* 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] EXCUSE ME, JUST A SECOND. [Quality of Life & Economic Development Committee on July 26, 2023.] GOOD AFTERNOON. IT'S WEDNESDAY, JULY 26. 2023. THE TIME IS TWO 12. I AM COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS, CHAIR OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE AND PRESIDING CHAIR OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. I CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. WELCOME TO ALL COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, STAFF AND GUESTS IN ATTENDANCE. WE HERE IN THE, UH, CHAMBER, WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, UH, AND WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. UH, WE ALSO HAVE STAFF FROM MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, MARTIN. WE HAVE STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABAZZ. UH, WE HAVE STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS, UH, STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER AND STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON, COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. OH, AND WE ALSO HAVE BEEN JOINED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ IS JOINED ONLINE AND COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ IS JOINING US ONLINE. SO THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ. THIS MEETING IS BEING HELD IN HYBRID MODE, IN PERSON AND VIRTUAL, AND WE'LL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THE CHAIR AS PRESIDING OFFICER OF THE COMMITTEE, WILL BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT IN THE CHAMBER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 51, UH, DASH 1 27 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, APPLICABLE TO A GOVERNMENTAL BODY THAT EXTENDS INTO THREE OR MORE COUNTIES. ALL OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVE THE OPTION TO PARTICIPATE IN PERSON OR VI VIRTUAL, UH, VIA MICROSOFT TEAMS COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF. PLEASE HOLD YOUR QUESTIONS UNTIL THE END OF THE PRESENTATIONS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION AND OUR PRESIDENT IN THE CHAMBER REQUEST TO SPEAK. OR IF YOU ARE JOINING VIRTUALLY, TYPE REQUEST TO SPEAK IN THE, IN THE, UH, CHAT POD AND YOU WILL BE RECOGNIZED IN ORDER WHEN YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. PLEASE REMEMBER BEFORE YOU BEGIN SPEAKING TO UNMUTE YOUR MICROPHONE AND ENSURE YOUR CAMERA IS ON. YOU'LL BE ADVISED WHEN THE TWO MINUTES HAVE EXPIRED, COUNCIL MEMBERS ATTENDING VIRTUALLY, PLEASE USE THE CH PLEASE USE THE CHAT POD. UH, IF YOU EXPERIENCE ANY PROBLEMS, THERE IS ONE PUBLIC SPEAKER WHO HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TODAY. IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER PUBLIC SPEAKERS PRESENT HERE IN THE CHAMBER WHO WISH TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK, THERE'S A SIGN UP SHEET, UH, AT THE FRONT TABLE ON YOUR RIGHT. PUBLIC SPEAKERS WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO SPEAK AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE PRESENTATION. ANY QUESTIONS CAN BE EMAILED TO DISTRICT K@HOUSTONTX.GOV. THAT'S DISTRICT K@HOUSTONTX.GOV AND WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE RESPECTIVE DEPARTMENTS. THEN THE RESPONSES WILL BE DISTRIBUTED. ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC JOINING VIRTUALLY. PLEASE USE THE UH, CHAT POD TO POST YOUR QUESTIONS. NOW, UH, ON THE AGENDA, FIRST ON THE AGENDA HERE IS CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER ANDY EKIN. THANK YOU ANDY, FOR BEING HERE. AND SENIOR ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY JENNY NEN. WE'LL PRESENT ON THE SUNNYSIDE SOLAR FARM LEASE AMENDMENT IF YOU ALL WILL PROCEED, UH, WITH THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. UH, LEMME GO RIGHT TO THE FIRST CHART. UH, TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO, WE CAME TO CITY COUNCIL. AND THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A BROAD SCALE LEASE OF WHAT IS DESCRIBED AS THE SUNNYSIDE LANDFILL. UH, THAT HAD BEEN A LANDFILL USED FOR YEARS BY OUR SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT. IT HAD BEEN CLOSED IN THE 1970S AT THAT TIME AND HAD JUST ESSENTIALLY PERCOLATED AT THAT POINT. THE REASON WE CAME TO COUNCIL AT THAT TIME WITHOUT A WHOLE LOT OF SPECIFICITY WAS THAT WE NEEDED TO DEMONSTRATE FOR TCEQ PURPOSES, OWNERSHIP OF THE LAND AND A MOTIVATION FOR A COMPANY, UH, CALLED BQ TO BEGIN DISCUSSIONS WITH TCEQ ON WHAT WE COULD DO WITH THE SITE. AND THIS IS A FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT ISSUE. IT'S THE FIRST OF ITS KIND. IT ACTUALLY STRADDLED SOME CHANGES IN STATE LAW THAT OCCURRED THAT WOULD ALLOW YOU TO DO CERTAIN THINGS. AND BBQ BEGAN A PROCESS AT THAT TIME WITH THIS LEASE IN HAND, UH, TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY HAD A FINANCIAL, UH, PECUNIARY INTEREST IN MAKING THIS HAPPEN. UH, THAT HAS PROCEEDED. AND DURING THE COURSE OF THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS, THAT APPROVAL CONCEPTUALLY HAS BEEN AGREED TO BY TCEQ AND IS ACTUALLY SUBSEQUENT PHASES OF THAT APPROVAL THAT HAVE CONTINUED TO EVOLVE OVER TIME. ALL POSITIVE TO THE EXTENT I THINK MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD STATEMENTS THAT THE MAYOR HAS MADE, THAT [00:05:01] OUR GOAL HERE IS TO CREATE WHAT WILL BE THE LARGEST URBAN SOLAR FARM IN THE UNITED STATES. AND THAT REMAINS THE OBJECTIVE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE YEAR. UM, THE PROPERTY ITSELF, I THINK FOR THOSE THAT DON'T, DON'T KNOW EXACTLY, IT'S RIGHT OFF OF BELFORT STREET JUST TO THE EAST OF 2 88. AND WE GRANTED THAT NOTIONALLY, WE CALLED IT 240 ACRES. WE ALSO SAID IN THE LEASE THAT FURTHER THE DEFINITION AND DETAILS WOULD NEED TO HAPPEN AS WE PROCEEDED, UH, WITH THE PROJECT ITSELF. UH, WHAT WE'RE HERE TODAY IS TO TALK ABOUT AN AMENDMENT TO THAT LEASE THAT BOTH FURTHER DEFINES THE SPECIFICS OF THE AREA, MAKE SOME CHANGES TO THE BOUNDARIES OF THE AREA THAT'S INVOLVED THAT WE HAVE FOR HERE, AND ACTUALLY CHANGES THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT OF THE BUSINESS MODEL THAT IS TO BE USED. UH, I WILL AGAIN REINFORCE THAT FROM THE BEGINNING AND CONTINUING TODAY. THERE IS NO INTENT FOR THE CITY TO PUT ANY FUNDING INTO THIS PROJECT. UH, THIS IS ALL A CAPITAL INFUSION BY AN OUTSIDE COMPANY, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT HOW THAT HAS BENEFITS, UH, BOTH FINANCIALLY AND TO THE COMMUNITY AS WE IMPROVE WHAT HAS BEEN ON THE SITE. NEXT PAGE. UH, WE ARE FIRST REMOVING SIX ACRES ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE SITE. THAT HAD BEEN IN FACT PART OF IT, UH, THAT IN FACT, AS WE SIT HERE TODAY, WE HAVE AN RFI OUT IN THE MARKETPLACE FOR THAT SIX ACRES TO DEAL WITH AN AGRO PROJECT. WE ARE SOLICITING IDEAS, CONCEPTS, UH, WE EXPECT THAT BACK IN A FEW WEEKS AND THEN WE'LL BEGIN A PROCESS OF GOING THROUGH A DETAILED BIDDING PROCESS. WE CAN, THAT CAN COMPLIMENT WHAT WE'RE DOING ON THE SITE. AND THIS SITE, UH, HAD NO DIRECT VALUE TO THE SOLAR FARM AREA THAT WE HAD. WE ALSO HAVE HAD A DETAILED LEASE DONE OF IT. AND IT TURNS OUT THE LEASE ITSELF IS NOW 249 ACRES WITH A DETAILED SURVEY THAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED AND WILL BE PART OF THE AMENDED LEASE. THE MAJOR CHANGE IN THE BUSINESS TERMS HERE, UH, AND THIS IS IMPORTANT AND IT DOES FOLLOW SOME OTHER WORK WE HAVE DONE OVER THE YEARS IN THE CITY. THIS, WHEN THE INVESTMENT AND THE INVESTMENT IS NOW ESTIMATED AS $70 MILLION WORTH OF SOLAR PANELS IN THE AREA IS PUT IN BY THE OPERATOR, THOSE WILL BECOME ASSETS OF THE CITY. WE WILL OWN THOSE ASSETS. UH, THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO OTHER ARRANGEMENTS THAT WE HAVE DONE, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH OUR SPORTS STADIUM. AND IT OF COURSE IS THE WAY THAT OUR AIRPORT FACILITIES HAVE OPERATED AT THAT TIME. IT HAS THE ADVANTAGE TO THE OPERATOR ITSELF. IT MAKES IT A TAX FREE OPERATION. WE DID IT THIS WAY, HOWEVER, TO INCREASE THE RENT THAT'S AVAILABLE UNDER A PROJECT THAT IS CHALLENGED ECONOMICALLY JUST BECAUSE OF THE SCOPE OF IT. THE CONSTRUCTION PLAN IS ACTUALLY IN THREE DIFFERENT PHASES. THERE IS A SMALL PORTION ALSO ON THE NORTH SIDE THAT'S TWO MEGAWATTS, UH, WHICH WE WILL CALL COMMUNITY SOLAR AND WILL TIE DIRECTLY TO THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. UH, IT'S NOT A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF HOMES THAT WOULD BE DONE BY IT. APPROXIMATELY 300 HOMES WOULD BE BY THE COMMUNITY SOLAR PIECE OF IT, BUT IT WILL NOT GO THROUGH THE ERCOT GRID. IT'LL GO DIRECTLY THROUGH THAT GRID. THE LARGE SCALE, A 50 MEGAWATT PROJECT, WHICH IS A SUBSTANTIAL, UH, SOLAR PROJECT, WILL GO INTO THE GRID AND WE CALL THAT THE UTILITY GRADE. AND THAT WILL REQUIRE CENTERPOINT, WHO IS HERE TODAY AND WILL ALSO SUPPORT THE PROJECT TO CREATE EQUIPMENT THAT MATCHES ON, ON RE OFF SOUTH OF REED ROAD TO PUT A SWITCHING STATION THAT GOES INTO THE ERCOT GRID. CENTERPOINT HAS BEEN VERY MUCH INVOLVED WITH US FROM DAY ONE OF THIS AND SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT AND THINGS HAVE BEEN ORDERED AS PART OF THAT. IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE DESCRIBE HERE IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THE WAY SOLAR WORKS, UH, THE PLAN IS NOT IN THE IMMEDIATE PHASE, BUT TIME IS WORKING THROUGH THIS TO PUT A BATTERY OPERATION TOO THAT ALLOWS FOR THE CONTINUOUS USE OF THIS SOLAR PANEL DURING THE DAY. THAT'S AN ECONOMICALLY ATTRACTIVE THING FOR CENTERPOINT TO DO, AND IT WORKS FOR THEIR POINT OF VIEW, A BETTER PROJECT FOR BQ. I WILL SAY THAT IN THE COURSE OF THESE CONVERSATIONS, UH, BQ ENERGY WAS ACQUIRED BY A COMPANY CALLED CLEAN