPLE THAT ARE AT SMITH AND MCKINNEY TO CONTINUE TO FEED THOSE PEOPLE.
UH, WE CAN'T CONTINUE THIS OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF, OUT OF, UH, MIND POLITICS.
UH, I MEAN, ABBOTT'S BEEN DOING THAT WITH TRANS PEOPLE, GETTING TRANS PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF, YOU KNOW, COMMON VIEW.
I ALSO SEE THAT WITH, WITH, UH, THE HOUSELESS COMMUNITY AS WELL.
AND I'M ASKING YOU TODAY TO PLEASE DO THAT.
AND, AND I ASKED YOU, UH, I ASKED YOU BEFORE, UH, MAYOR TURNER IN 2021 TO DO THIS.
AND, AND, UH, JUST, UM, OUT OF MY OWN CONSCIOUS, I I CAN'T, UH, BE ALIGNED WITH SOMEONE WHO, WHO IT DOESN'T, UH, REPRESENT OR HELP THE, THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S A SMALL SPECIFIC ASK.
SO I'LL, I'LL TAKE THIS OFF EVENTUALLY, BUT THAT'S MY ASK.
PLEASE, PLEASE ALLOW THESE PEOPLE TO KEEP FEEDING.
IT'S A SMALL SPECIFIC ASK AND, AND DO THIS IN-HOUSE.
YOU KNOW, THE LAST DAY TO FOLLOW BILL AT THE LEDGE IS ON THE, IS ON THE 10TH OF THIS MONTH.
OF THE AFTER OF THAT TIME, THERE COULD BE AN AMENDMENT.
SO, AND WE ALSO DON'T WANT THE FEDS TO BE, YOU KNOW, COMING UP IN HERE TOO.
YOU, YOU CAN FINISH, YOU FINISH THAT.
THAT'S WHAT I ASKED IS JUST ALLOW FOR THESE PEOPLE TO BE FED.
LEMME JUST SAY TO YOU, UM, MR. CORTEZ, WE ARE ALLOWING THEM TO BE FED, BUT AT A PLACE THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE.
UM, SO WE'VE MADE ACCOMMODATIONS AT 61 REASONA.
UH, PEOPLE CAN FEED, PROVIDE, UH, MEALS TO THE HOMELESS AT THAT LOCATION.
NOT ONLY THAT, WE ARE PROVIDING MEALS, I THINK ABOUT FOUR TIMES A DAY AT THAT LOCATION.
WE ARE PROVIDING FACILITIES FOR THEM, BUT BEING AT THE LIBRARY DOESN'T WORK.
WE HAVE HAD MORE INCIDENTS, UH, AT THE LIBRARY OF FAMILY MEMBERS AND FAMILIES ARE NO LONGER WANTING TO BRING, UM, THEIR KIDS THERE.
WE HAVE HAD EMPLOYEES, UH, ATTACKED AT THE LIBRARY.
SOMEONE PULLED A KNIFE OUT ON ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES.
AND THAT IS A MAJOR CITY ASSET THAT IS THE CENTRAL PUBLIC LIBRARY.
[01:45:01]
CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE THAT ASSET.SO WE ARE PROVIDING SUITABLE, REASONABLE, UM, UH, A ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE HOMELESS.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, WE WANT TO HOUSE THEM, WE JUST DON'T WANT TO FEED THEM.
THAT'S WHY WE SET UP THE NAVIGATION CENTER.
SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF MEASURES THAT WE HAVE TAKEN AND WE DIDN'T WANT TO SAY NO IN FRONT OF THE CENTRAL LIBRARY WITHOUT PROVIDING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS THAT WERE, THAT WERE, THAT WAS RELATIVELY CLOSE BY.
SO I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT IT LONG AND HARD, BUT I WILL TELL YOU, WE CANNOT AFFORD TO, UM, ALLOW PEOPLE VISITING THE LIBRARY OR WANTING TO VISIT THE LIBRARY OR CITY EMPLOYEES TO BE HURT IN ANY FORM OR FASHION.
AND YOU DON'T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL SOMETHING FATAL HAPPENED OR SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED AND THEN WE ACT ON IT.
THAT'S THE REASON, THAT'S THE RATIONAL.
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AS SAFETY.
I, I WORKED AT STARBUCKS A LONG TIME AGO.
I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS THE A 61 REISNER IS, IS THE POLICE STORAGE UNIT.
IT'S LIKE THERE'S POLICE STATIONS RIGHT THERE.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, SAFE POLICE DON'T EQUATE SAFETY.
WHENEVER HURRICANE HARVEY HIT, I DIDN'T CALL THE POLICE.
I TALKED TO MY NEIGHBORS AND WE HAD MUTUAL AID.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS ALLOW THIS TO BE A HOUSTON STRONG IN REAL LIFE ONCE AGAIN WITHOUT THERE HAVING TO BE A TRAGEDY.
AND WHAT I'M SAYING TO YOU IS THAT WE CANNOT, WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE A MAJOR CITY ASSET THAT THAT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE.
THAT IS THE MAIN PUBLIC LIBRARY.
YOU CAN'T ALLOW ANY ONE GROUP TO DOMINATE AND PREVENT EVERYBODY ELSE.
SO ARE WE PROVIDING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PEOPLE TO FEED NONPROFITS AND OTHERS? YES, BUT WE ARE NOT EVEN RELYING ON OTHERS TO DO IT.
THE CITY IS ASSUMING THE COST AND PROVIDING MEALS.
AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO JUST STAND UP AND EAT.
SO YOU CAN, SO PEOPLE CAN SIT DOWN AND EAT WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.
AND THEN WE ARE NOT JUST PROVIDING MEALS.
WE WANT TO PROVIDE PERMANENT, SUPPORTIVE WRAPAROUND HOUSING SERVICES.
REGINA CORE REGINA COR REGINA COR.
MS. REGINA, REGINA CO'S NOT HERE.
THANKS FOR THANKS FOR SEEING ME, MAYOR.
UM, I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS FAILED ME.
I AM BEING TERRORIZED AND TORTURED BY A TERRORIST GROUP IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, ALONG WITH MY CHILDREN, MY FOUR CHILDREN AND MY FIVE GRANDCHILDREN.
AND I HAVE CALLED THE POLICE SO MANY TIMES AND MY CASE HAS NEVER BEEN ASSIGNED.
THEY JUST BURIED HIM ON FEBRUARY THE 18TH.
AND I HAVE TALKED TO SERGEANT, OVER SERGEANT, UM, AND THEY HAVE JUST GIVEN ME THE TOTAL RUNAROUND.
I NEED MY CASE TO BE ASSIGNED TO AN INVESTIGATOR SO WE CAN FIND THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO KILL ME.
I HAVE TO TAKE SO MANY MEDICATIONS, UM, BECAUSE I HAVE BRAIN DAMAGE FROM THESE PEOPLE.
AND I HAVE A DISABLED DAUGHTER AT HOME TOO, WHO THEY'RE TRYING TO KILL.
JUST LIKE I SAID, THEY'RE TRYING TO KILL MY WHOLE ENTIRE FAMILY AND I NEED SOME HELP.
AND I HAVE BEEN EMAILING, I HAVE BEEN WRITING AND I HAVE BEEN GOING.
[01:50:01]
JUST TO ASSIGN A CASE.AND THAT'S WHY I AM HERE TO TALK TO YOU, MAYOR, TO GET MY CASE ASSIGNED BY HPD.
I STAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO HELP ME.
I AM GOING THROUGH, UH, A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, UM, ALONG WITH ME AND MY FAMILY.
I SAY WE STAY IN AND OUT OF THE HOSPITAL.
UM, I NEED MY CASE TO BE ASSIGNED BY HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I AM SICK OF CALLING THE POLICE AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT.
NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT.
AND ME AND MY FAMILY ARE SUFFERING TERRIBLY.
LIKE I SAID, I HAVE TO TAKE ALL THESE MEDICATIONS JUST TO COPE AND MY DAUGHTER DOES AS WELL.
AND JUST EVERY DAY IT IS JUST, UH, TURMOIL IN MY LIFE BECAUSE OF THESE PEOPLE.
IT'S EIGHT OF THEM THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN PICKED UP.
THEY ARE IN THE JAIL AND I SAY THEY NEED TO PICK UP ABOUT 30 MORE OF THEM.
IT'S NO REASON FOR THEM TO IGNORE IT.
SO I NEED HELP FROM HPD PLEASE.
IF YOU WILL, IF YOU WILL GIVE WHATEVER INFORMATION YOU HAVE TO RHONDA, RHONDA IS RIGHT THERE.
IF YOU WILL PROVIDE HER WITH WHATEVER INFORMATION YOU HAVE, WE WILL, WE WILL FOLLOW UP.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING.
IS EVERYBODY FABULOUS? MAYOR, I GOT SOMETHING FOR YOU.
YOU REMEMBER ME? MAYOR, CAN YOU STEP OVER TO THE MICROPHONE? OH, MAYOR.
UM, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, AND I NEED, I'LL GRAB IT.
I COULD NEVER, UH, WELL, I TRIED TO REACH YOU BY PHONE.
I COULD NEVER CATCH YOU BY PHONE, MA.
I'M NOT GONNA ASK YOU TO GET OFF THE BENCH TODAY.
YOU HAD ME TO COME DOWN, I THINK.
SIR, DIDN'T I COME DOWN AND YEAH.
NO, I CAME AROUND AND MET YOU.
I GOT A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, WOMEN'S, WE COULD CHANGE OUR LOOKS BY WEARING OTHER PEOPLE HAIR.
SO THAT'S WHY NOBODY REALLY KNOW ME.
AND I NEED YOU TO LOOK INTO, I, I REALLY NEED, OKAY, LET TAKE A, LEMME TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
CAN I JUST STAY HERE, UH, AFTERWARDS? NO, YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
UH, I MEAN, AFTER THE SESSION'S OVER.
'CAUSE I, I'M, I'M GONNA HAVE TO LEAVE IT IN A FEW MINUTES ANYWAY.
MY, MY PHONE NUMBER HAS BEEN PUBLICIZED.
IT IS RIGHT HERE ON THIS SHEET.
LEMON BE FOLLOWED BY STEVE WILLIAMS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR TURNER AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS STANLEY BERNARD LEMONS.
I'M A DOCTORAL STUDENT AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY IN THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION.
I'M ALSO FOUNDER, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE SECRET TO WRITING LLCA WRITING SERVICES COMPANY.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SHARE MY JOY AND EXCITEMENT REALLY ABOUT MY WORK, MY DOCTORAL RESEARCH, AND MORE CONCRETELY, MY NEW BOOK, THE SECRET TO WRITING 10 SECRETS TO EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION THROUGH WRITING.
I WOULD LIKE TO, ONE, SHARE A COPY OF MY BOOK WITH YOU,
[01:55:01]
AND TWO, PROVIDE YOU WITH A PREVIEW OF MY BOOK BY HIGHLIGHTING ITS VALUE PROPOSITION.IN OTHER WORDS, WHY I BELIEVE MY BOOK AND THE WORK THAT I DO IS OF GREAT VALUE TO HOUSTONIANS.
SO WHAT IS THE VALUE PROPOSITION OF THE SECRET TO WRITING 10 SECRETS TO EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION THROUGH WRITING? I SAY THE SECRET TO WRITING 10 SECRETS TO EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION THROUGH WRITING.
IT'S A TOOL THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOR THE BETTER.
HOW SO? COMMUNICATION RESTS AT THE BEDROCK OF HUMAN RELATIONS.
AND MOREOVER, IS THE KEY TO BUILDING AND SUSTAINING RELATIONSHIPS AND CONVERSELY TO HURTING OR ENDING RELATIONSHIPS.
YOUR ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY, BE IT IN THE FORM OF AN EMAIL REPORT, BUSINESS PLAN, RESUME, JOB APPLICATION, COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ESSAY, SCHOLARSHIP ESSAY.
IT'S CRITICAL TO YOUR GROWTH AND SUCCESS, WHETHER YOU'RE A PARENT STUDENT, BUSINESS OWNER, CORPORATE EXECUTIVE, NONPROFIT LEADER, RETIREE OR GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL.
THE SECRET TO WRITING 10 SECRETS TO EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION THROUGH WRITING YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
SIR, YOU CAN HAVE THE REST OF MY TIME.
THE SECRETS TO WRITING 10 SECRETS TO EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION THROUGH WRITING WITH ITS PRACTICAL AND TIME TESTED STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVE WRITTEN AND ULTIMATELY VERBAL COMMUNICATION WILL ADD ENDURING VALUE TO YOUR LIFE.
SO THE MAYOR HAS STEPPED OUT, BUT TO YOU, THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, AS I SAID I DO, I BROUGHT COPIES OF MY BOOK FOR ALL OF YOU.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR FEEDBACK AND REALLY GOING FORWARD, THE POSSIBILITY OF COLLABORATING WITH YOU ON MATTERS OF EDUCATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
FINALLY, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THE BOOK AND PROVIDING FEEDBACK.
MY ASSISTANT, IE MY SON
SO HE WILL, I HAVE ONE WITH A BOOKMARK.
I SIGNED IT SPECIFICALLY FOR THE MAYOR.
STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS IS NOT PRESENT.
CHRISTOPHER RIVERA TO BE FOLLOWED BY KATIE MEZA.
UH, YOU HAS A LOT OF THIS STUFF HERE STILL.
HEY, HOW'S IT GOING? HELLO, MY NAME IS, SHOULD I START NOW? OKAY, GREAT.
WELL, HEY, MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER RIVERA AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT HI FORMERLY LIVED IN DISTRICT D, BUT I'M HERE TO TODAY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT CONSIDERING A HOUSTON DRIVER'S EQUALITY ORDINANCE, WHICH WOULD PREVENT POLICE FROM STOPPING PEOPLE FROM MINOR TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH PUBLIC SAFETY.
EVERY DRIVER IN HOUSTON DESERVES TO FEEL SAFE AND BE TREATED EQUALLY WELL ON THE ROAD.
BUT FOR BLACK AND BROWN DRIVERS IN HOUSTON, TRAFFIC STOPS ARE MORE LIKELY TO END IN VIOLENCE AND EVEN DEATH.
THESE STOPS DON'T MAKE OUR CITY SAFER.
THEY MAKE OUR RESIDENTS FEEL UNSAFE AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO END UP NEEDLESSLY ARRESTED, DETAINED, OR EVEN KILLED.
[02:00:01]
A PRETEXT FOR RACIAL PROFILING, WHICH IS NOT APPROPRIATE USE OF TRAFFIC STOPS AND CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR POLICE TO USE VIOLENCE AGAINST BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE.AS WE HAVE ALL SEEN, WHETHER TYREE NICHOLS, PHILANDRO CASTILLO, OR SANDRA BLAND, WHAT STARTS AS A TRAFFIC STOP ENDS IN HOMICIDE.
OTHER COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING PHILADELPHIA AND LANING MICHIGAN, HAVE DEPRIORITIZED TRAFFIC STOPS THAT AREN'T RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE WANT YOU TO FOLLOW THEIR EXAMPLES BY GETTING POLICE OUT OF ALL LOW LEVEL TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT.
THIS WOULD, ONE, REDUCE THE EVERYDAY RACIALLY MOTIVATED VIOLENCE AND HARASSMENT THAT FLOWS FROM LOW LEVEL STOPS.
AND TWO, ALLOWS LAW ENFORCEMENT TO FOCUS ON SERIOUS OFFENSES THAT ACTUALLY HARM PUBLIC SAFETY, LIKE RECKLESS DRIVING.
AS A RESIDENT OF HOUSTON, THIS IS A SIMPLE STEP THAT WE CAN ALL TAKE TO MAKE HOUSTON SAFER FOR EVERYONE AND DECREASE THE NUMBER OF DRIVERS STOPPED BY POLICE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU TOWARDS SAFER AND MORE JUST HOUSTON.
AND SIR, THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD.
JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT, UM, I'VE HAD SOME MEETINGS REGARDING JUST THIS TOPIC AND THIS ISSUE.
I THINK IT DOES, UH, HOLD SOME WEIGHT AND SOMETHING THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING HERE AT CITY HALL.
SO, UH, I'LL GIVE YOU MY CARD AND WE'LL STAY IN TOUCH AND HOPEFULLY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO EXPLORE.
HOW GOOD TO SEE YOU IN PERSON.
AND I THINK I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH YOU, TO TALK ABOUT THIS.
I THINK WE MET LAST SUMMER MM-HMM
AND SO I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU IN PERSON AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
AND, UM, I THINK YOU'RE SPOT ON WITH SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO SHARE.
UM, I KNOW WE HAVE LIMITED TIME, BUT FOR THOSE WHO ARE THE LISTENING PUBLIC, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, AND, UM, DISTRICT F I'M OFTEN ASKED BY RESIDENTS BECAUSE THERE'S SPEEDING ISSUES AND, UH, TRAFFIC INSIDE THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF COURSE.
AND WE'VE OFTENTIMES DEPLOYED, UM, HPD TRAFFIC DIVISION TO MITIGATE THAT.
AND THEY WOULD REPORT, YOU KNOW, ON ONE INTERSECTION ALONE, 89 STOPS, 60 CITATIONS, WHICH WOULD YIELD ILLEGAL GUNS AND SOME OTHER THINGS.
AND SO, UM, BECAUSE YOU'RE PRESENTING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS TO US, HOW WOULD WE BALANCE THAT? BECAUSE THERE'S A HUGE NEED.
UM, UM, AND 'CAUSE THERE'S TRAFFIC DEATHS AND THERE'S ALL THESE TYPES OF THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO MITIGATE WITH ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE AND WE'RE NOT BECOMING PREDATORY IN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU ON AND AMPLIFYING THAT AND MAYBE IN THE UPCOMING, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY TOWN HALL AND DISTRICT F.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU REGARDING THAT.
UM, WELL JUST TO RESPOND TO THAT IS THAT I BELIEVE THAT IF WE LOOK AT THE DATA, SORRY, UM, COULD YOU, YOU, CAN YOU REPEAT WHAT YOU HAD JUST SAID? RIGHT? SORRY.
YEAH, JUST CLEARLY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE TENSION BETWEEN, I HAVE RESIDENTS ASKING FOR US TO DEPLOY HPD TRAFFIC DIVISION BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID THE CAR'S GONNA COME INTO THEIR HOME 'CAUSE THEY'RE ON THAT CORNER OR THEY'RE, THEY'RE, UM, GOING IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND SPEEDING AND THEIR CHILDREN ARE AT PLAY.
AND OFTENTIMES WHAT WE'VE DONE, PARTICULARLY FOR THE WEST SIDE COMMAND, IT'S YIELDED MUCH SUCCESS.
UM, AND SO I WANNA BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS, BUT THEN ALSO MAKE SURE THEN WHEN HOUSTONIANS COME IN CONTACT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR A SIMPLE STOP THAT IT DOESN'T ESCALATE UNNECESSARILY.
SO JUST BECAUSE YOU KNOW, YOU'RE OFFERING THAT OTHER CITIES HAS MO HAS MODELED THAT, WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND IN TERMS OF THAT, THAT GOOD MARRIAGE BETWEEN THE TWO? WELL, SORRY, THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME.
REALLY, WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR POLICE TO STOP FOR WHAT WE RECOGNIZE AS LIKE RECKLESS DRIVING, SPEEDING, PASSING STOP SIGNS.
WE'RE ONLY ASKING FOR POLICE TO STOP PATROLLING FOR NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS, WHICH INCLUDE LIKE BUSTED TAILLIGHTS, THINGS SUSPENDED OVER, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE MIRROR DARK TINTED WINDOWS.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT REPORTS, THEY HAVE SUGGESTS, AND THEN, AND DATA SHOWS THAT THOSE STOPS ARE USUALLY BY NOTHING.
PEOPLE WILL SEARCH AND IT COMES ABOVE KISS.
BUT WHEN POLICE ARE FOCUSED THEIR TIME ON LIKE ACTUAL CRIMES THAT WOULD PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY, LIKE SPEEDING AND, AND UM, YOU KNOW, PA PASSING A STOP SIGN, YOU KNOW, THOSE ACTUALLY BENEFIT.
AND THEN JUST TO THROW THE DATA, UM, IF WE'RE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AND REALLY PRIORITIZING PEOPLE'S HEALTH AND, AND THEIR SAFETY.
IF YOU LOOK AT PEOPLE WHO ARE EX EXPRESS EXPRESSLY, UH, FEEL EXCESS, EXCESSIVE FORCE FROM POLICE, IT'S BLACK COMMUNITIES AND THEY EXPRESS IT, THEY FEEL IT AT 60%, BUT YET ONLY REPRESENT 20% OF THE POPULATION.
SO IF WE ARE CONCERNED, WE SHOULD LOOK AT THOSE THINGS, BUT I'M ALSO RECOMMENDING THAT WE'RE NOT ASKING POLICE TO STOP DOING THESE SAFETY, YOU KNOW, LIKE SPEEDING AND, AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
WE'RE ASKING 'EM TO JUST, YOU KNOW, STOP PATROLLING FOR THESE NON-SAFETY.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU COULD SHARE THAT SO PEOPLE COULD HEAR IT.
[02:05:01]
SEE YOU TODAY.I'VE NEVER RECEIVED SO MANY QUESTIONS.
YOU GUYS JUST LIKE NOD AND I WALK AWAY, BUT, UH, OH, MR. RIVER, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OKAY, MR. RIVERA, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
AS YOU KNOW, I'M A FORMER POLICE OFFICER.
I THINK YOUR PREMISE NUMBER ONE MIGHT BE FAULTY, OR YOU'RE PRESUMING THAT ALL POLICEMEN WANNA HURT PEOPLE, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S TRUE.
