* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [PRESENTATIONS] [00:00:07] OKAY. HELLO. IT'S 1 37 ON TUESDAY, APRIL THE FOURTH, 2023. I'M MAYOR VE ATTORNEY, AND I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL ORDER. UH, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER KASH FOR A, A PROCLAMATION TO JUDGE CLARICE RANKIN THE EGGS. YAY. UH, TO RECOGNIZE HER FOR ALL OF THE YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. COUNCIL MEMBER KASH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, COME UP. HI. DOING ROUND. OKAY. THANK YOU. TODAY IT'S, UH, IT'S WITH GREAT HONOR THAT, UH, WE RECOGNIZE THE HONORABLE FEDERAL JUDGE CLARICE RANKIN YATES, APPOINTED BY, UM, OUR FORMER PRESIDENT, RONALD REAGAN. UH, SHE'S A LONG, SHE HAS A LONG HISTORY AS AN OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY LEADER AND A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSWOMAN. SHE WAS BORN IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AND RECEIVED BOTH HER BACHELOR'S DEGREE AND JURIS DOCTORATE'S DEGREE FROM TEMPLE UNIVERSITY. MS. YATE, JUDGE YATES WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN IN THE COUNTRY TO BE APPOINTED TO THE UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION COURT, WHERE SHE HAS SERVED SINCE APRIL OF 1990. SHE SERVED AS AN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR AT THE THIRD GRADE, MARSHALL SCHOOL OF LAW AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY FOR EIGHT YEARS. JUDGE HS IS A MEMBER OF CLASS 14 LEADERSHIP HOUSTON, AND IS A CERTIFIED WASHINGTON SCHOOL OF PROTOCOL INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT. SHE HAS INVESTED MANY HOURS IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND IS, UH, AND IS THE RECIPIENT OF MANY AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS. JUDGE YATES SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE SICKLE CELL ASSOCIATION OF GULF COAST, TEXAS, RAISING MORE THAN $500,000 TOWARD IMPORTANT RESEARCH TO ERADICATE THE DISEASE. SHE HAS ALSO SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSTON SYMPHONY AND SYMPHONY LEAGUE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE HOUSTON HOLOCAUST MUSEUM, THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION, BOARD OF FOUNDATION FOR TEEN HEALTH BOARD, FOR FOR BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO. AND AS A CAPTAIN WITH THE BLACK HERITAGE COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO, JUDGE YATES IS A LIFELONG LIFETIME MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE AND FORMER CHAIR MEMBER OF THE COALITION OF 100 BLACK WOMEN, WHERE SHE SERVES AS A CHAIR OF THE LAW ROLE MODEL PROGRAM. SHE'S A LIFETIME MEMBER OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY. FIGURED THEY'D WANT ME TO STOP THERE. , AND SERVED AS AN OFFICER OF THE HOUSTON CHAPTER OF THE LINKS IN INC. JUDGE YATES. IT'S A MEMBER OF THE FASHION GROUP INTERNATIONAL, A CERTIFIED IMAGE CONSULTANT, AND FORMER SENIOR DIRECTOR OF AN INTERNATIONAL COSME COSMETIC COMPANY. SHE'S THE FOUNDER AND OWNER OF INDESTRUCTIBLE BEGINNINGS AND THE AUTHOR OF, OF THE CHARM AND ETIQUETTE HANDBOOK OF FOR AGES FIVE TO 95, INDESTRUCTIBLE BEGINNINGS, ABCS OF COMMON COURTESY. JUDGE YCE IS AN ACCOMPLISHED BALLET INSTRUCTOR AND A GRADUATE OF PAGE PARK SCHOOL OF MODELING AND ACTING. SHE'S A MEMBER OF THE FORT BEND CHURCH AND WAS A FOUNDER, FOUNDING BOARD MEMBER OF THE WINDSOR VILLAGE, UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CREDIT UNION. JUDGE YATES IS HAPPILY MARRIED TO CARRIE YATES. THEY HAVE FIVE CHILDREN AND 10 GRANDCHILDREN. MAYOR, THANK YOU. AND THAT THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KUBAN, AND THAT ONLY NAMES, UM, A FEW OF HER, MANY, MANY ACHIEVEMENTS. AND BECAUSE OF HER SERVICE AND CONTINUED SERVICE, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SAYING SO. THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER MAYOR CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM THIS DAY, APRIL 4TH, 2023, AS JUDGE CLARICE RANKIN, YATES DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. [00:05:01] THANK, WELL, I'M OVERWHELMED. I THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 1990 WHEN I CAME TO TAKE MY APPOINTMENT. I'M SO HAPPY TO BE HERE. HOUSTON IS A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE AND BE. WE LIVE A WONDERFUL LIFE HERE IN A COMMUNITY THAT'S DIVERSE. OUR, OUR FRIENDS THAT LOOK LIKE THE UNITED NATIONS. WE'VE GOT FRIENDS FROM EVERY PLACE I, UM, HAVE TO RECOGNIZE. WELL, FIRST I WANNA SAY THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH, THIS IS QUITE AN HONOR. I'M SORRY THAT CARRIE'S NOT HERE TODAY, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY THAT KNOWS CARRIE H YOU KNOW, HE WOULD WANT TO BE HERE, RIGHT? UH, BUT HE'S NOT FEELING WELL TODAY, BUT HE DOES, HE DOES SEND US LOVE. UM, AND, UM, THANKS FOR THIS HONOR. UM, I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE IF THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE TIME, ALL OF MY WONDERFUL FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE. THAT'S MY BEAUTIFUL NIECE, DENISE, MY BEAUTIFUL FRIEND, MARTHA GAR. WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS FOR 35 YEARS. JUDGE ES IF, IF YOU COULD FLIP AROUND WHERE THE MIC IS, WE CAN MAKE SURE YOU'RE ON TV AND WE CAN HEAR YOU OKAY. OH, ON THE MIC, THE TELEVISION. OH, OKAY. BUT YOU CAN TURN AROUND, BUT YOU CAN TURN AROUND. TURN AROUND A LITTLE. YEAH. OKAY. NOW, LET'S SEE. HANDSOME SUNS, HARRY AND PHILLIP, ONE WONDERFUL FRIEND. I, I, WELL, THEY WANTED ME TO MARRY THEM, HE AND HIS WIFE, RIGHT? WE, I DID PROPOSE IN YOUR, IN YOUR CHAMBER. SURE DID. AND MY GOOD FRIEND GORDON KWAN, MANY, MANY, MANY HAVE SO MUCH LOVE AND RESPECT. ESMOND KATE, 31, GOT 35 YEARS WITH ESMOND. TWO. WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER A LONG TIME AT THE COURT. AND MY LEGAL ASSISTANT, DENISE AND ANGELICA AND CLARISSA, WELL, CLARISSA IS WITH JUDGE. UH, SHE, BUT THEY ARE THE BOSSES. THEY RUN THE, THEY RUN THE COURTS. THEY DO. WONDERFUL FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, MY BABY SISTER BACK THERE, SHARON AND HER, HER SISTER, UM, FRIENDS FROM PITTSBURGH SINCE, UH, WITH CARRIE, SINCE HE WAS TWO, TWO. HE AND HIS WIFE JEANIE JUST BECAME A DOCTOR. SHE'S GOT A DOCTORATE. WE'RE GONNA GO TO HER GRADUATION NEXT MONTH. OH GOSH. LET'S SEE. UH, WILLIE, I CAN'T PRONOUNCE YOUR LAST NAME. HE SPEAKS 13 LANGUAGES, . AND HE DOES A LOT OF WORK IN THE COMMUNITY. HE WORKS WITH ME ON MY INDESTRUCTIBLE BEGINNINGS. YOU ALL KNOW I DO ETIQUETTE CLASSES. AND HE IS ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND HE WORKS VERY CLOSELY WITH US. UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DO WITHOUT YOU, MICHAEL, MICHAEL ALDRIDGE. HE'S BEEN ON THE BOARD WITH ME FOR THE SICKLE CELL. UH, LET THE FASHIONS BEGIN. UM, AND NOW HE'S ON THE BOARD FOR INDESTRUCTIBLE BEGINNINGS. AND ACTUALLY, PHILLIP IS THE ATTORNEY FOR OUR BOARD. UH, VANESSA HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME, HELPING WITH EVERYTHING. SHE'S BRILLIANT. SHE IS SO SMART. AND WE FIGHT ALL THE TIME. . AND THEN THERE'S, UH, TIFFANY, WHO WAS THE RIGHT HAND MAN FOR VANESSA. VANESSA'S GETTING READY TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF HER. VERY PROUD OF HER. UH, WE'VE GOT, OH, MY COLLEAGUE, UM, ACTUALLY HE'S AN ATTORNEY. HIS FATHER HAS BEEN AN ATTORNEY, UM, IN MY COURT FOR 30 YEARS. AND IT'S CONFUSING TO ME WHEN I LOOK OUT, WHEN I LOOK OUT AND SEE HIM IN COURT, BECAUSE HE LOOKS JUST LIKE HIS FATHER, . NOW HIS FATHER HAS A GRAY BEARD, AND HERE HE COMES WITH THE LOOKING JUST LIKE HIS DADDY. HE'S AN EXCELLENT IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY. MY LINK SISTERS ARE HERE IN MASS. UH, THERE'S THE PRESIDENT OF OUR CHAPTER, OUR, UM, UH, HOUSTON CHAPTER OF THE LINKS RIGHT NOW. UH, AND NEXT TO HER, I BELIEVE, ERIC. ERIC, YEAH. URBAN LEAGUE URBAN LEAGUE. AND HE'S A BIGGER BIG MENTOR FOR, FOR PHILIP. AND HE'S HOLDING EVERYTHING TOGETHER THERE. AND MORE LINK SISTERS, JULIE AND BARBARA AND [00:10:02] CO. THANK YOU. AND MY FRIEND, SHE'S A LINK SISTERS AS WELL. NO, SHE'S NOT . SHE'S FROM THE ISLANDS. UH, AND I'VE BEEN TO YOUR ISLAND. IT'S A WONDERFUL PLACE. AND THIS IS THE, THE FRIEND THAT BROUGHT ME HERE TO HOUSTON, AL AL ALITA. AL AL BROUGHT ME HERE. DID I MISS ANYBODY? I DIDN'T MISS ANYBODY. MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW. OH MY GOD. . THIS IS MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING GETS RECORDED. THIS BABY IS LIKE MY BABY. SHE IS WONDERFUL. SHE AND MY SON HAVE BEEN MARRIED 25, 27 YEARS. , WE HAVE THREE BEAUTIFUL GRANDDAUGHTERS WITH THEM. AND THEN OF COURSE, WE HAVE PHILIP'S BEAUTIFUL GRANDKIDS THAT I COULD GO ON ALL DAY. YOU'RE NOT GONNA LET ME DO THAT, ARE YOU, MR. MAYOR ? I JUST WANNA SAY THAT THIS IS SUCH A WONDERFUL CITY. UM, TURN AROUND WITH. IT'S SUCH A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL CITY. I LOVE IT HERE. UM, THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT WE HAVE. IT'S AWESOME. I WANNA START BRAGGING ABOUT WHERE WE LIVE AND ALL THAT STUFF, BUT WE COULDN'T DO THAT ANY PLACE ELSE. THIS IS JUST A FANTASTIC PLACE. I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN GETTING INVOLVED IN YOUR INTERNATIONAL STUFF. 'CAUSE I WORKED AT THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE, UH, INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION IN DC BEFORE I BECAME A, A LAWYER. SO I PUT A PLUG IN FOR MYSELF. . I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY EXCEPT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT'S, IT'S A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL PLACE. I WOULDN'T WANT TO LIVE ANY PLACE ELSE AND NEED THE WOOD CARRY. WE LOVE IT HERE. AND ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO, DESERVE IT. THANK YOU EVERYBODY. JUDGE, JUDGE YATES, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF, NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE. BEFORE I DO THAT, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER, GORDON QUAN, WHO'S HERE IN THE AUDIENCE. GORDON, GOOD TO SEE YOU. VICE MAYOR PROAM. MARTHA CASTEX TATUM. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KASH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. UH, JUDGE YATES, YOU ARE SO DESERVING OF THIS HONOR TODAY. YOU ARE A TRUE INSPIRATION TO US IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WHETHER IT IS IN BUSINESS OR PHILANTHROPY, YOUR SERVICE IS ALWAYS STELLAR AND THE EPITOME OF EXCELLENCE AND GRACE. SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS GREAT HONOR TODAY, AND WE ARE SO HAPPY THAT YOU CAME TO HOUSTON IN 1990. AND AGAIN, WE ARE SO HONORED TO CELEBRATE YOU TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILMAN JUDGE. HS. BEFORE WE GO TO OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEMBER, LAST WEEK, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN WASHINGTON, DC AND ON TUESDAY WE RAN INTO PROBABLY 2 MILLION LADIES DRESSED IN RED , YOUR FELLOW DELTA SOS. YES. AND EVERYWHERE WE WENT, WE ASKED ABOUT OUR FAVORITE, ONE OF OUR FAVORITE DELTAS, AND THAT'S COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS, AND THEY ALL KNEW HER, EVERY ONE OF 'EM. BUT COUNCIL MEMBER SORA, TIFFANY DEED. ALL RIGHT, NOW, MAYOR PROTI, UH, JUDGE YATES, UM, I GET THE PLEASURE OF NOT ONLY CALLING YOU JUDGE, BUT SORA AND FRIEND, AND YOU ARE DEFINITELY AN ICON IN THE CITY. UM, EVEN THOUGH YOU, YOU CAME IN 1990, YOU'VE MADE SUCH A, A MARK ON OUR COMMUNITY AND WE'RE FOREVER GRATEFUL. AND FOR THOSE OF US THAT STILL GET TO BE IN RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU, WE GET TO BENEFIT FROM THAT. AND I'M JUST WARMED OVER TO SEE LINK SISTERS AND SAWS AND FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN THE CHAMBERS TO SUPPORT YOU. AND, UH, THANKS FOR KEEPING PHIL IN CHECK . UM, UH, PHIL AND I WENT TO HER SON AND I, WE WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL TOGETHER. PHIL WAS OUR PROM KING , THE VOTE WAS RIGGED. I WANT A RECOUNT ON THAT VOTE. UM, BUT YOU JUST, AND, AND HOW THAT YOUR SERVICE COMMUNITY HAS OVERFLOWED THROUGHOUT YOUR FAMILY. UM, THERE'S SO MANY PLACES IN COMMUNITY THAT Y'ALL COMMIT TO AND, AND SERVE. SO THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH, FOR ELEVATING HER TODAY IN FRONT OF THIS BODY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND ALI, THE LAST WORD'S UP TO YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL KOSH. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. WE WERE ALL DRESSED IN RED THE LAST TIME WE WERE TOGETHER. YES, WE WERE. TOOK SOME BEAUTIFUL PICTURES, DIDN'T WE? I NEED TO SEE THOSE PICTURES. , I'LL MAKE SURE YOU GET THOSE PHOTOS. THANK YOU. [00:19:06] . WHY Y'ALL MISSING, MAN? Y'ALL WAS LIKE CHAIR. NOW RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER TARSHA JACKSON FOR A PROCLAMATION TWO RAY CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER TARSHA JACKSON FOR A PROCLAMATION TO IAN STOUTS, WHO WILL COMPETE IN THE BELLATOR BANTAM WEIGHT WORLD GRAND PRIX TOURNAMENT IN APRIL. WOW, THAT'S SOME BLING. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO, TIM, APPRECIATE IT. I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROCLAMATION, THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A CHAMPION LIVE RIGHT IN DISTRICT B, YOU KNOW, SO WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING YOU UP FORWARD AND RECOGNIZE YOU AND JUST THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, PUTTING US ON THE MAP. AND SO, UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, RAFAEL STOS AND WAS BORN ON DECEMBER THE 16TH, 1988. [00:20:01] HE IS A MIXED MARTIAL ARTS, ARTS, I'M SORRY, MARSHALL ARTIST CURRENTLY COMPETING IN THE BWA DIVISION OF THE BE TAMAR, MMA, WHERE HE IS THE INTERIM BELLMAR BELLATOR BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPION AS A WRESTLER. HE IS THE TWO TWICE NCAA DIVISION TWO CHAMPIONSHIP AND NUMBER NINE IN THE BELLATOR MEN'S POUND FOR POUND RANKINGS. AND WHEREAS STOCKS GREW UP IN HOUSTON, TEXAS WITH HIS MOTHER AND TWO BROTHERS, HE STARTED WRESTLING IN HIS JUNIOR YEAR AT KLEIN OAK HIGH SCHOOL. AFTER THE PASSING OF HIS MOTHER. HE THEN EARNED THE SCHOLARSHIP AT THE LE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND BECAME AN ALL AMERICAN. WHEREAS WHEN TRANSFERRING FROM COLLEGE WRESTLING TO MIXED MARTIAL ARTS STATS ADAPTED TO THE NEW SPORT QUICKLY, STATS GOT INTO MIXED MARTIAL ARTS AFTER BEING INTRODUCED TO THE SPOTS TO THE SPORT BY TWO MENTORS. AFTER TURNING PRO IN 19, IN MAY, 2015, HE COMPILED EIGHT WINS AND NO LOSSES BEFORE COMPETING AT RE A RE, I'M SORRY, COMPETING AT REGIONAL EVENTS FEATURING AT THE LOOKING FOR A FIGHT SHOW IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET SIGNED BY THE UFC. AFTER LOSING THE BOUT, HE COMPILED FOUR MORE WINS BEFORE GETTING SIGNED BY THE BELLATOR MMA AND WHEREIN, WHEREAS IN HIS PROMOTIONAL W STOCKS FACED FIVE FIGHTERS AND WON FIVE MATCHES SPANNING FROM DECEMBER, 2019 TO AUGUST, 2021. AND THE WORD FIRST ROUND BOUT OF THE 1 MILLION BEARD BANTAMWEIGHT, ROYAL GRAND PRICK, UM, GRAND PRICKS TOURNAMENT IS A LOT OF LIKE LETTERS UP IN THERE. STATS WON THE BALL AND BECAME THE INTERIM CHAMPIONSHIP. IN THE SEMI-FINALS. STATS FACED DANNY ELLO ON DECEMBER THE NINTH, 2022 IN THE MAIN EVENT AT THE BEARD 289. HE WON THE FIGHT VIA SPLIT DECISION. AND THE FINALS STOTTS IS SCHEDULED TO FACE PAX MIX ON APRIL THE 22ND, 2023 AT THE BELLATOR 2 95. AND WHEREAS ABOVE ALL ION STOTTS ACCOMPLISHMENTS, HE IS HONORED TO BE THE FATHER OF HIS BELOVED SON. CLARENCE STOTZ, THE CITY OF HOUSTON CONGRATULATES MR. STOTZ ON THE UPCOMING COMING FINALS OF THE BELLATOR MANTLE WEIGHT ROYAL GRAND PRICKS TOURNAMENT IN APRIL IN HAWAII, AND EXTENDS BEST WISHES FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS. STATS SO MUCH. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING, UH, BRINGING HIM FORWARD AND, UM, WHAT A, WHAT A WHAT A BIOGRAPHY AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT YOU HAVE MADE AND, UH, HOUSTON ON. YEAH, COME ON. RAISE KLEIN OAK. YEP. BUT THAT'S THE WAY HOW, THAT'S THE WAY WE DO IT. UH, I'M A PRODUCT OF KLINE, YOU KNOW, AND, UM, WELL, I'M NOT GONNA GO AND TALK ABOUT WHEN I DID THAT, WHAT YOU'RE DOING. BUT THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM APRIL 4TH, 2023. THAT'S RAPON STOUTS DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS, MAN, FOR WHAT YOU'VE GOT. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD TO HAVE THIS SPOT. THANK YOU. UM, I WANNA THANK, UM, COUNCILWOMAN JACKSON AND MAYOR, UH, TURNER FOR, UH, THIS DAY. I MEAN, THIS MEANS SO MUCH TO ME. BEING BORN AND RAISED IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. LIKE, IT ALMOST BRINGS TEARS TO MY EYES BECAUSE MY MOM, YOU KNOW, UH, RAISED ME IN SECTION EIGHT HOUSING, AND WE WERE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, SCRATCH AND CLAW AND CLIMB, YOU KNOW, OUT OF THAT SITUATION, UM, YOU KNOW, TO BETTER MY FAMILY'S LIFE, LIKE MY, MY FAMILY IN GENERAL. SO, LIKE, THIS MEANS SO MUCH TO ME. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS. UH, I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY HERE. THANK ALL, UM, THANK THANKS, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR AMEN. LIKE BEING, BEING HERE IN HOUSTON MEANS, MEANS A LOT, A LOT TO ME. AND BEING RECOGNIZED IN MY CITY MEANS A LOT TO ME. SO, YEAH. UM, I WOULD THANK YOU GUYS, AND THANKS, UH, EVERYBODY. OH, I ALSO, I FORGOT, I GOT, UM, I GOT MY, MY WIFE HERE. UM, YOUR WIFE, YOU CAN STAND. YEAH, MY WIFE THERE, SHE MOVED, YOU KNOW, UH, BACK TO HOUSTON WITH ME. AND I'M SO GLAD, UH, THAT SHE'S HERE AND WE'RE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, BE HERE. I WANT TO THANK EVEREST, YOU KNOW, FOR RECOGNIZING ME, UH, AND, AND BEING MY MANAGER AND, UM, BRINGING THIS WHOLE THING TOGETHER. UM, ALSO, I WANNA THANK, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, , COUNCILWOMAN JACKSON, UH, BECAUSE AKERS HOME WAS LIKE, I WAS BORN AND RAISED, YOU KNOW, IN AKERS HOME, HOME, YOU KNOW, [00:25:01] UM, I HAVE SO MANY MEMORIES THERE, SO MUCH FAMILY THERE. AND, UM, TURN AROUND SO WE CAN GET IT ON THE, YEAH. YEAH, I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN ACRES HOME . SO, UH, I WANNA, I GOT SO MUCH FAMILY THERE. SO MANY MEMORIES THERE. SO, UM, THANK YOU. THANK YOU EVERYBODY AGAIN, RAPON HAVE A, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN Q AND I KNOW THAT YOUR, YOUR ACRES HOME KLEIN BROTHER, I THINK, MAYOR, YOU WERE A STATE CHAMPION IN 1 0 1 13 WRESTLING WEIGHT CLASS. HEY, I TRY NOT TO TALK ABOUT IT TOO. OKAY, LET'S GO. VICE MAYOR PRO TAM, MARTHA CASTEX, TATUM, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, JACKSON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD TODAY. ANYTIME WE GET TO CELEBRATE A CHAMPION, WE WANT TO DO. SO, UH, MR. STATS, YOU ARE THE EPITOME OF WHAT WE ARE WANTING TO CELEBRATE IN OUR CITY. I LOVE THAT YOU ARE THE PRIDE OF AKERS HOME AND THAT YOU SHOW PRIDE IN YOUR COMMUNITY. YOU SHOW PRIDE IN WHERE YOU ARE FROM, AND YOU ARE A GREAT INSPIRATION TO NEVER STOP PERSEVERING. AND SO, CONGRATULATIONS TODAY, WE ARE SO HONORED TO CELEBRATE THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE, BECAUSE I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT KINDA SHAPE YOU HAVE TO BE IN TO WRESTLE AND BE A CHAMPION. UH, SO I KNOW YOU PUT IN A LOT OF WORK, UH, AND WE RECOGNIZE AND AMPLIFY THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE TODAY. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL KNOX. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROAM. UM, RAPHAEL, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SUCCESS. I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION. YEAH. WHEN YOU'RE WEARING THAT BELT, HOW DO YOU BEND OVER TO TIE YOUR SHOES? SUPER. I MEAN, I'M, SEE HOW THAT WORKS. SUPER DIFFICULT, SUPER DIFFICULT. I GOTTA STAND UP ALL DAY. I GOTTA LEARN HOW TO DO IT WITH MY FEET, YOU KNOW? OH, OKAY. IT'S NOT A PROCESS. OKAY. ANYWAY, HE'S, OH, YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE FOR THAT, I'M TOLD. SO, THERE YOU GO. THERE YOU GO. ANYWAY, CONGRATULATIONS. UH, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK THAT YOU DID, UH, UM, TO, TO GET TO, INTO THE CONDITION THAT YOU NEEDED TO BE IN, TO BE A CHAMPION. SO, GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL KOSH, A THANK YOU FOR COMING. AND, UM, OF, OF ALL THE, UH, THANK YOUS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM RECIPIENTS OF THE MAYOR'S PROCLAMATION, I THINK YOURS HAS TO JUST BE ONE OF THE MOST EMOTIONAL, UH, AND, AND, AND REALISTIC. IT, IT FELT SO REAL WHAT YOU WERE SAYING TO US, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE, UH, YOUR RESPECT FOR, FOR THIS BODY AND FOR THE MAYOR IS JUST, IT, IT JUST MEANS A LOT TO US. THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING HOUSTON. AND TEARS ARE OKAY. . YES, SIR. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. AND RAPON, BEFORE I TURN IT BACK OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER TARSHA JACKSON, COULD YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE GRAND PRIX? IS, IS BA IS THE YOUR WEIGHT CLASS STILL ONE 18 OR WHAT? YEAH, SO MY WEIGHT CLASS IS, UH, 1 35 35. SO I'M, UH, BAND WEIGHT. AND, UM, I'M CURRENTLY IN THE, UH, FINALS OF THE GRAND PRIX TOURNAMENT. SO, UM, I FIGHT APRIL 22ND, UH, SO THE END OF THIS MONTH AND HONOLULU, HAWAII, AND THEN THE, UH, WINNER OF THE GRAND PRIX GETS A MILLION DOLLARS. SO I'M LITERALLY CHANGING, CHANGING MY FAMILY'S LIKE LIFE AND EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING NOW IS STARTING TO LIKE PAY OFF AND I'M SEEING LIKE DIVIDENDS OF LIKE ALL THE HARD WORK THAT I PUT IN. SO, UM, YEAH, SO IF WE HAVE A PARTY LIKE MAY 1ST , WE'RE GOOD. YEAH. EVERYBODY'S INVITED. YEAH. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU. AND, AND RAPON IS ALREADY CONFIDENT THAT HE'S GONNA WIN BECAUSE HE ACTUALLY REACHED OUT AND SAID, HEY, I WANT TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. I WANNA START COACHING UP SOME OF THESE YOUNG KIDS AT RISK KIDS. AND SO WE JUST THANKFUL THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR JUST COMING BACK AND NOT JUST STAYING OUT OVERSEAS, BUT COMING BACK AND GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. GOOD LUCK, AND GOD BLESS. THAT'S AWESOME. [00:30:19] UM, SO, UH, IF YOU HAVE THAT CHANNEL OR IF YOU GET A SUBSCRIPTION, UH, THAT'S HOW YOU CAN WATCH IT. . THANK YOU. SUBSCRIPTION. ALL RIGHT, CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES MAYOR SYLVETA TURNER FOR A PROCLAMATION TO A MANUALLY OUTSPOKEN BEING TO CELEBRATE, TO CELEBRATE HIS TENURE AS HOUSTON'S POET LAUREATE. CONGRATULATIONS. LOW. LOOK, I, UM, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF, UH, PRESENTING THIS, UH, POPULATION TO OUTSPOKEN BEAN, WHO, UM, HAS BEEN HOUSTON'S PORT LAUREATE. HE'S WRAPPING UP HIS HIS YEAR, AND WE CERTAINLY, UM, WILL MISS HIM HOLDING THE TITLE, BELIEVE HE'LL ALWAYS, UH, BE THE PERSON OF THE SPOKEN WORD. UH, WHEREAS EMANU LEE OUTSPOKEN BEING IS HOUSTON'S FIFTH PORT LAUREATE AND A CARNEGIE HALL PERFORMER. YEAH. RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO. HE CAME TO HOUSTON AS AN ADULT. HE HAS AN EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND IN PERFORMANCE POETRY, AND WHEREAS HE HAS BEEN A NATIONALLY RANKED SLAM, UH, POET HEAD COACH OF THE YOUTH POETRY TEAM, BETTER FOR HOUSTON, AND IS THE FOUNDER OF PRAIRIEVIEW A AND M UNIVERSITY SLAM POETRY TEAM. HE IS THE CREATOR OF FIVE MINUTE POEMS, A PROJECT IN WHICH HE WRITES AND PERFORMS CUSTOM POEMS WITHIN FIVE MINUTES AT LOCAL MARKETS. AND WHEREAS, AS A CURATOR, BEAN HAS CREATED FESTIVALS WOODSON BLACK FEST WITH CONTEMPORARY ARTS MUSEUM. HOUSTON BLACK IS PRIMARY WITH POST HOUSTON AND SELF-FUNDED PLUS FEST, THE EVERYTHING PLUS POETRY FESTIVAL. OUTSPOKEN POETRY HAS THE HONOR OF BEING INSCRIBED ON POST HOUSTON BARBARA JORDAN MONUMENT. AND WHEREAS HE RECENTLY RELEASED SPACE CITY STORY TAPE, WHICH TELLS STORIES OF HOUSTON FROM HIS RESIDENCE SET TO MUSIC AND POETRY COLLABORATORS ON SPACE CITY. STORY TAPE INCLUDED THE 96-YEAR-OLD DAVID AEK ATS ADDICTS, ADDICTS, THE SCULPTOR OF THE SAM HOUSTON MONUMENTAL STATUE NEAR HUNTSVILLE. AND WHEREAS OUTSPOKEN LOVES HOUSTON DEEPLY AND BELIEVES IN THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF POETRY, HE PERFORMS REGULARLY THROUGHOUT THE GREATER HOUSTON REGION AND THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMANDS EMMANUEL OUTSPOKEN BEING ON HIS OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND SERVICE TO THE ARTS. THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM APRIL 8TH, IN THIS CASE, 2023 AS MANUALLY OUTSPOKEN BEAN DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. UM, I DIDN'T BRING A BELT, BUT I BROUGHT NOTES. UM, I WANT TO THANK, UM, THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR BEING A CATAPULTED FOR ART AND ARTISTS. UM, AND, AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT, AND YOU CAN SEE EVEN JUST WALKING THROUGH THIS CITY, OR LET ME LEMME STOP LYING, [00:35:01] DRIVING THROUGH THIS CITY, . YOU CAN SEE, YOU CAN SEE, YOU CAN SEE ART, AND YOU CAN SEE IT EVERYWHERE. UM, AND IT'S, AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT. SO TO CITY OF HOUSTON MOCA TO THE MAYOR, UM, THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THIS HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY. UM, IS SUCH A, SUCH AN IMPORTANT, UM, INSTITUTION HERE FOR THE CITY. THEY WERE THE FIRST, UH, ORGANIZATION THAT ACTUALLY GAVE ME LIKE A PLACE TO DO WORKSHOPS WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE IN 2009. UM, AND, AND SO BEING POET LAUREATE AND BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE TO JOIN THAT KIND OF WORK, UH, THAT'S OFFERED FOR FREE FOR STUDENTS, FOR ALL AGENTS, FOR EVERYONE IS I THINK IS, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING. UM, I WANT TO THANK MY MOM FOR FORCING ME TO GET IN FRONT OF PEOPLE AND TALK, UH, WHEN I WAS A KID, AND I HATED IT. BUT SHE KNEW I LIKED IT AND SHE KEPT DOING IT. AND EVEN WHEN I TELL HER THAT IT'S NOT A BIG PERFORMANCE OR A BIG DEAL, SHE, UH, SHE SHOWS UP AND FLIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO GO TO MY SMALL AND LARGE PERFORMANCES. ANYWAY. UM, I LOVE THAT. I LOVE THAT ABOUT YOU. I LOVE YOU. I LOVE BOTH OF MY PARENTS. THANK YOU DADDY, FOR BEING HERE. I KNOW IT WAS HARD FOR YOU TO BE HERE, BUT I'M SO HAPPY THAT YOU MADE THE TRIP. UM, SHANNON BUGS AND SIXTO WAGON WERE THE FIRST PEOPLE WHO, UH, WHO GOT ME THOSE FIRST EARLY JOBS AND, AND LIKE COACHING AND SUCH LIKE THAT WITH, WITH METAPHOR HOUSTON. THEY WERE THE FOUNDERS AND THEY BELIEVED IN ME. I WAS, THEY HAD NO REASON TO, BUT I'M GLAD THEY DID. AND, UM, AND IT MEANS, IT MEANS SO MUCH AND TRANS, TRANS TRANSFERRING THAT INTO WRITERS, INTO SCHOOLS THAT'S BEEN KEEPING ME EMPLOYED, KEEPING ME EMPLOYED TO DO THIS, TO DO THIS WORK. AND IT JUST MEANS, IT MEANS, UM, IT MEANS A LOT TO ME. AND, UM, AND ALSO NO DISRESPECT TO TSU, BUT PRAIRIE VIEW ALL DAY. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? LET'S GO. HEY, HONOR TSU, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. BUT, UH, BUT I, I, YOU KNOW, LIKE THOSE FORMATIVE YEARS WHERE I, UM, WERE REALLY IMPORTANT AND, AND, UM, THEY MEAN A LOT TO ME AND I'M A COLLABORATOR. HOW I'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE A CAREER IS I, I COLLABORATE WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF WHAT I DO. AND SO, YOU KNOW, MY BOY RUSSELL GUESS WHO WAS THE OTHER HALF OF THE SPACE CITY, STORYTAPE, ANYTHING THAT IS MUSIC, MUSIC ON THERE IS HIM. UM, IF IT SOUNDS GOOD, IT'S HIM. UM, AND, AND I COULDN'T HAVE, I LITERALLY COULDN'T HAVE, I COULDN'T HAVE BEEN POET LAUREATE WITHOUT HIM. HE WAS WRITTEN INTO MY, INTO MY PROJECT. AND BECAUSE I'M SUCH A COLLABORATOR, THIS LINE FROM ONE OF MY POEMS MEANS A LOT TO ME. I HEARD YOUR PEOPLE CAN BUILD BABY LIGHT TOWERS, AND I HEARD YOUR PEOPLE WERE CRAFTSMEN OF STEEPLES TOGETHER, OUR PEOPLE CAN BUILD CATHEDRALS. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MY, MY FAMILY'S HERE. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A PICTURE, INTRODUCE YOUR FAMILY. YEAH. SO IF MY MOM AND MY DAD CAN STAND UP OVER THERE. YEAH. YEAH. I HAVE ONE LAST THING. THE REASON WHY I CHOSE APRIL 8TH, UM, THE REASON WHY I CHOSE APRIL 8TH IS, UM, SO I'M THE BABY OF FIVE. UM, I'M THE, I'M, I'M THE BABY OF FIVE. AND ALL MY FAMILY, EXCEPT ME, IT'S FROM NEW ORLEANS. UM, ORLEANS. YEAH. YEAH. I, I DIDN'T GET THE ACCENT. SO, UM, BUT, UH, MY OLDEST BROTHER, UH, ROGERS, LEE B JR. HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON I EVER SAW RAP WITHOUT, LIKE, THAT WASN'T ON TV. AND I EMULATED HIM FOR YEARS. UM, AND THEN WHEN KATRINA HAPPENED AND HE MOVED FROM, HE MOVED FROM NEW ORLEANS TO ATLANTA, THAT TIME WAS WHEN, UH, HE AND I WOULD TALK ALL THE TIME. WE, WE STARTED BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP. IT WAS A 15 YEAR AGE GAP. UM, MY BROTHER WAS, UH, WAS A PERSON THAT, THAT THE REASON WHY I GO BY OUTSPOKEN BEING IS 'CAUSE HE SUGGESTED THAT AS A NAME, EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T LIKE IT. AND, UM, WHEN HE PASSED, UH, WHEN HE PASSED, THAT'S, I'VE BEEN GOING BY OUTSPOKEN BEING EVER SINCE. AND THE COMPETITION I WAS GETTING READY FOR IN, AT PRAIRIE VIEW WAS, UM, IT STARTED, HE, HE PASSED IN, UM, IN, IN FEBRUARY, FEBRUARY 21ST. BUT THE COMPETITION I WAS GETTING, I WAS GETTING READY FOR WAS APRIL 8TH, UM, IN NEW MEXICO, UM, THAT WE WIND UP GETTING EIGHTH IN. AND, UM, AND THEN THIS WAS IN 2008. SO THIS IS WHY WHEN I WAS ASKED WHAT DAY I WOULD CHOSE, THAT'S WHY I CHOSE IT. SO THANK Y'ALL. APPRECIATE IT. GREAT. WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A NUMBER, NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE TO ADDRESS YOU, CARLOS CISNEROS. I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU. AND I'M JUST SO VERY PROUD OF YOU. AND WHEN YOU SAY YOU'RE A COLLABORATOR, I CAN VOUCH FOR THAT. I MEAN, AND I APPRECIATE HOW I'VE SEEN YOU WORK IN, IN MY DISTRICT, IN DISTRICT H COLLABORATING WITH COMMUNITIES, YOU [00:40:01] KNOW, BEING SO ACCESSIBLE, SO APPROACHABLE, MAKING POETRY, YOU KNOW, SO UNDERSTANDABLE AND RELATABLE TO, TO EVERYONE, ALL DIFFERENT AGES. UM, THANK YOU FOR THAT. YOU KNOW, POETS, POETS ARE, ARE UNIQUE KIND OF ARTISTS. I MEAN, THEY, A LOT OF OTHER ARTISTS LOOK TO, TO POETS, YOU KNOW, FOR THEIR INSPIRATION. UM, UM, I WENT TO A, UM, A A A LECTURE OR A PANEL LAST WEEK WHERE, UM, UH, PROFESSOR JOHN LEONHARDT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, OUR ENGINES OF INGENUITY. HE BEGAN TALKING ABOUT POETRY AND HOW HE HAS A WHOLE WALL OF POETRY IN HIS, IN HIS OWN LIBRARY AT HOME AND HOW THAT INSPIRES HIM AND HOW HE CRAFTS HIS, HIS STORIES TOGETHER. BUT I THINK, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT, THAT MANY PEOPLE LIKE THAT TAKE THEIR IN INSPIRATION FROM POETS AND FROM POETRY. SO THANK YOU FOR THE, THE BEAUTIFUL WORK YOU DO AND HOW YOU, YOU TOUCH AND REACH SO MANY PEOPLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR. I MEAN MAYOR PRO TEMP. EXCUSE ME. LET ME GIVE YOU YOUR, YOUR PROPS ANYWAY, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU RECALL. YES. I MET YOU WHAT, ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO IN THE RAIN? IT WAS STORMING, I BELIEVE YOU RAN OUT TO MEET ME. YES. AND CHLOE AND CRYSTAL. AND SO CERTAINLY I KNOW THAT YOU MEAN SO MUCH TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND YOU SHARING YOUR GIFT WITH THEM IS JUST SOMETHING THAT WILL GO ON FOREVER BECAUSE YOU ARE ESTABLISHING A LEGACY. AND SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR, FOR BEING THERE FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND FOR, AND FOR PROVIDING THAT TO THEM. IT'S JUST SO VERY SPECIAL, ESPECIALLY IN THEIR FORMATIVE YEARS. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. YEAH. ALRIGHT. PLEASURE. AND FROM TULANE UNIVERSITY COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN. I WAS GONNA SAY, FIRST OFF, THANKS FOR YOUR, UH, TALKING ABOUT YOUR ROOTS THAT NOT ONLY NEW ORLEANS, BUT YOUR FAMILY. UH, AND I JUST HAVE TO SAY YOUR FAMILY WAS SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS, THAT THEY WERE HERE. UH, MAYOR PRO TEM AT THE END OF BFA, READY TO GO. SO FOR I THINK THREE HOURS NOW, THEY'RE FOUR. THEY'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS, WHICH AGAIN, NO, REALLY THANK YOU ALL FOR 'CAUSE THIS IS, YOU KNOW, THE WORK THAT YOU DO TO RAISE YOUR SON AND YOUR FAMILY TO BE WHO HE IS, TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IN SUCH A WAY AND HELP THE NEXT GENERATION, UM, IS REALLY A GIFT. SO AS MUCH, AS MUCH AS I'M SAYING CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, I'M ALSO SAYING CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FAMILY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO AS I'LL ASK ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WITH YOU TO STAND UP FOR A MINUTE, I JUST, I'M CURIOUS. I, I GREW UP AS A KID IN ALGIERS, LOUISIANA, CUTOFF, UHHUH, AND, UH, WONDER WHERE YOU GUYS WERE FROM, OR YOUR FAMILY WAS BORN AND RAISED. I GREW UP IN THE, IN THE NINTH WARD. NINTH WARD. AND TO KENNET AND WENT TO SCHOOL IN, MET MY HUSBAND, UH, DESIRE PROJECTS FOUR THERE. THERE YOU GO. GOOD. WITH THAT. NIGHT FORWARD, UH, GRADUATED FROM SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. AWESOME. THE ARMY IS GO JAGS CAREER IN THE ARMY AND, UH, TRAVELED A LOT. . SO, UH, HERE I AM. GREAT. GREAT TO HEAR. HAVE YOU HERE. AND IF YOU COULD HAVE YOUR FOLKS THAT ARE WITH YOU, STAND UP JUST FOR A SECOND. YEAH. THE PEOPLE WHO CAME. YEAH. YEAH. THANKS. AND CONGRATULATIONS. [00:46:22] ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ANOTHER GOOD DAY. AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE BEING HERE, UH, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] MY CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS FOR THE INVOCATION AND THE PLEDGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. LORD, WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR POWER AND YOUR EXPECTATION THAT WE BE OF SERVICE TO MANKIND. LET US RENEW OUR OBLIGATION TO FULFILL THAT EXPECTATION JUST AS THE RETURN OF SPRING RENEWS GROWTH IN THE WORLD AROUND US, WITH A NEW COMMITMENT TO HELP OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, OUR NATION, AND OUR WORLD. WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THIS DAY THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US FOR ITS BLESSINGS, ITS OPPORTUNITIES, ITS CHALLENGES. MAY WE APPRECIATE AND USE EACH DAY THAT COMES TO US. WE PRAY FOR STRENGTH AND GUIDANCE FOR EACH DAY AS IT COMES FOR EACH DAY'S DUTIES. FOR EACH DAY'S PROBLEMS. MAY WE BE CHALLENGED TO GIVE OUR BEST ALWAYS. AND MAY WE BE ASSURED OF YOUR PRESENCE WITH US. AMEN. AMEN. PLEASE RISE FOR THE P YOU PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY, ROUTINE JUSTICE. MADAM [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] SECRETARY, THE ROLL CALL PLEASE. MAYOR TURNER. HERE. COUNCILMAN PECK. HERE. COUNCILMAN JACKSON? HERE. COUNCILMAN CAMAN. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN EVAN SHAVA. HERE. COUNCILMAN MARTIN. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN THOMAS? PRESENT. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN? PRESENT. COUNCILMAN CISNEROS? HERE. COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS? HERE. COUNCILMAN POLLARD? HERE. COUNCILMAN CASTEX TATUM. HERE. COUNCIL KNOX. HERE. COUNCILMAN ROBINSON. HERE. COUNCILMAN KUBOSH. HERE. COUNCILOR PLUMMER HERE. AND COUNCILMAN ALCORN. HERE, READ A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF JANUARY 31ST AND FEBRUARY 1ST, 2023. CASTEX, TM MOVE SECOND ROBINSON. OH, THEN MOVE TO THE SECOND. UH, ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT MINUTES? HEARING NONE MINUTES OR ADOPT IT? OKAY. LET ME RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR A PROCEDURAL MOTION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES. UH, IT'S A TWO PART MOTION, ONE TO MOVE GLADYS HOUSE L UP. UM, FOLLOWING THE FIRST SPEAKER, PRADA BRADLEY, UH, SHE WILL STILL BE AT THE ONE MINUTE IS LISTED, UH, UNDER HER SPOT. AND THEN TO ADD SHARONDA JOHNSON FOLLOWING GLADYS, UM, FOR THREE MINUTES AGENDA. SO IT GO HOLD ON A SECOND. GO AHEAD. IT'LL GO. PERADA BRADLEY, GLADYS HOUSE L AND THEN SHARONDA JOHNSON. THEY'LL, THEY'RE ALL SPEAKING ON THE SAME SUBJECT. BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR? NONE. THE MOTION IS GRANTED. CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER KASH FOR PROCEDURAL MOTION. DID MAYOR, DID WE, BEFORE I MAKE THE MOTION, DID DID WE MOVE PRISCILLA? NO. UH, NO. OKAY. I MAKE A MOTION 'CAUSE THEY ALL ARE SPEAKING ABOUT THE SAME THING. I I MAKE, I WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE, UH, PRISCILLA ATA TO THE, UH, TO FOLLOW THE OTHER SPEAKERS THAT WERE JUST ADDED. THOMAS SECONDS. OKAY. TO FOLLOW SHARANDA JOHNSON. UH, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR? NONE. MOTION IS GRANTED A COUNCILWOMAN PLUMER PROCEDURAL MOTION. THANK YOU MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE MAL BREATH. MOSES AND COURTNEY REVEALS JUST BELOW. GLORIA ZINNO. WE DIDN'T MAKE OH, TOP OF THE THREE. GOT IT. SO TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON-AG AGENDA LIST. SECOND. BEEN [00:50:01] MOVED IN SECOND. ANY OBJECTION? CHAIR IS NONE. MOTION IS GRANTED. ARE THERE ANY OTHER PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? OKAY, CHAIR, HERE'S [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] NONE. MADAM SECRETARY, YOU'LL CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER. PERADA BRADLEY. PERADA BRADLEY IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY GLADYS HOUSE L AND IT'S PARETTA BRADLEY. SO I THINK IMPOSING A CONSERVATION DISTRICT UNDER THE GUISE OF PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION ON FREEDMAN'S TOWN IS A LITTLE TOO LATE. AND IT WON'T BENEFIT US IN ANY KIND OF CAPACITY BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY LAND LEFT. AND FOR THE ONES WHO DO HAVE PROPERTY THERE AND PEOPLE LIKE ME, THAT DREAM OF ONE DAY LIVING BACK IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL AS 600 OF US WHO WANNA LIVE BACK IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WE THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE WANNA DEVELOP SO WE CAN ALL FIT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AGAIN. SO, UM, THAT'S ONE THING I WANTED TO SAY. AND IF IT'S TRULY ABOUT CONSERVING CULTURE AND COMMUNITY, I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY COMMUNITIES IN THE INNER CITY LIKE SUNNYSIDE, WHICH HAS BEAUTIFUL HISTORY, SOUTH PARK, THIRD WARD, FIFTH WARD, THESE ARE THE COMMUNITIES THAT NEED THAT. BECAUSE IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THE DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT, UH, TAKE AWAY AND ALL THIS, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T FEEL A BREEZE OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU GUYS ARE TALKING ABOUT, I JUST THINK THAT THOSE ARE THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING THEIR CULTURE AND THEIR IDENTITY. AND YOU GUYS KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT I'M IN THESE COMMUNITIES, FROM THESE COMMUNITIES AND, AND WE TALKING ABOUT HISTORY, WE ALREADY KNOW THAT'S CONNECTED. SO WHAT ARE WE DOING? AND ANOTHER THING, HOW DO WE SKIP OVER HISTORIC DISTRICTS? HOW DID YOU SKIP OVER THAT AND GO FOR A HERITAGE DISTRICT? HOW DO YOU GO FOR A CONSERVATION DISTRICT? HISTORIC DISTRICTS IS WHAT THE HEIGHTS HAD. AND THAT, THAT SAVED MOST OF THE HEIGHTS IF WE CORRECT. SO I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY Y'ALL PLAN, LIKE Y'ALL DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW TO SAVE NEIGHBORHOODS. AND, UM, WHAT I DON'T LIKE ABOUT THESE DISTRICTS THAT YOU GUYS ARE IMPOSING ON US IS THAT THEY HAVE INTANGIBLE CONCEPTS. INTANGIBLE MEANS STUFF YOU CAN'T TOUCH, YOU CAN'T. SO WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF TEARING DOWN COMMUNITIES? AND THEN YOU'RE SLAPPING THESE THINGS TO REPRESENT WHAT WE USED TO BE AND MEMORIES WITH INTANGIBLE ART AND STUFF LIKE THAT. AND I'M AN ARTIST TOO, SO I, I I THINK IT'S, I DON'T KNOW WHAT Y'ALL DOING. I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT Y'ALL DOING. AND LASTLY, LASTLY, ALLEN PARKWAY. WHAT WERE Y'ALL DOING ABOUT THAT? NOBODY SAVED THAT. SO WHAT WE TRULY WANTED WAS TO STAY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND STAY IN OUR HOMES. WE WANTED TO BE HOMEOWNERS, NOT RENTERS, NOT PUSHED OUT LIKE WILLIAM PAUL SAID. CONS. THOMAS. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, UM, ONE QUESTION. SO WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE, SO LET'S SAY IF THE FREEDMAN TOWN IS NOT IN THE PILOT, RIGHT? SO WHAT WOULD BE, UM, THE INTANGIBLES? WHAT WOULD YOU WANT IN REPLACE OF THAT? WOULD YOU WANT THE I WANT TANGIBLE RESULTS. NOT INTANGIBLE. THERE'S RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN LONGSTANDING RESIDENTS. MM-HMM . THERE'S ONLY ABOUT FIVE OF THEM. THEIR HOMES LOOK LIKE S**T AND WE HAVE THE NERVE, WE HAVE THE NERVE TO OFFER TOURISM. AND THESE PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE WHO OWN THEIR HOMES, CAN I GET THEIR HOMES REPAIRED? SO YOU'RE INTERESTED IN MORE LIKE THE REBUILDING AND THE REVITALIZATION KIND OF RESTORING, I I'M INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU GUYS SAYING YOU STAND FOR, WHICH IS PRESERVATION AND REHABBING AND REHAB, REHABILITATION, WHATEVER IT IS. I DON'T SEE THAT IN THESE DISTRICT TITLES THAT SAY INTANGIBLE. NOW WHEN YOU SAY TANGIBLE, WE TALKING, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STRUCTURES, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OTHER STUFF. PEOPLE NEED TO BE PRESERVED AS WELL. NOT JUST THE BRICK STREETS THAT Y'ALL KNOW NOTHING ABOUT. THANK YOU. YOU ARE WELCOME. OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, [00:55:02] GLADYS HOUSE, L GLADYS HOUSE IS PRESIDENT TO BE FOLLOWED BY SHARONDA JOHNSON. PEACE TO EVERYONE. I'M OPPOSED TO THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT AND ANYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN THE RECOGNITION OF THE FRIEDMANS TOWN HISTORICAL DISTRICT THAT IT TOOK ME AN ENTIRE YEAR TO DOCUMENT EVERY BUILDING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN ORDER TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN WASHINGTON, DC AND THE US DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. AND THEN I HAD TO FIGHT THEN MAYOR KATHY WHITMEYER, PLANNING DIRECTOR E FROM GARCIA. I'VE BEEN HAVING TO FIGHT PLANNING DIRECTORS EVER SINCE COUNCIL MEMBER POLL. AND THAT IS TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR. PRESENTLY, WE, UH, HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS PRESENT CITY PLANNER. AND WHAT YOU ARE BEING, UH, GIVEN BY RENEE IS, UH, THE SUMMARY OF MY VISITING THE VARIOUS CITY OF HOUSTON HISTORIC PRESERVATION ENTITIES. COUNCILMAN, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCILMAN MCCAIN. THANK YOU MAYOR GLADYS, I I HAD ONE COMMENT, BUT DID YOU JUST WANNA WRAP UP REALLY QUICKLY? OKAY. THE HISTORICAL AND ARCHEOLOGICAL COMMISSION BOARD WAS UNAWARE OF ALL OF THIS GOING ON. IN FACT, ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS OFFERED TO MEET ME IN FREEMANS TOWN. SHE APOLOGIZED 'CAUSE SHE HADN'T BEEN IN FREEMANS TOWN IN SEVERAL YEARS. THEN I WENT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S PLANNING AND COMMISSION BOARD AND PRESENTED THIS. THEY THANKED ME. THEY WERE UNAWARE THAT ALL THIS WAS GOING ON. AND THEN LASTLY, THE ARCHEOLOGICAL, UH, APPEALS BOARD COMMISSION BOARD, I PRESENTED THIS TO THEM. SO WHEN YOU HAVE ALL THESE DIFFERENT ENTITIES IN PLACE ALREADY TO PRESERVE HISTORY AND THEY'RE NOT DOING THEIR JOBS AND YET HERE COMES ANOTHER IDEA OR CONCEPT, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY WANT, YOU, WANT YOU TO SUPPORT, THAT IS TOTALLY RIDICULOUS. AND I'M JUST CONCERNED THAT SO MUCH, SO MANY ATTACKS GO ON AGAINST MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I LIVE THERE. I'M THE FIFTH GENERATION OF THE PLANTERS AND DEVELOPERS OF FREEMANS TOWN. OKAY. SO, UM, WE ASK THAT YOU NOT APPROVE THIS DISTRICT OR INCLUDE FREEMANS TOWN IN IT. I LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY. SO, AND I'M SPEAKING ALSO ON BEHALF OF OUR GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS OF THE CDC OF FREEMANS TOWN, GENESIS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND THE CD OF THE CONTRACT, UH, THE BLACK CONTRACTORS AND BUSINESS OWNERS. GREAT. AND I DID WANNA THANK YOU, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR RAISING, YOU KNOW, THE ISSUE OF SOME OF THESE, YOU KNOW, PROPERTIES. AND MAYOR, I KNOW YOUR TEAM HAS BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH ME AND TRYING TO GET A, A VERY QUICK RESOLUTION 'CAUSE IT HAS TAKEN WAY TOO LONG IN TERMS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE INCREASE, UH, INCREASING DAMAGE THAT WE'RE SEEING TO THESE HOMES BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN SITTING. SO THANK YOU FOR KEEPING THE PRESSURE ON AND THE LIGHT ON. UM, AND YOU KNOW, WE, I HAVE BEEN INQUIRING AS WELL. UM, BUT I I JUST WANTED TO ALSO THANK YOU, UH, FOR ELEVATING THAT CONVERSATION. COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER ASH. THANK YOU GLADYS. I, I ASKED LAST WEEK, WHY WEREN'T YOU HERE? ? I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT AS USUAL. . YEAH. WELL, WELL, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU WASN'T HERE, I SAID, YOU KNOW, WHERE'S GLADYS? WHY ISN'T SHE HERE? SO, UM, SO WHAT ARE YOU WANTING US TO DO? YOU WANT US TO, TO TAKE FREEDMAN TOWN OUT OF THE PRESERVATION? IF YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE FOR IT, YEAH, WE DON'T WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT. OKAY. UH, IT REALLY SHOULDN'T BE APPROVED, PERIOD, BECAUSE A LOT OF THE COMMUNITIES ARE, ARE UNAWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON. AND PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS NEED TO BE MADE AWARE OF IT. MAYBE VIA TOWN HALL MEETING OR WHATEVER. BUT HAD IT NOT BEEN, UH, FOR LAST WEEK AND YOU RESPONDED TO MY CALLS, I WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN ABOUT IT. BUT THE, THE MAYOR'S RECEPTIONIST, I JUST HAPPENED TO CALL HER FOR SOMETHING AND [01:00:01] SHE, SHE SAID, WELL, SOMEBODY ASKED, WHY WEREN'T YOU THERE AT COUNCIL? THEY'RE AWARE WHY? BUT WE ARE ALWAYS, WHEN I SAY WE, THE PERSONS WHO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, SEE THERE'S TOO MANY PEOPLE COMING BEFORE YOU ALL WHO DON'T EVEN LIVE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT YET THEY SAY THEY SPEAK FOR US COUNCIL MEMBER. AND THAT'S WRONG. BUT HOW WOULD Y'ALL KNOW? UNLESS YOU HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHO REALLY LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. OKAY. SO I'M JUST HERE TO TRY TO KEEP YOU, UH, UP TO DATE ON THINGS. I KNOW EVERY TIME I COME BEFORE YOU, I HAVE HANDOUTS. 'CAUSE I DON'T WANT YOU TO SAY, HMM, WHAT WAS THIS SHE SAID? OR WHAT PROOF. I TRY TO BRING FREEMANS TOWN HERE IN PICTURES SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE SOME IDEA OF WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT AND HOW SERIOUS AND DIRE THE PROBLEMS ARE THAT WE FACE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. DO YOU KNOW IF ANY VOTE HAS BEEN TAKEN, UH, UH, BY, UH, ANY GROUP IN IN FREEMANS TOWN? UH, ANY ASSOCIATION? NO, NO VOTE. AND ESPECIALLY NONE OF GRASSROOTS RESIDENTS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. HERE AGAIN, YOU CAN TELL PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE CALL A MEETING AND TELL PEOPLE TO COME OUT AND SPEAK. BUT THAT'S THE GIST OF IT. THERE IS NO OFFICIAL VOTE OR ANYTHING. IT'S JUST TO SAY, OH, WELL RUBBER STAMP IT AND WE'LL JUST TAKE IT TO THE COUNCIL. 'CAUSE THEY, THEY GONNA BELIEVE US. 'CAUSE THEY KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO COME OUT TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD OR PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL OR WHATEVER. LIKE I SAID, IT WAS AN ACCIDENT. WELL, THEY SAY NOTHING'S REALLY AN ACCIDENT THAT I CONTACTED YOU AFTER THE, UH, THE MAYOR'S RECEPTIONIST HAD, UH, TOLD ME ABOUT IT. SO IT'S JUST SO MUCH THAT GOES ON AND PEOPLE ARE TAKING CREDIT FOR ALL OF OUR WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING DECADES IN THE COMMUNITY. WELL THAT'S WHY I HAD TO DELAY IT UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO TALK TO YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GLAD FOR COMING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH COUNSEL. AND LEMME JUST SAY, UM, UM, SO THAT THERE'S NOT ANY MISREPRESENTATION, WE ALWAYS NEED TO BE VERY CLEAR. THIS IS NOT THE LAST STEP. THIS IS THE BEGINNING STEP. OKAY? THE NEXT STEP IS TO GO TO THE COMMUNITY ITSELF. AND EVERY PERSON IN THAT COMMUNITY WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON IT. THIS IS NOT THE LAST STEP, GLADYS. THIS IS THE FIRST STEP. THE SECOND STEP IS TO HAVE THOSE COMMUNITY MEETINGS, THOSE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS AND PEOPLE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES VOTING. AND THEN BASED ON HOW THEY VOTE, THERE'S THEN A THIRD STEP, UH, WHERE YOU GO TO THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION AND THEN THERE'S A FOURTH STEP WHERE DEPENDING ON HOW THAT GOES, IT COMES BACK TO CITY COUNCIL. SO LET'S NOT MISREPRESENT ANYTHING. OH, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR PRACTICES AND POLICIES. NO, I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THAT. THAT'S WHY, THAT'S WHY, THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET IT FACTUALLY CORRECT. OKAY. SO IT HASN'T BEEN ABOUT ANYBODY VOTING. OKAY. AND THIS IS NOT INCONSISTENT WITH WHAT YOU AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN DOING. THIS IS, THIS IS A FURTHER TWO TO PRESERVE HISTORICAL COMMUNITIES. YOU HAVEN'T PRESERVED IT YET, MAYOR. NOW LET ME, LET ME, LET ME FINISH. GLAD I DIDN'T INTERRUPT YOU NOW. 'CAUSE FACTS ARE IMPORTANT. THIS IS NOT INCONSISTENT WITH WHAT YOU OR ANYONE ELSE OUT IN ANY OF THESE COMMUNITIES IS DOING. THIS IS ANOTHER TOOL TO PRESERVE HISTORICAL COMMUNITIES, HISTORICAL NEIGHBORHOODS, HISTORICAL FEATURES SO THAT WE DON'T LOSE THEM. THAT'S WHAT THIS IS. MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM THE PERSON. THE LAST TIME I APPEARED BEFORE COUNSEL, YOU SAID GIVE YOU A WEEK AND YOU'D HAVE THAT PERSON CONTACT ME. HAVEN'T HEARD FROM ANYONE. IT'S BEEN WHAT? A MONTH. WELL, THAT'S NOT AN, THAT'S NOT AN EXAMPLES AND ORANGES. WE CAN DEAL WITH THAT SUBJECT MATTER, BUT I WANNA STAY WITH THIS SUBJECT MATTER, OKAY? BECAUSE THIS IS NOT THE LAST STEP. SO ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SAY HADN'T GOTTEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, THEY'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. GLADYS, YOU'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY. WELL, LET ME FINISH. YOU'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE SAID THAT THEY SUPPORTED WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. EVERYBODY HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. WAS THIS YOUR IDEA, MAYOR? YES, MA'AM. OKAY, ANYTHING ELSE? BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE PRESERVE HISTORICAL COMMUNITIES, JUST LIKE THOSE BRICKS. MAYOR, SINCE YOUR ADMINISTRATION, WE'VE LOST 11 BUILDINGS. WELL THEN MAYBE THIS WILL HELP TO HOLD IT FOR THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION. WELL, YOU'RE MAYOR AND YOU COULDN'T STOP IT. SO. WELL, I'M THE MAYOR AND WE ARE STILL MOVING [01:05:01] FORWARD, GLADYS. BUT IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU. ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU. ALWAYS GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU. AND I KNOW THIS WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE RIGHT THERE IN FRIEDMANS TOWN EXPRESSING YOU A VIEW. AND THEN WE SHALL SEE WHETHER OR NOT YOUR VIEW IS CONSISTENT WITH EVERYBODY ELSE IN FREEDMAN'S TOWN. BECAUSE NO ONE PERSON SPEAKS FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY. I'M GLAD TO HEAR YOU SAY THAT, MAYOR. YEAH, BECAUSE MOTION WASN'T RECOGNIZED LAST WEEK. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO A MOTION TO EXTEND HERE? NONE. GRANTED. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER, THANK, THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER. MS. GLADYS, IT'S GOOD TO MEET YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE. THIS IS REALLY IMPRESSIVE. UM, I HAVE A QUESTION MAYBE FOR MAYOR TURNER. UM, WHAT WE'RE PUTTING IN PLACE, WOULD THAT WORK? COULD THAT POTENTIALLY WORK IN CONCERT WITH WHAT SHE'S, WHAT SHE'S DONE ALL THE HARD WORK ON? ABSOLUTELY. BUT SO MAYBE WE NEED TO PUT TOGETHER SOMETHING THAT WOULD EXPLAIN WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE. THAT'S THE NEXT STEP. OKAY. AND BE REALLY CLEAR ABOUT IT. YES, THIS DEFINITELY. AND I LIKE, I LIKE THE WORD, I'M SORRY, MAYOR. I DO, I DO BELIEVE THE WORD RESTORATION NEEDS TO BE USED. RESTORE, RIGHT. WE DON'T YOU WANNA BRING THOSE BUILDINGS BACK? PRESERVATION. PRESERVATION BETTER. BEAUTIFUL. OKAY. WHEN YOU SAY RESTORE, RESTORE PRESERVATION MEANS TO KEEP, IT'S THE KEY WORD, THE OPERATIVE WORD. OKAY, PERFECT. SO WE'RE USING THAT WORD AROUND, I'M HEARING THE WORD RESTORE, SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE USING THE RIGHT WORD. GOTCHA. BECAUSE WORDS MATTER, RIGHT? OH, YES. OKAY. ALRIGHT. WELL THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANKS SPEAKER. NEXT SPEAKER, SHARONDA JOHNSON. SHARONDA JOHNSON IS HERE WE TO BE FOLLOWED BY PRISCILLA ARGUETA. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, MY NAME IS SHARONDA JOHNSON AND I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FREEMAN'S TOWN ASSOCIATION. AND I AM ALSO A FIFTH GENERATION DESCENDANT OF FREEMAN'S TOWN. SO IT IS MY HONOR AND MY PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU TODAY. UM, I COME BEFORE COUNCIL TODAY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT. SINCE 1985, MY ASSOCIATION AND OTHER GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN WORKING TO PRESERVE THE HISTORIC, UM, LEGACY OF FREEMANS TOWN. BUT THOSE WERE FEDERAL PROTECTIONS. WE HAD NO LOCAL PROTECTIONS. SO THAT'S WHERE THE IMBALANCE COME FROM. WE DIDN'T HAVE LOCAL PROTECTIONS. SO IN 1985, WE HAD 568 CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES. THAT MEANS THEY, THE TENANTS PAY THEIR RENT AND THAT THE, UM, THE, THAT WAS USED FOR TAX PAYMENTS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. WE HAVE NOW WE HAVE LESS THAN 50. AND UNDER, UH, AISE PARKER, THE BAYER AND ALL CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO REMOVE THE BRICK STREETS BECAUSE THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RESTORE AND PRESERVATION. SO WHAT THIS CONSERVATION DISTRICT WILL DO, IT WILL GIVE US THE LOCAL PROTECTIONS SO WE CAN SAVE WHAT IS LEFT. AND I WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK MS. GLADYS HOUSE BECAUSE IF IT WERE NOT FOR MS. GLADYS HOUSE, I WOULD NOT BE STANDING HERE. SHE'S MY MENTOR AND I LOVE HER TO DEATH. NOW. NO, WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE ON EVERYTHING BECAUSE I'M OF THE YOUNGER GENERATION AND I SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY AND I, UM, I CONSIDER MYSELF A MOVER AND A SHAKER SO I KNOW HOW TO GET TO CERTAIN DIFFERENT THINGS. AND, UM, WE ASKED COUNCILMAN KUBOSH BACK THEN, LIKE, WHY DID YOU ALL VOTE TO REMOVE THE BRICK STREETS? IT'S BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND RESTORE AND PRESERVATION. AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. AND IT, THIS IS HIS OWN COMING, WHAT HE SAID, WHY CITY COUNCIL VOTED SO FOR THIS CITY COUNCIL NOW TO BE IN LINE, TO CREATE SOMETHING TO SAVE THE LEGACY AND THE STRUCTURE OF IN HISTORIC FREEDOMS TIME. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR US FINALLY TRYING TO GET IT TOGETHER. NOW IT WILL NOT BE THE ANSWER OR THE SOLUTION TO ALL THE PROBLEMS, BUT IT'S A START. AND I JUST WANNA THANK COUNCIL FOR THE START. UM, HOLD ON ONE SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. SHONDA, IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU. I KNOW OFTENTIMES YOU'RE SITTING BACK THERE LISTENING. YOU'RE NOT ALWAYS AT THE MIC, BUT I AM SO GLAD WHEN YOU ARE AT THE MIC BECAUSE OF HOW PASSIONATELY, UM, AND INFORMED YOU ARE WHEN YOU DO COME SPEAK. UH, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS DISCUSSED, YOU BROUGHT UP FEDERAL PROTECTIONS VERSUS LOCAL. AND WHAT I HAD LEARNED IN ASKING, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR CITY ATTORNEY LAST WEEK WAS THERE'S NO PROTECTION AGAINST DEMOLITION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. AND THIS WOULD DO THAT. NOW YOU, I BELIEVE HAVE BEEN, UM, VERY ENGAGED. I CAME TO THE TOWN HALL. THERE WAS ACTUALLY MAYOR A TOWN HALL HELD TWO WEEKS AGO WHERE THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO SPEAK AND SHARE THEIR VOICE ON MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PROCESS. SO ONE SHARONDA, ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH CONTINUING THE PROCESS, NOT SHUTTING THAT DOOR FOR FRIEDMANS TOWN TO BE INCLUDED IN STARTING THE PROCESS FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE AS A [01:10:01] RESIDENT THAT LIVES IN THE AREA? YES, I AM. BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN, IT SPEAKS TO THE INTENT. SO IF WE PUT THESE PROTECTIONS IN PLACE, THEN, UH, THE PROPER FUNDING AND THINGS TO COME SO WE CAN REVITALIZE OUR COMMUNITY, WE'LL COME. BECAUSE IF YOU CREATE IT, IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME. SO LET US GET OUR DUCKS IN A ROW. SO FREEMAN'S TOWN CAN BE THE HERITAGE TOURISM THING THAT IT, IT, IT SHOULD BE BECAUSE WE LITERALLY, WE HAVE SEVEN UNESCO SITES THE MOST IN THE WORLD. SO THE FACT THAT WE CAN'T GET THIS TOGETHER FOR US TO PROGRAM, TO MAKE FREEMANS TOWN A VALUABLE PLACE FOR ALL OF HOUSTONIANS, UM, TO ME, LIKE IT'S, IT'S, IT'S DISRESPECTFUL TO US AS CITY PLANNERS AND AS PEOPLE BECAUSE WE SH IT, IT'S, IT'S NOT ROCKET SIGNS, Y'ALL. WE NEED TO FIND SOMETHING TO GET THIS TOGETHER SO WE CAN SAVE THE HISTORY SO WE CAN PRESERVE. SO, UM, ADDING FREEMANS TOWN WITH THE OTHER FIVE NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU KNOW, AND THEY ARE JUST AT IN THE SAME PREDICAMENT THAT WE ARE TRYING TO HOLD ONTO THEIR HERITAGE AND PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE PENALIZED FOR TRYING TO HOLD ONTO THEIR HERITAGE AND THEIR LEGACY. WE ARE LITERALLY, WE'RE AT CITY HALL, THIS WAS FREEMAN'S TOWN. THEY WAS LAND THAT WAS TAKEN FROM FREEMAN'S TOWN, RIGHT? AND SO WE KNOW WE SHOULDN'T GET SPECIAL PRIVILEGES, BUT THE FACT THAT IT'S 2023 AND WE HAVE HELD ONTO OUR STRUCTURES, HELD ONTO THE BRICK STREETS, WE COME TO COUNCIL, WE ARE, WE ARE INFORMED, WE ARE, WE JUST, WE ALMOST WAS REDISTRICT, BUT WE, WE, WE PUT UP A FIGHT. WE KNOW WE WANT TO STAY AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THE LEGACY THAT WE HAVE THAT WE STARTED TO BUILD ON. AND SO I THINK THAT THIS IS A STEP FOR US OF EVERYONE TO FINALLY GET ON THE SAME PAGE AND FOR THE FORWARD MOVEMENT OF FREEMAN'S TOWN. AND SPEAKING WITH THE TOWN HALL, I BELIEVE, UM, IS BASED ON YOUR ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY, WHAT IS THE OUTREACH THAT YOU DID TO MAKE SURE THAT RESIDENTS AND THOSE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY KNEW ABOUT THIS PAST TOWN HALL THAT WAS HELD? I'M GLAD YOU ASKED . SO WHAT I DID WAS I DID SOMETHING, UM, THAT PEOPLE DON'T VALUE AND IT'S CALLED BOOTS ON THE GROUND. SO I, MYSELF AND ANOTHER ONE OF MY, UM, COWORKERS, I LITERALLY WENT TO EVERY APARTMENT COMPLEX, EVERY DOOR IN FREEMAN'S TOWN, AND I PUT A, I TAPED A NOTE ON THEIR DOOR. SO IF SOMEONE SAYS THAT THEY DID WAS NOT INFORMED OR THEY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE TOWN HALL, YOU DIDN'T GO TO YOUR MAILBOX AND YOU DIDN'T GO TO YOUR DOOR. AND THEY, THEY BEEN ON THERE AND I, THE LITERALLY THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, I PUT FLYERS EVERYWHERE TO LET 'EM KNOW ABOUT THE TOWN HALL AND NOT JUST THE TOWN HALL. DIFFERENT ENTITIES THAT WE HAVE COMING TO REVITALIZE THE COMMUNITY. GREAT. AND FOR THIS SPECIFIC TOWN HALL, AND AGAIN, THIS ISN'T EVEN THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS, JUST TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IN STARTING THE PROCESS. DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE ATTENDED THAT TOWN HALL? UM, I CAN SAY, UH, ROUGHLY BETWEEN 60 AND 70 PEOPLE AND THEY WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT, EVEN THOUGH THEY DID NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT WAS. IT WAS ENOUGH LANGUAGE THAT WAS JUST LIKE, OH, SO THIS IS GONNA PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD. OH, THIS IS WHAT Y'ALL BEEN FIGHTING FOR. AND THEY LITERALLY, THEY, THEY, THEY VOTED ON IT AND IT'S SO, AND IT'S JUST SO THEY CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT'S COMING. YEAH, AND I THINK COLLEAGUES, WHAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT IS A POSTER BOARD THAT WAS IN THE BACK OF THE TOWN HALL AND COUNCIL MEMBER KUBOSH HAS IT, AND AGAIN, IT'S JUST THE CONCEPT, BUT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WAS THERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND BASED ON, AND THERE'S A LOT OF DOTS ON THAT BOARD. YOU'VE GOT A STICKER AND YOU COULD SAY ON A SCALE, STRONGLY OPPOSE, OPPOSE NEUTRAL SUPPORT, STRONGLY SUPPORT, AND OVERWHELMINGLY ALL OF THE DOTS THAT WERE PUT ON THERE, I COUNT ROUGH ESTIMATE, COULD, MAY HAVE MISSED A DOT OR 2 36, STRONGLY AGREED. 11 AGREED. EIGHT WERE NEUTRAL, TWO DISAGREED, FOUR STRONGLY DISAGREED. SO COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT METRICS THAT'S JUST AT ONE SINGLE TOWN HALL, OVERWHELMING SUPPORT BASED ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, UM, THAT WAS THERE. SO SHARANDA, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR MAKING SURE THAT RESIDENTS DID KNOW ABOUT THE TOWN HALL. THAT'S NOT THE ONLY PLACE TO LEARN ABOUT IT. I KNOW IN FRIEDMANS TOWN IT IS A VERY, VERY CLOSE, TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY, UH, BETWEEN COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS, RESIDENTS, UH, THE PASTORS, AND Y'ALL ARE GETTING THE WORD OUT. BUT WE WILL NEED EVERYONE TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE AS IT MOVES FORWARD. NO OBJECTION. GRANTED. SO, AND I'M GONNA YIELD TO COUNCILMAN KUBA, BUT LEMME JUST SAY IT'S SHONDA. YES, SIR. YEAH. LEMME JUST SAY YOU, YOU, YOU STATE, YOU STATED FAR BETTER THAN, THAN I COULD. YEP. SO LET, LET ME, LET ME JUST, LET ME THANK YOU, UH, FOR BEING, FOR BEING PRESENT AND FOR STATING YOUR POSITION. AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU SAID YOU'VE BEEN IN THE AREA? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE AREA? UM, I AM BORN AND RAISED IN FREEMANS TOWN. OKAY, THANKS. COUNCILMAN K MARSH. I, I, I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED. I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WHEN I RECEIVED THIS, UH, SOMETIME, UH, AFTER I HAD [01:15:01] TAGGED THE MATTER LAST WEEK. I, I JUST, I I'M, I'M NOT OPPOSED TO IT. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND HOW THESE COMMUNITIES WERE SELECTED, WHY OTHER ONES WEREN'T, AND, AND HOW THIS WILL HELP TO, UH, PRESERVE THE, THE, THE BRICK STREETS. UH, AND NOTICE I SAID PRESERVE AND BECAUSE, BECAUSE BACK THEN WE, WE TALKED, YES, WE TALKED ABOUT MM-HMM . THE OTHER TERMINOLOGY. AND IT JUST BLEW MY MIND WHENEVER I MET WITH Y'ALL AND YOU TOLD ME, NO, NO, NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WANT TO DO NOW. AND I GOT IT NOW. SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR COMING. YOU'VE, YOU'VE REALLY SHINED A LIGHT ON IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WISH GLADYS WOULD'VE STAYED. THANK YOU. CONGRESSMAN KAMAN. THANK YOU. AND LASTLY, SHARONDA. 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A POINT THAT WAS BROUGHT UP ABOUT, UM, THE OUTSIDE MAKING DECISIONS FOR A COMMUNITY. AND, UH, IF YOU'LL RECALL, AND I JUST WANNA SAY FOR THE RECORD, UM, I, I'M PRETTY SURE I CALLED YOU UP AND I SAID, I'M NOT COMFORTABLE VOTING ON THIS IF THE COMMUNITY'S NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THIS MOVING FORWARD. AND MAYOR, I THINK WE HAD THAT CONVERSATION AS WELL. UM, BASED ON OUR CONVERSATIONS AND WHAT YOU'RE HEARING IN THE COMMUNITY, CAN YOU JUST SAY ONE MORE TIME, I KNOW YOU SUPPORT IT, BUT FROM WHAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM OTHERS, UH, CAN YOU SHARE WHAT THEIR PERSPECTIVES ARE ON THIS? SO, UH, MANY OF THE, UM, HOMEOWNERS MOVED TO OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT WAS A HISTORIC COMMUNITY. AND AT FIRST THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WE WERE DOING BECAUSE WE WERE PAINTED TO BE THE VILLAIN. WE ARE TRYING TO STOP PROGRESS. WE'RE TRYING TO STOP THE CITY FROM DOING THIS, NOT REALIZING THAT, NO, WE ARE JUST TRYING TO HOLD ONTO OUR HERITAGE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO WHEN WE GOT PAST THAT LINE, UM, BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, I, I'M OFTEN ASKED, YOU KNOW, WHAT COMMUNITY DO I SERVE? YOU KNOW, BECAUSE NOW THE COMMUNITY DOES NOT LOOK LIKE ME. SO THEN AM I TO TELL THE HOMEOWNERS WHO DON'T LOOK LIKE ME THAT THEY CAN'T HAVE A VOTE BECAUSE THEY'RE IN A HISTORICALLY BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD? NO. SO THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS AN OUTSIDER. NO. WE ALL HAVE CONNECTIONS SOME WAY TO FREEMAN'S TOWN, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR HUE IS. WE ALL HAVE A CONNECTION. SO I REALLY DON'T LIKE THAT OUTSIDERS ARE TELLING US WHAT TO DO. SO, UM, SO I'M NOT GONNA POINT ANY FINGERS. I'M JUST GONNA SAY THAT. SO WHAT HAS THE DIRECTION OF THE INSIDERS DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY? AND SO EVERYONE NEEDS HELP, EVERYONE NEEDS ASSISTANCE, AND SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS WORK TOGETHER TO GET THINGS DONE. SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER. AND THAT TO ME, IN MY OPINION, IS WHAT HAS BEEN MISSING. EVERYONE HAS BEEN THE LONG RANGER AND THE COMMUNITY HAS NOT BEEN THE FOREFRONT. YOU GONNA, YOU GONNA MAKE ME SHOUT RIGHT ON OUTTA HERE, . I AM. UM, LEMME JUST SAY THAT THE, THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY IS IN GOOD HANDS. AND I, I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP, RIGHT? BECAUSE YOU ARE CERTAINLY EXERCISING LEADERSHIP AND, UH, AND THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND CAN I STATE ONE THING? AND I AM AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS THE MAYOR OF FREEMAN'S TOWN. I JUST WANT, I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THAT ANOTHER ONE THERE. ANOTHER ONE. . ALRIGHT. RIGHTFULLY SO. AND, AND, AND, AND, AND, AND I, AND I WANT TO EMPHASIZE SOMETHING THAT YOU SAID EARLIER, UM, THAT GLADYS HOUSE, UH, IS YOUR MENTOR. SHE IS. AND WE LOVE GLADYS HOUSE. MM-HMM . OKAY. LET IT BE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN, WE CAN DISAGREE, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE DON'T RECOGNIZE THE WORK THAT PEOPLE HAVE DONE. YES. YES. AND GLADYS HAS DONE TREMENDOUS WORK OVER THE YEARS. SHE HAS. AND GLADYS HAS HELPED TO PRESERVE AS MUCH AS FREEMAN'S TOWN AS SHE COULD WORK WITH OTHERS. SO, UM, AND THANK YOU. BUT THANK YOU, UH, FOR LENDING YOUR VOICE AND YOUR LEADERSHIP TO THIS DISCUSSION. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY APPRECIATE YOU OKAY. PRI EXCELLENT. THANKS. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER. PRISCILLA ARGUETA. PRISCILLA ARGUETA. PRISCILLA. PRISCILLA. NEXT SPEAKER. MAL BIRTH. MOSES. MAL. MOSES. MA MA PRI, PRISCILLA. WAIT, IS PRISCILLA HERE? NO, NO, MA BUT, UM, MOSES IS NOT HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. COURTNEY RES. COURTNEY. COURTNEY. WHERE'S COURTNEY? WHERE SHE ADDED THE NEXT ONE. HEY Y'ALL, I GET ALL NERVOUS WHEN I'M GOING. VERY. HOW Y'ALL DOING? OKAY. OKAY. SO, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS COURTNEY. I LIVE IN DISTRICT B, UM, IN EAST HOUSTON AND SETAS. AND I'M HERE AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF NAC, THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE. AND TO SHARE OUR COMMUNITY DRAINAGE DEMANDS AS IT RELATES TO INCREASING THE BUDGET AND [01:20:01] MAKING HOUSTON A SAFER AND HEALTHIER CITY, PARTICULARLY WHERE I'M FROM. SO WE'VE COME UP WITH THESE THREE DEMANDS AND, UM, WE WANT, I WANTED TO SHARE 'EM WITH YOU TODAY. SO OUR FIRST DEMAND IS TO INCREASE BOTH THE SWAT AND LDP PROGRAMS BY $20 MILLION. UM, FOCUSING ON THESE TWO PROGRAMS LOWERS OUR RELIANCE ON CIP AND PROVIDES US FOR MORE TRANSPARENT DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS. AND IT ALLOWS FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS. AND THIS PAST BUDGET CYCLE, THEY WERE ABLE TO, AND THE MAYOR WAS ABLE TO INCREASE SWAT BY $20 MILLION. SO WE'RE JUST ASKING THAT THAT INCREASE BE PERMANENT. OKAY. AND HONESTLY, FOR ME, THIS INCREASE WOULD ALLOW FOR MORE PROJECTS, MORE LOCAL DRAINAGE PROJECTS LIKE THE ONE THAT'S GOING ON BY MY SCHOOL. LAST TIME I WAS HERE TALKING ABOUT TATE STREET AND MY SCHOOL. NOW WE HAVE THAT PROJECT GOING ON AND, UM, IT JUST PROVIDES ME WITH A PEACE OF MIND. I FEEL BETTER WHEN IT RAINS, KNOWING THAT MY BABY'S NOT GONNA BE FLOODED IN. UM, AND EVERY COMMUNITY DESERVES THAT, ESPECIALLY THE UNDER THE, UNDER DIVESTED NEIGHBORHOODS. UM, AND OUR SECOND DEMAND IS TO INCREASE THE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC WORK, STAFF AND MAINTENANCE CREWS AND EQUIPMENT. UM, STAFFING UP IS KEY AS HOUSTON PREPARES TO RECEIVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL AND THE IRA MONEY, UM, THAT WILL REQUIRE EXPANDING THE STAFF FOR PUBLIC WORKS AND MAINTENANCE CREWS. MAINTENANCE IS ESSENTIAL FOR OPEN DISH SYSTEMS THAT ARE CONCENTRATED IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE AND LIKE COMMUNITIES IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON AND DISTRICT B. UM, AND, UM, THE MONEY, THE MACHINERY AND THE STAFF WILL HELP TO IMPROVE THESE SYSTEMS. AND OUR THIRD DEMAND IS TO FOCUS ON EQUITY WHEN SELECTING DRAINAGE PROJECTS AND INVESTMENT AND PUBLIC INPUT MAKE IT MEANINGFUL. UM, THE CITY CLAIMS TO USE A WORSE FIRST SELECTION PROCESS, BUT HAS NO SYSTEMIC WAY TO COMPARE CONDITIONS BETWEEN OPEN DITCH AND CLOSED DITCH DRAIN NEIGHBORHOODS. AND THEN LASTLY, 3 1 1 MUST IMPROVE. IF WE ARE ABLE TO USE THAT AS AN ADVOCACY TOOL, THE PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS MUST BE REDESIGNED SO THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE A REAL DECISION MAKING POWER. OKAY. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU COURTNEY FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. AND, UM, GOOD TO SEE YOU. YOU KNOW, JUST, I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO WORKING WITH YOU AND, UM, KNOCK, UM, ON THE FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS AND MOVING THE DISTRICT FORWARD. SO IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU. AND VICE MEMBER TIM CASTEK. KEGEL. COURTNEY, THANK YOU FOR COMING. AND I LIKE THAT, UM, YOU RECOGNIZED THAT WHEN YOU CAME AND YOU THERE WAS FLOODING AND THERE HAS BEEN A PROJECT TO ADDRESS THAT FLOODING BECAUSE THAT SHOWS THAT, UM, YOUR ADVOCACY IS WORKING. UM, WE ARE LISTENING AND YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER HAS BEEN VIGILANT ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING THOSE PROJECTS IN YOUR AREA. SO WE APPRECIATE YOU CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER, YOU FOWLER. HENIGAN Y FOWLER. HENIGAN Y FOWLER. NEXT SPEAKER, JEFFREY ROGERS. JEFFREY ROGERS. JEFFREY ROGERS IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY RICHARD MAZANO. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL. MAYOR. I WROTE OUT MY COMMENTS, SO I MADE SURE I WON RUN OUT OF TIME. BUT HOPEFULLY WE HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. UM, I REALLY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT DISCUSSING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ADDING MORE HOUSING INTO THE COMMUNITY SO THAT WE'RE NOT IN A DEFICIT OF HOUSING. I'M A LOCAL BUILDER. MY COMPANY BUILDS ABOUT 50 HOMES AND ABOUT THE COMMUNITY PER YEAR. UM, AND I'M DEDICATED TO WORKING WITH YOU GUYS TO BUILD MORE HOUSES AND MAKE THEM AFFORDABLE FOR EVERYBODY. THAT'S OUR, OUR MAIN GOAL. ONE THING I WANTED TO TOUCH ON REAL BRIEFLY IS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHEN WE BUILD AFFORDABLE HOMES, UM, SMALLER HOMES THAT ARE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR MORE PEOPLE TO PURCHASE, WE ACTUALLY MAKE MORE MONEY, UH, AS A BUILDER. AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT SELLING THE BIGGEST, MOST EXPENSIVE HOME. SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ON, WE'RE ON THE SAME TEAM. WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING. MORE HOMES, MORE AFFORDABLE PRICES. UM, COUPLE ISSUES THAT COME UP RECENTLY REGARDING CHAPTER 42 OR ESSENTIALLY, UM, SHARED DRIVEWAY ISSUE. IT'S A BIG PROBLEM FOR US. IT'S GONNA INCREASE THE COST OF THE HOME, IT'S GONNA INCREASE THE COMPLEXITY OF IT. UM, IT'S NOT QUITE AS SAFE. UM, WE WANT TO CONTINUE THAT USABILITY OF DIFFERENT TYPE OF SHARED DRIVEWAY. WE'VE MET WITH A LOT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, ALREADY, AND YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL. AND SO, YOU KNOW, UM, THERE'S A DIFFERENT OPTION THAN WHAT'S CURRENTLY BEING PROPOSED THAT WE THINK WOULD WORK A LITTLE BETTER AND SOLVE THE SAME PROBLEM FOR, YOU KNOW, LESS EXPENSE AND BE A LITTLE BIT SAFE, A LITTLE BIT, A LITTLE BIT LOUDER SO I CAN, A LITTLE BIT LOUDER. I'M SORRY. YEAH, THE, UH, THE PROPOSAL THAT'S CURRENTLY BEING MADE IS VERY CLOSE TO THE ONE THAT WE WOULD COMPROMISE AND, AND AGREE ON. AND ACHIEVING THE [01:25:01] SAME THINGS WITH THE LOWER COST THAT DOESN'T IMPACT THE AMOUNT OF HOMES BEING BUILT AND THE COST OF THOSE HOMES IN THE COMMUNITY. UM, REDEFINING NARROW LOTS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A 40 FOOT, UM, MARKER THAT WAS SET AT ANY LOT LESS THAN 40 FEET. MUST HAVE THE SHARED DRIVEWAY. YOU KNOW, IN MY EXPERIENCE AS A BUILDER, I'M GONNA LOOK AT THE 40 FOOT LOTS THAT WE OWN. AND INSTEAD OF RE PLATTING THEM, I'M JUST GONNA BUILD A MORE EXPENSIVE HOME ON THAT PROPERTY BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE, UH, BETTER FOR MY BUSINESS TO DO THAT. BUT IT WILL BE NOT AS GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW? UM, ANYWAY, UH, SO I'D ASK THAT YOU GUYS ASK WHERE THAT 40 FOOT MEASUREMENT CAME FROM. I THINK IT'S A LITTLE ARBITRARY. UH, I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY INFORMATION AS TO WHERE IT CAME FROM, BUT 40 FEET, UH, YOU SHOULD ASK YOURSELF, WHERE DID THAT NUMBER COME FROM? 'CAUSE I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY ACTUAL DATA TO SUPPORT IT. UM, I THINK SHE'S ALREADY REALLY BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE HOMES ARE MAINTAINED, UM, FOR SUSTAINABLE HOUSING. AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THERE'S A STATISTIC THAT CAME OUT WHERE YOU CAN KIND OF, OF DERIVE, IT'S A NATIONAL STATISTIC, BUT YOU CAN DERIVE THAT ABOUT 2,600 FAMILIES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO AFFORD A HOME FOR EVERY $1,000 THAT THE HOME INCREASES IN VALUE. AND SOME OF THESE CHAPTER 42 CHANGES THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED ARE GONNA INCREASE THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION BY A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS. THAT'S GONNA DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE COST OF THE HOMES FOR THE, FOR THE HOME BUYERS. UM, AND THE LAST THING I WANTED TO ADDRESS WAS THE ALLEYWAY MANDATE. UM, I LOVE BUILDING AN ALLEYWAYS. I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL. UH, WHEN WE CAN USE THEM, IT'S GREAT. BUT I OWN A FEW PROPERTIES, UH, THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DEVELOP. AND MAY I CONTINUE? YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. I'LL LET YOU. OKAY, I'LL LET YOU, I'LL GIVE YOU ANOTHER MINUTE. THANK YOU, SIR. UH, REAL, REAL BRIEFLY, THIS ALLEYWAY MANDATE AS CURRENTLY PROPOSED, APPLIES TO ALL ALLEYWAYS THAT ARE ON THE MAPS. UM, AND A LOT OF THESE ALLEYWAYS DON'T ACTUALLY EXIST, UH, PHYSICALLY. AND PEOPLE HAVE THEIR HOMES AND THEIR GARAGES AND WHATNOT SITUATED INSIDE OF WHAT WOULD BE THAT ALLEY THAT'D BE THE BUILDER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO DEVELOP. AND THEN WE'D OF COURSE HAVE TO BE IN LAWSUITS WITH ALL THE HOMEOWNERS TO KNOCK DOWN THE PERSONAL PROPERTY. SO WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO BUILD AN ALLEYS IF THEY'RE MAINTAINED AND ALREADY AVAILABLE BY THE CITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU. UM, JEFFREY, THANK YOU FOR COMING TO SPEAK TO US. UH, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION AND FOR THE PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE, YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE CHAPTER 42 CHANGES THE CURRENT PROPOSALS UNDER LIVABLE PLACES? THAT'S CORRECT. AND THE FIRST THING YOU SPOKE ABOUT WAS THE, UM, SHARED DRIVEWAY PROPOSAL THAT WOULD LIMIT, UM, FRONT ACCESS PARKING BECAUSE OF THOSE DRIVEWAYS. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. SO ESSENTIALLY, AS PROPOSED, WITHOUT GETTING INTO THE WEEDS, WE'RE GONNA BE TAKING A CAR OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND PUTTING IT ONTO THE STREET. AND AS A HOUSTON, YOU KNOW, PERSON AND, AND PROBABLY A LOT OF YOU GUYS, THE, THE STREETS ARE TOO CROWDED AS THEY ARE. UM, AND, AND MY CLIENTS DON'T WANT TO PARK ON THE STREET, YOU KNOW, AND THE NEIGHBORS DON'T WANT THEM PARKING ON THE STREET. AND SO THE WAY IT'S PROPOSED NOW, IT LIMITS THE AMOUNT OF PARKING IN THE DRIVEWAY AND THE MANEUVERABILITY. SO GETTING IN AND OUT IS MORE DIFFICULT. YOU HAVE TO DRIVE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, FOR INSTANCE, TO ACCESS IT THE WAY THAT IT'S DESIGNED. UM, AND WE HAVE A VERY SIMPLE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. BUT IF THEY COULD, IF THEY COULD HEAR THAT, THAT'D BE FANTASTIC. AND SO YOU HAVE A ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL THAT YOU'RE PUTTING FORWARD. UM, I MEAN, I HAVE MAYOR THE DIAGRAMS HERE, BUT I, YOU KNOW, DUNNO IF EVERYONE HAS THEM YET AS IT RELATES TO, UM, A COMPROMISE, SO TO SPEAK, TO ALLOW FOR MORE ONSITE PARKING THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY SAVE, UM, SPACE ON THE STREET, RECOGNIZING THAT THE PUBLIC STREETS ARE, UH, FOR PUBLIC USE. THAT'S CORRECT. AND FOR PARKING, UH, IN DISTRICT C, WE ARE SEEING, UM, EXTRAORDINARY DEVELOPMENT AND AS IT RELATES TO DENSIFICATION. AND, UH, ARE THERE OTHER CONCERNS THAT YOU'RE SEEING AS IT RELATES TO ON STREET PARKING WHEN RESIDENTS ARE NOW PARKING ON THE STREET AS OPPOSED TO ON THEIR PROPERTY? YEAH, THERE, THERE ARE. SO FLOODING IS A BIG ISSUE IN HOUSTON AS THE ROADS FLOOD. 'CAUSE WE'RE ALWAYS WORKING ON THE DRAINAGE, WHICH WE NEED TO CONTINUE WORKING ON, BUT WE STILL HAVE FLOODING IN OUR STREETS, RIGHT? BUT WHEN CARS ARE PARKED IN THE STREETS AS OPPOSED TO THE HOME, THEY FLOOD, RIGHT? SO PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF PROPERTY DAMAGE FROM FLOODING VEHICLES. UM, THERE'S A LOT MORE CRIME STATISTICS THAT THAT THAT SHOW, YOU KNOW, BURGLARIES ON VEHICLES HAPPEN MORE OFTEN WHEN THEY'RE PARKED IN THE STREET AS OPPOSED TO SOMEONE'S DRIVEWAY. UM, THERE'S MORE VANDALISM, UH, THAT THAT HAPPENS ON CARS. THERE'S, UH, YOU KNOW, THE ISSUE OF, OF SAFETY WHERE WALKING BETWEEN PARKED VEHICLES IS, IS LESS SAFE THAN, THAN WALKING ON A STREET THAT HAS LESS VEHICLES ON IT. UM, IT'S HARD FOR PEOPLE TO GET THEIR KIDS IN AND OUTTA CARS ON SIDE, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY'RE ON THE STREET AS OPPOSED TO IN THEIR OWN DRIVEWAY WHERE THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO PARK AND CAN JUST, LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, USE A DIFFERENT PROPOSAL THAN THE CURRENTLY THE ONE THAT'S BEING CURRENTLY PROPOSED. THE DESIGN IS JUST KIND OF FLAWED. UM, [01:30:01] I'VE MADE THE COMPARISON TO A LOT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WHEN YOU'RE MAKING POLICIES THAT AFFECT MEDICAL PRACTICE, FOR INSTANCE, UM, THE STAKEHOLDER, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS OPINION IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THOSE POLICYMAKERS BECAUSE THEY ALL SHARE THE SAME GOAL, WHICH IS THE PATIENT'S CARE, RIGHT? IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, I FEEL LIKE IT'S THE SAME THING AS A BUILDING PROFESSIONAL. MY COLLEAGUES ARE HERE AS WELL, DIFFERENT COMPANIES. WE COMPETE AGAINST EACH OTHER, BUT WE'RE ALL HERE TOGETHER TO SUPPORT THE SAME THING. UM, WE ALL SHARE THE SAME OPINION AND GOAL AS YOU, BUT THE METHOD AND MECHANISM THAT'S BEING PROPOSED DOESN'T REALLY, UM, SUIT THAT SINCE WE'RE THE ONES THAT ARE GONNA CARRY IT OUT. AND SO THAT WAS MY WHY. I THINK WE SHOULD CHANGE THE POLICY, THE PROPOSAL. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, COUNCILOR HUFFMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO YOU SAID THAT, UM, YOU HAD AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE SHARED DRIVEWAY. WHAT IS THAT ALTERNATIVE? SURE, WE HAVE SOME, UM, ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES WILL SPEAK NEXT. HE HAS SOME BROCHURES AND, AND WHATNOT WE CAN PASS OUT THAT HAVE, UH, OUR PROPOSAL ON HOW WE, WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. AND THEN, UM, YOU SAID THAT FOR EVERY THOUSAND DOLLARS ADDED TO A HOUSE, IT PRICES 29,000 PEOPLE OUT OF THE HOUSE. NO, NO, SORRY. SO THERE'S A STATISTIC FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOME BUILDERS. YOU CAN LOOK IT UP. IT'S A NATIONAL, UH, STAT. IT SAYS FOR EVERY 150, UM, FOR EVERY THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT A HOME INCREASES IN VALUE, APPROXIMATELY 150,000 PEOPLE ARE PRICED OUT OF PURCHASING THAT HOME. SO WHEN YOU, YOU KNOW, DO THE MATH AND BREAK THAT DOWN INTO THE HOUSTON, HOUSTON NUMBERS, IT EQUATES TO ROUGHLY 2,600 FAMILIES. OKAY? AND SO THAT WOULD NO LONGER AFFORD THE HOME. GIVE US AN EXAMPLE OF HOW CHAPTER 42 IN THIS LIVABLE PLACE IS. HOW, WHY WOULD THAT CONTRIBUTE TO RAISING THE PRICE OF A HOUSE? SURE. WELL, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE ADDING CONCRETE BY SETTING THE HOME FURTHER BACK, YOU KNOW, UH, EVERYONE KNOWS IF YOU BUILD A LONGER DRIVEWAY, IT COSTS MORE THAN A SHORTER DRIVEWAY. UM, AND WHEN YOU HAVE MORE CULVERT, IT COSTS MORE THAN LESS CULVERT. UM, THE COST OF A SHARED DRIVEWAY IN GENERAL WITH THE ADDITIONAL ENGINEERING THAT'S CURRENTLY REQUIRED BY THE CITY, SO MAYBE YOU DON'T KNOW THIS, BUT WHEN YOU APPLY FOR A SHARED DRIVEWAY PERMIT, THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL ENGINEERING DOCUMENTS THAT ARE REQUIRED. THOSE COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, UH, JUST TO BE ABLE TO OBTAIN, UH, A PERMIT APPLICATION. ANY MOTION TO EXTEND ANY OBJECTION? HERES NONE. GRANTED, THAT'S ALL I HAVE. COUNCIL MEMBER P*****K. THANK YOU MAYOR. JEFF, THANK YOU FOR COMING. UM, YOUR CURRENT PROPOSAL THAT YOU HAVE, UM, HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO, UM, SPEAK TO ANYONE WITHIN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT ABOUT THAT? AND IF SO, HAVE THEY GIVEN YOU ANY FEEDBACK ON, ON YOUR CURRENT PROPOSAL? UH, ME PERSONALLY, NO, I HAVEN'T, BUT, UM, SOME OTHER COLLEAGUES OF MINE, MEMBERS OF THE GHBA, UH, HAVE PROPOSED THIS FOR, YOU KNOW, UM, APPROXIMATELY A YEAR. AND, UH, THERE WAS A, SOME COMPROMISE THAT WAS BEING TALKED ABOUT BACK AND FORTH. AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT HAS SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, MEMBERS OF THE GHB HAVE AGREED TO THEIR PROPOSAL, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, COMPLETELY THE OPPOSITE. UM, THAT WAS NEVER DISCUSSED AT ALL. THERE WAS NO AGREEMENT WHATSOEVER. THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT TO, INSTEAD OF BANNING FRONT LOADING HOMES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHICH WE NEED FOR AFFORDABILITY, THAT THEY'LL LET US DO THE SHARED DRIVEWAYS INSTEAD. SO THERE, THERE, YOU KNOW, BUT THIS IS THEIR PROPOSAL ON HOW WE DO THE SHARED DRIVEWAYS ON HOW WE CARRY IT OUT. SO, NO, I I DON'T THINK THAT, UH, THERE'S BEEN ANY OF OUR PROPOSALS HAVE EVER BEEN LISTENED TO. WE COME UP WITH A NEW ONE AFTER THIS WAS KIND OF SPRUNG ON US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER RICHARD ZAINO. RICHARD MAZANO. RICHARD IS HERE. HAVE SOME OF THOSE PROPOSED. TAKE A LOOK AT SOME PRETTY PICTURES. NO, NO. UM, MY NAME'S RICHARD ZAINO. I'VE BEEN BUILDING HOMES IN HOUSTON FOR 15 YEARS. I LIVE IN THE CITY. MY PRIMARY BUSINESS IS BUILDING HOMES IN THE CITY. I'M ALSO HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT SOME OF THESE CHANGES TO CHAPTER 42, UM, AS THEY'VE BEEN PROPOSED BY THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MY COLLEAGUE HIT ON IS THAT, UH, FORCING THIS Y SHAPED DRIVEWAY IS GONNA TAKE AWAY PARKING SPACES FROM PRIVATE RESIDENCE ON PRIVATE LAND AND IMPOSE THOSE PARKING SPACES INTO THE CITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND MOVE THOSE CARS FROM PRIVATE PROPERTY TO THE STREET. UM, IT CREATES A DIFFICULT AND UNSAFE, UH, DRIVEWAY TURN-IN, WE BELIEVE. AND IT CREATES A LONGER STRETCH OF SIDEWALK, UM, WHEN YOU'RE CROSSING AN INDIVIDUAL DRIVEWAY. WE BELIEVE OUR PROPOSAL PROVIDES BETTER PROTECTION FOR PEDESTRIANS. IT REDUCES IMPERVIOUS COVER AND ALLOWS FOR MORE ON PROPERTY PARKING RATHER THAN INFRASTRUCTURE PARKING. SO I'M GONNA TRY AND HIT ON ALL OF THESE AND AS QUICK AS I CAN, UM, ALL OF THESE PHOTOS, HOPEFULLY THAT Y'ALL CAN [01:35:01] SEE. UM, SO PHOTO NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER TWO. PHOTO NUMBER ONE IS TAKEN FROM THE LIVABLE PLACES INITIATIVE, POWERPOINT PRESENTATION. THIS IS THE IDEAL MODEL OF THE Y SHAPED DRIVEWAY THAT THEY'RE PROPOSING FOR, UM, NARROW LOTS. UH, PHOTO NUMBER TWO KIND OF SHOWS THE THREE OPTIONS. PHOTO NUMBER, THE FIRST PHOTO IN NUMBER TWO SHOWS THE WAY WE KIND OF CURRENTLY BUILD WITH TWO 16 FOOT DRIVEWAYS. THE MIDDLE PHOTO WHERE YOU SEE ALL THE CARS BANGING AROUND, DRIVING OVER THE GRASS AND THE SIDEWALK AND DRIVING INTO DITCHES IS THE CURRENT PLANNING PROPOSAL. AND PHOTO NUMBER THREE IS OUR PROPOSAL WHERE WE BELIEVE WE WILL STILL DO 24 FEET OF CONCRETE DRIVEWAY, BUT SPACE OUT INTO TWO DRIVEWAYS. SO YOU COULD EASILY ACCESS YOUR GARAGE AS WELL AS PUT CARS IN YOUR PRIVATE DRIVEWAY VERSUS PUSHING THEM ONTO THE STREET. IF YOU TURN THE PAGE. PHOTO NUMBER THREE IS THE IDEAL, UM, PICTURE FROM THEIR PROPOSAL AS TO WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. NOW. THE HOMEOWNERS TOOK IT UPON THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT SATISFIED WITH THE YS SHAPED DRIVEWAY TO CREATE A SEA OF CONCRETE OUT THERE. THIS WAS NOT PERMITTED, THIS WAS NOT APPROVED. THIS WAS THEIR SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM THAT EXISTED. AND THESE HOMES WERE 45 FEET OFF THE STREET, NOT 19 LIKE THEY'RE PROPOSING, OR 17, LIKE OUR CURRENT, UH, BUILDING LINES. THIS IS HOW THAT PROJECT TURNED OUT OFF THE BOOKS AFTER THEY MOVED IN. PHOTO NUMBER FOUR IS A NEIGHBORHOOD PHOTO TAKEN FROM MS. CAYMAN'S DISTRICT, UM, BY MYSELF ACTUALLY. YOU CAN SEE BY HAVING THE MORE COMMON DRIVEWAY PROJECTS, MORE ALLEY ACCESS PROJECTS, YOU'RE PUSHING MORE AND MORE CARS ONTO THE STREETS. PHOTO NUMBER FIVE IS A EXAMPLE OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN YOU HAVE CARS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREETS PARKED. YOU CANNOT FIT TWO CARS DRIVING OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS DOWN THE SAME STREET WHEN THESE STREETS ARE SO WIDE. AND THERE IS A CITY ORDINANCE THAT ALLOWS CITY TO GRANT. IF A STREET IS NARROWER THAN 20 FEET OR 20 FEET OR LESS, YOU CAN GET NO PARKING STAND. SECOND. THANK YOU FOLKS. HOLD ON, HOLD ON, HOLD ON. SORRY. I CAN GIVE YOU ANOTHER MINUTE. GO ON. THANK YOU, SIR. UM, YOU CAN GET NO PARKING SIGNS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET WHEN YOU HAVE 20 FEET OR LESS. IF YOU HAVE 30 FEET OR LESS, YOU CAN GET NO PARKING ON ONE SIDE OF THE STREET. WE SEE THIS AS A DANGER TO FIRE TRUCKS, CYCLISTS WHO ARE NOW RIDING NEXT TO CARS, UM, AND CLOSER TO THE STREETS. NUMBER SIX IS A STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE, UM, MONASH UNIVERSITY ACCIDENT RESEARCH CENTER IN AUSTRALIA, EXPLAINING SOME OF THE DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH ON CURB STREET PARKING VERSUS PARKING IN PRIVATE DRIVEWAYS. I'LL LEAVE Y'ALL TO READ THE PARTICULARS. UH, THE NEXT PAGE, WHICH ACTUALLY IS PROBABLY CUT OFF BY THE STAPLE NUMBER SEVEN, IS A STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE OUTLINING THE DANGERS TO PEDESTRIANS BY PUTTING MORE CARS ON THE STREET VERSUS MORE CARS IN PRIVATE PROPERTY. IF YOU'LL FLIP THE PAGE AS WELL TO PHOTO NUMBER EIGHT, THIS IS A CRIME STATISTIC THAT SAYS NEARLY 40% OF ALL VEHICLE THEFTS OCCUR FROM VEHICLES PARKED ON THE STREET. TWO OUT OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND CARS PER 24 HOURS ARE STOLEN FROM HOME GARAGES. 40 OUT OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND ARE STOLEN FROM, UH, DRIVEWAYS AND 117 ARE STOLEN OFF OF THE STREETS. ONE SECOND. ONE SECOND. UH, COUNCILWOMAN CAMERON. THANK YOU. UM, I'M GONNA, I I WANT YOU TO, IF YOU HAVE LIKE ONE SENTENCE YOU WANNA FINISH WITH, BUT I ALSO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU. UH, THANK YOU. UM, THE LAST PAGE, I WILL BE ONE SENTENCE, PHOTO NUMBER NINE AND NUMBER 10 ARE ABOUT THE ALLEYWAY ISSUES. UM, THE, BASICALLY WHAT MY COLLEAGUE MENTIONED AS WELL IS THAT MANY ALLEYS ARE NOT PRESENTLY DEVELOPED. IF YOU'LL LOOK, PHOTO NUMBER NINE IS A TRADITIONAL MAP VIEW OF AN ALLEY OVER IN THE HEIGHTS OFF OF CORDELL STREET. BUT PHOTO NUMBER 10 SHOWS THE SATELLITE IMAGE OF THAT SAME ALLEGED ALLEY. THERE ARE BUILDINGS BUILT INTO IT, THERE ARE FENCES BUILT INTO IT, UM, AND THERE IS TRASH DUMPED INTO IT. SO RICHARD, I'M GONNA, 'CAUSE I'M GONNA, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU. CERTAINLY. 'CAUSE AGAIN, A LOT OF THESE PHOTOS ARE IN DISTRICT C. CERTAINLY GO RIGHT AHEAD. UM, SO ONE AGAIN, I DEAL ON NUMBER ON ONE OR EVEN TWO. SURE. I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT WHAT WE'RE REALLY DEALING WITH IS PICTURE FOUR. CORRECT. OKAY. AND WHEN I SAW THIS, I EVEN ASKED Y'ALL, IS THIS MY STREET? RIGHT? AND YOU SAID, NO, IT'S NOT. I BELIEVE IT'S 16TH STREET, RIGHT? IT'S 16TH STREET. WHAT HAPPENS, I MEAN, YOU HAVE THESE DIAGRAMS OF Y'ALL'S PROPOSAL AND PLANNING'S PROPOSAL OF THE DRIVEWAY AND HOW YOU BACK OUT. BUT EVEN WITH THE ADDITIONAL PARKING, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE A STREET THAT'S LINED ON BOTH SIDES BY CARS AND SOMEBODY'S TRYING TO BACK OUT? IT'S MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FOR A VEHICLE TO MANEUVER. YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT, UH, LINE OF SIGHT, WHICH IS GREATLY REDUCED WHEN YOU HAVE CARS PARKED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET, WHICH MAKES IT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO SEE PEDESTRIANS, KIDS ON SKATEBOARDS, [01:40:01] CYCLISTS GOING UP AND DOWN. UM, AND IT ALSO MAKES TURNING IN AND OUT OF YOUR DRIVEWAY MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE WHEN THERE ARE CARS PARKED CLOSE TO THE ENDS OF THE DRIVEWAYS AS WELL. RIGHT. AND, UM, I APPRECIATE YOU FLAGGING, 'CAUSE AGAIN, I HEAR WHEN PEOPLE START ADVOCATING FOR IT'S, FIRST OFF, WE SHOULD JUST KNOW THE FACTS. THE STREET IS THE PUBLIC REALM. PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO PARK ON IT. AND I, I RESPECT THAT. THAT BEING SAID, WHEN YOU HAVE CARS LINED ALL ALONG AND YOU CAN'T BACK OUT OF YOUR OWN DRIVEWAY OR, UM, YOU GET BOTTLENECKS, RIGHT. UH, WITH ONE, TWO CARS. I, I LIVE ON A STREET JUST LIKE THAT IN MISS HUFFMAN'S DISTRICT WHERE, UM, THERE'S CARS PARKED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET AND COME EVERY MORNING EVERYBODY'S RACING TO WORK. YOU'RE KIND OF PULLING IN AND OUT OF DRIVEWAYS AND IN AND OUT OF PARKED CARS BECAUSE TWO CARS CAN'T PASS ONE ANOTHER. RIGHT. SO YOU SEE SOMEBODY AT THE END OF THE STREET BASICALLY WHO'S GONNA FLOOR IT FIRST TO WHO CAN GET TO THE END, RIGHT. BUT I, AND THEN IF THE TRASH TRUCK IS COMING, PUT IT IN REVERSE AND GO BACK BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GONNA BEAT HIM IN THAT FROGGER RACE. YEP. AND, AND WE KNOW SOME OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS REALLY CARE ABOUT THE, THE, THE TRASH PICKUP ACCESSIBILITY. UH, THE, I APPRECIATE YOU INCLUDING SOME OF THE STATISTICS BECAUSE AGAIN, WHAT I HEAR IS WHEN YOU HAVE CARS PARKED ON BOTH SIDES, IT SLOWS TRAFFIC DOWN AND IT'S SAFE. BUT WHAT, WHILE I THINK THAT'S RECOGNIZED, I JUST SCANNED IT, UM, YOU'RE ALSO SEEING AN INCREASE IN HIGHER CRASH RATES. IT SAYS, UM, IN OTHER CHALLENGES. IS THAT, YES. SO, UH, PHOTO NUMBER SEVEN, WHICH IS A STUDY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE. THEY DID NOTE THAT SPECIFICALLY, AND YOU, Y'ALL CAN FEEL FREE TO READ THE ENTIRE THING, BUT, UH, WHICH I CAN HAPPILY PROVIDE. I JUST PROVIDED A SNIPPET OF SOME TAKEAWAYS. UM, IS THAT WHILE TRAFFIC DOES SLOW DOWN IN THOSE AREAS, WHAT THEY FOUND WAS THAT THE SLOWDOWN WAS NOT ENOUGH TO COMPENSATE FOR ALL THE OTHER DISTRACTIONS AND THE LACK OF VISIBILITY BY HAVING CARS ON BOTH SIDES OF, OF THE STREET. SO, 'CAUSE I'M ALMOST OUTTA TIME, REALLY QUICKLY, JUST SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ASK IS. I HEARD Y'ALL SAY THERE HAS BEEN A COMPROMISE, SO WE'RE NOT GONNA RESTRICT FRONT LOADING ANYMORE, WHICH WAS A BIG CONCERN OF MINE. NOW YOU'LL HAVE FRONT LOADING, BUT WITH THE Y WITH THE Y AND WHAT IS THE ASK SPECIFICALLY FROM US OR? YES, THE ASK FOR US IS TO GET RID OF THE Y LET US DO TWO DRIVEWAYS SIMILAR TO, UH, THE VERY RIGHT PHOTO AND PHOTO TWO, TWO NARROWER APPROACHES. SO YOU HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF CONCRETE, SIMILAR TO THE Y, BUT YOU HAVE A STRAIGHT SHOT WIDENING TO YOUR GARAGE. SO IT'S EASIER TO ACCESS BOTH BAYS OF YOUR GARAGE. IT'S A STRAIGHT SHOT OUT OF YOUR GARAGE WITH A VERY MINIMAL TURN SO THAT YOU HAVE MORE EYES BEHIND YOU RATHER THAN WHEN YOU'RE BACKING OUT OF THIS YI CAN ASSUME A LOT OF US WOULD BE LOOKING AT THE GRASS LOOKING, YOU KNOW, DON'T DRIVE OVER THE ROSES, DON'T DRIVE INTO THE DITCH, DON'T RUN INTO ANOTHER CAR THAT'S PARKED AT THE END OF THE STREET. WHEREAS WHEN YOU HAVE A STRAIGHT SHOT BACKWARDS, YOU HAVE YOUR EYES FOCUSED IN YOUR REAR VIEW MIRROR AND YOUR SIDE MIRRORS. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES, COUNCIL ASH. REALLY GOOD PRESENTATION. I MEAN, YOU, YOU JUST BROUGHT IT TO LIFE. YOU KNOW, I I I NOTICED THAT PICTURE ABOUT THE, UH, THE ALLEYWAY AND I GO TO PLANO FROM TIME TO TIME 'CAUSE I HAVE, UH, UH, A NIECE AND UH, TWO NIECES THERE LIVE THERE. AND I, YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS ABOUT PLANO, BUT EVERY HOUSE HAS AN ALLEYWAY BEHIND IT. AND, AND IT'S PA IT IS, UH, ASPHALTED OR PAVED AND AND IT GIVES THEM ACCESS, BUT THEY DON'T BUILD IN, IN THE ALLEYWAY. SO, UM, UH, IIII GET FRUSTRATED WHEN I'M, WHEN I'M MOTION TO EXTEND SECOND OBJECTION, CHAIR DOWN. GRANTED, I GET FRUSTRATED WHEN I DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THERE'S CARS PARKED ON BOTH SIDES. AND LIKE YOU SAY, WE'RE PLAYING CHICKEN, WHO'S GONNA GET TO WHERE WE'RE GETTING TO GET FIRST? AND, AND SINCE I'M A SENIOR, I'M GOING, I'M GONNA TRY TO ALWAYS LET YOU WIN. OKAY. 'CAUSE I'M NOT REALLY IN A HURRY, BUT SOME PEOPLE GET IN A REAL HURRY AND THEN THEY START HONKING AT ME 'CAUSE I'M NOT GOING BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S COMING. BUT I, I AGREE WITH THAT. SO, UH, I, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO NOW. HAVE YOU MADE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS? UH, THERE'S NOTHING BEFORE. YES. UH, I'M SORRY. PLEASE FINISH. THERE'S NOTHING BEFORE COUNSEL YET. NO, SIR. THERE'S NOT. UM, WE HAVE MADE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS TO, UH, THE LIVABLE PLACES PLANNING COMMITTEE. OKAY. UM, ESPECIALLY, UH, ON OUR, IF I MAY ON YOUR ALLEY POINT, OUR, OUR RECOMMENDATION TO THEM WAS SIMPLY WE WOULD HAPPILY USE THE ALLEY IF IT IS A CITY ACCEPTED IN CITY MAINTAIN ALLEY. BUT TO ASK A, A BUILDER WHO OWNS ONE HOUSE ON THIS BLOCK IN PHOTO NUMBER 10 TO CLEAN OUT THAT ENTIRE ALLEY, DETAIN WATER FOR THAT ENTIRE ALLEY, ENGINEER THAT ENTIRE ALLEY, AND THEN CONVINCE ALL OF THESE HOMEOWNERS WHO HAVE BUILT FENCES, GARAGES, SHEDS. SOME OF THESE STRUCTURES ARE DECADES OLD AND THEY MIGHT, UH, EXERT AN ADVERSE POSSESSION CLAIM AND SAY, WELL, THAT'S MY LAND, MY GARAGE HAS BEEN ON IT SINCE 1925. [01:45:01] AND TO PUT THAT ON THE BUILDERS, I THINK IS IRRESPONSIBLE, BUT WE'RE NOT AGAINST USING ALLEYS. THE HOUSES TURN OUT BEAUTIFUL. YOU CAN BUILD A A, AN A, UH, EXCUSE ME, A SECOND DWELLING UNIT OVER TOP OF YOUR GARAGE BACK THERE. WE'RE NOT AGAINST THEM AT ALL. BUT WE WANT TO USE, AND THIS IS WHAT WE'VE PROPOSED, WE WANT TO USE THE CITY MAINTAINED ALLEYS. GREAT PRESENTATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE OTHER, UH, I'M SORRY IF I MAY, AND I, WHENEVER THIS GETS UP TO COME BEFORE COUNSEL, PLEASE NOTIFY US. OKAY. UH, IF I MAY, UH, AS WELL ON THE PROPOSAL FOR THE NARROWER INDIVIDUAL DRIVEWAYS ON PAGE ONE, PHOTO TWO ON THE FAR RIGHT, WE HAVE MADE THIS TO LIVABLE PLACES INTO PLANNING. AND BASICALLY WE WERE TOLD IT'S A NON-STARTER, DON'T TALK TO US ABOUT IT. THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT'S BEEN OUR RESPONSE TO WHY IS THAT THEY ARE PRETTY SET ON THE Y SHAPED DRIVEWAY. UM, WHY I WOULD HAVE TO ASK, UH, ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE INVOLVED IN IT, BUT WE HAVE, ARE THEY LOCAL HOUSTONIANS OR DID THEY COME FROM UP NORTH ? UH, A LOT OF THEM ARE NOT. A LOT OF THEM DO NOT LIVE IN THE CITY. . OKAY. NORTHLAKE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN. THANK YOU. SO I KNOW TODAY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE MENTIONED THE, UM, ALLEYWAYS AND THE SHARED DRIVEWAYS. ARE THERE OTHER CONCERNS WITH CHAPTER 42 OR DOES GHBA FEEL LIKE THE REST OF THE CHANGES ARE? OKAY, WE ALL FEEL THAT WE HAVE BEEN VERY ACCOMMODATING ON PROBABLY 75 TO 85% OF THE PROPOSALS THAT WE'RE WILLING TO ACCEPT AND WORK AROUND. UM, ONE PROPOSAL THAT WE DON'T A HUNDRED PERCENT AGREE ON IS THE MOVING OF THE GARAGE BUILDING LINE FROM 17 FEET TO 19 FEET. UM, SIMPLY BECAUSE IT ADDS MORE CONCRETE, UM, TO, UH, A PROBLEM THAT WE ALREADY HAVE. WE ALSO DON'T BELIEVE THAT, UH, CARS COVERING, UH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT CAME FROM CARS BLOCKING SIDEWALKS, WHICH I KNOW WE HAVE ALL SEEN ON THESE DRIVEWAYS. UM, BUT WE BELIEVE THAT'S AN ENFORCEMENT ISSUE. UM, ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS HAS A MINI COOPER AND HE PARKS IT OVER THE SIDEWALK EVERY SINGLE DAY I CALL 3 1 1 TRYING TO GET IT, AND NOTHING HAPPENS. SO WHETHER YOU MOVE IT FROM 17 TO 18 OR TO 19 FEET, I DON'T THINK THAT IS GONNA ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM OTHER THAN CREATING MORE CONCRETE IN OUR CITY. I THINK THE, THE PROBLEM IS AN ENFORCEMENT ISSUE WHERE UNFORTUNATELY, SOME CITIZENS JUST DON'T CARE THAT I'M NOT HURTING ANYBODY. NOTHING'S GONNA HAPPEN TO MY CAR IF I'M BLOCKING THE SIDEWALK. SO WHY THE HECK NOT? UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU ALL. I APPRECIATE IT. SORRY, GALLEGOS. ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, THANK, THANK YOU FOR, UH, THIS INFORMATION. IT'S VERY INFORMATIVE. I, I KNOW YOU HAVE STATED IN REGARDS TO CITY MAINTAINED ALLEYS. UH, I KNOW THAT, UH, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER AND, UH, REPRESENTING DISTRICT DI I KNOW WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF ISSUES WHERE HOMEOWNERS THAT HAVE ALLEYS IN THE BACK OF THEIR PROPERTIES AND THEY WANTED IT TO BE MAINTAINED FOR WHATEVER THE REASON WAS. UH, AND WHEN WE'VE LOOKED INTO IT, WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE HOMEOWNERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR SECTION OF THE ALLEY, UH, THAT THE CITY IS NOT ABLE TO COME IN AND DO WHATEVER THEIR ISSUE MAY BE. UH, SO, UH, HAVE YOU, HAVE YOU, UH, INQUIRED ABOUT THAT OR HAVE THEY TOLD YOU THAT? I'M NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT FAMILIAR WITH THAT. I HAVE, UH, SOME EXPERIENCE BUILDING ALLEY PROJECTS, UH, MYSELF IN THAT WE HAVE HAD TO WORK DEALS WITH NEIGHBORS TO GET FENCES REMOVED, GET SHEDS MOVED, AND THERE'S BEEN NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THIS IS NOT PRIVATE LAND, THIS IS PUBLICLY OWNED LAND, UM, THAT IS, HAS BEEN ENCROACHED INTO, AND FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS MAYBE A MID-BLOCK PROPERTY, YOU HAVE A VERY LONG SPAN OF WEEDS, TREES, SHEDS, DOGS, UH, I MEAN EVERYTHING TO RUN THROUGH. MM-HMM . ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. VERY HELPFUL. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU EVERYONE. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER ANNIE LEE. ANNIE LEE. ANNIE LEE IS HERE, SHOULD BE FOLLOWED BY SAMMY FORD. HELLO MAYOR. AND EVERYONE, UM, MY NAME IS ANNIE LEE, RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE MICROPHONE. HELLO MAYOR. AND EVERYONE. MY NAME IS ANNIE LEE AND, UM, YOU PROBABLY SEEN ME ON THE NEWS TWICE. MY GRANDDAUGHTER, CHRISTINA LEE, WAS MURDERED LAST YEAR, JULY THE 11TH, UH, 2022. SHE WAS A DENTAL ASSISTANT AND, UH, THE PEOPLE AND HER DAUGHTER, HER 2-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, I WAS HER CARETAKER AND I TOOK CARE OF HER AND EVERYTHING. AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS TWO CRIMINALS CAME AND JUMPED ME IN MY HOUSE. I FILED FOR A LAWSUIT. I FILED, UH, AT THE DA'S OFFICE. AND, UH, IT DIDN'T GO THROUGH. AND [01:50:01] THEY TOOK THE BABY AND THEY TOOK THE BABY TO THE BOY, BOBBY WOLF, WHO KILLED CHRISTIAN. HE SHOT HER SIX TIMES. AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAS THE BABY, THEY'RE ANGRY BECAUSE, UM, IT, IT IS NOT AN ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING. IT WAS UPGRADED TO MURDER. AND, UM, THEY, UM, THE BABY'S IN DANGER. SHE'S WITH CRIMINALS. I'VE BEEN ON THE NEWS. UH, JESSICA WILLIE TRIED TO HELP ME , SHE TRIED TO HELP ME AND THEY ONLY ALLOWED ME AND MY SON TO SEE THE BABY ONLY TWICE. AND THE SECOND TIME WE SEEN THE BABY, SHE'S SAD BECAUSE THEY RUNNING WITH THE BABY. THEY MOVED OVER 30 SOME TIMES AND, UM, THEY'RE CRIMINALS AND THEY GOT A LARGE, UH, RECORD. SO THEY HAVE A LOT OF RECORDS. AND, UH, I GOT WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND I TALKED TO OFFICER FORD AND HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO HELP ME, UH, GET THE BABY. AND UH, HE TOLD ME, FIRST OF ALL, HE ASKED THE, THE WOLF TO FILE A, A, A PAPER THAT BOBBY WOLF, THE, THE BABY'S DAD'S SIGN THAT HE GAVE THEM CUSTODY, TEMPORARY CUSTODY OF THE BABY. AND THEN WHEN I, IT TOOK ME THREE MONTHS, ALMOST THREE MONTHS, TWO MONTHS I THINK, TO SEE THE, UH, JUDGE. AND WHEN I SEEN THE JUDGE, JUDGE SAYS IT'S A BUNCH OF MESS. HE KILLED THE MOM. AND, UM, THE BABY'S WITH CRIMINALS, HE WITH, WITH THE BABIES, WITH CRIMINALS. AND WHEN THE JUDGE TOLD ME THAT, HE SAID THE POLICE IS NOT DOING THAT JOB. SO I TALKED TO OFFICER NESS, I TALKED TO OFFICER FORD, I TALKED TO OFFICER MCCOY ON MACAU ROAD, AND EVERYBODY PROMISED TO HELP EVEN CPS AND CPS SAID THE BABY'S RESIDENCE IS HERE WITH ME AND MY GRANDDAUGHTER, BEFORE SHE GOT MURDERED, SHE WAS A DENTAL ASSISTANT GOING TO SCHOOL FOR PHARMACY TECH AND SHE WAS WORKING AT EPIC THEATER ON WESTHEIMER. AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WERE GONNA HELP ME, BUT NO ONE HAS HONORED THAT WORD. AND I NEED HELP RIGHT NOW. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE BABY IS. THE BABY'S, UH, FATHER'S GRANDPARENTS IS IN ARKANSAS. AND YOU JUST HEARD A TORNADO HIT ARKANSAS. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE 2-YEAR-OLD IS, BUT ALL I KNOW IS I THAT I HAVE PAPERS, UH, UH, PICTURES OF ME AND HER AND HER DAD, MY SON, I WORKED FOR THE CITY FIVE YEARS AGO, FIVE YEARS I WAS A FOREMAN TRUCK DRIVER FOR PARKS AND RECREATION. WORKED 27 YEARS WITH THE POSTAL SERVICE. I HAVE A STABLE HOME. THESE PEOPLE DIDN'T MOVE 40 TIMES PROBABLY OR MORE SINCE THEY HAD THE BABY. NINE MONTHS THEY MOVED THREE TIMES. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. AND, UM, AND MISS, UH, LEE AND I, I, I, UM, CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. I'M JUST LOOKING AT THIS MEMO THAT I HAVE AND WHAT I, WHAT I'M BEING TOLD IS THAT IT'S A, UM, IT IS A CHILD CUSTODY SITUATION. UM, I HAVE PRIMARY CUSTODY AND, AND WHAT, WHAT WHAT I'M BEING SAYING IS IT'S, IT IS A CHILD CUSTODY SITUATION, UM, A CIVIL MATTER. UM, AND, AND THAT THE CHILD IS CURRENTLY WITH THE OTHER GRANDPARENT. UM, BUT BUT NOT, IT'S NOT A MISSING PERSON SITUATION. IT'S MISSING BECAUSE 308 DISTRICT COURT GRANTED ME THE BABY AFTER THEY SEEN THAT THE BABY ALWAYS LIVED WITH ME AND CHRISTINA. AND SINCE THE BABY HAS, UM, HAS NEVER BEEN FROM AROUND ME, SHE'S NEVER BEEN WITH THEM FROM ME WITH NO, I I I UNDERSTAND. I I NEVER KNOW. I'VE NEVER SEEN THESE PEOPLE BEFORE. NO, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. UM, AND LEMME JUST ASK, HAVE YOU CONSULTED AN ATTORNEY ON THIS SITUATION? OH, THE ATTORNEY, UH, WE TALKED TO THE POLICE OFFICERS ON E EMMANUEL STREET AND THE ATTORNEY TALKED TO THE POLICE OFFICERS AND THEY SAID THE POLICE IS NOT DOING THEIR JOB. THE POLICE TOLD ME THAT IF YOU GO TO THE COURT AND THE COURT SAY YOU STILL GOT CUSTODY, WE WILL GET THAT BABY. WELL, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. I MEAN, BUT THEY NEVER DID DO IT. THEY TALKED TO HIM THOUGH. RIGHT. BUT, BUT IF, BUT IF THE COURT HAS GIVEN YOU CUSTODY MM-HMM . AND IF YOU HAVE PAPERS TO THAT EFFECT RIGHT THERE, OKAY, THEN WHY NOT? I, I, I HAVEN'T SEEN 'EM, SO I I I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY I HAVE 'EM WITH ME. RIGHT. BUT, BUT YOUR ATTORNEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO, THEY DID THE ATTORNEY AND THE JUDGE, JUDGE SAN SAN SEND DEFEAT HIM FOR 308 DISTRICT COURT, JUDGE SAN THE DEFEAT HIM. HE SAID HE IS NOT DOING HIS JOB AND THEN SAY THE POLICE IS NOT, AND ALSO TALK TO THE F-B-I-I-I UNDERSTAND. I UNDERSTAND THE FBI SAID THE POLICE SHOULD GET THE BABY, THE BABY'S IN DANGER. WELL, LET ME JUST SAY TO YOU, IF, IF THE COURTS HAVE GIVEN YOU LEGAL CUSTODY, THEN THE OFFICERS OF THE COURT CERTAINLY ARE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THEY SHOULD PROVIDE YOU THE NECESSARY BACKUP IF THE COURTS HAVE GIVEN YOU THEIR YES, SIR. THEY HAVE. AND [01:55:01] I WAS ON THE NEWS FEBRUARY THE SEVENTH, SECOND. WELL THEN SOMEONE WOULD'VE TO SIMPLY LOOK AT THE, I WOULD AGAIN SAY, HAVE YOUR ATTORNEY CONTACT LAW ENFORCEMENT, HAVE YOUR ATTORNEY CONTACT. WE DID. WE DID. WELL, SOMETHING, SOMETHING'S NOT ADDING THIS EXCUSES. THAT'S WHAT I KNOW. I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT. WELL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN ONE, I'M, I'M SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. THANK YOU. UH, TRULY. AND IT, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR HAD, UH, BASICALLY SAID WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY, YOU HAVE ATTORNEYS ON COUNCIL AND WE CAN'T GIVE YOU LEGAL ADVICE. BUT I, MY FIRST QUESTION WAS GONNA BE IF YOU'D RETAIN COUNSEL BECAUSE YOUR LAWYER, IF IT'S NOT, IF THE COURT ORDER MM-HMM . IS NOT BEING ENFORCED, THEN YOUR ATTORNEY NEEDS TO GO BACK TO COURT FOR THAT ENFORCEMENT. AND IT'S THE COURT THAT CAN THEN INSTRUCT LAW ENFORCEMENT TO DO, UM, WHATEVER THE COURT ORDER HAS ISSUED. BUT THAT NEEDS TO COME FROM THE COURT ITSELF. WE DID GO, WE WENT BACK TWO OR THREE TIMES. I, AND AGAIN, I LIKE THE MAYOR. I HAVEN'T SEEN THOSE DOCUMENTS. I'M JUST SAYING THAT YOUR LAWYER HA DOES HAVE THOSE TOOLS. AND, UM, AGAIN, WE'RE NOT THE COURT, SO WE CAN'T ISSUE A CERTAIN ORDER, BUT THE, THE JUDGE CAN. SO I, MAYOR, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE WE CAN BE DOING. WE WENT TWO OR THREE TIMES TO THE JUDGE, UH, 308TH DISTRICT COURT. AND HE SAID, HE TOLD ME THE POLICE OFFICER'S NOT DOING THEIR JOB. SO I SAID, I'M GONNA CONTACT THE FBI MONDAY, THE, THE FBI SAYS, FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO DO THIS. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE COURT CAN INSTRUCT WELL, THERE'S HPD ON LAW ENFORCEMENT TO GO AND GET THE CHILD IF, IF THE, IF THAT IS, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BUT, BUT I'M JUST SAYING IF THAT'S WHAT THE PAPERS SAY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PAPERS SAY. YOU CAN LOOK AT IT ON, ON THE NEWS FEBRUARY THE SECOND, THEY PUT ME ON THAT FOUR, FIVE O'CLOCK AT EIGHT O'CLOCK MM-HMM . WELL, AND THE, AND, AND THE LAWYER CAME ON AND HE SAID, WELL, IF, IF YOU HAVE, IF YOU HAVE, IF YOU HAVE COPIES OF THE, IF YOU HAVE THE, UM, THE ORDER, THEN WHAT I WOULD SAY, RENEE, IF YOU'LL GET IT, AND IF YOU DON'T MIND, SO WHO DO I GO TO HERE? WHAT, WHAT, LISTEN, I WOULD SAY GIVE YOUR, GIVE THE ORDER TO THE, TO RENEE. RENEE, MAKE A COPY OF IT AND WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT IT. OKAY. THANK YOU, SIR. OKAY. THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. SAMMY FORD. SAMMY FORD. SAMMY FORD IS NOT HERE. NEXT. DON BURKE. DON BURKE IS HERE. THREE FOLLOWED BY STEVE EZ. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS DAWN BURKE AND I LIVE AT 3 0 7 WEST PIER, 7 7 0 1 9. THAT'S IN COUNCIL MEMBER C DISTRICT. UH, THERE'S A NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT I HAVE ALL OF THEM COULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF, BUT 3 1 1, THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S OFFICE, UH, VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE CITY HAVE BEEN UNRESPONSIVE. AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS. AND THE REASON WHY I'M HERE IS 'CAUSE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON THE STREET. I HAPPEN TO BE 75 YEARS OLD AND RETIRED, AND I DECIDED I GOT THE TIME. SO I'M HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME, BUT I CAN TELL YOU IT'S NOT THE LAST. IF THIS DOESN'T GET SOLVED, UM, I'VE GOT A COPY I WILL PASS THAT. I'LL GIVE TO THE GENTLEMAN FOR ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO SEE IT. BUT THE ISSUES OF THESE, AND I'LL GO OVER 'EM VERY QUICKLY. THE STRUCTURE AT THE CORNER OF WEST PEARSON, STANFORD, 7 7 0 1 9, IT'S BEEN FOR FOUR PLUS YEARS. IT'S GOING TO VARIOUS STAGES OF CONDEMNATION AND IT'S ALL BEEN PULLED BACK. THERE'S BEEN VACANCIES FOR A LONG TIME. THEY'VE BEEN UNSECURED AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN GOING IN AND OUT AND YOUR RESIDENTS HAVE SYRINGES, BEER CANS, EVERYTHING ELSE. THE SECOND ONE IS A PARKING LOT ON TAF BETWEEN WEST GRAY AND WEST PIERCE. IT'S A VACANT LOT. SUDDENLY, ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AGO, SIGNS WENT UP. ALL KINDS OF SIGNS. THERE'S EIGHT OR NINE OR 12 DIFFERENT SIGNS ON THERE. THERE'S THE PARKING LOT IS UNMONITORED. THERE'S ALL KINDS OF TRAFFIC THAT COMES ON LATE AT NIGHT, THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, CARS PULL UP TO ONE ANOTHER, ONE GETS OUT, ANOTHER ONE GETS OUT, AND THEN THEY DRIVE AWAY. I THINK YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON AT THAT TIME OF NIGHT. THE OTHER THING IS ALLOW MUSIC THAT'S COMING FROM THOSE, THOSE VEHICLES THAT WAKES UP RESIDENCES. THE THIRD ITEM IS PARKING ON WEST GRAY BETWEEN TAF AND STANFORD. NOBODY CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THERE'S PARKING ALLOWED ON WEST GRAY BETWEEN TAF AND STANFORD. IT'S NOT ALLOWED AT THE RIVER OAK SHOPPING CENTER AREA. IT'S NOT ALLOWED [02:00:01] AT OTHER PLACES ON WEST GRAY. NOW, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND ALSO THERE IS A CARNEGIE VANGUARD SCHOOL IN THAT AREA, AND THERE'S THE WHARTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. IT'S, IT'S A ZOO WHEN SCHOOL GETS OUT. NO ONE IN THE CITY. I'VE TALKED TO POLICE THAT SAID, NOT OUR PROBLEM. NO ONE IN HISD WANTS TO LISTEN TO IT. AND THERE'S NO MONITORING, THERE'S NO TRAFFIC PERSON THERE. THE FOURTH ITEM IS CLUB OF DOOR CDO AT, I THINK IT'S 4 0 3 WEST GRAY. THE CONSTANT NOISE THAT COMES FROM THERE, PARTICULARLY ON THE WEEKEND. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN KAMAN. UH, MR. BURKE. HI. AND I'LL LET YOU JUST QUICKLY WRAP UP, BUT I WANTED TO RESPOND AS WELL. SO IF YOU WANNA FINISH WITH WHAT YOUR FOURTH THAT SHE WROTE. I GOT ANOTHER MINUTE. UM, THERE'S A VIOLATION OF THE ORDINANCE THAT WE BELIEVE, AND THIS PERSON THAT LIVES BEHIND IT BELIEVES AS FAR AS SOUND, THERE'S AN OVER CAPACITY. PEOPLE SITTING ON THE LEDGES, THERE'S NO PARKING. AND THE LAST ITEM OF THE SPEEDING LOUD NOISE ON TAFT AND WEST GRAY, USUALLY BETWEEN THREE, BETWEEN 11:00 PM AND 3:00 AM ON FRIDAY, SATURDAY, AND SUNDAY. THANK YOU MR. BURKE. ONE OF THE, UH, SO ONE, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU AT CITY HALL. I JUST WANTED TO RUN THROUGH A FEW THINGS. UM, YOU FIRST REACHED OUT TO OUR OFFICE ON, UH, MARCH 20TH, I BELIEVE YOU CALLED. UM, ALSO THAT DAY YOU EMAILED US AND WITHIN TWO HOURS WE EMAILED YOU BACK ASKING FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR 3 1 1 CONCERNS AND SAYING WE WERE HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP. UM, WE ALSO FOLLOWED UP VIA EMAIL AGAIN AFTER YOU HAD SPOKEN ONE MOMENT, UH, WITH OUR STAFF. IT WAS HARD TO HEAR YOU ON THE PHONE WHEN OUR STAFF HAD CALLED YOU, AND WE KEPT FOLLOWING UP TO TRY TO GET THOSE DETAILS. SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING TODAY IS EXTREMELY HELPFUL FOR US. UM, I DID WANNA SAY ON WEST PIERCE, YOU'RE BRINGING UP ISSUES THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON. SO AS IT RELATES TO WEST PIERCE, THIS HAS BEEN AN ABANDONED AND VERY DANGEROUS PROPERTY. WE'VE RAISED IT WITH DAWN SEVERAL TIMES. THEY'VE GONE OUT FOR CITATIONS. IT'S LIKE A, IT'S BEEN A NIGHTMARE FOR RESIDENTS. SO THANK YOU FOR, UH, BRINGING UP THE ISSUE AGAIN. AS IT RELATES TO WHARTON AND CARNEGIE VANGUARD, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON A LOT OF TRAFFIC SAFETY IN THAT AREA. UM, AND WE'RE TRYING TO DO MORE, ESPECIALLY WITH SOME OF THE PTOS, UH, THAT ARE ENGAGED IN THAT AREA TO TRY TO BRING DOWN FUNDING FOR SOME OF THOSE IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING WITH OUR TOURS. AND ON THE PARKING ISSUE, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE, UM, FROM JANUARY 20TH, 2023. SO THIS YEAR IN JANUARY TO DATE PARK HOUSTON HAS ISSUED OVER 200 CITATIONS IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA THAT YOU REFERENCED. UM, WE ALSO SENT OVER ONE, MARY, YOUR DEPARTMENT SENT OVER, UM, SOME OF THE PROCESSES FOR GETTING RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMITTING FOR YOUR AREA. AND WE'RE HA MORE THAN HAPPY TO ASSIST YOU, UM, WITH GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS. WE'VE DONE THAT FOR SEVERAL AREAS AND WE ALSO WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH YOUR CIVIC CLUB. SO AGAIN, I'M HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU, BUT I WANTED TO RESPOND TO YOUR OPENING BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENTS AND OUR OFFICE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET FROM YOU SOME OF THIS INFORMATION. SO THIS IS VERY HELPFUL. SO YEAH, UH, CAN I RESPOND PLEASE? THIS IS A COPY OF A, A NUMBER OF TIMES YOUR OFFICE HAS SAID, SEND US AN EMAIL. SEND US AN EMAIL. SEND US AN EMAIL. THIS IS A COPY THAT I'VE KEPT OF A BOUNCED EMAIL. YOUR OFFICE EITHER DOES NOT MONITOR THE EMAILS OR WHATEVER. THE SECOND THING IS, WHENEVER I TALK TO SOMEONE THERE, I'M TOLD, EMAIL US THE INFORMATION OR GIVE US SOME MORE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED. AND I SAY, AND I ASK A NUMBER OF TIMES, WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE COME OUT AND WE'LL GO THROUGH 'EM BECAUSE THERE'S A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ISSUES. CORRECT. AND SO ONE ON, UH, LAST WEEK, AND THIS ALSO HAPPENED IN DISTRICT H AND MAYOR, I BELIEVE YOUR OFFICE, UH, OUR EMAIL SERVER, BECAUSE WE GET SO MANY EMAILS TO DISTRICT C OKAY. IS A FIRST TERM COUNCIL MEMBER. SO MANY EMAILS THAT THE SERVER CRASHED BECAUSE WE GET SO MANY CONSTITUENT ISSUES THAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK, AND I THINK DISTRICT H ALSO HAD THAT ISSUE. SO YES, EMAILS LAST WEEK BOUNCED BACK. UH, WE NEED THOSE EMAILS AND THAT INFORMATION. AND AGAIN, WE FOLLOWED UP WITH YOU, UH, FOR THOSE 3 1 1 CASE NUMBERS. BECAUSE IN ORDER FOR US TO WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENTS TO FOLLOW UP ON YOUR CONCERNS, TO ASK A, A DEPARTMENT TO GO OUT AND SAY, HEY, CAN YOU PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS? THAT CASE NUMBER IS WHAT THOSE DEPARTMENTS USE. SO AGAIN, WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU ENGAGING, BUT WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE RECORD'S CLEAR ON, UH, THAT ENGAGEMENT. THANK YOU. YOUR OFFICE NOW KNOWS MY NAME AND MY ADDRESS AND THEY CAN COME BY. [02:05:01] THANK YOU. OH, THANK YOU MR. BERG. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. STEVE PEREZ. STEVE PEREZ. STEVE NEXT SPEAKER. KATIE FINE. KATIE FINE. IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY CARRIE MKI. HELLO, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY. MY NAME IS KATIE FINE. I'M THE TEXAS HUMANE LEGISLATION NETWORK'S HOUSTON CHAPTER PRESIDENT AND A PUBLIC POLICY AND ANIMAL WELFARE PROFESSIONAL. I'VE DEDICATED THE LAST 10 YEARS OF MY LIFE TO PROVIDING DIRECT CARE TO ANIMALS AS WELL AS TO BUILDING BETTER POLICY IN HOUSTON AND TEXAS. POLICY THAT PROTECTS ANIMALS FROM CRUELTY AND ABANDONMENT AND POLICY THAT TREATS ANIMALS AS LIVING, BREATHING, FEELING BEINGS. I'VE WORKED FOR ANIMAL SHELTERS, WILDLIFE, SANCTUARIES, AND RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS, AND HAVE TOO MANY TIMES SEEN FIRSTHAND THE SICKNESS, INJURIES, ABUSE AND FRAUD THAT COMES OUT OF PET STORES AND THE BREEDERS THEY SOURCE FROM THIS WORK IS OFTEN A DEPLETING AND DEMORALIZING FIGHT. BUT SOMETHING HUGE HAPPENED IN 2022, AS Y'ALL KNOW OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON PASSED THE HUMANE PET STORE ORDINANCE AS OF JANUARY 18TH, 2023. IT IS NOW ILLEGAL FOR PET STORES TO SELL PUPPIES SOURCE FROM PUPPY MILLS. INSTEAD, THEY MAY ONLY SELL ANIMALS FROM HUMANE SOURCES LIKE SHELTERS AND RESCUES. UNFORTUNATELY, THE HIGH OF OUR VICTORY DIDN'T LAST LONG. YOU CAN IMAGINE OUR DEVASTATION UPON HEARING THAT PETLAND BEL AIR IS BLATANTLY DISREGARDING THE ORDINANCE AND OUR OWN PUBLIC OFFICIALS ARE ALLOWING IT. WHILE ALL OTHER PET STORES IN HOUSTON NOW ADHERE TO THE LAW, PETLAND BEL AIR FEELS THEY'RE ABOVE THE LAW. CITATIONS HAVE BEEN ISSUED AND IT HAS DONE NOTHING TO SHUT THEM DOWN. TO BE CLEAR, MY DEVASTATION DOESN'T ONLY COME FROM THE SADNESS OF SEEING THESE CUTE PUPPIES AND KITTENS BEING TREATED ANY HUMANELY. I'M NOT HERE TO INVOKE THE WARM FUZZIES. I'M HERE AS A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF THE GREAT CITY OF HOUSTON WHO IS WATCHING A SINGLE BUSINESS TARNISH OUR REPUTATION AND LAUGH IN THE FACE OF OUR LEADERSHIP AND LAWS. NOT ONLY DOES PETLAND BEL AIR CURRENTLY HAVE DOZENS OF BREEDER SOURCED PUPPIES AND KITTENS FOR SALE, THEY'RE PUBLICLY HIRING A SALES ASSOCIATE, MAKING IT CLEAR THEY HAVE NO PLANS TO COMPLY WITH THIS ORDINANCE VOLUNTARILY, RESPECTFULLY, WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE IS HOUSTON SENDING TO THE REST OF THE STATE AND COUNTRY THAT WE CANNOT ENFORCE OUR OWN LAWS? WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE IS HOUSTON SENDING TO ITS OWN BUSINESS OWNERS THAT WE DO NOT ENFORCE OUR OWN LAWS, THAT HOUSTON ALLOWS BUSINESSES TO GET AWAY WITH ILLEGAL ACTIVITY BECAUSE THE ORDINANCES THAT WE PUT IN PLACE ARE NOT BEING ENFORCED. HOW CAN WE ENSURE THIS ORDINANCE GETS ENFORCED? WHAT IS THE CITY AND THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT GOING TO DO TO PROTECT OUR REPUTATION AS A CITY THAT WELCOMES BUSINESSES WHILE ALSO VALUING LAW AND ORDER AND RESPECTING THE VOICE AND VOTES OF OUR RESIDENTS? THERE HAS TO BE A MECHANISM FOR ENFORCING THIS ORDINANCE, JUST LIKE MECHANISMS WERE CREATED TO ENFORCE EVERY OTHER LAW THAT'S EVER BEEN PUT IN PLACE. WHAT IS THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT DOING? WHAT HAPPENS TO OTHER HOUSTON BUSINESSES THAT FLAG FLAGRANTLY SHIRK THE ORDINANCE? IF THE ORDINANCE DOESN'T HAVE AN ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM THAT CAN SHUT A BUSINESS DOWN, HOW CAN WE ADD IT? PLEASE SHOW HOUSTON, TEXAS AND THE ENTIRE COUNTRY THAT WE ARE STRONG AND STAND FOR WHAT'S RIGHT BY ENFORCING THIS LAW JUST LIKE ALL OTHERS. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MCCAMMON. THANK YOU KATIE. UM, I KNOW YOU'RE DISTRICT THREE RESIDENT, YOU KEEP, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PETLEY IN BEL AIR, BUT I WANNA BE CLEAR, IS PETLEY BEL AIR IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON OR IS IT IN BEL AIR? YES. YES IT IS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MOVEMENT. CIRO. UM, THANK YOU MAYOR. THAT WAS MY QUESTION TOO. I WAS VERY PROUD OF THIS COUNCIL, UM, PASSING THE, THE HOUSTON PET STORE ORDINANCE AND, AND CONTINUE TO BE A STRONG SUPPORTER OF THAT. SO I, I WONDERED IF THE PROBLEM WAS THAT IT WASN'T ACTUALLY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, IF IT WAS IN BEL AIR, BUT IT IS NOT IN BEL AIR. THE NAME IS MISLEADING. IT IS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. OKAY. AND THE STONE BARK HAS BEEN OUT AND THE STORE HAS BEEN ISSUED FIVE CITATIONS AND THEY'RE WORKING THEIR WAY THROUGH MUNICIPAL COURT. THEY'RE FOLLOWING THE NORMAL PROCESS THAT WE NORMALLY FOLLOW. OKAY, I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE SAME OWNER OF THIS PETLAND BEL AIR HAS DONE THIS SAME THING, DRAGGED IT ON FOR YEARS, PAID THEIR CITATIONS, DONE WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO, BUT NEVER ACTUALLY ADHERED TO THE LAW. HE'LL CONTINUE SELLING PUPPIES AND KITTENS PAYING HIS CITATIONS AND IT'S JUST NOT ENOUGH. THERE HAS GOT TO BE A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT HE ADHERES. WELL, THAT, THAT I DON'T KNOW. BUT WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT, UH, BARR HAS BEEN OUT THERE, FIVE CITATIONS HAVE BEEN ISSUED AND THOSE CITATIONS ARE WORKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE MUNICIPAL COURT PROCESS. UNDERSTOOD. SO WE ARE, WE ARE FOLLOWING THE NORMAL PROCESS. THEY'RE NOT BEING TREATED DIFFERENTLY, UH, THAN ANY OTHER ENTITY THAT VIOLATES OUR ORDINANCES. AND SO AT WHAT POINT DO WE DECIDE THAT THEY CAN NO LONGER DRAG THINGS OUT? WE ARE FOLLOWING THE ORDINANCES. THE CITATIONS HAVE BEEN ISSUED. OKAY. OKAY. ALRIGHT, THANKS. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER. CARRIE IL. CARRIE IL TO BE FOLLOWED BY BECKY BEST. [02:10:07] GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CARRIE MCKEAL. I'M A NATIVE AND TAX PAYING RESIDENT OF HOUSTON, AS WELL AS A REGIONAL STRATEGIST FOR BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY. AND I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF OUR HOUSTON MEMBERS, SUPPORTERS, PARTNERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND STAFF. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK FOR SEVERAL YEARS. BEST FRIENDS HAS EXTREMELY INVESTED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON FROM THE MONTHS WE SPENT HERE DURING AND AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY HOUSING LOCAL ANIMALS DISPLACED BY THE HURRICANE AND HELPING TO REUNITE LOST PETS WITH THEIR FAMILIES TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROVEN LIFE-SAVING PROGRAMS. WE HAVE INVESTED WELL OVER $8 MILLION IN THE CITY IN 2022, WE SUPPORTED THE CITY'S HUMANE ORDINANCE TO PREVENT THE SALE OF COMMERCIALLY BRED DOGS AND CATS AND LOCAL PET STORES AS DALLAS, SAN ANTONIO, CORPUS CHRISTI, FORT WORTH, AND A DOZEN OTHER TEXAS CITIES HAVE ALSO ENACTED. AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE EXTREMELY DISHEARTENED THAT ONE PET STORE, WHICH WAS JUST MENTIONED, UM, IS REFUSING TO COMPLY WITH THAT ORDINANCE AND FREQUENTLY DISREGARDING THE WILL OF THE MAYOR, THE CITY COUNCIL AND HOUSTON RESIDENTS. DESPITE HAVING HAD AN ENTIRE YEAR TO SHIFT TO HUMANE BUSINESS MODEL, WE KNOW THAT BARK IS DOING ALL THEY CAN TO ENFORCE THE ORDINANCE. AND WE APPRECIATE AND COMMEND THEM FOR THAT, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE SO MUCH ON THEIR PLATE, AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES DUE TO THE STORE OWNER LIVING IN ANOTHER STATE. AND SO WE ARE HOPING THAT THE CITY WILL TAKE NECESSARY MEASURES TO REQUIRE THAT THE STORE CEASE THEIR UNLAWFUL OPERATIONS SO THAT THE ORDINANCE THAT THIS COUNCIL ENACTED CAN DO WHAT IT WAS MEANT TO DO, WHICH IS TO STOP THE FLOW OF INHUMANELY BRED ANIMALS FROM COMING INTO HOUSTON. I APPRECIATE YOU'RE ALLOWING ME TO CONVEY OUR CONCERNS TODAY AND HOPE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE QUICKLY SO THAT HOUSTON CAN CONTINUE ON ITS PATH OF BECOMING ONE OF THE MOST HUMANE CITIES IN AMERICA. ALL OF US ARE BEST FRIENDS. LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH HOUSTON AND BEING A RESOURCE FOR THE PETS AND PEOPLE OF MY CITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. THANK YOU, CARRIE. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. UM, ONE THANKS. JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY AND WITH BARK ESPECIALLY. THANK Y'ALL FOR WORKING TOGETHER. AND I, I JUST HAVE TO GIVE YOU A SHOUT OUT 'CAUSE YOU, YOU SHOUTED OUT ALL THE VOLUNTEERS AND MY MOTHER IS ONE OF THE, A AVID VOLUNTEERS OUT THERE. YES. UM, DOING THOSE, YOU KNOW, SEND OFFS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU, UH, FOR EVERYTHING AND I REALLY APPRECIATE AND RESPECT THE WORK IN DISTRICT C. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL CIRO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND, AND, UM, BEING HERE TODAY. UM, I DID JUST, UM, RECEIVE A NOTE THAT THE FIRST ARRAIGNMENT, YOU KNOW, FOR THIS IS, UM, SET FOR APRIL 26TH. SO, UM, I WOULD JUST, YOU KNOW, URGE PATIENTS THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, BARK AND CITY IS AWARE OF, OF THE VIOLATIONS AND IT'S A SLOW PROCESS, YOU KNOW, IT'S SLOWER THAN WE'D LIKE TO SEE, BUT IT'S WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND THAT THEIR ARRAIGNMENT IS SET FOR APRIL 26TH. SO, UM, JUST KEEP, KEEP THEIR, YOUR EYES ON THEM, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE ARE WATCHING, KEEP COMMUNICATING, YOU KNOW, WITH WITH THOSE WHO NEED TO KNOW. UM, AND WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL GET 'EM. YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE BEING HERE. THANK YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, BECKY BEST. BECKY BEST IS HERE. MM-HMM . IS NOT PRESENT. GLORIA ZINO KNOW, FOLLOWED BY CURTIS MARTIN. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, MY NAME IS GLORIA ENO AND I'M THE FOUNDER OF BARRIO DOGS AND ALSO THE CO-FOUNDER OF UNITY FOREST SOLUTION. BOTH ORGANIZATIONS ADDRESS ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION, NEGLECT AND ABUSE. AND I'M HERE ALSO FOR THE, UH, PET RETAIL STORES, AS IT'S BEEN MENTIONED BY MY FORMER COLLEAGUES. THE CITY ORDINANCE BANNING THE SOURCING OF DOGS FROM PUPPY MILLS AND PET STORES WENT INTO EFFECT JANUARY 23RD. AND WE WERE SUPER PLEASED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THE PET STORES SOURCE FROM COMMERCIAL BREEDERS WHO BREED ONLY FOR PROFIT AND NO OFFER, NO CONSUMER SUPPORT. WELL, ON THE OTHER HAND, RESPONSIBLE BREEDERS DO NOT SELL THEIR PUPPIES VIA PET STORES. THEY SELL DIRECT TO OWNERS WITH CONTRACTS CERTIFYING PETS HEALTH, PROMISING TO TAKE THE DOGS BACK IF IT DOESN'T WORK OUT AS IT'S ALREADY BEEN SHARED. UM, THERE'S THIS ONE STORE, BLATANT VIOLATION OF THE ORDINANCE, AND IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING, YES, THAT BARK HAS CITED THEM, BUT MAYBE THE, WE NEED TO GET WITH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT [02:15:01] TO SEE IF WE CAN GET MORE HELP THERE. I JUST, THAT WAS NEWS TO US. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS BY, UH, SHARING THAT. I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT. BUT PLAIN AND SIMPLE, HOUSTON STILL HAS A SERIOUS ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION CRISIS, AND PUPPIES ARE STILL BEING SOLD AT THESE STORES AND UN UNALTERED AND BREAKING THE LAW AS A RESULT, ADDING TO THE OVERPOPULATION THAT WE ALREADY HAVE. THANK YOU FOR HEARING MY TESTIMONY AND MY SERIOUS CONCERN ABOUT THE ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION IN OUR CITY THAT I DO CARE ABOUT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'M, I'M SORRY, COUNCILMAN MR. CISNEROS. I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR, YOUR, UM, UNDYING COMMITMENT AND, AND EYES ON THIS. APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANKS. NEXT SPEAKER CURTIS MARTIN. CURTIS. MARTIN CURTIS NEXT SPEAKER ART SMITH. ART SMITH IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY DR. RHONDA VOLTZ. HELLO EVERYONE. I'M HERE TO SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON THE FACT THAT, UM, THE, THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS ARE ACTING AS IF THEY HAVE TAKEN UP SOME CLASSES ON THE CITY'S TIME AND THE CITY'S PAYROLL TO BECOME, UM, INVOLVED IN CIVIL MATTERS AND INVOLVED IN, UH, REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION AND PROPERTIES. YOU KNOW, I WAS EXCITED ABOUT, UH, PERSON PURCHASING A HOME, UM, AT, UH, 42 25 LOWNDES AVENUE, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE PERSON THAT WAS ATTEMPTING TO SELL A HOME IS NOT THE DEED OWNER, AND NOR DID THIS PERSON TAKE CARE OF THEIR PROBATE TIME FROM WHEN THEIR RELATIVES OR SO-CALLED RELATIVE DIED IN 2012. SO YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE A HOUSE THAT WAS, HAS BEEN ABANDONED IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR OVER 10 YEARS. SO MY WIFE AND I, WE WENT THERE, BEEN OVER THERE WORKING, YOU KNOW, AROUND THE CLOCK. AND SO ONE OF THE DEPARTMENT NEIGHBORHOOD INDIVIDUAL AGENTS CAME OUT AND HE WAS LIKE, OH, MAN, Y'ALL HAVE REALLY GOTTEN THIS PLACE TOGETHER, MAN. UM, HE WALKED AROUND TAKING PICTURES. HE SAID, MAN, I'M READY TO CLOSE OUT THESE TICKETS BECAUSE Y'ALL GOT IT LOOKING SO WELL. THEN HE SAID, WELL, I NEED TO GET ON THE PHONE WITH MY MANAGER. AND AS HE GOT ON THE PHONE WITH HIS MANAGER, HE STAYED IN THE BACK OF THE HOUSE AND STARTED TAKING SOME MORE PICTURES, AND HE TRANSFORMED INTO A WHOLE NOTHER INDIVIDUAL. HE BECAME ARROGANT. HE STARTED PUTTING HIS HAND IN MY FACE AND, UH, IN FRONT OF A GUEST AND IN FRONT OF MY WIFE. I'VE BEEN WITH MY WIFE 31 YEARS. SHE'S NEVER SAW ANYONE DISRESPECT ME LIKE THAT. AND I TOLD ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT I CALLED, I SAID HE WAS A COUPLE OF SECONDS AWAY FROM GETTING HIT IN HIS MOUTH BECAUSE HE WAS WAY OUTTA LINE. SO I CALLED AND TALKED TO THE DIFFERENT HIGHER UPS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD, AND I ASKED THEM TO NEVER ALLOW THIS INDIVIDUAL TO COME INTO THE PROPERTY, COME INTO THE PROPERTY THAT WE ARE IN POSSESSION OF. AND THIS GUY NAMED REGGIE HARRIS TOLD ME, YEAH, HE WOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO BE ABLE TO COME INTO THE PROPERTY. WELL, THAT GUY CAME OUT AGAIN ON YESTERDAY. AND SO REGGIE HARRIS TRIED TO QUESTION ME ABOUT YOU, YOU SHOULD HAVE GOT A PERMIT TO GET THE WATER ON. YOU SHOULD HAVE GOT A PERMIT TO GET THE GAS ON. YOU SHOULD HAVE GOT A PERMIT TO GET THE LIGHTS ON. SO I SAY, WELL, SIR, YOU SHOULD BE ASKING YOURSELF, DID THE CITY REQUIRE ME TO GET A PERMIT? 'CAUSE ALL THE CITY DID WAS TOOK MY MONEY AND THEN, UH, SUPPLIED THE SERVICES, AND THEN THE WATER WASN'T EVEN ON AT THE HOUSE. IT HADN'T BEEN CONNECTED OVER 10 YEARS, BUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON CAME OUT, THE WATER PUMP, THEY DID A GREAT JOB. THEY CAME OUT, THEY, THEY CALLED SOME, UH, EMERGENCY PEOPLE OUT. THEY CAME OUT, UH, RAN THE GULF UNDER THE, AND, AND CONNECTED SOME WATER. SO I WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. WE'VE GOTTEN THE LIGHTS TURNED ON CENTER POINT, EVERYBODY WORKING TOGETHER, BUT THIS REGGIE, UM, THIS REGGIE HARRIS GUY OVER AT THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD, HE SAID, HIS LEGAL TEAM IS TELLING HIM WHAT TO DO. I SAID, YOU KNOW, WHILE HE WAS ON THE PHONE WITH ME, THEY WAS LIKE, THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS IN THE BACKGROUND COACHING HIM AND TELLING HIM WHAT TO DO. I SAID, I SAID, SIR, THIS IS A CIVIL MATTER. I SAID, YOU TRYING TO, UH, VOUCH FOR A PERSON THAT DON'T HAVE NO LEGAL MATTERS IN THIS CASE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE CITY, THE STATE OF TEXAS ONLY ALLOWS A PERSON TO TAKE CARE OF PROBATE INFORMATION FOUR YEARS. YOU CAN'T COME 11 YEARS LATER. AND THEN TRYING TO VOUCH FOR A PERSON JUST BECAUSE A PERSON PAY TAXES IN, IN THE CITY, THAT DON'T MEAN THEY, THAT THEY OWNER. AND, AND YEAH. THANK YOU. I'M LOOKING, I'M LOOKING AT THIS MEMO, UM, MR. SMITH. YES, SIR. AND IT SAYS THAT THERE'S A, UM, THERE WAS A DEMOLITION ORDER ON THAT PROPERTY GOING BACK TO 2019, AND THAT, UM, UM, THERE WAS NO, YEAH, THERE WAS NO PERMIT ISSUED ON THAT, ON THAT BUILDING. AND IN FACT, UH, DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS IS CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE OWNER WHO LIVES IN CALIFORNIA WHO AGREED TO THE, TO THE DEMOLITION ORDER. YES. AND, AND I, I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING THAT, MEL. UH, THE ONE THING THAT I HAD A PROBLEM WITH, THIS IS WHY I WAS SAYING THAT IT'S A SILVER MATTER BECAUSE [02:20:01] THESE RECORDS HAVE BEEN FILED WITH MY NAME ON, IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS AT TANISHA HU, THE CLERK'S OFFICE. I HAVE A BILL FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON WITH MY NAME ON IT. THAT PERSON THAT WHOMEVER THEY TALKED TO, I TALKED TO THAT SAME PERSON. I TALKED TO MY ATTORNEY, STATE REPRESENTATIVE, HAL DONE, I WANTED HIM TO TAKE CARE OF THE TRANSACTION OF ME BUYING THE HOME FROM THIS PERSON, ONLY TO BE ADVISED TO MY ATTORNEY THAT THAT PERSON HAS NO LEGAL RIGHT TO THAT HOUSE, BECAUSE THAT PERSON IS NOT THE DEED OWNER. THIS PERSON WENT TO CALIFORNIA AND DID PROBATE WORK IN CALIFORNIA THAT HAS NO JURISDICTIONS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. MM-HMM . SO WITH THIS BEING A CIVIL MATTER, ALL I WAS DOING WAS ASKING THE, THE, THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS TO STEP BACK AND LET THIS PLAY OUT, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THEY'RE NOT GONNA STEP BACK BECAUSE I'M YEAH. BUT, BUT, BUT MY POINT IS THAT THIS MAYOR, YOU JUST SAID 2019, THEY TOLD ME 2022, THEY TOLD ME 2021. NOW IT'S 2019, BUT ONLY TWO MONTHS, UH, AFTER MY WIFE AND I GET THERE AND START CLEAN UP, GET THE LIGHTS AND WATER ON, NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE'S AN EMERGENCY THAT Y'ALL HAVE TO COME AND TAP DOWN SOMETHING THAT'S LIVABLE. NO, THE, THE, THE, THE DEMOLITION ORDER PREDATES YOU OR ANYONE ELSE. NO, THIS IS, THIS IS A GENTRIFICATION. I UNDERSTAND. THIS IS THE, THIS IS A PART OF THE GENTRIFICATION GAME, AND IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT'S GETTING PAID UNDER THE TABLE TO ALL THESE PEOPLE COMING IN AND TEAR UP AND JUST TRYING TO STEAL ALL THE FIFTH ONE. OKAY, COME ON, MAN. I, I, I WAS GONNA GO WITH YOU, BUT, BUT NO PROBLEM. YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO WITH, BECAUSE EVERYBODY THAT'S ON THE TAKE ON THE PAYROLL, NO, THIS WOMAN, SHE, THEY CAN'T SELL SOMETHING THAT THEY DON'T OWN THERE. NO, NO, WHAT I'M SAYING, THIS WOMAN IN CALIFORNIA HAS NO JURISDICTION. IT'S SO EASY TO LOOK. ALRIGHT. OKAY. YOU DO A LEGAL TITLE ON THE PROPERTY? YES. THE TITLE TELLS YOU WHO IT DON'T BELONGS TO. THEY DONE DOES THE LEGAL TITLE ON THE PROPERTY. THEY'RE TALKING TO THE OWNER IN CALIFORNIA. THE OWNER IN CALIFORNIA IS AGREEING WITH THE DEMOLITION ORDER. ONCE THE PROPERTY TORN DOWN, IT'S NO SUCH THING AS THE OWNER. IF THE PROPERTY IS NOT IN THAT PERSON'S NAME, MAYOR, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. IT WHY, WHY CAN'T IT BE THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD SAYS THIS NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF? THIS IS A CIVIL MATTER. THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS NO JURISDICTION TO BE ABLE TO COME IN AND TRY TO USE THE STRONG ARMED BULLY TAXES FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY SAY BEEN ON THE BOOKS SINCE 2019. THEY KEEP SWITCHING THE YEARS UP. THEY SAID 20 19, 20 22. AND I SAID, WELL, WHAT, WHO'S WHO? WHEN HAS THERE BEEN A HEARING ON THIS? THEY SAY, WELL, THE, THE YOUNG MAN THAT CAME OUT THERE THAT EVENTUALLY PUT HIS HAND IN MY FACE AND GOT DISRESPECTFUL. HE SAID, MAN, THERE WAS NO HEARING ON THIS. HE SAID, I'M FINN TO CLOSE THIS TICKET OUT BECAUSE Y'ALL HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD REQUIRE. THAT WAS UNTIL HE GOT ON THE PHONE WITH WHATEVER THIS SUPERVISOR IS. AND THE SUPERVISOR THAT ACCORDING TO REGGIE HARRIS, IS SOMEONE THAT WORKS FOR THE STATE OF HOUSTON LEGAL TEAM. OKAY. THEN THE BEST WAY TO RESOLVE, THE BEST WAY TO RESOLVE IT, IF YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE A LEGAL RIGHT TO THE OFFICE. YES. WELL, LET ME, OKAY. IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A LEGAL RIGHT, THEN YOU NEED TO GO TO THE COURTHOUSE AND GET THE JUDGE TO OVERTURN THE DEMOLITION ORDER. THAT'S WHAT I'VE ALREADY DONE WITH THIS RECORD HERE. MR. NO HAVEN NOT, NOT YET. YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO, YOU'RE GONNA NEED THE JUDGE TO ISSUE AN ORDER THAT THE CITY SHOULD NOT TEAR IT DOWN BECAUSE THERE'S A DEMOLITION ORDER ON THE PROPERTY. AND THE SO-CALLED OWNER IN CALIFORNIA IS SAYING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, WE WANT THIS PROPERTY, OUR PROPERTY TORN DOWN THE GREEN. THIS IS WHAT, CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME OR HAVE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD TELL ME WHAT COURTROOM, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO HEARING ON IT. THEN YOU, THE, THE, THE, THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS COOKING UP THAT THEY HAVE A DEMO. WHERE IS THE DEMO AT? I'M SIMPLY SAYING, WHERE'S THE ISSUE AT? I'M SIMPLY SAYING, YOUR, YOUR, YOUR ARGUMENT IS NOT HERE. YOU NEED TO GO HAVE YOUR ATTORNEY GO TO THE COURTHOUSE AND GET A JUDGE TO OVERRULE THE, THE DEMOLITION ORDER AND WHATEVER THE JUDGE SAYS, WE WILL VIOLATE IT. ALL. I'M TRYING TO FIND IT IS WHERE IS, WHERE WAS THE DEMOLITION ORDERED FROM THE CITY AT? WHERE WAS IT, WHEN, WHEN AND WHERE WAS IT ISSUED? THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT I'M ASKING AND I'M SAYING TO, AND BASICALLY WHAT THIS MEMO SAYS IS THAT A WARRANT WILL BE EXECUTED IN THE NEAR FUTURE FOR THE DEMOLITION OF THIS STRUCTURE. SO IN THE NEAR FUTURE, YOU KNOW WHAT? THEY, YOU DON'T WHAT? THE LAST THING I GOTTA SAY IS THIS YEAR. ALRIGHT, I'M NOT GONNA, DO YOU KNOW WHAT REGGIE, DO YOU KNOW WHAT REGGIE HARRIS TOLD ME? WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS SINCE, UH, I'M NOT GETTING FOR THREE YEARS, SIR. I'M NOT GETTING INTO IT. REG, WHAT IT, WHAT IT SAYS OR WHAT THIS IS ONLY SAYING IS THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE CLAIMING THIS PROPERTY BY ADVERSE POSSESSION. AND THAT'S YOU ALL. AND THAT'S WHAT, [02:25:01] THAT'S ARE YOU IN THE PROPERTY? ARE YOU ALL IN THE PROPERTY? I'M ON THE PROPERTY LIVING IN THE HOUSE NOW. WELL, AND THAT'S WHAT, AND AND WHAT THE NOTICE SAYS, UHHUH, IS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE LEGAL TITLE TO THE PROPERTY. BUT IF YOU DO, I'M TELLING YOU NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO. YOU GOT EVERYBODY ELSE THAT WANNA READ, READ THIS ONE. I'M NOT HERE IT IS RIGHT HERE. IF YOU GOT, HERE IT IS RIGHT HERE. THIS IS IT. IF YOU GOT AN ORDER FROM THE JUDGE, WE WILL FOLLOW IT. RED. THIS IS OKAY. THEN YOU CAN LEAVE IT WITH, WITH NAME. WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT IT. WE NEED TO JUST STOP ALLOWING PEOPLE THIS. MS. POWELL, LEMME SHARE THIS LAST THING HERE. NO, NO. MS. POWELL WAS THE FOUND THE LAST FOUNDING SURVIVOR THAT WAS, UH, WITH THE, OUR MOTHER MERCY CATHOLIC CHURCH. IT SHOULD BE RESPECTED AND NOT JUST ALLOWING EVERYBODY TO COME IN AND JUST GENT THE WHOLE FIFTH WARD, BUT Y'ALL RUN AROUND ALL OF THE CHURCHES AND WANT TO GET ELECTED. IT SHOULD BE SOME RESPECT ON MS. DE PAUL'S NAME. ALL OF OUR CREDIT CARDS AND ALL OUR INFORMATION WAS LEFT IN HOUSE. WHAT RELATIVES LEAVE HOUSE BANK FOR 11 YEARS AND TALK ABOUT THEIR OWN SOMETHING THAT'S DISRESPECTFUL. YOU KNOW THAT MAYOR, BUT WHEN YOU COME TO THE CITY TO GET VOTES, THAT'S WHAT YOU GONNA BE SPEAKING ON. HOW MUCH YOU GOT, WHAT YOU DON'T. NOW, THE REALITY IS, IS THAT YOU DON'T WALK. YOU JUST DON'T WALK INTO A BUILDING AND START LIVING THERE NOW. SO DON'T, DON'T COME ARGUING. DON'T COME ARGUING WITH ME, BECAUSE FRANKLY, I AIN'T THE ONE. SO, WELL, THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY, COME TO BEFORE WE MAYOR. ALL RIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER. DR. R DEVO. DR. RHONDA VOTES, COME ON DOWN. DR. VOS BE FOLLOWED BY CARRIE RICE. HOW DO YOU FOLLOW THAT? NERVOUS. NOW, , UM, GOOD EVENING EVERY MORNING. UM, MAYOR TURNER'S, ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME BEFORE THE COUNCIL, SO WELL WELCOME. I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS, BUT OH, DON'T BE NERVOUS. THANK LOVE FOR ALLOW ME TO SPEAK. OKAY? UM, I JUST WANNA BE VERY TRANSPARENT, UM, BECAUSE MY TDCJ NUMBER IS THE 87 12 94. I AM AN EX OFFENDER. MY RECORD IS FROM 1998. HOWEVER, I AM ALSO A BATTERED WIFE, AND I REACHED OUT TO PRECINCT FOUR. IT'S A TYPO ON HERE. IT SAYS PRECINCT TWO, BUT I REACHED OUT TO PRECINCT FOUR OCTOBER THE NINTH OF LAST YEAR FOR SOME ASSISTANCE, UM, FOR MY SITUATION. AND THEY RAN MY RECORD, ASKED FOR MY LICENSE, AND THEY RAN MY RECORD. AND I QUOTE THE OFFICER, STATED, WE HAVE THE WRONG PERSON IN HANDCUFFS THAT TOLD ME THEN I WOULD NEVER CALL THE POLICE BECAUSE I AM AN EX-OFFENDER. I DON'T HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS AS EVERYBODY ELSE SITTING UP HERE. I END UP CALLING THEM AGAIN THIS SUNDAY. AND ONCE AGAIN, I GAVE MY LICENSE. SO I'M STANDING HERE TODAY TO LET YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH I'M AN EX-OFFENDER AND I HAVE THIS TITLE IN FRONT OF MY NAME, THAT I HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO GET, REMEMBER THIS FACE BECAUSE I'M NOT CALLING THE POLICE ANYMORE. SO WHATEVER HAPPENS IN MY SITUATION OR WHATEVER HAPPENS TO ME, I DON'T WANT IT TO EVER BE SAID THAT I DID NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT PRECINCT FOUR, OKAY? BECAUSE I'VE SERVED MY TIME. AND IF I CALL YOU AND I NEED YOUR HELP, BECAUSE I HAVE A RECORD FROM 1998, DON'T THROW ME TO THE WOLVES. SO I JUST STAND HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU GUYS AND MAYOR TURNER, UH, CONGRESSWOMAN SHABAZZ, YOU GUYS SHOULD HAVE REMEMBERED ME FROM COVID, OKAY? SO I'M JUST ASKING IF YOU REMEMBER ME FROM COVID AND ANOTHER CALL COMES TO MY HOUSE AND YOU'RE ACTUALLY TAKING ME OUT IN A BODY BAG OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE. I TOLD YOU GUYS HOW PRECINCT FOUR HANDLE [02:30:01] PEOPLE WITH RECORDS. I'M NOT GOING TO ALLOW ANYONE TO KEEP ME BOUND IN PRISON. WOULD NOT HAVE WORKED SO HARD NOT TO GO BACK AND DR. BOATS AND NEITHER AND NEITHER SHOULD YOU, OKAY? AND NEITHER, NEITHER SHOULD YOU. AND I DON'T CARE WHAT YOUR RECORD HAS BEEN, I'M LOOKING AT YOU WHERE YOU ARE NOW, OKAY? AND WHEN YOU NEED HELP, YOU OUGHT TO BE, YOU SHOULD CALL, I'M GOING TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO CALL AND, AND, UH, PEOPLE SHOULD RESPOND TO YOUR CURRENT SITUATION BASED ON WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW. UH, SIMPLE, NO, UH, DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT AT ALL. AND, UH, AND I DON'T WANT, NOBODY WANTS TO SEE YOU, UM, AND IN, UH, HARM'S WAY, AND WE FAIL TO RESPOND. UH, AND THEN SOMETHING UNFORTUNATELY HAPPENS TO YOU. SO LEMME JUST SAY, UM, WE DO NOT RESPOND TO YOU BASED ON WHERE YOU WERE FIVE YEARS AGO, 15 YEARS AGO, 20 YEARS AGO, 30 YEARS AGO, OKAY? UM, SO LET ME, I JUST WANNA BE VERY, VERY CLEAR ON, ON THAT. UM, AND I WILL REACH OUT TO PRECINCT FOUR MYSELF, UH, AND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEM. AND I'M, I WILL ASK, UH, CHIEF FINN TO REACH OUT, UH, AND TALK TO THEM AS WELL. UH, AND QUITE FRANKLY, NOT JUST, NOT JUST, UH, PRECINCT FOUR, BUT ALL OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, OKAY? WE TAKE, UH, DOMESTIC SITUATIONS, DOMESTIC ABUSE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, UM, UH, VERY SERIOUS. AND EVERY COMPLAINT SHOULD NEED, SHOULD BE TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY. OKAY? SO, YOU KNOW, UM, I HATE TO HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING TO US, UM, BUT NONETHELESS, WE CAN LEARN FROM IT AND, UM, AND, AND THEN, UM, AND THEN RESPOND APPROPRIATELY. OKAY? SO, UH, I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE TO, TO TELL YOUR STORY. IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US NOW TO RESPOND TO WHAT YOU HAVE SAID TO US, OKAY? UM, BUT I, I, I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE WHEN YOU NEED HELP, YOU SEEK CAPTAIN AND YOU CALL, DON'T STOP CALLING. DO NOT STOP CALLING. AND IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL STEPS WHERE WE CAN ASSIST, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO REACH OUT TO SOME OF THE, TO SOME OF OUR PARTNERS WHO CAN PROVIDE EVEN A, A GREATER ASSISTANCE, MORE ASSISTANCE, UH, TO YOU AS WELL. UM, BUT I, BUT I'LL BE REACHING OUT TO, UH, TO THE PRECINCT TO TALK TO THEM TOO. OKAY? UM, OH, HOLD ON ONE SECOND. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND REALLY QUICKLY, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR WORDS, MAYOR, I JUST, YOU KEEP SAYING PRECINCT FOUR, UM, WHICH IS THE, I BELIEVE THE CONSTABLES, IT'S NOT HPD. AND SO IF YOU'RE CON, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE'RE GONNA REACH OUT ON HER BEHALF, BUT I ALSO JUST WANTED TO BE VERY CLEAR BECAUSE OF THE JURISDICTION. CITY OF HOUSTON WORKS WITH HPD, AND WE RUN AND OPERATE HPD, UH, PRECINCT FOUR IS A COUNTY OPERATED LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION. SO IT'S ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT IF YOU'RE HAVING PROBLEMS TO REACH OUT TO YOUR COUNTY COMMISSIONER, UH, TO LET THEM KNOW OF THOSE ISSUES AS WELL. UH, BUT MAYOR, I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING THAT WE'LL ALSO REACH OUT ON HER BEHALF, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE, UM, BECAUSE AGAIN, I KNOW AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UNDER THIS MAYOR AND THIS COUNCIL, UM, THERE'S ZERO TOLERANCE FOR, UH, TREATMENT OF SOMEONE BASED ON WHAT A PRIOR RECORD MAY BE. UM, SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR COMING. THE REALITY IS, IS THAT WHEN YOU, BUT WHEN YOU BRING IT TO OUR ON, ON AN ISSUE OF THIS KIND, WHEN YOU BRING IT TO OUR ATTENTION, UM, THEN YOU HAVE LEFT IT, AND IT IS NOW IN OUR LAP, AND NOW WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ACT ON IT, UM, REGARDLESS OF WHERE IT MAY HAVE OCCURRED. SO, UM, WE TAKE, WE ALL TAKE, YOU POINTED IT TO YOU BECAUSE I KNOW YOU, THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT IT TO YOU. WELL, AND, AND, AND I KNOW, AND WE WORKED TOGETHER DURING C WE STOOD SIDE BY SIDE AND THE LINE ASSISTING OTHER PEOPLE. AND NOBODY IN THAT LINE ASKED WHAT YOUR PAST RECORD WAS. UM, WHEN WE STOOD OUT IN THE COLD AND OUT THERE ASSISTING OTHER PEOPLE WHO CAME, AND PEOPLE WHO NEEDED, WHO NEEDED OUR ASSISTANCE. AND I KNOW PERSONALLY, I WORKED SIDE BY SIDE WITH YOU ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT WHETHER I WORKED WITH YOU OR NOT, WHETHER I KNEW [02:35:01] YOU OR NOT, IF THERE WAS SOMEBODY ELSE WHO WALKED IN HERE WHO I HAD NEVER MET, DID NOT KNOW. AND ONCE YOU TELL, ONCE SOMEONE SAYS WHAT YOU HAVE SAID TO ALL OF US, THEN WE ALL HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY. SO I JUST CAN'T WALK AWAY FROM WHAT YOU SAID AND REFER YOU TO SOMEBODY ELSE. UH, IT IS NOW INCUMBENT UPON, UM, MYSELF AND THIS COUNCIL, UH, TO ACT ON WHAT YOU HAVE SAID. NO WOMAN, NO MAN, NO CHILD. UH, SHOULD, UH, COME HERE AND SAY WHAT YOU'VE SAID, AND THEN WE CAN JUST END TODAY AND GO OUR RESPECTIVE WAYS. IF, AS IF WE HAVE NOT HEARD YOU HAVE PUT THE, YOU HAVE, YOU'VE LAID IT ON OUR, ON OUR LAP, AND, UH, AND NOW WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO ACT ON IT. BUT I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE, I DON'T CARE WHAT YOUR RECORD HAS BEEN WAS, AND I DON'T, YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL ME. I DON'T NEED TO KNOW, BUT THAT WAS IN THE PAST. YOU ARE STILL A RESPECTED WOMAN STANDING BEFORE US TODAY, OKAY? AND YOU HAVE ALL THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES AND ENTITLED TO THE PROTECTION THAT THIS CITY OF THIS COUNTY CAN OFFER YOU, OKAY? AND, UM, I WOULD SAY THIS TO YOU LIKE I WOULD SAY TO MY SISTER OR MY AUNT OR ANYBODY ELSE, OKAY? YOU DON'T, YOU'RE NOT DESERVING TO BE MISTREATED OR DISRESPECTED BY ANYONE. AND IF YOU CALL LAW ENFORCEMENT, LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD RESPOND TO YOU BASED ON WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW IN YOUR LIFE. AND YOUR COMPLAINT SHOULD NOT BE MINIMIZED BASED ON SOMEBODY LOOKING AT YOUR PAST. OKAY? SO THAT'S, AND, AND I KNOW I, I, I BELIEVE I SPEAK WITH EVERYONE AROUND HERE AT THIS, AT THIS COUNCIL TABLE IN THAT REGARD. OKAY? UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. DR. VOTES. WHAT WHAT TROUBLES ME IS THAT PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE SENSITIVITY TRAINING. AND I'M TALKING ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PEOPLE THAT ARE IN AUTHORITY, BECAUSE SOMETIMES THERE ARE BIASES AND PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS THAT YOU ARE NOT WORTHY OF THE SAME SERVICES THAT EVERYONE ELSE IS. THAT REALLY TR REALLY TROUBLES MY HEART. AND SO CERTAINLY, UH, THE MAYOR HAS, HAS CERTAINLY GIVEN YOU SOME, SOME SOUND ADVICE AS WELL AS HOPEFULLY SOME ENCOURAGEMENT TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE VALUED REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH IN YOUR LIFE. SO STAY AS SAFE AS YOU CAN CONTINUE TO CALL BECAUSE THERE IS A PURPOSE ON YOUR LIFE. YOU ARE STILL HERE AND YOU ARE SO VALUED. SO PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL AND LET THEM KNOW YOU SPOKE WITH THE MAYOR. THAT MAY GET SOME ACT, RIGHT. YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHO IS LISTENING. BUT CERTAINLY I THINK SENSITIVITY TRAINING IS, IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ACROSS THE BOARD. THANK YOU. BUT I DO WANT YOU TO REACH OUT TO OTHERS LIKE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S SEMINAR, SOME OTHERS, OKAY. UH, SEEK. SO WELL, WE'LL TALK TO YOU, OKAY? WE'LL FOLLOW UP. OKAY. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. CARRIE RICE. CARRIE RICE. CARRIE HERE NEXT SPEAKER. THIS COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS. OKAY? UM, THIS WRAPS US UP. UM, I WILL, UH, SEE YOU ALL AT THE, UM, THE FINALE OF THE NCAA LATER ON THIS EVENING. UM, IS EVERYBODY PLANNING ON BEING THERE? YES. YEAH. YEAH. TWO OUTTA THREE. IT'S TWO OUT OF THREE. YOU DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA BE A BIG CROWD? ONE ON MAYOR, STAND IN RECESS. OKAY, WE STAND, WE [RECESS] STAND IN RECESS TODAY. WE STAND IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING. 9:00 AM MAYOR, ARE YOU GOING TO THE FUNERAL TOMORROW? YES. GOOD MORNING. I'M COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE ANNA RUSSELL COUNCIL CHAMBER. I'M ABOUT TO READ THE DESCRIPTION OF CAPTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR THE WEEK, APRIL 4TH AND FIFTH, 2023, REPORT FROM THE CITY CONTROLLER AND THE CITY ADMINISTRATION REGARDING THE CURRENT FINANCIAL STATUS OF THE CITY. ITEM ONE, REQUEST FOR MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF KATRINA CHAMBERS TO THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY ADVISORY BOARD. ITEM TWO, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OR REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE REINVESTMENT ZONE. NUMBER 13, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS OH SIX WARD. ITEM THREE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OR REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS [02:40:01] TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE OH SIX WARD REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. ITEM FOUR, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF AMANDA FLORES TO POSITION FIVE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF REINVESTMENT. ZONE NUMBER 27, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS MONTROSE ZONE. ITEM FIVE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF AMANDA FLORES TO POSITION FIVE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MONTROSE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. ITEM SIX, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE HOUSTON MEDIA SOURCE, FORMERLY KNOWN AS HOUSTON CABLE CORPORATION. ITEM SEVEN, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. ITEM EIGHT, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE HOUSTON WOMEN'S COMMISSION. ITEM NINE, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTACTING MOUNT OF $6,999,971 80 CENTS AND THE ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH DL GLOVER, INC. ITEM 10, RITA DISTRIBUTORS INC. FOR APPROVAL OF SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR PURCHASE OF FLUID METERING SYSTEM UPGRADES. ITEM 11, CENTRAL TEXAS EQUIPMENT INC. FOR PURCHASE OF DIESEL POWERED LIGHT TOWERS. ITEM 12, AMEND MOTION 2021 DASH 5 21. PASSING ADOPTED, SEPTEMBER 22ND, 2021 TO INCREASE SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR PURCHASE OF BUCKET LIFT TRUCKS. ITEM 13, AMEND MOTION. 2022 DASH 2 5 2 5 3. PASSING ADOPTED MAY 18TH, 2022 TO INCREASE SPENDING AUTHORITY FROM 505,000 405 95 TO 630,000 606 7 35 FOR PURCHASE OF UTILITY VEHICLES AND ELECTRIC LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. ITEM 14, CONSOLIDATED TRAFFIC CONTROLS INC. FOR PURCHASE OF TRAFFIC CONTROLLED EQUIPMENT. ITEM 15, FERGUSON ENTERPRISES, LLC $2,906,503 AND 55 CENTS. AND COBURN SUPPLY COMPANY, $2,601,041 AND 50 CENTS FOR PLASTIC METER BOXES AND COVERS FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORK. EXCUSE ME. BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. ITEM 16, ORDINANCE ADOPTING SEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED GUIDELINES FOR THE CITY'S HOME BUYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. ITEM 17, ORDINANCE DE APPROPRIATING $1,500,000 IN TURS AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUNDS, WHICH WERE PART OF A PREVIOUS TERM APPROPRIATION AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 18 937 TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR A NEW HOME DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, MASTER CONTRACT AGREEMENTS AND RELATED DOCUMENTS. ITEM 18 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATED AND ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED TWENTY THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED SIXTY THOUSAND NO CENTS OUT OF AIRPORTS RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT FUND. AWARDING CON CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR AZTECA ENTERPRISES LLC FOR THE IDO BUILDING STANDARD SPACE FIT OUT PROJECT NUMBER NINE 13 ITEM 19, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW, AIRPORT INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT DISCRETIONARY GRANT AWARDS FROM THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION FOR VARIOUS PROJECTS AT GEORGE BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT SLASH HOUSTON WILLIAM P HAPPY AIRPORT AND ELLINGTON AIRPORT. ITEM 20 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW AIRPORT TERMINALS PROGRAM DISCRETIONARY GRANT AWARDS FROM THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION FOR VARIOUS PROJECTS AT GEORGE INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT, HOUSTON WILLIAM P HOBBY AIRPORT AND ELLINGTON AIRPORT. ITEM 21, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM, EXCUSE ME, TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT SUPPLEMENTAL AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, DISCRETIONARY GRANT AWARDS FROM THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION FOR VARIOUS PROJECTS AT GEORGE BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORTS SLASH HOUSTON WE P HIGHWAY AIRPORT AND ELLINGTON AIRPORT. ITEM 22, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $20,970 AND OH CENTS OUT OF PUBLIC HEALTH CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WITH NASH INDUSTRIES INC. ITEM 23 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY HOUSTON AND TEXAS A AND M ENGINEERING EXTENSION SERVICE APPROVED BY ORDINANCE NUMBER 2020 DASH TWO 20 ITEM 24 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THIRD AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT FOR AUTOMATED RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM INCLUDING SOFTWARE EQUIPMENT TRAINING AND ONGOING SUPPORT SERVICES BETWEEN CITY AND CENTRAL SQUARE TECHNOLOGIES. LLC, FORMERLY KNOWN AS TRITECH SOFTWARE SYSTEMS INC. FORMERLY KNOWN AS TIBURON INC. ADAM 25 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES. CONTRACT FOR STORMWATER MASTER PLAN BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND LOCKWOOD ANDREWS AND NEWHAM INC. ITEM 26, ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT TO FOR STORMWATER MASTER PLAN BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND BLACK AND VEATCH CORPORATION. ITEM 27, ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING [02:45:01] SERVICES CONTRACT FOR STORMWATER MASTER PLAN BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HGR ENGINEERING. ITEM 28, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT SERVICES. CONTRACT FOR STORMWATER MASTER PLAN BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND AA, US INC. ITEM 29 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES. CONTRACT FOR STORMWATER MASTER PLAN BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND GAGE ENGINEERING LLC ITEM 30. ORDINANCE RENEWING AND ESTABLISHMENT RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE OF THE 1000 BLOCK OF HIGHLAND AVENUE WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE REQUIREMENT BLOCK PURSUANT TO THE CODE OF ORDINANCES. ITEM 31 ORDINANCE CONSENTED TO THE ADDITION OF 3.371 ACRES OF LAND TO HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT DISTRICT NUMBER ONE ITEM 32. ORDINANCE CONSENTED TO THE CREATION OF HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 5 4 4 CONTAINING APPROXIMATELY 1 3 8 0.07 ACRES OF LAND. ITEM 33 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,751,270 AND 85 CENTS OUT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM, CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND ASANI CONSULTANTS. LP ITEM 34 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $2,100,000 IN NO CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND DRAINAGE CHARGE AND APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND COBB FINDLAY AND ASSOCIATES INC. ITEM 35 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $308,254 AND 10 CENTS OUTTA METRO PROJECTS CONSTRUCTION D-D-S-R-F FOR ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, TEXAS DOT FOR 2020 HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. ITEM 36, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING OF ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR 2020 HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ITEM 37, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING SIX ME 821,294,000 NO CENTS OUTTA WATER AND SEW SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND, AWARDING CONTRACT TO PM CONSTRUCTION AND REHAB LLC ITEM 38. ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $4,639,302 AND NO CENTS OUTTA WATER AND SEW SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND, AWARDING CONTRACT TO PM CONSTRUCTION AND REHAB LLC ITEM 39, ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 33 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THIS WAS TAGGED BY CONSTABLE LA KBA. THIS WAS ITEM 15 ON AGENDA OF MARCH 29TH, 2023. ITEM 40 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND PORTER HEDGES. LLP. THIS WAS TAGGED BY CONSTABLE KBA. THIS WAS ITEM 21 ON AGENDA OF MARCH 29TH, 2023. ITEM 41 WAS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO ENTER LOCAL AGREEMENT PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY ORDINANCE NUMBER 2015 DASH 8 9 6 BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY. THIS WAS TAGGED BY CONSTABLE . THIS WAS ITEM 22 ON AGENDA MARCH 29TH, 2023. ITEM 42 WAS AN ORDINANCE FINDING AND DETERMINING PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY INTEREST IN CONNECTION WITH THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT KNOWN AS WATERLINE REPLACEMENT ALONG POST OAK BOULEVARD AND WEST TIMER ROAD PROJECT. THIS WAS TAKEN BY CONSTABLE HUFFMAN. THIS WAS ITEM 30 ON AGENDA OF MARCH 29TH, 2023. ITEM 43 ORDERS APPROPRIATING $550,000 AND NO CENTS OUTTA METRO PROJECTS CONSTRUCTION D-D-S-R-F AND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND KBH TRAFFIC ENGINEERING LLC. THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCILMAN KUBOSH. THIS WAS ITEM 34 ON AGENDA OF MARCH 29TH, 2023. ITEM 44 IS IN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $550,000 AND NO CENTS OUT. METRO PROJECTS CONSTRUCTION D-D-S-R-F AND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND ALLY GENERAL SOLUTIONS LLC. THIS WAS ALSO TABLE CONS FROM A KUBOSH. THIS WAS ITEM 35 ON AGENDA OF MARCH 29TH, 2023. THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF APRIL 5TH, 2023. STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL SCHEDULE TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM IN THE WORDS OF THE 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. THANK YOU MADAM SECRETARY. ALRIGHT, IT IS 9 0 5 [RECONVENE] AND WE ARE GONNA GET STARTED THIS MORNING. SO LET ME CALL THIS MEETING OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. THE WATER STARTING. [ADMIN REPORT] FIRST THING WE'LL DO THIS MORNING IS THE, UH, MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT. SO LET ME, UH, RECOGNIZE AND CALL UP CONTROLLER CHRIS BROWN, FINANCIAL DIRECTOR, WILL JONES. [02:50:05] GOOD MORNING MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING FEBRUARY 28TH, 2023. AND THE GENERAL FUND, THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE IS PROJECTING AN ENDING FUND BALANCE OF 327.3 MILLION FOR FY 23. THIS IS 44.5 MILLION LOWER THAN THE PROJECTION OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. THE DIFFERENCE IS DUE TO A 44.5 MILLION LOWER REVENUE PROJECTION THAN FINANCE. BASED ON OUR CURRENT PROJECTIONS, THE FUND BALANCE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY 152 MILLION ABOVE THE CITY'S TARGET OF HOLDING SEVEN AND A HALF PERCENT IN RESERVES. OUR REVENUE PROJECTIONS DECREASED BY 4.3 MILLION FROM THE JANUARY 23 REPORT. THIS DECREASE IS DUE PRIMARILY TO LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUES THAT A RESULT OF 3.8 MILLION DECREASE IN MUNICIPAL SERVICES FEES. TURS EXPENDITURE ESTIMATES INCREASED BY 3 MILLION COMPARED TO THE JANUARY 23 REPORT, AND THAT WAS AS FOLLOWS. ELECTRICITY CHARGEBACKS INCREASED IN VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS BY 4.1 MILLION. SECURITY AND FACILITIES MAINTENANCE INCREASED IN GENERAL SERVICES BY 1.7 MILLION. HEALTH BENEFITS SAVINGS IN VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS RESULTED IN 3.3 MILLION DECREASE. AND FINALLY, MEDICAL SUPPLY COST INCREASED BY 325,000 IN THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS. IN THE AVIATION OPERATING FUND. REVENUES INCREASED 39.1 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO HIGHER PASSENGER VOLUME. IN ADDITION TO HIGHER INTEREST RATES RESULTED IN A 5 MILLION INCREASE IN OUR INTEREST. INCOME EXPENDITURES INCREASED BY 39.1 MILLION AND THAT WAS DUE TO A 39.1 MILLION INCREASE IN SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT TRANSFERS AND A 6.6 MILLION INCREASE IN PERSONNEL COSTS. MOVING ON TO THE CONVENTION ENTERTAINMENT, UH, THE REVENUES INCREASED BY 390,000. THAT WAS DUE TO HIGHER ANTICIPATED PARKING REVENUES AND INTEREST INCOME COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM REVENUES INCREASED BY 612,000 DUE TO THE SALE OF LAND. THE EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY 5.8 MILLION AND THAT WAS DUE TO DELAYS IN HIRING, HIRING AND PURCHASING, AS WELL AS LOWER DEBT SERVICE TRANSFER FOR ALLEN CREEK DEBT OBLIGATIONS IN THE STORMWATER FUND. EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY 9.9 MILLION DUE TO DELAYS IN HIRING AND PURCHASING. MOVING ON TO THE DE DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL AD VALOREM FUND EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY 8.8 MILLION AND THAT WAS DUE TO DELAYS IN PURCHASING CAPITAL EQUIPMENT. THE DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL METRO FUND REVENUES DECREASED BY 4.6 MILLION DUE TO LOWER REIMBURSEMENTS FROM METRO EXPENDITURES. DECREASED BY 6.3 MILLION DUE TO DELAYS IN HIRING AND DELAYS IN CONTRACT IMPLEMENTATIONS RELATED TO THE METRO GENERAL MOBILITY PROGRAM. AND FINALLY, THE DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL DRAINAGE FUND REVENUES DECREASED BY 2.3 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO AN INCREASE IN DRAINAGE CHARGE REVENUES. IF YOU LOOK AT OUR COMMERCIAL PAPER AND BONDS, ALL OF OUR VARIABLE RATE DEBT IS WELL BELOW THE 20% THRESHOLD. AND THIS CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, FINANCE DIRECTOR WILL JONES. GOOD MORNING. THIS IS THE EIGHT PLUS FOUR FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING FEBRUARY 28TH, 2023. FISCAL YEAR 2023. PROJECTIONS ARE BASED ON EIGHT MONTHS OF ACTUAL RESULTS AND FOUR MONTHS OF PROJECTIONS. SO IN THE GENERAL FUND, OUR REVENUE PROJECTION IS 52.5 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET, AND 3.3 MILLION LOWER THAN LAST MONTH. THE VARIANCE FROM PRIOR MONTH'S PROJECTIONS PRIMARILY DUE TO 3.8 MILLION, DECREASE IN INTERGOVERNMENTAL, PRIMARILY DUE TO LOWER THAN THAN ANTICIPATED TOURIST MUNICIPAL SERVICE FEES, 358,000 DECREASE IN DIRECT INTER FUND SERVICES, PRIMARILY DUE TO LOWER CHARGEBACK FOR PLANNING SERVICES. 534,000 INCREASE IN MISCELLANEOUS OTHER PRIMARILY DUE TO HIGHER REVENUES FOR TAKE HOME VEHICLES, 470,000 INCREASE IN IN MUNICIPAL COURTS, FINES AND FORFEITS DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED MOVING VIOLATIONS. ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, OUR EXPENDITURE PROJECTION IS 29 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND 3 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE PRIOR MONTH. THE VARIANCE IS PRIMARILY DUE TO 4.1 MILLION INCREASE IN VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS TO REFLECT HIGHER ELECTRICITY COSTS. ONE POINT, UH, 7 MILLION IN GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO REFLECT COSTS RELATED TO THE SECURITY AND JANITORIAL CONTRACT. MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE, 325,000 INCREASE IN FIRE TO REFLECT HIGHER MEDICAL SUPPLY AND 3.3 MILLION DECREASE IN VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS TO REFLECT, UH, SAVINGS AND HEALTH BENEFITS. UM, AGREE WITH THE CONTROLLER ON THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS. SO I'LL MOVE ON TO THE SPECIAL AND OTHER FUNDS. STARTING WITH THE HEALTH BENEFITS FUND. REVENUES DECREASED BY 14.6 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO PLANTER CHANGES IN LOWER ENROLLMENT AND EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY 15.5 MILLION DUE TO LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED CLAIMS. WORKERS' COMPENSATION REVENUES AND, UH, REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY 6.3 MILLION DUE TO LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED CLAIMS. ASSET FORFEITURE FUND REVENUES INCREASED BY 1.2 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED CONFISCATIONS [02:55:01] AUTO DEALERS REVENUES INCREASED BY 2.7 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED IMPOUND VEHICLES. AND THE BARK FUND EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY 755,000 DUE TO SAVINGS AND PERSONNEL AND SUPPLIES. UH, THE BUILDING INSPECTION REVENUES INCREASED BY 4.4 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED, UH, PERMIT ACTIVITIES AND EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY 1.2 MILLION DUE TO DELAYS IN VEHICLE PURCHASES. UH, CABLE TV FUND REVENUES DECREASED BY 644,000 IN PUBLIC EDUCATION CONTRIBUTIONS. UH, THE HOUSTON EMERGENCY CENTER FUND REVENUES DECREASED BY 1.1 MILLION DUE TO LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED REIMBURSEMENT FOR 9 1 1 STAFF. UM, AND EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY 2.9 MILLION DUE TO PERSONNEL SAVINGS. AND THE LOCAL TRUANCY PREVENTION DIVERSION FUND EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY 610,000 DUE TO GRANT FUNDED PERSONNEL, UH, TRANSFER TO JOURNAL FUND AS A RESULT OF OF A REDUCTION IN GRANT FUNDING AND THE MAINTENANCE RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT FUND EXPENDITURES, UH, INCREASED BY 1.7 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED, UH, FACILITY MAINTENANCE. AND ON THE POLICE SPECIAL SERVICE FUND EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY 1.5 MILLION DUE TO SAVINGS AND SUPPLIES AND SERVICES. AND THE FOLLOWING FUNDS, UH, REFLECT A DECREASE AND EXPENDITURES MAINLY DUE TO PERSONNEL SAVINGS. AND YOU HAVE, UH, PARK HOUSTON SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, ABOUT 1.1 MILLION. PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, ABOUT 3.2 MILLION. AND THE ESSENTIAL PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE FUND ABOUT 4.3 MILLION. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS TO COMPTROLLER BROWN OR TO FINANCE DIRECTOR WILL JONES. QUESTIONS. SHE RECOGNIZES THE MAYOR PROTE FOR A MOTION. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT DATED FEBRUARY 28TH, 2023 AS PRESENTED CAST. NEXT ITEM, SECOND MOVE IS SECOND TO ACCEPT THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT DISCUSSION. OBJECTION, HEARING NOW. AND GRANTED, THANK YOU BOTH SO VERY, MY VERY MUCH. [MAYOR'S REPORT] OKAY. JUST A FEW COMMENTS. UM, UH, THE LAST, UH, WELL, SINCE TUESDAY OF LAST WEEK, IT'S BEEN VERY, VERY BUSY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WITH A LOT OF THINGS HAVING TAKEN PLACE. UH, TUESDAY OF LAST WEEK WE HAD THE RONALD MCDONALD GAMES, UM, WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL, UM, PLAYERS, BOTH WOMEN AND MEN, UH, THAT WAS VERY WELL ATTENDED. PEOPLE WERE VERY PLEASED WITH THAT. AND THEN OF COURSE, UH, THE NCAA, UH, MEN'S FINAL FOUR, UM, BOTH ON SATURDAY AND MONDAY, WELL ATTENDED OVER 70,000 PEOPLE THERE. UH, THE CONCERTS BOTH IN FRONT OF DISCOVERY GREEN AND, UH, NEW EDITION AT THE TOYOTA CENTER. ASTROS PLAYING ROCKETS PLAYING, UH, THE HBCU ALL STAR COLLEGE GAME AT TEXAS, TEXAS SOUTHERN. UM, WHAT WAS THAT? UM, JUST A LOT OF THINGS. UH, THE IFTAR DINNER ON, UH, SUNDAY NIGHT WAS THE LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY. UH, OVER 2300 COULD HAVE HAD A LOT MORE SPACE, UH, ALLOWED. SO THAT TURNED OUT GREAT. SO JUST A LOT OF EVENTS, UH, THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE CITY. AND I WANTED TO GIVE, UH, CREDIT TO, UM, UH, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, FIRE POLICE, EMS WORKERS, UM, MUNICIPAL WORKERS, PUBLIC WORKS, AND THE THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS, UH, WHO REALLY WERE THE AMBASSADORS FOR OUR CITY. SO A LOT OF PRAISE AND CREDIT, UH, TO ALL, TO ALL OF THEM. UH, BUT IT WAS, UM, AN EXCELLENT SHOWING ON BEHALF OF CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, FROM ALL INDICATIONS, PEOPLE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THEMSELVES. THOSE WHO VISITED AS WELL AS THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, LIVE IN THE REGION. UM, AND LITERALLY IT WAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY, OKAY? WHETHER YOU HAD MONEY, NO MONEY WHEN YOU HAD TICKETS, NO TICKETS. IT WAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY. JUST VERY, VERY PROUD OF HOW THE CITY SHOWCASED ITSELF. AND SO, UM, THAT WAS, THAT WAS HUGE. AND THEN WE'LL SEE DOWN THE STRETCH, UH, HOW IT BENEFITED US ECONOMICALLY, UM, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SALES TAX, UH, TWO MONTHS FROM NOW. SO, UM, BUT THAT WAS, THAT WAS BIG. UH, LET ME ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THE HARRIS HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY. HOUSTON FIRST, UH, NRG. UH, BOTH CITY AND THE COUNTY. EVERYONE'S HELP. I DON'T WANNA LEAVE OUT, UH, SPECIAL EVENTS. SO EVERYBODY, UH, WHO PARTICIPATED IN THAT EVENT. UM, WE WERE PLANNING ON FAMILY DAY ON SATURDAY. THIS COMING WEEK. IT WOULD'VE, IT WAS THE 15TH ANNUAL. UH, BUT THE WEATHER HAS CAUSED US TO POSTPONE, UH, THAT EVENT. SO FAMILY DAY WILL NOT TAKE PLACE, UH, THIS COMING SATURDAY. UH, HOPEFULLY WE'LL PICK IT BACK UP IN, IN MAY. UM, I HEARD, HMM, HEARD HE WAS [03:00:01] ABOUT CHALLENGING THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO THE BASEBALL GAME. MM-HMM . YOU ALL PRAYED FOR RAIN AND YOU SEEM LIKE YOU GOT IT. SO, UH, WOW. YOU KNOW, MOTHER, MOTHER NATURE WORE ON Y'ALL OUTSIDE. SO , Y'ALL, Y'ALL LIVE TO PLAY ANOTHER DAY, . SO GO AHEAD ON AND CLAIM VICTORY, YOU KNOW, UH, BUT WE'LL PICK IT UP SOON. UM, I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE, UM, THE ASTRONAUTS WHO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN, UH, FOR THE NEXT, UH, TEAM OF, UH, SECOND MISSION COMMANDER, REED WISEMAN, POLLE, VICTOR GLOVER, UH, MISSION SPECIALIST, CHRISTINA HAMMOCK, KOCH AND MISSION SPECIALIST JEREMY HANSON OF CANADA. SO, UM, UH, ANOTHER, ANOTHER PROUD MOMENT, AGAIN, SHOWCASING FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I WANNA REMIND PEOPLE OF THE AFRICAN AM, UH, AFRICAN, AFRICAN MALE, UH, AMERICAN MALE WALK, UH, FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS. THAT'S SCHEDULED FOR APRIL THE 15TH, UH, ON THE CAMPUS OF TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. SCREENINGS WILL START FROM SEVEN GO UNTIL NINE. THE WALK WILL BE AT NINE O'CLOCK. SO PLEASE COME OUT AND, AND WALK, UH, WITH EVERYONE. UH, THE EARTH DAY, UH, HOUSTON, UM, THAT WILL BE ON APRIL THE 17TH THROUGH THE 19TH. AND THEN ON APRIL THE 17TH, WHICH I BELIEVE IS DONE A WEDNESDAY, THERE'LL BE A NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES AROUND CITY HALL, BETWEEN CITY HALL AND THE LIBRARY ON MCKINNEY. SO BE LOOKING OUT FOR THOSE EARTH DAY, EARTH DAY HOUSTON, AND THOSE EVENTS. UM, UM, UM, CITY OF HOUSTON DODGE, A HUGE BULLET WITH REGARDS TO PROPOSITION B, UH, WITH THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT, UH, SHOOTING THAT DOWN. THAT'S A PLUS FOR THE FINANCIAL STABILITY OF THE CITY. AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S A HUGE, HUGE PLUS, UH, FOR THE CITY. AND THEN THE CITY STANDS READY, UH, AS WE MOVE FORWARD DEALING WITH COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WITH OUR FIREFIGHTERS. SO, UM, WE'LL WORK, WE'LL WORK THROUGH THAT WHOLE PROCESS. UH, AND THEN FINALLY, UH, ON A SATURDAY NOTE, UH, POLLY, UH, SPARKS TURNER, UH, PASSED, UH, FOR THOSE WHO KNOW, WHO, UM, KNEW DR. TURNER KNOWS HOW ACTIVE, UH, SHE HAS BEEN, UH, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR A VERY LONG TIME. UH, HER FUNERAL IS SCHEDULED FOR TODAY AT 11 AT WHEELER AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. UH, SHE WAS A HEALTH AND PHARMACY PIONEER, AN EDUCATOR, COMMUNITY LEADER, REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY INCORPORATED. AND A MEMBER OF THE LINKS INCORPORATED. AND AMONGST MANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, QUITE FRANKLY, I, I DIDN'T HAD, NO, DIDN'T EVEN THINK SHE WAS CLOSE TO 84 YEARS OLD. MM-HMM . WHEN I SAW 84, I SAID 84. SHE CARRIED HER AGE EXTREMELY WELL. 'CAUSE SHE DIDN'T, I DID NOT EVEN THINK SHE WAS CLOSE TO 84 YEARS OLD. UH, BUT SHE, UH, GRACE AND POISE, THAT'S HOW I REMEMBER, UH, POLLY TURNER GRACE AND POISE. AND SO, UM, SHE WILL BE, SHE WILL BE VERY MUCH MISS AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, JOINING HER FAMILY AND OTHERS, YOU KNOW, AT THE FUNERAL, UH, LATER ON, LATER ON THIS MORNING. UM, SO, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I SAID EARLY ON, AFTER YOU BECAME MAYOR, HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING A, UH, MAYORAL REPORT. 