CAPITAL. UH, CLEAN CAPITAL IS A COMPANY THAT OWNS SEVERAL FOR SOLAR TYPE OPERATIONS, AS PROVIDED A SOURCE OF CAPITAL FOR THIS PROJECT AND A SOURCE OF EXPERTISE THAT COMPLIMENTS WHY WE CHOSE BQ IN THE FIRST PLACE WHEN THE LEASE WAS FIRST DONE, THE ORIGINAL LEASE NEXT [00:10:01] PAGE, THE ORIGINAL LEASE JUST CHARGED, UH, BQ A DOLLAR A YEAR RENT, UH, WAS UNKNOWN AT THAT TIME OF EXACTLY WHETHER THE VALUE COULD BE ACHIEVED OR WHAT THEY COULD DO. UH, WITH THE BUSINESS MODEL THAT WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE NOW THAT WE WILL OWN THE ASSETS, UH, WE HAVE ESSENTIALLY AGREED DURING THIS DEVELOPMENT PERIOD, WHILE THE INSTALLATION IS GOING ON, EXPECTED TO BE ABOUT SIX MONTHS, AND I WILL COME BACK TO THE MILESTONES IN THE PROJECT, UH, RECEIVE $20,000 A YEAR, AND THEN OTHER OPERATIONS RENT, WHICH WOULD BE 200,000 A YEAR DURING THE OPERATIONS PERIOD. FOR THE UTILITY SCALE, UH, OPERATION, UH, WE EXPECT THE BATTERY COMPONENT TO COME IN DURING THAT FIRST YEAR TO ADD ANOTHER 200,000. THAT'S ON A VERY SMALL SITE THAT'S JUST ON ABOUT SIX ACRES ON THE SOUTHERN END OF THE SOLAR FARM. AND THEN, UH, WHEN WE GET TO THE END OF THIS, AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THE COMPLICATIONS OF THE LEASE TERM IN A SECOND, UH, BUT AS THIS LEASE TERM EXTENDS ON A NEW LEASE THAT FUTURE COUNCILS WILL HAVE TO APPROVE, UH, THAT'LL BE EXPANDED. THE 200,000 WILL BE, UH, FOR THE OPERATIONS RENT WOULD BE EXPANDED TO 400,000 AT THAT TIME. THAT 200,000 WILL ESCALATE FOR THE COMPONENT OF THE LAND VALUE. THAT'S PART OF THIS ROUGHLY A QUARTER OF THE AMOUNT. NEXT PAGE, UH, THE TARGET DATE AND, AND WE'LL BE PUSHING HARD ON THIS AND, AND THERE IS, THERE ARE CONTRACTS OUT RIGHT NOW TO BEGIN THE CLEARING OF THE LAND THAT'S INVOLVED IN THIS. UH, WAS THAT THE COMMUNITY SOLAR? THE TWO MEGAWATTS WOULD BE UP AND OPERATING BY THE MIDDLE OF DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR. UM, THE UTILITY SCALE MUST ACHIEVE COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS BY MAY 31ST OF NEXT YEAR. UH, AGAIN, A CHALLENGING SCHEDULE, BUT ONE THAT'S BUILT INTO THE AGREEMENTS AT THIS POINT WITH SOME FORGIVENESS POSSIBILITIES DEPENDING ON HOW AS IT PROCEEDS. THERE WAS CONCERN THAT WE HAVE SECURITY THAT ONCE WE SIGN THIS CONTRACT AND ONCE THEY BEGIN, WE WANT A COMMITMENT FROM THE OPERATOR AND THE DEVELOPER TO PROCEED. SO FROM THE DAY A BUILDING PERMIT IS ISSUED TO THIS OPERATION, THEY MUST PUT UP A $10 MILLION BOND. IF THEY DON'T DO DILIGENTLY PROCEED WITH THE PROJECT ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS, WE CAN CALL THAT PERFORMANCE BOND. UH, WE THOUGHT THAT WAS A WAY TO DEMONSTRATE AND THEY DID TOO, UH, TO THEIR COMMITMENT TO THIS PROJECT. THERE WAS IN THE ORIGINAL LEASE A COMMITMENT TOWARDS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF JOB TRAINING AND WORK GETS DONE THAT STAYS IN THE AGREEMENT. UH, THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE HAVE IN THIS AGREEMENT RIGHT NOW AND THE JOB TRAINING. AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME FUNDS FROM F FROM FEDERAL GRANTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED FROM CONGRESSMAN GREEN THAT HAVE ALLOWED FOR JOB TRAINING IN THE SOLAR FIELD. AND THAT CONTINUES IN THIS AGREEMENT. AND WHAT WE HAVE, I'VE MENTIONED THAT WE HAVE A COMMITMENT, AND I THINK YOU ARE ALL AWARE, THE CITY CHARTER LIMITS OUR ABILITY TO PUT ANY CONTRACT LONGER THAN 30 YEARS. SO THIS CONTRACT THAT WE'LL BRING TO COUNCIL AND OUR TARGET IS TO DO IT NEXT WEEK, IS TO LIMIT THIS CHARTER TO 30 YEARS. HOWEVER, IT WILL HAVE A CLAUSE IN IT THAT ALLOWS A FURTHER 15 YEAR LOSS. COUNSEL WILL HAVE TO APPROVE THE FIRST 15 YEARS. AND THE WAY WITH THE LEGAL'S FULL SUPPORT OF THIS, WE'VE TIED THESE TOGETHER AND WE ARE TYING THEM TOGETHER. IF THAT FUTURE CITY COUNCIL PROBABLY IN YEAR 28 OF THIS AGREEMENT CHOOSES TO NOT DO IT, THEN WE'LL HAVE TO REPAY THE UNAMORTIZED CAPITAL THAT HAS BEEN PUT IN BY THAT, THAT WE OWN AT THAT POINT. UH, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S NOT TERRIBLY UNCOMMON. I WILL POINT OUT THAT IN SOME OF OUR RENTAL AGREEMENTS, IF WE CANCEL A LEASE EARLY IN DOING THAT, WE PAY FOR THE UNAMORTIZED CAPITAL INVESTMENT. SO IT'S NOT NEW GROUND, IT'S A PROCESS THAT WE HAVE USED IN THE PAST. UH, THE TENANT HAS AGREED TO FOLLOW THE CITY'S MWBE SANDRAS AS THIS CONSTRUCTION IS DONE. THEY WILL LET THE CONTRACTS, THEY WILL MANAGE THE WORK. THEY WILL INSTALL IT NEXT PAGE. IN ADDITION TO INSTALLING IT. THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE DURING THE FULL TERM OF THIS LEASE FOR THE M AND R OF THE OPERATION. THEY MUST KEEP IT OPERATING. UH, WE HAVE WORKED WITH THEM. UH, THEY HAVE, UH, REACHED A, UH, A GENERAL HEADS OF AGREEMENT WITH NRG TO SELL THE POWER. UH, THEY, THEY'LL SELL IT INTO THE GRID. NRG WILL TAKE IT OUT OF THE GRID. SO THERE WILL BE A CONTRACT THEY HAVE FOR THE POWER THAT'S