SECOND OF ALL, UM, SO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT A BUSTED TAILLIGHT, AN INVALID SAFETY INSPECTION STICKER, A A CONCEALED OR A COVERED REAR VIEW MIRROR, OR YOU CAN'T SEE OUTTA THE CAR, THOSE ARE VIOLATIONS OF THE TEXAS MOTOR VEHICLE CODE.
AND WHEN WE HIRE POLICEMEN, THEY PROMISE TO PROTECT AND SERVE AND TO ENFORCE ALL THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
NOT JUST THE ONES THEY LIKE, NOT JUST THE ONES THAT THEY FEEL LIKE, THAT THEY THINK IS APPROPRIATE OR NOT, BUT ALL OF THEM.
SO WHAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING IS THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON INSTRUCT OUR POLICE OFFICERS TO, TO VIOLATE THEIR OATH BY NOT FULFILLING THEIR OBLIGATION TO ENFORCE ALL OF THE LAWS.
I WOULD SUGGEST THAT IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS, THAT YOU MIGHT CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS AND CHANGE THE TEXAS MOTOR VEHICLE CODE TO STRIKE THOSE ITEMS AS A TRAFFIC VIOLATION.
ANY DISCUSSION, IF NOT, UH, CARRY ON.
AND SO I, I THINK THE APPROPRIATE PLACE TO DO THAT IS IN THE LEGISLATURE, NOT AT CITY COUNCIL.
WHAT ARE YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT THAT? I, I MEAN, I AGREE.
WE WOULD HOPE TO RAISE IT TO THE LEVEL WHERE WE CAN GET THE LEDGE ON BOARD, BUT I ALSO REALIZE, UM, THERE'S SOME LEGAL RESEARCH.
SOMEONE HAD MENTIONED THAT HOUSTON HAS LIKE A, A HOME ORDINANCE WHERE WE CAN CREATE OUR OWN AND WE CAN BYPASS THIS.
SO I JUST HAVE TO RE UH, YOU KNOW, REVISIT MY LEGAL NOTES AND, WELL, ONE, ONE THING WE CANNOT DO IS CHANGE STATE LAW.
WE CAN CREATE LAWS THAT ARE MORE RESTRICTIVE, BUT NOT LESS RESTRICTIVE THAN THE STATE LAW.
SO WHAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING IS THAT WE TELL OUR POLICE OFFICERS TO IGNORE CERTAIN STATE LAWS.
AND I, I DON'T, I'M NOT COMFORTABLE DOING THAT.
I, I, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YOUR DESIRE TO, TO MAKE THESE CHANGES.
I'M SUGGESTING THAT YOU MAKE THEM IN THE PROPER LOCATION, WHICH IS TO CHANGE THE TEXAS MOTOR VEHICLE CODE.
SO THAT THESE THINGS ARE NO LONGER OFFENSES SO THAT OUR OFFICERS DON'T HAVE TO ENFORCE THEM.
BUT LIKE I SAID EARLIER, I BELIEVE THAT SINCE HOUSTON HAS A CERTAIN REGULATORY LOOPHOLE, THEY'RE ABLE TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE LIKE THIS AND FURTHER PURSUE THAT.
AND I'LL, I'LL COME BACK TO IT.
I'LL BE HERE, YOU KNOW, I GOT PLENTY OF TIME, SO I'LL BE BACK AND WE CAN GO BACK AND FORTH AND REALLY DISCUSS THIS IN A FORMAL MANNER.
'CAUSE I DON'T REALLY HAVE A RESPONSE.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MR. RIVERA.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT H AND I WORK FOR THE IMMIGRANT LEGAL RESOURCE CENTER.
IN WHICH ROLE? I PARTICIPATE IN THE HOUSTON LEADS IMMIGRATION COALITION.
I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU ALSO TO CONSIDER A HOUSTON DRIVER'S EQUALITY ACT, WHICH WOULD PREVENT POLICE FROM STOPPING PEOPLE FROM MINOR TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH PUBLIC SAFETY.
CURRENTLY, THESE TRAFFIC STOPS PUT HOUSTONIANS IN DANGER WHILE WASTING PUBLIC RESOURCES THAT COULD BE USED TO INCREASE ACTUAL SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE REPORTED 118 FATAL TRAFFIC STOPS BETWEEN 2015 AND 2021, WHETHER DUE TO USE OF FORCE, A COLLISION OR OTHER CAUSE OF DEATH.
TEXAS LED BY HARRIS COUNTY TOPS THE NATION IN FATALITIES FROM HIGH SPEED CHASES.
SOMETIMES THE CASUALTIES INCLUDE INNOCENT BYSTANDERS, HOUSTONIANS OF COLOR, ESPECIALLY BLACK HOUSTONIANS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY INJURED AND KILLED.
IN 2016, A PRECINCT FIVE DEPUTY CONSTABLE SHOT AND KILLED 24-YEAR-OLD BLACK MAN, ASHTON BARNES ON BELTWAY EIGHT.
AFTER STOPPING HIM BECAUSE THE RENTAL CAR HE WAS DRIVING HAD A HISTORY OF UNPAID TOLLS.
A SITUATION LIKE THAT IS NOT WORTH THE RISK OF ESCALATION THAT COMES WHEN ARMED LAW ENFORCEMENT CONFRONTS CIVILIANS GOING ABOUT THEIR DAY.
IN PLACES LIKE HOUSTON WHERE PUBLIC TRANSIT IS INSUFFICIENT FOR THE SIZE OF THE CITY, EXCESSIVE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT IS ESPECIALLY PROBLEMATIC, EVEN IF THEY FEAR A TRAFFIC STOP BECAUSE THEY CAN'T IMMEDIATELY PAY TO REPAIR A BUSTED TAILLIGHTS.
MOST HOUSTONIANS HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE A PERSONAL VEHICLE TO WORK SCHOOL DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS, ERRANDS, AND SOCIAL EVENTS.
YET THESE DAILY ACTIVITIES CAN SUDDENLY BECOME A DEATH SENTENCE IF THEY LEAD TO AN INTERACTION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.
EVERYONE DESERVES TO FEEL SAFE IN TRANSIT TO THE LOCATIONS THEY AND THEIR FAMILIES NEED TO VISIT.
AND WE ARE ALL BETTER OFF WHEN OUR NEIGHBORS DON'T HAVE BARRIERS TO FULLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE COMMUNITY AND ACCESSING ITS SERVICES.
MY WORK IS PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON THE EXPERIENCE OF IMMIGRANTS, AND SO I'M ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE EFFECT THESE TRAFFIC STOPS WILL HAVE ON IMMIGRANT MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY OR ARE HAVING AND CONTINUE TO HAVE FOR NON-CITIZENS.
EVEN THOSE WHO HAVE IMMIGRATION STATUS, INTERACTION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN HAVE THE ADDITIONAL HARM OF DEPORTATION AND THE FAMILY SEPARATION THAT COMES WITH IT.
I'VE BEEN READING ABOUT OTHER COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING PHILADELPHIA AND LANSING, MICHIGAN, THAT HAVE
[02:10:01]
DEPRIORITIZED TRAFFIC STOPS THAT AREN'T RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY.AND SOME OF THE OFFENSES THAT CAN NO LONGER BE THE SOLE CAUSE OF A TRAFFIC STOP IN THESE CITIES ARE RECENTLY EXPIRED REGISTRATIONS, A BROKEN TAILLIGHT TAILLIGHT OR A MINOR BUMPER DAMAGE STUDIES HAVE FOUND NO ASSOCIATION BETWEEN POLICE TRAFFIC STOPS AND REDUCED TRAFFIC FATALITIES AND INJURIES.
SO IF THESE STOPS AREN'T ABOUT SAFETY, WHAT LEGITIMATE PURPOSE DO THEY HAVE? I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT WE SOMETIMES STICK WITH ASSUMED SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS LONG AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN DISPROVEN FAILING OUR COMMUNITY.
THESE STOPS ALSO LEAD TO A HIGH NUMBER OF PROTECTUAL VEHICLE SEARCHES, EVEN THOUGH MOST OF THE TIME NO CONTRABAND IS FOUND AND MANY PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THEIR RIGHTS TO DECLINE A SEARCH.
WHAT HOUSTON REALLY NEEDS IS INVESTMENT IN SOCIAL SERVICES, INCLUDING OUR HEALTHCARE, HOUSING, YOUTH PROGRAMMING LIBRARIES, PUBLIC TRANSIT AND FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE.
A VOUCHER PROGRAM LIKE THE ONE IN MINNEAPOLIS THAT GIVES DRIVERS RESOURCES TO GET TAILLIGHTS AND OTHER CAR PARTS FIXED, WOULD BE A BETTER USE OF RESOURCES THAN PUNISHING DRIVERS FOR BEING TOO FAR TO FIX THEM.
THE DRIVER'S EQUALITY ACT IS A SMALL ACTION THAT HOUSTON CAN TAKE THAT WOULD MAKE ME FEEL BETTER ABOUT LIVING IN THIS COMMUNITY.
UM, AND IT IS, UM, A PART OF EVERY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AGENCY HAS EXPIRED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR ENGAGEMENT.
YOU NEXT SPEAKER, THE MAYORS GONZALEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANNIE STEWART.
MY NAME IS DAMMAR GONZALEZ AND I AM A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER WITH TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT AND I LEAD THE IMMIGRATION CAMPAIGN IN HARRIS COUNTY.
THE REASON WHY I AM HERE TODAY IS TO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER A HOUSTON DRIVER'S EQUALITY ACT, WHICH WILL PREVENT POLICE FROM STOPPING PEOPLE FROM MINOR TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, ESPECIALLY, UM, BECAUSE MANY OF THESE TRAFFIC STOPS END UP IN ARREST.
THAT EVENT THAT EVENTUALLY ENDS IN DEPORTATION FOR MANY HOUSTON CONTINUES TO FUNERAL A DEPORTATION PIPELINE WHO SEPARATES MILLIONS OF BLACK AND LATINO IMMIGRANT FAMILIES EVERY YEAR.
OR PEOPLE LIVE IN FEAR EVERY DAY.
THEY HAVE TO MAKE THAT DIFFICULT DECISION OF DRIVING TO WORK AND JUST PRAY THAT THE COPS WON'T STOP THEM.
ALONG THE WAY, WE ARE LEAVING MOMENTS OF UNCERTAINTY WITH A GOVERNOR WHO'S USING FEDERAL MONEY TO USE OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENTS TO ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAW.
OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, I HAVE RECEIVED MANY CALLS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN STOPPED BY THE COPS WHILE DRIVING BACK FROM HOME, WHILE DRIVING BACK HOME FROM WORK BECAUSE THEIR LIE, THEIR TAILLIGHT WAS NOT WORKING, OR BECAUSE THEIR TRUCK WAS DIRTY AND FULL OF PEOPLE AND THEY IMMEDIATELY WERE PROFILED AS UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.
WITHIN MINUTES, THEY WERE ARRESTED AND DEPORTED THE SAME DAY.
I AM HERE TO ASK ALL OF YOU CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO PLEASE CONSIDER REEVALUATING THE NEED FOR TRAFFIC STOPS AND SUPPORT A HOUSTON DRIVER EQUALITY ACT THAT WILL WANT REDUCE THE EVERYDAY RACIALLY MOTIVATED VIOLENCE AND HARASSMENT THAT FLOW THAT FLOWS FROM LAW LEVEL STOPS.
AND TWO, THAT WILL ALLOW LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO FOCUS ON SERIOUS OFFENSES WHERE COMMUNITIES NEED PROTECTION.
AND EVEN THOUGH IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO TAKE TO STATE LEGISLATION, WE ASK THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO DO MORE TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
NEXT SPEAKER AMOS SIMS. AMOS SIMS, NEXT SPEAKER, A ALFRED MOISON TO BE FOLLOWED BY DEBORAH TON.
UM, I JUST WANNA SAY AS A, UH, FORMER, UM, SOCIAL SECURITY WORKER FOR 23 YEARS, AND ALSO AS A FORMER CO-CHAIR FOR THE GREEN PARTY, I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC.
I KNOW IT'S A REAL SACRIFICE AND YOUR ENERGY AND DEVOTION ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED, DEFINITELY BY ME.
UM, I'VE COME TO YOU TO ASK FOR YOUR HELP IN STOPPING THE WAR IN UKRAINE, STOPPING THE US PARTICIPATION SUPPORT FOR THE WAR IN UKRAINE, AND ALSO A CONTINUING ENDLESS WAR, WHICH HAS, UH, AFGHANISTAN HAS BEEN PART OF THAT.
AND YOU MAY SAY, WELL, WHAT DOES THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOUSTON HAVE TO DO WITH THIS WAR? THAT'S A FEDERAL THING.
WELL, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HAS A CONNECTION TO THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY.
THEY'RE EITHER DONORS, THEY'RE CONSTITUENTS, THEY'RE SOMEONE WHO'S INDIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY.
THAT OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY IS NOW BEING
[02:15:01]
SHUT OUT OF EXPLORATION, DEVELOPMENT OF RESOURCES OF CONVENTIONAL OIL AND GAS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CONTINENT OF EURASIA.IN OTHER WORDS, RUSSIA, CHINA, UH, IRAN, UH, MYANMAR, NORTH KOREA, UM, AND ALL OF THE SMALL COUNTRIES THAT ARE ALLIED WITH RUSSIA.
AND THIS WAR IS KILLING MANY UKRAINIANS.
AND WE NEED TO STOP OUR PART IN THAT.
I ASK YOU TO TALK TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS, TALK TO YOUR DONORS, TALK TO YOUR SUPPORTERS.
TALK TO YOUR ACQUAINTANCES WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THAT INDUSTRY AND ASK THEM FOR HELP IN STOPPING THAT.
BECAUSE OTHERWISE, OUR INDUSTRY THAT, UH, RELIES UPON, UH, OIL FIELD TECHNOLOGY, OIL FIELD, UH, SERVICES AND UH, UH, OIL FIELD OFFSHORE, AS WELL AS, UH, MARKETING AND REFINING, WE'RE GONNA BE OUT OF BUSINESS THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND OUR ECONOMY.
SO, UM, WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS SITUATION BY THE FEDERAL LEADERSHIP, THEY WANT WARS TO CONTINUE.
THEY'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT AMERICANS AND BENEFITING, UM, PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY OR OUR STATE OR OUR CITY.
AND THEY CERTAINLY DON'T CARE ABOUT, UH, PEOPLE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES, NOT EVEN OUR ALLIES.
UH, YOU MIGHT HAVE READ OF THE SEYMOUR HIRSCH EXPOSURE OF THE BOMBING OF THE NORD STREAM, UM, UM, PIPELINES BETWEEN, UH, RUSSIA AND GERMANY THAT WAS DONE BY THE UNITED STATES AND NORWAY.
AND THAT IS BASICALLY A, AN ENDORSEMENT OF NOT ONLY DESTROYING, ATTEMPTING TO DESTROY AN OPPONENT, BUT ALSO DESTROYING OUR ALLIES.
WE APPRECIATE YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
AND WE DO HAVE YOUR DOCUMENTATION.
THIS IS, UH, MY THIRD TIME TO BE HERE AND I HAVE CARDS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN HAND THEM OUT OR NOT.
WE'RE JOURNEYED WITH GOD AND WE HAVE A MINISTRY WHERE WE ARE PRAYER WARRIORS.
AND, UH, READ THE WORD OUT LOUD.
SO, ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE TO BRING ATTENTION, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE HEARD THE SIRENS AND THE FIRETRUCKS WHILE YOU WERE HERE A FEW SECONDS AGO.
AND WHAT GOD PUT ON MY HEART IN COVID, WHICH THIS IS WHAT I SAID FOR THE LAST TWO TIMES I'VE BEEN HERE, I'M TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO GET YOUR DISTRACTIONS OUT OF YOUR HEAD.
IT COULD BE YOU AND IT COULD BE SOMEONE YOU LOVE.
SO WHEN YOU HEAR A SIREN, YOU NEED TO IMMEDIATELY GO INTO PRAYER.
AND MY PRAYER IS TO LIFT UP THE RESCUERS FIRST.
'CAUSE THEY NEED TO GET THERE SAFELY.
UH, I SAY, FATHER GOD, JUST LIFT UP THE RESCUERS TO YOU 'CAUSE I HEAR A SIREN.
LORD, I ASK YOU TO SEND AN ANGEL FORTH WITH TO WHOEVER'S IN NEED RIGHT NOW.
SEND AN ANGEL FORTH WITH AND KEEP 'EM SAFE, FATHER GOD.
SO MAINLY IS TO PRAY FOR THE RESCUERS.
WE'VE DONE THIS AT OTHER CITIES AND CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
AND, UH, THEY HAVE APPRECIATED THAT SOMEONE THEY KNOW WHEN THEY'RE OUT THERE ON PUTTING THEIR LIFE ON THE LINE, THAT SOMEONE IS PRAYING FOR 'EM.
IT'S SECOND CHRONICLES SEVEN 14.
I'M TRYING TO BRING YOUR REALIZATION.
IF YOU HOVER A SIREN, SOMEONE'S IN NEED, PLEASE BREAK OUT INTO PRAYER ANY WAY YOU WANT TO LIFT THEM UP.
SO SECOND, UH, CHRONICLES SEVEN 14.
IF I SHUT UP THE SKY SO THERE IS NO RAIN, OR IF I ORDER LOCUST TO DEVOUR THE LAND, OR IF I SEND AN EPIDEMIC OF SICKNESS AMONG MY PEOPLE, COVID
AND IF MY FATHER SAID IT, THEN I BELIEVE IT.
SO I'M TRYING TO GET EVERYONE TO BE AWARE THAT, UH, IF YOU HEAR A SIREN, SOMEONE IS IN NEED, IT'S A FIRE.
IT COULD BE A WRECK, IT COULD BE ANYTHING LIKE THESE PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT.
SO PLEASE THINK ABOUT THAT IN YOUR HEART.
AND DO THAT SCHLOM AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
NEXT SPEAKER, ANGEL CORTEZ UN HELD.
AND KIND OF SAD TO SEE THAT THE MAYOR DOES STEP OUT SO QUICKLY.
AND LAST TIME WE WERE HERE, I THINK WE SPENT THE FIRST THREE HOURS WATCHING HIS
[02:20:02]
BIRTHDAY.BUT THE ONE THING WE WANTED TO REMIND EVERYONE IS THAT WE'RE STILL JUST A, A BREATH IN THIS VESSEL OF DIRT THAT WE WALK IN.
AND I THINK THAT THE, THE LAWS THAT, UH, MIKE KNOX WAS SPEAKING OF, THAT, UH, THESE LAWS THAT WE CANNOT OVERRULE IS BECAUSE OF OUR ETHICS.
OUR ETHICS AND OUR INTEGRITY IS NO LONGER HERE.
SO I'M A I'M NOT REALLY EDUCATED.
I PRETTY MUCH STAYED ON THE OUTSIDE, KEPT CLEAN FOR MOST OF THE COMATOSE OF THE FEARS THAT OUR SYSTEM GIVES US.
AND UNLESS WE REMEMBER THAT THERE'S THE ONLY TRUTH WE'RE GONNA RE WE ARE GONNA REMEMBER WAS ANY ORDER IN IT WAS IN THE WORD OF GOD.
SO WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT WE'RE STILL FIRST A VESSEL OF DIRT BEFORE ANYTHING.
WE'RE BATTLING OVER THINGS THAT ARE JUST A, A MATTER OF, OF REGULATION AND OR IMPOSING SCIENCE TO IT.
AND WE'RE FORGETTING THAT WE WERE TO KEEP GOD'S WORD AS OUR ETHICAL SOURCE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A GOOD JUDGMENT OF THOUGHT WHEREVER WE'RE AT, EVEN AS THE OFFICERS ARE OUT THERE BEING THE AUTHORITY.
BUT IT IS MOSTLY THAT WE'RE FORGETTING THAT WE STILL HAVE AN ACCOUNT HOLDER THAT IS HEARING AND WATCHING EVERYTHING WE DO.
AND THE CONDITIONS THAT ARE SHOWING FOR US NOW ARE PRETTY MUCH WHAT IS WRITTEN IN HIS WORD THAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN.
AND IF WE FORGET ANYTHING THAT WAS TO BE ESTABLISHED IN US, AS HIS KINGDOM IS ALREADY, BECAUSE JESUS IS LORD, HE'S AT THE RIGHT SIDE OF FATHER GOD.
AND HE IS DELEGATING OVER HIS THAT ARE STILL TRUSTING AND WHAT HE LEFT BEHIND.
'CAUSE OUR FAITH IS A LIVING FAITH BECAUSE HIS LIVING WORD IS APPLICABLE WHEN WE ARE BRINGING IT ONTO THE TABLE.
'CAUSE HIS WORD WAS NOT TO BE HIDDEN, PUT ON A SHELF, PUT IN A DRAWER THAT'S NOT LIVING IN THERE.
OUR ETHICS UPFRONT HERE FROM ALL THE PHDS OR WHATEVER SCHOLARS LEVELS THAT WE GET TO OUR STATUS, KUO DOESN'T CHANGE.
AND WE'VE BEEN GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO HOLD THE ORDER OF WHAT HIS GLORY GAVE US.
AND WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING ALL MIXED UP WITH IN OUR SCHOOL.
WE NEED TO START INFILTRATING AS THOSE WHO HAVE THAT CONSERVATIVE TRUTH OF WHAT HIS HANDS AND FEET CAN DO.
AND I'M, MY HEART GOES OUT TO ALE 'CAUSE MY THREE GRADUATED FROM THERE AND LAST TIME WE WERE HERE OR HEARD YOU SAY THAT THERE'S SOME, YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING FOR OPTIONS ON HOW TO FIX THIS.
IT IS MORE REAL THAN WATCHING, UH, ELIJAH, I BELIEVE, OR EZEKIEL WHO BROUGHT FIRE DOWN WHEN ALL THESE MAGICIANS WERE BRINGING SCIENCE AND PHARMACY AND HAVING US WORSHIP SCIENCE AS IF IT IS THE ONLY RESOURCE WE'RE GONNA FIND.
