* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:04] GOOD AFTERNOON. [PRESENTATIONS] IT'S 1 34, UH, PM ON TUESDAY, JUNE THE SIXTH, 2023. I'M MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER, AND I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO WATER. AND THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES MAYOR PRO, TIMM MARTIN TO, UH, PRESENTING PRO TO THE HOUSTON CHAP TO PRESENT A PROCLAMATION TO THE HOUSTON CHAPTER ASSOCIATION, RECOGNIZING ALZHEIMER'S AWARENESS MONTH. UM, MAYOR PRO TIMM MARTIN. YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO, FIRST OF ALL, MY APOLOGIES BECAUSE I DIDN'T WEAR MY PURPLE, SO MY APOLOGIES TO BOTH THE ALZHEIMER'S GROUP AND TO THE DELTAS. 'CAUSE I KNOW THE DELTAS PINK ISN'T YOUR FAVORITE COLOR. SO JUST IN, IMAGINE THIS AS BEING A LIGHTER SHADE OF RED. SO IT'S, IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO HONOR THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION WITH THE PROCLAMATION. TODAY, I HAVE THE HONOR TO RECOGNIZE THEM IN THE LONGEST DAY IN COORDINATION WITH ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION, HOUSTON SOUTHEAST CHAPTERS WITH US HERE TODAY. AND I'LL ASK THEM TO COME TO THE PODIUM, THE HOUSTON SOUTHEAST TEXAS CHAPTER, THE CEO, MR. RICHARD BIN, CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, ALEXIS EATON, BOARD MEMBER, AND LONGEST DAY CHAIRMAN, KIM TOPS, DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY OUTREACH, OR HEY, ALVERA, DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, NELLY SANCHEZ, LONGEST DAY COORDINATOR. LIZ GORMAN, HOUSTON WALK MANAGER, CHRISTINE HOWARD, WHO COULD COME FORWARD AS THEY DO. JUNE IS ALZHEIMER'S AND BRAIN AWARENESS MONTH. IT'S ALSO WHEN ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION HOLDS THEIR LONGEST DAY EVENT. THE LONGEST DAY IS THE DAY WITH THE MOST LIGHT, THE SUMMER SOLSTICE ON JUNE 21ST. FIRST THOUSANDS OF PARTICIPANTS ACROSS THE WORLD COME TOGETHER TO FIGHT THE DARKNESS OF ALZHEIMER'S THROUGH AN ACTIVITY OF THEIR CHOICE TOGETHER. THEY USE THEIR CREATIVITY, THEIR PASSION TO RAISE FUNDS AND AWARENESS FOR THE CARE TO SUPPORT THE RESEARCH EFFORTS OF ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION. SO I HOPE YOU WILL JOIN ME ON JUNE 21ST BY WEARING PURPLE TO SIGNIFY OUR PARTICIPATE IN THE FIGHT TO END ALZHEIMER'S. SO, ON A PERSONAL NOTE, MY MOTHER, UH, EIGHT YEARS AGO PASSED AWAY FROM COMPLICATIONS FROM ALZHEIMER'S. AND WE ALL KNOW THAT THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE WORLD TODAY IS HEREDITY. SO I WORRY ABOUT ALZHEIMER'S EACH AND EVERY DAY BECAUSE OF THE HEREDITY THAT WE HAD. MY MOTHER WAS A NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, FIVE FOOT TALL, 99 POUND SPITFIRE. SHE WAS THE ONE IN THE HOUSE THAT WHIPPED OUR BUTTS. SHE WAS THE ONE IN THE HOUSE THAT TOOK US TO THE BALL GAMES AND TOOK US TO PRACTICE. UH, MY DAD WORKED SIX DAYS A WEEK, PROBABLY 12 HOURS A DAY. HE WAS CLIMB TELEPHONE POLES FOR A LIVING. HE WAS A LINEMAN FOR THE PHONE COMPANY. SO ALL THE THINGS THAT I REMEMBER IN MY EARLY CHILDHOOD HAD A LOT DEALING WITH MY MOTHER. AND THE EFFECTS THAT ALZHEIMER'S HAS ON PEOPLE LIKE MY MOTHER TURNS HIM INTO A VERY DIFFERENT PERSON, AS WE ALL KNOW. UH, SHE WAS THE TOUGHEST PERSON ON ME, BUT THE MOST SUPPORTIVE PERSON ON ME. SHE WAS MY BIGGEST CHEERLEADER, BUT SHE WAS MY BIGGEST DISCIPLINARIAN. SHE WAS MY BIGGEST CRITIC. AND THE MAN I AM TODAY IS BECAUSE OF THE ROLE THAT MY MOTHER PLAYED IN MY LIFE. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK ME, I, UH, I WEAR TWO WEDDING RINGS, AND ONE OF THE RINGS IS MY FATHER'S. HE WAS MY HERO. HE WAS A GUY WHO GAVE US THE HUG. HE WAS THE DISNEY WORLD DAD THAT TOOK US EVERYWHERE AND NEVER TOUCHED US FOR AS LONG AS I LIVED IN MY LIFE. NEVER REALLY DISCIPLINED. MY MOTHER, ON THE OTHER HAND, KICKED OUR BUTT UNTIL THE DAY THAT SHE WHIPPED MY BROTHER AND BROKE HER HAND. I THINK THAT WAS HER LAST DAY OF DISCIPLINE IN US. BUT IT'S AN HONOR TO RECOGNIZE SUCH A GREAT ASSOCIATION THAT DOES PHENOMENAL WORK, NOT ONLY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT IN THE GLOBAL WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN, BECAUSE WE NEED TO ATTACK THIS DREADED DISEASE BECAUSE IT IS, UH, IT IS QUITE EMOTIONAL TO GROW UP AND TO TAKE CARE OF SOMEONE THAT HAS THIS DREADED DISEASE. BECAUSE GENERALLY THEY LIVE FOR A WHILE, BUT THEY LIVE AS THE PERSON YOU DIDN'T GROW UP WITH. THEY LIVE AS A DIFFERENT PERSON. SO, WHEREAS ALZHEIMER'S IS A TYPE OF DEMENTIA THAT AFFECTS MEMORY THINKING BEHAVIOR, IT'S MOST COMMON FORM OF DEMENTIA, A GENERAL TERM FOR MEMORY LOSS AND OTHER COGNITIVE ABILITIES, SERIOUS ENOUGH TO INTERFERE WITH DAILY LIFE. SO WHEREAS THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION OF HOUSTON IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS HAS A GOAL OF REGISTERING 131 TEAMS, WHICH IS MINIMAL, AND RAISING $175,000, WHICH [00:05:01] IS MINIMAL AND DOABLE, WHILE BRINGING AWARENESS FOR THE CARE, THE SUPPORT, AND THE RESEARCH OF THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION. BY AUGUST 31ST, 2023, THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION OF HOUSTON AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS PLANS TO MAKE AN EVEN GREATER IMPACT ON THE 37 COUNTRIES, THE CHAPTER COUNTIES, THE CHAPTER SERVES. SO MAYOR, IF I INVITE YOU IN, WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION OF HOUSTON AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO END ALZHEIMER'S AND ENCOURAGES ALL HOUSTONIANS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LONGEST DAY. SO THEREFORE, I SYLVESTER TURNER MAYOR CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROBABLY PROCLAIM JUNE 21ST, 2023 AS ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION OF HOUSTON AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS DAY, THE LONGEST DAY 2023. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL YOU. SO GOOD AFTERNOON AND HAPPY TUESDAY. MY NAME IS KIM TOPS, AND I AM THE 2023 LONGEST DAY CHAIRMAN FOR THE HOUSTON SOUTHEAST TEXAS CHAPTER. AND IT IS, UH, DID NOT KNOW YOUR CONNECTION. I THINK WE JUST KIND OF, I ACCIDENTALLY GOT TO YOU FROM 3 1 1, AND I HAD NO IDEA OF YOUR STORY. SO I JUST HEARD IT TODAY. MY LIFE IS 3 1 1 . UH, BUT I DO WANNA TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU AND THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER FOR THE, UH, PUBLIC RECOGNITION ON TODAY. UH, IT IS OUR PLEASURE TO BE ABLE TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY, TO BE ABLE TO BRING AWARENESS AND TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE RESEARCH. UH, WHEN I FIRST JOINED, UH, THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION, I STARTED VOLUNTEERING IN 2014. I DIDN'T REALLY SEE THAT END. BUT NOW THAT I'VE BEEN A BOARD MEMBER FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND LISTENING TO THE RESEARCH AND LISTENING TO THE TECHNOLOGY, I FEEL THAT WE WILL FIND OUR FIRST SURVIVOR IN, IN MY LIFETIME MM-HMM . OF AND WHICH WOULD BE A BLESSING TO SO MANY. SO, THANK YOU ALL, UH, FOR TODAY. AND EARLIER, UH, DURING THE LUNCH HOUR, WE PRESENTED TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON EMPLOYEES, AND WE HAD 71 PLUS PEOPLE ON THE CALL WHERE WE PRESENTED A LUNCH AND LEARN FOR, UH, THE 10 WARNING SIGNS OF THE DISEASE FOR AND DEMENTIA. AND IT WAS WELL ATTENDED, WELL RECEIVED. THEY ASKED US TO COME BACK AND DO SOMETHING ELSE, AND WE WOULD LOVE TO. AND, UH, ALSO WANNA THANK, UH, MARTHA KE TEX TATUM AS WELL. I SAW HER AT REGIONAL CONFERENCE, AND I WAS LIKE, WHAT CAN WE DO? AND SO, UH, JUST WANT TO, UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT. UH, WE STILL NEED MORE TEAMS. AND, UH, THANK YOU, UH, RICHARD, THE CEO FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT, AND HAPPY TO BE HERE ON DELL TODAY WITH YOU ALL AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I LIKE TO END IT ON A, ON A FUNNY STORY. I THINK IT'S A FUNNY STORY. UH, MY MOTHER SUFFERED FOR ABOUT EIGHT YEARS, WAS ALZHEIMER'S, AND THE YOUNGEST IN THE FAMILY IS MY SISTER. AND SHE LIVED NOT TOO FAR FROM MOM. AND AS WE KNOW, AS US MEN KNOW, EVERYTHING GENERALLY FALLS UPON THE SISTERS OR THE LADIES, AND IT ALWAYS HAS FOR THE CARETAKERS. SO, UH, I LIVED IN HOUSTON. THEY WERE IN NEW ORLEANS, AND EVERY FRIDAY I SENT MY MOTHER SOMETHING. IT WAS EITHER ROSES, A PLANT, FLOWERS, CANDY, ET CETERA. AND EVERY FRIDAY, MY SISTER WOULD WALK INTO THE NURSING HOME AND WALK IN, AND MY MOTHER WOULD GO, LOOK AT WHAT MY FAVORITE SON SENT ME, . HE SENT ME A DOZEN ROSES. HE SENT ME SOME FLOWERS AND CANDY. AND MY SISTER WOULD CALL ME UP EVERY FRIDAY. AND HE, SHE SAID, WOULD YOU QUIT SENDING THOSE DAMN FLOWERS AND CANDIES? I TAKE CARE OF HER 24 7. I WASHER, I BATHE HER, I FEED HER, AND I WALK IN AND ALL I HEAR IS HOW GREAT YOU ARE, . AND I SAID, I WILL NEVER STOP DOING THAT. AND THAT WAS MY ROUTINE. EVERY FRIDAY THAT SHE WAS ALIVE AND IN THIS EARTH, I SENT HER SOMETHING SPECIAL. AND I MISS HER EACH AND EVERY DAY. MAYOR PRO TEM MAYOR, PRO TEM, WE'RE, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM. WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOU AND EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR US. WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF COLLEAGUES IN THE QUEUE TO, TO ADDRESS YOU AND THE GROUP. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH, THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN, UH, SOUNDS LIKE WE HAD THE SAME MOM. , YOU KNOW, UH, MY MOTHER HAD, UH, DEMENTIA AND, UH, ALZHEIMER'S, AND SHE ALSO, UH, HAD SOMETHING THAT I, I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT. IT WAS CALLED SUNDOWNERS. AND, AND I DIDN'T REALIZE, MAYOR, WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN, IT, IT HAD THIS BIZARRE EFFECT ON HER. I AND I, WE LEARNED A WHOLE LOT THROUGH WHAT MOM WENT THROUGH FOR 28 MONTHS. AND, UM, AND, AND YOU SENT FLOWERS EVERY THURSDAY, BUT, OR EVERY FRIDAY. BUT MY MOM AND I, AFTER DAD DIED, UH, WE HAD A DATE EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, I TOOK HER TO EAT. AND I, I MISS HER REALLY BAD. BUT, BUT ALZHEIMER'S IS A [00:10:01] DEADLY DISEASE. IT'S HORRIBLE. IT HURTS EVERYBODY IN THE FAMILY. THERE'S, THERE'S SO MANY VICTIMS WHEN SOMEONE GETS THAT, BECAUSE THE PERSON YOU LOVE AT THE END DOESN'T EVEN KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND HOW PAINFUL THAT CAN BE. SO I, THAT'S WHY I TOLD YOU BEFORE I LEFT YOU TALKING TO YOU EARLIER, IS THAT Y'ALL GOTTA FIND A CURE FOR THIS. I'M GETTING OLD . IN FACT, I'M THE OLDEST ONE ON COUNCIL. SO, UH, THIS THING'S CREEP THAT, THAT GRIM REAPER'S COMING. , GOD BLESS YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. AND LET'S, LET'S CONQUER THIS, UH, THIS ALZHEIMER'S THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER KUBA. NEXT WE'LL HEAR FROM OUR VICE MAYOR PRO TEM, MARTHA CASTEX TATUM, THANK YOU CHAIR, AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MARTIN, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD, MAYOR PRO, TIM MARTIN, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I'LL TELL YOU A FUNNY STORY. UM, I SAW MY SORA KIM AT AN EVENT, AND SHE SAID, I CALLED YOUR OFFICE TO DO A PROCLAMATION. I SAID, NO, YOU DID. SHE SAID, YEAH, YOU KNOW, DUSTIN, IN YOUR OFFICE, . I SAID, I DON'T HAVE A DUSTIN IN MY OFFICE, . AND I SAID, I THINK YOU CALLED DISTRICT E. AND SHE SAID, OH, WELL, THEY TRANSFERRED ME TO DISTRICT E FROM 3 1 1. I SAID, WELL, YOU'RE IN A GOOD PLACE, AND THEY'RE GONNA TAKE GREAT CARE OF YOU, AND THEY'RE GONNA MAKE SURE YOUR PROCLAMATION GOES THROUGH WITHOUT A HITCH. AND IT WAS MEANT TO BE, AND IT WAS MEANT DIVINE INTERVENTION, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT WAS MEANT TO BE. AND ABSOLUTELY, I WILL TELL YOU THAT SHE RAVED ABOUT YOUR STAFF MEMBER AND HOW WELL THEY DID TO MAKE THIS DAY HAPPEN. UM, BUT TO MY SOR KIM, YOUR LEADERSHIP IS IMPECCABLE. AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THE, UM, LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU HAVE, UH, MADE HAPPEN AROUND ALZHEIMER'S. UM, AND THIS, THIS DREADED DISEASE MY GRANDMOTHER SUFFERED WITH ALZHEIMER. AND IT IS, IT IS HEARTBREAKING, UM, FOR SOMEONE YOU LOVE TO HAVE THIS DISEASE AND FOR YOU TO KNOW THEM AND THEM NOT TO KNOW YOU. UM, SO I, I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DO FOR EVERYONE SUFFERING THROUGH THIS DISEASE AND WITH ONE OF THEIR LOVED ONES, OR SOMEONE THEY KNOW THAT IS GOING THROUGH THIS, UH, PROCESS. AND WE WILL DEFINITELY CELEBRATE WHEN THERE IS A CURE. UM, KEEP WORKING. UH, WE, WE JOIN AND STAND WITH YOU AS YOU, UM, FIGHT TO FIND A CURE FOR THIS DREADED DISEASE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH. UM, MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I TOO JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH MY FATHER, WHO I BELIEVE, AND OUR FAMILY IS UN OF THE FEELING THAT HE IS IN THE BEGINNING STAGES OF THIS. AND, UH, THE MEMORY LOSS IS, UH, SOMETHING WE'RE ALL DEALING WITH. IT TAKES A VILLAGE. I THINK WE'VE ALL BEEN TOUCHED, UM, AND, UH, FOR THIS DAY AND FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO BRING THIS FORWARD, MAYOR PROAM, AND FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I BELIEVE WITH THAT, UH, MAYOR, WE'LL TURN IT TO YOU. GREAT. WE'LL CALL OUR NEXT, UH, PRESENTATION FOR THE DAY, AND THE CHAIR WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS FOR A PROCLAMATION TO BARRY MENDEL, WHO'S PRESIDENT OF DISCOVERY GREEN, TO CELEBRATE HIS RETIREMENT. UH, DEREK, THANK YOU. AM ALSO JOINED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. UH, WE, WE, COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN AND I HAD THE PLEASURE LAST WEEK, UH, PRESENTING THE PROCLAMATION, ED DISCOVERY GREEN. THEY HAD A RECEPTION FOR BARRY, UH, IN, IN, IN, IN RECOGNITION AND, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZING HIS YEARS OF SERVICE. UH, AND, UH, IT WAS A VERY NICE RECEPTION. SO, UH, WE'RE NOW PRESENTING IT HERE AT CITY HALL. UH, SO, AND AGAIN, BARRY'S NOT GONNA GO FAR BECAUSE, UH, HE'S, UH, NOW, LAST WEEK WE VOTED, UH, FOR HIM TO BE ON THE PARKS BOARD. SO, UH, WISH HE GONNA BE VERY INSTRUMENTAL THERE ON, ON, IN, IN THAT POSITION. SO WE, AS IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE AND DEEP APPRECIATION THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE RETIREMENT OF BARRY MANDEL, [00:15:02] THE ESTEEMED PRESIDENT OF DISCOVERY GREEN. AFTER 13 REMARKABLE YEARS OF VISIONARY LEADERSHIP AND WE'RE UNDER PRESIDENT MENDEL STEWARDSHIP, DISCOVERY GREEN HAS BLOSSOMED INTO A THRIVING URBAN OASIS, CAPTIVATING THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SOUGHT SOLACE JOY AND INSPIRATION, UH, WITHIN ITS ENCHANTING 12 ACRE GROUNDS. AND WHEREAS THE DISCOVERY GREEN CONCLUDES HIS 15TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON, THEY COMMEMORATE HIS INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS, DEDICATION, AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT, WHICH HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN SHAPING THAT REMARKABLE SPACE INTO A BEACON OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, CULTURAL ENRICHMENT, AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. THROUGHOUT HIS TENURE, THE PRESIDENT'S VISIONARY APPROACH HAS BROUGHT TO LIFE A DYNAMIC CALENDAR OF EVENTS, FESTIVALS, ART INSTALLATIONS, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT HAVE ENRICHED THE LIVES OF HOUSTONIANS AND VISITORS ALIKE. BARRY'S VISIONARY LEADERSHIP HAS FOSTERED A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT WHERE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES CONVERGE, FOSTERING DIALOGUE, UNDERSTANDING, AND UNITY AMONG PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. HIS INDOMITABLE SPIRIT, PASSION, TIRELESS EFFORTS HAVE LEFT AN INDELIBLE MARK ON THE LANDSCAPE OF OUR CITY, REMINDING US OF THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF PUBLIC SPACES TO INSPIRE, CONNECT, AND NURTURE THE HUMAN SPIRIT. THE CITY HONORS AND CELEBRATES THE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS OF BARRY MANDEL AS PRESIDENT OF DISCOVERY GREEN. WE APPLAUD HIS UNPARALLELED DEDICATION, INNOVATIVE VISION, AND PROFOUND IMPACT ON OUR CITY AND ITS INHABITANTS. SO, IN RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION OF HIS DEDICATION AND LOYAL SERVICE, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, COMMENDS AND CONGRATULATES BARRY MANDEL, ON THIS MILESTONE OCCASION, MAY BARRY MANDEL'S RETIREMENT BE FILLED WITH JOY, FULFILLMENT, AND NEW ADVENTURES AS HE EMBARKS ON A MUCH WELL DESERVED NEXT CHAPTER IN HIS LIFE. HIS LEGACY AT DISCOVERY GREEN WILL FOREVER SERVE AS A TESTAMENT TO THE PROFOUND INFLUENCE THAT ONE PERSON CAN HAVE IN SHAPING THE FABRIC OF A COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH. AND TO, UH, TO MY FRIEND AND, AND AMERICAN LEADERSHIP FORUM CLASSMATE OF, OF CLASS 20. UM, SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIMED JUNE 1ST, 2023 AS BARRY MANDEL DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. LOVE YOU. APPRECIATE YOU, MY MAN. UM, AS I SAID THE OTHER NIGHT AT THIS RECEPTION, THESE LAST 13 YEARS HAVE BEEN THE TIME OF MY LIFE AND THE REAL HONOREES OF MY TENURE AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE AT THE PARK ARE ACTUALLY SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE. AND I JUST NEED THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT I GET TO WORK WITH EVERY DAY TO PLEASE STAND UP. THEY GET UP EVERY MORNING COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE EVERYONE FEELS WELCOME IN THAT PARK, AND THAT EVERYONE FEELS REPRESENTED AND THAT EVERYONE FEELS A PART OF ALL OF THE 600 FREE ACTIVITIES, UM, THAT TAKE PLACE IN OUR PARK. WE'RE NOT A CITY PARK, AND SO WE DON'T HAVE THE BENEFITS THAT A LOT OF THE PARKS HERE HAVE, LIKE OPERATIONS TO BEING PARTS OF PARTS AND RECS DEPARTMENT. BUT THERE ARE TWO ENTITIES THAT I JUST THINK YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT HAVE BEEN A CORNERSTONE OF THE SUCCESS OF OUR PARK. FIRST AND FOREMOST, ARE OUR NEIGHBORS ACROSS THE STREET FROM HOUSTON FIRST. UM, THEY ARE SO COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE AN ALIVE CONVENTION CENTER DISTRICT, AND THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THE BEAUTY OF WHAT WE ALL KNOW AS HOUSTONIANS. AND THE SECOND ARE THE MEN AND WOMEN FROM HPD, UM, WHO HAVE WORKED WITH US HAND IN HAND FROM THE CHIEF TO COMMANDER BENNETT, COMMANDER REDDY TO SERGEANT STEIN, UM, HAVE HELPED US EVERY DAY MAKING SURE IT'S A SAFE PLACE FOR HOUSTONIANS TO COME, TO RECREATE, TO PLAY, AND TO ENJOY EACH OTHER. SO THANK YOU FOR THIS MAYOR. UM, I CAN'T IMAGINE GETTING THIS FROM ANYONE ELSE. MM-HMM . UM, WHERE IT WOULD MEAN AS MUCH AS FROM YOU, MY FRIEND, AS THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND TO BE ABLE TO WATCH YOU IN THE SEAT THAT I HAD OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS HAS BEEN A REAL JOY BARRY, [00:20:01] WAIT, BEFORE WE HAVE A FEW COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE, STARTING OUT WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO. CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU, BARRY. I MEAN, YOU ARE THE PARK. I MEAN, GODLY, THOSE, THOSE USED TO BE, I REMEMBER WHEN THAT WAS JUST TWO PARKING LOTS DOWNTOWN. AND LOOK AT ALL THE LIVES THAT HAVE BEEN CHANGED THROUGH ALL THE, THE PLAY AND THE ART AND THE PROGRAMMING AND THE FUN, AND JUST CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. WHAT A GREAT JOB YOU'VE DONE. AND, AND WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU, AND THANK YOU. WELL DONE. THANK YOU. THANKS. THANK YOU, BARRY. THANK MAYOR PRO, TIM, MARTHA, CASTEX, TATUM BARRY, I, I KNOW YOU'RE GETTING, I GOT A LITTLE CHOKED UP, BUT WE'RE CHOKED UP TOO. YEAH. BECAUSE, UM, YOU ARE SYNONYMOUS WITH DISCOVERY GREEN, AND WE ARE SO PROUD OF THE GREAT WORK THAT IS HAPPENING AT THAT PARK. AND ALL THE JOY THAT YOU SEE WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH DISCOVERY GREEN FAMILIES ARE, UM, ENJOYING THEIR TIME TOGETHER. THE KIDS IN THAT SPLASH PAD, THE ICE SKATING, EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS AT THAT PARK BRINGS JOY TO PEOPLE. AND SO, I KNOW YOU'VE HAD THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE WORKING THERE, WHERE WE HAVE HAD THE TIME OF OUR LIVES ENJOYING THE SPACE, AND THIS IS A WELL-DESERVED RETIREMENT, AND WE WISH YOU THE BEST IN THIS NEXT SEASON OF YOUR LIFE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO, TEM, AND BARRY, I JUST GOTTA GET IN THERE AND SAY THANK YOU PERSONALLY FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO ADD ON WHAT THE VICE MAYOR PRO TEM HAS SAID. THE ACTIVATION IN DISCOVERY GREEN IS JUST SO INCREDIBLE WITH THE WAY YOU'VE INTEGRATED ALL THE ARTS. AND I KNOW LONGER THAN THE 13 YEARS THAT, UH, YOU'VE BEEN AT THE HELM AT DISCOVERY GREEN, YOU'VE BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE ARTS COMMUNITY. WE KNOW YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE, BUT THIS IS SO WELL DESERVED, AND WE DO LOVE YOU, AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR HOUSTON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND, AND BARRY, UH, ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU GUYS IN, UM, 2008 THROUGH 2012, AND THEN I GOT ELECTED TO THIS OFFICE, AND I HAD TO GIVE UP MY SPORTS AUTHORITY GIG. BUT ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND EVERYBODY APPRECIATES THAT WHO COMES TO A SPORTING EVENT, IS DISCOVERY GREEN. AND THAT GREEN SPACE BETWEEN TWO PHENOMENAL ANCHOR HOTELS LOOKING AT THE GEORGE R. BROWN CONVENTION CENTER. UH, WE HAD THE FINAL FOUR IN, UH, A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. AND THE EVENTS THAT WE HAD THERE, AND THE CROWDS THAT WE BROUGHT, AND THE SAFENESS OF THE AREA, AND THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS TO DO EACH AND EVERY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, AND YOU ALWAYS DRIVE AROUND DISCOVERY GREEN, IT'S ALWAYS PACKED. AND THAT'S A TESTIMONY TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF THAT'S HERE WITH YOU TODAY. UH, WE'RE BLESSED WITH TWO GREAT GREEN SPACES IN THE CITY, DISCOVERY GREEN AND MEMORIAL PARK, AND I CAN DARE SAY I WOULD COMPETE AGAINST ANY CITY ACROSS THE GLOBE WITH THOSE TWO GREAT GREEN SPACES AND WHAT WE DO WITH THEM. SO GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS. AND THANK YOU BOTH. COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS AND COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR BRINGING THIS AND, UH, UH, YOUR CLASSMATE FROM, UH, WAS THAT, UH, 50 YEARS AGO OR 60 ? HE'S, HE'S CLOSE. HE'S CLOSE. YEAH. YEAH. HE'S JEALOUS. DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. . AND, BUT NOW, BEFORE WE, BEFORE WE BRING UP, UH, YOUR PEOPLE, WE'LL TAKE THIS PICTURE FIRST. UH, BUT AN INCREDIBLE GUY, UH, AND THROUGH HIS LEADERSHIP DOES COUNT, AND REALLY, HE'S, UH, TAKING DISCOVERY GREEN WITH HIS TEAM. AND, UM, IT IS A SELLING PIECE FOR CONFERENCES, CONVENTIONS, FIFA, WORLD CUP AND OTHERS. SO, UM, AND, UM, WE'VE SHARED MANY THINGS AND WE TOGETHER, BUT, UM, WHEN YOU TELL IT'S ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS. MM-HMM . AND THIS ONE HAS JUST LASTED AND SO HONORED TO DO IT. YOU WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO LEAVE UNTIL I, WE WERE GOING TO WALK OUT. I HAD TO FINALLY BEAT YOU AT SOMETHING . I HAD TO FINALLY BEAT YOU WITH SOMETHING. SO LOOK, HONORED TO GIVE IT TO YOU. YEAH. AND MAYOR, IF I MAY ADD, YOU KNOW, THE ONLY REASON I DIDN'T GET CHOKED UP IS, UH, WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER GALLOS AND I WERE CELEBRATING AT HIS RETIREMENT PARTY, THE RUNNING JOKE WAS WE WERE CELEBRATING HIS RETIREMENT. AND LITERALLY THE DAY BEFORE WE HAD APPROVED BARRY TO THE PARKS BOARD, . SO WE DO GET TO KEEP HIM IN SOME CAPACITY. BUT BARRY, ONE THING, AND THE REASON, YOU KNOW, COUNCILOR GALLEGOS HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH YOU, AS I SAID, IN A PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY REPRESENTING THE DISTRICT IN DOWNTOWN. AND, UM, I KNOW YOU THROUGH OUR FAMILIES, AND ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS ABOUT THIS CELEBRATION IS THAT BARRY'S FAMILY FROM HIS, WHAT, 92, 90 2-YEAR-OLD MOTHER TO HIS HUSBAND, TO HIS NIECES AND NEPHEWS, WERE ALL TOGETHER. AND THIS HAS FOR OVER A DECADE BEEN SUCH A FAMILY AFFAIR. AND THE ENTIRE STAFF WAS THERE BECAUSE YOUR STAFF IS YOUR FAMILY. MM-HMM . AND THIS PARK IS YOUR FAMILY. MM-HMM . AND THAT LOVE THAT YOU BRING, UH, IS SHARED BY THOSE THAT LOVE YOU. SO PLEASE PASS ALONG AS WELL, OUR APPRECIATION TO YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY, UH, FOR THEIR SERVICE TO THIS. AND I [00:25:01] DON'T KNOW IF IT'S, ARE WE ALLOWED TO ANNOUNCE THE STORY YOU SAID ABOUT WHEN THE FINAL FOUR CAME HERE, MAYOR, AND HOW IMPRESSED SOME FOLKS WERE WITH THE PARK AND WHAT'S COME OF THAT? I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANNA SHARE SOME OF THAT. NO, I MEAN, WE HAVE A, A NUMBER OF SUCCESSFUL STORIES. AND, UM, WHEN FINAL FOUR WAS HERE RECENTLY, THE KINDERS HAD JUST ESTABLISHED A, AN, AN ENDOWMENT IN THE PARK. AND ONE OF THE FOLKS THAT ATTENDED FINAL FOUR WAS, UM, JOHN JOHNSON, WHO'S PRESIDENT OF SILVER EAGLE DISTRIBUTORS. AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS PARK, I, I SEE THE ROLE IT PLAYS IN THIS COMMUNITY FROM JUST LOOKING AROUND AT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE. AND THE MAN MADE A $500,000 DONATION TO THE PARKS ENDOWMENT BECAUSE HE SAID, THIS PARK, THE ROLE IT PLAYS HAS TO CONTINUE. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THAT. AND I THINK I CAN BE SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US. WE LOVE BEING ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS GYM IN THIS CITY. ALRIGHT, LET'S TURN AROUND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU WANNA BRING ALL OF THEM UP? YES. HEY, BOB, TWO GREAT MEN IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THAT'S FOR SURE. THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D AS IN DELTA, THOMAS FOR PROCLAMATION TWO DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY TO HONOR THEIR ANNUAL DIAZ AND DAYS AT CITY HALL . THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR TURNER AND COLLEAGUES. UM, THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL MOMENT. UH, WE ARE CELEBRATING OUR 27TH ANNUAL DELTA DAY AT CITY HALL, UH, WHICH IS SOMETHING TO BE NOTED. UH, I DON'T BELIEVE ANY OTHER MAJOR METROPOLITAN CITIES ARE AS COMMITTED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AS THE HOUSTON CLUSTER. SO I'M SO HONORED TO DO THIS. UM, WE HAVE CRIED IN THE CHAMBERS EARLIER. WE HAVE LAUGHED, BUT NOW WE'RE GONNA GET THIS PARTY STARTED. SO, ROSE, I'M GONNA NEED SOME HELP, UM, WITH THIS, UH, WE CAME TO THE PARTY, THE PARTY WASN'T LIVE. THE PARTY WASN'T LIVE UNTIL THE DELTAS ARRIVED. WE CAME, WE SAW, WE TURNED IT OUT. NOW Y'ALL SUPPOSED TO SAY, AND THAT'S THE SWEET, OOH, THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. PRACTICE, LADIES, PRACTICE. NEVERTHELESS, UH, WE'RE HERE AND I KNOW ALL OF Y'ALL ARE JUST AS EXCITED AS I, AS I AM TO TURN CITY HALL RED. WE DON'T JUST DO THIS, UM, FOR SHOW, BUT WE DO THIS WITH INTENTION TO MAKE OUR CITY AND OUR COMMUNITIES MUCH BETTER. SO I'M GONNA MOVE ON WITH, UH, THE PROCLAMATION, BUT BEFORE I DO, I DO WANNA SHOUT OUT THE, UM, SOROS AT CITY HALL THAT HAVE COMMITTED THEMSELVES IN ADDITION TO THEIR DUTIES TO HOSTING THIS YEAR AFTER YEAR. UM, JACKIE POPE, UH, COURTNEY SMITH, AKASHA FRANCIS, A HOST OF OTHERS. PLEASE STAND IF YOU'RE IN CHAMBERS AND ALL OF THE SISTERS THROUGHOUT VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT, UM, CARVE OUT SPACE AND TIME FOR THIS TODAY. SO I'M, I'M, I'M HONORED. I JUST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE YOU PUBLICLY. DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY WAS FOUNDED ON JANUARY 13TH, 1913 BY 22 COURAGEOUS STUDENTS ON THE CAMPUS OF HOWARD UNIVERSITY. THEY DEMONSTRATED IN THE COMMONS CONCERN FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, CULTURAL ENRICHMENTS, AND HIGH MORAL STANDARDS. THE HOUSTON METROPOLITAN CHAPTERS [00:30:01] OF DELTA SIGMA THETA HAS ESTABLISHED AND MAINTAINED AND DEMONSTRATED A RECORD OF SERVICE IN THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY. THEREFORE, REMAINING COMMITTED TO THE IDEALS ENVISIONED BY THE FOUNDERS. THE SORORITY PROMOTES POSITIVE INTERACTIONS THAT RESULT IN ENHANCED EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, SOUND, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, POLITICAL AWARENESS AND ACHIEVEMENT ON ALL LEVELS. THESE AGENTS OF CHANGE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS. THROUGH ITS AFFILIATION WITH THE DELTA RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION, AND ITS COLLABORATION WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WITH SIMILAR COMMUNITY SERVICE GOALS, THESE CHAPTERS HAVE REMAINED COMMITTED TO ITS MEMBERS AND THE IDEALS ON WHICH DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY INCORPORATED WAS FOUNDED, WHICH CONTINUES TO FOSTER THE SPIRIT OF SHARING, CARING, POSITIVE SISTERLY RELATIONS, AND PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION OF DEDICATED EXTRAORDINARY DELTA WOMEN. THE HOUSTON AREA CLUSTER OF DELTA SIGMA THETA CONTINUES TO HOLD HIGH ESTEEM OF THE PRINCIPLES, MORALS, AND INTEGRITY ON WHICH THE SORORITY WAS FOUNDED. AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS, UM, THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA, CHAPTERS OF DELTA SIGMA THETA ON THEIR OUTSTANDING EFFORTS TO PROMOTE EDUCATIONAL AWARENESS, POLITICAL AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT. MAYOR TURNER. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, DO HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM JUNE 6TH, 2023 AS DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY INCORPORATED THE HOUSTON METROPOLITAN ALUMNI CHAPTER DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS, LADIES AND MAYOR TURNER. ASHA FRANCIS IS GONNA JOIN US FOR A BRIEF PRESENTATION. I THINK THERE ARE SEVERAL CHAPTERS HERE. AND LEMME JUST SAY, MY CHIEF OF STAFF HAPPENS TO BE A DELTA AS WELL. SO, UH, OKAY. IT'S SHOW. SO WE ALSO, WAIT, WE WANNA BRING UP ALL OF OUR CHAPTER PRESIDENTS. WE HAVE ALL OF OUR, UH, CHAPTER PRESIDENTS JOIN FOR A PHOTO. AND SO BEFORE THAT, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE. AS Y'ALL MIGRATE UP, WE'LL START OFF WITH, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS APPROPRIATE OR NOT, BECAUSE SHE WEARS THE, SHE WEARS PINK AND GREEN IN HER DAY JOB, BUT SHE'S A DEAR FRIEND. AND NOW WE GOT TWO PINK AND GREENS IN THE QUEUE. VICE MAYOR PRO TEM MARTHA CASTEX, TATUM, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UH, BRINGING FORWARD THIS PROCLAMATION EACH AND EVERY YEAR, UH, FOR DELTA, EACH AND EVERY YEAR. FOR, FOR DELTA TODAY. THIS IS EXTRAORDINARY. UM, WE ARE BLESSED AS A CITY TO HAVE SO MANY WOMEN OF DELTA SIGMA THETA, UM, ON THE CITY STAFF AND WORKING IN OUR CITY. UH, THE SYNERGY IN THE ROOM IS EXTRAORDINARY RIGHT NOW. MAYOR, I BET WE CAN SOLVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS IN THE, IN THE COUNTRY, , RIGHT? UM, BECAUSE ALL OF THESE WOMEN HAVE A HEART FOR SERVICE. UM, BUT I, I DO HAVE TO SAY THAT THERE ARE THREE, UH, ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA WOMEN ON CITY COUNCIL THAT YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER IS HOLDING IT DOWN FOR DELTA SIGMA . INDEED, INDEED. SHE'S IN A MAJOR WAY, IN A, IN A MAJOR WAY. SHE REPRESENTS YOUR ORGANIZATION IN A STELLAR FASHION, AND WE'RE SO PROUD TO WORK ALONGSIDE HER. AND EACH ONE OF YOU IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, KEEP PRESSING AND WE SEE YOU AND WE HEAR YOU. AND WE'RE SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE AT YOUR CITY HALL. THANK YOU MUCH. THANK YOU. AND I WORE MY PINK SHIRT AND PINK TIE BY ACCIDENT . I WOKE UP THIS MORNING. I PURELY PUT IT ON BY ACCIDENT, BUT I KNOW HER NEXT SPEAKER DID NOT. COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ , THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR PROAM. ACTUALLY, IT'S MY, UH, CONSTITUENTS DIRECTOR'S BIRTHDAY, AND SHE ASKED ME TO WEAR PINK, BUT I JUST THINK IT'S PERFECT THAT I HAVE IT ON TODAY. BUT CERTAINLY, I, I REALLY LOVE, I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS THAT ARE DELTAS. I WENT TO SPELMAN COLLEGE AND MOST OF THEM, UH, GRADUATED WITH ME. AND SO I HAVE A VERY WARM HEART FOR DELTA SIGMA THETA. AND SO CERTAINLY YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER, OUR COUNCIL MEMBER IS JUST FANTASTIC. I MEAN, SHE IS HANDLING THE BUSINESS, I HAVE TO SAY THAT, THAT'S NICE. BUT CERTAINLY WE ARE ALWAYS GLAD TO SEE YOU HERE. AND ACTUALLY, RED IS MY FAVORITE COLOR, , AND I GET A LOT OF, WE MIGHT HAD IT IN HERE, BUT I DRIVE RED. OKAY? AND SO, UH, THANK YOU, YOU ALL, UH, LOOK SO BEAUTIFUL HERE. AND YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME TO COME AND VISIT US ANYTIME. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA PLUMMER. THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR. CONGRATULATIONS. AND, AND AS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE MENTIONED, YOUR COUNCIL, MY COUNCIL [00:35:01] MEMBER, TIFFANY THOMAS, HAS DEFINITELY HELD DOWN FOR ALL OF YOU. UM, SO MANY OF YOU OUT THERE ARE GOOD FRIENDS OF MINE, MY BEST FRIENDS AT DELTA. I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH, AND THANKS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SERIOUSLY, WE NEED YOU AND, UM, AND, AND WE, WE'D LOVE YOU REPRESENT FOR ALL OF US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY DELTA, THOMAS, I'LL LEAVE THE WEST PRESS YOU. WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. ONE SECOND, SECOND. I LIKE THAT. I LIKE THAT. WAIT A AHEAD. LITTLE BIT LATE IN THE QUEUE. SORRY. COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ELKHORN, NEXT Q UM, CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE TO OUR GREAT CITY. YOU GUYS DO SO MUCH, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD. I WAS A DELTA, DELTA DELTA UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS. SO I DUNNO IF THAT COUNTS. BUT, UH, HERE'S TO THE DELTAS COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER TASHA JACKSON. COUNCIL, WAIT, HOLD ON, TIFFANY, JUST REAL QUICK. WE HAVE ONE MORE REAL QUICK. I WALKED IN AND I SAW ALL THESE BEAUTIFUL WOMEN IN RED. I SAID, I WON'T END. I'M NOT A SORROW, BUT I WANNA JOIN. I MEAN, JUST THANK YOU GUYS. CONGRATULATIONS. YES. I'M GONNA JOIN. YEAH, , CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. HEY, TURNER, WE HAVE A, A BRIEF PRESENTATION FOR YOU. OH. SO 110 YEARS AGO, 22 YOUNG COLLEGE EDUCATED WOMEN CAME TOGETHER TO BECOME STANDARD BEARERS IN SOCIAL ACTION. AND I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT THEY HAD A MAN LIKE OUR MAYOR IN MIND. WE WOULD LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE GREATER HOUSTON CHAPTERS OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY INCORPORATED, HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP. YOU SAID, OVER 30 YEARS AGO, I WANNA DO TRANSFORMATIONAL THINGS. I WANNA TAKE MY LITTLE BOAT OUT TO WHERE THE BIG SHIPS GO OUT THERE IN THE DEEP, NOT BY THE SAFE SHORE. SO IF MY LITTLE BOAT STARTS WOBBLING IN THE DEEP SEA, I'D MUCH RATHER DO THAT THAN BE SAFE IN THE SHORE. AND SO FOR 30 YEARS AS A STATEMENT, MAYOR TURNER, YOU HAVE GONE OUT AND TAKEN YOUR BOAT WHERE THE BIG SHIPS GO. WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE LEGISLATURE AS SPEAKER PRO TEM, WHETHER YOU WERE OVER OUR FISCAL COMMITTEE, WHETHER YOU EXPANDED MEDICAID FOR CHILDREN IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. FAST FORWARD STILL WHERE THE BIG SHIPS GO THE LAST EIGHT YEARS ACTUALLY HELPING US TRAVERSE SEVEN MAJOR DISASTERS WHERE THE BIG SHIPS GO. COMPLETE COMMUNITIES WHERE THE BIG SHIPS GO. LOWERING CRIME BY 20% IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHERE THE BIG SHIPS GO, ACTUALLY HAVING ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AND TENURED TIMES AS THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND QUITE FRANKLY, THE BEST MAYOR THIS CITY HAS EVER SEEN. SO, IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE, AND FOR QUITE FRANKLY, MAKING OUR TOMORROWS BETTER THAN TODAY, WE WANT TO PRESENT THIS TO YOU ON BEHALF OF THE WOMEN OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INCORPORATED FOR TAKING US ALL WHERE THE BIG SHIPS GO. AND NO MATTER WHERE YOUR SHIP GOES PAST HERE, JUST KNOW YOU HAVE [00:40:01] SOME CRIMSON AND CREAM ON BOARD. MAY I THINK YOU NEED TO GIVE HER A JOB. [00:56:42] OKAY? [00:56:42] LET [00:56:42] ME THANK THE LADIES FROM, UH, DELTA FOR BEING HERE. AND YOU KNOW, THE AKS DIDN'T SHOW ME THIS MUCH LOVE, , IT AIN'T OVER YET. ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET, LET'S GET GOING. LET, THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR PATIENCE, . [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] OKAY. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILMAN PLUMMER, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER FOR THE INVOCATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. AND I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE, OKAY, THANK YOU MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE MY FRIEND AND SPIRITUAL LEADER, PASTOR DEVON. REGINALD. DEVON, CAN YOU COME TO THE FRONT PLEASE? MARY, YOU KNOW THIS GUY FROM SILVER LAKE. ABSOLUTELY THE ONE AND ONLY . LET ME JUST TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PASTOR DEVON. HE BEGAN HIS, UM, HIS MINISTRY AT SILVER LAKE CHURCH IN 1995. UH, THAT'S 28 YEARS AGO. UM, HIS MINISTRY, UH, IS AMAZING IN THE PEARL AREA AND ALL OF HOUSTON, GREATER HOUSTON AREA. UM, HE IS ON 40 ACRES AND EVERYTHING ON THAT PROPERTY DOES EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS TO DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY. HE'S, UH, A COMMUNITY LEADER. HE IS FOCUSED ON, UM, UH, NUMEROUS, NUMEROUS GIVINGS TO THE UNCF FEEDING PEOPLE. UM, DURING THANKSGIVING SCHOLARSHIP MONIES, HE HAS TRAVELED ACROSS THE WORLD TO INDIA, UH, HAS PRISON OUTREACH, UM, MINISTER MINISTRY AND ORPHANAGES. I MEAN, REALLY GREAT WORK. HE'S AN AMAZING FATHER, HUSBAND, AND GRANDDAD, UH, MY FRIEND, MY SPIRITUAL LEADER, PASTOR DEON, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. AND BEFORE YOU GET STARTED, UH, PASTOR DEON IS, IS JUST AN HONOR, UH, TO HAVE YOU HERE. UM, VERY GOOD FRIEND. YEAH. AND, UM, JUST AN AMAZING MINISTRY, UM, AND THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DONE AND VERY SUPPORTIVE, UH, OF THIS ENTIRE REGION. SO, UM, SOMEONE WHO I COUNT AS A VERY, VERY DEAR FRIEND OF MANY, MANY YEARS. SO IT'S AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU HERE, UH, TODAY. COUNCILMAN PLUM, LET ME THANK YOU FOR HAVING HIM. PASTOR DEV DIVINE. OKAY, LET US PRAY. OH LORD, OUR GOD, WE COME THANKING YOU TODAY FOR THIS IS A DAY IN WHICH YOU'VE MADE FATHER, WE REJOICE AND WE WE'RE GLAD IN IT. WE THANK YOU, LORD, FOR YOUR WORD, WHICH IS A LAMP UNTO OUR FEET, A LIGHT UNTO OUR PATHWAY. FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR SHOWING US OF COURSE, OUR WAY IN THE PAST AND THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE. AND THEN THANK YOU FOR GOD BEING FAITHFUL AND BEING KIND, AND BEING COMPASSIONATE AS WE CONTINUE TO LEARN HOW TO LEAD THIS CITY AND HOW TO LOVE ON ONE ANOTHER, AND HOW TO AGREE TO DISAGREE IN LOVE. SO WE COME THIS MORNING, THIS AFTERNOON, FATHER, ASKING THAT YOU WOULD TOUCH EVERY COUNCIL PERSON THAT'S PRESENT, GIVE THEM WHAT THEY NEED, LORD, THE KNOWLEDGE, THE WISDOM, UM, THE COMPASSIONATE AND LOVE, UH, THAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO MAKE AND HELP MAKE DECISIONS. AND THEN OF COURSE, OUR MAYOR, FATHER, WE THANK YOU [01:00:01] FOR LEADING HIM AND, AND GUIDING HIM, UH, TO THINK AND CONSIDER THE, THE EVERY PERSON IN THIS CITY, NOT JUST SO MUCH THAT THIS CITY CAN BENEFIT, BUT ALSO THAT THE CITY WOULD REFLECT THE KINGDOM OF GOD. SO WE CLAIM THE VICTORY TODAY AND WHAT ALL, EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING TO BE DONE, FATHER, WE PRAY THAT IT WILL BE PLEASING IN YOUR SIGHT. WE GIVE YOU PRAISE. WE GIVE YOU GLORY TODAY. IT IS IN THE NAME OF JESUS WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. PLEASE, PLEASE RISE FOR PRAISE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TWO REPUBLIC STANDS, ONE NATION DENY INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'LL CALL YOU SOON, OKAY. OKAY. UM, [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] MADAM SECRETARY OF YOU, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MAYOR TURNER. HERE. COUNCILMAN PECK. HERE. COUNCILMAN JACKSON? HERE. COUNCILMAN KAMAN. COUNCILMAN EVAN CHABA. HERE. COUNCILMAN MARTIN. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN THOMAS? PRESENT. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN? PRESENT. COUNCILMAN CISNEROS? HERE. COUNCIL MC GALLEGOS. HERE. CONSTABLE POLLARD. HERE. CONSTABLE CASTEX TATUM. HERE. COUNCIL KNOX. HERE. CONSTABLE ROBINSON. HERE. CONSTABLE KOSH. HERE. CONSTABLE PLUMMER HERE. AND CONSTABLE ALCORN HERE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 8TH, 28TH AND MARCH 1ST. CASTEX TATUM, MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON. WE MOVED IN SECOND ON ADOPTION OF THE AMENDS. ANY OBJECTION? CHAIR IS NOT IN MINNESOTA. ADOPT. ARE THERE, UM, ANY PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? CHAIR? HE SEIZE NONE. MADAM [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] SECRETARY, YOU PROCEED TO CALL THE, UH, SPEAKER'S LIST MANURE. AND, SORRY. UM, MAN, MANURE ANARI IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY JUDA THE REBELS RIGHT UP IN FRONT. UM, OKAY, PLEASE. UM, HI. UH, MY NAME IS NU ANARI. UH, I WAS BORN HERE IN HOUSTON, AND I'M CURRENTLY A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT F. UH, I'M HERE SUPPORTING THE NORTHEAST ACT, UH, NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE, UM, ON DRAINAGE JUSTICE. AND THIS IS MY FIRST TIME ADDRESSING CITY COUNCIL. UH, I COME TO THIS FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF LIVING MANY YEARS IN PAKISTAN WHERE THERE IS POOR DRAINAGE. AND ONE THIRD OF THE NATION IS UNDERWATER, OR WAS UNDERWATER LAST YEAR. UM, AND LIVING IN THE NETHERLANDS, A COUNTRY BELOW SEA LEVEL WITH ONE OF THE BEST WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN THE WORLD. SO TWO ENDS OF A SPECTRUM. SOMETHING HOUSTON SHARES IN COMMON WITH BOTH THESE REGIONS IS HEAVY RAINS AND THE RISK OF FLOODING. AND DEPENDING ON HOW YOU ALL VOTE ON DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE TOMORROW, THE FUTURE OF HOUSTON COULD GO EITHER WAY. AND I HOPE IT GOES TOWARDS THE LATTER. FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN AND LEARNED OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, UM, THERE HAS BEEN DECADES OF UNDERINVESTMENT AND INEQUITY IN THE DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE HERE, ESPECIALLY FOR LOW INCOME FOLKS AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. THIS IS AN ISSUE OF PUBLIC HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND CLIMATE JUSTICE AND ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY. PROACTIVELY INVESTING IN BETTER DRAINAGE AND POTENTIALLY APPLYING NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS TO GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES, PREVENT FURTHER HARM, SAVE MONEY ON FLOOD DAMAGES IN THE LONG RUN, AND BUILD RESILIENCE AGAINST UNAVOIDABLE CLIMATE IMPACTS. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, I KNOW THAT IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS IS SOMETHING YOU PRIORITIZE. AND AS YOUR CONSTITUENT, I'M TELLING YOU THAT MY LIFE ISN'T ONLY BASED IN OUR DISTRICT, BUT ACROSS ALL OF THEM. WEST MAY BE BEST, BUT AS YOU SAY, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE REST? THIS IS WHY I HOPE YOU CAN VOTE IN FAVOR OF COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON'S PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER 7.01 TO ADD $20 MILLION TO THE LOCAL DRAINAGE PROGRAM. PLEASE PRIORITIZE. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, JUDITH REBELS. JUDITH REBELS IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY RAMONA WILLIAMS. UM, MOTION TO ALLOW HER. SO CHAIRS, NOW GRANTED. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JUDITH RES. I AM EIGHT YEARS OLD AND I ATTEND VC ELMAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. I HAVE LIVED MY WHOLE LIFE IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON. TODAY I WILL SHARE SOME OF MY STORY [01:05:01] AND THOUGHTS ABOUT THE FLOODED DITCHES NEAR MY SCHOOL. FOR TWO YEARS NOW, MY MOM AND I HAVE DRIVEN PAST DITCHES THAT WERE FLOODED ALL THE TIME AND FULL OF TRASH. ALSO, I THINK THAT BECAUSE OF THE TRASH, PEOPLE THINK IT IS OKAY TO LEAVE THEIR DOGS TOO. IT WAS FRUSTRATING TO ME BECAUSE IT MADE MY MOM UPSET AS A KID. I JUST WANT TO FEEL SAFE WHEN I'M ARRIVING TO SCHOOL, NO MATTER IF IT'S RAINING OR NOT. THANK YOU CITY COUNCIL FOR LISTENING TODAY. ALSO, PLEASE SUPPORT MS. JACKSON'S COMMITMENT SO THAT PUBLIC WORKS CAN DO MORE OF THE PROJECTS THAT NEED TO DONE, LIKE THE ONE BY MY SCHOOL. THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. I'M SORRY. UH, VICE MAYOR TIM CAST TATUM. UH, MS. RELS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AT CITY COUNCIL TODAY. UM, EIGHT YEARS OLD AND ALREADY POTENT PETITIONING YOUR GOVERNMENT IS A GREAT START FOR YOU AND YOUR FUTURE. UH, WE APPRECIATE THE WORDS THAT YOU SHARED WITH US TODAY, AND WE WILL DEFINITELY TAKE YOUR COMMENTS INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN WE MAKE OUR VOTE ON TOMORROW. AND I HOPE THAT, UM, WHAT YOU SAID WILL NOT ONLY RESONATE HERE TODAY, BUT WITH YOUR CLASSMATES A LOT OF TIMES, UM, YOU KNOW, WE CAN BE LEADERS AMONGST OUR PEERS AND THAT YOU WILL SHARE WITH YOUR CLASSMATES HOW NOT TO THROW THINGS OUT OF THE CAR INTO THE DITCHES AND INTO THE TRASH. THAT WOULD HELP US A LOT TOO. SO, UH, I APPRECIATE YOU COMING TODAY. I AM, I'M SO INSPIRED BY YOU AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO COME AND SHARE YOUR STORY, BUT I HOPE YOU'LL ALSO SHARE YOUR STORY WITH YOUR FRIENDS THAT YOU CAME TO CITY COUNCIL, AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY CLEAN AS WELL. OKAY? THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, RAMONA WILLIAMS. RAMONA WILLIAMS. RAMONA. NEXT SPEAKER ANDREA GUERRERO. ANDREA GUERRERO. ANDREA IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY BENJAMIN BROADWAY. HELLO, MY NAME IS ANDREA GUERRERO. I'M A 10 YEAR RESIDENT OF DISTRICT I, I'M HERE TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON'S AMENDMENT TO INCREASE THE LOCAL DRAINAGE PROJECT FUNDING BY 20 MILLION. I HAVE BEEN A VOLUNTEER WITH WEST STREET RECOVERY AND THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE. SINCE WEEK ONE, I'VE MUCKED COUNTLESS HOUSES. AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY MOPPED UP WATER GUTTED WALLS FROM TROPICAL STORM AMELDA, I'VE DUG UP DITCHES AND DRAIN LINES REMOVED TRASH AND DEBRIS PAINTED THE INTERIOR OF HOUSES, AS WELL AS PROTEST BANNERS. AND NOW I'M HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY ADVOCATING AS CITY COUNCIL. IN 2018, SCHOLARS HOWLED AND ELLIOT ANALYZE DISASTERS ON HOW THEY IMPACTED WEALTH LEVELS. THEY FOUND THAT IN 10 YEARS AFTER DISASTERS, THE WHITE AND BLACK WEALTH GAP INCREASED BY 127,000. THE CITY CAN'T CHANGE FEDERAL DISASTER POLICY, BUT IT CAN ENSURE THAT IT DOES ITS PART BY TAKING ACTION NOW AND INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT PROTECTS BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES. OF ALL THE DRAINAGE PROGRAMS, LDP IS THE MOST LIKELY TO DO THAT. IT IS TRUE THAT THE STATE RACIALLY DISCRIMINATES AGAINST HOUSTON AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO, BUT IN THE FACE OF THAT, THE CITY CANNOT THROW UP ITS HANDS AND CALL IT A DAY. THE CITY MUST INSTEAD CENTER EQUITY TO ADDRESS THE HISTORIC INEQUALITIES THAT ARE STILL BREATHING IN THE FACE OF DISCRIMINATION. THE CITY CANNOT GIVE EVERY DISTRICT EQUAL POTS OF FUNDING AND HOPE INEQUITY BETWEEN DISTRICTS MAGICALLY CURES ITSELF. IT'S BEEN OVER FIVE YEARS SINCE HURRICANE HARVEY. AND WITH LITTLE ACTION DONE TO CENTER EQUITY IN THE RECOVERY PROCESS, CUSTODIANS DESERVE MORE. I'VE SEEN AND FELT THE DAMAGE THAT IS CAUSED BY POOR DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE, ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES LIKE SOUTHEAST AND NORTHEAST HOUSTON. LET'S NOT LET VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES SUFFER ANOTHER FIVE YEARS BEFORE OUR VOICE IS HEARD. COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS WITH YOUR VOTE, [01:10:01] CM JACKSON'S PROPOSED AMENDMENT 7.01 HELPED BEGIN TO ADDRESS HISTORICAL, HISTORICAL INEQUITIES ACROSS THE CITY AND GIVES HOPE BACK TO THE PEOPLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, NEXT SPEAKER, BENJAMIN BROADWAY. BENJAMIN BROADWAY IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY KYLE MORONEY. OKAY, GOTCHA. OKAY. UH, HELLO MARIEL STER TURNER AGAIN TODAY. UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK AT THE CITY COUNCIL TO TRY AND GET Y'ALL TO WORK WITH TARSHA JACKSON. NOW, THE NAC IS TRYING TO LET Y'ALL KNOW THAT IT'S NOT JUST FOR DISTRICT B, IT'S FOR ALL YOUR DISTRICTS, BECAUSE WE ALREADY KNOW THAT CIP IS ALREADY BACKED UP. WE ALREADY KNOW THAT SWAT'S BACKED UP. LET'S USE THE LDP FUNDS, THAT 20 MILLION THAT Y'ALL CAN VOTE ON AND GIVE TO LDP TO LIGHTEN UP THE LOAD ON THOSE TO LIGHTEN UP THE LOAD ON THE CITY. IT'S NOT JUST FOR DISTRICT B, IT'S FOR ALL OF US. NOW I'VE BEEN COMING HERE AND I'VE BEEN WATCHING Y'ALL ON TELEVISION ABOUT HOW Y'ALL GIVE AWARDS TO OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS, AND EVERYTHING ELSE. Y'ALL DON'T THINK THAT THOSE PEOPLE ARE IN LINE OF DANGER WHEN WE HAVE HIGH WATER, WHEN THEY HAVE TO RISK THEIR LIVES TO COME OUT AND SAVE US THO MAN, THO MAN, THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT. AND I'VE BEEN WATCHING HOW WE'VE GOTTEN 16 NEW, UH, DUMP TRUCKS AND WE'VE GOTTEN 15 NEW HIGH WATER RESCUE VEHICLES. THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO WORK IF WE'RE IN TOO MUCH WATER. AND WE'VE ALREADY BEEN THERE. ALL OF YOUR DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN THERE, NOT JUST DISTRICT B. ALL OF THE DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN IN THERE. SO I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE GET ON BOARD WITH MS. JACKSON BECAUSE WE NEED IT AS HOUSTON. LIKE Y'ALL LOVE TO SAY HOUSTON STRONG. LET'S SHOW 'EM THAT WE'RE HOUSTON STRONG. LET'S BACK. MS. JACKSON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER, KYLE MARONEY. KYLE MARONEY. KYLE MARONEY. NEXT SPEAKER. DANA JONES. DANA JONES. DANA JONES IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHRISTOPHER RIVERA. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL. MY NAME IS DANA JONES AND I LIVE AT 1270 HOPPER IN THE MARYROSE. RIGHT BEHIND THE MIC. THANK YOU. IN THE MARYROSE, UH, PARK SUBDIVISION. I COME BEFORE COUNCIL. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE CAME IN PERSON, BUT I'M COMING BEFORE COUNCIL TO ASK FOR YOUR HELP. WHERE I LIVE, IT'S WIDELY KNOWN THAT WE'RE GOING TO FLOOD. IT'S NOT IF IT'S JUST WHEN THE, JUST THIS YEAR I FLOODED AT MY HOUSE THREE TIMES, TUESDAY, MAY THE EIGHTH. I THINK IT WAS TUESDAY, MAY THE EIGHTH, WEDNESDAY, UH, MAY THE NINTH. AND THEN I FLOODED THAT SATURDAY. AND THE WATER THAT IS COMING, IT IS SEWAGE WATER. MY NEIGHBOR HAS A MANHOLE IN HER YARD THAT'S SOAR. SHE AND I, DUE TO THE EROSION ON OUR PROPERTY, WE HAVE BECOME THE RETENTION POINT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. YOU GUYS HAVE RECOGNIZED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. THERE'S $19 MILLION THAT'S EARMARKED SIMPLY TO MELROSE PARK SUBDIVISION, BUT THE MONEY DOES NOT COME AVAILABLE UNTIL 2026. MY HOUSE WILL NOT SURVIVE ANOTHER MAJOR STORM. AND AS I SAID, AND I SAID AGAIN, MY HOUSE HAS FLOODED THREE TIMES THIS YEAR. SO WHEN A STORM AND THIS SEWAGE, SO WHEN A STORM COMES, I WON'T SURVIVE. I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL 2026. HOW CAN YOU NOT GET A BOARD WITH COUNCILWOMAN JACKSON'S PROPOSAL TO GIVE THE $20 MILLION? YES, WE HAVE 19 MILLION COMING FOR MELROSE PARK, BUT I'LL BE HOMELESS BEFORE THEN. AND SURELY I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STAND ANYTHING IN THE NATURE OF HARVEY, WHICH WAS SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT. BUT MY HOUSE FLOODED EVEN FOR A MILD. AND AS I SAY, EVERYONE I, MY COUNCILWOMAN IS CALL US CISNEROS. [01:15:01] WE ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH ONE ANOTHER. SHE NEEDS YOUR HELP. I NEED YOUR HELP IN US GETTING TOGETHER WITH THIS PROPOSAL, BRINGING THIS MONEY AND BUILDING US UP TO BE A REALLY STRONG HOUSTON. IF WE ARE HOUSTON STRONG, WE CAN SAVE THINGS. BUT IF WE DON'T REALLY SHOW WHAT WE ARE ACTUALLY DOING AND WHAT IS NECESSARY, IT MEANS NOTHING. SOME OF YOU ARE GONNA BE LEAVING US. THANK YOU FOR THE JOB THAT YOU'RE DOING. THE SUMMER'S GOING TO BE STAYING. I DON'T HAVE TIME. MY HOME AND I HAVE RAN OUT OF TIME. WITHOUT YOUR HELP, WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT, I, A 63-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO WORKED HARD TO PAY FOR MY HOUSE WILL BECOME HOMELESS. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE IN THIS CITY? I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL PEOPLE WHO HAVE REACHED OUT TO HELP ME EVEN TO MANEUVER. THANK YOU. AND COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS. ONE SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS. THANK YOU MS. JONES. I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY. WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT YOU BRING TO US. YOU KNOW? YEAH. WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER FOR A LONG TIME. YOU'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS FOR A LONG TIME. HARVEY WAS A BIG ONE, BUT, UM, BUT, UM, WE'LL CONTINUE TO, TO WORK WITH YOU AND, UM, AND, AND, UM, MY, I KNOW MY STAFF IS, IS, UM, CONNECTED VERY STRONGLY WITH YOU AND ON SOME PARTICULAR ISSUES. THANK YOU. THANK, I'M SORRY, ONE SECOND. VICE MAYOR TIM. CAST DICTATOR. MS. JONES, DID YOU SAY THAT YOU HAD SEWAGE COMING INTO YOUR HALL? YES. MY NEIGHBOR HAS A, I DIDN'T FIND THIS OUT. I'VE BEEN IN MY HOUSE 30 SOMETHING YEARS. MY NEIGHBOR HAS A MANHOLE AND I APOLOGIZE. COUNSEL. MY NEIGHBOR HAS A MANHOLE IN HER YARD AND I DIDN'T FIND OUT UNTIL AFTER HARVEY THAT IT WAS THERE. AND IT'S SEWAGE. SO WHEN WE GET THE RAIN AND THE WATER PONDS AND SIT IN OUR YARD, THEN OF COURSE IT MIXES IN WITH THAT MANHOLE. SO YOU HAVE RAW SEWAGE THAT'S IN OUR YARD. SO EVERY TIME IT RAINS, WHAT I HAVE TO DO IS I HAVE TO GO AND I HAVE TO GET LIME AND I PUT THE LIME IN MY YARD TO, TO COMBAT THE STENCH. AND NOW THAT I'VE HAD SO MANY, UH, FLOODS, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. JONES. MAYOR, CAN WE, THAT SOMEBODY THAT'S, THAT'S SAN, THAT'S SANITARY SUR OVERFLOWS. THE CITY IS NOW IN THE PROCESS OF SPENDING OVER $2 BILLION ON THAT. SO THAT WAS A PART OF THAT CONSENT DECREE, RIGHT? THAT STARTING IN 2010. AND SO WE ARE ADDRESSING, UH, SANITARY SERIAL OVERCHARGES. MAY I SAY ONE MORE THING? UH, MAYOR. YES. I'M OUTTA TIME. WELL, WHAT I'M SAYING TO YOU IS THAT THE CITY IS ALREADY COMMITTED TO SPENDING $2 BILLION ON TOP OF ITS EXISTENCE SPAN. THAT ISSUE IS BEING ADDRESSED AS WE SPEAK. I'M OUT OF TIME. THIS IS SO, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR I'M, I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU IT'S BEEN ADDRESSED, MA'AM. I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU IT'S BEEN ADDRESSED. CAN, CAN, UH, MAYOR, IF WE COULD, MAYBE IF COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS, I, I THINK I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WORKING WITH HER, UM, JUST MAYBE GET AN UPDATE OF HOW SOON THEY, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE ACTUAL SEWAGE PUBLIC, PUBLIC EXCUSE HERE FOR PUBLIC WORKS. PUBLIC WORKS SAYS I HAVE TALKED TO IF YOU, IF IF YOU'LL GET WITH HER. YEAH. BECAUSE THE WORK ON THE WORK ON THE SANITARY SEWER OR CHARGES IS ALREADY IN PROGRESS. YEAH. IT'S A PRIORITY. AND WE, WE DEFINITELY DON'T WANT PEOPLE HAVING SEWAGE IN THE YARD. YEAH. WE WERE THE COUNTY AND WHEN THE CITY TOOK OVER, THERE WAS NOTHING DONE AFTER HARVEY. THERE WAS NOTHING DONE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE. I KNOW, I SEE IT THAT IT HAS BEEN EARMARKED. AND TSU THEY WROTE THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT PROBLEM, THAT PROBLEM HAS PLAGUED THE CITY WAY BEFORE 2010. SO FROM 2010 IS WHEN THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY STEPPED IN TO DEAL WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE STEPPED IN IN 2013. IT WAS NOT UNTIL I CAME INTO OFFICE WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS SETTLED IN 20 AND 2017. AND NOW WE ARE ADDRESSING THE ISSUE. MAY I ASK ONE MORE THING? IF WE COULD ACTUALLY GET SOMEBODY OUT, HAVE THE EPA COME OUT AND TEST THAT SAW, THEN THE SAW ITSELF WOULD SPEAK FOR WHAT I AM SAYING THAT WE'VE HAD NUMEROUS OVER AND OVER. I'M NOT, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. I'M TELLING YOU, YOU ANSWER. SO MAYOR, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT AND WE ARE WORKING ON THIS. WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY TO YOU, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. I'M NOT, I'M AGREEING WITH YOU. YES, SIR. OKAY. SO WE ARE NOT AT ARCH. I'M, I'M JUST SAYING. WELL, I'M AT, I'M, I'M OUT OF TIME. SO, AND I APPRECIATE THE COUNSELING. I WISH I COULD JUST COME OUT AND HELP ME TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE SITUATION BECAUSE EVERY TIME IT RAINS, I JUST WANT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO REMEMBER I'M FLOODING, I DON'T SLEEP, I'M FLOODING. SO THANK YOU. AND CALL US CISNEROS, UH, REPRESENTATIVE. YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THE SAME SITUATION. IT HASN'T CHANGED. IF ANYTHING, IT'S DETERIORATED. SO I JUST APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND LEMME JUST SAY TO YOU [01:20:01] ALL, EVERY TIME WHEN IT DOES FLOOD, YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE SANITARY SEW OVERCHARGES. NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT. IT IS A MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEM AND IT'S, IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A GREAT DEAL OF, UM, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS. OKAY? AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A HUGE INVESTMENT AND THE CITY IS ALREADY COMMITTED TO SPENDING AT LEAST $2 BILLION OVER OUR EXISTING SPEND TO ADDRESS IT. AND SO YOU'VE ALREADY, UH, VOTED ON SEVERAL MEASURES IMPLEMENTING, UM, THE, THE FIX FOR SSOS, BUT IT'S NOT AN OVERNIGHT FIX. OKAY? IT'S JUST NOT AN OVERNIGHT. I UNDERSTAND THEIR CONCERNS, UM, BUT IT'S NOT OVERNIGHT. ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER, CHRISTOPHER RIVERA. CHRISTOPHER FROM RIVERA IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY SANDRA JONES. THANKS AGAIN FOR HAVING ME HERE. UM, MY NAME'S CHRISTOPHER RIVERA. I WORK WITH THE TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT. I LIVE IN DISTRICT H, AND THE CITY IS EXPECTED TO GIVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OVER $1 BILLION. UNDER THE GUISE OF PUBLIC SAFETY. THE POLICE WILL RECEIVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THE TOTAL GENERAL BUDGET. YET THE COMMUNITIES THEY POLICE DO NOT FEEL SAFE. HOUSTON HAS REAL PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS, LIKE AFFORDABLE AND PERMANENT HOUSING, LACK OF HEALTHCARE AND FLOOD ISSUES. AS WE HEARD THESE THINGS AFFECT US ALL, BUT PARTICULARLY IT AFFECTS BLACK, BROWN, AND POOR COMMUNITIES THE MOST. SO I RECOMMEND THAT WE SHOULD NOT INCREASE THE POLICE BUDGET. IN FACT, WE SHOULD FREEZE THE POLICE BUDGET. IF WE LOOK AT THE POLICE PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS FOR 2022, WE SEE THAT LAST YEAR THE POLICE SET A GOAL FOR FOUR TO SIX MINUTES OF RESPONSE TIME. THE POLICE ESTIMATED THAT THE AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME WOULD BE 5.9 MINUTES. BUT DURING THE 2023 REPORT, UH, WORKSHOP, WE FOUND THAT THE POLICE ACTUALLY RESPONSE, RESPONSE TIME WAS 6.2 MINUTES AND INCREASED FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S TIME OF 5.8. THE POLICE CONSISTENTLY FAILED TO MEET THE PERFORMANCE GOALS. SO I'M, I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE MOVING TO A OUTCOMES-BASED BUDGET BECAUSE WE WILL SEE THAT THE POLICE UNDERPERFORM AND OFTENTIMES NEVER SOLVE OR DETER ANY CRIME. SO IT WOULD BE BEST FOR US TO INVEST IN HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, AND FLOOD CONTROL AS WE HEARD, AGAIN, THINGS THAT WILL ACTUALLY KEEP, KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. I'M ALSO HERE IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE NORTHEAST ACTION, UH, COLLECTIVE IN SUPPORT OF AMENDMENT 7.01. I PERSONALLY LIVE IN DISTRICT H, WHICH SHARES, UH, WITH DISTRICT B, THE SAME HIGH NUMBER OF OPEN DITCHES, UH, HIGH SOCIAL VULNERABILITIES, AND UNFORTUNATELY THE SAME UNDER INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURES. COUNCILMAN CISNEROS, YOU HAVE A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR BETTER DRAINAGE IN, IN MY DISTRICT. I MEAN, YOU ARE A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR DRAINAGE IN MY DISTRICT. LAST YEAR, YOU PROPOSED AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD, UH, HELP EXPEDITE PROJECTS IN AREAS LIKE EAST TEXT JENSEN AND DENVER HARBOR, IDENTIFIED BY FLOOD CONTROL AS SOME OF THE MOST CHALLENGING LOCATIONS FOR ADDRESSING DRAINAGE IN THE CITY. AS YOU SAID, YOURSELF, UNSOLVED DRAINAGE CAPACITY ISSUES WILL ONLY WORSEN AND BECOME MORE EXPENSIVE TO FIX. SO I'M ASKING FOR YOU TO VOTE YES ON THE AMENDMENT 7.01. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE FORTH YOUR DISTRICT TO GO AGAINST HISTORICAL INEQUALITIES AND FINALLY ADDRESS LONGSTANDING DRAINAGE NEEDS IN THE MOST VULNERABLE AREAS IN HOUSTON. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, SANDRA JONES. SANDRA JONES IS HERE. THREE, FOLLOWED BY CARRIE RICE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS SANDRA JONES. AND AS A PROPERTY OWNER IN THE WEST MONTGOMERY NEIGHBORHOOD, I FULLY SUPPORT REMOVING 2,700 BURGESS AWAY FROM THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE RESTRICTIONS. WE AGREED FOR LOT SIZE RESTRICTIONS TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS PROPERTY HAS NEVER BEEN CLASSIFIED AS MONTGOMERY TERRACE AND SHOULD NOT BE SUBJECTED TO OUR DEED RESTRICTIONS OR BOUNDARIES. I LIVE ON EASTER STREET AND MY PROPERTY HAS ALWAYS BEEN CONSIDERED THE END OF MONTGOMERY TERRACE. I FULLY SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPERTY BECAUSE FOR YEARS IT WAS JUST OVERGROWN WEEDS OWNED BY THE CITY THAT WASN'T BEING MAINTAINED. THE BUILDER HAS DEVELOPED AND BUILT SEVERAL OTHER ABANDONED AND VACANT PROPERTIES IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I SUPPORT THE PRODUCT THAT HE BRINGS TO THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. CARRIE RICE. CARRIE RICE. CARRIE RICE. NEXT SPEAKER JOHN WOODS. JOHN WOODS. [01:25:01] JOHN. NEXT SPEAKER, DEBORAH. ELAINE ALLEN. DD ELAINE. ALLEN. ALLEN. NEXT SPEAKER ANNIE STEWART. ANNIE STEWART. ANNIE STEWART. NEXT SPEAKER ANNIE STEWART. ANNIE STEWART IS HERE TO FOLLOWED BY STEVE WILLIAMS. I HAVE HANDOUTS IF SOMEONE TAKE AWAY. COUNSEL, PLEASE. ROBERT GALLAS IS MY COUNCILMAN. I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I HAD A NUISANCE NOTICE ON MY PROPERTY. THE ALLEGED REPORT OF AN INSPECTOR STATED THE FOLLOWING, THE POST-IT NOTICE LISTED THESE ITEMS, TRASH, RUBBISH, AND GARBAGE. WHILE THE MAIL NOTICE STATED THERE WERE CANS, TIES, CLOTHES, AND HOLES, NONE OF THESE WERE FOUND ON THIS PROPERTY. THE PERSONS WHO CAME ON ON NOVEMBER 11TH OR THE 11 16 22 TOOK PICTURES. BUT WHEN I WAS ASKED MANY TIMES ABOUT THIS APARTMENT AND WHAT WAS ON MY PROPERTY, I COULD NOT GET AN ANSWER. THEY TOOK PICTURES AND STAYED AT MY PLACE SOMETIME TWO HOURS OR MORE. I HEAR THE WORD CLEAN HOUSTON, BUT IT'S NOT CLEAN AT ALL. DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD IS NOT PROVIDING THE SERVICE TO THE, THE NEIGHBORS. MOST NEIGHBORHOODS NEED HELP. CLINTON PARK NEEDS HELP NOW URGENTLY, AS WELL AS TWO THIRDS OF THE CITY. I'M TOLD BY ONE PERSON WHEN THEY COME OUT TO MY RESIDENCE, THEY CAN NO LONGER RIDE THROUGH THE COMMUNITIES TO FIND VIOLATORS. THEY CAN ONLY WORK FROM CALL INS. EACH VISIT MADE TO MY HOME. THEY'VE SPENT TWO HOURS OR MORE WRITING DOCUMENTS AND TAKING PICTURES, BUT NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHAT I NEED TO GET RID OF. WHEN WE WENT TO COURT, NO EVIDENCE WAS SHOWN AGAINST ME. THEY SHOWED NO PICTURES. THEY HAD NO KIND OF EVIDENCE OF, OF ANY PROOF OF WHAT THEY STATED. I DON'T KNOW WHO'S IN CHARGE OF THIS DEPARTMENT, BUT ADJUSTMENTS ARE NEED NEEDED. NOW, AS OF YESTERDAY, INSPECTORS NEED TO SEE WHAT THEY CLAIM IS WHERE THEY CLAIM IT IS. RIGHT. WRITE UP, WRITE UP WHAT NEEDS TO BE WRITTEN. YOU, THE COUNCIL, NEED TO KNOW THESE THINGS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE, THAT ARE TAKING PLACE. AND LAW LAWS NEED TO BE OBEYED BY ALL, NOT BY PARTIAL BIAS OR FAVOR. I ASK THAT YOU COUNCIL TO REVIEW THIS INFORMATION AND TAKE ACTION ON MY BEHALF. AND FOR THE CITY AS AS A WHOLE, IT IS NOT TRUE THAT I HAVE ANY SUCH ITEMS ON MY RESIDE AT MY RESIDENCE. THE BOXES I HAD OUT, I WAS MOVED AND ADJUSTED. ADJUSTMENTS MADE. I EMPLOY ALL OF YOU, ESPECIALLY MY COUNCILMAN, TO HELP ME RESOLVE THIS SITUATION BEFORE THE NEXT COURT DATE. SEVEN FOURTEEN TWENTY THREE. THE SECRETARY HAS MY PHONE NUMBER. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. AND I BEG YOU TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION MY STATUS AS A SENIOR CITIZEN AND WHO HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THIS COMMUNITY OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED WITHOUT ANY INCIDENT TO THIS EXTENT. THANK YOU, MR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. STEWART. UM, MS. STEWART, COUNCILMAN GANGES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU MS. STEWART FOR COMING TODAY. SORRY THAT YOU HAD TO TAKE THE TIME OUTTA YOUR BUSY DAY TO COME HERE AND, AND, AND ASK FOR HELP FROM THE CITY IN REGARDS TO ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON THERE AT CLINTON PARK. AND I TOTALLY AGREE. UH, I I KNOW THAT I WAS AT AN EVENT AT CLINTON PARK A WEEK AGO, UH, AND I ACTUALLY CALLED GLORIA, MY STAFF MEMBER, AND IT WAS ON, IT WAS AN EVENT ON A SATURDAY. AND I CALLED HER THAT SATURDAY TO ASK HER TO HAVE THESE. WE, WE HIRED SOME CONTRACTORS TO HELP SOLVE THE, TO GO AND PICK UP HEAVY TRASH AND TIRES AND WHAT HAVE YOU. AND, UH, I, I'M ASKED, UH, MY STAFF TO, UH, INQUIRE WITH SOLID WASTE TO MAKE SURE WE GET ONE OF THESE CONTRACTORS TO GO OUT TO CLINTON PARK, UH, TO DO A CLEANUP IN REGARDS TO, UH, ILLEGAL DUMPING AND TIRES. AND THAT ESPLANADE THAT RUNS THEIR PARALLEL TO CLINTON PARK. IT'S OVERGROWN. UH, I'M ASSUMING THAT'S A PARKS DEPARTMENT, UH, RESPONSIBILITY. AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIND THAT OUT. AND IF IT IS, THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE PARKS DEPARTMENT GO OUT THERE AND MOW IT AND TRIM THOSE TREES. UH, I, I, I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU IN REGARDS TO, UH, CLINTON PARK, UH, NEED NEEDING SOME ATTENTION. I KNOW THAT RUBY NELSON'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE CIVIC CLUB THERE, UH, AND SHE KNOWS TO CALL MY OFFICE [01:30:01] FOR ASSISTANCE. UH, AND RIGHT NOW, I WILL GIVE YOU MY CARD AS WELL, SO THAT WAY YOU CAN REACH OUT TO ME AND MY STAFF PERSONALLY, UH, AND WE CAN ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. I WANT SOMEBODY TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS, UH, CITATION THAT I HAVE RECEIVED THAT IS, IS WRONG. IT IS NOT FACTS. IT'S NOT TRUE, AND IT NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. AND I APPRECIATE IT. IF ANY OR ALL OF YOU GET INVOLVED IN MAKING SURE THAT WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU SEE, NOT WRITE WHAT YOU WANT, WRITE DOWN AND CLAIM THAT IT'S FACTS THAT IT'S NOT TRUE. AND WHEN YOU COME TO COURT, YOU SHOULD HAVE THE PROOF THAT YOU ARE TELLING ME THAT THAT'S TAKING PLACE. NOTHING WAS, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE OF THAT. AND I NEED THIS TAKEN CARE OF. AND IF SOMEONE WANTS TO SEE ME NOW, I'D APPRECIATE IT. OR IF YOU CAN'T SEE ME NOW, THE SECRETARY HAS MY TELEPHONE NUMBER. ANYBODY CAN CALL ME. IF YOU CALL IN TO HELP GET THIS, UH, RESOLVED, IT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BECAUSE IT'S A LIE. AND THEN YOU COME OUT TO MY HOUSE AND YOU CLIMB THE FENCE TRYING TO SEE IN MY YARD. I HAVE TOPS UP. AND I DIDN'T HAVE ALWAYS HAVE THEM THERE, BUT THAT IS BECAUSE PEOPLE COME BY AND THROW STUFF AT THE DOGS. AND THE FENCE IS THERE TO PROTECT MY DOGS. SO NOW I TOPS IT UP. BUT IF YOU SEE SOMETHING IN MY YARD, IF IT'S A NUISANCE, AND YOU SHOULD SEE THAT IF YOU ARE PASSING BY, IT SHOULD BE A NUISANCE. BUT YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO CLIMB MY FENCE TO TELL THAT IT'S A NUISANCE IN MY YARD, AND YOU'RE GOING TO TELL THE CITY ABOUT IT, OR SOMEBODY'S GONNA CALL. I THINK THIS IS ABOUT WHOEVER IS MAD OR UPSET WITH ME ABOUT WHATEVER THEIR PROBLEM IS. SO, BECAUSE WE GOT STUFF THAT'S SO STACKED UP NOW, I HAVE SOME PICTURES IF YOU WANT TO SEE THEM, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU TO, MS. MS. STEWART, I, I, UH, I'M LISTENING TO YOU AND WE ARE GONNA HAVE SOME PEOPLE, UM, TO REACH OUT TO YOU TO, UH, ASSIST. I, I'M LOOKING AT SOME PICTURES, SO WE WANT TO, WE WANT TO HELP YOU. NO, NO ONE IS TRYING TO, UH, TO WORK AGAINST YOU. UM, AND THAT'S WHY THIS MATTER HAS BEEN EXTENDED AND EXTENDED. SO I'M GOING, I'M GONNA HAVE SOME PEOPLE, UH, CALL YOU AND TALK TO YOU. UM, AND MAYBE WE CAN, UH, HAVE SOME VOLUNTEERS AND OTHERS COME OUT AND ASSIST WORK WITH YOU. OKAY? THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. MM-HMM . NEXT SPEAKER. STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS. NEXT SPEAKER. CHRISTINE WYNN. CHRISTINE WYNN. CHRISTINE IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOE RADO. UM, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I AM HERE. I, I CHANGED MY AGENDA AS OF THIS MORNING. I'M HERE BECAUSE OF THIS. THERE'S THREE CONSTRUCTION SITES ON OUR BLOCK WITHIN A 10 FOOT RADIUS. THIS IS THE FRONT OF MY DAD'S HOUSE, NEWLY CONSTRUCTED MEDICAL, TINY HOME. UH, HE HAS CANCER. HE HAS LUNG DISEASE, KIDNEY DISEASE, HEART FAILURE. HE HAS SURGERY TWICE A MONTH, EVERY OTHER WEDNESDAY TO DRAIN FLUID FROM THE, UH, UH, AREA BETWEEN THE LUNGS AND THE STOMACH. HE GETS NO SLEEP. THE CONTRACTORS ARE THERE FROM 6:00 AM TO ALMOST 9:00 PM NOW, BECAUSE IT GETS DARK AFTER EIGHT. THE NOISE NEVER STOPS. BUT THIS IS THE ISSUE THEY'RE RUNNING. ALL THE UTILITIES ARE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF LEE HALL STREET. THEY'RE RUNNING. YOU CAN PASS THESE AROUND IF YOU WANT. THEY HAVE TO RUN THE WATER, THE GAS, AND THE SEWAGE. JUST TWO MONTHS AGO, UM, CENTER POINT CAME IN AND RAN NEW GAS LINES. THEY HAD TO DIG IN THAT SAME DITCH FIVE TIMES. NOW THE BUILDER HAS DUG IN IT FOUR TIMES. THE THE GROUND IS, IS, UH, CAVING IN. AND THAT DRAIN, WE JUST FOUND OUT THAT I ASKED THEM TWO WEEKS AGO NOT TO PUT IN THERE, HAS TO BE REMOVED. THEY CONCRETED THE, UM, SEWAGE LINE INSIDE OF THAT DRAIN. AND I TOLD THEM THAT THERE'S NO DRAIN, SHOULD BE IN THAT DITCH. AND NOW THE ELEVATION IS MAKING MY DAD'S YARD SINK IN. THOSE ARE THE PHOTOS. SO EVERYONE THAT'S COME OUT CAN'T TELL ME HOW TO STOP THIS, HOW TO STOP THAT CONSTRUCTION FROM HAPPENING. SO IT'S TOO LATE NOW. THEY DUG UNDER THE STREET, THE STREET ELEVATION IS FALLING, AND MY DAD'S FRONT YARD. THE SECOND ISSUE IS THAT THE CONTRACTOR, BETWEEN ME AND ME AND MY DAD'S HOUSE, THEY'RE BUILDING A HOUSE. IT NEVER FLOODED. THE BACK [01:35:01] OF HIS YARD WAS UNDERWATER. IT TOOK ME NINE HOURS TO PUMP THE WATER OUT. HERE ARE THE PICTURES, BECAUSE THE CONTRACTOR WOULDN'T MOVE THE DIRT. I CALLED 3 1 1 OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THEY WOULDN'T SEND ANYBODY OUT TO GET HIM TO MOVE THAT DIRT. AND EVERY TIME IT RAINS, IT FLOODS. I'VE BEEN LIVING THERE FOR 16 YEARS. IT'S NEVER FLOODED ON THE LOT THAT I'VE BEEN CUTTING. AND WHEN I PUT HIS HOUSE THERE AND THEY PUT THAT FOUNDATION NEXT DOOR IN BETWEEN US, MY HOUSE IS ON THE LEFT, AND MY DAD'S ON THE RIGHT. IT FLOODS BOTH OF OUR BACKYARDS. AND THAT'S THE WATER. AND WE CAN'T GET ANY RESOLVE. WELL, THEY HAD TO RED TICKET HIM. HE DID MOVE THE DIRT, BUT IT'S STILL FLOODING BECAUSE IT'S NOT ELEVATED PROPERLY. AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. BUT THE, THE MAIN ISSUE IS THAT THAT'S THAT SEWAGE DRAIN IN MY DAD'S DITCH. IT JUST HAPPENED LAST FRIDAY, AND SOMEONE CAME OUT, TOLD ME THAT IT WAS, UM, UH, UM, PASSED BY PERMITTING. AND, AND WE ARE AWARE OF IT. I KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN OUT WHEN THERE WERE COMPLAINTS, UH, WITH REGARDS TO CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS, LOUD MUSIC, CONSTRUCTION TRAFFIC. UM, HPC DID GO OUT AND ISSUE RED TAG. I CAN LEAVE THIS. I, I WENT TO THE COPY STORE. IT'S PLENTY. I MEAN, IT'S AWFUL. I MEAN, IT'S ALL OVER HOUSTON. I, I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTAND. SO, BUT I DON'T WANT THEM DAMAGING A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS HOUSE. I UNDERSTAND. SO THEY ARE, I'M, I'M SORRY. THEY ARE FOLLOWING AND TRACKING THIS, UM, THIS PROJECT. AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE OUT THERE LOOKING AT, UH, AT THE DEVELOPMENT. I WILL ENCOURAGE THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS, UH, CONSTRUCTION IS DONE RIGHT AND, UH, OF NOTE, AND, UH, NOT, UM, UH, AT THE DETRIMENT OF YOUR PROPERTY OR YOUR FATHER'S PROPERTY OR ANYBODY ELSE'S PROPERTY. BUT WE ARE, WE ARE AWARE OF IT. APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THE CONCERNS TO US, AND WE'LL BE TRACKING IT. COUNCIL MEMBER EMMA SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, MS. WYNN. I THINK YOU DID SPEAK WITH INGRAM IN MY OFFICE TODAY. AND, AND WE WILL WORK WITH YOU TO TRY TO SEE IF WE CAN'T GET A RESOLUTION. AND WITH THE MAYOR'S INVOLVEMENT, I, I BELIEVE THAT IT WILL BE RESOLVED. YEAH. UM, BUT CERTAINLY CONTINUE TO EXPRESS YOUR CONCERNS AND WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TRY TO ABATE YOUR ISSUES. OKAY? WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR SOME TIME. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE OCTOBER, AND WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY RESOLVE. IT'S ALMOST OCTOBER AGAIN. OKAY? OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU, YOU DIDN'T REACH OUT TO US SINCE OCTOBER. YES. YOU, YOU HAD A GENTLEMAN IN YOUR OFFICE. HE SAID HE WAS YOUR ASSISTANT, AND HIS SUGGESTION WAS WHATEVER THEY DO TO YOU, YOU DO TO THEM. I'M TRYING TO FIND HIS NAME. IT'S IN MY OFFICE AT HOME. UH, BECAUSE THE INSPECTOR CAME TODAY, I WASN'T ABLE TO SEND THAT YOUNG LADY THAT CALLED THIS MORNING, THE INFO. OH, YES, MA'AM. I HAVE HIS NAME. I GOTTA PUT, I EVEN SENT HIM AN EMAIL. HE TOLD ME TO CONTACT HIM WHEN THE POLICE OR THE INSPECTOR CAME OUT, AND I DID THAT. AND HE DIDN'T RETURN ANY CALLS. IT'S A GENTLEMAN. WELL, I, I'LL FOLLOW UP ON THAT THEN. YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND I DON'T WANT TO BLOCK SOMEBODY'S DRIVEWAY BECAUSE THEY'RE BLOCKING MINE. THIS IS NOT THIRD GRADE. YEAH. THAT, THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE. SO LET ME, LET ME FIND OUT ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, JOE RADO. JOE RADO GEORGE HERE, CHIEF FOLLOW BY JASON CONWAY. HELLO, MAYOR TURNER. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, I'M HERE FOR A REPEATED ISSUE THAT I'M HAVING ON MY PROPERTY ON CROSS TIMBERS. THERE'S A STRETCH FROM I 45, ABOUT A QUARTER MILE IN AS YOU'RE GOING EAST ON CROSS TIMBERS, HOMELESS FOLKS. I GOT PICTURES ON CAMERAS. UM, THEY KEEP BREAKING INTO MY PROPERTY. I'M A HUMBLE, UH, PROPERTY OWNER TRYING TO MAKE, SPENDING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO IMPROVE THAT PROPERTY, BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY. AND, UM, THERE'S HOMELESS PEOPLE, WHICH I REFER TO AS PREDATORS. FRANKLY, THEY ARE PREDATORS. UH, IF I HAVE A TENANT MOVE OUT OR WALK THE LEASE, THAT'S ANOTHER JOY I HAVE. UM, I HAVE PEOPLE STANDING THERE, WAIT, FIND, FIND OUT WHICH APARTMENT IS EMPTY, AND THEY GO IN THERE. IF THEY CAN'T GET IN THERE, THEY BREAK THE WINDOWS. AND SO I'M CONSTANTLY REPAIRING WINDOWS. I'VE CALLED THE POLICE ABOUT IT. THEY COME OUT, YOU KNOW, TWO HOURS LATER IF THEY DO. AND I'M NOT HATING ON THE POLICE. I KNOW YOU GUYS GOT A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON. I'M JUST FRUSTRATED AND WANTING TO KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO. PERSONALLY, I WOULD GRAB ALL THOSE PEOPLE UP AND THROW 'EM IN JAIL FOR MAYBE SIX MONTHS. 'CAUSE UNLESS YOU ACTUALLY PUT SOME PAIN ON THEM, THEY'RE JUST GONNA WALK OUT AND DO THE SAME THING. UH, A LADY I JUST KICKED OUT OF THE APARTMENT TWO DAYS AGO, AND SHE'S RIGHT THERE, SHE'S MCDONALD'S IS RIGHT NEXT DOOR. SHE'S WALKING AROUND THERE LIKE SHE OWNS THE PLACE. UM, IT'S JUST VERY FRUSTRATING. I, I KNOW, I'M SURE YOU CAN HEAR IT IN MY VOICE. I JUST WANNA KNOW WHAT, WHAT WE CAN DO. MAYBE DA'S OFFICE, MAYBE THEY'RE STACKED WITH, UM, OTHER BIGGER CRIMES, BUT I'M TELLING YOU, I'M SICK OF IT. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I JUST TRYING TO DEAL WITH THIS IN A CIVILIZED [01:40:01] WAY. SO IF YOU GUYS CAN, ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO, UM, IMPROVE THAT AREA, IT'S DEPRESSING. PROPERTY VALUES. I'VE EVEN LOOKED INTO TRYING TO SELL THE PROPERTY, AND I'VE GOT BUYERS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A MILLION DOLLAR PROPERTY, MULTIMILLION DOLLARS TELLING ME THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CRIME IN THE CITY, AND THEY DON'T WANNA GO IN THAT AREA. SO I'VE BEEN THERE FOR FOUR YEARS. WHATEVER YOU GUYS CAN DO. WHAT I CAN SAY TO YOU IS THAT ON 9 45, WE HAVE DECOMMISSIONED, UH, THOSE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS, UH, AT, UH, CROSS TIMBERS TIDWELL PARKER. WE HAVE DONE THAT. OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU WILL HAVE INDIVIDUALS COMING BACK, BUT IF YOU, UH, BUT, UH, WE HAVE DECOMMISSIONED THOSE HOMELESS, UH, CAMPS. YOU CANNOT JAIL PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY ARE HOMELESS. WELL, YOU CAN JAIL 'EM FOR BREAKING INTO MY PROPERTY. WELL, CAN JAIL 'EM IF, IF, IF, IF THEY BREAK. IT'S TRESPASSING TOO. I'VE GOTTA G I'VE GOTTA, IF YOU LET ME, LET ME, I'M JUST TELLING YOU, MAYOR, I'M FRUSTRATED. I, I UNDERSTAND. OKAY. IF, IF THEY ARE BREAKING THE LAW, IF THEY ARE BREAKING IN, YES, YOU CAN GEL THEM FOR THAT. WE SIMPLY CAN'T GEL THEM JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE HOMELESS. SIR, PLEASE GIMME A LITTLE MORE RESPECT THAN THAT. THESE ARE PREDATORS, OKAY? AND I CAN'T, I DON'T HAVE TIME TO TELL YOU THE WHOLE STORY OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING, HOW THEY'RE MANIPULATING MY PROPERTY, OKAY? THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY STAY OUT THERE. THEY BEFRIEND, BEFRIEND OTHER PEOPLE. THEY SAY THEY'RE FRIENDS. THEY WORK THE SYSTEM RIGHT UNDER ALL THE PEOPLE'S FACE, ALL UNDER THE COURT'S FACE. THEY SAY, OH, THIS IS MY FRIEND. SO I CAN'T IMMEDIATELY KICK THEM OUT, OKAY? AND THEY THREATEN MY OTHER TENANTS WHO ARE PAYING. OKAY? SO IT'S A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT. I'M TELLING YOU, PREDATORS. I'M NOT TELLING YOU HOMELESS PEOPLE. YOU GOT A SOB STORY. I DON'T WANNA HEAR IT. DON'T WANNA HEAR YOUR SOB STORIES, OKAY? GO GET, GO APPLY TO THREE OR FOUR TEMP AGENCIES AND GET A JOB, OKAY? YOU'RE, YOU CAN MOVE YOUR HANDS AND LEGS, GET A JOB. DON'T WANNA HEAR IT. OKAY? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CIRO, MR. RADO. MR. TER, I WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT I DID JUST PUT SOME, UM, OVERTIME FUNDING INTO HPD UP THERE. SO I, I KNOW THAT THINGS HAPPEN QUICKLY AND YOU KNOW THAT, THAT SOMETIMES THEY'RE GONE WHEN THE POLICE GET THERE. BUT I HOPE THAT, THAT, IF YOU SEE DIFFERENCE, ALRIGHT, APPRECIATE, I KNOW YOU'RE TRYING, MS. EMILY IS A SWEETHEART. SHE TALKS TO ME ALL THE TIME. YEAH, WE'RE TRYING. THANKS. THANK YOU. THANKS GUYS. NEXT SPEAKER. JASON CONWAY TO BE FOLLOWED BY JAMES CONWAY. CONWAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL. OKAY. AFTER CONSULTING WITH LEGAL, WOULD YOU BE TALKING TO THE MIC? YES, MA'AM. THIS IS CONCERNING THE MINIMUM LIFE SIZE RESTRICTION. UM, AFTER COUN, UH, AFTER CONSULTING WITH LEGAL CONCERN AND THE MINIMUM LIFE SIZE RESTRICTION, I WAS DIRECTED TO PLANNING AND COM, UH, DEVELOP THROUGH, I HAD SPOKE DIRECTLY WITH COUNCILMAN POLL'S OFFICE. SO THEY SENT ME BACK THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AND GAVE ME THE INSTRUCTIONS ON WHAT I NEED TO DO. UM, I'VE GIVEN EACH ONE OF YOU GUYS, UH, A PACKET THAT HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOA VICE PRESIDENT OF THE HOA MS. SANDRA JONES, WHO JUST SPOKE, IS ACTUALLY LIVES ON THIS PARTICULAR STREET AND OTHER, THAT'S ABOUT 10 OTHER SIGNATURES OF, UH, RESIDENCE ON PARTICULAR EASTER STREET. THE PROBLEM THAT I'M HAVING IS THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THE BACK PICTURES, YOU'LL SEE THAT FERGUSON WAY, WHEN I BOUGHT THE PROPERTY, MY DEED, MY TITLE, MY PLAT, EVERYTHING SAID HARVEST HEIGHTS. BUT 2015, THE ORDINANCE OF 20 15 67, UM, MONTGOMERY TERRACE FILED FOR A MINIMUM LIFE SIZE RESTRICTION. AND SOMEHOW SINCE IT RUNS FROM BLOCK TO BLOCK, IT INCLUDES, FIRST IT INCLUDES MY LIFE. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURES, YOU'LL SEE IT'S CLEAR AND DISTINCT THAT EASTER STREET STOPS AT MS. JONES'S PROPERTY. SHE'S THE LAST PROPERTY ON THAT STREET. OKAY? SO WHAT THEY DIRECTED ME TO DO IS ASK MS. JACKSON TO SIMPLY FILE A MOTION TO AMEND ORDINANCE 42 TO EXCLUDE 2701ST. AND THAT'S, THAT'S, UM, THAT'S ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. UH, I HAVE FULL SUPPORT OF EACH AND EVERY CITIZEN THAT STAYS ON THE STREET, INCLUDING MR. FLOWERS, WHO I THINK WORKED DIRECT. HE TOLD ME THAT HE WORKED DIRECTLY WITH YOU WHEN THEY WAS HAVING A, A PROBLEM ABOUT A DUPLEX THAT WAS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO, UM, YOU KNOW, IF IT WAS ANYTHING THAT I WAS DOING OUTSIDE THE GUIDELINES, HE WOULD BE SURE TO CALL. AND HE SIGNED THE LETTER. HE'S THE PRESIDENT OF MONTGOMERY TERRACE. HOA, UH, MR. STEVEN BANKS IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF HOA, UH, IT'S MEMBERS RESIDENT HERE WITH ME TODAY IN FULL SUPPORT OF REMOVING IT. 'CAUSE PRIOR TO ME BUYING THE PROPERTY, IT WAS JUST AN OVERGROWN LOT THAT WAS NEVER MAINTAINED. BUT YOU CAN SEE BY THE PICTURES, THAT'S THE FIRST HOUSE THAT I BUILT, AND I KEEP [01:45:01] THE LOCK CUT AND EVERYTHING ELSE. SO THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT I'M ASKING MS. JACKSON, JUST TO FILE A MOTION TO AMEND JUST THAT PARTICULAR, I'M, I'M FAMILIAR WITH IT, MR. MR. CONWAY. BUT, UM, A PORTION OF THIS PROPERTY IS COVERED BY THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE. IT IS COVERED, AND I KNOW YOU WANT TO BUILD FIVE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE ON THIS PROPERTY. UM, THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE DEED RESTRICTIONS, BUT THIS PROPERTY, A PORTION OF IT IS COVERED BY MINIMUM. AND, AND, AND THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. THAT PORTION OF THE PROPERTY, I KNOW, I UNDERSTAND, BUT THAT NEIGHBORHOOD PUT IN PLACE MINIMUM LOT SIZE THAT AREA. I'M QUITE FAMILIAR WITH THAT AREA. AND THEY PUT IN PLACE THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE. UM, NOW YOU COULD SEEK A VARIANCE FROM IT. WELL, AND IT MAY NOT BE, AND A VARIANCE MAY NOT EVEN APPLY HERE. BUT THE POINT IS, HE'D GET AN AMENDMENT. HMM. HE'D HAVE TO GET AN AMENDMENT. YEAH. YOU WOULD HAVE TO GO AND GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING, UM, AN AMENDMENT AND THE PEOPLE OUT THERE WOULD HAVE RE AND YEAH, THE SIGNATURES WOULD HAVE TO, THEY, THEY WOULD HAVE TO RESCIND WHAT THEY HAVE PUT IN PLACE. OKAY. THE PE THE PEOPLE PUT IT IN PLACE. CAN, CAN, CAN I SPEAK? I MEAN, WHEN I SPOKE DIRECTLY TO, UM, JACQUELINE, UM, BROWN AND ERIC GLEN FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION, IT'S THREE WAYS THAT YOU CAN DO IT. YOU CAN, YOU ARE RIGHT. YOU CAN FILE A, UH, A APPLICATION TO RESCIND AND THEN FILE ANOTHER APPLICATION TO PUT BACK IN PLACE SIMULTANEOUSLY AT THE SAME TIME. YOU CAN DO IT THAT WAY. BUT HE SAID THE EASIEST WAY IS TO JUST ASK COUNSEL JACKSON TO JUST FILE A MOTION AND GET IT ON THE AGENDA. NO, TO JUST EXCLUDE. THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT GONE. THAT YOU CAN'T DO THAT, AND THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN. SO I DON'T KNOW WHO TOLD YOU THAT? WHOEVER TOLD YOU THAT AT PLANNING YOU GIMME THAT, THAT THAT CAME FROM, FROM PLANNING COMMISSION AND LEGAL. WELL, YOU JUST TELL THEM THAT I SAID NO. OKAY. SO THE POINT IS, THESE MINIMUM LOSS SIGNS WERE PUT IN PLACE BY THE PEOPLE OUT IN THOSE AREAS. OKAY? SO THE SIGNATURE ON THE, ON THE PAPER DOESN'T MATTER. EVERYBODY IN THAT PUT IT IN PLACE. MR. TONY FLOWERS WAS THE ONE WHO WALKED UP AND DOWN THOSE STREETS TO GET THE MINIMUM LIFE SIZE RIGHT. AND HE ALSO SENT YOU A LETTER RIGHT THERE WITH HIS SIGNATURES. I KNOW, I KNOW MR. FLOWERS. AND SO IN ORDER TO, TO, TO AMEND, AND IF MR. LAU, MR. FLOWERS WANTS TO, HE CAN GO BACK OUT AND JOIN YOU AND OTHERS AND WALK IT TO GET THE PEOPLE OUT THERE TO REVERSE IT OR TO AMEND IT. OKAY? AND THEN WE FILE THE APPLICATION JUST TO EXCLUDE THEY ONE PARTICULAR, THEY CAN'T COME UP HERE AND ASK US, ASKED US TO DO IT. SO IF MR. FLOWERS IS, IS AGREEING WITH YOU, AND THEY WANT TO AMEND THE MINIMUM LOCK, UH, SIGNS THAT THEY PUT IN PLACE, THAT'S UP, THAT'S UP TO THEM. OKAY? BUT WHEN HE PUT IT IN PLACE, THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT, UM, MR. OMAR WAS ILLEGAL AT THE TIME THAT HE JUST TOOK IT AND SAID, OKAY, CHAPTER 42 RUNS FROM BLOCK TO BLOCK. ALL RIGHT? AND THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S HOW THE ORDINANCE READS BLOCK TO BLOCK. IT DOESN'T, THEY DIDN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF PROPERTY STOPS AT THAT BLOCK. IF YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURES, I, MY PROPERTY RATHER, I WANT TO BUILD ONE HOUSE, FIVE HOUSES OR HOWEVER MANY HOUSES, I'M NOT AFFORDED A STREET FRONT. WELL, A A A, SO IT'S THIS, WELL, WELL, THE REALITY, I'M NOT AFFORDED THE STREET FRONT, THE REALITY OWN THE PROPERTY. THE, THE REALITY IS THAT PEOPLE OUT IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD DIDN'T WANT PEOPLE TO BE BUILDING FIVE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. OWNED THAT ON THAT ONE SPACE. OKAY? SO THE CITY SHOULD HAVE PUT ME A STREET THAT GOES ALL THE WAY THROUGH. NO, NO. IF YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURES, YOULL SEE THAT THE I I UNDERSTAND THE STREET DOESN'T EVEN GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH. I UNDERSTAND ALL OF, I UNDERSTAND ALL OF THAT. SO IF YOU WANT ME TO CONFORM TO SOMETHING, THEN ALLOW ME THE SAME PRIVILEGES THAT EVERYBODY ELSE ON THE STREET HAVE. I UNDERSTAND. BUT THE COUNCILMAN POLLACK, THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. UM, SO WE HAVE, WE HAVE COMPETING INTERPRETATIONS AND VIEWPOINTS ON, ON YOUR PARTICULAR ISSUE. I THINK WE ALL UNDERSTAND YOUR ISSUE. UM, AND AS YOU CORRECTLY STATED, UH, THE ORDINANCE STATES FROM BLOCK TO BLOCK, AND AT THE TIME IT WAS PUT IN PLACE, THERE WASN'T ANYTHING IMPROVED ON THAT PIECE OF LAND. SO THEY JUST INCLUDED IT BECAUSE IT WAS WITHIN THAT BLOCK. NOW THAT YOU IMPROVED IT, YOU'RE NOW UNDER THE SAME RULES AND REGULATIONS AS EVERYONE ELSE. RIGHT. BUT TO AMEND IT, AS THE MAYOR SAID, THE PEOPLE WHO PUT THAT IN PLACE SHOULD NOW COME BACK [01:50:01] AND WORK WITH YOU TO, UH, AMEND THAT WITH THEIR OWN PETITIONS. ALL RIGHT? THAT'S JUST THE FORMAL LEGAL WAY IN DOING IT. I KNOW SOMEBODY MAY HAVE TOLD YOU IT WAS OTHER WAYS, BUT WE ALL, I THINK CAN AGREE THAT IS A WAY. SO I WOULD, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT DOING THAT. SECONDLY, THOUGH, I DO THINK, MAYOR, THAT, UH, AND THIS IS A LONG TERM TYPE OF VIEWPOINT, BUT IT'S MY VIEWPOINT, WE, WE PUT IN ORDINANCES THAT ARE SO, UM, CONSTRICTIVE THAT THERE'S, THERE'S NEVER ANY AVAILABILITY FOR ANY TYPE OF FLEXIBILITY. SO WHEN PEOPLE COME AND HAVE THESE ISSUES THAT IN MY OPINION, ARE KIND OF COMMON SENSE TO BE ABLE TO CHANGE, IT'S SO HARD TO BE ABLE TO DO SO. AND SO I THINK IT WOULD BEHOOVE THE CITY TO ALWAYS LOOK AT ENSURING THAT WE DON'T HAVE THESE ABSOLUTES ACROSS THE BOARD, BUT WE ALWAYS GIVE OURSELVES AS A BODY THE ABILITY TO LOOK AT SOMETHING IN SELF-CORRECT. IN THE IN CASE THAT THERE WAS SOME UNFORESEEN OR UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT ARE PART OF OUR ORDINANCES SO THAT HE WON'T HAVE TO GO BACK AND DO ALL THAT WORK AGAIN WHEN OBVIOUSLY THE COMMUNITY IS IN AGREEANCE WITH HIM. WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF THE COMMUNITY IS IN AGREEMENT AND IS DIFFICULT TO SELF-CORRECT SOMETHING THAT THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS PUT IN PLACE. AND I THINK COUNSELORS SHOULD ALL BE ALWAYS BE VERY RELUCTANT, UH, TO THEN TO EXERCISE ITS WILL OVER PEOPLE IN THOSE PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOODS OR COMMUNITIES. SO IF THERE'S A PROBLEM HERE, THE PEOPLE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, UH, SHOULD THEN DO WHATEVER THEY DID TO PUT IT IN PLACE TO MAKE THE NECESSARY CORRECTION. SO BASICALLY, BASICALLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS YOU LOOKING AT TONY FLOWERS, YOU LOOKING AT HIS SIGNATURE RIGHT THERE, YOU LOOKING AT MS. JONES. BUT WHAT YOU SAYING, MAXINE CONWAY, JAMES CONWAY, ALL THESE, YOU LOOKING AT ALL MR. WAIT TIME, NO SETTLE DOWN HERE. SO YOU JUST DISREGARD THAT EVERY SIGNATURE THAT'S ON THAT PAPER THAT I JUST GAVE YOU IS OFF OF EASTER STREET, MR. MR. CONWAY. THERE'S A PROCESS THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS TOOK TO PUT THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE INTO PLACE. THE ONLY THING THAT I'M SAYING TO YOU, IF ALL OF THEM ARE AGREEING WITH YOU, THEY NEED TO UTILIZE THE SAME PROCESS THAT THEY PUT THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE IN PLACE TO AMEND IT. THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. OKAY. AND IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NO PROBLEM. BUT THE THING THAT YOU GOTTA UNDERSTAND AND, AND, AND TRULY UNDERSTAND, YOU DEALING WITH SOMEBODY THAT'S, IS NO OFFENSE TO SOMEBODY'S AGE, BUT YOU'RE DEALING WITH OLDER PEOPLE THAT FOUGHT HARD TO GET THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE OKAY. AND TO COME BACK AND SAY, WELL, HEY, FILE AN APPLICATION TO RESCIND AND FILE AN APPLICATION TO REAPPLY FOR THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE, JUST EXCLUDING ONE THAT ONE PARTICULAR LOT, IT'S GONNA MAKE THEM SAY, WELL, IF WE TAKE IT OFF, THEN WE MIGHT BE FACED WITH A SITUATION WHEN THEY HAD SOMEBODY COME IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND TRY TO BUILD A DUPLEX THAT YOU AND THIS COUNCIL BODY TOLD THEM, HEY, YOU CAN'T DO THAT. TEAR IT DOWN. NOT ONLY TEAR IT DOWN, BUT PULL UP THE, PULL UP THE, UH, FOUNDATION ALSO. SO TO GO AND SAY, SAY, REMOVE IT AND REAPPLY FOR IT JUST TO EXCLUDE THIS ONE LOT, THEY DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT, BUT IT'S KIND OF HARD TO MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND IT, THAT THAT'S THE ONLY THING YOU'RE DOING. BECAUSE IF YOU ASK ANYBODY, THEY'RE GONNA SIT THERE AND SAY, THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF PROPERTY WAS NEVER A PART OF MONTGOMERY TERRACE IN THE FIRST PLACE. AND THAT WAS THE REASON WHY THEY FATHERED TO PROTECT THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, NOT TO STOP ME FROM BUILDING A HOUSE OR NONE OF THAT, BECAUSE THEY COULD CARE LESS. I UNDERSTAND WHAT COUNCILMAN POLLEN, I HEAR EVERYTHING YOU'RE SAYING. I I REALLY DO. I, WHAT I THINK THE CITY IS PUTTING FORTH IS THERE'S A PARTICULAR WAY IN WHICH TO DO IT. AND I WISH THERE WAS MORE FLEXIBILITY, BUT I CAN'T CONFIRM THAT THAT IS THE CASE. IT IS LOOKING AS IF, YES, THEY PUT FORTH A LOT OF EFFORT TO PUT, UH, THAT MINIMUM LOT SIZE IN PLACE. THEY WILL HAVE TO PUT FORTH THE SAME TYPE OF EFFORT WITH YOUR HELP TO TRY TO AMEND THAT. AND BY DOING SO, THEN I THINK EVERYTHING WILL GO IN A FORMAL MANNER. OKAY. ALRIGHT. AND SO MY SUGGESTION IS NOT TO FIGHT BACK ON THAT, BUT TO MAYBE ADVOCATE FOR MAYBE A CHANGE IN THE FUTURE, BUT IN FOR YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION, YOU'RE PROBABLY GONNA HAVE TO FOLLOW THAT, UH, PROCEDURE IN ORDER TO GET THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU WOULD LIKE. OKAY. AND I, I'M, I'M GONNA SAY THIS NOW, I'M GONNA GO, OH, SECOND. GO [01:55:01] ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN THOMAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. ATTORNEY THERE. IS THERE A MOTION TO EXTEND THE TIME? SO, SO MOVE SECOND OBJECTION. GRANTED, THANK COUNCILMAN THOMAS. UH, MAYOR, MY QUESTION IS, UH, FOR YOU, SO, UM, ON THE MAP, IT SH HOW CAN ANOTHER SUBDIVISION BE INCLUDED IN THAT LOT SIZE? AND IS IT, WAS IT BECAUSE IT WASN'T DEVELOPED THAT LAND? HE'S, WAS IT NOT DEVELOPED AT THAT TIME AND IT WAS JUST AVAILABLE LAND? YEAH. THE NOTE THAT I, THE NOTE THAT I'M LOOKING AT IS THAT, UM, UH, BECAUSE OF, BECAUSE ACCORDING TO HIS PAPERWORK, HE'S HARVEST HEIGHTS. EXACTLY. RESEARCH, RESEARCH REVEALS THAT. RIGHT? BUT MAGNOLIA TERRACE IS THE ONE THAT INITIATED THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE. YEAH. IT'S, IT'S THAT, IT'S NOT THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S NOT THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S THE BLOCK THAT'S IN QUESTION. RIGHT. SO, BUT THAT'S IN HARVEST HEIGHTS, NOT NEIGHBORHOOD. SEE WHERE, WHERE THE PROBLEM COMING IN AT IS EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE, MY DEED, IT'S HARVEST HEIGHTS, MY PLAQUE. SO EVERYTHING SAYS HEIGHTS. HOLD ON. SORRY, I'M JUST DIRECTING TO ON TO THE MAYOR. SO, SO I JUST WANNA GET CLARITY IF WHEN THEY INITIATED THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE, IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS AN EMPTY LOT AND IT WASN'T DEVELOPED ON THAT STREET. AND THAT, I, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT FOR YOU. I CAN'T. I CAN. OKAY. HOWEVER THEY CHOOSE, THEY CHOSE TO DEFINE FOR MINIMUM LOT SIZE. THAT'S THE AREA THAT'S IN QUESTION, WHICH CAN INCLUDE ANOTHER SUBDIVISION, EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN'T INITIATE. YEAH. HOWEVER THEY, HOWEVER THEY PUT IT TOGETHER, THEY, THEY WROTE IT UP, THEY PRESENTED IT, THE PEOPLE OUT THERE VOTED FOR IT, AND THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE WENT INTO EFFECT. AND THEN, UM, UM, IT IS ALSO MR. MR. CONWAY WAS, AND THEN IT SAYS, UH, WHEN THIS, UH, RIGHT OF WAY, THE SURPLUS PLUS RIGHT OF WAY WAS ACQUIRED, UM, IT WAS THEN I THINK PURCHASED, UH, BY MR. CONWAY. AND WHAT, AND WHETHER THIS IS TRUE OR NOT, WHAT I AM SEEING, WHAT THEY PRESENTING TO ME IS THAT IT IS ALSO MENTIONED THAT MR. CONWAY WAS AWARE OF THE MINIMUM LOSS SIDE RE REQUIREMENTS BEFORE PURCHASING THE EXCESS RIGHT OF WAY. IS THAT TRUE OR NOT TRUE? THAT IS NOT TRUE. OKAY. I'M JUST, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. A, WAIT A MINUTE. WAIT, WAIT. OKAY, GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD. I'M JUST TRYING AND LOOK. AND WE'RE NOT GONNA BE HERE ALL DAY ON THIS. AND, AND YOU'RE RIGHT. OKAY. WAIT, MR. MR. CONWAY? NO. OKAY. ALRIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE FROM ME? YOU COUNCIL MEMBER? NO, I'LL FOLLOW UP. I JUST WANT TO GET CLEAR. