* 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. [00:00:01] ALL RIGHT, [PRESENTATIONS] IF EVERYONE WILL TAKE THEIR SEATS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT IS ONE 30 ON TUESDAY, JULY THE 11TH, 2023. I'M MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER, AND I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO WATER. OKAY. WE'RE GONNA START OFF, UH, FIRST WITH COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, UH, FOR A PRESENTATION TO THE, IS THAT N ISHI YOUTH CULTURAL FOUNDATION? YES. UH, AND THE N ISHI CULTURAL ASSOCIATION TO RECOGNIZE THEIR 20TH ANNIVERSARY. HOW ARE YOU? WONDERFUL. THANK YOU COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER. I'M SO EXCITED TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION, AND AS YOU KNOW, IN DISTRICT FI REPRESENT ONE OF THE LARGEST WEST AFRICAN POPULATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. SO TODAY IS SIGNIFICANT. WHEREAS HOUSTON'S NIGERIAN POPULATION CONTINUES TO GROW BETWEEN 20 20 10 AND 2021, THE AREAS NIGERIAN POPULATION GREW FROM 21,000 TO NEARLY 64,000. WITH INCREASED POPULATION COMES INCREASED INFLUENCE ON THE CULTURAL FABRIC OF THIS CITY. AND WHEREAS IBO FEST HOUSTON CELEBRATES 20 YEARS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AS A PART OF CHE YOUTH, CULTURAL FOUNDATION'S AIM TO RECLAIM CULTURAL CAPITAL WHERE IT HAS BEEN DAMAGED OR LOST TO ADVANCE POSITIVE IMAGE OF THE AFRICAN COMMUNITY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND WHEREAS EBO FEST HOUSTON HAS STRIVED TO SUSTAIN AND REENACT SIGNIFICANT EPISODES IN THE EBO CULTURAL HISTORY THROUGHOUT ART SPOKEN WORD FASHION, AND FESTIVE DANCES TO BRING CULTURAL RELEVANCE ON A GLOBAL SCALE AND FOSTER CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING. AND WHEREAS ON JULY, 2020 SECOND, 2023, THE EBO FEST HOUSTON, LED BY INDY CHAY YOUTH CULTURAL FOUNDATION, WILL HOST THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF EBO FEST HOUSTON IN DOWNTOWN AT OUR WONDERFUL DISCOVERY GREEN TO SHOWCASE TRADITIONAL PRESENTATIONS AND VARIOUS MASQUERADE FROM EBO LAND. THIS WILL MARK A JOYOUS OCCASION FOR WEST AFRICAN CULTURE AND THE AFRICAN COMMUNITY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS THE EBO FEST, HOUSTON FORDS COMMITMENT TO CREATE AWARENESS AND TEACH WEST AFRICAN CULTURAL CONTENT, WE EXTEND OUR BEST WISHES FOR A SUCCESSFUL 20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION. MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JULY 22ND, 2023 AS IGBO FEST, HOUSTON DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR TURNER AS TEAM MEMBERS OF THE SEA COUNCIL, INDEED, CHAIR AND INDEED CHAIR PRESIDENT HERE, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY NAME IS CHARLES CHARLES ORNO, WITH THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF INDI CHAIR CULTURAL ASSOCIATION AND N INDEED CHAIR YOUTH CULTURAL FOUNDATION, STANDING WITH ME TODAY AND IS THE PS UH, VICE PRESIDENT, THE FORMER PRESIDENT, AND AN CHAIR MEMBER HERE. UH, IT IS WITH GREAT GRATITUDE AND GREAT HONOR. WE RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION FROM OUR GREAT MAYOR ON BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATION. THIS DAY, JULY 11TH, 2023. IN 1985, ON A SUPER BOWL WEEKEND, A GROUP OF NIGERIAN PROFESSIONALS LIVING IN HOUSTON AND HIS SURROUNDINGS DECIDED AMONG THEMSELVES TO FORM AN ASSOCIATION TO PRESERVE, RETAIN, AND TRANSFERRED THE AFRICAN CULTURE CULTURAL HERITAGE, WHICH THEY BROUGHT WITH THEM TO THIS GREAT LAND, TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF NIGERIAN AMERICANS CULTURAL ASSOCIATION. THROUGH IT, YOUTH CULTURAL FOUNDATION ORGANIZES AN ANNUAL CULTURAL EVENT CALLED IBO. FIRST THE FEST. HOUSTON HAS REIGNED FOR 20 YEARS IN THE STATE OF HOUSTON, BRINGING PERFORMANCE FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, AFRICA AND BEYOND. IN THIS, THIS MONTH, JULY 22ND, AT THE DISCOVERY GREENS DOWNTOWN HOUSTON DEBO. FIRST, WE CELEBRATE EACH 20TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY, BRINGING IN GREAT CULTURAL PERFORMANCE DANCERS, MASQUE, AND ARTISTS FROM FAR AND NEAR. I INVITE YOU TO BE PART OF THIS YEAR'S GREAT FESTIVAL. AGAIN, THE DATE OF THIS YEAR [00:05:01] FESTIVAL IS JULY 22ND, 2023 AT THE DISCOVERY GREENS DOWNTOWN. I THANK YOU AGAIN, MAYOR TURNER. THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION AND PRESENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A FEW COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE TO ADDRESS YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER VICE MAYOR PRO TEM MARTHA CASTEX TATUM, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I THINK IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT, UM, WE GET TO SHARE IN THE CULTURES OF SO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR CITY. HOUSTON IS KNOWN FOR BEING SUCH A DIVERSE CITY, AND 20 YEARS OF EBO FEST DEFINITELY DESERVES TO BE CELEBRATED. UH, I KNOW THAT YOU STARTED THE EBO FEST KIND OF IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THEN IT GREW, AND NOW WE ARE, UM, SHARING YOUR, UH, WEST AFRICAN CULTURE AT DISCOVERY GREEN FOR MORE PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE. SO I WANTED TO WISH YOU THE VERY BEST ON YOUR 20 YEAR ANNIVERSARY. AND LOOK, WE LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING EBO FEST FOR MANY MORE YEARS TO COME. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN. THANK YOU. AND, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. WHAT A GREAT CELEBRATION. WE'RE SO HAPPY YOU'RE DOWN HERE AT CITY HALL AND LOOK FORWARD TO A GREAT FESTIVAL. HOW MANY WEST AFRICAN OR HOW MANY NIGERIAN, UM, DO WE KNOW IN HOUSTON? YOU MIGHT HAVE SAID IT IN YOUR P WELL, NO, WE HAVE THE LARGEST WEST AFRICAN POPULATIONS. IT'S RIGHT HERE IN HOUSTON. BY, BY THE NUMBERS. DO WE KNOW HOW MANY? I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE NUMBERS. YEAH, I'D LOVE TO KNOW THAT. 64. YEAH, BUT I MEAN, IN THE US YEAH, WE'RE HERE. YEAH. 64,000 AND PLUS. ALL RIGHT. WELL, GREAT. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING AT CITY HALL. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS. THANK THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. UH, CONGRATULATIONS. UH, IN REGARDS TO THE FESTIVAL, I KNOW THAT HOUSTON FIRST JUST SENT US A RECOGNITION IN REGARDS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS BEING ONE OF THE TOP CITIES OR ONE OF THE TOP 10 CITIES, NUMBER NINE, UH, IN THE NATION. UH, AND, UH, THE, ONE OF THE CRITERIA WAS THE VARIOUS CULTURAL, UH, UH, EVENTS THAT CITIES HAVE. YEAH. UH, AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS RECOGNIZED, UH, FOR THE NUMBER OF CULTURAL FESTIVITIES THAT WE HAVE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. SO, UH, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PARTICIPATING IN THAT AS WELL IN REGARDS TO BEING THE MOST DIVERSE CITY IN THE NATION. THANK YOU. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I DO WANT, I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, NOW WANTED ME THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR BRINGING THE, UH, FORTH, UH, THIS GROUP AND, AND WITH THE PROCLAMATION. UH, BUT IN SHORT ORDER, IN FACT, ON SUNDAY, UH, SEVERAL OF US WILL BE HEADING TO NIGERIA MM-HMM . UH, TO ESTABLISH TO FURTHER THAT RELATIONSHIP, UH, OUTSIDE OF NIGERIA. UH, WE DO HAVE THE LARGEST POPULATION, UH, OUTSIDE OF, UH, OF NIGERIA. AND, AND, AND SPECIFICALLY AS RELATES TO THE UNITED STATES. MORE NIGERIANS LIVE HERE. MM-HMM . THAN ANY OTHER CITY IN THE UNITED STATES. YEAH. NOW ATLANTA HAPPENS TO HAVE THE CONSULATE OFFICE. UM, BUT IT'S OUR HOPE IN, IN DUE TIME THAT WE'LL HAVE A COUNCIL OFFICE RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. YEAH. CONGRATULATIONS ON, ON 20 YEARS. AND I WANT TO THANK THE NIGERIAN COMMUNITY FOR BEING SUCH A VIBRANT AND DYNAMIC COMMUNITY, UH, RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO THANK YOU ALL. WHAT YOU CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS FOR A PROCLAMATION TO THE HOUSTON URBAN DEBATE LEAGUE, THE RECOGNITION OF THEIR SUCCESS OF HOUSTON TEAMS AT THE NATIONAL DEBATE TOURNAMENT IN 2023. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTI. SO, UH, THIS GROUP IS NO STRANGER TO CITY HALL BECAUSE THEY'RE NO STRANGERS TO SUCCESS, AND I'M SO EXCITED. DO WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES? CAN WE COME ON AND JOIN US? I'M PROUD THAT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THEY WANT YOU. YES. COME, COME, COME, COME, COME, COME. THIS [00:10:01] IS YOUR DAY. THEY'RE BEING SO HUMBLE. THIS IS YOUR DAY. SO, UM, I'M REALLY HONORED TO PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION AND ALSO THAT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS SO, UM, FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THAT WE HIGHLIGHT THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE DOING MEANINGFUL THINGS THAT'S SHARPENING NOT ONLY THEIR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, BUT THEIR PROFESSIONAL SKILLS. SO, WHEREAS THE HOUSTON URBAN DEBATE LEAGUE, ALSO KNOWN AS HUDDLE, IS A NONPROFIT 5 0 1 C3, WHOSE MISSION IS TO PROVIDE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO ACADEMIC DEBATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS WITHIN THE HOUSTON AREA, REGARDLESS OF CIRCUMSTANCE OR SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUND. HUDDLE WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THROUGH THEIR CENTER FOR AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM, KNOWN AS CASE DEBATE. WHEREAS THE HOUSTON URBAN DEBATE LEAGUE SPONSORED 14 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THEIR COACHES AS THEY REPRESENTED HOUSTON AT THE 2023 NATIONAL SPEECH AND DEBATE ASSOCIATION NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN PHOENIX EARLIER THIS MONTH. AND WHEREAS THE NSDA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BRINGS TOGETHER THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO COMPETE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN MULTIPLE SPEECH AND DEBATE EVENTS, THE HOUSTON URBAN DEBATE LEAGUE GAINED RECOGNITION AT THE TOURNAMENT TWO YEARS AGO WHEN THEY WON THEIR FIRST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE RELATIVELY NEW WORLD SCHOOLS DEBATE FORMAT. AND WHEREAS THE LEGACY LIVES ON, AS ALL THREE OF THE QUALIFYING WORLD SCHOOL DEBATE TEAMS ADVANCE TO THE ELIMINATION ROUNDS FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH THE ALE EARLY COLLEGE TEAM PLACING IN THE TOP 16 IN THE NATION. IN FACT, TEAMS FROM HOUSTON MADE UP ONE EIGHTH OF THE ENTIRE TRIPLE OCTO FINALS. TWO HUDDLE STUDENTS WERE RANKED AS THE THIRD AND FIFTH OVERALL BEST SPEAKERS IN THE COUNTRY, AND OUT OF 350 STUDENTS COMPETING IN THEIR EVENT. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON CONGRATULATES THE DEBATE TEAMS AND COACHES AT THE A EAF EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL, WESTCHESTER ACADEMY FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, THE MIGHTY, MIGHTY A EAF ELSIK HIGH SCHOOL AND SPRINGWOOD HIGH SCHOOL FOR THEIR STELLAR TEAMWORK AND REMARKABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AT THE 2023 NATIONAL SPEECH AND DEBATE ASSOCIATION NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT IN PHOENIX. MR. MAYOR, AND THANK YOU. AND BEFORE I READ THE LAST LINE, LET ME, UH, LET ME JUST CONGRATULATE, UM, UH, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, THOSE WHO ARE NOT HERE AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT HERE, UH, FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE NATIONAL URBAN DEBATE LEAGUE, I'M QUITE FAMILIAR WITH IT. I HAVE JUDGED IN IT MYSELF. AND THEN AS A FORMER DEBATER, UH, FROM HIGH SCHOOL GOING INTO COLLEGE, UM, HAVE TO ADMIT IT'S, YOU KNOW, PRETTY GOOD , YOU KNOW. BUT, UM, BUT I, I AM JUST SO VERY, VERY PROUD OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. UM, AND PEOPLE THAT I DEBATED WITH IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN LATER IN COLLEGE AND TRAVELING THE NATIONAL CIRCUIT, UH, END UP BEING LAWYERS WITH YEAH. AND, UH, AND THEN END UP SERVING POLITICAL OFFICE WITH. AND SO IT JUST HAS REALLY WORKED WELL, YOU KNOW, FOR ME AND I KNOW WILL WORK WELL FOR EACH OF ONE OF YOU. A LOT OF HARD WORK, A LOT OF HARD WORK. AND TO BE NATIONALLY RANKED AND THEN TO BE, UH, UH, SELECTED AS, UH, WHAT THE SECOND OR THIRD OR THIRD AND FOURTH. YEAH. THREE AND FIFTH IN, IN THE COUNTRY SPEAKS, SPEAKS VOLUMES. I CANNOT TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, HOW PROUD WE ARE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, WE, UM, WE ACKNOWLEDGE AND, AND RECOGNIZE OUR ATHLETES, UH, BUT IT'S ALSO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE AND ACKNOWLEDGE OUR ACADEMIC SCHOLARS. YEAH. AND DEBATERS, UH, AS WELL. SO, UH, HAVING SAID THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, THANK YOU. UH, SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM JULY THE 11TH, 2023. THAT'S THE HOUSTON URBAN DEBATE LEAGUE DAY, UH, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS. SPEAKING FOR, WHAT DO Y'ALL WANT ME TO SAY? WHATEVER YOU WANT TO SAY. YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT LOST FOR WORDS. DON'T TRY NOW. YEAH. I'M VERY HONORED TO BE SPEAKING HERE TODAY AT, UH, CITY HALL. UH, HONESTLY, IT TOOK A LOT OF HARD WORK FOR ALL THE TEAMS HERE IN HOUSTON TO MAKE IT TO NATIONALS. UH, IT'S A LOT OF TRAINING. WE DID, I MEAN, THREE WEEKS, IT'S BEEN OVER A MONTH. I'VE BEEN WITH MY TEAMS IN OTHER SCHOOLS. I'VE SEEN THEM EVERY DAY FOR TFA TOURNAMENTS. I MEAN, IT'S BEEN A LONG JOURNEY AND I'VE BEEN IN IT SINCE NINTH GRADE AND I'M JUST GLAD TO BE HERE. GLAD TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR NSDA AND FOR NATIONAL'S DEBATE TOURNAMENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THANK YOU SYLVESTER TO THANK YOU. AND WHAT'S YOUR NAME AND SCHOOL? OH, THE SCHOOL. MY NAME'S BAN AND I GO TO WESTCHESTER ACADEMY [00:15:01] FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES. WONDERFUL. GO AHEAD, SAY, UM, I'M EVAN DANISH AND I ALSO GO TO WESTCHESTER ACADEMY. I'M JUST VERY PROUD TO BE HERE. I MEAN, IT MEANS A LOT TO BE RECOGNIZED BY THE CITY FOR OUR GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. AND, UH, JUST THANK YOU. IT MEANS A LOT. UH, HI, I AM KELSEY MOSLEY. I GO TO AILEY FURLEY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR THE, UH, OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. HOUSTON URBAN DEBATE LEAGUE. UM, JUST SO EXCITED TO BE HERE. THANK Y'ALL. WONDERFUL. HELLO, I'M SOPHIA RERA. I'M FROM WESTCHESTER ACADEMY FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS RECOGNITION AND THANK YOU. THAT'S IT. WONDERFUL. UM, HELLO, MY NAME IS JONATHAN BARNES. UM, I'M A SENIOR AT WESTCHESTER ACADEMY FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS RECOGNITION. IT JUST FEELS SO SURREAL BEING HERE IN CITY HALL, UM, IN DOWNTOWN. UM, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, MUCH GRATITUDE. WONDERFUL. HELLO EVERYONE. MY NAME IS EBENEZER APIA. I'M A GRADUATING SENIOR AT LSAC HIGH SCHOOL. SAY IT AGAIN. SAY IT AGAIN. SAY IT AGAIN. MIGHTY MIGHTY ME. GRADUATING SENIOR AT IC HIGH SCHOOL, ALE ALMA MATTER. LET'S GO. UM, AND I JUST WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU GUYS FOR GIVING US THE WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE. AND YEAH, JUST THANKS A LOT FOR YOUR SUPPORT. WONDERFUL. HELLO EVERYONE. MY NAME IS MOLA OLA. I AM A STUDENT. I AM AN INCOMING JUNIOR AT AI LEAF EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL. AND I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE, AND I SO APPRECIATE THIS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WONDERFUL. EVERYONE. MY NAME IS MARVA NANCE. I AM A STUDENT FROM AI LEAF EARLY COLLEGE. IT IS AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE AND STAND IN FRONT OF ALL OF YOU GUYS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. HI EVERYONE. MY NAME IS RUBIK HERNANDEZ AND I'M ALSO A GRADUATED SENIOR FROM ELICK HIGH SCHOOL. AND I'M SO PROUD AND THANKFUL FOR LIKE, THE RECOGNITION AND EVERYTHING, AND WE HOPE TO MAKE EVERYONE PROUD IN HOUSTON AND NOT JUST FOR OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BUT EVERYONE WHO DOES SPEECH AND DEBATE IN HOUSTON AND TEXAS. THANK YOU. YEAH. WONDERFUL. HI, MY NAME IS NOON WYNN. I'M A RISING SENIOR AT EL SIC HIGH SCHOOL. I'M REALLY GRATEFUL TO BE HERE TODAY, AND I'D LIKE TO THANK KAY AS WELL AS THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR SUPPORTING ALL OF OUR DREAMS. UM, HELLO, MY NAME IS HELEN GORDON. I'M A GRADUATING SENIOR, UH, FROM WESTCHESTER ACADEMY. AND THIS IS SO AMAZING TO JUST BE HERE AND HAVE THIS RECOGNITION FOR DEBATE. I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT, JUST AS IMPORTANT AS ANY PHYSICAL SPORT. THIS MENTAL SPORT IS SO IMPORTANT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE, AND THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. HELLO, I'M NOLAN ZINK. I'M A GRADUATING SENIOR FROM WESTCHESTER ACADEMY FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES. I THANK YOU FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND CASE AND HUDDLE FOR SUPPORTING ME IN MY DEBATE JOURNEY. I NEVER THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE A DEBATER, BUT THANKS TO THE CONTINUED SUPPORT, I'M HERE TODAY AS A NATIONAL QUALIFIER. THANK YOU EVERYONE. WONDERFUL. HI THERE. MY NAME IS ALMA AND I AM THE COACH OF WESTCHESTER ACADEMY FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES. FIVE YEARS AGO, THERE WAS NO WASTE DEBATE, AND NOW WE STAND HERE AS A TESTAMENT TO THE POWER OF DEBATE. YEAH. AND NOW IT TRANSFORMS LIVES AND I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS, COACH. COACH, COACH. HI, MY NAME IS ASHLEY FREEMAN. I'M THE COACH AT AILEY EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL. UM, THIS IS, UH, AN HONOR FOR US, FOR MY STUDENTS AND FOR MYSELF. UM, WE ARE A NEW TEAM AND, UH, IT'S, IT'S BEYOND EXCITING FOR, UM, OUR STUDENTS TO HAVE THIS LEVEL OF SUPPORT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NO, THANK YOU. AND MAYOR TURNER, IF I MAY, I WAS GONNA JUST MENTION BILL KELLY. AND SO, UM, I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE RIGHT BEHIND IT SO YOU CAN OFFER SOME REMARKS AS WELL. THIS IS MY FAVORITE COUNCIL MEMBER FROM ALEY. , BUT THE ONLY ONE IN ALEY. RIGHT. OKAY. COURSE. MY NAME'S BILL KELLY. I WAS A SENIOR IN 1998 AND PARTICIPATED IN DEBATE WAS THE STATE CHAMPION, UIL. INFORMATIVE SPEAKING, WENT ON TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON. SO JUST SO Y'ALL KNOW, THAT'S THE FAVORED UNIVERSITY HERE AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ACCORDING TO MAYOR, UM, AS A BOARD MEMBER FOR THE HOUSTON URBAN DEBATE LEAGUE, I WANNA MAKE SURE OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS KNOW THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO JUDGE YES. THESE LOCAL TOURNAMENTS. YOU CAN CONTACT MY OFFICE. YEP. WE'RE HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO PUT YOU IN, BUT THE QUALITY OF THE TALENT THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS UNMATCHED. I'M REALLY, REALLY THANKFUL FOR THE DEBATERS THAT ARE ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY. I KNOW A NUMBER OF FOLKS ARE PARTICIPATING IN OUR CAMP AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON THIS WEEK. UM, BY, THAT WAS THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, RIGHT? ? DID WE TALK ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON? ALRIGHT, GOOD DEAL. THANK, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. WELL, SINCE WE ARE MENTIONING, OH MY GOODNESS. YOU KNOW, I WAS THE DISTRICT DEBATE CHAMP AT KLEIN HIGH SCHOOL. WHILE WE'RE AT IT FOR FOUR CONSECUTIVE YEARS, THE REGIONAL DEBATE CHAMP [00:20:01] STATE, AND THEN AT UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON AND NATIONAL DEBATE CHAMP. SO, UM, AND THERE IT'S, AND THERE IT WAS. SO, UM, I CAN'T, I CAN'T TELL YOU, IT DOES CHANGE LIVES. I WILL SAY THIS BECAUSE, UM, MY DEBATE COACH IN UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, UH, LITERALLY CHANGED MY LIFE. 'CAUSE UM, WE WERE HOSTING A NATIONAL DEBATE TOURNAMENT AND WE HAD, UH, A TEAM COMING IN FROM CHICAGO, AND HE ASKED ME TO GO AND PICK THEM UP FROM THE AIRPORT. AND HE THREW HIS KEYS TO ME TO WINDOW USE MY CAR AND GO AND GET THEM. HE DID NOT ASK WHETHER OR NOT I COULD DRIVE . BUT BEING YOUNG AND BOLD, I TOOK HIS KEYS AND I DROVE TO HOUSTON IN CONTINENTAL AIRPORT. I DID NOT HAVE A LICENSE, . AND QUITE FRANKLY, I WAS AT THE EARLY STAGES OF LEARNING HOW TO DRIVE. AND I ZIGZAGGED ALL THE WAY . I PICKED UP THE DEBATE TEAM. THEY GOT IN THE CAR. I STARTED TAKING OFF. THEY WERE TALKING QUITE A BIT. AND THE GUY IN FRONT SAID, DUDE, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DRIVING? AND I SAID, UH, I'M JUST LEARNING. AND HE SAID, NO. AND HE DID HIS OWN WORK. AND HE SAID, UM, YOU WANT ONE OF US TO DRIVE? I SAID, NO, I GOT THIS. AND I MADE IT BACK. AND, UH, BUT IT WAS THAT DEBATE COACH, NOT JUST THAT, BUT SAW A LOT MORE IN ME AND PUSHED AND PUSHED AND PUSHED. AND IN LARGE PART, BECAUSE OF THAT DEBATE COACH AND THE PEOPLE I DEBATED WITH, I STAND RIGHT HERE AS THE MAYOR OF THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY. SO, UM, I'M PROUD. OKAY. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. AND I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE SOME, UM, INDIVIDUAL CERTIFICATES FOR EACH ONE. WE ABSOLUTELY DO. WE WILL. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA DO THEM ONE AT A TIME. YOU WANNA DO THEM ONE AT A TIME UP HERE? UM, SURE. I WAS LIKE, WE CAN PASS THESE OUT AFTERWARD. YEAH, SURE. YEAH, BECAUSE WE HAVE, I'M SURE THEY WANT, YEAH. WE WANNA GET, SO LETS, WE DO, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE. WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR PROAM AND MAYOR. I THINK I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN MORE DEBATE IN HIGH SCHOOL. WE, WE BE A LITTLE BIT BETTER AT, AT, UH, HAVING OUR DEBATES UP HERE, BUT I THANK YOU OUT DEBATE. UM, BUT I WENT TO WESTCHESTER BACK IN THE DAY BEFORE. IT WAS WESTCHESTER INTERNATIONAL STUDIES. IT WAS WESTCHESTER WILDCAT HIGH SCHOOL. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, FOR BRINGING THESE BRIGHT YOUNG STUDENTS. MAN, WHAT A, WHAT HOPE FOR THE WORLD THERE IS WHEN THERE'S REALLY JUST SUCH DETERMINATION. WE KNOW HOW HARD A WORK THAT IS. DOES ANYBODY WANNA TALK ABOUT THEIR FAVORITE, UM, DEBATE SUBJECT? DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE ONE OR, OR ONE THAT YOU WON ON? OH, WE'VE GOT A, WE'VE GOT A TAKER. OKAY. UM, AT NATIONALS, ONE OF THE TOPICS WE HAD WAS THIS HOUSE REGRETS THE RISE OF NIHILISM AND POP CULTURE. UM, AND THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING FOR ME JUST TO TALK ABOUT LIKE, THE PHILOSOPHY OF NIHILISM AND CONNECTING IT TO SOMETHING THAT US AS TEENAGERS LOVE, WHICH IS POP CULTURE. I FOUND THAT TO BE THE MOST, UM, THE MOST INTERESTING TOPIC THERE. AND THAT WAS FOR THE, UH, UM, OCTA FIND AROUNDS, I BELIEVE. WOW. VERY COOL. AND I WANNA SHOUT OUT DANIELLE BART WITH HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND ALSO SOPHIA RA. I KNOW HER MOM. SO, CONGRATULATIONS, COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, JUST HEARING, YOU KNOW, THE POWER OF DEBATE, UM, I SAW IT AS A MOTHER, YOU KNOW, AND WHEN MY CHILDREN WERE STARTING MIDDLE SCHOOL, I DID EVERY MOTHER TRICK I COULD TO GET THEM ALL TO TAKE DEBATE ONE AT A TIME. THEY WERE LIKE ARGUING WITH ME, OH, I WANNA TAKE CHORUS. YOU KNOW, I WANNA DO ARC. IT'S LIKE, YOU NEED DEBATE. I WISH I'D HAD DEBATE. I MEAN, IT IS A TOOL THAT WILL STAY WITH YOU THE REST OF YOUR LIVES. IT, YOU KNOW, IT, IT GIVES YOU, UM, SUCH, SUCH AN ADVANTAGE OVER PEOPLE, OTHERS WHO ARE AFRAID TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF PEOPLE. YOU DON'T HAVE THAT FEAR. AND, YOU KNOW, ONE TIME I HEARD THAT PEOPLE WOULD RATHER ACTUALLY DIE, YOU KNOW, GO THROUGH DEATH THAN, THAN THAN BE PUBLIC SPEAKERS. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, LOOK, LOOK AT ALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT AREN'T GONNA STEP UP. AND YOU, AND YOU, YOU HAVE THAT POWERFUL TOOL THAT WILL, WILL, WILL LET YOU, UM, REALLY, UM, GET BEHIND THINGS YOU BELIEVE IN AND, YOU KNOW, AND HAVE THE COURAGE TO, TO ADVOCATE AND, YOU KNOW, AND, AND DO GOOD THINGS FOR OUR WORLD. UM, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. I I, YOU KNOW, I, AND, AND JUST THE, THE, THE TREMENDOUS VALUE THAT DEBATE COACHES HAVE. UM, I, I SAW THAT IN, IN JIM HENLEY, WHO WAS MY, UM, MY, ALL THREE OF MY KIDS HAD HIM. AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK IN, YOU KNOW, THE OPPORTUNITY TO EVEN, YOU KNOW, GET EXPERIENCE AS A, AS A DEBATER IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, YOU [00:25:01] KNOW, RIGHT AS YOU'RE JUST STARTING IT IS EVEN MORE POWERFUL BECAUSE IT, IT, UM, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE RESPECTING WHAT YOU SAY AND YOU LEARN TO RESPECT THEM AND TO SEE DIFFERENT SIDES OF DIFFERENT ISSUES. THAT IS, THAT'S AMAZING. THAT IS SUCH STRENGTH AND POWER. SO, BEST WISHES. I KNOW YOU DON'T EVEN NEED ANYONE WISHING YOU WELL BECAUSE YOU'RE ALREADY ON YOUR WAY. YOU'RE GONNA DO GREAT. CONGRATULATIONS COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I, EVERY TIME I HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT DEBATE, OF COURSE, I THINK ABOUT THE MOVIE THE GREAT DEBATERS. SO I DO WANNA KNOW, HAVE YOU WATCHED THE MOVIE THE GREAT DEBATERS HAS, HAS EVERYONE YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED THE GREAT DEBATERS YOU'LL TO WATCH THE ASSIGNMENT, OKAY. YOU HAVE TO WATCH THE GREAT DEBATERS. YOU, YOU'VE GOT TO WATCH THE GREAT DEBATERS. IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED THAT MOVIE, UM, THE SKILLSET THAT YOU HAVE ACQUIRED FROM BEING ON THE DEBATES TEAM WILL CARRY YOU FAR IN LIFE. AND I'M SO HONORED TO WELCOME EACH OF YOU TO YOUR CITY HALL. AND PLEASE DON'T BE STRANGERS. WE'D LOVE TO, UH, HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT CITY HALL AND HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT ISSUES THAT WE DEAL WITH IN THE, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I, I, I'D BE INTERESTED IN, UH, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT SOME ISSUES WITH SOME DEBATERS MAKES ME BETTER. . CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FOR A PROCLAMATION TO RECOGNIZE THE ALLIANCE FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES GIVEN TO REFUGEES, IMMIGRANTS, AND UNDERSERVED RESIDENTS. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO, THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR PRO TEM. AND, AND I THANK COUNCIL MEMBER KUBO. HE REALLY IS BRINGING THIS, UH, PROCLAMATION AND ASKED ME TO STEP IN FOR HIM TODAY. SO I'D LIKE TO INVITE THE PEOPLE FROM THE ALLIANCE. WE ALL KNOW THE GREAT WORK THAT THE ALLIANCE DOES IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. SO I WILL GET MR. STOKER THE HEAD. I WILL GET THEM ALL ROUND HERE AND THEN I'LL JUST START IN. WHEREAS THE ALLIANCE CREATES [00:30:01] OPPORTUNITIES FOR REFUGEES, IMMIGRANTS, AND UNDERSERVED RESIDENTS IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA TO ACHIEVE GOALS FOR SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. AND WHEREAS THE ALLIANCE CELEBRATES IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH IN JUNE, WE'RE IN JULY, BUT JUNE WAS JUST NOW, JUST A MONTH AGO. AS WELL AS WORLD REFUGEE DAY, HOUSTON OBSERVED ON JUNE 20TH. AT THE HEART OF WORLD REFUGEE DAY IS THE BELIEF THAT ALL FORCIBLY DISPLACED PEOPLE MUST BE ALLOWED TO LIVE IN SAFETY AND DIGNITY, WHILE MAKING GREAT CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOCIETY, BOTH ECONOMICALLY AND SOCIALLY. HOUSTON LEADS THE NATION IN REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT AND HAS WELCOMED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES. AND WHEREAS AMONG SERVICES OFFERED THROUGH THE ALLIANCE ARE ADULT EDUCATION AND TRAINING, INTERPRETATION AND TRANSLATION SERVICES, DRIVER'S EDUCATION AND COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE TRAINING, REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT, INTEGRATION SUPPORT, SER SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, COMMUNITY WELLNESS, UM, HELPING OUR ENTREPRENEURS START AND GROW THEIR BUSINESSES, CONNECTING COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SERVICES AND DIVERSE JOB SEEKERS TO EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND FINANCIAL COACHING. THAT'S A LOT OF STUFF . WHEREAS THEIR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM PROVIDES ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, AND CULTURAL SERVICES FOR YOUTH. AND, AND HOME OWNERSHIP ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PROVIDES TENANTS RIGHTS, COUNSELING SERVICES. THE ALLIANCE HAS A DEDICATED STAFF, MANY SUPPORTERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. WHEREAS SINCE 2001, WORLD REFUGEE DAY HAS BEEN CELEBRATED INTERNATIONALLY TO HONOR THE COURAGE, RESILIENCE, AND DETERMINATION OF THE MILLIONS OF MEN AND WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO HAVE, ARE FORCED TO FLEE THEIR HOMES WORLD REFUGEE DAY HOUSTON IS A COLLECTIVE EFFORT MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HOUSTON REFUGEE CONSORTIUM, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND NUMEROUS COMMUNITY PARTNERS. IN MANY WAYS, REFUGEES HAVE HELPED MAKE HOUSTON THE BEAUTIFUL, DIVERSE AND TOLERANT CITY IT IS TODAY. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON HONORS AND COMMENDS THE ALLIANCE FOR THEIR TIRELESS EFFORTS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR REFUGEES, IMMIGRANTS, AND UNDERSERVED RESIDENTS, MR. MAYOR. SO THEREFORE, IYE, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROBABLY PROCLAIMED JULY 11TH, 2023 AS THE ALLIANCE DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU CITY COUNCIL FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY AND RECOGNIZING THE VERY IMPORTANT WORK WE DO AT THE ALLIANCE. AS A FORMER REFUGEE AND A PROUD BOARD MEMBER, I PERSONALLY THINK WE SHOULD BE RECEIVING ONE OF THESE EVERY SINGLE DAY, BUT WE'LL ACCEPT THE FACT THAT WE'RE GETTING A RECOGNI OUR RECOGNITION TODAY. UH, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME TO INVITE ALL OF YOU, THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, 'CAUSE I KNOW THE MAYOR HAS BEEN DOWN TO VISIT US AT OUR OFFICE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT WE SERVE THE ENTIRE GREATER HOUSTON AREA. AND SO I'D LIKE TO INVITE ALL THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO COME DOWN AND SEE THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE FIRSTHAND. WHENEVER YOU HAVE TIME, DAN, OUR CEO WILL MAKE THE ARRANGEMENTS. UM, WE HAVE OFFICES, FOUR OFFICES THROUGHOUT HOUSTON, OUR SATELLITE LOCATIONS. SO WHETHER YOU'RE A DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER OR AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBER, I KNOW THAT WE SERVE YOUR CONSTITUENCY. SO PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO COME DOWN. AND THEN I ALSO WANT MENTION THAT WE HAVE A BIG PROGRAM UPCOMING. IT'S THE BACK TO SCHOOL BACKPACK DAY ON AUGUST THE 12TH. AND I KNOW SEVERAL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE INVOLVED WITH US. UH, WE HAND OUT BACKPACKS, SO I THINK ABOUT 4,000 FAMILIES. AND SO IF WE WOULD PLEASE, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PARTICIPATE WITH US. UH, ANY DONATIONS YOU CAN GIVE US, WE'RE ALWAYS THERE TO ACCEPT THOSE DONATIONS, . AND AS I SAID, I AM A PROUD BOARD MEMBER, BUT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT INTRODUCE OUR STAFF HERE, BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE ORGANIZATION EACH DAY ON THE GROUND. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING US HERE. THANK YOU. UM, AS MONIQUE SAID, HE'S MENTIONED ALMOST EVERYTHING WHICH ONE COULD MENTION, BUT ALLIANCE DOES A VERY GOOD JOB. WE HAVE REFUGEES FROM OVER 20 COUNTRIES, WHICH IS A BIG NUMBER IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, WE, LAST YEAR, JUST ONLY LAST YEAR, WE HAD OVER 10,000 CLIENTS, WHICH IS A BIG NUMBER. AND WE WERE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE OVER 10 BILLION OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE, WHICH HELPED OVER 1500 FAMILIES THAT THESE ARE BIG NUMBERS AND NONE OF THIS WOULD'VE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOU ALL'S SUPPORT AND ME SUPPORT. SO WE REALLY WANT, AS MONIQUE SAID, WE WANT YOU ALL TO COME AND VISIT US, SUPPORT US IN ANY WAY, AND COME AND JOIN US. PROGRAM MAYOR IS EVERY YEAR PRESENT FOR OUR BACK TO SCHOOL PROGRAM. SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, WE'VE REALLY APPRECIATE THIS PARTNERSHIP, UH, FOR MANY YEARS WITH THE CITY, UH, AND BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE CITY IN MANY DIFFERENT PROGRAMS EVERYWHERE FROM HURRICANE HARVEY TO RECENTLY WITH THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM. UH, ARTIE GOS, CAN YOU WAVE YOUR HAND? SHE'S, [00:35:01] SHE'S HEADING THAT UP FOR US HERE. UH, WE, UH, ARE DEDICATED TO OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL THAT'S REFUGEES, IMMIGRANTS, AND UNDERSERVED INDIVIDUALS. WE HAVE 250 STAFF. THIS IS A, JUST A DELEGATION THAT CAME, UH, WITH US, THAT REPRESENTS THOSE 250 PEOPLE THAT WORK TIRELESSLY THROUGHOUT THE CITY, ALWAYS HELPING PEOPLE FIND A WAY TO GET AHEAD TO CREATE SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND THEN GET THEIR PATH TO THRIVE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK COUNCIL MEMBER. POP. IF I COULD JUST QUICKLY MENTION, I WANTED TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER KIBOSH AND HIS STAFF FOR TAKING THE INITIATIVE TO RECOGNIZER AND THANK YOU COUNCILMAN MARIE AORN. THANK YOU. UH, WE DO HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER IN Q UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM, AND GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE, UH, TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. ON BEHALF OF, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH AND TO DAN AND THE ENTIRE BOARD AND STAFF, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL, UH, FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS, ALL YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS, UH, TO THE ENTIRE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, OUR MAYOR HAS REALLY, UH, MADE IT A PRIORITY TO MAKE THIS A VERY WELCOMING CITY. AND, UH, THE PROGRAMS THAT YOU ALL PROVIDE AT THE ALLIANCE GO A LONG WAYS TOWARDS PUSHING THAT AS A PRIORITY AS WELL. AND FOR THE, THE MANY NEW RESIDENTS WHO COME TO HOUSTON AS THEIR FIRST, UM, PLACE AND FIRST, UM, SPACE WITHIN OUR COUNTRY, UM, IT'S WONDERFUL TO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE PROGRAMS SUCH AS WHAT YOU ALL OFFER AT THE ALLIANCE TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR TRANSITION, UH, TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE ACCLIMATED AND THAT THEY FEEL SECURE AND CAN HAVE THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO, TO THRIVE. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMITMENT, UH, AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE DAYS AHEAD. GOD BLESS YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, THANK YOU. AND TO THE ALLIANCE AGAIN, UH, I KNOW YOU RECOGNIZED IT, NOT JUST THE BOARD, BUT ALL OF THE STAFF, THE VOLUNTEERS, UM, THE WORK THAT YOU DO, UH, THE MAYOR HAS MADE IT CLEAR ABOUT HOW WELCOMING OUR CITY IS AND THE WAY IN WHICH WE ARE ABLE TO DO THAT IS THROUGH YOUR WORK. UM, AND THERE'S SO MANY IN NEED. AND I JUST WANTED TO UPLIFT ONE THING, UH, YOU TOUCHED ON, WHICH WAS THE IMPORTANCE WHEN IT COMES TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AS WELL IN OUR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE COMMUNITIES. UH, THE STIGMA THAT IS STILL THERE AND BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT THOSE THAT ARE WHEN THEY'RE AT THEIR MOST VULNERABLE, UH, IS SO IMPORTANT. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK, UH, THAT YOU DO IN SUCH A COMPASSIONATE AND BEAUTIFUL WAY THAT I THINK IS SO REPRESENTATIVE NOT ONLY OF OUR CITY, BUT UH, THE FUNDAMENTAL VALUES OF OUR COUNTRY. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. FANTASTIC. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. NEXT, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS FOR A PROCLAMATION TO DAVID DE LA CRUZ TO CELEBRATE HIS 95TH BIRTHDAY AND TO RECOGNIZE HIM FOR HIS SERVICE AS A WORLD WAR II AND KOREAN WAR VETERAN. YES. CAN I HAVE, UH, DAVID DE LA CRUZ PLEASE COME UP? YES, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS. IT'S AN HONOR TO HAVE DAVID LA DE LA CRUZ HERE AT [00:40:01] THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS. GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. MR. DE LA CRUZ IS, UH, ONE OF THE, UH, GREATEST GENERATION INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE STILL ALIVE AS OF 2022, APPROXIMATELY 167,284. ABOUT 1% OF THE 16 MILLION AMERICANS WHO SERVED IN WORLD WAR II ARE ALIVE TODAY. SO IT'S AN HONOR TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION, CELEBRATING HIS 95TH. HE HAD A BIRTHDAY PARTY A COUPLE OF SATURDAYS AGO. YEAH. AND I, UH, JOINED COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA AND STATE SENATOR CAROL RADO IN PRESENTING PROCLAMATIONS AND CERTIFICATES TO HIM AT THE PARTY. UH, BUT I ASKED HIM TO PLEASE COME TO COUNCIL CHAMBER SO WE CAN PRESENT IT HERE WITH THE MAYOR. A 95TH BIRTHDAY IS AN IMPORTANT OCCASION AND A JOYOUS TIME TO EMBRACE THE PAST WITH REMEMBRANCE AND REFLECT IN OVER NINE DECADES OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS, MEMORIES, AND GROWTH. DAVID DE LA CRUZ WAS BORN ON JUNE 19TH, 1928 IN VIDS, TEXAS TO ROBERTO DE LA CRUZ IN LUISA GONZALEZ. HE DROPPED OUTTA SCHOOL IN THE EIGHTH GRADE TO WORK FOR HIS FATHER, DAVID DE LA CRUZ ENLISTED IN THE US ARMY ON JANUARY 18TH, 1946, AT THE AGE OF 17 WITH HIS SIX FRIENDS, PRIVATE FIRST CLASS, DAVID DE LA CRUZ ATTENDED BOOTCAMP ONBOARD LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. IN AUGUST OF 1946, HE WAS DEPLOYED TO GERMANY UNTIL HE WAS DISCHARGED FROM THE US ARMY IN 1948. UPON HIS DISCHARGE, HE JOINED THE RESERVES AND WAS DEPLOYED TO KOREA DURING THE COMPLEX ON OCTOBER 10TH, 1950, UNTIL HIS DISCHARGE ON MARCH OF 1951, UNDER HONORABLE CONDITIONS AS A PRIVATE FIRST CLASS WHILE IN KOREA, HIS MILITARY OPERATIONAL SPECIALTY WAS, WAS CHANGED TO REPAIRING RADIOS. DAVID DE LA CRUZ SPENT THE NEXT 15 NINE YEARS IN ELECTRONICS AND OPENED A SHOP HERE IN HOUSTON. HE RECEIVED NUMEROUS METALS, INCLUDING THE GOOD CONDUCT, METAL, EUROPEAN MEDAL, KOREAN MEDAL, VICTORY MEDAL OCCUPATION, MEDAL AND LONGEVITY MEDAL. HE HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF GATHERING OF EAGLES FOR 26 YEARS. ON JUNE 19TH, 19, UH, 2023, FAMILY AND FRIENDS WILL GATHER TO CELEBRATE DE LA CRUZ'S BIRTHDAY. THEY WISH THIS TO BE A MEMORABLE DAY FOR A TRULY INSPIRATIONAL PERSON, AND A TIME TO REJOICE TO WARM FAMILY TIES AND FRIENDSHIP, TREASURE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND VAL AND SERVICE THE CITY OF HOUSTON, COMMENDS AND SALUTES DAVID DE LA CRUZ IN RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION OF HIS SELFLESS AND LOYAL SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SAYING, SO. THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM IN THIS CASE, JUNE 19TH, 2023, AS DAVID DE LA CRUZ DAY 95TH BIRTHDAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I GLAD, APPRECIATE IT. . THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. AND, UM, MY FRIENDS THAT CAME WITH ME AND MY GRANDSON, MY YOUNGEST GRANDSON, SO CAME WITH ME. AND I WANT THANK EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE AND HERE WITH AN HONOR. AND I PROUDLY SERVE MY COUNTRY. AND, UM, I NEVER GOT ANY REGRETS. THANK YOU, ROBERT. THANK YOU. HOW LONG? HOLD LONG. LISTEN, MY GRANDSON, HE LOOKS LIKE HIS GRANDFATHER, , COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. MR. DELLA CRUZ, THANK YOU FOR BRAVELY SERVING OUR COUNTRY. WE ARE SO HONORED TO RECOGNIZE YOU HERE IN YOUR CITY HALL. UH, PLEASE KNOW THAT, UH, WE WILL CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR YOUR WELLBEING AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE. AND HAPPY 95TH BIRTHDAY. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, WE'RE GONNA DO THIS. [00:46:07] ALRIGHT. [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] THANK YOU OFFICER, VERY MUCH. AND LET'S TURN OUR ATTENTION NOW TO THE COMMUNITY SESSION. UH, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILMAN POLLY FOR THE INVITATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE PLEASE BOW OUR HEADS. LORD, THANK YOU FOR WAKING US UP TO SEE ANOTHER DAY. THANK YOU FOR GATHERING US HERE. PLEASE WATCH OVER US AS WE GOVERN THIS CITY. AND OVER THIS MEETING. UH, PLEASE ENSURE THAT WE ALL GET HOME SAFELY AND WATCH OVER US AS WE DO OUR BUSINESS. IN JESUS' NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. IF YOU PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE. JUSTICE , THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. PREPARE FOR THE [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] ROLL CALL MAYOR TURNER. HERE, CONSTABLE PECK. HERE. CONSTABLE JACKSON WILL BE AFTER CONSTABLE CAYMAN. PRESENT. CONSTABLE EVAN SHAVAR WILL BE AFTER. CONSTABLE MARTIN. CONSTABLE THOMAS. PRESENT. CONSTABLE HUFFMAN. PRESENT. CONSTABLE CISNEROS. HERE. CONSTABLE GALLEGOS. HERE. CONSTABLE POLLARD. HERE. CONSTABLE CASTEX TATUM. HERE. CONSTABLE KNOX. HERE. CONSTABLE ROBINSON. HERE. CONSTABLE KUAT WILL BE ABSENT. CONSTABLE PLUMMER HERE AND CONSTABLE ALCORN HERE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF MARCH 28TH AND 29TH. CASTEX TAYLOR, MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON BEEN MOVED IN SECOND ON THE ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES. ANY OBJECTION? CHAIR IS DONE. MOTION IS GRANTED. UH, [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] SEE ON PROCEDURAL MOTIONS. UH, CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILMAN MCCAIN. THANK YOU MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE RICHARD WILLS TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE, UH, AGENDA LIST TO BE FOLLOWED BY CRISPIN. RICHARDS MOVE. JUST HAVE SECOND. SECOND. BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. ANY OBJECTION? CHAIR IS DONE. THE MOTION IS GRANTED. HE'S GOING TO THE TOP. OKAY. SO RICHARD, WE ALSO BE GOING TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTES AGENDA OF THE THREE MINUTES AGENDA. OKAY. CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX. I THANK YOU MAYOR. IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND MOVE MR. EMMANUEL THOMAS TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA. UH, OKAY. YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION. SECOND, SECOND. SECOND. BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. ANY OBJECTION? CHAIR'S? NONE. AND THE MOTION IS GRANTED. AND THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILMAN ALCO FOR PROCEDURAL MOTION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO PLACE CHRIS PRATT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ONE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. SECOND ROBINSON. OKAY. YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION? IT'S BEEN SECOND. ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR? NONE. AND MOTION IS GRANTED. ARE THERE ANY OTHER PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? HEARING, SEEING NONE, MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'RE READY, UH, IF YOU'LL PROCEED TO CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER, STEVEN TIS STEVEN EUSTIS IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY GARY MOSELEY. IF YOU GIVE YEAH, RIGHT BEHIND THAT MIC. CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME ALL RIGHT? YES. I'M USUALLY PRETTY LOUD, SO YOU GOOD? UH, MY NAME IS STEVEN EUSTUS. UH, I LIVE AT 2032 COLUMBIA STREET. UH, MY WIFE AND I BUILT THAT HOUSE THERE IN 2014. WE'VE BEEN WITHIN A BLOCK OF THAT AREA THOUGH SINCE 2006. SO LONG TIME RESIDENCE OF THE, UH, SUNSET HEIGHTS AREA. UH, I'M HERE TO, UH, SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM FOUR. I BELIEVE IT IS, UH, THE ALCOHOL FREE ZONE, UH, UH, CONNECTED WITH THE HEIGHTS PRESCHOOL, UH, HEIGHTS, PRESCHOOL'S BEEN THERE FOR OVER 10 YEARS. THEY'VE BEEN GREAT NEIGHBORS. UH, MY PERSONAL HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY IS WHEN I'M GONNA WORK AND I SEE THE BIG STROLLERS OF KIDS, UH, WALKING AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD. UH, SO KELLY, WHO WILL SPEAK LATER, UH, HAS BEEN A VERY GOOD NEIGHBOR. UH, ONE OF THE AREAS ALSO I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT IS, UH, WE SHARE AN ALLEY WITH ONE OF THE, THE, THE AREAS OF CONCERN RELATED TO THIS ALCOHOL FREE ZONE. UH, AS YOU KNOW, THE HEIGHTS HAS A LOT OF BACK LOAD ALLEYS. UH, THOSE ARE NOT JUST IMPORTANT FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, COMING AND GOING FROM YOUR GARAGE AND ACCESS TO YOUR PROPERTY. UH, BUT IT'S AN AREA WE PLAY WITH OUR KIDS. BOTH MY, UH, DAUGHTERS, UH, HAVE LEARNED TO RIDE THEIR BIKES, UH, ON THAT [00:50:01] ALLEY ALONG WITH LOTS OF OTHER KIDS. WE, NOT IN THE SUMMER, UH, BUT IN THE SPRING AND FALL WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME BACK THERE PLAYING BASKETBALL. UM, YOU KNOW, KIDS THROW BASEBALLS, THINGS LIKE THAT. SO IT'S, IT'S REALLY AN IMPORTANT PART OF HOW WE, HOW WE LIVE IN THE HEIGHTS. SO, UH, IF YOU WERE TO CONNECT, UH, IF, IF SOMETHING WERE TO GO ON THAT PROPERTY, UH, THAT WE'RE, UH, RELATED TO THE SALE OF ALCOHOL, WE HAVE CONCERNS WITH THE, WITH THE USE OF THE ALLEY, THE SPEEDING THAT ALREADY OCCURS IN THE ALLEY WITH CONSTRUCTION THAT'S GOING ON ON THAT SITE. UM, AND SO WE ARE, UH, VERY, UH, IN SUPPORT OF THIS ALCOHOL FREE ZONE. ALRIGHT. COUNCILMAN MCCAIN. THANK YOU STEVEN. THANK YOU FOR COMING. UM, AS A DISTRICT C RESIDENT, UH, JUST SOME FOLLOW UP. SO ONE, YOU ARE A RESIDENT THAT LIVES BY THIS PROPERTY. YES. I THINK I'M WITHIN THE 300 FEET, IF NOT WITHIN THE 300 FEET. AND YOU, UH, HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH OTHER NEIGHBORS? MANY, YES. AND WHAT IS THE FEEDBACK THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING? I WOULD SAY IT'S UNANIMOUSLY IN SUPPORT OF THIS ALCOHOL FREE ZONE. YES. WE HAVE SEVERAL SMALL YOUNG CHILDREN THAT LIVE ON THE AREA. UH, AND I KNOW CHRISMAN, WHO'S ALSO MY, WHO'S MY NEIGHBOR, UH, CLOSER TO THE, TO THE SITE. UH, ONE HOUSE CLOSER IS, HAS ALSO SPOKEN TO MANY. UH, WE'VE HAD, WE'VE HAD GROUP MEETINGS, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS IN THE ALLEY. UH, EVERYONE IN SUPPORT OF THIS, UH, THIS ZONE. GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. OKAY, THANKS. NEXT SPEAKER GARY MOSLEY. GARY GARY MOSLEY IS PRESIDENT, CHIEF FOLLOWED BY MAXIMUS CORTEZ. GOOD MORNING MAYOR. COUNCILMAN. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS GARY MOSLEY. 23 YEARS OF HEIGHTS RESIDENCE. I OPPOSE THIS, THIS ZONE OF ALCOHOL FREE ZONE MAYOR. WE JUST BANNED AND UPLIFTED THE USE OF ALCOHOL FOR DRYNESS IN THE HEIGHTS. WE DO NOT SUPPORT THIS. UH, I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT THE NOTICES THAT WERE GOING OUT THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY. I DID NOT GET NOTICES. I JUST GOT AN EMAIL IN PASSING THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE HEARD TODAY. UH, THE DAYCARE HAS BEEN THERE FOR MANY YEARS, 12 YEARS, 10 YEARS. UM, MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO BUY THIS PROPERTY THAT I BOUGHT. I BOUGHT THE PROPERTY, I DID MY INVESTIGATION. THERE WAS NO RESTRICTIONS AS FAR AS ALCOHOL. IF THERE WAS GONNA BE A RESTAURANT, WE WERE NOT USE THE ALLEY. YOU CANNOT USE THE ALLEY FOR EGRESS INGRESS FOR BUSINESSES. SO THEREFORE, UH, I AM THE PRESIDENT AND THE FOUNDER OF ONION CREEK COFFEE HOUSE AND THE CREEK GROUP RESTAURANTS, EVERY PLACE THAT WE PLACE OUR LOCATIONS. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN KID FRIENDLY, ALWAYS. I SAY TO YOU AND I SAY IT AGAIN, NO ONE HAS CONTACTED ME AND TALKED TO ME ABOUT THIS ZONING PROPOSAL. SO THEREFORE WE ARE ASKING YOU TO NOT SUPPORT THIS. THANK YOU. AND COUNCILMAN MCCAIN. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, GARY, THANK YOU FOR COMING. YES. AND AS SOMEONE THAT LIVES NEXT TO A CREEK ESTABLISHMENT, GO TO THE OTHER LOCATIONS AS WELL. I CAN VOUCH FOR HOW FAMILY FRIENDLY YOU ARE. SO I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S CONTESTING THAT. YES. UH, YOU MENTIONED, JUST TO BE CLEAR, UM, 'CAUSE I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE, WHICH IS NOT NECESSARILY RIGHT NEXT TO THIS. YOU'RE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. ABSOLUTELY. BUT YOU SAID YOU PER, YOU HAVE ANOTHER PROPERTY. CAN YOU GIVE ME THE ADDRESS OF THAT PROPERTY? THE PROPERTY IS FIVE 13 20TH STREET ON THE COMMERCIAL STREET OF 20TH STREET. NOT 4 0 2 20TH STREET. NO. OKAY. GIVE IT, SORRY, ONE MORE TIME. 5 25 13. FIVE 13. YES. OKAY. AND THEN, UM, YOU SAID THIS YESTERDAY WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU, YOU LEARNED ABOUT THIS THROUGH NOTICE. I JUST WANNA CLARIFY 'CAUSE YOU'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH MY OFFICE AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WAY BEFORE YESTERDAY. SO IT'S THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE OFFICIAL NOTICE THAT WAS MAILED OUT AGAIN YESTERDAY, THAT YOU RECEIVED YESTERDAY. MYSELF AND OTHER, UH, RESIDENTS AND COMMERCIAL, UH, PEOPLE DID NOT GET THIS NOTICE. OKAY. BUT YOU KNEW. OKAY, GOT IT. THE, UH, FINAL QUESTION I HAD IS, UM, YOU, IT'S CALLED AN ALCOHOL FREE ZONE. YOUR RE YOUR ESTABLISHMENTS ARE RESTAURANTS. YES. AND UNDER THE ALCOHOL FREE ZONE, TO CLARIFY, IT DOESN'T BAN ALL ALCOHOL CELLS. IT RELATES TO, MY UNDERSTANDING IS, AND MAYOR, IF THERE'S SOME CLARIFICATION THAT WE NEED, UH, I WELCOME THAT. BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THIS WILL NOT IN ANY WAY IMPACT RESTAURANTS. IT PRECLUDES A BAR CERTIFIED AS A BAR THROUGH TABC TWO OPEN WITHIN ONLY 300 FEET. NOW, PREVIOUSLY, MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE HISTORY IS RESIDENTS ACTUALLY ASKED FOR 600 FEET AND THAT WAS REDUCED TO 300 TO TRY TO MITIGATE AND FIND A BALANCE THERE. BUT IT WOULD ONLY PRECLUDE BARS. SO WITH THE PROPERTY THAT YOU OWN, IF IT IS WITHIN THAT 300 FOOT RADIUS, ARE YOU TRYING TO OPEN ANOTHER AND YOU'RE, IT'S YOUR PROPERTY AND YOU [00:55:01] MAY NOT KNOW WHAT YOU WANNA DO WITH IT YET, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO IMPACT RESTAURANTS. IT IS CALLED AN ALCOHOL FREE ZONE. BUT THAT'S RELATED TO BARS, NOT RESTAURANTS. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING. UM, IF YOU DO, YOU DO, WELL, YOU CAN'T HAVE A RESTAURANT THERE, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING. BUT IT GIVES YOU RESTRICTIONS. AND THOSE RESTRICTIONS ARE THAT IF SOMEONE COMES IN AND YOU SURPASS THE ALCOHOL SALES OF FOOD, YOU HAVE TO SIT THERE AND TELL YOUR CUSTOMERS, I CANNOT SELL YOU ANY ALCOHOL ON TOP OF THAT. ON TOP OF THAT, I'LL HAVE TO REDUCE MY PRICING FOR MY ALCOHOL. THAT BRINGS A WHOLE TOTAL DIFFERENT CLIENTELE. SO JUST TO MEET THE GUIDELINES UP TO 51%. MAYOR, IF WE, I DON'T, I'M NOT CLEAR THAT THAT'S HOW THAT WORKS. I'M THINK FINE. I I THINK IT, YEAH, RESTAURANTS ARE FINE WITHIN THE 300 UH, FEET, BUT IF YOUR GROSS RECEIPTS OF THE RESTAURANT IS 50 PLUS ONE, SO LET'S SAY IF IT'S 51%, YOUR GROSS RECEIPTS ARE 51% DUE TO YOUR BEVERAGES, ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, THEN I THINK THEN YOU ARE PULLED UNDER THE ALCOHOL FREE ZONE. UM, SO LET ME, LET ME JUST ASK IN A GENERAL SENSE WITH THE RESTAURANTS, AND I KNOW YOU HAVE SEVERAL OF THEM, AND THEN I'LL GO BACK TO YOU, COUNCILMAN MCCAIN. AND ARE YOUR RESTAURANT'S, UH, GROSS RECEIPTS? 51%, 50% OR MORE OF YOUR GROSS RECEIPTS? SOME, I BELIEVE ONE OF THEM. OKAY. BECAUSE THE WAY IT IS WORK, THE WAY IT WORKS, IT DOESN'T APPLY TO ANY EXISTING BUSINESSES. AND, UM, SO IT DOESN'T APPLY TO EXISTING BUSINESSES. IT DOESN'T APPLY TO ANY RESTAURANTS WHOSE GROSS RECEIPTS ARE GREATER THAN LET'S SAY 50%. SO IT DOESN'T APPLY THERE. UM, BUT IT DOES APPLY TO ANY FUTURE BUSINESS AND ANYTHING ALREADY THERE IS GRANDFATHERED MM-HMM . SO IT, AND IT, BUT IT DOES APPLY TO FUTURE, UM, BUSINESSES WHERE THE GROSS RECEIPTS ARE GREATER THAN 50%. OKAY. AND FOR ALCOHOL? FOR ALCOHOL. AND THEN IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, AGAIN, I'LL HAVE TO GET LEGAL'S INTERPRETATION, UH, THAT IF IN THIS CASE, LIKE A DAYCARE CENTER, THEY CAN BE THERE FOR 12 YEARS, 24 YEARS. BUT IF THEY SEEK THE APPLICATION FOR AN ALCOHOL FREE ZONE FOR THAT 300 FEET, THEN I THINK IT READS THAT WE SHALL, UM, THEN IMPOSE AN ALCOHOL FREE ZONE. I'LL HAVE TO, I, I WILL ON LEGAL, UH, TO FURTHER CLARIFY THAT BETWEEN NOW AND, AND TOMORROW. BUT THAT'S, BUT THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. 50 PLUS PERCENT ALCOHOL SALE SALES IN YOUR GROSS RECEIPTS, OTHERWISE YOU'RE FEE ARE FREE TO OPERATE ANY SORT OF RESTAURANT. SO WHAT THAT, WHAT THAT MEANS, MAYOR, EXCUSE ME TO INTERRUPT. SURE, NO PROBLEM. WHAT THAT MEANS, MY, LET'S SAY WE AVERAGE A $10 BURGER MM-HMM . NOW I'M NOT ABLE TO SELL A 60 WINE DOLLAR BOTTLE OF WINE. OKAY. IT WILL REACH TO THAT PEAKING POINT WHERE I HAVE TO STOP MOTION TO EXTEND SECOND, BEEN MOVING AND SECONDING OBJECTION NOT GRANTED. OKAY. SO IT REACHED TO THAT, THAT TIPPING POINT WHERE IT PUTS A BURDEN ON MY COMPANY WHERE I CANNOT SELL ALCOHOL. WHEN I BOUGHT THAT PROPERTY, THERE WAS NO RESTRICTIONS AT ALL. SO IN THAT GUIDELINES, IT WAS NOT EXISTENT. NOW THIS DAYCARE CENTER IS ONLY OPEN FOUR DAYS CLOSES AT FIVE OR SIX O'CLOCK, FOUR DAYS. OKAY. MOST RESTAURANTS ARE OPEN IN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. WE HAVE TO, SO TO PUT THIS BURDEN ON ME THAT WAS NOT THERE, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT WASN'T PLACED. IT WASN'T ASKED 10 YEARS AGO OR NINE YEARS AGO. WHY NOW? WHY NOW WHEN GARY MOSLEY AND THE CREEK GROUP PURCHASED THIS PROPERTY? WELL, MR. MOSLEY, I WOULD CAUTION ONE, WE JUST PASSED THE ALCOHOL FREE ORDINANCE RECENTLY, NOT, EXCUSE ME, NOT ALCOHOL FREE. LIFTED THE PROHIBITION FOR THE GREATER HEIGHTS AREA YES. ON ALCOHOL. AND THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE ISSUES, NOT WITH THE CREEK GROUP. AND I DON'T THINK THIS IS, I WOULD SAY AT LEAST FROM WHERE I'M COMING FROM AND SITTING NOT IN ANY WAY A REFLECTION OR IN A, A PERSONAL AFFRONT ON CREEK GROUP OR YOU AS A DEDICATED RESIDENT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, BUT WE HAVE HAD, AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN CAN ATTEST AND YOU'LL HEAR FROM AT LEAST ONE RESIDENT ON ANOTHER BAR, SOME VERY, VERY, UM, CONCERNING ISSUES AROUND BARS IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND RESIDENTIAL AREAS. AND THAT'S WHY, UM, BEING ABLE [01:00:01] TO UTILIZE THE TOOLS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY THERE. AND LOOK AT THIS, AND AGAIN, I'M GLAD YOU'RE COMING. SO WE CAN WEIGH THIS AND LOOK AT THIS, BUT I DON'T WANT TO ADD INTO THE MIX ANY PERSONAL, UM, AFFRONT TO YOU BY OUR RESIDENCE. I KNOW THAT WHO, UH, MR. YUS JUST SPOKE. RIGHT. AND HE LIVES RIGHT ON THAT STREET. AND SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT HIS AND OTHER VOICES ARE BALANCED AS WELL WITH THIS. SO YES. WELL, I JUST ASSURE YOU THAT IF YOU HAVE A RESTAURANT OF SOME TYPE OF FORM OF BUSINESS, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO USE THAT, THAT ALLEY. RIGHT. UM, ALSO, UM, AGAIN, THE NOTICES WASN'T NOT DONE PROPERLY. SO THIS IS BLINDSIDE, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST HERE AND COUNCIL ABBOTT, I I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENT, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE, EXCUSE ME, IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT APPLES AND ORANGES. WE ARE A RESTAURANT. WE'RE NOT A BAR. LET'S NOT PUT THAT, I'M LOSING MY VOICE. I'M SORRY. LET'S NOT PUT THAT STIGMA ON SOMEONE THAT'S BEEN GOOD TO THIS COMMUNITY FOR THE PAST 23 YEARS. RIGHT. AND I THINK THAT WHAT THE MAYOR'S SAYING IS WE WILL GET CLARIFICATION. OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THIS WILL NOT IMPACT RESTAURANTS. IT WILL IMPACT BARS AS CERTIFIED BY TABC AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY AS BARS. BUT I'M SAYING IT WILL IMPACT THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS. IF YOU CANNOT SELL YOUR ALCOHOL, YOU HAVE TO SURVIVE. YOU ARE THERE TO SERVE AND MAKE MONEY AND HIRE AND FIRE AND BE IN EXISTENCE AND PAY YOUR TAXES. IF YOU'RE GONNA TELL ME I CAN'T SELL ANY MORE ALCOHOL, ONCE I REACH THAT PLATEAU, THEN WHAT'S THE POINT? WE HAVE TO CLOSE OUR DOORS. SO IF THAT STIGMA WAS ON THAT PROPERTY, I WOULD'VE NOT BOUGHT IT. I WOULD'VE PASSED IT. NOTHING. AND LAST QUESTION, 'CAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE A, A VERY LONG LIST OF SPEAKERS TODAY. YES. UM, THE PROPERTY THAT YOU PURCHASED CURRENTLY DOES NOT HAVE ANYTHING ON IT RIGHT NOW. IT HAS, IT HAS HOMES ON IT. YES. IT'S A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY CURRENTLY. SO YOU HAVE NOT BUILT IT'S A COMMERCIAL RESIDENCE PROPERTY. YES. OKAY. BUT YOU HAVE NOT BUILT ANYTHING TOWARDS WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING RIGHT NOW? NOT YET. OKAY. AS IT IS IN THE PLANS. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL COUNCILWOMAN KNOX. THANK YOU MAYOR. MR. MOSELEY, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT, THAT THIS ORDINANCE, UM, HASN'T BEEN DONE YET. UH, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SOMEBODY'S BOTHERED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT. IT'S PASSED A WHILE BACK. UH, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SOMEONE'S DONE THAT. SO WE'RE, WE'RE BUMPING UP IN NEW TERRITORY HERE. SO THE THING IS THOUGH, THAT ACCORDING TO MY UNDERSTANDING, WHAT YOU CURRENTLY OWN NOW, THE BAR, THE RESTAURANTS THAT YOU OWN NOW ARE UNAFFECTED BECAUSE THEY'RE GRANDFATHERED IN. IF YOU OWNED A BAR SIX INCHES FROM THE FRONT DOOR OF THAT DAYCARE CENTER, AND IT WAS CURRENTLY IN OPERATION THIS MINUTE, IT WOULD STILL BE ABLE TO FUNCTION AND OPERATE. IT JUST COULDN'T BE REPLACED BY A NEW OWNER. SO THE IDEA IS EVENTUALLY CLEAR THE AREA EVENTUALLY, AS FAR AS YOUR RESTAURANT. UM, THE 50, ACTUALLY, THE, THE LAW IS THAT ON THE 51%, ANYTHING LESS THAN 51%, YOU'RE NOT A BAR. SO IT HAS TO REACH THE LEVEL OF 51%. THEN YOU'RE A BAR AND YOU'RE NOT A RESTAURANT. UM, THE TABC CURRENTLY REQUIRES LICENSE HOLDERS. SO IF YOU HAVE A RESTAURANT WITH MOTION TO EXTEND, MOTION TO EXTEND SECOND ROBINSON. NO OBJECTION. GRANTED. SO IF, IF YOU HAVE A RESTAURANT AND, AND YOU HAVE A LIQUOR LICENSE FOR WINE AND BEER OR YOU KNOW, OR SPIRITS OR WHATEVER IT IS, YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE TO DOCUMENT THAT REGULARLY TO THE, TO THE STATE OF TEXAS ANYWAY. SO NO CHANGE WOULD BE MADE IN, IN THAT CASE? I WOULD THINK SO. YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOUR BUSINESS MODEL ABOUT YOU'RE SELLING A 10 BOTTLE, $10 HAMBURGER, AND A $61 BOTTLE OF WINE, THAT'S FOR ONE CUSTOMER. BUT OVER TIME, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE PEOPLE BUYING HAMBURGERS WITHOUT BUYING ALCOHOL. THIS IS WHAT REGULAR RESTAURANTS DO. THEY HAVE FAMILIES COME IN, THEY, THE FAMILY EATS. NOT EVERYBODY BUYS ALCOHOL. SO THE OVERALL TICKET, THE OVERALL MONTHLY AVERAGE IS LESS THAN 51%. UM, AND THAT MAKES THEM RESTAURANTS AND NOT BARS. THE OTHER THING IS, I THINK THIS ALSO APPLIES TO LIQUOR STORES 'CAUSE THEY'RE A HUNDRED PERCENT SELL ALCOHOL. UM, SO I DON'T DID YOU HAVE A RESPONSE TO ANY OF THAT OR, I MEAN, WELL, I DON'T HAVE TO, I DON'T GET, I, I GUESS I'M SAYING IS I, I I WANT TO, BUT I DON'T SEE YOUR POINT BECAUSE MY EXPERIENCE WITH RESTAURANTS IS SUCH THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO FUNCTION UNDER THAT 51% MARGIN ALL THE TIME. WELL, I, I CAN SAY THIS, THE HEIST IS, IS VERY POPULAR NOW. WE, WE ARE A, UH, FREE ZONE OF ALCOHOL. OKAY? IT'S BEEN TRIED [01:05:01] OVER HUNDREDS OF YEARS AND WE PASSED IT. IT'S BOOMING. EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK, THERE'S RESTAURANTS AND BARS EVERYWHERE. IT'S JUST A BURDEN WHEN YOU HAVE THE STIGMA ON YOUR LOCATION WHERE YOU GET TO THAT POINT. YOU CANNOT SELL GOOD BOTTLES OF WINE, GOOD BOTTLES OF BEERS OR GOOD BOTTLES OF LIQUOR. YOU HAVE TO SIT HERE AND CHARGE LESS CHEAPER BRANDS TO MEET THE, THE CRITERIA OF THE 51%. AND WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU'RE BRINGING THE WRONG ELEMENTS INTO YOUR ESTABLISHMENT. I DON'T WANT THAT. BUT YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO SURVIVE. RIGHT. SO, OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND, AND SHARING YOUR INFORMATION WITH US. APPRECIATE IT. OKAY. THANKS GARY. YEP. NICK. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER, MAXIMUS CORTEZ MAXIMUS CORTEZ IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY RICHARD WHEELS. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR SEEING ME TODAY. UH, I COME, UH, BEFORE YOU TODAY TO ASK THAT YOU VOTE NO ON AGENDA ITEM 13 FOR THE, UH, BOSTON DYNAMICS, UH, QUADRUPLE, UH, ROBOT. I, I THINK IT'S, IS THAT A ROBOT DOC? YEAH. I'M BASICALLY ASKING YOU TO, TO VOTE NO ON THAT RIGHT NOW. UM, UH, JUST BECAUSE I, THERE'S A LOT OF, A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE ABOUT IT. I'VE ALREADY SENT A LOT OF YOU, UH, AN EMAIL ABOUT IT AND AN EMAIL'S ALREADY BEEN FORWARDED TO HPD TO, TO INVESTIGATE MY INQUIRY. UH, BUT MY, MY, MY THING IS, UM, IF RECORD CONCERNED IS ABOUT SAFETY AT HOMELAND SECURITY, UM, LET'S SEE, BACK IN 2019 WHEN ITC HAPPENED, I WAS A THIRD PARTY CONTRACTOR AT, UH, THE GE GE PORT FACILITY ON, ON JUST AN PORT AND CHANNELVIEW, BUT IT HAS A HOUSTON ADDRESS. AND, UH, I WAS THERE AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHEN THE ITC PLANT BLEW UP AND, YOU KNOW, AND THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LOT OF SMOKE OVER THE, OVER THE CITY FOR A WHOLE, FOR LIKE A WHOLE WEEK. AND THERE WAS, UH, FEARS OF BENZENE AND OTHER POLLUTANTS IN THE AIR. AND, UM, THE REASON I, I MENTIONED ALL OF THAT IS TO SAY THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WORKING THERE, UH, THERE WAS NO SIRENS, THERE WAS NO TEXT MESSAGES FROM ANYBODY. THERE WAS NO EMAIL EVEN FROM MY, FROM MY, UH, PEOPLE AT THAT GE. I, I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS, UH, CAN WE, UH, FOR THE TIME BEING WAIT AND SEE ON, ON THIS ROBOT RIGHT NOW AND, AND GO AHEAD AND INSTALL SIRENS, SO FOR HURRICANES, FOR LIKE IF ANOTHER ITC HAPPENS AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN DO, YOU KNOW, LAUNCH THOSE SIRENS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH THE HURRICANE AND SHELTER IN PLACE HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME, I MEAN, THAT COULD, THAT COULD HAPPEN, RIGHT? I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY, UH, IS TO, TO WAIT AND SEE AND TO, AND TO INSTALL SIRENS. AND, AND Y'ALL ALREADY, UH, H HP ALREADY HAS ROBOT, UH, ROBOTS, UH, ALREADY AND 2013, UH, WAS A THIRD PARTY CONTRACTOR AT EXXONMOBIL, AT THE GREENWAY PLAZA, UH, FACILITY. AND, UH, SOMEONE LEFT THE BACKPACK IN THE STAIRWELL. THEY BROUGHT HPD, BROUGHT THE LITTLE ROBOT IT WITH LITTLE, YOU KNOW, TWO LITTLE, UH, THEY JUST ROLLED AND, AND IT, IT WORKED JUST FINE. UH, I'M JUST SAYING THIS BECAUSE, UH, UH, SOME OF THESE, SOME OF THESE FROM BOSTON DYNAMICS USE, UH, AI CHAT GPT, AND THEY CAN TALK TO PEOPLE. OKAY. SECOND, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED AND, AND I'M AFRAID I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING THE OBJECTION. MAYBE, UH, COUNCILMAN MCCAMMON? YEAH, MAYOR, I, I, JUST TO CLARIFY, UH, THE, THE ITEM THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING ON RELATED TO THE AGENDA HAS TO DO WITH, UM, BOMB DEACTIVATION TECHNOLOGY. SO RATHER THAN BEING, RATHER THAN HAVING TO SEND A PERSONNEL FROM HPD, RIGHT? YEAH. A HUMAN BEING INTO, LET'S SAY WHERE THE, THE BAG IS. YEAH. USING YOUR EXAMPLE, IT ALLOWS A MACHINE TO FIRST GO IN AND ANALYZE THAT. UM, YOU RAISE A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT, I THINK, SEPARATELY AND INDEPENDENTLY ABOUT, UM, CHEMICAL DISCLOSURES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND WE JUST HAD A PRETTY ROBUST CONVERSATION WHEN BILL KELLY AND YOUR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TEAM CAME TO BFA TODAY, WHERE THE CITY HAS PROACTIVELY BEEN TRYING TO DO, UM, INCREASES IN DISCLOSURE LAWS, RIGHT. ACCESS FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW WHAT IS AROUND THEM, BECAUSE THAT'S AN, AN IMPORTANT, RIGHT. UM, EACH STEP OF THE WAY, MAYOR, AS YOU KNOW, BUT JUST SO THE PUBLIC KNOWS, UM, THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS PRECLUDED THE CITY FROM BEING ABLE TO DO THAT. IT'S CALLED, UM, TIER REPORTING, AND WE'RE FOCUSING OR TRYING TO FOCUS ON TIER TWO REPORTING RIGHT NOW TO ALERT RESIDENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO I, I'M LIKE, YOU MAY NOT NECESSARILY FOLLOWING THE CONNECTION. I THINK BOTH ARE IMPORTANT, BUT I DID WANNA CLARIFY WHAT THAT ITEM IS. I HAD QUESTIONS SIMILAR TO YOURS, AND I, I GOT SOME GOOD RESPONSES BACK FROM HPD AND, AND MY FEAR IS THAT, YOU KNOW, A ROBOTS, YOU KNOW, JUST THAT THEY'RE MIGHT, DO THEY HAVE DEFENSE SYSTEMS? DO THEY ATTACK AND THEY HURT? I UNDERSTAND. YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MM-HMM . NEXT SPEAKER. RICHARD WILLS, UH, HE IS, RICHARD IS PRESENT TO BE FOLLOWED BY CRISPIN RICHARDS. UH, MY NAME IS RICHARD WILLS MAYOR. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS. [01:10:01] THANK YOU. I'M HERE JUST TO PROVIDE CONTEXT WITH THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CODE AS IT RELATES TO SECTION 1 0 9 0.331, UM, RESTAURANTS THAT ARE NEAR DAYCARES. THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CODE ALREADY PROVIDES, UH, CONTEXT AND CODIFIED LAW THAT WILL ALLOW A RESTAURANT THAT HOLDS A FOOD AND BEVERAGE PERMIT TO BE NEXT TO A, TO A DAYCARE CENTER OR WITHIN 300 FEET OF THE DAYCARE CENTER. TO QUALIFY FOR THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE PERMIT, YOU NEED 60% ALCOHOL SALES VERSUS 40% FOOD SALES. IT USED TO BE 51%, BUT THE STATE RAISED IT YEARS AGO BECAUSE RESTAURANTS WERE NOT MAKING IT WITH 51% ALCOHOL SALES. SO TODAY, I WANT TO BE CLEAR, TO QUALIFY TO BE A RESTAURANT WITH A FOOD AND BEVERAGE PERMIT, AND TO HAVE A MIXED BEVERAGE PERMIT, OR TO HAVE A BEER AND WINE PERMIT TO BE NEXT TO YOU CAN BE WITHIN 300 FEET OF A DAYCARE CENTER. SO THAT IS ALREADY ON THE BOOKS. SO I'M NOT SURE WHY THE CITY OR WOULD SEE TO PASS AN ORDINANCE TO HAVE AN ALCOHOL FREE ZONE WHEN THE LAW'S ALREADY THERE. YOU CAN'T BE A BAR AND BE NEXT TO A DAYCARE CENTER. YOU HAVE TO BE FURTHER THAN 300 FEET. THE, THE, THE CODE SAYS THAT SECTION 1 0 9 0.331, IT'S ALREADY CODIFIED. SO I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO OFFER THIS, THAT CITY COUNTING AND STATE CONSISTENCY IN THE STABILITY IS NECESSARY FOR PEOPLE ENTERING A HIGHLY REGULATED MARKETPLACE. TEXAS IS ONE OF THE MOST REGULATED ALCOHOL INDUSTRIES IN THE COUNTRY. ALLOWING AN ALCOHOL FREE ZONE AROUND A DAYCARE FACILITY HAS THE POTENTIAL TO DESTABILIZE THE MARKETPLACE AS IT RELATES TO STRIP CENTERS, SHOPPING CENTERS, AND STANDALONE BUILDINGS AS WE KNOW THEM, THAT ARE ALREADY NEAR DAYCARE CENTERS THAT ALREADY HAVE PERMITS, AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THEM IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT THIS WILL IMPACT FROM AN INDUSTRY THAT BARELY SURVIVED THE PANDEMIC. AND IT DOES NEED MORE. IT DOESN'T NEED MORE RESTRICTIONS TO REGAIN, ITS ALREADY VULNERABLE FOOTHOLD IN THE MARKETPLACE. AND IT IS VULNERABLE. THEY WERE TOUGH. I'M IN THE BUSINESS. RESTAURATEURS WOULD CALL ME DURING THE PANDEMIC. WHAT CAN WE DO? THE STATE DID OFFER SOME REPRIEVE DURING THE PANDEMIC, BUT I AM TELLING YOU, THEY ARE IN SHAKY GROUND, VERY SHAKY GROUND TODAY. AND TO IMPOSE MORE RESTRICTIONS ON A ALREADY HIGHLY REGULATED INDUSTRY JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME. AND I SAY THAT WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR, AND KNOX KNOX. UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, SIR, LISTEN, I'M, I'M VERY SENSITIVE TO THIS ISSUE ABOUT OVERREGULATION AND GOVERNMENT GETTING INVOLVED IN OTHER PEOPLE'S BUSINESS, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. YES, SIR. BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU'RE SAYING HERE IS THAT THE STATE ALREADY HAS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT PROHIBITS A BAR OR RESTAURANT OR LIQUOR, I MEAN, A BAR OR LIQUOR STORE WITHIN 300 FEET OF A DAYCARE CENTER OR A SCHOOL, UH, DAYCARE, SIR. OKAY. I WAS UNAWARE OF IT. I THOUGHT THERE WAS LIKE A, A 600 OR A THOUSAND FOOT RULE. I'LL EXPLAIN THAT. THERE IS, UH, HISD, UM, KLINE, ISD, SPRING, I-S-D-K-D-I-S-D ALL HAVE THE CITIES OF ALL ENACTED WHAT THEY CALL AN ENABLING WHILE HAVING AN ALCOHOL, A 1000 FOOT ALCOHOL FREE ZONE. YOU CANNOT SELL ALCOHOL WITHIN A THOUSAND FEET OF AN HISD SCHOOL. YEAH. I'M VERY AWARE. BUT THAT, BUT THAT IS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS, AND THEY'RE DEFINED IN THE CODE. THEY'RE DEFINED IN THE HUMAN RESOURCE CODE. A DAYCARE IS NOT A PRIVATE SCHOOL, WHICH WAS THAT BROUGHT THE NECESSITY TO CREATE THE ORDINANCE FOR THE DAYCARES. Y YEAH, BUT YOU, YOU, IT'S, YOU'RE REALLY, IT'S UNLOCKING SOMETHING THAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW. YOU'RE TALKING SHOPPING CENTERS THAT HAVE DAYCARES. YOU MAY HAVE AN HEB THAT HAS AN ON-PREMISE PERMIT IN A SHOPPING CENTER. AND IF THEY'RE WITHIN 300 FEET, WELL, ACTUALLY, IF THEY'RE PREEXISTING, IF THEY'RE CURRENTLY EXISTING. NOW, WHAT HAPPENS IF HEB WANTS TO SELL THEIR BUSINESS, SIR? WELL, THEN WHAT HAPPENS? THEY'RE OUTTA LUCK, AREN'T THEY? YEAH. WELL, NO, THE, BUT THAT'S NOT FAIR BECAUSE THE CODES, THE LAWS ARE ALREADY, THE LAWS ARE ALREADY OUT THE BOOKS. WELL, YOU'RE IN BUSINESS, RIGHT? PARDON? YOU'RE IN BUSINESS, RIGHT? YES. THERE'S NOT MUCH ABOUT BUSINESS THAT IS FAIR. IT'S ABOUT LEVERAGE. IT'S ABOUT PRODUCT SHARE, MARKET SHARE. IT'S ABOUT DOING WHAT YOU CAN DO TO GET YOUR, YOUR CLIENTS IN THE DOOR. THERE'S NOTHING REALLY FAIR ABOUT BUSINESS. SO, AND I'M A BIG FAN OF BUSINESS. I THINK IT'S GREAT AMERICAN ENTERPRISE AND ALL THAT. WHAT, I GUESS MY POINT IS, I SEE YOUR ARGUMENT, AND I AGREE WITH [01:15:01] YOU, THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE REGULATING BUSINESSES OUT OF BUSINESS. BUT THIS ONE, UM, IT HAS A, UH, A GRANDFATHERING CLAUSE IN THERE THAT ALLOWS EXISTING PROPERTIES, EXISTING BUSINESSES TO REMAIN. AS LONG AS THEY MAINTAIN THEIR LICENSE, THEY'RE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR BUSINESS AT THEIR, AT WHATEVER THEY'RE DOING. RIGHT NOW, THIS IS ONLY ABOUT FUTURE BUSINESSES COMING IN. AND SO I, I, I JUST DON'T SEE THE ISSUE. I DON'T SEE THE SEE THE POINT, UH, ABOUT WHY, WHY THE, THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT LIVES AROUND THERE WOULDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE AN IMPACT IN HOW THEY WANT TO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THEY LIVE. BUT HOW ABOUT IF I OWNED A BUSINESS AND I HAD IT FOR 20 YEARS, AND I WANTED TO SELL IT, AND IT WAS A RESTAURANT IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WELL LIKED BY LIKE, MR. WELL, YOU COULD SELL IT AS A RESTAURANT. IT'S JUST A BAR OR THE LIQUOR STORE THAT YOU CAN'T SELL. YOU MEAN I, I COULD SELL THE RESTAURANT, BUT IT COULD GO OUTTA BUSINESS BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T HAVE AN ALCOHOL PERMIT? NO, IT COULD HAVE AN ALCOHOL PERMIT. AS LONG AS THE RESTAURANT IS NOT A BAR. IF IT'S NOT SELLING MORE THAN 51% OF, OF ALCOHOL, THEN IT, IT'S A RESTAURANT. IT'S NOT A BAR, BUT, AND IT CAN, CAN, A A NEW RESTAURANT CAN GO INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEXT DOOR TO THIS DAYCARE CENTER. AS LONG AS THEY'RE NOT SELLING MORE THAN 51% ALCOHOL, ACCORDING, THAT'S HOW I UNDERSTAND. BUT 51%, BUT THE LAW ALREADY STATES 60% TO QUALIFY AS A RESTAURANT. WELL, THE CITY ORDINANCE SAYS 51%. SO THERE'S THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, AND, AND THE, THE OLD LAW WAS 51%. THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE 51% SIGNS FOR PEOPLE THAT CARRY GUNS. YOU KNOW, YOU PUT THOSE SIGNS UP SO THEY DON'T WALK IN THERE CARRYING A GUN. YEAH. THAT ALTHOUGH IT'S THEIR RIGHT TO CARRY A, A GUN, THAT'S, THAT'S SEPARATE FROM WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. WELL, IT'S A 51% RULE, BASICALLY. YEAH. SO THE 51% RULE ONLY APPLIES TO BARS AND LIQUOR STORES DOESN'T APPLY TO RESTAURANTS. SO ANY RESTAURANT AT ANY TIME AFTER THIS ORDINANCE GETS, IF WE PASS THIS, THEY CAN MOVE IN NEXT DOOR TO THE DAYCARE CENTER IF IT'S A RESTAURANT. YEAH. AND THE GRANDFATHER CLAUSE IS FOR HOW LONG? 30 DAYS THE GRANDFATHER CLAUSE IS, AS LONG AS THAT PERSON MAINTAINS THEIR LICENSE. YEAH. BUT THEN IT WITH A C AGAIN, UNDER MY EXAMPLE, IF I SELL MY BUSINESS, YES, SOMEBODY ELSE WILL HAVE TO OPEN A D IF IT'S A BAR, THEN SOMEBODY WILL HAVE TO OPEN A DIFFERENT KIND OF BUSINESS AT THAT LOCATION. BUT THAT'S FUTURE SALES. THAT'S NOT CURRENT THING THAT WE'RE DOING NOW. YEAH. THIS WILL AFFECT THOUSANDS OF LOCATIONS IN, IN HOUSTON. DO YOU REALIZE THAT I DO UNDER A, UNDER A ALREADY HIGHLY REGULATED INDUSTRY? WELL, RIGHT NOW, IT'S JUST GONNA AFFECT THE BUSINESSES AROUND THE ONE WE'RE PASSING. YEAH. BUT IF, BECAUSE EACH ONE OF THESE HAS TO BE DONE SEPARATELY. I UNDERSTAND THAT, SIR. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MM-HMM . THANK YOU, COUNCIL. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER, CRISPIN RICHARDS TO BE FOLLOWED BY KELLY ROSEN. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME'S CRISPIN RICHARDS. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. UM, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM FOUR, THE ALCOHOL FREE ZONE AROUND HEIGHTS, PRESCHOOL, AND EARLY LEARNING CENTER. UM, THERE ARE MANY ORDINANCES THAT RECOGNIZE THAT SOME BUSINESSES SHOULD BE SEPARATE FROM OTHERS. THIS IS JUST LIKE THAT ONE, SORRY. THERE ARE MANY ORDINANCES THAT RECOGNIZE THAT SOME BUSINESSES SHOULD BE SEPARATE FROM OTHERS. THIS IS JUST LIKE THAT ONE. UM, I'M SURPRISED IT'S NOT A RIGHT, FRANKLY, BUT WE'RE HERE TO APPLY. WE FOLLOWED THE PROCESS. UM, KELLY KELLY'S DILIGENTLY PUT OUT SIGNAGE, UH, MAILED LETTERS, WORKED WITH THE CITY TO CLARIFY THE ISSUES AND DOWN TO THE LANGUAGE. AND, UM, SO I THINK WE FOLLOWED THE PROCESS. SHE'S RUN A LEGITIMATE BUSINESS FOR OVER 10 YEARS, HAS OVER 20 EMPLOYEES, OVER A HUNDRED CHILDREN IN HER CHARGE DURING THE DAYS. UM, AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS, UH, THIS ALCOHOL FREE ZONE WILL BE OF BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY. IT'LL, IT'LL CERTAINLY HELP WITH PUBLIC SAFETY AS, AS A GUY WHO'S BEEN HIT BY A DRUNK DRIVER, ACTUALLY IN THE HEIGHTS MYSELF. UM, YOU KNOW, ONE LESS BAR IS, YOU KNOW, OR AT LEAST A, A BAR AWAY FROM A DAYCARE CAN'T BE A BAD THING. I, I FEEL SURE PEOPLE CAN WALK TO BARS IF THAT'S WHAT THEY WANNA DO. I KNOW, I DO. AND I, AND I LIVE IN THE PROXIMITY, UM, QUALITY OF LIFE. IT LIMITS NOISE IN THE COMMUNITY. THAT 11TH STREET, NOW THAT YOU'VE DONE THE ADJUSTMENT ON 11TH STREET, BEAUTIFUL JOB, BY THE WAY. UM, IT HAS PUT EXTRA TRAFFIC ONTO 20TH STREET. SO WE, WE'D LIKE TO TRY AND CAP THAT WHERE IT IS NOW. UM, AND THEN PRESERVE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. YOU'VE GOT THE DIRECT, UH, OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT, AND ALSO, UH, LOTS OF PEOPLE WITHIN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD PUT THEIR CHILDREN IN THE DAYCARE AND THEN OFF TO SUPPORT THE CITY AND OTHER PLACES AND PAY THEIR TAXES. SO PLEASE, IF YOU WILL, I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE YOUR CONSCIENCE AND PASS THIS ONE. I, UH, COUNCILMAN MCCAIN. THANK YOU, MR. RICHARDS. IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU. YOU LIVE VERY CLOSE TO THIS PROPERTY, THE DAYCARE, IS THAT CORRECT? I DO. YEAH. UM, SAME AS MR. TIS DID. ABSOLUTELY. AND, [01:20:01] UH, I HAVE WHAT Y'ALL SENT ME. UM, I BELIEVE IT WAS EITHER YOU, UM, SOMEONE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD SENT ME A LIST OF OVER, THAT WOULD BE ME. WE HAVE SOME MORE NOW. GREAT. SO OVER 41 INDIVIDUAL SIGNATURES FROM RESIDENTS DIRECTLY IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. ARE YOU THE ONE THAT DID THIS? ALL OF THESE SIGNATURES? UM, AGAIN, HANDWRITTEN SIGNATURES, INDIVIDUALIZED NOTES IN SUPPORT YES. OF THIS SPECIFIC ZONE THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE. YEAH, WE ONLY HAD TWO HOURS ON SUNDAY, SO YOU ONLY GET 41. OKAY. SO YOU, BUT YOU ARE THE ONE THAT WENT DOOR TO DOOR. YEAH. ASKING RESIDENTS. AND I HAVE A COPY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I THINK THAT HAS BEEN CIRCULATED TO YOU ALL AS WELL. UM, AND YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS EFFORT, NOT JUST THE DAYCARE TO MAKE, TO IMPLEMENT THE ZONE AS A, A RESIDENT ON THIS STREET. AGAIN, IT ONLY IMPACTS 300 FEET, SO, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. UM, I MET KELLY WHEN ACTUALLY SHE WAS, UH, SORT OF INTERFACING WITH THE NEIGHBORS ABOUT A, A DIFFERENT MATTER. AND, UM, SO YEAH, WE, WE, UH, THIS, THAT EVOLVED TO THIS, AND SO WE'VE HELPED SUPPORT HER. AND, UM, I BELIEVE UNDER THE ORDINANCE, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT, UM, IT'S FOR RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES SPECIFICALLY, IT HAS TO BE OVER 75%, BUT I THINK THIS AREA ACTUALLY HAS EVEN MORE THAN THAT. UM, BUT YOU MENTIONED YOU'VE HAD NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS ON THIS YES. AS WELL. YES. SO IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS, HAS THERE BEEN SUPPORT FOR THIS OR OPPOSITION TO IT? UM, ABSOLUTELY. ALMOST UNIVERSAL. UH, WE, WE ACTUALLY HAD 40 SIGNATURES. WE SPOKE TO 41 PEOPLE. THERE WAS ONE LAWYER WHO SAID HE HAD TO LOOK AT IT TYP AS A LAWYER. I WILL SAY TYPICAL LAWYER ANSWER, BUT I KNOW, I, I DID LAUGH. OKAY. UH, THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING US WITH THESE SIGNATURES. AGAIN, I JUST GOT THESE TODAY, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. YEAH, WE HAVE MORE THE BACKGROUND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, KELLY ROSEN. KELLY IS HERE TO BE FILED BY ROSALYN FORD. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M KELLY ROSE. I AM THE OWNER OF SAID DAYCARE. UM, ACTUALLY, WE CALL OURSELVES A CHILDCARE FACILITY. UM, I'VE BEEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR QUITE SOME TIME. UM, WE PURCHASED THE PROPERTY IN 2011. UM, WE'VE BEEN OPERATING FOR OVER 11 YEARS AT THIS LOCATION. UM, I GUESS ONE OF THE THINGS I WANNA SPEAK TO IS THE WHY, WHY NOW? THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS COME UP. UM, I HONESTLY DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT WASN'T A GIVEN UNTIL JUST THIS PAST JANUARY WHEN I WAS LOOKING. I HAD ACTUALLY BOUGHT THE, A PIECE OF PROPERTY CATTYCORNER TO WORK ON PUTTING A PARKING LOT IN TO HELP EASE SOME OF THE CONGESTION IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND SO WHEN I WAS WORKING ON GETTING THAT AT 2019 OXFORD CADDY CORNER FROM MY CURRENT PLACE AT 2064, I FOUND AT THAT TIME THAT IT WAS NOT A GIVEN. I DID NOT KNOW THAT, BECAUSE WHEN I HAD GONE TO LOOK TO RENT OR TO DO EXPANSIONS AND THAT KIND OF STUFF, WHENEVER A REALTOR WOULD SHOW ME A PLACE, LIKE, I CAN'T SHOW YOU THIS PLACE BECAUSE THERE'S THIS, THERE, I CAN'T SHOW YOU THIS PLACE BECAUSE THIS, THERE'S THIS THERE. I, WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT THAT WASN'T THE CASE, THAT'S WHEN WE TALKED TO SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS AND THEY STARTED TO HELP ME GET THIS BALL ROLLING AND HAVE COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN. UM, WE HAVE OVER A HUNDRED KIDS THAT SHARE OUR 84 SPOTS DAILY. WE ARE OPEN MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM SEVEN IN THE MORNING UNTIL FIVE 30 EVERY EVENING WITH SOME OCCASIONAL PARENT NIGHT OUTS ON SATURDAY NIGHTS. UM, A LOT OF OUR KIDS RIDE BIKES WITH THEIR, WITH THEIR FAMILIES, OR ARE IN STROLLERS, OR THE DOG COMES ALONG AND THEY, YOU KNOW, HAVE A WHOLE FAMILY WALK IN THE MORNING. AND MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE SAFETY OF THE KIDS. IF SOMEONE IS ESTABLISHING A BAR, I AM NOT TRYING TO DO ANYTHING IN THE RESTAURANTS. I HAVE ONE PERSON SAY, OH, YOU'RE TRYING TO TAKE OUT THE, NO. EVERYTHING THAT'S THERE OPERATES AS IT NORMALLY IS. IT'S JUST THAT WE DON'T HAVE A NEW BAR COMING INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE DON'T HAVE A NEW LIQUOR STORE COMING INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITHIN 300 FEET. AND THIS ONLY AFFECTS THE PEOPLE IN THIS 300 FOOT RADIUS OF 2064 OXFORD STREET. AND AS FAR AS THE PROCEDURES AND SAYING THAT WE DIDN'T FOLLOW PROCEDURES, UM, AND MR. MOSLEY HAD MENTIONED, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY, UM, MUCH WITH, UM, THE DEPARTMENT OF REGULATORY AFFAIRS AND TALKING WITH THEM, THEY ACTUALLY WERE LIKE, OKAY, WE 300 FOOT RADIUS. SO WE WENT THROUGH AND WE MADE THE 300 FOOT. ACTUALLY MR. RICHARDS WENT THROUGH AND MADE 300 FOOT RADIUS. WE ACTUALLY WENT 400 FEET JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DIDN'T ACCIDENTALLY LEAVE ANYBODY OUT. UM, WE GOT THOSE, THE ADDRESSES AND THE CONTACTS FROM HCAD. WE SENT, THIS IS A LIST OF EVERYBODY SENT THE MAPS, SENT THE ADDRESSES TO THE REGULATORY AFFAIRS OFFICE, HAD THEM CONFIRM THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WE NEED TO SEND LETTERS TO. THEN I WENT OVER AND WE, I WROTE AND SIGNED MY NAME TO ALL THE DIFFERENT LETTERS THAT WENT OUT, AND THEY WERE MAILED. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE ALSO PLACED ON THE 20TH STREET SIDE AND THE OXFORD STREET SIDE, [01:25:01] THE, UM, NOTICE THAT WE WERE APPLYING FOR THE ZONE. AND WE'VE KEPT IT UP PAST THE 30 DAYS. WE'VE KEPT IT UP. IT'S STILL THERE NOW. ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN MCKAY. UM, KELLY, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR COMING. UH, I, IF YOU WANNA WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS IN LIKE 20 OR 30 SECONDS, AGAIN, WE HAVE A LONG LIST, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE YOU'RE ABLE TO WRAP UP. MOSTLY. I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I FEEL THAT WE FOLLOWED THE PROCEDURES WE'VE BEEN WORKING AND, AND WITH, UH, THE DEPARTMENT OF REGULATORY AFFAIRS, AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY, UM, TAKEN CARE OF. THANK YOU. AND JUST BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED IT, UM, YOU HAVE OVER HOW MANY CHILDREN THERE? SO, WE'RE LICENSED FOR 84 KIDS A DAY, BUT WE HAVE OVER A HUNDRED KIDS THAT SPLIT THOSE SPOTS. WE HAVE SOME PART-TIME STUDENTS. WE HAVE SOME FULL-TIME STUDENTS. UM, WE HAVE KIDS FIVE DAYS, AND WE HAVE KIDS TWO DAYS. IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE FAMILY'S NEEDS. GREAT. AND I KNOW WE HAVE A, UM, A, A PACKET OF LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM WHAT I CAN SEE AGAIN MM-HMM . I JUST GOT THIS TODAY, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THOSE ARE DIRECTLY IN THAT AREA. YES. UM, I'M ASSUMING THAT FAMILIES THAT GO TO THE DAYCARE YOU HAVE ALSO SPOKEN TO, THEY MAY, I'M, I'M ASSUMING IT'S A LOCALIZED YES. FAMILY POPULATION, BUT WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD FROM THE PARENTS? SO, WE'VE BEEN ACTUALLY HAVING MEETINGS AT JENNY'S NOODLE HOUSE A COUPLE TIMES. UM, THEY'VE ACTUALLY JUST STARTED SERVING BREAKFAST, AND WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO HAVE MORE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. SO WE'VE BEEN GOING OVER THERE, HAVING OUR MEETINGS AND JUST MAKING THEM AWARE. AND SEVERAL OF 'EM WERE LIKE, LET US KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO. DO WE NEED TO BE COMING? YOU KNOW? AND SO AT THIS POINT, I MEAN IT, THEY'RE OVERWHELMINGLY WANT THERE NOT TO BE A BAR OR A LIQUOR STORE NEXT TO THE PRESCHOOL FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER. ROSALYN FORD. ROSALYN FORD, ROSALYN. NEXT SPEAKER, CHRIS PRATT. CHRIS PRATT IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY KIMBERLY LEE. HELLO. THANK YOU. UH, FIRST LET ME SPEAK TO YOU AGAIN. I WAS HERE TWO WEEKS AGO, UH, REQUESTING THAT SOMETHING PLEASE BE DONE ABOUT THE STANDARD BAR. UM, ALSO KNOWN AS EL PATO. NOW AT, UH, WEST, UH, 7 0 2 WEST DALLAS STREET. UH, THEY HAVE NO SOUND PERMIT. THEY'RE CONTINUING TO MAKE SOUND, UM, AT ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT. AND, UH, THEY EVEN WENT SO FAR AS TO BLAST OFF FIREWORK SHOW, BOTH SUNDAY BEFORE, UM, 4TH OF JULY, AND ON NIGHT OF FOURTH JULY AFTER 1:00 AM IN THE MORNING, UH, WHICH WAS HIGHLY DISRUPTIVE AND WOKE US UP. UM, SO I MEAN, IT'S JUST, IT'S GOTTEN TO THE POINT OF RIDICULOUSNESS NOW. UM, SOMETHING REALLY NEEDS TO BE DONE. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO STOP UNTIL THE CITY MAKES THEM STOP. WHY WOULD THEY, UM, TURNING OFF THE VOLUME MEANS THEY BASICALLY GO OUTTA BUSINESS. THEY'RE A CLUB. SO THE CITY NEEDS TO STEP IN AND ACTUALLY TAKE SOME SORT OF ACTION TO END THIS PROBLEM FOR RESIDENTS. COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU MR. PRATT FOR COMING AGAIN. MAYOR, BASICALLY, WE HAVE A, A BUSINESS HERE THAT'S OPERATING WITHOUT A PERMIT, AND THEY CONTINUE TO RACK UP HUNDREDS OF CITATIONS. ALL THE WORK WE DID, I KNOW WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION BEFORE. ALL THE WORK WE DID TO STRENGTHEN THE NOISE ORDINANCE WAS TO MAKE IT SO YOU DID PE RESIDENTS DIDN'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE YEARS THAT THESE CITATIONS CAN DRAG THROUGH THE COURT. WE BROUGHT 'EM IN FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING. THEIR PERMIT WAS REVOKED, WHICH MEANS THEY CAN'T PLAY MUSIC AFTER 10 ON WEEKDAYS, OR 11 ON WEEK WEEKENDS. THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS. YOU CAN'T OPERATE WITHOUT A PERMIT YET. IT STILL GOES ON. I'M GONNA KEEP BEATING THIS DRUM. I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHY WE DID WHAT WE DID IF WE CAN'T STOP THEM FROM DOING THIS. SO, THANK YOU, MR. PRATT. I'M WITH YOU. I, I THINK WE NEED TO WALK IN THERE AND UNPLUG THE SOUND EQUIPMENT AT 10 O'CLOCK. YEP. AND, AND THAT'S, THAT'S, WE, WE CANNOT GIVE THE HOPE THAT THERE'S GONNA BE SOME KIND OF RELIEF AFTER ALL THESE RESIDENTS COME DOWN AND TESTIFY AT A HEARING. THE JUDGE MAKES THE RIGHT DECISION, SAYS NO MORE SOUND PERMIT. THEY CAN STILL PLAY UNDER THE, THE RECOMMENDED LEVELS 65 DURING THE, THE DAY, 58 UNTIL 10 O'CLOCK. BUT THEN IT'S SHUT DOWN WITHOUT, WITHOUT A PERMIT. YOU CAN'T GO OVER THOSE DECIBEL LEVELS. AND IF YOU'RE WITHIN 300 FEET OF A RESIDENCE, AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU CANNOT PLAY MUSIC. NOW, THIS STANDARD BAR THAT HAD ITS LIQUOR LICENSE IN JEOPARDY ON WASHINGTON, MOVED OVER TO DALLAS. NOW THEY'RE RENAMING THEMSELVES EL BLATO. SO THEY HAVE THE NERVE, IT'S THE SAME PEOPLE. THEY HAVE THE NERVE TO GO IN AND APPLY FOR A SOUND PERMIT UNDER THE NEW NAME. AND THANKFULLY, THAT WAS REJECTED. BUT TOMORROW THERE'S A HEARING AT 10 O'CLOCK [01:30:01] ON THAT APPEAL FOR THAT SOUND PERMIT. SO I'M DONE WITH THIS BAR MAYOR. I MEAN, I WILL POP OFF ABOUT IT EVERY WEEK FROM NOW UNTIL FOREVER, BECAUSE IT'S JUST UN WE FOLLOWED THE RULES. WE REWROTE, WE REWROTE THE ORDINANCE OVER A PERIOD OF 18 PLUS MONTHS. WE WORKED WITH LEGAL, WE WORKED WITH A RA, WE'VE GIVEN RESIDENTS THAT LIVE IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, SOME KIND OF HOPE. AND, AND NOW WE'RE LIKE, BASICALLY LIKE, WELL, I, I'M SORRY. IT'S STILL HAPPENING AND I CAN'T WRITE. I'M SORRY. IT'S STILL HAPPENING IN ANY MORE EMAILS ANY MORE TIMES. COUNCILMAN MCCAIN. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND MR. PRATT ECHOING COUNT, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. UM, AND I APPRECIATE HER PARTNERSHIP AND TAG TEAMING ON THIS ONE. 'CAUSE IT JUST KEEPS GOING AND GOING AND GOING INTO THAT POINT, I WANNA THANK YOU. UH, YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO KEEP COMING BACK. AND YOU ARE, AND IT TAKES TIME. SO AGAIN, I WANNA THANK YOU. UM, I MAYOR, YOU KNOW, WE DID ALL THESE PSAS AROUND EVEN NO FIREWORKS, AND WE HAVE A COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENT AND SHOOTING OFF FIREWORKS. UM, TO REFERENCE WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN WAS SAYING, I HAVE A MEMO HERE, UM, WHERE BLATO IS SPECIFICALLY THE SAME COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENT OWNERS AS THE STANDARD BAR. UM, MY QUESTION, I GUESS TO LEGAL IS, AND I KNOW WE'VE ASKED THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, BUT WHAT MORE CAN BE DONE TO COUNCILOR ALCORN'S POINT? YOU KNOW, SHE SAYS, GO IN AND UNPLUG. I SAY, IF YOU KEEP OPERATING, WHY ARE WE NOT SEIZING THE EQUIPMENT? WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE WE ABLE TO DO? AND WHAT IS HPD ABLE TO DO OTHER THAN CITATIONS? BECAUSE HPD IS ALSO BEING, YOU KNOW, IT'S A RESOURCE STRAIN AND EVERY SINGLE TIME THEY'RE HAVING IN MAY OVER THE HOLIDAYS, WHAT WE WERE TOLD WAS, UM, BECAUSE OFFICERS WERE HAVING TO RESPOND TO OTHER THINGS, WE HAD OTHERS ON PATROL THAT WERE NOT NECESSARILY EQUIPPED WITH SOUND METERS. AT A CERTAIN POINT, WE HAVE FUNDED ADDITIONAL SOUND METERS, BUT AGAIN, WE CAN'T FUND EVERY SINGLE PATROL CAR WITH THAT. BUT THE BAR OPERATORS WE HAVE BEEN TOLD ARE LITERALLY LAUGHING AT HPD OFFICERS WHEN THEY HAVE TO COME ON SITE EACH NIGHT, EACH TIME. SO, UM, I'M ASKING LEGAL, WHAT ELSE CAN WE BE DOING? UH, WELL, WE CAN'T, UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, THE, THE SOUND EQUIPMENT IS PRIVATE PROPERTY. YOU, YOU JUST CAN'T GO IN AND SEIZE HIS PRIVATE PROPERTY. THERE ARE SOME, THERE'S SOME ORDINANCES. TAKE A STEP BACK, SOME STATUTES THAT ALLOW FOR THE SEIZURE OF PROPERTY. THIS JUST DOESN'T FALL UNDER THAT. I CAN TELL YOU THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT IS LOOKING AT OTHER OPTIONS RIGHT NOW. UM, AND WHAT ELSE WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO IN TERMS OF, UH, SOME SORT OF CIVIL LAWSUIT. UM, WE DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER YET, BUT WE HOPE TO HAVE SOME VERY SOON. I, AND THE MATTER HAS BEEN HANDLED BY, UH, BY LEGAL, AND I'VE GIVEN THEM THE AUTHORIZATION TO TAKE WHATEVER STEPS OR RECOMMEND WHATEVER STEPS TO GIVE MEANING TO WHEN PERMITS ARE TAKEN OR WHEN PEOPLE RECEIVE CITATIONS. NOT JUST ON THIS ISSUE. IT'S EVEN WHEN PEOPLE ARE FEEDING, FOR EXAMPLE, IN FRONT OF OUR LIBRARIES. AND THEY'VE BEEN GETTING CITATION AFTER CITATION AFTER CITATION. SO LEGAL NOW, UH, IT BEEN INSTRUCTED TO, UH, COME UP WITH WHATEVER RECOMMENDATIONS OR SUGGESTIONS, UH, THAT WE CAN DO TO GIVE MEANING TO WHEN CITATIONS ARE ISSUED, UH, PERMITS ARE WITHDRAWN. SO WE ARE WAITING, UM, FOR THEIR, UH, RECOMMENDATION. MAYOR, ONE FOLLOW UP QUESTION, IF I MAY. UM, THE ONE ADDITIONAL QUESTION FOR LEGAL, AND Y'ALL CAN FOLLOW UP WITH ME. UM, I AM NOT A FAN OF THE PRA PRACTICE OF ASSET FORFEITURE JUST IN THIS COUNTRY. I DON'T SUPPORT IT, BUT LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS THAT RIGHT? AND IT IS A PRACTICE THAT IS DONE. SO WHAT IS THE POLICY WHEN IT COMES TO ASSET FORFEITURE FOR HPD? IT'S NOT APPLICABLE IN THIS SCENARIO. WE'VE ALREADY LOOKED INTO THAT. IT'S, UH, YEAH. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. MM-HMM . NEXT QUESTION. NEXT SPEAKER. KIMBERLY LEE. KIMBERLY LEE IS PRESENT TO BE FOLLOWED BY EMMANUEL THOMAS. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR TURNER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE COME BEFORE YOU. MY TEAM SHOULD BE STANDING UP BACK THERE. YES, WE COME BEFORE YOU TO ASK THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO HELP PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS BY ENFORCING THE KNOW THROUGH TRUCK ORDINANCES. FOUR FIVE DASH 2 72 CLEARLY STATES THAT WHEN SIGNS ARE ERECTED, STATING NO THROUGH TRUCKS, NO PERSON SHALL OPERATE ANY COMMERCIAL VEHICLE EXCEEDING 3000 POUNDS GROSS WEIGHT AT ANY TIME UPON ANY OF THE STREETS OR PARTS OF THE STREETS. SO SIGNED. SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE FACING IN OUR COMMUNITIES INCLUDE DAMAGES TO OUR STREETS. SOME OF OUR STREETS, WE, WE HAVE TO GO AT PROBABLY [01:35:01] THREE OR FOUR MILES DOWN THE STREETS BECAUSE THEY'RE SO TORN UP. UM, IT CREATES BLIND SPOTS FOR US WHEN THE TRUCKS ARE PARKED AND WE HAVE TO GO AROUND THEM. IT MAKES IT DANGEROUS FOR US TO DRIVE DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. WE HAVE NOISE AND EMISSION POLLUTION, THE PM 2.5 IN PARTICULAR, WHICH AFFECTS OUR HEALTH. UM, IF YOU RESEARCH THE PM 2.5, IT ATTACKS OUR HEARTS. IT ATTACKS OUR LUNGS. SO WE ARE JUST PLEADING TO YOU TO SEND THE ENFORCEMENT TEAM DOWN SO THAT THEY CAN HELP US PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY IN WAYS NECESSARY. WE DO CURRENTLY HAVE NO THROUGH SIGNS, NO THROUGH TRUCK SIGNS IN OUR COMMUNITIES. AND THE LAST OF THOSE SIGNS WERE PLACED, I WANNA SAY IN 2002. BUT WE HAD SOME BEFORE THAT, BUT WE DID HAVE AN ADDITION TO 'EM. UM, AND FOR OVER 21 YEARS PLUS, WE HAVE HAD THESE NO THROUGH TRUCK SIGNS YET. UM, THE TRUCKS ARE JUST COMING THROUGH AND, AND NO ONE IS ENFORCING IT FOR US. GIMME ONE SECOND. UH, VICE MAIL PRO TIM ON , THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND, AND TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. WE ALSO HAVE THIS ISSUE, UM, IN THE DISTRICT. AND WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD IS IF THE TRUCK HAS A DESTINATION, THIS, THIS IS THE PROBLEM THAT WE RUN INTO WHEN WE HAVE A NOTE THROUGH TRUCK SIGN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IF THE TRUCK HAS A DESTINATION, THEY HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO GO THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GET TO THE DESTINATION. I DON'T KNOW, MAYOR, HOW WE ALLEVIATE THAT FRUSTRATION. BECAUSE IF WE PUT A NOTE THROUGH TRUCK SIGN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE SHOULD BE NOTE THROUGH TRUCKS. BUT WHAT THE TRUCKING OR THE, THE PEOPLE DRIVING THE TRUCKS SAY IS WE HAVE TO COME THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO GET TO THE BUSINESS. SO THERE'S A, THERE'S A DICHOTOMY THERE. AND GRANTED, THOSE BIG TRUCKS ARE CAUSING PROBLEMS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY BLOCK THE STREETS, THEY, THEY DAMAGE CARS. AND THE FRUSTRATION FOR ME IS WE FIX THE CURBS. WE FIX THE SIDEWALKS, THEY TURN ON THE CURBS, THEY TURN ON THE SIDEWALKS, AND THEY BREAK THEM AGAIN. AND SO WE, WE CONSTANTLY SPEND MONEY TO REPAIR THOSE. AND SO IT IS A PROBLEM AND I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT FORWARD, BUT WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE FIX THAT PROBLEM. OKAY. UM, COUNCILMAN ROBINSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENT, WE HAD A GROCERY STORE GOING IN AND, UH, THERE WAS AN ENFORCEMENT ALONG ONE OF THE MAJOR THOROUGHFARES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WAS A TOE TAP RESTRICTION, WHICH IS TRUCKS OVER TWO, UH, AXLES PROHIBITED. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS ON THE BOOKS AS FAR AS THAT GOES FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON TOW TAP. UM, AND EASIER TO ENFORCE THAN A WEIGHT LIMIT, AS YOU DESCRIBED, JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE HOW MANY AXLES A TRUCK HAS RATHER THAN UNDERSTAND WHAT'S IN IT OR WHAT IT WEIGHS. SO THERE IS ONE RESTRICTION. I I VICE MAYOR PRO TE I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IN TERMS OF THE, THE TRUCKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THAT'S A DIFFERENT STORY. BUT IN TERMS OF SERVICING A NEW FACILITY AND SOMEHOW ENFORCING THAT, THERE MAY BE SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES THAT WOULD BE WORTH RESEARCHING. AND CABBAGE STREET IS WHERE, OKAY, SO I'M ON CABBAGE STREET. IT'S OFF OF WAYSIDE AND TWELL, BUT JUST OUR COMMUNITY IN WHOLE. UM, I'M WITH THE EAST HOUSTON CIVIC CLUB, AND I SHOULD HAVE STATED THAT FIRST, BUT NEAR OUR CIVIC CLUB. AND YOU ACTUALLY TOOK A RIDE WITH US. IT WAS IN 2017. IT WAS RIGHT BEFORE HURRICANE HARVEY WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE TRUCKS. AND YOU CAME TO OUR CIVIC CLUB AND HAD A, UM, TOWN HALL MEETING. AND, UM, SO YOU WENT DOWN DOCK STREET DOCK WAS A MAJOR CONCERN AND THAT WAS YEAH. YEAH, I REMEMBER. YES SIR. OKAY. IT'S BEEN A WHILE, BUT WE'RE BACK. OKAY. WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT IT. WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK TOO. THANK, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MM-HMM . OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER. EMMANUEL THOMAS. UM, HE TEXTED ME. HE'S NOT HERE. HE'S NOT GONNA BE HERE. EDWIN. EDWIN SEN. EDWIN SEN. EDWIN. NEXT SPEAKER. THOMAS MATICK. THOMAS MATTICK. NEXT SPEAKER, SAMUEL BRADFORD. BRADFORD IS PRESENT TO BE FOLLOWED BY LATONYA WILLIAMS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, UH, TURNER AND THE COUNCIL. I AM APPROACHING [01:40:01] YOU TODAY BECAUSE OF A RECENT EXPERIENCE THAT I HAVE. I'M A BORN AND RAISED NATIVE HOUSTONIAN HERE. I'VE BEEN HERE ALL MY LIFE AND PROUD TO BE HERE. UM, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AGAIN, TO COME BEFORE YOU TODAY. I WANTED TO JUST SHARE FOR YOU, SHARE WITH YOU THE EXPERIENCE THAT I HAVE RECENTLY HAD. IT IS WITH A LOCAL APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT'S NEW AND UP AND COMING HERE IN HOUSTON LOCATED AT 1 2 2 1 1 SUMMER CREEK TRACE. THAT'S IN DISTRICT HI BELIEVE THAT'S IN, UM, COUNCILMAN CISNEROS AREA. I HAD RECENTLY APPLIED THERE ON JUNE 10TH, UH, TO BECOME A RESIDENT THERE. AND IT NORMALLY TAKES THREE TO FIVE DAYS. I MET THE CRITERIA, THE FINANCIAL CRITERIA, THE BACKGROUND, EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEEDED THERE TO UNBEKNOWN TO ME IT WAS DELAYED FIVE TO SEVEN DAYS. AND I'M THINKING NEW CONSTRUCTION, ELECTRICAL WIRES, NOT ALL THE BUILDINGS WERE IN USE YET. THERE'S STILL FULL CAPACITY, STILL BUILDING THERE. EVEN THE AMENITIES THERE TO THIS DAY, YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE POOL, THE WEIGHT ROOM, JUST THINGS ARE NOT OPERABLE. SO I'M THINKING FOR OUR SAFETY, I ALSO, UM, DISCLOSE WITH THE PROPERTY MANAGER, UM, THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE, UH, IN AS SOON AS AVAILABLE BECAUSE MY PRESENT LOCATION, I'LL BE AVAILABLE TO MOVE IN JUNE 24TH. JUNE 29TH. THAT WAS AGAIN, DELAYED. KEEP IN MIND, THIS IS JUNE 10TH. IT ONLY TAKES THREE TO FIVE DAYS TO KNOW WHETHER YOU'RE APPROVED. ONCE I COMPLETED THE PROCESS ON THE COMPUTER, I WAS IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED THAT I WAS APPROVED AND CERTAIN CRITERIA HAD TO BE ADMITTED TO THE OFFICE. I DID THAT AND THERE WAS A REPEATED QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED SEVERAL DAYS LATER WHEN I APPEARED AFTER THE SEVEN DAYS, I WAS ASKED QUESTIONS THAT I FELT LIKE WERE INTIMIDATING AND VIOLATED MY PRIVACY AS A HUMAN BEING, AND THOSE WERE DISABILITY QUESTIONS. WHAT TYPE OF DISABILITY DID I HAVE? HOW LONG WILL YOU HAVE THIS DISABILITY AND HOW MUCH WILL IT PAY? HOW LONG WILL YOU BE PAID FOR THIS DISABILITY? AND WITH THOSE QUESTIONS, I WAS CONCERNED, ARE YOU ASKING ME THIS? BECAUSE YOU HAVE A HOUSING PROGRAM FOR THOSE THAT ARE DISABLED, BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS THAT THERE'RE ALLOWED TO ASK. BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. I WAS NOT ON ANY ASSISTANT, UH, PROGRAM FOR HOUSING, NOR DID I ASK FOR ANY ACCOMMODATIONS. AGAIN, MY CONCERN IS MY APPLICATION AND MY BEING ABLE TO SECURE THAT APARTMENT WAS DELAYED 21 DAYS BECAUSE I WOULD NOT RELEASE PERSONAL AND MEDICAL INFORMATION TO THAT PROPERTY MANAGER BEING DISMAYED AND KNOWING THAT TIME WAS COMING ABOUT FOR ME TO MAKE MY TRANSITION. I HAD ALREADY MADE, UM, THE APPROPRIATE ACTIONS TO MOVE. UM, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. OKAY. I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. OKAY, SO IN THE END, DID THEY, UM, WERE YOU ABLE TO GET IN OR WERE YOU NOT ABLE TO GET IN? I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET IN AFTER MEETING THE CRITERIA. I CONTACTED THE MAYOR'S DISABILITY OFFICE AND PROVIDED THE CREDENTIALS THAT ARE REQUIRED. AND I WAS, I AM ELIGIBLE AND THAT WAS MET. AND AFTER THEY, THE MAYOR'S DISABILITY OFFICE CONTACTED THE APARTMENT COMPLEX AND THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THAT TO BE DELAYED. OKAY. SO I'M JUST TRYING. SO THEY ARE SAYING YES TO YOU AS A TENANT. NOW, NOW, BUT THEY WERE ASKING QUESTIONS THAT VIOLATED THE FAIR HOUSING AND THE AADA A ACT. OKAY. AND SO LEMME AGAIN, I'M SO YOU WERE NOT SEEKING ANY SORT OF DISCOUNT OR NO, SIR. BECAUSE OF, UH, BECAUSE OF A DISABILITY. CORRECT? I WAS NOT ASKING OR REQUESTING ANY THAT. SO YOU WERE, YOU WERE ABLE TO PAY THE MARKET RATE YES, SIR. AND YOU AND YOUR INCOME, WHATEVER JUSTIFIED THE MARKET RATE? YES, SIR. AND, AND THEY WERE HOLDING ACCEPTANCE BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR DISABILITY? YES, SIR. AND TELL ME, HOW DID THEY KNOW ABOUT A DISABILITY? BECAUSE THE, THE INCOME THAT I PROVIDED SUPPORTED THAT I HAVE A DISABILITY AND I WAS DISABLED, BUT IT'S NOT WHAT THEY CALL SSI. SO I WAS NOT, UM, THAT RECIPIENT OF SSI OR AN AWARD. OKAY, I SEE. OKAY. SO THEY, SO THEY TOOK THE POSITION MM-HMM . THAT BECAUSE YOU LISTED THE DISABILITY AS RECEIVING SOME MM-HMM . REVENUE INCOME, SIR, OF SOME KIND, UH, BECAUSE OF YOUR DISABILITY. YES, [01:45:01] SIR. AND THAT HELPED YOU TO QUALIFY FOR THE MARKET RATE? YES, SIR. OKAY. THAT THEY WERE THEN ASKING HOW LONG WILL YOUR DISABILITY LAST? YES. AND IN SPECIFICS. OKAY. YES, SIR. I, I, I SEE, I SEE WHERE WE'RE GOING. MM-HMM . OKAY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS. UM, THANK YOU. UM, MS. BRADFORD, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT YOU WERE IN DISTRICT HI SAW WE MM-HMM . WE REVIEWED THIS, WE HADN'T HEARD FROM YOU. AND THEN THERE'S A POST OFFICE BOX HERE. YES, SIR. BECAUSE I HAD NOT PHYSICALLY TAKEN THE PROPERTY RIGHT. HAD THE KEYS TO THE PROPERTY UNTIL I VISITED WITH THE, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ON YESTERDAY. OKAY. AND PROVIDED THE DOCUMENTATION. WELL, MY OFFICE IS ABLE TO HELP YOU, UM, NAVIGATE THROUGH THIS TOO. SO IF YOU'D REACH OUT TO, TO US, I'LL GIVE YOU A CARD, YOU KNOW? YES, MA'AM. UM, WHEN YOU STEP DOWN AND, AND, UM, WE CAN ALSO BE OF ASSISTANCE TO YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. NOW ARE YOU, ARE YOU MOVING INTO THE, INTO YOUR UNIT? YES SIR, I AM. BUT MY CONCERN WAS ABOUT OTHERS WHO FACE THIS TYPE OF I UNDERSTAND QUESTIONS. YES, SIR. OKAY. LET ME GET WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, SIR. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR OFFICE. THANK YOU. MM-HMM . OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER. LATONIA WILLIAMS. LATONIA WILLIAMS. NEXT SPEAKER CRANDALL. GAGE CRANDALL. GAGE CRANDALL. NEXT SPEAKER. MARIAN SCOTT. MARIAN SCOTT. NEXT SPEAKER. REVA PAGE. REVA PAGE. REVA. NEXT SPEAKER. SANDRA STERN. SANDRA STERN. SANDRA. NEXT SPEAKER. STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE. NEXT SPEAKER. GAY HART. GAY. HAR IS HERE. GAY'S HERE. ONE PERSON AT A TIME. OKAY. SHE'S BRINGING UP THE OTHER THINGS FOR ME. THANK YOU FOR MY WORD SHALUM. SO, UH, PRAYER WARRIORS UNIT UNITED IS HERE TO REPRESENT THE, UH, 10 VICTIMS THAT WERE SACRIFICED AT TRAVIS SCOTT SCOTT'S ASTROWORLD, UH, CONCERT. OUR CONCERN IS PRAYER WARRIORS UNITE IS THAT, UH, WE REPRESENTING THE BLOOD THAT WAS SHED THAT DAY. UH, LOTS OF CONCERNS AS TO WHAT HAD HAPPENED. UM, THIS IS THE WAY HE PRESENTED HIMSELF FOR AS ROYAL CONCERT. IT'S GOING TO BE FAMILY FRIENDLY, . AND, UH, THIS IS OF COURSE 50,000 PEOPLE THAT DID SHOW UP. 10 WERE SACRIFICED BEING, UH, LITTLE, UH, LET'S GO BACK TO THIS ONE. LITTLE EZRA. LITTLE EZRA WAS THE LAST TO DIE. NINE YEARS OLD. THEY ALL WERE CRUSHED. AND HE WAS NOT FOUND GUILTY. HE WAS NOT GUILTY. AND THE REASON FOR THAT BEING IS BECAUSE HE DIDN'T SCREAM, CRUSH THE STAGE. HE DID SCREAM RAGE ON RAGE. OUR CONCERN NOW, AND OF COURSE HE'S SATANIC, OKAY? IT'S A GIVEN. WE NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL WHAT WE BRING INTO OUR HOUSTON AREA. IT'S A FAMILY FRIENDLY CITY, RIGHT? HE HAS AN UPSIDE DOWN CROSS WITH HIS STAGE. IF Y'ALL WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH THESE, LOOK AT THESE. WE HAVE THESE AVAILABLE, OKAY? UH, WE'RE VERY CONCERNED AS PRAYER ORDERS. AND THERE'S A LITTLE EZRA THE LAST TO TAKE HIS BREATH. IT'S A ASTRO. OUR CONCERN NOW IS ANOTHER CONCERT HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR NOVEMBER AGAIN. 'CAUSE TRAVIS SCOTTS WAS ALSO NOVEMBER. LITTLE LUCIFER IS COMING TO HOUSTON IN NOVEMBER. NOT ALLOWED. PLEASE, MAYOR, DON'T ALLOW THIS. HE'S EVEN WORSE THAN TRAVIS SCOTT. THIS CANNOT BE, THIS IS NOT FAMILY FRIENDLY. WE DON'T NEED THIS IN OUR HOUSTON AREA FOR THESE FAMILIES. I'M SHAKING BECAUSE OF THESE, THESE PEOPLE RIGHT HERE. , LITTLE EZRA WAS ON HIS DADDY'S SHOULDER. DADDY STILL HADN'T GOTTEN OVER IT YET. WE HAVE GOT TO REPRESENT AND BE VERY CAREFUL WHAT WE ALLOW IN OUR CITY BECAUSE THESE 10 LIES THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING FOR A TIME OF THEIR LIFE TO CELEBRATE A CONCERT AND ENJOY IT. THIS MAN RIGHT HERE, I CAN'T EVEN, THIS IS LITTLE HE'S PLANNING ON COMING. HE'S PROBABLY GOT HIS TICKET SOLD. IT'S REVENUE FOR HOUSTON I'M SURE. BUT THESE LIVES ARE NOT WORTH THE MONEY. AND I'M HANDING OUT SECOND CHRONICLES 14, WHICH I USUALLY READ WHEN I'M HERE BECAUSE THIS IS NOT WHAT WE'RE DOING, MAYOR AND I, I HOPE THAT YOU ARE A GODLY MAN AND YOU KNOW OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. AMEN. BECAUSE WE DO PRAY BEFORE WE START. SO GOD WILL HEAR OUR PRAYERS. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS. 10 PEOPLE'S LIVES YOUNG, NINE AGE NINE TO 27 YEARS OLD, LOST THEIR LIVES THAT NIGHT. SECOND CHRONICLES SEVEN, 13 THROUGH 15. IF MY PEOPLE, WHEN I SHUT UP TO HEAVEN SO THAT THERE IS NO RAIN OR COMMAND LOCUST TO DEVOUR THE LAND OR SEND A PLAY COVID-19 AMONG MY PEOPLE. IF MY PEOPLE ARE PULLED, [01:50:01] YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, WILL HUMBLE THEMSELVES AND PRAY AND SEEK MY FACE. I WILL HEAR THEIR PRAYER AND I WILL HEAL THEIR LAMB. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR. THANK YOU MAYOR AND ANGEL CORTEZ. WE'RE COUNTING ON YOU MAYOR. NEXT SPEAKER, TO BE FOLLOWED BY JIMMY LEVITON. WE'RE SIMPLE SERVANTS HERE, THE LORD, THERE WAS A MANDATE, THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WATCHMEN FOR ANY CITY, FOR ANY LEADER. THAT WOULD BE, UH, THAT WE WOULD BE AWARE, THAT WE WOULD BE AWARE OF WHAT WE INVITE TO OUR PLACE. BECAUSE IF REVENUE IS BEING MADE ON BLOOD, LET IT BE KNOWN IT'S GONNA FALL ON US WHEN THEY RETIRE. IF WE DON'T MAKE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR WHAT WAS DONE THERE, THERE WAS MONEY EXCHANGED. SALARY AND MONEY THAT IS SHIFTING AROUND FROM EVERYWHERE. IF WE'RE NOT AWARE OF THE KAIROS, KAIROS IS A WORD WE'RE GONNA NEED TO LEARN. WE CAN ALL DELEGATE OVER SCRIMMAGES. BUT THIS WASN'T TO LAST, THIS WAS TO BURN. AND UNLESS WE KNOW OUR TRUE IDENTITY, ANY CULTURE WE'RE TRYING TO PUSH, WE'RE STILL JUST A BREATH AND A VESSEL OF SKIN. AND WE'RE DESTINED. MAYOR, YOU DEDICATED A DAY TO THIS MAN ON 2018. YOU ARE APPOINTED AT 2016. AND THIS, THIS BOY, HE BROUGHT DIRT AND THERE'S ENOUGH EVIDENCE ON IT ONLINE. WE'RE GONNA BE SENDING EMAILS TO ALL OF YOU OF WHAT TOOK PLACE IN THE CROWD AND WHAT'S BEING IGNORED. 'CAUSE CHARGES WERE DROPPED ON ALL OF THIS. AND THIS BLOOD IS STILL TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR. SO MEN OF THE LORD SHOULD BE READING THEIR BOOKS. OUR IDENTITY IS NOT IN THE SKIN OR THE COLOR WE'RE IN OR DELEGATING OVER SCRIMMAGES OF WHAT'S RIGHT AND WRONG. IF WE'RE MAKING MONEY JUST TO SURVIVE ON ALCOHOL, THAT IS NOT WHAT OUR LORD CEPT FOR US. WE'RE GONNA READ A LITTLE BIT OF DANIEL AND THERE'S A MESSAGE FOR US TO DISCERN. AND THE WORD IS CHIROS. THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES THAT WE'RE HEADING TOWARDS. SO, UH, AS QUICK AS I CAN, AND I KNOW YOU'VE DONE IT BEFORE TO EXTEND A MINUTE OR SO, I'M GONNA MAKE A REQUEST FOR A MINUTE. 'CAUSE I WOULDN'T LIKE FOR GOD'S WORD TO BE INTERRUPTED. CHAPTER NINE OF DANIEL, THE TIME APPROACH FOR THE KING'S ORDER AND DECREE TO BE CARRIED OUT THE DAY WHEN THE ENEMIES OF THE JEWS HOPED TO OVERPOWER THEM. BUT AS IT TURNED OUT, THE OPPOSITE TOOK PLACE. THE JEWS OVERPOWERED THOSE WHO HATED THEM. SO THOSE THAT KNOW THE IDENTITY, THAT THE ONLY CULTURE WE SHOULD BE ADJUSTING TO IS THAT OF THE ONE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. BECAUSE THIS BLOOD THAT IS GONNA BE LEFT ON US, WE STILL NEED TO ONLY HAVE ONE NAME ON US. AND HIS NAME IS JESUS. SO IF WE'RE OVER HERE FIGHTING OVER SCRIMMAGES OR WHAT'S GOING ON, WE GOT A BIDEN PUPPET WHO'S OVER THERE MEETING WITH CHARLES. AND WE ANNOUNCED IT LAST TIME WE WERE HERE. CHARLES IS GONNA MAKE A STATEMENT TO ALL OF HIS COMMONWEALTH. AND WE NEED TO KNOW WHICH KINGDOM WE'RE REPRESENTING. 'CAUSE THIS COUNCIL WILL STILL BE FACING THE JUSTICE COURT OF HIS THRONE ROOM. SO LET US BE AWARE OF WHAT WE LET IN. AND IF THIS LITTLE LUCIFER PIG SKIN IS ALLOWED IN, WELL NOW YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR PROFITS AND YOUR EXTRA ON TOP, ON TOP OF THE SALARY THAT WE'RE MAKING IS COMING FROM. THIS BOOK WAS WRITTEN IN 2016 AND IT WAS TAKEN OUT OF COMMISSION YOUR TIME YESTERDAY. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE AIMING FOR AND THIS IS WHAT OUR HISTORY IS MADE OUT OF. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LET'S BE AWARE OF WHAT WE'RE LETTING OURSELVES BE RUN BY NEXT BOOK NEXT PICK JIMMY LEVITON. JIMMY LEVITON JIMMY TO BE FOLLOWED BY DALE. TO BE FOLLOWED BY DALE TOLIVER. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JIMMY LEVISTON. COULD YOU STEP IN FRONT OF THE MICROPHONE? MY GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JIMMY LEVISTON AND I WANT TO THANK Y'ALL OF Y'ALL FOR LISTENING TO OUR CONCERNS. AT 1320 SCOTT STREET LOSS, WE HAVE ALL THESE RULES IN PLACE THAT ARE NOT BEING ENFORCED. PARKING, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PARKING FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE THERE. SO THE RESIDENTS ARE LETTING THEIR GUESTS AND FAMILY PARK. AND WHEN WE COME HOME, WE DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO PARK. WE HAVE PARKING PERMITS. AND WE WERE TOLD THAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PARKING PERMIT, THE CALLS WILL BE TOWED AS THIS FAR THEY'RE NOT BEING TOLD. SO WE ARE NOT ABLE, WE ARE HAVING TO PARK ON THE STREETS WHEN WE GET HOME AND WE ARE PAYING RENT THERE. UM, THE OTHER ISSUE I HAVE IS THAT OUR POOL SHOULD BE FOR THE SENIORS GRANDKIDS TO TAKE IT OVER. UH, I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A DESIGNATED DAY AND TIME AS MOST SENIOR COMPLEX HAVE, BUT WE WERE TOLD THAT THAT'S NOT SO, UH, YOU KNOW, I I'M NOT OBJECTIVE TO GRANDKIDS COMING OVER TO VISIT, [01:55:01] BUT I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A TIME AND PLACE FOR THAT. SO WHEN WE DECIDE WE WANT THE POOL, WE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO IT OPPOSED TO WAITING TILL THEY'RE DONE AND THEN HAVE TO COME IN. UM, ALSO, THERE'S A LOT OF GRANDCHILDREN ROAMING OUR COMPLEX UNATTENDED THROUGHOUT OUR HALLWAYS. AND THEN WHEN YOU ADDRESS THE CHILDREN, THEY'RE VERY RUDE AND DISRESPECTFUL AND TALK BAD TO YOU. SO, UH, YOU KNOW, OUR CARS HAVE BEEN BROKEN IN. I'M A VICTIM OF A CAR BEING BROKE IN. SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO UPGRADE OUR SECURITY THAT SHOULD BE IN PLACE. UM, HAVE YOU TALKED, HAVE YOU TALKED TO THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY ABOUT THE SECURITY? YES. IT'S, IT'S THE MANAGEMENT, THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY. IT'S A RESPONSIBILITY OF PUTTING IN RULES AND GUIDELINES. YOU KNOW, UH, IT IS A SENIOR CITIZEN FACILITY. YES, SIR. OKAY. NOW THEY CAN'T HAVE THEIR GRANDCHILDREN COME AND VISIT. ABSOLUTELY. AND, AND IN SOME CASES STAY WITH THEM FOR TWO OR THREE DAYS. BUT IT'S THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY THAT, UH, HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ENFORCING THOSE RULES, THE GUIDELINES, MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE BEHAVE, YOU KNOW, PROVIDING SECURITY ON PREMISES. WELL, THAT'S MY POINT. UH, WE BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION, BUT YOU KNOW, WE ARE TOLD LIKE, WELL, CERTAIN THINGS ARE LEGAL AND CERTAIN THINGS AREN'T. WE ARE NOT LOST. SO WE, YOU KNOW, HEY, I'M SORRY. THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS WE WERE TOLD THAT ARE, THAT IS LEGAL AND THAT ISN'T LEGAL. WE ARE NOT LAWYERS. SO WE JUST HAVE TO GO WITH WHAT IS TOLD TO US. UH, AND MY FINAL THING IS THAT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OUR SENIORS HAVE PUT OURSELVES IN THIS POSITION TO LIVE IN A SENIOR FACILITY LIVING. AND THIS IS OUR HOME. AND THIS IS PROBABLY WHAT WE'LL ALL HAVE AT THE END OF THE DAY. SO, AND WE ENJOY LIVING AT 1320 SCOTT STREET. UH, IT'S A GREAT FACILITY. IT'S A NEW FACILITY. AND WE DIDN'T MOVE IN TO MOVE OUT WITHIN A YEAR'S TERM. WE DIDN'T WANT A YEAR'S LEASE. WE WANTED TO BE THERE FOR A LENGTH OF TIME. SO YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. RIGHT. BUT, BUT AGAIN, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I'M, THAT I'M CLEAR YOU HAVE, YOU ALL HAVE TALKED TO THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY. YES, SIR. AND THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY HAS SAID TO YOU, TO YOU WHAT? UH, THEY JUST GIVE US ANY KINDA EXCUSE THAT, YOU KNOW, NOT JUSTIFIABLE. SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO? SO WHO IS THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, DO YOU KNOW? UH, I THINK IT'S FDI. OKAY. WE'LL REACH OUT TO THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY. 'CAUSE THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LIKE IN ANY APARTMENT COMPLEX, ESPECIALLY FOR SENIORS, FOR SENIORS, THEY HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PUTTING FORTH THE SET RULES AND ENFORCING THOSE SET RULES. THEY'RE THE ONES WHO HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MANAGING THAT FACILITY. IT IS A VERY NICE FACILITY. I, I'VE MET YOU, WELL, I DIDN'T MEET YOU, BUT I WAS THERE WHEN YOU CAME TO, I WAS, I WAS THERE. THE CITY WAS PROUD TO PUT MONEY IN THAT FACILITY AND WE EXPECT FOR THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY AND THOSE WHO WERE PART OF IT, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY, UM, UM, UH, PUT FORTH, UM, CRITERIA GUIDELINES AND FORCE THOSE GUIDELINES. UM, YOU KNOW, SENIORS HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO HAVE THEIR GRANDCHILDREN COME OR CHILDREN COME, WHOEVER IT MIGHT BE. BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN GUIDELINES THAT THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW. 'CAUSE IT IS A SENIOR, UH, COMPLEX AND WAS BUILT FOR SENIORS. SO, UM, UH, WE WILL, UH, WE'LL REACH OUT TO THAT. UM, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, I'LL HAVE MY CHIEF OF STAFF, SHE'S QUITE FAMILIAR WITH THESE FACILITIES AND THE AND MANAGEMENT COMPANIES. I'LL HAVE HER REACH OUT TO THIS PARTICULAR, UM, THE LOSS, UH, TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE, UH, FOLLOWING THEIR CRITERIA AND THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY IS DOING ITS JOB. OKAY. AND WE ENJOY LIVING AT 1320 SCOTT STREET. OH, I'M, I, I, AND I WANT YOU TO ENJOY IT, BUT I WANT THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, UH, AND THOSE WHO ARE THE DEVELOPER, I'M LOOKING TO THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY AND THE DEVELOPER. OKAY. AND THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY AND THE DEVELOPER ARE THE ONES WHO SHOULD BE PROTECTING AND HONORING THE SENIORS WHO ARE THERE. OKAY. AND IF YOU HAVE TO COME UP TO COME HERE TO CITY HALL, UH, TO GET YOUR SITUATION ADDRESSED, THAT MEANS THAT THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY AND THE DEVELOPERS ARE NOT FOLLOWING THROUGH ON, ON THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES, SIR. OKAY. SO WE'LL REACH OUT, WE'LL REACH OUT TO THEM. YES, SIR. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. MY SECOND. COUNCILMAN MAGOS. THANK YOU, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS AFTERNOON. I KNOW THE [02:00:01] MAYOR AND I DID GO AND, UH, ATTEND THE, UH, UH, PARTICIPATED IN THE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY THAT THEY HAD A FEW MONTHS AGO. SO, UH, AND YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S A VERY NICE FACILITY, UM, IN REGARDS TO SECURITY ISSUES THAT YOU'RE HAVING. IF, IF I COULD MAKE A SUGGESTION, IF, IF, IF, IF, IF RESIDENTS, UH, OR IF YOU CAN GET WITH THE MANAGEMENT, UH, TO MAYBE ATTEND THE PIP MEETING, UH, AT THE, UH, SOUTH CENTRAL PATROL, UH, WHICH IS 2202 ST. EMANUEL STREET, UH, THEY MEET ON THE THIRD TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH AT SIX O'CLOCK. UH, AND THE, UH, CAPTAIN OR THE COMMANDER'S USUALLY IN THESE PIP MEETINGS, UH, AND UH, AND, AND, AND THAT WAY YOU CAN LET THEM KNOW ONE-ON-ONE, UH, THE ISSUES THAT YOU'RE HAVING IN REGARDS TO YOUR VEHICLES BEING BROKEN INTO AND WHAT HAVE YOU. UH, BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T HEAR FROM YOU, THEN THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO SEND THESE PATROL CARS TO PATROL. OKAY. UH, SO I WOULD SUGGEST MAYBE TRYING TO ATTEND, UH, THE PIP MEETING THERE AT SOUTH CENTRAL. AGAIN, IT'S ON THE THIRD TUESDAY AT SIX O'CLOCK. UH, AND THAT WAY YOU CAN LET THEM KNOW, UH, THE ISSUES THAT YOU'RE HAVING IN REGARDS TO THE CARS BEING BROKEN INTO AND WHAT HAVE YOU. UH, AND HOPEFULLY THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SEND SOME PATROL CARS TO PATROL THEY, YOU KNOW, IN, IN, IN, IN THE AREA ITSELF. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE'LL FOLLOW UP. THANK YOU. OKAY, SIR. NEXT SPEAKER DALE TOVER TO BE FOLLOWED BY SUSAN WILLIAMS. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. I'M THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M DALE TOLERANT. I ALSO LIVE AT 1320 SCOTT STREET. AND I WAS FIRSTLY A VICTIM OF ONE OF THE LEASING AGENTS AT THAT PROPERTY. UH, CASHING MY PERSONAL MONEY ORDER. I NEVER RECEIVED AN APOLOGY FROM, EXCUSE ME, FROM FDI MANAGEMENT, UH, NOTHING. AND TO THIS DAY, I NEVER HAVE. I SPOKE TO THE OWNER ACTUALLY TODAY AND I VOICED MY OPINION TO HIM. I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS NOT FAIR TO ME THAT NO ONE EVER REACHED OUT AND SAID THEY WERE SORRY. THEY ALSO MADE ME FIND OUT WHO CAST A CHECK. WE HAVE CAMERAS ON PROPERTY AT THAT OFFICE AND I SAID, CAN'T WE JUST LOOK AT THE CAMERAS? THE MANAGER AT THE TIME IS NAMED JULIE. SHE SAID, OUR CAMERAS, THEY DON'T GO THAT FAR BACK. WELL, I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR BACK THEY GO, BUT I PERSONALLY WAS, MY HEART WAS JUST BROKEN BECAUSE I HAD GIVEN MY 60 DAY NOTICE AT THE PROPERTY I LIVED AT, WHICH WAS IN FRIENDSWOOD. AND THERE WAS A FIVE YEAR WAIT TO LIVE THERE. SO AT THE TIME, I WAS QUOTED 7 55. WHEN I WENT THERE, I GO BACK, THEY SAY THEY DON'T HAVE ANY PAPERWORK ON ME AND THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HONOR THAT PRICE. SO RIGHT NOW, BY THAT TIME, I'M HOMELESS. SO I SAID, WHAT IS, WHAT CAN WE DO? I CALLED CORPORATE. THEY SAID THEY DON'T, THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. I SPOKE TO JULIE FARMER, EXCUSE ME, MICHELLE FARMER. SO AFTER WE GET THE PAPERWORK BACK AND IT SAYS IT'S DANISHA WILLIAMS, WHICH WAS A LEASING AGENT THERE AT THAT TIME, OKAY? SO AT THIS TIME THEY START MAKING EXCUSES. A WOMAN HAS PROBLEMS, SHE'S ON DRUGS. THAT'S REALLY NOT MY CONCERN. THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS I GAVE IT TO THE LEASING AGENT, THE PROPERTY MANAGER COMPANY. HIS NAME IS FDI. THE MANAGER TOLD ME, WHY DON'T YOU GO PRESS CHARGES? WELL, I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO COME BACK ON ME OF RETALIATION. THAT'S NOT MY PROBLEM. THAT'S THAT MANAGEMENT COMPANY WHO NEEDS TO DEAL WITH THAT. SO AS TODAY, I STILL HAVEN'T RECEIVED APOLOGY. AND THEN WE ARE HERE FOR SECONDLY BECAUSE I SIGNED A LEASE ON THERE. IT SAYS 8 34 IS MY LEASE. WE JUST RECEIVED ON JUNE 27TH, A NEW RENT INCREASE. I'M ON A YEAR'S LEASE. I THOUGHT, I THOUGHT WE SIGNED A CONTRACT FOR 12 MONTHS. THEY TELL ME NOW MY LEASE IS GOING UP ABOUT $133. NOW THE PROBLEM IS ON HERE IT SAYS MY LEASE IS 8 0 6. I'M CONFUSED. WHICH ONE IS IT? ALRIGHT. UH, I DON'T THINK WE CAN DO THAT. UM, SEEMS LIKE WE GOT AN ISSUE HERE WITH THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY AND DEVELOPERS. YES. AND SO, NOT TO CUT YOU OFF ON, I TALKED TO THE OWNER BECAUSE I WANT TO GO TO THE HORSE'S MOUTH. NO ONE AT THAT PROPERTY WILL OFFER US THE NAME OF THE OWNER. I'M SORRY. NO ONE, NONE OF THE MANAGEMENT TEAM AT FDI. WE'VE GOT THE TWO PRO TWO, UH, MANAGERS. I'VE SIGNED MY LEASE ON FEBRUARY 10TH. NO ONE CAN TELL ME THE OWNER'S NAME, THE EMAIL ADDRESS. THEY SAID THEY DON'T KNOW IT. WE KNOW THEY HAVE TO KNOW IT 'CAUSE YOU WORK FOR THE GENTLEMAN. WELL, I TELL YOU WHAT, UH, WHAT DAVID K IS IN THE AUDIENCE. YES. I SPOKE TO HIM EARLIER. WELL, WELL, LET'S SEE WHAT HE SAYS. OKAY, THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. SUSAN WILLIAMS. SUSAN WILLIAMS, SUSAN NEXT SPEAKER BARNETT DAVIS. BARNETT DAVIS IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY SHARON BRITTON. [02:05:03] GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON TO THE MAYOR AND TO ALL OF THE MEMBERS ON THE CITY COUNCIL. UM, I TOO LIVE AT 1320 SCOTT STREET AT THE SCOTT STREET LOFTS. I AM BOTH ELATED AND TOTALLY, TOTALLY DISAPPOINTED. AT THE SAME TIME, I'M ELATED BECAUSE I WAS TOLD ABOUT THE SCOTT STREET LOFTS. UM, AND AFTER A SITUATION, I AM NOW IN LIVING IN AN APARTMENT AND NOT A HOUSE. AND I, WHEN I SAW IT, I'M USED TO LIVING NICELY AND IT IS A VERY NICE LOCATION. AND I SIGNED, I TOO SIGNED A 12 MONTH LEASE, I THOUGHT. BUT IT ACTUALLY SAYS IT'S ONLY FOR 11 MONTHS. IN THAT 12 MONTHS. ON THE 28TH OF JUNE, ACTUALLY I MOVED IN ON APRIL THE FIRST. ON THE 28TH OF JUNE. THERE WAS A NOTICE THAT WAS PLACED IN MY DOOR THAT SAID, UM, OUT OF NOWHERE, WE HAD NO IDEA THIS WAS COMING. THAT MY RENT WAS GOING TO GO FROM $1,006 TO 1149. AND YOU HAVE 30 DAYS TO MAKE THAT PAYMENT. AUGUST THE FIRST. AND IF YOU CANNOT MAKE IT, THE LETTER GOES ON TO SAY, UH, THEN YOU NEED TO FIND ANOTHER PLACE TO LIVE WHERE, UH, YOUR BUDGET CAN HANDLE THAT RENT IF YOU CANNOT MAKE THE NEW ADJUSTMENT. MY NEXT CONCERN, UH, THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSED IS SECURITY. NOW MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN BROKEN INTO, BUT I'VE WITNESSED, I'VE SEEN, UM, LADIES CRYING AND, UH, BECAUSE THEIR CAR WAS BROKEN INTO, UH, AND THIS WAS DURING THE DAYTIME AND THEIR CARS WERE STOLEN. ONE LADY'S LICENSE PLATE WAS TAKEN OFF OF HER CAR. UM, TIRES HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM CARS AND YES, SIR. YES, MAYOR, WE HAVE TALKED TO MANAGEMENT. I ACTUALLY ASKED FOR A MEETING WITH MANAGEMENT. AND MANAGEMENT SAID THEY COULD NOT ACCOMMODATE ME. THEY COULD NOT MEET WITH YOU? NO, SIR. THAT THEY COULD NOT MEET WITH YOU. THEY COULD NOT MEET WITH ME. OKAY. THEY WILL. OKAY. OKAY. I GOT IT. SO, UM, I'M ELATED THAT RIGHT AFTER, I GUESS SOMEONE TOLD SOMEONE THAT WE WERE COMING DOWN HERE, WE GET ANOTHER LETTER THAT SAYS THAT RENT INCREASE HAS BEEN RESCINDED. OH, YEAH. I GOT THAT NOTE ALREADY. SO, UM, I JUST WANTED TO COME DOWN HERE AND JUST LET YOU KNOW WHAT IS, WHAT IS GOING ON. AND, AND WE'RE NOT A BUNCH OF ROUGHNECKS THAT LIVE AT SCOTT STREET LOFT. THANK YOU. YEAH. BUT THE, THE LAST THING YOU WANNA DO IS MESS WITH THE SENIORS. UM, YES. COUNCILMAN, UH, COUNCILMAN MAG GALLEGOS. THA THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, FOR, FOR COMING IN THIS AFTERNOON. COULD YOU REPEAT THAT ONE MORE TIME IN REGARDS TO, YOU MOVED IN IN APRIL. I MOVED IN APRIL THE FIRST AND RECEIVED A LETTER ON JUNE THE 28TH. STUCK IN MY DOOR THAT SAID MY RENT WOULD BE GOING UP $149. HMM. OKAY. UH, THAT'S TERRIBLE TO HEAR. I MEAN, I, I, I KNOW THAT, UH, WHEN THE DEVELOPER CAME TO SPEAK TO ME SOME TIME AGO, YEARS AGO TO TELL ME ABOUT THIS DEVELOPMENT. YOU KNOW, I, UH, WHAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO IS PUSH FOR SENIOR HOUSING, UH, MORE SENIOR HOUSING IN DISTRICT. I, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CENSUS SAYS, SAYS IN 2030, UH, THERE WILL BE MORE 65 YEAR OLDS AND OLDER THAN, THERE'LL BE 15 YEAR OLDS AND YOUNGER. UH, SO IN ORDER FOR US TO MAKE SURE WE PROVIDE HOUSING IN THIS CITY, UH, WE NEED TO BUILD MORE SENIOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. YES. UH, AND WHEN THEY TELL ME, COUNCIL MEMBER, WE'LL BUILD SENIOR HOUSING AT THE SCOTT LOFTS THERE ON SCOTT STREET, I SAID, GREAT, YOU GOT MY SUPPORT. UH, SO WE SUPPO, WE, WE SUBMITTED A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE TAX CREDIT. UH, AND THIS IS VERY DISHEARTENING TO HEAR THAT NOW IT IS A SENIOR HOUSING. UH, BUT Y'ALL ARE RUNNING INTO THESE ISSUES. UH, AND, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS, UH, BECAUSE THIS WAS NOT WHAT I SIGNED UP FOR IN REGARDS TO SENIOR HOUSING IN MY DISTRICT, UH, FOR, FOR, FOR TO, FOR SENIORS TO BE TREATED LIKE THAT. THANK YOU. UH, [02:10:01] SO WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO CORRECT US, WE WILL. YES. BECAUSE WE DO FEEL LIKE SENIOR ABUSE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ONE SECOND. ONE SECOND, ONE SECOND. COME BACK. UH, COUNCILMAN MA POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, UM, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD. I WANNA THANK ALL OF THE, UH, SENIORS FOR COMING FORWARD ON THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY. AND I THINK THAT'S WHY WE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, REALLY TRY TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE ON, SO ON WHO THESE DEVELOPERS ARE WHEN WE GET THESE LETTERS ABOUT TAX CREDITS. AND IT'S VERY DISHEARTENING TO HEAR ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR DEVELOPER OR MANAGED COMPANY. AND I KNOW THEY MAY HAVE THEIR SIDE OF THE STORY AS WELL, BUT WHEN YOU ALL COME TO THE CITY REQUESTING FOR SOME TYPE OF SUBSIDY OR CREDIT, AND YOU SAY YOU'RE GONNA PROVIDE WONDERFUL SERVICES, AND THEN WE HEAR FROM THE RESIDENTS THAT THAT'S NOT THE CASE. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY IRRITATES ME. UM, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT THE MAYOR, YOU'RE GONNA BE LOOKING INTO THIS PERSONALLY, BUT FDII HAVE, I HAVE IT WRITTEN DOWN ON MY PAPER BECAUSE THE NEXT TIME I SEE FDI, I'M GOING TO THINK ABOUT THESE RESIDENTS WHO'VE COME FORWARD AND WHO'VE GIVEN THEIR OWN PERSONAL TESTIMONY ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE EXPERIENCING. UM, BECAUSE WE NEED TO DO ALL THAT WE CAN TO PROVIDE HOUSING, UH, IN A MANNER THAT IS RESPECTABLE, AND IT ENSURES THAT THEY'RE LIVING IN A, UH, A COMPLEX THAT IS, UM, ENSURING THAT THEY HAVE EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED FOR A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE. SO, I WANT TO JUST THANK YOU ALL. UH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT IN ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS, WE ALL TAKE IT PERSONALLY AND WE HEAR YOU. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. AND I WANT TO ADD JUST ONE THING. I HAVE A NEIGHBOR THAT'S ACROSS THE HALL FROM ME, AND BLESS HER HEART, SHE HAS ONE OF THOSE WAGONS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN PILE THINGS IN. SHE'S PUTTING ALMOST HER WHOLE APARTMENT IN THAT WAGON EVERY DAY AND TAKING IT WITH HER BECAUSE SHE SAYS SOMEONE IS COMING INTO HER APARTMENT. SHE BELIEVES IT WAS THE CONTRACTORS HAD KEYS, AND THEY'RE TAKING HER THINGS EVERY DAY. AND SHE'S HAULING THIS WAGON BACK AND FORTH TO HER CAR EVERY DAY. THANK YOU. ON HER BEHALF. MAY I SPEAK YOUR SHARON BRITTON? SHARON BRITTON TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARY. GO GOWIN. GREETING EVERYONE. AND THANK YOU. TODAY. MY NAME IS SHARON BRITTON. I TOO . IT IS AT SCOTT STREET LOVE. AND I JUST MOVED IN MARCH THE 31ST, AND I WAS TOLD THAT, UM, I'LL RECEIVE A YEAR LEASE. I HAVE, I HAVE NO RECORD OF, OF, UM, BAD CREDIT, UM, OTHER APARTMENTS ON ANYONE. SO MY CONCERN, NUMBER ONE, WE HAVE THE MAJORITY HAVE THE SAME STORY. THE CRIME. I'VE BEEN STALKED OVER THERE BY A MAN, UH, THAT LIVED THERE. I'VE BEEN IN, UH, SOME MORE APARTMENTS FOR 17 YEARS, AND I NEVER BEEN LAID ON MY RENT. AND I WAS TOLD AND FOUND OUT THAT THEY WAS GETTING GOVERNMENT MONEY HU FOR YEARS UNDER MY NAME. I HAD NO IDEA. AND PAYING FULL AMOUNT OF RENT. THEN I COME HERE, LEAVING THAT PLACE, FIGHTING THEM FOR TWO YEARS. I COME HERE BECAUSE I BECAME HOMELESS BECAUSE OF THAT SITUATION. NOW THEY PUT ON MY DOOR THREE MONTHS LATER. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT MY REPUTATION. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT MY NAME, MY CREDIT. AND FOR ME TO FEEL VERY DECEIVED BY THESE PEOPLE, TO SAY THAT THIS LITTLE SMALL WRITING THAT WE DIDN'T SEE, THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THEY CAN DO. ANYTIME I DISAGREE, BECAUSE I WOULD'VE NEVER MOVED IN. I'M LOOKING FOR SOMEWHERE TO SETTLE TO BE ESTABLISHED, AND 17 MORE YEARS, [02:15:02] I NEED TO REST. I NEED TO REST. AND I DON'T NEED THEM TO ABUSE AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SENIORS. I'M 65 YEARS OLD AND I AM JUST TIRED OF, OF, UH, APARTMENTS AND PLACES DOING THIS TO PEOPLE. I HELP FEED THE HOMELESS. I'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR FIVE YEARS AND THE THOUGHT OF BECOMING HOMELESS, IT'S A FEARFUL THING. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, MARY CORWIN, TO BE FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL MITCHELL. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MARY GOWIN. I ALSO LIVE AT THE SAME, UH, PLACE THAT IS ON SCOTT STREET, 1320 SCOTT STREET. I, UH, MOVED IN TO, UH, THE APARTMENTS BACK IN OCTOBER. I WAS SUPPOSED TO JOIN IN ON THE FIRST DAY OF OCTOBER. THEN THE, UH, THE PERSON THAT WAS DIRECTING ME AND GIVING ME INSTRUCTIONS WAS, UH, PLACED IN ANOTHER, UH, FACILITY SO SHE COULDN'T FOLLOW THROUGH WITH FINALIZING MY, UH, OPENING IN OCTOBER, I WAS PUSHED BACK. SO I WAS PLACED WITH ANOTHER PERSON, AND THAT PERSON PUSHED ME BACK FOR ANOTHER 17 DAYS THAT I HAD TO WAIT BEFORE I COULD MOVE IN WHEN EVERYTHING WAS ALREADY SET, READY TO GO. THEN WHEN I MOVED IN ON THE 17TH, MY RENT WENT UP $50 MORE BECAUSE I HAD ALREADY BEEN TOLD WHAT MY FEE WAS GOING TO BE. THEN I HAD TO WAIT TO GET MY DOCUMENT THAT I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE MOMENT THAT I MOVED IN, WHICH IS MY APARTMENT LEASE CONTRACT THAT SHOULD HAVE COME TO ME. THE FIRST DAY I MOVED IN, I DID NOT GET THAT. THEN FOUND OUT THAT, UM, MY RENT WAS HAD GONE UP, SO I HAD TO PAY A HIGHER PRICE. AND A LOT OF THINGS WERE GOING ON THAT I JUST DID NOT UNDERSTAND AND I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND BECAUSE I'VE LIVED IN APARTMENTS BEFORE AND I'VE NEVER HAD TO GO THROUGH THAT TYPE OF, UH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WOULD CALL IT. I, I DON'T EVEN HAVE A NAME FOR IT YET. BUT I WILL COME UP WITH SOMETHING, A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT FOR ME. AND THEN, UH, AFTER THAT, THE, THE KEY PERSON THAT PUT ME INTO THAT PARTICULAR APARTMENT, SHE HAD TO LEAVE. THEN I WAS SWITCHED OVER TO ANOTHER PERSON THAT WAS GOING TO HANDLE MY BUSINESS AND FOUND OUT I WAS OVERPAYING IN RENT AND IT WAS SWITCHED OVER. I HAD A LOWER PRICE TO PAY, WHICH FIT MY BUDGET BECAUSE THE OTHER ONE I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA HAVE TO GET OUT AND WORK. AND I DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. MICHAEL MITCHELL. MICHAEL MITCHELL. MICHAEL MICHAEL. NEXT SPEAKER BRENDA STROMAN. BRENDA STROMAN IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY DAVID KOGLER. GOOD AFTERNOON, MEL TURNER. COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, MY NAME IS BRENDA STROMAN AND I ALSO RESIDE AT [02:20:01] SCOTT STREET L. MY PURPOSE FOR BEING HERE TODAY IS ACTUALLY TO GET SOME TYPE OF CLARIFICATION, SOME VERIFICATION REGARDING THE LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN MYSELF AND SCOTT STREET LOFTS. NOW, I ACTUALLY LOVE LIVING AT SCOTT STREET LAWS, HOWEVER, WHEN I CAME IN TO THIS INCOME BASE, THIS IS WHAT I WAS TOLD, INCOME BASE, AFFORDABLE SENIOR LIVING FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, I, I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH A FINANCIAL HURRICANE. MY HOME THAT I HAD IN RO SHARON WAS TAKEN FROM ME. AND IT'S STILL ONGOING, BUT IT RENDERED ME HOMELESS. WHEN I SAY HOMELESS, I, I DO HAVE CHILDREN, BUT I'M 66 YEARS OLD. I'VE BEEN WORKING SINCE I WAS 15. I WAS OVERJOYED WHEN I RAN ACROSS SCOTT STREET LAWS, AND I PLAN TO BE THERE FOR A LONG TIME AFTER THIS DAY. BUT WHAT I WANT YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT, UM, MAYOR TURNER, I SENT THOSE DOCUMENTS TO YOU. MY LEASE AGREEMENT ON, UH, FEBRUARY 17TH SAYS, UM, $921 A MONTH. AND I DON'T MIND TELLING YOU I'M ON A FIXED INCOME AND IT'S 1241 A MONTH. BUT I WAS GOOD WITH THAT 'CAUSE I CAN MAKE THAT WORK. SO ONCE I SIGN MY LEASE AGREEMENT, TWO MONTHS LATER, UM, I GET SOCIAL SECURITY. I GET IT ON THE SECOND WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH. SO I EXPLAIN TO THE OFFICE MANAGERS THAT MONTHLY, I'LL BE LATE, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE TO PAY LATE CHARGES DIDN'T GIVE ME ANY PROBLEM. I SAID, OH, YEAH, WE'LL WORK WITH YOU. SO THE FIRST TWO MONTHS I PAID THAT 9 21 PLUS THE LATE CHARGES AND THE THIRD MONTH, UM, I GOT THE LETTER. IT SAID MY RENT WENT TO EIGHT 50. I WASN'T COMPLAINING ABOUT THAT. I WAS LIKE, OKAY, I PAID WHATEVER WAS ON THAT. I PAID THAT, LIKE, OKAY. AND THE FOLLOWING MONTH, I MEAN THAT MANAGEMENT, THE OFFICE MANAGERS CHANGE. AND MS. MARIANA, SHE WAS REALLY HELPFUL WHEN I CAME TO HER AND TOLD HER THE SAME THING, BECAUSE I WANTED THEM TO KNOW THAT I WAS EXCITED ABOUT LIVING AT SCOTT STREET LOSS. AND I PLANNED TO BE THERE A LONG TIME. SO SHE SAID, SHE ALSO SAID SHE'D WORKED WITH ME WITH THE LATE AND ALL OF THAT. SHE'D WORKED WITH ME. SO I SAID, OKAY. BUT I HAD A HARDSHIP THAT HIT ME, UH, PRETTY MUCH IN THE MIDDLE OF JUNE. YOUR TIME HAS EXPLAINED, OKAY, I'LL GIVE YOU ANOTHER MINUTE. OKAY. AND I, I WANTED TO, UM, EXPLAIN. I, TODAY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY RENT IS. I, I SWALLOWED MY PRIDE AND HAVE TO GO TO THE CHARITIES TO ASK FOR ASSISTANCE WITH RENT RELIEF. AND, AND I GOT HELP. BUT THE THING ABOUT IT IS THE EVICTION NOTICE THAT I GOT, THEY TOLD ME THAT IT'S PROTOCOL. I UNDERSTAND THAT. SO THE EVICTION NOTICE THAT I GOT SAID I HAD TO PAY FOR JUNE AND JULY, AND I WOULDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS. I COULD STAY THERE. BUT THE AMOUNT ON THE EVICTION NOTICE SAID $754 AND 21 CENTS. THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FOR JUNE AND JULY. THAT'S ANOTHER FIGURE. AND I'M LIKE, OKAY. WELL, SINCE I WAS TOLD I WAS IN THAT 30% BRACKET, MY WRENCH SHOULD HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN 3 77 SINCE I'D BEEN THERE. BUT TODAY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ME IS. I'M TERRIFIED OF BEING HOMELESS. MY REASON FOR BEING HERE TODAY IS TO MAKE SURE I DON'T HAVE TO BECOME HOMELESS. I GOT YOU. I GOT YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, DAVID COOGLER, DAVID, TO BE FOLLOWED BY DIANE KINNEY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M DAVID COOGLER. I'VE MET WITH A FEW OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY. UM, I WOULDN'T WANNA LIVE HERE EITHER AFTER LISTENING TO THOSE STORIES AND, AND, UH, WE NEED TO LOOK INTO IT AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON. MICHELLE FARMER, WHO'S OUR REGIONAL MANAGERS HERE, SHE CAN ADDRESS SOME OF THE MORE SPECIFIC ITEMS RAISED. BUT, UM, I DID WANNA GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF THE, THE BIGGER PICTURE IF I COULD. UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE TWO BIG ISSUES, AND THERE [02:25:01] WERE A LOT RAISED, BUT THE TWO BIG ISSUES, UH, NOT TO MINIMIZE ANY OF THEM, ARE REALLY, YOU KNOW, THE RENT INCREASE AND, AND CRIME. AND WE'RE EXPERIENCING, YOU KNOW, CRIME ISSUES THAT ALL OF OUR PROPERTIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE WITHIN, UH, LOOP SIX 10, UM, WE, WE HAVE SPECIFICALLY AT SCOTT STREET, WE'VE GOT A, UM, A COURTESY OFFICER THAT LIVES THERE, RENT FREE TO, TO HAVE A, YOU KNOW, HPD PRESENCE. UH, WE'VE GOT 16 CAMERAS THROUGHOUT THE PROPERTY. UH, WE'VE REGISTERED THE ALERT SLIP, WHICH, UM, UH, HELPS INCREASE HPD PATROLS. UM, WE JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE PIP PROGRAM FROM COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS OFFICE, AND PLAN TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT. UM, OUR PROPERTY MANAGERS GO THROUGH THE BLUE STAR TRAINING THAT HPD OFFERS TO HELP PROVIDE, UH, MAKE THE PROPERTY, UH, SAFER. UH, CURRENT MANAGER DOESN'T HAVE IT. THE NEXT TRAINING'S, UH, IN AUGUST. SO WE'LL GO THROUGH THAT. UM, THE, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE RENT IS, UH, WE'RE FACING UNPRECEDENTED INCREASE. AND IT'S NOT JUST US, IT'S, IT'S APARTMENTS ACROSS THE BOARD. UH, INCREASES IN IN COSTS. OUR, UM, PROPERTY TAXES, UM, HAVE INCREASED, UM, PER THE ASSESSMENT, UH, 132%, UM, FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR. WE'RE APPEALING THAT, AND OUR CONSULTANTS TELL US THAT THE BEST WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HOPE FOR IS GETTING THAT REDUCED DOWN TO A 60% INCREASE, WHICH IS A BIG BURDEN FOR THE PROPERTY. UM, WE HAVE TO MAKE THE MORTGAGE PAYMENTS, THE TAX PAYMENTS, UM, OUR INSURANCE AND INSURANCE COSTS HAVE GONE UP FOR EVERYBODY. INDIVIDUALS, HOMEOWNERS, BUSINESSES, APARTMENT COMPLEXES. OUR INSURANCE HAS GONE UP, UH, 45% SINCE LAST YEAR. UM, AND IT MIGHT CONTINUE TO GO UP. THE ONLY REASON IT ONLY WENT UP 45% WAS BECAUSE WE INCREASED, UH, THE DEDUCTIBLE, THINGS LIKE THAT TO TRY TO GET THE PREMIUM DOWN. AND, BUT OUR LENDER MAY NOT ALLOW THAT. AND IF OUR LENDER DOES NOT ALLOW THAT, THEN WE'RE GONNA BE FACING 109% INCREASE. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. BUT, BUT DAVID, BUT THAT DOESN'T GO TO HOW, THAT DOESN'T ADDRESS TO HOW THE TENANTS HAVE BEEN TREATED. WELL, I MEAN, LET ME, LET ME JUST OKAY. ALL OF THAT. BUT WHEN YOUR, WHEN YOUR MANAGEMENT COMPANY IS EITHER NOT MEETING WITH THE TENANTS, SITTING DOWN AND TALKING TO THEM, OR WHEN PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR RENT IS OR THEIR RENT, THEY MOVE IN AND WITHIN A 12 MONTH PERIOD, THEIR RENT IS GOING UP. UM, THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE MANAGEMENT DECISIONS, HAVING GRANDKIDS AND STUFF COMING, UH, AND NO SET PROTOCOLS OR HOLDING PEOPLE, UM, UH, RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROTOCOLS. THAT'S MANAGEMENT. EVERYBODY. WE ALL DEAL WITH INSURANCE PREMIUMS GOING UP AND, UM, TAXES GOING UP AND MANY COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. YEAH, THEY ARE SEEKING EXEMPTIONS OR, OR, OR CHALLENGING THE APPRAISALS. THAT'S THE NORMAL COURSE OF BUSINESS. BUT THAT DOESN'T NEGATE HOW THE TENANTS ARE BEING TREATED. THAT I HAVEN'T, I HAVEN'T HEARD YOU ADDRESS THAT ISSUE AT ALL. SO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE. YES. WELL, I, I THOUGHT I HAD STARTED TO, BUT I APOLOGIZE. YES, NO, YOU'RE, YOU'RE RIGHT. THE TENANTS NEED TO BE ABLE TO MEET WITH MANAGEMENT. I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO. UH, WE'LL, LIKE I SAID, MICHELLE FARMER, UH, DIANE KINNEY IS THE NEXT SPEAKER. SHE HAD AN EMERGENCY AND COULDN'T ATTEND. SHE'S WITH FDI PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, BUT SO IS MICHELLE FARMER. SHE'S NEXT ON THE LIST AFTER DIANE. SHE CAN TALK TO THAT. BUT WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON, ON WORKING WITH OUR TENANTS AND TREATING THEM WITH RESPECT. SO I'M, I'M SURPRISED TO, TO HEAR THESE STORIES, UM, FROM THIS MANY PEOPLE. UM, WE DO NEED TO ADDRESS THAT, AND WE WILL ABSOLUTELY, WE'LL VISIT WITH EACH ONE INDIVIDUALLY. [02:30:03] I DON'T THINK THIS WAS THEIR FIRST STOP. I THINK THEY TRIED TO MEET WITH, WITH THE, UH, WITH FDI, WITH YOUR MANAGEMENT COMPANY FIRST. I THINK THEIR FRUSTRATIONS HAVE BROUGHT THEM HERE TODAY IN, IN SUCH NUMBERS. UM, AND QUITE FRANKLY, I, I TOO AGREE. WHEN PEOPLE WERE SEEKING ASSISTANCE FROM US, LETTERS OF SUPPORT, FINANCIAL SUPPORT, PEOPLE MADE PROMISES AND ON HOW THEY WERE GOING TO OPERATE. THIS IS NOT YOUR, THIS IS NOT YOUR FIRST RODEO. YOU ARE A DEVELOPER. NO. SO THIS IS NOT YOUR FIRST RODEO. DEALING WITH THESE MANAGEMENT COMPANIES IS NOT YOUR, IT IS NOT. YOU DEAL WITH 'EM ALL THE TIME. IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT IF YOU WERE COMING HERE AND SAYING TO US THAT YOU'VE SAT, YOU SAT DOWN AND TALKED WITH FDI AND RECOGNIZED THE, THE PROBLEMS AND THAT YOU ALL, THAT YOU WERE GOING TO CORRECT IT. IT WOULD'VE BEEN DIFFERENT IF WE WERE HEARING FROM YOU SAYING THAT THIS MANAGEMENT COMPANY WAS NO MORE. BUT I'M NOT HEARING YOU SAY ANY OF THAT. I'M NOT HEARING YOU SAY, WELL, , WE DEFINITELY WILL SIT DOWN AND CORRECT IT. WE DID MEET YESTERDAY WHEN ALL THIS CAME TO MY ATTENTION. UM, THE FDI, UH, MANAGES ALL BUT ONE OF OUR PROPERTIES IN HOUSTON. UM, WE HAVE 31 PROPERTIES. UH, HALF OF THEM ARE IN VIRGINIA. HALF OF THEM ARE HERE, ROUGHLY. UM, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE RUN INTO THIS PROBLEM. UH, FDI HAS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB AT OUR PROPERTY. IT MAKES ME, IT MAKES ME QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE OTHER PROBLEMS AT YOUR OTHER PLACES. AND THE PEOPLE HAVEN'T COME MADE THEIR WAY HERE. IT MAKES ME QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE OTHER PROBLEMS, BUT WE ARE JUST NOT AWARE. , WHY WOULD IT BE SO UNIQUE TO THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY, AND WHY WOULD TENANTS NOT KNOW WHAT THEIR RENT IS OR WHY TWO OR THREE MONTHS LATER THEY GETTING RENT INCREASES? I I CAN ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS. RIGHT. UM, WE NOT ONLY INCREASE RENTS, BUT WE DECREASE RENTS WHEN THINGS CHANGE. UM, THE, AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS A TAX CREDIT PROPERTY AND THE RENTS ARE CAPPED. UM, THOSE, THOSE RENTS AND, AND THE INCREASES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ARE STILL BELOW OR WITHIN THOSE CAPS. JUST JUST SO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT HUD, UM, SETS THOSE CAPS ONCE A YEAR AND THAT THEY PUBLISH THAT AT, AT VARIOUS TIMES, JUST ONCE A YEAR. YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHEN. TYPICALLY THEY DO IT IN MARCH OR APRIL, BUT THIS YEAR THEY DID IT IN MAY BECAUSE OF DELAYS DUE TO COVID. BUT ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT WHEN SOMEONE SIGNS A ONE YEAR LEASE, THAT YOU ALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO INCREASE THAT RENT WITHIN THAT ONE YEAR? YES. ONE TIME. AND THEN WE CAN'T DO IT AGAIN FOR ANOTHER YEAR. BUT THAT'S TO ALLOW FOR MAKING ADJUSTMENTS FOR THINGS LIKE THIS THAT COME UP. NOW, WE, WE SET THAT INCREASE TO TAKE EFFECT, AS YOU HEARD, UM, AUGUST ONE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE THOUGHT OUR LENDER WAS REQUIRING. UM, WE HAVE TO MEET A DEBT, CERTAIN DEBT SERVICE COVERAGE RATIO, AND WE COULDN'T MEET IT GIVEN THE INCREASES IN THE PROPERTY TAXES AND THE INSURANCE THAT I MENTIONED. BUT AFTER HEARING ALL THESE ISSUES, WHICH I UNDERSTAND, AND, AND I WOULDN'T WANNA HAVE TO HAVE A RENT INCREASE DROPPED ON ME THIS SUDDENLY, UM, I DISCUSSED IT WITH OUR LENDERS AND WE DID CHANGE IT. AND THAT'S THE NOTICE YOU'RE HEARING ABOUT THAT WAS SENT OUT YESTERDAY THAT SAID THE RENTS ARE GOING UP, BUT THEY WILL GO INTO EFFECT AT THE, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEIR LEASE EXPIRES. SO WHEN , LEMME JUST SAY THIS IS NOT, THIS IS NUMBER ONE, IT'S NOT THE WAY TO TREAT PEOPLE. IT'S CERTAINLY NOT THE WAY TO TREAT SENIORS. YES. IT'S JUST NOT FIXED INCOME. AND, UM, YEAH, YOU'RE DEALING WITH PEOPLE ON FIXED INCOME. YOU'RE DEALING WITH SENIORS, AND YOU'RE DEALING WITH THE PROPERTY THAT THE CITY SUPPORTED FINANCIALLY. TO SAY THAT, THAT I'M DISAPPOINTED IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. AND TO SAY THAT I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT YOU ALL HAVEN'T TAKEN MORE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PRIOR TO COMING HERE. I'M DISAPPOINTED. I'M, I'M JUST, I'M JUST, I, I WAS WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU. 'CAUSE I, I EXPECTED A LOT MORE. [02:35:01] I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA TELL US A LOT MORE. UM, WELL, WE WILL LOOK INTO IT AND WE WILL REMEDY IT. I DON'T WANT YOU TO JUST LOOK INTO IT. I WANT YOU TO FIX IT. WELL, I EXPECT YOU TO FIX IT. YOU HAVE TO HOLD ON. HOLD ON, HOLD ON. HOLD, HOLD, HOLD, HOLD IT. HOLD. NO, NO, I DON'T. I I EXPECT YOU TO FIX IT. YES, SIR. SO I'M GONNA SIGN MY CHIEF OF STAFF TO YOUR SITUATION. UM, VICE MEMBER TIM CASH. TATU. THANK YOU MAYOR. MR. KOGLER. IT IS VERY DISAPPOINTING TO HAVE THESE SENIORS HAVE TO COME TO CITY HALL WHEN AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE HAVE, UM, WORKED WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE IN THIS CITY, UM, TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE IN THEIR LATTER YEARS HAVE SAFE, AFFORDABLE PLACES TO LIVE AND TO HAVE PERSON AFTER PERSON COME UP WITH THESE SIMPLE PROBLEMS. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MY RENT IS. HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN? WHEN SOMEONE SIGNS A LEASE, THE FIRST THING THEY WANT TO KNOW IS, HOW MUCH IS MY RENT? THERE'S NO WAY YOU SHOULD LIVE IN A PLACE MONTH AFTER MONTH AND NOT KNOW HOW MUCH YOUR RENT IS. THERE SHOULD NEVER BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEONE TO SAY, I MOVED IN IN APRIL AND MY RENT WENT UP IN THREE MONTHS. IF THERE IS A POTENTIAL OF THE RENT GOING UP, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTICE THE DAY THEY MOVED IN. THAT HUD ALLOWS US TO RAISE THE RENT ONE TIME PER YEAR, BE AWARE THAT THIS IS OUR SITUATION, OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED BEFORE THEY EVEN MOVED IN. SO THEY COULD PREPARE FOR THAT. BUT I'VE NEVER HEARD OF A PERSON SIGNING A ONE YEAR LEASE AND THEIR AMOUNT CHANGING WITHIN THAT ONE YEAR LEASE. I MEAN, IT'S INCONSIDERATE. AND QUITE FRANKLY, IT FEELS LIKE THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY WAS TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE SENIORS. AND WHEN THAT, THOSE RESIDENTS COME TO US, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT ACTION IS BEING TAKEN BECAUSE WE ALL VOTED TO SUPPORT THE PROPERTY. AND NOW WHEN YOU DON'T UPHOLD YOUR END OF THE BARGAIN, IT COMES BACK TO US. THOSE RESIDENTS WENT TO THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY AND WERE TOLD THEY COULDN'T EVEN GET A MEETING. IT'S, IT'S, I DON'T, I'D LIKE TO, I WILL FIND OUT WHO THEY TALK TO AND UNDERSTAND AND FIX THAT. CLEARLY THEY DON'T WORK THERE ANYMORE BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE COME AND GONE. YES, MA'AM. BUT THERE, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME CONSISTENCY IN THE MANAGEMENT. THERE NEEDS TO BE CONSISTENCY IN THE RENT. UM, THERE WAS ONE LADY WHO TALKED ABOUT HER LATE FEE, UH, AND SHE WAS GIVEN A LATE FEE. THERE'S THE SECURITY ISSUES. UM, I DON'T THINK YOUR DEBT SERVICE RATIO IS THE CONCERN OF THOSE TENANTS THAT LIVE THERE, THAT HAVE A ONE YEAR LEASE. WHEN YOU DEVELOPER, MR. DEVELOPER CAME WITH YOUR BUSINESS PLAN, YOU SHOULD KNOW WHAT YOUR DEBT SERVICE MODEL IS. AND THOSE RENTS ARE ALREADY DETERMINED BASED ON THEIR INCOMES. SO YOUR BUSINESS MODEL SHOULD NOT BE PUT ON THE TENANTS. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING. I MEAN, PERSON AFTER PERSON, THEY'VE SAID THEY DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THEIR RENT IS, THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SECURITY. EVERY TAX CREDIT DEVELOPER THAT COMES HERE TALKS ABOUT WHAT GREAT SECURITY THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE AT THEIR PROPERTY, WHAT GREAT MANAGEMENT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE AT THE PROPERTY, ALL OF THE WONDERFUL PROGRAMS THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE FOR THE SENIORS AT THE PROPERTY. AND THEN WHEN WE HAVE RESIDENTS THAT COME HERE WITH THESE CONCERNS, IT REALLY WILL MAKE US TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE DEVELOPERS THAT ARE COMING FORTH AT THE CITY TO RECEIVE THESE TAX CREDITS. AND, BUT FOR THESE RESIDENTS SIGNING UP AND COMING HERE TODAY, WE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THINGS ARE WELL AT SCOTT STREET. AND I'M GLAD THEY LOVE LIVING THERE BECAUSE WE'VE WORKED HARD TO PROVIDE PLACES FOR THEM TO LOVE WHERE THEY LIVE. AND THEN WHEN OUR PARTNERS, THE DEVELOPERS WHO TOLD US THEY WERE GOING TO DO RIGHT BY THESE PEOPLE, DON'T, IT PUTS US IN A PRECARIOUS SITUATION BECAUSE THEY MOTION ANY OBJECTION TO MOTION EXTEND HERE IN ? BECAUSE DAVID, THEY'RE NOT SAYING THEY DON'T LIKE THE PREMISES LIVING THERE. THEY'RE NOT SAYING THEY DON'T LIKE LIVING THERE. THEY LIKE, THEY'RE SAYING THEY DON'T LIKE THE SERVICE THAT THEY'RE GETTING. [02:40:01] MM-HMM . AND THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. TREATED THOSE. YEAH. THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. THEY, THEY LIKE WHERE THEY ARE. MM-HMM . THEY'RE NOT LIKING THE SERVICE. AND THE QUESTION IS, EVEN ON CRIME, HAVE Y'ALL, HAVE Y'ALL INVITED HPD OVER? HAVE YOU INVITED THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE OVER? ARE Y'ALL SEEKING TO PARTNER WITH THEM? THERE? THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE TO ASSIST EVEN ON THE CRIME SITUATION. UH, LET ME COUNCILOR P*****K. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, AND I THINK THE VICE MAYOR, PRO TIM REALLY, UH, SAID IT ALL. UM, BUT YEAH, IT'S JUST VERY FRUSTRATING. WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE NAME OF YOUR, UH, DEVELOPMENT COMPANY? MARK DANA CORPORATION. WHAT IS IT? MARK DANA CORPORATION. ALRIGHT. AND, UM, YEAH, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW THEY'RE HAVING TO BE TOLD THAT BASED ON THE FINE PRINT IN THEIR CONTRACTS, THEIR LEASE AGREEMENTS, THAT, UH, THIS IS WHAT YOU SIGNED OFF ON. SO YOU HAVE NO RECOURSE. THAT'S, THAT'S JUST, THAT'S, UM, NOT ONLY BAD MANAGEMENT, BUT THAT, THAT LACKS INTEGRITY. BECAUSE MANY OF THESE FOLKS, THEY SIGNED UP WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY'RE GONNA PAY A CERTAIN RATE. MOST MOST APARTMENT COMPLEXES YOU GO TO, YOU GET A 12 MONTH LEASE. AND THAT'S WHAT THE, THE COST IS. SO AS SHE SAID, NO REAL NOTICE WAS EVER GIVEN TO THEM THAT WE CAN DO THIS. YOU MIGHT AS WELL HAVE JUST GIVEN THEM THE HIGHER, UH, RENT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, THEN TRY TO GET THEM IN AT THE LOWER RATE, AND THEN A FEW MONTHS LATER BUMP IT UP WITHOUT ANY REAL NOTICE THAT, THAT'S LIKE FALSE PRETENSE. YOU, YOU, YOU'RE PUTTING SOMETHING IN, IN FRONT OF THEM, UH, WITH ONE WITH, UH, WITH ONE AMOUNT AND THEN YOU'RE SWITCHING IT. RIGHT? UM, AND SO YOU'RE PUTTING A LOT ON THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, BUT AT THE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU, YOU ALL ARE THE ONES THAT HIRE THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY. SO THE, THE BUCK STOPS WITH YOU. RIGHT? SO, FDI IS ONE THING, BUT MARK DANA CORPORATION IS ANOTHER. AND THE MANAGEMENT COMPANIES ARE JUST GONNA DO WHAT THE CULTURE ALLOWS THEM TO DO. THOSE, THOSE PEOPLE WHO WORK INSIDE THOSE OFFICES, I MEAN, THEY'RE, THEY'RE JUST EMPLOYEES, BUT THEY'RE FOLLOWING WHAT THE CULTURE ALLOWS THEM TO DO. SO YOU HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO SHIFT THE CULTURE. AND BASED ON THE TESTIMONY THAT YOU HEARD TODAY, HOPEFULLY THAT, UH, ENSURES THAT YOU ARE GONNA SWITCH TO CULTURE. 'CAUSE I THINK WE'RE ALL GONNA REMEMBER MARK DANA CORPORATION GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCILMAN PALMER. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. AND I THINK MY COLLEAGUES HAVE, HAVE, HAVE SAID THE MAJORITY OF IT, I, I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE AND JUST AS AN OWNER, AS A BUSINESS OWNER, YOU KNOW, COVID CHANGED THE WAY IN WHICH PEOPLE WORK IN TERMS OF THEIR LEVEL OF COMMITMENT TO WHAT'S GOING ON. SO YOU AS AN OWNER, IT ALWAYS FALLS IN YOUR LAP. MM-HMM. AND I'M SPEAKING TO YOU AS A BUSINESS OWNER, THERE'S MORE GUIDANCE AND OVERSIGHT THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO PUT IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE TRUSTING TO TAKE, TO TAKE CARE OF OUR SENIORS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE DOING EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO. OTHERWISE, WE'RE GONNA BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE AN ETHICAL ISSUE. IT'S A PART OF DOING BUSINESS. IF IT'S TOO DIFFICULT, IF IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE, THEN GET OUTTA THE BUSINESS. I MEAN, IT'S HOW IT IS. IT'S NOT THEIR PROBLEM. I GET ALL THE INS AND OUTS OF WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT THIS IS THE LIFE THAT YOU'VE CHOSEN AND YOU'VE COME TO US AND WE'VE TRUSTED YOU WITH OUR SENIORS IN THE CITY, AND THEY'RE INCREDIBLY, UM, COMMITTED. THEY LOVE BEING THERE, BUT THEY HAVE TO BE TREATED FAIRLY. SO THE OVERSIGHT OVER FDI HAS GOT TO BE STRONGER. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY CAN SAY TO MAKE US FEEL BETTER, BUT IT'S A REAL PROBLEM. IT'S A REAL PROBLEM. PEOPLE HAVE TO KNOW, ESPECIALLY IN A FIXED INCOME, THEY HAVE TO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH. THEY'RE NOT IN A POSITION TO MAKE A DECISION IN 90 DAYS. AND $50 MAY SOUND LIKE A LITTLE BIT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT WHEN YOU'RE ON, WHEN YOU'RE ON A FIXED INCOME, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY, YOU KNOW? AND SO, UM, AND JUST COMMUNICATION AND MAKING SURE THAT WHOEVER'S THERE RESPECTS THEM, OTHERWISE, EVERYONE IN FDI NEEDS TO GO. AND YOU NEED TO FIND SOMEBODY ELSE THAT HAS THE SAME INTEGRITY AND THE SAME AUTHENTICITY YOU HAVE IF THAT'S WHO YOU ARE, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE TREATED FAIRLY. AND WE CAN RUN THIS THING IN THE GROUND, BUT FIX IT. COUNCIL MEMBER, MEMBER GUY, HE GOES, THANK YOU MAYOR D DAVID. LIKE I HAD MENTIONED EARLIER, UH, TWO, THREE YEARS AGO WHEN YOU CAME TO SEE ME, UH, YOU KNOW, I, AGAIN, I WAS ASKING AND PUSHING FOR SENIOR HOUSING AND YOU SAID, COUNCIL MEMBER, WELL, WE'RE GONNA DO, WE DO, WE'RE GONNA DO SENIOR HOUSING, WHICH I WAS EXCITED ABOUT. UH, AND I TOLD YOU I WOULD GIVE YOU MY SUPPORT. UH, BUT TO HEAR FROM THESE RESIDENTS, UH, AND TO HEAR HOW THEY'VE BEEN TREATED IS VERY DISAPPOINTING. UM, I'M HOPING THAT, UH, [02:45:01] WHAT YOU, 'CAUSE YOU'VE HEARD WHAT WE HEARD TODAY, AND I'M HOPING THAT YOU'LL GO AHEAD AND AGREE TO HAVE A RESIDENT MEETING WITH MANAGEMENT AND WHERE YOU WILL ALSO ATTEND TO HEAR WHAT ISSUES THAT THEY'RE HAVING, UH, SO THAT WAY YOU CAN MAKE SURE THAT MANAGEMENT IS GOING TO STAY ON TOP OF THOSE ISSUES AND TRY TO RESOLVE WHATEVER ISSUES THEY ARE HAVING. UH, SO I'M HOPING THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR MANAGEMENT COMPANY. UH, SO THAT WAY WE WON'T HAVE RESIDENTS COMING BACK TO PUBLIC SESSION, UH, TO SAY THAT NO ONE IS HEARING WHAT THEIR ISSUES ARE. UH, AND THEN ALSO I DID TEXT YOU THE, UH, UH, INFORMATION REGARDING THE PIP MEETING. UH, SO THAT WAY HOPEFULLY YOU OR MANAGEMENT CAN ATTEND THE PIP MEETINGS. AND I ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS ALSO TO ATTEND THE PIP MEETINGS, UH, THAT WAY THE COMMANDER CAN HEAR WHAT ISSUES YOU'RE HAVING AT THE APARTMENT COMPLEX IN REGARDS TO VEHICLES BEING BROKEN INTO, OR, UH, IF YOU'RE, UH, HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, NOT BEING ROBBED, BUT IF YOU'RE ROBBED OR WHATEVER THE CASE MIGHT BE, THAT WAY THE COMMANDER CAN HEAR THAT. AND THAT WAY THEY'LL HOPEFULLY SEND PATROL CARS TO PATROL THE AREA. UH, MAY I HAVE AN EXTENSION, PLEASE? YES, SIR. MOTION TO EXTENT. SECOND OBJECT. OBJECTION. AND ALSO, YOU STATED THAT YOU HAVE A UNIT FOR AN AN OFF-DUTY OFFICER, I BELIEVE. UM, IF I COULD ALSO SUGGEST, UH, WHERE MAYBE, AND, AND AGAIN, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE WE'RE NOT QUESTIONING THE FACILITY. IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A NICE FACILITY AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE SAYING THEY'RE EXCITED TO LIVE THERE AND, AND, AND THEY LOVE LIVING THERE BECAUSE IT'S A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY THAT Y DID A GREAT JOB ON. UH, IT'S JUST THE MANAGEMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED. UH, SO I'M HOPING, UH, THAT YOU CAN ALSO OFFER AN OFFICE SPACE, UH, FOR HPD AND THE CONSTABLE, UH, DEPUTIES WHERE, YOU KNOW, THEY WANT TO COME AND HAVE A WATER BREAK. UH, THEY WANNA COME AND EAT THEIR LUNCH. UH, THEY JUST WANNA COME AND, YOU KNOW, JUST TO, YOU KNOW, 20 MINUTES OF, OF, OF A BREAK FOR THEM, UH, WHERE THEY CAN COME INTO YOUR COMPLEX AND THEY HAVE AN OFFICE THERE. UH, AND, AND, AND, AND, AND THAT WAY THOSE THAT ARE OUT THERE TRYING TO CAUSE HARM CAN SEE THAT THERE'S AN HPD UNIT GOING IN THERE. THERE'S A CONSTABLE UNIT GOING IN THERE. AND HOPEFULLY THAT WOULD DISCOURAGE ANYONE. THAT'S UP TO NO GOOD GOING INTO THAT COMPLEX. SO I'M, I'M HOPING THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT REACH OUT TO HPD SOUTH CENTRAL, UH, AND CONSTABLE, UH, UH, SYLVIA TINO'S OFFICE, UH, TO SEE IF THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THEY MIGHT BE WILLING TO DO IF Y'ALL WOULD OFFER THEM AN OFFICE SPACE WHERE THEY CAN COME IN LIKE THAT. THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY. COUNCIL COUNCILMAN ROS. THANK YOU. UM, MAYOR, YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT GOT ME THINKING WHEN YOU SAID THAT, UM, THAT, THAT THIS WAS, OR, YOU KNOW, THAT THE CONVERSATION WAS THAT THIS IS THE SAME, UM, UH, MANAGEMENT COMPANY THAT MANAGES THE OTHER, UM, PROPERTIES AND THAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE A LOT OF YOUR PROPERTIES. IT, IT REALLY RAISES THAT QUESTION OF, OF WHAT ELSE DON'T WE KNOW? YOU KNOW, IT'S DISTURBING THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW, AND IT'S DISTURBING THAT WE'RE JUST LEARNING. BUT, YOU KNOW, HOW ELSE WOULD WE KNOW THAT THERE'S OTHER PROBLEMS? UNLESS, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE HAS TO COME AND TELL US AND TO TELL YOU. SO I WOULD LIKE ASSURANCE, I JUST TEXTED MY STAFF, I SAID, I WANT A LIST OF ALL THE MARKED DANA CORPORATION AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS IN DISTRICT H AND, AND I WANNA KNOW THAT THEY'RE BEING MANAGED PROPERLY. BECAUSE IF IT'S THE SAME PEOPLE, THAT LETTER WITH THE RENT CHANGED. YEAH. IS THAT, IS THAT HAPPENING EVERYWHERE? YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S ALARMING. IT'S NOT JUST THIS, THIS ONE PLACE, YOU KNOW? I MEAN, IF IT'S THE SAME MANAGEMENT, WHY WOULDN'T IT BE HAPPENING IN, YOU KNOW, IN OTHER PLACES? I WANNA KNOW. THAT'S WHAT I WANNA KNOW. THANK YOU. NOW THEY, I THAT, THAT IS A GREAT POINT. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO SIT DOWN WITH THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THIS PRACTICE IS THROUGHOUT ALL OF YOUR PROPERTIES. BECAUSE FIXING IT, IF IT'S A PROBLEM AT ONE, BUT IT'S BEEN DONE IN THE OTHERS, THERE'S A PROBLEM THROUGHOUT. UM, COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND ONE MORE, JUST ONE MORE QUICK QUESTION. I, I LIVE IN AN APARTMENT RIGHT NOW, AND WHAT WE ARE FINDING IS THAT THE VISITORS THAT VISIT US ARE THE ONES CAUSING THE CRIME SOMETIMES. AND I'M NOT SURE IF THE PROPERTY'S GATED OR NOT, BUT IT IS, OKAY. SO OFTENTIMES, I MEAN, WE GET CARS, WE HAVE HEAVY SECURITY NOW, BUT PEOPLE THAT WERE BREAKING IN THE CARS OR PEOPLE THAT ARE VISITING OTHER RESIDENTS, AND SO THEY PUT STIPULATIONS IN FOR US. LIKE, WE CAN'T HAVE MORE THAN THREE VISITORS NOW. THERE'S A CERTAIN TIME WHERE VISITORS HAVE TO LEAVE. THEY'RE TAKING RECORD AT THE FRONT DESK. I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF, THERE'S NOW A GOLF CART THAT KIND OF DRIVES AROUND THE, THE, UM, THE PARKING LOT WATCHING CARS BECAUSE OUR CARS HAVE BEEN BROKEN INTO AND EVERYTHING. BUT IT'S NOT A RESIDENTS THAT ARE DOING IT. SO, JUST IN THE COMMENT, WHAT THE GENTLEMAN WAS SAYING, REGARDLESS, GRANDCHILDREN AND THESE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE KIND OF RUNNING AROUND, YOU WANNA [02:50:01] CREATE A SOMEWHAT OF A FAMILY ENVIRONMENT, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU PROTECT THE RESIDENTS. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, UM, I WOULD ALSO CONSIDER, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HPD AND EVERYTHING, BUT SOMETIMES IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING TO VISIT BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. THEY CAN SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, YOU KNOW, SO JUST, JUST A SUGGESTION. MAYBE TIGHTEN UP WHO CAN COME VISIT AND WHAT TIMES THEY CAN COME. AND YOU DON'T WANNA MAKE IT A, A JAIL OR ANYTHING. I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY YOU WANNA MAKE IT TO WHERE THEY CAN ENJOY THEIR FAMILIES, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S OFTEN WHO'S CAUSING THE PROBLEM. MM-HMM . COUNCILMAN ROBINSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR DAVID. UM, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GETTING A PRETTY GOOD GRILLING HERE AND I KNOW YOU'RE TAKING AWAY SOME WATSONS FROM THIS. ONE THING I KNOW THAT I COULD DO BETTER AT MYSELF AS A PARENT SOMETIMES IS WHEN I MIGHT WANT TO, I'M GONNA USE THE WORD EXTRACT, AN APOLOGY, LET'S SAY, FROM MY DAUGHTER, OR LET'S SAY FROM A CLOSE FRIEND. AND I MIGHT WISH ON THEM TO APOLOGIZE TO ME. AND I JUST WANT TO OBSERVE FOR YOU ALL THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WHO HAVE ASKED FOR SOME RELATIVELY HUMANE TREATMENT, LOOKING FOR AN APOLOGY, LOOKING FOR SOME REMORSE AND SORROW. THERE, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR FEAR, THEIR LACK OF TRUST, UM, THE DELICATE NATURE IN WHICH THEIR POSITION, THEIR LIVES HAVE BEEN LEFT. AND I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST TO YOU THAT THAT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. AND I THINK YOU'VE AT ONE POINT APOLOGIZED TO SOMETHING. I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT WAS YOU APOLOGIZED TO. SO I JUST WANTED TO, I WANTED TO OBSERVE THAT FOR YOU AND OBSERVE WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THIS CHAMBER TODAY. 