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START, WE DON'T HAVE OUR GAVEL.
[Economic Development Committee]
GOOD AFTERNOON.IT IS WEDNESDAY, APRIL THE 19TH, 2023.
THE TIME IS TWO O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON.
AND I'M VICE MAYOR PROTE, MARTHA CASTEX TATUM, THE CHAIR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.
AND I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
UH, WELCOME TO ALL OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, STAFF AND GUESTS IN ATTENDANCE, UH, WITH US IN CHAMBERS TODAY.
WE HAVE STAFF FROM DISTRICT E AND WE ALSO HAVE STAFF FROM DISTRICT I.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE STAFF FROM AT LARGE ONE, UH, WITH US IN THE CHAMBERS.
AND THEN ONLINE WE HAVE STAFF FROM DISTRICT A, UH, AMY PECK'S, OFFICE STAFF FROM DISTRICT B, TASHA JACKSON, STAFF FROM DISTRICT C COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN'S OFFICE, UH, STAFF FROM DISTRICT D, STEVEN JAMES FOR CAROLYN SHABAZZ'S OFFICE, UH, STAFF FROM DISTRICT H, COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS OFFICE, AND ALSO STAFF FROM DISTRICT J COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD'S OFFICE.
SO BETWEEN THE CHAMBER AND ONLINE, WE'VE GOT A A A A QUORUM FOR SURE.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR PARTICIPATING TODAY.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, GO AHEAD.
UH, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU CAN PUT THOSE IN THE CHAT.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A WHILE ONLINE, IF YOU, UM, HAVE ANY PROBLEMS, JUST SEND US A, SEND US A TEXT.
UH, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PRESENTATIONS TODAY.
UH, FIRST ON OUR AGENDA IS THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND WE'LL HAVE STAFF ANALYST ANDREW BUSKER, HE WILL PRESENT ON A TEXAS ENTERPRISE ZONE PROGRAM PROPOSAL.
MR. BUSKER, IF YOU WILL PROCEED WITH YOUR PRESENTATION.
UM, SO I AM PRESENTING, UM, TWO TEXAS ENTERPRISE ZONE NOMINATIONS, UM, THAT ARE TARGETED FOR THE JUNE 1ST APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR THE STATE.
WE COULD GO ONTO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO FIRST I'LL GO OVER, UM, THE TEXAS ENTERPRISE ZONE PROGRAM IN GENERAL, AND THEN I'LL MOVE ON TO THE APPLICATIONS.
SO, THE TEXAS ENTERPRISE ZONE PROGRAM IS, IS ADMINISTERED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS.
COMPANIES RECEIVE STATE SALES TAX AND USE TAX REFUNDS FOR QUALIFYING PROJECTS.
COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES ARE ALLOTTED NINE NOMINATIONS PER BIENNIUM.
UNUSED NOMINATIONS ARE FORFEITED AT THE END OF THE STATE BIENNIUM.
THIS IS THE FINAL ROUND OF, UH, NOMINATIONS FOR THIS BIENNIUM.
UH, THE FIRST ROUND FOR THE UPCOMING BIENNIUM WILL BE DUE SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2023.
NOW, THESE NOMINATIONS DO NOT REQUIRE ANY FUNDING FROM THE MUNICIPALITY.
THIS PROGRAM REQUIRES INTERESTED IN QUALIFIED APPLICANTS.
WE OCCASIONALLY RECEIVE APPLICATIONS THAT DO NOT MEET THE PROGRAM STANDARDS, UH, USUALLY AS A RESULT OF THE APPLICATION'S AVERAGE SALARY FOR JOBS, UH, IN THE PROJECT.
BEING BELOW HARRIS COUNTY'S AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE, THE STATE STATUTE REQUIRES US TO USE THE COUNTY'S AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE.
THE FACTORS, UH, THAT ARE CONSIDERED WHEN EVALUATING AN APPLICATION INCLUDE PRESENCE WITHIN OR PROXIMITY TO DEMOGRAPHICALLY DEFINED ENTERPRISE ZONES.
IF THE PROJECT'S AVERAGE SALARY MEETS OR EXCEEDS THE COUNTY AVERAGE SALARY, IF THE COMPANY IS IN ONE OF HOUSTON'S PRIORITY INDUSTRIES, THE PROJECT'S ALIGNMENT WITH CITY DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES, THE PROJECT'S ALIGNMENT WITH CITY COMMUNITY BENEFIT PRIORITIES, THE NUMBER OF JOBS CREATED, THE NUMBER OF JOBS RETAINED, AND THE, UH, THE AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT.
SO, UH, NOW INTRODUCE THE TWO PROPOSALS.
UH, FIRST WE'LL HAVE ATELLA PHARMA CORPORATION, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE D NOW LP.
ATELLA PHARMA CORPORATION IS A STARTUP BUSINESS ESTABLISHING ITSELF IN HOUSTON'S NORTH SIDE.
THEY SPECIALIZE IN COMPOUNDING PHARMACEUTICALS, WHICH IS DILUTING MEDICATIONS AND STORING THE MEDICATIONS AND SYRINGES OR IV BAGS TO BE USED IN HOSPITALS, PHARMACIES, AND DOCTOR'S OFFICES.
ELA PHARMA'S WORKPLACE WILL OCCUPY THE ENTIRE SITE LOCATED ON NORTH CHASE DRIVE.
THE COMPANY CURRENTLY EMPLOYS ONE FTE.
AND THROUGH THIS INVESTMENT, ATILLA PHARMA PLANS TO ACCOMMODATE AN ADDITIONAL 495 NEW FTES.
OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE INSPECT
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ARE EXPECTED TO COST $7.15 MILLION FOR BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS, THE EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY PURCHASES, THE, AND OTHER CAPITAL COSTS REQUIRED TO GROW FROM A STARTUP INTO A LARGE COMPANY.SINCE THE SITE IS LOCATED WITHIN AN EXISTING ENTERPRISE ZONE, STATE STATUTE REQUIRES AT LOW PHARMA TO COMMIT TO HIRING PEOPLE OF LOW INCOME CENSUS BLOCK GROUPS OR PEOPLE WHO ARE VETERANS, OR PEOPLE WHO ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED INDIVIDUALS FOR AT LEAST 25% OF THE 495 NEW JOBS IN THIS PROPOSAL.
SO, DISTRIBUTION NOW IS A LEADING GLOBAL STOCKING SUPPLIER OF ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS PRODUCTS AND ENGINEERED EQUIPMENT PACKAGES LOCATED IN THE CITY'S ETJ.
UH, THEY'RE ADJACENT TO FAIRVIEW GARDENS AND, UH, JUST WEST OF JERSEY VILLAGE.
THEY PROVIDE AN EXTENSIVE SELECTION OF PIPE, VALVES AND FITTINGS, MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND OPERATION SUPPLIES AND ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER PRODUCTS TO THE ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL MARKETS WORLDWIDE.
DN L'S HEADQUARTERS OCCUPIES THE ENTIRE SITE LOCATED ON NORTH ELRIDGE PARKWAY.
THE COMPANY CURRENTLY EMPLOYS 360 FTES IN HOUSTON, AND THROUGH THIS INVESTMENT, D NOW WILL HIRE AN ADDITIONAL 75 NEW FTES AND RETAIN 315 FTES.
THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE EXPECTED TO COST $11 MILLION FOR UPGRADES TO THEIR CYBERSECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND A NEW VENDOR INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CENSUS.
THE SITE IS NOT LOCATED WITHIN AN EXISTING ENTERPRISE ZONE.
STATE STATUTE REQUIRES D NOW TO COMMIT TO HIRING, UH, FROM LOW INCOME CENSUS BLOCK GROUPS OR PEOPLE WHO ARE VETERANS OR PEOPLE WHO ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED INDIVIDUALS FOR AT LEAST 35% OF THE 75 NEW JOBS IN THIS PROPOSAL.
SO OUR TARGET DATE FOR THE RESOLUTIONS, UH, FOR NOMINATION, UM, IS EXPECTED TO BE MAY 3RD.
AND THEN FOR THE COMPANIES, THEIR TARGET DATE TO SUBMIT TO THE STATE WOULD BE JUNE 1ST.
UM, AND SO AT THIS TIME I'LL TAKE, UH, ANY QUESTIONS ON EITHER PROPOSAL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I DO, I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
HOW MANY OF THE NINE, UM, NOMINATIONS HAVE WE ALREADY USED? SO WE, UH, WE'VE USED TWO FOR THIS BIENNIUM, AND THEN THIS WILL BE ANOTHER TWO MORE.
SO WE'LL, FOUR OUT OF THE, THE NINE.
AND THEN MY OTHER QUESTION WAS ON PAGE FIVE, UH, WE TALKED ABOUT THE CREATION OF THE 495 JOBS FOR THE FARMER CORP.
THE, WHAT IS THAT? AT ATARA? AT, YEAH.
UM, IS IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO CIRCLE BACK AND GET A REPORT OF THE HIRING? I KNOW THAT WE, UM, YOU KNOW, AWARD THESE, UM, TO THE COMPANIES AND THEY COMMIT TO THESE TYPES OF POSITIONS, AND, UH, I'D LIKE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO CIRCLE BACK AND SEE THAT THIS ACTUALLY TOOK PLACE.
