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IF[PRESENTATIONS]
I CAN HAVE YOUR ATTENTION, WE ARE GOING TO GET STARTED.IT IS 1:30 PM ON TUESDAY, APRIL 11TH, 2023.
I'M VICE MAYOR PRO TEM MARTHA KAT TATUM, AND I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER.
THE CHAIR WILL RECOGNIZE OUR FIRST PROCLAMATION FOR TODAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS FOR A PROCLAMATION TO SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY TO CELEBRATE THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS.
COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, THANK YOU SO MUCH, VICE MAYOR PRO TIM.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, I'M, I'M SAD MAYOR TURNER WILL NOT BE HERE TODAY.
UM, HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT MINIMIZE, UM, THE IMPORTANCE OF TODAY'S, UH, NOTIFICATION.
MADAM PRESIDENT, IF YOU WILL JOIN ME, UM, AT THE HORSESHOE, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.
AND SO, AS, UM, OUR WONDERFUL IN INSTITUTIONAL PRESIDENT, UH, JOINS US, I JUST WANNA SHARE COLLEAGUES, UH, FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF COLORING THE LINES ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS INSTITUTION.
UH, MANY PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW THAT I WAS ACTUALLY ACCEPTED TO DUKE UNIVERSITY, UM, AND MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY THREE MONTHS BEFORE I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL.
AND MY FATHER SAID, YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS, SAM HOUSTON STATE, OR SFA
AND, UM, AND BECAUSE I WAS A HIGH ACHIEVING STUDENT, I WAS AUTOMATICALLY ADMITTED TO SAM HOUSTON AT THE TIME, UM, AS A STATE INSTITUTION.
AND I LITERALLY ENROLLED ON IN JULY.
I SHOWED UP ON THAT SUNDAY, I WENT TO CLASS ON THAT WEDNESDAY, AND MY LIFE CHANGED, UM, FOREVERMORE.
AND THAT INSTITUTION, UH, RAISED ME AND THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT INDIVIDUALS, UH, THAT HAVE INFLUENCED MY LIFE.
AND, UM, BEFORE I READ THE PROCLAMATION, I JUST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE DR.
BERNADETTE PRUITT, DR. ROBERT WILLIAMS, AND OUR WONDERFUL LEGEND, DR. FRANK PARKER, WHO WE KNOW AS DEAN PARKER, UH, AND MADAM PRESIDENT, AS I MENTIONED TO YOU OFFLINE.
AND COUNSEL, THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR Y'ALL TO KNOW.
WE HAVE BEARCATS ALL THROUGHOUT CITY HALL.
UH, NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE A WONDERFUL, AMAZING CHIEF OF POLICE, UM, THAT WAS MADE THROUGH OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE, UH, SCHOOL.
WE HAVE A WONDERFUL, TALENTED INDIVIDUALS IN HR, SOLID WASTE, UM, HTV THAT TAKES CARE OF ALL OF OUR MEDIA.
UM, SHOUT OUT TO DAN RATHER, SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS.
AND SO JUST, WE ARE INFLUENCED AS WELL.
AND ALSO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, I BELIEVE HIS DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY, HIS DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF, ALL OF BEARCATS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON CHIEF OF STAFF IS A BEARCAT.
UM, HER DIRECTOR IS A BEARCAT.
SO WE'RE ALL THROUGH THIS PLACE, RIGHT? UM, SO LET'S GET STARTED.
SO, WHEREAS SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY IS A PUBLIC INSTITUTION IN HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS.
UH, IT WAS FOUNDED IN 1879 AND IS THE THIRD OLDEST PUBLIC COLLEGE IN TEXAS.
WHEREAS SAM HOUSTON STATE IS DESIGNATED AS A DOCTORAL UNIVERSITY OF HIGH RESEARCH ACTIVITY ARE TWO BY THE CARNEGIE CLASSIFICATION OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
THIS STATUS PLACES SAM HOUSTON AMONG A SELECT GROUP OF INSTITUTIONS IN THE COUNTRY.
THE CLASSIFICATION IS ACHIEVED BASED ON THE NUMBER OF DOCTORAL DEGREES, AWARDED THE NUMBER OF FUNDED RESEARCH POSITIONS AND EXTERNAL GRANT FUNDING, WHICH OFTEN PROVIDE SAM HOUSTON STUDENTS WITH PAID OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN SCHOLARLY WORK WITH FACULTY MENTORS.
AND WHEREAS SAM HOUSTON IS COMMITTED TO FACILITATING UPWARD SOCIAL MOBILITY THROUGH ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, THE UNIVERSITY TAKES PRIDE IN THE NUMBER OF BEARCATS ACHIEVING SUCCESS IN THEIR CAREER ASPIRATIONS.
THAT OBJECTIVE IS BACKED BY CONSISTENTLY HIGH RANKINGS AND INCLUDING BEST IN TEXAS AS TOP PERFORMER ON SOCIAL MOBILITY BY THE US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT REPORT.
FOR TWO YEARS IN A ROW, NATIONALLY, THE UNIVERSITY IS RANKED NUMBER 23 OUT OF 439 IN THAT SAME CATEGORY, WHEREAS THE SAM HOUSTON COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE, CURRENTLY ONLY THE THIRD, AND TEXAS, IS DESIGNATED TO PROMOTE PRIMARY CARE AND GROW MEDICAL WORKFORCE IN EAST TEXAS WITH NEARLY 700 COMMUNITY-BASED PHYSICIAN PRECEPTORS.
AND OVER 70 INSTITUTIONAL AFFILIATION AGREEMENTS FOR CLINICAL TRAINING.
STUDENT DOCTORS LEARN ALONGSIDE PHYSICIANS WHO ARE PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY PRIMARY CARE AND SPECIALTY MEDICINE TO COMMUNITIES IN NEED, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AND UNDERSERVED AREAS OF OUR STATE.
STUDENT DOCTORS ALSO FIND OPPORTUNITIES FOR CLINICAL TRAINING IN LARGER MEDICAL CENTERS SERVING THE GREATER HOUSTON REGION, WHEREAS SAM HOUSTON STATE'S DESIGNATION AS A HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTION REFLECTS OUR STATE'S DIVERSITY AND DEMONSTRATES THE UNIVERSITY'S INSTITUTIONAL COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING ALL STUDENTS ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION.
FOSTERING A CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE CAMPUS ENVIRONMENT,
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SAM HOUSTON STATE OFFERS MANY PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE SUCCESS FOR ALL STUDENTS.APPROXIMATELY 50% OF SAMS STUDENT BODY ARE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILIES TO GO TO COLLEGE.
SAM HOUSTON'S FIRST GENERATION CENTER PROVIDES A VALUABLE STUDENT SERVICE AS WELL AS SPACE FOR THOSE DEDICATED TO FIRST GEN STUDENT SUCCESS, TO SHARE IDEAS, RESEARCH, AND BEST PRACTICES.
VICE MAYOR, SO THEREFORE, I, MARTHA CASTEX TATUM, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ON BEHALF OF SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 11TH, 2023 AT SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
COUNCIL MEMBER, THOMAS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND VICE MAYOR PRO TEM FOR YOU TOO.
UM, AND IF YOU HAVE SOME COMMENTS, PLEASE, UH, LET US HEAR 'EM NOW.
I WOULD, I WOULD LOVE TO JUST EXPRESS APPRECIATION.
UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM TATUM, AND COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, WHAT A CREDIT YOU ARE TO SAM HOUSTON.
I LOVED HEARING ALL OF THE NAMES OF ALL OF YOU WHO SERVE YOUR CITY AND YOU SERVE OUR REGION.
AND THAT'S REALLY THE SAM HOUSTON STORY.
AND SO I HAVE A LOT OF, OF MY TEAM HERE TODAY, AND I'M JUST GONNA ASK THEM TO STAND AND, UH, JUST BE RECOGNIZED HERE.
BUT I JUST WANNA TELL YOU HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE'RE A STEWARD OF PLACE AND WE EXIST TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES BETTER.
AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.
AND WE'RE PROUD OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO ON BEHALF OF HOUSTON.
AND, UH, ON BEHALF OF, ON BEHALF OF THE REGION, I THINK, AND, AND YOUR CITY HERE, IT, IT, IT IS WONDERFUL THAT YOU ARE PROCLAIMING THAT, YOU KNOW, AND, AND WHAT WHAT WE CAN BRING, UH, TO THE CITY AND THE REGION TOGETHER IS, UH, IS GREAT.
WE'VE GOT, AS YOU MENTIONED, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, ALL THE WONDERFUL BEARCAT IN THE ROOM AND IN THE HOUSE.
SO, UH, GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THAT FROM, UH, CHIEF SLINKER WITH HPD AND CHIEF HAMBRICK WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, AS WELL AS DIRECTOR JONES, WHO'S IN HERE FROM OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
WELL, THEY'RE ALL OVER THE LEADERSHIP IN HOUSTON.
AND, UH, WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR THE PRESENTATION TODAY.
WE DO HAVE ONE COUNCIL MEMBER IN THE QUEUE, AND THAT'S, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN.
THANK YOU CHAIR, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
SORRY, I WALKED IN A LITTLE BIT LATE, BUT I KNEW IT WAS BIG BEAR CAT DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
AND YOU KNOW, YOUR, YOUR GUYS RIGHT HERE IN OUR ROOM EVERY SINGLE TIME.
DID YOU ALREADY TALK ABOUT THAT? OUR, OUR, THE BIG PORTRAIT OF SAM HOUSTON.
HE'S, HE'S HERE WITH US ALL THE TIME.
BUT THANK YOU, UM, FOR ALL YOU DO AND FOR PRODUCING SUCH GREAT, UH, GRADUATES THAT ARE LEADING OUR CITY AND REALLY, REALLY GLAD THAT WE'RE HONORING YOU TODAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER, I'LL LEAVE THE LAST WORD FOR YOU.
AND JUST TO BRING TO EVERYONE'S ATTENTION, UM, THE INSTITUTION DOES HAVE A MOTTO, AND THAT MOTTO IS A MEASURE OF ONE'S LIFE IS ITS SERVICE.
AND, UM, I REMEMBER AS A FRESHMAN READING, UH, THAT MOTTO THROUGH SOME FORM, AND I THINK MANY OF US HAVE EMBODIED THAT.
AND SO SAM HOUSTON STATE DEFINITELY IS DEAR TO ME.
UM, I'M A PROUD HBCU FACULTY, BUT I WOULD NOT HAVE, UH, THE RIGOR AND THE TRAINING AND THE, UM, CONFIDENCE TO DO WHAT I DO IN THE CLASSROOM IF I DID NOT HAVE THAT SAME EXPERIENCE AT SAM HOUSTON STATE.
WELL, COUNCIL MEMBER, THANK YOU AGAIN.
AND NOW AS, UH, WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT, UH, PROCLAMATION.
TODAY, THE CHAIR WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE COUNCIL
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MEMBER TARSHA JACKSON FOR A PROCLAMATION TO GLADYS GONI TO RECOGNIZE HER FOR BEING A TRAILBLAZER ATTORNEY AND COMMUNITY LEADER.UH, SO COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, UH, RECOGNIZING YOU FROM THE CHAIR.
IT IS NOW YOUR TIME COUNCIL MEMBER.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT, UM, BEING ABLE TO PRESENT, UM, THIS PROCLAMATION TO MS. GOFF WHO HAS BEEN JUST A, UM, SHE'S A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE.
UM, I'M ALWAYS AT HER SITTING IN FRONT OF HER TRYING TO LEARN EVERYTHING SHE KNOW.
AND SO I'M REALLY EXCITED, YOU KNOW, JUST TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE HER TODAY.
UM, GLADYS R GOFFY IS AN OUTSTANDING ROLE MODEL, TRAILBLAZING ATTORNEY AND COMMUNITY LEADER, THE YOUNGEST OF THREE CHILDREN.
MISS GOFFY WAS BORN TO SHARECROPPERS BARRY AND LULA ROGERS, ALTHOUGH HER PARENTS HAD LIMITED ACCESS TO EDUCATION WITH ONE COMPLETING SECOND GRADE, AND THE OTHER EIGHTH GRADE, SHE ALWAYS STRIVED FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE EDUCATIONAL ARENA.
SHE GRADUATED VALEDICTORIAN OF THE CLASS OF 1950 FROM BUGGER T WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL.
SHE THEN PURSUED HER BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN BIOLOGY WITH A MINOR IN CHEMISTRY AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY WHILE SHE WAS CROWNED TO MISS TSU BY THE LEGENDARY JACKIE ROBINSON.
UPON GRADUATING MAGNUM C*M LAUDE IN 1954, SHE STARTED HER CAREER AS A MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST AT THE VETERAN ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL.
IN 1966, GLADYS BEGAN HER LAW JOURNEY AT TECH AT SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE OF LAW HOUSTON.
WHILE I'M MAINTAINING HER FULL-TIME JOB AND REMAINING ACTIVE WITH HER FOUR CHILDREN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
IN 1971, SHE BECAME THE SECOND AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN TO GRADUATE WITH HER JD.
FOR OVER 50 YEARS, GLADYS HAS SUCCESSFULLY BEEN PRACTICING FAMILY, JUVENILE, AND CRIMINAL LAW AS A SOLO PRACTITIONER.
SHE HAS SERVED AS A REFEREE AND ATTORNEY AT, AT AD LITEM AND AN ASSOCIATE JUDGE IN THE TWO 56TH FAMILY COURT IN HARRIS COUNTY, SHE CONTINUES TO SERVE IN NON-LITIGATION LEGAL MATTERS.
HER OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT TO LAW CAUSED THE TEXAS BAR JOURNAL TO RECOGNIZE HER FOR REACHING 50 YEARS IN THE LEGAL FIELD, ONE OF 48 WOMEN TO REACH THIS MILESTONE.
IN ADDITION TO SERVING IN COURT, GLADYS HAS STAYED ACTIVE AS THE, AS AN AA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY SISTER FOR 71 YEARS.
71 YEARS AT 90 YEARS OLD, SHE MODELED AT, AT AN AKA GALA WAS SHE RAISED OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS.
AT, AT ZION HILL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, SHE STARTED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO INCENTIVIZE STUDENTS TO THRIVE IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE.
SHE HAS BEEN AN AVID ADVOCATE TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE RESIDENTS.
SHE WAS PART OF CASHMERE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GROUP THAT ADVOCATED FOR THE CASHIER MULTI SERVICE CENTER.
SHE PETITIONED FOR THE, A TENNIS COURT AT HUTCH HUTCHINSON PARK STREET LIGHTS AND PAVED STREETS IN THE CASHMERE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IN 1989, MS. GLADYS DONATED LAND TO TARGET HUNGER TO SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR MISSION TO ALLEVIATE HUNGER AND ITS ROOT CAUSES IN THE NORTHEAST AND EAST HOUSTON NEIGHBORHOODS.
SINCE THEN, THE WILLIE H AND GLADYS R GOFFY COMMUNITY GARDEN HAS PROVIDED THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF ORGANIC GROWN NUTRITION PRODUCED PRODUCE A COMMITTED WIFE AND MOTHER.
SHE WAS MARRIED TO HER SOULMATE WILLIE H GONY FOR 57 YEARS PRIOR TO HIS PASSING IN 2010.
SHE HAS ALSO INSPIRED HER CHILDREN, KEITH GOFFY, WILLIE GONY, AND TARA GOFFY, AND CHERYL GOFFY FRANKLIN TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS OF BECOMING ATTORNEYS AND MEDICAL DOCTORS.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS GLADYS R GOFFY, JD FOR HER LEADERSHIP, DEDICATION, ADVOCACY, AND OVERALL IMPACTFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON COMMUNITIES.
MAYOR PRO TEM, THEREFORE, I, MARTHA CASTEX TATUM VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ON BEHALF OF SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 11TH, 2023 AS GLADYS R GOFFY DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
YOU GO, MS. GAFFNEY, IF YOU HAVE A FEW WORDS FOR US, WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU BEHIND THE MICROPHONE.
I FEEL SO BLESSED AND I FEEL SO HONORED TO BE IN THESE CHAMBERS AND TO
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HAVE MY VERY PRECIOUS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER TARSHA JACKSON TO LOVE ME THIS MUCH, TO HONOR ME WITH THIS PROCLAMATION.AND I CERTAINLY, CERTAINLY APPRECIATE ALL OF MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND CHURCH MEMBERS WHO CAME TODAY TO CELEBRATE WITH ME.
AND IF I MAY JUST HAVE SOME OF THESE ILLUSTRIOUS PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T STAND HERE ALONE ANYTIME THEY ALL HELP ME, ME WHO I AM.
SO I WOULD FIRST OF ALL, LIKE TO HAVE MY PASTOR AND ZION HILL'S FAMILY STAND UP.
AND MY COUSINS FROM ROGER'S FAMILY, AND WE HAVE SYLVIA BROOKS, WHO WAS OVER URBAN LEAGUE HERE FOR A LONG TIME.
MY COUSINS, Y'ALL STAND STAND UP,
TARGET HUNGER IS ONE IMPACTFUL ORGANIZATION IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE KNOW THAT THAT GUARDIAN OUT THERE AND THE OTHER, UH, FACILITIES THAT THEY HAVE, THEY FEED OVER ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE, UH, CITY.
ACTUALLY, WHEN IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1989, WE DID IT SO THAT WE COULD FEED THE PEOPLE OF FIFTH WARD.
BUT IT HAS GONE WAY PAST THAT.
AND WITH THE HELP OF TARGET HUNGRY, AND ITS PRESTIGIOUS, CEO MISS, UH, SANDRA WOFF HERE.
AND I HAVE MY LOVELY DAUGHTER, DR. CHERYL FRANKLIN, UH, FROM THE MOREHOUSE.
SHE WORKS WITH THE MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE IN ATLANTA, AND A PART OF, I SAW SOMEONE FROM BLUE TRIANGLE, Y'ALL KNOW ABOUT BLUE TRIANGLE OVER ON MCGOWAN STREET,
ALL OF THESE PEOPLE LETTING ME WORK WITH THEM AND, AND ENCOURAGING ME, HELPING ME OVER THESE 70 YEARS IS THE REASON THAT I'M ABLE TO STAND HERE BEFORE CITY COUNCIL TODAY AND, UH, TAKE THIS HONOR.
I THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR IT.
UH, MY MOTTO IS, UH, JACKSON, BUT SEEK YOU FIRST.
HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE ADDED UNTO YOU.
AND IT, IT IS FOR GOOD REASON, CLEARLY THAT COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON LOVES YOU SO MUCH, AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS.
YOU'VE BROUGHT OUT THE CROWD TODAY, AND, UH, WE'RE REALLY, UH, DEEPLY INDEBTED TO ALL YOUR SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP.
AND, UH, I THINK WITH THAT, UM, THIS IS YOUR DAY AND VICE SMART PRO TEM.
IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD, UH, WE'D LOVE TO SEND YOU OFF WITH SOME PHOTOGRAPHS WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AS WELL.
SO WE'LL, WE'LL TAKE A COUPLE OF PHOTOS AND THEN I JUST HAVE TO, UH, RECOGNIZE MY SORO OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, ALL OF HER GREAT WORKS.
UM, HER DEDICATION TO THE SORORITY FOR OVER 70 YEARS IS, IS, IS PHENOMENAL.
SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS SPECIAL DAY.
IF YOU COULD COME JOIN, UH, FOR A PHOTOGRAPH AND THEN, UH, FAMILY AND FRIENDS, UH, AT THE PODIUM TO FOLLOW.
COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, IF YOU'D LIKE.
DO YOU WANNA BRING FOLKS BEHIND HERE? COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX.
YOU FILL IN THE WHOLE HORSESHOE FILL EVERYBODY,
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AND AS YOU FOLKS FIND YOUR SEATS, AND, UH, WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE FINAL PROCLAMATION OF THE DAY.AND THAT'S, UH, WITH, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS WHO'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR A PROCLAMATION TO AHMAD AYAAN AND TO RECOGNIZE ARAB HERITAGE MONTH, UH, TODAY HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
SO, WHILE YOU ALL ARE SITTING DOWN AND COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS MAKES HIS WAY, UH, VICE MAYOR PRAM, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, GO AHEAD.
FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE THE HONOR OF PRESENTING THIS, UH, PROCLAMATION AND RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL ARAB AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE MR. AHAD ALI, UH, PLEASE.
HE'S GONNA GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE OUR SPECIAL GUESTS.
WE HAVE SEVERAL AMBASSADORS FROM, UH, VARIOUS ARAB COUNTRIES THAT ARE HERE AT THE, UH, IN THE CHAMBER.
LET ME INTRODUCE, UH, SOME OF OUR GUESTS HERE.
MR. CAN COME, YOU CAN COME WITH ME, PLEASE.
THE GENERAL COUNCIL OF SAUDI ARABIA.
MR. I'M THE GENERAL COUNCIL OF UNITED ARAB EM.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, COUNCIL MEMBER.
NATIONAL ARAB AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.
WHEREAS FOR OVER A CENTURY, ARAB AMERICANS HAVE MADE VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO VIRTUALLY EVERY ASPECT OF AMERICAN SOCIETY, SUCH AS MEDICINE, LAW, BUSINESS, EDUCATION, TECHNOLOGY, GOVERNMENT, MILITARY SERVICE, AND CULTURE.
AND WHEREAS SINCE MIGRATING TO AMERICA, MEN AND WOMEN OF ARAB DESCENT HAVE SHARED THEIR RICH CULTURE AND TRADITION WITH NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS, WHILE ALSO SETTING FINE EXAMPLES OF MODEL CITIZENS AND PUBLIC SERVANTS THEY BROUGHT WITH THEM TO AMERICA.
THEIR RESILIENT FAMILY VALUES, STRONG WORK ETHIC, EDUCATION, DEDICATION TO EDUCATION AND DIVERSITY AND FAITH AND CREED THAT HAVE ADDED STRENGTH TO OUR GREAT DEMOCRACY.