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. I'LL MAKE ONE STATE LEAVE AND VERY BRIEFLY, MR. CONWELL, I'M LET YOU HAVE THE LAST SAY AND THEN, THEN WE'RE DONE. BROUGHT, YOU BROUGHT UP A, A, A, A SITUATION SAYING I WAS AWARE OF SOMETHING. I WASN'T AWARE OF IT. I JUST, I'M JUST READING WHAT, OKAY. I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE JUST READING. BUT THE COUNCIL BODY HERE WAS AWARE OF A SITE PLAN THAT I PRESENTED AT THE TIME, WHICH INCLUDES 2,700 BLOCK OF FERGUSON WAY, ALL THE WAY TO THE END, TO THE PROPERTY THAT I BOUGHT FROM THE CITY. I PRESENTED THE SITE PLAN, SHOWING THE DEVELOPMENT THAT I WAS DOING. THE PEOPLE FROM PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED THAT THE COUNCIL BODY, EXCUSE ME, MA'AM, WHY YOU KEEP SHAKING YOUR HEAD LIKE, SOMEBODY'S NOT. WAIT, WAIT, MR. MAN. DO, DO, DO WHAT YOU FEEL. WAIT, HOLD SECOND. DO FEEL, MAN. BUT EVERY TIME I START TALKING, SHE'S SITTING THERE SHAKING THE HEAD LIKE, LIKE, I'M JUST MAKING UP SOMETHING. YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T JUST PULL THIS OUT THE AIR, LIKE I WAS SAYING, IT WAS APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL. AND IF IT RUNS FROM BLOCK TO BLOCK, THE PORTION THAT I BOUGHT FROM THE CITY IS WITHIN THAT BLOCK, BUT IT'S UNRESTRICTED. MY PROPERTY SAYS EVERYTHING, AND I TALK TO PEOPLE AT LEGAL, UH, UH, I CALL A NAME IN A SECOND. IT, HER INITIALS IS KM. UH, I SPOKE WITH LEGAL AND SHE ADDRESSED ME BACK TO PLANNING. AND THE THING WHERE IT SAID, OH, IT CAN'T BE DONE, I PROMISE YOU TOMORROW I'M GONNA SEND IT TO YOUR OFFICE TO WHERE THE AMENDMENT WAS DONE. A SIMPLE AMENDMENT WAS FILED TO REMOVE A PIECE OF PROPERTY. SO I DIDN'T JUST COME IN HERE AND JUST MAKE SOMETHING UP ABOUT TRYING TO SET SOME RULES OF MY OWN. I'VE BEEN FIGHTING WITH THIS OVER A YEAR. AND SO MY STUFF, MY PAPERWORK, EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE SAYS HARVEST HEIGHTS. BUT LIKE MS. THOMAS WAS SAYING, THE PEOPLE OF MONTGOMERY TERRACE FILED TO PROTECT THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT IT SUPERSEDED MY, MY, MY PORTION OF THE LAND, WHICH IS NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAD ANY BARRANT ON MY PROPERTY, PERIOD. I'M NOT IN MONTGOMERY TERRA, I'M IN HARVEST HEIGHTS. MONTGOMERY TERRACE [02:00:01] STOPS AT THE END OF EASTER STREET. NOTHING IN HARVEST HEIGHTS HAS THE STREET FRONTAGE OR ANYTHING. THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN GET TO 2,700 FERGUSON IS TO GO ALL THE WAY AROUND MONTGOMERY TERRACE. SO THEY FILE THE CITIZENS OF MONTGOMERY TERRACE FILE TO PROTECT MONTGOMERY TERRACE. IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH HARVEST HEIGHTS. AND EVERYTHING THAT I PRESENTED AND PAID MY MONEY FOR WAS APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL SAYING, YES, YOU CAN BUY THIS PROPERTY. SO THE ONLY THING I'M ASKING IS JUST TO, TO BE FAIR ACROSS THE BOARD, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GONNA SAY I'M INCLUDED IN MONTGOMERY TERRACE, THEN PUT THE STREET, PUT THE STREET THERE FOR ME, GIMME ALL AMENITIES THAT MONTGOMERY TERRACE HAS, BUT DON'T HOLD ME TO NO MINIMUM LOT SIZE. AND DON'T GIMME NO STREET FRONTAGE. DON'T GIMME THE, UH, THE, UH, DE RESTRICTIONS. DON'T GIMME ANYTHING YOU TELL ME. YOU CAN BUILD A A WOOD FRAME HOUSE, BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE A MINIMUM LINE SIZE. NAH, IT'S NOT FAIR TO ME IN, IN THE CITY, SINCE YOU WANT TO GO BE FAIR, MONTGOMERY TERRACE HAS DE RESTRICTIONS SAYING THAT A HOUSE HAS TO HAVE SO MUCH BRICK, SO MUCH LAND SIZE, BUT THE CITY TOO, TORE DOWN A WOOD FRAME HOUSE AND REBUILD IT BACK ON BLOCKS AND DIDN'T CONFORM TO NOTHING. MONTGOMERY TERRACE HAS, HAS GONE. BUT YOU'RE GONNA MAKE ME, UH, MAINTAIN A LOT SIZE. THAT'S NOT RIGHT. IT'S NOT RIGHT AT ALL. COUNCILMAN COUNCILMAN JOHNSON? THANK YOU MAYOR. AND MR. CONWAY. UM, I KNOW YOU SPOKE TO MY OFFICE TODAY ABOUT THE AMENDMENT. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I, I, I SPOKE TO PJ LAST WEEK. I ENDED UP HAVING, UH, MR. POLLARD, UH, CHIEF OF STAFF CALL OVER THERE AND SAY, HEY MAN, Y'ALL NEED TO HELP THIS DUDE WITH THIS SITUATION. OKAY, WELL I'M, AND THAT, THAT, THAT WAS LAST WEEK SOMETIME. OKAY. WELL, AND THEN YOU AND I, WE TALKED HERE, WE TALKED HERE AND, AND MS TI MEAN, UH, YES MA'AM. WE WALK DOWNSTAIRS AND YOU SAY, OH, IT'S JUST A SIMPLE FIX, BUT IT IS NOT OKAY. WELL, I I'LL CONTINUE TO, I CAN GET 'EM TO THE CITIZENS ON THE STREET. WE CAN GO DOWN THERE AND CALL AND SAY, HEY, IS THIS PART OF MONTGOMERY TERRACE? EACH AND EVERY ONE OF 'EM GONNA SAY, NAH, IT NEVER HAVE BEEN. I'VE BEEN IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. NOT ONLY AM I A BUILDING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, I GREW UP IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. YEAH. I JUST KNOW MONTGOMERY, THE FOLKS FROM MONTGOMERY TERRACE, THEY FOUGHT REALLY HARD ABOUT THOSE DUPLEXES BEING BUILT RIGHT. THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS. NOT, I'M NOT TRYING TO BUILD WITHIN MONTGOMERY TERRACE. IF I WAS TRYING TO BUILD A HOUSE OR SPLIT A LOT WITHIN MONTGOMERY TERRACE, I WOULDN'T EVEN BE STANDING UP HERE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S A NO-NO. RIGHT? AND THE GUY THAT, THAT DID THE DUPLEX, MS. PECK, WHEN HE WAS DOWN THERE, I TOLD HIM, I SAY, MAN, YOU CAN'T DO THAT. YOU CANNOT BUILD THAT HOUSE. IN FACT, THE HOUSE WAS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY PARENTS. MY PARENTS SITTING RIGHT THERE. OKAY, WELL, MY, THEY STAY IN MONTGOMERY TERRA. WELL, MY OFFICE WILL WORK WITH YOU AND WE SEE WHAT WE CAN DO, UM, JUST TO, YOU KNOW, FACILITATE THESE CONVERSATIONS. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. JAMES CONWAY. JAMES CONWAY. OKAY. THAT'S MY DAD, MY MOM, NEXT SPEAKER. I, MAXINE CONWAY. OKAY. SHERRY BROWNING. BROWNING TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHERYL RES, MS. BROWNING. OH, WATERMELON. IT IS JUNETEENTH 2023 AGAIN. AND I'M BACK BECAUSE MAYOR, I NEVER HEARD FROM YOUR CHIEF OF STAFF ABOUT MY PARADE. MM-HMM . SO I WAS JUST TRYING TO FOLLOW PROPER PROTOCOL. I WOULD LIKE TO START BACK TO HAVING MY JUNETEENTH PARADES THAT REVEREND C ANDERSON DAVIS TAUGHT ME HOW TO, YOU KNOW, PLAN THEM AND PUT THEM TOGETHER. AND I ALSO HAVE A LETTER FROM HIS FAMILY THAT SAYS THEY WANT ME TO TAKE OVER OR TO CONTINUE HIS LEGACY. AND THAT'S ALL I WAS TRYING TO DO. THEN AT, UM, AT THE SECOND MEETING, UH, I RECEIVED NO COMPENSATION FOR, FOR WHAT I DID FOR, FOR WHAT I DID. AND THEN I'M TALKING ABOUT REVEREND ANDERSON DAVIS [02:05:01] AT THAT TIME, DORIS ELLIS. SHE SAID SHE WAS TRYING TO, TRYING TO HELP ME, BUT SHE STARTED HER OWN PARADE. AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR. SHE USED ALL MY CONTACTS TO START IT. AND I WORKED HARD IN THAT HEAT WITH REVEREND C ANDERSON DAVIS AND TRAINING. I ALSO WORKED ALONG WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVE AL EDWARDS. SO I HAD THE EXPERIENCE. SHE DIDN'T, AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR, BECAUSE I HAD ALREADY REQUESTED THAT, UH, THE CITY WOULD COME ABOARD WITH, WITH THE PARADE FOR, UH, REVEREND C ANDERSON DAVIS. UH, BECAUSE HE, HE WAS THE FIRST, WELL, WE WOULD CALL COLOR THE NEGRO PEOPLE, THEN HE WAS THE FIRST ONE TO HAVE A PARADE DOWNTOWN AT A GRANDSTAND LIKE THE WHITE PEOPLE HAD. AND HE WOULD FEED PEOPLE IN THE PARK AND HAVE A BIG CONCERT AT HERMAN PARK. AND, UH, THAT'S IT. I JUST WANT TO KEEP THE LEGACY GOING. AND ALSO THE OTHER PARADE I CREATED FOR MAYOR LEE P BROWN, UH, IT WAS LIKE A, GOING AWAY FROM ALL THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION THAT HE DID. AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ANOTHER ONE. BUT FOR YOU. OH, I'M, WHEN YOU LEAVE OUT, I'M, I'M JUST SAYING THAT WAS THE PLAN THEN. GOOD. YEAH, I'M GOOD. THAT, THAT, THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. BUT A, ANYWAY, I STILL WANNA CONTINUE THOSE TYPE OF, UH, PARADES AND CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE, SHE WAS IN INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING ME WITH A LOT OF THINGS AS WELL. GORDON QUAN, BLACK HERITAGE SOCIETY. MICHAEL GRIFFIN, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED CARD. BIG CLUB. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. BROWNING. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HAVE A GOOD DAY. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER CHERYL RICKS. CHERYL RICKS TO BE FOLLOWED BY ROSALES. HI EVERYONE. I'M HERE TO ADDRESS, UH, THE PROBLEM WITH, UH, GU GO GUSS WORTHHAM GOLF COURSE. UH, THAT'S ON WAYSIDE AND CAPITAL. IT'S ACTUALLY A DANGER TO THE DRIVERS THAT DROPPED DOWN TOWARD THAT GOLF COURSE. ON, ON THE 16TH OF LAST MONTH, I WAS DRIVING DOWN WAYSIDE AND A GOLF BALL HIT MY WINDOW, CRACKED IT, DID EVERYTHING TO TRY TO GET THIS RECTIFIED WITH THE OWNERS OF GOLF. UH OH, THE GOLF COURSE. AND NOTHING, NOTHING ACTUALLY HAPPENED. I SPOKE WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE. I CALLED THE CO, UH, THE COUNCILMAN OFFICE, STATE REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE AND TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE. UH, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. NO PHONE CALLS RETURNED UNTIL I DECIDED TO START DOING THINGS ON MY OWN. TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW PUERTO DO I GO. AND TRYING TO WONDER WHY IS IT NOTHING, UH, SAFETY UP THERE WITH LIKE A SAFETY NET HIGH, YOUR FENCES OR SOMETHING FOR A GOLF CART. A GOLF BALL. NOT TO COME INTO ANY ONE DRIVER'S, UH, WINDSHIELD LIKE IT DID MINE. IT WAS, IT'S A DANGER WITH THAT GOLF COURSE THAT'S BEEN THERE. 'CAUSE THAT'S A REALLY BUSY HIGHWAY. AND IT JUST, IT'S, IT'S A DANGER BEING THERE. I'M NOT REALLY SURE HOW IT BECAME THAT. NOTHING UP THERE IS SAFETY. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT TO OUR MORE ATTENTION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU ARE WELCOME VERY MUCH. OKAY, THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, RADO ROSALES. RADO ROSALES IS HERE. HE FOLLOWED BY ABIEL TORRES. MY NAME IS ROBERT ROSALES. I'M HERE AS A SCOOTER SHOP OWNER. I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE WE ARE HAVING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE SETTING UP AND RENTING OUT SCOOTERS ON THE CITY, STREETS AND SIDEWALK PRESENT CITY ORDINANCE. IT IS ILLEGAL TO SET UP AND RENT OUT SCOOTERS ON ANY CITY, SIDEWALK OR STREETS. UM, AND WE HAVE NOTICED AN INCREASE IN THIS AND HAVE MULTIPLE CONCERNS. AS A SCOOTER COMPANY, WE MAKE SURE WE GO OVER THE RULES OF DOS AND DON'TS AROUND THE DOWNTOWN AREA. UH, WE ALSO DO OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE CUSTOMERS RIDING SCOOTERS KNOW HOW TO, AND IS CAPABLE OF RIDING, UH, TO AVOID POSSIBLE, UH, INJURIES WITH HAVING A DESIGNATED AREA STOREFRONT OR A PARKING LOT TENT TO RENT OUT SCOOTERS. WE HAVE THE TIME, SPACE, AND CAPACITY TO ADDRESS ANY ISSUES WITH CONCERNS AND CONCERNS WITH OUR CUSTOMERS WITH THESE VIOLATORS. SOME USE APPS, SOME HAVE SCOOTERS JUST SET UP ON THE STREET OR, UH, SIDEWALKS PLACING THEM THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN AND JUST HAVING RIDERS LEAVE THEM, UH, JUST RANDOMLY WHEN THEY'RE DONE USING THE APP [02:10:01] OR USING AN APP, UH, TO RENT OUT SCOOTERS. UH, THERE'S NO ONE TO GIVE THEM INSTRUCTIONS TO STAY OFF THE CITY SIDEWALKS, TO, UM, USE THE, UH, RIGHT OF WAY FOR CARS, UH, TO TELL THEM NOT TO RUN RED LIGHTS. AND, UM, TO TELL 'EM THEY HAVE TO GO WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC, NOT AGAINST IT. UM, BASICALLY JUST TREATING THE SCOOTER SAME AS A VEHICLE BEING ADDRESSED, IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED. UH, SAFETY IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED. THEY'RE JUST LETTING ANYONE RIDE. UH, I KNOW THAT THE CITY ORDINANCE SAYS NO ONE UNDER THE AGE OF 16 SHOULD BE ABLE TO RIDE A SCOOTER. UH, THEY DON'T CARE. THEY'RE NOT TAKING IDS. THEY'RE NOT VERIFYING A PERSON OR A CHILD'S AGE. THEY'RE JUST LETTING ANY ANYBODY RIDE FREELY. UH, AND THIS COMES TO HURT MY COMPANY BECAUSE WE'VE GET, WE GET KIDS THAT COME IN AND ARE LIKE, HEY, WELL SO-AND-SO COMPANY, OR THE COMPANY THAT'S SET UP ON DISCOVERY GREEN, YOU KNOW, JUST LET ME RIDE WITH NO ISSUES. NO, NOTHING. UH, BUT ONCE WE VERIF, ONCE WE LET THEM KNOW WHETHER CITY ORDINANCE IS IN EFFECT, THAT YOU HAVE TO BE, YOU KNOW, OF AGE TO BE ABLE TO RIDE IT, TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL IT, AND TO KNOW THE CITY ORDINANCES. UM, THEY LEAVE OUR SHOP, THEY GO OVER THERE, THEY FIND THESE PEOPLE AND YOU KNOW, HEY, IT'S A QUICK BUCK FOR THE PERSON TRYING TO DO IT. BUT IT, UH, IT HURTS ALL OF US. THERE'S NO CONS. UH, HOLD ON. WE SEE PEOPLE JUST SET UP, SEND OUT CUSTOMERS, NO TUTORIALS, NO MENTION OF CITY ORDINANCES. THEY'RE PRI PROVIDING 'EM SCOOTERS, TAKING THEIR PAYMENTS AS A QUICK, UH, POSSIBLE AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE SO THAT THEY DON'T GET CAUGHT. UH, HERE RECENTLY, WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, UH, YOU SEE THESE SAME VIOLATORS, UH, JUST PULL OUT THEIR SCOOTERS. UH, I'VE GOT PICTURES. I'VE GOT VIDEO WHERE THEY LITERALLY JUST PULL OUT THEIR 2015 SCOOTERS, HOWEVER MANY IS, HOWEVER MANY THEY HAVE, AND JUST PLACE 'EM OUT ON THE STREET. UM, THANK YOU. WELL, I WOULD, I WOULD TELL YOU, MR. ROSALES, UM, CERTAINLY IS NOT ALLOWED. I'LL FURTHER TELL YOU THAT I'M, I'VE NEVER BEEN A FAN OF SCOOTERS, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. AND I, I GOT TO CHECK TO SEE WHAT WE ARE ALLOWING IN SCOOTERS, BECAUSE I'M ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO ALL SCOOTERS TO BE VERY CANDID WITH YOU. I'M GLAD YOU'RE TELLING ME IF THERE'S SOMETHING IN OUR ORDINANCE THAT'S ALLOWING THEM, UH, YOU MAY SEE AN ORDINANCE COMING VERY QUICKLY SAYING, NO. SO I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION. I'M NOT A FAN OF ANY SCOOTERS, AND I'VE MADE A POINT NOT TO BRING ANY ORDINANCE BEFORE THIS COUNCIL, SINCE I'VE BEEN MAYOR, TO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF SCOOTERS. SO, UH, LET ME CHECK. THE ONLY WAY SCOOTERS ARE BEING PERMITTED IS THAT THEY ARE, UH, IS BEEN ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. 'CAUSE IT'S, UH, WELL, LET ME JUST SAY, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T, I, I CAN'T NECESSARILY TOUCH WHAT'S ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. WE CAN'T. UM, BUT, UM, YOU'RE LOOKING AT SOMEONE HERE WHO, COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY LIKE SCOOTERS, BUT IF IT WAS LEFT TO ME, THAT WOULD BE NO SCOOTERS ALLOWED IN THIS CITY. SO, I MEAN, THAT'S, GIVE YOU MY TAKE. COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS. THANK YOU MAYOR TH THANK YOU MR. EZ, FOR, FOR BEING HERE AND BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION. UH, I, I REPRESENT DOWNTOWN HOUSTON. UH, FIR, FIR, FIRST OF ALL, IS, IS YOUR BUSINESS A BRICK AND MORTAR? YES, SIR. IT IS A BRICK AND MORTAR. WE ACTUALLY AT NANO TWO SAINT EMANUEL, UH, RIGHT BEHIND THE GEORGIA, OUR BROWN CONVICTION CENTER. MM-HMM . SO WHEN THERE WAS CITY ORDER, AND IT'S CAME INTO EFFECT TWO YEARS AGO, UM, WE CAME IN MAYBE A COUPLE OF MONTHS BEFORE THE CITY ORDINANCE CAME INTO EFFECT. ONCE WE WERE, UH, GIVEN LITERATURE BY HPD TELLING US, HEY, LOOK, WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, THE CITY ORDINANCE IS GONNA COME INTO PLACE, UH, INTO PLACE. WE STARTED SEEKING A, UH, A PERMANENT PLACE, UH, ORDER TO RUN BUSINESS. SO, SO YOU HAD TO GET PERMITS AND ALL THAT, THE, THE TO, TO OPERATE, CORRECT. YEAH. AND, AND, AND, AND MAYOR, UH, I, I, I KNOW I BROUGHT THIS TO ARAS ATTENTION IN REGARDS TO THESE POP-UP TENTS. UH, I MEAN, YOU, YOU CAN DRIVE IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON AROUND 10, 11 O'CLOCK, 12 O'CLOCK, ONE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING. UH, AND YOU'LL SEE A NUMBER OF TEENAGERS ON THESE SCOOTERS JUST ZOOMING DOWN THE STREET. UH, 1, 1, 1 PERSON LOST THEIR LIFE ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO, I SAW IN THE PAPER, UH, HE WAS ON A SCOOTER, AND HE GOT HIT BY A CAR. I PERSONALLY SAW A, A, A A, UH, A MAN ON A SCOOTER CARRYING AN INFANT ON A SCOOTER. I MEAN, A FRIEND OF MINE WAS WITH ME. AND I SAID, I'M GONNA PULL UP TO THE GUY, TAKE A PICTURE. YOU KNOW, AND HE, AND HE TRIED TO TAKE A [02:15:01] PICTURE, UH, UH, OF THE GUY HOLDING AN INFANT ON THE SCOOTER. UH, UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK WHEN WE DID OUR RESEARCH, MAYOR, I, I THINK THIS FALLS UNDER SOME STATE LAWS OR GUIDANCE THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW. AND NOW THAT THE STATE ISSUED THIS NEW LAW JUST RECENTLY, IT'S GONNA BE HARD FOR US TO DO ANYTHING. BUT WHAT I THINK WE, I'M HOPING WE CAN DO IS NOT ALLOW POPUP TENTS. UH, IT'S LIKE A RESTAURANT THAT GOES THROUGH THE PROCESS OF HAVING PERMITS AND FOLLOWING OUR RULES, AND THEN A POPUP OPENS UP DOWN THE STREET, DOESN'T HAVE TO HAVE PERMITS OR HAVING ANY RULES. UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE A FOOD TRUCK COMPARED TO A, A RESTAURANT OR, OR VICE VERSA. UH, AND, AND, AND I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS, NOT ALLOWING POPUP TENTS, AND IT HAS TO BE A BRICK AND MORTAR. CORRECT. AND I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT. UM, UM, JUST, JUST TEXT AND A RA WE'RE GONNA CRACK AGAIN, WE'RE GONNA CRACK DOWN ON, ON THESE POPUPS, UH, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT ALLOWED. BUT WE GOT PEOPLE POPPING UP. AND AS YOU DID INDICATE, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST PARKING A TRUCK, EVEN ON THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY. AND IT, AND I, I, IT'S, IT IS A PROBLEM. IT IS A HUGE, I REALLY AGREE. IT'S DANGEROUS AS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. SO WE'LL BE WORKING WITH HPD AND OTHERS TO CRACK DOWN ON, ON THAT. BUT, UM, I'M GLAD YOU, AGAIN, BRINGING THE 12 ATTENTION, BUT IT IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. AND I KNOW IT'S BEEN THE, UH, MORE OF A NUISANCE FOR, UH, THE DISCOVERY GREEN BECAUSE THE TWO GENTLEMEN, WELL, THE THREE GENTLEMEN THAT WE ACTUALLY SEE ON A WEEKLY BASIS, THEY'RE LITERALLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM DISCOVERY GREEN. AND WE ARE, AND THAT'S AN AREA THAT WE ARE ZEROING IN ON. I AGREE WITH YOU. THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE DOING A LOT OF THIS. I'VE PERSONALLY CALLED THE, THE, WHAT IS IT, THE NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER TO GET AN OFFICER OUT THERE, BUT IT TAKES THEM TWO HOURS TO GET OUT THERE. BY THAT TIME, THEY'VE ALREADY MADE THEIR MONEY LOADED UP AND LEFT, AND THERE'S NOTHING TO DO. I AGREE. IT'S, IT'S FRUSTRATING. WE'LL CRACK DOWN ON IT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. ABIEL TORRES. ARIEL TORRES. ARIEL TORRES. NEXT SPEAKER. ANDREW SELLERS. ANDREW SELLERS. ANDREW. NEXT SPEAKER. DANIELLE LAPIERRE. DANIELLE LAPIERRE. DANIELLE. DANIELLE. YES. NEXT SPEAKER. WILLIE BLAIR. WILLIE BLAIR. NEXT SPEAKER. KENNETH MCAFEE. KENNETH MCAFEE. KENNETH. NEXT SPEAKER. FRANCIS BROWN. FRANCIS BROWN. NEXT SPEAKER. CLIFF CORNS. CLIFF CORNS. CLIFF. NEXT SPEAKER. CHANTEL ROBERSON. CHANTEL ROBERSON. CHANTEL. NEXT SPEAKER. JACOB CLEMENTI. JACOB IS HERE. PLUNK HAS HELPED PEOPLE, PLACES, PEOPLE IN PLACES. NOW TO HELP HIM DO THIS, HE HAS PROMOTIONS IN ONE OF HIS LETTERS. PROMOTIONS. PROMOTIONS AS INTENT. SO 10,000 MATTRESSES. AND THAT IS A PROMOTION OF HIS TO HELP, UH, HELP HIM, HELP HELP PEOPLE IN PLACES SUCH AS PROTECT PEOPLE FROM FLOODING. AND, UM, WELL, UM, HE'S, HE HAS A MENTAL IN DISABILITY, JUST LIKE HIS DAUGHTER, ELIZABETH VALE. AND, UH, AND THAT IS, HE HAS A FEAR OF HEIGHTS, OF F HEIGHTS. AND, UM, HE'S STAYING IN THE BELL TOWER OF THE, UH, STORE. SO TECHNICALLY HE'S HOMELESS RIGHT NOW. AND SO I, I, I THOUGHT I'D BRING THAT UP FOR Y'ALL TO CONSIDER. BUT IT THEN, UH, WHAT, UH, I ALSO WANT TO SAY IS THIS, UM, UH, I AM GIVE YOU 20 SECONDS TO WRAP IT UP. JACOB. I HAVEN'T BEEN SCHEDULED TO WORK AT MEN MAIN PARK AND SOMETIME, SO I ASKED YOU, MR. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GALL GOES, TELL ME, GET A, A, A REGISTERED, THEY SCHEDULED TO WORK AT PARK AND THE, UH, UH, UM, THE ARAMARK PEOPLE, PLEASE HELP ME GET . OKAY. BECAUSE I WANT TO WORK. I DON'T WANT TO PUT A PART AROUND DOING NOTHING. THANK YOU, JACOB, AND GOOD LUCK. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. RODNEY UNDERWOOD. OKAY, MR. UNDERWOOD. COUNSEL, [02:20:02] UH, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT, UH, THE WAYS THAT WE DO THINGS SOMETIMES, LIKE WITH THE LANDLORD TENANT PROGRAM, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE, UH, MIGHT BE THE TENANTS ON THE PROPERTY, BUT I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH COMMUNICATION BETWEEN WHAT IS BEING PUT, WHAT IS BEING, UH, SENT TO THEM AND WHAT'S BEING SENT TO THE LANDLORDS. THE LANDLORDS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT THEY GET THE DOCUMENTATION THAT'S SIGNED WITHIN THE CONTRACT TO SHOW THAT THEY'RE IN, UH, UH, THERE'S A POSSIBILITY OF THEM BEING EVICTED IF THEY DON'T GET ASSISTANCE. WELL, I WAS, UH, FOLLOWED ALL INSTRUCTIONS AND GUIDELINES THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN DONE, BUT THEN I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TO HAVE A ACTIVE FORECLOSURE ON THESE PEOPLE AND THAT I HAD YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. MR. UNDERWOOD, IF YOU, MR. RUIZ IS WALKING BACK UP THIS WAY, IF YOU'D HIT WITH HIM. AND I WOULD LIKE TO JUST MAKE A, I'M, I'M TRYING TO MAKE A POINT REAL QUICK FOR SURE. I'LL GIVE YOU 30 SECONDS AND THEN SPEAK TO MR. RUIZ. 30 SECONDS. YES. WHAT I'M SAYING IS, IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH SOMEBODY, SURE. THEY WANT YOU TO HAVE IT. LIKE, I'M KIND OLD SCHOOL. I KNOW HOW TO DO THINGS CERTAIN WAYS, BUT IF YOU CAN'T TALK TO SOMEBODY, IF YOU CAN'T COMMUNICATE WITH SOMEBODY, THE LADY TOLD ME TO BRING THE PACKAGE IN. I BROUGHT THE PACKAGE IN, THEY SAID, WE DON'T LIKE YOU COMING INTO OUR PLACE. YOU KNOW, YOU OUTTA ORDER AND IT GETS CONFUSING. THANK YOU. SURE. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, NERA BOYD TO BE FOLLOWED BY ROLANDO PEREZ. GOOD AFTERNOON, PLEASE STEP IN FRONT OF THE MIC. YEP, GO AHEAD. HELLO, CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR TURNER. MY NAME IS NERA BOYD. I'M A SEER CLIMATE AMBASSADOR AND A MEMBER OF THE NACI LIVE IN THE SUNNYSIDE DISTRICT, DISTRICT D AND I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE IMPACT OF FLOODING AND THE DRAINAGE PROBLEM IN, IN MY COMMUNITY. MY COMMUNITY IS NOT ALONE. LOW INCOME, BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORHOODS ALL ACROSS HOUSTON, FLOOD FROM HEAVY RAIN. I AM HERE TODAY TO URGE ALL OF YOU, BUT ESPECIALLY MY DISTRICT COUNCILMAN IN DISTRICT D TO VOTE FOR TASHA JACKSON AMENDMENT TO INCREASE LDP SPENDING BY 20 MILLION. JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SURVEY REVEALED THAT FLOODING IS THE MOST PRESSING CONCERN FOR HOUSTON RESIDENT. I, IT, IT RATE ABOVE CRIME AND ECONOMICS. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ. COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVANS SHABAZZ. I'D LIKE TO GIVE MS. BOYD THE OPPORTUNITY TO FINISH YOUR STATEMENT, ITRATE ABOVE CRIME AND ECONOMICS OF AIR QUALITY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE KNOW THAT THIS CANNOT BE SOLVED OVERNIGHT, BUT VOTING FOR COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON AMENDMENT IS A CONCRETE STEP TOWARDS THE POLICY WE NEED. THE LDP PROGRAM IS CRITICAL BECAUSE IT EMPOWER PUBLIC WORK TO ADDRESS THE WORST PROBLEM. FIRST. TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE, EMPOWERING THE DRAINAGE DEPARTMENT IS CRITICAL. YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE WORST AREAS IN OUR DISTRICT COUNCIL, COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT DI URGE YOU TO VOTE FOR THIS AMENDMENT THIS YEAR. THE CITY HAS A LARGE SURPLUS. THE CITY OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON CAN CAN'T AFFORD AMENDMENT TO THE LDP. WHAT IT CANNOT AFFORD IS INACT INACTIVITY. MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS HAVE SUFFERED TOO LONG WITH THE THREAT OF FLOODING. TOMORROW YOU CAN CAST A VOTE, YOU CAN TAKE ACTION AS COUNCIL MEMBERS. I HOPE YOU MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR MY COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU MS. BOYD. IT IS GOOD TO HEAR FROM SOMEBODY THAT'S NOT IN DISTRICT B. THANK YOU. YES, . NEXT SPEAKER, ROLANDO PEREZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY COURTNEY RES. [02:25:17] GOOD JOB. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. PEREZ. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR TURNER. MY NAME ISO BEES FROM DISTRICT H. I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT IN ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT. PROPOSED BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON AND COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, INCREASING THE LDP PROGRAM BY $20 MILLION WILL GIVE A DRAINAGE EQUITY, BETTER DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE AND SAVE LIVES IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. DURING HURRICANE HARVEY, I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA DROWN AND DIE. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE THAT FEELING EVER AGAIN. NOR NORD, ANY CITIZEN IN HOUSTON, TEXAS FILL THAT EVER AGAIN. WE VOTED AND PUT Y'ALL UP THERE TO SHOW US THAT WE DID THE RIGHT THING BY ALL OF YOU DOING THE RIGHT THING. AND COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS, DISTRICT H NEEDS YOU VOTE YES FOR THESE AMENDMENTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR ATTENTION. GOD BLESS YOU. ORLANDO PEREZ, DISTRICT H OVER AND OUT. THANK YOU. GOD BLESS YOU MR. PEREZ. NEXT SPEAKER, COURTNEY RES TO BE FOLLOWED BY DORIS BROWN. GOOD AFTERNOON Y'ALL. UM, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON FOR YOUR STRONG LEADERSHIP AND PROPOSING AN UH, AMENDMENT 7 0 1. UM, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS ROBINSON KOSH PLUMBER FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO VOTING. YES. TOMORROW. YOUR VOTE YES, WILL BE A COMMITMENT TO INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SAVES LIVES. AND LIKE MS. DANA JONES SAID EARLIER, WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER THREE, FIVE, OR 10 YEARS. SOME PEOPLE WILL FLOOD OUT IF WE HAVE ANOTHER MAJOR STORM TOMORROW, RIGHT? AND IT IS THAT SEASON. SO, UM, YOU'LL NOT JUST BE SUPPORTING NORTHEAST HOUSTON. YOU SEE, WE BROUGHT THE, WE BROUGHT THE REST OF OUR TEAM TODAY TO SHOW THAT WE ARE REALLY REPRESENTING NOT JUST THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF HOUSTON, BUT A BIG MAJORITY OF HOUSTON AND A BIG MAJORITY OF THE PART OF HOUSTON THAT IS FLOODING AND IS DEALING WITH THE MOST ISSUES IN THAT REGARD. UM, THE NAC IS PROUD TO HAVE EMPOWERED OVER 70 RESIDENTS. THEY DIDN'T COME OUT TO SPEAK JUST BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO SPEAK AND SUPPORT US. THEY CAME OUT TO SPEAK BECAUSE THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE, TO THE RESIDENTS OF HOUSTON AND WE HAVE EMPOWERED THEM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU GUYS PLEASE VOTE YES TOMORROW. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER TARSHA JACKSON. MA'AM COURTNEY IS GONNA GIVE COURTNEY SOME MORE OF MY TIME, BUT THANK YOU COURTNEY WITH THE THANK YOU. WITH A CK. WITH K WITH A K. OKAY. , NEXT SPEAKER. DORIS BROWN TO BE FOLLOWED BY CAROLYN RIVERA. AFTERNOON, MAYOR AFTERNOON AND COUNCIL PEOPLE. MY NAME IS DORIS BROWN, BUT Y'ALL ALREADY KNOW THAT TODAY I AM HERE TO ASK FOR SUPPORT OF COUNCILWOMAN TASHA JACKSON'S AND COUNCILWOMAN LETICIA PLUMMER AMENDMENTS. 10 YEARS AGO, THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOUND INADEQUATE DRAINAGE WAS A BARRIER TO FAIR HOUSING. COUNCILWOMAN JACKSON'S AMENDMENT ADDRESSES THIS. I EMPHASIZE THIS BECAUSE THE $20 MILLION IS MUCH NEEDED FOR LDP PROJECTS AS IT ADDRESSES OUR RIGHTS TO FAIR HOUSING, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND EQUAL PROTECTION FROM FLOODING. I KNOW THAT DIFFERENT DISTRICTS HAVE DIFFERENT PROBLEMS. WE KNOW THAT THE STATE DENIED FUNDS TO HOUSTON AND WE'RE STILL FIGHTING FOR THOSE FUNDS. BUT IN THE INTERIM, THE CITY NEEDS TO USE SOME OF THEIR MONEY. WE WILL KEEP FIGHTING AFTER THIS CYCLE. BUT COUNCILWOMAN JACKSON HAS PRESENTED A GREAT AMENDMENT, AND THE TIME IS NOW TO ACT. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU, MS. BROWN. OKAY, CAROLYN RIVERA TO BE FOLLOWED BY BECKY SALE. GOOD AFTERNOON. AFTERNOON, MAYOR TURNER TARSHA JACKSON, COUNCIL MEMBER TARSHA JACKSON. I AM CAROLYN RIVERA. I LIVE IN CITY GAS DISTRICT BA MARGINALIZED PREDOMINANTLY [02:30:01] BIPOC COMMUNITY. WE ARE FIGHTING FOR FAIRNESS. WE NEED INCREASE INCREASES IN DITCH DRAINAGE SPENDING. OUR MOST PRESSING CONCERN. WE'LL, YOU SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER TARSHA JACKSON'S PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER 7 0 1 A TO ADD $20 MILLION TO THE LOCAL DRAINAGE PROGRAM. 88% OF HOUSTON'S DITCHES ARE IN MARGINALIZED PREDOMINANTLY BOB PARK COMMUNITY. THE CITY FOUND OVER 40% OF THESE DITCHES DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE ARE IGNORED. WE ARE EXPERIENCING CONSISTENT DANGERS OF FLOODING CAUSING DEATH, ILLNESS, DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, AND SALT TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, BECKY, SELL TO BE FOLLOWED BY GA GALIA JOHNSON. HELLO, EVERYBODY. AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS. I AM HERE TO ASK FOR YOUR VOTE IN FAVOR OF COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON'S AMENDMENT TO INCREASE LDP BY $20 MILLION. UM, I WANT TO MAKE TWO CLARIFICATIONS. IT'S AMAZING NEWS, MAYOR TURNER, THAT YOU'VE COMMITTED TO AN ADDITIONAL 20 MILLION FOR SWAT AND THAT YOU ANNOUNCE PUBLIC WORKS WILL TAKE BACK RESPONSIBILITY FOR DITCH MAINTENANCE. THE LDP AMENDMENT, HOWEVER, ADDRESSES A DIFFERENT NEED IMPROVEMENTS BEYOND MAINTENANCE ON A WORSE FIRST BASIS. WE STILL NEED COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON'S AMENDMENT, EXPAND YOUR, EXPAND YOUR, THE LEGACY, AND PASS THE THIS AMENDMENT AS WELL. SECOND, THE SEWER CONSENT DECREE AND PROGRESS IS SO IMPORTANT, BUT WE SEE SEWER PROBLEMS LEFT AND RIGHT. CONNECT CON CONSENT DECREE DOES VERY LIMITED WORK ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AND IS SLOWLY, SLOWLY MOVING. WE NEED TO STOP THE FLOODING, MAKING IT WORSE. YOU HAVE TIME? THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, GA JOHNSON TO BE FOLLOWED BY ALICE LOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, TULSA JACKSON, AND ALL THE COUNCILMEN ON THE ROSTER. MY NAME IS GAY JOHNSON. I LIVE IN THE FIFTH WARD AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE. A FEW MONTHS AGO FOR THE FIRST TIME I SPOKE AT THE CITY COUNCIL. I'M HERE AGAIN TODAY BECAUSE I'M SICK AND TIRED OF THE FLOODING. UM, AND I AM HERE TODAY TO CALL ON EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO LOOK AT THE AMENDMENT OFFERED UP BY THE COUNCIL JACKSONS AND, UM, THE VOTE YES TO INCREASE THE LDP BY 20 MILLION. MY SON LIVES AT LOCKWOOD AND NICHOLS STREET. WHERE THERE ARE ARE STILL OPEN DRAINS THAT BARELY FUNCTION EVERY TIME IT RAINS. I, I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHETHER MY CHILD AND HIS AND, AND HIS HOME WILL BE OKAY IN, UM, THE YEARS WHERE THE BUDGET, UM, SURPLUS IS FOUR 400 MILLION. WE ARE ASKING THAT A, A MERE 5% OF OF THAT BE PUT TOWARDS A DRAINAGE PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, ALICE LOU, TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANNIE LEE. AFTERNOON, MS. LOU, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, THANK YOU FOR PROPOSING AMENDMENT 7.01. BEING A CHAMPION FOR THE NEEDS OF NOT ONLY YOUR DISTRICT, BUT FOR COMMUNITIES ACROSS HOUSTON WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS FUNDING. TO BE CLEAR, LDP FUNDS ARE NOT RESTRICTED TO DISTRICT B, BUT ALLOWS PUBLIC WORKS ENGINEERS TO IDENTIFY PROJECTS WITH THE GREATEST NEED IN WHATEVER DISTRICT THAT IS. MAYOR TURNER IS NOT HERE. MAYOR TURNER IS FUNDING S SWAT, BUT WE NEED BOTH S SWAT AND LDP. OTHERWISE IT'S NOT EQUITABLE. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE AN EITHER OR DECISION. THE CITY HAS A SURPLUS TO AFFORD BOTH. WHAT THE CITY CANNOT AFFORD IS IN ACTION. NOW, SWAT IS DIFFERENT FROM LDP AND LDP IS DIFFERENT FROM DITCH MAINTENANCE AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ALL CITY COUNSELORS TO [02:35:01] REMEMBER THIS. DURING THE VOTE TOMORROW, LDP WILL ACHIEVE SOMETHING THAT NEITHER SWAT OR DITCH MAINTENANCE DOES. COUNCIL MEMBERS ROBINSON KUBOSH AND PLUMBER HAVE COMMITTED TO VOTE. YES. THEY'RE CHOOSING TO PRIORITIZE ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND A LIVABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF RACE AND INCOME. I'M SO PROUD OF EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM AND THOSE WE REPRESENT WHO HAVE BEEN THE HEART AND SOUL OF THIS CAMPAIGN. COUNCILORS, WE DON'T NEED SPEAKER HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. YOUR WORDS OF SUPPORT. WE NEED YOUR VOTE YES TOMORROW. THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER, ANNIE LEE. ANNIE LEE. NEXT SPEAKER KYLE MARONEY. HE'S AT THE TOP. MR. MARONEY. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. ALRIGHT, GOOD. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON COUNSEL. UH, I'M KYLE MARONEY, A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF CGA IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON AND A MEMBER OF NAC AS NOTED BY THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE EARLIER THIS YEAR. CGA HAS THE LOWEST LIFE EXPECTANCY AT 65.7 YEARS IN HARRIS COUNTY, THE THIRD, THIRD LARGEST COUNTY BY POPULATION IN THE US CITY. GAS IS CLUSTERED NEAR OTHER CENSUS TRACTS THAT ALSO RANKS NEAR THE BOTTOM. IN ADDITION, DISTRICT B HAS A MEDIUM HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF $29,614. THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS INDICATES THAT THOSE WITH HIGHER INCOMES MOST LIKELY HAVE BETTER HEALTH OUTCOMES. I BET YOU'RE WONDERING, WELL, WHAT WHAT DOES LIFE EXPECTANCY INCOME AND HEALTH HAVE TO DO WITH FLOODING STUDIES BY SOCIOLOGISTS AS WELL AS CLIMATE SCIENTISTS? URBAN PLANNERS, E AND ECONOMICS, ECONOMICS SUGGEST THAT DISASTERS INCLUDING FLOODING EVENTS AND THE AID THAT FOLLOWS DISPROPORTIONATELY BENEFITS WEALTHIER AMERICANS. THE SAME IS ALSO TRUE ALONG RACIAL, RACIAL LINES WITH WHITE COMMUNITIES BENEFITING DISPROPORTIONATELY WITH THE RICH GETTING RICHER AND THE POOR GETTING POOR, POOR, EXCUSE ME, DEALING WITH FLOODING IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON IN AN AREA OF HOUSTON THAT HAS SIGNIFICANT HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND ECONOMIC CHALLENGES COULD BE A PHYSICAL OR FINANCIAL DEATH SENTENCE FOR SOME. YOU ALL AS COUNSEL, HAVE BEEN DULY ELECTED TO SERVICE LEADERS OF OUR RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS. OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A PEOPLE IS TO CALL YOU TO YOUR GREATNESS. THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE TIME AS ANY TO 70 YOUR GREATNESS AND MAKE A HISTORICAL INVESTMENT FOR DRAINAGE EQUITY IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON AND FOR OUR CITY TOMORROW, NOT NEXT YEAR, AND NOT WHEN IT IS POLITICALLY CONVENIENT BECAUSE THE LAST TIME THAT I CHECKED FLOODWATERS ADHERES TO NO ONE'S POLITICAL BOUNDARY. I URGE EACH OF YOU TO SUPPORT AMENDMENT 7.01, UH, PUT FORTH BY COUNCILWOMAN JACKSON, UH, TO INCREASE LOCAL DRAINAGE FUNDING BY $20 MILLION. I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. THIS COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS. THANK YOU. MEETING ADJOURNED YOU [RECESS] TOMORROW AT NINE O'CLOCK RECESSED UNTIL TOMORROW AT NINE O'CLOCK AND I'M SURE WE'LL SEE MANY OF YOU THERE. GOD BLESS. 18 20 21 AS ADMITTED. MY MOTION 20 22 3 18 PAST JUNE 15TH, 2022 TO INCREASE SPINNING AUTHORITY FOR PURCHASE OF HEAVY DUTY CAB AND CHASSIS MOUNTED WITH TRUCK BODIES THROUGH THEIR LOCAL AGREEMENT FOR COOPERATIVE PURCHASING WITH HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL FOR THE FLEET MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT ON BEHALF OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AWARDED TO HOUSTON FREIGHTLINER INC. ITEM EIGHT, AMEND MOTION NUMBER 2019 DASH 4 44 PAST SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2019 AS AMENDED BY MOTION 2022 DASH 2 22 PAST APRIL 27TH, 2022 TO INCREASE SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR PURCHASE OF SESSION INITIATION PROTOCOL TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES THROUGH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION RESOURCES FOR HOUSTON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES AWARDED TO VERIZON BUSINESS NETWORK SERVICES INC. ITEM NINE, AMEND MOTION 2022 DASH 5 85 PASSED NOVEMBER 30TH, 2022 TO INCREASE SPRINTING AUTHORITY FOR PURCHASE OF TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES THROUGH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION RESOURCES FOR HOUSTON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, WATER TO TEXT AND VENDOR TEXAS AGENCY NETWORK GENERATION ITEM 10 APPROVED SPRINTING AUTHORITY AND THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $9,853,788 AND NO CENTS FOR PURCHASE OF WIRED LINE TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES THROUGH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION RESOURCES FOR HOUSTON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, WATER TO TEXAN VENDOR AT AND T COURT. ITEM 11, AMEND MOTION 2020 DASH 50 PAST FEBRUARY 5TH, 2022. INCREASED SCREENING AUTHORITY FOR SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE OF TARIFF TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES FOR HOUSTON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES AWARDED TO SOUTHERN SOUTHWESTERN BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY DBA AT T AND T CORPORATION. [02:40:02] ITEM 12 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO SUBMIT A PROJECT APPLICATION TO HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT FOUR FOR THE CATALINA AREA DRAINAGE AND PAVING PROJECT. ITEM 13 ORDINANCE PROVIDING TO THE FOR THE CONTINUATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF ARTICLE SIX, A SECTION ONE OF THE CITY CHARTER ITEM 14 ORDINANCE RELATED TO THE FISCAL AFFAIRS OF THE CITY APPROVING THE ANNUAL BUDGETS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024. ITEM 15, ORDINANCE RATIFYING THE ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 ANNUAL BUDGETS RAISING MORE REVENUE FROM AVELO AND PROPERTY TAXES DUE TO INCREASED PROPERTY VALUATIONS. ITEM 16 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PAYMENT TO HOUSTON RECOVERY CENTER LGC FOR FULL FISCAL YEAR 2024. OPERATING EXPENSES PURSUANT TO AN INTER-LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON RECOVERY CENTER. LGC. THIS ITEM SHOULD ONLY BE PA ONLY BE CONSIDERED AFTER PASSAGE OF ITEM 14 ABOVE ITEM 17. ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING PAYMENT TO HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER, INC. FOR FULL FISCAL YEAR 2024. OPERATING EXPENSES PURSUANT TO THE FIRST INTER-LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY AND HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER, INC. THIS ITEM SHOULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED AFTER PASSED. ITEM 14 ABOVE ITEM 18. ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO TO LEASE AND DEVELOPMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL RELATED SERVICES COMPANY INC. PROVIDING AN EXPANSION OPTION AND TERM EXTENSIONS. ITEM 19 ORDINANCE APPROVAL AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF AN ELECTRONIC GRANT APPLICATION FOR AN ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS TO THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION. TDC FOR THE CITY'S IMMUNIZATION AND VACCINES FOR CHILDREN PROGRAM SERVICES GRANT. ITEM 20 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF AN ELECTRONIC GRANT APPLICATION FOR AN ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES FOR THE IMMUNIZATION STATE GRANT. ITEM 21 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING ACCEPTANCE OF A GRANT APPLICATION AND THE ACCEPTANCE OF A GRANT AWARD FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT FOR THE LEAD BASE HAZARD REDUCTION PROGRAM. ITEM 22, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AND A LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY. ITEM 23 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HUSH BLACKWELL, LLP ITEM 24 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND BAKER WATERING LLP ITEM 25 ORDINANCE AWARD AND CONTRACT ENCORE HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS LLC ITEM 26, ORDINANCE AWARDING CONTRACT TO GAMMA WEIGHT SYSTEMS LLC ITEM 27 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING RELATED AN AMENDED POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT. CONTRACT NUMBER 4 6 0 0 0 1 35 1 9 SLASH C 7 65 16 BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND SOLAR HOME ONE ONE LLC AND RELIANT ENERGY RETAIL SERVICES LLC ITEM 28. ORDINANCE APPROVAL AND AUTHORIZING THIRD AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND RELIANT ENERGY RETAIL SERVICES LLC ITEM 29 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING JOINT PARTICIPATION IN A LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS. ITEM 30 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE OF THE 900 BLOCK OF RIDGE STREET BETWEEN MISHAW AND JULIAN STREETS. ITEM 31 ORDINANCE RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NORTH SIDE OF THE THOU 1000 BLOCK OF EUCLID STREET SOUTH SIDE OF THE 1000 BLOCK OF WOODLAND STREET BETWEEN NORTH HILL BOULEVARD AND MISHAW STREET AND THE EAST SIDE OF THE 31 I NO, THE 3000 TO 3,100 BLOCK OF NOR HILL BOULEVARD BETWEEN BAYLAND AVENUE AND EUCLID STREET. ITEM 32 ORDINANCE RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EAST AND WEST SIDES OF THE SIX AND 700 BLOCK OF COURTLAND STREET BETWEEN WHITE OAK DRIVE AND EAST EIGHTH STREET. ITEM 33 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE WEST SIDE OF THE 5,300 BLOCK OF CALHOUN ROAD BETWEEN RIVERSIDE TREE PARK LANE AND NORTH ROSENE DRIVE. ITEM 34 ORDINANCE CONSENTED TO THE ADDITION OF 1.0243 ACRES OF LAND TO BAMA MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT. ITEM 35 ORDINANCE CONSENTED TO THE ADDITION OF 4 2 6 0.7 ACRES OF LAND TO HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 5 7 0 C ITEM 36. ORDINANCE PRESENTED TO THE ADDITION OF ONE 8.4732 ACRES OF LAND TO HARRIS COUNTY WATER CONTROL AND IMPROVEMENT. DISTRICT NUMBER 92 ITEM 37 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO TERMINATE THE ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT WITH CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. ITEM 38, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $3,098,000 IN NO CENTS OUT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL [02:45:01] ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND CDM SMITH INC. ITEM 39 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING TWO MILLION THREE HUNDRED FIFTY SIX THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED FORTY THREE THOUSAND FIFTY FIVE CENTS. ITEM METRO PROJECTS CONSTRUCTION, D-D-S-R-F AWARDING CONTRACT DG MEDINA CONSTRUCTION, LLC ITEM 40. ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $4,010,000 $10,265 AND NO CENTS OUT OF METRO PROJECTS CONSTRUCTION D-D-S-R-F AWARDING CONTRACTED TRAFFIC SYSTEMS CONSTRUCTION INC. ITEM 41 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING FIVE MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY ONE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED TWENTY THREE THOUSAND NO CENTS OUT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AWARD AND CONTRACT TO DL GLOVER UTILITIES LLC ITEM 42. ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $3,565,905 AND NO CENTS OUTTA WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AWARD AND CONTRACT TO VORTEX SERVICES LLC FOR WASTEWATER COLLECTION SYSTEM REHABILITATION AND RENEWAL. THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF JUNE 7TH, 2023. STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM IN THE WORDS OF OUR CURRENT CITY SECRETARY. I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED. HAVE A BLESSED AND FANTABULOUS DAY. THANK YOU MADAM SECRETARY, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE GRADUATES. [RECONVENE] ALRIGHT, GOOD MORNING. I AM SHOWING 9 0 5, UM, ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7TH, 2023. I'M MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER AND I'M CALLING THE THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO WATER. I OKAY, WE GOT A LOT OF PAPER MOVING AROUND TODAY. A FEW COMMENTS BEFORE WE GET INTO TODAY'S AGENDA. [MAYOR'S REPORT] UH, AS YOU ALL KNOW, ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THE, UH, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, UH, OPENED UP AN INVESTIGATION ON THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS IT RELATES TO ILLEGAL DUMPING. UM, THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF, UM, UM, CONVERSATION SHARING OF INFORMATION OVER THE PAST, UH, SEVERAL MONTHS. UM, AND THEN YESTERDAY, UM, WE HAD AN ANNOUNCEMENT WITH THE US ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR CIVIL RIGHTS CHRISTIAN CLARK, WHO CAME TO HOUSTON, UH, REGARDING THE, THE VOLUNTARY RESOLUTION, UM, OF THIS PARTICULAR MATTER. UM, UM, AND QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S A, UM, UH, INSTITUTIONALIZED ONE CLEAN HOUSTON THAT WE'VE PUT IN PLACE, YOU KNOW, ALREADY, UH, WHICH IS, UH, PRODUCING SOME, UM, VERY POSITIVE RESULTS. UM, SO, UM, WE'LL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD IN ADDRESSING, YOU KNOW, ILLEGAL DUMPING AND, UM, THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, BUT THAT MATTER, UM, FOR PRACTICAL PURPOSES HAS BEEN, UH, RESOLVED. UM, AND THEN IT'S JUST IMPORTANT, UH, THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON CONTINUE ITS COMMITMENT FOR ONE CLEAN HOUSTON, UH, THAT'S WORKING. UM, AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT THE AGREEMENT IS. UM, IT'S PRETTY MUCH ADOPTING WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY DONE, AND SO THERE'S NO NECESSITY FOR CONTINUING TO EXPEND LEGAL FEES. SO ALL OF THAT'S COMING TO, HAS COME TO AN END. UM, IN FACT, THAT WAS A MATTER THAT WE WERE ABOUT TO COME FORTH FOR ADDITIONAL LEGAL FEES ON THAT, SO YOU WON'T BE SAYING THAT. SO NO MORE LEGAL FEES ON THAT. AND NOW WE CAN FOCUS ON ADDRESSING THE, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, UH, WITHIN, WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO, UM, AND LET ME, UM, UH, SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE PARTIES. I WANT TO GIVE A BIG THANK YOU, UH, TO, UH, TO MICHELLE AND DEJA PENNY, THE LEGAL TEAM, UH, FOR JUST DOING SOME OUTSTANDING WORK. REALLY APPRECIATE THEM, UH, TO, UM, ALL OF THE DIRECTORS DIRECTOR WILL FARK WITH SOLID WASTE AND ALL OF OUR PARTNERS, UH, COMMUNITY LEADERS. UH, SO, UH, BIG THANKS TO ALL OF THEM. UH, TODAY AT 3:00 PM UM, UM, WE WILL JOIN THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATOR, UH, EMIT BOSE TO ANNOUNCE OR, OR REALLY TO TALK ABOUT THE CITY'S RAILROAD CROSSING AND EMANATION GRANT [02:50:01] AWARD OF $36.9 MILLION. UH, THE LARGEST RAILROAD CROSSING ELIMINATION GRANT AWARDED IN THE STATE. UM, THE FUNDING WAS MADE AVAILABLE BY THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW. UM, THE LOCATION FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT THIS AFTERNOON IS 2197 FRANKLIN STREET. AND IN ON, ON THIS NOTE, UM, I WANT TO, UM, UH, GIVE CREDIT, UH, TO COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS, UH, FOR HIS ADVOCACY. UH, HE'S BEEN A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR THE CITY, NOT JUST FOR HIS DISTRICT OR THE EAST END. AND, UM, SO THAT PUSH HAS, HAS LED TO, UH, THIS TAKING PLACE AND IT WILL BE A TREMENDOUS BENEFIT, UM, FOR BUSINESSES, FOR RESIDENTS, FOR PEOPLE, UH, LIVING ON THAT EAST END WHEN IT COMES TO RAILROAD CROSSINGS. SO, UH, THIS IS A, THIS IS A BIG DEAL ON SO MANY DIFFERENT FRONTS, UH, BECAUSE IT PROVIDES, UH, $37 MILLION TO ADDITIONAL FUNDING, UM, THAT WE CAN LEVERAGE, UH, TO REALLY ADDRESS THESE RAILROAD CROSSING. SO, UH, JUST HUGELY, I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT, UH, THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN PULLING DOWN A LOT OF THESE DOLLARS. SO IF YOU CAN REMEMBER THE RAISE GRANT. MM-HMM . SO THE WORK ON TELEPHONE ROAD, THAT WAS LIKE 21 MILLION, AND THEN IT WAS A SAFE STREET, SAFE ROAD GRANT OF 28, 20 $9 MILLION ON THIS AND THAT, UH, WHICH WAS, UH, CHARACTERIZED AS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS STREETS. THEN WE GOT THE RECONNECTING GRANT IN FEBRUARY OF 23. THAT'S ABOUT 550 SOME THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR PLANNING IN THE GOFTON AREA. AND THEN WE RECEIVED SOME $21 MILLION FOR, UH, ELECTRIFICATION OF OUR BUSES WITH METRO. UM, AND NOW THERE'S $37 MILLION, UH, FOR RAILROAD CROSSING. SO, UM, I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN QUITE SUCCESSFUL, UH, BUT IT'S WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH ALL OF OUR PARTNERS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. SO, UH, BIG THANK YOU TO THAT. UM, I'M REMINDED THAT THE GUN BUYBACK, UH, PROGRAM IS THIS SATURDAY, JUNE THE 10TH, UH, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT, ONE COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. THAT WOULD BE THIS SATURDAY, 8:00 AM TO NOON AT NRG, UH, STADIUM, THE YELLOW LOT. UM, SO, UH, HOPEFULLY PEOPLE WILL COME OUT AND PARTICIPATE IN MAKING THAT, UH, EVENT SUCCESSFUL. UM, AND AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK CHIEF AND HPD, UH, UH, AND HARRIS COUNTY FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP. I'M VERY EXCITED BY OUR HARRIS HOUSTON YOUTH PROGRAM. UM, YOU KNOW, UM, WHEN YOU LOOK AT MANY OF OUR CRIME STATS, THEY'RE DRIVEN BY THAT POPULATION, 16 TO 24 YEARS OF AGE. UH, OUR SUMMER JOBS PROGRAM, HOWARD HOUSTON YOUTH, UM, THE FOCUS IS 16 TO 24, UM, EIGHT YEARS AGO. AND WHEN WE STARTED, THE CITY WAS OFFERING 450 SUMMER INTERNS, AND THEY WERE ALL CITY INTERNS, UM, AND NOT WITH WORKING WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR. UM, AS OF TODAY, WE'RE WORKING WITH ABOUT 500 BUSINESSES, AND WE ARE ABOUT, UM, 3000 SHY OF 20,000 SUMMER PAID JOB. UM, FOR THIS YEAR. IT WILL BE THE LARGEST NUMBER IN, UH, IN OUR 80 YEARS. UM, THE CITY IS PROVIDING 450 OF THOSE JOBS, BUT THE REMAINING, UM, LET'S SAY 17, 18,000 JOBS ARE COMING FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR. SO, UM, I WANT TO GIVE A, A SHOUT OUT ON THIS TO OLIVE VERY GIANT KOSKA, UH, TO JANE CHEEKS AND HER TEAM. UH, AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS ON HER EFFORTS, UH, COUNCIL, EIGHT YEARS AGO YOU STARTED THAT DRIVE DEALING WITH OUR YOUTH AND WORKING WITH OUR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS WHERE, UH, IT'S REALLY, THE TREE IS REALLY BEARING A LOT OF FRUIT. UM, SO, UM, AS, AS WE SAID YESTERDAY AT A PRESS CONFERENCE WITH, UH, KAREN AND ELVIN SHABAS COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE FOR A 17-YEAR-OLD TO BE, UH, ROBIN OR STEALING WHEN A 17-YEAR-OLD CAN GET ONLINE AND GET A JOB AND GET PAID FOR IT AND GET ALL THE OTHER BENEFITS AS WELL. SO, UM, THERE ARE ALL ALTERNATIVES OUT THERE, POSITIVE ALTERNATIVES, BUT I WANT TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF THE BUSINESSES, THE 500 BUSINESSES THAT HAVE COME FORWARD PROVIDING JOBS, AND IN MANY CASES, THEY'RE PAYING MORE THAN WHAT WE, WE ARE ASKING THEM TO PAY. SO, UM, TO, UM, THE INTERNAL TEAM AND OUR OUTSIDE PARTNERS, [02:55:01] UM, THE GREATEST HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP, UH, LET ME THANK THEM, UH, FOR THE HIGHER HOUSTON PROGRAM. UH, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS IS HOSTING A TEXAS WOMEN VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION HONORING, UM, UH, THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WOMEN'S ARMED SERVICES INTEGRATION ACT, UH, WHICH IS A UNITED STATES LAW THAT ENABLE WOMEN TO SERVE AS PERMANENT REGULAR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES. AND THE HONOREES RANGE FROM 75 TO 104 YEARS OF AGE. WOW. UM, THE EVENT WOULD TAKE PLACE MONDAY, JUNE THE 12TH AT 1:00 PM IN THE CITY HALL LEGACY ROOM, SO THAT THIS IS WOMEN'S VETERAN DAY, TEXAS WOMEN'S VETERAN DAY CELEBRATION. THAT'S THIS COMING MONDAY, ONE O'CLOCK, THE LEGACY ROOM. AND THIS EFFORT IS BEING LED BY DR. LASANDRA JONES AND, AND DIRECTOR ROBERT DEMBO IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF VETERAN AND MILITARY AFFAIRS. AND LEMME JUST SAY THIS, THIS MAY BE, UM, UH, ONLY TWO PEOPLE IN THAT, BUT THEY ARE DOING, UH, A FANTASTIC JOB. SO DIRECTOR DEBO AND DR. JONES, UM, AND DIRECTOR DEBO IS A NAVY VETERAN, AND DR. JONES, HE IS A MARINE AND THEY ARE REALLY TACKLING THE HILL. SO, UM, A LOT OF CREDIT. A LOT OF CREDIT. YEAH. YOU CAN GET, COME ON, YOU CAN GIVE THEM A LOT OF CREDIT TO THOSE TOO. AND THEN, UH, UH, THIS IS JUNE IS PRIDE MONTH. AND SO, UH, THERE ARE A LOT OF ACTIVITIES PLANNED, UH, IN THE MONTH OF JUNE. I THINK THE PRIDE PARADE IS JUNE THE 2020 FOURTH. JUNE 24TH. UM, SO, UM, IT LET ME ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME OUT AND BE SUPPORTIVE. UM, AND IT'S HIGHLY DIVERSE, SO, UM, AND FESTIVE, AND IT'S JUST A, UM, A VERY ENJOYABLE EVENT. BUT THIS IS PRIDE MONTH, AND SO WE, WE WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO ALL THE MEMBERS ABOUT OUR L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY AND, UM, AND LOOK FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING WITH THEM. SO, UH, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO, UM, COVER MY ANNOUNCEMENTS, UH, UH, COMMENTS FOR THIS MORNING. AND, UH, AND AGAIN, UM, I'M GONNA LIFT ALL OF THESE THINGS UP. UM, HAVING SAID THAT, UH, NOW WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. YES. I'M SORRY. COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, THOMAS, THANK YOU, UM, FOR THIS PERSONAL POINT OF PRIVILEGE. I WANNA, OH, YES. YEAH. LET ME RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS FROM, UH, POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING, COLLEAGUES. BEFORE THE AGENDA GETS AWAY FROM US, I WANTED TO INTRODUCE MY STUDENTS THAT ARE IN CHAMBER. THEY'RE, UH, SUMMER ONE HAS STARTED AT PRAIRIE VIEW A AND M AND, UM, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT POLITICS HAS BEGUN. CAN Y'ALL STAND UP, PLEASE? UM, AND SO THEIR FIRST ASSIGNMENT IS A CITY BUDGET. AND SO I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE DEDRICK ROBERTS, WHO'S MY GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT, WHO'S ALSO AN ARMY VETERAN. I WANNA THANK HIM FOR HIS SERVICE. UM, WE, UM, AND HIS BACKGROUND IS GIS AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, JADA JOHNSON, UM, ANIMAL SCIENCE. SO SHE'LL LOVE THE BARK CONVERSATION COMING UP SOON. UH, SHE'S A GRADUATE OF THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, AND WE HAVE RAINY BARTLEY WHO'S AN ARCHITECT, AND, UM, APPRECIATE THEIR WORK. AND THEN ONLINE WE HAVE WATCHING, UH, JEFFREY BARNETT BARNETT, APRIL TOMPKINS, AND CARLETTA JONES OUT OF FORT WORTH. AND THEY'RE ALL ASSIGNED TO PARTICULAR COUNCIL MEMBER AMENDMENTS, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, AND COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, THAT'S THEIR, UM, WORK TODAY. SO, UH, YOU KNOW, DON'T PUT ON TOO MUCH OF A SHOW COLLEAGUES, BUT THEY ARE LEARNING, SO I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM TODAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR TURNER. THANK YOU. OH, YOU ALL ARE IN CLASS TODAY. OH, OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT, WELL, WELCOME. WELCOME, AND, UM, LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR FUTURES AS WELL. BUT YOU GOT AN EXCELLENT PROFESSOR AND THAT'S OVER THERE. SO, UM, OKAY. ALRIGHT, [CONSENT AGENDA] MADAM SECRETARY, LET'S PROCEED WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE ACCEPTABLE CATEGORY. ITEM ONE HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION ABUSE CATEGORY. ITEM FOUR HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED A MOTION ON THE BALANCE. CASTEX TATUM, MOVE SECOND, ROBINSON, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED ON ITEMS, UH, TWO, THREE, AND THEN FIVE THROUGH 11. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED AND GRANTED UNDER THE RESOLUTION CATEGORY. ITEM 12. JUST NEEDS A VOTE. CASTEX TATUM, MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANT UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY. ITEM 22 HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED AND WILL BE CONSIDERED IF IT IS RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING. ITEMS REMOVED, SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ARE 14 THROUGH 17, 26 THROUGH 29 AND 37. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 14 THROUGH 17, 26 [03:00:01] THROUGH 29 AND 37. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE. UH, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED. OKAY, [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] I MOVE. SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEM NUMBER ONE NEEDS A MOTION CAST. T MOVED. SECOND ROBINSON. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED ON ITEM ONE. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSE GRANTED. ITEM NUMBER FOUR NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX TATUM, MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON MOVED AND SECONDED ON ITEM FOUR. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED. ITEM 14 IS AN ORDER. JUST NEED A VOTE. UM, ITEM 14, WE'RE READY TO VOTE. UM, ALL IN FAVOR, ? YEAH, I WISH I TELL YOU THIS. UM, OKAY. JUST A FEW COMMENTS BEFORE BEFORE WE TURN TO THE AMENDMENTS ON THE BUDGET. UM, THIS WILL FOR, FOR, FOR, FOR FOR ME, THIS WILL BE THE, THE FINAL BUDGET, UM, THAT I WILL BE, UM, PRESENTING TO, TO, UM, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. AND THEN FOR SEVERAL OF US, THIS WILL BE THE FINAL BUDGET THAT WE WILL BE VOTING ON, UH, AS MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. UM, IN THIS, UH, PROPOSED BUDGET, UM, IT'S, UH, ALL FUNDS TOTALED ABOUT 6.2 BILLION, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 300 AND ROUGHLY 380 MILLION. UM, BUT A LARGE PART OF THAT IS DUE TO THE INTER ENTERPRISE FUND ACCOUNT, UH, FOR 199 MILLION OF THE 379 MILLION INCREASE, PRIMARILY IN THE COMBINED, COMBINED UTILITY FUND DUE TO THE A HIGHER O AND M COST. UM, WHAT WE HAVE TRIED TO, AND THEN, UM, THE OTHER PART AND THE SPENDING PROPOSED GENERAL FUND BUDGET OF 2.9 BILLION REFLECT AN INCREASE IN SPENDING OF 120 MILLION OR 4.3%, UH, FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 23 CURRENT BUDGET OF 2.8. UM, BUT A LARGE PART OF THAT IS DRIVEN BY THE PAY INCREASES TO ALL THREE EMPLOYEE GROUPS. POLICE, UH, FIRE ANDAL. UH, I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, THAT IN THIS BUDGET IS ANOTHER 6% PAY RANGE FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS, AND THIS IS THE THIRD OF THREE. SO, UH, WITH THIS BUDGET, WE WILL HAVE GIVEN OUR FIREFIGHTERS AN 18%, UH, PAY RAISE. AND I WANT, I DON'T WANT THAT TO GET LOST IN ALL OF THIS CONVERSATION. UM, UH, SO IN THIS BUDGET, IT IS A SIX, SIX, 6% INCREASE, UH, TO, TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS. UH, 47. THERE'S A 47 MILLION INCREASE IN TRANSFERS, UH, TO THE D-D-S-R-E-F TO SUPPORT STREETS AND DRAINAGE PROJECTS. UH, AS WE CONTINUE TO PAY DOWN THE DEBT, WHICH INITIALLY WAS 2.4, UH, BILLION DOLLARS. AND NOW, UH, THAT DEBT HAS, UH, WE PAID THAT DEBT DOWN. UM, UH, WELL, IT HAS DECREASED BY 700, WELL, MORE THAN IT'S JUST DOWN TO ABOUT SIX, $700 MILLION. SO WE'VE MADE A SUBSTANTIAL RE REDUCTION. AND AS WE REDUCE THE DEBT, MORE DOLLARS FLOW TO THE D-D-S-R-F. UM, SO, UM, WE ARE, WE ARE MAKING POSITIVE STEPS IN THAT DIRECTION, AND THE BUDGET IS ALSO ADDITIONAL DOLLARS TO THE MAINTENANCE RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT FUND, UH, ABOUT $11.3 MILLION. AND THAT'S TO DEAL WITH THE ONGOING MAINTENANCE THAT WE HAVE AROUND HERE. SO WE ARE PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO THE MAINTENANCE RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT FUND. UM, AND THE TOTAL NOUN IN THAT FUND IS RIGHT AT $43 MILLION FOR MAINTENANCE AROUND HERE AT CITY HALL. AND I KNOW COUNCILMAN MANCO, THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE BEEN HIGHLIGHTING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. UH, WHEN WE CAME IN, WHEN CAME INTO OFFICE THERE, THE, UH, UH, CREDIT RATING AGENCIES NOTED THREE STRUCTURAL, UH, BARRIERS TO CITY FACE. ONE WAS PENSION. IF YOU CAN RECALL, $8.2 BILLION UNFUNDED LIABILITY. UM, BASED ON THE CHANGES, THE REFORMS THAT WE'VE BEEN MADE APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATURE AND THE VOTERS, UH, THAT UNFUNDED LIABILITY HAS REDUCED, UH, FROM 8.2 BILLION DOWN TO A LITTLE BELOW 2.2 BILLION, MORE THAN A $6 BILLION DROP IN THE UNFUNDED LIABILITIES. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN ON AN ANNUAL BASIS? WHEN IT CAME TO BUDGET TIME, UH, WE WERE HAVING TO SPEND AS [03:05:01] MUCH AS THREE 50 TO $400 MILLION ANNUALLY FOR PENSION FUNDS, UH, PEN UNFUNDED PENSION OBLIGATIONS. SINCE THE REFORMS HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE, UH, WE HAVE NOT HAD TO PAY ABOUT $1.7 BILLION, UH, TO REDUCE THOSE UNFUNDED PENSION OBLIGATIONS, WHICH MEANS WE WOULD'VE HAD TO COME UP WITH THAT IN OUR BUDGET TO ADDRESS THAT. SO THE COST AVOIDANCE HAS BEEN ABOUT 1.7 BILLION, WHICH IS HUGE. AND SO PENSION, HAVING TO PAY THOSE ANNUAL PENSION COSTS HAVE NOT CROWDED OUT EVERYTHING ELSE. AND SO I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS, UH, FOR PARTICIPATING TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. SO THAT WAS THE UNFUNDED PENSION LIABILITIES. THAT WAS ONE. THE SECOND ONE WAS OPE, THE OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. AND IF WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING OVER 30 YEARS, THAT UNFUNDED LIABILITY WOULD BE CLOSE TO $9 BILLION, IF NOT MORE. UH, WITH YOU ALL'S HELP. WE MADE SOME REFORMS LAST YEAR THAT PRE PRESENTED, PRODUCED ABOUT $4.5 BILLION IN SAVINGS. UM, BUT STILL, IT WAS STILL HIGHER THAN WHAT IT WANTED IT TO BE. AND WE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ESTABLISHING AN A TRUST, UH, MAYOR PROTE, UH, UH, REALLY SPOKE UP FOR THAT. COUNCILMAN SPOKE UP ABOUT THAT. AND SO IN THIS BUDGET, UH, WE HAVE CREATED THAT WE ARE CREATING THAT TRUST AND THERE'S $10 MILLION BEING PUT TO START THAT TRUST, AND IT WILL REQUIRE CONTINUOUS PAYMENTS, AND THOSE PAYMENTS WILL INCREMENTALLY INCREASE. BUT IF WE, IF WE STAY ON COURSE, THEN WE WOULD BE DROPPING THAT UNFUNDED LIABILITY FOR OPE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO $1.1 BILLION. THAT WOULD BE HUGE. AND I WANNA SAY THAT BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO MAKE THOSE PAYMENTS EVERY YEAR, AND I'M GONNA SAY IN ADVANCE, I KNOW THAT THERE, UH, IS AN AMENDMENT TO TAKE LIKE 1% OF THE FUND BALANCE AND SET IT ASIDE, BUT FACTOR IN AND FOR THE TRUST, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE PAYMENTS EVERY SINGLE YEAR. SO INCREASING. SO YOU DON'T WANT TO PUT YOURSELF IN A POSITION WHERE YOU'RE SEGMENTING DOLLARS OFF OF THE FUND BALANCE WHEN YOU ARE NEEDING THESE TO, TO PAY DOWN THE, THE UNFUNDED LIABILITIES, WHICH WILL END UP BEING A COST SAVER. SO BY INVESTING HERE OVER THE LONG HAUL, WE WILL BE SAVING DOLLARS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO THAT'S WHY, UH, I WOULD ASK YOU NOT TO SEGMENT OFF LIKE 1%. UM, AND I KNOW I'M SEEKING THE COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, YOU KNOW? OH, SHE'S SMILING. GOOD. SO ANYWAY, WE HAVE CREATED THE TRUST, AND AGAIN, THAT DEALS WITH THE SECOND LEG OF THE STRUCTURAL BARRIERS. THE THIRD ONE IS THE REVENUE CAP. IT IS WHAT IT IS ON THAT. UH, BUT WHAT I, WHAT I WILL SAY IS BECAUSE OF THE, THE, UM, THE REVENUE CAP, THE EFFECT ON THIS FISCAL YEAR IS A LOSS OF ABOUT $347 MILLION BECAUSE OF THE REVENUE CAP OVER AND OVER THE LA SINCE IT'S BEEN IMPLEMENTED, 2015 WHEN WE'VE BEEN HITTING THE CAP, UH, THE LOSS HAS BEEN ABOUT 1.5 TO $1.7 BILLION. BUT IN THIS FISCAL YEAR, FISCAL YEAR 24 ALONE, THE FULL IMPACT OF THE CAP WOULD RESULT IN THE LOSS OF $347 MILLION. UM, AND YEAH, SINCE HITTING THE CAP IN FISCAL YEAR 2015, THE FULL CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF THE CAP IS $1.8 BILLION. SO, UM, YOU KNOW, IT IS WHAT IT IS, WHAT IT IS. UM, THERE'S BEEN, UH, LET'S SAY WITH RESPECT TO THE OPERA FUNDING, THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT IN 50, IN FISCAL YEAR 22 AND 50 YEAR IN FISCAL YEAR 23, THE OPERA FUNDING HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL. BUT I WILL TELL YOU, EVEN IN THE ABSENCE OF THE OPERA FUNDING, UH, WE WOULD STILL BE ABLE TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET. OKAY. SO IF YOU JUST TOOK THE OPERA FUNDING AWAY FOR FISCAL YEAR 24, THIS BUDGET WOULD STILL BALANCE. WHERE THE OPERA FUNDING HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IS IN ADDRESSING, FOR EXAMPLE, ONE SAFE HOUSTON OVER TIME FOR OUR POLICE, UH, ADDICT TECHNOLOGY CRISIS INTERVENTION. AND THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT FOR LIKE CRISIS INTERVENTION, MENTAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, UM, THE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAMS, UH, UH, WE PROVIDED FUNDING OVER THE NEXT TWO TO THREE YEARS OF OPERA FUNDING. SO IT WON'T BE EVEN PULLING ON THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET THAT'S COMING THROUGH ON ONE CLEAN HOUSTON, [03:10:01] UH, WITH THE CONTRACTORS THAT WE ARE USING. UH, WE'VE ALLOCATED DOLLARS FROM OPERA FUNDING FOR, UH, MOST OF THE ELEMENTS IN ONE CLEAN HOUSTON, SO IT WON'T HAVE TO COME FROM YOUR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. SO THAT'S HOW WE ARE USING THE OPERA, OPERA FUNDING, UH, WHICH WILL HELP ON THOSE TYPE OF INITIATIVES. UM, BUT I'M PLEASED TO SAY THAT WE RESPECT, UM, THE BUDGETS THAT WE HAVE PRESENTED, OR THE LAST SEVERAL, WELL, THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, AND EVEN THIS BUDGET, UH, IT'S BEEN VERY, VERY CONSERVATIVE. 'CAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, UH, WE WERE CONSERVATIVE ON OUR SALES TAX PROJECTIONS. AND EVERY SINGLE MONTH EXCEEDED, WE HAVE EXCEEDED, UH, IN TERMS OF WHAT HAVE COME IN BEYOND OUR PROJECTIONS. NOT JUST ONE OR TWO MONTHS, BUT IN EVERY SINGLE MONTH, BECAUSE WE DID BUDGET LOW SALES, TAX REVENUES HAVE BEEN HIGHER. NOW, THE HOPE IS THAT IT WILL CONTINUE, BUT IF, YOU KNOW, IF NOT, WE SHALL SEE. BUT WE HAVE PUT FORTH A CONSERVATIVE BUDGET. ANOTHER ELEMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, ON POPULATION INCREASE, WE BUDGETED VERY CONSERVATIVELY BECAUSE WE ANTICIPATED ZERO GROWTH IN POPULATION. WELL, WHEN THE NUMBERS CAME IN, WE HAD GROWN, WE HAD GROWN SOME, AND AS A RESULT, WE, WE ARE NOW ADDING, I THINK, NINE OR SO MILLION DOLLARS MORE TO THE BUDGET IN THAT RED LINE BECAUSE WE DID BUDGET CONSERVATIVELY. UH, AND SO I WANT TO GIVE EVEN FROM THE BEGINNING, UH, A GREAT DEAL OF CREDIT TO WILL JONES AND HIS ENTIRE FINANCE TEAM, UH, FOR JUST DOING AN AM AN AMAZING JOB, UM, IN, IN MOVING THINGS FORWARD. MM-HMM . AND SO, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO ONE SAFE AND ONE SAFE, HOUSTON, LEMME JUST SAY THIS, I HAVE TO HAVE ONE SAFE, ONE SAFE. HOUSTON IS WORKING. UH, I HAD A CALL YESTERDAY, TALKED TO A REPORTER FROM WALL STREET JOURNAL BECAUSE HE CALLED AND SAID, MAYOR, LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, HAS THE, UH, IS NUMBER ONE AT THIS POINT IN YOUR, UM, VIOLENT CRIME, HOMICIDE REDUCTION, YOU KNOW, UM, AND WE WANNA HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT IT. BUT IN TERMS OF HOMICIDE REDUCTION, UH, AS OF YESTERDAY, IT WAS 22%. IT WAS 21% THIS MORNING. BUT SOME 40 MURDERS, LESS HOMICIDES, LESS THAN LAST YEAR, AND 40, LESS THAN 2021. SO NOT JUST 22. SO HOMICIDES ARE DOWN 21%, UH, I WANNA SAY, UH, DON'T HAVE MY NUMBERS, BUT OVERALL CRIME AS WHERE WE ARE TODAY IS DOWN FOR VIOLENT CRIME DOWN 14%. WE ARE DOWN IN AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS. WE ARE DOWN IN BURGLARIES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. NOW, WHERE WE HAVE THESE, UH, SPIKES, AS CHIEF NER SAID, WILL MAKE THE ADJUSTMENTS TO DEAL WITH THAT. UM, BUT, UM, THE NUMBERS ARE TRENDING AND THEY'RE BEING NOTICED NATIONALLY. AND SO, AGAIN, HUGE SHOUT OUT, UH, TO, UH, TO HPD AND TO CHIEF CENTER. BUT IN EVERY BUDGET SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE, WE HAVE PUT FORWARD THE BUDGET PAYING FOR AT LEAST FIVE CADET CLASSES. YOU WILL FIND THAT IN THIS BUDGET AS WELL, FIVE CADET CLASSES. AND I WILL SAY TO YOU THAT OVER THE LAST, UH, EIGHT YEARS TOGETHER, WE HAVE HIRED, UH, MORE THAN ABOUT 2,400 POLICE OFFICERS, OKAY? AND THE PROBLEM THAT WE ARE FACING IS WHEN WE CAME IN EIGHT YEARS AGO, 39% OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS WERE ELIGIBLE TO RETIRE. WE HAVE JUST BEEN FORTUNATE THAT THEY'VE STAYED. OKAY? SO AS WE REDUCE THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS WHO WERE ELIGIBLE TO RETIRE AND CONTINUE TO HIRE, THEN THE NUMBERS THAT WILL START TO INCREASE. BUT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OFFICERS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE TO RETIRE. SO I WANTED, WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, THAT, THAT PORTION I'VE ALREADY DEALT WITH THE, UH, UH, THE, UH, PENSIONS AND OPE. UM, AND THEN LEMME JUST SAY THIS ON THE FUND BALANCE, UM, THIS IS THE HIGHEST FUND BALANCE THAT WE ARE PRESENTING, UH, HAVE PRESENTED IN IN THE EIGHT YEARS. THIS ONE IS HIGHEST, IT'S THE HIGHEST. IT'S EVEN WITH WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING. THE ADDITIONAL THINGS BEYOND, UH, WHAT WE LAID OUT AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE. UH, WELL, WE SAID AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE, THE, THE, THE FUND BALANCE WAS LIKE 16.6%, WHICH WAS, UM, UH, ABOUT 400 AND, UH, $5 MILLION. UM, [03:15:01] AND, UM, ROUGHLY 220 MILLION ABOVE THE PAY AS YOU GO, THE 7.5%. UM, AND THEN YOU ARE GOING TO SEE SOME RED LINE CHANGES, $20 MILLION, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, UH, THAT WE ARE PUTTING FORTH, UM, $1.8 MILLION IN SIDEWALKS. UM, UM, THERE'S ANOTHER MILLION, I THINK LIKE JUST FOR, UM, UM, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFFING. BUT THE POINT IS, EVEN WITH ALL OF THOSE CHANGES, THE FUND BALANCE AT THE END WILL STILL BE ABOUT 16.6, UH, UM, PERCENT. OKAY. WHICH, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT MEANS THAT AS, UH, WE GO INTO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR WITH A NEW MAYOR AND, AND WITH MANY OF YOU ALL WHO WILL STILL BE HERE, AND OTHERS WHO WILL JOIN, YOU'RE NOT STARTING OFF, UH, WHERE, UH, I STARTED OFF AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO CAME IN WITH ME, UH, $160 MILLION IN THE WHOLE. UH, AND SO WE ARE MOVING FORWARD, UH, AND THE FUND BALANCE IS STRONG. UM, AND I'M ENCOURAGING EVERYONE TO DO AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO KEEP IT, TO KEEP IT THAT WAY. IN ADDITION TO A HEALTHY FUND BALANCE. AND I KNOW I WAS LISTENING TO SOME PEOPLE, I DON'T KNOW WHY PEOPLE ALWAYS WANNA BE NEGATIVE. THEY WERE SAYING THE FUND BALANCE MAN, THE FUND BALANCE MAYOR SAY, IS, IS A, IS A, UM, HEALTHY FUND BALANCE. WELL, WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT ALL THAT. WELL, THE NUMBERS ARE WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE. IT'S A FUND, IT'S A HEALTHY FUND BALANCE. AND THE NUMBERS ARE, UH, ARE ACCENTED BY THE FACT THAT WHEN YOU GO TO THE BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND, THE BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND HAS MORE MONEY THAN IT, THAN IT HAS WHEN I CAME IN EIGHT YEARS AGO. SO IT'S $24 MILLION IN THE BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND. WE'VE NEVER HAD THAT GOING INTO THE HURRICANE SEASON. SO NOT ONLY IS THE FUND BALANCE AT ABOUT 16%, NOT ONLY HAVE WE REDUCED OPE, BUT THE ECONOMIC STABILIZATION FUND IS FULLY FUNDED BECAUSE THAT'S THAT 1%, THAT'S THE, THAT'S THAT 1% THAT GOES TO THE ECONOMIC STABILIZATION FUND. UH, AND WHAT MAKES THE FUND BALANCE EVEN, UM, REAL, MORE REAL IS THAT IN THIS BUDGET, WE ARE NOT DRAWING DOWN FROM THE FUND BALANCE. AND THERE ARE NO ONE TIME LAND SALES AND THERE ARE NO DEFERRALS. SO YOU DON'T HAVE DEFERRALS, THERE'S NO LAND SALES THAT'S MAKING THE FUND BALANCE. UM, SO IT IS, UM, IT'S ONE THAT I THINK WE CAN ALL BE VERY PROUD OF. UM, AND THEN, UM, IN TERMS OF HOW WE HANDLED THE BUDGET, UH, NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME, UM, WE ARE ENGAGED IN, UH, WE CHANGED THE, UH, HOW WE, UM, LAYING OUT THE BUDGET OUTCOME-BASED BUDGETING, WHICH GIVES YOU A DEEPER DIVE INTO THESE DEPARTMENTS. AND AGAIN, I WANNA THANK WILL JONES, UH, FOR HIS WORK ON, ON, ON THE OUTCOME BASED BUDGETING. SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT I, I WANTED, I WANTED TO, UM, OUTCOME BASED BUDGETING. YEAH, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO, UH, TO, TO HIGHLIGHT. AND, UM, I WANTED TO, UH, THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, UH, FOR, FOR YOUR WORK AND FOR YOUR THOUGHTS AND YOUR INPUT IN PRODUCING, UM, UH, THE BUDGET THAT IS BEFORE YOU. SO, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KASH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I'VE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT, UH, SENATE BILL 7 36. IT'S NOW SIGNED INTO LAW AND THERE'S GONNA BE, UH, ARBITRATION AND THERE'S GONNA BE, WE'RE GONNA BE MANDATED TO PAY WE POSSIBLY SOMETHING. AND, UH, HOW ARE WE GONNA TAKE CARE OF THAT, UH, LOOMING, UH, AMOUNT? WILL YOU, WILL YOU PAY IT OUT OF THE, UH, GENERAL FUND, UH, FUND BALANCE? HAVE, HAVE YOU MADE, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT OR WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR? WELL, THE PEOPLE WHO PASSED IT SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT BEFORE THEY PASSED IT. WELL, I, I, BUT IT'S PASSED, SO LET ME JUST, LEMME JUST, I DIDN'T VOTE ON IT. I KNOW, BUT I, I KNOW. BUT LEMME JUST SAY, WHEN PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT SITTING IN THESE CHAIRS ARE VOTING ON THINGS THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT THIS BUDGET, THEY SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THE PEOPLE OF CITY OF HOUSTON AND CITY SERVICES. UM, NOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOME OF SENATE BILL 7 36 WILL BE. UM, BUT IF IT IS A, UM, A COST TO THE CITY, THEN YEAH, THEN YOUR FUND BALANCE COULD BE IN QUESTION, [03:20:01] BUT I CAN ONLY WILL, WILL, WILL WE HAVE TO COME BACK AND, AND, AND REDO THE BUDGET? OR WILL THERE BE A, AN AMENDMENT OR, NO, NOT, NOT THIS YEAR, NO. YOU'LL DEAL WITH IT IF WHOEVER'S SITTING IN THESE CHAIRS NEXT YEAR WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT. SO WHATEVER THE OUTCOME WILL BE, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING TO COME TO FORTH AND DEAL WITH THE NEXT BUDGET, WE'LL HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT. WELL, A LOT OF 'EM ARE SITTING AT THE TABLE RIGHT NOW. I'M NOT. I WON'T BE. WELL, ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT IF YOU WANT TO BE FISCALLY PRUDENT IN AUSTIN, YOU DON'T TAKE MEASURES THAT'S GOING TO ADVERSELY IMPACT THE CITY'S BUDGET WHEN YOU HAVEN'T EVEN LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND KNOW WHAT'S THERE. THAT'S BAD MANAGEMENT. SO SOMETIMES PEOPLE DEMONSTRATE THEIR MANAGEMENT EVEN BEFORE THEY SIT IN THE CHAIR. MAYOR, CAN YOU GET, AND I WANT THAT TO SINK IN TO YOU NOW, , I WANT THAT TO SINK. I WANT THAT TO SINK IN BECAUSE WHOEVER SITS IN THIS CHAIR HAS TO MANAGE THE FINANCES OF THIS CITY. AND IF YOU ALREADY TAKING STEPS TO ENGAGE IN MISMANAGEMENT, FISCAL MISMANAGEMENT, THEN THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GONNA GET WHEN YOU GET HERE. WE HAVE WORKED TOO HARD TO GET TO THIS POINT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT SITTING HERE AND NOT LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD TO DO THINGS THAT MAY BE POLITICALLY ATTRACTIVE, BUT FISCALLY HURTFUL. AND SO PEOPLE IN THIS CITY BETTER THINK ABOUT IT. AND FOR ANYBODY TO SAY WE HAVE DISRESPECTED FIREFIGHTERS OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS, THAT'S A LIE. THAT'S A LIE. YOU LOOK AT THE EQUIPMENT, WHEN WE CAME IN, PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE EQUIPMENT. WE HAVE PURCHASED MORE EQUIPMENT, OKAY? YOU LOOK AT THE FACILITIES, THE BUILDINGS WE HAVE ADDRESSED THAT, YOU LOOK AT THE CADET PAY, WE HAVE ADDRESSED THAT. AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FIREFIGHTERS THEMSELVES WERE NOT HURT ON THEIR PAY. WE'VE ADDRESSED THAT. OKAY? THOSE ARE THINGS WE'VE ADDRESSED. BUT TO IMPOSE ON THIS CITY, AN ARBITRATOR WHO'S NOT SITTING HERE WITH NO GUARDRAILS ON IT, COUNCIL MEMBER KUBAN, WHATEVER THE OUTCOME MAY BE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE, THE RESOLUTION MAY COME ON THIS SIDE OF THE YEAR, BUT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT IN YOUR NEXT BUDGET. ALL I ALL WE CAN DO. AND, AND FROM A PERSONAL, THE ONLY THING THAT I CAN DO IS TO HAND OFF TO THE NEXT MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, A BUDGET THAT IS, UH, WITH A HEALTHY FUND BALANCE, WHERE THE BUDGET ECONOMIC STABILIZATION FUND IS FULLY FUNDED, WHERE WE HAVE REDUCED UNFUNDED PENSION OBLIGATIONS, WHERE WE'VE TAKEN STEPS TO REDUCE THE UNFUNDED LIABILITIES OF, OF THE OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND A BUDGET THAT THE CREDIT RATING AGENCIES ARE LOOKING AT. OKAY? OKAY. AND QUITE FRANKLY, THEY'RE LOOKING AT IT FAVORABLY. SO WHY WOULD ANYBODY WANNA DO ANYTHING TO JEOPARDIZE THAT IF YOU'RE FISCALLY PRUDENT? NOW, THERE ARE A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS YOU PEOPLE CAN DO, UM, THAT MAY BE POLITICALLY ATTRACTIVE, BUT DOESN'T MEAN THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THIS CITY. AND LEMME TELL YOU, FOR ALL OF US, THE HARDEST PART SOMETIMES IS JUST TO SAY NO, EVEN TO YOUR FRIENDS, BUT IT'S A PART OF SITTING IN THIS CHAIR OR ANYBODY'S CHAIR. SO ANYWAY, THAT'S ENOUGH FOR THAT. I DON'T WANNA GET A CAUGHT BACK. MARY MAY RECLAIM JUST A LITTLE BIT OF MY TIME. OH, ABSOLUTELY. YEAH, SURE. WE'RE ON THE BUDGET. , WE ON THE BUDGET BE GOOD. THAT WAS A REALLY GOOD SPEECH, MAYOR, BUT I THINK IT WAS FOR THE FOLKS SITTING IN AUSTIN, BUT MOST OF IT, BUT, UH, I, MY CONCERN IS, YOU, YOU HAVEN'T UPDATED THIS ON, HAVE WE SELECTED OUR, OUR ARBITRATOR THERE, THERE'S GONNA BE THREE, RIGHT? NO, THAT'S, THAT'S A PROCESS. AND I KNOW I, I THINK ATTORNEY MICHELLE CAN EXPLAIN. I MEAN, UH, ATTORNEY MICHELLE, YOU WANT TO KIND OF JUST GIVE A GENERAL VIEW ON HOW, HOW THIS WILL WORK. UH, THE, THE BILL DIDN'T CHANGE THE OVERALL SCHEME. IT ADDED THE MANDATORY ARBITRATION PART. IT STILL BEGINS WITH A REQUEST TO SIT DOWN AND COLLECTIVELY BARGAIN, WHICH HAS BEEN MADE WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE DAYS. SO THAT'S A PROCESS THAT'LL TAKE A LITTLE TIME [03:25:01] FOR THE PARTIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THEIR DATA TO, UM, REACH AGREEMENT ON ISSUES. IF THEY CAN, THEN THAT YOU HAVE A TIMELINE THAT BEGINS, THAT RUNS ABOUT 60 DAYS. IF THERE'S AN IMPASSE AT THAT POINT, EITHER PARTY CAN REQUEST ARBITRATION AND THEN WE WOULD GO INTO THE ARBITRATION. SO IT'S STILL A PERIOD OF TIME TO GO. UH, IT COULD, UH, WE MAY NOT HAVE AN ARBITRATION UNTIL SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER. OKAY. AND, AND, AND IF, IF, IF, IF THE CITY DOESN'T LIKE THE OUTCOME, ARE WE, WILL THERE BE A LAWSUIT FILED ON OUR, ON THE CITY'S BEHALF TO, UH, THERE'S A POSSIBILITY WE MAY, WE MAY CHALLENGE THE BILL AS A LOCAL LAW. THERE'S ALSO THE ISSUE. UH, ARBITRATION IS GENERALLY FINAL. IT'S NOT APPEALABLE. THERE ARE SOME ISSUES AS TO WHETHER THEY EXCEEDED JURISDICTION OR SO ON, BUT THAT'S GONNA DEPEND ON THE OUTCOME OF THE ARBITRATION. THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE, MAYOR. I APPRECIATE THAT. SURE. BECAUSE I, I'VE BEEN CURIOUS ABOUT HOW THIS IS GONNA PLAY OUT, RIGHT? AND THAT'S WHY I JUST WANNA, UH, WANT US AND AT SOME POINT, I, UM, I'M GONNA ASK CHIEF FINN, CHIEF FINNER, CHIEF PENA TO PROVIDE A MEMO ON, ON, ON THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE COLLECTIVELY FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS. UH, AND THEN I, I DO WANNA SAY THIS, FOR THE RANK AND FOUL OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS, THEY ARE EXCEPTIONAL. MM-HMM . I, I WANT, I WANT TO BE VERY, LEMME JUST SAY THIS, LET THE RANK AND FOUL OF THE FIREFIGHTERS, THEY SHOW UP, THEY DO THEIR JOB, THEY'RE EXCEPTIONAL, BUT SOMETIMES THE TOP LEADERSHIP THAT REPRESENT THEM CAN EVEN WORK AGAINST THEIR OWN INTERESTS. BUT FOR 90 SOME PERCENT OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS, I HAVE THE UTMOST RESPECT, RESPECT FOR, AND THEY DO AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB AND THEY DO DESERVE, UH, EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO FOR THEM. SO I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR WITH . ALRIGHT, HAVING SAID THAT, UM, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THOSE TWO MINUTES. UM, AND, [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] AND NOW WE ARE GOING TO TURN TO THE, TO THE AMENDMENTS AND WE ARE GONNA START OFF ON THE AMENDMENTS. UM, WITH THAT, UH, COUNCILMAN , COUNCILMAN PLUMBER, WE'RE STARTING WITH YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MAYOR AMENDMENT 4.01. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. UM, SO THIS AMENDMENT WAS DRAFTED BASED ON A THOROUGH REVIEW OF A 50 PAGE DOCUMENT, UM, THAT'S BEEN PUBLISHED BY PUBLIC WORKS. UM, OBVIOUSLY CONVERSATIONS WITH PUBLIC WORKS, LISTENING AND TALKING TO MY COLLEAGUES, UM, THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH NAC AND WITH, UM, WEST STREET RECOVERY. UM, AND OBVIOUSLY WITH YOU MAYOR. AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO READ MY AMENDMENT AND THEN I WILL MIX A COUPLE OF COMMENTS AND WE CAN OPEN FOR DISCUSSION AMENDMENT 4 0 1. THE CITY SHALL ENSURE AN EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDING FOR STORM DRAINAGE SYSTEM AND STREET AND TRAFFIC CONTROL PROJECTS WITHIN THE CIP IMPROVEMENT PLANS, PRIORITIZING AREAS WITH THE MOST PRESSING NEEDS BY ESTABLISHING AN INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE FRAMEWORK FOR DISTRIBUTING FUNDS. COUPLED WITH IMPLEMENTATION OF DATA-DRIVEN ASSESSMENT SYSTEMS, THE CITY SHALL PROMOTE FAIRNESS AND PRIORITIZE FUNDING BASED ON FACTORS SUCH AS HISTORICAL FLOODING, INFRASTRUCTURE CONDITIONS, FUTURE FLOODING RISKS DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND SOCIOECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THROUGH THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, THE CITY SHALL ENSURE FAIRNESS AND ADDRESS THE MOST CRITICAL NEEDS THAT INFECTED AREAS. NUMBER ONE, NEEDS-BASED ASSESSMENT. THE CITY SHALL CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF DRAINAGE NEEDS IN EACH AREA, CONSIDERING VARIOUS FACTORS INCLUDING THE FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY OF PAST FLOODING, THE NUMBERS OF PROPERTIES AT RISK, THE STATE OF EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE AND POPULATION DENSITY. THIS ASSESSMENT WILL FORM FOR A BASIS PRIORITIZING FUNDING ALLOCATION. NUMBER TWO, RISK ANALYSIS. THE CITY SHALL PERFORM A THOROUGH RISK ANALYSIS CONSIDERING POTENTIAL FUTURE FLOOD EVENTS BASED ON UPDATED CLIMATE CHANGE MODELS AND ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS. THIS PROACTIVE APPROACH SHALL ENSURE THAT THE AREA MU MOST VULNERABLE TO CLIMATE INDUCED FLOODING WILL BE GIVEN DUE TO CONSIDERATION WHEN DISTRIBUTING FUNDS. NUMBER THREE, SOCIOECONOMIC CONSIDERATION. THE CITY SHALL CONSIDER THAT SOCIO SOCIOECONOMIC CONSIDERATION OF AFFECTED AREAS. PRIORITIES SHALL BE GIVEN TO THOSE AFFECTED AREAS WITH LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AS THESE COMMUNITIES OFTEN LACK THE RESOURCES TO SWIFTLY RECOVER FROM FLOOD DAMAGES. THIS APPROACH AIMS TO ADDRESS THE EQUITY GAP AND PROVIDE, UM, SUPPORT WHERE IT IS MOST NEEDED. AND FINALLY, NUMBER FOUR, COMMUNITY [03:30:01] ENGAGEMENT. THE CITY SHALL ACTIVELY ENGAGE WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES, ALLOWING CITY RESIDENTS TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS. BY ENCOURAGING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, THE CITY SHALL AIM TO PRIORITIZE PROJECTS THAT ALIGN WITH RESIDENTS NEAR AND ASPIRATION NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS, SORRY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SHALL BE CRUCIAL COMPONENT OF THE OVERALL DECISION MAKING PROCESS. STORM DRAINAGE PROJECTS AND TRAFFIC STREET CONTROL PROJECTS FALL UNDER THE CIP, THE METHOD THAT IS CURRENTLY USED BY HPW TO DISTRIBUTE FUNDS, UM, TO DECIDE ON THESE PROJECTS. PRIORITIZE IN THE CAP DOCUMENT THAT IS, THAT HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2014, ALTHOUGH I DO WANT TO MENTION IN THE DOCUMENT IT IS MENTIONED. UM, THAT IS, IT IS PLANNING TO UPDATE. WE JUST HAVE NOT DONE IT YET. KEEP IN MIND THAT WE HAVE HAD FOUR PRESIDENTIALLY DECLARED DISASTERS SINCE THIS DOCUMENT WAS DRAFTED. SO MAYOR TURNER, I WANT TO APPRECIATE OUR CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE DIRECTOR HADDOCK IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS AS WELL. I'M HAPPY THAT WE'RE ALL BOTH SUPPORTIVE, UM, IN UPDATING THE CIP DOCUMENT TO INCLUDE WHAT IS OUTLINED IN THIS AMENDMENT, UM, TO MAKE THE PROCESS MORE TRANSPARENT AND MORE EQUITABLE. AS AN AT LARGE MEMBER, I LOOK AT DRAINAGE SPANNING ACROSS THE CITY, 665 SQUARE MILES. THE POSITION GRANTS ME THE PRIVILEGE TO STAND UP FOR THE CONCERNS AND NEEDS OF CONSTITUENTS AND COMMUNITIES WHO LIVE ANYWHERE IN THESE BOUNDARIES OF THE 11 DISTRICTS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO PRIORITIZE WORSE OFF STORM DRAINAGE SYSTEMS? AND LET ME EXPLAIN STORM DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, THAT INCLUDES AREA STORM DRAINAGE AND LDP, WHICH IS LOCAL DRAINAGE PROJECTS THAT PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN SAFEGUARDING COMMUNITIES FROM DEVASTATING IMPACTS OF FLOODING. HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES BEAR THE BRUNT OF THOSE RELATED DAMAGES. ON THE OTHER HAND, STREET AND TRAFFIC CONTROL PROJECTS IMPROVE SAFETY AND ENHANCE ACCESSIBILITY AND MOBILITY, ENABLING RESIDENTS TO ACCESS JOB OPPORTUNITIES, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, AND OTHER ESSENTIAL SERVICES. SO AGAIN, MAYOR TURNER, I'M GRATEFUL, I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOU FOR DIRECTOR HADDOCK FOR THE WHOLE, UM, HPW, FOR ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, FOR, FOR AGREEING TO UPDATE THE CIP, UM, CRITERIA, INCLUDING NEW TOOLS SUCH AS NEW FLOOD MAPS AND WILL BE AVAILABLE, UM, AS PREDICTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND TAKING A ROBOT ROBUST DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH TO MAKING SURE THIS IS DONE EQUITABLY. YES, AND THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. HAD THE EXTENSIVE CONVERSATION WITH DIRECTOR HADDOCK AND OUR TEAM AND, UH, THAT INTENDS TO, WE ARE UPDATING IT, OKAY? AND NOT ONLY ARE WE UPDATING IT AS WE CONTINUE TO PAY DOWN ON THE BILL HOUSTON, FORWARD THE DEBT, UH, THEN THERE'LL BE MORE DOLLARS THAN ALLOCATED, UH, UH, TO, UH, D-D-S-R-A-F. AND THEN OF COURSE, UM, YOU'VE GOT, UM, UH, $80 MILLION IN THIS, UM, BUDGET, JUST A SWAP. AND THEN WE'RE GONNA ASK, UM, THAT THE AMOUNT THAT'S RED LINED, THAT THAT MONEY GOES TO THE LOCAL DISTRICT, UM, DRAINAGE, DRAINAGE PROJECTS. SO WE ARE DOING ALL OF THOSE THINGS, UH, TO ADDRESS THAT. UM, BUT YOU, UM, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE, THAT WE UPDATE AND WE INTEND TO DO JUST THAT. UM, MAYOR PRO MARTIN, THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, I WOULD JUST ARGUE THAT THOSE ARE POLICY DECISIONS. THEY'RE NOT RELATED TO A FISCAL BUDGET PROCESS, BUT EXCELLENT IDEAS. BUT WHEN IT DOES COME TO BUDGET, JUST A REMINDER THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT SWAT STORM WATER ACTION TEAM AND LDP LOCAL DRAINAGE PROJECTS, WE HAVE FROM THIS DAY FORWARD MOVING $133 MILLION DEDICATED TO BOTH OF THOSE SOURCES. AND WE ALL HAVE BEEN VISITED BY OUR FRIENDS FROM NAC TO NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE WHO ARE HERE TODAY. SO THANK YOU FOR COMING AGAIN. UH, WE'VE RECEIVED YOUR NOTICE. AND IF I WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ THE EXCERPTS OF WHAT YOUR ASK WAS, WE DEMAND THE FOLLOWING INCREASES IN THE 23 CITY OF HOUSTON BUDGET. AND I'M STRICTLY GONNA TALK ABOUT BUDGET DOLLARS PERMANENTLY INCREASED SWAT PROGRAM, ANNUAL FUNDING FROM 20 MILLION TO 40 MILLION, PERMANENTLY INCREASED LDP ANNUAL FUNDING FROM 12 MILLION TO 32 MILLION. SO IT'S A TOTAL OF $72 MILLION. YOU NOW HAVE $133 MILLION THAT'S COMPRISED OF BOTH EXCESS APPROPRIATED BUT NOT DONE 23 SWAT PROJECTS AND LDP $80 MILLION IN SWAT, $53 MILLION IN LDP IF THE AMENDMENT PASSES, WHICH I THINK IT WILL LATER, UH, WHICH INCLUDES A $20 MILLION RED LINE TO THE BUDGET PROCESS. SO 53 IN LDP 80 IN SWAT FOR A TOTAL OF $133 MILLION [03:35:02] AND YOUR ASS WAS 72. SO I HOPE YOU WALK AWAY FROM THIS FEELING GOOD ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. I HOPE YOU WALK AWAY FROM THIS APPRECIATION APPRECIATING THAT WE HAVE LISTENED TO YOUR CONCERNS AND ADDRESSED THESE CONCERNS. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THE ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS COMING, BUT JUST TO GIVE YOU A ROUGH IDEA, ONCE AGAIN, YOUR ASS WAS 72. WE'RE AT 1 33. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION AND ALWAYS BEING HERE. COUNCILMAN MCMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR ELEVATING THE CONVERSATION AROUND DRAINAGE, UM, IN, IN LINE WITH OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR CONSTITUENTS, NOT ONLY DISTRICT B BUT THROUGHOUT THE CITY. ONE THING, MAYOR, I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT COUNCIL MEMBER IS YOU'RE SPEAKING ABOUT THE NEEDS FOR DRAINAGE EQUITY IN A HOLISTIC APPROACH. IN LOOKING AT THIS, UM, I DID ASK DURING THE BUDGET HEARINGS OF PUBLIC WORKS AND WANTED TO SHARE THE RESPONSE BACK 'CAUSE I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH ONE OTHER PROGRAM THAT IS TAKING PLACE. ASIDE FROM SWAT. ASIDE FROM LDP, I HAD ASKED BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN DEVELOPMENT AND DENSITY THAT WE'RE SEEING THROUGHOUT THE CITY, HA WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE HAD CONDUCTED STUDIES, UM, ON DRAINAGE CAPACITY. AND, UH, MAYOR AS YOU KNOW, UH, TDO IS CURRENTLY DEVELOPING A STORMWATER MASTER PLAN, WHICH WILL BE THE FIRST OF ITS KIND TO LOOK AT THIS CITY FROM A WHOLE PERSPECTIVE AND DETERMINE AREAS OF ADEQUACIES AND DEFICIENCIES. AND IT WILL BE A CRITICAL TOOL UH, FOR THE PLANNING OF DRAINAGE INVESTMENTS. UH, MORE SO THOUGH WHAT I WAS IMPRESSED WITH ON TOP OF THAT WAS IT WILL ALSO INCLUDE A COMPREHENSIVE PRIORITIZATION SYSTEM THAT WILL INCLUDE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND OTHER IMPORTANT FACTORS. AND THE AIM IS TO COMPLETE THAT STUDY, UH, BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR. SO I, I JUST WANTED TO ADD ON, BECAUSE AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE BUCKETS OF FUNDING, THERE IS ALSO IN THE WORKS THIS OVERHAUL STUDY TO LOOK AT THAT DRAINAGE CAPACITY THAT INCLUDES THOSE FACTORS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. SO THANK YOU FOR ELEVATING THAT. THANK YOU. AND WITH THAT, WITH THAT EXPLANATION, COUNCILMAN PULLER, ARE YOU ADVANCING OR WITHDRAWING? I'M WILLING TO WITHDRAW THE AMENDMENT. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, THAT AMENDMENT, AMENDMENT 4.01 IS WITHDRAWN. WE ARE NOW TURNING TO COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ALCO ON 5.01. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THIS AMENDMENT INCREASES OUR TRANSFER TO THE BARK SPECIAL REVENUE FUND BY HALF MILLION DOLLAR TO COME FROM THE UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE. AND APPRECIATE THE MAYOR'S SUPPORT FOR THIS, AS IS DOCUMENTED. AND WE KNOW WE SPEND LESS THAN HALF PER CAPITA ON OUR ANIMAL WELFARE, UM, UH, SPENDING. I MEAN, HOUSTON SPENDS $5 AND 90 CENTS PER CAPITA, SAN ANTONIO, $14 AND 44 CENTS. DALLAS, $14 AND 7 CENTS. AUSTIN, $17 AND 92 CENTS. EL PASO $13 AND 81 CENTS. UM, THERE IS A BOND, UM, THANKFULLY THE BOND PACKAGE THAT PASSED FOR THE, THE BARK FOR $40 MILLION. WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. UM, BARK IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF A, AN ADOPTION TRAILER. I MEAN, WE'RE, OUR GOAL IS TO GET THESE ANIMALS ADOPTED. UH, OUR WINE IS ON ITS LAST LEG. THEY'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO PURCHASE A ADOPTION TRAILER WITH A NEW ONE ON. UM, WITH THESE FUNDS, AS WELL AS THREE NEW ANIMAL ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES. WE GET ABOUT AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT 151 CALLS A DAY ON, UM, DOG SITUATIONS. WE CAN'T GET TO THEM ALL. UM, WE CAN'T GET THE PARTS FOR OUR OLD TRUCKS. SO, UH, JUST REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S SUPPORT ON THIS. UM, UM, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS, UH, BUDGET THAT I COULD ONLY REALLY AMEND ONE TIME BECAUSE THAT YOU DID THAT OPEP TRUST. YOU DID THAT LONG TERM. YOU DID A LOT OF BORING THINGS IN THIS BUDGET. UM, AND REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR LOOKING OUT FOR THE NEXT, UH, THE NEXT, UH, ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE, UH, THAT WAS, YOU COULD HAVE IN YOUR LAST YEAR REALLY DONE A LOT OF PET PROJECTS, UM, WITH THAT MONEY. AND YOU DIDN'T, YOU WERE VERY CONSERVATIVE WITH IT. SO APPRECIATE THAT. HOPE YOU'LL SUPPORT THIS SPARK AMENDMENT. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I MAYOR TIM MARTIN. YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU ALLOW ME A QUESTION OF COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, HAVE YOU PRICED OUT THE NEW ADOPTION TRAILER AND THE THREE ANIMAL ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES, NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER TWO, WHEN YOU HAVE THREE ANIMAL ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE PERSONNEL TO GO INTO THOSE VEHICLES. DO WE HAVE THE PERSONNEL TO GO INTO THOSE VEHICLES? WE'RE BUDGETED FOR 35 PERSONNEL. WE HAVE 24. SO HIRING, UM, YES. THE, THE ANIMAL ADOPTION TRAILER RANGES FROM 125,000 TO 175,000. EACH OF EACH TRUCK IS ABOUT 90,000. SO IT GIVES 'EM A LITTLE BIT OF CUSHION. THEY CAN PAY ONE OF THOSE ANIMAL CON ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY. OKAY. SO IT'S 300, NOT 500? WELL, IT'S 103. YEAH. WELL, GIVE OR TAKE. OKAY. AND THEN, AND YOU'RE TAKEN FROM FUND BALANCE, CORRECT? CORRECT. YEAH. AND [03:40:01] I, VICE MEMBER. VICE MEMBER. OKAY. I SUPPORT THE ORDINANCE. LET'S NOT BEAT UP EVERY YEAR MEMBER. OKAY. WE'LL BE HERE. LET'S NOT COME ON NOW. COUNCIL MEMBER GAGE. MAYOR, WILL THIS BE A RECURRENT, UH, YEAR AFTER YEAR? NO. NO, NO. THIS IS A ONE TIME. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON 5.01 IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? NO. SO MAYOR GENERAL MARTIN VOTING NOTE, UH, AMENDMENT PASSES. WE AIN'T PICKING UP NO DOGS IN DISTRICT E. ALRIGHT, NOW WE TURN TO SPENDING MORE MONEY. YOU'RE SPENDING FY 76. AND PLEASE, IF, IF Y'ALL ARE, LET US, AND PLEASE LET US KNOW WHETHER OR NOT YOU INTEND, OKAY. LET'S SAY TOGETHER, PLEASE LET US KNOW AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS AMENDMENTS, WHETHER OR NOT YOU INTEND TO MOVE ON THE AMENDMENT OR TO WITHDRAW THE AMENDMENT. THAT WILL, THAT WILL HELP US OUT. UH, WE NOW TURN TO 6.01 BY COUNCIL MEMBER PAT, COUNCIL MEMBER PAT 6.01. THANK YOU MAYOR. 6.01 IS TO ALLOCATE $425,000 TO THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE TO HIRE FIVE AUDITORS. UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE CONTROLLER HAS TALKED ABOUT IN HIS BUDGET PRESENTATION. THE NEED FOR MORE AUDITORS IN OTHER CITIES, UM, THEY HAVE MORE AUDITORS THAN IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THEY DO TEND TO FIND COST SAVINGS. AND SO IT IS AN UPFRONT COST, BUT OVERALL THERE COULD BE SAVINGS THAT COULD PAY FOR ITSELF. UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE RESPONSE IS THAT THIS AMENDMENT WOULD VIOLATE FINANCIAL POLICIES BECAUSE IT IS A RECURRING COST. UM, I THINK THAT EVERYONE'S SALARIES ARE ALL IN THE BUDGET AND THEREFORE EVERYTHING IS TECHNICALLY A RECURRING COST WHEN YOU LOOK AT SALARIES. SO IF THAT WAS THE CASE, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO VOTE ON THE BUDGET AT ALL. SO I DON'T NECESSARILY AGREE WITH THAT RESPONSE, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT WE NEED MORE AUDITORS IN THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE. YEAH, LET ME SIMPLY SAY THAT ON ALL OF THE ITEMS THAT ARE RECURRING, CAUSE THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN FACTORED INTO THE BUDGET, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE PAY RAISES, THAT'S A RECURRING CAUSE ALREADY FACTORED IN. SO ANYTHING THAT'S A RECURRING COST, WE'VE ALREADY FACTORED INTO THE EXISTING BUDGET AND HOLDING ONTO THE FUND BALANCE. UH, JUST LIKE WITH COUNCILMAN SALLY ALCORN'S AMENDMENT, IT'S A ONE TIME FINE WITH ONE TIME, AND WE ARE DONE ON THE EFFECT OF, EVEN THOUGH IT SAYS FOUR 425,000, THE NET COST OF THIS OR JUST A FIVE YEAR PERIOD, IT'S ABOUT 2.1 MILLION. OKAY? BECAUSE IT'S A RECURRING COST. AND THEN PLEASE BEAR IN MIND, IT'S THE CONTROLLER WHO'S CONTINUALLY SAID THAT THE SKY IS FALLING AND HIS COM CONTROLLER HAS NEVER COME, UH, TO THIS ADMINISTRATION AND SAID, WE ARE WARNING THIS ITEM. SO THE CURRENT, EVEN YOUR CONTROL, THE CONTROLLER IS SAYING WE NEED TO CUT DOWN ON RECURRING COSTS BECAUSE IT'S ADDING, QUOTE UNQUOTE, TO A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT. SO I DON'T WANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT THE ANTITHESIS OF WHAT THE CONTROL IS PUBLICLY SAYING AND WRITING ABOUT. BUT THIS IS A RECURRING CAUSE. AND IF THE CONTROLLER WANTS IT, THEN HE SHOULD COME FORWARD AND PUBLICLY ASK FOR IT. SO I WOULD OPPOSE, IF I MAY, MAYOR, UM, HE HAS ASKED FOR IT IN THE BUDGET PRESENTATIONS THAT HE'S GIVEN FOR HIS OFFICE, SAYING THAT WE NEED MORE AUDITORS. AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT, WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM ON THAT. BUT THEY DO FIND COST SAVINGS. AND SO THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT WE'RE JUST SPENDING MONEY ON AND, YOU KNOW, JUST TO SPEND MONEY ON. THEY'RE FINDING COST SAVINGS. I BELIEVE YOU SAID THEY'RE FOUND ABOUT $10 MILLION SINCE HE'S BEEN THE CONTROLLER JUST IN COST SAVINGS. WHERE, WHERE IS IT? MM-HMM . I'M NOT AWARE OF ONE DIME. SO IF SOMEBODY, I STAND TO BE CORRECTED. ARE YOU ALL AWARE OF COST SAVINGS? I'M NOT AWARE. 10 MILLION. I'M NOT AWARE. UM, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON 6.01? MAY I PUT TO MARTIN? YES, MAYOR. AND AS SOMEONE WHO SPENT MY WHOLE CAREER IN AUDIT, UH, THE PURPOSE OF INTERNAL AUDITS IS TO IDENTIFY DEFICIENCIES AND INTERNAL CONTROLS. AND, UH, FOR 11 YEARS, I'VE READ THE AUDIT REPORTS, THEY'VE IDENTIFIED DEFICIENCIES, AND THEN THEY WERE CORRECTED. SO I'M TRYING TO GET MY HANDS AROUND COST SAVINGS OF $10 MILLION. AND I JUST DON'T SEE IT UNLESS YOU HAVE SOME INFORMATION OR SOMEONE CAN BRING US SOME INFORMATION. BUT, UM, YOU HAVE TO IDENTIFY MATERIAL WEAKNESSES AND INTERNAL CONTROLS. THAT'S PREDOMINANTLY THE ROLE OF INTERNAL AUDIT. AND THEN YOU FIX THOSE DEFICIENCIES AND THEN YOU COME BACK AND REDO IT AND IDENTIFY THE FIX AND YOU MOVE ON. SO, AND GENERALLY SPEAKING, OUR DEPARTMENTS DO A PRETTY DARN GOOD JOB WITH THEM. AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANY, THERE'S NEVER BEEN, IN MY 11 YEARS, A MATERIAL WEAKNESS IN INTERNAL CONTROLS THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED. THAT WASN'T FIXED. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON 6 1 0 1 IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? NO, NO AMENDMENT DOES 6 1 0 2. MAYOR, WHAT WAS THE VOTE OR POINT OF ORDER? YES. ALL ALL IN FAVOR OF THEM? 6 1 1 IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT. [03:45:02] SHOW OF HANDS IN FAVOR? SHOW HANDS. SHOW HANDS IN FAVOR? 'CAUSE IT WAS A VOICE VOTE. WELL, THAT'S, WE ARE ON IT IN FAVOR OF 6.01 PAC AND KU UBA SHOW HANDS OPPOSED TO THE AMENDMENT. THOMAS? NO. THOMAS ACO. UH, OKAY. THOMAS ROBINSON. UM, VICE MAYOR PRO TIM. MAYOR TIM TURNER. UM, CINCINNATI, UM, NOT HUFFMAN, SHABAZZ, POLLARD CAYMAN AND JACKSON. THE AMENDMENT FAILS. 6.02. 6.02 IS THE ALL AUDIT REPORTS FROM THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE SHALL BE PRESENTED TO THE BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE WITHIN 90 DAYS OF THE REPORT BEING RELEASED. I THINK THAT THE COMMENTS FROM THE PREVIOUS AMENDMENT KIND OF SHOWS THAT WE NEED TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT IS BEING DONE IN THESE AUDIT REPORTS, UM, AND HAVE THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE PRESENT THEM SO THAT WE CAN SEE WHAT THE COST SAVINGS ARE, WHAT THE DEFICIENCIES ARE, WHAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THE REPORTS ARE BEING RELEASED AND IF YOU GO TO THE WEBSITE TO READ THEM, YOU KNOW, IT'S GETTING READ. OTHERWISE, IT'S NOT REALLY BEING HIGHLIGHTED, IN MY OPINION, TO THE LEVEL THAT IT SHOULD BE. OKAY. I'M, I'M, I, I, I WOULD ACCEPT THE AMENDMENT. I'M, I'M, I'M GOOD WITH THE AMENDMENT. UH, ANYBODY IN FAVOR OPPOSED? 6 1 0 2 GRAND. 6 1 0 3. 6.03 IS IF THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 ACTUAL FUND BALANCE FOR THE GENERAL FUND IS HIGHER THAN THE EXPECTED FUND BALANCE IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, 1% OF THE DIFFERENT SHALL BE MOVED TO THE BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND. SO THIS IS, YOU KNOW, EVERY YEAR IT SEEMS LIKE OUR ACTUAL NUMBERS ARE HIGHER THAN WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING, WHAT WE'RE PUTTING IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET. AND SO THIS IS JUST 1% OF THE VARIANCE BETWEEN THE EXPECTED AND THE ACTUAL BUDGET GOING TO THE BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND. AND I KNOW MAYOR, YOU FULLY FUNDED IT BASED ON THE FINANCIAL POLICIES, RIGHT? WHICH I THINK IS GREAT, BUT ANY MONEY THAT WE CAN PUT INTO THAT FUND, UM, THIS FISCAL YEAR, FOR EXAMPLE, OR LAST 2023 FISCAL YEAR, UM, THE PROJECTION IS $101.3 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET. SO 1% OF THAT DIFFERENCE IS A MILLION LITTLE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS, A MILLION $13,000. SO IT'S NOT A TON OF MONEY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, BUT ANY MONEY WE CAN DO TO BEEF UP THAT FUND IF THERE'S ANOTHER DISASTER, I THINK WOULD BE GREAT. AND, YOU KNOW, AND GENERALLY, I MEAN, I, I AGREE WITH THE, THE, THE, THE, THE THOUGHT OF IT, THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD, WOULD, WOULD CAUTION IS WHAT I SAID EARLIER. UH, NUMBER ONE, WE DO THAT ALREADY FOR THE BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND. THAT 1%. THAT'S WHY THE AMOUNT IN THE BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND TODAY IS 24 MILLION. BUT I, I WOULD JUST BEAR IN MIND WHAT, LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER KUBA SAID, WITH THIS BINDING ARBITRATION, YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT'S GONNA GO. UM, BUT EVEN MORE SO, SO THE OPE, THAT'S A, THAT'S A RECURRING COMMITMENT FOR THE TRUST FUND, OKAY? AND IT, AND, AND IT GOES UP EVERY YEAR. SO YOU, YOU DON'T WANT TO DEDICATE, UM, TOO MUCH OF YOUR FUND BALANCE WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR EXPENSES ARE GOING TO BE. 'CAUSE YOU, YOU END UP KIND OF BOXING YOURSELF OUT. AND, AND, AND I WOULDN'T JUST NECESSARILY, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, THE SALES TAX ARE NOW EXCEEDING, UH, OUR, UM, UM, PROJECTIONS. BUT YOU, YOU, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW THE NEXT PERSON OR PERSONS ARE GOING TO GOVERN YOU. JUST, YOU JUST DON'T KNOW. AND SO IF YOU END UP BOXING YOURSELF, THEN YOU CAN CREATE, UM, LIKE A WHOLE THAT WORKS AGAINST YOU. SO, I MEAN, I, I, I'M, I'M ONE WHO BELIEVES IN BANKING AS MUCH AWAY. I MEAN, THAT'S JUST THE WAY I DO PERSONALLY FOR MY OWN, YOU KNOW, I'M BANK IT AWAY. UM, BUT, UM, NOT EVERYBODY GOVERNS THE SAME, THE SAME WAY. SO THAT'S WHY I, I'M NOT, I I'M NOT SUPPORTIVE OF IT. ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU, AND THAT'S WHAT WE, WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS WHAT WE'VE TRIED TO DO WITH THE ECONOMIC BUDGET, ECONOMIC STABILIZATION FUND, BUILDING UP A HUGE FUND BALANCE, PUTTING MONEY ASIDE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF, WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? THE, UM, DE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. PUTTING IT IN THOSE CATEGORIES THAT WE'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED. UM, AND THEN WE'VE ESTABLISHED A TRUST FUND. I JUST WOULD BE, I, I WOULD, I WOULD JUST ADVISE YOU TO BE VERY RELUCTANT TO DEDICATING ANOTHER SOURCE UNTIL WE CAN GET A BETTER GRIP ON WHERE THINGS ARE GOING IN THESE OTHER, IN THESE OTHER AREAS. THAT'S, THAT'S THE REASON WHY I WOULD, UM, UM, RESPECTFULLY SAY NO. BUT I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND, UH, UH, THE REASON AND MOTIVATION BEHIND IT. OKAY. UM, MAYOR PROTON MARTIN, YES, MAYOR AND I, I APOLOGIZE, I WON'T SPEAK ON EVERY BUDGET AMENDMENT, [03:50:01] BUT I WILL SPEAK ON SEVERAL. SO, BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND IS A FORMULA DRIVEN FUND. IT'S 1% OF EXPENDITURES MINUS DEBT SERVICE. TODAY WE'RE AT $24 MILLION. THE REASON WE'RE AT $24 MILLION IS WHEN YOU REDUCE PENSION DEBT FROM 8.2 BILLION TO 2.2 BILLION AND OPE DEBT FROM 9.5 TO 1.1, YOU REDUCE YOUR DEBT SERVICE. SO WHEN YOU HAVE EXPENDITURES MINUS YOUR DEBT SERVICE, THAT NUMBER OF 24 MILLION SHOULD HISTORICALLY GO UP AS WE DECREASE OUR DEBT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND MAYOR MADE HIS OPENING COMMENTS. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS BUDGET, IT'S REALLY AMAZING WHEN YOU CAN TAKE DEBT DOWN FROM 8.2 TO 2.2 OPEP, NINE FIVE TO ONE ONE FUND BALANCE OF 1616.6%, 2 21, 220 1 MILLION ABOVE THE REQUIRED 7.5 ON A $6.2 BILLION ENTERPRISE AND GENERAL FUND. THOSE ARE BENCHMARKS THAT SHOULD BE STUDIED IN THE HARVARD BUSINESS CASE. HOW DOES A PUBLIC ENTITY REDUCE THEIR DEBT? 'CAUSE EVERY CITY, EVERY STATE IN THE UNITED STATES HAS DEBT. AND I WOULD ARGUE THAT, YOU KNOW, SHOW ME A STATE OR A CITY THAT'S REDUCED THEIR DEBT LIKE WE HAVE, I THINK THIS COUNCIL SHOULD BE APPLAUDED. I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB IN THIS ADMINISTRATION MOVING FORWARD. AND, UH, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD SIT AND POUND OUR CHEST ON AND NEVER APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. BUT A LONG STATEMENT TO A, A SHORT ANSWER. BUT, UH, BUDGET STABILIZATION IS ALWAYS GONNA BE A FORMULA DRIVEN, DRIVEN AMOUNT. YOU REDUCE DEBT SERVICE, YOU GET MORE IN BUDGET STABILIZATION, SO YOU CAN DO SOME THINGS. OKAY? UH, ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS? 6.03, UM, ADVANCING OR WITHDRAW? I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK. I WITHDRAWAL UNDERSTANDING THE MOTIVATION. UM, MAYOR, I WILL WITHDRAW THIS AMENDMENT. I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM ON THAT. UM, BUT I'M WITH YOU. I, I AM WITH YOU A HUNDRED PERCENT. I, I SHARE YOUR RATIONALE. I'M NOT DISAGREEING WITH YOUR RATIONALE. AND QUITE FRANKLY, IF THERE WASN'T SOME OF THESE UNCERTAINTIES, I WOULD BE FULLY SUPPORTIVE. SO WE ARE NOT IN DISAGREEMENT WITH YOUR RATIONALE. OKAY? OKAY. I WILL WITHDRAW THAT A MINUTE. OKAY. THANK YOU. 6.03 IS WITHDRAWN. THANK YOU. YES. 6.04. 6.04 IS TO HAVE DEPOSIT DEPOSITORIES EQUIPPED WITH REAL TIME STATUS TO SHOW CUSTOMERS HOW LONG THE WAIT IS. UM, RIGHT NOW, NEIGHBORHOOD DEPOSITORIES AT CERTAIN PEAK TIMES, PEOPLE COULD WAIT A COUPLE OF HOURS JUST TO GET THROUGH THE LINE TO MAKE THAT DEPOSIT. AND PEOPLE ARE GETTING FRUSTRATED, LEAVING THE LINE AND DUMPING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AND SO THIS WOULD JUST ALLOW PEOPLE TO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GETTING INTO WHEN THEY GET INTO THEIR, THE LINE. THEY COULD LOOK ON THE HTX CLICKS APP AND SEE, YOU KNOW, THE LINE IS TOO LONG. I'LL GO LATER IN THE DAY WHEN THE LINE IS SHORTER, JUST SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW, YOU KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN THEY'RE GETTING IN THE LINE. AND, YOU KNOW, ASKED DIRECTOR WILL FOG TO GET WITH YOU AND TO SEE IF Y'ALL CAN WORK THIS OUT. IF YOU WOULD ALLOW, IF, IF YOU ALL CAN'T WORK THIS OUT, THEN I WOULD ASK YOU TO BRING IT BACK TO ME AND THEN WE CAN DEAL WITH IT, MOVE FORWARD IN THE FORM OF, UM, SOME SORT OF POLICY ON MY PART EXECUTIVE ORDER OR AN ORDINANCE. BUT I, I'VE ASKED HIM TO GET WITH YOU AND SEE IF YOU ALL CAN FOR YOU ALL TO WORK THIS OUT. SO IF YOU DON'T MIND WITHDRAWING IT, SEE WHETHER OR NOT THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE FRUITFUL. IF THEY'RE NOT, BRING IT BACK TO, TO ME. OKAY. I'LL WITHDRAW THIS AMENDMENT THEN. THANKS. AND THE SAME THING I THINK ON THE, GOING TO BE ON 6.05. 6.05 IS, UM, TO ALLOW FOR PEOPLE TO USE ANY BIODEGRADABLE BAG FOR YARD WASTE COLLECTIONS. RIGHT NOW, YOU CAN ONLY USE THE BAGS THAT HAVE THE CITY OF HOUSTON SEAL ON THEM. UM, AND THAT BAG, THE CHEAPEST, I COULD FIND IT ONLINE. UM, IT WAS ABOUT A LITTLE OVER A DOLLAR A BAG. UM, WHEREAS A REGULAR BIODEGRADABLE BAG, WHICH SAYS BIODEGRADABLE ON IT. SO IT'S PRETTY EASY TO TELL THIS A RIGHT BAG. UM, YOU COULD GET IT FOR 30 CENTS A BAG ON AMAZON AND, AND THE SAME THING. SO IT'S CHEAPER FOR PEOPLE. IT'S MORE CONVENIENT TO JUST USE ANY BAG RATHER THAN THOSE CITY OF HOUSTON SCHOOL. AND SAME THING, I'VE ASKED HIM TO DISCUSS THOSE, THE ONE BEFORE AND THIS ONE FOR YOU, YOU TO SEE IF YOU CAN WORK IT OUT. IF YOU CAN'T, THEN I WILL ADDRESS AND WE CAN BRING THEM BEFORE CITY COUNCIL AND DEAL WITH IT. BUT HE'S ASSURED ME THAT I THINK Y'ALL CAN WORK THAT OUT. OKAY. AND WHILE WE'RE ON THE SUBJECT MATTER, THOSE BAGS ARE TERRIBLE. JUST IN GENERAL, PEOPLE HATE THE BAGS. I KNOW. THEY'RE, THEY, YOU KNOW, IT RAINS, THEY GET EVERYWHERE IT, SO I KNOW MY NEIGHBORS HATE IT. BE A POLICY CHANGE ON THAT WHILE WE'RE LOOKING INTO THE BAGS. IT WOULD BE GREAT TOO. NO, I AGREE. MY, MY NEIGHBORS HATE IT. I, I AGREE. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. OH, THANK YOU MAYOR. I HAD ALREADY, UM, I JUMPED INTO QUEUE JUST TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, WE'RE ALL SITTING HERE NODDING BECAUSE [03:55:01] WE ALL AGREE ON THE BAG ISSUE. AND I WOULD WOULD ALSO RE YOU CAME UP WITH THAT. THAT WAS BEFORE I GOT HERE. I DIDN'T COME UP WITH THOSE BAGS . BUT TO THAT POINT, UM, IF CHAIR GALLEGOS IS WILLING, AND MARY, YOU'RE WILLING, IF WE COULD MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS TAKEN UP. UM, YES. BECAUSE AGAIN, WE ALL ARE HEARING FROM OUR RESIDENTS. WE, WE HAVE MY ASSURANCE. WE'LL ADDRESS IT. WE'LL ADDRESS IT. SO COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, P IF YOU WITHDRAW, GIVE WITH WILL FOG AND, AND DIRECT WILL FOG, AND IF YOU CAN'T, WE'LL IT, WE'LL ADDRESS IT HERE. YES. I'LL WITHDRAW THAT. WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE 6.05 IS WITHDRAWN. 6.06. THIS IS TO CREATE A ONE-TIME AMNESTY PROGRAM TO ALLOW FOR LIENS AGAINST PROPERTIES TO BE PAID WITHOUT ADDITIONAL FINES OR LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS. WE HAVE SOME, UM, LIENS AGAIN ON PROPERTIES GOING BACK, YOU KNOW, 30 PLUS YEARS, UM, THAT HAVE NOT BEEN PAID. AND IT CREATES A PROBLEM FROM TIME TO TIME. AND SO IF WE COULD JUST CREATE A ONE TIME AMNESTY PROGRAM, PEOPLE COULD PAY, UM, JUST FOR THE LIENS WITHOUT THOSE ADDITIONAL FINES, WE COULD STAND TO AT LEAST MAKE SOME MONEY OFF OF THAT AND GET THOSE LIENS OFF OF PEOPLE'S PROPERTIES. AND I WOULD TELL YOU IN DISCUSSING WITH LEGAL, THIS WILL REQUIRE AN ORDINANCE CHANGE. UM, BECAUSE UNLIKE LIKE MUNICIPAL COURT, WHEN YOU HAVE THE TICKETS, YOU CAN DO AN AMNESTY PROGRAM, BUT THIS ONE IS MORE LIENS AND STUFF ON PROPERTY, AND WE CAN'T DO THIS WITHOUT AN ORDINANCE CHANGE. UM, SO WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH LEGAL SHALL WE CAN DO THIS. OKAY, I'LL WITHDRAW THIS AMENDMENT THEN, BUT IF WE COULD CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION, UM, GOING FORWARD. YEAH. YEAH. THAT GUY RIGHT NEXT TO YOU, . . ALRIGHT. 6.06 IS WITHDRAWN. 6.07. UM, THIS IS FOR $375,395 TO BE ALLOCATED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS TO HIRE FIVE ADDITIONAL, UM, INSPECTORS, CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, MAYOR RIGHT NOW, UM, THE, UM, CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS DO A GREAT JOB. WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF THEM. SO WE HAVE SO MANY, UM, NUISANCE ISSUES AND DISTRICT A REALLY ALL OVER THE CITY OF HOUSTON WHERE THEY'RE GOING FOR THAT FIRST INITIAL INSPECTION AND THEY CAN'T GO BACK TO, UM, DO THE FOLLOW UPS BECAUSE THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE IN THAT DEPARTMENT. AND SO, UM, PEOPLE ARE JUST GETTING FRUSTRATED WHEN, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE CALLING SOMETHING INTO 3 1 1 OR TO OUR OFFICES AND THEY GO OUT AND DO THAT INITIAL INSPECTION, AND NOTHING EVER HAPPENS AFTER THAT. SO IF, YOU KNOW, WE CAN HIRE A FEW MORE OFFICERS TO FIX THOSE SITUATIONS. ALSO, A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING THE CITATIONS KIND OF KNOW THIS BY NOW, WHERE THEY'LL COME OUT ONE TIME, GET A WARNING, AND THEY KNOW NOTHING'S EVER GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. SO THEY DON'T CORRECT THE ISSUE EITHER. SO IT'S JUST BECOME A PROBLEM ON ALL ENDS. ALRIGHT. AND LEMME JUST SAY ON THIS ONE, UH, IT IS RECURRING, BUT UNDER ONE CLEAN HOUSTON, WE HAVE HIRED, OR IN THE PROCESS OF HIRING SIX ADDITIONAL INSPECTORS THAT'S UNDER ONE CLEAN HOUSTON, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. LAST YEAR WHEN WE DEALT WITH THIS BUDGET, UH, WE BROUGHT ON, UH, AUTHORIZED ADDITIONAL INSPECTORS FOR DON. THAT WAS THE LAST, THAT WAS IN THE LAST BUDGET. AND SO, I MEAN, IF WE, I'M JUST, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE INCREMENTAL CREEP. UM, BUT THIS ONE IS, THIS ONE IS A RECURRING COST ITEM. UH, AND THEN WHAT WITH WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN ADDITIONAL INSPECTORS ON UNDER ONE CLEAN HOUSTON, WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR IN HIRING ADDITIONAL INSPECTORS FOR DONE, I'M, I'M GOING TO RESPECTFULLY SAY WE, WE'VE GOT TO HOLD ON THIS. UM, BUT VICE MAYOR FOR JIM CAST TATOR, THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M ALWAYS IN SUPPORT OF ADDITIONAL INSPECTORS BECAUSE AS WE ARE WORKING DAILY, ALL OF US TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, WE DEFINITELY NEED, UM, THOSE INSPECTORS WHO ARE HELPING US, UM, IN THE DISTRICTS. UH, I THINK WHAT WOULD, UM, HELP US WOULD BE IF WE COULD GET SOME INDIVIDUAL INSPECTORS FOR OUR INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS, UM, AND INSPECTORS THAT WORK, UM, THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE, UM, DISTRICT. SO I, I'D LIKE FOR US TO CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION. I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAVE THE SIX ADDITIONAL INSPECTORS, BUT WHEN WE CAN HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL INSPECTOR ASSIGNED TO OUR DISTRICTS, I THINK WE WOULD, UM, SEE A LITTLE MORE EFFECTIVENESS FROM THE PROGRAM. WELL, THIS, THIS ONE THEN, BECAUSE THERE ARE DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS, THIS ONE MAY REQUIRE MORE OF A DISCUSSION, UH, IN THE COMMITTEE PROCESS BECAUSE DOING IT, DOING, DOING IT LIKE THIS AND DOING IT PIECEMEAL IS NOT, IS NOT THE BEST WAY TO DO IT. SO, UM, WHAT IS THIS, THIS QUALITY OF LIFE? YEAH. I, I, COUNCIL NEIGHBORHOOD, OKAY. NEIGHBORHOODS. SO, I MEAN, ON THIS ONE, ON COUNCIL MEMBER IMPACT, YOU KNOW, I WOULD, I WOULD, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THAT, UM, IT GOES TO, UM, [04:00:01] UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MCO, UH, COMMITTEE TO TAKE A LOOK AT REALLY WHAT OF THE OVERALL NEEDS AND, AND MAKE THE ASSESSMENT THERE INSTEAD OF US DOING SOMETHING PIECE PIECEMEAL. I MEAN, I, I KNOW THAT, UM, IF I'M MISTAKEN, THE COUNCIL MEMBER, SOMEBODY HAD AN AMENDMENT FOR SOMEBODY IN EVERY DISTRICT WITH IT. IS THAT YOUR MEMBER? I DON'T KNOW WHO WHO HAS AMENDMENT LIKE THAT, BUT, UM, I WOULD, I WOULD JUST SAY THIS JUST NEEDS SOME, A MORE HOLISTIC CONVERSATION RATHER THAN, AND PIECEMEALING IT. AND THEN, UM, AND THEN WE CONTINUE TO JUST ENGAGE IN WHAT I CALL BUDGETARY CREEP. SO COUNCILMAN , UH, COUNCILMAN ALCO, THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, AND CERTAINLY HAPPY TO TAKE THIS UP IN, IN COMMITTEE, BUT I WILL SAY THAT EVERY YEAR THAT THE, THAT THE DIRECTOR COMES TO, TO THE BUDGET WORKSHOP AND TO COMMITTEE, IT IS A RECURRING THEME THAT SHE DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH. AND WHEN YOU COMPARE IT JUST AS I DID ON THE OTHER CITIES FOR, UM, BARK, WE ARE WOEFULLY INADEQUATE IN NUMBER OF INSPECTORS. SO, UM, I'M HAPPY TO DISCUSS FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD. I'M GLAD TO KNOW THERE'S SIX MORE. BUT YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S NOT A MESSAGE THAT WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THE DIRECTOR. IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT, UH, SHE DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE IN THIS ROLE. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS. UM, THANK YOU. I ALSO SUPPORT, UM, MORE INSPECTORS. UM, BUT TO YOUR POINT, MAYOR, I THINK WE DO NEED TO DISCUSS HOW TO DO THAT. UM, UH, VICE MAYOR, PORT TIM, I YOUR SUGGESTION ABOUT HAVING SOMEBODY ASSIGNED TO EACH DISTRICT THAT MAY WORK ON A COMPACT SIZE DISTRICT, DISTRICT H IS MORE THAN TWICE AS LARGE AS SOME OF THE OTHER DISTRICT GEOGRAPHICALLY. AND WE, WE STRETCH SO FAR NORTH AND THEN SO FAR TO THE EAST, THAT THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY DOESN'T, WOULDN'T WORK FOR US, YOU KNOW? SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO, TO BE MORE REGIONAL RATHER THAN JUST SPECIFIC TO A DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, WOULD, WOULD, WOULD BE A BETTER SYSTEM. SO I, I WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO, TO, TO DO A DEEPER DIVE INTO HOW IT, THE LOGISTICS WOULD REALLY WORK. AND COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT WE NEED MORE INSPECTORS, BUT I, I AGREE WITH THE VICE MAYOR PRO TEM, THAT IT WOULD SEEM AS IF WE HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF INSPECTORS, IF THEY HAVE ASSIGNED AREAS OR DISTRICTS THAT THEY GO TO, THAT THEY BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS, FAMILIAR WITH THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT IN THE DYNAMICS, THEN THINGS WOULD BE MUCH MORE EFFICIENT. A REGIONAL IS LARGER THAN THE DISTRICT. AND, AND SO I THINK IF WE KNOW THAT WE NEED MORE, WE HAVE TO DO THE MORE WE CAN WITH THE FEW THAT WE HAVE AND SPLITTING IT UP BY DISTRICTS, AND MAYBE SOME DISTRICTS MAY GET MORE THAN ONE IF THEY'RE VERY LARGE, BUT TO HAVE THE INSPECTORS NOT KNOWING KIND OF WHERE THEY'RE GOING ON A ROUTINE BASIS AND NOT VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS, IT WOULD SEEM THAT WOULD TAKE THEM LONGER TO ASSESS AND TO FIGURE OUT EACH DYNAMIC. SO, UM, I'M BRINGING THIS ALL UP BECAUSE WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION LAST YEAR, AND THEN WE HAD THE CONVERSATION THE YEAR BEFORE. AND I MEAN, HOW MANY CONVERSATIONS DO WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT A NEW STRATEGY, UM, AND JUST IMPLEMENT SOMETHING? AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M RAISING AGAIN. YEAH. YOU KNOW, I, OR MAYBE IT'S THE SITUATION. WELL GO ON. I'M JUST SAYING, WE ALWAYS SEND THINGS THROUGH COMMITTEE, WHICH IS COOL, BUT I, I LIKE TO JUST TO GET THINGS DONE. UH, SO, UH, IF WE'RE, I DON'T WANNA HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AGAIN. I THINK, I THINK WE ALL ARE ON THE SAME PAGE. MAYOR, I THINK YOU ARE AS WELL TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN MAKE THE MOST WITH WHAT WE HAVE. THANK YOU. YEAH. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT IT'S, IT IS ABOUT ORGANIZATION AND YOU CAN'T HAVE 11 DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. OKAY. AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT, THAT THERE HAS TO BE, THERE'S A CENTRAL, YOU GOT THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. NOW, IF WE ARE SAYING THAT DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS NEEDS TO BE RESTRUCTURED, THAT'S ONE THING, BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE INDIVIDUAL INSPECTORS WHO ARE THEY REPORTING TO? THEY STILL STILL DEPARTING TO, THEY STILL REPORTING TO THE DEPARTMENT. I DON'T THINK, I DON'T THINK WE'RE, WELL, WE, WE WE'RE RECOGNIZING A ISSUE AND WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM, BUT WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO CHANGE IT. I THINK YOU, YOU PUT SOME EFFORT TOWARDS THIS CHANGE, THEY ALL REPORT TO THE SAME PERSON. WELL, NOT NECESSARILY, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, THAT MAY NEED TO BE DISCUSSED IN COMMUNITY. AND THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. I THINK IF, IF, IF, IF THE QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT IS WORKING AS IF THE DEPARTMENT IS WORKING AS EFFECTIVELY AS IT SHOULD, THAT'S, THAT'S ONE ISSUE. WE, UH, WE ADD AN INSPECTOR'S LAST BUDGET, SO EVERY, EVERY YEAR WE GONNA COME AND WE JUST GONNA KEEP ADDING MORE INSPECTORS AND ADDING MORE INSPECTORS [04:05:01] AND ADDING MORE INSPECTORS. BUT WE ADDING INSPECTOR MORE AND MORE INSPECTORS, BUT WE ARE NOT HAVING A DIFFERENT WAY IN WHICH TO PUT THEM OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY. IT MAY NOT BE AS EFFECTIVE. WELL, BUT I'M SAYING THAT, THAT, THAT THERE MAYBE NEEDS TO BE A DEEPER DIVE BECAUSE WE ADDED MORE INSPECTORS LAST YEAR UNDER ONE CLEAN HOUSTON, WE ARE ADDING SIX ADDITIONAL INSPECTORS UNDER ONE CLEAN HOUSTON, AND NOW WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT HERE. SO I THINK THAT IT REQUIRES A DEEPER, A DEEPER DIVE ON HOW TO, HOW TO MAKE THINGS WORK MORE EFFICIENTLY. AND, BUT THE ANSWER IS NOT TO DO IT THROUGH BUDGETARY CREEP. I, BECAUSE I THINK EVEN IF WE DO IT THIS TIME, I THINK IN THE NEXT TIME YOU'RE GONNA COME WITH THE SAME THING AND IT'S GONNA BE THE SAME THING, AND IT'S GONNA BE, I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE WAY TO DO IT. NOW, IF WE, IF IT NEEDS TO BE RESTRUCTURED, THEN LET'S, LET'S LOOK AT THAT. AND, AND MAYBE IT GOES BEYOND JUST WHAT, LET'S SAY, WHAT THE DIRECTOR'S REQUEST MAY BE. MAYBE IT NEEDS TO BE RESTRUCTURED. MAYBE WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING RADICALLY DIFFERENT. OKAY. UM, AND SO THAT'S WHY I, I, I, BEFORE, BEFORE, UH, ENGAGING AN AMENDMENT WHERE THERE'S A RECURRING COST, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S TAKE THIS TIME TO DO, UH, TO DO MAYBE A, A DEEPER DIVE THAT, THAT'S MY ASSESSMENT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER P BACK BACK WITH YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, OKAY. SO YOU, YOU HIRED, UM, OR PUT IN ONE CLEAN HOUSTON AND BUDGET FOR SIX MORE INSPECTORS, PLUS THESE FIVE WOULD TAKE IT TO 11, WHICH WOULD BE ONE FOR EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT. UM, I HAVE BEEN DOWN THAT ROAD WITH DON BEFORE ABOUT HAVING ONE, YOU KNOW, PER COUNCIL DISTRICT. AND THE ISSUE WAS, THE STRUCTURE OF HOW IT'S FUNDED NOW IS THAT SOME OF THAT MONEY COMES FROM HUD AND IT HAS TO BE IN HUD AREAS. AND THAT'S WHY THEY COULDN'T JUST TAKE ONE INSPECTOR PER COUNCIL DISTRICT BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT IT'S FUNDED RIGHT NOW. SO THAT WAS PART OF THE PROBLEM. UM, ANOTHER ISSUE IS JUST VACANCIES, BECAUSE YEAH, WE CAN PUT ALL THE MONEY WE WANT INTO HIRING MORE, BUT WHEN WE'RE NOT PAYING THEM ENOUGH AND THEY'RE GOING TO OTHER PLACES, THAT'S BEEN AN ISSUE AS WELL. UM, BECAUSE IT'S A TOUGH JOB. THEY'RE OUT, YOU KNOW, IN THE RAIN, IN THE HEAT, IN THE COLD, UM, GOING OUT AND DOING THESE INSPECTIONS. SO IT'S A TOUGH JOB THAT WE COULD PROBABLY PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR AS WELL. SO THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES, I THINK, UM, CAUSING, UM, THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN OUR COMMUNITIES. UM, WE'VE ALSO TRIED TO USE COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS TO HIRE AN INSPECTOR IN OUR DISTRICT, AND COULDN'T DO THAT FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS AS WELL. SO I DO THINK THAT WE NEED A DEEPER DIVE INTO THIS. UM, BUT WE KIND OF SAY THAT EVERY TIME THIS AMENDMENT COMES UP OR A SIMILAR AMENDMENT COMES UP. SO, UM, IF WE COULD IN THE, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE REALLY DO A DEEPER DIVE INTO THIS AND FIGURE OUT, UH, BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID, THE STRUCTURE OF IT MAY NEED TO CHANGE, AND I THINK IT DOES NEED TO CHANGE BECAUSE IT'S NOT WORKING HOW IT'S CURRENTLY SET UP. I THINK WE'RE ALL FEELING THAT IN OUR DISTRICTS. WE'RE SEEING THAT IT'S NOT WORKING AS INTENDED. SO, UM, SO I WILL WITHDRAW THIS AMENDMENT, BUT I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN HAD SOME STATS ABOUT THIS TOO, THAT SHE WANTED TO SHARE. I, HOLD ON ONE SECOND, THEN WE'LL COME TO GET COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS. UM, THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I JUST WANTED TO GO BACK AND SAY I DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO DO IT BY DISTRICT. I KNOW IT SOUNDS CONVENIENT. IT WOULD BE NICE, BUT, BUT IT, FOR, FOR DISTRICT H, WE, DISTRICT H IS, IS LARGER THAN TWICE THE SIZE OF DISTRICT J. AND SO TALKING ABOUT EFFICIENCY AND KNOWING THE COMMUNITY WELL AND BEING ABLE TO GET EVERYWHERE, THAT JUST DOESN'T WORK. YOU KNOW, IF YOU COULD IN A COMPACT AREA, THEY, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SERVE AN AREA. I MEAN, THE HPD IS STRUCTURED THIS WAY. THERE'S DIVISIONS, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE MULTIPLE, UM, HPD DIVISIONS THAT SERVE DISTRICT H AND I, AND I THINK THAT COULD BE THE SAME WAY. I MEAN, THOSE PEOPLE KNOW, KNOW THE AREAS THAT THEY SERVE VERY WELL. AND I THINK THAT THAT'S, YOU KNOW, IF THAT'S NOT HOW IT'S WORKING, YOU KNOW, IN IN THIS SYSTEM, IT SHOULD BE, YOU KNOW, SO I THINK A, A DEEP DIVE INTO, TO THE EFFICIENCY OF IT IS A REALLY GOOD START. THANK YOU. JUST SAYING, AND COUNCIL MEMBER, I'M GONNA COME TO YOU, BUT I'M, I'M GOING TO SEND THIS MATTER TO YOU. AND, UH, I DO THINK WE NEED A DEEPER DIVE BECAUSE IF WE ADDING PEOPLE, BUT IF THE QUESTION IS PAY, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE MORE PEOPLE AND STILL A LACK OF PAY AND PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, SO IT, I I, I'M GONNA SEND IT TO YOU FOR, FOR, TO TAKE A DEEPER DIVE. BUT COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO GREAT. THANK YOU AND HAPPY TO TAKE THIS ON. AND REALLY THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER PECK FOR ELEVATING THIS DISCUSSION BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING WE KEEP HEARING. IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET CYCLE, I ASKED HOW MANY CO MORE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS DOES DON NEED TO BETTER ADDRESS COMMUNITY NEEDS? AND THE RESPONSE WAS THE KPI TO DETERMINE NEEDED STAFF IS SQUARE MILES PER FIELD STAFF MEMBER. DON SHOULD HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 130 INSPECTORS TO MEET THE INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR 3.5 [04:10:01] SQUARE MILE PER INSPECTED BASED ON UPDATED 2022 NUMBERS IN OTHER TEXAS CITIES. THE VOLUME OF WORK GENERATED BY 189 INSPECTORS WOULD ALSO REQUIRE AN ADDITIONAL 35 ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF TO SUPPORT IT. SO OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A BIGGER, BIGGER PROBLEM. I WAS IN DISTRICT I, UM, LAST NIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER AT A, AT A A MEETING AND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS WERE ABOUT, YES, AN INSPECTOR COMES OUT AND LOOKS AT THINGS, BUT THEN IT JUST KIND OF, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S THE FOLLOW UP. SO THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A BIGGER PROBLEM THAN JUST SIX INSPECTORS OR THREE INSPECTORS. UM, SO I AM WELCOME TO GET ALL THE SMARTER PEOPLE THAN I IN THE ROOM ABOUT THIS, UH, UM, TO, TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE MIGHT RESTRUCTURE IT. I KNOW THIS CODE ENFORCEMENT HAS BOUNCED FROM DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT MY TENURE AT CITY HALL. SO, UM, WE'LL HAVE TO JUST TAKE ANOTHER LOOK. COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, PECK, IF YOU WOULD SIMPLY, INSTEAD OF WITHDRAW FUEL, WOULD, UH, MOVE TO REFER IT, UH, TO, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD. UH, SO RNAI THINK THAT WOULD BE A BETTER DEAL. AND THEN, UH, AND THEN IF COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, UH, WOULD YOU PREFER 60 TO 90 DAYS TO ADDRESS IT? 90 DAYS, IF YOU'LL REFER TO MOVE, TO REFER, UH, TO OUR NA, UH, FOR A FURTHER DEEP DIVE TO COME BACK WITH A, A REPORT WITHIN 90 DAYS? YES, I MOVE TO REFER IT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE WITHIN 90 DAYS. OKAY. ON SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND, ANY OBJECTION TO CHAIR? NONE GRANTED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 6.07 IS REFERRED TO RNA, UH, 6.08. 6.08 IS, UM, FOR THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF SHARING DIGITAL SERVICES WITH HARRIS COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM. UM, THIS KIND OF BUILDS UPON AN AMENDMENT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND I DID A COUPLE YEARS BACK ABOUT SHARING SERVICES AT THE LIBRARY AND HER, YOU KNOW, SHARED SERVICES IDEAS. UM, I HAVE BOTH, UM, HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY CARD AND HARRIS COUNTY LIBRARY CARD AND JUST LOOKING AT DIGITAL SERVICES, SEEING WHAT HARRIS COUNTY HAS TO OFFER AND THE SPEED AT WHICH THEY HAVE TO OFFER THAT, UM, IS JUST, UM, JUST MUCH BETTER THAN, UM, THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND I THINK A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH JUST THE COSTS THAT WE'RE PUTTING INTO THOSE SERVICES. AND SO IF YOU LIVE IN HOUSTON, UM, MOST OF HOUSTON ANYWAY, YOU'RE GET, YOU CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THE HARRIS COUNTY CARD TOO. SO IF YOU CAN ALREADY DO BOTH, IF THERE'S A WAY TO SHARE THOSE SERVICES AND MAKE IT WORK FOR EVERYONE AND MAYBE EVEN REDUCE COSTS SOMEWHAT, I THINK IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL JUST TO EXPLORE THAT GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU. THIS AND ADMINISTRATION SUPPORT 6.08. ANY DISCUSSION ON, ON ON 6.8 IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED, 6.8 IS PASSAGE 6.09. THANK YOU. 6.09 IS TO CREATE A SUNSET REVIEW COMMISSION TO REVIEW THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF EVERY SINGLE PROGRAM AND DEPARTMENT. FOR EXAMPLE, MAYOR, OUR, UM, DISCUSSION ABOUT DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD INSPECTORS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD GO THROUGH A SUNSET REVIEW COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT AND DETERMINE, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY INSPECTORS, WHAT THE STRUCTURE SHOULD BE. AND IT WOULD BE A WHOLE COMMITTEE SET UP JUST TO LOOK AT THESE TYPES OF THINGS, RATHER THAN, UM, JUST HAVING TWO KIND OF ONE-OFFS AND REFERRING THINGS HERE AND THERE TO COMMITTEES. IT WOULD, UM, WE WOULD REVIEW EVERY SINGLE PROGRAM AND DEPARTMENT. OF COURSE, THIS IS A VERY LONG-TERM SOLUTION TO FINDING EFFICIENCIES AND EFFECTIVENESS. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, BUT KIND OF MODELED AFTER THE STATE'S SUNSET REVIEW COMMITTEE, WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT EVERY SINGLE PROGRAM AND DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE, WHAT WE HAVE, UM, I THINK WE'VE COME UP WITH SOMETHING BETTER. AND THAT'S OUTCOME BASED BUDGETING. BECAUSE NOW ON OUTCOME BASED BUDGETING, YOU'RE LOOKING AT ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS AND YOU HAVE A, A, A WAY, AN ASSESSMENT TOOL. AND I THINK, UH, COUNCILMAN ALCORN SPOKE TO THAT EARLY ON. UM, BUT SUNING ESSENTIALLY MEANS, UM, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THAT PERIOD OF TIME, YOU EITHER KEEP THE, LET'S SAY DEPARTMENT OR YOU ELIMINATE THE DEPARTMENT. AND THAT'S A, THAT'S A STATE TOOL. UH, THAT IS NOT ONE THAT, THAT I WAS A BIG FAN OF ANYWAY. UH, SO, UM, YOU KNOW, ON THIS ONE, I'M GONNA HAVE TO RESPECTFULLY, UM, ASK, UM, UH, THAT YOU WITHDRAW IT IN LIEU OF OUTCOME-BASED BUDGETING, WHICH WE HAVE NOW ADOPTED, I THINK, I THINK THAT GETS YOU CLOSE, BUT IT, IT'S, UM, IT DOESN'T SUNSET A DEPARTMENT. I MEAN, I MEAN, WHO WANTS TO SUNSET HPD OR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR PUBLIC WORKS OR AIRPORTS? YOU KNOW, I, I JUST DON'T, I, I JUST, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THE THEORY BEHIND IT, BUT I THINK, UH, FOR, FOR MUNICIPAL PURPOSES AND FOR LIKE THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE OUTCOME BASED BUDGETING APPROACH IS A MUCH, IS A MUCH BETTER MODEL. OKAY, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO, THANK YOU [04:15:01] MAYOR, AND THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, I MEAN, YES, WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT, AT EVERY PROGRAM AND INITIATIVE THAT IT'S ACHIEVING THE GOALS THAT WE WANT. I, I THINK THIS WAS A GOOD, REALLY GOOD FIRST YEAR OF OUTCOME-BASED BUDGETING. I WOULD ARGUE THAT A LOT OF THE DEPARTMENTS NEED TO TAKE, AND I'LL BE WRITING A MEMO TO WILL. 'CAUSE WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT EVERY SINGLE PERFORMANCE MEASURE. SOME OF THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES NEED IMPROVEMENT. SOME OF THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES ARE MAYBE IMPORTANT INTERNALLY, BUT, BUT NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN PROMOTE TO THE CITIZENS. LIKE, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THIS DEPARTMENT. PEOPLE WANNA KNOW THAT WE'RE SPENDING THEIR MONEY WISELY. THEY WANNA KNOW THAT WE'RE ACHIEVING THE GOALS. WE WANNA, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO POINT TO THIS IS WHAT I MEAN, POLICE AT AIRPORTS, WE KNOW WHAT THEY DO, BUT SOME OF THE STUFF THAT WE DO IS, IS LESS OBVIOUS. SO, SO I THINK THAT THAT OUTCOME-BASED BUDGETING IN A, AS WE GET BETTER AT IT SHOULD TURN THE BUDGET AT ITS ON ITS HEAD, AND WE STOP FUNDING THINGS THAT AREN'T LIVING UP TO THE EXPECTATION. THERE WAS A PERFORMANCE MEASURE I SPOKE TO YOU ABOUT, WE HAVE TO DO PLANNING AND PERMITTING. WE'RE ONLY MEETING OUR GOAL 3% OF THE TIME, 3%. LIKE THAT'S NOT GOOD. IF THAT WAS IN THE NORMAL OUTSIDE WORLD, THAT WE WOULD BE MAKING SOME SERIOUS ADJUSTMENTS THERE. SO I THINK THAT OUTCOME-BASED BUDGETING, WE LOOK AT THESE PERFORMANCE MEASURES, WE SEE HOW WE'RE DOING, AND THEN WE MAKE SOME REAL CHANGES. UM, IF, IF WE'RE NOT MEETING OUR GOALS OR IF WE'RE JUST STAGNANT WITH A GOAL AND WE'RE NOT IMPROVING. AND SO THAT, THAT'S HOW I THINK OUTCOME. AND THIS WAS THE FIRST YEAR, SO IT'S HARD TO JUDGE. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO KIND OF GO FROM YEAR TO YEAR TO SEE HOW IT GOES. BUT, BUT THE IDEA COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, I REALLY AGREE WITH THAT. WE DO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT JUST CONTINUING TO FUND PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES THAT MAYBE AREN'T MEETING THE GOALS OR AREN'T MEETING THE WAY THE GOALS IN THE WAY WE ARE. WE ARE, IN MOST CASES MEETING 'EM, BUT THERE ARE SOME, SO JUST, THAT'S MY 2 CENTS. MAY APPOINT TO MARTIN. YES. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. MAY, UM, COUNCILMAN KASH. I'M SORRY, MAYOR. THE, UH, THE CHARTER ESTABLISHES SOME OF THESE, UH, THESE DEPARTMENTS. THEY'RE, THEY'RE ESTABLISHED BY THE CHARTER, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU COULD SUNSET SOMETHING THAT THE CHARTER IS ESTABLISHED. THAT'S TRUE. THAT IS VERY TRUE TOO. WE CANNOT, I MEAN, AND, AND THEN SOME OF THEM ARE CREATED BY, BY THE, THE MAYOR. LIKE, WE DIDN'T HAVE HITS 30 YEARS, 20 YEARS AGO OR WHATEVER BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE COMPUTERS. SO THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT TO BE SAID. I LIKE THE IDEA OF, OF REVIEWING AND, AND AUDITING, AND I JUST DON'T KNOW IF THE SUNSET IS THE WAY TO DO IT. WELL, YOU, YOU RAISED, YOU RAISED SOME VERY GOOD POINTS. MAYOR TIM MARTIN. YES. SO I, I READ THIS A COUPLE TIMES AND I'M STILL CONFUSED AS TO WHAT THIS IS, BUT IT'S 25 MEMBERS, 21 MEMBERS, AND FOUR ALTERNATES APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR AND CONFIRMED BY COUNCIL WITH THE CITY'S STANDARD PROCESS, INCLUDING ONE MEMBER CHOSEN BY EACH DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER AND ONE MEMBER CHOSEN BY EACH AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBER TO EXAMINE THE EFFICIENCIES OF EVERY PROGRAM, EVERY DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THAT'S OUR JOB. THAT'S WHAT WE WERE ELECTED TO DO. IF WE FIND DEFICIENCIES IN THE PROGRAM, WE BRING 'EM FORWARD, WE GO TO A COMMITTEE, WE TALK ABOUT IT. IF WE FIND THAT THAT DEPARTMENT NEEDS ADDITIONAL PEOPLE, THEY SHOULD GO TO THE CEO AND REQUEST THE ADDITIONAL PEOPLE, NOT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, NOT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, NOT CITY COUNCIL, MY HUMBLE OPINION. BUT I THINK THIS IS WHAT WE DO. WE'RE IN CHARGE OF THIS. WE'RE ACCOUNTABLE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS. IT'S OUR DECISION TO DETERMINE WHAT PROGRAMS, WHAT DEPARTMENTS RUN AN EFFICIENT ORGANIZATION AND CARRY FORWARD. UM, COUNCILMAN IMPACT. MAY I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST OF I'LL WITHDRAW. UM, I JUST WANNA CLARIFY A FEW POINTS. UM, FIRST, FIRST OF ALL, IT DOES LAY OUT THAT CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS CAN'T ACTUALLY BE SUNSET. SO LIKE H-P-D-H-F-D DEPARTMENTS LIKE THAT, THEY CAN'T ACTUALLY BE SUNSET, BUT THEY WOULD STILL GO THROUGH THE PROCESS JUST TO EFFICIENCIES. UM, AND I AGREE THAT IT IS OUR JOB TO ALSO FIND THOSE EFFICIENCIES, BUT YOU'VE MADE THE COMMENT BEFORE, MAYOR, THAT, UM, PER THE CITY CHARTER, WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO GET INTO THE INNER WORKINGS OF DEPARTMENTS LIKE THAT. SO THAT'S WHY THIS WOULD KIND OF REMOVE US FROM THAT PROCESS A LITTLE BIT. UM, AND ALSO, WHILE I DO LIKE OUTCOME-BASED BUDGETING, CERTAIN, UM, ASPECTS OF IT, WE'RE SEEING THE OUTCOMES THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO SEE. AND THAT'S NOT AGAINST YOU, MAYOR. I MEAN, IT'S ANY MAYOR MOVING FORWARD IS WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION WANTS AS [04:20:01] OUTCOMES. IT'S NOT NECESSARILY WHAT THE PUBLIC WANTS AS OUTCOME. SO THAT'S WHY THERE'S A DIFFERENCE HERE WHERE SUNSET REVIEW WOULD ACTUALLY BRING IN THE PUBLIC AND ALLOW FOR THEM TO COMMENT ON WHAT'S WORKING AND WHAT'S NOT WORKING. WHEREAS OUTCOME-BASED BUDGETING, IT'S KIND OF COMING FROM, FROM THE CITY DOWN RATHER THAN FROM THE PEOPLE UP. AND SO THAT'S WHY THERE'S JUST A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENCE THERE. UM, I WILL WITHDRAW THIS ONE BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE'RE QUITE THERE YET, BUT I WILL CONTINUE WORKING ON EVERYONE TO CONVINCE EVERYONE WHY WE NEED SUNSET REVIEW. BUT I HAVE, I APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT. . OKAY. 6 1 0 9 IS, IS WITHDRAWN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT THEN, UM, UH, COUNCILMAN POLLY FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. YEAH. THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR, I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE A GROUP OF STUDENTS THAT WE SAW WALK IN, UH, THIS MORNING THAT HAVE ON, UH, RED SHIRTS. THEY ARE WITH THE UHD UPWARD BOUND, UH, PROGRAM. I WOULD LIKE THEM TO, UH, PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED. I WANNA, UH, WELCOME YOU ALL TO YOUR CITY HALL. WE ARE, UM, RIGHT NOW DISCUSSING OUR ANNUAL CITY BUDGET, WHICH IS ABOUT $6.2 BILLION, AND IT IS FUNDED BY THE TAXPAYER'S MONEY. SO YOUR MONEY, YOUR PARENTS' MONEY, YOUR TEACHER'S MONEY. SO, UH, WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE. AND, UH, UM, PLEASE PAY ATTENTION AND HOPE YOU LEARN A LOT. THANK YOU ALL. WELCOME TO, WELCOME TO CITY HALL, Y'ALL. UM, NOW WE ARE TURNING TO, UM, UH, 7.01 AND, AND BEFORE WE TURN TO 7.01, UM, WELL I LET LET YOU LAY IT OUT, COUNCILMAN JACKSON. THEN I'LL HAVE A FEW COMMENTS AFTERWARDS. , UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, SO I'M PROPOSING 20 MILLION IN THE CITY'S FY 2024 PROPOSED BUDGET AS REDLINE CURRENTLY REFLECTED IN THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT LINE CALLED TRANSFER TO CAPITAL PROJECTS, BE RE REDIRECTED TO THE LOCAL DRAINAGE PROJECT, PRIORITIZING THE MOST CRITICAL AREAS. UM, ADDING THIS 20 MILLION TO THE LOCAL DRAINAGE PROJECTS WILL ALLOW US TO ADDRESS LONG NEGLECTED NEEDS AND BETTER EXECUTE OUR WORST FIRST POLICY BY PRIORITIZING PROJECTS IN THE AREAS WITH THE HIGHEST VULNERABILITY AND THE MOST NEED. UM, MAYOR, AS WE KNOW, THE NEGLECT AND INE INEQUITABLE TREATMENT OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS IS NOT OUR FAULT. UM, THIS HAPPENED LONG BEFORE WE CAME INTO OFFICE, BUT NOW WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THIS RIGHT, WRONG. UM, MAYOR, YESTERDAY, I WAS SO PROUD OF YOU. UM, AS WE SHOWED THE COMMUNITY THE MASSIVE INVESTMENTS WE'RE MAKING TO FIGHT ILLEGAL DUMPING, UM, YOU DIDN'T CREATE THIS PROBLEM, BUT YOU'RE LEADING THE EFFORT TO, TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS HAS NOT GONE UNNOTICED AS A LIFETIME RESIDENT OF DISTRICT B. I'M INTERNALLY GRATEFUL UNTO YOU FOR MAKING A HUGE DITCH DIFFERENT DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. OUR STREETS ARE NOW CLEANER, OUR PARKS ARE RENEWED. THERE ARE FEWER HOMELESS FOLKS IN THE STREET, AND WE HAVE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND THIS IS YOUR LEGACY. YOU REVERSED DECADES OF DISINVESTMENT, DECADES OF NEGLECT. AND THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING FOR 20 MILLION NOW BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN NEXT. BUT I DO KNOW WHAT WE HAVE NOW. WE HAVE YOU, WE HAVE A MAYOR WHO SEEDS US AND WHO CARES ABOUT US. AND TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, I ASKED FOR YOUR SUPPORT, UM, FOR THIS AMENDMENT. UM, WE CAN'T LET THESE NEIGHBORHOODS FLOOD AGAIN, UM, THE WAY THAT THEY FLOODED AFTER HARVEY. SO, SO MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE STILL TRYING TO RECOVER. WE SEE HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO RECOVER. AND SO, UM, WE DON'T WANT TO WANT THIS TO REPEAT. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU. I WANNA THANK KNOCK, UM, KNOCK, UM, UM, THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTION JUST FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND JUST FOR, UM, YOUR CONS, CONSTANT FIGHTING FOR YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND FOR OUR CITY. AND SO, UM, I SUBMIT THIS PRO, UM, BUDGET AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LEMME JUST SAY, UH, I SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT, BUT I WANT TO PROVIDE SOME BROADER CONTEXT MM-HMM . ON WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE. SO WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME, ON THE SAME PAGE. UM, IN FISCAL YEAR 23 THIS YEAR, THE YEAR THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY IN, UH, WE HAVE SET ASIDE, UM, UH, $60 MILLION FOR SWAT PROJECTS, 60 MILLION. UM, AND THE PART OF THAT 60 MILLION IS 20 MILLION COMING FROM THE COUNTY. SO 40 MILLION FROM US IN THIS FISCAL YEAR AND ANOTHER 20 MILLION FROM THE COUNTY. OKAY? AND IN THE BASELINE BUDGET, OKAY, IN THE BASELINE BUDGET, WE'RE ADDING ANOTHER 20 MILLION IN SWAT PROJECTS. SO THE TOTAL AMOUNT FOR SWAT PROJECTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 23 GOING INTO 24 IS $80 MILLION FOR SWAT PROJECTS. AND, UH, IN MY DETAIL CONVERSATION WITH PUBLIC WORKS, THAT'S GONNA TAKE THEM BETWEEN NOW TO THE END OF THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. THIS TIME [04:25:01] JUST TO DO IT IN THE RED LINE. WHAT I WAS ALSO PROPOSING WAS ANOTHER $20 MILLION FOR SWAP PROJECTS, WHICH WOULD'VE BROUGHT IT TO A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS. OKAY? AND THE FUND BALANCE, EVEN WITH THAT WOULD STILL BE ABOUT 16.6%. MM-HMM . I'VE RETHOUGHT THAT WHOLE CALCULATION BECAUSE IT REALLY DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE JUST TO PUT MONEY AND PUT MONEY ON THE SHELF. MM-HMM . OKAY? BEFORE 2001, THE CITY HAD A PROACTIVE SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM FOR OPEN DITCHES THROUGHOUT THE CITY WHERE THE CITY WOULD PROVIDE THE OPEN MAINTENANCE ON THESE DITCHES. AND THEN AFTER 2001, THE CITY REVERSED THAT POLICY AND PUT THE OWNERS ON THE PROPERTY OWNER, THE HOMEOWNER. AND AS A RESULT, WE HAVE A LOT OF DITCHES, OPEN DITCHES THROUGHOUT THE CITY WHERE THE MAINTENANCE IS NOT OCCURRING. AND I'VE HAD EXTENSIVE CONVERSATION WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND WHAT I'VE ASKED THEM, TELL ME WHY I SHOULD NOT REVERSE THIS POLICY. OKAY? AND WHAT, UH, PUBLIC WORKS HAS NOW COME TO ME AND SAID IS THAT MAYOR, UM, IF YOU CHOOSE TO REVERSE IT, WE CAN REVERSE IT AND WE CAN DO THE PROGRAM AND IT'S GOING TO COST ABOUT 40 MILLION TO GET IT ACTIVATED PURCHASING EQUIPMENT AND ALL OF THAT. AND THEN WITHIN OUR EXISTING BUDGET, WE CAN THEN TAKE IT FROM THERE. AND SO I ASKED THEM, IF YOU LOOK WITHIN YOUR EXISTING BUDGET, WHAT DO YOU HAVE THAT YOU CAN ATTEND ON THIS PROGRAM? THEY SAID, WE CAN COME, WE HAVE, UH, $20 MILLION. WE ARE SHORT OF A 20. SO IN THE RED LINE THAT'S ALREADY, THAT I'M PROPOSING IS THAT ADDED 20 FOR THIS ONE. I AM PROPOSING IN THE ACCEPTANCE, IN THE SUPPORT OF THIS AMENDMENT TO TAKE THAT 20 MILLION AND PUT IT ON THE, UH, WHAT YOU CALL IT, THE L-D-P-L-D-P LOCAL PROJECT, THE LOCAL DRAINAGE PROJECTS, WHICH WOULD THEN COMBINE WITH PUBLIC WORKS 20 ACTIVATE THE OPEN DITCH POLICY MAINTENANCE POLICY, WHICH BENEFITS ANY PLACE IN THE CITY WHERE THERE ARE OPEN DITCHES. OKAY? ANYWHERE IN ANY DITCH WHERE THE OPEN DITCHES, UH, THE POLICY WOULD BE ACTIVATED AND THEN PUBLIC WORKS CAN TAKE IT FROM THERE. SO IT DOESN'T, IT'S NOT AN ADDITIONAL DRAW DOWN FROM THE FUND BALANCE, OKAY? IT MAINTAINS THE FUND BALANCE AT 16.6%. BUT WHAT IT DOES DO IN ACCEPTING THE AMENDMENT IS THAT IT REVERSES A POLICY THAT WAS NOT WORKING WELL FOR THE CITY. MM-HMM . IT, IT REVERSES, IT PUTS THE ONUS BACK ON THE CITY TO ENGAGE IN A PRO MAINTENANCE POLICY. OKAY? AND THE DOLLARS WOULD BENEFIT WHEREVER THERE ARE OPEN DITCHES IN THE CITY, OKAY? AND AT THE SAME TIME, IT LEAVES $80 MILLION FOR SWAT PROGRAMS IN ALL OF YOUR, IN ALL OF YOUR DISTRICTS, WHICH IS AS MUCH, IF NOT MORE THAN PUBLIC WORKS CAN DO BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. 'CAUSE IN EVERY FISCAL YEAR WE PUT $20 MILLION INTO THE SWAT PROJECTS. OKAY? THAT'S ALREADY BUILT IN. SO I AM 80 PLUS. DOES THAT MAKE, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? IS EVERYBODY CLEAR? YEP. MM-HMM . 80 PLUS. OKAY, SO YOU GOT 80 PLUS 53, RIGHT? SO YOU GOT 80 MILLION FOR SWAT PROJECTS. THAT'S IN EVERYBODY'S DISTRICTS. THAT TAKES YOU THROUGH THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR ON THE SWAT PROJECTS. AND THEN WE ARE TAKING WHAT'S ALREADY IN THE RED LINE, THE 20 MILLION AND SO, AND CAN SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON'S AMENDMENT. AND THAT ACT ACTIVATES, THERE'LL BE AN ORDINANCE COMING REVERSING THE POLICY, OKAY? THAT WILL BE COMING IN THE NEXT THREE, TWO TO THREE, UH, WEEKS, AS SOON AS LEGAL CAN GET THAT READY. AND PUBLIC WORKS CAN NOW, UH, START PLANNING ON, UH, THE OPEN DITCH POLICY MAINTENANCE, WHICH BENEFITS EVERYWHERE THROUGHOUT THE DISH, THE STATE OF HOUSTON, WHERE THEY'RE OPEN DITCHES AND WE STILL MAINTAIN OUR FUND BALANCE OF 16.6%, BUT WE MAKE A TRANSFORMATIONAL SHIFT IN HOW WE ARE ADDRESSING OPEN DITCH MAINTENANCE. BUT WE ARE DOING IT IN A VERY FISCALLY SOUND WAY. MM-HMM . I HOPE IT THAT MAKES SENSE TO EVERYBODY. SO, SO I WOULD SAY PLEASE SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON IN THE DISTRICT, AND THAT'S NOT, AND THEN IN THE LOCAL DISTRICT PROGRAM. THAT'S LOCAL DISTRICT [04:30:01] LOCAL DRAINAGE. YEAH. THE LOCAL DRAINAGE PROJECTS, THAT PRO PROJECTS PROGRAM, THAT'S NOT ALSO COUNTING THE ADDED DOLLARS IN THE CIP ALREADY DEDICATED FOR THE LOCAL DRAINAGE PROJECTS. SO THERE'S MORE THAN THE 20, UH, THAT'S ALREADY IN THE CIP FOR THE LOCAL DRAINAGE. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO, BUT EVERY DISTRICT WHERE THEY OPEN DITCHES, BENEFITS, THEREFORE FROM THIS INITIATIVE. OKAY. OKAY. COUNCILMAN PLUMER, THIS IS WONDERFUL. I THINK THIS IS, THIS IS AMAZING. UM, IN ADDITION TO THE FIVE PRESIDENTIAL DISASTERS HAVE BEEN DECLARED FLOODING, AS WE HEARD FROM ONE OF THE, UM, CONSTITUENTS YESTERDAY. IT'S JUST REGULAR RAIN AND, AND ASSISTING US WITH THE OPEN DITCHES IS GONNA BE A HUGE WIN FOR JUST THOSE REGULAR RAIN DAYS THAT COMPLETELY PUTS EVERYONE IN A STRESSFUL SPACE. SO THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON FOR PULLING THIS FORWARD, ALL THE ADVOCATES, UM, FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN. AND, AND THANK YOU THE COUNCIL FOR SUPPORTING THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT IN COMBINATION WITH LOOKING AT EVERYTHING FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE AND PUTTING A PROCESS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE EQUITY AND HOW IT'S DISPERSED IS DONE. UM, FOCUSING ON AREAS OF MOST CONCERN. THIS IS A REALLY GREAT ONE. SO THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS. THIS IS GREAT. VICE MEMBER, VICE MEMBER TIM CAST. THANK YOU MAYOR. I DO WANT TO, UM, THANK DIRECTOR HADDOCK. UM, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH HER ON YESTERDAY IN ADDITION TO THE CONSISTENT ADVOCACY FROM, UH, THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME WEEK AFTER WEEK TO CITY HALL TO ADVOCATE FOR THIS IMPROVED DRAINAGE AND COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON FOR HER CONSISTENT ADVOCACY ON THIS. UM, WHILE TALKING WITH DIRECTOR HADDOCK, MY QUESTION WAS WHAT SPECIFICALLY HAVE WE SPENT IN SWAT LAST YEAR? AND THAT WAS ABOUT $40 MILLION. AND THEN, UM, SO WHAT IT SEEMS IS IF WE PUT MORE MONEY IN SWAT, UH, WE REALLY DON'T OR MAY NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO ACTUALLY SPEND THE MONEY FOR THOSE PROJECTS. SO WE COULD EASILY JUST PUT THE MONEY THERE. IT'LL SIT THERE ON THE SHELF PER SE. UM, AND WE WON'T ACTUALLY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO GET THOSE PROJECTS DONE. THOSE SWAT PROJECTS WE ALL KNOW TYPICALLY TAKE TWO TO THREE YEARS. WE LOVE 'EM, THEY'RE GREAT. UM, BUT THE SWAT DOLLARS ARE DIVIDED BETWEEN THE 11 DISTRICTS, UH, WITH THE $20 MILLION. WHAT MAKES THIS SO PRUDENT AND EFFICIENT AND A GOOD IDEA IN MY OPINION TO GO TO LDP IS WE CAN DO THOSE PROJECTS WITHOUT PROJECTS HAVING TO HAVE PLAN SETS. SO YOU ELIMINATE HAVING TO GO INTO, UM, PLAN SETS AND TAKING THAT TIME THAT IT TAKES TO GET THAT DONE. AND THREE FOURTHS OF THE OPEN DITCHES ARE UP NORTH. UM, SO YOU INSTANTLY GET THE IMPROVEMENT ON THE DRAINAGE THAT THE RESIDENTS HAVE COME TO PETITION US ABOUT WEEK AFTER WEEK. UH, SO ALTHOUGH THAT DO, THOSE DOLLARS WILL IMPACT ALL OF US THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY. I MEAN, FROM A DISTRICT WHERE HOMES HAVE FLOODED 10 TIMES, AND THAT IS NO EXAGGERATION IN DISTRICT K IN WESTBURY, THERE ARE HOMES THAT HAVE FLOODED 10 TIMES. UM, THERE ARE AREAS WITH OPEN DITCHES, BUT TO KNOW THAT THREE FOURTHS OF THE OPEN DITCHES ARE UP NORTH AND WE'RE PUTTING THIS $20 MILLION IN LDP, I THINK WE, WE ATTACK BOTH AREAS THAT WE ARE ALL SO ADVOCATE. SO REALLY, UM, WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS. UM, SO COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, I AM JUST SUPER EXCITED FOR THE IMPACT THIS IS GOING TO HAVE ON YOUR DISTRICT AND FOR THE RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT B. I HOPE THAT THEY ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THE LION'S SHARE OF LDP PRO PROJECTS THIS YEAR HAVE BEEN UP NORTH, SO THEY WILL SEE AN INSTANT, UM, IMPROVEMENT IN THE DRAINAGE IN THE AREAS UP NORTH, NOT ALSO IN B, BUT IN, IN A, BECAUSE OF WHAT WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED, UH, THIS YEAR. SO, CONGRATULATIONS, MAYOR. I THINK THIS IS A GREAT STRATEGY. UM, KNOWING THAT, UH, THE LDP IS GOING TO, UM, GO TO THE AREAS WHERE WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, THREE FOURTHS OPEN DITCHES IS, UM, IT'S, IS GOOD POLICY AND I THINK IT ADDRESSES OUR EQUITY ISSUE AND ALSO OUR NEEDS ISSUE. SO, CONGRATULATIONS, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, AND EVERYONE THAT WORKED TO MAKE THIS, UM, A REALLY GOOD AMENDMENT FOR THE BUDGET. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR THE ADDITIONAL SWAT MONEY. UM, THE DISTRICT LOVES IT. THEY'RE MAKING A REAL DIFFERENCE, YOU KNOW, IN THESE PROJECTS. AND SO, JUST TO CLARIFY, FOR THE 80 MILLION FOR SWAT, THAT WILL BE DIVIDED BETWEEN THE COUNCIL DISTRICTS EVENLY? YES, THAT IS CORRECT. THANK YOU. AND, AND LEMME JUST SAY ONE THING AND, AND LET ME JUST, UM, ACKNOWLEDGE THE, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN PROVEN TO BE VERY POPULAR. [04:35:01] YOU KNOW, INITIALLY WE WERE ONLY GIVEN 20 MILLION A YEAR. MM-HMM . SO WHEN IT COMES TO, WHEN IT CAME TO SWAP, WE WERE ONLY GIVEN 20. AND, UH, NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT, UH, BETWEEN FISCAL YEAR 23 AND GOING TO 24 80 MILLION ON, ON SWIPE PROJECTS, UM, WHICH IS A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE, UM, WHICH IS A PLUS. AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE OPEN DITCH MAINTENANCE ISSUE, AND THEN I WOULD SAY, AND THEN TO STILL TO HOLD ONTO A FUND BALANCE OF 16.6%. SO, YOU KNOW, SO I WANT, YOU KNOW, THANK ALL OF YOU. AND THEN ON THE, AND LEMME JUST AS A SIDE NOTE ON THE OPEN DITCH, WHEN THE ORDINANCE COMES, UM, UM, UH, COUNCILMAN ROBINSON, THAT WILL BE COMING YOUR WAY TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. AND SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD ON THAT. UH, COUNCILMAN MCMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, YOU KNOW, ECHOING WHAT VICE MAYOR PROM MENTIONED, UH, SHE AND I REPRESENT SOME OF THE AREAS MOST HEAVILY IMPACTED BY REPETITIVE FLOODING. UH, BUT WHAT STRUCK ME WITH ALL THE CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING, UH, IS EVEN DISTRICT C RESIDENTS THAT CARE ABOUT FLOODING, THE MESSAGES I RECEIVED WERE, WE CARE ABOUT OTHER AREAS OF HOUSTON TOO. AND I THINK THAT'S THE SPIRIT OF WHAT THIS IS. AND I WANNA THANK OUR DISTRICT C CONSTITUENTS FOR SPEAKING UP, BECAUSE HOUSTON DOESN'T WIN IF WE ARE ALL NOT WINNING. AND SO, I, I JUST WANT TO ECHO THAT AND EMPHASIZE, UM, THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS MAYOR, WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, I KNOW YOU AND RESIDENTS AND NACK SPEARHEADED THIS, AND THE 20 MILLION IS EXCITING, BUT THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOW OFFICIALLY GOING TO BE CHANGING CITY POLICY ABOUT DITCH MAINTENANCE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE ALL BEEN ADVOCATING AND WORKING TOWARDS FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME. COUNCIL MEMBER, PECK AND I, SEVERAL, UH, BUDGET CYCLES AGO HAD HAD TO HAVE PUT FORWARD THE AMENDMENT TO CREATE DISTRICT DITCH TEAMS FOR THIS TYPE OF REHAB, AND HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF DISTRICT C UH, AND DISTRICT RESOURCES JUST TO GET THAT MAINTENANCE IN. AND IT'S JUST NOT ENOUGH. SO THE FACT THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE, AGAIN, BY A RESIDENT DRIVEN EFFORT FOR FUNDING, BUT WE'VE BUILT UPON THAT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE HEAD ON. SO, I, I JUST WANT TO, UH, PAUSE FOR A MOMENT IN RECOGNITION OF WHAT THIS HAS BECOME. AND MAYOR, THANK YOU. BECAUSE AS IMPORTANT AS SWAT IS, AND MAN, WE LOVE OUR SWAT, UM, THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS AS HOW DO WE ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, WHICH IS THAT BASIC MAINTENANCE. UH, THAT'S A BIG DEAL. AND IT'S GONNA IMPACT SUNNYSIDE, IT'S GONNA IMPACT THE EAST END. IT'S GONNA IMPACT THESE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE BUILT POORLY TO BEGIN WITH BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY WERE AND WHO WAS LIVING THERE. AND THAT'S NOT RIGHT. SO, UH, AGAIN, I WANNA THANK YOU ALL, BUT ESPECIALLY THANK COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, MAYOR, YOU, BUT ALSO OUR DISTRICT. SEE RESIDENTS THAT SPOKE OUT IN SUPPORT OF THIS. AND LEMME JUST SAY, UH, PUBLIC WORKS CORRECTED ME, UH, AND THEY SAID, UM, WHEN WE STARTED OUR PROJECTS, IT WAS 10 MILLION . FIRST YEAR, IT WAS 10 YEAR, THE FIRST YEAR ANNUALLY. SO , SO WE'VE COME, WE'VE COME, WE'VE COME A LONG, WE'VE COME A LONG WAY. UM, COUNCILMAN THOMAS, THANK YOU. UM, CONGRATULATIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, AND THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER FOR, UM, UH, LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE AND MAKING STRATEGIC DECISIONS. UH, MY QUESTION IS MORE SO ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE OF, OF THE DRAINS AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY. THIS MAY COME THROUGH THE CITY ORDINANCE, BUT WHEN WE, WHEN WE SAY MAINTENANCE, EVERYONE INTERPRETS THAT DIFFERENTLY. SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ONCE THIS COMES FORTH, THAT WE'RE REALLY CLEAR ON THE CITY'S OBLIGATION, UH, WHAT PRIVATE RESIDENTS OBLIGATION IS SO WE CAN PUBLICLY GET, GET AHEAD OF THAT IN TERMS OF MAINTENANCE, STRUCTURAL CLEANING, THE DRAINS, TAKING THE TRASH OUT, OR IS IT THAT WE ALWAYS GET KIND OF CAUGHT THERE, UH, WITH THAT RESPONSIBILITY. SO AS THIS ORDINANCE MOVE FORWARD, IT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF PUBLIC FACING DOCUMENT TO REALLY EXPLAIN TO RESIDENTS WHAT'S OURS AND WHAT'S THEIRS. 'CAUSE IT'S A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR DRAINS. I AGREE. UM, THAT WHOLE, IT'S A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY AND IT'S NOT ONE PARTY'S RESPONSIBILITY. UM, AND ESPECIALLY AS WE MOVE THROUGH HURRICANE SEASON AND WE EXPECT RAINFALL. SO THAT WILL BE REALLY HELPFUL. BUT I'M REALLY EXCITED TO, TO VOTE ON THIS ITEM. IT'S A WIN FOR THE CITY. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. AND COUNCILMAN CISNEROS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANNA START BY THANKING, UM, NACK AND JUST HOW IMPRESSIVE YOU HAVE BEEN, HOW ORGANIZED AND, UM, AND, AND DILIGENT YOU'VE BEEN. UM, AND AS YOU'VE COME TO SPEAK TO US, TIME AND TIME AGAIN, YOU SAY, THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY, [04:40:01] IT'S ABOUT THE WHOLE CITY. AND I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE, UM, YOU, THIS, WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE TODAY IS, IS DEFINITELY GONNA BE A BIG HELP TO, TO DISTRICT H. YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE HEARD THAT 80% OF ALL THE DITCHES ARE, ARE BIPOC, UM, BIPOC COMMUNITIES, AND THAT 40% OF THOSE ARE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. DISTRICT H IS A DITCH DISTRICT. THEY'RE EVERYWHERE. IT'S IT THERE ARE EVERYWHERE. AND THIS WILL BE A, A HUGE WIN. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR, UM, PRIORITIZING THE, THIS, UM, THE, THE DRAIN, ADDRESSING THE DRAINAGE THROUGH THE DITCHES. I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE. WILL IT SOLVE ALL OF THE PROBLEMS THAT, THAT THAT I SEE IN DISTRICT H? IT WILL NOT. WE STILL HAVE ISSUES. UM, YOU KNOW, THE FLOODING THAT'S WAS CREATED BY HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION OR RAILROAD CONSTRUCTION THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, TRAPPING WATER. WE STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE, YOU KNOW, IN NORTHLINE THAT, THAT, UM, THAT DEVELOPMENT HAS BUILT OVER NATURAL, UM, UH, DRAINAGE, UM, PLACES. AND, AND, UH, HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL SAYS IT'S IT THAT THE NORTH LAWN AREA IS THE MOST CHALLENGING LOCATION IN THE WHOLE CITY FOR DRAINAGE ISSUES, BECAUSE, BECAUSE THE, UM, THEY'RE NO LARGE CHANNELS, THEY'VE BEEN BUILT OVER. SO THOSE ARE STILL BIG EXPENSIVE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. BUT I WANTED TO JUST REALLY GIVE A BIG THANK YOU, UM, TO NAC AND TO COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON FOR, FOR THIS VERY, VERY WELL ORGANIZED EFFORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMAN ROBINSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY, AS YOU SAID, THERE'S A LOT TO BE SORT OF GONE THROUGH IN TERMS OF THE WEEDS ON THIS. THE TTI COMMITTEE IS REALLY THE PLACE TO DO. BUT, UM, LET ME ECHO ALL THE COLLEAGUES HERE TODAY WHO ARE, UM, I THINK CELEBRATING COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, WHAT YOU'VE BROUGHT TO HEAD. THIS IS HUGE FOR US. AND, UH, MAYOR, I CELEBRATE IT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT THAT WE CAN CELEBRATE ABOUT WHAT'S GOOD LOOKING, WHAT'S EXCITING ABOUT HOUSTON, WHAT IS FLASHY, WHAT IS ON THE NEWS, BUT WELL DITCHES MAKE THE NEWS. BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S THE UGLY UNDERSIDE. IT'S THE UNDERBELLY OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IT, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE FOCUSING ON THAT. AND I THINK WHILE, YOU KNOW, A MANTRA OF BUILD HOUSTON FORWARD HAS BEEN, UH, REALLY, UH, PART OF THE HEADLINE OF YOUR ADMINISTRATION. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BRING US TOGETHER AS A WHOLE. IT'S ABOUT SOCIAL EQUITY. IT'S WHAT NAC HAS STOOD FOR. IT'S WHAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO AS A COUNCIL THAT'S UNIFIED. I THINK IT'S COMPLICATED STUFF. YOU KNOW, THE SWAT PROGRAM, THE CIP PROGRAM, THE LDP PROGRAM, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S MOUNTAINS OF TERMINOLOGY. THERE'S, UH, AN ABUNDANT AMOUNT OF POLICY TO GO THROUGH TO ADMINISTER IT CORRECTLY. UM, DIRECTOR HADDOCK AND I, TO HER CREDIT, I THINK SHE IS, UH, NOT FLINCHING FROM THIS AT ALL. SHE KNOWS HOW DIFFICULT IT IS. AND COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON AND COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, I THINK TO YOUR, UH, CREDIT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE PHILOSOPHICAL THINGS THAT YOU BROUGHT UP IN YOUR FIRST AMENDMENT THAT WE DISCUSSED TODAY ABOUT SOCIAL EQUITY ACROSS THE CITY. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING. WE ARE CHANGING THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS IN HOUSTON. AND THIS IS, UH, I THINK HISTORIC AND MONUMENTAL. UM, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE JUSTICE THAT'S BEING SERVED TODAY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON JACKSON 7.01 IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED, 7.01 PASSES. OKAY, NOW WE TURN NOW RETURN TO CAYMAN, UH, 8.01. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, 8.01. UH, I WILL BE LIKELY, UH, WITHDRAWING WITH AN UNDERSTANDING, UH, BUT I'M GONNA LAY IT OUT AND THEN WE CAN GET TO KIND OF THE FINITE DETAILS OF THAT. UH, IN 2021, THERE WAS AN ESTIMATED 6.9 MILLION WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES THAT FELL BELOW, UH, FELL INTO THE LOW INCOME BRACKET. TWO THIRDS OF THOSE WOMEN IN THAT BRACKET COULD NOT AFFORD FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS, AND HALF OF THEM HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THOSE PRODUCTS OR FOOD. AND ON TOP OF THAT, ONE IN FIVE TEENAGERS NOW STRUGGLES TO AFFORD PERIOD PRODUCTS. THIS IS A LOCAL ISSUE TO THE POINT WHERE MANY OF OUR LOCAL NONPROFITS ARE EVEN DOING DONATION DRIVES TO TRY TO GATHER THOSE FOR PEOPLE IN NEED. SO IT'S NOT ONLY IMPORTANT THAT WE TALK ABOUT PERIODS, AND I I WILL SAY, I THINK THIS MAY BE THE FIRST TIME WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING SO AT THE HORSESHOE, BUT WE HAVE TO DO MORE THAN THAT. INITIALLY, I WORKED WITH, UH, GSD TO ESTIMATE HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO PROVIDE PRODUCTS FOR ALL CITY, UH, WOMEN'S RESTROOMS THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY COST UPWARDS OF 2 MILLION ANNUALLY. AND MAYOR, UH, YOU AND I HAVE TALKED EXTENSIVELY, WE HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND SENSITIVE TO THE NEED TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY FUND BALANCE IN LIGHT OF THE REVENUE CAP IN SO MANY UNKNOWNS IN THE COMING YEARS. SO I'M PRESENTING THIS AMENDMENT AS A STARTING PLACE WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WHERE SOME OF OUR [04:45:01] CITY'S MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS ARE SEEKING SERVICES. THIS AMENDMENT ALLOCATED INITIALLY $60,000 TO ENSURE PERIOD PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE SEEKING SERVICES IN APPROXIMATELY 30 CITY BUILDINGS. THOSE ARE ALL BUILDINGS THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT PROVIDES SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC IN, AND THAT INCLUDES OUR MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS. MAYOR. MY UNDERSTANDING, WHICH I AM VERY APPRECIATIVE OF, IS THAT THE FUNDING IS NO LONGER NEEDED AND THAT THE DEPARTMENT WILL, IN FACT, NOW BE PROVIDING THESE PRODUCTS. UH, HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN SOME CONFUSION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THESE PRODUCTS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN RESTROOMS OR AT A DESK WHERE SOMEONE CAN ASK FOR ONE. AND I WANNA CONFIRM THAT THE DEPARTMENT WILL INDEED ENSURE THEY ARE IN RESTROOMS. I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYONE WOULD WANT THEIR MOTHER, THEIR SISTER, THEIR DAUGHTER OR WIFE TO HAVE TO GO TO A DESK TO ASK FOR A TAMPON. UH, SO SETTING ASIDE THE LOGISTICS OF THAT, IT'S ALSO ABOUT DIGNITY. SO I WANNA THANK YOU. I WANNA THANK DIRECTOR WILLIAMS, DIRECTOR MESSIAH, ALONG WITH ENID AND THE TEAM AT GSD FOR ALL THE CALCULATIONS THAT HAVE GONE INTO THIS. AND MAYOR AGAIN, UM, ALL RESPECTFULLY WITHDRAW IT WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY WILL BE PLACED IN RESTROOMS. ABSOLUTELY. AND, UM, TO TALK WITH, UH, WITH HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND DIRECTOR WILLIAMS. AND WE'RE GONNA WORK OUT THE LOGISTICS, AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, DO THE SAME, UH, COMMUNICATION WITH YOU. UH, BUT THERE'S NO NEED FOR A COST FACTOR THEY WILL PROVIDE. AND WE'LL JUST WORK OUT THE LOGISTICS. WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE AND HAVING TO JUST ASK. UH, SO WE'LL WORK THROUGH THOSE DETAILS, UH, BUT WE, UH, WE'LL FOLLOW THROUGH. SO, MAY I ASK IF THAT'S A, IS THERE AN UNDERSTANDING OR AGREEMENT THAT WE CAN'T ACTUALLY BE PLACING THEM IN THE RESTROOMS RATHER THAN AT A DESK THAT WE CAN PLACE IN THE RESTROOM? YES. YEAH, I'M, I'M, ALL OF THAT IS OPEN. WHAT I'VE SAID TO THEM, UH, IS THAT I WANT THEM TO, TO MAKE THEM ACCESSIBLE AND AVAILABLE. AND IN SUCH A WAY, THERE'S MAYBE SOME, SOME PERSON OR PERSONS WHO MAY NOT WANT TO COME UP TO SOMEBODY AND JUST ASK FOR SOMETHING. AND WE DON'T WANT TO, UH, PUT PEOPLE IN ANY UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATION. UH, BUT LET'S LOOK AT, UH, PLACING THEM IN THE RESTROOMS, UH, UH, MAKING THEM READILY, THE, THE, UH, PRODUCTS READILY AVAILABLE. AND, UH, AND SO WE JUST, WE'RE GONNA WORK THROUGH THAT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO WITH THAT, UH, BONNIE, HOLD ONE SECOND. BEFORE YOU WITHDRAW. COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, UH, TO MY COLLEAGUE FOR THE SENSITIVITY THAT YOU HAVE, UH, BROUGHT TO LIGHT. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AS A WOMAN, WE CERTAINLY KNOW, UH, THAT IT CAN BE AN EMBARRASSING SITUATION. YOU GO TO THE DESK AND THEN THERE'S A MAN THERE, AND YOU HAVE TO ASK FOR THOSE THINGS. SO THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR BEING SENSITIVE TO THAT AS WELL. THANK YOU. YEAH. SO WE'RE GONNA WORK IT OUT AND THEN, UM, AND I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO WORK IT OUT WITHIN A MATTER OF A FEW WEEKS AND, AND THEN WE'LL REPORT. SO, THANK YOU, MAYOR. I APPRECIATE IT. AND I WITHDRAW. THANK, UH, 8.01 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN BY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CAYMAN. WE'RE NOW ON 8.02 BY CAYMAN. UH, COLLEAGUES, AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, MET TO THE ATTENTION AROUND GUN VIOLENCE IS REPORTING ON DEATHS. UM, AND AFTER ALL, WE KNOW THAT FIREARMS ARE NOW THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR CHILDREN IN OUR YOUTH IN THE UNITED STATES. BUT FIREARM INJURIES ARE MORE THAN DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF FIREARM RELATED DEATHS, MEANING THAT THOUSANDS MORE CHILDREN AND ADULTS ARE BEING INJURED AND EXPOSED AND TRAUMATIZED TO GUN VIOLENCE EVERY YEAR. UM, I WAS RECENTLY, UH, ON A PANEL AT THE KINDER INSTITUTE ALONGSIDE DR. CHERIE BARRY, A LOCAL REGIONAL TRAUMA MEDICAL DIRECTOR, WHO SAID THAT AS A TRAUMA SURGEON, THEY SEE THE DEVASTATION OF THESE INDUSTRY IN INJURIES, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT HIM. AND WE ARE HOME TO THE LARGEST MEDICAL CENTER IN THE WORLD. BUT THERE IS NO UNIFORMITY IN WHAT INFORMATION TRAUMA CENTERS ARE GATHERING WHEN THEY'RE TREATING GUN RELATED INJURIES. FOR EXAMPLE, ONE HOSPITAL MAY BE NOTING THE LOCATION OF WHERE AN INJURY OCCURRED, UH, BUT ANOTHER MAY NOT. AND SOMEONE MAY BE TRACKING WHETHER IT WAS ACCIDENTAL OR ROAD RAGE, A KNOWN INDIVIDUAL OR UNKNOWN INDIVIDUAL THAT ATTACKED THEM. BUT ANOTHER, UH, FACILITY MAY NOT. SO WE DON'T HAVE A STANDARD BASELINE FOR THAT DATA. AND ON TOP OF ALL OF THAT, WITH ALL OF THE MEDICAL CENTERS THAT WE HAVE, THERE'S NO CENTRALIZED, UH, LOCATION FOR COLLECTING THAT INFORMATION IN ONE PLACE. SO MY AMENDMENT CREATES THE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE DASHBOARD IN THE COUNTRY THAT INTEGRATES ALL AVAILABLE FIREARM INJURY DATA INTO ONE PLACE TO GUIDE HEALTH EXPERTS ON PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION EFFORTS. AND ALL OF OUR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS WILL FEED INTO IT. UM, I'VE ATTACHED IN THE BACK OF, UH, [04:50:01] MY MEMOS TO YOU ALL. UH, NOT ONLY AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THAT DASHBOARD WOULD LOOK LIKE, BUT ALSO EXAMPLES OF THE TYPES OF HOW THE, THE INFORMATION FEEDS INTO EACH OTHER AND THE TYPES OF INFORMATION THAT WILL BE PROVIDED. UH, WHAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU WAS WHAT WAS DONE LOOKING BACK OVER SEVERAL YEARS, HOWEVER, THAT WAS PULLED MANUALLY. AND THAT'S JUST NOT SUSTAINABLE. IT WAS LITERALLY SOMEBODY PULLING DATA FROM EVERY SINGLE FACILITY. SO WITH THIS FUNDING, UH, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT CAN CREATE AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM THAT THEY AND OUR REGIONAL MEDICAL PARTNERS CAN UTILIZE. AND THIS IS AN UNPRECEDENTED COLLABORATION. WHILE I'M PUTTING FORWARD THE AMENDMENT MAYOR, UH, YOUR TEAM HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN COMING UP WITH THIS, UH, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UH, DR. LAUREN HOPKINS OF RICE UNIVERSITY, DR. BINDI, NIKE, UH, DIRECTOR WILLIAMS, AND DEPARTMENT STAFF, DR. PER, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THAT. UH, THE PARTNERS IN OUR MEDICAL COMMUNITY INCLUDE FOLKS AT UT HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER, BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, UT MEDICAL BRANCH AT GALVESTON, BEN TOP, MEMORIAL HERMAN, T-M-C-H-C-A, HOUSTON HEALTHCARE NORTHWEST, H-P-D-E-M-S, THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE, AND MANY OTHERS. UH, AND THE PORTAL WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE LAUNCH, UH, BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR. SO AGAIN, THIS WILL FUND THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF THAT. UH, AND I MOVE FOR PASSAGE. THANK YOU. AND I APPRECIATE THE, UM, MODIFYING IT. SO IT IS, THIS IS NOT A RECURRING AMENDMENT. IT'S ONE TIME. UH, SO THANK YOU. IT DOESN'T INCLUDE ANY FTES IN THIS AMENDMENT. KUBA, UH, COUNCILMAN ASH, UH, MAYOR, WHENEVER THERE'S A, A PERSON BROUGHT INTO THE EMERGENCY ROOM, AND IF HE'S BEEN STABBED OR SHOT OR, OR ANY SUSPECT OF FOUL PLAY BEATEN OR WHATEVER, THERE'S REPORTS MADE BY HPD OR, OR BY THE POLICE FORCE ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND, AND, UH, HOW DOES, HOW DOES, UH, THIS, UH, DOVETAIL INTO, UH, WHAT IS THIS GONNA GIVE US THAT HPD DOESN'T ALREADY HAVE? UH, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT. LET ME, LET ME REFER BACK TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KINGMAN. YES, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KUBOSH. UH, SO YOU MENTIONED THAT, UH, EVERYONE IS REPORTING NATIONALLY. THAT'S NOT HAPPENING. THERE'S LITERALLY NO SYSTEM THAT IS PULLING ALL OF THIS INFORMATION TOGETHER. UH, HPD IS NOT ALWAYS CALLED NECESSARILY FOR A GUNSHOT WOUND. UH, THEY AREN'T ABLE TO NECESSARILY TRACK ALL OF THAT DATA GIVEN OUR RMS SYSTEMS. IT'S LITERALLY A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE WITHIN OUR MEDICAL CENTERS. AND IT'S A KNOWN BEST PRACTICE BECAUSE THEY ARE THERE IN THE TRAUMA CENTERS, ABLE TO SPEND TIME WHILE THEY'RE RECOVERING, TRACKING DIFFERENT FACTORS AND CATALOGING THOSE. NOT EVERYTHING CAN FALL TO HPD. WE KNOW THAT. SO, SO, MY MY QUESTION TO YOU IS THEN, MAYOR, IT, IT, ARE YOU SAYING THAT, AND WHEN I SAID ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, I DON'T MEAN THAT IT'S NATIONAL, BUT, BUT I KNOW THAT IF, IF YOU GET, IF YOU HAVE A GUNSHOT AND YOU GO TO, UH, A, A MEDICAL FACILITY ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY THAT I KNOW OF, THEY'RE GONNA REPORT IT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. AND, AND THEY'RE ALSO GONNA REPORT STABBINGS AND, AND OTHER, UH, VIOLENT EVENTS. SO I, I, I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T MEAN TO SAY THAT, THAT THERE WAS A NATIONAL THING, BUT, BUT I'M SAYING NATIONALLY, ALL OF THE, ALL OF THE, UH, HOSPITALS DO THAT. I USED TO WORK IN A HOSPITAL YEARS AGO, UH, AND, AND IT, UH, IT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED. WE ALWAYS CALLED THE POLICE WHENEVER SOMEBODY WAS STABBED OR SHOT. SO, SO WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE THAT, THAT THE POLICE ARE NOT ALREADY KEEPING RECORDS OF? SO, HPD DOES NOT NECESSARILY HAVE RECORDS OF, UM, SOCIAL FACTORS OF BACKGROUND INFORMATION OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT OUR TRAUMA SURGEONS ARE CAT CATALOGING. NOT EVERY TRAUMA CENTER ON TOP OF THIS, REMEMBER, IT'S NOT JUST PULLING ALL OF THE DATA TOGETHER, IT'S ENSURING THAT OUR TRAUMA CENTERS, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT TMC PARTNERS HAVE ASKED FOR, ARE NOT DOING UNIFORM REPORTING. SO YOU MAY WORK AT ONE LOCATION, BUT THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY TRACKING THE SAME OR NOTING THE SAME INFORMATION THAT ANOTHER, LET'S SAY, AT TEXAS CHILDREN'S, THEY'RE TRACKING. IN ORDER TO BE COLLECTING ALL OF THE DATA THAT IS NEEDED TO MAKE INFORMED SCIENTIFIC PUBLIC HEALTH DECISIONS BY EXPERTS ON PREVENTION, YOU NEED TO BE HAVING THE SAME BASELINE INFORMATION ACROSS THE BOARD THAT THEN YOU CAN LOOK AT THROUGH A DASHBOARD. SO AGAIN, THE DASHBOARD IS WHAT THIS IS FUNDING. IT'S THE PULLING OF ALL OF THAT INFORMATION TOGETHER AND WORKING WITH OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS. AGAIN, THESE ARE THE HEADS OF, UH, SOME OF THE BEST MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE WORLD TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS COLLABORATING AS WE ADDRESS THIS FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE. [04:55:01] LEMME JUST SAY COUNCIL MEMBER KBA, THIS IS A ONE TIME, UH, UM, EXP UM, WHAT'S THE WORD FOR IT? THAT I'M LOOKING FOR? EXPENDITURE. EXPENDITURE. THIS IS ONE TIME. SO THIS IS ONLY INTENDED TO HELP TO CREATE THIS, UM, UH, THIS DASHBOARD, UH, FOR COMPREHENSIVE REAL TIME REGIONAL, UH, INFORMATION. UM, SO THIS IS NOT A RECURRING, THIS IS NOT A RECURRING COST. THERE ARE NO FTES, NO EMPLOYEES IN THIS ITEM. SO THIS, THIS IS A ONE TIME EXPENDITURE. SET UP THE DASHBOARD, AND THAT'S, THAT'S IT. AND IT'S REALLY FOR PREVENTION AND, AND CORRECT. AND, AND, OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU. MAY I, I READ IT AS THERE IS A FTE. IT SAYS, ALONG WITH THE FUNDING OF A FTE, THE AMEN LANGUAGE. THAT'S THE OLD, IT'S A MODIFIED MANAGE. HERE'S MY QUESTION. SO WHAT IS THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS? AND THE REASON WHY I ASK IS THAT IF TMC ASKS FOR IT AND THEY DON'T HAVE IT, IT'S BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE, POLICE AND ER PEOPLE ARE EXTREMELY BUSY AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO GO TO A DASHBOARD AND LOAD THE DATA. MY EXPERIENCE COMES FROM PERSONAL. MY WIFE WAS AN ER NURSE IN THE LARGEST TRAUMA CENTER FOR OVER 30 YEARS. MY SON IS AN ER DOCTOR IN THE TRAUMA CENTER OF BEN TODD FOR FIVE YEARS. THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GO TO THE RESTROOM, MORE OR LESS ENTERING DATA INTO A DASHBOARD. FOR WHAT PURPOSE? WHAT PURPOSE DO WE NEED THE DATA? YES, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION. COUNCIL MEMBER. THEY ARE NOT THE ONES INPUTTING THE DATA INTO THE DASHBOARD. IT, THE DATA, THE DASHBOARD IS A SYSTEM THAT CAN AUTOMATICALLY PULL. SO WHEN YOU ARE A NURSE OR A A DOCTOR IN A HOSPITAL, YOU ARE ALREADY FILLING OUT CERTAIN TYPES OF PAPERWORK. IT'S WORKING WITH THOSE INSTITUTIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS STANDARD FORMS ACROSS THE BOARD. THAT INFORMATION IS ALREADY BEING COLLECTED JUST IN DIFFERENT WAYS. AND THE SYSTEM ITSELF, AGAIN, IF YOU LOOK AT IT, IT FEEDS AUTOMATICALLY FROM TRAUMA CENTERS. ESSENCE STAYS. SO URGENT CARE AND EDS VITAL STATISTICS IN THE MEDICAL EXAMINER DATA, NINE ONE ONE CALL LOGS AND POLICE RECORDS. AGAIN, IN ORDER FOR OUR MEDICAL COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THIS FROM A PREVENTION PERSPECTIVE AND AN ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. LEMME GET SOME OF MY TIME OUT. WHAT ABOUT HIPAA? HIPAA VIOLATIONS? I MEAN, YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO JUST MIGRATE DATA ON GUNSHOT WOUNDS AND ON DRUGS AND ON OTHER THINGS RELATED TO THAT WITHOUT PASSING THROUGH HIPAA REQUIREMENTS, NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, WHILE IN THEORY IT SOUNDS GOOD, THE REALITY IS NO WAY YOU'LL GET THIS DONE. NOT IN, WE HAVE TWO TIER ONE TRAUMA CENTERS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TWO BEN TODD, MEMORIAL HERMANN. IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN IN ANY OF THOSE, IT'S MASSIVE CHAOS. SO I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE DATA FLOW AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT IT'S, THE THEORY SOUNDS INTERESTING. I'M, BUT I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE OBJECTIVE IS. WHEN YOU GET THIS DATA, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH GUNSHOT DATA? SO IS IT TO PREVENT ADDITIONAL GUNSHOTS? YEAH. WHEN IS IT TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM USING GUNS TO KILL PEOPLE? WHAT IS THE OBJECTIVE YOU DONE? OKAY, SO ONE, ALL OF THE DATA IS SCRUBBED PRIOR TO BEING UPLOADED INTO A PUBLIC FACING DASHBOARD. SCRUBBED BY WHO? I'M, I'M SPEAKING. YEP. WELL, I THINK I WAS IN THE QUEUE. SCRUBBED BY WHO? OKAY. ONE, ONE AT A TIME. ONE AT A TIME. COUNCILMAN CAMAN. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO RESPOND? YES. COUNCILMAN KAMAN. PRIOR TO BEING UPLOADED INTO A PUBLIC DASHBOARD, THAT INFORMATION IS SCRUBBED, THAT'S WHY THERE ARE PEOPLE WORKING ON THIS THAT ARE HEALTH EXPERTS, BOTH FROM THE DEPARTMENT, UH, DR. LAUREN HOPKINS BINDI. THIS IS THE TYPE OF WORK THAT IS ALREADY BEING DONE. BUT AGAIN, IT HAD TO BE DONE MANUALLY. AND WE NEED THE TECHNOLOGY TO AUTOMATICALLY HAVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION FROM OUR DIFFERENT CENTERS. AGAIN, YOU SAID IT'S A BIG REGION FILTER INTO ONE CENTRAL LOCATION UNDER THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT. WHEN YOU ARE ABLE TO ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND IN DEPTH WHETHER SOMEBODY, WHETHER A MAJORITY OF CHILDREN ARE BEING SHOT IN A HOME, WHETHER WHEN WOMEN ARE SHOT, THE DATA IS INDICATING THAT IT IS A KNOWN ABUSER. IT'S NOT A RANDOM ACT OR AN ACT OF DOMESTIC ABUSE. WHEN YOU ARE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT TYPES OF PATTERNS AND DATA, INCLUDING ZIP CODES WHERE PEOPLE AND ARE BEING SHOT, YOU ARE ABLE TO THEN FOCUS AND ADDRESS RESOURCES IN A PREVENTATIVE AND PROACTIVE WAY TO CURB THE STEM OF GUN VIOLENCE INJURIES. IT'S THE SAME THING THAT WE ARE DOING WHEN WE'RE GOING IN AND TALKING ABOUT [05:00:01] SAFE STORAGE AND ALL OF THESE THINGS. BUT UNTIL YOU HAVE THE SCIENTIFIC DATA AND EVERYBODY IS ON THE SAME PAGE, WE CAN'T BE DOING THIS INTELLIGENTLY. AND WE NEED TO BECAUSE NOT ONLY ARE PEOPLE DYING, PEOPLE ARE BEING HURT, THEY'RE BEING TRAUMATIZED. MILLIONS OF CHILDREN JUST IN WITNESSING GUN VIOLENCE ARE EXPERIENCING SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA. SO IT IS NOT, YOU CAN SAY THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN DO IT. I KNOW THAT WE CAN. AND I AM, I ABSOLUTELY REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT. WE JUST SIT IDLY BY IS THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. SO I'M GONNA DEFER TO OUR PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS THAT HAVE SAID THAT THIS IS WHAT THEY NEED AND THIS IS WHAT THEY CAN DO. IF THEY HAVE THIS LI IT'S LITERALLY $240,000 OUT OF A $6.2 BILLION BUDGET. SO, AND IT'S NEVER BEEN DONE IN THE UNITED STATES, NOT ON THIS COMPREHENSIVE LEVEL OF A SCALE. WHAT DR. BINDI HAS SAID, AND I'VE MET WITH THEM, IS THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT DASHBOARDS, BUT BASED ON CITY HEALTH DASHBOARDS, NOTHING AS COMPREHENSIVE AS THIS. THAT BRINGS EVERYONE TOGETHER TO THE DETAIL AND SCALE THAT THEY HAVE PROPOSED AND SHOWN THAT THEY CAN DO. COUNCILMAN MIN, THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO RESPOND TO MY COLLEAGUE'S QUESTION ABOUT WHAT DOES THIS DO? AND THIS ALL SOUNDS GOOD, BUT WHAT THIS IS ACTUALLY IS A WAY TO USE, UM, THE MEDICAL HEALTH FIELD TO DO AN END AROUND THE SECOND AMENDMENT. SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS DEVELOP THIS INFORMATION AND THEN FIGURE OUT A WAY TO PASS ORDINANCES OR LAWS OR WHATEVER, UH, THIS IS WHAT THIS IS. IT'S JUST AVAILED ATTEMPT TO GATHER INFORMATION TO FURTHER TRY TO ERODE THE SECOND AMENDMENT OF THE US CONSTITUTION. I'LL BE VOTING NO AGAINST THIS. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN. COUNCILMAN M HUFFMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THIS IS A WORTHY GOAL. UH, I USED TO BE ON A REGIONAL CHILD FATALITY REVIEW TEAM AND WE WOULD REVIEW EVERY CHILD FATALITY THAT CAME THROUGH THE REGION AND WE WOULD LOOK AT TRENDS. YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S KIDS DYING BECAUSE CAR SEATS WEREN'T INSTALLED CORRECTLY, THEN, YOU KNOW, WE WORKED WITH THE PUBLIC TO TEACH PEOPLE ABOUT HOW TO INSTALL A CAR SEAT CORRECTLY. UM, WE HAD KIDS CHOKING ON HOT DOGS, YOU KNOW, AND SO HOW DO WE, YOU KNOW, FIX THAT PROBLEM? UM, AND I THINK THAT, THAT THIS IS A WORTHY GOAL. I THINK IT'S ALWAYS GOOD WHEN WE CAN LOOK AT THESE THINGS AND STUDY THEM. I JUST DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS PART OF THE CITY'S PURVIEW. I FEEL LIKE THIS MAY BE A BETTER, YOU KNOW, REGIONAL, UM, STUDY. I JUST DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CITY SHOULD TAKE ON. I'M MAYOR PRO TIM. YES. UH, CAN WE STUDY THIS IN A PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE THAT YOU CHAIR OR, OR ANYTHING? AND, AND JUST TO GET A MORE IN-DEPTH PRESENTATION, I STILL THINK THAT, AS I MENTIONED, I THINK THE THEORY IS GOOD. THE REALITY IS IT'S GONNA BE REALLY TOUGH TO ACCOMPLISH. BUT CAN WE TAKE THIS CONVERSATION OFFLINE IN A COMMITTEE MEETING? NO, THANK YOU. THE STUDY HAS BEEN DONE. THIS IS WHAT THESE STUDIES SHOWED IS NEEDED. AND MAYOR, I, YOU YOURSELF ASKED THAT QUESTION, CAN WE STUDY IT? AND THE POINT IS, THIS WAS THE STUDY. IT'S $240,000 TO LAUNCH THE SYSTEM. AND THAT ALLOWS US TO DO THIS. AND LET ME, LEMME JUST, LEMME JUST ADD ON THIS AMENDMENT. UM, WHAT I, WHAT I DID ASK THE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TO DO WAS TO MODIFY HER AMENDMENT FROM THE ORIGINAL AMENDMENT. NUMBER ONE, I DID NOT WANNA SUPPORT ANYTHING WITH RECURRING COSTS, SO TO TAKE OUT ALL THE STAFF, AND, AND SHE DID. AND I WANT TO COME IN IT. SO WE'VE TAKEN OUT THE STAFF. UM, IT IS NOT A RECURRING CAUSE. IT IS A ONE TIME ONLY EXPENDITURE IN CREATING THIS COMPREHENSIVE DASHBOARD. AND THAT ENDS THE CITY'S FINANCIAL COMMITMENT. SO THIS IS A ONE TIME ONLY, UH, EXPENDITURE. AND, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE HER MAKING THE MODIFICATIONS, UH, TO NARROW THIS AMENDMENT DOWN. 'CAUSE I HAD SIMILAR CONCERNS ABOUT OUR ONGOING COMMITMENTS. AND SO SHE DID. SO LET ME RESPECTFULLY ASK, UM, UH, YOU ARE TO SUPPORT IT AND COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, NOT, YOU KNOW, WE EVEN HAVE THAT, UH, SORT OF CONVERSATION AND, AND, UM, SO THE AMENDMENT IS AS IT IS, UH, SO THAT, UM, IT IS NARROWLY, YOU KNOW, CONTAINED. OKAY. SO, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CI NARROWS AND THEN, UH, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. AND THEN LET'S WRAP THIS AMENDMENT UP SO WE CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT ONE. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER CIS NARROWS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AND, AND I, I, I SEE THE, THE GOODWILL AND, YOU KNOW, AND THE GOOD INTENTIONS IN THIS, BUT [05:05:01] I'M IN, I'M, IT, IT PIQUED MY INTEREST, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER OF, UM, MAYOR PRO TIM, WHEN YOU ASKED, UM, WHAT, WHAT GOOD THIS WILL DO, REALLY, UM, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE ALREADY, WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT THE TRENDS ARE. WE ALREADY KNOW, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT GUN VIOLENCE IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN CHILDREN. WE KNOW THAT ALREADY. AND AT WHAT POINT DOES THIS BECOME JUST FURTHER ADMIRING THE PROBLEM AS OPPOSED TO TAKING ACTIONS ON, YOU KNOW, ON, ON ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM. YOU KNOW, HOW HOW IMPORTANT IS IT THAT WE KNOW EXACTLY THE NUMBER WHEN WE ALREADY KNOW THAT THE NUMBER'S BAD? YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S I THINK A WORTHY QUESTION. AND I'M, AND I'M, YOU KNOW, I WISH THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO, TO LOOK MORE, MORE DEEPLY AT IT. THANK YOU MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. SURE. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN, CAN YOU CLARIFY WHO OWNS THE DATA? THE DASHBOARD? UH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I BELIEVE IT WILL FALL. IT, THE PURVIEW OF IT IS OWNED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT. THERE ARE MULTIPLE PEOPLE WORKING ON IT. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU HAVE DR. LAUREN HOPKINS. UH, SHE'S ON CITY STAFF. SHE'S ALSO WITH RICE UNIVERSITY. THIS IS WHO HELPED, UH, CREATE THE COVID WASTEWATER TREATMENT TESTING THAT THE CITY HAS NOT ONLY, UH, RECEIVED AWARDS FOR, BUT IS NOW USED RIGHT WHEN IT WAS MONKEYPOX AND IT'S BEING ADOPTED ALL OVER. SO IT'S, UH, THE DASHBOARD IS OWNED BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, BUT IT IS IN COLLABORATION WITH ALL OF OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS, INCLUDING HPD, INCLUDING EMS, INCLUDING SURE. ALL OF THAT. SO, SURE. AND, UM, AND I, AND I RAISED THAT POINT 'CAUSE IT SOUNDS THAT THIS IS A, A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AND I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT DATA, BUT FOR, UM, MY FEARS THAT THIS MAY FAIL AT THE HORSESHOE AND TO ENCOURAGE, TO REFER THIS TO COMMITTEE FOR A JOINT QUALITY OF LIFE OF PUBLIC SAFETY FOR ALL OF YOUR COLLEAGUES TO DIG DEEP, I JUST TO GET SOME FAIR QUESTIONS. THIS IS SOMETHING YOU'RE INTIMATELY INVOLVED IN AND WE'RE GONNA DEFER TO YOU AS CHAIR, BUT AROUND THAT, BUT I, I DON'T WANT YOUR AMENDMENT TO FAIL AT THE RATIO. YEAH. SO I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO BRING IT UP AT COMMITTEE AND HAVE A DETAILED PRESENTATION. HOWEVER, THIS FUNDING IS CRITICAL NOW. IT NEEDS TO BE ALLOCATED DURING THE BUDGET BECAUSE IT'S THE FUNDING THAT ENABLES US TO LAUNCH THIS AND PROCEED. UM, THIS IS WHAT OUR HEALTH EXPERTS HAVE ASKED FOR. COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS, WHO SAY WE KNOW HOW BAD IT IS. WE DON'T KNOW THE ZIP CODES. WE DON'T KNOW THOSE UNDERLYING PATTERNS BECAUSE AGAIN, THERE LITERALLY IS NO UNIFORMITY OR CENTRAL LOCATION TO BRING THAT DATA. SO, NO, WE DON'T KNOW. AND WHEN OUR DOCTORS SAY WE NEED THIS INFORMATION SO THAT WE CAN WORK TOWARDS PREVENTION THAT'S SCIENCE-BASED AND DRIVEN ON KNOWN FACTORS, THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO LISTEN TO. SO I AM GONNA CALL FOR A VOTE BECAUSE THE FUNDING IS IMPORTANT. THIS HAS BEEN STUDIED. IT'S SOMETHING THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS ASKED FOR. IT'S SOMETHING THAT ALL OF THOSE WORKING IN THIS SPACE HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CITY TO LEAD, BUT IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT WE CAN TAKE MAYOR THROUGH ONE SAFE HOUSTON. WE HAVE BEEN TACKLING GUN VIOLENCE AND HOMICIDES, BUT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE THAT WE CAN BE DOING AND WE NEED THESE DOLLARS. SURE. I JUST, IT'S STILL ON MY TIME, SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, UH, THAT I'M, I'M, I'M CLEAR WITH THE REQUEST, IF YOU CALL THE VOTE THAT YOU CALL THE VOTE, AND THAT'S FINE. I, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THE MAYOR, WERE YOU WILLING TO MAKE THIS A ORDINANCE IF WE'RE UNABLE TO PASS THIS IN THE BUDGET? THAT'S THAT. WELL, THIS IS THIS, THIS IS, THIS IS WHAT, THIS IS WHAT I WOULD PROPOSE, BECAUSE I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR AS MANY, IF NOT EVERYBODY, TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE. AND THERE APPEARS TO BE SOME QUESTIONS. WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN, UH, TO REFER THIS TO YOUR COMMITTEE, AND ONCE THE QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED, COME BACK WITH THE SAME RE THE MONETARY REQUEST. AND, UH, AND THEN WE CAN, WE WILL FUND IT. SO BY NOT MOVING ON THE FUNDING NOW DOES NOT PREVENT PRECLUDE FUNDING FOR THIS INITIATIVE. IF, IF YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING? YES. AND I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT COMES TO COMMITTEE AND TO COUNCIL WITHIN THE NEXT THREE MONTHS. NO, NO, NO PROBLEM. I I THINK THE, I THINK THE ONLY, I THINK THE ONLY ISSUE IS, WHAT I'M SENSING IS THAT PEOPLE JUST WANT THEIR QUESTIONS ADDRESSED AS TO WHO CONTROLS, WHO OWNS THINGS OF THAT NATURE. UM, AND THEN GO TO COMMITTEE, BRING IT BACK. THE, THE, THE, THE COST REMAINS THE SAME. AND BY NOT ACTING ON THE DAY DOESN'T PRECLUDE YOUR FUNDING. LET ME, LET ME GIVE YOU THAT COMMITMENT THAT I APPRECIATE THAT. AND I WILL BE MOVING, JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS EXPEDITIOUSLY, BECAUSE IN ORDER TO GET THE DASHBOARD LAUNCHED, WE GOTTA GET THE FUNDING. BUT I WOULD SAY YOU BRING IT BACK WITHIN 45 TO 60 DAYS. YES, SIR. [05:10:01] ALL RIGHT. SO I WILL WITHDRAW WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING. OKAY. AND MAYOR PRO TEM BETTER SHOW UP. OH, I'LL SHOW UP. BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I ASKED HER TO DO. OKAY, WELL, LEMME JUST LET ME, BUT SEE, BUT YOU'RE DRESSED WITH A BOW TIE ON, YOU KNOW. YEAH, BUT YOU WASN'T BLACK COLLAR THEN. A CROOKED BOW TIE, RIGHT? OH, OH, NO. OKAY. OKAY. HOLD ON. HOLD. LET'S STOP. OKAY. HOLD ON ONE, HOLD ON ONE SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER, BUDDY. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER AND JUST CHAIR. I JUST WANNA THANK YOU, MAYOR, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH YOUR PERMISSION, OBVIOUSLY BRING QUALITY OF LIFE IN ON BOARD IF, IF COUNCIL MEMBER GUEGOS IS OKAY WITH THAT, JUST BECAUSE IT IS A HEALTHCARE PIECE AS WELL. UM, AND SO IF IT'S A JOINT, MAYBE IF IT'S A JOINT MEETING, I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT. IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU. I'M GOOD WITH THAT. OKAY. LET'S DO, LET'S DO THIS. WE ARE NOT, WE'RE NOT WITHDRAWING. WE ARE REFERRING IT TO COMMITTEE TO COMMITTEE. OKAY. AND, AND, UH, LOOK AT IT, ANSWER QUESTIONS AND I EXPECT IT, UH, TO GET A REPORT AND LET'S SAY WITHIN 45, 60 DAYS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. OKAY. THANK YOU ALL APPRECI. APPRECIATE THAT. WE NEED A VOTE ON THAT. DO WE NEED TO, DO WE NEED A VOTE? SECOND ON THE REFERRAL OR NEED A VOTE? THOMAS IS SECOND. IT'S MOVED BY COUNCILMAN MCCAIN, UH, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS TO REFER TO COMMITTEES, UH, LET'S SAY TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND TO QUALITY OF LIFE. OKAY. ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR? NONE, GRANT. ALRIGHT, LET'S NOW TURN TO, UM, UH, CAYMAN 8.03. ALRIGHT, THE CITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER, UH, DR. STOUT, UH, IN SPEAKING WITH HIM, UH, AND MAYOR, I BELIEVE HE ALSO SUBMITTED A MEMO TO YOU, IDENTIFIED AN UNEXPECTED NEED THAT IS CURRENTLY NOT BEING ADDRESSED IN THE CENTER'S BUDGET. UH, THAT WILL, WE WILL BE VOTING ON, ON AGENDA ITEM 17. THAT AMOUNT FOR THE ORIGINAL HFC UH, BUDGET IS 20 0 28 0.5 MILLION. UH, AND MAYOR, I WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE 4.95 MILLION THAT YOU HAVE ADDED, UTILIZING ARPA DOLLARS. ARPA DOLLARS, HOWEVER, CANNOT BE UTILIZED FOR DNA TESTING WITH THE FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER. NORMALLY THE CENTER IS ABLE TO UTILIZE SPECIALIZED GRANT FUNDING FOR THIS SPECIFIC PURPOSE, BUT THOSE WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE FALL. SO THE, BECAUSE OF THE COURTS ARE MOVING FASTER, THERE'S A NEED FOR A STOPGAP MEASURE TO FUND DNA TESTING AT AN INCREASED LEVEL FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS UNTIL THOSE GRANTS CAN BE DRAWN DOWN ON THIS FALL. UH, MAYOR, I WANNA THANK YOU AND COLLEAGUES AT THE HORSESHOE FOR THE UNPRECEDENTED SUPPORT IN FUNDING THUS FAR. UH, I DO WANNA POINT OUT THAT OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISIONS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S JURISDICTION AND PURVIEW UTILIZE THE WORK THAT THE HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER DOES. AND I REALLY WISH THAT SOME OF THEM WOULD STEP UP AND HELP FUND SOME OF THESE NEEDS, AS WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED WHEN THE CITY CREATED THE FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER. SO, THAT BEING SAID, UH, MY UNDERSTANDING, MAYOR, IS THAT WE'VE BEEN ASSURED THIS IS THE FINAL NEED FOR THE FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER AND THAT THE CENTER IS NOT IMPACTING ANY BACKLOG ISSUES RELATED TO PROSECUTIONS OR THE COURT. SO I WANNA BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT. UH, AND I BELIEVE DR. STOUT MAYOR HAS MADE THAT CLEAR TO YOU AS WELL. I JUST WANNA CONFIRM, IS THIS ASKED, I ASKED FOR A LETTER FROM DROUT 'CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO KEEP, UM, WE KEEP FUNDING AND THEN I KEEP HEARING PEOPLE SAYING THAT WE ARE NOT GIVEN ENOUGH. YOU KNOW, SO I'VE ASKED FOR A LETTER FROM HIM, UH, TO, UH, TO MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR. I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANYTHING FROM ANY OTHER ENTITY OUT THERE SAYING THAT, UH, WE HAVEN'T COMMITTED AND WE PROVIDED $4.95 MILLION IN OPERA FUNDING ON TOP OF THEIR BASE BUDGETING OF 28 MILLION. AND NOW WE ARE PROVIDING THIS 600,000, WELL, WHICH YOUR VOTE, 600,000 TO DEAL WITH THE, UH, BACKLOG AND, UH, TO RETIRE, UH, THE BACKLOG, ADDITIONAL MULTIMEDIA, LATIN PRINTS, AND TECH TOXICOLOGY AND FISCAL YEAR 24. SO, UM, I MEAN, WE ARE DOING OUR PART AND, AND WHAT I'M SEEING IS THAT NO ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS GOING TO, UH, FROM US. IT'S GOING TO BE NEEDED OR THAT THEY CAN UTILIZE. SO, UM, UM, THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE IS COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO. AND I'M SORRY. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, AND THANKS FOR READING THAT. AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR ELEVATING THIS. UM, YOU KNOW, I, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR BRINGING UP THE, THE OTHER ENTITIES THAT ARE USE, YOU KNOW, USE OUR DATA AND EVERYTHING. WE'VE BEEN WORKING, MAYOR, AS YOU KNOW, ON TRYING TO DO MORE WITH THE COUNTY IN THIS AREA. YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT A PLACE FOR DRUGS AND GUNS AND CASH, UM, THAT WE COULD DO. IT'D BE GREAT ONE DAY TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE CHECK IN THE, THE, THE EVIDENCE AND THEN LEAVE. GET, GET THE, GET, YOU KNOW, GET THAT. IT'S, IT, THE FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER IS GOOD AT, YOU KNOW, HANDLING THE [05:15:01] EVIDENCE. AND IT'D BE GREAT TO HAVE THE PEOPLE THAT PAY INTO IT. JUST USE IT AS THE PLACE WHERE YOU DROP OFF THE EVIDENCE, YOU COME GET IT WHEN YOU NEED IT FOR TRIAL. YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S THAT KIND OF GET OUT OF SO MUCH OF THE PROPERTY BUSINESS OUT OF HPD, UM, THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF OFFICERS TIED UP OVER THERE. SO JUST, UH, JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THIS AND, AND HOPE THAT IT DID. I HEAR YOU SAY IT DOESN'T DEAL WITH THE BACKLOG, BUT THEN THE MAYOR SAID IT DOES DEAL WITH THE BACKLOG. CAN YOU CLARIFY THAT? WELL, LET ME, LET ME READ WHAT HE WRITES. THE HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER FISCAL YEAR 24 BUDGET THAT IS EQUIVALENT TO THE FISCAL YEAR 23, UH, BUDGET PLUS 600,000 WILL ALLOW THE HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER TO STABILIZE CRIME LAB TESTING WITH THIS AMENDMENT AND AVAILABLE OPERA FUNDING MONEY. UH, THE FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER WILL BE ABLE TO TARGET SPENDING ON RISKS THAT CAN BE IMPACTED IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS, I BELIEVE FOR ALL DISCIPLINES, THE FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER BACKLOG WILL STABILIZE AND FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS WILL DEPEND ON LONGER TERM TRAINING. RIGHT. THAT'S, THANK THAT'S WHAT HE WRITES. THANK YOU. YEAH, AND I, MAYOR, I WILL ALSO ADD, UH, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL LIFT UP THIS MESSAGE BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL BEEN DOING WHAT WE CAN. BUT AS A CITY, WE HAVE DONE OUR PART TO ENSURE THAT EVIDENCE IS TESTED TIMELY, UH, TO THE BEST DEGREE POSSIBLE IN LIGHT OF CHALLENGES AND OTHER FACTORS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY'S CONTROL. SO I, I WANNA EMPHASIZE THAT MAYOR, THAT YOU HAVE, UH, PUSHED FORWARD WITH ANY NEED THAT THE FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER HAS COME FORWARD WITH, UH, THIS IS THAT FINAL NEED, THAT STOP GAP UNTIL IN THE FALL THEY CAN DRAW DOWN THOSE GRANTS TO CONTINUE WITH THE DNA TESTING AT THE HIGHER LEVELS. UH, SO WITH THAT, I WOULD MOVE, UH, FOR THE PASSAGE. AGAIN, THIS WOULD ALLOCATE $600,000, UH, FROM THE FUND BALANCE TO HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR. OKAY. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED ON 8.03. UH, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED 8.03 PASSES. NOW WE'RE MOVING TO MARTIN 10.01. YEAH, NO, YES. I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IT. OKAY. MARTIN 10.01 MARTIN 10.01, LEMME GET TO MY NOTES. THIS IS A, AN ITEM TO HELP. IT'S A GOLF FEE INCREASE TO THE PEOPLE WHO PLAY MEMORIAL PARK. THE REASON WHY IS, IF ANYONE'S PAID ATTENTION TO THE NEWS FOR THE LAST 24 TO 48 HOURS, UH, THE PROFESSIONAL GOLF TOUR HAD A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF UPHEAVAL WITH THEIR FORMATION TO THE SAUDI, UM, PIF FUND THAT FUNDS THE LIVE TOUR. OUR TOURNAMENT THAT WAS IN NOVEMBER HAS BEEN MOVED TO MARCH, WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT UPGRADE THAT WE FOUGHT FOR, FOR MANY YEARS. AS MOST PEOPLE REMEMBER, THE DAYS OF THE SHELL OPEN ALWAYS BEING IN MARCH. WHEN YOU HAVE A GOLF TOURNAMENT IN MARCH, THE EXPENSES YOU INCUR ARE TREMENDOUS. YOU NEED TO OVERSEE, BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, IN THE MONTH OF MARCH, OR LEADING UP TO THE MONTH OF MARCH, GRASS DOESN'T GROW IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO YOU HAVE TO OVERSEE THE ENTIRE GOLF COURSE WITH RYE. AND WE ALL HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN CHEMICALS, UH, THAT WE PROVIDE FOR OUR DRINKING WATER, FOR OUR WASTEWATER, ET CETERA. GOLF COURSES USE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CHEMICALS AND THE FEE INCREASE. WE HAVEN'T HAD A FEE INCREASE AT MEMORIAL PARK SINCE 2010. AND IF YOU CAN'T TELL ME THAT THE WORLD HADN'T CHANGED SINCE 2010, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I CAN SAY. SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS I'D LIKE TO BRING THIS BACK TO A COMMITTEE TO EITHER A BFA OR ANY TYPE OF COMMITTEE IS APPROPRIATE, AND STUDY THE RECOMMENDED INCREASE IN FEES FOR GOLFERS AT MEMORIAL PARK THAT WILL FUND THE EXTRA EXPENSES THAT WE'RE GOING TO INCUR WHILE MOVING THE GOLF TOURNAMENT FROM NOVEMBER TO MARCH. AND THE GOLFERS THAT YOU TALK TO AT MEMORIAL PARK, UH, THE JUNIOR RATE IS $10. THE SENIOR RATE IS $15. THE REGULAR RATE IS $30 TO PLAY A PGA TOURNAMENT. GOLF COURSE IS WAY BELOW STANDARDS. IF YOU LOOK AT BENCHMARKING DATA AS IT RELATES TO OTHER CITIES IN TEXAS WITH MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSES. NOT TO MENTION THEY DON'T HOLD PGA TOUR EVENTS. THEY'RE A LOT HIGHER THAN OURS. THEY'RE A LOT HIGHER THAN $10 FOR A JUNIOR, $15 FOR A SENIOR. SO GOLFERS THAT WANT NICE FACILITIES WILL PAY ADDITIONAL FEES TO PLAY THOSE NICE FACILITIES, WHICH WE NEED. SO I TALKED TO DIRECTOR KENNETH ALLEN. WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND HE'S PREPARED, UH, SOME BENCHMARKING DATA. HAS THE FEES OF MEMORIAL RELATE TO OTHER PROFESSIONAL GOLF COURSES THAT ARE OWNED BY CITIES WHICH MEMORIAL IS AND OTHER [05:20:01] PUBLIC GOLF COURSES IN AND AROUND THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND SO WE CAN TAKE THIS AT A COMMITTEE AND LOOK AT IT AND THEN PRESENT RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE MAYOR, UH, FOR HOPEFULLY WHAT WOULD BE AN INCREASE IN FEES ONLY TO THOSE FOLKS THAT PLAYED THIS GOLF COURSE. I THINK IT'S LONG OVERDUE, 2010. AND THE REASON WHY THE ASTROS FOUNDATION HAS THE TOURNAMENT THERE IS BECAUSE MEMORIAL IS A GREAT LAYOUT, AND THE 30 SOME ODD MILLION DOLLARS THEY INVESTED INTO REDOING IT, UH, MADE A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE. AND WE'RE GONNA BE COMPETING NOW AGAINST ANOTHER TOUR THAT WAS BROUGHT ON BOARD ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO FOR TOURNAMENT PLAY. WE HOPE WE KEEP OUR MARCH DATE, WE HOPE WE ATTRACT THE VERY BEST PLAYERS, AND WE HOPE PEOPLE COME TO THE TOURNAMENT AND SPEND A LOT OF MONEY. 'CAUSE THAT MONEY FEEDS BACK INTO THE FOUNDATION, WHICH GOES BACK TO GREAT CHARITIES IN AND AROUND THE CITY OF HOUSTON. NO ONE DOES MORE WITH THEIR FEES AND THEIR MONEY CREATED THAN PGA GOLF TOUR, AND IN THIS CASE THE ASTROS FOUNDATION. SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO, MAYOR, IS TO BRING THIS BACK TO A COMMITTEE AND TO STUDY IT, INFORM RECOMMENDATIONS WITH COUNCIL, WORKING WITH MR. ALLEN, WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, AND PRESENT THOSE FINDINGS TO THE MAYOR. AND, UH, WE'LL GO FROM THERE. COUNCILMAN MEGOS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, WOULD THAT COME TO QUALITY OF LIFE? YOU KNOW, WELL, I HAVEN'T DECIDED WHETHER OR NOT I'M GOING TO SEND IT. HMM. HE HASN'T DECIDED IF HE'S GONNA SEND IT. OH, OKAY. WELL, GOOD. I I, I'M, I'M GLAD YOU'RE STILL THINKING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, UM, IN, IN, IN, IN REGARDS TO, I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM. UH, I I I KNOW THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF, OF AN EXPENSE THERE AT MEMORIAL PARK. UH, MY, MY CONCERN, UH, DO THIS, LET'S DO THIS. COUNCIL MCG GARS, WHAT'S THAT? LET'S REFER TO YOUR COMMITTEE. OKAY. WE'LL REFER IT TO YOUR COMMITTEE AND THEN, UH, YOU ALL CAN PRESENT YOUR REPORT TO, UH, THIS MAYOR OF THE NEXT ONE. NEXT WEEK. BUT WE'LL BE GONE. NEXT MAYOR TO THIS MAYOR. OH, THE NEXT MAYOR . OH, I THOUGHT YOU SAID YOU WANT THE REPORT NEXT WEEK. I WAS LIKE, WHOA, . SO WHY DON'T WE DO A GOOD ONE THERE, MAYOR. OKAY. SO, AND THEN THE INTENT WOULD BE TO REFER TO YOUR COMMITTEE. OKAY. UH, SO HOLD ON ONE SECOND. UH, COUNCILMAN KINGMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I APPRECIATE WHAT, UH, THE MAYOR PRO TEM IS TRYING TO DO AS THE PARK IN DISTRICT C. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS IMPORTANT WHEN WE, UH, CREATED THIS, AND AGAIN, IT CAME TO COUNCIL, UH, WAS THE IMPORTANCE OF IT REMAINING AFFORDABLE AS A PUBLIC PARK. AND I COULD NOT BE MORE SUPPORTIVE OF THE PGA BEING AT MEMORIAL PARK. UH, IT ELEVATES THE CITY, IT ELEVATES THE PARK, IT ELEVATES OUR COMMUNITY AND IT'S BROUGHT IN INCREDIBLE IMPROVEMENTS THAT RESIDENTS GET TO BENEFIT FROM. SO I'M SUPPORTIVE OF LOOKING AT IT AND SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO. 'CAUSE THEY DO NEED THE MAINTENANCE DOLLARS. UH, AND I APPRECIATE THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS ALSO LOOKING AT THIS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ON THE BASELINE THERE'S ALSO A FOCUS TO ENSURE THAT, AGAIN, WHAT MADE THIS SO SPECIAL IS THAT IT'S A PUBLIC PGA COURSE AND THAT IT REMAINS AFFORDABLE FOR THOSE, ESPECIALLY OUR RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT UTILIZE THAT PARK. IT'S THEIR PARK. OKAY, WELL, LET'S DO THIS. IT'S THERE. A MOTION TO REFER TO QUALITY OF LIFE. MOVE SECOND. SECONDED BY GALL GOES AND CAYMAN. UH, ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR. NOW, MOTION IS GRANTED SOGO BACK AND FORTH. I'M SORRY. STILL HAVE COMMENTS. COUNCIL MEMBER GAGO. YES. THANK YOU. AND, AND I, I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, AND, AND THAT'S WHY I WAS, UH, BRINGING THIS UP IS THAT, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND IT'S A PGA COURSE, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT MORE MONEY BEING SPENT, BUT I DO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T CREATE A COUNTRY CLUB GOLF COURSE WITHIN OUR MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSES WHERE CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS, INDIVIDUALS IN OUR CITY CANNOT AFFORD TO PLAY ON IN THIS GOLF COURSE. SO I'M HOPING WE'RE LOOKING AT A RESIDENT FEE AND A NON-RESIDENT FEE INCREASES WOULD, WOULD BE HELPFUL. OKAY. BUT I DON'T, I DON'T WANT US TO GET TOO FAR AHEAD ON THIS. AGAIN, YOU CAN REFER TO, UH, THIS MAYOR OR TO THE NEXT MAYOR. OKAY. SO I JUST WANT THAT CAVEAT 'CAUSE I DON'T, I DON'T WANT THE CONVERSATION TO GO AND THIS ADMINISTRATION LOOKING AT SOMETHING IN TERMS OF FEES. ALRIGHT. UH, NOW WE ARE TURNING INTO, UH, HUFFMAN 1201. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, THE GENESIS OF THIS AMENDMENT GOES BACK TO JANUARY WHEN THIS BODY APPROVED THE FEE IN LIEU OF AMENDMENTS TO THE SIDEWALK ORDINANCE. IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS, IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THE FEE WOULD FUND NEW SIDEWALKS AND WOULD NOT BE USED FOR SIDEWALK [05:25:01] REPAIR. UM, AND THAT THERE WAS REALLY NO RELIABLE MECHANISM FOR THE REPAIR OF THE SIDEWALKS IN THE CITY. AND THEN LAST WEEK AT PUBLIC SESSION, WE HAD, UH, A GENTLEMAN COME FORWARD AND YOU ASKED A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION, MAYOR, YOU ASKED HIM, YOU SAID, IS THAT A CITY INSTALLED SIDEWALK? YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC THINKS A LOT ABOUT. UM, BUT I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT. YOU KNOW, IF THE CITY PUTS IN A SIDEWALK, THEN WE NEED TO MAINTAIN IT AND REPAIR IT. UM, I'M EXCITED FOR THIS. I'M GONNA WITHDRAW THIS AMENDMENT BECAUSE I SEE THAT IT'S INCLUDED IN, UM, THE BUDGET. BUT, UM, I JUST WANTED TO PUT IT OUT THERE THAT IF THE CITY INSTALLS A SIDEWALK, THEN THE CITY NEEDS TO MAINTAIN IT. YEAH. AND JUST IN CASE, BECAUSE I, I DIDN'T HIGHLIGHT WHAT WE RED LINED, THAT'S IN THE, IN NOW IN THE BUDGET IS THE $1.8 MILLION FOR A SIDEWALK. SO THAT IS ALREADY FACTORED INTO, THROUGH THE RED LINE CHANGES TO THE, TO THE BUDGET. SO THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING THAT COMMENT. COUNCIL, WILL YOU FINISH ON THAT ONE? COUNCIL MAYOR ICO. THANK, THANK YOU MAYOR AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THIS, YOU KNOW, DID COME UP AND WHEN WE DETERMINED THERE WASN'T MONEY, REALLY, WE COULDN'T USE THAT MONEY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SIDEWALK. SO THIS WILL BE REALLY NECESSARY. AS YOU KNOW, MAYOR, WE'RE WORKING ON A LONGER TERM SOLUTION FOR SIDEWALK MAINTENANCE, MUCH LIKE THE DITCH, UM, SITUATION. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LEAVE EVERYTHING UP TO THE ABUTTING PROPERTY OWNER, UM, A LOT OF THINGS GET, GET, DON'T GET DONE. SO WE HAVE A SIDEWALK ISSUE THROUGHOUT THE CITY FI 5,000 LANE MILES OF SIDEWALKS AND, AND WE ALLOCATE ABOUT $3 MILLION A YEAR. SO THIS WILL BE HELPFUL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO, UH, 12.01 IS, UM, BEING RESPECTFULLY WITHDRAWN. THANK YOU. AND, AND WITH THE FACT THAT WE ARE ALREADY DOING IT. YES. OKAY. UH, ON 12.02, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, UH, ON THIS ONE, I'M ALSO GOING TO WITHDRAW 12.02. UM, BECAUSE THE SWAT FUNDING, UH, WAS INCREASED, SO I RESPECTFULLY WITHDRAW 12.2. THANK YOU. 12.02 HAS BEEN RESPECTFULLY WITHDRAWN. WE ON 12.03 YES, MAYOR, AND THIS ONE, IT'S, UM, YOU KNOW, 773,000, UM, SHOULD BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT CONTAINER LEASE FUND, UH, TO THE SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM. THE FY 24 BUDGET PROPOSES A 17% REDUCTION TO THE SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM, BUT ALSO PROPOSES A PERFORMANCE METRIC STATING THAT THE USAGE OF THE PROGRAM WILL EXPAND BY 5%. NOW, I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THAT IT HAS TO BE THIS WAY, BUT WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO, UM, INCREASE THE SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM. WE KNOW THAT SOLID WASTE IS DOING THE BEST THAT THEY CAN, BUT THEY NEED MORE HELP. AND SO, UM, IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT AND WITH THE DIRECTOR, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM IS SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE IT REALLY, IT HELPS THE CITY. LEMME SAY, WHO HANDLES SOLID WASTE? WHICH COMMITTEE IS THAT? IS THAT, IS THAT COUNCILMAN GE GOES, WOULD YOU MIND, UM, 'CAUSE I THINK THE SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM NEEDS TO BE REALLY LOOKED AT, STUDIED MORE, UM, IF YOU WOULD MOVE TO REFER THIS ISSUE WITH THE SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM TO QUALITY OF LIFE, AND IF THEY COULD LOOK AT IT OVER THE NEXT 60 DAYS AND COME BACK AND THEN YOU CAN WORK DIRECTLY WITH COUNCILMAN MCG GALLEGOS ON THIS. YES, MAYOR. AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO REFER, UH, 12.03 TO CHAIRMAN GALLEGOS QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE, SECOND CAST TATU MOVED AND SECONDED BY, UH, VICE MAYOR TIM CAST TATUM. ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR IS NOT GRANTED. THIS 12.03 IS REFERRED TO QUALITY OF LIFE. BEFORE MOVING ON, LET'S GET THE MOTION AND WE, IF WE CAN, CAN WE GET A MOTION TO EXTEND BEYOND NOON? SO MOVE SECOND, BEEN MOVED AND SECOND TO EXTEND BEYOND NOON. ANY OBJECTION? NONE GRANTED. OKAY. UM, AND NOW, OKAY, NOW WE'RE WITH, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, GALLOS ON 14.01. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND IN, IN, IN REGARDS TO MY AMENDMENT 1401, I KNOW WE BRIEFLY DISCUSSED THAT IN REGARDS TO COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. UM, SO, UH, I WILL GO AHEAD AND, UH, WITHDRAW IT AS WELL. THANK YOU. UH, 14.01 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN, UH, BY COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGO SIMPLY BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S FACTORED INTO THE BUDGET NOW. OKAY, NOW WE ARE ON 14.02. 14.02, UH, TO PROVIDE AR ARPA FUNDING NOT TO EXCEED $410,000 TO EXPAND AND SUSTAIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON SMART RAILROAD CROSSING MONITORING PROJECT AND EXTENDED NOW TO 35 STREET RAILROAD, GREAT CROSSINGS CITYWIDE. UM, THERE'S 60, THERE'S ABOUT 60 MOST PRO PROBLEMATIC LO UH, CROSSINGS IN, IN, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND WE WOULD BE TARGETING 35 OF THE 60 INITIALLY. THE, THE, UH, TARGET THE, UH, PROGRAM, THE SMART CITY, UH, RAILROAD CROSSING PROJECT STARTED ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. UH, [05:30:01] AND WE WERE MONITORING 18 CROSSINGS. UM, WHAT I'M ASKING FOR, THE CITY LAUNCHED A SMART RAILROAD CROSSING MONITORING PROGRAM A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO TO HELP US MONITOR AND COLLECT DATA AND PROBLEMATIC STREET RAILROAD CROSSINGS. AS PART OF THE PILOT MONITORS WERE DE DEPLOYED AT 18 CROSSINGS IN DISTRICT CH AND I. THIS WAS DONE AT NO COST TO THE CITY AS SEVERAL TECH COMPANIES. INTEL, BOSQUE, GENETECH AND VERIZON DONATED EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES TO THE CITY. THE INITIAL PILOT PHASE COLLECTED DATA THAT HELPED US BETTER UNDERSTAND, MANAGE, AND CONTROL THE IMPACTS OF BLOCKED RAILROAD CROSSINGS WHEN THEY OCCUR. THE FREQUENCY, THE DURATION HELPED US BRING TANGIBLE EVIDENCE TO FEDERAL REGULATORS. OF COURSE, THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION IS PROVIDED FOR BETTER DATA DRIVEN COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY REGULATORS AND HELP THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH EMERGENCY RESPONSE ROUTE PLANNING. IT ALSO HELPED INFORM THE RECENT GRANT APPLICANT WE WERE AT AWARDED FOR MOBILITY IMPROVEMENTS AND GRADE SEPARATIONS, $36.9 MILLION, UH, FOR UNDERPASSES THERE IN THE EAST END. THE 410,000 WOULD EXPAND THE PROGRAM FROM THE ORIGINAL 18 CROSS CROSSINGS AND INCLUDE ADDITIONAL CROSSINGS IN DISTRICTS BCDH AND I THAT WERE FOUND TO HAVE HEAVY CONGESTION OF TRAIN ACTIVITY AND HAD FREQUENT STOPPED TRAIN EVENTS. UM, AGAIN, MAYOR, THE 410,000 WOOD ALLOW US TO NOW MONITOR 35 RAILROAD GREAT CROSSINGS THAT WE'RE HAVING ISSUES WITH WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT INVESTMENT BECAUSE IF, IF WE WERE ABLE TO HELP IN REGARDS TO SECURING THE 36.9 MILLION THAT WE WERE AWARDED ON THESE 18 CROSSINGS, I COULD ONLY IMAGINE, HOPEFULLY WE COULD, UH, ACQUIRE MORE MONEY IN THE, IN THE FUTURE BY MONITORING 35 CROSSINGS THAT WE'RE HAVING ISSUES WITH ACROSS THE CITY. UM, AND I, I THINK IT'S A GREAT INVESTMENT IN OUR, IN, IN, IN, IN, IN THE 410,000. UH, SO I'M HOPING, AND I'M ASKING MY COLLEAGUES TO PLEASE SUPPORT THIS. UH, AGAIN, THIS HAS BEEN A TWO YEAR PROGRAM. WE WERE MONITORING 18 CROSSINGS, UH, AND I BELIEVE THIS HELPED SECURE THE $36.9 MILLION, UH, FOR GREAT SEPARATIONS. UH, AND I'M HOPING WITH THE 35 STREET CROSSINGS THAT WE WILL BE MONITORING, HOPING IN THE FUTURE, WE WILL ALSO BE AWARDED MORE MONIES FOR GREAT SEPARATIONS IN OUR CITY. RIGHT? WE, WE CAN USE THE, UH, OPERA DOLLARS FOR THIS. UM, BUT COUNCIL MEMBER, WE ARE LOOKING AT SOME, WHETHER OR NOT, UH, THE, UH, PROJECT OF THIS COUNTY WOULD QUALIFY FOR LIKE OUR RECONNECTING STREET PROGRAM WHERE WE CAN ACCESS THOSE DOLLARS. WE JUST RECEIVED, UH, $552,000 IN A RECONNECTING GRANT TO STUDY HOW WE CAN ADDRESS MANY OF OUR CONNECTIONS OF STREETS. AND THAT'S BEING USED IN THE GOFTON AREA. AND WE ARE LOOKING AT, UH, APPLYING OR UTILIZING, PUTTING FORTH THE SAME STRATEGY TO TRY TO GET AN ADDITIONAL GRANT TO THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THINGS OF THIS NATURE, UH, FROM THE RECONNECTING GRANT PROGRAM. UM, BUT THE OPERA DOLLARS CAN CANNOT BE USED FOR THIS. BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN. SO ARE, ARE, ARE WE ABLE TO USE MAYBE, POSSIBLY THE, UH, FUND BALANCE MONEY FOR THE 410,000? I, I WOULD BE RELUCTANT TO, TO DRAW DOWN. I MEAN, IT'S A GREAT INVESTMENT IN REGARDS TO THE CITY, AND IF, IF FOR SOME REASON THAT CAN'T BE DONE, THEN WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS FOR US TO CONTINUE AT LEAST THE 18 CROSSINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS THAT I UNDERSTAND WOULD BE ABOUT 120,000, UH, WITH A 45,000 A YEAR LEASE. UH, SO, UM, BUT IT'D BE 120,000 ON THAT FOR THE FIRST YEAR. ALRIGHT. LET US CONTINUE TO LOOK AT WAYS ON, ON HOW, AND I, AND I CAN TALK WITH, AND I WILL TALK WITH PUBLIC WORKS ABOUT THIS, BUT LET ME SEE HOW WE CAN, WHERE WE CAN FIND SOME ADDITIONAL DOLLARS YOU CONT TO DO WHAT YOU, UH, ADVOCATING FOR. I MEAN, JUST LIKE, UM, WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY WITH THE 37 MILLION, UM, I MEAN, WE UTILIZE EVERY AVAILABLE RESOURCE TO TO, TO PULL THAT IN AND OF COURSE WITH YOUR ADVOCACY ON IT. SO IF YOU, IF YOU WILL, UH, WITHDRAW AND LET ME WORK WITH YOU ON THIS. I AGREE WITH THE, UH, WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO, BUT I KNOW THE OPERATOR DOLLARS ARE NOT, CAN'T, IT'S NOT A PERMISSIBLE USE, BUT LET US CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU TO DO EXACTLY THIS. YEAH. TT I REFER TO T UH, TT I, YEAH, I MEAN WE, YEAH. 'CAUSE ALL OF THAT WILL FLOW THROUGH TTI IN TERMS OF, UH, EVEN THE [05:35:01] RECONNECTING GRANT MONIES. UM, OKAY. CAN YOU, UM, CAN, WILL YOU MIND MOVING TO REFER TO TTI? YEAH, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL REFER TO TTI. UM, BUT AGAIN, YOU'RE SAYING THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT FOR SOME GRANT MONIES? YES. I MEAN, TO HOPEFULLY GO WITH THE 35 STREET CROSSINGS OR AT, OR, OR THE 18 THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING? WELL, YEAH. EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE CITING IN 14.02. OKAY. GREAT. OKAY. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER KINGMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP THIS ISSUE. UM, MAYOR, AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS ON WHAT WE HAVE SECURED IN FEDERAL DOLLARS. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, TWO QUICK QUESTIONS FOR YOU. UH, OR ONE QUICK QUESTION. WHEN WOULD THIS NEED TO BE FUNDED BY IN ORDER TO CONTINUE THE CURRENT 18 CROSSINGS THAT WE HAVE WITHOUT THAT TECHNOLOGY BEING DEACTIVATED OR REMOVED? AND MAYOR, MY ONLY CONCERN, AND I APPRECIATE YOU MAKING FUNDING AVAILABLE ONCE WE GO THROUGH COMMITTEE, UM, SOME OF THOSE CROSSINGS ARE IN DISTRICT C THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THOSE STOPPINGS. WE HAVE THEM ON CORRIDORS WITH FIRE STATIONS AND OTHER, UH, EMS AND LO PUBLIC SAFETY LOCATIONS THAT ARE BEING IMPACTED. SO I WOULDN'T WANNA SEE, UH, I'M JUST GONNA EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF AT LEAST THE ONES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE STAYING ONLINE, OR AT LEAST THE TECHNOLOGY NOT BEING REMOVED SO THAT IT'S NOT AN ADDITIONAL COST, UH, DOWN THE ROAD. SO I, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THAT OR, YOU KNOW, CHAIR ROBINSON. I WOULD JUST ASK THAT WE LOOK AT THIS QUICKLY ISH SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THAT, UH, THAT TECHNOLOGY REMAINS WHERE IT IS. AND, AND, AND, AND, AND THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER BECAUSE AGAIN, THESE TECH COMPANIES THAT I MENTIONED, UH, THEY'VE DONATED THEIR EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY FOR, FOR, FOR THIS PROGRAM. UH, AND OUR CONCERN IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT, YOU KNOW, AFTER TWO YEARS, YOU'RE GOING TO SAY, OKAY, ENOUGH'S ENOUGH. YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO PAY UP SOME, SOME MONEY FOR, TO CONTINUING THIS SERVICE. SO, UH, SO IT IS AN URGENCY WE NEED TO MEET, UH, REGARDING THE TTI COMMITTEE AS SOON AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. UH, BUT MAYOR, IF FOR SOME REASON WE CANNOT FIND OR, OR, OR NOT SUCCESSFUL IN, IN, IN REGARDS TO THE GRANT MONIES, UM, I MEAN, IS THERE STILL THE OPTION OF HOPEFULLY LOOKING AT, UH, THE FUND BALANCE TO AT LEAST CONTINUE THE EIGHT CROSSINGS THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY MONITORING? UH, YOU'VE GOT FIRE STATION 18, UH, THAT'S IN THE CENTER OF A TRIANGLE, UH, AND WE ARE MONITORING THAT, UH, THOSE, THOSE THREE RAILROAD, UH, RAILROADS THERE, UH, UH, IN THE CENTER OF WHERE WE'RE, UH, FIRE STATION 18 IS LOCATED, UH, AND IT'S SAVING LIVES. UH, SO, UH, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HOPEFULLY CAN CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM, AT LEAST FOR THE 18 CROSSINGS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE. AND, AND THAT WAS THE OTHER REASON WE EXPANDED TO 35. I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S PROBABLY GONNA INCLUDE SOME OTHER FIRE STATIONS THAT ARE ALSO HAVING THAT ISSUE WHERE THEY CAN'T, UH, RESPOND TO AN EMERGENCY BECAUSE OF A BLOCK TRAIN. OKAY. WELL, LET'S DO THIS, LET'S, LET'S REFER TO TTI AND THEN YOU'LL MAKE THE ASSESSMENT. AND THEN, UM, AND, AND THEN AT THE SAME TIME, LET'S LOOK AT, UH, ALL POSSIBLE FUNDING SOURCES TO MAINTAIN. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON, DO YOU NEED A MOTION TO MOVE PAST NOON? YES. MOTION TO MOVE PAST NOON. OKAY. WE ALREADY DID THAT. HAVE WE EVER DONE IT? OKAY. MOTION. WE DID THE MOTION TO REFER. VERY GOOD. ANY OBJECTION ON THE MOTION TO REFER? WE NEED A SECOND ON THAT. IS THERE A SECOND ON THE MOTION TO SECOND. SECOND BY ROBINSON. OKAY. ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR? DONE. OKAY. 14 OH WAS IN THE QUEUE, RIGHT? 1402 HAS BEEN REFERRED TO, UH, UM, TTI. OKAY. UH, GALLS ON 14.03, CREATE AND EXCESS A ONE TIME FEE ON YOU RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT THAT REQUIRES WASTE SERVICE TO BE PROVIDED BY THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT. THE ONE-TIME FEE SHALL BE CALCULATED BY MULTIPLYING THE NUMBER OF NEW SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS IN THE DEVELOPMENT BY THE COST INCURRED BY THE CITY TO DELIVER A NEW REFUSE CONTAINER, WHICH CURRENTLY THE CITY HAS TO PAY, OR IT COSTS THE CITY $26 AND 20 CENTS. THE FEE SHALL NOT BE APPLIED TO DEVELOPMENTS WITH PRIVATE TRASH SERVICE. REVENUE GENERATED FROM THE ONE-TIME SERVICE FEE SHALL BE UTILIZED BY THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS, SERVICES AND PROGRAMMING. UH, THIS IS THIS, I BELIEVE THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I'VE SUBMITTED THIS AMENDMENT, WHICH NEVER PASSES, BUT 1403 WOULD REQUIRE ANY NEW RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT BILL AND ADDED TO THE CITY'S TRASH COLLECTION RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR [05:40:01] THE COST INCURRED BY THE CITY TO DELIVER THE NEW CART, WHICH COSTS THE CITY $26 AND 20 CENTS. ACCESSING THIS FEE IS NECESSARY TO HELP THE CITY RECOVER COSTS FOR PROVIDING NEW SERVICE TO NEWLY BUILT HOMES. EACH YEAR, THOUSANDS OF NEW HOMES ARE BUILT, AND MANY OF THOSE ARE ADDED TO THE CITY'S COLLECTION RESPONSIBILITY. SOLID WASTE REPORTED THAT BETWEEN 2007 AND 2020, OVER 45,000 NEW HOMES WERE ADDED TO OUR COLLECTION RESPONSIBILITY. SO THAT'S, UM, WITHIN THAT TIMEFRAME, THAT'S 1,000,100 $79,000 THAT THE CITY ACTUALLY PAID FOR BECAUSE WE WERE DELIVERING THESE CARTS DURING THE SAME TIME. EQUIPMENT BREAKDOWNS REMAIN HIGH AND OUR EMPLOYEES WORK NONSTOP. THIS IS UN UNSUSTAINABLE. WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO ADD MORE HOMES, INCREASING ROUTES AND DELAYS WITHOUT PROVIDING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR MORE SOLID WASTE PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT. AGAIN, 1403 AIMS TO RECOUP THE COST OF DELIVERING CANS TO NEWLY BUILT HOMES. AND I'M ASKING COUNCIL'S, UH, COUNCIL TO, UH, SUPPORT THIS ITEM. AND UNFORTUNATELY, COUNCIL MEMBER, THIS WILL REQUIRE AN ORDINANCE. HMM. IT WOULD REQUIRE AN ORDINANCE. OKAY. SO CAN WE DO THE ORDINANCE MAYOR ? THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT. YOU GOTTA DO IT. IF YOU WITHDRAW, HE'LL DO IT. IT'LL HELP YOU. AND BECAUSE IT REQUIRES AN ORDINANCE, UM, IT IS, UM, WE CAN'T DO IT HERE. UH, SO CAN WE BRING HIM TO QUALITY ALIVE TO REVIEW THIS AGAIN, FROM 2007 AND 2020, MAYOR, 45,000 HOMES, NEW HOMES WERE BUILT, IF WE WOULD'VE HAD THIS IN PLACE, THE CITY WOULD'VE RECOUPED 1,179,000, WHICH I'M ASSUMING THAT'S GONNA BE SEVERAL TRASH TRUCKS THAT WE COULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PURCHASE. RIGHT? I I, YEAH, I, I AGREE WITH YOU. AND LET ME, UH, IF YOU DON'T MIND, IF YOU WOULD REFER TO QUALITY OF LIFE. CAN I CHECK WITH THE CHAIR? MAYOR? YEAH. IS, WILL THE CHAIR RECEIVE, UH, 14.03? YES. IF YOU HAVE SECOND TO REFER TO SECOND COUNCILMAN ROBINSON. UH, SECONDS REFERRING 1403 TO QUALITY OF LIFE. ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE. AND IS REFERRED TO QUALITY OF LIFE GALLS 14 0 4 14 0 4. INCREASED FUNDING FOR THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT BY DRAWING DOWN DOLLARS FROM THE FUND BALANCE, OR ESTABLISHING A MONTHLY SOLID WASTE USE FEE FOR RESIDENTS WITH SOLID WASTE TRASH, UH, SERVICE. THE USER FEE SHALL BE BASED ON A PAY AS YOU THOROUGH MODEL REVENUE SHALL BE USED TO ESTABLISH AN, AN ENTERPRISE FUND FOR SOLID WASTE OPERATIONS, INCLUDING HIRING ADDITIONAL STAFF AND INSPECTORS, PURCHASING EQUIPMENT AND SUSTAINING SERVICES SUCH AS MOWING, ILLEGAL DUMPING, AND TIRES, AND OTHER, UM, SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT PROGRAMMING. THE, UH, THIS AMENDMENT AIMS TO GET AT THE HEART OF PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST OPERATIONAL ISSUES THAT WE FACE IN OUR CITY. ADEQUATE FUNDING TO RIGHT SIDE SOLID WASTE. WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THAT COULD BE $130 MILLION EVERY MORNING. SOLID WASTE CREWS START BEHIND, UH, START BEHIND SCHEDULE, AND THAT'S THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN. THE REAL, THE REALITY IS THAT WE HAVEN'T RIGHT SIDE THE DEPARTMENT OR ADJUSTED SERVICE LEVELS TO MEET THE GROWING DEMAND. JUST THIS PAST FRIDAY, SOLID WASTE CANCELED FRIDAY RECYCLING COLLECTION WITH NO PRIOR NOTICE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO SERVICE FRIDAY COLLECTION IN A TIMELY MANNER. THE DEPARTMENT CAN'T CONTINUE TO OPERATE THE SAME WAY. OUR CUSTOMERS DESERVE RELIABLE, EFFICIENT SERVICES, AND WE NEED TO INCREASE FUNDING. AND AGAIN, I WANNA STRESS THAT BY DOING THIS, YOU KNOW, IT, IT IS NOT JUST PICKING UP THE TRASH CAN. YOUR TRASH CAN, YOUR, THE BLACK TRASH CAN AND THE GREEN RECYCLING CAN, IT WILL ALSO BE HAVE SOLID WASTE GOING OUT AND PICKING UP ILLEGAL DUMPING, ALSO GOING OUT AND PICKING UP TIRES THAT PEOPLE THROW ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AND THAT IS PART OF THE, UH, BROKEN GLASS THEORY. I MEAN, WHEN, WHEN, WHEN, WHEN, WHEN YOU HAVE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT UNFORTUNATELY PEOPLE ARE, ARE ILLEGALLY DUMPING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THEY'RE THROWING TIRES ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND IN VACANT LOTS, THAT ENCOURAGES CRIMINAL ELEMENT TO COME INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. UH, SO BY DOING THIS, IT WILL HELP SOLID WASTE, BUT AGAIN, IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE MORE SERVICES THAN WHAT SOLID WASTE IS CURRENTLY PROVIDING. I KNOW, MARY, YOU HAVE THE, UH, THE ONE CLEAN HOUSTON, WHICH IS GREAT. I APPRECIATE [05:45:01] THAT. BUT THAT'S ARPA FUNDING. AND SOONER OR LATER THAT'S GOING TO END AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SET AND READY TO GO TO CONTINUE HOPEFULLY THAT PROGRAM THROUGHOUT OUR CITY. UH, AND WITH THE ENTERPRISE FUND, WHAT I WOULD ALSO LIKE IS THAT THE MONIES THAT'S CURRENTLY BEING USED AT SOLID WASTE FROM THE GENERAL FUND, WE'LL BE ALLOCATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, TO CONTINUE THE HOUSTON SAFE 1 1 1 1 SAFE HOUSTON PROGRAM AFTER THE ARPA FUNDING HAS ENDED. UH, SO IT'S A WIN-WIN. UH, AND I'M ASKING FOR COUNCIL SUPPORT. COUNCIL MAYOR ALCO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU. UM, WE ALL KNOW THE, THE PROBLEMS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AT SOLID WASTE LAST FRIDAY WAS AN EXAMPLE. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE, MAYOR OF, OF OUTCOME-BASED BUDGETING. WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT PERFORMANCE MEASURES, AND I'M LOOKING AT THE MEASURES NOW THAT WERE USED, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GETTING THERE 40 FOR, WE'RE HITTING OUR GOAL 45% OF THE TIME. I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S NOT GOOD. I MEAN, SOMETHING'S GONNA HAVE TO GIVE, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE COMING AND STUDY. I DID, I DO. JUST, I, I WANNA SING DIRECTOR WOLF FOX PRAISES. HE IS SO GOOD. HE IS OUT THERE, HE IS OUT THERE ON THE CLEANUPS. I'VE BEEN ON IN THE WEEKENDS. HE'S FOCUSED ON MAKING IMPROVEMENTS IN THIS DEPARTMENT. HE IS, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH HIM THIS WEEK. HE IS WORKING ON THIS ISSUE, UM, TO, TO WHAT, WHAT IT'S GONNA TAKE MM-HMM . AND WE'RE ALL JUST GONNA HAVE TO FACE THE MUSIC OF WHAT IT'S GONNA TAKE. I DON'T KNOW IF IT, IT CAN'T REALLY BE DONE TODAY AT THE BUDGET CYCLE, BUT, BUT WE ALL KNOW, UM, THAT WHEN WE'RE NOT OUTCOME-BASED, BUDGETING, AGAIN, IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT LOOKING AT THINGS THAT ARE BROKEN THAT ARE NOT WORKING, AND, AND TAKING A HARD LOOK AND FIGURING OUT WHAT WE, WHAT WE'VE GOTTA DO ON THAT. AND THAT MIGHT BE ADDING SOME MORE PRIVATE CONTRACTORS TO OUR ROUTES. WE HAVE THIR, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR ROUTES ARE 1300 HOMES. THEY SHOULD BE, THE AVERAGE IS WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE IS LIKE SEVEN TO 900 HOMES. WE'RE WORKING THESE GUYS TO DEATH, AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF OVERTIME, AND OUR BUDGET IS 97 MILLION OR SOMETHING FOR SOLID WASTE. BUT IT'S REALLY A LOT MORE THAN THAT. WE'RE PAYING OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS. WE'RE PAYING A LOT OF OVERTIME. I MEAN, WE KNOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO TAKE SOME FUND BALANCE TO, TO SUPPLEMENT TO GET THE, GET THE TRASH PICKED UP. SO I JUST APPRECIATE, UM, YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, AND, AND CERTAINLY, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL GONNA HAVE TO TAKE A HARD, HARD LOOK AT, AT THIS DEPARTMENT, UM, AND BE BEING ABLE, GIVING IT THE RESOURCES THAT IT NEEDS TO, TO, TO PROVIDE BETTER SERVICE. YEAH. AND, AND THE DIRECTOR ONE SECOND SEC. ONE SECOND. OH, I'M SORRY. COUNCILMAN KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS. I ALSO WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR KEEPING THE FOOT ON THE PEDAL WHEN IT COMES TO OUR CHALLENGES WITH SOLID WASTE FOR TALKING ABOUT THE DOLLARS THAT WE NEED TO BE RECOUPING. UH, AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, TO YOUR POINT, I JUST WANTED TO PIGGYBACK. DIRECTOR WILL FALK IS DOING AN ABSOLUTELY EXTRAORDINARY JOB. I HAVE BEEN SO IMPRESSED BY THE RESPONSIVENESS, THE LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION THAT HE'S EMPHASIZING. BUT I ALSO WANTED TO NOTE, UM, MAYOR, I SAY THIS OFTEN, AND I KNOW YOU KNOW THIS, OUR SOLID WASTE WORKERS ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN. AND SO THIS ISN'T A CRITIQUE ON THEM. IT'S WHAT CAN WE BE DOING TO SUPPORT THEM MORE SO THAT WE'RE ALL SUCCEEDING. UH, THESE ARE FOLKS THAT ARE WORKING SIX DAYS A WEEK WITH A 30 HOUR LUNCH BREAK AND TWO 15 MINUTE LUNCH BREAKS, AND THEY'RE OUT THERE. THEY, THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING AND MORE THAT WE'RE ASKING OF THEM. SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S A SUCCESSFUL DIVISION. UH, SO I, I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT TO THE CONVERSATION SO THAT IT'S, IT'S CLEAR THAT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT DEFICIENCIES FROM PERSONNEL. UH, THIS IS A FUNDING DEFICIENCY THAT WE HAVE INHERITED, THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO ON COUNCILMAN GGO. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO, AND COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. AND, AND, AND AGAIN, I WANNA MAKE IT CLEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT CRITICIZING SOLID WASTE, NOT CRITICIZING THE DIRECTOR. AND I AGREE. THEY ARE DOING THE, YOU KNOW, AN AWESOME JOB WITH THE RESOURCES THAT THEY HAVE. I MEAN, UM, THEY'RE SERVING OVER 360,000 HOMES, UH, YOU KNOW, ON A WEEKLY BASIS OVER, YOU KNOW, 645 SQUARE MILES. UH, YOU KNOW, AND UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO LACK OF THE RESOURCES, THE TRASH IS NOT PICKED UP THE DAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE PICKED UP. THE RECYCLING IS NOT PICKED UP THE DAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE, UH, PICKED UP. UH, AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE RESIDENTS AND CONSTITUENTS THAT CALL OUR OFFICES THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER OFFICES, AND THEY'RE UPSET THAT, HEY, YOU MISSED OUR, MY PICKUP. IT WAS SUPPOSED BOAT SUPPOSED TO BE PICKED UP YESTERDAY, AND IT HASN'T BEEN PICKED UP. UH, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THE ILLEGAL DUMPING. YOU'VE GOT THE TIRES ON THE SIDE OF THE ROADS. UH, [05:50:01] YOU KNOW, SO SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE, IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. UH, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND, AND, UH, I'M HOPING THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN LOOK AT. UH, BUT AGAIN, UH, IT'S NOT A CRITICISM OF SOLID WASTE OR THE DIRECTOR BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING AN AWESOME JOB. UH, BUT WE JUST NEED TO HELP THEM BECAUSE OUR RESIDENTS ARE CONSTITUENTS ARE ASKING, UH, THAT WE NEED TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE THAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR. UH, AND, AND, AND THIS IS A WAY TO, TO, TO, TO HOPEFULLY, UH, HELP THEM WITH THAT COUNCIL MEMBER. YOU'RE REFERRING AS TO QUALITY OF LIFE. ARE YOU OKAY, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER REFERS VICE MAYOR OR TIM SECOND. ANY OBJECTION? NONE. AND MOTION IS GRANTED MATTER IS REFERRED TO QUALITY OF LIFE GOING STRAIGHT THROUGH THESE. WE ARE NOW ON LES 14.05. ARE YOU, UM, CAN I GET YOU TO RESPECTFULLY, UH, WITHDRAW 14.05? YEAH. THIS IS, UH, DUE TO DEVELOP AN INCENTIVE THAT OFFERS FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES WITH THE LEASE FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THIS. OKAY. THE, UH, 14.5 IS TO BOAST OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S EMPLOYEE BENEFITS PACKAGE, AND AS TO, UH, ADDED INCENTIVE TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN TOP TALENT. THE CITY'S HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT IS PART, PART IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM SHALL DEVELOP AND INCENTIVE THAT OFFERS FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES WITH AT LEAST FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE CITY, UP TO 14 DAYS PER YEAR OF COMPLIMENTARY PARKING AT THE CITY OWNED ECO PARK PARKING LOTS LOCATED AT HOBBY IN BUSH AIRPORTS LIKE WE HAVE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF BUDGET CYCLES THIS YEAR, WE, AGAIN, HEARD FROM DIRECTORS ABOUT WHAT, WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN MORE TOP TALENT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND MAYOR, JUST RECENTLY, YOU AMENDED THE TELE TELEWORK POLICY IN ORDER FOR THE CITY TO HAVE A COMPETITIVE EDGE FOR ATTRACTING AND RETAINING HIGHLY SKILLED AND QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS. AND SO THIS AMENDMENT WOULD PROVIDE CITY EMPLOYEES WITH UP TO 14 DAYS OF COMPLIMENTARY PARKING EACH YEAR AT THE CITY OWNED PARKING LOTS KNOWN AS ECO PARK AT BUSH. AND HOBBY 1405 WOULDN'T COST THE CITY MUCH, AND IT WOULD HELP BOLSTER OUR BENEFIT PACKAGE, MAKING US JUST A LITTLE MORE COMPETITIVE IN THE, IN THE WORKPLACE. WE ALREADY OWN THE PARKING LOTS, AND ON MOST DAYS, THEY HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH CAPACITY. ON AN AVERAGE DAY, THE EQUAL PARKING LOT AT BUSH IS ONLY 40 OR 45% FULL. AGAIN, IF WE CAN'T BE MORE COMPETITIVE ON THE SALARY SIDE OF THINGS, LET'S LEVERAGE THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE, LIKE PARKING AT OUR AIRPORTS AS A WAY TO INCENTIVIZE WORKING FOR THE CITY AND TO KEEP THE EMPLOYEES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AS WELL. UM, AND AGAIN, UM, QUALITY OF LIFE. , UH, UH, BE BUSY COUNCIL MEMBER GARY GUESS, REFERS THIS TO, UH, QUALITY OF LIFE, SECONDED BY VICE MAYOR PRO TIM, I MULTI GUEST TATUM. ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR? MAYOR. MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO ADD RETIRED COUNCIL MEMBERS TO THAT AS WELL. HAS A BENEFIT. SO WE CAN PARK, BUT I TELL YOU WHAT, SECOND SECOND. AND LET'S REFER IT ALL TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGO. LET'S DO IT. OKAY. SECOND. ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR? NONE IN THE MATTERS. 1405 IS REFERRED TO QUALITY OF LIFE. UM, AND, UH, GALLEGOS 14.06. AND I KNOW WE, I KNOW WE BRIEFLY DISCUSSED THIS A LITTLE EARLIER. YES. BUT THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS SHALL ASSIGN ONE CODE INFORMANT ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TO WORK WITH EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT OFFICE TO INVESTIGATE, ENFORCE, AND REMEDIATE PRIORITY COMMUNITY CONCERNS AND CODE VIOLATIONS WITHIN THE COUNCIL DISTRICT. THIS AMENDMENT WOULD ASSIGN ONE DON INSPECTOR TO WORK ALONGSIDE EACH COUNCIL OFFICE. THIS WOULD GREATLY ASSIST IN PRIORITIZING COMMUNITY ISSUES AND ENFORCEMENT. THIS AMENDMENT WOULDN'T ADD MORE INSPECTORS OR REMOVE INSPECTORS FROM DON. IT WOULD JUST PROVIDE A MORE DIRECT WAY OF COUNCIL OFFICES TO WORK HAND IN HAND WITH DON INSPECTORS ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY, ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY TO, UM, YEAH, ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY. SO, SO MAYOR, I KNOW THAT IN THE PAST, BA BACK WHEN I WAS PRESIDENT OF MY CIVIC CLUB, UH, YOU, YOU HAD THE INSPECTORS THAT WERE OFFICE OUT OF THE SUBSTATION. AND IN MY OPINION, [05:55:01] THAT WORKED REALLY WELL DUE TO THE FACT THAT YOU HAD THE HPD OFFICER AT THE CIVIC CLUB TO REPORT ON CRIME ISSUES. AND THEN YOU ALSO HAD THE INSPECTOR THERE TO ADDRESS ANY ISSUES THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD MIGHT HAVE IN, IN REGARDS TO VIOLATIONS. UH, SO IT WAS A DUAL, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, UH, IN, IN REGARDS TO HPD OFFICER THERE. AND THEN YOU HAD THE, THE, THE DON INSPECTOR. UH, I, I'M HOPING MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN LOOK AT. IF NOT, THEN THE, UH, ANOTHER SUGGESTION IS THAT IF, IF, IF YOU'VE GOT 11 COUNCIL DISTRICTS, IF YOU CAN HAVE ONE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, I WOULD PREFER IF THAT CODE EN INVOLVE OFFICER ACTUALLY OFFICED OUT OF OUR OFFICE, SO THAT WAY OUR CHIEF OF STAFF OR THE COUNCIL MEMBER CAN HAVE THAT COURT COURT ENFORCEMENT OFFICER THERE. UH, SO BECAUSE WE GET THE CALLS, WE GET THE CALLS FROM RESIDENTS COMPLAINING THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A VEHICLE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, DOESN'T HAVE THE TAGS IT'S SUPPOSED TO HAVE, THERE'S A VEHICLE WITH A FLAT, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, UH, WHATEVER THE ISSUES ARE, UH, WE THEN CAN GO TO THAT CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER THAT'S IN OUR OFFICE AND SAY, THESE ARE THE ISSUES. THIS IS WHAT WE EXPECT YOU TO GO AND WORK ON THIS WEEK. UH, AND THEN REPORT BACK TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER, REPORT BACK TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER CHIEF OF STAFF TO TRY TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, UH, TO HAVE THESE INDIVIDUALS IN OTHER OFFICES. I MEAN, IT'S JUST NOT WORKING. UM, SO THAT, THAT, THAT'S MY, OKAY. WE, WE REFERRED THE I MATTER DEALING WITH DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS TO, UM, UH, SNA, UH, TO SOUND, RNA, I'M SORRY, I'M SAY THAT RNA AND I WOULD SUGGEST WE DO THE SAME HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER, KASH MAYOR, THE CHARTER DIRECTLY, UH, UH, FORBIDS ANY COUNCIL MEMBER FROM, FROM DIRECTING CITY EMPLOYEES OTHER THAN OUR OWN STAFF, RIGHT. SO THAT, THAT MIGHT BE A PROBLEM. RIGHT? I AGREE. AND THAT'S WHY I WOULD SAY, SINCE WE DIRECTED THE OTHER DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD MATTERS TO RNA TO ADDRESS THAT, DO THE SAME THING. SO IT'S THE MOTION TO REFER 1406 TO RNA SAME MOTION? YES. UH, I, I WOULD ASK TO ASK, I HAVE THIS, UH, GO TO THE RNA COMMITTEE FOR REVIEW. SECOND. SECOND. SECONDED BY, UH, VICE MEMBER TIM CASTEK. TATUM. ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR? NONE. GRANTED THE LAST AMENDMENT FOR TODAY, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD ON 15.01. NO, I'M SORRY, . SO, YEAH, WE GOT ALL THE WAY TO THE LAST AMENDMENT. IT IS 15.01, WHICH IS 15.03 ON YOUR MATRIX. UH, THE FIRST TWO AMENDMENTS I WON'T PUT FORWARD. I'VE HAD SOME GOOD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE MAYOR, AND SO WE'LL SKIP DOWN TO 15.03 ON YOUR MATRIX, BUT 15.01 IN YOUR HANDOUT. UH, THIS AMENDMENT PROPOSES TO ALLOCATE $1 MILLION FROM THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET BALANCE, UH, TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT FOR AN ESTIMATED FIVE NEW ATTORNEYS. UH, WE ALL KNOW THAT, UM, OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT IS STRETCHED THIN. THEY CAME AND, UH, SPOKE TO US AT BFA ABOUT, UH, CAPACITY ISSUES. UH, WE OFTENTIMES HAVE TO REFER OUT TO OUTSIDE COUNSEL FOR MANY OF OUR LEGAL NEEDS. UH, THIS MAY BE A, A MORE COST EFFECTIVE WAY TO GO ABOUT, UM, LITIGATION. UM, I'M A BIG PROPONENT OF HAVING A VERY BEEFED UP LEGAL DEPARTMENT. WE GET A LOT OF LAWSUITS. WE GET A LOT OF PEOPLE THREATENING TO SUE THE CITY, WHICH I SAY BRING IT ON. BUT WE DO NEED THE CAPACITY IN ORDER TO ANSWER THOSE SUITS. AND THEN WE NEED TO HAVE, UH, A LEGAL DEPARTMENT THAT IS, UM, EXTREMELY STRONG. THEY'RE STRONG NOW, BUT WE CAN MAKE 'EM STRONGER. AND SO, UM, WITH THIS ADDITIONAL $1 MILLION FOR ESTIMATED FIVE NEW ATTORNEYS, UH, I THINK THAT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR. UM, AND I WOULD BE OPEN TO DOING EVEN MORE ON TOP OF THAT IN THE FUTURE. BUT, UH, I, I DO WANT, UM, PEOPLE NOT TO BE ALWAYS SO HESITANT ABOUT POSSIBLE LITIGATION, OR WE MAY GET SUED, OR WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO ANSWER WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE. I WANT OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT, UH, TO HAVE THE CAPACITY TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN FIGHT EVERYTHING THAT COMES BEFORE. AND THEY HAVE THE LAWYERS THAT ARE READY TO FIGHT EVERYTHING THAT COMES BEFORE US. AND SO I DIDN'T REALLY, UH, SPEAK TO ARTURO PERSONALLY ABOUT THIS, BUT I DID HEAR HIS PRESENTATION AT THE BFA COMMITTEE MEETING. AND ALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE TALK ABOUT THE NEED TO HAVE TO GO TO OUTSIDE COUNCIL WHEN WE CAN KEEP IT INSIDE, UH, OUR OWN SHOP. AND THEN WE ALL KNOW PERSONALLY THAT AS A BUSINESS ENTITY, WHICH WE BASICALLY ARE, UH, [06:00:01] THE BETTER LAWYERS YOU HAVE, AND THE MORE LAWYERS YOU HAVE, THE MORE PROTECTED YOU ARE. SO THAT'S WHY I'M BRINGING FORTH THIS, THIS AMENDMENT MAYOR. YEAH. AND, AND, UM, AND I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT. UM, AND, UM, WE DO NEED TO, UM, LET'S SAY BEEF UP OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT. I KNOW ATTORNEY MICHELLE BROUGHT FORTH A PLAN, UH, TO ME, I THINK IN THIS FISCAL YEAR TO DO THAT, UH, THAT WE HAVE FUNDED. UH, AND WE ARE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT HOW TO BEEF UP UPGRADE, SUPPORT OUR LAWYERS, UM, BRING IN LAWYERS THAT WE NEED IN CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS. UM, BUT INSTEAD OF DOING IT THIS WAY, WHAT I WOULD SAY LET'S CONTINUE TO WORK WITH, UM, ATTORNEY, ATTORNEY MICHELLE, AS HE ASSESSES HIS OPERATION AND AS, AND, AND, UH, PUT FORTH AN ADDITIONAL OR SUPPLEMENT, UH, THE ADDITIONAL PLAN THAT HE'S BROUGHT, UH, TO ME. AND THEN WE MAY VERY WELL, VERY SOON BRING SOMETHING BACK, UH, TO COUNCIL SAYING THIS. THESE ARE THE THINGS WE SPECIFICALLY NEED. BUT INSTEAD OF JUST DOING IT THIS WAY, IF I CAN ASK YOU JUST TO HOLD ON THIS FOR NOW AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH, UH, WITH ATTORNEY MICHELLE, AND, AND MAKE WHATEVER NECESSARY ASSESSMENTS. AND THEN, UH, UH, YOU MAY VERY WELL SEE THIS ITEM COMING BACK IN SOME FORMS VERY SOON. WELL, SINCE I KNOW YOU GONNA WORK WITH ME, , AND YOU ASKED SO NICELY, AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY COMMITTEES THAT WE NEED TO RUN THIS THROUGH. NO, NO. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO IT COMING BACK AND WE, UH, WE TAKING CARE OF IT SOON. AND I, LOOK, LEMME JUST SAY IT'S BEEN A LAWYER FOR OVER 40 YEARS. YOU NEED A STRONG LEGAL DEPARTMENT. I, I COMMEND, UH, TO MICHELLE FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE, CONTINUE TO DO, AND HIS ENTIRE TEAM. AND THEY ARE, THEY ARE OVERWORKED. THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT. AND YOU WANT TOP-NOTCH LAWYERS, AND YOU WANNA HOLD ON TO THAT INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND THOSE LAWYERS WHO HAVE BEEN THERE AND, UM, KNOW THE LAY OF THE LAND. UM, SO YOU WANNA HOLD ONTO 'EM BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO PORT AND PULL 'EM AWAY. SO, UM, THIS IS NOT FOR ME. THIS IS NOT A NO, THIS IS, LET'S CONTINUE TO DO THAT INTERNAL ASSESSMENT AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK AND VISIT THIS AGAIN. WITHDRAW. THANK YOU. OKAY. SO MOTION HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN FOR NOW. OKAY. OKAY. THAT'S ALL OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT I HAVE BEFORE ME. UH, AND NOW WE ARE GOING BACK TO THE MAIN ITEM, ITEM 14 AS AMENDED, THE MAIN ITEM AS AMENDED, UH, AND GETTING READY TO, UH, TO VOTE ON THE MAIN ITEM AS AMENDED COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH MAYOR. MY, MY CONCERN, UH, I SPOKE OF IT WHEN I FIRST WAS THE UNCERTAINTY OF WHAT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN. AND SO, UH, THAT UNCERTAINTY, UH, UH, LEAVES ME FEELING LIKE THAT WE MAY BE A LITTLE EARLY ON ALL THIS. SO I, I WON'T BE SUPPORTING IT. WELL BEAR IN MIND THAT WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO PASS A BUDGET, UH, BY THE END OF THIS MONTH. WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE, OKAY? UH, SO WE HAVE TO PASS A BUDGET, UM, WHAT THE LEGISLATURE DOES, IT DOES. UM, BUT WE, WE HAVE TO, THIS IS THE ONE THING WE ARE OBLIGATED TO DO. WHAT I CAN SAY TO YOU AS YOU LOOK AT THIS BUDGET, UH, THAT IT IS A VERY STRONG BUDGET. UH, AND THEN WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT A LOT OF THE VARIOUS, UH, CONTINGENCIES, UM, UH, STRONG FUND BALANCE, UM, AND ABLE TO, UM, ADDRESS THE BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND, OUR REF MAINTENANCE REFERRAL FUND, UM, OP, UH, THE OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, UH, THE THIRD LEG OF THE FIREFIGHTERS PAY RAISE OF 6%, WHICH WILL NOW BRING IT TO 18% IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, ALONG WITH THE ADDITIONAL PAY RAISES FOR POLICE AND FIRE ALL BUILT INTO THIS, INTO THIS ELEMENT. UM, YOU KNOW, UH, SO THIS IS A, A, THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST BUDGET IN A D IS, I, I, YOU KNOW, AND I FEEL FIRM ABOUT SAYING THAT. NOW, WITH RESPECT TO THE FUTURE, THAT IN LARGE PART, COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH, WELL DEPENDS WHO SITS IN THESE SEATS, OKAY? UM, AND IT, WELL, NOT JUST SITTING IN THESE SEATS, BUT IT ALSO IS IMPACTED BY THOSE WHO ARE NOT SITTING IN THESE SEATS THAT ARE DOING THINGS LIKE THE LEGISLATURE TO IMPACT THIS BUDGET. UM, SO THAT IS WHAT, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THE ELEMENTS. BUT EVEN WITH THAT, UH, I THINK THIS IS A STRONG BUDGET THAT WE, THAT THE CREDIT RATE RATING AGENCIES CAN LOOK AT. AND I, AND I WOULD LIKE TO THINK, WELL, WE'LL BE, UH, FAVORABLY VIEWED. UM, SO, UH, [06:05:01] COUNCILMAN CAYMAN, THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE, UM, AND CONGRATULATE YOU ON HOW STRONG OF A BUDGET THIS IS WHEN YOU REVIEWED EARLIER THE NUMBERS. UM, THE HEALTHY FUND BALANCE, UH, THE BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND, UH, REDUCING OUR OPEP LIABILITIES, UH, OVER, I THINK 133 MILLION ADDITIONAL FOR DRAINAGE. UH, IT'S A, IT IS A VERY STRONG AND HEALTHY BUDGET THAT I THINK INCORPORATES THE VALUES OF US AS A CITY. UH, THE ONE THING I DID WANNA EMPHASIZE IS THAT THE NUMBERS THAT YOU MENTIONED BEFORE, UH, AND IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND SAYING THOSE JUST ONE MORE TIME, 'CAUSE I DIDN'T WRITE THEM DOWN WHAT THE REVENUE CAP HAS COST US THIS YEAR ALONE, AND OVERALL, WHAT IT HAS COST US, BECAUSE AGAIN, WE'RE ARGUING O NOT ARGUING. WE'RE HAVING HEALTHY DISCUSSIONS OVER WHAT WE CAN AFFORD, WHAT WE CAN'T AFFORD, TRYING TO PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE. BUT THE REAL CULPRIT HERE IS THE RESTRICTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED ON US, UH, AND REVENUE THAT HAS BEEN LEFT ON THE SIDE. SO MAYOR, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND JUST REALLY QUICKLY GOING BACK OVER THOSE, THOSE NUMBERS FOR ME SO I CAN REPORT THEM BACK OUT, UH, TO THE DISTRICT SO THAT EVERYONE'S CLEAR EXACTLY HOW MUCH WE ARE LEAVING ON THE TABLE. BUT DESPITE THAT, HOW STRONG OF A BUDGET WE HAVE MANAGED TO PUT TOGETHER THE REVENUE CAP, THE REVENUE CAP OF FISCAL YEAR 24, UM, THE, THE FULL IMPACT OF THE CAP WILL RESULT IN A LOSS OF $347 MILLION. THAT'S 3 47. SINCE HITTING THE CAP IN FISCAL YEAR 2015, THE FULL CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF THE CAP IS 1.8 BILLION. OKAY? AND THEN, LET ME JUST UNDERSCORE, AND I KNOW SOME SAID, UH, MAYOR, WHY NOT REMOVE THE REVENUE CAP? WHY DON'T YOU MOVE FORWARD TO MOVE THE, LET ME BE, LET ME JUST SAY THIS. YOU KNOW, I GAVE SOME THOUGHT ABOUT THAT, AND THEY STILL WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT. BUT LEMME TELL YOU WHAT I WILL NOT DO. I'M NOT GONNA GO OUT THERE TO MOVE, TO RAISE THE REVENUE CAP WHEN PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT SITTING IN THESE CHAIRS ARE DOING THINGS THAT WILL HURT THE FISCAL STABILITY. I WILL NOT CAMPAIGN FOR A REVENUE CAP REMOVAL WHEN LEGISLATORS, SENATORS ARE VOTING FOR MEASURES LIKE BINDING ARBITRATION, WHICH COULD COST THIS CITY, LET THEM RAISE THE REVENUE COUNT TO FILL THEIR OWN HOLD. BUT I'M NOT GONNA DO THAT. I'M NOT GONNA GET OUT THERE AND CAMPAIGN FOR THAT. I GAVE IT SOME THOUGHT, WAS GIVING IT SOME THOUGHT, BUT I'M NOT GONNA DO THAT. YOU GOING TO DIG, DON'T DIG A HOLE AND THEN EXPECT FOR ME TO GO OUT THERE AND, AND FILL IT FOR YOU. I THINK I'VE DONE MY JOB IN COMING INTO THIS CITY AS MAYOR AND PLUGGING HOLES AND REVERSING POLICIES AND PASSING ON TO THE NEXT MAYOR, A STRONG FUND BALANCE AND PLUGGING BUDGET STABILIZATION, FUND MAINTENANCE, REFERRAL FUNDS, AND RE AND REDUCING DEBT AND ALL OF THAT. NOW, IT'S GONNA BE UP TO THE NEXT MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE IN A FISCALLY PRUDENT FASHION. AND THAT'S IMPORTANT, AND I HOPE PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING UNTIL YOU GET ON, GET HERE AND LOOK UNDER THE HOOD, DO YOU ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT'S THERE? SO, UM, UM, MAYOR, UM, MAYOR TIM MARTIN, AND THEN WE'RE READY TO VOTE. YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, UH, THIS IS A BITTERSWEET MOMENT BECAUSE FOR SEVEN OF US, THIS IS OUR LAST BUDGET, UH, MAYOR AND SIX COUNCIL MEMBERS. I VIVIDLY REMEMBER OUR FIRST BUDGET THAT I WAS A PART OF IN 2013. WE BALANCED THE BUDGET BY SELLING OFF BUILDINGS, BY SELLING LAND, AND BY DOING DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND BY NOT PURCHASING ANY EQUIPMENT. THE YEAR BEFORE THAT, WE DID ALL THAT, PLUS WE HAD FURLOUGHS AND LAYOFFS. SO MY THOUGHTS BEFORE TODAY WAS I WASN'T GONNA PASS ANYTHING THAT DIPPED INTO OUR FUND BALANCE. I WASN'T GONNA PULL MONEY FROM FUND BALANCE, GENERAL FUND, OR BUDGET STABILIZATION. I THINK THIS BUDGET IS A PRETTY GOOD BUDGET, NOT PRETTY GOOD. THIS IS A DARN GOOD BUDGET FUND BALANCE AT 16.6%, 221 MILLION ABOVE THE REQUIRED 12.5. I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE CREDIT RATING AGENCIES. 7.5, 7.5, MY BAD. I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE CREDIT AGENCIES TO GIVE US AN INCREASE IN OUR, IN OUR RATING, UH, REDUCTION OF UNFUNDED PENSION LIABILITY FROM 8.2 BILLION TO 2.2 BILLION. UNFUNDED OPED LIABILITY FROM 9.5 TO 1.1. UM, I WENT INTO THIS, UH, VERY [06:10:01] CAUTIOUS WHY COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH ASKED THE QUESTION ABOUT UNCERTAINTIES. LIFE'S UNCERTAIN. I MEAN, I RETIRED A FEW YEARS AGO, THAT WAS PRETTY UNCERTAIN. I DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER I WAS GONNA BE ABLE TO DO IT, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF UNCERTAINTIES AND A LOT OF THAT'S RELATED TO SENT BILL 7 36. THERE'S A HUGE UNKNOWN OUT THERE WITH BINDING MANDATORY ARBITRATION FOR FIREFIGHTERS. WILL THEY ASK FOR 2016 TO 20 23 7 YEAR BACK PAY? I'D BE SHOCKED IF THEY DIDN'T. WHAT DOES OUR LIABILITY LOOK LIKE THERE? WHO KNOWS? YEAH, THAT'S WHY I STAYED AWAY FROM DIPPING INTO GENERAL FUND FUND BALANCE AND THINGS LIKE THAT. UM, WHAT'S OUR EXP OUR EXPOSURE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS? UM, HATS OFF TO WILL, WILL JONES, WHO DID A GREAT JOB IN HELPING US, UH, APPRECIATE THAT. WILL, UM, I ASKED A QUESTION. I HAD SOME INFORMATION THAT I, I PRESENTED THAT I SAW THE CHALLENGES FOR THE NEXT COUNCIL AND THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION IN FISCAL YEAR 26. I THINK THAT'S WHEN WE HIT THE FISCAL CLIFF. MANY OF YOU ARE GONNA BE HERE. SO TO PREPARE FOR THAT, WHAT ARE WE DOING TODAY? I THINK MY QUESTION TO WILL, AND TO CONTROLLER CHRIS BROWN WAS HERE'S MY PROJECTIONS. WHAT DO YOU THINK? AND THEY BOTH AGREED WITH MY PROJECTIONS. AND THAT IN FISCAL YEAR 26, WE MAY BE LOOKING AT DEFICIT SPENDING IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. TODAY, WE'RE IN GREAT SHAPE. SO I FEEL GOOD ABOUT LEAVING THIS FUND BALANCE, THIS BUDGET TO YOU GREAT PEOPLE THAT WILL CARRY ON, UH, OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. BUT MY CHALLENGE TO YOU IS PREPARE FOR FISCAL YEAR 26, THE GREAT UNKNOWNS OUT THERE. WHAT IS THE FIREFIGHTER MANDATORY BINDING ARBITRATION GONNA DO TO US? WHO KNOWS? BUT IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO BE EITHER THE CHAIR OR BUDGET OR ASSISTANT CHAIR ON BFA, UH, FOR THE LAST 11 YEARS, WORKING WITH GREAT PEOPLE LIKE STEVEN COSTELLO, ED POLLARD, AMANDA EDWARDS. UH, WE HAD GREAT DISCUSSIONS AND WE HAD GREAT DIALOGUE. IT'S BEEN A JOY TO WORK WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TODAY. AND IN THE PAST, EVEN THOUGH ABBY CRITICIZED MY OUTFIT FOR THE DAY, BUT THAT'S OKAY. I STILL LOVE HER. EVERYBODY LOOK SHARP, LOOKS SHARP. BUT MAYOR, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU ON THESE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. UM, YOU GET MAD AT ME WHEN I GO TO CLEAR LAKE AND TELL MY FELLOW REPUBLICANS, YOU'RE CHEAP. YOU ARE CHEAP. YOU'RE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE. YOU DON'T GET ENOUGH CREDIT FOR THAT. YOU'VE BUILT UP A SITUATION WHERE YOU CAN TURN THIS BUDGET OVER TO A NEW MAYOR AND A NEW COUNCIL, AND YOU CAN FEEL PROUD ABOUT THAT. YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANNA AFFECT CHANGE IN A BUDGET PROJECT PROCESS, YOU SHOW UP FOR THE BUDGET MEETINGS. WE HAD 22 OF THEM. YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT A STRUCTURALLY BALANCED BY BUDGET. I GET IT. PUT AMENDMENTS FORWARD THAT WE CAN SAY EITHER YAY OR NAY. YOU KNOW, YOU AFFECT CHANGE BY YOUR ABILITY TO AFFECT CHANGE IN A POSITIVE MANNER. SO AS WE GO OUT WITH MY LAST BUDGET, IT'S BEEN A JOY, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE. I FEEL GOOD ABOUT TURNING THE CITY OVER IN THE NEXT BUDGET SESSION TO A GROUP OF GREAT, SMART, HARD WORK AND INTELLIGENT PEOPLE THAT'LL DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE CITY. BUT MY WARNING IS FY 26. PREPARE FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 TODAY. GOD BLESS. THANK YOU. OKAY. IN MY CLOSING NOTE, AND COUNCILMAN KUBA, I REALLY WISH YOU, UM, YOU WOULD, UM, THINK ABOUT IT, UH, BECAUSE THE REALITY IS, AND WHAT I WOULD SAY, WHAT MORE AS A BODY COULD WE HAVE DONE? I MEAN, TO HAVE A FUN BALANCE IS STRONG. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS IN WHICH YOU TRY TO FACTOR IN WHAT FEW, WHAT UNCERTAINTIES MAY COME ABOUT. AND WE'VE NEVER VOTED ON A, UH, BUDGET WITH A FUND BALANCE THIS STRONG, UH, WITH NO DEFERRALS AND NO LAND SALES, UH, REAL ESTATE SALES. SO, UM, UH, BUT AGAIN, UM, I THINK IT'S TIME TO, UH, TO VOTE. AND, AND THAT'S, AND THEN FINISH THE NEXT AGENDA. UM, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ROLL, ROLL CALL HAS BEEN ASKED FOR ROLL CALL. GRANTED, MADAM SECRETARY OF YOUR CALL, THE ROLL ON THE BUDGET, MAYOR TURNER. AYE. COUNCILMAN PECK? AYE. COUNCILMAN JACKSON? AYE. COUNCIL MC KAMAN. AYE. COUNCILMAN EVAN CHAVAR. AYE. COUNCILMAN MARTIN? YES. COUNCILMAN THOMAS? YES. COUNCIL HUFFMAN? YES. COUNCILMAN CISNEROS? YES. COUNCIL MC GALLEGOS? YES. COUNCILMAN POLLARD? YES. COUNCILMAN CASTEX TATUM? YES. COUNCIL KNOX? NO. COUNCILMAN ROBINSON? YES. COUNCILMAN KOSH? NO. [06:15:01] COUNCILMAN PLUMMER? YES. AND CONSTABLE ALCORN? YES. 15 TWO. THANK YOU. BY VOTE OF 15 TO TWO, THE, UH, BUDGET PASSES. THANK YOU ALSO VERY, VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT. AND BEFORE WE MOVE ON, UM, WILL AND YOUR TEAM, IF Y'ALL JUST STAND UP, UM, I REALLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, UH, WILL JONES AND HIS ENTIRE TEAM IN FINANCE FOR JUST DOING AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB, UM, WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT ELEMENTS THAT'S, UM, UM, TRANSPIRING, UM, BUT, UM, COULD NOT, I CAN'T THINK OF, I DON'T BELIEVE ANYONE ELSE COULD HAVE DONE IT ANY BETTER. AND NOT ONLY HAVE YOU ALL PUT TOGETHER A BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 24, UM, BUT YOU ARE MINDFUL AND HAVE BEEN MINDFUL OF FISCAL YEAR 25 AND BE HONEST AS WELL. SO, MM-HMM . UH, THANK YOU ALL. DEEPEST GRATITUDE AND RESPECT, UH, FOR ALL OF YOU IN FINANCE. AND WE OWN JUST SOME INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP. SO APPRECIATE YOU. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WILL, WILL. OKAY. LET'S FINISH THE REST OF THIS AGENDA. RIGHT. QUICK CONSENT AGENDA, MADAM SECRETARY STEEL AND YOU. I, ITEM 15, WHERE ARE WE? ITEM 15 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. WE ON ITEM 15, DISCUSSION ON 15, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF POST GRANITE. ITEM 16 IS AN ORDINANCE, JUST NEED A VOTE. WE ON ITEM 16, DISCUSSION ON 16 IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANITE. ITEM 17 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 17. DISCUSSION ON 17 IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANITE. ITEM 26 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE, YOUR HONOR. ITEM 26, DISCUSSION ON 26. 26 IN FAVOR. OPPOSED GRANT ON 26. ITEM 27 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. WE ON ITEM 27, DISCUSSION ON 27 IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANITE. ITEM 28 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 28. DISCUSSION ON 28. TAG POLLARD. 28 IS BEING TAGGED BY POLLARD. ITEM 29 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 29. DISCUSSION COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN ON 29 AFTER THE VOTE. UH, DISCUSSION ON 29 IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANT ON 29. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN ON 29. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM VERY QUICKLY, UH, BECAUSE IT HEL IT'S A PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT, UH, OTHERS AT THE CITY AND PRECINCT. ONE ON SOME BRIDGES, BOTH IN DISTRICT K AND DISTRICT C THAT WE SHARE OVER, UM, BRAISE BAYOU, UH, THAT IS GOING TO BE ADDING AND IMPROVING PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE BRIDGES OVER THE BAYOU, UH, FROM NORTH BRAYWOOD TO SOUTH BRAYWOOD. SO I JUST, AGAIN, UH, WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND YOU MAYOR AND THE DEPARTMENTS FOR THIS PARTNERSHIP BECAUSE AS WE DID PROJECT BRAISE, THAT WAS THE COMPONENT THAT WAS LEFT OUT. SO WE'RE GONNA BE WORKING ON THOSE BRIDGES, UH, AND VERY EXCITED TO SEE THIS COMING FORWARD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT ITEM, ITEM 37 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. WE ON ITEM 37, UH, VICE MAYOR TIM, CAST TATUM ON 37. THANK YOU MAYOR. JUST WANTED TO, UM, HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS PROJECT WAS ORIGINALLY GOING TO BE A CITY OF HOUSTON IN TXDOT PROJECT. UM, HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT HAS A PROJECT THAT INCLUDES WIDENING THE CHANNEL AT THE LOCATION OF THIS TIFFANY BRIDGE. UM, AND WE HAD ALREADY PUT IN OUR NEWSLETTER AND ADVERTISED THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE REPAIRING THE TIFFANY BRIDGE, BUT BECAUSE OF THE WIDENING OF THE CHANNEL, UH, PROJECT BY HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, UM, THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE OVER THE PROJECT TO REPLACE THE BRIDGE. AND BASED ON THE WIDENING OF THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DITCH, TDOT HAS REQUESTED THAT THE ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT BE TERMINATED. UM, WANTED TO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD FOR OUR RESIDENTS. THERE IS A NEW IDENTIFIER NAME. UM, IT WILL BE, UM, PROJECT C 1 47 0 0 CHANNEL IMPROVEMENTS IN TIFFANY ROAD BRIDGE REPLACEMENT, HARRIS COUNTY, PROJECT NUMBER C 1 4 7 0 0 0 E 0 0 1. AND WE'LL ADD THAT TO OUR NEWSLETTER FOR THE NEXT MONTH AS WELL. THANK YOU. ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM 37? 37 IN FAVOR, OPPOSE GRANTED ON 37, THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS, THIS COMPLETES THE AGENDA. AND BEFORE WE TURN TO THE POP UP SESSION, AGAIN, I'LL BE REMISS, MAYOR, I, TIM, LET ME THANK YOU AS CHAIR OF B FFA, THANK YOU, UH, FOR LEADING THIS ENTIRE, UH, BUDGETARY PROCESS. REALLY APPRECIATE IT FOR COMMUNICATION. THINGS WENT [06:20:01] VERY, VERY SMOOTHLY. SO APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP. COUNCILMAN POLL. I KNOW YOU VICE CHAIR BFA. SO LET ME THANK YOU AND REALLY APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP THAT WAS SHOWN ON THIS, UM, IN THIS PROCESS. UM, AND THEN TO ALL OF YOU WHO, WHO WERE, WHO WERE THERE, WHO ATTENDED? THANK YOU. OKAY. HAVING SAID THAT, UH, [MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL - Council Member Martin first] WE START OFF ON THE COMMUNITY PROP OFF WITH, UM, I MEAN ON, ON CITY COUNCIL POP OFF, UH, MAYOR PROTE, MARTIN PASS, COUNCILMAN MARTIN IS PASSING, UH, VICE MAYOR PROTE, CAST DICTATUM PASS . UH, JUST JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS, MAYOR. I WANTED TO, UM, LET YOU KNOW THAT I WILL BE WORKING WITH, UM, HPD CRIME STOPPERS AND OUT FRONT BILLBOARDS. UH, THERE WILL BE SOME BILLBOARDS GOING UP FOR 4TH OF JULY, ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS, UM, NOT TO SHOOT OFF THEIR GUNS TO CELEBRATE THE 4TH OF JULY. UM, CRIME STOPPERS WILL BE GIVING OUT AWARDS FOR PEOPLE THAT, UM, REPORT PEOPLE. AND THERE IS AN ARREST. UM, WE ARE WORKING WITH HPD TO DO, UH, HAVE SOME OFFICERS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE KNOW. UH, WE'VE HAD THIS ISSUE OF GUNSHOTS FOR, UM, CELEBRATIONS OR, UH, DAYS LIKE 4TH OF JULY AND NEW YEAR'S. UM, SO I THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE START GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT EARLY, UM, SO THAT FOR 4TH OF JULY, WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE OUT IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS SHOOTING GUNS AT ALL TIMES OF THE NIGHT AND, UH, POPPING THE FIREWORKS. SO WE ARE LOOKING AT INCREASED ENFORCEMENT, UM, AND WORKING WITH, UH, CRIME STOPPERS AND GETTING THAT MESSAGE OUT ON BILLBOARDS ACROSS THE CITY, UM, TO NOT SHOOT GUNS INTO THE AIR BECAUSE THOSE BULLETS DO, UM, COME DOWN. AND THEN ALSO WANT TO, UH, LET THE RESIDENTS IN KESWICK PLACE, CAMBRIDGE VILLAGE, KNOW THAT THE C 1 51 DITCH REHABILITATION PROJECT IS SCHEDULED. THE WORK IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN JUNE 20TH AND SHOULD BE COMPLETE IN OCTOBER OF 23. UH, SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER. IF YOU AREN'T RECEIVING IT, BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND THANKS FOR A GREAT BUDGET PROCESS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANNA CONGRATULATE YOU ON THE BUDGET. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS. UM, ALSO, I JUST WANNA THANK ALL THE RESIDENTS, UH, IN, IN THE EAST END, UH, THAT, UH, I KNOW FOR THE PAST, UH, TWO YEARS, WE'VE BEEN POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA ASKING RESIDENTS TO POLICE, UH, NOTIFY THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION WHEN YOU'RE STUCK AND STOPPED AT A CROSSING, UH, BECAUSE OF A TRAIN. UM, AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL TAKING THE TIME. UH, YOU KNOW, IT, IT, IT IS NOTHING THAT WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF, BUT IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 29, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE THE MOST IMPACTED IN THE NATION IN REGARDS TO TRAINS. UH, AND IT'S DUE TO THE FACT THAT MANY RESIDENTS DID REPORT THESE TRAINS THAT WERE BLOCKING CROSSINGS. UH, AND I THINK THAT WAS A BIG IMPACT IN BEING AWARDED THE, UH, $36.9 MILLION, UH, THAT WILL ADDRESS FOUR CROSSINGS, UH, FOR OR FOUR UNDERPASSES IN, UH, AT THE, IN THE EAST END. SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU TO ALL THE RESIDENTS, UH, FOR THESE PAST TWO YEARS, UH, REPORTING THESE TRAINS THAT WERE BLOCKING OUR CROSSINGS. THANK YOU. AND COUNCILMAN ROBINSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST TO, TO ADD ON TO THAT, I DO WANT THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS FOR HIS HARD WORK ON, UH, RAILROAD CROSSINGS. UH, BUT MAYOR TO YOU AND TO THE STAFF, UH, THAT'S PUBLIC WORKS. THERE'S A LOT OF BEHIND THE SCENES GRANT WRITING, UM, YOU KNOW, INTERFACE WITH ALL OF ALL THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE WRITING THE GRANTS, WORKING THE DEPARTMENTS, THE FEDERAL AGENCIES. AND I THINK FOR WHAT'S GOING ON THIS AFTERNOON, YOU DESERVE GREAT CREDIT FOR THAT. UM, AND I, I DO BELIEVE THERE'S MORE AHEAD. SO, UM, JUST KUDOS FOR THAT. SIMILARLY, WE HAD A, UH, A TRUCK ROUTE, UH, PLAN COMMUNITY MEETING LAST NIGHT IN PLEASANTVILLE IN DISTRICT B. THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT, I THINK, FOR SOME OF WHAT'S GOING ON REGIONALLY WITH TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS. UM, WE ACCOMPLISHED THE BUDGET, BUT THE WORK GOES ON, MAYOR, AS YOU'VE SAID, DECEMBER 31ST AT 1159 IS WHEN OUR TIME IS UP. AND WE'RE GONNA RUN THROUGH THE TAPE AND LEAVE IT ALL ON THE FIELD. SO, JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR A GREAT DAY TODAY, ALL THE WORK WITH, UH, FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND MAYOR PRO TEM FOR YOU. AND, UH, ALL YOU DO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, COUNCILMAN KOSH MAYOR, LISTENING TO, UH, TO YOUR COMMENTS AND, AND THE COMMENTS OF OUR, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, THE NOSTALGIC FEELING THAT WE FEEL TODAY, UH, THE LAST BUDGET THAT WE HEARD. I REALLY APPRECIATED YOU TODAY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN, IT, UH, IT WAS A, UH, IT, IT WAS A, A GOOD DAY AND, UH, IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE WITH YOU FOLKS. AND, UH, I, I WILL MISS YOU FOR SURE IF I'M NOT HERE , SO [06:25:01] GOD BLESS. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, THANK YOU. JUST ONE ANNOUNCEMENT JUST TO, UH, AGAIN, THANK MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FOR HER BUDGET AMENDMENT TO BARK. UM, AND THANK COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING THAT BECAUSE LAST SATURDAY, UH, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 25 AND THE EMPTY SHELTER PROJECT HOSTED, UH, A NO COST SPAY AND NEUTERED EVENT, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO CHIP AND SPAY AND NEUTERED OVER 500 ANIMALS. SO, JUST TALKS ABOUT THE CRITICAL NEED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THIS IS JUST ONE TIME A YEAR. SO I JUST APPRECIATE THAT BUDGET AMENDMENT, UM, FOR US TO CONTINUE, TAKE CARE OF OUR, UM, OUR PET BABY. SO THAT'S IT. UH, FOLLOW THE NEWSLETTER AND THAT'S ONLINE FOR OTHER UPDATES. THANK YOU MUCH. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UH, JUST A BIG THANKS TO THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND HIS, IN HIS TUXEDO TODAY, UM, FOR A GREAT BUDGET PROCESS. I MEAN, I WEIRDLY LOVE THE BUDGET PROCESS AND, UH, WENT TO EVERY LAST ONE OF THOSE WORKSHOPS AND, AND YOU REALLY LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT HOW THE CITY OPERATES. UH, AND SO REALLY JUST APPRECIATE A GOOD PROCESS AND REALLY EXCITED ABOUT OUTCOME BASED BUDGETING. I THINK IT'S REALLY GONNA HELP. SO THANK YOU. AND COUNCILMAN PALER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I ALSO WANNA CONGRATULATE YOU ON A GREAT BUDGET. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM FOR LEADING THE, THE PACK ON THAT. I'M MAKING HAPPY. WE MADE A LOT OF PEOPLE VERY, VERY HAPPY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON TODAY. UM, I ALSO WANTED TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT I'M CALLING ALL ARTISTS, UM, HENA ARTISTS, DRESS MAKERS, MUSIC WRITERS, WHOEVER THEY ARE. WE ARE HOSTING A GRANT WORKSHOP. UM, IT'S THE, IT'S OUR CITY COUNCIL OFFICE, UM, IN, IN COLLABORATION WITH, UH, HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS. IT'S THIS SATURDAY, JUNE THE 10TH FROM 10 O'CLOCK TILL, UM, TILL NOON. IT'S AT THE JULIA I BUILDING AT 33. UM, 3 3 0 MCKINNEY STREET, UM, IN HOUSTON. SO PLEASE JOIN US, COME OUT AND LET'S GET THIS MONEY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN PAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, RECYCLING FOR FRIDAY A WEEK WAS, UM, SKIPPED THIS LAST FRIDAY, AND PEOPLE GOT NOTICES THAT IT, THE CITY JUST WASN'T GOING TO PICK IT UP. USUALLY AFTER HOLIDAYS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME DELAYS, BUT THE STILL WILL COME OUT EVENTUALLY AND PICK IT UP. THIS TIME THEY WERE JUST TOLD THEY'RE JUST NOT GETTING IT AND TO WAIT TILL THEIR NEXT, UM, REGULARLY SCHEDULED SERVICE. AND THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN EVERY HOLIDAY THAT THERE'S DELAYS OR SKIPS OR SOMETHING. AND SO MOVING FORWARD IN, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT HOLIDAY SCHEDULES, UM, IF WE CAN LOOK AT, UM, HIRING OUTSIDE COMPANIES TO HELP ASSIST WITH SOME OF THOSE PICKUPS, BECAUSE THIS JUST HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE TIME. UM, THERE WAS A NOTIFICATION SENT OUT ON THE HT X CLICKS APP, WHICH I APPRECIATE BECAUSE THAT WAS THE COMPLAINT I HAD IN THE PAST THAT THERE WAS NO NOTIFICATION. SO I DO APPRECIATE THAT. BUT THAT NOTICE AND THEN WHAT THE THREE ONE OPERATORS WERE TOLD TO SAY WERE DIFFERENT FROM EACH OTHER TOO. SO IT JUST LED TO SOME CONFUSION. THEY WERE TOLD TO TELL PEOPLE TO CONTACT THEIR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER'S OFFICE TO GET IT PICKED UP, AND PEOPLE WERE CALLING MY OFFICE. AND OF COURSE, WE CAN'T, YOU KNOW, SEND OUT THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT TO DO THAT. SO IT WAS JUST A LOT OF CONFUSION, A LOT OF FRUSTRATION. SO GOING FORWARD FOR HOLIDAYS, IF WE COULD LOOK AT SOMETHING TO SUPPLEMENT THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE, BECAUSE IT JUST HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE TIME. THANK YOU. GOTCHA. COUNCILMAN JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND AGAIN, THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING, UM, THE BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT I PUT FORWARD. UM, CONGRATULATIONS MAYOR ON A GOOD, UM, POLICY AND MAYOR PRO TEM ON THE POLICY PROCESS. UM, LEARNED A LOT, UM, WITH THE, UM, BUDGET WORKSHOPS. UM, SO WE HAVE A BUSY WEEK IN DISTRICT B THIS SATURDAY, JUNE THE 10TH. WE'LL HAVE OUR MONTHLY BE SUCCESSFUL JOBS AND COMMUNITY RESOURCE FAIR AT 10:00 AM IT'LL BE AT THE FIFTH WARD MULTI SERVICE CENTER, LOCATED AT 40 14 MARKET STREET. THIS WILL BE OUR SEVENTH JOB FAIR. UM, SO FAR WE'VE HAD OVER 600 PEOPLE ATTEND THESE JOB FAIR. MORE THAN A HUNDRED PEOPLE HAVE FOUND JOBS AND DOZENS HAVE SIGNED UP FOR, UM, TRAINING. SO, UM, TO GET MORE INFORMATION, UM, CONTACT MY OFFICE, 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 9. ALSO, THIS SATURDAY, WE'LL BE TEAMING UP WITH THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT TO HOST A COMMUNITY CLEANUP, UM, AS PART OF THE MAYORS ONE, CLEAN HOUSTON AND TRINITY GARDENS. UM, THE CLEANUP WILL BEGIN AT 9:00 AM AT TRINITY GARDENS CHURCH OF CHRIST, LOCATED AT 7 7 2 5 SANDRA STREET. AGAIN, IF YOU NEED INFORMATION, CONTACT MY OFFICE. HOPE YOU CAN COME OUT AND HELP US CLEAN UP. AND ALSO, ON SATURDAY, THE ACRES OF ANGELS IS HOSTING THEIR 2023 SENIOR SUMMIT. UM, THEIR FOCUS WOULD BE HEARING THE CONCERNS AND OPINIONS OF OUR SENIORS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU CAN CONTACT MY OFFICE OR MS. EDNA GRIGGS. AGAIN, MY OFFICE IS 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 9. UM, SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER TO GET ALL THE INFORMATION THAT'S HAPPENING IN DISTRICT B, THE BUZZ, SIGN UP FOR THE BUZZ. UM, AGAIN, THANK YOU. YOU ALL HAVE A BLESSED WEEK. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I APPRECIATE THAT. AT THE BEGINNING OF, UH, THIS MORNING, [06:30:01] YOU RECOGNIZED PRIDE MONTH, AND IN ADDITION TO THE PARADE, I WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT THE EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE DONE WITH RESIDENTS AND DISTRICT C TO LAUNCH. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND YEAR WE'RE DOING IT. UM, OUR FAMILIES WITH PRIDE EVENT, UH, THAT'S FAMILY FRIENDLY, SAFE PLACE FOR, UM, FAMILIES AND ALLIES, UH, OF THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER. THAT WILL BE AT LEVY PARK, UH, JUNE 24TH AT 9:00 AM. UH, AND EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE KIDS AND YOU HAVE A DOG, THERE'LL BE A PROUD PUPPY PARADE. UH, BUT ENCOURAGING. AGAIN, ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE INVITED. AND IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND HELPING TO SPREAD THE WORD ON THAT. AND FINALLY, UH, I WANTED TO THANK A FEW FOLKS. I KNOW I'M GONNA MISS SOME OUT, BUT, UM, THROUGHOUT THIS BUDGET PROCESS, MY STAFF HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. SO, TO MY CHIEF KATE LER, UH, THANK YOU AALIYAH AND ARI FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING. UH, MAYOR PRO TEM FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE JESSICA, UM, AND YOUR TEAM HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING. UH, MAYOR, OF COURSE, YOU, UH, MARTA I THINK DESERVES, UH, A LOT OF CREDIT. PAT, EVERYONE WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES. AND OF COURSE, DIRECTOR WILLIAMS, WHO I WORKED CLOSELY WITH ON, UH, MY EFFORTS, VENITA AND HER TEAM, ANDY IKIN, UH, OF COURSE WILL, UM, THE LIST GOES ON. BUT AGAIN, THERE'S SO MUCH THAT GOES INTO A BUDGET SESSION AND SEASON, AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. UH, SO MAYOR, THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS ON WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IN THIS BUDGET. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, ALSO, I WANNA CONGRATULATE YOU ON THIS GREAT BUDGET, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU THE LAST SIX MONTHS. WE TALK LIKE IT'S THE END, AND IT'S NOT THE END. I'M, I'M NOT GONNA ACCEPT IT. AND SO WE ARE GONNA ENJOY IT. YOU KNOW, IT'S KINDA LIKE AT A FUNERAL YOU TELL PEOPLE, I'M GONNA MISS YOU, BUT NOBODY WANTS TO GO WITH YOU. NO, MAN. OKAY. BUT ANYWAY, . OKAY, BACK TO THE MATTER. UM, I WANNA ADDRESS THIS UPDATE REGARDING THE RECENT ROBBERIES ALONG THE COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL AND IN THE THIRD WARD. I WANNA EXTEND MY APPRECIATION TO CHIEF TROY FINNER AND THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR SWIFT AND DILIGENT EFFORTS IN INVESTIGATING THESE IN INCIDENTS. WHILE TWO 17 YEAR OLDS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED, THE POLICE ARE STILL WORKING TO TIE ALL THE CASES TOGETHER AND LOCATE ADDITIONAL SUSPECTS. I WANNA REASSURE OUR COMMUNITY THAT OUR FOCUS REMAINS ON THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF ALL INDIVIDUALS WHO UTILIZE OUR BIKE TRAILS, AND WE STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES DURING THESE CHALLENGING TIMES. ALSO, I AM DELIGHTED TO SHARE THAT OUR RECENT HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS EVENT WAS A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS. AS RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT D, WE CAME TOGETHER TO PRIORITIZE OUR SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS AS WE ENTER THE HURRICANE SEASON. I WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO OUR PRESENTERS FROM OEM, THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND A LOCAL INSURANCE PROFESSIONAL, DAVID EDWARDS. ALSO, OUR VENDOR PARTICIPANTS INCLUDED A A RP, RED CROSS HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, ON AREA, ON AGENCY AREA AGING, THE SUNNYSIDE REDEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION WHO MADE THIS INFORMATIVE AND IMPACTFUL, LET US CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE OUR SAFETY AND SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER AS WE NAVIGATE POTENTIAL CHALLENGES. IT'S BETTER TO BE PREPARED AND NOT NEED THE RESOURCES THAN TO NEED IT AND NOT BE PREPARED. UH, ALSO, I AM THRILLED TO SAY THAT THE SECOND YEAR OF THE FIRST T PROGRAM, A PROGRAM THAT HAS HAD SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON OUR DISTRICT, UH, WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL AS WELL. AND I WANNA EXTEND MY DEEPEST APPRECIATION TO THE PARTICIPANTS', PARENTS AND INSTRUCTORS OF THE FIRST T AND GREATER HOUSTON PROGRAM FOR MAKING THIS ANOTHER YEAR OF RESOUNDING SUCCESS. I CERTAINLY HAVE TO, UH, THANK MY STAFF, PARTICULARLY, UH, MY CHIEF OF STAFF, UH, FOR HIS HARD WORK FOR GETTING THIS DONE FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. I ALSO WANT TO WISH MY, UM, CONSTITUENT SERVICES DIRECTOR A HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM YESTERDAY, INGRAM MITCHELL. THAT'S WHY I HAD ON THE PINK YESTERDAY. SHE INSISTED THAT I WEAR PINK AND WHITE, AND I DO TAKE INSTRUCTIONS FROM OTHER PEOPLE OCCASIONALLY. UM, I WANT TO SAY THAT I, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE COMING OUT TO SUPPORT THESE EFFORTS IN DISTRICT D AND MAYOR, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE TO, I'M NOT GONNA CALL THE APARTMENT COMPLEX'S NAME. I WOULD, IT WAS ACTUALLY ON THE NEWS, BUT IT'S YOUR RESPONSIVENESS THAT HAS ALLOWED US TO MOVE FORWARD. I'M TOLD THAT THERE WERE CITATIONS ISSUED AS WELL AS THEY WILL BE GETTING A TEMPORARY COOLER. THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WITHOUT AIR FOR A MONTH. THAT IS JUST UNBELIEVABLE. UH, ON TOMORROW, EXCUSE ME, ON SATURDAY, THE BLUE RIDGE HEALTH AND WELLNESS COMMITTEE, UH, WOMEN SUPPORTING WOMEN [06:35:01] BRIDGING THE GAP IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. WE'LL HAVE THEIR EVENT FROM 11 TO TWO ON SATURDAY AT THE BLUE RIDGE METHODIST CHURCH, 29 29 REED ROAD. AND THEN I WANT TO SAY, UH, FINALLY ON MONDAY THERE, THAT WILL BE TEXAS WOMEN'S VETERANS DAY. I WANT TO CERTAINLY COMMEND DR. LASANDRA JONES, WHO HAS BEEN JUST PHENOMENAL IN HIGHLIGHTING WOMEN VETERANS. SHE WAS ALSO INSTRUMENTAL IN ESTABLISHING THE TEXAS WOMEN'S VETERANS PROGRAM AND THIS, UH, TEXAS WOMEN'S VETERANS DAY. SO I WANNA SAY THANKS TO HER. AND THAT EVENT WILL BE MONDAY, JUNE 12TH AT 1:00 PM RIGHT HERE AT HOUSTON CITY HALL. AND I THINK THAT CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMAN, HUB COUNCILMAN MR. CISNEROS? UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO JUST SAY, UM, I, HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSISTENCY AT YOUR WHOLE TIME HERE AND, UM, IN SERVING, UM, THE UN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS REALLY REFLECTED YESTERDAY IN THE ONE CLEAN HOUSTON ILLEGAL DUMPING, YOU KNOW, EMPHASIS. AND WE SAW IT HERE AGAIN TODAY WITH THE, YOU KNOW, THE, UM, PRIORITIZING DRAINAGE. UM, BUT, BUT YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS ALL ALONG. AND I, I JUST, I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE EVER THANKED YOU ENOUGH FOR, UM, HAVING THAT SAME SPIRIT DURING THE CLEANUP OF HARVEY WERE SOME OF MY HARDEST HITS, MOST AT NEED NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT WERE AMONG THE VERY FIRST THAT GOT HELP. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, HARVEY HIT THE, THE, THE WHOLE CITY. BUT, BUT I SAW THAT YOU WERE SENDING HELP TO, UM, TO THOSE UNDERSERVED AREAS, AND I'M, I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL FOR THAT. I MEAN, IT JUST, IT, IT REALLY SPEAKS TO WHO YOU HAVE CONSISTENTLY BEEN. UM, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE, ON THE BUDGET TODAY. UM, AND FOR QUEUING UP THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION FOR SUCCESS. WHEN I FIRST RAN IN 2015, EVERYONE WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE PENSION CRISIS AND THE, UM, PREDICTED DEVASTATING IMPACT IT WAS GOING TO HAVE ON THE CITY'S FINANCIAL STATUS. AND, UM, IT WAS REALLY ONE OF THE MOST TALKED ABOUT ISSUES. AND, AND LOOK WHERE WE ARE. LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE. SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND, AND GUIDING THE CITY. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN. MR. SNE AND EVERYONE, UM, THAT WILL WRAP US UP TODAY. WE KNOW WE HAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE AT THREE, UH, TODAY WITH THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL OF YOUR INPUT AND SUPPORT. WE STAND ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.