UM, THERE, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE'S ALWAYS QUESTIONS WHEN WE ARE AWARDING THESE, AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SHOW THAT THE COMPANIES DID WHAT THEY COMMITTED TO DO WHEN WE AWARD THESE TEASES.
AND THEN MY OTHER QUESTION WAS, CAN YOU REPEAT, UM, WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT WHAT THEY WILL BE STORING ON THIS SITE FOR, UM, AT LEFT PHARMA MM-HMM
UM, SO THEY, UH, ARE TAKING IN PHARMACEUTICALS, UM, FROM THE PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURING, AND THEN THEY'RE DILUTING THEM INTO VARIOUS SOLUTIONS.
SO WHETHER THAT'S WATER OR ANOTHER TYPE OF SOLUTION TO DILUTE THE PHARMACEUTICAL, THEN THEY'RE STORING THEM INTO SYRINGES OR IV BAGS.
AND THEN THOSE PRODUCTS ARE THEN DISTRIBUTED TO THE HOSPITALS OR DOCTOR'S OFFICES OR, SO THESE ARE NEW PRODUCTS.
THEY'RE THEY'RE NOT GETTING, THEY'RE NEW PRODUCTS.
THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE GETTING THESE ARE NEW PRODUCTS YES.
THAT ARE GOING TO HOSPITALS? YES.
YEAH, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I WANTED THE CLARIFICATION ON.
AND TO ADDRESS YOUR, YOUR JOBS POINT, UH, FOR EVERY, UH, NOMINATION THAT WE, UH, APPROVE, THAT YOU ALL APPROVE, UM, WE ENTER INTO AN MOU WITH THAT COMPANY WHERE THEY PROVIDE US ANNUAL UPDATES ON THEIR, THEIR TARGETS FOR THESE.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DO.
AND WHO REVIEWS THOSE ANNUAL UPDATES? OUR OFFICE DOES YOUR, SO WHAT I'D LIKE FOR US, FOR YOUR OFFICE TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, JUST SO THAT WE CAN ALSO SEE THAT INFORMATION.
AND YOU MAY SEND THAT IN THE THOUSANDS OF EMAILS THAT WE GET, BUT IF YOU COULD JUST FLAG IT AND SAY, REMEMBER YOU ASKED ABOUT THIS, UM, HERE, HERE ARE THE NUMBERS.
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SURE.AND THEN, UM, MY LAST QUESTION WAS ON THE SECOND, UM, PROJECT WITH A PROJECT GOING INTO THE ETJ THAT ALSO COUNTS AGAINST OUR NINE NOMINATIONS.
UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM STAFF? NOPE.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I'M SORRY, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? NO, NO.
NEXT ON OUR AGENDA, THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY DIRECTOR, MARCIA E MURRAY, AND HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM, DEPUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR KELLY IRVING, WILL PRESENT ON THE FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 2023 TO 2025 DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE TRIENNIAL GOALS.
SO, DIRECTOR MURRAY AND DEPUTY ASSISTANT IRVING, IF YOU ARE READY, WE ARE READY TO HEAR YOUR PRESENTATION NOW.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR CASSICK TATUM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER STAFF TODAY, KELLY IRVIN AND I WILL BE PROVIDING A BRIEF PRESENTATION ON THE PROPOSED DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE GOALS FOR GEORGE BUSH INTER CONTINENTAL AND WILLIAM P.
BEFORE I GO ON, I JUST REALLY WANT TO EXTEND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST TEAM THAT WORKED REALLY HARD ON US BEING ABLE TO ACTUALLY PRESENT THESE PROPOSED GOALS TODAY.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE TEAM.
SO, AS A RECIPIENT OF GRANTS FOR AIRPORT PLANNING OR DEVELOPMENT, WHO WILL AWARD PRIME CONTRACTS FOR MORE THAN $250,000 USING FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION FUNDS, THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION REQUIRES THAT THE CITY OF OF HOUSTON ESTABLISH A DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM AND PLAN, WHICH INCLUDES SETTING DBE TRI-ANNUAL GOALS.
THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM ANTICIPATES THAT IT WILL RECEIVE MORE THAN $250,000 IN GRANT FUNDS OVER THE NEXT THREE FEDERAL FISCAL YEARS.
AS A RESULT, THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY AND THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM WILL BE SEEKING COUNCIL APPROVAL FOR PROPOSED TRI-ANNUAL GOALS.
AS YOU MAY KNOW, THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES DIRECTOR SERVES AS THE DBE LIAISON OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING ALL ASPECTS OF THE CITY'S DBE PROGRAM.
SO THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY ADMINISTERS THE PROGRAM IN CLOSE COORDINATION WITH CONTRACT AND DEPARTMENTS AS IT RELATES TO FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, AND FELLOW TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION GRANTS.
I AM, OF COURSE, JOINED TODAY BY THIS, UH, DEPUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MS. IRVING, WHO OVERSEES THE DAY-TO-DAY ADMINISTRATION OF THE DBE PROGRAM AT THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM.
MS. IRVING WILL WALK YOU THROUGH THE STEPS THAT THE H-I-S-O-B-O OFFICE TOOK OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS TO ARRIVE AT THE PROPOSED GOALS.
I DO WANNA NOTE THAT THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE SERVED AS THE BASIS OF THE GOALS WE'LL DISCUSS TODAY ARE A SUBSET OF THE TOTAL PROJECTS THAT WERE ANTICIPATED TO BE LET OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
THE FAA HAS ASKED US TO SUBMIT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE GOALS FOR THE PROJECTS ORIGINALLY IDENTIFIED, UM, MONTHS AGO, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY.
UM, THE GOAL SETTING PROCESS FOR TRIANNUAL GOALS IS A SNAPSHOT IN TIME OF PROJECTED PROJECTS.
SO GOALS CAN BE REVISED WHEN THERE ARE CHANGES.
OVER THE NEXT WEEKS, WE'LL AMEND THIS GOAL ANALYSIS TO INCLUDE THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT HAVE SINCE BEEN IDENTIFIED.
NOW I'LL TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER TO MS. IRVING.
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR MURRAY, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF.
THE GOAL SETTING PROCESS FOR A TRIENNIAL DBE GOAL INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING.
CAN I HAVE THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE? THANK YOU.
WE'RE REQUIRED TO DRAFT THE PROPOSED DBE GOALS BY COMPILING ALL FORECASTED PROJECTS OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
WE ARE TO MAINTAIN A 30 DAY PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT PERIOD THAT IS DEDICATED FOR DBES, OTHER CERTIFIED FIRMS, INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS TO REVIEW.
WE IDENTIFY THE FOLLOWING THREE LOCATIONS THAT THESE DOCUMENTS WERE AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW, ONE BEING THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE, SECOND BEING THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM, OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY.
AND THIRD WAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY.
AND FINALLY, WE ALSO POSTED FOR REVIEW ON OUR FLY TO HOUSTON.COM WEBSITE.
WE HOSTED THE FOLLOWING STAKEHOLDERS MEETINGS.
THE FIRST STAKEHOLDERS MEETING WAS A MEETING TO NOTIFY THE PUBLIC THAT WE, WE WERE IN THE PROCESS COMPILING THESE PROJECTS AND EVALUATING THE GOAL THAT FIRST STAKEHOLDERS MEETING WAS HELD FEBRUARY THE 15TH, THE 16TH AND 17TH,
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ALLOWING INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO OUR OFFICE AND TO COME TO THIS LOCATION TO ASK QUESTIONS AND HEAR THE PRESENTATION.OUR SECOND STAKE STAKEHOLDERS MEETING WAS HELD MARCH 1ST, SECOND, AND THIRD.
IT IS THAT THE, THAT THOSE PARTICULAR THREE MEETINGS THAT WE ACTUALLY DELIVERED, THE PROPOSED TRIENNIAL GOAL FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND WHAT PROJECTS WERE INVOLVED, THE SCOPES OF WORK, AND ALSO PROVIDE ANY COMMENT.
OUR NEXT STEP IS TO PRESENT TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, WHICH WE'RE DOING TODAY.
OUR NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO PRESENT TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
AND ONCE WE HAVE COMPLETED ALL OF THOSE STEPS, WE THEN WILL COMPEL OUR FINAL DOCUMENT AND UPLOAD IT TO THE FAA FOR FINAL REVIEW AND APPROVAL.
OUR FORECASTING, UH, CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS FOR GEORGE BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT FOR FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 2023 THROUGH 2025, INCLUDES A NUMBER OF PROJECTS, SEVEN IN, IN TOTAL.
IT IS A MIXTURE OF TAXIWAY REHABILITATIONS OF FIRE STATION, UH, REPLACEMENT PROJECT, AND ALSO ELECTRICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL LIFT STATION.
OUR FORECASTED, UM, CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS FOR HOBBY ARE AS FOLLOWS, A NUMBER OF TAXIWAY PROJECTS, ELECTRICAL PRO UPGRADE PROJECTS, AND ALSO A RESTAURANT REHABILITATION MODERNIZATION PROJECT F DIRECTOR.