AND WHEREAS ARAB AMERICANS HAVE ALSO ENRICHED OUR SOCIETY BY SHARING IN THE ENTREPRENEURIAL AMERICAN SPIRIT
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THAT BOLSTERS THE ECONOMY, AND THE INCREDIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS AND HERITAGE OF ARAB AMERICANS HAVE HELPED TO BUILD A BETTER NATION.AND WHEREAS ARAB AMERICANS CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE PREVENTION OF CIVIL RIGHTS, ABUSE, HARMFUL STEREOTYPING AND BULLYING, AND JOIN ALL AMERICANS, AND THE DESIRE TO SEE A PEACEFUL AND DIVERSE SOCIETY WHERE EVERY INDIVIDUAL IS TREATED EQUALLY AND FEELS SAFE.
AND WHEREAS DURING THE MONTH OF APRIL, THE LOCAL ARAB COMMUNITY WILL OBSERVE AND CELEBRATE NATIONAL ARAB AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON CELEBRATES THE CONTRIBUTIONS ARAB AMERICANS HAVE MADE TO SOCIETY AND ENCOURAGES ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN IN THE SPECIAL OBSERVANCE OF NATIONAL ARAB AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.
THEREFORE, I, MARTHA CASTEX TATUM, VICE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ON BEHALF OF SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL, 2023 AS NATIONAL ARAB AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
I'M GONNA SAY, I'M GOING TO SAY, BUT I'M GONNA ASK A LOT OF MY, UH, MY FRIENDS IN HERE THAT'S, I HAVE INVITED BECAUSE THIS IS, UH, THIS IS A SPECIAL ATION BECAUSE IT'S REPRESENT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY AND THE ARAB, UH, IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
I PERSONALLY BEEN LIVING IN HOUSTON, TEXAS FOR 45 YEARS, BUT LEMME SAY HI TO SALLY, BY THE WAY.
UH, SO, UH, THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT OUR GENERAL COUNSELORS IN HERE AND THE AMBASSADOR TO BE HERE, BECAUSE IT IS OUR, THE HERITAGE MONTH, AND THEN THE LEADERS FROM EACH COMMUNITY, FROM THE ARAB COMMUNITIES, FROM THE PALESTINIAN COMMUNITY, FROM THE LEBANESE, THE SYRIAN, THE JORDANIAN, THE MOROCCAN, THE IRAQI, THE SAUDI, THE EMIRATI, EVERYBODY.
SO IF I FORGET SOMEBODY, LET ME SO THAT ALGERIAN AND PLEASE, YEAH, THE ALGERIAN RASHID, ABSOLUTELY.
SO THAT'S WHY IT IS A SPECIAL, AND, AND I DON'T NEED TO SAY MUCH ABOUT WHAT IS THE ARAB CONTRIBUTION TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AT LARGE, BECAUSE MY GOOD FRIEND HERE, ROBERT, HE DID SAY, AND HERE, AND HE WROTE IT ALL.
SO I'M GONNA KEEP MY PAPER IN MY POCKET, AND I'M NOT GONNA SAY ANYTHING.
SO, AND I'M ALSO BLESSED AND HEAVY TO SEE MY GOOD FRIEND IN HERE.
CHIEF POLICE ARE BEING HERE TODAY.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY CAN COME IN HERE, TAKE THIS, UH, THIS POPULATION, THIS ONE IN HERE IS GOING TO BE PUT IN THE ARABIC COMMUNITY CENTER, WHICH IS A CENTER, REPRESENT OUR COMMUNITY HERE.
WE ALL GO UNDER THAT UMBRELLA.
AND, UH, IT WILL BE THERE FOR EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY IS NOT FOR ME.
IT'S FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, JUST ME.
BEFORE WE TAKE THE PHOTOGRAPH AND RECOGNIZE SOME OF YOUR COLLEAGUES, THERE ARE A FEW COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE QUEUE THEY WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU.
UH, MR. AMBASSADOR, MR. ELIASON AND GENERAL COUNSEL.
UH, AND FIRST UP IS, UH, MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER LETICIA PLUMMER FROM MADAN AND BARAK, EVERYONE.
UM, IT'S GREAT TO GREAT TO SEE ALL OF YOU.
UM, AS SOMEONE FROM THE COMMUNITY, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE.
YOU, THE ARAB COMMUNITY DESERVES THIS PROCLAMATION MORE THAN ANYTHING.
UM, JUST IN TERMS OF THE, UM, THE FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS, THE CULTURAL INVESTMENT THAT YOU BROUGHT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS, IS REALLY, UM, AMAZING.
AND SO I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
UM, I'VE SEEN THE COUNCIL GENERALS MANY TIMES.
I'VE BEEN TRAVELING OVERSEAS TO TRY TO REALLY BRIDGE THE, UM, THE, THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE COUNTRIES.
AND, UM, AND I'M JUST HAPPY TO SEE ALL OF YOU HERE.
AND NEXT WE'LL HEAR FROM YOUR FRIEND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN
AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU, MR. ELIASON.
I SAW YOU OUT THERE IN THE, IN THE, IN THE CROWD.
AND RUTHANNE, HI, GOOD TO SEE YOU.
SO I WENT TO MY FIRST IFTAR DINNER, DR.
PLUMMER, AT HIS INVITATION AND WOW.
THERE WERE WHIRLING DERVISHES, THERE WAS ALL KINDS OF STUFF GOING ON THERE, AND IT WAS ALWAYS MY PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU, THE CITY COUNCIL.
IT WAS A WONDERFUL CULTURAL, UM, AND THAT'S WHERE I MET COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, THE YOUNG WOMAN WHO WAS RUNNING IT FOR DISTRICT B, WHO PASSED AWAY, I THINK OF COVID, WHAT WAS HER NAME? YES.
AND, UM, ANYWAY, YOU, YOU ALL OF, YOU BRING SUCH RICHNESS OF CULTURE TO OUR GREAT CITY, AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE ARABIC COMMUNITY.
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AND, AND SO MUCH FOR THIS ARAB HERITAGE MONTH.AND, UH, TO ALL OF YOU, DIGNITARIES AND ALL THE COUNTRIES THAT ARE REPRESENTED HERE, YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS NOT ONLY TO THIS DAY AND THIS MONTH, BUT TO OUR CONSULAR CORE IN HOUSTON IS SO SIGNIFICANT.
AND WE ENCOURAGE YOU, WE SUPPORT YOU, AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL YOU DO FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
CAN I GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO MAYOR PLEASE? BECAUSE I, I SEEN THE MAYOR PERSONALLY, AND I ASK HIM FOR THE ATION.
HE SAID, I WILL DEFINITELY DO IT.
WE WILL, WE WILL PASS THAT ALONG TO, AND I WANNA THANK ROBERT ALSO FOR BRINGING IT TO THE FLOOR.
AND I WANNA THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL, AND I WANNA GIVE YOU ALL A STATEMENT IN HERE.
EACH ONE OF YOU ALL IS MORE THAN WELCOME TO INVITED TO OUR MONTH, WHICH IS THE HERITAGE MONTH FOR THE ARABS.
AND IT'S HAPPENED TO BE RAMADAN.
SO ALL OF YOU ALL, YOU ARE INVITED.
YOU TELL ME WHEN YOU COME IN, COME TO OUR ARABIC CENTER, WE'LL GIVE YOU OUR TASTE OF FOOD, OUR HERITAGE, OUR, OUR BACK HOME, WHATEVER IT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, CULTURE AND THEM.
SO EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL COME IN.
I KNOW LETICIA IS AWARE OF THAT, A RAMADAN ETAR AS WELL.
SO THE MAYOR, RAMADAN F TARSO, I WANT YOU ALL TO HAVE THAT OPEN INVITATION.
THAT IS WE, YOU, AND I DUNNO HOW YOU ALL ARRANGE IT FOR THAT.
SO I WOULD, BECAUSE WE ARE KNOWN OF OUR GENEROSITY IN, IN THE, IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
SO THAT'S WHY I EXTENDED THAT INVITATION.
WE HAVE, I THINK, A FOLLOW UP COMMENT FROM COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER MC GOES FOR BRINGING US FORWARD.
I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT ACKNOWLEDGING YOU EARLIER.
AND WITH THAT, SIR, I THINK, UH, WE MAY BE READY FOR SOME PHOTOGRAPHS.
UH, WE ARE NOT AS GOOD LOOKING MAN AS WELL, SIR
GALLEGOS, DO YOU HAVE A FINAL, UH, COMMENT OR WERE YOU READY TO PROCEED? WELL, THANK YOU.
DID, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST ALSO WANT THANK, UH, THE INVITATION TO THE AAR UH, 2023 DINNER, UH, RAMADAN DINNER THAT WE HAD A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
IT WAS, UM, VERY SPIRITUAL IN REGARDS TO THE PROGRAM AND AMAZING FOOD.
UH, SO AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INVITE.
VERY GOOD, Y'ALL, THANKS VERY MUCH.
AND I THINK WE ARE READY FOR SOME PHOTOGRAPHS.
[2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
[00:38:11]
OKAY.THE CHAIR WILL NOW RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX FOR THE INVOCATION.
THANK YOU MADAM, MADAM, VICE CHAIR.
UM, IF I COULD HAVE PASTOR MS. TREJO APPROACH THE PODIUM, PLEASE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MS. RAY TREJO, WHO IS A PASTOR AT THE LA MUNDO CHURCH HERE IN THE HOUSTON AREA.
HE IS BLESSED TO SERVE GOD THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD RELIGION AS A MINISTER.
HE'S A THIRD GENERATION MEMBER OF THE CHURCH.
AS A TEENAGER, HE WAS PART OF THE CHURCH CHOIR.
AS A YOUNG ADULT, GOD BEGAN TO BURDEN MR I'S HEART TO PREACH AND ANSWER A HIGHER CALLING TO RESCUE SOULS FOR JESUS CHRIST.
HE VOLUNTEERED WITH THE CHURCH, RADIO, AND ONLINE PREACHING PROGRAM IN 2010.
AND FOR FIVE YEARS THEREAFTER, HE DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO THE SERVICE AND THE MINISTRY IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA AREA.
MR. RA WAS ORDAINED AS A MINISTER IN JANUARY OF 2015, AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE HOUSTON, TEXAS CHURCH.
SINCE THEN, UM, HE HAS ASSISTED IN LAUNCHING TELECOMMUNICATIONS MINISTRY FOR THE AREA IN RADIO AND SOCIAL MEDIA STREAMS IN ORDER TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL OF LOVE THAT JESUS CHRIST COMMANDED TO HIS DISCIPLES.
GOD HAS BLESSED MISERY WITH ALLOWING HIM TO BE A SPIRITUAL COUNSELOR, GUIDING THE LIVES UNDER HIS CARE, INTO THE PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND BY BEING A VESSEL OF CHURCH GROWTH, EXPANSION AND PROSPERITY IN THE SPIRITUAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS.
UM, MR. UH, PASTOR TREJO, IT'S A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE.
IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, BLESS US WITH A PRAYER AND MAYBE TALK JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, WHAT YOUR CHURCH DOES.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MIKE KNOX.
TO EVERYBODY PRESENT, UH, IT'S A, IT'S A BLESSING FOR US TO BE A PART OF, OF, OF THIS, UH, OF THIS REUNION TODAY.
[00:40:01]
LIGHT OF THE WORLD CHURCH, UM, WHICH I HAVE THE BLESSING TO BE A PART OF, IS ALWAYS SEEKING FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ALL COMMUNITIES.LOOKING FOR THE WELLBEING OF, OF ALL FAMILIES, THE PROSPERITY AND THE GROWTH, ONE FAMILY AND ONE SOUL AT A TIME, ALL THROUGH THE PREACHING OF, OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.
WE LOVE TO PARTICIPATE IN, IN ALL ACTIVITIES THAT HELP FOR THE BETTERMENT OF, OF, OF EACH COMMUNITY.
UM, AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE CAN ASSIST OF, WE, WE REALLY, UH, APPRECIATE THE INVITATIONS THAT WE RECEIVE.
ALSO, UH, THE CHURCHES PRESENT IN THE MOST PART OF THE, OF THE CITY AND MANY DISTRICTS IN THE CITY.
AND IF ANYBODY'S, UH, UH, UH, WILLING TO, TO GRANT US THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX IS, HAS MY, MY CONTACT INFO, AND WE'D BE MORE THAN GLAD TO PARTICIPATE OF THESE BLESSINGS.
UH, SO WE ARE HERE TODAY TO PARTAKE OF, OF A BLESSING, BUT ALSO THE WAY THAT WE SEE IT IS A RESPONSIBILITY THAT OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ESTABLISHES AS IT STAYS IN THE SCRIPTURES, UH, IN THE EXHORTATION TO, UH, TO GIVE SUPPLICATIONS AND PRAYERS, INTERCESSIONS AND GIVING OF THANKS FOR ALL MEN.
IT SAYS IN FIRST OF TIMOTHY, 2, 2, 4 KINGS AND ALL WHO ARE IN AUTHORITY THAT WE MAY LEAD A QUIET AND PEACEABLE LIFE IN ALL GODLINESS AND REVERENCE.
AND WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU ALL FOR, TO ELEVATE A PRAYER, UH, THIS EVENING SO THAT GOD MAY BLESS, UH, THE, THE MEETING THIS EVENING.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ARE GATHERED, GATHERED HERE TODAY, CITIZENS, NEIGHBORS, SERVANTS OF THE COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS SEEKING NOT ONLY WHAT BENEFITS US PERSONALLY, BUT THE GREATER GOOD OF THIS GREAT CITY OF HOUSTON, IN WHICH WE, YOU HAVE ALLOWED US THE BLESSING TO BE A PART OF.
WE CALL UPON YOUR HOLY NAME, AND AS THAT YOU FILL US WITH YOUR GRACE AND WISDOM TO ALWAYS SEEK TO DO YOUR WILL AND THE BETTERMENT OF THIS COMMUNITY, OF THIS CITY, OF THIS GREAT STATE OF TEXAS, AND THE SOCIETY AS A WHOLE.
GUIDE US IN OUR DECISIONS AS WELL AS OUR ATTENTION, ATTENTION TO EACH OTHER'S RIGHTS AND NECESSITIES SO THAT WE MAY HAVE ACT FAIRLY.
AND AS YOU HAVE TAUGHT US TO SEEK YOUR HEAVENLY KINGDOM IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.
MAY WE SEE EACH OTHER THROUGH YOUR EYES AND ALSO ACT WITH YOU.
MAY YOU INSPIRE US TO BE LOVING TO EACH OTHER AND SEEK THE JUSTICE THAT COMES FROM ABOVE, ALWAYS KEEPING THE TEACHINGS THAT YOU HAVE LEFT US.
AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF SELFLESSNESS.
HELP US TO TREAT EACH OTHER AS WE WISH TO BE TREATED.
AND CONSIDER OTHERS AS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN OURSELVES.
EXHUMING, THE LOVE THAT YOU SHOWED ON THE CROSS FOR ALL MANKIND.
IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, WE ELEVATE THIS PRAYER AND AWAIT YOUR GRACE.
WOULD LIKE TO, UH, UH, SAY OUR FAREWELL AS WE, UH, IDENTIFY IN THE CHURCH, AND THAT IS WITH A STATEMENT THAT IS, MAY THE PEACE OF GOD AND THE GRACE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST BE WITH YOU ALL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PASTOR TREJO.
IF YOU ALL JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING]
NEXT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR ROLL CALL.COUNCIL MEMBERS, PLEASE PREPARE TO ANSWER THE ROLL CALL BY UNMUTING YOURSELVES.
MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
COUNCILMAN CAMAN WILL BE ABSENT.
COUNCILMAN MARTIN WILL BE ABSENT.
CONSTABLE THOMAS, COUNCIL HUFFMAN PRESENT.
AND CONSTABLE ALCORN HERE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 7TH AND EIGHTH.
UH, ANY DISCUSSION? ANY DISCUSSION? IF NO DISCUSSION ITEM PASSES, UH, WE'LL MOVE TO A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE AND CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY HELLO TO MY FRIENDS AT HOUSTON BOMA, BUILDING OWNERS AND MANAGERS.
THEIR LEADERSHIP LYCEUM GROUP IS HERE TO WATCH PUBLIC SESSION TODAY.
I HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION WITH THEM OVER LUNCH TODAY.
I DO SEE ONE OF MY GOOD FRIENDS IN THE CHAMBER TODAY.
HEY, ROSS, HAPPY TO SEE YOU WITH THE GROUP.
UH, THANK Y'ALL ALL FOR BEING HERE, AND, UM, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, JUST COME AND ASK SALLY.
SHE'D BE HAPPY TO EXPLAIN HOW EVERYTHING WORKS AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UH, ARE THERE ANY PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER GALL.
UM, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD
[00:45:01]
THE FOLLOWING TO THE BOTTOM OF THE THREE MINUTE NON-AG AGENDA LIST.LIDIA RODRIGUEZ, EZ HERNANDEZ, VERONICA RAMIREZ, AND ANDREAS RODRIGUEZ.
ANY DISCUSSION? ANY DISCUSSION? IF NO DISCUSSION PASSES, ANY OTHER PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? IF
[PUBLIC SPEAKERS]
NOT, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER FELICIA, WHO TO BE FOLLOWED BY DAVID SHERMAN.WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
UM, VICE MAYOR PROTON, YOU'RE SPEAKING THE MICROPHONE.
UH, VICE MAYOR PROTON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE AND PRESENT MY CASE.
UM, I'M HERE REQUESTING THE COUNCIL TO OPPOSE A MOTION FOR AGENDA 34 AGAINST THE AWARDING OF BID, UM, S3 2, 4, 9 9 FOR TOMORROW.
UM, WE HAD PARTICIPATED IN THIS BID BACK IN DECEMBER 8TH OF, UM, LAST YEAR.
AND WE SAW ITS RECOMMENDATION FOR ITS AWARD ON THE CITY COUNCIL'S AGENDA LAST WEEK.
AND WE HAD REACHED OUT TO, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, AS HE WAS, AS WE BELIEVE WAS BEING AWARDED UNFAIRLY.
UM, WE HAD SUBMITTED SAMPLES AS REQUESTED IN ACCORDANCE TO THE BIDS ITB, AND, UM, WE WERE NOT, UH, THAT WAS OUR LAST INTERACTION IN THE CITY, AND WE WERE NOT GIVEN AN UPDATE OR AN OUTCOME OF THE PENDING AWARD, AND WE WERE NOT GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE DISQUALIFICATION OF OUR BID.
AND JUST ON THE RCA, IT JUST SAID WE DID NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS AND THEY JUST, THERE'S NO OTHER REASONS FOR THAT.
AND WE HAD DISPUTED THROUGH THE PROPER CHANNELS AND SUBMITTED OUR GRIEVANCES TO THE, UM, CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE UNTIL LATE LAST NIGHT AT 11 O'CLOCK.
UM, FURTHERMORE, WHEN WE TOOK A LOOK AT THE RCA THAT WAS PUT UP ON THE WEBSITE, WE SAW THAT THE BIDS THAT WAS ACCEPTED, UM, FERGUSON ENTERPRISE AND COBURN, UM, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE TWO BIDS WAS $3 MILLION.
AND IN ITS ENTIRETY, COBURNS WAS THE LOWEST, UM, $3 MILLION LOWER THAN FERGUSON, AND YET THE CITY IS RECOMMENDING TO HAVE THIS AWARD BE SPLIT AND GIVEN TO FERGUSON.
UM, HALF OF IT, UM, THE RCA HAD STATED THAT FERGUSON WAS THE LOWEST BID AND THEY WERE NOT.
UM, WE CHECKED THEM AND IT JUST WASN'T, AND FURTHERMORE, THE BID TABULATION THAT WAS PROVIDED WAS NOT, UM, THE AMOUNTS ON THERE WAS ALL WRONGLY LISTED.
AND LASTLY, WE ARE VACCINATED AS A CITY BUSINESS AND THE LOCAL BUSINESS.
SO, UM, I APPEAL THAT YOU OPPOSE THE MOTION FOR AGENDA 34 AND, UM, JUST BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF $3 MILLION AND TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS WHOLE, UM, THE BIDDING.
AND, UM, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I APPRECIATE THAT DUE CONSIDERATION THAT YOU'LL GIVE TO THIS BID AS YOUR, UM, YOUR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND ITS RESIDENCE.
UH, WE DO HAVE A RESPONSE COMING FROM, UM, OUR DIRECTOR TO YOU BASED ON YOUR, YOUR APPEAL.
UM, HOWEVER, WE DO NOTE THAT, UH, THE SAMPLES THAT YOU SUBMITTED, UH, DID NOT RE RE MEET THE SPECIFICATIONS.
UM, BUT THERE IS A RESPONSE COMING FROM YOU.
THEY DID RECEIVE YOUR, YOUR NOTICE, UM, AND LAST NIGHT THERE WAS A RESPONSE THAT WAS SENT TO YOU.
DID YOU RECEIVE THAT YET? YES.
HAVE YOU SEEN THAT YET? UM, YES.
MR. GREENFIELD HAD SAID THAT, UM, WE WERE, WE GAVE IN THEIR SAMPLES LATE, UM, ON FEBRUARY THE SECOND, BUT WE HAD RECEIVED A REQUEST TO PROVIDE THE SAMPLES BY EMAIL ON JANUARY 27TH.
SO BETWEEN JANUARY 27TH AND US SUBMITTING THE SAMPLES ON FEBRUARY THE SECOND, WE WERE IN COMPLIANCE.
AND I DO HAVE THE EMAILS FOR THAT.
BUT THE SPECIFIC IT DID NOT, YOUR SAMPLES DID NOT MEET THE SPECIFICATIONS? UM, NO, THIS ONE NOT MR. GREENFIELD SAID IN HIS LETTER TO ME LAST NIGHT, HE JUST SAID THAT I DID NOT SUBMIT IT ON TIME.
WE'LL HAVE TO CHECK THAT BECAUSE THE NOTICE THAT I HAVE READS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.
BUT WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE QUEUE TO ADDRESS YOU.
IT WAS A PLEASURE OF TALKING TO YOU YESTERDAY.
THANK, SO I DID LOOK INTO THE BACK ON THAT, THE, THE SPEC SHEET, WHICH WAS IN ERROR.