WE WEREN'T HERE TO LAST FOR TOO LONG.
WE WERE HERE AS TEMPORAL BEINGS AND WE'RE GETTING DISTRAUGHT.
JUST LIKE WHEN THEY WERE BUILDING THE BOAT, THE BOAT IN NOAH AFTER THE HUNDRED AND 19TH YEAR THAT IT TOOK THEM TO BUILD IT.
GOD'S DOOR WAS STILL OPEN TO THOSE TO WALK IN.
AND IF WE FORGET, HIS WORD IS STILL DISCLOSING TO US HOW MUCH WE'RE IGNORING IT.
WE APPRECIATE YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
GOD SHOWS US THE ONES HE MAKES.
HOW YOU DOING MA'AM? FIRST I WANNA SAY THANK YOU MR. POLL.
UM, LAST WEEK I WAS HERE SPEAKING ABOUT, UM, REMOVING MY PROPERTY FROM A MINIMUM LOT SIZE.
I SENT AN EMAIL TO YOUR OFFICE AND I'M, I'M GONNA READ IT SO YOU CAN KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH IT.
IT SAY, UM, PREVIOUSLY THE PROCESS TO AMEND MLS BOUNDARIES WAS THROUGH THE V UH, VARIANCE PROCESS WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
AFTER SPEAKING TO SEVERAL MEMBERS FROM STAFF, FOUND OUT NO LONGER IS THAT PROCESS AVAILABLE.
UM, I WAS TOLD THEY'D ALSO BE, UM, THE BODY TO CONSIDER AMENDING.
UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS ALSO TOLD THERE'S NOT CURRENTLY A PROCESS IN PLACE FOR CITY COUNCIL TO AMEND M ANY MLS DESIGNATIONS.
I SPOKE WITH SOMEONE WHO WORKS FOR THE MLS APPLICATIONS
[02:25:01]
AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY PROPERTY DIDN'T HAVE TO BE INCLUDED WITHIN THE BOUNDARY OR ANY OF THE LOTS WITHIN THE HARVEST HEIGHTS COURT SUBDIVISION FOR THAT MATTER.ALSO, THE STREETS YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THANK YOU, SIR FOR GOING, UH, COMING FORWARD.
JUST TO, TO MAKE IT SHORT AND SIMPLE, WE HAVE, UH, I'M IN DISTRICT B.
MY PROPERTY IS IN THE HARVEST HEIGHTS SUBDIVISION.
THIS COUNCIL BODY APPROVED THROUGH THE JRC, WHICH ALL THE, I JUST PASSED IT OUT.
ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS APPROVED FOR ME TO BUY THE PROPERTY FROM THE CITY AT A LITTLE OVER $90,000 TO DEVELOP FIVE HOUSES.
NOW, WHEN IT'S TIME FOR US TO DEVELOP THE HOUSES, I'M BEING PULLED IN THROUGH MONTGOMERY TERRACE NEIGHBORHOOD OF A MINIMUM LOT SIZE.
WE'RE TALKING LIKE TWO DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND RIGHT NOW IT'S, WE, WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD BASED ON THAT.
AND WE HAVE NO OTHER RECOURSE.
BUT THIS COUNCIL, WHEN I SUBMITTED ALL THE PAPERWORK, THE COUNCIL APPROVED IT AND I JUST PASSED OUT.
AND AT THE VERY BACK, IT SHOWS THE SITE PLAN THAT I HAD TO SUBMIT TO JRC.
IT SHOWS, UM, EVERY, IT SHOWS WHERE IT WAS APPROVED FOR ME TO BUY THE PROPERTY AND ALL THAT.
SO NOW I'VE, I'VE TRIED TO, I JUST SPOKE WITH THE YOUNG LADY BACK HERE AND THE HEAD OF THE HOA FROM MONTGOMERY TERRACE, HE'S LIKE, YOUR PROPERTY IS NOT EVEN INCLUDED WHEN WE FILE IT.
CHAPTER 42, YOUR PROPERTY DOES NOT INCLUDE THAT.
SO YOU HAVE, LIKE, AT THE BACK OF MY PROPERTY, YOU HAVE HARVEST HEIGHTS.
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PROPERTY YOU HAVE MONTGOMERY TERRACE.
AND I UNDERSTAND CHAPTER 42 RUNS FROM BLOCK TO BLOCK.
HOWEVER, NO ONE EVER WENT OUT TO SAY, WELL, THESE HOUSES IS IN AN UNRECORDED NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOUR HOU YOUR PROPERTY IS IN A RECORDED NEIGHBORHOOD.
THAT WAS ALREADY ESTABLISHED PRIOR TO THEM EVEN FOLLOWING CHAPTER 42.
SO WHEN THEY DID THEIR APPLICATION AND THE APPLICATION WAS APPROVED, IT BROUGHT MY PROPERTY IN.
NOW THE STREET THAT RUNS THROUGH MONTGOMERY TERRACE, IT DOES NOT EVEN, IT STOPS MY PROPERTY THAT'S INCLUDED IS NOT EVEN PAVED.
IT, IT'S, IT, IF YOU LOOK AT IT ON GOOGLE, YOU'LL SEE IT'S DISTINCT THAT IT'S TWO DIFFERENT SETS OF PROPERTY.
YOU KNOW, AND WHEN I FILED AND SPENT THE MONEY AND WENT THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS AND GOT IT APPROVED, NOW IT'S TIME FOR US TO START BUILDING.
AND THEY'RE LIKE, WELL, NO, WE ARE NOT GONNA APPROVE.
WE'RE NOT GONNA EVEN UPHOLD WHAT YOU SUBMITTED DUE TO THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE.
AND THE ONLY THING I'M ASKING IS JUST THAT MY PROPERTY BE EXCLUDED FROM A TOTALLY DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THEY, THEY'RE SAYING THROUGH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, THAT IS NOT A PLANNING ISSUE.
IT'S A CITY COUNCIL ISSUE OR LEGAL ISSUE.
AND THEN THAT FALLS BACK TO SAY, WELL, CITY COUNCIL APPROVED IT FROM THE START.
SO, MR. CONWAY, LET ME, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, YOU'RE IN THE QUEUE.
I WAS GONNA EXPLAIN THE, THE MESSAGE THAT I GOT FROM MY STAFF.
YOU SAY YOU SPOKE WITH MY STAFF, UM, ALREADY.
I SPOKE WITH HER AND I END UP SENDING HER, SHE ASKED ME TO SEND THE LETTER FROM THE HOA AND THE, UH, MY TITLE COMMITMENT, WHICH MY TITLE COMMITMENT SAYS NOTHING ABOUT A MINIMUM LOSS SIZE.
SO WHAT WHAT WHAT I GOT WAS YOU PURCHASED A PROPERTY IN, UM, AT 2,700 FERGUSON WAY LAST YEAR.
UM, AND PROCESS, YOU KNOW, YOU PROCESS OF DEVELOPING THE LAND, THAT'S WHY YOU PUR PURCHASED IT.
UM, IT'S IN MONTGOMERY TERRACE.
WHICH, WHICH IS THE HOA? NO MA'AM.
MY PROPERTY IS IN HARVEST HEIGHTS.
THEN IT ALSO SAYS THE CITY APPROVES THE MINIMUM LOSS SIZE IN 2015.
UM, HOWEVER, IT IS THE OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY, THE PRO THAT WHEN HE PURCHASES THE PROPERTY AND REVIEW THE TITLE REPORT TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY RESTRICTIONS PRIOR TO BUYING THE PROPERTY.
AND MAY, MAY I SAY, OKAY, YOU'RE RIGHT.
IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY TO REVIEW MY TITLE COMMITMENT, WHICH MY TITLE COMMITMENT IS FOR HARVEST HEIGHTS.
MY TITLE COMMITMENT WAS ALSO SUBMITTED TO THIS CITY COUNCIL.
AS HARVEST HEIGHTS AS AS SUCH.
SO YOU'RE SAYING YOUR TITLE WAS SUBMITTED
[02:30:01]
TO THIS CITY COUNCIL? YES, MA'AM.I HAVE TO, IF YOU LOOK AT THE BACK, IT WAS SUBMITTED TO JRC, I MEAN JRC, BUT JRC HAS TO GET APPROVAL THROUGH CITY COUNCIL AND ALL, ALL YOUR SIGNATURES SAYING I YEAH, YOU KNOW, IT'S IN THIS PACKET.
SO, SO, BUT I THINK WHAT, UM, THE RESPONSE THAT WE HAVE, IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PURCHASER TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO CAN BE DONE.
UM, THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE WAS IN PLACE PRIOR TO THE PURCHASE OF THE LAND.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HAVING THE, THE ISSUE.
UM, WHEN YOU PURCHASE THE LAND FROM THE CITY, THE JRC ONLY LOOKS AT UTILITIES AND, UM, THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T LOOK AT THE DEED.
AND SO BECAUSE THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE WAS ALREADY IN PLACE, WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO DOES AT THIS POINT IS NOT POSSIBLE.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE IS IN PLACE FOR MONTGOMERY TERRACE.
IT'S NOT IN PLACE FOR HARVEST HEIGHTS.
AND MY PROPERTY IS IN HARVEST HEIGHTS, NOT MONTGOMERY TERRACE.
HAD MY PROPERTY BEEN IN MONTGOMERY TERRACE, IT WOULD'VE CAME BACK ON MY TITLE COMMITMENT AND MY PARENTS STAY IN MONTGOMERY TERRACE.
SO I'M FULLY AWARE THAT YOU CAN'T SUBDIVIDE, YOU CAN'T DO A DUPLEX.
YOU, I KNOW ALL THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF MONTGOMERY TERRACE.
CAN WE, LET ME, UM, SEND THIS BACK TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND HAVE THEM GIVE YOU A CALL TO, TO, TO LOOK AT IT.
THEY KEEP, THEY, THEY KEEP SENDING IT BACK AND SAYING, HEY, IT'S NOTHING IN PLACE FOR US TO DO, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO TALK TO CITY COUNCIL BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A A, A BEARING.
BUT WE, THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO POSSIBLE.
AND THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT THEY'RE SAYING THAT CITY COUNCIL WOULD HAVE TO MAKE AN ORDINANCE TO EXCLUDE THAT PARTICULAR PIECE OF PROPERTY.
AND I UNDERSTAND MY RESPONSIBILITIES ON REAL ESTATE AND BUYING PROPERTY AND READING THE TITLE COMMITMENT.
AND WHEN THEY PUT FORTH THE TITLE COMMITMENT, IT'S GOING TO BE BASED ON THE DEED FOR THAT RECORDED SUBDIVISION PLA.
AND MY, MY MY TITLE COMMITMENT IS FOR HARVEST HEIGHTS.
AND I DON'T HAVE A COPY OF YOUR TITLE COMMITMENT IN FRONT OF ME, AND THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING IF YOU CAN LET US LOOK INTO IT.
UM, AND THEN WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER WHO WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
I, YOU WANT ME TO PRINT TO ONE? I HAVE IT RIGHT HERE.
IS THERE A MOTION TO EXTEND? MOTION TO EXTEND.
ANY DISCUSSION IF NO DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, JEFF.
VICE MAYOR PRO TIM AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON.
YOU'VE ACTUALLY SAT HERE A LONG TIME TO GET UP HERE AND TELL US THIS STORY.
'CAUSE THIS INVOLVES THE JRC PROCESS THAT WE APPROVE AS A COUNCIL.
IT SOUNDS LIKE TWO DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS.
IS THERE A OBJECTION? LIKE ARE THE MONTGOMERY TERRACE PEOPLE MAD? LIKE, NO, YOU CAN'T DO THIS? OR ARE THEY, DO THEY CONSIDER LIKE THE MONTGOMERY TERRACE, HOA, JUST OUTTA CURIOSITY, DO THEY CONSIDER WHERE YOU ARE HARVEST HEIGHTS? NO, MA'AM.
I COULD READ THE LETTER LAST WEEK.
I SUBMITTED THE LETTER FROM THE HEAD OF HOA.
IN MONTGOMERY TERRACE THAT FULLY SUPPORTS, THEY DON'T, THE THEY CONSIDER YOU AS PART.
YEAH, I THINK THIS IS JUST A UNIQUE THING AND THANK YOU VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM, AND COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON FOR FURTHER LOOKING INTO IT.
I MEAN, YOU'VE BEEN HERE TWICE.
I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR YOUR SITTING THROUGH THIS ENTIRE DAY AND I THINK YOU DESERVE, IT DESERVES OUR ATTENTION AND HOPEFULLY IT CAN BE AN ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGE OR SOMETHING THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY HELP ORDINANCE SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT BLOCK.
SO IT, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE WAS AN ORDINANCE SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT BLOCK, NOT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, NOT FOR THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO LET US PULL ALL OF THE DOCUMENTATION TOGETHER AND GO OVER IT WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER AND THEN WE WILL GET BACK WITH YOU.
CAN I SPEAK WITH MS. MS. JACKSON? JUST YES.
UM, I THINK NAME CAN, CAN YOU MEET WITH JONES? CAN YOU MEET WITH HER ON RECORD, SIR? YES.
WE DEFINITELY WANNA HELP YOU GET THIS RESOLVED.
OKAY, THIS COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS.
[RECESS]
TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM CHAMBER.I'M ABOUT TO READ THE DESCRIPTION OF CAPTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR THE WEEK MARCH 7TH AND EIGHTH, 2023.
ITEM ONE PUBLIC HEARING TO DISCUSS AND REVIEW THE UPDATE OF THE LAND USE ASSUMPTIONS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN AND DESIGNATING THE PLANNING COMMISSION AS
[02:35:01]
THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 3 95 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE REPORT FROM CITY CONTROLLER AND THE CITY ADMINISTRATION REGARDING THE CURRENT FINANCIAL STATUS OF THE CITY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO A REVENUE EXPENDITURE AND ENCUMBERED REPORT FOR THE GENERAL FUND, ALL SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS AND ALL ENTERPRISE FUNDS.AND A REPORT ON THE STATUS OF BOND FUNDS.
ITEM TWO, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE REINVESTMENT ZONE.
NUMBER EIGHT, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS GULF GATE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
ITEM THREE, RECORD REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE GOV, GARY REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
ITEM FOUR, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE REINVESTMENT ZONE.
NUMBER 12, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS CITY PARK ZONE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR TERM TO EXPIRE DECEMBER 7TH, 2024.
ITEM FIVE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE CITY PARK REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR A TERM SIX FOR DECEMBER 7TH, 2024.
ITEM SIX, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF RE OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT.
ZONE NUMBER 28, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER AREA ZONE ITEM SEVEN, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT.
ZONE NUMBER 21, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS HARDY, NEAR NORTH SIDE ZONE.
ITEM EIGHT, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE HARDING NEAR NORTHSIDE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
ITEM NINE, REQUEST FOR MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OR REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE HOUSTON MEDIA SOURCE, FORMERLY KNOWN AS HOUSTON CABLE CORPORATION.
ITEM 10, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR PAYMENT AUTHORIZATION AND INTERDEPARTMENTAL TRANSFER OF PROPERTIES LOCATED ON TUCSON STREET.
EXCUSE ME, PARCEL SY 22 DASH OH THREE SEVEN HITCHCOCK STREET PARCEL SY 22 DASH OH THREE SIX AND KIRKPATRICK BOULEVARD PARCEL SY 22 DASH OH ONE THREE IN HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FROM THE DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND TO THE WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM OPERATING FUND PARCELS SY 22 0 3 7 SY 22 0 3 6, AND SY 22 0 1 3 ITEM 11, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO MASTER CONTRACT AGREEMENT FOR CITY OF HOUSTON.
NEW HOME DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TO BE EXECUTED BY CITY OF HOUSTON AND EACH OF THE FOLLOWING CONTRACTORS, S-L-S-C-O-L-T-D-P-M-G CONSTRUCTION, INC.
DSW HOMES, LLC, HOUSTON, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INC.
REBUILDING TOGETHER HOUSTON AND JAMES W. TURNER CONSTRUCTION, LLTD ITEM 12, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO 2017 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN 2020 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN AND THE 2022 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
ITEM 13 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON.
JOINED BY ROBINSON LANDING LLC ITEM 14, ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY AND UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTHCARE SCIENCE CENTER AT HOUSTON.
ITEM 15, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,250,000 FROM CONTRIBUTED CAPITAL PROJECT FARM FOR PURCHASE OF A CONTRACT AND PROCUREMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR HOUSTON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES AND VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.
ITEM 16, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND GREENBURG TROBRIDGE L TRA LLP FOR BOND COUNCIL SERVICES FOR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.
ITEM 17, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND GREENBURG TRA LLP FOR BOND COUNCIL SERVICES FOR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, EXCUSE ME.
ITEM 18, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HAYNES AND BOONE, LLP FOR DISCLOSURE COUNCIL SERVICES FOR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.
ITEM 19, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND MCCALL, PARKHURST AND HORTON LLP FOR DISCLOSURE COUNCIL SERVICES FOR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.
ITEM 20 ORDINANCE OF FINDING AND DETERMINING PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR THE ACQUISITION OF REAL
[02:40:01]
PROPERTY INTEREST IN CONNECTION WITH THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT KNOWN AS THE NORTH REGIONAL LIBRARY PROJECT AUTHORIZING THE ACQUISITION OF FEE, SIMPLE TITLES AND OR PERMANENT EASEMENTS TO 18 PARCEL OF LAND REQUIRED FOR THE PROJECT AND SITUATED IN THE JAMES LOVE SURVEY, ABSTRACT 5 28 AND OF 21 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $450,000 IN NO CENTS OUT OF FIRE CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AND $500,000 IN NO CENTS OUT OF POLICE CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND TO THE EXISTING CITYWIDE CONTRACT.AND D SEVEN ROOFING AND METAL LLC ITEM 22, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND KORN FERRY US.
ITEM 23, ORDINANCE AWARDING CONTRACT TO MGT OF AMERICA CONSULTING LLC INSTITUTE ITEM 24 ORDINANCE EXTENDING PROVISIONS OF SECTION 28 DASH 3 0 3 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, HOUSTON, TEXAS TO CERTAINLY IMPROVE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOTS IN THE TIMBER GROVE MAN OF SUBDIVISION SECTIONS ONE THROUGH FOUR.
ITEM 25 ORDINANCE RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EAST AND WEST SIDE OF THE 600 BLOCK OF HARVARD STREET WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.
ITEM 26TH OR RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE 14 TO 600 1600 BLOCKS OF BONNIE BRIGHT STREET, 1600 BLOCK OF NORFOLK STREET AND THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE OF THE 600 BLOCK OF CANCER COURT WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON TEXAS HUNDRED 27.
OR FINDING AND DETERMINING THAT PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY NO LONGER REQUIRE THE CONTINUED USE OF HOLLY HIRSCH LANE FROM UPTOWN PARK BOULEVARD TO ITS TERMINUS OUT OF THE WM WHITE ONE.
THIRD LEAGUE SURVEY ABSTRACT 8 36 HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS ABANDONING AND SAID PORTION TO ABANDONING, SAID PORTION TO ITS OWNER, INVERNESS TOWNHOME ASSOCIATION.
ITEM 28, EXCUSE ME, ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF EIGHT 12 FOOT WIDE BY 20 FOOT WIDE ACCESS EASEMENTS OUT OF CITY FEE OWNED LAND KNOWN AS THE JANOWSKI DITCH SITUATED IN THE H AND TCRR CO SURVEY ABSTRACT 9 75 7 EASEMENT TWO AVENUE DEVELOPMENT LLC ITEM 29, ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING SALE OF A 1,350 FOOT SQUARE FOOT TRACKED OUT OF CITY FEE ON LAND BEING 0.031 ACRE ABUTTING LOT SWORN AND TWO BLOCK FIVE OF THE INWOOD FOREST SECTION 11TH SUBDIVISION OUT OF THE BB AND CRR CODE, A 180 1 HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, SELLING THE TRACK TO HUGO GONZALEZ, THE ABUTTING PROPERTY OWNER.
ITEM 30 OWNERS APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THIRD AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD.
ITEM 31 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $10,500,000 IN NO CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND AT VALOR TAX APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PURCHASE OF LAND AND OTHER INTEREST IN REAL PROPERTY AND PAYMENT OF THE COST OF SUCH PURCHASES AND OR CONDEMNATIONS AND ASSOCIATED COSTS FOR APPRAISAL FEES.
TITLE POLICIES AND SERVICES EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH REMOVING IMPROVEMENTS FROM THE RIGHT OF WAY, RELOCATION EXPENSES, RECORDING FEES AND OTHER SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH NEGOTIATIONS TO SETTLE PURCHASES, CO COURT COSTS AND EXPERT WITNESS FEES FOR AND IN CONNECTION WITH CONSTRUCTION OF FACILITIES FINANCED BY THE DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND AT VALOR TAX.
ITEM 32 HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
ITEM 33 REVIEW ON THE RECORD AND MAKE DETERMINATION RELATIVE TO THE APPEAL FROM THE DECISION OF THE SIGNED ADMINISTRATION ON DENIAL OF AN OFF-PREMISE SIGN LOCATED AT NINE 50 AND A HALF THREAD NEEDLE STREET FILED BY CHRISTOPHER W. ROTH BUILDER ON BEHALF OF SIGN AT LTD ITEM 34 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING REVENUE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND ARIA, H-O-U-J-V-L-L-C FOR FOOD AND BEVERAGE CONCESSION AT WILLIAM P.
HAPPY AIRPORT, TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS CAYMAN AND GALLEGOS.
THIS WAS ITEM 30 ON AGENDA OF MARCH 1ST, 2023.
THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF MARCH 8TH, 2023.
STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL.
SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM IN THE WORDS FOR OUR CURRENT CITY SECRETARY, PAT JEFFERSON.
