* 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. [00:00:05] ON, UH, TUESDAY C AUGUST 29TH, 2023. AND I'M MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER, AND I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO WATER, UH, [PRESENTATIONS] THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FOR A PROCLAMATION TO CHEF. IS THAT BENCH ONE? JOHN CHEF? OH, YEAH. CHEF G CHEF, GG AND RECOGNITION OF BEING SELECTED FOR THE JAMES BEARD AWARD AS THE BEST CHEF IN TEXAS. WOO. GO ON. I'LL CHECK. MAYOR, I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROCLAMATION AND COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS IS JOINING ME DOWN HERE TO HELP PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION BECAUSE STREET TO KITCHEN IS RIGHT NOW IN DISTRICT I, AND SO, UM, WE ARE SUPER EXCITED TO MAKE THIS YOUR DAY CHEF, SO I'LL JUST GET RIGHT TO IT. WHEREAS ON SEPTEMBER 19TH, 2015, CHEF CHUAN PAINTER ARRIVED IN HOUSTON TO LIVE WITH HER BELOVED HUSBAND, GRAND PAINTER, AND TO PURSUE HER DREAM OF ONE DAY OWNING A THAI RESTAURANT IN AMERICA. AND WHEREAS GROWING UP COOKING IN HER GRANDMOTHER'S NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT IN THE CENTRAL THAI CITY OF NAAN, SUAN CHUAN WAS BORN TO BE A CHEF. SHE STARTED COOKING AT SIX YEARS OLD, LEARNING TO MAKE CURRIES AND OTHER THAI SPECIALTIES FROM SCRATCH, USING INGREDIENTS FROM HER GRANDMA LENTA. HER GRANDMA LENTA WOULD SOURCE FROM THE FIELDS AND RIVER IN FRONT OF HER HOME. AND WHEREAS BEAN LATER MOVED TO BANGKOK WHERE SHE HONED HER CULINARY SKILLS WORKING IN RESTAURANTS AND PASTRY SHOPS. DURING THIS TIME, SHE MET HER HUSBAND GRAHAM, AN ADVERTISING CREATIVE DIRECTOR FROM HOUSTON, WHO BROUGHT HER BACK HERE. WOO HOO. AND HE WAS WORKING IN THAILAND. AND WHEREAS FIVE YEARS LATER, THE COUPLE MOVED TO HOUSTON WHERE BENCH JUAN WORKED IN MANY NOTABLE RESTAURANTS, INCLUDING JAMES BEARD AWARD WINNER, CHEF JUSTIN HUGHES, RESTAURANT THEODORE REX. LATER IN 2020 BENCH, JUAN AND GRAHAM STRUCK OUT ON THEIR OWN TO OPEN STREET TO KITCHEN, AN UNAP UNAPOLOGETICALLY AUTHENTIC TIE EATERY AND HOUSTON'S GREATER EAST END. AND MY TEAM, TEAM AT LARGE FIVE MAYOR WENT FOR LUNCH TODAY. AND LET ME JUST TELL YOU, I MEAN, I'M SURE SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN, THIS IS PROBABLY MY FOURTH OR FIFTH TIME TO BE, TO GO, BUT WE HAD THE RED CURRY SHRIMP, SO DELICIOUS GREEN CURRY CHICKEN. SOMEBODY HAD SHRIMP PAD TIE. WE HAD THE PORK STICKS AT THE BEGINNING, Y'ALL, IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE FOOD. YOU'VE GOTTA GO. AND THEY, THEY'VE ALSO OPENED THE PRESERVE IN KEMA, ANOTHER RESTAURANT, AND THEY'RE ABOUT TO MOVE OUT OF THEIR CURRENT LOCATION, WHICH IS THIS TINY LITTLE PLACE RIGHT BY THE VALERO STATION. IT'S SO GREAT. JUST A TINY, LITTLE 36 SEAT RESTAURANT. THEY'RE MOVING OVER, RIGHT OFF SAMPSON AND HARRISBURG TO LIKE AN 80 SEAT RESTAURANT. SO SHE'S MOVING ON UP AND THAT'S GONNA BE AWESOME. SO, WHEREAS MOST RECENTLY, BENCH ONE BECAME THE FIRST HOUSTON WOMAN TO WIN THE COVETED JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION AWARD FOR BEST CHEF TEXAS. WOO, ILLUSTRATING MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER SENTIMENT, IF YOU CAN DREAM IT IN HOUSTON, YOU CAN DO IT IN HOUSTON. AND WHEREAS ON AUGUST 29TH, 2023, CHEF BEAN PAINTER WILL BE RECOGNIZED FOR HER WORK AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HOUSTON AREA, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, COMMENDS CHEF BEAN JACK HOME PAINTER, UNDER SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN HOUSTON'S CULINARY COMMUNITY, AND EXTENDS BEST WISHES FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS IN ALL FUTURE ENDEAVORS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBERS OF, THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM AUGUST 29TH, 2023 AT CHEF DUWAN PAINTER DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WE ARE SO VERY PROUD OF YOU. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS IS REALLY HONOR FOR OUR FAMILY AND OUR TEAM. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. HE DONE VISA, SO SWEET, SO SWEET HOME FOR ME. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR ALL THE SUPPORT, BECAUSE IF I DON'T HAVE ALL THE SUPPORT, IT'S NOT GONNA HAVE ME TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THANK YOU CHEF G. COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL KOSH. THANK YOU, CHEF. UH, WHEN SHE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THAT CURRY CHICK, UH, THAT CURRY SHRIMP ALMOST GOT UP AND LEFT , I, I WANTED TO GO OVER THERE. I I'M GONNA COME BY AND SEE YOU AND, AND EAT WITH YOU. THAT'S, UH, I I JUST LOVE CURRY. SO THANK YOU. AND I, CONGRATULATIONS. AND I, I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE SALLY ALCORE AND BRINGING THIS FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. CONGRATULATIONS. AND, UH, WELL DESERVED. THANK YOU. I'LL GIVE YOU THE LAST WORDS. YEAH. AND LEMME JUST SAY, UM, I, I WATCHED THE STORY, UM, AFTER YOU WERE NAMED THE BEST CHEF. AND, AND THEN WHEN I SAW THE, THE RESTAURANT, UM, I MEAN, IT WASN'T, IT'S [00:05:01] NOT A BIG RESTAURANT. NO. YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THE FANCIEST RESTAURANT. UM, BUT, UM, IT WAS A VERY INTIMATE, IT'S VERY INTIMATE LOCATION. IT ALSO SPEAKS TO YOU DON'T HAVE TO NECESSARILY BE IN THE BIGGEST PLACE YES. OR THE FANCIEST PLACE TO HAVE THE BEST FOOD. AND, UH, AND IT SPEAKS TO YOUR ABILITY AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU PUT INTO IT. I WAS JUST SO, SO VERY PROUD BECAUSE YOU SAID TO SO MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE THE DESIRE OR THE IDEA THAT YOU CAN TAKE A LITTLE SPACE AND DO A WHOLE LOT WITH AND BE RECOGNIZED AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. SO YOU REALLY EPITOMIZE, UH, WHAT THIS CITY IS ALL ABOUT. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. AND ALL THE BEST. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. TAKE OFF YOUR NAME TAG AND WE'LL TAKE SOME. SO, UH, THIS IS MY HUSBAND, GRAND PINDER, WHO ALWAYS SUPPORT ME EVERY DAY. AND MY MOM AND MY DAD, UH, GRAB IT IS LIKE MY GRANDMOM AND DAD. AND WE HAVE CHEF DAVID AND, UH, UH, OUR, THAT LADY IS MY SO CHEF. SHE THE FIRST, LIKE, FIRST DAY BEGINNING WITH ME BEFORE EVEN WE HAVE THIS ROOM AND SHE'S STILL WITH US. GOOD. SO GLAD TO HAVE ALL OF YOU ALL. OKAY, COOL. YOU DOWN, DIDN'T IT? FOR TARSHA JACKSON FOR A PROCLAMATION TO MARY FONTANO FOR, FOR, TO CELEBRATE, TO CELEBRATE THE MAYOR'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION AWARD. THANK YOU. UM, MAYOR PRO TIM, UM, I AM HONORED TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO MARY FAU, A, UM, FIERCE ADVOCATE, UM, FOR THE DISTRICT B COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS PLEASANTVILLE, YOU KNOW, HER WORK DONE THAT SHE'S DONE IN PLEASANTVILLE. WHEREAS MARY FONTANO IS A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF P PLEASANTVILLE COMMUNITY AND IS AN ARDENT SUPPORTER FOR PRESERVING NEIGHBORHOODS OF COLOR. SHE HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE PLEASANT VILLAGE'S HISTORY AS THE FIRST PLAN DE RESTRICTED DEVELOPMENT FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS IN TEXAS. AND WHEREAS MS. FONTANO SERVES HER COMMUNITY AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE PLEASANTVILLE CIVIC LEAGUE AND PLEASANT HISTORICAL SOCIETY. AND WHEREAS MS. FONTANO HAS BEEN A CHAMPION FOR SECURING FAIR FUNDING IN ENHANCED STANDARDS IN HISTORIC REVIEW FOR REBUILDING STORM DAMAGED HISTORIC HOMES TO REFLECT THEIR ORIGINAL CHARACTER. AND WHEREAS MS. FONTANO ADVOCATES FOR INCLUSION OF PLEASANTVILLE AMONG THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT POLICY NEIGHBORHOODS AND CONT CONTINUE CONTINUES TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY TO PROPEL COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT CREATION FORWARD IN PLEASANTVILLE. AND WHEREAS MS. FONTANO LED EFFORTS TO OBTAIN AN OFFICIAL TEXAS HISTO HISTORICAL [00:10:01] COMMISSIONED HISTORIC MARKER FOR PLEASANTVILLE THAT WAS INSTALLED AT THE JUSTIN ROBINSON JR COMMUNITY CENTER, AND IS WORKING TOWARDS RECOGNITION ON THE NATIONAL REGISTRY OF HISTORIC PLACES. AND WHEREAS TODAY, AUGUST THE 29TH, 2023, MS. FINO IS HONORED WITH THE MAYOR'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION AWARD, THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS MARY FINO FOR HER DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO ENHANCING THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND CULTURE OF OUR HOUSTON COMMUNITIES. THEREFORE, MAYOR, THANK, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. AND BEFORE I READ THIS LINE, MARY, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. I MEAN, YOU ARE A FEARLESS, TIRELESS WORKER PEOPLE PERSON AND A, AND A DOER. AND, UM, AND I NEVER FORGET THE TIME THAT YOU HAVE BEEN IN MY OFFICE KIND OF LAYING, LAYING IT OUT, , AND YOU, AND YOU SIMPLY HAVE NOT STOPPED. SO, SO THANK YOU. AND COUNCIL MEMBER, THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION. AND SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM AUGUST 29TH, 2023 AS MARY FONT DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND I WANT TO ADD, I MET, UM, MS. FONTANO BACK IN 2014 WHERE I WAS WORKING AT TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT, AND SHE CAME IN TALKING ABOUT PRESERVING PLEASANTVILLE. AND I'M LIKE LOOKING AT HER LIKE, LISTEN, I'M ORGANIZING ABOUT AROUND SOMETHING ELSE. BUT COMING TO FIND OUT IT IMPACTS, IT AFFECTS EVERYTHING THAT I WAS WORKING ON BACK THEN. SO JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR CONSISTENT PERSISTENT, AND, AND YOU GOT IT DONE. SO, CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. YOU DESERVE, THANK YOU SO MUCH. YEAH, THANK YOU. A MOMENT. THANK YOU Y'ALL SO MUCH. UM, I AM TRULY, TRULY, TRULY HUMBLED. UM, BUT I'D LIKE TO TAKE A QUICK MOMENT TO GIVE SOME THANKS TO A LOT OF AMAZING PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY HELP MAKE THIS HAPPEN. THERE'S NO ONE PERSON WHO CAN DO IT. AND I'M GONNA START, UM, BY POINTING OUT A FEW PEOPLE WHO HELP PROTECT THE HISTORY OF OUR BELOVED PLEASANTVILLE COMMUNITY. IT WAS A TIME WHEN BOTH CITY, STATE, AND FEDERAL CAME TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HISTORY WAS PROTECTED. STATE REPRESENTATIVE HAROLD DUTTON, CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE, AND OUR BELOVED MAYOR, SYLVESTER TURNER, UM, FOR BRINGING TO THE TABLE THE GLO TO ENSURE HOMES WERE BUILT TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF OUR HISTORIC COMMUNITY. AS YOU KNOW, AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES AREN'T PROTECTED NATIONALLY. WE DON'T PRESERVE THEM. WE DON'T HAVE ENTITIES OR SYSTEMS IN PLACE TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY. AND THAT IS A LEGACY THAT WE MUST PROTECT. UM, THAT BEING SAID, UM, MAYOR TURNER, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR AMAZING TEAM FROM THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE, ROMAN AND JASON AND THE ENTIRE STAFF OVER THERE, UM, THEY WERE ABSOLUTELY AMAZING FOR FIGHTING TO PASSIONATELY, UH, BRING TO THE FOREFRONT THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING BLACK CULTURE LANDSCAPES AND MAIN STREETS, LETTING IT, LETTING IT BE KNOWN THAT OUR HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS MATTER. BY SAVING AFRICAN AMERICAN PLACES, WE ARE NOT ONLY CEL, WE NOT ONLY CELEBRATE THE TREMENDOUS IMPACT THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE MADE TO THE LIFE OF OUR NATION, WE TRANSMIT THAT IMPACT TO THE PRESENT. AND FUTURE HISTORY SHOWS US THAT BLACK MEN AND WOMEN ARE THE VANGUARDS OF SOCIAL CHANGE AND CULTURAL KEEPERS OF OUR SHARED IDENTITY, TO HELP REALIZE A MORE DIVERSE AND EQUITABLE PROFESSION, AND TO INCREASE THE REBEL RELEVANCE AND IMPACT OF PRESERVATION IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND NATIONALLY. MAYOR TURNER, I SIMPLY CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR WHAT YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR, TO PROTECT HISTORIC COMMUNITIES. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE BIRTH OF PLEASANTVILLE BEGAN BECAUSE TWO GOOD FRIENDS, MELVIN SILVERMAN AND JUD ROBINSON SENIOR, DECIDED TO DEVELOP THE FIRST MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, THE SECOND OF SUCH IN THE NATION, AND ONLY THREE THAT ARE KNOWN IN THE UNITED STATES. IF YOU'LL ALLOW ME TO ELABORATE JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE, NOW THAT I ACCEPT THIS, I, I, I, I NOW CANNOT ACCEPT I, I'M SORRY, I'M GETTING TWISTED A LITTLE BIT NOW. UM, THAT I ACCEPT THIS RECOGNITION ON BEHALF. KNOW THAT I ACCEPT THIS RECOGNITION ON BEHALF OF THE 1700 HOMEOWNERS IN PLEASANTVILLE, THE 125 RESIDENTS WHO LIVED IN THE PLEASANTVILLE APARTMENTS. THE 200 SENIORS WHO LIVED IN THE PLEASANT VILLAGE SENIOR APARTMENTS KNOW THAT I CAN ACCEPT THIS RECOGNITION, [00:15:01] UM, ONLY BY NAMING THE NAMES OF SOME OF THE LIVING SENIORS WHO STILL LIVE IN PLEASANTVILLE OR WHO ARE STILL ALIVE. SO JUST GIVE ME A MOMENT TO GIVE THEM THEIR FLOWERS WHILE THEY'RE STILL ALIVE. ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ARE IN THEIR NINETIES, I'M SORRY. UM, THEY'RE ALL IN THEIR NINETIES. UM, THEY'RE TEACHERS, THEY'RE CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS, THEY'RE DOCTORS, THEY'RE LAWYERS, AND THEY'RE VOTERS. EVEN NOW, DR. JOSIE ROBINSON, DAUGHTER OF JUDSON ROBINSON SENIOR AND KNOWN AS THE MOTHER OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN MINNESOTA, PEARLENE PERKINS, ROSEMARY KIRBYS, MELBA OOZINE, THE FIRST FEMALE POLICE CAPTAIN AT, AT ANY UNIVERSITY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. MAXINE VEY, JULIANNE PERRY. OTHELLO ANDERSON. SHE WAS THE PERSONAL CHEF OF US SUPREME COURT, JUSTICE THURGOOD MARSHALL, WHEN HE VISITED LOUISIANA. ROSEMARY MCGOWAN, SISTER OF THE HONORABLE BARBARA JORDAN, IRMA MAGRUDER, SAMMY LEE AND ELEANOR HOPKINS. MR. HOPKINS WAS ONE OF HOUSTON'S FIRST BLACK FIREMAN, AS HE CALLS IT. FIRE ENGINEERS. UM, COACH JACKIE CARR. UM, OLA PEARL MCDONALD, MR. HURLEY, MS. MARY LEE, ANNETTE SHAVIS, LILY HOPKINS, RAYMOND ROBINSON, JODY AND DOROTHY HOLCOMB, CORA GREEN, RUBY BARRIS, RUTH LINTON, MR. AND MRS. QUA. MR. AND MRS. RHODES, CASEY BURTON, LOTTIE MURRAY, LOIS RICHMOND, DIANE MCDANIEL, COVINGTON BOURGEOIS, DOROTHY MARTIN, ROSA CAMPBELL, THELMA JOVE, IRMA, ROBO, JOHNNY MAY THORNTON, LOYOLA BOURGEOIS, GLADYS WYNN, VIVIAN MUON, ELISSA MUON, MR. AND MRS. BOUDREAUX, DAISY FIELDS. LINDA SAVOY, MARGARET RIE, LUCILLE JONES, MS. YANCY, MS. MCGEE, MS. NISE, MRS. ROY, FAYE, ROBINSON, BLANCHE, WASHINGTON, THELMA ROY, GENEVA SHARP, BETTY, DORIAN, CHARLES ROY. AND I MUST ADD ON MRS. ALLISON, WHO RECENTLY DIED. SHE TURNED A HUNDRED, 109 YEARS OLD AND SHE WAS ONE OF PLEASANT VILLAGE'S. FIRST RESIDENCE. SHE BOUGHT HER HOME IN 1950. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK, THANK YOU. AND CONGRATULATIONS, MS. FONT. NO. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN Q. START OFF WITH COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, MS. FANAU, UH, WHAT EVERYONE HAS SAID ABOUT YOU ONLY JUST BEGINS TO TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT YOU ARE TO THIS CITY. I'M SO GRATEFUL TO THE MAYOR FOR BESTOWING THIS WARD, FOR COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD FOR YOU. UH, I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR WORK IN PLEASANTVILLE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BEYOND IN AUSTIN, WHAT YOU DO FOR US, FOR ENRICHING NEIGHBORHOODS, SAVING NEIGHBORHOODS, SAVING INDIVIDUAL PROPERTIES. UH, IT'S ENORMOUS. UM, YOU ARE A SAINT AMONGST SAINTS THAT YOU'VE JUST READ, THOSE WHO'VE GONE BEFORE, THOSE WHO WILL COME BEHIND. WE ARE EVER GRATEFUL FOR THE GREAT WORK YOU'VE DONE IN THIS CITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR PROAM. MARTHA CASTEX. TATUM. MS. FONTANO, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. UH, THANK YOU. THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE ALONG WITH EVERYONE WHO HAS PARTICIPATED, UM, IN AMPLIFYING THE RICH HISTORY OF PLEASANTVILLE IS ENORMOUS. UH, EVERY PERSON THAT I KNOW FROM PLEASANTVILLE, THEY TALK ABOUT THE PRIDE OF PLEASANTVILLE. MM-HMM . AND TO HEAR YOU TALK TODAY, I KNOW EXACTLY WHY THEY ARE SO PROUD OF PLEASANTVILLE. AND FOR YOU TO NAME OUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL IN PLEASANTVILLE, YOU HAVE JUST ETCHED THEIR NAMES IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. MM-HMM . AND I THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. AND AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND MAY THE PRIDE OF PLEASANTVILLE LIVE ON FOREVER. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND, AND THANK YOU, MS. BONNE. WHEN I HEAR THE NAMES THAT YOU READ, THE NAMES OF BOURGEOIS JOT. YES. BRING A SMILE TO MY OCCASION FACE. SO, ALRIGHT, , I KNOW THERE ARE SOME SEMBLANCE OF LOUISIANA BACK IN THOSE AND IT'S NEVER NECESSARY TO APOLOGIZE TO PEOPLE, TO PEOPLE WHO, FOR THOSE WHO DO GOOD WORK. ABSOLUTELY. AND YOU DON'T NEED TO, SO GOD BLESS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. AND SALLY ACORN, I, I DON'T HAVE ALL MY GLASSES AT LARGE. POSITION FIVE JU ROBINSON. JUST SAYING . ALRIGHT. YOU WANT TO HOLD? YEAH, SURE. TURN AROUND. YES, SIR. UM, IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO COME UP, I [00:22:20] CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS FOR A PROCLAMATION TO KATHLEEN ON B HOUSTON SPARK PARK TO CELEBRATE THEIR 40TH ANNIVERSARY. THIS IS ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS. YES. YOU KNOW, I CAN'T LET YOU OUT. DO ME? HEY, I SEE. OKAY. LET HIM DO IT. WHO, WHO'S STARTING? UH, IT'S HIS THING. IT, SO, YEAH. I THOUGHT THAT'S YOURS. THAT'S MINE. OKAY. SO WHERE IS YOUR, I DON'T KNOW. Y'ALL HAVE TALK? I HAVE, I HAVE ONE FROM, FROM MY OFFICE. OKAY. I DON'T DO NEED, DO YOU HAVE YOUR NO. THEY, THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO COME SOME TIME AGO, BUT THEY DIDN'T. OKAY. THAT'S OKAY. WE'LL, WE'LL GO FORWARD. 'CAUSE I, I CAN'T LET YOU OUT. DO ME. OKAY. , NOW GO. WELL, UH, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE. UM, MY NAME IS DR. CARLE WHITE AND FOR THE GALLS IS THE ONE WHO, UM, BROUGHT US UP HERE TO SPEAK. UM, ON BEHALF OF, UM, MYSELF AND THE, THE TR THE TREASURE'S OFFICE AND CITY COUNCIL, UH, WE RECOMMEND THAT SPARK PARK PROGRAM AND THEIR AN AND THEIR ANNIVERSARY ON THEIR DECADES OF OUTSTANDING AND INVALUABLE SERVICE TO OUR YOUTH. WE COMMEND YOU. SO, KATHLEEN OBE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SPARK PARK, AS YOU PROBABLY ALL KNOW, UM, I'M ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS. ELIZABETH, ELIZABETH HOWLEY, UM, HOLDS US TOGETHER. THAT'S WHAT SHE DOES, . SO WE WANT YOU TO PRESENT THIS TO KATHLEEN AND WE WILL MOVE FORWARD. YEAH. WE'RE HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE, UH, SPARK PARK AND, UH, THEIR, THEIR ANNIVERSARY. AS MANY OF, UH, DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS KNOW, UH, THAT, UH, I KNOW THAT PERSONALLY SPEAKING, I KNOW THAT I'VE GIVEN MONIES FROM MY DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS IN, IN, IN REGARDS TO IMPROVEMENTS IN VARIOUS PARKS IN DISTRICT. I, UH, SO I'M PROUD HERE TODAY TO RECOGNIZE KATHLEEN AND EVERYTHING THAT THE, UH, SPARK PARK, UH, UH, DEPARTMENT HAS DONE, UH, TO IMPROVE PARKS AT, UH, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS. UH, WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT IS THAT THE, UH, AND THAT'S WHAT GETS MY [00:25:01] ATTENTION, IS THAT THE, UH, THE AGREEMENT IS THAT WHEN THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE DONE AT THE SCHOOL, THE PARKS AT THESE SCHOOLS, OF COURSE, THEREFORE THE STUDENTS DURING THE DAY. BUT WHAT'S ALSO IMPORTANT IS THAT THEY'RE FOR THE KIDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE EVENINGS AS WELL. UH, AND, UM, AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE PRINCIPALS OUT THERE KNOW THAT THE SPARK PARKS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE OPEN IN THE EVENINGS, UH, FOR KIDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS. SO THAT'S WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT. 'CAUSE MANY NEIGHBORHOODS DON'T HAVE PARKS, NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, UH, AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THESE PARK PARKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO THANK KATHLEEN FOR EVERYTHING THAT SHE HAS DONE IN THE DEPARTMENT, UH, AND IMPROVING THE, UH, THE, THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS IN, IN THE HOUSTON AREA IN REGARDS TO THESE PARKS. AND IT TAKES PARTNERSHIPS, THE COUNTY AND EVERY, UH, UH, OTHER ENTITIES THAT ALSO PARTICIPATE, UH, FOR THESE IMPROVEMENTS. SO, THANK YOU KATHLEEN. AND IF YOU WANNA GIVE A LITTLE HISTORY IN REGARDS TO THE SPARK PARK, WELL, LET, LET ME DO THIS BEFORE KATHLEEN SPEAKS, UM, BECAUSE SHE'S BEEN DOING THIS FOR LIKE 35 OTHER, THE 40 YEARS OF, OF SPAR PARK. AND, UM, YOU'RE NOT GONNA FIND ANYONE MORE COMMITTED, DEDICATED, UH, TO THESE PARKS, TO THESE, UH, SCHOOLS, TO THESE KIDS. AND AS SCOTT BILL MCG GREGOR SAID TO THE, TO THE PUBLIC AS WHOLE TO THESE COMMUNITIES. SO, UM, YOU'VE BEEN LASER FOCUSED. YOU HAVE, UM, CARRIED ON, UM, UH, THE DREAM, UH, WHAT WAS STARTED BY YOUR MOM AND THIS FORMER CITY COUNCIL PERSON. AND I JUST KNOW THAT SHE'S LOOKING DOWN AND SMILING BECAUSE WHAT WAS STARTED, UM, DIDN'T STOP. OKAY. AND YOU BUILT ON TOP OF IT, EXPANDED IT, AND LITERALLY THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF KIDS HAVE BENEFITED FROM YOUR LEADERSHIP. AND, UM, AND LOOK, AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SAYING, THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM AUGUST 29TH, 2023 AS KATHLEEN ON BE DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID. WELL, UM, IT TAKES A VILLAGE, AS Y'ALL ALL KNOW, TO DO ANYTHING . AND SO, UM, I APPRECIATE ALL THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS AND AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT SUPPORT THE PROGRAM. UM, SOME OF YOU FINANCIALLY AND THEN OTHERS OF YOU BY YOUR ATTENDANCE TO OUR DEDICATIONS, UM, IT REALLY MEANS SOMETHING WHEN WE HAVE ELECTED OFFICIALS COME TO SOME OF THESE SCHOOLS AND, AND SEE PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE THEM AND TALK TO THEM AND TELL THEM THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING AND BEING ACTIVE IN THEIR COMMUNITY. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF Y'ALL PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM ALL THESE YEARS. SO THANK YOU MS. KATHLEEN. IS NO SURPRISE. WE HAVE MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE. BUT IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MOM, MS. ELEANOR TINSLEY, I HAVE TWO WORDS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, VICE MAYOR TEM, MARTHA CASTEX TATUM, THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM KATHLEEN, WHAT A LEGACY. UM, WHAT YOU DO FOR, UH, SPARK AND OUR COMMUNITIES IS A TREMENDOUS LEGACY. UM, CARRYING ON THE GREAT WORK, UH, THAT YOUR MOTHER STARTED. UM, I KNOW IT IS, UH, MEANINGFUL FOR YOU, BUT IT IS SO IMPACTFUL FOR SO MANY HOUSTONIANS. UH, WHENEVER WE HAVE A SPARK PARK DEDICATION IN THE DISTRICT, WE KNOW IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT DAY IN DISTRICT. A, UH, THE HAPPINESS THAT WE, UM, GET TO SHARE WITH PEOPLE WHO ENJOY THESE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS IS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR, OUR, OUR COMMUNITIES, OF OUR, OF THE WORK THAT WE DO. UM, IT IS, IT IS A JOY TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THE COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS TO PROMOTE THESE PARKS, IMPROVE THESE PARKS, BECAUSE EVERYONE DESERVES TO HAVE A FUNDS SAFE PLACE, A GREEN PLACE WHERE THEY CAN ENJOY AND MAKE MEMORIES WITH THEIR FAMILY. SO, UM, IT'S SO, THE WORK IS SO IMPACTFUL, AND I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT I, I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU DO. EVERY TIME YOU CALL THE STAFF ALREADY KNOWS. YES, WE, WE, WE WILL GIVE TO THE NEXT SPARK PARK. YES. AND LET ME JUST SAY THAT, UM, UM, MAYOR PROM CA TATUM HAS THE BEST YELL SPARK YELLOW JACKET THAT SHE WEARS TO THE DEDICATIONS. AND SO, UM, IT, IT JUST EXUDES HAPPINESS. I MEAN, AND ANYTIME WE CAN SPREAD THAT TYPE OF JOY AROUND THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WE SHOULD ALL DO IT. SO THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT WORK. AND TO MY CLASSMATE, CARLA WHITE, YOU'VE BEEN DILIGENT AND DEDICATED TO SPARK. UH, I KNOW YOU MISS YOUR, YOUR BUDDY DONALD PERKINS. MM-HMM. UH, HE WAS A BOARD MEMBER OF, UH, SPARK AND HE [00:30:01] LOVED SPARK PARKS, AND HE WAS SO DEDICATED, AND I THINK HE PROBABLY PASSED OUT THE MOST CALENDARS, PROBABLY SPARK PARK CALENDARS AROUND THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAN ANYONE HAS EVER DONE. UM, SO WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO CARRY ON THE TRADITION OF MAKING SURE EVERYONE GET, GETS A COPY OF THE SPARK PARK CALENDARS. BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR THE, FOR THE TREMENDOUS, UM, EFFORTS THAT YOU'VE MADE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. JUST WANT TO ECHO THOSE WORDS. AND AGAIN, UM, ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE OVER THE YEARS, I THINK OF THIS AS REALLY VITAL HEALTHCARE THAT YOU'RE PROVIDING IN THE WAY THAT COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS SPOKE ABOUT THE CHILDREN WHO GET TO RECREATE ON THE PLAYGROUNDS THAT YOU ARE PROVIDING THE GREAT HEALTH OP OPPORTUNITIES, THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, WHAT THIS MAYOR IS DOING WITH OUR PLAYGROUNDS ACROSS THE CITY TO TRANSFORM THEM. THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY IN THE SPIRIT OF ELEANOR TIMSLEY, I JUST LOOKED INTO WHETHER I COULD PUT UP A PLAQUE MARE ON THE AT LARGE TWO OFFICE TO CREATE SOME LEGACY FOR YOUR MOM. AND, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO CELEBRATE WHAT SHE HAS DONE IN THE WAY SHE, SHE CHAMPIONS SMOKELESS PARKS AND, UH, HEALTHCARE THROUGHOUT THE CITY. UM, YOU WERE LIVING INTO THAT. SHE'S LOOKING DOWN, SMILING REAL BIG RIGHT NOW ON YOU, AND WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS CISNEROS. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. KATHLEEN, YOU HAVE BEEN LASER FOCUSED. YOUR MOTHER WAS LASER FOCUSED. UM, YOU AND I MET IN THE EARLY NINETIES WHEN I WAS THE, UM, THE, THE CHAIR OF A MY OWN SPARK PARK. IT WAS ONE OF THE VERY FIRST ONES IN THE WHOLE PROGRAM. AND THAT, UM, IT LED YOUR MOM TO INVITE ME TO BE THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SPARK. SO I WORKED IN YOUR, YOUR IN YOUR OFFICE SPACE. THAT'S WHERE WE WERE. UM, AND, UH, AND THEN I'VE SERVED ON THE SPARK BOARD FOR A DECADE AND, AND IT'S BEEN MY REALLY PLEASURE TO BE ABLE TO FUND EVERY SPARK REQUEST THAT HAVE YOU BROUGHT FORWARD, AS I KNOW OTHER PEOPLE FEEL THAT WAY TOO. IT'S SUCH A GREAT PROGRAM. AND, UM, AND, AND, AND YOU'VE, YOU'VE GROWN SPARK NOT JUST HERE, BUT OTHER DISTRICTS AND OTHER STATES TOO. IT'S BEEN A MODEL FOR, UM, FOR FOR MANY, YOU KNOW, TO BE ABLE TO, TO, TO DO AS YOUR, AS YOUR, I THINK IT WAS MAYBE YOUR GRANDFATHER WHO, WHO FIRST IDENTIFIED THE, UM, THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, TO LEVERAGE SPACE, PUBLIC SPACE, YOU KNOW, THE PLAYGROUNDS THAT WEREN'T USED, UM, IN THE, YOU KNOW, AFTER SCHOOL OR ON WEEKENDS COULD BE USED BY THE COMMUNITIES AS COMMUNITY PARKS. AND SO IT'S BEEN TREMENDOUSLY SUCCESSFUL. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOUR WHOLE FAMILY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. CERTAINLY I MET YOU MANY YEARS AGO, UH, AT AT TURNER YES. UH, WHEN YOU WERE THERE. AND YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SUCH A BRIGHT BEACON. AND SO I THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. IT'S ALWAYS MY PLEASURE TO, TO SUPPORT THE SPARK PARKS. AND I'M GONNA SAY THAT YOU'RE A SPARK YOURSELF, UH, IN A KIND OF QUIET WAY, BUT YOU, YOU GET THE POINT ACROSS THAT THESE THINGS ARE NEEDED AND NECESSARY, WHICH DOESN'T TAKE A LOT OF PRODDING BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT'S GOOD WORK. AND WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTE. THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR TURNER AND COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS FOR OFFERING THIS KUDOS TO YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM. AND, UM, KUDOS TO EVERY SINGLE PARENT AND CHILD AND TEACHER. I, I THINK, YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES WE GET TO CELEBRATE THE RIBBON CUTTINGS, BUT THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO MAKING SURE THAT THOSE DOLLARS ARE RAISED. I MEAN, THEY'RE SHAKING PENNIES AND CANS AND DOING ALL TYPES OF THINGS. AND SO, UM, I KNOW I OFTEN BRAG ABOUT THE FIVE CITY PARKS THAT DISTRICT F HAS, UM, TWO OF THEM BEING 50 50. UM, BUT I'M GONNA DO A BETTER JOB OF TALKING ABOUT THE SPARK, UM, WHICH ARE PART OF THE ENTIRE QUALITY OF LIFE GREEN COLLECTION THAT WE HAVE. AND SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. UM, AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR TAKING ON YOUR MOTHER'S VISION. AND WE WE'RE DEFINITELY, UH, BENEFICIARIES OF ALL OF THAT WORK. WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING ON MARTIN RIGHT NOW. I KNOW YOUR MONEY IS DESIGNATED. YES. SEIZE THE MOMENT. SEIZE THE MOMENT. IS IS THAT PARK NAMED AFTER ME IN DISTRICT ASK? COULD BE. COULD BE. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN. YOU KNOW, KATHLEEN, YOU SAID, UH, IT, IT TAKES A VILLAGE, BUT I WANNA POINT OUT, IN ADDITION TO THE BOARD, UH, IT'S A VILLAGE OF PRETTY MUCH TWO, YOU AND ELIZABETH THAT GET THIS DONE, UH, FOR THE ENTIRE CITY AND NOT JUST THE CITY, THE COUNTY. UH, SO WHAT YOU ARE DOING, INCLUDING THE EDUCATION AROUND THIS, UH, BECAUSE I KNOW IT WAS SAID, BUT I WANNA PUT A BIG ASTERISK BY IT. THEY'RE ALL ON PUBLIC SCHOOL PROPERTIES, BUT ACCESSIBLE TO, FOR THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND THE FACT THAT Y'ALL ARE TACKLING WHAT WE'RE NOW CALLING PARK [00:35:01] DESERTS, UM, YOU KNOW, WITHIN, WHAT IS IT, KATHLEEN? UH, WITHIN 10 MINUTE WALK. A 10 MINUTE WALK. SO IN COMMUNITIES WHERE YOU CAN'T WALK WITHIN 10 MINUTES TO GET TO A PARK OR A PLAYGROUND, UH, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE. THE WORK TO ELEVATE AND TO BRING TO ALL OF OUR AWARENESS AND THE JOY, UH, THAT YOU'RE BRINGING INTO THE COMMUNITIES, IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO PARTNER WITH YOU. BUT AGAIN, OUR FUNDS HELP. BUT JUST LIKE YOU SAW THE TENACITY AT THE HORSESHOE, UM, IT'S OUR PTOS, IT'S COMMUNITY DONORS, IT'S EVERYONE COMING TOGETHER UNDER Y'ALL'S LEADERSHIP TO, TO BOTH OF YOU AND THE BOARD. UH, THANK YOU. UM, AND Y'ALL HAVE ALL BEEN INVITED TO OUR 40TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AT THE JULIA IEN, UM, BUILDING, UH, ON SEPTEMBER 20TH. AND SO HOPE EVERYBODY WILL BE THERE. UM, SOME OF OUR MAJOR FUNDERS WILL BE THERE WITH THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT. SO, UM, SEE YOU THERE. THANK YOU. THANKS AGAIN. CONGRATULATIONS. AND WE THANK Y'ALL FOR THE MONEY AND KEEP THE CHECKS COMING. KEEP THE MONEY COMING. TION OF GUN SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH. THANK YOU. AND I'M GONNA ASK EVERYONE TO COME UP. MAYOR LISA. BILL, HOW YOU DOING? FINE. HEY, MAYOR. HEY, HOW YOU DOING? ALL WE, AS YOU CAN SEE, I'M ABOUT TO INTRODUCE A, AN INCREDIBLE COALITION OF PEOPLE. UH, WE'RE HERE TO RECOGNIZE GUN SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH IN HOUSTON. UH, THANKS TO MAYOR TURNER IS STANDING WITH OTHER CITIES IN TEXAS, INCLUDING AUSTIN AND FORT WORTH THIS WEEK, UM, AND A VERY SPECIAL ORGANIZATION, LOCK ARMS FOR LIFE THAT HAS BEEN SPEARHEADING THIS EFFORT. UH, I'M JOINED BY LISA ROSS, LOCK ARMS FOR LIFE, CEO. UH, ALSO BILL ODEL, UH, ONE OF OUR LOCAL BOARD MEMBERS. I'M ALSO JOINED, UH, BY SOME VERY DEAR FRIENDS FROM MOMS TO MAN ACTION. KAREN KATHLEEN AISHA. UM, AM I MISSING ANYONE FROM MOMS? I'M A AVERY. I'M SORRY. AVERY. AND, AND THEN, UM, BRITTANY FROM AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, UH, CHRISTINA FROM THE COMMUNITY JUSTICE ACTION FUND. AND HAVE I MISSED ANYONE? DR. KATHY TATUM WITH EVERY TOWN. THANK YOU DR. TATUM. WITH EVERY T TOWN WHEN IT COMES TO TACKLING GUN VIOLENCE, I THINK THIS IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FACT THAT IT TAKES ALL OF US. UH, MAYOR, YOU HAVE BEEN LEADING THE EFFORT LOCALLY THROUGH ONE SAFE HOUSTON IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HPD AND MANY OF OUR OFFICES. UH, BUT THIS IS ALSO A COMMUNITY LED EFFORT. AND WHEN LOCK ARMS FOR LIFE, UM, ASKED FOR THIS PROCLAMATION FOR THE MONTH, UM, WHAT I'M ABOUT TO READ, THEY FOCUSED ON FACTS AROUND GUN SAFETY, UM, AND OF COURSE, TRUE TO SPIRIT. THEY DIDN'T MENTION A SINGLE THING ABOUT LOCK ARMS FOR LIFE BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO FOCUS ON THE ISSUE. SO I'M GONNA TAKE JUST A MOMENT TO SHARE ABOUT LOCK ARMS FOR LIFE. THEY'RE A TEXAS BASED NONPROFIT THAT WORKS EVERY DAY ON SAFE STORAGE FOR ALL FIREARMS. AND AGAIN, THE NUMBERS THAT I'M GONNA SHARE IN THIS PROCLAMATION ARE STARTLING. UH, BUT BEHIND EVERY NUMBER, AND I'LL TRY NOT TO GET EMOTIONAL, IS A CHILD IS A FAMILY, UH, IS A TRAGIC AND PREVENTABLE SITUATION. AND LISA, UH, LOST HER ELDEST SON TO A FIREARM ACCIDENT. AND I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE FOUND THE STRENGTH, BUT THROUGH THIS, LIKE MANY OTHERS, UH, SHE HAS WORKED WITH LOCK ARMS FOR LIFE. SHE'S ALSO A LEAD FOR BE SMART GUN SAFETY PROGRAM, AN ORGANIZATION WE PARTNER WITH WITHIN OUR, UH, GUN LOCKS GUNLOCK DISTRIBUTIONS, ALONG WITH KAREN AND KATHLEEN WHO HAVE BEEN THERE IN DISTRICT C EVERY STEP OF THE WAY FOR THAT, UM, EVERY SINGLE PERSON STANDING WITH ME IS EDUCATING OTHERS AND SAVING THE LIVES OF OUR KIDS. SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND READ THE PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS UNSECURED GUNS [00:40:01] POSE CLEAR SAFETY RISKS, PARTICULARLY TO CHILDREN. WHEN GUNS ARE NOT STORED SAFELY OR SECURELY, THEY'RE ACCESSIBLE TO UNSUPERVISED MINORS. THE RISK OF DEATH OR INJURY SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES IN THE US 350 CHILDREN A YEAR. WE KNOW OF GET ACCESS TO A LOADED FIREARM AND ACCIDENTALLY SHOOT THEMSELVES OR SOMEONE ELSE. BETWEEN 2015 AND 2022, THERE WERE 248 UNINTENTIONAL SHOOTINGS BY CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 17. IN TEXAS, AN AVERAGE OF THREE EVERY SINGLE MONTH. WHEN CHILDREN UNINTENTIONALLY SHOOT ANOTHER PERSON, THE VICTIM IS MOST OFTEN A SIBLING OR A FRIEND. IN 2020, FIREARM RELATED INJURIES WERE AMONG THE FIVE LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH FOR PEOPLE AGES ONE TO 44 IN THE US. AND CURRENTLY FIREARM SUICIDE RATES ARE AT RECORD. HIGH LEVELS. 4.6 MILLION MINORS IN OUR COUNTRY LIVE IN HOMES WITH AT LEAST ONE LOADED UNLOCKED FIREARM. I'LL SAY THAT NUMBER AGAIN. 4.6 MILLION. STUDIES SHOW THAT BETWEEN 70 AND 90% OF FIREARMS USED ARE USED IN YOUTH SUICIDES. UNINTENTIONAL SHOOTINGS AMONG CHILDREN AND SCHOOL SHOOTINGS PERPETRATED BY A SHOOTER UNDER THE AGE OF 18 ARE ACQUIRED FROM THE HOME OR HOMES OF RELATIVES OR FRIENDS. ESTIMATES SUGGEST THAT EVEN MODEST INCREASES IN THE NUMBER OF AMERICAN HOMES SAFELY STORING FIREARMS COULD PREVENT ALMOST ONE THIRD OF YOUNG GUN DEATHS DUE TO SUICIDE AND UNINTENTIONAL FIREARM INJURIES. EDUCATING AND RESOURCING COMMUNITIES TO PRACTICE SAFE GUN HANDLING AND STORAGE IS AN ACTIONABLE, MEANINGFUL WAY TO CREATE SAFER HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS OUR CITY, STATE, AND COUNTRY. AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS EVERY CITIZEN AND COLLABORATOR THAT HELPS PROMOTE OR ENSURE GUN SAFETY. THANK THANK HI, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY, CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM AUGUST, 2023, HAS GUN SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO. SO, UM, LISA, IF YOU WANTED TO SAY A FEW WORDS. YES, I DO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH TOO, UH, TO YOU FOR, UM, PUTTING THIS ALL TOGETHER AND DOING THIS FOR US. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. COUNCIL MEMBER AND ALSO YOU MAYOR TURNER, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE. I REALLY DO. UH, WE WOULD LOVE THE SUPPORT THAT WE'RE HAVING AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT TOO, AS WELL. LIKE SHE SAID, I DID LOSE MY 23-YEAR-OLD SON TO A GUN TRAGEDY IN 2009. UM, MY FAMILY DOES OWN FIREARMS, SO WE'RE NOT AGAINST FIREARM OWNERSHIP, BUT WE ARE FOR RESPONSIBLE OWNERSHIP. AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT SAFE STORAGE MEANS, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, AND HOW THEY CAN TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT GUN TRAGEDIES FROM HAPPENING. WE KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN GUN TRAGEDIES. WE CAN SIT HERE AND NAME A LIST OF THEM RIGHT NOW, BUT WE KNOW THAT IT ALSO, A LOT OF THEM ARE PREVENTABLE. SO I STARTED LOCK ARMS FOR LIFE TO MAKE SURE THAT I DIDN'T WANT ANOTHER FAMILY TO FEEL THE PAIN THAT I WENT THROUGH OF LOSING A CHILD TO SOMETHING THAT WAS PREVENTABLE. UM, A COUPLE OF THE THINGS, MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT MY ORGANIZATION DOES, UM, ONE THING I WANTED TO CLEAR UP IS LOCK ARMS FOR LIFE IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE B SMART ORGANIZATION, WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION, AND I'M SO GLAD THEY'RE HERE TO SUPPORT US, BUT ACTUALLY LOCK ARMS FOR LIFE, IS IT? I AM THE FOUNDER AND I AM THE CEO OF LOCK ARMS FOR LIFE. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THOUGH, THAT WE DO IS WE GIVE AWAY FREE GUN LOCKS. AND WE DON'T EVEN JUST GIVE AWAY TO, WE GIVE THEM AWAY ACROSS THE STATE. IF SOMEBODY SENDS US A REQUEST, PUTS GLOVES ON OUR WEBSITE AND FILLS OUT THAT AND SAYS, WE WANT A GUN LOCK, WE SEND IT TO HIM. WE HAVE SENT, I CAN'T EVEN, I COULDN'T EVEN TELL YOU, PROBABLY CLOSE TO 5,000 GUN LOCKS WITHIN THE LAST YEAR OR SO, PROBABLY MAYBE TWO YEARS. BUT WE DO, THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE DO. THE OTHER THING THAT WE'VE JUST RECENTLY DONE, AND I BROUGHT SOME MATERIALS WITH ME, EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IS IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS NOT ONLY FOR OUR ENGLISH SPEAKING COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO FOR A SPANISH COMMUNITY. BUT WE PUT INTO, UM, 13,500 BACKPACKS IN THE AUSTIN AREA BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I'M BASED OUT OF. AND WE PUT ALL OF THESE CHECKLISTS INTO THOSE BACKPACKS FOR THOSE STUDENTS AND THOSE PARENTS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT FIREARM SAFETY LOOKS LIKE. WE WANT TO BRING THAT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WE WANNA BRING IT TO FORT WORTH. WE HAVE GREAT PARTNERS IN THE FORT WORTH AREA. WE HAVE, WE WANNA BRING IT TO HOUSTON. WE WANT TO EXPAND THIS, AND WE WANT THIS TO BECOME A MOVEMENT THAT WE GROW FROM CITY TO CITY TO CITY. SO THAT IS KIND OF WHAT WE WANNA DO. SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS, I THINK, BILL, YOU'VE GOT A BAG THERE, MY BOARD MEMBER, BUT I JUST WANTED, AND WE'RE LEAVING THIS FOR YOU GUYS, WE WANT YOU TO SHARE IT WITH YOUR COMMUNITY, TALK ABOUT IT. BUT I'VE GOT, UH, SOME OF OUR LITTLE, THIS IS SOME OF OUR LITTLE SWAG STUFF THAT WE GIVE OUT. WE DO LOTS OF COMMUNITY EVENTS WITH CHILDREN, WE DO TABLING. UM, WE GIVE THEM LOTS OF INFORMATION ABOUT IT. BUT LIKE I SAID, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS HANDING OUT THOSE GUN LOCKS. UM, I'M TRYING TO THINK. AND THE LAST THING I GUESS I REALLY WANT TO [00:45:01] SAY IS, LISTEN, EVERYBODY, AND I MEAN, EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM CAN TAKE ACTION. WE HEAR THAT ALL THE TIME. WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? AND EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM CAN TAKE ACTION. AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS YOU CAN BE A SUPERHERO, YOU CAN SAVE THE DAY BY LOCKING IT AWAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST, BECAUSE IN THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY, UM, BE SMART AND MOMS DEMAND HAVE BEEN DOING THIS, I WANTED TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR KAREN, IF YOU WANT, OR SOMEONE FROM MOM'S DEMAND TO, UM, JUST BRIEFLY OFFER A FEW WORDS. I KNOW WE HAVE A PACKED, UH, PUBLIC SPEAKERS LIST TODAY. YES. HOLD ON A MINUTE. SORRY. UM, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN AND AGAIN, LOCK ARMS FOR LIFE, UM, FOR RAISING AWARENESS OF GUN SAFETY. GUN SAFETY AWARENESS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE YEAR ROUND. BUT WITH AUGUST BEING BACK TO SCHOOL MONTH IN TEXAS AND THERE BEING ALREADY SEVERAL REPORTS OF CHILDREN BRINGING WEAPONS TO SCHOOL, THAT FEELS REALLY, REALLY TIMELY THAT WE REMIND PARENTS ABOUT THE GUN SAFETY MESSAGE. UM, AS, UM, UH, LOCK ARMS FOR LIFE, UH, MENTIONED, WE ALWAYS, WE DO BE SMART. BE SMART. SMART IS AN ACRONYM, AND I'LL JUST QUICKLY DESCRIBE IT. S SECURE ALL GUNS IN HOMES AND VEHICLES MODEL RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR AROUND GUNS. IT'S NOT A TOY AND ASSUME THAT IT'S LOADED. A ASK ABOUT UNSECURED GUNS IN OTHER HOMES AND VEHICLES. AND I SAY THIS ESPECIALLY TO MY FELLOW IMMIGRANTS, UM, WHO ARE NOT USED TO HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS. UM, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS WHERE OUR CHILDREN ARE INVOLVED, UM, HERE AND R RECOGNIZE THE ROLE OF GUNS AND SUICIDE AND T TELL EVERYONE YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS TO BE SMART. I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK MAYOR AND THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL FOR WORKING TO COME UP WITH GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION POLICIES IN A RELATIVELY DIFFICULT LEGISLATIVE ENVIRONMENT IN TEXAS. WE HAVE TO BE MORE RESOURCEFUL THAN MOST. AND SO WE APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION OF THE FIREARM INJURY DATA INTEGRATION PROPOSED BY LEADERS IN THE HOUSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMUNITY. AND WE HOPE TO SEE IT FUNDED BY THE CITY SOON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TE AND THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING FORWARD. I MEAN, MY HEART JUST BLEEDS WHEN I HEAR THESE STORIES OF THESE INNOCENT CHILDREN PLAYING WITH THESE GUNS. AND CERTAINLY I COMMEND YOU, LISA, FOR YOU TURNED TRAGEDY INTO TRIUMPH FOR HELPING OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY. AND SO THIS IS SO VITALLY IMPORTANT, BUT OF COURSE, IT'S EVEN BIGGER THAN JUST GUN SAFETY IN THE HOMES. IT'S, IT'S THE, THESE GUNS PERIOD THAT WE CAN'T SEEM TO GET THE MESSAGE ACROSS THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME SERIOUS THINGS DONE, UH, NATIONALLY, UH, THAT NEED TO COME DOWN TO PROTECT US. AND SO I THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. I CERTAINLY SEE KATHY TATUM BACK THERE, AND I THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. AND IT'S, IT'S JUST, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS TO GET TO A POINT THAT OF JUST COMMON SENSE, WHICH WE KNOW IS NOT COMMON. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORTS. YEAH, LIKE I SAID, WE, WE TRIED TO GET THIS DONE ON A, UH, A STATE LEVEL AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE, WE COULDN'T GET THE BELL PASSED. SO WE DECIDED AS AN ORGANIZATION, MY TEAM AND I, THAT WE WOULD TAKE THIS TO LOCAL LEVELS. AND SO THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE REACHED OUT TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE WOULD BE A, A CHAMPION FOR US AND, AND, UH, DO THIS FOR AS WELL. SO WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN, THANK YOU AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR, FOR HIGHLIGHTING THIS. AND I'VE SEEN ALL YOUR WORK AROUND THE COMMUNITY PROVIDING THESE GUN SAFE LOCKS, YOU KNOW, LOCKING UP THE GUNS. AND LISA, I'M SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS AND THANK YOU FOR TURNING THAT TRAGEDY INTO SOMETHING REALLY CONCRETE THAT WE CAN DO THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SAYING A THIRD OF THE, THE CHILDREN DEATHS COULD BE AVOIDED, UM, BY HAVING THE GUNS LOCKED UP A THIRD. THAT'S A LOT. AND THAT'S SOMETHING REALLY TANGIBLE AND CONCRETE THAT CAN BE DONE. SO MUCH OF THE WHOLE GUN TOPIC SEEMS OVERWHELMING AND SOMETIMES INSURMOUNTABLE, BUT I REALLY ADMIRE WHAT YOU'RE DOING BECAUSE YOU'RE TAKING A, A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND REALLY DOING SOMETHING TANGIBLE THAT'S REALLY GONNA HELP. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN FOR BRINGING THIS AND TO ALL OF YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO, UM, TO HELP, UH, YOU KNOW, REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE IN THIS COUNTRY. THANK YOU. YEAH, WE JUST WANNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND WE KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES OUT THERE. EVERY ONE OF US CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S GONNA TAKE. IT'S GONNA TAKE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO GET TOGETHER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. AND THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO BRING THE ATTENTION TO THIS AND BRING IT HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [00:51:43] OKAY. AS WE MOVE TO THE SECOND PART, NOW TO THE COMMUNITY SESSION, OUR [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILMAN MAG GALLEGOS FOR THE IMPLICATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE FOR COUNCIL TO WE WELCOME THE VERY REVEREND JEFFREY BAME, WHO IS A LIFELONG HOUSTONIAN AND GRADUATE OF KLEIN HIGH SCHOOL. HE GRADUATED FROM TEXAS A AND M UNIVERSITY WITH A BACHELOR'S OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND RECEIVED HIS MASTER'S OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION SYSTEMS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS. AFTER A DECADE OF DISCERNMENT OF THE PRIESTHOOD, FATHER JEFF LEFT THE CORPORATE LIFE TO ENTER THE SEMINARY, COMPLETING HIS, HIS PHILOSOPHICAL STUDIES AT HOLY TRINITY SEMINARY IN DALLAS AND HIS GRADUATE THEOLOGICAL DEGREES IN HOUSTON AT ST. MARY'S SEMINARY. HE WAS A DOOR ORDAINED A PRIEST ON JUNE 6TH, 2015 BY HIS EMINENCE DANIEL CARDINAL DINARDO AT THE KOCH CATHEDRAL OF THE SACRED HEART. AFTER TWO YEARS AT ST. MICHAEL PARISH IN THE GALLERIA, FATHER JEFF SPENT THREE YEARS AS PRIEST SECRETARY TO CARDINAL DINARDO BEFORE BEING APPOINTED AS RECTOR AND PASTOR OF THE KOCH CATHEDRAL OF THE SACRED HEART, EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2020, WHERE HE HAS SERVED FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS. WELCOME FATHER JEFF, AND THANK YOU FOR ACCEPTING TO DO THIS. FATHER, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE ALWAYS HONORED TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT GRADUATED FROM THE PRISTINE AND, UH, UH, KLEIN, UH, HIGH SCHOOL. UH, IT ALWAYS ELEVATES US WHEN WE HAVE THOSE, UH, GRADUATES THAT COME AND BE BEFORE US. THAT'S GOOD. SO MANY PEOPLE INSIDE THE LOOP SAY THAT US PEOPLE FROM KLEIN AREN'T HOUSTONIANS, SO IT'S GOOD TO BE WELCOMED INSIDE THE LOOP. THANK YOU, FATHER. WELL, THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER. COUNCIL MEMBER GAGO, IT'S A PLEASURE TO SERVE IN YOUR AREA. COUNCIL ELKHORN, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO, TO SERVE AT YOUR PARISH IN THE PAST. SO ESTEEMED COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ALL GATHERED HERE TODAY, MY PRAYER ACTUALLY IS VERY BRIEF. I WANT TO SAY A WORD OF CONTEXT FOR IT. TODAY IS OUR, IN THE, THE CATHOLIC TRADITION. TODAY, WE COMMEMORATE THE, THE MARTYRDOM OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST. AND THE STORY OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST IS ONE OF PROPHETIC VOICE RUNNING INTO CORRUPT POWER. AND IT'S THE TENSION BETWEEN NOT ONLY OF YOU KNOW HIM, HIS IMPRISONMENT, HIS ROLE AS FORERUNNER FOR FOR JESUS, YES, BUT HIS, HIS IMPRISONMENT FOR SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER. AND ULTIMATELY HIS MARTYRDOM CAME ABOUT, NOT SO MUCH FOR WHAT HE SAID, BUT OUT OF A PLACE OF A LEADER THAT WAS MORALLY COMPROMISED TO SAVE FACE. HE WAS, HE LOST HIS LIFE JUST SIMPLY TO SAVE FACE. AND SO IT'S A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE IN MEDITATION FOR ALL ON THE WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN COMPROMISE OURSELVES AND OUR ATTENTIVENESS TO BEING PEOPLE TO STAND FOR WHAT IS RIGHT AND JUST IN ALL SEASONS. AND SO IN THAT SPIRIT, LET US PRAY. FATHER YOURS, YOU ARE THE VINE AND YOURS IS THE VINEYARD. YOU ASSIGN US THE TASK AND PAY A WAGE THAT IS JUST YOU DISTRIBUTE [00:55:01] YOUR MANIFOLD GIFTS AMONG US TO BE PUT TO WORK IN SERVICE OF OTHERS. WE ASK THAT YOU FILL EACH OF US WITH A SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY TO NEVER TIRE AND SEEKING THAT WHICH IS RIGHT, AND JUST TO ALWAYS SEEK THE COMMON GOOD AND TO ALWAYS EXERCISE THE PROPHETIC VOICE YOU HAVE GIVEN TO EACH OF US, NO MATTER THE STATION OR OFFICE OR OCCASION. WE PRAY THAT YOU BLESS ALL WHO PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING, BLESS ALL THOSE WHO HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE, THAT THEY MAY DISCHARGE IT FOR THE COMMON GOOD OF OTHERS. BLESS ALL CITIZENS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING, THAT THEY TOO MAY SEEK THE COMMON GOOD OF THEIR CITIZENS, NEVER LIVING FOR THEMSELVES BUT FOR ONE ANOTHER. FILL US ALL WITH THAT SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY BY WHICH YOU HAVE CALLED US, YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS, BROTHERS AND SISTERS. AND WE ASK THIS THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN. AMEN. PLEASE RISE TO THE PLEDGE FLAG, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC, WHICH IS STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY, JUSTICE WORLD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, MADAM [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] SECRETARY, YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MAYOR TURNER. HERE. COUNCILMAN PECK. HERE. COUNCILMAN JACKSON? HERE. COUNCILMAN CAMAN. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN EVAN CHABA. HERE. COUNCILMAN MARTIN. PRESENT. COUNCIL THOMAS PRESENT. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN? PRESENT. COUNCILMAN CISNEROS? HERE. COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS? HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. HERE. COUNCIL CASTEX TATUM. HERE. COUNCIL KNOX. HERE. COUNCILMAN ROBINSON. HERE. COUNCILMAN ASH. HERE. COUNCIL PALMER WILL BE ABSENT. CONSTABLE ALCORN HERE NEED A MOTION TO DELAY THE MINUTES. CASTEX. TATUM MOVED SECOND. ROBINSON MOVED IN SECOND TO DELAY THE MINUTES. ANY OBJECTIONS? CHAIR IS NONE AND IT IS GRANTED. UH, CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN FOR PROCEDURAL MOTION. SHE'S RIGHT THERE. SHE'S COMING AROUND OVER HERE. I MOVED TO SUSPEND THE RULES, UH, TO MOVE UP BARBARA ASAM, UM, TO THE TOP OF THE TWO MINUTE AGENDA LIST. SECOND, EXCUSE ME, BOTTOM OF THE TWO MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. AND TERRY STONE TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. SECOND ROBINSON SECRETARY MOVED. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ANY DISCUSSION? ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR NONE. MOTION IS GRANTED. THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? ANY OTHER PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? OKAY, UM, [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] MADAM SECRETARY, YOU'LL PROCEED TO CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER BRUCE NICHOLS. BRUCE NICHOLS. BRUCE NICHOLS IS HERE CHIEF, FOLLOWED BY CRYSTAL STONEHAM. HELLO EVERYBODY. YES. IF YOU GET, GET RIGHT BEHIND UH, THE MIC, BRUCE. OH, SORRY. HELLO EVERYBODY. HELLO. YOU MAY NOT HAVE READ OR HEARD THAT THERE'S A SMALL GROUP OF FOLKS CLAIMING THAT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE SYSTEMATIZING CITY OVERSIGHT OF TS IS A RUSHED ITEM NOT FULLY EXPLAINED TO THE COUNCIL OR THE PUBLIC. AND I'M TALKING ABOUT ITEMS 54 AND 55. BUT AS A LONGTIME NEIGHBORHOOD ADVOCATE CLOSELY MONITORING TS AFFAIRS, THIS APPEARS TO ME TO BE A THOROUGHLY CONSIDERED AND A RATIONAL EFFORT TO SYSTEMATIZE THE CITY'S OVERSIGHT OFTS OF TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONES. THAT OVERSIGHT IS A COMPLICATED PROCESS DUE LARGELY TO THE 25% LIMIT. STATE LAW IMPOSES ON THE SHARE OF CITY PROPERTY VALUE THAT CAN BE IN TS. ON TOP OF THAT, HOUSTON HAS 28 TS AND THEY ARE VARIED AND REFLECT THE COMPLEXITY OF OUR CITY. I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ALL T BUT I WANT TO SAY ESPECIALLY THAT WE ARE HAPPY WITH TOUR SEVENTEEN'S FOCUS ON DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT AND FLOOD MITIGATION IN THE MEMORIAL CITY AREA WHERE I LIVE, THE CURRENT TOUR 17 BOARD, UNDER THE CLOSE WATCH OF COUNCIL MEMBERS, AMY PECK AND MARY NAN HUFFMAN HAS DONE A LOT OF GOOD AND IS WELL ADVANCED IN PLANNING FOR MORE GOOD WORKS UNDER FIVE-YEAR BUDGETS THAT YOU HAVE WISELY APPROVED. I'M GLAD THAT THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE APPEARS TO ALLOW CONTINUATION OF THAT GOOD WORK, WHICH IS REDUCING FLOOD RISK IN OUR AREA AS TOUR 17 CARRIES OUT ITS MANDATE TO ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC GROWTH. THANKS. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU MR. NICHOLS FOR COMING AND SHARING WITH US TODAY. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR INVOLVEMENT [01:00:01] IN DISTRICT G AND HOW MUCH YOU'VE DONE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE DISTRICT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU TOO. COUNCIL MEMBER BACK. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU MR. NICHOLS FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND, UM, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO IN DISTRICT A AS WELL. UM, KEEPING A CLOSE, FULL WATCH ON TUR 17. AND JUST WANTED TO USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO, YOU KNOW, SAY THAT TUR 17, WE HAVE A LOT OF PROJECTS THAT, UM, WE'D LIKE TO SEE GET DONE, UM, ESPECIALLY, UM, THE FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT. SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THAT, UM, THE LIFE OF THATT EXPANDED SO THAT WE CAN GET THOSE PROJECTS DONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANKS VERY MUCH. GOOD TO SEE YOU NEXT SPEAKER KRISTA STONEHAM. CHRISTO STONEHAM BE FOLLOWED BY LACEY WOLF. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, MY NAME IS KRISTA STONEHAM AND SOME OF Y'ALL MAY REMEMBER ME FROM MY 10 YEARS, ALMOST 10 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. FIRST WITH THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AS A PLANNER. UM, I HAD THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS THE FIRST COMPLETE COMMUNITIES PLANNER FOR ACRES HOME, BUT HERE I AM STANDING HERE AS THE CEO AND PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON LAND BANK. FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR, WE ARE THE LARGEST LAND BANK IN THE COUNTRY. WE ARE THE ONLY LAND BANK, UM, TO SERVE AS BOTH A LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION AND A 5 0 1 C3 IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND I'M VERY HONORED TO BE HERE AS THE YOUNGEST ONE TO LEAD ONE IN THE COUNTRY. AND I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO YOU, MAYOR TURNER, THE ADMINISTRATION CHIEF HUNTER AND CITY STAFF, AND TO REQUEST THE SUPPORT AND ALIGNMENT OF OUR REVISED BYLAWS AND ORDINANCE TO ALIGN WITH STATE BILL 1679, WHICH IS ABOUT URBAN LAND BANKS. IT BASICALLY HELPS TO OPEN MORE DOORS AND POSSIBILITIES FOR THE IMPACT THAT WE CAN BRING TO HOUSTON COMMUNITIES, NOT JUST AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS. WE STARTED OFF AS A CITY PROGRAM CALLED LAURA, WHICH STOOD FOR THE LAND ASSEMBLAGE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. BUT NOW WE ARE HERE AS A PARTNER AND WE ARE HERE TO BRING COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE'VE REACTIVATED OVER A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF PROPERTY SINCE OUR INCEPTION, AND WE ALSO ARE WORKING ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, FLOOD RESILIENCY, REALLY THE SOLUTIONS NEEDED IN HOUSTON'S MOST UNDERSERVED, BUT I LIKE TO SAY UNDERESTIMATED NEIGHBORHOODS. SO I'M HERE JUST TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE AND I'M HERE TO REQUEST YOUR SUPPORT TO BE A CONTINUED PARTNER TO COLLABORATE WITH YOU ALL MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANKS. THANKS VERY MUCH, CHRIS. GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, LACEY WOLF. LACEY WOLF IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY COURTNEY REBELS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR TURNER. ESTEEMED COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS LACEY WOLFE, PRESIDENT OF THE GULF COAST AREA LABOR FEDERATION OF THE A-F-L-C-I-O. WE ARE ASKING YOU TO VOTE AGAINST ITEM 53, WHICH WOULD COMMIT $480,000 TO PROLONG THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING DISPUTE BETWEEN THE CITY AND HOUSTON FIREFIGHTERS UNION. THE CITY AND FIREFIGHTERS REACHED AN IMPASSE IN THEIR NEGOTIATIONS SIX YEARS AGO. RATHER THAN USE ARBITRATION TO RESOLVE THE DISPUTE, THE CITY INSTEAD CHOSE TO SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO DECLARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL A PORTION OF STATE LAW GRANTING COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS TO THE FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS. THIS EFFORT THREATENED THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS, WAGES, AND BENEFITS, NOT JUST OF THE HOUSTON FIREFIGHTERS, BUT OF PUBLIC SAFETY PROFESSIONALS ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS. THIS PAST APRIL, THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT RULED IN FAVOR OF THE FIREFIGHTERS DECLARING THAT THE CITY HAD VIOLATED STATE LAW BY REFUSING TO SUBMIT TO THE LAW'S PROVISIONS TO RESOLVE ITS CONTRACT DISPUTE. THIS YEAR, THE TEXAS LEGISLATOR PA LEGISLATION PASSED SB 7 36 WITH STRONG BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND BOTH HOUSES THE LAW MANDATES BINDING ARBITRATION WHEN THE CITY AND FIREFIGHTERS UNION BUILT TO REACH AN AGREEMENT. THIS PROCEDURE IS ALLOWING A THREE MEMBER PANEL OF ARBITRATORS, ONE PICKED BY THE CITY, ONE BY THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION, AND ONE AGREED TO BY BOTH PARTIES, WHICH WOULD YIELD A ONE YEAR CONTRACT. WHILE NEGOTIATIONS COULD CONTINUE TOWARD A LONGER TERM AGREEMENT, IT'S A GOOD SOLUTION. THE LAW HAS BEEN CLEAR AND WITH THE PASSAGE OF THIS LEGISLATION, I'M SORRY, SORRY, EXCUSE ME. THE LAW HAS BEEN CLEAR. AND WITH THE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION AND A SUPREME COURT RULING, IT'S EVEN CLEARER IF THE CITY'S AND FIREFIGHTERS UNION REACH AN IMPASSE NEGOTIATIONS. [01:05:01] A VERY SIMPLE PRO PROCEDURE IS IN PLACE TO RESOLVE THE IMPASSE. THIS IS ARBITRATION. WE HAVE HEARD FROM SOME OF YOU THAT THE CITY MUST HAVE THE RESOURCES TO D DEFEND ITSELF AGAINST THE FIREFIGHTERS LAWSUIT DEFENDANT ITSELF AGAINST WHAT WORKERS SEEKING TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS. THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT CONTINUING TO FUND THIS EFFORT WILL DO. HAVE THE COURTS, THE UNIONS, THE PEOPLE NOT DECLARED THEIR INTENTIONS AFTER SIX LONG YEARS. IT IS NOT IN THE INTEREST OF THE CITY. HOUSTON TAXPAYERS ARE HOUSTON WORKERS TO PROLONG THIS DISPUTE. CITY COUNCIL HAS THE POWER TO GET A FAIR RESOLUTION OF THIS DISPUTE. STOP FUNDING LEGAL CHALLENGES TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS BY VOTING DOWN ITEM 53 AND PROCEED EXPEDITIOUSLY TO ARBITRATION. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENTS. UM, YOU REFERENCED THE RECENT LITIGATION, I MEAN, LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED REGARDING ARBITRATION. DID IT SPEAK TO, UH, IF THAT WAS TO BE RETROACTIVE OR NOT? WAS THERE ANY LANGUAGE WITHIN THAT, UH, UM, LEGIS LEGISLATION THAT CLEARLY SPOKE ON, ON, ON WHERE THE TIMELINE WILL BE IN DECIDING ON WHEN TO APPLY, UH, WHAT THE PAGE SHALL BE? IT WAS IT, I BELIEVE IT WAS STATED. I BELIEVE MAYOR TURNER PROBABLY MORE KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT. I KNOW QUITE A BIT ABOUT IT. . AND SO LET ME ANSWER FOR YOU, LACEY. NO, THE AUTHOR NEVER SPOKE TO BEING TO THE SENATE BILL BEING RETROACTIVE, RETROACTIVE. THE LAW DOES NOT SPEAK TO IT BEING RETROACTIVE. THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO MAKE IT RETROACTIVE IS A FIREFIGHTERS UNION. AND THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE SEEKING. THEY WANT THIS BINDING ARBITRATION BILL TO GO BACK TO 2017 TO 18 20 19, 20 20. THAT'S NOT IN THE LEGISLATION. AND THEY HAVE REQUESTED IT IN THE COURT. NUMBER TWO, THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT DIDN'T END IT. THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT REMANDED IT. MM-HMM . BACK TO THE TRIAL COURT LEVEL FOR THE TRIAL COURT TO DECIDE OKAY, WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS A BALLOT MEASURE BY THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION. THAT TRIAL IS SCHEDULED IN APRIL OF NEXT YEAR. AND NUMBER THREE, THE CITY NEVER SUED THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION. IN FACT, THE CITY HAS NEVER SUED ANYONE. THIS IS A FIREFIGHTER'S LAWSUIT. AND NUMBER FOUR, YOU ARE ASKING THE CITY NOT TO PROVIDE LEGAL SUPPORT FUNDING FOR THE CITY'S LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO DO ITS JOB. BUT WHAT COUNCIL SHOULD KNOW EVERY MONTH THROUGH THE CITY'S PROCESSES, THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION ARE DEDUCTING FIVE TO $10 A MONTH FROM FIREFIGHTERS TO PAY THEIR LAWYERS. SO WE SHOULDN'T PAY OURS, BUT THEY ARE PAYING LEGAL FEES FOR THEIR LAWYERS. MAYOR, LET ME JUMP RIGHT IN. OH, I DID. WE'RE CLAIM SOME OF MY TIME. SO IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A LEGAL QUESTION FOR THE COURTS. THI THIS BODY DOESN'T, DOESN'T MAKE THAT, THAT RULING. IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S TWO PARTIES. THEY HAVE ADVERSE PERSPECTIVE. IT'S A LEGAL QUESTION ON IF IT'S, IF IT'S CLEAR LANGUAGE OR NOT REGARDING, UH, IT BEING RETROACTIVE. AND THAT'S FOR A THIRD PARTY TO DECIDE, NOT US. AND SO THERE SHOULD BE REPRESENTATION ON BOTH SIDES OF THAT ARGUMENT TO BE ABLE TO PUT FORTH THEIR ARGUMENT, UH, AND THEN FOR THAT THIRD PARTY TO DECIDE. AND SO THE ITEM THAT IS BEFORE US TOMORROW IS JUST TO HAVE ADEQUATE REPRESENTATION TO MAKE THE ARGUMENT BOTH SIDES SHOULD HAVE ADEQUATE REPRESENTATION. AND IN THE LAWSUIT, IT IS THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT IS THE DEFENDANT, NOT ME OR THE MAYOR OR YOU OR ANYONE ELSE IS THE TAXPAYER. THE TAXPAYER IS THE DEFENDANT. AND THE TAXPAYER DESERVES TO HAVE REPRESENTATION REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE ARGUMENT IS SO THAT THE TRIER EFFECT CAN BE ABLE TO HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION PROVIDED TO MAKE THAT. AND SO THIS ITEM IS JUST TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE DOLLARS PUT FORTH FOR THAT ADEQUATE REPRESENTATION SO THAT BOTH SIDES CAN HAVE, UM, THE REPRESENTATION OF THEIR CHOICE THAT THEY CAN AFFORD. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. IF I MAY, THE PUBLIC HAS ALREADY MADE THEIR, THEY MADE THAT ISSUE KNOWN WHEN THEY VOTED [01:10:01] FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS BACK THOSE MANY YEARS AGO. THAT, SO THE PUBLIC KNOWS WHERE WE STAND, THIS IS WHERE THE PUBLIC WANTS TO GO, BUT THIS QUESTION IS ONLY ON IT BEING RETROACTIVE OR NOT. THAT QUESTION IS STILL BEFORE US. AND I THINK BOTH SIDES HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON THAT. AND WE'LL HAVE A TRIER OF FACT BE ABLE TO DECIDE ON WHICH ONE HAS A PREVAILING ARGUMENT, BUT WHAT THE VOTER, THE VOTERS NEVER VOTED ON IT BEING RETROACTIVE OR NOT. COUNCIL, COUNCILWOMAN CAMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, REALLY QUICKLY, I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR IN EITHER, YOU KNOW, IT'S WHEN IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU TOO. GREAT TO SEE YOU. UM, MAYOR, THIS MAY BE FOR, IT MAY BE FOR YOU. UM, BUT THERE, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. UM, BUT ARE WE NOT MOVING FORWARD WITH COLLECTIVE BARGAINING FOR THIS YEAR? AS WELL. CORRECT. THE CITY'S PREPARED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND BINDING DEMONSTRATION. IF YOU'RE LOOKING FUTURISTICALLY, THE ISSUE IS IF YOU, IF THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION IS SEEKING TO BE, IF THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION IS SEEKING TO BE RETROACTIVE AND APPLY THE BINDING ARBITRATION BILL TO PAST YEARS, LIKE 27, 20 18, 20 19, THEN THERE'S A MAJOR ISSUE HERE. BUT IN TERMS OF GOING FORWARD, LOOKING FUTURISTICALLY AND MOST LEGISLATION, LACEY, UNLESS IT IS EXPRESSLY UH, STATED, IT'S FUTURISTIC. IT DOESN'T GO BACK IN TIME. IN MY 27 YEARS, IF I WANTED, IF WE WANTED TO APPLY LEGISLATION TO FIVE YEARS AGO, YOU HAD TO EXPRESSLY STATE THAT. OTHERWISE IT'S FUTURISTIC. SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT THE BIG ISSUE, THAT'S WHAT THE BIG ISSUE IS. AND ARE THERE, THIS WILL BE MORE FOR DISCUSSION TOMORROW. I APOLOGIZE, I DON'T WANNA HIJACK, BUT ARE THERE, UM, COST TO BOTH THE CITY AND THE UNION WHEN IT COMES TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, WHETHER IT'S FUTURE OR THERE WILL STILL BE COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT BECAUSE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ISSUES, NOT JUST PAY, THERE'S BENEFITS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S INCLUDED WITH IT. OKAY. AND AGAIN, AND WE ARE PREPARED TO ENGAGE IN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WITH BINDING ARBITRATION. WHEN YOU LOOKING FUTURISTICALLY, SO IS IT REMOVING COLLECTIVE BARGAINING FROM PREVIOUS YEARS? IS THAT WHAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? NO, WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS THAT WE ARE PREPARED TO GO, TO BE AT THE TABLE AND TO ENGAGE IN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. LET'S SAY FOR THIS IS 23 GOING, LOOKING AT 23 TO 24 WITH THE NEW BILL IN PLACE GOING FUTURISTICALLY. THE MAJOR ISSUE IS THAT IF SOMEONE IS TRYING TO APPLY THE BINDING ARBITRATION BILL RETROACTIVELY, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY HAVE INSERTED INTO THE EQUATION AND THAT'S CREATING A HUGE ISSUE. BUT DOES IT TAKE ANYTHING PREVIOUSLY DONE AWAY? ANYTHING THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, ANYTHING WE'VE NEGOTIATED ALL THESE YEARS? DOES IT JUST SAY NONE OF THAT JUST DIDN'T HAPPEN? NO. YOU, WELL, YOU ARE MOVING FORWARD IN A FUTURISTIC WAY. YES. NOW, THE LAWSUIT IN 20, THE LAWSUIT THAT THEY FILED IN 2017, WHICH THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT REMANDED BACK TO THE TRIAL DISTRICT COURT, THE SET OF ISSUES THAT STILL HAVE TO BE WORKED THROUGH AND THE GUIDELINES THAT THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT HAVE NOW ISSUED. SO WE ALL OBLIGATED THE TRIAL JUDGE AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS OBLIGATED TO OPERATE UNDER THE, UM, THE GUIDELINES THAT THE TECH TEXAS SUPREME COURT HAS ISSUED. AND SO WHAT THEY SAID, I'M SENDING IT BACK TO THE, TO THE DISTRICT COURT UNDER THE GUIDELINES THAT WE HAVE PUT PUT FORTH NOW TO THE DISTRICT COURT, TO THE JUDGE, NOW YOU ALL TAKE A LOOK AT EVERYTHING ELSE AGAIN. THAT'S FAIR GAME. NOBODY'S TAKING ISSUE WITH THAT. WELL, IF WE WENT TO ARBITRATION, IT WOULDN'T EVEN COST ANY MONEY AT ALL EITHER. WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO EVEN BE WORRIED ABOUT WELL, BUT YOU THIS, BUT YOU'RE TRYING TO COME I I'M SORRY IF I MAY JUST RECLAIM MY TIME. I'M NOT, I'M NOT TRYING TO GET INTO THE, THE LEGAL CASE RIGHT NOW. AGAIN, YES, I'M A LAWYER. YES. COUNCILOR POLLARD'S A LAWYER. YES. THE MAYOR'S A LAWYER, BUT I'M WEARING MY COUNCILS MEMBER HAT FOR A SECOND. ALL I WAS INQUIRING ABOUT WAS THE FACT BECAUSE WE'RE, I, I FEEL LIKE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONFUSION. 'CAUSE WHAT YOU SAID WAS, UH, THIS IS A VOTE AGAINST, I, I DON'T WANT TO PUT WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH, BUT ABOUT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND I WANTED TO JUST MAKE SURE FOR THE RECORD, UH, ONE, REGARDLESS OF PAST MOVING FORWARD WITH COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND THANK YOU MAYOR FOR THE CLARIFICATION ABOUT THE COURT CASE ISN'T ABOUT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. IT'S ABOUT BINDING ARBITRATION AND ALL, ALL, YOU KNOW, I'M TAKING IN ALL THE FEEDBACK. I'M NOT SAYING, BUT I JUST WANTED FOR THE, TO CLARIFY AND MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY IS MOVING FORWARD WITH COLLECTIVE BARGAINING SINCE YOU RAISED THAT ISSUE. THAT'S ALL MAYOR. RIGHT. BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE VERY, VERY, VERY CLEAR AS IT RELATES TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND BINDING ARBITRATION IN THE SENATE BILL. THE CITY IS PREPARED NOW TO MOVE FORWARD. [01:15:01] OKAY. THE, THE ONLY ISSUE THAT'S CLOUDING EVERYTHING IS WHEN THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION IS TRYING TO INSERT RETROACTIVE APPLICATION GOING BACK TO 2017 BASED ON THE SENATE BILL THAT WAS JUST FILED AND THE SENATE AUTHOR AND THE LEGISLATION NEVER SAID ONE WORD ABOUT APPLYING THE BINDING ARBITRATION BILL RETROACTIVELY. SO AS LONG AS THEY'RE GOING TO SEEK TO ARGUE THAT THE CITY HAS EVERY RIGHT TO DEFEND HIS POSITION. AND LASTLY, I THINK WHAT EVERYBODY SHOULD BEAR IN MIND, WE ARE THE DEFENDANT. WE ARE NOT THE PLAINTIFF. THE CITY DIDN'T SUE, THE CITY DIDN'T SUE LACEY. AND YOU AND I HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A LONG TIME. AND ON 99.9% OF THE ISSUES, YOU AND I ARE GENERALLY ON THE SAME PAGE, 99.9% OF THE TIME. NOT JUST OVER ONE YEAR, BUT OVER DECADES. OKAY. I LIKE TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE WITH YOU NOW. AND WHAT I'M SAYING TO YOU, THE CITY IS NOT OPPOSED TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. WE ARE NOT, BUT WE DO HAVE A RIGHT TO DEFEND THE CITY'S POSITION. THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. THANKS. THANKS LACEY. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. COURTNEY REBELS. COURTNEY REBELS. COURTNEY SHOULD BE FOLLOWED BY JEANETTE'S TEXTING. PLEASE DISCONNECT YOUR PHONES OR PUT IT ON, UH, ON UH, WHAT YOU CALL IT. TURN OFF YOUR RINGER. TURN OFF THE RINGER. COURTNEY, HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING TODAY? I GET SO NERVOUS. SO NERVOUS UP HERE. UM, SO MY NAME IS COURTNEY REBELS. I'M FROM NORTHEAST HOUSTON AND WE'VE COME OUT TODAY TO, UM, UH, I GUESS TO SPEAK ABOUT THE RFP TO PRIVATIZE WATER. UM, SO ALTHOUGH WE DON'T AGREE WITH HOW THE CITY LIKE TREATS WATER AND STUFF, WE STILL DON'T WANNA SEE THE WATER, UM, BE PRIVATIZED AND WE DON'T WANNA SEE, UM, THE CONTROL OF THE TREATMENT OF WATER BEING MOVED TO AN OUTSIDE ORGANIZATION. ALSO, I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR EDUCATION AND WE'VE SEEN WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE STATE AND WITH LIKE THIS MUTUAL AID SERVICE, LIKE EDUCATION. SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN LIKE, KEEP THE POWER THAT WE HAVE ON LIKE A LOCAL LEVEL. SO IF WE CAN'T HOLD A TREATMENT PLAN OR THE CITY ACCOUNTABLE, WE DO NOT WANT TO SEE, UM, AN RFP GO ON THE BOOKS FOR THAT. WE'D ALSO LIKE TO SEE, UM, THE CITY BE MORE TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON. WE REALLY JUST HEARD ABOUT THIS LIKE LAST WEEK. SO WE ARE HERE TO STAND UP FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND SUPPORT THEM AND JUST ASK YOU GUYS TO NOT, UM, ALLOW THAT RFP TO GO THROUGH OR JUST KIND OF LIKE, UM, ANSWER THE PUBLIC RECORDS RE REQUEST AND JUST LET US KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AS CITIZENS. WE DESERVE THAT. AND, UM, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR TODAY. ALSO, I WANNA AGREE WITH MR. NICHOLS ON THE TURS. UM, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THE STIPULATIONS AROUND THE TURS ARE NOT GONNA ELIMINATE TURS THAT, UM, ARE JUST NOW GETTING EFFECTIVE. I LIVED IN THE LELAND WOODS TURS, AND I DON'T WANNA SEE THAT BE DISSOLVED 'CAUSE WE JUST NOW FINDING OUT ABOUT IT AND WE'RE, WE'RE ON THEIR BUTTS AND WE WANNA JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN HERE FIGHTING FOR LIKE, FLOOD MITIGATION AND EVERYTHING, AND WE WANNA USE THE THINGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US. SO THANK YOU GUYS. THANK SPEAKERS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, JEANETTE SEXTON. JEANETTE IS HERE. SO WE FOLLOWED BY BARBARA ESME. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JEANETTE SEXTON AND I LIVE IN PASADENA, TEXAS, A FEW MILES NORTH OF THE SOUTHEAST WATER PURIFICATION PLANT. I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN ON A FIXED INCOME. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THE PRIVATIZATION OF OUR WATER. I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED OF THE THOUGHT OF TURNING OVER ANY LEVEL OF CONTROL OF A VITAL COMMODITY. WE ALL NEED TO SURVIVE OVER TO A CORPORATION THAT WILL ALWAYS PUT ITS PROFITS OVER OUR COMMUNITY. PRIVATIZATION COULD RESULT IN UNAFFORDABLE BILLS, SERIOUS HEALTH AND SAFETY VIOLATIONS NOT REPORTED TO THE PUBLIC. AND A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, OFTEN ANTICIPATED COST SAVINGS UNDER PRIVATIZATION FAIL TO MATERIALIZE ACROSS TEXAS. WE HAVE ALSO ALREADY SEEN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE RUN OUR ESSENTIAL SERVICES LIKE ELECTRICITY. LIKE A BUSINESS AS A CITY WORKS TO DELIVER RELIABLE, SAFE DRINKING WATER. WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT THE SYSTEM REMAINS UNDER PUBLIC CONTROL SO THAT DECISIONS ARE MADE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST BY OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE NEED OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO STEP IN ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE AND END THIS [01:20:01] CORPORATE TAKEOVER OF OUR WATER SYSTEM THAT WOULD EXPLOIT OUR COMMUNITIES AND POTENTIALLY HAVE DETRIMENTAL CONSEQUENCES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. COUNCILMAN JACKSON? THANK YOU MAYOR. MAYOR. AND THANK YOU MS. SEXTONS FOR COMING IN. AND COURTNEY, UM, THANK YOU FOR COMING UP. MAYOR, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I'VE HEARD ABOUT THIS. IS THERE ANYTHING GOING ON WITH PRIVATIZATION OF THE PLANT? WHAT IS HAPPENING IS THAT THE SOUTHEAST WATER, UH, PLANT IS OPERATED BY SEVERAL, NO, IT'S, I'M SORRY. IT'S OPERATED BY SEVERAL ENTITIES. HOUSTON BEING ONE. THERE WAS AN RFP PUT OUT IN 2021. OKAY. AND THEN, AND THEN RFP IS STILL OPEN. NO FINAL DECISION HAS BEEN MADE. AND SO BECAUSE THAT RRFP IS STILL ACTIVE, I'M JUST RELUCTANT TO SAY MUCH MORE BEYOND THAT. BUT THIS WAS PUT OUT IN 2021. OKAY. OKAY. BUT NO FINAL DECISION HAS BEEN MADE. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU. OKAY. I SAW THE SPEAKERS LIST AND SAW ALL THE SPEAKERS DEALING WITH THIS. I'M, WHERE'D YOU GO? TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE IT CAME FROM. IDEA. WE HAVE NO IDEA. I HAVE NO IDEA. NEXT. OH, I'M SORRY. NEXT SPEAKER. BARBARA ATE. BARBARA ATE. SHE'S ONE MINUTE SPEAKER. BARBARA NOT PRESENT. NEXT SPEAKER. TERRY STONE. TERRY STONE IS HERE. OKAY. HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M TERRY STONE. I'M PRESIDENT OF GREATER HOUSTON PICKLEBALL AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT PICKLEBALL. ALL RIGHT. OH, I LIKE, I LIKE IT. THAT'S GOOD. THAT'S GOOD. PICKLEBALL GROWTH AND POPULARITY IS TREMENDOUS. IT IS POPULAR AMONG ALL SOCIOECONOMIC GROUPS. I PLAY WITH DOCTORS, BLUE COLLAR WORKERS, ROCKET SCIENTISTS, AS WELL AS THOSE OF DIFFERENT TRADITIONS AND BACKGROUNDS. PICKLEBALL IS A COMMUNITY BUILDING SPORT. IT'S A FOURTH THAT IS FUN THE FIRST TIME YOU PICK UP A PADDLE. I THINK SOME OF YOU PLAYED OUTSIDE OF CITY HALL LAST YEAR. YEAH. FOR THE SAME INVESTMENT. YOU CAN HAVE FACILITIES THAT SUPPORT OVER TWICE THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS AS THAT OF TENNIS OR BASKETBALL AS GET MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK. YOU CAN SEE PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENTS ON NATIONAL TV INVESTORS ARE SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON PROFESSIONAL PICKLEBALL. THE TOP PROS ARE NOW MAKING SEVEN FIGURE INCOMES FROM THE GAME. AND ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, THREE OF US FROM THE CLEAR LAKE AREA STARTED THE GREATER HOUSTON PICKLEBALL CLUB. IT'S A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. WE SAW THE BENEFIT OF THE GAME TO OUR COMMUNITIES, BUT WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LACK OF FACILITIES IN HOUSTON AREA. WE STARTED THE CLUB TO FACILITATE PLAY AND COMMUNITY BUILDING TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT THE GAME, TO SHOW ADULTS AND KIDS HOW TO PLAY AND TO ADVOCATE FOR THE FACILITIES NEEDED TO INTRODUCE THE GAME TO EVEN MORE PLAYERS. SO I AM HERE TO SAY THANKS TO CITY COUNCILWOMAN ABBY ABBY CAYMAN. SHE IS A TRUE FRIEND OF THE PICKLE, THE GROWING PICKLEBALL COMMUNITY, UH, DIRECTOR PARKS AND REX, KENNETH ALLEN PARKS, AND REX, DEPUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AT ATHLETICS AND AQUATICS. TOM ANGELOS, DIVISION MANAGER, FACILITIES MAINTENANCE. WAYNE WILSON, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT. MIKE EISERMAN, DIVISION MANAGER, LUCY CORREA, TENNIS DIRECTOR, ZENA GARRISON IN PARTICULAR. AND ALL PARKS AND RECS EMPLOYEES AND MANY OTHER CITY EMPLOYEES. WITHOUT THEIR HELP, WE COULD NOT HAVE HOSTED THE FIRST PROFESSIONAL TOURNAMENT. THE HOUSTON OPEN AT MEMORIAL PARK LAST OCTOBER, 700 PROS IN THE AMATEURS PLAYED IN THAT TOURNAMENT. AND OUR SECOND TOURNAMENT IS SCHEDULED FOR THIS OCTOBER. IT WILL BE EVEN BIGGER AND BETTER. THANK YOU FOR THAT PARTS. AND RICK'S HAS A PROGRAM TO PAINT PICKLEBALL LINES ON AT LEAST SOME OF THE EXISTING TENNIS COURTS IN ALL CITY PARKS. MORE PRIVATE FACILITIES ARE POPPING UP ACROSS HOUSTON, SUCH AS THE BUMPY PICKLE, PICKLEBALL, SOCIAL CHICKEN AND PICKLE AND OTHER. AND I THINK IT'S BECAUSE OF THE TOURNAMENT THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR, BROUGHT IT TO THE FOREFRONT. AND PEOPLE ARE INVESTING LOTS OF MONEY INTO PICKLEBALL, BUT THERE ARE VERY FEW PERMANENT DEDICATED PICKLEBALL COURTS. MANY CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE PICKLEBALL, PARKS AND FACILITIES. SOME PRIVATELY OWNED, SOME CITY OWNED, AND THEY HOST MAJOR TOURNAMENTS. NAPLES, FLORIDA HOSTS THE US OPEN WITH OVER 3000 PLAYERS AT A CITY OWNED PARK. THE NATIONALS HAD BEEN PLAYED IN PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA. NOW IT IS BEING PLAYED IN DALLAS THIS YEAR. THEY CAN ACCOMMODATE 4,000 PLAYERS. AUSTIN IS THE HOME OF MAJOR LEAGUE PICKLEBALL. WHY DALLAS? WHY AUSTIN? WHY NOT HOUSTON? BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE COURTS GRASSROOTS, BROAD ADOPTION OF THE GAME NEEDS DEDICATED COURTS. COURTS WITH PERMANENT NETS. HOUSTON NEEDS A FACILITY WHERE WE CAN HOST YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. ONE ONE SECOND. COUNCILWOMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU. TERRY. IF YOU JUST WANNA TAKE LIKE 10 SECONDS OF MY TIME TO WRAP UP AND THEN I, I HAVE [01:25:01] A REMARK I WANNA SAY. OKAY. I ONLY HAVE, JUST, JUST REAL QUICK. HOUSTON NEEDS A FACILITY WHERE WE CAN HOST MULTIPLE REGIONAL NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS A YEAR FOR OUR CITIZENS AND FOR THE REVENUE TO BE REINVESTED IN COMMUNITY AND SPORT. HOUSTON NEEDS TO BE IN THE PICKLEBALL GAME. GREATER HOUSTON PICKLEBALL CLUB IS HERE TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO GROW THE GAME AND TO BUILD COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE PICKLEBALL PLAYERS IN GREATER HOUSTON FOR THE PAST SUPPORT AND YOUR SUPPORT GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU AND TERRY. UH, IF, IF, IF Y'ALL CAN'T TELL, TERRY IS A MAN ON A MISSION. UH, SO TERRY WORKED WITH MY OFFICE AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND OTHERS TO BRING THE NATIONAL TOURNAMENT HERE. MANY OF YOU ATTENDED, UH, MAYOR, UH, WE PLAYED OUTSIDE AT, AT THE STEPS AT CITY HALL. PEOPLE JUST WALKING AROUND AND EMPLOYEES JOINED IN. THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS ARE NOW GETTING INVOLVED IN PICKLEBALL BECAUSE IT'S A SPORT FOR ALL AGES. YOU CAN PLAY IT MM-HMM . UM, PRETTY MUCH ANYWHERE. AND I'M SO PROUD THAT TERRY WORKING WITH YOU AND MICHAEL, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO FUND SOME OF THE PERS PUBLICLY FUNDED ONES IN DISTRICT C, BOTH AT CHERRY HURST, UH, EXCUSE ME, AT WEST GRAY AND CARL YOUNG MORE COMING ONLINE. BUT, UM, WHAT TERRY'S TALKING ABOUT IS WE HAVE THE TOURNAMENT COMING HERE, BUT IN ORDER TO BE, YOU KNOW, ON THE MAP YEP. UH, CREATING MORE FACILITIES. YES. SO, TERRY, I APPRECIATE YOU ALL OF THE CLUBS THAT ARE OUT THERE. UM, I WEAR THE FACT THAT I'M THE, UH, HONORARY PICKLEBALL COUNCIL MEMBER. YES, YOU ARE. UH, I WEAR THAT BADGE PROUDLY. UH, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU ARE DOING BECAUSE YOU ARE THE REASON WHY WE HAVE THE NATIONAL TOURNAMENT NOW COMING EVEN FOR A SECOND YEAR HERE TO HOUSTON AND MEMORIAL PARK. OKAY. WELL, I THINK MAYBE IT WAS YOU, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ONE COUNCILMAN . THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU TERRY. I'M ON THE PICKLEBALL TRAIN TOO. I PLAY A LOT. I PLAYED SUNDAY NIGHT. I'VE BEEN TOLD I HAVE A VERY GOOD SERVE. OH, EXCELLENT. UM, BUT ANYWAY, IT'S SO MUCH FUN AND THANK YOU FOR ADVOCATING FOR IT. IT'S, IT IS A SPORT FOR EVERYBODY AND IT'S JUST GREAT TO GET OUT THERE. AND I, AND I'M ALL FOR IT. WHEREVER WE CAN PAINT LINES DOWN CLOSE TO MY HOUSE, THE CITY PARK, THEY HAVE LINES PLAYING PAINTED ON THAT COURT AND PEOPLE USE IT LIKE CRAZY. THAT'S RIGHT. UH, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENTHUSIASM. AND IT, IT'S, IT'S SO MUCH FUN. I JUST LOVE THE WHOLE CRAZE. IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST GOING CRAZY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. YES. SO, THANK YOU. THANKS. COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU TERRY. I KNOW THAT, UH, IN DISTRICT, I, I AM WORKING WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, UH, IN REGARDS TO EXISTING, UM, TE TENNIS COURTS AT, UH, CLINTON PARK, MASON PARK AND CHARLTON PARK. SO THAT WOULD COVER PRETTY MUCH ALL AREAS OF MY DISTRICT IN REGARDS TO AT LEAST HAVING SOME PICKLEBALL COURTS. SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT. THAT'S GREAT. AND WE'RE HERE TO HELP. IF YOU NEED ANY HELP, WE'RE, WE'RE ANXIOUS TO HELP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. OKAY, THANKS. NEXT SPEAKER, DAVID GODWIN. DAVID GODWIN. DAVID IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY ELLEN GOLDBERG. OKAY. HELLO EVERYONE. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE MY TIME TO ELLEN GOLDBERG TO SPEAK ON SISTER CITIES. OKAY. SHE'S THE NEXT PERSON. CALL, IF YOU'LL CALL THE NEXT SPEAKER. ELLEN GOLDBERG. ELLEN GOLDBERG IS HERE. OKAY. NOW TWO OF YOU'LL HAVE TO STEP BACK. THANK YOU. OKAY. TWO OF, YOU'LL HAVE TO STEP BACK. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. TWO OF, YOU'LL HAVE TO STEP BACK. OKAY. YEAH. NOW, ELLEN, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON SISTER CITIES OF HOUSTON, OR AS WE CALL IT SCH. AND NOW I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE PEOPLE WHO WERE STANDING BEHIND ME. UH, PRESIDENT OF OUR ORGANIZATION, SUSAN YOUNG JUDGE. UH, BILL LITTLEJOHN, WHO IS FROM SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL AND SISTER CITIES OF HOUSTON. HE'S A BOARD MEMBER, AS IS FATIMA BENCH, WHO WAS ALSO THE, UH, PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON LUANDA SISTER CITY. AND, UM, AND DAVID, DAVID GODWIN. UH, WE'RE GRATEFUL TO MOTIA HOUSTON PHLEGM, UH, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF, UH, TRADE AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS FOR ITS GUIDANCE FOR THOSE IN THE CHAMBER WHO AREN'T AWARE OF WHAT SISTER CITIES OF HOUSTON IS OR SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL. IT WAS BEGUN IN 1956 BY PRESIDENT EISENHOWER WHO THOUGHT THAT PERSON TO PERSON DIPLOMACY WOULD HELP MAKE PEACE. IF WE GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER, WE DON'T FEAR THEM. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE. UM, THEY'RE NONPROFIT, ALL VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS, UH, CREATED BY MAYORS AND THEIR PARTNERS OVERSEAS. HOUSTON HAS 19 OF THEM. THAT'S QUITE A FEW ALL ARE UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF [01:30:01] SISTER CITIES OF HOUSTON. OUR PROJECTS ARE VARIED AND THEY INCLUDE, UH, CULTURE, EDUCATION, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, AND TRADE AND HUMANITARIAN ENDEAVORS AMONG OTHER THINGS. IN FEBRUARY, SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL HELD A CONFERENCE IN CAPE TOWN. UH, IT WAS AN AFRICAN SUMMIT. AND ONE OF THE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO GET 500 NEW SISTER CITIES IN AFRICA. NOW THERE ARE 54 COUNTRIES, SO WE BELIEVE THAT'S A GOAL THAT CAN BE REACHED. HOUSTON AND THE WANDA WERE SELECTED FOR, UH, SPORTS DIPLOMACY PROJECT. AND WE'RE WORKING WITH NBA AFRICA, WHICH IS VERY EXCITING. THE PROJECT IS TO ESTABLISH, UM, BASKETBALL LEAGUES FOR BOYS AND GIRLS FROM THE AGES OF SIX TO 18. AND, UM, THE OTHER THING WILL INVOLVE EXCHANGES SO THAT 20 OF OUR STUDENTS HERE, OR, OR TEENAGERS CAN GO TO LUANDA AND 20 FROM LUANDA CAN COME HERE AT THE MEETING OF SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL IN DURHAM. RECENTLY, THE HOUSTON KARACHI SISTER CITY ASSOCIATION WON THE SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL 202 0 2 3 ANNUAL AWARD FOR INNOVATION FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE. AND THAT'S THE FIFTH AWARD THAT THEY'VE GOTTEN IN 12 YEARS. SO WE'RE PRETTY LUCKY. HOUSTON IS ON THE MAP WITH SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL. ON BEHALF OF CONS, GENERAL ED, ARI, AND MAYOR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. I'LL GIVE YOU ANOTHER MINUTE. THANK YOU. AND MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER HOSTED A, UH, A LUNCHEON THAT WAS FOR THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF SISTER CITIES, UH, THE HOUSTON ABU DHABI SISTER CITY. AND AS AN ASIDE, I WAS THE FOUNDING PRESIDENT AND MY MAIDEN NAME WAS ISRAEL. UH, THAT'S SHOWS WHAT WE DO. UH, THE CONS GENERAL SPOKE AS DID THE PRESIDENT JAMAL BGI AND GAVE AN IN, GAVE INFORMATION ON ABU DHABI AND THE UAE. WE CONTINUE TO FIND WAYS FOR THE SISTER CITIES OF HOUSTON TO BE AN ASSET TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND, UM, WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR HELP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO. SISTER CITIES IS A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL, GLOBAL, UM, UH, DIPLOMACY YES. ORGANIZATION. AND IT PULLS IN CITIES FROM ALL, FROM ALL OVER. AND CERTAINLY THAT RELATIONSHIP, UM, HAS BEEN VERY POSITIVE, VERY IMPACTFUL, UH, FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO LET ME THANK YOU ALL FOR GOING BACK TO THE LATE 1950S, YOU KNOW, ALL THE WAY UP AND, UH, AS YOU SAID, 19 SISTER CITIES FOR US. UH, AND THAT NUMBER SHOULD GROW AND OTHERS HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN, IN BECOMING A PART OF SISTER STATE RELATIONSHIPS. YES. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO. ALRIGHT, LET ME, COUNCILMAN THOMAS FIRST. THANK YOU, MAYOR TURNER. AND THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. AND I JUST WANTED TO SHARE, SHE, SHE DID HOST, UM, A LUNCHEON LAST WEEK IN YOUR OFFICE OF, UH, UH, UH, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS DIRECTOR. OLSON DID A PHENOMENAL JOB, AND IT JUST REMINDED, UH, ME OF WHILE WE WERE IN AFRICA AND THE REQUEST OF HAVING DEEPER RELATIONSHIP. YES. UM, SO WOULD LOVE TO NOMINATE AJA AND CRA AND WHENEVER YOU CHOOSE TO DO THAT IN OCTOBER, I'M GONNA GO ON THAT TRIP WITH YOU TWO . UH, BUT THE WORK IS PHENOMENAL, UH, THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING. AND I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT IT WASN'T AS ACTIVE. WE WEREN'T REALLY IN RELATIONSHIP FOR A LONG TIME. SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SUPPORTING YOUR FUTURE EFFORTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANKS. COUNCILMAN EVANS SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO MONROVIA LIBERIA, UH, IN HOPES OF ESTABLISHING A SISTER CITY. AND I WANNA, UH, HIGHLIGHT, UH, JUDGE LITTLEJOHN BACK THERE. THEY HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE WORK TO TRY TO MOVE FORWARD, AND HOPEFULLY SOMETHING CAN, CAN HAPPEN BEFORE YOU LEAVE, BECAUSE WE CERTAINLY WANNA MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT SISTER CITY. WE KNOW THE ADVANTAGES TO BOTH COUNTRIES ACTUALLY. AND SO, UH, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT KINDA LANGUISHED FOR A WHILE. SO I WOULD LIKE TO KINDA REV THAT UP AND SEE IF WE COULD MOVE FORWARD WITH THE MONROVIA, LIBERIA, UH, EFFORTS TO BECOME A SISTER CITY. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR COMING FORWARD. THANKS. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND ELLEN. THANK YOU. AND DAVID, AND JUDGE LITTLE JOHN THE ENTIRE, UH, LEADERSHIP OF SISTER CITIES. UM, COUPLE THINGS. I I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GO TO TAIPEI CITY, UH, RECENTLY, WHICH I THINK IS OUR OLDEST SISTER CITY. AND, UH, ESTABLISHING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND STRENGTHENING THOSE TIES MM-HMM [01:35:01] . UH, THEY WANT TO MAKE, UH, UH, ONE OR TWO TRIPS ANNUAL TO KEEP THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HOUSTON AND TAIPEI CITY, UH, STRONG. UH, BUT WAS VERY INTERESTED TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE, UH, THE NBA AFRICA AND THE, UM, RELATIONSHIPS, UH, WITH ESTABLISHING, UH, CITIES WITHIN AFRICA. UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO BE KEPT ABREAST OF AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE TIMELINES OF ALL THAT MAY BE. AND SO, UH, IF YOU CAN, IT'S FIVE, 505 YEARS. OKAY. THAT'S, THAT'S A PRETTY BIG UNDERTAKING, . UH, BUT IF YOU CAN KEEP MY OFFICE UPDATED ON, UH, THOSE EFFORTS, UM, THAT HAS PIQUED MY INTEREST. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD. THANK YOU. THANKS, ELLEN. THANKS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER. SUSAN YOUNG. SUSAN YOUNG SUSAN IS HERE, FOLLOWED BY WILL WILLIAM OLIVER. HELLO, I'M SUSAN YOUNG AND YOU'RE HEARING A LOT ABOUT SISTER CITIES. YOU HEARD FROM US LAST WEEK. WELL, GUESS WHAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM US AGAIN THIS WEEK? UH, I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE SISTER CITIES OF HOUSTON ASSOCIATION, AND I WANTED TO SAY THAT WE HAVE ONE OF THE MOST ROBUST PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY. AND IT'S ALSO UNUSUAL IN THAT IT RELIES ON TWO ELEMENTS. ONE IS A LOT OF VOLUNTEERISM, AND YOU'RE SEEING WHAT THE STRENGTH OF THAT IS WITH US HERE TODAY. BUT ALSO IT REQUIRES A MAJOR COMMITMENT BY THE CITY BECAUSE THE CITY IS THE ENTITY THAT HAS THE SOVEREIGN RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH OF THE INDIVIDUAL SISTER CITIES. AND IT ALSO HAS THE PRIMARY RELATIONSHIP WITH SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THIS CITY HAS REALLY STEPPED UP. AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL OF YOU THAT I'VE SEEN AT OUR EVENTS. WE HAVE COMING UP OUR ONE WORLD CONCERT AND ONE WORLD AWARD, AND I KNOW CARLA HAS BEEN THERE FOR OUR YOUTH TALENT SHOWCASE. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH HAS BEEN THERE FOR OUR, FOR OUR ONE WORLD AWARD. WE HAVE A SOCCER TOURNAMENT COMING UP. SO WE'VE GOT A VERY BUSY OCTOBER. AND THEN NEXT YEAR, UH, THERE ARE TWO MAJOR EVENTS IN 2024. ONE IN MAY, ONE OF THEM IS A, AN ALL AMERICAS CONFERENCE IN SAN ANTONIO IN MAY, BUT EQUALLY IMPORTANT, THE A A IP HERE IN HOUSTON. SO WE WILL BE KEEPING YOU APPRISED OF THESE THINGS. BUT LET ME THANK EVERY MEMBER OF COUNCIL HERE. I KNOW THAT WE HAVE HAD A LOVELY EVENT WITH COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER JUST LAST WEEK, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MAYOR TURNER. YOU HAVE MADE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS A HIGH PRIORITY. YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED SISTER CITIES AS BEING A FLAGSHIP ELEMENT IN THAT PLAN. YOU'VE NAMED A TOP-NOTCH STAFF HEADED BY CHRIS OLSON. UH, THIS IS THE MOST POWERFUL INVESTMENT IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS I'VE EVER SEEN. AND I'VE BEEN HANGING AROUND THE CITY GOVERNMENT FOR A LONG TIME. AND I ALSO WANNA ESPECIALLY THANK JESSICA NO, WHO, UH, CHRIS DEDICATED TO BE OUR LIAISON. SHE'S LOVELY, BRILLIANT, GRACIOUS. AND I DON'T THINK WE COULD HAVE GOTTEN AS FAR AS WE HAVE SINCE 2018 WITHOUT HER HELP. SO I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL AND THANK MY COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU COUNCIL. ALRIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU, SUSAN. UH, REALLY QUICKLY. I MEAN, YOU SAID IT BEST, UH, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU AND EVERYONE DOES. UH, DAVID, I WAS HOPING YOU WERE GONNA SPEAK AS A DISTRICT C RESIDENT, BUT I KNOW HOW HARD YOU WERE. I'M A DISTRICT C RESIDENT. . I KNOW . UH, AND WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU AND ELLEN. I KNOW THAT WE'VE, UM, GOTTEN TO CATCH UP EVEN AT, I BELIEVE IT WAS AT THE CONS GENERAL OF, UH, ITALY'S, UH, EVENT. AND AS YOU SAID, THE WORK THAT'S DONE ISN'T JUST CELEBRATORY OR FOR SHOW THE BENEFITS BOTH FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, FOR OUR COUNTRY, UH, AND FOR THE WORLD. UH, THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR THAT. SO NOW, MORE THAN EVER, NOW, MORE THAN EVER. SO AGAIN, SUSAN IS A DISTRICT C RESIDENT, BUT MORE SO IN YOUR ROLE AS A LEADER IN THIS EFFORT. UM, AND MAYOR, YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND OF COURSE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF TRADE, UM, OUTSTANDING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. FOR YOU DO. NEXT SPEAKER WILLIAM OLIVER. WILLIAM OLIVER IS HERE. WE FOLLOWED BY JERRY WADE. [01:40:07] GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR TURNER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, THIS IS NOW MY, UH, THIRD TIME COMING HERE TRYING TO GET ON THE RIGHT PAGE WITH YOU. MAYOR, BY GOD BEING IN MY EAR, I'VE TALKED TO RENEE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, TRIED TO GET WITH YOU BY EMAIL OR BY PHONE. IT'S BEEN LIKE FIVE TIMES AND I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO CATCH UP WITH YOU. I WANT TO GO, UH, I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF NATURAL ATTENTION TO HAVE GOD IN MY EAR. IT'S BEEN A TIME WHERE I WAS WITH MY MOTHER, AND I STOOD EAR TO EAR WITH HER AND SHE CONFIRMED WITH ME THAT WHAT I HEARD WAS GOD. AND SAME THING WITH MY SISTER. I THOUGHT THAT MY PSYCH DOCTOR WOULD DO SOMETHING WITH THE GOVERNMENT, BUT SHE SAID THERE'S NO MEDICINE I COULD TAKE. AND SHE COULDN'T GET ME ADVANCED WITH THE GOVERNMENT. I TRIED SPEAKING WITH, UH, CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN AND HE SAID THERE'S NOTHING THAT HE CAN DO TO HELP ME. SO THIS IS MY THIRD TIME COMING TO YOU HOPING THAT WE CAN GET A COMMUNICATION LINE GOING TO GET THIS KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC. THANK, I APPRECIATE YOU, UH, CONTINUING TO COME AND, UH, UH, I DON'T HAVE A, I DON'T SEE A NUMBER FOR YOU, BUT IF, IF YOU CAN PROVIDE SOME, IF ANY INFORMATION TO RENEE, TO RENEE FOR US TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. OKAY? OKAY. AND YOU WILL RETURN MY CALL THIS TIME. WELL, LET ME, I, I, I DON'T WANT TO SAY SOMETHING BECAUSE I GET, I GET, I GET A LOT OF CALLS TODAY AND THEY DON'T COME DIRECTLY TO ME. SO, UM, THEY GO THROUGH MY STAFF. SO THAT'S WHY I DON'T WANNA, I DON'T WANNA MISREPRESENT, I DON'T WANNA SAY SOMETHING TO YOU AND NOT, AND NOT BE TRUTHFUL. OKAY. OKAY. BUT IF YOU LEAD BOARD OF INFORMATION, CAN YOU WITH RENEE RIGHT THERE, AND THEN WE'LL SEE WHAT WE DO. I WILL DO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. JERRY WADE. JERRY WADE. JERRY, JERRY. NEXT SPEAKER, MARY AND SCOTT. MARIAN SCOTT. MARIAN SCOTT. NEXT SPEAKER STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS. NEXT SPEAKER YOLANDA BROSSARD. YOLANDA BRUSARD. JOLANDA JOLANDA. NEXT SPEAKER, ROLANDO PEREZ. ROLANDO PEREZ IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY BENJAMIN BROADWAY. TIME CLOCK IS TICKING. OKAY, SO IT'S RIGHT UP HERE AND THE MIC IS HERE. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR TURNER AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS MY NAME AGAIN, TOLANDO BEEZ FROM DISTRICT H. I WOULD LIKE TO START OFF BY GIVING A SAYS HERE, THANK YOU FOR THE RECENT CITY BUDGET THAT WAS RECENTLY PASSED IN INCREASING FUNDING FOR THE DRAIN, THIS ISSUE OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. THANK YOU FOR SHOWING ME THAT. MY LIFE AND THE LIFE OF HOUSTON'S, UH, CITIZEN DUE MATTER TO EACH AND EVERYBODY. SO THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN. I'M HERE ON A SEPARATE ISSUE, ACCORDING ABOUT TO LIE BY ONE OF MY CO MEMBERS ALREADY, ACCORDING REBELS REGARDING THE WATER PRIVATIZATION, MY ATTORNEY, YOU ANSWERED MY FIRST QUESTION ALREADY WHETHER IT WAS HAPPENING, BUT MY NEXT ONE IS, WHY DOES IT SEEM THAT IT'S BEING KEEP, UM, OUT OF THE PUBLIC EYE? APPARENTLY, UM, SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS. AND WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY OF TRANSPARENCY. TRANSPARENCY IS KEY. AND WHERE THERE IS LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, IT CASTS A DARK SHADOW OVER THE SITUATION, WHICH I BELIEVE IS HAPPENING HERE. UH, WHICH IS NOT A GOOD THING. THIRD, I'M HERE IN FRONT OF YOU TO REQUEST THE WATER PRIVATIZATION ISSUE TO BE STOPPED. IF IT CANNOT BE STOPPED, IF IT HAS TO PROCEED INTO A VOTE. I'M ASKING YOU, MAYOR TURNER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS TO VOTE NO ON PRIVATIZING WATER IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. UH, PRIVATIZING WATER HAS A HISTORY OF NOT WORKING, HAS A COUPLE OF MAIN ISSUES. IT TAKES THE CONTROL, THE CONCERNS, AND THE NEEDS FOR THE COMMUNITY TOTALLY OUT OF THE EQUATION. AND WATER RATES WILL GO UP. EXCUSE ME. UH, FIFTH MAYOR TURNER. UM, I'VE HEARD YOU ON TELEVISION TALK ABOUT YOUR LEGACY AS MAYOR, AND NOT A DIRECT QUOTE, [01:45:01] BUT I BELIEVE HE HAS STATED WOULD LIKE TO BE KNOWN AS THE BEST MAYOR OF THE CITY HOUSTON HAS EVER HAD. I'M NOT SAYING YOU ARE, NOT SAYING YOU'RE NOT, BUT I WOULD SAY YOUR NAME IS IN A CONVERSATION. BUT I THINK YOUR LEGACY WOULD BE ENHANCED IF YOU WERE ABLE TO FOLLOW THE STEPS OF THE CITY OF BALTIMORE AND THEIR MAYOR. WHEN CONFRONTED WITH WATER PRIORITIZATION, THEY WERE ABLE TO BE THE FIRST CITY TO PERMANENTLY BAN WATER IZATION. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF YOU WERE ABLE TO DO THAT FOR OUR CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, HOPEFULLY BEFORE YOUR TERM IS UP AND BEFORE YOU LEAVE OFFICE. UH, I THINK IF ANYBODY CAN DO IT, YOU COULD DO IT ONCE AGAIN. I THINK IT COULD DEFINITELY ENHANCE YOUR LEGACY AS A MAYOR, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING, GIVING ME THE SPACE AND OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS AND ISSUES. WE, GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES ONCE AGAIN, ORLANDO PEREZ, DISTRICT H VIVA, LIKE NAC, QUICK TRANSLATION. THE NAC LIVES OVER AND OUT. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING THAT I'M THE BEST MAYOR THAT THE CITY HAS EVER HAD. AND, UM, AND VIVA, UH, . VIVA NAC. YEAH, WE WILL. BUILDING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER. BENJAMIN BROADWAY. UM, BENJAMIN BROUGHT BACK TO BE FILED BY CAROL, CAROLYN RIVERA. YES. OKAY. UH, YES. GOOD EVENING. AND I'D LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR CITY COUNCIL FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY. I HAVE TWO ISSUES THAT I WOULD LIKE TO GO OVER WITH YOU ALL. ONE IS A WATER PRIVATIZATION THING THAT, UH, WE, MAN, WE DON'T NEED IT HERE IN HOUSTON BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA END UP LIKE PLACES LIKE MIAMI, JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, UM, PLACES LIKE BALTIMORE AND FLINT. WE DON'T NEED THAT MAYOR. AND I DON'T KNOW WHO'S DOING IT OR WHO BROUGHT THE PROPOSAL. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS YOU, CITY COUNCIL OR PUBLIC WORKS, BUT WE DON'T NEED THAT HERE IN HOUSTON THERE. UM, THE SECOND THING I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IS TURFS 22. WE'RE BARELY FINDING OUT, WE'RE BARELY EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY ON THE TURFS. AND IF Y'ALL WERE TO DISBAND THE TURFS, WELL THEN THAT MEANS THAT WE'D HAVE TO COME UP HERE ALL THE TIME AND SEE OUR LOVELY FACES AND BRING OUR COMPLAINTS HERE. SO MY STRONG, STRONG SUGGESTION IS GIVE THE TURS A CHANCE TO WORK. AND THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN YOU SAY WE ABOLISH IN TURS 22 I, THAT'S NEWS TO ME. OH, WELL, THEY JUST SAID, THEY JUST SENT OUT SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THAT MAYOR, BUT WHO ARE THEY? THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT DISBANDING THE TURFS, BUT WHO ARE THEY? EXCUSE ME. WHO ARE, WHO ARE THEY? WHO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? WHEN I GOT THE INFORMATION FROM TURFS 22, BECAUSE I WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THAT MEETING. OKAY. I, I'LL LEAVE THAT. UH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE SAYING. SO LET ME NOT COMMENT ON SOMETHING THAT I'M NOT AWARE. I'M NOT AWARE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. COUNCILMAN JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THEN I ALSO WANT TO JUST PIGGYBACK OFF OF WHAT YOU JUST SAID, MAYOR, I'M NOT AWARE THAT THE TURS IS BEING DISCONTINUED. I KNOW THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE, UM, THE, UM, FINANCIAL ORDINANCE. UM, BUT OTHER, OTHER THAN THAT, YOU KNOW, IF I, IF I HEAR ABOUT IT, I'M GONNA LET YOU GUYS KNOW, UM, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY. BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT IT BEING DISCONTINUED. OKAY. BUT THERE'S NO DISCUSSION OF, OF AN EMANATING TERRORIST. OKAY. SO LEMME JUST, LET'S JUST MAKE SURE WE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE THERE. OR THE PRIVATIZATION OF WATER. AND THEN, YEAH. AND THEN WITH REGARDS TO THE IMPROVISATION OF WATER, THAT WAS JUST RFP THAT WAS ISSUED IN 2021. MM-HMM . BUT NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE ON PRIVATIZATION OF, OF ANYTHING RIGHT NOW. AND I AND MAY I JUST WANTED TO ALSO ADD ON IN THE POLICY, YOU'RE PROBABLY GETTING THAT FROM, UM, THE PORTION THAT'S SAYING IF THE TUR IS NOT PERFORMING, UM, THAT IT WITHIN 15 YEARS IT WOULD BE DISSOLVED. BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE FOR THE LELAND TURS. SO RIGHT. THO THOSE ARE JUST POLICIES. YEAH. AND IT'S JUST THE POLICY. SO [01:50:01] YEAH. I ASSURE YOU THAT THERE'S NOTHING HAPPENING WITH THE TURS. THE TUR IS STILL MOVING FORWARD. IT'S GROWING. UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S OKAY. SO YOU OKAY? OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER. CAROLYN RIVERA. CAROLYN RIVERA TO BE FOLLOWED BY BRIDGET JENSEN. GOOD AFTERNOON TO MAYOR TURNER. TO ASHA JACKSON. UH, MY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE, GOOD AFTERNOON. AND ALSO TO CITY COUNCIL. I AM CAROLYN ADDISON RIVERA. I LIVE IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON, DISTRICT BI WAS BORN IN HOUSTON. I HAVE BEEN A HOMEOWNER AND TAXPAYER FOR OVER 50 YEARS. I AM HERE AGAINST PRIVATIZING OUR WATER PLANT. WE WANT TO KNOW THAT OUR REPRESENTATIVES ARE LOOKING OUT FOR WHAT IS BEST FOR US NOW AND IN THE FUTURE WITH FACTS AND TRUTH. THERE IS AN ARTICLE IN A WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL ABOUT A HOUSTON PRIVATIZING THE WATER PLANT FOR 20 YEARS. AND THAT THE BIDS ARE DOWN TO TWO COMPANIES, INFRA MARK AND JACOB INDUSTRY, BOTH OF WHICH HAVE A REPUTATION FOR PROVIDING POOR SERVICES. IF THE ARTICLE IS TRUE, WOULD HOUSTON EVEN CONSIDER A CONTRACT FOR 20 YEARS? WE BOTH KNOW THAT PRIVATE COMPANIES ARE FOR PROFIT, NOT FOR PEOPLE. WILL HOUSTON RESIDENTS BE NOTIFIED IF WATER, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? IS UNDER CONSIDERATION? ALSO, WILL THE COUNCIL DISCUSS THE MATTER? SO IT IS A PUBLIC RECORD AND IF IT COMES BEFORE YOU TO VOTE FOR OR AGAINST IT, WE ARE ASKING THAT YOU VOTE NO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE, FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR LISTENING TO US. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BUT AGAIN, YES, RFP YOU ARE CORRECT IN THAT RFP THERE HAVE BEEN TWO FINALISTS, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DECIDED AS, AS WHAT THE OUTCOME WILL BE. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER, BRIDGET JENSEN. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. SO I GOT WORD THAT THERE ARE GONNA BE A GROUP OF PEOPLE HERE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BEING AGAINST WATER PRIVATIZATION. AND SO I SAID, WHAT, WHAT'S THIS ABOUT? SO I LOOKED ON THE AGENDA, IT'S NOT IN THE AGENDA. I LOOKED ON THE TTI COMMITTEE AGENDA. I DIDN'T SEE IT THERE. UM, BUT THEN I DID FIND THE 2021 RFP. AND THEN I FOUND ALSO, UH, HOUSTON CHRONICLE AND A BC 13 NEWS, UH, RAN SOMETHING IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR ABOUT INFRA MARK GETTING SOMETHING AND THEN HAVING TO, UM, CANCEL THAT. SO THAT'S ALL I KNOW ABOUT IT. BUT, UM, AND THEN ALSO THE FACT THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S UNDER CONSENT DECREE, LIKE, OH, OKAY. UM, WHICH TO ME SAYS THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS TO REALLY BE ON TOP OF WHAT'S HAPPENING. AND IF YOU GIVE IT TO ANOTHER PRIVATE COMPANY, CAN YOU TRUST WHAT YOU'RE GETTING FROM THAT? AND SO WE UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES OF TRANSPARENCY THERE. UM, BUT JUST THE WHOLE IDEA, I WANTED TO COME DOWN TODAY TO GIVE MY SUPPORT TO THOSE WHO ARE IN OPPOSITION OF PRIVATIZATION. UM, SO I, IN FACT, I WAS A LITTLE LATE COMING IN BECAUSE I WAS DOWN IN DANANG, TEXAS, WHICH IS A DANISH AMERICAN COMMUNITY. AND I'M INVOLVED WITH THE, THE DANES HERE IN, IN HOUSTON. AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, COOPERATION THAT'S GOING ON WITH THE DANES AND, UH, THE, THE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND THAT KIND OF THING. AND I CAN SAY THIS, KNOWING DENMARK, THEY WOULD BE APPALLED IF ANY, UH, PUBLIC SERVICES WORK TO EVER BE PRIVATIZED. I SHOULDN'T SPEAK FOR ALL THE DANES, BUT, UM, JUST THE FACT THAT, UM, THEY'RE A LOT ABOUT GIVING SOCIAL SERVICES AND ALSO PUBLIC SERVICES. IT'S A, IT'S A PUBLIC TYPE THING. UM, SO, UM, AS WE'VE HEARD THE RFP IS STILL OPEN, THE VERY FACT THAT IT'S STILL OPEN IS KINDA LIKE, OKAY, IS THIS GONNA, WOULD IT GO THROUGH THE TTI COMMITTEE AGAIN? WHEN WOULD IT COME UP? ARE WE GONNA BE SURPRISED ABOUT IT? UM, SO I THINK WE'RE ALL COMING DOWN HERE TODAY SO THAT WE, WE DON'T KNOW THE PROCESS OF WHEN WOULD WE SEE THIS AGAIN, IF IT DID COME UP AGAIN, THAT, UM, YOU WOULD REMEMBER THAT THERE IS THIS OPPOSITION TO IT. SO, UM, THAT'S JUST WHY I'M, I'M HERE TO, TO LEND MY SUPPORT TO THE OPPOSITION, THOUGH. I KNOW. 'CAUSE WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHERE [01:55:01] IT IS IN THE WHOLE PROCESS. AND SO IF WE JUST PUT IT TO BED AND SAY, WE'RE NOT GONNA PRIVATIZE, THAT WOULD KIND OF END THE WHOLE CONVERSATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER BILLY GUEVARA TO BE FOLLOWED BY ELIZABETH LUMIA. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. FOR THE LIFE OF ME, I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THIS WATER PRIVATIZATION ISSUE IS EVEN BEING CONSIDERED. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THERE IS EVEN A RFP OUT, RFB, WHATEVER IT IS BEING OUT WITH OR TRYING TO FLY UNDER THE RADAR OF THE HOUSTON PUBLIC, WE'VE, WE NEED TO LEARN FROM THE LESSONS OF FLINT, MICHIGAN, JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, AND BALTIMORE. AND I KNOW THAT IN MY HEART, AND IT'S GONNA COME UP LATER. WHO EXACTLY IS BENEFITING FROM SUCH A THING? IS IT PUBLIC WORKS? IS IT, DO, DO MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL? HAVE SHARES IN SUCH COMPANIES IS SOMETHING THAT, THAT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO LIFE. THIRDLY, CORPORATE AMERICA CANNOT BE TRUSTED. THEY ALWAYS PUT PROFIT OVER PEOPLE. I HATE, I HATE CORPORATE AMERICA AND I HATE IT WITH THE PASSION. JUST LIKE I THINK THAT CORPORATE AMERICA IS LOWER THAN LAWYERS AND INSURANCE COMPANIES. NO OFFENSE TO THE LAWYERS ON COUNCIL. IN ADDITION TO THAT, IT CANNOT BE TRUSTED. UNION JOBS WILL BE LOST. IT'LL BE MASS CONFUSION WHEN IT COMES TO MAINTENANCE AND TREATMENT. IF WE NOT LEARNED ANYTHING FROM KINGWOOD, THAT ALL THE POISON AND, AND IMPURITIES AND EVEN HUMAN WASTE HAS LEAKED OUT. AND THEY TRIED TO FLY IT UNDER THE RADAR. BUT THANK GOD FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE HOUSTON POLICE THAT INVESTIGATED. THEY BUSTED THE COMPANY AND NOW THEY'RE FACING FINES. DON'T LET IT HAPPEN TO US. DON'T LET IT HAPPEN. THAT, THAT WE ARE ON IN THE NATIONAL NEWS. AGAIN, LIKE FLINT, MICHIGAN, OR ANY OTHER CITY THAT ACCEPTED WATER PRIVATIZATION, IT SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED. IT SHOULD BE NIPPED IN THE BUD RIGHT NOW. SO WE WON'T HAVE, IT WON'T BE A ISSUE. WE FACE ENOUGH ISSUES WITH FLOOD CONTROL, WHICH IS THE COUNTY PART AND THE CITY PART WITH DRAINAGE. LOOK HOW HARD THE NAC NORTHEAST ACTIVE COLLECTIVE HAD TO FACE IN JUST GETTING THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON. IT SEEMS LIKE NORTHEAST HOUSTON AND OTHER UNDERSERVED BIPOC COMMUNITIES ARE BEING TREATED LIKE THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES. AND THAT, THANK YOU. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. NEXT SPEAKER, ELIZABETH LUMIA TO BE FOLLOWED BY GA JOHNSON. HELLO, COUNCIL MAYOR. UM, MY NAME IS ELIZABETH LUMIA. I'M A CONS CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT C AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK AN OPPOSITION TO THE PRIVATIZATION OF OUR WATER. THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS SELECTED, UM, INFO MARK AND JACOBS ENGINEERING GROUP AS A TWO FINALISTS TO CONTROL THE SOUTHEAST WATER PRE PURIFICATION PLANT, A CRITICAL PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY. SO, UM, JUST GOING THROUGH THE TRACK RECORD, UM, I JUST, I DIDN'T, EXCUSE ME. UM, I DID ABOUT THREE HOURS OF RESEARCH, UM, AND FOUND VERY LITTLE. SO I THINK THAT'S KIND OF TELLING, UM, AS TO HOW, UM, CORRUPT IS STRONG, BUT I'M GONNA USE THE WORD CORRUPT. HOW CORRUPT THESE, UM, THESE SYSTEMS IN THIS IDEA IS. SO IN, UM, IN LEWIS, DELAWARE, AUGUST, 2021, THE WATER PUMPS WERE BACKED UP. AND AS A RESULT, AS A RESULT OF MINIMAL AND DELAYED ACTION, IT WAS REPORTED THAT INFO MARK ALLOWED 7,500 TO 8,000 GALLONS OF SEWAGE TO ENTER, UM, THE LEWIS REHOBOTH CANAL IN CHATHAM, VIRGINIA. ALSO IN MARCH, 2021, UM, THE CHATHAM TOWN COUNCIL PUBLICLY APOLOGIZES TO THE PUBLIC, OR EXCUSE ME, TO THE PUBLIC FOR HIRING INFRA AND IN QUOTES, THEY REGRET IT EVERY DAY. UM, CITY OR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ALSO STATE THAT THE, THE CURRENT EMPLOYEES OF INFO MARK AREN'T INVESTED IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEY DON'T CARE. CROCKETT, CALIFORNIA, OCTOBER, 2022, IT WAS REPORTED THAT HIGH LEVELS OF HYDROGEN SULFIDE GAS, WHICH SMELLS VERY SIMILAR TO RAW SEWAGE, WAS RELEASED FROM A WATER, UH, A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT CAUSING RESIDENTS EXTREME NAUSEA, HEADACHES, AND OTHER SYMPTOMS. AND IN HOUSTON, FEBRUARY, 2023, UM, MAYOR PRO TEM MARTIN, UM, SOMETHING YOU'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH, FOUL SMELLS ALSO VERY SIMILAR TO, [02:00:01] UM, CROCKETT CALIFORNIA. UM, ULTIMATELY, UH, ENDED IN, UM, A MASSIVE INVESTIGATION AND, UM, A HUGE, UH, DETRIMENT TO THE WATER. AND THEN MOVING ON TO JACOB'S ENGINEERING GROUP IN, UM, RHODE ISLAND, MARCH, 2023, A LAW, A CIVIL LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED AGAINST THE CITY, UM, FOR THE, THE WAY THAT THEY'VE BEEN HANDLING WASTEWATER OPERATIONS. THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE INSTANCES, UH, OF PARTICULARLY TREATED SEWAGE ENTERING THE RIVER OVER THE PAST YEAR. ALSO, UM, IN AUGUST, 2020 IN NORTH MIAMI BEACH. UH, COMMISSIONERS SAY THAT 20, OR THAT IN 2017, THE A DEAL HASN'T, OR EXCUSE ME. UM, IN 2017, MIAMI BEACH, UM, ENTERED A DEAL WITH JACOB'S ENGINEERING GROUP. AND JUST THREE YEARS LATER, UM, THE CITY HAD VOTED TO, UM, TO END THE NEARLY $2 MILLION CONTRACT. UM, AND THE CITY COMMISSIONER STATED THAT THEY WERE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. TODAY, WE'RE HERE TO EDUCATE, NOT TO WIN AN ARGUMENT. PLEASE THINK ABOUT THE TRACK RECORDS OF THESE COMPANIES. THE CITY OF HOUSTON NEEDS TO PRIORITIZE OVER 1 MILLION HOUSTONIANS WHO WILL BE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THIS, BY THIS DECISION. AND TO WITHDRAW THE RFP. THANK YOU, GALIA JOHNSON. GALIA JOHNSON GA GA. NEXT SPEAKER, ALICE LOU. ALICE LOU IS HERE. BE FOLLOWED BY DORIS BROWN. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME'S ALICE LIU. I'M HERE, UH, REPRESENTING WEST STREET RECOVERY IN THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE. UM, AND AS A RESIDENT OF HOUSTON WHO, UH, DRINKS WATER AND DEPENDS ON WATER TO LIVE. SO, UM, MAYOR TURNER, YOU'VE ASKED SEVERAL TIMES WHY NOW, GIVEN THAT THIS RFP WAS FILED IN 2021, UM, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH A NATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY, UH, NONPROFIT, UM, NAMED CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY WHO ACTUALLY BROUGHT THIS MATTER UP TO US AFTER LEARNING ABOUT IT IN A TRADE JOURNAL. AND, UM, OTHER MEMBERS OF NAC HERE TODAY HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN ON, UH, ARGUMENTS AGAINST PRIVATIZATION, CONCERNS ABOUT THE HEALTH, UM, OF THE RESIDENTS OF HOUSTON, AND ALSO ARGUMENTS SPECIFICALLY AGAINST THE FINALIST JACOBS AND INFANT MARK. BUT I WANTED TO FOCUS ON, UM, ISSUES THAT WE HAVE WITH THE PROCESS IN THE WAY THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS ACTUALLY, UM, IMPLEMENTED THIS DECISION, UH, WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC. SO THE FACT THAT DESPITE US BEING AN ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS PRIMARILY ON ISSUES OF WATER AND WORKS IN AN ECOSYSTEM OF OTHER NONPROFITS ALL FOCUSED ON WATER, THE FACT THAT IT TOOK, UH, RELATIVELY OBSCURE INDUSTRY TRADE JOURNAL AND A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION REACHING OUT TO US FOR THIS TO BE BROUGHT UP, UM, IS A MAJOR POINT OF CONCERN. AND FURTHERMORE, THE FACT THAT IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN IN THE LOCAL PAPER, IT'S BEEN ON THE NEWS IN HOUSTON, IT'S NOT, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S OKAY. I THANK YOU. UM, AND THE FACT THAT WHEN WE REACHED OUT TO CITY COUNSELORS, ALMOST NONE OF THE CITY COUNSELORS WHO WE'VE REACHED OUT TO, UH, WERE EITHER AWARE OF THIS CONTRACT OR WILLING TO TELL US ANYTHING ABOUT IT. UM, SO IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE AND THIS IS WHY WE'RE BRINGING IT HERE TO ADDRESS IT, UH, IN THE FACE OF THE PUBLIC. SO I HAVE THREE MAIN QUESTIONS, WHICH IS ONE, UM, ISSUES OF TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC INPUT. UM, UH, ASIDE FROM REACHING OUT TO CITY COUNCIL COUNSELORS AND SENDING EMAILS, WE'VE ALSO FILED A NUMBER OF TPIA REQUESTS, UM, THAT HAVE ILLEGALLY NOT BEEN RESPONDED TO BEYOND THE DEADLINE. UM, FURTHERMORE, IN JUNE, A $1 MILLION CONTRACT FOR AN INTEGRATED WATER MASTER PLANNING PROJECT WAS GIVEN TO JACOBS, ONE OF THE FINALISTS WHO BETH JUST SPOKE OF HAS A HORRIBLE TRACK RECORD ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SO PRIVATIZATION IS ALREADY HAPPENING, UM, IN HOUSTON RELATED TO WATER, NOT JUST RELATED TO THE SOUTHEAST WATER PRI PRIVATIZATION PLANT. AND VOTES ARE BEING PASSED TO AFFIRM IT, UM, BASICALLY UNDER OUR NOSES AND WITHOUT ANY PUBLIC INPUT. SO MY TWO MAIN QUESTIONS ARE, WHO ARE THE KEY DECISION MAKERS HERE BESIDES CITY COUNCIL? BECAUSE WE KNOW THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UM, ISN'T THE ONLY, UH, GOVERNMENT REGIONAL BODY WHO'S MAKING THESE DECISIONS AND PUSHING PRIVATIZATION FORWARD. UM, THAT'S THE FIRST QUESTION. AND NUMBER TWO IS, CAN WE GET SOME INFORMATION ABOUT A TIMELINE? UM, WHEN IS THE FINAL VOTE ACTUALLY GOING TO TAKE PLACE? UH, HAVE THE FINAL BIDS BEEN MADE? AND, UM, UH, IS THAT INFORMATION THAT WE CAN HAVE ACCESS TO AS THE PUBLIC AND AS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. DORIS BROWN, PLEASE. NO CLAPPING DURING THE COMMUNITY MEETING. DORIS BROWN TO BE FOLLOWED BY NERA BOYD. [02:05:05] YES SIR. OKAY. HELLO CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR TURNER. MY NAME IS, UH, NERA CAMILLE BOYD. I'M A MEMBER OF THE NAC AND I AM A CONCERNED CITIZEN. UH, I'M A HEALTHCARE WORKER AND I BORN AND RAISED IN HOUSTON. AND MY CONCERN IS THE FLOODING PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVING IN HOUSTON AND, UH, THE TRASH AND AIR POLLUTION AND WATER. I HAD A, UM, OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, TAKE A TOUR, I GUESS WITH PUBLIC WORK, UH, FRIDAY THE 18TH. AND THEY'RE DOING A WONDERFUL JOB, UH, WORKING IN THE NORTHEAST COMMUNITY, UM, WORKING, UH, WITH THE DITCHES, WIDEN THE DITCHES. AND MY, ONE OF MY MAIN CONCERN WAS I LIVE IN, UH, EAST SUNNY SIDE AND I WAS WONDERING WHEN THEY WAS GONNA START WORKING, UH, MAYBE WIDEN THE DITCHES 'CAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE MAJOR PROBLEMS OF FLOODING IN THE COMMUNITY. ALSO, UH, ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IS THE PROBLEM THAT WE ARE HAVING WITH, UH, NOT, UH, HAVING ESSENTIAL SERVICES. UH, THAT'S, UH, TAKING OVER. LIKE RIGHT NOW OUR PUBLIC, UH, HISD IS NOT, UM, MAKING DECISIONS. UH, IT IS BEEN TURNED OVER TO TEA AND ALSO THE ELECTRIC THAT WE GET FROM OUR HOMES. UM, AND MY MAIN CONCERN TODAY IS THE DECISION OF THE WATER SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE. UH, RIGHT NOW, UH, WE RELY ON WATER THAT'S A, A RELIABLE SOURCE. AND I MYSELF FEEL LIKE I HAVE TWO WATER BILLS. I HAVE A WATER BILL THAT I PAY FOR MY HOME, THEN I HAVE ANOTHER WATER BILL WHEN I GO TO THE STORE AND PURCHASE DRINKING WATER. MY CONCERN, MY CONCERN IS THAT, UH, WE NEED TO, UH, NOT LET A INDEPENDENT COMPANY TAKE OVER OUR WATER SYSTEM. UH, WE NEED TO HAVE, UH, THE PUBLIC TO HAVE SOME INPUT ON WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE IF THAT HAPPENED OVER A MILLION PEOPLE DRINKING WATER WOULD BE IMPACTED. AND THEY NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH OUR WATER SYSTEM IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER, KATIE MD. KATIE MD IS HERE, TRUTH FELLOW BY NORMAN WHEATON. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE TWO HUGE PROBLEMS WITH THE STAGE TWO WATER CONSERVATION PLAN. ONE, APPARENTLY WE ARE ALLOWED TO HAND WATER, BUT NO ONE KNOWS IT BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN ANNOUNCED ANYWHERE, OR IF IT HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED, IT'S BEEN ON A VERY TINY SCALE. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THAT THE WATER OUT THE, THE, UH, HOURS DURING WHICH WE ARE ALLOWED TO WATER, UM, WORK IF A PERSON HAS AN ADEQUATE, UH, SPRINKLER SYSTEM, BUT THEY DO NOT WORK IF, IF A PERSON WATERS WITH HOSES AND ATTACHMENTS SINCE THERE IS ONLY ONE HOUR OF DAYLIGHT. AND THEREFORE PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO BE WATERING IN THE DARK, WHICH IS INEFFICIENT, DANGEROUS, AND UNFAIR. BACK TO THE LACK OF INFORMATION ABOUT HAND WATERING WITH A HOSE. PEOPLE ARE DESPERATE TO KEEP THEIR FOOD GARDENS, THEIR FLOWER GARDENS, THEIR POLLINATOR GARDENS, THEIR WILDLIFE HABITATS, THEIR SHRUBS IN THEIR TREES ALIVE. MOST OF THE PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW THAT THEY CAN HAND WATER, WHICH WOULD MAKE THINGS KEEPING THINGS ALIVE MUCH EASIER AND PLANTS WOULD STOP DYING. WHY DOESN'T ANYBODY KNOW? WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN ANNOUNCEMENT YESTERDAY? I SPOKE TO TWO CITY COUNCIL OFFICES AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW THE MAYOR'S OWN PUBLIC LIAISON OFFICE. DIDN'T KNOW. TODAY, AT EIGHT, AT EIGHT 30, I CALLED 3 1 1 AND ENDED UP SPEAKING TO THE LIAISON FOR PUBLIC WORKS. AND SHE DIDN'T KNOW. I SHARED WITH HER THAT I HAD RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM PUBLIC WORKS YESTERDAY, AND I SHARED THAT EMAIL WITH ALL OF YOU, UM, THAT SAID I COULD HAND WATER WITH A HOSE. AND IT ALSO HAD A LINK THAT, UH, TO THE FREQUENT, UH, FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS PAGE. AND THAT ALSO SAYS, ANYONE CAN HAND WATER WITH A HOSE ANY TIME OF DAY. AND THE WOMAN ON 3 1 1 SAID, NO, THAT WAS INCORRECT. WHY IS THERE THIS CONFUSION? [02:10:01] WHERE ARE THE PRESS RELEASES AND THE EMAILS TO CITIZENS, UH, INFORMING OF THIS? PUT A PRESS RELEASE OUT TODAY, PLEASE. IT IS URGENT FOR MANY OF US. THE PEOPLE I TALKED TO TODAY AND TOLD THAT THEY COULD INDEED HAND WATER WITH A HOSE, THEY WERE GLEEFUL. THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE GROWING FRUIT TREES AND HAVE THEIR OWN, YOU KNOW, FOOD GARDENS. NOBODY KNOWS. AND THAT'S JUST, THAT MAKES NO SENSE. SECONDLY, ABOUT THE HOURS OF LEGAL WATERING, AS YOU KNOW, THE HOURS ARE 7:00 PM TO 5:00 AM THOSE HOURS ARE FINE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE AUTOMATIC IRRIGATION SYSTEMS. THOSE HOURS DO NOT WORK IF YOU ARE A PERSON WHO USES HOSE TO WATER YOUR YARD. THE REASON BEING THAT ONLY ONE OF THOSE HOURS FROM SEVEN TO EIGHT, THERE IS DAYLIGHT. THE REST OF THE TIME HOME HOMEOWNERS WILL BE WATERING IN THE DARK, WHICH IS DANGEROUS, INEFFICIENT. AND IT CAN BE DISRUPTIVE TO ONE'S SLEEP AND HEALTH. A PERSON CAN EASILY NOT GET HOME UNTIL 8:00 PM OR LATER. AND THAT MEANS THEY WOULD END UP WATERING, UH, UNTIL 10 11 OR LATER IN 2011, THE HOURS ALLOWED FOR WATERING WERE MUCH MORE ACCOMMODATING. THE HOURS WERE 8:00 PM TO 10:00 AM THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY FOUR HOURS OF DAYLIGHT DURING WHICH HOMEOWNERS COULD SEE WHAT THEY WERE DOING. NOW I, FROM WHAT I HEAR, POSSIBLY THERE'S A HUGE CONCERN OVER EVAPORATION. MATH TIME HAS HUGE CONCERN OVER EVAPORATION. BUT WHAT ABOUT 9:00 AM YEAH, I MEAN, I CAN TIME IS EXPIRING. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. WHAT TIME IS EXPIRING? I'M SORRY. PICKLEBALL GOT A LONG TIME, SO, OKAY. SO ANYWAY, IT JUST, YOU KNOW, I HOPE THAT SOMETHING CAN BE DONE BECAUSE THE TEMPERATURE AT 9:00 AM IS NOT THAT MUCH HIGHER THAN 5:00 AM. SO, YOU KNOW, THERE OUGHT TO BE SOME ALLOWANCES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS? NO, MA'AM. ANY COMMENTS? NO, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, NORMAN WHITTEN. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE MY COMMENTS WITH THE CITY COUNCIL. I WANNA START BY SAYING THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE LEADERSHIP THAT THIS CITY HAS SHOWN BY PASSING A CLIMATE ACTION PLAN AND MAKING IT PROGRESS. AND BY SPECIFICALLY MR. TURNER, YOUR LEADERSHIP IN HELPING US MOVE FORWARD WITH EVS. I APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. SO MY NAME IS NORM WHITTEN. I'M REPRESENTING SUNRISE RIDGE HOLDINGS, WHICH DOES BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS PLATO'S CLOSET. WE'RE A CLOTHING STORE, SO WE HAVE ABOUT 60 PEOPLE IN THE CITY. WHAT I'M WANTING TO TALK WITH YOU TODAY IS ABOUT THE MAJOR ISSUES THAT WE HAVE WITH CLIMATE, WHICH WE'VE ALL EXPERIENCED IN THE LAST HOTTEST MONTH EVER IN THE WORLD. AND THE RELATED ISSUES WE HAVE WITH OUR ELECTRICITY SYSTEM IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. NOW, THAT'S NOT STUFF THAT SHOULD BE PART OF THE CITY, SHOULD BE PART OF THE STATE'S ACTIVITIES, BUT THEY HAVE PUNTED AND IN FACT, IN THEIR PUNT, THEY HAVE HAMSTRUNG SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT THE CITY COULD DO TO HELP US WITH THOSE PROBLEMS. SO I WANT TO TALK WITH US, UH, WITH YOU TODAY ABOUT A POTENTIAL SOLUTION TO HELPING HOUSTON PUT TOGETHER MORE SOLAR PV PROJECTS IN THE CITY, WHICH WILL HELP US WITH OUR PROBLEM TO PUT TOGETHER MORE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING IN THE CITY, WHICH WILL HELP US WITH OUR PROBLEM AND TO HELP US PUT MORE DEMAND RESPONSE IN OUR CITY, WHICH WILL HELP WITH THOSE PROBLEMS THAT THE STATE HAS PUNTED ON. SO HOW DO WE DO THAT? WE, IN OUR FAMILY BUSINESS HAVE TRIED TO PUT IN ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF FACILITIES AND WE'VE DONE SUCCESSFULLY MANY OF THEM. HOWEVER, IN OUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE CITY, WE FOUND IT EXCEPTIONALLY FRUSTRATING COMPARED TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT WE DO BUSINESS IN WITH THE HOUSTON PERMIT CENTER. AND I KNOW THE HOUSTON PERMIT CENTER IS A VERY EFFECTIVE ORGANIZATION WHEN IT CAN BE FULLY STAFFED, BUT IT'S NOT. IT'S SHORT OF PEOPLE, IT'S SHORT OF COMPETENCE. AND AS A RESULT, THESE KINDS OF PROJECTS ARE BEING DELAYED. I'VE EXPERIENCED IN OUR OWN BUSINESS, ONE YEAR OF DELAYS, I'VE EXPERIENCED 10 TO 20 OR 30% COST INCREASES AS A RESULT OF HAVING TO GO THROUGH PERMITTING. AND I THINK PERMITTING IS A WONDERFUL THING IF IT HELPS IMPROVE SAFETY AND IT MAKES SURE THAT OUR CONTRACTORS DON'T CUT CORNERS. BUT BY PUTTING THAT BARRIER IN PLACE, WHAT IT DOES DO IS THAT IT REDUCES THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT CAN BE DONE. SO WE END UP WITH NO SUCCESS. WE'RE NOT DOING PROJECTS HERE THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING BECAUSE THEY COST TOO MUCH OR BECAUSE THERE ARE DELAYS. SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SIMPLY REQUEST, AS YOU GUYS ARE THINKING ABOUT PERMITTING REFORMS HERE IN THE CITY AND ADOPTING NEW CODES, PLEASE ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT TO HAVE CITY PERMITTING FOR SOLAR PV PROJECTS, ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING PROJECTS, AND DEMAND RESPONSE PROJECTS. NOW, DOES THAT PUT US AT RISK? [02:15:01] I DON'T THINK SO. HARRIS COUNTY DOESN'T REQUIRE THAT WE PUT PROJECTS IN HARRIS COUNTY, WE PUT PROJECTS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THE AMOUNT OF TIME OF DOING THAT IS WAY DIFFERENT. IT'S EASIER. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT THOUGHT I HAD? THREE MINUTES YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. WOW. I'M SORRY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ROBINSON. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. ONE SECOND, ONE SECOND. ONE SECOND. ONE. COUNCILMAN ROBINSON. MR. WHITTEN, THANKS FOR COMING TODAY. YES, I THINK SOMETIMES, UH, FIRST OF ALL, I CHAIR THE TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE. THIS WEEK WE'VE ROLLED OUT SOME EV PROGRAMS. OKAY. MAYOR TURNER'S BEEN A BIG ADV ADVOCATE FOR MICROGRANTING AND WE'VE GOT SOME REALLY INNOVATIVE PROJECTS COMING FORWARD. SO I'D, I'D LOVE TO WORK WITH YOU JUST A LITTLE BIT AS MY VICE CHAIR COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD ON THE PERMITTING. UH, AND SOMETIMES IT'S HARDER WHEN IT ISN'T FAMILIAR. AND I THINK WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS PERHAPS FINDING A WAY TO WORK WITHIN THE SYSTEM WHERE, UH, WE CAN RECOGNIZE SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE READILY. AND, UH, IN ANY CASE, UH, IF YOU DON'T MIND, LET'S FOLLOW UP. YES. AND, UH, I'LL GIVE YOU A CARD AND WE CAN TALK A LITTLE FURTHER. PERFECT. YOU I'D LOVE TO HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITY. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, CHARLES NNU. CHARLES MANU NNU IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, HONORABLE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, PEACE OFFICERS, CITIZENS, AND THE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY. THANK YOU FER. THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THE UNLAWFUL AVOIDANCE OF CITY ORDINANCES AND COMPLIANCE VIOLATIONS, WHICH INCLUDE DEED RESTRICTIONS AND ARE ACKNOWLEDGED AND CONTRACTUALLY AGREED TO. OUR CASE IN PARTICULAR IS A NEIGHBOR WHO OWNS FOUR SHORT TERM RENTALS ON VARIOUS BUSINESS NAMES, BUT THIS IS NOT CONSIDERED A BUSINESS BY THE CITY. THEY'VE REFUSED CITY INSPECTION. THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED TO BE INSPECTED FOR OCCUPANCY PARKING, SAFETY HEALTH, A-D-I-A-D-A FIRE CODE, NOR COMPORT WITH THE, THE DE RESTRICTIONS IN OUR RESTRICTED NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS CONSEQUENCES ARE FRUSTRATED. POLICE CALLS, PERMITTING ISSUES, NEIGHBORS ON EDGE, LATE NIGHT, TRAFFIC PARTIES, LOUD NOISE, UNKNOWN TRANSIT AND EXPENSES. AND TO THIS, WE ADD ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM, WHICH ARE ALWAYS MORE COSTLY THAN THE CITY REVENUE FROM SOME HOTEL SAVINGS AND EARNINGS. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE CITIZENS LOSS OF PROPERTY VALUES, CITIZEN DISTRESS, CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN, EXPOSED TO PARTY HOUSE BUSINESS, LACK OF SLEEP, OR THE COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE TO GOOD CORPORATE CITIZEN COMPETITORS WHO ABIDE BY CITY REGULATIONS. GOVERNMENT AND CITIZENS ALIKE HAVE OBLIGATIONS IN THE FIDUCIARY FOR DUTY FOR A WELL RUN COMMUNITY. IT IS BOTH CUSTOM SAFETY AND KNOWING WHO TO DEPEND ON. THERE'S A FABRIC WHILE ITERATIVE, IMPERFECT, OR BLEMISHED HAS RESIDENTS OWN PROTECTION, PEACE AND SECURITY AND INTEREST BOUND. IT IS WHAT A NEIGHBORHOOD MUST DO IN A FAST-CHANGING ENVIRONMENT. IF THESE VIOLATIONS KEEP BEING TOLERATED, THE QUESTIONABLE UNREGULATED BUSINESSES WILL TAKE OVER OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND IMPACT THE ADJOINING NEIGHBORHOOD OF PINEY POINT ESTATES IN THE ABOVE. THE LAST CASE, UH, LIMB ABOVE CASE LAST YEAR. THE FOLLOWING ISSUES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND RELEVANT AUTHORITIES. THEY INCLUDE NO EXEMPTIONS UNDER CITY ORDINANCE 2018, 2 26, CHAPTER 28 FOR LODGING FACILITIES, NO CITY INSPECTION FOR REMODELING POOL HEALTH SAFETY OR A DA NO OCCUPANCY CERTIFICATE. AND THEN SECTION 10 29 OF THE TWO THOU OF TWO 15 IBC, WHERE BEDROOMS MUST HAVE A WINDOW TO COMPLY WITH FIRE CODES AND EGRESS IN CASE OF FIRE. WHILE THERE ARE OVERWHELMING OBLIGATIONS OF GOVERNMENT, OFTEN UNDERFUNDED CHRONICALLY SHORT OF QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES AND OFTEN DANGEROUS, UNPREDICTABLE WORK, THERE IS A THREAD OF GOODWILL THAT HOLDS A COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND IT TAKES WORK TIME AND TRUST. WE LIVE IN A PRIVATE DEAD END STREET WITH SIX PATIO HOMES. THERE ARE REASONS FOR THE RULES IN THE EVENT OF SOME CATASTROPHE EMERGENCY, WHO WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE? WHAT IS THE CITY'S LIABILITY, EITHER FINANCIAL OR REPUTATIONAL? WHAT IS THE CITY'S INTEREST IN MAINTAINING ORDER AND SUPPORTING POLICE OR EMS ACCESS, REDUCING THEIR CALLS AND PAPERWORK? WHAT IS THE CITY'S FIDUCIARY DUTY TO CITIZEN AND CITY EMPLOYEES TO SOLVE PROBLEMS EFFICIENTLY IN A TIMELY MANNER? PLEASE ADDRESS THIS RECURRING ISSUE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, AND I COMPLETELY SUPPORT NORM WHITTEN. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MAYOR COY. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU MR. NNU FOR COMING. UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN, UH, ITEM THAT OUR, THE REGULATORY NEIGHBORHOOD AFFAIRS COMMITTEE TOOK UP. AND THE MAYOR HAS, UH, ASKED LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATION AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS TO LOOK MORE INTO WHAT, WHAT CAN BE DONE. I MEAN, IT'S A BIG, TEXAS, TEXAS IS A BIG PROPERTY RIGHTS STATE. WE, UM, A LOT OF THE RULES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE IN OTHER CITIES, UH, ON SHORT TERM RENTALS ARE, ARE BEING CHALLENGED. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT, WHAT THE COURTS ARE ALLOWING. WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE VETTING THIS. IT'S TAKING SOME TIME, I REALIZE, BUT IT IS ON OUR RADAR. THIS IS A PROBLEM IN A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. SO IT IS ON THE RADAR, AND WE DO HAVE DEPARTMENTS LOOKING INTO THANK YOU FOR THE CONSIDERATION. AND I KNOW YOU ARE LOOKING AT IT. I JUST REAL, BUT IT OCCURS TO ME THAT THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CONSIDERATION OF A ACTUAL BUSINESS THAT STATES IT'S A BUSINESS VERSUS SOMEBODY WHO IS EARNING EXTRA MONEY. YEAH. NO. AND WE, AND [02:20:01] THE CITY HASN'T MADE THAT DISTINCTION. RIGHT? RIGHT. AND, AND THAT IS A CITY ORDINANCE ISSUE, WHICH IS, IS WHY I'M HERE. AND I APPRECIATE, AND I THANK YOU FOR, I THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING. I'D REALLY LOVE A COPY OF YOUR COMMENTS BECAUSE YOU HAD A LOT OF STUFF BACKED INTO THAT TIME WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT ORDINANCES AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT, UM, THINGS THAT YOU'VE LOOKED AT. SO I'D LOVE A COPY OF YOUR COMMENTS. I'M GONNA LEAVE THAT WITH WHOEVER TAKES THE COPY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND EFFORTS. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. RAZZA PAGE. SZA PAGE. NEXT SPEAKER, DR. THOMPSON. WO, DR. THOMPSON WO IS HERE. VERY MUCH PRESENT DE BON MS. . UM, I HAVE SOME ISSUES WHICH ARE GENERAL I WANT TO ADDRESS. I HOPE I'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT. BUT IN A FORM OF INTRODUCTION, THEY ARE IN THE OTHER OF, UM, CITY DASHBOARD FOR FIREARMS TRAUMA VICTIMS MADE THROUGH BOTH BLIND ROUTES TO MINORITY, PREDOMINANTLY HAVING VERY BAD SHOCK ABSORBERS THAT ARE CREATING PROBLEMS, APPOINTMENTS OF, UH, GOVERNORS OR BOARDS OF DIRECTORS INTO BOARDS IN THE CITY, WHICH ARE RELATED TO, UH, THE CITY, UH, GOVERNMENT, HISD EDUCATION, TAKEOVER, WATER PRIVATIZATION, THE CITY, UH, DASHBOARD, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE HOUSED, LET'S SAY BY PUBLIC HEALTH RELATED TO, UM, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OTHERS. I HAVE PRACTICED MEDICINE BEFORE. I'VE DONE CURATIVE MEDICINE FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS BEFORE I'M MOVING TO GLOBAL HEALTH AND GLOBAL HEALTH COMMUNICATION. CHICAGO HAS THAT DASHBOARD. AND WE KNOW HOW MAYOR RAM EMANUEL ACTUALLY FORCED THE NEW MAYOR TODAY TO HAVE THAT. THERE WILL BE COMPLICATIONS IF YOU HAVE THAT DASHBOARD IN PLACE BECAUSE SOME OF THE INFORMATION YOU'LL BE PUTTING TOGETHER A VERY CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, INFORMATION WHICH SHOULD NOT BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. AND HOUSTONIANS WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO SUE THE CITY. THAT'S NOT GOOD. METRO HAS THESE BOSSES. I HAD DISCUSSED THAT IN THE LAST, UM, EIGHTH DAY WHEN I SAID, WE SHOULD NOT BE TALKING ABOUT MASS TRANSIT, BECAUSE MOST OF THE TIME THE MASSES ARE NOT ALWAYS THE PEOPLE THAT WE SAY. WE HAVE TWO TYPES OF CITIES OR MULTIPLE CITIES WITHIN THE SAME CITIES. AND PREDOMINANTLY WE HAVE HAD SITUATIONS WHERE AFRICAN AMERICANS AND OTHERS REPORT TO US ABOUT THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE LOSING TEETH BECAUSE THESE BOSSES HAVE BAD SHOCK ABSORBERS. AND WHEN THEY HIT THE ROAD, WE KNOW THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN. THOSE SAME DON'T HAPPEN IN THE DOUBLE DECK BOSSES THAT GO TO THE PLACES WHERE THEY GO TO. YOU KNOW, HISD HAD BEEN TOLD IN THIS CITY THAT ITS EDUCATION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH EDUCATION. AND WE ARE BEGGING THAT AS MUCH AS THE PEOPLE WHO BROUGHT THE CONFUSION HAVE HAD THE, UH, CITY LEADERS FIGHTING AND KNOCKING THE HEAD, THE HEADS AND CLAPPING. WE SHOULDN'T USE THE CITY OF HOUSTON PLATFORM TO BE PLAYING THIS HISD POLITICS. SO WE ARE SAYING THAT IT'S NOT GOOD. AND MY LAST POINT IS WATER PRIVATIZATION. WHETHER YOU ARE FOR THE PRIVATE OR YOU ARE FOR THE PUBLIC OR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, THE PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OR NA UH, NATURALIZATION OF THE WATER SYSTEM CAN BE PARTLY WRONG. A PRIVATE COMPANY CAN DO A VERY BAD JOB IN THIS SITUATION. IF THERE'S A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WHERE THE CITIZENS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY IS LIKE TO SAY THAT THE CITY HAS SHARES, THEN THEY CAN BE ABLE TO LOOK AT, YEAH, TIME HAS EXPIRED. I KNEW IT WOULD EXPIRE THIS TIME. THANK YOU, DOCTOR. THANK, THANK YOU. THANK YOU DR. AWA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER JOHN BRANCH. JOHN BRANCH IS HERE. GOOD EVENING. I'M A SENIOR. I'M A VETERAN. I GOT DISABILITIES AND I'M BLACK. I'M GLAD SOME OF YOU DECIDED TO STAY TODAY. MY PARENTS ALWAYS TOLD ME, DON'T HOLD ANYTHING IN BECAUSE IT AFFECTS YOUR HEALTH. FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, I'VE BEEN HOSPITALIZED FOUR TIMES. I HAD A MILD STROKE. I'VE HAD SOME BLOOD CLOTS IN MY CHEST, BUT I'VE BEEN HOLDING SOME STUFF IN FOR FOUR AND A HALF YEARS. THE CITY CHARTER REQUIRES YOU AT A PER AT A PARADE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO HAVE LIABILITY INSURANCE ON YOUR VEHICLES. FOUR AND A HALF YEARS AGO, I WAS PARTICIPATING IN THE PARADE AND MICHAEL [02:25:01] KUBOSH RODE AROUND ON HIS GOLF CART. HE RAN OVER ME WITH HIS GOLF CART. I HAVE A PROSTHETIC KNEE, CAUSED ME TO HAVE TO HAVE THE PROSTHETIC TAKEN OUT, REPLACED, PUT IN DEEPER. I HAVE SCREWS IN MY ARM AND SHOULDER. I GOT IT IN MY LEG. THERE WAS A WITNESS THAT STATED HE WAS RIDING WITH THE FIRE CHIEF AND HE SAID, AT THE END, I RAN OVER THAT N***A OVER THERE. AS HE GOT CLOSER TO ME, THE FIRE CHIEF LEANED DOWN AND PICKED UP WHAT APPEARED TO BE A SCREW. AND HE SAID, HEY, IS THIS A PART OF YOUR LEG? MY PARENTS ALWAYS TOLD ME, DON'T DISRESPECT ELDERLY TO DIS DISABLED ANYBODY BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE OR CREED. I'VE BEEN HOLDING THIS FOR FOUR AND A HALF YEARS BECAUSE OF PENDING LAWSUIT WITH THE CITY. I'M OUT OVER A HUNDRED AND SOMETHING, THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BECAUSE OF MY LEG AND THAT INJURY AND THE HURT THAT I FELT FROM THAT. BUT I HAD, UH, I WANTED TO LOOK HIM IN HIS FACE BECAUSE TO CALL ME A N****R AND FOR THE FIRE CHIEF TO SAY, IS THIS SCREW A PART OF YOUR KNEE? AND I GOT, I GOT SCREWS IN MY KNEES. THAT DISRESPECTFUL, THAT MAN SHOULD NEVER BE IN PUBLIC OFFICE. BUT YOU KNOW, I SHOULD HAVE KNEW THAT BECAUSE I WAS HERE THE VERY FIRST DAY YOU WERE INAUGURATED TO BE MAYOR AND HE DISRESPECTED YOU THAT DAY. IF YOU REMEMBER, SOME PEOPLE SHOULD NEVER REPRESENT THE PUBLIC. I USED TO BE A CITY COMMISSIONER. SOME OF YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW THE CITY HAD COMMISSIONERS. I WAS A COMMISSIONER BACK DURING THE WHITMEYER ADMINISTRATION. WE USED TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. BUT I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY YOU TWO THAT'S SITTING NEXT TO HIM, WHAT YOU'RE SITTING NEXT TO AND THE FIRE CHIEF, I HOPE YOU NEVER GET ANOTHER JOB. AND IN CASE YOU WANT TO KNOW, I HAD MY HAND ON THIS BIBLE BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WORD IS OUT. I'M TELLING THE TRUTH AND IT'S BEEN HURTING ME FOR FOUR AND A HALF YEARS. THANK YOU. RIGHT. UM, NEXT SPEAKER, LEON THOMAS TO BE FOLLOWED BY ELIZABETH ANDERSON. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME'S LEON THOMAS, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING. I WANT VERY MUCH TO JUST ADD A CELEBRATORY MOMENT TO YOUR EVENING. I'M HERE TODAY TO SALUTE AND TO CELEBRATE OUR ESTEEMED MAYOR, MAYOR TURNER. I'VE LIVED HERE IN HOUSTON NOW FOR 35. AND HOLD ON, JUST ONE, UH, RENEE, IF YOU GET, UH, IF YOU GET JOHN'S NUMBER BEFORE HE LEAVES, OKAY. JOHN, IF YOU'LL GIVE HIM, GIVE RENEE YOUR NUMBER AND EMAIL ADDRESS AS WELL. THANK YOU. I'M SORRY. I APOLOGIZE. OKAY. AS I WAS SAYING, I'VE LIVED HERE IN HOUSTON FOR BETTER THAN 35 YEARS, AND I'VE HAD THE CHANCE TO WATCH YOUR CAREER. AND I'VE WATCHED YOU LEAD THIS GREAT CITY, AND I WATCHED YOU SERVE ITS CITIZENS. AND SIR, I THINK YOU'VE DONE AN ADMIRABLE JOB, AND THAT'S WHY YOU ARE MY CHAMPION. AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SIMPLY SAY THAT I WON'T BE LONG, I WON'T TAKE UP TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME. I KNOW THIS COUNCIL IS ABOUT THE CITY'S BUSINESS, BUT I SAT THROUGH FIVE HOURS JUST TO SALUTE AND CELEBRATE YOU, SIR. I HAVE A PIECE THAT I WANT TO SHARE. AND I WAS HERE LAST WEEK AND I WANTED TO SHARE THEN, AND I CHANGED TO A DIFFERENT PIECE FOR THIS WEEK, BUT I'LL GO BACK TO IT. 'CAUSE I WANTED TO NAME THAT PIECE WHAT SYLVESTER TURNER WOULD SAY. AND I THINK I'VE HEARD YOU SAY THIS. IT GOES MY NAME, A GIFT FROM PARENTS, MY JOY, A GIFT FROM GOD, MY PASSION, THE GIFT OF GIVING THE FOOD THAT FEEDS THE HEART. FRIENDSHIP IS NOT A GIVEN OR DEED THAT WE SHOULD EARN. ITS SHARING OF OPPORTUNITIES, A GIFT OF GREAT CONCERN. WHAT I SAY TO ONE, I SAY TO ALL, AND ASK WHAT ONE REQUEST. NEVER GIVE IN TO CHALLENGE WORK TO BE YOUR BEST WHEN THE WAY GETS DARK AND CLOUDED, DRAPED WITH CONFUSION IN DESPAIR, QUIETLY SLOW AND TAKE A REST, BUT NEVER CEASE TO [02:30:01] REACH YOUR QUEST. YOUR FUTURE REST IN YOUR FAITH. YOUR POTENTIAL SWAYS IN YOUR WILL. YOUR PRESENT LIES IN YOUR CHOICE TO CONQUER AND BE FULFILLED. GREATNESS ABIDES IN HE WHO SERVES RIGHT IS THE BROTHER TO WRONG. BOTH ARE READY. AWAI THE CHOICE IS YOURS. BE STRONG WITH EACH NEW DAY OF BROKEN GROUND. YOU PAVE THE WAY FURTHER BOUND FOR IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO POINT TO BLAME OR VERBALLY PRESS TO BRING TO SHAME, BUT TO HAVE A CALL THAT'S CRYSTAL CLEAR AND HAVE A VOICE THAT ALL CAN HEAR TO BE THE PERSON YOU'D LIKE TO SEE AND LOVE A WORK YOU DO FOR FREE. SIR, THAT WAS ONE OF TWO THINGS THAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU. UH, I'M ADDING ANOTHER ONE. YOU MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST MAYOR, BUT YOU THE BEST I'VE EVER SEEN. AND I HOPE YOU LIKE FLOWERS. I CAME TO HOUSTON, LIKE I SAID, 35 YEARS AGO, AND I LEARNED THAT THERE WAS A UNIQUE FLOWER THAT I TRIED TO CAPTURE, AND I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE IT. SO BEAR WITH ME. I BROUGHT IT WITH ME. I WANNA, I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS FLOWER. AND LIKE I SAID, I HOPE YOU LIKE IT. AH, OH, I, I HOPE YOU LIKE YOURSELF. OH, COULD, COULD YOU TAKE ONE? OH, SIR. I HOPE YOU ENJOY. NO, YOU, ME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'LL PUT IT IN HIS CLOTHING. YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH. UM, APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. OKAY. UM, SECRETARY ELIZABETH ANDERSON. ELIZABETH ANDERSON. ELIZABETH. NEXT SPEAKER LOUIS DARLING LEWIS. DARLING LEWIS. NEXT SPEAKER REINE. ATMORE. REINE. ATMORE REEN. NEXT SPEAKER. JULIAN ATMORE. JULIAN ATMORE. NEXT SPEAKER. EVELYN DATER. EVELYN DAYR. NEXT SPEAKER. KEVIN WILLIAMS. KELVIN WILLIAMS IS HERE. BE FOLLOWED BY RANDY MCCOY. HOW Y'ALL DOING? UH, MY NAME IS KEVIN WILLIAMS. THEY CALLED ME THE URBAN FARMER. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN FIFTH WARD. GRANDMA, DADDY, MAMA, EVERYBODY BEEN THERE. UH, I'VE BEEN WALKING AROUND HERE GROWING FOOD AND GOING IN AND OUTTA DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, GROWING FOOD AND DOING GARDEN. AND I'M HERE TODAY TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE WHAT YOU CALL THE HOOD INTO POLITICS IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO INTRODUCE INTO THIS NEXT ELECTION. SO WE ARE GONNA BE GOING AROUND AND WE ARE GONNA BE EDUCATING THE HOOD, HOW TO GET OUT AND VOTE. AND SO I'M EXPECTING EVERYBODY TO WANT TO PARTICIPATE AND HELP OUT. AND JUST TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW, MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT'S GONNA BE PART OF THE HOOD AND THE POLITICS IS PEOPLE WHO JUST UNSATISFIED WITH WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR COMMUNITY. AND THEY'VE BEEN OUT HERE [02:35:01] DOING THE WORK IN THE COMMUNITY. SO EVERY TIME ELECTIONS COME AROUND, PEOPLE ALWAYS END UP PROMISING A BUNCH OF STUFF. BUT WE NOT LOOKING FOR PROMISES. WE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO PARTNER WITH US. AND ALL THE, ALL OUR EFFORTS IS WHAT WE DO ALL AROUND THE CITY. AND SO, IN MY PARTICIPATION, BECAUSE I COME FROM BARBARA, JORDAN, MICKEY LELAND, FIFTH WARD, YOU KNOW, MY DADDY'S FIRST WIFE, UH, KNEW THEM WELL AND THEY WAS LIKE IN OUR BACKYARD. SO WHAT I'M TELLING YOU IS THE PEOPLE THAT I KNOW, WE ARE GONNA BAND TOGETHER IN ALL OUR DISTRICTS, AND WE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S GETTING WHAT THEY NEED AND WHAT'S LACKING. UH, FIRST OF ALL, UH, I'VE BEEN A PART OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS. AND, UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS BEEN A PART OF THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY, WHO'S RIGHT NOW READY TO TEAR DOWN THE BUILDING OF MINE, THAT 100 EAST 45TH STREET THAT THEY THINK THAT THEY OWN AND THAT THEY DON'T OWN. SO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS DO YOUR RESEARCH AND EVERYTHING IS COMING TO FULL FRUITION AS FAR AS, UH, PEOPLE JUST BEING TRUTHFUL AND JUST TELLING THEM AND LOOKING AT IT. AND IT IS UP TO US TO ACTUALLY DO IT. SO I'M ASKING Y'ALL TO LOOK INTO, UH, WHO Y'ALL DO BUSINESS WITH. YOU KNOW, Y'ALL GOT A LOT OF THESE, UH, FO NONPROFITS THAT'S OUT HERE COLLECTING MONEY AND PEOPLE WASHING MONEY. HOOD IN THE POLITICS, GONNA TAKE CARE OF ALL THAT. 'CAUSE WE GOT THE CONNECTION TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE KNOW THAT WORKING OUR COMMUNITY. Y'ALL WILL BE SEEING MY FACE ALL OVER THE PLACE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ALL OVER THE PLACE. AND A LOT OF Y'ALL LOOK ME IN MY FACE AND YOU ACT LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW ME. BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN SOME TIMES YOU'VE BEEN WANTING SOMETHING THAT CAME THROUGH ME. KELVIN, THE URBAN FARMER, YOU REMEMBER THAT NAME? AND JUST KNOW THE HOOD. THE, UH, LADDER END, THE NUMBER TWO POLITICS. WE COMING. AND LOOK, IF YOU WANT TO PARTNER UP WITH US, BE ON OUR TEAM, THEN WE GOING TO CONSIDER YOU. BUT WE WILL BE VOTING AND WE WILL BE REGISTERING PEOPLE TO VOTE. AND THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY TO Y'ALL RIGHT NOW. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. RANDY MCCOY. RANDY MCCOY IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY KEITH WAINWRIGHT. HELLO. UH, OBVIOUSLY I'M RANDY MCCOY, MY WIFE AND I OWN A SCOOTER SHOP IN DISTRICT. I, WE LIVE THERE AS WELL. AND, UH, BROUGHT MY PARTNER HERE. UH, DR. UH, SORRY I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS. SAM, UH, SHOULD ADD, UM, WE OPENED UP PROBABLY FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO OVER IN FIFTH WARD AND, UM, ESTABLISHED A GOOD LITTLE BUSINESS. AND LAST YEAR WE'VE GOT WITH A COMPANY CALLED CRUISE, CRUISE, THE MICRO MOBILITY E SCOOTER COMPANY. THAT'S ALL AT BASE THAT WE FUNCTION RIGHT OUT OF OUR SHOP. NOW, WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WAS BRING A LITTLE, BRING SOME OF OUR BUSINESS AND, AND, AND TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT. UM, WE'D LIKE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET WITH THE CITY AND OFFER THE MICRO MOBILITY OUT TO THE DISADVANTAGED AREAS. HELP PEOPLE GET AROUND ON 'EM, USE 'EM, UM, TO GET AROUND. I'M SORRY. I'M SO NERVOUS, GUYS. I'VE NEVER TALKED TO A BIG ROOF LIKE THIS. SO I TALK TO PEOPLE ALL DAY OUT IN THE SUN. I DON'T GET IN HERE. I'M COLD. UM, NO WORRIES. THE MAIN POINT WITH OUR APP IS IT'S ALL APP BASED. AND WITH OUR APP, WE CAN CONTROL EVERYTHING ON THE SCOOTER FROM A COMPUTER RIGHT THERE IN MY OFFICE. WE CAN CONTROL THE TOP SPEED WHERE IT GOES, JUST GEOFENCED. WE CAN CONTROL THE PEOPLE, GET ON IT, WE CAN STOP IT ON THE SPOT. WE CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT TO DO WITH IT. UM, OUR PROGRAM IS ALL HOMEGROWN. WE DID IT RIGHT HERE IN HOUSTON. WE BUILT IT RIGHT HERE IN HOUSTON. UM, SAM'S BEEN PART OF OUR MEDICAL COMMUNITY AT THE, THE HOSPITAL THERE. HE'S A CARDIOLOGIST AND WE REALLY JUST WANNA INTRODUCE OURSELVES AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WE MIGHT NEED TO DO TO GET A PERMIT TO OPERATE ON THE STREETS LEGALLY. WELL THAT, UM, THAT CONVERSATION STARTS WITH, UM, A RA TINA PS AND HER GROUP. UM, AND THEN, UM, AND THEN IT FLOWS UP TO, UH, TO THE ADMINISTRATION. BUT WITH RESPECT TO, UH, SCOOTERS, WE HAVE NOT, UM, WE HAVE NOT MADE A DECISION ON SCOOTERS. YEAH. AND, AND, AND KIND OF WHAT WE WANTED TO BRING TO YOU GUYS WAS THE ABILITY TO, TO REGULATE IT. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW THIS BIG ISSUE WITH SCOOTERS IN IN TOWN IS THEY'RE NOT REGULATED. NO ONE, UM, YOU KNOW, CONTROLS 'EM. THEY'VE GOT KIDS RIDING AROUND, PEOPLE GETTING HIT, BOMBED, THEY'RE HITTING OTHER CARS AND OURS CONTROL EVERYTHING. YEAH. RIGHT NOW THEY'RE BEING, UM, THEY'RE BEING RENTED OUT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. YES, SIR. UM, BECAUSE IF THEY, IF THEY'RE RENTED OUT ON PUBLIC PROPERTY, THEY, THEY WOULD BE VIOLATING, UM, THEY WOULD BE DOING IT ILLEGALLY. UH, THEY'LL BE SIMPLY HAVE NOT MADE A DECISION ON. UM, YES. I REMEMBER PARK HOUSTON BROUGHT THAT ORDINANCE. I WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT TOLD HER THEY WERE OUT THERE, RENT 'EM OUT, THEY HAD NO INSURANCE. THERE WERE PEOPLE AND THE ONES OUT THERE DON'T MEET THE LIABILITY REGULATIONS. YEAH. AND WE SIMPLY DIDN'T, WE SIMPLY DID NOT WANT THE CITY TO BE INUNDATED WITH SCOOTERS LIKE OTHER CITIES, [02:40:02] UM, AND CREATING A MORE DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENT. UM, SO IT MAY BE REVISITED AT SOME POINT IF WE JUST SO WE SUBMIT A PROPOSAL, IF WE COULD PUT TOGETHER A NICE SCOOTER INFRASTRUCTURE, WHO WILL WE, I I AM SORRY I DIDN'T HEAR IT VERY WELL A WHILE AGO. YEAH. NYLA'S HERE. WHERE'S NYLA NYLA'S? RIGHT THERE, RIGHT BEHIND YOU. YEAH. YOU CAN GET WITH HER. PERFECT. YEAH. I HAVE NOT MEETING NOW. GUYS, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES SIR. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. KEITH WAYNE WRIGHT. KEITH WAYNE WRIGHT IS KEITH. HE'S NOT HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. JARVIS TILLMAN. JARVIS TILLMAN. JARVIS. NEXT SPEAKER. ILI MONTOYA. RIVAS IIS. MONTO RIVAS IS ALWAYS PRESENT. . TIFFANY, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. HELLO. YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU. AND, UH, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS , MR. POLL, OR, I THINK HE'S FALLEN TO SLEEP. UH, I, UH, ENDED MY EMPLOYMENT WITH, UH, THE HOUSTON AIRPORT. UH, UNFORTUNATELY IT DIDN'T WORK OUT. SO RIGHT NOW I HAVE AN EMPLOYMENT SITUATION, UH, UH, THAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO CAN HELP WITH. THAT'S WHAT I'M NEEDED AT THE MOMENT. UH, I WILL LEAVE MY COMMENTS TO MY SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT, UH, IN REGARDS TO WHATEVER TOPICS YOU GUYS WERE TALKING ABOUT. I WANNA THANK ALSO AUSTIN FOR ALLOWING ME TO GET MY LICENSE TO CARRY TRAINING. I GOT IT OFF THE WAY AND AS WELL, I'M TRAINING TO DO WITH OTHER PROJECTS THAT I DON'T WANNA TALK ABOUT IT, BUT I'M HERE SPECIFICALLY TO TALK ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT. THE SITUATION WITH, UH, THEIR PERSISTENT WASN'T VERBAL. I GOT LAID OFF AND BASICALLY THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO PAY UNEMPLOYMENT. SO I WAS IN COMMUNICATION WITH SOMEONE BY THE NAME OF, UH, EDWARD, UH, WHO IS CLOSE TO, UH, SOME PEOPLE WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON WHO EMPLOYMENT WITH THEIR PERSISTENCE. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. YEAH, I WAS TRYING TO FOLLOW THAT ELI KNIGHT. I NEED HELP WITH UNEMPLOYMENT. SOMEBODY TO LOOK INTO THE APPLICATION BECAUSE THEY DENY IT BASICALLY. AND I DO QUALIFY. I'M A US CITIZEN. AND WHICH, WHICH, WHICH DISTRICT DO YOU LIVE IN? UH, I LIVE IN THE COUNTY AT THE MOMENT. OH. UH, YES, BUT MY EMPLOYMENT WAS WITH, UH, THE, UH, BASICALLY THE AIRPORT SYSTEM, UH, FOR THE NAME OF THE COMPANY. YEAH. THE COMPANY NAME IS LARES AND, UH, BASICALLY, AND YOU, EXCUSE ME. WELL, WHERE IN THE COUNTY DO YOU LIVE? I LIVE LIKE TWO STREETS DOWN FROM DISTRICT E. DISTRICT EI LIVE IN A COMMUNITY, UH, THAT'S ADRIAN GARCIA SOUTH, MY MOM AND MY SISTER. YEAH. REACH OUT, REACH OUT, REACH OUT TO COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA, PRECINCT TWO. SO I HAVE TO GO OVER THERE. WELL JUST CALL HIM OR EMAIL. I, I HAVE A BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE, WITH ESTHER POR, AND I DON'T SEE, I MEAN, MY EMPLOYMENT WAS WITH, UH, LATRES INSIDE THE AIRPORT SYSTEM. HOW DOES, UH, CONTACT ADRIAN GARCIA WILL BENEFIT ME. OKAY. OKAY. OOPS. UM, LET ME THINK ABOUT IT. UH, ELI, COME BACK. SORRY, MY SPANGLISH DOESN'T HELP ME. NO, THAT'S OKAY. THAT'S OKAY. UH, COME BACK AND SEE. COME BACK AND VISIT WITH ME. LET ME, LET ME THINK ABOUT IT TO VISIT WITH YOU. I TO COME BACK HERE. OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU, SIR. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER SEMINAR. DURACELL FOSTER SEMINAR. DURACELL FOSTER TO BE FOLLOWED BY RANDALL CALL. HELLO. GOOD EVENING. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M, I'M MS. DO MY MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO PUT THIS IN YOUR HAND MYSELF. CAN CAN, CAN I DO THAT? MAYOR, CAN I PLEASE DO THAT? ? THERE YOU GO. YEAH, THAT'S ME. I'M, THIS IS ME . NOW. YOU AIN'T GOTTA GET UP NOW REALLY TO IT AFTER THE CITY COUNCIL, I BE ALONE. OH NO. I BETTER GET IT NOW. . WHY DO YOU WANNA GET IT NOW? OH LORD MERCY, THIS HAS BEEN ONE, ONE CITY COUNCIL. I THOUGHT YOU MY MUSCLES AND STUFF. YOU KNOW, THIS CITY COUNCIL, WE HAVE BEEN ONE, ONE TOUCHING IN SOME AREAS. ALRIGHT. ALL RIGHT MR. ELLE, EVERYTHING YOU NEED IS IN THERE. [02:45:01] OKAY. ALRIGHT. I GOT YOU. RANDALL CALL. YES. OKAY. RANDALL CALL IS NOT PRESENT. VICKY MARTIN. VICKY MARTIN IS HERE. BE FOLLOWED BY DOMINIQUE MAZAK. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND YOUR ENERGY. I UNDERSTAND THIS HAS BEEN A LONG MEETING, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. UH, I ONLY COME DOWN HERE WHEN THE CIVIC CLUBS IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON OR CITY GAS REQUEST THAT I LOOK INTO A MATTER THAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM. IT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM, IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME. UH, I'M IN DISTRICT B UNDER TASHA JACKSON. UH, BASICALLY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE TERRACE TERMINATION POLICY THAT IS BEFORE THE COUNCIL. AND WE UNDERSTAND THERE AS A CRITERIA THAT IT'S ALREADY BEEN PUT IN PLACE. WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS WE'RE ASKING FOR IT YOU ALL TO BE AMENDABLE TO THE CRITERIA. WE UNDERSTAND IT FOR. TERRACE HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR AT LEAST 15 YEARS AND HAS BEEN UNDER PERFORMING THINGS LIKE THAT. WE HAVE FINALLY HIRED AN ENGINEERING COMPANY AND WE HAVE OVER 105 PROJECTS, UH, IMPROVEMENT PROJECT OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY'VE PLACED TOGETHER. SO WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR YOU ALL TO BE AMENABLE TO LOOKING AT THE CRITERIA. IF ANY TERRORISTS, ESPECIALLY OURS, WOULD BE A CANDIDATE FOR TERMINATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. I, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HEARD ALL OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WHAT WE ARE NOT, UM, TERMINATING TURS, WHAT WE ARE DISCUSSING ARE OUR FINANCIAL POLICY. OKAY. FORTS. BUT I'M GLAD THAT YOU CAME AND YOU ARE VERY INTERESTED IN THE WORK AND I'M SUPER EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT THE PROJECTS THAT YOU HAVE, UM, AND THAT YOU ALL ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO. UMTS ARE COMPLICATED AT TIMES AND PE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LEARNING MORE ABOUT TS BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING MORE ABOUT 'EM AND WE SEE MORE PROJECTS HAPPENING, NOT JUST IN SPECIFIC AREAS OKAY. BECAUSE OF DIFFERENT TURS THAT ARE IN PLACE. UM, BUT I'M GLAD TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE, UM, CONSULTANTS NOW IN PLACE BECAUSE THEY ARE SUCH A LEARNING PROCESS THAT THE PEOPLE THAT SERVE ON THOSE BOARDS, THEY DO HAVE TO GET THE TRAINING, THEY HAVE TO LEARN ALL THE NUANCES OF THESE TURS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE OPERATING PROPERLY SO THAT WE CAN GET TO THOSE PROJECTS. AND I SAY ALL THAT BECAUSE THE TURS IN MY DISTRICT HAD TO GO THROUGH THAT SAME LEARNING CURVE. AND SO STAY ENCOURAGED, BUT KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT TERMINATING THE CHURCH. WE ARE DISCUSSING THE FINANCIAL POLICIES AND WE WILL CELEBRATE WITH YOU AND YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, AS MORE PROJECTS COME TO FRUITION BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT'S HAPPENING WITH THESE ORGANIZATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. YOU'RE VERY WELCOME. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UM, I ECHO, UM, VICE MAYOR PRO TIM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND JUST FOR COMING DOWN. UM, OUR TURS IS OKAY. UM, I WILL BASICALLY LET YOU GUYS KNOW IF THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE TURS OR ANY ISSUES. YOU KNOW, I HAVE A OPEN DOOR POLICY. WE CONSTANTLY COMMUNICATE, SO, UM, WE ARE OKAY FOR NOW. OKAY, WELL THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR YES, THANK YOU. MY COLLEAGUES REALLY SAID IT ALL, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO TELL YOU, I WENT DRIVING AROUND AND LOOKING AT THOSE TRUCK LOTS. YES. I GOT A BIG LIST OF ADDRESSES AND WONDERFUL. I GET WITH JORDAN. WE'LL GET WITH YOUR OFFICE. WE THANK YOU. WE LOOKED OVER, I ALMOST, YOU KNOW, I WAS PEERING OVER FENCES WITH NO TRESPASSING SIGNS. IT WAS SCARY, BUT I, I GOT A LOT OF GOOD PICTURES AND I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL ALWAYS HAVING A WONDERFUL EAR. APPRECIATE YOU BEING SAFE. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. DOMINIQUE MAZA HERE. DOMINIQUE IS HERE. ALRIGHT. I KNOW I HAVE ONE MINUTE. I'M HERE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER. START NOW. UM, I KNOW THE QUESTION'S GONNA BE ASKED, HOW DID I GET HERE? METRO 96 TO THE RAIL TO, FOR THE TUNNEL SYSTEM. MY CONCERN WITH THE TUR IS I THINK, UH, THE FINANCIAL THING IS REALLY GOOD TO LOOK AT, BUT I'M BEGINNING TO WONDER, AND I'M GONNA USE THE UNIVER, THE SILVER LINE AS A I IDEA. IF METRO ITSELF BUILT THE SILVER LINE, WHICH GOES DOWN POST OAK BOULEVARD, THEY ALMOST, YOU ALMOST HAVE TO HAVE AN ELECTION OF THE CITY, THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY FOR METRO TO DO THAT LIKE WE DID WITH, UH, METRO NEXT. THIS WAS DONE BY UPTOWN AND THEY DID IT ON THEIR OWN. AND I THINK, UM, WITH MORE TRANSPARENCY, I THINK SOME OF THESE TURD NEED TO BRING UP THEIR PROJECTS TO BE VOTED ON BY THE CITY, BY THE PEOPLE WHO BY THE PEOPLE. I MEAN, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT LITTLE IFFY BIFFY PROJECTS, BUT WHEN THEY START DOING THINGS LIKE FOR INSTANCE, THE UNIVERSITY, I MEAN THE SILVER LINE OR SOME OF THE STUFF WE'VE GOT DOWN. YEAH. IT NEEDS TO BE A BOOK TO THE PEOPLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MAYOR COEN. THANKS DOMINIC FOR COMING. AND, AND WE DO REVIEW THE, THE TS PROJECTS WE DO, THEY COME TO COUNCIL. WE, I'VE REVIEWS THE ONE, THE ONES THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA TOMORROW. I ASKED FIVE OR 10 QUESTIONS [02:50:01] ABOUT 'EM, GOT ANSWERS BACK FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. SO WE, WE ABSOLUTELY REVIEWED THOSE BUDGETS AND THOSE PROJECTS. OKAY. I'M, I'M OKAY. UH, MORE TRANSPARENCY THE BETTER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. THAT COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS. HEY, THANK HOLD ON THE MAYOR, I'M SORRY. YEAH, MAYOR UHHUH. I FORGOT TO PUT ONE THING. OKAY. TAKE IT DOWN TO HER AND I'LL TAKE IT UPSTAIRS. GET IT. OKAY. MARTY'S GONNA BRING IT TO YOU? NO, NO, IT'S FOR YOU. OH, OKAY. I GOT IT. I GOT IT. SHE DIDN'T, I GOT IT. OKAY. OKAY. NO, NO YOU'RE FINE. YOU GOTTA KEEP BACK IN YOUR OKAY. NO IT'S MINE. IT'S MA I HAVE IT. I HAVE IT. THANK YOU. I GOT YOU. ALRIGHT. OKAY. ALRIGHT. [RECESS] UH, WE STAND IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM THANK YOU ALL FOR, FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 2023 ITEM ONE, NO, I'M SORRY. REPORT FROM THE CITY CONTROLLER AND CITY ADMINISTRATION REGARDING THE CURRENT FINANCIAL STATUS OF THE CITY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO A REVENUE EXPENDITURE AND ENC CONGRESS REPORT FOR THE GENERAL FUND, ALL SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS AND ALL INTENT ENTERPRISE FUNDS AND A REPORT ON THE STATUS OF BOND FUNDS. ITEM ONE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF CRAIG A GARCIA TO POSITION ONE OF THE GENERAL APPEALS BOARD. ITEM TWO, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ITEM THREE, RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR APPROVAL TO ISSUE JOB ORDER CONTRACT ORDER TO HORIZON INTERNATIONAL GROUP LLC. ITEM FOUR, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF 1,397,000 656 92 AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH GROVEL LLC. ITEM FIVE, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF 2,741,000 289 80 AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH THE JFT CONSTRUCTION INC. ITEM SIX, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL TO FILING CONTRACT AMOUNT OF 7 82 5 42 64 AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT BC AND C-B-C-A-C UNDERGROUND LLC ITEM SEVEN, HOUSTON'S AMAZING PLACE INC. FOR EMERGENCY PURCHASE OF AGING AND REST FIGHT CARE SUPPORT SERVICES, ITEM EIGHT SHI GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS INC. FOR PURCHASE OF MICROSOFT SERVER CLOUD ENROLLMENT LICENSING ITEM NINE SHI GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS INC. FOR PURCHASE OF AN ENTERPRISE EMAIL ARCHIVAL SYSTEM. ITEM 10 APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 2 MILLION 3 45 8 40 AND NO SENSE THE PURCHASE OF MICROSOFT UNIFIED SUPPORT SERVICES SUPPORTING MICROSOFT PRODUCTS THROUGH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION RESOURCES FOR HOUSTON, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES AND VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS AWARDED TO MICROSOFT CORPORATION. ITEM 11, PATRICIA TECH SUPPLY AND SERVICE FOR PURCHASE OF LIGHTING BALLAS. ITEM 12, MUNICIPAL VALVE AND EQUIPMENT COMPANY FOR PURCHASE OF PNEUMATIC AND MUD VALVES. ITEM 13, FERGUSON WATERWORKS, EXCUSE ME, FOR PURCHASE OF AIR RELEASE VALVES. ITEM 14, KINETIC MOTORWORKS, LLC, EXCUSE ME, TO FURNISH CHEMICAL TANKS. ITEM 15, ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND IDD ITEM 16 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING AMENDMENT TO THE RENOVATION OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND HOUSTON BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INC. ITEM 17 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND IMPROVING DEVELOPER AGREEMENT DEVELOPMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HEART OF HOUSTON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION INC. ITEM 18 ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCES 20 18 6 12 AND 20 19 5 43 TO DEALLOCATE TERRAS AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUNDS PREVIOUSLY ALLOCATED BY ORDINANCE 20 19 543 TO THE NEW HOME DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, MASTER CONTRACT AGREEMENTS AND TRIAL PARTY AGREEMENTS. ITEM 19 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND CANTWELL ANDERSON INC. JOINED BY 4,600 MAIN STREET HOUSING LP ITEM 20 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS OF HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY. ITEM 21 ORDINANCE APPROVING, AUTHORIZING [02:55:01] AND APPROVING SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER. ITEM 22, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING DIRECTOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO ACCEPT GRANT AWARD FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES FOR THE TEXAS HEALTHY COMMUNITIES GRANT PROGRAM. ITEM 23 ORDINANCE AND AUTHORIZING DIRECTOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO ACCEPT GRANT AWARD FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE GRANT OUT OF 24 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $29,392,520 AND NO CENTS OUTTA THE EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION CONSOLIDATED FUND $1,302,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF MISCELLANEOUS CAPITAL PROJECTS ACQUISITIONS FUND $1,105,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF FLEET EQUIPMENT SPECIAL REVENUE FUND AND $644,021 AND NO CENTS OUT OF CONTRIBUTED CAPITAL PROJECT FUND FOR VEHICLES AND RELATED EQUIPMENT ADDING 25 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON AIRPORT ASSISTANT TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT ENTITLEMENT AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. ENTITLEMENT GRANT AWARDS FROM THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION FOR VARIOUS PROJECTS. ITEM 26, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON AIRPORT ASSISTANT TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT DISCRETIONARY AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. DISCRETIONARY GRANT AWARDS FROM THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION FOR VARIOUS PROJECTS AT GEORGE BUSH INTER CONTINENTAL AIRPORT. ITEM 27 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATED $150 MILLION AND NO CENTS OUT OF AIRPORT SYSTEM CONSOLIDATED 2011 CONSTRUCTION FUND AND $100,100 MILLION AND NO CENTS OUT OF AIRPORTS IMPROVEMENT FUND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO TO AN AIRPORT HOUSTON LEASE AGREEMENT AT WILLIAM P IVY AIRPORT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND SOUTHWEST AIRLINES. CO ITEM 28 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATE AND $13,108,044 AND 31 CENTS OUT OF AIRPORTS IMPROVEMENT FUND FOR THE IAH SKYWAY. AUTOMATED PEOPLE MOVING SYSTEM OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND AUSTIN TRANSPORT USA INC. ITEM 29, EXCUSE ME, ORDERS APPROPRIATING $11,982,349 AND NO CENTS OUT OF AIRPORTS IMPROVEMENT FUND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE TO TWO CONTRACTS BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND ONE HOUSTON AVIATION ALLIANCE, A JOINT VENTURE AND TWO PARSONS AND AJ HJ RUSSELL, I-A-H-T-A JOINT VENTURE FOR PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM. AND IN 30 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,500,000 IN NO CENTS FROM THE LIBRARY SPECIAL REVENUE FUND FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF ADULT LITERACY FOR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ADULT LITERACY ITEM 31 ORDINANCE MANY ORDINANCE NUMBER 22 20 22 35 PASSED ON JANUARY 19TH, 2022 TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND MAGNA FLOW ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES INC. ITEM 32 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CARL'S PROPERTIES INC. AS LANDLORD AND CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. TENANT ITEM 33 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND INDUCTIVE HEALTH INFORMATICS LLC ITEM 34 ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE EXPANSION OF THE CAPACITY AND MISSION OF THE HOUSTON LAND BANK APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AMENDMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION OF HLB AND HLB POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. ITEM 35 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING IN LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON LAND BANK FOR THE TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUES COLLECTED BY THE CITY ON SUBJECT PROPERTIES ITEM. THIS ITEM SHALL ONLY BE CONSIDERED AT PASSAGE OF ITEM 34 ABOVE ITEM 36 ORDINANCE RELATING TO FISCAL AFFAIRS OF FIFTH WARD. REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ON BEHALF OF REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 18 CD HOUSTON, TEXAS FIFTH WARD ZONE ITEM 37, EXCUSE ME, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING, EXCUSE ME, $17,536,650 AND NO CENTS OUT OF CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS TAX INCREMENT FUNDS. HER REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER IS ONE ST. GEORGE PLAY ZONE TWO MIDTOWN ZONE THREE, MAIN STREET MARKET SQUARE ZONE SIX, EAST SIDE ZONE SEVEN OH SPRING TRAIL, ALAMEDA CORRIDOR, ZONE EIGHT, GULF GATE ZONE NINE, SOUTH POST OAK ZONE 12, CITY PARK ZONE 1306 WARD ZONE 14 FOURTH WARD ZONE 15 EAST DOWNTOWN ZONE 16 UP TOWN ZONE AND 18 FIFTH WARD ZONE CITY, HOUSTON, TEXAS FOR PAYMENTS OF CITY'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING COSTS. 8 38 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING COMPROMISE SETTLEMENT AND RELEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND DRC EMERGENCY SERVICES LLC 39 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE OF THE 1000 BLOCK OF BETA AVENUE BETWEEN SHAW STREET AND NOR HILL BOULEVARD. 40 ORDINANCE DESIGNATED IN THE PROPERTY MUNICIPALLY KNOWN AS 53 30 MANDALE STREET AND ALSO KNOWN AS EARL AND BETHE [03:00:01] CARPENTER HOUSE ITEM 41 ORDINANCE DESIGNATED IN THE PROPERTY MUNICIPALLY KNOWN AS 25 0 6 ROSEDALE STREET AND ALSO KNOWN AS THE WILL BANK HANNAH HOUSE BEING LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AS A PROTECTED LANDMARK. ITEM 42 ORDINANCE DESIGNATED THE PROPERTY MUNICIPALLY KNOWN AS 2201 ALBAN ROAD AND ALSO KNOWN AS THE THREE OAKS, MR. AND MRS R BRADLEY HOUSE. ITEM 43 ORDINANCE DESIGNATED THE PROPERTY MUNICIPALLY KNOWN AS 30 19 GRAY STREET, HOUSTON, TEXAS 7 7 0 0 4 AND ALSO KNOWN AS SPENCER AND LEELA ROBINSON HOUSE I 44 ORDINANCE DESIGNATED THE PROPERTY MUNICIPALLY KNOWN AS 4 26 WESTMORELAND STREET, HOUSTON AND ALSO KNOWN AS GOODMAN HOUSE I 45 ORDINANCE DESIGNATED THE PROPERTY MUNICIPALLY KNOWN AS 1300 COURT STREET, EASTERN TEXAS 7 7 0 0 7 AND ALSO KNOWN AS OLIVE WOOD CEMETERY. ITEM 46 ORDINANCE DESIGNATED THE PROPERTY MUNICIPALLY KNOWN AS TWO 15 EAST 30TH STREET INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS AND ALSO KNOWN AS THOMPSON BROWN HOUSE. ITEM 47 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON CLAY ROAD 6 2 8 DEVELOPMENT LP AND HARRIS COUNTY MINISTRY UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 5 2 5 ITEM 48. ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $787,500 AND NO CENTS. ITEM OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND DRAINAGE CHARGE AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND LIQUIDITY ENGINEERING LLC AND A 49 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,514,415 AND NO CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND DRAINAGE CHARGE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND D CORP FOR BOONE PARK AND HACKBERRY PARK DETENTION BASINS. ITEM 50 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $6,900,000 IN NO CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND VELO TAX AWARDING CONTRACT JAY RES CONSTRUCTION LLC AND 51 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $10,800,000 IN NO CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND. VALONE TAX AWARDING CONTRACT TO TOTAL CONTRACT LIMITED AND 52 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $7,970,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND A AWARDING CONTRACT EROX LLC ITEM 53. ORDINANCE SUBMITTING ORDINANCE 20 17 6 12 AS SUBMITTED BY ORDINANCE 20 18, 10 33 AS SUBMITTED BY ORDINANCE 20 21 3 25, INCREASE THE MAXIMUM CONTACT AMOUNT FOR AGREEMENT FOR LEGAL SERVICES BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND DENTON TOMORROW. ROCHA, BERNARD AND Z PC. THIS WAS TAB COUNCIL MEMBER . THIS WAS ITEM 34 ON AGENDA OF AUGUST 23RD, 2023. ITEM 54 IS A WRITTEN MOTION FOR CONST MEMBER ALQUAN TO AMEN. ITEM 55 BELOW. THIS WAS THE FOLLOWING MAY BE MOVED CONTINGENT UPON PASSAGE OF ITEM 55 BELOW. THIS IS AN AMENDMENT BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. ITEM 55 IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDED AMENDED ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 29 9 9 TO REVISE AND UPDATE THE AMENDED AND RESTATED CITY HOUSTON'S FINANCIAL POLICIES ADOPTED UND TO LABOR ON MOTION. 20 23 5 70. AUGUST 23RD, 2023. THESE WERE ITEM 71 AND 72 ON AGENDA OF AUGUST 23RD, 2023. THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE WEEK, AUGUST 29TH AND 30TH. STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM IN THE WORDS OF THE CURRENT CITY SECRETARY WHOSE BIRTHDAY IS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER THE SECOND, I'LL BE 62. UH, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED. HAVE A BLESSED AND FOR ANTAGONIST THIS DAY. DAY STARTED, [RECONVENE] UH, GOOD MORNING. IT IS 9 0 4, UH, AM ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST THE 30TH ON 2023. AND I'M MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER. I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER. ALRIGHT, THE [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 ] FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS ON TODAY'S AGENDA WOULD BE THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT. SO THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COM CONTROLLER, CHRIS BROWN AND CHAIR RECOGNIZES DIRECTOR WILL JONES, UH, FOR THEIR REPORT. GOOD MORNING MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING JULY 31ST, 2023. IN THE GENERAL FUND. THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE IS PROJECTING AN ENDING FUND BALANCE OF 405.6 MILLION FOR FY 24. THIS IS 45.8 MILLION LOWER THAN THE PROJECTION OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. BASED ON OUR CURRENT PROJECTION, THE FUND BALANCE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY 222.5 MILLION ABOVE THE CITY'S TARGET OF HOLDING 7.5% IN RESERVES. THE FY [03:05:01] 24 BEGINNING FUND BALANCE IS 26.6 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE FY 23 ENDING FUND BALANCE REPORT IN THE JUNE 30TH MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT. AND THIS INCREASE IS DUE TO YEAR END ADJUSTMENTS TO REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES THAT WILL NOT BE FINAL UNTIL THE FY 23 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT IS PUBLISHED. OUR PROJECTIONS ARE UNCHANGED FROM THE FY 24 TRENDS REPORT. UH, MOVING ON TO THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS, WE HAVE NO CHANGES IN THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS. SO NEXT, LOOKING AT OUR COMMERCIAL PAPER AND BONDS, ALL OF THE CITY, UH, VARIABLE RATE DEBT IS WELL BELOW THE 20% THRESHOLD. AND THIS CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, FINANCE DIRECTOR. UH, WILL JONES. GOOD MORNING. THIS IS THE ONE PLUS 11 FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING JULY 31ST, 2023. FISCAL YEAR 2024. PROJECTIONS ARE BASED ON ONE MONTH OF ACTUAL RESULTS AND 11 MONTHS OF, UH, PROJECTIONS. SO FIRST I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT LAST FISCAL YEAR. SO THE FINAL REVENUES FOR FY 23 WILL INCLUDE REVENUES EARNED THROUGH JUNE 30 ONLY. THEY'RE COLLECTED BY THE END OF AUGUST. EXPENDITURES THROUGH JUNE 30 WILL INCLUDE SPENDING INCURRED BEFORE THE END OF JUNE. THESE EXPENSES CONTINUE TO BE, UH, ACCRUED OR RECORDED AS ACCRUALS, UH, TO LAST FISCAL YEAR UNTIL AUGUST 31ST. SO THE CURRENT PRELIMINARY AND DESIGNATED FUND BALANCE FOR GENERAL FUND IS 469, UH, MILLION. THAT'S FOR FY 23, APPROXIMATELY 19 MILLION HIGHER THAN WHAT WE WERE PROJECTING IN JUNE. NOW FOR FISCAL YEAR 24, BOTH OUR REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE PROJECTIONS REMAIN UNCHANGED FROM THE BUDGET. SO WE'RE CURRENTLY PROJECTING THE ENDING FUND BALANCE OF 451.4 MILLION, WHICH IS 485 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET IN 18.5% OF EXPENDITURES, LESS DEBT SERVICE THAN PAY AS YOU GO. AND IT'S THE STRONGEST FUND BALANCE WE'VE HAD IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THE FUND BALANCE IS 268.3 MILLION ABOVE THE TARGET, 7.5% OF EXPENDITURES EXCLUDING DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO. AND WE'RE PROJECTING NO FORECAST CHANGES IN OUR ENTERPRISE AND SPECIAL FUNDS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. AND THANK YOU BOTH FOR THE PRESENTATION. UM, THE PROPOSED BUDGET, I BELIEVE, UH, THE FUND BALANCE WAS AROUND 405 MILLION. AND, AND FOR RIGHT NOW, YOU SAID YOU'RE GOING TO, YOU'RE GOING TO BE COLLECTING THE FINAL REVENUES ALL THE WAY UNTIL AUGUST 31ST FOR FISCAL YEAR 23. CORRECT. THE QUESTION IS HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO CALCULATE THOSE REV REVENUES? UH, TO, UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT THAT FINAL NUMBER IS. SO AS THE CONTROLLER MENTIONED, ONCE THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT IS FINAL, THEN THAT'LL BE THE, UH, THE ABSOLUTE FINAL. BUT BY THE END OF THIS MONTH, UH, SEPTEMBER, WE SHOULD HAVE A VERY GOOD IDEA OF WHERE THE NUMBERS WILL SETTLE. AND YOU THINK IT'LL BE ABOVE 451 MILLION? I THINK IT'LL BE IN BETWEEN, UH, 450 TO 470 MILLION. YOU GONNA HAVE SOME MONEY? I'M SORRY. HE'S GOOD. I SAID YOU GONNA HAVE A LITTLE MONEY TO SPEND . I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. AND AND THE POINT YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE IS , YOU HAVE, IT'S, IT IS FROM 405 MILLION ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET. IT COULD END UP BEING BETWEEN 450 TO 470 MILLION. THAT IS CORRECT. FOUR, EVEN EVEN AT 405 MILLION. I THINK THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH ONE OF THE STRONGEST FUND BALANCES EVER. SO AT 450 TO 470, I'M JUST SAYING THERE'S A LITTLE MONEY TO SPEND LESS CIPS. WHY DON'T WE LOOK AT IT AS A FACT THAT IT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST, UM, FUND BALANCES THAT WE'VE HAD, IF NOT THE LARGEST. THAT'S CORRECT. UM, AND THEN, UM, AND THEN WE CAN, WE CAN WORK FROM THERE. GOT IT. BUT, UM, I, I UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU ALL AND ALSO THE OUTLOOK IN THE FUTURE. WE ALSO LOOK THERE AS WELL, , WE, LET ME ALSO SAY THAT BAD DECISIONS ON JANUARY 1ST GOING FORWARD CAN END UP VERY QUICKLY. MM-HMM . SO LET ME ITERATE THAT. BAD DECISIONS FROM JANUARY 1ST GOING FORWARD CAN WIPE IT AWAY VERY QUICKLY. OKAY. WAS HE GIVING YOU CREDIT? SO, BUT I THINK, I THINK, I THINK THE COUNCIL MEMBER WAS GIVING ME SOME CREDIT. HE, HE JUST KIND OF WENT AROUND IN CIRCLES AND I WAS TRYING TO GIVE HIM AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE VERY DIRECT TO CLEAR IT UP, TO CLARIFY, YOU KNOW, WELL, I WAS POINTING OUT AT 405 MILLION WAS ONE OF THE STRONGEST FUND BALANCES EVER. AND NOW TO 450 TO 470 IS BY FAR PROBABLY ONE OF THE HIGHEST FRONT BALANCES EVER. SO YOU'RE SAYING GOOD MANAGEMENT BROUGHT ABOUT THIS CONCLUSION. THE CITY, THE CITY THE CITY 2.2. I THINK THE, I THINK THE CITY IS IN GOOD FINANCIAL [03:10:01] SHAPE, UH, FOR WHOEVER TAKES OVER IN THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION. WELL, I THINK THE CREDIT BELONGS TO ALL 17 MM-HMM . AROUND HARDSHIP. ALL 17 HAVE CONTRIBUTED THAT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND YES, THIS IS DEFINITELY, I'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME. THIS IS DEFINITELY THE MOST WE'VE EVER HAD. AND THE PERCENTAGE OVER THAT SEVEN AND A HALF PERCENT IS, IS HUGE. AND I KNOW THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE A WHILE WILL EVERY YEAR. I MEAN, THIS IS EXCEPTIONAL. ON HOW MUCH LAST YEAR, I MEAN, WHEN WE PASSED THE 23 BUDGET, IT WAS A THREE, WE PREDICTED A $327 MILLION FUND BALANCE. WE ENDED UP WITH 4 0 6 NOW AT FOUR 60. AND EVERY YEAR WE COME UP, WE COME SEVERAL TENS OF MILLIONS, USUALLY ABOVE, I MEAN THE LAST DECADE OR SO ABOVE WHAT IT IS. AND A LOT OF THAT IS GREAT MANAGEMENT, BUT I'M AFRAID SOME OF IT IS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT FILLING POSITIONS THAT NEED TO BE FILLED. WE CAN'T ATTRACT AND RETAIN EMPLOYEES. AND THAT IS A FACTOR. I MEAN, THAT'S A SMALLER PORTION OF IT. BUT I THINK THAT, THAT IN SOME, I NOTICE THAT WHEN THE MOWERS COME EVERY MONTH, THERE'S ALWAYS LIKE, WE SPEND UNDER THIS BECAUSE OF PERSONNEL SAVINGS. WE SPEND UNDER THIS BECAUSE OF PERSONNEL SAVINGS. AND THAT TO ME IS A FACTOR, UH, A FUNCTION OF COMPENSATION. I REALLY WANNA SEE THE COMPENSATION STUDY SO WE CAN START, UM, KIND OF UPPING SOME OF THOSE SALARIES TO GET MORE PEOPLE IN THE DOOR. SO JUST PUTTING MY PLUG IN, MAYOR PRO TEM FOR THE BFA COMMITTEE FOR THE COMPENSATION STUDY. SO WE CAN START LOOKING AT THAT. THANK YOU. OKAY. UM, THANK YOU. CHAIR RECOGNIZES MAYOR PRO TEM. YES. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT DATED JULY 31ST, 2023 AS PRESENTED. SECOND ROBINSON, YOU TURN THE MOTION TO BE SECONDED. ANY DISCUSSION? ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE GRANTED. THANK YOU. COME TOTAL. CHRIS BROWN. THANK YOU. FINANCE DIRECTOR OF WILL JONES. OKAY. I WILL, I WILL NOTE I DO WANT TO, I WANNA MAKE THIS NOTE THOUGH, 'CAUSE THERE'S BEEN A WHOLE LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THE APA FUNDING, APA FUNDING AND APA FUNDING RUNNING AWAY. AND AS YOU CAN RECALL, WE RECEIVED ABOUT 606 MILLION MM-HMM . IN APA FUNDING. THIS FUND BALANCE REPRESENTS MORE THAN TWO THIRDS OF THE FUNDING. OKAY. SO FUNDING GOES AWAY, BUT TWO THIRDS OF THAT OPERA FUNDING MORE THAN THAT IS STILL NOW IN THIS FUND BALANCE. SO FOR ANYBODY WHO'S TAKEN OVER IN JANUARY OF, UH, 2024, UH, YEAH, THE OPERA FUNDING MAY BE GONE, BUT THERE IS A HEFTY FUND BALANCE THAT REPRESENTS ALMOST MORE THAN TWO THIRDS OF THOSE OPERA DOLLARS THAT'S AVAILABLE. SO, UM, UM, NEXT PERSON SHOULD BE STARTING IN PRETTY, PRETTY DECENT SHAPE. OKAY. UH, [MAYOR'S REPORT] NEXT MAYORS REPORT. OKAY, A FEW COMMENTS. UM, TODAY, THIS MORNING, UH, IN FACT RIGHT NOW, UM, THERE'S A HEARING IN AUSTIN ON HB 2177, WHICH IS THE SUPER PREEMPTION BILL. UM, TODAY, UH, JUDGE HAS TAKEN UP THE CITY'S CHALLENGE TO THE SO-CALLED SUPER PREEMPTION BILL. UH, WE'VE ALSO BEEN JOINED BY OTHER CITIES, UM, AUSTIN, SAN ANTONIO, A NUMBER OF CITIES IN NORTH NORTHERN PART OF TEXAS ALSO JOINED IN. UM, AND WE ARE ASKING FOR HB 2127 TO BE DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL. OTHERWISE IT TAKES EFFECT ON FRIDAY, THIS COMING FRIDAY, EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER ONE. SO THE NEW LAW WILL PREVENT CITIES LIKE HOUSTON FROM ADOPTING OR ENFORCING LOCAL REGULATIONS THAT ARE NEEDED. WE ALSO BELIEVE HB 2127 VIOLATES THE HOME RULE AMENDMENT OF THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION IS UNCONSTITUTIONALLY VAGUE AND IMPERMISSIBLY DELEGATES THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE LEGISLATURE'S POLICYMAKING AUTHORITY, UH, TO THE COURTS. UH, THE CITIES HAVE JOINED OUR CHALLENGE, INCLUDING SAN ANTONIO AND EL PASO, UH, AUSTIN. AND WE ARE SUPPORTED BY SEVERAL OTHER LARGEST SMALL TEXAS CITIES AS WELL. SO, UM, UH, LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS, UH, TODAY, UH, TOMORROW, BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT BECOMES EFFECTIVE, UH, THIS COMING FRIDAY, UH, AS YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT BETTER HEAT WISE, BUT STILL HOT. OKAY. AND A FEW PEOPLE GOT SOME RAIN, BUT IT'S STILL EXTREMELY DRY AND THE GROUND CONTINUES TO SHIFT. UH, NOW THERE ARE, NOW WE'VE ADDED, THERE ARE NOW 10 OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS OUT THERE TO REPAIR AND, AND FIX, UH, WATER MAIN LEAKS. SO THAT'S 10. THAT'S MORE THAN WE HAVE HAD UP FROM SIX UP FROM SIX. YEAH. SO, UM, AND THE APPEAL THAT WAS MADE LAST WEEK FOR MORE CONTRACTORS HAVE CUT. THOSE CONTRACTORS HAVE RESPONDED. THEY'RE [03:15:01] BEING VETTED AND WE ARE PUT MORE OUT THERE. UH, WE ARE, I AM ASKING PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO CONTINUE TO COMPLY WITH STAGE TWO BECAUSE THAT HELPS WITH WATER PRESSURE FOR EVERYBODY. AND I KNOW IT'S HARD ON THE LUNGS. I I GOT THAT. I UNDERSTAND THAT. UH, BUT WE JUST NEED TO MANAGE THIS SITUATION THROUGH THIS EXTREME, UH, WEATHER CRISIS. UM, SO, UH, AND BEAR MIND, THERE ARE MORE THAN 500 WATER LEAKS OUT THERE. SO IF, IF, IF THERE'S A WATER LEAK, FOR EXAMPLE, AND PEOPLE REPORT IT, UH, IT MAY TAKE US A WEEK A LITTLE BIT MORE. I MEAN, IT JUST TAKES TIME, YOU KNOW. UH, BUT IN ADDITION TO OUR OWN INTERNAL CREWS, UH, WE ALSO HAVE THESE 10 ADDITIONAL CONTRACTORS AND WE ADDRESS, AND I THINK I'M, UM, THE PUBLIC WORKS TOLD ME ABOUT 400 WATER LEAKS A WEEK IN THIS WHOLE CYCLE. SO IT IS STILL, IT'S STILL HOT, IT'S STILL DRY. AND, UM, I DO WANT TO, YOU KNOW, MY BOSS IN PERHAPS FOR THE PEOPLE IN FLORIDA THAT ARE DEALING WITH, UH, THEIR HURRICANE SITUATION, BUT HERE LOCALLY WE ARE DEALING WITH EXTREME, UH, EXTREME HEAT AND DRYNESS. SO, UM, SO LET'S JUST GOVERN OURSELVES ACCORDINGLY, AND WE WILL, WE WILL GET THROUGH IT. I WANT TO THANK THE PUBLIC WORKS AND ALL OF THE CONTRACTORS AND THE EMPLOYEES WHO OUT THERE. I WANNA THANK ALL OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES LIKE SOLID WASTE AND OTHERS WHO ARE WORKING OUTSIDE, UH, IN THIS EXTREME HEAT, UH, TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE IN, IN OUR CITY. UM, LOOK, LAST FRIDAY MARKED THE SIXTH ANNIVERSARY OF HARVEY. UM, AND, YOU KNOW, UM, A LOT OF RAIN WATER CAME IN, IN THE BASEMENT DOWNSTAIRS. UM, SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS OR SO. UH, I TOURED DOWNSTAIRS AND, UH, IT IS, UM, PRETTY MUCH SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED. MM-HMM . UH, DOWNSTAIRS AND THEY'VE DONE A FINE JOB. AND SO THEY ARE MORE MEETING ROOMS, TRAINING SPACES, CONFERENCES, UM, OR WELLNESS CENTER, UH, THAT'S DOWNSTAIRS FOR EMPLOYEES AND OTHERS. SO, UM, I'M VERY PLEASED WITH WHAT'S TAKING PLACE THERE. AND ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER THE 15TH, UH, WE ARE PLANNING AN OPEN HOUSE FOR PEOPLE TO SEE THE REPAIRS AND CELEBRATE THE RECOVERY. LET ME GIVE A BIG THANK YOU TO CJ MESSIAH AND GHD, UH, FOR TAKING THE LEADERSHIP ON, ON, UH, DOWNSTAIRS. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. UH, NEXT SEPTEMBER, UM, WE WILL BE CUTTING THE RIBBON ON THE LAND, WT SQUARE, GRAND OPENING. AND SO, UM, UM, UH, SAW LYNN THE OTHER NIGHT AND SHE'S EXCITED. CAN'T WAIT. YOU KNOW, SHE IS, SHE'S MISS TEXAS. UM, AND SO, UM, THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE. AND THEN AT THE SAME TIME, UH, THERE WILL BE AN ALSO AN, AN OPENING FOR JONES HALL IN TERMS OF THE REPAIRS THAT THEY'LL BE MAKING, UH, THERE AS WELL. SO THE TWO WILL BE TAKING PLACE AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, BUT I WANT TO THANK, UM, UH, LYNN WYATT AND HER FAMILY FOR CONTRIBUTING $10 MILLION FOR THAT, FOR THAT, FOR THAT OPENING. UM, HAVING SAID THAT, I THINK THAT THAT KIND OF DOES IT, UH, FOR ME THIS MORNING. COUNCILMAN THOMAS? GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WANT, UM, TO TAKE SOME TIME ON YOUR COMMENTS TO, UM, RAISE A, A QUESTION REGARDING AN ITEM WE PASSED LAST WEEK. YOU KNOW, WE WERE EXCITED ABOUT THE PUBLIC, UH, THE, UM, CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WE RECOMMENDED TO THE COUNTY THAT WERE UP FOR BOAT. AND SO IT'S, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT NONE OF THOSE PROJECTS WERE ADOPTED. AND SO FOR ME, I'M, I'M REALLY CURIOUS SURE WHY. I THINK THERE WAS A TS PROJECT THAT WAS ADOPTED, UM, AND INSTEAD, AND SO, UM, WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF ONE WE'RE IT TAKES A LOT OF LABOR FOR PUBLIC WORKS TO PUT THIS TOGETHER, COUNCIL MEMBERS KIND OF GETTING OUR PROJECTS TO THE FINISH LINE FOR CONSIDERATION, AND THEN THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNTY, UM, AND THEN THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, ALL THESE DIFFERENT PLAYERS, UM, ARE THEY AWARE OF OUR PRIORITIES AND DOES THAT CARRY ANY WEIGHT IN COMPARISON TO A TUR? LIKE HOW COULD A TUR CIRCUMVENT PRIORITIES THAT THE CITY HAS OUT OUTLINED? UM, AND, AND, AND SO I, THERE'S A, THERE'S A LOT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO. AND SO TO KIND OF DO THIS AS A COUNCIL HAVE THE SUPPORT AND THEN FOR NONE OF THEM TO MAKE IT, UM, WAS PRETTY DISHEARTENING TO ME. AND LEMME TELL YOU WHAT, UH, WHAT THEY TOLD ME. 'CAUSE I, UM, PRIOR TO THEIR VOTE, UH, I TALKED TO A COUPLE OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ON THOSE PROJECTS ADVOCATING FOR ALL FIVE OF THEM. AND, UM, THEY ALSO BROUGHT IN, ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS BROUGHT IN, AND ONE OF THE ENGINEERS, WHAT THEY END UP DOING, IF THE PROJECT EXCEEDED 20 MILLION, THEY RULE IT OUT AND THEY RULE IT OUT BECAUSE THEY SAID GLO IS HOLDING THEM TO A STRICT TIMELINE. AND IF THE, AND IF THE PROJECT WAS NOT COMPLETED [03:20:02] UNDER THEIR STRICT TIMELINE IN THAT TWO YEAR CYCLE, THEY FELT LIKE THEY WOULD THEN BE AT RISK OF HAVING TO GIVE THE MONEY BACK TO GLO OR BE GLO COMING AND GRABBING THE MONEY BACK. SO THEY FELT THAT ANY PROJECT THAT WAS $20 MILLION OR LESS, THEY COULD GET IT DONE IN TWO YEARS. SO, SURE. SO WE COULDN'T HAVE HAD THAT INFORMATION BEFORE WE SUBMITTED PLUS $20 MILLION PROJECTS. LIKE, SO THE EFFORT THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? IT'S LIKE, SO WE HAVE TO DO THIS ALL OVER AGAIN. THAT'S, THAT'S WAS THE EXPLANATION THAT THEY GAVE TO ME. AND OF COURSE, BY THEN IT WAS TOO LATE BECAUSE IF WE HAD KNOWN THAT THAT WAS, THAT WAS THE CRITERIA, THEN WE COULD HAVE SUBMITTED PROJECTS THAT WERE $20 MILLION OR LESS. SO THAT, SO THEIR MAIN THING WAS IF 20 MILLION WAS A CUTOFF, UH, THAT THEY FELT THAT THEY COULD GET DONE WITHIN A TWO YEAR PERIOD WITHOUT, UH, COMING INTO CONFLICT WITH GLO AND, UM, OUR PROJECTS, THE FIVE OF THEM WERE LITTLE WITH 20 MILLION OR MORE. THAT'S, SO THAT JUST, THAT JUST RULED US OUT. I WISH I, I WISH WE HAD KNOWN THAT PRIOR TO THEN WE COULD HAVE SUBMITTED PROJECTS THAT FELL WITHIN THE 20 MILLION. YEP. THANK YOU MAYOR. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, I WAS GONNA MENTION SOMETHING ELSE, BUT I WANNA GO TO THIS BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS WHOLE, AND I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, UM, STIRRING AS WELL BECAUSE WITH ALL THE GLO AND THE STATE MONEY AND IT'S ALL GONE TO THE COUNTY AND EVERYONE KEEPS SAYING, OH, WELL HOUSTON WILL GET SOME OF THAT. AND IT'S FOR HOUSTON TOO. AND WE KNOW IT'S NOT ENOUGH PERIOD. BUT THE FACT THAT EVEN NOW THE PROJECTS WE'RE SUBMITTING, WE'RE NOT EVEN GONNA GET MONEY FOR. UM, IT'S A, IT'S JUST NOT OKAY. UH, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT THIS, UM, AND WHAT WE CAN BE DOING TO ADVOCATE. THE, THE REASON I HAD FIRST GONE INTO THE Q MAYOR WAS BECAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GLO AND I WAS JUST AT A, A EVENT THE OTHER DAY AND A RESIDENT, UH, IN MEYERLAND CAME UP TO ME AND SAID, NOTHING IS HAPPENING WITH MY HOME STILL. AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOW AT THE STATE, AND IT, AGAIN, WE'RE CELEBRATING THE ANNIVERSARY OF HARVEY AND THEIR HOME IS STILL NOT BUILT. UH, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE STATE, YOU MENTIONED THE DROUGHT, UH, IT ALSO, UH, WAS BROUGHT TO MY AWARENESS. WE'RE SO WORRIED ABOUT THE TREES, NOT JUST BECAUSE THEY HELP WITH AIR QUALITY AND SHADE AGAINST HEAT, BUT FLOOD MITIGATION. AND IT COSTS THE CITY MILLIONS. IF YOU GO BACK TO 2011, WHEN WE LOSE OUR TREES, OUR TXDOT RIGHTS OF WAY RIGHT ALONG OUR FREEWAYS HAVE THESE BEAUTIFUL, MATURE TREES. THEY'RE HELPING WITH SOUND, THEY'RE HELPING WITH DRAINAGE. WE HAVE A NEW DRAINAGE DETENTION AREA AT TWO 90 AND SIX 10. I ASKED EIGHT, UH, I ASKED TEXDOT, CAN Y'ALL PLEASE HELP? WE ARE TRYING TO WATER AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, BUT WE HAVE 650 SQUARE MILES THAT WE IN OUR DEPARTMENTS HAVE TO COVER. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP WITH YOUR RIGHTS OF WAY? THEIR POLICY IS AFTER A YEAR OF, UH, YEAR FOLLOWING PLANTING, THEY NO LONGER MAINTAIN, BUT SOME OF THEIR RIGHT OF WAYS HAVE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS. IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT NONE OF THEIR SPRINKLER SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN WORKING SINCE WINTER STORM, YURI, THAT THEY ARE ALL DAMAGED, BUT THEY HAVE FAILED TO REPAIR THEM. SO MY QUESTION IS, WHAT IS TDOT GOING TO DO? THEY CAME BEFORE US, I BELIEVE AT TTI, THEY SAID THEY REALLY CARE ABOUT DRAINAGE AND FLOOD MITIGATION. WELL, OUR TREES ARE THE FRONT LINE OF THAT. SO WHAT ARE THEY DOING? COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO, THANK YOU. JUST BRIEFLY, I APPRECIATE, UM, MY COLLEAGUE BRINGING UP THE, THE SITUATION LAST WEEK. I TOO, I, I HAD A MEETING WITH A, A COUNTY COMMISSIONER ON A SEPARATE TOPIC, BUT DID GET THE LIST OF THE ONES THAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT FOR THE TUESDAY MEETINGS. AND I WAS LIKE, HAD MY LIST AND THEIR LIST AND I WAS LIKE, WAIT, NONE OF US ARE ARE ON THERE. SO THEY HAD THEIR ENGINEER COME IN AND, AND KIND OF SAY WHAT YOU SAID MORE ABOUT THE TIMING, BUT I, I DIDN'T HEAR THE 20 MILLION MARK. AND I DO SEE THREE OF THEIR 11 PROJECTS THAT THEY DID FUND WITH THAT MONEY THAT ARE OVER $20 MILLION. SOME ONE'S 23, 1 26, WHATEVER. SO, SO THAT CALLS INTO QUESTION, BUT THAT A FEW OF THESE ARE IN THE CITY, THEY JUST WEREN'T THE PROJECTS THAT THAT, THAT WE WERE SUBMITTED. NOW I HAVE TALKED TO STEVE CASTELLO, THERE IS OPPORTUNITY UNDER THE PARTNERSHIP, UH, PROJECTS UNDER THE ORIGINAL BOND ALLOCATION THAT WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THESE PROJECTS WERE GONNA STILL PUSH FOR THAT. BUT, BUT I DON'T, I THOUGHT THE PROCESS WAS KIND OF WEIRD FOR THIS. I ATTENDED A ME A ZOOM MEETING ON THE FIVE THAT WE WERE SUBMITTING, BUT IT WAS PUT ON BY OUR PUBLIC WORKS TO GET INPUT ON. I SAID WAS NOT THE COUNTY. I DON'T FEEL, I MEAN, I DON'T, I'M [03:25:01] SURE PEOPLE WERE ADVOCATING AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, BUT THERE WAS NO KIND OF ORGANIZED EFFORT. SO PERHAPS FOR THIS, IF, IF WE'RE GOING AFTER THESE, UH, PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS, THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS IN WHICH THESE FIVE PROJECTS ARE, ARE IN, REALLY NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN WHATEVER KIND OF ADVOCACY, UM, NEEDS TO GO ON. 'CAUSE 'CAUSE AS MY COLLEAGUES HAS TOLD, TOLD ME, AND WHAT I SAY IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE OUT THERE SAYING, WELL, WE'RE APPLYING, WE'RE GOING FOR THIS MONEY. WE'RE NOT GIVING UP, WE'RE GOING FOR IT, WE'RE GOING FOR IT. AND THEN LIKE, WE JUST GET IT AND IT, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE, YOU KNOW, SO HOWEVER WE CAN IMPROVE THAT PROCESS ON GETTING SOME OF, WHETHER IT BE THE BOND MONEY, GLO MONEY AND WHATEVER FROM THE COUNTY, WE NEED TO, YEAH, THEY DID INDICATE THAT THERE MAY BE ANOTHER, UH, ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY, UH, FOR THOSE PROJECTS TO BE CONSIDERED. UM, YOU KNOW, WE WILL CONTINUE TO, TO WORK WITH THEM, UH, ON THAT. UM, BUT A LITTLE BIT MORE CLARIFICATION AHEAD OF TIME WOULD'VE BEEN, IT WOULD'VE BEEN HELPFUL. OKAY. ALRIGHT. NO OTHER SPEAKERS. THANKS. THANKS A LOT. OKAY. UH, NOW LET'S [CONSENT AGENDA] PROCEED TO THE AGENDA UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY ITEMS ONE, TWO, AND THREE. NEED A MOTION CAST MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON MOVED. AND SECOND ON ONE, TWO, AND THREE. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSE, AND GRANTED, UM, ON POSITION ONE, THAT'S, UH, GREG GARCIA TO POSITION ONE OF THE GENERAL APPEALS BOARD. I DO NOT BELIEVE HE'S HERE TODAY, UH, BUT LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING. OH, IS HE? YEAH. COMING FORWARD. AND THIS IS GREG GARCIA, UH, WHO WILL BE SERVING ON THE GENERAL APPEALS BOARD. LET ME THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING WITH YOU. YOU WANNA SAY HELLO TO US THIS MORNING? THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE. THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. AND POSITION TWO, MR. HOUSTON, FORENSIC FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER. UM, IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD. POSITION TWO. OBJECTION IS ANNA UM, VASQUEZ, POSITION FOUR IS J SILVERMAN. YES. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. AND POSITION SIX IS ELLEN COEN FOR REAPPOINTMENT. WHO WAS, IT WAS HER BIRTHDAY ON YESTERDAY. OKAY. SO J WE, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. UH, WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT, UH, BOARD. VERY, VERY, VERY IMPORTANT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. YOU WANNA SAY GOOD MORNING TO US? YES. YEAH, GOOD MORNING. I'M A HOUSTONIAN. I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE. UH, I LOVE THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. OKAY. AND THEN ON POSITION. I THINK THAT'S IT. YEP, THAT'S IT. OKAY, MADAM SECRETARY, BACK TO YOU. OH, AND BY THE WAY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO, UH, TO PAT THIS MORNING. THAT'S HER BIRTHDAY. THANK YOU. . HER AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HUH? YEAH. IT'S ALSO THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S BIRTHDAY. SO PAT, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU. . NOT AS OLD UNDER THE EXCEPT CATEGORY. MINE'S THE DAY AFTER THAT. UNDER THE ACCEPT BOARD CATEGORY, ITEMS FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX HAVE BEEN REMOVED. SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF B CATEGORY. ITEMS 10 AND 13 HAVE BEEN REMOVED. SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEM 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, AND 14. NEED A MOTION CAST, SECRETARY, MOVE. SECOND ROBINSON. IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND IN DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSING GRANTED UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY. I MOVE SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. 16, 21, 28, 30, 32, 34 THROUGH 36, 45, 48, AND 49. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 16, 21, 28, 30, 32, 34 THROUGH 36, 45, 48, AND 49. JUST NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE ON DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSED AND GRANTED. UM, I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AS WE MOVE FORWARD. ITEM 27 THAT WE JUST VOTED ON. UH, THIS IS, UH, THE SOUTHWEST AIRLINES. THIS IS THE, UM, UH, FOR THE EXPANSION THAT'S TAKING PLACE OVER AT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES, UM, WHICH IS A HUGE DEAL, UM, IN TERMS OF APPRO IMPROVING, UM, THE SITUATION OVER THERE. I THINK, UH, SHERRY HALL IS HERE, SHERRY AND BETO IS ALSO PRESENT REPRESENTING SOUTHWEST [03:30:01] AIRLINES. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO BUILDING ON THE RELATIONSHIP. THIS WILL GO A LONG, LONG WAY. SO THANK YOU ALSO VERY MUCH. COUNCILOR. COUNCILOR LES? YES, MAYOR. THANK YOU. I ALSO WANNA WELCOME MS. HALL FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING. UH, YES, THIS IS EXCITING NEWS THAT, UH, SOUTHWEST, UH, WILL BE EXPANDING. UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE AT HOBBY AIRPORT IN REGARDS, UH, TO ADDED GATES, UH, SIX, UH, NEW GATES THAT THEY WILL BE LEASING OUT, PLUS AN ADDITIONAL GATE THAT WILL BE USED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, AS Y'ALL KNOW THAT, UH, HOBBY AIRPORT IS THE FIRST FIVE STAR AIRPORT IN NORTH AMERICA. UH, AND THIS IS JUST GOING TO ADD TO THAT, UH, TO KNOW THAT, THAT THEY CAN, THEY CAN, UH, INCREASE, HOPEFULLY SERVICE INTO LATIN AMERICA. SO THAT'S EXCITING USE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU. OKAY, THANKS VERY, VERY MUCH. UH, AND COUNCILMAN KOOSH. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UH, MS. HALL TOLD ME THAT, UH, THEY'RE GONNA BE BUILDING THAT COVER. KNEW THAT SHE TOLD ME THAT THIS MORNING, SO, HEY, I, YOU KNOW, I PROBABLY WON'T BE IN OFFICE WHERE IT'S BUILT, BUT, UH, BUT I'LL BE USING IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THAT'S AWESOME. ALRIGHT, MADAM SECRETARY, BACK TO YOU. ITEM FOUR NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX T TO MOVE SECOND ROBINSON THEN MOVED TO SECOND ON ITEM FOUR. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN ON FOUR AFTER THAT. AFTER THAT. ANY OF THE DISCUSSION ON ITEM FOUR? DISCUSSION ON FOUR IN FAVOR, OPPOSED GRANTED ON FOUR. COUNCIL MEMBER MCC KAMAN ON FOUR. THANK YOU MARY. JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT ITEMS FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX, UH, THAT WE WILL BE VOTING ON, UM, ALSO RELATE TO CDSF DOLLARS AND FOR DISTRICT C, UM, WE HAVE BEEN FUNDING THROUGH THESE THREE ITEMS. STORM WATER, DRAINAGE, SIDEWALKS, PANEL REPLACEMENTS, UH, SEWER REHABS, AND PARTNERSHIP WITH PUBLIC WORKS. AND THOSE ARE GOING TO COTTAGE GROVE RICE, MILITARY, MEYERLAND, MONTROSE, LAZY BROOK, TIMBER GROVE, AND OTHER AREAS IN DISTRICT C AND OTHER AREAS AROUND THE CITY. BUT WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT THAT BECAUSE OF SO MUCH INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE ARE INVESTING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT, NEXT ITEM. ITEM FIVE NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX TATUM, MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON MOVED IN SECOND ON ITEM FIVE. DISCUSSION ON FIVE. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSED GRANTED ON FIVE. ITEM SIX NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX TATUM, MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON MOVED IN SECOND. AND ON ITEM SIX, DISCUSSION ON SIX. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED ON SIX. ITEM 10 NEEDS A MOTION. THOMAS TAG ON ITEM 10 IS BEEN TAGGED BY COUNCILMAN THOMAS. ITEM 13 NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX STATE A MOVE. SECOND ROBINSON. COUNCILMAN PLUM ON ITEM 13. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, I WOULD LIKE WONDER TO BRING ATTENTION TO THIS ITEM AND REALLY FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO SEE. SO YOU'RE PROBABLY NOTICING THAT MANY CO-OPS NOW ARE COMING BEFORE US. AND WHEN THERE'S A CO-OP, THERE IS NOT TYPICALLY AN MWBE REQUIREMENT AND IN THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, UM, THESE VALVES ARE ACTUALLY ABLE TO BE, UM, UTILIZED OR, OR PRESENTED, UM, BY MWBES OR SMALLER COMPANIES. AND SO I'M GONNA TAG THIS ITEM, MAYOR, JUST TO HAVE ADDITIONAL CONVERSATIONS, UM, WITH PROCUREMENT. BUT I DO WANT TO, UM, TO BRING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION. THE MORE CO-OPS YOU PUT FORWARD, UH, THE, THE, THOSE ITEMS ARE NOT PUT ON THE EBIT SYSTEM, WHICH MEANS THAT THOSE ITEMS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR AN MWB OR ANYONE TO BE ABLE TO, UH, TO BE A PART OF THE PROCESS. AND SO WE'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS, HAVING GOOD MEETINGS. I HAD A GOOD MEETING WITH JED, A GOOD MEETING WITH, UM, WITH OBO TO SEE WHAT OUR OPPORTUNITIES ARE. MAYBE LOOKING AT SOME TYPE OF CARVE OUT POTENTIALLY ON THESE CO-OPS. I KNOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE A MEETING, UM, UH, UNDER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO TALK ABOUT HOW OTHERS CAN GET INVOLVED WITH CO-OPS. BUT UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, I REALLY WANT US TO BE A CON, YOU KNOW, REALLY FOCUS ON THIS TO SEE THAT EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE SPEND ON A CO-OP IS A DOLLAR THAT IS NOT BEING ABLE TO BE BIDDED ON, UM, WITH, UH, WITH A NORMAL MWBE. AND SO I'M GONNA TACK THIS ITEM AND FOR MORE INFORMATION, BUT I WANTED TO BRING MY COLLEAGUES, UM, UP TO SPEED ON WHAT'S GOING ON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. OKAY, THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM, ITEM ITEM 13 IS BEING TAGGED BY COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. ITEM 16 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 16. DISCUSSION ON 16. COUNCILMAN JACKSON ON 16. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. THIS IS THE 3.3 MILLION, UM, THAT'S GOING THROUGH THE, TO THE BETHUNE BETHUNE EMPOWERMENT CENTER OVER IN ACRES HOMES. UM, LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS PROJECT, UM, KICKING OFF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, YOU KNOW, AND SO I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN JACKSON. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 16? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OPPOSED GRANTING ON 16. ITEM 21 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. WE ON ITEM 21, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN ON 21. THANK [03:35:01] YOU MAYOR. UH, JUST WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT THIS, UH, THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY AND UT HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER, UM, REGARDING DATA COLLECTION AND SHARING METRICS, UH, TO ADDRESS ASTHMA. AND, UH, I'M SURE YOU KNOW WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS, ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE HEALTH CONCERN IS OR THE HEALTH CRISIS, THE IMPORTANCE OF UTILIZING AND LEANING ON OUR MEDICAL COMMUNITY AND OUR EXPERTS, UH, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF DATA IN THAT TO ADDRESS, UH, THOSE ISSUES HEAD ON. SO REALLY APPRECIATE THIS ITEM. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I WANNA JOIN MY COLLEAGUE ON THIS. THIS IS EXCITING. AND WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IS ONCE WE GET THIS INFORMATION, UM, AND THIS DATA, AND WE WOULD LOOK AT, I MEAN, RIGHT NOW, CASHIER GARDENS WHERE WE'VE MADE A REQUEST TO SENATOR MILES'S OFFICE TO DO A, UM, TO DO A MEETING, COMMUNITY MEETING, UM, ON THE SEA AT BATCH PLANT THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO PUT IN CASHIER GARDENS. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS DATA BEING TAKEN EVEN FURTHER, RIGHT? TO TRY TO INFLUENCE T-C-E-Q-E-P-A, UH, TO SEE HOW MULTIPLE BATCH PLANTS AND, YOU KNOW, METAL REFINERIES AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT THEY PUT IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES CAN, UM, CAN ASSIST US WITH PREVENTING PERMITS FROM BEING RELEASED. THANK YOU. SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT US WORKING WITH THE MEDICAL CENTER ON THIS AS WELL. THANKS. THANK YOU. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 21 IN FAVOR? OPPOSED GRANTED ON 21. ITEM 28 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. WE ON ITEM 28, DISCUSSION ON 20. COUNCILMAN MINX ON 28. THANK YOU MAYOR. ON ITEM 28, UH, THIS IS THE SKYWAY AUTOMATED PEOPLE MOVER SYSTEM, WHICH IS THE LITTLE TRAIN THAT TAKES PEOPLE BACK AND FORTH IN THE AIRPORT. YES. SO WE'VE INVESTED, UH, $244 MILLION IN, IN CONSTRUCTING THAT THING AND IT'S COSTING US EVIDENTLY A LITTLE SLIGHTLY NORTH OF A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR TO, TO MAINTAIN IT. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIND A REPLACEMENT FOR THAT, RIGHT? WE'VE GOT AN RFI RIGHT NOW AND THEN IT WILL QUICKLY TURN TO AN RFP. AND I THINK WE ARE LOOKING AT, UH, SEVERAL, UM, POTENTIAL CONTRACTORS ON THIS DEAL. SO IF WE, IF WE PASS THIS TODAY, THAT THIS IS GONNA KEEP US GOING WHILE WE GET THAT RFP, CORRECT? I THINK ANYTHING THAT COSTS A MILLION NORTH OF A MILLION TO MAINTAIN EVERY YEAR, WE NEED TO LOOK AT SOME NEW TECHNOLOGY. I AGREE. OR SOME OTHER KIND OF THING. I AGREE. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE THERE. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 28? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 28, ITEM 30 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. WE ON ITEM 30, DISCUSSION ON 30. DISCUSSION ON 30 IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 30. ITEM 32 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. WE ON ITEM 32. DISCUSSION ON 32. DISCUSSION ON 32 IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 32. ITEM 34 IS AN ORDINANCE DEC. NEED TO VOTE. WE ON ITEM 34. DISCUSSION ON 34. DISCUSSION ON 34 IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 34. ITEM 35 IS AN ORDINANCE DEC. NEED TO VOTE. WE ON ITEM 35. DISCUSSION ON 35. THOMAS TAGGED, UH, 35 IS BEING TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, THOMAS. OKAY. 34 35. GO TOGETHER. 34 JUST HAS TO GO FOR 4 35. SO WE GO ALL TO BIRTH CERTIFICATE FORMATION, BUT NOT THE PROCESS, BUT FERRING THEM OUT. OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. ITEM 35 HAS BEEN TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. NEXT 36 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. RULE ITEM 36. ITEM 36. DISCUSSION ON 36. DISCUSSION ON 36 IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 36. ITEM 45 IS AN ORDINANCE. YOU NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 45. DISCUSSION ON 45. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 45. COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN ON 45. SORRY, MY COLLEAGUE WAS DISTRACTING ME. UH, I JUST WANTED TO POINT THIS ONE OUT. UM, WITH ALL ONE. THANKS TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, WE'VE HAD TWO CONSECUTIVE WEEKS OF HOMES THROUGHOUT THE CITY BEING DESIGNATED FOR THEIR HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE. UM, ON THIS ONE MAYOR, UH, WE ARE DESIGNATING OLIVE WOOD CEMETERY. SO I JUST WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT. 'CAUSE AGAIN, THE PROTECTIONS THAT ARE NEEDED THERE, UH, THOSE NEEDS ARE STILL VERY GREAT. UH, WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH, UH, A RA RIGHT NOW TO PROTECT JUST THE PARKING LOT THAT THE CITY, UM, RUNS TO ENSURE THAT VOLUNTEERS AND PEOPLE GOING TO THE LAND, UH, TO THE CEMETERY CAN GET THERE. UH, BUT THERE'S MUCH MORE THAT'S NEEDED WITH EROSION AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO, AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU ON THIS. UM, AS WE CONTINUE THE WORK, UH, AND GIVE A SPECIAL [03:40:01] SHOUT OUT TO THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THE DESCENDANTS OF OLIVE WOOD, UM, MARGO, CHARLES, DAVID, JASMINE, VICKI AND PAUL, UH, AS WELL AS THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. AND YOU MAYOR FOR YOUR SUPPORT WITH OLIVE WOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMAN MC GALLEGOS ON, UH, 45 THA THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAME IN ON, ON ON DOING THIS IN REGARDS TO ALL OLIVE WOOD CEMETERY. I KNOW THAT, UH, MAYOR, UH, I KNOW YOU HAD TAKEN A TOUR IN THE EAST END AND I POINTED OUT TO YOU, UH, WHERE THE, UH, HARRISBURG JACKSON CEMETERY IS. MM-HMM . OR OFF OF LAWNDALE AND BROADWAY. EVERY TIME I GO BY THAT CEMETERY, IT, IT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE SOMEONE ACTUALLY FROM BILBY HIGH SCHOOL, A TEACHER THAT GETS VOLUNTEERS AND THEY GO OUT THERE AND THEY TRY TO CLEAN IT UP AND WHAT HAVE YOU. UH, BUT IT'S SAD TO SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IN MY OPINION, IT'S NOT BEING RESPECTED LIKE IT SHOULD BE IN REGARDS TO, UM, MAYBE THE COUNTY AND THE CITY, UH, PARTNERING TO MAINTAIN THAT. AGAIN, UH, THERE, THERE'S, UH, YOU KNOW, UM, FORMER SLAVES THAT ARE BURIED THERE. UH, BLUE, UH, THE BODY SERVANT OF SAM HOUSTON IS BURIED THERE. UH, IT'S VERY HISTORICAL AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST SAD TO KNOW THAT, UH, IT'S NOT BEING RESPECTED AND MAINTAINED LIKE IT SHOULD BE. I'M HOPING THE CITY AND THE COUNTY CAN WORK SOMETHING. NOW, I KNOW THE COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA IS LOOKING AT DOING A, UH, COMMUNITY CENTER AND A GREEN SPACE. UH, THERE WERE, UH, 2 25 NS ONTO BROADWAY. UH, AND I HAVE POINTED IT OUT TO THEIR STAFF, UH, TO SEE IF MAYBE THEY CAN HELP WITH THAT. 'CAUSE IT'S JUST ACROSS THE STREET. UH, AND I'M, AND I'M THINKING THEY, THEY MIGHT HAVE IT ON THEIR RADAR, UH, BUT I'M HOPING THAT THE CITY CAN ALSO JOIN IN MIND. YOU SEND ME SOMETHING. OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. SEND ME SOMETHING ON IT. OKAY. TAKE A VOTE. NEXT ITEM. DO WE STILL NEED TO VOTE ON FOUR FIVE VOTE? WE STILL NEED TO VOTE ON 45. WE ALREADY VOTED ON IT. ITEM 48 IS, BUT WE, WE'LL VOTE AGAIN. JUST BE SURE. ANY, UH, DISCUSSION. ITEM 45. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANT ON 45. ITEM 48 IS AN ORDINANCE THIS NEED TO VOTE YOU ON ITEM 48. DISCUSSION ON 48. COUNCILMAN MINX ON 48. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M GONNA VOTE NO ON BOTH 48 AND 49 BECAUSE WE KEEP USING THIS DRAINAGE FEE FOR WORK THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ACTUALLY DIGGING A HOLE OR BUILDING A STREET OR ANYTHING LIKE THIS. THIS IS FOR TECHNICAL PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES. I THINK THERE'S THREE OTHER BUCKETS OF MONEY IN THAT DRAINAGE FEE THAT, THAT DRAINAGE FUND THAT WE SHOULD BE USING FOR THESE SORTS OF ACTIVITY. AGAIN, EVERY TIME THIS COMES UP, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA SAY, ADAM, IT'S NOT GONNA DO ANY GOOD, BUT I'M GONNA SAY IT THAT WE PROMISED THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON THAT WE WOULD USE THEIR DRAINAGE FEE MONEY FOR PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING IN THE GROUND. SO YOU WANT TO DIG OUT A PARK, YOU WANT TO DIG OUT A, A HOLE FINE. I'M, I'M ALL OVER THAT. AND, AND WE NEED IT. UH, THESE, THESE FEES THAT ARE BEING USED FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES, TECHNICAL SERVICES, CIP RECOVERY, UH, THEY DON'T, THEY AREN'T ACTUALLY PUTTING DRAINAGE ON THE GROUND. THEY'RE THE PREP WORK. THEY'RE THE PREP WORK FOR THAT. AND WE'VE PROMISED PEOPLE THAT WE WOULD USE THIS MONEY FOR THE WORK. WE HAVE OTHER BUCKETS OF MONEY IN THE DRAINAGE FUND, UM, UH, TO, TO PAY FOR THESE, THESE OTHER SERVICES. SO I'LL BE VOTING NO ON BOTH 48 AND 49. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND ON THE SURFACE, IT SOUNDS NICE WHEN WE SAY, WELL, WE WANNA GET, YOU KNOW, THE WORK IN, AND THAT'S WHAT THE MONEY SHOULD BE GOING FOR. BUT IN ORDER TO DO THE WORK, AND, UM, MAYOR, I'LL ASK YOU THIS QUESTION, OR I'LL DEFER TO, UM, OUR, OUR RESIDENT ARCHITECT. BUT IN ORDER TO DO THE WORK, WE HAVE TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE WE'RE DOING. AND WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO, UH, DO THE CALCULATIONS TO KNOW HOW DEEP WE NEED TO DIG OR HOW BIG A PIPE NEEDS TO BE. ALL OF THE THINGS THAT GO INTO IT BEHIND THE SCENES, JUST LIKE WHEN YOU BUILD A BUILDING, IT'S NOT JUST THE, THE LAYING OF A CONCRETE AND PUTTING UP YOUR, YOUR WALLS. THERE'S A WHOLE THING THAT GOES INTO IT TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. SO IS THAT NECESSARY ON THESE ITEMS? IN ORDER TO DELIVER THE PROJECTS, GO TO, UH, OUR REGISTERED, UM, RESIDENT ARCHITECT, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON. THANK YOU. UM, YES, , IT'S, IT'S HELPFUL IF YOU HAVE A PLAN. UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN LICENSED FOR 25, 26 YEARS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND, UH, MY CARD, IT SAYS ARCHITECT. IT SAYS PLANNER, AND IT SAYS, IN MY CASE, URBAN DESIGNER. SO WHAT WE DO FOR THESE PROJECTS TAKES A LOT OF PLANNING IT, COORDINATION, AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THE POINT THAT OUR COLLEAGUE IS TRYING TO MAKE ABOUT BUCKETS. UM, BUT IT IS, IT IS ALSO A GOOD POINT THAT IT TAKES UPFRONT MONEY TO GET TO THE PROJECTS. [03:45:01] AND IF I MAY RECLAIM ONE MOMENT OF MY TIME, IS ENGINEERING A NECESSARY PART OF THAT PROCESS? YES. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILWOMAN KNOX, JUST AS A MATTER OF REBUTTAL, I APPRECIATE THE HUMOR INVOLVED IN ALL THIS, BUT I WANT IT TO BE CLEAR. I UNDERSTAND ALL OF THAT, THAT THOSE, THESE THINGS ARE REQUIRED. THERE'S ANOTHER FUND AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR THAT PART OF THE, OF THE JOB. WE PROMISED THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON, WHEN WE PASSED THE DRAINAGE FEE, WHAT PEOPLE REFER TO AS THE RAIN TAX. WE PROMISED THEM THAT WE WOULD ONLY USE THAT MONEY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PUTTING THINGS IN THE GROUND BECAUSE WE HAVE THREE OTHER BUCKETS OF MONEY TO PAY FOR THE ENGINEERING AND THE DESIGN AND ALL OF THE PREP WORK. THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. WE, WE JUST, WE MADE A PROMISE AND WE NEED TO FULFILL THE PROMISE. AND WE JUST NEED TO KEEP, YOU KNOW, FOLLOW OUR OWN RULES IS ALL I'M SAYING. SO I'M GONNA VOTE NO THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN MAN KNOX. UH, UH, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM IN FAVOR? OPPOSED NO SHOW? COUNCILMAN MANOCK VOTING? NO. HUFFMAN? NO, I'M SORRY. HUFFMAN. NO. SHOW. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN VOTING? NO. ANYONE ELSE? ITEM PASSES. 48 PASSES. NEXT ITEM. ITEM 49 IS AN ORDINANCE YOU NEED TO VOTE. WE ARE NINE AND 49. DISCUSSION ON 49. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? NO HUFFMAN, NO SHOW. COUNCILMAN KNOX AND COUNCILMAN, UH, HUFFMAN VOTING NO. AND ITEM 49 PASSES. NEXT ITEM, ITEM 53. [MATTERS HELD] ON ITEM 53. WE CAN HAVE SPEAKER AND SEE ON 53 BEFORE WE VOTE. UH, COUNCIL, UH, MICHELLE, YOU WANT TO, YOU WANNA SPEAK ON 53? UM, IF YOU'D LIKE FOR ME TO GIVE AN OVERVIEW, I COULD DO THAT. MAYOR, NO, THAT'S JUST ANY DISCUSSION ON 53. DISCUSSION ON 53. COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX ON 53. UH, YES, IF WE COULD HAVE OUR CITY ATTORNEY KIND OF BRIEF US ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT. OKAY. COUNCILMAN, I MEAN, CAROL MICHELLE, UM, THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT CONSIDERED, UH, TWO LAWSUITS INVOLVING COLLECTIVE BARGAINING HERE IN HOUSTON. UM, IT SPLIT THE BABY WITH THE, UH, WITH THE, UM, PROP B. IT, UH, RULED IN FAVOR OF THE CITY ON THE CITY'S CHALLENGE. THE JUDICIAL ENFORCEMENT CONSTITUTIONALITY, IT RULED AGAINST THE CITY. UP UNTIL THEN, THERE HAD BEEN ONLY TWO, UH, COURT OF APPEALS DECISIONS THAT HAD GONE THE OPPOSITE WAYS. WHAT CAME BACK TO THE TRIAL COURT HERE TO JUDGE REEDER, UH, WAS A LAWSUIT THAT DEALT WITH FY 18. UM, THE MECHANISMS, UNLESS YOU REACH A VOLUNTARY AGREEMENT, THE MECHANISMS IN CHAPTER 1 74 PROVIDE FOR A SINGLE, UH, FISCAL YEAR'S DETERMINATION, WHICH MAKES SENSE BECAUSE THE CITY, LIKE ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, HAS TO BUDGET ANNUALLY, SO IT'S ALIGNED WITH THE CITY'S ABILITY TO BUDGET. UM, THAT LAWSUIT CAME BACK FOR FY 18 IN THE COURT HEARING. THE UNION'S ATTORNEYS MOVED TO HAVE, UH, THEY MOVED, UH, ON TWO ITEMS, PRIMARILY ONE TO HAVE FY 18. THIS JUDICIAL ENFORCEMENT ACTION CONVERTED INTO A COMPULSORY ARBITRATION UNDER THE, UH, UH, UNDER SENATE BILL 7 36. IT ALSO SOUGHT TO BRING IN THE INTERVENING YEARS. AND THE INTERVENING YEARS WOULD BE FY 19 THROUGH, UH, 23 FY 24 IS THE UPCOMING ONE, AND THAT IS SET FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING NEGOTIATIONS, UH, BEGINNING NEXT MONTH. UM, WHEN AFTER THE UNION MADE THOSE MOTIONS, THE CITY MOVED TO DECLARE, UH, 7 36 UNCONSTITUTIONAL AS A SPECIAL OR LOCAL LAW FOR ALL THESE THINGS I'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE. THE TRIAL COURT, AFTER REMAND, IT HAD THE, THE MOTIONS HAVE BEEN FILED, THE BRIEFS HAVE BEEN FILED. UH, ORAL ARGUMENT HAS OCCURRED EXCEPT FOR ONE REMAINING ORAL ARGUMENT ON SEPTEMBER 18TH. JUDGE REEDER HEARD ARGUMENTS, UM, THIS MONDAY. UM, SHE INDICATED THE HEARING ON THE 18TH WOULD GO FORWARD. UH, MY EXPECTATION IS IT'LL BE SOMETIME ON THE 18TH OR AFTER, WHERE THE COURT WILL RULE ON ALL ON ALL OF THESE MATTERS. UM, FROM THE CITY'S PERSPECTIVE, IT HAS A DUTY TO SAFEGUARD THE INTEREST OF THE TAXPAYERS IN THIS LITIGATION. UH, IT'S REALLY A FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OF THE CITY, AND IT'S AN ETHICAL OBLIGATION OF THE LAWYERS TO DO SO. UM, AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS LEGAL SERVICES, UH, CONTRACT, ABOUT 31% GOES TO, UM, EXPERT PAYING EXPERT CONSULTANTS OR DISCOVERY RELATING TO EXPERT CONSULTANTS FROM WHAT WE BUDGET. UH, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART BECAUSE THE STANDARD HERE, UM, THAT HAS REMAINED IN THE STATUTE IS YOU PAY YOUR FIREFIGHTERS WHAT THE COMPARABLE PRIVATE SECTOR WOULD PAY. AND THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN DIFFICULT TO ASCERTAIN. [03:50:01] EXPERTS ARE NEEDED TO SHIFT THROUGH THE PRIVATE SECTOR DATA AND PROVIDE TO EITHER A COURT OR AN ARBITRATOR OR AT, AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE THE BEST DATA TO REFLECT WHAT THAT IS. UM, THE DOLLARS HERE ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT. UM, IF, AS YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL HAS APPROVED A 6% INCREASE FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE'RE IN THE LAST YEAR, IF YOU LOOK AT A SINGLE YEAR'S INCREASE OF 6%, OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT ESTIMATES THAT THAT WOULD BE A ADDING TO THE BUDGET ANNUALLY ON AN ONGOING BASIS BETWEEN 20 AND $21 MILLION. UM, SO THE, THE DOLLARS HERE ARE SIGNIFICANT. WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE, UH, GOOD REPRESENTATION THE WAY THE UNION HAS VERY GOOD LAWYERS, UH, THIS UNION. OTHER UNIONS USE LAWYERS, OTHER MAJOR CITIES USE LAWYERS, AND THEY ALL USE EXPERTS. EXPERTS ARE A NECESSARY PART OF THAT. UM, THIS COMING FALL, IF AN IMPASSE IS REACHED, THE CITY IS NOT CONTESTING, UH, OTHER THAN THE CONSTITUTIONAL ARGUMENT THAT, UH, WE WOULD, UH, THAT THE FIREFIGHTERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO DEMAND AND GET, UM, COMPULSORY ARBITRATION. BUT THAT IS FOR FY 24. UM, WHAT I HOPE MY BRIEF COMMENTS HERE HAVE, HAVE SHOWN IS THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING IS GOING TO OCCUR. UM, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER HO HOPEFULLY AT THE TABLE. YOU CAN REACH A MULTI-YEAR AGREEMENT. UM, EVEN IF NO FURTHER MONIES WERE PUT IN THE CITY WOULD STILL HAVE TO LITIGATE THE FY 18 NEXT YEAR, WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE, UM, WE WOULD HAVE TO DO A LOT OF CHANGES IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT. WE WOULD HAVE TO SHIFT LAWYERS WITH LABOR, LABOR BACKGROUNDS INTO THAT. WE MAY HAVE TO HIRE LABOR LAWYERS PERHAPS ON A TEMPORARY BASIS, BUT WE WOULD FIND A WAY TO DO THAT. AND, BUT WHAT IT WOULD DO IS WE'D DISRUPT THE OPERATIONS OF THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT. WE WOULD HAVE TO, IT WOULD SLOW THINGS DOWN, UH, CONSIDERABLY IN OTHER AREAS SO WE COULD FOCUS ON THIS. BUT BECAUSE WE ARE IN LITIGATION, THAT IS THE PATH WE, WE WILL HAVE TO TAKE. UM, I'M GONNA STOP MY COMMENTS NOW, AND MAYOR, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING FURTHER. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN KOBA. WELL, THE CITY ATTORNEY SAID IT, UH, THAT WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA CHALLENGE THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF, UH, SENATOR WHIT MEYER'S BILL 7 36. IS THAT CORRECT? YES. THAT'S ALREADY BEEN FILED AND BRIEFED. WELL, YOU KNOW, WHEN SENATOR WHITMEYER PUT FORTH THAT BILL, THE ENTIRE SENATE VOTED FOR IT. AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, EVERY MEMBER OF THE HOUSE VOTED FOR IT EXCEPT FOR FOUR REPUBLICANS IN THE NORTH PART OF TEXAS. MM-HMM . AND, UH, THIS WAS AN OVERWHELMINGLY, UH, POPULAR BILL WITH THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE. MM-HMM . EVERY, EVERY, UH, REPRESENTATIVE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT REPRESENTS THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY VOTED FOR IT. I I WAS HOPING WE COULD COME TO A CONCLUSION WITH THIS, UH, LITIGATION, UH, WITH, WITH THE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND, AND CONTENTIOUS, UH, MATTER. I WAS HOPING WE COULD, BEFORE MY TURN WAS OVER, WE COULD SEE RESOLUTION. BUT IF WE FILE A, A CHALLENGE TO THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF SENATE BILL 7 36, THEN, THEN THIS MAY TAKE TWO OR THREE YEARS BEFORE IT COULD BE RESOLVED. IS THAT WHAT YOU MIGHT SURMISE? I THINK ANY OF THE ACTIONS THAT THE PARTIES HAVE TAKEN, INCLUDING GOING BACK TO PRIOR YEARS, APPLYING IT TO PRIOR YEARS, AND THE CITY'S ACTION TO CHALLENGE THE CONSTITUTIONALITY COULD EXTEND THIS LITIGATION BEYOND THIS YEAR INTO NEXT YEAR OR THE YEAR BEYOND. SO I'LL BE GONE. OKAY. THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT. I, I JUST, UH, I'M, I'M DISAPPOINTED. I MEAN, UH, I'VE HEARD WHAT YOU SAID. I KNOW THE CITY NEEDS REPRESENTATION, BUT, UH, I, I, I GUESS I JUST DON'T LIKE IT. THANK YOU. I THINK WHAT WE, WHAT WE ALL SHOULD BEAR IN MIND IS THAT THE, THE AUTHORS OF SENATE BILL 7 36 NEVER, NEVER ARGUED THAT THIS BILL SHOULD BE APPLIED OR RETROACTIVELY. OKAY. AND IF YOU READ THE, THE, THE LEGISLATION ITSELF, IT DOES NOT SPEAK IN TERMS OF RETROACTIVE APPLICATION. AND THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION, UH, ASKING THE SENATE BILL 7 36 BE APPLIED RETROACTIVELY. THAT IS A HUGE, UH, UH, DIFFERENCE, UH, FROM THE BILL ITSELF AND IT CALLED, AND IT, AND IT ALSO, UM, WOULD CREATE A HUGE FINANCIAL OBLIGATION ON BEHALF OF THE, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY. AND THAT'S WHY WHEN I'M, WHEN WE WAS TALKING TO HIM DURING THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT AND WE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE HEFTY FUND BALANCE, IT COULD BE QUICKLY ERASED IF THE CITY DOES NOT DEFEND ITS FIDUCIARY RELATIONSHIP. AND THEN BEAR IN MIND, WE ARE THE DEFENDANT. WE ARE NOT THE PLAINTIFF. WE DIDN'T DEFEND, WE DIDN'T SUE, [03:55:01] WE ARE NOT THE PLAINTIFF. WE ARE IN, WE ARE DEFENDING, BUT WE DO HAVE A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO THE CITY, TO THE CITY TAXPAYERS, AND TO EVERY EMPLOYEE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE 22,000 OF THEM. WE HAVE A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO THEM. SO, HOWEVER YOU MAY FEEL ON THE OTHER ISSUES, UM, JUST LIKE THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION ARE DEDUCTING PAY FROM EMPLOYEES EVERY SINGLE MONTH, FIVE TO $10 TO PAY THEIR ILLEGAL FEES. THEY'RE NOT STANDING DOWN. THEY'RE PAYING THEIR LAWYERS, BUT THE CITY HAS EVERY, SHOULD BE PUT IN POSITION TO PAY FOR ITS LAWYERS AND THE EXPERTS THAT THEY NEED. AND THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT WE'RE SEEKING HERE. WE'VE DONE IT BEFORE. IT'S NO DIFFERENT. UH, NOW, UH, COUNCIL, UH, VICE MAYOR PROAM, CAST TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO, UM, GO BACK TO THE COMMENTS THAT THE, UM, CITY ATTORNEY MADE. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT 20 TO $21 MILLION ANNUALLY IS THAT, THAT'S NOT THE RETROACTIVE COST, THAT'S JUST WHAT THE ANNUAL COST WOULD BE MOVING FORWARD. UH, WHAT I, WHAT I'M SAYING WITH THAT IS I JUST WAS TRYING TO GIVE A SENSE OF THE MAGNITUDE OF THE DOLLARS AT STAKE. AND YOU COULD PICK 1%, 2%. I PICKED 6% BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THE MAYOR HAS GIVEN EACH OF THE LAST THREE YEARS. AND A A 6% DELTA IS THE EQUIVALENT OF BETWEEN 20 AND 21 MILLION THAT WOULD BE ADDED TO THE BUDGET ON AN ONGOING BASIS MOVING FORWARD. RIGHT. IF IT WERE TO, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A NUMBER WHAT THAT RETROACTIVE THE MILLIONS THAT IT WOULD COST RETROACTIVELY? NO, NO. I MEAN, YOU COULD DOUBLE THAT. IF IT'S 2%, THEN IT'S SIX AND A HALF MILLION. YOU KNOW, IF IT'S DOUBLE, IT'S YOU'RE IN THE 40 MILLION MARK. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN P*****K. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, A FEW THINGS. UM, I SPOKE TO UNION LEADERSHIP LAST NIGHT, AND I, I, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THEIR POINT OF VIEW. I THINK, UH, ARTURO, YOU UNDERSTAND THE OTHER SIDE'S ARGUMENTS AND POINT OF VIEW. UM, AND BOTH SIDES BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE A STRONG ARGUMENT. UH, I THINK THE, THE POINT THAT IS BEING MADE TODAY IS EACH SIDE SHOULD BE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE THE REPRESENTATION THAT THEY BELIEVE IS BENEFICIAL TO THEM. THESE ARE TWO ADVERSE PARTIES, A PLAINTIFF AND A DEFENDANT. EACH SIDE GETS TO CHOOSE THE REPRESENTATION OF THEIR CHOICE AND THROUGH THEIR REPRESENTATION GET TO GO BEFORE A FINDER OF FACT TO DECIDE ON WHO HAS THE MERITORIOUS ARGUMENT. THAT'S REALLY ALL THIS ITEM IS ABOUT, IS FOR THE CITY AND THROUGH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY AFFIRM THAT THEY BELIEVE IS MOST COMPETENT ON THIS AREA OF LAW, UM, TO PUT FORTH THOSE ARGUMENTS. AND REGARDLESS IF THIS ITEM PASSES OR NOT, THE LITIGATION STILL MOVES FORWARD. THIS ITEM DOES NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH WHETHER THE, THE, THE MATTER ITSELF WILL BE HEARD. IT JUST HAS TO DO WITH ARE WE PAYING FOR THE LEGAL SERVICES THAT THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT FEELS THEY NEED? BUT FOR THAT, THEN AS THE, THE CITY ATTORNEY SAYS, HIS LEGAL DEPARTMENT WILL THEN EITHER HAVE TO REVAMP, HIRE SHIFT, AND THEY WILL HAVE TO TAKE UP THE SLACK TO BE ABLE TO DO IT. SO, UM, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT THIS HAS BEEN A VERY DRAWN OUT PROCESS THAT HAS STARTED FROM THE TRIAL COURT, APPELLATE COURT, SUPREME COURT NOW BEEN REMANDED BACK TO THE TRIAL COURT. UH, AND THAT'S WHAT LITIGATION IS. WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT HAVING LITIGATION WITH THE CITY, THIS IS WHAT, WHAT WHAT COMES WITH THE TERRITORY. IT'S, IT'S, IT CAN GET MESSY, IT CAN GET DRAWN OUT, IT CAN BE LONG, IT CAN BE FRUSTRATING. BUT EACH SIDE GETS TO CHOOSE THEIR REPRESENTATION. AND I THINK THIS ITEM JUST SPEAKS TO, UH, ALLOWING THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO BE ABLE TO CHOOSE THE REPRESENTATION THAT THEY FEEL THEY NEED TO BEST PUT FORTH AN ARGUMENT ON THE CITY'S BEHALF. AND SO I WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE KIND OF UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS AT PLAY AND WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE IS A VOTE AGAINST. IT DOESN'T MA IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE THE MATTER DISAPPEARS. IT JUST MEANS THAT THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE TO PICK UP THE SLACK. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MCCAIN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAD A FEW QUESTIONS, UH, FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY, UH, BECAUSE I TOO HAD REACHED OUT TO DIFFERENT, UM, GROUPS ON THIS TO HEAR ALL OF THE SIDES. AND, UH, CITY ATTORNEY FIRST AND FOREMOST, BECAUSE MANY [04:00:01] OF US AROUND THIS HORSESHOE DO BELIEVE IN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, UM, AND THE RIGHT TO COLLECTIVE BARGAIN. UH, AND I DON'T, I WANNA CONFIRM ONE, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH COLLECTIVE BARGAINING FOR THIS UPCOMING YEAR. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. FOR FY 24. AND ARE ANY EXPERTS NEEDED IN THAT SCENARIO? IS THAT STANDARD WITH COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, UM, PROCESSES OR ANY OF THE FEES RELATED TO THAT? UH, UH, THE, YOU DO NEED EXPERT TESTIMONY WHETHER YOU'RE AT THE TABLE, WHETHER JUDICIAL ENFORCEMENT OR WHETHER IT'S COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. UM, THIS CONTRACT IS, IS REALLY FOR THE FY 18. BUT GIVEN THAT IT'S, IT'S ALL CUMULATIVE, I THINK ANY EXPERT IS GONNA BE LOOKING AT DATA FOR FY 18 ALL THE WAY TO THE PRESENT. SO IT WILL IMPACT THE UPCOMING COLLECTIVE BARGAINING NEGOTIATIONS. OKAY. FROM THE EXPERT WITNESS PERSPECTIVE. BUT WE'RE NOT TAKING A POSITION THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING OR SUPPORTING THE RIGHT OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. UH, NO. I MEAN, THE, THE CITY SUPPORTS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. IT'S WHAT THE VOTERS VOTED. THAT'S WHAT WE'LL BE DOING THIS FALL FOR FY 24 AND FY 18 IS REALLY PART OF THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING STATUTE. IT'S, IT'S ONE OF THE STEPS IN THE PROCESS. THANK YOU. AND WERE THE DEFENDANTS IN THIS CASE, UH, MEANING THAT PLAINTIFFS BROUGHT CLAIMS, AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS NEW CLAIMS WERE BROUGHT BY THE PLAINTIFFS, IS THAT CORRECT? YE UH, IT'S RELATING TO THIS, UH, YEAH, TO THE LEGISLATION CLAIMS OF THE SAME NATURE. BUT IT, IT'S EXPANDING THE SCOPE. IT'S TAKING IT FROM FY 18 FROM THROUGH MAKING IT FY 18 THROUGH FY 23. AND WHAT I HEARD YOU SAY WITH THE IMPORTANCE OF OUTSIDE COUNSEL, UM, AND THIS IS PRETTY STANDARD. I'VE SEEN MANY ITEMS ON AGENDA COME BEFORE US WHERE WE ARE, UM, UTILIZING OUTSIDE CA COUNSEL FOR EXPERTISE. BUT ONE THING I HEARD YOU SAY IS WHETHER WE SUPPORT THIS OR NOT, THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT IS MOVING FORWARD, BUT THE IMPACT THAT IT WILL HAVE ON THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, UM, COULD POTENTIALLY BACK OTHER THINGS UP. FOR EXAMPLE, I HAVE, UH, DISTRICT MEMBERS, RESIDENTS THAT ARE, UM, ASKING THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT FOR A HOST OF THINGS, UH, INCLUDING DEED RESTRICTION ENFORCEMENT. UH, I MEAN, THAT'S JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG. BUT ARE YOU SAYING THAT THIS WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE OPERATIONS IF IT FAILS? IT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE OPERATIONS OF THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT IN OTHER AREAS? YES. WE'RE, WE'RE STRETCHED PRETTY THIN. UM, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A RECENT NATIONAL CONFERENCE HERE WHERE THE MAYORS OF THE FOUR LARGEST CITIES WERE HERE. I HAVE LOOKED UP THE SIZE OF THE LEGAL DEPARTMENTS IN LOS ANGELES, CHICAGO, AND NEW YORK. THEY HAVE AT LEAST 125 LAWYERS MORE THAN WE DO. AND IN, IN, IN SOME INSTANCES, DOUBLE OR TRIPLE. SO WE ARE STRETCHED PRETTY THIN. WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES. AND AGAIN, I'VE NEVER TAKEN A POSITION AT THIS HORSESHOE WHERE THE CITY DID NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF IN COURT. UM, WHY IS THIS, WHY ARE THESE FUNDS NEEDED RIGHT NOW? UM, FOR THE FY 18 LITIGATION, THERE IS A TRIAL DATE SET FOR MARCH. UM, IT'S EITHER 24TH OR 25TH OF NEXT YEAR. THE DISCOVERY DEADLINE ENDS IN, UM, IN, IN MID-FEBRUARY. YOU KNOW, AS, AS THE LAWYERS AROUND THE TABLE WOULD KNOW, YOU HAVE TO DO MANY THINGS A MONTH, TWO MONTHS BEFORE DISCOVERY ENDS. WE INCLUDING THE, THE EXPERT REPORTS AND POTENTIAL DEPOSITIONS, AND DISCOVERY HAS ALREADY BEGUN. SO THE WORK HAS TO BE DONE. UM, THERE'S A, MOST OF THE WORK THAT WILL BE DONE ON THE DISCOVERY AND WILL BE DONE BETWEEN NOW AND THE YEAR'S END. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILMAN GALLOS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M JUST, UH, RESPONDING TO COUNCIL MEMBER COOPER'S COMMENTS, UM, IN, IN, IN, IN REGARDS TO HE STATING THAT ALL OUR LEGISLATURES FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON VOTED IN FAVOR. UM, WELL, NOT ONE REACHED OUT TO ME 'CAUSE I REPRESENT CONSTITUENTS AND DISTRICT DYE AND, AND WHAT I FEAR, I I, FIRST OF ALL, LEMME MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I DO SUPPORT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. UH, WHAT I FEAR IS THE, UH, RETROACTIVE, UH, IF, IF THAT COMES INTO PLAY DUE TO THE FACT THAT, UH, I MEAN, IT WAS REPORTED BY THE CHRONICLE. THE CITY HAS LOST 30 BILLION GALLONS OF WATER LAST YEAR DUE TO PIPES BREAKING MANY OF OUR, YOU KNOW, MY, INCLUDING MYSELF AND THE OTHER DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS. I MEAN, HOW MANY CALLS DO WE GET FROM RESIDENTS THAT SAY THAT THE TRASH IS NOT BEING PICKED UP ON TIME, THAT THEIR TRASH CAN IS SITTING OUT THERE TWO OR THREE DAYS, A RECYCLING BIN IS SITTING OUT THERE FOR OVER A WEEK BECAUSE TRASH TRUCKS ARE BREAKING DOWN. [04:05:03] SO AGAIN, I DID NOT HEAR FROM ANY OF MY LEGISLATURES, I DIDN'T HEAR FROM SENATOR WHITMEYER. I DIDN'T HEAR FROM SENATOR ALVARADO. I DIDN'T HEAR FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND HERNANDEZ, I DIDN'T HEAR FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE MARIANNE PEREZ. I DIDN'T HEAR FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTINA MORALES, HOW THIS WILL IMPACT RESIDENTS AND DISTRICT I, AND THAT'S WHY I AM GONNA BE SUPPORTING THIS IN REGARDS TO THE FEAR THAT IF THIS GOES TO RETROACTIVE, THEN IT WILL IMPACT CONSTITUENTS IN DISTRICT DIE. AND WE'LL BE GETTING THOSE CALLS. THANK COUNCILMAN KASH. MAYOR, MAY I ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY A QUESTION? YEAH. UH, WHEN, WHEN WE, UH, CHALLENGE, UH, ARE WE GONNA FILE AN OFFICIAL CHALLENGE TO SENATE BILL 7 36? UH, WE, IF I, I HAVE CHALLENGED THE STATUTE BEFORE, RIGHT? THAT WAS PASSED BY SENATOR WHITMEYER COMMITTEE AND OUT OUTTA THE SENATE. I KNOW IT TOOK THREE TO FOUR YEARS TO LITIGATE THAT, BUT WHEN IT DID, AS A RESULT OF THE, THE LAWSUIT, IT STAYED THE ENFORCEMENT, UH, OF THE, OF THE SENATE BILL. SO MY QUESTION IS, IS IF IF WE FILE THIS, WILL, WILL IT STAY THE SENATE BILL, UH, FROM BEING, UH, IMPLEMENTED DURING THE PERIOD OF TIME THAT IT'S BEING LITIGATED? UH, THAT'S REALLY UP FOR THE COURT TO DECIDE BOTH AT THE TRIAL COURT LEVEL AND, AND AT THE APPELLATE LEVEL. WE HAVE ALREADY CHALLENGED IT. UM, I THINK I SAID BEFORE THAT THE, THE UNION, UH, MOVED THE COURT TO, UM, CONSIDER THE INTERVENING YEARS INTO APPLY COMPULSORY ARBITRATION RETROACTIVELY. AND THEN WE FILE OUR, UH, CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGE AS A, AS AN IMPERMISSIBLE SPECIAL LOCAL LAW TO SENATE BILL 7 36. SO THAT WE HAVE ALREADY MADE THE CHALLENGE, IT'S ON THE TABLE. IF, IF WE'VE MADE THE CHALLENGE, THEN WHY WOULD WE MOVE FORWARD WITH COLLECTIVE BARGAINING THEN? I MEAN, IT WOULD SEEM TO, IT, IT, IT WOULD SEEM HALF-HEARTED ON OUR PART TO, TO, TO DO THAT. WELL, UN UN UNTIL THERE'S A RULING, W WE WE'RE OBLIGATED TO PROCEED BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE STATUTE PROVIDES. IT TOOK EFFECT. AND UNTIL A COURT STAYS IT OR TAKES DIFFERENT ACTION, WE ARE COMPELLED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT. W WHICH COURT WOULD, WOULD, UH, WOULD STAY THE ACTION, WOULD IT BE THE DISTRICT COURT, THE APPELLATE COURT, OR SUPREME COURT? IN, IN THE FIRST INSTANCE? IT WOULD BE THE, UH, JUDGE REER, UH, WHO'S CONSIDERING THE, UM, FY 18 JUDICIAL ENFORCEMENT ACTION AND, AND WHERE ALL OF THESE MOTIONS HAVE BEEN FILED. OKAY, THANK YOU MA'AM. PROAM MARTIN? YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO, I DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE LAW, BUT I KNOW A LOT ABOUT WHAT I SEE GOING ON IN AUSTIN. AND I READ 7 36 FROM FRONT TO COVER, UH, MANY TIMES. AND WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND, AND MAYOR, YOU WERE AN EXPERT, YOU WERE NOTORIOUS ON KILLING BILLS VIA POINT OF ORDER. WHEN YOU WIN THE LEGISLATURE, THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE KNOWN FOR DOING. WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH IT OR DISAGREE WITH IT, YOU KILL BILLS ON POINT OF ORDER. 7 36 IS ABOUT COLLECTIVE BARGAIN. AND IF YOU CAN'T REACH AGREEMENT ON COLLECTIVE BARGAIN, AND THEN YOU GO TO BINDING ARBITRATION, MEDIATION, WHATEVER, I READ IT MULTIPLE TIMES AND I DON'T SEE ANY LANGUAGE THAT STATES GOING BACK TO 2018, WHETHER IT WAS ASSUMED OR NOT ASSUMED. LEGISLATURE AND LAWS ARE BLACK AND WHITE. THERE IS NO GRAY. A SO I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW DID THIS COME UP WITH 7 36 WHERE IT GOES RETRO WHEN EVERYTHING IN THE LAW THAT I HAVE READ HAS NO LANGUAGE PERTAINING TO THAT. IT'S ABOUT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. THEN IF NO AGREEMENT IS MADE, THEN YOU GO TO BINDING ARBITRATION MEDIATION. SO WHY DOES A BLACK AND WHITE BILL THAT IS PASSED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE NOW HAVE AN ASSUMPTION PUT IN THERE THAT'S NOT IN WRITING, UH, THAT IS THE CITY'S POSITION. UH, THE UNION IS ARGUING DIFFERENTLY. THE, THEY, THEY'RE CLAIMING THAT THE INTENT IS THERE. WE DON'T SEE IT. BUT THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PARTIES. SO THERE IS THE ASSUMPTION THAT 7 36 WAS ASSUMED TO HAVE GONE RETROACTIVE TO 2018, BUT IT WAS NEVER INCLUDED IN 7 36. CORRECT. THAT IS THEIR POSITION, CORRECT? YEAH. OUR POSITION, WE BELIEVE THE LAW REQUIRES THAT ANY RETROACTIVITY BY THE LEGISLATURE HAS TO BE EXPRESSLY STATED. OKAY, WELL, I COULD ARGUE THAT MY POSITION IS WHEN IT COMES TO TACK CUTS ON PROPERTY TAX, IT SHOULD HAVE AN INCLUSION OF DAVE MARTIN SHOULD HAVE HAD A HUNDRED PERCENT OF HIS REDUCE. SO MAYBE I SHOULD GO BACK TO THE SAME BODY [04:10:01] AND ARGUE THAT FINDING, MAKING A, A SARCASTIC COMMENT. BUT I, I REALLY STUDIED THIS ISSUE. I WASN'T HERE LAST WEEK, WEEK SAW, I WASN'T PRIVY TO CONVERSATION. AND I READ THAT 7 36, AND I'VE READ IT MULTIPLE TIMES AND I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE ASSUMPTION IS YOU GO BACK TO 18 AND YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S PRETTY CLEAR OF WHAT I READ IN THE LANGUAGE OF 7 36. AND IT WAS NEVER EXPRESSED. IT WAS ARBITRATION. IT WAS, UH, A COLLECTIVE BARGAIN AND THEN ARBITRATION AND MEDIATION. SO I'M CONFUSED AGAIN. OKAY. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT COURT IS FOR. THE, THE LAWYERS FROM THE OTHER SIDE SHOULD MAKE THAT ARGUMENT. I MEAN, THEY, THEY SHOULD, THEY'RE DEFENDING THEIR POSITION. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN PERSPECTIVES. THEN OUR LAWYERS MAKE THEIR ARGUMENT. IT'S GONNA BE COUNTER. WE HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. BUT THAT'S WHAT THE, THE LAWYERS DO. AND THAT'S WHY YOU HIRE COMPETENT COUNSEL TO BE ABLE TO BRING FORTH THOSE ARGUMENTS. AND THEN JUDGE REER WILL GET TO DECIDE ON WHO HAS THE STRONGER ARGUMENT. BUT THE WAY YOU HAVE AN OPINION, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM ON HOW YOU READ IT, SOMEONE ELSE MAY READ THAT SAME LEGISLATION AND HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. AND ALL WE'RE DOING TODAY IS GIVING OUR SIDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HIRE COUNSEL TO MAKE THEIR ARGUMENTS. THAT'S IT. ALL RIGHT. EVERYONE WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. THERE'S PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT ARE GONNA HAVE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES THAT WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT ARGUING THAT WE'RE JUST ARGUING WHETHER OR NOT TO PAY FOR COUNSEL. AND SO I DON'T WANT THAT TO GET LOST IN THE CONVERSATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN MAYOR. VERY, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING THAT I'M HEARING A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT WHO AGREES WITH IT, WHO DOESN'T AGREE WITH IT, THE CONCERNS WITH ARGUMENTS BEING MADE. BUT I, FOR ME AT LEAST, THE BOTTOM LINE IS, DOES THE CITY HAVE THE RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF IN COURT WHEN IT'S SUED? AND IT'S NOT FOR ME AS A COUNCIL MEMBER WITHIN THE SCOPE OF MY ROLE TO DECIDE WHAT THOSE ARGUMENTS ARE AND AREN'T. AND I MAY NOT AGREE WITH ALL OF IT, BUT THERE'S A FIDUCIARY DUTY AND THE CITY, IN ANY CASE, HAS THE RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF. UH, SO FOR ME, AGAIN, I THINK THAT'S FOR THE COURTS TO DETERMINE, UM, OR FOR AN ARBITER TO DETERMINE. BUT I WANNA REMIND EVERYONE THAT REGARDLESS OF OUR OPINIONS, AS COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD SAID, THIS IS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY WHEN SUED HAS THE RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF IN COURT AND THE IMPACT THAT IT WILL HAVE IF WE DON'T COUNCIL MEMBER KASH. WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT'S, THAT WAS ONE OF MY ORIGINAL QUESTIONS WAS WHERE, WHERE'S THE MONEY GOING TO? IS IT, IS IT GOING TO DEFEND US FROM BEING SUED OR IS IT GOING TO, TO, UH, TO CHALLENGE THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF SENATE BILL? UH, 7 36. UH, AND, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT IN MY READING OF SENATE BILL 7 36, IT TALKS ABOUT GOING BACK TO THE LAST CONTRACT YEAR. SO IT WOULD BE THE LAST CONTRACT THAT THAT WAS, UH, AN ACTIVE CONTRACT WITH THE CITY. IS IS, IS THAT, IS THAT HOW YOU SEE IT? UH, I BELIEVE THAT THE BILL CAN ONLY APPLY. AND THIS IS WHAT OUR LAWYERS BELIEVE WOULD ONLY APPLY TO UPCOMING, UH, NEGOTIATIONS AND IMPASSES AND NOT TO, UH, ANY PAST YEARS WHERE THE BUDGET YEAR HAS CLOSED AND THE FUNDS HAVE BEEN EXPENDED OR MOVED ON TO SUBSEQUENT BUDGETS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION PREPARED TO VOTE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? OPPOSED? COUNCILMAN COOPER VOTING? NO. COUNCILMAN PLUM VOTING? NO. ONCE ITEM PASSES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. UH, NEXT ITEM. NEXT ITEM. ITEM 54. ON ITEM 54. WE, ON ITEM 54, DISCUSSION ON 54. WHAT DOES IT REQUIRE, SIR? I'M MOTION JUST TO VOTE. JUST TO VOTE YES. JUST IT MOTION. SO WE DON'T NEED A VERBAL MOTION. JUST TO OKAY. WELL, 9 54. DISCUSSION ON 54. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 54, ITEM 55 AS AMENDED. AND NOW WE ARE ON ITEM 55 AS AMENDED. ITEM 55 AS AMENDED VICE MAYOR TIM, CAST TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO, UM, [04:15:01] REALLY JUST, UH, THANK THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE WORK THAT THEY PUT, UM, INTO THESE POLICIES AND TO THE PROCEDURES. UM, WE REALLY HAVE DONE A, UM, YEOMAN'S WORK ON CODIFYING WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AS A CITY. UM, AND JUST FROM THE, UH, PROJECTS THAT HAVE COME FORTH THROUGH THE TURS AND, AND DISTRICT KI CAN ADAMANTLY SAY THAT, UM, THE, THE WAY WE ARE MOVING FORWARD HAS ALLOWED, UM, AREAS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT TYPICALLY, UM, CAN'T GET PROJECTS ON THE GROUND AS FAST AND FOR PEOPLE TO SEE PROJECTS, UM, AND KNOW THAT, UM, THERE ARE, UM, PROJECTS HAPPENING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THE TURS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DELIVER THAT. UM, WE ARE ALL LOOKING AT THE LIST OF PROJECTS THAT ARE HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE CITY. UM, PEOPLE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROJECTS THAT ARE PLANNED FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES. UM, AND I REALLY WANTED TO, UH, THANK, UH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR TILLSON, UM, UH, DIRECTOR IKIN AND ALL OF THE, THE MEMBERS OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM FOR THEIR WORK IN MAKING SURE THAT THE MEMBERS ON THE TURS BOARDS UNDERSTANDS, UM, THE BUDGETS AND HOW TO MOVE THESE PROJECTS FORWARD, AND HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, WE GET TO THE FINISH LINE ON THESE PROJECTS. BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT, IS THAT WE GET TO THE FINISH LINE ON THESE PROJECTS THAT WE, WE HAVE IN PLAY. UM, AND, AND THAT THIS PROCESS HAS, HAS WORKED WELL FOR US IN, IN DISTRICT K. AND I'M GLAD THAT WE DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT THESE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE SO THAT IF PEOPLE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT HOW THESE PROJECTS COME TO PLAY, THEY NOW HAVE, UM, A PLAYBOOK. UM, IT GIVES US THE FLEXIBILITY TO, UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT'S TIME FOR THESE, UH, TURS TO END, THEY, WE KNOW WHAT IT TAKES FOR THEM TO END. IT ALSO GIVES US THE PLAYBOOK FOR WHEN WE NEED TO EXTEND THE TURS, HOW WE NEED TO EXTEND THEM. UM, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, UM, THE, THE TRANSPARENCY THAT IS THERE FOR PEOPLE TO READ THESE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND ULTIMATELY FOR THESE PROJECTS TO BE DELIVERED IN OUR COMMUNITIES. UM, AND THEN, UH, I, I JUST HAVE TO ADD THAT I AM SO PLEASED, UM, THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST TERMS PROJECTS THAT HAS JUST HAPPENED IN DISTRICT K, UM, MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD ME TALK MANY TIMES ABOUT THE MAD CO IN DISTRICT A WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, THIS PLACE SOLD DRUGS. THIS BUILDING WAS SUCH A NUISANCE IN THE COMMUNITY. AND BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT FROM OUR TURS FROM OUR BOARD MEMBERS, OUR TURS 25 JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED THAT BUILDING AND WILL HAVE IT DEMOLISHED. UM, ALL THE YEARS THAT THEY HAVE RUINED PEOPLE'S LIVES IN DISTRICT K AT THAT FACILITY, THIS IS A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT AND THE TOOL THAT WAS USED TO TRANSFORM THAT PART OF DISTRICT K WAST 25. AND, UM, SO I'M SO EXCITED, UH, TO SUPPORT THIS AND REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT WE'VE ALL PUT IN TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE IN PLACE TO, UH, CODIFY WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AS A COUNCIL TO IMPROVE AND TRANSFORM OUR COMMUNITIES. UH, COUNCILOR MACOY, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I, AND I AGREE WITH THE VICE MAYOR PROAM THERE. THIS WAS REALLY GOOD WORK PUT IN AND I APPRECIATE THE, UM, THE ADMINISTRATION GETTING THIS DOCUMENT TO EVERYBODY. 'CAUSE THIS WAS REALLY GOOD WORK. UM, THIS IS, UH, REALLY PUTTING INTO PLACE, UH, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY EVERYTHING ON CREATIONS, ON LIFE EXTENSIONS, ON BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENTS, ON DEBT, ON ALL, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO AROUND HER, BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A BIG NUMBER, IT'S A BIG, SUCH A BIG PORTION OF OUR AVALOR. AND WHAT I ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE, AND I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON AND OTHERS HAVE BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION IS THE EQUITY PORTION. AND IT, THROUGHOUT THESE 34 PAGES, THERE'S AN E BY EVERYTHING IN HERE THAT HA PERTAINS TO EQUITY. SO YOU CAN, YOU CAN TRACE THINGS BACK, WHETHER IT'S GOVERNANCE OR EQUITY OR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY OR WHATEVER, YOU CAN TRACE IT BACK. I UNDERSTAND TURS THE TOURS ARE GONNA LOOK AT THIS AND ALSO ADD TO IT. I THINK THAT'S GREAT, BUT VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR TRANSPARENCY AND OUR, OUR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THESE IN PLACE. THE TWO PAGES WERE GREAT, BUT THIS BACKGROUND REALLY GIVES, UH, ME MORE CONFIDENCE THAT MOVING FORWARD WE'RE, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, OPERATING KIND OF IN A SYSTEMATIC WAY WHERE EVERYBODY KIND OF KNOWS WHAT TO EXPECT. SO APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S WORK ON THIS. I KNOW GWEN AND ANDREW BUSKER, YOU GUYS DID A LOT OF RESEARCH, A LOT OF STUFF FROM CHICAGO AND DALLAS. UM, SINGLE SITE TOURS AS NON-CONTIGUOUS TOURS AS EVERYTHING'S IN HERE. AND I READ IT COVER TO COVER AND, AND SAT DOWN WITH ANDY WITH MY 30 [04:20:01] QUESTIONS AND WENT THROUGH 'EM ONE BY ONE. SO, UH, YOU KNOW, GREAT WORK. AND THIS IS JUST, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE WANNA SEE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, SO LAST NIGHT I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT ABOUT, JUST TO GET SOME CLARITY ON THE LANGUAGE, UM, ABOUT UNDERSERVED, UNDERPERFORMING TURS BEING DISCONTINUED. AND, UM, THEY ASSURED ME THAT THEY WILL NOT BE DISCONTINUED WITHOUT SUPPORT, UM, FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, UM, IS BEING STRATEGIC, THE HEALTH, UM, THESE TOURS GET, GET MOVING, UM, IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. AND SO I FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT THAT. AND I'M SURE THE COMMUNITY WILL FEEL GOOD. YOU HEARD THE COMMUNITY CONCERN ABOUT LELAND TOURISTS BEING, UM, DISCONTINUED, BUT I, UM, I, I'M HOPEFUL, UM, THAT IT WON'T BE, UM, DISCONTINUED AND THAT WE WILL GET THE HELP THAT WE NEED TO GET IT UP TO PAR. SO, UM, I WILL SUPPORT THIS ITEM. THANKS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON MAYOR, UM, I JUST ACTUALLY REALLY WANTED TO ASK YOU A QUESTION. JUST, I KNOW THE PROCESS THAT WE FOLLOWED ON THIS ONE TOOK A WHILE. UM, AND I'M REALLY PLEASED THE WAY IT PLAYED OUT WITH THIS COUNCIL ASKING TOUGH QUESTIONS, UM, AND GETTING A DOCUMENT THAT WE COULD ALL SUPPORT AND UNDERSTAND. AND I THINK THERE'S BEEN SOME GREAT WORK REGARDING THAT MAYOR. BUT AS IT IS TIED TO THE MST ADMINISTRATION, THIS IS THE MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER ADMINISTRATION IN THE DOCUMENT. AND, UH, SOME OF, I THINK WHAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN JUST OUTLINED WITH EQUITY, IT SEEMS EXACTLY CONSISTENT WITH WHAT I'VE FOUND OVER THE YEARS WORKING WITH YOU, UH, HAVE BEEN THE PRIORITIES FOR YOU IN THIS ADMINISTRATION, INCLUDING NUMBER ONE A ON THE GUIDING PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT, WHICH IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND JUST BRIEFLY, THE, THE FIRST SENTENCE OF THAT GUIDING PHILOSOPHY MIGHT BE WORTH READING OUT LOUD AURS ACTS AS AN IMPERMANENT CATALYST FOR PLACE-BASED PRIVATE INVESTMENT THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION OR IMPROVEMENT OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE ECONOMIC NEEDS OF THE CITY AS A WHOLE. SO, SIR, WHAT SAY YOU TO THAT ? WELL, LOOK, I'M VERY PLEASED WITH, WITH WHERE WE ARE TODAY. UM, AND I THINK IT HAS PROVEN TO BE A VERY COLLABORATIVE PROCESS UP TO THIS POINT IN TIME. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF VERBAL TALK ABOUT THE PO FINANCIAL POLICIES AND EVEN ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ACT, A LOT OF TALK, BUT WE'VE NOT PUT IT DOWN ON PAPER. AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO DETERMINE, UH, HOW A TURS IS TO BE CREATED, HOW IT'S TO BE EVALUATED, THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO LOOK TO A DOCUMENT AND READ FOR THEMSELVES. OKAY. UM, AND IT DEMONSTRATES OUR COMMITMENT TO THE TURS, UM, NOT JUST ON A SHORT TERM BUT LONG TERM BASIS AS WELL, AND HOW THAT COMMITMENT WILL BE EVALUATED AND ASSESSED. AND THEN IT SPEAKS TO THE EQUITY PORTION. ALL OF THAT'S INCLUDED. SO, UM, I GIVE A GREAT DEAL OF CREDIT TO, TO, UH, TO ANDY, CHIEF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, TO GWEN TILLERSON, THE DEPUTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, AND TO THE HOLY ECONOMIC OFFICE FOR TAKING THE TIME TO PUT THIS ALL TOGETHER. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR QUESTIONS, YOUR INQUIRIES, UM, 'CAUSE YOU'VE HELPED TO IMPROVE THE END PRODUCT. SO THAT'S BEEN VERY, VERY HELPFUL. BUT I THINK WITH SO MANY QUESTIONS SURROUNDING TURS AND THE PURPOSE OF TURS AND HOW THEY SHOULD COME INTO EXISTENCE, WHERE OUR TURS SHOULD EXIST, HOW LONG SHOULD IT REMAIN IN EXISTENCE? I, I, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN TALK ABOUT IT JUST VERBALLY. I THINK THERE, THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE CAN LOOK TO AND ASSESS AND EVALUATE. AND THEN THE REALITY IS JUST LIKE MAYOR PER TIM, YOU MENTIONED TERMS HAVE BEEN VERY INSTRUMENTAL MM-HMM . IN MAKING SOME THINGS, MAKING THINGS HAPPEN. SO, UM, I AM VERY PLEASED WITH THIS, WITH THIS DOCUMENT AND, UM, WHAT WE ARE LEAVING BEHIND, I THINK, I THINK IT'LL A VERY GOOD DOCUMENT AND I THINK IT SPEAKS WELL FOR BUILDING COMMUNITIES, BUILDING NEIGHBORHOODS, BUILDING DISTRICTS, UM, AND ATTRACTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. SO, UM, A BIG THANK YOU, UH, TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, ANDY GWEN. AND, AND ALL OF THEM, QUITE FRANKLY, THEY DID THE WORK. I'M SIMPLY, YOU KNOW, TAKING CREDIT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YES, SIR. I'M JUST THANKING THEM. SO APPRECIATE, APPRECIATE ALL OF THAT, MARETTE, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, UH, AS WELL AS CHIEF OF STAFF FOR HELPING TO OVERSEE THIS PROJECT. SO THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU, MAYOR. ALRIGHT, THAT'S ALL. ALRIGHT, NOW IT'S TIME TO VOTE. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON 55? ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? 55 IN FAVOR OPPOSED HUFFMAN? NO. SHOW COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN VOTING NO. ON 55. OKAY. UM, AND [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] BEFORE WE LEAVE, WE'RE GONNA GO BACK TO ITEM 35. [04:25:01] THE MATTER SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL CALL ITEM 35. ITEM 35 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, THOMAS, ARE YOU RELEASING THE TAG ON 35? I BELIEVE SOME TAG. THANK YOU, MAYOR. OKAY. THANK YOU. SHALL BE ON ITEM 35. DISCUSSION ON 35. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 35. OKAY. THANK YOU. MAD SECRETARY STILL WITH YOU. THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. OKAY. UM, [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] CAN I, CAN, IF YOU ALLOW ME TO SAY THIS BEFORE WE GET STARTED, YOU KNOW, FUTURE MAYORS AND CITY COUNCILS CAN DO WHAT THEY DECIDE TO DO. OKAY? IF, IF THE FUTURE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, IF, FOR EXAMPLE, NEXT YEAR YOU ALL MAKE THE DECISION THAT LET'S SAY YOU DON'T WANT TO CONTINUE DEFENDING THE CITY'S POSITION OR YOU JUST WANT TO, UM, ACCEPT THE RETROACTIVE NATURE OF THE ARGUMENT THE PEOPLE ARE PO ARE ASKING FOR. UM, THAT IS YOUR CHOICE AND YOU ALL CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT. OKAY. UM, SO, BUT THIS ADMINISTRATION DOES, AND EVEN THIS CITY COUNCIL DOES, DOESN'T BIND FUTURE MAYORS AND CITY COUNCILS. AND IF YOU ALL ELECT TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION, YOU CERTAINLY CAN. AND BASED ON WHAT I'M HEARING, FOR EXAMPLE, IF THERE ARE CERTAIN PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE MAYOR OR SAYING WE WILL END ALL OF THE, OF THE DEFENSE OF THE CITY AND YIELD AND GIVE OPEN THE DOORS, WE CERTAINLY CAN. BUT LET ME JUST CAUTION YOU ALL, YOU DON'T GET TO A HEALTHY FUND BALANCE WITHOUT GOOD MANAGEMENT AND WITHOUT DEFENDING THE INTEREST OF THE CITY AS A WHOLE, YOU CAN EASILY WIPE IT AWAY. AND JUST LIKE AT THE VERY BEGINNING WHEN I CAME INTO OFFICE, WE FACED UNFUNDED PENSION, OBLIG LIABILITIES, EATING AWAY IN ALMOST EVERYTHING. SO LET ME JUST AS A CAUTIONARY NOTE, SAY, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO MAKE SOME VERY TOUGH DECISIONS. YOU HAVE TO MAKE SOME VERY TOUGH DECISIONS IN DEFENDING THE INTERESTS OF THE CITY AS A WHOLE. BECAUSE WHAT I DO WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND, WELL, AND YOU'LL PROBABLY UNDERSTAND, SO LET ME JUST SPEAK FOR MYSELF. YOU, YOU PROBABLY GET IT. UM, WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTING THE SAFETY, SECURITY OF THE CITY, SAY POLICE OFFICERS, THEY DON'T COME FREE OVERTIME. IT'S NOT FREE. OKAY? THOSE THINGS ARE NOT FREE MUNICIPAL WORKERS. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT COMPENSATION, ALL THAT, IT'S NOT FREE SOLID WASTE EQUIPMENT. NOT FREE. OKAY? THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT SITTING IN OUR CHAIRS THAT THEY DON'T EVEN, THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE A CLUE. THEY DON'T HAVE A CLUE. YEAH. SO IT'S EASY TO LOOK FROM THE OUTSIDE IN AND SAY WHAT YOU WILL DO, BUT WE HAVE A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO REPRESENT THE INTEREST OF THE ENTIRE CITY, EVEN IF AT TIMES IT MAY NOT EVEN BE POPULAR. SO LET ME JUST WORD OF CAUTION. AND THEN PEOPLE NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT MAKING COMMITMENTS AND THEN THEY END UP SITTING IN THESE CHAIRS 'CAUSE PEOPLE WILL HOLD THEM TO THOSE COMMITMENTS THAT THEY ARE MAKING. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT IN CASE YOU'RE READY. ALRIGHT. AND THEN OF COURSE, THE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY WEEKEND IS THIS COMING WEEKEND. SO WE, WE ARE NOT UNFORTUNATELY GONNA BE HERE ON MONDAY, BUT THE DOORS WILL BE OPEN IN CASE PEOPLE WANT TO COME IN AND, UH, SIT IN THE CHAIR OKAY. AND BE [04:30:01] HERE. IT'LL BE A CONSOLIDATED SESSION ON WEDNESDAY. SO NO TUESDAY, NO TUESDAY, BUT ON WEDNESDAY WILL BE A CONSOLIDATED SESSION AT, UH, AT NINE. AT 9:00 PM OKAY. OKAY. HAVING SET, HAVING SET ALL OF THAT AND SOLID WASTE WILL BE OH YEAH. AND SOLID WASTE IS WORKING ON THIS LABOR DAY WEEKEND. SEVEN PEOPLE. OKAY. SO PLEASE, PLEASE, SOLID, SOLID WASTE IS WORKING ON THIS LABOR DAY WEEKEND. SO I WANT TO, I WANT TO THANK THEM. YES. LET ME THANK SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR WILL FA ALL YOUR EMPLOYEES, UH, FOR WORKING ON THIS WEEKEND. LET ME THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WE START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, ANGELA MICHELLE CARR, AGE 52. AJ LARE JR. 19, GERALD GALLIAN, AGE 29. WERE ALL GUNNED DOWN WITH AN AR 15 AND A HANDGUN IN JACKSONVILLE BY A 21-YEAR-OLD SIMPLY FOR BEING BLACK. UH, BEFORE THAT, THE GUNMAN HAD DRIVEN ON TO A PREDOMINANTLY BLACK UNIVERSITY CAMPUS AND PUT ON A BULLETPROOF VEST AND A CONCERNED STUDENT CALLED IT IN. AND THAT'S WHY HE DID NOT GO, UH, FORWARD ON THE COLLEGE CAMPUS. UH, BUT I, I CAN'T NOT SAY SOMETHING. WHEN PEOPLE ARE GUNNED DOWN AND MURDERED SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE, ETHNICITY, RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, IDENTITY, UM, BECAUSE IT'S A REFLECTION ON OUR COUNTRY AND IT'S A REFLECTION ON OUR DEMOCRACY OR THE LACK THEREOF WHEN, UM, PEOPLE FEEL EMBOLDENED TO DO THAT. AND THEN JUST LIKE THIS, 21-YEAR-OLD WENT ON TO A BLACK COLLEGE CAMPUS, UM, I THINK THE VERY NEXT DAY AT UNC, UH, ZG Y WAS, UH, GUNNED DOWN. AND ALSO, UH, RIGHT HERE IN TEXAS LAST WEEK, AN ELEMENTARY STUDENT WHO, UH, GOT AHOLD OF A GUN, FIRED IT ON A SCHOOL BUS. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED. AND IN NORTH TEXAS, ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WAS FOUND WITH A GUN IN HIS BACKPACK. UH, SO IN HONOR OF NOT ONLY THE INDIVIDUALS SO FAR THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, TAKEN BY GUN VIOLENCE AND PEOPLE THAT USE GUNS, UH, IN AN INAPPROPRIATE MANNER, UM, AND MAY WE JUST SAT STOOD UP HERE YESTERDAY FOR GUN VIOLENCE, GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH. AND, UH, IT'S THE LAST DAY OF THAT. UM, I'M GONNA READ THE DAILY TAR HEEL. UH, THE UNCS PAPER COLLECTED THE TEXT MESSAGES OF THE STUDENTS, UH, THAT THEY WERE SENDING OUT DURING THE LOCKDOWN THAT I THINK SHARES THE TRAUMA. UM, THAT EVEN IF YOU SURVIVE, UH, FAMILIES AND CHILDREN THROUGHOUT OUR NATION ARE EXPERIENCING, ARE YOU SAFE? WHERE ARE YOU? ARE YOU ALONE? GUYS, I'M SO SCARED. COME ON, SWEETHEART. I NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU. CAN YOU HEAR ANY GUNSHOTS? PLEASE STAY SAFE. BARRICADE THE DOOR. OR IF YOU THINK YOU CAN RUN AND GET TO A PLACE THAT CAN LOCK, DO SO. I'M FREAKING OUT. I WISH THESE NEVER HAPPENED. STAY CALM AND SAFE. WE LOVE YOU. I AM SO SORRY THIS IS HAPPENING. I LOVE YOU. MULTIPLE VOICES AND LOUD BANGING. I'M IN CLASS. EVERYONE IS LOSING IT. PEOPLE ARE LITERALLY SHAKING, STILL GOING ON AND COMING CLOSER, HOPING IT'S COPS. I'M GOING TO THROW UP. KIND OF WISH I HAD SOMEONE ELSE HERE WITH ME THOUGH. PLEASE PRAY FOR US. PLEASE STAY WHERE YOU ARE AND KEEP YOUR DOORS LOCKED AND FORTIFIED. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. ARE YOU HOME? SOMEBODY IS ALREADY SHOT. IT'S ALSO SCARY HOW UNPREPARED OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF WERE. I'M LISTENING ON THE SCANNER. I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING YET. IT WILL BE OKAY, MY LOVE. JUST STAY PUT. YOU HAVE A WHOLE COMMUNITY IN THE SAME BOAT WITH YOU. LONGEST HALF HOUR OF MY LIFE. I AM SO SCARED. STAY DOWN. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU ARE SAFE. I LOVE YOU. MY TEXTS WON'T GO THROUGH. I AM SAFE. GET UNDER THE DESK OR RUN. IF YOU CAN PUT STUFF IN FRONT OF THE DOOR, PLEASE BE CAREFUL. I'M SO SCARED. I HEARD SOMEONE GOT SHOT. CAN YOU CALL ME? ARE YOU OKAY? I WISH I COULD COME GET YOU. DON'T STOP TEXTING ME. AND THOSE ARE JUST A FEW. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMAN P*****K. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UH, UH, THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS. UH, I THINK THEY WERE NECESSARY [04:35:01] TO BE SAID. UH, JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT REALLY QUICK, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ONLY TARGET YOU WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE YOU'RE A THREAT. AND SO TO EVERYONE CONTINUE TO, UH, PROGRESS, CONTINUE TO EDUCATE, ELEVATE AND, UH, REACH YOUR FULL POTENTIAL. BUT YOU ONLY, YOU'RE ONLY TARGETED WHEN YOU'RE VIEWED AS A THREAT, UM, ON A LIGHTER NIGHTMARE. UM, THIS PAST WEEKEND THAT A ROLL IN BLACK COUNT? NO. UM, THAT'S JUST MY GOOD FRIEND KEN OLIVE. HE WAS LEANING ON WATER, SETTING THE MOOD FOR, FOR MY COMMENTS. AND I, AND I, I APPRECIATE HIM ALWAYS DOING THAT FOR ME. ALRIGHT, UH, MAYOR, AS YOU KNOW THIS, THIS PAST WEEKEND WE HAD A MAJOR CLEANUP ON BISSONNET, UH, THE CORRIDOR BETWEEN US 59 AND BELTWAY EIGHT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CHALLENGING AREA KNOWN AS THE BINET TRACK. YOU AND I AND CHIEF FINN HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE LAST WEEK WHERE WE HIGHLIGHTED SOME OF THE, THE, UM, POSITIVES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS BASED ON, UH, SOME OF THE STRATEGIES THAT THE WEST SIDE HPD STATION HAS PUT FORTH AND THE RESOURCES THAT HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED THROUGH YOUR ONE SAFE HOUSTON, UH, INITIATIVE. UM, BUT WE'VE SEEN TREMENDOUS IMPACT, UH, TO THE AREA. UM, THEY'RE NO LONGER, UM, MANY PROSTITUTES OUT WALKING THE STREETS. UM, THE AMOUNT OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITY HAS SIGNIFICANTLY, UH, DIPPED AND IT JUST LOOKS MUCH BETTER. AND IT WAS A ISSUE THAT EVEN I DID NOT KNOW IF WE COULD EVER TACKLE, BUT WE SEEM TO HAVE FOUND SOMETHING THAT'S WORKING AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO PUT FORTH RESOURCES TOWARDS IT. TO THAT END, OUTSIDE OF JUST THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ASPECT OF BINET, UH, PUTTING DOLLARS TOWARDS BEAUTIFYING THE AREA AND CLEANING UP THE ILLEGAL, DUMPING THE LOOSE TRASH AND DEBRIS THROUGH YOUR ONE CLEAN HOUSTON INITIATIVE, UH, THE PROJECT THAT WE HAD THIS PAST WEEKEND, UH, BROUGHT OUT OVER A HUNDRED VOLUNTEERS FROM ALL OVER THE AREA TO HELP, UM, PICK UP THE TRASH. AND I WANT TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT, NOT ONLY TO YOU MAYOR AND CHIEF FINNER, UM, BUT TO COMMANDER HARDY IN THE WEST SIDE STATION, LIEUTENANT LOUIE, UM, DIRECTOR WILL FAULK OF THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT. PAUL PUT TOGETHER A WHOLE LIST FOR ME, UH, LIEUTENANT DONOVAN, UM, ALSO WITH THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT, UH, DESMOND ALLEN, ELIZABETH RODRIGUEZ AND DEANDRE HUDDLESTON. UM, SHOUT OUT TO METRO BECAUSE WE MET AT THEIR PARKING RIDE. UM, THE ALE, ISD SUPERINTENDENT DR. MAYS, HE WAS OUT THERE AND HE ACTUALLY COORDINATED WITH MANY OF HIS SCHOOLS. AND THE KIDS FROM THOSE SCHOOLS WERE MANY OF THE VOLUNTEERS THAT CAME TO HELP. UM, BIG SHOUT OUT TO MY DISTRICT J STAFF PAUL AND EVERYONE WHO HELPED COORDINATE. IT WAS A REAL COLLECTIVE EFFORT, UM, TO GET THAT MANY PEOPLE TO COME OUT ON A SATURDAY MORNING IN THE HOT SUN, UH, TO BE ABLE TO PUT FORTH, UM, THE EFFORT AND ENERGY NEEDED TO CLEAN THAT AREA UP. IT WAS LONG OVERDUE. UH, THE RESIDENTS THAT CAME OUT SAID THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, SO MANY PEOPLE WERE INVESTING IN THEIR AREA. UM, BUT THE BISSONNET TRACK IS HOPEFULLY A THING OF THE PAST, AND WE CAN LOOK AT IT AS THE BINE NET CORRIDOR, WHICH IS WHAT IT IS, AND HOPEFULLY, UH, CAN REGAIN THE ONCE PROMINENCE THAT IT HAD AND THROUGH, UH, THIS ADMINISTRATION IN OUR OFFICE. YOU KNOW, THAT IS OUR COMMITMENT GOING FORWARD, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO MAKE IT A PRIORITY, CONTINUING TO PUT FORTH THOSE RESOURCES AND IT'S, IT IS TRULY, UH, A IMPACT YOU CAN FEEL AND THE CHANGE THAT YOU CAN SEE. SO LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAYS AHEAD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I FIRST WANT TO SAY THAT WE HAD A REMARKABLE TURNOUT, UH, LAST WEEK, UH, FOR THE ATTENDEES TO TALK ABOUT, UH, AND GET INFORMATION ON DEED RESTRICTIONS. I HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE I COULD THANK, BUT BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT OF COMMENTS, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA PASS AND JUST LET THEM KNOW THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE THEY REALLY INCREASED OUR KNOWLEDGE BASE TO HELP PROTECT OUR SOUGHT AFTER NEIGHBORHOODS. ALSO, ON MONDAY NIGHT, I WANT TO SAY THAT WE HAD THE MONUMENTAL COMMEMORATION OF THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON, HOSTED BY CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE. AND CERTAINLY, UH, PASTOR T GRANT MALONE OFFERED HIS, HIS, UH, SPACES FOR US TO HAVE THAT COMMEMORATION. AND THE MAYOR'S MESSAGE WAS JUST PERFECTLY ALIGNED WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY. AND CERTAINLY MAYOR AFTER THAT, I, I LOOK FOR SOMETHING I COULD PASS THE PLATE BECAUSE YOU WERE JUST SO AWESOME IN YOUR COMMENTS. AND I JUST WANT TO [04:40:01] TELL YOU THANK YOU FOR THOSE. ALSO, ON MONDAY EVENING, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE HOUSTON ART ALLIANCE ON ART GALA, AND THAT WAS REALLY WONDERFUL. BUT THE GREAT THING ABOUT THAT IS I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A TABLE MATE, UH, MR. UH, DAVID ATTICS, WHO IS THE MAN THAT SCULPTED THAT LARGE, UH, STATUE OF SAM HOUSTON ON 45. I WAS JUST, IT WAS JUST AWESOME. AND HE'S 96 YEARS OLD, BUT HE'S, YOU KNOW, STILL SHARP AND JUST WANTS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME OTHER PROJECTS WITH THE CITY. AND SO THAT WAS GREAT. ALSO, I HAD THE AWESOME OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY SIT WITH MY NEIGHBOR, UH, MR. JC HARTMAN. SO MONDAY WAS REALLY A HISTORICAL DAY, WHO'S THE ONLY LIVING NEGRO LEAD PLAYER. HE ACTUALLY LIVES TWO BLOCKS FROM ME, AND HE HAS A BOOK. AND HE WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN WITH THE CULT 40 FIVES, WHICH WAS THE PRECURSOR FOR THE ASTROS. SO I HAD A MONUMENTAL DAY ON MONDAY WITH HISTORY. AND SO CERTAINLY, OF COURSE, I, I PARTICIPATED IN SOME BACK TO SCHOOL BASHES, THE BLACKSHIRE ELEMENTARY, UH, GREATER ST. MATTHEWS, BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH. THEY WERE SO WELL ATTENDED, UM, AND SUNNYSIDE AND OTHER AREAS THAT IT WAS JUST AWESOME TO SEE HOW MUCH SUPPORT OUR CHILDREN HAVE. AND THEN ON SUNDAY, IT WAS TOWARDS THE NIGHT BEFORE SCHOOL AT THE CUNY HOMES, AND THAT WAS REALLY AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY. ALSO, UH, ON TOMORROW NIGHT, THURSDAY AT 6:00 PM THERE WILL BE A TOWN HALL AT THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, UH, DISCUSSING, UM, THE CENTER FOR TRANSFORMATIVE HEALTH, WHICH I WILL BE A PANELIST AND I WILL BE AT 6:00 PM AT THE STERLING, UH, STUDENT LIFE CENTER. AND MAYOR, JUST IN CLOSING, YOU KNOW, WE ARE SO VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR STUDENTS, AND I KEEP HEARING THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT IS PUSHING FORWARD ON HIS OPEN DOOR POLICY. AND, AND SINCE HEARING THAT, OF COURSE, WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THESE SHOOTINGS AND WHATEVER, AND THE CHILDREN BEING IN AN UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT. BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, I FOUND OUT THAT THE OPEN DOOR POLICY IS A VIOLATION OF THE FIRE CODE. AND SO REPORTEDLY THEY ARE PUSHING FORWARD AND REPORTEDLY THIS IS A VIOLATION. AND SO I HOPE THAT THE CITY WILL CERTAINLY ENGAGE, AND I'M TOLD THAT THEY WILL WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT, SO THAT HE WILL NOT PUT OUR CHILDREN IN HARM'S WAY. UH, THESE, UH, THE WALLS AND THINGS ARE FIRE RATED AND FIRE SP SPREAD VERY QUICKLY IF THE DOORS ARE OPEN. AND SO CERTAINLY, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS PUSHED TO THE FOREFRONT BECAUSE WHILE WE ARE GIVING THEM SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND SUPPORT, WE CERTAINLY HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE SAFE. AND SO, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, MAYOR. UH, AND I THINK THAT CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON. THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. UH, AND I DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, SINCE I STILL HAVE TIME, THE BAIL HADN'T RUN. UH, I DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO FIVE, UH, HIGH SCHOOLS IN, UH, DISTRICT D ON MONDAY MORNING. I WAS REALLY MOVING AROUND, UH, WORTHING JONES, STERLING YOUNG WOMEN'S PREP, AND THE JACK GATES HIGH SCHOOL. I CERTAINLY HAVE NOT IGNORED OUR CHARTERS, AND I WILL CERTAINLY MAKE A VISIT WITH THEM AS WELL, BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO GREET OUR STUDENTS. AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. IT HAS TO BE EVERY DAY. AND SO, THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR STUDENTS AND THE CITY. THANK YOU MAYOR . I DID IT. I DID IT. I DID IT. . COUNCIL MEMBER CIRO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE FIRST PARK AND DISTRICT AGE, THAT'S PART OF THE MARRIAGE, 50 BY 50 PARK INITIATIVE INITIATIVE IS READY TO OPEN. YEAH. SO NIETO PARK IN, IN DENVER HARBOR, UM, THE RIBBON CUTTING IS TOMORROW, THURSDAY, AUGUST, UM, 31ST AT 11:00 AM EVERYONE, I, YAY EVERYONE IS INVITED TO JOIN US FOR A FUN NEIGHBORHOOD CELEBRATION, YOU KNOW, OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS. UM, AND A SECOND, DENVER HARBOR PARK AT TUTTLE PARK, UM, WILL BE CELEBRATED AS PART OF THE 50, UM, BY 50, UM, PROGRAM IN OCTOBER AS WELL. AND, UM, AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT ONE. SO JOIN US FOR THE CELEBRATION AT NICHO PARK TOMORROW AND STAY TUNED FOR, UH, THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DATE FOR THE TUTTLE PARK, UM, CELEBRATION, UM, THIS EVENING FROM SIX UNTIL 8:00 PM THE THIRD AND FINAL IN A SERIES OF PANEL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE PRESERVATION OF HOUSTON MUSIC CULTURE WILL BE HELD AT MORALES RADIO HALL IN SECOND WARD. IT'S A SERIES THAT'S, UM, BEING PUT ON BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE HOUSTON ADVISORY MUSIC ADVISORY BOARD. THE EVENT IS FREE. UM, COME JOIN US IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN, IN LOCAL MUSIC, COMMUNITY AND, UM, AND THE LOCAL MUSIC INDUSTRY. UM, AND THAT'S IT FOR ME. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR. I THANK YOU MAYOR. I HAD MY, UH, POPOFF COMMENTS, UH, ALL PREPARED, BUT I'M GONNA DEVIATE FROM 'EM AND I'M GONNA DOVETAIL ON, ON WHAT YOU SAID. [04:45:02] 17 PEOPLE NEXT YEAR WILL MAKE A DECISION. I WILL BE OUTTA HERE. I'LL BE GONE. SO WILL UBA. SO WILL ROBINSON. YOU'LL MAKE A DECISION. 17 NEW PEOPLE THAT WERE NOT HERE IN 2016 WILL MAKE DECISIONS ON PAY FOR FIREFIGHTERS. WHETHER YOU DECIDE TO GO RETRO, WHETHER YOU DECIDE TO GIVE 'EM WHATEVER, YOU WILL MAKE THAT DECISION. IN 2016, THIS CITY WAS ON THE BRINK OF BANKRUPTCY. THE BRINK. THE THING THAT AFFECTS MOST CITY GOVERNMENTS, STATE GOVERNMENTS, FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS, IS DEBT LED BY THIS MAN'S LEADERSHIP. WE DID PENSION REFORM. ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT STRUCTURALLY BALANCED BUDGET. WELL, STRUCTURALLY BALANCED BUDGET IS REALLY SORT OF A MISNOMER BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOESN'T HAVE A TRILLION DOLLARS SITTING ON THE SIDE TO PAY MEDICARE TO PAY SOCIAL SECURITY. THAT'S HOW YOU GET TO A STRUCTURALLY BALANCED BUDGET. EXXONMOBIL DOESN'T HAVE A TRILLION DOLLARS SITTING ON THE SIDE TO PAY FOR THEIR RETIREES MEDICAL COST OR THEIR RETIREMENT PAY. THAT'S WHEN YOU INCUR A STRUCTURALLY BALANCED BUDGET. WE'VE PASSED A BALANCED BUDGET THAT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF WHEN WE'VE REDUCED OUR DEBT FROM 8.2 TO 2.2 ON THE DEBT SIDE. ON THE OPE SIDE, WE ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT OPEP OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. WE REDUCED IT FROM FOUR NON 0.1 TO 4.5. SO IF YOU GO RETRO TO 18, YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR RETIREMENT, WHAT YOUR RETIREMENT PAY IS BASED ON YOUR LAST NUMBER OF YEARS AT YOUR HIGHEST SALARY. SO DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT DOES TO OPEP? DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT DOES TO YOUR PENSION OBLIGATIONS? I WON'T BE HERE TO SAY THESE WORDS. SO I'M SAYING 'EM. NOW, BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU DO IN 2024, BECAUSE THE DEBT THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REDUCE BY 75% THAT YOU WERE A PART OF WILL RISE DRAMATICALLY IF YOU TAKE A POSITION THAT IGNORES RETIREMENT PAY OPEP. AND SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT I'VE ALWAYS HAD WHEN I LOOK AT SENATE BILL 7 36 IN GOING RETRO. SO PENSION REFORM WAS A TREMENDOUS DEAL BECAUSE WE COULD HAVE BEEN DETROIT MM-HMM . AND CORRECT ME, ANYBODY IF I'M WRONG ON THIS, IT WAS UGLY. AND WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB UNDER THIS MAN'S ADMINISTRATION WORKING TOGETHER AT A COLLECTIVE BODY OF 17 PEOPLE AND DOING THE RIGHT THING. SO WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING THESE DECISIONS, I BEG YOU, PLEASE BE COGNIZANT OF WHAT THAT DOES TO THE RETIREMENT PAY OF EMPLOYEES. IT'S NOT GONNA AFFECT US BECAUSE WE'RE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT CLASS, BUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ELIGIBLE OF RETIRING TO RETIRE ARE SITTING BACK IN THE MOST PROFITABLE AND MOST GENEROUS RETIREMENT PLAN WAITING FOR THESE DECISIONS TO BE MADE. I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK WHEN YOU MAKE 'EM, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GONNA BE HERE FOR THAT. I WILL BE, YOU KNOW, OFF THIS COUNCIL MAYOR WILL BE OFF THIS COUNCIL. BUT I BEG YOU, I BEG YOU TO BE COGNIZANT OF THOSE FACTS AND LOOK AT THE RETIREMENT PAY 'CAUSE SALLY ALCORN, YOU REMEMBER WHEN STEVEN COSTELLO AND I OFFERED THAT PLAN. WE OFFERED ONE ADJUSTMENT IN THE PARKER ADMINISTRATION. IT WAS REALLY SIMPLE. IT WAS A 3% TO 1% DIFFERENTIAL IN COLA COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT. AND WE DID THE ANALYSIS. AND THE ANALYSIS AT THAT TIME IN A RETIREMENT PLAN SHOWED YOU THAT WHEN YOU RETIRED ON A FRIDAY AND YOU TOOK THAT RETIREMENT CHECK ON A MONDAY, THE AVERAGE EMPLOYEE RECEIVED 105% OF THEIR LAST DAY'S PAYCHECK. WHERE DOES THAT HAPPEN IN AMERICA? NOWHERE. AND BY THE WAY, GOD BLESS YOU. THEY ALSO RECEIVED, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, SALLY, YOU DID THE MATH WITH US, $750,000 ANNUITY CHECK ON THAT MONDAY. SO 105% OF YOUR LAST DAY'S SALARY AND A $750,000 ANNUITY CHECK. BEST OF LUCK VICE MAYOR PRO TIM CAST ATU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, LET ME START OFF WITH, UM, PREPARE TO BE SICK OF ME, , BECAUSE THE NEW LIBRARY IN DISTRICT K, WE DID A WALKTHROUGH ON YESTERDAY, AND IT IS MOVING ALONG, MAYOR. THEY HAVE, UH, ASSURED US THAT BY THE SECOND WEEK IN DECEMBER, WE SHOULD BE HAVING A GRAND OPENING. UH, WE ARE COORDINATING WITH DR. SHANNON WALKER AT NASA SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT SHE IS AVAILABLE FOR THE GRAND OPENING. UM, BUT WE, WE WALKED THROUGH IT ON YESTERDAY AND IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE THE VISION [04:50:01] ACTUALLY IN REAL LIFE. UM, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY EVEN IN ITS CONSTRUCTION PHASE. SO THERE'S SO MUCH EXCITEMENT BREWING, UM, FOR US TO GET TO, UM, THE SECOND WEEK IN DECEMBER. AND WE'VE HAD TWO LIBRARIES IN DISTRICT A BE CLOSED FOR LONG, FOR YEARS. UM, YOU KNOW, THE FLOODING HAPPENED AND THE MEYER AND THE FRANK LIBRARY THERE WILL BE DEDICATION TO, UM, THE MEYER AND FRANK FAMILIES IN THE LIBRARY. AND A BIG DISPLAY, UH, FOR DR. SHANNON WALKER. THE COMMUNITY ROOMS, THE PODCAST ROOMS, THE MUSIC CENTER, THE PASSPORT OFFICE, OKAY? ALL OF THESE GREAT BENEFITS WILL BE, UM, IN THIS NEW FACILITY IN DISTRICT CASE. SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT. IT, SO I'LL PROBABLY BE TALKING ABOUT IT UNTIL DECEMBER. MM-HMM . UM, THEN ALSO WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING WILL MEET THIS AFTERNOON HERE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT TWO. UH, THE STAFF FROM THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WILL PRESENT THE TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE BUDGET SCHEDULES, AND ON THE FINANCIAL POLICIES COMPLIANCE. SO WE HOPE THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL JOIN IN. UH, DON'T FORGET THE UPCOMING DEMOLITION COMMUNITY CELEBRATION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AT THE EDISON ARTS CENTER WILL BE FRIDAY, UM, THIS FRIDAY AT 7:30 AM ON THE SITE AT 7,100 WEST FUQUA IN FORT BEND, HOUSTON, JUST ANOTHER TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECT HAPPENING IN DISTRICT K. REALLY, UM, EXCITED ABOUT THIS. DEMOLITION AND SEEING THIS PROJECT COME TO FRUITION AFTER BEING A VACANT, UM, NUISANCE IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR OVER 20 YEARS. UM, AND THEN MAYOR, UH, WE'VE GOT A NEW COUG ON STAFF, UH, LIKE TO WELCOME UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON CHIP INTERN CHINWAY WAZE. SHE'S A JUNIOR POLITICAL SCIENCE AND PHILOSOPHY MAJOR, AND SHE ALSO LIVES IN DISTRICT K. SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE HER JOIN THE DISTRICT K OFFICE FOR HER INTERNSHIP. UM, WE'VE GOT LOTS OF, UM, GREAT THINGS HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT. KEEP UP WITH US WITH OUR, OUR NEWSLETTER. UM, AND COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR WORDS. IT, IT'S PIERCING EVERY TIME WE HEAR ABOUT THESE, UM, HATE CRIMES AND PEOPLE TARGETING PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY ARE BLACK. UM, AND, AND THEY ARE VERY TERRORISTIC ATTACKS. UH, AND, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU CAN HEAR IT SO MUCH AND, AND IT PIERCES EVERY TIME A LITTLE DEEPER. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR ALLYSHIP, AND I APPRECIATE YOU AMPLIFYING THOSE MESSAGES ON BEHALF OF, UM, BLACK PEOPLE IN AMERICA. THANK YOU COUNCIL. COUNCILMAN GALLOS. OH, WAIT. I DID WANNA SAY, UM, TO COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING YOUR, YOUR, YOUR POSTS AND THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING ON THE BISSETTE CORRIDOR WITH, UH, DISTRICT J AND KAY, UM, BEING SO CLOSE IN VICINITY, THAT HORRIBLE MOVIE THAT CAME OUT ABOUT BISSONNETTE CORRIDOR. I HOPE THAT WE MAKE A MOVIE ABOUT THE WORK THAT'S HAPPENING TO TRANSFORM, UH, BISSONNETTE, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW TRASH BEGETS TRASH. AND THE WORK THAT YOUR AND YOUR TEAM IN THIS, UM, ADMINISTRATION HAS PUT ON. I THINK THAT HTV NEEDS TO DO A MOVIE ON THE TRANSFORMATION. WELL, THE, THE MAYOR SAID HE HAD IDEAS FOR A SEQUEL. SO , WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. WE'LL SEE IF IT GETS PICKED UP. . ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, MAYOR, YOU AND I, UH, ATTENDED THE SUNRISE LOFTS. YES. UH, RIBBON CUTTING LAST WEEK. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THAT. AS YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR TALKING POINTS, THAT THIS WAS A PROJECT THAT WAS, GOSH, YEARS IN THE MAKING, YEARS IN THE MAKING. UH, BUT LAST WEEK WE ACTUALLY DID THE RIBBON CUTTING. SO IT'S 89 UNITS FOR YOUNG ADULTS THAT WILL HOUSE STRAIGHT AND L-G-B-T-Q, YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE. SUNRISE LOFTS WILL PROVIDE PROACTIVE, UH, AND ALSO SOCIAL SERVICES, JOB AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. IT TOOK PARTNERSHIPS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. SO I PERSONALLY, AGAIN, WANT TO THANK THAT THE HANO CENTER FOR STAYING ON TOP OF THIS HARRIS COUNTY, AND OF COURSE THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I WANT TO THANK DR. MORILLO, THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. UH, THEY HOSTED AN INFORMATIVE STATE OF HISPANIC DATA SUMMIT AND BUSINESS EX EXPO HOSTED BY THE HISPANIC CHAMBER, UH, AT THE FEDERAL RESERVE BUILDING LAST WEEK. AND THEY WERE FOCUSED ON WHY AND HOW HISPANICS ARE GROWING IN ECONOMIC INFLUENCE ACROSS THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA. SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU DR. MORILLO, FOR A VERY INFORMATIVE, UH, SUMMIT. THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS CELEBRATING TODAY. [04:55:01] SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY. 187 YEARS OF HOUSTON BEING A STRONG CITY. THE ALLEN BROTHERS LANDED ON THE BANKS OF BUFFALO BAYOU, BUT THEY HAD NO CLUE WHAT THE CITY HELD AND WHAT THE CITY WAS GOING TO BECOME. HOUSTON TODAY IS THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY. WE HAVE THE LARGEST MEDICAL CENTER IN THE WORLD. HOUSTON WILL BE RECOGNIZED AS THE ENERGY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. HOUSTON WILL HAVE THE LARGEST US PORT IN FOREIGN TONNAGE AND WILL BE HOME TO SPACE EXPLORATION. THE HOME OF NASA COMMANDER NEIL ARMSTRONG'S FAMOUS WORDS, ON JULY 20TH, 1969. THE FIRST WORD SPOKEN WAS HOUSTON TRANQUILITY BASE. HERE, THE EAGLE HAS LANDED AGAIN. THE ALLEN BROTHERS HAD NO CLUE WHAT HOUSTON WOULD BECOME WHEN THEY FOUNDED OUR CITY BACK ON AUGUST 30TH, 1836. HAPPY 187 YEARS. HOUSTON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, WANTED, I WAS GONNA POINT OUT THE BIRTHDAY OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS WELL. AND INTERESTING ABOUT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLO'S POINT ABOUT THE ALLEN BROTHERS HAVING NO CLUE. THEY, UH, THEY CERTAINLY CHOSE AN INTERESTING SITE AT THE CONFLUENCE OF WHITE OAK AND BUFFALO BAYOU. AND, AND WHEN THEY ADVERTISED FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON MM-HMM . IN THE NEW YORK NEWSPAPERS, THEY DID SO CLAIMING SYLVAN SPRINGS AND SHOULD HAVE PHOTOGRAPH, OR AT THAT TIME, I GUESS SUPPOSE A DRAWING, AN ENGRAVING OF A MOUNTAINOUS LANDSCAPE . SO, UH, GREAT MISREPRESENTATION, UH, UH, A CITY THAT'S SOFTENED MISUNDERSTOOD, OF COURSE, MAYOR. BUT, UH, I WANT TO CELEBRATE THAT HUNDRED 87TH BIRTHDAY WE'RE, I KNOW OUR FRIEND LARRY PAYNE IS THINKING ABOUT THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CITY ALREADY. THERE'S SOME OF US INVOLVED WITH THAT EFFORT. UM, UH, OBVIOUSLY THAT'LL BE WHEN WE'RE NOT AT THIS PARTICULAR, UH, HORSESHOE IN THIS CAPACITY. UH, BUT IT'S, IT'S NOT THAT FAR AWAY AND IT'S WORTH US THINKING ABOUT. SO AS WE THINK ABOUT BIRTHDAYS, I ALSO WANTED TO CELEBRATE, UH, OUR SECRETARY, MADAM, UH, PAT JEFFERSON DANIEL. HER BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK AND WE'RE SO PROUD OF HER AND, UH, THE GREAT LEADERSHIP SHE PROVIDES FOR THIS CITY. AND, UM, SOMEBODY JUST WHISPERED IN MY EAR, MAYOR THAT IT'S ALSO COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS CISNEROS BIRTHDAY. SO SHE WAS QUIET ON THAT TOPIC, BUT I WANTED TO WISH. HAPPY BIRTHDAY OUR COLLEAGUE. A, UH, HAPPY BIRTHDAY. THAT'S IT FOR ME, MAYOR. HAPPY BIRTHDAY COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS. WOW, IT'S FRIDAY. IT'S THIS COMING FRIDAY. FIRST AND SEPTEMBER. CELEBRATE THE WHOLE, WELL, THE 1ST OF SEPTEMBER. YEAH. OH NINE VIRGO JELLY CAKE. IS THAT VIRGO? VIRGO? YEAH. I'M, I'M GONNA GO HOME EARLY TODAY AND I'M GONNA MAKE YOU JELLY CAKE. I'M GONNA MAKE YOU A CAKE. . COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. UH, THANK YOU MUCH. UH, I WANNA ECHO THE EFFORTS ON BINET. UH, I EXIT 59 IN THE BELTWAY AND I EXIT BISSONNET EVERY NIGHT ON MY WAY HOME. AND SO, UM, I HAVE SEEN SOME THINGS OVER THE YEARS, UH, AND, UH, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN THIS TYPE OF, UM, INVESTMENT AND SUPPORT IN THAT AREA WHERE BUSINESS OWNERS, RESIDENTS, AND THE GREATER COMMUNITY IS TAKING NOTICE. SO, AS SOMEONE THAT LIVES IN A LEAF, IT'S, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN KNOWN AS THE TRACK. AND SO I APPRECIATE YOUR INTENTION AROUND THAT AREA. AND, UM, I'M SURE IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS IT'LL, IT'LL BE TRANSFORMED. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. UH, MAYOR, I HAVE TWO ISSUES I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE WITH. SO IN DISTRICT F WE HAVE 14 HOMES THAT ARE IN THE ABATEMENT PROCESS. AND, YOU KNOW, UM, WE KNOW PRIVATE PROPERTY IS KING AND QUEEN IN THE STATE. AND THAT'S A, THAT'S A LONG PROCESS. HOWEVER, I'M HAVING IN ORDER TO COMMUNICATE TO RESIDENTS, TO LEVEL SET EXPECTATIONS. 'CAUSE SOMETIMES IT'S A CITATION, THEN WE HAVE TO, THE CLOCK STARTS, THEN THERE MAY BE A COURT DATE. UH, WHAT'S THE BASELINE FOR THAT PROCESS TO START? IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET OUR HANDS AROUND THAT TYPE OF INFORMATION. I WANNA BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE ROUTINELY TO RESIDENTS BECAUSE THEY CONSISTENTLY ASK WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS HOME OR WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS CASE? BECAUSE IT'S BLIGHT, RIGHT? IT'S, IT'S, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTION, QUALITY OF LIFE. AGAIN. AND I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO, I FOUND A, A VERY OLD COMMITTEE [05:00:01] PRESENTATION A LONG TIME AGO, BUT IF THERE'S SOMETHING, A PUBLIC FACING DOCUMENT THAT WE CAN COMMUNICATE WITH RESIDENTS WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN THE CITY IS MOVING IN THAT PROCESS, I THINK IT WOULD PROBABLY ALLEVIATE A LOT OF, UH, FRUSTRATION. WHY DON'T YOU SEND ME THOSE FIVE ADDRESSES? ABSOLUTELY. WE HAVE 14 AND UM, YOU HAVE 14. WE HAVE 14. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. RIGHT. YOU WANT FIVE? I NEED FIVE WHEN WE GOT 14. BUT JUST, AND, AND THEY'RE ALL IN VARIOUS STAGES, RIGHT? AND SOMETIMES, AND, AND I REALIZE WE'RE NOT THE FBI, WE'RE, WE CAN'T TRACK DOWN PRIVATE OWNERS AND THAT'S NOT OUR WORK. BUT SEND, SEND ME THE 14. YEAH. AND, AND JUST SO WE CAN JUST COMMUNICATE PUBLICLY. 'CAUSE HOAS ARE, AND INDIVIDUALS, THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY CAN DO. OKAY. SO THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE FIRST THING. AND THEN SECONDLY, FOR PROBABLY THE LAST 11 MONTHS, AND MAYBE COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD CAN ATTEST TO THIS ON TOWN PARK, UH, WE HAVE STREET VENDORS AND PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN OVER TOWN PARK AND GESNER AND HARWIN, AND WE HAVE PUT SO MUCH EFFORT WITH THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION, WEST SIDE AND MIDWEST PD, UM, TO CITE THESE INDIVIDUALS. THEY'RE NOT PERMITTED. THEY'RE SELLING FOOD. WHAT DO YOU MEAN? THEY, I DON'T UNDERSTAND. THEY'RE ON THE STREET, ON THE SIDEWALK. THEY ARE LITERALLY LIKE, THEY'RE LITERALLY TAKING OVER THE BLOCK AND, UM, STANDS, THEY ANYTHING, EVERYTHING. IT'S A FLEA MARKET ON THE STREET. AND SO, YOU KNOW, HERE'S MY DEAL. YOU KNOW, YOU MAKING EXTRA MONEY. I GET IT. HOWEVER, WHAT'S HAPPENING IS, UH, LITTER EQUIPMENT IN THE BAYOU, THE DRAINS, IT'S ALL OF THAT'S HAPPENING. WE HAVE, UM, THE APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT ABUTS THE STREET, THE SIDEWALK, THEY HAVE PRIVATE SECURITY. THE SECURITY GUARDS ARE AFRAID. UH, HPD HAS DONE AN EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF EDUCATION. THEY'VE, UM, OFFERED AT LEAST BETWEEN 35 AND 50 CITATIONS BETWEEN MIDWEST AND WEST SIDE. I HAVE DESIGNATED OVERTIME PARTICULARLY TO THAT. UM, WE HAVE BROUGHT IN THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION AND THOSE PEOPLE DO NOT CARE. UM, AND SO IT'S A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE. WE HAVE RESIDENTS THAT CALL AND COMPLAIN. UM, AND SO WE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING AT MY DISPOSAL TO DO. AND SO WE NEED SOME ASSISTANT, AND I KNOW COUNCILMAN POLL AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS, LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE, THEY DON'T CARE. OKAY. SEND ME, SEND ME THE PHOTOS AND ALL WE CAN ALL OF IT. BECAUSE THERE'S, WE HAVE ESCALATED THIS. WE HAVE, WE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO. AND IT IS TOUGH OUT THERE. YOU'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS AND NOTHING LIKE IT, AND WE DON'T GET ON TOP OF IT. IT WILL GROW. YEAH. SEND IT, SEND. I WILL, I WILL. UM, AND REALLY THAT'S IT. UM, LAST WEEK I WAS ABLE TO, UH, PRESENT JUVENILE WITH A PROCLAMATION TO THE CITY. SO FOR THE NINE, NINE IN THE TWO THOUSANDS . UH, AND, AND REALLY, YOU KNOW, AS WE CELEBRATE HARVEY, HURRICANE KATRINA ALSO, UM, AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND NEW ORLEANS HAS A, A, A STRONG BROTHER SISTER RELATIONSHIP. UM, AND WE CONTINUE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT. SO IT, IT WAS A GREAT TIME AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE, UM, FOR, UH, FOR, UH, SHOWING UP AND, AND SUPPORTING. SO WE APPRECIATE THAT. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOUSTON. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MAYOR ALCO. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND YEAH, HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOUSTON. I WAS WITH THE MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN MAGO SET THE HERITAGE SOCIETY ON SUNDAY TO CELEBRATE THE HUNDRED 87TH BIRTHDAY. SO GO HOUSTON. UH, MAYOR LAST WEEK, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND EVAN SHABAZZ AND I HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE ABOUT THE, THE, UH, THE SUCCESS THAT THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAD AGAINST A BAR THAT, YOU KNOW, IS KEEPING PEOPLE UP ALL NIGHT. SO, UM, THAT WAS GREAT. ALTHOUGH THIS PAST WEEKEND THEY RECEIVED ADDITIONAL NOISE CITATIONS, AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY A QUESTION THAT WE GOT AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE. AND, AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TOLD ME TO SAY, WE'LL BE BACK IN COURT IF IT KEEPS UP. SO HOPEFULLY IT'LL CALM DOWN AFTER THAT. UH, BUT, BUT WE DID HAVE A GREAT SUCCESS AND WE GOT A, A TEMPORARY INJUNCTION THAT WILL BE FOR A WHOLE YEAR BEFORE THEY CAN REAPPLY. SO THEY BASICALLY, THEY CAN PLAY MUSIC INSIDE, BUT THEY CANNOT PLAY ANYTHING THAT CAN BE HEARD OUTSIDE. SO THAT, THAT GIVES HOPE. THE OWNER OF ONE OF THE OWNERS OF THE BAR CAME, UM, HE WAS, HE'S KIND OF BLAMED EVERYTHING ON THE PROMOTERS AND SAID HE WAS KIND OF NEW TO THE SITUATION, BUT WE, WE'LL, WE'LL KEEP ON IT. WE'LL KEEP ON IT. WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING SOMEWHERE. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I'D LIKE TO, UM, TO LET EVERYONE KNOW ON SEPTEMBER THE 16TH, UH, COCOA AND AIR ALLIANCE WILL BE HAVING A, UM, A MEETING REGARDING THE CONCRETE, UH, BACK THE CONCRETE FACILITY PERMIT REQUEST. UM, THAT'S BEEN PLACED TO, UM, TCEQ IN KME GARDENS. SO I REALLY WOULD LIKE FOR ALL OF THE COMMUNITY TO REALLY GET TOGETHER AND, UM, ATTEND. THIS IS IS GOING TO BE AT THE RIVER HOUSE HOUSTON AT EAST RIVER AT 65 HIRSCH, AND THAT'S ON SEPTEMBER THE 16TH, UM, TO SATURDAY. AND SO PLEASE COME OUT. WE REALLY NEED TO, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE, MAYOR TURNER, THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY GUIDANCE OVER GIVING PERMITS TO THESE FOLKS. UM, A TCQ IS, YOU KNOW, IS IS THE MAIN ONE THAT GIVES THOSE, AND WE REALLY WANNA CONTINUE TO AMPLIFY THAT MESSAGE. UH, AND, AND COMING [05:05:01] TO MEETINGS LIKE THIS AND, AND KNOWING WHAT'S GOING ON IS IMPORTANT. UM, I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE SOMEONE IN THE ROOM. CHLOE, SHE'S MY GODDAUGHTER. CHLOE STAND UP. SHE'S VISITING FROM NEW YORK. UM, HER MOM, SEAN IS SITTING NEXT TO HER. AND, UM, MY ROOMMATE FROM COLLEGE ALL FOUR YEARS OF SPELMAN. UM, BUT SHE'S VISITING FROM NEW YORK. FROM NEW YORK AND HER FIRST TIME TO HOUSTON MAYOR TURNER, HER FIRST TIME HERE. AND SO IT IS MY JOB TO BE THE TOUR GUIDE TO MAKE SURE THAT I CAN SHOW HER EVERYTHING FABULOUS. ABOUT HOUSTON. SO I WANTED TO WELCOME HER, WELCOME CHLOE , AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOUSTON. THANKS. I THINK THAT, UM, DOES IT, THIS IS THE LAST MEETING IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST. SO WHEN WE MEET AGAIN, IT WILL BE IN, UM, THE BEST MONTH OF THE YEAR, . BUT MAYOR SEIZE THE FIRST BEST MONTH. I WANTED YOU TO, TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT YOU HAD MENTIONED, UM, ABOUT THE BIZNET TRACK, HOW, YOU KNOW, IT WAS INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN, GETTING ALL THE PRESS FOR THE WRONG REASONS. AND THEN YOU MENTIONED HOW, UM, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S THE SAME ATTENTION IS GETTING WHEN, WHEN WE'RE ACTUALLY CLEANING IT UP. YEAH, YEAH. BINET HAS COME A LONG WAY. YEAH. I MEAN, IT WAS, UH, IT WAS THE AREA OF DEGRADATION FOR A DECADE OR MORE. AND, UM, AND OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, MANY DIFFERENT STRATEGIES HAVE BEEN UTILIZED. MM-HMM . ARRESTING THE, UM, THE PROSTITUTES AND THE JOHNS AND ALL OF THAT STILL DIDN'T WORK. THEY'VE COME RIGHT BACK. UM, BUT I GIVE A GREAT DEAL OF CREDIT TO CHIEF F AND HIS AND HIS WHOLE TEAM, AND THEN THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH THE COMMUNITY OUT THERE. FOR THE LAST THREE PLUS MONTHS, WE HAVE SEEN A NOTICEABLE POSITIVE DIFFERENCE. AND, UM, AND WE SHOULDN'T TAKE THAT LIGHTLY, RIGHT? WE SHOULD HIGHLIGHT IT AND, UM, AND EMPHASIZE IT AND SHOWCASE IT MM-HMM . UM, AND NOT JUST TREAT IT AS IF OKAY, NOW IT'S OKAY. YEAH. BECAUSE IT'S HARD WORK. YEAH. IT IS BEEN HARD WORK. IT'S BEEN A TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE OUT THERE ON THAT, THIS AND THAT, UH, CORRIDOR. UM, AND YOU KNOW, OFTEN, YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES WHEN THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN HAPPENED, UH, WE, WE TAKE A NOTE AND WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM MM-HMM . BUT NOW WE NEED TO KIND OF STOP, RECOGNIZE, ACKNOWLEDGE, BECAUSE IT WASN'T JUST SOMETHING THAT WAS EVIDENCED LOCALLY. THIS AND THAT TRACK WAS A NATIONAL, A MOVIE, A MOVIE. I MEAN, PEOPLE MADE A MOVIE ABOUT THE BISSONNET TRACK. YEAH. SO TO SEE WHERE THINGS ARE NOW AND THE WAY THINGS HAVE BEEN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, UM, IS HUGE. SO WE, YOU KNOW, I, I, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE JUST NEED TO KIND OF ACKNOWLEDGE AND TO SEE THE HUNDRED VIOLENT PLUS VOLUNTEERS OUT THERE AND PEOPLE REALLY EMBRACING NOW THE BI AND THAT CORRIDOR MM-HMM . NOW WE NEED TO REBRAND IT, YOU KNOW, AND HIGHLIGHT THE DIFFERENCE. THIS IS WHERE IT USED TO BE, BUT LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW AND THEN TO BE AT THE CHARTER SCHOOL THAT'S NOW OPERATING IN THERE, AND TO HEAR THE SUPERINTENDENT TALK ABOUT WHAT A HUGE DIFFERENCE, UM, THERE HAS BEEN. IT WAS A BIG, BIG PLUS. SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I JUST, AND THAT'S, AND IT'S POSITIVE FOR THE CITY AS A WHOLE. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE BI AND THAT, YOU KNOW, QUARTER, BUT THAT'S A HUGE STATEMENT FOR THE CITY OF HOPE. SO LET'S CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT IT. WE'LL, WE'LL PUT FORTH WHATEVER RESOURCES THAT ARE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. AND JUST, AND JUST BECAUSE I MEAN, IT'S SO CLOSE TO DISTRICT K, SO CLOSE TO DISTRICT OUT. YEAH. SO WE HAVE TO EMBRACE THAT WHOLE QUADRANT. YEAH. OKAY. SO THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT'S TAKING PLACE, AND UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE COUNCILMEN AND YOUR STAFF AND EVERYBODY ELSE HAVING SAID ALL OF THAT. GOOD MORNING, WEEKEND. ENJOY YOUR LONG WEEKEND AND, AND ENJOY. UM, AND IF YOU DON'T SEE ME, I'M PROBABLY WRITING THEM ON BOOK . OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I'LL SEE. I'LL SEE YOU WHEN I SEE YOU. OKAY. WE STAND ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.