'CAUSE YOU'VE HEARD SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES IN THE MAYOR TALK ABOUT DISAPPOINTMENT, UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR, WHAT WE'VE SEEN AND OUR FEARS FOR WHAT MIGHT BE GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE REST OF HOUSTON. BUT I THINK THERE'S A REAL MORAL IMPERATIVE HERE, AND I'M GONNA MAYBE JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT. ALRIGHT, THANKS. CAN I SAY A FEW WORDS? SURE. UM, I THINK WE DO NEED TO DO A MUCH BETTER JOB, AND I DO APOLOGIZE FOR THE PROBLEMS THAT YOU'VE HEARD TODAY. WE WILL FIX THEM. UM, I DON'T THINK IT'S A PROBLEM AT THE OTHER PROPERTIES, BUT I WILL MAKE SURE IT'S NOT A PROBLEM AT OUR OTHER PROPERTIES. UM, AND I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT. ALRIGHT, THANKS DAVID. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. DIANE. KENNY. DIANE. KENNY. DIANE, SHE'S NOT HERE, BUT I'M NEXT. MICHELLE FORMER. AND I'M PROBABLY THE LAST PERSON Y'ALL WANNA SPEAK TO BECAUSE I AM WITH THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY. UM, YOU'RE GETTING HALF THE STORY, AND I HOPE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT. UM, I KNOW SOME, IF NOT MOST OF THESE RESIDENTS, AND WHAT YOU DIDN'T HEAR IS THE FACT THAT WE REDUCED RENTS BACK IN MARCH FOR ALL OF THESE TENANTS, AND THEY HAVE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS OF, OF CREDITS ON THEIR ACCOUNTS RIGHT NOW. I HAVE NEVER REFUSED TO SPEAK TO ANY ONE OF THESE TENANTS. UM, IT, I'VE, I, I'VE SPOKEN TO DALE TOLIVER ABOUT THE ISSUE THAT SHE BROUGHT UP ABOUT A STOLEN MONEY ORDER FROM ONE OF OUR FORMER LEASING AGENTS. AND THAT'S TRUE. AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE LEASING AGENT COMMITTED SUICIDE. AND I APOLOGIZED TO MS. TOLIVER THAT SHE WAS HAVING TO GO THROUGH THAT. I EVEN OFFERED AND DID PAY HER BACK THROUGH HER RESIDENT LEDGER FOR THE $31 THAT IT COST HER TO FILE TO FIND OUT WHO CASHED THE MONEY ORDER. I HAVE FIXED HER ACCOUNT FOR THE $350 SECURITY DEPOSIT. SO WHAT I'M HEARING SOME OF THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME AS WELL. UM, I KNOW, I MEANT, I'M, I'M THE, THE COURTESY OFFICER, CAPTAIN SMOKEY PHILLIPS WAS JUST HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MANAGEMENT. AS FAR AS SECURITY I'VE KNOWN ABOUT THAT, THEY'VE MADE THAT VERY CLEAR TO ME. AND WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN. UM, WE SIGNING UP WITH BLUE STAR, LIKE DAVID KLER SAID, THE PIP THAT WE LEARNED ABOUT YESTERDAY. UM, I'VE GOT YOU WE'RE COMMUNICATING WITH THE TENANTS ABOUT THE GRANDKIDS ON SITE, AND THEN WE GET IN TROUBLE WITH THE OTHER SENIORS THAT WANT THEIR GRANDKIDS THERE. UM, AND, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT SENIORS BICKERING BECAUSE YOU TOLD OFF ON MY GRANDCHILD BEING IN THE SWIMMING POOL. SO I'M, UH, I AM OF THE AGE THAT I COULD LIVE THERE, SO I KNOW I WOULDN'T WANNA BE TREATED ANYWAY. BUT I CAN TELL YOU WHAT, WHAT YOU'VE HEARD TODAY IS PROBABLY HALFWAY OF WHAT IT, OF SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE TRUTH AND, AND NOT THE TRUTH. WE DON'T DELIBERATELY MISTREAT ANY OF OUR TENANTS. WE VALUE EACH AND EVERY MR. MR. UH, UH, JOHN, WE WERE TALKING RIGHT BEFORE THIS. I MEAN, I DON'T THINK THAT THEY COULD HONESTLY SAY THAT WE'VE MALICIOUSLY AND AND DONE ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, ON TO THEM FROM, FROM [02:55:01] MARIANA, THE ONSITE MANAGER. LIKE I SAID, I'VE NEVER PERSONALLY, OTHER THAN DALE TOLLIVER BEEN REACHED OUT TO BY ANYONE THAT'S HERE TODAY AND ASKED TO HAVE A MEETING. BECAUSE I TELL YOU WHAT, HAD THEY DONE THAT I WOULD'VE HAD A MEETING WITH THEM. LET ME ASK, LEMME MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND. ARE YOU, ARE YOU ON THE PROPERTY? NO, I'M NOT. BUT I'M THERE AT LEAST TWICE A MONTH. I KNOW SOME OF THESE TENANTS, BUT, BUT IF, BUT IF YOU'RE NOT ON THE PROPERTY ON A REGULAR BASIS, IT'S DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO REACH OUT TO YOU WHEN YOU ARE ON THERE TWICE A MONTH. THEY HAVE MY EMAIL, THEY HAVE MY PHONE NUMBER. I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT THEY, THESE ARE THEIR, THIS IS THEIR HOME. NO, I, I, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT. AND I HAVE GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE RESIDENTS HERE. THE REASON THIS CAME ABOUT WAS THOSE LETTERS THAT THIS, NOT THE SECURITY, THEY, THAT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE, BUT WHEN THOSE LETTERS THAT WE WERE DIRECTED TO SEND OUT FOR THE RENT INCREASES, THAT'S WHEN THIS HAPPENED. AND I DON'T BLAME 'EM. A LOT OF THOSE RENTAL INCREASES ARE SIGNIFICANT. I WILL GIVE THEM THAT. AND, AND I DIDN'T, I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THEM OTHER THAN WE RE WE DO HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO RE TO INCREASE RENTS OR DECREASE ONCE A YEAR. OBJECTION. NO OBJECTION. COME GET HER. AND WE DECREASED THEIR RENTS BACK IN MARCH. BUT YOU GUYS DIDN'T HEAR ANY OF THAT TO WHERE WE SAID, OKAY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY THIS MUCH RENT, YOUR RENT'S LOWER. AND AS FAR AS THE RESIDENT THAT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT HER RENT AMOUNT IS, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAVE COME ABOUT. SHE'S GOT A LEASE CONTRACT AND I WILL MAKE SURE THAT SHE KNOWS WHAT HER LEASE IS. AND IT MAY BE BECAUSE THE RENTS GOT DECREASED AND NOW WE'RE INCREASING THEM. THAT MAY BE THE CONFUSION FOR, FOR HER. BUT I'LL MAKE SURE SHE GETS HER RENT. BUT AGAIN, I MEAN, I MAY BE THE LAST PERSON YOU WANNA HEAR FROM, BUT I HAVE NEVER EVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE I HAVE TODAY. AND I TAKE IT PERSONALLY AND IT'S HURT ME. IT'S HURT ME. YEAH, BUT WHO, BUT WHO'S, WHO IS, WHO IS ON THE GROUND? WHO IS AT THE, UH, THE COMPLEX, MY PROPERTY MANAGER, MARIANA, WHO'S ACTUALLY WATCHING TODAY? WELL, I MEAN, HAVE YOU DISCUSSED IT WITH HER? SHE SENT ME A TEXT SAYING IF, IF YEAH, I WILL. SHE SAID, I TELL YOU WHAT, LISTENING TO THOSE STORIES, I WOULDN'T LIKE IT HERE EITHER. BUT WE'LL TALK ABOUT HOW TRUTHFUL THEY ARE. SO I WILL, I WILL TALK TO HER. I I, DO THEY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE ONSITE MANAGER? IS THAT WHERE THE ISSUE IS? THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE NOBODY SAID THAT. EVERYBODY BLAMED THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY. BUT I, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE PROBLEM REALLY IS. WELL THEN LET ME, LET ME TELL YOU, UH, FOR A TAX SUPPORTED PROPERTY WHERE WE HAVE SUPPORTED, THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW TIMES WHEN YOU, WHEN WE'VE HAD THEM COME UP LIKE THIS. SO I'VE NEVER BEEN, BEEN IN THIS SITUATION. WELL, I UNDER, I UNDERSTAND. BUT SOMETHING, SOMETHING IS HA IS, IS HAPPENING THAT CAUSED THEM TO COME HERE. THE, THE AUGUST 1ST RENTAL INCREASE LETTER, I WAS TOLD, THAT'S WHY WE HERE THAT. AND SOMETIMES IT, IT TAKES ONE THING, BUT THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING THAT PEOPLE SAY THAT'S ENOUGH. THAT'S ENOUGH. BUT THE REALITY IS, IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ON THIS CO ON THIS SUBJECT MATTER FOR MORE THAN ONE HOUR NOW. YEAH. OKAY. AND SO IT IS NOW BEF IT IS NOW IN FRONT OF US. AND, AND THAT'S, AND THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY SHOULD HAVE BEEN WORKING THIS OUT WITH THEM. AND, AND WE WERE, LIKE I SAID, UH, A LOT OF THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I'M HEARING IT. AND UNFORTUNATELY I'M HEARING IT IN A FORUM SUCH AS THIS. SO WE WEREN'T GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO, OTHER THAN THE SECURITY TO WORK WITH THESE PEOPLE AND ADDRESS THEIR ISSUES. I WASN'T, WELL, LEMME SAY YOU WEREN'T GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS IT BY YOUR PEOPLE, OR ARE YOU SAYING BY THE SENIORS? THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. NO, NO, NO. I, AS MY MANAGEMENT COMPANY WAS NOT GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THEIR, THE RESIDENT'S CONCERNS ABOUT THE RENT INCREASES. I WAS NOT EVER CONTACTED BY A RESIDENT ABOUT THE RENT, EXCEPT FOR ONE. THAT WAS IT. ONE RESIDENT EMAILED ME ABOUT THE RENT INCREASE. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I, I THINK THE, THE BIG ISSUE IS THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE RENT INCREASES AT THE TIME THAT THEY SIGNED THEIR LEASE AGREEMENT, WHICH FALLS ON THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, WHICH FALLS ON MARYANNE OR WHOEVER'S THERE TALKING TO THEM ABOUT WHEN YOU LIVE HERE, THERE MAY BE A POSSIBILITY THAT WE CHANGE YOUR RENT WITHIN THIS YEAR'S TIME. AND YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT. THAT'S SOMETHING AS A MANAGEMENT COMPANY THAT YOU ALL FAILED TO DO, AND NOW YOU'RE RELYING ON FINE PRINT TO SAY, [03:00:01] WELL, IT WAS IN THERE AND YOU SIGNED IT. THAT'S A FAILURE OF MANAGEMENT. THAT'S A FAILURE OF THE PROPERTY MANAGER OR TEAM THAT'S THERE SIGNING THESE, UH, LEASES WITH THE, WITH THE, WITH THE TENANTS. SO OF COURSE, IF A PERSON IS PAYING ONE AMOUNT AND THEN OUT OF THE BLUE THEY GET A LETTER STATING THAT THEY'RE GONNA PAY A DIFFERENT AMOUNT, THEY'RE GONNA BE UPSET. AND WHEN THEY'RE UPSET ABOUT THAT, NOW EVERYTHING ELSE THEY'RE UPSET ABOUT IS GONNA COME OUT. YEP. NO ONE CARES WHEN YOU DECREASE THE RENT. RIGHT. YOU DIDN'T, YOU DIDN'T GET A LOT OF PUSHBACK FOR THAT. THEY, THEY WERE, THEY WERE SHOWN THAT NOTICE AT THE TIME OF DECREASE THOUGH. YEAH. THAT SAYS WE CAN CHANGE IT. SO I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW. BUT, BUT AT THE TIME THAT THEY SIGNED THE LEASE, I DON'T, I HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING THAT THEY WERE GIVEN PROPER NOTICE TO, HEY, LOOK AT THIS FINE PRINT. WE CAN CHANGE YOUR RENT AT ANY TIME. THAT'S WHAT CAUSES THE CONFUSION. THAT'S WHAT CAUSES THE AGGRAVATION, AND THAT'S WHAT CAUSES PEOPLE TO HAVE TO COME DOWN HERE. SO AS A BUSINESS PRACTICE, YOU ALL NEED TO BE VERY CLEAR WITH YOUR PROPOSED TENANTS ON WHAT THE STATE ALLOWS YOU TO DO. MM-HMM . BECAUSE IF YOU ARE NOT, YOU'RE GONNA BE FACED WITH THIS SAME TYPE OF BACKLASH AND IT'S GONNA FALL ON YOU YEAH. AND YOUR MANAGEMENT COMPANY BECAUSE OF THAT. AND NOW WE AS A CITY WILL MARK DOWN WHAT THAT DEVELOPMENT COMPANY IS AND WHO THE PROPERTY MANAGERS ARE, BECAUSE THAT'S A BAD REFLECTION ON US. MM-HMM . RIGHT? THE ONLY REASON Y'ALL ARE GETTING THE CREDIT IS BECAUSE YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO US TO ASK FOR THE CREDIT TO PROVIDE CER CERTAIN SERVICES TO THEM. SO IF THEY DON'T LIKE THE SERVICES BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU'RE DOING, IT REFLECTS BAD ON THE CITY. SO KEEP THAT IN MIND. THANK YOU. THANK COUNCILOR TATU. THANK YOU. UH, MS. FARMER. YES. FOR, FOR BEING HERE. I WILL TELL YOU THAT, UM, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT, UM, THE TONE AND THE DEFENSIVENESS OF WHAT THE RESIDENTS HAVE STATED. WHETHER IT'S YOUR FIRST TIME HEARING IT OR NOT. IF I WERE A MANAGEMENT COMPANY AND MY CLIENTS CAME TO ME THE FIRST TIME, THE SECOND TIME, THE THIRD TIME, OR CAME TO ANOTHER GOVERNING BODY AND SAID, THESE ARE PROBLEMS THAT I HAD, I WOULD PROBABLY DO MY VERY BEST TO NOT BE DEFENSIVE AND TAKE IT PERSONAL, BUT SAY, HOW CAN I FIX THIS AND MAKE THIS BETTER IF I WANT A LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP WITH MY CLIENT? AND I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE PRUDENT FOR YOU WHETHER THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME HEARING THIS TO SAY, I HEAR YOU AND I WANNA MAKE IT BETTER. AND SO I WILL ADDRESS THIS WITH THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY BECAUSE THEY LOVE LIVING THERE. WE'RE HALFWAY THERE. THEY LOVE LIVING THERE. NOW HOW DO WE MAKE IT AT A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR THEM TO CONTINUE LOVING TO LIVE THERE? THAT MEANS WE NEED TO HAVE MORE COMMUNICATION. IF YOU'RE ON THE PROPERTY TWICE A MONTH, THAT'S FINE. YOU HAVE SOMEBODY THAT'S THERE EVERY DAY, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO TEND TO THEIR NEEDS BECAUSE YOU'VE ENTRUSTED THEM TO MANAGE THIS PROPERTY ON YOUR BEHALF OR ON THE DEVELOPER'S BEHALF, ON SOMEBODY'S BEHALF, THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY'S BEHALF. AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE SAID, BECAUSE THESE ARE SIMPLE FIXES. MM-HMM . BUT IF YOU STAND HERE AND SAY, SOME OF THIS IS NOT TRUE, IT'S VERY TRUE TO THEM. THEY WOULD NOT HAVE DRIVEN HERE, FOUND SOMEWHERE TO PARK, SIGNED IN THROUGH SECURITY, CAME HERE, SAT HERE FOR THREE HOURS TO STAND HERE AND SAY THAT IF IT WASN'T TRUE TO THEM, INTEGRITY, IT'S VERY TRUE TO THEM. AND SO FOR YOU TO SAY, THIS IS ONLY HALF TRUE. IT'S, IT'S OFFENSIVE. I'M OFFENDED. THE DEFENSIVENESS COMES FROM MY NAME WAS WAS SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED. THAT'S OKAY. AND THAT'S FINE. AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I'M THINKING. WHEN THE MANAGER AND YOU ARE IN CHARGE, YOU TAKE THE GOOD AND YOU TAKE THE BAD. YEAH. AND WE WILL HAVE A MEETING. UH, THEY DESERVE THAT. I AGREE WITH THAT. AND HEARING SOME OF THIS, WE WILL HAVE A MEETING WITH THEM TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT THEY HAVE. OBJECT. OBJECTION, CHAIR. NONE. GRANTED. OKAY. WELL, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A MEETING. UM, AND, AND, AND DON'T TAKE IT PERSONAL. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE. YEAH. WE CAN ALL IMPROVE ON OUR BEST. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US ALL TO IMPROVE MM-HMM . AND I'M, I'M GLAD TO KNOW THAT THE MAYOR IS GOING TO ASSIGN HIS CHIEF OF STAFF TO OVERSEE IT BECAUSE I THINK THERE ARE SOME, SOME IMPROVEMENTS THAT NEED TO BE MADE. THERE'S NO WAY SOMEONE SHOULD LIVE IN A PROPERTY AND NOT KNOW WHAT THEIR RENT IS. THAT'S AN EASY FIX. I AGREE WITH THAT. THAT'S AN EASY FIX. YEAH. I AGREE WITH THAT. AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THEM COMING BACK AND SAYING, THANK YOU, UH, CHIEF OF [03:05:01] STAFF MARETTE FOR WORKING ALONGSIDE FDI AND WE LOVE LIVING HERE AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT OUR RENTS ARE AND WE FEEL SAFE. AND WE, WE ARE GOING TO ENJOY LIVING AT THIS GREAT PROPERTY THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS WORKED SO HARD TO PROVIDE THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE IN OUR GREAT CITY. COUNCILMAN MAGOS. THANK YOU THERE, MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU MS. FARMER. AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO HAVE A MEETING WITH THESE RESIDENTS, UH, TO TRY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES AND CONCERNS THAT THEY ARE HAVING. UH, AND I'M ASKING THAT, UH, IF YOU COULD PLEASE REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE, I'D LIKE TO ATTEND THAT MEETING AS WELL. SURE. UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE, ARE, ARE, ARE MOVING ALONG, UH, IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. SO PLEASE, PLEASE REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE. I WILL. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN PALMER. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. AND YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES THE PROBLEMS AT THE LE THE HEAD, I MEAN, YOUR DISMISSIVE ATTITUDE IS JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE. IF YOU'RE OVER THIS AND IF YOU ARE THE PERSON THAT EVERYONE DEPENDS ON AND YOU'RE LEADING THE PAC, THEN YOUR ATTITUDE SHOULD BE WAY DIFFERENT. 'CAUSE YOU'RE THE PERSON BELOW YOU HAS THE SAME ATTITUDE AS YOU DO. MM-HMM . IT'S A CULTURE. SURE. SO IN MY MIND, THE OWNER, MR. KLER, NEEDS TO LOOK AT WHO HE'S DEPENDING ON TO MANAGE SOMETHING THAT HE HAS INVESTED IN BECAUSE HE'S TRUSTING THAT YOU GUYS ARE HANDLING YOUR BUSINESS PROPERLY. SO WHEN YOU'RE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU FEEL. SURE IT IS ABOUT WHO YOU ARE SERVING AND THAT IS IT. MM-HMM . SO I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR OUTLOOK AND YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND REDO THIS WHOLE THING AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW YOU CAN SERVE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR OR MAYBE FIND ANOTHER JOB. BUT WE, WHEN YOU'RE IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY, THAT IS YOUR JOB. AND IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE UNHAPPY, IF IT DOESN'T MATTER IF SOMEONE IS SAYING SOMETHING POORLY ABOUT YOU, LIKE MAYOR PRO TEM, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM SAID, IT'S A TIME AND A MOMENT TO IMPROVE. BUT IF YOUR ATTITUDE IS THE WAY YOUR YOURS IS, I CAN, I'M, IT MAKES A LOT MORE SENSE. WELL, I, I JUST CAME UP DEFENSIVE BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING THAT NO, YOU CAN'T, I'M TYPICALLY NOT LIKE THAT. BUT YOU CAN'T DO THAT. BUT, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, IT'S ALL ABOUT SHOWTIME. SO IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU DO IN THE, IN THE DARK, IT MATTERS WHEN YOU'RE AT THE END AND YOU'RE IN FRONT OF CONFLICT. IT'S HOW YOU HANDLE IT. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU DO EVERY OTHER DAY. IT MATTERS HOW YOU HANDLE CONFLICT. YEAH. THE BOTTOM LINE IS I WANT THESE RESIDENTS TO BE HAPPY. I WANT TO FIX WHATEVER ISSUES THAT THEY'RE HAVING. AND IT'S NOT THESE RESIDENTS AND THESE PEOPLE, IT'S YOUR RESIDENTS. YOU GOTTA, YOU HAVE, BUT YOU HAVE TO SPEAK FROM A SPACE OF RESPECT. IT'S NOT THESE PEOPLE. THEY'RE IMPORTANT. YEAH. I, I KNOW. OKAY. SO, SO ALL OF IT CULTURALLY NEEDS TO CHANGE. AND MR. KLER, MAYBE THEY NEED TO DO SOME TYPE OF LEADERSHIP TRAINING OR CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING OR SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IF YOU OR MY OFFICE MANAGER, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE A JOB TOMORROW. AND IT THERE, MY PATIENTS COME IN, THEY ARE ALWAYS RIGHT. SO THE FACT THAT YOU HAD A CONVERSATION WITH YOUR PERSON THAT'S BELOW YOU AND Y'ALL ARE DEBATING ABOUT WHAT THE TRUTH IS, THAT SHOULDN'T EVEN HAVE BEEN THE CONVERSATION. IT SHOULD BE LIKE, HOW DO WE FIX THIS? THESE ARE EASY FIXES. LET'S JUST GET IT FIXED SO EVERYONE CAN BE HAPPY. I THINK WE DID AND WE DID. THAT'S, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT IS HOW TO FIX IT. SO WE'LL GET IT FIXED. OKAY. THANKS VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, DEBORAH. ELAINE ALLEN IS NOT PRESENT. NEXT SPEAKER. CARRIE RICE. CARRIE RICE. NEXT SPEAKER. SAM . SAM, NEXT SPEAKER. DANA JONES. DANA JONES. HERE. DANA. DANA. NEXT SPEAKER ANNIE LEE. ANNIE LEE TO BE FOLLOWED BY JACOB CLEMENT TESTIFY. GOOD EVENING MAYOR. AND GOOD EVENING. EVENING. ALL CITY COUNCILS SINCE I CAME AND I'VE BEEN COMING OFTEN AS I COULD. UM, AND, UH, THE, UM, DISTRICT OFFICE, THE DISTRICT, UH, COURT PUT A RUSH IN ON MY GRANDBABY'S, UH, PAPERWORK FOR R OF HA COURT, . AND, UM, THE GUY, UM, HE SAID HE HAD MOVED AGAIN WITH IN MARIANNA, AR, ARKANSAS, BUT SOMEHOW, GOD, THEY DIDN'T SEND ME THE PAPERWORK BACK LIKE THEY SHOULD. 'CAUSE THIS HAPPENED ON THE 21ST TO THE 25TH. AND WHAT THEY DID, THEY FORGOT TO SEND ME THE WR OF HAAS CORPUS 'CAUSE THEY COULDN'T FIND THEM. AND, UM, THE GUY [03:10:01] WENT IN YESTERDAY, SIGNED THE PAPERWORK THAT THEY HAD MY GRANDBABY, AND TOMORROW AT TWO 30, ME, HIM AND JUDGE LOPEZ OFFICE WILL BE DISGUSTING FOR HIM TO BRING THE BABY BACK TO HOUSTON. SO I WANT TO SAY THANK Y'ALL PRAYERS. THANK YOU FOR PUSHING IT, BECAUSE THE POLICE OFFICERS AT FIRST IN NOVEMBER THAT WERE HELPING ME TURN THEIR BACK ON ME. AND NOW THEY STARTED CALLING ME, UH, OFFICER, HE AND HIM, AND YOU MAYOR, MOST OF ALL, THEY START CALLING ME, SAYING, CAN I HELP YOU? CAN I TALK TO YOU? AND I THANK GOD FOR Y'ALL AND YOUR COUNCIL. COUNCILMAN POLLACK. THANK YOU MAYOR. MS. LEE, I, I I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE, YOUR, YOUR, YOUR, YOUR BRAVERY AND NEVER GIVING UP YOUR DILIGENCE. UM, YOUR GRANDDAUGHTER HAS, UM, A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR AND, UH, ENSURING THAT SHE KNOWS SOMEONE LOVES HER, SOMEONE'S THERE TO PROTECT HER AND MAKE SURE SHE'S IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. WE, WE DID HEAR YOU. I HEARD YOU. AND, UH, I WANT TO GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO OFFICER HENDON. YES. BECAUSE I WANNA BRING UP IN THE ADMONITION OF THE LORD, I WANT HER TO GO TO CHURCH BECAUSE OF WHERE SHE SAID, THESE PEOPLE DON'T GO TO CHURCH. BUT I, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR SENDING FOR, FOR, FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK AS WELL. YOU, YOU STAYED ON TOP OF IT. THANK YOU. ME AND CURTIS TOO. VICE, VICE VICE MEMBER. JIM, CHECK ON ME. MS. LEE. I, I DO WANT TO, UM, THANK YOU FOR BEING SO PERSISTENT, UM, BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A MOTHER'S LOVE AND A GRANDMOTHER'S LOVE. YES. UM, AND WE KNOW THE TRAGIC STORY OF YOUR, OF, OF YOUR DAUGHTER. AND, UM, LET US KNOW WHEN YOU GET YOUR GRANDDAUGHTER BACK BECAUSE THAT MANY OF US HAVE BEEN PRAYING, UM, FOR THE SAFE RETURN. I WANNA THANK Y'ALL FOR Y'ALL PRAYER OF, OF YOUR GRANDDAUGHTER. I'M PRAYING FOR MORE GRANDMOTHERS TO BE GRANDMOTHERS TO HELP OUT WITH THESE CHILDREN AND THESE GRANDCHILDREN, AND CHECK UP ON THEM. ALL RIGHT. SO Y'ALL THANK Y'ALL. KEEP US, KEEP US POSTED AND LET US KNOW WHEN YOU GET UP. I WILL. THANK YOU. THANK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, JACOB CLEMENT. HEY, JACOB. OH, I BROUGHT SOMEONE FLYING WITH ALL OF US, AND THAT IS, IT WILL REALLY SAVE YOU MONEY. SEE, I JUST SMOKING. IT'S A BLA, HE'S FINALLY A YES MAN. UH, AND THEN WHEN I'M TALKING ABOUT THE EPISCOPAL NIGHT AT THE BALLPARK AND THE EPISCOPAL NIGHT AT THE BALLPARK, IT RETURNS ON JULY 28TH. YOU'RE GOING TO YOUR YOUNG CATHEDRAL SONS FRIENDS OF CHRISTCHURCH CATHEDRAL AND NEW EPISCOPALIAN FRIENDS FROM AROUND THE DIOCESE OF TEXAS TO THE DIOCESE PLAY THE TAMPA BAY RACE AND IN MAY PARK AND WHILE BEGINNING AT 5:00 PM AND WELL, YOU GET FREE HOT, FREE DRINKS AND FREE CRACKER JACK. SO IT'S A WORTHWHILE ENDEAVOR TO GO TO. AND WHILE I, I AM ASKED Y'ALL TO COME AND, UM, WHILE YOU PURCHASE YOUR TICKET TO CHRISTCHURCH CATHEDRAL, YOU'LL BE SENDING IN FILL BOX FIVE, SECTION 1 0 5 AND 1 0 6. SO IF I'M NOT WORKING, UH, THAT DAY, THEN I'M GOING TO GO, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANKS. THANK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'RE PROUD OF YOU. TELL YOU BUNNY. YES. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. THE JASON CONWAY. JASON CONWAY IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR TURNER. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SETTING UP A MEETING WITH, UH, MS. BROWN, EVEN THOUGH SHE DIDN'T ATTEND. IT WAS, UH, MS. MICKELSON AND, UH, BENNY, HOWEVER, WE'VE, THEY, UM, NEED 67%. WE ONLY HAVE 60 A COUPLE OF THE, THE RESIDENTS ON THAT STREET, WE, WE, OH, I'M SORRY. A COUPLE RESIDENTS ON THE STREET, WE SENT OUT LETTERS AND THE ONE SIGNATURE THAT THEY HAVE IS A, UH, MANAGEMENT COMPANY THAT'S NOT REALLY RESPONDING. SO I SPOKE WITH, UH, ABRAHAM ZILLA AND I SPOKE WITH BENNY, AND THE ONLY THING THEY SAYING WE CAN DO NOW IS TO, IF THERE'S NO OPPOSITION FROM THE 60% THAT WE HAVE, THEN I HAVE TO BRING IT BACK TO YOU GUYS. SO I, I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE GO FROM HERE, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE I'VE, I'VE DONE, LIKE I SAY, WE'VE WALKED UP AND DOWN THE STREET, ME AND MR. FLOWERS, AND GOT ALL THE SIGNATURES THAT WE COULD. NOW WE'RE JUST AT A, AT A STANDSTILL TO WHERE NO ONE ELSE IS IN EXPIRED. YEAH. TIME HAS EXPIRED. OKAY. LET, LET ME FOLLOW UP WITH THEM BECAUSE I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEXT, WHAT THE PROPER STEP IS NOW. SO YOU GOT 6% INSTEAD OF 67. WE GOT 59. IT NEEDED 67 AND SOME, AND, AND YOU HAVE ONE ENTITY THAT DIDN'T RESPOND AT ALL. YES, SIR. YES, SIR. AND WE HAVEN'T, IT'S A MANAGEMENT COMPANY. UH, THE YOUNG LADY THAT LIVES IN THE HOUSE, [03:15:01] SHE SIGNED FOR 'EM. BUT, UM, THEY SENT IT BACK SAYING THAT SHE COULDN'T BECAUSE IT, IT'S A MANAGEMENT COMPANY. SHE'S NOT THE, UH, RIGHT. THE PROPERTY OWNER. SHE'S NOT THE OWNER. AND THEN, AND WERE YOU ABLE TO REACH OUT TO THE OWNER? THEY NOT RESPONDING. AND THE ONLY THING MS. MICKELSON WAS SAYING IS FAR AS WHEN WE HAD THE MEETING, SHE'S LIKE, IT COULD GO, SHE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHICH WAY SHE WANTED TO GO AS FAR AS, FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT. SHE'S LIKE, WELL, WE COULD MAKE AN AMENDMENT, BUT I'M REALLY NOT SURE. THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE, I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF COUNSEL TO BACK THAT UP. SO SHE SENT IT THAT TO ABRAHAM AND HE HAD US, YOU KNOW, GO THROUGH THE PROCESS. AND WHEN THEY DID THE, UM, WHEN HE CHECKED ALL THE SIGNATURES THAT WE DID HAVE, IT CAME BACK THAT WE WERE, WE WERE SHORT THAT ONE. AND SO MR. BENNY, THEY LOOKED AT THE ORIGINAL APPLICATION AND IT'S, IT'S A CONFLICT ON THE ORIGINAL APPLICATION, THE BOUNDARY, THE, THE, UM, OKAY, GO ON. I'M LISTENING. OKAY. THE, THE BOUNDARY, WHEN MR. FLOWERS PUT IN THE APPLICATION, HE DEPENDED SOLELY ON PLANNING COMMISSION TO DRAW THE BOUNDARY. AND THE BOUNDARY IS ONE THING, BUT THE WRITTEN DESCRIPTION IS, IS, IS DIFFERENT. AND THEY WERE SAYING, WELL, IT WAS HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO SAY, WELL, IF YOU DIDN'T WANT IT INCLUDED AT THAT TIME, THEN IT WAS HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO CHANGE IT. BUT THERE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, NOT MAKING AN EXCUSE, YOU'RE DEALING WITH SOMEBODY THAT'S 80 SOMETHING YEARS OLD. SO HE WAS JUST BASICALLY DEPENDING ON PLANNING COMMISSION. OKAY. LET ME, LET ME TALK TO THEM. UM, IF YOU'LL LEAVE, IF YOU'LL LEAVE YOUR NUMBER. UH, DO I HAVE IT ON MY SHEET? YEAH. OKAY. THE NUMBER THAT'S ON THE SHEET, IT'S, IT'S YOUR NUMBER. YES, SIR. NOW, LIKE I SAY, I HATE TO BE A BURDEN TO KEEP BRINGING THIS UP, BUT EVERY DAY THAT THAT PROPERTY SITS, YOU KNOW, JUST, JUST TO COME STRAIGHT ACROSS, I MEAN, I DID 17 YEARS IN PENITENTIARY. I CAME HOME AND BUILT MY COMPANY TO WHERE IT'S AT NOW, AND EVERY DAY IT SITS, I LOSE MONEY. I GOTCHA. OKAY. LET ME, LET ME, LET ME MAKE A FEW CALLS AND I'LL CALL YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANKS MAN. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER. THAT COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS. OKAY. [RECESS] IT'S BEEN, UM, BEEN A LONG DAY. AND, UM, THANK YOU EVERYONE. APPRECIATE EVERYBODY FOR STAYING. WE STAND IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM REGISTRY OF THE COURT AND PAY ALL COSTS OF COURT IN CONNECTION WITH IMMINENT DOMAIN PROCEEDING STYLE, CITY OF HOUSTON VERSUS DPS SOUTH HOUSTON, 2000 LLC ET AL. ITEM 10, AMEND MOTION, 2023 DASH 0 2 4 0 TO REFLECT THE CORRECT NAME OF THE AWARDEE FROM SIMMONS SMART INFRASTRUCTURE TO SIMMONS INDUSTRY, INC. ITEM 11, BROWN AND ROOT INDUSTRIAL SERVICES FOR PURCHASE OF A GENERATOR AND ASSOCIATED ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT THROUGH THE INTER-LOCAL AGREEMENT FOR COOPERATIVE PURCHASING WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. ITEM 12 APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN AN, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $337,513 72 CENTS FOR PURCHASE OF NUTANIX NX HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE SUPPORT SERVICES TO CENTURY CENTURY TECHNOLOGIES, INC. ITEM 13 APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 246,100 HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR PURCHASE OF A QUAD DRIP HEAD ROBOT TO BOSTON DYNAMICS INC. ITEM 14 APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $2,995,200 FOR EMERGENCY PURCHASE OF ILLEGAL DUMPING DEBRIS REMOVAL SERVICES TO REACH, GRAB AND GO DEBRIS REMOVAL. ITEM 15, ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 16 AND 26 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, HOUSTON, TEXAS RELATING TO PARKING REGULATIONS. ITEM 16 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS OF HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY. ITEM 17 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND A MG CITYVIEW APARTMENTS, LLC [03:20:01] ITEM 18, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION. TSA ITEM 19 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF AN ELECTRONIC GRANT APPLICATION FOR AND ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS THROUGH THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROLLED AND PREVENTION CDC ITEM 20 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND COMP SITE CORPORATION. ITEM 21 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR COOPERATIVE PURCHASING WITH SOURCE WELL BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND SAMSARA INC. ITEM 22 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,540,000 OUT OF REIMBURSEMENT OF EQUIPMENT PROJECTS, FUND AND AWARD AND CONTRACT TO TIMES CONSTRUCTION INC. ITEM 23, ORDINANCE DE APPROPRIATING $711,000 OUT OF PARKS CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROPRIATING $711,000 OUT OF PARKS CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND, AWARDING CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO FMG CONSTRUCTION GROUP, LLC FOR HERMAN DOG, HERMAN PARK, DOG PARK, OR ITEM 24 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE 2000 TO 2100 BLOCK OF MACARTHUR STREET BETWEEN MONTCLAIR DRIVE AND SHERIDAN STREET AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 42. ITEM 25 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE 900 BLOCK OF BAYLIN AVENUE BETWEEN JULIAN STREET AND SHAW STREET AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 42. ITEM 26, ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 5.5895 ACRES OF LAND TO HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 1 4 8 ITEM 27, ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 47.62 ACRES OF LAND TO HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTIL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 5 35 ITEM 28, ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 16.387 ACRES OF LAND TO HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 5 4 2 ITEM 29, ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 41.76 ACRES OF LAND TO HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 5 5 8 ITEM 30 ORDINANCE, FINDING AND DETERMINING PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY INTEREST IN CONNECTION WITH THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT KNOWN AS THE 24 INCH WATERLINE FROM SUNBEAM STREET TO EAST ORUM. DRIVE ALONG MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR BOULEVARD PROJECT ITEM 31, SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE RELATIVE TO THE DESIGNATION OF 16 LANDMARKS OR PROTECT PROTECTED LANDMARKS. ITEM 32, MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON TO ADOPT RECOMMENDATION FROM CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICE ON AWARD TO HOME DEPOT, USA INC. LOW'S HOME CENTERS LLC ITEM 33, ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND ONE PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT, LLCA DUNCAN SOLUTIONS, INC. COMPANY TWO, HARRISON HARRIS, LTD AND THREE LINEBARGER, GOGGIN, BLAIR AND SAMPSON, LLP ITEM 34. ORDINANCE, UH, AUTHORIZED AND APPROV. FIRST AMENDMENT TO DEVELOPER AND AGREEMENT, AMENDMENT TO DEVELOPER AGREEMENT. CHDO, SINGLE FAMILY HOME DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND A CARING SAFE PLACE INC. THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF JULY 11 AND 12, 2023. STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL SCHEDULE TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM IN THE WORDS OF THE CITY SECRETARY PAT JEFFERSON DANIEL, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED AND HAVE A BLESSED AND FANTABULOUS DAY. ALL [RECONVENE] RIGHT, LET'S, LET'S GET STARTED. GOOD MORNING. AND IT'S 9 0 5 ON WEDNESDAY, JULY THE 12TH, 2023. I'M MAYOR SPECIAL ATTORNEY, AND I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO WATER. UH, THE FIRST ITEM [REPORT FROM CITY CONTROLLER AND THE CITY ADMINISTRATION REGARDING THE CURRENT FINANCIAL STATUS OF THE CITY including but not limited to, a revenue, expenditure and encumbrance report for the General Fund, all special revenue funds and all enterprise funds, and a report on the status of bond funds] ON THE AGENDA WILL BE THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT, AND THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COMPTROLLER CHRIS BROWN AND, UH, DIRECTOR WILL JONES STANDING. YEAH, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING MAY 31ST, 2023 IN THE GENERAL FUND. THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE IS PROJECTING AN ENDING FUND BALANCE OF 396 POINT FOR FFY 23. THIS IS 24 MILLION LOWER THAN THE PROJECTION OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. BASED ON OUR CURRENT PROJECTIONS, THE FUND BALANCE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY 221.2 ABOVE THE CITY'S TARGET OF HOLDING 7.5% [03:25:01] IN RESERVES. OUR REVENUE PROJECTIONS INCREASED BY 16.3 MILLION FROM THE APRIL 23 REPORT, AND THAT WAS DUE TO THE FOLLOWING SALES TAX INCREASE BY 10 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED RECEIPTS. CHARGES FOR SERVICES INCREASED BY 2 MILLION DUE DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED AMBULANCE FEE COLLECTIONS. MUNICIPAL COURTS FINES AND FORFEITS INCREASED BY 668,000, AND THAT WAS DUE TO HIGHER FINES COLLECTED FROM MOVING VIOLATIONS AND NON-TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS. INTEREST INCOME INCREASED BY 2 MILLION DUE TO THE INCREASE IN INTEREST RATES ON BANK DEPOSITS. MISCELLANEOUS AND OTHER REVENUES INCREASED BY 1.7 MILLION, AND THAT WAS DUE TO ONE TIME PAYMENT FROM THE HARRIS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT FOR UNCLAIMED PAYMENTS. OUR EXPENDITURE ESTIMATES ARE UNCHANGED FROM THE APRIL 23 REPORT, UH, IN OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS. THERE ARE NO PROJECTED CHANGES FOR THE ENTERPRISE AND SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS. AND IF YOU LOOK AT OUR COMMERCIAL PAPER AND BONDS, ALL OF OUR VARIABLE RATE DEBT IS BELOW THE 20% THRESHOLD. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, DIRECTOR WILL JONES. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. THIS IS THE 11 PLUS ONE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING MAY 31ST, 2023. FISCAL YEAR 2023. PROJECTIONS ARE BASED ON 11 MONTHS OF ACTUAL RESULTS AND ONE MONTH OF PROJECTIONS FOR THE GENERAL FUND. OUR PROJECTION IS 101.3 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND REMAINS UNCHANGED FROM LAST MONTH. OUR EXPENDITURE PROJECTION IS 29.3 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPT ADOPTED BUDGET, AND ALSO REMAINS UNCHANGED FROM LAST MONTH. WE'RE CURRENTLY PROJECTING THE END IN FUND BALANCE OF 420.5 MILLION, WHICH REMAINS UNCHANGED FROM POWER MONTH AND IS 18% OF ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES LESS DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO. THE FUND BALANCE IS 245.1 MILLION ABOVE THE TARGETED 7.5% OF EXPENDITURES, EXCLUDING DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO. UH, WE'RE PROJECTING NO CHANGES ON THE, UH, ENTERPRISE AND SPECIAL FUNDS. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILMAN UH, ALCO. THANK YOU MA'AM. THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION. I GOT OUT MY MOER QUESTION YESTERDAY, BUT DID WANNA ASK YOU, CONTROLLER BROWN, SINCE I HAVE YOU, ABOUT THE RECENT GSD BUILDING SECURITY AUDIT? I HAVE REVIEWED THAT AND, AND OFTENTIMES MAYOR, I I USUALLY COME IN THIS BUILDING, TAKING, TAKING THE STAIRS FROM OUTSIDE A LOT OF TIMES. AND I, I MEAN, I LOVE ALL OUR SECURITY PEOPLE. I THINK THEY DO A GREAT JOB AND I THINK THEY'VE GOT A LOT ON THEIR PLATE, BUT OFTENTIMES WHEN I COME UP THOSE STAIRS, THERE'S NOT ANYBODY RIGHT THERE. THEY MIGHT BE AROUND THE CORNER, THEY MIGHT BE HELPING SOMEBODY WITH BAGS, BUT IT'S PRETTY EASY ENTRY FOR SOMEBODY TO COME UP THOSE STAIRS THAT, SO I DID, I DID SEE THAT IN THE AUDIT REPORT AND SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS AND, AND JUST WANTED THE, TO SEE IF THE CONTROLLER COULD OPINE A LITTLE BIT ON, ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE FOUND AND MAYBE SOME OF THE MEASURES THAT COULD BE TAKEN TO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE IN, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IN A, IN A ROUGH POLITICAL CLIMATE. I THINK WE NEED TO, I HINDSIGHT'S 2020, IF WE'VE GOT THE INFORMATION NOW, I THINK IT'S A GOOD TIME TO SEE WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO ACT, TO KIND OF TIGHTEN THINGS UP. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION. YEAH, OUR AUDIT DID UNCOVER FOUR FINDINGS, SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT IMPROVED SECURITY, UH, SPECIFICALLY, UH, AT THE VARIOUS, UH, FACILITIES OF THE CITY. BUT IN LOOKING AT CITY HALL PARTICULARLY, UH, TWO THINGS, UM, YOU KNOW, NUMBER ONE, UH, WE SAW THAT THERE WAS UNAUTHORIZED BUILDING ACCESS THROUGH A UNSECURE ENTRANCE. UM, AS YOU KNOW, AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN HERE NOW, UH, ALMOST 20 YEARS, ACCESS, VERY EASY IN AND OUT. UH, IF YOU LOOK AT OTHER FEDERAL OR STATE BUILDINGS, THEY HAVE MORE OF A, A TURNSTILE OR A GATE IF YOU WILL. UM, YOU KNOW, SO THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, IS A POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION, NOT A HIGH COST, BUT COULD IMPROVE SAFETY. UH, I AGREE WITH OUR, OUR SERVICE, UM, OUR SECURITY FOLKS, UH, I THINK THEY HAVE A LOT ON THEIR HANDS. WE GET LARGE GROUPS THAT COME THROUGH HERE AT ONE TIME. UM, SO, UH, YOU KNOW, GIVING THEM ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND OR TRAINING TO HELP THEM DO THEIR JOB MORE EFFECTIVELY. UH, THE OTHER WAS, UM, NOT DELETING, UM, SECURITY BADGING FOR, UH, EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE BEEN TERMINATED. SO, UM, IN MY MIND, YOU PUT THOSE TWO TOGETHER, UH, IF YOU HAD A DISGRUNTLED EMPLOYEE AND THEN YOU HAVE A VERY EASY ACCESS WITH NO GATE OR, YOU KNOW, GIVES THE OPPORTUNITY, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, HINDSIGHT'S 2020, NEVER WANT ANYTHING TO HAPPEN, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, PREPARING FOR THOSE, UH, OUTSIDE RISKS, UH, AND AGAIN, THE COSTS FROM WHAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED WOULD NOT BE SIGNIFICANT, UH, TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT, UH, GATE STYLE HERE AND, UH, THE BASEMENT OF CITY HALL AND, AND ALSO ON THAT FIRST FLOOR ENTRANCE. UM, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTIONS AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL CONTINUE WITH THESE, UH, SIX RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE FOUR FINDINGS, UH, TO WORK WITH GSD TO TRY AND IMPLEMENT SOME OF THESE. GREAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MAYOR, MAYOR PRO. TIM LAUREN. YES, MAYOR. UH, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THIS IS UNREHEARSED, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF EVERYONE IS AWARE. BUT ON MONDAY, JULY 3RD, WE HAD AN INCIDENT WHERE, I WON'T CALL HIM A GENTLEMAN, BUT A MALE, [03:30:01] UM, HAD ACCESS TO OUR FLOOR AND ALSO MADE HIS WAY UP TO THE FOURTH FLOOR. YESTERDAY I MET WITH THE MAYOR ABOUT THIS. HE HAS ALL THE DETAILS. I MET WITH SARGE, AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA TIGHTEN UP A LOT OF THE THINGS WE DO, ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER. WE HAVE A LOT OF YOUNG LADIES AND YOUNG GENTLEMEN THAT ARE RUNNING AROUND HERE AND, UH, EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THEY DO. AND THIS GENTLEMAN HAD A RAP SHEET AND HE WAS A SEX OFFENDER. AND, UM, THAT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN. AND SO I MET WITH THE MAYOR YESTERDAY. WE PUT TOGETHER SOME DETAILS. HE'S ON BOARD WITH IT. HE'S PUSHING FORWARD, MET WITH SARGE, UH, GONNA MEET EVENTUALLY WITH CJ MESSIAH, AND, UM, MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS IN PLACE SO THAT THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. SO THANKS FOR BRINGING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION. BUT I'M LUCKILY ON MONDAY THE THIRD, NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE HERE, SO, UM, MAYBE THAT WAS PART OF THE PROBLEM, WHY THIS PERSON WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THROUGH OUR ANNEX BUILDING. BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UM, CHAIR RECOGNIZ, MAYOR PRO. TIM MARTIN? YES, MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MAY, 2023 MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT AS PRESENTED. SECOND ROBIN. BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. AND ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR? NONE GRANTED. THANK YOU. COUNCIL BROWN. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR JONES. ALRIGHT, UM, [MAYOR'S REPORT] WITH RESPECT TO, UM, I, I DON'T HAVE TO TELL ANYBODY. WE ARE UNDER, UH, AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WAVE, UM, WARNING. UM, QUITE FRANKLY, THERE'S EXTREME WEATHER HAPPENING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, UH, THIS MORNING. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING FOR TODAY AND LIKELY TOMORROW. UH, THAT MEANS THAT THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY WILL BE WORSE TODAY COMPARED TO THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS WITH PARTS OF THE REGION EXPECTED TO SEE, UH, HEAT INDICES AS HIGH AS 113 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT OR GREATER. THAT'S, THAT'S PRETTY HOT. SO THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS IN COORDINATION WITH THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY, UH, MANAGEMENT AND ACTIVATING THE PUBLIC HEALTH HEAT EMERGENCY PLAN TODAY. THAT MEANS COOLING CENTERS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT MANY OF OUR LIBRARIES, UH, AND WE ASK YOU TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS IF YOU'RE OUTSIDE IN THE HEAT. I WANT, ESPECIALLY TO BE MINDFUL OF ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES THAT WORK OUTSIDE PUBLIC WORKS SOLID WAYS, HPD FIREFIGHTERS AND OTHERS, UH, PARKS AND REC, THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WORKING OUTSIDE, UM, TO, UH, TAKE ALL STEPS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY REMAIN, UH, SAFE AND, UH, AND, UM, UM, BE MINDFUL OF THE HEAT. UM, AND THEN OF COURSE, FOR OUR SENIORS, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE CHECKING ON OUR SENIORS AND, UH, ENCOURAGING THEM TO GO TO COOLING CENTERS. MANY OF THEM GO TO MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS, UH, BUT TO UTILIZE THEIR AC IF IT'S FUNCTIONING. SO PLEASE DON'T HOLD BACK ON, ON YOUR AC UH, BUT IT, UM, UH, WE ARE UNDER THIS, UM, HEAT, EXCESSIVE HEAT ADVISORY. SO PLEASE, UH, TAKE NOTE ON YESTERDAY AT THE SUNNYSIDE MULTI SERVICE CENTER, WE HAD THE ONE COMPLETE HOUSTON EQUITY, THE EQUITY INDICATORS, UM, CERTAINLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE SHANNON BUGS, THE DIRECTOR OF COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, UH, THE KINDER FOUNDATION, UM, SHELL, UM, CORPORATION, ALL FOR UNDERWRITING, UH, THE EQUITY INDICATORS, UH, STUDY, UH, REALLY APPRECIATE, UH, THE WORK THAT WAS DONE. AND THAT WAS QUITE INSTRUCTIVE, UM, ON YESTERDAY. SO WE'LL MOVE FORWARD TO, UH, ADDRESSING, UH, THOSE, UH, EQUITY, UH, INDICATORS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY. THE CITY OF HOUSTON HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS HOSTING A CAREER FAIR TOMORROW, JULY THE 13TH, OVER 80 EMPLOYERS WILL TRY TO FILL 3,600 JOB VACANCIES, AND THERE ARE SOME AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE. SO IT WILL TAKE PLACE THURSDAY FROM 9:00 AM TO 3:00 PM AT THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT 56 0 1 WEST LOOP SOUTH, AND YOU CAN REGISTER ONLINE OR CALL 8 3 2 3 9 4 6 1 6 0. UH, TODAY AT 1130 IN THE LEGACY ROOM, I WILL BE JOINING, UM, MARSHA MURRAY AND OBO AND THE HOUSTON LIBRARY TO LAUNCH THE 2023 LIFTOFF HOUSTON STARTUP BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION FOR ITS 11TH YEAR. AND OVER THE YEARS, THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN EXTREMELY IMPACTFUL IN EMPOWERING ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH BUSINESS LITERACY, EDUCATION AND MENTORSHIP. CAPITAL ONE BANK IS THE SIGNATURE SPONSOR OF THE LIFTOFF HOUSTON, AND THEY HAVE BEEN AN INCREDIBLE AND GENEROUS PARTNER WITH US THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, HAVING AWARDED MORE THAN $310,000 TO HOUSTON STARTUP BUSINESSES SINCE ITS INCEPTION. [03:35:02] AND THEN, UH, THE RECENT MLB, THE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL DRAFT HIGHLIGHTED SOME INCREDIBLE TALENT, UH, COMING FROM THE, FROM THE HOUSTON AREA. UM, UM, WE, UH, WERE HONORED WITH, UM, UM, DYLAN CAMPBELL FROM UT, UH, COMING OUT OF VICE MAYOR TIM MARTHA CA CAST TATUM, UH, DISTRICT, UH, WE HONORED HIM WITH THE PROCLAMATION. BUT ON MONDAY, THE DODGERS, UH, TOOK CAMPBELL, UH, WITH 100 AND THE 136 OVERALL PICKS. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO DYLAN. UH, HEADING TO THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS. AND, UM, AND THEN WE HAD A 38 GAME. UH, HE HAD A, YEAH, 38 GAME, HITTING A STREET AND AT ONE POINT AND HAS A PRETTY GOOD ARM IN THE OUTFIELD. AND THEN THE HOUSTON ASTROS SELECTED SHORTSTOP BRYCE MATTHEWS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AS THE NUMBER 28 OVERALL PICK, AND THE FINAL SELECTION OF THE FIRST ROUND OF THE 2023 MLB DRAFT. AND MATTHEWS IS A FORMER STAR HIGH SCHOOL QUARTERBACK AT ACA HIGH SCHOOL. UH, HE BECAME THE FIRST PLAYER IN NEBRASKA HISTORY TO HIT 20 HOMERS AND STILL 20 BASES. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, HE CAME THROUGH THE ASTROS URBAN LEAGUE ACADEMY AFTER SYLVESTER TURNER PARK IN THE ACRES HOME AREA. AND WE ARE EXTREMELY PROUD, BUT HE WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE. 'CAUSE IN ADDITION TO BRYCE MATTHEWS, KENDALL GEORGE WAS SELECTED 36 BY THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS, 18-YEAR-OLD. UH, GEORGE IS AN OUTFIELDER FROM META HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL AND LIKED MATTHEWS. UH, HE PLAYED, UM, AT THE ASTROS RBI LEAGUE, UM, AT THE URBAN, UH, ASTROS, UH, ACADEMY, UH, AT THE SYLVESTER TURNER PARK, UH, ON THE REGIONAL TEAM. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THESE YOUNG GUYS. WHAT'S THE NAME OF THAT? UM, AND THEN ALSO THE HOUSTON TEXANS. WELL HOST WHAT THEY'RE CALLING HIM, THE BIGGEST PARTY IN H TOWN FOR 7 1 3 DAY AT THE POST ON FRANKLIN. AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS AND I WILL HOST A 7 1 3 DAY NEWS CONFERENCE HONORING COMEDIAN MO AMER AM AND HE IS A STANDUP COMEDIAN WHO GREW UP IN ALE. HE IS AN AWARD-WINNING WRITER, AND HE CAN, AND, UH, CURRENTLY HE'S BEEN SEEN IN THE NETFLIX SERIES MO, A SEMI AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL SERIES AND LOVE LETTER TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, SO VERY, VERY NICE COMEDIAN MO AMBER. AND THAT'S, AND THAT'S TOMORROW, UM, 7 1 3 DAY NEWS. SO A LOT OF EXCITING NEWS. UH, SUGGEST A LITTLE FINAL 7 1 3 DAY. UH, AND BEFORE I TURN TO THIS MAP, THAT'S BEFORE YOU, LEMME SEE. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, GOING BACK TO, UH, WHAT YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE HEAT WAVE, I HAD ONE QUESTION. I KNOW THAT THE STATE HAS PREEMPTED, UM, EFFORTS EVEN AS FAR DOWN AS PERMITTING ADDITIONAL WATER BREAKS, UH, FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS. BUT MY QUESTION, UM, AND MAYBE THIS IS FOR LEGAL, IS GIVEN THE HEAT WAVES, GIVEN THE EXTREME HEAT, UM, FOR OUR CITY EMPLOYEES AND OUR CONTRACTORS AND SUBCONTRACTORS, ARE WE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT THOSE CONTRACTORS, SUBCONTRACTORS, ALL OF THOSE FOLKS OUTSIDE DOING THE WORK THAT WE'RE PAYING THEM FOR, ARE THEY ABLE TO TAKE ADDITIONAL WATER BREAKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT FOR SAFETY? HMM. AND LET ME, LET ME, UH, TO, TO THE CITY ATTORNEY ON THAT, UH, I THINK WE WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY, WE GENERALLY HAVE SOME DISCRETION TO DIRECT WITHIN THE CONTRACTS, AND IT WOULD BE OUR OWN, OUR OWN CONTRACTS. SO MAYOR, MY QUESTION WOULD BE IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S, THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. YEAH, I, AND WHAT I WOULD SAY TO, TO OUR CITY EMPLOYEES AND TO OUR CONTRACTORS AND SUBCONTRACTORS, THAT IF THEY NEED TO, UM, TO TAKE THE BREAK, WATER BREAK, THEY SHOULD TAKE IT, NOT HESITATE. AND THEN WE'LL FIGHT THAT BATTLE WHEN WE HAVE TO FIGHT THAT BATTLE. OKAY. SO, YEAH, BY ALL MEANS, LET'S BE MINDFUL OF THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND PEOPLE'S HEALTH, AND YOU NEED TO TAKE THE BREAK. TAKE THE BREAK. OKAY. UH, COUNCILMAN ROBINSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. JUST WANTED TO ADD, UH, TAG ALONG ON YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, UH, MEETING YESTERDAY IN SUNNYSIDE. IT WAS GREAT, GOOD TO BE THERE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABAZZ IN HER DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. BUT MAYOR, UH, THIS IS REALLY A LEGACY ITEM FOR YOU, AND I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR IT. I THINK DIRECTOR BUGS HAS BEEN EXCELLENT IN HER LEADERSHIP AND, AND, UH, GETTING THESE 10 DISTRICTS STARTED, ALL OF THEM ACROSS THE CITY, IDENTIFYING THAT, AND WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP, UM, INTRODUCING A NEW MODEL OF DEVELOPMENT FOR THE CITY, IT'S, IT'S REALLY EXCITING. AND I [03:40:01] THINK THE PUBLICATION WARRANTS, UH, A READ BY ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS. I WANT TO THANK, UH, OUR CHAIR FROM THE HOUSING COMMITTEE, TIFFANY THOMAS FOR, UH, UH, LEADING THE PANEL, MODERATING A GREAT DISCUSSION BETWEEN DIRECTORS, BYNUM AND HADDOCK AND ALLEN FROM PARKS AND HOUSING AND, UH, PUBLIC WORKS. THESE ARE ALL AREAS OF INVESTMENT, I THINK, UH, I JUST DIDN'T WANT YOU TO LET IT GO BY WITHOUT, UH, WITH REALLY ACKNOWLEDGING THE GREAT WORK THAT'S BEHIND ALL OF THESE INITIATIVES. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU. THANKS, MEMBER CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I ALSO WANTED TO, UH, ECHO THOSE SENTIMENTS. UM, YESTERDAY I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH IT ONLINE AND I WAS SO GRATEFUL THAT HTV COVERED, UH, THE EVENT. UM, MY STAFF AND OUR INTERNS DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE BREAKFAST, AND WE GOT A LOT OF GOOD FEEDBACK. I THINK THE DATA THAT WAS COLLECTED AT THIS BREAKFAST SHOULD BE SHARED, UM, YOU KNOW, CITYWIDE AND, AND WILL BE A MODEL FOR MANY OTHER CITIES. AND THEN ALSO WANTED TO, UM, THANK COMPLETE COMMUNITIES FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY ARE DOING AND THE, AND THE NEEDS, AMPLIFYING THE NEEDS ACROSS THE CITY AS WE TALK ABOUT EQUITY AND EQUALITY. UM, AND THEN ALSO WANTED TO, UM, SAY WHAT A GREAT JOB COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS DID IN MODERATING THE DISCUSSIONS AND TALKING ABOUT, UM, ALL THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE CAN MAKE AS A CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL HOUSTONIANS HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO, KUDOS ON A JOB WELL DONE FOR EVERYONE THAT PLAYED A PART IN THAT. UM, WHEN WE ARE HERE IN THE CITY, WE, WE, WE LOOK AT OUR ISSUES AND WE, WE AMPLIFY OUR PROBLEMS. BUT I WILL TELL YOU, WHEN WE GO TO NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES, WHEN WE GO TO TML, WHEN WE GO TO CONFERENCES AND PLACES, PEOPLE ARE ENAMORED WITH WHAT WE DO IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND SO, I, I DON'T WANT US TO TAKE FOR GRANTED WHAT GREAT WORK WE ARE DOING IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON. OTHER CITIES LOOK TO US, UM, FOR EXAMPLES, THEY LOOK TO US FOR MODELS AND WE ARE PROVIDING THAT. AND IT, IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO BE IN THOSE SPACES AND THEY, AND PEOPLE KNOW YOU FROM HOUSTON. THEY, THEY IMMEDIATELY COME TO YOU AND SAY, I HEARD ABOUT THIS IN HOUSTON. I HEARD ABOUT THAT IN HOUSTON. HOW CAN WE DO THIS? OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR WANTS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING IN HOUSTON. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE, UH, AND MAYOR, UH, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON EVEN COMING UP WITH NOT WANTING TO BE THE MAYOR OF A CITY OF HAVE AND HAVE NOTS. THAT IS LEGENDARY. AND I THINK THAT, UH, FOR SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE CITY, THEY HAVE REALLY SEEN THE TRANSFORMATION OF CARE. UM, THIS REALLY IS HARD WORK. UM, AND THIS COUNCIL, I'M SO PROUD TO SERVE ALONGSIDE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO CONGRATULATIONS ON A GREAT EVENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I DO, UH, AND I'LL BE REMISS NOT TO, UM, UH, THANK COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS FOR JUST DOING AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB AND MODERATING THAT PANEL ON, ON YESTERDAY. UM, I MEAN, TO JUST MOVE VERY WELL, KEY POINTS WERE BROUGHT OUT. UM, IT WAS JUST A, IT WAS, I LEFT, I LEFT AWAY, YOU KNOW, EVEN IN, IN DISCUSSING WHERE OUR DEFICIENCIES ARE AND WHERE WE ARE FALLING SHARP. AND I LEFT AWAY. IT'S ONE THING TO WHEN YOU RECOGNIZE AND YOU ACKNOWLEDGING, BUT, UH, YOU DID AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB ON YESTERDAY. AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, UM, WE HAVE OUR OWN OPRAH WINFREY , YOU KNOW, . THAT'S, THAT'S PRAISE. WHAT ARE YOU READING? YEAH, YEAH. WE GOT, WE GOT, WE GOT, WE HAVE SOME VERY GOOD TALENT. AND I DO WANNA AMPLIFY AGAIN WHAT VICE MAYOR PRO TATU SAID. UM, I WANT THANK THIS COUNCIL, EACH AND EVERY ONE, UM, BECAUSE IT HAS IT, IT IS A COLLECTIVE EFFORT. SO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO. AND THEN FROM, UM, MARGARET WALLACE BROWN, 'CAUSE SHE, AND THE PLANNING WAS A PART OF THE EQUITY INDICATORS OF, UH, YESTERDAY, I'VE ASKED HER TO BE HERE TODAY TO FOLLOW UP, UH, ON THAT CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD ON YESTERDAY. AND THIS IS NOT FOR AN, AN ACTION ITEM TODAY. UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN HAVING THIS CONVERSATION ON LIVABLE HOUSTON. UM, CHAPTER 42, THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHAPTER 42. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FRONT END LOADERS, UM, DEVELOPERS BUILDING ON 25 FEET LOTS RATHER THAN 33. A LOT OF CONVERSATION I'LL NEVER FORGET. UM, UM, UM, IT CAME UP WHEN, UH, WE WERE DISCUSSING IT AS A PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARING, [03:45:01] UH, THE COURSE. I MEAN, THE STATEMENT WAS MADE THAT THESE DEVELOPMENTS, THESE FRONT END LOADERS, UH, BUILDING ON THESE 25, UH, LOTS, THE LOTS, UH, WAS HAPPENING IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES. SPECIFICALLY, UH, LOW INCOME COMMUN COMMUNITIES, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR THAN ANY OTHER PLACE. I ASKED PLANNING, UH, TO GO AND TAKE A LOOK TO SEE, UM, WHERE THESE DEVELOPMENTS ARE OCCURRING. AND 'CAUSE THE SUBDIVISION OF LOTS IS HAPPENING AT AN UNPRECEDENTED RATE IN AREAS THAT TRADITIONALLY HAVE BEEN BEEN AFFORDABLE IN AREAS THAT ARE NOT PROTECTED BY DEED RESTRICTIONS AND MINIMUM LOT SIZE. AND SO I WANTED TO SEE, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED THE CHAPTER 42, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNCIL TO SEE WHERE THESE DEVELOPMENTS ARE OCCURRING. OKAY? 'CAUSE THAT'S IMPORTANT AND THAT'S A PART TO, UH, FURTHERANCE OF THE DISCUSSION ON THE EQUITY INDICATORS. SO, UH, PLANNING PROVIDED ME WITH THIS MAP THAT IS BEFORE YOU AND I SIMPLY, UM, WANT THE DIRECTOR JUST TO EXPLAIN THE MAP. WE ARE NOT HERE TO HAVE A, A CONVERSATION ON CHAPTER 42 AND ALL OF THOSE OTHER INTRICACIES BEHIND IT. BUT I DO WANT, UH, THE, UH, DIRECTOR TO EXPLAIN THE MAP THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, SIR. COULD I ASK THE CONTROL ROOM TO ZOOM IN ON THE MAP SO THAT IT'S A LITTLE MORE READABLE? UM, MAYBE WITHIN, UM, NOT, NOT LOOP SIX 10, BUT MORE THAN THAT. YEAH. SO, UM, ALL OF YOU HAVE A COPY OF THIS ON YOUR, UM, DESK. AND IF ANY OF THE COUNCIL DISTRICT, IF ANY OF THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD LIKE A COUN A MAP OF THEIR, OF JUST THEIR DISTRICT, WE CAN, WE'RE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THAT TO YOU AS WELL. UM, TWO THINGS. UH, WHAT, WHAT THE MAYOR SAID IS ABSOLUTELY ACCURATE THAT THE, THE, THE RATE OF SUBDIVIDING LOTS IN HOUSTON IS GROWING. UM, IT IS, IT'S HAPPENING EVERY DAY. THE PLANNING COMMISSION SEES, UH, MORE THAN A DOZEN OF THESE APPLICATIONS EVERY TWO WEEKS. UM, ON THE MAP, IF YOU LOOK AT IT, THE PINK DOTS REPRESENT AN APPLICATION. EACH.IS ONE APPLICATION, SO IT COULD BE MULTIPLE UNITS, BUT IT'S ONE APPLICATION. THE PINK DOTS REPRESENT FRONT LOADED DRIVEWAYS ONLY. THE BLUE DOTS REPRESENT, UM, BASICALLY EVERYTHING ELSE. REAR LOADED, SIDE LOADED, ALLEY ACCESS, SHARED DRIVEWAYS, PAES, UM, ALL THE DIFFERENT, UM, OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE A DRIVEWAY. UM, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT ON THE MAP THERE'S, UM, SPOT POCKETS WHERE IT'S HAPPENING EXTENSIVELY. YOU'LL SEE SUNNYSIDE, UM, NORTHERN THIRD WARD, THE AREA, UM, ALONG OST. THERE'S A LOT GOING ON IN, UM, THE NEAR NORTH SIDE. THERE'S, UM, POCKETS OF THIS AND ACRES HOME. THESE ARE AREAS WHERE CURRENTLY THE LAND IS LESS EXPENSIVE THAN IN OTHER PARTS OF HOUSTON. AND SO, UM, PROPERTY OWNERS ARE SELLING AT, AND, AND DEVELOPERS ARE BUYING IT AT A EFFECTIVELY REDUCED RATE AND, AND SUBDIVIDING AND BRINGING IN MORE, MORE HOMES. NOW, YOU KNOW, NOBODY IS AGAINST THE DENSITY, BUT WE ARE, UM, LOOKING AT HOW THIS AFFECTS THE NEIGHBORHOODS. SO LEMME MAKE SURE, SO THE, THE PINK LOCKS, THE PINK DOTS ARE REPRESENTING WHERE THERE IS FRONT END, FRONT END LOADING, CORRECT. THE PHOTOGRAPH THAT YOU'RE SEEING ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW IS WHAT WE CALL FRONT LOADERS. IT'S A DRIVEWAY THAT, UM, COMES DIRECTLY FROM THE STREET TO THE HOME ITSELF. AND THEN THE BLUE DOTS REPRESENT A VARIETY OF OTHER OPTIONS, INCLUDING WHAT YOU SEE ON THE PHOTOGRAPH, WHICH IS PROBABLY AN ALLEY ACCESS. UM, BUT IT ALSO INCLUDES SIDE ACCESS, OTHER SHARED ACCESSES, WHAT'S CALLED, UM, PERMANENT ACCESS EASEMENTS. BASICALLY, THEY'RE DRIVEWAYS TO YOU AND ME. UM, SO IT'S ALL THE OTHER DIFFERENT TYPES. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE HEARD AT THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS THAT NOBODY WANTS A SHARED DRIVEWAY. AND THIS MAP CLEARLY INDICATES THAT SHARED DRIVEWAY PRODUCTS ARE BEING BUILT EVERY DAY AND THEY'RE BEING SOLD EVERY DAY. AND SO THE NOBODY AND EVERYBODY'S STATEMENTS THAT WE WERE HEARING, UM, THIS MAP PROVES ARE NOT TRUE. OKAY. AND SO WHAT I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE, JUST TO TAKE NOTE, IS THAT, UM, WHERE, UH, THIS FRONT END LOADING IS TAKING PLACE, UH, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UM, AND WHERE IT IS CONCENTRATED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, AND THERE, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, PARTS OF OUR CITY WHERE THERE ARE DEED RESTRICTIONS, MINIMUM LIFE SIZES, YOU NAME IT, WHERE IT IS PRETTY MUCH NOT TAKING PLACE, OR IF IT'S OCCURRING, IT IS VERY SPARINGLY. AND I THINK A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND, [03:50:01] UM, WORDS. I THINK IT SPEAKS, UM, ABOUT, UM, THIS GIVES, IT MUCH, UM, GIVES A PICTURE OF WHERE, WHERE THIS DEVELOPMENT IS OCCURRING. AND THEN THE QUESTION THAT I SIMPLY WANT COUNCIL MEMBERS TO, UM, ANSWER WITHIN YOUR OWN SELVES IS WHETHER OR NOT, UM, THIS IS THE RIGHT DIRECTION THAT WE SHOULD BE TAKING. THAT'S, THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT WE SHOULD BE ASKING. AND SHOULD, UH, IS THIS OKAY? I THINK THE QUESTION I HAVE, THE QUESTION I'M SAYING TO YOU, IS THIS OKAY? BECAUSE TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE IT'S HAPPENING AND THEN ASK, IS THIS, OKAY, MAY NOT BE HAPPENING, FOR EXAMPLE, IN TOO MUCH IN, IN THE DISTRICT THAT YOU MAY BE REPRESENTING, BUT IS IT OKAY FOR IT TO BE HAPPENING IN ELSEWHERE? IT MAY NOT BE IN YOUR DISTRICT SO MUCH, BUT IS IT OKAY IN THESE AREAS THAT, AND SO WHEN DEVELOPERS AND OTHERS ARE COMING AND SAYING, YOU KNOW, DON'T RESTRICT US. DON'T RESTRICT US. WELL, YEAH. UM, LOOK AT WHERE YOU'RE BUILDING AND LOOK AT WHERE YOU'RE BUILDING THESE FRONT END, UH, PRODUCTS. SO, UM, COUNCILMAN ROBINSON, MAYOR, I, I THINK THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE MAP JUST FOR ALL THE DETAIL. I WANT TO THANK, UH, THE DEPARTMENT AND DIRECTOR WALLACE BROWN. UM, NOT LOST ON ME IN THE TINY KEY OFF TO THE LEFT IS THE FACT THAT, FIRST OF ALL, IN THE DARK GRAY THAT YOU SEE ON THE MAP, YOU CAN SEE WHERE MINIMUM LOT SIZES ARE INDICATED THROUGHOUT THE MAP. SO THAT, UM, HAS A LOT TO DO WITH WHERE SOME OF THESE DOTS CAN AND CANNOT TAKE PLACE. I KNOW OUR AGENDA TODAY HAS THOSE, UM, IN A FEW DISTRICTS. I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, REALLY, UH, SALUTE THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE WORKING ON PRESERVING THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. UH, THAT'S WHERE I LIVE, RIGHT THERE. UH, AND IT'S, IT DOES KEEP SOME OF THESE UNWANTED DEVELOPMENTS AT BAY, UM, TO A CERTAIN DEGREE. ALSO INDICATED ON THE MAP, MAYOR, WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT, ARE THE 10 COMPLETE COMMUNITY AREAS, WHICH I'VE BEEN QUICK TO HIGHLIGHT ON MY MAP, SO I CAN TAKE IT BACK. AND YES, DIRECTOR, I WOULD LIKE A COPY OF MY DISTRICT, WHICH IS THE CITY . UH, I'D LIKE AN AT LARGE MAP SO I CAN SEE IT, UM, YOU KNOW, IN FULL DETAIL. UM, AND MAYBE SOMETHING I CAN SHOW FOLKS IN MY OFFICE. UM, BUT THIS IS REALLY, REALLY HELPFUL. I, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I KNOW I'VE WORKED WITH THE DIRECTOR TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PROGRAM THAT WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR, AND I THINK THIS IS A GREAT TOOL TO, UH, UH, TO, TO HELP EXPLAIN THAT. ONE QUESTION FOR YOU, DIRECTOR. OVER WHAT TIME PERIOD IS THIS DATA REPRESENT? I'M SORRY, THIS IS THE LAST 18 MONTHS. LAST 18 MONTHS ALONE. SO ONE CAN ONLY IMAGINE IF IT SHOWED, FOR INSTANCE, SINCE THE TIME MAYOR THAT YOU AND I HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE, OR, UH, THE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN HERE OR ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON, UH, FOR A COUPLE OF DECADES NOW. SO IMAGINE THE DENSITY OF THOSE DOTS. THANK YOU. AND THEN BEAR IN MIND, UH, ONE DOT COULD MEAN MULTIPLE HOMES. YEP. OKAY. ONE DOT COULD MEAN MULTIPLE APPLICANT HOMES. COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. NO, THANK YOU, MAYOR. THOSE WERE ACTUALLY MY TWO QUESTIONS. 'CAUSE UH, COUNCILOR POLLARD AND I WERE SITTING HERE SAYING, NO, WE KNOW OF A LOT MORE. UM, SO IT'S IN THE PAST 18 MONTHS, WHICH AGAIN, I THINK SHOWS THE EXPLOSION OF THIS IN OTHER COMMUNITIES. UM, AGAIN, I'VE BEEN KIND OF BROKEN RECORD ON, WE ALREADY HAVE THIS IN C SO THAT ANSWERED MY QUESTION. AND THEN MAYOR, I THINK YOU ALLUDED TO IT, BUT, UM, JUST TO BE VERY CLEAR, EACH DOT ISN'T A SINGLE HOME, CORRECT? I MEAN, I KNOW IN C WE HAVE HALF BLOCKS OF CERTAIN TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT. SO ONE DOT CAN BE, IS IT JUST ONE SUB SUBDIVIDED? WHAT DOES ONE.ONE.IS ONE APPLICATION, AND WE, AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION SEES, IT RANGES DRAMATICALLY. THEY, IT'S PROBABLY THREE OR FOUR TIMES ON ANY ONE AGENDA. IT IS A, AN ONE APPLICATION THAT WILL SUBDIVIDE INTO 10 LOTS, 15 LOTS. SOMETIMES IT IS JUST ONE 50 FOOT WIDE LOT SUBDIVIDING INTO TWO. BUT, UM, IT, IT VARIES DRAMATICALLY. BUT THE DOT REPRESENTS AN APPLICATION, ONE APPLICATION. IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN ONE SUBDIVISION. CORRECT. OKAY. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER AND COUNCIL MEMBER . THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR THE MAP. UH, ON THE, YOU MADE A COMMENT ABOUT THE SHARED DRIVEWAY AND, AND HOW THIS, THIS SHOWS THAT THERE ARE PLENTY OF 'EM, BUT ARE, BUT THEY'RE NOT ALL NECESSARILY SHARED DRIVEWAY, THEY'RE JUST FRONT LOADERS. HOW DO WE KNOW WHICH ONES [03:55:01] ARE ACTUALLY SHARED DRIVEWAYS? SO THE PINK, THE PINK DOTS ARE FRONT LOADERS, JUST FRONT LOADERS. THAT'S FRONT, JUST FRONT LOADERS, RIGHT? THE BLUE DOTS REPRESENT SHARED DRIVEWAYS, EITHER WHAT IS TYPICALLY CALLED A THREE PACK OR AN ALLEY ACCESS OR DRIVEWAY. OH, OKAY. SO REAR THE REAR ACCESS LOTS IS NOT NECESSARILY REAR A DOESN'T HAVE TO BE REAR ACCESS. IT CAN BE A FRONT ACCESS WITH A SHARED DRIVEWAY. CORRECT. A FLAG OR A FRONT ACCESS WITH LIKE ACTUALLY SHARING WITH THE ONE NEXT DOOR. CORRECT. OKAY. THANK YOU. IT'S A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS THAT, THANK THAT. THAT WAS MY QUESTION. YEP. AND I'M, I'M COMING TO YOU, UH, COUNCILMAN GGO. THE OTHER POINT THAT I WANT US TO BEAR INTO, UH, TO, TO CONSIDER TOO, WE ARE IN THE MA WE ARE IN THE, WE ARE IN THE, IN THE MIDST OF AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WAVE. WHEN YOU'RE BUILDING ALL THIS CONCRETE FRONT LOADERS AND THESE COMMUNITIES, WE ARE CREATING HEAT ISLANDS IN THESE COMMUNITIES. AND, AND, AND, AND THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION POINTED THAT OUT IN HER LETTER TO YOU. SO I WANT, I WANT YOU, I WANT YOU TO KIND OF BEAR IN MIND NOW, WHEN FRONT LOADING AND ALL THIS CONCRETE IS BEING BUILT IN FRONT OF THESE PEOPLE'S HOMES, WE ARE CREATING HEAT ISLANDS. AND WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH EXCESSIVE HEAT, NOW YOU ARE EXACERBATING THE PROBLEMS IN THESE COMMUNITIES AND PRIMARILY IN THESE LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES. SO YOU TALK TO COMPLETE COMMUNITIES AND ASK THEM, ASK SHANNON BUGS TELL YOU WHERE THE HEAT ISLANDS ARE IN THIS CITY, TELL YOU WHERE THE HEAT ISLANDS ARE. THIS MAP DEMONSTRATES WE ARE BUILDING MORE HEAT ISLANDS IN THESE COMMUNITIES AND EXACERBATING PEOPLE'S PROBLEMS. OKAY. CAN WE ZOOM INTO THE PHOTOGRAPHS PLEASE? ON THE MAP? UM, THOSE, I THINK THOSE TWO PHOTOGRAPHS ILLUSTRATE THE, REALLY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE AMOUNT OF CONCRETE IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY BETWEEN THIS AND THE, THE PHOTOGRAPH BELOW. UM, TYPICALLY WHEN A, WHEN A PROPERTY IS SUBDIVIDED, LET'S JUST ASSUME, ESPECIALLY IN AN OLDER NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S ONE HOME ON A LOT. IT TYPICALLY HAD A 10 FOOT WIDE DRIVEWAY, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE ALLOWED BACK IN THE, UP UNTIL RECENTLY. SO WE'VE GOT A 10, MAYBE A 12 FOOT WIDE DRIVEWAY FOR ONE HOME, AND NOW WE'RE SUBDIVIDING THE LOT. AND SO THE ONES ON THE FRONT ARE TWO, BECOME TWO 16 FOOT WIDE DRIVEWAYS IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY. I MEAN, THEY ARE ALSO ON THE PRIVATE LAND AS WELL. BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY. IT'S, THERE'S TWO 16 FOOT WIDE DRIVEWAYS THAT TAKE UP THE ENTIRE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY. IF YOU'LL GO DOWN TO THE MAP BELOW SHARED DRIVEWAYS, WHILE THIS IS, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, AN EXTREME EXAMPLE BECAUSE THERE ARE NO DRIVEWAYS COMING FROM THE STREET ON THIS INSTANCE. BUT IF THERE WERE, IF THERE WAS ONE DRIVEWAY FOR EVERY THREE OF THESE HOMES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IT WOULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS CONCRETE IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY. AND EVERY TIME WE INTERRUPT THE DRAINAGE COURSES, WE RISK INTERRUPTING THE FLOW AND WE RISK, AND WE ALSO RISK PUBLIC SAFETY. PRI PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, DIRECTOR IN, UH, REGARDS TO, LIKE IN MAGNOLIA PARK, FOR EXAMPLE, WHICH IS A COMM COMPLETE COMMUNITY. IT'S ALSO GOING HOPEFULLY IF APPROVED BY THE RESIDENT, UH, CONSERVATION DISTRICT AS WELL IN THE FUTURE. UM, BUT I'VE NOTICED THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S DEVELOPERS ALREADY COMING IN. THEY'RE KNOCKING DOWN THE OLD WOODEN FRAME HOMES, UH, IN ONE LOT. UH, FOR EXAMPLE, I NOTICED LAST WEEK THEY BUILT, UH, TWO TOWN HOMES ON THAT ONE LOT. UH, THEY DON'T HAVE GARAGE, UH, BUT THEY DO HAVE, UH, PER PERUS, UH, DRIVEWAY MM-HMM. IN THE FRONT OF THE HOME, UH, WITH NO GARAGE. SO ARE WE ADDRESSING THAT IN ANY WAY? 'CAUSE MY FEAR IS THAT IF IT DOES BECOME A CONSERVATION DISTRICT, IN OTHER WORDS, IF THE RESIDENTS SAY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT THE CHARACTER OF THE HOUSES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH THESE TWO HOUSES THAT I'M REFERRING TO WERE BUILT NICELY. I MEAN, THEY DO COMPLIMENT THE NEIGHBORHOODS. I HAVE NO COMPLAINT ABOUT THAT. BUT THEY DO HAVE PERVIOUS DRIVEWAY WITH NO GARAGE. I FEAR THAT IN THE FUTURE, THEY MAY TURN THAT INTO CONCRETE OR THEY'LL PUT, UH, CARPORTS, UH, AND, AND THAT'S JUST GOING TO RUIN THE CHARACTER THAT THE DEVELOPER TRIED TO DO IN REGARDS TO SAVING THE CHARACTER OF THE DESIGN OF THE HOUSE. SO ARE WE ADDRESSING THAT IN ANY WAY IN REGARDS? SO CON UH, CONSERVATION DISTRICTS AND, UM, DEED RESTRICTIONS WOULD ADDRESS IT FIRST AND FOREMOST. UM, THE, THE CHAPTER 42 RULES DON'T, UM, SPECIFICALLY TALK ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF CONCRETE OR THE PLACEMENT OF PARKING [04:00:01] PADS ON A PRIVATE, ON A PIECE OF PRIVATE PROPERTY, NOR DO THEY REQUIRE GARAGES AS OPPOSED TO CARPORTS OR JUST OPEN AREA. UM, THE CHAPTER 42, CHAPTER 26 RULES ACTUALLY REQUIRE THAT THERE BE TWO PLACES FOR A CAR TO PARK FOR EVERY SINGLE FAMILY HOME IN HOUSTON. AND SO THERE'S NO DI NO SPECIFICATION ON HOW THOSE ARE HANDLED, WHETHER THEY'RE PERVIOUS OR IMPERVIOUS. AND HOW A PROPERTY OWNER MAY CHANGE FROM ONE TO THE OTHER IS HANDLED THROUGH THE PERMITTING PROCESS THAT HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS. THEY WOULD HAVE TO GET A PERMIT TO TURN THAT GRAVEL DRIVEWAY INTO A CONCRETE DRIVEWAY. THEY WOULD ALSO HAVE TO GET A BUILDING PERMIT TO BUILD A CARPORT, UM, OR A GARAGE OVER WHAT IS EXISTING TO THEIRS. SO, UM, THERE ARE RULES THAT HAVE TO BE FOLLOWED ONCE A PROPERTY OWNER DECIDES WHICH DIRECTION THEY WANNA GO. BUT IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAINTAIN THE CHARACTER, THE SIZE, THE BASIC, UM, WAY THAT A HOME IS ORIENTED IN A SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, WE'RE DEFINITELY GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION WITH THE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS THAT THAT WILL HELP THAT. SO, SO THESE PERIA, UH, DRIVEWAYS THAT I'M REFERRING TO IN REGARDS TO THESE TWO HOUSES, SHOULD IT BE TWO DRIVEWAYS OR ONE DRIVEWAY? I THINK THEY HAVE TWO DRIVEWAYS, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. UM, I'D BE HAPPY TO LOOK AT THAT ONE ADDRESS IF YOU'D LIKE ME TO. OKAY. OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I DON'T KNOW, BUT THE, THE RULES REQUIRE THAT THERE BE TWO PARKING SPACES FOR EVERY SINGLE FAMILY HOME. OKAY. HOWEVER THEY DO THAT, THEY CAN DO TANDEM SPACES. MM-HMM . SO THAT ONE'S IN FRONT OF THE OTHER. IF THEY'D LIKE, I'D BE HAPPY TO TALK WITH YOU AFTERWARDS ABOUT THE DETAILS. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CISNEROS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE MAP. UM, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE MAP. I THINK THAT THERE, IT'S CONFUSING WHEN IT'S LABELED, UM, FOR THE BLUE DOTS REAR ACCESS LOTS WHEN, WHEN IT'S MORE THAN THAT. IT IS MORE THAN THAT. AND I'M SORRY, THE, THE LEGEND IS NOT AS CLEAR AS I WOULD'VE LIKED IT TO BE. I, I DIDN'T CATCH THAT. I APOLOGIZE. YEAH, IF IT'S SAID OTHER ACCESS LOT, THAT WOULD BE BETTER BECAUSE, BECAUSE, BECAUSE THE, THE VISUAL MAKES IT LOOK LIKE YOU ARE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE A, AN ALLEY OR SOMETHING BEHIND. THAT'S CORRECT. AND WHEN I GIVE YOU YOUR MAP, IT'LL BE CORRECT. OKAY. UM, I'M ALSO JUST REALLY PLEASED THAT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENTS EXPANDED INCENTIVES TO BUILD, UM, SMALLER HOUSES. YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY THOSE UNDER 15, UM, HUNDRED SQUARE FEET. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WILL HAVE REDUCED, UM, OFF PARKING, OFF STREET PARKING REQUIREMENTS TO ALLOW FOR FRONT PORCHES AND LANDSCAPING AND SPACE FOR HUMAN INTERACTION. UM, THAT'S IMPORTANT TO A LOT OF THE OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT, THAT I REPRESENT. AND, YOU KNOW, SIMILAR TO WHAT COUNCILOR GALLEGOS WAS SAYING, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE, UM, HAVE LIVED THAT WAY. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE ALL THE STREET LIFE, THE PEDESTRIANS, YOU KNOW, WITH, UM, WITH NEIGHBORS, YOU KNOW, IN THE INTERACTION FROM PORCHES. THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT IS THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE WANT, WE WANNA PRESERVE THAT. AND I SEE THAT, THAT, UM, I APPRECIATE YOU WORKING WITH ME, YOU KNOW, AND, AND HEARING THOSE COMMENTS FROM ME. THANK YOU. 'CAUSE I, MY PLEASURE. I SEE THAT IT'S IN HERE. YES. THANK YOU. OKAY. SO, UM, IF YOU ALL WOULD, UM, AND IN YOUR OWN TIME AND, AND HAVE YOUR STAFF AND OTHERS TAKE A LOOK AT, AT THIS, UM, THIS MAP, UH, YOU CAN CERTAINLY, UH, ENGAGE WITH, UM, UH, THE DIRECTOR. UM, BUT FOR ME, FOR ME, THIS IS INSTRUCTIVE IN TERMS OF WHERE THESE FRONT END LOADING, UH, DEVELOPMENTS ARE OCCURRING AND THE IMPACT THAT IT WILL HAVE ON COMMUNITIES. AND THEN I WANT, I WANT THE EQUITY INDICATORS MEETING YESTERDAY, NOT TO JUST BE A MEETING YESTERDAY AND NOT, NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW DO WE ADDRESS EQUITY IN OUR CITY SO WE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T JUST TALK ABOUT IT ON ONE DAY AND NOT ACT ON IT THE NEXT DAY. AND THAT'S WHY I WANTED THIS MAP TO BE BEFORE YOU AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, THE HEAT ISLANDS THAT WE ARE CREATING IN OUR CITY, WHERE WE ARE CREATING THIS HEAT ISLANDS, WHAT IT MEANS FOR PEOPLE, UH, IN, UH, THESE COMMUNITIES, IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. AND THEN WHETHER OR NOT IT IS OKAY FOR US TO ALLOW IT TO CONTINUE TO HAPPEN WHEN WE SEE WHAT IS UNFOLDING, UH, BEFORE US. COUNCILMAN POLLACK? THANK YOU MAYOR. AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. THANK YOU DIRECTOR FOR THIS, UH, MAP. I THINK IT WOULD BE ALSO CONSTRUCTIVE TO SHOW A MAP WITH THESE SAME INDICATORS OF WHERE THESE TYPE OF DEVELOPMENTS HAVE BEEN BUILT OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS. SO WE CAN ALSO SHOW THAT, OR C IS IT BECAUSE THAT CERTAIN AREAS JUST DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF NEW DEVELOPMENT OVER THE PAST DECADE OR SO AND NOW THEY'RE MORE ATTRACTIVE FOR THESE TYPE OF DEVELOPMENTS? [04:05:02] OR IS IT BECAUSE OVER THE PAST DECADE OR SO, OTHER AREAS HAVE ALREADY HAD THESE TYPE OF DEVELOPMENTS? MANY OF THOSE, UH, UM, ATTRACTIVE AREAS HAVE ALREADY BEEN DEVELOPED. SO MAYBE THEY ALREADY ARE EXPERIENCING THEIR HEAT WAVE, BUT, UH, IF THIS IS ONLY OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS, WHAT ARE WE COMPARING IT TO? BECAUSE I KNOW IN OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY THAT MAY NOT, MAY NOT HAVE AS MANY DOTS, THEY ALREADY HAVE THESE, THEY DON'T HAVE FRONT LOADERS. YEAH. THEY DON'T HAVE FRONT LOADERS. SO I GUESS THAT'S WHAT WE WANTED. THAT'S WHAT I ARE YOU'RE SAYING OVER THE ONLY OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS, THEY DON'T HAVE FRONT LOADERS, FRONT LOAD ONLY FRONT LOADERS HAVE BEEN BEEN BUILT OVER THE PAST EIGHT. THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, RIGHT. DIRECTOR? NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SAYING. OKAY. WOULD YOU, WOULD YOU SAY THAT IF WE WERE TO HAVE A MAP THAT SHOWED OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS WHERE THESE TYPE OF DEVELOPMENTS HAVE BEEN CREATED, THAT THERE WOULD BE MUCH, MANY MORE DOTS OVER MANY MORE AREAS OF, OF THE CITY? YES. THERE WOULD BE DRAMATICALLY, DRAMATICALLY. THE, THE CITY ALLOWED THE DIVISION, THE SUBDIVISION OF LOTS, BEGINNING IN THE 19, EARLY 1990S, 19 92, 90, 93. IT WAS PHASED IN, UM, BASED ON, BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE LOT AND SO FORTH. UM, WE COULD GIVE YOU 10 YEARS WORTH. UM, IT WILL TAKE QUITE A BIT OF TIME. AND I, AND I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO, BUT I'M ALSO ASKING, SINCE WE'RE ON THAT TOPIC, IF WE WERE TO DO THE PAST 10 YEARS AND WE WERE JUST TO, UH, IDENTIFY SOME OF THESE VERY PREVALENT AREAS THAT WE SEE THE DOTS NOW 10 YEARS AGO, WOULD WE HAVE SEEN THE DOTS? YES. YOU WOULD HAVE IN THOSE, IN THOSE SAME PLACES OF SUNNYSIDE ACRES HOMES, UH, WOULD WE HAVE SEEN THAT MANY DOTS FOR THAT TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT? 10, 12 YEARS AGO THERE? SO YOU PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE SEEN THEM IN SUNNYSIDE. SUNNYSIDE HAS, THIS HAS MOVED INTO SUNNYSIDE AS IT HAS MOVED FURTHER FROM THE CITY LIMITS. I MEAN FURTHER FROM THE CENTER OF THE CITY. UH, CAN YOU SCROLL DOWN AND GIVE ME AND, AND LEMME RICE MILITARY HAS MOVED INTO AC ACRES HOMES AND HAS MOVED INTO ACRES. ACRES HOMES. YES. THIS, THIS DIDN'T EXIST 10 YEARS AGO. I KNOW, BUT THAT'S A POINT THAT I'M, THE POINT THAT I'M MAKING IS THE AREAS THAT ARE PREVALENT ON THIS MAP TODAY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PREVALENT 12 YEARS AGO. BUT OTHER AREAS THAT ARE NOT REPRESENTED ON THIS MAP WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE PREVALENT 12 YEARS AGO. SO THESE AREAS THAT ARE REPRESENTED ARE JUST WHAT IS ATTRACTIVE TODAY, BECAUSE THERE'S MORE OPPORTUNITY IN THOSE AREAS TODAY BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T DEVELOPED. YOU DON'T SEE THIS IN RIVER OAKS MEMORIAL TANGLEWOOD, AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. YOU WILL NOT SEE THAT. YOU'RE NOT GONNA SEE THIS TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT IN THOSE COMMUNITIES. THEY DON'T WANT IT, AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW IT. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO ALLOW THIS TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT OCCURRING IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. YOU ARE DOING IT WHERE THERE'S LEAST RESISTANCE. MAY ANGELA TAKING PLACE, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. WELL, THAT'S WHY I WAS SAYING IT WOULD BE CONSTRUCTIVE MAYOR TO GET A MAP THAT SHOWS THAT RIGHT NOW THE DIRECTORS ALREADY STATED THAT IT WOULD BE A DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT MAP IF WE WERE TO SHOW THE PAST 10 YEARS THAT THAT WAS WHAT SHE SAID. I THINK Y'ALL ARE TALKING, TALKING OPPOSITE ORANGES. NO, MAY MAY I AMPLIFY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, SIR, BUT, BUT IT ANSWERS QUESTIONS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENTLY. UM, LET'S TALK ABOUT, UM, RICE MILITARY, THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN DISTRICT C UH, RICE MILITARY WAS ONE OF THE FIRST NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WAS, UM, THAT WHEN WE, THE CITY BEGAN ALLOWING THIS RICE MILITARY WAS A MODERATE TO LOWER INCOME NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WAS, UM, A VERY MIXED ETHNICITIES. IT WAS, UM, A NEIGHBORHOOD OF PEOPLE WITH COLOR AND VERY AFFORDABLE. AND ONCE THE CITY STARTED ALLOWING DOING THIS, THAT HAS EVAPORATED. RICE MILITARY IS NOW INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE. IT IS ALL, UM, EXCUSE THE PHRASE AND I'M GONNA, IT IS ALL GENTRIFIED AND UP AND UPPER MIDDLE CLASS. AND THAT HAS HAPPENED. MAY I FINISH? AND THAT HAS HAPPENED THROUGHOUT THE CITY SO THAT NOW WE ARE MOVING INTO AKERS HOME BECAUSE THEY'VE DONE THIS TO EVERY PLACE ELSE IN THE INNER CITY. SO I THINK THE GENTRIFA GENTRIFICATION ARGUMENT IS A BETTER ARGUMENT THAN SOME OF THE OTHER ARGUMENTS THAT WE'VE BEEN MAKING. THANK YOU. THANK COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILMAN. MAYOR COY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. ON, ON THE, I THINK THE HEAT, URBAN HEAT ISLAND, UM, DISCUSSION IS, IS AN IMPORTANT ONE. SO I'D LIKE TO KNOW, UH, LIKE IT'D BE GOOD TO HAVE A BETTER ANALYSIS OF, I MEAN, YOU'VE GOTTA HAVE INGRESS AND EGRESS OUT OF EVERY HOUSE, SO YOU MIGHT HAVE A FLAG LOT, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK, WHICH IS, IS ALSO IMPERMEABLE SPACE. RIGHT. UM, UH, IT'D BE INTERESTING FOR ME TO SEE, YOU KNOW, OR AN ALLEY ACCESS. I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT IMPERIAL SPACE 'CAUSE YOU GOTTA GET CARS IN AND OUT TO THEIR GARAGES, WHEREVER THEY ARE. HOW, AND I UNDERSTAND THE ARGUMENT IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY OF MORE, MORE IMPERMEABLE SPACE, BUT OVERALL I'D LIKE TO SEE LIKE IN, IN SQUARE FOOTAGE OR HOWEVER, A COMPARISON OF IMPERMEABLE SPACE [04:10:01] ON A FLAG LOT OR ON A REAR ACCESS AS OPPOSED TO FOUR DRIVEWAYS. THAT, THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO ME. WE CAN DO THAT. AND I WOULD NOTE THAT ON THE PRIVATE PROPERTY, IT'S SUBJECT TO THE CITY'S DETENTION RULES, RIGHT? AND SO IT FALLS UNDER THE, UM, UNDER THOSE DETENTION RULES WHERE THE PRI WHERE THE PUBLIC PROPERTY, NOBODY PAYS FOR THAT DETENTION. OKAY. BUT, BUT I'LL BE HAPPY TO GIVE YOU THAT ANALYSIS. YEAH, GOOD POINT. THANK YOU. YEAH, THAT WOULD BE INSTRUCTIVE TO ME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, DIRECTOR, THE LAST THING, IF YOU WOULD GOOD WITH DIRECTOR BUGS, IF YOU'LL TAKE THIS MAP AND THEN OVERLAY, UH, AND WITH PRIYA ZACHARIA FROM MAYOR'S OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY, TAKE THIS MAP AND OVERLAY THE HEAT ISLANDS WHERE THEY EXIST IN THIS CITY. ABSOLUTELY. ON TOP OF THIS MAP. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. GOOD IDEA. YES. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. ALRIGHT. ALRIGHT, THAT WRAPS ME UP. AND NOW WE'LL [CONSENT AGENDA] MOVE TO, UH, THE CONSENT AGENDA. MADAM SECRETARY, UNDER [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY, ITEMS FOUR AND SIX HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED A MOTION FOR ITEMS 1, 2, 3, AND FIVE. CASTEX TAYLOR, MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. AND 1, 2, 3, AND FIVE. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED AND GRANITE. DO YOU DO, OH, I'M SORRY. YEAH, LET ME DO, UH, ONE AND TWO TOGETHER. YEAH. ONE AND TWO. UH, ON THE SEE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 13, UH, OH SIX. WARD, UH, THE APPOINTMENT OF LARISSA A LINDSEY, UH, IS SHE HERE? OKAY. LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HER. AND THEN ON UH, THREE, UH, IT IS JIM POSTAL TO THE POSITION TWO OF THE HOUSTON ZOO DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS. AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH, UH, WITH JIM, UH, ON THE HOUSTON ZOO BOARD. ALRIGHT, NEXT ITEM UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY, ITEM SEVEN AND A HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR CONSIDERATION UNDER THE PROPERTY CATEGORY. ITEM NINE, NEEDS AND MOTION CASTEX TATUM, MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON MOVED AND SECONDED ON ITEM NINE. DISCUSSION ON NINE. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSE GRAND NINE. UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BID CATEGORY ITEMS 12 AND 14 HAVE BEEN REMOVED. SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED A MOTION FOR ITEMS 10, 11, AND 13. CASTEX TATUM MOVED. SECOND ROBINSON, IT MOVED. THEN SECOND. AND, UH, DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY ITEMS, REMOVE SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. 15, 22 AND 23. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 15, 22, AND 23. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE. DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OPPOSING GRANTED I REMOVE SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ITEMS. NUMBER FOUR, NEEDS A MOTION TAG MAYOR. ITEM FOUR HAS BEEN TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON. ITEM SIX NEEDS A MOTION CAST EX TATE A MOVE. SECOND ROBINSON, UH, DISCUSSION ON ITEM SIX. DISCUSSION COUNCIL. UH, COUNCILMAN CAMAN ON SIX. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AND I'LL, I'LL DEFER TO, UH, IF I MAY, TO, UH, VICE MAYOR PROM TATUM FIRST, AS IT SAYS IN HER DISTRICT. THANK YOU. UM, IF YOU DON'T MIND. OKAY. I WOULDN'T PAYING. I'M SOMETHING ELSE. I DO WANT TO, TO HIGHLIGHT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, UH, 'CAUSE THIS IS SERGEANT HAROLD PRESTON. UM, HE WAS FATALLY SHOT, AS YOU ALL I CAN RECALL, ON OCTOBER 20TH, 2020, UM, WHEN HE WAS GOING INSIDE THE KENNEDY APARTMENT, UH, TO ASSIST. UM, AND, UM, WAS FATALLY SHOT. UH, HE'S, UH, HPD OFFICER, THE SOUTHWEST PATROL DIVISION, UH, WAS SWORN IN AS AN OFFICER IN AUGUST OF 1979, AND HE SERVED THE CITY FOR SOME 40, 41 YEARS. GRADUATED OF JACK JAKES HIGH SCHOOL IN 73. GRADUATED FROM TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN SOCIOLOGY IN 1978, AND JOINED THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, OF COURSE IN 1979. UM, AND I RECEIVED A NUMBER OF CALLS, UM, UH, FROM POLICE OFFICERS, HPLU, CHIEF FINN AND OTHERS. I ASKED THAT WE DO THIS, AND AFTER CAREFUL FOR CONSIDERATION, IT, IT, UH, THIS ITEM IS NOW BEFORE YOU ON THE AGENDA, NOW, VICE MAYOR PRO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, UH, I WANTED TO JUST, UH, REMIND, UH, YOU AND THE COUNCIL OF THIS INCIDENT. UM, BACK IN OCTOBER OF, UH, 2020, WE LOST, UM, SERGEANT PRESTON, UH, WHO WAS A TREMENDOUS ASSET [04:15:01] TO HPD AND THE ENTIRE CITY OF HOUSTON. HE DID SERVE AS A POLICE OFFICER FOR 41 YEARS, AND HE WAS WEEKS AWAY FROM RETIREMENT. MM-HMM . HE HAD ALREADY PLANNED TO RETIRE, UM, WHEN HE WENT ON THIS CALL. AND YET AGAIN, WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THE DANGEROUS, UH, DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE CALLS THAT OUR HPD OFFICERS HAVE TO GO TO. UM, AND THAT IS HOW HE TRAGICALLY LOST HIS LIFE, UM, IN A DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE CASE. UM, THE POLICE OFFICERS AT THE SOUTHWEST COMMAND STATION, UM, HAVE A WONDERFUL, UM, PHOTO OF HIM AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE POLICE STATION. MANY OF US ATTENDED HIS FUNERAL. THEY DO HAVE A CROSS MEMORIAL BEHIND THE STATION. UM, BUT THEY REALLY WANTED TO NAME THE STATION IN HONOR OF SERGEANT PRESTI FOR HIS, UM, TREMENDOUS AND STELLAR CAREER, UH, WITH THE HPD AND HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS ITEM AND ASK THAT, UM, EACH OF YOU WOULD SUPPORT THIS AS WELL. THE NAME OF THE SOUTHWEST POLICE STATION WOULD BE THE HAROLD L. PRESTON, UH, SOUTHWEST POLICE STATION, IN HONOR OF HIS STELLAR CAREER TO HPD IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. COUNCILMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I TOO WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THIS AS THE SOUTHWEST PATROL STATION ALSO SERVES, UM, DISTRICT C, UH, AND THEY HAVE AN INCREDIBLE TEAM OVER THERE. UM, I, I DID WANNA HIGHLIGHT, UM, FOR IN HONOR OF SERGEANT PRESTON, UM, SOME OF WHAT HPD AND THE MEMBERS THAT SERVED ALONGSIDE HIM HAVE SAID ABOUT HIM. HE WAS A BELOVED FIGURE WHO WORKED EXTREMELY HARD TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON AND WAS A MENTOR AND LEADER TO MANY WITHIN HPDS RANKS. HE WAS A VETERAN POLICE SERGEANT FOR 36 YEARS AND SPENT THE MAJORITY OF HIS CAREER PATROLLING THE STREETS DURING HIS TENURE. UH, I THINK HE SERVED OVER 20 YEARS AT SOUTHWEST. UH, SERGEANT PRESTON SERVED AS THE DIVISIONAL FIELD TRAINING SUPERVISOR, MENTORING AND GUIDING NEW OFFICERS AFTER THEY GRADUATED FROM THE ACADEMY AND IS A SERGEANT TRAINER. AND HE IS RECOGNIZED BY THOSE WHO SERVED WITH HIM AS AN OUTSTANDING OFFICER. DURING HIS TENURE, HE WAS RECOGNIZED WITH NUMEROUS LETTERS OF COMMENDATIONS FROM CITIZENS AND SUPERVISORS, INCLUDING, UH, ONE PRESENTED BY EXECUTIVE CHIEF MARTHA MONTALVO. CHIEF FINNER HAS ALSO NOMINATED SERGEANT PRESTON FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CONGRESSIONAL BADGE OF BRAVERY TO HONOR HIS ACTIONS ON OCTOBER 20TH, 2020. UH, SO I, I BELIEVE THIS HONORING AND THE FACT ALSO I WILL ADD IT WON'T JUST BE THIS POLICE STATION THAT IS IN HIS HONOR. ANY NEW STATION IN THE SOUTHWEST PATROL WILL, UH, FOREVER BE NAMED, UH, HAROLD PRESTON SOUTHWEST POLICE STATION. UH, I DO WANNA ALSO MENTION THAT, UH, AFTER SO WHILE HE DIED AND SUCCUMBEDED TO HIS INJURIES, UM, HIS ACTIONS SAVED SEVERAL LIVES. UM, HE PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR SAVING THE LIVES OF OTHERS, INCLUDING OTHER OFFICERS. AND THOSE, HE, UM, SURVIVORS OF THE DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE. BUT AGAIN, I WANT TO, UM, THANK ALL OF OUR OFFICERS WHO CONTINUE TO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE. UM, I KNOW THAT HIS WIFE, MS. ANN, EXCUSE ME, HIS MOTHER, MS. ANN PRESTON AND HIS DAUGHTER ALLISON, WANTED TO BE HERE TODAY AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS. SO I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT AS WELL. COUNCILMAN, COUNCILMAN, MAYOR, AND SHABASH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU KNOW, THIS IS PARTICULARLY TOUCHING AND IMPORTANT TO ME, WHICH IS WHY I, I GOT UP AT FOUR 30 THIS MORNING AND CAME IN HOT FROM ATLANTA. 'CAUSE I WANTED TO BE HERE BECAUSE HAROLD PRESTON WAS MORE THAN A POLICE OFFICER. HE WAS A WONDERFUL PERSON THAT MM-HMM . I HAVE KNOWN FOR MOST OF MY LIFE. WE GREW UP IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD. HIS FATHER HAS SINCE PASSED. UH, HIS MOTHER IS STILL SUCH A VIBRANT SPIRIT IN THE COMMUNITY. SHE CALLED ME ACTUALLY ABOUT A MONTH AGO. 'CAUSE SHE HEARD SOMETHING GOING ON OUTSIDE OF HOUSE, BUT SHE WAS READY, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF THEY TRIED TO COME IN. BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. I DID MAKE A CALL TO COMMANDER JOHNSON AND THEY SENT SOMEBODY TO PATROL, BUT CERTAINLY I WANTED TO BE HERE BECAUSE HE'S JUST, HE WAS JUST A WONDERFUL FRIEND TO ME, AS WELL AS, UH, A WONDERFUL NEIGHBOR. AND SO, UH, CERTAINLY HIS MOM AND HIS DAUGHTER, UM, CERTAINLY STILL CARRY SUCH HEAVINESS IN THEIR HEARTS, BUT THEY CARRY ON AS JUST THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS IN THEM. YOU, YOU HAVE TO KNOW THAT BECAUSE THEY ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE. AND I, I THINK THAT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR MOST OF US, ESPECIALLY UNDER [04:20:01] THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. BUT THANK YOU, UH, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TIM. I KNOW THEY HAVE IT, THAT IT'S IN MY DISTRICT, BUT YOU KNOW, AND I, YOU KNOW HOW THAT IS. BUT HE, HE LIVED IN MY DISTRICT, BUT CERTAINLY THE POLICE STATION DOES NOT. AND I THANK YOU FOR THE PART THAT YOU PLAYED IN, UH, COMMEMORATING SUCH A FINE PERSON AND POLICE OFFICER. THANK YOU. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM NINE? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OPPOSED? GRANTED ON ITEM NINE SIX. I'M SORRY, SIX. I'M SORRY. SIX. UM, GRANTED ON ITEM SIX, ITEM SEVEN NEEDS A MOTION ON ITEM SEVEN, CAST SIX. TATU MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON, MOVE SECOND. COUNCILMAN POLL ON ITEM SEVEN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, THIS ITEM, UH, WAS FOR THE, UM, RENOVATION OF RESTROOMS AT HOBBY AIRPORT. UM, THE MWBE GOAL, THE TOTAL MWBE GOAL ON THIS WAS 46.6. UH, THE INITIAL, UM, GOAL WAS 38, BUT I THINK OBO LOOKED AT IT AND PUT IT AT 46.6. ULTIMATELY, THIS VENDOR OR THE, THE GOT TO 27 POINT 88, AND I DON'T THINK IT WAS ANY FAULT OF THEIR OWN, BUT THE CITY, THE CITY, AFTER THIS CONTRACT WAS AWARDED, STARTED TO CHANGE THE SCOPE OF SOME OF THE WORK FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT. AND WHEN THE SCOPE OF WORK WAS CHANGED BY THE CITY, THEN THE PRO WAS NOT ABLE TO ACCESS OR UTILIZE SOME OF THE, UM, SUBCONTRACTORS. MY ISSUE WITH IT IS THE CITY REALLY HAS TO LOOK AT WHEN THEY'RE CHANGING THE SCOPES OF THESE PROJECTS, HOW DOES THAT IMPACT THE MWBE VENDORS BEC THAT RELY ON THIS WORK? BECAUSE WHEN THEY'RE PUTTING FORTH THEIR, UM, PROPOSALS WITH THE, WITH THE PROMPTS TO SAY THAT THEY CAN DO THE WORK, THEY'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING THE WORK. THEY'RE SMALL BUSINESSES. SO IF THEY'RE, IF THE CITY'S GONNA CHANGE THE SCOPE, WHICH THEN IMPACTS THE WORK THAT THE, UM, MINORITY VENDORS ARE RELYING ON, THEN WE HAVE TO REALLY TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION IN THE MOVES THAT WE MAKE. BECAUSE WHEN YOU ONLY GET 27 POINT 88% OF YOUR GOAL, WHICH WAS 46.6, THAT'S DRAMATICALLY LOWER. AND, UM, THESE VENDORS ARE RELYING ON THAT WORK. BUT IF WE DON'T NEED TO WORK, WE DON'T NEED TO WORK. I MEAN, YOU COULD KEEP THE, THEY, THE, THE CITY COULD HAVE KEPT THE ORIGINAL PLANS. THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO GO AND CHANGE THE PLANS. UH, IF IN IN CONSTRUCTION, IF THE PLANS CHANGE AND THERE'S NO NEED TO DO THAT WORK, WE JUST CAN'T GIVE ANYBODY WORK JUST WHEN WE DON'T NEED IT. I MEAN, IT'S JUST THE NATURE OF THE BUSINESS. BUT THE, THE QUESTION IS, WAS THE WORK CHANGED BASED ON AESTHETICS AND COSMETICS OR WAS IT WORK OR WAS IT CHANGED BASED ON, YOU KNOW, A PARTICULAR SPECIFIC NEED? IT WAS, IT WAS CHANGED BASED ON THE CITY RECOGNIZING THAT, UH, THAT WORK WAS NO LONGER NEEDED. AND SO IT WAS DELETED. IT IS THE NATURE OF THE BUSINESS. IT'S THE NATURE OF THE BUSINESS, AND THAT'S WHY THEY RECEIVED A SATISFACTORY RATING. OKAY. ALRIGHT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM SEVEN? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OPPOSED? SEVEN. NO POLL. SHALL COUNCILMAN POLLARD VOTING UP? ITEM EIGHT NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX TATUM MOVED SECOND. ROBINSON MOVED AND SECONDED. NOW ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, THEY DIFFERENT, THEY RECEIVED AN UNSATISFACTORY RATING AND THEY RECEIVED AN UNSATISFACTORY RATING, UH, BECAUSE THEY DID NOT LIVE, LIVE UP TO THEIR OBLIGATIONS. AND WHEN OBO REACHED OUT TO THEM, THEY DID NOT RESPOND. THEY WERE NONRESPONSIVE. AND, UH, THEY DID NOT START TO RESPOND UNTIL AFTER THE DETERMINATION WAS MADE THAT THEY HAD NOT LIVED UP TO, UM, THE AGREED ARRANGEMENT. UM, AND THEY RECEIVED AN UNSATISFACTORY RATING. SO, UM, THAT'S WHAT'S BEFORE YOU. NOW, HAVING SAID THAT, BECAUSE THIS IS THEIR FIRST ONE, WHEN YOU LOOK BACK OVER THREE YEARS, UH, WE ARE STILL OBLIGATED TO PAY THE TAB. SO THEY RECEIVED AN UNSATISFACTORY RATING. IT GOES ON. IT IS, IT GOES INTO THEIR PROFILE, THEIR RECORD, UH, BUT STILL, BASED ON OUR RULES, WE ARE OBLIGATED TO PAY. UH, VICE MEMBER TIM CASH. DICTATOR. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT. AND I DID WANT TO REMIND COUNCIL THAT WE HAVE, UM, ADDED SOME ADDITIONAL CONTRACTORS TO HELP WITH THE OVERSIGHT OF THESE CONTRACTS. UM, AND THERE IS MORE, UH, EYES [04:25:01] ON THESE CONTRACTS AND PEOPLE ACTUALLY GOING TO THE SITES, TALKING TO THE CONTRACTORS AND MAKING SURE THAT WHAT WE ARE, UM, EXPECTING OF THEM, WE ARE ALSO GETTING IT INSPECTED. SO, UM, DID WANT TO REMIND COUNSEL THAT WE DO HAVE TWO ADDITIONAL CONTRACTORS THAT HAVE EYES ON THESE. UM, BECAUSE IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US THAT THE, UM, CONTRACTORS ARE UTILIZING THEIR MWBE SUBS AND THAT EVERYONE IS FOLLOWING THE RULES THAT WE HAVE LINED UP. UM, AND, UH, DIRECTOR MURRAY AND HER TEAM HAVE, UM, REALLY BEEN PLEASED WITH THE CONTRACTORS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE THAT ARE DOING THIS ADDITIONAL OVERSIGHT. UH, COUNCIL. COUNCILMAN KNOX. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS IS, AGAIN, ONE OF THESE UNPLEASANT THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO. WE HAVE TO PAY THEM EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE UNSATISFACTORY BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THEY'VE, UH, COME UNSATISFACTORY IN THREE YEARS. SO FOUR YEARS FROM NOW, THEY CAN DO IT AGAIN. SEVEN YEARS FROM THEN THEY CAN DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. AND THEY CAN JUST GAME THE SYSTEM THIS WAY. I, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE FUTURE CONTRACTS THAT THE CITY PRODUCES WITH THESE, THESE SORTS OF ISSUES HAVE A CLAUSE IN THERE THAT IF YOU COME BACK WITH AN UNSATISFACTORY RATING, WE'RE NOT GIVING YOU YOUR FINAL PAYMENT. THAT'S HOW YOU'RE GONNA GET THEIR ATTENTION. THAT'S HOW YOU'RE GOING TO, TO FORCE THEM TO DO THAT. NOW, WE CAN'T DO THAT IN THIS CASE 'CAUSE THE CONTRACT IS THE CONTRACT. BUT I, I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY THINK WHEN WE DO THESE CONTRACTS, PUTTING A CLAUSE IN THERE THAT SAYS, IF YOU COME BACK WITH AN UNSATISFACTORY RATING BASED ON YOUR UH, OBO REQUIREMENTS, WE'RE NOT GONNA PAY YOU. AND THEN I BET YOU THEY CAN FIND THAT THE, THE, UH, OBO PEOPLE TO WORK FOR 'EM IS ALL I'M SAYING. ANYWAY, THANK YOU. THANKS, THANKS VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE THAT. OKAY, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM EIGHT? DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OPPOSED CALLER NO. SHOW COUNCILMAN POLL VOTING? NO. NEXT ITEM. ITEM 12. IT NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX TAYLOR, MOVE SECOND ROBINSON. AND MOVE. AND SECOND, MOVE. AND SECOND ON ITEM 12, DISCUSSION ON 12. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 12. ITEM 14 NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX, TATO, MOVE. SECOND ROBINSON ON ITEM 14. DISCUSSION. UH, MAYOR ON THAT, THIS ONE, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON ASKED IF I WOULD TAG THIS ITEM FOR HER. SO RESPECTFULLY TAGGING ALTE. OKAY, THIS ITEM IS BEING TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACK BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO, UH, ALCORN BACK. TAG IT ALTE. ITEM 15 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT. WE ON ITEM 15, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN ON 15. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO, UM, SPOTLIGHT THIS ITEM 'CAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF, UH, RESIDENT INTEREST IN THIS AND IT WAS HEARD, UM, AT TTI. SO I, I WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT AS WELL. UM, THERE'S SEVERAL, IN ADDITION TO SOME CLEANUP LANGUAGE IN CHAPTER 16 AND 26, UH, RELATING TO PARKING REGULATIONS. I THINK THERE'S SOME REALLY IMPORTANT STUFF IN HERE. FOR EXAMPLE, THE CITY IS ELIMINATING, UH, REQUIREMENTS FOR A CASH BOND TO SECURE APPEARANCES, UM, IN PERSON OR TO SCHEDULE A HEARING. UH, THEY'RE ALSO ALLOWING PARKING CITATIONS TO BE CONTESTED ONLINE, UH, WITHIN 30 DAYS. CURRENTLY, CITATIONS HAVE TO BE CON UH, CONTESTED WITHIN SEVEN DAYS. UH, UNDER CHAPTER 26, UH, WE'RE GOING TO BE ALLOWING PAYMENT PLAN OPTIONS FOR BOOTED VEHICLES, UM, FOR OWNERS THAT WANT TO BE CLEARING OUT OUTSTANDING CITATIONS, BUT NEED FLEXIBILITY TO PAY OVER TIME. AND I BELIEVE WE EVEN HAD A PUBLIC SPEAKER, UM, FACING SOME OF THOSE, UH, HURDLES AND, UH, CHALLENGES RECENTLY. UH, THERE ARE SOME OTHER RESTRICTIONS BEING IMPLEMENTED, BUT I DID WANNA SPOTLIGHT THOSE BECAUSE AGAIN, ALLOWING THE FLEXIBILITY AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE, UH, WITH, IN THE CONTEXT OF WHAT THE CITY CAN CONTROL, UM, WITHIN THE, UH, COURT FRAMEWORK, I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT. SO WANTED TO LIFT THIS ITEM UP AND, UH, THANK EVERYONE WHO WORKED ON IT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU. UM, I'M SHARING IN MY, UM, REMARKS ABOUT THIS ITEM OVER A YEAR AGO. UH, WE WERE SLAMMED WITH LARGE TRUCK PARKINGS IN DISTRICT F IN WEST CHASE, AND IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS. AND I RAISED THIS ISSUE TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN TO PRESENT THIS, UM, AT REGULATORY NEIGHBORHOOD AFFAIRS. SO OVER A YEAR AGO, WORKING THROUGH THIS. SO I'M SO APPRECIATIVE, PARTICULARLY OF THE FACT THAT, UH, IT LIMITS THE PARKING IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS, WHICH IS A TREMENDOUS HELP. AND THEN ALSO THE LARGE TRUCK OF PARKING FROM 2:00 AM TO 6:00 AM WHICH WILL BE TREMENDOUS [04:30:01] SUPPORT AND IT'LL JUST REALLY FOCUS OUR EFFORTS WITH HPD AND TOWING THESE VEHICLES. AND NOW WE ACTUALLY HAVE, UH, UM, SOME GOOD GUIDELINES TO SHARE WITH HOAS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. SO I'M JUST EXCITED TO VOTE ON THIS AND THIS HOPEFULLY WILL ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE CONGESTION THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING ON THE WEST SIDE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MANCO. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS FOR BRINGING THIS TO MY ATTENTION. IT WAS JUST ONE YEAR AGO. WE DID IT IN JULY, SO THAT'S PRETTY GOOD ON CITY STANDARDS. GET SOMETHING THROUGH. THAT'S GOOD. GOOD STUFF. UM, YEAH, THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM IN A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. I WAS IN CASHMERE GARDENS LAST NIGHT AT THEIR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S A, IT'S A TRUCKS AND TRAILERS, COMMERCIAL VEHICLES AND WE HAD SOME SQUIRRELY RULES. WE WERE DEFINING COMMERCIAL VEHICLES, LIKE PUTTING A, YOU HAD TO HAVE A SIGN ON THE FRONT DOOR SO PEOPLE JUST PUT IT ON THE BACK DOOR. SO WE, WE CLEANED ALL THAT UP. WE'RE TAKING TRAILERS OFF THE STREETS AT NIGHT. LARGE TRUCKS AN OFFICER DID THOUGH, LAST NIGHT IN CASHMERE GARDENS. WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS, HE SAID THAT THE OFFICER, AND I GET, I JUST NEED TO CONFIRM THIS, WITH HHPD, THEY HAVE TO, THEY HAVE TO SEE IT THERE FOR OVER TWO HOURS, CORRECT? IS THAT CORRECT? MM-HMM . I GUESS IT IS. IT CAN'T BE LIKE A NEIGHBOR SAYING IT'S BEEN THERE FOR SIX HOURS. 'CAUSE YOU COULD JUST BE RATTING OUT SOMEBODY, I GUESS. I GUESS THAT'S THE THING. BUT THAT DID SEEM LIKE BURDENSOME ON POLICE THAT THEY HAVE TO SEE. THEY HAVE TO GO THERE AND SEE IT AND THEN COME BACK LATER AND THEY MARKED THREE HOURS AND MARK IT AND SEE IT AGAIN. UM, IT'S A LOT OF RESOURCES ON THAT, BUT, BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS WE ALSO HAVE A RA AND PARK HOUSTON GIVING OUT A LOT OF THESE CITATIONS TOO. SO, UH, THANK YOU TO A-R-A-H-P-D LEGAL, EVERYBODY THAT HELPED WORK ON THESE CHANGES. THIS IS, THIS IS REALLY GOOD NEWS FOR NEIGHBORHOODS AND I THINK FITS IN NICELY WITH THE FREIGHT PLAN THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP TRUCKS OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS, DRIVING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND TEARING 'EM UP. SO, UM, LET'S, UH, WORK ON THE TRUCKS. THANKS. AND COUNCILWOMAN CAYMAN. AND, AND JUST TO ADD TO THAT, WITH THE BURDEN ON HPD, I DO RECALL THAT WE DID PASS MAYOR, UM, ADDITIONAL MEASURES PREVIOUSLY THAT WILL ALLOW PARKING AND A RA TO ACTUALLY GO OUT AND, UH, TOW AND ISSUE CITATIONS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE SO THAT HPD DOESN'T HAVE TO. SO I THINK WE'RE GETTING THERE. YOU'RE POINTING OUT REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON, BUT IT'S ALL COMING TOGETHER. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 15? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OPPOSED GRANTING OF 15. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM, ITEM 22 IS AN ORDER. YOU NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 22. DISCUSSION ON 22. DISCUSSION ON 22 IN FAVOR. OPPOSED GRANTED ON 22. YEAH, SHE CAME IN. WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS. YEAH, SHE WANTS DISCUSS. COUNCILMAN CAME IN ON 23, ON 22. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MAYOR. I JUST, I JUST WANTED TO, UM, SPOTLIGHT THIS ITEM REALLY QUICKLY. UM, AND THANK THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. UM, THREE ROW HOUSES ARE CURRENTLY LOCATED NEXT TO, UM, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY RESEARCH CENTER AT GREGORY SCHOOL. UM, THEY'VE ALREADY UNDERGONE EXTENSIVE, UH, RESTORATION AND REPAIRS. AND THIS GOES INTO, UM, THE PROTECTION OF THESE PROPERTIES, THE PRESERVATION OF THEM. UH, BUT THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO BE, UM, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FREEDMANS TOWN CONSERVANCY. TWO OF THE SMALLER HOUSES ARE GOING TO BE USED AS LONG-TERM AND SHORT TERM EXHIBITION AND GALLERY SPACES THAT ARE MANAGED BY PUBLIC LIBRARIES. SO HPL IS ACTUALLY EXPANDING THEIR REACH, UM, PRESERVING THE HISTORY OF THE AREA. UM, AND IT'S JUST A VERY SPECIAL ITEM THAT I WANTED TO LIFT UP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, NEXT ITEM. ITEM 23 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE ON ITEM 23. DISCUSSION ON 23. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSED, GRANTED ON 23. ITEM 31 [NON-CONSENT - MISCELLANEOUS] IS A MOTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING. , I'M SORRY, TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR AUGUST 2ND. CASTEX TAYLOR, MOVE TO SET THE PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR 9:00 AM ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2ND. SECOND, ROBINSON BEEN MOVED IN A SECOND. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED ON 31. ITEM 32. [MATTERS HELD - NUMBERING] ITEM 32. WE ALREADY HAVE A MOTION. JUST NEED TO VOTE. UH, CHAIR RECOGNIZERS. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER ON 32. THANK YOU SO MUCH MAYOR. AND I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO AMEND ITEM 32, MODIFYING THE AWARD FOR MAINTENANCE, REPAIR, OPERATING SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT. THE PROPOSED AWARDEES, [04:35:01] HOME DEPOT, USA INCORPORATED, AND LOWE'S, HOME DEPOT. UM, LOWE'S HOME CENTERS, LLC SHALL REMAIN WITH FERGUSON AND MSC AS ADDITIONAL COOPERATIVE AWARDEES FOR THE TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT. THIS INCLUSION RECOGNIZES THEIR ENGAGEMENT WITH MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES. I AM CONCERNED WITH THIS AMENDMENT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND WHY, WHY WE ARE DOING THIS BECAUSE, UM, SURE, NO, ON UNDER ITEM 32, UM, WHAT THE PROCUREMENT DID IS THAT THEY WENT TO THE COOPERATIVE AND PULLED THESE ITEMS DOWN. IT'S BEING, UH, DONE ON A ROTATION BASIS. SO FOR EXAMPLE, UH, UNDER THIS FIRST ROTATION FOR THEM IS HOME DEPOT AND LOWE'S. AND THEN IN, I THINK IT IS IN AUGUST, THERE WILL BE ANOTHER ROTATION WHERE IT'S GOING TO ENTAIL THESE PARTICULAR VENDORS, BUT THEY'RE DOING IT IN A ROTATION SYSTEM. SO THESE VENDORS ARE INCLUDED IN THAT ROTATION. I JUST DON'T LIKE PULLING VENDORS IN THIS MANNER. I WOULD RATHER THEY OPERATE WITH IT. SO IF THE GOAL IS TO, UM, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERYBODY IN THIS CATEGORY, SO TO SPEAK, UM, THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT IT'S GONNA HAPPEN THROUGH THE ROTATION SYSTEM. SO ON THIS ONE IS, IS THESE TWO. AND THEN IN AUGUST, WHAT I'M BEING TOLD, UM, GOING THROUGH THE COOPERATIVE, THESE VENDORS ALSO ON THAT LIST AND THAT ROTATION SYSTEM. AND THEN IN ADDITION TO WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS, AND I THINK THEY SENT THIS LETTER TO Y'ALL LAST WEEK OR MEMO, WE EXPECT TWO SMALL BUSINESSES, THEY ARE PUTTING TOGETHER ANOTHER SYSTEM JUST FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, UM, WHICH WOULD, WHICH, UH, AND WE'LL SELECT FROM THAT CATEGORY. SO THESE SMALL BUSINESSES ARE NOT NECESSARILY COMPETING WITH THESE LARGER ONES, BUT IF THE, IF THE GOAL IS FOR, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, THE ONES IN YOUR AMENDMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, TO BE INCLUDED, THAT THEY ARE PART OF THAT ROTATION SYSTEM AND THEY WILL BE REACHED IN THE ROTATION SYSTEM THE WAY THEY HAVE SET IT UP THROUGH THE COOPERATIVE PURCHASES. SO AM I, YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? YEAH, NO, NO, I, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND. I RESPECT EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE SAYING. MAYOR, LET ME, LEMME JUST TELL YOU A COUPLE OF MY CONCERNS. AT THE END OF 20 22, 23, UM, THERE WAS A CONTRACT THAT CAME UP. I'M NOT SURE IF MY COLLEAGUES REMEMBER. UM, A CONTRACT CAME UP WITH GRANGER. UM, AND I HAD A MEETING WITH JUDGE I AFTER THAT MEETING, UM, ASKING WHY WE'RE NOT USING, UTILIZING THE EBIT SYSTEM TO ALLOW FOR MINORITY, SMALLER, MID-SIZE BUSINESSES TO BE ABLE TO BE COMPETITIVE IN THE EBIT SYSTEM. THEY HAD A MEETING WITH MSCA YEAR NOW TO DATE ALMOST. THERE WAS NEVER ENGAGEMENT WITH THAT COMPANY. THIS COMPANY IS ALSO LARGE. IT CAN, IT CAN, IT'S, UM, A VERY GOOD PARTNER IN TERMS OF UTILIZING SMALLER MINORITY BUSINESSES. AND WHEN THESE PRODUCTS ARE NOT SPECIALTY, THEY'RE NOT PUT ON AN EI SYSTEM. THERE'S NO MWBE UM, AGREEMENT OR ENGAGEMENT. THERE'S NO GUARANTEE. IT ELIMINATES THE COMPETITIVE ACTION. AND IT ELIMINATES SMALLER VENDORS TO BE, AND I'M SAYING SMALL, BUT THESE ARE MID-SIZE, THESE ARE MID-SIZE, UM, WHOLESALERS THAT ARE, THAT CAN BE POTENTIALLY A PART OF THIS. AND SO I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS ROTATION THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF, THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME OF ME HEARING OF IT, UM, HAS NOT BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED IN ALMOST A YEAR. AND WE CONTINUE TO GIVE THESE LARGE SUMS OF MONEY TO LARGER BIG BOXES. AND I, I UNDERSTAND IT'S EASIER FOR, FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO DO THAT BECAUSE IT TAKES EFFORT, RIGHT? TO PUT THESE ON AN EBIT SYSTEM. BUT THESE ARE NOT SPECIALLY SUPPLIES. THESE ARE, THIS ARE THE BOTTLED WATER. IT'S THINGS THAT ANY WHOLESALER CAN ACTUALLY GIVE. AND FROM WHAT MY UNDERSTANDING WITH PEOPLE THAT DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY, MINORITY, SMALL OWNED BUSINESSES, FERGUSON AND MSC, I'M NOT PULLING THEM OUT OF THE CLOUD. LIKE WE HAD TO FIND A COOPER, SOMEONE THAT WAS A COOPER PART OF THE COOPERATIVE. WE HAD TO FIND, UM, COMPANIES THAT ARE ABLE TO DO THAT. 'CAUSE THAT'S A QUALIFICATION AS WELL. AND SO THAT IS WHY THEY MENTIONED, AND THESE TWO COMPANIES WORK REALLY WELL WITH MINORITY BUSINESSES. AND SO I I DO UNDERSTAND THIS ROTATION THAT YOU'RE, THAT I'M HEARING OF MY CONCERN, MAYOR, IS THAT WE CONTINUE TO NOT PUT THESE ITEMS ON THE EBIT SYSTEM, WHICH ELIMINATES COMPETITIVE PRICING. UM, IT ELIMINATES MINORITY OR SMALLER MID-SIZE BUSINESSES TO BE ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS. AND IT JUST, IT, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S CONSISTENTLY DIVERTING MORE BUSINESS FROM SMALLER COMPANIES THAT CAN BE COMPETITIVE. AND THESE, UH, AND WHEN YOU'RE USING IT TO COOPERATIVE, IT IS COMPETITIVE PRICING. THE COOPERATIVE IS COMPETITIVE PRICING. AND THIS PARTICULAR COMPANY IN YOUR, FOR EXAMPLE, IN YOUR AMENDMENT IS NOT A SMALL COMPANY? NO, NO, IT'S NOT. THAT'S A LARGE COMPANY. IT IT IS [04:40:01] A LARGE COMPANY. BUT MY POINT IS THEY ARE AMAZING PLAYERS. THEY BID OUT TO SMALLER COMPANIES. YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? RIGHT. SO THEY DO BUSINESS WITH SMALLER COMPANIES. RIGHT. UM, A SECOND. YEAH. YEAH. TO CONTINUE THE POINT THAT I'M SAYING, I DON'T, I DON'T LIKE DEALING WITH PARTICULAR COMPANIES. I WOULD PREFER PROCUREMENT TO GO THROUGH THEIR ROTATION SYSTEM AND, AND UTILIZE, UM, THEIR SELECTION PROCESS THROUGH THEIR ROTATION SYSTEM. UM, THEY ARE, THESE COMPANIES, THIS, UH, ARE A PART OF THE COOPERATIVE AND THEIR TURN IS COMING UP ON THE ROTATION SYSTEM. I CAN TELL YOU THAT THEIR TERM, THEY, THEY'RE, THEY, UH, THEY WILL, THEY'RE PART OF THE ROTATION THAT, UH, PROCUREMENT HAS PUT IN PLACE AND THEY WILL BE SELECTED IN THAT ROTATION SYSTEM. I DON'T THINK IT'S ADVISABLE FOR US TO BE DEALING WITH THIS IN THIS AMENDMENT FORM, BUT WE ARE SELECTING THAT. I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT APPROACH. YOU, WE WANT TO TAKE. AND, AND I'M, AND, AND I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT APPROACH. BUT IF THE GOAL IS FOR, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, FOR THE CITY TO BE DOING BUSINESS WITH THEM, I DON'T HAVE ANY OBJECTION TO THAT. BUT I THINK IT'S MORE PREFERABLE FOR THEM TO GO THROUGH THE PROCUREMENT ROTATION SYSTEM AS A COOPERATIVE IN THE, IN THE PROCESS. THAT, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING NOW, UM, RECOGNIZING THE CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE RAISED AS IT RELATES TO SMALL BUSINESSES. 'CAUSE THESE ARE ALL LARGE BUSINESSES. BUT I'M JUST SAYING WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT I'VE ALSO ASKED PROCUREMENT TO DO IS TO SET UP ANOTHER SYSTEM FOR YOUR SMALLER BUSINESSES. OKAY? AND THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING, OF DOING THAT. UH, BUT ALL OF THESE COMPANIES, THESE ARE BIG COMPANIES, MA'AM, MAY I RESPOND, RIGHT? NO, I UNDERSTAND. THESE ARE LARGE COMPANIES, RIGHT? WHEN I'M SAYING SMALL BUSINESSES, THEY ARE A PARTNER. THEY HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH SMALL BUSINESS. I KNOW THEY ARE LARGER. THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN ENGAGE AT THIS LEVEL IS THAT THEY ARE LARGER. THAT WAS ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAD LAST TIME WAS THAT WELL, IF THEY'RE NOT LARGE ENOUGH AND THEY CAN'T COMPETE IF IT'S AN EMERGENCY OR THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T HAVE THE, THE WHEEL, THE, THE, THE, UM, THE CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO GET THE VOLUMES THAT WE NEED. SO NO, THESE ARE LARGE COMPANIES, BUT THEY HAVE REALLY GOOD RELATIONSHIPS. SO, SO MAYOR TURNER, WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND, AND THIS, AND I KNOW IT'S THE ITEM IS TAGGED BECAUSE I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DEPARTMENT AND BECAUSE I'VE MADE REQUESTS IN, IN CONNECTIONS WITH COMPANIES LIKE AN MSC AND NOTHING HAS COME OF IT. WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND OR REQUEST, MAYOR, IS IF YOU, IF I COULD REFER THIS ITEM BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION. NO, HOLD ON, LET ME JUST, LET ME JUST, LET ME JUST FINISH MY THOUGHT. YOU FINISH UNLESS YOU FINISH, ALLOW THE COUNCIL TO SEE WHAT THIS ROTATION LOOKS LIKE SO THAT WE ARE ALL AWARE OF HOW THE DEPARTMENT IS ENGAGING. BECAUSE I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS ROTATION. I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THAT BEFORE. AND SO I, I FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE IN THE CONTINUING TO AGREE TO THIS WITHOUT SEEING SOME TYPE OF INFORMATION IN FRONT OF ME SHOWING WHAT OTHER COMPANIES ARE FALLING IN ROTATION. BECAUSE EVERY TIME WE DO THIS, WE DISALLOW, UM, OTHER COMPANIES, MINORITY COMPANIES TO GET ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS. AND THIS IS SOMETHING EASY FOR THEM TO DO. YEAH. AND, AND, AND IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS, WHAT I'M INSTRUCTED THEM TO DO IS YOU ENGAGE IN A ROTATION PROCESS. BUT I WOULD, I THINK IT'S MORE PREFERABLE FOR PROCUREMENT TO BE MAKING THOSE SELECTIONS RATHER THAN COUNCIL OR EVEN MYSELF MAKING INDIVIDUAL SELECTION. I THINK THAT PROCESS SHOULD BE FOLLOWED. WHAT I CAN SAY TO YOU IS BASED ON THAT ROTATION SYSTEM THAT THEY PUTTING IN PLACE, THAT THESE COMPANIES CERTAINLY ARE FACTORED IN AND A PART OF IT AND, UM, WILL BE REACHED. 'CAUSE THERE'S A LIMITED NUMBER, THERE'S A LIMITED NUMBER OF THESE COMPANIES EVEN OF THAT SIZE MM-HMM . TO SELECT FROM AND THINK THE REASON WHY YOU, UH, AND SO THESE ARE THE TWO THAT THEY'RE BRINGING FORTH FOR NOW. BUT FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD FROM THEM IS THAT THERE'S ANOTHER SELECTION PROCESS COMING UP IN, I THINK IT'S LIKE IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR. AND THESE OTHER, THE COMPANIES ARE PART OF THAT SELECTION GROUP, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S ADVISABLE FOR US TO BE PICKING A COMPANY. AND I, I, I, I DON'T WANT TO EVEN GET INTO THAT. YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? I DON'T EVEN WANT TO GET INTO THAT. I'D RATHER PROCUREMENT HANDLES THAT AND, UH, I CERTAINLY, THEY CAN CERTAINLY SEND TO ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THE PROCESS THAT THEY ARE UTILIZING. I, I CERTAINLY WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO ADVISE YOU AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WHAT THAT PROCESS IS IN THIS PARTICULAR SELECTION AND TO PROVIDE THAT TO EACH OF YOU IN WRITING SO THAT YOU WILL KNOW IT'S A ROTATION PROCESS. AND THEN FOR THEM TO LET EVERYONE KNOW WHEN THE NEXT ELECTION WILL BE OCCURRING AND WHEN YOU CAN EXPECT ANOTHER, UH, RECOMMENDATION FROM THEM. [04:45:01] I CAN, I WOULD CERTAIN I WOULD INSTRUCT THEM TO DO THAT AND MAKE THAT AVAILABLE TO YOU AND TO THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS BEFORE THE END OF THE DAY SO YOU'LL KNOW IN WRITING FROM THEM WHAT THEIR PROCESS IS. IF THAT HELPS. I, I RESPECT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, MAYOR TURNER, I REALLY DO. BUT THIS HAS BEEN A LONG CONVERSATION. PROCUREMENT HAS BEEN WELL AWARE OF MSC. THEY HAVE HAD A MEETING WITH MSC, THEY KNOW THE CAPACITY THAT THEY HAVE AND THEY HAVE NOT DONE BUSINESS WITH THEM BECAUSE I, SO MY MY CONCERN IS THAT I KNOW THAT WE HAVE CONFIDENCE, YOU KNOW, IN THE DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE TO LET THEM DO THE JOB THAT THEY KNOW AND THEY DO, THEY DO WELL. BUT I ALSO WANNA REALLY BRING ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT DOING IT THIS WAY MAKES IT EASIER FOR THE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE PUTTING ITEMS ON AN EBIT SYSTEM IS EFFORT. FINDING OTHER VENDORS THAT CAN BE ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS. IT'S, IT'S IT'S EFFORT THERE. AND I AM CONCERNED THAT WE'RE NOT, THAT WE'RE NOT ENGAGING OTHER COMPANIES THAT DO BUSINESS WITH SMALLER OR MID-SIZED COMPANIES. I JUST, THIS IS EVERY TIME SOMETHING COMES FORWARD THAT HAS IT'S ESPECIALLY ITEM OR IT'S EMERGENCY, WE HAVE EXCUSES OR REASONS WHY WE DON'T UTILIZE, UM, UTILIZE BUSINESSES THAT CAN, THAT CAN PROCURE THESE ITEMS. AND SO, I MEAN, MAYOR TURNER, I, UM, I THINK IT IS ONE THING TO HAVE A DISCUSSION, DON'T DISCUSSION WITH PROCUREMENT OR WITH, UH, WITH ANY OF US ON THE PROCESS. I THINK YOU ALWAYS, I THINK IT'S ALWAYS, UM, QUESTIONABLE WHEN WE ARE DEALING WITH ANY PARTICULAR COMPANY BY NAME PROCESS. I GOT THAT MORNING CLARIFICATION ON THE PROCESS. I UNDERSTAND THAT ASKING PROCUREMENT TO PROVIDE CLARIFICATION ON THEIR PROCESS, REASONABLE EXPECTED THEY CAN DO THAT. AND I WOULD INSTRUCT THEM TO PROVIDE, UM, UH, UH, THAT TO YOU AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TODAY ON THEIR, ON, ON THE PROCESS THAT THEY'RE UTILIZING, UH, IN THIS REGARD. BUT I DON'T WANT US TO BE DEALING WITH PARTICULAR COMPANY NAMES. MM-HMM . AND I TELL PEOPLE, DON'T EVEN TALK TO ME ABOUT NAMES. I DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT ABOUT NAMES. MM-HMM . PROCESS. I'M ALL, I MEAN, I'M ALL EARS NAMES I DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH I, AND I JUST DON'T WANT US TO GET, GO DOWN THAT ROAD. SO AGAIN, WHAT I WOULD SAY TO YOU, LET ME HAVE PROCUREMENT WRITE YOU ALL TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT THE PROCESS IS WHEN THE NEXT RECOMMENDATION FROM PROCUREMENT WILL BE. SO YOU WILL KNOW EXACTLY WHEN IT WILL BE. UH, AND THE FACT THAT THIS IS A PART OF THE COOPERATIVE PROCESS, WHICH THESE COMPANIES AND OTHERS ARE PART OF THAT DEAL. AND, AND SO FOR EXAMPLE, THESE ARE BEFORE YOU IN THE ROTATION PROCESS. SO THEY'RE ROTATING, THEY, THEY'RE ROTATING OUT, THEY'RE BEING SELECTED, THEY'RE NOT INCLUDED, WON'T BE INCLUDED IN THE NEXT, IN THE NEXT SELECTION PROCESS AROUND. AND, UM, AND I WOULD INSTRUCT THEM TO PROVIDE THAT WRITTEN, UM, COMMUNICATION TO Y'ALL TODAY. , I HEAR, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. I JUST, I UNDERSTAND, DUNNO WHY IT'S TAKING THIS LONG. I UNDERSTAND FOR PROCUREMENT TO FOLLOW THROUGH AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY DO THE RIGHT THING AND INVOLVE OTHER COMPANIES. IT'S ALWAYS THE SAME ONES OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. AND IT'S JUST NOT, IT'S NOT EQUITABLE. IT'S NOT EQUITABLE. AND THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO REASON WHY JUST NOW WE'RE HAVING THE CONVERSATION. WHEN I'VE HAD THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE PROCESS, I'VE HAD THE CONVERSATION ABOUT ROTATING, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN COMPANIES IN CERTAIN COMPANIES OUT, GET A LIST OF COMPANIES THAT YOU CAN GO TO IN SOME TYPE OF PROCESS. WHY HAS IT TAKEN SO LONG TO GET THAT DONE? AND SO I JUST DON'T HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT IT'S GONNA HAPPEN. I UNDERSTAND. OKAY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, WE'RE ON THE AMENDMENT OF COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THA THANK, THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I AM, UH, LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HEARD OF THE PROCUREMENT ROTATION. UH, I WISH I WOULD'VE KNOWN THAT LAST YESTERDAY EVENING. I ATTENDED A NAAC MEETING. AND, AND, AND HEARING FROM SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESSES, THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT GETTING A FAIR SHAKE IN, IN REGARDS TO DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CITY. UM, SO I'M, I'M ASKING IF MAYBE, UH, WE, WE CAN HAVE THE PROCUREMENT COME TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHAT THE PROCUREMENT ROTATION SYSTEM IS FOR LARGE COMPANIES. I HEAR THAT YOU'RE ASKING TO ALSO INCLUDE ONE FOR SMALLER COMPANIES. UH, I THINK THAT WOULD BE TO, TO, TO, FOR ME TO RECEIVE A LETTER THIS AFTERNOON AND, AND, AND WITH THEM EXPLAINING WHAT, WHAT'S, WHAT THE SYSTEM IS ON THAT LETTER WILL NOT BENEFIT ME BECAUSE I MEAN, I HAVE QUESTIONS. UH, SO IS IT OKAY FOR THEM TO COME TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? YES. AT ANY, AT ANY POINT IN TIME, THE LETTER WITH RESPECT TO THE SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM THAT THEY WERE PUTTING, PUTTING TOGETHER, THAT CAME TO YOU ALL A WEEK OR TWO AGO? YEP. THAT WAS TWO WEEKS AGO. [04:50:01] BUT YES, THAT THERE'S NO ABSOLUTELY NO, NO, NO, UM, ISSUE AT ALL WITH THEM COMING BEFORE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO FOR THEM TO COME. GREAT. THANK YOU. OKAY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR LEGAL ON THIS ISSUE. THIS AMENDMENT SPECIFICALLY NAMES CERTAIN COMPANIES IN A CONTRACT THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO ENGAGE IN WITH THE OTHER COMPANIES. DOESN'T THAT CONSTITUTE A, A STRUCTURAL CHANGE IN THE AGREEMENT? AND I, I THINK THAT WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY HERE OF NOT NOT DOING CONTRACTS AROUND THE TABLE HERE. THAT'S WHY I'M OPPOSED TO THE AMENDMENT, COUNCILMAN. I'M SORRY. THAT'S WHY I'M OPPOSED TO THE AMENDMENT. OKAY. SO I, I'M JUST ASKING LEGAL, AM I MISSING SOMETHING HERE OR IS THIS UH, NO, I THINK THAT'S LARGELY TRUE. I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE PARTICULARS HERE, BUT TYPICALLY WHEN YOU HAVE A PROCUREMENT, YOU HAVE CRITERIA THAT ARE PUT OUT, PEOPLE FOLLOW IT, AND THEN THERE'S A RANKING ORDER OR SOME ROTATION. IF YOU CHANGE THAT, UH, SOMEONE WHO, WHO ISN'T PART OF THE AWARD COULD CLAIM THAT THERE IS, UH, THAT IT'S APPLIED UNEQUALLY, THAT THERE'S DISCRIMINATION, YOU'D HAVE TO ACTUALLY TAKE A LOOK AT IT TO BE CERTAIN. I HAVEN'T DONE THAT YET. SO IF WE PASS THIS AMENDMENT, THERE'S A RISK OF SOME FUTURE LITIGATION AND DIFFICULTY IN THE FUTURE GETTING PEOPLE TO WORK FOR THE CITY OR, OR RESCINDING IT. YEAH. THAT, THAT'S A POSSIBILITY. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANKS MAYOR. TIM CASH. TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK IT'S A, A GOOD IDEA FOR US TO DISCUSS THE PROCESS AT, UM, ONE OF OUR UPCOMING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETINGS SO THAT EVERYONE CAN BE CLEAR ON THE ROTATION PROCESS. AND I THINK IT, IT WOULD ALSO BE PRUDENT FOR, UM, US TO DISCUSS THE CO-OP PROGRAM BECAUSE THESE BUSINESSES ARE ALL PART OF A CO-OP. THEY AGREE TO CERTAIN PRICING. UM, AND THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS REALLY LEVELS, UM, THE PLAYING FIELD ONCE THEY GET INTO THE CO-OP. SO IT MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO SOMETHING WITH OBO SO THAT COMPANIES THAT AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH THE GETTING INTO THE CO-OP PROCESS CAN LEARN HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CO-OP PROCESS SO THAT THEY CAN COMPETE AND BE A PART OF THE ROTATION. SO THERE, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF LAYERS THAT, UM, CONSTITUTE THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS. SO I DO THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA FOR US TO, TO DISCUSS THE PROCESS IN AN UPCOMING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING. BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT NAMING COMPANIES AND, UM, DOING ANY TYPE OF PROCUREMENT WORK VIA AN AMENDMENT AT THE TABLE JUST FOR THE PRECEDENT THAT IT COULD SET. UM, BUT I AM HAPPY TO DISCUSS THIS IN AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING SO THAT WE CAN MOVE IT FORWARD. AND THAT COMPANIES THAT MAY NOT BE, UM, FAMILIAR WITH THE COOPERATIVE AND HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COOPERATIVE, UM, CAN LEARN HOW TO DO THAT AND BE A PART OF THE PROCESS SO THAT WE CAN CREATE EQUITY. WE'VE HAD LOTS OF DISCUSSIONS ABOUT EQUITY. THIS IS JUST ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ADVANCE EQUITY IN ALL AREAS OF WHAT WE'RE DOING. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER, THANK YOU. THANK YOU VICE MAYOR PROTO. I APPRECIATE THAT COMMENT. UM, I JUST, ONCE AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND WE DON'T WANNA PICK OUT DIFFERENT COMPANIES. I'VE GOT NO AFFILIATIONS OR ALLIANCES OR ANYTHING WITH THOSE COMPANIES. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING IT EQUITABLY AND OTHER CO-OPS, THE DEPARTMENT IS AWARE, FULLY AWARE OF OTHER CO-OPS THAT CAN BE INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS AND THEY'RE NOT BEING ENGAGED. AND THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. THIS IS, THIS IS NOT A NEW, THESE ARE NOT NEW COMPANIES. THESE ARE COMPANIES THAT DO BUSINESS WITH US. THEY HAVE A GREAT REPUTATION. UM, AND THEY ARE AWARE THAT THEY'RE IN THE CO-OP. AND SO THIS IS NOT A CONVERSATION OF HOW TO GET IN ONE. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE ONES THAT DO HAVE DONE THE WORK AND ARE A PART OF IT ARE COMPETITIVE, RIGHT? CAN BE A PART OF THE PROCESS. AND THEY HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY. OKAY? AND SO, YES, THE PROCESS IS IMPORTANT, BUT THIS IS NOT NEW INFORMATION. I'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH DEPARTMENTS SINCE THE END OF LAST YEAR AND THEY'VE NOT BEEN ENGAGED. AND SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THE HORSESHOE UNDERSTANDS THIS IS NOT NEW. UM, THIS, AND I, AND I HAVE NO ALLIANCES OF, YOU KNOW, NOTHING, RIGHT? I'M JUST SAYING THAT EVERYONE SHOULD BE A PART OF THIS PROCESS AND FROM AN EQUITABLE PERSPECTIVE. AND THE DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO DO, IN MY OPINION, UM, AND I'M NOT SAY A BETTER JOB 'CAUSE I DON'T, I KNOW THEIR WORK IS, IS TENUOUS, BUT THEY NEED TO JUST SEE THE LIST OF COMPANIES THAT THEY CAN WORK WITH AND, AND DO THE ROTATION AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS A CHANCE. IT'S DIFFICULT FOR MINORITY COMPANIES TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY. WE HEAR IT ALL THE TIME, BUT THESE ARE NOT MINORITY COMPANIES. NO, NO, I KNOW, I KNOW. BUT THEY ARE ENGAGED, THEY ARE PARTNERS. THEY WORK WELL WITH, THEY ARE TEAM PLAYERS [04:55:01] WITH MINORITY COMPANIES. AND SO BECAUSE A, A, A SMALLER COMPANY CAN'T BE A CALL UP, THEY'RE TWO, THEY DON'T HAVE THE, THEY DON'T HAVE THE BANDWIDTH. AND SO I'M JUST SAYING THAT WE NEED TO DO BUSINESS WITH COMPANIES THAT DO AND PLAY WELL WITH MINORITY ENTITIES AND SMALLER COMPANIES. SO EVERYONE, UM, HAS, HAS A BITE AT, AT, AT APPLE. SO THAT'S ALL, THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. MAYOR TURNER AND I DO RECOGNIZE WHAT COUNCILMAN KNOX SAID. I DID THINK ABOUT THAT. UM, I JUST WANTED TO BRING IT FORWARD TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION. BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, THIS IS AN EXISTING CONTRACT AND, AND WE DON'T, WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, MODIFY CONTRACT WITH THE HORSESHOE. BUT I JUST THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AND I BRING THIS FORWARD. AGAIN, I WILL WITHDRAW MY AMENDMENT BASED ON THE FACT THAT WE DO NOT WANT TO HAND PICK, UH, BASED ON THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOT DOING CONTRACTS OF THE HORSESHOE. AND WITH THE UNDERSTANDING, THE CLEAR UNDERSTANDING THAT PROCUREMENT IS DUE IS GOING TO COMMIT TO GIVING ALL US A LINE ITEM OF WHAT THIS ROTATION LOOKS LIKE, BRING THIS BACK TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, OR BRING THIS TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SO THAT WE ARE VERY CLEAR ON HOW WE'RE ENGAGING OTHER COMPANIES THAT ARE TEAM PLAYERS. THEY WILL GIVE YOU, UH, THE PROCESS, BUT THEY'RE NOT GONNA GIVE YOU ANYTHING THAT'S GONNA SPECIFICALLY BE SELECT ANY PARTICULAR VENDOR. DO. WE'RE NOT GONNA DO THAT. AND UM, BUT THEY CERTAINLY WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH A DESCRIPTION OF THE, OF THE PROCESS. THAT'S FAIR. THANK YOU, MA'AM. OKAY. VICE. OKAY. UM, YEAH, VICE MAYOR, SORRY, I HIT THE BUTTON. MAYOR. I ALSO WANTED TO, TO ADD FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS INFORMATION THAT OBO ALREADY HAS AN INFORMATION SESSION ABOUT CO-OPS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES PLANNED. SO WE'LL MAKE SURE TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO EVERYONE SO THEY CAN SHARE IT WITH THEIR CONTEXT AS WELL, SO THAT IF THERE ARE SMALL BUSINESSES OUT THERE THAT DO WANT TO LEARN MORE AND PARTICIPATE IN THE CO-OPS, UM, IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE'LL DO IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HOPEFULLY THAT CAN BE BENEFICIAL, UM, TO ALL THE BUSINESSES. THANKS. COUNCILMAN MACOY. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER, PO MEMBER FOR THE DISCUSSION. UM, YEARS AGO, MAYOR, WHEN CHIEF BRADFORD WAS IN THE HORSESHOE, HE WORKED REALLY HARD ON A PROCUREMENT MANUAL. AND I'M NOT SURE IF WE HAVE, I MEAN, I'VE JUST KIND OF GOOGLED PROCUREMENT MANUAL. IT STILL SAYS DRAFT. I'M NOT SURE IF WE HAVE AN OFFICIAL, I I KNOW, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, PROCEDURES THAT WE GO THROUGH, BUT I THINK ALONG THE LINES OF THIS WHERE WE CAN ALL BE CLEAR ABOUT PROCUREMENT, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS GOING ON LIKE IN 2012, UH, BACK IN THOSE DAYS. AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT EFFORT, BUT IT'S, IT WOULD BE A LOT OF THINGS COME UP IN THE HORSESHOE ABOUT PROCUREMENT, WHETHER IT BE OBO OR, UH, MINORITY CONTRACTING, LIKE SHE'S TALKING ABOUT NOW, COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS. NOT THAT, THAT ALL OF US ARE GONNA GET INTO THE WEEDS OF A, YOU KNOW, A HUNDRED PAGE MANUAL, BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT KIND OF SOPS OR WHATEVER ARE IN PLACE AND, AND WHAT WE COULD SEE ABOUT THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 32? DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED PLUMBER? NO, I'M SORRY. YES. 32. OKAY, IN FAVOR VOTING. OKAY, PROPOSED SHALL COUNCILMAN EMPLOYMENT VOTING NOTE ITEM PASSES. NEXT ITEM. ITEM 33 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 33. DISCUSSION ON 33. DISCUSSION ON 33. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 33. ITEM 34 [SUPPLEMENTAL POSTING - NUMBERING] IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE ON ITEM 34. ITEM 34, ITEM 34. DISCUSSION ON 34. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSE GRANTED ON 34, THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. WAS FIRST NOT HERE. TEXTED WHAT? IS SHE DOING? ANYTHING? OKAY, [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] WE ARE STARTING WITH, UH, UH, THOMAS. IT WAS KOSH. OKAY, WE'RE STARTING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, LET'S GET THE PARTY STARTED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO, UM, I KNOW WE HAD BREAK WEEK LAST WEEK, SO I JUST WANNA RECAP OF SOME OF THE, UH, SUMMER OF SAFETY SERIES THAT WE HAD. AND I JUST APPRECIATE, UM, MY STAFF AND OUR VOLUNTEERS, UM, ESPECIALLY OUR HIGHER HOUSTON YOUTH INTERNS. THEY ARE PHENOMENAL AND THEY CONTINUE TO RETURN TO DISTRICT F AND I'M GLAD ABOUT IT. IT'S ON JUNE 29TH. WE HAD OUR PET PANTRY, WHICH WAS LED BY OUR DISTRICT F INTERNS. WE HAD, UM, CLOSE TO A HUNDRED, UH, CARS COME THROUGH WITHIN ONE HOUR. SO THAT'S DEFINITELY A, A NEED AND I APPRECIATE THE HOUSTON HUMANE SOCIETY, UH, FOR THEIR ONGOING PARTNERSHIP. UH, LAST WEEK ON THE 29TH, WE HAD A SMOKE DETECTOR DIS DISTRIBUTION. WE CANVASED 460 HOMES. UH, WE CALLED A LIST OF 75 HOMES THAT WERE INTERESTED IN HAVING SMOKE DETECTORS, UM, INSTALLED [05:00:01] BY THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS GREAT. AND THAT'S IN PROCESS OF, OF, OF BEING TRANSITIONED TO THEIR DEPARTMENT. AND THEN THIS WEEKEND, OUR SWIM EVENT IS OF COMPLETELY REGISTERED. A HUNDRED PERCENT, 48 OUT OF 48 SPOTS ARE FILLED. UM, JULY 16TH AT, UH, 9:00 AM WE WILL BE AT THE NEW ALE NEIGHBORHOOD POOL, UM, FOR OUR BEGINNER'S SWIMMERS COURSE. WE HAVE NO SPOTS OPEN AND WE'RE ALSO PROVIDING KONA ICE FOR THE PARENTS AND KIDDOS. UM, AND SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. WEAR YOUR SUNSCREEN AND WE WILL SEE YOU ON SUNDAY. UM, AND THEN WE ALSO CELEBRATED WITH BLAKE'S BARBECUE. THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT PROVIDED CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION. AND JUST, WE REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE AGENDA ITEM ON THE LARGE TRUCK PARKING. UM, THAT'S REALLY SIGNIFICANT. THANK YOU TO ALL THE COLLEAGUES THAT, UH, SUPPORTED THAT ITEM. AND, UM, EXCITED TO JOIN MAYOR TURNER TOMORROW AS WE, UH, UH, AMPLIFY 7 1 3 DAY WITH MO AMER AND HIS ANNOUNCEMENT ON HIS, UM, SHOW IN SEPTEMBER. THAT CONCLUDES MY REMARKS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN ALCO. I I THINK THAT THERE'S BEEN, UM, WE CAN CALL ITEM 14 BACK UP. I DON'T KNOW WHO DOES THAT. IT'S PROBABLY NOT MY DECISION. THE PAT CITY SECRETARY. OKAY, YOU'RE RELEASING YOUR TAG. RELEASING MY TAG ON ON 14, ON ITEM 14. ITEM 14 IS A MOTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. DISCUSSION ON 14. COUNCILMAN ENGLES MAYOR. UM, I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DIRECTOR OF SOLID WASTE. UM, I KNOW WE'RE, I FORGOT HOW MUCH MONEY WE PAID NOT TOO LONG AGO IN REGARDS TO, UM, ILLEGAL DUMPING DEBRIS REMOVAL. UH, I WAS OUT IN THE MAGNOLIA PARK AREA AND I SAW ONE OF THESE CONTRACTOR TRUCKS OUT THERE PICKING UP ILLEGAL DUMPING. UH, AND I PARKED THERE CLOSE TO THE TRUCK TO SEE WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO. UH, IT WAS, UH, HEAVY TRASH AND THERE WERE TIRES AND THERE WAS JUST, UH, A, A SMALL, UH, SMALL DEBRIS AROUND THE HEAVY TRASH. SO I SAW THEM PICK UP THE HEAVY TRASH AND THEY WEREN'T PICKING UP THE TIRES. SO I WENT UP TO THE DRIVER AND I ASKED THEM, ARE YOU PICKING UP THESE TIRES? AND THEY SAID, NO. I SAID, WELL, WHY AREN'T YOU? WELL, SOMEBODY ELSE IS GONNA COME UP AND PICK UP THE TIRES. I'M LIKE, WHAT DO YOU MEAN SOMEBODY ELSE IS GOING TO COME AND PICK UP THE TIRES? DO Y'ALL HAVE A SYSTEM TO KNOW WHERE YOU'RE AT? SO THAT WAY WHOEVER ELSE IS SUPPOSED TO COME BY AND PICK UP THESE TIRES? WELL, HE, YOU KNOW, AND HE WAS JUST RELUCTANT TO PICK UP THE TIRES. SO I CALLED THE DIRECTOR AND I SAID, I'M HERE SEEING A CONTRACTOR PICK UP THIS HEAVY TRASH. AND HE WAS REFUSING TO PICK UP THE TIRES. SO HE SAYS HE, THE DIRECTOR, SAYS HE WAS GONNA LOOK INTO IT. AND NOT ONLY THAT, AFTER HE PICKED UP THE HEAVY TRASH, HE LEFT OFF THIS SMALL DEBRIS, WHICH, IN MY OPINION, IF WE'RE PAYING THIS MUCH MONEY FOR THESE CONTRACTORS, THEY SHOULD BE OUT THERE RAKING UP THIS LITTLE DEBRIS AND PUTTING IT UP IN THOSE TRUCKS AS WELL, BECAUSE WHATEVER WE LEAVE BEHIND JUST ENCOURAGES SOMEONE ELSE TO COME BACK. AND ONCE AGAIN, USED THAT SPOT FOR ILLEGAL DUMPING. AND THE DIRECTOR FINALLY GOT BACK TO ME AND SAID THAT, YEAH, THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO PICK UP THE TIRES. WELL, OBVIOUSLY THEY WEREN'T, 'CAUSE THE DRIVER WAS TELLING ME THAT THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO PICK UP THE TIRES, SOMEBODY ELSE WAS GONNA COME BACK BEHIND THEM TO PICK UP THE TIRES. SO WE, WE NEED TO LOOK INTO THAT. LET'S, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT DIRECTOR WILL FALK IS TALKING TO ALL THE CONTRACTORS SO THAT ALL OF THEM, UH, WILL KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING. WHETHER IT'S THIS ONE, WHETHER IT'S DRC, ALL OF THE CONTRACTORS SO SPECIFICALLY KNOW, UH, WHAT THEIR, WHAT THEIR DUTIES, THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE, AND WHAT'S EXPECTED OF THEM. SO I'LL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH, UH, WITH DIRECTOR WILL FA UH, WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR. THANK YOU. OKAY, THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON 14TH? ANY DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 14TH, STILL WITH ALCO. COUNCILMAN ALCORN, STILL WITH YOU? THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU COLLEAGUES. I WAS DOING THAT AS A COURTESY TO A COLLEAGUE. SO I, I WAS FOR THE CONTRACT, I WAS FOR THIS CONTRACT, GETTING THAT OUT THERE. OKAY, THIS SATURDAY I'M HOSTING AN ARTS GRANTS WORKSHOP IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD AND HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE. THE WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD AT BAKER RIPLEY SHARPSTOWN CAMPUS, 6,500 KIN STREET FROM 10 TO 12. UH, THE DEADLINE FOR THOSE GOOD HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE ANNUAL GRANTS, UM, IS JULY 30TH. SO COME ONE, COME ALL ARTISTS. UM, IT WILL PROVIDE OR EDUCATION ABOUT HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE. GIVE INSTRUCTIONS ON APPLYING FOR GRANTS AND TIPS ON NAVIGATING THE GRANTS PORTAL. AND WE'LL COVER THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND TIMELINE OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS. ALSO, WANNA THANK MY COLLEAGUES AND COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS FOR THE LARGE TRUCK ORDINANCE. WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND HOPE [05:05:01] EVERYBODY HAD A GREAT BREAK WEEK. WE GOT A WIN. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBER, PAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, NEXT SATURDAY, NOT THIS SATURDAY. NEXT SATURDAY, JULY 22ND. UM, I'M HOSTING A RED CROSS TRAINING FOR DISTRICT A. THIS IS OPEN TO ANYONE WHO LIVES WORKS DISTRICT A OR COMMUNITY PARTNERS. UM, THE DISTRICT, A OFFICE. WE ARE READY TO DEPLOY IN CASE OF A DISASTER IN THE AFTERMATH OF A DISASTER. UM, BUT THIS ALLOWS PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY GET RESOURCES AND HELP FOR INDIVIDUAL NEIGHBORHOODS. AND SO, UM, WE'RE ASKING ANY CIVIC LEADERS OR ANYONE WHO'S JUST INTERESTED IN PROVIDING THAT KIND OF SERVICE TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AFTER A DISASTER TO COME TO THIS TRAINING. IT'S JULY 22ND FROM 9:00 AM TO NOON. IT'LL BE AT ST. ROME CHURCH ON HOLLISTER. AND, UM, WE WILL PROVIDE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH AS WELL. AND IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, THEY CAN CONTACT MY OFFICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MCMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, UH, WE ARE SO EXCITED COMING INTO OFFICE, I COMMITTED THAT WE WOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE WOW ROUNDABOUT, UH, FOR RESIDENTS. AND IT IS FINALLY, FINALLY COMPLETED. UH, WE UTILIZED DISTRICT SERVICE DOLLARS. WE WORKED WITH RESIDENTS, HUGE THANK YOUS TO VERONICA DAVIS, MICHAEL WALL, PATRICIA CAMPBELL, COLIN LOOPED, VAL LUNA, AND, UH, THE ENTIRE TEAM. AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE ALSO INCORPORATED INTO IT THE BLOSSOM, UH, CROSSING AT WESTCOTT, WHICH A LOT OF IT'S ON THE CITY'S BIKE PATH. UH, PEDESTRIANS USE IT TO GET TO MEMORIAL PARK. WE CREATED A PEDESTRIAN REFUGE THERE. IT WAS, UH, IT'S A BIG DEAL FOR OUR RESIDENTS, AND I THINK NOT JUST FOR DISTRICT C RESIDENTS, FOR, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE CITY. THERE'S NOT A SINGLE PERSON I HAVE SPOKEN TO THAT DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT WE HAD AT THE WOW ROUNDABOUT. SO IT'S A BIG WIN. WE'RE VERY EXCITED. IT IS COMPLETE. I ALSO WANTED TO MAYOR, THANK YOU AND HPD FOR THE CONTINUING PARTNERSHIP TO DISTRIBUTE GUN LOCKS AND GUN SAFES. UH, WE DISTRIBUTED OVER A THOUSAND GUN LOCKS AND GUN SAFES AT FREEDOM OVER TEXAS. I THINK THAT IS, IN LARGE PART THANKS TO RESIDENTS WHO ARE CONTINUING TO STEP UP AND CHOOSING TO DO THE RIGHT THING TO SAFELY STORE FIREARMS. UH, WE ARE CONTINUING TO FUND THESE EFFORTS. I KNOW OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE. UH, BUT I WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT WITHIN NEARLY, UH, EIGHT DAYS, I BELIEVE MULTIPLE CHILDREN WERE SHOT, UM, IN THEIR HOMES, UH, OR IN A RELATIVE'S HOME. UM, OVER THE PAST, I, YOU KNOW, IN THIS MONTH ALONE, UH, I, I HAD THE NUMBERS, I'M NOT GONNA LIST THEM OUT, BUT CHILDREN ARE CONTINUING TO HAVE EASY ACCESS TO FIREARMS WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T. SOME OF THESE CHILDREN HAVE DIED AS A RESULT. UM, AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE WHEN WE CAN BE PREVENTING THIS. SO I WANNA JUST LIFT UP THE MESSAGE OF ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO PLEASE, PLEASE SAFELY STORE YOUR FIREARMS AND DO YOUR PART, UM, TO PROTECT CHILDREN AND KEEP GUNS OFF OF THE STREETS, UM, THAT DO NOT BELONG THERE. UH, ON A LIGHTER NOTE, MAYOR, I DID WANNA CONGRATULATE, UH, PHILIP SALERNO. UH, HE'S A RESIDENT AND CIVIC LEADER IN DISTRICT C. HE WAS SELECTED TO SERVE ON THE HGAC, REGIONAL TRANSIT COORDINATION SUBCOMMITTEE, UH, REPRESENTING THE GREATER INWOOD SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL. UM, HE WAS ACTUALLY NOMINATED BY DEXTER HANDY, ANOTHER DISTRICT C RESIDENT FROM A DIFFERENT SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD. AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS WORKING TOGETHER. SO WANTED TO END ON A, A POSITIVE NOTE, BUT MAYOR, UM, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO LIFT UP, UH, AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO, UH, SAVE THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE GOOD WORK THAT'S BEING DONE OUT ON THE BINET TRACK. UM, MAYOR, YOU'VE MADE THAT A PRIORITY AREA FOR DISTRICT J. UM, AND THIS IS, UM, BINET BETWEEN US 59 AND BELTWAY EIGHT FOR DECADES HAVE HAD, UM, A LOT OF CHALLENGES, SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT COMES TO PROSTITUTION, UM, TO YOUR CREDIT, UM, YOU'VE PUT THAT ON YOUR RADAR AS A, UM, PRIORITY BEFORE YOU LEAVE OFFICE. AND WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT THE RESOURCES AND THE MONEY THAT YOU'VE PUT FORTH TOWARDS, UM, THAT AREA, THE STRATEGY WITH HPD IS WORKING, UM, IS DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT WHEN YOU DRIVE DOWN THAT STREET. RIGHT NOW, YOU DON'T SEE, UH, A HIGH PREVALENCE OF THE WOMEN. YOU DON'T SEE, UH, PEOPLE LOOKING FOR SEX BUYS. UM, THE BLOCKADES THAT WE'VE PUT UP ARE AFTER HOURS ARE WORKING. UM, WE PUT NO U-TURN SIGNS OUT THERE ON THIS AND THAT. NOW, UM, [05:10:02] WHEN YOU TALK TO THE RESIDENTS, WHEN YOU TALK TO, UM, THE OWNERS OF THE BUSINESSES, THEY ALL ARE ENCOURAGED. THEY ALL ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE ATTENTION, THE STRATEGIES THAT'S GOING FORTH. SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU YOUR CREDIT ON, UH, ENSURING THAT THAT WAS GOING TO BE A PRIORITY FOR YOU. UH, I KNOW TODAY, UH, I WAS TOLD THAT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY HAS A PRESS CONFERENCE OUT ON BINET ABOUT SOME OF THE WORK THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING. UH, BUT IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE FOCUSED ON YOUR ADMINISTRATION AND THE, UH, THE ATTENTION THAT YOU'RE PUTTING TOWARDS BINET. MY MY ASK IS THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO LOOK AT WAYS TO ADD ON TO THE STRATEGIES THAT WE'RE PUTTING PLACE, UM, TO ENSURE THAT WE DON'T JUST HAVE A SHORT TERM, UH, SOLUTION TO THESE PROBLEMS, BUT A, A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH, UH, EXECUTIVE CHIEF BAND 10 AND THE WEST SIDE DIVISION OF HPD, AND I WANT TO GIVE THEM CREDIT AND KUDOS FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK AS WELL. BUT IT'S GONNA TAKE A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AND YOUR, YOUR ADMINISTRATION DESERVES A LOT OF CREDIT FOR THAT. SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT WORK. UM, ALSO JUST WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT THAT LAST WEEK THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND I WENT TO NEW YORK, UH, TO ASSIST WITH THE SALE OF OUR HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM BONDS. WE WERE ABLE TO SELL $756 MILLION IN BONDS FOR THE EXPANSION. I WANTED TO GIVE A, A SHOUT OUT TO THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND SPECIFICALLY, UH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR MELISSA DEBOWSKI FOR ALL OF HER HARD WORK. UM, SHE WAS, SHE WAS ON IT, UH, THE ENTIRE TRIP AND IT REALLY REPRESENTED THE CITY WELL. UM, THERE WAS A HIGH DEMAND FOR THOSE BONDS. UM, BASED ON THAT WE GOT BETTER INTEREST RATES. AND THEN WE'RE ALSO ABLE TO RESELL SOME OF OUR OLDER BONDS TO GET, UM, OVER A $12.8 MILLION, UM, NET PRESENT VALUE SAVINGS TO THE CITY. AND SO I WANT TO THANK ALL THE PEOPLE INVOLVED, YOU KNOW, THOSE WITH THE CONTROLLERS OFFICE AS WELL. UM, OUR STAFF, UM, MY CHIEF OF STAFF AND, AND MAYOR PRO TE'S CHIEF OF STAFF FOR BEING THERE AS WELL. UM, AND THEN THE, THE FIRM THAT WE USE, UH, SEABERT, WILLIAM AND SHANK, A MINORITY OWNED, UM, WOMAN OWNED FIRM. UH, THEY DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB. UH, KEITH RASHARD THAT REPRESENTS THEIR TEXAS REGION, UH, REALLY, UM, PROVIDED A LOT OF VALUE FOR US, NOT ONLY INSIDE OF THE, UH, OF THE SALE, BUT ALSO TO ENSURE THE COORDINATION OF THAT EFFORT FOR OUR TRIP, UH, WENT SMOOTHLY. SO I WANT TO THANK ALL INVOLVED IN THAT AND THE MAYOR PRO TEM FOR INCLUDING ME IN THAT TRIP. THANK YOU. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY MEMBER SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN HERE. SO I, I'M KINDA GONNA GO BACK. UM, I WANT TO CERTAINLY THANK THE HHA STAFF, HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY STAFF, UH, THE VOLUNTEERS AND THE RESIDENTS OF THE CUNY HOMES FOR THE FEEDING OUR FUTURE FOOD PANTRY. THAT WAS KICKED OFF A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. AND CERTAINLY THE SPONSORS, THE THIRD WARD, CUNY CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATIVE, SANKOFA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, LED BY DR. ASSAD, NICOLE RICHARDS, THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, THE COMMON MARKET, TEXAS CIVIC HEART. THERE WAS JUST SO MANY PEOPLE, UH, THAT THAT HELPED TO, ALONG WITH DISTRICT D TO HELP TO GET THIS TO COME TO FRUITION. AND IT'S JUST A WONDERFUL EVENT THAT THE, THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE WERE SO VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT. I WANT TO ALSO THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR A WONDERFUL JULY 4TH EVENT. IT WAS VERY ENJOYABLE. I HATE I MISSED YOUR SONG. I HEARD THAT YOU WERE DOING A LITTLE SINGING, BUT MAYBE THAT WAS FOR THE BEST THAT I MISSED IT. YEAH, I THINK IT WAS GOOD . ALSO, I WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT ON, UH, THURSDAY, JULY 13TH, THE HPD SOUTHEAST, UH, PIP POSITIVE INTERACTION PROGRAM WILL MEET AT THE MACAU STATION AT 7:00 PM SO COME OUT SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT SAFETY AND ALL OF THOSE CONCERNS THAT, UM, WE HAVE ABOUT STAYING SAFE AND GETTING HOME IN THE EVENING. CERTAINLY, I WANT TO, UM, ALSO, THERE WILL BE A WALK FROM THE CUNY HOMES, UH, COLUMBIA TAP IN PARTICULAR, WHERE IT'LL START AT 8:00 PM ON JULY THE 27TH. AND WE'LL GO FROM THE CUNY HOMES TO ZURI MALONE, MALONE PARK, AND IT'LL BE, UH, DISCUSSING SAFETY. THERE WILL BE FOOD TRUCKS, SPECIAL GUESTS, AND BIKES WILL BE PROVIDED ALSO, MAYOR, I WANT TO SAY TO THE FAMILY, I'M CERTAINLY, THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT LISTENING, BUT WE DID GO, I DID GO TO, UH, ATLANTA ON YESTERDAY, UH, TO COMMEMORATE THE DEATH OF DR. CHRISTINE KING FERRIS, WHO IS THE LAST SIBLING OF, UH, DR. MARTIN [05:15:01] LUTHER KING. SHE WAS MY SPELMAN'S SISTER. SHE'S, UH, AKA SAW R AND IT WAS JUST A GREAT, UH, EVENT TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE. THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR THE PROCLAMATION FOR THE FAMILY THAT I GAVE ALONG WITH THE DISTRICT D AND IT, IT'S A THREE DAY SERVICE. AND SO THIS WAS A GREAT HIGHLIGHT. IT WAS IN SISTERS CHAPEL, WHICH IS A HISTORICAL CHAPEL AT SPELMAN COLLEGE. BUT CERTAINLY I WANTED TO, UH, BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT EVENT AND STILL GET BACK FOR A COUNCIL MEETING. SO THANK YOU, MAYOR. I BELIEVE THAT CONCLUDES WHAT GO, WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION, AND YOU ALL STAY SAFE AND STAY HYDRATED. THANK YOU. MAY I PRO TIM MARTIN? YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, UH, VICE CHAIR ED POLLARD TOOK A LITTLE BIT OF MY THUNDER, BUT, UH, WE DID HAVE A SUCCESSFUL, UH, TIME ON, UH, LAST WEEK, TWO WEEKS AGO, UP IN NEW YORK. UH, SEABERT, WILLIAM AND SHANK IS A REMARKABLE COMPANY. THEY DID A GREAT JOB. IF YOU EVER WANT TO SPEND SOME TIME, UH, WITH A WONDERFUL LADY AT SUZANNE SHANK, UM, WE HAD A GREAT DISCUSSION. UH, SHE'S A VERY ARTICULATE AND SMART LADY, AND, UH, I'D LOVE TO DO MORE BUSINESS WITH HER, UH, IN THE FUTURE. UM, CONGRATULATIONS. UM, ED DID A GREAT JOB. WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET MAYOR ERIC ALLEN OF NEW YORK. THANK YOU, PAUL. UH, WE HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION WITH THE MAYOR. HE WAS VERY GRACIOUS AND, UH, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET A NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT HE WAS DEALING WITH. UM, A LOT OF FOLKS IN THIS, IN THIS ROOM, UH, KNOW THESE NAMES, AND IT'S MELISSA DEBOWSKI, MY MAN, VERNON LEWIS, FAHAD GAZAR, UM, ELVIRA MONTERA, CLINT STEVEN. BUT, UM, CHER, UH, MOSLEY IS RETIRING. SHE'S IN THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE, AND SHE WAS A PART OF THIS INITIATIVE FOR GOD, ALMOST 30 PLUS YEARS. AND, UH, IT WORKED REALLY WELL. IF YOU'RE A NERD, GO UP TO NEW YORK WHEN YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AND WATCH THIS. IT'S AN AMAZING SHOW. AND, UM, UH, THE, THE BULLDOG, MELISSA DEBOWSKI, WHEN SHE PRESENTS, SHE COMES ACROSS AS VERY KIND AND GENTLE. WHEN SHE'S IN NEW YORK. SHE'LL RIP YOUR FACE OFF , AND BY THAT I MEAN SHE'LL RIP YOUR FACE OFF TO CREATE AN ADDITIONAL $12.8 MILLION OF NET PRESENT VALUE SAVINGS. THAT WAS MELISSA DUKOWSKI. THAT'S WHAT WE DID WHEN WE WENT BACK FOR, UM, ADDITIONAL SAVINGS. AND SHE DID A GREAT JOB. IT WAS A WONDERFUL THING TO EXPERIENCE. AS I TRANSITION AWAY FROM CITY COUNCIL, UH, I HOPE THE NEXT CHAIR AND THE NEXT VICE CHAIR OF BFA, UH, HAVE INVOLVEMENT LIKE THIS BECAUSE IT'S A REALLY GOOD PROCESS TO WATCH AND WORK, AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE A NERD. AND YOU'LL SEE, UM, THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE, MAYOR THAT, THAT RUN THIS INITIATIVE AND HOW GOOD THEY ARE AND OUR FINANCIAL ADVISORS AND OUR ATTORNEYS THAT WORK WITH US DAY IN AND DAY OUT. SO IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE WORKING WITH THIS AMAZING TEAM. YOU LOOK AT THE SAVINGS THAT WE ACHIEVE FROM THE TIME WE WENT OUT TO MARKET, AND THEN WE PULLED BACK AND ADJUSTED OUR INTEREST RATES. UM, IT WAS REALLY A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE. AND I KNOW THAT, UM, VICE CHAIR ED POLLARD AND PAUL REALLY ENJOYED IT AS WELL. IT WAS A GOOD USE OF THE TIME, AND WE GOT TO WATCH, UM, HOW THE SAUSAGE IS MADE. SO, UM, ANYWAY, HOPE EVERYBODY HAS A, A GREAT REST OF THEIR WEEK. THANKS. GOD BLESS. THANKS, MAYOR PROAM, CAST. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, DID WANT TO, UM, CIRCLE BACK TO THE WEEK BEFORE OUR BREAK WEEK THAT, UM, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL TO WACO TO THE, UM, AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION, TEXAS CHAPTER, UM, FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT OF THE YEAR AWARD THAT WE RECEIVED IN DISTRICT K, BUT I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED BY THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON WON. AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE HEARD FROM PUBLIC WORKS, UM, BUT THE, UH, PEOPLE FROM, UH, EMPLOYEES FROM PUBLIC WORKS WERE THERE. UM, DIRECT, UH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR DAVIS WAS THERE, AND THIS WAS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN A SPACE WHERE, UM, PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE STATE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE GREAT PROJECTS THAT WE ARE DOING IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO I WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO PUBLIC WORKS ON ALL OF THE PHENOMENAL AWARDS THAT WE RECEIVED. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, YOU'LL LIKE THIS. THE TUNNELS, UH, AT MEMORIAL PARK WILL BE RECEIVING A NATIONAL AWARD IN SAN DIEGO THIS YEAR. SO, UM, WE WE'RE DOING GREAT WORK IN PUBLIC WORKS AND PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE ARE RECOGNIZING IT, AND PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE RECOGNIZING IT. SO CONGRATULATIONS FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL AWARDS THAT, UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECEIVED. ALSO, WANNA SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BAHAMIAN AND FRIENDS IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA, WHO WILL BE CELEBRATING THE 50TH GOLDEN INDEPENDENCE DAY OF THE BAHAMAS ON SUNDAY, JULY 16TH AT BAYLEN [05:20:01] PARK. THE CELEBRATION WILL BEGIN AT 1:00 PM AT BAYLEN PARK AT 6,400 BISSONNETTE STREET, AND YOU CAN CONTACT, UM, OUR OFFICE IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION, UH, ABOUT THAT. AND THEN, MAYOR, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE 50 50 PARK PARTNERS INITIATIVE WITH OUR UPCOMING RIBBON CUTTING EVENT AT MAYFAIR PARK ON JULY 27TH. THIS IS IN A COMPLETE COMMUNITY. UH, THE RESIDENTS ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO THIS LITTLE POCKET PARK, UH, SO THAT CHILDREN CAN WALK THERE AND REALLY ENJOY, UM, THE NEW SWING SET, THE IMPROVED LIGHTING, THE PARK BENCHES, PICNIC TABLES. UM, THIS IS GONNA BE A GREAT ADDITION TO, UH, THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND OUR COMPLETE COMMUNITY. UH, THE YMCA AND LEGACY COMMUNITY HEALTH, UH, WILL BE HOSTING A FUN AND HEALTHY LIVING ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCES DAY ON SATURDAY, JULY THE 15TH FROM 12:00 PM TO 4:00 PM THAT'S LOCATED AT 58 0 1 WEST ORM DRIVE. RESIDENTS CAN RECEIVE SHINGLES VACCINE, GET HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND GLUCOSE CHECKS FROM LEGACY COMMUNITY HEALTH REPRESENTATIVES. THERE WILL ALSO BE HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, UH, NUTRITION WORKSHOPS, YOUTH FITNESS GAMES AND CRAFTS. YOU CAN CONTACT THE DISTRICT A OFFICE FOR MORE INFORMATION. UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF THE GREAT WORK WE'RE DOING IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. KEEP UP WITH DISTRICT K WITH OUR NEWSLETTERS AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY AND BE KIND TO EACH OTHER. COUNCILMAN MEMBER ROBINS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, UH, AT THE RISK OF CONTINUING THE COMPLIMENTS TODAY, I THINK, UH, I WANNA PICK RIGHT UP WHERE THE VICE MAYOR PRO TEM WAS TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC WORKS AND, AND MAYOR TO HIGHLIGHT, AGAIN, AS YOU BEGIN WITH YOUR MAYOR'S REPORT TODAY, UM, WHAT'S GOING ON IN COMPLETE COMMUNITIES ARE EQUITY INDICATORS, THE REPORT THAT YOU'VE RELEASED, UM, AND THE, THE EMPHASIS YOU MADE ON THE QUALITY OF THIS COUNCIL. I HEAR THE SUMMARIES, AND AS YOU KNOW, SOME OF US STAYED TO THE END OF EVERY MEETING AND LISTEN, IT'S REALLY JUST REMARKABLE. AND I KNOW YOU AND I MET RECENTLY TO TALK ABOUT THE LAST SIX MONTHS THAT WE HAVE IN OFFICE TOGETHER, AND I KNOW THERE'S A TON OF WORK TO DO, AND WE'LL WORK RIGHT UP TO 1159 RIGHT ON THE 31ST OF DECEMBER, AND WE'LL GO SCRATCHING AND CALLING FROM OUR DESKS. BUT, YOU KNOW, WITH WHAT, UH, THE MAYOR PRO TEM SAID, AND TO VICE CHAIR POLLARD GOING UP TO NEW YORK, UM, THAT, AND WHAT WE HEARD FROM YOUR DIRECTOR TODAY, WHAT WE'RE HEARING ABOUT GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE CITY, UM, IT JUST, IT REALLY MAKES ME PROUD TO BE A PART OF THAT. AND WHEN WE TRAVEL, WE HEAR ABOUT IT. UM, AND WE'RE, WE'RE RIGHT TO CELEBRATE IT. I KNOW, UM, WHAT THE VICE MAYOR PRO TEM JUST MENTIONED ABOUT PUBLIC WORKS, I FEEL EVERY DAY AS I REPRESENT THAT GROUP ON MANY ITEMS COMING BEFORE THE TTI COMMITTEE. AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD END WITH TODAY. WE'VE GOT ANOTHER THING TO CELEBRATE TOMORROW, AND IT COMES IN THE FORM OF OUR TTI COMMITTEE. YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT IS SOMETIMES PRETTY PEDESTRIAN. UH, AND TOMORROW WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT A BIG ITEM FOR US MAYOR. THAT'S THE BRINGING FORTH OF THE CONSTRUCTION CODE MODERNIZATION. THIS IS ABOUT THE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT UPDATE. THIS IS NOT EMPHASIS ON NOT A REVIEW OF THE CONSTRUCTION CODE AMENDMENTS THAT SOME OF ARE BEING DISCUSSED AND PROPOSED WITHIN THE GROUP, BUT THIS IS NOT A REVIEW OF THOSE AMENDMENTS. IT'S A RE REVIEW ABOUT, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE PERIOD, UM, OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT IS FORTHCOMING. UH, SO THIS PRESENTATION IS STRICTLY TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE OF THE PROCESS CONDUCTED FOR THE PAST NINE MONTHS TO REACH A SET OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO SUBSEQUENTLY BE BROUGHT FORWARD FOR THE PUBLIC'S REVIEW AND INPUT. YES, AND VICE CHAIR ALCORN, THOSE MEETINGS HAVE TAKEN PLACE ON FRIDAY AFTERNOONS, UM, REGULARLY. UM, SO WE'RE, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT PUBLIC WORKS HAS PUT FORWARD WITH THAT, ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS. UM, ALSO ON THE AGENDA TOMORROW, UH, THE HOUSTON PERMITS, UH, PERMITTING AND INSPECTION SYSTEM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 24. PROJECT APPROPRIATIONS WILL BE TAKING PLACE WITH HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM, OUR HITS, DEPARTMENT HITS, AND HPW WILL ALSO BE BRINGING FORTH THE HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS TRAFFIC NETWORK UPDATE. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS ON THIS COUNCIL HAVE BEEN INTERESTED ABOUT THAT FROM ESSENTIALLY DAY ONE OF THIS, UH, TERM OF YOUR ADMINISTRATION, MAYOR. AND FINALLY, THE SAP CONTRACT AMENDMENT BRINGING BROUGHT FORTH FROM THE HITS DEPARTMENT. THAT'LL WRAP US UP FOR THIS MONTH. UM, MAYOR, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. THANK YOU. UH, JUST TWO THINGS. UM, I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT THE MAYOR, ELECTIVE DENVER WAS IN TOWN WITH HIS CREW ON MONDAY STATE OVER UNTIL TUESDAY. UH, THEY SPECIFICALLY CAME IN TO, UM, UH, TAKE A LOOK AT HOW WE ARE ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IN FACT, UH, HE CALLED, HE CALLED ME AND WANTED TO COME TO THE CITY AND, UM, AND, AND REACHED OUT [05:25:01] TO THE US CONFERENCE OF MAYORS, US CONFERENCE OF MAYORS AND REFERRED HIM TO HOUSTON. AND, UM, AND, UH, SO HE CAME IN WITH HIS CREW ON MONDAY. THAT WAS A VERY, UH, GOOD MEETING. AND, UM, THEY, UH, JUST, UM, THEY WANTED TO LEARN FROM WHAT HOUSTON IS DOING. UM, THEN THE SECOND THING IS THAT, UM, THE SIGMAS, UH, FRATERNITY IS IN TOWN. UH, 10,000, UM, MEN ARE HERE, UH, FOR THE SIGMAS. THEY'RE MEETING OVER AT THE GEORGIA BROWN, AND THEY OCCUPYING ALL THE HOTELS, UH, AND THEIR COLOR IS BLUE. AND SO, UM, THAT'S WHY I'VE GOT ON THIS BLUE SUIT IN HONOR OF THE SIGMAS. AND, UH, THE CITY HALL WILL BE LIT UP IN BLUE, AND ANITAS WILL BE LED UP IN BLUE, UH, AND HONOR OF THE SIGMAS TINNIUS THEIR PUBLIC NIGHT. SO, UH, I'LL, I'LL JOIN, UH, WITH THEM THIS EVENING TO WELCOME THEM TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT I WANT TO THANK THEM. THEY CAME IN THE MONTH OF JULY, 10,000 OF THEM. WOW. UM, SO SOMETIMES JULY IS A, IS A SLOW MONTH FOR OUR HOTELS, BUT THE VERY FACT THAT THEY ARE HERE, IT SPEAKS VOLUMES. AND THEN THEY WILL BE FOLLOWED UP BY THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE. MM-HMM . UH, WHICH WILL BE HERE A WEEK, UH, FROM NOW. UH, SO THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE WILL BE HERE, AND MANY, MANY OF THE NATIONAL PLAYERS WILL BE HERE. UM, I HAVE A, I JUST HAVE A SUSPICION, UH, THAT, UH, THE WHITE HOUSE WILL BE HERE AS WELL. THAT'S MY SUSPICION. UM, UH, BUT, UM, IT, IT IS A BIG EVENT AND MOST OF THEIR FUNCTIONS ALREADY SOLD OUT. SO, UH, THAT WILL BE BIG, UH, CONFERENCE, UM, UH, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE WEEK OF, I WANT SAY JULY THE 26TH THROUGH THE 29TH. AND THE 29TH IS THEIR BIG COMMUNITY DAY. MM-HMM . SO IF YOU PUT THAT ON YOUR CALENDAR, AND FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN BACKPACKS, THEY'LL BE GIVING OUT 10,000 BACKPACKS AND, UM, UH, LEGAL SERVICES ALL FREE ON THE 29TH THAT SATURDAY. AND THAT'S AT THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE. SO THE SIGMAS ARE IN TOWN. CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM. THANK YOU. WELCOME, ENJOY, AND SPEND A LOT OF MONEY, UH, SPEND A LOT OF MONEY WHILE YOU ARE HERE. UM, SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, LET ME THANK YOU ALL HAS BEEN A LONG MORNING, AND, UM, BE SAFE AND BE COOL AND BE, AND, UM, DRINK A LOT OF WATER. OKAY. WE SHALL ADJOURN ALWAYS. * 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.