DANIEL, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED.
HAVE A BLESSED AND FANTABULOUS DAY.
[RECONVENE]
OKAY, EVERYONE TAKE THEIR SEATS AND LET'S GET STARTED.IT'S NOT GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
IT'S 9 0 2 ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH THE EIGHTH, 2023.
I'M MAYOR PROFESSOR TURNER AND I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO WATER.
THE FIRST ITEM ON TODAY'S AGENDA
[
REPORT FROM CITY CONTROLLER AND THE CITY ADMINISTRATION REGARDING THE CURRENT FINANCIAL STATUS OF THE CITY including but not limited to, a revenue, expenditure and encumbrance report for the General Fund, all special revenue funds and all enterprise funds, and a report on the status of bond funds
]WILL BE THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT[02:45:01]
AND THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CONTROLLER CHRIS BROWN AND, UH, FINANCE DIRECTOR WILL JONES.GOOD MORNING MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING JANUARY 31ST, 2023 IN THE GENERAL FUND.
THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE IS PROJECTING AN ENDING FUND BALANCE OF 334.9 MILLION FOR FY 23.
THIS IS 43.5 MILLION LOWER THAN THE PROJECTION OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
THE DIFFERENCE IS DUE TO A 43.5 MILLION LOWER REVENUE PROJECTION THAN FINANCE.
BASED ON OUR CURRENT PROJECTIONS, THE FUND BALANCE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY 159.8 MILLION ABOVE THE CITY'S TARGET OF HOLDING 7.5% IN RESERVES.
OUR REVENUE PROJECTION INCREASED BY 56.3 MILLION FROM THE DECEMBER, 2022 REPORT, AND THAT WAS DUE TO THE FOLLOWING SALES TAX INCREASED BY 50 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED SALES TAX RECEIPTS.
MIXED BEVERAGE TAX INCREASED BY 1.3 MILLION AND THAT WAS ALSO DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED RECEIPTS.
INTEREST INCOME INCREASED BY 5 MILLION AND THAT WAS DUE TO HIGHER INTEREST RATE INCOME.
THE EXPENDITURE ESTIMATES INCREASED BY 5 MILLION COMPARED TO THE DECEMBER, 2022 REPORT DUE TO AN INCREASE OF 5 MILLION IN GENERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE LIMITED PURPOSE ANNEXATION PAYMENTS AND THAT WAS A RESULT OF HIGHER SALES TAX PROJECTIONS.
LOOKING AT OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS, THERE ARE NO PROJECTED CHANGES FOR THE ENTERPRISE AND SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT OUR COMMERCIAL PAPER AND BONDS, ALL OF OUR VARIABLE RATE DEBT IS BELOW THE 20% THRESHOLD.
YOUR FINANCIAL DIRECTOR WILL JONES.
THIS IS THE SEVEN PLUS FIVE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING JANUARY 31ST, 2023.
PROJECTIONS ARE BASED ON SEVEN MONTHS OF ACTUAL RESULTS AND FIVE MONTHS OF PROJECTIONS.
AND THE GENERAL FUND, OUR REVENUE PROJECTION IS 55.8 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND 61.8 MILLION HIGHER THAN LAST MONTH.
THE VARIANCE FROM LAST MONTH, UH, PROJECTIONS ARE PRIMARILY DUE TO A 54.8 MILLION INCREASE IN SALES TAX DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED SALES TAX RECEIPTS, 3.8 MILLION INCREASE IN INTEREST TO REFLECT HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED, UH, CASH RECEIPTS AND 3.2 MILLION INCREASE IN OTHER TAXES DUE TO HIGHER ANTICIPATED, UH, MIXED BEVERAGE.
OUR EXPENDER PROJECTION IS 25.9 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND 5 MILLION HIGHER THAN PRIOR MONTH.
THE BANNERS FROM PRIOR MONTH PROJECTION IS PRIMARILY DUE TO AN INCREASE IN GENERAL GOVERNMENT TO REFLECT PAYMENTS RELATED TO LPAS AS A RESULT OF HIGHER SALES TAX PROJECTION.
WE ARE CURRENTLY PROJECTING THE ENDING FUND BALANCE OF 378.4 MILLION, WHICH IS 56.8 MILLION HIGHER THAN PRIOR MONTHS AND 16.2% OF ESTIMATED, UH, EXPENDITURES, LESS DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO.
UH, THE FUND BALANCE IS 203 MILLION ABOVE THE TARGET OF 7.5% EXPENDITURES, EXCLUDING DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO.
UM, WE ARE PROJECTING NO CHANGES IN THE ENTERPRISE AND SPECIAL FUNDS.
AND FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT, UH, WE ARE NOW LIVE WITH THE THIRD AND FINAL PHASE OF THE OPEN FINANCE PROJECT.
UH, THE OPEN CHECKBOOK IS THE FINAL ONE.
OPEN CHECKBOOK PROVIDES ESTONIANS ACCESS TO DETAILED EXPENDITURE LEVEL DATA ON PAYMENTS TO VENDORS AND OTHER RECIPIENTS.
THIS COMPLETES THE OPEN FINANCE PROJECT WITH ALL THREE PHASES BEING OPEN BUDGET, OPEN PAYROLL, AND OPEN CHECKBOOK.
THIS INITIATIVE IS ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT STEP TOWARDS IMPROVING PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND BUILDING AWARENESS OF THE CITY'S ACTIVITIES.
I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE INVOLVED IN GETTING THIS OFF THE GROUND, UM, AND YOU CAN VISIT AT OPEN FINANCE DOT HOUSTON TX.GOV TO ACCESS THE SITE.
AND, UH, DIRECTOR JONES, UH, AS I ASK YOU YESTERDAY, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HAVE THIS ON LINE TUTORIAL, UH, SO WE CAN, WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO NAVIGATE THROUGH ALL OF THIS BECAUSE IT'S OF NO VALUE IF WE CAN'T USE IT, AND I HOPE IT'S GONNA BE USER FRIENDLY.
THE OTHER THING IS, IS WE TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY AND UH, UH, CONTROLLER IS THE, THE FACT THAT WE HAD AN INCREASE OF, OF $5 MILLION DUE TO HIGHEST HIGHER INTEREST RATES.
BUT, BUT THAT'S REALLY A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD BECAUSE WE'RE ALSO GONNA BE PAYING A WHOLE LOT MORE MONEY, UH, IN INTEREST PAYMENTS ON OTHER THINGS BECAUSE OF THE INTEREST RATE.
COUNCILMEMBER AS, AS WE DISCUSSED YESTERDAY, UM, WE ARE SEEING, UH, INCREASE IN OUR INTEREST INCOME, UH, FROM OUR INVESTMENTS, BUT, UH, THAT IS MORE THAN OFFSET BY THE INCREASE IN DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS, UH, THAT WE WILL, WE ARE PAYING AS A RESULT OF THE INCREASE IN INTEREST RATES.
SO, UM, DID YOU KNOW WHERE WE'RE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS, UM, UH, AIRPORT CONCESSIONS? UH, HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO SEE ANY OF THE, UH, THE, THE SCORING SHEETS OR ANY OF THE DOCUMENTS? YOU'RE AN INDEPENDENT ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT YEAH, YEAH,
[02:50:01]
I DID, UM, UH, SET AN APPOINTMENT AND I VISITED WITH, UH, SPD AND REVIEWED, UH, ALL OF THE PROCUREMENT, UH, DATA.OBVIOUSLY IT'S A VERY CLOSE, UH, ULTIMATE, UH, RESULT.
UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I HAD TO SPD IS THAT, UH, THAT CITY, UH, HAS IN THE PAST HAD A PROCUREMENT MANUAL AND, UH, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S CURRENTLY NOT BEEN UPDATED, BUT I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I RECOMMENDED TO SPD SO THAT WE DON'T CONTINUE TO HAVE, UH, A LOT OF THESE ISSUES AS WE GO THROUGH THESE LARGER SCALE PROCUREMENTS IS THAT WE UPDATE THAT, UH, PROCUREMENT MANUAL AND THAT WAY WE CAN REFER BACK, UH, TO THAT MANUAL AS THE, YOU KNOW, UH, ROADMAP OF HOW WE HANDLE THESE MORE COMPLICATED PROCUREMENT PROCESSES.
WELL, YOU KNOW, UH, WHEN YOU HAVE A MARATHON OF 26 MILES AND, AND, AND THERE'S A PHOTO FINISH, SOMEBODY WINS.
AND, AND ON ONE OF THESE ROUNDS IT WAS TOO CLOSE TO CALL.
I I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT IT WOULD SEEM LIKE SOMEBODY WOULD WIN.
DID YOU LOOK AT THAT AT ALL? YEAH, I MEAN IT, UH, THE FINAL, UM, PERCENTAGE TALLY, I THINK WAS FOUR TENTHS OF A POINT, UH, DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WINNER AND THE LOSER.
UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, UH, THERE IS A PROCESS IN PLACE.
UM, THESE THINGS ARE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE.
UM, MY OFFICE WILL, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY LOOK AT THIS, UH, IF IT DOES END UP PASSING, UH, TODAY WE WILL, WE'LL LOOK AT THE PROCESS IN MORE DETAIL.
UM, AGAIN, I THINK THERE'S AREA AND ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT ON THE PROCUREMENT, AND I KNOW, UH, MAYOR TURNER HAS PLANS, UH, FOR SPD TO DO SOME, UM, IMPROVEMENTS AND, UH, INVEST SOME MONEY.
UH, I KNOW AS A DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR WE, UH, PROCURE THINGS AND, UH, SOMETIMES IT, IT TAKES A LONG TIME AND IT, IT'S A, A FRUSTRATING PROCESS.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, MY RECOMMENDATION, UH, WOULD BE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME INVESTMENT INTO SPD, SO THEY HAVE RESOURCES TO HANDLE THESE THINGS, UH, MORE EFFICIENTLY.
AND, UH, ALSO, UH, LOOKING BACK AT THAT PROCUREMENT MANUAL TO SET A DEFINITIVE STANDARD, AND THIS IS AGAIN, SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S DIFFICULT FOR THIS BODY WHEN THERE ARE QUESTIONS.
UH, YOU KNOW, AND FOR THE ADMINISTRATION, SPD OR LEGAL, UH, YOU WANT TO HAVE A, A, YOU KNOW, A REFERENCE POINT, UH, TO SAY, WELL, THIS IS WHY THIS WAS HANDLED IN THIS MANNER.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S, UH, SOMETHING THAT COULD BE OF, OF BENEFIT IN THE FUTURE.
YOU KNOW, ROUND ONE AND ROUND TWO ARE OVER WITH, AND, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE, UH, DELIBERATIVE PROCESS PRIVILEGE, UH, HAS EXPIRED ON THOSE.
BUT I STILL WASN'T ABLE TO GET THE DOCUMENTATION THE CITY ATTORNEY HAD SENT ME, UH, HAD SENT OUT THAT, UH, TO ME THAT 'CAUSE I HAD OFFICIAL REQUEST THAT UNTIL THIS WHOLE PROCESS IS OVER, THEY WOULDN'T RELIEVE RELEASE.
EVEN ROUND ONE AND TWO THAT HAPPENED IN 2019 OR 2022, I THINK IT WOULD BE A BENEFIT TO US.
I DON'T WANNA VOTE IN THE BLIND.
I WANNA BE ABLE TO SEE EVERYTHING.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? CHAIR RECOGNIZES MAYOR PRO HIM FOR A MOTION? YES, MAYOR, UH, MOTION TO APPROVE THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR PERIOD END JANUARY 31ST, 2023 AS PRESENTED.
ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR SIGNED MOTION GRANT.
UH, THE NEXT WILL BE A PUBLIC HEARING.
[1.
9:00 A.M. PUBLIC HEARING to discuss and review the update of the Land Use Assumptions and Capital Improvements Plan and designating the Planning Commission as the Capital Improvements Advisory Committee in accordance with Chapter 395 of the Texas Local Government Code
]MADAM SECRETARY, YOU'LL PLEASE CALL ITEM NUMBER ONE.ITEM ONE IS THE PUBLIC HEARING RELATED TO THE UPDATED LAND USE ASSUMPTIONS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN.
AND THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, UH, UH, CAROL HADDOCK.
I'M JOINED BY OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, SAMIR SOLANKI THIS MORNING.
THIS MORNING WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE DRAINAGE IMPACT FEE.
UH, WANNA BE REALLY CLEAR, THIS IS NOT THE WATER AND WASTEWATER IMPACT FEE.
THIS IS NOT THE DRAINAGE, UM, CHARGE THAT PEOPLE SEE ASSOCIATED ON THEIR WATER BILLS EACH MONTH.
THIS IS THE DRAINAGE IMPACT FEE.
IT'S A ONE-TIME FEE PAID FOR BY DEVELOPMENT THAT RE RESULTS IN NEW A NET INCREASE TO THE AMOUNT OF THE IMPERVIOUS COVER.
IN OTHER WORDS, NEW DEVELOPMENT, UM, WHEREBY THE DEVELOPMENT SHARES AND THE COSTS OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED TO IMPROVE DRAINAGE SERVICES FOR SUCH NEW DEVELOPMENT.
THE DRAINAGE IMPACT FEE IS ONE OF THE FUNDING SOURCES REQUIRED UNDER ARTICLE NINE, SECTION 22 OF THE CITY'S CHARTER AS PART OF THE DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL FUND, THE D-D-S-R-F FOLLOWING COUNCIL'S ADOPTION OF THE INITIAL STUDY IN IMPACT FEE ORDINANCES IN 2013, COLLECTION OF THE DRAINAGE IMPACT FEE BEGAN ON APRIL 4TH, 2014.
PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER CHAPTER 3 95 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, WE HAVE PREPARED AN UPDATE TO THE LAND USE ASSUMPTIONS, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN, AND THE MAXIMUM ACCESSIBLE ACCESSIBLE FEES, AND ARE PROPOSING A REVISED IMPACT FEE WITHIN EACH WATERSHED OF $25 PER THOUSAND SQUARE FEET OF ADDITIONAL IMPERVIOUS COVER.
CITY COUNCIL PREVIOUSLY SET THE DATE FOR THIS PUBLIC HEARING AND NOTICE WAS PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC
[02:55:01]
IN BOTH THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE AND THE HOUSTON HOUSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL.CITY COUNCIL ALSO APPOINTED THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO SERVE AS THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE BEFORE WHICH WE APPEARED FEBRUARY 20, FEBRUARY 2ND, 2023.
TO PRESENT THE DRAINAGE IMPACT FEE STUDY STAFF PROVIDED A DETAILED BRIEFING ON THE DRAINAGE IMPACT FEE STUDY AND PROPOSED FEE AT YESTERDAY'S MEETING OF THE BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.
BOTH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIR MEETINGS WERE BROADCAST ON HTV.
AND RECORDINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE HTV WEBSITE.
THE DRAINAGE IMPACT FEE STUDY IS AVAILABLE ON THE CITY SECRETARY'S WEBSITE, ALONG WITH A FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS DOCUMENT FOLLOWING TODAY'S HEARING, AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE UPDATED DRAINAGE IMPACT FEES WILL BE BROUGHT TO COUNCIL WITHIN 30 DAYS AS REQUIRED BY, UH, LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.
UH, WE HAVE ARE DOING THE PROPOSING THE FIR FIRST READING ON MARCH 22ND AND THE SECOND READING ON MARCH 29TH.
UH, WE'RE AVAILABLE, UH, TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS TODAY OR OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS BEFORE IT COMES TO COUNCIL.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS TO DIRECT COUNCIL MEMBER? KASH? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I I ASKED MOST OF MY QUESTIONS YESTERDAY.
UH, AND YOU, YOU AND I HAVE SPOKEN, UM, IN THE PAST CONCERNING THESE SAND PITS THAT SHOW UP IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND, AND, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE HAVING, DO THEY HAVE TO PAY THIS, THIS FEE, UH, THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE ARE, HAVE DUG A BIG HOLE OVER AT ALLISON AND ALLEN GENOA AND, AND THEY'RE PUMPING THE WATER INTO THE DITCHES, FLOODING THE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND, AND I DON'T SEE WHY WE CAN'T STOP THAT.
AND, AND IT CREATES A, A REAL HA IT SOMETIMES IT COVERS THE PEOPLE'S DRIVEWAY AS THEY, AS THEY'RE GOING INTO THEIR HOUSES AND IT, AND SOMETIMES IT HADN'T RAINED IN A LONG TIME, BUT, BUT THAT SAND PIT, WHAT, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO FIX THIS? UH, SIR, UM, HAPPY TO GET WITH YOU OFFLINE AND TALK ABOUT THAT.
UM, A A SANDPIT BY IT'S A MERE DEFINITION WOULD NOT BE INCREASING IMPERVIOUS COVER.
SO THIS WOULD NOT BE APPLICABLE TO ME.
WOW, MAYOR, WE GOTTA DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.
IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
THANK YOU THAT, UH, COUNCILMAN ALCO.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND THANK YOU DIRECTOR HADDOCK.
THERE WAS A GREAT PRESENTATION YESTERDAY.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK OF PUBLIC WORKS AND OF OUR CONSULTANTS AND GETTING, YOU KNOW, IT'S DIFFICULT TO PROJECT OUT 10 YEARS WHERE THE GROWTH'S GONNA BE, BUT WE'VE RAISED OVER $5 MILLION IS, IS WHAT I WAS TOLD YESTERDAY SINCE THIS.
SO IT'S NOT, I MEAN, IT'S NOT A HUMONGOUS AMOUNT, BUT THIS DOES MAKE AN IMPACT AND HOPEFULLY WILL HELP US ADDRESS DRAINAGE NEEDS IN THE FUTURE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IS THERE, I DON'T HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM? ITEM NUMBER ONE.
SEEING NONE, HEARING NONE, UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE HEARING, CAST, SUSTAIN, OR MOVE TO CLOSE HEARING? SECOND ROBINSON MOVE.
THANK YOU BOTH VERY, VERY MUCH.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'RE NOW CALL ITEMS TWO THROUGH NINE UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY, ITEMS TWO THROUGH NINE.AND MOVED IN SECOND ON ITEMS TWO THROUGH NINE.
DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSING GRANTED ON ITEM TWO.
THESE ARE APPOINTMENTS AND THREE AND THREE.
UM, IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD.
UH, THIS IS TO THE, UH, TEXAS GUFF GATE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
UH, NUMBER EIGHT, UH, POSITION ONE, UH, AND, AND TO THE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, UH, POSITION ONE, ALBERTO PEAK, UH, DENIUS ST.
UH, POSITION TWO IS MARY VAGO.
POSITION THREE IS TRACY STEVENS.
POSITION FOUR IS, UM, MODERNO DO EAST SUNNY GARZA.
POSITION FIVE IS AUGUSTA BOOKER III.
AND POSITION SEVEN IS SAMUEL D RABAT.
UM, SO LET ME ASK YOU, IF YOU WILL, TO JUST INTRODUCE YOURSELVES ONE MORE TIME FOR ME.
BETO
HOW YOU DOING? BETO, WHICH IS WHY ANYONE WITH THAT NAME GOES BY SONNY.
OKAY, LOOK, LET ME, LET ME JUST SAY I'M, UM, LOOK FORWARD TO.
WELL, THANK YOU, NUMBER ONE, UH, FOR AGREEING TO SERVE.
NUMBER TWO, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
AND WE KNOW THAT YOU BRING A GREAT DEAL OF EXPERTISE TO THIS PARTICULAR AREA.
SO, UM, LET ME YELL TO COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, UH, THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT I, AND THEN, UH, THANK YOU'ALL FOR EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL DO WITH THE, UH, GULF GATE TOURS.
UH, Y'ALL HAVE DONE SOME, UH, GREAT WORK, UH, IN
[03:00:01]
REGARDS TO, UH, WHEN WE EXPANDED THE GULF GATE TOURS, UH, WHICH JUST INCLUDED THERE AT GULF GATE.UH, AND WITH THAT WE WERE ABLE TO, UH, DO SOME IMPROVEMENTS ON PARK PLACE THERE AT THE BOTANIC GARDEN AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE BOTANIC GARDEN.
UH, THERE'S PLANS ALSO TO DO SOME IMPROVEMENTS ON TELEPHONE ROAD IN BELFORT.
UH, SO, UH, YOU ARE DOING SOME GREAT WORK, SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING.
LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, ALSO IF YOU ARE ABLE TO GET THE FUNDING, UH, TO DO SOME IMPROVEMENTS ON TELEPHONE ROAD FROM, FROM SIX 10, UH, TO REVEL, UH, WHICH WILL, UH, BASICALLY COMPLIMENT THE, UH, THE, THE RACE GRANT THAT WAS AWARDED TO THE CITY, UH, FOR TELEPHONE FROM LAWNDALE TO SIX 10.
SO, UH, SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT AS WELL.
AND JUST A BRIEF INTRODUCTION FROM YOURSELF.
I'VE BEEN ON THIS, UH, COMMITTEE, THIS BOARD FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW.
AND, AND ONLY THE LAST, I THINK UNTIL FIVE OR SIX YEARS BECAME THE CHAIR.
AND THAT, THAT COINCIDED WITH US AS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGO SAID I EXPANDING FROM 800 ACRES TO 8,000 ACRES, MAKING US ONE OF THE LARGEST TOURISMS IN THE CITY.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, OR SOON AFTER, UM, WE HAD A, UH, A $30 MILLION BOND ISSUE, WHICH THEN GAVE US THE WHEREWITHAL TO ACTUALLY BEGIN DOING WORK.
AND IF I MAY, I'VE GOT A SHORT LIST.
IF THERE'S TIME, IT'S VERY SHORT.
FIRST, UH, S EIGHT IS ACTIVELY SUPPORTING MAYOR TURNER'S 3000 AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVE WITH OVER HALF OF THOSE HOUSES, 1600 BEING BUILT IN S EIGHT.