MARY MENTIONED EARLIER, ADDITIONAL PROJECTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.
THIS WAS A SNAPSHOT AT THE TIME THAT WE BEGAN OUR PROCESS OF EVALUATING.
AND AS A RESULT, THE GOAL WILL BE REVISED IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
CALCULATION OF DBE TRIENNIAL GOALS.
IT REQUIRES A TWO STEP PROCESS.
THE FIRST STEP IS TO EVALUATE THE RELATIVE AVAILABILITY OF MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED FIRMS. WE, WE ARRIVE AT THIS NUMBER BASED ON OUR MOST CURRENT DISPARITY STUDY ISSUED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND THAT NUMBER IS 34.74% OF MWBES AS, UM, STATED AS AVAILABLE.
OUR SECOND STEP IS TO LOOK AT AN ADJUSTED ADJUSTMENT OF THE BASE FIGURE.
AND WHAT THIS IS, IT IS ACTUALLY AN EVALUATION OF THE SEVEN PROJECTS FOR IAH, THE SEVEN PROJECTS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED FOR, UM, HLU, LOOKING AT THE WORK ELEMENTS, THE NEXT CODES THAT DE DEFINE THOSE WORK ELEMENTS, THE COST FOR EACH WORK ELEMENT, AND THEN THE CURRENT AVAIL AVAILABILITY OF CURRENT DBE CERTIFIED AND LISTED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S OF DATABASE FOR CERTIFIED FIRMS. WE THEN TAKE THE, THE FORMULA, WHICH IS BASE FIGURE PLUS A, JUST A WEIGHTED AVAILABILITY DIVIDED BY TWO AS REPRESENTED ON THE SLIDE.
OUR FEDERAL, OUR FORMER FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 2020 THROUGH 2022 DBE GOALS WERE FOR IAH 32% DBE GOAL AND RACE NEUTRAL GOAL WAS 2.5.
OUR HLU ANTICIPATED DBE GOAL WAS 31%, AND RACE NEUTRAL GOAL WAS 2.5%.
ALLOW ME TO EXPLAIN THE DBE GOAL.
THE DBE GOAL IS ACTUALLY THE GOAL THAT WE ANTICIPATED, UH, ACHIEVING OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS BASED ON CONTRACT SPECIFIC PROJECTS.
SO WE WOULD SET DBE GOALS FOR CONTRACT SPECIFIC PROJECTS.
OUR DBE RACE NEUTRAL, UM, GOAL IS THE GOAL THAT WE ANTICIPATED RECEIVING ON PROJECTS THAT EITHER WENT IN EXCESS OF THE CONTRACT SPECIFIC GOAL, THE PARTICIPATION, AND OR ON PROJECTS THAT DID NOT CARRY A GOAL.
BUT WE STILL WERE ABLE TO ATTAIN PARTICIPATION FROM A DBE, EITHER AS A PRIME OR AS A PARTICIPATING SUBCONTRACTOR.
TO COMMUNICATE NUMERICALLY THE GOAL FOR IAH.
THE BASE FIGURE PLUS WEIGHTED AVAILABILITY DIVIDED BY TWO IS AS FOLLOWS, 34.74% PLUS 34 POINT 37%.
THE SUM OF THOSE TWO NUMBERS DIVIDED BY TWO GIVES YOU 34.5%.
SO THE ADJUSTED DBE GOAL FOR IAH
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IS 34.55%, AND WE WOULD ROUND THAT TO THE NEAREST WHOLE NUMBER OF 35%.OUR HOU ADJUSTED DBE GOAL IS AS FOLLOWS.
THE BASE FIGURE IS 34.74% PLUS 33.56%.
THE SUM OF THOSE TWO NUMBERS DIVIDED BY TWO, GIVES YOU 34.15%.
THE ADJUSTED DBE GOAL FOR HOBBY AIRPORT IS 34.15% ROUNDED TO THE NEAREST HOME NUMBER, WHICH IS 34%.
OUR PROPOSED FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 2023 THROUGH 2025 DBE GOALS FOR H-A-F-R-I-A-H 35% DBE GOAL WITH ERASE NEUTRAL GOAL OF 2.5%, AND FOR HLU 34% WITH A RACE NEUTRAL GOAL OF 2.5%.
HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM AND THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY ARE CONFIDENT THAT THESE PROPOSED TRIENNIAL GOALS ARE REALISTIC AND CAN BE ATTAINED BY THE CURRENT DBE POPULATION IN OUR CURRENT MARKET AREA.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE, I I DON'T, I DON'T THINK I'M CLEAR ON THE RACE NEUTRAL GOAL AND HOW WE DERIVED AT THAT.
YOU SAID IT WAS THE EXCESS, THE WHEN LOOK, WHEN LOOKING AT THE PROPOSED GOALS, THE PROJECTED GOALS, AND WE LOOK AT THE AVAILABILITY OF OUR CURRENT POPULATION, WE ATTAIN EITHER THE 35% FOR, UM, IAH AND THE 34 FOR, UM, HOBBY.
WE ANTICIPATE TO MEET THOSE GOALS OF 35 AND 34, ANY CON.
AND THOSE ARE BASED ON CONTRACT SPECIFIC GOALS.
SO AS WE LOOKED AT THE LIST OF SEVEN AND SEVEN ALTOGETHER THERE WERE 14, WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY EVALUATE EACH OF THOSE CON UH, THOSE, UM, PROJECTS FOR A GOAL, WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL MEET THE WHATEVER CONTRACT SPECIFIC GOAL IS, AND WE WILL ATTAIN ROUGHLY 2.5% OR MORE THROUGH RACE NEUTRAL MEASURES.
MEANING WE EITHER WE'LL EXCEED THE GOAL, SO IF WE ESTABLISH A CONTRACT GOAL OF 20%, WE WILL EXCEED IT, BUT WITH MAYBE WITH 24%.
AND OR WE WILL HAVE A CONTRACT WHERE WE WILL NOT SET A GOAL AND WE WILL ACTUALLY HAVE DBE PARTICIPATION AS A PRIME OR A SUBCONTRACTOR.
AND THAT WILL TOTAL OUR, UM, 2.5% FOR EACH OF THOSE AIRPORTS.
AND THAT'S LOOKING AT PAST PROJECTS, THE PARTICIPATION OF DBES BEYOND THE ESTABLISHED, UM, CONTRACT GOALS, UH, LIKE MS. IRVING SAID, AND ANY PARTICIPATION OUTSIDE OF PROJECTS THAT ACTUALLY HAVE GOALS.
AND THEN, DO WE HAVE A MORE UPDATED DISPARITY STUDY BECAUSE WE'RE USING THIS BASE NUMBER FROM 2012 TO DE TO DETERMINE THE BASE FIGURE? UM, DO YOU THINK THAT THERE WOULD BE A, A CHANGE IN THAT BASE NUMBER IF WE HAD A MORE UPDATED DISPARITY STUDY? SO THE AVAILABILITY, UM, SO WE HAVE, UM, CERTAINLY, UM, INCREASED THE OVERTIME THROUGH CERTIFICATION AND EXPANSION, YOU KNOW, IN THE MARKETPLACE WE'VE CERTAINLY INCREASED THE NUMBER OF M-M-W-B-E, SO I DON'T, I THINK THAT THE, THE PERCENTAGE IS STILL A VALID ONE.
I MEAN, OF COURSE, WE DID ATTEMPT TO DO A DISPARITY STUDY IN 2016 THAT, UM, UNFORTUNATELY WE WERE NOT ABLE TO ACTUALLY ACCEPT OR PUBLISH.
UM, SO CERTAINLY WE WANTED TO HAVE SOMETHING MORE RECENT.
BUT RIGHT NOW, THE 2012 STUDY IS THE MOST VALID INFORMATION THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY RELY, RELY ON.
WE DID EXPLORE WHETHER OR NOT WE COULD RELY ON OTHER DISPARITY STUDIES THAT WERE DONE BY, RECENTLY DONE BY HARRIS COUNTY AND, UM, AND, UH, THE PORT, FOR EXAMPLE.
BUT THOSE, THOSE STUDIES DON'T COVER, UH, AVIATION PROJECTS.
UM, SO WE NEEDED TO COMPLETE COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES.
AND ALSO, THEY ALSO DON'T COVER THE SAME MARKET, THE MARKET AREA.
SO WE HAVE OUR, OUR PROGRAM COVERS A 10 COUNTY AREA.
AND SO HARRIS COUNTY STUDY, FOR EXAMPLE, ANALYZED A FIVE A FIVE COUNTY AREA.
AND THEY, THERE'S ALSO JUST A MAIN DISTINCTION IN TERMS OF THE FACT THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN EXISTING PROGRAM.
AND THE AVAILABILITY AND DISPARITY STUDIES HAVE DRAW VERY DIFFERENT CONCLUSIONS WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE AN
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EXISTING, UH, STUDY.SO THIS WAS THE BEST POSSIBLE INFORMATION THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO USE AT THIS TIME.