[00:50:01]
I DID GET A NEW ONE PUT IN THAT SHE POINTED OUT THAT ALL OF THE PRICES WERE, WERE THE SAME FOR, FOR LIKE THREE OF THE COMPANIES, EXACTLY THE SAME, BUT, BUT ADDING UP TO DIFFERENT AMOUNTS THAT WAS CORRECTED.THE WRONG BID SPEC BID SHEET WAS UPLOADED INTO, UM, SO HOPEFULLY THAT'S THE BID TAB BEEN CORRECTED.
I DID, UM, AS YOU SUGGESTED, I ASKED THE QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, THE $3 MILLION DIFFERENCE, YOU KNOW, IF NOT, WHY NOT GIVE THE WHOLE THING TO COBURN IF WE WERE GONNA SAVE MONEY? AND, AND WAS TOLD THAT THAT YOU, YOU BID ON LIKE SPECIFIC, UM, UH, SPECS FOR GROUPS AND, UH, COBURN, SOME OF THE ONES COBURN PROVIDED DID NOT PASS, BUT FERGUSONS DID.
SO THAT WAS THE REASON FOR DIVIDED IT UP LIKE THAT.
AND I ALSO RECEIVED THE SAME INFORMATION THAT THE VICE MAYOR PRO TEM IS SAYING THAT, UH, THE SAMPLES DID NOT MEET THE SPECIFICATIONS.
UM, SO THAT, THAT I THINK, I THINK VICE MAYOR PRO TEM, THAT'S THE INFORMATION I WAS PROVIDED AFTER I ASKED QUESTIONS THAT THE SAMPLES THAT YOU, I NOBODY SAID ANYTHING ABOUT.
YOU'RE NOT GETTING IT IN ON TIME.
THEY JUST TOLD ME THAT THOSE SAMPLES DID NOT MEET THE SPECS BECAUSE, UM, UH, ON THE RCA, IT DID NOT SAY THAT COBURNS WAS REJECTED BECAUSE THEY DID NOT MEET SPECIFICATION.
JUST THAT FERGUSON HAD THE LOWEST BID AND RIGHT.
AND I THINK WHICH WAS, AND THANKS TO YOU, I WAS ABLE TO ASK MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT IT AND GET A LITTLE MORE CLARITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S SUCH A BIG PRICE DIFFERENTIAL, UM, BETWEEN THE, BETWEEN THE BIDS.
COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH, I DID RECEIVE YOUR EMAIL AND I DID READ IT.
I'M, UM, UH, I WASN'T, I DIDN'T TAG IT BECAUSE IT WAS ALREADY TAGGED, SO I I AM CONCERNED ABOUT, UH, YOU SAYING THAT THEY SAID IT WAS LATE AND THEY NEVER TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THE SPECS BEING, UH, NOT MEETING THE, THE DEMAND OR THE, UH, WHAT WAS REQUIRED.
UM, MR. GREENFIELD SAID THAT, UM, WE HAD SUBMITTED THE SAMPLES LATE, BUT IT WAS NOT ACCURATE.
UM, THE BUYER HAD ASKED US ON JANUARY 27TH TO SUBMIT THE SAMPLES, AND WE SUBMITTED THE SAMPLES ON FEBRUARY THE SECOND.
BUT WAS YOUR, WAS YOUR BID LESS THAN WHAT WE'RE PAYING? YES.
AND IT WAS THE SAME, SAME THING.
I MEAN, IT'S, YES, WE HAVE A CURRENT OPEN CONTRACT THAT WAS SUPPLYING TO THE CITY, SO IT'S NOT AS IF WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT WE'RE, UM, SUPPLYING.
SO YOU'RE CURRENTLY PROVIDING THESE NOW, NOT THE SAME ONES, BUT SOME, UH, A SIMILAR, UM, WATER METER COVERS AND YES, WE ARE.
AND YOU SHOULD RECEIVE THAT CORRESPONDENCE FROM, UH, DIRECTOR GREENFIELD.
DAVID SHERMAN, BE FOLLOWED BY RAZZA PAGE.
YOU, YOU MAY CALL ME DAVID, BUT UM, I'M A MICROPHONE.
UM, I HAVEN'T HAD A LOT OF TIME TO PREPARE ANYTHING, BUT I WANT TO BE KNOWN THAT I'VE CAME TO THE CITY IN 77 AND ON MY WAY SOUTH, PASTOR WASHINGTON, I'D ALREADY DECIDED, BUT I WAS GONNA PUT EVERYTHING BEHIND ME AND FOCUS MY ATTENTION TOWARDS EVERYTHING HOUSTON AND MAKE MY HOME HERE.
AND I BUILT A CUSTOM HOME IN THE HEIGHTS, THE FIRST COMPLETED, AND WE DON'T KNOW, 20 YEARS PERHAPS.
AND, UH, I DESIGNED IT, UH, SO I WOULDN'T HAVE TO MOVE.
I COULD HAVE MADE MORE MONEY SPECULATING SOME OTHER PLACES, BUT I WANTED TO BE CLOSE IN WITH A BEAUTIFUL TREES.
AND NOW OF COURSE, WE HAVE A WHOLE NEW GENERATION OF TREES DUE TO VOLUNTEERS, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT RAISE MONEY AND FORMALLY, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, BUT THIS IS REALLY NOT MY SUBJECT TODAY.
I'VE, I'VE BEEN KNOWN, UH, BECAUSE MEMORIAL PARK WAS THREATENED, AND, UH, I CAME TO HOUSTON TO BE A BETTER GOLFER.
I WAS HANDICAPPED BY SPORTS INJURIES AND WHEN I STARTED OUT, BUT I, UH, HAD THE WEAR WHEREWITHAL AND THE KNOWLEDGE TO KNOW THAT I NEEDED PROFESSIONAL HELP AND I GOT IT.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT BUY CLUBS AND DON'T SEE THEIR PRO FIRST.
YOU NEED TO FIND OUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GONNA PLAY THIS GAME.
AND THE WAY TO DO IT IS WITH HELP.
SO ENOUGH ON THE, THE GOLF, IT'S BEEN, UH, UH, THREE GENERATIONS OF COURSES.
AND, UH, BECAUSE OF THE, UH, UH, LATE DAYS OF THE LAST, UH, FEMALE MAYOR, NO SECOND, UH, MS. WHITMEYER, UM, THE COURSE WAS GONNA BE CONTROLLED BY THE HOUSTONIAN HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER.
AND, UH, IT LATER HAPPENED THAT THE, UH, DIRECTOR OF THE HOTEL, UM, AND, UH, HE'S BECOME, I, WE, WE'VE BECOME VERY CIVIL WITH EACH OTHER AND PLAYED A LOT OF GOLF TOGETHER JUST AS WE BOTH WANNA BE OUT THERE.
AND, UH, THOSE DAYS ARE PASSED.
BUT I'D ADVISE YOU ALL TO BE CAREFUL, YOU KNOW, ABOUT COMMITMENTS YOU MAKE WITH
[00:55:01]
FUNDS, YOU KNOW, FOR YOUR, TO KEEP YOU GOING IN THIS OFFICE.AND, YOU KNOW, RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING, UM, I'VE SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE, AM I GONNA BE GIVEN DISCRETION? GO BEYOND THREE MINUTES, BECAUSE THE IMPORTANT THING I DOING TODAY IS THAT, UM, I WAS WALKING MY WALK IN THE MORNING AND THE MAYOR, I COULD SEE THEM ACROSS ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER AT HARVARD AND 11TH STREET EAST, AND A GROUP OF PEOPLE AMONG THEM BICYCLISTS MEETING ABOUT SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT.
AND THAT'S THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORTATION IN THE CITY.
AND MORE AND MORE, I'M SEEING MORE WAYS TO GO AROUND, INCLUDING ELECTRIC SKATEBOARDS.
NOW I GO WAY BACK, I, UH, FELL OFF A SKATEBOARD WHEN THE FRONT AXLE WENT OFF BECAUSE I MADE IT MYSELF FOR MY SISTER'S SKATES MADE HER ONE.
SO THEY DIDN'T HAVE SKATEBOARDS.
I SAW IT IN POPULAR MECHANICS, BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE WEARING WITHOUT HELMETS.
AND THESE HELMETS THAT THEY MAKE SO MANY OF TODAY WERE NOT AVAILABLE IN MY DAY.
BUT I DID BUY A LITTLE MOTORCYCLE TO, SO THE FAMILY CAR, UH, COULD BE USED BY OTHERS TO GET TO, UH, HIGH SCHOOL.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE IMPORTANT THING THAT I'VE KEPT COMING ABOUT IS THE, THE BOLD DECISION THAT MAYOR TURNER MADE TO, UH, HAVE BIKE LANES ON 11TH STREET.
NOW, I'M NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT MR. SHERMAN.
WE DO HAVE NO, JUST I HAVE TO MAKE THIS, THIS IS WHY I CAME DOWN.
CAN I, MR. SHERMAN, JUST HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
AND, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF MY TIME, BUT I ALSO WANT TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC ASK.
AND YOUR, AND LET YOU KNOW YOUR TIME IS LIMITED ENFORCEMENT IN THE HEIGHTS.
UH, THERE'S A LOT OF VEHICLES COMING THROUGH WITHOUT REGISTRATION, WITHOUT INSPECTION, THEY'RE NOISY.
BUT THE FORMER WAY THAT I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA FACE THIS WAY BEING JUST PRETENDING THIS IS NORTH, WE NEED TO HAVE YOU ON THE MICROPHONE, MR. SHERMAN.
IF, IF THIS IS NORTH, UM, BOUND ON HEIGHTS, UH, IT USED TO BE THAT THIS LANE WAS LEFT TURN AND WITH A NEW ADDITION, WHICH, UH, FRANKLY FLABBERGASTED ME BY THE NUMBER AMOUNT OF CEMENT THAT WAS USED TO MAKE THE BIKE LANES.
UM, I THINK IN THE FUTURE, THE FUNDS MIGHT BE BETTER SPENT WITH, UH, MORE OF THE, UH, UH, POSTS THAT, THAT FLEX.
BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THIS AREA HERE IN MY, UH, LEFT HAND, WHICH IS, UH, HERE'S THE, HERE'S THE GUTTER AND THE TREES, AND HERE'S THE, UH, NEW LANE THAT WAS FORMALLY JUST THE LEFT LANE.
SO EVERYBODY'S COMING UP HERE THINKING THAT THERE WAS A LEFT LANE TURN, AND NOW THEY'RE COMING IN HERE AND, UH, YOU'RE GONNA RUN RIGHT INTO A CONCRETE PAD, WHICH NOW, LIKE I SAID, A SALUTE MAYOR TURNER FOR RECOGNIZING THAT BIKE LANES ARE GONNA BE THE FUTURE, I THINK FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, NOT JUST FOR EXERCISE, BUT FOR, FOR SOME FELLOWS THAT I SEE AT THE MARKET AND THAT THEY'RE GETTING THEIR GROCERIES.
BUT, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC THAT NEEDS TO BE, UM, SLOWED DOWN.
NOW, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH TREE TREES FOR A LONG TIME, AND IT, THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO IS GET 175 FEET TO SEE THE LIGHT.
AND I'VE, I'M ON THE SITUATION WITH THE PARKLAND AS I HAVE BEEN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I'M GONNA GET A, A FEW OF MY MINUTES BACK, OKAY? ALRIGHT.
BUT I NEED A, BUT HERE'S THE PROBLEM.
WE NEED A SPECIFIC, AS PEOPLE, WE NEED ENFORCEMENT, BECAUSE THIS IS DANGEROUS.
WE NEED THE SIGN, WE NEED, THERE'S A SIGN FOR, FOR NO LEFT TURN, BUT PEOPLE ARE SQUEEZING AND GONNA, IT'S GONNA BE SERIOUS AND SOMEONE'S GONNA HIT THIS THING.
AND I, I HAD A PART THAT I WAS GONNA BRING.
BUT MR. SHERMAN, WE, THAT SOUTHBOUND, WE, WE GOT YOUR COMMENTS.
AND WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT SOMEONE FROM PUBLIC WORKS TAKES A LOOK AT IT.
OH, WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING TODAY.
I WAS AT A MEETING WITH 15 PEOPLE AND OKAY, MR. SHERMAN, WE GOT IT.
THEY WOULD NOT PUT MY NAME ON THE LIST TO, TO BE THANK YOU MR. SHERMAN.
WE WILL DEFINITELY HAVE SOMEBODY TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
I'M BEEN CUT OFF FROM, FROM MAKING SUGGESTIONS.
ONE LAST THING, ONE LAST POINT.
WELL, MY, MY BIGGEST SUGGESTION, NEXT SPEAKER, LEAVE ROOM IN FRONT OF AND NOT HAVE TO BREAK AND STOP.
WE, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU CARING ABOUT HOUSTON.
NEXT SPEAKER, THE NEXT SPEAKER.
ZA PAGE, RAZZA, PAGE H NEXT SPEAKER, JAMES GETZ.
MR. GOETZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY CLARENCE WILLIAMS. HELLO, COUNSEL.
[01:00:01]
A RECENT TRANSPLANT TO HOUSTON.I WORK IN IT AND I, UH, WORK DOWNTOWN, UM, BEING STAYING IN THE MONTROSE AREA, AND I'VE QUICKLY FALLEN IN LOVE WITH THE AREA AS MOST PEOPLE, AS I'M SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS, THE MONTROSE AREA IS REALLY COOL.
UM, AND THE DOWNTOWN IS BEAUTIFUL.
UM, BUT LIKE MANY CITIES RIGHT NOW, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE COMING OUT OF COVID STILL.
AND SO I JUST URGE THE CITY, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS ALREADY HAVE SOME KIND OF COMMITTEE TO, UM, PLAN FOR THE CHANGES THAT ARE COMING TO DOWNTOWNS AND JUST AS MORE AND MORE, UH, BUSINESSES ARE PULLING OUT, UM, TO CONSIDER, YOU KNOW, SOME KIND OF TAX ABATEMENT OR SOMETHING TO HELP, UM, IT BE EASIER TO CHANGE SOME OF THE COMMERCIAL SPACE THAT'S GOING TO INEVITABLY BE, UH, BECOME A HUGE LIABILITY TO CITIES LIKE HOUSTON WHEN YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, OPEN, UM, TENANTS AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IT TO REALLY BRING THE LIVELINESS.
I THINK THE CITIES ARE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF BUSINESSES NOT GONNA COME BACK.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO TRY TO LOOK AT TRYING TO BRING, UM, RESIDENTIAL DOWN HERE.
UM, AND IMPORTANT THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THIS AND THAT, BUT I, I'LL SPEAK AS JUST SOMEBODY, AS WE'RE ALL SADDLED UP TO DEBT BY A CERTAIN PEOPLE, UH, YOU KNOW, A CERTAIN AGE, UM, ATTAINABLE LIVING IS REALLY IMPORTANT AS WELL.
AND THE CITY CAN TRY TO MATCH AND MAKE IT TO WHERE CERTAIN AMOUNT OF DEVELOPMENTS AREN'T JUST FOR AFFORDABLE, BUT ACTUALLY ATTAINABLE TO WHERE PEOPLE THAT AREN'T JUST MAKING THE 400 PLUS THOUSAND CAN AFFORD TO LIVE THERE.
NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, UM, WITH THE, WITH, UH, GOVERNMENT VOUCHERS.
UM, AND THAT MOVING FORWARD AS WELL.
I THINK AS CITIES TO ATTRACT CERTAIN, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA COME DOWNTOWN.
IT'S REALLY SAD TO SEE CITIES OF THIS SIZE HAVE SUCH POOR RECYCLING PROGRAMS. UM, I KNOW THAT SOUNDS LIKE A, A LIBERAL ELITE KIND OF, UM, YOU KNOW, COMPLAINT, BUT IT REALLY, UH, JUST AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, IT JUST THIS TO BE THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY DOESN'T LOOK GOOD TO HAVE SUCH, UH, BAD RECYCLING.
UM, THAT BEING SAID, I LOVE A LOT ABOUT THIS CITY.
UM, IT'S GOOD TO SEE, UH, AS I KNOW THAT EVERYWHERE BIKE LANES ARE A HOT, UH, TOPIC, UM, BUT AN IMPORTANT ONE TO KEEP PUSHING FORWARD, ESPECIALLY DOWNTOWN.
UM, AS WELL AS I WAS SAYING WITH THE DOWNTOWN COMMITTEE, I HOPE THAT THEY CAN LOOK FORWARD, UH, TO, UM, MOVING BACK TO SOME OF THE, UH, THE DOWNTOWN STREETS.
I DON'T THINK THEY ALL NEED TO BE ONE LANE.
I DON'T THINK THAT THEY NEED TO BE FIVE LANES.
I, LIKE I SAID, I DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE EVER GONNA SEE THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC VOLUME BE AS HIGH AS IT ONCE WAS.
I DON'T THINK WE WANT IT TO EVER BE THAT HIGH.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE NEED DIFFERENT MODES OF TRAFFIC.
AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN, DIFFERENT CITIES HAVE SHOWN THAT IF YOU IN, UH, INVEST IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE, PEOPLE WILL USE IT.
IF IT'S BIKE LANES, IF IT'S OTHER THINGS, UM, YOU KNOW, PEDESTRIAN, IF IT'S NOT HELLACIOUS TO WALK, PEOPLE WILL WALK.
UM, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT DOWN HERE THERE'S MORE GROUND FOR RETAIL.
A LOT OF THESE, UH, BEAUTIFUL SKYSCRAPERS LOOK GREAT, BUT THEY ALSO LOOK LIKE PRISONS AND SOME OF THEIR GROUND FLOORS.
IF I MAY JUST FINISH THIS LAST THOUGHT, JUST NEED TO BE, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME KIND OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO RETURN TO WHERE THE FIRST FLOOR IS.
UM, SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN SEE YOURSELF WALKING INTO OR AT LEAST SEE INTO, EVEN IF IT IS JUST A LOBBY OF A BUILDING.
MR. GETZ, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING WITH US TODAY.
DANIELLE GARCIA TO BE FOLLOWED BY HANZA AWAY.
UM, GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL.
UM, I'M A WATER JUSTICE SPECIALIST AT BAYOU CITY WATER KEEPER.
UM, I HAVE, I LIVE IN DISTRICT A AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON ON A COMMUNITY DRAINAGE STUDY FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
UM, AND IT IN INSUFFICIENT INFRASTRUCTURE LEAVES COMMUNITIES IN HOUSTON FACING PROBLEMS ALONE THAT THE CITY DOES NOT PRIORITIZE A WORSE FIRST APPROACH WHEN HANDLING MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADES.
WE SEE THIS AS INSTANT AS INSTANCES OF SEWER OVERFLOWS STILL DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT CERTAIN COMMUNITIES AND WORSEN THE IMPACT OF OTHER FAILING SYSTEMS SUCH AS DRAINAGE.
DESPITE THE ADOPTION OF THE WASTEWATER HOUSTON CONSENT DECREE.
UM, USING A ONE WATER APPROACH, THE CITY MUST PRIORITIZE EQUITY AND INVESTMENT IN LOW INCOME BIPOC
[01:05:01]
COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY IN DRAINAGE SYSTEMS WHERE FLOODING RELATED INEQUITIES HAVE BEEN OBSERVED.UM, I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO ADDRESS THE UNDERINVESTMENT AND DRAINAGE FOR BIPOC COMMUNITIES IN THE 2024 HOUSTON CITY BUDGET.
UM, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ONE WATER APPROACH IS BEING USED TO ENSURE EQUITY AND INVESTMENT IN OUR DRAINAGE SYSTEMS. UM, IT'S BEEN OVER SEVEN YEARS SINCE THE CITY IDENTIFIED POOR DRAINAGE AS A PROBLEM FOR FAIR HOUSING, YET WE STILL HAVE NOT MADE MUCH PROGRESS.
UM, THE SAME STUDY THAT SHOWED 43% OF OPEN TRAINS DON'T WORK, ALSO SHOWED THAT 88% OF THESE STRAINS ARE LOCATED IN BIPOC COMMUNITIES.
IN ADDITION, THESE STRAINS ARE SUBJECT TO DUMPING, WHICH WORKS IN THE SYSTEM AND CONDITIONS OF FLOODING.
IT'S NOT RIGHT THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE BEING NEGLECTED FROM FLOOD PROTECTIONS, AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET.
TO DO THIS, WE URGE THE CITY TO ALLOCATE $20 MILLION TOWARDS THE STORM WATER ACTION TEAM FOR MAINTENANCE PROJECTS AND INCREASE LOCAL DRAINAGE PROGRAM FUNDS BY 20 MILLION.
WE ALSO NEED MORE, MORE FUNDS FOR PUBLIC WORK, STAFF, MAINTENANCE CREWS AND MACHINERY TO ENSURE TIMELY AND EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF DRAINAGE PROJECTS.
WE WANT THE CITY TO PRIORITIZE EQUITY AND UNDERINVESTED COMMUNITIES WHEN SELECTING DRAINAGE PROJECTS AND INVESTMENTS.
WE BELIEVE THAT A WORST FIRST SELECTION PROCESS THAT CONSIDERS FLOOD RISK, COMMUNITY INPUT AND OTHER FACTORS IS THE ESSENTIAL FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THE CITY MUST ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROJECT INFORMATION IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE SO COMMUNITIES CAN STAY INFORMED.
WE KNOW THAT THE CITY USES 3 1 1, UM, TO JUDGE HOW BAD THE ISSUES ARE WITH OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT BECAUSE 3 1 1 ENDS UP BEING EFFECTIVE, MOST COMMUNITY MEMBERS STOP CALLING AND REPORTING THE ISSUES.
THIS IS WHY WE URGE THE CITY TO PRIORITIZE EQUITY AND INVEST IN DRAINAGE IN OUR LOW INCOME BIPOC COMMUNITIES USING ONE WATER AS A MODEL TO DO SO.
THIS INVESTMENT IN DRAINAGE IS LONG OVERDUE AND THIS FRAMEWORK IS NECESSARY TO WORK TOWARDS A MORE EQUITABLE FUTURE FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS.
WE DO HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER IN Q TO ADDRESS YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
I COMPLETELY AGREE THAT WE NEED, UM, MORE WHEN IT COMES TO STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, ESPECIALLY IN DISTRICT DAY.