WE BEGIN PHASE THREE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, MULTI-SITE STREET IMPROVEMENTS AT $7.6 MILLION, INCLUDING MOSLEY ROAD, MADDEN ROAD, TELEPHONE ROAD, AND WOODRIDGE.
WE DEVELOPED A MASTER PLAN FOR OUR PARKS.
YOU'VE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT THAT BEFORE.
12 SIX AND THREE 12 PARKS, $6 MILLION, THREE YEARS.
THEY WILL ALL BE REHAB REDONE PLUS THE ACQUISITION OF A 12TH PARK.
AND THEN LASTLY, WE HAVE, UH, FINALLY GOTTEN SOME INTO SOME FINANCIAL PARTNERSHIPS.
AND WE RAISED FIF, UH, $500,000 FROM THE MAYOR'S 50 50 PARK INITIATIVE FOR DOW PARK, 1.5 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT FOR SAFE SCHOOL SIDEWALKS AND A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOBBY DISTRICT FOR $400,000, UM, FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF MOSELEY ROAD.
MAYOR, IF I MAY, I I JUST WANT TO, UH, THANK COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS AND HIS STAFF AND COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, EVAN SHABAZ, SHABAZZ, UM, AND HER STAFF.
UH, WE WORK SO WELL WITH THE CITY AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE.
UH, NUMBER FOUR IS THE, UM, UH, REINVESTMENT ZONE 12, UM, THE CITY PARK ZONE.
AND IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD.
POSITION ONE IS WILLIAM E UM, MURPHY IN POSITION THREE IS CHRIS NEWPORT.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH WITH THEM.
COUNCILMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN.
WHILE WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THE APPOINTEES, I'M HERE TODAY, I DID JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE THE WORK THAT THIS TOUR IS DOING IN DISTRICT C.
UH, WITH THE HELP OF COUNCIL, WE EXPANDED THIS TOURS, UH, SEVERAL YEARS BACK TO PRIMARILY FOCUS ON CRITICAL FLOOD MITIGATION, UH, FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IN ALONG WHITE OAK BAYOU.
SO APPRECIATE THE WORK THEY'RE DOING.
AND THAT WAS FOR FOUR AND FIVE.
AND THIS IS, UH, IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE STAND, UH, AND COME FORTH.
AND THIS IS TO THE, UH, REIN TAX, UM, INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 28, UH, THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER AREA ZONE, UH, WHICH IS THE NEW ONE.
SO THIS IS FOR POSITION ONE IS DAVID BELL.
POSITION THREE IS CAMERON MOONEY.
POSITION MONEY, POSITION FOUR.
FIVE IS PHOEBE TUDOR, POSITION SIX.
MS. NICOLA FUENTES TUB AND POSITION SEVEN, MS. THOMAS JONES.
AND LET ME ASK EACH ONE OF YOU, UH, THIS IS NEW, AND BILL MCCANN, WHO WAS CHAIRMAN OF TMC, WHY DON'T YOU COME AND STAND, STAND WITH THEM, MS. WELL, UM, AND I CALLED OUT THE NAMES, BUT LET ME JUST ASK YOU TO BRIEFLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF SO WE'LL KNOW WHO IT'S, THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS DAVID BALE AND I'M A, UH, 50 YEAR RESIDENT OF HOUSTON.
AND HAPPY TO BE THE FIRST CHAIR OF TOURS, 28.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SHIBAZ AND, AND, AND, UH, FACILITATING DISCUSSIONS THAT COULD LEAD TO PROJECTS THAT WILL ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS OF MEMORIAL PARK.
AND MOVING TO HERMAN PARK, RATHER MOVING POINTS SOUTH AND EAST.
I AM THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF CONSTRUCTION FACILITIES DESIGNED AND REAL ESTATE FOR HOUSTON METHODIST.
AND SO I'M PLEASED TO BE HERE AND, AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING ON THIS TOUR.
[03:05:01]
GOOD MORNING.I'M THE ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT, UH, FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION TEAM AT MD ANDERSON.
UM, SO I'VE WORKED AT MD ANDERSON 25 YEARS.
I'M DELIGHTED TO BE PART OF THIS EFFORT AND WATCH THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF THE MED CENTER.
GOOD MORNING, I'M NICOLA FUENTES TO BE A THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER FOR THE APPOINTMENT.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF THE HERMAN PARK CONSERVANCY.
I'M ACTUALLY SO THRILLED TO BE PART OF THIS PROJECT THAT'S GONNA POLISH TWO OF THE BRIGHTEST GEMS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER, AND WHAT I THINK IS A DIAMOND OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE HERMAN PARK.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MY COLLEAGUES.
BILL, EVERYBODY KNOWS YOU, BUT YOU'RE G-M-T-M-C.
UH, WE'RE, WE'RE THE SAPPHIRE OF THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER
I MEAN THE, THE GREAT SUPPORT BY THE MAYOR AND, AND CITY COUNCIL WE'RE SO EXCITED, UM, ABOUT WHAT THIS WILL OFFER TO THE CITY, UH, WHICH LET'S NOT FORGET OUR ZOO AS WELL, ANOTHER, UH, SHINING STAR OF, OF THIS GREAT CITY.
BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
I THINK WE'VE COLLECTED SOME OF THE MOST TALENTED MEN AND WOMEN IN REAL ESTATE, LAW AND FINANCE TO REALLY SERVE THE CITY FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA.
AND I WANNA THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND WHAT YOU HAVE, UH, PROPOSED.
AND WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO IS SO VERY EXCITING AND I APPRECIATE IT ON BEHALF OF DISTRICT D.
UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR STEPPING UP AND BILL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
UH, THIS IS, UH, HISTORICAL AND IT'S EXCITING.
UH, AND IT'S FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL OF HOUSTON.
UH, I WANTED TO EXPRESS MY, HOW ECSTATIC I AM AND ON BEHALF OF DISTRICT C, WHICH DIRECTLY ABUTS THE TMC, RIGHT? WITH RICE UNIVERSITY AND OUR UNIVERSITY PLACE AREA.
THE IMPACT THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE IS GOING TO BE, UH, PROFOUND.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THE ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND WANTED TO, UH, FRIENDLY REMINDER.
I THINK YOU'LL HAVE THREE MONTHS.
I WAS TOLD, UH, BEFORE THE REVISION, ANY PROPOSED REVISIONS COME BACK TO COUNCIL.
SO REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO LOOKING AT THAT AND JUST SEEING ALL THE PROGRESS THAT Y'ALL MAKE.
I WOULD LOVE TO BE IN YOUR POSITION.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE MAYOR SHOULD OFFER ME UP AS AN EX OFFICIO MEMBER OF TOUR 28.
I'LL BE GLAD TO ACCEPT IT AS THE HUSBAND OF A REGISTERED NURSE AND THE FATHER OF A MEDICAL DOCTOR WHO WILL BE SOON PRACTICING AT BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE BEGINNING IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR.
WHAT YOU'RE A PART OF IS SOMETHING THAT IS A HUGE PARADIGM SHIFT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND TRANSFORMATIVE IN EVERY AREA AS WE TRANSITION FROM THE OIL AND GAS ENERGY, CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
AND PIGGYBACK OFF OF THE BIGGEST ASSET WE HAVE THAT WE'VE REALLY NEVER CAPITALIZED ON OVER MANY YEARS.
AND THAT'S TMC AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN TMC THREE IN THE CLOSE, MARION, OF ALL THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF MEDICAL WITH MEDICINE THAT'S IN THAT AREA.
IT REALLY IS CUTTING EDGE AND IT REALLY IS GONNA BE THE INDUSTRY THAT WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT IN 20 YEARS FROM NOW AND SAY, SEE WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT.
SO INSTEAD OF BEING THE OIL AND GAS CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, WE WILL BE THE MEDICAL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
LOVE TO SEE HOW YOU WORK OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.
HOPEFULLY I'LL BE AROUND FOR 40, 50 MORE YEARS, BUT, UM, EXTREMELY JEALOUS.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU WILL DO A FANTASTIC JOB REPRESENTING TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER, HERMAN PARK, THE SIOUX, AND ALL THE ENTITIES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THIS CE.
AND BILL, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
THANK YOU MAYOR FIR, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU ALL FOR Y'ALL'S WILLINGNESS TO SERVE, UH, I, I, UH, TO, TO, UH, KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE CAN HOLD IN REGARDS TO IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER, UH, HERMAN PARK AND THE ZOO.
I KNOW THAT, UH, BACK UNDER THE PARK ADMINISTRATION, UH, WE EXPANDED THE UPTOWN TUR TO, UH, INCLUDE MEMORIAL PARK.
UH, AND WITH THAT, UH, WE HAVE THESE IMPROVEMENTS, UH, THAT ARE GOING ON NOW AS WE SPEAK AT MEMORIAL PARK.
SO WE CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT, WHAT, WHAT WILL BE COMING IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE, UH, MAYOR IN, IN, IN REGARDS TO THE, UH, BOARD MEMBERS.
UH, IS THERE ANYONE THAT YOU KNOW OF FROM HARRIS HEALTH OR A RESIDENT THAT'S ON THE BOARD? IF NOT, COULD THAT BE A POSSIBILITY OF INCLUDING SOMEONE FROM HARRIS HEALTH AND A RESIDENT? OKAY.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE IS AFFILIATED WITH HARRIS HEALTH OR NOT.
PORTA PLAYS A REALLY ACTIVE ROLE IN ALL OF OUR PLANNING AROUND, AROUND THIS.
AND HE'S JUST WITH HIM YESTERDAY.
YEAH, HOPEFULLY IN THE NEAR FUTURE, MAYBE THEY COULD BE CONSIDERED DE THEY'LL BE
[03:10:01]
ON THE BOARD, UH, ESPECIALLY A RESIDENT.'CAUSE I KNOW Y'ALL DO HAVE A LOT OF, UH, YOU KNOW, CONDOS AND APARTMENTS AND WHAT HAVE YOU IN THE AREA.
SO IT'D BE GREAT TO HAVE A RESIDENT ON THE BOARD AS WELL.
AND, UH, LEMME JUST SAY, Y'ALL ARE DOING SOME AMAZING, SOME AMAZING WORK, AND TM C3 IS OFF TO A TREMENDOUS, UM, WELL, I MEAN, IT'S BLOWING AND GOING, SO IF YOU WANNA SPEAK ON THAT BRIEFLY, BILL.
UM, TM C3 IS NOW JUST THE NAME OF THE COLLABORATIVE BUILDING IN HELIX PARK, WHICH WE'D LIKE TO INVITE YOU.
AND THE ENTIRE COUNCIL, CITY COUNCIL IN NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR WILL OPEN THE FIRST OF THREE BUILDINGS, AND ALL PARKS AND ALL STREETS WILL BE BUILT.
SO IT WILL BE A GREEN EXAMPLE, A SUSTAINABILITY EXAMPLE OF HOW THE CITY WILL FLOURISH IN THE FUTURE.
SO WE'D LOVE TO HAVE, WE'LL SEND YOU OBVIOUSLY, INDIVIDUAL, UH, INVITATIONS, BUT, UH, COLLECTIVELY AT THE, ACROSS THE MEDICAL CENTER, WE'RE SO EXCITED TO HAVE PHASE ONE OPENING LATER THIS YEAR.
I WILL SAY THIS IN TRAVEL, I WENT TO ARAB HEALTH IN OCTOBER, AND I WAS THERE WITH EVERY SINGLE MO MEDICAL ENTITY IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.
AND AS I WALKED TO THE NETHERLANDS AND CHINA AND THE, THE EMIRATES, ALL OF THEM KNEW ABOUT TMC.
SO I KNOW THAT WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT YOU ARE, BUT I WANT YOU TO ALSO KNOW THAT THE WORLD KNOWS ABOUT YOU, AND THIS TUR IS JUST GONNA MAKE IT BIGGER AND BETTER AND STRONGER.
AND SO CONGRATULATIONS AS A, YOU KNOW, AS A DENTIST IN THE MEDICAL FIELD, UM, YOU KNOW, R AND D IS LIKE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT IN WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND HOW WE'RE THRIVING IN TERMS OF GENETICS AND, UM, ALL THE OTHER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT THAT YOU'RE DOING IS REALLY PHENOMENAL.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND I'M GONNA LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, ON SEVEN, WHICH IS THE TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE IS SEVEN AND EIGHT.
UM, THE OTHER ONE IS THE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD.
POSITION ONE IS FERNANDO ZAMAR, ZAPA ZAMARRIPA.
POSITION TWO IS GEORGE B BUS, BUSTA MONTE.
FOUR IS SYLVIA, SOPHIA GAR VASOS FIVE IS DANIEL ORTIZ.
SIX IS MONTE LARGE, AND SEVEN IS ELIA QUILES.
AND IF YOU TO TALK ABOUT THE NEAR NORTH SIDE.
AND YOU GIVE US JUST YOUR NAME AND UM, UM, BRIEF STATEMENT.
I'M SYLVIA CASOS, AND I HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS TIER SINCE 2004.
SO I AM THRILLED THAT IN 2023 WE ARE EXPANDING, HAVE SOME NEW TAX INCREMENTS THAT ARE COMING INTO OUR AREA.
I AM THRILLED THAT OUR COUNCIL MEMBER, CARLOS ROS, HAS BEEN RIGHT THERE BESIDE US.
AND EVEN, EVEN BEFORE WE'VE HAD SOME GREAT, GREAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BE ABLE TO HELP US TO REVITALIZE THE NEAR NORTH SIDE.
SO WE ARE CONTINUING TO REVITALIZE THE NEAR, NEAR, NEAR NORTH SIDE.
WE RECENTLY WERE ABLE TO, UH, ACQUIRE THE AREA AT THE ON NORTHLINE FOR THE, UM, FOR THE MARKET THERE, FOR THE NEW, THE NEW MARKET.
AND SO, UH, THE, THE, THE, WHAT, WHAT IS IT, THE, THE MARKET, UH, THEY'RE ON FOR AIRLINE.
AND WE'RE STARTING TO REVITALIZE EVEN MORE THAT AREA.
AND THEN, AND WITH THE NEW TAX INCREMENTS, HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO MORE, UH, THAT WE'VE, WE'VE, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF, UH, BIKE TRAILS.
WE'VE, WE'RE PLANTING TONS OF TREES THROUGH THROUGHOUT THERE, BUT I DO HOPE THAT NEW BUSINESS WILL BE ABLE TO COME INTO NORTH MAINE AND TO THAT ENTIRE AREA SO THAT WAY THEY CAN SEE WHAT WE HAVE VITALIZED AT THE HARDY TEARS WE'VE, THAT TOOK US YEARS TO DO.
AND, UH, NOW I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, UH, SOME NEW, UH, UH, HOMES, UH, UH, HAPPENING THERE AND SOME NEW, UM, APARTMENTS, UH, THAT ARE PART OF THE, OF HUD AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
SO THEN WE ARE ALSO, AND, AND WE'VE, WE'VE EXPANDED TO EVEN INCREASE A LOT, YOU KNOW, TO OUR TAX INCREMENTS IN ORDER FOR US TO DO EVEN MORE WORK IN THE NEAR NORTH SIDE.
AND I'M E KILI WITH UP ART STUDIO.
I, UH, THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR NOW, WILL BE MY SECOND YEAR, UH, WITH THE TOURS.
AND, UM, I AM EXCITED ABOUT A LOT OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE ARE WORKING ON, INCLUDING TRAILS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'M ON THE, I SIT ON THE PARKS COMMITTEE AS WELL AS I'M THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY, SYLVIA'S THE SECRETARY.
UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT ROAD IMPROVEMENTS, UM, ALL STILL IN THE PLANNING PROCESS, BUT WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR OUR, UH, HARDY SLASH NEAR NORTHSIDE MM-HMM
IA HAD A LOT OF ART THAT, UH, IS, IS POPPING UP ALL OVER THE CITY.
SO THAT HAS BEEN GREAT FOR OUR AREA BECAUSE WE'VE ABLE TO UTILIZE THAT TYPE OF, UH,
[03:15:01]
OUTREACH FOR THE COMMUNITY TO DO ART, AND ALSO TO BE ABLE TO PLACE IN OUR, IN, IN THE NEAR NORTH SIDE.WELL, AND WE'VE ALSO, ONE MORE THING THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH METRO AS WELL.
PARCELS THAT WE ARE BUYING FROM METRO.
AND WE'RE GONNA MAKE, THEY'RE CONVEYING TO, CONVEYING TO.
THANK, JUST CONTINUE TO DO IT.
ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MOSES NEROS.
AND THANK YOU FOR, UM, FOR ACCEPTING THIS ROLE.
AGAIN, ALL OF THE NAMES HERE, MAYOR ARE REAPPOINTMENTS, AND I WILL JUST, UM, I WANNA BRAG ON 'EM A LITTLE BIT.
UM, FERNANDO, JORGE, ED, SYLVIA, DAN, DANIEL, MONTY, AND ELLIOT ARE ALL PART OF THIS GROUP AND, AND HAVE BEEN.
IT'S AN EXTREMELY WELL-ROUNDED GROUP.
THEY, THEIR DIVERSE STRENGTHS, REALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY CHALLENGE EACH OTHER.
THEY ARE RESPECTFUL OF EACH OTHER, AND THEY BRING SO MUCH EACH INDIVIDUALLY TO THE, TO THIS TOUR.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE WELL GROUNDED IN THE CULTURE AND HISTORY OF THE NEAR NORTH SIDE.
UM, THERE, THERE'S SMALL BUSINESS INTERESTS, THERE'S ART.
WE HAVE, UM, DEVELOPMENT EXPERTISE, ENGINEERING EXPERTISE, ARCHITECTURAL EXPERTISE, AND IT, IT JUST WORKS TOGETHER.
THIS IS, THIS GOTTA BE ONE OF THE STRONGEST, UM, MOST COLLABORATIVE, GOOD PARTNERS WITH THE CITY OF, OF TURS IS IN, IN OUR CITY.
SO, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND THANK YOU.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEE WHAT, WHAT, UM, WHAT, WHERE, WHAT Y'ALL GONNA DO NEXT.
SO THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER ONE SECOND.
THANK YOU SYLVIA AND ALIA, NOT JUST FOR WHAT YOU DO ON THE NORTH SIDE, BUT FOR WHAT YOU DO IN OTHER COMMUNITIES AS WELL.
YOU, THANK YOU ALSO VERY MUCH.
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
AND THEN ON ITEM NINE, UM, THE HOUSTON, HOUSTON MEDIA SOURCE, FORMERLY KNOWN AS HOUSTON CABLE CORPORATION.
IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD.
POSITION THREE IS ALEX MELVIN.
UH, 11 IS VIDIA GALVAN, AND 12 IS RANDY RETO RAMSEY, IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AND A BRIEF STATEMENT.
DO YOU REPRESENT EVERYBODY ELSE?
UM, JUST HAD A CONVERSATION AND WITH THE OTHERS ON SOME OTHERS ON YESTERDAY.
SO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH YOU.
ALEXIS, IT IS SO GOOD TO SEE YOU AND TO SEE YOUR NAME HERE.
UM, AS THE MAYOR SAID, YOU'RE REPRESENTING EVERYONE, UH, NOT JUST ON THIS BOARD, BUT YOU DO SO MUCH IN THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY IN DISTRICT C.
SO I JUST WANNA LIFT UP THE WORK THAT YOU DO, THE VOICE THAT YOU PROVIDE, AND ESPECIALLY THROUGH THIS BOARD, RIGHT? WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS TYPE OF BOARD, THE PERSPECTIVE AND THE VOICE THAT YOU'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO PROVIDE.
WELL, I SUSPECT IN A MONTH OR TWO WE'RE GONNA BE COMING AROUND TALKING TO MOST OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE NEED.
ONCE WE GET SORT OF A BETTER HANDLE ON THAT.
I'VE LOOKED AT IT A LITTLE BIT BEFOREHAND AND THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE.
AGAIN, MY DOOR'S ALWAYS OPEN TO YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR SERVING IN MAYOR, GREAT APPOINTMENT.
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
OKAY, THANK YOU, YOU VERY MUCH.
[MAYOR'S REPORT]
TERMS OF, UH, MY REPORT THIS MORNING, UH, AS YOU KNOW, SARAH, THE SEVERAL WEEK CONFERENCE HAS ALREADY COMMENCED, UH, AND THEY'RE OFF TO A ROARING START.UH, THERE ARE NEARLY 8,000 ATTENDEES.
THIS IS THE 40, I WANNA SAY THE 41ST YEAR.
UH, BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE, UH, FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
IN FACT, UM, EVERY HOTEL DOWNTOWN IS, IS TAKEN, UH, IT'S THEIR HIGHEST OCCUPANCY IN QUITE SOME TIME.
UM, AND SO, UM, NUMBER OF CEOS AND MINISTERS OF ENERGY, YOU NAME IT FROM ALL OVER, ARE IN TOWN.
SO IT IS REALLY A CONFERENCE THAT'S SHOWCASING THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, QUITE NICELY.
AND THEN YESTERDAY WE HAD THE PRESS CONFERENCE WITH HERTZ AND BP PULSE IN WHICH THEY ARE PROVIDING ADDITIONAL, UH, ELECTRIC CHARGING STATIONS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UH, 2000, ADDING 2000 PLUS ELECTRIC, UH, RENTAL CARS IN THE CITY.
UM, WORKING WITH THEM, UM, THEY HAVE A ESTABLISHING A COLLABORATIVE WITH LONG STAR, UH, COLLEGE NORTH HARRIS.
UH, THEY WILL BE WORKING WITH OUR HARRIS HOUSTON YOUTH PROGRAM AND HIRING PEOPLE FOR THE SUMMER.
SO A LOT OF GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING.
UH, THE CEO WAS IN TOWN, UH, YESTERDAY, UH, SEVERAL WEEK AND THEN WAS WITH US AT THE PRESS STATEMENT.