DO WE LOOK AT ANY DISPARITY STUDIES IN OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE AIRPORT SYSTEMS? SO IT'S REALLY VERY SPECIFIC TO THE MARKETPLACE.
YOU KNOW, SO BECAUSE WE ARE COMPARING THE, THE, UH, US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION EXPECTS US TO DO THE ANALYSIS BASED ON THE EXISTING MARKETPLACE NOW.
SO I, I GET THAT, BUT I'M, I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW IF THE PERCENTAGES ARE IN LINE WITH OTHER CITIES THAT ALSO HAVE AIRPORTS THAT, UH, I GET THAT THE, IT'S SPECIFIC TO THE AREA, BUT I WANNA KNOW IF THE PERCENTAGE IS COMPARABLE IN OTHER LOCATIONS.
SO WE HAVE NOT LOOKED AT THAT.
WE CAN CERTAINLY TAKE A LOOK AT, AT THAT.
UM, BUT AGAIN, MARKET, YOU KNOW, THE, THE MARKETPLACE IS GONNA BE DISTINCT.
SO I, I DON'T KNOW IF, IF IT'S NECESSARILY GOING TO BE THE BEST COMPARISON FOR US, BUT IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN CERTAINLY TAKE A LOOK AT, BUT WE HAVE NOT.
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? OKAY.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WANT TO ADD? IF NOT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
NEXT ON OUR AGENDA, WE WILL HAVE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM CHIEF TERMINAL MANAGEMENT OFFICER, LILIANA RAMBO, TERMINAL MANAGEMENT ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, SAM RAY AND HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM, IT CONSULTANT, HEATHER D ALESSANDRO WILL PRESENT ON THE PASSENGER JOURNEY SCORECARD APPLICATION.
WE'RE READY FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PROAM, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND EVERYBODY AROUND.
UH, IT IS GREAT TO BE HERE TODAY.
AND, UH, THE REASON THAT WE'RE HERE TODAY IS IN THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE AND THE PURSUIT OF WHAT THE HOUSTON AIRPORTS DOES AND WHAT WE WANNA BE ABLE TO, UM, PURSUE OUR VISION AND, AND GET TO WHERE, BECOME A FIVE STAR GLOBAL SERVICE GATEWAY, WHERE THE MAGIC OF LIFE IS CELEBRATED, UH, AS, UH, YOU ALL KNOW.
AND WE HAVE SET IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
UH, THE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL FOR THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM AS WE BROUGHT IN THE FIVE STARS FOR HOBBY AND IN PURSUIT OF THAT FIFTH STAR FOR, UM, IAHI AM I'M VERY PROUD TO BE HERE TODAY TO ACTUALLY, UM, HAVE THE PRESENTATION BE MADE BY HEATHER, UM, AND SAM OF THE PASSENGER JOURNEY SCORECARD.
AND THE REASON FOR THIS IS BECAUSE IT'S THAT PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE THAT HAS GOTTEN US HERE TODAY, UH, IS, IS NEEDING THAT OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE THAT, THAT WE WANNA BE ABLE TO HAVE FOR OUR PASSENGERS TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE TO OUR PASSENGERS.
UH, THIS, UH, UM, APPLICATION IS GONNA ALLOW US TO RUN ONE AIRPORT.
IT'S GONNA ALLOW EVERYONE TO KNOW WHAT THE PULSE IS AT THE AIRPORT, HOW ARE WE DOING IN OPERATIONS.
IT'S GONNA HELP OUR PARTNERS, OUR STAKEHOLDERS, OUR FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES, LITERALLY EVERYBODY AROUND THE AIRPORT WILL BE ABLE TO KNOW HOW WE'RE DOING.
AND I'M NOT GONNA STEAL THE THUNDER FROM THE TWO PRESENTERS.
SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO, UH, HEATHER AND SAM.
I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE AND, UH, FEEL VERY PRIVILEGED TO REPRESENT OUR TEAM, UH, BACK AT THE AIRPORT.
SO, AS LILIANA MENTIONED, UH, WE'RE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT PASSENGER JOURNEY SCORECARD.
AND I WANTED TO GIVE YOU, UM, A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND.
SO YOU MAY OR MAY NOT BE AWARE, BUT WHEN IAH ACHIEVES FIVE STARS, WE'LL BE THE ONLY CITY IN THE WORLD WITH TWO FIVE STAR AIRPORTS.
AND IN PURSUIT OF THAT GOAL IS WHERE THIS IDEA CAME FROM.
AND SO WE STARTED TO THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE PROVIDE THE BEST POSSIBLE GUEST EXPERIENCE? NUMBER ONE, WE NEED TO HAVE REAL TIME OR NEAR REAL REALTIME OPERATIONAL AWARENESS.
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON, AND WHY IS THAT SO IMPORTANT.
UH, NUMBER ONE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THINGS ARE RUNNING APPROPRIATELY, BUT NUMBER TWO, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO ANTICIPATE THE NEEDS OF OUR GUESTS.
AND SO THE BEST WAY THAT I CAN EXPLAIN THE APPROACH THAT WE ARE TAKING IS TO MAKE A COMPARISON FOR YOU.
IF YOU THINK OF, UM, GYMNASTICS OR MAYBE FIGURE SKATING, A SPORT THAT HAS A JUDGE, THERE'S A TECHNICAL COMPONENT TO THE SCORE AND A CREATIVE COMPONENT TO THE SCORE.
SO YOU'RE REQUIRED TO DO A CERTAIN NUMBER OF JUMPS OR FLIPS OR SPINS TO ACHIEVE THAT TECHNICAL SCORE.
AND THEN THE WAY THAT YOU EXECUTE THAT, THE MUSIC, THE CHOREOGRAPHY, ALL THOSE COMPONENTS COMPRISE THE CREATIVE SCORE.
AND THEN ULTIMATELY YOU GET A, A 10.0 SCORE.
SO IF YOU TRANSLATE THAT TO AIRPORTS INSTEAD OF, UM, FLIPS OR JUMPS OR SPINS, WHICH WE HAVE TO DO SOMETIMES, UM, WE'RE NOT SCORED ON THAT THOUGH.
WE'RE SCORED ON, UH, WIFI ACCESS TO THE AIRPORT, CLEANLINESS OF THE RESTROOMS. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO GET THROUGH THE SECURITY CHECKPOINT? SO THE ITEMS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED FOR PASSENGER JOURNEY SCORE IS THAT TECHNICAL COMPONENT OF PASSENGER TRAVEL.
IF WE DON'T GET THOSE RIGHT, IF WE DON'T GET A PERFECT 5.0 SCORE AND THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS, THEN
[00:30:01]
THE CREATIVE DOESN'T MATTER.IT WOULDN'T MATTER IF WE'RE HAVE SMILING FACES AND ARE FRIENDLY IF THE SERVICE, IF THE EXPERIENCE, IF THE EFFICIENCY AND PROCESSING IS NOT GOOD, NONE OF THAT MATTERS.
SO OUR GOAL WITH PASSENGER JOURNEY SCORE IS TO ACHIEVE A PERFECT TECHNICAL SCORE, OR AS CLOSE AS WE CAN GET.
AND THEN THAT ALLOWS OUR PERFORMING IN VISUAL ARTS, OUR FRIENDLY FACES, OUR HELPFUL STAFF, BOTH FROM THE CITY AND FROM OUR, UH, PARTNERS, TO REALLY SCORE THAT 5.0 ON THE CREATIVE SIDE AND, AND CREATE THAT FIVE STAR EXPERIENCE.
SO WITH THAT SAID, HEATHER'S GONNA, UM, TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE DETAILS.
I'M HEATHER DEANDRO, AND I'M THE LUCKY PROJECT MANAGER WHO HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON SUCH A FUN AND INNOVATIVE PROJECT.
THIS HAS BEEN EXCITING BECAUSE THE IDEA ACTUALLY CAME FROM SAM RAY, OUR, OUR TEAM MEMBER BROUGHT IT FORWARD.
WE GREW AND EVOLVED THE IDEA INTO A WORKING APPLICATION BEING BUILT BY THE HES IN-HOUSE TECHNOLOGY TEAM.
BEHIND THE SCENES PROGRAMMATICALLY, WE'RE REACHING OUT TO DIFFERENT SYSTEMS ACROSS THE AIRPORT THAT STORE OPERATIONAL DATA ABOUT HOW WE'RE DOING, AND WE PULL THAT INTO ONE CENTRAL LOCATION.
SO THAT DATA WILL NOW BE STORED IN A CENTRALIZED DATABASE.
AND BASED ON PREDEFINED LOGIC, WE DERIVE ONE SCORE FOR EACH AIRPORT TO SAY, HOW ARE WE DOING IN NEAR REAL TIME? HOW ARE WE DOING TO CREATE THAT TECHNICAL SCORE? SAM WAS TALKING ABOUT TO GENERATE THE FIVE STAR EXPERIENCE FOR OUR GUESTS.