AND SO, UM, I'LL COME TALK TO YOU AFTERWARDS AND I'D LIKE TO GET MORE OF YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT.
NEXT SPEAKER, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON.
THIS IS NOT CROSS-EXAMINATION, BUT I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER PECK HAS LOOKED FOR $20 MILLION BEFORE.
AND JUST CURIOUS IF SHE HAS ANYTHING TO SAY ON THE RECORD FOR, UH, WHETHER SHE'D LIKE MORE THAN THAT.
AS FAR AS WHERE TO GET THE 20? NO, HOW DO YOU WANT MORE? OH, YOUR CONSTITUENT WANTED 20.
WE'LL TAKE MORE FOR DISTRICT EIGHT.
MY NAME IS HAMZA AND I'M WITH THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE AND I'M HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS OUR CITY'S 2024 BUDGET, MAINLY FOCUSING ON THE OPEN DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
AS WE ALL KNOW, FOR MANY YEARS, BIPO COMMUNITIES WITHIN HOUSTON HAVE BEEN UNDERFUNDED AND NOW NEED A RELIABLE SYSTEM TO PROTECT THE, THEIR COMMUNITIES FROM FLOODING.
DRAINAGE ISSUES ARISING FROM MA MISMANAGED OPEN DRAINS AND HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
THE CURRENT SYSTEM TO DOCUMENT AND ASSESS THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM IS OUTDATED AND NEEDS MANY IMPROVEMENTS.
IN FACT, IT'S REALLY NOT A SYSTEM AT ALL AS A GROUP.
THE NAC AND WEST STREET RECOVERY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON CREATING A NEW ASSESSMENT PROCESS FOR PARTS OF THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
IT'LL INCORPORATE MORE INFORMATION TO SHOW WHETHER THE DRAINS ARE WORKING AS THEY SHOULD BE OR NOT.
WE ARE STILL WORKING ON IMPROVING IT BY, IT INCORPORATES SEVERAL THINGS THAT ARE NOT PART OF THE CURRENT ASSESSMENT PROCESS SHARED WITH US BY PUBLIC WORKS, INCLUDING HOW RECENTLY THE RAIN, WHO AND HOW THE DRAINS ARE BEING MANAGED, HOW MUCH THE DRAINS NEED TO BE IMPROVED OR MAINTAINED DEPENDING ON THE DAMAGE IT HAS ENDURED OVER TIME DUE TO FLOODING, EROSION AND ILLEGAL DUMPING.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, HAS THE AREA RECENTLY EXPERIENCED FLOODING.
WE NEED AS A CITY TO LEARN FROM WHAT WE ARE DOING AND ADOPT SOMETHING LIKE OUR STUDY ON A MUCH WIDER SCALE.
THIS WILL MAKE OUR DRAINAGE SYSTEM MORE VIABLE WITHOUT PUSHING THE BURDEN OF MAINTAINING THEM ONTO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY MARGINALIZED AND IN NEED FOR OF BETTER LIVING CONDITIONS.
[01:10:12]
OKAY.TO BE FOLLOWED BY BILLY GUEVARA.
MS. GUEVARA, WOULD YOU TALK BEHIND ONE OF THOSE MICROPHONES? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I LIVE IN LAKEWOOD COMMUNITY AND DISTRICT B.
I HAVE LIVED WITH MY FAMILY HERE FOR 44 YEARS.
I AM HERE TODAY AS A MEMBER OF NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE TO DEMAND THAT THE CITY CHANGE THE CITY BUDGET TO IMPROVE DRAINAGE IN MY COMMUNITY.
PEOPLE, UH, OR EXCUSE ME, PUBLIC WORKS NEED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS MORE TO ASSESS DRAINAGE NEEDS AND INVEST IN OUR SAFETY.
THE CITY SAYS IT HAS A WORSE FIRST APPROACH TO DRAINAGE.
THE CITY SAYS IT WILL ADDRESS THE MOST INADEQUATE DRAINAGE BEFORE MORE MINOR PROBLEMS. BUT I AM HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT THERE IS NO DRAINAGE IN MY BLOCK.
THERE ARE NO INLETS, THERE ARE NO DITCHES, THERE IS NO DRAINAGE SYSTEM AT ALL.
AND SURELY THERE MUST BE ONE OF THE WORST PROBLEMS A DRAINAGE SYSTEM CAN HAVE.
MY HOME, MY HOME GOT TWO FEET OF WATER.
AND DURING HARVEY, AND EVERY TIME IT RAINS, THERE IS A MASSIVE PUDDLE AT THE END OF MY STREET.
THE RISK IN THE COMMUNITY, IT'S HUGE.
I LIVE JUST YARDS FROM HALL BIO AND THE INDUSTRY IN OUR COMMUNITY MEANS THAT THE WATER FROM FLOODING IN OUR COMMUNITY IS FULL OF TOXIC MATERIALS.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS ALSO ONE OF THE CITY ONE WHERE THE CITY HAS NOT INVESTED ENOUGH IN SEWERS.
SO FLOOD WATERS ARE FILLED WITH HUMAN WASTE.
MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS MY HOME AND I LOVE MY COMMUNITY, BUT IT WOULD TAKE ME OVER AT LEAST FIVE MINUTES TO WALK DOWNHILL TO THE NEAREST DRAIN.
THE CITY NEEDS TO INVEST IN COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE SO THAT FAMILIES LIKE MINE CAN LIVE WITHOUT CONSTANT WORRY OF WATER AND WHAT IS IN IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING.
WE, YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELL NOTED.
NEXT SPEAKER BILLY GUEVARA TO BE FOLLOWED BY BECKY SELL.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM A RESIDENT OF NORTHEAST HOUSTON, DISTRICT B COLLETTE STREET, 7 7 0 7 8, AND I'M, UM, BEEN A RESIDENT THERE FOR NOW 44 YEARS.
I LIVE RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO MY MOTHER WHO JUST SPOKE.
UH, I'M HERE TO, UM, ADVOCATE FOR BETTER DRAINAGE.
UH, THE WEBSITE ON THE CITY SAYS, UH, THEY HAVE A WORST FIRST APPROACH IN THE, UH, DRAINAGE, UH, SYSTEM TO REPLACE, NOT, UH, NOT TO REPAIR, BUT TO REPLACE TOTALLY THE, UH, DRAINAGE SYSTEM WITHIN NORTHEAST HOUSTON.
I SEE THAT THE WORST FIRST ISN'T HAPPENING, BEING THAT WE'RE STILL, UH, WE STILL NEED MORE FUNDING, AT LEAST THE $20 MILLION THAT WAS DUE FOR OUR AREA TO IMPROVE THESE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS. UH, WE LIVE IN A HIGH SVI SOCIAL VULNERABILITY INDEX, SO THAT MEANS WHEN FLOOD HAPPENS,
[01:15:01]
WHICH I WAS FLOODED DURING HARVEY AND ALLISON, THAT, UH, WE'RE THE WORST FIRST, WE'RE THE LAST TO RECOVER.OUR RESOURCES ARE LIMITED WHEN IT COMES TO RECOVERY.
THAT INCLUDES FEMA AND HELP FROM THE STATE OR THE CITY.
NOW LIVING IN MY AREA ON COLETTE STREET, IT IT, AFTER IT RAINS, EVEN IF IT RAINS A FEW DROPS, IT'S STILL, UH, MUD AND WATER GATHERS, UH, ON THE SIDES OF THE STREET TO WHERE NOBODY CAN WALK.
I END UP HAVING TO WALK WITH MY CANE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, AND I'M SORRY THAT'S NOT HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
IT'S, UH, REALLY SAD THAT I HAVE TO DO THAT AND SOMETIMES EVEN AVOID DAYS THAT I DO WANNA GO OUT FOR A WALK.
UH, CONSIDERING THAT WE, UH, DEAL WITH FOOD DESERTS, WE DO DEAL, WE DEAL WITH, UH, POLLUTING INDUSTRIES THAT THEY KEEP BUILDING WITHIN NORTHEAST HOUSTON AND ALSO THE FOOD DESERTS, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER TOPIC.
OKAY? SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS THAT THE CITY AND COUNCIL LIVE UP TO THE NAME, LIVE UP TO THE STANDARD, OF COURSE, FIRST 'CAUSE WE'RE SIMPLY NOT HAVING THAT IN, IN OUR AREA.
ALSO, I WANT TO ADD THAT IT'S SAD TO SEE THAT OUR CHILDREN HAVE TO WALK THROUGH POLLUTED WATER ON THE SIDES OF THE STREETS JUST TO GET TO THE BUS STOP.
PEOPLE CAN'T, THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON HAS DECLINED WITHIN THE PAST 20 YEARS, AND THAT'S NOT HAPPENING EITHER.
WE NEED TO HAVE, UH, MORE LIVABLE, UH, MORE COST-EFFECTIVE MEASURES TO IMPROVE, UH, THE DRAINAGE IN EVERYTHING SO WE CAN HAVE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.
NOW, TASHA JACKSON HERSELF BEFORE SHE CAME, COUNCIL MEMBER, HAS SEEN HOW OUR COLLECT OUR NE UH, THE STREETS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE BEEN WITH THE WATER AND THE, THE DITCHES FULL OF, FULL OF JUNK AND FULL OF MESS, UH, ARE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO THAT WOULD JUST BE REINFORCED TO KNOW FOR, FOR HER TO KNOW AND TO LET OTHERS KNOW ON COUNCIL THAT THIS IS, THIS IS, THIS IS NOT GOOD.
SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, MR. MR. GUEVARA AND TO ALL OF THE MEMBERS HERE.
UM, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU SAW LAST WEEK'S COUNCIL SESSION, UM, AND WE DID HAVE A LIST OF PROJECTS IN DISTRICT B THAT ARE IN, IN DESIGN, GOING TO CONSTRUCTION, UM, TO ADDRESS SOME OF YOUR DRAINAGE CONCERNS.
I KNOW THAT YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER HAS BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY TO GET MORE PROJECTS ON THE BOOKS FOR YOUR AREA, UM, AND SHE IS IN THE QUEUE TO ADDRESS YOU.
THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM, AND THANK YOU FOR COMING IN TO SHARE YOUR CONCERNS.
AS YOU KNOW, UM, FLOODING WAS ONE OF MY MAIN PRIORITIES, UM, IN DISTRICT B, SPECIFICALLY NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, AS, UM, VICE MAYOR KIM SAID, WE HAVE QUITE A FEW PROJECTS THAT'S MOVING, UM, IN THAT AREA.
WE PASSED, UM, SOME PROJECTS LAST WEEK, BUT THEN ALSO SWAT PROJECTS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO, UM, TO, UM, THE RO THE ROSTER.
UM, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE MAYOR, YOU KNOW, THE $20 MILLION THAT YOU GUYS ADVOCATED FOR, THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET, UM, PAST LAST, UM, BUDGET CYCLE.
UM, THAT MONEY IS BEING IMPLEMENTED ON A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS, AND HE'S ALSO COMMITTED TO ADDITIONAL $20 MILLION.
AND HIS, MY CONVERSATION WITH HIM IS THAT THAT 20 MILLION IS GOING TO BE, UM, DISTRIBUTED EQUITABLY, NOT EQUALLY.
AND SO I DID JUST RECENTLY MEET WITH, UM, DIRECTOR HADDOCK ABOUT THESE PROJECTS, AND I KNOW THAT THEY'RE IN CONSTANT COM COM COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR GROUP.
UM, I MEAN, SO WE'RE, WE ARE WORKING, WE'RE MOVING.
UM, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU COMING IN AND KEEPING US, YOU KNOW, UM, KEEPING OUR FEET TO THE FIRE, JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD.
WE COM DOING WHAT WE SAY WE'RE GONNA COMMIT TO DO.
UM, BUT THEN ALSO, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS ADVOCATED FOR RESOURCES FOR THE DITCH MAINTENANCE PROGRAM.
AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR DISTRICT OFFICE HAS RECENTLY ROLLED OUT.
UM, WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE, YOU KNOW, WORK WITH YOU GUYS ON THAT.
UM, WE ARE ACTUALLY TAKING, UM, UM, UM, CONSTITUENTS ADDRESSES.
THEY'RE GETTING RIGHT NOW, THEY CAN SIGN UP TO COME AND GET THEIR DITCHES, UM, MAINTENANCE SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THAT WATER IS FLOWING, UM, PROPERLY UP THOSE DITCHES.
SO WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, THE YEARS, DECADES LONG NEGLECT, UM, IS BEING TAKEN CARE OF.
AND JUST KNOW I'M ADVOCATING FOR YOU GUYS WHY ON COUNCIL.
BECKY S BECKY S NEXT SPEAKER, BRENDA TIINA.
UH, MY NAME IS BRENDA DE HEINA.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT J, UH, AND I WORK WITH THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE AND WITH, WITH WEST STREET RECOVERY AS A COMMUNITY RESEARCHER.
SO I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHY THE NACS DEMAND TO INCREASE PUBLIC WORK.
STAFFING, AND MACHINERY FOR DITCH MAINTENANCE IS
[01:20:01]
SO IMPORTANT FOR THE WELLBEING OF OUR RESIDENTS, UH, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREAS OF HOUSTON WHERE OPEN DITCH DRAINAGE IS CONCENTRATED.UM, MANY STREETS, UH, IN, IN, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS DO NOT HAVE THE DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE.
UH, LAKEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, HAS, WAS DEVELOPED EXTREMELY CLOSE TO HOUSE BAYOU, AND IT DOES NOT HAVE THE APPROPRIATE SYSTEM TO MOVE WATER OUT EFFICIENTLY TO THE BAYOU.
SO KITZ STREET, AS, UH, THE MEMBERS WERE MENTIONING, HAS NO INLETS AND PERPENDICULAR TO IT IS LAS CRUCES AVENUE, WHICH HAS INCOMPLETE CURBS, UH, IN THAT SYSTEM DOES NOT MOVE LIKE THE WATER.
SO, UH, THOUGH A LOT OF THE TIMES THE INLETS, IF THE WATER DOES FLOW, ARE BLOCKED BY GROWING WEEDS, TRASH, AND OTHER DEBRIS.
UM, SO IF THESE CURBS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO CHANNEL WATER TO THE INLETS, UH, DO NOT WORK, THE STANDING WATER CAN LAST DAYS AND CREATE INCONVENIENCE AND HEALTH RISKS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO DRIVE OR WALK THROUGH THE DIRTY WATER.
UH, OPEN DITCHES AND UNDERGROUND DRAINAGE SYSTEMS REQUIRE DIFFERENT TYPES OF MAINTENANCE.
DITCHES REQUIRE MORE MAINTENANCE, AND WHEN THEY'RE NOT PROPERLY MAINTAINED, THEY CANNOT PERFORM THEIR FUNCTION.
OFTENTIMES, CITIZENS PAY PRIVATE CONTRACTORS TO CLEAN THEIR DITCHES, BUT NOT EVERYONE CAN AFFORD THAT.
THERE ARE ALSO MANY PHYSICAL BARRIERS, AS YOU CAN SEE, THAT RESIDENTS, UH, CANNOT CLEAN THEIR OWN DITCHES THEMSELVES.
SO LARGE DRAINAGE, LARGE SCALE DRAINAGE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS TAKE A LOT OF MONEY LIKE SWAT AND LDP, UH, IN THOSE YEARS.
IT TAKES YEARS OF PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION.
UH, SO MAINTENANCE WORK, UH, IS REQUIRED.
SO INVESTING IN MAINTENANCE IS NECESSARY TO KEEP THOSE, UH, SYSTEMS FROM DEGRADING, UH, RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON, UH, WITH UNDER, SORRY, RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN AREAS OF HOUSTON WITHOUT, UH, WITH UNDERGROUND DRAINAGE, DO NOT HAVE TO SPEND THEIR OWN MONEY OR TIME TO MAINTAIN THEIR DRAINAGE SYSTEMS. BUT THE CITY HAS PUT RESPONSIBILITY OF MAINTAINING OPEN DITCHES ON INDIVIDUALS.
SO POOR DRAINAGE IS NOT AN INDIVIDUAL PROBLEM.
IT IMPACTS THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO BASICALLY, THE CITY IS MAKING POOR PEOPLE HAVE TO LIVE UNDER CONDITIONS THAT WEALTHY PEOPLE DO NOT.
SO AGAIN, THE CITY NEEDS TO INCREASE SPENDING ON IN-HOUSE STAFF AND MACHINERY FOR MAINTENANCE.
HEY, BRENDA, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, TELL YOU THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN.
UH, OUR OFFICE WILL CONTINUE TO STAY ENGAGED WITH YOU ALL AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON'S OFFICE, UH, SO WE CAN SEE HOW WE CAN ADVOCATE ON YOUR BEHALF.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALREADY MET WITH US AS WELL.
NEXT SPEAKER, REEN ATMORE REEN ATMORE CHAIR TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARY AND SCOTT.
HELLO, MS. ATMORE, IN FRONT OF ONE OF THE MICS IN FRONT OF ONE OF THE MIC.
WE ARE READY FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
UM, I MIGHT, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I MIGHT NEED A LITTLE TIME.
I'M HERE, UM, BECAUSE I WANT TO EXPRESS THE FACT THAT, UM, THE CITY NEEDS TO CHANGE THEIR POLICY WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, POLICE, UH, INTERACTION WITH OTHER POLICE.
I WAS A VICTIM OF MALICIOUS, VICIOUS, UH, POLICE BRUTALITY.
I WAS A VICTIM SUCH AS GEORGE FLOYD.
I HAD THREE METRO POLICE THAT RAN OFF OF A METRO BUS STOP, 1500 FEET DOWN TO THE CORNER WEST TIME AND MONTROSE, WHERE I WAS STANDING, TALKING TO A SHERIFF OFFICER AT HIS CAR.
I WAS STANDING IN HIS WINDOW TALKING TO HIM, AND THEY TOLD ME I COULDN'T TALK TO HIM FROM DOWN AT THE SHELTER.
THEY KEPT TELLING ME TO GET AWAY FROM THE CAR.
THEY CAME AND THEY BANGED ME ALL UP AGAINST THE CAR.
AND HERE MY, I LOOK LIKE SOMEONE FROM THE PLANTATION WHO ESCAPED.
MY LEG IS SPRUNG MY HAND, AND I CAN'T HAVE MEMORY LOSS.
NOW I HAVE A CUT IN THE BACK OF MY EYE BEHIND MY SURGERY.
I NOT SEEN, MY EYES WERE RECOVERING.
THEY'RE WORSE BEFORE THE SURGERY.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE METRO POLICE CHIEF OF POLICE IS SAYING THAT, UH, THE EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS WARRANTED OR WHATEVER, AND THAT THERE WAS NO EXCESSIVE FORCE.
I'M 68 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME THAT IT HAPPENED, I HAD A HERNIA IN BETWEEN MY A**L PART THIS BIG.
[01:25:01]
THEY'RE DRAGGING ME, BUMPING ME AGAINST THIS CAR.I HAVE TWO DISLOCATED DISC IN MY BACK TO THE FOURTH AND FIFTH LUMBAR SPINE.
AND SO WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR TWO YEARS, I'VE BEEN A VICTIM OF DISCRIMINATION BY THE METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY.
THEY WILL NOT LET MY WHEELCHAIR ON THE BUS.
THEY'VE ALSO, ONE TIME THEY PUT MY LEG IN THE DOOR AND WENT TO PULL OFF THE BUS WITH ME IN THE STREET.
SO I'VE BEEN FILING COMPLAINTS WITH THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION.
THEY HACK, THEY, THEY, THEY, MY PHONE IS WIRE TAPPED.
ALL OF MY DEVICES ARE WIRE TAPPED.
THE PEOPLE IN MY PHONE ARE METRO POLICE PEOPLE THAT, THAT, THAT WORK FOR THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
AND HE GOES WITH WHAT, WHAT WITH ONE OF THE METRO POLICE.
AND THEY, THEY'VE CALLED, THEY'VE GOT ALL OF MY ACCOUNTS.
I CAN SHOW YOU WHERE THEY'VE BEEN INTO THE CITY ACCOUNTS.
HE IN TURN MAY EMAILED CHIEF FINN.
THEY INTERCEPTED THOSE, ALL MY EMAILS.
I'M NOT ALLOWED TO MAKE PHONE CALLS IN AND OUT.
I HAVE SAT IN MY HOUSE, HURT FOR DAY, AND THEN MY, MY MANAGEMENT, I, ON THE 1ST OF MARCH HAD CUT.
THIS HAPPENED ON 24TH OF FEBRUARY.
ON THE 1ST OF MARCH, MY MANAGEMENT HAD CUT OFF OUR LIGHTS, EVEN THOUGH THEY INCLUDED IN THE RENT.
I'M THERE ALL THOSE DAYS WITHOUT NO PAIN MEDICATION.
I CAN'T GET ANY CALLS IN AND OUT.
BEN CRUMP CALLED ME THREE TIMES ON FEBRUARY 27TH.
I DIDN'T GET HIS MESSAGE TILL YESTERDAY.
NOT ONLY THAT TIME HAS EXPIRED.
CAN I HAVE MORE TIME PLEASE? BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT I NEED TO, BECAUSE THEY, WHAT I'M SAYING, THIS IS UNEQUAL PROTECTION OF LAW.
I'M THE STREET OF CH OF, OF HOUSTON.
SO WHEN I CALLED MAYOR TURNER ABOUT, I MEAN THE POLICE ABOUT IT, MS. ADAM MOORE, THEY, THEY'RE SAYING THAT THEY CAN'T FILE A CHARGE AGAINST THE METRO POLICE BECAUSE IT'S A DIFFERENT AGENCY THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE THEM TO INVESTIGATE IT.
THEY SELF, THIS IS UNE UNEQUAL PROTECTION OF THE LAW.
THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING WARRANTS OUT ON ME.
THEY'VE TRIED TO PUT A CHARGE ON ME.
MS. ADAM MOORE, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
CAN SOMEONE PLEASE GIVE ME THEIR TIME? BECAUSE YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN HERE TALKING.
YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN HERE TALKING ABOUT, WE GOTTA GO, WAIT A MINUTE.
YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN HERE TALKING ABOUT DRAINAGE AND STUFF.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THEY'RE IN MY PHONE.
