* 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. [00:00:02] GOING, [PRESENTATIONS] IF THE COUNCIL, IF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL COME IN. MAYOR, WE'RE READY TO GO SOMEWHERE. THE MAIN ONES ARE HERE. MAIN, THE PEOPLE THAT COUNCIL SEE. COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH. OKAY. I KNOW, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS TO, THERE WAS A MEETING JUST BEFORE THIS ONE, SO IF I CAN ASK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO TAKE A QUICK BITE. JUST DON'T EAT THE WHOLE SANDWICH, JUST A HALF OF ONE. MAKE YOUR WAY BACK OVER AND, UH, COME ON, COME ON BACK. UM, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD. SO WE ARE GOING TO START OFF, UH, TODAY WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON FOR A PROCLAMATION TO THE US ARMY TO CELEBRATE THEIR 248TH BIRTHDAY. WOW. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MAYOR. AND AS YOU'LL SEE, WE'VE BEEN JOINED AT THE PODIUM BY A NUMBER OF DISTINGUISHED MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM, INCLUDING DIRECTOR DEN BO, WHO'S HERE. AND THIS IS THE OCCASION COLLEAGUES OF THE US ARMY 248TH BIRTHDAY. AND IT IS INDEED MY PLEASURE TO STAND HERE WITH COMMANDER KIM AND DIRECTOR DEN BO AND HIS TEAM AND MAYOR, I'M GONNA JUMP RIGHT IN TO READ THE PROCLAMATION THAT IS HERE WITH US ON THIS 248TH BIRTHDAY. SO THEREFORE, AND WHEREAS SINCE ITS OFFICIAL ESTABLISHMENT, JUNE 14TH, 1775, MORE THAN A YEAR BEFORE THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, THE US ARMY HAS PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE AMERICAN NATION. DRAWING ON BOTH LONGSTANDING MILITARY TRADITIONS AND RECENTLY INTRODUCED PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS, IT WON THE NEW REPUBLIC'S INDEPENDENCE IN AN ARDUOUS EIGHT YEAR STRUGGLE AGAINST GREAT BRITAIN. AT THAT TIME, THE ARMY PROVIDED THE LONG SYMBOL OF NATIONHOOD AROUND WHICH PATRIOTS RALLIED. AND WHEREAS SINCE THE EARLY DAYS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, OUR SOLDIERS HAVE SERVED TO PROTECT, FREEDOM, AND LIBERTY. GENERATION AFTER GENERATION HAVE RAISED THEIR RIGHT HAND TO SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES TO PRESERVE OUR FREEDOMS AND TO PROMOTE OUR AMERICAN VALUES. AND WHEREAS TODAY, THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY ARE SERVING AT HOME AND AROUND THE WORLD, KEEPING OUR COUNTRY STRONG AND SECURE. DEDICATED FAMILIES ALSO SERVE ALONGSIDE OUR SOLDIERS, FORTIFYING OUR ARMY WITH UNFLINCHING LOVE AND SUPPORT. THE BRAVERY OF OUR SERVICE MEMBERS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THEIR SACRIFICES WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. AND WHEREAS AS WE OBSERVE THE ARMY'S 248TH BIRTHDAY, WE HONOR THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US. WE CELEBRATE THEIR SERVICE, WE REFLECT ON THEIR SACRIFICE, AND WE THANK THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO CONTINUE TO ANSWER OUR NATION'S CALL. THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THE COMMITMENT, RESILIENCE, AND HARD WORK OF OUR SOLDIERS FROM ACTIVE DUTY, NATIONAL GUARD, ARMY RESERVES, AND ALL OUR FAMILIES, CIVILIANS, AND SOLDIERS FOR LIFE. IT IS BECAUSE OF YOU THAT WE REMAIN A SYMBOL OF STRENGTH AND HOPE AROUND THE WORLD. MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER. SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIMED JUNE 14TH, 2023 AS UNITED STATES ARMY 248TH BIRTHDAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THAT WAS GREAT. WELL COUNT, COUNT. COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR TURNER. UM, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT THE UNITED STATES ARMY YET AGAIN HERE. UM, I STAND HUMBLED BEFORE ALL THE VETERANS WHO SERVED. UM, I TRY TO HONOR THEIR HISTORY BY CONTINUING THEIR LEGACY AS A RECRUITING BATTALION HERE, COMMANDER HERE AT THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA HERE. UM, AND, UH, THE ARMY'S LEGACY IS BUILT, HAS A STORIED HISTORY, 248 YEARS, AS YOU KNOW, AS YOU HAD MENTIONED, A YEAR OLDER THAN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. AND 13 YEARS OLDER THAN OUR CONSTITUTION, BELIEVE IT OR [00:05:01] NOT. AND OUR TAGLINE THIS YEAR IS THE ONE THAT INSPIRED ME TO JOIN THE ARMY, BE ALL YOU CAN BE. WE'VE GONE BACK TO THAT. UM, AND YOU KNOW, I GO BACK TO, BACK IN THE NINETIES OF WANTING TO BE AROUND THOSE PEOPLE WHO I WANTED TO BE INSPIRED BY SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE VETERANS IN THIS ROOM. NOW, THANK YOU FOR INSPIRING ME BECAUSE THE ARMY'S PROVIDED ME EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO BE ALL I CAN BE. UM, I'M A FIRST GENERATION AMERICAN. UM, AND I SHARED WITH THE ROOM BEFORE THAT, UH, WITHOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY, WITHOUT THE ARMY, WITHOUT THE UNITED STATES, I WOULD NOT BE IN THE POSITION THAT I AM NOW. UM, I AM A GRADUATE OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY AT WEST POINT NEW YORK, AND SO IS MY BROTHER. HE IS SERVING AS A MAJOR IN THE STORIED 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION. UH, AND AS A MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES, I'M SERVING, UH, AS A SPECIAL FORCES OFFICER. I AM A NATIONAL FORCE, AND ONLY IN AMERICA, AND ONLY IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY DO I TRULY BELIEVE THAT WE CAN HAVE THIS TYPE OF OPPORTUNITY. UM, AND I THINK THIS COUNTRY'S GREAT. SO AGAIN, I THANK THE ARMY FOR ALL THAT IT'S DONE FOR ME. I THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING GREAT CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES, UM, AND SUPPORTERS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY BECAUSE WITHOUT YOU, I CERTAINLY WON'T BE ABLE TO BE WHERE I'M AT RIGHT NOW. AND, UH, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITIZENS IN, IN HOUSTON AND INVEST IN OUR USE SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES. THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMANDER KIM. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE, VICE MAYOR PROAM, MARTHA TEX TATUM. THANK YOU CHAIR. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE UNITED STATES ARMY. UH, 248 YEARS DEFINITELY DESERVES TO BE CELEBRATED. THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY. IT'S INCREDIBLE. UM, MY FATHER WAS DRAFTED IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND SERVED IN GERMANY, AND HE WEARS HIS VETERAN HAT VERY PROUDLY. EVERY WEEKEND, UH, SOME WEEKENDS HE'LL GO OUT TO EAT AND HE'LL HAVE HIS VETERAN'S HAT ON, AND IT NEVER FAILS THAT SOMEONE WILL PAY HIS MEAL. AND IT'S JUST A SMALL SENTIMENT, UH, FOR PEOPLE TO JUST UNDERSTAND AND WANT TO CELEBRATE THE PEOPLE WHO CONTINUE TO SERVE IN OUR US ARMY. I'M SO GLAD THAT THEY BROUGHT THE BE ALL YOU CAN BE BACK BECAUSE IT IS DEFINITELY, UM, A SLOGAN THAT ENCOURAGES EVERY SINGLE PERSON TO BE ALL THEY CAN BE. BUT WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND ALL THAT YOU ALL CONTRIBUTE TO OUR GREAT COUNTRY COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL KUBOSH. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ROBINSON FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR HONOR AND OUR MILITARY. YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY WE'RE ABLE TO SLEEP WELL AT NIGHT. WE, WE KNOW WE HAVE YOU, YOU GUYS OUT THERE AND LADIES, AND TO PROTECT US, AND I, I APPRECIATE IT. MY, MY NIECE IS, UH, IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND SHE'S, UH, SHE'D LAST I FOUND OUT SHE WAS A LIEUTENANT, BUT I KNOW THAT SHE'S MOVING UP IN RANKS, SO SHE'S IN THE ARTILLERY. AND, UH, I, I HAVE TWO, TWO GRANDSONS THAT HAVE JUST JOINED THE NAVY. AND, UH, IT JUST SEEMS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO BELIEVE THEY'RE THAT OLD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY. WE HAVE, WE OWE A DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO ALL WHO HAVE SERVED IN OUR NATION AND THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES ON THE BEACHES OF FOREIGN SHORES FOR US, AND, UH, OUR FREEDOM. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR AGAIN FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER VERY MUCH. AND THANK YOU. UH, I'LL USE YOUR WORDS WITHOUT YOU, I WOULD NOT BE SITTING HERE. SO THANK YOU AND YOU, AND YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. TALKED TO A FRIEND OF MINE TODAY AND, UH, TRIED TO GET A LUNCH SET UP AND HE SAID, I CAN'T. I'M BRINGING MY SON TO ANNAPOLIS. SO HE STARTS NEXT. I THINK THEY HAVE TO BE THERE BY THE WEEKEND, SO HE'S TAKING THE JOURNEY TO THE NAVAL ACADEMY AND DOING FOUR YEARS AT THE NAVAL ACADEMY, AND THEY'RE LEAVING TO TOMORROW TO DRIVE UP TO, UH, ANNAPOLIS. SO FOR ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT ARE GOING TO BE TAKING THE SAME PATH, A SIMILAR PATH, WHETHER IT'S ANNAPOLIS OR WEST POINT, UH, GOD BLESS THEM AND KEEP THEM SAFE. SO THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. UH, JUST AS A MOMENT OF PRIDE FOR THE AT LARGE TWO OFFICE, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO MY INTERN EUGENE HAGER, WHO MANY OF YOU WILL RECOGNIZE FOR BEING HERE FOR HIS SECOND YEAR. AND AS I JUST MENTIONED, TO RECRUITING COMMANDER, UH, KIM, UM, IT IS EUGENE WHO HAS JUST SIGNED UP FOR THE ROTC AND ENLISTED IN THE US ARMY. SO I'M VERY PROUD OF, UH, EUGENE AS WELL. AND, UH, DIRECTOR DUNO, DO YOU HAVE ANY WORDS? NO, I GIVE MY TIME AS ANYONE ELSE IN THE ARMY. DR. JONES WOULD, WOULD YOU MIND INTRODUCING ALL THE, THE FOLKS THAT WE HAVE HERE? YEAH. COMMANDER, IF YOU'D PLEASE INTRODUCE YOUR TEAM AND SURE. I WOULD LOVE TO. UH, SO LIEUTENANT COLONEL SAM KIM, THE RECRUITING BATTALION COMMANDER FOR THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA. AND THEN I'LL PASS IT OFF ON TO MAJOR BROWN. HERE I AM MAJOR BROWN. I AM WITH THE STRATEGIC OFFICER RECRUITING DETACHMENT, AND I AM AN ARM OF ARMY, ROTC, UH, BASED IN, UM, FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY. I'M KEVIN STEVEN CHERRY. I WORK ALONGSIDE [00:10:01] HER AS WELL IN THE STRATEGIC OFFICER RECRUITING DETACHMENT. HELLO, I'M MYRNA TREVINO, THE CIVILIAN AID TO THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY HERE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND A FORCE MULTIPLIER TO COMMUNI, UH, TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE UNITED STATES ARMY. THANK YOU JONES. AND DR. JONES, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY A WORD REAL QUICK. SO I DON'T KNOW IF I'M A LITTLE LATE, SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS MENTIONED , BUT LIEUTENANT COLONEL KIM IS LEAVING US. HE'S GOING TO KOREA, AND WE WANNA SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LEADING THIS RECRUITING BATTALION. YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB. AND BEST OF LUCK FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. JONES. APPRECIATE IT. I THINK WE'LL MAKE A PHOTOGRAPH OR TWO. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE. NOW RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS FOR A PROCLAMATION TO NEW HOPE HEN AND HOUSING AND CELEBRATION OF THEIR 30TH ANNIVERSARY. PUT A GREAT ORGANIZATION, COLLEAGUES, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE STANDING HERE, UH, REPRESENTATIVES FROM NEW HOPE HOUSING. I KNOW THAT, UH, WE HAVE SOME NEW HOPE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS, UH, HERE IN DISTRICT. I, SO, UH, FOR SURE WE DO GREAT OUTREACH AND FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE NEEDING SOME, SO, UH, PROUD TO BE HERE STANDING TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION, NEW HOPE HOUSING WAS INCORPORATED IN 1993 PEOPLE OF CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL. EPISCOPAL HOUSTON'S FIRST RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION, AND WITH A LONG, RICH HISTORY OF SOCIAL OUTREACH. AND WHEREAS THEY RAISED 1.25 MILLION TO SEED NEW HOPE HOUSING AS A PART OF A DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR CAMPAIGN TO RESTORE THE HISTORIC CATHEDRAL STRUCTURE. THESE FUNDS WERE USED TO BUY LAND AND BUILT THE FIRST 40 UNITS OF SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY, STUDIO EFFICIENCY HOUSING IN HOUSTON, AND TO ESTABLISH THE MODEL FOR SRO HOUSING IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND WHEREAS TODAY, NEW HOPE HOUSING HAS 11 AFFORDABLE APARTMENT COMMUNITIES AND 1,578 APARTMENT UNITS IN OPERATION ACROSS THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WITH MORE IN THE PIPELINE, THE ORGANIZATION RESPONDS TO THE NEED FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND CRITICAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY THE NATIONWIDE CRISIS OF HOMELESSNESS, SUBSTANDARD HOUSING, AND INFLATED LIVING COSTS. AND WHEREAS TO DATE, NEW HOPE HOUSING AND SERVICES HAS HELPED MORE THAN 13,000 PEOPLE BUILD A NEW CHAPTER OF POPE AND STABILITY. THE HISTORIC SUPPORT OF OUR CITY HAS PAVED THE WAY FOR NEW HOPE HOUSING TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF HOUSTON'S MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS. AND WHEREAS THE GROWTH OF THE CITY WILL CONTINUE TO DIVERSIFY THE WAY YOU HOPE HOUSING SERVES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR AT RISK NEIGHBORS, NEW HOPE IS PREPARED TO FILL IN THE GAPS FOR HOUSTONIANS WITH PHYSICAL OR COGNITIVE CHALLENGES, FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS, THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS NEW HOPE HOUSING ON THEIR OUTSTANDING EFFORTS TO CREATE [00:15:01] HEALTHY AND SAFE LIVING ENVIRONMENT FOR THOSE IN NEED. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. SO THEREFORE, I'M SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIMED JUNE 13TH, 2023 AS NEW HOPE HOUSING DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH APPRECIATE. THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER, AND COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE TODAY. I KNOW SO MANY OF YOU AND FOR SO MANY YEARS, AND SO I DON'T EVEN HAVE TO TELL YOU WHAT WE OWE YOU AND WHAT THE CITY OWES YOU. SURELY WE'VE TOLD YOU THAT AGAIN AND AGAIN AND WE'RE HERE TODAY TO SAY IT ONE MORE TIME. I'VE BEEN DOING THIS WORK. I'M NEW HOPE HOUSING'S FIRST EMPLOYEE, AND THE PROUDEST THING I CAN SAY IS NOT THE 11 BUILDINGS, BUT IT'S THE RESIDENTS THAT WE'VE SERVED AND THE STAFF THAT HAVE COME TO WORK AT NEW HOPE HOUSING AND HAVE GROWN HERE. WE ARE NOW 125 STAFF MEMBERS STRONG, AND SOME OF THE TEAM IS HERE WITH US TODAY, UH, TOGETHER WITH LAURA HAR, WHO SERVES ON THE NEW HOPE HOUSING BOARD. AND WE ARE HERE TO SAY THANK YOU AND TO LET YOU KNOW THAT AS MUCH WORK AS YOU HAVE ENTRUSTED TO US, BECAUSE NO ONE OWNS A NONPROFIT, WE'RE A STEWARD OF A COMMUNITY RESOURCE THAT YOU HAVE ENTRUSTED TO US, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THAT, AND WE ARE NOT FINISHED. AND WHEREAS THE BUILDINGS THAT I'M ABOUT TO TALK ABOUT WILL NOT BE COMPLETED IN THE TERM OF MANY OF YOU, INCLUDING MAYOR TURNER'S TERM, WITH ANY LUCK AT ALL, WE WILL BREAK GROUND ON THREE PROPERTIES THIS YEAR, AND YOU WILL BE HERE TO SEE THAT. AND THAT WILL INCREASE OUR ABILITY TO SERVE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES BY 50%. SO I THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US IN THE PAST. DON'T THINK THAT YOU MIGHT NOT BE HEARING FROM ME IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE YOU WELL MIGHT, BUT TODAY, UH, PLEASE ACCEPT MY GRATITUDE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ED POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO, TIM. AND, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE. COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD, JOY INTO YOUR ENTIRE TEAM. I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WE ALL KNOW OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING CHALLENGES, AND YOU ALL, UH, PUT FORTH THEIR EFFORT TO TRULY CONTRIBUTE TO ENSURING THAT PEOPLE HAVE, UM, A GREAT PLACE TO STAY THAT WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF. UM, BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. YOU JUST DON'T GO INTO NEIGHBORHOODS WITHOUT ENSURING THAT, UM, THE PEOPLE KNOW WHO YOU ARE, WHAT YOU REPRESENT. YOU ALWAYS DO A GOOD JOB OF ENGAGING OUR COUNCIL OFFICES SO WE UNDERSTAND THE PRODUCT. AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL IN THE FUTURE AND BEST SUCCESS GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. AND I KNOW HOW MUCH YOU EMPHASIZE THE QUALITY OF THE PRODUCT THAT WE PRODUCE AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO YOU. AND THE HOUSING PLUS SERVICES, THE SERVICES BEING THE CRITICAL PIECE TO HELP PEOPLE EXITING HOMELESS PEOPLE AT RISK, WOMEN FLEEING INTIMATE VIOLENCE AND OTHER VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, IF FOR NO OTHER REASON DUE TO LIMITED INCOME. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS CISNEROS, THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. UM, UH, JOY, YOUR WHOLE ORGANIZATION'S PRETTY AMAZING. UM, YOU'VE STOLEN TWO OF MY STAFF MEMBERS, , AND SO I KNOW THAT YOU'VE GOT A STRONG TEAM. I DON'T KNOW EVERYONE ELSE AS WELL AS I KNOW THESE TWO REMARKABLE WOMEN . UM, BUT, UM, I, I WILL SAY THAT, UM, THAT THAT NEW HOPE HOUSING GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND THE GOALS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, YOU KNOW, WITH THE INCREDIBLE DEPTH OF WRAPAROUND SERVICES THAT YOU OFFER, THAT, UM, WITH THE, WITH THE, THAT ADDED, UM, EXTRA WONDERFUL PART OF THE ARCHITECTURAL SPACE, THE ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS AND THE EXPERIENCE OF LIVING THERE, IT'S BEAUTIFUL. I MEAN, THEY'RE THOUGHTFUL SPACES WITH VIEWS AND, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY CAPTURES, YOU KNOW, UM, THE, THE SENSITIVITY OF THE SITES, YOU KNOW, TO, TO REALLY, UM, JUST UP THE QUALITY OF, OF LIFE THERE. SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I THINK NEW HOPE HOUSING REALLY REPRESENTS THE GOLD STANDARD FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND I JUST WANTED TO SEE YOU KEEP GOING. AND, UM, AND YOUR INCREDIBLE BOARD WHO BACKS YOU UP AND, YOU KNOW, AND HAS SUCH A, UM, A, A LONG TERM, UH, COMMITMENT TO, UM, TO MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE HOUSED WITH ALL THE SUPPORTS THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL KOSH, UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING NEW HOPE AND FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO DO THE VERY THING THAT YOUR NAME SAYS YOU'RE GIVING HOPE. AND, AND WITHOUT HOPE, YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA [00:20:01] TALKED ABOUT WAS HOPE. AND, UH, WITHOUT HOPE, THERE'S JUST NOT MUCH OF A, OF A LIFE, AND WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT HOPE IN LIFE. THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THAT. THANK YOU, MS. JOY AND YOUR BOARD MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO TO, UH, TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OUR CITIZENS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND, UM, IT'S A GREAT DAY, AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, I'LL LEAVE YOU THE LAST WORDS. THANK YOU. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, ONCE AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY. I KNOW THAT, UH, JOY HAD MENTIONED THREE, THREE PROJECTS THAT HOPEFULLY WILL HAVE GROUNDBREAKING BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR, AND I BELIEVE TWO OF THEM MAY BE IN DISTRICT. I, UH, SENIOR HOUSING, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO ADDRESS IN, IN DISTRICT I AND IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I DO WANNA SHARE JUST A LITTLE STORY IN REGARDS TO WHAT NEW HOPE HOUSING DOES IN REGARDS TO LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH STATED PROVIDES HOPE. I HAVE A FRIEND OF MINE, UH, A CHILDHOOD FRIEND, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT LIVED ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY PARENTS' HOUSE WITH, YOU KNOW, UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, HE'S INTELLECTUALLY CHALLENGED AND I DIDN'T KNOW THAT HE WAS LIVING IN HIS PARENTS' HOUSE WITH NO ELECTRICITY, AND HE HAD HEALTH ISSUES. AND I REACHED OUT TO NEW HOPE HOUSING, AND NOW HE'S LIVING IN, IN AT A BRACE CROSSING. UH, AND HE CALLS ME TWO OR THREE TIMES A WEEK, UH, AND YOU CAN TELL THAT HE'S HAPPY, YOU KNOW, HE'S GOT SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO. UH, AND I WANNA THANK NEW HOPE HOUSING FOR PROVIDING THAT. SO THANK YOU. KUDOS TO YOU, ROBERT, AND ENJOY, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND INTRODUCING YOUR BOY MEMBERS. HAPPY TO. THIS IS ON THE NEW YORK HOUSING BOARD, GLORIA ENO, WHO FORMERLY WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S OFFICE. SHE MENTIONED A COUPLE OF STAFFERS COMING OVER. GLORIA CONSULTS WITH US NOW. WE HAVE A, AN INTERN FROM PRINCETON, CC MC, WHO IS HERE WITH US. UH, ALSO DIANA GROSS, KATIE STEWART HONDO. AGAIN, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER FOR HAVING TRAINED HER SO BEAUTIFULLY. UH, HEATHER HENSEY, UH, KAYLA SIMEON ALL HERE TOGETHER WITH US AND REPRESENTING A BROAD RANGE OF WHAT, UH, WHAT WE DO AT THE COMPANY FROM, FROM COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT TO FUND DEVELOPMENT. THIS IS, THESE ARE IMPORTANT MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM, AND THANK YOU FOR A MOMENT TO SAY THEIR NAMES OUT LOUD HERE. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. SOMEBODY AT THAT PODIUM HONOR FOR A PRESENTATION TO MOHAMMED SHEIKH SAEED IN RECOGNITION OF BEING NAMED THE SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR IN 2021 TO MAKE THIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO MUHAMMAD SA SHEIK FOR, UM, THIS, UM, AN OUTSTANDING AWARD THAT HE'S RECEIVED FROM THE SISTER CITIES, UM, NETWORK. UH, HOUSTON SISTER CITIES PROGRAM IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR GREAT CITIES INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT, UH, WITH 19 SISTER CITIES STRETCHING ACROSS ASIA, LATIN AMERICA, AFRICA, EUROPE, SOUTHEAST ASIA, SISTER CITIES BRINGS PEOPLE, UH, TOGETHER, UM, AND BRINGING THEM TOGETHER IN OUR CITY. AND THERE IS NO BETTER EXAMPLE OF BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER THAN THE HOUSTON KARACHI SISTER CITY ASSOCIATION AND THE WORK THAT MUHAMMAD SAY SHAIKH HAS DONE. UM, AND NOT JUST FOR ONE YEAR, BUT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. FROM THE LOCAL ENGAGEMENT TO THE SUPPORT FOR PAKISTAN RELIEF EFFORTS AFTER THE HISTORICAL FLOODING TO THE ANNUAL HOUSTON IFTAR, UH, MOHAM HAMED, YOUR WORK MAKES HOUSTON A BETTER, A BETTER PLACE. UM, AND FROM THE TIME I KNOW, UH, SINCE I'VE BEEN MAYOR, UH, [00:25:01] THE IFTAR DINNER HAS GROWN AND GROWN AND GROWN, UH, TO THIS LAST YEAR. UH, WE HAD WELL OVER 2,500 PEOPLE AT THE IFTAR DINNER. AND I KNOW THIS TOOK A WHILE, UH, TO RECOGNIZE YOU TODAY BEFORE CITY COUNCIL, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY WANTED TO DO. IT'S, UM, IT'S A, QUITE FRANKLY, A SMALL WAY OF SHOWING OUR APPRECIATION, UH, TO YOU FOR THE OUTSTANDING WORK, UH, THAT YOU CONSISTENTLY DO ON BEHALF OF, OF THE ENTIRE, UH, CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, HE IS A VERY HARD WORKER, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW, KNOW HIM. UH, HE'S A VERY HARD WORKER, NONSTOP, UM, AND IS ABLE TO PULL TOGETHER, UH, PEOPLE, UH, UH, IN ORDER TO GET THE JOB DONE. I'VE SEEN HIM DO THAT NOW FOR ALMOST, UH, EIGHT, EIGHT YEARS. UH, AND, UM, AND QUITE FRANKLY, HE DOES IT QUIETLY, AT LEAST QUITE AS FAR AS I'M ABLE TO HEAR. NOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW HE, HOW HE IS WITH THE VARIOUS GROUPS, UH, BUT HE DOES IT QUIET AND HE GETS THE WORK DONE. SO I WANT TO PRESENT, UH, THIS, UM, WANT TO PRESENT, UH, UH, THIS SMALL TOKEN OF APPRECIATION TO MY , UM, THE VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD FROM THE SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL, UH, UH, NETWORK, UM, 19 CITIES. THAT'S A PART OF IT, UH, TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR OUT OUTSTANDING SERVICE. THANK, GET A LITTLE CLOSE. YEAH. THIS IS ANOTHER CERTIFICATE THAT I WANT TO PRESENT, UH, TO, UH, MUHAMMAD CHE. ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON, I EXTEND MY MOST SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SELECTION AS THE SISTER CITY'S INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD. THE AWARD FROM SCI IS A STRONG RECOGNITION OF YOUR OUTSTANDING WORK, ADVANCING THE GOALS AND MISSION OF THE SISTER CITIES MOVEMENT, AND THE PRINCIPLES OF CITIZEN DIPLOMACY. YOUR LEADERSHIP OF THE HOUSTON KARACHI SISTER CITY ASSOCIATION, YOUR ORGANIZATION OF THE HOUSTON IFTAR, AND THE RANGE OF HUMANITARIAN INITIATIVES REFLECT GREAT CREDIT ON YOU, THE SISTER CITY'S PROGRAM, AND ALL OF HOUSTON. SO, AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO FOR THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU. THE GENTLEMAN OF PAKISTAN, UH, WHO IS HERE IN RECOGNITION OF, UM, HAM SAIK MUHAMMAD. YOU WANNA TAKE THIS ONE? HONORABLE MAYOR AND RESPECTED MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE GRATITUDE FOR THE RECOGNITION AND SUPPORT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME IN SERVING OUR GREAT CITY AND ALSO THE HUMANITY AROUND THE GLOBE. AS I'M GRATEFUL TO ALMIGHTY GOD, I'M ALSO MOST OBLIGED TO SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL FOR THE HONOR GIVING ME THIS AFTERNOON. I'M ALSO GRATEFUL TO HONORABLE MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER FOR HIS LEADERSHIP, SERVICE, AND DEDICATION IN BRINGING DIVERSITY, INCLUSIVITY, AND UNITY OF HOUSTON COMMUNITY THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF THIS ESTEEM COUNCIL. FURTHERMORE, MANY THANKS DUE FOR THE CHIEF [00:30:01] PATRON, THE SUPPORT OF OUR CHIEF PATRON, MRS. , AND EVERYONE WHO HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF MY JOURNEY FROM MY FAMILY TO FRIENDS, FROM CONSULATE GENERAL OF PAKISTAN MAYOR'S OFFICE OF TRADE AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, MR. CHRIS OLSEN, SISTER CITIES OF HOUSTON, PRESIDENT SUSAN YOUNG, MY TEAM OF HOUSTON KARACHI, SISTER CITY ASSOCIATION, ALLIANCE FOR DISASTER RELIEF, RECOGNIZING COMMITTEE OF HOUSTON IFTAR, AND ALSO COMMUNITY MEDIA. I MUCH GRATIFY FOR THE PRESENCE ON THIS OCCASION OF HONORABLE COUNCIL GENERAL MOAD OF PAKISTAN AND CHAIR MAYORS, A API ADVISORY BOARD, NOMI HUSSAN AND ALL WHO OTHERS WHO HAVE JOINED ME THIS AFTERNOON. LASTLY, I WANT TO PLEDGE AGAIN THAT I WILL CONTINUE MY EFFORTS TO SERVE HOUSTON CITY AND THE COMMUNITY AROUND THE WORLD THE BEST I CAN. MAY GOD ALWAYS BLESS HOUSTON AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. WITH YOUR PERMISSION, UH, MAY I HAVE THE COUNCIL GENERAL AND CHAIR A API? NO, TO JUST SAY A WORD. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS, MR. , HONORABLE MAYOR MEMBERS CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HONORING MR. S WITH THIS DISTINCTION. IT'S A MATTER OF IMMENSE PRIDE FOR ME THAT MRS. ONE OF OUR MEMBER, COMMUNITY MEMBER HAS BEEN AWARDED THIS WITH THIS DISTINCTION. I, AS A COUNCIL GENERAL ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY, WE, I RETR THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADD TO THE COLORS OF THIS CITY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE CITY OR COMMUNITY IN, IN, IN, IN THE US. THANK YOU VERY MUCH ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU. THANK YOU OT MAYOR, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY LEADERS. MY GRANDMOTHER ALWAYS USED TO TELL ME THAT, TO THOSE TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS EXPECTED. AND MR. SAHA EPITOMIZES THAT SAYING HE'S, HIM AND HIS FAMILY HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH MANY THINGS, AND FOR OVER 30 YEARS, HE'S BEEN PAYING BACK THE COMMUNITY. AND THIS IS ONE OF MANY AWARDS THAT HE'S BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR. SO, ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY, I RECOGNIZE MR. SAHA AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ED POWELL, THANK YOU MAYOR PRO, TIM AND MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. MUHAMMAD, I WANNA CONGRATULATE YOU ON, UH, THIS DISTINCTION. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AND YOUR HARD WORK THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, SISTER CITIES WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE, AND WE WOULD NOT BE A GLOBAL CITY IF WE DID NOT HAVE THE REPRESENTATION THAT YOU PROVIDE. UH, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. UH, ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COUNTLESS CONTRIBUTIONS, UH, AND DIFFERENT COMMUNITY ASPECTS, DIFFERENT PROGRAMS ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY, AS THE MAYOR STATED. UM, AS FAR AS I KNOW, YOU'RE PRETTY, UH, SOFT SPOKEN AND BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT YOU DO A LOT OF WORK TO MAKE A LOT HAPPEN. AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU TO HONORABLE COUNCIL GENERAL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AS WELL. AND MY GOOD FRIEND NAOMI HUSSEIN, GOD BLESS YOU ALL. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. OKAY, LET'S DO THIS GENERAL. IF YOU'LL COME AND GET ON ONE SIDE, AS LONG AS YOU CAN GET ON THE OTHER, COME AROUND BESTA TURNER FOR A PROCLAMATION TO JONATHAN MARTIN, MARK BERMAN AND JOSE GRON FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY. AND TO QUOTE MY DEAR FRIEND, NATE GRIFFIN AND FOX 26 . THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, MAYOR PROAM, I THINK I WANNA START OFF, UH, TODAY WITH JOSE GRON. UH, SO JOSE, YOU'LL COME FORWARD. IT IS, IT IS, UM, A UNIQUE DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WHEN WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE, UM, BEING RECOGNIZED FROM THE SAME STATION. [00:35:02] UM, TWO ARE RETIRING AND ONE IS TRANSITIONING BACK, UH, TO, TO ATLANTA. UH, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF, UH, KIND OF ACKNOWLEDGING THE OTHER TWO. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME IN A PUBLIC WAY, HAVING THE PRIVILEGES, UH, PRIVILEGE OF ACKNOWLEDGING JOSE GREEN YOUNG. UM, THIS IS SOMEONE WHO, UM, STARTED WITH, UM, THE BELOVED TV STATION, KRIV TV, FOX NEWS BACK IN 1993. UM, SO RECOGNIZING HIM FOR 30 YEARS OF SERVICE AT ONE TELEVISION STATION. SO IN 1993, JOSE JOINED K-R-I-B-T-V AND QUICKLY BECAME AN INTEGRAL PART OF FOX 26 MORNING NEWS AND IS NOW THE SENIOR MORNING NEWS ANCHOR. AND IN ADDITION TO HIS ANCHOR DUTIES, JOSE HAS PRODUCED NUMEROUS SPECIAL REPORTS AND SERVED AS HOST OF THE WEEKLY PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM, THE BLACK VOICE AND HOOLA HOUSTON. JOSE IS A SEASONED PROFESSIONAL WITH A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE IN DELIVERING NEWS TO THE PUBLIC. HE HAS DEDICATED HIS CAREER TO INFORMING AND ENGAGING AUDIENCES, ESTABLISHING HIMSELF AS A TRUSTED SOURCE OF INFORMATION. AND IN 1975, JOSE BEGAN HIS BROADCAST CAREER AS A REPORTER AND WEEKEND ANCHOR FOR K-T-S-M-A-M-F-M-T-V IN EL PASO, TEXAS. JOSE ALSO HAS WORKED IN NEW YORK, TAMPA, MIAMI, LOS ANGELES, AND DALLAS, WHERE HE ANCHORED AND REPORTED AT K-T-F-F-W-T-V. HE TOLD ALL OF THOSE, UH, TELEVISION STATIONS IN THOSE CITIES THAT HIS, THE PLACE THAT HE REALLY WANTED TO WORK WAS IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. AND HE APPRECIATED THAT. I ADDED THAT IN. THAT'S NOT IN THE SCRIPT . UM, BUT IT'S TRUE. WELL, I, I KNEW THAT'S WHAT YOU WOULD THINK. AND EVEN BACK THEN, HIS CAREER PATH HAS ALLOWED HIM TO BE AN EYEWITNESS, UH, TO SOME OF THE WORLD'S TRAMPS AND T TRAGEDIES. HIS ASSIGNMENTS OVER THE YEARS HAVE INCLUDED THE MASSACRE AT LUBY'S CAFETERIA IN KILLEEN, TEXAS. HE WITNESSED CIVIL DISTURBANCES FIRSTHAND IN MIAMI, LOS ANGELES, NEW YORK, UH, AND THE TRAGIC SEW EXPLOSION IN GUADALAJARA, MEXICO. JOSE HAS CHASED HURRICANES AND WAS ONE OF THE FIRST REPORTERS ON THE SCENE OF THE BRANCH DAVIDIAN SIEGE IN WACO, TEXAS. JOSE WAS REARED IN TAMPA, FLORIDA BY HIS NATIVE CUBAN FATHER AND HIS FIRST GENERATION CUBAN AMERICAN MOTHER. JOSE SPEAKS SPANISH FLUENTLY AND TAKES PRIDE IN HIS DUAL HERITAGE. UH, JOSE'S INTEREST IN BROADCASTING CAME WHILE FILMING AND PRODUCING DOCUMENTARIES, DOING HIS SERVICE IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY, WHICH WE HONOR TODAY FOR THEIR 248TH BIRTHDAY. AND OVER THE YEARS, HE HAS DEMONSTRATED HIS RESPECT FOR MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY BY WEARING A RED TIE ON AIR WHILE ANCHORING. JOSE HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS SINCE 1978, AND HE ALSO MAINTAINS THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HISPANIC JOURNALISTS AND THE SOUTHWEST ALTERNATE MEDIA PROJECT MEMBERSHIP. HE IS ACTIVE IN COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND WE HAVE SEEN HIM ALL OVER THIS CITY, MCING AND, UH, REALLY TAKING UP HIS TIME, UH, ON VARIOUS COMMUNITY EVENTS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. AND THAT'S WHERE WE FIND, UM, ALL OF THE THREE, UH, THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE FROM THIS STATION. AFTER 30 YEARS OF SUCCESSFUL LEADERSHIP AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO K-R-I-V-M-Y HAS CHOSEN TO BEGIN HIS WELL EARNED RETIREMENT, HIS CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE LEFT A LASTING IMPACT ON THE FIELD, UH, SETTING HIGH STANDARDS FOR REPORTING AND SERVING AS AN INSPIRATION TO ASPIRING JOURNALIST, AN APPRECIATION OF HIS DEDICATION. THE CITY OF HOUSTON CONGRATULATES JOSE GRIN YOUNG ON HIS MILESTONE OCCASION AND EXTENDS BEST WISHES FOR LONG AND HAPPY RETIREMENT. SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM IN THIS CASE, JUNE 23RD, 2023, AS JOSE GRON DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS, JOSE. WHEN I BEGAN MY CAREER, I NEVER THOUGHT THAT I WOULD AFFECT SO MANY LIVES, BUT HAVING TO BE THE VOICE OF THOSE WHO HAD NO VOICE COMING BEFORE JURY BODIES LIKE YOURSELVES, CITY COUNCIL AND OTHER JURY BODIES AROUND THE COUNTRY, UH, IT HAS BEEN A COMPLETE HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO REPRESENT THEM AND THEIR THOUGHTS AND THEIR FEELINGS AND THEIR ASPIRATIONS IN ORDER TO TRY AND MOVE FORWARD IN THEIR LIVES. UM, NEVER THOUGHT THAT 30 YEARS LATER HERE IN HOUSTON THAT I WOULD BE RECOGNIZED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON. FOR THAT, I THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THANK [00:40:01] YOU CITY COUNCIL. AND I THANK THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE COMMUNITY, I WOULD NOT BE WHERE I AM TODAY. THEY ARE THE HEART OF THIS CITY. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO HELP THIS CITY MOVE FORWARD, AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO, WHETHER I'M AT THE MANTLE OR NOT. AND I DO APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR RECOGNITION FOR ME JUST BEING A SMALL PART IN THEIR LIVES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE. MAYOR, MAYOR TIM, IF YOU ALLOW ME TO DO THIS, LET ME BRING THEM ALL THREE. YES, SIR. OKAY. TEMPORARILY HOLD THIS, HOLD IT THAT WAY. JUST STAND RIGHT THERE. AND, UH, AND LEMME JUST ADD, UM, AND THEY'RE NOT, UH, EVERY ONE OF THEM HAVE THEIR OWN SPECIAL DAY. UH, JUNE 23RD IS YOURS, JOSE. UM, THESE OTHER TWO, UH, HAVE THEIRS. LEMME CALL ON JONATHAN MARTIN. AND JONATHAN EMBODIES THE HEART AND SOUL OF HOUSTON. AND SINCE 2016 HAS SKILLFULLY REPORTED FOR FOX 26 NEWS. HE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA, AND GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF AUBURN, ATTAINING A BACHELOR'S BOARD IN BROADCAST JOURNALISM. AFTER GRADUATION, JOHN BEGAN HIS JOURNALISM CAREER IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA, WORKING FOR W-S-B-T-V. WHILE THERE, HE SERVED THE STATION AS AN INTERIM AND FIELD PRODUCER FOR SIX YEARS. HE THEN WORKED AS A REPORTER IN ANCHOR IN NEW ORLEANS, AUGUSTA, GEORGIA, AND AT W-S-M-V-T-V IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE. IN 2016, JONATHAN BECAME AN ANCHOR AND REPORTER FOR FOX 26 IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. HE HAS CO-ANCHOR ALONGSIDE MELINDA SPALDING AND LATER WITH, UH, CAITLYN, UH, MONTY. BEFORE JOINING THE FOX 26 NEWS TEAM, WHO WAS A NEWS ANCHOR AND REPORTER WITH AL JERA AMERICAN, AND JONATHAN HAS COVERED MANY OF HOUSTON'S MOST SIGNIFICANT STORIES THROUGHOUT HIS JOURNALISM CAREER. THESE STORIES INCLUDE HURRICANE HARVEY, WHICH ED THE TEXAS COAST THAT HE YANKED FOR MORE THAN 20 HOURS. AND, UH, MARTIN HAS ALSO ASSISTED IN LEADING THE STATION'S FUNERAL COVERAGE FOR FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH, AS WELL AS THE STATION'S COVERAGE OF THE ASTRO WORLD'S, UH, SERIES WIN. HE HAS EXCLUSIVELY REPORTED WITH HOUSTON. UH, THIS GUY MAYORS MR. TURNER AND COUNTLESS LOCAL AND NATIONAL CELEBRITIES. I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY DIDN'T INCLUDE ME IN THE NATIONAL CELEBRITY CATEGORY AND LEADERS. IN ADDITION, JONATHAN IS A FOUR TIME EMMY NOMINEE. MARTIN IS A STRONG MENTORING ADVOCATE, READING WITH THE PRO, UM, PROS, AMBASSADOR, AND FITNESS ENTHUSIASTS. HIS COMPETITIVE SPIRIT EMPOWERED HIM TO WIN DANCING WITH THE HOUSTON STARS IN 2018. AND ANNUAL FUNDRAISER HOSTED BY URBAN SOUL DANCE COMPANY, KNOWN FOR ITS CONSISTENT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. JONATHAN PARTNERED WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO CREATE, UH, UH, SWEAT TEXAS, A FITNESS INITIATIVE, ENCOURAGING HOUSTONIANS TO GET PHYSICALLY ACTIVE AND HEALTHY. AND HE'S ALSO FOUNDED BEYOND THE GAME IN HIGH SCHOOL, UH, TOUR, ENCOURAGING YOUNG MEN OF COLOR TO DREAM BEYOND SPORTS. AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON APPRECIATES JONATHAN MARTIN'S COMMITMENT AND HEART TOWARDS THIS CITY AND HIS PEOPLE. WE ARE LEAVE LOSING HIM, BUT HE'S RETURNING HOME TO ATLANTA. WE COMMEND HIM ON HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICE OF THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY AND IMPECCABLE WORK TO JOURNALISM AND EXTENDS BEST WISHES TO HIM AND ALL FUTURE ENDEAVORS. SO THEREFORE, I SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM IN THIS CASE, JUNE 8TH, 2023, AS JONATHAN MARTIN DAY. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO SAY I AM INCREDIBLY HUMBLED AND I'M HONORED TO EVEN BE STANDING BEFORE YOU. I KNOW AWARDS LIKE THIS ARE USUALLY GIVEN TO PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN IN HOUSTON FOR 20 OR 30 YEARS, BUT IT'S JUST BEEN AN INCREDIBLE SEVEN YEARS. UM, ANYTHING I EVER NEEDED FROM THE CITY, YOU GUYS WERE RIGHT THERE WHEN I WANTED TO START A PROGRAM FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET THEM HEALTHY AND FIT. GALE BROWN WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT SAID, WHAT DO YOU NEED? UM, WHEN I WANTED TO START STUFF IN OUR HIGH SCHOOLS FOR OUR YOUNG MEN OF COLOR, THE MAYOR SAID, WHAT DO YOU NEED? MANY OF YOU HELP ME OUT. AND SO I JUST WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING, UM, JUST RIGHT THERE. I MEAN, YOU, YOU'RE ONLY AS GOOD AS THE PEOPLE WHO LIFT YOU UP, WHO PUT YOU ON STAGES, WHO PUT YOU IN ROOMS, AND MANY OF YOU DID THAT FOR ME. AND I'M INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL. I'M GOING HOME TO ATLANTA, UH, BEING CLOSER TO MOM AND DAD, BUT HOUSTON WILL ALWAYS, ALWAYS BE IN MY HEART. THANK Y'ALL. THANK, AND THEN ALSO FROM THE SAME STATION, I MEAN THREE INDIVIDUALS FROM THE SAME STATION. UM, MARK BERMAN, WHERE'S MARK? YAY. AND AN INTERESTING NOTE, WHICH IS NOT IN HERE, MARK AND I GO WAY BACK. MARK AND I WERE ON THE CAMPUS OF UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, UH, TOGETHER, UM, UH, 10 YEARS AGO. MARK BERMAN IS ONE OF THE, WHAT DID HE SAY? 10 YEARS? ? YEAH. [00:45:01] OKAY. YOU MATH. YOU MATH. THAT'S WHY YOU DIDN'T STUDY MATH AT, UH, IT WAS MORE LIKE 50. ALRIGHT, RIGHT NOW YOU WANT THIS PROCLAMATION OR NOT? NO, I WANT . ALRIGHT. . WE ARE ALSO VERY GOOD FRIENDS. MARK BERMAN IS ONE OF THE MOST TENACIOUS, KNOWLEDGEABLE, AND HARDWORKING ON-AIR SPORTS JOURNALISTS. HE EMBODIES THE SPIRIT OF OUR GREAT CITY AND HAS FULL FOR YEARS DELIGHTED SPORTS FANS AND VIEWERS WITH HIS EXCLUSIVE REPORTS ON PROFESSIONAL DRAFTS, TRADES CHAMPIONSHIP, SUPER BOWLS FINAL FOUR, AND ALL OTHER PROFESSIONAL COLLEGIATE AND HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS. FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES, MARK BERMAN HAS WORKED AT FOX 26, IN FACT, 37 YEARS AS THE SPORTS DIRECTOR. HE HOLDS A REPUTATION FOR BEING THE FIRST TO SHARE THE HOTTEST SPORTS STORIES. AND THEN IN THE BIGGEST INTERVIEWS WITH SOME OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST ATHLETES AND COACHES, MARK HAS BROKEN STORIES FOR DECADES AND IS A TRUSTED VOICE IN SPORTS JOURNALISM. AS A SPECIAL AND AN AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST, MARK WAS UNVEILED ON THE HOUSTON BASEBALL MEDIA, UH, WALL OF HONOR IN 2016 BY THE HOUSTON ASTROS. HE IS THE FIRST TELEVISION SPORTS ANCHOR TO RECEIVE THIS SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. HE IS THE SECOND PERSON TO BE INDUCTED BY THE HOUSTON TEXAN TO THE JOHN MCLEAN MEDIA WALL OF FAME. MARK WAS BORN WELL IN HEMPSTEAD HOUSTON, WELL, BORN IN IN HOUSTON, GREW UP IN HEMPSTEAD, THAT'S RIGHT WHERE HE DREAMED OF BEING A TELEVISION SPORTSCASTER. HE GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN COMMUNICATIONS. BEFORE JOINING KRIV, HE WORKED AS A WEEKEND ANCHOR REPORTER AT KOSA TV AND SPORTS DIRECTOR FOR KIKK RADIO. HE BECAME THE WEEKEND SPORTS ANCHOR REPORTER AT KRIV IN 1986. AND IN 1988 BECAME THE SPORTS DIRECTOR. THE POSITION HE HAS HELD SINCE THAT TIME. MARCUS MARRIED HAS TWO CHILDREN AND ONE GRANDSON. JACKSON, I BELIEVE THAT IS MY FRIEND. HOW YOU DOING? JACKSON? UM, HIS DAUGHTER, JESSICA BERMAN, HAS FOLLOWED HIS IN HER FATHER'S FOOT LEGACY IN THE JOURNALISM AREA ARENA. AS A NEWS PRODUCER AT FOX 26 HOUSTON, AFTER 37 YEARS OF DEDICATED LEADERSHIP AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO KRI, VT V MARK HAS CHOSEN TO BEGIN HIS WELL-EARNED RETIREMENT. THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMANDS MARK BERMAN ON HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY, AND IMPECCABLE WORK IN SPORTS JOURNALISM AND EXTENDS BEST WISHES FOR LONG AND HAPPY RETIREMENT. SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM IN THIS CASE, JUNE 12TH, LAST NIGHT ON THE NINE O'CLOCK NEWS. YEAH. UM, AS MARK BERMAN DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATE MARK RIGHT HERE. MARK RIGHT HERE. OKAY. STAY HERE. SYLVESTER. I WANT Y'ALL TO KNOW I'LL BE HOSTING A PARTY FOR HIS 35TH BIRTHDAY WHENEVER HE IS READY. , WHEN YOU TURN 35, I'LL LET YOU KNOW. RIGHT. YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN IN THIS ROOM COUNTLESS TIMES, COVERING STORIES ON ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF THINGS. TO BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT IS CRAZY. YOU DON'T DREAM OF STUFF LIKE THIS, YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT STUFF LIKE THIS. IT JUST KIND OF HAPPENS. TO BE UP HERE WITH TWO OF MY FRIENDS, GREAT COLLEAGUES FROM FROM FOX IS ALSO REALLY AMAZING. YOU KNOW, HE AND I WERE FLOOR MATES. WE LIVED ON THE SAME FLOOR OF THE DORMS, THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, WHAT, 1975? I HATE TO DATE YOU, MAYOR. I LIKE THAT. THAT'S OKAY. OKAY. ALMOST 50 YEARS AGO. AND WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS. DON'T SAY, DON'T SAY THAT THOUGH. , WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS SINCE I'VE FOLLOWED HIS CAREER FROM AFAR. BEEN AMAZING WHAT HE'S ACCOMPLISHED. AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE HIM HERE, AND IT'S GREAT TO BE HONORED BY THE MAYOR. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? AS HE MENTIONED, I'M JUST A COUNTRY BOY FROM HEMPSTEAD, TEXAS WHO DREAMED OF BEING A SPORTSCASTER IN HEMPSTEAD IN HOUSTON, A TV SPORTSCASTER IN HOUSTON AND FOX 26 HELPED MAKE THAT DREAM COME TRUE. SO ALL THIS STUFF IS GREAT, ALL THE ACCOLADES ARE GREAT. BUT TRULY, FOR THE PAST 37 YEARS, ALL I'VE BEEN WORRIED ABOUT IS GETTING MY BACKSIDE KICKED IN THE GAME OF JOURNALISM. AND THAT IS A LOT OF WORK. BUT TO BE HERE TODAY IS A HIGHLIGHT. AND I'M THRILLED. GENTLEMEN. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE, BUT I'D LIKE TO START IT OFF BY SAYING, JOSE, MY COFFEE ISN'T GONNA BE THE SAME WITHOUT YOU SITTING NEXT TO MELISSA WILSON, , AND JONATHAN, MY BLUEBELL ICE CREAM FROM LAST NIGHT WON'T BE THE SAME WITHOUT WATCHING YOU AT NINE O'CLOCK. Y'ALL TOOK AWAY KAITLYN MONTY FROM ME AND ALWAYS ENJOYED Y'ALL'S CAMARADERIE. BUT, UH, I AM AN ICE CREAM NUT. I'LL GO WITHOUT DINNER, BUT I WILL NEVER MISS MY ICE CREAM. AND I WATCH THE NINE O'CLOCK NEWS, AND I'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED IT. AND I DIDN'T BELIEVE YOU HAVE AS BIG A GUNS AS YOU HAVE AND SCOOP BERMAN, UH, THE GENTLEMAN THAT LIVED IN KINGWOOD FOR A WHILE. AND, UH, YOU ALWAYS WERE THE HUSTLER. YOU ALWAYS WERE THE FIRST ONE TO PREVENT THE SCOOP, THE STORY. THAT'S WHY [00:50:01] YOU GOT THE NAME SCOOP BERMAN AND MY SPORTS REPORT. AND I'LL LEAVE IT UP TO MY FRIEND NATE. BUT, UH, IT'LL NOT BE THE SAME WITHOUT YOU. I HOPE YOU GENTLEMEN, I'M NEVER GONNA CHEER FOR THE DIRTY BIRDS. I HATE THE DIRTY BIRDS . IT'S OKAY. NOT GONNA DO THAT. BUT I WISH YOU NOTHING BUT THE BEST IN GODSPEED. SO THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL KOSH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR, FOR BRINGING THESE, UH, CELEBRITIES TO US. ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, I'VE, I'VE KNOWN HIM NOW FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. MARK, I, I, I DON'T KNOW WHERE I'M GONNA GET ALL MY KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SPORTS NOW THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE GONE AND, AND, UH, I'M GONNA MISS, UH, SEEING YOU AT THE STATION WHEN I COME. YEAH. UH, TO UP THERE. I'M GONNA MISS YOU. YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN GOOD TO MEET JOHN. THANK YOU. AND, AND JOSE, YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN, UH, JUST, JUST A REAL, UH, KIND PERSON. EVERY TIME I'VE EVER BEEN INTERVIEWED BY YOU, UH, YOU DID ASK ME SOMETIMES SOME HARD QUESTIONS, BUT YOU ARE ALWAYS NICE ABOUT IT, . AND SO I'VE, I'VE ENJOYED, UH, ALL, ALL THE INTERVIEWS WITH YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU, AND THANK Y'ALL FOR, FOR MAKING HOUSTON NEWS AND, AND ALL THAT'S ABOUT SPORTS, UH, REALLY, UH, A A GOOD SHOW. AND GOD BLESS YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTI. UM, UH, MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS ABOUT ME, BUT I'M A VERY ROUTINE AND SCRIPTED PERSON, AND I WATCH THE SAME THING. I EAT THE SAME THING. I GO TO THE SAME PLACES. AND SO I FEEL SOME SEPARATION ANXIETY NOW, KNOWING THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE CHANGE IN MY ROUTINE. UM, I, I GREW UP WATCHING, UH, PARTICULARLY JOSE AND MARK. AND SO, UM, WHAT IS THE NEWS WITHOUT SEEING YOUR FACE AND HEARING YOUR VOICES? UM, UH, AND THEN ALSO PAT SAJA ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT . I FEEL LIKE MY WORLD IS CRUMBLING, UM, LIKE WHAT'S HAPPENING. BUT I WISH YOU ALL WELL, I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO FOLLOW JONATHAN AND ALL OF HIS DANCE ROUTINES AND WORKOUTS AND MOTIVATIONS. SO YOU MAY NOT BE IN HOUSTON, BUT YOU'LL CONTINUE TO INSPIRE US ONLINE, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. BUT, UM, TO HEAR YOUR VOICE AND SEE YOUR FACE HAS DEFINITELY BEEN A JOY. UM, BLACK VOICES THAT SHOW, UM, REALLY ALLOWED ME A PEEK INTO HOUSTON AND WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY AND WHY IT WAS SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO LEARN THAT AND REALLY GIVE ORGANIZATIONS A VOICE AND A PLATFORM WHEN THEY OTHERWISE COULDN'T HAVE IT. SO, I APPRECIATE YOU FOR THAT. UM, AND, YOU KNOW, I, I JUST, IT'S A, IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO, UH, SIT BEFORE YOU AND WISH YOU WELL. SO, UM, WELL WISHES ON YOUR, YOUR FUTURE AND EVERYTHING THAT'S TO COME TO YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER FOR OFFERING THIS VICE MAYOR PROAM. MARTHA TEX TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTI. UH, TODAY WE ARE CELEBRATING THREE DYNAMIC, INCREDIBLE CONTRIBUTORS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, JOSE, THE MORNINGS JUST WON'T BE THE SAME. WITHOUT HAVING YOUR VOICE RESONATE THROUGH OUR HOMES, UH, WE HAVE APPRECIATED YOUR STEADY, UH, SERVICE TO FOX 26. AND, UM, SEEING YOU ON THE MORNING NEWS WAS ALWAYS A GREAT WAY TO GET OUR DAY STARTED. UM, JONATHAN, WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW YOU ON SOCIAL MEDIA. UH, WE LOVE, WE LOVE YOUR WORKOUTS, WE LOVE ALL THE INSPIRING THINGS TO THAT YOU DO AS A MOTHER OF A AFRICAN-AMERICAN SON. THE WORK THAT YOU DO IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. UM, AND I LOVE THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN YOUR SUCCESS AND SHARED IT WITH SO MANY OTHERS. SO CONTINUE TO, UM, DO THAT, UM, BECAUSE YOU ARE MAKING A GREAT DIFFERENCE IN OUR WORLD. UM, AND THEN MARK, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE SPECIAL THEY DID ON YOU LAST NIGHT, AND I SAW YOUR GRANDSON CLOSE OUT YOUR FINAL SHOW WITH YOU LAST NIGHT. JACKSON DID A GREAT JOB, UH, BUT WANTED TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH I HAVE ENJOYED FOLLOWING SPORTS ALONGSIDE YOU. YOU HAVE, UM, MADE IT EXCITING AND WE WILL DEFINITELY MISS ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO I WISH ALL THREE OF YOU THE VERY BEST. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT RETIREMENT IS FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD TO GET UP SUPER EARLY IN THE MORNING, TO REPORT THE NEWS. SO, JOSE, I KNOW YOU'LL ENJOY THAT. BUT BEST WISHES IN YOUR RETIREMENT SEASON, JONATHAN, WE WILL BE IN ATLANTA, I THINK IN NOVEMBER FOR NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES. SO WE'LL, WE'LL LOOK YOU UP AND, AND, AND SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN ATLANTA. SO, BEST WISHES TO YOU AS WELL, COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN. THANK YOU. UM, FIRST AND I, I'M ASSUMING YOU'LL HAVE SOME FAMILY AND COLLEAGUES IN THE AUDIENCE, SO I'D LOVE TO, UM, KNOW WHO THEY ARE AND GIVE THEM A SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. BUT I ALSO JUST WANTED TO THANK THE THREE OF YOU, JOSE, JOHN, MARK, YOU HAVE SEEN THE TRANSFORMATION OF JOURNALISM, ESPECIALLY THE TWO OF YOU, UM, THROUGHOUT THE DECADES AND FOR BETTER AND WORSE, RIGHT? UH, THE CHANGES THAT CAME FROM THE PANDEMIC AND EVEN BEFORE THAT, THE STRESS AND STRAIN THAT WAS PUT ON THE MEDIA, UM, AND HOW YOU HAVE HAD TO TRANSITION SINCE THEN WITH CUTS, UH, WITH, YOU KNOW, MANY, MANY CHALLENGES THAT, [00:55:01] UH, TODAY JOURNALISTS ARE FACED WITH THAT WE DID NOT NECESSARILY HAVE PREVIOUSLY. SO IN SPITE OF ALL OF THAT, WHAT YOU HAVE ENDURED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE REPORTING AND YOU ARE THAT VOICE THAT PEOPLE TRUST AND RELY NOT ONLY THROUGH, UM, FOX, BUT IN THE COMMUNITIES AS WELL. I JUST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT BECAUSE YOU HAVE SEEN IT ALL. UM, I KNOW YOU WILL CONTINUE TO, UH, EVEN AT, EVEN IN ATLANTA. UH, SO JUST THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND MAYOR, I'M, I'M HOPING AT THE END OF COUNCIL REMARKS, WE CAN, UH, HEAR FROM SOME OF OUR, OUR FAMILIES IN THE AUDIENCE COUNCIL MEMBER ED POLLARD, THANK YOU MAYOR PRO, TEM, AND MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING, UH, THIS FORWARD FOR RECOGNITION. I WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU ALL FOR YOUR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO THE CITY OF FUSION. UH, THE NEWS IS ONLY CREDIBLE, UH, WITH THE MESSENGER, AND I THINK, UH, YOU ALL'S OFF CAMERA INTEGRITY AND CHARACTER, UM, BROUGHT FORTH A CREDIBLE MESSAGE THAT WE ALL COULD RELY ON. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE, AND I WANT TO WISH YOU ALL WELL ON YOUR RETIREMENT. AND TO JONATHAN AND YOUR NEXT CHAPTER AND ATLANTA, I WISH YOU WELL. THANK YOU FOR, UH, PERSONALLY REACHING OUT TO ME ON SOME OF YOUR INITIATIVES, UH, BEING A GREAT ROLE MODEL FOR YOUNG AFRICAN AMERICAN BOYS AROUND OUR CITY OF HOUSTON. AND I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA DO BIG THINGS IN THE FUTURE. SO GOD BLESS YOU ALL. COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ, THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. AND CERTAINLY IT'S ALREADY BEEN EXPRESSED ABOUT THE TRUST FACTOR, AND YOU ALL HAVE THE VOICES AT THAT GAVE US THE TRUST FACTOR TO LET US KNOW THAT WHAT YOU WERE GIVING US WAS GREAT. UH, NOT ALWAYS GREAT NEWS, BUT IT WAS CERTAINLY CREDIBLE. AND SO, MY, MY ROOTS ARE IN WALLER, TEXAS, AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE MAY RUN INTO EACH OTHER, GOING TO GET A HEMPSTEAD WATERMELON. I THINK IT'S REALLY, WE WILL NOT HOLD THAT AGAINST YOU, . WELL, WE DIDN'T HOLD IT AGAINST YOU. AND CERTAINLY I WANT TO, I HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT MY FRIEND CATHERINE, SHE'S BACK THERE, YOUR WONDERFUL, UH, SPOUSE. I LOVE HER DEARLY. AND CERTAINLY, UH, SHE WILL ENJOY YOU, UH, BEING RETIRED, I'M SURE. AND THEN JONATHAN, OF COURSE, YOU'RE GOING TO MY SECOND HOME, WHICH IS ATLANTA. AND NO ONE HAS MENTIONED THIS, BUT HE'S QUITE A DANCER. , I, I REMEMBER, I REMEMBER SEEING HIM ON TV AND I'M LIKE, OH, HE REALLY CAN SHAKE IT ON DOWN. BUT AT ANY RATE, YOU ALL WILL BE SORELY MISSED. AND MAYOR, THEY MAYBE SHOULD HAVE WAITED A FEW MONTHS 'CAUSE YOU WOULD'VE BEEN A VERY GOOD REPLACEMENT FOR EITHER OF THEM BECAUSE YOU'RE SO COLORFUL. AND SO CERTAINLY, UH, THAT MAY BE SOMETHING YOU WANNA LOOK LIKE . BUT AT ANY RATE, YOU ALL WILL BE SORELY MISSED. AND MAYBE I'LL PICK YOU UP ON THE NEWS IN ATLANTA, AND I'M GLAD THAT I ALWAYS TAPE FOX NEWS, SO I'LL GET THAT LAST SHOW WHEN I GO BACK HOME AND LOOK AT IT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO HOUSTON, BECAUSE YOU DID GIVE US A GREAT SERVICE. THANK YOU. AND GENTLEMEN, BEST OF LUCK IN YOUR RETIREMENT AND YOUR FUTURE. WATCHING THE NEWS WON'T BE THE SAME WITHOUT MY MORNING AND EVENING GUYS AND MY SPORTS REPORTER. SO I WISH YOU NOTHING BUT CONTINUED GOOD HEALTH AND GOD BLESS. AND MAYOR, I'LL GIVE YOU, LEAVE YOU THE LAST WORD YOU SAY. IF YOU ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS, MY FAMILY'S RIGHT OVER HERE. MY, MY WIFE JOY, MY SON JACOB, MY DAUGHTER JESSICA, WHO WORKS AT FOX, MY GRANDSON JACKSON, MY WIFE, CATHERINE GRIFFIN, THOMPSON , SHE'S GOT MORE NAMES THAN I DO . I DON'T HAVE ANY FAMILY HERE, BUT I DO HAVE JUST A LOT OF PEOPLE OVER THE YEARS WHO SUPPORTED ME HERE, UH, JUST FROM THE CITY. UM, PHIL, A SC MAZDA WAS BACK THERE. JUST A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO'VE ALWAYS BEEN JUST GREAT FRIENDS, JESSICA. SO JUST THANK GAIL BROWN BACK THERE. YEAH. SO, I MEAN, A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST, WHO ALWAYS SHOW UP FOR ME, I ALWAYS SAY, YOU ALL SHOW UP AND I, I APPRECIATE IT. LET ME ALSO SAY I WANT TO THANK PATTY SMITH, THE SPORTS AUTHORITY FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU, PATTY. ONE MORE THING, DON'T MIND. I'D LIKE TO LIKE TO SAY ONE MORE THING, GUYS. UM, I'VE, I'VE BEEN ON THE AIR IN HOUSTON 43 YEARS, 37 AT FOX, AND ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS IS BEING THE SPORTS DIRECTOR AT FOX 26 ON MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER'S WATCH. THANK YOU. CAN WE GET A PHOTO REAL QUICK? AND I JUST WANT Y'ALL TO KNOW I'M NO LONGER PLAYING NOW, SO HE CAN'T COVER ME. , YOU'RE RIGHT. AND I GET YOUR BIRTHDAYS FOR THIRTY FIVE, THIRTY SIX AND 37. ALRIGHT, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A COUPLE PHOTOS. [01:01:49] OKAY? WE'RE GONNA GET STARTED FOR THE, UH, COMMUNITY, UH, POPOFF SESSION. UM, [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] SEE THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER PECK FOR THE VOCATION. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, DR. SCOTT, IF YOU CAN PLEASE COME UP. UM, DR. GERALDINE SCOTT HAS BEEN THE PASTOR AND CHAPLAIN AT THE MISSION OF YAHWEH IN DISTRICT A FOR SIX YEARS. SHE'S ALSO A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS AND SERVES IN THE PRISON MINISTRY, SUPPORTS THE MISSION'S MINISTRY AND IS A MEMBER OF THE TEXAS BAPTIST WOMEN IN MINISTRY. DR. SCOTT RECEIVED HER DOCTOR OF DIVINITY IN 2008 FROM CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY, AND SHE WAS LICENSED TO PREACH IN 2003 AND ORDAINED IN 2006. SHE'S A RETIRED MANAGER FROM AT AND T WITH 35 YEARS OF SERVICE. DR. SCOTT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SPIRITUAL COUNCIL, FOR THE STAFF AND RESIDENTS AT THE MISSION OF YAHWEH, AND SHE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SPIRITUAL GROWTH FOR ALL THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN AT THE MISSION. AND DR. SCOTT HAS THREE DAUGHTERS AND FIVE GRANDCHILDREN, AND WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE SAME CHURCH. AMEN. AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. AMEN. YES, ABSOLUTELY. WELL, THE BIBLE SAYS THE MEN OUGHT TO ALWAYS PRAY, AND IF WE PRAY, HE WILL HEAR US AND ANSWER OUR PRAYERS. WITH THAT BEING SAID, LET US FILE FOR A MOMENT OF PRAYER. ALMIGHTY AND TRIUNE GOD, WE GIVE YOU THANKS AND PRAISE FOR ALL YOUR MIGHTY WORKS. YOU LOVING AND GOOD AND GRACIOUS, THANK YOU FOR CREATING US AND SUSTAINING US DAY BY DAY. THANK YOU THAT IT, YOU MADE US IN YOUR IMAGE TO EXIST IN COMMUNITY WITH OTHER PEOPLE. WE THANK YOU FOR OUR CITY, THANK YOU FOR OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OUR MAYOR, THE BUSINESSES, THE CHURCHES, THE FAMILIES, AND THE INDIVIDUALS THAT MAKE OUR CITY THE GREAT PLACE THAT IT IS. WE ASK YOUR BLESSINGS ON THIS COUNCIL MEETING TODAY. GIVE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, AND GUIDANCE AS THEY DELIBERATE ON THE ITEMS BEFORE THEM. MAY EVERY DECISION BE RIGHTEOUS IN YOUR SIGHT FOR OUR BENEFIT AND FOR YOUR GLORY. HELP THEM AS LEADERS TO NOT ASK FIRST, HOW DO WE FIX THIS? BUT WHAT DO WE NEED TO LEARN? HOW MIGHT WE NEED TO CHANGE? AND TO WHOM DO WE NEED TO LISTEN? REMIND THEM BECAUSE WE ALL FORGET FROM TIME TO TIME, ESPECIALLY IN THE NOISINESS OF WHAT PASSES FOR POLITICAL DEBATES TODAY, THAT THEY'RE NOT ONLY LEADERS BUT ALSO SERVANTS. AND THAT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND OURS TO SERVE THE COMMON GOOD OF ALL. REMIND THEM THAT NO MATTER WHERE WE LIVE, EVERYONE, GAY, STRAIGHT, TRANSGENDER, BLACK OR WHITE, HISPANIC, A ASIAN, MUSLIM, JEW, HINDU, SIKH, OR ATHEIST IS OUR NEIGHBOR, OUR SIBLING. AND THAT THROUGHOUT THE AGES, PROPHETS HAS CALLED THE LEADERS OF [01:05:01] THE PEOPLE TO RESPECT AND PROTECT THE LEAST OF THOSE AMONG US, OUR CHILDREN, THE ELDERLY, THE POOR, THOSE WHO ARE HUNGRY, THOSE WHO HAVE NO HOMES, THOSE WHO ARE ILL AND BODY, MIND OR SPIRIT. THE STRANGERS AND IMMIGRANTS IN OUR MIDST, THOSE WHO LIVE ON THE MARGINS, THOSE WHO ARE ALONE, THOSE WHO ARE FORGOTTEN, GRANT THEM AND US THE WISDOM AND COURAGE TO KNOW AND TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND GOOD AND TRUE. MAY THEY, AND WE SPEAK OUT WHEN IT IS TIME TO SPEAK OUT AND LISTEN PATIENTLY AND RECEPTIVELY, WHEN IT IS TIME TO LISTEN, MAY THEY, AND WE ALWAYS BE GUIDED BY THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY, BY THE SPIRIT OF JUSTICE, AND BY THE SPIRIT OF LOVE. THIS WE PRAY IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT WE HOLD SACRED AND HOLY, ALL THAT WE HOLD GOOD AND RIGHT AND TRUE. IN JESUS' NAME. AMEN. AMEN. IF YOU PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC WILL PUT YOUR STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. PLEASE [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THE ROLL CALL MADAM UH, SECRETARY MAYOR TURNER. UH, HERE, COUNCILOR PECK. HERE, COUNCILOR JACKSON. COUNCILOR CAYMAN. PRESENT, CONSTABLE EVAN CHABA. HERE, COUNCIL MARTIN PRESENT. COUNCILOR THOMAS. PRESENT. CONSTABLE HUFFMAN. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN CISNEROS? HERE. COUNCILMAN ZOS? HERE. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. HERE. CONSTABLE CASTEX TATUM. HERE. COUNCILMAN KNOX WILL BE ABSENT. COUNCILMAN ROBINSON. HERE. CONSTABLE KUBO. HERE. CONSTABLE PLUMMER AND ALCORN WILL BE ABSENT. NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF MARCH 7TH AND EIGHTH? CASTEX TATUM, MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON BEEN MOVED TO SECOND ON ADOPTION OF THE AMENDED. ANY OBJECTION, CHAIRS AND, AND THE, UM, MOTION IS ADOPTED. UH, CHAIR RECOGNIZES, UH, MAYOR PROAM MARTIN FOR PROCEDURAL MOTION. YES. THANK YOU MAYOR. ANYONE THAT HAS A CAPTION OF THANKING COUNCIL MEMBER DAVE MARTIN HAS MOVED TO THE TOP OF THE LIST. SO I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO THE TOP OF THE LIST, MS. GRACELAND THOMPSON AND AUBREY BIRCH, TOP OF THE SPEAKER'S LIST. UH, FIRST FOR THREE MINUTES. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND, ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR IS NONE GRANTED. UH, CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILMAN KUBAN FOR PROCEDURAL MOTION. THAT WAS GOOD. . UH, MAYOR, I WANT, UH, I'M MOVED TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO, UH, TO MOVE, UH, PAULA GRAVES, MIKE BERGER, AND RICHARD MARZANO, UH, TO THE TOP OF THE, UH, UNDERNEATH, UH, THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA TH THANK OUR MAYOR PRO TEM. AND, AND THEN, AND ALSO MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, ADD, UH, ONE MOTION. ADD ONE MOTION AT A TIME. YEAH. THOMAS. SECONDS. THE FIRST MOTION, MOVED. AND SECOND. AND ON THAT MOTION, ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR NON GRANTED. AND THE NEXT ONE, THE SECOND MOTION IS TO ADD SPENCER HUSK HUCK TO THE, UH, HE'S NOT ON THE LIST, BUT ADD HIM TO THE, TO BE UNDER RICHARD MARZANO. UH, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT CHAPTER 42 HOUSING. AND SPENCER HUCK HUCK. H-U-C-K-A SECOND. I'M A SECOND. THE MOVE SECONDING. OBJECTION, CHAIR NONE. MOTION IS GRANTED. CHAIR RECOGNIZES THAT. COUNCILMAN MCCAIN FOR A PROCEDURAL MOTION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I'M SORRY, I'M ABOUT TO DO A PROCEDURAL MOTION MOTION, BUT NOW I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED. WAS THAT'S JUST AT THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA THAT EVERYONE WAS JUST ADDED TO? YES. OKAY. SO, UM, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE JACOB CLEMENTE UP TO FOLLOW THE LAST SPEAKER OR TO FOLLOW AUBREY BIRCH FOR ONE MINUTE. OKAY. CHAIR SECOND. SECOND, SECOND. ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR? NONE. MOTION IS GRANTED. UH, CHAIR RECOGNIZES, UH, COUNCILMAN EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE AT PETIT TO ONE MINUTE, I GUESS AFTER JACOB CLEMENTE FOR THE NON AGENDA. YES. YES, FOR ONE MINUTE. THANK YOU. ANY OBJECTION? CHAIR IS NONE. MOTION IS GRANTED. HE'S DOWN HERE UNDER ONE MINUTE. OKAY. ARE THERE ANY, ANY OTHER MOTIONS? NO. OKAY. JUST BEAR IN MIND, WE'VE GOT 105 MINUTES WORTH OF, UM, SPEAKERS. UH, SO GOVERNOR YOURSELVES ACCORDINGLY. UM, WITH [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] THAT BEING SAID, UH, MADAME SECRETARY, YOU'LL CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER. THE FIRST SPEAKER, GRACELY THOMPSON. GRACELY THOMPSON GRACELAND IS HERE TO BE FILED BY AUBREY BIRCH. [01:10:05] YES. WELL, I KNOW. MOTION. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. WHAT, WHAT, WHAT'S GOING ON? THEY WANNA SPEAK TOGETHER. THEY HAVE SPEECH MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ALLOW TWO STUDENTS AT THE PODIUM AT THE SAME TIME. SECOND BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. ANY OBJECTION? UM, MOTION IS GRANTED. NOW YOU CAN COME. SO IT'S GRACELAND AND AUBREY. AUBREY. OKAY. THINK MAYOR PRO. TIM MARTIN, CAN YOU PLEASE STEP DOWN? OH, I FORGOT TO SEE THAT WORD. OH, NO WONDER. YEAH. OKAY. NOISE. YES. VERY NICE. MAYOR PRO MARTIN MAYA ANGEL STATED, PEOPLE WILL FORGET WHAT YOU SAID. PEOPLE WILL FORGET WHAT YOU DID, BUT PEOPLE WILL NEVER FORGET HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL. TO OUR MAYOR PRO TIM, ON JUNE 2ND, 2023, YOU MADE OUR FIFTH GRADE GRADUATING CLASS OF SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY CHARTER SCHOOL, CYPRESS TRAILS CAMPUS. FEEL SO HONORED WITH YOUR GIFT TO THE SPACE CENTER THAT WE WILL CARRY THAT FEELING WITH US THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES. WE ARE HERE TODAY REPRESENTING THE FIRST STUDENTS OF THIS CHARTER SCHOOL CAMPUS THAT WAS ESTABLISHED SIX YEARS AGO WHEN WE WERE IN KINDERGARTEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WOW. THANK YOU. AND HERE'S THE SISTER. WOW. VERY NICE. Y'ALL JEALOUS . SO, UM, MISS GRANNY, WHERE'S GRANNY? WHEN GRANNY CALLS YOU, LISTEN, MS. ROY WAS THE ONE THAT, UH, BROUGHT THIS IDEA TO US, AND WE SAID, WHAT COULD WE DO SPECIAL FOR THESE YOUNG KIDS THAT ARE GRADUATING THE FIRST CLASS FROM THEIR CHARTER SCHOOL? AND, UH, WE THOUGHT THAT A TRIP DOWN TO SPACE CENTER AND NASA WOULD BE REALLY COOL AND SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN LEARN FROM AND WOULD ALWAYS CHERISH. SO IT WAS AN HONOR TO DO THAT FOR YOU, AND IT WOULD BE AN HONOR TO DO THAT FOR THE NEXT CLASS AND THE NEXT CLASS AFTER THAT. BECAUSE, UM, MY OPINION, THE NEXT ITERATION OF MAYBE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS LYING DOWN THERE IN AERONAUTICS AND AVIATION. HOPEFULLY YOU CAUGHT THE BUG AND TAKE IT WITH YOU FOR YOUR HIGH SCHOOL YEARS AND YOUR COLLEGE YEARS AND BEYOND. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT WAS VERY NICE OF YOU. THANK YOU. AND I HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR YOU. IT'S A PROCLAMATION FOR THE SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY CHARTER SCHOOL, CYPRESS TRAILS FIFTH GRADE CLASS OF 2023. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GET THE MIDDLE OF YOU. MM-HMM . THANK YOU, GRANNY. AND THAT WAS VERY NICE. GOOD JOB. THAT WAS VERY, IT'S NOTHING LIKE BEING ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE KIDS, SO VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY NICE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. UH, NEXT SPEAKER, JACOB CLEMENT. JACOB CLEMENT TO BE FOLLOWED BY EDWARD PETTY. THE OTHER MICROPHONE, PLEASE JOIN THE SWAMPS. GO ASK US. UH, MY NINE SAYS IN THE GLORY, A BLACK CATHOLIC TEXANS PERSPECTIVE ON JUNETEENTH. I CAN GIVE THIS TO MAYOR TURNER. AND ALSO THIS ONE ON GUN VIOLENCE IS A PRO-LIFE ISSUE. AND, UH, THIS OTHER ONE BY VALDI CATHOLIC COMMUNITY, MARK ANNIVERSARY WITH MASS AND PRAYERS. AND NOW I WANT TO READ SOMETHING FROM, UH, UH, UH, WELL, AFRICA HOME BACK THERE. BUT, UM, FROM S BACK, HE SAYS, WE NEED TO HAVE A PROSPER CITY BECAUSE HEY, YOU ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE PUBLIC SERVANTS ARE HIRED AND ELECTED BY US CITIZENS. AND WE SAID, CITIZENS ARE YOUR TECHNICALLY YOUR BOSSES. SO, UH, Y'ALL NEED TO DO A GOOD JOB. THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH, JACOB. AND HEY, SEE, IT SAYS, GO, UH, [01:15:01] DURING THE SWAMPS. GO ASK US. SEE, SEE, I, I CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA, BUT AS, UH, I, I CONSTANTLY HEAR, JOIN INTO SWAMP. JOIN INTO SWAMP. AND WHAT DOES HE MEAN BY THAT? BUT WASHINGTON, DC BUT WELL, UM, WASHINGTON DC COMING INTO OUR AREA, WASHINGTON, AND THERE'S NOTHING BUT A BUNCH OF SWAMP CREATURE. THANKS, JACOB. ALL RIGHT, THANKS JACOB. TAKE CARE. TAKE CARE. NEXT SPEAKER. NEXT SPEAKER. EDWARD PETIT. EDWARD PETIT EDWARD IS HERE. AND THANK YOU. THE NEXT ONE. YES. THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER. THANK YOU, COUNSEL. I ONLY HAVE A MINUTE TODAY. SO I WANNA USE THIS TIME TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE. I HAVE LIVED ALONG THE COLUMBIA TAP TRIAL IN THIRD WARD FOR 13 YEARS. FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS, I'VE BEEN KNOCKING ON EVERY DOOR I COULD FIND TO FIND SOMEONE WHO COULD CHAMPION A LONG-TERM COMPREHENSIVE VISION FOR THE TRAIL. IT GOES THROUGH MULTIPLE SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS, MULTIPLE CIVIC CLUBS, MULTIPLE MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS, MULTIPLET, AND TWO, UH, AND TWO COUNCIL DISTRICTS. AND I WANNA THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DR. CAROLYN EVER SHABAZZ FOR ANSWERING THAT DOOR FINALLY, AND GETTING ALL OF THESE PLAYERS TO THE TABLE, INCLUDING THE OWNER OF THE TRIAL PUBLIC WORKS AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO DO THREE THINGS TO CLARIFY THE JURISDICTION OF THE TRIAL, WHICH MAY REQUIRE TRANSFER TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO CLARIFY THE MANAGEMENT OF THE TRIAL, WHICH MAY REQUIRE, UH, AN AMENDMENT TO THE INTER-LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD. AND TO CLARIFY THE SUSTAINABLE LONG-TERM FUNDING OF THE TRIAL, WHICH MAY REQUIRE AN AMENDMENT TO THE HOUSTON PARKS AND, AND OPEN SPACES ORDINANCE, PARTICULARLY THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEDICATION FUND, 30%. AND SO I WANT TO THANK HER FOR THAT, AND THANK YOU FOR HELPING HER. COUNCILMAN EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. DID YOU NEED MORE TIME, ED? NO, . CARRY ON. USE MY TIME. THANK YOU. SO YOU'RE GONNA HEAR FROM FOLKS FROM THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE I'M HERE REPRESENTING 135 MEMBERS OF COLUMBIA TAP AND COUNTLESS OTHERS WHO LIVE ALONG AND USE THE TRIAL EVERY DAY. BUT I ALSO WANT TO ESPECIALLY HIGHLIGHT CUNY HOMES AND THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE THERE BECAUSE THE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT CALLS THE COLUMBIA TAP PROJECT A-C-C-I-A CRITICAL COMMUNITY INVESTMENT. THEY ARE LOOKING AT HOW THE CITY'S ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES ON THE COLUMBIA TAP AS PART OF THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITIES APPLICATION TO THE CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATIVE, WHICH IS ONE OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S JUSTICE 40, UM, GRANTS. AND SO THEY ARE LOOKING VERY CLOSELY TO HOW WE, UH, RESOLVE THIS. AND SO I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER AZZ AGAIN AND EVERYONE ON COUNCIL FOR MAKING SURE THIS GETS DONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, CHRISTOPHER ROTH FELDER. BEFORE WE HAVE THE SPEAKER, RANDY, YOU WANT TO JUST REMIND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER SIMPSON ASSIGNMENTS ON THE AGENDA TOMORROW? SURE. WE HAVE A, UM, AN AGENDA ON, UH, ON, AND WE HAVE AN ITEM ON TOMORROW'S AGENDA INVOLVING AN APPEAL FROM THE GENERAL APPEALS BOARD. IT'S RULE 12 APPEAL. SO YOUR DECISIONS TOMORROW SHOULD BE BASED ON THE RECORD. I KNOW WE HAVE A COUPLE OF SPEAKERS ON IT, WHICH IS FINE. I WOULD JUST ADVISE THAT YOU LISTEN, UH, AND THAT YOU NOT MAKE ANY COMMENTS TODAY AND HANDLE THE MATTER TOMORROW. OH, I APOLOGIZE. YEAH, THIS IS, WE'RE GONNA HAVE AN APPEAL FROM THE GENERAL APPEALS BOARD TOMORROW. IT'S A RULE 12 APPEAL. ANY DECISIONS ARE MADE ON THE RECORD. I KNOW WE HAVE TWO SPEAKERS TODAY, WHICH IS FINE. PLEASE LISTEN TO THEM. BUT I ADVISE THAT YOU NOT, UH, ENGAGE IN ANY DIALOGUE AND BACK AND FORTH WITH THEM. AND AGAIN, ANY DECISIONS TOMORROW SHOULD BE MADE BASED UPON THE RECORD. OKAY. UH, MR. ROCK FELLOW FFEL. YES, THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE APPELLANT OUTFRONT MEDIA UNDER SECTION 46 12 OF THE HOUSTON SIGN CODE. THE CITY PROHIBITS THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW BILLBOARDS WITHIN THE CITY. A UNLESS AN EXISTING BILLBOARD HAS TO BE REMOVED TO ACCOMMODATE A HIGHWAY WIDENING OR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. IN THAT CASE, UNDER SECTION 46 17 OF THE SIGN CODE, THE BILLBOARD OWNER MAY CHOOSE TO WAIVE THE RIGHT TO PAYMENT FOR THE BILLBOARD AND IMMINENT DOMAIN, AND INSTEAD RECEIVE WHAT'S REFERRED TO IN THE CODE AS A SPECIAL PERMIT, WHICH ALLOWS THE BILLBOARD OWNER TO RELOCATE THE DISPLACED SIGN TO ANOTHER LOCATION IN THE CITY. FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS, AL FRONT MEDIA OPERATED THE SIGN AT ISSUE IN THIS APPEAL, WHICH IS LOCATED 1812 BONNER STREET, IN BETWEEN SHEPHERD AND YALE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF I 10, PURSUANT TO ONE OF THESE SPECIAL PERMITS, WHICH EXPIRED IN NOVEMBER, 2021. IN 2022, THE SIGN ADMINISTRATION ORDERED THE SIGN TO BE REMOVED AND OUT FRONT SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION TO UTILIZE A SECOND SPECIAL PERMIT IN ORDER TO CONTINUE OPERATING THE SIGN AT ITS CURRENT LOCATION THROUGH 2031. AFTER THE SIGNED ADMINISTRATION DENIED OUT FRONTS APPLICATION, [01:20:01] IN AN EFFORT TO WORK WITH THE CITY OUT FRONT, OFFERED TO REMOVE FOUR ADDITIONAL BILLBOARDS WITH A TOTAL OF SIX FACES THAT WERE OPERATED PURSUANT TO PERMITS WITHOUT DURATIONAL LIMITS. IN EXCHANGE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF A PERMIT TO OPERATE THE SIGN ON BONNER. FOR AN ADDITIONAL EIGHT AND A HALF YEARS, THE SIGN ADMINISTRATION REJECTED OUT FRONT'S PROPOSAL. AND IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR, THE GENERAL PEELS BOARD VOTED TO UPHOLD THE DENIAL ABOUT BRENT'S APPLICATION, AS WELL AS THE SIGN ADMINISTRATION'S ORDER OF REMOVAL. THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD OVERTURN THE DECISIONS OF THE GENERAL APPEALS BOARD FOR SEVERAL REASONS. FIRST, WHEN RELOCATING A DISPLACED SIGN UNDER SECTION 46 17 OF THE SIGN CODE, IF THE SIGN IS GOING TO BE MOVED ON THE SAME PROPERTY OR IN A BUDDING PROPERTY, THEN YOU ONLY NEED TO HAVE 500 FEET OF SPACING FROM THE NEAREST BILLBOARD. IF RELOCATING ELSEWHERE IN THE CITY, THE SIGN MUST BE 1500 FEET FROM OTHER BILLBOARDS. THE BILLBOARD CLOSEST TO THE BONNER SIGN IS APPROXIMATELY 550 FEET AWAY AND OUT FRONT APPLIED TO UTILIZE A SPECIAL PERMIT TO CONTINUE OPERATING THE SIGN ON THE SAME PROPERTY. AND AS SUCH, THE SIGN ADMINISTRATION MISAPPLIED THE SIGN CODE WHEN IT ENFORCED 1500 FEET SPACING RATHER THAN 500 FEET SPACING. THE SECOND REASON COUNSEL SHOULD OVERTURN THE DECISIONS OF THE BOARD IS THAT WHEN INTERPRETING AN ORDINANCE, LIKE THE SIGN CODE EFFECT SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE INTENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY'S GOVERNING BODY. THE POLICIES UNDERLYING THE HOUSTON SIGN CODE ARE BEAUTIFYING THE CITY AND ULTIMATELY REDUCING SIGNAGE OUT FRONT'S PROPOSAL TO REMOVE FOUR BILLBOARDS WITH SIX FACES AND PERMITS WITHOUT EXPIRATION DATES FITS SQUARELY WITHIN THOSE OBJECTIVES. THE COUNCIL SHOULD THEREFORE CONSIDER OUT FRONT'S APPEAL IN CONDUCTION, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FOUNDATIONAL GOALS OF THE SIGN. GO FOR THESE REASONS. AND THOSE INCLUDED IN OUT FRONT'S APPEALS. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. WE'RE ASKING YOU TO OVERTURN THE DECISION COUNCIL. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. UH, YOU CAN, UH, HAVE SOME OF MY TIME TO COMPLETE YOUR STATEMENT. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN, FOR THESE REASONS. AND THOSE INCLUDED IN AL FRONT'S LETTERS TO COUNCIL. WE'RE ASKING FOR THE COUNCIL TO OVERTURN THE DENIAL OF AL FRONT'S PERMIT APPLICATION AND RESCIND THE NOTICE OF SIGNED VIOLATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MC. KASH MA MAYOR IS, UH, SINCE THIS IS, UH, AN ITEM THAT'S ON, UH, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S UNDER THE NON-CONSENT, IS, IS THIS A TAGAL ITEM? IT IS, IT IS A TAGABLE ITEM BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I I, I HAVEN'T HAD TIME THIS WEEKEND TO READ IT ALL BECAUSE I WAS DETAINED, AS YOU KNOW. SO, UH, I MAY BE DOING THAT, BUT I, I, I, I NEED TO READ IT THOROUGHLY. I, I, I'LL, I'LL WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW. ATTORNEY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANKS. SPEAKER. MATT MOLINA. MA MOLINA IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY SOPHIE SIMONS. HOW ARE YOU DOING? MAYOR COUNCIL? UH, MY NAME'S MATT MOLINA. I'M A RESIDENT OF THE GREAT CITY OF, OF HOUSTON AND DISTRICT G. SO, UM, I AM ALSO THE, UH, ALPHA MEDIA'S VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES FOR THE SOUTH REGION. UH, I'VE MET WITH SOME OF YOU IN THE ROOM AND LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING WITH, WITH THE REST OF YOU. BUT AT OUT FRONT, IT'S OUR MISSION TO HELP LOCAL BUSINESSES GROW AND CONNECT WITH LOCAL HOUSTON AUDIENCES. IN 2022, WE PARTNERED WITH OVER 500 LOCAL BUSINESSES, INCLUDING THE HOUSTON ZOO, HOUSTON BALLET, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, HOUSTON SPACE CENTER, HOUSTON METHODIST HOSPITAL, HOUSTON BOTANICAL GARDENS, AND HOUSTON DYNAMO. TO NAME A FEW GO DYNAMO, GO DASH. HOUSTON PRIDES ITSELF ON ALSO BEING GREAT COMMUNITY PARTNERS. WE DONATE OVER 900,000 ANNUALLY IN LOCAL HOUSTON PSA DONATIONS TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT NEED HELP GETTING THEIR MESSAGE OUT. VOLUNTEER HOUSTON, HOMEMADE HOUSTON AND TEXAS CENTER FOR THE MISSING ARE JUST A COUPLE OF NAMES THAT WE HELP. AS CHRIS MENTIONED IN HIS COMMENTS BEFORE, OUTFRONT HAS TRIED TO WORK WITH THE CITY AND OFFER SOLUTIONS THAT WE FEEL FIT THE SPIRIT AND INTENT OF THE HOUSTON SIGN CODE IN 2009 AND RECENTLY AS 2020, THE COUNCIL HAS VOTED ON AMENDMENTS TO THE SIGN CODE THAT FURTHER RESTRICT AIRPORT CORRIDORS, HEIGHT, SIGN PLACEMENTS, AND DISTANCES. ALL OF THESE CHANGES HAVE BEEN ADAPTED WITH THE SPIRIT AND INTENTION OF BEAUTIFYING HOUSTON BY LIMITING AND SOMETIMES REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF OUTDOOR SIGNAGE THROUGHOUT THE CITY. IT IS WITH THIS UNDERSTANDING THAT WE MADE OUR REQUEST TO THE HOUSTON SIGN ADMINISTRATION TO REMOVE UP TO FOUR SIGNS FOR THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN THIS LOCATION WE'RE DISCUSSING HERE TODAY. WE WOULD REFLECT, RESPECTFULLY, ASK THAT THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL REFER THIS ITEM BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION, AND ENCOURAGE THE SIGN ADMINISTRATION TO WORK WITH US ON A SOLUTION. [01:25:01] AND NOT ONLY ACHIEVE OUR GOALS AS A BUSINESS, BUT FULFILLS THE INTENT AND SPIRIT OF THE HOUSTON SIGN CODE IN CLOSING. OUT FRONT LOVES THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I LOVE THE CITY OF HOUSTON, OUR 65 HOUSTON EMPLOYEES CALL HOUSTON HOME AND LOVE THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. SOPHIE SIMONS. SOPHIE SIMONS. SOPHIE. SOPHIE SIMON. NEXT SPEAKER PAULA GRAVES. PAULA GRAVES. PAULA. PAULA GRAVES NEXT SPEAKER, MIKE DISH BERGER. MIKE IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY RICHARD MAZANO. RENO. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL AFTERNOON. UM, I'M MIKE BERGER. I'M PRESIDENT OF THE GHBA THIS YEAR, AND I'M AN OWNER OF SANDCASTLE HOMES. I BUILD EXCLUSIVELY INSIDE HOUSTON, A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN ALSO, UM, I'M GONNA SPEAK TODAY ABOUT THE, UH, CHAPTER 42 PROVISIONS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED. AND I THINK THERE'S A PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULE NEXT WEEK ON THE, ON THE, ON THIS. UM, I WOULD ASK YOU TO LOOK AT THE LIVE PLACES WEBSITE AND SEE THE MISSION OF THE COMMITTEE. I'VE NOT SEEN ANYWHERE WHERE OUR MISSION WAS TO MAKE IT HARDER TO BUILD ON NARROW LOTS. FOUR USE OF ALLEYWAYS OR NOT ALLOW DRIVEWAYS ON CORNER LOTS. AND I WAS A MEMBER OF THE LIVABLE PLACES FOR THE LAST, UH, TWO AND A HALF YEARS. FIRST OF ALL, YOU'LL BE TAKING ONE OF THE MOST COMMON FORMS OF BUILDING IN HOUSTON. FRONT LOADING HOMES WERE INTRODUCED IN HOUSTON TO ALLOW MORE AFFORDABLE HOMES ON SMALLER LOTS. AND SINCE WE HAVE REDEVELOPED MANY PARTS OF HOUSTON, ESPECIALLY INSIDE THE INNER LOOP SO FAR, BRINGING NEW GROCERY STORES, RESTAURANTS, AND INCREASED TAX BASE. JUST LOOK AT SHEPHERD DURHAM CORRIDOR 20 YEARS AGO WAS NOTHING BUT A CARD DEALERSHIPS AND PAWN SHOPS TODAY IS A VIBRANT PARTY. HOUSTON PLANNING IS OFFERED UP OTHER OPTIONS, UH, MULTIPLE UNITS, UH, ADUS, COURTYARD STYLE. ABSOLUTELY. WE'RE ALL FOR THOSE. THESE ARE LIMITED IN SCOPE. A LOT OF THESE ARE RENTALS. MU ARE MANY UNITS ON ONE PROPERTY. THEY CANNOT BE SOLD A SINGLE FAMILY, SO THEY'RE RENTALS. ADUS WOULD BE USED LIKE MOTHER-IN-LAW OR RENT OUT TO A COLLEGE STUDENT OR SOMETHING. FANTASTIC IDEAS. SO WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT AGAINST THOSE. THE UNINTENDED, UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES ARE A FIST IS ON LOTS. UNDER 33 FEET, WE'LL BE FORCED TO BUILD SHARED DRIVEWAY PROJECTS, WHICH IS THREE UNITS ON WITH A SHARED DRIVEWAY. UM, THIS WILL TAKE AWAY, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE FOUR PARKING SPACES IN THE FRONT OF A GARAGES ON OUR TWO HOMES. IF I DO THESE, I'LL END UP WITH ONE PARKING PLACE ON THE STREET, POSSIBLY. BUT THERE'S NO PARKING SIGNS ALLOWED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IF THE STREET'S UNDER 20 FOOT WIDE, YOU CAN PUT IT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET. SO TRYING TO PUT PARKING ON THE STREET IS, IS CRAZY. AND I, I THINK A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS, THAT'S THE BIG THING. NO ONE WANTS PARKING ON THE STREET. MY WIFE DOESN'T WANT PEOPLE PUTTING CARS IN FRONT OF OUR HOME. I KNOW SHE COMPLAINS EVERY TIME SHE SEES IT. WE, PEOPLE WANT, THEY WANT BUILDERS, DEVELOPERS TO HAVE PARKING ON THEIR PROPERTY, SO THAT'S GONNA GO AWAY. SO WE'RE THIS, THERE'S A LOT OF PROPOSALS IN THIS, THESE AMENDMENTS TO FORCE PARKING ONTO THE STREETS. AND OUR, AND THE STREETS ARE ALREADY OVERCROWDED AS IT IS. THEY'RE NOT SAFE. UM, THIRD, YOU'RE ASKING BUILDERS TO BUILD A NON-MARKETABLE HOME THAT BUYERS DON'T WANT. SHARED DRIVEWAYS WOULD BE THREE STORIES WITH NO YARDS. SECOND FLOOR LIVING AND MORE CONCRETE THAT NEEDS TO BE DETAINED. THIS IS NOT WHAT THE MARKET WANTS. IF IT WAS, I'D BE BUILDING IT. THEY WERE BUILDING THESE BACK IN THE EARLY TWO THOUSANDS, AND SOME OTHER RULES CHANGED AND, AND PEOPLE JUST DIDN'T WANT THESE PEOPLE GET TIRED OF WALKING UP TO THE THIRD FLOOR. UM, AS A CONSEQUENCE, PROBABLY FEWER LOTS WILL BE REPLANTED AND YOU'LL END UP BILLING MORE MILLION DOLLAR HOMES. THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN. YOU'RE GONNA SAY, HECK, WITH THIS. UM, FOURTH OF ALL THE SHARED DRIVEWAY PROJECTS REQUIRE AN HOA. THEY COST A LOT MORE MONEY TO BUILD. THEY'RE GONNA ADD ABOUT A YEAR TO THE PERMITTING PROCESS. 'CAUSE YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE ENGINEERS TO DO A DEVELOPMENT SITE PLAN. AND BELIEVE ME, I DONE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS MOVING A, UH, A FIRE HYDRANT RECENTLY TOOK A YEAR FOR MOVING A FIRE HYDRANT 10 FEET. THAT'S, IT JUST TAKES A LONG TIME TO GO THROUGH OCA, UM, FI. NEXT, THE ALLEY PROPOSALS ARE NOT THE REALITY OF HOUSTON. I'M SORRY THAT CAME IN. THANK YOU. UM, MIKE, I KNOW YOU HAVE COMMENTS. I LITERALLY WAS ABOUT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION ABOUT ALLEYWAYS. 'CAUSE YOU BUILD IN DISTRICT C. YES. UM, FOR YEARS WE HAVE STRUGGLED WITH THE ISSUE OF, YOU KNOW, MAYOR WHO HAS, UM, THE OBLIGATION OF MAINTENANCE FOR OUR ALLEYWAYS. AND IN THE HEIGHTS IT GETS EVEN MORE COMPLICATED BECAUSE OF WHAT THE HEIGHTS USED TO BE AND THOSE LEGAL AGREEMENTS. CAN YOU JUST VERY QUICKLY, 'CAUSE WE HAVE A MASSIVE LIST OF SPEAKERS TODAY. I SEE. TALK ABOUT THE ALLEYWAYS SPECIFICALLY AND THE CHALLENGES. IF THIS EITHER THE CITY OR THERE'S NOT SOME MAINTENANCE UNDERSTANDING AS IT RELATES TO THAT. THE, THE, THE PRO, THE BIG PROBLEM IS I LOVE ALLEYWAYS. I BUILD ON THE HEIGHTS I CAN USE. I TRY TO USE ALLEYWAYS AS MUCH AS I CAN. IF THEY'RE ALREADY PAVED, GREAT. BUT MOST OF THE ALLEYWAYS ARE ROUGH. THEY HAVE SOME ROCK, THEY HAVE SOME SHELL. AND SO AS A BUILDER UNDER THESE PROPOSALS, THEY'LL SAY, BUILDER, YOU HAVE TO GO FIX THE SALLY WAY UP. SO IF WE WANT TO [01:30:01] USE THIS LOT, WE'LL GO THERE AND GET OUR TRACTOR, AND WE'LL GRADE MAKING SOME CHANGES. GRADE OUT THE SHALE, GR OUT THE ROCKS, MAKE IT PRETTY, AND IT'S ALL WORKING REALLY WELL. BUT THAT IS NOT CONCRETE. IN 12 MONTHS, IT'S GONNA START GETTING PITS AND HOLES AND START HOLDING WATER AND SUCH. AND NOW YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO ALL THE HOMEOWNERS ALONG THAT ALLEYWAY AND SAY, WHO WANTS TO PAY FOR THIS? BY THE WAY, UNDER CURRENT RULES WITH THE PERMITTING, YOU HAVE TO ATTAIN A PERMIT. YOU TOUCH THAT ROCK, YOU HAVE TO DO DETENTION. THAT'S IN THE ORDINANCES RIGHT NOW. SO THERE'S, YOU'RE PUTTING ON A BURDEN ON HOMEOWNERS. AND I DON'T THINK THE CITY IS GONNA TAKE OVER MAINTENANCE OF ALLEYWAYS. I CAN PROBABLY, THE ANSWER'S NO ON THAT. I, I'M POSITIVE BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S A, IT IS A BIG THING AND THERE ARE A LOT OF ALLEYWAYS IN HOUSTON AND TO TRY TO FORCE US TO USE THESE, IT'S JUST GONNA CREATE A LOT MORE COMPLAINTS TO YOU GUYS. , THANK YOU CARLOS. THANKS A LOT. THANKS. NEXT SPEAKER. RICHARD ZAINA. RICHARD ZAINA, YOU KNOW, RICHARD IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TODAY TO, TO BE HERE TO SPEAK. UH, I'M ALSO HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT SOME OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO CHAPTER 42. UM, MIKE HIT ON SOME VERY GOOD POINTS, SO I DON'T WANNA REHASH ALL OF THOSE. UM, THE OTHER DAY, LAST WEEK AT PLANNING COMMISSIONED, UH, COMMISSIONER ROSENBERG STATED, AND I'M PARAPHRASING SO PLEASE EXCUSE ME IF I'M OFF A LITTLE BIT, BUT WE APPROVE A LOT OF 50 BY 100 LOT SPLITS, ELIMINATING FRONT LOADED NARROW LOT DEVELOPMENTS. SEEMS LIKE WE'RE GETTING RID OF A VERY POPULAR STYLE OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY. UM, ONE OF THE REASONS THESE ARE SO POPULAR IS WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF OUR CUSTOMERS THAT ARE COMING IN FROM OTHER PARTS OF HARRIS COUNTY. WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM THE SUBURBS WHO ARE SELLING HOMES IN KATY AND CYPRESS AND THE WOODLANDS BECAUSE THE KIDS ARE OUT OF THE NEST AND THEY WANT TO EXPERIENCE CITY LIVING AND THEY NEED A FUNCTIONAL HOME THAT FITS THEIR CITY LIFE. A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE, THIS IS GONNA BE THE LAST HOME THAT THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE INTO. SO THEY ARE LONG-TERM CITY RESIDENTS. THEY NEED A FUNCTIONAL LIVING PLAN THAT INCLUDES FIRST FLOOR LIVING, A LITTLE BIT OF GREEN SPACE AND PRIVATE DRIVEWAY FOR GUEST PARKING. THIS AGE GROUP BRINGS A LOT OF DISPOSABLE INCOME TO SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS THAT MIKE'S TALKED ABOUT. AND WE DON'T WANNA LOSE THESE PEOPLE BECAUSE WE CAN'T BUILD A PRODUCT AT A PRICE POINT THAT WORKS FOR THEIR LIFESTYLE. WE WANT TO ATTRACT THESE PEOPLE FROM THE SUBURBS. WE'RE LOSING PEOPLE FROM THE SUB TO THE SUBURBS ALL THE TIME. WE WANT THESE PEOPLE TO BE MOVING INTO THE CITY. UM, MIKE HIT EARLIER ON, UM, COST ASSOCIATED WITH SOME OF THE CHANGES. UM, ONE OF THE OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE AS BUILDERS IS, I'M SURE YOU'VE ALL SEEN ON A 50 BY 100 LOT THAT UGLY, FUNKY, ODD L SHAPE OF THREE HOMES JAMMED INTO, UH, A 5,000 SQUARE FOOT LOT. UM, THE PER LOT LAND COST SAVINGS OF DOING THREE UNITS VERSUS TWO FRONT LOADED HOMES ON A SAME SIZE PROPERTY DOESN'T JUSTIFY THE EXTRA EIGHT MONTHS THAT WE GET IN PERMITTING. THE LONGER BUILD TIMES AND THE DIFFICULTY IN FINDING BUYERS WHO WILL EVEN CONSIDER A SHARED DRIVEWAY HOME, UM, PLANNING WILL TELL YOU THAT, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOODS HATE FRONT LOADERS. WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? THE NEIGHBORHOODS HATE MORE BECAUSE OUR PHONE RINGS ALL THE TIME WHEN IT HAPPENS IS THREE HOMES JAMMED ONTO A 5,000 SQUARE FOOT IN A FUNKY SHAPE THAT BRINGS MORE AND MORE CARS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE HAVE MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THOSE THAN ANY OTHER PROJECT THAT WE BUILT. THE LAST THING THAT I WANTED TO BRING UP AS WELL, UM, IS, UM, A LOT OF THE PLANNING PROPOSALS DON'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT OSHA OR CENTER POINT MINIMUM SAFE DISTANCES FROM HIGH VOLTAGE LINES. UM, WE'RE BEING TOLD BY PLANNING, LOOK HOW CLOSE YOU CAN BUILD TO PROPERTY LINES NOW. BUT IN REALITY, ON MANY OF THE LOTS IN THE CITY, THESE LIVABLE PLACE CARROTS THAT WE'VE BEEN OFFERED AREN'T FEASIBLE BECAUSE OF POWER LINES. BRINGING HOMES WITHIN FIVE FEET OF MANY PROPERTY LINES AS PLANNING WANTS TO DO, WILL BRING THOSE HOMES TOO CLOSE TO THE HIGH VOLTAGE LINES TO MEET THOSE MINIMUM SAFE DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS. UM, I'M NOT AGAINST A LOT OF THE PROPOSALS IN CHAPTER 42. I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD IN THERE AS ALL OF MY GHBA COLLEAGUES AGREED TO THEIR TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCIL MEMBER KASH, HAS THERE BEEN ANY TYPE OF A, UH, UH, STUDY TO DETERMINE WHAT THIS MIGHT ADD TO THE COST OF A HOUSE? NOT A FORMAL STUDY. UM, I KNOW SEVERAL GHBA REPRESENTATIVES, UM, YOU LOOK AT ADDITIONAL TIME AND PERMITTING, WHICH MEANS MORE HOLDING, MORE INTEREST, CARRY MORE PROPERTY TAXES, MORE INSURANCE CARRY, THE ADDITIONAL ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE FEES RUN IN THE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. UM, THE EXTRA PERMITS ARE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. AND ANOTHER THING THAT, UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF OUR INDUSTRY DON'T UNDERSTAND IS THE SIMPLER HOUSE IS TO BUILD THE LOWER IT IS, THE LOWER COST IT IS TO BUILD AS WELL. SO WHEN YOU BUILD HIGHER DENSITY WITH UNITS THAT ARE CLOSER TOGETHER, UNITS THAT ARE TALLER, THE ROOFER CHARGES MORE TO WORK ON A THREE STORY HOUSE THAN A TWO STORY HOUSE. WHEN THE [01:35:01] FRAMER HAS TO WORK WITH TWO FEET BETWEEN HOMES VERSUS FIVE FEET BETWEEN HOMES, THEY CHARGE MORE. SO ALL OF THOSE COSTS ADD UP VERY, VERY QUICKLY. AND FOR SMALLER BUILDERS, LIKE A LOT OF THE GHPA MEMBERS, THOSE COSTS MAKE PROJECTS UNFEASIBLE. WELL. 'CAUSE EVERY TIME THE WE RAISE THE HOUSE A THOUSAND DOLLARS, THERE'S UH, SOMEBODY SAID, I THINK IT'S ABOUT 2023 OR 2,500 FAMILIES CAN NO LONGER AFFORD THAT HOUSE. AND WITH INTEREST RATES GOING UP, THAT'S ANOTHER PROBLEM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU EVERYONE. NEXT SPEAKER, SPENCER HUCK SPENCER WAS AT, YES, SPENCER HUCK IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I WAS HERE THIS MORNING SPEAKING ON CHAPTER 42. UM, I'M NOT A BUILDER, UM, A REALTOR. AND, UH, I FOCUS ON LAND ACQUISITION FOR DEVELOPERS. UM, THE BIG THING, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD THINGS. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANNA SAY THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD THINGS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF THE CHAPTER 42 INITIATIVE. HOWEVER, ONE OF THE, OH, SORRY. HOWEVER, ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS, UM, THAT I BELIEVE IS A DETRIMENT TO HOUSTON'S GROWTH IS THE MINIMUM, UH, THE REQUIREMENTS AROUND THE NARROW LOTS. SO I'M PASSING AROUND, UM, KIND OF HIGHLIGHTING ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PARCELS THAT ARE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO IF YOU LOOK, TAKE A LOOK AT THE FIRST PAGE THAT'S ON THERE. IT JUST GIVES YOU A BROAD OVERVIEW OF HOW MANY DIFFERENT PARCELS ARE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IT'S AROUND A MILLION. AND THEN IT ALSO GIVES YOU HOW MANY DIFFERENT PROPERTY OWNERS ARE THERE, WHICH IS AROUND, UH, 700,000. UM, IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE NEXT PAGE, IT ILLUSTRATES HOW MANY LOTS WOULD BE AFFECTED OUT OF THESE MILLION LOTS, UM, WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT THAT MAP AND SEE SPECIFICALLY WHERE THIS IS AFFECTING, UH, DEVELOPMENT. SO YOU'LL SEE IN AREAS LIKE FIFTH WARD, THIRD WARD, THE HEIGHTS, UM, OST AREA, SOUTH UNION, WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT GOING ON. AND, UM, THE PROVISION THAT IS PROPOSED IN THIS ORDINANCE REALLY LIMITS, UM, THE DEVELOPMENT OF THOSE LOTS. I WORK WITH LANDOWNERS ALL THE TIME, AND YOU KNOW, A LOT OF 'EM, THIS IS THEIR GENERATIONAL WEALTH, UM, WITHIN THIS PROPERTY THAT THEY'VE OWNED FOR A LONG TIME, WHETHER IT'S AN INVESTMENT OR INHERITED. AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES WHEN I'M TALKING TO THEM AND TELLING 'EM ABOUT THIS CHANGE, YOU KNOW, IT'S A BIG FEAR FACTOR FOR THEM BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THEIR PROPERTY VALUE WILL BE CUT SIGNIFICANTLY. AS YOU CAN HEAR FROM MY, UH, BUILDER, UH, CLIENTS THAT THERE ARE, UH, A LOT OF PROBLEMS IN TERMS OF DEVELOPING THESE L-SHAPED DRIVEWAYS. SO AGAIN, WHAT I WANT TO JUST REITERATE IS, UM, I BELIEVE THAT THE CHANGE IN HOUSTON AND ALL THIS OTHER STUFF THAT'S IN CHAPTER 42 IS GREAT, BUT THIS NARROW LOTS IS SIGNIFICANTLY, UM, GONNA REDUCE THE GROWTH IN HOUSTON. AND I THINK THAT IT'S ALSO GONNA LIMIT WHAT THE BUILDERS AND, UH, BUYERS ARE ABLE TO DO. AND THEN THE THIRD SLIDE, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT, THE THIRD SLIDE IS HIGHLIGHTING KIND OF WHAT RICHARD SPOKE ABOUT. UM, AND THAT'S KIND OF THE ADDED COSTS AND TIMELINES SURROUNDING THESE, UH, 5,000 SQUARE FOOT L-SHAPED LOTS. UM, AGAIN, TIMING COSTS. AND THE WHOLE GOAL HERE IS AFFORDABILITY. AND I BELIEVE THAT IT'LL LIMIT, UM, THE AFFORDABILITY ASPECT. OKAY, THANKS. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANKS. NEXT SPEAKER BERNARD AMMA. BERNARDO AMANI IS HERE. WE FOLLOWED BY DANIELA CABRERA. I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS CONGRESSMAN AS AS NO, NO, NO, SORRY, MAYOR. I'M SORRY. MAYOR . THANK YOU. YEAH. AFTERNOON COME. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON A VETERAN ISSUE THAT MANY RESIDENTS HAVE COMPLAINED AS I GO ROUND, KNOCKING ON THEIR DOORS. BY WAY, I'M A CANDIDATE FOR CITY COUNCIL. AND, AND AS MOST OF YOU HAVE DONE, WE DO GO TO RESIDENTS TO SOUND THEIR OPINION ON WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, WHAT THEY'RE NOT HAPPY ABOUT. I HAVE HAD A LOT OF, WELL, SOME OF THE ONES WE ARE, HIHD, THE MAYOR HAS, UH, TAKEN LEADERSHIP POSITION. BUT THE ONE THAT, UM, THEM EXPLAIN TO ME IS A COMPLAINT THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE ON THE EXHIBIT CAUSE OF RECEIVING, [01:40:01] UH, PHONE CALL FROM MEMBERS IN CA TO THE CITY JAIL. TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I DON'T KNOW. I CANNOT, UH, UH, COMPARE HOW MUCH IT IS, WOULD THEY HAVE BEEN OVERCHARGED OR WHAT IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEIR COMPLAINT IS. BUT IT'S AN ISSUE THAT I WANT TO LEAVE TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO LOOK INTO IT ALL. I KNOW A LOT OF ESTONIANS, SOME THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO ARE NOT VERY HAPPY ABOUT IT. AND, UM, AND GOD, IF YOU ALLOW ME TO PUT ANOTHER ISSUE IN MY ALLOTTED TERM, IS THE NUISANCE THAT WE HAVE ON SUBWAY FREEWAY. I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO THE DETAILS, BUT THAT IS ONE THING THAT I BELIEVE THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO PAY ATTENTION TO. IT'S A VERY VETERAN, YOU KNOW, HABIT OF DRIVING WITH YOUR SON OR YOUR DAUGHTER ON FREEWAY. AND SHE, I'M SURE SOME OF YOU KNOW THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SOLUTION WILL BE, BUT WE HAVE THE RESOURCES, WE HAVE THE POLICE, UH, RESOURCES TO MINIMIZE THOSE PROBLEMS. IT'S AN ISO FOR PEOPLE RECEIVING THIS THING. SO THAT'S ALL I NEED TO DO. AGAIN, LET ME EMPHASIZE, PEOPLE ARE NOT VERY HAPPY THE AMOUNT THAT THEY'RE BEING CHARGED IN CITY JAIL AND ALSO IN THE COUNTY JAIL. AND I'M GONNA BE TALKING TO RODNEY ON 27TH TO BRING THE SAME COMPLAINT. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, DANIELA CABRERA. DANIELA CABRERA IS HERE. HELLO, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. I LIVE AT 7 7 0 2 2 ZIP CODE, WHICH IS CATEGORIZED A CHILDCARE DESERT BY THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION. I HAVE AN ISSUE, A REGISTERED CHILDCARE LICENSE HOME BY TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION. I WAS HOPING TO START SERVING THE FAMILIES AT THE INDEPENDENT SIZED COMMUNITY AS SOON AS I OPT MY LICENSE. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THE HOUSTON PERMITTING CENTER, MORE SPECIFICALLY THE DEPARTMENT OF OCCUPANCY, IS REQUIRING ME TO GET A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY, WHICH IS EXTREMELY RARE FOR A CHILDCARE HOME. DUE TO THIS, THE CHILDREN IN MY COMMUNITY HAS BEEN DENIED CARE. I AM ALLOWED BY CHILDCARE LICENSE TO HAVE SIX CHILDREN DURING SCHOOL HOURS AND 12 AFTER SCHOOL HOURS. BUT THE DEPARTMENT OCCUPANCY SAID THAT I CAN ONLY HAVE A MAX OF FIVE CHILDREN IN MY CARE. MY HOUSE IS CATEGORIZED A SINGLE FAMILY THREE R HOME. ADDITIONALLY, THEY ALSO TOLD ME IF I WANNA BE AT FULL CAPACITY, I HAVE TO CONVERT MY HOME INTO COMMERCIAL PROPERTY. AND IN ORDER TO DO THIS, IT REQUIRES ME TO HAVE AN AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM AT MY RESIDENCY AND OBTAIN MULTIPLE ENGINEERING, UM, SORRY, OBTAIN MULTIPLE ENGINEERING PLANS, WHICH ALL OF THESE IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND EXTREMELY RARE FOR REGISTER. A LICENSED HOME THAT PROVIDE CHILDCARE. I PERSONALLY KNOW TWO LICENSED HOME CHILDCARES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT HAVE NOT BEEN REQUIRED A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY. AND THEY OPERATE AT FULL CAPACITY TO PROVIDE CARE FOR 12 CHILDRENS AT ALL TIMES. THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS A TOTAL OF 608 REGISTERED HOMES. WHY IS MY HOME BEING TARGETED? EVEN THE CHILDCARE PROVIDER EXPANSION INITIATIVE TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH HOUSTON HOME PROVIDERS BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE FULL CAPACITY AND EVEN MENTION THAT SOME HOMES PROVIDERS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAVE BECOME CENTERS WITHOUT HAVING AN OCCUPANCY PERMIT. MS. CARLOS RO, YOU KNOW, MY COMMUNITY AND THE LACK OF CARE THAT PARENTS HAVE. I'M LOCATED NEXT TO BURS ELEMENTARY WHERE MOST OF THE PARENTS HAVE REACHED ME FOR AFTERSCHOOL CARE AND INFANT CARE. I ALREADY INVESTED A LOT OF MY OWN MONEY AND THE CHILDCARE EXPANSION IN INITIATIVE FUND TO SET UP MY DAYCARE AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE CARE FOR 12 CHILDREN. I NEED YOUR HELP TO BE ABLE TO RUN MY DAYCARE AT FULL CAPACITY JUST LIKE ANY OTHER HOME IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WHILE WILL CHILDCARE LICENSING WILL PROVIDE ME A LICENSE OF 12 CHILDREN CAPACITY AT HOME DAYCARES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO HAVE MORE THAN FIVE ACCORDING TO OCCUPANCY, I NEED YOUR HELP TO PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED CARE IN MY COMMUNITY. IMAGINE IF MY, IF ALL CHILDCARE HOMES NEED THIS REQUIREMENT, HOW MANY OF COMMUNITIES WILL BE AFFECTED? HOW MANY FAMILIES AND INCOMES WILL BE AFFECTED. THANK YOU. AND COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CISNEROS. UM, WELL THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY. UM, WHEN WE REACHED OUT TO YOU AND LEARNED, YOU KNOW, TODAY, SOME OF THE, UM, WHAT THAT YOU'RE [01:45:01] CLAIMING THAT YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT NO ONE ELSE IN, YOU KNOW, IN THE CHILDCARE NEEDS A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY. MY STAFF STARTED LOOKING INTO THAT. AND WHAT WE WERE TOLD IS THAT ALL ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A CO A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY. AND THAT ENFORCEMENT RELIES ON CALLED IN COMPLAINTS SO THAT IF YOU KNOW OF SOME THAT ARE OPERATING ILLEGALLY WITHOUT A, A, A, A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY, THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE DOING THAT. THAT BEING SAID, I I, YOU KNOW, I I DO KNOW VERY WELL THE, THE GREAT NEED THERE IS FOR CHILDCARE, YOU KNOW, AND HOW, HOW, UM, HOW HARD IT IS FOR, FOR PARENTS TO FIND, YOU KNOW, ADEQUATE CARE THAT'S CLOSE TO HOME, THAT'S AFFORDABLE. UM, BUT, BUT THE, THE RULES THAT ARE IN PLACE ARE LIKE, LIKE CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY ARE THERE, YOU KNOW, REALLY ABOUT SAFETY AND, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT THE CHILDREN ARE GONNA BE OKAY. SO, SO MAYOR, I'M NOT SURE HOW WE PROCEED WITH THIS OF WHAT THEY'RE TELLING ME, YOU KNOW, IS, UM, COUNTERED TO WHAT, WHAT SHE'S EXPERIENCING. AND, AND I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ISSUE IS. I'M, I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ON MY SHEET. SHE'S BEING, UM, UH, THE PERMITTING DEPARTMENT IS SAYING THAT SHE NEEDS TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENT TO HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY. AND, UM, AND, AND SHE'S SAYING THAT, THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS TO HAVE ONE. NO ONE ELSE HAS ONE. NO REGISTERED HOME CHILDCARE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS BEEN EVER REQUIRED AN OCCUPANCY PERMIT. THAT DOESN'T, THAT DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT. A HOME CHILD DAYCARE THAT NO, I TELL YOU WHAT, I'LL HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND SOMETHING IS NOT ADDING UP. SOMETHING IS NOT ADDING UP. AND I HAVE CALLED, EXCUSE ME, I HAVE CALLED MULTIPLE HOME CHILDCARES. AND IF YOU GO ON, I'M SORRY, I HAVE CALLED MULTIPLE HOME CHILDCARES REGISTERED OR LICENSED HOME CHILDCARES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND NONE OF THEM HAVE EVER BEEN REQUIRED AN OCCUPANCY PERMIT. YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE HOME CHILDCARE. SHE HAS A STATE LICENSE, BUT A STATE LICENSE IS NOT THE SAME THING AS MEETING THE BUILDING. I DO UNDERSTAND, BUT LEMME MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND. YOU ARE OPERATING A HOME CHILDCARE CENTER. I AM NOT OPERATING IT. I HAVE A, 'CAUSE I HAVE THE OCCUPANCY AND BECAUSE OF THIS OCCUPANCY, I HAVE NOT STARTED CARE PROVIDING CARE FOR CHILDREN. BUT I HAVE A LICENSE BY THE TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN COMMISSION TO HAVE A CHILDCARE REGISTERED HOME. SO THAT MEANS THAT I CAN GIVE CARE TO CHILDREN ON MY, AT MY RESIDENCY MAYOR. BUT, BUT THERE STILL NEEDS TO BE A PERMIT SOMEWHERE. RIGHT? IT THE UM, WHAT, WHAT MORE THEY SAID, THEY SAID THE BUILDING CODE REQUIRES HOME DAYCARE SERVING SIX CHILDREN OR MORE TO GO THROUGH COMMERCIAL PLAN REVIEW. VISUAL OCCUPANCY INSPECTIONS CAN OCCUR FOR FIVE OR, UH, OR UNDER CHILDREN, WHICH IS WHAT THEY TOLD YOU. THEY COULD HAVE FIVE OCCUPANCY INSPECTIONS HAS OFFERED TO MEET WITH APPLICANT TO, YOU KNOW, TO TALK TO YOU TO DISCUSS THAT. BUT THAT ALSO, TO BE CLEAR THAT THE STATE LICENSE IS NOT THE SAME THING AS MEETING THE BUILDING CODE. I I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THE TEXAS HEALTH, UM, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE COMMISSION IS NOT THE SAME AS THE CITY OF HOUSTON PERMITTING CENTER. BUT IF YOU GO TO ANY OTHER REGISTERED HOME IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, NONE OF THEM, THEN YOU NEED TO GIMME THEIR NAMES AND OH, YOU CAN GO ONLINE AND THEN THE 608, THEN WE WILL DEAL WITH THEM ALL THE SAME. I'M GLAD YOU'RE BRING, I'M GLAD YOU'RE BRINGING IT TO MY ATTENTION. AND SO LET ME DIRECT, UH, A RA OF THE CITY COULD IMAGINE TO TAKE IF ALL OF THESE I I KNOW. YES. SORRY. SINCE YOU BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION AND WE WANT TO TREAT EVERYBODY THE SAME. AND SO IF THERE ARE OTHERS WHO ARE OPERATING AND WE ARE SAYING NO, THEN WE WILL DEAL WITH THEM AS WELL. OKAY. WE ARE GONNA TREAT EVERYBODY THE SAME. BUT IF, HOW MANY, HOW MANY CHILDREN ARE YOU, UM, PLANNING TO OFFER YOUR SERVICES TO? HOW MANY, WELL, CURRENTLY MY LICENSE IS A REGISTERED LICENSE HOME. SO I CAN PROVIDE CARE FOR SIX CHILDREN DURING THE SCHOOL HOURS AND AFTER SCHOOL HOURS TO HAVE CHILDREN. THAT'S THE STATE LICENSE? THAT'S THE STATE LICENSE. RIGHT. AND THERE'S GONNA NEED TO BE SOME I KNOW WHAT THE STATE THEN OPERATE. OKAY, LET ME, LEMME JUST GET WITH PERMIT AND FIND OUT. OKAY. LEMME JUST FIND OUT IF THERE ARE OTHERS WHO ARE VIOLATING THE RULES, THEN WE WILL DEAL WITH THOSE. WE'LL DEAL WITH THEM AS WELL. 'CAUSE EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE TREATED THE SAME. I AGREE WITH YOU. EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE TREATED THE SAME. CORRECT? YES. 'CAUSE MY, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, I DON'T KNOW PERSONALLY, I KNOW TWO LICENSED HOME AND I KNOW OTHER HOMES IN THE RED LICENSE OR REGISTERED AND NONE OF THEM HAVE BEEN REQUIRED. BUT, UM, MR. MAYOR, [01:50:01] IF THIS LICENSE HOME OR REGISTERED HOMES, I USUALLY WRONG BY SINGLE MOMS OR STAY AT HOME MOMS. AND IF WE ARE BEING REQUIRED SUCH A BIG THING FROM THE CITY, WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO GIVE CARE TO KIDS IN OUR COMMUNITIES. RIGHT. BUT WHAT I'M SAYING TO YOU, IF SOMETHING SHOULD GO WRONG, IF SOMETHING SHOULD GO WRONG, PEOPLE ARE GONNA HOLD US RESPONSIBLE. OKAY. CORRECT. CORRECT. I I'M, I'M NOT TRYING TO, UH, HURT YOU OR STAND IN THE WAY. UH, WE NEED TO TREAT EVERYBODY THE SAME. I JUST NEED TO EDUCATE MYSELF ON WHAT THE RULES ARE. OKAY. I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW. BUT LET ME, LET ME FIND OUT. LET ME FIND OUT AND WE'LL REACH OUT TO YOU AND, UH, AND WE WANT TO TREAT EVERYBODY THE SAME. WE DON'T WANT TO TREAT YOU ONE WAY AND THEN, UH, TREAT SOMEBODY ELSE A DIFFERENT WAY. YES. OKAY. SO, UH, WE DON'T WANNA SAY NO TO YOU AND THEN THESE OTHER BUSINESSES ARE OPERATING JUST LIKE YOU WANNA OPERATE. SO LET ME, LET ME FIND OUT. 'CAUSE I, I DON'T KNOW. LET ME, CAN I JUST THROW A PIECE OF INFORMATION? INFORMATION? WELL, I TELL YOU WHAT, WE GOT A LONG AGENDA. LET ME FIND OUT. WE'LL, OKAY. WE, WE'LL BE BACK IN TOUCH WITH YOU. I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT IT TO, TO, TO OUR ATTENTION AND, UH, LET ME, LET ME DIG INTO IT. OKAY. WE'LL, WE'LL HELP TOO. WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOU AND, AND, AND, AND, AND, UM, WE'LL HELP FACILITATE WHATEVER THE MAYOR CAN DO. WE'LL ALL WORK TOGETHER. OKAY? ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER. THE OFFICE WALKER. THE OFFICE WALKER. THE OFFICE WALKER. NEXT SPEAKER, MARK MCNEIL. MARK MCNEIL IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY STEVE WILLIAMS. MS. WALKER. GOOD, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, MY NAME IS MARK MCNEIL. I HAVE A ATHLETE'S ECONOMIC ALLIANCE AND I ATTEND WORLD HARVEST OUTREACH CHURCH IN SUNNYSIDE. WE, UH, SERVED AT A DISTRIBUTION CENTER DURING OUR LAST FLOOD. AND SO, UH, WE GET A LOT OF REQUESTS FROM THE COMMUNITY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. AND ONE THING WE'VE NOTICED AS A COMMON DENOMINATOR, IT WAS ALWAYS EMPLOYMENT. THEY WERE UNEMPLOYED OR TRYING TO FIND EMPLOYMENT. AND SO WE DECIDED TO ATTACK THAT ISSUE. UH, SO WE PARTNERED WITH, UH, THE TEXAS WORKFORCE AND WE STARTED DOING, UH, JOB FAIRS. SO IN THE LAST YEAR, WE BOUGHT MAYBE 80 DIFFERENT, UH, CORPORATIONS TO THE COMMUNITY TO HIRE. AND WE PROBABLY HAVE CLOSE TO 300 PEOPLE IN THE YEAR, UH, FIND EMPLOYMENT. SO WE'VE ALSO DECIDED TO EXTEND IT BECAUSE OF THE DEMAND. EVERY OTHER THURSDAY WE BRING PEOPLE IN FOR JOB READINESS, WHETHER THEY NEED HELP WITH RESUME WRITING, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ISSUES WITH NO, UH, INTERNET, UH, OR NO TRANSPORTATION TO GET, GET TWO JOBS, UH, TO APPLY FOR JOBS. AND SO WE'VE HELPED, UH, INDIVIDUALS BE ABLE TO COME IN AND APPLY FOR MULTIPLE JOBS. AND SO THIS PROGRAM, WE SEE THAT IT, IT IS BEING EFFECTIVE. UH, WE'VE BEEN IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, AND THEN I KNOW THE LAST 20, 25 YEARS, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH EMPLOYMENT. AND SO WE DECIDED WE NEED TO PUT, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO, TO ACTUALLY FIX THIS ISSUE. NOT KEEP PUTTING A BANDAID ON IT, BUT FIX IT. AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'VE, UH, STARTED THIS INITIATIVE, THIS EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE FOR SUNNYSIDE, UH, SHABBAT EVANS AND COREY, UH, GLEN HAVE BEEN A GREAT SUPPORT. AND, UH, NOW WE WANT TO TAKE IT WHERE WE CAN HAVE IT FIVE DAYS A WEEK. IF WE COULD HAVE IT FIVE DAYS A WEEK, WE COULD REALLY MAKE A HUGE IMPACT ON THE UNEMPLOYMENT ISSUE IN THAT COMMUNITY, WHICH AFFECTS THE WHOLE FAMILY DYNAMIC. IF, IF YOU CAN AFFORD, IF YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY, THEN NOW YOU'RE ABLE TO GET BETTER EDUCATION, BETTER HEALTHCARE, AND IT JUST INSPIRES PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WE'RE ASKING IS THAT WE CAN GET SOME KIND OF PARTNERSHIP OR ANY KIND OF ASSISTANCE WITH CREATING A, A FIVE DAY A WEEK EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM IN SUNNYSIDE. WE'VE TALKED TO THE HEAD OF TEXAS WORKFORCE IN AUSTIN, AND THEY, THEY'RE WITH IT. THEY, THEY DEFINITELY WANNA DO IT AND PARTNER WITH US, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO GET IT STARTED. AND SO AT THIS TIME, THAT'S WHY I'M COMING TO YOU, MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL TO SEE IF WE CAN, UH, DO SOME KIND OF PARTNERSHIP TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE ON SUNNYSIDE AND MAKE SURE THAT I, THAT I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE ALREADY PARTNERING WITH THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION? YES. AND YOU ARE ALREADY OPERATING HOW MANY TIMES A WEEK? UH, RIGHT NOW WE DO, UH, EVERY ONCE EVERY OTHER THURSDAY. OKAY. AND THIS IS TAKING PLACE WHERE? AT WORLD HARVEST OUTREACH CHURCH. OKAY. UH, AND SO HAVE YOU, SO IS THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION WILLING TO EXPAND THEIR INITIATIVE WITH YOU? I'M TRYING TO, YES. YES. THEY'RE WILLING TO DO IT, BUT AS FAR AS THE RESOURCES RIGHT NOW, THEY DON'T HAVE THEM. AND SO WE HAVE TO SO YOU'RE NEEDING, YOU'RE NEEDING MONEY. MONEY, YES. AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME OTHER COMPUTERS AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT WE NEED. OKAY. WELL, LET ME [01:55:01] TURN YOU OVER NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ, MAYBE SHE CAN ASSIST YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING FORWARD. IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT, UH, TO HELP PEOPLE TO GET EMPLOYMENT. SO MY CONSTITUENTS, UH, DIRECTOR IS BEHIND YOU. I THINK YOU SAID YOU'VE ALREADY ENGAGED WITH, WITH COREY. UH, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW OF ANY RESOURCES. YOU WERE TALKING TO THE RIGHT PERSON. I JUST, YOU JUST DAWN TO ME, HAVE YOU TALKED WITH OBO ON THE TURNAROUND HOUSTON INITIATIVE? NO, AND THIS IS OFFICE OF BUSINESS OF OPPORTUNITY. WE HAVE OUR TURNAROUND HOUSTON INITIATIVE. IT'S LIKE A WORKFORCE PROGRAM, BUT IT MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO PARTNER WITH THEM ON YOUR INITIATIVE. OKAY. OKAY. SO I WOULD, I WOULD TALK TO, UM, UH, TO, UM, MARSHA MURRAY WITH THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OF OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IF YOU CAN PARTNER WITH THE TURNAROUND HOUSTON PROGRAM, WHICH IS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. RIGHT. SO IT MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY THERE FOR, UM, THE OBO TO PARTNER WITH YOU AND THEN TO PARTNER WITH THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION TO EXPAND THAT PROGRAM. OKAY. 'CAUSE I NOTICED IN YOUR COMPLETE COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN, THAT WAS ONE OF THE, IT ALL FALLS UNDERNEATH. OKAY. BUT THAT'S, UH, I THINK THAT'S A, THAT, THAT, THAT FITS. OKAY. AND SO IT MAY BE THEN, UH, ABLE TO UTILIZE CITY RESOURCES, WORKING WITH YOUR PROGRAM, AND THEN WORKING WITH THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION. GOTCHA. GOTCHA. OKAY. SO JUST, UH, REACH OUT TO MARSHA MURRAY OR BEYOND, JUST LET HER KNOW I TOLD YOU TO, TO TALK TO HER. OKAY. I APPRECIATE THAT TIME. OKAY. AND THEN YOU CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER. YES. I'LL GET BACK IN TOUCH. THANK YOU. OH, COUNCIL MEMBER. WAS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY, GOOD. OKAY. ALRIGHT, SIR. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER. STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS. NEXT SPEAKER. FRANCIS BROWN. FRANCIS BROWN. FRANCIS BROWN. FRANCIS BROWN. NEXT SPEAKER. NOAH SALAS. NOAH SALAS. NOAH IS HERE. THREE. FOLLOWED BY REVEREND JOHN COLEMAN. HELLO, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS NOAH S I'M A SOFTWARE ENGINEER WITH 13 YEARS EXPERIENCE. I OWN A HEALTHCARE SOFTWARE CONSULTING COMPANY. UM, WE DO EVERYTHING FROM SECURITY TO DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION. I'VE WORKED ON TEAMS WHERE WE MANAGE BILLIONS OF DEVICES AND MILLIONS OF NETWORKS. UM, AND OFTEN I FIND MYSELF, UH, THE TARGET OF HACKS GOING INTO CORPORATE ESPIONAGE AND PERSONAL, UM, UM, HARASSMENT. UM, AND I HAD TO CONTACT THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES. UM, I RECENTLY, ONCE AGAIN, UM, BECAME A TARGET OF THIS HACKERS AND HUMILIATION EXTORTION, AND I, UH, DECIDED TO CONTACT THE AUTHORITIES. UM, THIS HACK TARGETED MY CORPORATE DEVICES FOR HP, A COMPANY I CONTRACTED WITH, UM, WITH, WE PRODUCED BILLIONS OF LAPTOPS AND PRINTERS. UM, ONCE THE AUTHORITIES ARRIVED, UH, I ASKED 'EM TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AND ASKED THAT THEY WERE WITH IC THREE, UM, WHICH IS THE FBI'S, UM, CYBER CRIMES DIVISION. AND THEY LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT THEY WERE. SO I LET THEM IN AND SHOWED THEM THE EVIDENCE OF THE NETWORK LOGS OF THE TRAFFIC THAT, UM, WAS GOING ON, ESSENTIALLY THE HACKING. UM, THEY QUESTIONED ME AND HAD THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DO A PSYCH EVALUATION. UM, EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT. AND THEY THEN DECIDED TO TAKE ME TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE THEY TOLD STAFF THAT I WAS HAVING A MENTAL CRISIS, UM, AND THAT I WAS COMMITTED INTO THE PSYCH WARD FOR THOUGHTS OF HACKERS. I WAS LEFT TO BEG IN THE HOSPITAL AND WAS TOLD BY STAFF, THERE'S NO HACKERS, AND THAT I'M HALLUCINATING. I NEED TO BE ON DRUGS. THEY THREATENED ME TO COMPLY OR I'LL NEVER LEAVE. THEY REFUSED TO CONTACT MY EMPLOYER TO CONFIRM ANYTHING. THEY REFUSED TO BELIEVE THAT I WAS A PROFESSIONAL SOFTWARE ENGINEER, AND IN FACT, THE ONLY ONE WITH THE EXPERTISE IN THE ENTIRE ORDEAL TO MAKE SUCH AN ASSESSMENT. I SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. BETWEEN THE FRAMING THE LIES AND FROM WHAT I WAS TOLD, FALSE INFORMATION. THIS IS BLATANT VIOLATION OF MY RIGHTS. AND IGNORING HACKS LIKE THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH RISK. I AM NOT HERE TO DEFUND THE POLICE. IN FACT, I WANT THE OPPOSITE. I WANT US TO TAKE CYBER CRIME SERIOUSLY. I I FIND THAT THIS GANG STALKING, CYBER STALKING AND HARASSMENT, IT'S NEVER LOOKED AT BY THE FBI OR BY THE PUBLIC POLICE BECAUSE THERE'S NO MONEY INVOLVED AND SICK. UM, AND THERE'S, IT'S EXPENSIVE FOR ME [02:00:01] OR ANYONE ELSE TO GO AFTER THEM. UM, SO I, I AM WILLING TO DEDICATE MY TIME TO WORKING WITH AUTHORITIES TO CREATE MEASURES AND METHODS TO QUICKLY ASSESS SIMILAR CASES. SUCH DEVICES. I USE MAN IN THE MIDDLE DEVICES, UH, VPNS. AND THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO MONITOR TRAFFIC ONSITE IN MATTER OF MINUTES AND REMOTELY IN CASE OF AFFECTED, UH, DEVICES. COUNCIL, COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, UH, THANK YOU, SIR FOR COMING FORWARD. I'M SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION. I KNOW IT CAN BE OVERWHELMING AND VERY FRUSTRATING, MAYOR. UH, MY OFFICE GETS, UH, SOMETIMES CALLS AS WELL REGARDING CONSTITUENTS WHO, UM, HAVE BEEN HACKED. ARE WE ABLE TO HAVE ANY AVENUES TO CONNECT THEM WITH FEDERAL PROSECUTORS OR ANYBODY THAT CAN ASSIST THEM? I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO DIRECT CONSTITUENTS THAT SAY SOMETHING'S BEEN HACKED AND NOW MY EITHER MY BANK ACCOUNTS, UH, UH, GETTING DEFUNDED OR MY FILES HAVE BEEN LOST AND THEY REACH OUT TO THEIR COUNCIL MEMBER. 