AND SO WHEN THE TEAM MEMBERS OPEN THE APPLICATION, THEY IMMEDIATELY SEE A GREEN SCREEN, WHICH MEANS WE'RE MEETING OUR GOALS, OR A RED SCREEN, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE A DEFICIENCY OR DEFICIENCIES, AND WE NEED TO TACKLE THAT SO THEY CAN DRILL DOWN FROM THE TERMINAL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE DEVICE LEVEL TO SAY, WHAT IS NOT WORKING OUT RIGHT NOW? WHERE DO WE NEED TO RESPOND? SO NEXT SLIDE.
I'LL SHOW YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE.
SO WHEN OUR HES TEAM MEMBERS LOG IN, THE FIRST THING THEY SEE IS A SELECTION FOR WHICH AIRPORT THEY WANT TO CLICK.
AND IF YOU COULD CLICK AGAIN, PLEASE.
HOWEVER, IF WE DRILL DOWN TO THE DETAILS, WE CAN SEE AT TERMINAL D THE RESTROOMS, WE HAVE AN ISSUE.
IT ACTUALLY TELLS US WHICH RESTROOM IS HAVING AN ISSUE.
THIS IS BASED ON PASSENGER COUNTS.
TOO MANY PASSENGERS HAVE GONE IN SINCE WE'VE LAST CLEANED THAT RESTROOM.
SO YOU MAY ASK, WELL, DOESN'T OUR CUSTODIAL TEAMS ALREADY KNOW WHAT RESTROOMS TO CLEAN AND WHEN? AND THE ANSWER IS, YES, THEY DO, BECAUSE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THIS SYSTEM.
JUST LIKE OUR OPERATIONS TEAM, THEY GET NOTIFIED WHEN THERE'S ROADWAY TRAFFIC BACKUPS THAT THEY NEED TO RESPOND TO.
AND OUR MAINTENANCE TEAM CERTAINLY KNOWS WHEN AN ELEVATOR IS OUT OF SERVICE.
BUT THIS APPLICATION IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE'RE PULLING THIS ALL INTO ONE PLACE NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME, ANY HES TEAM MEMBER CAN SEE ACROSS THE BOARD HOW WE'RE DOING.
IT HELPS US SUPPORT AND RECOGNIZE THEIR RELEVANCE TO THE PASSENGER'S EXPERIENCE.
AND THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A PUNITIVE TOOL.
THIS IS A PROBLEM SOLVING TOOL, AND IT'S A PROBLEM SOLVING TOOL INVOLVING A CROSS-FUNCTIONAL TEAM APPROACH.
SO SAM WILL TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE DETAILS OF WHO WILL USE THIS APPLICATION AND HOW THEY'LL USE THAT.
SO AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THERE'S A MANAGEMENT COMPONENT OF THIS.
THE APP IS DESIGNED TO FUNCTION IN REAL TIME.
UM, SO YOU ONLY SEE WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW TODAY.
UM, YOU KNOW, WITH A BRIEF HISTORY BACK TO MIDNIGHT OF THE PREVIOUS DAY, WE ARE DEVELOPING THOUGH AN ANALYTICAL TOOL WHERE WE CAN GO BACK AND LOOK AT TRENDS, WHETHER IT'S A SPECIFIC DAY OF THE WEEK, UM, A MONTH, A WEEK, WHATEVER PERIOD OF TIME WE NEED TO LOOK AT, UM, TO ANALYZE OUR PERFORMANCE AND MAKE IMPROVEMENTS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, IN OUR STRIVE, UM, FOR OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY, WE REALLY HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK UNDER THE DIRECTION OF DIRECTOR DIAZ AND MS. RAMBO, UM, TO FOCUS ON OUR CULTURE.
AND WE WANT TO CREATE A CULTURE THAT PROMOTES, UM, ENGAGEMENT, OWNERSHIP, INCLUSIVITY, AND ALSO RECOGNITION FOR HARD WORK.
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M MOST EXCITED ABOUT THIS APPLICATION IS THAT, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN THERE, UM, THIS IS INTENDED FOR FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES.
AND SO IF I WAS A CUSTODIAN, FOR EXAMPLE, TYPICALLY A CUSTODIAN WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR TWO OF THE TWO OR THREE AIR, UH, RESTAURANTS.
LET'S TRY THAT AGAIN, RESTROOM AT THE AIRPORT.
AND SO I COULD DRILL DOWN TO MY SPECIFIC RESTROOMS AND IT'S GONNA GIVE ME A PASS FAIL SCORE FOR THOSE RESTROOMS OR, YOU KNOW, ANY OF THE OTHER CATEGORIES FOR THAT MATTER.
AND, UM, I CAN SEE THE WAY THAT I'M PERFORMING.
I GET REAL TIME FEEDBACK ON THAT.
NOT ONLY CAN I SEE THAT AT THE BUSINESS UNIT LEVEL, WE CAN SEE FROM A CUSTODIAL STANDPOINT, HOW ARE WE DOING ON RESTROOMS, HOW ARE WE DOING ON WIFI TRAFFIC, ALL THESE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.
AND ALSO IT PROVIDES VISIBILITY ALL THE WAY UP TO THE TOP LEVEL WHERE ALL THESE ARE ROLLED TOGETHER.
SO I KNOW THAT I'VE CONTRIBUTED MY PIECE OF THE PIE AND I'M DOING MY JOB AND IT'S ROLLING UP, AND EVERYBODY IS, UH, YOU KNOW, WORKING TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY TO PROVIDE THAT TOP LEVEL, UH, EXPERIENCE.
SO LEMME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR STRATEGY.
WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS APPLICATION ABOUT
[00:35:01]
A YEAR AGO, AND THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY OF WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH AN IN-HOUSE BUILT APPLICATION.AND WE DECIDED PRETTY QUICKLY THAT WE WANTED TO FACE THE APPROACH AND, AND LAUNCH AND, AND, AND GET SOMETHING OUT THERE THAT CAN ADD VALUE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
SO WE CHOSE THESE FIRST EIGHT DATA SOURCES TO START WITH.
THESE ARE DATA SOURCES ON THE SCREEN HERE THAT ARE BOTH IMPORTANT TO OUR PASSENGERS, BUT WE'RE PRETTY READILY AVAILABLE FOR US TO GET TO PROGRAMMATICALLY.
SO WE HAVE OUR SMART RESTROOMS, OUR TSA CHECKPOINT PROCESSING FOR OUR OUTBOUND PASSENGERS, AND THEN WE HAVE OUR INTERNATIONAL ARRIVING PASSENGERS.
HOW LONG IS IT TAKING TO GO THROUGH CVP PROCESSING OUR ROADWAY TRAFFIC WIFI AVAILABILITY, SO WIFI, WIFI PERFORMANCE ACROSS THE, UH, TERMINALS.
AND THEN WE HAVE THREE MAINTENANCE AREAS, CONVEYANCES, WHICH ARE MOSTLY ELEVATORS AND ESCALATORS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE PASSENGER'S JOURNEY.
AS WELL AS, UH, TEMPERATURE READINGS AND WATER PRESSURE READINGS THAT WE ARE, UH, ACTUALLY EXPANDING ON AS WELL.
UH, ARE NOW OUR PHASE TWO MOVES ON TO BUILD AND GROW WITH ADDITIONAL DATA SOURCES.
OH, BACKWARD PLEASE, UH, WITH ADDITIONAL DATA SOURCES.
AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE DOING SOME TREND ANALYSIS REPORTING.
YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE DATA AREAS ARE NOT AREAS THAT WE, UH, HAVE CONTROL OVER.
SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS SHARE THAT WITH OUR PARTNERS, FEDERAL PARTNERS, SHARE SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE, UM, OVER, OVER TIME, FOR EXAMPLE, FIVE O'CLOCK ON SUNDAYS, WE'RE NOTICING THAT THIS IS HAPPENING.
SO WHAT CAN WE DO PROACTIVELY TO TACKLE THAT? SO THAT'S ALL PART OF OUR PHASE TWO RIGHT NOW WHERE WE ARE WITH THE STATUS.
WE'RE LIVE, WE'RE LIVE WITH A GROUP OF 30 PILOT GROUP USERS.
THEY'RE MONITORING THE DATA FOR US.
THEY KNOW THIS DATA WELL, THAT WE, WE CHOSE A PILOT GROUP THAT KNOWS THE DATA WELL, SO THEY'RE MONITORING AND, AND HELPING US WITH FEEDBACK.
AND THEN WE'LL BE LAUNCHING THIS TO THE ENTIRE ENTERPRISE NEXT MONTH.
SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU.
UH, WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE A TOOL THAT ALLOWS OUR TEAM MEMBERS TO ANTICIPATE, UM, THE NEEDS OF THE PASSENGERS AND RESPOND APPROPRIATELY SO THAT WE CAN IMPROVE OUR OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS OVER TIME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I THINK, UM, WHAT YOU'VE PRESENTED IS DEFINITELY, UM, GOING TO IMPROVE OUR PASSENGER EXPERIENCE AT THE AIRPORTS.
I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW, WHEN YOU SAID THAT YOU'RE GOING TO LAUNCH TO THE ENTIRE ENTERPRISE, DOES THAT MEAN THAT EVERY EMPLOYEE AT THE AIRPORT WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE APP? THAT'S WHAT THAT MEANS, AND THEY CAN GET ON AND JUST KIND OF DRILL DOWN AND SEE WHERE THE IMPROVEMENTS NEED TO BE MADE IN REAL TIME.