THEY GOT INTO MY PHONE AND THEY GOT INTO MY GRANDSON'S ACCOUNT.
THEY'RE SENDING PORNOGRAPHY STUFF TO HOLD UP.
THEY'RE SENDING PORNOGRAPHY STUFF TO MY MOORE MOORE.
I'M GONNA ASK RENEE IF HE'LL SOMEBODY PLEASE GIVE ME THAT TIME.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE RENEE TO, TO GET THE, THE REMAINING OF YOUR STATEMENT.
BUT WE, WE UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERNS.
I NEED, MA'AM, WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS YOU SAID THAT MAYOR TURNER SAID THAT EVERY BUSINESS IN THE CITY HAS TO HAVE, UH, CAMERAS IN FRONT OF THEM.
OKAY? SO, AND THEY, AND THEY HAVE STOPLIGHTS.
MS. WHY DOESN'T ANYBODY HAVE ANY CAMERA FOOTAGE OF THESE PEOPLE DOING THIS TO ME? AT WATCH AT, AT, AT WEST WESTHEIMER AT MONTROSE, I CAN STAND UP.
I'M 68 YEARS OLD, OKAY? AND I, I, I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY I CAN'T HAVE NO TIME GUILTY TO ME.
YOU HAVE PEOPLE STANDING UP HERE TALKING ABOUT GARBAGE, GARBAGE.
AND THEN YOU HAVE GROUPS OF PEOPLE STANDING UP HERE AND, AND YOU GET BACK HERE, MS. PERSON, ANOTHER PERSON TO SAY THE SAME THING.
AND YOU'VE ALREADY TOLD THEM THAT YOU'RE GONNA TALK TO THEM AND YOU GONNA STILL ALLOW THESE GROUPS.
DON'T GRAB ME BECAUSE I'M HURT.
MY DADDY IS, I'M HURT ALL OVER Y'ALL GRANDSONS PHONE.
Y'ALL GOTTA SOME KIND OF ORDINANCE TO STOP THESE PEOPLE.
I GRANDSON AIN GOT NO BUSINESS YOU CAN STEAL I NO EMAILS.
AND THEY TOOK, MY GRANDSON GOT HERE, THEY ONE AND GAVE PEOPLE, I WANT MY SON, MY GRANDSON TO BE, THEY USED STUDENT ACCOUNT FOR HISD.
MS. ATMORE TOOK ALL MY MEDICATIONS FROM ME THAT NIGHT AND MY WHEELCHAIR.
I WENT THREE DAYS WITHOUT MEDICATIONS.
DON'T TELL ME IF I HAVE TO GO TO COURT, TELL IF I FEDERAL COURT BECAUSE POLICY IT, DO IT BECAUSE YOU WANT HAVE RENE RENEE, CAN YOU GET HER INFORMATION? THEY NO.
THEY, NO, THE NEXT SPEAKER, THEY HAD NO REASON FOR JURISDICTION.
BECKY CELL, THEY GET ALL THIS.
[01:30:01]
THIS IS BECKY CELL SALE.I'M HERE AS PART OF THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE AND AS A COMMUNITY RESEARCHER FOR WEST STREET RECOVERY.
AND HERE TO FOLLOW UP ON WHAT MY, UH, COWORKER SAID, AS WELL AS THE LADY THAT WAS JUST SPEAKING BASICALLY ABOUT ISSUES OF INEQUALITY AND INEQUITY IN HOUSTON.
SO I'M GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT DRAINAGE AS WELL.
SO I WANNA HIGHLIGHT, UM, THE URGENCY OF DRAINAGE INVESTMENT, ESPECIALLY DUE TO THE COMPOUNDING HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH DRAINAGE.
SO WHEN WATER SITS IN THE STREETS AND IN OUR DITCHES, IT'S NOT JUST EXPOSURE TO WATER, BUT IT'S EXPOSURE TO ALL THE OTHER CONTAMINANTS AND TOXINS IN THE AREA.
THE DIRTIER THE WATER, THE RISKIER INEFFECTIVE DRAINAGE IS, AND OPEN DITCHES HAVE A HIGHER RISK OF HOLDING TRASH AND ACCUMULATING CONTAMINANTS.
SO IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON, WHICH IS FULL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RISK, THE INEFFECTIVE DRAINAGE IS A REALLY SERIOUS HEALTH DANGER.
AND RIGHT NOW, THE CITY SYSTEM OF DRAINAGE ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITIZATION OF WHERE INVESTMENT MONEY GOES DOES NOT CONSIDER COMPOUNDING RISKS LIKE THESE HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON.
SOME OF THE MAIN ISSUES ARE SEWAGE.
WE KNOW THERE'S MORE LEAKS IN BIPOC AREAS, AS WAS FOUND IN THE LAWSUIT FROM A FEW YEARS AGO.
TRASH AND DUMPING, UH, HOMES AND DISREPAIR, UH, LEAD CONTAMINANTS, UH, ASBE, ASBESTOS, CONCRETE BATCH PLANTS, THE GIANT DUMP, THE CREOSOTE DEPOSIT AND DRAIN IN TRUCK YARDS JUST TO NAME A FEW.
SO INADEQUATE DRAINAGE HEIGHTENS ALL OF THIS.
ALL OF THESE RISKS AND DRAINAGE NEEDS TO BE FIXED AND THE CONTAMINANTS NEED TO BE REMOVED.
AND WE'RE HERE TO SAY THAT THE CITY CAN TAKE STEPS TOWARDS MITIGATING THIS RISK BY TAKING STEPS TOWARDS SOLVING THAT DRAINAGE IN THIS BUDGET CYCLE.
WE NEED INVESTMENT 20 MILLION MORE TO THE SWAP PROGRAM, 20 MILLION MORE TO THE LDP PROGRAM, 20 MILLION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS FOR STAFF AND MACHINERY CAPACITY TO SCALE UP THE DEPARTMENT AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY.
WE KNOW THE CITY'S WORKING ON A STORMWATER MASTER PLAN, BUT WE'RE JUST MADE TO KNOW THAT IT CONTAINS NOTHING ABOUT COMPOUNDING RISK, SOCIAL VULNERABILITY, OR ACTUAL DATA ON FLOODING.
IT'S YET JUST ANOTHER HYDROLOGICAL MODEL.
DON'T GET ME WRONG, THAT'S IMPORTANT, BUT WE NEED TO CONSIDER THESE OTHER THINGS TOO, RESIDENTS.
CITY REPRESENTATIVES HAVE TIME AND TIME AGAIN SHOWN THE NEC DIAGRAMS OF PERFECTLY MAINTAINED PRISTINE DITCHES AND ARGUED THEY WORK.
BUT THE LAST TIME THE CITY TRIED TO ANALYZE THE DITCH EFFECTIVENESS IN 2014, THEY FOUND 43% OF DITCHES DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY.
RESIDENTS COULD IDENTIFY THESE BAD PROBLEMS IN HIGH RISK, BUT THERE'S NO EFFECTIVE MODE FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
MOST OF THE MONEY IN DRAINAGE IS DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE CIP, BUT THERE'S NO PROCESS FOR MEANINGFUL INPUT IN THE CIP.
THERE WAS NO MEETING IN 2020 AND 2021.
AND IN 2022 IT WAS COMBINED WITH A REDISTRICTING MEETING.
EVEN PUBLIC WORK STAFF HAVE ADMITTED THAT THE CIP IS NOT REALLY IMPACTED BY PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
AND PLANS ARE SET SO FAR IN ADVANCE.
BECKY ENTONS HILL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND, UM, APPRECIATE ALL THE INFORMATION YOU'VE GIVEN US A BIG STACK OF LITERATURE TO REVIEW.
AND, UH, SO JUST BEFORE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO READ THIS, OF COURSE, I'M INTERESTED IN THE ANALYSIS AND SOME OF THE COMMENTS YOU'VE MADE TODAY.
LET'S PROCEED WITH THE PREMISE THAT I AGREE WITH YOU THAT, UH, SOME OF THIS INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS FUNDING.
CAN I ASK YOU HOW YOU GOT TO YOUR SCALE OF MAGNITUDE IN TERMS OF THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS GETTING FROM 20 TO 40, FOR INSTANCE, IS A DOUBLING OF THE THAT BUDGET, UM, SUPPORTED BY ANY SPECIFIC ANALYSIS THAT YOU'VE DONE? YEAH, SO THE 20 MILLION TO THE SWAT PROGRAM WAS DONE LAST YEAR BY MAYOR TURNER.
AND THAT CAN HAPPEN AGAIN, THE 20 MILLION TO LDP.
SO LDP PROJECTS ARE BASICALLY THE MAIN WAY THE DEPARTMENT OF DRAINAGE HAS TO INVEST IT IN ADDRESS ISSUES VERY QUICKLY AND ON A STREET BASIS.
UM, AND THE, I'M SURE AS YOU HEARD US TALK ABOUT IN PREVIOUS WEEKS, THERE'S A DIVERSION OF THE AD VALOREM TAX TO THE GENERAL FUND THAT IS MEANT TO GO TO THE DRAINAGE FUND THAT IS ABOUT 24 MILLION.
SO THAT MONEY COULD GO TO THE LDP, UH, THOSE, THAT LAST 20 MILLION THAT WOULD BE INCREASING.
UM, THE DEPARTMENT STRENGTH WEEK JUST CAME UP WITH THAT NUMBER AS 20 MILLION WE THINK IS A REALISTIC GOAL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION ON ALL OF THIS.
WE'RE GONNA GO BACK TO ZA PAIGE.
[01:35:11]
HELLO, MS. PAIGE.HOW YOU DOING? I'M SORRY I'M LATE, BUT, UM, I'M HERE.
FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I'M A, MY NAME IS QUEEN CEREBRAL PAGE.
WAS NOBODY TO TELL EVERYBODY, UH, WHEN THEY COME TO AMERICA TO SPEAK GERMAN.
I'M A MILITARY CHILD, UH, VETERANS AND SINGLE PARENTS AND CHILDREN THAT'S STILL IN THE MILITARY.
I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HOUSING.
I HAD, UM, THE CITY HAVE GAVE, UM, HOUSING A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY, WHICH I STAYED IN
I WAS ASSAULTED BY THE MANAGER THERE.
AND THIS PROPERTY IS UNDER LOCK AND KEY.
ONLY PEOPLE THAT CAN GET IN YOUR PROPERTY IS THE MANAGE MANAGER.
I HAD TO WITHDRAW ALL FUNDS AT THE BANK BECAUSE I WAS ABOUT, UH, THE BENEFICIARY OVER MY DADDY FUNDING, MEANING THAT I WAS ON HOUSING LIST.
I REALIZED AFTER WE WENT TO ANOTHER STATE, I REALIZED THAT I HAD HOUSING SECTION EIGHT, PUBLIC HOUSING RAPID REHOUSE HERE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
WHEN I CAME TO RESOLVE THIS, IT WAS A PROBLEM.
IT'S A LOT OF WRONGDOING FOR THE HOMELESS PEOPLE THAT I, EVEN THOSE WHO GET ACCEPTED FOR HOUSING.
MY OLDEST CHILD IS 33 AND MY YOUNGEST IS 27.
I HAVE BEEN ON THE HOUSING FOR 25 YEARS UNTIL MY NAME CAME UP ON HOUSING FOR PUBLIC HOUSING TO BE PLACED AT AND UM, CAME HOME FOR A FULL BED.
MY LADY TOLD ME THAT MY OLDEST CHILD IS, BUT I GOT SIX GRAND BABIES THAT I DO TAKE CARE OF.
SHE STILL IN THE MILITARY GOING 50 GRAND DOWN.
THE HOUSES DO GET ACCEPTED IN.
PEOPLE ARE BEING KILLED IN 2021 BEHIND MORE THAN DO THEY KNOW ME BECAUSE THE MOTHER SOFT ME, THEY ME OUT THE VILLAGE.
I WORKED FOR TO VA HOSPITAL FOR 27 YEARS AND I NEED HELP AND CAN'T GET HELP.
AND YOU FALSIFIED WHERE PEOPLE COME FROM OUTTA ALL OTHER COUNTRY CAN BE, AND YOU WON'T EVEN HOUSE YOUR OWN PEOPLE JUST LIVING UP UNDERNEATH THE BRIDGE AND THEN YOU DO HOUSE THEM HOUSING PLACES.
NEW APARTMENT PROJECT CAME UP.
I ASKED THE CREDIT, GET THERE, MY DAD ALWAYS TOLD ME, YOU SEE, SO YOUR WORKS, SO YOU PAY FOR, I DON'T HAVE NO CREDIT BECAUSE EVERYTHING I BOUGHT, I PAY FOR CASH COME, I CAN'T EVEN GET A PERSONAL STATE BECAUSE OF MY CREDIT.
IF I GET AROUND, CHECK THEM OUT, I CAN'T PAY 30% OF THAT RENT.
AND I DIDN'T WORK FOR US THE CITY, THE STATE, THE GOVERNMENT, EVERYBODY TO, FOR THE CITY, STATE, THE GOVERNMENT AND HOW IT'S A LOT OF WRONGDOING AND NOBODY DON'T SPEAK ABOUT IT.
IT'S A LOT OF WRONGDOING, CHILD HALLS, EVERYBODY FROM EVERY OTHER COUNTRY, BUT YOUR OWN PEOPLE.
I'M NOT FROM HERE, BUT I'M HERE BECAUSE MY DAD WAS A MILITARY MAN.
YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED AND IF I THINK I DECIPHERED SOME OF WHAT YOU SAID YOU NEED HELP WITH, TRYING TO FIND SOMEWHERE TO LIVE.
AND I, SO RENEE IS GONNA HELP YOU.
HE IS GOING TO, UM, PUT YOU IN TOUCH WITH MARK EICHENBAUM, UM, WHO WORKS WITH, WITH OUR, OUR HOMELESS POPULATION AND ALSO CAN GIVE YOU THE CONTACT INFORMATION TO OUR HOUSING AUTHORITY.
I DID THAT TWO YEARS AGO AND I STILL AIN'T BEEN HELD EVEN WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON WHEN I ASKED THEM TO DO AN INSPECTION WHERE I LIVE RIGHT NOW, THE PEOPLE TURNED AROUND AND TOW MY VEHICLE BECAUSE I CALLED CITY OF HOUSTON DURING INSPECTION.
I GOT A BAG OF STUFF THAT Y'ALL CAN SEE RIGHT NOW.
MS. PAGE, I, I APOLOGIZE, I'M SORRY THAT ALL THAT HAS HAPPENED, BUT WE'RE GONNA ASK RENEE TO CONNECT YOU TO THE RESOURCES WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY.
NEXT SPEAKER GTA FUGE TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHRISTOPHER RIVERA.
MY NAME IS GRETA JE AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY 86-YEAR-OLD MOTHER, SHIRLEY HANNIBAL, WHO RESIDES AT 50 14 KELSO STREET IN HOUSTON, TEXAS 7 7 0 2 1 IN DISTRICT D IN JANUARY, 2018.
I STARTED THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THE HOUSTON HOME REPAIR PROGRAM.
[01:40:01]
HRP 2 0 1 8 0 0 4 6 6.THAT APPLICATION WAS ULTIMATELY APPROVED AND ENGINEERS WERE SENT OUT TO PERFORM ASBESTOS LED AND ALSO FOUNDATION TESTING.
WE WERE INFORMED THE NEXT COMMUNICATION FROM THE CITY WILL BE TO BRING MY MOTHER IN TO SIGN PAPERS FOR THE REPAIR AND OR RECONSTRUCTION OF HER HOME.
I NEVER HEARD ANYTHING FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AND I STARTED CALLING, SENDING TEXTS, TRYING TO GET A STATUS, AND I KEPT GETTING THE SAME RE RESPONSE THAT IS BEING PROCESSED.
SO I CONTACTED MY MOTHER CITY COUNCIL PERSON, UH, COUNCILWOMAN SHABAZZ'S OFFICE FOR HELP AND I SPOKE WITH STEVEN JAMES, WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON RAN OUT OF FUNDING FOR THE HOME REPAIR PROGRAM.
AND I WAS TOLD VIA EMAIL FROM MR. DARI KARI THAT ONCE FUNDING WAS AVAILABLE, WE WOULD NOT NEED TO REAPPLY AND THAT WE WERE IN THEIR SYSTEM.
WE WERE NOTIFIED FUNDING WAS AVAILABLE AND HAD TO RECERTIFY AND WE COMPLIED.
AND THAT WAS WITH MS. CAROLYN GAMBLE AT THE TIME, WE WERE AGAIN NOTIFIED THAT THERE WAS AGAIN, NO FUNDING AFTER THAT WE AGAIN WERE TOLD FUNDING WAS NOW AVAILABLE AND WE HAD TO RECERTIFY.
AND ONCE AGAIN, WE COMPLIED AND WE REIFIED FEBRUARY, 2023 WORKING WITH MS. JASMINE DAVIS.
SHE STATED WE NEEDED TO COMPLETE ANOTHER APPLICATION AS THE PREVIOUS APPLICATION WAS FOR A DIFFERENT PROGRAM.
WE COMPLETED THAT APPLICATION, SEND IN THE DOCUMENTS THAT WAS REQUESTED.
MARCH 16TH, 2023, I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM MS. DAVIS INFORMING THAT THE FILE WAS DEEMED INELIGIBLE DUE TO INCOMPLETE APPLICATION, MISSING DOCUMENTS, AND WAS TOLD WE CAN FILE AN APPEAL WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE APPROVED.
THE DOCUMENT IN QUESTION IS AN EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATION FORM, AND THE EMPLOYER REQUESTS THAT THE VERIFIER, WHICH IS THE CITY OF HOUSTON, REQUEST THAT FORM FROM THEM DIRECTLY.
I FEEL THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN TREATED FAIRLY IN GOOD FAITH.
WE WORK WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON OVER FIVE YEARS PROVIDING DOCUMENTATION DURING THE RE-CERTIFICATIONS, FILLING OUT A DIFFERENT APPLICATION, AND NOW WE'RE BEING FORCED TO FILE AN APPEAL.
I DO HAVE DOCUMENTATION, YOU KNOW, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE OVER A FIVE YEAR PERIOD GOING INTO THE FIFTH YEAR, THERE'S A LOT OF DOCUMENTATION AND A LOT MORE THAT I COULD SAY THAT I CAN'T DO IN THREE MINUTES, BUT I DO HAVE DOCUMENTATION UPON REQUESTS.
I'M SO SORRY THAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THIS.
UH, THIS WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION ACTUALLY TODAY AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IT IS ON APPEAL, BUT THEY NEED TAX RETURNS FOR MS. WALTERS.
OR, AND IF SHE DOES NOT HAVE A TAX RETURN AND SHE HAS NO INCOME, THEN SHE IS TO DO A ZERO INCOME VERIFICATION FORM, UH, CERT CERTIFICATION FORM.
ARE YOU AWARE OF THAT? LOOK, I I AM AWARE OF THAT.
WHEN WE COMPLETED THE LAST, UM, APPLICATION, THE APPLICATION INDICATED THAT THE CO-APPLICANT, WHICH IS MS. WALTERS, THAT SHE IS CURRENTLY EMPLOYED.
SO I DON'T THINK THAT MS UH, DAVIS REALLY READ THE APPLICATION TO SEE WHERE SHE WAS EMPLOYED.
SO AFTER SHE DETERMINED, AND I TOLD HER SHE'S EMPLOYED, SHE SAID, WELL, WHAT WE NEED NOW IS EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATION.
OKAY? AND SO SHE GAVE ME A FORM, IT'S IN VERY OLD FORM, DATED JULY, 1996.
UM, SHE SAYS HER EMPLOYER NEEDS TO COMPLETE THIS.
WELL, NO, WELL, THIS EMPLOYER, WHICH IS UNITED AIRLINES, THEY DO NOT COMPLETE ANY PAPERWORK.
THEY DO HAVE A THIRD PARTY COMPANY THAT CONFIRMS SALARY AND ALSO CONFIRMS, UM, EMPLOYMENT.
AND IT HAS TO BE DONE ELECTRONICALLY.
WE CAN'T GET THAT INFORMATION.
IT HAS TO BE REQUESTED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON BECAUSE THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS THE ONE THAT WANTS TO VERIFY HER EMPLOYMENT.
DID, DID SHE FILE A TAX RETURN? SHE DID FILE A TAX RETURN WHEN WE SPOKE WITH MS. DAVIS, SHE, I HAVE A WHOLE LIST AND EMAIL THAT SHE GAVE US WHEN WE WERE COMPLETING THIS NEW APPLICATION.
AND, UH, SHE SAID JUST PROVIDE THE, THE MOST RECENT, THE MOST RECENT TAX RETURN, WHATEVER, IT WAS JUST THE MOST RECENT TAX RETURN BECAUSE PREVIOUSLY SHE WAS NOT EMPLOYED.
SO, AND HER LAST RECENT TAX, THE MOST RECENT TAX RETURN WOULD'VE BEEN WHAT YEAR? 2019.
AND SO WHAT, WHERE'S THE 2020 TAX RETURN? WAS SHE WORKING? SHE WAS NOT WORKING.
[01:45:01]
OKAY.SHE SHE DOESN'T WORK ALL THE TIME.
SHE DOESN'T SELL HOMES ALL THE TIME.
RIGHT, ACTUALLY, BUT MY QUESTION IS THEY'RE ASKING FOR YOUR MOST, HER MOST RECENT TAX RETURN.
THAT SHOULD NOT BE 2019 OR SHE NEEDS TO SEND THE ZERO INCOME CERTIFICATION FORM.
SO ONE OF THOSE, HER MOST RECENT TAX RETURN OR HER ZERO INCOME CERTIFICATION FORM WOULD SERVE AS THE DOCUMENTATION THAT THEY NEED.
WELL, WE WERE DEPENDENT ON MS. DAVIS TO HELP US THROUGH THIS, TO TELL US WHAT WE NEED THROUGHOUT ALL THESE YEARS.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT THEY TOLD ME YOU NEED.
AND SO IF YOU, IF YOU HAVE THAT, MY OFFICE CAN HELP YOU TO GET THAT INFORMATION TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO.
BUT YOU ARE ON APPEAL AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF TIME.