SO IF YOU GET A CHANCE TO GO BY, UM, HILTON AMERICAS AND YOU, YOU WILL HAVE NO PROBLEM RUNNING TO A, A LOT OF FOLK AT SEVERAL WHEAT.
UM, IN FACT, I'M PRESENTING TODAY ON A PANEL WITH SOME OTHERS, UH, FROM, UH, MAYORS FROM, UM, ACROSS THE GLOBE, UH, AT 1215 THIS MORNING.
[03:20:02]
I WANTED TO WAIT TILL YOU'RE DONE.AND THEN OF COURSE, UH, HOUSTON RODEO IS BLOWING AND GOING.
UM, SO STARTED, UM, WELL LAST WEEK, UH, THIS IS THE SECOND WEEK.
UM, BUT LET ME, WELL, AND LET ME ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GO OUT.
UM, AND, UM, A LOT OF FUN TIME.
I PERSONALLY, I ENJOY THE RODEO PORTION.
UM, CONCERT IS OKAY, BUT FOR ME, YOU KNOW, UM, IT REMINDS ME OF MY YOUNGER DAYS.
UM, UM, I KNOW Y'ALL LAUGHING ON THAT ONE.
UM, SO PLEASE GO OUT ON THE RODEO.
AND THEN OF COURSE, UM, A FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION AND T STOCK SIGNED THE AGREEMENT ON 9 45.
SO THAT PROJECT IS MOVING FORWARD.
I'M NOT GONNA GO OVER ALL OF THE DETAILS, UH, ON IT.
UM, BUT THAT, UH, HAS BEEN A TWO YEAR DELAY AND THAT PROJECT IS MOVING FORWARD.
UM, AND THEN WE RESPECT TO OUR HOMELESS INITIATIVE.
LEMME JUST GIVE A BRIEF UPDATE.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE DE DECOMMISSIONED THE CHARTRES ENCAMPMENT, UM, AND MANY OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS, UH, 39 WERE PUT IN THE ENC IN THE NAVIGATION CENTER, WHICH WE RECENTLY OPENED.
UH, 16 OF THOSE FOLKS WHO WERE PLACED IN THE NAVIGATION CENTER HAVE ALREADY BEEN PLACED IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, WHICH MEANS THEY WERE TAKEN TO THE NAVIGATION CENTER.
WE SAID THIS WAS NOT A SHELTER.
WE SAID THEY WERE NOT GONNA BE THERE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
WE WERE USING A NAVIGATION CENTER TO STAND THEM UP, TO GIVE THEM THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED, THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED.
AND 16 OF THEM HAVE, HAVE ALREADY BEEN PLACED IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AROUND THE CITY.
UM, IN ADDITION, FIVE PEOPLE, UH, WE PLACED IN THE NAVIGATION CENTER FROM THE FIFTH WARD ARE NOW IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
UH, OVERALL, 21 PEOPLE WITHIN THE FIRST THREE WEEKS OF THE NAVIGATION CENTER ARE IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
AND SO VERY, VERY PROUD, UM, OF, OF ALL OF, UM, UM, MARK ACHENBAUM AND HIS ENTIRE TEAM OF THOSE WHO ARE RUNNING THE NAVIGATION CENTER AND ALL OF THE PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE.
UM, THIS SATURDAY AT 10:00 AM EVERYONE IS INVITED TO JOIN ME AT AND THE 50 50 PARK PARTNERS, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE HOUSTON DASH AND OUR FUNDING PARTNERS FOR RIBBON CUTTING AT FORUM PARK TO CELEBRATE THE COMPLETION OF EXCITING PARK IMPROVEMENTS INSPIRED BY COMMUNITY NEEDS.
FOREIGN PARK IS IN DISTRICT J AND 9,900 SUGAR BRANCH DRIVE.
AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING OUT THERE ON THIS COMING SATURDAY.
AND OF COURSE, TODAY IS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY.
OUR DAY CELEBRATED GLOBALLY EACH YEAR ON MARCH 8TH TO COMMEMORATE THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF WOMEN AND BRING ATTENTION TO ISSUES SUCH AS GENDER EQUALITY OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS.
SO A SHOUT OUT TO ALL THE WOMEN ON CITY COUNCIL AND ALL THE WOMEN WORKING FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND, UH, I'VE SENT EVERYBODY, ALL THE WOMEN ROSES, YOU KNOW, SINCE YOU ALL, YOU JUST HAVE TO PULL IT UP, UH, AND FIND THE EMOJI, WHATEVER IT IS ON YOUR TELEPHONE.
UM,
UH, ALRIGHT, THAT, THAT DOES IT FOR ME ON THE MAYOR'S REPORT.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO LIFT UP SARAH WEEK A LITTLE BIT MORE.
UM, IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S A, THE WORLD'S PREEMINENT ENERGY CONFERENCE.
AND WE HAD EVERYTHING FROM RICE UNIVERSITY PRESENTING ON HOW THEY'RE CAPTURING CARBON AND CREATING NEW MATERIALS, UH, TO HOW THE MARKETS ARE IMPACTING HERE LOCALLY.
I MEAN, IT WAS, I'VE NEVER SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE BETWEEN THE HILTON AND THE CONVENTIONS THAT ARE ALL IN ONE PLACE.
SO I JUST WANNA LIFT UP THE SPOTLIGHT.
UH, MAYOR PROTE, YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW HOUSTON IS THE ENERGY CAPITAL, IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE MEDICAL CENTER, WE'RE BECOMING THE ENERGY TRANSITION CAPITAL AS WELL, AND KEEPING OUR ENERGY COMPANIES HERE.
AND MAYOR, UH, YOU KNOW, DOVETAILING THAT WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENTS ON CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE AND ALL THAT WE'RE DOING, UH, I HOPE THAT WE SEE EVEN MORE.
UM, WE APPRECIATE ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND PEOPLE WHO WORK AT THE CITY AFFILIATED WITH THE CITY.
UH, SOME HAVE BEEN HERE ONE DAY, SOME HAVE BEEN HERE 47 YEARS, SOME HAVE BEEN HERE FOR 15 YEARS.
UH, AND TODAY I WANNA PRESENT A CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND PRESENTED TO COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN FOR 15 YEARS OF MERITORIOUS SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND ALONG WITH THAT, LET ME GIVE YOU YOUR PEN.
OH MY GOSH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH OVER YOU.
[03:25:09]
HE ACTUALLY LITERALLY SIGNED IT.HAVING SAID THAT, THE CHAIR REC CHAIR RECOGNIZES MAYOR, MAYOR PROAM FOR CHAIR RECOGNIZES MAYOR PROAM FOR FOR PROCEDURAL MOTION.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO TAKE ITEM NUMBER 34 IMMEDIATELY ON THE CITY AGENDA.
MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL CALL ITEM 34.
ITEM 34 IS AN ORDINANCE, JUST NEEDS A VOTE.
LEMME JUST SAY, LEMME MAKE A FEW COMMENTS.
BE BEFORE WE, UM, AND OPEN IT UP FOR DISCOURSE DISCUSSION.
UM, IN THE LAST, I GUESS FEW MONTHS, WE HAVE, UM, THERE HAVE BEEN FOUR CONCESSION MATTERS BROUGHT TO YOU ALL FOUR, UM, YOU CAN RECALL TWO AT INTERCONTINENTAL AND WE'VE ALREADY DEALT WITH ONE AT HARVEY.
THE SAME PROCESS THAT WE USED ON THOSE PREVIOUS THREE IS THE SAME PROCESS THAT WE ARE USING HERE.
I WANNA START OFF BY GIVING, UH, JED, UH, GREENFIELD, THE CHIEF, UH, PROCUREMENT OFFICER WHO'S HEAD OF PROCUREMENT.
I WANT TO GIVE HIM AND HIS TEAM A LOT OF THANKS FOR THEIR HARD WORK BECAUSE THEY WORK VERY, VERY HARD AND, UM, ON PROCUREMENT AND THEY DEAL WITH A LOT OF PROCUREMENTS, UH, UH, FOR THIS CITY.
UM, BUT I WANT TO, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR WORK AND I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT, UM, WE APPRECIATE THEIR WORK AND WHAT THEY DO.
UH, THEY ARE PROFESSIONALS AND THEY VALUE WHAT THEY DO.
OKAY? UM, AND THEY TAKE OWNERSHIP OF WHAT THEY DO AND WE ASK THEM TO FOLLOW THE RULES AND TO FOLLOW THE PROCESS.
SO I WANNA START BY THANKING, BY THANKING THEM.
I ALSO WANNA LET YOU KNOW ON PROCUREMENT, THEY, JEB AND HIS TEAM HANDLE PROCUREMENT.
THE MAYOR DOES NOT SELECT THE SELECTION COMMITTEE.
IN FACT, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO THEY ARE.
THEY HANDLE THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND THE WAY IT OPERATES, AS I HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED, UH, BY TWO CITY ATTORNEYS, RON LEWIS, WHEN HE WAS HERE, FOLLOWED BY ARTURO, IS THAT WHEN THEY GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, THEY DO THEIR SCORING, UH, THEY DO THEIR INTERVIEWS, THEY SCORE, AND THEN THEY BRING THEIR RECOMMENDATION TO THE MAYOR.
AND AS I'VE BEEN INSTRUCTED BY TWO CITY ATTORNEYS, I DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO DECIDE ONCE THEY RANK THEM ONE, TWO, I DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY I LIKE NUMBER TWO.
I WOULD BE GOING CONTRARY TO THE LAW.
AND TWO CITY ATTORNEYS HAVE SAID THAT BACK TO BACK.
AND WHAT THEY HAVE SAID, IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY, IF YOU LOOK AT THE PROCESS AND I LOOK AT THE PROCESS AND I ASK THEM TO WALK ME THROUGH HOW YOU GOT TO WHERE YOU ARE.
JUST LIKE, I, I BELIEVE SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE GONE TO PROCUREMENT.
I ASKED THEM TO WALK ME THROUGH, TELL ME HOW YOU GOT THERE, WHAT WAS YOUR BASIS.
AND IF I HAVEN'T AND I SEE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE PROCESS, THEN I AM OBLIGATED TO GO WITH THE CHOICE THAT THEY HAVE PROVIDED.
AND THEN I BRING TO YOU THAT RECOMMENDATION, THAT CHOICE.
THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE FIRST THREE AIRPORT PROCUREMENTS.
THE FIRST THREE, SAME PROCESS.
THEY BRING THEIR RECOMMENDATION.
SEE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE PROCESS.
I PUT IT ON THE AGENDA, BRING IT TO YOU.
YOU VOTED FOR ALL THREE OF THEM.
AND THIS ONE BEING RECOMMENDED, BEING PUT FORWARD BY PROCUREMENT IS NOW BEFORE YOU.
SO I WANNA PROVIDE THAT CONTEXT.
NOW IN THIS, THIS IS A COMPETITIVE BID PROCESS.
[03:30:01]
IT IS NOT A POPULARITY CONTEST.THIS IS NOT ABOUT I LIKE X AND THEREFORE I WANT X.
BECAUSE IF THAT'S THE CASE, UM, THEN WE NEED TO CHANGE THE WHOLE SYSTEM.
OKAY? IT IS A COMPETITIVE PROCESS.
AND I WANT TO TAKE THE NAMES OUT FOR A MOMENT.
LET'S SAY WE ARE NOT DEALING WITH PAPAS OR AREAS OR ANYBODY ELSE.
LET'S TAKE THE NAMES OUT, OKAY? AND LET'S PUT X AND Y.
AND IF PROCUREMENT BRINGS ME X AND BRING NOT ONLY ME, 'CAUSE LEMME JUST SAY SOMETIMES PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THE RULES COMPETITIVE PROCESS ONLY APPLIES TO THE MAYOR.
NO, IT APPLIES TO YOU ALL AS WELL.
OKAY? SO IF PROCUREMENT BRINGS ME X AND SAYS X SCORED, NUMBER ONE, THEY BRING ME X, BUT I DECIDE I WANT Y.
AND IF I BROUGHT Y TO THE TABLE TO YOU ALL, AND THEN LET ME SAY THIS.
AND THEN IF COUNCIL MEMBER KASH, YES, SIR, GOES OVER TO PROCUREMENT MM-HMM
AND LOOKS AT THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND COUNCIL MEMBER KBA SAYS, SHOW ME THE SCORING SHEETS, SHOW ME THE SCORING SHEETS.
AND IF COUNCIL MEMBER KASH GOES TO PROCUREMENT AND SEES THAT THE MAYOR BROUGHT X BUT Y SCORED MORE, WHAT THE HECK IS THIS? AND SO COUNCIL MEMBER KASH COMES BACK TO CITY COUNCIL AND HE SAYS, MAYOR, I WENT AND SAW THE SCORING SHEET YOU PUT ON THE AGENDA X, BUT Y SCORED HIGHER.
EXPLAIN THAT TO ME, MAYOR, EXPLAIN THAT TO ME.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, I WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME EXPLAINING THAT I WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME EXPLAINING TO COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH.
I WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME EXPLAINING IT TO THE MEDIA.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, COUNCIL MEMBER MALCO, AS YOU AND I SAID, I WOULD BE VILIFIED IF I BROUGHT YOU THE SECOND PLACE CHOICE, I WOULD BE VILIFIED.
I WOULD NOT ONLY HAVE TO EXPLAIN THAT TO YOU ALL, I'LL HAVE TO EXPLAIN IT TO THE MEDIA AND I'LL HAVE TO EXPLAIN IT PROBABLY TO SOME OTHER FOLK AS WELL.
OKAY? I WOULD HAVE TO EXPLAIN IT BECAUSE YOU ALL WOULD GO OVER AND LOOK AT THE SCORING SHEETS.
BUT LEMME JUST SAY THIS, IT DOESN'T JUST APPLY TO ME, IT DOESN'T JUST APPLY TO ME.
IT APPLIES TO, YOU ALL DO BECAUSE IT'S A COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT PROCESS, WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, WHETHER YOU GET YOUR FAVORITE OR NOT.
AND IT'S A COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT PROCESS TO KEEP THE FAVORITISM OUT OF IT.
NOW, IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, I TALKED TO JETTE, SAID, EXPLAIN THIS ONE TO ME.
THERE'S, I LIKE PAPA DO'S TOO AND PAPA SEEDS, BUT LEMME, SO ALSO ADD THOUGH, I LIKE 9,999 OTHER RESTAURANTS IN THIS CITY.
AND WHAT PROCUREMENT SAYS TO ME, MAYOR, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS ON THE REVENUE SIDE IN THE BEST AND THE FINAL ON THE REVENUE SIDE, POPPERS ON THE PROCURE ON THE REVENUE SIDE CAME IN AT 15.5% OF THE, OF THE REVENUE, 15.5.
THE, UH, AND IN THE BEST AND FINAL, THEY DIDN'T GO UP.
NOW YOU IN THE BEST AND THE FINAL.
YOU KNOW, IT'S THE BEST AND THE FINAL.
YOU KNOW, IT'S THE BEST AND FINAL.
ALL THE OTHER ELEMENTS YOU CAN'T REALLY CHANGE.
BUT THE REVENUE IS WHERE YOU MAKE YOUR CHANGE.
[03:35:02]
PAPAS CHOSE NOT TO GO UP.IN FACT, WHAT PAPAS IS OFFERING THE CITY FOR THE NEXT 10 TO 20 YEARS, IT'S LESS THAN WHAT THEY'RE GIVING THE CITY RIGHT NOW BY THEIR OWN STATEMENTS.
THEY'RE GIVING THE CITY RIGHT NOW IN THEIR PROPOSAL LESS THAN WHAT THEY ARE GIVING THE CITY, PAYING THE CITY CURRENTLY.
YOU CAN LOVE PAPAS ALL YOU WANT TO COMPETITIVE BIDDING.
EXPLAIN HOW THE COMPANY CHOSE IN BEST AND FINAL NOT TO GO UP AND TO OFFER THE CITY LESS THAN WHAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY GIVING TO THE CITY.
THE OTHER SIDE WENT UP, IT WENT UP.
THE DIFFERENCE ON THE REVENUE SIDE IN 10 YEARS IS OVER $20 MILLION TO THE CITY.
AND WHEN YOU GO OUT BEYOND THAT, IT'S OVER 40 MILLION TO THE CITY.
NOW, DO WE IGNORE THAT BECAUSE THE MONEY GOES TO THE AIRPORT TO HELP MAINTAIN THE STATUS AND THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE AIRPORT? DO YOU IGNORE THAT? YOU CAN'T IGNORE THAT.
NOW THE OTHER THING TOO, AND LET ME GIVE YOU MY PERCEPTION OF WHAT I THINK TOOK PLACE.
PAPAS IS PAYING THEIR EMPLOYEES AT THEIR AIRPORT, THE $15, WHATEVER THEY'RE PAYING THEIR PEOPLE AT HOBBY LESS.
THEY'RE PLANNING TO PLANNING TO PROBABLY INCREASE THE AMOUNT TO THE, TO THEIR EMPLOYEES AT HARVEY.
BUT INSTEAD OF THEM COMING OUT OF THEIR POCKETS, THEY'RE TAKING IT FROM THE CITY.
AND BANKING ON THE BELIEF THAT CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD JUST GIVE IT TO THEM.
AND IF YOU DO THAT, THEN YOU DESTROY YOUR PROCUREMENT PROCESS BECAUSE EVERY OTHER VENDOR WILL BE ASKING CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO DO THE SAME.
YOU DID IT FOR THEM, NOW DO IT FOR ME.
THAT WOULD BE THE PRESIDENT THAT YOU WOULD BE SETTING THE PROCESS IS THERE FOR A REASON.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, THE PROCESS IS THERE TO PROTECT THIS ADMINISTRATION.
AND THE PROCESS IS IN PLACE TO PROTECT YOU AS WELL, WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT.
AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE COMPETITIVE PROCESS, THEN YOU NEED TO COME UP WITH, YOU NEED TO TELL, YOU NEED TO TELL THE ADMINISTRATION AND SAID OF HOUSTON, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT? AND IF YOU ARE SAYING YOU LOVE, LET'S SAY PAPAS IN THIS CASE, AND YOU WANT THEM TO BE AT THE AIRPORT FOREVER, THEN SAY THAT, AND NOBODY ELSE OUT IN THE WORLD WILL BE COMPETING.
THE DOORS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON WILL BE CLOSED.
IF YOU THINK THAT THEY SHOULD BE THERE FOREVER, I'LL CLOSE AND I'LL SAY THIS, WHERE POMPOUS IS TODAY IS NOT WHERE THEY WERE 20 YEARS AGO.
I RESPECT THEM HIGHLY, I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT THEY'VE DONE.
AND 20 YEARS AGO, THE CITY OF HOUSTON GAVE THEM A START.
AND SO THEY'VE GROWN AND NOW THEY'RE AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THEY'RE AT HOBBY, THEY'RE AT INTERCONTINENTAL, AT TERMINAL E THERE AT THE GEORGE BROWN, THEY'RE AT HILTON AMERICAS ALL PUBLIC FACILITIES.
WELL, COUNCIL MEMBER KASH, DON'T YOU THINK OTHER PEOPLE DESERVE A CHANCE? COUNCIL MEMBER AL COEN, SHOULDN'T PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO COMPETE? AND IF THEY WIN, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, IF THEY WIN YOU A LAWYER, IF THEY WIN, SHOULD WE THROW THEM OUT WHEN THEY WIN?
[03:40:02]
AND IF THEY, AND IF WE SAY NO, THEN THE SAME PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN AT THE SEA WILL ALWAYS KNOW REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE OUTCOME OF A COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCESS IS, THE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL WILL KEEP THEM IN THEIR CHAIRS.AND I WILL SAY TO YOU, THAT'S INHERENTLY AND FUNDAMENTALLY UNFAIR.
AND THAT'S WHY PROCUREMENT HAS BROUGHT TO THE ADMINISTRATION BASED ON THE COMPETITIVE, UH, UH, BIDDING PROCESS THEY BROUGHT BEFORE YOU AREAS, WHICH IS ON THE, UH, ON THE AGENDA.
AND I HAVE BROUGHT TO YOU WHAT THEY BROUGHT TO ME, AND I AM ASKING FOR YOUR AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF AREAS BASED ON THE COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCESS.
HAVING SAID THAT, COUNCIL MEMBER, KIBOSH, MAYOR, MAY I ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY A QUESTION? SURE.
UH, OUR CITY ATTORNEY, MICHELLE, UH, I RECEIVED AN INTEROFFICE CORRESPONDENCE FROM YOU LATE LAST EVENING OR YESTERDAY EVENING.
AND IT'S CONCERNING, UH, AGENDA ITEM 14 RCA LANGUAGE REGARDING HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST.
AND, AND I'VE READ THIS DOCUMENT AND IF, IF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS TRUE, DOES THIS, DOES THIS MEAN THAT THE PREVIOUS AWARD TO LATRELL OR SSP OR PARADISE LAST YEAR IS INVALID? DOES THIS INVALIDATE THE PRIOR, UH, SELECTIONS THAT WE MADE WHERE THIS LANGUAGE WAS IN THE, THE, UH, RFB? UH, I THINK CONTRARY TO SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS YESTERDAY, HHF HAS NOT BEEN CONSIDERED AN AIRPORT CONCESSION CONTRACTS GOING BACK TO 2015, WHICH HAS BEEN WHAT WE'VE LOOKED AT.
SO, SO IT WASN'T IN THE LATRELL CONTRACT, IT WASN'T IN SSB, IT WASN'T IN THE PARADISE CONTRACT PARITIES.
THAT'S WHAT OUR REVIEW HAS SHOWN.
IT WAS NOT CONSIDERED IN THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS.
UH, AND CONCERNING THE, UM, UH, YOU SENT ME A, A, AN EMAIL IN, IN REFERENCE TO THE DE DELIBERATIVE PROCESS PRIVILEGE, UH, I WANTED TO SEE THE, THE ACTUAL DOCUMENTS.