AND THAT'S FOR THOSE, THAT'S FOR THE EMPLOYEES THAT, UM, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AREAS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED.
AND SO OUR LONG TERM GOAL, UM, YOU KNOW, WE ALREADY HAVE SEVERAL IDENTIFIED FOR PHASE TWO, BUT OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO GET IT TO EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE.
SO WHAT, WHAT EACH PERSON IS DOING HAS A MEASURABLE TIE, UM, TO THAT.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE JUST STARTING, BUT YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I COULD ENVISION 50, 60 CATEGORIES IN HERE, 50, 60 THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
UM, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF BEING ABLE TO BUILD IT AND HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY AND, AND, UH, GROW.
HOW LONG WILL THE 30 PILOT USERS BE TESTING THE APP WE GAVE THEM THROUGH THE END OF THIS WEEK? WE CAN EXTEND THAT.
IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT'S COMING BACK AND HOW LONG THAT WILL TAKE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.
UM, THEY'VE BEEN GIVING US SOME REALLY GOOD FEEDBACK AND SOMETIMES THE TECHNICAL TEAM WILL SAY, THAT'S GONNA TAKE US A FEW DAYS, BUT CURRENTLY IT'S THROUGH THE END OF THIS WEEK.
AND THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER PRESENTATION WE'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM AT HAS BEFORE WE LAUNCHED THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON, YOU ARE UP NEXT WITH YOUR QUESTION.
VICE MAYOR PROAM, UH, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO MR. RAY AND MS. DEANDRO.
UM, I WAS AT INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT YESTERDAY WITH MY MOTHER, 86 YEARS OLD.
AND, UH, THE FIVE STARS WERE REALLY SHINING VERY BRIGHT YESTERDAY FOR ME.
UM, THE CUSTOMER, UH, SERVICE EXPERIENCE SIDE, UM, I KNOW WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO TO GET INTERCONTINENTAL TO THE FIVESTAR STATUS, AND I APPRECIATE, UH, WHAT YOU SAID TODAY ABOUT THE SCORECARD AND, UH, REALLY HOW THAT CAN BREAK DOWN THE AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT WE, UM, NEED TO HAVE.
ONE THING THAT THE TEAM THERE ASSISTING LET ME KNOW WAS THAT THIS, THIS KIND OF CUSTOMER A SERVICE APPROACH WAS PART OF WHAT CAME OUT OF THE STAR T TRACK TRACKING SYSTEM, IF I'VE GOT THAT RIGHT.
AND, UH, DIRECTOR DIAZ IN THE WAY THAT HE'S IMAGINED AND ENVISIONED THIS AS, AS THAT LOFTY PLANE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO, UH, ATTAIN.
I WONDER IF YOU CAN BREAK DOWN FURTHER JUST IN REALLY SIMPLE TERMS, UH, AREAS THAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE IN TO GET THAT SECOND, UH, FIVE STAR AIRPORT.
[00:40:01]
COME, I MEAN, THEY REALLY LOOK AT THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE.AND SO WHAT OUR APPROACH IS, UM, WE'RE NOT ONLY WORKING ON PHASE TWO WITH, UM, THE, THE IT TEAM, BUT WE'RE ALSO TALKING TO, UH, MARKETING AND AIR SERVICE DEVELOPMENT AND SOME OF THE OTHER GROUPS TO REALLY LOOK AT THE PASSENGER JOURNEY.
SO REALLY THE CONCEPT FOR PASSENGER JOURNEY SCORECARD WAS THINK OF YOURSELF AS A PASSENGER AND YOU'RE GOING TO THE AIR PART.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU EXIT 59 OR THE BELTWAY, WHICHEVER WAY YOU'RE COMING TO IDH, IT STARTS RIGHT THERE.
WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE TRAFFIC IS GETTING TO THE AIRPORT.
WHEN YOU GET TO THE AIRPORT, UM, WHAT IS THE WAIT TIME ON THE CURB RATHER, UH, ARRIVAL OR DEPARTURE CURB WHEN YOU GET INSIDE? UM, IS, UH, ARE PRM SERVICES AVAILABLE? HOW LONG DO YOU HAVE TO INTERACT WITH YOUR AIRLINE? WHAT ABOUT THE CHECKPOINT CONCESSIONS? YOU KNOW, JUST EVERY SINGLE TOUCH POINT, EVERY STEP AS YOU GO THROUGH THERE.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE NOW, UM, YOU CAN START TO FILL IN SOME OF THOSE BLANKS AND WE HAVE AGGRESSIVE PLANS, UM, YOU KNOW, TO DEVELOP THOSE.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE WIFI, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAUGHT ME, UM, UH, IS A PLEASANT SURPRISE IS THE IDEA BEHIND WIFI WAS, OKAY, WE'RE JUST GONNA HAVE WIFI AND IT'S EITHER WORKING OR NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
UM, BUT AS WE STARTED TO LOOK AT THE APPLICATION, EACH INDIVIDUAL, UH, HUB OR OR OR WIFI ZONE IS IDENTIFIED.
SO WHAT IT STARTS TO DO IS GIVE OUR PASSENGERS OR OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE EMPLOYEES A DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE THAT DOESN'T REALLY EXIST ANYWHERE, UM, IN ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT YOU GO TO.
SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, YOU'RE WAITING AT A GATE FOR YOUR FLIGHT, AND ONE OF OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENTS NOTICES THAT YOU'RE STRUGGLING WITH YOUR NETFLIX OR YOUR CHILDREN ARE NOT ABLE TO WATCH THEIR VIDEOS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THEY ACTUALLY HAVE THE DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE TO LOOK AT THE APP AND UNDERSTAND WHICH WIFI SENSOR YOU'RE AT AND LOOK AT THE NEXT ONE OVER AND SAY, SIR ADAM, IF, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE TIME BEFORE YOUR FLIGHT, YOU COULD GO OVER TO THE NEXT GATE OR TO THE FOOD COURT AND THE WIFI IS 30% BETTER THERE.
UM, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD WAIT THERE FOR A FEW MINUTES AND, AND WATCH YOUR VIDEOS AND THEN COME BACK.
AND SO, UM, SOME OF THOSE THINGS AS WE GET INTO PHASE TWO THAT WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME REAL TANGIBLE, MEASURABLE ITEMS, BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO SOME OTHERS THAT ARE NOT AS TANGIBLE, BUT THEY PROVIDE THAT DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND SERVICE THAT NOT A LOT OF PLACES OFFER.
AND IF I'M VERY TRUE, I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD,
YEAH, IF I MAKE A ADD, UH, AND, AND YOU'RE, UH, COMPLETELY CORRECT, UH, SAM, BUT THE OTHER THINGS COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WE GOT FROM THE SKYRAS AND, AND TO YOUR POINT, UH, WHAT DIRECTOR DIAZ DID IN ORDER, UH, TO HELP US GET TO THE FIVE STARS AT BOTH AIRPORTS.
UM, SO THEY CREATED TERMINAL MANAGEMENT.
AND IN TERMINAL MANAGEMENT, WE BASICALLY TAKE A LOOK AT THE PASSENGER NEEDS.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO RIGHT NOW IS, IS PROVIDE ALL THOSE PASSENGER NEEDS.
AND THE FIRST THING IS TO SAFETY.
UH, THEN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME, SOME THINGS THAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE AT IAH AS, AS ALL OF US KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S AN AGING INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND YOU'RE GONNA HEAR, YOU'RE GONNA SEE HERE PRETTY SOON THAT WE'RE GONNA COME, UM, THERE'RE GONNA BE SOME, UM, UM, SOME OF THE PROJECTS AS AS OUR BATHROOMS. SO WE STARTED AT HOBBY AND WE STARTED THE PROJECT OF RENOVATING OUR BATHROOMS, OUR HOBBY.
WE NEED TO DO THAT AT IAH AS WELL.
UM, ONE THING THAT THIS APPLICATION PROVIDES IS THE UNIFIED MANAGEMENT OF THE AIRPORT.
UM, THE WAY THAT IT IS RIGHT NOW, WHERE IT WAS IN THE PAST, YOU HAD THE HAS TERMINALS AND YOU HAD THE UNITED TERMINALS.
WE HAVE ALREADY ENGAGED UNITED WITH THIS APP, AND THEY ARE OVER THE MOON.
THEY'RE REALLY, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THIS, UM, APPLICATION IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEM AND US DO.
WE'RE GOING TO TRULY BE ABLE TO MANAGE ONE AIRPORT, NOT THE TERMINAL SEPARATE, BUT WE ALL ARE GONNA BE ABLE TO SEE THE SAME INFORMATION.
SO WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO HELP UNITED, UNITED IS GONNA BE ABLE TO HELP US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THAT PASSENGER EXPERIENCE THROUGHOUT IH DOESN'T MATTER WHICH TERMINAL YOU GO TO.
AND, AND THE, THE, THE APPLICATION THE POSSIBILITIES ARE, ARE WONDERFUL AND, UH, AND I'M SURE THAT IT'S GONNA HELP US GET THERE.