GENERATED IN THIS [00:15:01] SOLAR FARM FOR THE 50 MEGAWATT UTILITY SCALE. BUT DURING THE COURSE, IN ORDER FOR THEM TO COMPLY WITH THEIR OBLIGATION TO SELL INTO THE GRID, THEY MUST MAINTAIN THE SOLAR GRID OPERATING FACILITY. EVEN THOUGH IT'S OUR ASSET, THEY HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO DO ALL OF THAT DURING, DURING THAT. THAT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN OUR STADIUM DEALS. AT THE SAME TIME, THE DYNAMO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN THE DYNAMO STADIUM DURING THE LIFE OF THEIR LEASE. UH, ANY COMMUNICATIONS THAT THE TENANT HAS ON THIS AGREEMENT HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY US. UH, ANYTHING THAT THEY RELEASE AND SAY ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THIS DEAL, UH, NEEDS TO BE APPROVED BY US. THEY ALSO HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO COME UP WITH AN ANNUAL REPORT ON HOW THIS PROCESS IS WORKING, HOW THE JOB TRAINING VERY SPECIFICALLY IS WORKING ON THIS, AND HOW IT MIGHT RELATE TO THE COMPLETE COMMUNITY'S PLAN THAT WE HAVE, THE CITY'S CLIMATE PLAN. WE WILL WORK THROUGH THAT AND THE CONTENT OF THAT AS THAT HAPPENS OVER TIME. BUT THE COMPLETE COMMUNITY'S ORGANIZATION IS VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN ALL OF THIS. WITH ALL OF THAT SAID, UH, THE DATES THAT I'M SHOWING HERE ARE MILESTONES. IT'S THE WAY WE HAVE DESCRIBED THEM IN THE LEASE AMENDMENT THAT'LL BE COMING FORWARD. THE ONE THAT I FIRST MENTIONED WAS AFTER COUNCIL PASSED IN NINE IN 2021, THE LEASE AGREEMENT, UH, THEY MADE AN APPLICATION TO ERCOT FOR THIS FUND AND THEY SUBMITTED THAT ON A TIMELY BASIS LIKE THAT IN APRIL OF 22. THE FIRST PASS APPROVAL OF THAT OCCURRED FROM TCEQ AND THE, AND THE ISSUE IS DISTURBING THE GROUND AND ANY ENVIRONMENTAL SITUATION, IF YOU DISTURB THE GROUND, YOU NEED TO HAVE TCEQ APPROVAL. THEY SUCCEEDED IN GETTING THAT IN APRIL OF 22. THEY WILL HAVE TO, AFTER WE HAVE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS LEASE AMENDMENT PASSED, UH, WHICH WE WOULD HOPE TO BE NEXT WEEK. IF ALL THINGS HAPPEN WITHIN 90 DAYS, THEY HAVE TO BEGIN THE CLEARING OF THE LAND. UH, THEY ALREADY HAVE AN RFP OUT. THEY ALREADY HAVE SELECTED A CONTRACTOR. THEY'RE NEGOTIATING THAT CONTRACT RIGHT NOW. UH, IT MEETS THEIR ECONOMIC CRITERIA. UH, WE HAVE SOME ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO WORK AS THAT CLEARING OCCURS TO BE SURE IT'S DONE IN A SAFE WAY FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND EVERYBODY INVOLVED. AND THERE'S SOME MATERIALS ON THE LANDFILL THAT NEED TO BE REMOVED THAT ARE BEING WORKED WITH OUR SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT RIGHT NOW. UH, WITHIN 90 DAYS. THEY ALSO NEED TO GET THEIR FINALIZED THEIR POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT. MY REFERENCE TO THE NRG AGREEMENT IS THE POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT. THERE WILL BE OTHER REGULATORY AND OTHER PERMITS THAT ARE NEEDED TO FINALIZE WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN D DONE WITH TCEQ. UH, THEY ALSO HAVE A REQUIREMENT TO ACHIEVE ALL OF THAT NEXT PAGE, UH, FINANCING ON A $70 MILLION PROJECT. AND IF THE BATTER AND WHEN THE BATTERY COMPONENT GOES IN THIS, IT WILL BE ALL NORTH OF A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS PROJECT THAT THEY, THEY'RE INVESTING, UH, THAT WE WILL OWN THE ASSETS OF AT THIS TIME. UH, SO THEY WILL HAVE TO PUT THE FINANCING TOGETHER. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT, UH, WE'VE WORKED SO HARD TO GET THIS LEASE AMENDMENT DONE. THEY NEED TO TAKE THIS LEASE AMENDMENT TO A FINANCING COMPANY. IT MAY BE INTERNALLY, BUT THERE'LL BE BANKS THAT THEY'RE DOING THAT AND WE'VE DEMONSTRATE ALL THE DETAILS OF WHAT THEIR LEASE AGREEMENT. AGAIN, THIS IS NO DIFFERENT THAN WHEN UNITED BUILDS A TERMINAL OUT AT THE AIRPORT. THEY HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE WHAT THE USE AGREEMENT IS AND WHO, WHAT RESPONSIBILITIES THEY HAVE AND WHAT RESPONSIBILITIES WE HAVE AS THE LAND AND THE ASSET OWNER OF THAT. AND THEN THE FINAL MILESTONE THAT'S MOST IMPORTANT. AND WE'VE ALL WANT BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A LONG TIME, AND THAT'S WITHIN 120 DAYS OF PASSAGE OF THIS, THEY HAVE TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION. SO IT, IT IS A VERY CHALLENGING COMMITMENT. A LOT HAS TO HAPPEN. WE HAVE BIWEEKLY PHONE CALLS WITH THEM RIGHT NOW WITH THE ENTIRE GROUP. UH, PRIYA IS VERY MUCH INVOLVED WITH OUR SUSTAINABILITY PEOPLE ON ALL OF THIS. UH, SHANNON BUGS IS VERY MUCH INVOLVED FROM THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES. IT HAS BEEN A CITYWIDE EFFORT TO PUT THIS CONTRACT TOGETHER. THERE WILL BE OTHER PIECES THAT WE HAVE TO, BUT THIS IS THE KEY PIECE. THAT IS THE NEXT STEP WE HAVE, THE MAYOR HAS REVIEWED, UH, WHERE THIS CONTRACT IS. HE'S SUPPORTIVE OF WHERE WE ARE. AND WITH THAT, I'LL CONCLUDE MY PRESENTATION AND READY FOR ANSWERING ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ANDY, FOR THE PRESENTATION. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON THAT'S JOINED US VIRTUALLY. UH, FIRST IN THE QUEUE WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU CHAIR. UM, ANDY TO YOUR, YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM TO CENTER POINT TO THE, UM, LESSEE ON THE AGREEMENT, [00:20:01] UH, TO EVERYONE. THIS HAS BEEN SUCH A, UM, EXTRAORDINARY AND I THINK HISTORICAL AND KIND OF PIVOTABLE PIVOTAL MOMENT FOR OUR CITY, UH, IN LEADING IN THE NATION'S LARGEST URBAN FARM IN DISTRICT D. WANNA GIVE CREDIT THERE, UM, YOU MAY HAVE SAID IT ALREADY. HOW MANY NEIGHBORHOOD HOMES, UM, IS THIS GOING TO PROVIDE POTENTIAL POWER TO? SO THE, UH, THE NUMBER FOR THE C COMMUNITY POWER IS JUST, JUST THE 300. THE ESTIMATE WE HAVE, AND OF COURSE IT DOES DEPEND ON VARIABILITY, IS ROUGHLY 7,500 HOMES WOULD BE SUPPLIED BY 50 MEGAWATTS OF ENERGY. THAT'S ABOUT HOW MANY HOUSEHOLDS THERE ARE IN THE, IN THE SUNNYSIDE AREA. TOTALLY COINCIDENTALLY. OKAY. TO THE AREA. AND I, AND AGAIN, I'M NOT GONNA PUT JASON ON THE SPOT, ALTHOUGH I SEE HIM HERE FROM CENTER POINT. UM, 'CAUSE IT, I PERKED UP WHEN YOU SAID THAT FOR A CERTAIN GROUP AND IN THE FIRST PROCE, THE SOLAR POWER IS ACTUALLY GONNA POWER A COUPLE HUNDRED HOMES INDEPENDENT OF THE GRID. RIGHT. AND I THINK THAT THAT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT POTENTIAL MODEL. UM, AS WE TALK ABOUT, UH, NOT ONLY RESILIENCY BUT STABILITY WITH OUR GRID. UH, WHAT I'VE BEEN READING IS EVEN WITH THE TEMPERATURES THAT ARE CLIMBING IS, YOU KNOW, OUR SOLAR, OUR WIND OUTPUT IS DOING REALLY, REALLY WELL ACROSS THE STRAIT, ACROSS THE STATE. BUT OUR GRID CAPACITY TO EVEN CAPTURE ALL OF THAT IS SO LIMITED THAT WE'RE LOSING THAT POTENTIAL. RIGHT. UH, MY QUESTION, AND AGAIN, I'M NOT GONNA PUT ANYONE ON THE SPOT RIGHT NOW, UM, IS WHEN WE ARE CO CONNECTING TO THAT GRID AND WHEN CENTERPOINT COMES IN FOR THAT PARTNERSHIP, WHICH WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR JASON, SO THANK YOU. AND PLEASE EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION TO CENTERPOINT. ARE WE GONNA BE ABLE TO, IS THE GRID GOING TO BE ABLE TO, UM, CAPTURE AND ACTUALIZE ALL OF THAT ENERGY OUTPUT? AND IS THE VISION FOR, AGAIN, THIS IS GOING IN SUNNYSIDE, WHICH HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN, UM, OVERLOOKED IN MANY, MANY CASES. IS A LOT OF THAT FOR THOSE 7,500 ESTIMATES, UM, DO WE GET TO GENERATE THAT POWER FOR THAT AREA? IS IT GOING INTO THE GRID AND WE'RE AT THE MERCY OF ERCOT? OR HOW IS THAT GOING TO WORK? UM, AND AGAIN, I JUST UNDERSTAND, LOVE THE IDEA THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME INDEPENDENT POWER IRRESPECTIVE OF THE GRID. YES. BUT THAT SECURITY INSTABILITY, SO LET ME TRY IT WITH THAT, THAT TOO MUCH PRECISION 'CAUSE I DON'T HAVE IT. UH, IN GENERAL, THE HOUSTON AREA IS A NET IMPORTER OF ENERGY FROM THE REST OF THE STATE. YEP. SO I THINK YOU CAN EXPECT THAT AS THIS POWER IS GENERATED WITHIN THIS AREA, IT WILL BE USED. BUT OF COURSE IT'S NOT IN AN IDENTIFIED MOLECULE IN AN ELECTRON. IT BECOMES PART OF THE OVERALL POOL. AND THE 7,500 PEOPLE WILL CONTRACT WITH WHATEVER PROVIDER THEY WANT TO DO THAT. NOT NECESSARILY WITH NRG. THEY STILL HAVE THE SAME FREEDOM TO DO THAT. WHAT WE HAVEN'T YET DETERMINED, AND THIS IS SOME WORK I'VE JUST BEGUN IN THE CONVERSATION WITH NRG, IS HOW THE 300 HOMES FOR THE COMMUNITY POWER WILL BE ALLOCATED AND HOW WE'LL DO THAT. THAT'S ONE OF OUR NEXT ASSIGNMENTS, BUT WE HAVE NOT COMPLETED HOW WE'LL DO THAT YET. TERRIFIC. AND AGAIN, I THINK MY QUESTION JUST STANDS, AND IT'S SOMETHING BROADER ANDY, THAN WHAT THIS CONTRACT IS, IS, YOU KNOW, GOES TO THE OVERARCHING ISSUE WITH THE SITUATION WITH OUR GRID RIGHT NOW. THE INABILITY FOR US TO CONNECT ALL OF THAT POWER THAT WE CAN, THAT POTENTIAL POWER THAT WE ARE GENERATING. AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME INDEPENDENCE FROM THE GRID WITH THIS TOO. RIGHT. AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO BE SEEING SOME MORE OF AND TAKING BACK CONTROL OF WHAT WE CAN TO SUPPORT OUR RESIDENTS. THERE'S ANOTHER LEARNING I SHOULD PASS ON TO FOLKS, UH, AS WE PROCEEDED WITH THIS. WE USE BQ TO GIVE US SOME CONSULTING ADVICE AT THE AIRPORT. UM, WE ACTUALLY HAVE AN RFI OUT RIGHT NOW AT THE AIRPORT. IT TURNS OUT THE POWER NEEDS OF THE AIRPORT ARE ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME AS WE'RE GENERATING HERE. AND WE HAVE THE LAND AT THE AIRPORT TO DO THAT. SO WE'RE PROCESSING THAT. AND I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED AT ALL WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR OR SO. WE CAN'T COME FORWARD. IT'LL BE A DIFFERENT KIND OF ARRANGEMENT 'CAUSE IT'S ON CITY LAND ALREADY ON THAT. BUT THE LEARNINGS THAT WE HAD IN PUTTING THIS TOGETHER HAVE