'CAUSE THEY JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO TURN. HPD CAN ONLY, THEY, THEY CAN'T REALLY DO MUCH. IS DO WE HAVE ANY AVENUE THAT YOU KNOW OF TO LEAD PEOPLE TO ANY CONTACT? AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OUTSIDE, OUTSIDE A PERSON'S EMPLOYER? YES. UM, AND OUTSIDE HPD AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. YEAH. I CAN'T, I CAN'T THINK OF ANY OF THE INTERVIEWS AND I, I COULDN'T EITHER. SO, UM, I'M SORRY THAT'S HAPPENING TO YOU. AND, UM, IT, IT'S, IT'S, I'VE BEEN HACKED BEFORE AS WELL, SO I UNDERSTAND THE, UH, FRUSTRATION. BUT, UM, MAYBE YOU WANT TO TALK TO, UH, THE FEDERAL PROSECUTORS ABOUT TRYING TO HELP YOU WITH THAT. AND I KNOW THAT CAN BE A CHALLENGE, BUT, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I CAN REALLY GIVE YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, AGAIN, BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER, REVEREND JOHN COLEMAN. REVEREND COLEMAN. REVEREND COLEMAN. NEXT SPEAKER. SAMMY FORD. SAMMY FORD. SAMMY FORD IS HERE. IF YOU GET RIGHT BEHIND THAT MIC, THERE YOU GO. RIGHT HERE. YES MA'AM. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M, UH, HERE PRIMARY BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER AND I APPLIED FOR, UM, THE THIRD PARTY ASSISTANCE AFTER WE TOOK THE EIGHT HOUR CLASS FOR FIRST TIME HOME, HOME BUYERS. UH, WE WANT TO BE, UM, BECOME HOMEOWNERS. SO WE DECIDED TO TAKE THE VENTURE, UH, OF COMBINING OUR INCOME AND, UH, JOINING IN, BECAUSE I HAVE A PROPERTY IN ACRES. ACRES HOME WHERE, UH, I GREW UP. MY GRANDPARENTS GREW UP, UH, THEY GAVE THE PROPERTY ONE OF THE PROPERTIES TO ME, WHICH IS NOTHING THERE, BUT A LOT. BUT I, LIKE I TOLD HER, SHE'S IN COLLEGE, I'M RETIRED. UH, LET'S, UH, HAVE A HOME TOGETHER AND WHICH WOULD, I WOULD STILL, IT WOULD BE HERS AND MINE, BUT, UH, UH, IN MY PASSING OR WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER COMES, UH, THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING AS A FUTURE FOR HER. SO WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE WHOLE NINE YARDS OF, UH, THE CLASS, UH, GOING THROUGH A LOT OF SWINGING DOORS OF TRYING TO FIND A BANK. WHEN WE FINALLY DO FIND A BANK, UH, THEY TOLD US THAT, UM, ASKED ME IF WE HAD DID EVERYTHING. SO WE TOOK ALL THE STEPS, UM, ONLY TO BE TOLD THIS LATE DATE IN TIME THAT, UM, THE CLASS THAT WE TOOK AND GOT THE CERTIFICATES THAT WE COULD NOT USE THE THIRD PARTY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE I'M CONSIDERED AS A HOMEOWNER BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT THAT'S NOTHING THERE, BUT A LOT THAT WE COULD, WE CAN'T USE, UH, THAT FOR BUILDING A HOME. WE ONLY WANT A SINGLE STORY HOME. IT'S JUST THE TWO OF US. AND EXCUSE ME, UM, THAT'S DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF MISINFORMATION. BUT WE WERE TOLD IN THE CLASS THAT WE COULD USE THE LOT, UH, FOR CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING A HOME ON IT, UH, AND COULD USE THE THIRD PARTY ASSISTANCE. SO THE BANK SAID, UM, THAT HE CONTACTED SOMEONE FROM THE CITY. HE DIDN'T GIVE ME A NAME. I ASKED HIM, BUT, UH, HE DIDN'T GIVE ME A NAME. SO I'VE TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH THE CITY TRYING TO GET CLARITY ON WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN USE THIS, UH, LOT, MY OWN LOT FOR, UH, THE THIRD PARTY ASSISTANCE. NO ONE IS GIVING ME ANSWERS AND CLARITY ON IT YET. THEY'LL SAY, WELL, UH, I'LL GIVE YOU, REFER YOU TO THIS PERSON, THAT PERSON, UH, THEY'LL CALL YOU BACK WITHIN 12 TO FOUR, EIGHT [02:05:01] HOURS. I DON'T GET ANY ANSWERS OR ANY CALLBACKS. SO I'M HERE TODAY JUST TO TRY TO, UH, GET SOME CLARITY ON IT. UH, I TALKED WITH THE LADY FROM HOME, MAYBERRY HOMES. SHE SAID THEY DO ACCEPT THIRD PARTY ASSISTANCE. I TALKED WITH MARIA QUE, SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T SEE IN THE GUIDELINES THAT, UM, I COULDN'T USE IT, THAT MY DAUGHTER AND I CAN'T USE IT. SO, UM, I'M JUST NOT SURE WHERE TO GO ANYMORE. OKAY. WHERE'S ELI? YOU HERE? WHERE'S ELI? E RIGHT THERE IF YOU, ELI EY, I'M SORRY. ELI. EY. UR. MM-HMM . YES. YEAH. 'CAUSE I ACTUALLY LEFT A MESSAGE FOR HIM, BUT, UH, WELL, HE'S ERICA NEWMAN. HE'S DIFFERENT ONES. HE'S RIGHT HERE WITH YOU. HE'S RIGHT HERE. OKAY. WELL, I WOULD CERTAINLY APPRECIATE SOME HELP. WELL, HE'S, AND CONFIRMATION ON THAT, RIGHT ELI, IF YOU'LL, IF YOU'LL GET WITH HER AND HELP WALK, WALK THROUGH THE PROCESS. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND MY SON WANTED ME TO TELL YOU WHEN HE THOUGHT I WAS GONNA MEET HERE WITH YOU TODAY. HE MET YOU, UH, SOMETIME BACK AT THE GOLF COURT, UH, BACK AT IN SCHOOL. UH, HE'S GOING ON TO GREATER THINGS, BUT HE SAID TO SAY HELLO. UH, HE WAS JUST GLAD THAT, UH, HE HAD GOT A CHANCE TO PLAY FOR YOU, UH, AT THE, AT THE TIME, I THINK IT WAS DURING THE HOLIDAYS. BUT HE'S GONE ON FROM, UH, , UH, UM, RICE UNIVERSITY TO PRAIRIE VIEW. NOW HE'S IN THE MEDICAL FIELD AND NYU SO GOOD. I TOLD HIM I WOULD TELL YOU. HELLO. WELL TELL HIM HELLO. I'M VERY PROUD OF HIM. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. OKAY. ELI WILL HELP YOU OUT. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER. BEV ROBINSON. BEV ROBINSON. BEV. BEV. NEXT SPEAKER. DR. THOMPSON ACQUI. DR. THOMPSON ACQUI TO BE FOLLOWED BY BRIDGET LAND. UM, MAYOR. MAYOR, WERE TOLD THAT WE SHOULD NOT CALL YOU ROYAL MAYOR. SO ROYAL MAYOR, I'M SURE YOU ARE IN THE SAME, UH, SITUATION NOW WITH KING CHOPS. WILL YOU TELL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO FOLLOW THE PEOPLE AT THE CITY? SO THE, TO THE PEOPLE, ALL OTHER PROTOCOLS OBSERVED, UM, PRO, UH, PROTIME, UM, MAYOR MARTIN, YOU WERE ASKING ME THE OTHER THING WHEN I SAID, IS THAT YOUR CANDIDATE? YOU SAID, NO, YOU ARE MY CANDIDATE. THANK YOU FOR STANDING FOR ME FOR MAY NOT THIS TIME. YOU KNOW, I'M ALREADY PREPARING FOR SOME OTHER TIME, NOT IN THE CITY. YOU KNOW, WHEN THERE IS A CHAIRPERSON AMONG YOU, THEN I WOULD LIKE TO BE MALE. UH, COMMUNICATORS ARE NOT REPORTERS. I MEAN, COMMUNICATORS ARE NOT, UH, OR REPORTERS ARE NOT SUPPORT SUPPORTERS. IT'S ALWAYS KNOWN THAT, UM, GREAT INDEPENDENT OBJECTIVE COMMUNICATORS AND REPORTERS DON'T GET AWARDS, DON'T GET MERITS, DON'T GET PAPERS. THEY GET KILLED LIKE KHASHOGGI. AND YOU HEAR THAT A LOT DURING THE INTERNATIONAL, UH, FREEDOM DAY FOR JOURNALISTS. AND SO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE AT HOME AND YOU ARE WATCHING AND ASKING YOURSELF, WHY NOT US? WITH EVERYTHING WE DO FOR THE CITY, LISTEN TO ME. YOU DON'T NEED IT. YOUR IS WITH GOD. WELL, YOU DIE LIKE KHASHOGGI, YOU GET THERE. MALE WALKING IN THE CAPITAL IN AUSTIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. I GOT VERY DISAPPOINTED AND I SPOKE TO MOST OF THE REPRESENTATIVES IN COME IN THE LOCAL ASSEMBLY. MY POINT WAS BRINGING THE POSITION OF HOUSTON ON THE SENATE BILL THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS, LUCKILY ENOUGH, WHICH THE BACKWARD AND FORWARD IN WHITE MEYER'S OFFICE. HE HAD TO GET TO ME AND WE TALKED AND I WAS, AND I WAS, AND I WAS, WHAT'S GOING ON? DO YOU WANT TO DESTROY THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND ROYAL MAYO? THIS IS WHAT HE SAID, THIS BILL IS NOT AGAINST YOU PEOPLE IN HOUSTON. I'M A HOUSTONIAN. HE SAID THE BILL MAKES PROVISION FOR EVERYBODY THAT THE CITY WILL APPOINT THEIR OWN REPRESENTATIVE. THE FIRE PEOPLE WILL APPOINT THEIR OWN AND THERE'LL BE OTHERS. AND THAT IN BETWEEN THE FIRE PEOPLE WILL NOT GET EVERYTHING THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR AND LET THE CITIES ALSO LISTEN TO THEM. THAT IS THE ONLY TIME WHEN I SAID I WANTED TO LISTEN TO HIM. AND I'LL CALL HIM WHITE MARE BECAUSE HE'S WHITE MARE. AND I'VE ALREADY STARTED HEARING WHAT THE CAMPAIGNS ARE SAYING. THERE WAS A LAUNCH IN THE MINIM MADE PARK. MY DEAR FRIEND MARTIN WAS THERE. I NEED MORE TIME. I'VE NEVER ASKED FOR THIS BEFORE. AND IF MATTER CAN GIVE ME SOME I'LL LIKE THAT. I'LL GIVE YOU 30, I'LL GIVE YOU 30 SECONDS. . ALRIGHT. THE, THE MAYOR HAS, THE MAYOR HAS STOPPED ME FROM [02:10:01] GETTING MORE TIME FROM, FROM, FROM, FROM YOU. MAYOR, CAN I GET SOMEBODY? GIVE ME MORE TIME. YOU GOT IT. YOU GOT 30 SECONDS. 30 SECONDS. ALRIGHT, SO IN 30 SECONDS WHAT I'M SAYING IS THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION I'VE GIVEN GEICO'S, UH, AMENDMENTS TO THE BUDGET. MOST OF THEM WERE SENT, YOU KNOW, TO THE COMMITTEES. BUT DURING THE NE UH, ISSUE, WHAT CAME OUT OF THE COMMITTEE, THAT'S UNFAIR. IF WE ARE DOING THAT WIN BECAUSE HE'S STANDING FOR ELECTIONS, THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. OTHERWISE, THIS CITY AND YOU, THE LEADERS HAVE DONE VERY, VERY WELL. AND I DON'T THINK THAT OUR FINANCE CONTROLLER IS ALWAYS GIVING US BAD PREDICTIONS. IT IS COVID THAT MADE THE BUDGET TO ALWAYS BALANCE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. I CAN TAKE SOME QUESTIONS. SO , WE WILL. THANK YOU NEXT SPEAKER. BRIDGET LAND. BRIDGET LAND. BRIDGET. BRIDGET. NEXT SPEAKER, VAL QUITTER MILLER. VAL QUITTER MILLER IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY DR. DAVID OCU. RIGHT BEHIND THAT MIC. THERE YOU GO. MY NAME IS VAL KETA MILLER. I AM AN ADVOCATE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN. I WORK WITH COUNCILWOMAN TASHA JACKSON, LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR WHAT IS KNOWN AS SENATE BILL 1 0 3, A BILL TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS AND PARENTS IN THIS COUNTRY. I WAS EMPLOYED AT HER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, URBAN COMMUNITY NETWORK DURING THE SUMMER OF 2021. I WITNESSED COUNCILWOMAN HPD CHILD 11 IN THE CHURCH, VIOLATE THE CIVIL AND HUMAN AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF CHILDREN AND PARENTS. COUNCILWOMAN HOSTED A BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT AT HER PARENTS, HER PASTOR'S CHURCH, WHO IS A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER. HBD SPONSORED THE EVENT FROM WHAT I WAS LED TO BELIEVE, OFFICERS WERE ON LOCATION, PASSING OUT SUPPLIES AND OFFERING PICTURES IN PATROL CARS. CHILD LEVI HAS ALS ALSO SUPPORTED PASTOR EDDIE DECKER SUMMER OF 2022 BY PROVIDING LUNCHES FOR HIS FREE SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM. HE WENT LIVE WITH THE MEALS BEARING CHILD 11 SYMBOLS ASKING CHILDREN TO ATTEND. THESE PRACTICES CLEARLY VIOLATE THE 14TH AMENDMENT CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION, WHICH PROMISES TO PROTECT CHILDREN. THEY ALSO VIOLATE THE PINNACLE 22.041 BY ENDANGERING THE LIVES OF CHILDREN. I BROUGHT THIS AND MORE CORRUPTION INVOLVING SERGEANT EDNA FAY MILLER. TO THE ATTENTION OF AN OFFICER I WAS LATER TOLD WAS HER CAPTAIN. SERGEANT EDNA FAY MILLER FAILED TO PROTECT AND SERVE THE COMMUNITY BY PROTECTING KNOWN PEDOPHILES IN OUR FAMILY, ONE OF WHOM WORKS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION. HE ALSO WORKS WITH JUVENILES. SERGEANT MILLER SEEMS TO HAVE ADJUSTED TO THE HORRIBLE PRACTICES SHE ACCUSES HPD OF. SHE WARNED OUR FAMILY THAT HPD IS KILLING BLACK PEOPLE AND HOMELESS. SHE SAID THEY WANT US DEAD. THE OFFICER WAS MORE CONCERNED WITH WHY I DIDN'T REPORT THE ALLEGATIONS AND TOLD ME I COULD BE CHARGED. HE TOLD ME TO GO TO INTERNAL AFFAIRS. I TOLD HIM MY LIFE WAS IN DANGER. FOR THE RECORD, IT WAS NOT THE FBI, MY APOLOGIES. THAT WAS BAD COMMUNICATION. I WAS TOO STRESSED TO GO ONLINE. MY ANXIETY WAS THROUGH THE ROOF. I FELT THEY WOULD COVER IT UP AS WELL TO FURTHER ADD TO THE SORROWS OF 44 ACRES HOME AREA. COUNCILWOMAN ALSO TURNED A BLIND EYE TO DEADLY BLACK TOXIC MOLD THAT I SPOKE WITH HER ABOUT. UM, AFTER A RESIDENT PASSED AWAY AT THE TIDWELL PROPERTY ACTIVIST SPENCER FARWELL PAID FOR THE TESTING OUT OF HIS POCKET. COUNCILWOMAN APPEARED TO DISMISS THE INFORMATION SAYING SPENCER WAS ACTING CRAZY. I TOLD HER TO DOCUMENT IT IF SHE FELT THREATENED, BUT PLEASE DO NOT DISMISS HIS CLAIMS. THE RESULTS MADE ME WEEP TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY. I'M ASKING FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE MILLERS, THE JACKSONS AND THEIR NONPROFITS TO PLEASE FORCE HER TO STEP DOWN IN HER CAMPAIGN, HER CAMPAIGN, AND BE CENSORED AFTER MULTIPLE HOSPITAL VISITS DUE TO MENTAL DECLINING, LOSING MY HOMELESS FRIEND BRIAN. FINANCIAL LOSS HEALTH CONCERNS. I DON'T HAVE MUCH MORE TO LOSE THE ILLUSION OF COUNCILWOMAN TASHA JACKSON AND THE MILLER. SERVING AND PROTECTING IS JUST AN ILLUSION. WE SHOULD BE PROTECTED FROM PREDATORS. EVEN IF THE POWERS THAT SHOULDN'T BE, TRUST THEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MAY I HAVE 30 MORE SECONDS? AND I NO. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. OKAY. NOBODY HAVE A GOOD ONE. OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, DR. DAVID KOBA. DR. DAVID OMBA IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY LISA JENKINS, ONE PERSON AT A TIME. OKAY. THEY'RE WITH ME. ONE, ONLY ONE PERSON AT A TIME. DR. CUMBA. THEY CAN CERTAINLY, [02:15:01] THEY CAN SIT RIGHT WHERE THEY'RE SITTING. OH, OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, MR. MAYOR, EX TEAM MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBERS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I BRING YOU GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. I AM REVEREND DR. DAVID OBA. AND I A LITTLE BIT LOUDER. DR. K. OKAY. I'M REVEREND DR. DAVID KOBA AND I AND MY COLLEAGUES ARE THE COORDINATORS OF THE DUNAMIS SURVIVAL FIRE CONFERENCE 2023, WHICH WILL BE HOLDING FROM THE FOURTH TO THE 6TH OF JULY AT THE MARRIOTT MCKEE HOUSTON 9:00 AM AND 6:00 PM DAILY. THE PURPOSE OF THE CONFERENCE IS TO BRING THE REVIVAL, HEALING AND MIRACLE POWER OF JESUS CHRIST THROUGH THE MINISTRY OF DR. PAUL CHER, DR. PASTOR PAUL CHER, AND DR. MR. BECK, WHICH HAS IMPACTED MILLIONS ACROSS THE WORLD TO THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA, AND TO PRAY FOR OUR CITY, PRAY FOR OUR, OUR STATE, AND OUR NATION, ESPECIALLY ON JULY THE FOURTH. PSALM 1 33 SAYS HOW GOOD AND PLEASANT IT IS FOR BRETHREN TO DWELL TOGETHER IN UNITY. IT PRODUCES THE ANNOYING THING, THE DIVINE ENABLEMENT THAT POWERS POSITIVE CHANGE IN OUR LIVES AND COMMUNITIES. IN THESE THREE DAYS, OVER 3000 WORSHIPERS IN PERSON AND MILLIONS CONNECTED ONLINE ACROSS THE WORLD WILL BE LIFTING UP THEIR HEARTS AND THEIR VOICES IN UNITY TO INVOKE THE POWER, THE PRESENCE, AND THE BLESSINGS OF THE LORD UPON OUR CITY, OUR STATE, AND OUR NATION. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE ON BEHALF OF DOCTORS PASTOR PAUL AND BECKY AND THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE OF THE GERMAN SURVIVAL FIRE CONFERENCE, TO INVITE YOUR GOOD SELF AND THE EXTREME MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL AND THE ENTIRE CITY OF HOUSTON TO JOIN US IN PRAYING FOR THIS CITY, OUR STATE, AND OUR NATION ON JULY THE FOURTH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, DR. KUUMBA, AND THIS IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE AT THE MARRIOTT MCKEE HOUSTON. OH, THE MARRIOTT MCKEE DOWNTOWN. YES. YEAH, THIS IS, YEAH. OKAY. IS THIS THE FIRST EVENT? FIRST TIME, UM, NO, SECOND TIME. BUT NOT AT THE MARIA MCKEE. WE HAD ONE LAST YEAR. OKAY. YES. ALRIGHT. IF I CAN STOP BY I WILL. WE'LL BE GLAD. WE'LL BE HONORED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND THOSE ARE MEMBERS OF WORKING THOSE PART YES. OF YOUR TEAM. YES. WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AT CITY HALL. WE DO HAVE THE, YEAH, WE HAVE THE FLYER. YES. AND, UH, I'LL LET YOU KNOW IF I CAN MAKE IT. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER. LISA JENKINS. LISA JENKINS. LISA JENKINS IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY ENGLE FORD. MS. JENKINS, GOOD TO SEE YOU. DID SHE COME UP WITH YOU ONE AT A TIME? ONE AT A TIME. THAT'S FINE. MY NAME IS LISA JENKINS. I HAVE A NONPROFIT CALLED WHY NOT LEGACY I, HERITAGE INC. AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH PROJECT RESPECT OVER THE LAST 30, 20 SOMETHING YEARS. 20 PLUS YEARS. AND I'M COMING HERE TODAY TO ASK, FIRST I WANT TO GIVE HONOR TO THE MAYOR OF SUCH A WONDERFUL JOB YOU'VE DONE WITH THE CITY OVER THE YEARS. I WANT TO GIVE HONOR TO MY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AT LARGE FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE HERE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WHAT I'M REQUESTING, AND I'M GONNA SAY BEFORE I SAY A LITTLE BIT OF THE HISTORY, SINCE I HAVE THREE MINUTES, I AM REQUESTING TO BE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU, MR. MAYOR, IN HELPING US KEEP THE RESTORATION GOING OF THE EVERGREEN NEGRO CEMETERY. WE NEED THINGS NOW. WE NEED PROTECTIVE LIGHTING, PROTECTIVE FENCE, AND WE ALSO NEED BALLERS AROUND TO PROTECT THOSE GRAVES THAT ARE NEAR THE STREET. SO I'M COMING HERE TO TALK ABOUT, UH, WE CAN GET TOGETHER AND DO A VISION, UM, TO WHAT WE ARE GONNA DO TO REINTER THOSE REMAINS THAT WERE LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CEMETERY. I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT'S DONE SINCE YOU'RE SUCH A GREAT MAYOR BEFORE YOU LEAVE OFFICE. THAT'S WHY I CAME TO CITY COUNCIL TODAY, AND A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY, THAT CEMETERY, AND I'M COMING BECAUSE IT'S JUNETEENTH JUNETEENTH IS ABOUT, UH, PROCLAIMING SLAVERY, UH, WHEN WE WERE FREED IN 1865. OKAY? THAT CEMETERY WAS ACQUIRED JANUARY [02:20:01] THE 22ND, 1898 BY THREE KNOWN PERSONS, BUT IT WAS REALLY SIX WHEN THEY ACQUIRED IT. OKAY? IT WAS AK KELLY WHO WAS A EX-SLAVE. IT WAS REVEREND LEE WHO'S NOW LOCATED AT GOLDEN GATE. IT WAS EJ BUNDY, IT WAS ED MCDUFFY, AND ALL OF THESE PEOPLE DIED, PASSED AWAY BEFORE 1935. WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR LEGACY LASTS. THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE INHERITED AT THESE CEMETERIES TELL OUR HISTORY, HERITAGE, AND CULTURE. WE WANNA GO BACK AND MAKE SURE THAT THESE ARE PLACES, GREEN SPACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME AND VISIT OVER THE YEARS, BECAUSE THE CEMETERIES TELL THE HISTORY OF THE PEOPLE WHO WENT BEFORE US. WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE OUR HISTORY, THAT WE KNOW OUR HISTORY, BECAUSE OUR HISTORY HAS BEEN FORGOTTEN. THERE HAD BEEN OVER 3000 CEMETERIES ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND SOME OF THOSE CEMETERIES ARE NOW UNDER STREETS. THEY'RE UNDER BUILDINGS, THEY'RE UNDER SUBDIVISIONS. WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THESE THINGS CHANGE. WHEN YOU, UH, BUILDING A BUILDING AND YOU LOCATE BODIES. WE WANNA KNOW WHERE THEY ARE. WE DON'T KNOW. AND THAT HAPPENED IN 1956. OKAY. UM, AND MS. JENKINS, THE RE THE REPORT THAT I GOT THAT'S OF, UM, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, IS THAT PUBLIC WORKS IS WORKING WITH PROJECT RESPECT. YES. METRO IS WORKING WITH, IS THAT WHAT YOU SAID, METRO OR PUBLIC WORKS? IT IS PUBLIC WORKS METRO. UH, ALL OF THEM, UH, METRO HAS BEEN TALKING TO US AND, UH, KEEPING US AWARE OF WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON. RIGHT. BUT, OKAY. BUT NOBODY, BUT ALL OF THEM ARE UNDER INSTRUCTIONS TO WORK WITH PROJECT RESPECT. AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FENCING OUT THERE, SIGNAGE. I KNOW THAT, UM, WHAT I'M BEING TOLD IS THAT THERE, PEOPLE ARE BRAINSTORMING ON ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE OUT THERE AT THE CEMETERY. UM, I SAID WHEN WE WERE OUT THERE LAST, THAT WE WERE GOING TO ASSIST IN, IN ENHANCING THAT CEMETERY, THAT HASN'T CHANGED. SO ARE YOU SAYING THAT CONVERSATIONS ARE NOT TAKING PLACE BECAUSE MY PEOPLE, I HAVEN'T, I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH METRO JUST AND PUBLIC WORKS. AND PUBLIC WORKS CAME BECAUSE WE WANTED, THEY WANTED TO DO AN ASPHALT IN THAT AREA, AND THEY'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE FENCING AND THEY HAVEN'T CAME BACK ABOUT THE FENCING. NO, THAT'S OKAY. WELL, AGAIN, MAYBE, MAYBE I'M GETTING MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION THAN WHAT YOU HAVE. YES. BUT THEY ARE UNDER, THEY ARE UNDER INSTRUCTIONS TO WORK WITH PROJECT RESPECT TO ENHANCE THE CEMETERY. OKAY. THEY NEED TO GIVE MORE FEEDBACK TO US, THE PROJECT. BUT I THOUGHT THEY WERE MEETING WITH YOU ALL. THEY HADN'T MET. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO'S A PART OF PROJECT RESPECT? I MEAN, FROM THE COMMUNITY SIDE? FROM THE COMMUNITY, I HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH JOETTA STEVENSON, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, WHO'S, UH, BEEN A PART OF IT OR HELPING. AND, UM, WHO ELSE IS HELPING CRC CALLED? AND THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO GET BACK. LET ME JUST FIND OUT WHO THEY'RE TALKING TO. OKAY. OKAY. BUT EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE SAYING, WE, WE ARE IN AGREEMENT WITH. OKAY. SO THEY, THEY'VE BEEN WHAT, THIRD WE WERE GOING TO GET READY TO DO LIKE A ASPHALT THING, AND THEN I WAS TOLD THAT TOURISTS SAY THAT THEY COULDN'T DO IT, WHICH I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THAT WAS. WELL, THAT'S, THERE'S A PLAN THAT, UH, IS, UH, SHOULD BE WORKED OUT. BUT BECAUSE I WANTED TO SEE AND HAVE, UH, UM, SOME OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS MADE BEFORE I GET OUTTA HERE, AND THAT'S WHICH IS THE END OF THE YEAR. SO LET ME, LET ME FOLLOW UP WITH, WITH MY, WITH MY PEOPLE. OKAY. BECAUSE IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, UM, THAT, UH, IDEAS ARE ON THE TABLE IN TERMS OF IDEAS TO ENHANCE THAT CEMETERY, LIKE FENCING AND SIGNAGE, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE IN PROGRESS, BUT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN TALKING TO US THEN. OKAY. WELL THEN, THEN, THEN LET ME HANDLE THAT. THAT'LL BE FINE. BECAUSE I'M, I'M HEARING IT ON MY END. IF YOU'RE NOT HEARING IT ON YOUR END, THEN THERE'S A DISCONNECT. YES. OKAY. SO LET ME, LET ME, LET ME, LET ME WORK THAT OUT. OKAY. THAT'S FINE. COUNCILMAN MAGO TH THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. UM, I AGREE WITH YOU IN REGARDS TO OLD CEMETERIES. I MEAN, A A AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST A LOT OF HISTORY THERE. UM, YOU KNOW, IN REGARDS TO THE STORIES OF THE INDIVIDUALS, UH, I, I KNOW IN, UH, DISTRICT, I, WE HAVE A HISTORIC CEMETERY AS WELL. UH, THE HARRISBURG JACKSON CEMETERY THERE OFF OF BROADWAY AND LAWNDALE, UH, WHICH IS, UH, UH, THE ONES THAT ARE IN TURN THERE ARE, [02:25:01] ARE, ARE FORMER SLAVES. UH, YOU EVEN HAVE SAM HOUSTON'S BODY SERVANT, UH, BLUE THAT'S BURIED THERE. YES. UH, AND YOU KNOW, SO THIS IS A LOT OF HISTORY. UH, BUT WHEN DRIVING BY THERE, UH, YOU SEE THE NEGLECT AT THE CEMETERY. UM, SOMEONE, UH, THERE'S A TEACHER AT MILBY HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH IS JUST DOWN THE STREET. HE'S TAKING IT UPON HIMSELF TO GET VOLUNTEERS TO GO AND TRY TO MAINTAIN IT AND WHAT HAVE YOU. BUT MAYOR, I'M HOPING THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, I WISH WE WOULD'VE ADDRESSED IT DURING THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHERE, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF, IF THERE'S A TUR IN THE AREA, IF THEY CAN GET SOME OF THEIR INCREMENTS TO THE MAINTAINING OF THE CEMETERIES. IF, IF THERE, IF THERE'S A CHURCH IN THE AREA. WELL, WE HAVE BEEN, UH, WE ARE THE ONES WHO CUT DOWN ALL THE GROUND AND EVERYTHING OF MM-HMM . UM, HARRISBURG CEMETERY AT THE BEGINNING. AND WE HAVE BEEN USING VOLUNTEERS OVER THE YEARS. HMM. BUT THAT'S HAVE CHANGED A LOT BECAUSE SOMETIME WHEN THE RAINY SEASONS AND EVERYTHING, YOU CAN'T GET BACK THERE. SO WE DO NEED, UH, TO HAVE SOME MORE WORK. AND DONALD CAME IN, IN 2005 TO HELP MM-HMM . THE PERSON YOU'RE SPEAKING OF TO HELP WITH. SO WE DO NEED A LOT MORE HELP FROM THE COMMUNITY. AT ONE TIME, PEOPLE WERE NOT AWARE OF THESE CEMETERIES, AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE WHAT WE HAVE AFTER BLACK LIVES MATTER MM-HMM . TO COME AND WORK WITH THESE PLACES. SO, SO, SO YOUR ORGANIZATION'S ALSO GO GOING TO THE HARRISBURG? THEY BEEN, WE OH, GREAT. GREAT. WELL HAVE WORKING. I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT BECAUSE, UH, I, EVERY TIME AGAIN, AND WHEN I PASS BY THERE AND, AND, AND JUST SEE THE NEGLECT, UH, OF THE CEMETERY. BUT JUST RECENTLY THOUGH, I DO HAVE TO SAY THAT. I DUNNO IF IT WAS YOUR GROUP OR SOMEBODY WENT OUT THERE AND THEY ACTUALLY CUT ALL THE BRUSH AND EVERYTHING, AND THEY HAVE THIS BIG OLD PILE OF, UH, OF, UH, TREE WASTE THAT'S IN THE FRONT. UH, AND THAT'S DONE ON A YEARLY BASIS. OH, THAT'S WHAT IT WAS. OKAY. YEAH. IT'S DONE ON A YEARLY BASIS. IT LOOKS, IT LOOKS NICE RIGHT NOW, BUT, UM, UH, IT'S IN THE YEARLY BASIS. I'M SURE IT'S GONNA GET OVERGROWN IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE WE, THERE'S NO MONEY SET ASIDE FOR THESE PLACES. NOWHERE MONEY. I'M HOPING THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN ADDRESS. MONEY. YEAH. YEAH. 'CAUSE UH, AGAIN, IT'S SAD THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE INDIVIDUALS WERE SLAVES. UH, UH, YOU KNOW, AND THEN THEY'RE BURIED THERE, AND THEN THEY'RE, THEY, THEY'RE GRAVE SITES ARE NOT EVEN BEING MAINTAINED. UH, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S VERY DISRESPECTFUL, IN MY OPINION. SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. WE'LL FOLLOW, WE'LL FOLLOW UP MS. JENKINS, BUT WE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE, SO LET'S MAKE SURE THAT, UH, UM, MY PEOPLE ARE TALKING TO YOU AND, AND, AND THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY, SO WE ALL HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S GONNA TAKE PLACE AND WHEN. BUT I WANT AS MUCH DONE, UM, BEFORE I LEAVE THE END OF THIS YEAR. OKAY. SO WE'LL BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER ING FORD ING FORD ING FORD. FORD. FRD FORD INGA. NEXT SPEAKER, JARED JOSEPH. JARED JOSEPH, JARED, UH, IS HERE. THREE BE FOLLOWED BY ROBERT GROVE. OKAY, SIR. YES, SIR. GOOD AFTERNOON. HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. I'M JARED SCOTTY JOSEPH, THE OWNER OF SCOTTY'S BIKES IN THE FIFTH WARD, AND A FRIEND OF THE COLUMBIA TAP. TODAY I'M HERE TO SHARE A POTENTIAL KEY COMPONENT OF THE, BEYOND A POTENTIALLY KEY COMPONENT OF THE BEYOND THE BAYOU INITIATIVE. WE ENVISION A GREEN ARTERY CONNECTING FIFTH WARD AND THIRD WARD BREACHING BUFFALO BAYOU AND BRAISED BAYOU VIA THE COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL. SCOTTY'S BIKES THROUGH ITS MOBILE ELECTRIC BIKE DELIVERY SERVICE SUPPORTS THE EFFORT TO, TO DEMOCRATIZE ACCESS TO THE GREEN SPACES. TO ACTUALIZE THIS VISION, IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT A SINGLE ENTITY BE ENTRUSTED WITH THE TRAILS OVERSIGHT AND MAINTENANCE. EQUITABLE FUNDING IS A CRUCIAL FACTOR. THE COLUMBIA TRAP TAP TRAIL SHOULD BE ALLOCATED, FUND SHOULD BE ALLOCATED FUNDING ON PAR WITH OTHER BAYOU, ENSURING ALL HOUSTONIANS, IRRESPECTIVE OF AGE, PHYSICAL CONDITION, OR ZIP CODE, CAN ACCESS AND ENJOY THESE SHAREABLE SPACES. THIS INITIATIVE IS ABOUT MORE THAN PHYSICAL LINK. IT SERVES AS A SYMBOL OF UNITY, A BEACON OF INCLUSIVE INCLUSI INCLUSIVITY, FOSTERING A SENSE OF BELONGING AMONGST OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. ESTEEMED COUNCIL MEMBER, ESTEEMED COUNCIL MEMBERS. I SEEK YOUR SUPPORT IN ENSURING EQUITABLE FUNDING FOR THE COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL AS AN EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT THROUGH THE BAYOU, THE BEYOND THE BAYOU INITIATIVE. AH, TOGETHER WE CAN CULTIVATE A MORE SUSTAINABLE AND CONNECTED INCLUSIVE HOUSTON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, ROBERT GROVE. ROBERT GROVE [02:30:01] ROBERT IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY CLAUDIA CARTO. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. MY COLLEAGUES AND I FROM FORENSIC COLUMBIA TAP ARE SPEAKING TODAY BECAUSE WE WANT A BETTER FUTURE FOR THE COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL. BUT I'M STANDING HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF A NIGHT IN COLUMBIA. TAP'S PAST, SPECIFICALLY THE NIGHT OF JANUARY 8TH, 2023. I'VE LIVED RIGHT OFF THE COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL FOR ALMOST A DECADE NOW, BUT THAT ONE NIGHT WILL ALWAYS STAND OUT TO ME BECAUSE IT'S THE NIGHT THAT I SAW A MOTORCYCLE SLIDING DOWN THE STREET DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. AND THE OWNER OF THAT MOTORCYCLE SLIDING BY A HALF SECOND LATER, RODNEY ATKINS WAS TRAVELING BY BIKE ALONG THE TRAIL WITH HIS WIFE, THE MOTORCYCLIST, TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DOWN A CITY STREET. DIDN'T SEE RODNEY IN TIME TO SLOW DOWN. AND AS A RESULT, TWO DEAD PEOPLE LAY IN THE STREET. I SPENT THE NEXT FEW HOURS CONSOLING A SCREAMING WIFE, JUST A FEW STEPS AWAY FROM HER HUSBAND'S MANGLED BODY. I WILL NEVER FORGET THE BLOOD, THE BODY PARTS IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES. THE SCREAMS RINGING THROUGH THE NIGHT. THAT NIGHT WAS A WAKE UP CALL FOR ME, A CALL TO EMBRACE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROMOTING THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF THOSE ON AND AROUND THE TRAIL. AND TODAY, I INVITE EVERYONE HERE TO EMBRACE THAT SAME RESPONSIBILITY. ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION RECORDS, 116 PEDESTRIANS WERE KILLED ON HOUSTON STREET IN 2022, INCLUDING 11 CYCLISTS AT THE HALFWAY POINT OF 2023. WERE ON PACE FOR TWICE THAT NUMBER. WHILE THE SLOW DRIP DRIP NATURE OF EACH INDIVIDUAL DEATH ALLOWS THESE INCIDENTS TO SLIP THROUGH IN AND OUT OF THE NEWS CYCLE, I THINK IT'S SAFE TO CONCLUDE THAT WE ARE SUFFERING FROM AN EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE AGAINST THOSE WHO WALK AND BIKE ALONG OUR CITY STREETS. I COMMEND STATE SENATOR CARROLL ALVARADO ON OUR SPONSORSHIP OF STATE SENATE BILL 1663 IN EFFORT TO EMPOWER CITY COUNCIL, SUCH AS YOURSELF TO LOWER SPEED LIMITS IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS. ULTIMATELY, THIS BILL FAILED DUE TO INACTION FROM STATE LEGISLATURE IN AUSTIN. BUT THE OPPORTUNITY IS STILL THERE FOR LOCAL AGENCIES TO CREATE SAFER CONDITIONS FOR ALL PEOPLE. THESE INCLUDE PROPER LIGHTING ACROSS THE ENTIRE TRAIL TO ENSURE SAFETY AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY AND NIGHT SPEED CUSHIONS AT TRAIL CROSSINGS TO ENCOURAGE SLOWER SPEEDS FOR VEHICLES PROTECTED CROSSWALKS TO ENHANCE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY SIGNAGE INDICATING THE PRESENCE OF THE TRAIL TO ALERT PE PEOPLE AND VEHICLES APPROACHING THE TRAIL AND REVERSING THE DIRECTION OF STOP SIGNS AT STREETS TO PRIORITIZE STOPPING VEHICLES. IF YOU RIDE ALL FOUR MILES OF THE COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL, YOU'LL CROSS 36 DIFFERENT VEHICLE VEHICULAR INTERSECTIONS. TWO OF THESE AT ELGIN AND ALABAMA FALL IN HOUSTON'S HIGH INJURY NETWORK. YOU ALSO MAKE DANGEROUS CROSSINGS AT MCGOWAN, THE GULF FREEWAY AND MCKINNEY, THE SITE OF RODNEY'S DEATH EACH DAY. PEOPLE WHO HEED THE CALL TO USE ALTERNATE FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION TO RELIEVE CONGESTIONS ON OUR CITY STREETS AND REDUCE OUR CARBON FOOTPRINTS, RISK THEIR LIVES TO A RECKLESS DRIVER. PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE TO BE ACTIVE IN ORDER TO PROMOTE PERSONAL HEALTH, WHO WALK, RUN, AND BIKE ALONG THE TRAIL RISK, LOSING THEIR LIVES TO A DISTRACTED MOTORIST TIME HAS EXPIRED. AND WHAT I WOULD SAY TO YOU, MR. GROVE, IS THAT WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE OUR VISION ZERO INITIATIVE. WE'VE ALSO IDENTIFIED ON THE HIGH INJURY NETWORK, AND WE ARE WORKING ON THOSE STREETS, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. AND WITH GRANTS THAT WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED, WE'VE IDENTIFIED THOSE STREETS WHERE THERE'S A HIGH INJURY NETWORK. WE ALSO KNOW, UM, THAT 6% OF OUR STREETS, UH, WHERE 6% OF THE FATALITIES OF THE SERIOUS, SERIOUS INJURIES ARE OCCURRING. AND WE ARE FOCUSING, WE ARE FOCUSING ON THOSE STREETS. UM, AND THAT'S ON ALL OF THOSE NETWORKS EVEN CONNECTING TO OUR TRAILS. AND THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WHERE WE HAVE ADDRESSED THOSE STREETS AS A PART OF OUR VISION ZERO NETWORK, THERE HAVE BEEN NO FATALITIES, UM, FROM THOSE ON OUR BICYCLES OR PEDESTRIANS. THERE HAVE BEEN NO FATALITIES, ANY MAJOR INJURIES, INJURIES ON THOSE STREETS THAT WE ADDRESS. SO WE ARE, WE ARE WORKING, WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THAT. I, I AGREE WITH YOU A HUNDRED PERCENT. UH, BUT THE VISION ZERO PLAN IS IN EFFECT, THE HIGH INJURY NETWORK IS ALREADY IN EFFECT. AND EVEN WITH FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE RECENTLY RECEIVED, UH, WE ARE TACKLING, UH, ALREADY SOME OF THOSE, SOME OF THOSE STREETS. AND WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE COMMEND AND WE DIS ENCOURAGE MORE, UH, UNIFIED EFFORTS TO BRING FUNDING TO THE TRAIL. COUNCILMAN RAMEZ. THANK YOU. AND I'D JUST LIKE TO ECHO WHAT THE MAYOR HAS JUST SAID. UM, AND REALLY THANK YOU FOR NOT ONLY, UM, PARTICIPATING IN THIS FORUM, BUT WHAT YOU'VE DONE IN THE COMMUNITY. IT'S ABSOLUTELY TRAGIC WHAT YOU'VE DESCRIBED AND THE SCENE AND WHAT, UH, YOU AND SOME COLLEAGUES HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD ABOUT THE COLUMBIA TRAP TAP. AND AS, AS [02:35:01] SOMEONE WHO'S RIDDEN IT AND AWARE OF THE SAFETY ISSUES AND SOMEONE WHO'S LEADING OUR TRANSPORTATION, UH, COMMITTEE, UH, AND THAT OF THE REGION, AND LET ME TELL YOU THAT WE ARE COMMITTED, UH, TO IMPROVING SAFETY. THE MAYOR HAS SAID, WHERE WE'VE TOUCHED STREETS, THERE HAVE BEEN IMPROVEMENTS IN, KNOCK WOOD, THERE HAVE NOT BEEN FATALITIES, BUT WE ARE, WE ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE THE LIST OF THINGS THAT YOU'VE JUST RECITED. UM, I'D LIKE TO VISIT WITH YOU ABOUT PERSONALLY AND, UH, UH, JUST AGAIN, UM, RECOMMIT TO THOSE THINGS THAT YOU STAND HERE BEFORE US TODAY. THANK YOU. UM, I'LL REACH OUT TO YOU SO YOU HAVE MY CONTACT INFORMATION. YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER AND COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS. I, I TOO WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY. AND I, I KNOW THAT AS YOU'RE SHARING WHAT YOUR EXPERIENCE WAS, HOW DIFFICULT THAT WAS FOR YOU TO RELIVE. AND, UM, BUT IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE HEARD. AND, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE REMINDED. AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME BACK EVERY NOW AND THEN, YOU KNOW, AND EVEN TO REPEAT WHAT YOU JUST SAID, JUST TO MAKE SURE IT STAYS AT TOP OF MIND HERE. THANK YOU FOR THAT SUGGESTION, AND I WILL TAKE YOU UP ON THAT OFFER. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. NEXT WEEK, CLAUDIA CARO, ALIA COLLETTA IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY KIMBERLY PHIPPS. NICHOL. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MY NAME'S CLAUDIA CORDO. I, UH, LIVE IN THIRD WARD IN DISTRICT D, AND I LOVE MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND I'M MY NEIGHBORS. WHAT I DON'T LOVE IS LIVING IN FEAR TO DO VERY SIMPLE THINGS. SIMPLE THINGS LIKE USING THE TRAIL TO GET TO THE GROCERY STORE OR TO GET MYSELF TO WORK. I AM HERE TO SPEAK TO THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF THE TRAIL, AND I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS THAT YOU'VE MADE THUS FAR. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IMPROVED UPON IS LIGHTING CAMERAS, EMERGENCY CALL BOXES, PEDESTRIAN SIDEWALK, CONNECTIONS TO THE TRAIL AND RELATIONAL COMMUNITY POLICING, NOT POLICE OFFICERS IN THEIR CRUISERS ON THE TRAIL. PLEASE FIGURE OUT HOW TO WORK TOGETHER AND TO MAKE THE TRAIL SAFE FOR ALL OF US. I THINK THAT WE ALL HAVE A COMMON GOAL TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF US ARE SAFE. BUT QUITE HONESTLY SPEAKING RIGHT NOW, IT IS TERRIFYING TO BE A WOMAN IN THIRD WARD AND JUST TRY TO GET YOUR STEPS IN, IN THE AFTERNOON BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO IDEA IF THE TRAP BOYS ARE GONNA BE DOING THEIR BUSINESS. THAT'S JUST REAL TALK, HONEST TALK. WE APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS. WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU IN YOUR EFFORTS AND TO WORK TOGETHER, BUT WE NEED TO REALLY, REALLY BE PERSISTENT AND FOLLOW UP AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE'S SAFE. MY NEIGHBORS THAT ARE ELDERLY, THEY DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE COMING WITH ME ON THE TRAIL. THEY DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE GOING ANYWHERE NEAR THE TRAIL. AND WE CONSTANTLY FEEL UNSAFE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. AND, AND LEMME JUST SAY, AND THAT'S WHY YOU'VE HAD, UM, THREE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPREHENDED. THEY JUST HAPPENED TO BE, UM, UM, EXERCISING, VERY BAD JUDGMENT, 17 YEAR OLDS AND OTHERS. SO, UM, IT'S GONNA TAKE ALL OF US WORKING. I MEAN, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US PARENTS, GUARDIANS, YOU NAME IT, WORKING, UM, UM, BECAUSE THERE ARE TRAILS ALL OVER THE CITY, WE WANT ALL OF THEM BE SAFE, ALL OF THEM. AND I WISH WE COULD PUT, UH, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, UH, ON ALL OF THEM. SO IT'S GONNA TAKE A VERY COLLECTIVE EFFORT AND WE'RE GONNA UTILIZE EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TRAILS SAFE. 'CAUSE WE WANT PEOPLE TO UTILIZE THEM, OKAY? WE WANT THEM PEOPLE TO UTILIZE THEM. UH, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S GONNA TAKE A LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY EFFORT, UH, BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE INDIVIDUALS OUT THERE, UH, WHO ARE, UM, UM, MAKING BAD DECISIONS, MAKING VERY BAD DECISION. THEY HAPPEN TO BE, AT THIS POINT VERY YOUNG. AND SO, UM, WE JUST HAVE, IT'S YOUNG AND IMPRESSIONABLE, AND THEY NEED THE CORRECT INTERVENTION. I RECOGNIZE THAT. NO, IMPRESSIONABLE, BUT THEY, BUT, BUT WRONG IS WRONG. THAT'S RIGHT. OKAY. AND, UM, AND IT'S, AND PARENTS NEED TO KNOW WHERE THEIR KIDS ARE AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. OKAY? 'CAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 17 YEAR OLDS, RIGHT? OKAY. SO THEY AIN'T NOT THERE JUST LIVING BY THEMSELVES. SO IT'S GONNA, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND IT'S GONNA TAKE ALL OF US AND, UM, ALL THE RESOURCES THAT WE CAN EXPEND. AND, UH, WE DO HAVE, UH, WE ARE PUTTING, UH, MORE, [02:40:01] UM, BODIES AND CAMERAS AND UTILIZING TECHNOLOGY AND ALL OF THAT. SO, YOU KNOW, I, I AGREE WITH YOU. THERE'S, THERE'S NO DISAGREEMENT, UH, BETWEEN US, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER , THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING FORWARD. WE ARE TRYING TO IMPLEMENT SOME SAFETY MEASURES ON THE, UH, COLUMBIA TAP. I, I LIVE VERY CLOSE WITHIN A BLOCK OF THE TAP MYSELF, AND I DO RIDE THE TAP OCCASIONALLY, BUT CERTAINLY WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO BE VIGILANT. AND THAT'S JUST THE BOTTOM LINE. WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO TRAVEL IN PAIRS. WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO TRAVEL DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS WHERE IT'S A MUCH SAFER OPPORTUNITY. BUT WE ARE CERTAINLY WORKING ON IT. I'M THANKFUL TO THE, UH, HPD THAT THEY DID WORK SWIFTLY TO GET, UH, TO APPREHEND THREE PERSONS AND POSSIBLY MORE. UH, BUT I THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD AND WE CERTAINLY WANNA KEEP THE TAP USABLE AND SAFE. AND SO, UH, JUST REMAIN VIGILANT. AND WE ARE WORKING ON AS MANY OPPORTUNITIES. WE HAVE ATVS AND IN THE WORK, UH, WE HAVE, UH, POLICE PATROLS THAT MAY BE STEPPED UP SOMEWHAT, BUT ALTHOUGH THERE'S NOT A LOT OF RESOURCES OR AVAILABILITY FOR THAT, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT CALL BOXES AND CAMERAS. AND SO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN, I WANT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO BE SAFE. AND THEN WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT SOME OTHER ALTERNATIVE MEASURES THAT, THAT I'M NOT FREE TO DISCUSS AT THIS TIME, BUT IT IS CERTAINLY ON THE FOREFRONT AND WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, KIMBERLY PHIPPS. NICHOL. KIMBERLY PHIPPS NICHOLS IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL LEE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS KIMBERLY PHIPPS NICHOL, AND I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT C PARK SECTOR 14. AND I HAVE JUST SAT THROUGH ALL OF THE SAME PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS AND REC AND CIP DEPARTMENT BUDGET MEETINGS THAT YOU HAVE THESE PAST FEW WEEKS. UM, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. UH, AND SPECIAL THANKS TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, EVAN SHABAZZ AND ALCORN AND THEIR STAFFS ON ALL THE LONGSTANDING ASSISTANCE WITH MY REQUESTS, WHICH ARE THREE. NUMBER ONE, AMEND THE PARKS AND OPEN SPACE ORDINANCE THAT ESTABLISH THE PARKS AND REC, DEDICATION AND DEVELOPER IMPACT FUND TO ALIGN WITH THE SIDEWALK ORDINANCE THAT ALLOWS FOR UP TO 30% OF DISTRICT FUNDS TO BE USED OUT OF DISTRICT BY THOSE WITH LIMITED FUNDS AND GREAT NEED AS A FRIEND OF COLUMBIA TAP. UM, BUT REALLY A, AS A PROUD LEADERSHIP HOUSTON ALUM THAT HAS HAD INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCES WORKING WITH PARKS AND REC ON PROJECTS. I WAS REALLY SADDENED TO LEARN THAT CURRENT PARK DEDICATION FUND FEES ARE BOTH COLLECTED ALONG AND DISTRIBUTED MANY OF THE SAME REDLINING MAP PERIMETERS THAT WE HAVE FROM THE 1930S. AS NOTED IN THE CIP BUDGET RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC YESTERDAY, THE PARK DE DEDICATION FUND IS STARTING TO INCREASE, ALLOWING LARGER PARK PROJECTS AND LAND ACQUISITION FOR PARK PURPOSES TO BE IMPLEMENTED. FULL DISCLOSURE, I WORK IN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE, SO MY PROJECTS DO ADD VALUE TO THESE FUNDS. MY DISTRICT, WITH ITS HIGHER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT VALUES, CONTRIBUTES THE MOST AND CURRENTLY HAS $11 MILLION IN THE FUND, BUT IS ALREADY HOME TO SOME 2000 ACRES OF AMAZING PARKS. CURRENT ORDINANCE ONLY SUPPORTS IN DISTRICT SECTOR SPENDING, AND IT'S DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGHER THAN OTHER SECTORS. SO FOR COMPARISON, THE MAJORITY OF THE COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL RUNS THROUGH PARK SECTOR 15, WHICH HAS ONLY 71 ACRES OF PARKS AND ONLY 343,000 IN THE FUND. I ALSO WANTED TO THANK, UH, COUNCILMAN KOSH. I KNOW HE IS ALREADY LEFT FOR HIS COMMENTS YESTERDAY IN SUPPORT OF THE SAME REQUEST DURING THE BUDGET MEETING THAT ED PETIT BROCK BROUGHT UP. I BELIEVE THAT THIS MOVE SUPPORTS PROJECTS WITHIN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMPLETE COMMUNITIES. AND ALSO, UM, IF WE ALIGN THIS ORDINANCE, IT WILL BRING THE HOUSTON CHILDREN'S OUTDOOR BILL OF RIGHTS NUMBER FOUR TO BEAR, WHICH IS EQUITABLY FUNDED PUBLIC PARKS, REGARDLESS OF ZIP CODE. NUMBER TWO, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE AN OAK INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AMENDMENT THAT WOULD RECOGNIZE THE COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL AS A LINEAR PARK WITHIN THE, BEYOND THE BAYOU INITIATIVE, AND ALLOW A SINGLE ENTITY TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT TRAIL. UH, I ALSO WANTED TO THANK COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS FOR PREVIOUS OFFERS OF COLLABORATING WITH US AND COUNCILWOMAN SHABAZZ OFFICE, UM, ON THAT APPROACH. COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL RUNS THROUGH NUMEROUS DISTRICTS AND MIXED DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITIES, AND IT LIVES IN LIMBO BECAUSE IT'S NOT CURRENTLY DESIGNATED AS A LINEAR PARK. UH, WE'VE HEARD ALL OF THESE CHALLENGES LATELY, UM, AND IT IS WAS ENOUGH TO REQUIRE A PRESS CONFERENCE LAST WEEK FROM YOU ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING FORWARD. JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, I HAVE HAD SOME PRELIMINARY CONVERSATIONS WITH [02:45:01] THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, AND WE ARE PLANNING TO HAVE A IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION TO SEE IF WE COULD MAKE SOME CHANGES SO THAT THE, UH, COLUMBIA TAB COULD CERTAINLY BENEFIT. AND SO THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD. UM, I ACTUALLY HAD A CONVERSATION BACK THERE JUST THE OTHER DAY, AND SO JUST KIND OF, UH, TRYING TO GET THE BALL ROLLING AND SCHEDULING A, A MEETING TO TAKE CARE OF THIS IF WE POSSIBLY CAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, MICHAEL LEE. MICHAEL LEE IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY DOLORES FORD. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MICHAEL LEE. UM, I'VE LIVED MY PROPERTY ON ARDMORE STREET, IS BACKED UP TO THE COLUMBIA FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS. AND SO I HAVE A LONG HISTORY GOING BACK TO 1985 WHEN I LIVED ADJACENT TO THE COLUMBIA TAP. AND I'M GONNA KINDA SHARE YOU WITH A LITTLE BIT OF THE, THAT HISTORY. IN 19, IN 1985, THERE WAS TREMENDOUS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PEOPLE WITH AIDS. THEY WERE PARIAHS. WHEN UNION PACIFIC ABANDONED THAT RAILROAD, IT JUST BECAME A WASTELAND, BECAME A GROUNDS FOR DUMPING. IT BECAME GROUNDS FOR FRATERNITIES TO USE IT FOR PARKING LOTS. AND I FELT AN URGE TO DO SO. SO I CREATED THE, A MEMORIAL GARDEN AND MAINTAINED IT FOR 20 YEARS UNTIL CITY CONDEMNED THE PROPERTY AND TOOK IT OVER. AND SINCE THAT TIME, IT HAS BEEN NEGLECTED. I WAKE UP TO CHAINSAWS AND I HAVE TO RUN BACK THERE TO SEE WHO'S CUTTING ON TREES. UTILITY COMPANIES HAVE NO RESPECT FOR THE GARDEN, NO RESPECT FOR THE TREES. CENTER POINT WAS A LA THE LATEST, BIGGEST ABUSE WHEN THEY SHOWED UP WITH POLICEMEN AND CUT DOWN TWO 40-YEAR-OLD BALD CYPRESS TREES THAT WERE ONLY NOT, THIS WASN'T THAT THEY WERE IN THEIR WAY. IT WAS AS THAT THERE WAS EASIER FOR THEM TO DO THAT THAN PROTECT THE TREES FROM CONSTRUCTION. MY COUNCILMAN SHABA, WE WORKED UP WITH THE DEAL WITH CENTER POINT TO REPLACE THINGS, BUT THAT'S A FIX. IT SHOULD NEVER HAPPENED. AND THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT'S NOT IDENTIFIED AS AN A MEMORIAL GARDEN. NO ONE KNOWS. THIS SHOULD BE SIGNAGE THAT DEDICATES THIS. THERE'S A RESPECT TO THE PEOPLE WHO'VE DIED OF AIDS, AND THIS IS THE OLDEST AIDS MORROW GARDEN IN THE US. SO I'M ASKING THE CITY TO STEP UP. I'M ASKING THE CITY TO STEP UP AND RESPECT THOSE WHO HAVE DIED. I'M ASKING THE CITY TO STEP UP AND PRESERVE THIS GARDEN. JUST LAST, THIS LAST SPRING, I WENT THAT BACK THERE AND SPENT CLOSE TO TWO WEEKS CLEANING UP, CUTTING DOWN INVASIVE TREES FOR OUR, AND WHEN THAT TIME HAS EXPIRED ONE TIME. COUNCILMAN CAROLYN SPA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, UH, MR. LEE. CERTAINLY, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR DEDICATING YOUR PROPERTIES TO, TO THIS MEMORIAL. I KNOW HOW TOUCHED YOU WERE BY THE DEATH OF MANY OF YOUR FRIENDS. AND SO CERTAINLY WE DID HAVE THAT OFFICE, THAT MEETING IN MY OFFICE TO GET CENTER POINT TO. UH, CERTAINLY THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO RESTORE, BUT YOU ARE CERTAINLY RIGHT. THOSE THINGS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED, BUT YOU KNOW, I AM DEDICATED TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THAT GARDEN TO SEE IF WE CAN, UH, PRESERVE IT THE BEST THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, SIGNAGE AND WHATEVER TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT IT'S THERE AND ALSO TO PROMOTE THE RESPECT THAT IT IS CERTAINLY DUE. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR COMING FORWARD. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD A FEW MORE MINUTES, A FEW MORE SECONDS. NO, MA'AM. I, I KIND OF, YOU'RE DONE. IT'S, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO TALK ABOUT IT. YEAH, I KNOW. I'VE BEEN IN YOUR COMPANY AND I KNOW HOW SENSITIVE THIS ISSUE IS FOR YOU. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. YOU'RE VERY WELCOME. ALRIGHT, [02:50:01] THANKS. SPEAKER DOLORES FORD TO BE FOLLOWED BY NAOMI CARRIER. OKAY, MS. FORD IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS DOLORES FORD. I'M A RESIDENT OF THIRD WARD. I LIVE IN CUNY HOMES AND I'VE LIVED THERE 24 YEARS. AND ALL THE TIME THAT I HAVE LIVED THERE, I HAVE NEVER USED THE TRAIL. IF I HAD TO GO SOMEWHERE, I WOULD TAKE THE LONG WAY AROUND. AND IT WASN'T BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS THERE, IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID TO USE IT. THERE'S AN AREA THAT'S IN FRONT OF THE COMMUNITY BUILDING AT CUNY HOLMES AND THE OFFICE LEASING OFFICE. WHEN YOU GO DOWN THERE TO THAT TRAIL, THE NICKNAME THAT'S USED IS THE GUN RANGE. NOW, I DIDN'T KNOW, I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THAT PART, TO BE HONEST, BUT I HEARD NO ONE GOES THERE. IF YOU, IF YOU LIVE IN CUNY HOMES, DON'T GO THERE BECAUSE IT'S NOT SAFE. NOW, IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR, WE HAD AN EVENT WHERE ORGANIZATIONS CAME OUT AND WANT TO DO SOMETHING WITH THAT TRAIL. BUT IF THERE'S NO LIGHTING, NO CALL BOXES, NO CAMERAS, WHO'S GOING TO USE IT? I, I'M NOT GONNA USE IT. I'LL BE 60, 60 YEARS OLD THIS YEAR. I WANNA SEE 65. I WANT THE SENIORS THAT LIVE IN THE COMPLEX TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT TRAIL TO GET IN BETTER HEALTH. EVERYONE SAYS GET ACTIVE, MOVE AROUND. BUT WHEN YOU GO TO USE THAT TRAIL, YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHICH END YOU'RE GONNA GO TO FROM 45 TO THE BEGINNING OF TSU, THAT AREA HAS NO CALL BOXES, NOT ENOUGH LIGHTING. THE GROUNDS ARE BARELY KEPT. AND I GET EMOTIONAL ABOUT IT BECAUSE THIS IS MY NEIGHBORHOOD, THIS IS WHERE I LIVE, AND I WANT OUR AREA TO LOOK JUST LIKE OTHERS. I'VE BEEN TO WEST CHASE AND I'VE SEEN THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, BEEN DONE OVER THERE FOR THEIR LITTLE TRAIL. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU MS. FORD. WE ARE REALLY ATTENTIVE TO THAT, TO CONCERN. UH, I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE FOUND, THEY HAVE FOUND GUN CASINGS IN THAT AREA, BUT WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO STEP UP THINGS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SAFELY TRANSFER US DOWN THAT AREA. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMUNITY SERVICE AND WHAT YOU DO AT THE CUNY HOMES. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER, NAOMI CARRIER. MS. CARRIER IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY PAUL DANTE. GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM PLEASED WITH WHAT YOU'RE DOING, MAYOR, WITH WHAT YOU'RE DOING. COUNCILWOMAN S AND BECAUSE I'M AN EDUCATOR AND A HISTORIAN FOR THE THIRD WARD, I WANNA SPEAK TO THE ROLE OF THE COLUMBIA TAP RAILROAD IN THE WORLD'S ECONOMY. WEST AFRICA'S GRAIN COAST LOST THOUSANDS OF AFRICANS WHO WERE TRAFFICKED VIA THE TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE TO THE GULF COAST. AND DISEMBARKED AT AFRICAN LANDING ON THE SAN BERNARD RIVER ARE AT THE PORT OF VELASCO IN BRAZORIA TO PLANT, PICK HOE AND CHOP COTTON. THIS COTTON WAS LOADED ABOARD THE COLUMBIA TAP RAILROAD BUILT CHEAPLY BY SLAVES. IN 1856, THE COTTON HARVEST TRAVELED THE RAILROAD FROM BRAZORIA INTO HOUSTON AND CONNECTED WITH THE GALVESTON BOUND RAILROAD TO THE PORT OF GALVESTON. THEY WERE LOADED THESE BELLS OF COTTON BALLS BY THE LONE STAR COTTON JAMMERS ONTO SHIPS BOUND FOR MANCHESTER, [02:55:01] ENGLAND. AND ONCE THERE, MANCHESTER'S MILL MANUFACTURED COTTON INTO BOLTS, SOLD AS FABRIC FOR COTTON, FOR CLOTHING, FROM DIRT TO SHIRT COTTON TRANSFORMED THE AMERICAN ECONOMY ACCOUNTING FOR OVER HALF ALL EXPORTS. DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY, THE SLAVE TRAIT AND COLONIALISM PAVED THE WAY TO THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION, A GLOBAL TRANSITION OF HUMAN ECONOMY TOWARDS MANUFACTURING PROCESSES THAT FOLLOWED A REVOLUTION IN AGRICULTURE. IN THREE CENTURIES, THREE CONTINENTS, EUROPE, AFRICA, AND NORTH AMERICA COMBINED TO CONDUCT A TRIANGULAR TRADE IN MILLIONS OF AFRICANS WHEREIN MILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM ENSLAVEMENT AND CASH CROPS LED TO THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION, WHICH TRANSFORMED INTO THE AGE OF INFORMATION, WHICH TRANSITIONED US INTO THE 20TH CENTURY DIGITAL AGE. THIS VERY COLUMBIA TAP RAILROAD, WHOSE POINT OF DEPARTURE WAS COLUMBIA, TEXAS TRAVEL THROUGH THIRD WARD PASSED WHAT WAS TEXAS STATE COLLEGE FOR. NEGROES PASSED THE CUNY HOMES NAMED FOR NORRIS WRIGHT CUNY, AN IMPORTANT BLACK REPUBLICAN COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS AT THE GALVESTON PORT AUTHORITY, THE WORLD'S LARGEST COTTON PORT AT THE TIME. YES, SIR. THE COLUMBIA TAP RAILROAD PAID A HUGE ROLE IN TRANSFORMING THE WORLD'S ECONOMY BY HELPING AMERICA BECOME THE WORLD'S LARGEST COUNTRY IN TERMS OF GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT AND THE MOST TECHNOLOGICALLY POWERFUL. AS A MEMBER OF THE RAIL TRAILS, THE NATIONAL RAIL TRAILS CONSERVANCY, I WANT TO SEE THE COLUMBIA TAP RAIL TRAIL, AS IT IS CALLED, BUT IT IS NOT BECOME WHAT IT IS SAID IT COULD BE. AND I'M WORKING ON HERITAGE TOURISM AND THIRD WARD, BUT WE HAVE HISTORICAL PANELS AND WAYSIDE MARKERS AND ALL KIND OF SIGNAGE CAN, THAT CAN INTERPRET THE HISTORY OF THIS RAILROAD AND IN THE ROLE THAT IT PLAYED IN DEVELOPMENT OF THE WORLD'S ECONOMY. I APPRECIATE YOU, MAYOR. I'M GONNA MISS YOU, SO DON'T LEAVE BEFORE WE INTERPRET THE IMPORTANT HISTORIC SITES IN THIRD WARD. THANK YOU. WE ARE WORKING ON, WE ARE WORKING ON SOMETHING RIGHT NOW, UM, THAT WILL, UM, CONNECT FROM THIRD WARD TO, UH, TO FREEMAN'S TOWN AND SOME OTHER HISTORICAL AREAS. AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET THAT INITIATED BEFORE I GET OUTTA HERE. MM-HMM . BUT, UH, IT DOES TAKE INTO ACCOUNT PRECISELY WHAT YOU HAVE SAID. AND SO, UH, WE ARE MOVING, WE ARE MOVING QUICKLY IN THAT DIRECTION. I DO WANT EMPHASIZE, WE WANT ALL THIS, ALL THE, THE TRAILS IN OUR CITY TO BE SAFE. IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO HAVE THEM, AND PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAFE TO USE THEM. SO, UH, WE WANNA MAKE THEM ALL SAFE, AND IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A VERY HOLISTIC APPROACH, UH, IN ORDER TO GET THAT, TO GET THAT DONE. SO, I MEAN, WE, WE HEAR, WE HEAR WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING, UM, WE'RE MAKING SOME PROGRESS, BUT IT'S, IT'S DIFFICULT TO UNDO A LOT OF STUFF THAT'S BEEN OVERLOOKED FOR DECADES, BUT WE'RE WORKING ON IT. THANK YOU. CURRENTLY, COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE ARE IN THE PRESENCE OF A, A ICON, A PHENOMENAL PERSON WHO'S NOT ONLY, UM, AN ACTIVIST. UH, SHE AND I WORKED TOGETHER AT THE NAACP EDUCATION COMMITTEE, AND, BUT SHE'S A, A, AN ACTOR. SHE'S A PLAYWRIGHT AND SHE'S AN AUTHOR, AND SHE IS SO WELL KNOWN AND HAS ESTABLISHED SOME HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. AND SO I WANNA THANK YOU. IT'S, IT'S JUST A PLEASURE TO KNOW YOU, UH, MS. CARRIER, AND THANK YOU FOR COMING. AND, UH, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE AND KEEPING US GROUNDED IN OUR HISTORY AND HELPING US TO KNOW THAT WE NEED TO KNOW THESE THINGS IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR GIVING OF YOUR TIME TO COME DOWN AND SPEAK TO US. IT'S MY PLEASURE. BLACK LIVES MATTER, JUNETEENTH MATTERS, AND OUR HISTORY MATTERS. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UH, I TOO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING AND EVERYONE WHO, UH, HAS BEEN SPEAKING ON THE, THE COLUMBIA TAB, BUT SPECIFICALLY YOU, UH, BECAUSE YOUR HISTORICAL REFERENCE, UH, EVEN SHED LIGHT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT COMMUNITY AND THAT TRAIL THAT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND I THINK THAT WHEN [03:00:01] YOU'RE ABLE TO DO THAT, UH, IT MAGNIFIES THE IMPORTANCE AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THOSE EFFORTS TOWARDS THAT TRAIL. UM, AND SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD. I'M GONNA WORK WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER TO KIND OF BE MORE IN THE LOOP. THAT'S NOT MY AREA. UH, BUT BASED ON THE TESTIMONY THAT HAS COME BEFORE, UM, NOW I, I'VE EVEN BEEN EDUCATED ON WHY IT'S IMPORTANT NOT ONLY TO PRESERVE IT FROM A, A PUBLIC SAFETY STANDPOINT, BUT FROM A HISTORICAL STANDPOINT AS WELL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT'S MY PLEASURE. THANKS MS. GARY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PAUL DANCY. PAUL DANCY BE FOLLOWED BY CHRISTINE WYNN. GOOD EVENING. UH, CITY COUNCIL MAYOR, THIS IS NOT MY FIRST TIME HERE. AND UH, I LIKE TO SAY THAT MY FATHER WORKED FOR THE CITY 36 YEARS. MY MOTHER RETIRED FROM BINE. SHE, SHE WAS, YOU REMEMBER BAINES? YES, SIR. LANE BRYANT. YES. SO I, SO THE, THE, THE, THE, THE WORK ETHIC IS STILL IN ME. AND, UH, I, I CAUGHT COVID THE, SINCE THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE. 'CAUSE YOU HAD HAD HIM WORK WITH ME WITH THAT BOOK. AND I SENT A COPY. I WANTED MY COUNCIL LADY TO SEE A COPY OF IT. BUT WHY I'M HERE RIGHT NOW IS BECAUSE MAYOR, UH, I NEED, I, I WANT TO GET A PERMIT, A 90 DAY PERMIT, ANYTHING TO HELP ME OUT WITH, BECAUSE I'M RIGHT CLOSE TO GETTING THE BOOK REDID AND PUBLISHED. AND I WANT TO DO IT BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE OUT OF THIS, THIS, THIS, A FEW, THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. AND THIS IS WHAT I, THIS IS, THIS IS JUST SOME, UH, IT'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF, YEAH. VERY NICE. AND, UH, I, IF I COULD FROM NOW TO LABOR DAY, THE 30 DAY, A 60 DAY PERMIT, UH, 90 DAY PERMIT BECAUSE I GOT ENOUGH MONEY SAVED UP TO GET IT REDID. I JUST GOTTA GET A GOOD PUBLISHER. AND YOU, YOU HAD TOLD, UH, WORLD COUNCIL AND HE GAVE ME HIS CARD, BUT I GOT COVID AND I GOT SICK AND IT, BECAUSE OF MY LIVER, I COULDN'T, I'VE BEEN OUT A WHILE, BUT I GOTTA GET IT DID NOW I'M, I'M WORKING ON IT NOW. OKAY, WELL, COUNCILMAN POLL IS STILL HERE. HE'S BEEN WAITING ON YOU. ALRIGHT, SO, UM, BUT COUNCILMAN EVAN SHABAN FIRST THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, UH, PROVIDING THIS BOOK FOR ME. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO READING IT. UH, THANK YOU. IT, IT LOOKS LIKE, I MEAN, YOU, YOU PUT A LOT OF WORK IN THE BOOK. I GOTTA GET IT REDID. I GOTTA GET IT. REEDITED, REEDITED. I GOT EVERY, THE LIBRARY CONGRESS, I GOT EVERYTHING I NEED. ISBN NUMBER, EVERYTHING. I JUST, AND IT'S, WELL, LET'S AUTOGRAPH. SO YOU WON'T GET THIS BACK WHETHER YOU REDO IT OR NOT. NO, I WANT YOU, I WANTED YOU TO GET A, A COPY OF IT TOO. BUT, BUT MAYOR, I DON'T WANT, I DON'T HELP ME OUT WITH SOME KIND OF PERMIT. JUST, JUST IF YOU'LL WORK WITH THOSE TWO, LET ME ASSIGN YOU TO THOSE TWO BECAUSE THEY, THEY, THEY WILL GET YOU THE PERMIT. YEAH, THEY WILL. ALRIGHT, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THE SYLVESTER MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER WILL GET YOU A 30 TO 60. I WANNA GET THIS BOOK PUBLISHED BEFORE YOU LEAVE HERE. OKAY. WE GONNA HAVE A PARTY. WELL, I LOOK FORWARD TO SIGNING, I GETTING A SIGNED COPY FROM YOU. OKAY. OKAY. WILL YOU TAKE A PICTURE WITH ME? I CAN'T DO IT. I CAN . WILL YOU TAKE A PICTURE? YOU, YOU LOOK GOOD. I GOTTA HAVE THAT SMILE. MY FAMILY WOULD LOVE IT. I GOTTA HAVE THAT SMILE. WHY WHEN YOU FINISH THAT BOOK, LET YOU AND I TAKE A PICTURE TOGETHER. ALRIGHT. OKAY. ALRIGHT. WHAT ABOUT THAT? ALRIGHT, SO GET IN TOUCH WITH YEAH, DON. YEAH, HE'S THE COUNCIL MEMBER AND THE LAWYER AND THIS IS, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBER AND THE CHURCH SECRETARY. SO, ALRIGHT, I HOPE YOU LIKE IT. ALRIGHT. AND THE SOM THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU. ALL RIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER. CHRISTINE WYNN. CHRISTINE WYNN. IS CHRISTINE HERE? CHRISTINE. CHRISTINE. NEXT SPEAKER. DANA JONES. DANA JONES. DANA IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY JASON CONWAY. COUNSEL, IF YOU GET BEHIND THIS OTHER MIC. THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU COUNSEL FOR LETTING ME SPEAK. AGAIN. MY NAME IS DANA JONES AND I LIVE AT 1270 HOPPER IN THE MELROSE SUBDIVISION. LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I WENT HOME TO A HOUSE THAT HAD FLOODED WITH FECES WATER. I AM COMING BEFORE COUNCIL AGAIN TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THERE IS SOMETHING THAT IS WRONG AT MY HOUSE. MY NEIGHBOR GOT HER HOUSE WORKED ON. AND SO WHAT HAPPENS NOW IS EVERY TIME IT RAINS, MY HOUSE FLOODS. AND THIS IS RAW SWORD, FECES, WATER. I'M ASKING [03:05:01] FOR HELP. I, LAST TIME I WAS HERE, UM, COUNCILMAN POLLARD IN, UM, MOTHER IN, UM, COUNCILWOMAN PLUMMER MADE SURE TO THAT SHE UNDERSTOOD WHAT I WAS SAYING, WHICH I'M STILL SAYING IT LOUD. AND I'M SAYING CLEAR, RAW STORAGE COMES IN MY YARD, IT FLOODS MY HOUSE. EVERY TIME IT RAINS, I WILL NOT SURVIVE. HAS EXPIRED A, A STORM. I WON'T SURVIVE. ITAM COUNCILWOMAN CISNEROS. COUNCILWOMAN CISNEROS KNOWS ABOUT THE SITUATION. WHEN SHE WENT BEFORE SHE WENT INTO OFFICE, I TALKED TO HER AT THAT POINT. I'M FOR PREVENTIVE. SIR. SIR COUNCILMAN CIRO. THANK YOU. JUST TO REITERATE THAT WE, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH YOU SINCE YOU'VE BEEN HERE LAST WEEK AND, AND ACTUALLY A LONG TIME BEFORE THAT TOO. BUT, BUT, UM, IT HELPS SET UP SOME, SOME NEW 3 1 1 CASES AND THAT AN INSPECTOR'S BEEN ASSIGNED TO INVESTIGATE COUNCILWOMAN. YOU KNOW THAT EACH TIME I HAVE TALKED TO YOU GUYS, YOU GUYS HAVE DONE NOTHING. WHEN YOU FIRST CAME INTO OFFICE WHEN YOU WAS RUNNING, I WAS ASKING YOU FOR PREVENTION. NOW I'M BEGGING FOR SURVIVAL. I'M BEGGING FOR SURVIVAL. HAVE THE, UH, AND HAVE THE INSPECTORS, COUNCIL AND CISNEROS HAVE THE INSPECTORS GONE OUT. YES MA'AM. I'LL, I WILL SHOW SHARE WITH YOU ALL THAT WE HAVE, BUT WE'VE BEEN VERY ENGAGED WITH OKAY, LEMME WORK WITH YOU. LET'S MAKE SURE THAT THE INSPECTORS GO OUT. THANK YOU MA'AM. I APPRECIATE IT. I'M JUST ASKING COUNSEL, I GOT, HELP ME. I GOT YOU. OKAY. IF A STORM COMES, I, I WON'T SURVIVE MY HOME. A 62-YEAR-OLD WOMAN'S GOING TO BECOME HOMELESS. OKAY, WELL LET ME, THAT DOES NOT, TO ME THAT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE. OKAY. I HAVE TO DO CERTAIN THINGS FOR MY ANIMALS AND I'M ASKING COUNSEL TO TAKE ME INTO CONSIDERATION. WELL, THIS IS FECES AND WE WANNA DO THAT. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. JASON CONWAY. JASON CONWAY TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANNIE LEE. GOOD AFTERNOON MA'AM. LAST WEEK WHEN I WAS HERE, I BROUGHT SOME THINGS TO THE FLOOR AND I WAS TOLD TO GO BACK AND REFILE FOR, UM, A RESEND APPLICATION AND A NEW APPLICATION. I HAVE BOTH OF THOSE WITH ALL THE SIGNATURES. AND I WAS ALSO TOLD TO, IF MR. FLOWERS WANTED IT CHANGED, HE CAN GET OUT THERE AND HELP. HE TO SAFE SITTING RIGHT THERE. ME AND HIM WALK UP AND DOWN THAT STREET, GOT ALL THE SIGNATURES OVER 67%. UH, THAT'S NEEDED. WHAT I'M HERE FOR IS TO JUST ASK THAT SOMEBODY EXPEDITE THIS THROUGH. 'CAUSE IT WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO BE THAT WAY IN THE FIRST PLACE. ALSO, I WANT TO GET WITH, I SPOKE WITH MS. MS. THOMAS AND MR. P*****K TO TRY TO OPEN UP A DIALOGUE WITH, UH, PLANNING AND COMMISSION SO THAT THIS TYPE OF SITUATION NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. I'VE SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL, UM, REAL ESTATE ATTORNEYS AND THEY'RE IN AGREEMENT WITH, ONCE OUR, OUR PLAN IS RECORDED AND IT'S FILED WITH, WITH THE CLERK, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. I'LL LET YOU FINISH. OKAY. AND IT'S FILED WITH THE CLERK. THAT'S, THAT'S THE RECORD. AND THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAD WAS NOBODY WENT OUT AND ACTUALLY SEEN THE BOUNDARIES THAT I'M IN HARVEST HEIGHTS. MONTGOMERY TERRACE IS MONTGOMERY TERRACE AND YOU CAN'T JUST FILE AN ORDINANCE AND CROSS OVER THE TWO AND IMPEDE ON, ON MY PROPERTY. THAT'S JUST LIKE 59 RUNS UP BETWEEN LOUISIANA AND TEXAS. TEXAS ON ONE SIDE OF THE STREET, LOUISIANA ON THE OTHER SIDE. JUST BECAUSE TEXAS IS LARGER, THEY CAN'T IMPOSE THEIR, UH, ORDINANCES OR WHATEVER ON, ON LOUISIANA. SO IF SOMEBODY CAN SUSPEND MOTION AND HAVE MR. FLOWERS SPEAK, HE CAN ADDRESS THE FACT THAT THE WHOLE BOUNDARY LINE WAS DONE BY SOMEBODY AT PLANNING THE COMMISSION AND NOT THE CITIZENS OF, UH, MONTGOMERY TERRACE. WELL, HE DOESN'T NEED TO DO THAT. BUT WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO, IF YOU'VE GOT THE SIGNATURES, IF YOU'ALL HAVE GONE OUT THERE AND COLLECTED SIGNATURES, THEN YOU'VE GOTTEN, UH, 75% OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO SIGN. OH, BOTH APPLICATIONS. IF THEY WANT TO AMEND, UH, THEN WE NEED TO GET YOU WITH PLANNING AND, AND THEN THE, THE PROCESS TAKES PLACE. SO WHO'S HERE? IS ANYONE FROM PLANNING? I DON'T. LET ME HAVE, LET ME HAVE SOMEONE FROM PLANNING TO GIVE, TO GET IS THE NUMBER THAT I HAVE, CORRECT? UH, IT IS ABRAHAM ZILLO. HE'S, HE'S THE DIRECTOR OF, OF, UM, MINIMUM LIFE SIZE. SO WHAT WE ARE ASKING, DO I HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT, THAT LONG PROCESS OF FIVE, SIX MONTHS? NO, WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT I'LL HAVE THE PERSON FROM PLANNING TO REACH OUT TO YOU [03:10:01] AND TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT YOU, WHAT YOU HAVE AND THEN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALL GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS TO AMEND, UH, THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE. OKAY. THIS IS LAST, THIS, THIS IS WHAT HE SENT. THIS IS FROM ABRAHAM ZILLA. HE SENT IT BACK AND IT BASICALLY SAYS THAT GO THROUGH, FILE A RESEND APPLICATION AND THEN FILE A RE REAPPLY APPLICATION. WHICH THE WHOLE PROCESS, HE'S TELLING ME IT'S GONNA TAKE LIKE SIX MONTHS. OKAY. BUT I, I JUST WANT YOU TO WORK WITH, WITH, WITH THE PERSON THAT I DESIGNATE SO EVERYBODY'S ON THE SAME PAGE. OKAY. OKAY. THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. TO ELIMINATE ANY CONFUSION SO THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. LOOK, AS LONG AS THE PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO AMEND THE MINIMUM MY SIZE, THEN IT'S FINE. THERE'S NO ISSUE HERE. SO WHO, WHO WOULD THAT PERSON BE? UH, I'M, I'M GONNA DESIGNATE MARGARET WALLACE BROWN IS THE DIRECTOR. LET ME, LET ME HAVE HER TO DESIGNATE A SPECIFIC PERSON TO WORK WITH YOU IN WALKING YOU THROUGH THIS PROCESS. OKAY? SHE WILL, SHE WILL REACH OUT TO YOU. YES. THANK YOU. OKAY. NO PROBLEM. NO PROBLEM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANNIE LEE TO BE FOLLOWED BY GAYHEART. MY NAME IS ANNIE LEE AND, UH, GOOD EVENING MAYOR. AND, UH, THE CITY COUNCILMAN. I, UM, STILL SPEAKING FOR, UH, CHRISTINA LEE, WHO'S DECEASED AND HER BABY IS STILL IS MISSING. UH, I TALKED WITH, I FOUND OUT THE BABY IS IN, UM, UH, LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, AND, UH, THE GUY GAVE HIM THE ADDRESS, BUT THEY SAID THEY DON'T HAVE A MISSING, UH, NUMBER, CASE NUMBER ON THE BABY. THAT'S WHY THEY CAN'T GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE BABY'S SAFETY AND EVERYTHING. BUT OFFICER FORD DID, DID CALL ME ON MONDAY AND HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT, UH, CPS, HE ASKED CPS TO GO TO THE HOUSE AND GET THE BABY AND PUT A CASE NUMBER ON THE BABY. CPS REFUSED. THEY SAY THEY'RE NOT GONNA DO IT, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO INVESTIGATE. THEY DIDN'T GO GET THE BABY FROM THE FIRST TIME THAT I CALLED HIM THAT I KNEW THE BABY WAS IN DANGER. AND, UH, I STILL DON'T SLEEP BECAUSE THE BABY WELFARE. AND I KNOW SHE'S STILL LOOKING FOR HER MOM WHO'S BEEN, 'CAUSE SHE'S VERY SMART CHILD. SHE'S LOOKING FOR CHRISTINA, HER MOM, AND OR US AND I, OFFICER LIEUTENANT MORI. HE HAVEN'T CONTACTED ME YET. I'M STANDING ON LUKE 18TH CHAPTER VERSE ONE THROUGH EIGHT. I GOT TO KEEP YOUR TIME. HAS SISTER, I'M SORRY. THANK YOU MS. LEE. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLL. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU MS. LEE, UH, FOR WAITING PATIENTLY, UH, TO BE HEARD. MM-HMM . UM, IT'S A, IT'S A BLESSING TO KNOW THAT THE CHILD HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED. THAT WAS ALWAYS THE, THE FIRST STEP AND A LOT OF THAT WENT TOWARDS YOUR CONTINUED DILIGENCE AND EFFORTS. MM-HMM . UH, SO, UM, WHAT, WHAT I WANNA SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT, I'LL DO IT OFFLINE SINCE THIS IS A SENSITIVE TOPIC. MM-HMM . UH, SO WAIT FOR ME AFTERWARDS AND WE'LL, WE'LL DISCUSS, OKAY? OKAY. ALRIGHT. 'CAUSE I LOST A HUSBAND THROUGH THIS GRIEVING PROCESS. YES MA'AM. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE, SHOULD BEEN TAKEN CARE OF EARLY. WAIT BEFORE NOW. I'LL HAVE A FOR YOU. WHEN I FIRST TALKED TO OFFICER FORD. YES MA'AM. THANK YOU. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. GAY HART. GAY HART IS NOT PRESENT. AN ANGEL CORTEZ IS NOT PRESENT. THIS COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS. OKAY. LET ME JUST, UH, SERVE AS A REMINDER FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE AND LISTENING. UH, SUNDAY IS FATHER'S DAY . HELLO. IN CASE PEOPLE FORGOT, YOU KNOW, , I JUST WANNA LET PEOPLE KNOW, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE FATHER'S ON FATHER'S DAY, WE GET ONE HOUR. IT'S IMPORTANT. BE MY DADDY, YOU KNOW. SO I'M JUST SAYING TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT THERE IN THE, IN, IN THE UNIVERSE. IN THE UNIVERSE. CELEBRATE YOUR DAD. CELEBRATE YOUR, CELEBRATE YOUR DADDIES. YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, DO DO US, DO US JUSTICE. YOU KNOW, , PAMPER US, YOU KNOW, ALL THAT GOOD STUFF. PAMPER, YOU KNOW, UH, HOME COOKED MEALS ALWAYS WORK WELL, YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY LISTENING. OKAY. DADDY NEED A MEAL? NO, I JUST SAID THAT FOR ALL OF THE DADDY, ALL OF THE FATHERS, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, A-A-A-A-A-A ROSE AROUND THE DESK, YOU KNOW, TOMORROW JUST SURPRISE ME. WOW. . JUST GONNA GET A TIE. WE [RECESS] SAT, WE SAT IN RECESSION TOMORROW MONDAY. NINE . THAT'S GOOD. ABOUT TO READ THE DESCRIPTION OF CAPTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR THE WEEK. JUNE 13TH AND 14TH, 2023 [03:15:01] ITEM ONE, PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE DESIGNATION FOR THE BL EXCHANGE REINVESTMENT ZONE FOR TAX ABATEMENT PURPOSES. ITEM TWO, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF 4249055 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH INDUSTRIAL TX CORP FOR LIFT STATION RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT. ARIS, BROMPTON, BRADFORD AND KIRBY DRIVE. NUMBER TWO. ITEM THREE, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $7,063,140 AND 40 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH GRAVEL LLC FOR FY 2019. ROADWAY REHABILITATION OVERLAY PACKAGE NUMBER TWO. ITEM FOUR, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR OF PEACE AND PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $7,027,615 AND 11 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH GRAVEL LLC FOR ROADWAY PROJECT FY 2019 ROADWAY REHABILITATION PACKAGE NUMBER ONE. ITEM FIVE, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE JOINT REFERRAL COMMITTEE ON REQUEST FROM PABLO FUENTES OF FUENTES TRUCK HOLDINGS. LLC DECLINING THE ACCEPTANCE OF REJECTING AND REFUSING A PORTION OF 60 FOOT WIDE SUNBURY STREET FROM FITZ HU STREET EAST TO ITS TERMINAL. AND A 30 FOOT WIDE UNNAMED ROAD FROM SUNBURY STREET SOUTH, MORE OR LESS. 386 FEET WITHIN THE EAST HOUSTON EDITION OUT OF THE JL STANLEY SURVEY. A 700 PARCEL SY 23 0 7 5. ITEM SIX. CHASTAIN ENTERPRISES HOUSTON, L-L-C-D-B-A CHASTAIN FORD FOR APPROVAL OF PURCHASE OF HYBRID HALF-TON PICKUP TRUCKS THROUGH THE TEXAS LOCAL PURCHASING CED BY BOARD FOR THE FLEET MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT ON BEHALF OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS. ITEM SEVEN APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $648,000 IN THOSE CENTS FOR PURCHASE OF NETWORK OPERATIONS CENTER MONITORING SERVICES AND DEDICATION. DEDICATED ONSITE AND OR REMOTE RESOURCES FOR THE CITY'S VOICE MANAGED SERVICES THROUGH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION RESOURCES COOPERATIVE PURCHASING PROGRAM FOR HOUSTON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES AWARDED TO NET SINK NETWORK SOLUTIONS. ITEM EIGHT APPROVED SPRING AUTHORITY AND AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $150,000 NO CENTS FOR EMERGENCY REPAIRS TO THE ULTRAVIOLET SYSTEM FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AWARDED TO HARTWELL ENVIRONMENTAL CORPORATION. ITEM NINE APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN THE MILE EXCEED $450,000 IN NO CENTS FOR EMERGENCY PURCHASE OF POLYPHOSPHATE FOR THE GREATER NORTHEAST HOUSTON SERVICE AREA FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AWARDED TO HAWKINS, INC. ITEM 10 HYDRO STOP LLC FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL PAYMENT FOR EMERGENCY PURCHASE FOR AN INSERTION VALVE FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS. ITEM 11, PLANTED CELLULAR INK FOR PURCHASE OF FIRE HYDROGEN MARKERS FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS. ITEM 12 APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $800,000 AND NO CENTS FOR EMERGENCY PURCHASE ORDER FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF A PROCESS CONTROL MODULE FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS WATER TO ENBR ENGINEERING INC. ITEM 13, APPROVED SPRINTING AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $343,174 AND NO CENTS FOR PURCHASE OF RECYCLING CONTAINERS THROUGH THE CORPORATE PURCHASING WITH SOURCE WELL FOR THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT AND WATER TO WASTE QUIP MANUFACTURING COMPANY LLC. ITEM 14, ORDINANCE OF AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION WITH OTHER S ENERGY SERVICE AREA CITIES IN MATTERS CONCERNING S ENERGY LP BEFORE THE RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS DURING 2023. ITEM 15, ORDINANCE ACCEPTING PROPOSAL FROM TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE INTERGOVERNMENTAL RISK POOL. ITEM 16 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF HOUSTON. ITEM 17 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FOURTH AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE WOMEN'S HOME. ITEM 18 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT AND RELEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, ART ACEVEDO, THOMAS SERRANO, LUCAS RA, EARL BERRY, AND NADINE LUM AND ANDRE HOWARD TO SETTLE A LAWSUIT. ITEM 19 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $2,126,000 IN NO CENTS OUT OF GENERAL IMPROVEMENT CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND 1,000,002 $670,000 IN NO CENTS OUT OF EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION CONSOLIDATED FUND $615,000 IN NO CENTS OUT OF POLICE CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND $145,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF FIRE. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND $109,000 IN NO CENTS OUT OF PUBLIC LIBRARY. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND, $990,436 AND NO CENTS OUT OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND $250,000 IN NO CENTS OUT OF PARKS AND RECREATION DEDICATION FUND AND $526,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF PARKS AND RECREATION. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND FOR THE TASK ORDER AND JOB ORDER CONTRACTING PROGRAM. ITEM 20, ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY FUTURE AND LEADS ONLINE. LLC ITEM 21. [03:20:01] ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 22 9 6 9 TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR A DERIVATIVE CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND PS LIGHTWAVE INC. ITEM 22 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT. CONTRACT NUMBER 4 6 0 0 1 4 9 0 3 BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND I THREE IMAGE SOFT LLC PREVIOUSLY KNOWN ASOFT, LLC ITEM 23 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THIRD AMENDMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND GREATER HOUSTON HEALTH HEALTH CONNECT INC. ITEM 24 ORDINANCE AWARD AND CONTRACT FIRE TROLL PROTECTION SYSTEMS INC. ITEM 25 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING DERIVATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND MULTI FORCE SYSTEMS CORPORATION. ITEM 26 ORDINANCE ADMITTING ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 21 6 12 PAST JULY 14TH, 2021 TO INCREASE MAXIMUM CONTACT AMOUNT FOR VARIOUS AGREEMENTS BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND ONE A ONE PERSONNEL OF HOUSTON INC. TWO LANE STAFFING INC. AND THREE RECRUITING SOURCE INTERNATIONAL LLC ITEM 27 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE OF THE 7,600 BLOCK OF JANET DRIVE BETWEEN JACQUELINE DRIVE AND WOODVINE DRIVE WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 42 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES. ITEM 28 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE OF THE 7,600 BLOCK ORGANIC DRIVE BETWEEN JACQUELINE DRIVE AND WOODVINE DRIVE WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM BUILDING LINE BLOCK PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 42. ITEM 29 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE EAST SIDE OF THE 5,300 BLOCK OF BLYTHEWOOD STREET BETWEEN ROSENE DRIVE AND NORTH ROSENE DRIVE WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. THERE'S A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK ITEM 30 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE EAST SIDE OF THE 5,300 BLOCK OF BLYTHEWOOD STREET BETWEEN ROSENE DRIVE AND NORTH ROSENE DRIVE WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM BUILDING LOT BUILDING LINE BLOCK ITEM 31 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE OF THE EIGHT 800 TO 1000 BLOCK OF ENGLISH STREET BETWEEN IRVINGTON BOULEVARD AND ROBERTSON STREET WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS HAS A SPECIAL MINIMUM BUILDING BLOCK BUILDING LINE BLOCK ITEM 32 ORDINANCE RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE 1300 BLOCK OF EDWARD STREET WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS HAS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE REQUIREMENT. BLOCK ITEM 33 ORDINANCE CONSENTED TO THE ADDITION OF 3.4674 ACRES OF LAND TO NORTHWEST HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER NINE, ITEM 34 ORDINANCE. FINDING AND DETERMINING THAT PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY NO LONGER REQUIRE THE CONTINUED USE OF TWO 10 FOOT WIDE PRESCRIPTIVE SANITARY SEWER EASEMENT SITUATED IN THE THOMAS HOSKINS SURVEY. ABSTRACT NUMBER 3 4 2 HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS ABANDONING THE EASEMENTS TO SPRING BRANCH INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. ITEM 35 ORDINANCE APPROVING THE FORM OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES. CONTRACT AMENDMENT FOR THE CAPITAL PROJECT SERVICE LINE OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR WASTEWATER PROJECTS RELATED TO THE CONSENT DECREE AND CIVIL ACTION NUMBER 4 1 8 CV OH 3 360 8 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND STATE OF TEXAS VERSUS CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS HOUSTON DIVISION ITEM 36 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATED $147,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND AT VALOR TAX APPROVING. AN AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO ADVANCE FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR BRIDGE REPLACEMENT OR REHABILITATION OFF THE STATE SYSTEM AT CAMPBELL ROAD AND H-H-C-F-C-D DITCH ITEM 37 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING ANY LOCAL AGREEMENT BY BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT RELATING TO THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF 24 FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS. ITEM 38, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO ADVANCE FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE HOUSTON TRANSFER CENTER. ITEM 39 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $2,562,835 90 CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND DRAINAGE CHARGE AWARDING CONTRACTED TB CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION INC. ITEM 40 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $17,600,000 IN NO CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND AT VALOREM TAX AWARDING CONTRACT TO GROVER LLC FOR FY 2023. ROADWAY REHABILITATION PROJECT NUMBER FOUR, ITEM 41, SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR UPDATES TO CHAPTER 42 SUBDIVISIONS, DEVELOPMENTS AND PLANNING AND CHAPTER 26, ARTICLE EIGHT, OFF STREET PARKING AND LOADING OF THE CITY'S CODES. AVOIDANCES HEARING DATE, 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21ST, 2023. ITEM 42, MOTION TO SET A DATE NOW LESS THAN SEVEN DAYS FROM JUNE 14TH, 2023 TO RECEIVE NOMINATIONS FOR POSITIONS 10 AND 11 OF THE HOUSTON MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES PENSION SYSTEM BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR A FOUR YEAR TERM. ITEM 43, REVIEW ON THE RECORD AND MAKE DETERMINATION RELATIVE TO THE APPEAL FROM THE DECISIONS OF THE SIGNED ADMINISTRATION FILED BY CHRISTOPHER [03:25:01] W ROTHFELD ON BEHALF OF OUR FRONT MEDIA. LLC ITEM 44 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING THIRD AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND RELIANT ENERGY RETAIL SERVICES, LLC FOR THE SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY AND RELATED SERVICES FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THIS WAS TAPED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THIS WAS ITEM 28 ON AGENDA OF JUNE 7TH, 2023. THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF JUNE 13TH, 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 PAT JEFFERSON. DANIEL, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED. HAVE A BLESSED AND FANTABULOUS DAY RULE [RECONVENE] THREE. AND I'M MAYORS. UH, IT'S JUNE 14TH, 2023. I'M MAYOR, SPECIAL ATTORNEY. I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO WATER. [MAYOR'S REPORT] LET ME START OFF THIS MORNING. UM, UM, REFERRING TO OUR STORM READY CERTIFICATION, UM, THAT HAS BEEN RECEIVED, UM, I WANT TO INTRODUCE THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, METEOROLOGIC METEOROLOGIST, UH, DAN RILEY, WEST. DAN, DAN, IF YOU'LL COME ON, COME ON UP. AND ALSO LET ME BRING UP, UH, CHIEF BUNI, WEST CHIEF BUNI, IF YOU'LL COME UP. UM, AND, UH, I WOULD LIKE, UH, DAN TO, UH, TO SPEAK ABOUT THE CERTIFICATION THAT CITY OF HOUSTON HAS RECEIVED THE CITY'S OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. WELL, LET ME, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, DAN, WHY DON'T YOU SURE. WHY DON'T YOU DO IT AND RATHER I I DO IT. UH, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, UH, CITY COUNCIL. IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE, UH, BEFORE YOU TODAY. UH, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TODAY IS, IS, UH, RECOGNIZING THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS A STORM READY COMMUNITY. UH, THIS IS A REFLECTION OF THE, UH, CITY'S EFFORT TO IMPROVE PLANS, UH, RELATED TO SEVERE WEATHER HAZARDS. OF COURSE, WE GET EVERY KIND OF WEATHER HAZARD HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, THIRD LARGEST CITY IN AMERICA WITH SITTING ON THE GULF OF MEXICO WITH HURRICANES, FLOODS, UH, HEAT THIS WEEK, UH, EVEN EXTREME COLD A FEW YEARS AGO. SO, UH, WE WORK VERY CLOSELY, UH, WITH Y'ALL AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE SEND OUT INFORMATION, Y'ALL SPREAD IT TO THE CITIZENS, UH, TO HELP THEM BE PREPARED. UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S REALLY AN HONOR TO BE OCCASIONALLY TALKING, UH, FACE TO FACE WITH YOU, SIR, THROUGH, THROUGH THE WEBINARS AND SO ON DIRECTLY. RIGHT. WE'VE TALKED, UM, THROUGH THE WEBINARS, BUT NEVER, NEVER IN PERSON, NEVER FACE TO FACE AND CERTAIN OF NOT HERE AT CITY COUNCIL. YEAH, EXACTLY. EXACTLY. SO THROUGH, THROUGH THE SCREENS MOSTLY. BUT, UH, TO, TO, TO SEE THE COMMAND STAFF, THE MAYOR, UH, TAKE THE WEATHER INFORMATION AND MAKE CRITICAL DECISIONS, IT'S REALLY GREAT FOR US TO SEE AS WELL. SO, AGAIN, UH, I WANNA RECOGNIZE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, UH, CHIEF BUNI, UH, VLA IBARRA, TOM MUNOZ, AND MARK RAIN ESPECIALLY, UH, WHO HAVE REALLY WORKED TO IMPROVE PLANS, UH, AFTER EVERY EVENT, UH, TRYING TO MAKE THEM ALL, ALL A BIT BETTER. UH, SO, UH, ONCE AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON ON THIS STORM. READY, UH, RECOGNITION. AND, AND THEN HOW OFTEN ARE, IS IS THE CERTIFICATION GIVEN DAN? UH, IT'S, IT'S PRETTY RARE. IT, IT'S REALLY FOR JURISDICTIONS THAT GO ABOVE AND BEYOND. UH, SO WE MAY BE DO A FEW OF THESE EVERY YEAR. UH, THE, UH, CERTIFICATION IS VALID FOR FOUR YEARS, AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK AND RENEW THAT CERTIFICATION, UH, RECOGNIZING ANY CHANGES. UH, SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, THIS IS, UH, QUITE AN HONOR, REALLY. AND WHEN WAS, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THAT THE CITY RECEIVED IT? UH, THIS IS THE FIRST, UH, THIS IS THE, THE INITIAL, UH, RECOGNITION FOR THE CITY. YOU GAVE ME THE ANSWER I WANTED. THANK YOU FOR MUCH . SO IT, IT REALLY IS A, YOU KNOW, A RECOGNITION OF OEM AND AND YOUR, YOUR LEADERSHIP AS WELL. UH, WELL LOOK, WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE YOU AND, AND, UH, CHIEF UNI, UH, CONGRATULATIONS, TOM, THE WHOLE TEAM, UH, CHIEF, LEMME TURN IT OVER TO YOU. UH, YOU CAN TAKE EITHER ONE OF THOSE MICS. OKAY. AND, UH, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. AND AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, ANYTIME WE HAVE A MAJOR STORM, YOU ARE IN OUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER, AND YOU GIVE US ALL THE NECESSARY RESOURCES THAT WE NEED TO, UH, KEEP THE CITY SAFE. AND, AND TO PROPERLY PREPARE, UH, DAN RILEY'S A GREAT PARTNER FOR THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. EVERY TIME WE HAVE A MAJOR INCIDENT, DAN OR ONE OF HIS TEAM MEMBERS IS ON THAT CALL PROVIDING US THE, THE LATEST UPDATED INFORMATION, UH, INCLUDING WHEN WE HAD OUR EXTREME WEATHER CALL, UH, FOR THE, OUR, OUR HEAT PLAN. UH, YESTERDAY, UH, DAN AND HIS TEAM WERE ON THE CALL ADVISING US THAT IT'S GONNA BE A HUNDRED DEGREES FOR ABOUT THE NEXT 10 DAYS OR SO. BUT, [03:30:01] UH, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE. UH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR TOM MUNOZ AND HIS TEAM AT THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DO A INCREDIBLE JOB EVERY DAY. SO, THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANKS. LEMME JUST SAY, UM, UM, JEREMY, FOR BEFORE YOU TAKE THE PICTURE AND STUFF, UH, I CAN'T THANK THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ENOUGH. UM, I MEAN, THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IS JUST INVALUABLE. I REMEMBER THE CONVERSATIONS DURING THE TAX DAY FLOOD, UM, THE CONVERSATION WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, UH, DURING HURRICANE HARVEY. I'LL NEVER FORGET IT WAS A CALL ABOUT FIVE O'CLOCK. Y'ALL INDICATED THAT THERE WERE THREE BANDS THAT WERE MOVING INTO THE HOUSTON AREA, EACH ONE CARRYING, UH, EIGHT TO NINE INCHES OF OF WATER. I THINK I ASKED, I ASKED YOU ALL TO REPEAT IT TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTOOD WHAT YOU WERE SAYING. 'CAUSE I DIDN'T BELIEVE WHAT I MEAN, IT, IT DIDN'T REGISTER INITIALLY AND YOU, IT, AGAIN, THREE BANDS COMING TO THE HOUSTON AREA, EACH CARRYING EIGHT TO NINE, UH, INCHES OF WATER. AND THEN THAT'S WHEN THINGS JUST, THE RESPONSE CHANGED. TOTALLY. SO, UH, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW INVALUABLE, UH, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS. AND THEN OF COURSE, TO CHIEF NING, UH, AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM, UH, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO GO BY THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, UH, IT'S WORTH GOING BY AND, AND SEEING THE, UM, SEEING THE FULL OPERATION, UM, OF COURSE. UM, BUT, UH, TOM MUNOZ AND WHAT YOU OUGHT ARE DOING AT THE 9 1 1 CENTER. UM, SO IF THIS IS A, IT IS A, IT IS A, AS JACK CHRISTIE WOULD SAY, IT'S A BIG DEAL, AND, UM, AND CERTAINLY WANT TO, UH, THANK THE NATIONAL WORK, UH, WEATHER SERVICE FOR RECOGNIZING, UH, THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, UH, WE DO HAVE A, UH, A STORM READY, UH, SIGN. WE WOULD LOVE TO, UH, GET A PHOTO WITH YOU, UH, WITH THIS. WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M COMING DOWN FOR THAT ONE , SO SOME PEOPLE ARE HERE AND THEN WE'LL CALL EVERYBODY UP. I DUNNO. THEY'LL TELL US. WE'LL SEE WHAT MAYOR WANTS DO, WHICH WAY I WANT IT ROTATE AROUND. ADD IT, YEAH. QUICKLY, QUICKLY, QUICKLY. PEOPLE OVER THERE. YEAH. COME ON UP. HALF ON ONE SIDE, HALF ON THE OTHER . THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK, APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. CHRIS, IT'LL BE QUIET. I CAN'T SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH. I ALSO WANT TO, UM, UH, JUST REMIND INDIVIDUALS, I MEAN PEOPLE OF THE JUNETEENTH, UM, EVENTS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE ALL OVER, UH, THE CITY. UM, AND THEN THE JUNETEENTH, UH, PARADE WILL BE ON SATURDAY, UH, MORNING. UM, I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE HOT, BUT IT'S GONNA BE HOT AFTERNOON. UH, THE PARADE IS AT 10 AND IT'S GONNA BE COOL. UM, AT 10. AT 10 O'CLOCK IS IS COOL THOUGH. THE HEAT DOESN'T COME IN UNTIL YEAH. AFTERNOON. [03:35:01] SO, BUT THAT'S JUNE, THAT'S THIS COMING SATURDAY. THE PARADE IS THIS COMING SATURDAY, UH, NOT ON JUNETEENTH, WHICH IS MONDAY, BUT THIS COMING SATURDAY AT 10 O'CLOCK. AND THE ROUTE, THE ROUTE BEGINS AT THE ACRES HOME MULTI-SERVICE CENTER OFF OF WEST MONTGOMERY 67, UH, HUNDRED BLOCK OF WEST MONTGOMERY. AND IT TRAVELS NORTH ON WEST MONTGOMERY AND THEN WEST ON DOLLY WRIGHT. AND IT ENDS AT 16, THE 1600 BLOCK OF DOLLY WRIGHT. SO, UH, MANY OF YOU PARTICIPATED IN THE PAST. UM, SO THAT IS THIS COMING SATURDAY, UH, THE JUNETEENTH ANCHOR ZONE PARADE. AND THEN THERE WILL BE SEVERAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY IF HOUSTON CELEBRATES THE HOLIDAY. THAT MARKS THE FREEDOM OF SLAVES IN TEXAS, UH, WHEN A WORD ARRIVED, UH, IN GALVESTON. UM, AND THEN EMANCIPATION PARK IS ALSO HOSTING AN EVENT THAT BRINGS TOGETHER SEVEN HISTORIC BLACK COMMUNITIES IN HOUSTON, AND TO CELEBRATE THE RICHNESS OF CULTURE AND HISTORY. AND THAT JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION WILL BE ON MONDAY. UH, MONDAY IS A, UM, IS A FEDERAL HOLIDAY. SO, UH, WE WILL BE CLOSED, UH, BUT THE DOORS WILL BE OPEN TO MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL WHO JUST MAY WANT TO COME IN AND SIT DOWN . SO . AND THEN, UM, UH, ON MONDAY WE JOINED. WE, UH, WE JOINED RELIANT ENERGY FOR THE ANNUAL BEAT, THE HEAT NEWS CONFERENCE, WHICH WAS JUST IN TIME FOR THE, UM, FOR THE HEAT THAT'S NOW HERE. AND THIS, THAT WAS THE 18TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR FOR THE BEAT HEAT, UH, EVENT, UH, HELD BY RELIANT. AND SO I CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK THEM, UH, AND THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING FOR MAKING AVAILABLE 350 AIR CONDITIONED UNITS. AND, UM, SO, UM, RELIANT CONTRIBUTED $75,000 TO PROVIDE PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONING UNITS. AND THE HARRIS COUNTY AREA AGENCY ON AGENT AND PRECINCT TWO ALSO PARTNERED WITH THIS EVENT. AND RESIDENTS IN NEED OF AN AIR CONDITIONING UNIT FOR CAN CALL 8 3 2 3 9 3 4 3 0 1 TO QUALIFY FOR AN AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. UM, AND SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET A FEW OTHER PEOPLE TO DONATE TO MAKE THEM AVAILABLE. UH, THE HARRIS HOUSTON YOUTH PROGRAM IS NOW IN PROCESS IN GEAR. IT'S MOVING, UH, THIS WEEK THE HARRIS HOUSTON YOUTH INTERNS ARE REPORTING TO WORK. IN FACT, IF, IF THERE ARE ANY HIGHER HOUSTON YOUTH INTERNS IN THE AUDIENCE, JUST STAND UP. JUST STAND UP. AND LET ME JUST SAY THESE, UH, THESE STUDENTS, THEY'LL KEEP STANDING. DON'T, DON'T SIT THESE, YEAH, THESE STUDENTS ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR PROGRAM. UH, WE ARE GETTING CLOSE TO HIRING, UH, 20,000, UH, UH, INTERNS THAT WILL BE WORKING THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, ROUGHLY 450 OF THEM WILL BE WORKING AT CITY, AT THE CITY, UM, AND THE OTHER, LET'S SAY 19,000 PLUS WILL BE AT VARIOUS PRIVATE COMPANIES, NONPROFITS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. SO, UM, UH, THEY RANGE IN AGE FROM 16 TO 24, UH, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, SOME ARE COLLEGE STUDENTS, AND THEY'LL BE WORKING IN VARIOUS CITY COUNCIL OFFICES. THEY'LL BE WORKING IN VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS HERE AT THE CITY. SO, UM, THANK YOU ALL, UH, FOR JOINING, FOR JOINING US IN THIS HIGH HOUSTON YOUTH PROGRAM. VERY EXCITED TO HAVE YOU AND WANT YOU TO HAVE A VERY, VERY GOOD EXPERIENCE. OKAY. SO, UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING IN THE CHAMBER. YOU CAN, YOU CAN BE SEATED NOW. UM, AND THEN IF ANYONE IS STILL, UM, LOOKING FOR A JOB OR IS LOOKING TO HIRE, UH, PLEASE GO TO HIRE HOUSTON YOUTH.ORG. UH, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF EDUCATION, UH, AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR, AVERA JOHN SKA KOSKA, UH, FOR BEING HONORED WITH THE ALL AMERICAN LEADER AWARD FROM THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES FOR THE WORK THE OFFICE IS DOING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN HIGHER HOUSTON YOUTH. I WANNA THANK HUMAN RESOURCE DIRECTOR, JANE CHEEKS AND HER OFFICE, UH, FOR WHAT THEY ARE DOING FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM. AND THEN, UH, FINALLY FOR ME, I WANT TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE CHRIS MITCHELL IN IT, I SHOULD SAY DR. CHRIS MITCHELL, THE CITY'S CHIEF INFORMATION AND SECURITY OFFICER. UH, HE'S THE RECIPIENT OF THIS YEAR'S PRESTIGIOUS CISCO CYBERSECURITY DEFENDER AWARD, AND HE'S BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR ITS INNOVATION COLLABORATION AND ITS STEADFAST DETERMINATION TO CYBERSECURITY. SO, UM, UM, CONGRATS TO DR. CHRIS MITCHELL. UH, LASTLY WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT, UM, [03:40:02] UM, WE'RE TAKING A LOOK AT VARIOUS, UM, BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. YOU KNOW, WE PASSED, UM, THE, UM, WHAT YOU CALL IT, THE B-Y-B-Y-O-B, THE B-O-B-Y-O-B ORDINANCE, UM, UH, WHICH IS IN EFFECT, AND WE'VE PASSED OTHER ORDINANCES REQUIRING LIGHTING AND VARIOUS SECURITY MEASURES, ESPECIALLY LIKE IN THE PARKING LOTS, CAMERAS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. UM, AND SO WE'RE TAKING A LOOK AT ALL OF THESE BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY THOSE AFTER HOUR BUSINESSES, UH, TO MAKE SURE, UM, WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE THE OCCUPANCY LICENSE AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO OPERATE, BECAUSE SOME OF THESE BUSINESSES ARE, ARE OPEN, BUT THEY SHOULD NOT BE OPEN. OKAY. AND, UM, AND ONE IN QUESTION, UM, THE WAY A SHOOTING TOOK PLACE, UH, WE WILL BE DEALING WITH THOSE BUSINESSES. AND SO WE ARE LOOKING AT FILING CHAPTER 1 25, UH, LAWSUITS AGAINST THESE BUSINESSES, UH, BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME, YOU MAY THINK THEY SHOULD, YOU KNOW, THEY MAY BE, THEIR DOORS MAY BE OPEN AND PEOPLE MAY BE COMING IN, BUT THEY SHOULD NOT BE OPEN. THEY'RE OPERATING IN, IN VIOLATION OF OUR LAWS. UH, SO WE INTEND TO, UH, TO CRACK DOWN ON, ON THOSE BUSINESSES. AND, UH, I, UH, TALK WITH A CITY ATTORNEY OR TWO, MICHELLE, AND SO WE WILL BE ACTIVELY FILING CHAPTER 1 25 LAWSUITS AG AGAINST THEM. UM, SO THAT, THAT, UM, WANT THAT WORD TO GO OUT, UH, SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT I'M TAKING A LOOK AT, GUNS AND ALCOHOL DON'T MIX. UM, AND SO I AM CONSIDERING BRINGING BEFORE YOU AND ORDINANCE, UH, THAT REQUIRE, UM, UM, WHERE PEOPLE ARE PRIMARILY SELLING ALCOHOL, NOT FOOD, NOT THE RESTAURANTS, BUT REQUIRING THAT, UM, PEOPLE, UM, THESE BUSINESS MAY HAVE TO USE THESE, WHAT YOU CALL THESE ONES, METAL DETECTORS. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT METAL DETECTORS, BUT THEY ARE ONES, OH, UM, BECAUSE, UH, ALCOHOL AND, UH, GUNS DO NOT MIX. SO IT'S JUST A WAY WE'RE LOOKING AT MEASURES WHERE WE CAN REALLY CRACK DOWN ON WHAT'S HAPPENING, UH, AT THESE BUSINESSES AND, UH, INSIDE AS WELL AS OUTSIDE. UM, AND THE, THE, AND THE MESSAGE THAT I WANT TO CONVEY TO BUSINESSES, EITHER YOU EXERCISE MORE RESPONSIBILITY OR WE WILL MAKE, WE WOULD, WE WILL EXERCISE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOU. UH, BECAUSE THESE SHOOTINGS, UH, WHETHER THEY'RE IN THE CLUBS OR IN THE PARKING LOTS, THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. SO THEY NEED TO, THEY NEED TO STEP UP. SO WE ARE TAKING A LOOK AT AN ADDITIONAL ORDINANCE TO BRING BEFORE YOU FAIRLY SOON, UH, TO MAKE IT VERY, VERY CLEAR THAT THEY ALSO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY. AND IF THEY DON'T STEP UP, UH, THEN WE WILL STEP UP. AND I DON'T WANNA HEAR ANYBODY TALKING ABOUT IT'S GONNA COST US MORE WHEN IT'S COSTING US MORE, WHEN, WHEN SHOOTINGS ARE OCCURRING AND PEOPLE ARE GETTING HURT, AND IN SOME CASES EVEN KILLED. SO THAT'LL BE COMING BEFORE YOU AS WE WORK, AS WE WORK IT THROUGH THE, UH, UH, THE REVIEW. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING. UM, AND I, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING THE ISSUE AS WE ALL IN OUR DISTRICTS ARE DEALING WITH THIS. WE ALSO, YOU KNOW, AN EXAMPLE IN DISTRICT C THAT I JUST WANTED TO FLAG, UM, AT ONE LOCATION, THE STANDARD BAR WAS ON WASHINGTON AVENUE, AND THERE WERE SHOOTINGS OUTSIDE THE TABC HAS SUSPENDED THEIR LICENSE, BUT IT'S, THEY'RE APPEALING THAT, SO THEY STILL HAVE THEIR LICENSE. THEY MOVED LOCATIONS DOWN INTO FOURTH WARD. UM, AND THEY HAVE HAD SO MANY VIOLATIONS THAT THE CITY, THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS WE CREATED, PULLED THEIR SOUND PERMIT AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT THEY COULD, THEY CONTINUE TO OPERATE ILLEGALLY EVEN THOUGH THEIR, SOME OF THEIR PERMITS HAVE BEEN PULLED. HPD HAS BEEN OUT THERE, UM, I THINK THEY'VE HAD UPWARDS OF 40 CITATIONS. I'M GETTING THE ACTUAL NUMBERS IN JUST A MONTH. AND THEY'RE STILL OPERATING WITHOUT VALID, UH, APPROVAL BY THE CITY. SO, UH, I JUST WANNA RAISE THAT WE, IN ADDITION TO THE MEASURES THAT ARE CRITICAL THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE BRINGING FORWARD, HPD IS HAVING TO GO BACK OUT AND BACK OUT AND BACK OUT, EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE DONE THEIR PART ON ENFORCEMENT. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN ADDRESS THAT AS WELL, BUT, AND MAY AND THAT TYPE OF ESTABLISHMENT AND, AND, UH, URA YOU CAN CORRECT MAY BE SUBJECT TO ONE, UH, CHAPTER 1 25. IT SOUND LIKE THAT THEY WOULD BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHAPTER 1 25. YEAH, IT, YEAH, IT, IT, IT CAN BE. AND, AND WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IS WE HAVE TO CHECK WITH HPD TO SEE THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS AND, UH, OVER THE NUMBER OF TIME. BUT, [03:45:01] UM, WHAT WE'VE TAKEN THE APPROACH AS WE DID WITH SPIVEY IS WE'RE MINIMIZING THE NUMBER WE THINK WE HAVE AND, AND PROCEED FROM THERE. AND WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN THAT MATTER. WHEN WE'RE LOOKING, I'LL TELL YOU THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT ADDITIONAL MEASURES, UH, TO, UM, CURTAIL BAD ACTORS, UM, AND COULD TELL THEM FROM EVEN NUMBER ONE, WHERE THEY SHOULDN'T BE OPEN IN THE FIRST PLACE TO REALLY CRACK DOWN ON THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE, UH, IN THE SECOND PLACE WHERE THEY OPEN, AND THEN THEY'RE, UM, THEY'RE NOT, UM, SELF-REGULATING THEMSELVES OR MONITORING THEMSELVES OR HOLDING THEMSELVES ACCOUNTABLE, THEN WHAT ADDITIONAL STEPS WE CAN PUT IN PLACE. AND THEN WHEN WE FIND THAT THEY ARE VIOLATING THE POLICIES AND WHAT WE PUT IN PLACE, HOW CAN WE STOP THEM FROM JUST CONTINUING TO ENGAGE IN BUSINESS, JUST LIKE YOU'VE IDENTIFIED. SO, UM, AND THEN, SO WE ARE TAKING A LOOK AT ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT WE CAN PUT IN PLACE BEYOND WHAT WE MAY HAVE, UM, UM, TO SEND A VERY, A VERY STRONG MESSAGE. YOU KNOW, UM, AND AGAIN, I WANNA MAKE IT CLEAR, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT DEALING WITH RESTAURANTS AND PEOPLE WHERE 51% OF THEIR BUSINESS IS, IS FOOD. I'M TALKING ABOUT ESTABLISHMENTS WHERE THEIR PRIMARY SOCIAL BUSINESS IS, IS SELLING ALCOHOL. OKAY. ALRIGHT. COUNCILMAN P*****K. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. UM, JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT CONVERSATION, WHEN IT COMES TO SOME OF THESE CLUBS AND BARS, ESPECIALLY THE ONES WHO ARE OCCUPYING SPACE WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE PROPER PERMITS OR CERTIFICATES, UH, WHAT I'VE SEEN THAT COULD BE, UM, SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER AS WE LOOK AT ENFORCEMENT IS GOING AFTER THE PROPERTY OWNERS AS WELL. I KNOW THAT CHAPTER 1 25 IS A PROCESS AND YOU HAVE TO GATHER THE EVIDENCE AND GO TO COURT, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO JUST THE CITATION ASPECT, WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE PROPER PERMITS OR LICENSES GOING AFTER NOT ONLY JUST THE TENANT, BUT THE LANDLORD AS WELL, THE EXACT SAME CITATIONS THAT THE TENANT GETS, THE LANDLORD GETS, UH, WE'VE SEEN THAT WHEN WE DO THAT AND WE DO IT ON A DAILY BASIS, IT STARTS TO HIT THOSE LANDLORDS SO HARD THAT THEY START TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE TENANT. AND MANY TIMES, YOU KNOW, THE, THE LANDLORD JUST WANTS TO GET HIS RENT PAYMENT EVERY MONTH. SO HE'S NOT LOOKING INTO EVERY SINGLE ASPECT OF THE ESTABLISHMENT ON A DAILY BASIS. BUT ONCE THEY KNOW THAT THEY'RE GETTING ALL THESE FINES EVERY DAY BECAUSE YOUR TENANT ISN'T UP TO CODE, UH, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE CAN ADDRESS. ALSO, THE, AND I MAY SAY BEFORE YOU FINISH, AND I THINK THE CHAPTER 1 35 GOES TO THE PROPERTY OWNER, DOES IT NOT? YEAH. THAT'S ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF THAT TYPE OF LAWSUIT IS THAT YOU CAN INCLUDE THE PROPERTY OWNER AS A DEFENDANT. CORRECT. BUT WITH THE, WITH THE 1 25, YOU STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE, THE LITIGATION PROCESS. CORRECT. RIGHT. WITH THE CITATIONS WE CAN SEND OUT, WE CAN SEND OUT ON A DAILY BASIS. RIGHT. SO I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING TOO. YEAH. LOOKING, LOOKING AT, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, GOING, GOING, GOING AT, I GOT YOU DOUBLE TEAMING IT BASICALLY. UM, AND THEN ALSO WITH THEIR, WITH THEIR LEASE AGREEMENTS, THEY USUALLY HAVE TO HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY OR IT LISTS OUT THE THINGS THAT THEY MUST HAVE. IF THEY'RE, IF THEY DON'T HAVE THOSE THINGS AND WE APPROACH THE, UH, THE, THE PROPERTY OWNER WITH THOSE CITATIONS, THEY'RE ALREADY GOING TO BE IN VIOLATION OF THEIR LEASE AGREEMENT. SO IT PUTS THAT PROPERTY OWNER ON NOTICE, WHICH SHOULD HELP, UH, WITH THOSE CHAPTER ONE 20 FIVES. AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE WHAT WE DON'T WANT IS THAT SAME PROPERTY OWNER TO THEN BE ABLE TO LEASE OUT TO SOMEONE ELSE AFTER THIS CHAPTER 1 25 IS APPROVED. WE WANT TO SHOW THAT THEY'RE A HABITUAL OFFENDER. AND THE, AND THE LAST THING IS, I DO THINK THAT THE MANDATING THE, THE WS WILL BE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FROM A CIVIL LITIGATION STANDPOINT AS WELL. BECAUSE IF ANYTHING HAPPENS AT THAT PROPERTY AND THEY HAVE SHOWN THAT THEY DISREGARDED OR, OR NEGLECTED TO REALLY FOLLOW, UH, THE WARRANT PROCESS OR LET PEOPLE IN WITH GUNS, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE THE WARRANT PROCESS, THAT'S GONNA MAKE IT VERY EASY FOR A LAWYER, UH, IN A CIVIL SUIT TO BE ABLE TO PURSUE, UH, DAMAGES AGAINST THAT, THAT PROPERTY OWNER AND THE TENANT. SO, UH, I THINK THAT THAT'S A GOOD MEASURE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. BECAUSE THE REALITY IS, IS THAT WE ARE GONNA HAVE, WE WE'RE TRYING TO COME UP WITH WAYS THAT WE CAN DEAL WITH ALL OF THESE GUNS THAT ARE OUT HERE. UM, UM, OFFENSE. THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING. WE HAVE TO PROTECT PEOPLE, FOR EXAMPLE, WHO ARE GOING INTO THESE BUSINESSES. UH, AND I, AND GUNS AND ALCOHOL, ALCOHOL AND GUNS DO NOT MIX. THEY SIMPLY DO NOT MIX. AND I SIMPLY, I DON'T, I, I JUST, WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SOMETHING HORRENDOUS. 'CAUSE POTENTIALLY WHAT HAPPENED ON THE WEEKEND COULD HAVE BEEN EVEN MORE HORRENDOUS THAN IT WAS. [03:50:01] UM, I DO WANNA INDICATE THAT I'VE INDICATED TO CHIEF FEENA AND HPD, UH, THAT I DO WANT THOSE, THAT THOSE PERSONS OR PERSONS, UH, AT THAT, UH, CLUB FOUND. AND WE WILL FIND THEM. UH, BUT, UH, I THINK WE HAVE TO BE, UM, UH, TAKE SOME ADDITIONAL STEPS TO CURB ALL OF THESE PEOPLE CARRYING GUNS INTO THESE ESTABLISHMENTS. 'CAUSE YOU GET INTO A HEATED ARGUMENT AND IT'S SO EASY NOW FOR PEOPLE TO PUT OUT GUNS AND JUST START SHOOTING EVERYBODY. MM-HMM . YOU KNOW, SO ANYWAY, JUST KIND OF WANT TO, TO FLAG FOR YOU ANY IDEAS THAT YOU MAY HAVE AS WE, AS WE WORK ON THESE, ON THESE ADDED ORDINANCES. UH, PLEASE FORWARD YOUR IDEAS, UH, TO US, AND THEN WE'LL COME, WE'LL COME BACK. OKAY. HAVING SAID THAT, THAT, UH, THAT'S IT FOR, UH, FOR ME. AND THEN WE ARE GONNA GET READY NOW TO TURN TO THE PUBLIC HEARING. THANK YOU. OUR FIRST ITEM TODAY WILL BE A PUBLIC HEARING. MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL ITEM ONE. ITEM ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE DESIGNATION FOR THE BL CS EXCHANGE REINVESTMENT ZONE FOR TAX ABATEMENT PURPOSES. CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES ANDREW BUSKER FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. GOOD MORNING ONE. SORRY ABOUT THAT. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. UM, SO I WILL GET INTO MY STATEMENT HERE AS REQUIRED BY SECTION THREE 12.201 AND SECTION THREE 12.207 OF THE TEXAS, TEXAS TAX CODE. A PUBLIC HEARING IS REQUIRED FOR THE TAX ABATEMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE THAT CAN BE DESIGNATED AND BEFORE A TAX ABATEMENT AGREEMENT CAN BE APPROVED. NOTICE OF TODAY'S HEARING WAS PUBLISHED IN THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE ON FRIDAY, MAY 26TH, 2023, WHICH WAS AT LEAST SEVEN DAYS PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING DATE. ADDITIONALLY, THIS LEAD TAX ABATEMENT PROPOSAL WAS PRESENTED TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE ON MARCH 29TH, 2023. IN MAY, 2022, CITY COUNCIL APPROVED CHAPTER 44 OF THE CITY'S CODE OF ORDINANCES THAT CONTINUED THE CITY'S TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES THE LEAD TAX ABATEMENT. THE LEAD TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO ENCOURAGE COMPANIES AND BUILDERS TO MAKE INVESTMENTS NECESSARY TO CREATE A GREENER AND MORE RESILIENT CITY BLACK EXCHANGE, GP SEVEN LLC, ALSO KNOWN AS METRO NATIONAL PLANS TO DEVELOP AT A 189,000 SQUARE FOOT NINE STORY OFFICE TOWER THAT INCLUDES APPROXIMATELY 11,000 SQUARE FEET OF POTENTIAL RETAIL AND RESTAURANT SPACE. THE PROJECT WILL BE DEVELOPED ON A 1.12 ACRE TRACT, LOCATED AT 97 53 KATY FREEWAY IN WEST HOUSTON. THE COMPANY HAS SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION TO THE US GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION FOR A LEAD SILVER CERTIFICATION. THIS CERTIFICATION WILL BE DETERMINED UPON THE COMPLETION OF THE BUILDING'S CONSTRUCTION, WHICH IS TARGETED FOR SEPTEMBER, 2023. THE COMPANY SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR CONSIDERATION OF A LEAD TAX ABATEMENT ON FEBRUARY 20TH, 2023. SECTION 44 DASH 1 31 A IDENTIFIES THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS ABATEMENT PROGRAM. SUBSECTION TWO OF SECTION 44 DASH 1 31 A STATES THAT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FACILITY HAS NOT COMMENCED PRIOR TO THE APPLICATION FOR ABATEMENT. IN THIS APPLICATION, THE COMPANY REQUESTED A VARIANCE TO SECTION 44 DASH 1 31 A SUBSECTION TWO PURSUANT TO SECTION 44 DASH 1 25 TO THE COMPANY INITIATING CONSTRUCTION ON THE PROJECT PRIOR TO SUBMITTING A TAX ABATEMENT APPLICATION. HOWEVER, THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BUILDING HAS NOT YET COMPLETED. THE COMPANY HAS MET THE GUIDELINES AND CRITERIA FOR REQUESTING A VARIANCE, AND THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS THE VARIANCE TO SEC SECTION 44 DASH 1 31 A SUBSECTION TWO. FOR THIS PROJECT, BL EXCHANGE, GP SEVEN LLC WILL INVEST APPROXIMATELY 45 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS TO CONSTRUCT THE PROJECT. AND THE OFFICE BUILDING WILL BECOME FULLY OPERATIONAL IN JANUARY, 2024, AS DESCRIBED IN CHAPTER 44 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES. THIS TAX ABATEMENT PROPOSAL IS FOR 5% OF THE CITY'S PROPERTY TAXES OVER A 10 YEAR PERIOD. THE FIRST YEAR ABATEMENT IS PROJECTED TO BE $9,740, AND THE AVERAGE ANNUAL ABATEMENT IS PROJECTED TO BE $11,756. IN CLOSING, SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT AND APPROVING THE TAX ABATEMENT AGREEMENT WILL DEMONSTRATE THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE CITY. THERE IS NO ACTION REQUIRED TODAY. THE REINVESTMENT ZONE AND ABATEMENT AGREEMENT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR REVIEW PRIOR TO THEIR COUNCIL ACTIONS, [03:55:01] WHICH ARE TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 28TH, 2023. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MR. BUSKER. WE HAVE NO ONE THAT HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. IF THERE IS ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE, PLEASE COME FORWARD SEEING NO ONE. IS THERE ANY MOTION TO CLOSE THE HEARING? CASTEX TAYLOR TO MOVE FORWARD HERE. SECOND ROBINSON. MOVE IN A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, OPPOSE. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU [CONSENT AGENDA] MADAM. SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL NOW PROCEED WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY, ITEMS TWO, THREE, AND FOUR HAVE BEEN REMOVED. SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE PROPERTY CATEGORY. ITEM FIVE. NEEDS A MOTION CAST MOVED. SECOND ROBINSON. MOTION SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION THIS CATEGORY. ITEM SIX THROUGH 13. NEED A MOTION? CASTEX STATE MOVE. SECOND ROBINSON. MOTION. AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY. SINCE YOUR LIST WAS DISTRIBUTED, THE ITEMS REMOVED, SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ARE 14, 18, 23, 31, 37, AND 39. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 14, 18, 23, 31, 37, AND 39. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? OKAY, MAKE SURE I HAVE THOSE RIGHT. 31 AND 37 AND 39, CORRECT. 14, 18, 23, 31, 37 AND 39. ALRIGHT, MO ON THE VOTE ON THE BALANCE. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? ITEMS CARRIED. [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] ITEM REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEM TWO NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX TATE. A. MOVE. SECOND ROBINSON. ITEM NUMBER TWO. ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM TWO? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? ITEM TWO CARRIES. ITEM THREE NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX. TATUM, MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON. ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM THREE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, OPPOSE. ITEM THREE CARRIES. ITEM FOUR NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX. TATUM, MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON. ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, OPPOSE. ITEM FOUR CARRIES. ITEM 14 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ITEM 14. COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVAN SHABAZZ TAG ITEM 14 PLEASE. ITEM 14 HAS BEEN TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVANS SHABAZZ. NEXT ITEM, ITEM 18 IS THE ORDER YOU NEED A VOTE. ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM 18? ITEM 18. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, COUNCIL THOMAS, I'M SORRY. COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTE, JUST TO CLARIFY, THIS IS JUST AN ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION, CORRECT? CORRECT. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN. ITEM 18. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, OPPOSE. ITEM 18 CARRIES ITEM 23. ITEM 23 IS AN ORDER. DOES THIS NEED A VOTE? ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM 23? COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. I JUST WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT THIS ITEM, UM, AND I ASKED FOR THE NUMBERS. THIS IS FOR FUNDING FOR THE EMERGENCY TELEHEALTH AND NAVIGATION PROGRAM WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. UM, AND THE NUMBERS, I'M PLEASED TO SAY, UM, IN 2022, UH, A TOTAL OF 2,622, UH, INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD CALL CONTACTED NINE ONE ONE, UM, WERE ABLE TO USE THE ETHAN SERVICE THAT HFD IS PROVIDING. AND IN THIS SIERRA LOAN, AS OF YESTERDAY, UH, OVER 1000 RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS HEALTHCARE SERVICES THROUGH ETHAN. SO THE PROGRAM'S WORKING, UH, IT'S DIVERTING, UH, RESOURCES IN THE APPROPRIATE MANNER AND ACTUALLY SAVING THE DEPARTMENT AND OUR CITY A LOT OF MONEY. THANK YOU. ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION ON ITEM 23? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, OPPOSE. ITEM THREE CA. [04:00:01] ITEM 23 CARRIES. ITEM 31 IS AN ORDINANCE. THIS NEED A VOTE. NEED DISCUSSION ON ITEM 31? ITEM 31. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? ITEM 31, CARRIES. ITEM 37 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ITEM 37. ANY DISCUSSION ON 37? VICE MAYOR PRO TEM MARTHA CASTEX TATUM AFTER THE VOTE. ANY DISCUSSION BEFORE THE VOTE ON ITEM 37? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? ITEM 37 CARRIES VICE MAYOR PRO TEM. MARTHA CASTEX TATUM. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. UM, I DID TALK ABOUT, UH, THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND THIS DITCH THAT WE HAVE MOVED FORWARD AS A SWAT PROJECT IN ALAMEDA PLAZA. UM, WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT FOR THE CONSTITUENTS THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH HARRIS COUNTY, UM, TO CLOSE THE DITCH THAT RUNS THROUGHOUT ALAMEDA PLAZA. UM, WE ARE LOOKING TO PUT THAT DRAINAGE UNDERGROUND. THIS DITCH HAS BEEN PROBLEMATIC FOR YEARS. UM, AND THE CLOSING OF THIS DITCH WILL PREVENT THE EXTENSIVE DUMPING THAT HAPPENS IN THE DITCH. UM, UNFORTUNATELY THE DITCH IS ONLY SCHEDULED TO BE CUT TWICE A YEAR. IT CREATES A TREMENDOUS NUISANCE. UM, THERE ARE, UM, BIG RATS AND THINGS THAT ARE, ARE TRAVELING THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD FROM THIS DITCH. UM, AND WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO, UM, CLOSING THIS DITCH AND MAKING A LINEAR PARK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT THIS, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I TALKED ABOUT FOR CIP THAT NEEDS, UH, UH, EXTENSIVE, UM, DRAINAGE AND STREET REPAIR. UM, WE ARE LOOKING TO CONTINUE TO SEARCH FOR DOLLARS. THERE WILL BE A, UM, BUDGET AMENDMENT, UM, FOR CIP COMING FORWARD FROM MY OFFICE FOR THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO AMPLIFY THE MESSAGE FOR THE WORK NEEDED, BUT I'M VERY HAPPY THAT SWAT IS, UM, STEPPING IN TO GET SOME ACTION IN THAT PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD. SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS PROJECT. UM, COUNCILMAN MR. CISNEROS? THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I ALSO WANTED TO SAY I WAS REALLY PLEASED TO SEE, UM, THE THREE PROJECTS THAT ARE, UM, LISTED FOR DISTRICT H. UM, TWO OF THEM ARE IN THE, THE, THE NORTH NORTHLINE AREA. AND, UM, AND ONE IS IN THE, UM, THE NEW ADDITION FOR DENVER HARBOR. BOTH THESE AREAS ARE, ARE HIGH PRIORITY AREAS THAT NEED THIS HELP. SO I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE IT. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING OTHER HIGH PRIORITY NEIGHBORHOODS THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH, UM, SEVERE DRAINAGE ISSUES AND DISTRICT H YOU KNOW, BE ADDRESSED IN THE FUTURE. BUT THIS IS A GOOD START. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS. THANK YOU MAYOR. I, I TOO, WANNA MAKE COMMENTS ON THIS. I MEAN, THIS IS GOVERNMENT AT ITS BEST. UM, RESIDENTS OUT THERE ARE HAVING THEIR HOMES FLOODED AND THEY DON'T CARE WHO PAYS FOR IT. THEY JUST WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S TAKEN CARE OF. AND WITH THE, UH, 24 FLOOD PROJECTS THAT ARE LISTED, IT LOOKS LIKE ALL, UH, ALL THE, UH, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRECINCTS LOOKS LIKE THEY MAY FALL IN ON THE, UH, THESE COUNT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICTS. AND OF COURSE, HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL OPERATES UNDER HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. SO I WANNA THANK ALL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL AS WELL AS OUR SWAT PROGRAM BECAUSE AGAIN, CITIZENS OUT THERE, THEY JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THEIR HOUSES DON'T FLOOD. AND THIS IS A GREAT GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIP AND AGAIN, IT'S GOVERNMENT AT ITS BEST. SO THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT MADE THIS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I TOO WANTED TO ADD MY APPRECIATION FOR THIS AND THE PARTNERSHIP. UM, THERE'S SEVERAL CRITICAL AREAS IN DISTRICT C THAT ALSO ARE CONTINUING TO EXPERIENCE, UH, STRUCTURAL FLOODING. AND, UH, SOME OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE ALSO BEING INCLUDED IN THIS. SO WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR OWN PROJECTS ON THE CITY SIDE, BUT THE WAY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO LEVERAGE THIS, UM, TO BRING RELIEF FOR, AGAIN, HOMES THAT ARE FLOODING CONSISTENTLY, UH, I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE TEAM. FOUR. THANK YOU. UM, VICE MAYOR, CAST TAYLOR. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I KNOW YOU WERE OUT OF THE ROOM, BUT I WANTED TO AMPLIFY ALAMEDA PLAZA AGAIN. UM, WE ARE, UM, VERY EXCITED TO BE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE COUNTY, UH, AND THIS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE ALAMEDA PLAZA DITCH FOR OVER SIX YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN ELECTED. BUT THIS DITCH IS EXTREME NUISANCE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND IT IS A START TO AN IMPROVEMENT IN A VERY HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE SENIORS THERE OWN THEIR HOMES. UM, AND THEY ARE LOOKING FOR [04:05:01] SOME ASSISTANCE TO GET THAT DITCH CLOSED. SO THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. WE STILL NEED, UM, THE STREETS REPAIRED AND THE DRAINAGE, UM, IMPROVED TO MAKE THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WHOLE. UM, AND THEN I KNOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON IS OUT OF TOWN, BUT I WANTED TO ALSO AMPLIFY 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 OF THESE PROJECTS ARE ALSO IN DISTRICT B. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS ABOUT, UM, THE DRAINAGE IN THE NORTH. SO, UM, FOR THE, UM, INFORMATION FOR THE RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT B, THERE ARE ALSO FIVE, UH, DRAINAGE PROJECTS IN DISTRICT B MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT. THANK YOU. AND I APPRECIATE THAT. AND I JUST WANT TO UPLIFT, YOU KNOW, UM, THAT THESE UM, UH, PROJECTS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE SOMETIMES, UM, YOU KNOW, THESE PROJECTS OTHERWISE WOULD BE IN THE CIP, BUT YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT IN THE CIP, BUT THEY'RE, BUT THEY'RE HERE. I JUST, I KIND OF JUST WANTED TO DROP THAT NUGGET AND, AND, AND LET YOU TAKE THAT IN. YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU MAY NOT SEE IN THE CIP OR WHAT'S NOT ABLE TO TAKE PLACE IN CIP, WE'RE TRYING TO FIND OTHER WAYS TO GET IT DONE. UM, BUT THIS IS, UM, I, I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE, UM, UM, THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY MM-HMM . OKAY. SO THAT'S A CRITICAL COMPONENT ON ALL OF THIS. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. SO THIS IS ALREADY DONE. OKAY. NEXT ITEM 39. NEXT ITEM. ITEM 39 IS AN OWNERS THIS NEED A VOTE, 9 39. UH, COUNCILMAN MAGUS ON 39. THANK YOU MAYOR. EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT. I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION BY RESIDENTS IN THIS AREA OF DISTRICT I WHERE JUST ON A HEAVY RAIN DIDN'T HAVE TO BE A HURRICANE. UH, YOU KNOW, JUST, JUST A REGULAR HEAVY RAIN, UH, STREETS WOULD FLOOD. UH, AND IT WAS IMPACTING SOME RESIDENTS. UH, THIS IS A CRITICAL PROJECT THAT WILL RECONSTRUCT THE STORM DURING THE SYSTEM TO ADDRESS AND REDUCE THE RISK OF STRUCTURAL FLOODING IN THE EAST HAVEN NEIGHBORHOOD. THE $2.5 MILLION PROJECT WILL ALSO INCLUDE STREET RECONSTRUCTION, NEW SIDEWALKS, AND UNDERGROUND UTILITIES. THIS HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS, UH, TRYING TO GET THIS PROJECT TAKEN CARE OF. UH, AND I WANNA PERSONALLY THANK HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS, UH, FOR DOING, UM, FOR GETTING THIS, THIS PROJECT, UM, MOVING AND, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO THE, UH, UM, HOPEFULLY KEEPING HOMES FROM BEING FLOODED IN THE EAST HAVEN NEIGHBORHOOD. SO, THANK YOU. HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS. THANK YOU. OKAY, THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON 39? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSE GRANTED ON 39, [NON-CONSENT - MISCELLANEOUS] ITEM 41 IS A MOTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE. THE SUGGESTION HEARING DATE IS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21ST. COUNCIL MEMBER COOPER ON 41. MAYOR, UM, MAYOR, I, I BELIEVE THAT, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT READY TO TO TO HAVE, 'CAUSE AS SOON AS THE PUBLIC HEARING'S OVER, IT'LL COME BACK TO COUNCIL FOR A VOTE WITHIN A WEEK. IS THAT CORRECT? NO. MM-HMM. NO, THIS IS JUST HAVING THE, THIS IS JUST THE PUBLIC HEARING SET THE DATE. THIS IS JUST TO SET THE DATE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING BECAUSE I, I JUST, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE WORKED OUT THAT, THAT HAVEN'T BEEN WORKED OUT. AND I, I AGREE AND I THINK THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING TO HEAR, TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC . WELL, BUT IT'S, BUT IT'S A PART OF THE PROCEDURAL THING. SO I, I WAS THINKING ABOUT TAGGING IT SO WE'D HAVE MORE TIME, MAYOR, YOU KNOW, TO, TO, TO, 'CAUSE THERE PEOPLE ARE DISCUSSING IT AND I'M GETTING CALLS ABOUT IT. AND, UH, AND, AND WE ARE GONNA ALLOW THEM WHO, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE CALLING YOU TO STAND IN FRONT OF THIS PODIUM AND TO TELL US WHAT THEY, AT THE PUBLIC, AT THE PUBLIC EVENT, WHAT THEY, WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW. YOU GOT TO HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING . I DIDN'T GO. WELL, IF I, IF I TAG IT, IT JUST COMES UP NEXT WEEK. WELL, I DON'T THINK A TAG APPLIES TO THE, TO A PROCEDURAL MATTER. SO SO YOU'RE GONNA RULE IT OUT OF ORDER? YES, I AM. WELL, THAT, THAT MAKES IT, THAT MAKES IT EASIER FOR ME, MAYOR. NO, IT'S, SO I WOULD'VE TAGGED IT, BUT I COULDN'T TAG IT. RIGHT? I, I, YOU, YEAH, YOU CAN GO WITH THAT ONE. THIS ONE IS PROCEDURAL AND I CAN GO WITH, THAT'S MY RESPONSE TO EVERYBODY AND I AND YOU , YOU NEED HIM TO SAY THAT SO HE CAN, YOU'RE OUTTA ORDER COUNCILMAN. SO I'M OUTTA ORDER BY I TAG IT. SO, SO I'LL OFFICIALLY TAG IT THEN YOU RULE ME OUT OF ORDER. YES, SIR. OKAY. IF YOU LIKE. SO WHAT DO YOU SAY? THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT US, GO AHEAD. SECOND. I ALREADY SAID I TAGGED THAT HE, UH, RULE WORD. RIGHT? 40, 40 41 IS A PROCEDURAL MOTION AND IS AND IT IS NON TAGABLE. ALRIGHT, WELL I STAND DOWN. ALRIGHT. BUT THIS IS JUST [04:10:01] TO SET THE PUBLIC HEARING AND TO HEAR FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THAT'S ALL. THIS IS CASTEX TATU MOVE TO SET THE HEARING DATE FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21ST, 2023 AT 9:00 AM SECOND ROBINSON BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF POST GRANITE. ALRIGHT, ITEM 42 IS A MOTION TO SET A DATE IN OUR LESS THAN SEVEN DAYS FROM JUNE 14TH, 2023 TO RECEIVE NOMINATIONS FOR POSITIONS 10 AND 11 OF THE HOUSTON MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES PENSION SYSTEM, BOARD OF TRUSTEES CASTEX TA MOVE TO, UH, RECEIVE COUNCIL MEMBER NOMINATIONS, UH, FOR 10 AND 11 AS STATED IN ITEM 42. SECOND ROBINSON, A MOVE. AND SECOND THE DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED ON 42. ITEM 43 IS A REVIEW ON THE RECORD AND MAKE DETERMINATION RELATIVE TO THE APPEAL FROM THE DECISIONS OF THE SIGNED ADMINISTRATION FILED BY CHRISTOPHER ROTH FELDER ON BEHALF OF OUR FRONT MEDIA LLC. NOW, COUNCIL MEMBER ACHE. WELL, MAYOR, I WILL TAG THIS ONE AND, AND I, BUT I WOULD, I'LL LEAVE IT OPEN FOR DISCUSSION IF ANYBODY WANTS TO DISCUSS IT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE GONNA PASS UP AN OPPORTUNITY TO THE OVERALL BIGGER PICTURE IS TO, TO TO, TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF, UH, OF, OF SIGNS. AND, AND THEY'VE OFFERED TO, FROM WHAT I'VE READ, THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY FURNISHED ME, UH, THEY'VE OFFERED TO, TO TAKE THREE OTHER SIGNS DOWN IF THEY CAN LEAVE THIS ONE UP. SO IT IT, THAT'S THE BIGGER PICTURE. AND, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S IN, UH, IF THAT, THAT THAT WOULD HAVE TO TAKE AN ADMINISTRATIVE, UH, YOU, YOU'D HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION. MAYOR. I, I REALIZE THAT, BUT I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGER PICTURE HERE IS IF WE'RE WANTING TO REDUCE SIGNS, UH, THIS IS AN OPPOR, WE DON'T WANNA MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO, TO TAKE DOWN MORE SIGNS AND LEAVE AND, AND, AND TO WORK SOMETHING OUT. AND I, I WISH THAT WAS A, A PERMISSIBLE AREA OF DISCUSSION, BUT IT IS, IT IS NOT, UM, ON THIS ITEM. THE GENERAL APPEALS BOARD HAS ALREADY RULED AND THEY, THEY RULED UNANIMOUSLY. THE ONLY THING THAT WE CAN DECIDE IS WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS A BASIS FOR THEIR RULING. AND IT'S, UH, UM, UH, IF THEY, IF YOU CONCLUDE THAT THEY WERE ARBITRARY, THEN YOU CAN VOTE THIS ITEM DOWN. UM, BUT IF THERE'S A, IF THERE'S ANY EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORT THEIR RULING, UM, THEN YOU MUST STAY WITH THEIR RULING. SO, UH, WE CANNOT EVEN, YOU CAN LOOK TO THE RECORD TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THEY MADE AN ARBITRARY DECISION IF IN READING THEIR RECORD, IF THERE'S ANY BASIS TO SUPPORT THEIR DECISION, THEN COUNCIL DOES NOT HAVE THE, THE, THE AUTHORITY, UH, TO OVERRULE THEIR DECISION. NO, BUT THE CITY ATTORNEY FURNISHED US A, UH, A REAL, UH, GOOD GUIDELINE ON THINGS ABOUT THE SOUTHERN ORDINANCES. BUT I, I'LL TAG IT, MAYOR, SINCE IT'S TAGABLE AND, AND IT'LL GIMME A CHANCE TO READ IT ALL 'CAUSE I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO READ IT. AND THAT'S FAIR ENOUGH. THIS ONE IS TAGABLE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. OKAY, MAYOR TIME. PAULA TAG FOR DISCUSSION. OKAY, THE ITEM IS, THE ITEM IS TAGGED. UM, SO, BUT I DO BY KU CALL, BUT, BUT DO GET, UM, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS. SEE CITY, CITY LEGAL AND LEGAL C CITY LEGAL CAN GIVE YOU THE BASIS BY WHICH THIS ITEM SHOULD BE DETERMINED. UM, LIKE IT OR NOT, LIKE IT OR NOT. UM, WE MUST FOLLOW WHAT OUR ROLE IS AND NOT, NOT SUBSTITUTE WHAT WE WOULD'VE DONE, UM, OVER WHAT THE GENERAL APPEALS BOARD DID. SO I WANT US TO BE VERY, VERY CLEAR ON THAT. 'CAUSE I KNOW, I KNOW JUST LIKE ON YESTERDAY, PEOPLE CAN COME UP HERE AND THEY CAN VOICE THEIR VIEW. UH, BUT WE ARE NOT SITTING IN THE SAME, UH, CHAIRS AS THE GENERAL APPEALS BOARD. AND WHAT THEY, ONCE THEY MAKE A DETERMINATION, IF THAT'S A UNTIL OF EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS THAT DETERMINATION, THEN THE, THE RULE IS COUNSEL SHALL APPROVE THAT RECOMMENDATION. SO I WANT IT TO BE VERY CLEAR, AND OF COURSE, ALL OF US LAWYERS AROUND THE TABLE UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT, WHAT THAT MEANS. THAT MEANS YOU, SO YOU CANNOT INSERT YOUR, WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE DONE. AND THIS IS NOT A QUESTION OF, YOU KNOW, THE EVIDENCE IS DID THEY HAVE A RATIONAL BASIS TO MAKE THEIR DECISION, PERIOD. OKAY. SO WE'LL PICK THIS UP THE NEXT TIME AROUND. NO, THEY'RE ABOVE IN THE QUEUE, BUT THEY BOTH HAVE TO RELEASE THEIR TAG BEFORE [04:15:01] THEY CAN DISCUSS. OKAY. COUNCILMAN, I, I, I'LL RELEASE MY TAG FOR DISCUSSION. YOU WON'T, OKAY. OKAY. OKAY, WE'RE DONE. OKAY, NEXT ITEM, [MATTERS HELD - NUMBERING] ITEM 40. ITEM 44 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE ON ITEM 44. COUNCILMAN POLL IT ON 44. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I TAGGED THIS ITEM LAST WEEK BECAUSE I HAD QUESTIONS REGARDING THE MWBE PARTICIPATION. I KNOW OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST WEEK, UM, SPEAKING WITH OBO AND YOUR ADMINISTRATION, UH, THERE HAS BEEN SOME, UM, NEW INSIGHT INTO THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. MY BIGGEST THING IS, UM, THE INTENDED PURPOSE OF THE MWBE PROGRAM IS ONLY GONNA BE AS STRONG AS, AS THE OVERSIGHT AND THE COMPLIANCE. IF, IF, IF IT GETS ALL THE WAY TO THIS BODY AND, BUT FOR OUR CHECKS AND BALANCES, WE DON'T SEE CERTAIN THINGS, THEN ITEMS CAN MOVE FORWARD, UH, WITHOUT THE PROPER OVERSIGHT THAT'S NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT THE PARTICIPATION GOALS ARE MET, THAT THE, THAT THEY'RE THE, UM, ACCURATE AMOUNT OF, UH, SUBCONTRACTORS ON A PARTICULAR ITEM. AND SO MY BIGGEST THING IS REALLY TRYING TO FOCUS ON ENSURING THAT BEFORE IT GETS TO THIS BODY, SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS ARE ALREADY ANSWERED BECAUSE, BUT FOR ME, MAYBE ASKING CERTAIN QUESTIONS, WE WOULDN'T, MAYBE WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN SOME OF THE ISSUES I THINK PERTAINING TO THE MWBE PORTION OF THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. SO, UM, JUST WANT TO RAISE THAT POINT. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE MWE STILL WOULD'VE GOTTEN THEIR PORTION, THIS WAS A, THIS WAS A, A CALCULATION, UH, ERROR, NOT IN TERMS OF THE PERCENTAGE OF THEIR WORK. SO NOTHING, IF, IF NOTHING HAD BEEN SAID THE MWBE STILL WOULD HAVE GOTTEN 13.5% OF THE, OF THE CONTRACT. BUT THEIR GOAL IS 15. AND, AND I KNOW IT'S AN ONGOING CONTRACT THAT IT'S ONGOING, I KNOW THAT, I KNOW THAT. BUT THERE WAS A, THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THREE VENDORS ON THE, ON THE, ON THE, ON THE ORIGINAL, UH, INTENT. I THINK ONE DROPPED OFF, BUT WE NEVER WENT BACK TO SEE IF WE COULD FILL THAT, THAT ROLE. SO IT'S ALSO ABOUT NOT JUST GOAL PARTICIPATION, BUT, UM, VENDOR PARTICIPATION, ENSURING THAT, UM, MULTIPLE, UM, SUBCONTRACTORS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE AS WELL, IF THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE ITEM. AGREED. OKAY. UH, COUNCILMAN CAMERON? THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I ALSO JUST WANTED TO BRING UP THAT THIS IS AN ITEM THAT WE ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH TO PASS ON NEW COSTS TO RESIDENTS BECAUSE THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED TWO BILLS, UM, AS A RESULT OF WINTER STORM. YURI, BASICALLY THAT, UM, THE FIRST ONE, THE PUC UH, ORDER AUTHORIZED ALL TEXAS ELECTRICITY PROVIDERS TO BILL CUSTOMERS SECURITIZATION CHARGES FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS TO PAY OFF THEIR DEBT THAT THEY INCURRED FROM WINTER STORM YURI. AND ON TOP OF THAT, THERE'S A SECOND CHARGE TO ESTABLISH A RESERVE FUEL SUPPLY, UM, THAT ERCOT IS GONNA BE RUNNING. SO I, AGAIN, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF GRID STABILIZATION AND SECURITIZATION, BUT ALL OF THESE COSTS ARE BEING PASSED DOWN TO THE CONSUMER. SO AT THE STATE LEVEL AS THEY'RE TALKING, RIGHT, WE'RE HAVING A PROPERTY TAX DEBATE RIGHT NOW AND ALL OF THESE ABOUT SAVING PEOPLE MONEY, BUT SLID INTO THIS IS OUR CONSTANT INCREASES OF CHARGES THAT ARE NOW BEING PASSED DOWN ONTO HOUSTONIANS. SO I, I KNOW THAT WE AS A CITY NEEDED TO COME TO THE TABLE ON THIS CONTRACT, UH, BECAUSE THE CONTRACT CAN BE VOIDED WITHIN 60 DAYS IF WE DO NOT. UH, BUT AGAIN, UM, I, THIS WAS A, A HARD ONE TO SWALLOW, UH, BECAUSE OF WHAT THE STATE IS DOING. AND LEMME JUST SAY THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY YOU'RE GETTING IN AT THIS LATE DATE BECAUSE IT'S HARD. IT WAS, IT'S HARD FOR, UM, ME TO SWALLOW. AND THE REASON IS WE ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT, WHICH WAS A PRETTY GOOD CONTRACT FOR 6 67 YEARS, OKAY? UM, IN THIS CON BUT IN THIS CONTRACT, THERE WAS ONE PROVISION, UH, THAT SAID IF THE STATE SHOULD, UH, IMPOSE ADDITIONAL COSTS, UH, THEN THOSE COSTS WOULD FLOW DOWN TO THE END USER THAT SAY, IN THIS CASE, THE CITY, IF THE STATE WERE TO IMPOSE. THE PROBLEM WITH [04:20:01] THAT IS THAT IF THE UTILITY THAT YOU'VE ENTERED INTO THE CONTRACT WITH GOES TO THE STATE AND ADVOCATES THAT THE COSTS FLOW DOWN, THEN IT'S LIKE YOU'VE ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT WITH SOMEBODY, THEY GO TO THE STATE AND SAY, MAKE SURE YOU PASS THE COST DOWN BECAUSE THEY KNOW IN THE CONTRACT, WE HAVE TO EAT THE COST. AND SO WHAT THE STATE HAS DONE FROM WHI STORM URI AND THE BILLIONS OF COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH WILLIAMS STONE URY, INSTEAD OF THE STATE, THE LEGISLATURE EATING THE COSTS, THEY HAVE PASSED THOSE COSTS DOWN TO THE END USERS. AND WE ARE HAVING TO PAY IN A CONTRACT, UH, 12 TO $13 MILLION MORE BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE HAS PASSED DOWN THOSE COSTS. NOW THAT'S THE CITY, AND WE GET OUR DOLLARS FROM THE PEOPLE. NOW, THE OTHER THING IS THAT NOW THAT WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF, LET'S SAY THIS, UM, THIS HEAT WAVE, OKAY, AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE USING THEIR BILL ELECTRICITY, WELL, THEY'RE GONNA BE PAYING MORE BECAUSE THE STATE A LOT BECAUSE THE STATE HAS FLOWED DOWN THE COST TO THE END USER. SO, YOU KNOW, SENIORS AND OTHERS ARE GONNA BE PAYING MORE THAN THE ELECTRICITY BILL. SO THEY CAN TALK ABOUT SAVING ON PROPERTY TAXES, BUT PEOPLE ARE PAYING MORE ON THEIR ELECTRICITY BILLS. AND OVER THE NEXT TWO TO THREE MONTHS, YOU ARE, YOU ARE GOING TO BE PAYING QUITE A BIT BECAUSE ALL OF THESE CALLS FROM WINTER STORM ING ARE FLOWING DOWN WHILE THE STATE SITS ON A HUGE SUB PLUS. AND THEY COULD HAVE, THEY COULD HAVE ASSUMED MUCH OF THOSE CALLS, BUT THEY DIDN'T. AND SO I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY ON THE MARGINS AND NOW THEY'RE GONNA BE GETTING THESE HIGH ELECTRICITY BILLS. AND AT THE SAME TIME, LIKE WE TOLD SENIORS THIS WEEK, UM, PLEASE TURN ON YOUR AIR BECAUSE WE DON'T NEED SENIORS TO BE LIVING IN THEIR HOMES AND NOT TURNING ON THEIR AIR. SO PLEASE, PLEASE, YOU UTILIZE THAT. BUT YEAH, I AGREE WITH YOU. IT, IT'S A BAD DEAL. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON 9 44? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 44 POWER? NO. SAY THAT POWER? NO, YOU DIDN'T MEAN IT. NO. YOU DIDN'T MEAN IT. WE WERE CAUGHT IT, BUT I KNEW YOU DIDN'T MEAN IT. YOU KNOW. OKAY. UM, WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THIS AND CERTAINLY WANNA CONGRATULATE, UH, CHIEF SAM PENA FOR RECEIVING THE 2023 METROPOLITAN FIRE CHIEF OF THE YEAR AWARD. YEAH. AND THAT CAME FROM THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE CHIEFS. SO, UH, CHIEF SAM PINON CONGRAT, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE AWARD THAT YOU, UH, RECEIVED FIRST. OH, AND COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS, YOU HAD A SPECIAL RECOGNITION. YEAH. YES. MAYOR, IF YOU COULD JOIN ME AT THE PODIUM, PLEASE. DAY RIGHT. . COLLEAGUES, TODAY'S A BITTERSWEET DAY IN THE OFFICE OF DISTRICT. I, CAN YOU HEAR ME ON THIS MIC OR SHOULD I GO DOWN? OKAY. TODAY'S A BITTERSWEET DAY IN THE OFFICE OF DISTRICT. I, MY CHIEF OF STAFF, DANIEL SANTA MARIA, HAS DECIDED TO GO ON TO BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS, I GUESS, IN HIS OPINION. UM, BUT HE'S BEEN WITH ME FROM DAY ONE WHEN I BECAME A COUNCIL MEMBER HERE AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON BACK ON JANUARY 2ND, 2014. I HAVE A STRONG STAFF. I HAVE PEOPLE THAT CARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY. I HAVE PEOPLE THAT KNOW THE COMMUNITY, [04:25:01] AND DANIEL IS ONE OF THOSE STAFF MEMBERS, SO HE WILL BE MISSED. HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB. HE'S REPRESENTED DISTRICT I WELL, AND PEOPLE KNOW WHO HE IS, AND THEY KNOW, AND THEY CALL MY OFFICE AND THEY'RE TALKING TO HIM. THEY KNOW THINGS WILL GET DONE. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU, DANIEL. THANK YOU JUSTIN. I HAVE A CERTIFICATE HERE. COMMENDS AND APPRECIATES ESAD DANIEL SANTA MARIA, IN RECOGNITION OF HIS NEARLY 17 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. EACH DAY, COUNTLESS HOUSTONIANS ARE SERVED BY DEDICATED PUBLIC EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEEN A VITAL ASSET TO THE THRIVING SUCCESS OF THIS GREAT CITY. DANIEL'S ILLUSTRIOUS JOURNEY WITH THE CITY BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 6TH, 2006, AS A PART-TIME COUNCIL INTERN FOR THEN MAYOR PRO TEM MICHAEL BERRY. ON APRIL 24TH, 2008, HE BECAME A FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE AS A COUNCIL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT. HE HAS SERVED AS A COUNCIL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT FOR MULTIPLE COUNCIL MEMBERS, INCLUDING COUNCIL MEMBER SULLIVAN, COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN, AND COUNCIL MEMBER WONG DANIEL JOINED COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS OFFICE ON JANUARY 2ND, 2014 AS A COUNCIL RESEARCH ASSISTANT. DANIEL WAS THEN PROMOTED TO CHIEF OF STAFF ON JANUARY 2ND, 2016. AS CHIEF OF STAFF. DANIEL BROUGHT A WEALTH OF INFORMATION AND WHEN HIS AND WAS A TRUE TEAM PLAYER, HE KEPT THE OFFICE ORGANIZED AND PREPARED FOR ANY SCHEDULED OR LAST MINUTE ENDEAVORS. YOU KNOW, I, UM, I LEFT THOSE GLASSES, HUH? NOPE, , NOT THAT I WAS TRYING TO BE VAIN OR ANYTHING, BUT . SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON. THANKS, CESAR. DANIEL SANTA MARIA. I DIDN'T KNOW YOUR FULL NAME. HE GOT YOUR FULL NAME. A LOT OF DETAIL ON THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR HIS IMMEASURABLE CONTRIBUTION TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND EXTENDS BEST WISHES ON YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS. UH, JUNE 14TH, 2023. ALL THE BEST TO YOU, DANIEL. THANK YOU. YOU GUYS SAY ANYTHING TO US. IT'S, IT'S GONE BY IN A, IN A FLASHING BY THE WAY. I, I HAD ASKED EVERYBODY, MY TEAM, THAT IS TO NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME. AND SO, , THIS IS A COMPLETE OPPOSITE OF THAT, BUT WE'LL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION LATER. UM, JUST THANK YOU ALSO VERY MUCH. IT'S, IT'S BEEN A JOURNEY. I'VE REALLY ENJOYED IT. I'VE, I'VE ENJOYED WORKING WITH PAST COUNCILS, THIS COUNCIL, THESE MEMBERS, THE STAFF. YOU GUYS HAVE AN INCREDIBLE, UM, UH, GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR Y'ALL. SO THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, OUR VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM, MARTHA CASTEX. TATUM, THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU DID NOT LISTEN TO DANIEL, AND THAT YOU ARE CELEBRATING HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO NOT ONLY DISTRICT I, BUT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I KNOW WHEN I HIRED MY CHIEF OF STAFF, I SAID, NOW THERE'S SOME CHIEF OF STAFFS THAT YOU CAN TALK TO ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CITY THAT WILL GET YOU ON THE RIGHT TRACK. AND THE FIRST ONE I LISTED WAS DANIEL, BECAUSE HE IS IN THE OFFICE, AND HE IS A TREMENDOUS WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN DISTRICT I AND, AND CITY GOVERNMENT. AND WHEN YOU BRING IN SOMEBODY NEW, YOU WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY ALIGN WITH THE PEOPLE THAT REALLY KNOW, UM, HOW THE PROCESS WORKS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF TOUCHING THE PEOPLE IN A GENUINE, AUTHENTIC, IMPACTFUL WAY. AND DANIEL, YOU DO JUST THAT. UM, YOU MAY NOT THINK THAT PEOPLE WATCH, BUT PEOPLE DO WATCH, UM, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE OTHER OFFICES AND THE GRIND THAT HAPPENS IN THE OTHER OFFICES. UM, WE HAVE A LOT IN COMMON IN OUR, IN OUR DISTRICTS. UM, AND IT'S IMPORTANT AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER THAT YOU HAVE A CHIEF OF STAFF THAT SUPPORTS YOU AND MAKES SURE THAT YOU ARE, UM, PROVIDED THE INFORMATION THAT, YOU KNOW, I SIT NEXT TO COUNCIL [04:30:01] MEMBER GALL GOES. I SEE HIS NOTES. DANIEL IS PHENOMENAL. DANIEL MAKES SURE HIS COUNCIL MEMBER IS WELL STAFFED AND THAT THAT OFFICE, THEY, THEY HAVE A FUN OFFICE. SO WHEN YOU CAN, UM, BE EFFECTIVE AND HAVE A GOOD TIME, YOU'RE DOING IT RIGHT. UH, 17 YEARS DESERVES TO BE CELEBRATED. I KNOW YOU DIDN'T WANT POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE, BUT WE'RE GIVING YOU POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, BECAUSE YOU HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO I WISH YOU THE VERY BEST AS YOU MOVE ON TO YOUR NEXT ENDEAVOR. AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW VERY MUCH WE APPRECIATE YOUR KINDNESS, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO HELP OTHERS AND ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE, UH, FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND DISTRICT. I, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. THANKS YOU SO MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. UH, THE SAME, UM, WHEN I HIRED MY CHIEF OF STAFF, UH, YOU WERE ONE OF THE FIRST INDIVIDUALS. YEAH, THANK YOU. I SAID YOU NEEDED TO, UM, TO LINK UP WITH BECAUSE OF YOUR DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE, UH, THE LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE AND THE VICE MAYOR'S. ABSOLUTELY. RIGHT? WE DO WATCH, UM, AND WE DO TELL OUR STAFF YOU NEED TO BE MORE LIKE DARIEN. BUT I TO TO THE SAME POINT OF HOW YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER IS ABLE TO BE PREPARED AND SPEAK DIRECTLY TO PARTICULAR ISSUES, IS WE KNOW THAT THERE'S SUPPORT THAT HAPPENS BEHIND THAT. AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T LIKE CHANGE. SO PAT SAJA, JOSE GRIGNON, EVERYBODY'S LEAVING. DANIEL'S LEAVING. UM, BUT DEFINITELY WISH YOU WELL, UM, LOOKING FORWARD TO WITNESSING ON THE SIDE YOUR TRAJECTORY AND HOW YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO ENHANCE REPRESENTATION AT HARRIS COUNTY AND ALL OF THOSE GOOD WORKS. BUT DEFINITELY KNOW THAT YOU HAVE, UM, FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS AND PEOPLE THAT ARE CHEERING FOR YOU. UM, YOU'RE DEFINITELY A, A A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF, UM, LEADERSHIP AND CITY GOVERNMENT AND IN COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO GLEAN FROM YOU, UM, AND FOR SUPPORTING OUR, OUR TEAM AND OTHER FOLKS WITHIN THE HALLS OF CITY GOVERNMENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS CISNEROS. HUH? THANK YOU, DANIEL. AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, UM, YOUR, YOUR DEDICATION TO THE CITY AND YOUR CONTRIBUTION OVER 17 YEARS. I DIDN'T REALIZE IT HAD BEEN THAT LONG, BUT THAT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST THE BENEFIT OF YOUR INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AS YOU'VE, YOU'VE, YOU KNOW, COVERED SO MANY DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATIONS IS, IS INVALUABLE. AND THAT'S A LOSS TO US THAT, THAT YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, TO, TO, TO CARRY ON HERE, YOU KNOW, UM, IN THAT SAME ROLE. 'CAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S HUGE. AND I'VE REALLY COME TO APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE WHO, WHO STAY BECAUSE IT, IT HELPS THE PEOPLE LIKE US THAT COME AND GO, YOU KNOW, DO A GOOD JOB. UM, I JUST REALLY, I'M EXCITED ABOUT YOUR NEW ROLE AND, AND JUST SEE YOU AS ANOTHER, UM, BRIDGE AND STRONG CONNECTION IN OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY. YEP. SO GOOD LUCK TO YOU. BEST WISHES. COUNCIL MEMBER, AMY PECK. THANK YOU, DANIEL. CONGRATULATIONS. , UM, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS. HE MAY BE YOUR CHIEF OF STAFF, BUT HE'S MY CONSTITUENT, SO I'M CLAIMING HIM AS WELL. , UM, WHEN I STARTED AS THE CHIEF OF STAFF IN 2014, DANIEL, YOU WERE ONE OF THE GO-TO PEOPLE THAT I WAS CONSTANTLY ASKING QUESTIONS TO. EVEN NOW, WE COME TO YOUR OFFICE ALL THE TIME, REMEMBER SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN WE PASSED THIS THING, AND YOU'LL ALWAYS SEEM TO REMEMBER EVERYTHING. SO, AND I WILL CONTINUE BOTHERING YOU WHEN YOU'RE AT THE COUNTY , AND WE HAVE SOME TREE PROJECTS TO CONTINUE WORKING ON IN THE DISTRICT. SO, CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. AND CONGRATULATIONS, DANIEL. MY COMMENTS. KEN, WELCOME BACK. YOU HAVE BIG SHOES TO FILL. UM, ROBERT, I'VE ALWAYS ADMIRED YOUR STAFF FROM THE 10 YEARS THAT WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER, UM, WHETHER IT'S DANIEL OR JOAQUIN, OR MISS GLORIA AND MISS CELIA, Y'ALL ALWAYS BEEN PROFESSIONAL. AND EVERY TIME I WALKED BY, THERE WAS ALWAYS A CAN-DO SPIRIT. AND THAT FLOWS FROM THE TOP, THAT FLOWS FROM YOU. AND YOU SET THE TONE. I WOULD DESCRIBE DANIEL AS QUIET, BUT CONFIDENT. MM-HMM . STERN, BUT EXTREMELY PROFESSIONAL. AND THOSE ARE ATTRIBUTES THAT YOU CAN TAKE WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO. I HATE THE FACT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO THE COUNTY. IT'S LIKE BOOM, GETS US RIGHT IN THE HEART. BUT I KNOW YOU'LL, YOU'LL LEND SOME OF THAT PROFESSIONALISM AND YOU'LL LEND SOME OF THAT CONFIDENCE THAT I THINK IS NEEDED OVER THERE. SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD MOVE. I THINK YOU'LL ENJOY YOURSELF, UM, DO WHAT YOU'VE DID DONE OVER HERE. YEAH. YOU KNOW, FLEX A LITTLE BIT WHEN IT'S OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, MAKE A POINT OF VIEW. BE STERN, BUT YET PROFESSIONAL. AND I KNOW YOU'LL DO THAT. SO MY WISHES FOR YOU IS TO HAVE A GOOD TIME, HAVE A GOOD LIFE, AND GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS. AND WELCOME BACK, KEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THAT'S ALL. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU DANIEL, FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE WITH ME IN MY OFFICE. THANK YOU. UH, IF I CAN HAVE MY STAFF COME UP SO WE CAN TAKE A GROUP PHOTO, PLEASE. IT'S LONG AS PAPA . [04:36:07] NEXT WEEK IS A CONSOLIDATED MEETING, SO WE'LL HAVE THE PUBLIC MEETING AS WELL AS CITY COUNCIL ON THE SAME DAY. UM, 21ST WEDNESDAY THE 21ST. UH, YEAH, ON JUNE THE 21ST, THAT WOULD BE A CONSOLIDATED MEETING. UM, LET'S SEE. UM, WELL, I STARTED THIS, UH, TO SING, BUT, UM, I, CHURCH SECRETARY IS OVER THERE ON THE, ON THE PHONE. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA START [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] THE DAY WITH VICE MAYOR PRO TIM, MARTHA CASTEX, HATE HIM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS. UM, FIRST LET ME JUST SAY HAPPY JUNETEENTH EARLY, UM, TO EVERYONE. THERE ARE SEVERAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND DISTRICT K, RECOGNIZING THIS FEDERAL HOLIDAY. UM, DO WANT TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT OUR DISTRICT K GATEWAYS WILL BE ILLUMINATED IN THE JUNETEENTH COLORS. UM, AND THEN ALSO WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT, UM, I KNOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD CAME TO OUR GATEWAY, UM, PARADE ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I'M SUPER EXCITED THAT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION, UH, TEXAS CHAPTER, WILL HOST THEIR ANNUAL CONFERENCE THIS MONTH. AND THE GATEWAY PROJECT IN DISTRICT K WON THE PROJECT OF THE YEAR AWARD, AH, UM, FOR STRUCTURES LESS THAN $2 MILLION. SO MY STAFF AND I WILL JOIN, UM, TUR 25 FOR THAT AWARD DURING THE CONFERENCE IN WACO THIS MONTH. SO, UM, THE BEAUTIFICATION IN OUR COMMUNITIES, THE WORD IS GETTING OUT. THIS PROJECT WAS ALSO HIGHLIGHTED IN THE TML MAGAZINE, UM, A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. AND PEOPLE LOVE THE PROJECT. WE'VE HAD CALLS FROM MISSOURI CITY, THEY WANT TO EXTEND THE GATEWAY PROJECT ALL THE WAY DOWN HIGHWAY 90. UM, SO I HOPE THAT AT, IF YOU'RE RIDING THROUGH DISTRICT K, UH, IN THE EVENING TIME, YOU'LL SEE THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED IN THE, UH, JUNETEENTH COLORS. AND WE, WE SWITCH IT UP PERIODICALLY JUST TO CELEBRATE THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I'LL MAKE SURE Y'ALL SEE THE AWARD WHEN WE GET IT NEXT, UH, NEXT WEEK. UM, ALSO, THE, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE THE 21ST AT 2:00 PM HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM DIRECTOR, MARIO DIAZ AND STAFF WILL PRESENT AN UPDATE ON THE IAH TERMINAL REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AT IAH AND ON THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM, MAJOR PROGRAMS MANAGEMENT, CHIEF DEVELOPMENT, EKIN, ALSO ALONG WITH PLANNING AND DIVISION MANAGER LYNN HENSON AND SAM DK, RIGHTS MANAGEMENT COMPANY INVESTMENT MANAGER, WILL PRESENT ON THE ANNUAL UPDATE OF THE ION DISTRICT COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THESE PRESENTATIONS AGAIN ON JUNE 21ST AT 2:00 PM UH, WE ARE, UM, HAVING A MINDFUL LOTUS CAMP AT NEW FAITH CHURCH. UM, AND THAT WILL BEGIN ON JUNE THE 19TH THROUGH JUNE 30TH. SO, IF YOU HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN AT HOME AND THEY NEED TO GO TO A REALLY COOL CAMP, UH, NEW FAITH CHURCH.ORG IS THE WEBSITE, AND YOU CAN GET MORE INFORMATION ON THE REGISTRATION THERE. AND THEN, OF COURSE, UH, MAYOR AND ALL THE FATHERS ON CITY COUNCIL, I WANT TO WISH YOU ALL A VERY, VERY HAPPY FATHER'S DAY AND TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, BECAUSE I KNOW MY MOM AND DAD WATCHED CITY COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY, UH, TO SAY, HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO MY DAD, ROLAND CASTEX, THANKS FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE TO, UM, RAISE YOUR CHILDREN AND JUST PROVIDE A WONDERFUL LIFE FOR US. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, DAD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THE DAD'S, UH, . I DON'T SEE ANY, ANY FLOWERS [04:40:01] OR , GOD SORRY, OR CANDY. ARE JELLY CAKE COMING YOUR WAY? OH, YOU KNOW, WHERE ARE THE, WHERE ARE THE, WHERE'S THE CANDY OR THE FLOWERS OR THE BANNERS? YOU KNOW, FATHER GETS 30. WE STILL HAVE TIME. WE STILL HAVE TIME. FATHERS GET 30 MINUTES ON SUNDAY. , 45 MINUTES. RESTAURANTS ARE, RESTAURANTS ARE EMPTY. YOU KNOW, MOTHER'S DAY, RESTAURANTS FULL AND PACKED. YOU GOTTA MAKE RESERVATIONS SIX MONTHS EARLY, FLOWERS AND CANDY ALL OVER THE PLACE. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WAS GONNA GET THIS STARTED, YOU KNOW, DAY, MY DAD. BUT FOR DADS, YOU KNOW, PAID HAPPY FATHER THEIR DAD. YOU HERE'S YOUR DINNER BILL. YEAH. YOU KNOW, CALL ASHLEY. GO, GO TO THE RESTAURANTS, DAD, PAY THE BILL. YEAH. . YEAH. YOU KNOW, COME ON. YOU KNOW? BUT I KNOW, I KNOW, I KNOW THAT THE CANDY AND STUFF IS COMING LATER ON. I, IT IS . THAT'S FROM COUNCIL MEMBER. I, I, YOU KNOW, I, I'M SORRY, I DIGRESS. BUT I KNOW THAT, I KNOW THERE'S A RECEPTION AS SURPRISE RECEPTION LATER ON TODAY FOR FATHER FATHERS. SURE THERE IS. AND YOU KNOW, THEY ON TODAY. SO IN MY OFFICE, I KNOW Y'ALL GONNA SURPRISE US. I'M BACK. SURPRISED TACO CAN HAD A FATHERS DAY. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBER S CAN THANK YOU, MAYOR. FIRST OF ALL, LAST WEEK, I, UH, ATTENDED THE, UH, SAID CHAMPIONS FOR HOPE LUNCHEON. I WANT TO THANK, UH, SHIRU MOKHTAR, UH, PRESIDENT OF SED. UM, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, SED DOES AN INCREDIBLE WORK OUT IN THE COMMUNITY IN REGARDS TO INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE STRUGGLING, THAT HAVE NO HOPE. AND THEY PROVIDE TRAINING, JOB TRAINING, AND GIVE THESE INDIVIDUALS HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. SO THEY DO INCREDIBLE WORK. AND THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THE PAST WITH SAID ABSOLUTELY. SO, IT WAS GOOD TO HEAR THE TESTIMONIALS FROM INDIVIDUALS THERE AT THE LUNCHEON AS TO WHAT THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH AND BECAUSE OF SAID THEY HAVE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. SO, I ENJOYED THAT LUNCHEON. I ALSO WAS INVITED TO ATTEND LULAC DISTRICT EIGHT MEETING ON SATURDAY MORNING. UM, AND THEY GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH THEM WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU TO LULAC DISTRICT EIGHT FOR THE INVITATION. AND LAST WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, I JOINED THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS AND COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA, AND THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATOR, BOSE AND COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON. UM, IN REGARDS TO THE NEARLY $37 MILLION THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO RECEIVE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THIS IS AN EXCITING TIME IN THE EAST END AS SOMEONE WHO WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THE EAST END AND HAS DEALT WITH TRAINS BLOCKING OUR CROSSINGS AND THE FEAR THAT A LOVED ONE MAY NEED THE HELP FROM AN AMBULANCE OR A FIRETRUCK OR A POLICE CAR, BUT YET THEY'RE STUCK AND NOT ABLE TO GET ACROSS THOSE TRACKS. THIS IS GOING TO ADDRESS YORK STREET AND COMMERCE AND NAVIGATION, AND I'M EX REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE COMMERCE NAVIGATION BECAUSE WITH THE REALIGNMENT OF 45 ALONG THE GEORGE R. BROWN CONVENTION CENTER, THAT COULD IMPACT THE EAST END, HAVING ACCESS TO AND FROM DOWNTOWN HOUSTON. SO WITH THIS UNDERPASS, IT'S JUST GOING TO HELP WITH CONNECTIVITY TO AND FROM DOWNTOWN. SO, AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK ADMINISTRATOR BOSE AND THE MAYOR FOR STAYING ON TOP OF THIS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE HEARD. IT'S NOTHING THAT WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF, BUT CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 29 IS NUMBER ONE IN THE NATION IN REGARDS TO BEING IMPACTED BY TRAINS. BUT THAT RECOGNITION GOT THE ATTENTION OF THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION. AND ONCE AGAIN, I WANNA THANK ALL THE RESIDENTS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CALLING, EMAILING THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION WHEN YOU'RE SITTING THERE IN YOUR CAR WAITING FOR THAT TRAIN TO MOVE. BECAUSE THOSE NUMBERS MADE US NUMBER [04:45:01] ONE. AND THAT RECOGNITION GOT THE ATTENTION OF THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION. AND THEREFORE, WE HAVE THESE TWO UNDERPASSES THAT THEY WILL BE WORKING ON IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS. SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU TO ALL THE RESIDENTS. I ALSO WANNA WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY JUNETEENTH DAY AS WELL. A HAPPY FATHER'S DAY. AS YOU JUST SAW, WE RECOGNIZE DANIEL SANTA MARIA, MY CHIEF OF STAFF, WHO IS MOVING ON TO THE COUNTY. HE'S DONE GREAT WORK. BUT I WANNA LET EVERYONE KNOW, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE SEVEN MONTHS, A LITTLE LESS THAN SEVEN MONTHS IN OFFICE, THIS OFFICE WILL STILL BE COVERED. AND I'VE, UH, HIRED KEN OLIVE, WHO ALSO BRINGS EXPERIENCE. HE WAS THE CHIEF OF STAFF, FORMER COUNCIL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SUE LOVELL, AND HE WILL BE STARTING NEXT WEEK. SO THIS OFFICE WILL CONTINUE TO BE COVERED TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT. I THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, COUNCILMAN ROBINSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR, UH, VERY MUCH. UM, I KNOW WE'VE GOT, UH, SOME NEW INTERNS, UH, AROUND YES. CITY HALL. AND, UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO, UH, INCREASING THAT NUMBER. AGAIN, MAYOR. IT'S, IT'S BEEN A STEADY INCREASE OVER YOUR TERM, AND IT'S, UM, AND, AND WE'RE DOING SUCH IMPORTANT THINGS. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT MY THREE INTERNS WHO ARE HERE TODAY. IF YOU THREE, WOULD PLEASE STAND UP TO BE RECOGNIZED. UM, MAYOR FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. UM, UH, FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, YOU'RE GONNA SEE EUGENE HAGER, WHO WE RECOGNIZED YESTERDAY BECAUSE, UH, WITH OUR ARMY DAY AND THE 248TH BIRTHDAY, WE RECOGNIZED THAT HE IS SIGNED UP FOR THE ROTC. HE IS A RISING JUNIOR AT WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS. HE'S A POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJOR AND A MEMBER OF THE VARSITY MEN'S SOCCER TEAM MAYOR. SO, WITH THE WORLD CUP COMING UP, UH, WE GOT SOME SKILL. AND, UH, THIS IS HIS SECOND SUMMER WORKING FOR US. SO I WANNA THANK YOU, GENE, FOR BEING HERE. UM, NEXT TO HIM IS HARRISON BLANTON. UH, THIS IS A JUNIOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS IN AUSTIN, AND HE'S MAJORING IN AMERICAN STUDIES. UM, HE'S PREVIOUSLY INTERNED WITH TEXAS STATE REP TRAVIS CLARDY. SO HE'S BEEN AT THE CAPITOL, AND HE'S HERE WITH US FOR THIS SUMMER. HARRISON, VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOU BEING WITH US. AND MAYOR, NEXT TO THE TWO GENTLEMEN IS CHRISTINA CAMILLO, AND SHE'S A RECENT GRADUATE FROM CARLTON COLLEGE WITH A MAJOR IN SOCIOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY. THIS IS HER SECOND SUMMER AS AN, UH, HIGHER HOUSTON YOUTH INTERN. AND SHE PREVIOUSLY INTERNED WITH DISTRICT B. UH, WE'RE SO HAPPY. CHRISTINA'S WITH US BRINGS A GREAT WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE, AND WE ARE FEELING VERY, VERY LUCKY INDEED, MAYOR. UM, SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. WELCOME BOY, AND BEING WITH US. I WANTED TO ALSO JUST TAKE ONE MOMENT, MAYOR, AT THE BEGINNING OF TODAY'S SESSION WITH, UH, DIRECTOR BUNICH, CHIEF BUNICH. UM, THAT'S REALLY A BIG DEAL THAT WE GOT THE RECOGNITION FROM DAN RILEY AND THE, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. I WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. 'CAUSE I THINK IT, IT SPEAKS TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE INVESTMENT THAT WE'RE DOING TO PREPARE FOR THESE THINGS. OF COURSE. UM, IT'S HOT AS BLAZES OUT THERE, RIGHT? AND MAYOR, YOU KNOW, AS WELL AS I DO, THE SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS YOU'VE BEEN IN OFFICE, WE'VE HAD SEVEN FEDERALLY DECLARED, UH, DISASTERS. AND I, I KNOW I CAN NAME THEM, BUT THEY'VE BEEN ACROSS A WIDE VARIETY OF THINGS WITH COVID, HARVEY, YURI, HAVE WE EVER HAD A FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTER WITH EXTREME HEAT? THAT I DO NOT KNOW. THAT, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T THINK I'VE HEARD OF THAT. BUT, UM, WE'VE HAD THE WINTER STORM. I JUST WANTED TO CAUTION, YOU KNOW, I'D RATHER YOU GET OUT OF OFFICE WITH SEVEN FEDERALLY DECLARED. YEAH, I DON'T WANT EIGHT. RIGHT. AND, UH, IF YOU COULD KEEP OFF THE FROGS AND THE LOCUSTS AND THE BOILS, THAT'D BE GOOD TOO. YEAH, I DON'T WANT THEM EITHER. ALRIGHT. OKAY. SO NO, NO BIBLICAL STORMS. NO. I, WE DON'T WANT ANY MORE OF THOSE. I ABOUT . TAKE IT OUT THERE NEXT. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY OF YOU AS WELL. COUNCILMAN ASH. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY. MAYOR. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY. I, I, I RELATED TO YOUR STORYLINE, , WHO'S PAYING, NOBODY EVER ASKED THAT , AM I RIGHT? YOU'RE RIGHT. IT'S NEVER ASKED. UM, IT'S OKAY. THAT WORD DADS, THAT'S WHAT WE DO. IT IS, IT'S A PART OF IT. IT, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S THE, IT'S, IT'S THE GOOD PART. HAVING CHILDREN. UM, MAYOR, I'LL BE WITH YOU ON SATURDAY. UH, I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING IT EARLY IN THE MORNING. IF YOU HAD IT ABOUT FOUR HOURS EARLIER, IT'D BE REALLY COOL, MAN. IT BE, LOOK, I WAS HOPING IT WOULD, WHEN IT'S GONNA BE AT NINE, NINE IS BETTER THAN 10. I GUARANTEE IT. AND, AND, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT [04:50:01] I, I'D LIKE TO SAY IS, DID WE HAVE ONE LAST YEAR? I CAN'T REMEMBER. WAS IT, WAS IT BECAUSE OF COVID? WAS IT YEAR WAS 2322? WE DID. WE DID, WE DID. WELL THEN, UH, I NOTICED THAT, THAT SINCE, SINCE WE'VE BEEN DOING THEM, SINCE YOU'VE BEEN MAYOR, UH, THE ATTENDANCE IS A LOT HIGHER. I LIKE THE WAY YOU BREAK IT UP FOR THE CHURCHES TO ACTUALLY HOW MANY BLOCK THAT WAS BRILLIANT IDEA. YOU KNOW, SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR THAT. 'CAUSE THAT, THAT BOLSTERS THE, THE ATTENDANCE AND STRINGS IT OUT ALL THE WAY AROUND THE THING. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. AND, UH, THE SENIORS, UH, IF THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT THERE ARE STORES THAT YOU CAN GO IN DURING THESE HOT TIMES AND, AND JUST, JUST KINDA LINGER AROUND AND SHOP AND, YOU KNOW, ENJOY THE COOL AIR. NOW MAYOR, I DON'T WANNA SAY THE NAME OF THE STORE, BUT THERE'S, THERE'S ONE STORE, UH, AROUND THAT HAS HUGE COOLERS THAT WITH EGGS AND OTHER THINGS IN THAT YOU CAN JUST WALK RIGHT THROUGH THERE. WOW. AND, AND, AND THE ONES THAT HAVE THE EGGS AND STUFF, IT'S LIKE 34 DEGREES. AND THE ONE THAT HAS THE VEGETABLES IS ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW, 38 DEGREES. AND MAN, THAT IS REALLY NICE TO GO THROUGH THERE. YOU KINDA LINGER AND THEN WALK AROUND. BUT THE SENIORS NEED, YEAH, IT'S NOT AN ICE BOX. IT'S JUST A BIG GIANT OPEN COOLER. YEAH. YOU HAVEN'T BEEN THERE. I'LL TELL YOU WHAT THE NAME OF IT IS AS SOON AS I GET THROUGH HERE . BUT, 'CAUSE I DON'T WANNA ADVERTISE FOR 'EM. BUT NONETHELESS, UH, I THINK IT'S GOOD THAT SENIORS DO THINGS AND YOU GOTTA CHECK ON YOUR SENIORS. 'CAUSE THE POWER COULD GO OUT, THE AIR CONDITIONER COULD GO OUT, UH, AND, AND, UH, IF THEY DON'T HAVE A WAY TO GET AHOLD OF YOU, UH, TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THEY'RE IN UNDER EXTREME HEAT. BUT, UH, BUT I APPRECIATE THE, THE FACT THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT WHAT, WHAT'S HAPPENING. I, I DON'T KNOW WHY WITH THE RAINY DAY FUND AND WITH YURI BEING A STORM THAT HAD, UH, PRECIPITATION, THAT'S RAIN FROZEN. WE, WE SHOULD HAVE USED OUR, OUR, OUR MONEY FROM THE RAINY DAY FUND TO COMPENSATE INSTEAD OF PUTTING IT ALL ON, ON THE CITIZENS, UH, MIND. THESE ELECTRIC BILLS ARE GETTING OUTTA SIGHT. AND SO, UH, BUT THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE ATTENTION TO IT. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN THOMAS. THANK YOU. WELL, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT Y'ALL, BUT I LOVE MY DADDY. AND SO DADDY AND I ALREADY HAVE BRUNCH PLANS FOR SUNDAY . UM, MY DADDY HASN'T OPENED UP HIS WALLET IN A LONG TIME. , SO, SO I, YOU KNOW, YEAH. SO THAT'S ON ME. HE DON'T HAVE NO COMPLAINTS. Y'ALL GOT . HE LIVING A GOOD LIFE. UM, HE LIVING A GOOD LIFE ON ME. UM, BUT I WANNA ANNOUNCE MY SUMMER OF SAFETY. JUNE IS PUBLIC SAFETY MONTH AND OUR THIRD ANNUAL, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY TOWN HALL WITH HPD TROY, HPD, CHIEF TROY FINNER. AND OUR HOUSTON FIRE CHIEF SAN PENA IS ON JUNE 26TH. THAT'S A MONDAY EVENING. UM, WE ARE INVITING, UH, FORMER HPD CHIEF AND FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER, CO BRADFORD, UM, MAYOR WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO POP IN IF YOU'RE AVAILABLE. UM, AND, AND, AND ALSO YOUR, UM, UM, OFFICE ON ANTI-GANG VIOLENCE WILL BE PRESENT. UM, BECAUSE WE'RE, THIS YEAR, THE TONE IS AROUND YOUNG VIOLENCE, UH, YOUTH VIOLENCE, UH, AND WHAT DURING THE SUMMERTIME AS WE EXPERIENCE, UM, THEY'RE OUT OF SCHOOL, THINGS CAN HAPPEN. AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE COVERED. I WANNA ENCOURAGE MY AT LARGE MEMBERS, IF Y'ALL ARE AVAILABLE TO, WOULD LOVE TO, UM, HAVE YOU IN ATTENDANCE, UM, TO MAKE SURE. ARE THEY REFRESHMENTS? HMM? REFRESHMENTS? YES. YEAH. REFRESHMENTS ARE PROVIDED. YES. YES. BUT WE'RE GONNA BE AT THE WEST HOUSTON INSTITUTE, UH, UM, AT HCC RIGHT THERE ON WEST CHASE. SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT. WE ALSO HAVE A, A, A SEVERAL, UM, UH, EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING ON JUNE 30TH. WE'RE GONNA CANVAS A NEIGHBORHOOD WITH HOUSTON FIRE FOR SMOKE DETECTOR FOR FIRE PREVENTION. UM, THE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT, UM, THE LOWER YOUR SOCIAL ECONOMIC STATUS, THE MORE, UH, UM, MORE, UH, SUSCEPTIBLE TO HOUSE FIRES YOU ARE. UM, SO WE WANNA PREVENT THAT. AND THEN WE'RE WORKING ON A, A PARTNERSHIP, UM, TO, UH, TRAIN BABIES TO SWIM, UM, AT THE A LEAF POOL. SO WE'RE WORKING WITH HOUSTON PARKS TO GET ACCESS TO THE POOL, UM, BECAUSE WE KNOW, UM, UH, MINORITY COMMUNITIES OFTEN DO NOT HAVE THE SKILLS TO SWIM. AND WE WANNA DO THAT. UM, WE WANT A REMINDER ON TUESDAY IS OUR HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS MEETING, JUNE 20TH AT 10:00 AM WE'LL, LOVE TO SEE YOU THERE. UM, AND THEN I ALSO WANNA SHOUT OUT MY TWO INTERNS THAT WERE IN CHAMBERS. I THINK THEY WENT BACK, UH, TO THE OFFICE. BUT TOMMY JUAN, HE'S BEEN WITH ME FOR THREE SEASONS. UH, SEASON 2, 20, 21, 22, AND 23. AND THEN ALSO ISABELLA GARCIA. SHE'S BEEN WITH ME FOR 22 AND 23. THEY BOTH HAVE DEEP TIES TO THE COMMUNITY, SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THEM RETURNING TO THE OFFICE. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL OF THE FATHERS, UM, ESPECIALLY MINE, WILBERT THOMAS III. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND HAPPY JUNETEENTH TO EVERYONE, AND DEFINITELY HAPPY FATHER'S DAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OH, IS THAT IT? THAT WAS BRIEF. COUNCILMAN P THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, THURSDAY, JUNE 22ND, FROM TWO TO 3:00 PM THERE'S [04:55:01] GOING TO BE A VIRTUAL COMMUNITY MEETING TO SEEK INPUT ON FUNDING APPLICATIONS TO HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT FOR FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS. AND DISTRICT A HAS A HUGE PROJECT ON THAT LIST. A $25 MILLION PROJECT IN THE SPRING SHADOWS AREA, UM, FOR BUTTERMILK CREEK WEATHER, WOOD DRIVE, MARBERRY LANE, EAGLE ROCK DRIVE, AND VOGUE LANE. SO I JUST WANNA ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO ATTEND THAT MEETING. UM, YOU CAN GO TO ENGAGE HOUSTON.ORG/HARRIS COUNTY TO ATTEND THAT MEETING. UM, NEXT I WANNA WELCOME MADDIE FLORES. WHERE'S MADDIE STAND UP? SHE IS OUR INTERN IN OUR OFFICE THIS YEAR. SHE ALSO INTERNED WITH US LAST SUMMER AS WELL. UM, WE'RE SO GLAD THAT SHE'S BACK. SHE DID SUCH A GREAT JOB LAST SUMMER. WE JUST HAD TO HAVE HER BACK. UM, SHE JUST GRADUATED FROM SPRINGWOODS HIGH SCHOOL IN DISTRICT A, UM, AND AT 17 YEARS OLD TOO, AND WITH COLLEGE CREDITS ALREADY. AND SHE WILL BE ATTENDING TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY AND WILL GET HER BSN IN NURSING. SO, THANKS, MADDIE. WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE YOU. WELCOME ABOARD AND MAYOR. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY. THANK YOU. AND I ALSO WANT TO WISH, UM, A HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO MY DAD AS WELL. HE'S WATCHING. HI, . COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. THANK YOU. UH, REMINDER, WE HAVE OUR DISTRICT C FAMILIES WITH PRIDE EVENT NEXT SATURDAY, JUNE 24TH FROM 9:00 AM TO NOON AT LEVY PARK. AND WE ALSO HAVE THE PROUD PUPPY PARADE FOR ANYONE THAT HAS, UH, THEIR FUR BABIES, UH, INVITING ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS, ALL STAFF, YOUR FAMILIES. IT'S A WONDERFUL FREE EVENT IN THE DISTRICT CELEBRATING PRIDE, UH, AND A BIG THANKS TO HPD FOR THE SUPPORT THEY'RE PROVIDING, UH, TO MAKE SURE IT'S SAFE. I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE MAYOR IN ADDITION TO CHIEF PENA. UM, CHRIS MITCHELL, WHO OVERSEES OUR CYBERSECURITY ALSO WON, UM, THE CYBERSECURITY DEFENDER AWARD. WE DON'T GET TO TALK PUBLICLY A LOT ABOUT CYBERSECURITY BECAUSE IT'S A SECURITY MEASURE, BUT THIS, I THOUGHT WAS A REALLY SPECIAL THING. UH, HE'S DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB, UH, AS HAS DIRECTOR KENT. UH, SO BIG CONGRATS TO BOTH OF THEM. UH, I WANNA REMIND EVERYONE WE HAVE A PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE MEETING TOMORROW. UH, FIRST THERE'LL BE A PRESENTATION FROM HPD ON BEST PRACTICES AND SAFETY AROUND ONLINE AND APP DATING. UH, SO I'M ASKING MEDIA PARTNERS TO PUSH OUT THOSE BEST PRACTICES. WE'RE JUST FOCUSING ON THOSE BEST PRACTICES. MORE PEOPLE ARE ENGAGING IN THAT ONLINE, AND WE WANT EVERYONE TO BE SAFE. WE'LL HAVE OUR ANNUAL HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS UPDATE, BUT THERE'S SOME NEW INFO, INCLUDING FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ON ALL OF THE INVESTMENTS MAYOR, UH, THAT WE AS A CITY HAVE BEEN MAKING FROM HURRICANE HARVEY ONWARDS TO PREPARE, UM, IF THAT NEED ARISES. SO, AND THEN THERE'S A, A LARGE CONTRACT THAT HPD IS PRESENTING THAT WE'LL BE VOTING ON. UH, ALSO WANNA REMIND RESIDENTS WITH THE HEATWAVE TO PLEASE BE SAFE, UH, KEEP KIDS AND ANIMALS OUT OF CARS. UH, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT. AND IN ADDITION TO FATHER'S DAY, UH, AND FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANNA WISH MY DADDY, MARK CAYMAN, A VERY, VERY HAPPY FATHER'S DAY. WE LOVE YOU. AND ALSO MY HUSBAND MATT. UM, THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF OUR SON. UH, JUNETEENTH CELEBRATIONS IN DISTRICT C. OF COURSE, WERE HOME TO FOURTH WARD, FRIEDMANS TOWN. WE COULD NOT BE MORE PROUD OF THAT. AND THE DESCENDANTS OF OLIVE WOOD CEMETERY ARE HOSTING A VOLUNTEER CLEANUP ON SATURDAY, JUNE 17TH, FROM NINE TO NOON, UM, ASKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP KEEP, UH, THIS HISTORIC AND REALLY SPECIAL AND IMPORTANT CEMETERY, UM, AT THE FOREFRONT. UH, ALSO LASTLY, IF, UH, OUR DISTRICT C INTERNS COULD PLEASE STAND UP, I WANNA WELCOME AVA AND EMILY. UH, AVA IS A RISING SENIOR AT EMORY HIGH SCHOOL, MY HIGH SCHOOL THAT I GRADUATED FROM. AND, UH, EMILY IS A RISING JUNIOR AT CARNEGIE VANGUARD, ALSO IN THE DISTRICT. SO, WELCOME LADIES. WE'RE SO EXCITED TO HAVE BOTH OF YOU. WELCOME ABOARD. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN P*****K. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THIS PAST WEEKEND I KICKED OFF THE JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION, UH, ANTIOCH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH WITH THE UNVEILING OF A MURAL TITLED LEGACY BY LOCAL ARTIST MATTHEW BAPTIST. GIVES THE, UH, ENTIRE DEPICTION, UM, IN ART FROM SLAVERY TO NOW. AND, UH, IT WAS, IT'S A WONDERFUL PIECE. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GO BY ANTIOCH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH TO, UH, CHECK IT OUT. I WANT TO GIVE A, A SHOUT OUT TO MY, UM, MY, MY GOOD FRIEND HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN AND COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX. THEY ATTENDED THE UNVEILING CEREMONY AS WELL. AND SO I SAY ALL THAT TO ALSO MENTION, LET'S REALLY REFLECT OR TAKE THIS TIME OVER THE WEEKEND AND REFLECT ON THE TRUE MEETING OF JUNETEENTH. UM, WHY WE CELEBRATE IT. AND TO ALSO, UM, CONTINUE TO TEACH OUR KIDS THE YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT THE MEANING OF JUNETEENTH. WHEN I [05:00:01] GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO, UM, TO THE FAMILY OF REPRESENTATIVE AL EDWARDS, WHO MADE IT A STATE HOLIDAY. AND THEN THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF A CONGRESSWOMAN, SHEILA JACKSON LEE, CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN, AND OTHERS FOR MAKING IT A NATIONAL HOLIDAY. SO EXCITED THAT IT WILL BE A NATIONAL HO THAT IT IS A NATIONAL HOLIDAY. UM, IN DISTRICT J, THIS UPCOMING SATURDAY, WE'LL HAVE OUR PRIVATE TRASH DAY, UH, THIS SATURDAY, UH, WE'RE THE ONLY DISTRICT IN THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE, UM, PRIVATE TRASH, UM, PICK UP FROM THE CURB OF YOUR HOME. THIS IS GONNA BE FOR HEAVY TRASH AND TREE WASTE. UH, THIS IS A SERVICE FOR DISTRICT J RESIDENTS, UM, THAT THEY WOULD HAVE NEEDED TO PRE-REGISTER FOR. UH, SO FOR ALL THOSE RESIDENTS WHO DID PRE-REGISTER, WE'LL BE SENDING OUT A FOLLOW UP AND REMINDER EMAIL WITH THE DETAILS ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR PROGRAM. I WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR WILL FALK AND HIS ENTIRE TEAM, UH, FOR THEIR SUPPORT IN HELPING US, UH, CONTINUE TO PUSH THAT PROGRAM FORWARD. UH, MY OFFICE ALSO HAS TWO INTERNS, UH, FOR THE SUMMER THAT HAVE COME HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. SO THEY'RE BIG EXPECTATIONS FOR YOU TWO. I THINK THEY'RE HERE, THE TWO DISTRICT J INTERNS. WE HAVE KAYLIN GRAHAM AND YESENIA VICENTE. SO, UH, WELCOME TO, UH, THE OFFICE. I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU ALL AFTER, UH, THIS MEETING. AND, UM, WE SHOULD HAVE AN EXCITING AND FUN SUMMER PLAN FOR YOU ALL. SO, THANK YOU. LASTLY, I KNOW MY DAD IS WATCHING, HE WATCHES THE CITY COUNCIL EVERY, EVERY WEEK LIKE IT'S A TELEVISION SHOW. I THINK HE PULLS UP, HE PULLS UP, YOU KNOW, UH, HIS, HIS, HIS, HIS, HIS TRAY AND HE EATS HIS FOOD OR WHATEVER. BUT, UH, DAD, I KNOW YOU'RE WATCHING, UH, HAPPY FATHER'S DAY AND HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL THE FATHERS OF CITY HALL AND ALL THE FATHERS AROUND THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU . PSALM GOT A GLASSES, DON'T YOU? SOME MY TIME LAUGHING, MAYOR, DON'T YOU? WHAT TIME? WHAT YOUR SECOND ARE YOU GOING TOING YOUR REPORT TODAY? GONE, MAN, AND STOP. ANYWAY, I, I WANT TO SAY I'M PROBABLY GONNA GONNA HAVE TO AROUND, GO BACK AROUND AGAIN AND, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON IN DISTRICT D, BUT I'M GONNA GET STARTED AND THEN I'LL WAIT ON THE BAIL . ANYWAY, UH, I WANNA THANK YOU AGAIN, MAYOR, UH, FOR WHAT YOU DID FOR THE, THE TENANTS AT THE VILLAS AT SAND ROCK. THEY HAD BEEN WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING FOR A MONTH. I WENT OVER THERE WHEN I WAS CALLED BY CHANNEL 13. I REACHED OUT TO YOU. YOU WERE ACTUALLY OUT OF TOWN, MAYOR, BUT YOU'VE GOT THE CAVALRY GOING. AND I, I AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THE AIR WAS RESTORED WITHIN FIVE DAYS. AND SO I'M GONNA GO TO MEET WITH MS. SANDRA COLLINS, WHO WAS A LADY IN THE NEWSCAST. I TOLD HER I WAS GONNA COME BACK AND EAT SOME POPSICLES WITH HER 'CAUSE THAT'S HOW SHE WAS STAYING COOL DURING THIS, UH, HORRIBLE EVENT. SO THANK YOU TO PUBLIC WORKS, UH, PUBLIC HOUSING, UH, CHANNEL 13 AND TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR GOING OUT EXPEDITIOUSLY TO RESTORE THAT. THAT'S JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE AT ALL. SO I WANT TO ALSO EX EXPRESS MY, UH, SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR THOSE WHO JOINED US AT THE HOUSTON AND FORMER FOUNDATION'S FAMILY UNVEILING TO COMMEMORATE JUNETEENTH, THE EXHIBIT STEPPING BACK IN TIME, FAMILY REPRESENTATION, MENTIONED A LOT OF, UH, LEGACY PEOPLE FROM THE CITY AND THEIR, UH, ANCESTORS THAT ARE STILL, UM, HERE, THAT ARE STILL WORKING WELL AND HELPING US IN OUR COMMUNITY. CERTAINLY, UH, VISIT THAT, UH, BEFORE JUNE 17TH AT THE EMANCIPATION PARK, I ALSO GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT THE HOUSTON TOOL BANK, AND I SAW THAT TWO OF MY COLLEAGUES ALREADY ARE PREPARED FOR ANY DISASTERS. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. SO I WILL CERTAINLY FOLLOW WITH YOU BECAUSE WE WANNA BE READY TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY AND BE RESILIENT AS WELL. ALSO, I WANNA THANK THOSE THAT ATTENDED. THE WOMEN'S SUPPORTING WOMEN EVENT HOSTED BY THE BLUE RIDGE HEALTH AND WELLNESS COMMITTEE WAS WELL ATTENDED, AND THERE WAS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION GIVEN TO THE PARTICIPANTS. ADDITIONALLY, ON YESTERDAY, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO SEE A DOCUMENTARY THAT WAS, UH, CREATED BY KHOU AND, UM, NARRATED BY MIA GRADNEY AND LYNN CANNON. AND IT WAS PHENOMENAL. I ACTUALLY SHARED THE LINKS ON MY, UM, FACEBOOK, UH, FOR THOSE THAT WERE NOT ABLE TO SEE IT. IT IS JUST FANTASTIC, AND WE CAN REALLY SEE THE TRUE MEANING OF JUNETEENTH, UH, ON THOSE LINKS. SO IF YOU GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO AND LOOK AT THOSE, THAT WILL BE GREAT. AND WE ARE LOOKING AHEAD. WE HAVE THE COLUMBIA TAB WALK AND TALK EVENT ON JUNE 16TH, WHERE WE WILL ENGAGE WITH OUR COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, UH, COLUMBIA TAP HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF PUBLICITY REGARDING WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED, UH, NEGATIVELY, BUT WE HAVE SOME POSITIVE THINGS GOING ON THERE. UH, THANK YOU TO HPD AND MAYOR FOR, UH, [05:05:01] ABSCOUNDING. UH, AT LEAST THREE OF THE PERSONS THAT WERE RESPONSIBLE. WE WANT PEOPLE TO COME OUT AND ENJOY THE COLUMBIA TAP, AND I'M GONNA, UH, COMMEMORATE MY ASSURANCE THAT IT'S SAFE BY RIDING THERE ONE DAY WHEN IT'S NOT SO HOT. MAYBE MAYOR, BUT I'LL DO THAT ON MY ELECTRIC BIKE. I'M JUST GOING TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH. ANYWAY, ON, UH, JUNETEENTH, WE HAVE A FREEDOM WALK FROM 7:00 AM TO 11:00 AM AT THE EMANCIPATION PARK. PLEASE JOIN US FOR THAT. AND THEN, UH, HOUSTON SUN DARRIS ELLIS WILL HAVE OUR CITYWIDE PEOPLE'S JUNETEENTH PARADE KICKOFF, WHICH WILL STAGE AT INNOCENT WHEELER, GO DOWN WHEELER EMANCIPATION, AND ONTO THE PARK. SO COME OUT AND ENJOY THAT AS WELL. ALSO, THERE WILL BE A WONDERFUL JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION IN EMANCIPATION PARK. GATES OPEN AT TWO. THERE WILL BE A CONCERT AT 3:00 PM AND WE ARE GONNA COME IN THERE AND SHAKE IT ON DOWN RIGHT THERE IN THE TRAY AT EMANCIPATION PARK, COME OUT AND JOIN US. IT'S GONNA BE A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL EVENT. IT WAS WONDERFUL LAST YEAR, AND I ANTICIPATE IT WILL SPRINGBOARD TO, TO BE AN EVEN BETTER ONE THIS YEAR. THEN ON MONDAY, WE HAVE THE SUNNYSIDE HEALTH AND MULTI-SERVICE CENTER WITH OUR MAYOR, SANDRA MASSEY HINES AND MY OFFICE. WE ARE SPONSORING THIS WONDERFUL JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION. THERE WILL ALSO BE A CONCERT THERE. AND SO I WANT TO THANK, UH, UH, TRUSTEE PRIYA VANDERBILT STALWART FROM HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO BRING IT TO MY ATTENTION SO THAT WE COULD BRING THAT CONCERT TO FRUITION. SO THAT'S GONNA BE A WONDERFUL EVENT. I ALSO, UH, WANNA SAY THAT WE CONTRIBUTED IN DISTRICT D $50,000 TO THE BEAT THE HEAT PROGRAM BECAUSE WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE COOL IN DISTRICT D. WE ARE COOL, BUT WE WANNA BE REALLY COOL. UH, WE ALSO, UM, WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THE SWIMMING POOLS ARE OPEN IN DISTRICT D. THERE ARE, UH, SEVERAL MCGREGOR PARK, SUNNYSIDE PARK, CLOVER LAND, EMANCIPATION SAGEMONT, AND THE GEORGE NELSON. WE WERE VERY DILIGENT ABOUT, UH, MAKING, UM, LIFEGUARDS AVAILABLE FOR THE POOLS. WE INVESTED WITH THE JOHNNY MEANS AQUATIC CENTER TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR POOLS COULD BE MANNED, BECAUSE THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ESPECIALLY. I REMEMBER BACK IN THE DAY, WAY, WAY, WAY, WAY BACK. THANK YOU. PUT YOU BACK IN THE QUEUE. I'LL HAVE ABOUT 10 MILLISECOND, BUT I DON'T MIND WAITING. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I'M A FAIR PERSON. I CAN WAIT. OKAY, WE'LL COME BACK. COUNCILMAN RIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANNA TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT THE SPECIAL CALL QUALITY OF LIFE MEETING. THAT WAS YESTERDAY AND THE, THE PRESENTATION BY HEALTH DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR STEVEN WILLIAMS, UM, WITH AN UPDATE ON THE CONTAMINATION, UM, AT THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD SITE. HE TALKED EXTENSIVELY ABOUT, UM, DIOXIN AND YOU KNOW, THAT IT'S A HIGHLY TOXIC PERSISTENT SUBSTANCE THAT'S IN THE, IN THE, UM, THE ENVIRONMENT THERE NOW. AND THAT, UM, THAT ALMOST A YEAR AGO IN JULY, 2022, THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT CONDUCTED, UM, SURFACE SOIL SAMPLINGS AND FOUND DIOXINS WERE PRESENT IN ALL OF THE SOIL SAMPLES TAKEN AROUND THE COMMUNITY AS PART OF THE SAMPLING EVENT. IN ALL OF THE SAMPLING, THEY FOUND THAT, AND, AND WE KNOW HOW DANGEROUS DIOXIN IS. IT'S VERY WELL DOCUMENTED, UM, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, UM, UP IS INCLINED TO WANT TO DO MORE TESTING. THEY SAY MORE TESTING IS NEEDED BEFORE ACTION CAN BE TAKEN. UM, THERE IS ALREADY ENOUGH DATA AND INFO TO ACT ON. UM, DESPITE ALL THE, THE KUMBAYA TALK OF, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER. I, I THINK IT'S UNCONSCIONABLE TO BE, UM, MOVING SLOW AND TAKING ACTION AND THAT, YOU KNOW, TO AND ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS WHO HAVE SUFFERED AND CONTINUED TO SUFFER. UM, THAT SOUNDS LIKE STALLING TO ME. AND, UM, AT THE NEXT MEETING OF THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD, I WANT YOU TO FEEL SOME PRESSURE TO, UM, TO ADDRESS THE, THE, THE REAL ISSUES. AND, AND I HOPE AND I PRAY, SOME CONCRETE ACTION, YOU KNOW, ON THE PART OF UP WILL HAPPEN, THAT, THAT THEY WILL, UH, REALLY BEGIN TO ADDRESS THE DEMANDS ENUMERATED IN THE LAWSUIT. UM, THE NEXT THING I WANNA TALK ABOUT IS, IS A MUCH HAPPIER EVENT, UM, UH, TODAY, UH, THE CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH COMMITTEE MEETING, UM, AT TWO O'CLOCK, UM, WILL BE ABOUT TECH CONNECT. AND, UH, WHAT IS TECH CONNECT? IT'S, IT'S A PROGRAM THAT I ORIGINALLY STARTED IN 2016 TO, UM, HELP BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE TO BRING, UM, TECH, UM, EQUITY AND, UH, STEM PROGRAMMING TO, UH, UNDERSERVED CHILDREN IN, IN MY DISTRICT. UM, BUT IT HAS GROWN. IT HAS GROWN WITH THE SUPPORT OF SO MANY AND, UM, THE, UH, IT, AND IT'S, IT'S HELPING, IT'S REALLY WORKING TO, YOU KNOW, TO TO, [05:10:01] UM, TO, TO SERVE THESE YOUTH AND PREPARE THEM FOR AN INCREASINGLY, UM, TECHNOLOGICAL WORLD. THE PROGRAM TARGETS REALLY TWO, TWO GROUPS. ONE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE CHILDREN THAT ARE SIX TO 13 THAT ARE PARTICIPATE IN THE, UM, HOUSTON PARKS DEPARTMENT IN RICHMOND PROGRAMS DURING THE SUMMER. AND IT ALSO TARGETS OUR INTERNS WITH, YOU KNOW, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES. UH, UM, AND THERE'S A LITERACY COMPONENT, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE, WE'RE VERY CONNECTED WITH THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY IN THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM, AND WE HAVE TECH CONNECT FAIRS THAT, THAT, THAT TAP INTO, UM, THE RESOURCES OF A, OF, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF, UM, PROVIDERS FROM THE OUTSIDE WHO COME IN AND, AND, UM, OPERATE STATIONS THAT CHILDREN PASS THROUGH AT THE FAIRS. SO TODAY, I HOPE YOU WILL JOIN IN US AT TWO O'CLOCK TO TO HEAR FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FROM, UM, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF EDUCATION, WHO'S OUR, THE SPONSORING DEPARTMENT FROM, UM, THE, FROM ED TECH CONNECT INTERNAL WILL SPEAK, AND THEN ALSO TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM, UH, AND ITS GROWTH AND HOW IT'S, THIS SUMMER IT'S MOVING INTO THREE NEW DISTRICTS. SO IT WILL BE NOW THIS SUMMER, UM, IN SUNNYSIDE, IT WILL BE IN ACRES HOMES AT LINDE PARK, AND IT'LL BE IN MANCHESTER AT HARTMAN PARK. UM, AT THREE O'CLOCK WE WILL HAVE A, A SPECIAL RECEPTION IN THE LEGACY ROOM THERE. I KNOW THE ROOM LOOKS REALLY NICE. IT'S REALLY NOT FOR FATHER'S DAY, BUT, BUT, UM, . BUT IF YOU COME, YOU WILL GET TO MEET THE 30 INTERNS THAT WILL BE WORKING AT THE 15 SITES THIS SUMMER. THEY WILL ALL BE THERE AND YOU WILL GET A CHANCE TO TEST, DRIVE SOME OF THE COOL, UM, GADGETS AND, AND TECH DEVICES THAT THEY'LL BE, UM, USING WITH THE CHILDREN. SO THAT'S VERY EXCITING. AND, UM, I WANNA JUST GIVE A REALLY BIG THANK YOU, ESPECIALLY TO YOU MAYOR, FOR, UM, YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS PROGRAM AND, AND, AND, AND MAKING IT NOW A, A CITY PROGRAM THAT WILL CONTINUE ON INTO THE FUTURE WITH THE, WITH THE SUPPORT OF SO MANY DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE STEPPED UP AND, BUT OH, THANK, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS PROGRAM. AND, AND MAYOR, FINALLY, I WANTED TO JUST, I WANTED TO SAY HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO YOU. I KNOW YOU HAVE A DAUGHTER WHO ADORES YOU, BUT THERE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE ALL OVER THE CITY WHO LOOK TO YOU AS A ROLE MODEL, AND THEY'RE YOUR CHILDREN TOO. SO I HOPE IT, UM, FATHER'S DAY WORKS OUT FOR YOU, YOU KNOW, AND, AND EVERY AND EVERY WAY THAT YOU WANTED TO AND MEETS YOUR EXPECTATIONS THAT SOMEBODY FEEDS YOU AND YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY. . LOOK, I'M, I'M, I'M PUSHING FATHER'S DAY FOR ALL THE FATHERS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. YOU KNOW, I'M JUST TRYING TO ELEVATE THE CONVERSATION, YOU KNOW, AND THE AWARENESS, YOU KNOW, UH, NOW RETURN TO FATHER MAYOR PROTE, MARTIN , BLESS YOU, FATHER. BLESS YOU. UH, MY FIRST COMMENT IS, IS GONNA BE A PLEA. THERE'S AN APARTMENT COMPLEX ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF MY DISTRICT CALLED THE SELENA. THE SELENA. IT'S AT TWO 50 UVALDE ROAD. IT'S IN DISTRICT E, BUT IT'S IN PART OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN THE DISTRICT THAT RECEIVES LIMITED SERVICES FROM THE CITY. NO FIRE, NO POLICE, NO BUILDING CODE ENFORCEMENT, NO HEALTH INSPECTORS. FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS THEY'VE BEEN WITHOUT ELECTRICITY. AND IF YOU WATCH THE NEWS THIS MORNING AND THE WEATHER REPORTS, IT HAS POTENTIAL TO BE 105 DEGREES GETTING TO THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, AND SUNDAY. THE NAME OF THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY THAT OPERATES, THIS IS ASSET LIVING. AND WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ASSET LIVING ALL MORNING TO NO AVAIL. WE CALLED CENTER POINT ENERGY. CENTER POINT ENERGY SAYS THAT IT'S A PROBLEM ON THE APARTMENT COMPLEX SIDE. SO YOU CAN YOU IMAGINE GOING INTO THIS HOT WEATHER WITH NO AIR CONDITIONING. ONCE AGAIN, IT'S CALLED THE SELENA TWO FIVE OH UVALDE. THE NAME OF THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY IS ASSET LIVING. SO, MR. RYAN MCGRATH, THE CEO, PLEASE ANSWER OUR CALLS. PLEASE GET AN ELECTRICIAN OUT THERE. IF YOU DON'T GET ANYBODY OUT THERE BY THREE O'CLOCK TODAY, I WILL PERSONALLY PAY FOR AN ELECTRICIAN TO GO OUT THERE AND ASSESS WHAT CAN BE DONE. ONCE AGAIN, PLEASE GIVE US YOUR HELP. THANK YOU. ON THE NORTH SIDE, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS RECENTLY COMPLETED A TRAFFIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENT ON KINGWOOD DRIVE MEDIAN TO THE EAST OF WESTLAKE, HOUSTON PARKWAY, AND WEST OF KINGS CROSSING THE KINGWOOD DRIVE. MEDIAN OPENING HAS BEEN THE SITE OF NUMEROUS SERIOUS VEHICLE ACCIDENTS AND THE PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS ARE EXPECTING TO GREATLY IMPROVE SAFETY IN THE AREA. THANK YOU FOR PUBLIC WORKS FOR GETTING THIS PROJECT QUICKLY AND DOING IT SAFELY ON THE SOUTH SIDE. AS MENTIONED YESTERDAY, I WAS, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER KUBA SAID, I'VE NEVER SEEN YOU TURN THAT RED, BUT I DIDN'T EXPECT THOSE TWO YOUNG LADIES TO DO WHAT THEY DID YESTERDAY. UH, WE HELPED ORGANIZE A TRIP TO NASA JOHNSON SPACE CENTER FOR THEIR FIFTH GRADE CELEBRATION AT SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY CHARTER SCHOOL, THE CYPRUS TRAILS CAMPUS, AND CELEBRATION OF [05:15:01] THEIR FIFTH GRADE, FIFTH GRADE GRADUATION. THE GROUP OF KIDS HAVE BEEN TOGETHER SINCE KINDERGARTEN AND ARE NOW EMBARKING ON NEW ADVENTURES AS THEY GO TO NEW SCHOOLS IN A NEW SEMESTER. I WANNA MAKE SURE TO THANK COMMISSIONER TOM RAMSEY AND HIS OFFICE FOR PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION FROM THE SCHOOL TO NASA AND ALSO RAISIN, CANES CLEAR LAKE FOR PROVIDING FOOD FOR THE DAY. I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK BARRETT SHAVER, RAY LAVELL, CHRISTOPHER GIL GIDI, AND CATHERINE CLAYTON FROM SPACE CENTER HOUSTON AND NASA SPACE CENTER, JOHNSON SPACE CENTER, WHO HELPED COORDINATE AND ORGANIZE THE TOUR. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING HOW THESE STUDENTS CONTINUE TO GROW THEIR EDUCATION AND ASPIRATIONS, AND HOPING THAT ONE DAY THIS TRIP WILL SPARK ASPIRATIONS FOR DIFFERENT STUDIES IN STEM FIELDS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY, REALLY, REALLY ARE EXCITED ABOUT AT JOHNSON SPACE CENTER. SO AGAIN, THE SELENA TWO 50 UVALDE ASSET LIVING. MR. MCGRATH, PLEASE CALL ME. (832) 393-3008. WE NEED SOME HELP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, THANKS MAYOR TIM, CAST TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I DO WANT TO, UM, ASK OUR DISTRICT K IN THE CASE FOR COOL, UM, INTERN TO STAND. AND I, HIS NAME IS JUSTICE PRINCE PRINCE AND HE IS A RECENT GRADUATE OF ST. PIUS AND HE PLANS TO ATTEND TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY AND MAJOR IN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING. JUSTICE ENJOYS FISHING WITH HIS DAD AND JOGGING IN HERMAN PARK. SO WE WELCOME JUSTICE PRINCE TO THE CITY AND TO DISTRICT A. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU THIS SUMMER. THANK YOU. LIVES IN DISTRICT D COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU. UH, JUSTICE ALSO LIVES IN DISTRICT D, SO HE'LL BE ABLE TO REALLY BE BENEFICIAL TO YOU, I'M SURE. UH, I WANNA ADD, UM, THE UNIT AT VILLAS. AT SANDROCK, THERE WAS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON WHO WALKED UP TO ME WHEN WE WERE REPORTING, SAID THAT SHE HAD NOT HAD A WORKING UNIT FOR 23 YEARS. SHE WAS USING WINDOW UNITS. I IMMEDIATELY GOT INVOLVED IN THAT AND THEY DID REPORT THAT THEY FINALLY WENT AND FIXED HER UNIT. WOW. THIS STUFF IS JUST UNBELIEVABLE WHAT PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO, TO LIVE WITH. ALSO, I WANNA SAY THAT WE, UH, DID USE C-D-F-S-C-D-S-F FUNDS TO SUPPORT OUR FIREFIGHTERS IN THEIR PSYCHOLOGICAL, UH, AREAS. UH, WE, WE GAVE $35,000 TO SUPPORT AN EMPLOYEE, A PART-TIME EMPLOYEE, UH, TO BE ABLE TO GO AND ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES. 'CAUSE WHEN YOU GO OUT TO THESE EVENTS, YOU HAVE SOME TRAUMATIC THINGS THAT YOU SEE. AND SO WE SUPPORTED THAT AND WE ENCOURAGE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS TO DO THE SAME. ALSO, I WANT TO ASK, UM, MY TWO, UH, DISTRICT D INTERNS TO STAND IF THEY ARE BOTH HERE. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE BOTH HERE. OKAY, WELL, THANK YOU. UH, WE HAVE ASIA HERE THIS MORNING, ASIA, UM, ELIJAH, EXCUSE ME. I'M, I'M, DID I PRONOUNCE IT CORRECTLY THE FIRST TIME? TELL ME YOUR NAME. WAIT A MINUTE, PLEASE SEND ME THE WRONG NAME. BUT YOU ARE SO WELCOME TO DISTRICT D AND I'M GONNA MEET YOU AND KNOW YOUR NAME, UH, AND KNOW THAT, AND WE HAVE AARON RUCKER AS WELL. I WANNA SAY HAPPY FATHER'S DAY. MY FATHER IS NO LONGER HERE. UH, I WAS VERY PROUD. I AM VERY PROUD TO BE HIS DAUGHTER. I HOPE THAT I'M MAKING HIM PROUD AS WELL. AND I WANNA SAY HAPPY JUNETEENTH TO EVERYONE. UH, GO OUT AND CELEBRATE. HAVE A GOOD TIME AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK, UH, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR US AS COUNCIL MEMBERS AND FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WELL, THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH. LET ME THANK ALL OF YOU ALL. ENJOY THE REST OF THE WEEK. UH, PLEASE BE SAFE. UH, AND, UH, AND JUNETEENTH ON MONDAY, WHICH IS A HOLIDAY, AND OF COURSE, UH, PEOPLE WILL BE CELEBRATING ON JUNE 17TH, 18TH, ALL OF THAT. OKAY? UH, WE STAND ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF ALL OF THE FATHERS WHO ARE NO LONGER HERE. AMEN. AMEN. OKAY, WE STAND. THANK YOU ALL. * 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.