BUT AGAIN, OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF, UH, THE WAY THAT WE HAVE TRAINED THEM, THE WAY THAT, UH, WE ASKING THEM TO PROVIDE JUST THAT ADDITIONAL SERVICE, NOT WAITING FOR A PASSENGER TO COME TO YOU AND ASK YOU FOR HELP.
WE ALL KNOW AND WE UNDERSTAND WHAT A PASSENGER LOOKS LIKE WHEN A PASSENGER IS LOST OR A PASSENGER NEEDS HELP.
THOSE, UH, UM, CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES ARE BEING VERY PROACTIVE IN BEING ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE THAT SERVICE, THE SAME THING THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'RE DOING WITH OUR, UH, STAKEHOLDERS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS.
DOES THAT HELP? I, I, I DO THINK IT DOES.
I I KNOW I SAW THAT CUSTOMER SERVICE VERY MUCH IN ACTION YESTERDAY, SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR IT.
THE OTHER THING THAT'S JUST NOTEWORTHY, I THINK THAT, UH, WE'VE HEARD AT THE PUBLIC SESSIONS OVER THE RECENT MONTHS, MAYBE LAST YEAR OR TWO, HAS BEEN RELATED TO THE ONGOING CONSTRUCTION AT IAH AND THAT'S JUST UNFORTUNATELY PART OF THE IMPROVEMENTS, PART OF THE INVESTMENT TO UPGRADE THE, UH, THE STANDARDS AND THE OPERATIONS OUT THERE.
AND I SUPPOSE, WELL, THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE SEE MUCH OF THAT COMING,
[00:45:01]
UM, TO COMPLETION.AND SO WITH THAT, I THINK OUR PROSPECTS ARE REALLY GOOD.
SO MY HAT IS OFF TO YOU AND REALLY APPRECIATE YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND ALL THE ONGOING GOOD WORK.
AND FOR OUR FINAL PRESENTATION, IF THERE ARE MORE, NO OTHER QUESTIONS.
UH, HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM CHIEF TERMINAL MANAGEMENT OFFICER LILIANA RAMBO AND HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM, A DA COORDINATOR WILL PRESENT ON THE AIRPORT A DA FEATURES FOR PASSENGERS WITH DISABILITIES.
SO IF YOU ARE PREPARED, WE'RE READY FOR YOUR PRESENTATION NOW.
IT'S A GREAT PLEASURE TO COME TO YOU TODAY.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, GOOD MORNING, OR, UH, GOOD MORNING.
I AM THE A DA PROGRAM MANAGER FOR HOUSTON AIRPORTS.
THAT'S BOTH AIRPORTS, HOBBY AND BUSH.
AND I AM A MEMBER OF THE AVIATION RISK AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE DIVISION.
AND WHAT I WANTED TO TALK TO, UH, YOU ALL ABOUT TODAY IS THE PROGRAM.
IT'S CALLED ACCESS THE MAGIC OF FLIGHT, AND THE GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT TRAVELERS WITH DISABILITIES ARE SEEN AND VALUED AT THE HOUSTON AIRPORTS.
AND WE CAN SHOW THIS BY THE THOUGHTFULNESS IN OUR PROGRAMS, AS WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THROUGH THE PASSENGER JOURNEY.
ACCESSIBILITY IS ANOTHER ELEMENT OF THAT.
AND FOR SOMEONE WHO DEFINITELY HAS A PASSION FOR, UM, DEI, IT FEELS REALLY GOOD TO BE A PART OF THAT BIGGER PICTURE.
SO AS WE'RE GETTING, UH, RECOGNITION FOR SKY TRACKS, MAKING SURE THAT INCLUSION IS A PART OF THE, THE BIG PLAN IS REALLY SOMETHING THAT'S EXCITING TO ME, AND IT MAKES THE WORK VERY REWARDING.
UM, SO WHAT I WILL SHOW YOU IS SOME OF THE AMENITIES THAT WE HAVE.
YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND CLICK IT TWO MORE TIMES.
SO FOR MANY OF US, WHEN WE BEGIN OUR TRAVEL EXPERIENCE, IT'S GOING TO START AT HOME.
UM, THE FLY TO HOUSTON WEBSITE, IT CARRIES A LOT OF OUR AMENITIES THAT WE PROVIDE TO OUR CUSTOMERS WITH DISABILITIES, OR IF THEY REQUIRE SOME SORT OF SPECIAL ASSISTANCE.
UM, AT EACH AIRPORTS WE HAVE, UM, SOME OF THE SAME AMENITIES, BUT HOBBY HAS SOME UNIQUE THINGS AND I WILL BE, UH, SHOWING THOSE TO YOU.
SO, UM, AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, IT STARTS FROM HOME.
WE ENCOURAGE OUR TRAVELERS TO REACH OUT TO THE A DA COORDINATOR TO REQUEST A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION.
THE REQUESTS ARE NOT AT NOT ALWAYS ONE SIZE, UH, FITS ALL.
LIKE PEOPLE CAN REACH OUT AND THEY CAN MAKE A REQUEST, AND WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO COORDINATE AND, AND ACCOMMODATE THAT.
SO, THE, THE BIGGER PICTURE WHEN IT COMES TO OUR SKY TRACKS PROGRAM WITH SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH, NOW WE DO LOOK AT REGULATORY COMPLIANCE WHEN IT COMES TO THE ACCESSIBILITY OF OUR AIRPORTS BECAUSE THE FAA OF COURSE REQUIRES IT.
BUT, UM, THERE WERE SOME OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE HAD A CHANCE TO GO BEYOND.
AND SO I'M GONNA SHOW YOU A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE.
UM, THE NEW RAILINGS AT HOBBY AIRPORT, THIS, UM, ELEMENT, IT ALLOWS FOR SAFE WAYFINDING FOR OUR TRAVELERS THAT ARE BLIND, LOW VISION, UH, THE RAILS THAT YOU SEE.
THEY PROVIDE APPROPRIATE CANE DETECTION FOR THOSE TRAVELERS THAT ARE GOING TO AND FROM OUR PARKING GARAGE.
SO I WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT BEING INCLUDED IN THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TEAM, THEY BROUGHT THE ACCESSIBILITY, UM, TO THE TABLE FROM, FROM, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
SO I'M GLAD THAT, THAT WE WERE INCLUDED IN THAT.
SO THE SERVICE CENTER RELIEF AREA IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND.
UM, IN THIS SCENARIO, WE HAVE TRAVELERS THAT THEY NEED THEIR SERVICE ANIMALS WHEN THEY'RE GOING ON THEIR NEXT JOURNEY.
AND EVEN FAMILIES THAT ARE JUST TRAVELING WITH THEIR PETS, THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAY IN OUR STERILE AREA AND ALLOW THAT PET TO RELIEVE ITSELF.
UM, IT OFFERS ARTIFICIAL GRASS, IT HAS THE, UM, HYDRANT AND ALSO A EASY PLACE FOR THEM TO CLEAN UP AFTER THE PET ONCE EVERYTHING IS DONE.
UM, SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.
AND, UH, GO AHEAD AND, UH, HIT THE NEXT ONE SO THAT I CAN SHOW THE, THE VIDEO.
AND SO WE HAVE THESE IN EVERY TERMINAL IN THE STERILE AREA, AND WE HAVE SOME THAT ARE, UM, OUTSIDE THE TERMINAL, BUT, UH, THE PRIMARY FOCUS IS TO KEEP OUR CUSTOMERS IN THAT STERILE AREA SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK THROUGH SECURITY AND COME BACK IN.
SO, THE COMPANION CARE CHANGING ROOM IS, IS SOMETHING THAT IS A PERSONAL THING TO ME BECAUSE AS I'M DOING MY DUTIES, WE DO GET CALLS FROM CITIZENS AND THEY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AMENITIES.
WE'RE NOT ALWAYS ABLE TO HAVE EVERYTHING BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A DREAM TO HAVE EVERYTHING.
BUT I WAS REALLY EXCITED WHEN THEY CREATED THE COMPANION CARE FACILITY.
[00:50:02]
A AREA WHERE WE PROVIDE A HOIST FOR WHEELCHAIR TRANSFER.UM, IT'S UNIVERSALLY DESIGNED.
IT HAS A POWERED ADJUSTABLE TABLE, AS YOU CAN SEE.
UM, GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
IT HAS THE HEATED TOILET WITH BIDET, AN ADJUSTABLE SINK TO OFFER ACCESSIBILITY TO CUSTOMERS OF SHORTER STATURE OR LIMB DIFFERENCES, OR EVEN IF THEY'RE IN A WHEELCHAIR.
NOW, OUR AIRPORT IS ONE OF 19 IN THE UNITED STATES, AND THAT NUMBER IS GROWING BECAUSE THEY'RE SEEING THE VALUE OF THIS TYPE OF AMENITY.
AND MOST AIRPORTS, THEY ONLY PLAN TO HAVE ONE.
BUT WE ARE COMMITTED TO CREATING MORE FACILITIES LIKE THIS.
I'VE ALREADY SEEN IT IN OUR I TRIP PLAN, AND I'M HOPING THAT IT WILL COME TO OTHER TERMINALS.