HAD A DIRECT APPLICATION ON WHAT WE'LL DO AT THE AIRPORT. TERRIFIC. YOU LIKE TO BE PLACED BACK? YEAH. OKAY. NEXT WE HAVE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU CHAIR. AND THAT'S EXCITING ABOUT THE AIRPORT. UM, THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION. I WANNA, UH, ON SLIDE FOUR, I JUST WANNA UNDER MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THE RENT SITUATION. SO THE 20,000 PER YEAR, THAT'S GONNA GO ON THROUGH 24? YEAH. UNTIL, UNTIL [00:25:01] ONCE UNTIL THE, THE OPERATIONS PERIOD BEGINS. OKAY. THE, THE 200,000 STARTS, UM, COMMERCIAL OPERATION, WHICH IS THE, AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS WILL, WILL IN FACT BE MAY OF 24. MAY OF 24. OKAY. BUT I THINK YOU CALLED IT COMMERCIAL OPERATION. I DON'T KNOW ANYWAY THAT IT WA I JUST, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT YOU MEANT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD. RIGHT. RIGHT. BECAUSE THE COMMERCIAL IS LIKE FOR EVERYBODY, THE, THE RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT. 300 HOMES IS JUST THE OTHER, I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE BATTERY COMPONENT IS. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT TO ME? YEAH. THAT, THAT WON'T AFFECT CONSUMERS, BUT IT WILL AFFECT THE ABILITY OF, UH, THE OPERATOR TO, INSTEAD OF, UH, TO PUT A CONTINUOUS AMOUNT OF POWER OUT. THEY OBVIOUSLY CAN'T PUT POWER INTO THE GRID AT NIGHT RIGHT. FROM THIS. BUT BEING ABLE TO OH, I SEE. LET IT OUT DURING THE FULL 24 HOURS. THE BATTERY ALLOWS THAT LEVELING OUT. IT'S ECONOMIC FOR THEM TO DO THAT BECAUSE TIME OF DAY PRICING MATTERS IN THE ELECTRIC GRID. RIGHT. SO THEY WOULD, THEY'RE PREPARED ON THEIR INVESTMENT DOLLARS TO INVEST THE EXTRA 30 TO $50 MILLION. 'CAUSE THE BATTERY ALLOWS THEM TO SELL EVENLY DURING THE DAY, NOT JUST AT THE DAYTIME PEAK. OKAY. OKAY. THAT'S HELPFUL. SO ONCE AND HOW LONG WILL THAT SIX ACRES FOR THE BATTERY THING TAKE TO DEVELOP? WE THINK LESS THAN A YEAR. BUT THEY, THEY'RE STILL WORKING OUT. THEY, OR THEY ORIGINALLY HAD A BATTERY SUPPLIER, UH, THE DEMAND ON SOLAR AS SUCH THAT THAT BATTERY SUPPLIER IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. OKAY. SO THEY'RE SEARCHING FOR A NEW BATTERY SUPPLIER. OKAY. WE DON'T THINK IT'LL BE A LONG TIME. SO THAT RENT, THEN WHEN THAT'S DONE, THEN WE GET THE TOTAL 400,000? THAT'S CORRECT. AND THAT'S WHAT STICKS FOR 15 YEARS? YEAH, THAT'S FOR 30 YEARS. FOR 30 YEARS. AND THEN WHEN WE DO IT ADDITIONAL 15, WE GET ANOTHER 200,000. THE, THE ADDITIONAL 15 YEARS AFTER THAT IN ADDITION TO THE 400,000 TO COVER BOTH THE, THE SOLAR AND THE BATTERY. YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT HELPS. AND ONE MORE QUESTION ON THE SIX ACRES OF THE, THAT WE'RE SELLING OR ASKING TO DEVELOP, NOT SELLING, I GUESS WE'RE KEEPING IT, BUT ON AN AGRO PROJECT, I MEAN, UH, IS THAT LIKE A FARM? I MEAN WHAT DO, WHAT WHAT IS EXACTLY IS THAT? IT COULD BE A NUMBER OF THINGS. ONE OF EXAMPLES OF WHAT THAT MIGHT BE. UH, THERE'S SOME, THERE'S ACTUALLY A COUPLE HERE IN HOUSTON NOW THAT ARE FACTORIES FOR FOOD HIGH RISE OPERATIONS. OH, OKAY. TO PRODUCE FOOD INSIDE. YEAH. OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE SOMETHING LIKE THAT COULD ALSO TRAIN PEOPLE. UH, WE ARE WAITING TO GET BACK. UH, SOME OTHERS HAVE PUT SOME IN PLACE. WE'LL HAVE MORE TO SAY ABOUT THAT AS SOON AS WE GET THE RFI BACK. OKAY. AND, AND JUST ONE MORE. THE THE HUNDRED. OKAY. SO THEY GOT, WE SIGNED THIS NEXT WEEK, 120 DAYS TO START. UM, BUT THEN YOU ALSO WANNA HAVE THE FLIP A SWITCH FOR THE 300 HOMES BY DECEMBER. SO, RIGHT. LIKE HOW THAT'S ONLY FIVE MONTHS. YEAH. IT'S, IT'S A SMALL PIECE OF LAND THAT THEY, THAT THAT GOES ON. THEY'LL START ON THAT. SO THEY CAN JUST BUILD THAT REAL QUICK. CORRECT. OKAY. GOT IT. THANK YOU. OKAY. NEXT IN THE QUEUE WE HAVE STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU CHAIR. AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. UM, BACK, I BELIEVE IT WAS IN MAY AT THE DIRECTION OF COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ, I ATTENDED A COMMUNITY MEETING WITH THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY ALONG WITH OUR REPRESENTATIVES FROM CENTRAL POINT. RIGHT. UM, I'M LISTENING TO YOUR EXPLANATION ABOUT THE DISTRIBUTION OF POWER TO THE 300 HOMES AND THE ESTIMATED OVERALL OF 7,500. UM, IF YOU ARE SAYING NOW THAT YOU WILL BE FIGURING THAT OUT, THAT WAS NOT WHAT WAS EXPLAINED TO THE COMMUNITY AT THAT TIME. SO THIS IS NOW BEING CHANGED THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT A WAY TO ACTUALLY FIGURE OUT THAT FROM THIS PROJECT, SOME 300 PEOPLE IN THAT COMMUNITY WILL RECEIVE POWER DIRECTLY OR YEAH, 300 CAN RECEIVE THAT. WE DON'T KNOW THE SYSTEM WE'RE GOING TO USE FOR THOSE 300, SHANNON IS WORKING THROUGH THAT RIGHT NOW. BUT THAT THOSE 300 WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE COMMUNITY POWER. WE NEED TO DETERMINE