'CAUSE UH, IT DIDN'T EXIST PRIOR TO YOU COMING AND GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO SPEAK TO YOU, UH, IN, IN PUBLIC. UM, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE, MAYOR, IS, UH, I, I KNOW THAT YOU AND I ARE, ARE BOTH VERY, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE BELIEVERS AND, AND WE HAVE STRONG FAITH. AND, AND I'M CONCERNED THAT WE'RE, WE'RE TICKETING, UH, PEOPLE WHO ARE GIVING FOOD TO THE HUNGRY. I UNDERSTAND. UH, OVER, UH, IN DIFFERENT, BUT MAYBE JUST AT THE LIBRARY HERE. AND, AND, UH, I'M, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. I'M, I'M CONCERNED THAT, THAT, THAT THE, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WANTING TO COME OUT AND FEED SOMEBODY THAT'S HUNGRY, THAT WE'RE GONNA GIVE 'EM A CITATION. AND I WOULD, I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WOULD, UH, RECONSIDER THAT. AND, AND MAYBE THERE'S SOME OTHER OTHER THING WE CAN DO. MAYBE, UH, MAY MAYBE THESE PEOPLE SAID ARE GETTING A $2,000 FINE. WE, YOU KNOW, THEY WOULD DO COMMUNITY SERVICE OR SOMETHING. AND, AND, UH, $2,000 FINE'S A BIG FINE MAYOR AND I, UM, IIII IT MAY BE A WAY OF SAYING, HEY, YOU'RE NOT LISTENING TO ME, SO THIS IS WHAT I'M GONNA DO. BUT A $2,000 FINE IS JUST SO BIG. WELL, LEMME TELL YOU THE REASON WHY WE ARE DOING THAT. UM, [03:05:02] THE, THE DOWNTOWN CENTRAL LIBRARY IS INTENDED FOR PEOPLE ACROSS OUR CITY, FAMILY MEMBERS, PARENTS AND KIDS. UM, AND WE HAVE SEEN A, A DROP IN ATTENDANCE AT THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY DOWNTOWN BECAUSE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN DON'T WANT TO WALK THROUGH A, A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS THAT ARE ALL IN FRONT OF THE LIBRARY AND LARING, UM, PEOPLE, UM, AND PEOPLE WITH GOOD INTENTIONS OF FEEDING PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS. UH, BUT THEY ARE ALL IN FRONT OF THE LIBRARY AND THEY ARE STAYING IN FRONT OF THE LIBRARY AND HANGING OUT IN FRONT OF THE LIBRARY. AND ONE OF THE REASONS THAT REALLY MOTIVATED ME TO SAY, NO, THIS IS ENOUGH, IS BECAUSE ONE OF THE PERSONS WAS INSIDE THE LIBRARY AND PULLED A KNIFE ON ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES. AND THE EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN VOICING CONCERNS FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY AND WELLBEING. AND THEN WHEN THERE ARE EVENTS AT THE LIBRARY LIKE WEDDINGS, IT HAS NOT BEEN A GOOD SCENE. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO SPEND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON KEY PUBLIC ASSETS FOR ANY ONE GROUP TO TAKE IT OVER. THAT DOESN'T, THAT DOESN'T WORK. AND UM, NOW IF WE WERE JUST SAYING, YOU CAN'T BE OUT HERE FEEDING PEOPLE, SO GO FIND SOMEPLACE ELSE, THAT WOULD BE ONE THING. BUT WHAT I SAID TO MY TEAM TO MARK, I GET BUMMED ANY AND ANOTHER'S, LET'S TRY TO FIND ANOTHER SUITABLE PLACE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY WHEN WE CAN PROVIDE THEM WITH AN ALTERNATIVE. AND WE HAVE FOUND 1 61 RECENTLY. AND ON TOP OF THAT, I SAID, LET'S DO IT EVEN BETTER. SO WE ARE PROVIDING HOT MEALS THAT WE PAY FOR, FOR WE FEED, UH, PROVIDE FOOD FOUR TIMES THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, HOT MEALS. WE ARE PROVIDING TABLES AND CHAIRS FOR THEM TO SIT DOWN. WE HAVE RETAINED THE SERVICES OF BREAD OF LIFE. PASTOR RUDY RMUS ST. JOHN AND HIS TEAM ARE FEEDING AND PROVIDING FOOD TO THESE INDIVIDUALS. AND WE'VE SAID TO OTHER NONPROFITS, YOU CAN PROVIDE YOUR SERVICES AT THIS LOCATION. OKAY. SO WE, WE ARE DOING THAT. WE ARE, WE ARE PAYING FOR THAT. AND I HAVE BEEN OUT THERE. IT HAS FLOWED, IT'S FLOWING VERY SMOOTHLY. NOT ONLY ARE WE PROVIDING, UH, MEALS, WE ARE, WE ARE GIVING THEM OTHER ESSENTIAL NECESSITIES THAT THEY NEED AS, AS WELL. UH, AND WE ARE ALSO PROVIDING HOUSING SERVICES. SO IT'S DINING FOR HOUSING BECAUSE THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO TRANSITION THEM FOR HOUSING. UM, AND I WILL TELL YOU, UH, COUNCILMAN KASH, ONE OF THE REASONS THAT MOTIVATED ME IS THAT I WAS WATCHING YOU ON TELEVISION AND YOU WERE IN FRONT OF THAT MCDONALD'S IN MIDTOWN AND YOU WERE SAYING THAT, UH, BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE LADDERING IN THAT AREA, THAT WE HAVE LOST THAT MCDONALD'S. 'CAUSE PEOPLE, FAMILIES WERE NOT NO LONGER GOING TO THAT. I WAS WATCHING YOU ON TELEVISION AT MY HOUSE AND, UH, AND YOU SAID, WE SHOULD NOT HAVE LOST THIS MCDONALD'S. AND NOW THAT MCDONALD'S HAS BEEN DEMOLISHED, IT IS NO MORE. AND WHEN I HEARD YOU ON THAT TELEVISION, 'CAUSE I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT TAKING CARE OF THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS AND FEEDING THEM, I SAID TO MYSELF, WE SHOULD NOT BE LOSING THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY DOWNTOWN. AND WE WEREN'T ON OUR WAY TO LOSING IT. SO DO WE WANT, DO WE WANT TO FEED THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS? YES. DO WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE PROVIDE THEM WITH SUITABLE ACCOMMODATIONS? YES. UM, AND DO WE WANT TO HOLD ON TO OUR CENTRAL LIBRARY? YES. AND THE ANSWER IS NOT TO SAY YOU CANNOT DO THIS TO NONPROFITS. 'CAUSE THAT'S, THAT DOESN'T DO IT. I WANT NONPROFITS AND OTHERS TO PROVIDE FOOD, SHELTER, AND CLOTHING, YOU NAME IT. BUT LET'S DO IT IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT'S A WIN-WIN AND NOT A WIN LOSE. AND THAT'S WHY RIGHT THERE, 61 REASONER. AND WE ARE NOT JUST GONNA RELY ON OTHER PEOPLE TO DO IT. THE CITY WORKING WITH THE NONPROFIT BREAD OF LIFE. AND LEMME TELL YOU. AND WHEN YOU GO AND TALK TO THOSE, UM, STAFFERS FROM BETTER LIFE, THEY ARE COMMITTED. THEY ARE DEDICATED, AND THEY TREAT PEOPLE WITH DIGNITY [03:10:01] AND RESPECT AND ALL. AND AS WE HAVE TALKED TO OTHER NONPROFITS AND SAID, LOOK, WE'VE GOT ANOTHER LOCATION DOWN THE STREET. MOST OF THOSE NONPROFITS HAVE SAID, OKAY. AND THEY'VE GONE THE REASONING, AND I HAVE TO GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO POLICE OFFICERS. THEY'RE NOT HEAVY HANDED. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT BULLYING ANYBODY. THEY'RE SIMPLY SAYING TO THE NONPROFITS AND OTHERS, THERE'S ANOTHER LOCATION WE WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU WOULD GO THERE. AND IT'S ONLY WHEN PEOPLE JUST REFUSE WILL THEY ISSUE A CITATION. MM-HMM . SO I, I, I AGREE WITH YOU, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU AND OTHERS TO GO AND TAKE A LOOK AT 61 REASONER AND THAT'S SET UP AND IT'S NOT THAT FAR AWAY. AND PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS, THEY REALLY APPRECIATE THE SERVICES THAT ARE BEING PROVIDED TO THEM. AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE REASON. WELL, WELL, MAYOR, I THINK THAT YOUR COMMENTS, UH, GO A LONG WAY AND EXPLAINING THAT. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING ME ON TV. WELL, LOOK, YOU HAD ME GLUED TO THE TELEVISION AND, UH, AND, AND, AND, AND LOOK, AND I, AND, AND YOU MADE AN EXCELLENT POINT. YOU SAID, WE SHOULD NOT BE LOSING THIS MCDONALD'S. THAT'S RIGHT. AND, AND MAYOR, UH, YOU KNOW, MY OFFICE IS RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM LUBBOCK STREET, MY PROPERTY THERE AND, AND, UH, FROM WHERE THE REASONER IS. MM-HMM . UH, MY, MY QUESTION IS, UH, A $2,000 FINE. I I, I WOULD HOPE THAT, THAT THEY COULD DO COMMUNITY SERVICE AND MAYBE WORK AT, AT, AT THE 61 REASON THEY'RE FEEDING, YOU KNOW, AND THEY CAN AND, AND, AND DO SOMETHING OTHER THAN, THAN THEY HAVE TO FACE THAT LARGE OF A FINE. AND, AND I KNOW SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST OBSTINATE. THEY, THEY'RE JUST WANTING TO HAVE CONFLICT. BUT I THINK MOST OF THESE PEOPLE WANT TO DO RIGHT. WELL, AND I, AND I BELIEVE SO. AND THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN TOLD ABOUT THE NEW LOCATION THEY HAVE, UM, THEY'VE WORKED WITH US, THEY ARE WORKING WITH US, AND THEY ARE, THEY'RE BEING VERY COMPLIANT. AND I DO WANNA GIVE A GREAT DEAL OF CREDIT TO THE HIGH TEAMS AND TO, UM, HPD BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN VERY SENSITIVE. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN HEAVY HANDED. UM, THEY HAVE JUST NOT SET. PEOPLE JUST MOVE. UM, BUT ALSO, I WANT TO SAY TO THE HOMELESS POPULATION, THEY'VE BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE. AND I, AND I, AND I APPRECIATE THEM TOO. BUT THE GOAL ULTIMATE, ULTIMATELY, IS TO REDUCE THAT HOMELESS POPULATION. AND QUITE FRANKLY, I WILL TELL YOU THE GOAL FOR THE ADMINISTRATION IS TO HAVE DECOMMISSION EVERY HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. THAT IT'S NOT TO SAY THEY WON'T BE HOMELESS ON OUR STREETS, BUT WE DO WANT TO DECOMMISSION THOSE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS IN OUR CITY. UM, AND WE ARE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION. SO THAT'S THE ULTIMATE GOAL, THAT WE WON'T HAVE ANY PEOPLE STANDING IN FRONT OF THE LIBRARY OR ANY PLACE THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT 'EM, THEY WILL BE IN HOMES WITH SUPPORTIVE WRAPAROUND SERVICES. THAT'S, THAT'S THE KEY. BUT THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR RAISING THAT ISSUE. OKAY. AND THEN REMEMBER TO, UH, I THINK TOMORROW STARTS PASSOVER, UH, FOR THOSE OF TONIGHT. THIS TONIGHT. TONIGHT, YEAH. TONIGHT. UM, AND OF COURSE, UM, UM, THIS IS HOLY WEEK THAT'S APPROACHING AND UM, CERTAINLY WANNA BE, WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT. AND I KNOW WE WERE PLANNING A LOT OF ON GOOD FRIDAY FOR ME, A LOT OF EASTER EGG PROGRAMS, BUT MOTHER NATURE IS ALSO HAVING ITS WAY THERE AS WELL, SO, WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL MAKE IT, WE'LL MAKE IT WORK. UM, OKAY. THAT, THAT, THAT'S IT FOR, UH, FOR, FOR ME. MM-HMM . OH, OH, OH. LET ME THANK THE MEMBERS OF YOU, ALL OF YOU WHO WENT TO, UH, TO AUSTIN ON, ON MONDAY TO THE, TO THE CAPITOL. UH, FROM THE REPORTS I'VE GOT, YOUR, YOUR PRESENCE WAS, WAS, UM, UH, EFFECTIVE AND PEOPLE TOOK NOTE. SO, UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE THOSE OF YOU WHO, UM, HAD A CHANCE TO GO TO, UM, TO THE LEGISLATURE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. UM, MADAM SECRETARY, [CONSENT AGENDA] TO THE CONSENT, UM, AGENDA UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY. ITEMS ONE THROUGH EIGHT, NEED A MOTION? CAT SECRETARY, MOVE. SECOND, ROBINSON, IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND ON ITEMS ONE THROUGH EIGHT. UH, DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSED, AND GRANTED. UM, UH, [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] ON, ON NUMBER ONE, YOU HAVE, UH, OFFICER, BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY ADVISORY BOARD. IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD. UM, OBO ADVISORY BOARD IS KATRINA. CHAMBERS KATRINA, WELCOME, UH, TO CITY HALL. AND LET ME THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE ON THE ADVISORY BOARD. IN FACT, WHY DON'T YOU JUST QUICKLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF. THANK YOU. THANKS SO MUCH. [03:15:01] IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE BEFORE YOU. I'M A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN. I GREW UP HERE, BORN HERE, AND ALL MY CAREER HAS BEEN IN FINANCIAL SERVICES, AND SO IT'S AN HONOR TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE BOARD. I WORK WITH TRUIST BANK. WELL, THANKS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND THE OTHERS. OKAY. THANK YOU, SIR, VERY MUCH. OKAY. OKAY. AND THEN ON POSITION TWO, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE REINVESTMENT ZONE, NUMBER 13, UH, THE OH SIX WARD TWO AND THREE. UH, TWO AND THREE. OKAY. UH, AND SO IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD. UH, DAVID HILL, AND THEN JOE BRU HAM. OH, AND LEMME JUST READ 'EM ALL OUT. CLAUDE ANELLO, PHILIP NIEL, PATRICK MCKENZIE HALL. AND GO. G DAVID GREG HILL, UH, DEANNA RIA AND JOE BRUER. OKAY. IF YOU ALL WOULD JUST GIVE YOUR NAME AND, UH, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF. UH, MY NAME IS DAVID HILL. I'M AN OLD SIX WARD, UH, RESIDENT, UH, FOR THE MOST PART SINCE 1990. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. UH, STAY, STAY UP HERE. DON'T LEAVE YET. . HI. I'M CLAUDE ELLO, UH, RESIDENT OF THE OLD SIX WARD FOR 22 YEARS. MY FAMILY'S LIVED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, ON AND OFF, UH, FOR THREE, FOUR GENERATIONS IN, UH, ABOUT A HUNDRED YEARS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES, MA'AM. HI THERE. I'M JOE BRUN HAMMERER. UM, I HAVE LIVED IN HOUSTON FOR THE LAST 27 YEARS, UM, AND BEST 27 YEARS OF MY LIFE IN THIS GREAT CITY, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO DIG IN AND HELP WHEREVER I CAN. WELL, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO, UH, TO SERVE COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS CIRO. THANK YOU. AND, AND I'M JUST DELIGHTED THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO BE HERE. WE'VE GOT SOME OTHER GOOD MEMBERS THAT, THAT WEREN'T ABLE TO JOIN US TODAY, BUT, BUT, UM, BUT CLAUDE, THIS IS A REAPPOINTMENT FOR YOU. THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP AGAIN AND, AND FOR YOUR SERVICE TO, TO, TO BOTH OF THESE, THESE POSITIONS. AND, AND A BIG WELCOME TO, TO DAVID AND JOE, UM, THAT, THAT YOU'VE, UM, YOU'VE AGREED TO TAKE ON THESE RESPONSIBILITIES AND TO REPRESENT ALL SIX WARD. VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. THANKS. AND COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR SERVICE. THE SIXTH WARD IS PRETTY SPECIAL. AND, AND WITH SILVER STREET, JOE, JOE ALSO HELPS OUT AT SILVER STREET. AND WHAT A, WHAT A GREAT ADDITION TO THE AREA, THE WHOLE ART SCENE NEARBY THERE. AND EVERYTHING'S GREAT. THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE. WE APPRECIATE IT. COUNCILMAN KASH. THANK YOU, NEIGHBORS. YOU KNOW, I, MY PROPERTY'S RIGHT THERE, THE SIX SIX WARD, AND I KNOW YOU DRIVE BY IT PROBABLY EVERY DAY. IT'S GOOD TO SEE Y'ALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND KEEP OUR COMMUNITY REALLY NICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. I POSITION FOUR YOU ARE HERE, UH, COME FORWARD. UM, THIS IS, UM, AMANDA FLORES TO POSITION FIVE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE REINVESTMENT ZONE. NUMBER 27, THE MONTROSE ZONE. LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HER AND OTHERS. THAT WAS FOUR AND FIVE. THAT WAS FOUR AND FIVE. POSITION SIX, UH, WHICH IS TO THE, UH, HOUSTON MEDIA SOURCE, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE HOUSTON CABLE CORPORATION. FOUR IS GERALD. GERALD LEBO. UH, FIVE IS, UH, JOHN A. SOTO, JUAN, JUAN SOTO, I'M SORRY. AND 13 IS, IS JEAN B PERUS. AND IF YOU WOULD INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AGAIN. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I'M GERALD LEBO, AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR BEING THE VOICE FOR US. HOUSTONIANS, YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB, AND I THANK YOU GUYS FOR BRINGING ME ABOARD MEDIA SOURCE. I WAS THERE FROM ITS INCEPTION. WE'VE ALWAYS WORKED BEHIND THE SCENE. NOW IT'S GOOD TO BE A VOICE FOR THEM, FOR THE PEOPLE TO GET THE HOUSTON AREA ARCHIVED AND MOVING FORWARD, OUR MEDIA. THANK YOU GUYS SO VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. HI, I'M G ROYCE, AND, UH, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR, UH, DOING ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO. I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO SEVERAL OF YOU, UH, WITH THE LEGAL OF WOMEN VOTERS, UH, AND IT'S, UH, A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY THAT HOUSTON MEDIA SOURCE PRESENTS, AND I AM GLAD TO BE PART OF IT NOW AND TO WORK WITH PEOPLE LIKE, UH, MR. . WELL, THANK YOU. AND VICE VERSA. THANK YOU. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND JUST CONGRATULATIONS, GERALD. IT'S REALLY TO BOTH OF YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING, UM, A PART OF HOUSTON AND MAKING SURE THAT'S ARCHIVED AND YOU HOW SPECIAL WE ARE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, WELL CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF YOU. JERARD. I HAVE TO SAY , I GUESS IT'S THE HAT. YOU KNOW, UH, YOU, THE ONLY PERSON I KNOW HAPPIER THAN ME WHEN I TRAVEL AROUND THE CITY IS YOU. I MEAN, YOU, I USED TO. YOU WERE JUST HAPPY TO BE EVERYWHERE ALL, ALL THE TIME. [03:20:01] AND I JUST ENJOY, UH, TALKING WITH YOU SO MUCH WHEN WE RUN INTO EACH OTHER AT VARIOUS EVENTS AND THAT. SO CONGRATULATIONS. GET A GOOD WORK. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, BOTH OF YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER KASH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, JERAL, DO YOU HAVE THAT LATE NIGHT RADIO VOICE ? WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN IN MEDIA MANY YEARS AROUND THE WORLD. KEEP IT, KEEP IT GOING. I LIKE HEARING IT . ABSOLUTELY. I'LL DO YOUR COMMERCIAL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. LEMME THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR, I'M SORRY, COUNCILMAN CISNEROS. I, I JUST WANTED TO ALSO ADD MY THANKS. YOU KNOW, AS, AS DIFFICULT AS IT IS TO REACH PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND TO COMMUNICATE IMPORTANT NEWS, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE USE EVERY KIND OF MEDIA THAT WE CAN. AND, AND HOUSTON MEDIA SOURCES IS CERTAINLY A, A VALUABLE PART OF THAT. SO, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO THIS AND, AND MAKING IT WORK EVEN BETTER IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND, UM, UM, YOUR PRESENCE ON THE HOUSTON MEDIA SOURCE BOARD, VERY MUCH APPRECIATED, NEEDED, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS WELL AS THE OTHERS. OKAY. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH. WE SHOULD MAKE YOU PROUD. THANKS. THANK YOU. BYE-BYE. OKAY, AND, UM, NUMBER SEVEN IS THE BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD. POSITION ONE IS TRACY ALEXANDER. UH, THREE IS ADAM WILLIAMS. FIVE IS CHRISTINE ANTHONY MILLER. SIX IS JOE KARU. UH, SEVEN IS TOM COMPSON. YOU CAN COME FORWARD. UM, NINE IS TREVOR J WRIGHTMAN. 11 IS JOHANNA H MA, MAUD, I THINK I'M, I MESSED THAT UP. UH, 13 IS BEING DRILLS. 15 IS MIKE VAN DEUSEN. 17 IS NICKY KNIGHT. 19 IS ROBIN. ROBIN ANN HOLZER, UH, IF YOU WILL, IF YOU'LL REINTRODUCE YOURSELVES AGAIN, UH, STARTING WITH, I GUESS I GET TO GO FIRST. HOWDY. UH, BEN DREWS, UH, I COME TO HOUSTON, WAY OF THE ARMY. I MET MY WIFE, UH, SHE LIVED IN HOUSTON, SO THAT'S HOW I ENDED UP HERE. UH, I REPRESENT MOUNTAIN BIKING IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ON THE BOARD OF GOBA, GREATER HOUSTON OFF ROAD BIKING ASSOCIATION. I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING THE CITY AND, UH, IMPROVING HOW WE, UH, BIKE HERE IN THIS GREAT CITY. SO, THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HI, I'M TREVOR REICHMAN. I'M ONE OF THOSE RESIDENTS THAT GREW UP IN THE HOUSTON SUBURBS AND THEN LEFT WHEN I COULD, MANY YEARS LATER, MOVED BACK TO NEAR NORTH SIDE. AND I, I COULDN'T BELIEVE THE AMOUNT OF BIKE LANES AND BIKE HIGHWAYS EVERYWHERE. AND I'M JUST EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THE CONTINUED EVOLUTION OF THAT WITH A WONDERFUL COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. NEXT MORNING, UH, JOE COFO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BIKE HOUSTON. UH, UNLIKE SOME OF THESE FOLKS, I WASN'T BORN IN TEXAS, BUT I GOT HERE JUST AS SOON AS I COULD. , UH, PLEASED TO BE JOINING THE BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT. HI, MIKE VAN DEUSEN. I'M A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN. I GREW UP IN THE EAST SIDE OF HOUSTON. AND, UM, GLAD TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ONCE AGAIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. I'M ROBIN HOLZER. I'M RAISING DAUGHTERS IN MONTROSE. AND I REALIZED THIS WEEK THAT I WENT TO MY FIRST TOWN HALL MEETING, MY VERY FIRST TOWN HALL MEETING IN 2003, WHICH MAKES THIS MY 20TH YEAR ADVOCATING FOR PEOPLE WHO WALK, BIKE, AND RIDE TRANSIT. AND IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE PART OF THIS COMMITTEE AND SUPPORTING THE WORK OF THE CITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HI, I AM TOM THOMPSON. I'M THE CURRENT CHAIR OF THE BAC. AND, UH, IT'S GIVEN, IT IS BEEN A TERRIFIC OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ON THE COMMITTEE. IT'S GIVEN ME A GREAT VANTAGE POINT TO SEE THE PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING. THANKS IN LARGE PART TO THE FOLKS AROUND THIS HORSESHOE AND TO YOU, ESPECIALLY MAYOR TURNER, WHEN YOU BEGAN YOUR TERM, YOU PROMISED A, A PARADIGM SHIFT IN HOW WE APPROACH, UH, TRANSPORTATION IN HOUSTON. IT CAN NEVER HAPPEN FAST ENOUGH FOR ALL OF US, BUT IT'S GREAT TO SEE THE PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING. I CAN'T WAIT TO CELEBRATE GOLD LEVEL, UH, BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY IN FOUR SHORT YEARS FROM NOW. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. I, I WAS ALSO ASKED TO REMIND EVERYBODY BICYCLE MONTH IS COMING UP IN MAY. I'M SURE THERE'LL BE A NUMBER OF FUN EVENTS FOR US ALL TO PARTICIPATE IN. AND I WOULD CERTAINLY INVITE EACH OF YOU TO DO THAT. AND OUR NEXT MEETING IS, UH, APRIL 26TH. IS THAT RIGHT? I REMEMBER THAT. RIGHT. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING YOU ALL DO TO MAKE HOUSTON A BETTER PLACE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, JUST, UH, MR. CHAIR, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE LEADING THIS REALLY ROBUST AND EXCELLENT GROUP. MAYOR. THIS IS THE BIKE ADVISORY GROUP, WHICH INCLUDES THE ELECTRIC BIKE, UH, ADVISORY GROUP FOR JUST CLARIFICATION. I, I KNOW THAT IT, IT WORKS FOR ALL LANES AND ALL MODES WITHIN THOSE BIKE LANES, SO MAY WILL BE OUT THERE. AND, UH, I, I WANT TO THANK THESE FOLKS. 'CAUSE, UH, LIKE ROBIN, I BELIEVE I WAS PROBABLY PART OF THAT TOWN HALL [03:25:01] MEETING WITH YOU, MY OLD FRIEND, UH, FROM 2003. AND, AND MAYOR, THE, THE CITY HAS JUST COME SUCH A LONG WAY. I AGREE WITH THE COMMENTS WE'VE HEARD TODAY ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENED UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP. HAVING JUST GOTTEN BACK FROM, UH, SOME ADVOCACY MYSELF WITH THE MAYOR PRO TEM IN WASHINGTON, DC LAST WEEK AND STOPS IN NEW YORK AND BOSTON. I KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, JOE WITH YOUR HOME IN THE NORTHEAST AS WELL, WE IN HOUSTON DO STILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT WAY TO GO TO GET TO THAT GOLD STANDARD. BUT WE'RE MAKING INCREDIBLE PROGRESS. GRATEFUL FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE COME FROM OTHER PLACES OR COME FROM THE SUBURBS. AND WHAT WE'RE DOING TOGETHER IS TRULY TRANSFORMATIONAL. UH, ROBIN, I I WANT TO CALL YOU OUT ONCE MORE BECAUSE NOT ONLY ARE YOU A GREAT LEADER FOR THIS GROUP, BUT, UH, YOU'VE GOT YOUR DAUGHTER SAMANTHA IN THE AUDIENCE, AND SAMANTHA IS, UH, ONE OF A TWIN. AND HER SISTER KATE IS NOT HERE TODAY, BUT SHE'S THE LUCKY ONE TO GET THE CIVICS LESSON WITH US THIS MORNING, MAYOR. AND, UH, AGAIN, VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE IN INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US TODAY. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MCCAIN. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, AND TO ALL OF YOU FOR SERVING, UH, AS WE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, ENTER THIS PARADIGM SHIFT, RIGHT? UH, IN LARGE PART MAYOR BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP, THIS COUNCIL, BUT ALSO YOUR VOICES AND THE ABILITY OF EACH OF YOU TO REACH INTO OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND LIFT UP THOSE VOICES. UH, WELL, I'M APPRECIATIVE OF EVERYONE. I'M JUST GONNA GIVE SOME SPECIAL SHOUT OUTS TO MY, UH, OUR DISTRICT C RESIDENTS. OF COURSE, JOE, UH, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. UH, MIKE, UH, WHO HAS BEEN, UH, NOT ONLY INVOLVED, UH, IN BIKE LANES AND BIKE PLANS FOR YEARS, UH, AT THE CITY, BUT ALSO LEADING OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD FOR YEARS, UH, IN, UH, IN RICE MILITARY. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT YOU'RE ENGAGED AND INVOLVED. AND OF COURSE, ROBIN, UM, BEING A VOICE FOR MONTROSE KIND OF IN THE HEART OF THE CITY, RIGHT? AND ALL OF THOSE, UH, IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE ARE SEEING, UH, AND INTERCONNECTEDNESS. SO AGAIN, TO ALL OF YOU, THANK YOU COUNCILMAN CISNEROS. THANK YOU. I WANTED TO JUST ADD TO YOUR IMPORTANT ROLE IN, IN, IN HELPING AS AN ADVISORY BOARD, ADVISING US ON, ON OPPORTUNITIES YOU SEE, TO MAKE IT SAFER. UM, WE KNOW THAT, THAT WE'RE NOT WHERE WE NEED TO BE YET. YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A REALLY TRAGIC DEATH LAST WEEK OF A BICYCLIST. AND, AND AS I LEARNED ABOUT THAT, I, I THOUGHT ABOUT, UM, THE, THE DIFFERENT EVENTS I'VE GONE TO WITH THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT WHEN THEY READ THE NAMES OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO'VE DIED OVER TIME FOR IN WHILE IN THEIR SERVICE IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. AND, AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS. AND EARLY ON, UM, YOU SEE THAT THERE WERE, THERE WERE, THERE WERE, THERE WAS DEATHS WERE HAPPENING BECAUSE PEOPLE, UM, FELL OFF THE TRUCK OR THEY WEREN'T SECURE. YOU KNOW, THERE WERE, THERE HAVE BEEN THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED SINCE THEN THAT HAVE MADE, MADE IT SAFER FOR FIREFIGHTERS THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT WERE LESSONS LEARNED THE HARD WAY. AND AS WE, YOU KNOW, GO THROUGH, UM, THE, THE SAME KIND OF LEARNING CURVE OF LEARNING, I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S A SHAME THAT HAS TO BE LEARNED THE HARD WAY. BUT, BUT WHEN WE DISCOVER SOMETHING LIKE THE, THE, THE, THE, THE, THE DEATH LAST WEEK, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE MAKE IT SAFER? YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE, WE WE CHANGE WHAT THOSE, UM, ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES ARE OR, OR, OR JUST POLICY AT ALL, OR, YOU KNOW, THE RULES THAT, THAT ARE IN PLACE THAT, YOU KNOW, AS, UM, AS, AS CONSTRUCTION'S GOING ON OR AS WHATEVER'S HAPPENING, JUST WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL. AND, AND ALL OF YOU ARE CERTAINLY SO ENGAGED. PLEASE, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, IN YOUR CAPACITY AS ADVISORS TO US. YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU AND, AND, UM, AND, UM, APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR WORK AND YOUR EXPERTISE THAT YOU BRING TO THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR MAG GALLEGOS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I TOO, JUST WANNA THANK Y'ALL FOR Y'ALL'S ADVOCACY AND, AND WILLINGNESS TO SERVE ON THE BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. UM, IT ALSO SADDENS ME TO SEE THESE, UH, WHITE, WHITE BIKES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, KNOWING THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES JUST BECAUSE THEY WERE RIDING THEIR BIKE, UH, WHICH IS VERY SAD. UH, AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING AND TRY TO MAKE HOUSTON SAFE IN REGARDS TO CYCLISTS. UH, JOE, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR, UH, ATTENDING THE RIBBON CUTTING THERE AT THE LAWNDALE, UH, UH, DEDICATED BIKE LANE THAT WE HAD A FEW WEEKS AGO, UH, AND, AND JOINING US IN THAT RIDE. SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT. UH, AS, AS, AS, AS WE WERE TALKING, UH, IN REGARDS TO, UH, THE BIKE LANE THERE IN LAWNDALE, I MEAN, IT'S LIKE YOU STATED, IT'S A, IT'S A MOBILITY LANE, UH, MOBILITY LANE. IT'S NOT JUST FOR BICYCLES. I'VE SEEN AN INDIVIDUAL WHO'S A DOUBLE DOUBLE AMPUTEE, UH, AND HE WAS WALKING ON THAT LANE, UH, BECAUSE IT, IT WAS SAFER IN THE SENSE THAT HE WAS NOT HAVING TO WALK ON SIDEWALKS THAT ARE BROKEN AND WHAT HAVE YOU. UH, [03:30:01] I'VE SEEN A LADY ON A MOBILITY WHEELCHAIR AND A, AND A, UH, A MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIR, UH, THAT SHE WAS USING THERE, UH, ON, ON, ON THE MOBILITY LANE. SO IT'S JUST NOT FOR BICYCLES, IT'S FOR OTHERS THAT ARE NEEDING A SAFE PLACE TO, TO MANEUVER. UH, SO AGAIN, THAT, THAT'S HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS. UH, AND I KNOW, ROBIN, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED 2003. I THINK I MET YOU WAY BACK WHEN, WHEN I USED TO WORK FOR SYLVIA, UH, COMMISSIONER SYLVIA GARCIA AS HER LIAISON IN, IN THOSE MEETINGS. SO, UH, WE, WE GO WAY BACK WHAT, UH, AS WELL. SO, UH, AGAIN, THANK Y'ALL AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL DO. THANK Y'ALL. COUNCIL MAYOR EVAN SHAVA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WASN'T GONNA SAY BIKE THIS WEEK, MAYOR, BUT I WANNA THANK . I WANNA THANK THE BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. UH, BIKE SAFETY IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND ACTUALLY I PLAN TO, TO RIDE THE BIKE. I PROBABLY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON ON THIS FRIDAY. WE ALWAYS PARTICIPATE IN THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS RIDE AT ST. LUKE, THE EVANGELIST, UH, EPISCOPAL CHURCH. AND SO CERTAINLY, I, I JUST, I DO RECOGNIZE THE BIKE SAFETY IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU ALSO VERY, VERY MUCH LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH YOU. OKAY, THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, AND, UH, WITH RESPECT TO THE HOUSTON WOMEN'S COMMISSION, IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD. POSITION 12 IS JULIA, JULIE PLEASANT AND, AND POSITION 23 IS CAMILLE TROOP, UH, ALIGN, I BELIEVE. AND IF, AGAIN, IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AND BRIEFLY INTRODUCE YOURSELVES. GOOD MORNING. I AM CAMILLE , AND I AM A RESIDENT OF HOUSTON HEIGHTS. I HAVE BEEN IN THE CITY FOR 15 YEARS. I AM ALSO A NASA JOHNSON SPACE CENTER SENIOR LEADER MAYOR. AND I AM THE FOUNDER OF THE BRIGHTEST STARS FOUNDATION, WHICH IS WORK I'VE DONE, EMPOWERING, EDUCATING, AND INSPIRING YOUNG GIRLS AND WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS. SO I AM SO EXCITED AND HONORED TO BE SERVING ON THE WOMEN'S, UH, COMMISSION, UM, TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF WOMEN IN THE CITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES, GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS JULIE PLEASANT. I'M A LIEUTENANT WITH THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT VICTIM SERVICES DIVISION AND CO-FOUNDER OF OUR DART PROGRAM, WHICH I WANNA THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HUGE SUPPORTERS OF THAT. UM, AND IT'S AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO SERVE ON THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION, SO VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I WAS SO EXCITED TO SEE BOTH OF YOUR NAMES COME UP, UH, CAMILLE. I MEAN, WE HAVE, WE HAVE BEFORE US A LEADER IN NASA. AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT NOT JUST THE, UH, YOU KNOW, YOUR WORK IN THE VOLUNTEER SPACE, BUT JUST AT NASA AND INSPIRING OTHER WOMEN TO GET INVOLVED, UH, IN STEM AREAS IN OUR SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY IS JUST REALLY SPECIAL. UM, SO THANK YOU. ALSO A DISTRICT C RESIDENT, BUT IT, IT'S JUST, IT'S SPECIAL TO HAVE YOU HERE. UH, AND, AND INCLUDED IN THIS WORK THAT IS GOING ON, AND THEN LIEUTENANT PLEASANT, UM, WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IN THE DOMESTIC ABUSE RESPONSE SPACE, UH, THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT YOU HAVE LAUNCHED AND CREATED, NOT ONLY WITHIN HPD AND THE DIVISIONS WITHIN HPD AND THE HOLISTIC APPROACH, UH, TO VICTIMS AND SURVIVOR SERVICES. BUT, UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW LIEUTENANT PLEASANT, SHE HAS COME BEFORE COMMITTEE BEFORE TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THIS WORK, BUT THERE IS NOBODY IN THE, UM, FAMILY VIOLENCE SPACE, RIGHT? WHETHER IT'S HAWK, ABDA, OTHER, THE, OUR COORDINATING COUNSEL THAT DOESN'T KNOW WHO LI LIEUTENANT PLEASANT IS, OR THE IMPACT THAT SHE HAS HAD, UM, ON CHANGING THE WAY THAT WE DO THINGS IN HOUSTON FOR SURVIVORS. UM, SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE LIVES THAT YOU'VE SAVED AND CONTINUE TO SAVE, UH, BUT ALSO HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU HAVE BROUGHT INTO THE FOLD. AND THANK YOU BOTH FOR PARTICIPATING. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN KOSH. MAYOR, YOU MADE TWO REALLY GOOD CHOICES HERE. AND, UH, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU PUT A, A LIEUTENANT, A LADY, UH, ON THE, ON THIS BOARD BECAUSE, UH, YOU, UH, YOU CAN SEE THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF WHAT'S GOING ON AND, AND YOU UNDERSTAND THE PUBLIC SAFETY ASPECT AND, AND, UH, THE TRAGEDY THAT, THAT, THAT THESE WOMEN FACE, UH, WHEN YOU COME IN CONTACT WITH 'EM. AND, AND NOT ONLY CAN YOU COMFORT THEM, BUT YOU, YOU CAN ALSO GIVE 'EM DIRECTION. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE AND APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE TOO. UH, HPD AS WELL, THANK YOU BOTH, SIR. VERY, VERY MUCH. LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU ALL. UM, MADAM SECRETARY, BACK TO THE AGENDA UNDER ACCEPT [03:35:01] WORK CATEGORY. ITEM NINE HAS BEEN REMOVED. SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION B CATEGORY ITEMS 11, 13, AND 15 HAVE BEEN REMOVED. SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED A MOTION FOR ITEMS 10, 12, AND 14, CAST MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON MOVED IN, SECONDED ON 10, 12, AND 14. DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSED, GRANTED UNDER THE ORES CATEGORY. ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ARE 24 THROUGH 29, 33, 35, AND 36. THOSE NUMBERS, AGAIN, ARE 24 THROUGH 29, 33, 35, AND 36. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE. DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED, GRANTED, I REMOVE [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEM NINE NEEDS A MOTION CAST, TA MOVE SECOND, ROBINSON MOVED. SECOND ON ITEM NINE, VICE MAYOR PRO TATU OH NINE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO AMPLIFY TWO OF THESE PROJECTS IN DISTRICT K BECAUSE WE GET, UM, SEVERAL FOLKS THAT COME DURING THE WEEK AND TALK ABOUT THE PROJECTS THAT WE NEED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. AND THESE TWO PROJECTS ARE PARTICULARLY, UM, IMPORTANT TO AMPLIFY BECAUSE, UH, THE FIRST ONE ON, UH, NATY OAKS TRAIL, THIS IS A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE, UH, RESIDENTS HAD TO GET OUT OF THEIR CARS WHEN IT WOULD RAIN BECAUSE THE FLOODING WAS SO BAD, THEY WERE AFRAID TO DRIVE THEIR CARS THROUGH, UH, THE RAIN WATERS. UM, AND, UH, PUBLIC WORKS HAS GONE IN, UH, MR. GLOVER ACTUALLY, CONSTRUCTION HAS GONE IN AND THEY HAVE INCREASED THE STORM DRAIN, UH, SIZE. THE RESIDENTS ARE VERY EXCITED THAT THEY CAN NOW DRIVE, UH, DOWN THEIR STREETS, UH, WHEN IT DOES RAIN. UM, WE'VE INCREASED THE CAPACITY. HOWEVER, I DID WANT TO MAKE NOTE THAT WHEN WE STARTED THIS PROJECT, PUBLIC WORKS PUT CAMERAS DOWN IN THE DRAINS, AND HALF OF THE DRAINS WERE FILLED WITH WATER BOTTLES AND, UH, DEBRIS. SO WHAT IMPACTED A LOT OF THAT STORM WATER WAS THE DRAINS WERE FILLED WITH TRASH, THEY WERE FILLED WITH DEBRIS. AND WE HAVE PICTURES OF HALF OF THESE STORM DRAINS FILLED, UH, WITH DEBRIS. SO I WANT TO, UM, JUST BRING THIS FORWARD TO HOUSTONIANS, THAT AS YOU ARE THROWING THESE LITTER OUT OF YOUR CARS, UH, THIS DEBRIS GETS IN OUR DITCHES, IT GETS IN OUR STORM DRAINS, AND IT REALLY CAUSES PROBLEMS. AND WHAT, WHAT WE'VE ALSO FOUND WHEN WE PUT THOSE CAMERAS DOWN, OR TREE ROOTS, UM, SO WE'VE, WE ARE NOW GOING TO A PHASE TWO OF THIS PROJECT BECAUSE OF THE TREMENDOUS TREE ROOTS THAT HAVE, UM, BROKEN THROUGH THE STORM DRAINS AND CAUSING PROBLEMS AS WELL. SO, UM, THIS, UH, PHASE ONE OF THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL. THE RESIDENTS ARE HAPPY THAT THEY AREN'T HAVING THOSE SAME PROBLEMS. UM, BUT WE'VE REALIZED NOW THAT WE DO HAVE SOME MORE WORK TO DO TO INCREASE THAT LINE. UM, BUT JUST AGAIN, WANNA ASK RESIDENTS TO PLEASE NOT LITTER OUR IN THESE OPEN DITCHES AND IN OUR STREETS, BECAUSE THAT DEBRIS ENDS UP IN OUR STORM DRAINS. AND THEN THE OTHER PROJECT IN DISTRICT K, WHICH IS ONE THAT I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT, IS THE ALAMEDA OFF-ROAD SIDE DITCH. THIS DITCH RUNS THE, UM, LENGTH OF ALAMEDA PLAZA NEIGHBORHOOD. UH, IT IS A, A LARGE OPEN DITCH, UH, UNFORTUNATELY THAT A LOT OF DEBRIS HAS TO BE PULLED OUT OF THIS DITCH CONSTANTLY. OUR HOT TEAM HAS PULLED, UH, BASKETS FROM GROCERY STORES, AMAZON BOXES, FURNITURE, UH, PUBLIC WORKS WENT IN AND THEY DE SILTED CLEANED OUT THIS DITCH, TOOK ALL OF THE DEBRIS OUT OF THE DITCH, AND WE ARE ASKING RESIDENTS TO PLEASE NOT PUT THEIR HEAVY TRASH ON THE SIDE OF THE DITCH BECAUSE IT ENDS UP IN THE DITCH. UM, BUT THIS IS ALSO THE BEGINNING OF WHAT WILL BE ONE OF OUR SWAP PROJECTS FOR THE YEAR, AND IT'S GOING TO BE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COUNTY. UH, WE'LL BE ABLE TO CLOSE THIS DITCH AND MAKE A LINEAR PARK. UH, AND I THINK THE RESIDENTS WILL BE EXTREMELY PLEASED WITH THIS PROJECT BECAUSE IT WILL REMOVE AN EYESORE OUT OF THEIR COMMUNITY AND THE ABILITY FOR, UM, THE WATER TO RUN, UH, AND LOOK BETTER. UM, SO THEY, THEY CAN BE PROUD OF THEIR HOMES AND THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. UM, SO VERY EXCITED AND REALLY WANT TO JUST THANK PUBLIC WORKS FOR THEIR CONSISTENCY AND THEIR, THEIR, UM, DILIGENCE IN GETTING THIS DITCH CLEANED OUT AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS PROJECT COMING TO FRUITION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, COUNCILMAN KASH. AND, AND ALSO, UH, WHEN, [03:40:01] WHEN YOU MENTIONED, UH, THE, THE DEBRIS IN THE DITCHES, UH, I, I'M SEEING PEOPLE BLOW WITH THE BLOWERS, WEED BLOWERS BLOWING, UH, LEAVES AND TRASH INTO THE DITCH, INTO THE DRAINS. AND, AND MAYOR, I I, I, I'VE SPOKE ABOUT THIS FOR AT LEAST NINE YEARS NOW, AND I KNOW THAT, UH, LOS ANGELES HAS A ORDINANCE WHERE YOU, YOU CAN'T BLOW IT INTO THE, INTO THE DRAINS. WELL, WE'RE NOT ENFORCING IT THEN. WELL, MAYBE WE NEED TO ENFORCE IT LIKE WE DO THAT FEEDING NARS. LET'S, LET'S , LET'S STOP 'EM FROM DOING IT. I MEAN, I, I MEAN, THEY'RE, THEY'RE BLOWING IT INTO THE DITCHES. $2,000 IS, YEAH, 2000 FINE. WELL, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT A TOOTH, BUT THESE GUYS ARE WORKING. THEY'RE MAKING MONEY WHEN THEY'RE DOING IT. SO, BUT, BUT SOMETHING'S GOTTA BE DONE. YOU, YOU KNOW, IT'S A PROBLEM. SO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER NINE? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED ON NINE, ITEM 11 IS NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX TATUM MOVE. SECOND ROBINSON. MOVE IS SECOND ON 11. COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN ON 11. THANK YOU MAYOR. FRIENDLY TAG. AND I WANNA THANK DIRECTOR GLASCOCK FOR HOW RESPONSIVE HE'S BEEN. THANK YOU. THIS ITEM IS BEING TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. NEXT ITEM, ITEM 13 NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX TATUM, MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON MOVED IN SECOND ON ITEM 13. DISCUSSION ON 13. DISCUSSION ON 13 IN FAVOR. OPPOSED GRANTED ON 13. ITEM 15 NEEDS A MOTION. WE ON ITEM 15, CAS X TM MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON MOVED IN. SECONDED ON ITEM 15, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLL ON 15 TAG. MAYOR, THIS ITEM IS BEING PACKED, TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER. TAG OR TAG. AND COUNCIL MEMBER POLLEN. COUNCIL MEMBER PALMER. OKAY, NEXT ITEM. ITEM 24 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE ON ITEM 24. DISCUSSION ON 24. COUNCIL, WHERE IT CAME IN. COUNCIL MEMBER CAME IN ON 24. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I JUST WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT THIS ITEM, UH, THAT CAME BOTH TO, UH, TO TTI AND PUBLIC SAFETY. IT'S JUST THE EXTENSION FOR ONE YEAR OF OUR RMS SYSTEM. BUT THE REASON WHY THE EXTENSION IS SO IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO, UH, ALLOW, UH, US TO BRING FORWARD THE NEW RMS SYSTEM. AND WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT TECHNOLOGY, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE OFTEN GLAZE OVER. BUT OUR RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR HPD LITERALLY TOUCHES EVERY SINGLE THING THAT HPD DOES. AND THE NEW SYSTEM IS NOT ONLY GONNA ALLOW FOR EFFICIENCY, BUT A MUCH HIGHER QUALITY OF SERVICE, UH, FOR HPD, FOR THE COMMUNITY, FOR EVERYONE. SO REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THE PROGRESS THAT'S BEING MADE THERE. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON 24? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 24. ITEM 25 NEEDS AN ORDINANCE. I MEAN, NEED A VOTE? JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER ON ITEM 25 TAG. UH, ITEM 25 HAS BEEN TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. ITEM 26 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 26. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER TAG COUNCIL. ITEM 26 BEING TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PLUM. ITEM 27 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 27. ALSO TAGGED BY COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. YES. TAG ITEM 28 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 28. DISCUSSION ON 28. TAG COUNCILMAN LUM TAG. AND ITEM 28. UH, YEAH, THE WHOLE THING. ITEM 29 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE TAG. ITEM 29 IS BEEN TAGGED BY COUNCIL, EMPLOY, THEY'RE ALL UNDER. WE DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE. ITEM 33 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. 20. ITEM 33, VICE MAYOR PRO CAST TATUM ON 33. THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST WANTED TO AMPLIFY THESE PROJECTS AGAIN, BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE COMING AND TALKING ABOUT THE, UH, WATERLINE PROJECTS. UH, WHILE THIS IS FOR THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, THIS IS SHOWING PROGRESS TO GET TO THESE PROJECTS. THERE ARE 22 PROJECTS IN DISTRICT A, UM, THAT WILL HAVE THESE WATERLINE PROJECTS, UH, COMING TO THEIR COMMUNITIES SPECIFICALLY IN, IN FORT BEND, HOUSTON, UM, I THINK THERE'S 29 OF THEM IN DISTRICT B. WE'VE HAD SEVERAL RESIDENTS COMING, UH, TO TALK ABOUT THESE PROJECTS. THERE'S TWO IN, UH, DISTRICT [03:45:01] H. UH, SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE COMMUNICATE THE PROGRESS TO THE RESIDENTS AS THEY ARE COMING TO US AND SPEAKING ABOUT THESE PROJECTS ON TUESDAYS DURING PUBLIC SESSION, TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THESE PROJECTS ARE IN THE WORKS. SO, UM, WE WILL DEFINITELY, UM, LIST THESE IN OUR NEWSLETTER TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THESE PROJECTS ARE COMING. UH, UNFORTUNATELY, SOMETIMES THEY TAKE A WHILE TO GO THROUGH DESIGN, BUT THEY ARE IN THE WORKS. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 33? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 33. ITEM 35 IS AN ORDINANCE. SEE THE VOTE? WE ON ITEM 35. COUNCIL MEMBER HOFFMAN ON 35. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THIS ONE IS, UH, REALLY PERTAINS TO 35 AND 36. I KNOW THAT THIS, UM, THIS FUNDING IS IMPORTANT AND THERE ARE SOME TIME CONSTRAINTS FOR, UM, GO AHEAD AND FOR APPROVING THIS. AND SO, UM, I'M GONNA VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS TODAY, BUT, UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING AN OPEN LINE OF COMMUNICATION ABOUT THE PROJECT IN DISTRICT G. UM, JUST SO WE CAN GET MORE INFORMATION AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S GREAT FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS. YEAH, I THINK THEY'RE COMING TO VISIT WITH YOU. OKAY, THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 35? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSE GRANTED ON 35. ITEM 36 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ITEM 36, DISCUSSION ON 36 IN FAVOR, OPPOSE GRANTED ON 36. WE GONNA SKIP [MATTERS HELD] ITEM 39 AND GO TO ITEM 40. ITEM 39 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. YOU JUST SAID WE'RE SKIPPING 39 . WE ON ITEM 39, UH, DISCUSSION ON 30, DISCUSSION ON 39. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS ON 39. THANK YOU, MAYOR. FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA START OFF BY THANKING ROMAN MCALLEN, HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT FOR GOING OUT TO THE MAGNOLIA PARK CIVIC CLUB THIS PAST WEEK. UH, AND, UH, GIVING THEM AN OVERVIEW OF THIS CONSERVATION DISTRICT. UH, AGAIN, MAYOR, I WANT TO THANK YOU. UH, I HAD REACHED OUT TO YOU TO SEE WE COULD ADD, UH, MAGNOLIA PARK, UH, MANCHESTER SMITH EDITION, UH, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, TO THIS CONSERVATION DISTRICT. UH, AND, UH, AGAIN, UH, A RE SOMEONE THAT WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THERE IN MAGNOLIA PARK AND HAS LIVED IN THE EAST END. UM, THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS CONSERVATION DISTRICT, UH, TO PROTECT HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, WITHIN LOOP SIX 10. UH, MANY OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, ARE ARE NEIGHBORHOODS OF, UH, YOU KNOW, HISTORICALLY HIS ARE HISTORIC WITH, UH, NEIGHBORHOODS OF PEOPLE OF COLOR. UH, UNFORTUNATELY THEY DON'T HAVE DEED RESTRICTIONS. UH, SO THEREFORE THEY'RE LOSING THE CHARACTER OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. I KNOW THAT IT WAS STATED, UH, LAST WEEK, UH, IN REGARDS TO THE FEAR THAT THIS MAY TAKE OVER DEED RESTRICTIONS. UH, BUT AGAIN, THAT THAT IS NOT THE CASE. UH, AGAIN, I, I LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE EAST END THAT WE HAVE DEED RESTRICTIONS, AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT, UH, TO AMEND THE DEED RESTRICTIONS. UH, AND, AND, AND THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF HAVING A DEED RESTRICTION IN NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, WHERE SOMEONE CAN'T JUST COME IN, UH, AND CHANGE THE DEED RESTRICTIONS. UH, SO THAT, THAT, THAT THAT SHOULD NOT BE A FEAR FACTOR, UH, THAT THE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS WILL EVENTUALLY GO AND CHANGE, UH, NEIGHBORHOODS DEED RESTRICTIONS. UH, SO AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I DO SUPPORT MAGNOLIA PARK. UH, MY, MY PARENTS ARRIVED THERE BACK IN THE 1920S, UH, IN, IN MAGNOLIA PARK. I'M THE YOUNGEST OF SEVEN. WE WERE ALL BORN AND RAISED IN MAGNOLIA PARK. UH, AND WE'RE LOSING THAT CHARACTER. WE'RE LOSING THE CHARACTER OF THE WOODEN FRAME HOMES. UH, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S NOT BEING FORCED ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S UP TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD IF THEY CHOOSE TO DO, TO, UH, GO WITH A CONSERVATION DISTRICT. AND AGAIN, I WANNA THANK ROMAN MCALLEN FOR POINTING ALL THIS OUT AT THE CIVIC CLUB THIS PAST MONDAY. UH, AND THIS IS JUST AN EXTRA TOOL FOR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT DON'T HAVE THESE RESTRICTIONS THAT WANT TO PROTECT THE CHARACTER OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. SO THEREFORE, I DO SUPPORT THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMAN KOSH. MAYOR, I HAVE AN, UH, AN AMENDMENT TO THE, UH, CONSERVATION DISTRICT. THE, UH, AN OPT-OUT PROVISION. UH, IT'S EVERYONE. IT'S BEEN CIRCULATED TO EVERYONE. AND IT, UH, IT SAYS THAT BEFORE, ONE YEAR AFTER THE DATE OF DESIGNATION, AND OWNER MAY OPT OUT OF THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT BY FILING IN THE REAL PROPERTY RECORDS, [03:50:01] A STATEMENT INDICATING THAT THE OWNER ELECTS TO HAVE THE PROPERTY REMOVED FROM THE DISTRICT. THE STATEMENT, UH, SHALL INCLUDE A LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTY. AND THIS IS WHAT I'M PRO OFFERING. THANK YOU. I THINK ALL OF YOU HAVE A COPY OF THE AMENDMENT, YOUR HONOR. YOU HAVE ANY COPY OF THE AMENDMENT? OKAY. GOOD DEAL. COUNCILMAN KUMAR SAYS THAT THIS WORK, THIS KIND OF DILUTES WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE. UM, I JUST WANNA EMPHASIZE THE FACT THAT THIS IS STEP ONE. I MEAN, WE ARE THERE. YOU'RE GONNA HAVE PLENTY OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND DISCUSSION, UH, IN THESE RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS. AND, AND WE ONLY DEALING WITH THESE DISTRICTS THAT ARE BEFORE US IN THIS ORDINANCE. THAT'S IT. UM, BUT IF THIS AMENDMENT IS PUT ON, IT DILUTES WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO. SO FOR THAT REASON, UM, THE ADMINISTRATION CANNOT, THE ADMINISTRATION CANNOT SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT. UH, COUNCILMAN COUNCILMAN KNOX. ON THE AMENDMENT? ON THE, ON THE AMENDMENT DISCUSSION? ON THE AMENDMENT. ON THE AMENDMENT. YEAH, IT'S ON THE AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. UM, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'D LIKE TO DO A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT, WHICH, UH, TO JUST INSERT THE WORDS AFTER THE REAL PROPERTY RECORDS OF THE HARRIS COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE. A STATEMENT. 'CAUSE IT DOESN'T SAY WHERE TO PUT THAT, THAT STATEMENT, YOU KNOW, THAT STATEMENT. IF YOU'RE GONNA DO THIS, THEN WE NEED TO HAVE A CLEAR PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO GO TO FILE THAT STATEMENT. AND SO, THE HARRIS COUNTY CLERK IS THE PER, IS THE OFFICE WHO HANDLES PROPERTY RECORDS IN HARRIS COUNTY. I ACCEPT THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. I ASSUME YOU'RE SECOND IN HIS AMENDMENT. HIS AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KASH, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KASH ACCEPTS THE AMENDMENT. UM, I DO NEED A VOTE. ANY OBJECTION TO THE AMENDMENT? TO THE AMENDMENT? HEARING NON GRANTED. NOW WE ARE ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE A TO WE ARE ON THE AMENDMENT AS AMENDMENT. AMENDMENT AS AMENDMENT. WE ARE ON THE AMENDMENT. WE ARE VOTING ON THE AMENDMENT AS AMENDED. OKAY. AND AGAIN, THE ADMINISTRATION DOES NOT SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT. UH, SO WE ARE ON THE AMENDMENT AS AMENDED. I MAY I PRO TO MARTIN? YES. COULD YOU PLEASE READ THE EXACT AMENDMENT AS IT WOULD STATE FOR THE RECORD? YES, PLEASE. OKAY. SO THE AMENDMENT WOULD READ SECTION 33 DASH 6 0 3, UH, PARENTHESES, I GUESS THAT'S AN I OR AN L. UM, BEFORE, ONE YEAR AFTER THE DATE OF THE DESIGNATION, AND OWNER MAY OPT OUT OF THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT BY FILING IN THE REAL PROPERTY RECORDS OF THE HARRIS COUNTY CLERK, A STATEMENT INDICATING THAT THE OWNER ELECTS TO HAVE THE PROPERTY REMOVED FROM THE DISTRICT. THE STATEMENT SHALL INCLUDE A LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTY. OKAY, WE ON THE AMENDMENT AS AMENDED, WHICH THE ADMINISTRATION DOES NOT SUPPORT MAYOR PROTON, UH, ANY OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAVE AN INQUIRY FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY. SURE. UM, CITY ATTORNEY, BASED ON THE AMENDMENT AS AMENDED, UH, WOULD THE, UH, HOW WOULD THE CITY BE NOTIFIED OF THAT FILING WITH A SEPARATE ENTITY THAT IS NOT THE CITY OF HOUSTON? UM, JUST OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I THINK IT WOULD REQUIRE A, A, A SEARCHING OF THE RECORDS, A CONTINUOUS SEARCHING OF THE RECORDS IF THERE'S NOT A MECHANISM TO NOTIFY THE CITY. SO THERE'D BE NO PROVISION FOR NOTIFICATION TO THE CITY OF A CITY-BASED PROCESS. IS THAT CORRECT? YES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KUBOSH ON THE AMENDMENT. UH, YES, MAYOR. UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS THAT IF THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE PROPERTY, UH, THAT THEY HAVE PURCHASED IN THESE AREAS FOR DEVELOPMENT OR MAYBE FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, OR FOR WHATEVER DEVELOPMENT, AND WELL, THEY, THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE GRANDFATHERED IN IF WE DON'T GIVE 'EM SOME MECHANISM TO OPT OUT. I DON'T SEE ANYWHERE WHERE THEY CAN, WHERE YOU CAN SAY, WELL, I BOUGHT THE PROPERTY UNDER THESE, UH, THESE, THESE REQUIREMENTS. AND I, I, I DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE GONNA HAVE A CONSERVATION DISTRICT THAT WAS GONNA LIMIT ME FROM BUILDING THIS. SO, COUNCILMAN, UH, YES, MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY, WITH OUR CITY LEGAL, ISN'T IT TRUE THAT WE DON'T NORMALLY GET NOTIFIED WHEN PEOPLE MAKE CHANGES TO THEIR PERSONAL PROPERTY, LIKE DEED RESTRICTIONS AND THAT SORT OF THING? THAT'S THE PROPER PLACE TO FILE THOSE DOCUMENTS. ANY, ANYTHING HAVING TO DO WITH THE REAL PROPERTY IS FILED WITH A HARRIS COUNTY CLERK, UH, OR FORT BEND MONTGOMERY, DEPENDING ON WHERE WE ARE. BUT YES, FOR, WE TYPICALLY DO NOT GET NOTICE OF PRIVATE PROCESSES LIKE DEED RESTRICTIONS. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I, I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER KPA SUBMITTING THIS AMENDMENT, BUT I'VE, I'VE HEARD HIM SAY SEVERAL TIMES. HE LIVES IN SIXTH WARD. SIXTH WARD IS A HISTORIC DISTRICT. SIXTH WARD HAS DEED [03:55:01] RESTRICTIONS, BUT YET HE WANTS TO INTERFERE WITH NEIGHBORHOODS THAT DON'T HAVE ANY DEED RESTRICTIONS THAT ARE LOSING THE CHARACTER OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS IS A TOOL, A TOOL THAT NEIGHBORHOODS, IF THEY CHOOSE TO USE TO PROTECT THE CHARACTER OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. COUNCIL MEMBER, KNOX, I'M NOT SURE WHERE HE LIVES, BUT I'M ASSUMING HE MAY LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WITH DEED RESTRICTIONS. SO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS PROTECTED. YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SOMEBODY COMING IN AND DESTROYING, DESTROYING THE CHARACTER OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD IF YOU HA IF YOU LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THESE RESTRICTIONS. BUT I KNOW KUBOSH LIVES IN SIXTH WARD. IT'S A HISTORIC DISTRICT. THAT'S WHY YOU LIVE IN SIXTH WARD, BECAUSE IT'S A BEAUTIFUL, HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD. YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SOMEBODY COMING IN NEXT DOOR AND DESTROYING THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO WHY ARE YOU INTERFERING WITH NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WANNA PROTECT THE CHARACTER OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS? AGAIN, MAGNOLIA PARK IS A HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S BEING LOST, AND IT'S THEIR CHOICE IF THEY WANNA PROTECT THAT CHARACTER. SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND COUNCIL MEMBER KUBO, WHY YOU'RE INTERFERING WITH A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT MAY WANNA PROTECT THE CHARACTER OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LIVE IN SIXTH WARD. COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX RESIGNATION. I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES', UM, COMMENTS ON THAT. BUT LET ME JUST SAY THIS, THIS, THIS CONSERVATION DISTRICT DOES NOT JUST APPLY TO NEIGHBORHOODS WITHOUT DEED RESTRICTIONS. IT ALSO WILL APPLY TO NEIGHBORHOODS WITH DEED RESTRICTIONS. AND YOU'RE RIGHT, I LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WITH DEED RESTRICTIONS, AND I'M PROUD OF THAT. BUT WHAT I'M ALSO PROUD OF IS THAT MY NEIGHBORS CAN'T FORCE ME TO CHANGE MY DEED RESTRICTIONS WITHOUT MY PERMISSION. AND IN THE, IN THE CASE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED IN YOUR DEED RESTRICTIONS, IT REQUIRES 75% OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO AMEND OR CHANGE A DEED RESTRICTION. THIS CONSERVATION DISTRICT REQUIRES 51%. SO IN SOME NEIGHBORHOODS, IT'S A POSSIBILITY THAT 51% CAN OVERRIDE THE OTHER 20 SOME ODD 24% OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT DOESN'T WANT IT. YOU'RE RIGHT. THIS IS ABSOLUTE PERFECT DOCUMENT FOR NEIGHBORHOODS WITHOUT DEED RESTRICTIONS. THE IMPORTANT PART IS, I BELIEVE IN LIBERTY. I BELIEVE IN THE RIGHT TO PURSUE ONE'S OWN HAPPINESS. AND IF YOU, UH, DON'T HAVE, UH, IF YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO CHANGE THE REQUIREMENT UP TO AT LEAST 60%, UH, ON THIS CONSERVATION DISTRICT, THEN WE NEED TO GIVE THOSE RESIDENTS WHO CHOOSE NOT TO WANNA PARTICIPATE. A MECHANISM BY WHICH THEY CAN DO THAT. IT DOESN'T RESTRICT THE DE THE, THE, UH, CONSERVATION DISTRICT FROM BEING AS UH, FORMED. WHAT IT DOES IS ALLOW INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNERS TO REMOVE THEMSELVES FROM THAT AND, UH, BE ABLE TO SELL THEIR PROPERTY AS A DEED RESTRICTED OR NON DEED RESTRICTED PROPERTY IF THEY CHOOSE. IT'S ABOUT LIBERTY. IT'S ABOUT FREEDOM OF CHOICE. IT IS ABOUT GIVING PEOPLE OPTIONS TO CHOOSE, WHICH IS WHAT WE ALL WANT ANYWAY. WE WANT PEOPLE TO MAKE GOOD CHOICES. AND I, I SEE THIS AS A, I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS, THIS BEFORE, BEFORE TODAY, BUT I, I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA AND I'M GONNA SUPPORT IT. WHAT? THE AMENDMENT. I'M GONNA SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT. YEAH. GONNA GET AN AMEN. NO, THESE ARE TWO TRAINS GOING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. COUSIN THOMAS. NOW MIKE WAS GOING IN ANOTHER DIRECTION. , UH, COUNCIL. THAT WAS GOOD THOUGH. . UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. UH, SORRY ABOUT THAT. I THOUGHT WE HAD HIM. I KNOW. I THOUGHT WE HAD YOU. SO, SO, SO, LISTEN, I THINK WE KEEP WORKING ON HIM THOUGH. OH, WE WORKING ON HIM. SO I JUST THINK THAT WE ARE LEADING WITH THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY ARE NOT, THE MAJORITY WOULD NOT SUPPORT IT. UM, MANY OF THEM, IF YOU'VE BEEN IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, THEY'VE BEEN ASKING FOR THIS TYPE OF SUPPORT FOR YEARS. BUT ALSO JUST IN PLAIN SPEAK, MANY OF US ARE FAMILIAR WITH THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. 'CAUSE MANY OF US CAMPAIGNED IN THESE CHURCHES, IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. MANY OF US SAT IN THESE CHURCHES DURING CAMPAIGN SEASON AND ASKED THESE PEOPLE [04:00:01] TO VOTE FOR US. AND THEN NOW THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE COMING TO US, ASKING US TO REPRESENT THEIR INTERESTS, WE WANNA DISSECT IT. WE WANNA WATER IT DOWN. WE WANT TO TELL THEM AND MAKE ASSUMPTIONS OF WHAT THEIR PRIORITIES ARE WHEN THEY'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE. SO WE CAN VALUE THE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT'S TIME AND IT BENEFITS US. BUT NOW, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT IN OUR HORSESHOE, WE ARE NOT HONORING THEIR VOICE AND THEIR COMMITMENT. AND LISTEN, SATURDAY, I HAD A GREAT TIME AT RASMUS PARK, UH, A NAMED F1 OF THE, UH, FOUNDERS OF, UH, PINEY POINT, ONE OF THE FIRST BUSINESSMEN WERE WORKING WITH GSD TO, UH, SAVE AND PRESERVE THE HIS HOME, UH, WHICH WAS A, A BUSINESS AND WHICH HAS BEEN LONGSTANDING FROM, UH, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER MIKE LASTER, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THERE'S ALMOST $900,000 BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR THIS FOR YEARS. HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS SHOWED UP AND THEY WERE SO EXCITED THAT THEIR HISTORIC COMMUNITY COULD ENGAGE TOGETHER. WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S SURROUNDED BY AUTO MECHANIC SHOPS WHERE PEOPLE'S HOMES ONCE LIVED. ALL I'M SAYING IS, I JUST WANNA REMIND YOU, IS THAT IF, IF THEY'RE GOOD ENOUGH TO GET THE VOTE, THEY SHOULD BE GOOD ENOUGH FOR US TO CARRY THEIR VOICE. AND THEY'RE ASKING FOR US TO CARRY THEIR VOICE IN THIS WHOLE SHOOT TODAY. THANK YOU. AND I, AND I'M, AND I'M ABOUT TO RECOGNIZE THAT . YEAH. YEAH. YOU WIN. AND I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE COUNCILMAN PLUM. BUT, BUT WHAT CAME TO CAME TO MIND FOR ME, UM, CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT IF SOMEBODY IN RIVER OAKS MOVED INTO RIVER OAKS AND DECIDED THEY WANTED TO DO SOMETHING WITH THEIR OWN HOME, UM, THEY JUST, LET'S SAY THEY DECIDED THAT THEY, THEY WANTED TO PUT SOMETHING IN, IN RIVER OAKS THAT DID NOT LOOK THE SAME AS MANY OTHER PEOPLE IN RIVER OAKS. CAN YOU IMAGINE THE RESPONSE THAT THEY WILL BE GIVEN? YOU WOULDN'T HEAR NO ARGUING ABOUT LIBERTY AND PROTECTION. THE PEOPLE IN RIVER OAKS WOULD SAY, OH, NO, NOT OVER HERE. WE ARE NOT GONNA LET YOU DO ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO PULL DOWN OUR AREA. AND, AND THE PERSON WHO WANT, WHO PURCHASED THAT PROPERTY WOULD BE SAYING, LOOK, THIS IS MY RIGHT. THIS IS, I PAID FOR THIS. SO IF I WANT TO PUT A BARBERSHOP ON ONE SIDE OF MY PROPERTY AND HAVE PEOPLE COME IN AND CUT HAIR, THAT SHOULD BE MY RIGHT. BUT I GUARANTEE YOU THE PEOPLE IN RIVER OAKS WILL BE SAYING, NOT HERE. YOU WILL NOT, AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN. WELL, LET ME TELL YOU, PEOPLE WHO WORK EVERY DAY AS POLICE OFFICERS OR FIREFIGHTERS, OR CUSTODIAL WORKERS, OR BUS DRIVERS OR MAID WHO EARN THEIR MONEY AND BUY THEIR HOMES IN MANY OF THESE HISTORICAL COMMUNITIES, THEY WANT THE SAME QUALITY OF LIFE AS FOLK IN RIVER OAKS. AND THEY DON'T WANT PEOPLE COMING IN AND DESTROYING THEIR CULTURE. THEY DON'T WANT THAT. AND, UH, I'LL NEVER FORGET, MY MAMA WOULD ALWAYS SAY, WE DON'T, OUR HOUSE IS NOT AS BIG AS FOLK SOMEPLACE ELSE. BUT THIS IS MY HOUSE, AND I DON'T WANT ANYBODY COMING IN HERE NEXT DOOR, ACROSS THE STREET THAT'S GOING TO BRING DOWN THE QUALITY OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY DESERVE THE SAME SORT OF PROTECTION, AND WE ARE HERE TO GIVE IT TO THEM. AND I GO BACK TO WHAT SHARONDA SAID YESTERDAY AT THE PODIUM. 'CAUSE I THOUGHT SHE WAS VERY ARTICULATE AND PERSUASIVE. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE ARE OFTENTIMES WHEN WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS, WHEN, UM, WE DON'T LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY. AND I THINK THIS IS A PERFECT SITUATION TO WHERE THE DEPARTMENT HAS LISTENED TO US. I THINK THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS COME AND SPOKEN TO US. THERE'S A SPECIFIC LIST THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH. UM, AND SO OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE TO BE PRESERVED. I MEAN, THEY, THEY JUST HAVE TO BE. AND MOST PEOPLE IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, THE ONLY THING THAT WE HAVE OF TRUE VALUE IS OUR HOME. THAT'S OUR INVESTMENT. THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY ALL WE HAVE. AND IF WE CAN'T PRESERVE THOSE AREAS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE, UM, THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL IN THE SAME WAY THAT THEY REMEMBER, THESE ARE GENERATIONAL HOMES. UM, AND [04:05:01] SO I THINK THIS IS, THIS IS GREAT. I THINK THIS IS HOW WE'VE ALL WORKED TOGETHER. WE HAVE, UM, COMPROMISED, WE HAVE GONE BACK AND FORTH WITH THINGS THAT FIT BETTER IN OTHER WAYS. AND LET ME SAY THIS TOO, HAVING SOLID DE RESTRICTIONS IS EXPENSIVE. AND THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE, DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO HIRE RETURNEES AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY GO BACK DEEP AND FIND WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED AND WHAT IS INCLUDED AND HOW LINES WERE DRAWN. THEY DON'T HAVE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE WORKING THREE AND FOUR JOBS, MOST OF THEM. AND SO THIS IS WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS. THIS IS WHAT THEY'VE ASKED FOR. WE HAVE A LIST OF COMMUNITIES THAT WANT TO BE PRESERVED. AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE ALL NEED TO VOTE ON TODAY. THE MAIN ITEM AMENDMENT COUNCIL MEMBER, ALCO. AND AGAIN, WE ARE ON THE AMENDMENT. ON THE AMENDMENT COUNCIL. MAYOR ALCO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. IT SOUNDS LIKE, I MEAN, I THINK WE'VE DIVERTED FROM THE AMENDMENT, BUT IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ORDINANCE OF WE ON THE AMENDMENT, I'M ON THE AMENDMENT. OKAY. I'LL, I'LL GET BACK IN THEN. OKAY. ON, ON THE AMENDMENT. WE ONLY HAVE TWO MORE SPEAKERS ON, ON THE AMENDMENT. ON THE AMENDMENT. COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CAME IN ON THE AMENDMENT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. ONE THING, UM, IT WAS BROUGHT UP ABOUT THE 51%. JUST TO CLARIFY THE PROCESS FOR THE, AND STICK TO THE FACTS, 51% IS WHAT'S NEEDED TO INITIATE THE PROCESS RIGHT HERE. THAT IS NOT, OH, 51% AND IT PASSES, SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED. IT STARTS THE PROCESS FROM THERE. ONCE WE, THEY RECEIVE THAT 51%, IT GOES TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO WORK WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO DESIGN THE PARAMETERS THROUGH AN ENGAGEMENT PROCESS. FROM THERE, IF IT'S NOT 100% SUPPORTED, NOT 95, NOT 75, 100% SUPPORTED, THEN IT GOES TO, I BELIEVE, THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION. YES. THEN TO THE PLAN, AND THEN TO COUNCIL. IF IT DOES NOT RECEIVE 100% SUPPORT, IT COMES TO THIS BODY. AND THERE'S ALL THESE STEPS ALONG THE WAY TO, SO TO THROW AROUND CATCHY PHRASES, UH, YOU KNOW, POLITICAL INNUENDO THAT SAY THAT WE ARE NOT ABOUT THOSE SAME THINGS WHEN WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS PRESERVING HISTORY THAT IS BEING ERASED. WE HAD RESIDENTS COME BEFORE US YESTERDAY, AND I, I DON'T WANNA MISQUOTE OUT OF 500 HISTORICAL HOMES IN FREEDMAN'S TOWN, 50 OR LESS THAN 50 ARE LEFT. THAT IS WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH, MAYOR, WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, OTHER MORE, UH, OTHER AREAS THAT HAVE RESOURCES TO FIGHT THESE THINGS. IN DISTRICT C, WE HAVE THAT TOO. AND THE ASH BECOMES TO MIND. AND WE ARE FIGHTING TOOTH AND NAIL TO DEAL WITH THAT. IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE A TALL A RISE DOES NOT BELONG. BUT IN THESE AREAS, THESE ARE THESE TOOLS. I AM NOT, I CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE VOTE ON AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD DILUTE AND DIMINISH THE SLIVER OF HOPE THAT WE HAVE. THAT THERE IS SOMETHING MORE WE CAN BE DOING, PROTECT AND PRESERVE THESE NEIGHBORHOODS WHEN IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, ONCE AGAIN, THERE'S THAT FEAR MONGERING OUT THERE, THAT THIS CONSERVATION DISTRICT WILL TAKE OVER DEED RESTRICTION NEIGHBORHOODS AND CHANGE THINGS. AND I, I, I WAS PRESIDENT OF MY CIVIC CLUB FOR 15 YEARS, AND WE HAVE DEED RESTRICTIONS. AND THERE IS NO WAY, NO WAY THIS CONSERVATION DISTRICT POLICY WOULD COME INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND CHANGE THINGS. NO WAY. SO, BY STATING THAT THERE'S THAT FEAR THAT A CONSERVATION DISTRICT WILL COME IN AND TAKE OVER A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S DEED RESTRICTION IS FALSE. AND I'D LIKE TO REMIND MY COUNCIL MEMBER, COLLEAGUES AT LARGE, YOU REPRESENT THE WHOLE CITY. YOU REPRESENT THE WHOLE CITY. YOU DON'T REPRESENT A DISTRICT. YOU REPRESENT EVERYONE THAT LIVES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO WHY ARE YOU THOSE THAT ARE QUESTIONING THIS CONSERVATION DISTRICT, WHY ARE YOU NOT PROTECTING THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF COLOR WITHIN LOOP SIX 10 THAT ARE LOSING THE CHARACTER OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS? SO I AM ASKING YOU TO PROTECT ALL OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. THANK YOU. NOW THE VOTE IS ON THE AMENDMENT AS AMENDED ONLY ON THE AMENDMENT AS AMENDED. OKAY. I'M SORRY. ROLL CALL. A ROLL CALL HAS BEEN REQUESTED. [04:10:01] ROLL CALL GRANT GRANTED ON THE AMENDMENT BEING PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KUMAR, WHICH WAS AMENDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX. OKAY. THE ROLL CALL IS ON THAT AMENDMENT. IF A VOTE YES, AS FOR THE AMENDMENT, A VOTE NO IS AGAINST THE AMENDMENT. MAYOR TURNER, NO. COUNCILOR PECK? NO. COUNCILOR JACKSON? NO. COUNCILMAN KAMAN? NO COUNCILOR EVER. SHABAZ? NO. COUNCILMAN MARTIN? NO. COUNCILOR THOMAS? NO. HUFFMAN, NO. COUNCIL CISNEROS? NO. COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS? NO. COUNCIL POLLARD? NO. COUNCIL. CASTEX TATUM? NO. COUNCILMAN KNOX? YES. COUNCIL ROBINSON? NO. COUNCIL KOSH? YES. COUNCILOR PLUM? NO. AND COUNCILMAN ALCORN? NO. TWO THE 15TH. AND NOW WE ARE ON THE MAIN ITEM. WE ARE ON THE MAIN ITEM. COUNCILMAN ALCORN ON THE MAIN ITEM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I JUST WANNA THANK THE ADMINISTRATION. I'M SORRY, THE AMENDMENT. THE AMENDMENT FAILS. OKAY. THE ROMAN AND MARGARET WALLACE BROWN. THIS, THIS, YOU KNOW, MAYOR, EVERYTHING THAT I ASKED FOR THE ADMINISTRATION DID I PUT IN DETAILED WRITING, 16 DETAILED QUESTIONS GOING THROUGH THAT ORDINANCE. GOT ANSWERS ON EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. I ASKED FOR. I KNOW THAT YOUR INTENTION WAS TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR FROM GENTRIFICATION THAT WAS NOT CODIFIED IN THE ORIGINAL VERSION. IT IS NOW. AND I ASKED FOR MORE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND THAT WAS DONE. SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THAT. I THINK IT'S A STRONGER ORDINANCE NOW, AND LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING IT. AND LET ME, LET ME THANK YOU, UM, FOR THOSE INQUIRIES AND THE INPUT. UM, BECAUSE WE DID NOT WANT PEOPLE TO THINK THAT NOW THE WHOLE CITY WAS GONNA BE INUNDATED WITH ALL OF THESE CONSERVATION REQUESTS. AND, UM, WE THOUGHT THAT BY, UM, IDENTIFYING, UM, CERTAIN COMMUNITIES, NEIGHBORHOODS, LETTING THEM BE THE PILOT, UH, THEN, UH, PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE. AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE ATTEMPTED. THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO DO. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT. UH, CO COUNCILMAN KOSH MAYOR, HOW WILL THE, UH, WILL A CITIZEN KNOW WHEN THEY'RE BUYING A PIECE OF PROPERTY IN ONE OF THESE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS THAT, THAT IT LIES IN THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT, OR IT'S NOT GONNA, IS IT GONNA BE FILED WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY CLERK'S, UH, OFFICE? IS IT GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT THE REALTOR WOULD KNOW? UH, HOW, HOW WOULD A PERSON, IF HE'S NOT ALREADY ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY AND, AND HE'S MOVING HERE TO HOUSTON AND HE BUYS, UH, A PROPERTY IN ONE OF THESE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS, HOW WILL HE KNOW OR SHE KNOW THAT, THAT THE PROPERTY IS, IS IN THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT AND, AND SECTION 33 DASH 6 0 7? UM, B IT SAYS THAT THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ENSURE THAT EACH CONSERVATION DISTRICT ORDINANCES SHALL BE RECORDED IN HARRIS COUNTY REAL PROPERTY RECORDS. AND WITHIN THIS ORDINANCE, WE IDENTIFY THOSE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS. BEAR MIND. SO IT IT'LL BE IN THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY RECORD? YES. YES, SIR. EVERY ONE OF 'EM. YES, SIR. BUT BEAR IN MIND, THIS IS JUST THE START. AND SO THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER STEPS THAT, THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE TAKEN EVEN BEFORE YOU GET TO THAT POINT. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KUBOSH, AFTER YOU TAG THIS LAST WEEK, I, I SENT YOU A COPY OF THE, THE DOCUMENT THAT AFTER YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH AFTER YOU, YOU TAGGED THIS LAST WEEK, I SENT YOU A COPY OF THE, THE DOCUMENT THAT INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS PUT TOGETHER IN, UM, 2012, THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH EXTENSIVE INFORMATION AND SUPPORT FOR EXACTLY THIS KIND OF THING. AND SO, AND I, AND I'VE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS THAT THAT, THAT YOU HEARD FROM SOME OF THEM AFTERWARDS TOO, TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTOOD THAT. SO, UM, SO I AM FIRM FIRMLY IN SUPPORT OF THIS. UM, BUT I DID HAVE A QUESTION, UM, FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY. UM, AND, AND THAT GETS TO SOMETHING THAT WE'VE HEARD TODAY FROM COUNCIL MEMBER OCK SAYING THAT, UM, THAT IF, IF THIS CAME TO A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT, THAT HAD DEED RESTRICTIONS, THAT, THAT IT WOULD SOMEHOW AFFECT THEM. SO I WANTED TO ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY THAT, ISN'T IT TRUE THAT WHICHEVER, UM, THING IS MORE STRINGENT, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT'S WHAT APPLY. UM, THE DEED RESTRICTIONS ARE, ARE FAR MORE STRINGENT, YOU KNOW, REQUIRING, YOU KNOW, A HIGHER STANDARD, HIGHER NUMBER OF SUPPORT. WOULDN'T THAT, UM, BE, WHAT WOULD BE THE GUIDING DOCUMENT IF THERE WAS SOME CONTEST BETWEEN THE TWO? THE, UH, THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS ORDINANCE AND DEED RESTRICTIONS CAN COEXIST [04:15:01] TOGETHER. MM-HMM . UH, IF THEY'RE ADDRESSING THE SAME THING, THE MOST RESTRICTIVE STANDARD WOULD APPLY. THANK YOU. THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTOOD. SO, SO THE, THE POINT THAT, THAT THERE COULD BE A PROBLEM FROM THAT DOES NOT, IT, IT'S MUTE. THANK YOU, COUNCIL . THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, SO YEAH, THE, THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT CAN'T POSSIBLY CHANGE THE DEED RESTRICTIONS, BUT THEY CAN ADD TO IT AND EXIST COEXISTING. SO EFFECTIVELY A NEIGHBORHOOD COULD ADD EXTRA REQUIREMENTS THROUGH THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT THAN CURRENTLY EXIST IN THEIR, UM, IN THEIR CURRENT DEED RESTRICTIONS. MY, MY QUESTION TO THE ATTORNEY IS THIS, I'VE HAD SOME RECENT HISTORY WITH TRYING TO ENFORCE DEED RESTRICTIONS, AND IT'S, IT'S COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON WILL ENFORCE A DEED RESTRICTION, BUT IT WILL NOT DEFEND THE DEED RESTRICTION IN COURT. SO IF WE DO THIS, WILL WE ALSO BE INCURRING, IF SOMEONE WANTS TO CHALLENGE THAT, ARE THERE, ARE WE GOING TO DEFEND THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT AS WELL AS ENFORCE IT? UH, IF THERE'S NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THIS ORDINANCE, IF IT IS PASSED, THEN THE CITY, UH, UNDER ITS ENFORCEMENT POWERS CAN, CAN BRING A CITATION AND ENFORCE IT IN COURT. IS IT USUALLY DOES WHAT IT CAN DO IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS LIMITED BY STATUTE. AND THAT IS WHERE IT COMES THAT WE CAN ENFORCE A DEED RESTRICTION, BUT WE CANNOT STEP IN THE SHOES OF A HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION, FOR EXAMPLE, TO DEFEND IT. RIGHT. BUT THIS IS A CONSERVATION DISTRICT CREATED BY THE CITY, BY ORDINANCE. SO WOULD WE THEN, UM, IT SEEMS TO ME REASONABLE THAT THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO DEFEND THAT ORDINANCE IF IN THE EVENT OF A LAWSUIT CHALLENGING THE ORDINANCE. IS THAT CORRECT? YES. WE WOULD, WE WOULD ENFORCE THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ORDINANCE LIKE WE WOULD ANY OTHER ORDINANCE. OKAY. WE'RE WE'RE TALKING AROUND EACH OTHER. ENFORCE IS ONE THING, DEFEND IS ANOTHER. OKAY. SO WE ENFORCE THEM, AND THEN WHEN A LAWSUIT OCCURS, THE CITY GETS NAMED IN THE LAWSUIT. AND TYPICALLY WHAT THEY DO IS GET OUT ON GOVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY. MM-HMM . SO, UM, IN THIS CASE, AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE DEED RESTRICTIONS WE'RE NOT CREATED BY THE CITY. THEY, AND THEY DON'T DEFEND THEM, BUT THEY'LL ENFORCE THEM. SO MY QUESTION IS, IF WE'VE CREATED THIS DISTRICT BY CITY ORDINANCE AND THE CHALLENGE ENSUES, WILL WE NOT ONLY ENFORCE THEM, BUT ALSO DEFEND THEM IN CIVIL COURT? WELL, IT, IT WOULD DEPEND ON THE NATURE OF THE CHALLENGE. IT, WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE STANDING IN ORDER TO GO TO COURT IF THERE'S A VIOLATION OF THE ORDINANCE, WE WOULD HAVE STANDING TO ENFORCE, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE CLAIM IS. AND I KNOW WE'RE TALKING HYPOTHETICALS, UH, DEPENDING ON WHAT A CLAIM IS AGAINST A, A HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION FOR FAILURE TO DO THIS TO ME, I'M HAVING TROUBLE ENVISIONING SOMETHING REGARDING THIS ORDINANCE THAT WOULD NOT RAISE AN ENFORCEMENT ISSUE. IN OTHER WORDS, THE CITY WOULD BE A PARTY TO IT. WE'LL, WE'LL TALK OFFLINE ABOUT IT. THANK YOU, THOUGH. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER MC KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I TOO, JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO YOU, UH, AND YOUR ADMINISTRATION, UH, ESPECIALLY IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, DIRECTOR WALLACE BROWN, UH, ROMAN, JENNIFER, THE ENTIRE TEAM FOR SHEPHERDING THIS THROUGH. UH, MAYOR, I INITIALLY NOT, I DIDN'T HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE ORDINANCE. I HAD CONCERNS ABOUT COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR IT. AND I HAD SAID, WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, IN FOURTH WARD, FRIEDMANS TOWN SUPPORT FOR THIS, YOU KNOW, I WAS UNCOMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD. AND THE RESOUNDING ANSWER THAT I HEARD WAS, YES, WE SUPPORT IT. UH, THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT TOOK PLACE ON THE FRONT END OF THIS, EVEN BEFORE THIS PROCESS HAS BEGUN. I MENTIONED IT YESTERDAY, THE TOWN HALL THAT WAS HELD, UH, NEARLY A HUNDRED RESIDENTS ATTENDED. UH, AND AGAIN, WE HAD, IF I'M COUNTING CORRECTLY, UH, 45 PLUS, UH, IN FAVOR OF SUPPORTING AND MOVING FORWARD COMPARED TO SIX THAT WERE NOT, UH, EIGHT REMAINED NEUTRAL. AND THAT WAS BASED ON A BOARD THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAD HAD PUT, PUT UP. AND, YOU KNOW, RESIDENTS COULD GO BUY AND PUT STICKERS UP. UH, ON TOP OF THAT, THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE HAD, UH, ALL LEAD ME, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT, UM, ONE, THIS IS ANOTHER TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX. UH, AND WE RIGHT NOW HAVE ALL RECOGNIZED THE BURDEN THAT IS FALLING ON RESIDENTS, UH, HAVING TO REACT PLOT BY PLOT, BY PLOT, OFTENTIMES WHEN IT'S TOO LATE, UH, TO THIS. AND THE BURDEN'S FALLING TOO HEAVILY ON RESIDENTS. AND WE NEED, UH, MORE PROTECTIONS FOR THESE HISTORICAL, UM, AREAS. AND THE ONE QUESTION I HAD ASKED, UH, OUR CITY ATTORNEY [04:20:01] LAST WEEK, UH, PERSUADED ME EVEN MORE THE FACT THAT EVEN IN AREAS LIKE FREEDMAN'S TOWN, WHERE WE HAVE FEDERAL PROTECTIONS, THOSE PROTECTIONS DO NOT, DO NOT PROTECT AGAINST DEMOLITION. THAT ONLY AN ORDINANCE LIKE THIS WILL PROTECT AGAINST DEMOLITION OF SOME OF THESE HISTORIC HOMES. SO, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO VOTING ON THIS, BUT I, I WANT TO THANK, UM, EVERYONE THAT'S BEEN INVOLVED, ESPECIALLY OUR RESIDENTS, BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS IS ABOUT PRESERVING HISTORY, UH, THAT THANK YOU JUST DOESN'T, UH, EXIST ANYMORE. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. UH, READY TO VOTE ON THE MAIN ITEM NOW IN FAVOR? ROLL CALL. ROLL CALL HAS BEEN ASKED FOR ROLL CALL. CALL GRANTED. MAYOR TURNER. AYE. YES. COUNCILMAN PECK? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON? YES. MCMAN? YES. COUNCIL EVAN? YES. COUNCILMAN MARTIN? NO. COUNCILMAN THOMAS? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN? NO. COUNCILMAN CISNEROS? YES. COUNCIL MC GALLS? YES. COUNCILMAN POLLARD? YES. COUNCILMAN CASTEX TATUM? YES. COUNCILMAN KNOX? NO. COUNCILMAN ROBINSON? YES. COUNCILMAN KOSH? YES. COUNCIL PLUMMER? YES. COUNCILMAN ALCORN? YES. YOU GOT ONE? CONVERT. 13. GOOD JOB AHEAD COUNCIL. 13. FOUR. THOMAS. WELL, WELL, I'M JUST SAYING, I MEAN, I MEAN, THE TRAIN, THE TRAIN CAME FROM OVER, OVER HERE. . ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, OFFICER, VERY MUCH. UH, GOOD DISCUSSION. NEXT ITEM. ITEM 40 ISN'T ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ITEM 40, DISCUSSION ON 40. DISCUSSION ON 40 IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 40 ITEM. GOOD. THANK YOU. ITEM 41 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 41. DISCUSSION ON 41. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED. ITEM 42 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 42. DISCUSSION ON 42. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 42. ITEM 43 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ON 43. DISCUSSION ON 43. DISCUSS. MAYOR, MY CONCERN WHEN I, WHEN I SEE, UH, WHEN I, OH, HOLD ON ONE SECOND. I'M SORRY. H WHEN YOU ARE ON THAT OTHER ONE. AM I NEXT? THIS ONE? THIS ONE. OKAY. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN FIRST. I'M SORRY. AND THEN I'M SORRY. SHE OH, NO PROBLEM. UM, I THINK THAT THIS IS GREAT THAT WE ARE, UM, EVALUATING SOME OF THESE INTERSECTIONS. I HOPE THAT THIS PROGRAM CAN GO TO EVALUATE, THERE'S AN INTERSECTION IN DISTRICT G AT GRAY FALLS AND WESTHEIMER. THAT DOESN'T REALLY MAKE SENSE. UM, AND I HOPE THAT THAT IS ONE OF THE INTERSECTIONS THAT WILL BE EVALUATED AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM. GOTCHA. OKAY, THANKS. NOW, I'M COUNCILMAN COUNCILOR KOBA MAYOR. WHEN I SEEN THE WORD METRO AND I SAW D-D-S-R-F FUNDS, I, I JUST HAD TO TAG IT. AND, AND THE REASON WAS, IS THAT THE, WHEN I WENT DOWN, UH, HEIGHTS BOULEVARD, THEY POURED THESE BIG CONCRETE SLABS IN THE, AND TAKEN A WHOLE LANE OF TRAFFIC. I MEAN, IT'S JUST, IT'S, IT'S NOT A BIKE LANE, IT'S JUST A BIG CONCRETE SLAB. AND, AND WHEN I LOOKED INTO WHAT IT WAS FOR, IT, IT'S FOR HELPING PEOPLE WHEELCHAIRS GET ON THE BUSES. BUT I'VE BEEN TALKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT HOW, HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO, TO STILL UTILIZE THAT ELEVATED MIRROR, THE, THE CONCRETE'S ABOUT THAT HIGH. MM-HMM. AND, AND, UH, AND PEOPLE ARE RUNNING INTO IT 'CAUSE THEY'RE NOT SEEING IT. AND EVEN THOUGH IT'S PAINTED YELLOW. SO THERE'S A REAL PROBLEM THERE. AND THAT, THAT, THAT'S WHY I TAGGED IT. SO I COULD BRING A POINT OF ORDER TO THAT. WHO, WHO APPROVED PUTTING THESE THINGS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD? I MEAN, THEY TOOK A LANE OF TRAFFIC. JUST STUCK IT THERE. I MEAN, RIGHT. I MEAN, WE DIDN'T DO IT. I MEAN, I, IT DIDN'T COME TO COUNCIL. I MEAN, DOES, DOES, UH, METRO HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO JUST POUR CONCRETE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD CEMENT BLOCK? NO, I'M WITH YOU. I UNDERSTAND. SO THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHY I TAGGED THEM BOTH. I OKAY. THANKS. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON 43? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED 43. ITEM 44 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 44. DISCUSSION ON 44. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OPPOSED NU 44. AND THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. OKAY. THAT WRAPS US UP ON THE AGENDA. UH, TODAY WE'RE [MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL - Council Member Plummer first] GOING TO START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I, I, I WANT TO, I'M GONNA MAKE THIS REALLY SHORT. I JUST WANNA WISH EVERYONE HAPPY EASTER. GOOD FRIDAY. UM, I GOTTA GET TO, UH, PAUL'S FUNERAL, [04:25:01] SO I'LL PASS AND THEN I'LL DO MY, UM, COMMENTS NEXT TIME. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. I'LL PASS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON PASS. COUNCIL MEMBER KALEY. I'M NOT PASSING. UH, I WANNA WISH EVERYONE HAPPY EASTER. UH, THOSE THAT ARE CELEBRATING RAMADAN, CONTINUING THAT. AND ALSO A HAPPY PASSOVER IN HOG AK. UM, I WAS WATCHING TV THE OTHER NIGHT AND A BLUE SQUARE POPPED UP ON OUR SCREEN. AND THAT BLUE SQUARE TAKES UP 2.4% OF THE SCREEN. AND THAT 2.4% REPRESENTS THE POPULATION OF THE JEWISH POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES. AND THEN, UH, IT, THE SQUARE GOES ON TO SAYING, UH, M MCS AND OTHERS ARE SPEAKING ABOUT IN RADIO HOSTS, UM, THAT WHILE JEWS MAKE UP 2.4% OF THE US POPULATION, THEY EXPERIENCE 55% OF ALL RELIGIOUSLY MOTIVATED HATE CRIMES IN OUR COUNTRY. AND THERE'S A NEW CAMPAIGN OUT RIGHT NOW, UM, THAT IS ABOUT STANDING WITH THOSE THAT ARE EXPERIENCING ANTISEMITISM IN OUR COUNTRY. AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE, UH, NOT JUST JEWS. SO I'M ENCOURAGING ALL OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS AND STANDING UP AGAINST JEWISH HATE. AND THERE'S A HASHTAG, AND YOU CAN POST ABOUT IT. UM, IN MANY OF YOUR DISTRICTS, WE'VE BEEN SEEING ANTI-SEMITIC AND OTHER HATE, UH, FLYERING, UH, IN DISTRICT CI GOT A TEXT OVER THE WEEKEND THAT ANOTHER HATE BANNER WAS OVER A FREEWAY. UH, THIS IS IMPACTING ALL OF US. AND HATE AGAINST ONE IS HATE AGAINST ALSO, AGAIN, UH, AS MANY OF US WILL BE CELEBRATING PASSOVER TONIGHT, UH, THERE'S A SAYING DURING OUR SEDERS THAT AS JEWS, WE CANNOT STOP FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM UNTIL EVERYONE IS FREE. AND THAT IS A CORE TENANT, UM, OF OUR BELIEF SYSTEM. AND I THINK THAT THIS NEW CAMPAIGN AND STANDING WITH THE JEWS IN OUR, IN THE UNITED STATES EXPERIENCING ANTISEMITISM IS SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, IS GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US. SO ON PASSOVER, UH, THAT'S MY, MY HUMBLE REQUEST TO ALL OF YOU, UH, TO PLEASE TAKE A STAND WITH US, UH, AS WE FACE THIS IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARD POLLARD. PASS COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVANS SHABAZZ'S PASS. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM WON'T HAPPEN. NO. UH, I, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE REPUBLIC SERVICES AND REBUILDING TOGETHER HOUSTON FOR THEIR GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION TO THE SHAPE COMMUNITY CENTER. THEY GOT A $250,000 GRANT FOR MUCH NEEDED REPAIRS. I THANK THEM. I WANNA THANK THE 2023 HBCU ALL STAR LLC AND HOUSTON. RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS FOR, UM, THE CONTRIBUTIONS TO JACK GATES HIGH SCHOOL, THE JACK GATES HIGH SCHOOL AND CUNY HOMES. ALSO, I WANNA COMMEMORATE THE EL DORADO, UH, BALLROOM GRAND OPENING. IT WAS A WONDERFUL EVENT, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MANY EVENTS TAKING PLACE IN THAT, UH, BUILDING, WHICH IT HAS A LOT OF HISTORY. MY PARENTS USED TO GO THERE WHEN I WAS A CHILD. UH, I WANT TO SAY RIGHT NOW I KNOW THE MAYOR HEADED OUT AND MY OTHER SORROWS. WE ARE HEADING OUT TO THE FUNERAL OF SORA, POLLY TURNER, UH, IS, WHICH IS GOING ON AT 11:00 AM AT WHEELER AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. SHE WAS SUCH A WONDERFUL PERSON AS WELL AS A WONDERFUL SORROW, AND SHE WILL BE DEEPLY MISSED. ALSO, I WANNA SAY ON THIS SATURDAY, UH, OUR JACK GATES BROTHER AND COMMUNITY ACTIVIST REVEREND DR. ROBERT MCKINLEY GILMORE SENIOR SERVICES WILL BE SATURDAY, APRIL THE EIGHTH AT HOLMAN STREET BAPTIST CHURCH, 35 0 1 HOLMAN, VIEWING FROM NINE TO 10 30 AND MEMORIAL SERVICES FROM 11:00 AM AND I MENTIONED IT, MENTIONED IT EARLIER, I SAID STATIONS OF THE CROSSES, STATION OF THE HOOD. BIKE RIDE WILL BE THIS FRIDAY FROM NINE TO NOON. TOUR THE HOOD. TOUR THE HOOD UHUH. IT'S THE STATIONS OF THE HOOD, ISN'T IT? IT'S BOTH. YEP. OKAY. WELL, TOUR, TOUR THE HOOD IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT GROUP. UH, UH, , I'LL SEE YOU FRIDAY. ANYWAY, UH, IT'S AT ST UH, ST. LUKE'S, THE EVANGEL EVANGELIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. AND I LOOK FORWARD EVERY YEAR TO COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON JOINING US, AND WE'LL HAVE A GREAT TIME. AND, UM, HAPPY IT'S RESURRECTION. HUH? AND THAT'S SUNDAY. HAPPY RESURRECTION. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS CISNEROS. THANK YOU. UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REALLY CAME BACK WITH FROM THE, THE LEGISLATIVE TRIP WE TOOK TO AUSTIN, UM, ON MONDAY WAS, UM, HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR US TO, TO GO AND TO SPEAK AND TO, AND TO EDUCATE THE, OUR LEGISLATORS. IT, IT REALLY STRUCK ME THAT SOME OF THE ONES WE TALKED TO, UM, THAT THE, THAT OUR CONCERNS WERE, WAS NEW INFORMATION TO THEM, THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE. YOU KNOW, IF THEY'RE NOT, IF THAT'S NOT A COMMITTEE THAT THEY PARTICIPATE IN, THEY MAY NOT BE FOLLOWING. THERE'S LIKE SOME 8,000 BILLS. AND, [04:30:01] AND, UM, IT WAS SUPER HELPFUL FOR US TO SAY, THIS IS, THIS IS ONE, HERE'S ANOTHER ONE, HERE'S ANOTHER ONE THAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT. AND THEY WERE THERE. THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE A FEW OF THEM WHO, WHO, WHO WEREN'T FAMILIAR WITH THAT. SO I REALLY ENCOURAGE ALL OF US TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE AND ALSO TO THE PUBLIC BECAUSE, UM, AND THE SAME THING HAPPENS WITH US TOO. SOMETIMES. WE, WE DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, AS COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, FOR FOR, FOR THE, THE PUBLIC TO, TO, UM, BE COMMUNICATING WITH US TO, UM, JUST, IT'S, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO COMMUNICATE. UM, THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO JUST, UM, DRAW ATTENTION TO IS AN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT THAT'S IN DISTRICT H THAT AFFECTS A MUCH LARGER PART OF OUR CITY. UM, BUT, AND THAT'S THE, THE BRT, UM, THAT'S, UH, PROPOSED, YOU KNOW, ON FOR THE, UM, THE, THE UNIVERSITY CORRIDOR LINE COMING ACROSS, UM, IN THE OVERPASS THAT WAS PROPOSED FOR LOCKWOOD AND ON AT HARRISBURG. UM, I WANT TO GIVE A BIG THANK YOU TO METRO FOR, FOR LISTENING TO ALL THE CONCERNS, YOU KNOW, AND THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED, UM, FROM THE, THE RESIDENTS IN THE SECOND WARD IN THE, IN THE EAST END, UH, ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE IMPACT OF, OF THAT, UM, OVERPASS. AND SO JUST, YOU KNOW, AND SPEAKING AGAIN WITH, UH, TOM LAMBERT YESTERDAY, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M JUST REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF, UM, THE NEW SOLUTION THAT, THAT NOW THAT THEY'RE CONSIDERING AND AS A, AS A REDESIGN FOR THAT GRADE SEPARATION. UM, AND, AND MANY NEIGHBORS AGREE, IT'S NOT EVERYONE DOES, BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT MORE PEOPLE ON BOARD NOW WITH THE IDEA THAT THERE, UM, COULD BE A BUS ONLY UNDERPASS BENEATH THE TRACKS, AND THAT IT WOULD INCLUDE BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS, AND THAT THERE WOULD BE NO PROPERTY LOSS. UM, AND IT'S TRUE THAT THIS WOULD FLOOD DURING RAIN EVENTS, SO THE FLOOD GATES WOULD JUST WOULD BE INSTALLED AND THAT ROAD WOULD JUST BE IMPOSSIBLE, UM, FOR THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR THAT EVENT OR FLOOD EVENT. CURRENTLY, THERE AREN'T ANY RENDERINGS OR OTHER PRINTED MATERIAL TO COMMUNICATE THIS ABOUT THE REVISED PLAN, BUT THAT'S COMING. AND, AND I'M JUST WANTED TO, TO SAY THANK YOU TO METRO FOR, FOR LISTENING AND, AND, UM, ADAPTING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVE MARTIN. OH, THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO, TIM DAVE MARTIN. FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO WISH EVERYONE IN THEIR JEWISH COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THE HANSEL FAMILY, CAYMAN HANSEL FAMILY, A JOYOUS, UH, PASSOVER, AND ALL THOSE HAVE A BLESSED HOLY WEEK PASSOVER AND AMY PECK FAMILY, UH, JOYOUS PASSOVER AND A BLESSED HOLY WEEK TO ALL THOSE. AND HAPPY EASTER IN THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF OUR DISTRICT. THE CLEAR LAKE MONTHLY ELECTRONIC RECYCLING EVENT WILL BE HAPPENING THIS SATURDAY, APRIL 8TH AT NINE O'CLOCK TO THREE O'CLOCK OR WHENEVER THE TRUCKS ARE FILLED. UH, AS EVERYONE IN THE LAKE HOUSTON AREA KNOWS, WE'RE VERY MINDFUL OF HEAVY RAINFALL THAT IS EXPECTED THIS WEEK. CURRENTLY, THE FORECASTS ARE CALLING FROM ANYWHERE FROM THREE TO SIX INCHES OF RAINFALL WIDESPREAD, AND A CHANCE OF ISOLATED AREAS RECEIVING HIGHER AMOUNTS. THE FORECAST CAN STILL CHANGE AND ST. AND STAY IN WEATHER AWARE IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. IF YOU'VE NOT ALREADY DONE SO, PLEASE TAKE PRECAUTIONS, SECURE OUTDOOR ITEMS, BRING IN YOUR TRASH CANS, SHARE YOUR EMERGENCY PLANS WITH YOUR FAMILY AND LOVED ONES. AND DON'T FORGET TO MAKE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR YOUR PETS AS THEY SHOULD NOT BE LEFT OUTSIDE DURING THE WEATHER EVENT, AS WE ALWAYS DO TO PREPARE FOR THESE TYPES OF EVENT. THIS WILL PROBABLY BE THE, AND IRONIC ENOUGH THAT THIS IS THE ANNIVERSARY OF WHEN WE STARTED OUR RELEASE PROTOCOLS IN LAKE HOUSTON. IT WAS ASH WENT, IT WAS HOLY WEEK, AND IT WAS WEDNESDAY OF HOLY WEEK THAT WE FIRST DID THIS IN 2018, AND WE'VE PROBABLY DONE IT CLOSE TO 30 TIMES. AND EVERY ONE OF THE TIMES WE DO IT, WE SAVE PROPERTY AND WE MAKE SURE PEOPLE DON'T FLOOD. SO, ONCE AGAIN, LAKE HOUSTON WILL BE LOWERED BEGINNING AT NOON TODAY BY ONE FOOT BELOW THE NORMAL POOLING IN ANTICIPATION OF THE HEAVY RAINFALL. ACCORDING TO OUR STORM MANAGEMENT PROTOCOLS, THESE PROTOCOLS HAVE BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 2018. AND HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS, THE SAN JACINTO RIVER AUTHORITY COASTAL WATER AUTHORITY WILL BE MONITORING THE WEATHER CLOSELY AND ACTIVELY COMMUNICATING ON PRE-STORM PROCEDURES. SO ONCE AGAIN, AT NOON TODAY, WEDNESDAY THE FIFTH, WE WILL LOWER LAKE HOUSTON BY ONE FOOT, SO ALL THE FOLKS THAT LIVE ON THE LAKE AND HAVE BOATS MAKE YOUR PROPER PRECAUTIONS FOR ANTICIPATION OF THE RAIN. AND EVERYONE HAVE A BLESSED HOLIDAY COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS. THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR PRO TIMM. UH, LAST WEEK [04:35:01] I ATTENDED THE OST LTS GROUNDBREAKING. UH, THIS IS A PROJECT THAT, UH, HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS. WHAT, UH, IF ANYTHING COULD GO WRONG, SOMETHING WOULD GO WRONG AND WE HAD TO WORK, WORK IT OUT. AND, UH, SO WE WERE EXCITED THAT LAST WEEK WE HAD THE GROUNDBREAKING. I WANT TO THANK THE DEVELOPER, DONNA RICKEN, RICK RICKENBACKER, UH, AS WELL AS DR. DEANA TAMEZ WITH THE TEJANO CENTER, UH, FOR STAYING ON TOP OF THIS. UH, THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL PROVIDE 130 UNITS MIXED INCOME APARTMENT COMMUNITY FOR FAMILIES. IT WILL INCLUDE A STANDALONE PRE-K EARLY LEARNING SCHOOL OPERATED BY THE TEJANO CENTER AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE TO THE RESIDENTS AND OPEN TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, RESIDENTS. SO, UH, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS AND LOOKING FORWARD, UH, TO THE RIBBON CUTTING. UM, I WAS HONORED AND HUMBLED TO HAVE BEEN INVITED TO THE HOUSTON EFTAR 2023, THE ANNUAL RAMADAN DINNER, UH, AND WAS WELL ATTENDED BY A DIVERSE FAITHFUL CROWD WHO ENJOYED THE SPIRITUAL PROGRAM AND THE AMAZING DINNER PROVIDED TO THE FAITHFUL AS WELL AS THE GUESTS. UH, SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE INVITATION. UH, ENJOYED BODY O DOG'S 13TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, UH, TO PEDALS FOR PAWS BIKE RIDE, FUNDRAISER. UH, I, I, I'M ONCE AGAIN CONTRIBUTING $10,000 FROM DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS FOR VOUCHERS, UH, FOR FREE AND, UH, FREE SPAY AND NEUTERING FOR OUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS. UH, SINCE I'VE BEEN A COUNCIL MEMBER, I'VE DEDICATED ABOUT $50,000 OF VOUCHERS FOR FREE SPAY AND NEUTERING, UH, WITHIN TARGETED NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, IN DISTRICT. I, UM, I ATTENDED THE HOUSTON ZOO SNEAK PREVIEW OF THE GALAGO ISLANDS, THE ZOO'S NEWEST EXHIBIT, THE FIRST MAJOR EXHIBIT OF ITS KIND TO SHOWCASE THE REMARKABLE WILDLIFE OF THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS IN THE ZOO'S 100 YEARS. THE ZOO WILL NOW HAVE PENGUINS ON DISPLAY AT THE EXIST AT THE EXHIBIT. THEY'RE CALLED THE HUMBOLDT PENGUINS NATIVE TO CHILE AND PERU, WHERE IT CAN GET A HUNDRED, A HUNDRED DEGREES. UH, THIS EXHIBIT IS PART OF THE ZOO'S $150 MILLION CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, UH, TRANSFORMING THE HOUSTON ZOO INTO A WORLD CLASS ZOO. UH, THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS EXHIBIT OPENS TO THE PUBLIC THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 7TH. TODAY, I WILL BE SPEAKING AT THE METRO BOARD MEETING AGAIN. UH, LAST WEEK OR LAST MONTH AT THEIR BOARD MEETING, I SPOKE, UM, ASKING FOR METRO TO DELAY THEIR VOTE. UH, I WANT TO THANK METRO FOR AGREEING, UH, AT THEIR MARCH MEETING TO POSTPONE THEIR VOTE FOR THE LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE SUBMISSION TO THE FEDERAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY. UH, FOR TWO WEEKS, UH, WITHIN THIS TIME, METRO MET WITH THE RESIDENTS OF EASTWOOD. UH, METRO WILL NOW BE VOTING ON THE LPA SUBMISSION TO THE FEDERAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY, UH, TO INCLUDE A BUS ONLY UNDERPASS OPTION THAT WILL TAKE THE BRT UNDER THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD TRACK AT LOCKWOOD IN HARRISBURG. AGAIN, I WANNA THANK METRO, UH, COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA. I SPOKE AT THEIR BOARD MEETING LAST MONTH, ASKING THEM FOR A DELAY AND TO, UH, MEET WITH THE COMMUNITY. AND AGAIN, I WANNA THANK THEM FOR, UH, FOR DOING THAT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. WANT TO GIVE A QUICK SHOUT OUT TO CHAD BURKE AND, UH, THE LEADERSHIP AT ECONOMIC ALLIANCE HOUSTON FOR THEIR GREAT, UH, LEADERSHIP. FOR THE TRIP THAT THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND I WERE ON, UH, LAST WEEK IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL, WE HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL, I THINK, EFFORT ENGAGING WITH OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND, UH, FOLKS INTERESTED IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS. SO THANKS AGAIN TO CHAD AND HIS TEAM, KAREN. UH, IT, AND, UM, AND THE OTHER CHAD, THE TWO CHADS, UM, FOR MATTERS BACK HERE, I WANNA CALL COLLEAGUES ATTENTION TO OUR TTI COMMITTEE MEETING. THAT'S TOMORROW MORNING AT 10:00 AM HERE IN CHAMBERS. WE HAVE GOT A VERY ROBUST, UM, AGENDA. WE'VE GOT SEVEN ITEMS, FOUR OF WHICH ARE BEING BROUGHT FORTH BY THE HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS, UH, DEPARTMENT THAT INCLUDES AN ITEM ON STAFF AUGMENTATION AT THE HOUSTON PERMITTING CENTER THAT YOU MAY WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IF YOU'RE BUILDING SOMETHING IN THE CITY. WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM THE WATER DEPARTMENT ON GIVING WATER A BREAK, UH, THAT'LL BE INTERESTING FOR CONSERVATION EFFORTS, ET CETERA. UH, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT FISCAL YEAR 2023 WATERLINE LEAKS AND WHAT WE'RE DOING, UM, TOWARDS SOME OF OUR, UH, FAULTY LINES WITHIN THE SYSTEM. AND FINALLY, WE'RE GONNA HEAR A PROJECT, UH, THAT INVOLVES TECHNOLOGY FROM NEAR MAP, WHICH IS AERIAL IMAGERY TECHNOLOGY, [04:40:01] A REALLY SOPHISTICATED NEW SET OF TECHNOLOGY FOR GIS SYSTEMS WITHIN THE CITY, I THINK YOU'LL FIND VERY INTERESTING. AND, UM, THEN WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM THE FLEET DEPARTMENT WITH THE FISCAL YEAR 2024, AUTOMATED FUEL SYSTEM MANAGEMENT, UH, FOR SOME OF OUR EV AND OTHER RELATED SYSTEMS AND WELL, AND, AND, UM, TRADITIONAL GAS, UM, UH, FLEET AUTOMOBILES. AND WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT ON WESTLAW LEGAL, ONLINE SERVICES AND PRINT PRODUCTS. UH, FINALLY WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM HITS WITH THE ENTERPRISE DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CONTRACT EXTENSION COMING FORWARD. SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF BUSINESS AT HAND. THE TTI COMMITTEE CONTINUES TO BE EXTREMELY BUSY. I WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY TEAM IN PARTICULAR, UH, CHIEF OF STAFF, DIANA SATO, WHO'S DOING AN INCREDIBLE JOB. AND, UH, WITH THAT, UH, MAYOR PER TEM. NEXT, UH, NEXT ITEM COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS. DE D THOMAS. TIFFANY D. THOMAS. THOMAS. THANK YOU. UM, I WANNA FOCUS ON MOST OF MY COMMENTS ON CONSTITUENT ISSUES. UM, I'M GONNA START IN MIDWEST HOUSTON, UH, TANGO, WILD WEST, UH, WESTMONT AND THAT AREA WE ARE INUNDATED WITH AFTER OUR CLUBS, UH, THAT ARE POPPING UP IN THESE COMMERCIAL AREAS. AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IS ON OUR RADAR AND WHICH MUCH SUCCESS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MIDWEST H-P-D-D-R-T TEAM. WE'VE ADDRESSED THE NOISE ISSUE AT MICHAEL'S FURNITURE. UM, AND THEN GOOD NEWS, THE DRAFT LANGUAGE FOR THE BYOB ORDINANCE IS COMING TO PUBLIC SAFETY, I WANNA SAY THIS MONTH IN APRIL. SO WE HOPE TO HAVE THAT BACK TO YOU SO WE CAN MITIGATE A LOT OF THIS. THAT'S WHAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN, IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND WE HAVE TO GET A HANDLE AND ACTUALLY PENALIZE THESE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS THAT ARE ALLOWING THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR TO HAPPEN IN WHICH IS DISRUPTIVE TO ALL OF THE WORK WE'VE DONE AROUND THE NOISE ORDINANCE AND TO OUR CONVERSATION TODAY OF OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. UM, HOUSTONIANS, UH, YOU RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MY OFFICE AS WELL AS IT'S BEEN IN THE NEWS CYCLE ABOUT YOUR WATER BILL. OUR WATER BILL, YOU SHOULD, UH, ANTICIPATE AND EXPECT AN INCREASE IN YOUR WATER BILL. YOU SHOULD NOT SEE THOSE INCREASES UNTIL MAY. UH, AND THIS INCLUDES OUR ANNUAL INCREASE, THE CONSENT DECREE, AND AN ADJUSTMENT FOR INFLATION. REGARDLESS, IF YOU ARE RECEIVING BILLS THAT ARE EXTRAORDINARY AND OUT OF THE NORMAL PRACTICE AND, UM, OF WHAT YOU'RE RECEIVING, PLEASE CONTACT MY OFFICE. AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH MANY OF YOU TO RESOLVE, UH, THOSE ISSUES THROUGH ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW. UM, I'M EXCITED TO HAVE A MEETING WITH THE RED CROSS TO DIS DISCUSS OUR DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PLAN. AND DISTRICT F AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED A LOCAL PLAN IN RESPONSE TO ANY DISASTER THAT'S DECLARED IN THE CITY AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THEIR PARTNERSHIP. AND WE'LL, UM, COME BACK TO THE PUBLIC WITH SOME FEEDBACK SO WE CAN MAKE SURE WE'RE IN THE RIGHT PLACE TO RESPOND ON NEXT TUESDAY. AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, HERE'S AN ASK FROM YOU. WE ARE HONORING, UH, WITH THE PROCLAMATION OF MY UNDERGRADUATE ALMA MATER, SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY. IT'S THE FIRST TIME WE ARE HONORING THEM AND ACKNOWLEDGING THEM IN THE CITY. SO IF YOU HAVE SOME ORANGE IN YOUR CLOSET, UM, PLEASE WEAR ORANGE. UM, THE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT WILL BE IN CHAMBERS, UM, AND THEY'RE GONNA HAVE A RECEPTION ACROSS THE STREET FOR SOME ALUMNI MEMBERS. SO REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. I WANNA REMIND HOUSTONIANS AND THOSE IN DISTRICT F THAT I'M HOSTING A DEED RESTRICTION WORKSHOP ON SATURDAY, APRIL 29TH. WE SPENT A LOT OF CONVERSATION TODAY TALKING ABOUT DEED RESTRICTIONS. HERE'S YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE INFORMATION THAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU AROUND COVENANTS, UPDATING THOSE COVENANTS, ENFORCING COVENANTS, UM, AND, UM, THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN, UH, CHANGES FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE, AND THAT'S IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LAW OFFICES OF RICE AND RICE AND FROST BANK. UM, CONSTITUENT LETTERS IN THE NEWSLETTER THAT'LL GO OUT TOMORROW IN TERMS OF THE, UM, STATE LEGISLATION AND THE, UH, POLICY, UH, CONVERSATIONS WE'VE BEEN HAVING AROUND HOUSE BILL 2127, HOUSE BILL 12 40 47, AND SENATE BILL 5 77. UM, THERE ARE FORM LETTERS THAT WE'VE PROVIDED FOR CONSTITUENTS. I WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU, THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION THAT WE CAN DO THIS ALONE. IF YOU WANT TO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT YOUR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE DI UH, DECISIONS ON YOUR BETTER HALF, PLEASE, UH, SEND OUT A, A LETTER, UH, NON IN SUPPORT OF NON-SUPPORT OF, OF THIS, OF THE BILLS THAT ARE FILED. AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU IN AUSTIN ADVOCATING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN RETAIN LOCAL CONTROL. UM, I THINK THAT'S IT. THANK YOU COLLEAGUES FOR, UM, SUPPORT OF THE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS. UM, I WILL MAKE SURE TO LET, UH, THE FOLKS IN PINEY POINT KNOW WE HAD YOUR SUPPORT. UH, AND THEN LASTLY, DEFINITELY HAPPY HOLY WEEK OLEUM AND HAPPY PASSOVER. UH, WE HAVE SO MANY, UM, THIS IS A WONDERFUL TIME FOR US TO REFLECT IN OUR OWN FAITH. UH, AND IF WE'RE BEING KIND, IF WE'RE BEING IN INTEGRITY, [04:45:01] IF WE ARE, UM, BEING WHO OUR GOD SAYS WE ARE, THIS IS A WONDERFUL TIME OF REFLECTION. AND SO LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING Y'ALL NEXT WEEK. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY C ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TE. AND, UM, I JUST WANT US WISH EVERYBODY A HAPPY EASTER, HAPPY PASSOVER AND, UM, THE DISCUSSION EARLIER ABOUT HOMELESSNESS, I DO THINK THAT THAT'S A GOOD THING. YOU KNOW, MY, MY, UH, FAMILY WAS IN FROM THAT WE'RE DOING, TRYING TO CLEAR THE LIBRARY. I, I THINK THAT, UH, MY FAMILY IN FROM SAN DIEGO COMMENTED ON, YOU KNOW, THE ABILITY, THEY DIDN'T, YOU KNOW, SAN DIEGO, IT'S BECOMING A BIGGER AND BIGGER PROBLEM. AND THEY TALKED SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THEIR STADIUM AND TAKING KIDS TO A STADIUM THAT, THAT'S A GREAT STADIUM IN, IN SAN DIEGO, NOT NECESSARILY, I DON'T THINK FOR SDSU BASKETBALL, BUT THEY'RE BIG STADIUM AND THAT'S DOWNTOWN. AND THEY SAID IT'S SUCH A PROBLEM. THEY REALLY HAVE TROUBLE, YOU KNOW, BRINGING KIDS DOWN THERE. SO I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO, WHERE THERE'S AREAS GROUPING LIKE THIS, THAT, THAT ARE FAMILY FRIENDLY, LIKE LIBRARIES AND ALL THAT. WE, WE DO KIND OF NEED TO, TO ADDRESS THAT. SO, SO I LIKE, I LIKE THAT WE'RE DOING THAT. AND, AND ON, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS, UM, WHO JOINED US, THERE WERE FIVE OF US WHO WENT TO THE LEG LEGISLATURE ON MONDAY. I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT DAY. WE NOT ONLY HAD SOME GOOD MEETINGS, BUT WE RAN INTO A BUNCH OF PEOPLE IN THE HALLWAY. UM, I SPOKE TO A COUPLE OF MY MORE CONSERVATIVE, UH, PEOPLE I KNOW FROM HGAC, UM, TODAY, MAYORS OF SMALLER PARA LAND, SUGAR LAND. AND I'M LIKE, YOU GUYS GOTTA GET UP THERE BECAUSE THIS IS, YOU KNOW, VERY, THERE'S DEFINITELY MORE CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS IN AUSTIN THAN THERE ARE, UM, NOT SO, UM, IT, THEY, THEY WILL HAVE A REALLY IMPORTANT VOICE, UH, TO GIVE. AND THEY ARE DOING THAT. THEY ARE, THEY ARE REACHING OUT TO THEIR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES IN, IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO, TO FIGHT AGAINST THESE PREEMPTION BILLS. SO ANYWAY, WE'LL SEE. WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. BUT IT WAS A GOOD DAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? SEEING NONE. MEETING ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.