SO PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR THAT.
AGAIN, PROVIDING INCLUSION AND ACCESSIBILITY IS MORE THAN JUST CREATING THESE PHYSICAL SPACES WITH WITHIN OUR TERMINALS.
IT'S ABOUT OUR STAFF TAKING TIME TO ACTUALLY CONDUCT DISABILITY AWARENESS TRAINING.
UM, I WAS EXCITED, UH, BEING ABLE TO CREATE THE DISABILITY AWARENESS TRAINING FROM THE AIRPORT PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE IT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE ALL THE AMENITIES, LET EVERYBODY KNOW WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON, AND IT REALLY DOES CREATE THAT SENSE OF PRIDE.
AND ANOTHER THING IS THAT, THAT TRAINING, IT CREATES ADVOCATES THROUGHOUT ALL OF OUR DIVISIONS.
SO NO MATTER WHERE THEY'RE AT IN THE AIRPORT AND WHAT ROLE THEY DO, THEY HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING THAT SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE ENGAGING IN ON A DAILY BASIS ADDS TO THAT BIGGER PICTURE.
IT ADDS TO THAT INCLUSIVE PERSPECTIVE.
SO AGAIN, I TRULY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF THE AWESOME TEAMWORK AS WE ACCOMPLISH AND, AND HOPEFULLY GET THAT, UH, FIVE STAR ED BUSH.
SO, UM, THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I WOULD LOVE IF YOU DID ANY QUESTIONS.
I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
UM, THE COMPANION CARE CHANGING ROOMS WILL BE SO BENEFICIAL TO, UM, TRAVELERS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, THAT HAVE DISABILITIES OR THEY ARE MAYBE HAVE OLDER CHILDREN THAT THEY NEED TO, UM, YOU KNOW, CHANGE IN USING, USING A TRADITIONAL RESTROOM OR CHANGING STATION FOR A BABY, WHAT WOULDN'T BE APPROPRIATE? SO I THINK THAT THIS GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND, UM, MEETING THE NEEDS FOR, UH, A MYRIAD OF PASSENGERS THAT COULD ACTUALLY BENEFIT FROM, UH, THIS SERVICE.
SO, UM, I THINK YOU, YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT GOING ABOVE JUST THE AVERAGE THINGS THAT YOU SEE IN TRADITIONAL AIRPORTS.
SO, UM, KUDOS TO THIS ENTIRE TEAM FOR THINKING ABOUT EVERY SINGLE PASSENGER THAT WILL, UM, VISIT OUR AIRPORTS.
UH, THIS, THIS IS A GREAT, UH, STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I THINK IT, IT, IT SPEAKS TO OUR, OUR DESIRE TO BE INCLUSIVE.
UM, OUR DESIRE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY PERSON THAT COMES THROUGH OUR AIRPORT DOORS KNOWS THAT THEY ARE WELCOME TO HOUSTON AND WE WANT THEM TO BE IN HOUSTON.
AND HOUSTON IS A, UH, SAFE PLACE, AND WE WANT THEM TO ENJOY THEIR STAY, UM, IN OUR GREAT CITY.
SO THANK Y'ALL FOR MAKING OUR JOBS EASY, UM, BY, BY DOING THE, THE HEAVY LIFTING AND MAKING OUR TRAVELERS, UM, EXPERIENCES A RATING.
DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC SPEAKERS? WE DO.
WE HAVE OUR, OUR FAVORITE PUBLIC SPEAKER IS HERE TODAY, MR. DOUG SMITH.
YES, MR. DOUG SMITH, AS TIFFANY SAYS, THE DISTRICT OF THE FUTURE NOT FORGOTTEN.
UM, COUPLE THINGS, UH, ON TODAY'S PRESENTATIONS ON THE, UH, AIRPORT SCORECARD, IT SEEMS LIKE ONE OF THE, THAT'S VERY INTERESTING, BY THE WAY.
UH, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COULD BE A PROBLEM IS THAT PART OF THE, UH, EVALUATION OF YOUR TRAVEL EXPERIENCE IS CONTROLLED BY TWO GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, WHICH THEY HAVE VERY LITTLE CONTROL OVER.
AND THAT IS CUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROL IF YOU'RE TRAVELING FROM OUT OF THE COUNTRY, AND TSA IF YOU'RE TRAVELING IN THE COUNTRY.
AND IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THEY DEAL WITH PROBLEMS IN THOSE TWO AREAS.
SO, AND THEN, UH, WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED.
AND, UH, ALSO IF YOU COULD KEEP ME POSTED, YOU ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT THE, I THINK WAS THE MINORITY DISPARITY PERCENTAGE, AND I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU DID OR NOT
SO, BUT WHAT I WAS REALLY HERE FOR TODAY WAS THAT I WAS HERE A COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO AND I BROUGHT YOU A PICTURE OF A VERY BEAUTIFUL,
[00:55:01]
UH, FIVE COLOR CROSSWALK IN THE WESTCHASE DISTRICT.AND I SAID, IF THEY CAN AFFORD TO DO THIS, WHY CAN'T THEY AFFORD TO STRIFE SOME OF THE STREETS THAT ARE IN THE DISTRICT? UH, BECAUSE IT'S A TWO YEAR WAIT.
UM, I WAS TOLD FOR THE CITY TO DO THIS, AND THIS ALSO APPLIES TO THE, UH, UPTOWN DISTRICT, UH, WHERE THERE ARE NO STRIPES AT ALL IN A PART OF WEST PARK NEAR THE, UH, THE NEW TRANSIT, THE SOUTH TRANSIT CENTER FOR THE, UH, POST OAK, UH, TRAIN.
AND, UH, IT WOULD SEEM LIKE, UH, IN ORDER TO BENEFIT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, THE WHOLE CITY, RATHER THAN JUST A CHOSEN THAT LIVE IN THESE DISTRICTS, THESE TWO DISTRICTS, UH, WEST CHASE AND UPTOWN PARK COULD BE TASKED WITH, UH, PUTTING THE LANE STRIPING IN THE AREAS THAT THEY COVER.
AND THE ANSWER THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE WAS, UH, THAT WE'LL LOOK INTO IT, WHICH A LOT OF TIMES IS THE ANSWER, AND THEN NOTHING GETS DONE SOMETIMES.
BUT I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK THE SAME QUESTION.
SO IF YOU COULD ASK, TELL ME WHY THIS ISN'T A LOGICAL SOLUTION, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
SO I, I, I ACTUALLY LIKE THE IDEA.
UM, I DO THINK THAT A LOT OF OUR MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS IN OUR TS, UH, ARE LOOKING FOR PROJECTS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES IN WAYS THAT THEY CAN, UM, GIVE BACK PER SE, UM, TO THOSE AREAS.
SO HAVE YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THAT IDEA TO WEST CHASE OR, UH, UPTOWN PARK? NO, I DON'T THINK THAT'S MY POSITION.
I JUST KNOW IF, IF YOU, IF YOU TRAVELED AROUND, UM, YOU KNOW, BEING A PUBLIC SPEAKER AT, AT MEETINGS,
I, I KNOW THE DIRECTOR IS HERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF HE HAS ANY, ANY INPUT ON THAT, BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY TAKE IT TO THOSE, THOSE BOARDS AND, UM, MAKE THE SUGGESTION AS WELL.
ANY, ANY, UM, SUGGESTIONS TO IMPROVE OUR ROADWAYS AND MAKE OUR, OUR TRAVELING, UH, OUR, OUR STREETS SAFER MM-HMM
UM, FOR THE TRAVELING PUBLIC, UM, WE, WE DEFINITELY WANNA PURSUE.
IT HAS, AS I SAID, IT, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THE WHOLE CITY, WHICH THE WHOLE CITY WOULD BENEFIT FROM THIS RATHER THAN JUST THE SMALL AREAS THAT THESE TWO DISTRICTS, UH, TYPICALLY COVER.
SO THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD HELP ALL OF US.
SO I, I APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR COMMENTS TODAY, AND I THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING SUCH AN ENGAGED CITIZEN.
IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTION, I'D LIKE TO, UH, THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING TODAY.
AND BEFORE WE ADJOURN, UH, I'LL REMIND EVERYONE THAT THE NEXT SCHEDULED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE WEDNESDAY, MAY 17TH AT 2:00 PM ALSO, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN RECEIVING INFORMATION ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETINGS, PLEASE CONTACT THE DISTRICT K OFFICE AT DISTRICT K AT HOUSTON TX, UH, ONE PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT TONIGHT.
THERE WILL BE A DEVELOPER'S NETWORKING RECEPTION AT 6:00 PM AT THE FOUNTAIN LIFE CENTER, 1 4 0 8 2 SOUTH MAIN, THE HARM CLARK FORT BEND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STRATEGIC PARTNERS WILL OFFER NETWORKING INFORMATION AND RESOURCE EXCHANGE.
SO IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING THAT DEVELOPER'S NETWORKING RECEPTION, IT WILL TAKE PLACE TONIGHT AT 6:00 PM AND THE TIME IS 2 59, AND THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.