THAT, WHAT THAT IS. WELL BEFORE DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR. YES SIR. SO TO BE CLEAR, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR EXPLANATION, THANK YOU SO KINDLY. BUT TO BE CLEAR, THIS WILL BE EXPLAINED FURTHER YES. TO THE COMMUNITY DIRECTLY. THAT'S CORRECT. WE HAVE TO SEARCH OURSELVES WHAT THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS IS. I THINK THERE IS AN INTENT HERE TO TRY TO SEE MOST IN NEED TO DO THAT, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE PLAN YET. ACTUALLY, NRG HAS COMMITTED TO ME, THEY THINK THEY HAVE THREE OR FOUR WAYS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED ACROSS THE STATE. THEY OWE ME THOSE IDEAS RIGHT NOW AND I DON'T HAVE THEM YET. OUTSTANDING. THE COUNCIL LADY IS ASKING PLEASE THAT SHE BE BRIEFED ON WHAT IT IS. OF COURSE. AND THAT WE PLEASE THEN SCHEDULE A MEETING TO GO TO THE COMMUNITY AND EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHAT THE PROCESS WILL BE FOR THEM TO RECEIVE THAT POWER. AND [00:30:01] THE OTHER QUESTION THAT CAME UP THAT I HOPE YOU CAN CLARIFY WHO'S GONNA SELECT THE 300, HOW, HOW THAT'S PART OF THE SAME PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE TO DO AND WE NEED TO CONSULT INTERNALLY OF THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT. AND WE NEED TO TALK TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER. WE AGREE WITH THAT COMPLETELY. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU CHAIR. YOU'RE WELCOME. UH, A ANDY IN REGARDS TO, UM, THE SOLAR FARM, AND LET, LET'S SAY, AND, AND HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T HAPPEN, BUT, BUT LET'S SAY THERE'S A HURRICANE AND IT COMES AND IT DAMAGES THE SOLAR PANELS. I MEAN, DO WE KNOW HOW, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE, I GUESS THE STRENGTH OF THESE SOLAR PANELS IN REGARDS TO THE, UH, THE STRENGTH OF THE HURRICANE OR? YEAH, I, I THINK, UH, BQ HAS ASSURED US THAT THEY ARE RESILIENT TO WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT HERE. THEY'LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING IT AND REPAIRING THEM SHOULD THINGS HAPPEN. SO I DON'T SEE THAT THAT'S A MAJOR ISSUE. IT'S HAPPENED ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY. UH, BUT WELL CERTAINLY WE BELIEVE WE HAVE SOME COSTS. DO YOU WANNA MENTION ANYTHING, JENNY? NO, I, I DON'T. OKAY. THE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR MEANS THEY HAVE TO KEEP THEM OPERATING. OKAY, GREAT. AND, AND THEN, UH, GOING BACK TO THE, I'M SORRY, COUNCIL MEMBER TO INSURE IT. YEAH. AND WE ARE REQUIRED TO INSURE IT, IT IS OUR ASSETS, SO WE HAVE TO INSURE IT. OKAY, GREAT. SO, SO, UM, GOING BACK TO THE 7,500 HOMES NOW AGAIN, IT IT'S, IT'S DUE TO THE HOMEOWNER IF THEY WISH TO USE THE SOLAR FARM OR GREEN ENERGY OR WHATEVER OR THEY COULD JUST GO BACK AND USE THAT'S RIGHT. ALRIGHT. AND NOW THEY, IF THEY CHOOSE TO USE THE SOLAR ENERGY, UH, GREEN ENERGY, UM, ARE THEY GETTING SOME KIND OF A DISCOUNT OR SOMETHING OR A, A BREAK ON THE, ON THE, ON THE ENERGY? NO, THE, THE 7,500 WILL BE PEOPLE THAT ARE BUYING FROM THE GRID THAT THEY, THERE'LL BE NO KNOWLEDGE ON THEIR PART OF, WHETHER IT CAME FROM THIS FARM OR SOMEWHERE ELSE. IT'S JUST LIKE YOU BUYING IT IN YOUR HOME. YOU HAVE A CHOICE TO MAKE GREEN ENERGY OR ANYTHING ELSE, UH, WITH A PROVIDER AT THAT TIME. MM-HMM . AND, AND, AND ONCE AGAIN, THE, UH, PROPERTY ITSELF IS CITY PROPERTY. CORRECT. AND IT WILL REMAIN CITY PROPERTY. YES. UH, AND UH, BUT WE ARE LEASING IT. AND AGAIN, NO, NO. THIS CHANGE WILL BE THAT WE OWN THE PROPERTY AND WE WILL OWN THE ASSETS ON THE PROPERTY. WHAT WE'RE LEASING IS THEIR RIGHT TO OPERATE ON CITY PROPERTY. VERY MUCH LIKE DYNAMO STADIUM. UHHUH , IT'S CITY LAND, IT'S CITY PROPERTY. WE GAVE THEM A LEASE TO OPERATE AND THEY MUST MAINTAIN IT. AND, AND, AND, AND, AND JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, ONCE AGAIN, IN REGARDS TO HOW MUCH IS THAT LEASE PER YEAR OR THAT, THAT THAT'S THE OPERATIONS RENT THAT WE SHOWED. THE 200 AND THE 200,000 PER YEAR. YEAH. AND REMEMBER, WE ARE ALSO RECEIVING OVER 70 MILLION OR OVER A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN ASSET VALUE THAT THEY WILL CONVEY TO US AFTER THEY INVEST IT. OKAY. AND, UM, I KNOW THAT THE MAYOR HAS MENTIONED THE POSSIBILITY OF, UH, YOU KNOW, IF, IF EVERYTHING GOES WELL WITH THIS, THIS PROJECT HERE, THE POSSIBILITY IF, IF, IF THE BUYOUTS ARE APPROVED FOR THE HOMES HERE IN FIFTH WARD IN REGARDS TO THE UNION PACIFIC AND CREO ISSUES THAT THEY'RE HAVING THE POSSIBILITY OF IT MAYBE A ANOTHER SOLAR FARM THERE. YEAH, I HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN THAT YET, BUT THOSE ARE THINGS WE WANT TO LOOK AT OF WHAT WE CAN DO IN THE FIFTH WARD FOR SURE. OKAY. AND THE REASON WHY I BRING THAT UP IS BECAUSE I DID MENTION HERE, UH, TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS SOLAR FARM, UH, THAT