I WANTED TO HAVE THEM MM-HMM
I WANTED TO, WILL I EVENTUALLY GET TO HAVE THEM OR, UH, IF AFTER THIS VOTE, UH, OR WILL, WILL I, WILL I NOT OR WILL I HAVE TO FILE AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST? NO, THE, WHAT THE CITY IS DOING IS FOLLOWING THE OPINION OF THE TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND HE'S BEEN PRESENTED THIS VERY QUESTION ABOUT THIS VERY PROCUREMENT.
AND WHAT THE DELIBERATIVE PROCESS PROTECTS IS TO AVOID HAVING A, AN ADVANTAGE OR DISADVANTAGE TO ANY BIDDER.
AND EVEN THOUGH A PREVIOUS ROUND MAY HAVE ENDED, IT IS STILL PART OF THE SAME PROCUREMENT.
ONCE THAT PROCUREMENT IS FINALIZED, EITHER CANCELED COMPLETELY OR UH, IT'S AWARDED, THEN YOU WOULD, YOU WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THE DOCUMENTS.
WHO ACTUALLY CANCELED THOSE TWO, UH, CONTRACTS? ONE, UH, THE ROUND ONE IN 2019 AND ROUND, UH, TWO, IN 2022, WHO ACTUALLY HAD THE AUTHORITY TO CANCEL THOSE? IT, IT WOULD BE THE ADMINISTRATION, ULTIMATELY THE MAYOR BASED ON THE, THE MAYOR FROM THE, FROM STRATEGIC PURCHASING.
I KNOW WE USED THE WORD ADMINISTRATION, BUT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MAYOR.
PROBABLY I WASN'T HERE IN 2019.
BUT ANYWAY, SO, UM, SO, SO MAYOR, IF IF THAT'S THE CASE THEN, THEN YOU WERE AWARE OF ROUND ONE AND ROUND TWO AND, AND YOU WERE AWARE OF THOSE AND, AND YOU CHOSE TO CANCEL THOSE IN 2019, 2019.
IN 2022, THAT WAS ONE CANCELED BECAUSE OF C IT WAS NEVER COMPLETED.
ROUND TWO, UH, WAS, UH, CANCELED BECAUSE, UM, THEY WERE DEALING WITH APPLES AND AUGUST THEY WANTED TO BRING IN A CONSULTANT SO THAT THEY CAN EVEN THE PLAN FIELD AND ON THE REVENUE SIDE.
SO PROCUREMENT WANTED TO BRING IN A CONSULTANT SO THAT THEY COULD BE MEASURING APPLES TO APPLES ON THE REVENUE SIDE.
AND SO WE, THAT ONE WAS COUNSEL AND THEN NOW YOU'RE BEFORE ROUND THREE.
UH, I'LL HAVE MORE QUESTIONS, BUT I'LL WAIT AND ASK.
FIRST OF ALL, AGAIN, I REPRESENT THE HOBBY AIRPORT.
AND THE HOBBY AIRPORT IS NOW A FIVE STAR AIRPORT BY SKY TRACKS, AN INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT RATING ORGANIZATION THAT'S BASED IN LONDON.
[03:45:01]
HOBBY IB AIRPORT IS THE FIRST FIVE STAR AIRPORT IN NORTH AMERICA.IT STANDS NEXT TO TOKYO'S HYUNDAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, MUNICH'S AIRPORT.
SHANGHAI AIRPORT, HAMID INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN DOAH.
QATAR HOBBY AIRPORT, AGAIN, IS THE FIRST FIVE STAR AIRPORT IN NORTH AMERICA.
HOBBY IS CERTIFIED AS A FIVE STAR AIRPORT FOR ITS FACILITIES, COMFORT, CLEANLINESS, SHOPPING, FOOD AND BEVERAGES AND STAFF SERVICES.
BEING A FIVE STAR AIRPORT MAKES IT EASIER FOR HOUSTON FIRST TO GO OUT AND BRING CONVENTIONS TO OUR CITY.
IN 2021 HOBBY AIRPORT SERVED MORE THAN 11 MILLION PASSENGERS AND HAD AN ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR OUR CITY OF $5.8 BILLION.
AND WE JUST RECENTLY BECAME A FIVE STAR AIRPORT AND CO COLLEAGUES, YOU WANNA RISK THAT.
DO YOU TRULY WANNA RISK THAT $5.8 BILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT TO OUR CITY AND TAKE A RISK WHEN WE KNOW WHAT PAPPAS AND THE PAPPAS RESTAURANTS HAVE DONE AT HOBBY AIRPORT? THIS RFP AND PROCUREMENT PROCESS HAS, HAS HOLES IN IT, THERE'S CONCERNS, THERE'S QUESTIONS.
AND I, FOR 1:00 AM NOT GONNA PUT MY NAME ON THAT BACK UNDER THE PARKER ADMINISTRATION, WHEN WE DID THAT FOR INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT, THERE WAS QUESTIONS AND HOLES IN THAT CONTRACT AND I DIDN'T PUT MY NAME ON THAT EITHER.
WE WERE ELECTED TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND WHEN YOU'RE GONNA RISK $5.8 BILLION IMPACT TO OUR CITY, THAT'S CONCERNING.
I'M, I'M GLAD WE'RE GETTING TO A VOTE BECAUSE THESE AIRPORT CONCESSIONS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE MOST CONTENTIOUS AND CONTROVERSIAL PROJECTS THAT WE EVER TAKE UP IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON ON THE AGENDA.
BUT I'D LIKE TO DEAL IN FACTS, NOT EMOTIONS.
THE CONSULTANT THAT THE CITY OF USED WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE NAME OF AIR PROJECTS.
THEY'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN SEVERAL OF OUR RFP CONTRACTS FOR FOOD CONCESSIONS AT OUR AIRPORTS, INCLUDING PACKAGE TWO THAT WE PASSED UNANIMOUSLY A MONTH AGO.
SO IF YOU HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE RFP AND THE PROCESS, CHALLENGE IT FOR THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS BECAUSE WE USE THE SAME RFP PROCESS, IT'S THE SAME PROCESS THAT FOUR FAMILIES AND PAPPAS USED, HAD IMPLEMENTED WHERE THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL IN ACHIEVING THE RFP IN THE WINNING BID FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
FACT ALSO, IT CHALLENGED, THERE'S BEEN CHALLENGES TO THE REVENUE TO THE CITY 22.2% FOR AREAS 15.5% FOR PAPPAS.
THIS IS A 43.23% DIFFERENCE, WHICH EQUATES TO $50 MILLION DIFFERENCE, $50 MILLION DIFFERENCE OVER THE COURSE OF THIS CONTRACT.
OH, BY THE WAY, IF YOU CHALLENGE THE 22.2 FROM AREAS YOU SHOULD HAVE CHALLENGED THE 23% THAT LATRELL PUT FORWARD.
NO ONE HAD A QUESTION ON THAT.
WHERE WAS THAT IN THE PROCESS? $50 MILLION.
SO LATRELL WAS NET UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTED AT 23% AND YOU QUESTION 22.2%, WHICH MADE ME QUESTION IT AS WELL.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A FEW RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE RFP PROCESS MOVING FORWARD.
10% ON PRICES AND PRICING IS RIDICULOUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE, IN THIS CASE, WE HAD SEVEN FANTASTIC COMPANIES, GLOBAL COMPANIES THAT SUBMITTED WHETHER WE HAD S-S-P-O-T-G, HOST PARODY, FOUR FAMILIES, LATRELL,
[03:50:01]
WHATEVER.THE SUBJECTIVE PART IS 90% AND THEY'RE ALL GREAT COMPANIES AND THEY'RE ALL GONNA BE PRETTY CLOSE.
SO I THINK 10% ON PRICING IS RIDICULOUS.
IT SHOULD BE NO LESS THAN 25%.
WHY? BECAUSE THAT'S A KEY INGREDIENT FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
IT'S A REVENUE WE WILL RECEIVE AND WE WILL RECEIVE $50 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE BY GOING WITH THE RECOMMENDED AREAS VERSUS FOUR FAMILIES.
ANOTHER THING I'D LIKE TO GET RID OF, WELL, PACKAGE, UM, PACKAGE TWO IS TOO CLOSE TO CALL.
LIFE IS ABOUT TOO CLOSE TO CALL.
ELECTIONS CAN BE WON OR LOST BY A SINGLE VOTE.
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON BEAT MEMPHIS AT THE BUZZER ON SATURDAY.
THE FINAL FOUR IS COMING IN, SOMEBODY LOSES BY WIN.
ARE YOU GONNA SAY LET'S DO A DO OVER TOO CLOSE TO CALL? NO, YOU'RE NOT GONNA DO THAT.
THE WINNER IS THE WINNER AND EVERYBODY ELSE HAS THE ABILITY TO COME IN AND TALK TO US ABOUT IT.
SO THOSE ARE MY TWO RECOMMENDATIONS MOVING FORWARD.
GET RID OF THE 10%, RAISE IT UP AND GET RID OF THE TOO CLOSE TO CALL, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY.
I JUST WANTED TO, UM, ADD SOME COMMENTS.
I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE DIRECTOR AND THE CIVIL SERVICE PROTECTED EMPLOYEE WHO ACTUALLY OVERSAW THE EVALUATORS, UH, THE ATTORNEY AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE AIRPORT CONCESSIONS.
AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT THE PROCESS WAS NO DIFFERENT IN THAN THE PROCESS THAT WE DID IN JANUARY WHERE WE AWARDED PACKAGE TWO.
UM, THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO DISCUSSION ON THAT PACKAGE AND IT FOLLOWED THE SAME PROCESS.
AND SO I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TO PROTECT THE PROCESS.
THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT PAPA DO'S HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNER FOR US FOR 20 YEARS, AND CHANGE IS HARD.
UH, HOWEVER, AREAS TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE AND BETTER THEIR OFFER AND THEY LANDED IN THE TOP SPOT DURING A COMPETITIVE BID.
SO, QUITE FRANKLY, AFTER LOOKING AT, UH, THE BOOKS, I BELIEVE ALL OF THESE OPERATORS COULD HAVE HAD THE CAPABILITY TO DO THIS WORK.
UM, BUT THIS WAS A COMPETITIVE BID AND AREAS LANDED IN THE TOP SPOT.
AND FOR ME, THIS IS ABOUT PROTECTING THE PROCESS.
IF WE DON'T PROTECT THE PROCESS, HOW DO WE ASK PEOPLE TO HAVE FAITH IN WHAT WE DO AS A GOVERNMENT? UM, MAYOR, I ASK THAT WE CALL THE QUESTION, LEMME JUST, THERE'S ONE, THERE ARE TWO MORE IF YOU WILL JUST, IF YOU'LL HOLD JUST FOR A SECOND.
AND I, I APPRECIATE BOTH THE COMPANIES THAT HAVE COME BEFORE US TO, TO TRY TO GET THIS CONCESSION.
HOWEVER, I DON'T WANNA TALK ABOUT THE INDIVIDUALS OR THE VARIOUS, UH, PROPOSALS THAT THEY MADE.
I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THIS PROCESS THAT WE'RE SO PROUD OF AND THAT WE'RE SO WILLING TO, TO DEFEND.
NOW, YOU'RE RIGHT, WE HAVEN'T ARGUED ABOUT OTHER PROCE, OTHER VENDORS IN RECENT PAST.
UH, BECAUSE THESE ISSUES WEREN'T BROUGHT TO COUNSEL TO BEGIN WITH.
UM, THEY HAVE BEEN BROUGHT NOW.
SO STARTING WITH THE ORIGINAL RCA, WHICH REFLECT A REFERENCE TO THE, THE HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST WAS GOING TO BE USED IN THIS RFP, THAT WAS A MISTAKE ON OUR PART.
UH, WE'VE GOT A, A MEMO YESTERDAY FROM OUR CITY ATTORNEY WHO SAYS THAT IT WAS MISTAKENLY PART OF THE RCA.
SO AT THE VERY ONSET OF THIS PROCESS THAT WE'RE SO PROUD OF, WE MADE AN ERROR BY ERRONEOUSLY, INCLUDING A REFERENCE TO HIRE HOUSTON.
FIRST WAS GOING TO BE USED IN THE EVALUATION OF THESE, UH, PROPOSALS.
UM, IN THE FOLLOWING PROCESS AS IT WENT ON.
UH, WE'VE HAD TWO, UH, PROPOSALS THROWN OUT FOR VARIOUS REASONS.
WE END UP WITH A 0.6% DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TOP TWO.
UM, SO NOTHING OCCURS IN A VACUUM.
AND THE PROCESS IS WHERE WE POLITICIANS SEEK COVER TO, TO PREVENT THE APPEARANCE OF FAVORITISM.
HOWEVER, WHAT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER IS THAT THOSE WHO CREATE THE PROCESS ARE ALSO BEST CAPABLE OF MASSAGING THE PROCESS.
AND THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO CONSTANTLY BE AWARE OF THE APPEARANCE THAT WE'RE DOING SOMETHING IMPROPER.
THE MAYOR'S PUBLIC COMMENTS PREVIOUS AND TODAY, UM, ESSENTIALLY SAY THAT FOUR FAMILIES IS TOO, UM, TOO SUCCESSFUL TO BE CONTINUING WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN THE AIRPORT.
THAT THEY HAVE CONTRACTS, THEIR COUNCIL MEMBER, THAT THEY HAVE CONTRACTS WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY, WITH HOUSTON FIRST AND OTHER, OTHER ENTITIES AROUND.
AND SO EVIDENTLY SOMEHOW WE NEED TO BE PROMOTING
[03:55:01]
ANOTHER GROUP TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE.UH, THEN, THEN FOLLOWED BY THAT LAST WEEK I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH MARIO DIAZ, THE DIRECTOR OF THE AIRPORT SYSTEM.
AND I WAS ASKING HIM ABOUT THIS.
AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT HE TOLD ME WAS THAT THE FOUR FAMILIES HAVE BEEN THERE FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS AND WE NEED SOME NEW BLOOD HERE.
NOW, NOT BEING IN A VACUUM, I HAVE TO BE CONCERNED AT THIS POINT THAT THERE WAS A PREDETERMINED OUTCOME.
AND THEN WHEN WE LOOK AT THE GRADERS THAT ARE HERE, AND NOT DISPARAGING THEM AT ALL, BUT WE HAVE TWO GRADERS FROM THE AIRPORT, ONE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION THAT CONSTITUTES THE MAJORITY OF THE GRADERS ON THIS PROGRAM OR ON THIS PROPOSAL.
SO WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS ACTUALLY A PREDETERMINED OUTCOME, INTENDED OR NOT, THERE IS AN APPEARANCE THAT THE MAYOR AND THE, AND THE, UM, DIRECTOR OF THE AIRPORT SYSTEM HAD DECIDED AT SOME POINT IN THE PAST THAT WE NEEDED NEW PEOPLE.
AND SO WE'RE USING THE COVER OF THIS PARTICULAR PROCESS.
UM, WHETHER IT IS ACTUALLY MASSAGED OR NOT, IT DOES APPEAR THAT WAY TO ME.
SO THEREFORE, I'M GONNA BE VOTING AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL, UM, JUST ON THE, ON THAT PRINCIPLE ALONE.
AND I WOULD RESPOND TO YOU COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX.
BUT SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO LET PEOPLE'S WORDS FLOW INTO THE WIND.
AND I'M GONNA LET YOUR COMMENTS FLOW INTO THE WIND BECAUSE IT DOES NOT DESERVE A RESPONSE FROM THIS MAYOR.
UM, I I JUST WANTED TO ADD SOME COMMENTS 'CAUSE THIS WAS, UH, MAYOR PROTO, YOU SAID ONE OF THE HARDEST ITEMS THAT WE TAKE UP ON COUNCIL.
UM, AND TO YOUR POINT, MAYOR, UM, IF THIS WAS A POPULARITY CONTEST OR I GOT TO PICK WHO I WANTED AT THE AIRPORT, IT WOULD BE PAPA'S HANDS DOWN.
UH, I HAVEN'T SHARED THIS PUBLICLY, BUT MY FIRST JOB, FIRST PAYING JOB WAS AT PAPA'S.
UM, AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY.
AND I THINK YOU SEE BEFORE YOU WHAT FOR EMPLOYEES AND FOR THE FAMILY, PAPPAS MEANS AND FOR THE CITY.
UH, BUT MY FIRST, I HAVE A QUESTION GOING OFF OF MAYOR, WHAT YOU SAID FOR CITY ATTORNEY MICHELLE, AS TO WHAT, UNDER OUR REVIEW IN PROCUREMENT WE ARE BOUND BY IN TERMS OF THE SCOPE.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE TO LOOK AT THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE RFP PROCESS.
CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THAT? CITY ATTORNEY? YOUR HONOR, WOULD, WOULD YOU REPEAT THAT ONE MORE TIME? AND I'M NOT QUITE SURE I HEARD IT.
SO BASED ON WHAT THE MAYOR SAID PREVIOUSLY, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE BOUND BY THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE RFP PROCESS IN TERMS OF OUR REVIEW IN UNDER THIS VOTE.
CAN YOU EXPAND ON WHAT SCOPE WE ARE LOOKING AT WHEN WE'RE GOING TO THIS VOTE? RIGHT, AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, IT, IT, THE LAW IS PRETTY CLEAR THAT ANYTIME THAT THERE'S A COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT PROCESS, AND THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE FOLLOWED, BUT ANYTIME A GOVERNMENT ENTITY USES THAT, IT HAS TO BE FOLLOWED.
OTHERWISE IT CALLS INTO QUESTION AN ARBITRARY CAPRICIOUS DECISION.
AND IF, LET'S SAY, NOW THAT WE HAVE ALL VIEWED THE NUMBERS AND THE SCORES, UM, LET'S SAY IT WENT BACK, DOES THAT CREATE AND THERE HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC RELEASES OF THAT SCORING, UM, BASED ON WHAT COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE SEEN, DOES THAT CREATE AN UNDUE, UM, INFLUENCE OR THE RISK OF INFLUENCE IF THIS WAS TO GO TO ANOTHER PROCUREMENT? THAT'S THE BASIS OF THE EXCEPTION UNDER THE PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINED ON, IT'S THE RELEASE OF THOSE SCORES BEFORE THE PROCESS IS COMPLETED.
THAT COULD GIVE AN ADVANTAGE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER TO ONE COMPETITOR OR ANOTHER.
AND AGAIN, GOING TO THE FACT THAT WE PASSED THREE OTHER CONTRACTS FOLLOWING THE SAME EXACT PROCESS.
UM, AND IN ADDITION, I WANNA SAY, I POINTED OUT YESTERDAY MY CONCERN THAT WITH, UM, ARIES, WITH THEIR PROPOSAL, THERE'S NO INCLUSION OF THINGS LIKE LOCAL MEXICAN FOOD, WHICH AGAIN, I'M, FOR ME, IT'S A BIG DEAL AND I'M RELYING ON THEIR COMMITMENT THAT WE CAN REVISE SOME OF THESE CONCESSIONS TO BETTER REFLECT WHAT HOUSTON IS.
BUT OVERALL, UM, WE HAVE, I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD, UH, FOCUSED ON THE PROCESS.
AND I THINK MAYOR PRO TEM, TO YOUR POINT, WE DO DO NEED TO LOOK AT HOW TO IMPROVE, UM, INCLUDING DEFINING WHAT TOO CLOSE TO CALL MEANS AND WHAT THAT STANDARD IS AND LAYING OUT MORE CLEARLY A PROCESS.
SO I, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING ON THAT.
BUT AGAIN, IF WE'VE RELIED ON THIS EXACT PROCESS FOR THREE OTHER CONTRACTS THAT CAME UNDER THIS WITH THE AIRPORTS, UM, I THINK IT WOULD CALL INTO QUESTION THOSE CONTRACTS AS WELL.
[04:00:01]
AND, UH, I'D, I'VE LOOKED AT THIS AND I DON'T SEE HOW THE STANDARDS THAT WE'VE APPLIED, UM, DIFFERENTIATED BETWEEN THAT PROCESS.SO AGAIN, I WANT TO JUST PERSONALLY SAY, UM, HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE AND LOVE PAPPAS, THEY'RE IN DISTRICT C UH, AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR ALL THAT THEY DO AND WANNA CONTINUE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS.
AND I'M ALSO GRATEFUL FOR SOME OF THE OTHER LOCAL VENDORS THAT ARE COMING IN THROUGH GOOD COFFEE AND THREE BROTHERS, UH, THAT ARE LOCAL AS WELL.
SO, UH, MAYOR, YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATIONS TO THE RFP PROCESS, BUT, UH, I APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION AS IT RELATES TO, UH, WHAT THIS VOTE ENTAILS, WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON FOR IT.
AND UH, GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE.
UM, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE PROCESS, 'CAUSE WE KEEP BRINGING UP THE WORD PROCESS.
IT SEEMS AS IF WE LIVE IN A CULTURE NOW WHERE WHEN ONE PERSON DOESN'T WIN, THERE HAD TO BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE PROCESS.
WE SEE THAT HERE AND WE SEE THAT ALL OVER SOCIETY, ALL RIGHT? FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOWN.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PROCESS HERE, THERE'S LOTS OF SPECULATION.
THERE'S PROJECTIONS, THERE'S, UH, DIFFERENT REVENUE NUMBERS THAT MAY BE OUT THERE THAT, UM, MAY BE MET AND MAY NOT BE MET.
ONE THING THAT WILL ALWAYS BE CONCRETE IS THE PERCENTAGE OF REVENUE THAT COMES BACK TO THE CITY.
ONE GROUP WAS AT 22.2, THE OTHER GROUP IS AT 15.5.
YOU CAN'T CHANGE THOSE NUMBERS, RIGHT? THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT YOU CAN, THAT YOU CAN HANG YOUR HAT ON.
AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE PROCESS AND IF IT WAS CLOSE, IF IT WASN'T CLOSE, IF WE LOOK AT ALL THESE PROJECTIONS, A LOT OF THE THINGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT WE HEARD TESTIMONY ON FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS IN THE COURT OF LAW, WE WILL SAY, OBJECTION, SPECULATION.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE NUMBERS WILL BE.
THE ONLY THING WE DO KNOW IS THAT ONE COMPANY PUT FORTH 22.2, THE OTHER ONE PUT 15.5.
NOW THE ONE THAT PUT 22.2 STATED THAT THEY'VE COME BEFORE THE CITY AND LOST FOUR TIMES.
THEY LOST FOUR TIMES, THEY PROBABLY GOT TIRED OF LOSING.
SO IN A COMPETITIVE BID, THEY SAY, WE'RE GONNA PUT ALL OUR CHIPS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TABLE, WE'RE GONNA GO FOR BROKE.
22.2 IS OUR NUMBER BEST AND FINAL 22.2.
AND SO FROM OUR SEATS NOW WE LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, WHOA, THAT'S A PRETTY, PRETTY BIG NUMBER.
THAT REVENUE COMES BACK TO THE CITY FOR THE SERVICES THAT WE DO, WE THEN PROVIDE TO HOUSTONIANS.
AND THEN THOSE WHO ARE COMING TO VISIT, DO WE IGNORE THAT? ESPECIALLY WHEN BOTH SIDES GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BEST AND FINAL.
WHEN SOMEONE SAYS GIVE YOU BEST AND FINAL, YOU HAVE TO GIVE YOUR BEST.
AND IF YOUR BEST IS 15.5, THAT'S YOUR BEST.
BUT THAT'S STATUS QUO WHERE YOU ARE NOW, THE COMPANY THAT HAS BEEN LOSING AND EVERY TIME THEY HAVE TO GET, UH, THE NOTIFICATION THAT THEY LOST, THEY'RE PROBABLY SITTING AROUND THEIR BOARD TABLE AND SAYING, WE DON'T WANNA LOSE ANYMORE.
WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO BE MORE ATTRACTIVE? WE'RE GONNA BUMP UP OUR NUMBERS HIGH AS WE CAN.
WHEN YOU ALL ARE MAKING YOUR DECISIONS, YOU GOTTA TAKE THE EMOTION OUT OF THIS.
YOU ALL ARE BUSINESSMEN AND WOMEN, OKAY? AND IN BUSINESS, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND TAKE THE EMOTIONS OUT OF IT.
'CAUSE THE EMOTIONS CAN, CAN SOMETIMES CLOUD YOUR JUDGMENT.
AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT ROUNDS, TO MY UNDERSTANDING, PAPAS CAME A SECOND IN THE, IN THE SECOND ROUND.
SO WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE PROCESS CAN ALWAYS BE IMPROVED, BUT THE PROCESS HAS STAYED THE SAME IN THE OTHER ROUNDS AS IT HAS DONE TODAY.
AND SO WE DON'T WANT TO ALWAYS LOOK AT REASONS WHY THE PROCESS IS THE REASON WHY SOMEONE CAME IN FIRST OR SECOND, BECAUSE THE NUMBERS ARE PROOF IN THE PUDDING.
THAT ONE SAID 22.2 IN THEIR PACKAGE, THE OTHER ONE SAID 15.5 IN THEIR PACKAGE.
[04:05:01]
COUNCILMAN KASH.UM, ACTUALLY WHEN I LOOKED AT, UH, THE PROCUREMENT, WHEN I GOT TO GO TO THE OFFICE WITH JEDEDIAH, UH, GREENFIELD AND HIS STAFF, I SAW THAT, UH, HE TALKED TO ME ABOUT HOW IT WAS DONE.
IT, IT WAS, IT WASN'T ON SCORING SHEETS.
I THAT I, I REMEMBERED SEEING DURING, UH, MY FIRST, UH, TERM IN OFFICE.
WE, WE GOT TO SEE THE, THE PHYSICAL SHEETS, BUT IT WAS THE, UM, THEY SAID THAT THEY DID THESE, I GUESS LIKE ON ZOOM OR SOMETHING WHERE THEY, THEY SUBMITTED THEIR, THEIR DEALS AND THEN THEY, THEY TALKED ABOUT IT.
AND THEN AFTER THEY TALKED ABOUT IT ON THE ZOOM, THEY CHANGED THEIR NUMBERS.
I, I, THEY WERE ALLOWED TO CHANGE THEIR NUMBERS.
I, I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S THE WAY YOU SHOULD HAVE A, UH, THE, THE PROCESS DONE.
AND, AND, AND ALL THE, ALL THE EMPLOY, ALL THE EVALUATORS WERE, WERE, UH, CITY OF HOUSTON EMPLOYEES.
SO THEN ALL OF THEM WORKED FOR THE MAYOR.
SO I, I JUST DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THE PROCESS WAS, WAS, UH, FAIR.
I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE IT WAS CLEAN.
UH, I FELT LIKE THAT THREE BIDDINGS, UH, IT JUST LOOKED KIND OF SLOPPY TO ME.
AND I, AND I'VE SAID THAT BEFORE.
I, I, I JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE THAT, UH, WE'RE GETTING THE BEST VALUE HERE UNLESS COUNSEL WERE TO REJECT THIS.
AND, AND, UH, WE, WE NEED A, WE NEED THE BEST VALUE FOR THE FLYING PUBLIC AND FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S, UH, FLYING PUBLIC.
AND I, I JUST BELIEVE THAT, UM, WE'RE GONNA MAKE A MISTAKE BY DOING IF WE VOTE, UH, FOR THIS CONTRACT.
MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL CALL THE ROLE ROLL OF THE VOTE.
VOTE AN I IS FOR THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA? NO.
COUNCILOR THOMAS? A LIEN? YES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH MADAM SECRETARY.
WE GO PROCEED TO THE NEXT ITEM.
MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE PROCEED WITH THE NEXT ITEM.
ITEM PASSES UNDER THE PROPERTY CATEGORY.
ITEM 10 HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE ORDERS CATEGORY.
ITEM 32 HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ARE 11, 12, 13, 23 AND 31.
THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 11, 12, 13, 23, AND 31.
DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR.
[CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA]
ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.[10.
RECOMMENDATION from Director Houston Public Works for payment authorization and interdepartmental transfer of properties located on Tuscon St. (Parcel SY22-037), Hitchcock St. (Parcel SY22-036) and Kirkpatrick Blvd. (Parcel SY22-013) within Houston Public Works from the Dedicated Drainage and Street Renewal Capital Fund to the Water and Sewer System Operating Fund. Parcels SY22-037, SY22-036 and SY22-013 - DISTRICTS B - JACKSON and H - CISNEROS
]MOVED.DISCUSSION ON 10 IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED ON 10.
DISCUSSION ON 11 IN FAVOR OF POST GRAND ON 11.
DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF POST GRAND ON 12.
DISCUSSION ON 13 IN FAVOR OF POST GRANTED ON 13TH.
[04:10:01]
NEW DISPARITY STUDY.UM, AND THE CITY PREVIOUSLY SPENT ALMOST $943,000 ON THE ONE BACK IN 2016.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE LOOKING INTO OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR RECOUPING THAT MONEY BECAUSE IT WAS NEVER PUBLISHED, WHICH I APPRECIATE.
UM, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THE SCOPE OF WORK FOR THIS DISPARITY STUDY IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME AS THE PREVIOUS ONE.
SO IS THERE CONFIDENCE THAT THIS WILL YIELD USABLE RESULTS THIS TIME OR THERE CHANGES THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ACTUALLY GET RESULTS THIS TIME? DR.
MICHELLE, YOU WANNA ADDRESS THAT? UM, YES, THERE IS.
WHAT WE'LL DO THIS TIME IS WE'LL TIE THE PAYMENTS TO THE DELIVERABLES TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING WHAT WE NEED AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
I DON'T BELIEVE WE DID THAT BEFORE.
AND THEN MY OTHER QUESTION IS, UM, PER CITY ORDINANCE, UM, COUNCIL IS TO DETERMINE AFTER THE STUDY WHETHER THERE IS STRONG EVIDENCE OF DISCRIMINATION IN THE CITY CONTRACTING WARRANTING THE CONTINUATION OF THIS PROGRAM.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS STUDY IS GOING TO TAKE ABOUT NINE MONTHS.
DO WE ANTICIPATE THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE DONE BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR? THAT IT'LL COME BACK TO COUNSEL FOR THAT VOTE.
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR IN THIS DEAL.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 23.
DISCUSSION ON 31 IN FAVOR OF POST GRANT.
[NON CONSENT AGENDA - NUMBERING]
ITEM 33.UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS BASED ONLY ON, UH, THIS IS AN ITEM, UM, UH, REVIEW A REVIEW OF THE RECORD.
UM, AND IT'S EITHER A MOTION TO UPHOLD THE DECISION OF THE GENERAL APPEAL BOARD, OR THERE'S A MOTION TO DENY THEIR DECISION.
AND I THINK WE ARE LIMITED BASED UPON THE REASONABLENESS OF THE DECISION OF THE APPEALS BOARD.
UM, ATTORNEY, CITY ATTORNEY, YOU WANNA CLARIFY? UH, YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
THE, UM, THE OPTIONS HERE FOR COUNSEL ARE TO, UM, UPHOLD THE, UM, DECISION OF THE GAB AND, UH, DENY THE APPEAL OR DO THE OPPOSITE TO, UH, REVERSE IT AND GRANT THE APPEAL OR TO RETURN IT FOR FURTHER, UM, UH, PROCEEDINGS IF THE RECORD IS INCOMPLETE OR INADEQUATE.
BUT THE, UH, THE STANDARD FOR COUNCIL HERE IS YOU'RE LOOKING SOLELY AT THE RECORD OR WHAT'S IN THE WRITTEN EXCEPTIONS TO THE RECORD.
AND ANY, IF THERE'S ANY REASONABLE INTERPRETATION TO UPHOLD THAT, THEN COUNCIL IS, IS, IS BOUND TO, UH, UPHOLD THE DECISION BELOW.
COUNCILMAN ACO? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
YES, I, I REVIEWED THE TRANSCRIPT AND IT SEEMED VERY CLEAR TO ME THAT, THAT THIS IS SOMETHING TO BE UPHELD.
A BILLBOARD THAT HAD GOTTEN A SPECIAL PERMIT AND HAS, ITS PASSED.
ITS, ITS TIME, UM, TO BE THERE.
ANY DISCUSSION? IS THERE A MOTION TO UPHOLD THE APPEALS BOARD? SO MOVED ROBINSON.
THE MOTION TO UP OPPOSE THE APPEALS BOARD HAS BEEN SECONDED.
ANY OTHER, ANY DISCUSSION? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 33, UH, TODAY, UH, BEAR IN MIND, NEXT WEEK IS BREAK WEEK, SO WE WILL MEET AGAIN ON MARCH THE 21ST.
[NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS]
STARTING OFF TODAY WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KASH.UM, I WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK, UM, COMMANDER BRYANT WITH THE NORTH DIVISION FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE NORTH DIVISION.
I UNDERSTAND THAT HE'S MOVING TO THE ACADEMY AND WE'RE GETTING A NEW COMMANDER FOR THE NORTH DIVISION.
UM, HE HAS JUST BEEN SUCH A GREAT COMMANDER AND I'M SO THANKFUL TO HIM.
HE ALSO PREVIOUSLY WORKED IN THE NORTHWEST DIVISION, SO WE'VE HAD HIM IN DISTRICT A FOR A LONG TIME AND JUST WANTED TO THANK HIM.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH, UM, COMMANDER MENENDEZ.
UM, ALSO I WANNA THANK, UM, THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD AND ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS.
RON DELANEY, EVERYONE IN THE GREATER INWOOD AREA WHO PUT ON THE EVENT, UM, ON SATURDAY TO LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE VOGEL CREEK IMPROVEMENTS ALONG THE INWOOD DETENTION BASIN FOR THE RECREATIONAL COMPONENT OF THAT DETENTION BASIN PROJECT.
IT WAS A GREAT EVENT AND PEOPLE WERE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THE IMPROVEMENTS.
THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN JACKSON.
I WANT TO INVITE FOLKS OUT TO OUR BE SUCCESSFUL JOBS AND COMMUNITY RESOURCE FAIR, WHICH IS HAPPENING, UM, THIS SATURDAY AT 10:00 AM AT THE CASHMERE GARDEN MULTI SERVICE CENTER.
UM, THIS WILL BE A ONE STOP SHOP.
FOLKS CAN GET THEIR RESUME, UM, WRITTEN AND GET SOME IN, UM, PRACTICE INTERVIEWING, AND WE WILL HAVE QUITE A FEW COMPANIES THAT ARE READY TO HIRE YOU ON
[04:15:01]
THE SPOT.SO, FOR MORE INFORMATION, UM, PLEASE CONTACT MY OFFICE AT 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 9.
AND THIS WEEK, MAYOR, I MET WITH, UM, CONSTABLE ALLEN ROSEN, AND I WAS HAPPY TO LEARN THAT WE WERE GOING TO GET MORE CAMERAS, UM, THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND IN DISTRICT B TO, YOU KNOW, TACKLE THE ILLEGAL DUMPING.
AND SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP, UM, WITH HIS OFFICE AND JUST THE WORK THAT HE'S DOING.
HE WAS ABLE TO, UM, BASICALLY EXPLAIN THE CASES THAT HE, THAT IS IN PROCESS OF BEING PROSECUTED.
UM, AND SO, UM, JUST HAPPY ABOUT THE, THE ADDITIONAL CAMERAS IN THE DISTRICT.
SO THANK YOU, UM, EVERYONE HAVE A BLESSED WEEK.
JUST A FEW SHOUT OUTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS, UM, ON THIS WEEK'S COUNT AGENDA, WE ALSO PASS, UH, IMPORTANT NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTIONS ALL OVER DISTRICT C THAT RESIDENTS, UH, CHAMPIONED IN TIMBER GROVE MANOR ON HARVARD STREET IN BLOCKS OF BONNIE BRAY, NORFOLK, AND CASTLE COURT.
SO THANKS TO THE DEPARTMENTS AND THE RESIDENTS, UM, FOR CHAMPIONING THIS, I WANTED TO THANK, UM, PUBLIC WORKS, TDO, ESPECIALLY JOANNA CLARK AND LANI SNY.
UM, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE, EVEN IN AREAS THAT DON'T TYPICALLY FLOOD A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS SO OLD, UH, WE'RE GETTING PONDING THAT'S ACTUALLY FLOODING CARS.
SO, UH, TD OEP IN, UH, WORKED WITH MY OFFICE AND WE ACTUALLY GOT THE FIVE, 500 BLOCK OF HARVARD STREET WHERE CARS WERE FLOODING FROM PONDING ITSELF, UM, REHAB.
AND THEN COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE A PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE MEETING TOMORROW AT 2:00 PM AS YOU HEARD, AT TTI, THERE'S SOME REALLY IMPORTANT ITEMS THAT ARE COMING FORWARD.
UM, ONE HAPPENS TO BE THE RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR HPD, AND WE'RE GONNA BE DEEP DIVING.
SO THE, THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS WAS COVERED IN TTI AND WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT WHAT RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IS, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST SOME TECHNOLOGY, IT LITERALLY TOUCHES EVERY SINGLE ASPECT OF WHAT HPD DOES AND IS CRITICAL TO PUBLIC SAFETY OPERATIONS.
SO THERE'LL BE A, UM, A BRIEF ON THAT AS WELL AS A FEW OTHER ITEMS. BUT TWO O'CLOCK TOMORROW.
I TOO WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE, UM, THE IMPROVEMENTS TO FORUM PARK THAT WILL BE COMING TO DISTRICT J AS A PART OF YOUR 50 50 PARKS INITIATIVE.
UH, THE IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE A NEW PARKING LOT WITH LIGHTING, AN UP UPDATE TO THE TRAIL, NEW PICNIC TABLES AND GRILLS IN THE PICNIC AREA, A SHADE SALE NEAR THE PLAYGROUND, UPGRADED SITE LIGHTING, NEW MINI SOCCER PITCH, AND A HALF COURT BASKETBALL COURT, UM, AND THE CREATION OF, UH, NEEDED DETENTION.
MAYOR, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR, UH, YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
UH, I REMEMBER WHEN YOU FIRST ANNOUNCED YOUR 50 50 PARKS INITIATIVE AND, AND HAVING IT BE A PUBLIC, PRIVATE, UH, PARTNERSHIP FOR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, UH, THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO.
AND TO SEE IT COME, UH, TO WHERE WE ARE NOW, IT'S, UH, IT'S EXCITING FOR THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, ESPECIALLY IN FORUM PARK.
SO THE RIBBON CUTTING WILL BE THIS SATURDAY, MARCH 11TH AT 10:00 AM AT FORUM PARK, WHICH IS LOCATED AT 9 9 0 0 9 9 0 0 SUGAR BRANCH DRIVE.
UH, SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE COMMUNITY COMING OUT AND SUPPORTING THAT.
UM, AND THEN RIGHT AFTER THAT, MAYOR, UH, WE HAVE THE MARCH ON CRIME EVENT THAT WILL BE ENGULFING, UH, HOSTED BY THE GULFTON MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.
UM, THIS WILL BE STARTING WITH AT 10:00 AM IS THE MARCH, WHICH WILL BE STARTING AT BENAVIDEZ ELEMENTARY AT 6 2 6 2 GOFTON STREET.
AND IT ENDS AT BURNETT BAYLEN PARK, WHICH IS 6,400 CHIMNEY ROCK.
SO IT'S ABOUT A HALF MILE, UH, MARCH.
I WANNA GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO TAMMY RODRIGUEZ IN THE ENTIRE GULFTON MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.
UH, THIS WILL BE THE SECOND ANNUAL MARCH ON CRIME MAYOR.
UH, WE EXPECT A LOT OF VENDORS AND A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY TO COME OUT, UH, TO CONTINUE TO HAVE PRIDE IN THE GULFTON COMMUNITY AND, UH, SPEAK OUT ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE, THAT ARE TAKING PLACE THERE.
SO LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING PEOPLE AT BOTH EVENTS THIS SATURDAY.
I WANT TO SAY THAT ON MONDAY, MARCH THE SIXTH, I WAS THE SPEAKER OF THE CONVOCATION WOMEN'S DAY AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.
AND IT WAS, UH, A, A WONDERFUL EVENT AND EXPERIENCE, AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT I GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF SUCH A MEANINGFUL EVENT.
UM, ON TODAY, MARCH THE EIGHTH AT 6:00 PM THE THIRD WARD MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, 36 11 IN STREET, UH, ALL THIRD WARD BUSINESSES WILL PARTICIPATE IN CONVERSATIONS ON HOW TO IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS RELATIONS.
ALL OTHERS ARE CERTAINLY INVITED.
UH, AND YOUR VOICE MATTERS ON ALSO TODAY AT 6:30 PM AT THE CULLEN JUSTICE OF THE PEACE COURTHOUSE, 57 37 CULLEN BOULEVARD.
THERE WILL BE A COMMUNITY MEETING CONCERNING PROPERTY RIGHTS.
[04:20:01]
THEN ON SATURDAY, MARCH THE 11TH FROM 10 TO 2:00 PM THERE WILL BE THE THIRD WARD ON TAP.THE LOCATION IS THE COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL AT, AT TRILLA STREET, AND WE WANT TO JOIN US IN CELEBRATING THE COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL, WHERE SOME WONDERFUL THINGS ARE SLATED TO TAKE PLACE.
UH, WE ARE PROVIDING, UM, SOME CALL BOXES IN THAT AREA AS WELL AS SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO THE AIDS, UH, PARK IN THAT AREA RIGHT THERE OFF OF MCGREGOR.
AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, THOSE COMING OUT.
THEN ON MONDAY, MARCH THE 13TH IN THE SOUTH UNION ON MARTIN LUTHER KING GROUNDBREAKING EVENT, UH, 53 0 2 MARTIN LUTHER KING AT 11:00 AM WHERE THERE WILL BE A GROUNDBREAKING FOR 40 AFFORDABLE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
MAYBERRY HOMES IS THE BUILDER, AGAIN, IT'S ON OST, UH, SOUTH UNION, SOUTH UNION ACRES COMMUNITY THROUGH THE CITY.
AND WE ARE CERTAINLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT NEW DEVELOPMENT.
UH, THE HOME DESIGNS ARE THREE BEDROOMS, SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED, AND WE CERTAINLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE HOME OWNERSHIP AND, UH, ENCOURAGE THOSE TO COME OUT AND ENJOY THE GROUNDBREAKING TO BEGIN THAT WONDERFUL ENDEAVOR.
AND THAT CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND THE PUBLIC TO JOIN US FOR AN IMPORTANT CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH COMMITTEE MEETING.
UM, THAT WILL BE TODAY, THIS AFTERNOON AT 2:00 PM IN THESE CHAMBERS, WE WILL HEAR AN OVERVIEW OF THE IMPACT ON THE CITY OF HOUSTON SHOULD THE STATE TAKE OVER HISD.
SO PLEASE JOIN US FOR THAT AT TWO O'CLOCK TODAY.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO, COUNCILMAN ROBINSON.
I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT TODAY IS, UM, INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY IN WHAT A FORTUITOUS DAY IT IS.
I'D LIKE TO ALSO POINT OUT THAT IT IS HIS NATIONAL DIETICIAN DAY AND I HAVE A DIETICIAN WHO I'M CELEBRATING.
AND, UH, WITH THAT MAYOR, I WANNA WISH YOU A HAPPY BREAK AND HOPE EVERYONE GETS SOME WELL DESERVED REST.
AND LET ME SAY THAT TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
ENJOY YOUR SPRING BREAK AND WE'LL SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN ON MARCH THE 21ST.