I'M, I'M NOT ON AN APPEAL RIGHT NOW.
I HAVE NOT SUBMITTED THE INFORMATION FOR THE APPEAL.
WE DO WHAT SHE ASKED, AND I SPECIFICALLY HAVE IT THAT SHE SENT THAT THEY NEED THE EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATION.
UM, ELI RC IS HERE AND HE CAN TALK TO HER.
HE, UH, THAT WOULD BE GREAT ABOUT THIS, THIS FILE FILE.
'CAUSE IF IT'S SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS PROVIDING A TAX RETURN OR A ZERO INCOME CERTIFICATION, THAT COULD PUSH YOU RIGHT ON THROUGH TO THE PROCESS.
NOW, I CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT THE APPEAL APPEAL WILL, YOU KNOW, BE IN YOUR FAVOR, BUT YOU WILL HAVE ALL OF YOUR DOCUMENTATION IN.
WELL, WE HAVE PROVIDED, AND WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS.
JUST CAN YOU CLARIFY, YOU, YOU SAID THAT, UM, IN FEBRUARY 23, THEN YOU HAD TO APPLY FOR ANOTHER APPLICATION.
WHAT WAS YEAH, I HAD TO COMPLETE ANOTHER APPLICATION.
FOR WHICH PROGRAM? IS THIS THE HARVEY OR IS THIS SMALL HOME REPAIR? IT'S NOT HARVEY, IT'S JUST HOME REPAIR.
YOU KNOW, AND WHEN SHE ASKED ME, I MEAN WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS FOR YEARS.
AS I STATED, WE STARTED IN 2018 AND THE FIRST APPLICATION FOR WAS FOR WHICH PROGRAM? HOME REPAIR.
SO THEN IN FEBRUARY 23, THEY SAID, OH, WE NEED YOU TO DO ANOTHER APPLICATION.
AND THAT WAS FOR WHICH PROGRAM? HOME REPAIR.
YOU KNOW, BOTH OF 'EM ARE FOR HOME REPAIR.
AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, I WAS LOOKING AT THE DOCUMENTS ON LAST EVENING AND I WAS LIKE, THIS IS THE SAME APPLICATION.
THEY BOTH HAVE THE SAME THING ON IT.
WELL, E ELI IS THE APPROPRIATE PERSON TO SPEAK WITH AND HE'LL BE ABLE TO FACILITATE AND GET ALL THAT CLEARED UP.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS THOUGH.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND, AND MY APOLOGIES THAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH ALL OF THIS, BUT WE'RE GONNA DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO HELP AT LEAST GET YOU TO THE PROCESS SO THAT THEY CAN, UH, THANK YOU.
BECAUSE WE HAVE COMPLIED WITH EVERYTHING.
I MEAN, THEY EVEN ASKED ME TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION THAT MY MOTHER IS NOT RECEIVING CHILD SUPPORT.
OKAY, WELL, HE'S GONNA WORK WITH YOU.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER DIFFICULTY, PLEASE.
AND WHO IS ELI, PLEASE REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE.
IN THE BLUE SHIRT BY THE DOOR.
CHRISTOPHER RIVERA TO BE FOLLOWED BY RUBEN ESCOBIDO.
HEY, HOW'S IT GOING? UH, WELL, MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER RIVERA AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT H.
UH, I WORK WITH THE TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT, AND I'M AN ALLY WITH THE NORTHEAST NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE.
AND, UH, WHAT WE NEED IS, UH, WE NEED SOME SUPPORT CHANGING, UH, SOME OF THE CITY BUDGET TO PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS, UH, DIVERTED TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM DRAINAGE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE STRICTLY USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS NEED INCREASED FUNDING FOR THE SWAT PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE STORM WATER ACTION TEAM, AS WELL AS LOCAL DRAINAGE PROJECTS.
AND THEY'RE ASKING FOR ABOUT $20 MILLION FOR EACH PROGRAM TO ADDRESS POTENTIAL CIP BACKLOGS.
UM, THERE'S ALSO A NEED TO EXPAND THE MAINTENANCE, UH, BUDGET FOR PUBLIC WORK SYSTEM.
UH, IN LOW TO MIDDLE INCOME COMMUNITIES.
THEY HAVE A MAJORITY OPEN DITCH DRAINAGE, UNLIKE THE WEALTHY AREAS.
AND THIS ONLY WORKS IF THERE IS A CONSISTENT INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC WORKS, UH, FOR STAFFING AND MACHINERY.
THERE IS A DEEP CONNECTION BETWEEN THE RACE OF RESIDENTS AND THE CONDITION OF THEIR DRAINAGE.
I ALSO WANT TO ADDRESS THE, THE WAY THAT THE CITY PLANS TO, UM, TACKLE ILLEGAL DUMPING.
UH, I BELIEVE IT'S A WASTE OF PUBLIC MONEY FOR MONEY TO GO TO SURVEILLANCE AND MORE POLICING.
THIS IS NOT THE SOLUTION FOR ILLEGAL DUMPING.
YOU'RE ONLY FURTHER CRIMINALIZING COMMUNITIES WHO ARE OVER POLICE AND EXPANDING THE PRISON POPULATION.
INSTEAD, WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING IS INVESTING, UM, THIS MONEY INTO MORE SANITATION WORKERS EQUIPMENT AND TRUCKS TO PICK UP THE MESS.
UM, AND IF YOU BELIEVE OR SAY THAT THERE IS NO MONEY TODAY, UM, IF YOU LOOK AT ITEM NUMBER 21, THERE IS A, A PROPOSAL FOR $28,000 TO GO TO URBAN AREA SECURITY INITIATIVES.
UM, AND THAT'S GONNA FUND HPDS UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM.
[01:50:01]
SO ESSENTIALLY, IF YOU'RE GONNA FUND DRONES INSTEAD OF PROTECTING, UM, PEOPLE, AND WHAT THIS DOES, AND, AND IT SAID THAT YOU'RE GONNA, IT'S GONNA GO, UH, $20,000 FOR JOYSTICKS AND BATTERIES.SO THINK ABOUT THAT, PEOPLE, UM, WE HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WHEN MONEY IS SPENT FOR DRONES, BUT NOT FOR DRAINAGE AND DEFINITELY NOT FOR POOR PEOPLE.
UM, SO I'M, AGAIN, I JUST WANNA REITERATE, REITERATE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING DEFINITELY WRONG HERE WHEN WE CHOOSE TO FUND THE DRONES SURVEILLANCE AND POLICE, WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE BEGGING FOR HELP, AND YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THEM LOSE THEIR LIVELIHOOD IF WE DON'T HELP WITH THIS DRAINAGE.
WE NEED MORE FUNDING FOR DRAINAGE.
THE MORE MONEY YOU WASTE ON DRONES AND POLICE, THE MORE LIVES YOU ENDANGER BY ALLOWING PEOPLE TO LOSE THEIR HOMES, THEIR EQUITY THAT THEY BUILT AND THEIR, AND YOU'RE ENDANGERING THEIR HEALTH.
THE POLICE GET OVER ALMOST A BILLION DOLLARS.
ALL WE NEED TO DO IS INVEST $20 FOR EACH OF THESE PROGRAMS AND YOU'LL KEEP US SAFE AND AT HOME AND ON THE STREETS.
WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY.
NEXT SPEAKER, THE MAYOR HERNANDEZ DAMARIS HERNANDEZ.
NEXT SPEAKER, VERONICA RAMIREZ.
NEXT SPEAKER ANDREAS RODRIGUEZ.
HI, MR. RODRIGUEZ, HOW ARE YOU? HOW YOU DOING? GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS ANDRES AND I AM A RESIDENT AND A COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS FOR HOME COALITION HERE IN HOUSTON.
I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF FIVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WANTED TO ATTEND, BUT, BUT BECAUSE OF WORK AND OTHER PERSONAL REASONS, COULDN'T I HAVE EXPERIENCED AND WITNESSED HOUSING DISCRIMINATION FIRSTHAND, NOT ONLY IN MY FAMILY, BUT ALSO IN THE PEOPLE.
UH, WITH THE PEOPLE THAT I WORK IN, THE COMMUNITIES THAT I WORK WITH.
I AM HERE TO SHARE THEIR STORY AND I URGE YOU TO TAKE ACTION TO ADDRESS THE THIS ISSUE.
THE FIR THE FAIR HOUSING ACT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW ON APRIL 11TH, 1968 IN RESPONSE TO THE CIVIL UNREST FOLLOWING THE ASSASSINATION OF DR.
HOWEVER, 55 YEARS LATER, HOUSING DISCRIMINATION IS STILL A MAJOR ISSUE FOR MANY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
AS AN IMMIGRANT, I HAVE WITNESSED PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY REQUIRED TO PAY MORE IN RENT DEPOSITS THAN OTHER PEOPLE WITH LEGAL STATUS.
NEW VICTIMS HAVE CAME TO LIGHT, UH, OF THE DISCRIMINATORY, DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES AFTER THE TORNADOES THAT AFFECTED BEMER APARTMENTS.
THESE FOLKS DID NOT RECEIVE THEIR FULL DEPOSITS BACK AND SOME OF THEM PAID THREE TIMES MORE, MORE IN DEPOSITS THAN OTHERS.
UM, LIVING THERE, THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS.
HOUSING CHALLENGES HAVE PROFOUNDLY IMPACTED MY LIFE AND THE LIVES OF MANY OTHERS IN HOUSTON.
IT HAS LIMITED OUR ACCESS TO SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HAS KEPT ALIVE THE CYCLE OF POVERTY IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
I URGE CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE ACTION TO ENSURE ALL HOUSTONIANS HAVE ACCESS TO FAIR AND EQUITABLE HOUSING CHOICES.
WE NEED PRACTICES THAT PROMOTE FAIR HOUSING PRACTICES.
WE NEED POLICIES THAT PROMOTE FAIR HOUSING PRACTICES, ALLOCATE RESOURCES TO ADDRESS HOUSING DISPARITIES, AND HOLD ALL ACTORS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
UH, SOME OF THE FOLKS I SIGNED UP COULDN'T COME.
JUST LIFE HAPPENS AND YES, THANK YOU.
WE DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THAT.
THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING THEM TODAY.
NEXT SPEAKER ANNIE LEE, BE FOLLOWED BY GAY HEART.
VICE MAYOR POTTI AND EVERYONE ELSE.
I CAME HERE ON TUESDAY, LAST TUESDAY, AND THE MAIL SAID, BECAUSE I HAVE PRIMARY CUSTODY OF THE BABY, I SHOULD GET THE BABY.
UM, AND I'M ASKING THE POLICE IN THE NAME OF JESUS TO GO GET MY GRANDBABY, UH, AND BRING HER HOME TO ME BECAUSE I HAVEN'T SEEN HER IN NINE MONTHS.
AND SHE'S IN DANGER BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HER ARE CRIMINALS AND NARCISSISTS AND PEN
[01:55:01]
CODE 25.03 STATES THAT THE LAW, THIS IS A LAW, IT STATES THAT INTERFERING WITH CHILD CUSTODY CARRIES SIX MONTHS TO TWO YEAR STATE JAIL FELONY AND UP TO $10,000 FINE.I HAVE BEEN ON THE NEWS MEDIA.
THE POLICE KNOWS THAT I HAVE PRIMARY CUSTODY OF THE BABY AND STILL NO ONE IS DOING ANYTHING.
SHE'S PSYCHOLOGIC, PSYCHOLOGIC PSYCHOLOGY.
I CAN'T SAY THE WORD NOW, BUT BECAUSE HER MOM, SHE'S LOOKING FOR HER MOM.
HER MOM THAT WAS MURDERED AND SHOT SIX TIMES.
SHE HAD A DENTAL ASSISTANT LICENSE.
SHE WAS GOING TO SCHOOL FOR PHARMACY TECH AND SHE WAS WORKING AT EPIC THEATERS ON WESTHEIMER.
PLEASE HELP BRING CASEY HOME IN THE NAME OF JESUS POLLARD.
MS. LEE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD.
UH, VICE MAYOR PROTE AND MS. LEE, AGAIN, I'M SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR SITUATION.
I KNOW YOU HAD TOLD US LAST MONTH THAT UH, YOU HAD ALREADY BEEN TO COURT LAST WEEK.
UM, AND YOU HAVE A ORDER SIGNED BY THE JUDGE.
HAVE YOU PROVIDED THAT ORDER TO UH, I GAVE IT TO MR. RENEE RULE.
AND MR. HERNAN HERDON, HE'S REALLY TRYING TO HELP.
I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA REACH OUT TO HIM AS WELL.
I WANNA LOOK AT THE ORDER MM-HMM
TO MY UNDERSTANDING WITH THE ORDER, THAT SHOULD BE ENOUGH FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO ACT UPON IT.
SO I, I'LL LOOK INTO IT AS WELL AND THEN WE WILL PROVIDE SOME FEEDBACK BECAUSE THE BABY IS HURTING.
JUST, I JUST HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.
IS THE BABY IN HOUSTON? WE DON'T KNOW.
LAST TIME I HEARD THEY MIGHT HAVE TOOK, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY GOT THE BABY IN, UH, WHAT IS IT, LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS.
MAY NOT BE IN THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY OF POLICE.
WE DUNNO KNOW WHERE THAT BABY IS.
BUT I KNOW THE DAD HAS 40 CASES AGAINST THAT HAD AGAINST HIM AGAINST UH, UH, FA FAMILY ASSAULT CASES.
AND, AND THE, THE STEPMOM IS THE REALLY ONE WHO RUNNING EVERYTHING.
SHE'S GOT THE DAD DOING THINGS THAT WERE NORMALLY, SHE'S A NARCISSIST AND SHE'S THINKING BECAUSE THEY TOOK THE CHARGES FROM ACCIDENT, $70,000 BOND, THE JUDGE RAISED IT TO A 500,000 BOND.
I WAS JUST TRYING TO FIND OUT.
COUNCIL MEMBER POLL'S GONNA HELP AND, AND LOOK AT THE, AT THE ORDER SHE PUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE ARE WINNING 'CAUSE WE GOT THE BABY.
GAY HART PRESENT AIN JAIL CORTEZ AND HALE CORTEZ IS NOT PRESENT.
AND AND THANK YOU FOR MEETING WITH ME.
I AM MEETING WITH YOU AGAIN BECAUSE MY SITUATION HAS GOTTEN WAY WORSE.
I TALKED TO A SERGEANT, SERGEANT HERNDON THE LAST TIME I'VE BEEN CALLING HIM AND CALLING HIM AND EMAILING HIM AND CALLING HIM AND HE NEVER RETURNS.
AND I GAVE HIM ALL THE EVIDENCE.
I WENT TO BACK TO THE HOSPITAL AND GOT ALL MY CTS.
IT'S A TERRORIST GROUP THAT IS HERE, THAT IS IN CASE YOU GUYS DIDN'T KNOW, UM, THAT IS TERRORIZING US.
I HAVE THE ADDRESSES OF THESE PEOPLE.
I HAVE THE, UH, A GOOD ROUNDABOUT ADDRESSES AND I HAVE THEIR NAMES AND THESE PEOPLE NEED TO BE CAUGHT.
I HAVE NINE CHILDREN UP UNDER ME.
I HAVE FOUR KIDS, FOUR ADULT KIDS WITH FIVE GRANDCHILDREN.
AND THEY ALL HAVE BEEN TORTURED AND TERRORIZED BY THESE TERRORS.
I HAVE MY DAUGHTER, SHE'S IN THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW.
SHE'S IN THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THESE.
'CAUSE THEY JUST TRYING TO DRIVE HER CRAZY.
CAN I PLEASE, UH, CONTINUE YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED MS. RICE AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE BEEN IN IN CONTACT WITH HPD.
UM, YEAH, I SAID HPD HAS REALLY DROPPED THE BALL.
TROY FINNER, I'VE BEEN EMAILING HIM AND CALLING HIM.
IT'S NO REASON FOR HIM NOT TO COME BACK AND EMAIL ME OR ANSWER MY PHONE CALL.
HE HAS REALLY, REALLY DROPPED THE BALL.
I AM ASHAMED TO BE A HOUSTONIAN.
UM, IF WE COULD, RENEE, IF YOU COULD MAKE SURE THAT WE CONNECT HER TO SOMEBODY ELSE AT HPD THAT SHE CAN SPEAK TO.
I NEED MY CASE TO BE ASSIGNED.
[02:00:01]
CASE TO BE ASSIGNED.WE WE'RE GONNA MAKE SURE WE GET YOU YOUR CASE ASSIGNED.
[RECESS]
OKAY.WILL WE STAND IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM THANK YOU VICE MAYOR.
LET'S GO OF THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER FOR THE WEEK.
ITEM ONE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF CLAUDIA P AVALOS TO POSITION ONE OF THE MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION AND THE FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICER CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION FOR TERM TO EXPIRE JUNE 14TH, 2025.
ITEM TWO, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OR REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE HOUSTON COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES FOR TERMS TO EXPIRE JULY 26TH, 2025.
ITEM THREE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF EDWARD A TARA TO POSITION TWO OF THE ST.
GEORGE PLACE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
ITEM FOUR, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $10,038,710 AND 6 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH SCR CONSTRUCTION PARTNERS.
LLC ITEM FIVE, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE JOINT REFERRAL COMMITTEE.
EXCUSE ME, ON REQUEST FROM MONICA FONTANO POINT.
DIXIE CHESTERFIELD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ON BEHALF OF USA DURO HOMES INC, EXCUSE ME, LUIS LOYAL PRESIDENT DECLINING THE ACCEPTANCE OF REJECTING AND REFUSING THE HOVER LAND COURT CUL-DE-SAC BEING EAST OF HAVILAND STREET WITHIN THE WESTBURY OAK SUB DIVISION.
ITEM SIX HOUSTON PET SET FOR APPROVAL OF SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR SPAY AND NEUTERING SERVICES FOR BULK ANIMAL SHELTER FOR THE ADMINISTRATION REGULATORY AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT.
ITEM SEVEN, THE DATA MAX SOFTWARE GROUP, INC.
D-B-A-R-F-G-N FOR SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, HARDWARE, SOFTWARE LICENSES AND SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE FOR AN INVENTORY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR THE HOUSTON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES.
IT ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT.
ITEM EIGHT, SIEMENS SMART INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PURCHASE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS.
ITEM NINE, FERGUSON ENTERPRISES LLC FOR PURCHASE OF CLAMPS AND SADDLES FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM 10, COLE SUPPLY COMPANY INC.
FOR PURCHASE OF FIRE HYDRANT REPAIR PARTS.
DBA FERGUSON ENTERPRISES LLC FOR PURCHASE OF MECHANICAL JOINT RESTRAINTS.
ITEM 12, HOUSTON'S AMAZING PLACE INC.
FOR APPROVED FOR SPENDING AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $100,000 AND NO CENTS FOR EMERGENCY PURCHASE TO PROVIDE RESPITE OUT OF HOME ADULT DAYCARE SERVICES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS FOR HARRIS COUNTY AREA AGENCY ON AGING AND CAREGIVER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.
ITEM 13, CONNECT DENTAL SPECIALIST PLLC FOR APPROVAL OF SPENDING AUTHORITY AND AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $100,000 IN NO CENTS FOR EMERGENCY PURCHASE TO PROVIDE DENTAL SERVICES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS FOR HARRIS COUNTY AREA AGENCY ON AGING AND CAREGIVER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.
ITEM 14, BRUCE MATSON, DDS INC.
FOR APPROVAL OF SPRINGING AUTHORITY AND THE AMOUNT TO EXCEED $100,000 AND NO CENTS FOR EMERGENCY PURCHASE TO PROVIDE INITIAL DENTAL ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT PLANS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS 60 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER FOR HARRIS COUNTY AREA AGENCY ON AGING AND CAREGIVER SUPPORTER SERVICES.
ITEM 15 IBN SIGNUP FOUNDATION FOR APPROVAL OF SPENDING AUTHORITY AND AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $100,000 AND NO CENTS FOR EMERGENCY PURCHASE TO PROVIDE HEALTH SCREENING AND MONITORING SERVICES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS FOR HARRIS COUNTY AREA AGENCY ON AGING AND CAREGIVER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.
PLLC FOR APPROVAL OF SPENDING AUTHORITY AND IN AMOUNT TO EXCEED $100,000 AND NO CENTS FOR EMERGENCY PURCHASE TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS FOR HARRIS COUNTY AREA AGENCY ON AGING AND CAREGIVER AND CAREGIVER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.
ITEM 17, ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTERS 28 AND 40 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, HOUSTON, TEXAS RELATING TO SIDEWALK PERFORMANCES.
ITEM 18 ORDINANCE OF AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING THE ALLOCATION OF UPTOWN TUR SERIES 2021 AFFORDABLE HOMES FUND PREVIOUSLY APPROPRIATED BY ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023 DASH 60 FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM MASTER CONTRACT AGREEMENTS
[02:05:01]
AND TRIAL PARTY AGREEMENTS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY ORDINANCE NUMBER 2020 22,756 ITEM 19 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT HOUSTON.ITEM 20 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND COMP CYCLE INC.
ITEM 21 ORDINANCE APPROVING THE USE OF FY 2023 URBAN AREA SECURITY INITIATIVE, U-A-I-S-U-A-S-I GRANT FUNDS FOR A PURCHASE OF TWO JOYSTICK CONTROLLER KITS AND BATTERY KIT ACCESSORIES.
ITEM 22 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE EAST AND WEST SIDE OF THE 1500 BLOCK OF JACQUELINE DRIVE WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM NOT SIZE BLOCK PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 42 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.
ITEM 23 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE EAST AND WEST SIDES OF THE 1500 BLOCK OF JACQUELINE DRIVE WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS HAS A SPECIAL MINIMUM BUILDING LINE BLOCK PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 42 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.
ITEM 24 ORDINANCE RELEASING CER CERTAIN TERRITORY CONSISTING OF APPROXIMATELY 23.34 ACRES OF LAND IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF KINGSLAND BOULEVARD AND KAIN ISLAND PARKWAY, SOUTH OF IH 10 FROM THE EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING RELEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE CITY OF KATY.