THE POSSIBILITY, I HOPE IN THE FUTURE OF, UH, MAYBE OF, UH, A BUYOUT AT MANCHESTER. UH, AND THEN ALSO BECAUSE THAT'S A FENCE LINE COMMUNITY, UH, AND TO HOPEFULLY MAYBE ONE DAY, UH, IF THIS IS ALL SUCCESSFUL AS A SOLAR FARM THERE IN MANCHESTER AS WELL. I, I THINK THE TEMPLATE OF THIS BUSINESS MODEL HAS APPLICATIONS ELSEWHERE MM-HMM . AND I THINK ONCE WE GET THIS IN PLACE, IT'LL DEMONSTRATE WHAT THAT VIABILITY IS. GREAT. GREAT. UH, WE HAVE A QUESTION HERE FROM STAFF, FROM COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. GOOD MOR. GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, ANDY, DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY ARTIST RENDERINGS OF WHAT THIS IS GONNA EVENTUALLY LOOK LIKE? WE CAN GET YOU SOME PICTURES OF IT. YEAH. IF, IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING. YEAH. THEY HAVE OPERATED OTHER SOLAR FARMS AND WE CAN CERTAINLY GET A SKETCH OF WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE. UH, THE WHOLE 249 ACRES GONNA BE ALL SOLAR PANELS. YEP. YEP. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. DOES IT LOOK LIKE THERE'S ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS OR STAFF? UH, THANK YOU ANDY, FOR THE PRESENTATION. LIKE I HAD MENTIONED, WE DO HAVE A SPEAKER, UH, HERE IN THE CHAMBER. UH, THE, THE, UH, CHAIR RECOGNIZES MS. MARTHA JEFFERSON. MS. JEFFERSON, UH, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES. MS. JEFFERSON, [00:35:02] ARE THERE ANY OTHER MEMBERS IN, UH, THE PUBLIC IN THE CHAMBER WHO WISHED TO MAKE COMMENTS ON MS. JEFFERSON? OH, GO AHEAD. IF YOU COULD PRESENT, UH, MENTION YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. YES. MARTHA JEFFERSON. SORRY. MARTHA JEFFERSON. SO YOU ARE MS. JEFFERSON. OKAY, GREAT. GO AHEAD. I'M GOING TO MAKE A COMMENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PROJECT. IS THAT OKAY AT THIS MOMENT OR DO YEAH, IT BE CONNECTED? YEAH, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES. OKAY, GOOD. I'M HERE TO MAKE A A CAN. OH, OKAY. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? AND, AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, MIN UH, MARTHA, REPEAT YOUR NAME. MARTHA, MARTHA JEFFERSON. I'M HERE LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE CITY ON A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, UH, PIECE FOR AN ASSISTED LIVING, UH, COMMUNITY OUT IN THE, UH, IT'S IN MISSOURI CITY AREA. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE IT'S A EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO GET INVOLVED IN AN, UH, ASSISTED LIVING SIMPLY BECAUSE IT'S TYPICALLY BEEN, UH, OPERATED BY, UH, REAL ESTATE TYCOONS. AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, UM, UH, AN ASSISTED LIVING TO BE OPERATED BY JUST, UH, UH, MINORITY. WHEREAS AS WE ARE ABLE TO OFFER SERVICES THAT WOULD NOT, UH, FINANCIALLY DEPLETE, UH, THE ELDERLY AND VETERANS OF THEIR FUNDS, BUT YET PROVIDE THEM WITH THE SERVICES THAT'S NECESSARY FOR THEM TO THRIVE. SO I AM HERE REQUESTING AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO PARTNER AS A, UH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC, UH, DEVELOPMENT, UH, COMPONENT. WHO DO I NEED TO TALK WITH OR HOW DO I, HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN? UH, OKAY. SO, SO YOUR COMMENT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SOLAR FARM THEN? NO, IT DOESN'T. I THINK I STATED THAT EARLIER. YEAH. IF, IF YOU COULD PLEASE REACH OUT TO, UH, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM CAS TATUM'S OFFICE, UH, AND WITH WHO WE'LL, WE'LL GIVE YOU THE, UM, OKAY. EMAIL INFORMATION AND THEN THAT WAY YOU CAN REACH OUT TO THEM AND, AND THEY'LL DISCUSS THAT WITH YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, . ARE THERE ANYONE ELSE, ANYONE ELSE IN THE CHAMBER THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK REGARDING THE SOLAR FARM? NO. OKAY. AND I UNDERSTAND THERE'S NO ONE, UH, VIRTUALLY, UH, THAT'S, UH, HERE TO SPEAK AS WELL. SO THEREFORE, IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, I THANK EVERYONE FOR JOINING US TODAY. BEFORE WE ADJOURN, I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE THE NEXT SCHEDULED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30TH AT 2:00 PM THIS IS OUT OF THE NORMAL SEQUENCE DUE TO A COUNCIL BREAK WEEK IN AUGUST, AUGUST 14TH THROUGH THE 18TH. ALSO, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN RECEIVING INFORMATION ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, PLEASE CONTACT THE DISTRICT I OFFICE AT DISTRICT I@HOUSTONTX.GOV. THAT'S DISTRICT I@HOUSTONTX.GOV. FOR INFORMATION ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETINGS, PLEASE CONTACT THE DISTRICT K OFFICE AT DISTRICT K@HOUSTONTX.GOV. THAT'S DISTRICT K@HOUSTONTX.GOV. THE TIME IS TWO 50 AND THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. * 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.