IMPOSING A FIVE YEAR TIME PERIOD FOR THE CITY OF KA TO COMPLETE AN ANNEXATION OF THE RELEASE TERRITORY INTO ITS MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES.
ITEM 25 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 37.336 ACRES OF LAND TO MONTGOMERY COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 24 ITEM 26 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 5.7268 ACRES OF LAND TO ROLAND CREEK UTILITY DISTRICT.
ITEM 27 ORDINANCE SUBMITTING ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 21 6 46 TO INCLUDE THE ACQUISITION OF 10 ADDITIONAL PARCELS FOR THE 24 INCH WATERLINE ALONG HIGHWAY THREE.
PROJECT ITEM 28 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,329,862 49 CENTS OUTTA WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM.
CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND S AND B INFRASTRUCTURE LTD ITEM 29.
ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $550,000 AND NO CENTS OUTTA METRO PROJECTS CONSTRUCTION D-D-S-R-F AND APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND NADU ENGINEERING SERVICES INC.
ITEM 30 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATED $1,204,600 AND NO CENTS OUT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM.
CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND RG MILLER ENGINEERS INC.
ITEM 31 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $550,000 AND NO CENTS OUT METRO PROJECTS CONSTRUCTION D-D-S-R-F APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND T-E-D-S-I INFRASTRUCTURE GROUP INC.
ITEM 32 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $4,051,165 AND NO CENTS OUT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM.
CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AWARDING CONTRACT PM CONSTRUCTION AND REHAB LLC ITEM 33 CENTRAL TEXAS EQUIPMENT INC.
FOR PURCHASE OF DIESEL POWERED LIGHT TOWERS THROUGH THE TEXAS LOCAL PURCHASING CVE BY BOARD.
THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN.
THIS WAS ITEM 11 ON AGENDA OF APRIL 5TH, 2023.
ITEM 34 WAS A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON TO ADOPT RECOMMENDATION FROM CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER TO AWARD TO FERGUSON ENTERPRISES LLC $2,906,503 55 CENTS AND COBURN COBURN SUPPLY COMPANY $2,601,041 AND 50 CENTS FOR PLASTIC METER BOXES AND COVERS FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS.
THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS POLLARD AND PLUMBER.
THIS WAS ITEM 15 ON AGENDA OF APRIL 5TH, 2023.
ITEM 35, ORDINANCE APPROVAL AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT FOR STRONG WATER MASTER PLAN BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND LOCKWOOD ANDREWS AND NEWHAM INC.
THIS WAS TAB BY CONSTABLE PLUMMER.
THIS WAS ITEM 25 ON AGENDA OF APRIL 5TH, 2023.
ITEM 36 WAS AN ORDINANCE TO APPRO AN AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT FOR STORMWATER MASTER PLAN BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND BLACK AND FI CORPORATION.
THIS WAS TAB BY CONSTABLE PLUMMER.
THIS WAS ITEM 26 ON AGENDA OF APRIL 5TH, 2023.
ITEM 37 WAS AN ORDINANCE APPRO, AN AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT FOR STORMWATER MASTER PLAN BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HGR ENGINEERING INC.
THIS WAS ALSO TAGGED BY CONSTABLE PLUMMER.
THIS WAS ITEM 27 ON AGENDA OF APRIL 5TH, 2023.
ITEM 38 WAS AN ORDINANCE APPRO, AN AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT FOR STRONG WATER MASTER
[02:10:01]
PLAN BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND ARCADE US INC.TO MODIFY CONTRACT TERMS. THIS WAS TAB BY CONSTABLE PLUMBER.
THIS WAS ITEM 28 ON AGENDA OF APRIL 5TH.
ITEM 39 WAS ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES.
CONTRACT FOR STORM WATER MASTER PLAN BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND GAUGE ENGINEERING LLC.
THIS IS ALSO TAB BY COUNCILMAN PLUMMER.
THIS WAS ITEM 29 ON AGENDA OF APRIL 5TH, 2023.
THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF APRIL 12TH, 2023.
STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL.
SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM AND THE
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 DAY.
[RECONVENE]
ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12TH.I AM NOT MAYOR SYLVETA TURNER.
I AM MAYOR PRO TEM DAVE MARTIN SITTING IN FOR MAYOR SYLVETA TURNER AND I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER.
[MAYOR'S REPORT]
FIRST THING WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA IS A REALLY QUICK MAYOR'S REPORT.THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S FIRST 2023 DEMOLITION DAY IS COMING THIS SATURDAY, APRIL 15TH.
AT THAT TIME, THE MAYOR WILL ALSO ANNOUNCE HIS 2023 DEMOLITION INITIATIVE.
THERE'LL BE A NEWS CONFERENCE BEGINNING AT 10:00 AM 10:00 AM AT THE SITE OF THE SCHEDULED DEMOLITION IN CAS MERE GARDENS, WHICH IS IN DISTRICT B AT 48 0 4 HOFFMAN STREET.
MAYOR TURNER INVITES ALL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO JOIN HIM AND THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES.
AT 10:00 AM SATURDAY, APRIL 15TH, CASHMERE GARDENS TAX DAY 48 0 4 HOFFMAN STREET INPUT IS NEEDED FOR THE CITY'S UPDATED HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN.
THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS SEEKING INPUT FROM RESIDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS ON UPGRADES AND UPDATES TO THE CITY HAZARDED MITIGATION PLAN.
THIS PLAN IDENTIFIES A CITY'S MAJOR HAZARD RISKS, ASSESSORS ALL VULNERABILITY TO THOSE HAZARDS AND IDENTIFIES ACTIONS TO REDUCE THAT VULNERABILITY.
IT ALSO SERVES AS A CONDITION FOR RECEIVING CERTAIN TYPE OF NON-EMERGENCY DISASTER GRANTS AND ASSISTANCE, WHICH ARE CRITICAL TO OUR SUCCESS IN BUILDING A MORE RESILIENT HOUSTON.
TO REVIEW THIS PLAN AND PROVIDE COMMENTS, PLEASE VISIT WWW.HOUSTONOM.ORG.
EARTH DAY HTX IS COMING TO DOWNTOWN HOUSTON, BEGINNING WITH A VIBRANT SPEAKER SERIES ON APRIL 17TH, EARTH DAY HTX 2023 PROMISES TO BE THE LARGEST EARTH DAY EVENT EVER PRESENTED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19TH, AGAIN, ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19TH, PEOPLE ARE INVITED TO JOIN MAYOR TURNER CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY DEPARTMENTS, SPONSORS, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN FRONT OF CITY HALL FROM 10:00 AM TO 2:00 PM AGAIN, WEDNESDAY THE 19TH FROM 10 TO 2:00 PM FOR DEMONSTRATIONS, HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES, DISPLAYS, FOOD INFORMATION AND INTERACTIVE BOOTHS.
SHOWCASING CITY INITIATIVES, HIGHLIGHTING A CLEANER GREENER HOUSTON ALONG WITH A VIBRANT SPEAKER SERIES FROM APRIL 17TH TO 19TH, EARTH DAY HTX 2023 PROMISES TO BE THE LARGEST EARTH DAY EVENT EVER PRESENTED BY THE CITY.
FOR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING EARTH DAY, HTX, THERE IS INFORMATION ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE OR YOU CAN EMAIL EARTH DAY TX, I'M SORRY, EARTH DAY HX@HOUSTONTX.GOV.
AGAIN, EARTH DAY H TX@HOUSTONTX.GOV.
THIS SATURDAY, APRIL 15TH, WE'LL HAVE THE HOUSTON ART CAR, ART CAR FESTIVAL AND PARADE.
IT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST CELEBRATIONS OF ITS KIND, FEATURING MORE THAN 250 DECORATED VEHICLES AND ATTRACTING AUDIENCE OF THOUSANDS AT DOWNTOWN.
IT'LL BEGIN AT 2:00 PM AT THE CORNER OF DALLAS AND BAGBY STREETS THIS SATURDAY, HOUSTON ART CAR PARADE AND FESTIVAL AT 2:00 PM DALLAS AND BAGBY.
AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE, UH, PART OF OUR DIVERSITY INCLUSION PROGRAM ON APRIL 1ST.
THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT PROVIDED THAT ONCE AGAIN WHEN CHIEF NER APPOINTED BAND 10 TO THE ROLE OF EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CHIEF.
HE'S A FIRST EVER ASIAN AMERICAN.
HOLD THAT HIGH LEVEL POSITION OF EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CHIEF.
HE HAS RISEN THROUGH THE RANKS AS A SERGEANT, LIEUTENANT
[02:15:01]
AND COMMANDER.HE GRADUATED FROM HPD CADET CLASS 1 7 0 IN DECEMBER, 1997.
HIS WIFE MEGAN, IS ALSO A LEADER AT HPD.
SHE IS A COMMANDER OVER THE EMPLOYEE SERVICES GROUP.
ONCE AGAIN, EXECUTIVE CHIEF BAND 10.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
NOW WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.MADAM SECRETARY, UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY, ITEMS ONE THROUGH THREE NEED A MOTION MOVE ROBINSON ON THE SECOND, ON THE SECOND MOVE, ROBINSON THOMAS, SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OPPOSED? MOTION GRANTED.
NOW WE WANT TO CALL THE, NOW WE WANT TO CALL THE FOLKS THAT WE JUST APPOINTED TO THE MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.
MS. CLAUDIA, COME ON UP TO THE PODIUM.
MS. CLAUDIA IS ON THE MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION AND THE FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION FOR A TERM THAT EXPIRES IN JUNE 14TH, 2025.
SO, NUMBER ONE, APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE AND ALL YOU DO FOR THE CITY.
UH, IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL, PLEASE GO FORWARD.
I AM JUST VERY HONORED TO HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED FOR THIS POSITION AND, UM, I WANNA DO MY BEST TO HELP THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO BE HERE.
THIS IS A NEW APPOINTMENT FOR US COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON.
I, I JUST WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK YOU MS. AVALOS AND YOUR ONGOING SERVICE AND, UH, ALL THAT YOU'LL DO OVER THE COMING YEARS.
UH, PLEASE LET THE COUNCIL KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT YOU IN THAT ROLE.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOU DO.
AND WE ALSO HAVE A GROUP OF FOLKS, THANK YOU AGAIN ON THE HOUSTON COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES, MR. ANGEL CE, IF YOU WOULD COME TO THE PODIUM, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF FOLKS WITH US TODAY, MICHAEL COTTINGHAM II.
ANN BACON SASI, NISHA CARRA, MONIQUE MASON, AJ MORTON, MEREDITH SILCOX, LYDIA NUNEZ, LANDRY IKA COTO, OZZIE CAMPI, AND ALEXIS SMITH.
SO, PONTE, YOU GOT A GOOD GROUP HERE IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, UH, LENDING A FEW WORDS AS TO THIS COMMISSION OF DISABILITIES AND THEIR ACTIVITIES FOR THE COMING YEARS, AND THEN WE'LL LET THE INDIVIDUALS INTRODUCE THEMSELVES SELVES.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
UH, JUST WANNA SAY THAT THE HOUSTON COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES IS A GROUP OF MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY AND THE SURROUNDING AREA THAT REPRESENT OVER 215,000 HOUSTONIANS WITH DISABILITIES.
THIS FINE GROUP OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SELECTED, UH, NOT JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OR THEY ARE ALLIES OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, BUT BECAUSE THEIR EXPERIENCE, EXPERTISE, AND, AND PERHAPS BECAUSE THEY ARE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, THAT, UM, THAT THEY ARE GOING TO PROVIDE A VITAL, UH, PART OF WHY HU HOUSTON NEEDS TO BE REPRESENTED IN SUCH A WAY.
AND SO, UH, I WILL ALLOW EACH MEMBER TO SHARE A FEW WORDS, BUT I JUST WANNA END BY SAYING THAT WE COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY WITH US.
AND ANYTHING THAT THE HOUSTON COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CAN DO TO SUPPORT YOUR MISSION AND YOUR DISTRICTS, WE ARE HERE TO SERVE YOU.
AND YESTERDAY I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO AUSTIN, AND I RAN INTO YOUR PREDECESSOR, MR. GABE CAS.
SO WE HAD A NICE CONVERSATION.
HE DID A PHENOMENAL JOB IN THE, UH, AS A DIRECTOR IN THE OFFICE, MAYOR'S OFFICE OF DISABILITIES, AS YOU DO TODAY.
SO, UH, LADIES, FIRST, IF YOU'D STEP TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? YES, MA'AM.
I AM, UH, THE ACCESSIBILITY, UM, SENIOR ACCESSIBILITY MANAGER AT HARRIS COUNTY ELECTIONS.
UH, BEEN THERE FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.
I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS APPOINTMENT.
[02:20:01]
I BORN AND RAISED IN HOUSTON, SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO GET TO WORK AND, UH, TO SUPPORT THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE THIS MORNING.
I WILL BE THE, THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSTON COMMISSION ON DISABILITY.
SO I'M EXCITED TO CONTINUE IN MY ROLE WITH THE COMMISSION.
UM, AGAIN, I WANTED TO JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE THIS MORNING.
AND TO ECHO WHAT MR. PONCE HAD SAID, THAT WE ARE HERE NOT ONLY TO SERVE THE CONSTITUENTS, UH, MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITIES, BUT ALSO TO SERVE YOU AND CAN, UM, PROVIDE INFORMATION AND SUPPORT FOR YOU AND YOUR OFFICES AS WELL.
I'M THE DIRECTOR FOR ACHILLES INTERNATIONAL HOUSTON.
I AM COMPLETELY BLESSED AND HONORED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A SEAT IN THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
AND I'M EXCITED TO NOT ONLY BROADEN MY KNOWLEDGE, BUT BE AN ALLY TO THIS BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY.
I'M AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON.
I STUDY DISABILITY, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND HEALTH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON.
UM, YEAH, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO GET TO WORK HERE.
UM, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SERVING, UH, IT'S A REAL HONOR.
AND, UM, YEAH, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, TO, TO, TO, TO SIT IN THIS COMMUNITY.
UH, THIS IS, I'M SO PROUD TO BE HERE, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LIVING HOPE WHEELCHAIR ASSOCIATIONS.
WE REPRESENT A HUGE COMMUNITY WITH PEOPLE IN NEEDS, AND FOR ME, IT'S NOT ALSO AN HONOR.
THIS IS, UH, A COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE WORKING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS COMMISSION.
UM, WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER IN Q BEFORE I, UH, GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS.
HE KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THIS COMMISSION BECAUSE HE IS A, UH, EXTRAORDINARY INDIVIDUAL WHO IS A CARETAKER FOR HIS DISABLED.
BROTHER MICHAEL, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE, UH, FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE ON THIS SUCH IMPORTANT COMMISSION.
UM, LIKE MAYOR PRO TEM MENTIONED, UH, ON BEHALF OF MY BROTHER MICHAEL, WHO'S INTELLECTUALLY DEVELOPMENTAL DISABLED, UH, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO, UH, IN THE COMMUNITY AND, AND FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
I KNOW THAT, UH, LATER THIS YEAR, WE'RE HAVING THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND CONFERENCE HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UH, HAD A, UH, VIRTUAL MEETING WITH DIRECTOR
UH, AS WITH VERONICA FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
I KNOW THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON THE SIGNALIZATION OF THE CROSSWALKS, UH, AROUND THE GEORGE R. BROWN CONVENTION CENTER.
UH, SO IT'S EXCITING TO SEE THAT THAT'S HAPPENING.
UH, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, EVENTUALLY THEY'LL BE WORKING ON OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY ALSO IN REGARDS TO SIGNALIZATION OF THE CROSSWALKS, UH, FOR THOSE THAT ARE DISA, DISABLED AND BLIND AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
SO THAT, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU DIRECTOR FOR EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL DO, AND THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE.
AND DIRECTOR PONTE, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES WORKING AS WE SPEAK, AND, UH, THEY'RE ALL, UH, STATE OF THE ART, AND THEY'RE ALL REALLY GO TOWARDS IMPROVING MANKIND.
SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOLUNTEER WORK.
THE LAST THING WE APPROVED WAS ITEM NUMBER THREE, THE ST.
GEORGE PLACE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS, MR. EDWARD VALLA, TARA, TARA, MR. TARA? NOT HERE.
WE'LL NOW RETURN TO CONSENT TO JAN.
THANK YOU EVERYONE UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY, ITEM FOUR HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE PROPERTY CATEGORY.
NEED A MOTION FOR ITEM FIVE? MOVE ROBINSON.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? ITEM CARRIES UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BID CATEGORY.
ITEM SIX, EIGHT, AND 15 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
[02:25:02]
I MOVE FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.WE NEED A MOTION FOR ITEM 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, AND 16.
MOTION ROBINSON THOMAS, SECOND MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY.
ITEM 30 HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED AND WILL BE CONSIDERED IF IT IS RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING.
FOR A SEPARATE CONSIDERATION, WE NEED A VOTE FROM ITEM 17 THROUGH 32.
ANY DISCUSSION ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS? 17 THROUGH 32.
DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? ITEMS CARRIED FOR REAL,
[CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA]
I REMOVE SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.AND THIS ITEM HAS BEEN TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARD POLLARD.
ITEM SIX NEEDS A MOTION MOVE ROBINSON.
ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN.
I'M ALWAYS HAPPY WHEN I SEE MONEY GOING TO SPAY AND NEUTER EFFORTS.
UH, I WENT OUT TO GLENWOOD FOREST LAST NIGHT TO THEIR CIVIC CLUB AND DRIVING DOWN MESA AND LIBERTY DRIVE TO GET OUT THERE, STRAY DOGS GALORE.
UM, SO THIS IS A GREAT EFFORT.
UH, WE SPEND LESS PER CAPITA ON ANIMAL WELFARE THAN ALL THE CITIES IN TEXAS, UH, ABOUT PRETTY MUCH HALF.
AND, UH, THEREIN LIES A A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS. SO ANY MONEY GOING TOWARDS THAT IS GREAT.
ALSO, WANNA TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY, SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BARK.
I WAS OUT, BUT I HEARD THE SPEAKERS THAT CAME LAST WEEK ABOUT THE, THE PET STORE THAT'S STILL SELLING ANIMALS.
NOT, UM, NOT PRETTY MUCH FLAUNTING THE RULES THAT WE PUT FORTH ABOUT THE PUPPY MILLS.
WE ARE, UM, GOING OUT THERE AND CITING, CITING THEM EVERY WEEK.
THE FIRST ARRAIGNMENT IS APRIL 26TH, AND WE ARE WATCHING THAT.
UM, THERE'S GOTTA BE A WAY TO MAKE THEM COMPLY WITH THE LAW, SO THANK YOU.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE SUPPORTING THIS AND I I WANTED THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUST TO, UM, TO SAY THANK YOU TO PETSET FOR BEING SUCH A GOOD PARTNER.
I'M GLAD THEY'RE, UM, THEY'RE, THEY'RE FORMALLY, YOU KNOW, PART OF THIS NOW TOO, AND THAT THE CITY'S SUPPORTING, YOU KNOW, SPAIN NEUTER SERVICES THROUGH, THROUGH THEM, YOU KNOW, WITH BARK THROUGH PETSET.
UM, AND THAT HOW HELPFUL PETSET HAS BEEN, UM, TO ME THIS LAST, UM, LOVE YOUR PET MONTH, THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY WHERE THEY HAD A MOBILE UNIT THAT WAS STATIONED AT EAST TEXAS JENSEN FOR ON FOUR DAYS A WEEK FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH OF FEBRUARY.
THAT WAS VERY, VERY WELL RECEIVED BY, BY THE COMMUNITY.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, AND IT WAS ALL FREE TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR THEIR, THEIR CATS AND DOGS TO GET SPAYED OR NEUTERED.
UM, SO JUST CONGRATULATIONS ON, ON MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I'M PROUD TO ALSO, UH, SPONSOR OUR, UH, SUPPORT THIS AND, UH, THIS COMING SATURDAY.
I'D LIKE TO, UH, UH, MENTION THAT THIS COMING SATURDAY AT HARTMAN PARK, WE ARE DOING A, UM, A FIX IT, UM, FOR ZIP CODE 7 7 0 12 7 7 0 11, AND 7 7 0 23, UM, RESIDENTS THAT ARE NEEDING, UM, VOUCHERS, UM, UH, PUTTING IN $10,000 FOR MY DISTRICT SERVICE FUND.
SO I'D LIKE TO PROMOTE THAT AS WELL.
ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER SIX? SEEING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER EIGHT? COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON.
I KNOW THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ITEM.
IT'S NOT ALL THAT MUCH MONEY, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT DOLLARS TOWARDS, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE WITH THE ELECTRICAL VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS.
AND I WANNA APPRECIATE THE ADMINISTRATION FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD AND, UH, REALLY THINK ABOUT THE VARIOUS POTS OF MONEY THAT ARE COMING DOWN, BOTH FROM WASHINGTON AND, UH, LESS, UH, FLUIDLY FROM AUSTIN.
AND FOR THAT REASON, NOT NO NEED TO TAG, BUT WANTED TO SUGGEST THAT WE ALL TAKE A LOOK AT A MAP OF WHERE THESE, UH, STATIONS ARE GOING IN WITH THE IDEA OF EQUITY, UM, IN THE SURROUNDING HOUSTON
[02:30:01]
AREA.AND, UM, AS AN AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBER, I'M REQUESTING THAT JUST SO I CAN TRACK THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND WHERE, UH, WHERE THESE, UH, CHARGING STATIONS ARE GONNA BE.
SO, UH, I, I KNOW THAT'S AVAILABLE AND JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT AND CALL IT TO EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER'S ATTENTION.
ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER EIGHT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? ITEM CARRIES.
ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER? TIFFANY D. THOMAS? THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM COLLEAGUES, I JUST WANTED TO BRING THIS ITEM TO YOUR ATTENTION.
UM, UH, THIS ORGANIZATION IS IN DISTRICT F, BUT SERVICES ALL OF SOUTHWEST HOUSTON, AND THEY REALLY PROVIDE HEALTHCARE NEEDS TO THOSE THAT HAVE LIMITED, UH, MOBILITY, LIMITED INCOME.
THEY'VE DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB.
AND MOST RECENTLY, UH, CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN, UM, THEY WERE PRESENTED AN EARMARK OF $1.2 MILLION AROUND MENTAL HEALTH.
SO JUST KUDOS TO THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING.
UM, NOT JUST IN DISTRICT DEATH, BUT ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITIES AS THEY HAVE, ARE CLOSE TO SIX LOCATIONS OF, UH, A CLINIC.
SO I JUST APPRECIATE THIS ITEM COMING BEFORE THE BODY.
COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, ANY ADDIT? UH, COUNCIL MEMBER? CARLOS CISNEROS.
AND IN ADDITION TO THE, THE WORK THAT EVEN CINA FOUNDATION IS WILL BE DOING HERE WITH THE CITY SUPPORT, THERE ARE FIVE AGENDA ITEMS THAT, UM, WE'VE ALREADY ACTUALLY APPROVED ALREADY THAT ARE ALL ABOUT, UM, UM, HEALTH, UM, SUPPORT FOR, FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, ADULT DAYCARE, DENTAL SERVICES, HEALTH SCREENING WITH, WITH THIS ONE, AND, AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
SO, UM, AND THE THING THAT THAT STRUCK ME IS THAT ALL OF THESE ARE GRANT FUNDED AND I WANTED TO JUST, YOU KNOW, UM, TO, TO THANK THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR, FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE TAPPING INTO THE, UM, GRANTS THAT WE HAVE, UM, UH, ACCESSIBILITY TO, TO, TO HELP US WITH THE, YOU KNOW, TO, TO PAY FOR THESE THINGS.
ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? ITEM CARRIES.
[MATTERS HELD]
TO MATTERS HELD, I BELIEVE UNDER THE MATTERS HELD CATEGORY.ITEM 33 HAS ALREADY GOTTEN A MOTION.
ANY DISCUSSION ON 33? IN FAVOR OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARD POLLARD.
TIM, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO DELAY THIS ITEM FOR ONE WEEK.
MOTION TO DELAY THE ITEM FOR ONE WEEK A SECOND.
ANY OPPOSED IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES.
ITEM NUMBER 34 HAS BEEN DELAYED FOR ONE WEEK.
ITEM 35 IS AN ORDINANCE YOU NEED TO VOTE ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM 35? COUNCIL MEMBER LETICIA PLUMMER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR PRO TEM.
UM, I TAGGED THESE ITEMS, UM, LAST WEEK, AND UM, I'M GONNA GO AND VOTE YES ON ALL OF THEM AND JUST DEAL TALK TO IN, UM, OBO TO MAKE SURE THAT MINORITY PARTICIPATION, I'M SORRY, Y'ALL FASTING
UM, BUT NO, I WILL MONITOR THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT MWBES ARE MANAGED PROPERLY.
ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION ON ITEM 35? SEEING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? ITEM CARRIES ITEM 36.
ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM 36? SEEING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
ITEM 37 IS AN ORDINANCE, JUST NEED A VOTE.
ANY DISCUSSION ON 37? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, OPPOSE.
ANY DISCUSSION ON 38? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, OPPOSE.
ANY DISCUSSION ON 39? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, OPPOSE.
THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER.
[NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS]
AMY PECK, GO AHEAD.UM, I JUST WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE AN UPCOMING FOOD DISTRIBUTION IN DISTRICT A.
IT'LL BE SATURDAY, APRIL 22ND AT 10:00 AM UM, FREE FOOD AND ALSO PET FOOD WILL BE AVAILABLE AS WELL.
IT'LL BE AT THE RL IN CORAL JOHNSON PARK IN CARDALE.
UM, SATURDAY, APRIL 22ND AT 10:00 AM UM, 9 2 9 9 2 0.
[02:35:02]
PUERTO RICO ROAD, UM, 7 7 0 4 1.I HOPE EVERYONE CAN JOIN US FOR THAT.
COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVANS SHABAZZ.
NOT GONNA HAPPEN, BUT IT'LL BE, IT'LL BE REALLY SHORT THOUGH.
UM, LAST WEEK IT WAS AN HONOR TO PRESENT CASE FOR KIDS GRANTS TO 10 ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE DOING INCREDIBLE WORK FOR THE YOUTH AND DISTRICT D.
THE GRANTS WERE TWO BRAIDS AND BEADS CHANGE HAPPENS.
CREATIVITY, SHIELD, PHOTO FEST, HYPE FREEDOM SCHOOL SHAPE, COMMUNITY CENTER, THE FORGE FOR FAMILIES, US DREAM ACADEMY, INC.
WORLD YOUTH FOUNDATION, AND YOUNG AUDIENCES OF HOUSTON.
THE GRANTS WILL BENEFIT THESE ORGANIZATIONS IN THEIR MISSION TO SUPPORT, EMPOWER, AND UPLIFT THE YOUTH IN DISTRICT D THROUGH AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS. ON TOMORROW EVENING FROM SIX TO 7:00 PM AT THE SOUTH PARK CHURCH OF CRY OF GOD, 63 10 WESTERN STREET.
THERE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH STIGMAS, UH, PRESENTED BY THE GO NEIGHBORHOODS, OST, OST, SOUTH UNION NEIGHBORHOOD RECOVERY, CDC DREAM 7 7 0 2 1 OST, AND SOUTH UNION.
AND FINALLY, MISSION SUCCESS WOMEN VETERANS EVENT WILL BE SATURDAY APRIL 15TH FROM 11 TO TWO AT 44 10 REED ROAD.
UH, JOIN US FOR FOOD FUN AND FELLOWSHIP FOR WOMEN VETERANS GROUP DISCUSSIONS.
UM, MAYOR PROAM AND GIVEAWAYS.
AND THAT CONCLUDES WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
THE ONLY, ONLY TWO DANCES I DO ARE SLOW DANCES AND LAWN DANCES,
SO WE'LL NOW GO TO MAYOR PRO TEM, DAVE MARTIN.
SO A, A REALLY GOOD ANNOUNCEMENT, UH, JOINING MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS AND FORMER BOARD MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON.
THAT LAST MONTH, THE MONTH OF MARCH, THE HILTON AMERICAS PRODUCED BOTH THE HIGHEST GROSS REVENUE MONTH AND THE HIGHEST NET OPERATING INCOME MONTH IN THE 20 YEAR HISTORY OF THE HOTEL.
PHENOMENAL BOTH THE 14 MILLION IN GROSS REVENUE AND THE 8.8 MILLION IN NET OPERATING INCOME WERE RECORDS FOR A SINGLE MONTH SINCE THE BUILDING OPENED.
JUST A TREMENDOUS JOB BY THE TEAM THERE UNDER THE ALWAYS OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP OF JACQUES DER COURT.
WHEN JACQUES FIRST TOOK OVER THE HILTON, UH, MY WIFE AND I WERE GOING THERE FOR A STAYCATION, AND THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN THAT HAD A ROLL OF TAPE WRAPPED AROUND HIS HAND, AND HE WAS GOING AROUND PICKING UP LINT OFF OF THE FLOOR.
AND MY WIFE ASKED ME, WHO WAS THAT GUY? AND I SAID, THAT'S THE GENERAL MANAGER, JACQUES DE URT.
SO, UH, LEADERSHIP STARTS AT THE TOP AND THERE'S NO FINER LEADER IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND IN THE HOTEL BUSINESS, UH, BETTER THAN JACQUES.
CONGRATULATIONS HOUSTON FIRST AND CONGRATULATIONS JACQUES AND THE STAFF AT THE HILTON ON THE NORTH SIDE.
I'M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE GROUNDBREAKING FROM THE NORTH PARK DRIVE OVER PRESS PROJECT IS SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW, APRIL 13TH AT 8:00 AM AT 1301 NORTH PARK DRIVE, AGAIN, GROUNDBREAKING FOR NORTH PARK DRIVES OVERPASS PROJECT, WHICH WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR LITERALLY 10 YEARS, IS COMING TO FRUITION SINCE MY FIRST TERM IN OFFICE.
WE'VE BEEN COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE MOBILITY AND SAFETY IN THE KINGWOOD AREA, AND VERY PROUDS OF THE GREAT STRIDES TAKEN BY THE LAKE HOUSTON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
WE'VE HAD NUMEROUS CHALLENGES.
UH, ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WAS HURRICANE HARVEY, AND WE HAD TO RAISE THE ELEVATION OF THE ROAD TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE WERE GONNA BUILD AN EVACUATION ROUTE, IT WAS TRULY GOING TO BE AN EVACUATION ROUTE, AND WE HAD TO MOVE IT OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN.
THE PROCESS KICKED OFF IN 2015 BY AN EXTRAORDINARY KINGWOOD AREA MOBILITY STUDY STEERING COMMITTEE LED BY OUR FRIEND STAN SARON, WHO PASSED AWAY A FEW MONTHS AGO.
THE JOURNEY HAS BEEN LONG AND FILLED WITH MANY, MANY CHALLENGES, BUT WE FINALLY AT THE TIPPING POINT WHEN IT COMES TO REDUCING CONGESTION AND INCREASE IN SAFETY IN THE KINGWOOD AREA BY EXPANDING NORTH PARK DRIVE FROM FOUR LANES TO SIX LANES.
SO TOMORROW AT EIGHT O'CLOCK, COME JOIN US.
WELL, YOU'LL SEE THE HEAVY CONGESTION GETTING OUTTA KINGWOOD AND ARE ADDRESSING THAT HEAVY CONGESTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS.
THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, AGAIN, THIS COMING SATURDAY.
PROUD TO PARTNER WITH BARRIO DOGS AGAIN, TO OFFER FREE SPAY AND NEUTERING FOR DISTRICT, DISTRICT DIE PETS.
STOP BY ON SATURDAY AND SIGN UP YOUR PET FOR A FREE SURGERY.
SPAYING AND NEUTERING OUR PETS IS NOT ONLY IMPORTANT FOR THEIR HEALTH, BUT ALSO HELPS REDUCE ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, YOU MUST BE A DISTRICT DIE RESIDENT AND LIVE IN ONE OF
[02:40:01]
THE PRIORITY ZIP CODES.UH, ZIP CODE, UH, 7 7 0 0 2 7 7 0 0 3, 0 0 9, 0 10, 0 11, 0 12, 0 13, 0 17, 0 23, 0 29, 0 61, 0 7 5 AND 0 8 7.
UM, IT'S SATURDAY, APRIL 15TH FROM 10 TO 12 AT HARTMAN PARK, NINE 11 EAST AVENUE P UM, AND HARTMAN PARK, UH, IN MANCHESTER.
UH, SO AGAIN, PROUD TO, UM, UH, ONCE AGAIN THIS YEAR, UH, GIVE $10,000 FROM DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS, UH, AND PARTNER WITH BARRIO DOGS FOR FREE SPAY AND NEARING, UH, VOUCHERS.
THANK YOU COUNCILMAN DEBBIE ROBINSON.
I AM GONNA BE WITH YOU TOMORROW IN, UH, KINGWOOD ON THE NORTH PARK RIBBON CUTTING.
AND I DO BELIEVE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER HOR AND I ARE GONNA CARPOOL JUST TO SAVE SOME PETROLEUM.
BUT WE ARE COMING UP THERE AND WE'RE GONNA CELEBRATE.
WE GOT INFRASTRUCTURE, WE GOT TRANSPORTATION.
THIS IS, THIS IS AMAZING AND I KNOW IT'S A GREAT VICTORY FOR YOU.
AND THANK YOU FOR, UH, REMEMBERING STAN.
HE'S BEEN SUCH A CHAMPION OF THIS OVER THE YEARS.
I KNOW HE'S LOOKING DOWN AND SMILING AT YOU, DAVE.
AND, UH, WE'RE THINKING OF YOU STAN.
UM, MYSELF AND MAYOR TURNER WILL BE THERE AS WELL, SO HE HAS TO GET UP EXTRA EARLY TO MAKE IT THERE FOR EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
COUNCIL MEMBER, TIFFANY D. THOMAS.
DON'T FORGET THE D THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM.
WE'RE COMING TO THE WEST SIDE, UH, THE TANGLE WILD PARK IMPROVEMENTS WE'LL BEGIN IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
FINALLY, UM, SO WE ARE ADDING LIGHTING TO THE PICNIC PAVILION, UPDATING AND EXPANDING THE PLAYGROUND.
WE'RE ADDRESSING SITE DRAINAGE AND IMPROVING THE MULTIPURPOSE ATHLETIC FIELD.
TANGO OUT IS A, IT'S THE DEFINITION OF POCKET PARK AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS CONSTRUCTION TO END, UM, BY THE END OF 2023.
SO I JUST WANNA THANK ALL OF THE RESIDENTS DURING, UM, PEAK TIMES OF COVID FOR VIRTUALLY PARTICIPATING AND CONTRIBUTING, UH, TO THIS MASTER PLAN.
UM, ON THURSDAY, APRIL 13TH, UH, THE MIDWEST DIVISION OF HPD WILL HOST COFFEE WITH A COP FROM 11:00 AM TO 1:00 PM AT 25 0 3 SOUTH GESNER.
THIS IS YOUR TIME TO TALK DIRECTLY WITH HPD CONCERNING THE ISSUES YOU'RE RAISING IN MY OFFICE AROUND THE AFTER HOURS CLUBS, THE POKER CLUBS ON FONDANT, THE SHOOTING HAPPENING AT APARTMENTS, AND ALL OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH TOGETHER.
FIND YOUR TIME, FIND TIME TO GET THERE, UM, WITH THEM IN PERSON ON TOMORROW, I WANNA REMIND HOUSTONIANS AND PARTICULARLY RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT F.
WE'RE HOSTING OUR D RESTRICTIONS WORKSHOP ON APRIL 29TH AT HCC WEST CHASE, EXCUSE ME, HCC ON HAYES ROAD, ON WESTHEIMER IN WILCREST.
WE DO ASK FOR YOU TO REGISTER.
YOU CAN EMAIL MY OFFICE DIRECTLY AT DISTRICT F@HOUSTONTX.GOV AND WE'LL GET YOU LINED UP.
IT'S GONNA BE A ROBUST MEETING.
WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT NOT ONLY, UH, YOUR JUST OVERALL DEEP RESTRICTIONS, BUT THE ENFORCEMENTS, HOW TO GET THEM CHANGED, UM, THE ARCHITECT, UH, REGULATIONS AROUND THAT.
AND ALSO HOW TO PROTECT YOUR HOME FROM FRAUDULENT CONTRACTORS ON SUNDAY.
I WANNA ASK ALL HOUSTONIANS AND MY COLLEAGUES AND YOUR STAFFS TO JOIN US AT CIGNA SUNDAY AT THE PARK AT ALE.
AND WE'RE EXCITED, UM, THAT WE'RE GONNA TURN THAT PARK AROUND.
AND SO YOU REMEMBER HOW BEAUTIFUL THE, THE, UH, THE PARK WAS IN JANUARY, SO WE'RE GONNA ACTIVATE IT WITH ACTIVITIES, BRING A LOVED ONE, BRING SOME KIDS.
AND, UM, AND THEN IN CLOSING, UM, MY FIRST CHIEF OF STAFF, CHERYL DUNCAN, UM, SHE HAS TRANSITIONED HER LAST DAY IS TECHNICALLY FRIDAY.
UM, BUT WE CELEBRATED HER, UH, YESTERDAY AND SHE'S GOING ON TO LINK HOUSTON.
SO YOU WILL, UM, PROBABLY SEE HER IN THE FUTURE, UH, EN ENGAGING AROUND TRANSPORTATION ACCESS AND ENGAGEMENT.
SO WISH HER WELL AND THEN, UM, YOU KNOW, GIVE HER A PAT ON THE BACK IN THE STREETS WHEN SHE, UM, ASK, UH, TO MEET WITH YOUR OFFICE,
AND I LOVE YOUR LSU TIGER GOAL IN HONOR OF THE LADY TIGERS, UH, THRILLING NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY COACH KIM MULKEY.
COUNCIL MEMBER OF SALLY ALCORN.
YES, I'LL BE JOINING YOU TOMORROW.
AND Y'ALL BEEN TALKING ABOUT NORTH PARK DRIVE FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.
ALSO, UH, THE SAN JACINTO BAYOU GREENWAY, UH, RIBBON CUTTING.
SATURDAY THAT'S HAPPENING SATURDAY.
SO ANYWAY, UM, GREAT WEEK, GREAT WEATHER.
A LOT OF GOOD THINGS HAPPEN IN THE DISTRICT OF EXCELLENCE.
[02:45:01]
COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA PLUMMER.THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR PER TIM.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION AROUND PFCS.
UM, AND, UH, I'D LIKE TO JUST GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION AND SOME BILLS THAT ARE, THAT ARE BEING, UM, LOOKED AT, UM, THE NEXT WEEK OR SO.
UM, IN 2015, THE TEXAS LEDGE CREATED NEW PROPERTY TAX BREAK AND EXCHANGE FOR MODEST AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONCESSIONS.
AND THIS, THIS CLAUSE HAS CREATED A LOOPHOLE FOR DEVELOPERS WITH LITTLE OVERSIGHT IN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
SINCE 2015, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, UM, OF REAL ESTATE HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM OUR TAX ROLLS MONEY, UM, THAT FUNDS SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS AND OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
WHEN PROPERTY IS REMOVED FROM A TAX ROLL, THE LOCAL TAXPAYERS MUST MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE IN REVENUE TO PAY POLICE, FIREFIGHTERS AND TEACHERS.
AS WE HAVE SEEN THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY, THESE PROPERTIES ARE BEING TAKEN OFF THE TAX ROLL WITHOUT OUR KNOWLEDGE FOR LARGE PROJECTS, A HUNDRED PERCENT EXEMPTION OF PROPERTY TAXES CAN BE WORTH $2 MILLION ANNUALLY TO DEVELOPERS ALSO ENJOY A SALES TAX EXEMPTION ON THE PROJECTS.
BUILDING MATERIALS WORTH ANOTHER 1.3 MILLION PER DEVELOPMENT.
RESEARCH SHOWS THAT MANY OF THE PFCS ARE RENTING AT NEAR MARKETS WHILE CALLING THEM AFFORDABLE, AND THEY'RE NOT SUBJECT TO THE SAME OVERSIGHT AS OTHER GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
FOR EXAMPLE, CORTLAND SPRING CYPRESS APARTMENT ONE BEDROOM, AFFORDABLE, RENTED FOR $1,262.
THESE PFCS USUALLY DON'T ACCEPT HOUSING VOUCHERS.
UM, OR, UM, THESE, AND THESE UNITS ARE NOT FOR LOWER INCOME INDIVIDUALS.
I AM ALL FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND IT IS AFFORDABLE, THAT IS AFFORDABLE AND HAS GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT BECAUSE IT ENSURES REMEDIES, REPAIRS, AND REHABILITATION.
HOWEVER, PFCS ARE BEYOND THAT AND BECOME, AND, UM, BECAUSE OF THESE LOOPHOLES, THEIR CONCERNS, THERE ARE MULTIPLE BILLS THAT THE TEXAS LEDGE IS ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE.
AND I WANT TO PUT A DISCLAIMER OUT THERE.
UM, I KNOW THAT MANY OF US HAVE HEARD THE ISSUES REGARDING REPRESENTATIVE GARY GATES AND HIS LACKS ATTITUDE TOWARD BRINGING HIS APARTMENTS UP TO CODE AND THE WAY THAT HE HAS TREATED SENIORS RENTERS AFTER ACQUIRING MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES.
I WANNA SAY THIS THOUGH, THERE IS A BILL THAT HE IS INTRODUCING CALLED HB 35 68.
IT IS A COMPREHENSIVE BILL THAT WOULD MAKE PFCS TRULY AFFORDABLE FOR LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS, 65% A MI AND BELOW.
IT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS THAT HOLD PFCS ACCOUNTABLE AND MAKE THEIR DEALINGS MORE TRANSPARENT, AS WELL AS AUDIT THE REQUIREMENTS TO ENSURE THAT PFCS ARE COMPLIANT AND THEIR STATED LOW INCOME AND HOUSING VOUCHER REQUIREMENTS ARE OUTLINED IN THIS PARTICULAR BILL.
IN ADDITION, SENATOR URT HAS INTRODUCED A COUPLE OF BILLS SB 8 0 5, REPEALING SECTION 3 0 3 0.042 F, WHICH ALLOWS P PFCS TAX EXEMPTIONS.
AND THESE BILLS HAVE PUBLIC HEARING TODAY AND SHOULD PAY, WE SHOULD PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THEM.
THE SECOND BILL THAT SENATOR BENNETT COURT, SB 1 12 78, REQUIRES THAT PFCS, UM, HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING TO APPROVE THE DEVELOPMENT.
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AS WELL AS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, MUST RECEIVE NOTICE OF THE DEVELOPMENT AS IS AS ACQUIRED.
WHILE THIS BILL IS GOOD, IT DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH.
AND, UM, BECAUSE IT IS UNDER 65% A MI TO BE TRULY, UM, ABLE TO, TO, UM, ALLOW AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND TO ENSURE THE CITY RECEIVES A SHARED TAX REVENUE THAT IT DESERVES, WE NEED SECTION 3 0 3 0.042, UM, FOR THE TAX LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE TO BE REPEALED OR REFORMED TO ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY TRANSPARENCY FOR PFCS.
COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS CISNEROS.
I WANTED TO JUST INVITE EVERYONE TO THE CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH COMMITTEE MEETING THAT WILL BE HAPPENING TODAY AT TWO O'CLOCK IN THESE CHAMBERS.
UM, THE, THE MEETING IS ALSO, UM, UM, A HYBRID MEETING.
SO, UM, A VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION IS ALSO POSSIBLE.
UM, TODAY WE WILL BE HEARING PRESENTATIONS FROM THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND, UM, UH, THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT ABOUT EFFORTS AND INITIATIVES THAT THEY HAVE UNDERWAY TO, UM, UH, TO REACH CHILDREN AND YOUTH, UM, AND EDUCATE THEM ABOUT, UM, PROGRAMS THAT THEY HAVE.
SO I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AT TWO O'CLOCK TODAY.
SO EVERYONE HAVE A BLESSED DAY.
THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.